Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 2

Rachel Berry was sick.

Under normal circumstances, Mercedes would think it was nothing special, it was December and freezing cold outside, and people were coughing or wiping their noses everywhere. It was only a matter of time to get sick.

But – Rachel was never sick. Like ever.

After Rachel didn't show up at school, Mercedes wasn't skeptical at all. She thought that the application procedure of Harvard and NYADA must have been tiring for Rachel and that she needed to rest. But after three days, Rachel still didn't show up. Even if she had the flu, Rachel would drag herself to school, she was too ambitious to skip classes.

Now, Mercedes was worried. Something was off. She had heard in the news that Elaine Hummel died on Monday.

Did Rachel know that?

Was it the reason why she was acting like that?

Mercedes needed to talk to Rachel, she had to find out what was the problem. She retrieved her phone from her pocket, dialing her number again.

Of course, Rachel didn't pick up. And Mercedes had texted her one hundred texts by now.

On Wednesday, Rachel had texted her that things with Finn were alright again, and now, after Finn needed her the most, Rachel decided to stay at home.

Things didn't add up. And she would find out the reason.

After the event management club, Mercedes started her car and drove to Rachel's place, determined to find out what the hell was wrong.

Her dads were knocking on her door again.

Rachel wished she was strong enough to send them away. But she was too upset to do anything.

"Rachel, its Mercedes." Rachel looked up. She was sure Mercedes had tried to call her all the time. Why didn't people just leave her alone?

She just wanted to lie in her bed until the end of her life. She felt so…weak and without energy. Her life sucked.

"Rachel, can we talk?", Mercedes asked softly.

"I'm not in the mood for talking about Finn. Go away", Rachel croaked.

Mercedes took a deep breath."Your dads just told me you left with Kurt on Wednesday. Did he tell you?", she asked carefully.

"What do you mean? That Finn is a douchebag?", Rachel answered bitterly.

Mercedes sighed. "Rachel…did you even read my texts? Or check the news?"

Rachel gulped. Was there something she didn't know? "No…I didn't check my phone since Wednesday. Or watch the news."

"Then you really have no clue what's going on."

Rachel opened her door. "Mercedes, what happened?", she asked.

Mercedes entered, leading her to the desk. "You should sit if you learn the news."

The brunette slowly followed orders. That didn't sound good. What happened to Finn? Did he get into an accident? Was he hurt? There were so many horrible scenarios in her head right now.

"Tell me.", she urged Mercedes.

"Elaine Hummel died last Monday."

Rachel needed a few minutes to realize what she had just said,

Elaine Hummel died last Monday.

Finn's grandmother was dead. Since Monday.

Impossible that Finn knew about it that night.

No, he and Kurt must've learned it on Wednesday too. Rachel could hear Mercedes talking, but she didn't concentrate on her words. How could James Hudson not tell his grandchildren about the death of their grandmother?

Finn and Kurt must've been devastated. Now, Rachel remembered Kurt's swollen, red eyes when he suddenly showed up on her porch and asked about Finn.

The emotionless face expression of Finn.

The moment when he jumped into the pool, destroying everything they had built up the previous night.

"Rachel? There is other news. Barba Streisand committed suicide in a bathtub.", Mercedes just said.

Rachel nodded. "Okay."

The black girl crossed her arms. "Are you even listening? Look, I know this is shocking for you, but Finn needs you now, whatever he has done to you. When was even the last time you checked your phone?"

Rachel shrugged. Mercedes grabbed her phone and unlocked it. "Hey! How do you even know my password?", Rachel wondered.

"Please, white girl. RachelBerryIsBarbraStreisand? That was too predictable."

Mercedes cocked her eyebrows. "Someone texted you nonstop.", she gasped, showing Rachel the display.

Unknown number: Rachel. I'm so sorry. I can explain everything

Unknown number: Please come back to Sam or tell me where you are, and Andy can pick you up

"Is it Kurt?", Mercedes asked incredulously. Rachel nodded numbly.

Kurt: Grandmother died

Kurt: Finn is freaking out

Kurt: I don't know what to do

Both girls were silent for a while. "There was a press release half an hour ago, and know, everyone knows it.", Mercedes said quietly.

Somehow, Rachel got up. "I have to be by his side now."

...

It was the first time Rachel was at the place of the Hummel-Hudsons. A gate was in front of the driveway, a dozen journalists where in front of it with their cameras and microphones.

"Those bastards", Mercedes spat, parking her car next to a tree near the gate. Immediately, the reporters came running over to them and Mercedes locked the car from inside.

"Call Kurt so that he can open the gate." Grateful, Rachel nodded and followed orders. Luckily, Mercedes was by her side now, keeping a clear head. She didn't know what she would've done if it wasn't for her.

After some seconds, Kurt picked up. "Hello?"

"Mercedes and I are in front of your house. Could you please open the gate?", Rachel asked, hiding her face from the cameras.

The journalists and reporters are in front of the car, asking questions she didn't understand.

"Rachel? What…?"

Someone started hitting the pane on Rachel's side. The girls flinched.

"As fast as possible maybe?", Mercedes shouted.

"Wait a sec.", Kurt said and hung up.

After some seconds, the gate opened, and someone approached their car.

It was Andy.

The sight of the chauffeur made Rachel's heart skip a beat. She had to think about the day in Columbus which started off good but had a bad ending. And about the night Finn took care of her after that incident with the pool.

