Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters. I don't have a beta so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 39
Monday morning found them all in an extremely good mood. When they woke and met Shelby downstairs for breakfast they showed off their new charms and asked her how her date went. They talked over breakfast and loaded in the Land Rover to head to practice.
They all went to Sue's office to talk about the plan for practice this morning then the girls went to change and prepare for the squad.
Shelby walked over to Sue as the door closed and went into her open arms. "Is it crazy that I missed you, even though I just saw you late last night?"
Sue smiled. "I don't think so. I missed you too." She leaned in and kissed her.
Shelby tilted her head a little and deepened the kiss, but pulled away when they heard the sounds of the squad arriving. "Well, let's go to the gym and watch the routine. I'm still a little worried about Santana and Quinn. They seem ok but I just worry."
Sue kissed her softly. "That's because you are a good mother and they are your babies. I worry about them too and I promise if I see either of them falter I will pull them in a heartbeat."
Shelby sighed in relief. "Thank you." They headed out to watch the girls.
Practice went well, San and Quinn never faltered. It was like they had never been gone. The routine was perfect and ready for completion next week. The special tricks were awesome to watch and the entire routine should be a show stopper.
They Gleeks had once again showed up and watched practice and once it was over they repeated the guard process with the Cheerios from last week. San got a little annoyed at all the attention but a look from either of her girls calmed her and she let them all fuss over her.
At lunch they had all sat and were talking about what they had done for Valentine's Day. Puck and Tina had indeed gone out and were now a couple. Brit, Stacy and Sam had a quiet dinner in while Stacy's parents were out of town for the holiday. Marsha and Matt went out Saturday and Sunday. Matt asked her to be his girlfriend when he dropped her off. All the boys who didn't have dates just hung out at Mike's playing video games.
They were starting to talk about regionals when Mercedes walked up and stopped next to the girls.
"Can I talk to you for a moment," She asked addressing Santana.
Santana shared a look with Quinn and Rachel who looked apprehensive but shrugged. Santana looked back to her. "I guess so but they will be with me."
Mercedes just nodded and they followed her out of the room. When they all stopped she turned to San. "I just wanted to apologize for what I said to you the last time we fought. I was out of line and knowing what I know now I honestly don't know how I lived through that. I was way out of line and I am so sorry for ever insinuating that you would ever do that to anyone. I am also so glad to see you all back. I am happy that you are all ok after what happened last week."
They all just looked at her in shock and disbelieve at how genuine she was being. When none of them spoke she continued. "I owe all of you an apology for the way I acted. I have been watching for the last month and a half and all that I have seen is that you all truly care for each other."
She turned to look at Rachel. "I owe you the biggest apology. I may not have known what exactly was going on with you in December but I could see that something was wrong. I let my jealousy get the better of me and I am so sorry for it. All you have shown me this last two months is that you truly care for our club and everyone in it. You have made us better and I have no doubt that we will win at regionals on Saturday. Can you guys ever forgive me?"
Santana finally found her voice. "What you said to me was not ok, but we all have said things we're not proud of especially me. I forgive you, just never come at us like that again."
Mercedes nodded, "I won't, I promise."
Rachel stepped forward and hugged her. "Thank you Mercedes, I accept your apology too."
When she stepped back Quinn just shrugged. "If they're ok, I'm ok, but I'm telling you now if you ever come at them again like that, Santana will be the least of your worries. The only thing that kept me off you was making sure they were ok. Rachel saved your ass from hell by calling off the Cheerios. Next time she won't be able to stop it."
Mercedes nodded sadly, "I understand and I promise I won't."
Quinn smiled slightly, "Then we're good. Now, let's go finish lunch, I'm starving."
They all headed in talking about regionals and sat with Mercedes across from them still talking. Everyone else let out a collective breath that a real truce seemed to have been finally found.
They rest of the day was uneventful accept for the constant attention Santana was getting. Rachel and Quinn had to calm her more than once that day.
When school let out they changed and headed into the Auditorium. Rachel called them all to the stage. "Ok guys. Coach and Shelby will be a few minutes late. They have a meeting with Figgins so we will get started without them. We are only training for an hour today so that we can try on our costumes for Saturday to make sure no last minute adjustments need to be made. I saw them Thursday, they are so awesome, and we're going to look amazing. Coach also said there was a surprise for us."
