AN- Okay so two chapters in one day, I just couldn't stop ... I hope you like... Erm... yes... Don't hate me please?... The plain bold speeches are as if a sports announcer is saying it over a radio, and as always the bold italics are extracts from Quinn's novel. - R xx
"And there will be no joy for the Titans tonight, as they have lost the state champions. Sue Sylvester is the picture of a broken woman, and you have to wonder if an opportunity will ever come around like this for a small town team such as the McKinley High Titans. There are tears, and there are questions, starting with what got into Fabray, they've got a lot of explaining to do.. No doubt about it, hearts are breaking for the Titans tonight."
Sue sighed as she slammed her hand down on the old tape machine. Why did she even keep the tape from her first ever state championship game. She was taunting herself, but she needed to, to make sure that her girls won today, that her team won, and to make the Titans proud. She sat in her LeCar. She climbed out and looked around at the stadium, before the bus pulled up beside her, followed by Rachel, Santana and Quinn in the Latina's car. As the soccer girls and cheerio's piled out of the bus she lead the team to their changing rooms, as the Cheerio's went to warm up the crowds piling into the stadium. Brittany quickly kissed Santana's cheek before leading Rachel away from the girls, who followed behind their teammates, and Quinn getting the worst possible sight in her entire life.
"He's here…" She whispered grabbing Santana's arm and pointing her in the direction of Russell talking to the Cornell scout.
"Want me to go Lima Height's on his ass?" She smirked as she rolled up the sleeves of her letterman jacket. Quinn shook her head pulling the girl away from the sight, a feeling of hatred stirring in her stomach.
"Let's go Titans! Let's go!" the cheers from the Cheerio's echoing into the locker room.
The girls all sat around nervous, Quinn not having said anything since Russell 's appearance.
"Let's go Titans! Let's go!" The cheers growing louder as the crowds began joining in.
Sue looked around at the girls, and for a woman of many words, she had nothing to say.
"Let's go…" She nodded as the team got up, and made their way out onto the pitch, for what would be the most eventful game of their high school soccer career.
A whistle, and the game was off. The Titans taking possession of the ball instantly. Santana dribbling down the field toward Quinn, who was too busy scanning the crowd, searching for Russell.
"Q! …" Santana called out unable to snap the girl from her daydream as she was tackled by a girl from the opposing team, hitting the ground with a thud. A penalty.
Quinn up for the shot, she looked at Russell, who was now pointing her out to the scout he was sat next to, most probably boasting about how she was a Fabray, and she was an amazing player. The ref signalled for the penalty to be put in play, and with a smirk Quinn reared backward, before booting the ball, so that it missed the goal entirely.
"What the frick!?" Santana yelled and Quinn shrugged apologetically as if it was a simple accident.
The first half was tough, every time Quinn managed to get the ball she was easily 'tackled' by the opposite team, but in reality she was giving the game away. She didn't want to win, not if Russell was going to boast about it, and say he was the reason she got a scholarship.
"Lopez has the ball, She's running down centre, Oh…. And she glides passed number 2, she's going for the shot, she shoots… She scores.. that's a goal for the Titan's…"
The announcer screamed as Santana ran around the pitch before blowing a kiss to Brittany and glaring at Quinn, who'd let another ball slip passed her 'unnoticed' allowing the other team to score.
Sue was screaming through her bullhorn trying to get Quinn's attention
"Don't be so sloppy Fabray! What is this… I could play better in my sleep" She yelled just as the whistle was blown for the end of the first half. Santana walked up to Quinn and shoulder barged her with such force the blonde jerking forward; Quinn growled and turned around to grab Santana but she was to slow, another team mate intercepting. Sue scowled as she lead the team back to the locker room. The crowd confused at what was happening, Russell stood up angrily, storming out of the stadium and going to his car, how could she be disgracing the Fabray name; was the only thought crossing his selfish mind.
"I have to say it's incredibly unfortunate how the Titans have come apart at the seams. After hanging together through one of the toughest sessions yet, for these players to fall this far is stunning. And the worst part of this is, for the best high school soccer there is, the best ever to lead the McKinley High Titans, you find yourself questioning Fabray's talent. To walk away from a game on these terms is shameful, it's a disgrace. Sue Sylvester is looking terribly tense, and you have to wonder if the team will ever bounce back from this low."
"That was over 18 years ago… Most of you weren't even born yet… And yet I didn't know that there would only be one chance to erase those words…. This chance.. The rest of your life is a long time… Trust me" Sue looked around at the team disappointed. "If you lose, you lose.. But don't lose this way! Playing selfish" She looked at Quinn "Bickering on the court…" She looked between Quinn and Santana now "I promise you… It will stay with you…" She shook her head allowing the girls to go and do what they want for the last five minutes of half-time.
