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Chapter Fourteen.

Rachel stood on her porch, mustering up the courage to knock on the front door. Before she could, though, it opened, and Dave stood in the doorway, looking like a kicked puppy. She was suddenly at a loss for words.

"Why were you going to knock?" he asked, amusement obvious in his voice. "This is your house, Rach."

She inhaled, nodding. It was, it was their house. She didn't feel welcome there...she didn't belong there. She lifted her gaze and saw a sullen look on Dave's face.

"You're leaving me," he said bluntly, finally meeting her eyes.

"Dave…"

"For him?" he asked, nodding toward Finn's house. She turned, and she could see Finn standing in the window. She turned back to Dave, her mouth set in a line. "Before you do, Rach, there's something you should see."

Rachel hesitated, and then followed him into the house. She inhaled deeply, her body tensing as the memory of the night before came back to her. Dave paused, turning to her.

"I would do anything for you, Rachel," he said, a dark hint in his voice. She nodded, her face softening in response. "I'm trying to protect you."

"What is it, Dave?" she hid her exasperation as best she could. He would do anything to her, not for her. It took a lot of effort not to laugh at his offer of protection, that was for sure.

He pulled up the page on his computer, turning the screen to face her. She paled at the sight of what Dave had found, and sunk slowly into the chair at the desk. She scrolled down, reading the details, bringing her hand to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. She pushed the keyboard back away from her, the tears spilling from her eyes.

"Why are you showing me this?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"He did this," Dave said in response, and Rachel jumped out of the chair, shaking her head.

"I'm going to be sick."

She ran to the bathroom and slammed the door, retching into the toilet. Reaching up, she grabbed the hand towel that hung beside the sink. Rachel sat on the floor, grasping the hand towel to her mouth as she sobbed. She'd emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. The thought of Finn coming home to that scene was too much to bear. Her poor Finn, seeing his mother that way. She felt bile rise in her throat and heaved into the toilet again.

"Rachel?" he knocked on the door. She could hear the grin in his voice. That bastard.

"I'm okay," she responded, standing up. Her legs were weak beneath her and she leaned on the sink until she gained her composure. She swished some water in her mouth and opened the bathroom door.

"You sure?" he asked, concern masking the pleasure he was obviously getting from seeing her so upset. She had to talk to Finn.

"I'm fine," she responded, trying to brighten as much as possible.

He pulled her chin up to look at him. "Rachel, we have problems, but you can't leave me. Especially when you don't know what you're running into."

She inhaled and smiled slightly, trying to ease the nausea she felt. "I'm not leaving you, Dave. I just need things around here to change."

"I'm off on a business trip today, baby, and when I get back, we're going to counseling."

He sounded so sincere, Rachel wondered if he really did want to change. She nodded, allowing him to embrace her. Tears filled her eyes again as she caught a glimpse of Dave's computer over his shoulder.

Finn.

Finn paced anxiously as he waited for the door to open, for Rachel to emerge with a suitcase. Minutes passed, then an hour. He considered going over there to see what was going on.

"Stop it, Finn," Kurt warned, flipping a page in his magazine. He, too, was worried about Rachel, but pacing wouldn't help anything.

"I should go over there," Finn said, obviously looking for Kurt's permission to barge in on them.

"What if they're having sex?" Kurt posed, and Finn shook his head.

"She wouldn't do that."

"Have sex with her husband?" Kurt asked, mocking Finn. "How incredulous."

Finn glared at Kurt, silencing him. Finally, the door opened and Dave walked out, carrying a briefcase. What?

Kurt joined Finn at the window just as Dave waved to them, and gave a meek wave back to him as he backed away.

"Freak," he said, raising his eyebrows. "All good then, probably?"

Finn was unsure until he saw her in the bedroom window, watching as Dave pulled away. Finn caught her attention and she gave him a half smile, pulling her drapes closed.

"What?" he wondered aloud, confused. He turned away from the window and Kurt shrugged.

"I'll go over in a minute," he offered. Finn nodded, walking to the kitchen and opening a beer. He took a swig and sighed, collapsing into a chair at the kitchen table, his head in his hands.

Rachel knew Finn would come looking for her in a bit, but she needed a minute, just the two of them. She gave him what she thought was a reassuring smile and pulled the drapes closed. She pulled open the closet, unfolding the step stool and reaching for the memory box stuffed in the back of the linens.

She stepped down, sitting on the floor and opening the box. Tears immediately sprang to her eyes as she touched the sonogram. Her baby.

"I'm so lucky," Dave said that night, pushing his plate away from him and leaning back in his chair, gesturing for Rachel to sit on his lap. "My two babes," he'd said, placing a hand on her belly.

She smiled, placing her hand on his. A baby.

"Marry me," he said suddenly.

"What?" she retorted, standing quickly. He stood too, and grasped her hands in his.

"We can have this, Rach. Think about it. Do you really want to be phased out of Broadway as the has-been who got knocked up and couldn't keep a part? Come on."

His words stung her. Has-been? Rachel Berry? Please.

He knew he'd struck a chord. "Rach, baby, marry me. I'll take care of you. You'll never have to work a day in your life."

"Dave, I don't know."

"Rachel, please," he begged, dropping to his knees, her hands still enclosed in his.

He was on his knees in front of her, begging her to be with him. Maybe it was something worth thinking about.

"Okay," she finally said, and he embraced her tightly.

"I love you," he'd said. She thought he meant it.

"I love you, too," she responded. She knew she didn't.

"Rachel?" Kurt's voice pulled Rachel from her thoughts. She scurried to get the scattered things back in the box, but it was too late.

"What is all this?" he asked, crossing his ankles and sitting across from her on the floor.

