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.

33. Chapter 33

Sharkfin - Judy is not Quinn's emergency contact. Quinn just had surgery a couple of weeks ago and it was updated back then. Thanks for the review.

Qwerty – You are so right – Rachel should have been in the back seat! There are lots of rules broken by Quinn but she had to get out of there. Thanks for the review.

lovecanbesostrange – Quinn's feelings are not going to change over night and even though she is starting to feel somewhat part of this family when more of the family is introduced she would naturally shy away. Family to her is a four letter word and it is painful and just as she was starting to feel more comfortable she gets thrown into more family. In the long run what Santana has been holding from Rachel is actually one of the things holding Santana back. She has blocked it out for so long or tried to that she never dealt with it. They are recognizing this and will deal with it. Santana's pain and issue will be addressed more and trust me that have not been overlooked. She will get intense counseling and it will be changing as they see that it should. Also Brittany will help Santana through this a lot in the next coming chapters. The letter is very troublesome. We will have to see how Noah handles this. It was good that Quinn skipped her appointment and with all that goes on I am sure that Shelby will have more on her mind than scolding her for this but later on that matter maybe addressed. The accident is NOT Quinn's fault at all – they were stopped at a light and the cars hit them. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We shall see how quickly Will is caught because this accident has strained the police department at the moment. Thanks for reviewing.

Manly – Thank you for reviewing and taking my advice about sitting down. You are right, Quinn will forget about her injuries and focus on Rachel and it is typical Santana behavior. Mr. Schue is a creep but he is a teacher and he had access to the school files so that is one way that he found out about poor Quinn.

Tcathing – Mr. Schuester posed no threat to the 3 oldest and he shouldn't have been at the school because it is still school break so there was no threat there for Shelby . The school, specifically Figgins and Sue knew about Quinn and what was happening to her – all of the teachers were notified that her parent was now Shelby so Schuester being the creep that he is would have gone into Figgins office and snooped some more to find out anything he could on the Corcoran family. Thanks for always reviewing – I love having such dedicated fans.

Cookie – Santana is very complicated and complex. She does want to control things but can't always and that gets her into more trouble. More things will come out now that this has happened and Santana is forced to remember just so she can process it all and Quinn still needs to process her things and get through a trial. Right now I have no plans at all to have Santana ask for a boob job but I also feel that Shelby would never let her get one anyway. Thanks for reviewing.

Piper- This is going to be a really rough chapter for Shelby and the family. Things are really starting to crumble again and she needs to stop them. Thanks for the review.

carbygurl05 – Rachel is hurting so much and it hurt me too. She is a fighter and she will come back stronger. The 3 older kids will have to be watched closely now that their kid sister was touched again. With Quinn it does show growth to care for someone as much as she cares for Rachel. There will be lots of hospital scenes this chapter. Your rambling did make lots of sense and thank you!

GreenPenguin – Thank you for sticking with this story and powering through. It is a difficult read for many and I hope I can show growth of each of the characters.

Drea LuRuiz – Thank you – 2 am to read this – wow – not something that I would have imagined but. Thank you so much for your kind words. I hope to continue to awe you.

Anna – I can tell you right now that it was not Mr. Shue who hit them. He would definitely get caught if it were. The accident was just that an accident – no new characters. Thanks for reviewing.

qwertyuiop1234 – Rachel was running on adrenaline. She would have been in tremendous pain but she was fighting for her life so no matter what it took she was getting out of there. Yes Rachel is now hurt from the abuse and from the car accident but they will see at the hospital that it doesn't add up to a simple car accident. Sorry for the cliffhanger – Thanks for the review.

Gleek1990 – Nope it wasn't Shue that hit them. Lots of drama in this chapter though. Thanks for the review.

Scout – They all will blame themselves a little and the girls will need extensive therapy to realize it is not their fault. Hindsight is 50/50 and Quinn did what she thought was best for Rachel at the time. Thanks for reviewing.

piecesofyourheart – There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. I know it looks rough right now – really rough – but it will get better I just don't know how quickly yet. Thanks for hanging in there though.

Stevensone – Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them more than you know.

Ryoko05 – Thank you for your commitment! I truly appreciate it.

