Through the Trees.
During the next couple of weeks, the members of the glee club had taken turns to look after their captain. All except for Artie, because nobody trusted him. But, Quinn, as a surprise to everybody else, was the only one that ever visited her alone and even spent some nights by Rachel's bedside. Santana and Brittany stayed with Rachel on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; while Mercedes, Kurt, and Blaine stayed with her on Thursdays. As for the weekend, Finn, Santana, and Quinn took turns. Unbeknownst to everybody else except Santana, Kurt, Blaine, and Brittany, Quinn stayed the nights during the weekends.
The day was Wednesday, Santana and Brittany had just walked in when Hiram Berry was outside of Rachel's room talking on his cell phone,
"Okay, I'll pick you up at Peterson Airport at 7 tomorrow morning. Okay, Ma. Yes, I love you too. I will. See you tomorrow." He snapped his phone shut, as he smiled at Santana and Brittany.
"Hi, girls," he greeted as they walked into the room together.
"How're you doing, Mr. Berry?" Santana asked, as she made her way to the other side of Rachel's bed.
"I'll let you know once I feel something other than fear. And, it's Hiram." Hiram answered honestly.
"How's Rachel doing?" Brittany asked, curiously.
"Just the same. The doctors don't know why she's in a coma. Or why she won't wake up. They say she'll wake up when she's ready. It might be an emotional thing." Hiram Berry explained, as his chocolate brown eyes watered with the unshed tears for his 17 year old baby girl to wake up.
"She'll wake up, Mr. Berry. I mean, Hiram. I know she will. It just takes time. That's all. She might be going through an emotional journey to find herself or something. I'm sure she wouldn't want you to worry." Brittany replied, giving him a confident smile. Suddenly, it occurred to the middle aged man that everybody completely misjudged the young blonde in front of her that went by the name of Brittany S. Pierce. He smiled back.
"I'm sure you're absolutely right, Brittany. Knowing Rachel, she's just…waiting for something completely life changing to happen to one of us. Then she'll wake up." Hiram replied, as he stood up.
"Santana, you're sure you and Brittany will be fine alone with her?" This was a normal question for Hiram and Christopher Berry to ask, before leaving Rachel alone with any of her friends.
"Absolutely, Hiram. You can go. You need rest." Santana replied, as she gave him a confident smile.
"Thank you, Santana and Brittany. I swear, Christopher and I wouldn't know what we'd do if Rachel didn't have friends like you." Hiram replied, as he bid them goodbye and left the room.
Santana leaned in close to Rachel's ear and whispered,
"Hey, rae. It's Santana. I'm sorry I'm not here enough. I would cut school, but I know how you feel about getting a proper education. Anyway, listen Rae, you have to wake up, okay? Because I'm not entirely sure how long Quinn and Britt can take seeing you like this. Your girl's always crying and not talking, unless it's about a song she sings in Glee that reminds her of you. JUST…wake up, okay? Please? Please, please, please wake up." She pleaded, not caring if Brittany heard her or not, as she took Rachel's hand in her own and squeezed gently.
Afteer hearing Santana's plead to Rachel, a memory popped into her head. She looked down at Rachel and furrowed her eyebrows. 'Noway. She couldn't be like staying like this because of what she said. But why else? She already has Quinn. Santana's her…. Best Friend. Best Friends do anything for each other.'
"San?" Brittany called out gently, as she sat next to Santana.
"Yeah, Britt?"
"I think I have to tell you something. It might be important. But first I have to ask you something."
"Okay, what is it?" Santana asked, slightly suspicious.
"Did Rachel ever know how afraid you were of how other people would treat you if you came out?"
"Of course."
"Okay. Well, I have to tell you something Rachel told me during fourth period the day she got stabbed."
Flashback to the day of the stabbing. (During fourth period)
"I just don't get it, Rachel. She says she loves me, that she wants to be with me. But, she won't come out of her closet in front of anybody else. I love her, but if I say it out loud in front of other people, she might get mad at me." Brittany explained, sadly.
"I know, Britt. But, don't worry about it. We'll find a way to get through to her. We can be there to guide her out. It'll take some time though. I'll make her an offer she can't refuse. Then I promise, you two will have your happily ever after." Rachel replied with a broad smile and an arm around Brittany's shoulders.
End of Flashback.
"It hurts you that much that I'm not out?" Santana questioned, even though she already knew the answer just by looking into Brittany's eyes.
"Honestly, yeah. I want to be able to call you my girlfriend and hold your hand in public. I want to be able to kiss you sweetly and for you not to care about who's watching and who they'd tell. I love you that much, Santana Lopez. I always will, even if you decide that you don't want to come out right now." Brittany answered, a small smile on her face.
She and Brittany were in a tight, but comfortable embrace on the chair beside Rachel's bed, when something suddenly occurred to her.
"Britt?"
"Mhmm?"
"Did she say what she was going to do to convince me to come out?"
Brittany thought for a moment, then shook her head,
"She didn't mention it. Why?"
Santana gave out a heavy sigh,
"I think she's blackmailing me."
Brittany raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"That 's ridiculous."
"It's really not. You heard Hiram. She's probably waiting for something to happen to change someone's life. Who's life do you think that is? She already has Quinn. She doesn't really care about anybody else. Except us. She wants me to come out. If I do…She'll wake up."
Before Brittany could get a word out, Rachel's hand twitched lightly against Santana's, and before either of them knew it, Santana's assumption was proven to be true. Santana glared at the comatose girl.
"You're such a bit-"
"San, she's in a coma. You can't call her that." Brittany said sternly.
"But, Britt! She's – "
"You cannot call her a bitch. So stop."
Santana pouted and sunk back into her chair. She couldn't believe she was being blackmailed by a comatose Rachel Berry.