Hi everyone! Thanks as always for all your reviews. I really appreciate them. I also have some news. Anyone remember how last year I started the Glee fanfic awards, but couldn't finish them because I got so overwhelmed after Cory's death? Well, I'm thinking of doing that again this year - but finishing them this time! Would you guys like that?
Back on topic, hope you enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue!
Chapter 21: Baby Steps
"I'm not sure if I can do this," Finn said.
"Finn, you'll be fine," Rachel said.
"I don't know if this is a good idea," Finn admitted. He had to admit, after his last job experience, he wasn't sure if he was up for another job. Rachel had gotten him an interview at the diner, and he was nervous about it. What if there was someone here like Lucy?
"You know, I work here too," Rachel reminded Finn. "And so do Kurt and Santana. One of us is bound to be here when you're here."
"I know," Finn said. Was it possible that he was being too nervous? Rachel had never had problems here...
Rachel knocked on the door of an office at the diner and a man came out. "Gunther, this is Finn, my boyfriend," Rachel said. "Finn, this is the owner of the diner."
"Hi," Finn said.
"Come on in," Gunther said.
Rachel gave Finn a quick kiss. "You'll be great. Now I've got to get on duty."
Finn went into the office and sat across the table from Gunther. "So, you're Rachel's boyfriend," Gunther said. "And you're interested in working here."
"Yeah," Finn said. "I'm starting school at Columbia in the fall, and I'd really like to make a little extra money."
"Rachel told me you're very responsible," Gunther said. "She said that you two were the leaders of your glee club in high school."
"We were," Finn said. "So I definitely could perform for the patrons."
"Yes, Rachel showed me videos of you two performing in high school," Gunther told Finn. "You two sound really good together."
"That's what we've been told," Finn said. "I really like singing with Rachel."
"Where have you worked before, Finn?" Gunther asked.
"Well, I worked at a law firm here in New York for about a month, but there was someone there who made me uncomfortable," Finn said, not wanting to go into detail. "When I was in Ohio, I worked at the family tire shop, and I also helped out with the glee club."
"Yeah, Rachel did mention that there were some issues with one of your co-workers at the law firm," Gunther said. "I can assure you that there won't be anything like that here. If you ever get the sense that someone's going to make you uncomfortable, come to one of the managers."
"I will," Finn said.
"So, Finn, what's your availability?" Gunther asked.
"Well, when my class schedule's ready, I'll show it to you," Finn said. "During the summer I can come in any time."
"Well, we've heard lots of good things about you from Rachel," Gunther said. "And from Santana and Kurt. Do you think you could start tomorrow?"
They wanted him to work here? "Yeah!" Finn said.
"So, you can be here at noon tomorrow?" Gunther asked.
"Yup, I will," Finn said. After signing some papers, he went to join Rachel. "Rachel, I got the job!"
Rachel gave Finn a big hug. "I knew you would!"
"I'm going to be working with you!" Finn said.
"Yes you are," Rachel said. She leaned over and whispered to Finn. "And I'll make sure that no one lets anything bad happen to you here."
Santana came over. "Finn, Rachel basically got you this job. She was telling Gunther all about how great you are and showing him videos of you guys performing."
"Hey, you and Kurt helped!" Rachel said.
"Yeah, we did," Santana admitted.
"Well, thank you," Finn said. He was already feeling better.
Gunther came over. "Finn, we need to get you fitted for your uniform."
"I bet you'll look great in the uniform," Rachel whispered to Finn.
Finn smirked at Rachel. He did know that she always looked good in her uniform.
x
"Mom, I got the job!" Finn announced as he and Rachel arrived home from the diner.
"That's great, honey!" Carole said.
"You won't have to worry about Finn at the diner," Rachel said. "He'll have me, Kurt and Santana to protect him."
"That's good to know," Burt said. "I wanted to let you guys know, I talked to a lawyer, and we filed a lawsuit against the lawfirm and Lucy with the New York City courts."
"You actually went through with it?" Finn asked. He didn't expect his parents to actually go through with suing Lucy and the law firm. Ever since they'd shown up at the law firm, he hadn't seen or heard from Lucy. Granted, it had only been a few days, but...