"Look. I'm sorry. It just got to me. I saw him talking to a scout.. and it just made me so angry" Quinn walked over to Santana trying to explain what was going on in her mind. The Latina looked up and shook her head.
"So you're going to throw away everything… because of him.. That's low Q… even for you. You're not the only person on the team who wants a scholarship." She stood up and walked off.
Quinn went to follow the girl but was stopped when she heard a voice calling her name.
"Quinnie…?" Judy called out and the blonde turned around shocked.
"Mom… what are you doing here?"
"You haven't scored once…. Three – nil.. and the titans are losing..?" She shook her head "That isn't the Quinn Fabray I brought up" She replied sternly as if she was pretending to be Russell before she cracked her warm smile, the one Quinn last had seen many years ago when her mom was sober. "I'm here to support you sweetie, and I want you to know, that I am proud of you… No matter if you win or lose, but… I know you can win" She smiled and the blonde teen ran over holding the woman happily, that was exactly what she needed.
"Thank you mom" She whispered into the shorter woman's shoulder.
"Now go out there and win a state championship!"
"And this is the Quinn Fabray we've all been waiting to see" the announcer on the radio blared out of the speaker in Russell's car "The dream team that is Lopez/Fabray is back, scoring a further two goals for the Titan's and holding 80% possession of the ball in the past 35 minutes.. Meaning the Dalton Devils lead by 1 now. Fabray has really turned it around in the second half of the game, leading the team's comeback. So if you've stuck around you've been rewarded as Fabray is leading the Titans to what might be the greatest turn around, No the greatest match is State Championship history!" The man pulled over to the curb to listen to the rest of the game. A feeling of pride swelling in his heart.
Santana looked at Quinn, edging her head to the left as the ball was chipped over toward her, she nodded at Quinn, a signal for the blonde as she booted the ball over to her, the blonde tipping her head softly against the ball, pushing it into the goal as it slipped through the goalies fingers.
Santana smirked and held up a single finger to Quinn and the blonde copied the action, one more goal, and then it would all happen, the game would be theirs.
Sue called for a time out over her speaker and the referee allowed it.
"We have five minutes left…" she pulled the girls into a tight circle "You've made one hell of a comeback, you've played as a team… And even if we lose, it will be a moral victory" She looked around at Santana and Quinn who were shaking their heads "Now maybe that's okay with you. Maybe you want to look back and tell your grandkids about the state championship you almost won"
"No way coach.. We're winning this game!" Quinn interrupted "Right Lopez.."
"You tell me Q" She raised a brow at the blonde.
"We're winning this game…"
Sue smirked "That's what I wanted to hear… Now… Listen up…"
"It doesn't matter if you can't hit the shot" Santana whispered to herself before looking up at Quinn who nodded, they knew the game plan.
"You see… Numbers are a very funny thing. They can measure you, time you, analyse you all they want, but what really matters is how you play the game. I remember thinking this as I was running down the pitch, dribbling the ball between my feet. The Devils thought I was off my game, so they were playing me tight. First mistake. After I passed the midfielders, they would back off, because they didn't want to get confused by my dribble, and then I stopped the ball; and that's when the goalie locked eyes with the defender, planning to intercept as I scored. Second mistake. I took a half step back, just half. Launching toward me as my foot connects with the ball, a quick pass to Santana was all it took. Three defenders running toward me as the ball slid passed them to her, the Devils were fast; but Santana was faster, bringing her foot back she booted the ball, straight into the top right hand corner of the net. Just as the whistle blew.'
The whistle blew out, just as the ball volleyed against the back of the neck. Santana dropped to her knees as the crowd erupted in an echo of applause, the Cheerio's running onto the pitch. Brittany instantly finding Santana and pushing her onto the ground for a passionate kiss.
Rachel screamed, running from her place on the bleachers over to Quinn, the blonde spotting her a mile off as she ran toward her. Sue was stood around watching her team celebrate, taking it all in alone. She was finally a champion.
"This is a dream come true" she heard one of her team mates yell above the screams of the crowd.
"So who do you want standing next to you…" Quinn whispered Kurt's words to herself as Rachel finally stood in front of her.
"Nice shot.." She smiled
"Nice legs…" Quinn smirked before she pulled the girl into a tight hug, the blonde's mother waving over at her from the side-lines.
