AN: Thank you so much for your response to the last chapter, I'm glad you have been enjoying the drama... here's some more.

They'd been driving aimlessly down the dark streets of Lima for around thirty minutes when they passed it.

'Hummel & Hudson Auto Repair'.

Quinn's free hand was still encased in Rachel's, their fingers tangled comfortably, and she felt the grip tighten as they drove by the shop. The lights were still on but Rachel couldn't see anyone inside; her eyes stayed trained on the building, head turning to keep watching – as though Finn would come racing out after them at any second.

If he knew she was back in town she had no doubt that he would do something like that.

As the car swerved she realized she'd been caught staring… and Quinn was turning around.

"Quinn?"

In the dim glow of the streetlights Rachel saw Quinn's jaw tighten briefly and then she smiled tightly, like it physically hurt her to try. "Do you want to see him?"

After the painful confession earlier the last thing on Rachel's mind was Finn Hudson. Beyond that she knew that look on Quinn's face - not jealousy but a cool indifference that Rachel recognized to be as fake as Judy's smile earlier. She hadn't seen that expression in a long time and it hurt to see it flare up again. "I don't – It's probably Burt, and that might be awkward. It'll be awkward anyway; maybe we should just head back? I won't deny that I'm curious, but tomorrow… " God the funeral was in the morning; she didn't need Finn making a mess before that, or at all.

She would probably always remember the last time she saw him in high school as really being the last time she saw him or felt anything for him. Singing 'Bright Lights' to her in the auditorium, so hopeful that she'd stay or come back. She'd been swept up in her love for him and it wasn't until a couple of years later, after their final break-up, that she'd felt offended at the implication that the 'bright lights' might not receive her. Actually, once she was separated from him for a few months she started to think back on their little love affair and had been appalled at more than one thing that had gone on. She'd been so caught up in the romance and drama of dating Finn. Their back and forth relationship, to her, had been just like Ross and Rachel from Friends - fitting since she was named after Rachel Green. It had taken her a solid year to realize, much to her horror, how much she'd changed while attached to Finn's side.

She was worried seeing him again would bring up more bad memories than good, and more worried what their reunion would do to Quinn. Rachel was concerned that, given their current situation, it would be the final straw. She was desperate to keep Quinn feeling in control, because Rachel didn't know what she was going to do when she finally broke down. It was looming over them, and as much as she wanted it for Quinn so she could heal, she wasn't sure what it would look like. Would Quinn get angry and put a hole in the wall? Would she shut down completely and lock herself in a bathroom for hours?

She just didn't know.

Quinn wasn't a crier; she buried things. Rachel had seen it over and over. At least she never cried in public, only every now and then would a tear escape - but it was rare. She liked to think that Quinn didn't have much to cry over anymore, that she was happier now than she'd ever been, but she wished that those barriers would come down when they needed to - so she could get past them and be there for Quinn. Just once she'd like to be the hero. She wanted to be Quinn's hero just like Quinn was hers.

Finn Hudson was not going to help her in that endeavor.

Not that she could imagine, anyway.

As they pulled a stop outside the shop Rachel wasn't sure what to do. Quinn had turned the car off and continued to stare out the windshield. She hadn't let go of her hand, but Rachel felt like they were miles apart as she studied Quinn's profile.

"Quinn?" she said softly, feeling out what she could say to make this better.

"Rachel, you don't want to look back on this and regret not going in there. I know you, and you will be unhappy that you didn't. You need to, even if it's only for the sake of closure. When you talk about Finn I can hear the frustration in your voice. I think you should do this." Quinn sighed and gestured at the shop. "So let's go."

"You don't want to, and I don't want to upset you," Rachel all but whispered. Her stomach twisted at the sad smile that crept across Quinn's face. "It's not a big deal, we can just go."

"Rachel Berry, I'm not going to let you bow out of something that you want, for me. I'm not going to be that person. You want to do this - it's all over your face - and I refuse to be the reason you don't. Yeah, it sucks because he's probably going to say something stupid, but I'll get over it."

