Sorry this took so long to get up. I have been so preoccupied with school, work and family, that i have neglected my writing. I have been updating 'My Reality' more than this because I wasn't updating that one for a while, and focusing on Power of Music, now I am doing the same to power of music. It is so hard to multitask ideas and stories. I will try to finish this story soon though. Promise! anyway on with the story

Chapter 3 – The Good, the Bad, and the Idiot

The drive to the Berry residence was nerve-rackingly silent. Despite the immense progress Jesse and Rachel made earlier that day, the air encircling them was nowhere near breathable and as Jesse glanced across the car again, taking in the woman next to him, the silence suddenly suffocated the surroundings. He parked the car on the side of the road, about a block from her house, but Rachel's glaze did not falter from the window, her small form still shaking ever so slightly with quiet sobs.

"Mind telling me what happened?" His voice was first to break the stillness, hoping for some sort of verbal response, but Rachel only shook her head. "Rach, did Finn leave you out there?" He pressed on, placing a comforting hand upon hers. Another sob escaped her before she gently nodded. "You guys fought about something serious." He stated rather than asked, but Rachel nodded again anyway, her forehead rubbing against the cool glass.

Jesse's thumb rubbed in soothing circled on her soft skin, sending an electric tingle through them both. Jesse hoped the undercurrent would be enough to get her focus, but just Rachel's eyes remained trained on the outside world beyond the car. "He still should not have left you there alone."

"Would you please just stop taking about this?" Without warning, Rachel's voice cut through the air like a blade being drawn out from its sheaf, and Jesse's hand immediately retracted from hers, "I know you are probably getting some sort of sick satisfaction out of this, so please just stop." Those were the words that caused his breath hitch. Jesse knew this moment was coming. The conversation, which has been hanging over them since the day he left her heart broken, was finally here, and there was no way either of them could stop it now.

"I would never get satisfaction out of your pain, Rach." Rachel was silent, and Jesse thought for a brief moment that she had not heard the words he whispered, but when she finally glanced to him, he knew she had. The looming question, the one he knew was on her mind since that fateful day, blazed in her eyes, burning a fear through him. A fear that he never experienced before that instant.

Jesse had been so scared of his emotions when he left, that he ran from her, pushing her and the uncertainty she brought as far away as possible. The fear that he experienced now was ten times stronger than the one he felt before, and he knew now that he could never get rid of the feelings he had for her. The air was thickening, and he had the urge to run again but he willed the courage to stay and fight for the one thing he knew was right.

A soft tapping on the transmission stopped him though. He knew Rachel was not going to ask him to speak, so he started the engine and continued down the street towards her house, giving into her request; deafening silence. Finally when the car was parked in her drive way, relief washed over him.

He got her home safe, that was his mission and he completed it. Jesse knew now that she would not let him in again, but the more important matter was her safety, and here they were in front of her house, safe and sound. He expected her to run out of the car the moment they arrived, but the engine died and still she sat comfortably, fiddling with the hem of her skirt as she stared into her lap. Not that he was complaining, the longer her spent with her, the longer he felt alive and real again.

"Why?" Her voice was soft and uncertain, as if treading through a minefield. He sucked in a breath, knowing that this was it, the moment of courage he was building up for before. The very moment he never thought he would get was here now, again. So soon, so sudden. Leave it to Rachel to throw me off before hanging me, he thought as he sucked in a breath to steady himself.

"I knew we would talk eventually."

"Jesse, I deserve to know." Rachel whispered again, her eyes never wavering from her lap.

"I ran," he sighed as her head snapped up to met his, guilt spreading on his face that she did not understand. "I know you were expecting the 'I needed to win nationals so I left' speech or the 'I saw how in love with Finn you were' jealousy speech, and those are factors as well, but mainly I ran." He combed a hand nervously through his curls as her brows furrowed, and the confusion blanketed her mind. Jesse knew her so well, he knew she would think of all the reasons he may have left, but this, was just the curveball she was not prepared for.

