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.

32. Chapter 32

Chapter 32

BMontague – Thank you for your review. I am sorry you have to witness first hand that this stuff really happens to people. This chapter really packs a punch and things start to move very fast. The kids are learning and as much as everyone wants them to get better quickly I am trying to be as realistic as possible. I am glad you continue to read and enjoy this story.

Anna – They are strong individuals that lean on each other – they have years of first raising their children and now watching their grandchildren grow so they lean on their family and the experience. Thanks for the review.

Iuterpi- Don't be mad at Bear – he may be pushing them but it is the only way he can get Rachel to talk. Also he knows that Santana is starting to unwind and he really wants her to recover from what has happened. For so many years she has kept it in and now it is time to let it out and finally get to moving on. And honestly – there will NEVER be a good time for them to talk. It will always hurt. The letter is concerning but will Noah share it is the question. Thanks for reviewing and this chapter packs a punch!

Hazelstar – Yeah Griffin isn't a fan favorite but he will redeem himself a little. He tried with Brittany but was very bad timing. Shelby find out about the letter but probably not this chapter she has way too much on her plate right now for Noah to share it with her. Thanks for reviewing

Manly – Well sit down when you are reading this chapter. This is something that has been in the works since the story originated. I knew it would be intense – and I hope it works well. The kids still feel – they may have had a lot to have happen to them but they still feel and they would feel broken bones. You are correct Quinn does have an issue where she tends to keep quiet so that she is not a burden but they will work on that. Thank for the review. And no question is silly.

amandaes417 – Yes that chapter packed a punch but this chapter is the knock out punch. Brace yourself. There is a lot that is happening in this and it will leave them all devastated to a point. But they will survive and they are all survivors and they will ALL help each other. Dex and Griffin know all that happen to Rachel, Santana and Noah. They were both old enough to know the details and Dex helped Shelby with Rachel's after care when she needed it. Thank you for all your messages! I do love them.

MissLauraKinney – Santana will always look as her trauma being less than her baby sisters and now Quinn shares a bond with her sister that she doesn't want to have but also doesn't know how to handle it. Noah has a bunch of emotions but one of his emotions is that he feels some guilt because he didn't help his sisters more. Thanks for reviewing.

Ryoko05 – Thank you for the review. Let me just clear up one thing right away though – Santana will always be Rachel's safe place. She had to adjust to what she just learned but as you will see in this chapter – Rachel understands it and will take comfort in Santana as always. Santana will actually have the harder time with it because she has known it forever – I hope that makes sense.

piecesofyourheart – Its ok that you only skimmed through the italic parts but I warn you this chapter is a hard read. Please read with caution. It is very very intense. Take your time and I understand if some of the parts are too hard. Thanks for the review.

val-cb – This one is more intense. Thanks

needscoffee – Thank you so much! Here is the next chapter and its intense.

broadwaybound2016 – Thank you so much. This chapter is intense so please sit down and read with caution.

Kimberlli – The letter will be read in due time. Thanks for reviewing and squealing!

TommyH – Awesome review!

Abbie – Shelby is a licensed therapist herself so even though these are her kids she uses both her motherly instinct and her professional training to help the kids. Thank you for the review.

Cookie – Sorry for making you a mess. Santana does have a lot on her shoulders and the family wants her to unload some of it. They have watched her hold it in for 8 years and now it is just as raw and has created so many more problems with her that its time for her to change her ways a little and see if she can truly begin to fully heal from this trauma. It is such a burden to hold so much in – she is so angry and she needs to let it out and get back to acting like a teenager. Brittany is confused with Santana's actions but it wont be solved overnight but it also won't be ruined either. The nickname Buckwheat is from the Little Rascal's show and how Santana's hair used to look. Santana does NOT have a borderline personality disorder. She just has been through some awful trauma and plus her stubbornness is a family trait. Thank you very much for your review. Keep them coming

Renata – you are right – the connection with Santana and Rachel can not and will not be broken. Thank you for liking the binkie fairy – one of my friends had to do that with their child. Never apologize for a long review. I love them! Thank you .

Readerlove – Thank you for telling me how much you love this story. I have felt a little trapped with Changes in Tides and this story right now is taking my focus but I will not abandon that story I just don't want to throw out a chapter just to get one out there. Carrying 2 stories is difficult when I have to make sure my characters are where they need to be.

Fangirl44 – Frannie was an older sister to Quinn is was basically a jerk to her her whole life. Her father wanted a boy and got Quinn so from the minute she was born Quinn was a burden to her family. They loved Frannie and probably "spanked" Frannie but in no way were they abusive to her. Thanks for reviewing

Filmaddict – Ok here is your warning – THIS – chapter REALLY packs a punch. By the end of this chapter you will really want to punch Griff and a bunch of others I think. You have guessed correctly who the author of the letter is and again I have put you on the list of people who want him off this earth. Thanks for reviewing.

SuzQQ – There is no way that Santana's trauma or anything is going to be brushed to the way side – in fact therapy is increasing for her. She has held too much in for too long and it is now going to come out and the family will be there every step of the way to help her through all this. Quinn has built a nice bond with Shelby, San and Rachel and Noah too but it will take time for her to build it with the rest of the family and Griff's words did not help at all. Noah is not going to share the letter yet – he wants to handle things on his own and not burden his mom. I try to fit in flashbacks as they come and they will but it has to be in the right place – but you will see more of them. Thanks as always for reviewing.

Gleek1990 – Everything is crumbling but it will be rebuilt stronger and less likely to ever crumble again. I think you know who the letter is from. Thanks for reviewing! And hold on to your seat for this chapter.

btvscharmedgirl – Thank you for noticing that it has to come out so that they can heal. Thanks for the review. This is a very hard read coming up.

marinka4 – if you are mad at Griffin now you will not like him very much in this chapter either. Sorry Nana rubs you the wrong way – she is just more blunt when talking about things with the kids. She does her very best with them and they know that. Thanks for reviewing.

NinjaGleek21 – This chapter is intense – close the door of the cage and sit down because I can't be held responsible for your actions. Thanks for reviewing

HIsland429 – I promise you this is a more intense chapter than the last. What Quinn said to Rachel was both for Quinn's sake as it was for Rachel's. Quinn is afraid of getting too close and having it all ripped away from her. That would destroy her and she also sees how dependent Rachel is on her and she doesn't want to hurt her if she is forced to move back to her mom's house. Griff is an ass but not as big as the Marks' sisters. Thanks for reviewing.

lovecanbesostrange – Santana was Leroy's girl and she took her father's death the hardest. She has not even really had time to mourn his death properly. There has not been any self harm identified as of yet but for Rachel and Santana were immediately placed into therapy and they have a strong mother and lots of family support and while they still have issues obviously I don't think they will do any self harm. Quinn's trauma is recent with no therapy until now so only time will tell with her. Griffin does speak before he thinks but he is also in his own way protecting his family. You are right about Noah's letter, he is not going to share this for a while if at all- he feels like he is an adult and wants to handle it as an adult. Hiram will not see freedom in this lifetime. Thank you for your in depth review. I really enjoy them.

Chapter 32

Hi everyone. This chapter is... well... A lot happens. Please be aware that there are a few flashbacks and scenes that may be very difficult to read. DO NOT READ AT WORK or BEFORE AN IMPORTANT CLASS. This may distract you...

Please let me know what you think.

ALSO, this has been in the works since the beginning. Long before the episode of Glee aired.

I will do my best to have the next chapter up by Tuesday night my time of next week, but it might be Wednesday. However, I have a rule that I cannot watch the new ep until I've posted

Shelby took another sip of wine and took a deep breath.

"I don't really know where to begin," Shelby said as they continue to eat their dinner. "I mean I haven't had a chance to really talk to Quinn and Santana."

"About what happened at school?" Joey asked as she ate a bite of her salmon.

Shelby nodded as she leaned back slightly for the waiter to refill her ice water. She continued. "I just... I took Quinn in. I love her. To me she's my kid," she looked at the family. "Honestly, I'm ready for Jackie to start the severance plan. That's where this is going. We all know it, but we're trying to wade out the waters to make sure that we give Judy the opportunity."

"Perhaps she'll step up," Helen offered. Shelby looked at her sharply and Joey gave a defeated sigh.

"She won't," Joey said. "She doesn't see that she's done anything wrong."

"How is that possible?"

"It is," Bear said quietly taking a gulp of his red wine as he leaned back in his chair. "People see what they want sometimes. The cost of admitting you were wrong is too high for them. They would rather not pay the price."

"It's not that simple," Michael said looking at him.

"Isn't it?"

Bear sighed and looked back down at his meal. He realized he didn't have an appetite anymore.

"We need a game plan," Michael said as he wiped his face and put his napkin on the table.

"Something happened. We know that," Helen said.

Shelby put her head in her hands. "I...I don't understand why though... I think and I agree that something did.. but I don't want to go on a witch hunt while my children need me."

"Well, I'll talk with Kurt and the girl that Quinn said she left with Rachel," Bear said leaning forward. He shook his head. "I just... We need to be prepared for what we find." He looked at the family. "I know that we think this bastard hurt her..." Bear searched his mind. "But if something happened, and then if and when we catch him... it's not just going to be hard on Rachel."

"That is what I'm trying to say," Shelby argued. "It's not just her. It's all four of them and all of us. We need to... We need to figure out how we do this...Because when they fall, and they will and part of me knows it has already started... we need to be ready to catch them."

Helen sat up. "Well, Michael and I will bring on our manager more full time and let him know we're going out of town. We already have a temp we've been wanting to also hire full-time as well as promoting our intern. We should be arriving in Lima early next week."

