Open Wounds

by 216BLT

AU: The past is the past. Puck, Santana, & Rachel Corcoran have moved on from theirs, but when their mother decides to take in a teen, old memories resurface. Also, new scars are made as they navigate through adolescence, ones that might not heal.

26. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

amandaes417- Thank you for reviewing and re-reading the chapters. I take your review to heart. Thank you so much.

Cookie - I am checking into a 12 step program for you! I have contacted Dr. Drew. He should get back to me any day now. Thanks for reviewing.

FacingFuture – Sorry about making you dizzy – but it is going to continue to a roller coaster ride for a while – there are a lot more things to come. Everyone does have their own story but they are all there for each other. You will see this chapter what happens with Finn and how Quinn feels about this relationship. Jeannie should have a mother like Judy – they seem to be cut from the same cloth. While Sue has some qualities from the show, she is also a stronger woman in the story. Than k you for reviewing and I hope you are sitting down reading this chapter.

Marauderette96 – Thank you so much. I appreciate your words. I hope you like this chapter.

hersheysforever – Thank you. You will see a little what is happening to Santana in this chapter but it will be a lot longer for her storyline.

Anon – what story are you reading? Judy and Russell will be lucky to see Quinn again! Thanks for the review.

TheTBone : Your review is something i always look forward to. I catch myself always going back and rereading your favorite party. They are always mine. I am so eager to see what your favorites are this time around. Thank you so much. This chapter was hard to write. I was trying to make everything how it should be while also building what is to come. I hope you enjoy it. I'm still figuring out Jesse in this story but I'll let you in on a little secret: I've been thinking about his role in a sequel with him in it when Rachel is older. The bombs might keep on dropping...There's something planned for the end of the week in the story (not in actual life) that's going to really rock a character's life. Please continue reading.

Renata- don't apologize for delaying your review I love them and you do it all the time so I thank you very much for them. All the cheerios know "baby Corcoran". And you may see more of St. James in future chapters. Quinn needs to let someone in or she will burst so I am happy that Sue pointed that out to her. Santana and Brittany do have a lot going on and it is ongoing I just hope I do it justice. I am so happy that you shared my story and overwhelmed that she has so many kind words. I always love your kisses and reviews from Brazil – Thank you so much

gleefanatic14 – you will find out who is the daddy this chapter. Mr. Schue is really creepy and hopefully all the warnings out there will help. Brittana is around for awhile and while it may not always be smooth – it is real. Finn and Whitney will get what is coming to them I promise you. Thank you so much for being a faithful reader! You keep me going and inspired.

Tcathing – Shelby will need a hug and a rest when she gets to Florida that is for sure. But she does what does out of love and devotion to her kids. And you are correct Finn is a complete A-HOLE. Thank you for your review.

piecesofyourheart – ok please don't be so angry – most if not all will get what they deserve coming to them – trust me. Florida is going to happen trust me and a spoiler for you the Corcoran grandparents are strict but nice and fair. Thank you for reviewing as always.

SuzQQ – Mr. Schue is not leaving anytime soon sorry. Quinn may or not speak up but Quinn is starting to come around and think the Corcoran way so there is hope. Rachel will be trying out for Gable so we will see – is this the right time for her – lets see. These kids will be talking it out with a lot of people and hopefully the two that aren't that good at using their words will find its ok to use them when they are talking to people who can really help them. Thank you for always reviewing and providing your insight, its definitely something I look forward to always.

Chickabilly - There are no words for your reviews. It wasn't a masterpiece but it was certainly exhausting, as was this chapter. You're going to see a lot of ups and downs for Rachel, especially this "week" in the story. They leave on Friday and it's currently Tuesday. You will see what's coming and it's going to be a ride. She is tough, but she's still only eleven. Thank you for recognizing the challenges that Shelby faces as a therapist and a parent and a coworker. It was subtle and I'm happy you picked it up. Shelby will discuss Will with Rachel in this chapter, but there is a subtle (or not so subtle) point in the conversation where there is no turning back. You will see. Quinn and Santana's relationship is also subtle. They've built a mutual respect for one another. They are learning how to be sisters and friends. Shelby also sees that grounding is losing its effect and she has a plan. You will find out soon. The whole study scene was hard for Quinn. It's going to be a hard ride for her and this day at school in this chapter isn't going to help. Thank you for catching the Quinn and Shelby moment. It was definitely tough. You get some insight about what happened that night and how they ended up on the couch too. They're getting there, slowly but surely. Santana's struggle... There are no words. You are ahead of me and hitting the nail on the head. That's a HUGE role in Santana's struggle with her sexuality. That is part of the reason this chapter took so long to write because I was trying to make it perfect because this issue is so important and I wanted to give the storyline justice (unlike RIB). Many people will be sobbing for their mothers. You will see this chapter morphs McKinley into absolute chaos. Thanks as always.

dEep-hEavEn – I am sorry that I am depressing you. I try and be really honest with the warnings but I have this story to tell and I need to tell it this way. Thank you so much for continuing to read the story even though it is so emotional for you.

broadwaybound2016 – Hold on to your seat – there is a lot more to come. Thanks for review.

NinjaGleek21 – there is going to be a lot of pain inflicted on Finn this chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Cookie – You are right the grounding has not been too effective and Santana is going through a great deal right but Shelby will rein it in soon. She still has to parent and she still has to teach that lashing out and doing what she wants to is not the right way to do things. It is a challenge for all of them.

Kimberlli – The Florida chapter is a little way out because of the events that just happened – they need to be told correctly and fully. But trust me they are going to Florida. Thanks for the review.

Shauna – I certainly accept your apology. Rachel has been through a lot because of Hiram but she really needs to relearn to eat again because Quinn is around it is really making Shelby have to start to fix it so it is not a lifelong problem. Slowly but surely Quinn will let people in but trust me it will be very slow. Thank you for being patient – Will will be around more in the next few chapters unfortunately.

MaJorReader619 – Florida is still a little way off but lots to happen before then, Thanks for the review.

marinka4 – Finn is a super big ass. Judy ass is too nice of a word to describe her. Jesse is a few chapters out but I love Jon Groff so Jesse will always be a great guy. But remember in this story he is only as old as Rachel so its just may end with puppy love.

Cookie – Santana and Noah see a different type of trauma specialist – Thank you so much for reviewing. If you would like to know more about the difference you can PM me.

val-cb – Thanks! As always!

OTHangels – I hope you enjoy this chapter – Thanks for the review.

Hail the Wolves – No withdrawals please ! Here it is I hope it pleases you! Thank you

Gleek1990 – Santana and Quinn will certainly have their moments! And they will talk a lot more! Trust me – thank you for reviewing.

Cariboo500 – Thanks for the review.

TommyH – Its coming I promise! Thank you

Ryoko05 – There is a happy moment coming soon I promise but I don't think it will make the final cut of this chapter but it will in the next one I promise. Brittany does have patience for Santana but Brittany is going to need help through this too – lets hope they can be there for each other. Finn is beyond and ass. Thanks for reviewing.

HIsland429 – I promise you Jesse is not Will son in this story. Never. Santana will revert some but now that its out it is harder to escape and it is for the better. Quinn and Rachel have a lot in common and they will learn more and more about each other. Thank you.

Theilliterate – Thank you for your kind words. I am with you there is not much love for Finn. Jesse may or may not be Rachel's boyfriend because they are only eleven in this story but it will be a cute little storyline for the two of them. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

emms 56 – I don't like to give any spoilers but if you would like to PM me then I would be more than happy to let you know what is going to happen to little Ms. Rachel. Thanks for the review.

I'm sorry this chapter took so long. Things got a bit stressful personally... but whatever. Also got hit by another plague and work was having me pull my hair out (not really, i like my hair.)

I invested a lot of care and effort into this chapter because Santana's outing is something that was very important for me to explore. This is just the beginning of that whole process, but I wanted to especially lay the foundation correctly. I wanted to get it right and give that story justice. Please let me know if I don't. Especially with the most recent episode I found myself feeling simultaneously indignant for Santana as well as heartbroken for Karofsky. Santana on the show was outed nationally and it was barely addressed and I couldn't help but feel so betrayed by that. Therefore, part of this delayed update was because I went back and added parts to Santana and Brittany's internal monologues.

Also, used a few gem quotes from the actual show from glee. if i could hand out prizes, I would. They're pretty obvious quotes to die-heart fans. yes, i changed who said a few of them because of the story, but still there nonetheless. There were a lot of ways that i really thought about dealing with and approaching this chapter. Please let me know what you think. A few people have read some bits and told me it packs some heft punches.

Thank you everyone. Your support means the world.

---

She ran. She ran as fast as she could. She couldn't breathe. Everything felt so heavy on her chest. That shit-cock had taken something so complicated and extraordinarily delicate, something even she couldn't even articulate in her own mind and heart, and reduced it to something easy and crude, a punchline. She felt her breath hitch in her chest. She heard the bell ring and she looked ahead of her at the empty hallway. People were going to come flooding around the corner any minute and she wasn't going to let them see her face. She couldn't. She ran faster and grabbed the heavy door, slamming it behind her.

…...

Noah slammed his gym locker shut. Why did everything in the guys' locker room always smell like sweaty feet? It was the only thing he liked about living with women. Nothing ever smelled in the Corcoran house. Everything always smelled like flowers, or cookies, or fresh things, like that potting soil in the garage. Nothing in the house smelled like feet. The music was blaring. At least it wasn't show tunes... or something...

He sighed. He turned to leave the locker room when he spotted a group of of laughing underclassmen come in. He recognized them as players on the JV team.

"Oh man, did you see this?" one guy laughed. They passed a flyer around.

Another guy looked at it and laughed with his fist to his mouth trying to tame his laughter. "Shit man."

The laughter simmered as Puck came around the corner. He frowned at them. If there was one thing about Puck Corcoran he hated not knowing. He used his tall, bulking frame to assert his authority. He was also told once that he had a piercing gaze. He used that, too. And often.

"What are you doing?" It came out more as a growl than a question.

One of the guys frowned and snatched the flyer behind his back.

"Nothing," one guy tweaked.

He scanned their faces and knew there was something up.

"It's about some girl, dude," one guy said trying to act calm.

"Don't call me, dude," Noah snapped. "Tell me now or I will make sure you're scrubbing varsity jock straps for the rest of the season."

"Just some girl on girl action," a guy laughed in the back.

