Little bit of a warning to this one...


Chapter Twelve.

"You knew about this and you didn't say anything? Jesus, Finn!" Kurt raged, pacing in Finn's living room. His arms were folded and he had a troubled look on his face, while Finn sat on the couch, clearly ashamed. What could he do? Rachel wouldn't leave Dave, not for him, so as far as he could tell, that was it. She was going to stay.

"I'm sorry, Kurt, I should have said something. But I tried talking to her and she wouldn't listen to me."

"But she would have listened to me," Kurt responded, and Finn nodded. She probably would have. "What if he's hurting her right now?"

The men looked through the window that faced Rachel's house. Her curtains were drawn, making it impossible for them to see what was happening in that moment. Finn sighed, his shoulders slumping.

"Listen, Finn, you haven't known Rachel long…" Kurt started, "but she needs someone to depend on. It's why she married Dave. She was in New York, and he was her knight in shining armor. I thought he was a good guy. Why else would she leave her dream for this?"

Finn bit his lip, remembering the pride in Rachel's eyes when she showed him her special room. "I know. What can we do?" he asked quietly, and Kurt turned to him.

"We have to convince her."


Detective Rominge sat outside the diner where Finn Hudson had used his credit card last. It'd been a while since he used it, but he was hoping to get a little lead from one of the waitresses.

He walked inside, being sure to tuck his badge inside his jacket. He didn't want to pull the detective card, not just yet. He couldn't risk tipping him off.

"Good morning," said a waitress with a bright smile on her face. "Sit anywhere you like. Coffee?"

He smiled back and nodded, choosing a booth by the window. She came and filled a mug for him, setting cream and sugars on the table. "What can I get you, love?"

"I'll need a menu," he said, taking one from her and flipping through it. She stood there while he browsed it, leading him to notice that the diner was nearly empty. "Not very busy this morning?"

She sighed, tucking the pad and pencil back in her apron. "We haven't been busy in the last year. It's just been a slow time."

Perfect.

He held up the picture of Finn and his family, pointing to him. "Has he been in here lately?"

"Oh, yes!" she responded. "Such a sweetheart. He came in a while back now, left a great tip. Is he okay?"

He ignored her last question, tucking the picture back into his pocket. She caught a glimpse of the badge in his jacket, suddenly aware of who he was. "Did he say where he was headed?"

She thought for a moment, then held a finger up and nodded. "He might have…"

"What did he say?"

She studied the detective, unsure of what she should tell him. "I can't remember …he was headed somewhere nearby," she said instead, feeling protective of Finn.

"Thanks," he said, dropping a few dollars on the table and scooting out of the booth, leaving quickly.

She watched him as he pulled out of the lot, and then took out her cell phone.

"Finn? It's Lisa. There was a detective here looking for you."


Finn set the phone back in the cradle, turning around to find Kurt standing there.

"Who was that?"

Finn looked back at the phone and shrugged. "An old friend. I didn't exactly say goodbye when I left."

"Oh, right, the mysterious Finn Hudson up and runs away one day," Kurt laughed, studying him.

Finn chuckled nervously, desperate to escape Kurt's questionable stare.

"Finn," Kurt started. "Rachel is my best friend. We may not have seen much of each other and I might not have been around as much as I should have, but I'm rooting for you and her. Especially now. Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"

Finn debated for a moment if he should tell Kurt the truth. No. He would hold it against him, and anything possible with Rachel would be ruined.

"No. What are you talking about?" Finn said defensively. "What do you mean, am I hiding something?"

"Are you?" he retorted, and Finn threw up his hands in mock offense.

"Listen, Kurt, Rachel's been really close to me, too. I let you stay here out of the kindness of my heart, for as long as you want to. But I wouldn't hurt her, ever. So quit the dramatics."


Dave rolled off of Rachel, sighing, and grabbed a cigarette. Lighting it, he stroked Rachel's arm lightly as he caught his breath. She curled herself up with the sheet, dying to escape his cold touch. It was nothing like Finn's loving embrace; Dave's was more obligatory and unwelcoming.

"What?" he sneered, pulling the cigarette from his mouth. "Not good for you?"

She shook her head. "I'm just tired, Dave."

"Tired?" he asked, grinning proudly, and she nodded. "Sorry about that."

She rolled over to face the wall without saying a word, and could not control the tears that filled her eyes.

Dave didn't miss a beat. "What?" he demanded, forcing her to roll onto her back and pinning her to the bed. She burst into tears, and his anger was palpable. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Rachel sobbed, trying to pull herself out of his grasp. He became angrier as she pushed against him, and before she knew it, his cigarette was on her arm.

Rachel cried out, the cigarette burning against her. She lashed against him, trying to escape his grasp. He held her harder, burning her again. She was sobbing now, still pushing against him. "Dave, stop!" she cried, and he lifted her off the bed by her wrists, dropping the cigarette to the floor and putting it out with his foot. He pushed her toward the front door, slamming her against the wall and holding his hand to her throat.

"Stupid bitch," he said as she gasped for air, his face centimeters from hers. "Stupid fucking bitch."

With that, he opened the door and shoved Rachel out, dressed only in his t-shirt. She continued to silently sob, turning to sit on the steps of her porch, when she came face to face with Finn.