Disclaimer: If I had owned Glee, its characters or the used songs I wouldn't be still living in the Netherlands and Glee wouldn't have ended.
Summary: After a horrible tragedy Rachel and her family are forced into Witness Protection for their safety. Will they be able to be kept safe or will they be found before the perpetrators have been stopped?
The idea for this story comes from a story named 'Of Poker Faces and Dreaming Dreams'. I've tried to contact the writer to adopt the story since it hasn't been updated in six years with no luck. I was already planning to go a whole different direction with it so here it is with my own twist.
Special thanks to all of you who are still following this story for your patience.
English still isn't my native language. For that and to kick my ass every once in a while to get it into gear and update I have jenmer61977 as my amazing beta.
This story is AU where they all joined Glee freshman year. Everything happened as it did on the show only a year earlier and except for Shelby walking away and being single. She's been in Rachel's life since the girl was born and is married to a woman. And she never was the loud, annoying know it all like in everything she does she is on the show.
A.N.: I'm changing things up a bit to make it fit better for what I have in mind later on in the story.
Previously on Into the Fire:
Turning to her daughter's two best friends she looks at them pleadingly. "Do you have any ideas where she might have gone?"
Noah and Santana look at each other and then at Shelby. "There are several places. How about you try her house while we check the rest?"
Shelby shakes her head. "She can't go to her house."
The two look at her confused but she waves them off. "I'll explain later. Right now we have to find her."
The two nod and run out the door to find their friend. Without saying a word they automatically walk to Noah's truck. "Okay, Rachel just got some very bad news and clearly is upset. Where would she go?" He's wondering.
"Well, if it is really that bad she'd probably want to be with her dads," Santana answers his hypothetical question.
"But mama C just said-" He doesn't get the chance to finish his sentence as Santana cuts him off.
"I know what she said, but it is the only logical place." She interrupts him. "She loves her parents to death, all four of them. So if she got some very bad and upsetting news the first thing she would run to is either her dads or her moms. Both her moms are here so let's just try it okay?" he has to admit that she is probably right so he starts his truck and starts the drive towards Rachel's house.
As they drive to the house the strong odor of a recent fire enters the car and with every mile they come closer to the street it becomes stronger until it's almost unbearable.
Based on the state both mama S and mama C were in and the fact that Rachel ran off screaming like she did, Noah gets the feeling he lost the two men who were like fathers to him in the cause of that smell making him sick to his stomach. The closer they get to the house the busier the street gets with parked police cars, fire trucks and even a news van or two and when he can't get any closer Noah parks his truck.
There's a large area around what used to be Rachel's house marked off with the yellow crime scene tape nobody wants to see around their house. Behind the tape there's a large group of noisy neighbors and some people he recognizes from temple.
"Ma," glad to see his mother there, he walks over to the woman standing a little away from the crowd. "What happened?"
"I don't know sweetie," she shakes her head. "The police and fire department are still investigating. I heard some policemen speculating about a hate crime though."
He swallows, feeling his eyes starting to sting from the yet unshed tears. "Ma, have you seen Rachel?"
Before she can answer he hears Santana call out for him. "Noah," Santana touches his arm and when he looks at her, she motions her head towards the small figure sitting on the curb staring at the black scorched remains of her childhood house. He knows her well enough to tell by the shaking of her shoulders that she's trying to hold her tears at bay without any luck. Without a second thought he ducks under the tape ignoring the cop saying that he has to get back behind the tape and crouches in front of her, wrapping her in his arms. As he expected, the moment her face is hidden against his chest she fists his shirt and starts to sob uncontrollably.
"They're gone Noah," She cries into his chest.
"I know," he chokes, kissing the top of her head trying to keep his own tears at bay. "It's gonna be okay Babe. You've got your moms, me, San, my mom and San's parents to help you through this."
Suddenly remembering the traditions of their faith, she looks up. "Who's with them? I need to call my family and start making funeral arrangements."
"I don't know. We came straight here after your mom told us something happened. Maybe my mom knows." He waves at Deborah to come over.
"Who's with papa's L and H?" He asks when she reaches them.
"You kids don't have to worry about that," she assures them. "Paul is with them. Rabbi Greenberg is calling your family and will be present at the autopsy later today. Together with your family lawyer his assistant is planning the funerals, your dads stated their wishes in their will."
