AN: Hello! I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who took the time to review or read the last chapter. Thanks to all the new followers and favorites I have received. Sorry it took so long for me to update this. I have been busy, busy. This chapter is for all the lovely girls I beta for. They are always praising me so I decided to praise them. So shout out to Rose, Tay, Bayleigh, Charlie, and Natasha Bryant. Here's chapter 21 and please don't forget to leave me a review, thanks.

Also I know Glee is crappy right now and there is no Samcedes but I do ask my readers if you have the time to vote for our favorite couple in the portrait magazine poll. You can vote as many times as you see fit. Samcedes is currently in second behind Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl. So please go vote at portrait magazine dot net.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

Chapter 21: Down But Not Out.

Sam was mindlessly working on his machine. He only had about three hours left until he would finally be off for the weekend. He couldn't wait to spend the next two days snuggled up with his wife. It was thoughts like this that helped him make it through his eight hour shift. Thinking was about the only thing he had to do especially on nights like these when Jeff, his work buddy was off. He was lost in thoughts of planning a special prom proposal to Mercedes when his boss, Stanley approached him.

"Evans!" He yelled loud enough for him to hear his name being called.

Sam shut of his machine and turned towards his boss nervously. "Yes sir?" He answered.

"I need you to follow me please." Stanley said and started walking towards the main office.

The entire time Sam trailed behind him, his mind was wondering. Was he in trouble for something? He had been to work on time since he started and he always made sure to be above quota because this job was his and Mercedes only means of income. If he lost it then where would they be? He shoved his hands down in his pockets as he turned the corner leading to Stanley's office.

When he walked in he saw Tina and Finn stand up quickly when they spotted him. He didn't like the look on their faces. Tina looked as if she had been crying and Finn had a mixture of concern and anger on his. All of a sudden Sam felt sick to his stomach, he didn't know what they were doing here but it had to be bad news.

"Finn, Tina, what are you doing here?" Sam asked them, his hands shaking. As soon as the question left his mouth tears began to pour out of Tina's eyes. Finn tried to comfort her as he looked at Sam, with regret.

"What the hell happened?" Sam said losing patience.

"It's Mercedes, Sam." Finn said. "She's in the hospital."

"Quinn Fabray is a lying liar that lies."

That sentence had been said at least 30 times this week by Mercedes. Quinn promised her that she was going to let Mercedes deal with her neighbor on her own. It wasn't that big of a deal to her. Clyde really hadn't said anything else to her since his so called threat. Sure, every now and again he would give her these strange looks when she would go to enter her apartment but that happened before the threat. Mercedes was on her way to her locker when she spotted Quinn and Noah heading towards her.

"Mercedes you can try to ignore us all you want but we aren't going anywhere."

Puck said as he looped his arm into hers.

Mercedes rolled her eyes, when Quinn took the other side flanking her.

"Guys, we are at school, I don't need you to go all "the bodyguard" on me. Mercedes said. "Just because Quinn filled your head with craziness about me being in danger doesn't mean smother me."

"Fine if you don't like me trying to protect you then I can always go and tell Sam." Puck warned her. "I'm sure he would love to be the one who is protecting you."

"You know what baby, that sounds like a great idea to me." Quinn chimed in.

The couple walked away down the hall and Mercedes was trying to reel in her anger. She was so sick and tired of the back and forward. Ever since Quinn told Noah about Clyde the two of them had been like her second skin. Quinn wanted to just cut the bullshit and just tell Sam what the hell was going on but Noah actually agreed with Mercedes. He knew how easy it was for Sam to overreact in certain situations especially when it pertained to Mercedes. He figured if he monitored her for the time being then he could keep things under wraps. Mercedes couldn't help but feel like a little child. Ever since Quinn snitched, Coach Sue had all of a sudden needed some extra help with getting everyone prepared for Nationals, so Mercedes no longer had a half a day of school.

Something else that changed was Sam didn't have to waste time driving her home after school because Quinn and Puck chaperoned her home every day. They even made her flick the porch light on like some child when she made it inside safely. It was getting a little annoying. Mercedes was even certain that some nights she would see Puck's truck just sitting in the parking lot of her apartments. She hated being treated like some fragile child but she would rather put up with Puck, than letting Sam know the truth.

