A Tempo
Chapter Seven: Livin' on a Prayer
"Welcome to Rhonda's. My name is Rachel and I'll be your server this evening. Can I start you off with an appetizer or maybe one of our delicious Southern sweet teas?" she recited monotonously. It was almost closing time, the restaurant was practically empty, and of course the hostess just had to sit an elderly couple at her station.
The man smiled simply and tore his gaze from Rachel's chest to look at the menu. "Edith!" he yelled. "Edith, did you want an appetizer?"
Edith looked up at Rachel blankly and shrugged. "Well, I don't know, Morris. What do they have?"
"We have an assorted selection appetizers, all listed in the front of your menu," Rachel said. "Or, if you're unable to choose, perhaps I can interest you in a sampler basket."
"Are the mozzarella sticks good?" Morris shouted, causing Rachel to wince.
"The best on this side of town."
"How about the Buffalo Chicken Dip?"
"It's all superb," she ground out.
"I think we'll take the sampler basket," Edith said. "And coffee, decaf."
"Very good, I'll go get that for you while you look over the menu." She hurried off to the kitchen and grabbed the decaf coffeepot, only to run right into Mallory upon turning around.
"Are you alright?" she asked. "You've been a little off the past few days."
Rachel walked around her friend and took a couple of coffee cups down from their shelf. "I'm fine."
"Does it have to do with that tall glass of water that was hanging around here last week?" Mal prodded. "I kind of miss seeing him around."
"He only came by twice, Mal. Get a grip."
"So it definitely has to do with him!" her friend giggled. "What's the deal? We could all totally tell that he has it bad for you. And he was so cute with your kids."
Rachel felt her face go red and she made a show of inspecting one of the cups in her hand. "Nothing's going on with him."
"Is it David?" Mallory asked.
"What? No!" Rachel cried, her head snapping up. That was the problem; Finn made her completely forget about David. At least he did while she was kissing him. But she also forgot the fact that she was a mom and she lived in a shithole and she would be working two jobs soon and so many other important things. And if she got anything out of the fiasco on Sunday, it was that Finn was not ready to settle down.
He had been very sweet about her running out on him. He called her a few times and left two very long, rambling messages in which he expressed his sincerest apologies and that it wouldn't happen again and then he didn't press the matter any further. In fact, he hadn't called since Monday evening, stating in his second message that he would give her some space and she could call him and they would talk all she wanted whenever she was ready.
He did send one text that afternoon though, a simple "Karaoke tonight, 9:00. Marlowe's in Midtown. Please come," to which she still hadn't replied.
"Look, Rachel, I know it's none of my business, but just because your husband is dead, it doesn't mean that you are too," Mallory said quietly. "That guy seemed really sweet. Go out and have a little fun."
Rachel nodded and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I'll keep that in mind, Mal. Thanks."
"Hey," Mallory grabbed the coffeepot from her. "Go on home. Tomorrow's your day off and I know that you don't want to stay here and wait on Fred and Ethel. I'll close out for you."
"Are you sure?" Rachel asked, her shoulders slumping.
"Sure I'm sure!" Mal laughed, smacking Rachel on the rump. "Frankie says relax."
Rachel rolled her eyes and watched as Mallory walked over to her customers and took over. Then she heaved a sigh, hung up her apron and grabbed her purse. "I'm out, Rob," she called to the manager. "Mal's closing out for me."
"Whatever, Rachel. I'll see you on Friday."
She hurried out of the building and began her trek home, wondering absently what she should do that evening. The past couple of nights had been hell, especially after what happened with Finn. He certainly hadn't overstepped his bounds, she knew that. In fact, she had been incredibly disappointed that he hadn't tried to kiss her at the piano. But that was no excuse for her to virtually jump his bones when he did.
She had never been so embarrassed! And then she had run out of the room like a teenager who had been caught red-handed (not that they had ever been caught, but there had been a few close calls). He probably thought she was a complete fool!
