Another long wait for a chapter, and I'm really sorry. I hope this chapter is worth it though, it was really interesting to write. Please review it and let me know what you think or any suggestions you may have. It's always appreciated. Enjoy!

And here we see the true journey begin

The saving of Rachel Berry all thanks to Quinn

And a passionate love some may consider sin

A relationship many will question, most of all, the jealous boy Finn

A battle for recovery, closure, justice is what they are in

But will team Faberry win?

The dripping blond took a shaky step forward, a cold hand clutching hers, willing her not to move. Another step echoed through the silence before a tender hand fell on her shoulder with warmth so out of place it turned her around to find the source, the fire in the storm.

With a face of stone stood the second Diva in command Kurt Hummel eyes dancing with nerves. Soft lips moved and the words came out hushed and hurried. "You stay Quinn, I'll take care of it".

Quinn Fabray was the leader of the mission at hand and the idea of giving up any of the responsibility, having someone else do the work forced an eyebrow up, scared and unsure as could be, but the comforting touch on her shoulder and the strong confident eyes reassured her and she let out a simple thank you, taking her place next to the trembling girl they had started to save.

The boy took sharp strides forward ready to play his part, ready to see who he could make and ally, who he could make a friend to the group that had always needed friends more than anything. And as he came closer to the witty white smile, the musty smell, the soft looking hair and sharp looking boy, he knew a friend couldn't be too far away.

He kept his voice low, the quiet had an eerie sense of calm and he couldn't bring himself to break it. "Hello, I'm Kurt Hummel, and these are some of my friends from school. That's Sam, Mercedes, Santana, Brittany, Finn, Puck, Mike, Tina, Artie, Quinn, and that's Rachel." As each name was said Sebastian received warm smiles, cautious hellos, pleading eyes, and a wave of worry seemed to engulf him. "We can't tell you much now. We can't really give you anything either. All we have for you is a promise and a plea, we need you to help us, we're running, but we can't run forever. We need some place to hide." The boy's youth showed in his sorrowful face as he came to terms with the situation they were in, the curve of his frown, the smoothness of his cheeks, the pale of his face. The wisdom beyond his years came through the words, the delicate but straight to the point tone, the urgency and the calm that accompanied them all at once.

The innkeeper had seen many come and go. He knew the tired smiles, the sad sighs, the nervous laughter, and the dangerous eyes. He thought he had seen it all, but this was new. This was a group, a family it seemed, and they were nothing alike. They had all run from their separate hells, he could see, but somehow they all ran to the same place. The glory days of the inn were gone, his family knew and they moved out, the inn was to be closed in a matter of months, he was to stay until it did, and he didn't mind. He ran the hiding place, the silent fortress in the night that gave strangers of every kind a place to hide from their devils. And as he took the keys out, he knew that these strangers were special. As the keys fell from his own hand to the boy that had pleaded he knew that Kurt Hummel was special. And the relief, the smile of appreciation at the unexpected shelter was one he had seen before, he saw it on every face there before him. Those smiles would always make it worth the trouble.

A thankful smile was given to the young innkeeper who only gave a nod before walking off, leaving them to divide up the rooms and make the place home.

He turned around to find an array of eyes, a beautiful rainbow of concern looking all around the room. All eyes found their way back to him, except for those dark mocha that stayed locked, watching the hazel eyed angel. "We're safe here, for now. There are three people to every room." The words seemed to put some of the teens into action as the boys parted quickly making two distinct groups. On one side of the creaky floorboard stood Finn, Sam, and Puck while the other side held Kurt, Mike, and Artie.

While the boys stood watching in their respective groups all eyes were on the girl they should have been watching long ago. The tiny brunette had delicate fingers wrapped around one of her savior's cool hands, and it was assumed the two would stay together. Rachel needed to be with Quinn and maybe Quinn needed to be with Rachel. But who else? The cheerio bent down low letting hazel and chocolate clash as she let out the softest words anyone had heard her form "Who else do you want in your room Rachel?"

The shivering stopped as the girl felt them watching her. It was what she had always wanted in more ways than one. She had always wanted someone to really see her, now she had someone who was looking right at her, people that had seen right through her. It was frightening and calming all at once. She didn't need a moment to think, to search before the name tumbled from her lips, certain, final, and wide eyes caught the chosen girl off guard. "Santana."