The next day Mercedes was called to the choir room before she sat down good in her seat in her first period class. She wondered the whole way what this could have possibly been about. Halfway there she saw Santana heading in the same direction.

"Where you going San?" Mercedes asked with concern.

"Sue said for me to get my butt down to the choir room immediately." Santana answered. "Where are you going?"

"To the choir room too. Principal Figgins paged me."

"I wonder what the hell is going on."

The two friends made it there and saw Sugar standing outside of the door with a pissed off look on her face.

"The bitch is back?" She said furious as Santana and Mercedes approached her.

"What bitch?" Brittany asked as she joined the group.

The ladies walked inside of the choir room to see Rachel, Sue, Principal Figgins, Will, Jesse St. James, and two men in suits.

"Ladies if you all would have a seat we can begin." Principal Figgins said when they entered. The four of them each took a seat side eying Rachel as they passed her. "These two gentlemen are Christopher Dean and Oliver Martin. They represent the show choir board of directors. They have come here today to talk to you. I expect you to give them your undivided attention."

After principal Figgins spoke the gentleman he referred to as Oliver step forward and began to speak.

Sam waited by the door of Mercedes first period class. He was fortunate that the sub for Mr. Schue let them out two minutes early so he could be waiting for Mercedes as soon as the bell rang. As the students started to file out he couldn't help the excitement he felt. As more and more students left the room he hadn't noticed Mercedes walk out. Mike saw Sam as he stepped out the door.

"Hey man, she isn't in there, Principal Figgins called her to the choir room when class started and she never came back. Here I grabbed her backpack for her."

"Thanks Mike. Do you know what he wanted?" Sam asked but Mike just shook his head no.

"Ok well, thanks again."

Sam began making his way to his history class, thinking it was just something to do with Nationals coming up. He was happy that the Glee club was going to Chicago, but he did want to go. He and Mercedes spent the summer talking about how they hoped to spend their senior year as a couple and winning Nationals together. He knew he couldn't dwell on the disappointment he felt because God had plans for a reason.

Sam began to worry when Mercedes still hadn't made it to her second period class. He knew she had Glee third with him having study hall so he was tempted to skip and see what was going on. He still had her back pack so he could use that as an excuse. He was so glad he did because by the time he made it to the choir room it was a mad house. He saw Coach Sue dragging a man out by his jacket collar holding a pair of glasses that had been snapped in half. When he walked into the door he saw Brittany being soothed by Santana, Rachael and Jesse with smirks on their faces, and Sugar and Mercedes both looked as if they were fighting back tears.

"What the hell is going on?" Finn asked.

Sam went over and sat next to Mercedes there was no way he could go back to class after seeing her shaken up the way she was. He would gladly take the detention for skipping class, because his wife was more important. When he sat down he didn't ask any questions he just put his arm around her and held her tight. It was like her resolve had broken, and she began to cry into his shoulder. A minute later Coach Sue had returned and asked that everyone take a seat.

"I know you all are wondering what happened today, unfortunately it's not good news." She informed them. "It appears that your former choir member Rachel, went to the Show Choir Board of Directors, and filed a claim, stating that the members of the Troubletones were paid to perform at several events."

Before Sue could even finish her sentence good, the whole room erupted in chaos. There was shouting and lunges towards a smiling, but frightened Rachel, who cowardly hid behind Jesse. Santana surprisingly wasn't the worse; it was Quinn who had just about all she could take of Rachel's BS. Noah had to throw the raging blonde over his shoulder and leave the room. Everything and everyone was in uproar, Mercedes on the other hand couldn't begin to process why everything was going wrong for her. Sam was trying his best to comfort her but he could feel her pulling away from him. It took Sue, Principal Figgins, Coach Beiste, and Will a few minutes to get the situation under control.

"I can't stay in here with her, I can't do this." Mercedes said removing herself from Sam's hold. "I'm done with this." She stood up and walked out of the room.