What was holding her back? Why could she let herself open up to Finn? She knew she really wanted to. And she knew she wanted him. There were no two ways about it; she was still completely and utterly smitten with Finn. She loved the way he made her feel, like she didn't have the world on her shoulders, like she wasn't alone, like she could be loved again.
She didn't know if things could ever be like they were before – oh! Who was she kidding? They could never go back to the way they were before. Too much had changed, too much time had passed, but could she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they could be better this time around? The odds were against them and she didn't expect Finn to take on any roles that he wasn't ready for, but she could hope, right?
Rachel knew that this was a dangerous thing that she was playing with, more than once she had let her tenuous hold on hope bring her down, but it was something that she had been without for too long. And even if it was for a few days, she could pretend that she wasn't a single mom and that she didn't have anything else in the world to worry about. Who knew what next week would bring, but she resolved to herself that she was she was going to live like there was no tomorrow as she ran up the stairs to her apartment.
She hurried into her bedroom and flung open her closet door. She was going to do this, but first, she needed to find something to wear.
"Look at those assholes," Jer spat, glaring at a table of guys across from them. "They look like a bunch of drunk frat boys." He snorted and took a sip of his drink. "Friggin' Beck & Roth tools."
"See, this is why I don't like it when you drink vodka," Kurt commented. "You get belligerent."
"I do not!" Jer argued. He turned to Mercedes' husband, who was watching the exchange with an amused look on his face. "Hey, Anthony, are you packin'?"
"Packing what, Jeremy?" Anthony laughed. "I'm an anesthesiologist, not a hood."
"Boy," Mercedes said, "are you insane? Like hell if you think my husband is going to join a brawl just because you don't like the firm they work for."
"You don't understand, Mercedes," Jer said, leaning over the pub table like he was telling them all a secret. "They're the enemy."
Finn looked up from his Crown and Coke and sighed. He had no idea what brokerage firms had to feud about, but somehow Jer found a reason.
"Oh, hell no!" Jer shouted with the Beck & Roth guys walked to the stage and began singing "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. "Hudson! You can't let them insult me this way! You and me, man, Whitesnake, 'Here I Go Again'; what do you say?"
"I'm not really in the mood."
"God, you're being a buzz kill," Jer muttered, sitting back in his seat.
Kurt rolled his eyes and turned away from Jer to look Finn in the face. "You. What is this?" He motioned around Finn like there was something surrounding him and Finn looked around confused. Did he have dandruff or something?
"What's what?"
"You've been walking around in this veritable cloud of self pity lately and it's getting annoying."
"What ver-verit… cloud… I'm not feeling sorry for myself!" he sputtered.
Kurt glared at him dangerously. "This better not have to do with Rachel."
"Who said anything about Rachel?" He knew he sounded like a grumpy little kid, but he didn't really care the moment.
"Well, I don't know what's bothering you, but my drunken significant other is right, you're being a buzz kill. I suggest you throw back a couple more of those Crown and Cokes, sing some sappy classic rock songs, and get over yourself."
Running a hand through his hair in agitation, he replied, "Thanks, Kurt. Your concern is really touching."
"That's what step-brothers are for."
Truth be told, it was about Rachel. She had been giving him the silent treatment since Sunday. He had hoped against hope that she might show up tonight, but it was already nearing ten thirty and she was still a no show. Man, he really shouldn't have kissed her. Not that he regretted it, but he should have let her make the call. Although she did seem pretty into it at the time.
Damn it, now things were all screwed up. All he wanted to do was see her and talk to her. He wanted to make her laugh like she did on Sunday. And he wanted to kiss her again and again, and God help him, but he wanted her in the worst possible way. He was such a douche!
Jer jeered when the Beck & Roth guys finished their song and Mercedes picked up the list of song choices. "So is anyone actually going to sing tonight or are we just drinking? Because I could have done this for a lot cheaper at home."
"Oo, ABBA," Kurt said, leaning over her shoulder.