One of the others in the front elbowed him in the gut, attempting to shut him up. The laughing hyena looked at the other, confused.

Puck scanned over them again. He glared. "Give it," he barked.

They looked at each other for a moment, but it was a moment too long. Puck pushed them backward and sent them tumbling into each other. Noah barely glanced at the flyer. All he saw was his sister. He felt in stomach clench. Fuck.

He looked at the JV players. "My advice for you," he started slowly. "Is to find the nearest dumpster and throw yourselves in it." They looked at him. "Because you all know that that would be better what will happen when I get my hands on you." He watched the boys' faces fall slowly one by one. "It might not be today or this week or even before break, but you are now on my list. Go put on your diapers because I'll make you shit you pants. that's not a threat that's a promise."

He took one last opportunity to shove them back to the floor.

He stomped out of the room with one focus. One focus only: Finding his sister.

…...

Quinn rinsed off her face. Her entire evening had been exhausting. She wanted to throw up. Shelby wasn't a person she wanted to disappoint. She never felt that before, not without fear of punishment. It felt strange. She felt some of that with Sue and even the Pierces but... not like she felt about Shelby. She sighed and rubbed her flat stomach. Shelby knew. She felt every muscle tense in her stomach. Shelby knew, she repeated in her head. she stared at herself in the mirror. Shelby had kept her promise. She had remained silent for the ride. Quinn shook her head and then Shelby had to go and let Quinn sleep on the couch. Quinn remembered distinctly saying that she wouldn't sleep in her room. She flat out refused. She was rude and snappy. She shook her head. And what had Shelby Corcoran done? She wasn't mad. She should have yelled because of Quinn's attitude or simply because of the fact that it was one in the morning when they finally returned to the house. No, instead, Shelby fetched her a blanket and then that woman went into the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher. Sue had been wrong, she wasn't mother Teresa, she was Super Woman. She shook her head. When Quinn had thought she was safe, she had given into that weight on her chest that seemed to be squeezing every emotion out of her life the juicer in her parents' kitchen. Her mother had lived by the juice diet. Quinn gave into those emotions and in the darkness save the light that Super Woman had left on, she let go. When she thought she was safe to let her guard down, Shelby decided to make what Quinn now labeled the 'evening rounds,' where she checked on everyone. And again, with grace that seemed so unique and barren for every time before this in Quinn's life, Shelby remained true to her promise and sat silently with Quinn. She didn't reach out and hold her like Quinn expected. The girl remembered Shelby quietly promising to give her her space before their car ride began. Shelby was keeping to her word and using trickery to make Quinn need a hug and be held. Stupid reverse psychology. So somehow with the humility in her left toe, Quinn uncurled herself from her blanket and laid her head on Shelby's shoulder. and then that's how she awoke the next morning: Leaning on Shelby Corcoran, Super Woman.

The blonde stared at her stomach and sighed. She shook her head and for those reasons, alongside her own shame, she drank the stupid protein shake that Shelby placed in front of her at breakfast. She had even taken a bite of toast.

"What are you staring at, blondie?"

Quinn didn't turn around but just looked at her reflection. "Nothing," she said as she turned to face her coach.

"Long night?" Sue asked.

"You have no idea."

Sue opened her mouth but was interrupted.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" A voice bellowed over the intercom. Quinn frowned. Finn? "Finn Hudson here. As you might see, we're doing some new advertising here at McKinley. Santana Corcoran likes long walks on the beach, cheering, being a bitch, and oh wait..." She frowned so deeply it was as if her brows were sticking out the end of her nose. "Not only does she like partying, alcohol, and sex, but she likes sex with women. As you can see, a very reliable source was able to document..." Quinn ran to the hallway and saw that every student had a flyer in their hands. "So, I guess Santana and Brittany are off the market, everyone. Let's make sure to congratulate them on coming out."

The announcement ended and Quinn felt a scream erupt from her lips. She froze. Maybe Santana didn't hear. Quinn and Noah (Quinn shook her head, Puck) had gone in before her. Shelby had held Santana at the car to give her a lecture on not skipping classes and explain the teacher signing grid. Maybe she was still in the parking lot. Could Quinn catch her? Don't be an idiot, Quinn scolded herself. She had taken the last ten minutes staring at herself at the mirror and then before that she had walked into school. Santana would certainly be in school by now. She had to find her. She had to -

"Quinn," Sue said with her ordering voice. "Go find Brittany and Santana." Quinn searched the woman's eyes. "Go. Just find them and bring them back here. We need to grab that firecracker called Corcoran before she breaks any bones."

The blonde nodded. She did well with instructions.

It wasn't until Quinn made her fourth turn down the now student-empty hallways that were littered with flyers about Santana and Brittany. She realized in that moment that she had no idea where to look. She had known Brittany almost her entire life, ever since she could remember. Where would Brittany go? She shook her head. This was pointless she thought as she slammed her body against the lockers. She didn't know where Brittany was because Brittany would be looking for Santana and Quinn had no idea where to start with Santana. She never did. That girl was as mysterious as the contents of hotdogs.

"Fuck muffins," Quinn suddenly heard a familiar voice sound out. Could things be that convenient? She looked up and Brittany was rounding the corner, cursing. "Shit stones!" Quinn saw that the blonde was still clenching a flyer in her hand.

"Brittany," Quinn called out forcing herself to move.

"Quinn, Quinn," Brittany said hurriedly.

Quinn noticed the tear stains on the girls' cheeks first.

"Have you seen Santana? Please tell me you were with her when..." she trailed off. She must have seen Quinn's face of regret. "Shit. Shit. Fucking ass shit mother fucker rat balls!" Brittany said as she stomped her foot.

Quinn was sure that she hadn't heard any of those words uttered by another human being out loud; they were usually instead echoing in her own head or vomiting out of her mouth. They certainly never exploded from Brittany S. Pierce. Suddenly, Brittany dropped from Quinn's line of vision. The girl collapsed back onto her heels on the linoleum floor. She looked so defeated in that moment. Quinn looked around nervously. What... What was she supposed to do? How did normal people handle sobbing best friends? In all of her life, Quinn had never seen Brittany like this. She blinked at the girl on the floor. However, the girl crying quietly on the floor had seen her like that. Her mind drifted back to last spring, almost five months ago.

Quinn stared at the back of her locker. Everything was falling apart. She couldn't do this. This coudn't be a possibility. She wasn't going to even try. She couldn't even-

"Quinn?"

She brought her gaze out of her locker. She looked at her childhood bestfriend, Brittany. She wasn't going to do this. Not with her.

"What?" Quinn snapped as she put her HBIC face back on.

"Are you alright?"

"Go away, Brittany," she replied nudging her shoulder as she stormed past her.

"Hey," Brittany said grabbing her arm. "I know we haven't been super close in awhile, but I know you well enough to know there's something wrong."

"Well, I hate to burst your bubble." Quinn said with a glare. "But things have been wrong for awhile."

She paused at her words. Fuck. She had promised that she would keep that to herself. She would survive high school and get out and no one would ever have to know what her father behind closed doors. She had just given Brittany more amunition.

"What do you mean?" Brittany asked with concern.

"None of your damn business," she huffed. "Where's your actual best friend? Shouldn't you be with her?"

Brittany shook her head in confusion. "Santana?" she asked. "She's still at the hospital with her sister." She saw a flash of Quinn's concern. "She's fine. She's in recovery. She just had a bad infection or something. I went and visited yesterday." She shook her head. "What's going on, Quinn?"

"Back off, Brittany," she snapped again.

"Quinn, come on talk to me, please," she said quietly.

"I can't and I wont," she said with a shake of her head.

She suddenly felt yet another surge in her stomach. She had already vomited twice already. She didn't need a third. She felt the bile in her throat and she sprinted to the restroom.

She emptied the barely there contents of her stomach. Fuck. She thought. She leaned against the side of the stall. Fuck. Fuck. She put her head in her hands. She couldn't help it; she couldn't stop them. She simply began to cry.

Suddenly she felt someone embrace her. She tried to push away.

"Shh," Brittany whispered. "We'll figure this out."

Quinn stopped fighting her but she didn't hug her back. She couldn't. She was just too tired.

Quinn watched Brittany stare at her hands on the ground. She knelt down in front of the other blond.

"I love her, Quinn," she said simply. She looked up and met her eyes. "I can't imagine my life without her. You know? I just...There are some people in your life that you know are only there for a short period but... She isn't one of them. You know?" Quinn actually didn't know. Not at all. Brittany saw her hesitation. She shook her head and cracked a small smile. "You're the other one, Q. Despite what you may think, I picture us causing trouble for a very long time." Her smile faded and she wiped her tears. "I don't know if she can take this. And... I can't lose her." She looked at Quinn with a pleading look. "This will crush her."

"I won't let it," Quinn responded without hesitation, srprising even herself.

"I dont know what you know about her," Brittany began. "But I really don't know how to cope with this, to help her cope with this.. I know... I know that high school isn't everything, but right now, it is. She hasn't even told you guys yet."

Quinn frowned. "You guys?"

"Her family, dumbo," Brittany said with a hint of annoyance. "I'm going to kill Finn Hudson when I find him."

"Me too," Quinn growled.

She watched as Brittany returned to thoughtful silence. Finally the girl spoke again. "You know what it's like to feel exposed because people know something about you, a secret." Quinn frowned. How were they talking about her again? "I dont know how to take that pain away for her...I don't know how to escape for me..." She straightened. "I'm... freaking out. I'm scared. I'm so nervous I'm going to throw up, explode and punch someone at the same time. but I know I need her. I don't want to run from her. I want to …. I need to find her." She became silent again. "But I'm afraid... I know... that she's not looking for me." She looked at Quinn tearfully. "She's running from me instead."

Quinn stared at her. She had never thought of that. Never in her life has she considered the feelings of the people that had people run from them, not that she ever had anyone who wanted her not to run from her. Brittany looked up at her.

"I don't know what you think of us, Quinn, but I'm not ashamed and you need to know that."

What? she thought. Was that why Santana was avoiding her? She searched Brittany's eyes and watched them almost become defensive. She sighed. "That doesn't mean she doesn't love you too," Quinn said finally. She watched Brittany breathe a sigh of relief. Quinn went on. "Normal people, Britt, aren't as strong as you. Santana is a strong person and I'm sure that she needs you but her fear of how you'll react and everything else in her head took over. Hiding is safest." She looked at up at Quinn, soaking in her words. "But I don't think that she doesn't love you. It's the fact that she does that makes this all so hard."

