A.N. Here y'all go. I'd apologize for taking a little longer but the muse was silent and I have rules (as does my beta) regarding finishing a chapter before posting the previous one so... Anywho I hope you all like this...

Monday January 24, 2011

8:16 A.M.

Kurt stared at his phone. He stared at the text message that stood out starkly against the white screen. Later he would learn exactly how the text came to be.

8:03 A.M.

Matt had gotten to school early to work out. Everything with Rachel had him tense and hurting. He had done more reps than he should have in the weight room and was paying for it now. He sat gingerly on the bench in the changing stall and shrugged on his shirt. He heard the doors swing open and recognized Karofsky's mean voice immediately.

Matt grew as quiet as possible. His place on the football team should have protected him from any of Karofsky's abuse but with the sadistic hockey player one could never be sure.

His whole body tensed when he caught the tail end of Karofsky's sentence, "… Glee freak!"

Azimo hesitated, "What do you mean? You know who tied her up?"

Karofsky barked out a laugh, "KNOW! Man I did it! Me and two of the girls on the Cheerios."

Azimo's voice sounded shocked, "Dude she died!"

Karofsky chuckled, "I know right. They should throw me a parade. I didn't plan on her snuffing it but call it a bonus."

Azimo replied quietly, "Right… Listen dude I gotta go. I need to turn in a late assignment for Math."

Karofsky spoke, "Whatever dude. See you later."

Azimo didn't answer and Matt listened as the doors swung open again. He was alone with Karofsky. It took every ounce of self control Matt possessed to not charge out of the stall and beat the ever living shit out of Karofsky. He had KILLED Rachel and the asshole wasn't even sorry. He took a deep quiet breath and waited. He needed to get out of here to tell someone. Anyone. He couldn't risk Karofsky silencing him before he got a chance to tell.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was in reality five minutes Karofsky finished what he was doing and left the locker room. Matt threw himself out of the stall, counted to sixty, and then launched himself out of the locker room. He tore down the hall at breakneck speed and nearly careened in to Mercedes and Quinn as he rounded the corner.

Mercedes caught him, "Whoa Matt. Where's the fire."

Matt double over and tried to catch his breath, "I know," Wheeze, "I know," Cough, "I heard…"

Quinn reached out a hand, "Matt calm down and take a few deep breaths."

Matt did as he was instructed and then blurted, "I know who did it! I know who killed Rachel!"

Quinn was on him in a second "Who!" Her hands were wrapped in his collar and his back was pressed against the locker. She shook him slightly, "Who Matt?"

Matt breathed, "Karofsky and two of the Cheerios, though I didn't hear who they were."

Quinn's whole body tensed and her eyes flashed. And then she turned to Mercedes and snapped, "We can't tell anyone. We have to go straight to Figgins because if Puck hears he will kill him."

Mercedes face took on a look of horror and Matt belatedly noticed the cell phone clutched in her hands.

The diva shook her head, "I all ready sent out a mass text to everyone on the team…"

Quinn looked murderous, "Fuck! Ok…" She placed a hand to her head and then whipped out her phone, and dialed, "Brittany! Is Santana with you?"

She waited for a reply and then, "Don't let her see her phone ok! Tell her you want to go feed the ducks, tell her you want to do it in the park, tell her anything but do not let her bring you to school ok? Keep S away from campus today." She hung up the phone and then ordered, "We have to find Puck before he finds Karofsky." The three kids raced down the hallway.

8:16 A.M.

Kurt stared at his cell phone and then looked up at the jock that loomed in from of him. Karofsky and three other hockey players had cornered him by the dumpsters and were getting ready to toss him in. Kurt felt a wave of rage wash over him as he read the words of the text Mercedes had sent;

It was Karofsky! He got Rachel!

Karofsky smirked, "Ready for a trash bath fag?"

Kurt's reply was a non verbal one. He did something that caused all the students in the parking lot to freeze and stare. His fist drew back and he slammed it into Karofsky's nose before leaping at him.

"You bastard! How could you!" His voice was little more than a shriek. Karofsky was so surprised that Kurt managed to land a few good hits in before he reacted and shoved Kurt away from him.

The jock touched his nose and looked a little shocked to see blood on his fingers.

He looked up and snarled, "You'll pay for that you little queer!"

He moved forward a step and then a blur slammed into him like a freight train.

Kurt watched as Puck and Karofsky slammed on to the ground. Karofsky squawked in indignation where as Puck bared down on him with single minded ferocity.

Puck's hands wrapped around Karofsky's neck in a vice like grip. Puck didn't speak, he simply glared at Karofsky with a hate filled gaze and squeezed.

Karofsky's squawk was cut off as Noah Puckerman's hands flexed ruthlessly.