"I am going to take her home." Sam told Sue on the way out.

"Can she do this?" Mike asked after finally calming Tina down.

"She can and she has." Jesse spoke up.

"What are you even doing here?" Finn said walking towards him but Sunshine stood in front of him.

"I am here in support of my new lead singer." He answered.

"What?" Artie asked.

"Well, since you guys stole Vocal Adrenaline's lead singer from last year, I think it is only appropriate that we take yours. Although I do think I got the better end of the deal." He said staring directly at Sunshine.

"Don't you dare look at her." Finn said through gritted teeth. "I will knock that cocky grin off of your face."

Sue could feel the tension in the room getting heightened again. "Hey! Everybody sit down now!" She yelled.

"Not you Barbara reject or your slimy weasel boyfriend. I want the two of you out of my choir room and off of school property. You have done what you have come to do now leave."

Just to add insult to injury before she left Rachel turned to where everyone was sitting. "It will be an honor to compete against you guys at Nationals. I'm sure it will be quite interesting Well, some of you." The sarcasm loud and present in her voice.

"You stupid punta!" Santana exclaimed jumping up and charging towards. Sue yelled for Jesse to get her out of there while she and Mike had to hold Santana back.

"Okay guys listen, I am afraid it's not looking good." Sue said after everyone was calm again.

Mercedes was quiet the whole way home. All Sam could do was try and concentrate on driving as he glanced periodically at his wife who was crying silently. She was staring out the window with a blank expression on her face. Things weren't supposed to go like this. She was supposed to be happy and living out her senior year. The plan was to go to Nationals, pick a college, and be happy with Sam. Instead she had a lot of bumps on the way that she did not foresee coming like her father disowning her. The other things that wasn't a part of her plans, was getting married, getting suspended from school, her and Rachel having an all-out war, dealing with her racist neighbor, and now she, Santana, Brittany, and Sugar were deemed disqualified until further notice from competing at Nationals.

She knew this was coming, she knew Rachel was going to get some type of revenge but not like this. For her to take away the one thing Mercedes had been looking forward to since the beginning of the school year was far worse than imaginable. When they made it home, she still didn't say a word. She walked zombielike to their bedroom and plopped down on the bed. Sam kicked off his shoes and then proceeded to take hers off, placing them at the foot of the bed. Neither of them spoke as he climbed in bed next to her. He pulled her close in his arms and held her as she tried hard not to cry. This was what she loved about Sam, his ability to know everything and exactly what she needed. He didn't ask her any questions and he didn't over coddle her. Being here wrapped closely in his arms was what was keeping her together.

About an hour had passed, and they were still in the same position that they had been in since they made it home.

Am I a bad person?" Mercedes asked her husband quietly.

"What?" Sam said not quite hearing her.

"Am I a bad person, because I feel like I am being punished."

"No baby you're a good person, you're the best person I know. You aren't being punished for anything. Rachel's a vindictive person and she took advantage of your kindness."

"But Sam I feel like nothing is going right in my life except for you. My parents hate me, I still haven't found a job yet, and now the one thing I was most looking forward to is gone. I'm just tired Sam."

"I'm so sorry things aren't going your way right now baby, I wish I could just take you away from all of this and we could disappear." Sam held her tighter to his chest.

"So do I Sam, so do I."

OOOOO

That night Santana, Brittany, and Sugar all came over to keep Mercedes company. They needed each other to get over the sting of not being able to perform. Sugar tried to reassure the girls not to worry her dad was going to contact his lawyers to see what they could do legally. The girls were innocent, that wasn't the problem. The problem was that by the time the board would finish a full on investigation Nationals would be over. The rules stated that the board had thirty days to make a decision, until then all parties accused were deem ineligible until further review. With Nationals only being twenty days away the girls were certain that whoever was in charge would try to drag this out. Sue didn't make their case any better. When Oliver told her that The Troubletones couldn't compete she went berserk ripping his glasses off his face and snapping them in half. The girls tried their best to ease each other but the pain was still present.