"Ran from what?" Frustration laced her voice as she attempted to connect the dots.

"You," Jesse admitted softly, and it felt like a knife through her heart once more. Rachel immediately stormed out of the car, needing to get away from him and the hurt he always brought with him. Her steps hesitated slightly when she heard him curse a 'damn it' before racing out to meet her. She was just about to step onto the porch when he stepped in front of her, blocking the stairs.

"What!" She yelled, trying to move past him, but he stood his ground, gripping her shoulders to steady her focus. The feeling of his fingers on her was almost too much to control. Everything she felt for him always came rushing back when he touched her, but the grip he had on her now, as if she was his life line, almost made her faint with emotion.

"I would never run because you were strange, or unfit in anyway." His hands moved up to cup her face; his warmth against her skin sent shivers down her spine, "I ran because you made me feel alive and real for the first time in my entire life. I ran because you were the one person who I was willing to give up everything for, my equal in every way. I ran because I was scared of feeling anything, especially love."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as he spoke, and gently he wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs. Her hands came up to wrap around his wrists, feeling the heat beneath her finger tips, and she leaned her cheek into his touch, savoring the feel of his affection. "I felt that if I hurt you enough, you would forget about me, and I could cure these feelings I was having. Rachel believe me when I say, the second I hurt you, I killed myself in a way I would never be able to cure. Hurting you is my one greatest regret."

"I-I" She began, her words fumbling in her mind, but when Jesse frowned, and began dropping his hands she finally spoke. "I forgive you." A moment went by before smile broke out onto his face, and instinctively Jesse's arms wrapped around Rachel, lifting her up, and spinning her around gently. "Jesse," She said in between bits of their laughter. Gently he placed her down on the ground, but not breaking the embrace.

"Rachel." He whispered as her head nestled under his chin.

"I'm still with Finn," Jesse's eyes darken slightly at her words, but nodded against her hair. "I forgive you, but you need to know that all we can be is friends." Again he nodded, before giving her a soft kiss on the cheek.

"I understand, I have no right to even have your forgiveness, let alone a second chance," Giving her another quick hug, he said goodnight and watched as she walked in the house. A smile dazzled Rachel's face as she leaned against the door, her skin still tingling with the touch he burned into her skin.

"Yet," She whispered to the air, before climbing the stairs and going to bed.

Working at together after that night was a lot different than before. The environment was much more pleasant. The rest of the week, Jesse and Rachel worked the same shifts every day, spending their breaks together laughing about Broadway mess ups, and analyzing brilliant performances but only once did they talk about Finn. Rachel told Jesse that Finn had apologized for over reacting, and that the two were going strong despite Rachel spending all her time at work.

Finn only worked two shifts a week, while Rachel and Jesse, along with Noah and Santana all worked full time hours. The four of them often sat in the break room together, laughing and having a great time. Noah and Santana both became close with Jesse during his time at McKinley and that closeness transferred to Soundwaves. Santana and Rachel also became closer, much to everyone's surprise. They were almost friends as they worked together on the floor and spent time together after work.

The opening shift routine for the foursome was simple. Jesse and Rachel would start their break when the shift change up happened, so that they could spend their break with Noah and Santana who were already in the backroom doing stock. Jesse and Rachel were waiting for Noah and Santana to finish stock at their normal table when the change up occurred, and the 'closers' came in. That day Finn was one of the closers.

Jesse and Rachel were in a deep conversation about the Rent when Finn walked towards the table. Rachel hardly noticed the teen standing next to the two of them as she bantered with Jesse, and the confusion that once encompassed Finn, now turned into anger.

"What're you doing?" He demanded, giving Jesse his best death stare.

"Finn!" Rachel jumped up to placed a kiss on his cheek. "I am just on break. I should be back out there in ten minutes or so. Jesse and I are working a double today, so we get a longer break."

