Author's Note: I cannot express the gratitude I feel right now from everyone's reviews. I was slightly antsy about putting this up, because I wasn't entirely sure how people would react. But overall, the response has been good. I hope this chapter does justice. Also, I would've had this posted last night like I planned, but my laptop shut down spontaneously when I was in the middle of writing the chapter out, therefore-I lost everything when I restarted it this morning and had to rewrite the entire thing. Needless to say, I was pissed. I am aware that during a rape exam, parents are allowed present in the room-but in order for the chapter to work, I wanted to bring Shelby in later on, during the questioning process instead.
CyberCat08-The only reason I decided to write something like this is because, while Glee is realistic(and a television show, therefore-not much can be put onto television) I wanted there to be a message that this sort of thing, rape, incest, molestation, whatever the case may be, can happen to anyone. Even someone as dramatic and insane as Rachel. Regardless, I do appreciate your review and I'm glad you're sticking around to read the next chapter. I sincerely hope you stay with this story, because I'd love to hear more input from you. As to the out of character reference, she was made that way for a reason. When someone goes through a traumatic experience(in her case, rape) they tend to act differently then how they would. Which, I'm sure you're aware of, either way, just because Rachel doesn't 'swear' on television, doesn't mean she can't here. After all, this is fan fiction, right? :D
Rosaliethebeautyqueen-Glad to know you're enjoying this so much! The next chapter should be posted well, actually, when you read this-then you'll know. Haha.
MarlisaKristine-I too, wish that they had explored more into the Shelby/Rachel dynamic. I for one, felt very cheated. Why bring someone as incredible as Idina Menzel on and then give her one of the shittiest storylines possible? It's the most idiotic thing I think, that Glee did in my opinion. In fact, almost all of the back nine was disappointing for me.
Gigi18-Well, you already know my opinion on the Rachel/Shelby storyline. Hah. But thank you anyway for your review(as I'm sure I already said in one of the countless messages I've sent you.) Hey, did you ever get that paper done? ;)
….
The hospital is bustling with noise. A car accident on the highway involving two Honda's and a truck had several people piling in as doctor's worked to repair the damages, but Shelby Corcoran wasn't focused on that. No, she was busy pacing the waiting room floor while she impatiently waited for news on her daughter. The nurse hadn't been out of the room in an hour, and she could only assume that her daughter was busy answering the questions of the two policemen who came in only a few short moments ago. A small, defeated sigh left her lips as she wiped the smeared makeup from under her eyes, hands shaking as she pulled out her phone. This was probably, the most unorthodox thing she could be doing right now, calling William Shuster at near two in the morning, but he did say to call if she ever wanted to talk, and boy did she want to talk.
As she dialed the number and pressed the phone to her ear, she found herself falling back into the chair, listening as it rang once, twice, three times, before a groggy 'hello,' came through on the other end.
"Will? It's Shelby. Can you meet me at Lima General hospital? I think I could use that talk right about now."
….
In all honesty, Shelby wasn't sure why she called William Shuster-no, she's lying. She did know why, but that didn't make it any easier once he showed up, ten minutes later. She found herself looking at him for a split second before adverting her attention to the dirty tiles of the hospital floor, wondering if she should really be telling her daughter's teacher about what had happened. She knew Rachel would indivertibly be pissed at her, and most likely(seeing as stubborn and hard headed as she was) wouldn't want to speak to her again, but Shelby couldn't help it. Her head was ringing, her hands were shaking, hot tears were pouring down her cheeks and she felt an unfamiliar aching in her chest that was scaring the shit out of her and before she could even stop to think about any of the consequences or repercussions, she founds the words tumbling out of her mouth.
"Rachel was attacked."
His mouth drops, his eyes go wide, and for a moment, Shelby thinks he might've stopped breathing and is possibly at risk for a coronary. Well, she thinks, if he does have a coronary, at least we're in a hospital.
He blinks a few times, and she bites down on her lip, trying to calm herself down because she's Shelby fucking Corcoran, and she'll be damned if she lets him see her likes this any longer. She sniffles, once, twice, three times before she finally forces herself to look back up at him.
He sets a hand on her shoulder and guides her to the chair, making sure she's completely seated before he takes the vacant spot beside her. "Where?" He asks. She swallows hard, she never bothered to ask Rachel where it happened, she was too busy trying to find her car keys so she could get her daughter to the hospital, but with the way she'd been dressed, she'd like to assume a party. Instead of throwing out her assumption, she merely shrugs, clearing her throat as he fires another question at her.
"How long have you been sitting out here?"
