Hey! I know I haven't updated in a while, and I'm sorry. To make up for it, here is another chapter! I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys have made a week of exams and tests a joy! A huge thanks to my beautiful beta reader, RebeccaRipple, who has been amazing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

Santana's P.O.V

Seeing her like this hurts. She, although asleep, is shivering severely, and she looks so fragile. I realize that she is probably shivering because of her cold, drenched clothes.

It takes me all of two seconds to decide to change her into something warmer, and more comfortable.

I carefully and slowly prop her up higher onto the pillows, so as to make it easier to change her. I walk to my dresser, and pull out the first top I see. Anything would look good on Rachel, and clothing choice isn't really high on my list of priorities right now.

I slide my fingers under the edge of her top, the contact sending little shivers through my spine. I peel the top up over her non-existent stomach, the wetness of the clothing making it harder to pull off.

I lift her arms gently, as to pull off her top completely over her head. I decide to leave her bra on, as some new clothes should keep her dry enough. I look over her stomach briefly out of curiosity, and for the first time, I realize how skinny she is. No girl should be that skinny. Is she anorexic? No. I would have noticed.

My eyes leave the ribs sticking out of her chest, and settle on the large purple-blue circles of skin that seem to be everywhere. I realize they are bruises. I have never seen bruises like these in my life. They are not a mere color on her body, but a living thing, killing the skin it touches, creating the skin of an old woman throughout Rachel's body.

My fingers hover over one particularly large bruise, as if wanting to heal, to rid Rachel of the pain. I have to close my eyes for a second to regain my breath, and my sanity. I wonder how I have never noticed this before, as they are all over Rachel's arms, but then I remember how Rachel is always wearing jumpers and clothes that are used to conceal. I had always wondered why she wore so many layers, even on the hottest of days.

She went to so much effort to hide this, but why? Who was doing this to her? I am reminded how little I know of Rachel's home-life - her past, which she is so afraid to talk about.

It takes me a few minutes to realize that Rachel is still shivering, as I haven't yet put on a top. I grab it from behind me and slide onto her thin body. The shivering subsides somewhat, as the woolen top warms her up.

I feel a strong urge to kiss her, to share her pain and heal her, but I shake it off. It isn't attraction I am feeling; it is sympathy. I know what it's like to not like the way you are, to keep secrets from the world, to have someone who you love unconditionally, only love you under stupid conditions. I know what that feels like. Or, rather, knew. It isn't like that anymore. I just hope it'll never be that way again.

I am not Santana when I am with Rachel. I am a person I never even knew existed. I do not know very much about Rachel, but I know that the pain from our pasts has caused the undeniable pull between us. And I never want to let go. She may not remember me from the hospital, but I remember her, as if it were yesterday, and not 3 years ago.

I pull the blankets from my bed up to her neck, making sure she was as warm as possible. I think back to this afternoon's events and how natural it all felt. I don't question it; just observe it.

I sat up from where I had been sitting on the bed, and go to leave the room so as to inform Dad of Rachel's presence. I glance back as I reach the door, and for the first time, truly realize how beautiful Rachel is. I smile sadly and leave, leaving the door slightly open.

I don't know what happened to Rachel, not now, not 3 years ago. I just want to help, more than I've wanted to help anyone ever before.

Xx – Rachel's POV – 3 years ago

"What's wrong?" Emily asked me, more to make conversation than because she was concerned, but I took it as a sign of worry.

"I just don't think I can handle telling everyone. I'm not strong enough. I have barely come to terms with it. I mean, how do you tell all your friends you're a lesbian?" Emily sighed and looked down at me.

"Ask me out, then." I stared at her, thinking she must be joking. But her expression was completely serious.

"I- What?" I held my breath, waiting for her to continue. Emily held my hand in hers and smiled.

"I like you, and I'm pretty sure you like me. You are nervous about coming out, and if we were a couple, I could help you get through it." She said it so bluntly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. It was true, I did have a crush on Emily, but I had no idea she knew about it.

"Yeah." I said, my confidence growing as I thought about the idea. "So, a movie on the weekend? I'll buy the popcorn." Emily nodded, thinking this over.

"OK, see you then." She walked away and waved at me, smiling softly. I waved back eagerly, realizing for the first time in the last couple of minutes that my best friend had just become my girlfriend.

Xx

I open my eyes, allowing a second for my eyes to adjust to the light. As they do, I realize that I don't recognize my surroundings, at least, not straight away. It takes me a few minutes of looking around to identify the bed and the room I am lying down in as Santana's. It's another few minutes before I notice I am wearing her top, and to recall the events after I arrived at the cemetery.

As I am contemplating what I should do next, the bedroom door creaks open and Santana is revealed, wearing jeans and a simple light blue top. She hasn't put any effort into her attire, but she looks simply stunning.

She is holding two steaming mugs and I smile at the effort she has obviously gone to.

"Oh Rachel, good, you're up. Here, I've made us some hot chocolate." She says, placing a hot cup into my hand.

"Thanks." I say gratefully, unable to remember the last time I'd had a hot chocolate. It is then that I think about how much I have come to care for Santana, how close we've become. It frightens me. If there is one lesson I have learnt from my life, it's that, the closer you get to someone, the more it will hurt when they leave you. Three years ago, I promised myself I would never get close to anyone ever again, as I am sure they will leave me.

My parents, my sister, Emily, Mimi, everyone I ever cared about, gone, one by one, like how someone who was trying to get information from you would pull your fingernails out slowly as to get maximum effect. I can't help but think it was me that was the problem; that it was I that caused them all to leave.

Santana coughed awkwardly, like she is avoiding something.

"Rachel, who hurt you?" My eyes widen.

"Rachel, tell me, please. You don't deserve to be hurt, and I know they aren't ordinary bruises." Santana's voice is pleading, about to break with emotion. I have never seen her like this. This is not cheerleader Santana, this is not the girl who was so mean to people she hardly knew, just because she liked it. That girl had disappeared a long time ago. But this – this is a side to her that I'm sure not even she has seen before.

"How do you know what I deserve? Maybe I did something horrible, and I am just getting back what I have given." I look down, ashamed by the truth in the words, no matter how much I wish it were different.

"That's not true. I know, because I know you, and you would never hurt someone on purpose, Rachel. And that's why you need to tell me who is hurting you. Who is it, a parent, a relative?" Suddenly I can't take the interrogation anymore. I have to tell her, to tell someone.

"It's my aunt. I live with my aunt, and sometimes she- drinks more than she should. This is the result." I lift up my arms shamefully.

Santana winces at the sight of them. "Rachel, you need to get out of that house. You can come stay here for as long as you need to, but you can't stay with your aunt."

"It's not as simple as that."

"Of course it is. She's hurting you, Rachel! I- If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me, for a girl who is in pain seeing her friend hurt. Please."

I can't say no. I hadn't thought that it would affect Santana. Sure, the prospect of facing Dayna and telling her I was leaving was frightening, but the idea that I was hurting someone I cared for was even scarier.

"OK. For you."

I really hope you enjoyed it! There will be a new chapter up soon, I hope. Big thanks to RoseLilianShadow, amazinglife18, GypsySoul05,Em (Guest), J.J (Guest), JWilson18, caseyrn12, CarolineSC and A (Guest), you guys are so, so great, I write for you guys. Please review, the review box is lonely, and if everyone who read this reviewed, it would make me happier than you could ever imagine! Thanks!