A/N: All things reconfigured let's just say later rather than sooner and then we'll play it as it goes.

Coming Around Again

To say Charlie was in a bad mood was an understatement.

Now that she was awake, they didn't waste any time getting her up and moving around. It was slow and painful going and she was a much less cooperative patient for others than she was for Rachel.

They pretty much insisted that she sit up now, all the time. They had her keep a pillow on her lap and lean forward if she needed to rather than sit back. It hurt and was uncomfortable and she wasn't happy about it. Her game of shallow coughing had been shut down immediately. Not only did they send someone around to make sure she was coughing, they also introduced something Charlie referred to as some "carnival game implement of torture" where she had to perform her "suck and blow bullshit" several times a day. It was all about forcing her lungs to fully expand while her ribs healed and to keep her taking deep breaths and forcing out any congestion.

Rachel tried to stay for the first couple of visits with the PT, but it was just too difficult. Charlie was sullen and uncooperative and often rude and it was really hard for Rachel to see her like that. That's not to say that things were any better after the treatment sessions, but Charlie was much easier to handle when it was just the two of them one-on-one.

Rachel walked in the room after her last therapy session and one look at Charlie told her that her normally easy-going girlfriend was pretty near her breaking point. She looked broken, bruised and battered. Her eyes were dull and their color muddy.

She had also developed this constant mid-chest cough that Rachel didn't care for at all. It was on the list of things her doctors were watching closely.

"Are you in much pain," Rachel asked, her face clouded with concern.

"No," Charlie said, wincing and looking miserable.

Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Why do I even ask?" Rachel scoffed.

Rachel knew that Charlie was deliberately trying to cut back on pain medication because she didn't like the way it made her feel. It was a touchy subject and they'd already had one heated argument about it.

"When can I get out of here?" Charlie asked, shifting gingerly, trying to find a comfortable position only to realize there were none.

"Not today, baby," Rachel said lightly, trailing her fingers up Charlie's arm. "Sorry to say."

That clearly was not the answer Charlie wanted.

"Go back to work, Rach," Charlie said with a groan. She might as well have just said: Go away and leave me alone.

"Why?" Rachel asked, "So I can't fuss over you? Annoy you? Make you behave?"

"No," Charlie said. "Because you need to go back to work. You need to not be here 24-7. You can't throw away everything because of this. I won't let you do that. Not to mention you might want to fucking eat something again someday."

Rachel had several comebacks all lined up to choose from, but they were all pretty much wasted under the circumstances. Charlie's sense of play and humor was seriously compromised at the moment. No matter what she said, Charlie was going to spit it right back at her anyway.

"I'm not throwing anything away, Charlie," Rachel told her, "Don't worry about it."

"I'm serious, Rachel," Charlie said tensely, her voice raising. "You need to stay on set and stop showing up here at all hours. It's too hard on both of us."

This was mostly all pain talking. The only good moments of Charlie's day revolved around Rachel being there. Truth was, she wanted her there every waking minute, but she felt tremendously guilty about keeping Rachel away from her work. Not to mention, Charlie hated Rachel seeing her like this. She knew she was being awful, she just couldn't seem to stop herself. Rachel, bless her beautiful heart, ignored it for the most part.

"Charlie, sweetheart, it's fine," Rachel said, "They're shooting around me as much as they can. It's the Finn show thanks to his little disappearing act. They'll tell me when I have to go back. I've got it covered. Besides, they've already said I can use their helicopter and fly back and forth while you're still here. That's much better than a 3-hour drive. Plus, I know you don't believe it, but you will be out of here sooner than you think."

Charlie grunted.

"Now as for my eating..." Rachel said, teasing to see if Charlie would play with her, but she didn't even look at her. Rachel sighed.

"It's been hard," Rachel admitted. "Frankly, I didn't want to leave you and I'm not going to apologize for that to anyone. Not to you and not to anybody else. Besides, it's hard to find anything here that I can really eat."

