PREVIOUSLY: The New Directions along with the Jumping Jacks, The Warblers 2.0, and the Wall Flowers were put through their paces on the day of the 2 Month count down to the beginning of the World Championship of Show Choir Competition. First they were put through an individual and team photo session, then Finn, Santana, Blaine, Rachel, and Mercedes were interviewed, and then the teams performed before finding out the order for Sectionals.
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And now the continuation:
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CHAPTER 43 - REACTION
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Everyone was smiling as they got back on the bus to head back to their Training Center. Will waited for them all to be seated before speaking.
"I am so proud of you guys, the way you handled the afternoon, from the photo sessions, to you 5 who did the interview, Finn, Santana, Blaine, Rachel, and Mercedes, you guys responded well. I know some of those questions would have been hard to deal with, but you dealt with them nonetheless, and then seeing you all support the other teams was great sportsmanship, and singing that song, took me back to when you guys first won Nationals. The way you guys sung was awesome. I know that song wasn't the song we used for Nationals, but you guys really brought it today.
"I am so proud to be leading you guys back from the edge of the hard times of these last ten years, to where you guys are at now. I know there's still a long way to go, but it started today really. To know that we're performing last is awesome. So, let's take this opportunity to get really better. We have two months to show not only our opponents at Sectionals how good that we can but also the rest of the World. But let's just celebrate today. Mr Baxter do you have anything that you would like to add?"
Michael stood up "I echo Mr Schuester's comments. It was a really good job for the entire afternoon. I want to say have the rest of the day off, and tomorrow we can focus on Sectionals again."
Everyone cheered to the news of having at least the next 6 hours off to themselves.
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The bus returned to the Training Center and everyone made their way back inside. An early tea had been put on, as they had been really busy, and were really hungry.
Everyone ate together but Blaine seemed to be away with the ferries. Kurt was sitting next to him.
"Hey Blaine, are you okay?"
Blaine blinked "Huh?"
"What's up? You've been away with the ferries since this afternoon, when you spoke to Wes!" Are you doubting yourself being here?"
"No! Hell No!" smiled Blaine "I miss the old Warblers, to me only Wes, David and Trenton are the Old Warblers, everyone else were just pick me ups, and add me ons."
"So what's up then?"
"Something Wes said."
"What did he say?"
"Something about former Warblers heading overseas to compete."
"Yeah?" said Sam who was also seated at the same table "As in competing in the Worlds as well for other teams or just one particular team?"
"Wes hinted it was just for one particular team," replied Blaine "But he wasn't sure where."
"Why leave America to compete?" asked Sam
Blaine shook his head "I have no idea."
"I thought if you were a resident of one particular country like us, for America," started Sam "Then I thought you have to stay in America?"
"Don't forget this is now a professional type competition," added Kurt "You can now compete anywhere."
"But why would you want to compete against your own?" asked Sam "It's your own country!"
"Again I have no idea," replied Blaine
"Did he say who went overseas?" asked Kurt
Blaine nodded "But it's grapevine talk, we would need proof."
"Proof of what?" came Finn's voice
Finn was passing by the table, taking his and Rachel's trays back up to the counter.
Blaine sighed. He wasn't wanting everyone to know just yet, he was wanting to do some more digging by himself.
"Apparently Blaine's old friend, Wes, told him that a few Warblers had gone to Vocal Adrenaline," said Sam jumping in as Blaine hadn't responded to Finn's question "While others have gone overseas to compete... OW what was that for
Blaine had kicked Sam under the table. Blaine gave Sam the evil eyes, Finn caught the look, and looked at Blaine, then at Sam, then at Kurt and then back to Blaine. Finn looked over at where Michael was sitting, which was with Will, Emma, and their kids, and then knelt down on one one knee beside Blaine.
"You obviously have a theory Blaine, are you willing to tell me or are you going to research it first?"
Blaine sighed again "If it was you who had information what would you do?"
"I'd probably want to try and gain as much information as possible before taking it to whoever was in charge."
"Like Sam and I did, when we came to you when we found evidence of the Warblers cheating at Sectionals during our Senior year?"
"That was like years ago," said Sam continuing to eavesdrop
Finn looked at Blaine "If you need a hand, I'm sure Kurt or Sam could help, but if you think you could handle it by yourself, go and gather enough information as you can, tonight, before someone else wants to take over because we all know he has more resources than the rest of us put together, so if you can get as munch information as possible then that will work for you. I'm sure some of us could hold that person off, if I spread the word around. But it's only if you think that this concerns us all, not just yourself!"
"I have a feeling this concerns us all," said Blaine looking down at Finn
"Then go do what you have to," smiled Finn
Blained turned to Kurt, and passed his tray to him "I'll be down in the lounge,"
"Got ya," smiled Kurt
Finn stood up as Blaine got up, and quietly left the room. Finn and Kurt walked over to the counter and placed their trays on the counter.