Shelby bit her lip. She was grateful but hesitant. She didn't know if she could deal with her parents and her four children under one roof. "Listen, Mom, I -"

"Don't worry," Helen said. "We're not staying with you." The older woman waved at her older daughter. "Your sister and her husband have plenty of space and we will -"

"Excuse me what?" Joey interrupted choking a little on her water. She shook her head. "Mom, you know I love you but-"

"Anyway," Helen said. "We will be staying there."

"I think that's a good idea and - oww" Bear began but was interrupted when he felt a heel in his shin.

"We will talk about that later," she hissed. She sighed. "You can stay as long as you need to, Mother." She said with a cheeky grin. She put her finger up. "I am not cooking for you."

"No one wants that, dear. I raised you I know your cooking skills," Helen said turning back toward Shelby.

"That's because you fed us cereal and cold cuts for dinner," Joey said with a quirk.

"Joe," Bear said.

"Can you please not do this?" Shelby asked. She sighed. "Well the older three are suspended and Rachel is school-less so I'll probably have you stay with them. Sue mentioned to me that she's trying to work it out so that the kids can still attend practice. But they'll need to focus on their studies. You can help me with dinners I need to keep them all on strict schedules when we get back. Therapy is going to increase for all, I have to work with Noah on college applications, I have to get rachel into a school and I have to keep Quinn and San in check because their anger is still out of control."

"Understandably so," Bear said.

"Rightfully so," Michael said with a quick of his eyebrows.

Shelby glanced at her watch. "We should get home. Kids need to go to bed." She gave a sigh and started looking around for the waiter to wave him down.

"Shelby we are here for you - you make the schedule and we will follow it - you are the boss."

The family looked at her and she sighed. She nodded. "Okay."

…..

Noah held Rachel. He was pretty sure that she was drooling on his sweatshirt. However, her grip was still tight. He was able to get out of her that Santana finally told her. She finally told her that one thing that Santana had once told Noah never to tell anyone. His eyes kept wandering over to his pillow where he tucked the letter. It was hidden, but he knew it was there. He heard shuffling downstairs.

He sighed. "Finally."

He stood up with Rachel still in his arms and walked down the attic steps. Santana was emerging from the roof window with Quinn when they entered the room. Santana gave a heavy look at her brother and then looked back at Rachel.

"She okay?" Quinn asked finally.

Noah gave a tiny shrug. "Doubt it." He looked at the girls. "Are you guys?"

The blonde glanced over at Santana and frowned. "Doubt it," Quinn answered.

"You should get her ready for bed," Noah said walking toward Santana.

"She wants you," the brunette said with exhaustion as she starts toward the bathroom.

Noah knew that Rachel didn't. She had repeatedly called out for Santana at every little noise while they were upstairs. And just as he assumed Santana's voice woke her up.

"San?" Rachel asked lifting her head. She looked at her tiredly.

She scrambled out of Noah's arms and went to Santana's side and pulled her into a hug. Santana hesitated but hugged her back.

"Let's just go to bed, okay?" Santana whispered.

"Areyoumadatme?" Rachel mumbled into her sister's stomach.

"Of course not," Santana whispered. "Come on. Let's brush your teeth."

They started toward the bathroom. Quinn watched them, again feeling out of place. Santana turned and looked over her shoulder at Quinn. "You comin'?" she asked.

"Come on," Rachel said as she rubbed her eye.

Noah watched as the girls disappeared into the bathroom and then meandered into the hallway.

"Hey." He looked up and his mother was walking down the hallway with a soft smile.

"What's going on?" Shelby asked as she took off her coat and laid it on the banister.

"You need to talk with Santana," Noah said, turning his body to walk down the hallway.

"What happened?" she asked again.

"San told Rach," he said quietly.

Shelby narrowed her eyes as she searched her son's eyes. She leaned back slightly when she realized what he means.

"What?" She folded her arms. "She really... San... San did that?"

Noah nodded. "Don't act so surprised. Everyone was kinda pushing her to do it the last few days." Shelby looked at her son carefully. "I know you don't mean to... but... Rachel isn't the only one."

"I know that," she said heavily. She frowned. "Does she think that... That I think that."

"No," Noah said quickly. "But... I know that you don't push her to talk and you've done that for eight years and let her ….And I really do see that she needs this... that it wasn't working I mean. But..." He looked at his mother. "I just... I didn't realize it would be so hard."

The door to the bathroom swung open.

"Where's George, Rach?" Santana asked as the three of them emerged. Santana's face tightened up. "Hi, Mom."

"Hey," Shelby said as she exchanged a look with Santana. "I saw George downstairs, Rach."

"Let's go," Quinn said. "We'll get it."

Rachel looked back at her mother and sister as she followed her other sister down the hallway. Santana and Shelby gave her a reassuring smile. Once they descended down the stairs and out of sight Santana walked into the bedroom and past her mother.

"I don't want to talk about it," Santana began.

"Santana," Shelby began.

"I just... I don't..." Santana said again folding down the sheets on the full bed bottom bunk. "Listen," she said sharply. "I know you told me not to push her but... I …. She needed to know." Santana frowned and looked at the ground. "She needed to know."

"Santana," her mother interrupted. "I'm not mad. Not in anyway."

Santana looked at her with a frown. "Really?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

Santana teared up and exchanged a look with her brother and then looked back down at the ground. "I... I …. I just...She needed to know..." She shook her head. "I can't... I just..." Shelby pulled her into her arms, but Santana went on. "I wanted to protect her. I wanted to …. I didn't want her to know... and … What he did to her... It was so much worse and I couldn't let her -"

"Santana, the fact that you remembered for the both of you was hard in itself. It's not about bad or worse."

Santana shook herself from her mother's arms. "It is. It is now that she knows. I can't-"

"Okay," Shelby whispered into her daughter's ear, pulling her back in to her.

"San, she needed to know," Noah said quietly. "You forget how brave you were."

"I had to be," Santana murmured into her mother's chest.

"Maybe tomorrow you can show me," Quinn's voice echoed into the room, purposefully louder to indicate that they were approaching the door.

Santana wiped her tears furiously and started pull away from her mother. Shelby hugged her and kissed her temple. "You don't have to be so tough all the time," she whispered.

The young brunette smiled and Rachel took her hand and they crawled into bed. Quinn climbed onto the top bunk and closed her eyes, reminding Shelby to talk to her the following morning about her sleeping so soundly since they got there.

"Mom?" Rachel asked from the inside of the bunk bed with a yawn.

"Yeah, bug?" she asked as Noah snuck out of the room. She grazed his arm gently, thanking him.

Rachel yawned and leaned her head into the crook of Santana's arm. "How was dinner?"

Shelby chuckled. "We'll talk tomorrow, bug."

…..

Noah leaned back. Dexter and Griffin were downstairs talking with their parents. The letter was burning through his pillow, He knew. There was no question. He sat up and pulled his shirt off when he remembered it was still covered with Rachel's tears. He changed and still felt the letter staring at him. He had a feeling that it would come out. He sat back down and allowed himself to retrieve the letter.

Dear Noah,

Happy birthday, son! You're finally a man. Eighteen. Whoa! How the time flies. I can't contact any of you until you turn eighteenth and here you are. I'm writing you to ask for forgiveness. I can't begin to explain how sorry I am. I know that my behavior cannot be excused. I made a mistake and I know that. They've helped me see-

He groaned. He couldn't do this. He couldn't read this crap. He didn't even want to take the time to consider what he was asking. He didn't. He couldn't. He crumpled up the letter and reached for his cousin's lighter for the cigarettes Griffin pretended he didn't smoke. He was going to burn this; it didn't exist. The fact that he was asking for forgiveness forced a boil in his chest. Eight years later. Eight years, he hissed. Everything was still fresh and his sisters were testament to that. He couldn't. He never would forgive him. He wouldn't even try.

He felt them lead him out of the courtroom. He was wearing a tie. He hated ties. He felt like he was being choked. Why didn't girls have to wear ties? What was the point of them? He raised his hand to loosen it. He just wanted to watch him go away. Why did he need to wear a tie to watch? However, that morning when they were getting dressed didn't seem like the time to ask. Even though, they knew he was going away and it was over. Finding out for how long was there was important too or at least that's what Noah thought. However, he was ten, maybe he was missing something. He didn't have to talk about it anymore. He was going to jail and they never had to see him again.

"Noah! Noah!"

He turned and looked over his shoulder and Hiram was passing down the hallway being hauled away.

"Don't talk to him, you piece of -" Noah looked up at his angry uncle.

"Bear, calm down," Noah looked up at his aunt.

He looked up at his mother for what to say. She gave him a weak grin, but she was trying to not look mad. Noah knew that look. She was trying not to scream.

"Noah!" he called out. "Tell them I was good to you, okay? I never -"

"It's over," his mother said with her angry eyes.

"Noah, what did your father used to say?"

"Shut the hell up!" Shelby screamed.

Noah looked up from his mother and moved away. He had never seen her that angry. She was even angier than she was when he hid the towels in the oven after he spilled his mother's coffee on them. Apparently, that hadn't been the best place to hide them. She had been been so upset that he never thought he would see his mother angier. He was wrong.

"Don't speak to my children," she said stepping forward as Noah felt himself being pulled behind his mother. "Ever." He felt himself being led down the hallway. Suddenly, he heard her speaking again. "You will never see them. Ever again." Noah looked up and she was pointing at him. "You sick son of a bitch. Don't you dare speak about Leroy. You didn't know him and he certainly didn't know you."

"That's enough, ma'am," the officer said, leading the man away.

Noah slipped his hand into his mother's. She calmed and looked down at him, pulling him closer to her. He looked back up and watched the man be taken away. He knew exactly what he was trying to say. Noah remembered a lot about his father, but the one thing is that he believe in forgiveness. He believed in it not as an idea, but a philosophy. Noah frowned as he tried to process that big word. His father just believed it was possible to forgive anything.

