A/N: Hi, Everyone!

Anonymous Reviews:

Guest - Thanks for the review! I'm not entirely sure you will want to continue reading this story. Just fair warning. Also, I don't even know if you care enough to be made aware, but several things you are thinking are inaccurate. Like, Quinn wasn't just "screwing" her partner. They were in a serious relationship. Rachel purposefully led her to believe that she slept with a literal criminal just to get ahead in her career. That is a major thing for the Quinn in this story. And who said she didn't notice the name? Anyway, also, they both lust after each other's bodies in the beginning before emotions get in the way. And...criminals sneak up on trained agents all the time in real life. Like, they're not Xena LOL. Anyway, thanks again!

Nr - Thank you for the review! I'm really glad you're enjoying it so far! :)

Anyway, that's enough out of me. Enjoy!

The ER doctor in Lexington ordered Quinn out of the room when he got ready to operate on Rachel, but Quinn refused to budge. She wouldn't leave the brunette. Not even for a minute.

The last time Quinn had let her out of her sight, Max had grabbed her. Quinn had died a thousand deaths while that gun barrel was pressed against Rachel's face and never wanted to feel that kind of fear again. Especially since the short-lived incident had triggered a violent reaction in the brunette. She had been handling her extraction from the undercover assignment in a safe, gradual manner until that point.

The doctor hadn't put up much of an argument once she had introduced herself as Rachel's federal bodyguard. Fortunately, the doctor had been so appalled by the implant that he'd removed it without asking a lot of questions. They had gotten by with a minimum of detail.

The procedure only required local anesthetic and a couple of new stitches. The operation was over in less than an hour with the whole visit charged to the FBI through Rachel's real bureau identification, Barbra Berry.

"You're sure you feel like leaving the hospital so soon?" Quinn asked, sliding an arm around Rachel's back and guiding her out of the emergency room doors. They had decided to leave the Jeep in the hospital parking lot and hire a taxi. Tomorrow, they would rent a different vehicle.

"I'm sure," Rachel said. "There's no reason for me to say. It's no different than any other outpatient surgery. Besides, Finn had the bug implanted while I was in his house." Her tone turned caustic. "He didn't even bother with antibiotics."

Quinn's hands clenched into fists. She hated the idea of that scum touching her or having any control over her, whether they'd been intimate or not.

Endangering her with a less-than-sterile surgery was just one of Hudson's many crimes. Inserting a foreign body so close to the base of her brain without her consent would be cause for prosecution in most people's eyes. The man had a lifetime of atrocities to atone for.

She couldn't think about it now. She had more immediate worries, like keeping Rachel safe. Just the thought made her gut twist. Somewhere along the line, the shorter woman had become more than an assignment, more than just a friend. Quinn hadn't worked it all out in her mind yet, but she was fully committed to protecting Rachel from harm.

The taxi driver took them to a twenty-four-hour shopping mart where they had a bite to eat and bought a few necessities. Then they hired a different cab to take them to a motel on the north side of the city. It was nearing four a.m. by the time they'd registered and settled in to their room.

"Why don't you get cleaned up first," Quinn told her after they'd done a complete security check, double locking the door and window. The ground-level room was furnished in neutral tones like thousands of others in the chain – generic but clean.

"Suits me fine," said Rachel.

Quinn could see the strain of the day's events etched on her features. The fine skin under eyes looked bruised, and her face creased with worry lines. The blonde had an unexpected urge to smooth away the creases and bring back her confidence.

"You're not supposed to get those stitches wet," Quinn reminded, as Rachel grabbed a shopping bag and walked into the bathroom.

The brunette nodded. "I know, and my hair's filthy. I'll have to improvise."

"Need help?" Her offer was sincere, yet the vision that popped into her mind was anything but pure. Her memory conjured the image of the smaller woman stretched out on a deck chair, her slim, shapely body glistening in the sun. Then the blonde mentally removed the bikini – and felt a wave of desire ripple through her body and settle between her legs.

"No, thanks. I'll just be slow and careful." Rachel's calm rejoinder was further evidence of her exhaustion. She didn't even bother to berate the blonde for the suggestion. Quinn smiled slightly, blocking the mental image and commanding her body to relax.

