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 10

Santana/Rachel/Quinn

The next morning Rachel was the first to wake again. She was in the same position as the morning before except Quinn was the one wrapped around her back not Puck. She lay there for a while just enjoying feeling cocooned in the warmth of the two girls. She looked over at the clock and realized they needed to get up and get ready for the day. She went to move her arm back to shake Quinn when a searing pain ran from her shoulder to her finger times, and she cried out.

Quinn and Santana where awake instantly. San was panicked, "what's wrong carińo?" She looked her over noticing her clutching her shoulder. "Let me see it hermosa." She lifted her shirt carefully off and removed the bandage.

The gash was rather long and looked bad to Quinn. She gasped, "Jesus Rach, what did he do to you?" she whispered.

San inspected, "it looks ok. I think you must have pulled it in your sleep. It looks a lot better today." Rach seemed relieved but Quinn looked horrified. San started getting up, "we just need to keep doing what we have been and it should heal fine. I have some different antibiotic ointment we can start putting on it today. Day three is the worst for pain, sorry hermosa." San sat on the bed watching the two girls. Quinn was still holding on to Rachel around the waist who was leaning back still trying to catch her breath from the pain moving through her shoulder. "Rach? Do you want me to help you with your hair again? I don't think you need to move that shoulder too much just yet and I know you said last night you would shower this morning."

Rachel debated this for a moment not sure if she wanted the other girl to see her naked and so vulnerable again. She thought of her shoulder and decided that is was necessary. "Yes Santana, that would be acceptable, Thank you." She squeezed Quinn's hand that was on her stomach then gingerly scooted off the bed and headed to the bathroom. I will call you when I am ready for your help."

Santana and Quinn sat on the bed watching her until she went through the door. Then Quinn turns to San, "this makes me sick. Does that really look better? It looks horrible." She said dropping her head into her hands.

San scooted over and throws an arm around her shoulder. "Yes, it looks better. Most of the redness has faded and the bruising around it is turning. It's doing ok. Healing as it should."

Quinn looked up into her eyes, "how San? How could this happen to her?"

San just squeezed her tighter and whispered, "I don't know Q."

Just then they heard Rach call out, "I'm ready San."

"Coming" San called out to her then looked to Quinn. "Go ahead to the guestroom. Shower and get ready for the day. By the time I finish helping Rachel you should be ready. When you are could you please start some coffee and maybe make a fruit salad for breakfast while I get ready?"

Quinn got up and started for the door, "sure San, I can do that. I'll see what else I can find for breakfast and see you down there." San nodded and went in to the bathroom.

A while later Rachel walks into the kitchen to find Quinn cooking omelets. She had two already on plates and a third about ready in the pan. "Quinn, I can't eat eggs, but thank you for trying." Rachel says sheepishly.

Quinn just keeps on cooking, "it's not eggs Rach. They are vegan omelets. I looked up a recipe in your cookbook over there and thought I'd try it out. Can you grab the fruit salad I made from the fridge, these are about ready?"

Rachel just looks at her in awe and goes to the fridge for the fruit and grabbed some juice as well. She places it on the table then goes back to make her and San a cup of coffee since Quinn already had some. As she sets at the table San walks in and Quinn brings their plates to the table. San looks at the omelets and just raises her eyebrow to Quinn, "uh… Q…?"

Quinn cuts her off chuckling, "they're vegan San. Just tofu and veggies."

San just smile and they start eating and small talk. Q and San were talking about what they had going on that morning with Cheerio's and some new moves that Britt had said she wanted them to try for a new routine she had been choreographing. Rachel just sat back and smiled listening to them. They finish up breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen. As they were getting their bags together to leave Puck arrived and they headed off to school.

When they arrived Puck hugged Rachel and ran off to practice while the girls all enter the school headed for the Cheerio's locker room

Rachel was nervous. "Are you sure it's ok for me to be in there. Those girls are going to murder me for stepping foot on their sacred territory. I don't belong in there. Coach is going to have my head on a platter. I don't think this is going to work." Through her rant her voice gained momentum, volume and pitch.

Quinn stopped walking and put one hand on her uninjured shoulder and one on her face. "Rachel. Calm down sweetie. Stop. It's ok. They will be fine. I will lay down the law and all will be well. I promise." Rachel was looking down at her feet by the time Quinn finished speaking. "Look at me Rach," Quinn puts her hand under Rachel's chin to lift her head and meet he eyes. When she has eye contact she continues, "Hey, who's in charge around here?"

Rachel just gives a small grin, "you are Quinn."

San smiles shaking her head and Quinn just chuckles. "Yes I am and they will do as I say. Now, let's go so San and I aren't late." Rachel just nods and they continue on.

