Thanks as always for your reviews on the last chapter, I really appreciate them! Some of the arcs in this story are things I haven't really covered before and was nervous about covering them, so I am glad that you guys have been enjoying the story. Hope you enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to keep going!

Chapter 22: Understudies

Rachel stood in the kitchen, making breakfast for the residents of the loft. The summer was winding down, and the later part of the summer had been going smoother than the first half. Lucy had been delivered a restraining order by the police and the group was awaiting the court date. Finn had been going to therapy, but he did seem to be doing better, especially when he and Rachel hung out. It was definitely nice for Rachel to have Finn working at the diner with her. In about a week, Sam, Tina and Artie would be arriving and spending some time at the loft so they could get to know New York before school started.

Today, Rachel had to get to rehearsals early since the understudy for the male lead had gotten a role in another show and both she and Marissa would have to do chemistry tests with the men who were trying out to be Paolo's understudy.

Finn came into the kitchen. "Making breakfast?"

"Yeah, I made us each an omelet," Rachel said, giving Finn a good morning kiss. "What time do you work today?"

"I work the lunch shift," Finn said. "What about you?"

"The dinner shift," Rachel said.

"Hey, at least you'll have Kurt with you," Finn said.

"That's true," Rachel said. "Are you going to be okay getting to work by yourself today?" Since Santana was working the breakfast shift at the diner today and Blaine was at Starbuck's, Finn would have to walk to work by himself today. It was the first time that he'd be walking to work alone and Rachel was more than a little nervous. Ever since everything that happened with Lucy, Finn didn't even like to be in the apartment alone when someone was going downstairs to get the mail.

Finn sighed. "I'll have to do it at some point."

"Hey, you can text me as you walk there," Rachel said.

"I wish you didn't have to sing duets with a bunch of guys," Finn protested.

Rachel looked down. On top of everything, she knew it would be upsetting for Rachel to sing duets with other guys. "I wish I didn't have to sing with all these guys either. I'm just the understudy, but I guess they want to see how I sound with them in case Marissa and Paolo both have to miss a show."

"Well, it is just a show," Finn said.

"Exactly," Rachel said. "And when I sing with these guys, you know I'd rather be singing with you."

Finn managed to smile. "Good luck with that."

x

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Kurt asked Finn. Finn had put on his uniform for the diner and was geting ready to leave for work. To say he was nervous about walking to work by himself for the first time was an understatement. He would always walk with Rachel, Kurt, Blaine or Santana, even if one of them wasn't scheduled to work at the same time as he was.

"I can't have someone walk with me to and from work forever," Finn said.

"Finn, you had a traumatizing experience," Kurt said. "After everything that happened with Karofsky, I was afraid to go to McKinley."

"The police did deliver a restraining order," Finn reminded both himself and Kurt. "And we showed her picture to our supervisors at the diner so they know she can't show up there."

"Yeah, that's true," Kurt said. "Are you sure you'll be okay? You don't even like to be at the loft alone for ten minutes when one of us needs to go get the mail or pick up something at the pharmacy."

Finn wasn't sure if he was ready to walk to work alone. But he'd have to at some point. "I'll have my phone with me."

"You can call me or text me if you get nervous," Kurt said.

"Thanks," Finn said. "I'll see you after my shift."

He picked up his phone, went downstairs and began walking to work. Maybe he wasn't ready to walk to work alone yet. He kept glancing over his shoulder, making sure no one was following him. A woman with red hair in the middle of her back began walking down the street, and Finn's heart skipped a beat. What if it was her?

Finn walked to the side of the street, watching the woman out of the corner of his eye. He did notice that the woman was dressed more modestly than Lucy usually dressed, so that could mean something. Still, Finn tried to cover himself up within groups of people on the street. Though it was hard to cover yourself up with other people when you were six foot three.

As the woman moved down the street, Finn got a closer look at her. She was a little shorter than Lucy was, and her arms were smaller. He breathed a sigh of relief. This wasn't her. But it had still been a close call.

Finn's phone vibrated. He looked down and saw a text from Rachel. "Are you okay?"

Finn typed a reply. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Okay," Rachel typed back. "Just wanted to make sure."

Finn knew it was a big day for Rachel at work, so he didn't want to upset her. Maybe when she got home, he'd tell her about seeing someone who looked like Lucy.

A few minutes later, Finn arrived at the diner. It hadn't been easy, but he'd made it through his first walk to work by himself since everything happened. He got out his phone and sent a text to Rachel. "I made it."

x

When Rachel arrived at the theatre, Marissa and Rupert were already there. "So, how many guys do we have coming in today?" Rachel asked.

"A lot," Rupert said. "Some of them have experience, some of them don't."

"Well, you hired a female understudy without experience," Rachel pointed out.

"That's true," Rupert said. "Let's send the first one in." He called off the name first on the list, and for a few hours, Rachel and Marissa would sing one of the duets with each guy. Eventually, Marissa went on her lunch break, leaving Rachel to do duets with the guys while she was gone.

"Jesse St. James?" Rupert called out shortly after Marissa left.