SuzQQ – It was a really hard read but it was needed and thank you for sticking with it. Its ok that you couldn't read it all – it is tough. I think if Quinn rethought about it she may have texted or called Shelby but she was battling with the fact that she was almost raped, she wanted to get her kid sister out of there and she was in potential trouble for skipping her therapy appointment in the first place. Also, while Shelby has never punished Quinn with physical violence in Quinn's brain especially in a traumatic situation, he first thought would be that she will be beaten so all those things combined her decision to leave was the only one in her mind. While Dexter did not go through those things he did see them and he is only trying to encourage Noah to do the best thing that he can do and live for himself a little. He will be better getting an education and being happy so that he can help them in the long run. The thing with Noah is he hasn't voiced what he wants to do so he will work this out with Shelby's help. As always – thanks for reviewing.

Hayleywilliamsisasexymonster – Thank you so much for the compliments! Wow I am overwhelmed! As far as your question, why label yourself. Go with whatever feels right to you and makes you happy.

amandaes417 – you did not annoy me. I was very frustrated myself. Thank you so much for your kind words. The chapter did pack a punch and sometimes it has to be read over get just digest it. Thank you for sticking with me.

Bexy – I am sorry you lost interest. Thanks for complimenting the writing.

Carla-Leigh – The will survive but they have injuries that will need some time to heal. Unfortunately no one gets to beat Will this chapter. Thanks for reviewing.

eryn117 Here is the next chapter – I hope you like it. Thanks for the review.

Anon – Sorry I made your stomach turn. I hope you stick with it but I understand if you don't. Thank you for reading this far.

Renata – Shue did not rape Rachel – he molested her but he did not rape her she got away. What he did was awful and he should be locked away but he was stopped before an actual rape. They do try to examine Rachel in this chapter and you will see what happens in this chapter. Quinn and Rachel will bond more because of the recovery but they need Santana too. There is a reason why Quinn could sleep and it will be out in either this chapter or next. As always I love your reviews. Keep them coming.

TommyH – I love that you review Tommy ! Thank you

KatyVixen – Thank you for waiting until you were out of class! Thank you for reviewing.

Nancy – I am sad that this story is a bit down memory lane but I am glad that it helps you cope. Everyone has hope some just take longer to find it. Thanks for reviewing.

Hazelstar – The driver of the light gets what is coming to them in this chapter. And there is some nice Brittana moments in this one. Thanks for reviewing.

thisisnutz – thank you – I am sorry it is a very hard read but they make progress and they get through eventually I promise. Thanks for sticking with it and reading it.

btvscharmedgirl Quinn did tell the truth about Judy but she didn't really mean to – it shows that she is progressing though. This chapter has a lot of the accident in it. Thanks for reviewing.

Anon – I am sorry as hard as I try I can't seem to get the chapters out as quick as I would like. I hope you enjoy this one. Thanks

Bueller – This chapter was planned out more than 3 months ago so it was expected before the On my Way episode and we do not have a time jump in this! Thanks for reviewing. No maiming for Shue yet.

sillystarshine – Thank you so much – get the tissues ready for this chapter though.

sachiiko yuri – Thanks for commenting on the half you did read, I am glad when it is difficult for people that they still read the parts that they can and like it. Thank you so much,

sweetdreamer94 – sorry for making you cry. I know that this chapter is not out as quickly as you wanted but I needed to make it right. Thanks for reviewing.

NinjaGleek21 – sorry I had to leave it there. None of these main characters are going to die. I would never do that to you. I love them too too much. Thanks for the cookies!

broadwaybound2016 – It is a rollercoaster and will continue to be so hang on. Thank you for reviewing.

Filmaddict – I am still disturbed after watching the dragon tattoo movie. We shall see what happens to Mr. Shue but if the family gets him he wont last long. You have some good ideas on what to do with him though. I may refer back to your review when it comes time. Thank you!

pcall006 – Sorry for your puddle! Santana will struggle in the next couple of chapters big time. But she will get counseling and she will be watched closely. This is not going to be fixed over night. Brittany will get a bigger glimpse of the family first hand and overall I think that will only make their relationship stronger. I am glad you are finding it therapeutic. Thanks for the review.

HIsland429 – Noah is going to struggle in this chapter but I hope to show that the adults in his life are there for him too. He has been so strong for all of them. Thanks for the review.

Michelle – you are right unfortunately – this is harsh reality but I am hoping to show growth and peace and love will eventually win out in this story.