"You know I do not sing ABBA, Kurt."
"Really, Mercedes, your lack of joie de vivre is truly dishearteningly," Kurt chastised lightly. "Perhaps you'd enjoy some Destiny's Child? I'll do Beyoncé and you can be Kelly Rowland."
"Over my dead body."
Kurt smirked and surveyed the scene. "Quite the turn out tonight… well, well, well," he said, looking at something over Finn's shoulder.
Finn ignored whatever comment Kurt was about to make and groaned when the opening notes to "Faithfully" began playing throughout the bar and a tone deaf businessman began singing. "I'm really starting to hate this song."
The words had just left his mouth when all of a sudden Mercedes jumped up and screeched at the top of her lungs. "Rachel!" she exclaimed, nearly knocking Kurt right out of his chair.
Finn whipped his head around in surprise and sure enough, she was standing slightly behind him and looking gorgeous. He hadn't seen her in anything besides sundresses and her work uniform, but now she was wearing a pair of dark skinny jeans, black heels, and a large purple top that hung off of her shoulder. She had done something with her makeup, her eyes were all smoky and her lips looked all shiny and pink and damn she was beautiful.
She just smiled shyly as Mercedes ran over and gave her a hug. Kurt stood up and crossed his arms. "Well, if it isn't Rachel Barbra Berry." He arched an eyebrow, his tone snide. "You look good."
"Well, all my plaid skirts and sweaters are at the cleaners," she returned in kind, "so it was either this or my widow's weeds."
Then, to Finn's surprise, Kurt smirked and opened his arms out to her. "I've missed you, princess," he replied, enveloping her in a big hug.
"Can you believe I've actually missed you a little too?" When she looked up and smiled into Kurt's face, Finn could see her eyes glittering with tears, and he fought the urge to take her into his arms right then and there. But she hadn't said a word to him, much less looked at him.
Kurt led her over to the table and Finn pulled out the chair next to him while Mercedes took care of introducing her to Jer and Anthony. She took his hand and met his eye as he helped her up into the seat, and then she squeezed lightly before letting go. Apparently he was forgiven.
"So you're the famous Rachel!" Jer slurred from his seat before Finn could say anything to her. "I kind of remember you now that I see you," he continued. "I definitely remember your husband. The dead one, I mean." Finn almost laughed out loud at the mortified expressions on Kurt, Mercedes, and Anthony's faces, but Rachel just smiled politely and nodded her head.
"And I went to a game with your kids. That was cool."
"Yes, they enjoyed that very much."
"You'll have to forgive him," Kurt said. "He's gets a little boisterous when he's had too much vodka."
Their waitress walked over and Jer looked at Rachel expectantly. "What's your poison?"
"May I see your wine list please?" she asked, but Jer grabbed the girl's arm and stopped her.
"Nope! We only do hard liquor on karaoke nights."
Rachel hesitated and Finn leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry, he's paying."
She giggled and leaned over to him. Geez, she smelled good. Was she wearing perfume? "What are you drinking?"
"A Crown and Coke."
At that her cheeks turned a little pink and she laughed quietly at their little inside joke. "I'll take a Crown and Coke then too," she told the waitress. "I don't usually drink liquor," she informed the table, "so please forgive me ahead of time if I do anything embarrassing."
"Don't worry, Jeremy has the monopoly on humiliation tonight," said Kurt.
"So, why do you hate this song again, Finn?" Rachel teased.
Crap, he hadn't realized she had heard him. "Oh, um, not the song. This guy's just way off-key."
"Yes," she agreed, her eyes sparkling. "Our rendition was far superior." Then she did something that threw him totally off; she smiled prettily and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. He felt the heat in his face and tried unsuccessfully to avoid Kurt's intense stare.
"Hey, Rachel, do you sing?" Jer asked.
She cast Finn a mischievous glance. "On occasion."
"You know this, Jeremy. She was in glee club with us," Mercedes said.
"I'm drunk. How do you expect me to keep all these people straight?"
