Author's Note: Sorry it's been such a gap between chapters. I hope I still have some of you lovely folks following this. It's been an incredibly difficult few months, well, I mean it's been an entirely shitty year so I'm exhausted as is but my mental health took a massive nose dive and my Masters course has kept me stupidly busy. I'm basically sucking at life and existing right now and struggling so awfully with every aspect of my health and balancing my life.

But! I'm doing what I can, asking for help, getting assessed for stuff and starting new medication so fingers crossed stuff will even out in the next month or two. Self-care is so important and sometimes I forget that but fortunately I have awesome people in my life who remind me =)

I am sorry I left you hanging for so long. I've had a difficult time with this chapter, and with writing in general (unfortunately my Masters work is suffering horribly too so I'm having to explain to my lecturers why and get support there as well!). If it's a little disjointed and not quite the same style/tone as the rest please forgive me, I wrote some of it back when I posted my last chapter and then finally was able to finish it these last two days. I wanted to post something to let y'all know I wasn't abandoning it. I actually managed to plan out the rest of the story yesterday too so I'll be slowly trying to chip away at it over the next few months. I just... don't know how my medication is gonna effect me yet so here's to hoping it doesn't fuck up my writing and emotions like my last antidepressants did!

Ahh the fun of being mentally ill/neurodivergent, huh?

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed thus far and supported me. I know the last chapter was difficult, it was difficult for me too. I know it seemed extreme but that shit happens all the time to queer/trans folk (and lots of other marginalised communities too!), it's happened to people I know recently and to myself once. High school is a rather shitty, hormonal, confusing, angsty, intense time. I feel like I'm still fucking going through some of it right now cos I'm a year or so on HRT and my hormones are nuts. Plus please remember this is a fictional world with fictional characters but that there is a real person using it to deal with a lot of trauma, and mental health and relationship issues of their own. Glee is bloody insane without my input, just suspend your belief and let me do my thing, okay?

Much love,

Maxx

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

Content Warning: This chapter contains talk of injuries, medical stuff, mental health issues and blood. Please look after yourselves.

Chapter Eighteen

Saturday afternoon

"Rachel!" Finn's eyes lit up when his front door opened to revel the girl stood there. "I'm so happy you're here, come in." He stepped back to allow her to move past him… which she did brusquely and without so much as a word or a glance at him.

Finn was too wrapped up in mentally high-fiving and congratulating himself on finally defeating the Unholy Trinity to notice anything. He followed her into his kitchen, a lopsided grin on his face. When she stopped and spun quickly to face him, he opened his arms wide for her.

A muscle in Rachel's jaw flexed, twitching under the pressure of her clenched teeth. She managed to retain control over her emotions though and took a step towards the boy, forcing a smile onto her face. She stopped just short of Finn and held up a finger at him.

"You promise to keep your end of the deal?"

Finn lowered his arms, annoyance briefly flashing across his face before he rolled his eyes. "Of course."

"I need to hear you say it, Finn. It's the only way this," Rachel waved her finger back and forth between them. "Will ever happen again."

Finn huffed out a breath. He closed the gap between them and laid his hands on the diva's shoulders. He had almost forgotten how demanding and finicky the girl was but if this is what it would take to get her back and finally beat those three bitches then he would just have to suck it up and do it. "I, Finn Hudson, promise to uphold my end of the deal-"

"Wait, wait. How about we record this for posterity?" Rachel took out her phone and waved it at Finn.

The boy looked confused, a deep crinkle forming between his eyebrows as he scratched his head.

Rachel internally rolled her eyes but patiently explained. "So we can remember this moment forever."

"Oh. Yeah, that's an awesome idea, Rach. Go for it!"

Rachel took a photo of them together quickly before Finn could get any funny ideas or get any closer to her. "My apologies for interrupting you, Finn. You were saying?"

Finn frowned. The cogs in his head turning slowly. "Right… uh, the deal, yeah. So I promise to stop sending the Jocks and Cheerios after Santana, Quinn and Brittany, and to leave them alone for good, in exchange for them taking their claws- uh leaving you alone and letting us be together again. The way it was always supposed to be, if only they hadn't fucking stuck their slutty noses in in the first place!"

Rachel nodded slowly, narrowing her eyes at Finn. "And you won't hurt Santana again?"

"Fine, yes, I won't touch her, or grab her, or go anywhere near her. And I will apologise to her for shoving her against that locker. Happy now?" Finn tightened his grip on Rachel's shoulders, trying to bring their bodies together but Rachel resisted.

"And?" She raised her eyebrows at him.

Finn growled under his breath. "And… I promise never to touch you or any other girl without explicit, verbal, un-coerced permission ever again," he recited in a bored voice. He knew he had promised to do all this for Rachel, so she felt comfortable around him once more, but this was getting boring and Rachel was finally here in front of him.