He watched as the man disappeared around the corner. Noah spent his whole ten years trying to be like his father. He tried to be the best musician. The best brother and the best friend. However, in that moment he realized he didn't know if he could forgive like his father. He just didn't have it in him.

"What's that?"

He looked up and his mother was looking at him. He still had the letter fisted into a ball in one hand and the lighter in the other.

"Nothing," he said. "They asleep?"

Shelby nodded and leaned against the banister. "Out like a light. Even Quinn."

"You sure, San's asleep?"

Shelby nodded. "I'm sure." She looked at him carefully. "You okay?"

He gave her a smile. "I'm fine."

"Noah," she said sitting down next to her son. "Despite everything that's going on, you need to know that things will be okay."

He frowned and looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"When you graduate, it doesn't mean you leave," she said. "Trust me when I went off to college, while different, it wasn't just me leaving. I went all the way to New York, but I was still very much a part of my family's life-"

"But you weren't here, here," he corrected. He shook his head. "I don't know. I might not be there but you never know what will happen. Who will come along-"

"Noah, what are you talking about?" She shook her head. "You can't put your life on hold. You can't give up on a future because of what ifs."

"What?" he shook his head. I … I don't know... I just... I don't know." He looked at her. "I don't want to talk about this. I'm tired. "

"Whatever that is," Shelby said as she looked at the letter. "It doesn't matter. Okay?"

He nodded. "I know. It doesn't." He nodded looking at the crumpled letter.

She kissed him softly on the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

He stared down at the letter. It didn't matter what that man thought.

…...

She opened her eyes and reached out. Nothing. She sat up.

"Rachel?"

She looked over the side of the bed and her brother was still snoring. He was just in his basketball shorts. She could see the welts on his back. It hurt too much for have a shirt grazing them. She looked around. The bed empty. It was dark and the city was quiet. She opened the door quietly. She had been in the room twice so far. She had an ache in her chest because she knew that was probably where Rachel was.

She froze mid step when she heard his groaning and the shriek and sob from Rachel. She felt tears water in her eyes.

"Relax, you little cunt," he hissed. "Be grateful!"

She walked closer to the door. Rachel was crying softly now and his grunting was increasing. She felt her breath hitch her chest when she realized the door was already partially open. Rachel was laying on her back on the bed. His back was facing the door but Santana could see his hand stroking in between his legs as he moved his other hand between Rachel's tiny legs. Santana saw that Rachel was naked and crying and there was blood speckled on the bed.

She wanted to stop him. She wanted to fight him, to grab him, to hit him.

But she tried that once. She tried that when she first found that blood. and she and Rachel both suffered the consequences. Neither of them could move comfortably after that for a couple days.

So all she could do was stand in the hallway and sob silently.

Rachel's eyes that were screwed tightly as tears poured down her face suddenly opened. She trembled and saw Santana standing at the door. She relaxed slightly and stopped crying as hard. Santana was ignoring her own tears and taking deep breaths, showing Rachel silent from the hallway. The tiny toddler mimicked her while the cruel man above her continued. Santana just had to keep Rachel calm. She might be in pain and hurt, but Santana knew she had to keep her breathing. She had to keep her breathing.

Santana woke with a start. Her eyes were wet from the memory of the dream or in this case, the memory that she dreamt. She pulled Rachel closer to her. She never could really say how many times she had seen what Hiram did to Rachel. However, she knew even at eight years old that hyperventilating wasn't good. once she heard Rachel crying so hard she was gasping for breath when they were in the room together. THey didn't have the nebulizer back that; Santana was the nebulizer. She looked down at Rachel quietly. Would she remember that? Would she remember Santana being outside the room never rescuing her?

"I'm sorry... please... let me go," Rachel whimpered. Santana looked down at her. "You'rehurtingme. Please."

"Bug, I'm right here," Santana said gently. "Wake up. You're okay. Wake up."

"Nononono," she whimpered.

The door that was already ajar, opened wider and SHelby entered.

"No!" Rachel said bolting up in bed.

"Rach, come on," Shelby said.

Rachel look at her mother and shook her head. "No," she whispered. She laid quietly back down on the bed and nestled into Santana's side.

"You okay?" Shelby asked Santana who laid back down. Santana gave a small grimace.

"Fine," she muttered. "Yeah." She nodded. "We're fine, Mom."

Shelby nodded and straightened up glancing into the top bunk. She frowned, Quinn was sound asleep again.

"I know, it's weird right?" Santana said to her in the darkness.

She smiled at the brunette. "Night."

…..

Shelby nursed her coffee the next morning with a tired sigh. Last day in Florida.

"Morning," her mother said coming into the kitchen.

"Hey," she replied quietly.

"The kids still sleeping?"

"Yup." She looked at her mother. "It's nice that Florida has allowed Quinn to sleep." She shook her head. "Must be being away from him. I never would have guessed." She shook her head and went on. "She is far overdue for rest and clearly all she needed was get away from him."

"Doubt it," Helen said absently taking a sip of her own coffee. Her daughter looked at her with a confused frown. "What?"

"Nothing," she muttered, wondering what her mother knew and she didn't.

"Good morning," Joey said entering the room. "Breakfast!"

The boys filtered in. "The girls are sleeping," Griffin said with sigh as she grabbed a pancake and a piece of sausage and syrup and rolled it into a roll and ate it with his mouth open.

"Griffin," Joey said with a frown of disgust.

"What?" he asked.

Noah looked at him in horror. "Do I do that?"

Shelby looked at her son as she stood up. "Yup." She headed towards the stairs.

"I'll get them, Shelby," Helen said walked ahead of her daughter.

Shelby didn't get an opportunity to dispute.

Santana curled herself around Rachel and slept soundly. Rachel was curled into the crook of Santana's torso. For the first time in so long, they were asleep, they were relaxed and they weren't stuck in the past. They were lost in their own dreams in a small attempt to escape it all.

Quinn was doing the same. She was above them, far away from the world she knew.

"Girls, come on," Helen said quietly, coming into the room.

Her heart ached as the relaxed looks of slumber on their faces disappeared and the girls' jumped

"Come girls, get up. We have to eat breakfast and get ready to leave," she said.

"No," Rachel mumbled into Santana trying to avoid confronting her reality.

"Come on, girls," Helen pushed. "You can relax and sleep by the pool again after we get things ready."

Quinn frowned and sat up. Realizing she slept through the night again, her brow softened. She put on her game face again. "May I asked why?" She conceded and climbed out of bed anyway.

"Because the day has begun," Helen said simply. Quinn looked over at Santana who rolled her eyes and mouthed as Helen said, "And you need to be a part of it." She continued to look at Quinn, but continued. "Don't roll your eyes, Sanny. Up. Let's go. It's late."

"It's nine," Santana groan.

"It's late," Helen said. "Let's go. Come on."

Santana groaned and sat up. Rachel continued to grip onto her.

"Let's go, Rach," she said pulling the girl to stand.

"I wanna stay," Rachel whispered.

"Can't, baby bug," Helen said approaching her. Rachel leaned into Santana.

She sighed remembering that that was how she used to be.

Santana held Rachel's hand and the tiny girl was in her body. Shelby was upstairs still getting ready. She left Helen with the girls. Noah was already outside waiting for the bus with Michael. However, the girls were still in the kitchen.

"Santana," Helen encouraged. "You need to go out to the bus."

"No," Rachel said into Santana's side. "I wanna go"

"No," Helen said quietly. "We need to get going. You'll have fun at school, San."

"No, no, no," Rachel said again. Helen could see that the toddler was crying. She had been with the family for only a few days in the city and first school days had been rough for everyone. Rachel had had at least two accidents a day. She was scared when someone dropped something. She wet herself when the toilet flushed or slammed a door.

The doctor said Rachel's injuries and her psychological trauma forced her to have trouble holding it and making it to the restroom on time. When Helen changed her on the changing table, Rachel was crying, begging Helen

"No, sizzars," she had cried. Helen's heart boiled in anger and anguish, not wanting to think about what that bastard did to her baby bug. Medically, they had ruled out scissors because she had cried about it so much during her diaper changes. The therapist at the hospital was able to conclude that scissors were the only sharp object that the tiny toddler was able to guess that was entering her.

Rachel tugged on Santana's arm and Helen spotted her look of fear and shame. There was a wet spot at the seat of Rachel's pants and down her legs. Helen discovered earlier that morning a pile of soiled clothes in the back of Rachel and Santana's closet. Shelby spoke to her and explained to Helen later that they were scared of being in trouble because of Rachel's accidents. Old habits die hard.

"Rachel, sweetheart, come here," Helen said kneeling down. "It's okay. We'll go and see Mumma."

Rachel shook her head. Helen sighed and opened the side door.

"Michael, Santana will be right out. Come here, Rachel," HElen reached to pick up the toddler.

"No!" Santana burst. "Go away! Don't touch her!" She screamed. "She doesn't want you!"

Helen felt like her heart was spit out again.

"She's not in trouble," Helen said, unaware that that was what he used to say.

"No, no," Santana hissed taking Rachel's hand and backing away.

Helen looked at Santana as said in the same even tone. "She's not in trouble. She needs to be cleaned up."

Rachel sobbed.

"What's going on?"

Santana frowned and backed away. "No, no, no! She doesn't want to! Leave her alone. I'll take care of her. I'll change her. You don't know how!"

"Mom, I got it," Shelby said stepping in.

"No, Shelby, we can't keep allowing this," Helen whispered. She turned back to her granddaughter. "Santana, if you would like, you can come with me while I change her. Mommy can come too. But you are not changing her. It's not your job. Those are your choices. Come with me and Rachel or go with your mother."

