Hi guys! Thanks for all your reviews on Chapter 10. I really enjoyed reading them. I hope those of you who watched Glee last night enjoyed it, or at least enjoyed Finchel-less Glee as much as one can. Enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to keep going!
Chapter 11: Sectionals
Rachel sat in her room working on her homework when her phone rang. She looked at the Caller ID and saw that it was Rupert. She picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Rachel, this is Rupert," Rupert said.
"Hi," Rachel said.
"I was calling to ask, would you be able to perform on the 22nd?" Rupert asked. "Marissa's doing publicity for the tour that day..."
Rachel looked at the calendar. The 22nd was Finn's Sectionals. She couldn't perform that day. "I'm sorry. I can't. My husband's glee club has their Sectional competition that day."
Rupert sounded annoyed. "Rachel, is this even a priority for you?"
Of course it was. But Rachel remembered the days when Broadway was the only thing that defined her. She wasn't happy back in those days. Everyone hated her except her dads. "Yes, of course it is! On days where I'm on call, I'm always there. I'm always at rehearsals on time!"
"Well, why are you going to your husband's Sectionals instead of performing?" Rupert asked.
"Well, I want balance in my life," Rachel said. "I want to support him. He's an amazing leader, but he's nervous. And nothing is more important to me than my husband."
"This should be more important to you than your husband," Rupert said.
Rachel tried to resist the urge to yell at him. "I'm sorry, but I'm not performing on the 22nd."
x
With Sectionals so soon, Finn was getting more and more nervous. He'd seen the videos of the glee club from School for the Performing Arts practicing online and they were good. Really good.
Kids needed to audition to get that school, and Finn was coaching a glee club at a regular school. But he needed to act confident. These kids were depending on him.
At least they didn't have to worry about a setlist since Finn had decided to have them use their three best songs from the musical as their setlist. He sat down at the desk as the students began filing in.
She came in. Ariana. Finn looked at her. "We were sorry that you didn't show up for any performances for the musical."
"Well, I don't see the point in wasting my energy on swaying in the background," Ariana snapped.
"Hey, don't say that," a voice said. Finn turned and saw Caitlin. "Everyone needs to do their part. And maybe you're not a star yet, but you're only a freshman. You might get there, some day."
Finn felt a strong reminder of Rachel. He knew Caitlin had the talent and ambition and love of the spotlight that Rachel had, but this was the first time he'd seen that she also had the leadership qualities Rachel had.
"Yeah," Finn said. "You never know, you could be a soloist, one day."
Ariana groaned, but at least she didn't complain. Finn saw that just about everyone was here by now. "Okay guys, now if we want to beat School of the Performing Arts at Sectionals, we're going to have to bring our A game."
"Finn, do you think we have a chance at winning?" Mark asked. "I mean, people need to try out to get into that school..."
"Yeah," Scott added. "That glee club probably has a million Caitlins, but with the volume turned up."
"Hey!" Caitlin protested.
"One Caitlin is enough to make us a real threat," Josh said.
"Thank you," Caitlin said.
"Yes," Finn said. "I don't want to hear anything about how you don't think we're good enough because I know that you are good enough. You guys sold out every performance of The Sound of Music. The audience was on their feet. When I first started in New Directions, nobody thought we were worth anything, but we went to Nationals and we won. And we are going to go to Sectionals and we are going to win."
The glee club forced smiles. Finn tried to be encouraging, but he was nervous himself, and he knew they all were. "Now, I want you guys to run over your setlist with me. Let's start off with the duet."
x
"How was rehearsal?" Blaine asked as Finn got home. Blaine and Sam were playing xbox in the living room, while Kurt and Santana were sitting on the couch, reading Vogue.
"Well, I think they sound good," Finn said. "I just wish they'd get some more confidence. I know they're worried, but worrying too much isn't going to help them at Sectionals."
"Well, if anyone can make a team good, it's you," Kurt said. "I mean, New Directions only started working after you joined."
Finn smiled. "Thanks." He looked around the apartment. "Where's our friend who invited herself to move in?"
"Harmony's at Callbacks," Sam said. "Hopefully she'll stay there for a long, long time. I don't know why you guys put up with her."
"Well, I don't enjoy having her here," Santana said.
"You should tell her to start paying or move out," Sam said. "The original thing was a few weeks, and she doesn't even seem to actively be looking for a new place."
"Maybe that's what we should do," Blaine admitted. "This has been going on for a while now..."
"Yeah, it has," Finn agreed. "Hey, where's Rachel?"
"Rachel's sleeping," Kurt said. "She wasn't feeling well, so she went to go take a nap."
Rachel wasn't feeling well again? When WAS Rachel feeling well these days? "What did she say?"
"She didn't say much," Kurt said. "She just said she was feeling tired and nauseous, so she wanted to go rest."
Finn went to his and Rachel's room. Rachel was in the bed, under the covers, and Finn felt so worried. He sat down next to her and poked her. "Rach?"
Rachel rolled over and gave Finn a small smile. "Hey baby."
Finn kissed Rachel's forehead. "Baby, are you okay?"
Rachel shrugged. "I'm fine, don't worry."
But Finn was worried. Rachel had been throwing up. She'd complained about being sore. She was taking naps at odd times of day. "Rach, I think you're coming down with something."
"I'm fine," Rachel said. "Don't worry so much."
It was hard not to worry. "I'm going to call a doctor," Finn said.
x
"Finn, I really don't think this is necessary," Rachel said as she sat on the operating table at the hospital.