He could smell her perfume, sweet and potent. He could feel the warmth of her skin through her blouse where his hands rested on her shoulders. She was so very close now, her lips just there, waiting, his for the taking… She was his, she would always be his. And anyone who ever tried to get between them would quickly come to realise you did not fuck with Finn Hudson. He had beaten the Unholy Trinity into submission, broken their bodies and their spirits from what the Cheerios had reported back to him – although they had apparently been interrupted so perhaps if the bitches tried anything he might just have to give the Cheerios a chance to finish their little bathroom get-together. If he could take them down, he could crush anyone.

"So?" Finn asked expectantly. His eyes gleaming with barely supressed eagerness and lust.

Rachel sighed quietly, her body deflating. "So… I accept your deal on behalf of Santana and, under duress, I consent to be your girlfriend again for as long as you hold up your end of the deal." The words tasted like acid in her mouth, burning her tongue, her throat, her stomach churning as Finn's face lit up.

Fear closed off her airway as the giant boy started to lean towards her, his eyes sliding closed, mouth aiming right for her own. Panic gripped at her lungs but Rachel sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Instead of Finn, it was Santana. The Latina smiling at her, arms warm and secure around Rachel's neck, those dark eyes full of love and happiness, with a hint of lust that made the diva's whole body ripple with need. Quinn nuzzled into her cheek, soft lips just out of reach as warm breath tickled Rachel's skin and made her shiver. The blonde's body pressed to Rachel's right side, one arm wrapping itself around her stomach, hand curling around the far side of her waist, while her other hand cupped the back of her head. Brittany's giggle came by her ear as the dancer rested her chin gently on the diva's left shoulder. Her long arms encircled Rachel's chest and held the girl so tight to her front, their bodies flush against each other. A sense of overwhelming peace and safety and love settled over Rachel. There was no where else she would rather be than there in her girlfriends' arms.

So when Finn's dry, chapped lips descended onto Rachel's own, and his tongue prodding at her, clumsy hands moving down her body to hold her hips just a little too hard, Rachel felt none of it. Because Santana was kissing her with soft, full lips, teeth nipping at Rachel before their tongues slid together and the diva lost herself in the kiss.

24 hours earlier – Friday afternoon

The drive from school to her house was the most terrifying and anxiety-ridden fifteen minutes of Rachel's life. Case and point: the drive on the way to school that morning had taken Santana twenty-five minutes. Rachel felt her throat closing each time she had to stop at a light so her foot was like lead the rest of the time.

Santana had only been unconscious for a few minutes but it was a few minutes too long and had the diva at the wheel seriously contemplating ignoring the Latina's instructions and just driving her straight to the hospital. But the finality in Santana's voice and eyes ensured the shaking diva stayed on course and they pulled into her drive a little too fast and almost side swiped LeRoy's car.

Before Rachel had even turned the engine off Santana was out of the car and ripping the back door open. She so carefully, so lovingly scooped Brittany up and all but sprinted to the Berry's front door. Rachel almost fell out of the car in her rush to hold the door open for Santana. Before the diva had even started to figure out how she was going to help Quinn get inside, Santana reappeared, striding past her back to the car and had the blonde out and cradled in her arms. She carried her inside too, taking her time, holding her with such tenderness and strength that Rachel felt herself needing to do the same for the blood covered Latina.

LeRoy was already looking Brittany over when Rachel shut the door behind them. The worry lines on his face were etched deep, he took one look at Quinn and his face fell even further. "Rachel, blankets! Keep her warm, talk to her, stay with her," he shook his head as he went back to very deliberately and gently examining the dancer. He grimaced when the girl let out soft whimpers and cries at his touch, murmuring apologies to her each and every time.

Rachel dashed off upstairs to do as LeRoy had instructed while Santana set herself by the nearest heating vent, Quinn on her lap, safe in her arms.

"I've got you," Santana pressed a kiss into the blonde's hair, burying her face in it, murmuring sweet nothings.

Rachel skidded back into the lounge, arms full of blankets and pillows. She covered the two girls with them, wrapping Quinn as tightly as she could. She watched, her heart in her throat as Quinn's shaking started to get less violent and a little colour came back to her face. Still it was like there was no one there, she was just… blank, empty. Rachel met Santana's gaze and felt her heart stop mid-beat at the pure terror in the Latina's eyes. The only small comfort being that she knew it was reflected in her own – that they were in this together…

"Rach, I need you to go sit with Britt. Please. She needs you." Santana's voice was low, strained, kept soft for Quinn's benefit.