"I'll go," Santana said stealing her face. "I'll change her."

"No, you won't," Helen said. "This is not a discussion. This is not an argument." Helen could see her granddaughter was confused about her even, calm tone. "Now, let's go, Rachel. Come on."

Santana finally gave in. They watched carefully. She watched every step. By the time it was finished, Rachel was almost late for her therapy appointment and Santana had missed the bus. A broken lamp and raining storm of baby wipes later in addition to some screaming, Helen convinced Shelby to leave Santana with her and take Rachel to her appointments.

So here Helen was sitting with her still livid granddaughter surrounded by the rubble of her tantrum.

"Is my time done?" Santana asked.

"You're quiet time isn't timed with me," Helen said. "Whenever you're ready you can start cleaning up."

Santana folded her arms. "No."

Helen knew Santana was her granddaughter. She had the Berry-stubbornness.

"Okay," Helen said leaning back. "No, big. I'm retired. I have nowhere to be."

"Me neither," Santana snapped.

A silence settled over them. Helen broke it. SHelby always yelled at her about how she wasn't good at being quiet for quiet time.

"So, San, how did I do? Do you think Nana did a good job with Rachel ?" Santana looked up at her with wide eyes and a frown. She tilted her head and looked up at her with the same look of pensive confusion as she did when she was little. "With changing her diaper," Helen explained. "I know you're the expert. Can you show me some other things to help me with Rachel?"

"Of course," Santana said, straightening. "Well, the lady at the shelter use to warm the wipes."

"Warm the wipes?" Helen asked.

Santana shrugged. "Yeah, she held them in her hands in her fists. So they're not cold."

Helen nodded. Santana went on. She explained Rachel's favorite book, favorite song. She explained everything. After about twenty minutes, Helen asked again, "Are you ready to clean up?"

"No," Santana said, her face hardening in indignation. She folded her arms. "No."

"Okay," Helen said calmly. "We'll wait here."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Helen remembered that she sat there with Santana for almost four hours. She had never met anyone eight years old or not, who could sit for four hours. Santana had just risen suddenly and picked up. But four hours? Insane. She looked at the now sixteen year old. They had come a long way. However, she knew that Santana was still the girl who would sit for four hours refusing to do something she didn't want to do.

"Let's go down stairs,"

Rachel conceded and followed after them holding on tightly to Santana.

"So," Helen said as she walked the girls down the hallway.. "How did you sleep?"

"Fine, ma'am," Quinn said casually.

Helen noticed Rachel look back at her with confusion. "Quinn, you really don't need to-"

"I insist," the blonde pushed and turned into the bathroom shutting the door behind her.

"We'll see you downstairs then?" Helen asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," Quinn said from the other side of the door.

"So we're leaving in a few hours," Shelby said as soon as they all entered the kitchen. "I want bags packed and beds stripped and linens put in the laundry room. Other than that though, go relax and enjoy yourselves."

She set a breakfast plate in front of Rachel and noticed the girl was molded into Santana's side as the older girl attempted to eat around her.

"Rachel, let your sister eat please," her mother said. The girl sat up slightly Shelby went on, releasing Santana's arm. "Nana and Pop-Pop are coming to Lima next week to -"

"Why?" Santana frowned looking at everyone.

Shelby looked at her with an arch of her brow and continued. "To get ready for the Thanksgiving holiday and see their grandson finish up the football season."

"Will you stay through Christmas?" Rachel asked as she took a bite of her fruit.

Michael gave her a weak smile. "I don't know. Depends if your aunt and grandmother kill each other."

"You never did that my senior year," Griffin said.

Michael put his lips together and shrugged. "I know... but your team was also losing... and it was soccer," he said.

Griffin huffed.

"Where is Quinn?" Shelby asked.

"She's in the bathroom," Rachel said quietly picking at her food. Santana nudged her and she took a bite.

"She's just showering," Santana said finishing up her pancakes.

Shelby sighed and stood from her seat. "Eat up, guys," she said. "I'll be right back."

She climbed the stairs and knocked gently on the bathroom door. "Quinn?"

"I'm..." The shower water turned on. "I'm showering, Shelby."

"No, you're not. You just turned on the water. Please open the door," Shelby asked.

After a few moments the water turned off and after another few moments, the door opened. Quinn looked at Shelby for a split second and then looked away.

"Sorry," she whispered. She shook her head. "I just... I'm ready to back to Lima." She looked up and saw Shelby looking at her skeptically with surprise. "I know that you think that I liked it here...And it's not that I didn't, but ….. I just... I really want to go back to Lima. I don't want to be here anymore."

"Why?" Shelby asked.

"Just because," Quinn replied. "Because it's just …."

SHelby saw it. She saw that moment in Quinn's eyes. She saw the truth that she wasn't speaking. "Griffin was wrong, Quinn. He's scared. She says stuff he doesn't mean when he's scared, because he doesn't know how to be scared any other way."

"I get that," she whispered. She frowned. "I get that he's scared of what it means that I'm here." She shrugged. "I don't know why I'm here."

"You're a part of the family. Griffin is scared because we have fallen apart before."

"I'm not ready to be a part of this. It's too real."

"But it's real," Shelby said pulling her into her arms. Quinn surrendered into the hug. "Some things take time. You just need to give them time."

Quinn sank into her arms. Finally, Shelby extracted herself and took her hand. "Let's go."

She took it.

They reentered the kitchen. "Guys, let's wrap this up."

"I don't understand why you're leaving," Griffin said. "I mean aren't you guys suspended all next week?" He looked at his family with his mouthful. "I mean. Why not be suspended in Florida?"

Bear looked at his son. "Griff, we always only have this long here. Plus, Shelby needs to get back to work and all of the kids need to get back to their appointments."

"However, while still grounded," Shelby continued. "You're getting some privileges back. Noah, you're getting your car back. Cell phones too. Quinn, we'll get you one tomorrow. Sue informed me that she was able to get you guys off suspension from the sports teams. You can all attend the sports practice tomorrow afternoon. But one slip up and they lose them again."

"Do I get one?" Rachel asked.

"Who are you going to call?" Griffin laughed. Santana glared at him. "I mean.. you're eleven. Does other eleven year olds have phones. You have lots of friends, Rach."

"Griffin," Joey hissed. "Stop talking."

A couple hours later bags were packed by the door. SHelby was looking around trying to organize themselves.

"Rach," Shelby called. The girl stood up from Santana's arms and walked toward her.

Noah watched his baby sister walk from the back bumper of the car over to his mother. They come to Florida so much that they didn't feel like they were saying goodbye, even though they were.

"Hey."

Noah looked up and Dexter was shutting the trunk of his Jeep. "Can I talk to you?"

The eldest Corcoran stood and walked over to his cousin. "What's up?"

"You're doing a good job, Noah," he said quietly. "You really are."

"You're giving me a pep talk?" he asked with a chuckle.

He nodded. "Why not?" Dexter leaned against the side of the car. "Listen, I get that you're scared to leave. I felt the same when I was a senior."

"No, you didn't," Noah said.

"Yeah, I did," Dexter nodded. "I know... I know that I wasn't in New York when... when all that happened." He gave a shrug and took a breath. "But it still changed me," he said quietly. He nodded in Griffin's direction as he threw gummy bears into the air and tried to catch them in his mouth. "I know it changed him too. He's just not sure not sure how to talk about it." He sighed. "What am I'm saying is … just because it changed us, doesn't mean we have to get stuck."

"People need to stop telling me that I'm stuck and giving up," Noah said. "I'm not... That's not what I'm doing."

"Yeah, it is, man." Dex said. He looked over at Noah. You can care for them while still thinking about you. You're much better than that. If you want to be a grease monkey, be a grease monkey. But you don't want to work on cars. You barely like it." He sighed and folded his arms tightly. "When you're eighteen, it's okay not to know what you want for the rest of your life. Hell, Griffin is nineteen and he doesn't know. You can graduate and not know."

"This is not a very motivational speech," Noah said with a nervous chuckle.

"What I'm saying is that you try. You try to look and figure out how to get to there. To get what you want," Dexter said quietly.

"I don't get it," Noah frowned.

"You haven't looked. You've never tried to move ahead."

He shook his head. "I don't..."

"It's okay to be stuck, but it's not okay to be frozen," Dexter said. "I was mad. I was so mad. I still am. I was fourteen when everything happened. I remember better than anyone."

"I know that," Noah snapped.

"I sat by her side. I helped her," Dexter said. "I remember how everything just fell apart. I was here in Lima when you guys were wards of the state. I just... I remember."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Noah asked.

"It has to do with the fact that you can be pissed and scared and get stuck here, in Lima, whatever," Dexter pushed.

"I'm not getting stuck," he said with frustration.

"You are."

"I'm not smart enough to be you. And be a doctor."

"I'm a nurse," Dexter said. "And you know why?" He frowned. "Because I didn't want to be some stuck up doctor. I want to be by patient's sides helping them with the hard stuff. Remember we went to to visit her and it was the nurses that made her day better because family wasn't allowed there as much." He shook his head. "All I'm saying is that you're a good man, don't settle and be a good loser."

…

Santana watched her brother follow her cousin and her sister go to her mother. She gave a shaky, heavy sigh when she saw Griffin approach her.

"What, fishhead?" she hissed.

"Calm yourself, buckwheat," Griffin huffed.

"That nickname is old," Santana hissed. "My hair is tame now. It's pretty. You can't call me that because I now have pretty hair."

He scoffed. "Whatever." He sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry... about...Whatever..."

"You're awesome at apologies," she said with a sigh. "I'm not mad at you."

"You're not?"

