a/n: This is it. Complete with an epilogue coming.
The rest of the day went by in a blur. They decided that since they didn't have much time before their evening showcase performance they would take cabs back to their hotel to get their costumes. The groups selected for the showcase performed the same set list as the earlier competition but for a different set of judges. Rachel had explained that this demonstrated how well prepared the groups were, but also protected the groups from favoritism by the judges. Finn couldn't help but wonder if this would work for or against them. The first set of judges obviously didn't hold their scandal against them, but he wasn't sure they would get that lucky the second time.
They arrived at the concert hall well before their performance time but luckily they were able to get into the private room where they were supposed to wait. Finn was just glad that they didn't have to watch the other groups perform, they were nervous enough already. In fact, he was starting to think the freaking out was going to be a big problem.
Rachel had squeezed herself into the far corner and was singing the set list and doing the choreography about six times faster than they would normally perform. Artie was rolling back and forth in one spot while both Kurt and Santana had planted themselves in front of the mirror. Kurt looked like he was about to hurl, and Santana was muttering in Spanish under her breath. He didn't have to be taking that class anymore to know she wasn't exactly giving herself a pep talk.
Honestly, he'd been more nervous at the park with Mercedes and that had gone pretty well even if he had almost screwed it up. He squeezed her hand and took a deep breath before quietly making his way around the room. Rachel seemed to be doing the worst even though she'd done so much performing. He wasn't quite sure how to handle her anymore so he was relieved to see Jesse slip through the door to the green room. "Dude, help us out here," Finn said and jerked his head in Rachel's direction. He held back a snicker when the older boy's eyes widened as he took in what was happening.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it," Jesse said, taking a quick look around. "You're going to take care of the rest?"
"Teamwork, dude. Teamwork," Finn said and headed for Brittany next. It didn't take much to convince her to talk to Santana.
Next he slipped behind Artie and flipped one of the breaks down on his chair. "Chill, man. This is nothing compared to facing those goons on the football field. We've got this," Finn said, waiting for the other boy to nod before moving on to his brother.
"Are you okay? You don't look so good. Um, wait. That's not what I mean, you look sick. Your hair looks fine?" He hoped he wasn't freaking Kurt out more, he wasn't exactly doing great on saying the right things today. He was relieved when Kurt laughed a bit and shook his head, "I'm fine Finn. I'm a little nervous and Rachel is freaking me out, but I'll be fine."
"Good. You're going to rock this. Now check your texts and I want to see that real smile you get when Blaine says something cheesy," Finn said and he squeezed Kurt's shoulder as his brother shook his head and fished his phone out of his pocket. A little impressed with how easy that was he went back to his seat next to Mercedes and started to run through the choreography in his head one last time.
Before long there was a knock at the door and when Puck opened it a guy with a headset stuck his head in, "New Directions, you're on in five minutes." They nodded and Puck let go of the door but it must not have closed all the way because they could still hear the guy outside.
"Hey, Mark! You'll never believe the group I just talked to...
Yeah, it's the one from Ohio with the creeper coach...
I know right? I can't believe they'd show their faces here either...
Wonder which one it was. Some of those girls are pretty hot but who knows with that kind of freak, maybe he likes boys...
Everyone in the room froze for a minute and they could hear the guy laughing into his phone. Puck was the first one out of his seat and Finn was pretty sure if they let him he'd put the guy in the hospital. Before Puck could get to the door Lauren and Mike grabbed his shoulders and held him back, "Not worth it babe," Lauren told him. Mike looked like he'd rather just let Puck go after the guy.
That's when Jesse got up, "This is ridiculous. This is the National Show Choir Championship for god's sake! That kind of unprofessional behavior cannot be tolerated. It makes a mockery of the entire event! You don't win this thing four times in a row without knowing who has the power to hire and fire around here. I'll take care of this. You all need to focus!" With that Jesse hurried out the door, his scarf trailing behind him.