The hockey players leapt to their teammate's defense and pulled and hit Puck, trying to remove his hands from Karofsky's neck. Puck ignored them.

"PUCK!" A scream cut across the parking lot and Kurt glanced back to seen Quinn, Matt, and Mercedes running towards them.

Puck ignored his baby mama as well.

The three kids were there a moment later and Matt moved forward to aid the hockey players in removing Puck.

One of the boys demanded, "What the hell is his problem? He's going to kill him!"

Matt snarled back, "Karofsky murdered Rachel Berry."

Kurt watched as Karofsky's eyes widened and bulged further as the realization that he was in very real danger hit him.

One of the hockey players actually stopped trying to help and even looked content to let Puck choke the life from his team mate.

Finn and Mike barreled into the group and joined the fray, though Kurt could see that Finn had tears in his eyes and looked reluctant to help. Kurt imagined that Finn wasn't helping save Karofsky's life for Karofsky but for Puck.

Sirens wailed and three cop cars sped into the parking lot. They screeched to a halt and the police officers exited their cars. The six men pushed through crowd and together with the Glee boys and the hockey players finally dislodged Puck. The boy struggled and finally broke.

"Let me kill him! Please!" He tried to lunge for Karofsky again, "Please!"

Officer Wiggs spoke, "Son! Calm down. It's over."

Puck howled, "No! He took her away! He needs to pay! I need to make him pay!"

It was Finn who wrapped his arms around Puck and spoke quietly, "She wouldn't want this Puck. She wouldn't want you to do this Noah."

Puck's body sagged at the use of his given name and Quinn moved forward. Both Finn and Quinn wrapped their arms around Noah and held him as he finally cried.

Karofsky had regained his air and his voice, "I want him arrested!"

Wiggs turned and Kurt saw his hand clutch at his gun.

Wiggs was in Karofsky's face a moment later, "Give me a reason you murdering piece of crap."

Karofsky looked scared again, "He tried to kill me."

Wiggs snapped, "No more than you deserve, do you like tying up girls? Huh?"

Karofsky tried to back away but was trapped by a wall of blue.

Wiggs drew out his handcuffs and growled, "David Karofsky you are under arrest for the murder of Rachel Berry. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney, and if you cannot afford an attorney one will be provided for you by the state of Ohio." He slapped the cuffs on Karofsky and none to gently dragged him to his cruiser and shoved him in the back.

Finn looked at the glee kids as he held Puck, "Let's go to the choir room?"

Mercedes whipped out her cell phone, "I'll let everyone know."

Quinn pressed her head against Puck's back, "Santana and Brittany too."

Mercedes nodded as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

8:45 A.M.

The club had come together and now they say quietly, until Santana got there.

"That son of…" She trailed off. Her shoulders were tight and she looked as if steam was getting ready to pour from her ears.

Quinn assured the Latina, "He was arrested and the cops didn't look twice at Puck."

Santana scowled, "He's just lucky B wanted to feed the ducks this morning. I'd have killed him if I had gotten my hands on him."

She made her way over to Puck and stood in front of him, "Did you finally cry?"

Puck looked up at her and his red eyes were all the answer she needed, "Yeah."

Santana huffed, "Good. A real badass knows how to cry without looking like a little bitch."

Kurt supplied, "He looked very manly while he wept."

Puck glared at him, "I don't weep Beyoncè."

Kurt shrugged, "Bawled like a baby then."

Puck growled, "Hummel…"

Kurt examined his nailed, "I've bawled like a baby. So has Quinn. Finn has."

Mercedes held up her hand, "Me too."

Brittany nodded, "Santana too, and she held me when I did."

Santana scoffed and avoided everyone's gaze. Her hand snaked out and caught Brittany's though.

Artie rocked his chair back and forth, "I know I have." Tina nodded next to him and raised her hand a little.

Matt and Mike supplied at the same time, "Us too." The group turned to look at them, and Mike added, "Not together or anything."

Kurt turned to look at Sam who scowled at him and turned away from him. Kurt stared at his back for a moment before glaring and turning to face Mercedes.

Puck sighed, "I get it. I'm not weird. I'm still a badass."

Quinn smiled at him, "Yes you are."

Puck was quiet and then softly he said, "I miss Rachel. I miss her a lot."

"She would have liked that you were willing to defend her Puck." Puck met Kurt's gaze and smiled.

Puck's smile morphed into a smirk, "She would have loved it that you were willing to attack a jock to defend her."

Kurt blushed and Mercedes demanded, "What! My boy did what?"

Puck leaned back, "Yup, Kurt here punched the asshole right in the nose, looked like he might have broken it," It was a gross exaggeration that confused Kurt until Puck winked at him and continued, "He was like a vicious little Chihuahua."

