Numinous Chapter 10: The Family Business: Pt III, a glee fanfic

Rachel stared up into the night sky. The vast canvas of black unfurled like a sail, peppered with bursts of light every so often. Blaine and her had spread a sleeping bag out on the lawn when they were growing up, shoulders touching as they just talked about everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes their fathers would crash the party, Leroy bringing some of his famous iced tea while Tony recited the tale of Hercules or whatever Greek myth caught his fancy.

Now I don't have anything left but memories.

Shivering slightly in the still air, Rachel wrapped her arms around herself.

Is that why you've convinced yourself to hunt? Because you need to forget that you don't have a family anymore?

Her brow furrowed as she listened to the sounds filtering in from the Roadhouse. Abigail had kindly offered her bar to continue the mini-Glee reunion Santana had thrown together for Blaine's service. Seeing everyone again had been good, Rachel thought, more than good. These people had helped shape what she was today, had known her brother and her family just as well. They had memories of Blaine and her fathers that they could share with her, could help keep their memory alive even when she wasn't around.

Could tell her that she didn't arrive into this world without anyone.

'You always did like looking at stars,' Sam's voice didn't surprise her and Rachel gave him a tight smile when he settled down onto the bench beside her. 'Still wish you had let me name one after you. It would have been awesome.'

Rachel's lips twitched at his words. They had been together for a year in high school and Santana had apparently brainwashed Sam into making some kind of grandiose gesture to prove his worth. Rachel had of course found out and put a stop to that nonsense at once, insisting that she didn't need a ball of gas to know that Sam loved her deeply. He had ended up conspiring with her fathers and building her a telescope, that sat centerstage on the small balcony of the apartment she shared with Santana.

'Thanks for coming. I know it must have been difficult-'

'Rach,' Sam interrupted firmly, his fingers tugging her ear. 'Don't even start, alright?'

Rachel nodded mutely, her hands squeezing her arms harder. She felt Sam gently pry her fingers loose, his warm hands covering her smaller ones.

She had been so steadfast that she wouldn't cry in front of anyone today, that she would be strong for herself and for Blaine. But Sam's touch broke that feeble wall of resistance and the tears started and just wouldn't stop. Wordlessly the blonde man cradled her into his arms, not bothering to whisper meaningless platitudes into her ear.

'I want him to come back Sam,' Rachel whispered harshly, the words sticking to her throat and hanging in the air like a noose.

'I know baby.'

'I want my b-brother.'

'Hey,' Sam said quietly, hooking her chin up with his finger. His face was blurred but Rachel soon found herself staring into stark blue eyes, ones that she had always taken comfort from. 'You remember what Blaine said after Dad and Daddy?'

She wanted to laugh till her sides felt like they were on fire.

'That they wouldn't ever leave us because they would always be in our hearts,' she finally managed to choke out, fresh moisture gathering in her eyes.

'Blaine's always gonna be with us Ray, especially with you. He taught you about music, about what it was really about. Every time you hear a song, every time you open your mouth to sing, that's you keeping Blaine alive,' Sam told her gently, fingers combing through her hair.

Rachel wanted desperately to tell Sam that evil had taken her brother away from her, an evil that she had never before thought to comprehend. Rachel had readily told Santana because the Latina was like a sister to her, had helped her through everything. But seeing the ignorance still in Sam's eyes, the innocence that she wanted him to hold onto, she held her tongue.

Instead she leaned her forehead against his, let their breaths mingle together for a moment.

Someone cleared his throat before speaking.

'Err…Satan told me to come get you,' Puck's voice sounded uncomfortable.

'Give us a sec man,' Sam answered and Rachel squeezed her eyes shut as Puck's boots scuffed against the wooden floor.

When his lips found hers Rachel didn't resist, instead angling herself to deepen the kiss. It was familiar, the butterflies taking flight inside her stomach, the way Sam's lips were always a bit chapped. There was no heat sliding down her spine though, none of the electricity that had always made her want to press herself closer to him.

'I love you, you know that?' Sam said and Rachel nodded, understanding what he meant. He would always be the boy she had loved first, just as she was the same for him. What was left was a platonic love, the kind that consoled and soothed the gaping hole in her heart.

'I love you too,' she told him, meaning it. He smiled at her, grasped her hand as she stood up. Taking one last look at the heavens she twined their fingers together before entering the bar, rubbing away the tears that remained on her face.

