Previously: All the New Directions Alumni arrive on Michael Baxter's land, and are dropped into their own separate tube tunnels, where they all make their way into the Auditorium, where they all then realize they are back together with the New Directions of old. Some don't take it well, like Puck, who spots Mike Chang, and goes directly after him. How will this play out?
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And now the continuation
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CHAPTER 17 - LEARNING NEW DIRECTIONS
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"THAT'S ENOUGH MR PUCKERMAN."
Everyone including Puck looked around to see where the voice had come from. For some reason, they all looked up, at the chairs to see Michael Baxter in the front row, in the directors chair.
"Welcome New Directions Alumni to my auditorium, isn't she lovely? smiled Michael
"This is bullshit," said Puck
"What is?" asked Michael
Puck still had his fists closed tightly. He looked at Mike, then back up at Michael.
"You're treating this like a game. It's not a game."
"I agree," replied Santana "Ever since I met you, you acted like all this one big pile of laughs. It's NOT. You have no right to do this Mr. Money Bags."
Michael looked down at everyone who was starting to line up in one big single line across the stage.
"I can guarantee you all that this not a game," started Michael "I'm not treating this like a game. You guys are so sensitive at the moment, that you fell like I am playing you. That's not the case at all."
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*Finn was at one end of the line, and Rachel was down the other end next to Mercedes, Sam, Jake, Puck, and Michael. It was obvious he was keeping his eye on Rachel, who hadn't realized that he was there. He made a move towards her one step at a time, and behind one person at a time.*
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Meanwhile the communication continued between everyone else and Michael.
"What were you planning on doing?" asked Santana "Force us to co-operate with everyone else?"
"I was going to help with that!" replied Michael
"How?" asked Puck still keeping an eye on Mike
"I'm prepared to offer everyone here counseling. Paid for by me of course."
"Counseling doesn't work," said Kitty "It's just people talking crap out of their asses. And they don't give a shit about you."
"I give a shit about you Miss Wilde," said Michael "As I give a shit about everyone of you here today who is in this team. I want you to be able to move forwards, as I need this team to work in harmony together."
Santana laughed "What if some of us don't want to be part of a team with certain other members?" she looked down the line at Mike
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*Finn moved a little closer to Rachel.*
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"Well I'm afraid all but one of you have no choice in the matter," replied Michael
"What do you mean?" asked Artie
"Everyone of you signed a contract that states you cannot renege on your contract because if you do, instead of me giving you the remaining $900,000, which is of course now in all your bank accounts, instead you will owe me $2 Million, and you pay that back whatever way you can."
Almost everyone, except for; Finn (who was focused on trying to get to Rachel), Rachel herself who was trying to focus on keeping herself together, Mercedes, who knew what the contract entailed, as did Quinn, and Brittany.. Everyone else were up in arms about the $2 Million dollars they had just learned. They all spoke at once.
"Woah, woah, woah," started Michael making everyone quietened down "Please one at a time."
"You deceived us," shouted Santana
"Not really," replied Quinn "Did you read the contract fully?"
Santana spun around to look at Quinn "You did?"
"Of course I did."
"And you still signed?"
"Of course!"
"Why?" asked Kitty
"Because I fellt a team would be strong enough to stay together," said Quinn "That's before I realized how damaged people are still."
"I'm not damage," snarled Puck "I just want pay back!"
"Why?" asked Tina
"Because," said Puck looking back at Mike "Some people owe me 10 years."
"Hey," said Santana looking back up at Michael "Getting back to the $2 Million thingy, is there anyway of getting out of that?"
"No," said Michael
"I still feel you deceived us!"
"Whether he did or not is beside the point," said Mercedes "He did it so that we would come together as a team, hash our our issues, and become World Champions. It's what we all want."
"So you knew about the plans?" asked Artie
"He told me after I asked," lied Mercedes
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*Finn got a bit more closer to Rachel.*
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"So we're basically screwed?" asked Puck
"I wouldn't say screwed," replied Michael "You just need to work with what I have put in place. I believe you guys can become World Champions, but in order to do that, I have to put some steps in place."
"Hold up," said Santana "You said all but one of us had no choice in this. I take it, that one of us didn't sign a contract, is that correct?"
"Correct." said Michael
"Then who didn't sign?"
"Rachel, didn't."
Everyone looked at Rachel, Rachel was suddenly aware everyone was staring at her.
"That means she's free to leave?" asked Santana
"Correct."