Everyone cheered and moved to let them start with the duet. Rachel was about to cue Santana to start when Mr. Shue came onto the stage. "Hey guys I'm back."
They all turned to him and moved in behind Rachel. She was just confused. "Hello Mr. Shue, we didn't think you would be back until Friday."
He just smiled, "I talked to Figgins and we agreed that with Regionals coming up it would be better for you if I came back early. I have a lot of set list ideas for Saturday and we should get started."
They all just gaped at him. Rachel recovered first. "I'm sorry Mr. Shue but we already have a set list and a routine that we've been working on."
He just shook his head. "I know you've been working with Sue but I'm sure we can do better working together. We have a whole week to get it ready. Wait, where's Finn and who are all these others?"
Rachel just sighed, "His mother made him quit and the others are new members."
Will looked shocked, "Well, I'll see about talking to his mother, but for now let's get started."
Rachel was about to object again but Sue and Shelby had come in right as he said his last statement and were now on the stage.
They flanked Rachel and Shelby addressed him. "That is not going to happen. Finn Hudson is no longer on this team nor is he welcome here. The group took a vote and he is out. We also have a set list and completed routine they have been perfecting for over a month. They won't be changing anything, they've worked too hard to get to where they are."
He just looked at her confused. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"
Sue just scoffed, "Are you serious right now William? Where have you been the last month and a half? Have the fumes from the ovens in your hair clogged your brain or have you just had your head so far up Emma's skirt trying to get back in her good graces that you haven't noticed anything that has been going on around here?"
Shelby stifled a chuckle. "I'm Shelby Corcoran, the new head coach for the New Directions and teacher of Musical theories. I started in January. Now as head coach I will be happy to listen to any of your ideas after we win on Saturday but until then the routine is set in stone and will not be changed. You will also not be talking to Mrs. Hudson. I have already done that and he is NOT returning."
He started to reply but she held up a hand to silence him. "No, we can discuss it more later if you want but now is not the time." She looked around at the highly agitated kids on the stage then turned back to Rachel, "Get them started, we have wasted too much time. We still have to do the fittings today."
Rachel nodded and turned to the group. "Does anyone have a problem with staying late today?" she looked around and they all shook their heads. She smiled, "Thank you, we will work until 30 minutes to the end of practice then get the fitting started. If you have a need to be out quickly let me know and we will start with you first."
They all nodded and she continued as coach and Shelby corralled Mr. Shue off the stage. "Ok guys on your marks. We are taking it from start to finish. Duet, group, solo. We are going to act all week like we are in competition so San and I will start with all of you off to the sides of the stage then you will enter on your cue."
Shelby came up and stood beside her. "I will be stage left, look to me for your cue to enter the stage. Take your places." She walked off to the left of the stage and ushered half of the kids with her. The other half going right and watching her for their cue.
Sue pushed Will to a seat and sat herself to watch. San and Rachel preformed their song perfectly and the piano was wheeled off as Shelby cued the kids to enter the stage. They ran through the group number flawlessly. Shelby motioned for the ones not in the solo and they exited as the others set up for the solo number.
Rachel killed it and the dancers were beautiful. They were a fraction off in only one of the lifts. When it was over Shelby went to Rachel and told her where they were off. Rachel tuned to them and instructed them on the count that they missed.
They set it all up again and started over. Before the fourth run through Shelby addressed them. "Do you still need me or are you ok with your cues to enter and exit."
They all said they were good so she joined Sue and Mr. Shue in the audience to get a better look. As she settled to watch Mr. Shue leaned toward her. "I have to admit, your choreography is excellent. They are doing very good. I had no idea they could dance like that."
Shelby just sat back. "That's not my choreography. They were already two weeks into training when I was hired."
Will just looked shocked. "Then where did they get it?
Sue chuckled and Shelby smirked at him, "Rachel."
Will's jaw hit the floor. "Rachel? Rachel choreographed all of this?"
Shelby nodded proudly, "Yes she did. She's been training them since they got back from winter break. Santana arranged all the music and Brittany has been helping with the training. Quinn helps keep them all in line, not that it's really needed that much. They all work well together, they just get excitable sometimes."
Will just sat back shocked and watched them preform as the group number started again. "I had no idea she could do this."
Sue scoffed, "Of course you didn't. This is why I brought her into the Cheerios. She is an amazing trainer and choreographer. If you had ever listened to her you would have known this yourself."
