NOTE: I tried several ways to have Rachel in different environments but they didn't seem to work. Why would a fit and healthy and strong Rachel disappear from the public for so long? Don't forget she only disappeared for a few months in Season 6 when her tv show got canned, and she worked her way back by re-building the Glee club. She wanted to be the star and wanted everyone to see her be a star. So in the end this chapter just flowed and worked. This will lead in to so many different story lines coming up. Because it flowed. Especially Rachel and Finn. But for now, enjoy.
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PREVIOUSLY: Michael Baxter found Mercedes Jones at a Health retreat, and although she seemed okay, she really wasn't, but was starting to come right. Some how just by being out in the open, and feeling really guilty about what he had done so far, he opened up to Mercedes and told her everything. Expecting her to go nuts at him, she didn't and agreed that even though it was deceitful, it needed to be done, as ten years is a long time for a former group, and former friends to be alienated from one another. She wanted to help.
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And now the continuation.
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PART 14 - A DIRECTION GOES SADLY WRONG
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Rachel Berry, what do people say of the old Rachel Berry? Unique, Talented, Awe-Inspiring, Go Getter, Stubborn, Forceful, In your face, Loud, but someone who knew what she wanted and would do almost anything to get to the top, and run over people to do it. In a good way. In fact being with the Glee club and New Directions made her realize she couldn't do it alone, and needed her friends to help her and support her.
Rachel Berry 10 years ago like most of the other New Directions Alumni, lit the world on fire, and the world went crazy for her. Like Mercedes Jones, she was a huge star on Broadway. She had won 4 Tony awards, She also appeared on Television alongside Mercedes and was always a great supporter of New Directions and the New Directions Alumni. At one stage she spent a whole term being a guest co-director with the New Directions students by helping being their Vocal Coach.
Rachel's relationship with Finn Hudson was going from strength to strength. They were still engaged but not yet married. They were talking about getting married at one point like they almost did in their Senior Year at High School. Finn supported Rachel in what ever project she wanted to do. He was always by her side, being supportive, making sure she kept on track, and telling her when she was being a bitch. Rachel needed Finn to keep her grounded.
And then came the incident and the scandal with the New Directions Alumni. and from there, they imploded. Then as we all know everyone's worlds came crashing down. So too did Rachel's.
Rachel's and Finn's relationship couldn't survive the dreaded implosion, even though they tried to at first, it just was too much. Clearly devastated, Rachel disappeared, never to be seen in public or in private again.
No-one including Rachel's fathers Hiriam and Le-Roy Berry knew where she disappeared to. Not even her surrogate birth mother Shelby Corcoran knew either, even though Shelby was the last to see her.
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So for 10 years no-one knew where Rachel Berry was. Michael Baxter sent a few of his Detectives around the country to try and find her. But each time one by one they failed to come up with a lead or even a single trail. His best Detective Johan Smiters was busy tracking down Mercedes Jones.
Then Michael turned to his eldest brother Jack for help. Jack decided to help, and lent him his best Detective. Parker. That was his sole name. Parker.
Parker had spent 10 years as a US Navy Seal, so he knew how to track down people. According to his Unit, Parker was the best at deciphering clues. So when Jack hired Parker to work for him, he became his best number 1 Detective on staff by providing quick information than anyone else before him. Parker could find anyone.
So when Michael got permission to borrow Parker, he took it without giving it a second thought. He gave Parker the last known details of where Rachel was last seen and sent Parker on his way.
Like Johan had done trying to find Mercedes Jones, Parker had to use half of his sources who owed him a favor, just to pick up any trail he could find. At first some trails led to dead ends, others just kept on going without much success. But then after searching for well over a week and a half, and working basically 24/7 without very little sleep, this what he did best, he picked up a trail which became luke warm, then it went warm, then it went hot, and then it went to boiling. He finally found Rachel Berry's exact whereabouts.