SHe shook her head. "Well, I've been mad at you most of my life, but... that's only because you're a natural douche."

Griffin frowned. "Uh... You suck at apologies too." He sighed. "Well, I'm sorry for being a douche, but I'm a douche."

"No, you're not. You're just an idiot who doesn't know any better," she huffed. "This sounds stupid but I'm not mad at you because you... you're the one person that never treated me any differently. You were a douche to everyone. I needed that." She sighed. "But Quinn doesn't. Get your act together because she's a part of this family now."

"San, you know who she is," he began.

"Yeah, I do," Santana said with a nod. "And she's someone that deserves so much more than another change. So get your shit together. I don't like you."

"I don't like you," he replied. "But youre my family."

"So is she," Santana said.

"Santana," Helen called out.

She straightened and walked toward her grandmother. "Hi, Nana," she said quietly.

"You and I haven't talked much since you came," Helen said. "You bought some time, but we'll talk back in Ohio. I love you."

"I know, Nana."

She looked at the ground.

"Well, you haven't talked to me at all," Helen said. "And I hope you do."

"I will," Santana said. "Soon..."

Helen pulled her into a hug. "I'll see you later." Santana nodded into her shoulder. "Sometimes it might not feel like love is enough," she whispered. "And it's not, but it's with all the other stuff that makes it enough."

"Nana, you don't know what you are talking about," Santana whispered into her shoulder.

"That's true," Helen whispered back. "But it's true for me. Maybe it is for you."

Santana nodded. "Kay."

"Ready?" Shelby asked as they all regathered.

…..

The baggage was checked. Rachel was asleep between Noah and Santana and Quinn was asleep on Shelby's shoulder. The captain just announced they were approaching their descent. Quinn jolted awake. Shelby hushed her quietly.

"Welcome to Ohio," the pilot announced.

They walked off of the plane and down the baggage claim.

"Mom," Rachel whined as they walked through the busy airport. "Can't we ride on one of the inside bench trucks?"

"No," Shelby said. "We're almost down here. We will get our car and you can fall back asleep."

"No," Rachel stomped as they went down the escalator.

"Rach, calm down." Santana whispered.

The exhausted eleven year old deflated as she lagged behind the family. SHe looked around frantically. Was he here? Was he waiting for her? Shelby told them about standing on the far side of the carousel as Quinn and Shelby retrieved the bags.

"I wanna go home," Rachel said folding her arms over her chest.

"We're working on it, Rach," Noah said.

Rachel looked around. The airport was bustling. He must be there. He must be.

"Bug, what's wrong?" Santana looked around them. "What are you looking for?"

"I wanna go home," she whispered.

Santana noticed tears running down her sister's cheeks. "Noah," she whispered.

Noah knelt down in front of Rachel. "Look at me, bug." Rachel breathed heavily as tears fell. "Look at me, bug."

She looked at her big brother.

"Nothing will happen to you. We're right here," Santana whispered.

She nodded.

"You're okay," Noah whispered.

"I just wanna go home," she whispered.

"We are, Rach," Quinn said as they walked up with the bags. "Come on."

They found their car in the parking garage, loaded it up and started heading out. Rachel leaned against Santana in the far back. She turned and looked over her shoulder one last time. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it was forgotten and her anxiety about it all was misplaced.

She frozen.

There he was behind the car in parking space seventy-four.

Nothing was forgotten.

She shivered and curled into Santana. This was her life.

Two hours later they pulled into the driveway. Noah carried Rachel inside. The drugs knocked her out again. They slowly unloaded the Range Rover when a car pulled up.

"Brittany?" Santana asked.

"I'm really sorry," Brittany said to Shelby first after she exchanged a quick look at Santana and Quinn. "I just really need to talk to her.

Shelby nodded. "Alright." She gave her daughter a quick glance before going inside.

Santana turned to Brittany with a bit of dread once the other two were inside.

"I'm sorry I hung up on you," Santana finally said.

She saw Brittany waiting for her with a look of shattered hope. She was worried of what she would say. So much had changed in a week and Santana was starting to realize she would never get any of it back.

"Hi," Santana began quietly.

Brittany looked up and her and tears brimmed in her eyes. She shook her head and pulled out the letter.

"You left me with this?" Santana frowned and looked at the piece of paper in Brittany's hand. The letter. "And then I called you and you hung up." She shook her head. "I've replayed everything you said over and over in my head." She raised the folded piece of paper. "But this, San. I realized you've been saying it from the beginning." She shook her head. "My mom doesn't look at me the same. I see her looking at me as I eat my fucking cereal this morning. I'm fighting not for her love, but for something normal and something that doesn't feel like such a battle. I'm fighting for you but-" She frowned and swallowed in anguish. "You're fighting me." SHe shook her head without control of her tears. "You don't even give me... give us a chance. What happened at school isn't just about you. It's not." She put her hand on her chest. "This is about me and I can't breathe just trying to cope with it all. I don't know how to. I don't know where to begin." She shook her head again. "I need something from you. I need. I need my best friend."

"I don't know how to be that person for you right now, Britt," Santana whispered.

"Yes, you do," Brittany said with a plea in her eyes. "You're just scared to mess it up."

"I can't do this! Don't you understand?" Santana asked. "This isn't about you."

"I'm sorry, I have a hard time believing that this isn't about me," Brittany argued. "It includes me. I'm involved in this. You can't just count me out because you think I can't hack it."

"This isn't me telling you that Santa isn't real or something," she said putting her hand on her chest. "This is my life. This is me."

"I don't care about what happened or anything, Santana," Brittany whispered taking a step forward. "I just need you."

"This is me," Santana hissed. "I'm not asking you to accept my past. I'm asking you to see me. It is me. And you don't. You don't see it."

Brittany let out a sob. "I don't see it? I love you and I know you better than you have ever given me credit for!"

Santana wiped her tears. "You're figuring out how to live in this world with this new identity?" It was part question, part statement.

The blonde nodded. "Yes, and so are you."

"I can't," Santana said. "It's not just about the whispers and the talks and feeling exposed and naked in front of everyone as they wonder and take bets on if they knew about it before Finn Fucking Hudson announced it. It's about me and what this means to me just as what it means for you. I don't feel relieved or panicked. I'm tired and I can't... I can't do this with you."

Brittany started to sob.

Santana watched her. "At least not yet," she whispered. Their eyes met. She surprised herself. "I don't know if I'm ready to do anything. I know I've let you down. And I know I'm not helping." She took Brittany's hand. "But I know that I need my best friend. Tears filled her eyes. "Maybe we can't really forget about all the other stuff. I mean... I know we can't... but..."

"I need my best friend too," Brittany whispered. She shook her head. "Fuck the labels."

"I don't know how to love you." Santana took her hand back.

"I don't need you to," Brittany replied. "I just need you to be my friend again."

"I don't know how to do that," she said quietly. She took Brittany's hand back. "But I'll try."

Santana watched Brittany's car drive away. They didn't kiss. They barely hugged, but they touched. She closed the door behind her.

Her mother was looking at her.

"Is Rachel asleep?"

Shelby nodded. "Sound asleep in her bed." She searched her daughter's. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"No," Santana whispered allowing her mother's arms to wrap around her.

Santana herself didn't know what happened. However, she felt like she bided herself more time to figure it out.

….

Quinn woke up with a start. It was dark. She couldn't be in this bed. She glanced over at her clock with exhaustion. one-fifteen in the morning. She had slept for two hours. two hours. The sunshine state allowed her to sleep. Now she was back. Now she was awake. She crawled out of bed and curled up in the corner. She stared up at the ceiling and before she knew it, it was morning.

"Did you sleep at all?" Shelby asked as she opened the door.

"Not really," she muttered.

"Can I talk to you about today?" Shelby asked sitting down.

Quinn squeezed her eyes shut. "Sure."

"We need to go down to the station today."

The blond looked at her with big eyes. "What? Why?"

"They have some questions about your father's case..." Shelby paused for a moment. "And your mother's involvement."

Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Her exhaustion restrained her, but in that moment she froze. She was frozen. She had escaped. She had slept and now she was wide awake in her reality again.

She felt like a zombie moving in slow-dead motion. She missed the part when San and Noah left for their therapy appointments with Joey. She missed driving to the police station. She even missed Rachel's panic as they walked in. She missed seeing Jackie in the station office. She missed Elyse asking her basic questions. he missed all of that. She was just frozen.

"Quinn? Quinn? Do you know where you are?"

She looked up. She didn't. She looked around. Rachel was sitting with Shelby outside in the main office area. She was in a room. She was in a small office with Jackie and a female detective.

"Yeah," she lied. "Of course."

"We need to talk to you about the marks on your back and how you got them," the officer said.

Quinn squeezed her eyes shut. Everyone thought it was her father. She had slipped and told the truth. She remembered exactly how she got them.

She shuddered and stared up the ceiling. She was naked. He had been rough with her. The slickness between her thighs reminded her of her filth. She tried retracing her life so far in her head. How did she become the girl whose father came into her room at night? How did that happen? She remembered the first time that he took her virginity, the first time all of it had gone away. She lost count of all the times he felt her breasts or groped her ass. But the times that he had sex with her. She gagged. She felt another panic surge, before it had been four times. Four. Four in all of her sixteen years. She let out a sob. Now it was five. A whole hand. Five times too many.

She needed to get out of there. She needed to escape. Five times. She pulled her shirt over her head. What if... what if before she got out of there she could count the times on two hands...What if she had to count it on her toes... What if she ran out of toes?

No, she needed to get out of there. Silently, she slipped down the hallway. She felt relief as she made her way down the hallway and stairs. She was almost out. Almost to the door.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" her mother slurred behind her.

She didn't turn around to face her. She knew she was in trouble.

