Glee nor its original characters are mine.

Chapter 6

Rachel asked who else wanted some coffee. Hands raised into the air and she counted quickly, waving Kurt off who wanted to help. Having visited her friend so many times and still feeling kind of like at home in her old home, she busied herself with making coffee alone.

It was also nice to have a moment to herself, she figured. Conversations in large groups were still a little exhausting, even if she had gotten better at following along. And it helped immensely that almost everyone knew how to sign. Still, she needed to concentrate and being a little tired didn't help.

Waiting for the old fashioned filter machine to heat up the water and trickle it through the ground coffee, Rachel leaned with her back against the counter, letting her eyes roam across the familiar room.

She was happy that Kurt and Blaine still lived here and that she was able to come visit. She had always loved their lofty apartment and had been sad when she moved out. But living closer to Broadway once her career took off had been just so much more comfortable and saved so much time.

She had moved quite a lot, Rachel realized, over that past couple of year. Four times, actually. From Lima to New York, in New York from living with Kurt to living near Broadway. Then after the accident she moved to a smaller apartment as far away as possible from anything that reminded her of theater or music. And then back a little closer when moving in with Quinn.

Hopefully they would stay for a while longer in Quinn's apartment. She loved the area and the apartment itself was spacey and still comfortable and cozy. And it was nice to have a home again where she really felt she belonged. That it was her place to be, where she could relax and recuperate. Not to mention that waking up next to Quinn every morning was one of the best things that had happened to her in her life.

She turned and checked on the coffee machine. The dark liquid still flowed in a thin stream into the pot. Watching it trickle, Rachel tried to remember the sounds. The gurgling, the hissing, the soft dipping when the last drops from the filter hit the dark pool below. Then she wondered about the conversations that were surely going on in the other room. It was still weird for her knowing that there were so many other people just a couple of feet away and she just didn't hear them.

Her body had accustomed over the past two years to automatically tune into other sensations, though. It would never really replace her hearing, but it gave her at least a little more information about her surroundings. Like the slight vibration of the wooden floor boards when someone dropped something in the other room or walked towards the bathroom. The pulse in her chest coming from the music in the other room. And she had noticed over time, that even if she didn't feel anything physically, there was still something in the air if a person was close by. As if some electricity or static filled the air or the atmosphere changed. Maybe it was just her sixth sense, but she often knew if someone was home or not when she entered the apartment, even before checking the time and calculating if Santana or Quinn were off work.

A head poked around the corner and Kurt grinned at her.

Hey old roomie, hiding in the kitchen? Need any help?

Rachel smiled and shook her head. "No. I'm fine." She pushed away from the table and started collecting cups and put them on a tray. Kurt added milk and sugar and together they leaned back against the dining table, watching the last drops enter the coffee pot before Rachel pulled it out and switched off the machine.

"God, why don't you buy yourself a new coffee maker, Kurt? This one takes ages," she teased.

Really? Kurt answered with his hands and pushed his chin up before he continued playfully with a haughty air.

I remember that you were always deeply grateful if I pressed a cup of this old fashioned coffee into your hands early in the morning. I'm the reason you managed to get through NYADA and start your career in parallel. If not for my coffee, believe me, classes would always have started without Rachel Berry! He nodded for emphasis with a smirk on his face to make his point.

"Ha! Really? That was like… one time!" Rachel threw him an incredulous look. "I only overslept one time!"

Yes, really. And no, I recall several incidences.

Rachel quickly made two steps forward, grabbed the soaking sponge from the sink and splashed Kurt with it.

He jumped back. "Yikes! What was that for?" He asked, holding his shirt away from his body, examining possible damage the water could have made.

Rachel managed to read the words off his lips. She laughed with an evil grin on her face. "This was to remind you how many times I had to wake you so you didn't oversleep after a long night out with Blaine or coming from one of your Vogue parties!" She watched her friend for a moment before he answered.

You're exaggerating. That was like one time, he mimicked Rachel who then took a deep breath to count of all the events.

"Well, I remember that one time, shortly after your admission to NYADA…," she began

Kurt lifted his hands. God, spare me, please. After a pause he added. I don't need a recital of all my failures.

"Haha, so you admit it?" Rachel asked triumphantly.

Touché, Kurt admitted finally and laughed. Then he sobered a bit. I really missed you in the beginning after you moved out.

"You only missed me in the beginning?" Rachel asked in mock offence and poked her friend in the chest.