"Yeah, we've only been talking about one person, Jer," Finn clarified, taking a sip of his drink.
"As I was saying," he continued, "we need another strong set of pipes so that we can outdo those Beck & Roth cronies. I can only take their insults lying down for so long!" He stood and waved a fist in their direction, only to be pushed back down into his seat by Anthony.
Rachel furrowed her brow in confusion and moved to the side as their waitress set down her drink. Finn watched in amusement as she took a small sip and wrinkled her nose. She coughed delicately before taking another small sip. "And who are Beck & Roth?"
"They're the enemy," Finn murmured. Sure, it wasn't necessary to talk so low with all the noise of the bar, but it gave him an excuse to be close to her. Whatever perfume she was wearing was as intoxicating as the whiskey in his drink. He'd have to get the name from her and buy her a bottle for her birthday.
"Oh." This time she took a longer sip and she didn't make a face as it went down. "Whose enemy?"
"I have no idea."
They laughed quietly to themselves, their heads nearly touching, and Kurt cleared his throat loudly. "Is there something you two would like to share?" he asked.
They exchanged a look and shook heads like two children caught with their hands in the cookie pot. "Nope," Finn said with a grin. "Nothing at all."
"In that case," Kurt grumbled and downed the rest of his drink. "Rachel, since I cannot get Mercedes to join me, I was wondering if you would care to take on a little ABBA with me. I'm sure you and I could do 'Mamma Mia' without any issues."
"That sounds like fun."
Kurt wrote down their song choice and handed it off to a passing waitress. "Oh, Mercedes!" Rachel suddenly cried. "I love your bag!"
Finn groaned inwardly and exchanged a look with Anthony as the girl talk commenced. Mercedes threw a glance at the purse emblazoned with little JNYs hanging from her chair. "Girl, if you want one, just let me know. I've already designed two for Tina and Quinn and –"
"Hang on a second," Rachel said, putting a hand out. "You're Jonesy NY?"
Mercedes just grinned.
"Finn!" Rachel gasped, nudging his shoulder. "You didn't tell me that Mercedes is the Jonesy NY!"
"Um… is that a big deal?"
"Yes!"
"If you ever want to trade in that Louis Vuitton for a custom Jonesy," Mercedes said, "give me a call. I'll get you the hook up. I have a few prototypes hanging in my design studio that would be just perfect for you."
"That yellow and white tote just screams 'Rachel'," Kurt agreed.
Rachel finished her drink, her cheeks a little rosy and Finn took the liberty to order her another while she and Kurt did their number. Rachel's voice was amazing as usual and thankfully there weren't any diva freak outs while they shared the stage. They even improvised a little dance, shimmying their shoulders while Rachel flung her hair back in this totally sexy way. It drove Finn absolutely nuts and he downed the rest of his drink and moved on to the one he recently ordered for Rachel.
He had told himself he was going to be cool, but he was seriously starting to doubt his ability to keep his hands to himself. She kept looking up at him with those smoky eyes from beneath those long lashes and she was being so cute and flirty that Finn was starting to wonder what had gotten into her. Not that he was complaining, but this was a completely different Rachel from the one he had been seeing.
Rachel plopped back down in her seat with a large smile on her face, exhilarated from their performance. "What should we sing next?" she asked excitedly as their waitress walked up and placed another drink before her.
"From the gentlemen over there," she said, indicating to the Beck & Roth table. They all turned and looked over and one of the guys actually had the balls to nod his head at Rachel and raised his drink up in a toast.
Finn felt his temper rise. Did they think that just because they looked good in business suits that they could just hit on whoever they wanted? Over his dead body! There were plenty of available women at this bar and like hell if he was going to let them buy drinks for Rachel. He met Jer's eye and nodded somberly.
Jer perked up and grinned drunkenly. "'Here I Go Again'?"
"No," Finn said. They needed something good, something to put those Beck & Roth bastards into a funk… A long forgotten memory hit him out of the blue and he smirked. "'Another One Bites the Dust'."