Charlie just whined and leaned forward into the pillow stacked against her chest on her lap. Rachel put her hands on her – one on her arm and one the back of her neck. Charlie was tense and shaking. Rachel rubbed the muscles on her neck. When Charlie didn't outright object, she kept doing it.

Everything hurt today. Charlie didn't want to fight with Rachel, but she wanted to fight with someone, hit something, throw something. She was utterly miserable and was looking to share it with anyone and everyone. Unfortunately Rachel was the closet target and was pushing her buttons in a really bad way.

"Are you hungry?" Rachel asked.

"No," Charlie said, tensely. "God, Rachel, stop asking me stuff. Just... I don't want anything."

"You can't bully me off," Rachel told her. "You don't need to waste your energy trying."

"I'm not trying." Charlie said with a sigh.

Rachel reached out and stroked her fingers across Charlie's forehead. Charlie smiled. It was a small tight smile, but it was a smile.

"I want to take a shower, " Charlie fussed.

"Again," Rachel said, patiently. "Not happening. Not today.

Charlie scowled.

"Maybe nice sponge bath?" Rachel suggested.

Charlie shook her head.

"I don't want people touching me," Charlie said.

Her eyes were getting darker and her mood uglier. The "don't touch me" thing was becoming a huge issue. Not so much for Rachel, but for everyone else. Non-compliant was Charlie's new nickname in certain circles.

"Any more unreasonable, unrealistic requests at the moment?" Rachel asked.

"I'll work on it," Charlie said, cutting her eyes at Rachel.

"Please, please, please, " Rachel pleaded, miserably. " Charlie, let them give you something stronger for the pain. Whatever mind mojo you've got going on is just not working. You can't get well if you can't let yourself relax and heal."

Charlie glared at her.

About that time she ripped into a deep coughing fit that almost put her into tears.

Rachel cradled her head and stroked the back of her neck.

"Sweetheart," she said gently, "You know I can't stand to see you like this. Please, for me."

"Fine," she relented, just tired of the conversation. "Whatever.

Rachel smiled. It was a hollow victory.

Rachel pressed the call button for the nurse.

An hour later, now much more sufficiently medicated, Charlie was finally able to move without wanting to cry. Now she was just surly and groggy instead of downright hostile. For some reason she was still looking for a fight, but Rachel was determined not to give her one.

The nurses came in and Rachel slipped out to talk with Tina. She had brought their mail, Rachel's updated galleys and any director's notes and fresh clothes for Rachel. They talked quietly while the nurses came and went about their tasks.

"How is she?" Tina asked.

"She's miserable," Rachel said, shaking her head. " Everything hurts her and she won't cooperate with anyone and I'm about at my wits end. She's bound and determined to get into something with someone today and I'm sure it will end up being me."

"I'm sorry," Tina said and rubbed Rachel's arm affectionately. "I know she's struggling."

"I think if we can get past these first two or three hard days, it will level out, "Rachel said optimistically. "Charlie is just not like this."

"You know we're here for you both if you need us," Tina told her, sympathetically.

"I know," Rachel said, hugging her. "Thank you. You guys, you're just so amazing."

"I'm gonna go, " Tina said. "There's no point in me getting in the way if she's already upset."

"Under the circumstance, I agree," Rachel said, sadly. "She's stressed beyond the max. I think the less people she has to deal with the better. Even if those people who love her unconditionally."

"And we do," Tina agreed. "At least tell her that."

"I will," Rachel said and kissed her cheek. "My love to everyone."

The nurses finished quickly. Charlie now had fresh sheets and had consented to brushing her hair and teeth and even relented and let them quickly give her a very light sponge bath.

Rachel walked back in and proceeded to sort through the mail, magazines and books that Tina had brought with her. She stood beside the bed and was rambling about something when Charlie grabbed her by the wrist.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked, leaning over her, her hand gently running through her hair.

Charlie nodded.

"I love you," Charlie said quietly."Just... I do love you. Please don't...I'm just..."