The exact whereabouts was okay, it wasn't the problem. The problem was the location. According to Parker, after he found where Rachel was, he got on the phone to Jack, so he could break the news to Michael, no one was going to be happy with the location.
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AUGUSTA, MAINE
THE RIVERVIEW PSYCHIATRIC CENTER
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Michael was standing in front of a viewing door, looking into the room of Rachel Berry. She was sitting on a chair, at a table, inside the room, staring into space. All around the room on the walls were neatly placed photos of her time on Broadway, television appearances, and some photos of her time in the New Directions performing at Sectionals, Regionals and Nationals.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Gone, was the really strong willed, opinionated, bubbly, energetic, Rachel Berry, and in her place was a look alike but this look alike wasn't even smiling, crying, yelling, singing, moving, she just sat there staring at nothing. Also gone was her famous long hair, it was now short, just down to her below her ears.
He had pinned all his hopes on finding Rachel, because he knew with Rachel as part of the New Directions, with her help, with her voice, and with her courage of standing up for what she believed the group should be doing, they could win the World Championships. But without Rachel, they would be at least back with the chasing pack. And to Michael, that was a nightmare scenario.
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"The Doctor was saying she uses those photos to keep herself from going backwards, that's when she's lucid..." said Parker who was standing right next to Michael, he had seen him look at the photos.
Parker had found Rachel, and immediately went to work on trying to find out what happened to her, before he rang Jack, and before he then got Michael involved.
For Michael this scene was so devastating. This wasn't what he was hoping for when news came through that Parker had found Rachel. He was hoping just to rock up, and talk to her, and try and get her to commit with being with the New Directions or at least trying to deceive her. But now he didn't know if she could talk.
"Is she lucid now?" asked Michael
"The Doctor says she is."
Jack and Doctor Morgan Francis III, walked into the outer room. Michael had called Jack in the moment he realized that Rachel was in a mental institution, asking for his help, if there was a chance for her to be released then he could pull some strings to get her released.
"Doctor Francis, this is my brother Michael, and my associate Parker. Michael, Parker, this is Doctor Morgan Francis the 3rd."
"Please to meet you," said Doctor Francis shaking both Michael's and Parker's hand "I understand you are the one Mr Baxter, that want Miss Berry released into your care?"
"Yes sir," said Michael looking at Jack
Michael knew he owed Jack big time for this, because he was going out on a huge limb for him. They all knew that normally a family member, or guardian had to be the one to sign a patient over. Jack had used his one favor with a big United States Senator to get this to happen.
"Well as you all know," started Doctor Francis "We don't allow anyone to be signed out, unless it's a family member, but Miss Berry here seems to be a unique case, and for people like yourselves who haven't been in her life before, and haven't dealt with her, this is a unique situation, and for you to call in a Senator, it must be something big for you to go to the trouble."
"My brother is a big fan of Rachel Berry's," said Jack "He believes he can help, so I believe in him."
Those were strong words coming from his brother.
"So you have a place all ready lined up for her to be taken to I believe your brother was saying?" asked the Doctor to Michael
"Yes I've sent out a message to one of her friends," replied Michael "They are in a unique situation of their own, so I think this place that I would like her to go to, will do her the world of good. That person will be here soon, currently on route as we speak."
"Yes, he had to organize his very own transportation for that to happen didn't you Michael?" smiled Jack
"Yes,"
Michael didn't mind. He was using one of his very own favors himself. It seems everyone had used a lot of 1 time favors that were suppose to be used for other situations on some of these New Directions.
The Doctor placed some papers down on a table close to them.
"I need both you Jack, and you Michael to sign these papers. The Senator already has. The moment you sign them, the moment Miss Berry is released into your care."
"Can you tell me first," started Michael "How Miss Berry came to be at this place?"
"Sure," replied the Doctor "About 8 years ago, she turned up here in Maine, not sure why she was here, or how she got here, but she turned up in such a state, that we had to sedate her. She was suffering from severe panic attacks, and then she started to lose it. We lost her for a whole 2 week period, where she just went in to her self, and stayed there. We just waited for her to pull herself out of it. When she did, when she became lucid, she said she didn't want to leave. She felt she couldn't leave, and needed to be here. So she stayed. She checked herself in."