Will watched for a bit more then looked at her again. "How did you get seven new members? We always had such a hard time getting them before."
Shelby shrugged, "Rachel and Puck asked them to join and they did."
He just sat back again stunned and quietly watched the rest of the session.
They finished the last run through and Rachel called practice. "Excellent guys. I think we got it down. We will run it this way for the rest of the week as well. Wednesday we will stay our extra hour with the solo number and make sure it is perfect for Saturday but I think we will have it by then. Now take 10, get some water in you and meet in the choir room for fittings. Since Mr. Shue is back we will borrow the room across the hall for the boys to go with him and use the choir room for the girls. It should move faster that way. Shelby and I will hand out your costumes. Boys with her, girls with me. Go to Coach and Quinn once you have your outfit on. They will be in the hall between the two rooms to check the fit of your costumes. Once your set give your costume to Santana and she will put them all away for Saturday. Then we will all meet in here before we leave for the day."
A round of 'yes captain' sounded and they all headed off.
Will turned to Shelby. "You just let her boss them around like that?"
Shelby shook her head. "She is their captain. It's her job, and she's not bossing, she's instructing. If they don't listen to her they will get hurt in some of these moves. Did you see any of them having a problem with it?"
He just shook his head, so she continued. "I don't know how you ran things before but this is how it will be from now on and I better not hear you say one word to her about how she addresses them. If I see a problem I will address it. If they have a problem they will come to one of us and I will address her myself. You will leave her to me."
He stood getting agitated. "Hey, I am her coach too. If I see a problem I should be able to address it with her myself."
She stood and got right in his face. "I am the head coach here and her mother, you will leave her to me. I saw the tape of how you chose to handle her when you had no idea what had been going on and you will never and I mean NEVER speak to my daughter or any one of my kids that way again."
He flinched and took a step back at the venom in her voice. "Her mother?"
Sue stepped up beside her and put a calming hand on her back to sooth her. "Like I said William. If you paid attention around here you would know this already. Everyone in this school knows that not only is she Rachel's mother but she is also Santana's legal guardian and Quinn is in her care while her mother is out of town on business. Get with the program. Now we need to get these kids fitted for their costumes."
She grabbed Shelby's hand and pulled her out of the room before she seriously injured the man. Not that she cared in the least little bit about him but she preferred to keep Shelby out of jail and with her and their girls.
They got everyone fitted and only had to make minor adjustments to one of the girls' dresses and two of the boys' slacks which Tina got started on immediately and had finished before the fitting was over. They all headed back to the auditorium with Mr. Shue and Shelby but coach called the girls to her before they left the room.
She handed each of them a large duffle out of the box next the cart she had been stacking them on. "I need you to take one set of training gear out of your duffels and change quickly then meet me back stage."
They looked at her shocked for a moment then rushed off to change. She wheel the cart to the stage and waited for them. They arrive a few minutes later and she had them wait to the side.
She went back on stage and addressed the group. "Ok guys listen up. We were only able to get the costumes we did due to the very generous donation by an anonymous donor and even after we bought them there is now a very healthy sum of money in the clubs account that should fund us for at least another year or two. That gives us time to fundraise and keep it that way for a long time to come."
She paused and went to the cart and took off a duffle, "Due to this amazing amount of money we were able to get a few extras, so…" She motioned for the girls to come to her. "This will now be your training gear. You all have 4 sets of them. Along with 4 sets of sweats, tee-shirts, shorts and 2 hoodies."
The girls were wearing outfits similar to that of the Cheerios. Rachel's pants are once again plain black Nike Lasercool dri-FIT training pants. The shirt was a black Nike legend dri-FIT tee with white around the armpits and down the side. The logo read New Directions across the front of the shirt, and Captain on the back all in red lettering. Quinn and Santana wore the same outfit with black pants but red shirt with black lettering, their back plain.
Sue continued, "Obviously yours will look like S and Q's. Your hoodies have your last names on the back and can be worn over this outfit if you wanted to. You each have a pair of white running shoes and white socks to complete the look. When we leave Friday for the hotel you will pack only your New Directions gear. We will show a united front and be in uniform throughout the weekend. If you are not training you will be in your sweats or shorts. You will then wear your training gear to all practices from now on and the sweats, tee-shirts, shorts and hoodies are for your own use unless we have a competition."
