PREVIOUSLY: After another frustrating confrontation which was again started by Puck, and Mike, Michael Baxter, the financier of the New Directions Alumni had decided enough, was enough. He wanted to chuck it all in, but his elder brother Jack, refused to let him quit. So they brought together the New Directions Alumni in for a crisis meeting, and told them that if they didn't want to be there, then their contracts would be torn up and they were free to go.
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But Jack gave them a big speech, his way of keeping the New Directions Alumni together, and his way of not letting his brother quit. And in the end Michael didn't nor did the New Directions Alumni. But they were on their last chance though.
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And now the continuation:
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CHAPTER 23 - GOING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
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After the meeting those that hadn't eaten much, Mercedes, Finn, Rachel, Artie and Mike had gone to the kitchen, while Puck knowing that Mike was in the kitchen, instead decided to return to the gym to bash his frustrations out on the punching bag.
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Kurt was in one of the bathrooms shaving off his beard. Blaine and Sam were in there watching him.
"How long do we give it before Puck gets all anger management again?" asked Sam
"You mean at Mike?" asked Blaine
"Yes."
"First rehearsal I'll give it until," said Blaine
"What have you been doing in the last few years, Sam?" asked Kurt
"Promise it'll stay between the three of us?" asked Sam
"I promise," said Kurt
"Same," replied Blaine
"Working in diners during the day. Singing and stripping at night."
"Wow," said Blaine "I bet you got a lot of ladies coming back every other night?"
"A few," smiled Sam
"What's the situation with you and Mercedes?" asked Kurt
"I dunno," replied Sam "We haven't really spoken, she's preoccupied with helping Rachel."
"Do you want to get back together with her?" asked Kurt
"I dunno, there's no spark there at the moment."
"Give it some time," said Blaine "Let it come back naturally."
"With the way it did between you two?" asked Sam
"I felt his pain," said Kurt "for the first time since that night 10 years ago, I really felt his pain."
"Maybe it was because it was not I wasn't believing in Mike anymore," replied Blaine
"Maybe."
Kurt went back to shaving.
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Finn was escorting Rachel back to her room after their little meal. It was obvious that Rachel needed more rest. They got to her room door. Rachel looked up at Finn, while Finn looked down at Rachel.
"Are you coming in?"
"You need your rest Rachel."
"But I need you by my side, I miss you when you're not by my side."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," smiled Rachel
Finn bent down and gave Rachel a kiss on the lips.
"Okay," whispered Finn
Rachel opened her room door, held out her hand which Finn took, and led Finn into the room. Finn closed the door behind them.
Rachel walked over to the bed, and stripped down to her underwear. Finn did the same too.
Again Rachel looked up at Finn, and Finn looked down at Rachel. The electricity that the two had had, was back stronger than ever.
"Just hold me tonight!"
"Whatever you want Rachel," smiled Finn "I love you."
"I love you too," said Rachel climbing into bed.
Rachel rolled over to face the other way. Finn climbed into bed, and cuddled into Rachel.
"Please don't let me go ever again," whispered Rachel
"I won't Rachel," whispered Finn in Rachel's ear "You are the only person I love, or even look at in the whole world, you are the most beautiful woman I know."
"Thank you Finn," smiled Rachel "You always know what to say."
"It because I love you."
"I know, I love you too."
Finn cuddled Rachel in silence for the next few minutes, before she spoke again.
"Do you I'll have confidence to sing again?"
"Babe, there is no rush for you to find the confidence to sing. When you feel ready, you will sing. I have 100 percent confidence in you. And if people give you a hard time, then they'll have me to deal with."
"But what if I'm not ready before Sectionals?"
"Then it's okay if you're not. We can still win, but there's no pressure to perform."
They laid there for a few more minutes before Rachel rolled over to face Finn, and they started kissing for a few more minutes, before Rachel snuggled into Finn, and they soon fell asleep.
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Puck walked into the kitchen, as he was the last one to go in. He had finished almost destroying the punching bag he had been hitting in the upstairs gym. He made himself a plate, and heated it up. He then sat down on a stool, and started eating it.
Halfway through his meal, Artie wheeled himself into the kitchen.