Jamison08 – thank you for your review.

marinka4 – you are not allowed to kill Shue just yet – soon though you may get a chance. I don't know if this is a good read before bed but I am glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much.

pezberry2smith – Thank you so much for reviewing. Don't feel badly. Although I do love the reviews and it lets me know that people are still reading and still liking it. I am sorry I made you cry though.

OTHangels Thank you

Kimberlli – Hiram is a piece of work and the letter will be on Noah's mind for awhile now that 2 of his sisters are hurt. But it will be addressed trust me. I am impressed by all the different emotions that they chapter caused you. Thanks for reviewing.

There are no words for your never-ceasing support. The simple fact that several of you describe yourselves as "puddles of emotions" says something on its own. I really am so appreciative of your support.

has been definitely acting up. This chapter many of your received alerts on by it took almost twelve hours for it to finally post. The chapter before posted but then no alerts were sent out. Hopefully, this chapter posts without flaw. Like I said, this was the plan since the beginning. Thank you for taking this ride with me. It's still has a while to go.

Small, tiny side notes: someone actually a few someones have mentioned fan art to me. I am blown away. I am honored. I would love and be grateful if any of you wanted to invest time and energy into that. When first mentioned, I had a tiny daydream of someone sending me a YouTube video of a trailer of my fic. hahaha whoa, it was just a dream, but just the idea was an honor. Thank you all for reading this and bringing it all the way up to 945 reviews. STUNNED STUNNED

Chapter 33

Quinn took a deep breath. They were going to be okay. They had to be. They were going to be okay. But if everything was okay, why was everything moving in slow motion? Why did everything feel like she was underwater? Why did her ears were being plugged like they were on the plane? Her head ached too. She looked to her right. Despite the paramedic on the other side of her window who talking to her, all she could focus on was Rachel.

That's when Quinn noticed that the airbag bag had gone off. She messed this up. How could she have been so stupid? There was a reason Rachel shouldn't sit in the front and that was it. God damn it, she cursed herself. She gave another deep breath. Ouch.

"Rachel?" she asked leaning over as much as she could the damn seat belt was holding her back. "Rachel, look at me."

Quinn felt a panic as Rachel's eyes opened and closed and opened and closed again. "Rachel?" she called again.

"What happened?" the eleven year old whispered as her eyes remained closed.

She spotted the wheels of other vehicles and blue lights flash in the puddles around the car. The police were here. She turned her attention back to Rachel. She had to stay awake. She had to keep talking. You weren't as hurt if you were awake and talking, right?

"Rachel, you need to stay awake. Talk to me," Quinn said desperately as she reached over to her but then realized she couldn't move. Rachel's eyes squeezed shut. "Rachel, you have to stay awake."

"Quinn?" Rachel swallowed and opened her eyes. They were overflowing with tears. "I want my mom."

"I know," she whispered. She held her gaze for a moment before looking at the paramedic. She hardened her eyes and scolded the fireman who was on his stomach trying to get her door open. "Get her out!"

"We're working on it." The paramedic settled on her stomach next to the fireman began to speak. "My name is Angela. What's your name?"

"Her name is Rachel Corcoran. She's eleven years old. She's hurt. You need to get her out," Quinn said pulled away as the woman examined her head wound. She realized she was still upside down as the woman right side up came more into focus. "I said help her," Quinn snapped.

"My job is to help you," Angela said.

"I don't care," she barked, but then her head hurt because of it. "Ouch," she thought out loud.

"Exactly," Angela replied. "Now, tell me your name."

Quinn held her head, hoping to ease its pain. "Quinn. I'm her sister." She noticed that she said it without hesitation.

"How old are you?" Angela said asked as she put a brace around Quinn's upside down neck.

"Sixteen," she said with a wince. She looked over at Rachel. "Rachel, open your eyes. Talk to your person in your window."

Rachel squeezed her eyes shut and slowly opened them and looked over at the window. There was another paramedic.

"Hello, my name is Erin. Can you tell me your name?"

"R-r-r-rachel," she whispered. Her eyes teared up. "I don't feel good."

"Are you feeling nauseous?" Erin asked.

Quinn suddenly felt a surge in her own flipped stomach. Throwing up was exhausting and disgusting enough but throwing up upside down was bringing gross to a whole new level. She scrunched up her nose in repugnance.

"So gross," she mumbled as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. If the Mustang wasn't already ruined, Noah would kill her for puking in it.

"Rachel?" Erin asked.

"I don't feel good," she repeated in a whisper.