Rachel closed her eyes tightly and bounced her head off the headrest. She hated this, and hated it more because Quinn was right. She did want to see Finn; she wanted to talk to him and show him how happy she was, how successful, and she wanted him to know that she'd done it without him.

Closure.

"I love you so much," she said, opening her eyes to stare directly at Quinn. "Especially for this. I'll be fast, okay? I'm not exactly thrilled with him either, but I do need to do this... and I appreciate that you are being accepting of that."

"If I haven't made it clear yet, Rach, there's not a whole hell of a lot that I wouldn't do for you."

Nodding, Rachel squeezed the fingers in her hand and sighed shakily when Quinn lifted their hands and kissed her knuckles softly, then let go.

"Let's go see how Captain Amazing is doing," Rachel said boldly.

She grabbed Quinn's hand again as soon as they exited the car and held it firmly, needing the solid contact. Quinn stayed a step behind, letting her lead the charge and Rachel wasn't sure if she should be grateful for that or not. Straightening up and pulling back her shoulders she took a couple of deep breaths and pushed open the door to the auto shop.

It was brightly lit inside, and reeked of oil and car. Exactly the same as it had been when she'd spent time there with Finn, all those years ago, handing him various tools and trying to pay attention to whatever he was saying about the vehicle as he worked. She'd never really understood much about cars, or the tools used to work on them. She still panicked when lights came on in her dashboard and had never changed a tire in her life, but Finn had seemed at home in his coveralls, smeared with grease.

In the corner sat a small iHome, blasting out old rock hits and a smile snuck across her face at how predictable it was. Finn and his classic rock addiction.

She heard him before she saw him and knew that it wasn't Burt just from his voice.

They stepped around the back of an old Taurus and sure enough, bent over the engine block was Finn Hudson.

"You put your left foot out keep it all in place... Work your way right into my case." Finn stood up, completely lost in singing into his fake microphone, eyes closed. "First you try to bed me you make..." He faltered as he opened his eyes and saw Rachel and Quinn staring at him. Quinn's eyebrow arched towards her hairline and Rachel tried to cover her grin with her fingers. "Rachel?"

"Hello, Finn." Rachel said politely and squeezed Quinn's fingers.

"I always knew you'd come back," Finn said with that same dopey grin. "You look great."

"You're working a little late, aren't you?" Rachel gestured around the empty garage and smiled.

"Oh, nah, I'm usually here after hours. It's nice, just me and the cars. I lost track of time I guess." He started to reach for her, like he was going to touch her hair, but pulled back when he saw her hand linked with Quinn's. His forehead furrowed for a moment and Rachel felt Quinn tense. "Hey, Quinn, it's nice to see you too. Well not because of the circumstances… I'm sorry about your Dad."

Quinn stared at him, somewhat incredulously Rachel thought, and then nodded slowly. "Thank you. I'm going to go wait in the car, okay? You guys have catching up to do."

"Quinn?" Rachel didn't like this idea, and she definitely didn't like the cold feeling that crept up her arm when Quinn let go of her hand.

"It's fine, Rachel."

Finn didn't even watch Quinn leave, he just leaned against the Taurus and smirked. "So what brings you back to Lima? I mean, I know why Quinn's back."

Rachel resisted the urge to rub at her forehead and clasped her hands together on her stomach instead. "I actually came with her."

"Oh," he wiped at his chin, smudging some grease over his boyish features. "That's nice of you. I didn't know you two kept in contact."

"We didn't exactly. She moved to New York and we ran into each other."

"Cool, I guess. So you're in town for awhile?"

"Over the weekend - we're flying out Monday morning." Her fingers started to fiddle with each other and suddenly found her shoes extremely interesting.

"Maybe tomorrow we could get some dinner or something? Really catch up?"

"That's - that's not a good idea, Finn, I'm sorry. I need to be here for Quinn." Rachel said, forcing herself to look him in the eye when she said it. The disappointment on his face didn't last long; it was swiftly replaced with something that looked sadly like hope.

"Not even just for dinner? I'd bring you right back. Feels kind of wrong to meet up again and not spend some more time together." He squinted at her, and then leaned back. "You're seeing someone."