To pass the time, she sorted through the things she had bought at the store: jeans, a couple of shirts, and some panties. The shoes she had found at the cabin would be okay until she got home. She'd bought another pair of shorts for sleeping.

The only room available so late had been a single with a queen-size bed. That meant they'd have to share, and she would have to make a strong effort to control her desire. A desire that had been steadily escalating since the first time she held the elusive Phantom in her arms.

Kicking off her shoes, she stretched out on the bed and grabbed the TV remote. The late-night offerings didn't hold much appeal, but she settled on the oldies channel to pass the time while she waited for her turn in the bathroom.

In less than fifteen minutes, the door reopened, and Rachel came back into the room. Quinn's breath stopped at the sight of her, her muscles knotting and slow heat curling her belly.

The sleepwear the brunette had picked looked like a man's boxer shorts and a sleeveless white undershirt. It should have been plain, but not with the soft fabric molded to her damp body. Rachel lifted an arm to adjust the towel around her head, and the action brought the shirt tight across her breasts. She wore a bra, yet Quinn could still see the outline of hard, round nipples.

Heat poured through her like roiling lava, slow and thick and scalding. A cloud of sweet-smelling steam engulfed her, making her muscles tighten even more, while her heart pumped a little too fast.

It would never do. They were both too tired to deal with sexual complications right now. Their relationship was too fragile, their future too unpredictable. Maybe a really cold shower would help.

Gritting her teeth, Quinn clicked off the TV and rose from the bed. "Are you done in there?"

Rachel nodded. "It's all yours, but I could use a little help first, if you don't mind.

Quinn moved closer. Everything about the brunette delighted her senses, so she feasted on the closeness. Quinn wanted to touch and taste and explore. More importantly, however, she wanted to do anything she could to help Rachel rest and recuperate from her ordeal.

"What's the problem?" the blonde asked softly.

Rachel's expression, though still weary, was relaxed. The delicate, freshly scrubbed features appealed to her far more than the perfectly made-up socialite demeanor. Everything about the brunette attracted her like a magnet.

"I got my Band-Aid a little damp, so I took it off. Could you please put another one over the stitches?"

Rachel handed her a fresh one and turned her back. Quinn's hands trembled as she applied over the spot on her nape. Just the feel of the short woman's skin under her fingers sent erotic messages throughout her body and had her aching for more. Quinn dragged in a long, deep breath, but that only served to pull Rachel's scent more deeply into her system.

"There. All set." The blonde cleared the gruffness from her throat and grabbed some clean clothes. "I won't be long."

In actuality, it took her fifteen minutes of frigid water to calm her rampaging desire. Then she took her time drying and brushing her hair and brushing her teeth.

She hoped Rachel would be sound asleep by the time she returned to the bedroom, but no such luck. The brunette sat at the top of the bed with her legs curled under her. Her hair framed her face in a perfect oval, the chocolate tresses looking shiny, clean, and soft. Her shorts and top did little to conceal all of her tempting curves. The sight of her elevated Quinn's temperature again, to dangerous levels.

Rachel gave her a gentle smile that sent her blood pressure soaring with the simple innocence of it. There was nothing sexual or deliberately alluring about her manner, and Quinn didn't know if she liked that or not. She wanted the brunette's trust and wanted Rachel to feel safe with her, but she didn't want things to get too platonic between them.

"Watching anything special or ready for some shuteye?" she asked.

"Sleep," Rachel assured her, clicking off the television. She set the remote on the bedside table and switched off the light. Then she slid beneath the sheet. "Okay if I sleep on the left side?"

"No problem," the blonde said. "I'll leave the bathroom light on and keep the door cracked in case you have to get up during the night."

"Thanks."

Quinn laid the Glock on the table next to her side of the bed. She was certain Rachel had the smaller gun within reach. Quinn didn't expect any trouble, but they couldn't afford to get careless.

Quinn wondered what Rachel had done about her little security pouch. She obviously wasn't wearing the neon green bikini anymore or Quinn would have seen it through her white shorts. Warning herself not to dwell on that area of the brunette's body, Quinn switched off her light. Then she stretched out on top of the covers and folded her arms behind her head.