"I don't care what the hell you do, but," her mother hissed and Quinn saw the glass of bourbon in her hand. "I care who you fuck."

Quinn felt her mother's hand clamp around her upper arm and drag her down the hallway to the study. Despite her drunken teetering, Judy managed to yank Quinn's pants down and her shirt up.

"Fucking whore!" she screamed as the belt slammed against Quinn's broken flesh. She felt another lash. "I'm the wife! I am!" Another. "But he chooses you. He always does." Another. Quinn was sobbing so loudly she could barely hear her mother was breathless. "Five seems to be the number tonight." Judy leered back and brought the leather against Quinn's bare bottom The belt fell.

"Yes," Quinn said absently.

"It wasn't a yes or no question."

She looked up at them. She gave a slight nod. "What was the question?"

"We have DNA evidence against your father," a woman told her. "Did your mother ever hurt you?"

Quinn looked at the ground. She shouldn't be here.

"Quinn," an officer stepped up. "Your mother is saying that she believes you are lying about what your father did, that she didn't know. However, we have evidence against him." She took a breath. "Is there anything else we need to know?" Quinn remained silent. "You'll never have to be with them again. They won't hurt you."

Quinn bit her lip. "She knew. She might not remember because she drank so much but she knew."

The officers exchanged looks. "Did she ever hurt you?"

"When didn't she?" she mumbled. "My father wasn't the only one that used the belt...She knew...She knew..."

Jackie entered the room with Shelby. "Quinn?"

She looked up and felt like she was far away. "What?"

"You're done here," Shelby said kneeling in front of her.

"Already?" she asked.

Shelby looked over at her colleague. "You need to go to therapy, Quinn. Just for a bit. Okay? Joey's going to pick you up."

"I don't need it," she said quietly.

"I think you do."

"Whatever," she mumbled.

They all walked out of the station. Rachel was silently holding her hand. All of them were too stuck in their own thoughts to notice the person across the street watching them with increasing frustration that had now reached an out of control boiling point.

….

They walked into the studio together. They had just dropped Quinn off. Shelby knew her youngest saw the vacant look in Quinn's eyes and was worried, but she hadn't asked the questions yet. Dance, then meet the kids at home from practice, meeting Quinn at home, then their day was done. That's it. So close.

Shelby noticed Rachel's head was still bowed as she headed quietly toward the changing room.

"Bug?"

"Yeah?" Rachel asked pausing and looking up.

"You don't have to do a class if you don't want to. You can just watch," she said gently.

"No," she said quietly. "I want to do this."

Shelby searched her eyes and nodded. "Okay," she whispered. She started to follow her.

"You're not following me, are you?" Rachel asked. "I'm changing. I'm just changing. I don't need you to follow me."

"I know that, but I -"

"No, buts," Rachel interrupted. "I'll be okay, Mom."

She took a deep breath. Rachel took that as her queue.

"Be right back," she muttered and disappeared into the changing room.

Rachel walked quietly into the changing room. It wasn't very loud. Most of the girls had already changed. She walked over to her locker. Each locker was decorated and had their names on it. She looked sadly at hers. Everything that used to be fun seems strangely far away.

"Hey Rachel."

She looked up and Molly Horn was looking at her with a soft smile. "Hi," she said.

"You almost ready? I can wait for you," the girl offered.

"No, it's okay," Rachel shrugged. "I need to change and everything. I'll be out in minute."

Molly smiled. "Alright, see you out there."

The girl disappeared around the corner. Rachel still had her bag on her shoulder. She lifted the strap over her head and began to unbutton her peacoat. She jumped at a shuffle behind her.

"Molly?" she asked looking up and around the corner. She heard the shuffle again. "Hello?" She stood up with her coat only half unbuttoned and looked around the other corner. "Hello?"

"Hello," said a voice behind her.

Rachel knew that voice. She felt fear clamp her body and lose control of her bladder. She couldn't move; she could barely breathe. How was he in here? She was frozen. She couldn't turn around. Suddenly she felt a hand on her mouth. She realized there was a cloth in his palm as her vision faded to blackness.

"How's my good girl?" she heard him whisper before darkness surrounded her.

…...

Bear sat in the Hummel-Hudson living room. He stared at the little boy in front of him.

"Do you understand why I'm here?" Bear asked.

"Yes, sir," Kurt said with a nod.

"I want to ask you about about Mr. Schuester," he said carefully exchanging looks to Burt and Carol who stood behind the sofa couch.

The boy nodded. "Yeah, I didn't like him. I stopped going."

"Why didn't you like him?"

He paused and looked at his parents. "Because he made scared."

"How so?"

Kurt bit his lip. "You know the house on Mill Ave? The creepy one? It's like that. I just had a feeling." He took a deep breath. "I'm not the only one who felt that way?"

"What do you mean?"

"The other girls he had lessons with felt like that too,"he said casually but slowly realized what he was saying.

Bear looked at him with a deep frown. "What other girls?"

Bear's phone suddenly rang. "Hold on, Kurt," he said noticing it was the office. "Carlson," he answered. The officer on the other end told him the news. His heart stopped.

…...

Quinn looked at her hands before unbuckling her seatbelt. She hadn't been able to stay there. It was as if she woke up as soon as she was dropped off. She didn't want to talk about it. She couldn't even feel any of it. She wanted to be distracted. She needed it. Joey hadn't been there. She took out the cell phone that Shelby had picked up for her earlier and called the one person in her phone book that wasn't the Corcorans or Brittany, hoping she could catch him before his practice began.

He picked up and they drove in silence.

"Thank you," she finally said looking ahead of her.

He gave a shrug and a smile. "Yeah of course." He gave a sigh. "There's no shame in going, Q."

"I didn't call you for a pep talk, Sam," she snapped. "I called you because you're my friend and I thought you weren't going to berate me with questions."

He looked at her with a smug grin. "We are friends and this is why I'm telling you this, Q. Life's hard and I know that you know that more than anyone, but it doesn't mean that it's not hard for everyone else."

Sam climbed from the car and started walking toward the school. Quinn shot out of the car and stormed after him. "Don't you think I know that? I mean really, Sam?" Sam stopped in place and looked at over at the blond.

"You're my friend, but sometimes I don't think you really do. We've been friends for a long time, but only when it's convenient for you." He gave a slight shake of his head. "Have a good practice."

She frowned as she watched the door of the school close behind him. He had no idea what he was talking about. He didn't; he couldn't.

She sighed and shook it off and walked onto the field. She gave a smirk and ordered the first freshman she could find back to the school to fetch her a bottle of whatever. She spots Brittany and Santana on the field stretching. Santana is lecturing a junior about her lack of care in her appearance. She saw the brunette falter when their eyes met. The junior was barked away.

"What are you doing here?" Santana asked getting to the chase.

"Knitting," Quinn said as she peeled off her letterman jacket. "What do you think?"

Santana released an annoyed breath of air. She folded her arms over her chest. "You know what I mean."

"I didn't feel like going, okay?" Quinn snapped. "Please don't be the poster child for therapy because I know you hate it too."

"Mom's going to kill you," Santana said as the three of them walked over to the bench.

"I don't care what your mom does," Quinn replied. "I just needed to be here."

Santana looked over at Brittany and then back at Quinn. "You can't practice with us."

"You're joking," the blonde gawked.

"She's not," Sue interrupted walking over to them. "You're not supposed to be here, Quinn, so at most you can sit and watch, but that's it."

…

Shelby stared at the door. Okay, Rach, anytime she thought to herself. It had been exactly ten minutes since Rachel went in there. Molly Horn just passed her after Rachel has been there for about two minutes and told her that Rachel said she would be out in a few minutes. Well, it had been a few minutes and Shelby felt her heart in her chest. She had counted meticulously in her head every moment Rachel wasn't in her sight, every second. Screw it, she thought. She was going in.

"Rachel?" she asked as she entered the room. She walked over to the aisle where Rachel's locker was. Her bag was there, but Rachel wasn't.

"Bug?" she called.

She went over to the bathroom stalls pushed open every door with vigor. Empty. Empty. Empty. She ran through the locker room. "Rachel!"

Nothing

She rummaged her phone out of her pocket with a shaky hand. As she was about to dial she heard a banging. She followed the noise. The back door emergency exit door was banging against the outside wall in the wind. It was wide open and no alarms were going off. Someone had disconnected them. She frantically began to dial.

"911. What's your emergency?"

…...

Rachel woke up and her vision was blotchy. There was carpet beneath her. She looked at the ceiling. She knew that ceiling. She felt a panic in her chest. She was back in his office.

"Hi, Rachel," he said above her. She looked up in fear and Mr. Schuester was standing above her. He pulled her to her feet. He reached forward and unbuttoned her coat. She flinched. "Don't pull away from me," he hissed throwing her coat into the choir room and slamming his office door shut. "I am not happy, Rachel."

She shook in front of him in her. He bent over and brought her chin him so that their eyes met. "Do you know why?" he asked. She shook her head frantically. "Because you didn't tell me our last lesson was our last. He said carefully. He shook his head. "I'm upset," he said clearly as he stood up. She cowered in front of him shaking wondering for the first time how she would survive this and if he would even let her. "I noticed you had an accident in the changing room," he taunted. Rachel felt tears of shame pour down her face. "Take off your panties, Rachel." She sobbed, but didn't move. "Okay I'll do it for you." She let out a whimper as he reached for her.

…...

Bear rushed into the studio. He saw Shelby's panicked face.

"Shelby!" He ran to her. "What happened?"

"She... She … she went into change. She was there for ten minutes and then I went in, Bear... Ten minutes," she said shakily. "She's gone. She's...gone..."

"We'll find her," he assured. "He turned to Gus. What do we have?"