Not much shocked the Latina, keeper of secrets, but the teen was shocked, honored, and horrified by the decision all at once. A small, almost shy smile graced her features and her words came out strong, her fortress always guarded. "Of course Rachel." With that she squeezed the hand of the lively blond cheerio that could always make her calm, gave her a silent kiss and let go, walking to stand next to Quinn and Rachel, leaving Tina, Mercedes and Brittany together.

As the rooms were decided the mysterious boy made another appearance. His voice was cautious, ever ready to please. "I have to get going to my room soon, it's late and my parents might call to check in. I can show you the way, but before we go, is there anything else I can do for you guys?" His palms were opened up to the sky, lips sealed in a waiting gesture and eyes ready to accommodate.

Quinn took a step forward, her eyes and voice alight with simple appreciation, with awe, finding a stranger they could trust, finding someone else with good intentions in a world the teens had just found out could be so bad. "No, no we really can't thank you enough"

The smile he offered in reception of the phrase was slight, practically tortured. His tone was one of repentance; regret that one could never forget. "I've spent a lot of my time hurting others, I just figure now its time to help, and you all seem more deserving than most." The candle behind his crystal eyes seemed to flicker, but before they could watch it be taken with the wind of the past his back was to them as he lead the way to rest.

The two staircases they climbed were old, the classic start to the horror movies. With every step they creaked, moaned, with only a small flame lighting them. They went in two's a group that couldn't be broken. A few held hands as they formed a protective barrier around their heart, the pair that would carry them through the journey. Their heart stood hand in hand, the tall, pale blond and the tiny tanned brunette. After slow thoughtful steps and unknown noises they reached a small landing and the regret filled boy bid them goodnight leaving them as he went further up into the darkness.

And in dim light, the darkness they stood bickering. Puck, Finn, Mercedes stood arguing for a plan to be made that night, answers to be given right there and then. But Quinn and Santana, the true leaders, the head bitches in charge were the ones that knew best. They knew it had been too much. They saw it in the exhausted shadows, the light that played over tired, tear stricken eyes. It was time to sleep and plan tomorrow. The idea was tempting, the land of dreams called them and after minutes all resigned to figure things out in the morning.

Brittany and Santana were the first to utter their goodnights, as gentle as lovers can be. Tina and Mike came next with a soft hug. The boys passed as one down the hallway, murmuring goodbyes to their teammates, their family. The girls followed suite, each giving Rachel a simple pat on the shoulder, a sign that they were there before going. But the thoughts, the memories, the worries didn't end with the closed doors.

Finn/Puck/ Sam's Room:

Finn took long strides across the square that they had to call home. His hands ran through anxiously, cutting his hair in half. His voice shook, the tell tale sign of how young he truly was no matter what his stature, his size, his strength. "What have we gotten ourselves into?" His eyes were wide, needing an answer.

The mohawked boy let his head fall and rest in his calloused palms, rough from work and fights far beyond his years. His voice was smoky, exhaustion bringing it down to a dangerous tone, practically helpless, something the bad boy never was. "Protecting one of our own, but God I didn't know it would be from her fathers."

Churning eyes were the first to open and the soft-spoken blond was brave enough to say what they were all thinking. It wasn't hopeful, it wasn't positive, but it was real. "The fact that it's her fathers just makes it all the more dangerous, all the more risky."

The small town bad boy looked up at that, his Mohawk not so menacing in the dark, his eyes softened by the shadows, but his voice as cutting as steel. He gave them each a look right in the eye, a silent push. "We always talked about being men. Now's our time."

For once Finn understood in no time at all. The silent push, the past night was all he needed. His nod was one of a man, with a look in his eye that no one would dare stop. He had a purpose now and nothing would get in his way. "Now's our time, to step up, make a difference."

The young blond admired the two boys, the two men around him. He admired how far they had come in the past few hours, in the past year really. He hadn't noticed the way they had all changed since joining the glee club. Change brought forth one face in particular. His eyes caught them all and the smile in his tone was foreign to the situation. "We know who we can take an example from then don't we?"