Fucking meds, shit. She couldn't even finish a sentence.

"Good thing, because I love you, too," Rachel teased.

"This isn't me," Charlie said quietly. "I don't do...this well. I hate this."

"I know," Rachel said reassuring her. She rubbed her cheek and kissed her forehead. "It's going to be okay, sweetheart. Just these first couple of days are gonna be rough."

Rachel smiled at her. Charlie sighed

"I don't like taking it out on you," she said, her eyes unfocused and troubled. "I know that's what I'm doing. I'm sorry."

"Charlie," Rachel said nuzzling against her cheek. "It's okay, we're fine."

Rachel smiled at her.

Charlie had a strange look on her face. Maybe it was the medication.

"Um, my dad died, Rachel," Charlie said suddenly, her eyes cast down into her lap.

Rachel's smile flickered and she felt her heart leap into her throat.

"Oh, Charlie, sweetheart, I know," Rachel said, nodding her head slightly. "I'm so sorry."

Charlie just looked...confused.

Rachel sat down gingerly on the bed facing her. She held her hand.

"I don't care," she said. "I mean, I'm not sad. I haven't loved him for a very long time."

Rachel traced her thumb lightly over her hand and just listened.

"He stopped being my father a long time ago," she said, her eyes dark. " There was a time I could hate him, but I don't even do that anymore. It's just... nothing. He punch me in the face once when I was 17 and broke my nose. He told me that I betrayed his faith in me and that I tainted everything our family stood for and if he ever heard of me doing it again, I could expect more like I had just gotten."

"Oh Charlie," Rachel said. "I don't even know what to say. I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

Rachel reached out and delicately traced the contour of Charlie's nose with her fingertip.

"He hit me three times and just walked away and left me there, bleeding and crying, in a parking lot. Puck found me. He was always finding me," she said with a hollow laugh. "At first, I lied to him. I told him I got mugged. He took me to a clinic and they cleaned me up. The whole time we were there, they kept glaring at Puck. I know they thought he did it."

Poor Noah, Rachel thought.

"We sat there and when they started stalling, he hustled me out of there because he knew they had probably called the police," she said. "We'd lied about our names and gave a fake address, but I was so terrified that the police would find my ID and call my father that I was literally shaking. I was afraid he'd find out and come after me again. Puck finally got me to admit what really happened. He didn't even drop me off somewhere, he just immediately went looking for him. I can't even remember where he found him; coming out of some bar or something. There was shouting and shoving and the next thing I know Noah is just wailing on him. To this day, I know Noah would have killed him if I hadn't pulled him off."

"Noah told me, sweetheart," Rachel said gently. She wasn't sure if Charlie even remembered that Noah had been there.

"I know he told you things but I don't know what he told you and what he didn't,"she said, looking away. "I asked him not to tell you anything."

Rachel sighed and nodded.

"He told me that you two fought about it," Rachel said. "Please don't be mad at him. He was trying to comfort me more than anything else."

"I told him I'd never forgive him if he talked to you," Charlie said. "He told me I was acting like Quinn. He said that I was probably stupid enough to leave you and that I would only have myself to blame if I ruined everything."

Again, Rachel just touched her gently wherever she could and just let her talk.

"That's why my mom thinks I'll come home now, Rachel," she said, her voice monotone. "She thinks because my dad is dead that makes everything okay and that I'll just be her precious Quinn again and everything will be like nothing happened."

Charlie laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound.

"Isn't that the dumbest fucking thing you've ever heard in your life?"

"Those probably aren't the words I would use, love." she said, shaking her head. "But it's pretty ridiculous."

Charlie sighed. She stared at Rachel, at the way she was looking at her, touching her.

"See, she said," pursing her lips."That, that right there is..."

Charlie's lips tighten and her eyes narrowed.

Rachel could feel it. It's like when all the air goes still right before a tornado drops down. She just knew that even with all the meds Charlie was getting ready to go seriously off the rails.

"Just say it, Charlie," Rachel said gently.