They lied quietly for a while, adjusting to the unfamiliar sounds and shadows. Quinn tried to concentrate on everything but the warm, sexy, sweet-smelling woman at her side and how long it had been since she had shared a bed with any woman. She thought back to the night Berry had called her. She had been wishing for a woman in her bed. Now she had one but had to curb her appetite.

She listened to the steady hum of the air conditioner. It drowned out most of the noise beyond the room. She studied the sprinkler system valve on the ceiling, trying to keep her mind occupied until boring details could lull her to sleep.

"Quinn?" Rachel's soft, hesitant whisper of her name made her nerves go haywire.

She dragged in a slow breath. "Yeah?"

Rachel waited so long to respond that Quinn finally shifted on her side and faced her. The brunette turned toward her, her gaze settling on the blonde's face, but she didn't say anything else.

"What's wrong?" Quinn whispered.

Rachel's voice was small. "Would you hold me?"

A wild surge of emotion exploded inside Quinn, so strong that it sent a shudder through her body. She wanted the brunette in every sense of the word, in every way a woman could want someone else, but she knew Rachel only needed reassurance. She wasn't asking for sex or anything close, just comfort and the intimacy of being close to another human being.

Still, Quinn didn't hesitate. She gathered the brunette, sheet and all, in her arms and pulled her against her chest. Rachel slid one arm around her waist and snuggled her face into the curve of the blonde's shoulder. Pressing a light kiss on the silky softness of her hair, Quinn encouraged her to relax. "You need to rest."

"I can't seem to shut down my brain," Rachel replied.

Quinn slowly rubbed the small of her back, enjoying the contact, even through the layers of clothing. "You're not still worried about Hudson's men?"

She felt Rachel shake her head. "No."

"Then what's bothering you? Something specific or just everything?" she asked, keeping her tone light.

"All of it. The ugliness and deceit and my part in it. Even though I know how important it was to bring him to justice, I wish I'd never heard his name. Never learned all his dirty secrets. Never had to deal with him."

Quinn went still. "Did he hurt you? Does he have some sort of sick or perverted habits?"

"No, I was just another possession," Rachel responded.

Anger roared through Quinn, swift and uncontrollable. "How the hell could you stand it? Seeing him every day? Living in his pocket? Letting him believe he had the right to touch you whenever he wanted?"

Rachel stiffened and started to pull from her grip, but Quinn instantly tightened her hold on the brunettes. She cursed her own lack of control and willed herself to calm down, will her muscles to relax until Rachel felt comfortable enough to continue.

"Sorry about that," the blonde apologized softly.

"I understand," Rachel whispered, hugging her briefly. "It makes me sick with anger, too, but I've spent half my lifetime working toward one goal. I want to see him pay for his crimes. Every time I felt sickened by the sight of him, I reminded myself of those long, lonely years."

"Long and lonely?" Quinn didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

When Rachel didn't immediately respond, Quinn tilted her head so that she could look into the brunette's eyes. Even in the darkness, Quinn could see the turbulent emotion. "Why was it so important for you to bring him to justice? He's just one of a thousand criminals the FBI wants.

It took a few moments for her to answer, and Quinn had to strain to hear the response.

"He killed my family."

The cold, hard edge to her voice shook Quinn as much as the bald statement. Quinn knew she wasn't going to like the details, but she wanted the shorter woman to trust her enough to offer them. Tucking the brunette against her chest again, Quinn murmured in her ear, "Can you tell me about it?"

"I've never discussed it with anyone but Leroy," Rachel confessed softly.

A spike of jealousy caught Quinn unaware, slamming through her body and making her tense. More slow, deep breaths. "So, tell me."

A long minute passed. Rachel stroked the blonde's back, her hand soft and warm. Quinn didn't know if she was searching for words or refusing to share the story, until she finally responded.

"My dad worked for Finn a long time ago. As his accountant, Dad was the first to notice the money laundering and other illegal activities. He went to the FBI and agreed to testify, but Finn managed to lay the blame on one of his bank managers. The charges against him were dropped."

"Leaving your dad to pay the consequences," Quinn put it grimly.

"Our family went into the protection program, but Finn never stopped searching for us. He had to set an example. He had a reputation to establish, and he wanted revenge. We kept moving, but he kept finding us. When I was sixteen, his men shot both my parents and my little brother. Then they set our house on fire, and it was all my fault," she ended on a sob.