"Hey Dude, what's up?" asked Puck
"I've been looking for you everywhere," said Artie wheeling himself up to the small table that Puck was sitting at
"Well you found me," said Puck "What's up?"
"What's going on between you and Tina?" asked Artie straight away
Puck almost choked on his mouthful, and then swallowed.
"I'm sorry?"
"You heard," snapped Artie "What's going on between you and Tina?"
"Nothing!" replied Puck stunned "What makes you think something's going on Dude?"
"Oh I dunno, the way she looked at you earlier on, when you walked into the dining room, as if there was something going on."
Puck looked across at Artie "Dude, I promise you, there is nothing going on between Tina and myself. I wouldn't do that to you."
"So why was she looking at you all googly eyed like chicks normally do?"
"I don't know dude, I've never done anything to make go googly eyed at me."
"Well tell me then why doesn't she want to get back together with me, when she won't give me an honest answer?"
"I don't know what goes inside a females head Dude, especially Cohen-Changs. But if you really want her back, then give her space and time."
"Will you do something for me then?" asked Artie
"What?" asked Puck suspiciously
"Can you please talk to Tina and find out what's going on?"
"Dude, why me?"
"Because if YOU say there's nothing going on, then it'll be really easy for you."
Puck shook his head. He was stuck in the middle. He genuinely did not know what was going on.
"If I do this for you, will you get off of my back, and leave this topic alone?" asked Puck
"Sure."
"I'll try and talk to her in the next couple of days."
"But what about tonight?"
"Dude, don't push your luck. Let me do it in my own time."
"Okay."
Puck went back to eating the rest of his meal.
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Michael had seen his brother Jack off, and returned to his home office to finish off some work that needed attending to. He was just finishing off his work, when there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," said Michael shutting down the computer
The door opened and in came Quinn.
"How can I help you Miss Fabray?"
Quinn took one last look by making sure she hadn't been seen, and then shut the door. She turned around.
"I have a problem that maybe you could help me with Mr. Baxter." replied Quinn
"Have a seat Miss Fabray," said Michael standing up.
Quinn walked towards the desk, and sat down. Michael walked to the door, and locked it. He returned to where Quinn was seated, and sat in the chair opposite her.
"What can I do for you Miss Fabray?"
"There's this guy who's been avoiding me all day!"
"Really?" smiled Michael "That must be hard on you. Maybe he's been busy and not trying to avoid you."
"Maybe," replied Quinn looking around the office "Do you think he's busy now?"
"Ummmm," thought Michael "Na, I think he's finished now."
Quinn smiled "Does this office have an extension in case you can't be bothered to go back to your room late after you finished?"
"Well it's funny you should ask, Miss Fabray," chuckled Michael "I do indeed."
Quinn bit her bottom lip. Michael saw it, and moved his chair closer to Quinn.
"Would you like to see it?" Michael asked moving his hand to touch Quinn's long blonde hair
"The question is would you like me to?" whispered Quinn
Michael tugged at Quinn's hair to move her head closer to him.
"You bet," whispered Michael in Quinn's ear
The sexual frustration that had been building all day between the two, finally boiled over, and they started kissing like crazy.
Michael had Quinn's top off within seconds, and Quinn had Michael's off not long after. The passion was evident.
They both stood up, and Michael led Quinn to the other side of the room, where he pushed a button. The wall slid back to reveal a small room with a bed.
"That's quaint," panted Quinn as she focused on the room quickly
Michael led her into the room, and undid Quinn's bra, her breasts popped out. Quinn undid Michael's pants, and took them off, as Michael started focusing on her breasts by kissing them.
Before they got to the bed, Michael managed to push a button on the wall. The wall slid back into place.
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Three hours later it was midnight. Everyone had gone to bed, to get ready for their return to Lima in the morning. Michael escorted Quinn back to her room. They got to Quinn's door.
"This is me!" whispered Quinn
"Cool," whispered Michael back
"Thank you, that was worth waiting for."
"Hopefully it won't be the last," whispered Michael
"I agree," smiled Quinn
Michael gently grabbed Quinn's hair again, and pulled it so that her face came closer, they kissed before parting.
"Later Miss Fabray,"
"Later Mr Baxter."
Quinn grabbed the middle of Michael's pants, and smiled.
"Hard again Mr Baxter?"