They could hear the girls all talking loudly as they approached the locker room but as they entered flanking Rachel all noise stopped and you could hear a pin drop. Quinn and San just continued on as if nothing was out of the ordinary until one of the senior Cheerios stepped forward and started yelling, "What the hell is she doing in here. Man hands isn't a Cheerio, she doesn't belong here. She will infect us all with loser."

Santana stepped in front of Rachel quickly and yelled right back, "Watch your mouth Maggie, I said two days ago that the names and everything else is to stop, and you are already infected with loser. If it wasn't for you being freakishly strong you wouldn't even be here, you would be at the bottom and you know it."

Quinn steps in before Maggie can say any more. "She is our friend and if we want her here she can be here. If anyone has a problem you can take off your uniform and leave now. I have a list a mile long of girls who would gladly take your place. I also know that most of you seniors need to be here for the scholarships. Now, do we have a problem here?" She looks around and everyone either answers no or shakes their head. "Ok then get into the gym we have a new routine to start on today, and Maggie?" She looks over to the senior, "10 laps before practice for disobeying an order from one of your co-captains." Maggie just looks at her incredulously for a moment then nods her head once and leaves the locker room seething.

Rachel watched all of this with awe. These two girls just called her friend and stood up for her. She knew they would help her. She trusted their word because she thought they pitied her for what happened, but they were acting like true friends. It was a little overwhelming to her and she just had to sit. She sat on the bench waiting for the two girls to prepare for their practice in a daze.

Once all the girls had left the locker room but them San squatted in front of her, concern on her face. "Hey hermosa. Are you ok?"

She just looked into Santana's sincere eyes for a moment, tears coming to her own. "Yes" she said quietly, "It's just, this is all so overwhelming. I'm not use to having friends." She says looking down at her hands.

San lifts her head and wipes her tears, "well, get used to it." she tells her gently. Rachel just nods and gives her a smile so she continues, "ok, let's get in there before coach blows a gasket." She grabs Rachel's hand and pulls her to her feet and they make their way to the gym.

Once in the gym the other girls see them and start lining up. Quinn turns to Rachel, "Ok Rach. Go over and sit on the bleacher behind coach." At the look of horror on Rachel's face she chuckles, "don't worry it will be fine. I promise." Rachel nods and does as she is told.

Coach just turns to look at her for a moment, "Streisand" and turns around to watch practice. As Brittany goes about showing them the first part of the new routine they all seem to catch on fairly quickly but when she introduces the second more difficult part they start to falter. No one is really getting it. After a while Quinn calls a break and coach calls her and Santana to her walking toward them.

Brittany grabs a folder and her water and comes running over to her and sits down. "Hey Rachie. I don't get it I keep showing them how to do the moves but I just can't seem to make them understand. Can you look at the diagrams and notes I have and see if you can figure out where I am leading them wrong?"

What most people don't know is that Rachel and Brittany have been in the same gymnastic and dance classes since they first started taking classes. Brittany is the better dancer but Rachel is the better gymnast and can explain the break down a little better. Rachel takes the file from her, "sure Britt, but I can tell you one of them now. When they are doing the flip in on the sixteen count they need to arch their backs more when they are in the air. That's why they're not getting the full turn. But I will look at this and watch some more."

Britt just claps her hands and hugs her, "Thanks Rachie, I knew you would be able to help."

Rachel just hugs her back, "no problem Britt." Brittany squeezes her hands and runs off to join San and Quinn as they call the girls back to formation.

Coach Sue comes back over and looks at her again for a long moment looking perplexed then turns around to watch. Once the girls are ready Brittany runs through showing them the first twenty-four counts and explaining about arching more on the sixteen count. After four more tries they get it. Rachel just smiles and goes back to Britt's papers and notes while they run it through two more times successfully before moving on. As she watches the next part of the stunt she sees where the problems are and pulls out a notebook to take notes for Brittany.

Coach has been looking over her shoulder at Rachel since they started back up, but she is so engrossed in the routine and her notes that she doesn't notice. The girls are still not getting it and Rachel has stopped writing so Coach decides to call another break to test a theory. She calls San and Quinn over to her and watches as Brittany bounces up to Rachel and they start talking. Once Brittany leaves her coach tells the girls to start again. She moves back over to her spot and watches as Brittany shows them and gives some new instructions.

After five more tries with the new instructions they get it. They start it all again from the top and do a complete run though without mistakes successfully completing half the routine. They have never gotten half of a routine so quickly. She calls practice and tells them to be there after school at their normal time. She watches and listens as Brittany runs over behind her and thanks Rachel. San and Quinn call the girls to them and they head to the locker room. Sue just sits there for a while thinking. She gets up and heads to her office and decides to see what happens at afternoon practice with the second half of the routine.

A/N: Well another chapter down. We will see more from the Cheerios and the regular school day next time.