Brittany looked at her for a moment. "You're okay with this. With us?"

Quinn nodded and looked at her hands. "I don't know anything about love and what if feels like," she said quietly. "But I know that what you and Santana have is real." She paused for a moment. "It's the only real thing that I've ever scene." She gave a small smirk. "I'm starting to realize I've known longer about you two than you guys have known about it."

Brittany gave her a small nod. "Maybe," she said quietly. "I'm just...I don't know what to do. I can't find her."

Quinn held out on her hand. "Let's go find her then." Brittany took it and they headed down the hallway.

…...

Puck ran through the hallway. Think, he coached himself. Where would she go? Where would she go where she wanted no one to find her? She wasn't Rachel she wouldn't be in a small space. She would be somewhere small. There's no way. He looked around and took a breath.

Shit. Shit. Shit. He thought. This was the first and probably the only time that his mother would ever let him babysit the girls again. Ever. Crap. Crap. He would never earn money. He would have to take a job like cleaning pools or flipping burgers while wearing an ugly paper hat. He was months away from his sixteeth birthday. He needed the car. Losing his sister wouldn't be in his favor. Shit. Shit. Shit. He looked around. His mother said that she would only be two hours. on the dot. Two hours and still he managed to lose one of them. Rachel would have been the obvious choice to wander off. She was infamous for it and she was eight years old. However, for his thirteen year old sister to run for the hills. Really, San? Sometimes he believed that his sister was trying to sabotage him. He honestly did. He wasn't sure what her problem was. She just returned from cheer camp. Didn't they put happy pills in their food?

He peaked into Rachel's room. At least she was asleep and where she was supposed to be. Jesus, San, he thought to himself.

Suddenly he hear a thump above his head. He looked up. Santa? He shook his head. Santa is clearly not real. Reindeer and sleighs are too heavy; proven. He shook his head and thought for a moment. They had lived in this house, his mother's childhood home for almost three years. He had never been to the roof, let alone the attic. He thought for a moment. Where would he begin? How would he get there? Because that would be something stupid Santana would do. If you don't like small spaces, pick the biggest one you could find. He sighed and began to search. Where would she go... Because of her insanity before, she couldn't have gone out the windows... maybe there was a window int the attic or a hatch? This was such an old house there was even one of those mini elevator things for food, dumpweight or something. However, very soon after they move in, his mother blocked that off.

He opened every door upstairs. Nothing. Nada. He needed... He went back to his mother's master closet. It was large. There was a string hanging from the ceiling. He pulled it. Stairs fell from the ceiling. He walked up them slowly.

"Santana?" he hissed into the darkness. "Santana?"

He made his way to the top of the stairs. He was used to the mess that was his room, but other people's mess he didn't enjoy. The attic was dusty and full of boxes. He was sure many of them were his grandparents. There was a small light coming in at the end of the room. Low and behold there was a window.

He peaked out.

"Santana?"

There was his sister sitting. Sitting on the fucking roof. Her legs dangling on off the edge, swinging like she was just sitting on one of the bar stools in the kitchen.

"Jesus fucking Christ, he-whore!" she screamed. She put her hand on her heart. "Are you trying to kill me?"

She turned to face him.

"How the hell did you get out here?" he asked peeking out the window but still deciding if he was going out to get her.

"I asked the attic gnomes to drill me a window," Santana said with a roll of her eyes. "You're such an idiot."

"How did the alarm not go off?" he asked inching out of the window.

"I dont know, Noah," she said with a frustrated sigh. "The alarm fairy turned it off."

He sighed. "What are you doing out here? You freaked me out, you know."

She shrugged and turned back and looked at the neighborhood. "I just needed some space," she said quietly.

"I haven't been crowding you," he said with a thoughtful frown.

"I know," she said quietly. "But I still needed some space." She looked at him after a couple moments. "Did you need something from me? I know you didn't notice I wasn't with Rach until you went looking for me."

He looked at her guiltily. "Nevermind," he said. "It wasn't important."

"What is it?" she asked with a sigh.

"I just...Never mind."

"Noah," she said putting her head in her hands. "What did you want?"

He was now leaning his elbows on the sill. "I just needed help on some homework... but... It doesn't matter it's just summer school."

"I can help you," she replied.

"Nah," he said as he forced himself out the window depite his trepidation. He really didn't like climbing out window in high places... especially since New York.

"Noah, you don't-"

"Shut up," he muttered as he sat next to her. "This is fucking high."

"Yeah," she replied as she leaned against the roof. "Yeah, it is."

He looked around the deserted hallways. There was no roof access to the school. Well... there was... but ever since the incident during Noah's freshman year when the senior class had a massive slushie battle that includded pummeling everyone who passed beneath them with slushies. The school board paid for a keypad, alarmed thing. Earlier some freshman thought they could sneak up to the roof and the whole school had to be evacuated. His sister was a lot of things, but Santana wasn't stupid.

What was the next highest place? What was a place where no one could find you but you still be high and far away from everyone below you. Where was that place? There was the courtyard outside...No, too open. Santana would want somewhere high...Someplace hidden, but open where would...

He stopped walking. Of course. Stupid.

…...

Santana lay there staring up at the ceiling. She didn't hear anything. She couldn't She knew she needed to stay silent, not to remain hidden, but to keep her thoughts at bay. She needed sielnce. She didn't want to think about it all. If she did, she would stop breathing all over again. She felt like a peanut that had been crushed up and and made into butter, spread on some little punk-puke face's sandwich and spit out. Her enitre world had changed and she felt like she was ground up into the soil. This had only happened at school. What if it were on television? She began to tear up at the idea. When her seventh grade teacher who hated her found out, would she laugh? She thought about everyone who had ever played a role in her life. What would they think? They would talk over coffee. Did you hear about Santana Corcoran? Would they be surprised? Would they expect something "like that" from her? Santana was well-aware of the stigma about gay men. She had a gay father. While his partner ended up being a life-destroying, sadistic bastard... she trailed off... She couldn't think about him...Her brow frowned even more...She just... No, she needed silence. She couldn't think about what happened. She couldn't think about who she had become. She couldn't think about who she was in that moment. She couldn't think about any of it. She wiped her tears. None. There was just be silence. That's all. Therefore, if she stared up at the ceiling and focused just on the ceiling, its every crack, its every detail. She would be fine, perfect even. Just perfect.

She suddenly felt the catwalk move. Someone else was up here with her. She shot up.

"Santana?"

"Jesus fucking Christ, he-whore!" she screamed. She put her hand on her heart. "Are you trying to kill me?"

She turned to face him.

"How the hell did you get up here?" he asked as he walked out to her.

"Same way you did, idiot," she spat. She rested her head in her hands. "Please leave me alone."

"Are you okay?"

"What do you think?" she asked with her head still down.

"San-"

"Go away," she whispered.

He walked toward her.

"I said leave me alone," she muttered a little more loudly.

He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She collapsed into his chest but continued to try to push him away.

"Go away," she wept as she covered her face in his chest.

"You're alright," he whispered.

She stopped fighting him at that moment. She just gave in. She gave in because she didn't have any other choice. Yes, she was grateful that she had people, that she had arms to fall into and sob. However, that didn't make her feel any less alone. Then there was Brittany. She was a casualty on this crusade. She sobbed harder into her brother. Being outed wasn't something that they were doing together. Yes, happened to both of them, but it wasn't together. She knew that. She knew that Brittany had her own mind, her own feelings, and her own heartbreak. They may hold one another if Brittany was ready for that, but they would still be apart. They were shoved out of the closet, but it wasn't the same closet.

….

Shelby looked at Rachel from across the table in her office. She had been catching up on work and Rachel had been unsuccessfully pretending to read. She had so many questions, about all of her children. However, as she stared at her youngest over her computer screen, one seemed to echo the loudest: Who would Rachel be in ten years? Where would any of them be?

She took a deep breath. She honestly didn't know. She couldn't.

Her phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. "Shelby Corcoran?" she answered.

"Shelby, it's Elyse."

"Hi," Shelby greeted. "I'm almost finished with the Fitch report. I'll send you over my assessment in a few minutes."

"I was actually calling about Rachel," Elyse said. Shelby sighed into the phone. "I'm sorry to call you at work."

Shelby looked at her youngest who was gazing off at the table.

"I really can't talk about that topic right now," she said lowly.

"I promise this will be brief," Elyse said quickly. "I want to double check that you knew about Will Schuester, Rachel's voice teacher. She mentioned him yesterday during the session."

Shelby paused and frowned. "What?" She shook her head. She lowered the receiver and looked at Rachel. "Bug, can you please get me some coffee?"

"What?" Rachel asked coming out of her daze.

"Coffee?" Shelby requested again. "Pretty please?"

Rachel gave a small nod and stood up and left the room.

Shelby brought the receiver back to her ear. "We only have about five minutes, so make it quick."

"I was just reviewing my notes and she mentioned his name. And I wanted to make sure you were aware that he played a role in her life," Elyse said causally.

Shelby nodded into the phone. It was a formality. With cases like Rachel's, new names were usually mentioned to the parent or guardian. It was just a formality, she reminded herself.

"Yes," she said. "He's giving her voice lessons. He went to school with me and..." She trailed off.

"What?" Elyse asked.

Shelby shook her head. "People are really hesitant about him...and now that you bring it up..." She trailed off again.

"What is it?" Elyse asked.

"He was the one that brought up the offer," Shelby said more to herself thank anyone else.

"Really? Well what's the arrangement. What are you paying him and-"

Shelby frowned. "I'm not..." she muttered.

"What?" Elyse asked.

"I'm not paying him," Shelby said more loudly.

"It does sound suspicious, but it doesn't have to be," Elyse assured. "She doesn't go alone right?"

"No," Shelby said confidently. "She knows I wouldn't allow that."

"If you're concerned, Shelby, take the necessary precautions," Elyse said. "She didn't say anything alarming. Just that she takes lessons and that he was her only friend and..."

"What?" Shelby asked. "Kurt's her friend. The one she goes with."

"Well, talk with her about it," Elyse said. "She doesn't lie to you."

Shelby nodded. "She doesn't lie to anyone." But, she finished internally, she conceals the truth when she thinks that she's protecting people. She sighed. "Thank you. "I'll look into it."