"Of course we actually went through with it!" Burt said. "She's guilty of stalking and of sexual assault and harassment."
Finn sighed. He was feeling better when he was doing things that wouldn't remind him of Lucy, but now the bad memories were starting to come back.
"Finn, you're going to be okay," Carole said, clearly sensing that Finn was upset. "Burt and I also got you an appointment to meet with a therapist."
"A therapist?" Finn asked nervously.
"Finn, you had a traumatizing experience," Burt said. "It would help to talk with a professional. One of the congressmen in New York has a friend who's a therapist who specializes in this and he got you an appointment with him."
"This is kind of personal information," Finn said.
"Finn, it would be good for you to meet with the therapist," Carole said.
Finn sighed. "We'll see."
"Honey, it'll be good for you," Rachel said. "I can come too."
"Okay," Finn agreed. He just wanted this to be over.
"Hey, I'm really proud of you for getting that job!" Burt said, patting Finn on the back. Then they heard a knock on the apartment door.
Finn gulped when he heard the knock. When would he stop getting nervous whenever he heard a knock. But his nerves went away when Puck and Quinn came in.
"Hey!" Rachel said. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, I came to help out," Puck said. "We need to get that psycho in jail, and I'll probably be more help with making that happens if I'm here to help."
"Thanks for coming," Burt said. "We filed a lawsuit, so we should get a court date soon."
"I'm glad you're here," Finn said. It would be good to have as many of his friends around during this time as possible.
x
"Finn's going to be fine, Rachel," Burt said as Burt, Carole and Rachel sat in the waiting room at the therapist's office.
"I know, I just hate having to see him go through this," Rachel admitted.
"We all do," Carole said. "A parent never wants to see their child go through the things Finn's going through."
"He seems to be better when he's distracted," Rachel said. "Like when he and I went out the other night and when he found out he got the job. And when we go to court - he'll have to see Lucy again and I don't want her in the same room as him..."
"Neither do any of us," Burt said.
"He just wishes this would pass," Rachel said.
Finn came out of the office with his therapist, Dr. Burke. "You're Finn's parents and girlfriend?" the doctor asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said.
"Can I talk to you?" Dr. Burke asked.
"How about you talk to me first?" Rachel suggested. "I live with Finn."
"Okay," Dr. Burke agreed, leading Rachel into his office.
"Thanks for meeting with Finn today," Rachel said.
"It's no problem," Dr. Burke told her. "Now, I talked to Finn, and he does still have a way to go."
Rachel sighed. She knew Finn had a way to go. Now a professional was confirming it. "What can I do for Finn?" Rachel asked.
"I'd just make sure he's as comfortable and feels as safe as possible," Dr. Burke said. "You should try to avoid situations that might remind him of Lucy."
"Okay," Rachel said.
"Like try to stay out of the part of town that the law firm is in," Dr. Burke suggested. "And don't watch movies or TV shows that have to do with law."
"Okay," Rachel said again. They didn't watch any of those shows to begin with, so that would be easy enough.
"Rachel, I'm sure this is hard for you too," Dr. Burke said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm really just focusing on Finn right now," Rachel said. Of course she was upset and angry, but what she cared about the most was making sure Finn was okay.
"I'm glad you're being a good girlfriend, but you should make sure you're taking care of yourself as well," Dr. Burke said. "Even though it's second hand, this has got to be pretty upsetting for you. You really seem to love Finn."
"Of course I love him," Rachel said. "He's my world."
"He's lucky to have you," Dr. Burke said. "He told me that you've been a big help with everything these past few weeks and you've taken good care of him."
"Well, I've tried," Rachel said. "Do you want to see Finn's parents now?"
"Yes, thank you," Dr. Burke said. "Rachel, Finn's going to get through this."
Rachel nodded and went back to the waiting room, where Burt, Carole and Finn were waiting. "The therapist is ready for you two," she said to Burt and Carole.
"Okay," Carole said as she and Burt went in and Rachel sat down next to Finn. "You're going to be okay," Rachel said, putting her arms around Finn.