Mercedes was grateful to her friends, but the one person she really needed and wanted to talk to wasn't there. More than anything she wanted to call her mother. She wanted her mother to tell her that everything was going to be alright and she was not the failure that she felt like she was becoming. She needed her to wrap her arms around her like she use to do when she was little and rock her slowly back and forth, but she knew she couldn't get that.

Mercedes was still feeling down after the girls had left and Sam made it home. The next morning she didn't want to go back to school and deal with everyone crowding her especially Puck and Quinn. Sam suggested that skipping one day of school wouldn't hurt them, so the two of them spent it being lazy. Of course she had several texts and voicemails asking if she was ok and if she needed anything. She sent a mass text telling everyone that she and Sam decided to stay at home and she would see all of them tomorrow.

Sam was enjoying his lazy day with his wife so much that he really did not feel like going in to work but he decided against missing. Just as Mercedes was kissing Sam goodbye she saw Blaine and Kurt pull up.

"I love you babe have a good night." Mercedes told Sam before he turned to leave.

"I love you wifey," Sam said stealing one last kiss, and waved at Kurt and Blaine as he made his way to his truck.

"Diva Mercy Jones, we are here to take you out." Kurt said as the two boyfriends approached her door. "Before you even began to protest, I am fully prepared to hog tie you up and put you in the back of my SUV. You are going, so go get that cute booty of yours dressed."

Mercedes threw Blaine a pleading glance for help and he just shrugged and said 'sorry love I am on Kurt's side', so with a huff Mercedes reluctantly went and got herself ready to go. She had received a text from Puck asking if she wanted some company but she told him Kurt was there and was taking her out. He text her back telling her to let him know when she made it home so he and Quinn could come and check up on her, and she rolled her eyes.

"Can you at least tell me where you are taking me?" Mercedes asked as the three of them were heading out.

"It's a surprise and even if it wasn't I probably still wouldn't tell so no." Kurt replied as he started driving down the road.

OOOOO
Thirty minutes later Mercedes found herself standing in line outside of a club called Pink Lace. She didn't even know that Kurt and Blaine were the club type so for them to take her here was definitely a surprise. It didn't take long for them to move to the front of the line where a short skinny guy with long black hair and a tall burley bald man greeted them.

"Well if it isn't my favorite boyfriends." The short one said excitedly.

"Jasper, it is always a pleasure dear. I take it Jasmine will greet us later on?" Kurt said giving him two air kisses.

"Bitch you know she wouldn't have it any other way. FYI she has been shopping recently and she has all new things to upstage all the other imposters inside."

"I bet she does. I for one can't wait."

"Who is your newbie?" He asked looking directly at Mercedes.

"This is Mercedes." Kurt said proudly like he was introducing his newborn daughter to someone for the first time.

"Whaaaatttt! Girlfriend, get out!" Jasper exclaimed as he hugged Mercedes tightly and off guard. "I feel like I have known you my whole life. Kurtikins here talks about you all the time. He says you are his la familia de por vida. Honey you are beautiful. I just wished Kurt could have brought you sooner. I just want to know one thing? Where in the hell did you get those shoes cause honey Jasmine would kill her cousin for them!"

"It's nice to meet you too. I um...appreciate the compliment." Mercedes said as she took in the man before her. It was something about him that she couldn't quite explain but he was very welcoming and she liked it. "They were a gift from my aunt in Virginia I could ask her where she got them and have Kurt tell you next time he sees you."

"You better because those are extra fierce. Ok, I am through taking up your time for now. Have fun and since it is a special occasion I am giving you three free passes to the VIP lounge. Give me your wrist, Kurt you know as much as I love you I cannot allow you three to drink, sorry no me gusta, N-O."

The tall bald guy handed Jasper some pink lace bands that looked a little like garters and he placed one on each of their wrist. He led them inside to a winding staircase. Once inside Mercedes took in her surroundings. The place was way bigger than it looked on the outside and her suspicions were correct about this being a gay club. She had always wanted to go to one but she just never had the chance to. The walls were painted pink, black, and silver. There were strobe lights casting black and white and pink spectrums of lights. The club was almost filled to occupancy and most of the patrons were men or men dressed as women. Mercedes was in awe, she had never seen anything like this before besides on TV. Jasper led them up the stairs and to a big fluffy couch with huge pillows.