"What?!" Rachel gasped. Jesse... no. He couldn't be here. Wasn't he living in Ohio again? Why was he here?

Jesse came on stage, with one of his famous I'm-better-than-you looks on his face. "Hello. My name is Jesse St. James and I was the lead singer of national championship winning show choir Vocal Adrenaline for four years." He looked next to Rupert. "Rachel?"

"You two know each other?" Rupert asked.

"Yes," Rachel said. "Rupert, I don't think this is going to work."

"Why not?" Rupert asked.

"Rachel just doesn't think she can resist me," Jesse said. "We dated four years ago."

"Yes, and it didn't go well," Rachel said. She looked at Jesse. "Why are you here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in Ohio?"

"I came here to try to make it on Broadway," Jesse said. "Once he sees me, he'll fire the Nick and give it to me."

"You two can catch up later," Rupert said. "Jesse, our Fanny is at lunch now, so you'll do your test with her later, but right now, you can do You Are Woman, I Am Man with Rachel."

Rachel groaned. She did not want to sing with Jesse. She did not want to ever see Jesse again. But she knew she had to be professional. She took her place on the stage and waited for the song to begin.

Jesse: You are woman, I am man,
You are smaller, so I can be taller than,
You are softer to the touch,
It's a feeling I like feeling very much.
You are someone I've admired,
Still, our friendship
Leaves something to be desired.
Does it take more explanation than this?
You are woman, I am man-
Let's kiss.
Rachel: Isn't this the height of nonchalance,
Furnishing a bed in restaurants?
Well, a bit of dinner never hurt,
But guess who is gonna be dessert?
Do good girls do just what mama says,
When mama's not around?
It's a feeling,
Oy vey, what a feeling.
Jesse: A bit of pate?
Rachel: I drink it all day.
Should I do the things he'll tell me to?
In this pickle what would Nellie do?
In my soul I feel an inner lack,
Just suppose he wants his dinner back?
Both: Does it take more explanation than this?
Rachel: Just some dried-out toast in a sliver,
On the top a little chopped liver.
How many girls become a sinner
While waiting for a roast beef dinner?
Though most girls slip in ordinary ways
I got style-I do it bordelaise.
Well, at least he thinks I'm special
-He ordered a la carte.
It's a feeling I like feeling very . . .
I feel the feeling down to my toes.
Now I feel that there's a fire here,
Try that once a little higher, dear,
What a beast to ruin such a pearl,
Would a convent take a Jewish girl?
Both: Does it take more explanation than this?
Rachel: Ooo, the thrills and chills goin' through me,
If I stop him now,
Can he sue me?
Jesse: You are woman . . .
Rachel: You are man . . .
Both: Let's kiss!

At the end of the song, Jesse tried to kiss Rachel. Rachel jerked away. "Rupert, I'm sorry, but I can't do this. Jesse threw eggs at me and I can't see him as more than that."

"Rachel, this is just a test. We don't know if Jesse's going to get the understudy yet," Rupert said. "And frankly, you are being very unprofessional."

"Yeah, the Rachel Berry I know wouldn't get so worked up about a co-star," Jesse said.

Rachel looked at Rupert. She just wanted Jesse out of here. "When's the next candidate coming in?

Rupert looked at the clipboard. "Jean Baptiste?"

Jesse left the theatre, giving Rachel a flirty look on the way out, as another familiar face walked in. This was the boy who had been the lead singer of Throat Explosion, the group that had beat the glee club that she'd graduated from at Nationals. The boy who'd destroyed her boyfriend's dreams as a show choir director and her sister's and her friends' hopes for a National title. "Hi, I'm Jean Baptiste and I'm a 2013 graduate of Fort Wayne High School. I was the lead singer of this year's national championship winning show choir, Throat Explosion, and I'll be starting at NYADA in the fall. I've also performed with Cirque Du Soleil."

"Thank you," Rupert said. "This is Rachel Berry, the understudy for Fanny Brice. I want you two to perform I Want To Be Seen With You together."

"I know who she is," Jean said. "She was the lead of the New Directions when they won the Nationals in 2012."

"You have lots of connections, Rachel," Rupert said. "Okay, I want to see what you two can do with this song."

Rachel was sure this guy wasn't Finn's favorite person either. But she'd already gotten upset about one person auditioning, she couldn't get upset about another. She went on to the stage to perform the number.

Jean: I want to be seen, be seen with you,
With you on my arm,
To wear you like a charm,
Your glitter decorating my arm.
Now, natch'rally such proximity
Gives rumors a rise,
We'll let them analyze
What our amalgamation implies.
Oh yes,
The gossips will press,
So willing to stress
The seamy side-
Know what?
So what!
I want to be seen, be seen with you,
With you on my arm.
Let's give this town a light,
And hit it like a me-te-or-ite-tonight.
I want to be seen with you.
Rachel: The moon over mother's saloon,
Have a nice macaroon
I'll buy you a light beer.
Jean: Right, dear.
Both: I want to be seen, be seen with you,
Jean: With you on my arm.
Let's give this town a light
And hit it like a me-te-or-ite-
Both: Tonight-I want to be seen with,
Jean: Oh, please let me be seen with,
Rachel: And I would like to be seen with
Both: I want to be seen with you.