"Please, don't," she responded, gathering the things into the box and closing it.

"Rachel, tell me," he prodded, grasping her wrist.

"No. Not yet. I can't tell him yet."

"Tell who? Finn?" he asked, holding on to her wrist as she tried to wriggle free. She nodded, wiping tears from her face with her free hand. "I'm not Finn, Rachel. Tell me."

She succumbed to his efforts to hold onto her, and sat back on her feet. He relinquished her wrist, and she told him everything.

Kurt sat stone-faced while Rachel divulged her secret past to him. Thoughts whizzed through his mind at an alarming rate, and he shut his eyes, inhaling sharply. Holding up his hands, he shook his head.

"That is why you left?" he asked, picking up the sonogram and touching it lightly. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I didn't…keep it," she said, hanging her head in shame. He sat up grabbing the sides of Rachel's face gently so she would look at him.

"You had…"

"Yes," she responded, gathering the things back in the box. "And I regret it every day. Finn can't know, and neither can Dave."

"Wait, Dave doesn't know?" Kurt was confused.

"No. He thinks I lost it, and I want to keep it that way."

"Rachel, do you realize how bad that is?

She sat back on her feet, sighing. "Kurt, let me explain."

She fell to the floor, a metal taste filling her mouth from that last blow. She brought her hand to touch her face, the bright red blood spilling out of her mouth and onto the floor.

He stilled before grabbing her by the hair, pulling her to her feet. She cried out in pain, knowing instantly that was a mistake. He hit her even harder, still holding onto her hair as she jerked from the blow.

"Dave, please…" she begged, cradling her stomach to protect her baby. He slapped her across the face in response.

I'm going to die, she thought, tears welling in her eyes as she thought of the poor, innocent baby inside of her.

When he was finished, she laid on the floor, still cradling her unborn baby. He was drunk, she knew that. He had never hit her before, and now, he'd beaten her worse than she ever could've imagined.

She sat up, wiping the blood and tears from her face. She grazed her hand across her stomach, knowing then what she had to do.

"Oh, Rachel," Kurt sighed, pulling her into his arms.

"I couldn't let him hurt my baby," she said, heaving as she sobbed. "He wasn't going to let me leave him, and I couldn't let him hurt my baby."

"I know," he soothed, patting her hair and letting her cry into his chest. What in the world was he going to tell Finn?

Nothing, he decided. This was his best friend, no matter what. He had a loyalty to Rachel. Plus, it really was none of his business to be telling anyone anything.

When Rachel pulled away from him, she wiped the tears from her face. She stood, picking the box up from the floor and bringing it back to the closet, tucking it away.

"Dave can never know," she repeated, and hung her head again. Kurt nodded, knowing she couldn't see him.

"Want to go get lunch?"

Rachel closed the door to the closet, turning around. Her face was red and tear-streaked. "Let me fix myself up a little bit first."

Kurt rested his hand on the doorknob of Finn's room. He brought his other hand up to knock.

"Come in," Finn called from inside, and Kurt opened the door to see him shutting his laptop. Finn turned to face Kurt. "What's up?"

"Rachel is home," Kurt said, wincing preemptively.

"What?" Finn said, standing and walking quickly to the door. "I thought you were going to get her!"

"I was!" Kurt defended himself. "We went out to lunch and shopped for hours, and she didn't change her mind. She wants to stay."

"What?" Finn responded incredulously. "Why?"

"Jesus, Finn, she always has the same reason."

"No way," Finn said, grabbing the door and jogging down the stairs. "I'm not letting her."

"You do realize you don't have much of a choice…" Kurt responded, following him as he opened the front door and stalked over to Rachel's house. She must've seen him coming, because she met him on the porch.

"Finn…" she said, tears in her eyes.

"No, Rachel, this is ridiculous."

"I know it sounds crazy, Finn, but I do love him."

"Rachel, please," Finn pleaded, grabbing her hands. "Please don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Finn," she said, her voice suddenly clear. "You have to go."

With that, Rachel walked back into her house and shut the door. Finn heard the lock turn, and he stood there, staring, dejected. He felt Kurt's hand on his shoulder just as he heard a car pull up. Shit.

Dave rushed out of the car and onto the porch, positioning himself between the door and Finn. His anger radiated off of him, forcing Finn out of his thoughts.

"Finn, you need to leave. Now," Dave said, a threatening tone lacing his otherwise even voice.

Finn shook his head. "So you can hit her again? Burn her? I don't think so."

Dave took a step toward Finn and Finn felt Kurt step backwards, obviously nervous. He wasn't afraid of Dave. "You don't understand, Finn. Rachel is my wife. This is our house. You," he said, pointing a finger at Finn, "are a trespasser. I will have you arrested if you keep harassing my wife."

Finn swallowed, his eyes glancing sideways at Rachel, who was now peering out of the curtains. He nodded, training his eyes back on Dave.

"Fine," he said curtly, leaning into Dave. "But understand this. If I hear so much as a whimper coming from your house, I will come and get her, and not let her come back here."

Dave chuckled, meeting Finn's threatening gaze. Straightening his face, he leaned in closer to Finn. "Understand this," he said, forcing his fist into Finn's lower stomach. "Stay. Away. From. My. Wife," he said slowly. Finn groaned at the contact, biting his tongue between his lips.

Dave turned and unlocked the door, slamming it shut behind him.

"Jesus, Finn," Kurt said, rushing to his side. "You just made it worse."

Finn looked to where Rachel had been standing to see a slight movement in the curtains. She didn't want to leave Dave, that was clear. But she did want Finn. And he wasn't ready to stop fighting for her yet.