"Have fun honeys and don't forget it is Drag Thursday and Karaoke Night." Jasper said as he hugged and kissed all three goodbye and left.

"So is Jasmine Jasper's sister?" Mercedes asked when she got settled in her seat.

"Jasper is Jasmine! I am sure you will meet her later." Kurt said.

Blaine grabbed Mercedes hands and intertwined them together with his in her lap. She smiled at him as he gave a smile back. "Tonight is all about having fun. We aren't going to think about The New Directions, The Troubletones, Will Schuester, Nationals, disowning parents, back stabbing drama queens named Rachel Berry or her bisexual boyfriend." He said earning a confused face from Mercedes on that last part. "TRUST, he is bisexual. We are here to let loose, have fun and that is exactly what we are going to do, am I understood?"

"Understood." Mercedes pulled Blaine into a hug and winked at Kurt as well. "Thanks guys, you are the best."

"Damn straight." Kurt said.

A waiter in nothing but a black pair of tight boxer briefs came to the table and set three glasses of fruit punch down. "Jasper said drinks are on him tonight as long as they are nonalcoholic." The waiter said but none of them heard a word he said as they got lost somewhere between his abs and the rest of sculptured body.

"Good heavens yes! There is a God!" Kurt said fanning himself as the man walked off.

"Praise!" Mercedes said.

"Amen!" Blaine agreed.

The three grabbed a glass a piece. "Let's toast to having a good time." Blaine said.

"And fine ass men in boxers briefs." Kurt added.

"Definitely that." Mercedes agreed.

OOOOO
An hour later and Mercedes was having the time of her life. The music was fantastic and the people inside the club were extra friendly and nice. She had been dancing since she had been there and she couldn't stop smiling and laughing. Not one time had thoughts of all the crappy things that had been going on in her life entered her mind. Her only regret about tonight was that she wished that maybe Santana, Sugar, and Brittany had been there too because they were having a rough week as well. She was on the dance floor dancing her heart out with Blaine when two Queens had pulled her into a sandwich with them while he spent some time with Kurt. Both were beautiful and oddly unique in their own way. She was having such a blast just being able to let loose and be carefree. The song had switched to RuPaul's Covergirl and the crowded starting screaming with joy.

"Oh my god I love this song!" Mercedes screamed.

"We all do girl. Let Lavender Rose see your best Covergirl pose." One of the Queens she was dancing with asked.

Mercedes extended her arms together in the air and curved her body like an S and put on her most fierce face. She held it for a few seconds when the other queen started snapping.

"Diva you better WERK!" She yelled. "But let me show you how Porsche Steele does it." The queen struck a pose that had Mercedes jaw opened wide.

"YAAASSSS bitch!" Lavender said giving Porsche her praise and the three of them continued dancing.

"You two are simply amazing." Mercedes said in awe.

"So are you honey, your smile is like the sun. Don't ever like anyone take that away from you." Porsche said cupping her cheeks.

"That's right girlfriend, remember what we talked about earlier, we may be down but not what…" Lavender asked.

"Out!" Mercedes said finishing her sentence and she felt as if she could get passed anything.

Up in the booth Blaine and Kurt sat and watched Mercedes dance. Kurt had his head rested on Blaine shoulders as they both smiled down at their friend.

"I am so glad she seems to be feeling better, this was a great idea baby." Kurt said.

"I thought it would be. If a night out with a bunch of Drag Queens can't lift your spirits then something is really wrong." He said kissing the top of Kurt's head. "I am going to go and retrieve her in about ten minutes because Lord knows those Queens will wear you out. They will have her dancing till next week."

Mercedes was humming a song she heard at the club the whole ride home. She was really grateful for Kurt and Blaine for taking her out tonight. In all honesty she had planned on spending it moping around the house feeling sorry for herself and she was gracious that that didn't happen. For some reason spending time with some of the Queens had her feeling better about herself. She sat and talked to some of them and they explained how they had some hardships coming up because of who they were and what they believed in. One thing she noticed was that all of them were able to overcome whatever hardships were thrown their way, even being disowned by their parents because of their sexuality.