"Autopsy?" Rachel, confused shakes her head. "Why?"
"The police want to know if they were already dead before the fire started or if the fire killed them. I believe it's for the prosecution when they catch that lowlife who did this." She nods her understanding. With two fathers as lawyers Rachel knows enough about the law to know that's true.
"You should probably call or text your mom Rae. Let them know you're okay," Noah responds to her phone going off. "She was worried sick when you ran off earlier." She nods, getting her phone that has stopped ringing by now, out of her pocket.
"No need," Santana says, joining them. "I already texted her that we found Rae. She and mama Sue are on their way home to see if you went there. They're expecting you home soonish 'cause the police called, they want to talk to you. That," she points at Rachel's phone, "was probably the Gossip twins seeking the scoop about what happened and about Sue and the former coach of our school's rivals being your moms."
"Let's go. I can't stand looking at the house anymore," Rachel says as she throws one last sad look at the smoking rumble of what used to be her home.
"Me neither, I'm coming with you." Deborah agrees.
"Let's go then," Santana nods, reaching her hand out for Noah's keys. "I'll drive. You sit in the back with Rae." She presumed Noah wouldn't want to let go of Rachel since he had been holding her from the moment he ran up to her.
When they arrive at the farm, Shelby's car is already in front of the garage along with a car Rachel doesn't recognize. Entering the house Shelby stands just in time to catch Rachel flying into her arms sobbing again.
"A.. are they really g… gone mom?" she hiccups.
"I'm afraid so Ms. Berry," a woman Rachel doesn't know answers instead of Shelby. "The firemen found their bodies shortly after they got the fire under control. My name is detective Johnson, and this is my partner detective Evans." She motions to the man sitting on the couch they recognize as Sam Evans' father. "Do you think you can answer some questions?"
"Sure," Rachel shrugs, looking the detective up and down.
"We should probably go. Shell, call me if you need anything," Deborah looks at her grieving friend. "Noah, San come on."
"You went to the house?" Shelby asks her, astonished.
"Yeah, I had to see for myself," Rachel looks at the ground. "I'm sorry I yelled at you and for running out. I know I'm not supposed to do either."
"It's okay. Given the circumstances you're off the hook this time but don't let it happen again or I will have Sue take you to the track again," Shelby caresses her daughter's head.
"How can we be of help detectives?" Shelby looks back at the woman.
"Do you have any idea why your fathers were at home this morning?" the detective takes a small notebook out of her pocket.
"They always took the day off the first day of school after summer break to cook a nice breakfast for me and to celebrate their newfound 'freedom' as they called it. Even though I spent the weekends and the second half of summer break with my moms, when we were not on vacation there was always something I needed from their house, so they never had the house completely to themselves
except for when I was at school." Rachel explains.
The detective nods her understanding. "Can you think of anybody who would want to hurt either your parents or you? People who don't agree with your parent's partner of choice, someone from your fathers work, a client maybe?" She clarifies.
"Not that I know of," Rachel looks frightened at her mothers. "Who would want to hurt us?"
"There are a lot of sick people out there, Trust me." The detective explains. "To your knowledge have there been any threats?"
Now the girl looks really terrified but before she can answer a person standing in the doorway answers for her. "Let me answer that question, Hummingbird." All occupants in the room look up to the voice.
"Em, I'm so glad you're here." Shelby exclaims walking up to the new addition and hugging her tightly.
"When your Rabbi called me and told me the police thought it was either a hate crime or retribution for a case one of them was working on, I brought my team with me to see if we can help." She looks at the detectives. Reaching out her hand to introduce herself. "Detectives, I'm Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss. Leroy Berry was my brother. This is my colleague SSA Jennifer Jareau. We're from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. The rest of our team is waiting at the precinct to set up shop if you accept our help." She sighs sadly, "and to answer your question Detective Johnson. Yes, there have been threats. Several."
"What?" Rachel and Shelby yell together.
Emily looks apologetic at her friend and niece. "I'm sorry but they didn't want you to worry since we didn't know how serious they were. They have been getting threats on their and the lives of Shelby and Sue for over a month or five now. At first the letters were sent to the office and only referred to them. But when the letters started arriving at their home address as well threatening you two too they called me."