"Alright," Elyse said. Again, it might not be a big deal. I don't want to plant a bad seed."

"I understand," Shelby said as Rachel walked back into the room. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright. I look forward to the Fitch report," Elyse said with a clear smile in her voice.

"Yes," Shelby laughed. "Always entertaining. Reminds me that things can be worse."

Elyse laguhed on the other end before Shelby hung up. Shelby stood up and took the coffee from Rachel.

"Thank you, sweetie," she said gently. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Rachel looked at her with a frown.

"Okay," she said quietly.

"How are lessons going with Mr. Schuester and Kurt?"

Rachel looked at her carefully, but quickly said. "Fine."

"Really? Kurt still enjoying them?" she asked carefully.

"Yes, very much," Rachel said with a nod and a smile.

"Okay," Shelby nodded. "You would tell me, right? If anything was wrong with him?"

Rachel frowned. "What do you mean? With who? Kurt?"

"No," she paused. "With Mr. Schuester. Just if you ever felt uncomfortable with him," Shelby said not breaking her gaze with Rachel.

Rachel nodded slowly. "What is this about, Mom?"

"It's just really important to be cautious, Rachel," Shelby said. She took her daughter's hand and traced a pattern on the back of it. "Because I know that he's your friend but he's also a grown man that offered to give you guys private lessons for free. To protect him and yourself, it's important that we make sure that if anything seems weird at all you tell me. Okay?"

Rachel nodded. Weird? she thought. He wasn't being weird. It was just her. She looked at her mother who was still tracing the back of her hand, trying to calm her. She used to do that a lot when she was little.

"You need to be with Kurt the whole time you're there, Rach," Shelby said clearly. "If he's sick, you can't go. I don't want you alone with any adult, especially a male adult."

Rachel frowned. "Why?"

"Because, bug," Shelby said with a frown. "It's not safe. You're too young. It's inappropriate. Think about it this way. He may not hurt you, but on the off chance that you may take a touch wrong, it'll be he said she said. And I don't want that. It's not just for you but for him."

"Why would I take a touch wrong?" Rachel asked with a hint of frustration.

Shelby licked her lips and looked carefully at her daughter. She took a moment too long.

Rachel pushed her away. "Because of what happened you think I'm going to take him touching me casually in a wrong way?" She searched her mother's eyes frantically. "That's what you're saying?"

It didn't matter that Rachel heard a voice in the back of her mind that told that her mother was right. Or the fact every time Mr. Schuester tried to help her, she felt confused and hesitant. It didn't matter that her mother might be right about Rachel. What mattered was that her mother didn't believe she could handle it. That's what mattered because it hurt too much.

"Rachel," Shelby tried to reach her daughter. "That's not what I mean."

"That's exactly what you mean!" she yelled as tears started to pool in her eyes. "Don't you think I deserve anything normal?"

"Of course, I do, Rachel!" Shelby said. "Settle down!"

"Fine, not deserve but you don't think I'll ever get it, not ever! I will not settle down!" Rachel said in frustration. She shook her head and looked at her mother. Tears cascaded down her face. "I'm mad! I'm mad! Don't talk to me anymore. You will let me go to those lessons because you have ruined EVERYTHING else for me!"

Shelby looked at her in shock. "Rachel," she said quietly.

Rachel softened her gaze. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Rachel, I know that things feel like they're falling apart, but I took you out of there because it wasn't emotionally or physically safe for you and you need to understand that."

The girl paused for a moment looking down at her hands, trying to catch her breath.. "Please," she said finally. "I need something that's just mine. Something that makes me think that I'm special. Being a part of something special makes you special . . . right?"

Shelby watched her for a moment before answering. "You are special, Rachel."

"Not in a good way," she whispered.

"Okay," Shelby said quietly. "But the rules remain the same. You don't go alone. Ever."

Rachel looked up at her slowly. She looked into her mother's dark eyes, the same as hers. She took a deep breath.

"I promise."

…...

A sea of cheerios rounded the corner and practically ran over Brittany and Quinn. They all started to speak at once when they saw the two girls.

"SHUT UP!" A voice clearly belonging to a one Sue Sylvester rang out. She looked at Quinn as she made her way through the crowd. "Any luck-" She spotted Brittany. "Well clearly, you got half of the duo."

Quinn rolled her eyes. "Yes, I found her."

"Where's Santana?" Sue asked turning to Brittany.

"I don't know," she said quietly.

Quinn surveyed the group of Cheerios. Most of them were all there. Only a handful were missing. She frowned what were they doing?

"They're here because I summoned them out of class to look," Sue said as if she read Quinn's mind.

"We're all pissed as hell," Kelly barked.

Dani squinted her eyes at Zoe Nichols and her lift partner Kaitlyn Morgan. "Some of us more than others."

"I don't see what the big deal is?" Zoe argued.

Sophia turned to her with her hands on her hips. "How would you feel if everyone knew a secret about your life?" She took a step forward. "Because that can be arranged."

"Down, grumpy-spice," Sue ordered.

"Let's keep looking," Maribel insisted.

"Who we should really be looking for is Richards," Kaitlyn pointed out.

"Why?" Sue said with a frown. "The girl gets lost in a paper bag. But she pays for your jackets..."

"Shit," Brittany mumbled as she remembered all of the conversations she had. Of course. She was such an idiot. She looked at Quinn. "She told Finn. She tried blackmailing me before..." She turned to Kaitlyn. "How do you know?"

"Because yesterday she said she had something that would bring you and Santana down. Granted it took me about five minutes to realize she was talking to me... but yeah..."

Sue looked at her. "Are you serious?"

Kaitlin nodded. "I swear."

Sue took a deep breath and then looked at the squad. "What's my rule about catfights?"

The group looked at her.

"Keep them clean, quiet and concealed," Kelly said.

"Exactly," Sue said. "You will all fight. It's inevitable. But we keep it to ourselves. No one likes dirty laundry. No one wants to see it. It doesn't matter what anyone tells you, life is about appearances, and congratulations: Richards ruined it. Now you need to understand I don't give a raccoon's left ball who any of you are off the field. I do not care! You don't have to like each other. But you will respect each other. If you can't be respectful on this team, you're off."

The group looked at her a rumbling murmur settled over them.

"Are you forcing us to accept Lesbians?" someone whispered in the back.

Quinn held in a growl and started toward the voice. Sue and Brittany stopped her.

"No," Sue said. "And I won't ignore who said that. I know exactly who you are. The world is full of millions of people. The world SUCKS. And I guarantee you that not ONE of those MILLIONS thinks the same way that you do. I demand respect on this squad. Again, you're not required to be friends. I don't care if you down right hate each other, but you are here to cheer. And if you want to go the rest of your life commanding your environment with only people that you APPROVE of. I wish you the best of luck. There are plenty of people that I hate in this world. There are plenty that I cannot STAND on this squad, but look at yourselves. You're all wearing a uniform. I demand respect. Nothing else. So if you can't figure out how to grow up and accept that the world doesn't revolve around you. TOUGH SHIT." She looked at the team. "Do I make myself clear? You're not friends. You're just a team. So act like it." She took a deep breath. "If you can't figure out how to suck up your opinions and work as a team you're welcome to leave. I'm not asking you to accept anything or change your moral freak-flaggin' compass. I'm challenging you to figure what's more important to you: Cheering for the best squad in Ohio or someone else's relationship that's NOT yours." She looked at the girls. "Your choice."

She turned and looked at Brittany and Quinn. Brittany gave her a grateful smile. Sue turned back to the squad. "I hate each and everyone one of you. I'll decide at the end of the day if I'm going to make you all re-try out for Cheerios. You're all irritating me. I need a laugh."

Brittany frowed her brow and looked at Quinn. "I think I know where she is," she whispered. "But they can't all be there when we find her."

Quinn nodded. She looked at the group. She needed to distract them. "Santana finds comfort in small spaces," she announces. "Check every nook and cranny."

Brittany shook her head slightly as she watched the Cheerios scatter. "You're such a good liar."

Quinn gave a tiny smirk at the irony. "I know," she whispered.

…...

Puck looked over at the clock beneath them on the wall of the auditorium.

"We've missed lunch," he said laying back down on the cat walk.

Suddenly something crummy hit him hard in the face. He picked it up. He smiled. "Cookie!" He inhaled one in the first bite. "Where did you get these?" he asked with his mouth fall.

"Bertha, the lunch lady let me steal them because I gave her my cigarettes," Santana said with a shrug.

"Give me another cookie and I'll pretend that you didn't say that," he said reaching his hand over his head. Santana's head was next to his. He didn't need to turn when he heard her grab another cookie. He gave a grunt. She hit him square in the nose with it.

He chewed it quietly. "Are you okay?"

"Shut up, Noah," she spat.

"No, I get to ask questions," he said. "You snotted all over my shirt. So at least one. Are you okay?"

"No," Santana said dryly. "Your quota is up."

"Santana-"

"Noah," she said with a sigh. "I like you being here. It feels like when we were kids but-"

"You never talked to me then either," he said quietly. "You know part of me was jealous of Rachel because I thought you talked to her... I realized quickly that you never did." He took a deep breath. "This never should have happened to you, Taz."

Santana tilted her head slightly and looked at her brother. He hadn't called her that in years. He continued to stare up at the ceiling.

"I don't know what to tell you," he said quietly. "I don't know how to make this better."

"You don't have to," she whispered. "Turning her head back up to the ceiling. That was never your job. Shit happens. It just... It just does...We both know that."

"It's always been my job," he said tightening his jaw. "I'm the big brother." he shook his head. "I could never..." He trailed off. Santana turned and looked at him. "I wanted to do right by you guys."

In that moment she didn't feel sixteen anymore. She felt like she was four years old and her big brother was sticking up for her.

"Noah," she said quietly.

"I'm going to break his face," he said nonchalantly.

"Well, I was going to do that," Santana said just as casually.

Noah laughed. "You never let me do anything for you."

She looked at him. "That fact that you want to is enough." She turned her head and looked back at the ceiling. "I just... I can't breathe. This all hurts so much. I didn't even...It's not about happily ever afters and being with the people you care about and love conquering all crap." She frowned. "The world is too complicated for that luxury. It's all the stuff besides that. You know? Loving is hard enough. Accepting and all that crap...and then …. I don't know... It's not the love I'm afraid of it's the relationship... It's the …..letting someone in." She rolled her eyes. "Oh... and all the other shit that goes along with having some idiot make posters about a secret you couldn't admit to youself. Other than that, I'm peachy."