She glances at the clock on the wall to the right of her and chokes out a small, 'two hours.' Before she can really process what he's doing, he's up and out of his chair and storming towards the receptionist. From where Shelby's sitting, it's as if he's shouting at the woman to let her see Rachel, but she cannot be entirely sure-her ears are still ringing and her heart is still pounding rapidly, but she can't help but smile lightly at the fact that he's actually making an effort.
When he comes back, defeated, he runs a hand over his face and throws a quick apology her way. Shelby nods and on instinct, grabs his hand and pulls him down in the chair beside her again. She shifts her body so that she is now facing him, and drops her face onto his shoulder, murmuring a soft, 'thank you.'
She tenses immediately when he kisses her hair, but lets out a breath when she realizes it was nothing more than a simple gesture. Lifting her head up to look at him, she smiles lightly and laces her fingers with his, which he doesn't protest too, and drops her head back on his shoulder, closing her eyes. She inhales his scent, and slowly finds herself falling asleep, thinking that maybe, just maybe, the time will go faster that way.
….
The hours seem to drag and blur together as she sits on the hospital bed in a makeshift gown that's itchy and uncomfortable and makes her feel no better than when she had her skirt and ripped blouse on. The doctors are firing question after question at her, and she answers the best she can, but her head is swimming and her stomach is turning and she just wants to crawl in her bed and sleep. She wishes her fathers were here, and that her mother was in the room with her, but at the same time-she's glad she isn't. She doesn't think she could deal with seeing the look of disappointment on Shelby's face. The exam is just as uncomfortable as the makeshift gown she's wearing, and she has to fight not to kick the doctor in the face as she examines her.
Rachel finds herself blinking rapidly in an effort to press back tears, but she can't help but let one slide down her cheek as she doctor collects her clothes and throws them into a plastic bag labeled, 'evidence.' She cringes lightly when she sees that word, knowing that with evidence comes a court date, and with a court date comes a trial, and with a trial comes the truth. The truth she doesn't want to face but has too.
The overall process is long and tedious and to be honest, Rachel isn't quite sure if she has the effort or energy to deal with it. A part of her doesn't want too, but another part is telling her she needs to. As the doctor finishes up the exam, Rachel continues to glance at the ceiling. It's white, with specks with brown spots on it from rust. She can hear the doctors speaking in hushed voices, but she doesn't quite know what they're saying, nor does she care too. She feels as if this is all one big, out of body experience, and she's hoping that it'll stay this way until she's at home. She doesn't want to be able to feel the brute impact of it all, not yet anyway. She doesn't want to think about him, imagining his body pressed against hers in a way that makes her shudder. She just wants to go home and put this behind her.
But as soon as she think she's done, as soon as the doctor's are packing everything up and stashing it away, two policemen enter. Rachel feels as if her blood has just gone cold, and she swallows hard, pulling her body into a seated position as the two officers enter the room. The doctors have long since disappeared, and one of the policemen is asking if she wants her mother in the room with her. Rachel absentmindedly nods her head, pulling the blanket tighter around her body. She doesn't want to answer the man's questions, she doesn't want him to see her like this-dirty, disgusting, worn out, sober.
It takes a few moments, but her mother finally enters the room and Rachel isn't quite sure if its relief that floods her, or worry. She can tell, by the way her mother's face is flushed and her eyes are blood shot that she's been crying and a pang of guilt hits her hard, right in the stomach and she finds herself stumbling to a trashcan to empty her stomach. Her mother is at her side though, her hands holding back her hair as one of the police officer's excuses himself and the other hands her a glass of water and a paper towel. It takes her a bit to compose herself again, but as she does, she notices her mother gripping her hand. She glances down at it, then up at her as the faintest of smile's ghosts across her mother's face.
Rachel sucks in a sharp breath, takes her seat again and answers the questions the officers have because she knows that the sooner she does, the sooner it's over and she can go home-something she's desperately wanted from the moment she got here.
….
Her throat is sticky and burning and her legs are shaking slightly as she walks out into the waiting room again. The noise has died down substantially and Shelby grips tightly onto Rachel's arm, not wanting to let her out of her sight for one moment-afraid of what could happen if she does. She's not quite sure when this maternal feeling had washed over her, but it has, and therefore-scares her senseless. But the focus isn't on her now, it's on Rachel.
Shelby notices Will is still seated in the chair when they step back out into the brightly lit waiting room, and she smiles slightly. He jumps up almost immediately when he sees her and rushes towards them, noticing how worn out Rachel looks. He frowns, resting a hand on her shoulder only to drop it back at his side when she flinches from his touch. She doesn't ask why he's here, she doesn't yell at her mother for informing him of what happened(chances are, half of McKinley will know about this by morning,) she's just silent. Shelby mumbles something about heading home but Rachel isn't listening, she's too busy trying to keep herself from collapsing on the disgusting, grimy hospital floor.
