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 40
It was Tuesday during free period and they were all called to the auditorium. The night before they had had a really nice dinner with everyone. They ate and talked about their new gear and their routines. After dinner they all headed home and snuggled down for the night. Mr. Shue coming back was not something they have foreseen having to deal with until Friday but Shelby thought they handled him well.
The next morning everything was back to normal. They were still being shadowed but everyone was calming down. Practice went well that morning and the day had gone smoothly.
Now the entire glee club was sitting here and didn't know what was going on. Sue and Shelby came in looking pissed followed by Figgins and Mr. Shue.
Shelby and Sue stood in front of the group, Shelby took an angry breath. "Mr. Figgins would like to talk to you all."
Figgins moved over next to her. "It has be brought to my attention that things in here may not have been going as well as I originally thought." He paused and the kids just looked at each other confused. "I need to ask if any of you are having a problem with the way this club is being run."
Everyone looked around then shook their heads. Figgins looked to Shue then back to the kids. "It has been brought to my attention that you may be being bullied within the club to do another students bidding. Do any of you feel this way?"
They all shook their heads again, not understanding where this was coming from. Brittney looked around at everyone then to Mr. Shue and back to Figgins. She stood, "Is this because Rachie is our captain and trains us, telling us what to do?"
Figgins looked to her. "Do you feel bullied into doing what she wants?"
Everyone gasped at this finally catching on to what he was trying to ask. A look of anger crossed Brittney's face they had only seen a few times. "Rachie is NOT a bully. She helps us."
Stacy stood, "Have you ever watched a Cheerios practice or Glee rehearsal Mr. Figgins?"
He shook his head. "No. I haven't."
Stacy smirked. "Well you should, it may show you how to lead your own people." She said glaring at Mr. Shue.
The whole group stifled laughter and Mr. Figgins just shook his head. Rachel was starting to tremble with rage and hurt. She stood to address him. "Mr. Figgins, I assure you that I am doing nothing more then what was asked of me. Coach asked me to come back after I quit and create a routine for the set list she provided. You are more than welcome any time to see how I run a practice in Cheerios or Glee. I am always respectful, I never yell at them, and I am always encouraging."
Mr. Shue stepped forward. "The entire routine has been centered around you."
Rachel put hand up to stop her mother from replying. "I didn't make the set list Mr. Shuster. It was given to me and I created choreography to go with it."
Coach stepped up beside Rachel. "I created the set list. If you want to win you put your best foot forward. I went with the duet you chose as the winner. I added a group number that highlights the best singer in the group for that song, and I chose a solo, featuring the best singer for that song as well."
Mr. Shue just crossed his arms. "Did you even let anyone else audition for the piece?"
Sue smirked. "Actually I did. There was even a team vote for it, no adults."
Mercedes stood, "Yea and she blew my ass out of the water. I could never sing that song like she did."
Rachel smiled at her and looked back to Will as coach continued. "So you see, nothing is wrong here accept that William wanted to come back thinking he would take over and was mad when we wouldn't listen because everything is set and ready for Saturday and we refuse to change it."
Mr. Figgins shook his head. "I will come in after school tomorrow and watch the rehearsal. If I see anything I don't like I will address it then. You have a two hour rehearsal and will not know when I am actually watching. I will come talk to you all after." He turned and left the room.
Shelby turned and pulled Rachel into her arms. "I'm so sorry about this. We will just go on about practice as usual. You are doing nothing wrong." She reached over and pull an anxious looking San and Quinn into a group hug and they melted into each other.
The rest of the group looked on either sadly watching Rachel or glaring daggers into Mr. Shue.
Mike stepped forward, "Why would you accuse her of bullying us. She has done nothing but work her ass off to help us to be better. She gave up all of her outside classes to work with us and gives up her free time to us if we ask for help. Without her we wouldn't be where we are, getting ready to take Regionals by storm."
Mr. Shue puffed out his chest. "I lead you all to a win at sectionals that gave you the opportunity to even work toward Regionals."