"The look on your face," she said. "Now every time you look at me, that's the look I'm going to get. Poor Quinn. Oh, poor broken Quinn, how terrible it must all have been for her."

"That's not what I see, Charlie, "Rachel said evenly. "I don't see anyone but you."

Charlie just stared at her, clearly unconvinced.

"This is why," Charlie said, her voice hollow. "This is why I never tell anyone about all this. It changes everything. It ruins everything it touches."

"Only because you let it, "Rachel said softly. "Nothing is ruined, nothing here has changed."

Rachel put her hand over her heart.

" And yes, I'm so sorry you had to go through those things, but it's not pity," Rachel explained."It's anger and outrage and concern, but mostly it's just love."

Charlie just glared at her.

"You made me promise you I wouldn't let you mess this up," Rachel told her.

"I'm not holding you to anything," Charlie said. "You don't have to stay here, Rachel. You don't have to be with me. You're free to go anytime. You don't owe me anything."

Now who was the drama queen?

"Well, I'm holding you to everything, Charlie," Rachel countered, emphatically. "I'm holding you to everything about you, about me and about us. And I don't care what you do, you will not fuck this up, Charlie. You can't ruin this because I won't allow it."

Charlie looked away, shaking her head. If she wasn't so heavily medicated Rachel was pretty sure she'd be about to fly apart and pacing the hallways.

"So you can rant, rave, feel sorry for yourself, go in to a full-scale Quinn molten fury – whatever you need to do – I don't care, it doesn't matter. I'm still going to be here, I'm still going to love you and I'm still going to know that you are the best thing in my life. I will not quit and walk away on you, Charlie and you can't make me. So go on and push, sweetheart. Give it your best shot. I can take you on your best day."

"I'm so not worth all this," Charlie said quietly.

Rachel stroked her face gently and eventually she felt Charlie tip her head into her hand. She moved closer and carefully pulled Charlie up against her, keeping the pillow in between them, letting her fall forward until her head was resting on Rachel's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry no one ever fought for you, Quinn," Rachel told her, holding her gently. "You were always worth fighting for. Even when you were at your mean girl worst, you were worth fighting for, worth saving. And I'm so sorry that you were lied to and betrayed by the very people who should have fought for you the hardest. They failed you and it's just so not fair. But sweet Charlie, I'm telling you right now, sick or well, the next time you say those words to me, the next time you utter the phrase 'I'm not worth it,' I'm going to knock you on your fucking sexy ass. I'm little, but I can take you."

Charlie chuckled and groaned.

"You called me Quinn," Charlie said, not sure how she felt about that.

"I know," Rachel replied. "Noah told me that he though that Quinn had all but disappeared. I beg to differ. Loving you means loving all of you and that includes your moments of Quinn, whether you want me to or not. And today, baby, you are mostly channeling Quinn."

"Did I tell you once that you couldn't do that?" Charlie asked, following a fragment of a distant thought that bubbled up suddenly. "That you couldn't love Quinn?"

Rachel smiled.

"Yes, you did, " she said. "But just because I remember everything you say, doesn't mean I do it."

"So I'm getting the Santana treatment," Charlie teased.

"A little bit, yeah," Rachel admitted. "Sometimes."

Charlie laughed and then got quiet.

"What?" Rachel asked her, watching her eyes.

"I was just thinking that I don't know what Noah said to you, what he told you," she said, quietly. "I barely remember him being here."

"He'll be back, " Rachel told her, rubbing her back lightly.

"At least Santana is gone," Charlie said. "If she was around, I might actually have to strangle her today."

"Oh yeah," Rachel said, closing her eyes. "You missed all that, didn't you."

"Oh my god, it was her, wasn't? " Charlie said.

Rachel nodded.

"What happened? Was it awesome?" Charlie asked, now excited.

"It's hard to explain. It was very surreal." Rachel said. "It was almost like they were an old married couple. I can't even explain it."

"Well, goddamn it." Charlie fussed. "I always miss epic shit when I'm in a coma."

