Here is your long awaited chapter 14. A special thank you to my dear friend Amber for helping me hash out some details for the rest of this story and inspiring me to write.

Thank you to the readers that are still with me. I promise I won't drop this story.

Enjoy :) Review please if you don't mind.

Something warm and wet was dripping down her forearm. That much she knew. Dark eyes blinked open slowly. A slight high pitch tone vibrated in her ear, canceling out any other sounds. It was suffocating. Her eyes tracked down her clenched hand where blood was dripping down onto the dirty earth floor. A white cloth invaded her vision and she watched, entranced, as it wiped up the bright red liquid before being pressed into her palm. She followed the arm up to meet concerned blue eyes. Brittany.

Rachel closed her eyes, taking a moment to focus. Slowly, she could hear Brittany calling her name, and the fire cackling from further away. She lifted her head up and off Quinn's metal breastplate. The blonde didn't seem any different from when she last saw her. Flashes of green, blonde hair, warm hazel eyes and dark blood zipped across the brunette's mind. However, she was still groggy and none of the memories were clear to her.

"Rachel?" Brittany slowly pressed her hand to her friends' shoulder. Rachel had been out for a good hour, and to Brittany that had felt like a lifetime.

Confused chocolate eyes turned to Brittany, "How," she cleared her throat, "…how long have I been out?"

"About an hour or so, but your wound started bleeding just a couple minutes ago. I'm not sure what caused it to reopen, but I've got some more clean cloth if it's not stopped yet…" Brittany leaned over and grabbed another rag from a pile she had gathered earlier.

Rachel looked back over to Quinn, "What about her? Has she woken up yet?"

Brittany just shook her head silently. They both knew the chances of Quinn recovering now were slim.

She couldn't remember everything, not yet, but she knew Quinn had to get better. After all that Rachel went through, how could she not get Quinn back? Fuck! Rachel frowned. If only she could remember everything, she could figure out what happened and if anything she did helped. At least…she would know for sure if she had failed her protector.

Rachel shook her head; it was pointless. If she could do nothing more, then at least she would be here watching over Quinn, keeping vigil. She sat up and tried to scoot over to the head of the pallet that the blonde was lying on, except dizziness over took her and she had to suppress a groan from escaping past her dry lips.

Still, the old woman heard her. The Seer quickly made a drought for the young woman to drink while Brittany and Santana held onto the brunette so she wouldn't fall over.

"Hey, take it easy…" Santana murmured gently while grasping her frail arm.

Rachel could only nod slightly in acknowledgement.

"You should know better to not move so soon after blood loss," the Seer chastised Rachel as she hobbled over carrying a small bowl, "Drink this, it will help…"

Rachel didn't have any fight in her to disagree. She took the bowl and drank to the last drop.

"What was in that?" Rachel asked trying to get the bitter taste off her tongue.

"I believe it best if you didn't know dear. It's something to help you sleep. You aren't like your companions and you need sleep to heal your body," the woman stated as she moved away and placed the empty bowl on the wooden table nearby.

Rachel's eyes hardened slightly, "Sleep? I won't leave her…Don't move me. I need to stay beside her."

A white eyebrow rose in curiosity, but she remained mute for a moment in contemplation. "Very well, I suppose it may help you relax and not fight the healing process. Santana, if you could, please grab that pile of furs and place them by your Commander?" she motioned somewhere across the cavern where Rachel couldn't see.

Santana stood quickly to the wise woman's bidding. She returned moments later and made a spot for the smaller woman. Rachel scooted over onto the soft layers; already asleep by the time her head hit the floor.

"Seer, that can't be comfortable for her…" Santana insisted eyeing the awkward position Rachel was in.

"Yes, I would agree but your charge has some feelings she needs to work out," she paused and eyed Santana knowingly, "…I would assume she may have some guilt to work through. She most likely blames herself for Quinn's condition and feels a need to never leave her side until she gets better. I honestly do not know if she'll get better though…" she trailed off.