Quinn watched in horror as Rachel threw up too.

"Get her out ," Quinn ordered.

"We're waiting on the firemen," Angela said exchanging a look with Erin that didn't go unnoticed. She looked over her shoulder. "We need to get them out of here now!" she shouted.

"What's wrong?" Quinn asked swallowing another wave of nausea. "Help her."

"Let's just say that vomiting isn't good," Angela said quietly.

"We can get her out pretty easily," a fireman said looking in at Quinn.

"Get her out first," Quinn said sharply looking over at Rachel.

"We'll get her out, don't worry," the fireman said as Angela backed away.

"You better," she hissed. Quinn spotted firemen's boots walking toward Rachel's side.

"Quinn?" Rachel said with her eyes squeezed shut again.

"I'm right here," she whispered reaching her arm out. She pushed against the tight grip of the seat belt and took Rachel's hand. "Hold my hand, Rachel." She felt a tiny grip. "You're gonna be okay, okay? You're going to get out of this and see your mom and …"

"What am I going to do, Quinn?" she looked at her with a sob. "She can't know..."

Quinn felt an ache in her chest that wasn't from the car accident when she noticed the blood bleeding through Rachel's skirt.

"You have to pro..."Rachel squeezed her eyes shut. "-mise...Promise me... "

"I can't," Quinn whispered.

"Please," Rachel whispered. She took a deep breath and looked around in panic. "Quinn, what's going on?...I …. I want to get out... "

"I know," Quinn managed. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the fireman reaching in for her. "Hold on. Why aren't you getting her out?"

The door opened and the paramedic took of the driver's side door off of Noah's Mustang.

"Are you listening to me?" Quinn hissed as a fireman started to cut the seat belt . She was still holding Rachel's hand. "You need to get her out!" She looked over at Rachel. Her eyes were closed but her brow was no longer furrowed. Quinn's heart stopped. It was relaxed. "Rachel! Rachel, wake up!" She turned to the paramedic. "Get her out! Wake her up! She needs to talk! She needs to talk! If she's talking, she's okay." Her eyes stung. "Rachel, wake up," she whispered.

"We're going to cut you out, Quinn," a fireman said.

Quinn couldn't hear him. She could only see Rachel's face. It looked so relaxed. Suddenly, she felt herself being moved onto a board. She realized she didn't have Rachel's hand anymore.

"No! No!" she screamed. They removed her and put her on a backboard.

They strapped her in. Her body was aching. She still felt as if she was underwater and could barely notice all of the other cars around her or the mile of traffic that surrounded the infamous intersection.

"Wake her up," she whispered.

"Your head is bleeding, you need to relax," the paramedic said. "We're going to take you to the hospital and your -"

"Sister, she's my sister. You need to get her!" Quinn said. "Please," she looked up at the woman. "Please make sure she's okay. I'm fine. Leave me alone. Please go get her. Please."

"We've got her out," someone yelled.

Quinn started to sit up, but realized that she was strapped to a backboard and there was a brace around her neck. She moved her toes and finger tips.

"I can move my toes. I don't have a back injury," she screamed. "I need to get up."

"You probably have a concussion. Listen to me," she said. "You need to calm down. You are bleeding from your head. You can not help her if you don't calm down and let us work on the both of you. Now stop fighting so much or we will sedate you. Calm down."

"No, I will not calm down," Quinn hissed. "Please." She was begging. She was begging because she couldn't be the one that killed the one person who trusted her and relied on her. She was granted a glimmer of hope.

"Quinn!" Rachel sobbed from the other side of the car.

"She's awake," Quinn whispered. She was loaded into the ambulance. She stared above her and whispered in relief, "She's okay."

Laying on a stretcher with an aching body covered in the smell of vomit as the ambulance sped toward the hospital was needless to say uncomfortable. She needed to stay awake. She needed to stay awake because Rachel was awake. Rachel was awake, she repeated She was so concentrated on that that she didn't notice that Angela attached an IV and put on an oxygen mask on her face.

Finally the ambulance doors opened. "Quinn. Sixteen year old female. Her pressure is strong. Head trauma and possible concussion. She has some bruising on her abdomen. Possible internal injuries. Also her left wrist is fractured. Also slightly combative but I have a feeling that's just her personality."

The paramedic and the doctor exchanged a look.

