A/N: I'm so disappointed with Glee right now. We waited so long for Dianna to return and we're rewarded with that travesty of a comeback. Hats off to the Glee writers for the worst character assassination that's not on a daytime soap opera.
A/N2: Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I wanted to build the suspense a little. Forgive me? Thank you to all the readers who take time to review; it helps the writing process. Major epiphany ahead for Rachel. Enjoy! Reviews motivate me to write more, so keep them coming! Unedited since I don't have a beta, so all mistakes are mine. I do not own Glee. If I did Quick would be dream that only existed in Puck's fantasies and Faberry would be the endgame couple on the show.
Chapter 20
Rachel was doing her best not to cry as she and Santana hurried through the bustling streets to the train station. All she could think about was the last time the blonde had been in an accident and the trauma it had caused. She could still see, in her mind's eye, Quinn struggling in her wheelchair and she whimpered at that memory. Her mind flitted back to the first time they made love and she cried, remembering the blonde's shame at the scars that littered her body. Her chest ached and she absently rubbed at her breastbone to quiet tremors in her heart as they arrived at the train station.
The two girls procured their tickets for the train and boarded promptly, not wanting to waste a single moment. They settled as close to the doors as possible, so they could exit the train without waiting for the rest of the passengers. Once in her seat, Rachel let the tears fall freely. She leaned into Santana, who held her close, even as she fought back her own tears.
The train raced along the familiar route. Normally Rachel spent her excursions to Yale taking in the beautiful scenery of the countryside or admiring the tall buildings of New York. This trip was very different. She and Santana were huddled together pensively in their seats. Rachel spent the majority of the trip in tears and Santana had her arms wrapped around the little diva while she aimed her signature glare at any innocent passenger who dared make eye contact.
It was on this seemingly endless journey that Rachel experienced a true epiphany. The fear that ate at her was not just for someone she considered a friend or lover, it was for the person she loved. Part of the reason for Rachel's tears was the realization that she was in love with Quinn and it might be too late to tell her. Her tears were also in response to the memories she mentally reviewed in the safety of Santana's embrace. She recalled so many significant moments with Quinn. The blonde had always been part of her life and had meant so much to her in high school. She carefully examined their interactions in high school and beyond and realized that it wasn't just a part of her heart that belonged to Quinn, it was her whole heart.
Her love for Finn had been real and wonderful, but it was based on high school emotions and feelings. Her love for Quinn was layered with so much more. There was respect, passion, honesty, care, and affection. They were both intelligent, passionate, and ambitious. She smiled through her tears at the knowledge that it was always meant to be Quinn. She loved Quinn.
The joy from her discovery was short-lived when terror at Quinn's situation crept back into her heart. She burrowed further into Santana, attempting to push away the grief that threatened to overwhelm her.
The garbled announcement over the speakers and the high-pitched sounds of a stopping train jolted Rachel awake. Exhausted from her bout with crying, she had dozed fitfully for the last half hour of the trip. She slipped her hand into Santana's and the two of them pushed their way past the other passengers. Once outside they hailed a taxi and Rachel stuttered out the location of their destination, Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Rachel placed a text to Quinn's roommate of their imminent arrival. The answering text instructed them to meet in the lobby of the facility. The girl extended a hand in greeting, looking a little sheepish. Although Rachel liked Sarah she forewent the usual pleasantries and introductions and demanded to see Quinn, effectively cutting off any conversation. Santana echoed the sentiment and Sarah wasted no time in taking them to Quinn's room, walking them through a maze of hallways and corridors.
Rachel could hardly breathe. Every step down the too-bright hallways was filled with dread. She mentally steeled herself to handle seeing Quinn's broken body and fought down the bile rising in her throat. She kept reviewing the information about Quinn's accident in her head and remembering the one from years ago. The two images blurred together and created a horrific mental image.
Once at Quinn's door, Rachel took a deep breath and attempted to calm down. Quinn needed her. She pushed the door open and immediately stifled a sob. Her girlfriend sitting up in her bed and arguing with the nurse about something. Sharp hazel eyes met hers and the blonde's fierce expression melted instantly. Before her mind could catch up to her body, Rachel had practically flown across the room and flung herself into Quinn's arms.
Quinn held tightly to a quivering Rachel Berry. The little diva had burrowed into her arms and started sobbing uncontrollably. The blonde's chest was damp from the stream of hot tears dripping out of wounded dark eyes. She looked at Santana and Sarah in confusion. Her best friend was pale and holding back tears, while her roommate looked a little embarrassed. She zeroed in on the expression and glared at her roommate, wordlessly demanding an explanation.