Brittany sighed, "Is there nothing else we can do? I feel so helpless, I'm a doctor! I should be able to help."

"Perhaps if this were a normal situation, your knowledge would be helpful…but this is far from ordinary, child. Only time will tell if she will survive," the old woman croaked out before sitting down at her table. She would need to begin cooking for the evening meal soon.

Brittany walked over to Santana and laced her fingers with the tan skinned warrior, "She'll pull through right?"

At this point, Santana wasn't sure if Brittany was referring to Rachel or Quinn, "I really hope so. She's got a lot of people who care about her…" she rubbed her thumb over the blonde's knuckle and watched Rachel curl her body towards her long-time friend unconsciously.

XXXXXXX

Even in her dreams, Rachel couldn't find peace. It wasn't that she could recall what happened, in fact she couldn't, but the feeling shrouded everything else. Pure, unparalleled fear; she couldn't run from it, she couldn't hide from it, she couldn't see it, but she felt it. The hopelessness of the situation was the worst; never feeling as if there would be joy or happiness ever again. As if all the lights in the world went out, in one fell swoop and no matter how hard you tried, no matter how much you squinted to see just a tiny glimmer of something…anything…it was just empty.

Never had Rachel felt empty before. It wasn't the trivial feelings of depression that you knew would go away once you had a little time to adjust and think. No, this type settled into your bones with no possible escape; only acceptance.

Yet, accepting was the one thing Rachel didn't want to do. For some bizarre reason Rachel irrevocably knew what was causing this feeling; Quinn. Even while sleeping, she knew that Quinn had yet to wake up or simply make a gesture to show that she would be ok. So Rachel refused to accept that Quinn could be lost because a part of her realized that Quinn was her only hope at surviving this mess her life had become. Another, equally as large, part was angry with the tall woman. Still, Rachel didn't know why she felt that way either. Nothing gave her peace of mind and there was nothing she could do about it.

XXXXXXX

After they ate dinner that their gracious hostess made, Brittany and Santana didn't know what to do. The Seer was currently feeding Quinn some light broth left over from dinner and the large feline was napping, quite loudly, in the corner of the cavern. Not wanting to bother the quietness that had invaded the atmosphere, Santana grabbed Brittany's hand and lead her through a maze of tunnels until they reached an opening. She helped Brittany manage the piles of rocks littering the ground.

Once outside, they both inhaled a much needed breath of fresh air. Out here in the open world they were free from the somber mood that penetrated the air surrounding the unconscious blonde. It wasn't that they didn't care for Quinn, they just didn't know what to do and sometimes what you needed was to just breathe. They took a seat on a large flat rock nearby.

Brittany looked up towards the twinkling stars of the night sky. They were comforting. They looked so similar to how things looked on home, if only you ignored the bright blue sphere that tinted everything in a dull blue hue. Troubled blue eyes looked toward her companion only to be met by warm dark irises.

"You miss Earth…" Santana didn't even have to ask; merely state.

Brittany nodded slightly, "Of course, how can I not? Everything seemed so simple only a week ago. Now, I have no idea what tomorrow will bring and I feel as if I contribute nothing. I'm just a burden…"

"That's not true, you have many useful skills…" the dark skinned woman quickly responded.

"You heard the Seer, I have skills that are pointless right now!" Brittany turned her head away, disgust etched all over her features, "…I don't even know how to help my best friend. The only living family I have left."

Santana reached out her hand tilted the blonde's chin back toward her direction. Her gaze warmed further as her thumb lightly wiped away an angry tear as it worked its way down a pale cheek. "You will never be useless. You may not know the right thing to say to Rachel, but just being there for her is the best thing you can do for her right now," she paused to let that information absorb, "…and I'll do everything in my power to help you realize that you are capable of anything. You just need to put your mind to it. Do you understand me?"

The blonde nodded, a smile threatening to break through, "Thank you…"

Santana smiled bashfully, no response was needed.