"No, Rachel." His voice was stoic as he spoke and pulled away from his girlfriend slightly, before she took her seat at the table again. "What are you going with him?"

"We were just discussing the differences between Idina Menzel's performance in the movie Rent, and her performance in Wicked." The cheeriness to Rachel had not dissipated as she smiled over at Jesse. Finn's hand balled into a fist around his backpack strap, the anger getting the best of him. He looked over to Noah and Santana as they placed the last box of stock on the top shelf, trying to get their take on the situation before him. Finn was so wrapped up in the lack of shock in his friends' he hardly noticed that Jesse and Rachel were in deep conversation again until he heard the sound of harmonized laughter fill the air.

"I still stand by my statement, Idina truly tapped Mauren better than anyone else I have ever seen." Jesse's smug voice was met with a gasp, "I am not trying to belittle her performance in Wicked Rach, she is incredible in that too, but her Rent is in my opinion, better." Finn snapped his eyes on Jesse as he said Rachel's name, but before he could say anything, Rachel immediately began talking.

"I cannot believe you are betraying the stage Jesse. What happened to you?" The surprise which filled her features seeped into her voice.

"She flawlessly captured Mauren's flirtatious manor and compassion for humanity, how can you not see it." Finn watched as Jesse and Rachel spoke with a happiness that sparkled in their eyes. Noah and Santana came to join them at the table, not batting an eye to the friendly nature of Rachel and her ex, but instead joining with their own points.

"J, Rent is the one with the totally hot lesbian couple right?" Noah asked with a wink to Rachel, as he grabbed a grape out of her salad and popped it into his mouth. Santana smiled at Rachel and rolled her eyes. Since when are Santana and Rachel close? Finn thought as he continued to stare at the four seemingly friends.

"Oh I see it now Jesse. You are such a man," Rachel laughed, the sarcasm dripping off her tongue, "You like the girl on girl action in the movie, and it is clouding your critique." This was all the banter Finn could take. He was starting to see red. Never has Rachel referred to him as a 'man.' She always called him a boy, a guy, a footballer, but never has she called him a man like she did to Jesse.

"What the fuck," Finn cursed out the first words that came to his mind, officially silencing the group. There was a long pause before anyone spoke, too confused and unsure of how this person was going to fit into the dynamic. Noah knew a bit about Broadway from his mother, and Rachel. Santana had brushed up on some plays with Rachel who was helping her get a solo in glee, while Jesse and Rachel both lived and breathed Broadway.

"Finn?" Rachel finally asked, unsure of what emotions lingered under Finn's skin.

"I can't believe you, how are you going this?" His voice started to get frantic as he gestured to the table, "How are you acting as if nothing happened!" he finally yelled locking eyes with Jesse, who could not help the small smirk that graced his lips.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Finn's hands pulled at the straps on his bag before whipping it down on the ground, and Rachel could not take anymore. She could not for the life of her understand why Finn was acting like a little child. It was not as if she and Jesse were making out in the backroom. It was just a simple conversation, one that other people were engaged in as well.

"You and him." He hissed out from clenched teeth, his whole body subtly tremblingly with rage. "It's just sickening."

"Jesse and I are colleagues. We have to work together and after talking about it, we agreed that it doesn't have to be so awful. If I have to see him, why should I suffer?" Noah, Santana and Jesse watched on as Rachel attempted to show Finn reason. Santana glanced at Rachel, giving her a comforting smile, while Noah gave Jesse a hidden fist bump under the table. Noah would never admit it to Rachel, but he was rooting for Jesse; he hated Finn just as much as Jesse did, especially the way he treated Rachel.

"I can't handle this now, I gotta start my shift. I'll talk to you tomorrow." With that Finn turned around grabbing his smock off the chair. He was about to leave the break room when Jesse finally snapped. He watched Rachel's face fall, understanding that Finn was her ride yet again, and tomorrow meant another stranded night.

