AN: Hi again guys, hope you're all going well. Here's the latest chapter of the story. A chapter kind of dedicated to Quinn's feelings, necessary as you can imagine. Please leave a review, I truly love them and they keep me writing. Thanks

The next week held a few interesting developments.

The main one being just how important a role Rachel Berry now played in Quinn Fabray's life. Quinn, taken by surprise at the comfort she'd felt in the brunette's arms, couldn't help but want it. This was a drug she'd happily be addicted to forever. This comfort, this total reassurance, was probably something normal people were lucky enough to get from their parents. Maybe that's why Rachel was so good at it; her dad's seemed like very loving people.

So maybe it shouldn't have come as a surprise to Quinn when she was standing out the front of Rachel's house, barefoot and in nothing but her boxers and loose tank top.

Quinn had been restlessly trying to get to sleep, blood and tears scared onto the back of her eyelids as gunshots and agonized screams chased each other around her mind. She lay on her back, eyes on the ceiling, singing the song that she used to sing when she was too restless to sleep while pregnant.

"In the Jungle,

The mighty Jungle,

The Lion Sleeps tonight

Hush my darling,

Go sleep my darling,

The lion sleeps tonight"

She could feel herself fading, if not for the song than for her body's pure exhaustion.

Eyelids heavy, drooping, mind fading, screams softening….

Suddenly, a loud bang pieced her ears. Followed by another.

Quinn shot bolt upright, her eyes wide, breathing already rapid as she scrambled out of bed without a second thought. This time, she wouldn't allow herself to crumble into a useless heap; she had some courage left.

She practically fell down the stairs in her haste, racing past her mother who was fast asleep with a glass of wine still in her draped hand. Quinn flung the door open, slammed it shut behind her and took off, totally forgetting the option of the car.

She sprinted through the night. Not at an even pace like she was more than used to after endless relentless cheerio drills, but at a full on, panicked sprint.

There was no other option.

Not if she wanted to keep her safe.

So the blonde ran through the dark silence, nothing but her heavy footsteps and breathing filling it, sweat meeting crisp air and leaving her shivering once she reached her destination.

So here she stood, barefoot, boxers and tank top, panting out the front of Rachel's house.

Not knowing what else to do, Quinn looked over to find a tree beside Rachel's bedroom window. Without a second hesitation she began scrambling up the tree, terrified of her mind's creations of the sight she may be faced with. Twigs and stray bark scraped at her skin, but did nothing to stop her on her determined ascent.

Reaching the window, the blonde quickly rapped on the glass, pressing her forehead against the cool surface and whispering a soft prayer. Rachel was in her bed, unmoving. Instantly the blonde's heart rate picked up, her panic doubling at the unmoving form of her new found friend.

"Rachel!" she shouted, tapping harder on the glass now.

Mercifully, the brunette's form stirred, rolling over to face the window and rubbing her eyes. Upon opening them, Rachel gave a soft, almost dreamy smile, before shooting straight up, clearly caught by surprise. As quickly as the smile was gone, concern covered her features as she leapt out of bed, opening the window and pulling Quinn in.

The moment Quinn was inside, she flung her arms around the smaller girl, burying her face in the crook of her neck, exhaustion finally hitting her from her journey. They stayed like this, the singer placing hesitant hands on the blonde's lower back, allowing her to hold her as long as she needed to.

Her faith that Rachel was indeed unharmed established, Quinn withdrew herself, suddenly back to herself after her moment with Rachel.

"A…A car backfired. I thought…I don't know, really, I mean, I just-"

"It's okay, Quinn. You're exhausted, come sit down", Rachel instructed, leading the blonde by the hand over to the bed, sitting on the edge.

Quinn fell into place beside her, eyes on her clasped hands in her lap.

"God, Rachel, I'm sorry. You were sleeping, probably need it just as much as me and I came barging in here", Quinn muttered, shaking her hung head.

"Don't be silly, Quinn. You're more than welcome into my home any time you wish. Besides, I've always slept better with company. And there are nights when these just don't cut it", Rachel replied with uncharacteristic shyness, motioning towards the dozen stuffed animals that littered her bed.

Quinn couldn't suppress the smile that slipped onto her face as she looked over the toys, before her face fell to a hesitant expression as she looked back to Rachel.

"Y-you want me to stay over?"

Rachel's face went blank, recovering so quickly Quinn believed perhaps she was imagining things.

"Well yes, of course. By the looks of you, you didn't drive here, it's not safe to send you back into the dangers of the night and I'd much rather sleep than drive you home. So no, Quinn, I don't want you to stay the night, I'm telling you to. Though your company will be greatly appreciated"

Quinn merely rolled her eyes. Only Rachel Berry to resort to ranting to get her into bed. Without another word, both girls hopped under the covers, Quinn finding herself surrounded by the small furry bodies of the stuffed animals. The pair lay on their backs, as far as possible away from each other, almost fearing that any closer would result in the other calling off this…

What was this? Not a truce, the mutual friendship had been well established by now. Comfort? Surely not, Quinn always considered touch to be comfort. Perhaps presence alone was comfort enough to Rachel. The intimacy of the moment, however, was not lost either girl. The ex cheerio decided to fill the silence first.

"I was really scared"

"I know"

"I'm sorry I woke you up"

"I know"

"Goodnight, Rachel"

"Goodnight, Quinn"

When morning broke, Rachel's alarm sounded loudly, causing the singer to sit up and go about her routine, pausing only to poke Quinn in the ribs when she refused to cease her loud groans of protest, covering her head with a pillow to shield herself when the brunette opened the curtains. After the morning routine, Rachel drove Quinn to her home so the blonde could quickly get changed, scoffing down a breakfast in the car as they made their way to school.

"Good morning, Noah!" Rachel smiled, greeting the boy as they walked into the school corridor.

"Is it?" Quinn grumbled, rubbing her eyes in a futile attempt to wake herself up.

Noah shot Quinn a look that almost looked like a smile, nodding to Rachel but remaining silent. The bags under his eyes revealed he was having as hard a time sleeping as Rachel and Quinn. While the other glee club members were understandably traumatized, the remaining trio from that fateful scouting mission were clearly the worst affected.

They walked for a second longer, finding a certain kind of peace in being with others who understood. But then a boy went to chase after his friend, barging Noah on his way past.

The larger boy span around, catching the guy by the back of his shirt collar and swinging him up against the lockers. The mohawked boy was on him in an instant, eyes blind to everything but the next well positioned punch and kick. It was a flurry of movement, fists coming down as quickly as they were coming back up, Puck showing no sign of relenting.

Quinn pounced forward, grabbing Noah's hands and screaming at him.

"Noah, stop! This isn't him, it's not him!"

Thankfully, the muscular boy seemed to hear her all the way from wherever he was. Coming back into it, he blinked rapidly, looking between his fists, the crumpled form and the wide eyes of Quinn before taking a trembling step back and sprinting out of the front doors.

Every single student watched him as he left.

After taking the innocent victim to the nurses' office, Quinn leant back against the wall, pressing the palm of her hand against her forehead. Rachel sighed, crossing her arms and looking at the ground.

"You know, I've been thinking…Maybe we should-"

Rachel was cut of by the blaring voice over the speaker right above them.

"All students are to report to the auditorium for an assembly"

Quinn looked at Rachel. Rachel looked at Quinn.

Without really knowing, they knew.

They were about to learn the identity of the shooter. The name that took Mike and Finn. The life that, for now, had taken theirs.