Jer nodded in agreement and hurriedly turned in the song choice.
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Well this is refreshing. Can't we have one karaoke night with picking a fight with the B&R guys?"
"What's going on?" Rachel asked.
"Apparently they're defending your honor," Anthony explained.
"But it's just a drink."
Finn clenched his jaw resolutely. "It's never just a drink, Rach."
She bit her lip and looked at the drink as if it were poisoned. "Well, what am I supposed to do with it? There's no point in sending it back now."
At that, Finn picked it up and drank it himself in a few big gulps. Thankfully, he had already had several, so the whiskey didn't burn going down. He could feel himself starting to get more than a little buzzed. He was no light-weight by any means, but he may as well have been doing shots the way he had been knocking them back so quickly. But he ordered two more and waited a little nervously for his and Jer's turn to come up.
Finally their names were called and he stood, took another gulp of Crown and Coke for courage, and walked over to the stage. He'd done karaoke with the group before, but this was the first time he had sung in front of Rachel in years. What if he was out of tune? What if his voice cracked? He cast a nervous glance at her as the music began. She gave him a big, reassuring smile and even blew him a little kiss.
His confidence restored, he glowered down at the unsuspecting Beck & Roth table and let loose. Truth be told, he even let himself dance to the beat. A little.
It was just past 2 A.M. and they were all pretty smashed, if the way they were all giggling inanely was any indication. Rachel had by far sang the most songs (she had everyone in the bar on their feet and cheering when she finished "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"), but the rest of the group hadn't done too bad. Mercedes had rocked the house with a couple Mariah Carey songs and they even gave in to Jer's suggestion for them to have a New Directions reunion and sang "Don't Stop Believin'" despite Kurt saying it was "utterly cliché."
That wasn't even the best part. They finally stole a booth when another group had left and Rachel had happily sat in Finn's lap since there wasn't enough room for all of them to fit. He loved the feel of her in his arms again. It was as if that's where she was meant to be and it felt empty and hollow any time she got up.
"You know, Rachel," Jer laughed. "I cannot believe that you're actually a whiskey girl. You seem more like a tequila or vodka kinda chick."
They all laughed when Rachel snorted on her drink and placed a hand over her mouth to keep from spewing it all over the place. "I'm not! It's the only hard liquor I've ever had."
Finn chuckled and placed his forehead against her back, tightening his arms around her waist.
"Seriously?" a bleary-eyed Anthony asked.
"Seriously! The only other time I've had it was with Finn!"
"What?" Finn cried. "When?"
Kurt leaned over and shook his finger in Finn's face. "I remember! It was that time Dad and Carole went out of town for the weekend and we threw that rip-roaring party at our house." He threw up his handsdramatically and nearly hit Jer in the face. "It was insane. Remember?"
"Oh yeah! And Puck hooked us up with all the booze," he recalled.
"But you and Rachel were too good for beer," Kurt shouted. "You broke into Dad's Crown and drank the entire bottle. Then you locked yourselves up in your room and –"
"And went at it like monkeys!" Rachel busted out. Finn felt his cheeks go up in flames as they all laughed heartily. Rachel was laughing so hard that she was grabbing her sides and tilting precariously in his lap.
"Oh, but he never ratted me out! He let Burt think that it was him who had drunk the entire bottle and he was grounded for a month." She turned in his lap and hugged him close, fairly pillowing his head between her breasts. "You were always my knight in shining armor!"
They stayed like that for a moment, listening as their friends joked around. His happy bubble was invaded though, upon hearing the DJ call his and Rachel's name. What the? They hadn't signed up for a song.
He looked over to see Jer and Kurt giggling rather maniacally. "What did you two sign us up for?" But they just kept laughing and he reluctantly stood and let Rachel lead him to the stage.