He poked her back in the side and Rachel squirmed, throwing up her hands. "Oh no! Ohhhhh no! Don't start that again! No tickling. NO tickling!" But she recognized that expression on Kurt's face. And an instant later his hands seemed to be everywhere, tickling her mercilessly while Rachel couldn't stop laughing.

"A little help here!" She shouted out loud when she was able to take a breath. She knew she shouldn't have dared him. He always won these damn tickling wars whenever they started one. He was just so much taller and had so much longer arms. So not fair!

A moment later, Santana and Quinn appeared in her field of vision, both with their arms crossed in front of their chests, watching the scene further unfold.

"Don't stare … help me!" Rachel gasped between giggles, trying to escape the offending hands of her friend.

Quinn just grinned and Santana shook her head signing: No, I think you're good.

"What?" Rachel gasped. "You traitors!" She managed to pull away and sprinted towards the living room, almost bumping into Teresa who just came around the corner wanting to know what the commotion was about.

Rachel quickly hid behind her. "They are merciless." Then she pointed over the other woman's shoulder forward at Santana and Quinn. "Those two are pure evil." She had a grim expression on her face, while her eyes still twinkled with mischief.

Teresa turned her head so Rachel could see her lips. "Why?" she asked and laughed at the face that Rachel pulled.

"Because they are just watching when a helpless woman is attacked by the great Hulk there." She waved at Kurt who appeared from the kitchen with the coffee tray in his hand, looking innocently into the round.

Santana stepped forward and pulled her girlfriend into a kiss, effectively deranging Rachel's cover. Then she added aloud and signing: "Don't believe a word of what she said, Rees. Rachel is anything but helpless." And she pointedly raised an eyebrow at her smaller friend.

Before Rachel could say anything, Kurt piped up. "Coffee anyone?"

He placed the tray on the coffee table, close to where Rachel stood. Quinn also came over and gave her girlfriend a consoling kiss.

"Is that an apology for not helping me?" Rachel pouted.

No, just because you look adorable with your hair all crazy, Quinn grinned and brushed a strand of brown hair behind her girlfriend's left ear. She gave Rachel another tender kiss and then let her go.

Rachel quickly smoothed her hair and then took the pot and Kurt handed her the mugs to be filled. In between he managed to sign.

We did have some great times here.

Rachel narrowed her eyes for a moment. "Yeah, we did," she answered." And leaned shortly into her friend. Besides her current living situation now with Quinn - and Santana … and Teresa – she had loved living with her best friend the most.

After her accident she had moved out from her flat that was close to Broadway. She had wanted to be away from all the things that reminded her of her past. Rachel had found a small apartment with an open kitchen and one bedroom which became her sanctuary. In the beginning, only there she had felt safe. This had been the place where she could hide and try to forget.

When she and Quinn became a couple and spent more and more time together, they stayed at Quinn's apartment. It was a bit more central and just bigger and nicer than her own flat. Besides, Rachel had come to really enjoy spending rare evenings in front of the TV sharing dinner, if Quinn had her day off. Sometimes they were joined by Santana and lately even by Teresa. Even though one bathroom for four women was sometimes not really enough, they spent less and less time at Rachel's apartment and more and more of her stuff wandered over to Quinn's.

It had taken a while though until she made the final decision to give up her own living quarters. A little incident had nudged her along the way.

Few months earlier.

Rachel felt someone shake her shoulders. Unconsciously mumbling something she tried to escape the prying hands, but they wouldn't stop. The shaking increased with an urgency that jolted her brain into wakefulness.

Her eyes snapped open. It took a moment for Rachel to remember that they had decided to stay at her place. She was in her own bedroom. Turning her head she saw Quinn in the dim light that washed through her bedroom from outside place on finger on her lips to still any comment that might come from Rachel.

The brunette drew her brows together. What? She signed, confused as to what was going on.

I heard a noise. Quinn turned her head back to the bedroom door as if listening to whatever had disturbed her in the first place.

Rachel held her breath. When she couldn't stand it anymore she tapped the blonde's arm.

What is going on? She asked alarmed, again just using her hands, hoping that Quinn would see her signs in the dark. Luckily the streetlamps cast an eerie glow through the window.

Ever since losing her hearing Rachel refused to sleep in a completely dark room. In the beginning she had even left the lights on, scared that when she woke up in the dark, she wouldn't be able to orient herself. Now, after more than a year living without her hearing, she was ok sleeping with the lights out, but she didn't pull the curtains or blinds close anymore.

