Chapter 48
Stace – Congrats on the new job! I am glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for reviewing.
SadPanda13 – I am glad you are not disappointed. Yes I did do all that and I am moving one more time and starting a new job so just a little more crazy and then things should settle better I hope – although one of my betas is also starting a new job so it may be a little issue there. Shelby's family is going to make sure she is getting the help and stays as strong as she always is. Santana and Quinn have become great sisters and with that they will be double trouble. Thanks for the review.
StormHallow88 – Well it will take some time for Will to get what he should get coming to him but there will be bits and pieces coming up in this chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
Nikki – Awesome request. I loved it so much I wrote it. I hope you like it and thank you so much for the suggestion.
broadwaybound2016 – Well welcome back I am glad you got to enjoy the last 3 chapters. Thank you for the review.
Janie – Thank you for saying I cannot disappoint that is truly always a concern of mine. Judy's will be revealed at the end of this chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
Cookie07 – Santana has a lot of issues to work through. She blames herself for a lot of things that are never her fault. She is very complex and even though she feels like second fiddle it is her strength that the other girls to rely on to get them through it. San and Britt in school will be featured in this chapter as will Quinn's return to school. Thanks for reviewing.
Lexie-Rae – Firstly, the fact that I have questioned your morals is … there are really no words. Mine are questioned every day that I work in this broken system. I allude to it a tad at the end but this trial coming up will put everyone to the test. Saying it will be a challenge is an understatement. However, situations like this, a point I'm trying to nail home, "moving on" or "getting over it" is impossible. Everything that has happened will be with this family for a long time, perhaps in some ways for the rest of their lives. Not necessarily in big, active ways, but subtle ways, decision making, how they love, etc. Thank you so much for wonderful review. It means so much. I loved that you loved the flashback. Santana's struggle, while subtle is not forgotten and will be revisited more as she transitions more to school and learns more of Noah's plans...Noah and Shelby have a tight bond. If you go back and reread the beginning of the story, I tried to hint at their co-parenting skills (e.g. Rachel's need for the neb). Santana and Quinn have a few moment in this chapter. I love that you love their sistership as well as Shelby and Joey's. Thank you again.
thelastcenturian = Thank you so much for the review! I really love your story, especially Irrefutable. I cannot wait for more.
Taylor – Quinn is one of my favorites and I try to get a lot of each in each chapter. I am sorry you felt there wasn't a lot of her in the last chapter. There are some nice moments for her in this chapter though. Quinn will be allowed in the room for the reading even though Shelby will be nervous that she will be hurt. Thanks for reviewing.
marinka4 – As you can see I am not a fan of Will's either. The 3 girls have many more struggles ahead but they will lean on each other. Thanks for the review.
Kimberlli – Thank you so much. I am glad you liked it. And Will is very sneaky and he will not go down without a fight.
Renata - Thank you so much for wishing me good luck. It is not writing related. But it is still working with children in crisis. Yes the other 2 girls will heal a little better but they will all have lots of healing to do. As always I love receiving your kisses from Brazil.
MrsArgon01 – Sorry for making you cry again but thank you for loving the story and thank you for the review.
alopez208 – Santana just doesn't want her sisters hurt anymore. She wants to take their pain away and doesn't know any other way to express it. Noah will move on but it is very difficult right at the moment to see it. Thank you for your review.
Gleeauthor11 - Quinn and Rachel are on medicine that makes them sleep – the pain killers but they are not getting good sleep. They are up at night and they are always having nightmares so they are really overtired and their bodies are run down. There are unfortunately many of these sick people in the world. Idina would be incredible in this. Thanks for reviewing.
snowdrop1026 – Thank you so MUCH. I feel so honored that you are so invested in this story. Thanks for reviewing.
Scout – Thank you! Food Charts for the girls will be mandatory. That is a constant struggle with them
Fangirl44 – Yes he is caught. But the drama of it all hasn't ended yet. Thanks for the review.
FlatWeasley – Please stay healthy I don't want to lose any of my readers. Thanks for reviewing.
littleredwritinggleek – You will find out if Noah is headed to NY in the next chapter. They will heal HOWEVER, the trial is going to be very hard on all of them. Thanks for reviewing.
NinjaGleek21 – The prisoners will think he is pretty but he wont be in prison until after the trial. He will be in jail though until the trial. Thanks for the review.
TommyH – Thank you ! Although he was not beat up enough for my liking.
Drea LuRuiz - It was good that you read two chapters in a row so that the cliffhanger was not too bad for you. I am glad you enjoyed both chapters. I thank you for all your kind words and loving this story as much as you do. Thank you for taking the time to review. It really truly means so much to me.
RainBlueWater - THANK YOU!
A C one – Shelby will be taking Joey's advice and see a therapist. I am glad you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for the review.
look4me – Not a lot to say - wow - why did you not like the chapter? Joey is very different from Shelby but awesome in her own way. Judy's will reading will be interesting and I hope you like it. Frannie is still very young and needs a lot of growing up herself. Shelby will spend lots of time with All of her kids and that includes Quinn - Quinn is basically in this family for life so she will get the full attention she warrants and deserves from Shelby whether she likes it or not sometimes. Thanks for the review.
dolphinluver46 - Shelby will be going to a therapist and the kids go back to school this chapter. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for the review.
A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm so sorry for the delay. I've been moving across country and accepted a new job (in the same field) and signed a new lease. Busy times. I want to thank each and every one of you that take the time to read this. I just saw that there are 287 people that have favorited this story and 426 people who have this story on alerts. I am in shock and never cease to be humbled by the response to this story. Thank you again to my two betas and all of you who have given me feedback. I hope this is up to par with your expectations.
Quinn rounded the corner as she watched Noah with Rachel.
"I'm fine, bug," he said softly. "Go change."
"I want to stay with you," Rachel said quietly.
Noah smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, but go and change." He spotted Quinn. "Quinn can help you."
Rachel looked at Quinn and then looked back at Noah, suddenly feeling foolish. "I'll... I can …. I can do it on my own."
She bowed into the room and Noah watched her with heavy eyes.
"She'll be fine," Quinn said stepping forward next to him.
"I know she will be," he said looking after her. He looked over at Quinn softly with a thankful smile.
Quinn bit her lip and took a deep breath. "Listen... um... I uh...," she struggled.
He smiled. "Spit it out." He laughed.
"How can you... How can you be smiling right now?" she asked with a frown.
He leaned against the wall behind him. "What else can I do?" he asked honestly.
"I should have been there," she whispered looking at her hands. She stared at her fingernails. When was the last time she had a manicure? Her left hand was still swollen a little and the nails were looking all nasty because of the cast. She paused. Why was she thinking about her nails? She turned her gaze toward Noah. He hadn't said anything. his face however was certainly loud enough. "What?" she asked. He was staring at her with a frown and chewed his lip.