She nodded and took another deep, calming breath. "Yes, I am. I'm with Quinn."

"What does that have to do..." he jumped away from the car in shock. "You're with Quinn? With with Quinn?"

Nodding again she smiled and stilled her hands, remembering running into Quinn at Starbucks. Going to her office the first time, the bar, their first kiss. "Yes."

"For how long?" Finn asked, the shocked expression on his face ruining her trip down memory lane.

"Nearly a year."

"Are you pulling my leg or something? I mean, I expected you to move on, I did, but with Quinn?"

She didn't like the way he said Quinn's name, and she bristled at the tone. "No. No, Finn, I am not 'pulling your leg'. Quinn and I are together; she's my girlfriend. A wonderful girlfriend, and I came back to Lima with her because her father died and I would never leave her to come back to that alone." She gave him a pointed glare. "She brought me to see you because she thought I might want to say hello."

Finn swayed in place and wiped at his face again, further spreading greasy gunk over his bristly jaw. "I think I need to sit down." He fumbled behind himself and wheeled forward a stool. "You've changed."

"Were you honestly expecting me not to?"

"No," he shook his head as he dropped down onto the stool. "I knew you would. Just, not like this. I'm not judging, I swear. I've always, always, remembered you as my Rachel, ya know? This is way different." He waved his hand in the air. "We were... so perfect together, and Quinn was - well she was Quinn. It's hard to imagine you together. I mean, what do you see in her? Not to be mean, or anything, I really want to know."

"We were perfect together?" Rachel started to laugh and stopped herself awkwardly. "That's your response?" She closed her eyes and sighed hard through her nose. Composure, keep your composure. "Finn, you never respected me. I've had years to think over this - think over us. I wonder sometimes if you ever really liked me at all, of if you'd just come to the conclusion that I was the only person for you to date in McKinley. That one seems most accurate, considering you left me behind when you got to college and there were more options. You thought I was the only way out of McKinley, Finn. As for what I see in Quinn? I don't much feel like explaining that to you. I don't have to do that, and I'm not going to."

She was fully prepared to whirl around and execute her now infamous diva storm-out when Finn leapt up from his stool, toppling it in the process, and gently gripped her biceps.

"Shit, Rachel, wait. I didn't mean to piss you off, I promise. I'm a simple guy, you know, not stupid or anything, but simple and I was curious - that's all. I'm happy that you're happy. Really. Maybe High School Finn would've been jealous, or whatever, kicked over a chair."

Rachel snorted and pointed at the sad stool sitting on the floor with a wheel still rolling lazily.

He grinned and shrugged his broad shoulders. "I'm not that guy anymore, any more than you're that girl. I'm glad that you found someone who's good to you. Hopefully better than I was."

All of her energy left her with his words, and her shoulders sagged as she put her head into her hands. "No, I'm sorry. I'm on edge; being back hasn't been a dream. It was nice to see you, Finn, and maybe we could email each other when I'm home? I should get back to Quinn."

"Yeah, of course." He patted at the pockets of his coveralls. "It was nice to see you too, and Quinn for the few seconds she was in here. I, uh, didn't mean to upset her. I'd love to keep contact. Let me get my card. You may want to write the email though, I may not be that guy anymore, but I do still write like a sixteen year old boy."

"Okay." Rachel smiled and waited while he darted to the nearest counter. "Thanks, Finn."

"Sure!"

When Rachel got back to the car her smile faltered along with her steady stride. Quinn was staring out the driver's side window, her face a stoic mask. She opened the door only to be met with silence. No radio, nothing. Just silence.

"Quinn?"

"Yes?"

Verbal response, that was good. Buckling her seat belt Rachel decided to avoid the topic of Finn, for now. "I think, maybe... we could stay with my Dad's tonight."

A muscle twitched in Quinn's jaw, but she nodded shortly.

Relief flooded Rachel as she dragged her purse up from the floor and pulled free her cell phone. The last thing she wanted for either of them was a night in the Fabray house. "Let me call my Dad and let him know."

"Rachel?"

"Hm?"

"The suit case is still at my Mom's."

Rachel almost dropped the phone.

TBC...