"You can't blame yourself," the blonde said soothingly. "You weren't responsible for his crimes."

Rachel continued in a strained voice. "It was my fault he found us again. Dad and Mom were worried and ready to move, but I had a lead role in my school's spring musical. I begged them to wait a few more days, and they only stayed because of me," she said roughly. "They would have been safe if I hadn't been so spoiled and selfish."

Quinn's heart ached for her. She hugged the brunette closer, wanting to absorb some of her pain. She knew how much it had hurt to lose her dad, then Maggie. She could only imaging how Rachel had suffered. She had lost everyone she loved, and she blamed herself.

"How did you escape?" she asked.

"I was at the opening night of the musical. I was so mad at them for not showing up. But when I was almost home, I heard the sirens, and my anger was replaced with absolute fear...Fear that was confirmed when I arrived and saw the flames. I'd been told to hide and call Leroy in an emergency, so that's what I did. He falsified the records to show that I had died, too, and then put me in protection again."

She didn't need to say any more. Quinn could figure out what had happened from that point. Rachel had become obsessed with the need to avenge her family, to see some form of justice done. Then she'd spent more than a decade working toward her most important assignment.

"You've got him now," Quinn tried to reassure.

Rachel nodded. "He needs to pay for destroying my family."

Her breath caught on a strangled sob that made Quinn ache to ease the pain. How could you comfort someone who had lost so much? She still hadn't come to terms with the guilt over Maggie's death. Rachel had lost her entire family, plus the innocence of youth. No wonder she was driven.

"Your family would be proud," she tried again.

"You think?" Rachel asked wistfully. "I wonder sometimes. My parents wanted to see Finn brought to justice, but I'm not sure they would approve of my methods. They'd never condone lying and deceit. I just didn't know any other way."

Quinn scoffed lightly. "How could they not be proud of your dedication and determination? You're working on the side of the law. That's the lesson they taught you."

Rachel sighed, snuggling closer. "You're right. I followed in my dad's footsteps when I gave evidence to the FBI. And I'll testify just like he did, but I'm sick and tired of it. Once Finn is convicted, I never want to hear his name again."

"I'll second that," Quinn remarked softly. "I don't care if I never hear the name again, either."

With those words, the conversation ended, and the room grew quiet again.

"We'd better get some sleep," the blonde finally murmured.

Rachel made a soft sound that could have been agreement, and then exhaustion took its toll. Her grip on the blonde's waist eased, and Quinn knew the brunette had finally drifted to sleep. She smiled slightly and dropped another light kiss on Rachel's hair. The soft, smooth feel of it soothed her as much as the warmth of her body.

Rachel generated a whole host of feelings Quinn had never experienced with any other woman, including Maggie, possessiveness being primary. She wanted to lay claim to Rachel in the most elemental fashion, make love to her until she forgot every other person she'd ever known. Until the brunette's world revolved around her, not Hudson, her job, or anything else.

It was a selfish desire, but Quinn felt it nonetheless. The admission made her frown. She had never been the jealous, possessive type, had never wanted a woman to be solely dependent on her.

Rachel was different.

And definitely off-limits right now. Quinn had to be patient. This wasn't the time or place to stake a claim. They both needed sleep. She pressed her cheek against the softness of the sleeping brunette's and gradually let her mind and body relax.

Hours later, Quinn awakened as the warmth of Rachel's body left her side. Grumbling in complaint, the blonde reached for her, but she dodged her arms. Quinn struggled with grogginess as Rachel moved to the foot of the bed, pulling the sheet with her.

When she grasped one of Quinn's feet in her hands, her touch jarred the blonde awake.

"What?" Quinn had no concept of the time, though sunshine glistened around the edges of the heavy drapes. The room was still shadowed, but light enough to see her sexy bedmate as she knelt at her feet. Rachel's hair was tousled, her face flushed with sleep, and her expression mysterious.

She took Quinn's right foot into her hands and slowly massaged her heel, then her arch, and the ball of her foot. Her hands were warm and soft, her thumbs stroking firmly. Heat spiked up her leg to her center. By the time Rachel reached her other foot, Quinn was pulsing with arousal.

"I owe you a massage," Rachel said quietly, her gaze locking with Quinn's. "Remember?"

The blonde's voice came roughly. "You don't owe me anything."