Rachel followed the blonde's gaze before pulling away "Well.. I'll be seeing you…" She pushed Quinn lightly toward her mother and Quinn began walking over to her mom.
"Rachel…" She called out turning around as she watched the girl celebrating with Santana and Brittany.
"Suddenly, it was as if the roar of the crowd, the echo of Coach Sue's voice and the cheers of my teammates were sounding from a thousand miles away. And what remained in that bizarre, muffled silence was only Rachel. The girl who's art, and passion, and beauty had changed my life. At that moment, my triumph was not a state championship; but simple clarity. The realization that we had always been meant for each other, and every instinct to the contrary had simply been a denial of the following truth. I was now, and always would be.. In love with Rachel Berry"
"It's you Rachel…" the blonde whispered as the gap between them closed again, faces pressed together as Quinn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear "When all my dreams come true, the one I want next to me… It's you Rachel…" the brunette looked up at the blonde confused, but she felt her heart beating faster in her chest as their lips pressed together in a passionate kiss.
When they finally broke Rachel giggled and stroked Quinn's cheek "Go…. I'll be waiting.."
As Quinn jogged over to her mom she smiled and hugged the woman who kept repeating how proud of her she was.
After the girls had showered and made their way out to Rachel and Judy who were both talking animatedly.
"Oh Quinnie she truly is a darling! Why haven't you introduced us sooner!" Judy cooed and Rachel blushed. "Santana dear Brittany had to leave on the bus but she said she would meet you back at school…" She smiled and looked at Quinn "Would you like to accompany me in the car Quinnie?"
The blonde looked between her girlfriend and best friend who both nodded.
"We will be fine Ellen, I won't kill the midget" She teased.
They quickly said goodbye and parted ways.
Rachel and Santana were driving down the empty street managing to skip the traffic as they couldn't find the Latina's beetle for ages. Once they finally found it they started on the road. Quinn was calling the pair, but Rachel's phone was dead.
"Santana… where's your phone?!" Rachel whined for the nth time.
Santana sighed "It's in my gym bag…" she pointed to the back of the car, where three different bags sat
"Which one is it…" She asked
Santana sighed again and quickly turned around since they were on a straight country lane, nothing was going to happen, She leaned backward finding the vibrating cell phone "Got it" She cheered and just as she turned back drove into a crossroad, a truck speeding past on the right hand side, colliding straight with Rachel's side of the car.
"Santana" Rachel screamed, a loud crash, a crunch, and then everything went black.
Brittany, Quinn, and Sue were all waiting for the two brunettes to return, now neither phone was going through and Quinn was panicking. After having waited for two hours Quinn told her mom to go home, and she'd meet her there, with Rachel for a celebratory dinner.
"Where are they?!" she paced up and down, not wanting to leave without Rachel.
"Q.. go. I have to stay until everyone is back, that's my job, as coach" Sue put her arm around the girl as Brittany's phone began ringing breaking the silence she walked off to answer the call.
Santana was sat up being checked by a paramedic as others were pulling Rachel out of the wreckage, the smaller girl's body limp.
"Are you okay?" A woman asked Santana who nodded weakly "What's your name…?"
"Lopez… Santana… Lo" the Latina fainted as she caught sight of Rachel the paramedic beside her quickly checking her pulse.
"We have a cardiac arrest over here.. Patient Santana Lopez… Call the parents." She called out as she began loading Santana onto a stretcher.
Brittany ran back to Quinn and the coach, her blue eyes pooling with tears.
"Quinn… There's been an accident.." Brittany could barely get the words out "It's bad Quinn… It's really bad Q…" She whispered, before Quinn was pulling her into a tight embrace, running to her car. As they switched it on and drove off toward the hospital, the commentary from their game echoing in the silence of the car, as it played over the radio.
"Time is running out now for Quinn Fabray, sure she's made her mistakes, but you get the sense that if this is how it ends, she's never going to forgive herself."
"This is my fault Britt.. I kept calling.. I kept calling I distracted them…"
"GOAL….And Santana Lopez is being swarmed. I wouldn't doubt it if they carried the kid out of here tonight and never bring her back…"
The stretcher with Santana passed out on it was being lifted into the ambulance, before the doors slammed shut, speeding off toward Lima General.
Back at the school Sue was stood in the centre of the parking lot, just as an ambulance rushed past, the sirens blaring in her ears, as her hand found her eyes, wiping a single tear that slipped down her cheek.
"And there in the centre of it all, is Sue Sylvester, standing alone taking it all in. The Titans are champions at last… And there's not a dry eye in the house.."