"Have you been in a coma before?" Rachel asked, caught off guard by the comment.

"Just once," Charlie said.

Charlie sat back slowly. Rachel got up and started fiddling with the bed controls and Charlie immediately got nervous.

"God Rachel, please don't pancake me," she said, watching nervously. "I have enough problems as it is."

Rachel scoffed.

She raised the back of the bed a little more to make it easier for Charlie to sit up.

"You're not supposed to do that," Charlie said, smirking.

"You're delirious and don't know what you're doing most of the time. I'll just blame you," Rachel told her and winked. "They'll figure it out and fix it soon enough"

"I thought you said Puck talked to you," Charlie said, confused now. Everything was kind of running together in her mind.

"Well, he did, " Rachel told her, now wondering what else he hadn't told her. She sat back down facing Charlie, reaching again for her hand.

"He didn't mention about that?" Charlie asked.

Rachel shook her head.

"No," she said. "I would have remembered that."

"When I was 18 I fell in the ocean and almost drowned." Charlie said, like it was nothing. "Well, technically, I did drown and they brought me back. But then I got pneumonia and was in a coma for a few days. All things considered, I probably should have died. "

So that's what Noah was talking about, Rachel thought to herself.

"I think Noah made a reference to that." Rachel said. "It was vague and I didn't know what he was talking about."

"He thinks it was all his fault." Charlie told her. "It wasn't. It was mine. I did it."

"What do you mean, 'you did it?' " Rachel asked her.

"I mean, I did it. Well, Quinn did it, " Charlie said, with a shrug.

"You mean, like, on purpose?" Rachel asked in a hushed tone.

Charlie just nodded her head.

"Oh my God, Charlie..." Rachel said and couldn't finish her thoughts. All she could do was stare at her.

"It was a long time ago, Rachel," Charlie told her, unable to make eye contact with her."I was a different person then in a very different place. I dealt with things differently. I've never told anyone that though, not even Puck. He probably suspects, though"

Rachel just sat and held her hand and looked dumbfounded.

"Why would he ever suspect that?" Rachel asked, almost afraid to know.

"Because it wasn't the first time." Charlie said, again with a dismissive shrug.

Rachel dropped her head and closed her eyes and just rubbed her forehead.

"What in the fuck is wrong with your parents?" Rachel asked, angrily. "Where was your goddamned sister during all this?"

Charlie laughed wryly.

"Rachel, I didn't have any parents." Charlie said. "Don't you see that? They didn't care what happened to me as long as I didn't make them look bad to their friends. And Fran, she was already out and gone and just trying to survive. She wasn't going risk anything on my behalf. There was no one. There was Noah when I let him be there and that was it."

"And your family didn't know any of this?" Rachel asked.

"My mother knew, " Charlie said, bitterly. "My mother knew everything. Maybe not the California stuff, but she knew everything else."

"What everything else?" Rachel asked.

"I had nothing, Rachel. I mean, almost literally nothing," she said. "I was living out of my car most of the time. I spent my nights at the library or in bookstores until they closed. I mean I didn't look homeless or particularly crazy, so people didn't pay me much mind when I hung around so much. If I had the money for food, I'd sit in diners and read or do my homework. I showered where I could – usually at school. Sometimes I could work and get a little money ahead, but it was hard," Charlie said, stopping to cough.

Once she got started it was hard for her to stop.

Rachel got up and poured her a glass of ice water and brought it back over. She sat back down and made her drink – all the talking wasn't helping her coughing. Charlie could only sip because it just made her cough more.

"Can we get you something hot to drink?" Rachel asked. "That cold stuff is really not helping anything. Can you have tea?"

"I guess," Charlie said.

"I'll find out." Rachel said, and she started to get off the bed, but then she scrambled back and looked at Charlie.

"Don't leave," she said, smiling, her eyes flashing.

Charlie chuckled.

This was her Charlie, she could see in in her eyes, just by the way she looked at her.