"Did you know who she was?"
"Come on Mr. Baxter, she was a famous Broadway star, most of us love Broadway, of course we all knew who she was. But this is a mental institution Mr Baxter, once some one enters the building, there's no way of it getting out, unless they tell people to, and Miss Berry wanted everything to be kept quiet."
"Why the photos on the wall?"
"Like I told Parker, it's to keep herself focused on who she is. From time to time she has these moments where she could pop away and lose memory, and then come back and remembers who she is."
"Is that why you don't want her to leave?"
"Yes, but I'm aware that you are trying to get her old friends back together, even though I don't think that should happen, not even to the rest of them, because 10 years is a long time, and they're still harboring ill feeling to one another, but that can bring a lot of emotions back. But personally I think that's a great tactic. It might even help Rachel in to trying to sing again. She hasn't sung since she's been here. Even when she's been able to pull herself together enough to have group time. She goes to sing, freezes up, and then all her emotions come flooding back, and we're back to square one. So please Mr Baxter, do not put her in a situation where she has to sing, until she's ready to sing. She'll sing, in time. But when she's ready."
"Is a year enough time?"
"I can't tell you that Mr Baxter. It might take a month after being back with her friends, it might take two, it might take six, it might take a year, it could be more. You can't rush this. If you rush this, then she'll be back here like a shot, and it'll be you signing her back in."
Michael looked into the room. He felt responsible for her. He couldn't leave Rachel Berry behind. He couldn't even leave Rachel Berry out of the New Directions. No New Directions leave anyone behind at the best of times.
"Okay thanks for the advice Doctor."
"Just be patient with her."
Michael nodded, and signed the paperwork, and then Jack did too.
"She's all yours," said the Doctor
"Does she need any medication?"
"I'll get the nurse to give you the medication before you leave from reception. It's just anxiety pills."
"Okay."
The Doctor shook everyone's hands and then left. Michael looked back into the room. Jack walked up to him.
"I hope she's worth it Michael, because she's cost me a lot."
"She's worth it, thanks Jack. I'll repay you."
"Oh I know you will."
"I'm sorry it cost you Jack."
Jack smiled "It's all good. At least I know you're at the end of this crazy road of looking for everyone. Now you can focus on your work again without going tiki touring around the country."
"Yea," said Michael quietly
"Go on in to see her," said Jack looking into the room "I'll wait here. Go on go meet your idol."
"She's not my idol, she's just an outer self of her former self."
"She's still you're idol no matter what. Don't forget that. She maybe the way she is now, but she's still the Rachel Berry."
Jack was right. Michael knew this. He just felt sad to see her like this. He let out a sigh, and breathed back in, and then out. Jack patted him on his back. Michael walked towards the door, and went in.
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Just entering the room was eerie enough. It felt cold, and distant. He slowly closed the door, and walked over to where Rachel was sitting, and pulled out another chair, and sat down.
"Rachel Berry."
She blinked but never looked at him, but just looked ahead "Are you here for me?"
"Yes."
"I don't know you. I have never met you."
She talked in a monotone voice.
"But I know you," said Michael calmly, he didn't want to be here, this wasn't right. "You're an idol of mine."
"An idol? Why am I your idol?"
"Just the way you were when I was growing up watching you."
"I did it all for myself, not for anyone else. Not for you. Not for anyone else. Just for me."
"You don't believe that. Rachel Berry wasn't that type of person."
Rachel turned her head. Her eyes were distant.
"You tell me then what type of person was Rachel Berry?"
Michael sat back, and semi smiled. All he wanted to do was run. Run far away from here.
"You were talented, you were kind, you were unique, you were a great singer, a great performer, and you did it all for everyone else."