"How do you want to do this bro?" asked Kurt "This is your plan."
"Discreetly spread the word to say Blaine needs time to investigate, something involving the Warblers, and if Mr Baxter asks, to try and keep him off his tail for at least the night."
"Sounds like a plan," smiled Kurt
"What's going on between you two then?" came Will's voice behind Finn and Kurt
Finn and Kurt looked at each other, and then turned around and semi smiled at Will, before looking over at Michael, who had his back to them, while talking to Emma. Will caught their eye line.
"Okay, you two follow me."
Will walked towards the door, while Finn, and Kurt looked at each other, but had to follow. They got outside the cafeteria and Will was waiting for them.
"I know when you guys are tying to keep a secret, I did teach you for 3 years, and I know when my kids are too. So you two have secret which involves Mr Baxter, and Blaine, so spill."
Finn sighed "Please don't say anything to Mr Baxter yet."
"Depends on what's going on, Finn!"
Blaine was told that some of the Warblers had transferred to Vocal Adrenaline," started Kurt "While a couple of others have gone overseas to Western Europe to compete for a team. Blaine feels that it might impacts us."
"In what way?" asked Will
"That's what he wants to find out," relied Finn "I was acting as Co-Captain to give a head start before we know who, gets wind of the situation, and takes over. Yes he has more resources, but Blaine needs to find out more for himself first."
Will looked at Finn and Kurt "You know you could of just let me in every once in a while."
"Deniability, Mr Schue," said Kurt "You'd get into less trouble."
Will shook his head "Still, I hate to think you guys would keep something from me."
"Mr Schue, if we couldn't handle it, you're always the first person that we come to," replied Finn
Will smiled and thought about what Finn had said "Okay, so what was your plan?"
"Discreetly inform everyone to keep Mr Baxter away from Blaine, for a few hours," said Kurt
"Okay, this is what needs to happen," replied Will "Blaine has until tomorrow morning, to get whatever information he can get, while I will preoccupy Mr Baxter for tonight. Do you both understand me?"
"Yes," said both Finn and Kurt together
"And you both owe me a favor, and I will collect one day. Do you both understand that?"
"Yes, Mr Schue," said both Finn and Kurt together, again
"Once I get Mr Baxter out of the way, let everyone know if Blaine needs any further help, to chip in, but it needs to be done discreetly."
"Okay," said both Finn and Kurt together
Will walked back into the Cafeteria, followed by Finn and Kurt. Rachel had seated herself down beside Sam after seeing Finn and Kurt follow Will out of the room. she was trying find out the reason.
Michael was still seated with his back to the door, so he hadn't seen any of the activity of the last 5 minutes. Emma could see Will, and had wondered what was up but never let on.
Will signaled to Emma to meet him by the counter. She calmly got up and walked over to him.
"I'll tell you the reason why later," said Will quickly "But I need you to do something for me. After I finish with Michael, I want you to keep him in a meeting for as long as possible, talking about the Counseling. You hadn't had a meeting with him yet."
"Okay," smiled Emma "I take it something's happening that you don't want Michael to know about yet?"
Will nodded "I'll tell you about it in private later."
Will walked over to Michael and sat down beside him.
"I think we should go over the video footage of today when it gets played in thirty minutes, and see what we can pick out, if the Warblers 2.0 have a serious chance of beating us, and react accordingly."
"Do you usually go over video footage?" asked Michael "In the past?"
"Yes."
"Okay that sounds like fun, shall we go to my office and watch the program, and then some planning?"
"Sounds good," smiled Will "If you're not busy of course."
"No it's all good, just to be involved in something like that is awesome. You trust me enough to have a keen eye."
"Well you are our benefactor, and you as you say is our number one fan, so you have a keen eye. That hasn't stopped you from saying anything before so yea I trust your eye."
"Okay, let's get going then, seen the group has the night off we could still work. I was planning on talking to Mr Anderson, but I can do that tomorrow."
"Oh yea!" said Will trying to sound interested "What about?"
"Nothing really," replied Michael unaware of the topic of conversation "Just on what he thought was happening with the Warblers 2.0."
"Oh okay," replied Will nonchalantly
"Shall we go?" asked Michael
Will nodded. Both he and Michael got up, and Michael took his tray over to the counter. He then rejoined Will, and as they passed the table where Finn, and Kurt had sat back down, Will gave Finn a quick wink. Kurt caught it too. Then Finn waited until Will and Michael left the cafeteria, and waited 10 seconds before ushering Kurt over to the door, to make sure that they had really gone.
Finn then got up "Psst, everyone over here, quickly and quietly."
