Unexpected Life Chapter 13: Just a Dream, a glee fanfic

*I guess I am trying to make up for the two weeks that I didn't upload, but here is another chapter. The song is Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood which I do not own. Also, I would like to say thank you to all of my reviewers. I'm sorry that I don't personally reply to each of your reviews, but I do want you to know that I really appreciate them*

Rachel

The warm water soothed her tired skin. She was working part time at the diner on the corner and it felt so nice to wash the smell of greasy cheeseburgers off her skin. Trying to clear her head, a song began to fill her mind. Without realizing what she was doing, she began to sing.

It was two weeks after the day she turned eighteen
All dressed in white
Going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat
Sixpence in a shoe, something borrowed, something blue
And when the church doors opened up wide
She put her veil down
Trying to hide the tears
Oh she just couldn't believe it
She heard trumpets from the military band
And the flowers fell out of her hand

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go?
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

The preacher man said let us bow our heads and pray
Lord please lift his soul, and heal this hurt
Then the congregation all stood up and sang the saddest song that she ever heard
Then they handed her a folded up flag
And she held on to all she had left of him
Oh, and what could have been
And then the guns rang one last shot
And it felt like a bullet in her heart

Oh,
Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go?
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
Oh, now I'll never know
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Rachel collapsed after she sang the last note. The tears were falling hard down her face and she couldn't stop shaking. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her. If anything happened to Finn, they would let Carole know and she would call Rachel. There was nothing to worry about. She picked herself up off the shower floor and dried her eyes.

When she emerged from the bathroom Kurt and Santana were huddled on the couch watching the news. "Since when do the two of you watch the news?"

Kurt was biting his nails, which was so not like him. Rachel took a seat next to Santana and realized why he looked worried. There was a video showing the wreckage of a bombing in Iraq near the Syrian border. Rachel was so focused on the footage that only certain words like 'devastating' and 'tragedy' were able to seep through to her consciousness.

Her mind started reeling as the words from the song returned. Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now. Her hand reached for Santana's, "You don't think…"

Santana shook her head, "I bet Finn's fine. How many thousands of troops do we have over there? Seriously, what are the odds that he happened to be a part of this mess?"

Kurt didn't seem comforted, "You heard what they said, San. There were only a handful of survivors and they are all in critical condition. What if he was there?"

Rachel ran back to the bathroom and vomited. The tears were falling again and this time she couldn't stop them. She knew that the chances of Finn being a part of that squadron were low, but there was still a chance. She was joined by both Kurt and Santana. They sat there on the bathroom floor, not speaking, just thinking about the events they saw and what it could possibly mean for Finn.

Carole

Burt hadn't changed the channel since they first showed the bombing, just in case they had anything new to report. Carole's nerves were frayed and she hadn't been able to sleep since she heard. She expected a visit or a call telling her that her son was dead. She considered calling Kurt and Rachel, but she didn't want to worry them. She was probably overreacting, but she couldn't help it.

The phone ringing caused Carole to freeze. It could be anyone, she kept reminding herself. She just stared at the phone, unable to answer it. Finally, she picked up the receiver. Her hand was shaking so bad that it almost didn't make it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Carole? It's Kurt."

Relief flooded through her, "Oh thank god. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I was just calling to check on you. Have you seen the news?"

She closed her eyes and tried to keep her voice steady, "Yes I have."

"Do you think he's okay?" The pain in his voice almost broke her, but she needed to be strong for Kurt and for Rachel, who no doubt would be there with him waiting for any news.

"Yes I do. We don't know that he was anywhere near the bombing. For all we know he could be in his barracks right now and we can be worrying over nothing."

"I know, I just feel so helpless."

She knew that he would probably scoff at her idea, but she really did think it might help, "You want to help? Maybe you should pray for those soldiers who did die in that explosion and for the few who were lucky enough to make it out of there alive."

She heard his breath catch as he processed her words, "You know how I feel about that, but I will let Rachel know. I guess it couldn't hurt."

She smiled and went to answer him when the other line started to beep in her ear, "Honey, someone is trying to call in. I'll call you if I get any information on Finn. Tell Rachel not to worry too much or she could lose the baby. I love you guys."

"Love you too Carole. Tell my dad hi for me."

"Will do kiddo." She pushed the flash button, "Hello?"

"May I speak to Mrs. Hudson-Hummel?"

Her stomach clenched, "This is Major Phillips. I'm calling in regards to your son Finn Hudson."