"Quinn, I'm glad you weren't there. I'm happy you weren't." He shook his head and leaned back against the wall.
"I am sorry you got hurt, Noah...I kind of feel like some of it is my fault," she said.
"It's not," he said quickly. He looked at her seriously.
"But if I … If I hadn't crashed your car..." she began.
"Yeah," he said looking toward the room Rachel went into. "What if you hadn't crashed the car, where would we be?" He sighed. He lowered his voice as he cautiously looked at Rachel's slightly open door. "If you had gone to your appointment that day like you were supposed to, who would have found Rachel?"
Quinn frowned and looked at him and then back toward where Rachel disappeared.
He shook his head. "I'm not sorry, Quinn," he said folding his arms. "And you shouldn't be either." He looked her in her eyes. "Not one bit."
"Noah," Quinn started again feeling a lump in her throat as she looked at the small cut on his throat. "I should have been there with you. I was supposed to go with you guys. If I was there...he wouldn't have hurt you. He would have-"
Noah frowned. "Quinn, he hurt me because I tackled him to the ground like a samurai on a Mountain Dew overdose." He chuckled at his own joke. He looked at her when he saw the distress still in her eyes. "Quinn, I'm glad you weren't there. You would have done something dumber than me …" He gave a weak smile and shook his head. "Stop trying to change something that you can't. You weren't there and it's better that way." He sighed. "Trust me...I get the what ifs...but there's no point in thinking about them." His eyes stared at the floor. "Because you can't change it. No matter how much you change the situation in your head."
She frowned and watched him for a moment, caught suddenly in how wrong she had been about Noah Corcoran.
"I can't find George," Rachel said in a panic as she emerged from the room clad in a footed onesie with penguins on it against a baby blue background. With the twin braids that Santana had braided into Rachel's hair during their fort-building times, Quinn was pretty sure that this was exactly what Rachel looked like when she was a toddler. Rachel looked at them with greater panic. "I can't find George!" she said with a quivered sob.
Quinn looked over at Noah seemingly stuck on her penguin outfit also.
"I can't find George," Rachel said again beginning to cry.
Quinn frowned, but snapped into action. "Let's look, okay?" she said leading Rachel back into her room. She looked around as Rachel fidgeted next to her. "You didn't sleep in here did you? You slept with San?" Rachel lowered her gaze.
"No," she muttered. "Her bedding is still being washed. We slept in my room."
"Okay," Quinn said gently leading her across the hallway, with Noah behind them.
"George is totally in here," Noah said smiling at her.
She leaned against his side as she still held Quinn's hand as they entered the room. She let go only for a few moments to turn over a few pillows. No stuffed monkey could be found. Noah felt Rachel against him as she began to heave.
"Where's George?" she asked quietly.
Quinn frowned looking at her, knowing that it wasn't about the monkey at all. She felt a strange pang in her heart; she wished that she had a monkey to miss and to keep her whole. Then she frowned, where was her lamb? The ache in her heart calmed her as she was reminded that she wasn't that much different than Rachel. They were the same in so many ways that Quinn felt herself wanting so much for Rachel to be different, simply because she didn't want Rachel to become her.
"Rach,"she asked leaning down taking her hand. "Do you want to use my lamb for the night?"
Rachel looked at her with a deep set frown. "I can't do that," she replied as if Quinn just asked her to fly.
"It's fine," she said leading her to Quinn's room. Quinn looked around her room with a blank stare. Her bed had been stripped. "Ummm," she muttered feeling the panic that she assumed that Rachel must have just felt. "Uh..."
"Oh, there you are," Helen said coming behind them. "I have your linens."
Rachel looked at her hopefully. Quinn tried her best not to look like the eleven year old baby next to her, but was equally as hopeful.
"Hey, girls," Michael said holding a laundry basket and kneeling down in front of Rachel. He held out the monkey to Rachel and the lamb to Quinn. "I think these belong to you?" Rachel leaned forward and wrapped her arm around her grandfather's neck holding George close. "Nana put them in the wash."
Quinn gave a tiny sigh of relief, though a tiny voice in the back of her mind asked herself when the last time her lamb had been washed and if she was okay with her lamb being washed.
"Thanks," she muttered, looking away. Either way, she told the voice, the lamb was back. It was one of the few things that she still clung to. She rethought. It was the only thing that she clung to, the only thing that didn't disappoint.
"Quinn?"
She looked down and Rachel was still gripping onto her hand. She sighed. Maybe that wasn't true anymore. She smiled at Rachel. "I like your pjs," she said as she started to make her bed. Rachel climbed up onto the loft and helped.
"Yeah?" she smiled. "They're my favorite. Penguins are amazing. Did you know..."
Quinn somewhat blocked Rachel out after that moment, while simultaneously grateful that she was listening to the importance of penguins.
…..
Shelby held her eldest daughter close, hugging her tightly and hoping to calm her.
Santana rested her cheek on her mother's neck. She breathed in and calmed, but didn't pull away. She let her body relax into her mother's. "Promise me you won't die," she whispered.
Shelby sighed and continued to hold her daughter. "I don't plan to, Taz, not anytime soon," she whispered rubbing her back. She watched as Santana pulled away and looked at her hands. "I know that a lot has changed around here, San," she began quietly, causing the girl to look up. "And I'm sorry that I haven't been there to push you and support you as -"
"What?" the sixteen year old asked looking up at her. "I'm fine. We're fine." She shook her head. "I don't think... I don't think that at all. Why do you think that?" Her words were rushed and her eyes wide in worry.
Shelby looked at her gently. "Calm down, sweetheart." She sighed and took her hand. "You can try to lie to as many people as you'd like, San, but not me." She searched her daughter's eyes. "You've been doing a good job though. I do commend you there, but not when it comes to me."
Santana looked at her hands. "I don't know what you mean... I just..." She shrugged. "I don't know..."
"I'm sure you haven't thought much about school," Shelby began looking at her.
Santana looked at her. Truth was she spent a lot of time actively not thinking about it. She sighed. "I … haven't had much time," she said quietly. "To think about it I mean."
Shelby nodded and watched her carefully. "Okay," Shelby said. She leaned closer to her. "Next week has the potential of being extraordinarily hard, San. Don't shut me out of that."
She scoffed slightly. "I can handle it, Mom," she said quietly.
"Can you?" she sighed. "I'm not a perfect person in the least." She paused. "I'm sure that you've known this for a long time." Santana opened her mouth to protest, but Shelby pressed on. "I … understand that you're upset and you're trying very hard not to be."
"Mom," she began quietly.
"School may be very stressful," she said quietly. "People might say things about you, about your sisters, all of us."