Looking down at the screen, he groaned when he saw that they had signed him and Rachel up for a totally sappy love song, "Up Where We Belong". He sincerely hoped he'd be able to get through this; his tongue was feeling pretty thick in his mouth and he didn't want to make a fool out of himself with Rachel. At least he knew the song; it was from his mom's favorite movie, after all.
"Who knows what tomorrow brings
In a world where few hearts survive"
Rachel nudged him to get his attention and he sang his lines.
"All I know, is the way I feel,
When it's real, I keep it alive,
The road is long, there are mountains in our way,
But we climb stairs every day"
Good lord, he felt like an idiot. But it wasn't so bad when Rachel joined him for the chorus.
"Love lift us up where we belong,
Where the eagles cry,
On a mountain high,
Love lift us up where we belong,
Far from the world below,
Where the clear winds blow
"Some hanging on to used to be,
Live their lives, looking behind"
He looked over at Rachel expectantly as she took it from there, her voice strong and carrying throughout the bar despite the state she was in. He'd lost count of how many drinks he had bought her; he'd order her a water next.
"All we have, is here and now,
All our lives, out there to find"
"The road is long, there are mountains in our way,
But we climb the stairs every day"
"Love lift us up where we belong,
Where the eagles cry,
On a mountain high,
Love lift us up where we belong,
Far from the world below,
Where the clear winds blow"
They shared a smile and he couldn't help but wonder at how much he had missed singing with her.
"Time goes by,
No time to cry,
Life is you and I alive, baby
"Love lift us up where we belong,
Where the eagles cry,
On a mountain high,
Love lift us up where we belong,
Far from the world below,
Where the clear winds blow,
"Love lift us up where we belong,
Where the eagles cry,
On a mountain high..."
The song ended and they held their note, their eyes locking, and Finn had to keep himself from laughing. But suddenly Rachel's face changed and she dropped her microphone. She turned and ran from the stage, leaving him standing there alone. He walked down, trying to reason it out, but he couldn't come to any good conclusions. He hadn't even tried to kiss her this time!
Mercedes hurried after her. She came out a few minutes later from the direction of the ladies restroom, supporting Rachel. "Well," she announced, "I think Rachel's done."
"I threw up," Rachel told him sheepishly and he immediately felt bad for thinking she had ditched him again.
"That's okay, we'll get you home." He rubbed her back and motioned for the waitress to ring up their tab.
"We're done too," Kurt said, indicating to where Jer sat with his head in his arms. "We're on Rachel's side of town if she wants to ride with us."
"That'll work," Finn said a halfheartedly. He'd been hoping for a reason to take her home himself, but he knew this was for the best. If he and Rachel were going to hook up, it would be the right way. He didn't want her to think that he had taken advantage of her.
They paid their waitress, tipping her generously, and made their way out of the bar. Anthony hailed a cab for Mercedes and himself while the girls said their goodbyes and made promises to see each other soon. A taxi was just pulling up for Kurt and Jer, when Rachel made a mad dash to the nearest trashcan and wretched inside.
"Oh, no!" Jer said. "I am sorry, but these are new shoes and I do not want to share a cab with a woman who can't hold her drink! Hudson, you are going to have to find something to do with her."
Finn sighed and mulled over his options. "I'll take her back to my place," he finally said. "I'm only a few blocks away anyway."
"Finn," Kurt said, his voice low, "I don't think this is a good idea."
"Don't worry; I've already thought this through. Trust me."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Nothing's going to happen, I promise. I'll put her to bed and I'll crash on the futon in my study."
He saw them off and turned back to where Rachel was sitting next to the trashcan, groaning pathetically to herself. "I don't think I can walk," she whimpered.
He leaned down and picked her up. "I've got you. Just let me know if you need to be sick again."
The trek back to his apartment was slow since they had to stop a couple of times for Rachel to hurl, but it seemed like she had cleared her stomach out by the time they got to his building. His doorman eyed them warily as he walked to the elevators, but Finn waved him off. "Don't ask," he called.