"That's just it, I was that person. But the person who you see sitting in front of you, has completely changed."
Michael shook his head "I'm sorry I don't believe that."
"Well then I'm sorry but I can offer you nothing."
Rachel turned back around, and looked at nothing at particular on the wall. Michael looked at all the photos on the walls.
"If you believed that," said Michael leaning closely into Rachel "If you believed that you are a completely changed person. Then all this stuff shouldn't matter to you. Shouldn't even be on the wall, shouldn't be the center piece of your existence."
Rachel turned her head.
"What's your name?"
"Michael. Michael Baxter."
Rachel slowly stood up
"This all here," she said pointing to every single picture on the wall "This all here, was taken away from me by one person. One person Michael Baxter."
"How could one person take all that away from you?"
"By doing one simple thing. You may think it's a simple thing, but to me it was a massive thing, that blew my world apart. That blew everything I knew out the window. It hurt me. It hurt my world."
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? What am I talking about?"
"Yes."
Rachel seemed to think for a minute. She looked around the wall. Suddenly she saw someone in a picture and walked over to it. She stared directly at the picture. Tears came to her eyes, and started streaking down her face.
"He kissed her, Michael Baxter."
"Who kissed who?"
Rachel pointed to a picture. Michael got up from his seat, and walked over to where Rachel was standing, pointing to the picture. There was one photo in the entire room that had one person in particular that the rest of the photos for some reason never had. And that one person was... Finn Hudson. Her fiancee. Her ex fiancee. These two were star crossed lovers. They loved one another.
"Finn kissed her Michael Baxter. Finn destroyed my world the moment he kissed her, and told me about it."
Michael watched as Rachel walked back over to her seat in tears, and looked down at the seat.
"It's not fair Michael Baxter. It's just not."
"What's not fair?" asked Michael trying to understand
"This place, this room, this world... my world... gone... shattered... I loved Finn... I loved him so much that it hurt... He betrayed me. One simple kiss and he betrayed me. How could I face the world from such a betrayal. How can I sing after all that. How could I be me after such a betrayal. He betrayed me... HE BETRAYED ME."
Rachel picked up the chair and flung it across the room. She fell to her knees sobbing. Michael found himself walking over to her. He knelt down beside her, and gave her a hug.
"Rachel?" suddenly came a voice from the door
Rachel and Michael both looked up, it was Mercedes Jones. Michael had called her the moment he got to the hospital after discovering Rachel was there. He thought the best idea was to get her back to the Health Retreat where what happened to Michael to let him come clean to Mercedes, happened. Maybe she could find peace there.
"Mercedes," sobbed Rachel "Oh my god Mercedes."
Rachel pulled out of Michael's hug, got up, and ran over to Mercedes. Michael stood up, and watched the two girls hug each other. Mercedes couldn't stop the water works, and she too started crying. Michael decided the best idea was to leave the two girls to it, and slowly and quietly he left the room.
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Michael sat at the table, looking into the room, as Mercedes comforted Rachel. It seemed to go on for ages, but it only been half an hour. Jack was sitting next to Michael.
"You have to talk to me sometime Mikey."
Michael shook his head "This is was just a huge mistake."
"Not this again, you and I both know that this is something you needed to have done. It's been good for you."
"And painful," said Michael looking at Jack "All these New Directions have pain. I've treated this like one big joke. But it's not a joke to them Jack. It's their lives."
"Yes and because of someone like you trying to bring them together, then they're going to have to face it. Whatever happened, they have to face it. They have to look backwards to be able to move forwards."
"But I treated it like a joke."
"So what if you did? You know now that it's not a joke. It's up to you to get them together, and sort their shit out. You wanted the job, unaware of how such a big job it was, but it's still a job that you have somehow created. And next week is your big show down. Do you want them to compete again?"
"Yes."
"Do you want them to win again?"
"Yes."
"Do you want them to be World Champions?"
"Yes."
"Do you want Rick to win with his team that he's getting together. Through help I might add. Don't forget he's not doing it like you are."