"Mom," she said with a frown. "I can handle this."
"Santana," Shelby said, she sighed and looked at her daughter carefully. "Can I tell you something?"
The older girl smiled. "I don't think that I have a choice here," she muttered.
"Do you ever wonder where you inherited your temper?" Shelby asked with a frown.
Santana rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, don't say Aunt Joey. That's kinda obvious."
Shelby laughed. "You received it from me." Santana looked at her with a frown. "I'm serious. You're angry for a great deal of reasons, San, but one of them is your passion. You got that from me." Santana frowned. "So please, talk to me."
"Mom, Quinn put her mother in the ground and her father in prison. Rachel's nightmare stabbed Noah... Rachel... Rachel's is in pieces because of that man..." Santana shook her head. "You don't need to worry about me."
Shelby took a deep breath. "There's no special quota for my worry, San," she said carefully. "If there was, all four of you would be even."
"Not true," Santana said shaking her head as she pulled away from her mother.
Shelby reached out and stopped her. "You have thought you have been sneaky since you were in my womb... doing your own thing and in some ways you did get through with it." She sighed and continued with a saddented tone. "And that killed me. It killed me that you were going through so much... that you never came to me... you weren't going to come to anyone." She sighed looking at her with a frown and a tearful stare. "I don't know what's going on in your head anymore, San. I'm guessing." She shook her head again, almost wistfully. "All it is... is a guess." She gave a weak smile. "I think in so many ways it always has been, but... for a while, I was right... It's like I woke up one day and I was wrong." She shook her head. "I know you don't want me to be worried about you but I am. And quite frankly, I'm never going to stop."
Santana looked at her hands as they rested on the counter. She knew her mom was talking about when she discovered that she had been having sex. She remembered the hurt look on her mother's face after their talk that long night. She shook her head, "I didn't...I didn't want you to find out," she began quietly. "I didn't' want to disappoint you...I didn't... I didn't want you to …." She frowned and chewed her lip. "I … I wanted some secrets, Mom. I shouldn't have, but I did... And. ...I needed them... I needed to have something... I don't know... I needed to have something that wasn't talked to death...I needed to screw up … " She frowned. "I … I didn't mean to hurt you."
Shelby looked at her and smiled. "I know," she sighed. "I think you and I have been spending a lot of time trying to protect each other." She sighed. "There are so many things that I'll never stop wanting to protect you from. However, I …. I will try to let you make your own mistakes. " She sighed. "But know that the mistakes that you have made and the secrets that you have kept, shouldnt have been kept. Of all people, you don't have to prove that you're tough to me." She frowned. "So please, let's make a deal and not."
Santana chewed her lip and looked at her hands. She felt her eyes sting. "I … I'm scared, Mom," she whispered. "I …. I'm not sure about any of it."
"That's okay, San," she said quietly.
She chewed her lip. "I need everyone to be okay, Mom," she muttered. "I need you to be okay..." She looked up at her plainly. "If … If you could...do that, that would be great."
Shelby looked at her with a frown, knowing that her daughter needed others to succeed so that she herself knew she could make it.
"Santana, you'll be okay too," she smiled. "Life's just a work in progress," she said gently. "You're doing fine."
"I don't want to have to be fine," she whispered. "I just want this all to go away. I'm tired of it all, but I can't leave. I can't stop. I'm in this...but I just.. I don't want it to be like this anymore."
"What do you want, sweetheart?" she asked moving closer to her.
Santana looked at her and chewed her lip. She wanted to go back nine years and tell her father to go to the hospital for his headache and not go to work. Her mother pulled her from her thoughts when she placed her hand on hers. "I wish we were where we were before..."
"Before what?"
Santana chewed her lip and looked at her mother's hand. Shelby had worn her wedding ring for a long time after the divorce. She wore it so much, Santana could still remember what it looked like on her mother's hand.
"I can't... I can't stop picturing what life would be like if … if he was still here," she whispered.
"San," Shelby said drawing her daughter close to her.
"I know... I know he's never coming back," she whispered. "So I don't understand why I keep expecting him to..." She shook her head and pulled away from her mother. She avoided Shelby's eyes. She didn't talk about her father for that reason. For that look on her mother's face in that moment, that one that made her disappear from the moment. "Mom," she said calling her from her thoughts. "I wish I could go back to when Rachel couldn't remember and we had moved on.-"
"I'm sorry, Santana," she whispered. "I don't think we did."
"I know," she sighed. "I miss people not knowing about me... now they all … they all know about me... And Quinn..."
"Santana," Shelby said gently. She looked at her sixteen year old daughter. Her vulnerability was traced on her face so boldly that she couldn't avoid it even if she was miles away. Shelby pulled her daughter to her and held her close. Santana sat against her leg on her lap as her mother wrapped her hands around her waist. For a moment she felt like she was six years old, safe, loved, with the world ahead of her. "I know you do, San but we can't change that," she whispered tearfully resting her cheek against her daughter's temple. She went on with greater fortitude. "That doesn't mean we are not strong enough to move forward now that this is out. We just have to adjust but the great thing is you don't have to try and do it alone anymore. You have all of us to be there with you and you need to realize that." She searched her daughter's eyes. "Look how amazingly strong you were before holding it all in by yourself. I have so much faith in you that you can help this family move forward because you are amazing and we will help you through that. All of us can help each other in ways we never knew, but we can't do it when we don't talk about it and that is something that we all have to work on." She sighed. "Including me."
Santana looked at her with big eyes. Unsure, but she trusted her mother. She trusted her and she couldn't disappoint her anymore.
"I don't know how," she whispered. "But I'll try..."
Shelby smiled hugging her softly. "That's all I ask."
…..
Shelby pulled the blanket up under Noah's chin as she kissed him lightly. As soon as he hit the pillow he was asleep. She smiled thankful that he was still here. She resisted the urge to dig out the baby monitors from the attic, but instead just left the door slightly ajar.
"Go to bed," she heard her mother say behind her.
Shelby rolled her eyes and came into the hallway. "Yeah, yeah," she said quietly peaking into Quinn's room.
"You take your meds?"
"Yes," she said quietly.
"Yes, she did," Helen yelled from the hallway.
Quinn nodded and looked at her hands and then back at her bed.
"I...I... I.." she whispered.
Shelby frowned and looked at her. She set down the small pile of laundry she was holding. She pulled Quinn into a gentle hug.
"I'm okay," the blonde whispered tearfully. "I'm... I'm okay..."
"Yeah?" she smiled.
She frowned and leaned into the mother, her mother. She opened her mouth to try to say something. She decided there was nothing to say. "I...I'm tired...Rachel... probably needs you... San, too... but she won't admit it..."
"Quinn, do you want to come in with us?" she asked gently.