Santana pulled away from the hug and stalked toward him. "The hell you did. She is the one that pulled that set list out of her ass and gave us this opportunity. Brittany was able to adapt some of Rachel's choreography to those songs and that gave us this opportunity. She is the one that worked her ass off during winter break to come up with these amazing dances and that will further us in the opportunity that she helped us with. She believes in each and every one of us, works us hard and works three times as hard herself."
San felt Rachel's arms around her waist and took a breath. "We have all apologized to her for the way we treated her. You have not and you're supposed to be the adult here. You keep doing these things to try and bring her down and that's not ok. She deserves better than that."
San was starting to get choked up in her rage and heartbreak at what he was trying to do to one of her loves. Quinn walked up and soothingly rubbed her arm. "I don't understand where this all came from Mr. Shue but you need to back off her and just let her do the job she's been doing for months now. Or is that the problem? She's been doing your job for months and doing it better then you ever could. That's why you're mad. Because she has constantly showed you up, even in the beginning."
Mr. Shue was shaking at this point and took a step forward only to come face to face with Shelby. "I would rethink that thought Shuster. Back. Off. My. Girls."
Will through his hands in the air taking a step back. "I wasn't going to lay a finger on them, but they need to learn to have a little respect."
Shelby scoffed, "I suggest you earn it. Treating her the way you have is not the way to do so. If you remember yesterday, Rachel never spoke unkindly to you, never raised her voice and also invited you to dine with us after practice. A practice that you constantly tried to tear down what she has accomplished here, and she was still respectful to you. San and Quinn didn't say a word to you until today when you tried to get her in trouble."
Will just shook his head and turned to leave the room. "Whatever," and he was out the door.
Santana turned in Rachel's arms and pulled the trembling girl into her, Quinn wrapping around her back. Shelby came up and rubbed her hair. "It's ok baby. We will just move on as always."
Mercedes walked up to them. "Ok, that was seriously messed up. Are you ok Rach?"
Rachel looked up at her with a sad smile. "Yes, I'm ok. I just really want things to calm down and just be for a while." She lay her head on San's chest and sighed.
The Gleeks just stood there not knowing what to do next. Sue stepped up and lay a hand on Shelby's lower back and the other on one of Rachel's shoulder then turned to the group. "Ok guys, we are going to go about business as usual. We will do nothing different then we have been."
Rachel pulled out of the embrace and looked at them. "I want to know if any of you feel the way Mr. Shue does. Do any of you feel that I am bullying you?" They all shake their heads and answer no. "Are you sure? Because that is the last thing I want anyone to feel."
They all nod their head vigorously and Mercedes steps up to her. "I know I wasn't on board with this at first. That was my own shit. You have done nothing but be respectful to us and helped us to train and be better. Don't let him diminish what we have accomplished by him trying to diminish you. We got your back girl."
Everyone nodded their agreement and Rachel launched herself into Mercedes's arms hugging her tight and whispered in her ear. "Thank you, I missed you my friend."
Mercedes hugged her back hard. "Any time, I missed you too."
The bell rang and Rachel pulled back from the hug looking to the others. "Ok then, why don't we head to lunch then. Tomorrow is practice as usual. Last practice before Saturday when we show them all who we are." They all cheered and they headed out.
When they all exited the room they didn't see the lone figure by the stage door watching them leave.
The rest of the day was uneventful. After Cheerios practice that afternoon, when Rachel called practice and headed to the locker room they noticed Figgins on the upper track as they exited he room.
They next day Rachel was a bundle of nerves and hadn't spoken much except for giving instructions at Cheerios. She knew she wasn't doing anything wrong and she had the support of her club, but she just couldn't shake the fear that everything they had worked for would be taken from them.
By lunch San and Quinn were really starting to worry. Not only was Rachel quiet today, last night she hadn't said much either. All this stress was not good for any of them. It was one thing after another and they just wanted to make it better. After getting their food and sitting they watched her just pick at her food.
San leaned into her ear. "You need to eat hermosa. Practice will be brutal this afternoon and you need your strength."
Rachel sighed. "I'm just not hungry angel."
Quinn pulled her up and into her lap. "We need you to try. We can't have you passing out on stage because of all this bullshit." Quinn was starting to shake. "I can't take it baby, I need you to be ok. You haven't eaten since lunch yesterday. Please baby, for me please eat." She buried her head in Rachel's chest trying to calm herself and not have a total meltdown in the middle of the lunch room.
