A/N: Thank for the fantastic continuing support of this rewrite, I really do appreciate it.
I couldn't believe that my 4 years at high school were nearly over, I was really starting to get excited about the future; all the plans Rach and I have for New York are set, our loft is currently being refurbished, with a thorough cleaning and new carpets in the bedrooms and the floorboards everywhere else polished. New blinds have also been installed as well as an extra-long bath/hot tub combo in mine and Rach's en-suite bathroom. Kurt and Rachel decided on the decorating plans ages ago and can't wait to get there. The four of us were busy at home sorting through our stuff and deciding what to take. I had left Rach at home with Dads one Saturday, while I went back to our old house that was still full of stuff Mom had no idea what to do with yet. I started in my closet, laughing at times about the memories surrounding me and chucking stuff for goodwill out the door making a huge pile in front of my bed.
Mom came in to see how I was going and picked up a little league baseball photo from when I was 6 that I had put in the keeping pile. Her eyes becoming wet as she remembered as well.
"I can't believe you are grown up Finn, this seems like only yesterday." and waves the photo in the air "I am so proud everything is happening for you, and so very happy you found Rachel, she is a beautiful girl and it's obvious she is very much in love with you and you with her. I -I um… want you to have this." She hands me a little black velvet box.
"MOM!"
"It's the ring your dad gave me when he proposed, I know that step isn't too far away for you two, and I know I can't give you much else, but I want you to have it. I know Rachel isn't the sort to demand something flashy or super expensive and would understand the personal significance of it, though you will most probably need to get it resized. I know it was one of the happiest moments in my life when he got down on his knee and promised to love me forever, our forever just happened to be cut short." She is openly crying now as am I.
I just pull her into my chest and hold her whispering "Thank you Mom, she will love it just like you do, hey just think it will be the beginning of a new branch of the Hudson family tree who will hear all about their grandfather Christopher with pride."
"OK enough with the tears." She sniffs and wiping her eyes says, let's get you sorted mister, our eyes meet and the special love that has sustained us over the years solidifies a bit more.
By the end of the day I have finally sorted my stuff and have about 15 boxes to take, mostly clothes, music, books and trophies, plus laptop, drum kit and stereo. The rest I have bagged and boxed some for delivery to goodwill others to stay with mom, and a couple of bags for the trash. I took a short break and grabbed my phone to call Rach and see how she is doing. "Hey, baby" I said in a soft voice,
"Hi Finn, and as soon as Rach spoke I noticed something in her voice that bothered me.
"Babe what's wrong? Has something happened? I'm on my way OK. " I got up looking for my keys.
"It's just I got another message, I didn't open it though, and I miss you."
"I'm on my way right now baby, I love you."
"I love you too Finn see you soon."
"Mom I'm going to Rach's she got another message and is upset." I yell as I rush down the stairs.
"Ok, honey call if you need us."
Rachel is waiting at the door and opens it the minute my truck rumbles into her driveway.
"Baby, are you ok"? I ask as she jumps into my arms her legs tightening around my waist.
"Oh, baby it was another message, I thought they stopped" she says shakily and pushes her face into my neck."
"Let's go inside and we'll deal with it together."
She nods and I carry her into the house, my arms wrapped around her holding her tight against my chest. Hiram and Leroy are in the kitchen when we walk in the door worried frowns on their faces, as they acknowledge my nod of greeting. I untangle myself from my petite girlfriend and pick up her phone from the breakfast bar.
I retrieve the latest message that reads, YOUR FUTURE ISN'T WORTH LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU WON'T HAVE ONE, HA, HA.
I show Dads with an angry look, before turning to Rach and with a softer voice saying, "Don't worry Rach nothing is going to get in the way of our future together, this crazy bitch can send all the stupid messages she wants, but it won't make me leave you ever. I don't want you to pay any attention to this shit ok Rach?"
"Ok Finny." she says in a small voice and hugs me a bit tighter.
xxxx
The Friday a week before the senior prom, Rachel and Kurt are on their way to their voice lesson when she receives a text message from Finn asking her to meet him under the bleachers at the football field because he has a surprise for her, but because it's a surprise not to tell anyone. But Rachel being such an excitable person, can't contain her joy at the thought of a surprise, as she has always loved them ever since she was little.
"Oooh, Kurt look Finn has a surprize for me and wants me to meet him at the football field. Oh, my man is so romantic, I'll see you later Kurt OK!"
Just as excited Kurt hugs his friend "Ok Rachel have fun and make sure I get all the juicy details, before Cedes or Tina, K?"
