A/N - I managed to write this chapter really fast and then thought I should hold back and not post to see if I would get more reviews. But then I realized it was stupid t do so and I should post it and dedicate it to all the readers who have left reviews. Thanks for them and for those who asked for the next chapter, this is for you.

Anyway, when I said slow burn, I really did mean it although 10 chapters is long enough I guess :)...

My Future In Your Hands

I just want to start again,

And maybe you could show me how to try,

And maybe you could take me in,

Underneath your skin

Celine Dion

They're back at square one when Rachel wakes up, uncomfortable with each other although reluctant to go back to not being friends. Quinn hovers in the background reluctant to leave although knowing that Rachel hasn't really acknowledged her presence. She wants to repeat her speech although she isn't that brave and holds her tongue instead, just happy that she hasn't lost Rachel as she looks at the nurse take her vitals, noting that they're all in the normal range.

She was sure that she had been dreaming, words that made her feel warm and safe, a voice that anchored her and gave her courage. When she woke, all she saw was Quinn's head, sprawled on the side of her bed, their hands clasped together.

It all comes rushing back, their fight last week and the hurtful words. Rachel had spent the whole week fueled by anger and an underlying feeling of pain that she could not explain. She endured the scheduled treatments sniping at Tony and Marcie whenever they tried to ask her why Quinn wasn't there.

It confused her even further when Dr. Bonner had called to tell her that Quinn's final proposed dosages of the last drug and radiation plan was perfect and she was lucky to have such a dedicated doctor looking after her and who spent most of the week working on it. Memories of Quinn's hateful words and the imprint of Karofsky's attack on her are mixed with the sting on her hand from slapping Quinn. Rachel can't explain any of it. Why Quinn was still working on her case and why she had told her about egging Karofsky on.

What she could not deny was the rush of happiness flowing through her when she had first seen Quinn in her room. She did not move, instead just holding on to Quinn's hand until the morning nurse had come in. Quinn had awaken then, a look of trepidation on her face as she let go of Rachel's hand and stepped to the back of the room, trying to blend into the background as she took note of all the readings, the nurse had been taking.

Quinn can feel her time running out and she knows she needs to do this, to take a chance that Rachel's heart is still as big and forgiving as before. "Rachel." The name falls from her lips, sounding like a plea, an invocation as she steps forward.

"Rachel, great news, Dr Drew says if you're feeling up to it, I can take you home." Tony sees Quinn standing there, her hands in her pockets, as Rachel looks at him and then back to Quinn. "Oh." He's normally more verbose but then Rachel is too except for right now as she's looking back and forth between him and Quinn, no words coming out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry Rachel, I should go." She's a coward but then, she's never been taught to be different, not from Russell or Julie Fabray. She's already bared her soul in front of Marcie and she can't do it again with Tony there, knowing that she has already blown her one chance at redemption in Rachel's eyes.

She doesn't want Quinn to leave, despite the harsh words and the disappointment she felt, all she knows is that Quinn had hurt her but deep down, she still wanted her to be there.

"Don't go." The words are so soft and tentative that Quinn is positive that she's imagined them so she does not stop as she rushes out the door. Except once she's out of the room, she comes to a standstill. She does not know where she wants to go. To be honest, she doesn't want to go anywhere except back into the room. She can't explain why but she had felt lost, adrift the whole week and it didn't go away until she saw Rachel again.

It's so difficult for her to step back into the room because she cannot bring herself to acknowledge the reason she needs to be there. She puts it down to trying to be the great doctor Alex talked about, ignoring that she's not thinking with her head like any good doctor would. "I don't want to go." The words are also spoken in the same hesitant manner similar to Rachel's entreaty.

She sees Rachel looking at her and holds her breath, waiting for the diva to say something. She does not want to examine her current feelings too closely because she is so afraid but she also knows that she needs to make a decision as she takes the final step back into Rachel's room.

Tony suddenly feels like a voyeur as he looks at Rachel look at Dr. Fabray. He can feel the undercurrent of something but realizes that both women were not really going to address it especially since he was in the room. "So, are you up to going home?"

Rachel hears Tony's question but the answer she has is solely meant for Quinn. "Ok." She looks straight at the doctor and nods, a small smile gracing her face as she sees Quinn's features change from apprehension to relief at the reprieve she has been granted.

#$#$#$

Rachel never felt confused by her propensity to express her emotions freely and without guilt. She considered it a gift and she reveled in showing her love and affection for her family and her friends. It was an extension of who she was and what made her different.

Except, sitting in the back seat of Tony's car with Quinn beside her is making her feel things she never expected. She wants to hold Quinn's hand, to convince herself that she is really there. Only, she cannot seem to bridge the gap between them as she holds her hands in her lap, her head down, keeping all her emotions in check, convincing herself that the best thing to do is to keep quiet for once. She's so caught up with her internal monologue that she's startled when she hears Quinn's voice and sees her hand extended.