San came around them holding Quinn from the other side. Rachel just held on tight. "I'm sorry bear. I didn't mean to worry you this way. I just hate that all this stuff keeps happening to us. I'll eat baby, I promise. I'm so sorry."
Quinn looked up at her and Rachel wiped her tears away kissing her softly. "I'll eat bear." Quinn nodded releasing her and Rachel sat back in her seat, taking Quinn's hand in hers. San grabbed her tray and stayed next to Quinn rubbing her back as they all ate.
By practice Rachel was doing better. She forced herself to relax and just take it as it came. She didn't want to worry her girls anymore and she realize that she was just giving Shuster power over her by letting this all get to her. She needed to be better for her babies and for herself.
When they entered the auditorium the group was all seated awaiting instruction. Rachel smiled and stood in front of them, beaming at the sight of them in their matching training gear. "Ok guys, does anyone have a song to sing today before we get started?"
Brittany raised her hand, "Yes Rachie."
Rachel smiled brightly. "Ok ducky, take the stage."
Brittany walked up and hugged the three of them. "You three sit. We have a song for you." She whispered to them.
She pushed them into a seat and joined the others who were already clamoring up the stage. Rachel turned to Shelby, "Did you know about this?"
Shelby smiled. "They came to me during free period." She pat Rachel's shoulder and sat back in her seat to watch.
Tina came forward. "We just wanted you to know that no matter what we appreciate everything that you three do for us. Especially you Rachel. We just wanted to say thank you and that we are here for you."
Sue and Shelby smile and Mr. Shue shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
As the music started a tear came to the girls eyes as Tina and Puck took lead.
Tina/Puck/Tina and Puck/Everyone
You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side
You know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in
Keep holding on,
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you can say
(Nothing you can say)
Nothing you can do
(Nothing you can do)
There's no other way when it comes to the truth, so
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late
This could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side
I will fight and defend, I'll fight and defend ya ya
Keep holding on,
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you can say
(Nothing you can say)
Nothing you can do
(Nothing you can do)
There's no other way
When it comes to the truth so
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Hear me when I say when I say I'll believe
Nothing gonna change nothings gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Ya ya ya ya, la da da da la da da da da da da
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you can say
(Nothing you can say)
Nothing you can do
(Nothing you can do)
There's no other way
When it comes to the truth so
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba
Keep holding on
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba
Keep holding on
There's nothing you can say
(Nothing you can say)
Nothing you can do
(Nothing you can do)
There's no other way
When it comes to the truth so
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
The small audience clapped for them as tears ran from the three girls faces. They climbed on the stage and were engulfed in a group hug.
Once they all recovered Rachel, Quinn and San stepped back. "Thank you guys so much. We really needed that today." Rachel said tears still streaming.
San wiped her own face. "Yea, that was awesome guys."
Quinn wrapped an arm around both of them. "It really was. How about we get this started and prove that we never give up?"
They all cheered and moved to set the stage back for their regionals routine.
Shelby turned to Will, "Does that look like a group that is bullied into submission to you Shuster?"
Will just sat silently and watched the group, not answering her.
Back on stage rehearsal was well under way. They ran through the routine countless times in the next two hours. Halfway through, the solo number was no longer having any problems and they were all in sync. It was perfection and Shelby just beamed at them.
Mr. Figgins walked in right as Rachel was telling everyone to grab their water bottles and to have a seat in the audience. "Ok, Friday please bring your bags to the choir room in the morning before class. We will not be having morning Cheerios practice and will be waiting for one hour before school so you can drop them off. Shelby will then lock up the room. We meet after school to load the bus and will be rolling out an hour later to head to our hotel. The drive should take 3 hours with us stopping to get dinner on the way."
Shelby stepped forward. "Once we get there we will bunk down for the night then have a small practice section in the morning at 9:00 for a final run through. The competition starts at 11:00. We will be performing at 1:00, and remember New Directions gear only. When we get through round one, which is the group and duet only, we will get our itinerary for Sunday. Sunday is all three numbers."