A moment of silence took over as the women cuddled closer together and let their eyes roam over the barren environment.

"What happens if Quinn doesn't wake up?" Brittany whispered, letting her biggest fear be voiced.

Santana paused. What exactly would happen if that were the case? Never would she have thought that Quinn would be clinging to the last threads of life by a finger…yet here they were.

"I don't know. I suppose duty says I take over protecting Rachel. I promise you…" she looked over to show the blonde how sincere she was, "…I promise I will protect her. And you. No matter what comes at us. Still…I don't want that. She's my best friend…" she finished off in a heartbroken whisper.

In this moment both knew exactly what the other was feeling. It didn't take a special magic, or power, or connection. Both were scared and nervous for the future, but most of all they were terrified of losing the people they cared about the most.

Brittany reached over and placed her hand into the warrior's calloused palm in silent support. "I'm so happy I met you…"

Santana smiled shyly and tilted her head intimately toward the blonde, "…so am I. It almost feels like I've waited a lifetime."

The blonde couldn't help the girlish giggle from slipping past her lips.

A black eyebrow rose in question.

"I'm sorry…It's just…haven't you….you kind of did wait a lifetime?" Blue eyes filled with merriment.

The dark woman just shook her head and rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah…"

A loud rumbling sound interrupted the laughing women. Santana jumped up and reached for her sword hilt but was stilled by a light brush of fingertips on her arm.

Brittany grinned and pointed toward the cave entrance they just left, "Don't worry, it's just Nala."

Liquid amber eyes peeked just inside the dark entrance. Once Santana relaxed her stance, the large cat easily hopped up and out of the hole the two women had found. The feline landed with a soft thump and strode toward the friendly tall blonde who she found extremely friendly and kind. She couldn't stop the loud purring as nimble fingers threaded their way through her soft fur.

Still, Santana eyed the beast with caution.

Brittany giggled and whispered into Nala's cocked ear much to Santana's bewilderment.

Not a second later was the beast only inches from her face. Dark eyes widened in panic. The cat could easily bite her face cleanly off. Hot, putrid air brushed against her face. Instinctively, her eyes squinted to protect themselves. However, nothing could help her sense of smell. The cat showed its teeth and licked its front canines with its massive tongue.

Santana narrowed her eyes at the sign of dominance. No way in hell was she going to let an overgrown prehistoric cat dominate her.

Nala snorted at the dark woman's attempt at being fierce. She leaned closer and with her rough, wet tongue licked from the woman's chin to her hairline. Satisfied, she trotted back to Brittany.

Said blonde covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the warrior's incredulous expression.

Warm drool dripped slowly down the brunette's face. Disbelievingly, Santana brought her arm up to wipe the disgusting slime off her face. Her heightened hearing, not that she actually needed it, picked up on the muffled laughter.

"You think this is funny? Ohhh…why not let me show you how hilarious it is…" a wicked smile curved its way onto the brunette's face.

Blue eyes widened in panic; it was too late.

Next thing she knew the woman was above her wiping the excess saliva on her cheek. She struggled while screaming trying to escape but it was pointless. With a sigh, she stopped struggling and took her punishment. Still, it was so worth it to see the look on the warrior's face.

"Not so funny now is it?" Santana asked triumphantly.

"It was so worth it," Brittany replied breathlessly.

Santana leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on delicate lips, the drool be damned.

Nala butted her head lightly against the two women sprawled all over the ground. Didn't they know there was some petting to be done?

XXXXXXX

By the time Rachel awoke, Brittany and Santana had already fallen asleep. She eyed them a few feet away envious. Her best friend was cuddled into the dark skinned woman's body while being encased between two soft wings. She sat up and looked around but she couldn't find the Seer anywhere. Dismissing that fact, she turned and sat up on her knees to look down at her fallen warrior.