"No I don't."
"Then get your head out of your ass, and stop feeling sorry for yourself. So Rachel Berry reacted like that. I'm sure you've had way worse over the last month. Especially from Will Schuester. You got through that."
"But I didn't get him."
"Not yet any way."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm an outsider Jack I see everything. You're right there in the middle of this crap. Will Schuester didn't say yes when you first spoke to him. Will Schuester was their top dog years ago, brought them all together. Do you think for one moment when the time is right, he's going to turn down another request from them? I don't think he'll be that callous. Give him time. Like you are going to have to give Rachel. Give him time, give everyone time. You know what to do. You know what you are going to have to do. But don't fucking give up now. You're not a bloody quitter. No brother of mine is a quitter. Are you a quitter?"
"No."
"I didn't hear you. ARE YOU QUITTING HELPING THE NEW DIRECTIONS NOW WHEN THEY NEED YOU OF ALL PEOPLE, YOU, THE MOST?"
"NO!"
"Then pull yourself together man."
Jack got up and walked off. Michael watched him go. Suddenly he heard someone clearing their throats. He looked around. It was Mercedes.
"I take it that was your brother?"
"Yes."
Mercedes walked over and sat down.
"I'm glad you called me, but she's in a very vulnerable state. I believe she'll benefit from going to the health retreat. That may give her some time to relax before she goes to Texas next week."
"Wait a minute," said Michael "I never got a chance to tell her."
"I did. But not all of it. If she knew that Finn was going to be there, then she would be in more of a state right now. But all she knows is that you are here for her, and that you want her to be part of a team, maybe just for the mean time as an adviser. But the team will be meeting for the first time next week. You'll have counselors on hand like you said, in case, she needs help right away."
"Wow, and how'd she take that?"
"Very well I might add. She needs this Michael, we all need this. I heard what your brother said. Like it or not you've got yourself involved, and you can't step away from the situation now."
"It's just too much pressure."
"it's too much pressure for us to handle being together again. It's hardly pressure for you. You just feel responsible. You do what you have to, and at the end of the day once the shit has calmed down, we'll be ready to go again."
"Okay."
"Oh and one more thing."
"What."
"You owe me."
"Why?"
"It took a lot for me to come here. I'm barely holding it together now being in a place like this. Feeling this enclosed. But I am. So you owe me."
"Deal." smiled Michael
"Now go in and talk to her, before I take her back to the health retreat. She's fine now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Just stick to what I told you, and everything will be fine. We'll sort out the Finn situation later. And Finn needs to be the one to tell her the truth of what really happened, because she never has really let him. If she knew, then she'll be more devastated now."
"I'm lost."
"Don't worry, you won't be when everything comes out next week. Let it come out naturally. But for the mean time just go see her."
"Okay."
Michael got up, and smiled at Mercedes. Jack walked back over.
"Thank you Jack. Sorry about before."
"Don't worry about it. You just needed to know you are doing the right thing."
"This here is Mercedes Jones. Mercedes meet my brother Jack."
"Hi Jack Baxter," smiled Mercedes "Very big brother of you to say what you had to say before."
"Sometimes my brother just needs a kick in the ass in the right direction," said Jack
Michael shook his head and headed for the door.
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Rachel was sitting back on her chair, but this time she was rocking backwards and forwards. Michael sat down next to her.
"I'm sorry about before," said Rachel "Michael Baxter."
"It's okay," replied Michael "I'm sorry too."
"I believe from what Mercedes said, that you doing a good thing."
"What did Mercedes say to you?" asked Michael not wanting to get into any more trouble
"Um... Oh yeah. You're building a team to take on the World Championships of some thing."
"World Championship of Show Choirs."
"Yea that... And that you were here to ask me to join."
"Um... Yes. But I see that is a mistake."
"No not a mistake," replied Rachel who then stopped rocking and turned to face Michael "I'm not ready to sing yet. I don't even know if I have it in me to sing again. But Mercedes said I could be a great voice coach. I could do that if you are willing to persevere with me."