Shelby looked to Rachel and sat back down. "Ok, the solo number is spot on now, so I will leave it up to the solo dancers if you want to take the extra hour tonight."
They all looked at each other nodding then Puck turned back to her and spoke for them. "We want the extra hour. It can't hurt and we want to make sure we got it down."
Rachel smiled, "Ok. Then everyone else is done for the day unless you want to stick around and watch. Shelby is ordering pizza for the dancers so let her know if you will be here too and want food." She turned to Figgins, "Now I think Mr. Figgins would like to talk to us."
Figgins stepped forward and looked to Mr. Shue. "Did today's practice differ from Monday?"
Will shook his head. "No, just like today she runs everything."
Figgins nodded and looked to Rachel. "I want to commend you for what you have helped accomplish here. I have every confidence that you will lead your team to victory this weekend and I will be in the audience cheering you all on." The Gleeks cheered as Rachel and Figgins shook hands.
Once they quieted he turned to Will. "I went to Cheerios this morning and I have been in the balcony here since the start of practice and all I saw was a team leader doing what was expected of her and doing it well. You need to come to terms with whatever it is that you're having a problem with or step down as assistant coach."
Will stood and was about to speak when Emma came out from behind the curtains and came down to join Figgins. "Will, I'm disappointed in you. I was here yesterday during your meeting. I was also here after Mr. Figgins left and heard all that was said. Maybe you should really think about what was all said to you by your students yesterday and figure out what it is that the real problem is." She looked to the students. "I am so proud of you all. I will also be there Saturday and Sunday to watch you win."
They all stood and talked for a few then Rachel called all the solo dancers to the stage to get to work. Mr. Shue just sat to the side by himself, arms crossed and watched. The remaining Gleeks decided to stick around to watch practice and just hang out together and eat dinner. Shelby ordered their pizza and at the end of the hour pizza was distributed to all. Will didn't interact or eat with the group, he just sat and watched them all.
Quinn came over and plopped down next to San and Rachel and lay her head in San's lap. "God I'm tired."
Rachel and San chuckled running their hands through her hair. "Awe, is our little bear sleepy?"
Quinn smirked. "Yes, I need to be taken to bed or a hot tub, maybe both."
Rachel leaned down whispered hotly into her ear. "You know what happens in hot tubs bear, are you sure you're up to that?"
Quinn groaned, "Oh I don't know, maybe after a short soak to calm the quivering in my legs."
San giggled and softly spoke where only Rachel and Quinn would hear. "Why? They'll just be quivering again before we're done with you." Quinn just whimpered at the thought.
Rachel nipped at her neck and sat back up, scooting down to massage Quinn's calves. "Awe baby, your legs are so tight."
Quinn groaned in pain and pleasure from the massage. "I feel like my legs are going to fall off."
San continued to rub her hair. "We can take turns getting massages at home or sit in the Jacuzzi tub. Mine feel like Jell-O."
Quinn reached up over and started rubbing one of her legs. "Sounds good to me. Between this and Cheerios I think we need a week of recuperation after this is all over."
Rachel looked at them concerned. "Did I put too much on you?"
The looked to her and Quinn just smiled. "No baby, it was just a long practice and we agreed to the extra hour. We can rest Friday with no Cheerios. We're fine."
San nodded. "Yep, we just need some tender lovin care from nuestra estrella tonight."
Rachel smiled. "I think I can handle that. How about we soak in the Jacuzzi tub then rub down our muscles with that lotion coach gave us. Then we can pass out for the night because I am exhausted."
Quinn sat up and kissed her nose. "I like that plan."
They got up and went to talk to Shelby. After sending everyone home and helping clean up their food mess they headed home. They soaked in their tub and rubbed each other's aching muscles then settled in bed for the night.
A/N: This was just a short chapter, up next Regionals. Just a friendly warning we are coming to the end of this story, just a few more chapters and an epilogue to go. I am toying with the idea of a sequel set in the future after high school and maybe after college, not sure yet. There will also probably be a few one shots in the Avenging Angel universe for some high school millstones. We will see. Thank you again for following on this journey with me.