Ok, I can explain my hiatus. I actually had this chapter written two months ago, however what I wrote...didn't satisfy me and it bothered me. So I completely re-wrote it. Thus the delay. Plus, add in school and life. So, to my readers, I'm SO VERY SORRY DON'T KILL ME. :D
Without further delay, enjoy :)
Rachel remembered putting her hands on Quinn, but after that her mind went completely blank. She couldn't hear, see or smell anything. At least until she felt herself falling. Her eyes shot open from the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes saw nothing but darkness before tree limbs flooded her vision. She didn't have much time to wonder why trees where flying past her before she landed with a hard thud.
Fuck Rachel cursed as she groaned. While the fall hadn't been too hard, it still stung the small woman's back. Carefully she rolled over onto all fours and stood up. She turned in a circle observing where she was. She seemed into be in the middle of a forest, but she was almost completely certain she was in Quinn's subconscious. She felt something warm drip down her hand and looked down. The cut that the Seer had made was still there and was dripping towards the ground. Well, shit. What do I do now?
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"Thank you, but I would rather you not die. Not today, not ever," Sonya stated as she squeezed the blonde's hand reassuringly.
Quinn shrugged, "There won't be anyone coming to my rescue. Why should I fight it?"
Sonya dropped her brow, "Why would you not fight for life? Do you not have faith anymore?"
"Faith is a lie…" Quinn snorted, amused.
Sonya frowned, "You don't sound like the woman I knew. You don't even have faith in Love anymore?"
Quinn sighed, "It's not that I don't have faith in Love. I've just been without it for centuries. Do you know how lonely that is? Every day I hoped I'd come across your soul once again…but it never happened. I think….I've stopped looking."
Sonya brought her hand up and rested it on the blonde's shoulder, "I can't begin to say that I understand what you went through, but weren't you the one who said Love was one of the strongest forces in existence earlier? Yes, I know you didn't remember….but somewhere inside of you…you still believe it. It's in here," she tapped the side of Quinn's temple, "that's giving you the problem. You don't want to believe in it. You're scared."
Quinn looked away. Sonya had always been able to read her like a book.
The dark haired woman continued on, "You need to free yourself. Let Love touch you again, and you'll find yourself in a beautiful place once more. In here," she pressed her hand over Quinn's heart, "is where you need to unlock yourself. I'm just a memory…I'm not the real thing. If you die, you won't be here with me because I will cease to exist…just as you will."
Quinn didn't want to hear any of this. She couldn't help but be amused at herself for her stubbornness even at the face of death. Here, her true love, was begging her to live and to fall in love again. Quinn took a deep shuddering breath. Why was it so hard for her? The blonde wrapped her arms around Sonya's waist and pulled her flush against her body. "You ask the impossible."
"It's not impossible…you just must let it happen."
A lone tear traveled down a pale cheek. "I don't know if I can…"
"You can," Sonya whispered before standing on the tip of her toes to press a soft kiss on the blonde's lips. Quinn sighed and pressed her lips harder against the brunette's. However, in her mind's eye she imagined a different brunette kissing her. It wasn't Sonya who she held in her arms. She paused, mid kiss, and pulled away from Sonya shocked. I…no I can't…but she's not...is she?
Sonya smiled sadly, "See….I told you, you could do it." She looked down at her hands that were slowly becoming transparent.
"Wait, what's happening to you?" Quinn quickly took a step towards the other woman worry etched all over her features.
Sonya began to answer when she paused. She tilted her head to the side before smiling and looking to the left of her. Quinn followed her gaze and dropped her mouth open in shock when Rachel stepped out of the foliage.
Rachel had heard some low talking in the distance, so she had picked a direction and hoped she would find the allusive blonde. She stepped past the tree line onto an old well used trail; sure enough, in the middle stood Quinn looking straight at her. She looked upset. Rachel couldn't keep the frown off her own face.
Quinn whispered disbelieving, "Rachel?"
Rachel took another step towards the other woman, "Yeah, it's me Quinn…"
Sonya smiled and walked near Rachel. She walked around the short brunette sizing her up, "So this is her? The one you were thinking about?"
"Wait, what are you doing?" Quinn asked Sonya.
Rachel frowned, "Quinn, I'm not doing anything but standing here. I'm here to help you…"
Hazel eyes jumped from Rachel to Sonya and then back again. She was confused, "Rachel, you don't see her?"
Sonya let the two women have their little conversation. She looked down at her arm; it was slowly fading away. She didn't have much time left. The more time Quinn spent talking to Rachel, the more she could feel herself being let go. Finally she thought peacefully.
Rachel looked around the open area but saw no one but her and Quinn, "Quinn, I have no idea what you're talking about. It's just you and me here…who do you see?"
Quinn darted her eyes between the two women in front of her and was speechless. What the hell was going on here?
Sonya chuckled and spoke up finally, "She can't see me Quinn. She is not a part of your mind or memory like I am. She can't see something that she has never met or known."
Quinn turned to Rachel who was standing there waiting for an answer, "I…ummm…there's someone from my past, my memories, here with me. I was talking to her."
Rachel raised her eyebrow, "I know you think I don't understand, but I completely get the whole talking to yourself thing…"
"But I'm not talking to my- "
"- It's ok really. Maybe she can help…does she know a way out of here?"
