As many of you already know, I've taken a lot of creative liberties. Especially with this story. We're going to see the Glee club next, we're going to finally meet Chase, and we're going to see just how far this ragtag family is going to go to protect one of their own. Yes, I know there's a Toujours Pur vibe to this, but there are people really out here like this.
Mistakes are definitely mine and I apologize.
RCV
Puck stood in the middle of the foyer. He shivered.
"Why is it so cold?" he asked.
"Because no one lives here," she murmured.
They made their way to her bedroom. Santana flicked on the light and without hesitation, grabbed two bags from her closet and started packing. Puck walked around, staring at the pictures on her wall, and reached out to grab the one folded behind another. She hadn't tried too hard to hide it, but it wasn't on display either. He unfolded it and his breath caught. It was from the fall fair they used to have in middle school. He cringed at the mullet on his head and the studded bracelets on his wrists, but he smiled at Brittany and Quinn posing beside him. His eyes easily found Finn and Santana, and his heart broke. Both smiled, but there wasn't much behind it. He hadn't noticed it before, but Finn and Santana seemed…different. Finn had his arm around Santana, and she had her head on his chest.
"That was our first date."
Puck looked over his shoulder. "Wait, what?" he asked.
Santana gently took the picture from him and ran her finger over Finn's face. "His father had just passed, and I knew all too well what it was like to lose a parent. We bonded over that and I guess we just fell into it. We dated for a good year before we broke up."
"But high school? All the nicknames, the fighting…" he trailed off.
"Playing a role. Like we all were," she sighed. "I always apologized if I went too far. As did he. We kept our relationship a secret because it was something we shared. It was just us. You know?"
"And the Brittany thing?" he asked hesitantly.
Santana frowned. "I admit that was where our relationship took a nosedive. I couldn't…he really hurt me. I held onto that anger because it was way easier to feel than the pain. That night in the church-", Santana's voice cracked. The picture crumpled slightly in her grip as she continued, "When I saw him on the floor, something broke inside. I saw it in his eyes, you know? He apologized in one look. He still loved me, and I still loved him. But to see him like that hurt. He was my first love and he's gone. He's gone, Puck," she cried.
Puck held her. He had nothing to say. Just like the day of the funeral, there was nothing to say. The picture fluttered from her hands to the floor, but neither moved to pick it up. Santana cried into his chest and he fought back his own tears. There was a part of him that knew this conversation would never happen again with anyone else. Santana was not the type to have many emotional moments, but he was glad she had it with him.
Hiram sat on the porch stairs, a bag at his feet. He looked horrible. His hair had grown, matted together in some parts, and his beard was thick and dry. He had a cigarette between his lips and his eyes were empty, hollow. Headlights passed over his face and he glanced up. A BMW pulled into the driveway. Hiram stood and grabbed his bag. He tossed the cigarette into the grass and got into the car.
Leroy walked down the street with Sue.
"Chase Miller is in town," she said suddenly.
Leroy sighed. "I figured as much," he said.
Sue put her hand on his arm, and they stopped. "How?" she asked.
"A car was following me. It's partly why I took so long to get home earlier. I had to lose them in the woods."
"Leroy, if he's in town-
"I know, Sue," he interrupted.
Silence.
"Why aren't you own board with going to Seattle?" she sighed.
They started walking again. Leroy put his hands in his pockets. "Hiram, but my child pretty much gave me little choice in the matter. I don't blame her though. Now, however, I'm down for it. I could use a good break of routine."
"It's not a vacation."
"It's a break from my routine of holding out hope Hiram will come back."
"Leroy…"
"I know, I know. It was stupid, but I love him. I don't think that'll ever completely go away. The conversation tonight put me in the position where I had to pick him or my kids. The answer came pretty quickly after that."
"So, you're completely down for moving?" she asked.
"Not completely. I need to know what comes next. Job, stability, house, schools, and all the other aspects of uprooting again. This isn't something we can just do at the drop of a hat."