"And you didn't think of telling us then? What the hell, Em. You put us willingly in danger," Shelby looks furious.
"No we didn't. The minute the letters started to arrive at their home they called me and I contacted the FBI office in Cleveland to put a security detail on all of you." Emily stands firm under her friend's glace. "Since the threats at the office only mentioned a case and the ones at home included personal details, we believe the threats come from two different sources. We don't know which one followed through on their threats, which is why we will keep the surveillance in place until we catch the people behind them."
Detective Johnson closes her notebook. "Thank you for your cooperation. We know enough for now, if you think of anything else here's my card. Ms. Prentiss, we'll meet up with your team at the station." This was beginning to look like a very complicated case, so the detectives gladly take Emily up on her offer and with that the detectives leave.
"When are the funerals?" Emily asks after sending a text to her team their offer for help is accepted.
"Uhm, we don't know yet. Deborah said Rabbi Greenberg is taking care of it with our lawyer." Rachel tells what she heard from Deb.
"Rabbi Greenburg already called. I expect him to come by later with the details," Shelby says while Emily's phone chirps at a text message.
"The team is done setting up and are on their way to get some food for all of us. Any preferences?" She asks.
"We have more than enough food," Sue tries to protest. From the moment they got home people from temple have been coming by offering their condolences and food.
"Yeah, and from the looks of it you'll be eating casserole for weeks already. By the time we're done sitting Shiva it will be months," Emily replies. "May I respectfully decline?"
By then Jennifer, A.K.A. JJ, reenters the room with three large duffel bags. "But first we have to talk about your safety. Now you'll be mostly indoors the next few days. But you'll also want to leave the house every once in a while, so I raided the FBI research center a bit. Because we don't know where the threats are coming from, when you do want to leave the house, I want you to wear these bullet proof clothes. They are still in the testing phase but they're perfectly safe. Also, have you been keeping up with your shooting and Martial arts classes?" They all nod. "Good, until further notice I want you all to carry your gun and knife. I have taken care of the permits to carry a concealed gun. I'm also considering putting you in Protective Custody."
"Bullet proof clothes, license to carry a gun, Protective Custody? Does that mean we're still in danger?" Rachel looks terrified between her mom and aunt.
"Yes," Emily answers firmly. "While the threats to the office could be from a single lunatic, we have reason to believe the ones sent to the house were the actions of a very conservative prolife group who are also strongly against same sex marriage. There have been several fires set to houses of gay couples and clinics that offer abortions all over the state. Even if we catch the ones who set your house on fire it doesn't mean you will be safe."
It's late when the rest of the team arrives with food and they settle around the table to eat. While they're eating the Rabbi finally shows up to go over the funeral arrangements. Rachel shoves her food from one side of her plate to the other.
David Rossi, one of her Aunt Emily's team members, notices. "What's wrong, hummingbird." He uses the nickname their Technical Analyst came up with for her when they found out about her singing. "You have barely eaten a single bite. Is the food depraved?"
"No, I'm just not hungry. Even thinking of eating makes my stomach turn," she shoves her plate away from her looking at her mother. "Mom, may I be excused?"
"But you barely touched your dinner," Shelby says looking at her daughter's plate.
"I'm not hungry. Please," she pleads. At her mother's nod she disappears to her room upstairs where she restlessly lays on her bed for ten minutes. Knowing she won't fall to sleep anytime soon she puts on some of the clothes Emily got her, 'cause she would be in a lot more trouble if she didn't put them on.
Downstairs she peaks her head in the kitchen. "I'm going out for a bit." Without waiting for an answer she's out the door and in her car.
"Rachel," Shelby yells after her but before she can run after Rachel she's stopped by her wife.
"Let her go, Shell. At least she's wearing the clothes Em gave her like she was told to. She'll probably end up with Santana or Noah, so we know she'll be safe." Sue reasons.
"Hummingbird has left the nest," Emily sends out a text to the surveillance detail standing in a parking lot just off the farmyard.
"Already on her. You were right by the way, we're not the only ones watching the house." She sighs worried at the text she receives back.
"And she has a security detail on her tail," she decides to keep her mouth shut about the house being watched by a yet unknown party so as not to worry her childhood best friend.
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