The doctor leaned over her. "Hi, Quinn, I'm Dr-"

"Where's Rachel?" she asked removing the mask they put over her mouth and nose.

"You need to leave that on," the paramedic said.

Quinn pushed it aside. "Where is she?"

"Keep this on," the doctor informed her. "I'm Doctor Erons. You need to calm down."

Quinn suddenly heard a door clap open.

"Rachel Corcoran, eleven year old female. Pressure's dropping. Airbag hit her . Internal injuries, heavy bleeding. She was in and out before, but she lost consciousness about six minutes ago and hasn't regained."

Quinn pushed the mask off and tried to sit up, but forgot she was still strapped to the back board. "Rachel," she called. Her whole body ached.

"Quinn, you need to stay down," the doctor said.

Rachel was quickly pushed past her on a hospital gurney and behind a curtain. Doctors were talking every which way.

"Pressure is dropping?"

"Yes."

"Where the hell is this bleeding coming from?"

"Is the pressure still dropping?"

"Yes. Everyone quiet." There was a slight pause. Finally, a doctor talked again. "Her lung is punctured. Someone give me a chest tube."

Quinn sat up slightly and was pushed down again. They unstrapped her and moved her to a gurney. She shivered as they cut off her clothes and put her in a gown as they checked her vitals. She even saw the nurse and doctor exchange looks when they spotted a hand print bruise on her upper arm and she flinched when someone touched the bruise on her back.

"I need her to be okay," Quinn said sitting up. "Because she's-"

Rachel's sob interrupted her. She sighed slightly. She's awake again. Quinn's ears focused on the conversation behind the other curtain.

"She's out again."

"Let's get her out of these clothes. Someone grab me a gown and -"

"Shit-"

There was a silence.

"What?" Someone finally asked.

There was no response behind the curtain of the voices talking for a moment.

"Someone talk to me. What's going on?"

"I need to go talk to police. I thought this was just a car accident," a doctor said and Quinn watched him leave and approach the police.

Quinn watched him. She watched as the young doctor talked to the police. She watched his arms wave with anxiety and then run his hand through his hair with confusion. Quinn reached up with a trembling hand and moved her mask away. The doctor cleaning her wound opened her mouth to protest but Quinn beat her to the punch.

"His name is Will Schuester. He's her voice teacher. McKinley High School."

…...

Noah felt like his heart was going to explode in his chest. Rachel was missing. His car was stolen.

"What the hell is going on!" Santana screamed next to him. He was brought out of his stupor. "I mean we're driving a freaking police car. Can't you turn on your damn lights?"

Noah looked up and realized that the car wasn't moving. He realized his mother wasn't yelling at Santana. She swore... at a stranger... a police officer stranger... He looked at his mother. Why wasn't she yelling? He then realized that she hadn't said much since they left the school.

She had only said one thing since she arrived at the school. One thing. "Rachel was missing." That was it. That was all. Nothing more.

"What's going on?" he asked as he leaned forward.

"There's some kind of crash at Five Corners," Officer Donnelly said.

"The Five Corners of Death?" Santana asked with a frown. "There's an accident here practically every month. Can't we go around?"

"You know that we can't," the officer said. There was a reason why the intersection was always so busy. It was at the center of the whole town. You had to go through it to get anywhere. "People drive too fast and don't see others trying to cross. The City Council is trying to get another light in."

The four of them watched an ambulance speed by them.

Santana shook her head. "Listen, asshole, my sister is in the hospital and if that ambulance can get through this, you can. Turn on your damn lights."

"Santana!" Shelby screamed. The three of them jumped. Santana frowned at the officer grateful and annoyed that her mother scared the shit out of the rookie. Shelby had her head in her hands. She looked up and turned to look at her daughter. "You will speak with respect-"

Her phone rang. Shelby looked back up front at her phone.

"Hello?... Joey?...WHAT!"

Noah looked up and caught Santana's eyes.

Shelby went on and put her head in her hands. "What do you mean she wasn't there?... Fine... Um... Fine...Now I have two daughters missing ? What the hell?"

"Mom, she's at the hospital. Rachel's at the hospital," Santana said. Noah felt her dark eyes on him. "She's at the hospital," she whispered.

Noah looked toward the front. His mother was crying. His mother was such a big part of his world and she was breaking in front of him.

"Fine..." she said she wiped her tears. "Please. Look. Go to the park. Look...I know... Okay...Yeah... Okay... bye."