"Always when I'm around you Miss Fabray. Until next time."
Quinn smiled and opened her door, Michael quietly walked off.
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3 hours later, Finn was woken from his sleep.
"Finn, Finn, wake up," came Rachel's voice
Finn bolted straight up in bed "Rachel, what's wrong?"
"It's okay Finn," came Rachel's voice
"What's up?"
"Your hard,"
"I'm sorry, but being around you all of the time, makes you the most beautiful girl in the universe. I'll go take care of it."
Finn went to move, but Rachel grabbed his arm.
"It's a shame for it to go to waste?"
"But Rach, I don't want to rush you."
"Do you love me?"
"Of course I do, you know that."
"Do you still want to marry me?"
"More than anything Rach, but I didn't want to broach that subject."
"I love you Finn, I WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING to marry you Finn. You make me feel safe, that all came back when you didn't leave my side, when I was sleeping earlier on today. I felt your energy."
"That's great Rach,"
"So please make love to me."
"Only if you are sure?"
"Oh I am very sure."
Rachel initiated the first move by pushing Finn down onto the bed, and grabbed the middle of his underwear.
"I am that sure."
Rachel moved forward and started kissing Finn, Finn kissed back while fumbling his hands down Rachel's back, and took off her bra. Her beautiful big breasts came out, and he started moving his hands over them, which caused Rachel to moan ever so softly. 10 years, she never had sex, and the last few years were extremely tough.
Rachel moved her hands down to Finn's undies and with his help removed them.
Finn did the same with Rachel's underwear, before flipping her off of him, and laying her down on the bed, and getting on top of her. He kissed her on the lips.
"Are you sure of this?"
"Very," panted Rachel
Finn smiled down at Rachel, and made the move.
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Morning finally arrived and everyone was greeted by a very large limo which transported everyone to the airport.
In complete silence they flew from Dallas, Texas, to Lima, Ohio. A lot of the New Directions Alumni were tense about going back to Lima, including Rachel, but Finn kept her calm. She was glowing, and smiling, more than ever, and her friends did notice, but never said anything.
Quinn also seemed happier but no one knew why.
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LIMA, OHIO
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Another limo had arrived at the airport, which the all got into. Michael climbed into the middle of the back of the limo, as he had ridden from his place to the airport in the front passenger seat, and he had been in the co-pilots seat of the private plane that he had hired.
"I understand that most of you are tense about being back here in Lima after what happened 10 years ago," started Michael "And you have a right to be if that is the case. Just take it nice and slow, and if it gets too much I have a councilor waiting at your base. The other councilors will be in, this afternoon, ready for your sessions, which start of course this afternoon. Don't forget it's mandatory to attend, until the give me the all clear, that you don't need it."
Kurt put up his hand.
"Yes Mr Hummel?"
"What if some of our parents still live here, and they'd kill us if we have hit town, and haven't seen them in the first 24 hours?"
"I am aware your father works here, Mr Hummel, and your mother is here too Mr Hudson, and so once you finished your mandatory counseling, I will allow a visit to your families. Escorted of course."
"Is that really necessary?" asked Finn "You need to trust us that we would come back, and not skip town."
"I DON'T trust you Mr Hudson, nor anyone else," said Michael truthfully "You guys have to earn my trust, and it starts today."
Brittany put her hand up.
"Yes Miss Pierce."
"So basically we can go anywhere we want in our free time but with a minder?"
"That's right. Just for the time being."
"Cool?"
"You guys are going to marvel at what I built for you. It's state of the art. Are we all ready to go?"
"Yes," everyone said at once
Michael tapped the window behind him, and the limo started and drove off from the airport.
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Everyone seemed anxious as the rode in silence.
As they came to the area where the old William McKinley High School, and then the McKinley High of Performing Arts use to be, they saw a huge dome shaped building that stood out in the center of other buildings around that area.
"Wow look at that," said Jake in disbelief "Is that where we are going?"
"Yes it is, Mr Puckerman," replied Michael
The dome shaped building got closer and closer, and bigger as they got nearer, and everyone was cramming for a look out the windows of the limo.
The limo soon pulled to a halt across the road from the dome shaped building, and everyone clambered out of the limo, and poured onto the street.