"Nothing, but a bag. No huge sign of struggle," Gus said.

"She's barely seventy-five pounds," Bear said. "Clearly, if an adult took her there would be no struggle." He looked around at the other officers scanning the room. "Who was the last to see her?"

"I was," Molly Horn said quietly. A female officer stood behind her. "I swear Chief Carlson. I didn't know."

"It's not your fault," he assured kneeling down. "Tell me what happened."

…..

Rachel let out a sob. He had removed her underwear. He had untucked and unbuttoned her blouse. He had ripped open her undershirt exposing her. He was huffing and muttering and whispering strange things. She could barely hear him though; she felt as if she was sobbing underwater. No one would hear her. It was still spring break. Her siblings were outside at the one practice during spring break. However, she let out a sob. No one could hear her; no one even knew she was there. She felt her body being roughly turned around and him shaking her.

"I said, bend over!" He pushed her over the desk, forcing her face down onto the top of the desk. .

She sobbed as he forced her over. She felt him grinding in the back of her bottom. "I'm going to make you feel good. Now hold still."

He reached his hand to the front of her skirt over her now bare flesh as he continued to grind against her. He reached his hand down and found what he was looking for and began to rub. Rachel let out a sob at his rough fingers.

"You'll feel good just hold on," he hissed as he slammed her body into the desk. She sobbed as he rubbed more vigorously. She felt her skirt flip up in the back and he brought his hand forcefully on her backside causing her thrust forward into his other hand. "I said, shut up!" He ground harder with his hips and also with his fingers. It was burning and it hurt. He reached his fingers lower and she felt him at her entrance. "Why the hell aren't you wet?"

She frowned as she sobbed. What was he talking about?

"Get wet, damn it!" he yelled grinding hard with his hand on her front and hard against her bottom with his hips. "You should have gotten wet. I can make you feel."

She sobbed. It was all hurting too much.

"Well, I tried. Open your legs," he hissed. She didn't move. He hit her again. "I said open."

She widened her legs more. He pushed her forward roughly and pulled his hand from the front of her and clamped it around her mouth. "Because you didn't get wet, this will hurt," he hissed. She furrowed her brow and a panic rose in her chest. Without warning, he pushed forward and used his other hand to shove three fingers into her. She screamed into his palm. He worked them in and out of her tight, dry channel. "You deserve this. You're the one who didn't get wet."

She screamed. It hurt inside as he moved. He was not only stretching her but scratching her. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Rachel's eyes snapped open. She heard struggling. She reached out next to her. Santana would protect her. There was no one there. All she felt were sheets. The bed was empty.

"Sanny?" she called out.

The pants and the muffled scream stopped.

"Sanny?" she asked the darkness.

"Looks who's awake, Santana," she heard her scary Papa say.

Then she heard him scream. She heard him scream like she had never heard him scream before, like someone had hurt him. Rachel heard his big boots stomp on the floor. She grabbed her blanket next to her and pulled if over her body and hid her head. She had to hide.

She felt the blanket being yanked from her and his body smashing hers. "You can't hide from me, Rachel." He was laying on top of her.

She felt his hands. He was moving her body around like a rag doll. It was dark she kept reaching out for Santana. She put her hands on against his chest to make it not feel as if he was squishing her, but she felt squished. She sobbed. He pressed her into the mattress and it scared her.

"Sanny!" she screamed.

She felt her body slam into the mattress. "Shut up, you little shit! Stop crying."

Then she felt it. She couldn't move. He was stabbing her. Right? That's what that was. She couldn't see, hear, or breathe because it hurt so much. It hurt worse than when he changed her diaper. So much worse.

…...

Shelby heard Molly speak. Rachel would have never changed in front of Molly. She felt stupid.

"How-how-how..." She couldn't find her words.

"Shelby," Bear said after he sent Molly back to her mother. "I'm going to have an officer drive you to the school and pick up the kids. Joey is already on her way to get Quinn. Go home. I'll meet you there. I'll tell you if I hear anything."

"I-I-I-I can't," she said. She looked at her brother-in-law. "This can't happen, Bear. It can't happen to her again. I can't … we can't. She won't survive." Shelby sobbed and put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, God."

"Donnelly!" Bear yelled. "Bring Shelby to McKinley, get the kids and take her home."

"Bear, I can't-"

"Go, Shelby," Bear said frantically. "I'm not arguing with you."

Bear watched his distraught sister-in-law disappear into the crowd. He turned to his partner. "I want a warrant for Will Schuester's house ASAP. We are heading over now. It better meet me there."

…...

She felt as if she was in a daze. She opened her eyes. She didn't realize that had squeezed tight. Her body slowly began to register all that she was She felt his panting breath on the back of her neck. Then she finally allowed her body to feel it. She felt her knee socks bunched at her ankles. And then she felt his hand at the tops of her legs and his fingers pounding into her.

She let out a sob. "No," she cried. "No more, please."

He leaned closer to her ear pressing her into the wall. "Shhhh, you like it."

He slammed into her harder and harder. She sobbed into him trying to push him off of her. The pain was throbbing like she was being stabbed. She paused for a quick second, like she felt before. She could feel a warm liquid trickling down her legs. She looked down and blood was staining the carpet.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

She wasn't in the office anymore. She was in the dark again, but she hadn't escaped she was on the bed.

She could hear Santana crying and a pounding on a door. Was someone knocking? Noah? She still felt squished. She could still feel the stabbing. She didn't know that he had a knife. She cried out as her knife shifted. She reached her arms out in pain. She screamed. Suddenly she felt a hand engulf hers. It was smaller and gentler.

"…..I got you….. I'm right here…"

Her tear-filled eyes tried to look in the darkness at the hand.

"Sanny?"

"You little bitch!" the scary Papa yelled. The knife suddenly went away. She felt an ache and throbbing where her diaper normally was. She sobbed. She heard muffled screams as she tried to cry her pain away. Everything was dark. She couldn't move. However, in that moment she realized that the wasn't squished anymore, but the hand holding hers was weakening. She blinked more. The tears calmed.

"Sanny?"

Suddenly it felt like her ears opened. She heard Santana crying out and she heard her papa hitting her. Rachel tightened the fist that she remembered the hand was in. It was gone.

She was brought back to the present when she felt her legs being opened more. She opened her eyes that were squeezed shut. Mr. Schuester was on top of her panting. She couldn't do this. She couldn't. Everything from that room was coming back. She looked at her teacher's face and kept seeing flashes of her papa.

"Please," she sobbed.

"Shhhh, Rachel," he said as he ground her into the linoleum floor with his hips. How did she get on the floor? "You'll like this."

He sat up and undid his pants. "Time for you to become a woman." She felt it. She felt the bulge at her entrance. She couldn't do this. She wasn't going to.

"N-n-n-no," she sobbed. She shook her head and kicked her legs and arms. "Please," she begged as she pushed against him. "Please, stop! Please!"

She struggled beneath him. His knees squeezed her hips in place. He flipped up her skirt.. "Too bad you didn't get wet. Are you yet?" he asked as he felt the skin he had just made raw. She felt him touch her and go inside. She sobbed trying to push him away. "Not yet," he whispered leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips. She tried to push him away, but she was too little. Her hands weren't doing anything. He wasn't moving an inch.

She thought back to what her sister always told her. "Go for the eyes, Rach," Santana had whispered to her. She had told her if anyone ever grabbed her. "Their weakest point was their eyes."

Rachel looked up at him with her tear-stained face. She reached up and used both her fists to hit in the eyes. He groaned in pain lifting up slightly. Breathing heavily she slipped out from underneath him. She scrambled across the floor. She was sobbing and she clawed across the floor to get away. She felt her heart shoot to her throat when she felt a hand clamp around her ankle and yank her back toward him.

…..

Quinn marched off the field. She wasn't going to take this bullshit. She needed something, anything to distract her. Rachel. she had been acting so weird. She had a feeling in the pit of her stomach but she didn't want to admit that. Rachel would say something; she was braver than Quinn. However, she was also brave enough not to say something if he threatened them. She knew he had done something; he had shut her up. Santana and Noah had talked about confronting him, but Quinn knew better. She wasn't going to wait. She was told not to ask Rachel, but she was never told not to ask him. She felt an anger surge through her veins as she marched into the school and down the hallway in search of an answer to someone else's problem so that she could ignore her own.

…...

Rachel felt her half naked form being dragged back to him. No, she wasn't going to do this. This wasn't going to happen. She rolled over on her back as he dragged her toward him by one ankle. When she got closer and reeled back and kicked him in the face causing him to let go and scream in pain. She then ran. She ran as fast as she could. Not caring about anything but getting away.

….

Quinn got to the music room and the door was closed and it was quiet. She opened it without knocking.

"Quinn, hello," Will said with a smile as he tucked in his shirt. "What a surprise?"

"What did you do to Rachel?" she asked not beating around the bush.

"What?" he asked casually.

"Changing in here?" she asked with a scoff.

"Yeah," he shrugged. "Had to change my shirt. Damn coffee."

Quinn stared at him with a deep frown. "Whatever." She looked around that room. "Why's Rachel's stuff in here?"

She frowned. Rachel's jacket. Rachel was supposed to be at dance. She looked around the choir room. No one. Quinn saw for the first time that his cheek was bruised. "What happened to your face?"

She didn't wait for him to answer as she walked into the room further looking around. "I don't know what you're looking for," Will said as he followed her.

"Rach?" she called out. She went to his office and went behind the desk.

It was a mess, but there was no Rachel. Quinn froze. There was blood on the carpet. She looked closer. There was a pile underneath the desk. It was Rachel's underwear.

Quinn turned to face him sharply. "Where the hell is Rachel?"