Sonya shook her head when curious hazel eyes met hers, "That is not something that I know how to do. However, I have no doubt your Rachel will find a way to save you." She stepped closer to Quinn and eyed her knowingly, "Your mind sent you here to help protect you. I came here to help you move on from my memory. However, she…" she motioned towards Rachel who was just standing there feeling a bit awkward, "…she's the one who is here to save you. There are still things that I can't tell you. Things that you must figure out on your own…but just know your future is connected to hers."
Quinn was just completely confused. Everything that came out of Sonya's mouth seemed to confuse her more and more. On top of that, a dull throbbing was appearing behind her hyper sensitive eyes.
Sonya took a step away from Quinn and approached Rachel once more, "My time here is done, but remember….I'm not truly gone…just in a new place," Sonya sent a wink to the silent blonde and stepped into Rachel, disappearing completely into the petite brunette.
Quinn looked over at the confused brunette and cocked her head to the side. Brown eyes slowly shifted into blue. Quinn blinked quickly, but when she focused again the blue eyes where chocolate once more. Her hazel eyes trailed all over Rachel's face, as if searching for something. The more she stared at Rachel's face the more she swore she could see Sonya's face reflecting back at her. Impossible she thought before shaking her head causing the image of Sonya to disappear.
"Quinn, does she know a way out?" Rachel asked quietly impatiently.
The warrior grimaced as her headache returned with a vengeance, "No…she said that you would know…"
Rachel sighed, "Why does everyone assume I have the answer?"
"Are you telling me you came here to save me, yet you don't know how to get out of here?" Incredulous hazel eyes pierced chocolate ones.
Rachel scratched her head, "It wasn't like that…I mean…this stuff doesn't come with an instruction manual you know. Saving you…that was kind of an impulse type thing…" she blushed and looked away.
Quinn's eyes softened and she walked closer toward the still woman, "Sorry, that came out wrong. I'm grateful really. I'm sure we can figure out a way out of…" Quinn scrunched up her face and closed her eyes as the throbbing behind her eyes intensified.
Rachel narrowed her eyes at Quinn's facial expressions, "What's wrong?"
"I…just have a headache is all…" the blonde dropped to her knees as one particularly painful pulse exploded in her mind, sending electricity all over her body. Rachel gasped and quickly kneeled down and tried to hold the taller woman up the best she could.
" Just a headache my ass!" the brunette exclaimed, "Don't give me that crap. Tell me what's really the matter."
Quinn struggled to open her eyes, "Sonya said…I've been here, in my head, for too long…"
"And what does that mean?" she asked anyways even though deep down she already knew the answer.
"I'm dying…" Quinn's breathing started to become labored.
Instinctively, Rachel reached out and cupped Quinn's pale cheeks, "Come on Quinn, stay here with me. We can find a way out of here. We just need to hurry, ok?" the smaller woman couldn't stop the fear in her voice even as she tried to reassure her protector.
Defeated Hazel eyes looked up at the brunette and it terrified the smaller woman, "It's ok. Santana can protect you…"
"Quinn, you're delirious. You don't know what you're saying…" tears prickled the back of Rachel's eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat trying to keep them at bay.
Quinn could feel her heart start to slow down. Naturally, she should be scared but looking up at Rachel…she felt at peace. A part of her realized that it was most likely because Rachel or at least part of Rachel was Sonya, however the other, very large, part realized that she was at peace because it was simply Rachel. Just Rachel. Unfortunately, the blonde knew she wouldn't get the chance to even deal with her hidden feelings for the infuriating human in front of her. That thought alone caused a pang of regret to reverberate in her mind.
"Beautiful…" Quinn whispered in a pain laced voice.
Rachel stopped short and blinked thinking she had heard wrong, "What…"
"You…always been…" Hazel eyes shimmered with warmth before slowly shutting closed. Rachel felt the blonde's body relax and go limp. The blonde's wings dropped with a soft thud and Rachel pulled her into her lap. She didn't even bother wiping away the tears that were now flowing freely down her face.
"Quinn…open your eyes!" Rachel slapped the fallen woman's cheek lightly. Still with no reply, she slapped her a little harder.
"Quinn, come on! You can't leave me like that," she sniffled, "Leave it to you to call me beautiful and die." She chuckled dryly.
She looked down at her hand that was still dripping with blood. She stared at the bright red liquid as it traveled down her forearm before dripping onto Quinn's chest. Her blood Rachel…mix it with yours! A voice that sounded mysteriously like her doppelganger rang in the recesses of her mind. Quickly, she looked around looking for something sharp. Fortunately, she was able to grab a jagged rock. With a quick silent apology to the warrior, she took a deep breath and grabbed Quinn's hand and dug the sharpest edge into her skin, pressing hard until blood started to seep out of the new wound. She quickly pressed her cut palm against Quinn's bleeding hand. Instantly, warmth shot up her injured arm and up her body to her skull. Heat warmed the back of her neck and her equilibrium was shot to hell. She didn't even feel when her body fell backwards to the forest floor.
Review please? I'd love you forever :) Let me know what you think!
I don't know when I'll be able to update next, but hopefully my muse is coming back and I'll be able to crank out another chapter sometime soon. Please hang in there with me :)