"Why didn't she sign?" asked Kitty
"That's no one's business bar her's," said Mercedes
"You know something?" asked Santana looking at Mercedes
"Even if I do," started Mercedes "I'm not going to betray Rachel, unless she wants me to say something."
"She does look very different," said Tina "Is she okay?"
Rachel dropped to her knees "Please stop looking at me."
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*Finn froze on the spot from where he stood. He was now just three people away from Rachel. To him, she did seem different.*
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Mercedes knelt down beside Rachel, and gave her a hug.
"It's okay Rach, no one is looking at you."
"Let's carry on," said Michael wanting to take the pressure off of Rachel "What is going to happen is because you guys originally came from Lima, Ohio, I want you to be based back there. I have organized a private plane to take you back there tomorrow. Tonight you will be staying as my guests at my house.
"Tomorrow like I said you will all be flying back to Lima, Ohio, where I've built on top of the old McKinley School of Performing Arts. There will be Dormitories, Cafeteria, Auditorium, Counselors on site, Medical on site, and of course a Choir room."
"Basically we're prisoners then," said Puck
"No Mr. Puckerman you won't be," replied Michael "When you aren't practicing you will have down time, where you can leave but you will all have minders with you. Like I said before I am paying you $1 Million, so I basically own you all for a year. I want you to be World Champions. I want you all to want to be World Champions. I believe you can and will be. But it all takes dedication and hard work."
"What if we decide to give it 50 percent of our energy?" asked Tina
"Then you will be letting the rest of the team down," said Brittany "And that's not fair on the rest of us who want to participate."
"Is that all we have to focus on?" asked Puck
"I also want to sort the issues out that pulled this team apart so for the next few weeks," said Michael "You will all attend mandatory counseling sessions, either 1 on 1, pairs, or groups."
There were groans from everyone.
"If after that you don't sort your issues out, and don't be seen as trying to, I will be forced to step in, and you won't want that, believe me."
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*Finn saw Rachel stand back up, having pulled herself together. Mercedes linked her arm with Rachel's, just to keep her comfortable.*
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"So we have to put with this for a year should we make it to the Worlds?" asked Blaine.
"Yes."
"And then we're free to carry on with our lives?"
"Yes."
Everyone was quiet. It had seem like everyone was trying to digest the news.
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Finn meanwhile took another step towards Rachel. Mercedes turned her head and spotted him, and quickly shot her and mouthed.
"Not now."
But as Finn backed off, Rachel looked around to see who Mercedes was speaking to, and then she saw FINN.
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Finn's and Rachel's eyes met. For a second the attraction was there. Those around them Mercedes, Sam Jake, and Puck felt the electricity. And then the memories came flooding back for Rachel.
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FLASHBACK
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Finn walked into the lounge of his that he shared with Rachel. Rachel was sitting watching television. Finn grabbed the remote, and turned it off.
"Hey I was watching that."
Finn walked in front of Rachel.
"Sorry Rach, but I need to talk to you." said Finn
"Sure babe, what would you like to talk about?" asked Rachel
Finn grabbed a chair, and pulled it in front of Rachel, and sat down.
"What's wrong?" asked Rachel
Finn just sat there.
"You're making me nervous now, what's wrong?"
"As you know," started Finn "I love you so, so, much,"
"Oh my god Finn," screamed Rachel "Just spit it out, please."
Finn sighed and took Rachel's hands in his.
"At that party the other day, Raven... well... she kissed me!"
Rachel looked at Finn
"She what?"
"She kissed me."
"That meant you kissed her back?"
"It wasn't like that, I tried not not to."
Rachel pulled her hands away from Finns, and stood up with tears in her eyes.
"You kissed her."
"Babe, it wasn't like that," said Finn getting up
"But you kissed her."
"If you put it like like that... I... did... but."
Rachel put her hand up to stop Finn from talking and backed away.
"I've never forgive you for this..."
Rachel ran off crying, Finn watched her go.
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"I'll never forgive you... I'll never forgive you... I'll never forgive you..."
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END OF FLASHBACK
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Rachel continued to look at Finn, Finn continued to look back. Suddenly tears started running down Rachel's cheeks.
"You kissed her," yelled Rachel "You kissed her."
"But Rachel," said Finn stepping forward "I told you is wasn't like that."
"Who did he kiss?" asked Sam to Jake
"Pass, it's the first time I heard," replied Jake
"You kissed her," sobbed Rachel
Finn stepped forward some more "She kissed me, I wasn't in control, I couldn't stop her."
"But you KISSED HER."