"I know," he whispered. "But would you rather be alone?"

She shot him a look. "It's not that easy."

"I know..." he muttered again. "Maybe it could be though."

"It's not just the who-I-am crap and the free-to-be-you-and-me horse shit," Santana said quietly.

"Then what is it?"

She sighed. "Like I said. It's everything else." She stared up at the ceiling sadly. "It's all of it."

Suddenly the catwalk shook slightly. Someone was walking on it.

Santana shot up to a sitting position. She froze.

"Brittany."

"I've been looking all over for you," she said quietly not breaking her gaze.

Santana stood up practically stepping on her brother in the process. She never broke eye contact.

"I'm so sorry," Brittany whispered.

"Why are you sorry?" Santana said with a tearful laugh. "That limp dick outed us. Not you."

"But I knew what Whitney had on us," Brittany said quietly.

Santana frowned. "What?"

"She saw us in the locker room and she threatened to tell," the blonde said. "I'm so sorry..."

"You don't get to feel guilty," Santana whispered. "You did nothing wrong." She took a deep breath. She went to reach out and touch her, but then pulled back, unsure.

Brittany watched the hand fall back and pull away from her. "You can't do this. It's too much." The statements came out almost as questions.

"Brittany, I..." Santana started. "It's not that I don't want to."

"Then what is it?" Brittany asked.

Santana shrugged and shook her head. "It so hard to explain. I can't... I don't even..."

"I'm scared too. This is just as much about me as it is you," Brittany said.

"I know that," she said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"I don't know how to do this either," the blonde girl said. "I don't want to be another stereotype like on television, like that stupid station Lifetime-"

Santana laughed. "Lifetime - Oxygen with low self-esteem."

Brittany smiled tearfully. "Lifetime - where child stars go to die." She smiled slightly. "I don't know what to do with the rest of the world knowing...I'm still trying to figure out what to tell my family."

Santana nodded. "I know...Everybody here at school knows."

"I'm not ready to wear plaid or wave a rainbow flag either," Brittany said. "I just need to know where we stand...I know this is hard for you."

"What does that mean?"

"I know it's scary," Brittany said. "It's hard."

"For me though," Santana asked. "What do you mean for me?" She took a slight step back.

"Don't be all defensive," Brittany argued. "You know that it's hard for you. I mean that it's hard because you were called out. You're the one the announcement's about." She walked toward her. "I care about you and I will do anything for you. I will stand by your side if you say no to this, because you're still my best friend." Brittany looked at her feet. "I hate to put you on the spot but I need you to know that I have meant everything that I've said. I care about you more than words can describe and you're the first person I want to tell things to. I love you so much. I have for so long. I just want you. Please say you love me back. Please."

Santana looked at Brittany. She didn't answer right away. She soon realized her mistake as Brittany's eyes teared up in disappointment. "Of course, I love you," she said quickly. Brittany looked at her in surprise with a glimmer of hope. Santana went on. "I just don't know how to do it right."

Brittany looked at her with a small smile. "You won't ever have to worry about that."

"I think I do. I'm one hot mess, Brit, you don't know the beginning of it...I don't think you want to."

"Hey," Brittany said taking her hand, thankful that Santana didn't pull away. "It all sucks, but I want to do this with you."

"You can back out anytime," Santana whispered. "It's okay if you do."

Santana searched her eyes. She expected her to. She shook her head. No, she wanted her to, because then it would be easier not to feel so hurt. Then she would have been right about the illusion they call love.

"Maybe some days I'll want to," she said quietly. "I'm scared...I'm scared that on top of everything else you're going to be constantly questioning me..." She shook her head. "Running from me."

"Brittany..."

She went on. "But... I love you."

"I know, but love is rarely enough," Santana argued. What Brittany said before was true. It wasn't just a fear. It was true.

"That's why we have each other to fill in the rest of the gaps," she offered.

Santana gave a smile and shook her head. "You know that talking about this is much easier than living this."

She looked at Santana's hand. "I know."

They looked at each other in that moment. They knew that a new promise had been made. It didn't make things suck any less. However, it secured where the other stood. Santana searched her eyes and saw that hesitation, but also she saw the fear. The fear of rejection was something that not all hearts could recover from. Brittany always hoped that Santana would be something more and Santana couldn't help but feel that what she had to offer wasn't good enough. The brunette took that moment to reach out. She took her hand and gripped the back of Brittany's. She was scared; she was crumpling; she was alone. However, she knew if she was going to be alone, she would rather be with her; she would rather be alone together.

She looked up and smiled at the blonde. Her smile offered a small step to hope for something better not only from each other but from themselves. However, being alone together would seem like a walk in the park next to being together, while alone, in front of the world, far away from the sanctuary of the catwalk.

Santana finally asked. "How'd you find me?"

"Quinn and I have been looking all over and-"

"You and Quinn?" Santana asked. She searched Brittany's face. "Really?"

"Yeah," Brittany said. She nodded with an arch of her brow.

"Apparently she gave me this speech about how we were the only healthy relationship she'd seen before."

"You're kidding?" Santana looked around. "Where is she?"

"Downstairs waiting. She wanted to give us some room..." Brittany peaked around her shoulder and spotted the cookies. "Did you bribe Bertha for all those cookies again?"

"Noah and I were eating them," Santana said with a nod and a shrug.

Brittany looked around. "Where is he?" Suddenly something flashed in her eyes. She looked over the cat walk. Crap. Quinn was gone too.

"Fuck muffins," Brittany murmured. She looked at Santana. "We should go find them before they do something stupid. She started off the catwalk. She looked back when she realized that Santana wasn't following. "Come on. I'll cover you," she smiled. She held out her hand.

Santana took a deep breath. She chose to scold Brittany for quoting a musical later. She chewed her bottom lip. Her eyes filled with tears. She shook her head.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can't."

Brittany ran to her. She cupped her face gently in her hands. "You can. You can do anything."

Santana laughed tearfully. "You don't know what I've done. Who I really am..."

The blonde kissed her softly. "But I will. And you know what? I'll still love you. I believe in you. More than you know." The brunette looked at her hesitantly. "I know that you want to stay up here and hide. However, I know that there is a side of you ready to fight. I promise you, we can hide later."

Santana cracked a smile. "This isn't easy."

Brittany nodded. "It won't be. You're right." She watched as the brunette shook her head and more tears fell. "You're incredible. You are brave. I don't know what you've been through. I don't know all that you're feeling about this. I feel alone and I'm sure you do too. Please. Be alone with me." She squeezed her hand.

Santana searched her eyes. How was it that since she had known this girl that she always knew what was in her head, even when she said she didn't.

Brittany took her hand. "Come on."

Santana bit her lip and took a step. "Okay."

…...

Quinn entered the auditorium behind Brittany. She heard voices. "Told you," Brittany whispered. "They're in the catwalk."

"Go on," she whispered. "I'll wait here."

Brittany looked at her for a moment. "Go, dumbo," Quinn whispered. She tried to push her slightly in that direction.

The other blonde laughed. "Hey." Brittany laughed. "I grew into my ears."

Quinn motioned to the catwalk. "Go get your girl."

The blonde smiled thankfully. Quinn watched as she disappeared up the steps. Finn did this. He did this. She heard the murmurs of the girls above them. Suddenly she felt a body slam into her.

"Hey!"

"Sorry," Noah murmured. "I need to find Whitney."

"No one can," Quinn scoffed.

"I know where she would hide," Noah said still walking toward the exit.

"I'm coming with you," she said following him.

"Really, Quinn, don't," he said as he went into the hallway. He grabbed one of the flyers. "This is me. She did this because of me. Because I broke up with her."

"You're an idiot," Quinn said.

"What?" he asked, slowly slightly.

"She did this because she hates Santana. Always has. You breaking up with her probably didn't help, but it wasn't the cause," Quinn spat as she continued down the hallway. She paused for a moment. "Where are we going?"

"To where she hides," Noah muttered.

"Where's that?"

Quinn followed Noah out to the courtyard outside. She arched a brow when she spotted Shitney emerging from behind the bleachers as if she was the sneakiest person since the Cheshire cat.

"BITCH!" she screamed.

Whitney jumped but then frowned when she saw it was just the two of them.

"What do you want?" she spat as she strut up to them.

"How could you do this?" Noah screamed holding up the flyer.

Whitney's frown faded. She grinned as she folded her arms. "Come on," she laughed. "I mean you aren't really surprised are you."

Noah screamed in frustration, causing Whitney to jump.

"You're a fucking bitch and I will make sure you pay for this," Quinn hissed.

"What are you going to do about it, Abraham?" Whitney asked with a smirk.

"Abraham?" Quinn asked with a frown.

"You're Santana's beard, aren't you? Abraham Lincoln had a beard." She deflated slightly.

"You do know that you're not cleaver if you have to explain yourself this much," Quinn explained.

Noah shook his head. He was shaking with fury. "Do you have any idea what this will do to her? To Brittany? She's my sister, Whitney!"

"You were my boyfriend!" she shouted.

"No, I wasn't!" he bellowed. "I just fucked you!"

Whitney didn't hesitate and slapped him across the face. Suddenly, she felt herself being pushed.

"Don't touch him," Quinn hissed.

"What are you, his new fuck buddy?" she spat.

"No!" Quinn said, trying her best not to flinch herself. "Listen to me and listen good. You are off the Cheerios."

"You can't do that!" Whitney screamed.

"Just did," Quinn spat. "You're nothing, Whitney!"

"Fuck you, Fabray! You can't kick me off!"

"I am CAPTAIN!" Quinn screamed.

She didn't seem to notice the group of Cheerios and others running out. Nor did she hear the bell ring releasing everyone for lunch. She just saw Shitney. She saw the person that brought down the only family she knew. She took a step forward.

"Get out of here before I kick you out," she threatened.

"Leave, Whitney," Noah said. "I don't hit women, but I sure as hell want to smack you into next week. I'm glad I never loved you." He smiled triumphantly as her face fell. "I never even tried."

"Noah," she croaked. She looked angrily at him after a second. "You're a coward, Puck! A fucking-"

Whitney never finished her sentence. She never finished it because Quinn Fabray punched her straight in the nose.