Mercedes squeezed his hand and when he looked up she asked, "Are you okay?"
The weird thing was that did feel okay. Maybe his hands are shaking a tiny bit, but that's nothing. It's already gotten better since Mercedes took his hand. That guy was a total douche, but it's not like Finn's ever going to see him again. It just sucks that something like that had to happen when everyone was ready to go out there.
"I'll be fine, but I think it's time I did my job as captain. I'm still captain, right?"
"Damn right you are, let's do this!" Mercedes said, bringing her fingers up and letting out a piercing whistle that snapped everyone's attention back to them. "Listen up, y'all. Our team captain's got something to say."
"All right. It's almost time to go out there and we need to do this right. We are going to go out there and give it everything we've got. It doesn't matter whether we win or lose tonight. Just by being here we've already won. Everyone out there thinks they know all this stuff about New Directions because of what they see on the news. Let me tell you what I know about New Directions. We are the strongest and most talented team here. We're not just a team, we're a family and we've proven over and over that nothing is going to fucking stop us. That day in April I didn't even know how I would even leave my house and now I'm singing with you guys in New York City. Puck and Quinn loved that little girl enough to give her a real chance. Artie put on that machine at Christmas and walked across the damn room."
He takes a minute to catch his breath and he knows nobody is going to interrupt him now, his eyes settle on Kurt who is now standing behind Mercedes, both of them beaming at him through their tears.
"Hate and death threats couldn't stop this team, Sue Sylvester couldn't stop this team, Vocal Adrenaline's funk couldn't stop this team, and a scandal over a coach we're better without is not going to stop this team! We're going to go out there and we're going to show them that each member of this team is a star! Let's go kick some ass!"
He wonders if he took it too far, but he's been watching underdog sports movies his whole life and he's always wanted to give the big locker room speech. When Finn finished talking there was at least 20 seconds dead silence before the room exploded in a combination of whoops, applause, and enthusiastic profanity from Puck and Lauren. Finn pulls Mercedes and Kurt into a hug before kissing her on the forehead and dragging them to the door. They've got a show to do.
They placed fourth. That was pretty sweet. It was even better when Vocal Adrenaline finished seventh. When the announcer called their name everyone shoved him forward to go and accept the trophy. He made sure to drag a rather reluctant Coach Bieste up with him. He wasn't sure he'd ever really be able to thank her, but he'd keep trying. When the announcements were finished he happily handed the trophy over to Rachel and dipped Mercedes for a kiss right there on stage. She came up laughing and he kept one hand around her waist while he hugged everyone else.
He wasn't surprised to see that Kurt already had his phone out, and he knew that soon as they were off stage he was going to send his mom a picture of him and Kurt holding the trophy. He was a little surprised when Lauren threw her arms around him and thumped him on the back, "Balls of steel, man. I respect that." He hugged her back and made her promise to come back to glee in the fall. If he had anything to say about it they were all going to have one hell of a senior year.
They flew home the next day, and Finn settled into his seat and turned off his phone. Mercedes was resting in the seat next to him, the armrest between them up and her head on his shoulder. He was thankful for a little bit of quiet after the rowdiest celebrating his dad and Coach would let them get away with the night before. He was so glad he'd made the decision to come to Nationals, and not just because they did so well. He was part of this and he belonged with his friends. A lot of things had changed for him, but that hadn't. It would be a long time before he would shake that little bit of fear and doubt that still edged its way into his thoughts now and then. He knew he could control it though, that it wouldn't take over. He had a dad and a brother now, and that was pretty awesome. His friends had stood by him, and he and Puck were on their way back to solid ground. He'd gotten to know Mercedes and he couldn't wait to spend the summer with her.
Mostly though, he knew himself. Maybe that was the most important thing he got out of all this. He was just Finn and he didn't have to force himself to be what anyone else wanted. There were enough people who loved him for just being himself and it didn't matter what anybody else thought. Finn watched from his window seat as New York City disappeared below him and smiled.