The building had a sign in the center of it which said:
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THE TRAINING BASE
OF
THE NEW DIRECTIONS
FOR
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF SHOW CHOIRS
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There were a lot of oos and arrrs, and wows from everyone.
"Wow," stated Sam "How long did it take for you to build this?"
"Just a little over a month," replied Michael "I had workers working around the clock, just to finish this off. It was finished last week.
"Wow you Baxters' certainly don't do things by half do you!" said Quinn looking across at Michael and biting her lip
Michael looked back and smiled "I believe in you guys, Miss Fabray, and I believe in order to become World Champions, you need to train like World Champions."
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Santana had spotted the look between Michael and Quinn, and the obvious give away with Quinn always was if something was going on, she bit her bottom lip. Her famous Santana senses were going off.
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"You must have been really confident that you'd get most of us back together," said Kitty
"I was hoping that I'd get at least some of you," replied Michael "At least more than half, so the New Directions name could be kept. Are you all ready to go inside and see your new home for at least the next year?"
"Yes!" came the reply
Michael led the New Directions Alumni into the building, into the ground floor of the new Training Base, where they stopped in front of a desk. Sitting behind was a lady who looked like she was a receptionist, and standing beside the desk was big burly bald headed man, who looked like a security guard.
"Guys, please meet Donald Kruger. He is the head of security for this building. Mr Kruger, please meet the New Directions."
"Hi," said Donald in a deep rough voice
"Hi," replied everyone
"Why would we need security?" asked Santana
"Because Miss Lopez," started Michael "I expect that you guys make it all the way to the Worlds, to the big final. What happens when other teams want to know what's happening, and try to gain a leg up? Well you guys know very well... They either send spies, or the set lists are stolen, or handed on to their competitors. Well there won't be any of that this time."
"You've thought of almost everything," smiled Finn
"Yes Mr Hudson. It is to benefit you guys in the end. Guys please also meet Julie Saunders. She is the front desk secretary. She makes appointments if any visitors want to see you guys, and doing other things to make this place run properly."
"Hi," smiled Julie
"Hi," replied everyone
"Do you have the box Miss Saunders?" asked Michael
"Yes sir," said Julie disappearing behind the desk, and bringing up a small box.
Michael took the box from Julie, and gave it to Sam who was standing beside him.
"Find your pass card, and pass the box on," said Michael holding up his pass card "Hold on to your pass card at all times, when exiting or entering this building. As I said before we don't just let anyone in. It's to buzz you all in and out. You have also been assigned a minder. They too have pass cards, so at anytime you are leaving or combing back, but especially when you are leaving, you and your minders pass cards will open this door.
"Just a reminder, just in case anyone of you or everyone of you, is thinking that I am treating you like prisoners, I am not. Until I can trust you, it's the only way possible."
Michael waited until everyone found their pass cards.
"This way please."
Michael walked over to a map of the building.
"So here's the layout of the building. Ground floor, is where we are. Then the First Floor has a gymnasium for everyone to work out in, in their spare time, and a swimming pool, and a games and television room. It's to relax you all in your down time."
"Wow, flash," said Jake
"Second floor," continued Michael "Has the Choir room, and a Dancing Room for practicing dancing of course...
"Third floor has the Auditorium.
"Fourth floor has the Cafeteria, and the Dormitories where you will all sleep.
"And the Fifth floor has my office when I'm here, my second in command Dan Steele, will be here overlooking things when I'm not here. So he will oversee everything on my behalf. You will meet him soon. The Minders have their sleeper quarters on the top floor too, so if you are wanting to leave, let either Mr Steele, or Mr Kruger know, and they'll get your minder to you as soon as they can."
"What about vehicles Mr Baxter?" asked Puck "We don't have any."
"That's right you don't Mr Puckerman. But your cares are in the garage down in the basement. But they are your minders as well. They will drive you places unless you request to drive yourself."
"Can we buy our own cars?" asked Sam
"Yes you can if you want to, but you must take your minders with you until I find it okay, not to. Shall we move on. Take the tour?"
"Yes," came the reply
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So the New Directions Alumni have gone back to Lima, Ohio, to be able to move forwards. But can they really move forward without any more tension? They have a flash new building built on their behalf, so that they can work in peace. But again how peaceful can they all work together?
Only time will tell.