"You bitch!" Whitney screamed falling to the ground holding her face.

"No, pretty sure that's you," Kelly scolded coming to Quinn's side. She raised her hand and snapped. "Ice someone get me ice." Whitney looked up at her hopefully. "Not for you. For Quinn's hand."

"He's anything but a coward," Quinn bit as she stood over the screaming Cheerio. She didn't see Noah looking at her in surprise. "You're the coward."

"What the fuck, Quinn?" Finn yelled parting through the crowd. He knelt down next to Whitney who was sobbing like a blubbering cow. Finn barely had time to comfort the girl because his entire hulking frame went crashing into the ground.

"You fucking piece of shit! How could you do that!" Noah screamed tackling Finn to the ground. "She's my sister!" He punched him in the face repeatedly as he sat on top of him. "She doesn't need this! You fucking bastard shit!"

"I'm not a bastard!" Finn screamed trying to push Noah down but failing.

"Noah! Noah!" Santana yelled. The crowds practically parted for her. "Get off of him!"

The boy rolled off of the ape and continued to kneel on the ground panting.

Finn stood rockily holding his bloody face. "Well isn't it that ladies of the hour," he chuckled.

"You son of a bitch!" Mike suddenly yelled out of no where tackling Finn down again.

"Jesus," Kelly muttered. "This is getting messy." She raised her arm again. "We need more ice please. Hot Asian will need it." A few Cheerios scattered in search of ice.

Sam ran into the crowd and pulled Mike off.

Finn frowned holding his already swollen jaw and managed to sway to stand again. "Fuck! That fucking hurts!"

Santana walked up to him. She shook her head as she frowned with anger and disbelief. "I..." She stared at him. She wanted to say that she hated him. That she hoped his penis would shrivel and fall off. However, the only she could find the strength to do was lean back and slap him across the face. The echo sounded around the courtyard.

"You are beneath me," she spat. "I meant every word that I said to you. You will be stuck here fore the rest of your miserable life excelling in what you do best: Being a deadbeat loser. You are a miserable piece of man."

"Like you would know what a real man looks like," someone shouted from the crowd.

"Fuck off, Charles!" Sophia screamed.

Santana turned back to Finn. "I'm going to say this once. But I hope when someone in your life, someone you care about, comes out that you act like a better human being than you are acting now. Right now you are miserable." She sucked back her tears. "I hate for that and I hope someday that you pull your head out of your ass. I hope you don't end up alone but you're about as sexy as a Cabbage Patch Kid. It's exhausting to look at you. So that may be hopeless." Santana shook her head. "You know what you look like you're trying to poop so clearly you're not listening. So listen to this." Before anyone could stop her she reached up and grabbed his shoulders and kicked Finn Hudson in the balls.

"LEAPING LIZARD!" he screamed in agony. "BITCH"

He rolled on the ground.

"I wish you, your hand, and your tiny, tiny dick all the happiness in the world. Blessings," Santana hissed.

"Take your whore and get out of here, Finn," Quinn spat looking at the boy and the bloody sobbing girl. "You're nothing."

"Look who's talking," Finn spat managing to stand. Santana turned and started to lunge at the boy. She knew that Finn and Quinn had a history. She wasn't going to let him bring her down too. She swung out at him but Brittany stopped her. The oaf went on. "Don't preach to me, Quinn. This trash thinks they know you -" Brittany held Santana tighter as she went to toward the giant boy.

"Let me go! I will beat you into next week! I'll show you trash." Santana was practically foaming at the mouth. She went from no words to too many.

"Santana," Brittany attempted.

Sam was having similar luck holding Puck back. Thankfully Mike had joined the fold, but still they were barely holding the boy back. Puck was ready to explode. He must know about Russell. HE couldn't announce that at school. Puck wouldn't allow it "Hudson, I'll break your arms and legs! Fucking-"

Quinn didn't hear the rest of the profanities. She stared at Finn. She saw his anger. She saw that it was now just him and her. She couldn't feel the dull ache in her hand from breaking shit-me-a-river's nose. Now, all she saw was him.

"Don't act like you're some fucking good person, Quinn! We all know better!" Finn screamed. He still cowered slightly as he ranted, holding one hand to the side of his face. He reminded Quinn of Quasimodo. "You and I both know what you did."

"Shut up, Finn," she hissed; her voice was barely audible.

"I've kept this fucking secret for so long," he hissed. "It's not like you have any dignity left."

"Big word for you, Hudson, do you need me to CASTRATE it for you?" Brittany barked still holding Santana.

Finn looked at Brittany but then glared back at Quinn. He grinning in realization. "No one knows."

"Shut up, Hudson, or I will cut you like melted cheese, spread you on toast and burn you!" Brittany screamed again.

The brunette stopped struggling in the girl's arms. They were talking about something that Santana didn't know and she hated not knowing. Brittany didn't know about Russell. What were they talking about?

"What the hell is going on?" Santana asked.

Finn was still staring at Quinn as if he had already won. "I would say that you and your dyke friends get out of here."

"You bitch!" Quinn screamed lunging toward him surprising everyone. She clipped his jaw and just as he looked up to fire back she hit him with a left hook.

Both Santana and Puck paused and stopped struggling in awe. "Shit," Santana mumbled.

"Don't you dare," she yelled pushing the overgrown boy to the ground. "Don't you dare reduce them to those vicious names. You're nothing, Finn. You just want to bring everyone down to your pathetic level when you will be stuck here doing nothing but licking grease from your stepfather's garage drains."

"Fuck you, Fabray!" he screamed. "I mean are you even a Fabray anymore. I'm sure you won't be after everyone finds out what you did!"

"Don't you dare!" Santana flared as she launched again at him only to be held back. He was not going to announce that at school. However, Sam and Mike weren't as fast as Brittany. Puck fired from the side and threw the tall boy to the ground. He punched the boy repeatedly.

"That is not your story to tell! That is none of your damn business!" His punches punctuated his statements. Mike and Sam managed to pull him off of the wailing, wounded dinosaur.

"What the fuck, man!" Finn whined as he managed to stand. "Of course, it's my story to tell. It was my FUCKING KID!"

Santana froze. "Oh my god," she muttered.

She wasn't the only one. The now hundreds of students froze. Everything was silent. Just as the murmurs began the beanstalk stood up.

Finn turned to Quinn. "You don't get to yell at me. You don't get to do anything!" He pointed at her. "You are in debt to me! You killed our kid!"

"Fuck you!" Brittany screamed as she ran and jumped onto Finn's back. Once one arm was wrapped around the front of Finn's neck, she used the other arm to tighten her fist and begin ramming it into the boy's face. However, she didn't have the vigor behind a punch instead she was basically hammering her fist his head. "Fuck you, Finn!"

Santana stared at Quinn. She watched the girl stare at the ground. The brunette could see that she wasn't there. She was in the web of her own guilt. She was lost.

Santana steeled her jaw. She didn't see Brittany or her brother or her friends harassing Finn. All she saw was Finn. "Stop!" she screamed. She marched up to the boy and grabbed his collar.

"Santana Corcoran!" Sue Slyvester scolded. "What in all things golden is going on?"

Santana didn't hear her. She grabbed Finn's collar and pulled it close so that he was at her left. "She was never in debt to you scum. Not now. Not ever. And I will make you pay for even thinking that!"

"Corcoran, stop!" Sue hissed as she gently pulled the girl away. Sue began to berate everyone present but Santana's gaze fell on Quinn who had now fallen to the ground. Her steeled jaw loosened. She watched Quinn carefully. Her eyes were hallow and distant. Santana's jaw dropped on instinct. She walked over to the girl and knelt in front of her. She took Quinn's hand in hers and then with her other hand she lifted Quinn's chin so that her eyes met hers. She let out a quiet sob at the truth that was saturating those hazel eyes that looked back at her. She shook her head softly; she didn't want it to be true. Quinn didn't deserve this; no one did. The emotion that seemed to explode from her was met with a muted ache that radiated from the blond girl.

Maybe she should say something, do something, tell Santana, but she couldn't. All Quinn could do was look back at her.

Santana searched the girl's eyes. Quinn stared back with a hollow look, as if she was retreating to the last safe place she knew.

However, she wasn't in that place for long. She could never escape for long. Santana pulled her from that place and back to reality with one terrible question.

"It wasn't his, was it?" Santana asked barely above a whisper, only loud enough for Quinn to hear.

Quinn continued to stare at her. While her gaze was unwavering, her insides had turned to must. Still though, all she could do was stare. That's all she could do because words seemed so insignificant to all of the emotions she was feeling. Santana instinctively pulled her into a hug, but Quinn couldn't hug back. All she could do was stare. She could only stare because if she blinked it would be true. Every secret and every darkness that she felt about herself that she could barely even utter in her mind would be out in the open; if she blinked it would all be true; if she blinked she would be kneeling next to her former enemy, now practically sister, in the rubble of all of her truth's carnage.

…...

Shelby was furious. She was called and told there was a fight at school. One with blood. Lots of blood and her children. All three of them were the cause of it. She took Rachel's hand and practically sprinted toward the entrance of McKinley trying to wrap her brain around all of this. She frowned when she saw Finn Hudson and Whitney in the back of the ambulance. She quickened her pace. She couldn't. She couldn't. She just couldn't. She felt Rachel's hand slip out of hers as she stomped down the hallway. What in God's name were they thinking? Were any of them thinking?

"Rachel, come on," she said with frustration when she didn't hear her daughter's steps behind her.

"Mom?" Rachel asked.

"What?" Shelby asked. "We don't have time for -"

She turned and saw her youngest stare at one of the flyers from the floor. There were hundreds and still somehow Shelby didn't notice them before. Shelby paused and picked one up.

"Oh my god," she muttered. She shook her head in disbelief. Her daughter was outed at school. With flyers. She gave Rachel a weak smile. She held out her hand. Her children weren't the only one's now out for blood.

Rachel took her hand and let herself be led down the hallway. The noise got progressively louder.

"Sue!" Shelby called.

"They're all in the gym," Sue pointed over a crowd of about thirty students arguing outside Figgins office.

Shelby weaved her way through the crowd. She was sure to hug Rachel tighter to her body so that the girl didn't get lost. Finally she spotted the four. Santana was holding Quinn's hand and Brittany's. Both of Quinn's hands were bloody as were one of Santana's and one's of Noah's and one of Brittany's.