"Hi, we use to go to McKinley together. I'm Quinn Fabray. I am also your primary care physician and your friend and I'm so sorry for hurting you." She knows that this will never make up for what she had done. But she needs to have a clean slate and Rachel has given that to her so she will not squander the precious opportunity. She sees Rachel take her hand and she holds it, not letting it go.

#$#$#$

The small crowd on the sidewalk outside her building is unusual but not unexpected for New York. It's only when she sees the cameras and mikes does she understand that her condition may have been made public.

"Do you want me to take you somewhere else?", "We could go to my place." Tony and Quinn's voices overlap both laced with concern.

"Troy's told them so many lies that they might as well know the truth. I have nothing to hide." Rachel finally letting go of Quinn's hand as she stepped out of the car.

She's used to the cacophony of sound from the camera flashes and the rapid fire questions but she's always been at her best, not affected by Chemo or suffering from lack of sleep. She's underestimated the effects and almost falls back only to have Tony's hand encircle her waist and Quinn's hand holding onto her upper arm.

"Ms Berry will answer your questions but you need to give her some space." Quinn's authoritative voice rises above the noise. The questions come fast and furious about her hospital stay, rumors of drug overdoses and exhaustion, Troy's accusations and Quinn's identity.

Rachel tells them that she's undergoing treatment for nodes on her vocal cords, not confirming if its cancer but introducing Quinn as her friend and doctor. She tells them that she misses the stage and wants very much to go back but needs to rest and recuperate before that can happen. She does not bother to address questions about Troy instead focusing on sending a message to her fans that she was doing her utmost and concentrating on getting better.

She's exhausted again by the time they make it up to her apartment but despite Quinn's insistence that she lie down, Rachel was adamant on calling her dads. She had not told them of the cancer, only that she needed to take a break and undergo some treatment. They had sense something was wrong but didn't push, only offering as much love and support as she needed. She made the choice to hold back because she didn't want them to blame themselves as her two grandmothers and one of her dad's brothers had succumbed to the disease. But with the news breaking, she knew that she needed to tell them the truth and also give them the news that her scans had shown improvement.

#$#$#$

Tony had gone to fetch Tina and Quinn takes the time to study Rachel as she talks on the phone to her dads, the way she curls her hair around her index finger on her left hand, the way she smiles and shakes her head even though her dads' can't see her movement. Most of all she concentrates on Rachel's throat, knowing beneath the smooth skin, the nodes are still present and it's up to her to ensure Rachel was going to be all right.

She's still very much afraid that she is not good enough for Rachel and then the epiphany hits her with such force that she's glad she's sitting down as she realizes that her feelings had changed over the past two months. Initially they had been only focused on Rachel's health but gradually she found herself wanting to be part of Rachel's life.

"Quinn?" The call with her dads' had been good although she can tell that they're even more worried now and it was only a matter of time before they flew to New York. She had seen Quinn looking at her, deep in thought and like at the hospital, she had felt happy that she was there. What she's beginning to realize was that Quinn's presence meant a lot to her, more that she expected it would and if she were being honest with herself, more than she expected of a friend.

"Everything go ok?" Quinn moves over, leaving room for Rachel to join her on the sofa. She sees Rachel smile and nod as the brunette sinks into the couch, tucking her feet under her and sighing as she leaned back. "You really need to get some sleep. Your last session is coming up and then it's a week break before the next three cycles of chemoradiation."

"It's only going to get worse isn't it? At least before it gets better. It's kind of like the calm before the storm. I think that I'm doing well, small bouts of nausea and the occasional soreness but it's just going to get worse." Rachel closes her eyes as she asks the question, already knowing the answer but wanting Quinn to say it anyway. The past two months had not been that bad except at the end and even then it was more about the fight with Quinn than the toll of her treatment.

"Yes." Quinn turns towards Rachel, as she raises her hand to tuck a bit of Rachel's hair behind her ear. "But I'm a good…No, make that a great doctor and I'm going to be an even better friend." She sees Rachel's eyes open and she moves her hand down, her fingertips trailing Rachel's cheek. "I promise." The words are softly spoken as she concentrates on the feel of Rachel's skin as she looks into Rachel's eyes.

She registers Quinn's words but it's her touch that she's focused on. Feather light but leaving an imprint nonetheless. Rachel opens her eyes, trying to express something that she cannot articulate and has not acknowledged except for this moment.

Quinn sees the swirl of emotions in Rachel's brown eyes, darker and more expressive than her own. Her hand finally stilling when she reaches Rachel's jaw, her eyes drop as she sees her thumb slowly, gently tracing Rachel's mouth.

The instantaneous realization that they are on a precipice is there, both women innately gravitating towards each other, each of their diminutive movements seems so choreographed, like a natural progression as Rachel leans forward and Quinn closes her eyes.

End Pt 10

Please don't flame me but it really did seem like a good place to stop.