At once Sarah began stuttering apologies. "It's my fault. I called her and said you'd been in an accident and that the car was totaled. She asked if you were okay and I said that you were in the hospital. We got disconnected before I could give her more details. I figured that you would want Rachel here, so I said to come up immediately and that I would meet her. I didn't know that she'd think the worst!"
Sighing with frustration at her roommate's thoughtlessness, Quinn shifted her attention back to the distraught girl in her arms. "Hey, Rach," she cooed softly, "everything's fine. I'm going to be okay. I just have a slight concussion and some mild, superficial injuries." She gently rubbed circles on the brunette's back as the girl's cries reduced to a few whimpers and hiccups. The nurse, who had been watching the scene unfold, gave the blonde an understanding smile and said that she'd be back later to check her vitals. Quinn rolled her eyes, but nodded as she continued to run her hands up the length of her girlfriend's back. The blonde glanced at Santana who nodded. The Latina grabbed Sarah and left the room, giving Rachel and Quinn some privacy.
As soon as the nurse left the room Rachel shifted in Quinn's arms. When the diva tilted her head up and their eyes met, Quinn shivered at the depth of emotion in their depths. For a moment she imagined that it was love shining up at her from swirling chocolate eyes. She almost cried herself when Rachel raised a tiny hand and gently traced cool fingers over her bandages with a broken expression. Cool lips, that tasted of salt water, pressed softly against her own and caused her heart to constrict in her chest. Rachel moved to deepen the kiss and Quinn was only too happy to oblige.
"Ow, ow," Quinn muttered when her bruised jaw protested. She gingerly touched the dark bruise that decorated her lower cheek and jaw.
"I'm so sorry, Quinn, I didn't mean to hurt you." Rachel's frantic voice pierced the dull haze of pain warring with pleasure at the kiss.
Quinn grimaced before responding with a soft smile, "It's okay, Rach. I just have to be more careful for a little while." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, hoping to bring some levity to the room. "Just wait, we'll be able to make out soon!"
Rachel chuckled for a moment before choking out another sob. "I..I thought that y..you might be...," she trailed off and closed her eyes as if to stop her words. A few more tears ran down her face as she visibly struggled to calm down. "I was so scared, Quinn. All I could thing about was your accident senior year and what you went through. It was like it was happening all over again."
Quinn cupped the brunette's face and gently touched her lips to the diva's in a gesture of comfort. They held each other for a moment to reaffirm the connection. After a few moments of soft kisses and hands running over each other Rachel's eyes snapped open. "I love you."
I love you. Rachel was unable to hold back her declaration. The knowledge that Quinn was going to be okay coupled with her earlier despair made it impossible to keep her feelings to herself. Quinn went utterly still in her arms. Rachel ignored the shiver of doubt that tried to creep in and searched the blonde's face for a sign that she'd heard and understood. Those warm hazel eyes that she loved so much were closed and a lone tear trickled down a pale, bruised cheek. Needing to say it again she repeated softly, "Quinn, sweetheart, I love you. So much it hurts."
The smile that jumped onto Quinn's face rivaled the sun in its brilliance. "I love you too, Rach," she whispered in awe, "and I'll do everything in my power to deserve you loving me in return."
"Can you forgive me for waiting so long to say it?" Rachel asked tremulously.
Quinn's smile was sweet and indulgent. "There's nothing to forgive, baby," she replied with a soft kiss on plump lips. Rachel smiled and felt some of the fear leave her body. A moment later she felt the world shift as Quinn pulled her forcefully onto the hospital bed to snuggle.
"Quinn! You've just been in a horrible accident and you have injuries!" Rachel's protests were ignored as the blonde shifted their bodies closer together. Truthfully, the diva was content to press her body into the blonde's. She wanted to be as close as possible to the girl who had stolen her heart. She melted into the taller girl and reveled in the press of soft curves against her own.
"I just need you here with me, Rach," Quinn whispered softly as they snuggled together.
Rachel lifted her hand and ran it through silky blonde hair. Quinn hummed contentedly before drifting into a peaceful slumber. Rachel sighed with relief and curled into the blonde, letting exhaustion take over. In a few minutes she followed Quinn into dreamland. A little while later the blonde's nurse found them still intertwined and smiled before draping a blanket over their sleeping forms.
A/N3: There you go. Some fluff to end the cliffhanger. I only have a few chapters left in this story. Thanks again to all of my followers and reviewers. Hopefully I'll get back to TRWP soon. I've even started a new story about Quinn's origins. I've only written part of two chapters, so it'll be awhile before I put it up on fanfiction. Reviews make my day!