"No...No," she said shaking her head. "I'm fine. I'm fine..."
"Quinn, come sleep with us," she said softly.
She shook her head pulling away. "I'm fine...Good night..."
Shelby kissed her softly and hugged her. "I love you very much," she whispered kissing her again. "Come in if you need anything."
Quinn nodded and climbed up slowly in her bed. Shelby pulled the blankets up and kissed her softly.
"Do you have your lamb?" she asked looking on the bed.
"Yes," Quinn said with a smirk.
"Night, Q-bear," she whispered.
"Night," she whispered back.
Shelby began to leave her and turned and stopped. "Come and see me if you want okay? You never have to ask me."
She nodded and Shelby headed out of the room. She yawned and made her way to her room where Rachel was curled up and Santana was already snoring with her arms draped around Rachel.
"Mumma," Rachel smiled with a sleepy sigh.
Shelby threw the laundry in the basket in her bathroom and then walked over to the bed. "Hey, bug," she smiled. She frowned slightly at Rachel's onesie. That girl loved penguins. "Did you put on your ointment?"
She watched the guilt wash over her youngest child. "Yes," she saw the lie in Rachel's tired eyes.
The mother sighed, recognizing the need to pick her battles. She smiled. "Well, I'm proud of you, bug," she smiled. "That was very responsible of you. I know that you must be aching and it must feel so much better with it on." Rachel looked down as Shelby climbed into bed. "New day tomorrow, bug. You can always start new tomorrow."
The tiny girl sighed and leaned her head on her mother's chest, listening to her heart, reminding herself that she was okay.
Shelby eased her eyes shut. She took a deep breath. They were okay. They were all okay. She sighed and thought for a moment about how different their lives had been a few short months ago. She thought about how fast and how drastic things had changed. She never could have predicted what happened, but in so many ways she knew that it was coming.
"Thanks, Jo," Shelby said as she pulled on her coat.
"No problem," Joey said as she stood at the kitchen counter. "Are the kids in their rooms?"
"No," Shelby said with a sigh. "Santana is out for a morning run with Brittany. They're gossiping about the other co-captain." Shelby rolled her eyes. "You know the dramas of cheerleading." Joey scoffed. "What?" she asked.
"I doubt they're talking about cheerleading." she muttered. She continued with her voice lowered. "I doubt they're even running."
"What?" Shelby pushed.
"Nothing," Joey shrugged. "Where's my little pumpkin?"
"Which? Noah or Rachel?" Shelby smiled shaking her head. "Noah's still sleeping. I woke him up but I'm sure he's back asleep. Rachel is -"
"What are you doing here?" Rachel said practically skipping into the room.
"Ready already?" Joey asked with a smile, but knowing the answer. It didn't mater that it was barely seven in the morning.
Rachel rolled her eyes and looked at her mother for an answer as she climbed onto one of the stools.
Shelby smiled. "Just was called in early to work."
"Oh," Rachel said eagerly as she leaned forward. "About what?"
Shelby shook her head. "Bye, bug," she said kissing her lightly. "Make sure everyone gets out on time please."
"Like the chart says!" Rachel pointing to the color coded excel sheet on the fridge.
Shelby nodded and Joey rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Rachel. The charts you made were very helpful," Shelby nodded glancing at the clock on the wall. "I need to go."
"They're very helpful! I can make you a chart, Mom," Rachel said.
Shelby nodded and opened the back door. "I'll think about it. Draw me up a draft."
She rolled her eyes and made her way quickly to the car. She received a call of a girl that needed an evaluation that was brought in late last night. She was on call for the advocacy center. She looked at her watch. If she did this evaluation and wrote the report, she could get the other stuff finished that she needed and hopefully be out of the office at a reasonable hour this evening. She was only part time for the department but with increasing case loads plus each one of her kids doing separate activities all the time she felt like she was more than busy all the time, and somehow it seemed that they always called when she felt the busiest. But it wasn't a 9- 5 job. She grabbed her phone and put it on her bluetooth.
"Lima Children's Advocacy Center. How can I help you?"
"Good morning. This is Shelby Corcoran. I received a call early this morning," she said.
"Yes, please hold." Shelby turned out of her neighborhood and drove past the park. She frowned. There was a police cruiser in front of the Fabray mansion. Weird. She scoffed and shook her head. Russell probably was fuming.
"Shelby, good morning!" a voice came on the line. "It's Jill from the center. Thanks for answering the page."
"No problem. Do you want to debrief me on the phone or wait until I get there?" Shelby asked as she made her way into the town.
"I can do it here," Jill said with a sigh. "Sixteen year old came in late last night. She was found in a park alone late last night by a cruiser. They brought her back home and there was a confrontation at the house. There was a stand-off between the parents and police; alcohol could be smelled on the breath of both of her parents at that time. The police at the scene discovered welt marks on the child's back so she was brought in. She then had a basic physical where both semen and bruising were found on her inner thighs. I did the interview with her when she came in and she admitted, though reluctantly, that her father sexually abused her. We did a rape kit and... There were clear signs of previous assault as well..."
Shelby nodded sighing. "Alright. You just want me to do a psych interview with her?"
"Elyse also responded to the call, if you don't have time, I understand," Jill said.
"No, I have time. I'll be there in a few more minutes. Could you please have her file ready when I get there?"
"Absolutely. See you soon."
"One quick question," Shelby asked. "How old did you say she was again?"
"She's sixteen," Jill said heavily.
Shelby sighed, knowing that sexual abuse of a sixteen year old rarely started at sixteen. "Alright, I'm pulling into the parking lot right now. I'll be inside soon."
Shelby sighed and walked into the center. She did work here frequently and every time she wondered if she was a glutton for punishment because it always reminded her of her children.
"Morning," Jill said greeting her, and handing her a file folder. "Thanks for coming in."
"No problem," Shelby replied shrugging off her coat and opening the file but looking around. "Actually, can I meet her first or see her at least, I know it's early she's probably not awake. I just..." Shelby sighed. "We always get the paperwork, but I just... can I see her first before I read this?"
Jill nodded. "Of course."
A woman joined them on the walk. "I'm Jackie, her social worker."
Shelby nodded. "Morning."
"I'm sure Jill gave you a briefing."
Shelby nodded, "Yes, we will get started in a few minutes. I just wanted to see her and meet her first before I review her file."
Shelby grabbed the file and followed them down the brightly colored hallway. She liked how they decorated, save for those damn animals on the wall. She wasn't sure if she hated the animals as much as she hated what they reminded her of. Jill and Jackie stopped outside of a room and the three of them looked in to see that the blonde teen was sleeping in the corner of the bed, restlessly. Shelby froze and stared at the girl for a moment before quickly opening the file.
QUINN FABRAY It read at the top.