"Thank you," Rupert said. As Jean left the theatre, Rachel hoped that no one else who came in would be a possible trigger. Luckily, no one else was.

x

"So, are you excited for our apartment to be overcrowded?" Santana asked. That evening, Finn, Kurt, Blaine and Santana were sitting in the loft, waiting for Rachel to get back from work. Kurt had gotten off a little earlier than Rachel had.

"It won't be overcrowded for long," Kurt said. "We have three couches, one for each of them, and their dorms will be ready soon."

"It'll be good for them to have time to get to know New York before school starts," Blaine said. "That was good for me."

"Yeah, me too," Finn said.

"Are you sure you're okay, Finn?" Kurt asked. "This kind of has been a rough summer for you."

"I'm getting better," Finn said. He looked at his friends. "Today on my way to work, I saw someone who kind of looked like Lucy."

"You did?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah," Finn admitted. "It wasn't her, but I was worried it was."

"Finn, of course you were," Kurt said. "You're going to be okay. I know it seems hard to believe now, but you will be."

The door opened, and Rachel came in. "So, how were auditions?" Santana asked.

"Some of the guys were good, some not so good," Rachel said. She came and sat down next to Finn. "I'm so glad you're okay. I was worried about you."

"You always worry about me," Finn said.

"So, which guy do you think will be the understudy?" Kurt asked.

"I'm not sure yet," Rachel said. "We'll have to see what Rupert says."

x

About two weeks later, word reached Finn and his family and friends that Lucy would be brought to court the week after Labor Day. Rachel knew that Finn didn't want to go to the court and see Lucy, but the police told him that they would need him there in case the judge wanted a statement. Today Finn hadn't said anything about Lucy and the upcoming court date, but it was still in Rachel's mind. Finn seemed to be focusing more on Sam, Tina and Artie arriving from Ohio today, and Rachel decided to let him focus on that.

Rachel's phone went off. There was a text from Marissa. "Rupert picked an understudy. It's that Jean Baptiste guy who just graduated high school."

Part of Rachel was relieved, but part of her was nervous, too. What would Finn think of her spending so much time with the lead of the group that beaten the group he'd worked so hard with for a year?

At least it wasn't Jesse.

"Rachel, are you okay in there?" Santana called.

Rachel came out of the bedroom. "Yeah." She joined her roommates in the living room and snuggled up to Finn.

"I got a text from Sam," Blaine said, looking at his phone. "They should be here soon."

"Great," Rachel said. About an hour later, the group heard knocking on their door.

Rachel went to the door and opened it, seeing Tina, Artie and Sam. "Rachel!" Tina said.

"Tina!" Rachel said, giving her friend a hug. "It's great to see you."

"You too," Tina said.

The other residents of the loft came over to greet their friends. "It's hard to believe there's eight of us here in New York now," Kurt said.

"Yeah," Artie agreed. "Thanks for letting us stay here for a little before we start classes and move into our dorm rooms."

"Oh, it's no problem," Finn said. "We want you guys to get comfortable in New York and being with people you know at first will probably help."

"How are you doing, Finn?" Sam asked. Finn had told the other glee club members about what had happened, and everyone had been concerned about him.

"I'm doing better," Finn said. "I've been sleeping all the way through the night again, and I've been walking to work on my own."

Rachel managed to smile. She was proud of the progress Finn had made, but at the same time, she felt horrible that he'd been through what he'd been through.

"That's good," Sam said. "Everyone's worried about you."

"He's a trooper," Blaine said.

"So, how are things in Lima?" Finn asked in a tone of voice Rachel knew was indicating that he didn't want to focus on what happened to him right now.

"We got to see the other glee club members before we left," Artie said. "They're already starting to make plans for next year."

"Yeah, and we heard Jake's not the only one with a sibling in the first generation of New Directions," Tina said, looking at Rachel.

"Yup, Kylie and I did figure out that we're sisters," Rachel said. "And we're pretty glad we found that out."

"That's crazy, two pairs of siblings reunited by glee in less than a year," Sam said.

"Isn't it?" Rachel asked. "She told me that they're thinking they might do Wicked for the musical this year."

"That would be so cool!" Tina said.

"It would," Kurt said. "Though I doubt the Glinda and Elphaba would be able to top Rachel's and my For Good."

Rachel smiled at that memory. "That's my favorite song I ever sang with someone other than Finn."

"How are you guys feeling?" Finn asked Sam, Artie and Tina. "Because if you guys feel up to it, we could show you around the neighborhood and get you some real New York ice cream."

"Typical Finn," Santana said. "Always thinking about food."

"Hey, food is pretty awesome," Artie said.

"Let's go," Sam said. The group went out for a little, sure they were going to have a great year together.

Chapter 23 preview: To take Finn's mind off the stress of the upcoming court date and starting at a new college, Finn and Rachel go to visit McKinley and help with the start of the new year for glee club.

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