Quinn wanted her more than her next breath. The blood sang through her veins in a heated rush, but she didn't want the smaller woman offering anything out of gratitude.

"You carried me too far. You will be stiff and sore this morning." Rachel moved between her legs and began to rub her right calf with long, strong strokes, her fingers working magic on the muscles. She gave the same slow, diligent attention to the blonde's left leg, and then both knees.

Quinn groaned with pleasure. "Damn, that feels good," she muttered, holding the brunette's dark gaze. They stared into each other's eyes for a long, breathless moment.

"Be warned," Quinn told her huskily. "If you keep it up, I might want a whole lot more than a massage."

"I'll do my best," Rachel promised, just as huskily.

Quinn frowned and raised an eyebrow. "I don't want your gratitude." She didn't want gratuitous sex. She wanted the brunette to be as needy as she was.

Rachel smiled, a slow, sultry, beautiful smile that turned Quinn's insides to mush and made her flesh prickle with anticipation. "The massage is in appreciation. Anything else will be strictly my pleasure."

Rachel trusted her. Quinn had finally earned her trust, and she knew it wasn't something the other woman gave lightly. She hadn't realized how badly she wanted it until Rachel offered it. Satisfaction flowed over the blonde like warm honey.

The brunette's palms flattened across the top of her pale thighs, her fingers still kneading. She spread Quinn's legs wider and inched closer. Her touch electrified the blonde, the heat sizzling along her nerves, her muscles clenching with each new stoke.

When she slid her fingers toward the hem of her shorts and slid her shirt off in one swift motion, leaving her topless, save for her bra, Quinn shuddered and reached for her. Rachel countered the move by grabbing the blonde's hands, pressing them on the bed, and clucking her tongue in rebuke. Then she urged her to roll onto her stomach.

Quinn complied, turning, and muffled a moan against the pillow as Rachel straddled her hips. Her heat seared the blonde, her thighs blanketing her with feminine softness through the thin barrier of clothing. She could hear the blood rushing in her head.

Rachel worked on the muscles of her back and shoulders, pausing only to unclasp her bra, her touch strong and sure. Quinn's hands curled into fists at her sides as her body sang with excitement. Next, the brunette slowly slid off her hips and straddled her thighs.

"You're a little tense, Fabray," she teased.

Quinn's tone was hoarse with arousal. "Go figure."

Then Rachel's hands cupped her ass, strong fingers igniting an even stronger reaction from the blonde's flesh. Her nerves were strung taut, her arousal pooling more and more at her center with every beat of her heart.

Rachel slid off her legs and urged her to turn onto her back again. For a long second, she just stared at Quinn's breasts, on full display, her eyes going impossibly darker. Rachel straddled her hips, pressing her soft warmth tightly against Quinn's own. Quinn made a sound deep in her throat and reached for her, but Rachel snatched her hands and pressed them down on either side of her head. She tried to steal a kiss while the brunette nibbled on her chin.

Her next caress was a string of wet, open-mouthed kissed down her neck and across her chest. She took a long, tortuous time to bathe and suck on the blonde's aching nipples. Rachel's tongue sent hot, primitive need racing through her. Every nerve ending in her body hummed with tension.

By the time Rachel had worked her way down to her navel, Quinn's breathing had grown ragged and her chest heaved. She broke a sweat as Rachel's nimble fingers reached inside her shorts and under her panties.

"Oh, God," Quinn groaned.

Rachel cupped her overheated center and slid one finger between her slick folds, stroking her sensitive clit until Quinn nearly strangled on her own need. She couldn't let Rachel tease her much longer. This time when she reached for her, Rachel didn't resist, but instead slid back up her body and locked her full mouth with hers.

Their moans mingled as Quinn plunged her tongue through her lips and explored the sweet depths beyond. She wanted to taste every inch of Rachel, eat her up and lose herself in the taste, scent, and feel of her.

Quinn cupped her head in her hands, clutching fistfuls of silky hair to guide the brunette closer. Their mouths were pressed tightly together, but Quinn still couldn't get enough of her. She angled her head, then sucked Rachel's tongue between her teeth and molded it with her own.

Her hunger for the smaller woman was insatiable. The more she gave, the more Quinn wanted. She had never wanted anyone so desperately. Even the need for breath annoyed her. After a quick drag of air, Quinn captured her mouth in another deep, drugging kiss.