"Jesus Christ," she whispered.
"What is it?" Jackie asked.
"I know her," She said watching the blonde girl toss and turn.
"So you can't evaluate her?" Jackie asked nodding in acknowledgement.
Shelby sighed with the opened file as she gazed through it. "What's her case plan? Where is she being placed?"
"Well, we are placing her for now in a group home and -"
"I will take her." Shelby said quickly looking back up at the blonde teen.
"Shelby," Jill started to object.
Shelby shook her head, cutting off her co-worker, "I am licensed as a therapeutic placement." She looked at the women. "I know that there is paperwork and a process but …" She shook her head. "I'm in. I'll do it."
Jackie frowned. "You're sure? Did you read the file?"
Shelby watched as Quinn woke up slowly and she felt a surge of emotion in her chest. "More sure than anything," she frowned. She looked at the women. "I will go out on a limb and predict that she won't do well at a group home. I know that I do have three other children at home but don't look at me and pretend that you don't know about them" She sighed steeling her face. "I have a great family support system in the area and in general. Trust me. She'll be at home with me. Call Elyse to do the assessment but I'll talk to her now if I can." Jackie and Jill looked at each other knowing that they didn't have another choice. She stood up and walked into the room.
Quinn jumped and looked up putting a frown on her face. "When can I leave?" She looked down at her clothes. She was wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that weren't hers. "Excuse me? Where are my clothes? I need my uniform for school." The girl wasn't talking to Shelby as much as she was just talking in general. "You need to let me go home and get my uniform at least. you can't keep me here!" She frowned noticing Shelby's presence. "Who are you? "
"I'm Shelby," she said carefully. "Can I sit?" she asked pointing at a seat.
"I guess," she spat. "It's not my seat."
"I work closely with this center and I was wondering if you would like to come live with me for awhile-" she began
"I don't need to," she hissed. "Thanks, but no thanks."
Jackie entered the room from the doorway. "You're going to need to stay somewhere until we figure this out. You have an interview with someone else. She being called now and then you'll be going to a group home. However, that's temporary and -"
"NO!" Quinn said standing up. "This is stupid! Just let me go home. My parents are fine. I need to go to school! You're wrong! You know nothing."
"We're not going to let them hurt you anymore, Quinn," Jackie said.
"Fuck you," she hissed. "You know nothing."
"You're right," Shelby said calmly. "There's a lot we don't know but our priority is you and keeping you safe and those two things."
"I went to the damn park," she hissed. "The park! That's my fault! I won't go again let me go home."
"Quinn, it's more about you just going to the park."
Shelby watched as the girl slightly deflated.
She shook her head. "I was wrong. Forget it … just let me go."
"We will talk more about this later, Jackie said. She turned to Shelby. "Thanks for coming down."
"Quinn, think about it" Shelby said as she stood up. "You have a place to stay at my house. I would love to talk to you more about it maybe when things settle down a bit.-"
"I'll be going home, so I don't need to stay with you," she bit.
Shelby nodded. "Alright. Goodbye." she passed Jackie on the way out and handed the woman her business card. "Give me a call. Start the paperwork."
The mother sighed and walked out of the room grabbing her coat and her bag. She was going to do this. She wasn't doing it because she felt that there was a debt that she needed to repay or a sympathy that she needed to ease. She was doing it because it was something that she knew she had to do. There wasn't a question; it was simple.
…..
The door opened with a slight squeak. Shelby opened her eyes and looked as Quinn stood at the doorway looking at her with her lamb hanging at her side.
"Mom," she whispered tearfully. "I can't sleep, I'm sorry" she said with tears.
Shelby shifted Rachel slightly and moved over opening the blankets. "Climb in," she smiled.
Quinn let out a tiny sob and climbed in next to her. Shelby hushed her. "It will get better. We will all get better..."
"I've... I've never...done this before... with my …. with Judy," she frowned leaning into Shelby.
Shelby combed the blonde hair back. "I know," she whispered kissing her softly on the cheek. "Just sleep, okay? I've got you. We're going to sleep in tomorrow and it'll be great." Shelby smiled.
Quinn took a deep breath and leaned into her mother. "Thank you," she whispered letting herself ease into sleep.
Shelby smiled. "Always."
….
The rest of the weekend went fast, but slow all at once. Nana had the kids on lock down. They curled up and watched movies and ignored the rest of the world. However, Monday morning came way too quickly. Santana stared at herself in the mirror. She wasn't sure if she wanted to do this. She used to work so hard for this. This used to fit like a glove; now it felt so uncomfortable. She smoothed out the Cheerio skirt. It just didn't feel right. She closed her eyes and heard Rachel crying in her head. However, they weren't the cries from recent, it was those from when she was two.
"You look nice," a voice said from behind her. She snapped her eyes open now back in the present. She turned and Brittany was looking at her with a smile.
"Hey," she felt herself smile. The brunette leaned in and and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Your mom is letting you ride with us?"
"Yeah," she said with a nod. "How's everything here?"
"We just hung out for most of the weekend. My mom gave us a lecture last night about trying stay calm and counting to five in our head and walking away if people aggravate us." Santana rolled her eyes trying to make light of the situation but knew that it was real. Maybe they were making something more dramatic than it actually was, but Santana was sure that the tables had turned at McKinley and it was no longer in her family. Santana shook her head and sighed pointing with her eyes at the bathroom. "That's how we're doing, she muttered.
The girls turned and looked toward the open bathroom door. Rachel was leaning against the doorframe watching Quinn get ready. "What do you need, Rach?" Quinn asked with a heavy sigh as she brushed her hair.
Santana arched her brow. "Rachel has been following her around all weekend," she said with a small sigh. She's been around all of all weekend." She sighed. While Santana was nervous about going to school, she knew Rachel was just as nervous about being left behind.
Brittany watched Quinn with Rachel, grateful that they had each other, but she knew that Quinn must be fed up especially this morning on this day. She frowned also noticing that Quinn wasn't wearing her uniform, but decided that she would address that later.
"Hey, Rach," Brittany called the smaller girl over. Rachel looked over her shoulder and walked into Santana's room smiling at Brittany but didn't tackle the blonde in a hug like she used to. Instead, she looked up at her waiting patiently. "You're going to have a good day, right?" Rachel nodded silently. Brittany gave her a smile. "Good. Me too." She took Santana's hand, surprising the older brunette, who gave a weak nod. "Yeah."
Santana blinked and shook her head trying to focus. Brittany saw the lingering upset in both Santana and Quinn's eyes,
Brittany took a breath. "Rachel, do you want to come downstairs and eat breakfast with me?"
"Well, I..." Rachel looked between the older girls. "Um... I …"
"Come on," Brittany smiled. "Your mom is downstairs and offered me some breakfast. I just need someone to eat with me besides Noah. He chews with his mouth open." Rachel gave a tiny smile and looked back to Santana one last time before going downstairs.