He got off on his floor, trying to shush Rachel's moaning so she wouldn't wake his neighbors. "I'm so sorry, Finn," she gasped as he unlocked the door. "I'm so em-em-embarassed."
"Don't be," he insisted, nudging Tank out of the way. Ugh, he would have to take him out real quick before he went to bed.
He carried her to his bedroom and turned down the covers before setting her down. "Hang on just a second, okay?" She nodded groggily and he hurried off to his bathroom. He quickly poured her a small cup of mouthwash, diluted it with water, and grabbed his wastebasket. "Here, Rach. If you feel like getting sick again, please try to make it in here." She nodded obediently.
"Gargle this," he ordered lightly, "but don't swallow. It'll make you feel better." She did as she was told and looked up at him when she was done swishing, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's. "Oh, here." He held up the trashcan and let her spit inside.
She lay down as he walked over to his dresser. He pulled out his faded "Beta Theta Pi '15 Rush" t-shirt and set it at the end of the bed. "You can change into this if you want to get a little more comfortable," he murmured. "I've got to take Tank out real quick, but I'll be right back."
"Okay," she answered, her voice muffled by his pillow.
He deftly put Tank's leash on and ran downstairs. Truth be told, he was starting to feel not-so-hot himself. He'd call in sick tomorrow, he thought, while Tank sniffled around him. Besides, it was really late and he wasn't looking forward to waking up in a couple of hours. The way he saw it, only missing one day in two years was just as good as not missing any. Plus Sam was always on his case about getting a life and that she hated seeing his "ugly mug" around the studio all the time. She was kidding of course, but her meaning was clear.
Thank goodness it was already past Tank's bedtime so he finished his business pretty quickly and they were able to go back upstairs. Everything was quiet in the apartment and he crept to his bedroom in order to check on Rachel. Her clothes were in a pile on the floor and she was in his t-shirt, resting peacefully on her side, a hand hanging off the bed. He walked over to turn out the lamp on his nightstand but paused to brush her hair behind her ear and kiss her softly on the cheek.
Tank jumped up on the bed and looked up at him, his tail wagging. "Not tonight, buddy," Finn said, patting the dog on the head fondly. "You stay with her." Tank looked over at Rachel like he understood what Finn had said and plopped down near her feet.
"Good boy," he sighed. He walked into the alcove that he had made into his study and set up the futon. It was one of the last remnants of his college days, having long since bought himself real furniture. He wasn't necessarily looking forward to sleeping on it; it had never been the same since three of his linebacker buddies had caved it in at a Super Bowl party, but it was better than the floor.
He stripped down to his boxers and crawled onto it, lying down at an angle so his feet wouldn't hang off. Crossing his arms behind his head, he sighed and stared up at the ceiling, trying not to think of the woman in his bed as he drifted off to sleep.
"Up Where We Belong" originally appeared on the 1982 soundtrack, An Officer and a Gentleman. Song written by and copyrighted to Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie, with lyrics by Will Jennings.
Author's Note: I apologize for the long wait. It seemed as if the universe was conspiring against me when it came to getting this chapter out! It was actually supposed to be done and posted on Thursday, but my computer was attacked by one of those really annoying rogue scanners and I ended up having deal with that all night long. It's all cleared up now, but that really caused me to lose my train of thought. Moral of the story: keep your CCleaner, Spybot, and Malwarebytes always updated! Then of course, we went out of town and I hadn't had the chance to work on it until now! I promise the next update will come much sooner.
Anyway, when I returned, I was surprised to see on Tumblr that A Tempo made coryandlea's FanFic List! I'm so happy to be grouped up with who I consider to be the who's who of the Finchel fanfic world. You can check it out at coryandlea(dot)tumblr(dot)com(slash)fanfic (and feel free to check out the rest of her yummy Tumblr while you're at it).
Disclaimer: Glee is the property of Ryan Murphy and FOX. I'm just manipulating it for my own nefarious (and strictly nonprofit) purposes.