Kurt squeaked, "Hey!"

"No sweat Beyoncè, you were totally badass." Puck raised his fist and offered it to Kurt. Kurt gingerly bumped his fist with Puck's and smiled at him.

Kurt looked down at his hand which was bruising and muttered, "I just… I wanted to hurt him for what he did, you know?"

Puck tapped foot against Kurt's calf and the boy looked up, "I know Kurt. Believe me I get it."

Kurt and Puck nodded to each other. Kurt turned to Mercedes as Puck turned to talk to Finn.

Kurt's face fell for a moment as he wondered what Puck would do if he ever found out that Kurt could have saved Rachel.

11:30 P.M.

Finn had stayed the night at Puck's, which normally would not have been allowed on a school night, but Carole and Burt were being more lenient then usual with both Kurt and Finn. Puck had actually invited Kurt to stay as well but the diva had not felt comfortable. The more he thought about Puck's attack on Karofsky the guiltier he became. Was he any less culpable? He had been in that restroom not once but three times before Rachel had been discovered and in the end he hadn't been the one to find her. He could have saved her.

"I wouldn't have seen her…" Kurt ran a hand through his hair as he tried to will away the guilty feeling welling in his gut.

He stood and paced to his stereo as he mumbled, "She was gagged, I wouldn't have heard her. I couldn't have. There was nothing I could have done." He turned on his stereo and then shut it off. His dad and Carole were asleep and Carole had ears like a bat.

He turned and paced back to his bed where he sat, "She died of an asthma attack, I didn't even realize Rachel had asthma. It wasn't my fault… No one else helped her either."

He lay down and whispered, "It wasn't my fault."

11:35

"Do you really believe that?" Kurt sat up and scrambled back.

He stared at the young man who leaned casually against the far wall and demanded, "Who are you! How did…"

"I get in here?" The young man interrupted.

Kurt glared and nodded as he did his best to stand without getting off the bed.

The man shrugged, "I phased through the wall."

Kurt opened his mouth to scream and was cut off yet again, "I'm not here to hurt you."

Kurt let out a breath, "You aren't?"

The man shook his head, "In fact I'd go so far as to say I'm here to help you."

Kurt faced morphed into an incredulous stare, "Help me? By breaking and entering! Who are you?"

The young man smirked, "Depends on who you talk to. The Greeks think I'm three different people. The Christians believe I'm a manifestation of God's will. The answer is… more complicated than both of those answers."

Kurt's mouth was slack, "Huh?"

"I'm an Angel of Destiny Kurt." The man smiled gently.

Kurt's body relaxed a fraction of an inch, "An… an Angel. Why… why would I believe that?"

The man sighed, "You're right Kurt you have no reason to believe me. I am here to help though, I promise you."

Kurt cocked his head and demanded, "Help me how?"

The man smiled sadly and made his way to Finn's dresser and picked up the framed photo the rested there, "She was remarkable you know? Such a unique soul, I must admit I was put out to have been given a musician as my charge but I grew to love her. Her destiny was so bright, her reach was so long. So many people's fates were to be changed just by befriending her." He held the picture and brushed a hand across the glass.

Kurt swallowed, "You're here about Rachel?"

The man turned and pierced Kurt with his gaze, "Yes. All of that, her destiny, her influence is gone now. She's gone now and… it's like a light has gone out."

Kurt slid down completely, "You…"

The man sighed, "Rachel was my charge, you all fell under my watch and I failed."

"Rachel wasn't supposed to die?" Kurt leaned forward.

The man shook his head, "No. I messed up. I wasn't watching carefully enough."

Kurt glared, "Why didn't you help her? Why didn't you send someone?"

The man looked at Kurt sadly, "I did Kurt. I sent you."

Kurt let out a pained gasp, "Me… but… I didn't…"

The man shrugged, "You didn't. I thought you would grab the back pack; I was so sure you would grab the back pack and hear her. She was screaming through that tape and you would have heard her." He shook his head and scowled, "I miscalculated. I didn't count on you. I didn't figure friendship into the equation."

Kurt was stunned, "What do you mean?"

The man snarled bitterly, "You weren't her friend Kurt; a friend would have picked up the bag."

Kurt stood abruptly, "Is that why you're here! To tell me it's my fault? I know it is! It's killing me that I didn't help her, that I didn't save her. If I could go back to that day I'd save her."

The man snapped, "Life doesn't work like that. If you went back and picked up that bag it would be meaningless because you know what will happen if you don't."

Shame flooded Kurt.

The man smiled, "I'm not supposed to be here, my wings are as good as clipped but I had to come and try. I had to see if you were willing to make this right."

Hope flushed Kurt's face, "God yes, please."