The tension was eminent and Santana gave a soft smile to Rachel. "Go on, bug," she smiled. "We'll be down in a few minutes."
Santana watched as Brittany led Rachel down the stairs silently. She waited until the footsteps faded before she turned to Quinn.
"Hey," she whispered. She bit her lip. Quinn gave her a small smile. "You look nice."
Quinn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, the cast really brings out my eyes."
Santana smirked. "I think so." She looked down at her uniform. "Maybe I should change too," she muttered.
Quinn shook her head. "No," she frowned. "I don't have a uniform because it was cut off of me …." She scoffed. "Literally …." She thought back at the hospital. She leaned back and sat on the edge of the tub. "I don't want to do this," she said looking at the ground. She waved her hand in the air. "Everyone knows, San. Everyone knows about the baby... Everyone knows that it was my father's …. Everyone knows." She shook her head and continued to stare at the ground. "I … just... I want to stay in this house, but I know that I shouldn't and that... I can't..." She looked at the ground. She continued in a whisper. "After all this...I want my uniform back. How stupid is that? I just... I want things to be how..." She sighed and shook her head. "I know that sounds stupid." She continued to look down at the floor.
Santana looked at her knowing what she was saying without saying it. Cheerios uniform was armor. Only those who had it and had it taken away understood how exposed and vulnerable you felt after it left. Perhaps it was trivial but Santana knew to Quinn it was so much more than the uniform.
"Quinn," she said gently. "Coach, can give you a new uniform at school. You're still a Cheerio. You're still the captain. You know Coach hates to see Cheerios out of uniform. " Santana scoffed. "You know mainly because she forgets that they're a Cheerio unless they're 'labeled' with a uniform."
"I'm not," she muttered. "I'm not a Cheerio. I'm not a leader. Not anymore."
"Quinn," Santana said quietly.
"I don't want to argue with you about this and no pep talk is going to make me feel better." She sighed as she stared at the carpet. "I don't feel like a Cheerio but I need it, but I can't..."
"Quinn," Santana tried again.
"What?" she whispered still looking at the ground. She gave a heavy sigh.
Santana took her hand. "Hey, look at me," she smiled.
Quinn slowly looked up. "Yeah?"
"Today might suck a lot and tomorrow might be even worse, but..." She shook her head. "Yeah, our secrets are out and I... I don't know how I'll handle it but I love you and I have your back."
Quinn laughed. "Sure you do."
"I totally do. Don't doubt me." Santana gave a grin and let it fade slowly. "I was in something that …. I was in something with Britany that I didn't understand and still don't and now I'm shoved out of the closet and confused as people ask me about true love and shit." She frowned. "I don't know what's going through your head but, I … I love you, you're my sister and if anyone messes with you I'll kick their ass. I promise." Quinn rolled her eyes and sighed. "No, seriously," Santana went on. She made eye contact with Quinn. "I mean it."
The blonde frowned. "We will never leave the house as it is." She sighed. "You can't get into fights because of me. I know you're tough as nails but you're still combat Barbie."
Santana scoffed. "Excuse me, I'm GI Jane. I can kick ass."
Quinn gave a small snicker. "You're definitely not GI Jane."
Another silence settled over them. "I think... I think we will be okay. It'll suck but we have each other and …. all that crap," Santana smiled and gave Quinn's hand a further squeeze. "I'll tell you if I need you and you tell me if you need me, kay?"
Quinn squeezed back. "Yeah." She paused. "But we are still the HBIC's."
Santana smiled. "Without a doubt."
…...
Shelby watched her two elder girls emerge from the stairs. There was an odd tension that blanketed them. They were all able to escape the day before, but that solace of the restful Sunday was gone. Reality seeped back into their lives.
"Breakfast," she said pointing to the place setting at the counter. She gave Quinn a look telling her, silently that there was no room for argument.
Rachel looked up at them from her own barely touched plate. Brittany clearly had been trying but unsuccessfully distracting the girl. Noah came plowing in with envelopes in hand.
"Kay, here," he said handing the big thick packets to his mother. "I did it just as you said. Stamp home address and school. Got it all in the right place. I feel like I am a pro at forms and stuff." He smiled proudly.
Shelby smiled and tucked Noah' finished college applications into her bag. "I'll drop them off at the post office myself."
Rachel looked up. "You're not gonna come straight home?" she asked.
The mother smiled. "I'm going to drop them off and then run a few errands, bug." She saw Rachel's worried brow. "Nana and Pop-pop will be here to stay with you while you work with Holly."
The eleven year old's face fell even more. "You're going to be gone the whole time I'm with Holly?" she asked with a frown. "Where are you going?"
Shelby looked at her and opened her mouth to answer, hesitating slightly.
"I'm here!" Joey yelled as she came through the back door. She frowned in surprise to see the family around the island. "Oh... Hello." she held out coffee to Shelby. "Good morning."
"What are you doing here?" Noah asked.
"Well good morning," she scoffed at her nephew. She looked at the kids. "Why do one of you always ask that? You should be thrilled to see me!"
The five kids looked at her in silence.
"Stop causing trouble, Joey," Helen said coming in behind her carrying a boat and tote bag filled with books and various items. "It's not that they're not thrilled, it's just that you're always here." An awkward silence settled on the room as the kids exchanged a look and returned their gaze back to Helen. "Well, then, how's breakfast? I brought muffins."
Noah smiled. "I like when you visit, Nana."
"Because of the food," Satana scoffed.
"Alright, anyway," Shelby said looking at the kids. "I expect best behavior from all of you today. Alright?" She began to pack up her bag more for the day. "I know we talked about this already yesterday, but I just...I need you guys to try to keep yourselves from fights today. I don't know if my heart can take anymore," she said with a small chuckle. Another silence. She looked up at the kids. Rachel was starting to tear up for the tenth time that morning and the older kids looked at her with worry and concern while Brittany sat there trying to read what was happening. "I'm fine," Shelby said quickly. "It was a joke, I'm fine."
"Mom," Noah said carefully.
"I'm fine," Shelby said settling next to Rachel as she rubbed her back. "We're all fine."
There was a soft knock on the door and Michael entered with Holly behind them. Michael soaked in the tension as he tucked Charlie the dog under his arm. "You all need to get going."
Shelby nodded kissing Rachel lightly on the top of her head. "Finish the rest of this please," she told her. She glanced down at Quinn's oatmeal. "Quinn, five more bites please. Actual bites not bird bites."
Quinn sighed and continued to eat. Santana reached out and took her hand. "Eat up, GI Jane," she whispered. Quinn sighed and ate.