"What Finn? You're going to leave her here again tonight?" He growled low, and Finn froze mid-step before storming back to the table, slamming both of his palms on the plywood top. The lunch containers shook loudly, causing Rachel to flinch, but Jesse stayed perfectly still, unaffected by the giant before him.

"At least, I didn't dump her St. Jackass." Finn sneered.

"Finn, that's enough!" Rachel yelled but her powerful voice was of no use.

"Actually, you did." Jesse rose from his chair, mimicking Finn's stance, placing his arm in front of Rachel so ensure she could not get hurt if things turned violent.

"Jesse, please stop." She begged, and caught Jesse's eye for a brief moment, before Santana guided Rachel away.

"Not only did you dump her, you used her, to cheat on your then PREGNANT girlfriend." Jesse's smug voice glided out with ease once Rachel was safely behind Noah.

"It wasn't my kid!" Finn finally yelled out, his voice booming around them was sure to be heard in the store just outside the break room door.

"But, you thought it was yours, and it is not my of Rachel's fault that your ex is a slut." Jesse knew he was pushing Finn's buttons and he knew his words were the final button to press; the one that would cause ultimate destruction. Rachel gasped as she watched Finn visibly shake with the anger that bubbled within him.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" Finn hollered as he lunged for Jesse, swinging his arms wildly trying to land a punch, but Jesse managed to dodge each one. With one swift swing, Jesse's fist connected with Finn's nose, and then his chin. Finn was definitely not the boxer Jesse was, so he attempted to change the game. He growled, as he took Jesse down to the ground, pinning him to the floor, and punching him several times before Jesse had enough of this childish fight. Using Finn's body weight and momentum, Jesse rolled the two over, so Jesse once again had the upper hand. He landed three good punches in before he felt himself being tugged away by someone.

"I'll kill you if you talk about her again!" Finn shrieked as the manager, Travis, who finally arrived back from vacation, held him back.

"Shouldn't you be fighting over Rachel, Giant?" Jesse countered as Noah held him back causing the tears that lingered in Rachel's eyes to finally break free. He immediately stopped struggling with Noah and went over to Rachel, pulling her into a hug. He whispered a sorry into her hair as she nodded her understanding.

"Fuck you St. James!" Finn screamed again, causing the manager's patience to give.

"Enough!" Travis's stern tone roared and an eerie silence filled the room as everyone froze in position. Finn was seething, his shirt still grasped in Travis's hand. Santana, who stood next to Rachel, locked eyes with Noah, who was standing in front of the rest of the group to stop Finn if he broke free. Rachel was still scooped in Jesse's embrace, quietly crying while Jesse whispered his apologies again. With a sigh, the manager spoke, a regained patience invading his words. "St. James, Hudson, and Berry. My office, now."

DISCLAIMER:

I DO NOT OWN GLEE OR THE CHARACTERS... if i did then Jesse and Rachel would be together, and the finale would not have been written that way. it was stupid and predictable, and would have been written better if they hadn't won, but Rachel still was independent and strong enough to live without finn. It was stupid. VERY VERY STUPID, it made ALL the episodes since the break up useless. What happened to Rachel choosing her dreams, and if she wasnt even going to end up with Jesse, because he is a guest star, she should have been alone. MAYBE even set up a great way for the jew power couple to take over instead of Finchel. ANYTHING instead of Finchel, please. It is so boring, and safe, and predictable. I want some real writing some actual plot that is believable! they should take a tip from Dawson's creek and have Rachel end up with Puck or Sam... like Joey did with Pacey. The Main Finchel relationship is just drama filled, stupid, uninteresting, and pointless plot development. Seriously, let's see some REAL romance already.

Author's Note:

I worked really hard on this chapter, It took a while to get up, but if you have any comments let me know. I didn't add as much detail as i normally do because it is really long as it is, and i didn't want the chapters in this story to be as long as My Reality.

ANyway, PLEASE review, i would love to hear your feed back!

They get me to update faster!