"If it means having you anywhere near my team Rachel Berry so be it. I'll be flattered to have you do that."
"Good, good. Mercedes was saying she's going to help out too."
"Yes she is."
"I'm going back to where she's staying until next week."
"Yes you are."
"Next week is your first team meeting?"
"Yes it is."
"I think by then if by what Mercedes was saying about the place where she is staying, I'll be good to go. Good enough to at least be around people."
"That's good." smiled Michael "Normally I'd sign people to contracts. But I'm not sure if I should do it with you. You're not in the right head space, no offense."
"None taken. Let's just take it day by day."
"Deal."
"Are we ready to go?" came Mercedes voice from the door
"Are we ready Michael Baxter?" asked Rachel
"Can I get a hug first?"
"Sure?"
Rachel gave Michael one of the biggest hugs he has had in a long time. He needed it.
"Now can we go?"
"Do you need anything?"
"No, I want to leave everything behind. This isn't me any more. I need to live in the now. I'll try to live in the now as much as I can."
"Okay."
Michael stood up, and gave a slight concern look to Mercedes, who gave a it's okay look, she's got it. Michael smiled.
Rachel stood up, and looked one last time at the room.
"Tell the nurses they can burn everything."
"Okay," smiled Michael
Rachel walked to the door, and turned around when Michael just stood there.
"Are you coming Michael Baxter?"
"I'll catch you up in a second," smiled Michael taking out his phone "Just got to make a quick call."
"Okay."
Rachel turned to Mercedes who gave her another hug, and Michael pretended he was dialing a number and waited for them both to leave. When they did, he quickly put his phone away, and walked over to the photo with Finn in it, and unpinned it from the wall. This was a small memento he needed. But he wasn't sure why. But he took it anyway.
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Michael, Jack, and Parker, escorted Mercedes and Rachel to reception, where Rachel was given her medicine, and told to take it any time that she felt stressed, on the verge of a panic attack, or in moments of beginning to lose herself.
They then went up top where there were two helicopters waiting. Michael, had flown in by plane, but Jack had flown in by helicopter, and Mercedes had been brought by a helicopter too.
"So I'll take Rachel back with me to the Health Facility," said Mercedes as both she and Michael watched Jack escort Rachel to the helicopter "And then I'll settle her in, and next week meet you in Texas."
"Are you sure you don't want me to check up on her?"
"No it's best you aren't around in case you let you know who slip out."
"Yeah that'll probably happen," laughed Michael "But if anything happens please let me know."
"I'll have it sorted, but yes I'll let you know."
"Thanks to replying to my SOS."
"It's okay. At least we have everyone back together now."
"Yes. Bar Mr. Schuester."
"One day."
"Okay. Well I'll send my number 1 assistant to pick you guys up, and bring you to Texas."
"Sounds like a plan. Take it easy Michael. And remember."
"Yes?"
"You are doing the right thing."
"Thanks."
Mercedes gave Michael a hug, and walked to the helicopter, and gave Jack a hug too, and then got in. Michael, Jack and Parker stepped back, and waited for the Helicopter to lift off, and go. Then they got in Jack's helicopter, and they left.
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And there we have it. Rachel Berry is now partly on board, but for now as a vocal coach. So what will happen when everyone comes together for the first time for the initial meeting? And will all hell break loose? What will happen when Rachel see's Finn for the first time? And what's the situation with Finn and kissing someone else? Will all that come out? Stay tune. The next important chapter is right around the corner.
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NOTE: Sorry for the very long chapter, but this just flowed and flowed, and I felt that because it's a very important chapter, that sets up the rest of the story it needed to be told. I hope you guys enjoyed the tit bit about Finn. There's more to it, than just a kiss, and everything will be explained next chapter. I'm really looking forward to writing it. So that's everyone out of the way now. Let's bring them all together, and see what transpires. Enjoy.