While she clung to the brunette's head, Rachel's hands were busy tugging at the waistband of Quinn's sleep shorts. The blonde paused long enough to shrug out of her remaining clothes and kick them aside. Then she helped Rachel lift her shirt over her head.

When Rachel unhooked her bra and removed it, Quinn was awed at her beauty. She forced herself to take long, calming breaths while she admired the feel and shape of the other woman. Quinn slid her palms over her ribcage and cupped the soft, firm mounds of her breasts, using her thumbs to bring the tips to rigid attention. Rachel rocked against her in response, and her mewing sounds of pleasure fed Quinn's excitement.

"Quinn!"

The sound of her name on the brunette's lips had desire coiling even tighter in her core. Quinn pulled Rachel up her body until she could replace her hand with her lips, and then sucked a nipple deeply into her mouth. Quinn teased the tight bud with the tip of her tongue and felt Rachel's body arching against her in demand.

Her throaty sounds of hunger made Quinn quiver like a tightly plucked bowstring. Together, they managed to get her out of her shorts and panties. Then they swallowed each other's groans as they savored the feel of bare flesh against bare flesh.

She felt Rachel's hands tangle in her blonde locks, her grasp tight, as they got lost in another potent, probing kiss. Quinn caressed her thighs, earning another throaty moan from the brunette on top of her, and then moved her hand to the apex of her thighs, lightly stroking Rachel's wet heat and hard bundle of nerves. Rachel's mouth grew demanding as she rubbed her breasts against Quinn's own, the hard nubs of her nipples spiking the heat in the blonde even higher.

They kissed until neither of them could breathe. Their chests heaved, their bodies straining for more. Then Rachel pressed herself more firmly against Quinn's probing fingers. Quinn moaned at the exquisite feel of her.

"Ready?" Quinn asked.

"Definitely," came the brunette's immediate reply.

Quinn moved her hand lower and positioned two fingers at the brunette's opening. Rachel eased herself onto the blonde's fingers and enveloped her with her soft, wet warmth.

So tight. So damn hot and tight. And so tense. It took a minute, but Quinn finally realized that Rachel had gone really still and tense.

"Rachel?" she asked worriedly.

"I'm okay," Rachel whispered, but she still didn't move.

"What do you mean, 'okay'?" Quinn didn't like the sound of it or her stillness. "Has it been a while for you?" That would explain the incredible tightness.

Rachel mumbled something Quinn couldn't understand, and then an amazing thought struck her. "Please don't tell me this is your first time."

"Okay."

Her lack of denial sent a shudder through Quinn and convinced her that she had hit on the truth. A deep, possessive thrill coursed through her, quickly followed by a desperate need to be gentle.

Quinn held completely still until Rachel had had time to adjust to the size and feel of her fingers. Rachel gripped her tightly, sending another shiver of erotic pleasure up the blonde's spine. Once Rachel was ready and began to move, Quinn began to move her hand with slow, careful thrusts.

The pressure built too quickly, the need to forceful. She strained to hold back, until Rachel moaned her name. Then Quinn surged against her and they met each other at a frenzied, passionate pace until Rachel stiffened and her walls clenched harshly around Quinn's fingers as she climaxed. The feel of the brunette coming undone around her fingers had Quinn tumbling over the edge in one long, fierce burst of pleasure.

Rachel collapsed against her, their chests heaving from exertion, the sound of their labored breathing filling the silence. Quinn knew Rachel would be sore later, but she swore to make it up to her.

For the next few minutes, all they could do was fight for air and hold each other while they recovered from the emotional and physical high.

Quinn hugged her tightly, wanting to prolong the exquisite contact. She closed her eyes, relishing the shared intimacy and the gift Rachel had given her. Not just her body, but her trust. Quinn knew Rachel didn't give either one too freely. She had made love to her share of women, but never to one who had been as generous in her loving. Gut instinct told her what a treasure she had found. Rachel was hers now, and she intended to keep her.

Her partner.

Her lover.

Her woman.

A/N: Bow chicka wow wow! This chapter had it all - sex, revelations, showering to get clean! Will they be safe in their little bubble for long? Find out as we continue with Deep Cover!