"Thanks for standing by me," Finn said.
"Finn, I'm always here for you," Rachel said. Finn didn't deserve this, but she was going to help him get through it.
x
The next day, Rachel and Finn were both scheduled to work at the diner, and to Rachel's relief, Finn seemed pretty comfortable with the other people at the diner. Her shift started and ended before his did though, so she went to get ice cream with Puck and Quinn while Finn, Kurt and Santana finished up their shifts. As Rachel, Puck and Quinn left the ice cream store, they saw Shelby and Beth leaving another store. Rachel hoped Puck and Quinn wouldn't see, but Quinn nudged Rachel and eyed Beth. "Rachel, is that her?"
"Yeah, it is," Rachel said, wondering if she should say hi or not. But Shelby walked over to them. "Hi guys," Shelby said.
"Rachel!" Beth said with excitement.
"Hi, Beth," Rachel said.
"Where's Kylie?" Beth asked.
"Kylie went home," Rachel said. Had Shelby been talking to Beth about Rachel and Kylie?
Beth looked at Puck and Quinn. "Hi. I'm Beth." She held out her hand.
Puck shook hands with Beth. "Uh, hi Beth. I'm Puck," he stuttered.
Quinn stared at Beth as she shook hands with her. "And I'm Quinn."
"You Rachel's friends?" Beth asked.
"Yeah, we are," Puck said.
"Rachel's my sister," Beth said. "Well, Rachel and Kylie. Kylie's not here though."
Rachel looked at Shelby. "Ever since you and Kylie came over, Beth hasn't stopped talking about you two," Shelby admitted. "I put your picture on the refrigerator. She asks why you two don't live with us..."
Kylie HAD said that she and Rachel were Beth's sisters when they'd gone to Shelby's house. She didn't expect Beth to remember it though. Beth was three. And it had to be upsetting for Puck and Quinn to hear Beth talk this way in front of them. Then again, Beth probably didn't even know who Puck and Quinn were. Rachel had to think fast. "Beth, Kylie had to go be with her mommy and daddy, but maybe sometime she and I can come visit again."
"But my mommy is her mommy and your mommy," Beth said, looking confused.
"Beth, remember what we talked about?" Shelby said. "When Rachel and Kylie were born, I couldn't take care of them, so I gave them to other people."
"Oh, yeah," Beth said.
Rachel looked at Puck and Quinn. This had to hit close to home for them.
Shelby looked up at Puck and Quinn. "So, what brings you two to New York?"
Rachel gave Puck and Quinn a look telling them not to bring up what was happening with Finn in front of Shelby. "They just came to visit."
"Oh, that's nice," Shelby said. "It's nice to see you two again. So, you're both in New Haven?"
"Yeah," Puck said. "I'll be at college there in the fall and Quinn's at Yale." Rachel saw that both Puck and Quinn were staring at Beth.
"Good for you guys," Shelby said. "Nice to see you. Maybe I'll see you next time you're in New York." She and Beth began walking away and Rachel wondered what to say.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah, so beautiful," Puck agreed.
"Guys, I'm sorry," Rachel said. "I didn't expect to see them..."
"No, it's fine," Quinn said. "I'm glad I got to see her. It's just - she didn't know who I am."
"Maybe one day Shelby will tell her who you guys are," Rachel said. "She's really little. You see that she's confused about me and Kylie."
"At least Shelby talked to us," Puck said. "That's something, right?"
"Of course it is," Rachel said.
"I couldn't believe that was really her," Quinn said. "She's beautiful. She's gotten so big..."
"Yeah, she has," Rachel said. Shelby was inconsistent about whether not she wanted Rachel in her life, so Rachel was hesitant, but if she did end up getting closer to Shelby, she would try to convince her to let Quinn and Puck develop a relationship with Beth. It was clear they wanted one.
Chapter 22 preview: Artie, Sam and Tina move to New York and stay at the loft for a little before their school year starts. As the court date approaches, Finn begins to develop anxiety about seeing Lucy again. Someone familiar also joins the cast of Funny Girl.
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