"Stay right here." Rachel added, pointing at her.

Charlie sighed and reached out. She wrapped her hand around Rachel's bicep and pulled her forward.

"Come here," Charlie muttered.

Rachel sighed and let herself be pulled closer. It was the first moment of pure Charlie she'd seen, so she wasn't about to say no to her. She was fully on the bed now, her knees on either side of Charlie's left leg.

"Please, just..." Charlie whispered, still pulling on her with both hands now. "I just need to feel you close to me, I mean really feel you. Not a china doll hug thing like has been happening..."

She was trying to pull the pillow away that was in between them, but Rachel wasn't letting her and she was getting frustrated.

"Charlie," Rachel said, grabbing her wrists gently, "Charlie, no, just leave it. Wait, just leave it. Be still for a minute."

Charlie stopped struggling and just looked at Rachel.

"Wait, let me, okay," Rachel said. Charlie nodded. "This side is a no?"

She lightly touched her hand to Charlie's right side and Charlie nodded.

"Okay, then," Rachel shifted so she was mostly on Charlie's left and she put her arms around her neck and pressed herself fully and carefully up against Charlie on her left side.

"Good? " Rachel asked. Charlie nodded.

Charlie wrapped her arm around Rachel's waist, holding her tight. She winced, but didn't turn her loose.

Rachel eased her weight down partially on Charlie's left thigh, but she was still mostly holding herself up.

"Too heavy," Rachel asked and Charlie laughed and shook her head.

They were both very much aware of the position of Rachel's left knee as well as the fact that Charlie's thigh was now pressed between Rachel's legs, but that was for another day when there were less tubes and wires and potential distractions.

Rachel ran her hand up Charlie's neck and into her hair. She leaned forward and kissed Charlie on the neck softly. Charlie felt Rachel's warm breath against her skin and just closed her eyes. It made her almost feel human again. Rachel brought her lips up and kissed Charlie on the corner of her mouth, sucking lightly. Charlie turned her head and caught Rachel's gaze and held it softly with her own. She stared for a moment. She watched as Rachel's eyes dropped shut and then she felt her mouth seal itself against hers.

Charlie moaned. Rachel started to pull away but Charlie whined and held her. It wasn't pain. It was relief, pure, simple relief. Realizing that, Rachel relaxed and went soft in Charlie's embrace and melted into the kiss.

This was the kiss, the take your breath away kiss Charlie had wondered about, had dreamed about, had wanted since that night. This was her last thought before the world fell away. Rachel's lips sliding wetly against hers, Rachel's tongue slipping soft and warm into her mouth and Charlie's sliding over it. This felt healing – more than any deep breathing, more than a hundred walks up and down the hallways, more than all the antibiotics in the world. Rachel's touch, Rachel's taste, Rachel's arms around her and her body pressed against hers. This was the physical therapy that would make her whole again and get her home where she belonged.

"Tell me you still love me," Charlie muttered against her lips.

"I still love you very much," Rachel told her easily and honestly. "More every day, in fact. Even when you're being a total ass, like today."

Charlie smiled and kissed down the length of her throat.

"I deserved that," she said, licking across her collar bone.

"Not really," Rachel said, kissing her under her jaw. "You don't feel good, baby. Although you could never tell it right at this moment."

Charlie chuckled and tangled her fingers in Rachel's silky dark hair. She kissed her again, slowly, sweetly. Rachel tasted like Chapstick and something sweet she couldn't place, honey maybe. She sucked on her bottom lip lightly. It felt comforting.

Rachel was very careful not to pull or tug on Charlie like she normally would. For the most part, she rested her hands lightly either on her left shoulder or gently against the left side of her chest. At one point, she slipped her hand underneath Charlie's top and ran her hand up and down her back. She still felt feverish, but Rachel let it go. Charlie leaned her forehead down on Rachel's shoulder when she felt her hand make contact with her bare skin.. Rachel kissed her behind the ear and nuzzled her neck.

"You have no idea how good that feels," Charlie whispered. "How good all this feels."