"What's up Hudson," came Santana's voice
"Sush, just get over here, Lopez," whispered Finn
"Oh a secret meeting," replied Santana "Fun times."
Finn looked over at Emma, who nodded.
"Come on kids, it's time to do your homework," said Emma speaking to her kids Daniel, Joseph, and Isobel."
"Oh but mum," whined Isobel "I want to hang out with Aunty Britteny some more."
Brittany smiled, the 8 year old was always getting her name wrong.
"You can out with Aunty Brit later," said Emma
"Okay, bye Aunty Brit."
"Bye Issy," smiled Brittany giving Isobel a hug
Daniel, Joseph, and Isobel, wlaked over to their mum, and they all placed their trays on the counter. Emma proceeded to walk out of the room followed by her kids
"Thanks,?" smiled Finn
"You and Will both owe me one," laughed Emma
Once Emma, and the kids left the room, Kurt came back in giving the all clear.
"What's going on Hudson?" replied Santana again
The rest of the team huddled around the table that Finn was at.
"Earlier today while we were at the studios, Blaine found out that a few of the old Warblers had joined Vocal Adrenaline, and a couple of major ones had gone to compete overseas."
"So what if they joined Vocal Adrenaline," said Quinn "We can deal with them at some point."
"That's not the point," said Kurt "The point is those people going overseas to compete."
"Who's gone overseas?" asked Santana "Surely Sebastian and that Hunter dude who took drugs would be on Vocal Adrenaline."
"Blaine feels that those two have gone overseas." said Finn
"So what?" asked Tina "What does that have to do with us. It doesn't concern us at least one bit. We should just focus on ourselves and not worry about what everyone else is doing."
"For once I agree with Cohen-Chang," said Santana "We have to worry about ourselves."
"But this might be beneficial to know though," said Finn "Than finding out much later on down the track and giving us a fright."
"So what are you saying?" asked Mercedes
"Blaine thinks Sebastian and Hunter have gone over to Western Europe to join a team over there," said Kurt "He's gone to investigate."
"We need to investigate as well," said Finn "We all need to liaise with Blaine, and see what he wants."
"Why?" asked Kitty "Why are we talking like this, and not going to Mr Baxter and telling him about suspicions. He's the one with the resources."
"Which is exactly the point," replied Kurt "He could find stuff out and keep it to himself, and tell us much later at our cost, or we could investigate ourselves, and find out much sooner, and plan accordingly."
"That's sounds plausible," said Mike
"What does plausible mean?" asked Finn
"Believing the truth and the believing the reason," replied Mike
"Oh yea, that then," smiled Finn
"So I'm guess Mr Schue is in on this?" asked Artie
"Yes," replied Kurt "He's keeping Mr Baxter busy to let us do our thing."
"I'm going to ask this again," started Santana "Why do we have to worry about two people, like Sebastian and the drug cheat Hunter?"
"Because it it's just those two, just going overseas," said Blaine from the doorway "Then we don't have to worry but if it is more people that we know are heading overseas to say Western Europe, then we need to worry, as there's something going on."
"How'd you know we were having a quick meeting?" asked Kurt
"Rachel texted me."
Everyone looked at Rachel.
"What? We need to liaise with Blaine, and we're here arguing about two people. So I thought why not bring Blaine into it."
"Have you found out anything yet?" asked Kurt
Blaine walked into the room "I've got a friend over in the U.K, who will be viewing some U.K Show Choir teams, like what we did today. I've given him some names, so he's on the lookout."
"What do you want us to do?" asked Finn
"If everyone is going to be involved then I want you to think of anyone who might want to go overseas and compete. Compete for the chance of going up against us."
"What are you saying?" asked Jake "That people want to compete against us?"
"But the only way that could happen," said Rachel "Is when we meet them at the Worlds."
Everyone was silent as the realization quickly hit home about what was happening. It seemed a team of their opponents, whoever they had come up across in the past, was being or had been put together.
"That's so crafty," said Santana "It's almost like Mr Baxter bringing us together because he was a fan of ours. But he brought us of course. Paid us contracts."
"So what's if that's the case with the Western European team, someone bringing our opponents together to compete against us, and paying them like Mr Baxter did with us, hoping that we both go all the way to the Worlds." said Kurt
"But the only one who could afford to do that is Mr Baxter." said Quinn
"But doesn't he have brothers?" asked Kitty
"Yea an older one," replied Quinn "Plus also 3 or 4 middle ones. Mr Baxter is the youngest."
"That what if, one of them," started Blaine "Decided to compete against his brother and wanted to out do him as part of that so called Brotherly competition?"
Everyone went silent.
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So now the New Directions are on the case, what else can they find out about their Western European opponents, and if so, is this all true?
Stay tuned.