When her mother wraps her arm around her shoulder's, Rachel glances up-seeing that all the expression on her face, the stains of dried tears on her cheeks, the red, puffy eyes, all of it is gone. Rachel again, doesn't ask questions-she lets her mother lead her to the car, with Mr. Shuster behind her, and a chalk full of uncertainties.
….
Shelby stops at Rachel's first, telling her daughter that until her father's get back from their trip(they're on the red-eye home now,) she would be staying with her. Rachel nods hesitantly, and climbs the stairs to her bedroom. She quickly rids herself of the hospital dress and throws on a pair of longue pants and a throw-over hoodie, before heading to her closet to pull out a small bag. She fills it with the necessities she'll need, along with her laptop and cell phone, and slowly with what little energy she has left, heads back down to where her mother is waiting in the foyer, Mr. Shuster in tow.
"Ready?" Rachel says nothing, only stepping forward for her mother to grab hold of her arm again before Mr. Shuster jumps in, politely taking her bag from her. Rachel was grateful for that, seeing as her body already felt like it had ten, one hundred pound weights on it. She slides back into Shelby's range rover, shifting around in the backseat until she's comfortable(as comfortable as she can be) and quickly buckles her seat belt, glancing out the window to see her house disappear over the slowly rising horizon.
….
The ride to Shelby's house isn't long, only a mere few minutes and Rachel quickly jumps from the car the minute it's in park. She isn't quite sure if Mr. Shuster is staying the night or not, but all she really cares about right now is taking a long, hot shower and then getting to bed-because her eyes are closing on their own accord and she can barely lift her legs.
He grabs her bag for her, setting it inside of the house before he disappears into the living room and Rachel can't help but think that he's been at her mother's house before. Shelby shows her the way to the guest room before grabbing her a towel and wash cloth and stating that she'll be downstairs if Rachel needs her. The overall room is nice, big and rather spacious, but nice none-the-less. There is a closet to the right, and a conjoining bathroom to the left, with another door that leads back into the hallway. The bed is in the center of the room, pressed up against the wall, with a red, floral pattern and the dresser is directly across from the bed, pressed up against the other wall. There are two nightstands beside the bed, each with lamps on them, and the right one holds an alarm clock. Rachel sets her things down, grabbing her clothes and toiletries before sliding into the bathroom.
She starts the shower, closing the toilet seat down and setting her clothes and towel on top, before heading back to the sink-giving the water a few moments to heat up. With her hands resting on the edges of the sink, she forces herself to glance up at her reflection, gawking at what she sees. It doesn't even look like her.
The person staring back is pale and lifeless, with dark bags under her eyes and bruises beginning to cover her body. This person staring back is empty inside. This person staring back isn't the old Rachel, she realizes, as she forces herself to turn away from the mirror. The old Rachel is dead.
….
Shelby could hear the water running moments after she'd stepped into the living room where Will was waiting. She let out a small sigh, setting the two mugs of coffee down on the coffee table in front of her couch. She fell haphazardly onto it, head pounding and eyes heavy from the day's events. She glances up at Will who throws her a sympathetic smile, and grasps her hand, edging himself closer to her. Shelby freezes for a moment, wondering what he's going to do until he turns her around, her back to him, and she feels his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them gently.
A delighted moan falls from her lips as his hands work over her back. The massage he was giving her enough to knock her out cold. It felt good, it felt relaxing and relaxing was what she needed after the night she'd had. When his hands stop and she's to the point of pure exhaustion, she leans her body into Will's, smiling lightly at how perfectly the fit together, her back pressed against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist. She lets her head fall into the nook of his neck and she whimpers lightly when the events of the past few hours hit her hard and soon she finds herself sobbing into his shirt and apologizing over and over again to whatever god is listening that she wasn't there for her daughter. Will whispers sweet nothings into her ear as he rubs her back in comforting circles until the sobbing has died down into small whimpers again, and she's out cold moments later. He slides his body out from underneath hers, picks her up bridal style and as carefully and quietly as he can, carries her to her bedroom. Setting her gently on the bed, he slides off her heels, covers her with a blanket and slides out of the room with ease.
He sets the forgotten mugs of coffee in the sink in the kitchen, quickly jots her a note to leave on the counter by the coffee pot for the next morning and disappears out of the house, making sure that the door is locked with the spare key she hides under the mat outside of her door. He doesn't stop to glance back until he's in his car, and his chest constricts painfully as the reality of the situation hits him.
Rachel might've been dramatic and stubborn, but no one deserves to be put through what she's dealing with now.