"Talk to Quinn. She apparently did some deep diving into law firms out there and managed to find a few you might like. Santana got her your resume, and she sent it out."
Leroy pinched the bridge of his nose. "I regret giving that girl my password," he grumbled.
"As if she needed it. I know that girl is dangerous with a computer. She can find any and everything, as well as anyone. Her mother was the same way. Tech savant. Santana followed in her mother's footsteps. That girl thinks she's keeping her little habits a secret, but I have my own secrets."
"We all know you have your secrets, Sue."
They shared a laugh, but it died off shortly after. Leroy slid his arm into Sue's and she sighed.
"We're being followed, aren't we?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so, my friend. I'm afraid so."
Three men picked up their speed. Leroy and Sue prepared for whatever would come next.
Santana and Puck rode down the street, her bags in the back.
"Hey, isn't that-
"Yeah," Puck said.
He pulled over to the side and rolled down the window. Santana opened the door and slid to the side.
"Get in," she said to Leroy and Sue, keeping her eyes on the men.
Leroy and Sue made their way through the men, who offered little resistance, and Santana sat in Sue's lap as Leroy shut the door. Puck glared at the men before he drove off. He took the street opposite the way he would go back to Leroy's.
"Go back to my house," Santana ordered. "And park in the back."
Puck followed her instructions.
"Why are we going to your house?" Leroy asked.
"Did I forget to mention I'm really good with faces?" Santana said.
Realization hit.
Leroy made an 'oh' face and said nothing else.
"Where are they?" Rachel asked. She paced the living room in front of the others. No one heard from Santana, Puck, Leroy, or Sue, and they were starting to get worried.
"Sue and Leroy were just out for a walk. They should be back by now," Emma said.
"Santana and Puck just left," Quinn said. "Without saying anything, so who knows where they are."
The door opened and everyone turned to see the people in question come inside. Puck locked the door and peaked out of the blinds. He shut the curtains.
"Where the hell have you guys been?" Quinn exclaimed.
"Miller's in town," Puck said.
"He sent some people after Leroy," Santana added.
"Why?" LJ asked. "Why do they want him?"
"It's not him they want," Sue said.
"Then who?"
"It's me," Rachel said. "Isn't it?"
Leroy put his hands on his hips and looked up at the ceiling. "It's stupid. It's all so fucking stupid! Hiram and his fucking family think purity is so fucking important. It's like a damn Harry Potter movie with them. Blood this, skin color that, religion this. When they found out about Rachel, there was little to no interest in her. They couldn't summon enough love in their hearts to care about her. But the moment that fucking family realized who Shelby's grandfather was, they wanted her. It's all about money for them, money and power and elitism. That's all it's ever been about. They want Rachel so they can claim the money Shelby never did. Chase is acting on his Dad's behalf and Hiram, that selfish prick, is going along for the ride so he can get back into good graces with his family."
Silence reigned in the room. Then everyone started talking at once. Sue whistled and the group settled down. She pointed at Tori.
"Hiram signed Rachel to you, so they have no right over her," she exclaimed.
"…only if Daddy stays alive," Rachel said. "If he dies, the rights go back to Hiram."
More chaos. Rachel stared at her father. Things had finally settled into him, and he aged ten years just standing there. He looked at her with tears in his eyes. She didn't blame him, and she knew no one in there blamed him. It was just anger and fear and panic.
"We're leaving by the middle of the week!" Emma shouted. The group turned and looked at her. She had her hand on her stomach and fury in her eyes. "I will not sit around and wait for them to come here and break up the family we have," she added.
"I agree," LJ said. "We should head out tonight while we still have the chance."
"We can't," Santana said. "Not yet."
"What? Why not?" Quinn asked.
"Because Chase has some very dangerous people under his wallet. People who can find whoever they want, whenever they want, and no matter where we go, they will find us," Santana said.
"So, what, we do nothing?" Tori asked.
Santana folded her arms. "No. There's a plan, but I need you guys to trust me," she said.