She knew her father was still upset at her and it hurt with each passing day, but she knew that marrying Sam was what she felt was the right thing to do in her head and she accepted it whether he could or not. Things may have been rocky for Mercedes at the moment but she made a vow to herself at the club that she would not let these things bring her down. She would overcome them just like her new friends at the Pink Lace, which she now was welcome to come and party anytime she wanted to for free. The queens fell in love with Mercedes and she enjoyed being around them as well. When Kurt pulled into her apartment they set in his truck for a minute.

"Thanks again guys for such an amazing time. I can't tell you how much fun I had. I really needed that." She reached over the back seat to the front and hugged both boys tightly around the neck and kissed each one on the cheek. "I love you two."

They said their goodbyes and they watched Mercedes unlock her door and walk in. Before she shut her door she turned around and waved at them one final time and shut the door. As soon as she reached for her living room light she felt someone grab her from behind. She didn't get the chance to scream because their hand had a tight grip around her mouth. It didn't take Mercedes long to figure out who was in her apartment. She knew the smell from anywhere. It was Clyde, he always smelled of alcohol, tobacco, and dirt. He walked backwards with Mercedes still in his grasp. He peered out of her curtain and watched as Kurt and Blaine had driven off. Once he saw them leave the parking lot he pushed Mercedes forward with a hard thrust.

"I told you this wasn't over." He said angrily.

OOOOO

Blaine and Kurt had been on the road for about five minutes when they heard a buzzing noise in the back seat. Blaine turned around and saw a flashing light on the floor of the back seat.

"Dang honey, Mercedes left her phone. She must have dropped it." Blaine said showing it to Kurt. "Sam is texting her. I will send him a text letting him know she left it and we are on our way back to their apartment to return it."

"Sounds good." Kurt said making a U-turn and heading back towards Mercedes place.

OOOOO

Mercedes tried to find some way to escape. She tried to make a dash around him but he pushed her to the ground. He pulled out a pocket knife, and pointed it towards her.

"Try that again and I will cut you." He threatened.

"What do you want?" Mercedes asked still sitting on the floor of her living room.

"I want to teach you a lesson about respecting your elders." He walked over to where she was at and pulled her to her feet by her hair. "You're scared aren't you?" He whispered drunkenly.

Mercedes didn't say anything as he pulled her up and place the knife in her side. She was scared just a little but she wasn't going to let him know that. A million thoughts came rushing through her head. She was not about to let Clyde get the best of her.

"Now, you listen to me bitch. I have been watching you for a while. Don't think I haven't seen your little friend watching out for you. I waited for the perfect opportunity to strike and now I have. You are so disrespectful and disrespectful women like you got to be taught a lesson."

Mercedes didn't say a word she just watched and waited for her chance to try to one up him. She knew he had been drinking and his reflexes would be a bit off. Sure he had about 70 pounds on her but she wasn't going to let that stop her from making it out of this apartment alive.

"Where is all that loud mouth sass talking that you were doing last time?" He moved closer to her face and reached out to touch her and she hit his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" Mercedes sneered.

"Oh there it is! I was waiting for the ghetto in you to come out." He reached to touch her again and she hit him away again spitting in his face. Before Mercedes could even plan her next move his back hand slapped her across the face.

"What the fuck do you want from me huh?" She screamed.

"For you to respect your elders bitch!"

"You are not my elder. You are just some lowlife, pathetic, racist, drunk. I'm not scared of you, not even a little." Mercedes said. "What do you plan on accomplishing by breaking in my apartment? You say you are going to teach me a lesson in respect but I am calling your bluff."