Shelby hung up the phone. "Turn on your lights, son," she said evenly. "We're getting through this accident and to the hospital."

"Ms. Corcoran-"

"Put on your damn lights!" Shelby scolded.

"Yes, ma'am."

Officer Donnelly turned on his lights and drove through the now parted traffic. They needed to get to the other side. There were four cars in the wreck and several that managed to swerve, but avoid each other. There was no way to guess what happened. Noah looked at the cars. One was t-boned around a telephone pole, a second car had skidded into the other lane, and there was another car with its front completely smashed in, waiting in the intersection, as if it hit something. What Noah didn't realize was that the car around pole had run the red light, and hit the car that had skidded into the other lane. He also didn't realize that the car that was smashed in the intersection, whose front was crunched, had been speeding at forty-seven miles an hour in the twenty-five miles an hour speed zone; what Noah didn't know was that car, in trying to avoid the car that ran the red light, slammed on his brakes and swerved, hitting an unmoving car at the stop light.

"Mom?" Santana said quietly.

"Yes," Shelby said with her forehead in her hands.

"Quinn was at …. She was at school..."

Shelby's head rose slowly. The lights and sirens were going off as Officer Donnelly drove around traffic. However, Mom-zilla was slowly emerging.

"WHAT!" Shelby hissed.

"She was at school. Sam Evans picked her up," she said quietly. "And brought her to school."

Shelby shook her head. "She's going to see a whole new style of grounding when I get a hold of her! She was at school? School!" She paused. "That phone is gone - She will be escorted to and from school by me and only me. Is she still there? Noah call her. Why the hell didn't she go to therapy? She was supposed to stay at therapy."

"Mom," Noah said quietly.

Noah didn't move. He finally spotted the car that had once been the unmoving car at the light; he spotted his car.

"Can someone call her please?"

"Mom?" Noah said slightly more loudly.

"Noah, are you calling her?" she asked with an edge.

"MOM!" he said.

"What?" she asked looking up.

"That's my car," Noah whispered.

The three of them looked in Noah's direction.

"That's my car," he said again, louder this time.

They froze. There was Noah's mustang: flipped. Its doors had been pulled off and were piled in debris. Glass was everywhere.

"Santana," Shelby whispered as she scanned the debris. "When was the last that you saw Quinn?"

Then she saw it. It was there. Her heart stopped.

"Mom, that's Quinn's jacket," Santana whispered.

There in the debris was a Cheerios Letterman jacket with a Captain's patch on the sleeve.

Shelby spotted Gus and Bear around the wreckage. Shelby ordered the officer to stop the car and hopped out of the car running towards them.

"Ma'am, you can't be here," an officer said attempting and failing to stop her.

"Shut up," she hissed and ran to her brother-in-law.

"Where's Quinn? Is she okay? Rachel is at the hospital now? What happened?" Shelby screamed hurriedly. "What's-"

She stopped. She stopped walking because there it was. There was her youngest daughter's jacket. It was laying in the middle of the road surrounded by broken glass.

"I was called here on my way to-" he stopped when he saw Santana and Noah run up. "On my way to his house." He hurriedly recovered. "We found Rachel," he said quickly. "She was in a car accident. This one."

"In Noah's car?" Santana asked.

Shelby was too scared to breathe a sigh of relief.

"And we found Quinn." Bear searched her eyes from some sort of acknowledgement. "They called me here as soon as they realized it was them."

"Quinn wouldn't take Rachel. She can't physically take Rach," Shelby said more to herself than anyone. "She wouldn't..."

"She didn't," Bear said. "I don't know for sure, but we think that she was with her."

"What?" Santana asked behind her with a frown.

Shelby looked at her other daughter and then look back at her brother-in-law. "What?"

Bear pulled Shelby aside and continued quietly. "We have men on their way to his house with a search warrant. We also have officers at the school. His office as well as the choir room are in disarray. A boy told us that he brought Quinn back to schoo-"

"Sam Evans," Shelby said.

Bear nodded and continued. "And I think that Quinn found Rachel there and or confronted Schuester and they got away together but then -"

He looked at the accident. Shelby put her hand on her face. "Please tell me they're okay," she begged silently.

He took a deep breath, "I heard from an EMT say that things weren't looking good for Rachel and that Quinn's pretty banged up too," Bear paused. "The Mustang flipped, Shelby. They had to take off the doors to get the girls out."