Andy went past the reporters, motioning Mercedes to open the window.

"Drive through the gate to the house, Miss. Entering the property is a criminal act for those people, they won't follow you."

Mercedes nodded and after Andy made the paparazzi step aside, she drove to the driveway. The driveway was ample, there was an alley of trees and shaped bushes with frost covering. The mansion was three-storied and square-shaped. People could see on the first sight that wealthy people had to live there.

Mercedes stopped the car next to an expensive looking Lamborghini. Outside, it was freezing cold and the two girls immediately went to the entrance. Before the entered, Rachel turned to Mercedes. "Thanks that you brought me to this place.", she said quietly.

Rachel was grateful that Mercedes was there now. Two years ago, she never would have felt this way because McKinley and private life had been seperated by Rachel and she never would have told Mercedes private stuff.

That had changed, primarily because of Finn.

Mercedes squeezed her hand. "That's no problem, white girl.", she answered softly. "And I also care about Kurt anyway."

They went to the door and Kurt opened it before they could ring. He looked like he didn't do anything than cry all those days. And now, Rachel knew why.

"I'm so sorry, Kurt.", Rachel said. He bit his lip and looked down. At this moment, Rachel didn't care they didn't know each other that much. She went over to him and pulled him into a hug. If she had known on Wednesday what was going on, she never would've left him alone.

After some seconds, Kurt pulled away with tears in his eyes. Mercedes rushed over to him, hugging him as well.

"I'm so, so sorry, boo.", she said, stroking his back while his tears were falling down her coat. Rachel put a hand on his shoulder.

"Can we do something for you?", the brunette asked carefully.

Kurt shook his head. "Please bring my brother back to senses. He freaks out. He..." his voice was raspy and he needed to clear his throat.

"I've never seen him like that before. He is destroying himself and I really don't know how to help him."

After those words, Rachel's heart started aching. She needed to be by his side. She needed to hold him in her arms.

"Where is he?"

"Sam and I dragged him to his room. He just passed out." Rachel flinched.

"I can bring you to his room if you want to.", Kurt went on.

"I will stay here.", Mercedes said. "The boys are in the parlor if you want to join them. I will come later.", Kurt told her, pointing at the other side of the foyer.

Now that he said that, Rachel noticed the silent music coming from one direction. Mercedes nodded, squeezing Kurt's hand before going to the parlor.

Kurt and Rachel went up the stairs to the next floor. There was a long hallway, and so many doors. How was it possible that only one family was living there?

"Here it is", Kurt mumbled, pointing at a door in front of them. He turned to Rachel. "I think Finn really needs you now."

He shortly touched her arm. "Rachel…There was nothing between Quinn and Finn, only that kiss." Rachel stiffened.

"Finn came out of the pool and immediately passed out on a chair. I know he can be dumb sometimes, but…"

"…Kurt", Rachel cut him off.

"…he wasn't himself."

Rachel shook her head. "That's not what I came for." She couldn't think about it now. If she did, then the anger and disappointment would be bigger, and she wouldn't be able to enter his room.

"I don't want to hear it now."

Kurt looked like he wanted to answer her back, but then, he just sighed. "I just wanted you to know that."

Then, he turned on his heel and went back to the staircase. Rachel looked after him until he disappeared.

Hesitantly, she opened the door to his room. The room had to be as big as the entire first floor of Rachel's house. On her right, there was a spacious desk, on her left, there where bookshelves with many books and some pictures. There were two other doors, Rachel assumed that one had to lead to an en-suite bathroom, the other to his closet.

In the middle of the room, there was a sofa and an expensive looking carpet. Carefully, Rachel crossed the room. She immediately spotted Finn.

He was lying on his bed, and she went closer until she could see his face.

She gasped.

Rachel thought that Finn would sleep, but his eyes were open. He looked so lifeless; his face was without energy.

She walked over to him. Finn didn't even react. The smell of alcohol was in the air and Rachel had to think about Wednesday, but she blocked out those memories. She wasn't here to think about her hurt feelings. She was here because Finn just lost his grandma.

Carefully, she sat down on his bed. "Hey Finn", she whispered.

He flinched like he just woke up and fell hard. Now, he carefully turned his head to her direction. There were dark circles under his eyes, his lips were dry. He looked like he only drank alcohol for days.

After he had kissed Quinn, Rachel was livid. She wanted revenge for her broken heart. But to see him like that wasn't satisfying at all.

It was the opposite, actually.

Now, she could feel his pain and how it made her feel down. She was desperate because she didn't know what to do.

Carefully, Rachel lifted her hand, caressing Finn's head and then his cheeks. He felt so cold and fragile right now.

Taking a deep breath, Rachel leaned down and kissed his forehead.

Finn held his breath.

Nobody dared to move for a while.

Then, Rachel sat up, taking her hand away.

In the next second, Finn grabbed her by her hips. He buried his fingers into her skirt and buried his face into her lap. Surprised by his movement, Rachel froze.

But then, Finn started sobbing. She pulled him into a hug, holding him tight. There was nothing she could say now. She had never lost a beloved person before.

But she could be there for him. She could stroke his back and share his tears, showing him he wasn't alone.

Now, Rachel realized that she had assessed the situation in a wrong way. She thought she could erase him from her life easily. She thought she could just forget Finn.

But at this moment, after she realized what his pain did to her as well, she knew it wouldn't happen that fast.

A/N: I honestly don't know what to say...