They part with a promise and a happy wave from Rachel.
Rachel is waiting and looking around for Finn, she turns when she hears footsteps "Finn, baby? Mmphh..." The last thing she sees is a blurry figure in a red and white McKinley letterman jacket, before a whack to the head, knocks her out and she falls unconscious to the ground.
Rachel slowly wakes groggy and disorientated, slumped in a corner against a cold brick wall, a pounding headache making her feel like vomiting every time she moves. The concrete floor in a filthy cellar or storeroom the concrete floor covered in dirt, trash and piles of what looks like old broken wooden packing cases. Her hands bound so tightly with something hard that pinches her skin every time she moves. She tries to call out but her voice is muffled by a nasty tasting coth shoved in her mouth.
As her eyes accustom to the low light she can detect a person sitting in a straight-backed chair. Suddenly she is blinded by a spotlight angled right at her face, then the last voice she ever expected to hear….
"Hello Manhands, I would say it was nice to see you but that would be lying."
As soon as Rachel hears the voice she is on alert, she manages to stretch her arms to remove the gag to stutter out "Q-Quinn w-what are you doing, what do you want?"
"You really aren't very smart at all are you hmm? You know exactly what I want and with you out of the way for good I will get him back, and be on top again."
Stunned at the other girl's words Rachel tries to think. "Are you really prepared to kill me just for a prom crown?" She is extremely scared but is going to be brave; Finn would want her to be. "You sent me that text message, didn't you? How did you get Finn's phone?"
"I borrowed it from his bag today at school I knew he wouldn't mind he is such a thoughtful boyfriend like that."
"What are you going to do? Please don't hurt Finn."
"Don't worry your little dwarf head about it, I'm not going to hurt Finn I'm going to make him popular again so this year I will win queen at prom and nothing will stop me getting my crown.
"Quinn, he doesn't want that, he wants more from life than popularity in high school."
"SHUT YOUR LYING MOUTH BERRY, I AM SICK OF HEARING YOUR WHINY VOICE, I KNOW WHAT FINN WANTS AND NEEDS, HE NEEDS ME TO BRING HIM BACK UP FROM LOSERVILE, WHERE YOU DRAGGED HIM, MAKING HIM CHEAT ON ME, BUT I KNOW HE WILL COME TO HIS SENSES. AND WHEN YOU ARE GONE FROM HIS LIFE FOR GOOD, HE AND I WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE OUR LIFE WHERE HE BELONGS, HERE IN LIMA IT WILL ALL BE WONDERFUL AND AS IT SHOULD BE."
She is panting heavily, after the tirade of nonsense she just spewed out, and Rachel was trying to think of something to do to get herself out of the dangerous situation she was in. Quinn had clearly gone insane; her whole body was shaking and her green eyes seemed to be glowing.
"Quinn can we please just talk calmly about this, you don't want to do anything drastic and unforgivable, do you?"
"NO Manhands we can't! I think you have had long enough playing with MY Finn's emotions and you need to be taught a lesson about playing with things that are way out of your hobbit league. You know Finn doesn't really love you, don't you? How could he huh? You're just an ugly, bossy, going nowhere BITCH. He's just been using you as a bit of fun, there's nothing about you anyway that would attract a popular guy like My Finn."
Rachel has silent tears spilling down her face mixing with the dust and the blood she can feel trickling down the side of her face. She knows nothing Quinn is saying about her and Finn is true, Rachel knows deep down he is in love with her and only her. She can feel the steel tether that joins them give her strength to live through this ordeal and get back to Finn's strong loving arms, and nothing especially not an insane, ranting Quinn Fabray will break it.
xxxx
Extremely worried, about Rachel, Finn starts to panic slightly, because he can't find her anywhere, and it's nearly 9pm, plus the fact his phone has somehow gotten lost, so he can't even call her, he has been driving around town for hours desperately trying to think of any place she might be. Fortunately, he spots Kurt outside the Library and pulls over to talk to him, his tone filled with worry.
"Hey Kurt you were with Rach since singing lessons, let out, right?"
"Hi Finn, yes until she told me you messaged her and she was going to meet you, at the football field."
My face falls and Kurt slaps a hand over his mouth and gasps.
"Oh my god Finn do you think something has happened to her, where could she be?"
"Kurt man, calm down and tell me everything you know please."
"Ok, well umm, she was with me, because you had your fitness class with Beiste, um…"
I nod waiting for him to speak.