After Shelby had Rachel settled to do work with Holly and Nana seemed to explode like a crafty Mary Poppins on the breakfast room table, they were finally ready to leave. They piled into the car. Joey apparently was going with Shelby somewhere, Quinn didn't have the energy to ask. Those two were practically married... or just sisters.. she couldn't decide which ones.
Shelby smiled as they finally pulled up. "Behave, guys," she said with a smile. "You'll do great. Remember to go straight to Principal Figgins office. You have your phones but they're only to call me if you need me. If I see any texting on my bill... for every text or other phone call it will be an additional week of chores."
She was expecting a groan but only got a response from Noah. "Mom, at this point we know we're grounded until summer, so... any additional threats aren't that big of a deal..."
"Would you like to challenge that?" Shelby asked.
"Not really," he muttered. "We should go."
They piled out of the car. "Take care," she called out after them. Santana and Quinn nodded weakly.
"Chin up," Joey smiled. "Talk to you later."
As the four of them walked into school everyone talking around them went silent. The whole school was staring and not a subtle stare like a bad eighties movie stare. Quinn sighed and walked heavily with Santana at her side. She felt a strange uneasiness that she needed her mingling with a comfort that she had her. She continued to remain in her daze as Figgins gave them a lecture about behavior as well as a lingering apology to her about the 'incidents' and the 'death in the family.' Quinn felt like he was giving her an unwanted gift, one that was mostly for the sake of giving rather than the thought behind it. She sighed.
"Quinn, Quinn, Quinn!" she looked up and Santana was in her face. "I've been trying to get your attention forever."
"What?" she asked with a nervous laugh.
"I have to run to the locker room," Santana said. "Wanna come?"
"I don't need you to be my guard dog," she snapped.
"I'm not, geeze." Santana frowned and shared a look with Brittany. "It was just a question." She paused. "So... um... I'll see you later?"
"Probably," Quinn frowned, realizing she didn't want to be babysat. "We live together and share a bathroom... so... Yes, I'll see you later." Santana frowned but Quinn chose to ignore it and turned on her heels. "If you send people to spy on me, I'm going to bleach your clothes."
Santana rolled her eyes and turned to watch her brother disappear with a wave as well. She smiled at Brittany but pulled back when the blonde reached out to take her hand as she looked around the hallway. "Sorry," she said quietly. She saw the hurt in Brittany's eyes. "I just... I don't know how to do this here." She sighed. "I'll figure it out. I love you, I just... I don't know if I'm ready to hold your hand and kiss you in public yet..." She squeezed her eyes shut. "Damn it, that sounded terrible." She shook her head as Brittany opened her mouth to reply. "Um... let me just run to the locker room." Brittany opened her mouth again. "I'm gonna go alone. I'm sorry. Just... I'll see you in homeroom." her eyes followed in Quinn's direction. "Watch her?"
"Course," Brittany said. She opened her mouth to say something but once again, Santana cut her off.
"I have to go," she said adjusting her backpack in duffle. "See you in a second."
And with that, the brunette walked in the other direction, leaving behind a baffled girl who thought she was her girlfriend.
…..
Quinn felt the stares on her. Were they looking at her? The absence of her uniform? Her giant ugly cast? Her permanently jaded eyes? She was at McKinley again, a place she used to find solace and instead she felt something else.
She reached her locker trying her best not to hear the gossip around her.
"Hey there," a male voice said coming up behind her.
She frowned and opened her locker before she turned around to face the voice. She frowned at the hockey player. "What?' she asked.
He shrugged. "Long time no see," he smiled.
"Go away," she said grabbing her books, closing her locker and heading down the hallway.
He followed her. "So what happened to you arm? Daddy break it?"
Quinn swallowed but forced herself to continue walking. His steps continued behind her. She picked up her pace down the hallway towards the open door leading to the west stairs.
"I know that you put out for Finn, but I never knew you were that desperate to be touched at home," he said as he leaned closer to her ear at the end of the statement. She steeled her jaw but continued to walk, but mainly because she didn't know what she would say and most importantly she didn't think she would be able to not cry.
"Oh, c'mon ice queen," he mocked as he slammed the door shut that she was trying to open. She frowned and turned around.
"What do you want me to say?" she asked with a deep set frown. "I mean really?" She spotted a few dozen eyes on her. "What do you want me to say?"
The boy leaned forward, "Come on, say it's true. We all have heard the rumors." He chuckled. "We're even filling in the blanks ourselves." He smiled and leaned close to her ear. "You always thought you were better than us. But now we know you're not." He gave an exaggerated sigh. "Tell us how many times you banged your father, you crazy freak."
Quinn felt her heart stop. Everyone knew. Everyone knew. Quinn couldn't help the tears at this point.
"HEY!" Sue Sylvester came down the hall in a red track suit. "What the hell is going on here?!" She looked around. "Go learn crap!" The crowd started to disperse slowly, but everyone' eyes continued to fix on Quinn. "GO!" Finally the halls began to clear.
She turned to the boy grabbing his collar. "Listen, what you said was sexual harassment. Consider yourself warned, kid. If I see you speaking to Quinn or another girl like you did just now, not only will you not be starting this season for hockey, you'll be off the team."
"You're the cheerleading coach! You can't do that!" he snapped.
Sue smiled and leaned forward. "Watch me." He frowned and started to leave. She coughed. "Are you forgetting something?" she asked with a deep frown. He looked at her confused. "An apology, you ape."
"Sorry," he muttered as he started to walk away. .
"Sir, expect a call from the principal later," Sue called to him. "I'll also be talking to your coach. You're officially on my list."
He frowned and disappeared down the hallway. Quinn quickly wiped her tears. Sue turned to her.
"Come with me," the coach said.
The blonde girl frowned, but followed suit. Even with Sue leading the way and glaring at people who stared, she still felt their judgements deep in her soul. Were all of them wondering about the secrets that Quinn had held silent in the darkness of her bedroom? She knew it didn't matter if she transfered schools. Not only did everyone in Lima know, but everyone in the county and state knew now too. She knew how this worked. She remembered when one of the cheerleaders from a neighboring school allowed a boy to have anal sex with her she was forever known as "Anal Ally" for the rest of her days at all of the schools in the area. Quinn frowned. What would her name be? Was there a name for someone who had sex with and had a baby with her father? Her mind sifted through names for a moment: Fuckbray...Bastard's Bitch... Cheer-Hoe... Her mind wondered. She frowned and narrowed her gaze and hardened her jaw. She didn't need sympathy. She would rather be a bitch or something that she wasn't then be real... She wasn't going to let anyone but her family, the Corcorans, see that. Not ever.
…..