Shelby let out a sob. "This can't... I was... I was...We were at dance. Then she was missing then Quinn was missing... and now... they're on their way to the hospital together?" She shook her head and whispered, "How the hell did all of this happen?"

"Shelby," he said pulling her into a hug. "I know that everything is falling apart, but we still have a lot right now. Rachel and Quinn need you. Noah and Santana will need you."

Shelby steeled her face. "You're right. Catch that bastard."

"Captain Marshall will meet you at the hospital," Bear said quietly.

"Captain Marshall? From Columbus? Why aren't you leading this investigation?" she asked.

"Because she's my niece," he said quietly. "Lima Police are still involved but the investigation is run by Marshall now."

Shelby shook her head. "Fine. Just as long as we catch him." She started to walk away. "We need to catch him."

…..

The doctor took a deep breath and watched Quinn carefully. "Stay here. I'll let the police know."

She sighed and turned her aching head as she watched the doctor talk with police officers. She wanted to get up; she needed to get up. She spotted a few doctors walking past at a quick pace from where she was laying on the exam table. The whole ER was frantic. There were six others coming in. She overheard someone saying that the person that caused the accident was old and died at the scene. Quinn was grateful; she wasn't good at yelling at old people. They kept telling her how lucky she was to only have sustained a concussion and a broken arm, but there was some talk about her spleen and possible surgery. However, Quinn didn't hear most of it. Perhaps that was why her left side hurt so much.

"It's bad... Someone call the police... We most definitely need to do a rape kit." Quinn didn't need to be told where that doctor was coming from because she knew. She saw him leave Rachel's curtain. "I called her mother. She should be here soon." Quinn breathed a sigh of relief. Rachel would be okay. She would be okay. She frowned slightly staring up at the ceiling. Shelby was going to kill her for being in this accident with Rachel, for skipping therapy, for getting a ride from Sam, for not calling her, yup she was definitely going to be sent back but she needed to try and fix some of this before she got sent back to the group home. She closed her eyes. It was exhausting.

Her thoughts were interrupted.

"She arrived without underwear," a doctor said. "I should have known... I should have known there is something up."

"She's so young and little how could someone do that and -"

"Shut up! Both of you! Shut up! Her sister is lying there on the other side of the curtain and can hear every word you're saying. Go and do something productive!"

The curtain opened. "Quinn? Quinn?" she sighed. "Don't listen to them, okay? Your sister is in good hands. I promise." She sighed. "We need to get you up to CT. Then we'll get that wrist of yours in a cast, okay? I'm going to have an intern bring you up."

"Whatever," she whispered. "I just need her to be okay."

The doctor nodded and walked away.

Quinn felt a rage explode in her chest. "It's bad." they had said. Will Schuester deserved to die. He did this. Rachel had been through too much for him to then target her. No one deserved that, but Rachel? Quinn felt bile in her throat. She let her rage lead her on. She was supposed to be waiting for an intern to bring her for a CT scan and then another doctor to set her arm and cast it, but she couldn't wait. She needed to get back to McKinley. She needed to show that man that he wouldn't get away with it.

The blonde teen pulled out the IV from her arm and took the neck brace off before she slipped off the exam table. She spotted the exit. She needed to get out before the family arrived. She needed to get to Will. She started towards the door and then a small cry came from the curtain she knew Rachel was behind.

Rachel sobbed. "I want my mom," she whimpered. "Where's my sister?"

"Rachel, I know you're scared but you need to calm down. You have a tube in your side in between your ribs," a doctor said gently. She paused. "We need to examine you... the rest of you."

"No!" Rachel sobbed. "Please.. P-p-p-please..."

Quinn had heard enough. She opened the curtain.

"Quinn," Rachel said weakly as tears ran down her cheeks. "I wanna go home."

The blonde felt herself shaking as she looked at the tube coming out of her sister's ribs.

"Sweetheart, we need to check-" The female doctor began again.

"No," Rachel said as she cried harder. Quinn watched as Rachel flinched when the doctor reached for the bottom of her gown. "Please, Quinn."

The tiny girl looked at her. Why did this little girl always look at her with such hope? Quinn was the most hopeless person she knew.

"I'm sorry, Rachel," the female said as she moved her rolling stool to the end of the exam table. "We need to check you. Can you tell me what happened?"

"N-n-noo," she sobbed.