Will glared at her. "You can't just barge in -"

"I can," she hissed. "Where is she?"

"I don't know," he said honestly.

She walked close to him. "When I find out what you did," she paused and looked into his eyes. "I'll kill you."

He frowned but didn't say another word or have the chance to because Quinn raced past him. She grabbed Rachel's coat and started toward the door.. She stopped and turned to him. "You better start packing your things because once I find Rachel and make sure she's alright, I'll be coming for you."

"Is that so?" he taunted. She saw a hint in his eyes that was never there before. She took a step back. "You think you're so damn tough, don't you?"

"Get away from me," she hissed starting for the door of the choir room.

"You're not going anywhere, Quinn," he laughed. He shook his head with a cackle. He put his body in front of her to stop her. "I heard all about the fun you and Daddy had," he said with a smile as he stroked her cheek. She flinched away, but he grabbed the back her neck. He brought her face close to his and she tried to pull away. "You're going to ruin that family. You already have. Rachel's so damaged and they're going to look at you as the cause of that. They'll split the whole family up if you tell anyone. I won't tell anyone about this if you give me what I want. I can't ruin everything for you. You must keep this quiet. You owe me now. You owe me for silence." She looked up at him realizing that's how he must have threatened Rachel. He threatened to take her away. He leaned closer to her with a smile. "I will fuck you like your Daddy did," he hissed. She let out a sob as he pushed her against the wall. Her father used to be rough with her. She felt like she was a helpless child again. She felt stuck. He grinned in satisfaction. "You're a woman. I can't wait to feel you. Rachel struggled and cried too much and didn't even get wet," he taunted.

She froze. She saw her father. She felt the fear in her chest that she felt night after night living in that awful house. However, it has always just been her; just her. He looked at her with a rabid rage and that's where Quinn ironically regained her hope. Rachel got away, she realized. He was freaking out because Rachel got away.

She screamed in anguish letting her fury fuel her strength to push him off of her.

"Son of a bitch!" she screamed.

"You like it rough, huh?" he hissed as he pushed her back against the wall. "I can give you rough."

She felt a panic in her chest again. This wasn't going to happen to her. She couldn't. Night after night with her father, she wanted nothing more than to fight back. Somehow though, she never did. She saw the same hunger in Mr. Schuester's eyes as he tried to regain control of her while he pushed her against the wall.

"Bend over like the slut you are," he fired trying to turn her around.

She fought. She fought and waved her arms and jutted her elbows. This wasn't going to be her story. Suddenly, as she struggled in fear for her own safety, Rachel flashed in her mind. She was somewhere alone and scared and brutalized. Quinn looked at the man trying to push her into the wall. Her panic was still paralyzing her chest, but she gained a new strength.

"I'm not a slut!" she fired and shoved him away.

She managed to get him off of her long enough to get to the door. "I said you're not going anywhere!" he yelled from behind her. She spotted a music stand and grabbed it. she swung it back clocking him beside the head. He fell to the ground with a moan with his pants around his ankles. She ran down the hallway in search of Rachel, hoping she wasn't too late.

She was panicked. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. She didn't know what just happened. She didn't know how to wrap her head around it. All she felt was a strange surge of anger, accomplishment, fear and anxiety lift her body. She needed to find Rachel. She had to. She ran down the hallway at full speed.

About five minutes later she was at a loss. She didn't know where to look. She hated that there was no way to contact her. Rachel didn't have a cellphone. She was eleven for Christ's sake. Quinn felt her heart in throat and she squeezed her eyes shut. She was eleven.

"Fuck!" she screamed. She remembered Santana saying Rachel liked small spaces. She could be in a science cabinet for all Quinn knew. She needed to tell Santana. Santana would know. She paused. Santana would go postal. She shook her head, but Santana would know.

She rushed back into the locker room and toward the field. She didn't care that she was mad at Santana. Rachel came first and -

Quinn froze.

There in the corner of the locker room aisle on the floor was Rachel.

Her cheeks were tear stained. She was shaking. Her blouse and skirt were disheveled. Her knee socks were down. Quinn hated when her gut was right.

Quinn walked slowly over to her. "Rach?"

The girl flinched. "Rachel, it's me Quinn." Rachel looked at her and immediately latched onto her neck. "Let's go call Mom."

Rachel began to sob. "No, no, no, please." She wrapped her arms more tightly around Quinn's neck into a tighter hug causing the older girl to tumble to the ground. "Please just take me away from here. P-p-p-lease."

Perhaps she should have called Shelby. Perhaps she should have called the police. Maybe she should have run and gotten Santana. However, in that moment, Quinn was holding Rachel. She was sixteen and she knew exactly what Rachel was feeling without the girl telling her. She herself had gone to the park for a reason. She couldn't find rationality in her to force Rachel to do something she didn't want to do.

"Okay," she whispered. "Okay."

Quinn managed to help the girl straighten her clothes. She soothed the withdrawn girl who became glued to her side. She didn't want to take her straight to the hospital or straight to the police because she knew how scared Rachel was in that moment. It didn't matter that it was the right thing to do, but Rachel needed Quinn to be there. Quinn knew all too well. She promised herself she would call Shelby after practice. They would be back by the time practice ended. She would take care of it then, but right now this little girl needed her not to bombard her. Not yet. She managed to sneak into the boys locker room and find Noah's car keys.

Quinn took Rachel's hand and walked her out to the student parking lot. The climbed into the car. Quinn thought about protesting when Rachel climbed into the front. Rachel shouldn't sit in the front. However, they needed to get out of there. She wasn't going to argue. Quinn would drive five miles under the speed limit if she had to, but she would get her out of there.

…..

Noah looked up from where he and the team were standing on the sideline. Beiste was hollering at someone about protecting the quarterback's blind side. He heard an engine rev up and the noise drowned out. All he heard was the engine.. No... That couldn't be... He heard the gear stall.

"Oh fuck!" he screamed. He dropped his helmet and water bottle and sprinted toward the end of the field that bordered the student parking lot.

"Corcoran!" Beiste telled. "What the hell are you doing?"

Santana was avoiding Brittany's eyes. She didn't know what to say besides "I'm sorry I suck at this." However, she was trying to come up with more than that before she responded, so she chose silence instead.

"Corcoran!"

She turned at her last name and realized it was the football coach calling after her brother who was running like his ass was on fire toward the student parking lot.

"Noah! What's going on?" she yelled dropped her pom-poms and began running after him. "Noah?"

She suddenly heard the engine of her brother's Mustang. She quickened her run into a sprint.

"Damn it! Damn it!" he screamed as he ran into the parking lot to see his car pull out into the road. "FUCK!" he screamed. "I didn't even see who was driving!" He kicked the trashcan over. "Fucking hell!"

Santana frowned after the car. She wouldn't. She shook her head. She couldn't. No, she told herself. Quinn would be mad but she wouldn't take Noah's car.

"Santana, your phone's ringing," Brittany called out from the field. "It's your mom."

"Let it ring," Santana shouted back turning her attention back to her brother. "Noah, I -"

"Santana, she's calling my phone now," Brittany said walking toward them with her phone to her ear. Her pace slowing and her face losing color.

Santana turned to her ready to tell her that her mother could wait when she saw Brittany's face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Brittany handed her the phone. "Something happened at Rachel's dance class."

Santana looked at her big brother with concern, desperate for guidance.

…..

Once on the road, with both hands at ten and two, Quinn turned to Rachel.

"Are you hurt?"

Rachel shook her head. "Not really." She wiped her tears. She was shaking and Quinn could see it.

"He told me what he did to you," Quinn said hurriedly. She swallowed and let a silent tear drip down her cheek. "I saw the blood, Rach. I know you're hurt."

Rachel began to sob. "I'm so sorry," she quivered. "I'm so sorry."

She stopped at a stop light and looked over at the girl. "I'll make this right, Rachel. I promise you."

The tiny girl looked up at Quinn. Suddenly there was a honk as someone from the opposite direction ran a red. Both of the girls looked up. The last thing they saw was the other car heading towards them.

…...

Shelby pulled up to the school with the young officer and Santana ran toward her in tears.

"What's going on? What's going on?" she looked at her mother desperately. "What's going on?" She looked around. "Where is she? WHERE'S RACHEL?"

She looked at her daughter, frozen and unable to speak.

Suddenly, there was a call over the radio on the young police officers chest. "Donnelly, come in."

"Yes?" the young officer asked stepping away from the family. However, they watched him closely listening for every detail.

"Meet us at Lima General."

Santana felt a sob escape her lips.

"Yes, sir," the young officer replied.

…...

Quinn's eyes flickered open. Ouch. Her entire body hurt. They were sitting at a light. They were sitting at a light, she repeated to herself. She shot up.

"Rachel!" she looked to the passenger seat.

She looked over to her right. How were they upside down. When had the car flipped?

"Rachel!" the tiny girl was next to her but her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving. "Bug," she said as she put her hand on her. "Wake up! Please! Rachel, wake up!"

"We're going to get you out," someone said suddenly.

Quinn turned and there was a paramedic next to her. "Help her! Please!"

"We'll get you both out," he said. "Just stay calm."

"I won't be fucking calm until she's awake and okay!" Quinn screamed. She felt her hand move. "Rachel?"

Rachel opened her eyes. She saw the tears immediately fill them when she realized where they were.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered. "Just stay awake." That's what the medical shows say, Quinn told herself forcing herself to remain calm. She took Rachel's hand and felt thankful when Rachel squeezed back. They just had to stay awake.

So... a lot happened in this chapter. Like I said before it was the plan all along. I really hope you continue to take this journey with me. I know that this chapter was tough and dramatic. Please let me know if your feelings. I hope you stick with this and this chapter didn't scare you away.