"We were on our way to our voice class, but I got a call to say it was cancelled today because the teacher was sick, so instead she and I were on our way to our house to um, just hang out till you got there…"
I nod again in understanding "Well where do you think she might have gone between then and now, I've been by her place but her Dads are working late tonight, and leaving early to go to Cincinnati, so she was staying with us anyway, and wouldn't have needed to go there? What time did she say I messaged her?"
"It was about 4:30 she said you sent her a message telling her to meet you at the football field because you had a special secret surprise for her and not to tell anyone else about it, but you know our Rachel she couldn't hold in her excitement."
"Kurt can I borrow your phone please?"
"Yeah, yeah sure where's yours?" He passes his phone to me with a shaky hand.
"No idea I must've lost it at school somewhere today." I press number 3 on speed dial with a trembling finger and wait nervously for Rachel to pick up. "Come on baby pick up, please Rach just pick up the damned phone. I know the police haven't been able to stop the messages and shit, but there's got to be something that can be done in these situations, it's psychological danger it's just as bad as physical harm. God, Kurt if anything bad happens to Rach, I-I don't know what I will do, I can't be without her man."
"We will find her Finn, don't worry." Kurt is nodding his head and biting his finger nails with worry, trying to calm his brother down as well as himself, hoping the tiny diva they all love is ok.
xxxx
Quinn was still taunting Rachel about the things she imagines are wrong with her and how, once Finn's mind had been cleared of all the Berry nonsense he will be so much happier,
"Because you must know Manhands, he and I are meant for each other, our status in school was the deciding factor, Oh, I know he thinks he loves you, but I can and will change his mind. He can be the manager of the Tire store, I know it's not a prestigious position but let's be realistic, there's not much else can he do. I mean he is a bit slow sometimes, and I really don't believe he would be able to get out of Lima anyway. But my job as an exclusive real estate sales representative will balance it all out, and before long he will ever forget he ever went so low as to think he loved YOU!" she says with a sneer.
Even though she was terrified of what Quinn might do, Rachel wasn't going to let her continue to play the wronged sad girl and blame her for her problems, or get the better of her, and continue to think it was okay to behave so badly. So, she decided to tell Quinn Fabray a few home truths.
"You're wrong Quinn, Finn honestly is in love with me and I don't understand why you are being so awful to me and so determined to win the prom queen crown it is only supposed to be a bit of fun, it won't matter once we graduate that you did, and it surely won't guarantee success at college or the real world. I believe in and love him, and know that he is more than just a tire mechanic, he is smart and I know he is going to do amazing things after college and will be the best at whatever he chooses, I believe in him, unlike you who just used him to be popular. He has bigger dreams than Lima Ohio, he and I are going to share them together, and even if you kill me Quinn he will never be yours or love you, he is not a robot you can just program to do what you want, you know it is impossible to make someone love you if they don't. Finn and I have a deep and true connection, and if you really loved him like you keep saying you do, you would want him to be happy and step back so he can be with someone he truly loves. He obviously wasn't happy with you otherwise you two would still be togeth…."
Suddenly Quinn's hand lashes out, and slaps Rachel across the face so hard it knocks her over and makes her head spin from hitting the wall. While Rachel tries to readjust herself into a somewhat comfortable sitting position Quinn is screaming her voice taking on a manic tone.
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP YOU ARE LYING, YOU BITCH, FINN DOES LOVE ME I WANT HIM TO" as she is yelling Rachel notices her eyes becoming glassy and taking on a wild insane look.
While Rachel was trying to get her dizzy head to calm down so she could focus, Quinn had from somewhere picked up a hand gun, and was pointing it at Rachel with trembling hands. Now positive Quinn really did want her dead, Rachel closed her eyes for a minute, praying Finn can hear her silent message, and how much she loves him and she is sorry for hurting him.
"You know nothing about Finn and me; it was perfect until you poked your big ugly nose into our business. Now I'm going to finish the job I started with the car last year. Goodbye - Hobbit, W-What was that noise?" BANG! …
xxxx
I tried calling Rachel a couple more times getting more distressed each time she didn't answer. I then had an idea and with my voice rising with hope asked my brother, "Hey Kurt, does your phone have a GPS tracker dude? Can it trace Rach's signal?"
''Yeah, I'm pretty sure it can let me try." I handed it back and let him do his thing; not sure how to do much more than call text and take photos, and not interested with all the other stuff it could do.
"YES! I've got her" he squeals after a few minutes, turning the phone my way and showing me the little map with a blinking green arrow on the tiny screen.
"Great job man thanks, we need to call Det. Jackson to meet us there, Ok, you call him Kurt and I'll drive"
Kurt nods and turns to his phone to do as requested. We jumped into my truck and took off at speed, praying we would get to Rach in time. Det. Jackson said he would meet us at the address Kurt relayed, but to please be very careful until he got there.