"Yes, it is," Finn said. "You're tired, you're throwing up all the time, your appetite's changed, you complain about being sore, you have less and less energy. This is necessary."
Rachel lay back on the table. She knew there was no use in arguing with Finn. When he made up his mind about something, his mind was made up. He was the one who'd made the doctor's appointment and dragged her here.
"You could be sick," Finn continued.
"Well, flu season is starting up," Rachel said. "I'm sure it's just the flu. Besides, shouldn't you be focusing on Sectionals? They are tomorrow. Caitlin really wants to get into NYADA..."
"We already had rehearsal, remember?" Finn said, kissing Rachel on the cheek.
Rachel returned the kiss as the doctor came in. "Hi, Rachel?"
"Yes, I'm Rachel," Rachel said. "This is my husband, Finn."
"Hi," Finn said, shaking hands with the doctor. "Thanks for agreeing to see her."
"It's no problem," the doctor said. "So, what's going on here?"
"Rachel hasn't been feeling well lately," Finn said. "She's doesn't have much energy, she's been throwing up a lot and she's been complaining of being sore."
"Yeah, like he said," Rachel said. "I'm pretty sure it's just the flu though. Or a virus of some kind."
"Okay," the doctor said. "I'm going to do some tests on you and we'll see how things go, okay?"
"Okay," Rachel agreed. She didn't think this was necessary to begin with, but if the doctor told Finn that this was normal and that she was okay, then she had a feeling that Finn would stop worrying.
The doctor took Rachel's temperature and blood pressure, both of which came back normal. The doctor then asked Rachel to do a blood test and a urine test, both of which made her nervous, but Finn was adamant that she take both tests. Rachel did the urine test, but when the doctor came back in with the needles for the blood test, Rachel felt herself tensing up. Needles made her nervous. "Do I have to do the blood test?"
"Do it, Rachel," Finn said. "We'll find out what's exactly going on if we take as many tests as possible."
Rachel gulped. "Okay." All this trouble for what was more than likely a flu or an ordinary virus? It seemed too much to Rachel. The doctor put the needle in Rachel's arm and took some blood, and Rachel gulped as she held Finn's hand tight. Finally, the doctor took the needle out of Rachel's arm. "There you go."
"She looks like she's okay, right?" Finn asked nervously.
"Yeah, she seems to be," the doctor said. "I don't think you two have anything to worry about. "We're just going to run some tests and then we'll call you two to let you know, okay?"
"Okay," Finn said. "Thank you." He held out his hand and helped Rachel down from the table.
"Do you feel better now?" Rachel asked Finn.
"I've just been so worried about you," Finn said.
"Finn, don't worry about me," Rachel said. "Worry about Sectionals."
x
Today was it. Sectionals.
As Finn sat backstage with the glee club, he was reminded of his first ever Sectionals. How originally he wasn't going to be there because he was angry about what happened with Puck and Quinn. How Mr. Schue came to him and told him that the setlist had been stolen. How he went back and told the glee club about how they had to do this and gave them a new number.
Okay, maybe there wasn't as much drama this time. But Finn felt pressure riding on his shoulders. This was the first time he had a competition as an actual director, not as a substitute. And even at the competition where he'd been the substitute, things hadn't gone well. After Marley fainted, the glee club was disqualified for leaving the stage.
Finn sat with his students as the glee club that was their main competition performed. Finn had to admit - he knew why the kids were worried. These kids were good. So many of these kids were like Rachel, Santana, Mercedes, Kurt, Blaine and Caitlin all rolled into one. Finn didn't even recognize the songs they were singing - could it be that they wrote their own songs, too?
Finn sent Rachel a text. "Do you think we have a shot?"
Rachel texted back. "I know you do."
At least Rachel had confidence. Finn brought the glee club backstage as the School for the Performing Arts was finishing their final number. "Okay guys, this is it," Finn told the group. "I don't want to hear about how good they were, because you guys are going to be even better." He tried to think of Mr. Schue's pep talks and think of the best thing to say. "You were great at the show. You were great at the school performances. You've been great in practices. Go out there and nail these songs. I know you can."
The MC announced the group, and Josh and Caitlin stepped on stage for the duet.
Caitlin: Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth
For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Josh: For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
Caitlin: So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Caitlin and Josh: Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
Caitlin: So somewhere in my youth
Josh: Or childhood
Josh and Caitlin: I must have done something something good
Finn thought the duet sounded even better than it had in the musical. The rest of the group came on stage for the second group number
Caitlin: Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
Choral Inspiration: When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Miranda: Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Bridget: Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Mark: Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Scott: Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Rebecca: Silver white winters that melt into springs
Choral Inspiration: These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Two numbers down, one to go. Finn was sure if this number sounded good enough, they would have a shot at winning.
Josh: Edelweiss... Edelweiss...
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever...
Edelweiss... Edelweiss...
Bless my homeland forever...
Choral Inspiration: Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever...
Edelweiss... Edelweiss...
Bless my homeland forever...
At the end of the performance, Finn felt so proud of the kids. He looked on the stage and saw that they all looked so happy, and then he looked at the audience to see them on their feet. This had to be a good thing, right?
After the last group performed, all participating teams were called on stage for the winner to be announced. Finn pretended to be stretching so his arms were over his ears when they announced the winner, but then he saw his glee kids cheering, and the MC came over and handed him a trophy.
He'd done it.
He'd led his glee club to a Sectional victory.
SONGS: Something Good, My Favorite Things and Edelweiss from The Sound of Music
Chapter 12 preview: The gang celebrates Thanksgiving in New York, and New Directions has their Sectionals. Rachel hears back from the doctor.
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