Santana held her head high as she walked through McKinley. She felt everyone's eyes on her, judging her. She saw such a variety of gazes from scornful to apathetic. Their thoughts screamed in her head. She adjusted her duffle on her shoulder making her way into the gym toward the locker room.
"Hey, Corcoran," she heard from behind her.
"Go away, Travis," she frowned as she continued to walk forward. She didn't even waste time to turn around. However, she was stopped when a hand slammed against the stacked up wooden bleachers, his arm blocking her way. "What?" she hissed still not looking at him.
"So you like pussy now huh?" he said with a snicker as he leaned close her her. She backed away but he slammed the other palm on the other side of her, caging her in. "Oh, don't be like that," he said with a grin. "You and I had a fun time last year at the winter ball." He smiled and stroked her face with his fingers grazing her cheek. She jerked her head away. "Remember?"
"Hey!"
Santana and Travis looked up as Mike approached them quickly, pulling Travis away from her.
"What?" Travis asked with a frown as he put his hands up in the air.
"Get the hell out of here, idiot!" He yelled as he stood slightly in front of Santana.
"Whatever," Travis said waving his hands more, walking away. "See ya later slut. Once a cock slut always a cock slut."
"Son of a bitch-" Mike said starting toward him.
However, Santana's hand shot out and stopped him by pressing on his chest. "Forget about it," she mumbled to Mike, but she didn't give him time to respond. She walked quickly toward the locker rooms, away from the boy. She rounded the corner away from Mike and heard him exit through the heavy gym door into the main hallway of the school. She neared the locker room corridor.
"Santana...Santana," a voice taunted behind her.
She quickened her pace toward the hallway, but only slightly she wasn't going to run away.
"Oh, come on," he said with a grin as he grabbed her upper arm forcing her to turn around and face him.
It was another faceless jock she had slept with a couple times.
"Go away," she said between clenched teeth.
He ground his hips against hers. She tried take a few steps back to get away from his grinding but realized he still had her upper arm in a tight grip, "Come on, Santana. Someone turned you into a lesbo, but I'm sure I can change you back." He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips as she pushed against his chest without success.
"No!" she hissed into his dirty mouth.
"OFF NOW!" a voice echoed with benevolence from behind them.
Santana was breathing hard from the panic and the stress as she focused on Sue. She frowned but caught her breath.
"What is it with you?" Sue hissed. "You think she's up for grabs? You're not a rabbit!" She shook her head. "Go to the principal's office immediately. Don't get lost." She paused and narrowed her eyes. "I'll find you." She snuck a glance at Santana making sure she was okay. The girl gave her a tiny nod and Sue returned to look at the boy. "Go," she frowned.
He sighed heavily and left. Sue softened and looked at Santana. "Let's talk in my office," she said. "Quinn is already waiting in there."
"What?" Santana asked quickening her pace and hardening her dark eyes. "What the hell happened?!"
"Heel, cujo," Sue calmed. "She's fine, but the three of us need to talk." She led them in. "Let's begin, Quinn with finding you a uniform."
….
Noah slammed his locker shut. Applications were sent. This was happening. This was real. He frowned. He needed to go up to New York. How would that work? Either way his Mom would probably find out... so primarily he just needed enough time to get away. He frowned as he thought. Enough time to be ahead of her that when he was caught, it was too late for her to stop him. A weekend, he decided. When would he have a weekend to drive up to New York with Mike? He frowned.
Mike came storming up to him.
"Hey," Noah said quickly. "I was thinking next weekend we can do our plan."
Mike continued frowning but nodded. "What plan?"
"Our road trip," Noah said. "I need to do it soon. Could we go next weekend?"
"Yeah, yeah," Mike said. "My parents are out of town. I can pay my sister to pretend to be my mom on the phone and talk to your warden." He sighed opening his locker with a bang and then closing it with a slam.
"Dude," Noah frowned. "I know I have been gone for a week, but geeze."
"Forget it," he said. "It's not you," he muttered.
"What is it?" Noah said hardening his face. "I could use someone else to be pissed at. I'm pissed enough about everything in my family. I would love to be pissed for you."
Mike took a breath and thought for a moment before looking at his friend. "It's fine," he whispered. "I'm taking care of it. Don't worry."
Noah paused and pulled at Mike's letterman jacket so the boy looked at him. He took a deep breath and understood the other boy's look.
"What happened?" he frowned.
"Nothing, dude. I'll take care of this," he urged knowing his best friend didn't need this.
"No, you won't," Noah pushed. "If it has to do with my sisters, you'll tell me."
Mike frowned, knowing he couldn't win. He dug his hands into his jacket pocket. "You can't get suspended for another week..." He sighed, "Travis and San had a bit of a run in."
Noah instantly hardened his gaze.
…..
Shelby and Joey sat down in the courtroom.
"Thanks for coming," Shelby whispered.
"Where else would I be?" Joey smiled taking her sister's hand. "This is almost over," she assured.
Shelby shook her head as the judge entered and they stood. "No," she whispered. "It's just beginning."
Will Schuester entered the room with a stone gaze. His face was still slightly bruised from the hits Noah inflicted. However, the monster's face softened when he saw Shelby. The woman thought he would wave if he wasn't handcuffed. The judge sat down and it began.
"Please state your name for the record."
The man who hurt her daughters leaned forward toward the microphone. "William Schuester."
There were papers exchanged as the judge skimmed through, taking a long pause to look at the charges.
"How do you plea to the charges listed?" the judge asked.
"Not guilty."
The words ripped through Shelby. How could he do that? How could they possibly think that he was innocent? She felt her sister's hand grip hers.
"You honor, the people move to deny bail based on the circumstances of this case," the ADA stated.
"Your honor," Felix said. "My client recognizes he broke the-"
"Mr. Duncan, while I'm sure you may have an entertaining argument, you and I both know your client's violations of his house arrest are far beyond the arena where I would ever consider granting him bail. I agree. Mr. Schuester will be held without bail based on his fugitive status. Mr. Schuester, you will immediately be escorted to a maximum security prison outside of Cleveland where you will be held until your preliminary hearing, without bail or bond. The trial date will be assigned to you within a week or two. Next case."
Shelby watched him disappear through the doors. She didn't feel any relief at all. He was going to fight this tooth and nail and he was ready to take down everyone on his way. She felt a hand on hers. She didn't want to look at her sister. She didn't need that look of sympathy. She stood and pulled out her phone wondering if anything had gone wrong outside of the courtroom in the last fifteen minutes. She paused looking at screen. A new voicemail.
"Crap," she muttered as she pulled on her coat and put her phone to her ear.
"What?" Joey asked.
Shelby sighed. "The school called."
…..
Sorry for the delay again, everyone. Again, I hope to get back up to 15k-20k words again. We will see. Sorry it was shorter.
I hope you like it. Lots to come...
Please let me know what you think.