"Rachel," said Mercedes quietly "You need to listen to Finn."
"I HAVE. He Betrayed me Mercedes. He kissed her."
"Who did he kiss Rachel?" asked Santana
"That Raven chick." sobbed Rachel
"I tried telling her," started Finn frustrated now "That Raven kissed me. It was at the party."
"The party that you were drugged at?" asked Santana
"You knew about that?" asked Sam
"Tina told me!" replied Santana
"Who told you Tina?" asked Sam "That was suppose to be kept under wraps."
Everyone looked at Tina, bar Finn and Rachel, Finn kept staring at Rachel who was crying.
Tina looked at everyone then at the very person who told her... Puck.
"What was this?" sobbed Rachel looking at Finn "Drugs were involved? You were into drugs too? Oh my god Finn, what are you into?"
Santana walked over to Finn "You haven't told her after all these years?"
"She has never given me a chance to..." said Finn "All I said to her was, Raven kissed me, and from that she took it as I kissed her. And that's all she ever heard."
"You DID kiss her," yelled Rachel walking up to Finn "You kissed HER and you BETRAYED me."
"I didn't Rach," said Finn "I didn't betray you. I would never betray you. I loved you. I still love you."
"But you kissed her," said Rachel starting to hit Finn on his body with her fists "You kissed her."
"Oh my god, enough," said Santana after hearing enough
Santana grabbed Rachel, and pulled her to face her, Mercedes and Finn tried to react but Santana kept them back with her vicious looks.
"Whatever is going on with you Rachel Berry, you need to listen to me. What you and I use to have we had that mutual respect for each other, and we both listened to each other. So you need to listen to me now. Do you UNDERSTAND?"
"Yes," sobbed Rachel looking directly at Santana
"The night that the boys had their party, Mike's stupid girlfriend Raven, turned up and drugged them. It wasn't a normal drug. It paralyzed them."
The other girls were listening in. The ones who hadn't been told how this all turned sour. Michael was eagerly listening too, from his vantage point.
"The moment it set in was the moment Raven had her ways with the boys. She only kissed Finn though. Finn technically kissed her because he was paralyzed, but he never really kissed her. Do you understand now Rachel?"
"He never really kissed her? But she kissed him?" whimpered Rachel
"He was paralyzed Rachel."
Rachel looked across at Finn. She pulled away from Santana and with tears still flowing her face, she walked back over to Finn. Finn looked down at her.
"Is that true? You were paralyzed? She kissed you? You only kissed her because you couldn't move?"
"Yes," said Finn quietly "And if I was able to move, I would have fought her off. Pushed her or anyone who was trying to kiss me, away. And I did try Rach. Because Rachel, the only person who I want to kiss, and every wanted to kiss, was and is... YOU!"
Rachel started crying uncontrollably "I'm so sorry Finn, I'm so sorry."
Finn pulled her into him, and gave her a massive hug. She continued crying.
Puck looked up at Michael "Are we done here for your amusement Mr. Baxter?"
"It wasn't for my amusement Mr Puckerman," said Michael "But yes this first meeting is over. I'll get all of you escorted to my house."
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WHACK
Puck punched Mike in the nose, and Mike fell backwards into his body guard.
"You did this dude," said Puck looking at Mike "This was all your fault, no you have to deal with it. I'm DONE."
Puck turned and walked away. Meanwhile Finn couldn't settle Rachel down, who was now starting to shake.
"It's okay Rachel," said Finn looking around at Mercedes and Santana with a concern look on his face.
Mercedes looked up at Michael "I think we need one of those Doctors now."
"I'm on it," said Michael pulling out his phone and sending a text.
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Within a minute, a lady walked onto the stage with a medical kit, and walked up to Finn and Rachel, she opened her kit and took out a needle.
"I'm just going to sedate her, she obviously needs a rest."
"Okay," said Finn
"This won't hurt a bit Miss Berry,"
The woman gently grabbed Rachel's arm, and injected her. She soon fell unconscious.
"She needs bed rest."
Finn scooped Rachel up in his arms "Lead the way..."
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And there we have it. Some of the drama has now come out into the open. Rachel now knows the real story and she had obviously just heard 'I kissed her' and that was all it took for her to have a reaction, and wasn't able to be told otherwise. Until now. As for Puck, he has a lot of anger issues. Will this cause him to touch the booze again, and how are the others going to react to the news that has been kept under wraps for the best part of a decade. and is there more to it, that's not been made public yet? Can they all work together?
Stay tuned.