-Santana-

"Talk to me, San, you haven't told anyone what happened, it's been weeks," Brit grabs my hand as we walk to practice.

"I just don't want to talk about it, it's over," I stiffen under Brit's concerned gaze. I sigh, because I can see the hurt in her eyes, she just wants to understand. "He just said some awful things to me, and pushed me up against the lockers, it didn't go further than that. The fear was the worst part," We stop in the middle of the path, "I was so scared of what was going to happen, there was three of them, if Sue and Coach Bieste hadn't heard me screaming, it would have been so much worse,"

"I'm so sorry San, I don't want you to be afraid," She stroked my palm with her thumb soothingly.

A couple freshmen scurry by us, avoiding eye contact. Ever since Dean Figgins cracked the hammer down on harrassment people have been avoiding me even more, like theyre afraid of accidentally offending me and getting themselves expelled like Garret and his neaderthal friends.

"thanks Brits," I ignore the other people on the path and tighten my grip on Brit's hand. As long as I focus on how warm it is, on how confident Brit looks as she walks beside me, her head up high like no one can touch her. Maybe, I'll be okay too.

-Sam-

"Sam, you need to calm down," Mercedes places a hand on my shoulder.

"I just, I feel like I should have done, something," I take deep breaths, trying to stop the trembling in my hands. Ever since San was attacked a few weeks back I've been feeling like I'm not doing my job. I feel like my girls could drop at any minute and I'm not there to catch them.

"Sam, you couldn't have done anything, none of us knew until it was over. She's okay, she knows you would've done something if you could have," She rubs my back comfortingly. I smile half-heartedly at her. She's trying so hard to be understanding.

"Santana can handle herself, you know," She removes her hand shifts uncomfortably next to me on the couch in the library.

"It was three on one Mercedes, if coach hadn't gone in there who knows what could have happened!" I shake my head furiously at the possibilities.

Mercedes sighs, "You can't protect them forever Sam, it's not your job,"

"Sure San's tough, but what about Rach? She's so, she's Rachel, she can't handle herself, and Quinn, god Mercedes, It's been my job to look out for them for so long, it's not an easy habit to break,"

"Rachel has Finn, and Quinn has Puck, they don't need you Sam, I need you now, it's your job to protect me," Suddenly it clicks, this isn't about the girls, it's about her. She does understand, she's just jealous.

"Babe, you know I'll protect you, it's an instinct. But I'm like HP, I gotta protect everyone I care about, everyone,"

"But they don't need you,"

I throw my head back, "What if Puck screws up huh? Or Finn? Or what if some assholes try to gang up on San again? Am I supposed to just ignore them? No, when they hurt, I hurt. You're my girlfriend, and I'll always be here for you, I'm a chicks before dicks kind of guy, but they were my chicks first, they're like my sisters, please respect that," with that I stand, grab my bag and lean down to kiss her on the cheek. She looks down at her hands but doesn't push me away. "I'll call you later okay?"

She nods, I've never seen her so quiet. It almost makes me stay, but this conversation reminds me that there's someone I need to have words with.

-Quinn-

I don't think my relationship with Puck has been this, stable, until now. He hasn't made a crude comment since he showed up at my dorm this morning. Actually he hasn't said anything for the last half hour, we're just laying on my bed, he's holding me and every once in a while he'll kiss my temple. I've never seen him like this.

"You're so much more gentle than I expected," I whisper, facing the wall with him cuddled up behind me.

"Yeah, just don't tell anyone," I crack a smile at that, always trying to protect his reputation as king of the badasses.

Suddenly I hear his phone vibrate in his pocket and he stealthily pulls it out, "hello? Rach? What, calm down, yeah she's right here," He thrusts his phone at me, a panicked expression on his face and I take, sitting up.

"Rach? What's wrong?"

I can hear her take in a shaky breath before speaking, "M-my Dad just c-called me and m-my D-dad-dy is in the h-hospital," she sobs at the last part and I let out a steady breath. Rachel is so close to her fathers.

"Is he okay? What happened?"

"H-he was in a c-car accident, dr-runk dr-river, I, I don't know if he's okay, Q-quinn? What if h-he's not okay?"

Oh god, "Where's Finn?"

"I called him, -hiccup- his phone is -hiccup- off, he's in class," her sobs are dying down, but her voice is still quivering.

"Okay, do you want Puck and I to drive you to the hospital? Is he in town?"

"Y-yeah, Quinn he needs to be okay,"

"He will be, I'm sure of it," She hangs up and I hand Puck his phone. "Come on, we need to get Finn out of class,"

-Rachel-

Finn comes through my door followed by Quinn and Noah. I sit up from the fetal position on my bed and Finn sweeps me up bridal style and peppers my face with kisses. "Rach I am so sorry I turned my phone off,"

I immediately burst into tears again, "It's okay, you're here now," I say between gasps for air.

He carries me out of the building and buckles me into his truck, Q and Noah climb into the back and I can hear her on the phone with San.

"Just meet us at the hospital, Rach is a mess,"

"FINN BETTER BE MANNING UP AND TAKING CARE OF HER FREAKED OUT ASS OR I'LL WILL CUT HIM!"

I let a chuckle cut through my tears for a moment. San is like my ghetto mom. Quinn's my suburban mom and Sam's my big brother. I've got the best family away from my family ever. Speak of the brotherly devil, Sam sprints up the passenger side of the truck just as Finn starts it and slaps his hand on the window. Finn rolls it down and Sam thrusts his arms into the truck to wrap them around my shoulders.

"Everythings gonna be fine Rach, we're all here for you, I love you and I'm following you in big red okay?"

"okay Sam, I love you too," I say, even though he's practically constricting my airways. He nods and Finn rolls up the window and backs out of the parking lot.

The tears start back up once we're on the road and Finn grabs onto my hand, "shh, babe, it's gonna be okay,"

"Finn! This is the first time you're meeting my dads! This is NOT okay!"

He shakes his head, "It doesn't matter, all that matters is that you're there supporting him and I'm there supporting you, okay?"

I nod, sniffling and we pull into the hospital.

We walk into the front entrance and Quinn talks to the receptionist.

"Rachel Baby?" I hear my Dad's voice and I spin around, and find myself pressed against his chest in a gripping hug.

"Dad, I'm here, do we know anything?"

"The doctor just talked to me, it's bad sweetie, he's in surgery,"

it's bad, surgery his words float around repeating themselves in my head. Suddenly I'm feeling light headed, I stumble a little when I dad lets me go.

"Rach?" Finn's voice is clear.

"Rachel!" Quinn's holding my shoulders and trying to get me to focus on her. I can see her pretty face, and it's quickly replaced by Finn's. He's so beautiful, I focus on his eyes, his lips, his cheeks.

"Rach? Look at me," He says, "look at me," he repeats this, but his face is getting fuzzy, and then everything fades to black. The last thing I remember is thinking about his face and praying to God I'm not dying, because I can't imagine not waking up to that face for the rest of my life.

oh snap! This chapter twisted drastically from what I'd originally planned, but as I've mentioned before, I write what the characters want. This is THEIR story. So, what's going to happen with Rachel's daddy, and what's going to happen to Rachel! Will Mercedes come to terms with Sam's relationship with the girls? Will the torment of Santana ever end? We shall see, :)

read, review & repeat! ;)

sincerely your exhilerated author,