Rachel's eyes flickered to Quinn then back to Santana before she nodded, swallowing hard. She got to her feet and hurried to Brittany's side. She sat next to the dancer and laid a gentle hand on her girlfriend's thigh taking great care not to hurt her further. Brittany flinched but, upon realising who it was, slipped her hand into Rachel's and squeezed. The dancer visibly relaxing as Rachel shifted closer, taking Brittany's hand with both of hers and pressing a featherlight kiss to the blonde's lips.

LeRoy moved away to find the medical kit he always kept at home. He rummaged in it for a few moments before returning to Brittany and crouching beside her. "Can you take these for me, Brittany?"

Brittany opened her free hand and let LeRoy tip the pills into her palm.

"It's aspirin. It'll help with the pain, I promise. I'll get you something strong later."

The dancer just about managed to raise the hand and let the pills roll into her mouth. LeRoy handed her a bottle of water and waited patiently while it inched towards her mouth amid quiet groans of pain.

"I'll get you some ice packs, you'll need to try and keep it- uh them elevated if you can," LeRoy frowned at himself, at how useless his advice was. This wasn't just a sprained ankle or a twisted shoulder. The dancer's entire body had been abused, had been wrenched and twisted out of place. She needed rest and painkillers and a lot of TLC, yet still Brittany couldn't take her eyes away from Quinn and Santana, concern radiating off her.

"I'm all better now, Doctor Berry," Brittany smiled faintly, handing the water bottle back with great difficulty. "You need to go and look after San and Quinn, okay?"

LeRoy's heart clenched as the dancer beckoned him closer and lowered her voice to a whisper.

"If San won't let you help her tell her I said she has to and I'll be sad if she doesn't."

A miserable chuckle slipped from LeRoy as he nodded and straightened. He moved to kneel beside Santana, who shook her head firmly.

"Q first, Doc."

LeRoy didn't have the heart to argue with her – even when his eyes widened at the blood in her hair, on her face and neck. Quinn was pale. Paler than usual and shivering something awful. Her chest heaved; short, sharp gasps of breath rocked her body and showed no sign of evening out. She was in shock for sure, and the obvious signs of a panic attack on top of that made LeRoy wonder what the ever-loving fuck had happened to these girls.

Seeing nothing more than a few scratches and bruises on Quinn, and cleaning and treating them accordingly, LeRoy turned to Santana again. She refused to look at him or engage, her eyes fixed to the blonde in her arms as Quinn's fingers held tight to her t-shirt – the only sign she was still in there at all.

"Santana?" The doctor's eyes never left the Latina's face. "Santana, I need to check you over. There's blood, and rather a lot of it-"

"And she was unconscious in the car, daddy." Rachel called over, worry lacing her voice.

Santana's eyes flickered to Rachel accusingly for a moment, but the diva did not flinch.

"Let daddy help you, Santana. Please."

"Come on, San. You promised to let us take care of you. You promised me." Brittany's quiet voice drew Santana's gaze, which soften immediately.

The Latina growled out a few curses in Spanish but nodded her consent to LeRoy. "Fine. But if you so much as mention going to hospital…" she left the threat hanging ominously.

"Santana," Rachel chastised.

"No, Rach. I'm not leaving them. Or you. So don't ask me to."

The fire that burned in her eyes for the briefest second took the diva's breath away. But then it was gone and the Latina just looked… defeated… And it shattered Rachel's already cracking heart.

Brittany, Santana and Quinn had finally fallen asleep. The latter in Rachel's arms when the shaking and panic attacks had lessened to allow her to relax. Rachel murmured softly in Quinn's ear, hands rubbing soothing circles into her back as they sat in the recliner in the Berry's living room, holding the shorter blonde the way she had seen Santana hold her. Brittany refused to be more than a foot from Santana at any time. The dancer's eyes hadn't left the Latina since Santana had passed out again for a few terrifying seconds when LeRoy had started to stitch her up. If it had not been for the painkillers LeRoy had prescribed for her, Brittany would still be sat beside Santana, hand held between her own as her thumbs drew intricate patterns on the back of the barely conscious girl's hand. Thankfully, she had listened to Rachel's pleas to rest and allowed sleep to take her. Even so, Brittany had curled up on the couch at Santana's side with one arm draped protectively over her girlfriend's stomach.

LeRoy had done a thorough examination of all three of them. He had tried to insist on checking Rachel over too, but she had only shaken her head and pointed at her girls with tears in her eyes and the no-nonsense set of her jaw that LeRoy knew never to argue with. The doctor had not pushed. Concern chewed at his mind as he continued to discover the extent of the injuries the girls had returned with and it took a great deal of discipline and control not to let it cloud his mind – he needed to be cool, calm, professional Doctor Berry, not Papa LeRoy, who was right then filled with rage and dying to march over to that school and find every last person who had ever hurt these girls and make them regret it.