Quinn carefully peeled the covers back and moved cautiously towards the door. Biting her lower lip she slowly pressed the button on the doorknob to lock the door. Her heart drummed an anxious rhythm in her chest. Then she cocked her head and leaned it against the wood. Everything seemed quiet now. But she was sure that she had heard something. Something had woken her up. Slowly she traced her steps back to the bed, listening intently if there were some more noises outside.

Rachel watched her from the bed. She felt the uneasiness grow not being able to assess the situation or helping Quinn locating the sounds she was hearing. It drove her crazy not knowing what was going on.

You think someone is there?

Quinn shrugged. Not sure. Again she listened.

There!

There was this rattling and dull thump again. She grabbed Rachel's hand for a moment.

Shall we… shall we call the police? Rachel saw the nervousness and fear in Quinn's features. While the area she lived in was not really prone to break-ins, it didn't mean that it could not happen.

Quinn rubbed her forehead. It sounded like someone was pounding at the door or something outside, but she wasn't a hundred percent sure that it was inside the apartment. But she was also too cautious to open the door and look; afraid to draw attention to them should there be an intruder.

She grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand. She hesitated a moment, feeling her girlfriend's big brown eyes on her.

Rachel's hands flew through the air, and even in the dark Quinn saw how her hands were shaking and she noticed the lines of fear etched into her features.

Quinn, better be safe than sorry. I'm scared. I don't know what you're hearing, I can't help you, I'm just afraid that if we do nothing, something might happen!

Rachel was right.

The blonde reached out and grabbed one of Rachel's hands, giving it a slight squeeze while she dialed 911 with the thumb of her left hand. While she waited for someone to answer her call, she got up and pulled Rachel up with her. A female officer with a deep voice calmly took Quinn's call and the blonde shortly explained what she heard.

Rachel's eyes hung on Quinn's lips in the dark, watching them move, but it was not enough light to make out what she was saying. Besides, she was surely whispering which would have made it even more difficult to read. The person on the other side of the line apparently said something while Quinn and went to the bedroom door again to listen. Then she nodded and went back to Rachel. She carefully picked up Rachel's phone and took it with her. With a nod she indicated Rachel to follow her.

Still with her own phone on her ear Quinn and Rachel walked into the adjoining bathroom and looked the door behind them. The blonde spoke into the phone again, and then placed it on the sink without disconnecting.

The bathroom only had a very small window, but the phone display gave off enough light that Rachel could see Quinn sign.

I just told the officer that I have to explain to you what she told me. She is still on the phone. They will send someone over to check. She said it was good that we didn't go outside to investigate ourselves. She also told me to get as many doors between us and a possible perpetrator as possible. That's why I dragged us in here.

She paused for a second, waiting to see if Rachel was with her. The brunette nodded slowly, the sinews on her throat standing out, because of tension and fear.

We'll be fine. I gave them also your phone number, so in case my batteries run low, we and they –she pointed at her phone - have another number. Is you ringtone off?

Rachel nodded again. Then a thought struck her.

And how will we know if we can get out? Will they break down the door?

Quinn chewed her lip. Good question. Then she held up her finger and took up her phone again, relaying the question to the female officer in the line. She played back the answer with her hands.

They can see if the door has been tempered with in the first place, and they can check with a small camera if someone is inside. The officer on the phone is in contact with the other policemen and she will tell us if it is ok to go out.

Rachel bit her lip and nodded slowly.

She hated, absolutely hated that she had no means of dealing with this situation. Much as she had adapted, this situation showed her again some of her limitations. There were means to make emergency calls, that wouldn't have necessarily been the problem. The problem would have been that she wouldn't have heard or noticed if someone was in the apartment in the first place.

They had to think of something how to alert her if something like that should ever happen again. Maybe a sensor that would activate a flashing light or a vibration through a device.

Whatever, just now she hoped that this would be over soon. It reminded her of the night when she and Quinn were stuck in the subway in the dark. She had succumbed completely to her panic when she realized that the lights went out and all passengers had been pitched into complete darkness without any cell reception.

Rachel forced herself to take a deep breath. 'You're not helpless. And Quinn is surely as scared as you are,' she told herself. 'If she is handling everything with the police now, you can at least give her some support and reassure her.'