With a loud growl, Clyde charged towards Mercedes knife in hand. Mercedes quickly ran towards him as well as she tried to take the knife out of his hand. The two of them fought for possession of the weapon and Clyde head butted Mercedes but she was able to knock the knife out of his hand before she fell. She felt a little light headed from the blow but she knew she had to keep fighting or he would get the upper hand. He punched her twice in the face and she fell. Clyde tried to sit on top of her but she kicked him in the side before he had a chance to fully straddle her. Mercedes sat up halfway and punched him in the stomach then the face. She got up and tried to run towards where she saw the knife fly and he grabbed her ankle tripping her. He pulled her by her ankle towards him and Mercedes tried to overpower him and reach the knife a few feet in front of her.

"You stupid bitch!" He yelled and this time he was successful on getting on top of her. He tried to hit her in her face but Mercedes put her hands up and blocked the few blows. She struggled underneath him and his hands went around her throat. She wasn't going out like this; this was not going to end this way. Fight Mercedes fight! She keeps telling herself. She knew if she had panicked then he would surely kill her. Mercedes calmed her nerves and looked around for something to grab and hit him with. She spotted one of Sam's hand weights and she thanked her husband for being hardheaded about leaving them out. She grabbed it easily and struck Clyde in the face with enough force to get him of her.

OOOOO

Outside Blaine walked up to Mercedes' door. He raised his hand to knock but before he did he heard a man screamed and a loud crashing noise. He ran back to Kurt's car and startled his boyfriend as he flung the trunk open grabbing a bat. He flew to the front seat and yelled for Kurt to give him the spare key he had for Mercedes' apartment.

"Blaine what's going on?" Kurt said scared. You're scaring me."

"Give me the key Kurt!" He yelled and Kurt threw the key ring to Blaine showing him the right key. "Stay in the car and call 911 NOW!"

Blaine ran back towards Mercedes door and frantically unlocked her front door. When he was inside he saw Mercedes fighting with a strange man. He didn't hesitate as he swung the bat and hit the man in the back with it. Clyde cried out in pain and Blaine swung and hit him again, causing him to fall to his knees. Mercedes kicked him upside his head knocking him out and she stumble weakly towards Blaine.

"Oh my God Blaine!" She said throwing her arms around him crying. "I thought he was going to kill me."

"You're ok, you're safe." Blaine assured her. "Let's go outside and away from him. Blaine walked her outside pass the front door and Mercedes was barely moving.

"Blaine I don't feel so..." One second Mercedes was standing up and the next Blaine saw her eyes roll to the back of her head before she collapsed in his arms. Kurt saw the whole thing and sprang from the driver seat of the car.

"Mercedes!" He yelled frightened and ran to his fallen friend. "Oh my god Blaine what happened?"

"She was being attacked."

"911 is on the way. You better not die on me Mercedes!" He cried hysterically.

Sam sprinted down the white halls of Lima Memorial Hospital in search for room 1311. He had no idea what was going on only that Mercedes had been attacked. He had no clue what kind of condition she was in or if she was even awake. He turned the corner and spotted a few of their friends. They ran to him once they saw him and the only person he wanted to see was Mercedes.

"Where is she?" He asked impatiently.

"She's in there." Quinn said.

"Is she...is she..." He couldn't get the words out.

"She's alive and awake." Santana said crying.

"She's been asking for you. They won't let any of us see her because we aren't family." Brittany informed him.

Sam slowly walked into the hospital room. It was quiet except the sound of the machine running in the room with her. He saw her before she saw him and he couldn't help but breakdown at the sight of her. Her head was stitched up. She had a bruised eye and busted swollen lip. She reached for him and he took her hand still not saying a word. Hot tears ran down his cheeks as he took in the sight of his wife. She looked so fragile but she tried her best to smile up at him.

"Hey you." She said quietly.

"Hey." Sam managed to choke out. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you are here. You should see the other guy." She tried to joke but Sam didn't find anything funny about the situation.

"Mercedes what happened?" He asked.

"It's my fault. I didn't think he would do anything." She admitted.

"Who?"

"Clyde."

"Our neighbor? He did this to you!" Sam asked.

Mercedes told Sam about everything that had ever happened between her and Clyde. She told him about all of the threats and racist comments and even about Puck and Quinn trying their best to protect her. She could tell Sam was beyond furious. The bruising grip on her hand, clenched jaw, and the scowl he was now wearing on his face was indication enough.