Rachel sighed deeply.

"I think I know," she said, her lips pressed against the nape of Charlie's neck.

There was a knock on the door and they sprang apart like guilty teenagers caught on the porch swing.

Charlie groaned unhappily and refused to turn loose of Rachel.

"Just a minute," Rachel said, carefully trying to disengage herself from an uncooperative Charlie and scramble off the bed without snagging anything crucial in the process. When her feet hit the floor, she took a moment to smooth her clothes and her hair and then she walked over and peered out the door.

Oh great.

"Hi, come on in,"she said, and moved aside so Charlie's physical therapist, an affable young man named Jesse, could step inside.

Charlie rolled her eyes and dropped her face into her pillow. Rachel laughed weakly and looked at him, slightly embarrassed by Charlie's actions.

He smiled.

"I get that reaction a lot. I don't take it personally," he told her, smiling broadly. "It'll get easier but it hurts a lot in the beginning."

Rachel nodded.

"You can stay, " he said, a little too eagerly. "I mean, if you wanted to. She might like the company."

Rachel laughed uncomfortably and Charlie glared at them both. She didn't really need a reason to dislike this guy and now he had just handed her another.

"No, I think she's had enough of my company for the last hour or so," Rachel said. She turned and smiled broadly at Charlie and slowly licked her lips.

Charlie grinned.

"Well, she certainly seems in better spirits than she did earlier today," Jesse said, leaning in closer to Rachel. "You must be very good company."

Again, Rachel just chuckled.

"I guess she likes my beside manner, " Rachel said, biting her lip.

She heard Charlie chuckle and she cut her eyes over at her. Charlie smiled and winked.

"I'm going to go get us some hot tea," Rachel said, anxious to end the awkward conversation. "So, if you will excuse me."

"Sure," he said, smiling at her. He opened the door for Rachel. She smiled and glanced back at Charlie.

"Behave," she said, narrowing her eyes at her.

Charlie pursed her lips and slowly shook her head.

Rachel walked down to the patient lounge and found a single-cup coffee maker and some tea bags. She made several cups of hot tea and rummaged in the cupboards and found some honey and lemon juice packets. She tore open a honey packet and squeezed it into her mouth to see if it was still liquid or if it had crystallized. She basicaly succeeded in just making a mess. She licked the sticky substance off her fingers and tossed the wrapper it in the trash. Then she stacked it all up and padded back to Charlie's room.

When she pushed the door open, the first thing she heard was Charlie saying, "No, no, no. no, no."

"Excuse me," Rachel said, seriously wishing she hadn't walked in on this."I'm just going to leave all this here and get my shoes."

"No, you're going to stay, "Charlie said, angrily. "And he's going to go torture someone else."

"Um, I..." Rachel stammered, looking between the two of them. They both looked angry and were staring at her.

Rachel sighed.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

They both started talking at once, each pointing at the other one.

"I can't... one at a time, please," she said.

"I'm not doing this," Charlie said, glaring at him." And he can't make me either."

Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Really, Charlie?" she said, frowning at her.

Charlie at least managed to look chastised.

"Well, she's right," he said, "I can't make her do anything."

Oh stupid, Rachel thought. Why did you just admit that. Not too smart, buddy.

Charlie looked entirely too smug now.

"How many times is she supposed to do this... whatever?" Rachel asked.

"At least two, preferably more," he said, clearly glad to be talking to Rachel again.

"Yeah, good luck with that," Charlie spat out.

Rachel held up her hand, looked at her and mouthed the word: Stop.

"Do you have to do this?" Rachel asked.

Jesse looked confused.

"I mean is it something she can do on her own?" Rachel asked.

"Sure, but she won't, clearly," he said pointedly.

"Just show me what she needs to do," Rachel said, reluctantly. "It will get done."

He laughed.

"What makes you think she'll do it for you?" he asked, eyes twinkling.

Rachel whirled around.