She turned to Rachel to call them up. "Ok guys form a single file line and you are free to leave once we give you your gear." The kids all cheered and headed for the stage.
As the girls passed out the bags Shue and Shelby walked up to Sue. Mr. Shue looked irritated. "Is all this really necessary? It's a bit much and that money could have been put to better use."
Shelby sighed. "It's not your decision and it's done. With the intense training they do, the clothes will serve their purpose. We didn't do this to just look good. Besides the kids seem excited about it so just leave it alone."
Rachel came up to Shelby hugging her. "If we get any more clothes we are going to need another closet." She said with a chuckle.
Sue smiled at her. "I figured you would like the new gear. I see you girls more often than not wearing your Cheerios training gear to work in."
Rachel pulled out of the hug with Shelby to address her. "Oh I love having the new gear, thank you. It's so much easier to move in while training."
Mr. Shue spook up again. "One more question. Why is Rachel's shirt black and everyone else red if you want it all to be uniform?"
He was really starting to wear on Sue's nerves. Shelby placed a hand on her arm to stop her reply. "She is the Captain, their leader and she will stand out as such. It's the same with their Cheerios gear."
He just shook his head. "Is that really fair to the other kids to single her out like that? This isn't Cheerios."
Shelby sighed and turned to the kids, none of them had left yet. "Hey guys gather round, I have a question for you." They all came forward and gathered in front of her. "Does anyone have a problem with Rachel's outfit being a different color then yours? You can answer honestly, I really want to know."
They all looked confused and shook their heads no. Kurt took a step forwar, "No Mrs. Corcoran, she's our Captain I would expect her to stand out." The rest of the group nodded or voiced their agreement.
Shelby nodded, "Ok, thank you. You are all free to go as soon as you are done." She turned back to Will after they moved off. "See, even they get it." She grabbed Rachel's hand and moved over to the kids to find San and Quinn.
Sue just shook her head. "You know William, if you keep pushing her where Rachel is concerned and you won't like it. She can be the nicest person you have ever met but mess with one of her girls and it will not be pretty. Just ask Figgins." With that she left a dumbfounded Will just watching as she moved over to talk to Shelby.
Sue walked up to Shelby and chuckled at the kids around them. No one had left yet, they were too busy going through their bags inspecting their goodies. "Well, at least they were a hit."
Shelby smiled. "Yep, they're all very excited. Especially the original kids."
They looked back to the group as Kurt and Tina squealed together and high fived each other, Kurt looked to Rachel. "Rachel we have workout headbands with New Directions on them and water bottles with our names on them and oh my god there is so much stuff in here. We need to find our donor and give them hugs and tremendous thanks."
Rachel just smile and Sue cut it. "Sorry porcelain, we have no way of finding whoever it was, but we can all be thankful for them."
They all voiced their agreement of how awesome the donor was and dug in their bags again. Rachel just smiled and leaned into Quinn. Quinn kissed her head. "Yep, those old show choir fairies are the best."
Rachel chuckled and kissed her shoulder then sat up. "Ok guys not to rush you or anything but if I don't eat soon I will pass out. We're going to Bread Sticks tonight if anyone wants to join us." She turned to Mr. Shue, "You're welcome to join us too Mr. Shue."
He just shook his head. "That might not be appropriate."
Rachel just shrugged, "Coach goes with us, but whatever." She pulled her zipper closed and stepped up to Shelby. "Mom do you have any Advil with you? My head is killing me."
Shelby put a hand on her shoulder rubbing. "That's because your too tense baby, I have some in the car."
Rachel nodded and melted into her side. "I can't help it, this has been stressful."
Shelby pulled up her chin to look at her. "I know honey, but you let mama deal with him. You just do your thing and lead us to a win. That's all you need to focus on while here. I will take care of him. I promise."
Rachel burrowed into her again. "Thank you mom."
Quinn and San came up beside her. "You ok estrella? What's wrong?"
Quinn rubbed her back and Rachel calmed to her touch and San's voice. "Stressful day, I have a headache but I'm ok, let's just go eat and get out of here."
They nodded, still looking concerned but gathered their things. Sue got a head count of who was going to Bread Sticks and called ahead for a table. All the kids finished up gathering their new gear back up and headed out. The only one not going was Mr. Shue.
He watched as they left and pulled out his phone once they were all gone. "Mr. Figgins I think we have a problem..."
A/N: Next up more drama and someone is going to blow up.