"Mercedes how could you not tell me this! I could've protected you from this, from him!" He yelled frustrated.

"I know Sam, I know!" Mercedes cried. "But I knew you would fight him if you knew and I didn't want you to get in trouble."

"No I wouldn't have fought him Mercedes, I would've have killed him." Sam let Mercedes hand go and started to pace back and forth in front of her bed. "I can't believe he put his hands on you. He has to pay for this Mercedes!"

"He will, the cops are already outside his room and he will be arrested. There's no worry. I fought him back and Blaine banged him up good too. I'm fine Sam beside a small concussion the doctor said I should be alright."

"But it is not alright Mercedes. He could have killed you!"

"But he didn't. I wasn't going to let him. If I'd let him kill me you would have been pissed at me and I can't have that."

"Don't. Dare. Joke. About. This." He said through gritted teeth.

"Sam please can you just hold me? Please!" She pleaded. He was reluctant at first but he walked over to her bed and slid in the space beside her. He wrapped her carefully in his arms and placed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'm sorry Sam I should have told you. I thought I could handle it. I can't have you mad at me. I have been through so much and I need you." He could hear her starting to cry.

"Baby I'm not mad at you; I'm disappointed that you didn't come to me with this. He hurt you Mercedes. I wish I could've been there to protect you like a husband is supposed to. I can't lose you Mercedes I won't be able to handle that. If Blaine hadn't showed up..." He closed his eyes at the thought.

"But he did and I am here with you, in your arms." Mercedes said wiping a tear from his cheek. "I fought him for you so you wouldn't have to go through this crazy world alone. I fought him for myself as well. I'm just tired of everything going south for me and I guess I needed to fight back."

"Well I'm proud of you for doing that. I'm glad all those fights with Rachel came in handy." He said trying to lighten the mood.

"I swear a part of me visualized him as her for like a minute. It was easier for me to fight him that way." She confessed.

"Whatever worked for you I am just glad it did. I love you Mercedes." Sam said squeezing her tight.

"I love you too Sam." She yawned.

"Get some sleep baby."

OOOOO

Outside of her room, her friends were trying their best to comfort one another. Quinn had been consoling Tina who just wouldn't stop crying and she looked up to check on Puck who she noticed wasn't there.

"Where's Noah?" She asked.

"He said he went to get some coffee." Sugar answered from Artie's lap and both Finn and Quinn shot up out their seats.

"Whoa what's up with you two?" Santana asked standing up as well.

"Puck said he was going to get coffee?" Finn asked.

"Yeah so..." Santana said not understanding the problem.

"Did he say he was going to get coffee or did you send him to get it?" Quinn asked.

"He just said he needed some coffee." Artie replied.

"Shit!" Finn cursed.

"What is the big deal?" Santana asked.

"Puck's allergic to coffee." Both Quinn and Finn said at the same time.

"Dammit Puck!" Quinn spat. "We have to find him now."

Puck walked up to the nurses' station and smiled flirtatiously at the brunette behind the counter. She gave him a shy smiled in return.

"May I help you?" She asked sweetly.

"Yes I was told my father was brought in not too long ago. Could you give me his room number please?" He said throwing on the extra charm.

"Name?" The nurse asked.

"Denton. Clyde Denton."

AN: So what did you think? Mercedes was not about to go out like some sucker when Clyde came for her sorry. She is a fighter. What did you think of Rachel's revenge? Do you think the ruling will stick or will they be able to perform at Nationals? What do you think Puck is going to do? Let me know in a review please. Also to guest05 thank you so much for your wonderful review all two words of it. It made my day as offensive as it was. I have to admit I laughed so hard at that I may have snorted. You can continue to be rude all you want to but I will not be fazed by your pettiness or childish behavior. God Bless. I know I said they would be getting ready for Prom but that didn't quite fit in this chapter. Only three chapters left till the end. Till next time-tdminor86

Next Chapter: Mama Jones gives Papa Jones an ultimatum. Prom night at WMHS. Things start to look up for Mercedes and Sam.