And they did. They all knew. Eyes locked, voices in sync the words came proudly off their lips. "Quinn Fabray"

Mike/ Artie/ Kurt's room:

The mostly silent boy so far had parked his wheel chair right next to the bed, wanting more than anything to go to sleep. But sleep wouldn't come, only disbelief. "I can't believe this."

The pale diva came to face them and the fear was there on his face clear as day. The fear of someone who realized the monsters were everywhere not just under the bed. His voice cracked, just like his heart had. "Rachel had her issues but she was the perfect daughter to have, she was lovable, so tiny, so endearing. How could they hit her like that?"

"That's why she was so stiff" They turned to the creaky chair and the slim boy resting on it, watching his face, a mix of horror and realization.

It was Artie that voiced the general confusion first. "What?"

The look he gave them was one of desperation. The young boy always seemed to full of life, the calmest of the bunch had been brought down with the rest of them, and that was a scary thing. "When we would dance, she would be so stiff, I thought it was just a lack of trying, but it was bruises. I should have seen, I should have known."

The rare moment of vulnerability among the boys did not go unnoticed. Boot bound feet walked over to the chair, as the diva crouched right next to the friend in despair. His stunning eyes stayed on the ground; his voice was quiet as he gave a little shake of the head. "No one could have known."

The dancer wasn't going to take that as an answer, like always he didn't miss a beat. He looked at the small room, the two boys beside him, and as he said the words they seemed to bounce off the walls, echoing. "Quinn Fabray did."

Mercedes/ Brittany/Tina's room

The three girls, different as could be, sat in a circle on the carpeted floor. Tina looked at her crossed legs, the innocence of the way she was sitting and remembered the times she had seen Rachel sit the exact same way at a glee girls slumber part or two. It couldn't have had that innocence though, that was robbed of her. More distraught than she had ever been Tina was the first to speak. "Her fathers…"

The member of the former three-part diva group shook her head as if everything could be shaken off and put away. Her amber eyes housed unshed tears as she looked up to the heavens and asked her friends, asked God. "How will she ever be able to recover from that? I mean we got her away from the immediate trouble, but what about inside?"

At first the only answer was absolute silence filled with heavy air and untold fears. The silence persisted on until a hum could be heard. A light, worry free hum. The simple tune filled the room and the diva and quiet girl looked at the creator of the hum who wore a confident little smile as she patted the floor in rhythm. She looked up baby blue eyes catching, voice as light as the summer breeze. "She'll be okay."

Incredulous, it was plain to see on the faces staring back at the heavenly cheerleader and the tone of the first to react, the first to try to understand, Tina. "How can you say that Brittany? She can't just get better."

And in the way the blond always seemed to do she gave them a look, a look many people gave her. A look that said she would take the time to understand because they couldn't on their own. Her vibrant eyes were patient, eager to please and her voice was one that stated fact, so confident in the future and the truth of it all. Her eyes wandered around the room, dropping on each of her friends now and then as she spoke. "Of course not. Rachel needs someone, just like ice cream needs sprinkles and a cherry to get better. She can't do it on her own; she needs people to help fix her, put her back together."

Mercedes simply looked down unable to believe like her hopeful counterpart. She couldn't see it that way, not yet not now. But Tina, in her common way was curious, anxious to get it and so she went along with the cheerio and she asked, "Who are Rachel's sprinkles?"

The always light hearted blond's eyes darkened for a moment, leveling each of them with a look that told them they were important, they meant something, that they needed to take it seriously. "Each one of us."

At the chance to be able to do something to change the grim future she looked up, almost afraid of the light that seemed to be radiating off of the hopeful blond. Amber eyes focused on Tina, as if getting permission to ask the last question, the most important. Permission was given and Mercedes asked low and questioning as ever, "And the cherry?"

At that the crystal eyes flickered, and were lit with a flame of mirth. A sly smile spread across the knowing girl's face and it was absolutely obvious that she knew something no one else could for a long while. Her voice danced about the room in pure joy, as if the answer should be obvious, should be celebrated. "Quinn Fabray."

Santana/ Rachel/ Quinn's room:

The young Latina closed the door quietly, locking it because even she was afraid of the demons that could be lurking that night. She let the door be her support for a few quiet moments as she watched her life long friend and the girl that would soon be a faithful companion.