Rachel pulled Quinn over to the bathtub and both women perched themselves on the rim. None of them wanted to sit on the floor, this way it was easier to get up and react – just in case…

Thank you for handling this. She looped her left arm around Quinn's back and slowly rubbed her hand up and down in a soothing way. Her girlfriend nodded and shortly dropped her head on Rachel's slender shoulder. Now that there was nothing to do but wait, the blonde allowed herself to sag ever so slightly against the brunette.

Rachel reached up and slung her arm around Quinn's shoulder, pressing her against her own body, trying to give her some reassurance.

The blonde held her phone in her hand and talked into it once in a while, apparently giving a status update and receiving the same from the other end. Some minutes ticked by and both women prayed that the cops would get here soon. Every passing second made it all the harder to bear.

Have you heard the noise again when you listened at the door before we came in here? Rachel asked.

Quinn shook her head. No. Everything seemed quiet then. But I'm sure there was someone at the door. Something woke me up and I heard the noise again when I was awake.

After a couple of minutes, the blonde pulled herself erect, listened to what the officer was saying and then slowly stood up. She listened at the door and nodded. She took Rachel's phone and held the camera at the crack between the door and the floor. Rachel had always complained about it, but now Quinn was glad it was there. It afforded her with a view of the room. It seemed empty. With a short gesture she indicated for Rachel to step out of the view while she slowly and carefully opened the door to the bedroom.

The brunette held her breath.

Nothing happened. No dark clad figure jumped out at them. Everything seemed fine.

Quinn said something, but not into the phone, it seemed she was shouting something to someone outside. Rachel was glad when she took the time to quickly inform her that the officers where at the door and that she would walk out to let them in.

Rachel stepped forward. I'm coming with you. You're not going out there alone!

Quinn wanted to object, but saw the determined expression on Rachel's face. They said that everything seemed clear and that there was nothing wrong with the front door apparently.

Slowly the walked towards the bedroom door and Quinn listened again. When she was convinced that she didn't hear anything from the other part of the apartment, she slowly unlocked and then opened the door. Carefully, both girls stood back and waited for a moment. Rachel had her eyes trained on Quinn's face. Her heart seemed to leap into her throat. She felt so helpless and vulnerable at that moment. Then all of a sudden Quinn jumped and grabbed her hand.

Rachel threw her other hand over her mouth to muffle a cry. Next to her she saw how Quinn let out a breath and visibly relaxed.

Slowly she let Rachel's hand go. Sorry, these were just the officers outside. She quickly stepped out and opened the front door.

The officers introduced themselves.

Even though everything seemed ok they insisted on checking the apartment.

They made sure that the two women were safe and were about to go, when another thump came from outside. The policemen motioned for the two women to hide and positioned themselves next to the door with their guns drawn. One slowly opened it and looked outside.

The 'perpetrator' greeted them with a slurred speech.

Rachel watched the officers visibly relax and put their guns away. Then she recognized the man from next door.

It turned out that Rachel's neighbor had come home very drunk and had mistaken her door for his. When he couldn't open the door, he wanted to rouse his wife and repeatedly banged against it. In a garbled voice he then explained that he had had to pee and went downstairs again, because his wife wouldn't open the door. When he came back up, he lost his balance and toppled against Rachel's door.

After this was all explained and the neighbor's wife finally let him in, the officer asked Rachel: "Have you had and other disturbances by him lately?"

Quinn interpreted. Rachel shook her head, then shrugged. "I... I don't know. Could be that he did this before, but on my own I wouldn't be able to tell." She looked at Quinn.

"No, there hasn't been any other disturbance, at least not during the times I stayed here." She pulled Rachel closer and laid her arm across her shoulders.

"Well, then everything seems ok. We'll leave you then. Have a good night." He nodded first at Rachel, then at Quinn. Walking down the hallway they saw him speak into his radio before he disappeared with his colleague around the corner.

Rachel closed the door, thoroughly locked it and sagged against it, swallowing a couple of times. Now that the adrenaline ebb away, it was hard to hold the tears back. Even though everything had taken a positive ending, Rachel realized that this incident wouldn't let her sleep with ease anytime soon.

How could she ever be sure she was safe? Someone could break in and stand next to her bed and still she might not be aware of it.

Quinn watched her girlfriend's color turn another shade of white. Quickly she pulled her over to the counter and sat her on a stool. Then she placed a glass of water in front of her.

Here, drink that.