"If he shows me how to do it, I mean the technique, " Rachel said, looking at Charlie. "Will you promise to do it for me?"

Rachel was thankful that her back was to Jesse, because she couldn't stop grinning. She now realized that everything about the sentence was rife with double entendre and Charlie was making it worse by making faces.

"For him, no," Charlie said, scowling. "But for you, yes, I will suck and I will blow as much as you want me to. Anytime you ask me to."

Oh lord. Rachel could feel her skin going pink and she covered her face with her hand.

"Thank you, that's...nice to know," Rachel said, trying not to laugh. "Thank you."

She turned back around.

"See," she said, arching her eyebrows. "That's why."

"You do realize she's only agreeing because she thinks she has your number," he said, whispering. "She thinks she can get away with not doing it like she should."

"Oh, she has my number," Rachel said, nodding.. "And I'm sure you're probably right. But, she'll be in for a big surprise, I assure you. And she will do it."

"I still have to come around at least twice a day, until the doctors have cleared her," he said. "And she'll still have to have regular x-rays."

"Fine," Rachel said.

"Not fine," Charlie countered.

"So we'll see you in the morning, then?" Rachel said, trying to ignore Charlie's angry muttering behind her.

"Yes," he said smiling at Rachel. "You will. Pleasant evening, ladies."

He sauntered out of the room, but not until taking one last chance to make eye contact with Rachel and flash his boyish smile.

"Hey ass..." Charlie started, but the door closed before she could finish.

Rachel whirled on Charlie.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked, glaring at her. Charlie grinned. "I mean seriously, is this a Quinn Fabray issue? Do I need to address it with her directly?"

"Come here," she said, holding out her arm and wiggling her fingers at Rachel. "Come here and I'll tell you."

She knew that look.

"Ohhh no," Rachel said, laughing and shaking her head. "If you think I'm going to make out with you after that, you can just forget it."

Charlie started pulling on wires and tubes and trying to swing her feet over the side of the bed.

"What are...no, " Rachel said, running over to stop her. "No, just stay there."

Now Charlie had her hands on her again and was tugging her back up beside her. Rachel decided there was no point in protesting and she climbed back up and snuggled on her side beside Charlie.

"You are really awful today," she said, scolding her.

Charlie shrugged and happily ran her hand down Rachel's arm.

"Quinn doesn't like him," she said with a shrug.

"Don't do that," Rachel said. "Quinn, really?"

"For real, she doesn't trust him," Charlie said, seriously. "And neither do I. He is a little too friendly with you."

"Charlie, " Rachel said. "The only person I'm friendly with is you. You know that."

She leaned up and kissed her,

"Quinn knows that," she said and kissed her again. "Everybody who matters knows that."

"I do know that, but I also just like hearing you say it," Charlie admitted.

"Only you, Charlie," Rachel said softly, both of her hands on Charlie's face. She pressed their lips together.

"Suck and blow," Charlie said, grinning. "This I can do."

Rachel bit her on the lip.

"Kiss or talk, " she said, "Pick one."

Charlie chose kiss, several times.

"Charlie?" Rachel asked, pulling herself away.

It was honey, she tasted like honey. It must be from her tea. Sweet girl, literally.

"Hmm, sweet girl?" Charlie replied, burying her face into Rachel's shoulder.

"I want us to go back to what you were talking about earlier, " she said gently, her fingers raking through Charlie's bed-tousled hair.

She felt Charlie sigh heavily, her breath tickling against her skin.

"We will," she said. "Little Bit, I promise. But later, okay. I'm just so tired right now."

This was probably the longest Charlie had been awake in one stretch since her accident.

"Go to sleep, baby," Rachel said, pressing a kiss to her temple. She started to move off the bed, but Charlie grabbed her and growled.

"No," she said, holding fast with what little strength she had. "I need for you to be close."

It still made Rachel's heart race and soar like it did the first time she ever heard it.

"I'm right here," she whispered to Charlie, who was already asleep. "I've got you, Charlie."

~~oOo~~