"Are you alright?" Shelby finally asked.

"No," Santana muttered.

They all looked so defeated.

Shelby sighed. "Look at me, guys," she said. They four teens looked up hesitantly. "I'll take care of this." She said fiercely. "You hear me?" They all nodded quietly. "Okay." She took a deep breath. "Rachel, stay with them please."

Rachel nodded and immediately hugged Santana. As the older girl let the younger one fall into her arms, Shelby bent down and kissed Santana softly on the cheek. Santana paused and stared in horror at the flyer in her mother's hand. Her mother knew. Rachel's hand that was near her ear held one too. Santana sobbed. This was not how she wanted her family to find out.

"I love you so much," Shelby whispered.

Santana nodded tearfully as she held Rachel closer. Shelby stood and squeezed Quinn's hand whose gaze returned down trained to the floor.

"Hey," Shelby whispered. "I love you too. So so much."

Quinn didn't look up at her. She just nodded. Shelby wondered in that moment what else had happened. She kissed Quinn softly on the head and then shifted to Noah.

"You alright?" she asked quietly.

"Whatever," he whispered. "And I love you too. Now go and fix this so we can leave."

Shelby smirked. "Alright, tough guy." She smiled at the kids once more. "I'm going to fix this."

She walked back into the crowded hallway and spotted Valerie. She made her way over. Valerie held up a flyer. "I see we have a problem."

Shelby nodded. "We certainly do."

"No, you certainly do," Carol Hudson-Hummel frowned. "Your son practically broke Finn's jaw straight off."

Shelby narrowed her eyes. and threw the flyer at the other mother. "Well, your son outed my daughter."

Carol looked at the flyer in surprised. "He wouldn't!" she screeched.

"Would and did," Sue interjected holding out a small tap recorder. "Care for a listen."

"Sue!" Principal Figgins scolded. "Let me handle this. You and Coach Beiste are needed in the gym. The crowds are getting a little too jungle like in there."

Sue gave Shelby the tape recorder and left toward the gym. "Come in, please."

The parents all scowled at each other. Shelby recognized Whitney's father right away. She looked around the room. Parents of Whitney, Finn, Brittany, Mike and Sam were present. She frowned Judy never would have shown up for this. She straightened. She was Quinn's parent as much as Noah's and Santana's. And she was ready to raise hell.

…...

Rachel leaned into Santana and held Quinn's hand quietly as they watched the sea of students in the gym. Apparently another fight had broken out about something else. The number of students being held just kept climbing. Rachel looked around frantically.

"Shh," Santana whispered in her ear and pulling her closer to her. "You're okay."

Rachel shifted and looked at her and then over at Brittany. "I'm sorry we don't live in a world where this isn't accepted as acceptable."

Brittany looked at her tearfully. "Me too, Rach," she said.

Rachel leaned her head on Santana's shoulder. Santana looked down at her in surprise. Her sister was so profound it surprised her on an everyday basis. "Thanks, bug," she said into her ear and kissing her temple.

The tiny brunette reached out and put her hand on Quinn's arm. "Are you okay?"

Before Quinn could answer, the doors to the gym opened. Another group of about fifty students came in.

"I don't know why we're here!" Ruth Marks screamed. "Protesting is a right! We had every right to voice our opinions."

"You were not protesting!" Mr. Jordan argued. "You were questioning everyone's sexual orientation as they tried to enter the cafeteria. And if they refused to answer you told them they were going to hell so there was no point in eating. BLEACHERS NOW!"

Santana felt Rachel move into her. She followed her gaze at the group known Christ Crusaders. They were terribly obnoxious. Last year they demanded that the school change the mascot from the Titans to the Angels. It didn't go through. They made everyone's lives miserable. This wasn't going to go well.

"How does it feel to have blood on your hands?" someone spat from from the crowd.

Santana frowned. She looked at Brittany and Quinn. "I am not in the mood."

"Christ Crusaders," Kelly groaned. Most of the Cheerios were gathered around them. They were accomplices, Figgins had told them. They were to stay put until he could sort out their punishments.

"Jesus," Brittany moaned in frustration.

"It feels good," Santana spat to the crusader that asked the first question. "Want me to add some of yours to my hands too."

"Santana," Quinn hissed motioning at Rachel. The older girl backed down. Santana looked over and Quinn was looking at Rachel who was looking at the girl.

"No, thank you. You're impure. Don't touch me," the girl sneered.

"You do know Harry Potter isn't real, right?" Quinn hissed. "Just go away, Ruth."

Quinn then tilted her head and looked at Ruth, the leader of this little "God Squad." "Wait a minute."

"What is it, now, Quinn? Everyone knows now that you had an abortion thanks to Finn," Ruth said with a laugh. You're just as impure."

"Brittany, stay with Rachel," Quinn said. She looked at Santana. The girl stood, following her lead.

"Who is this Quinn?" Santana asked as she looked at the blonde as she stepped closer to Ruth and the rest of the Crusaders.

"This is Ruth Marks, San. Ring a bell?"

Santana's eyes flared. Marks. Of course. "You bitch! Your sister made my sister's life hell," she scolded and then regretted hoping that the gym noise drowned her out.

"Wait," Ruth laughed. She looked around the girls at Rachel. Santana followed her and saw that Brittany was trying to talk to her, to distract her. However, she couldn't hear what they were saying because of the distance. She turned back to Ruth who had a pleasant scowl on her face. "That's Beaker? That's right," the girl laughed. "My sister told me all about you and your trash family," she said taking another threatening step toward the girls. "Trash."

Santana saw nothing but red.

"Take it back!" she bit as she pushed the girl back.

"Don't touch me! I'll catch all the diseases that you have!" Ruth brushed off all her shoulders. "You're kidding me," Ruth laughed again. "You're going to burn in hell. You and your dyke girlfriend. I'm glad you were outed! Maybe someone can cure you."

Quinn and Santana launched at her but were held back. Noah held them around the middle. "What's going on?" Noah asked.

"This bitch is the sister of the one that gave Rachel a hard time," Santana hissed.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Ruth, before I do it for you," Quinn spat.

Cheerios began to close in behind them. Other groups also surrounded them. Bickering was all around. Everyone was screaming at each other. "She said what?" one asked. "None of your damn business!" another replied. A push. A shove and the chaos was just beginning.

"Get moving, Marks," Noah hissed.

"Talking to my girl, Corcoran," Clyde Fabian asked coming up behind Ruth and the Crusaders with members of the hockey team.

"He's was simply telling your Jesus-jacking freakos to back off," Mike interjected coming behind Noah.

"What the hell is going on here!" Beiste asked but was unable to get an answer.

"Nevermind. I'm better than you all. I know all about you," Ruth laughed. "About your family. Google is very informative. Too bad my sister didn't go through with what she's was going to do." Ruth tilted her head and made eye contact with Rachel. Santana pushed her to look back at her. She was thankful that the tiny brunette was yards back from them and couldn't hear anything. She herself could barely hear a word. Then that bitch spoke and what she said was the last straw to one of the worst days of her life. Ruth grinned. "Sodomy is truly a sin and your sister is dirtier than trash."

Quinn and Santana lunged. There was no going back. "You bitch!" The two lead Cheerios tackled the girl the ground with all their might. Ruth landed with a thud. Screams and punches went flying. Everything became a blur.

Sue couldn't make it through the crowd. Who was she kidding? There were over 200 students in gym and almost all of them were fighting or cheering on a fight. She looked and most of the Cheerios were fighting the Christ Crusaders. The football team was fighting the hockey team. She looked over at Beiste. "Call the police! We need back up!"

…...

Rachel watched Ruth Marks watch her carefully. She knew exactly who that girl was. She was terribly mean and unkind. She felt the girl's glares but the chaos still screamed around her. The sea of students seem to be closing in. She felt her heart beat pick up. There were too many people in here. She looked over and watched one boy in a Varsity jacket punch a boy with a camera and a big Afro to the ground. She looked to her right and saw a pair of Cheerios yanking each other's hair out. It was practically a war zone.

"Rachel!"

Brittany suddenly was kneeling in front of her. She looked at her with a frown.

"Go find your mom."

Rachel looked up frantically in the cluster of people. Where were they?

"Rachel," Brittany said shaking her slightly. Rachel looked at her with wide eyes. "Go!"

A scream broke out . "You bitch!" she knew that it was Santana. She looked up and went to move toward her sister.

"No," Brittany said. "Rachel, go find your mom." Rachel looked up at the normally gentle blonde. "Go," she urged. She caught a flash of Quinn rolling on the floor on top of Ruth yanking her hair and screaming. She saw her brother raising a boy with a Jesus is my Homeboy t-shirt on in the air and screaming. Finally she saw Santana lean back and hit Ruth in the face. Then as soon as she saw them, they were gone amongst the sea of chaos.

"Brittany," she called. She looked around frantically. Why were high schoolers so big? Rachel tried to spot her siblings. She couldn't see any of them anymore. She turned to look for Brittany but Brittany was now gone. She felt her heart racing. Someone pushed her and she fell back. She pushed herself into a standing position. She just needed to get out of here. She couldn't breathe. Therefore, she ran.

…...

"I …. I ….I can't believe he did this," Carol whispered.

"Well, he did," Shelby spat.

"That doesn't mean your son had the right to break his jaw!" Carol scolded.

"We cannot tolerate any physical violence, Mrs. Corcoran and Mrs. Pierce. Miss Pierce, Mr. Corcoran, Miss Corcoran and Miss Fabray are suspended for a week," Principal Figgins said carefully. "All work has to be made up during that week. They are not allowed on school grounds until after that week."

"Figgins!" Valerie hissed. "These kids were sticking up for themselves!"

"Let me finish," he said. "I will not allow this school to be one that accept hate crimes. What Mr. Hudson and Miss Richards did was not only inappropriate, cruel and out of line, but unquestionably unacceptable. I am requiring them to go through sensitivity training and issue a public apology to the students of this school. Furthermore Coach Beiste and Coach Sylvester have informed me they no longer want Mr. Hudson or Miss Richards on the football team and Cheerios, respectively.–''

Shelby grinning in satisfaction. She hadn't even had to argue.

"My son is depending on that scholarship," Carol argued.