He had done everything he possibly could: stitching and cleaning Santana up, making her comfortable as the pain finally overtook her and her adrenaline wore off, carefully stretching and icing Brittany's abused joints and limbs once the painkillers had taken effect, kept Quinn warm and sat beside her talking quietly as she battled her way through shock and some severe panic attacks.

LeRoy was torn. He had a duty of care to his patients, to these girls, and he couldn't bear it if anything happened to them because of him. He knew how Santana felt about hospitals but if he had to make the call, he would. He would rather she hate him forever than end up dead. It would break his heart to lose the girl, and he knew Rachel, Brittany and Quinn would be inconsolable. So he was going to do everything in his power to keep her with them. Yes, even if that meant going against his patient's wishes. He knew it was unethical of him but she was still a minor, technically, so if Gabriel wanted nothing to do with his daughter then LeRoy would happily step in.

LeRoy brushed a strand of hair from Santana's face as the girl finally let sleep, and the painkillers, take her. He watched her for a moment longer – noting her slow, even breathing, the deep bruise-like circles under her eyes, the faint lines of worry that had started to appear over the last week. He so badly wanted to wipe those lines away, even tried to with his thumb, but they would not fade. The doctor heaved out a sigh and took the Latina's pulse and temperature once again.

His eyes drifting over to Brittany as he counted silently. The pain had finally gone from her face, her body had finally relaxed out of the awkward, unnatural way she had been holding it and he breathed a little easier as he watched her stretch out beside Santana. It would take time, dedication and perhaps some physiotherapy, but the dancer would be okay, LeRoy was sure of it. Because he would do everything in his power as a doctor and a father to make it so – he had seen Brittany dance, he knew how incredible she was, how much it meant to her, how much a part of her it was… he would not let anyone destroy what she loved and what she was so obviously meant to do on this earth...

LeRoy straightened with a sigh and set his sights on his daughter. She had point-blank refused to talk to him about what had happened until he had done everything he could for the Unholy Trinity. Now that he had, he needed to know… He pulled a chair over to the recliner and sat beside his daughter, the girl's eyes still glued to the blonde in her arms.

"Rachel…"

The diva didn't turn, only hmm-ing her acknowledgement of his presence.

"I need to know what happened."

"I can't tell you that." Rachel kept her voice soft as her fingers combed through Quinn's hair with reverence.

LeRoy frowned. "This isn't a game, Rachel, you have to-"

Rachel's head snapped up. "I'm well aware of that, daddy."

The man's words caught in his throat at the fury in his daughter's eyes.

"I can't tell you because I don't know exactly what happened. The Cheerios cornered me and would not let me leave… I should have tried harder…" Rachel's eyes drifted over to the two girls on the couch. "I should have been there…"

LeRoy choked back his anger that, once again, these girls had been targeted in that school. He was grateful that this time it had not been Rachel who was the subject of the bullying but what about next time? Or the time after that? Or the time after that? She still had two plus years left in that place, with those vicious, unrelenting kids… No. That was not happening. Over his dead body was she going back there.

"I think it's time we seriously discussed your options here, Rachel. You are not staying in that school so it's either go to another one, a private one if we have to, or home schooling-"

"What?" Rachel's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She forgot to keep her voice low and froze as Quinn stirred against her, murmuring something into Rachel's chest before settling again.

"I'm serious, Rachel. We are going to talk about this as soon as your father gets home," LeRoy stood, pulling his cell phone from his trouser pocket. "Until then, I'm going to see if I can get hold of everyone's parents and then see what Figgins has to say for himself about all this."

Rachel could only watch him stride away, phone to his ear. Her heart sinking at the thought of leaving her girls, of not going to school every day and seeing them, of not getting to go to Regionals with the Glee club… of letting Finn and the Cheerios think they had beaten them…

A thought appeared in the diva's mind as her eyes landed on Santana again. The Latina had told them of the deal Finn had offered her and how she would rather die than take it. An icy sliver of fear stabbed through Rachel as the look of pure determination and unadulterated love she had seen on Santana's face that day was suddenly replaced by the battered and bloody face she had found when she'd walked into that bathroom earlier.

Finn wasn't getting the hint, or giving up. So it was about time Rachel finally did what she should have done months ago. This was her battle to fight, her problem to solve, her moronic ex-boyfriend to deal with. And deal with him she would…

AN: Sorry it's not as long as all my other chapters but I hope you liked it. It's leading up to something, I promise. I have a plan so just trust me.

Let me know what you thought - try to limit the hate or negativity please, I don't mind if you didn't like it, I ain't for everyone so that's fine. Just not in a real good place right now. Already had to cut most of my family out of my life for their bullshit and negativity so be gentle.