With a shaky hand, Rachel lifted the glass and took a few gulps. Quinn had also found a banana and placed a piece in front of her. The petite woman forced herself to take a couple of bites and felt her nerves finally calm down a bit.

As if coming out of a stupor, she slowly lifted her head and looked at Quinn.

"I'm sorry. This got to me more than I thought." She reached out and rubbed Quinn's arm. "How are you doing?"

Ok, Quinn signed and cocked her head. I'm just glad that there was such an easy explanation. She even managed to laugh a bit. God, this guy really was dead drunk. No wonder his wife didn't want to let him in.

Finally Rachel also managed a small smile. "He smelled like a whole liquor shop."

Quinn laughed. Yes. With all that alcohol vapor wafting around it was pure luck that no one lit a fire, otherwise we might have all burst into flames.

Rachel giggled. "His poor wife. I'd stuff a bar of soap into his mouth.."

Can you imagine? Both women laughed at the picture, grateful that their nerves seemed to calm down gradually. They also knew that the humor was one way of dealing with the situation. Better than staying in shock.

Rachel placed a hand on Quinn's knee. "Thank you for taking care of me." She nodded at the glass and the banana. "And for dealing with the police. I'm sorry I couldn't help."

Quinn cupped Rachel's face before she pulled back to sign. "Don't apologize, Rachel.

"But I feel I have to. I don't know. I just keep wondering when life will stop throwing all my deficiencies into my face. I mean, was it really necessary to come up with that tonight to show me that I can't even notice if someone breaks into my apartment?"

Darling, this can also happen to hearing people. They can be surprised by burglar's as well.

"But you heard him."

Yes, I did. I understand that this is scary, I was scared too. But we were lucky. I was glad you were with me and this didn't happen while I was home alone. The same way that you were glad I was with you. Please stop implying that I always have to carry such a burden.

Quinn moved closer and stroke a thumb over Rachel's cheek. It was good that I could lean on you while we were waiting. Just like that time when the train got stuck. You calmed me down.

Rachel sighed, trying to believe. As much as she had achieved, she still felt like she relayed too much on Quinn and did not give enough back. Situations like that seemed to prove just that to her, no matter what her girlfriend thought.

"I don't know, I'm just… Maybe I have to install an alarm or something. Put another look on the door…."

Quinn interrupted her.

Hey, honey, calm down. There are other ways to make your apartment secure, but… A small smile lit up Quinn's face. I think that this happened to show us something different.

"And what is that?" Rachel asked with a frown.

Quinn's smile spread. That maybe you should keep away from drunken neighbors.

"Huh?" Rachel raised her eyebrows. "That's not funny!"

The confused look on her girlfriend's face made Quinn laugh and she decided to clarify.

How about you move in with me?

Rachel's jaw dropped. She needed a second to recover.

"You mean like – move in?"

Yeah, that's what I meant. Quinn laughed. Move in. As in … move in. You know, move furniture, clothes, yourself etc.

"Oh. Yes." Then when it clicked she jumped off her stool. "You mean like really moving in and living together?"

Quinn noticed the sparkle coming back into Rachel's eyes and nodded.

"Are you sure? Won't that a bit crowded with all of us?"

Rachel, we are at my apartment most of the time anyways. You already have a lot of your stuff there. Santana secretly loves you being there as well - and don't tell her I said that or she'll kill me – and you know…. She fiddled with Rachel's fingers.

Rachel stepped a bit closer and tried to catch Quinn's eyes with her own. In a silent communication she asked her to continue.

And you know, I really, really love waking up next to you every morning. And going to sleep next to you every night. I love knowing that when I come home you'll be there. Or that you'll come home to me when you are finished working. I feel like a part of me is missing if you are not there.

Then another thought struck her. I mean, if you don't like the apartment, maybe we can look for one together. I just assumed, you know, but if you don't then…

Rachel smiled and stilled Quinn's roving hands.

"Quinn, slow down. It's ok. I'd love to move in with you officially. We don't need to look for another place. I love your flat. I'd love to know that I can call my home a place where I know you'll always be. Well, you and Santana. And Teresa," she added with an afterthought.

Quinn had to laugh and then both women found each other's lips.

Yes, this felt so right. They were moving in together! Quinn's heart jumped with joy when she thought about it and Rachel was excited and nervous. She was going to give up her hidey-hole, her sanctuary. They place she could hide from the world.

Giving that up would mean that she jumped right back into the full life.

And the loved everything about that prospect.

© by Phoenix2013, 2015