Puck leaned against the counter, passed his eyes over Rachel and Sam's joined hands. Something inside him rebelled at the sight but he shook his head, turned back to the tumbler of whiskey his mother had poured for him. Rachel flittered over towards Kurt, who Puck learned had been Blaine's boyfriend, saw the way the two of them clung more than embraced.

'Puckerman,' Santana said, a bottle of beer in her hand. 'Glad to know you can follow instructions.'

'What the fuck ever Satan,' Puck rolled his eyes, smirking to take away the sting in his words. 'Broke up the lovebirds outside just like you asked.'

'Lovebirds?' Santana questioned, raising an eyebrow at his tone. 'Oh. I see.' The woman grinned, patting him on the arm.

'They used to draw hearts at each other once upon a time,' she remarked casually, taking a pull of her beer. 'Made me feel like I was in a damn Disney movie. Fucking nauseating shit. If they weren't so adorable, I would have thrown a slushy in their face.'

'Huh,' was all Puck had to say, telling himself that Santana's words had nothing to do with why he wanted to skull the thumb of amber liquid in front of him.

'Totally the best sex she ever had too,' Santana left with that parting shot, weaving her way through the crowd to get to Rachel. Making sure Lopez had her back turned to him, Puck downed the shot while noting the way Rachel let Sam touch her however much he wanted.

'What the hell's wrong with you?' Dean arrived at his elbow.

'Nothing,' Puck muttered, turning to face the other man and spotting Sam over Dean's shoulder, lips curved at something Finn or Bekah had said.

'So we caught a case up at Lake Manitoc,' Dean said. 'Drownings. Figured may as well let Sam let his anger out on something useful.'

Puck wasn't sure whether he was supposed to hear that last part.

'We'll head out once this is over,' Dean continued, leaning both his elbows back against the bar. 'You sure about this?'

Dean gestured at Rachel and Puck glanced at the older Winchester out of the corner of his eye, placed the glass tumbler down before speaking. He chose his words carefully, wanting to gauge their impact on Dean.

'When I was four my father died in a fire. A house fire.'

The barely there wince, the thinning of the lips – that was all Puck needed to know.

'Look Winchester, John told me what he's been doing. I figure we have something in common.'

'Really? I thought I was the good-lookin' one out of the both of us,' Dean murmured weakly.

'That girl right there?' Puck looked at Rachel. 'She's got that same thing in common too.'

'That why your Mum's taken her under your wing?'

'Mostly,' Puck shrugged carelessly, spinning the empty glass between his hands.

'Just to be clear this doesn't mean we're partners or some shit like that.'

Puck cocked an incredulous brow at Dean. 'Fuck man, we barely know each other. Barbequing a Wendigo isn't a rite of passage.'

'Good. So long as we're clear.' A pause. 'But yeah if I don't have time to kick some ass, I'll give you a call.'

'Show them how a real hunter takes care of business you mean,' Puck retorted dryly. Dean rolled his eyes.

'Mash up, mash up, mash up!' Mike and Matt started chanting, Tina and Mercedes pushing Santana and a feebly protesting Rachel to a makeshift stage.

'Fine assholes,' Santana shouted over the din. Who knew seven people could make that much fucking noise? Puck wondered how his mother was able to ignore the noise upstairs. 'Name your piece Rutherford.'

'Start me up,' Sam sang.

'Livin' on a Prayer!' Matt finished in a deep baritone.

'I cannot believe these guys actually know each other so well because of show choir,' Bekah commented, joining Puck and Dean. Finn and Sam hung at her back, both aiming their gaze towards the four women.

'Aww man! Seriously?' Dean whined.

'The only songs he knows are the ones on his cassette tapes,' Sam informed Puck at his inquiring look.

'Cassette tapes? What are you, old?' Bekah scoffed, earning a scowl from Dean.

'Yo peanut gallery. Shut your traps so we can tear the roof of this place,' Santana shouted and Dean's scowl fled away to be replaced by a more neutral expression.

Right…

Girls:
Start me up
Start me up

Rachel:
Oooh Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck
It's tough
Oh so tough.

There was something different about the way Rachel was singing, a shade more intense than when she sang at the auditorium earlier.

Tina:
Oh we gotta

Girls:
Hold on

Tina:
Ready or not

Rachel:
You live for the fight when that's all that you got

Girls:
Start me up
We're halfway there
Oooh