The man held up a hand, "You need to know what's at stake Kurt. I'd have to send you back, so far back that everything you know now, Finn, Carole, and Sam, they'd all be different. You won't have met Sam. Hell New Directions will not have won sectionals for the first time."

Kurt's eyes widened, "Oh God… how… how far back?"

The man shook his head, "I can't tell you how far exactly but it will be the moment where you're relationship with Rachel hung in the balance."

Kurt hesitated for a moment and then the sight of Rachel's vacant eyes flashed through his eyes and he spoke in a sure and steady voice, "I'll do it. I have to, for Rachel, for Puck and Finn, Quinn and for myself."

Pride filled the man's face, "You're very brave Kurt. And don't think I'll send you all alone."

Kurt quirked his eyebrow and asked, "What?"

"You can bring one person back with you, one person who will remember Rachel's death." The man's gaze was intense.

Kurt's first instinct was Finn, or maybe Puck but he paused before speaking and thought.

"I'd tell her I'd give anything to do it different." Quinn's face flashed in his mind's eye and Kurt knew. He knew who he should ask for. The selfish part of him still wanted to take Finn, or his father, or even Mercedes but in his heart he knew.

He breathed, "Quinn… send Quinn back with me."

The man nodded, "A wise choice Kurt."

Kurt smiled, pleased with the Angel's approval, "So send me back."

The Angel held up a hand, "There are rules Kurt. By the time you get back I will have had my wings clipped and they," he pointed up, "Won't like that I did this. You will start to forget the closer you get to the date, the choice has to be yours so eventually you won't remember any timeline but the altered one as past Kurt and you merge. This is a once in a thousand lifetimes chance, you won't get another one. Do you understand?"

Kurt squared his shoulders, "I understand."

The angel looked at his watch and gasped, "It's a minute till midnight Kurt. Do I have your permission to send you back?"

Kurt nodded, "Do it. I'm ready."

The Angel nodded and raised his hand, "A piece of advice Kurt? You'll be given a chance to be honest with Rachel… with yourself. Tell the truth and Rachel may surprise you." Kurt looked bewildered as the Angel placed his hand on Kurt's forehead, "Thank you Kurt."

Wednesday November 18, 2009

6:34 P.M.

"…Want every boy at school to do a double take when you strut past." The words flowed from Kurt's mouth as if someone else was controlling him. He nearly fell back from his relaxed position on Rachel's bed.

Rachel leaned forward and looked down, "Well, there's really only just… one boy that I'd like to impress." Kurt's grin was not for the reason it had been the first time, the sight of Rachel was… astounding. Rachel's next word's reached his ears, "Can you keep a secret?"

Kurt nodded eagerly, "Of course."

Rachel nearly blurted, "I'm in love with Finn."

Kurt nearly doubled over as the unexpected feelings of jealousy and anger slammed into him. That wasn't right. He was over Finn, had been since before the tall boy had become his step brother.

"Really?" Kurt's voice was strained and he fought the urge to do exactly as he had done before. He stood and the Angel's words hit him, "Tell the truth…"

Rachel nodded. He turned away from the tiny Diva and took a deep breath. He was about to admit something he had never actually given voice to of his own free will.

"Rachel," He steeled himself, "I can't give you a makeover… not if you intend to go after Finn."

Rachel looked surprised and a little hurt.

Kurt sighed and asked, "Can you keep a secret?"

Rachel nodded.

Kurt breathed out and blurted it out much as Rachel had, "I'm in love with Finn. I have been for years."

Rachel's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hair, she looked so surprised.

"I just… I wanted to be honest. A better person would give you the makeover and hope for the best but I'm already a step behind you so…" Kurt fought the urge to wince. He felt like an ass. How hard would this have been the first time around?

Rachel was quiet for a moment before, "How long… how long have you loved Finn?"

Kurt shrugged, "Since 6th grade."

Rachel looked stunned, "That long? Wow."

"I'm really sorry Rachel." Kurt hoped he hadn't already torpedoed his second chance.

Rachel offered a small smile, "It's ok. I didn't really want a makeover anyway. And I understand. I'm just glad you didn't…" She trailed off.

Kurt urged her on, "Didn't what?"

Rachel whispered, "Do something mean. I mean… I know you don't really like me. And I know we aren't really friends…"

Kurt reached out a hand and caught Rachel's, briefly reveling in the solid weight of her hand in his before he spoke, "We are friends Rachel," He recalled what he had said to her, about her personality and again fought off a wince, "I shouldn't have said those things about you earlier. It was mean and friends shouldn't be mean like that."

Rachel's eyes shined, "We're… we're friends?"

Kurt's heart clenched, "Yeah Rachel. We're friends."

YAY! See! I told you. Read and review. Next chapter is from a special Blonde's POV.