The next day at school, Figgins called a meeting for all students in the gym. "As I'm sure you're aware, there was a violent attack in this school yesterday. The perpetrators have been arrested and the victims hospitalized." He cleared his throat. "While we have never had an incident of this magnitude at our school, we have suffered over the past several years from rampant bullying. It has come to my attention that many of my students cannot walk through the hallways without fearing some form of physical or mental abuse." He shook his head. "We can no longer allow this behavior to continue. Before I get into school policy changes and school safety issues, Finn Hudson would like to say a few words." He looked back to where Finn was standing in the shadows.

Finn walked forward, stepping up to the podium as Figgins moved aside. Looking out at the student body, his mind was once again with Rachel. He had hated leaving her side, but knew that this was something that needed to be done.

"I'm Finn Hudson. Most of you probably know me. I'm captain of the football and basketball teams and a co-captain of the Glee Club." Someone in the audience snickered. "Yeah, being in Glee Club is funny, right? Only losers could ever be a part of something that lame." He looked over to where his friends from the club were sitting. "But we're not losers. We're talented. We've been to New York City and came in twelfth out of the entire nation. We're awesome. But most of you wouldn't know that because you're too concerned with how uncool Glee Club is to realize how amazing it is to be a part of. And it's not just Glee Club; there are so many kids in our school that have talents and abilities you couldn't dream of.

Just because someone's dream is different from yours doesn't mean that they're less of a person. Just because someone dresses different or acts differently from you doesn't mean they're pathetic or something to be mocked. It is time that the bullying stopped.

The Bully Whips helped, but what we need is a strict no tolerance policy…and that's what we're getting." He looked over at Figgin's, who nodded. "Starting in a couple of weeks, McKinley High will be an anti bullying campus. There will be zero tolerance. Your homeroom teachers will go over the rules and the consequences with each of you. Everyone will have guidelines and rules sent home with them that must be signed by you and your legal guardian.

Because of these steps, this school will be a safer place and our student population will be free from the mental and physical abuse that's held them hostage for so long. Physical violence in any form is included in this policy; there will no longer be brawls in the hallways." Finn sighed. "I know that I've been a part of what I'm now fighting against. I never thought about the damage I was doing or how much I was hurting other people until it started happening to me and the people I love." Thinking about Rachel again, Finn dropped his head. He took a couple of deep breaths. "This is over," he told the other students firmly, looking back up at them. "The hate and the bullying and the fighting…it's over. When I bring my girlfriend back to this school, it's going to be different. It's going to be better. It's going to be what she deserves." He looked at his friends again. "It's going to be what we all deserve."

Kurt stood up, clapping. This was everything he'd dreamed of since coming to McKinley; that Rachel and Santana had to be victimized in such a way to make it happen broke his heart though. Blaine quickly joined him, and soon every student was standing. Many had tears on their face.

Finn stood at the podium, watching the crowd. He saw kids crying, kids hugging each other, kids cheering. Everything he'd said had been true. It was time for the kids at McKinley to have a school that was safe. It was time for the fear to end. Will walked to the podium and put his arm on Finn's shoulder. Finn nodded in the direction of the crowd, then walked back into the shadows as Will spoke to the kids.

"You did an excellent job, Mr. Hudson," the principal told him, shaking his hand. "We're going to do everything we can to make this school safe."

Finn nodded. "It's too late for Rachel and Santana, isn't it?" he said, walking past the man.

"Finn," Emma cried from behind him. "Finn, wait!"

Finn stopped walking once he reached the back door, but he didn't turn around. Emma stopped behind him. "Finn, I am so sorry about Rachel," she said softly. "We all are."

"I'm sorry too," Finn said hoarsely. "I'm sorry that I didn't do something last year. I'm sorry that I had early practice and she had to come into school alone. I'm sorry that people like Josh and Zeke exist." He stood there for another moment. "And I'm sorry I didn't kill him for what he did to her."

Emma touched his arm, pulling him toward her. When he faced her, the pain in his eyes caused her to gasp. Stepping closer and hugging him, Emma felt him break down. His entire body shook with sobs and his arms wrapped around her. Rubbing his back, Emma realized that she was crying again. She couldn't seem to stop; she'd had to leave the hospital last night because she was unable to keep it together. Will had driven her home and then held her throughout the night. Her anxiety and obsessive impulses took a back seat to the pain that had taken hold of her heart.

"Don't think like that, Finn," she told him softly. "Both boys will receive the punishment they deserve."

"She won't even look at me," Finn said brokenly.

"She will," Emma promised him, still holding him. "She will, Finn."

"Even her dads can't touch her. Her whole body is bruised." Finn took a deep breath, pulling back. "What he did to her…I can't stand it. It hurts every part of me."

"That kind of violence does," Emma told him, wiping her face and watching him. "You, Rachel, Santana…Puck, Quinn, Will, myself…we'll forever be changed by this one event." She put her hand on his arm. "But we have to work through it. We have to have hope that it will get better. Have you seen Santana?"

Finn nodded. "She's going to be okay. She came by Rachel's room this morning before they let her go."

Santana had stood in the doorway, unable to look at Rachel. "I'm so sorry Finn," she'd whispered, crying. "This is my fault."

Finn had hugged her gingerly, mindful of her battered body. "None of this is your fault," he told her fiercely. "You did not do this."

Santana sobbed into his shirt. "If I hadn't made a noise, she would have never come into the bathroom."

"And then you would have had to face them alone," Finn told her.

"Rachel didn't deserve any of this," Santana said, looking up at Finn with tear filled eyes.

Finn wiped a tear away from her face. "Neither did you."

Doubling over a little from the pain his words caused her, Santana struggled to take a deep breath. "Why did they do this to us?" she asked. "How could anyone hate us so much?"

Finn shook his head, looking over to Rachel's slight body curled up under a blanket. "I don't know," he had told her honestly.

Now, looking at Emma, he asked the same question. "Why did they do this? How could they hurt them like that?"

"Oh, Finn, I don't know," Emma told him. "I can't imagine what could have been going on in their heads."

Kurt found the couple. "We're ready to go, Finn, whenever you are."

Finn nodded at his brother, looking at Emma. "Are you and Mr. Schue going to come back to visit tonight?"

Emma nodded. "We are. I guess you'll be there?"

"I have to be with her," he told her. "The only reason I left her today was because of how important this was."

"You're good for her," Emma told him. "You're her hero."

Finn shook his head, walking off in the direction Kurt had gone. "No," he told her. "She's mine."

Will walked up and put his arms around Emma, watching Finn walk off. "Is he going to be okay?"

Emma turned around in his arms, putting her face against his neck. "Are any of us going to be okay?" she asked softly.

"I hope so, Em," Will told her. "I hope so."