"Your son is off the team," he said simply. "Finally, they're suspended for the next two weeks-"

"Principal Figgins!" the secretary screamed rushing in. "The students have gone mad! There are now over forty fights in the gym-"

The small Indian man shot Mr. Richard and Carol look. "Make that three weeks!" he said standing up. "Your children turned my school into a war zone!" He stood up. "Get me my megahorn!"

They all followed the principal out to the gym. It was chaos. Teachers and now police were trying to separate all the kids. She spotted her children immediately rolling around with some girl. She somehow easily pried Quinn and Santana off with the help of Noah whom she grabbed off of a boy on the way in. Santana fought in her mother's arms back toward Ruth. She leaned back and spit on the girl.

"Who's dirty now, bitch?" Santana hissed.

"Santana!" Shelby screamed in disbelief.

It was at that moment that she realized the person holding her was her mother. Shit, she thought.

A loud beep when off and the entire gym froze as they covered their ears. "Attention! Attention!" Principal Figgins announced. "SIT DOWN!" He turned to his side and that's when Shelby noticed Bear standing there. He took the mega phone from the man.

"Everyone sit down!" Bear said more forcefully. "Where you are sit down!" Slowly but surely everyone took a seat. "I'm Chief Carlson. You will listen up. This is out of control! My officers are coming down and taking each and everyone of your names. Do not lie! I will know. You will be written up. Consider yourself warned by the Lima Police Department. This behavior stops now!"

The sea of people that became the gymnasium was practically unmanageable. Shelby looked at the kids. They slowly retreated. She barely had time to sit down before they were called.

"Corcorans, Pierce, Fabray." Shelby watched the four of them stand.

"Dykes!" A Crusader hissed.

"Fuck you!" A cheerio screamed

"Trash!"

"I'll give you trash, you little bitch!" a football player screamed.

"I DEMAND SILENCE!" Bear screamed. "You!" He pointed to the Crusader that called out first. "Here now!" He pointed to the Cheerio. "You here, now!" He brought all of them one by one to them. "Speak and you will see me."

"You're just doing that because you're related. You believe in their heinously sinful deeds," Ruth spat.

"YOU!" Bear shouted. "Here! Now!"

Shelby shook her head as the gym doors closed behind them. She froze. Noah. Quinn. Santana. Brittany. "Where's Rachel?"

The three of them looked at Brittany. "I sent her to you," she said quietly.

Shelby felt a wave of panic. She went back to the gym and scanned the crowd. Her brother-in-law was screaming at the kids about respect for each other.

"Lawrence!" she hissed. He turned.

"You think about what I just said!" he shouted. He walked to Shelby.

"Rachel's gone."

Gus walked up to him. "Go," he said. "I'll take care of this."

Bear put his hand on Shelby's arm. "She's fine. She's just scared and hiding somewhere. I'll find her." Shelby nodded frantically. "Go take care of the others."

Shelby turned and the kids were arguing.

"Did she hear?" Santana asked carefully. "Did she hear?"

"Hear what?" Shelby asked walking up to them.

Brittany shook her head. "I'm so sorry. I just wanted to get her out of there. It was too much for her and -"

"It's alright," Shelby assured. "Hear what?" The girls all exchanged looks. Noah stared at the ceiling. "Hear what?" She frowned. "Who was the girl you spit on in there Santana?"

The brunette steeled her gaze. "She called Rachel trash, Mom. That was Ruth Marks. She told me that 'Sodomy is truly a sin and your sister is dirtier than trash.'" Shelby's jaw dropped. Since when did she send her children to such a terrible school.

She held up her hands. "You don't think Rachel heard that. Please tell me she didn't. Does she know who that girl was?"

They shrugged.

"Mom, did Jeanie tell Rachel that before?"

Shelby looked at the kids. "In so many words. I believe so." She took a deep breath. "Bear will find her. We need to get to the car and -"

"Mrs. Corcoran," Principal Figgins said. "Your children -"

"Have been wronged," Shelby interrupted. "While I am disappointed in the violence, I am appalled by the school you're running here. What the hell are you thinking? You have cultivated such a spirit breaking environment that you should should truly question your role as an educator! While I understand the necessity to suspend them, I expect a full and detailed letter to every college they apply to that explains the reasoning behind it. I also demand a transcript of Mr. Hudson's speech be attached. This is outrageous! And you WILL be hearing from my lawyer."

"I understand your frustration, Mrs. Corcoran-"

"I'm quite certain you do not," she spat. She handed Noah her keys. "Go to the car. I'm going to look for Rachel. We are done here, Principal."

"Mom, we can help," Santana interjected.

"I know you can, San," Shelby said gently, "but I need to know that the three of you are in the Range Rover waiting for me." She glanced over at Brittany and took both their hands. "I know that this has been a terrible day." They looked at each other for a moment. "But I love you both. I hope you know that." They nodded. She took a deep breath. "Straight to the car."

Valerie rounded the corner. "Brit!"

Santana looked at the blonde girl. "Bye," she whispered. Brittany nodded. She wanted to kiss her. She wanted to hug her, but in that moment when everyone was splattered on the wall. She didn't know how.

"Bye."

"Straight to the car," Shelby said more forcefully as she ran in the direction that Bear went.

She caught up to him. "Bear! Bear!"

"Shelby, I'll find her, okay."

"I know this is mess. This is all a big fat mess. Where could she be?' Shelby felt a wave of tears. Everything with Quinn. Then now with Santana. Of course the fates would allow Rachel to run off. Of course.

"She's scared. She probably can't breathe. Where is she? What if she needs her neb and-"

"Shelby!" Bear scolded. "You're not helping me right now. Take the kids home. I will find her. I will bring her home. She'll be okay. But you, here, freaking out is not helping. Please. Take the kids home and breathe."

Shelby nodded shakily. "Home."

Parents were already trickling in. The hallways were thinning. Classrooms were empty. Shelby nodded. She would just drive the kids home. Things would be fine. She walked out to the parking lot and was thankful that the kids had actually done what they were asked to do. Things were going to be fine. They had to be, she thought as she climbed in.

She picked up her phone and dialed one of the most reliable numbers.

"Hello?"

"Jo?"

Shelby stepped out of the car and away. She explained the situation as quickly as she could. Santana. Fights. Something in Quinn's eyes that told her something was said. Rachel missing. She was panicking. "I need you to come here. I need you here now. I need to help Bear. She could be in a locker for all I know. We need to search. She -"

"Shelby!" Joey screamed. "He will take care of her. He will find her. You need to relax and not distract him. Look around you. How many more cars are there?" Shelby noticed for the first time that the parking lot was almost empty. Cars and buses were pulling up and bringing the kids away from the school. "They're almost finished in there. Then the whole squad can help look. They don't need the mother and the family freaking out. Get in your car and go home. I will meet you there."

"Joey, she-"

"Get in the car," Joey instructed. "I'll see you in fifteen minutes. You better be at the house when I get there."

With that Joey hung up. Shelby took a breath. Get in the car. Go home. Everything will be fine.

…...

Rachel breathed deeply. She was so tired. She had been scared before. She ran to the quietest place she could find: a side closet and just sat there. She had been trying to catch her breath. She just wanted to go home. She turned the handle slowly. Everything was silent. When had everything become silent? She looked down the hallway. No one. Oh no, she thought. She went quicker down the hallway. No one. She turned around another corner no one. This school was so damn big. She didn't know how to get out and there was no one here and-

"Rachel?"

She turned around and there was a girl with glasses and a ninety's bobcut walking away from her. She looked up at the voice.

"Hi Mr. Schuester."

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I need to find my mom," she said quietly.

"Everyone's left, Rachel," he said gently.

Her eyes pooled with tears. "What?"

"Yeah, everyone cleared out." He sighed. "Come into my office for a second. I can take you home."

Rachel shook her head. "Can't I just call my mom?"

"Nah," he said grabbing his coat and briefcase. "I'll just take you home. Remember you don't want to make a scene Rachel. Scenes can get your mom in trouble."

She frowned as she followed him out to a parking lot she had never been to. The teacher's parking lot?

She looked around. There were no cars here. They had left her. They had actually left her.

He walked over to the passenger side of his car. "Don't worry about it. It'll be fun. You'll be home in no time." Rachel frowned. "Get in."

"You'll take me straight home?" she asked.

"Where else would I take you?" he laughed. "Get in," he said with a smile.

She bit her lip and climbed into the car. Will grinned and walked to his side of the car. He threw his briefcase into the back of the car and began to climb in.

"What are you doing?"

Will looked up and there was Lawrence "Bear" Carlson was glaring at him. Rachel spotted him and hopped out of the car.

"He was going to bring me home," she said. Bear knelt down and pulled Rachel into a hug. He glared over her shoulder at Will.

"Glad you came," he smirked. "I would have been happy to take her home."

"Don't ever be alone with her," Bear said calmly. "Come on, Rachel. Your mom is worried sick about you." He leaned closely to Will. "I will be talking with you later."

"Sure thing," Will said with a shrug. "Anything I can do to help!"

Rachel took her uncle's hand and went back into the school. It was just a ride home. He had been right. Where else would he have taken her?

…...

Santana felt terrible. Terrible didn't even come close to describing it. On top of everything, amidst the chaos and crazy, Rachel had gotten scared and was now missing. No one knew where she was. And again that was because of her.

Her mother's phone went off. The ringing on the bluetooth echoed on the stereo. She watched her mother ignore the bluetooth and just pick of her phone as if it were her last lifeline and pull the car over on the side of the road, effectively pissing off the person behind them. Her mother had been on edge. She had been gripping onto the steering wheel as if it had the answers. She could see the unshed tears in her mother's eyes. Again, she had played the staring role in causing those tears.

"Bear, hi, did you find her?" She asked frantically. Santana knew she could breath again when her mother's body instantly relaxed. "Oh thank god... Okay. Where was she?..." Santana frowned as her mother frowned. "What... He was what? …..." Santana tensed. "What do you mean?..." Shelby sighed and put her head in her hand. "I'm sure he was just trying to help... I know...I'm not going to argue with this right now. Just get her home please... Yes...Okay...Alright, see you soon...Can I speak with her really quickly?" Shelby paused and Santana watched a tiny smile cross her face. "Rach? Do you have any idea how much you scared me?...I know, bug. Don't cry...I know you were scared... We'll talk about this more later, but I love you very much...Okay...Alright, give me back to your uncle..." Shelby sighed. "Thanks, Bear...I know... Okay... See you soon. Alright, bye."

Let me know what you think.