10 minutes later me, Kurt and Det. Jackson and a couple of other officers are outside an abandoned shop building in a rundown section of town.
"Finn, I don't want you to do anything reckless, just find out where Rachel is if possible, but under no circumstance confront the kidnapper until we know the situation OK!"
I nodded at Det. Jackson and took off around the back with Kurt close on my heels quietly creeping around to find an entry; I noticed a light under a weathered door at the rear of the building, and sent Kurt back to let the police know. While he was gone I slowly, and prayed the door doesn't squeak, push it open, just enough to see Quinn Fabray's back, her shaky right arm pointing a gun at Rachel, my heart jumping in my chest when I spot Rachel with bound hands slumped in the corner, blood running down her head. I don't want to surprise Quinn, just let Rachel know I'm there, somehow through our tether our eyes connect and I move a finger holding up the charm on my necklace to my lips. Rachel nods slightly as not to draw the blonde's attention to an intruder. As I move stealthily further in, a noise from outside startles Quinn, she spins around to find the source of the noise, but panics and her unsteady hand trembles causing her finger to pull the trigger.
"RACH, BABY MOVE!" I frantically holler at her.
She does, just a second too late and the bullet lodges in her left shoulder just under her collarbone.
"NO, NO, BABY…RACH!"
I throw myself across the short distance to scoop Rachel into my arms tears pouring down my face, running a shaky hand down her cheek, clutching her to me screaming at Quinn.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER YOU CRAZY BITCH. Rach baby please, I love you please be ok, please don't leave me, I can't be me without you, please baby."
"F-Finny? Hi, I knew you would hear me… I'm OK I think." Rach mumbles.
Before the police can storm the room, I have Rach sat against the wall trying to stop the bleeding with my shirt. Quinn has recovered from her trance but is still pointing the gun at Rachel.
"Move away Finn you don't need her to bring you down."
I stand and move towards Quinn putting myself as a shield in front of Rachel, and trying to talk Quinn into dropping the gun. "Not happening Quinn, just put the gun down and we can talk about things."
"NO! Finn, I have to get rid of her, you won't truly be mine while she is here."
Rachel has managed to pull herself up and stumble over to my side, I try to put my arm around her. Quinn notices and with a still unsteady hand has the gun again pointed at Rachel, but she is trembling and squeezes the trigger causing the gun to go off again. I pushed Rachel behind me mindful of her wounded shoulder. Thankfully this time Quinn misses her intended target, instead her erratic action caused the bullet to lodge in my upper right arm, making me stagger and trip over the debris covering the floor.
Rachel screamed and lunged at Quinn with a plank of wood gripped in her still bound hands.
"LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HIM, DO YOU REALLY THINK HE WILL WANT TO BE WITH YOU NOW HUH?"
The plank connected with Quinn's arm that was holding the gun, causing her to drop it to the floor with a loud clatter. At that very moment, the police rush in and quickly handcuff Quinn. Rachel stumbles over to me lifting my head up and kissing my lips, tears streaming down both our faces.
"Baby I thought I'd lost you, I was so scared I might never see you again, I didn't know what happened to you."
"Oh, Finn I was terrified, but when she shot you my world collapsed, I can't live without you, I love you so much."
"Me either Rach, I love you too so, so much".
Our lips connected again, thankful it was all over now.
An ambulance officer loaded us both in an ambulance but just before the doors closed we both saw standing between Det. Jackson and a female officer, Quinn Fabray watching us with an empty look in her eyes, her face a blank mask showing no emotion what so ever. I held Rach as close as possible and pressed my lips against her forehead. Then gave the blonde no more thought as I was more concerned with Rachel and what had happened tonight.
Arriving at the hospital, Rach and I were taken to get our wounds seen to apparently, we were very lucky both were clean wounds with the bullet going straight through. Rach also needed a couple of stiches to close the cut on the side of her head from when she was knocked out. Her wrists were bruised and sore from the cable ties but ok.
Mom, Burt and Dads were very distressed and anxiously waiting to see we were ok. It was about 1am when we left the hospital and arrived home, with instructions to take pain killers and not over do things Rach was clinging to my hand the whole drive home. Dads made us a cup of hot milk and we got into bed after a quick shower to get rid of the dried blood and grime from the night's events. We spent the night cuddled as close to one another as possible as though the other was going to disappear. The next morning found us stiff and sore but very happy to be out of danger and the threat of losing each other over.
~XxxX~
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please review.