The strong blond let her shoulders drop and her icy fingers relax in the smaller girls terrified grip. Together they walked clumsily to the bed and there they stood. The girl whose secret hell had been exposed looked at the blond next to her almost lovingly. The cheerio pulled the blanket up and watched as Rachel took the cue given and cautiously let go of her fingers to lie down in the bed, shivering, afraid.

Hurried fingers took a moment to miss the comfort of the other girl's hand as they gripped at the soft blanket to cover and warm the mistreated young woman. Conditioned legs pulled as the iron lady of the Glee club, the determined blond crouched down, hazel eyes on the same level as their chocolate brown counter parts. Molten gold inspected the girl tucked underneath the covers and hesitant lips parted. Her voice was the winter wind. "You're safe now Rachel, I promise

Seemingly hollow eyes stared right back, and nothing changed on the girls face, the words couldn't change much of anything. The young girl had built a castle to hide her secrets and just because they had broken in didn't mean the walls would come down. But in Rachel Berry fashion she spoke and said something shocking. Her voice was the whispers in a storm, almost impossible to catch. "I know Quinn, I know." She had released the tiniest drawbridge, a way go get in.

Hazel eyes stopped churning in awe, a sort of amazement it seemed only Rachel Berry could bring to Quinn Fabray. Her voice was strangled, caught up in her throat. "How?"

"You're here." The simplicity, the childhood air that surrounded the words was so sweet it hurt and the smile that tugged but couldn't quite take over practically melted the frozen heart rapidly beating barely inches away.

The blond wasn't good with words and there was nothing that she could say right then. The gratitude that rarely warmed her heart was shown in the feather light kiss she laid on the tan forehead. The shaken girl was still as stone but her eyes sparked with ease and before the blond could pull away completely she heard a strained little "no" come from the broken girls mouth.

Rachel reached a warm tentative hand out to touch the pale stony cheek, as delicate as an angel's, just as flawless too. A little noise escaped as the brunette raised herself up and gave the suddenly shy blond a kiss on the cheek and the smallest of smiles. She let out a heartbreaking "Thank you Quinn Fabray" before easing herself back down and shutting her eyes tight, willing a dreamless sleep to come. The blond couldn't help the grin that spread across her face in the wake of the disaster. She didn't know why it was there, or why she suddenly felt warm all over but she didn't miss the cold, she liked it. And as he walked over to the other cheerio in the room she realized she wanted the warmth of Rachel Berry more than most anything.

As her friend came closer, smoldering eyes blew up in flames and shaky hands rubbed against one another. She spared a look at the other brunette in the room, the one that had asked for her. As the cheerio spoke her voice was low, strangled. "Oh fuck Quinn. How did you see this, how could you have possibly seen this mess."

Santana Lopez losing her classic calm scared the blond more than she cared to admit. The fact that she couldn't answer the why scared her even more. Unsure hazel eyes ran over the room, landing on the still figure in the bed that had given her warmth. "I don't know. With her it was like I saw everything, I needed to."

And as those hazel eyes came back to meet the fire she didn't see confusion. What she saw was worse. The piecing together of a puzzle, but there must have been a piece missing because smooth lips parted and a whispered question snuck into the air. "She asked for me,why would she ask for me."

"You didn't see it on her face?"

Fire rolled as eyebrows rose and frustration lit up the darkness. The Latina tamed her voice, keeping it down, but it fought to break free. "I don't read faces Quinn."

A Quinn Fabray smile was released at that, vintage, honest, on the verge of vulnerable. She gave a delicate shrug of the shoulders along with an enchanting shake of the head and even Santana fell victim to her charming spell, as her words came out delicately, each like a flower specially picked for the occasion. "You're good at protecting Santana. Maybe you don't make people feel safe all the time, but when someone knows you're on their side they feel protected. I happen to know a girl who thinks you're one of the strongest people she's ever met, she thinks you're the best protection there is."

"Who's that Q?"

A marvelous wink was given in the darkness before the name that was on the tip of everyone's tongue that night came out. "Quinn Fabray." The answer received one of the warmest smiles the Latina had to offer, surprised, so surprised the armor fell and the appreciation made it's way to her features untainted. The truly mysterious blond turned and like most Santana followed her and as both girls got into bed beside the one who had brought them all together they wondered. They wondered if they would ever sleep again. They wondered what was to come. Most of all they wondered if they had come in time.