The memories continue to elude her but that could be furthest from her mind. All she wanted was to see deep hazel staring back at her once again. The more she stares at Quinn the more fragile the blonde looked. Where once a powerful, confident warrior stood proudly…a weak, broken woman took her place. Rachel couldn't help but feel guilty.

No matter how hard she tried to help, here she was again feeling as if it all was for not. What will she do without Quinn? She would assume that Quinn was the best warrior available, not to undermine Santana, but still. If Quinn died, even the word gives a painful squeeze to her heart, her life would surely be forfeit to whatever the Void wanted.

A light sheen of sweat coated the warrior's forehead. Rachel glanced around and found a bowl filled with water and a white cloth. She drenched the cloth in the cool liquid and dabbed it across the blonde's forehead in a vain attempt to cool her body.

Rachel's brow furrowed in thought.

What if Quinn never wakes up? She doesn't know if she could live with the guilt. If she had never been born, all of this…all the pain…would be gone. No one would be in danger and everyone would be happy. A tear silently streaked down her cheek; she didn't even bother wiping it away.

She hardly knew Quinn, but she knows she could have been kinder. Quinn was only trying to help her and look where it got her. The one person who would literally give their life for her, she treated horribly. Who did she think she was trying to tell Quinn how to do protect her? She didn't know anything about those types of things. If only she hadn't suggested picking up her things, they wouldn't have been out at night and wouldn't have been vulnerable.

It really was all her fault.

Absently mindedly, the petite woman knew she was wallowing in self-loathing but was helpless in stopping it. It was a slippery slope and she falling swiftly.

"Your thoughts are so negative I can sense them miles away," the Seer scolded.

Rachel jumped. She didn't hear the old woman enter. Quickly she brushed a few more tears off her face.

"It's nothing."

"Do not try that with me child. I know better, and so should you. What I find curious is how you believe that will help your protector?" the wise woman asked as she settled her body onto a sturdy wooden chair.

Silence answered her.

"I think, if our dear Quinn is to get better she must feel as if there's a reason to come back to the living. A reason to fight and survive, however, forgive me if I'm being blunt…but your thoughts are doing a horrid job at that," knowing eyes stared into chastised brown, "…I have a feeling that you must feel guilty. Surely, you must feel you inadvertently caused this by being who you are,"

Chocolate eyes met hers in surprise.

"You may choose to believe what you will and at the end of the day only you can decide how things will become, but I can assure you that to that woman lying right there," she gestured to the wounded blonde, "…and those two…" she nodded to the sleeping couple, "…you are not the cause of any of this. I have been around a very long time and I truly believe certain things happen for a reason. You are in the situation you are in because it was meant to be that way. Rachel Berry, you are stronger than you believe and once you realize that…it will do the lot of you wonders. Now, if you excuse me…these old bones do need to rest. I'm guessing you will watch over her till the morning?"

Rachel nodded.

The Seer stood up and made her way to a cot near the fire pit.

Rachel looked over Quinn's features and couldn't help but think how gorgeous the woman actually was. Even the scar that ran vertically down her right eye did nothing but add to the complexity that is her beauty. Strength, grace, endurance, confidence; that's everything that Quinn was, that she is. What the Seer said struck a chord in Rachel. Perhaps, maybe all of this did happen for a reason. She was supposed to meet Quinn. Her thoughts were hung up on that. If it was all for a reason, than maybe Quinn will wake up.

She might always feel guilty but she would try her hardest to help Quinn. To learn from this beautiful woman, to fight for things she believes in. And the only thing she does believe in at the moment is how much she wants Quinn to get better. If that wasn't something worth fighting for then she didn't know what was.

She cares for the warrior; that much is clear. She's entirely invested in Quinn's fate, just as much as she is in her own and perhaps that should bother her, but in this moment…staring at a helpless figure…she's very content with that.

Rachel vowed that she would do everything she could to help the blonde wake up. Whatever it takes, she'd do it. She had things to say to her protector when she woke up and she'd be damned if she was robbed of the chance.

What did you think? Please review, let's me know how I'm doing.