Another nurse walked in and tried to help get Rachel's legs into the stirrups. She was pushing them away as she cried weakly.

"Excuse me, miss," a nurse said. "We need to keep her calm. Her chest tube is in. She has a concussion and her breathing is not improving."

"Then back off and let me handle it," Quinn said in a sharp whispered hiss.

The doctor and nurse backed away, giving the girls some space.

Rachel stilled. "Quinn," she said with a tremble in her voice. Her face crumpled. "Please help me." She repeated again.

Quinn bit her lip. She felt her throat tighten up, but still managed to walk over to her. Rachel reached out to her and the nurses started to protest. "Let me talk to her," she said reinforced again. They backed away. She turned to Rachel. Rachel was trying to sit up, but Quinn stopped her. "Take it easy, bug."

"I wanna go," Rachel said. "Please," she said with a plea into Quinn's eyes. "Can't we go?"

Quinn didn't know what to say, but she knew what needed to be done. "Rach," she said gently. "You need to do this."

Rachel shook her head and began to cry. "No, no, no."

Quinn cupped her face. "I know you're scared. I know, but I'll be with you. Okay?"

The tiny girl shook her head. "No, please." She looked at Quinn in desperation. She gripped her hand around Quinn's wrists as the older girl still held her face. Quinn almost forgot that they had told her her wrist was broken until Rachel squeezed it. She swallowed the pain. Rachel sobbed. "Please don't make me do this."

Quinn tried to swallow the lump in her throat but it was still caught. "I'm … I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know it'll hurt, but you can't get better until they see..."

"No, Quinn... No …. you don't understand... I can't... please..." Rachel was sobbing.

Quinn leaned down and looked her in the eyes. "Nothing will happen to you. Look at me, Rach." the girl avoided her eyes. "Rachel, look at me." She met her eyes hesitantly. "Everything will be alright. I promise. He won't hurt you ever again."

"No, Quinn," Rachel sobbed. "He... He... They'll ….. I can't..."

"Rachel," Quinn said calmly. "I didn't want to do this either but San helped me. You helped me... and I need you to let me help you."

Rachel stilled. "What if-"

"No, Rach," the older girl said quickly. "I promise you nothing will happen to you. Do you trust me?" Rachel nodded tearfully. "I need you to do this."

Rachel looked at the doctor and nurses and then back at Quinn. "Will you stay with me?" she whispered.

"Absolutely," Quinn whispered ignoring her own tears. She looked at the doctor and nurses. "I'm going to hold her while you do this."

Quinn climbed onto the bed behind Rachel and wrapped her arms around the trembling girl. She tried to ignore the fact that she also felt exposed under this hospital gown. She focused on Rachel as she kissed her temple. Rachel shook her head again. "I changed my mind. I want to go home. I want Santana. I want my mom."

"They have to do this, Rach," she whispered.

Rachel looked at her with betrayal and shook her head. "No... No... you don't understand... I... I … I don't need... Please... I just want to go home..."

Quinn shook her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

She managed to untangle her body from her Quinn's. "Quinn, please," Rachel sobbed. "You have to understand. I can't do this..."

Quinn ran her uninjured hand through Rachel's hair. "You need to."

Rachel shook her head and looked at her hands. "This will ruin everything."

The blonde looked at her. She felt that. She had lived that. And in a way it has ruined a lot, but at the same time it didn't. She looked at Rachel she had to convince her otherwise. She knew that they would never catch Will if she didn't. She needed Rachel to see that, but she hated that in her head she knew otherwise. She knew what it felt like, that draining feeling of how badly Rachel must not want anyone to know.

"Rachel, you need to do this," she whispered. "I didn't want everyone to know about me..." She trailed off. "I get it."

"It's not that," Rachel whispered. "It's not just that." She played with the end of her fingers. "I don't want to ruin everything..." She looked into Quinn's eyes. "They'll take us away."

Quinn frowned. That son of a bitch. Of course. She thought back. That's what he had said to her in choir room. That's what he would have said to Rachel. "That won't happen, Rachel," she insisted.

"It will," Rachel said with fresh tears running down her face. "We were in the system before... I can't... I can't...I'm okay... Just let's forget about -"

"No," Quinn said quickly grabbing Rachel's hand. "You won't be taken away, Rachel. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Not just me," Rachel said with an angry frown. "All of us. We'll be split up. You don't get it!"

Quinn frowned. "Rachel," she said softly. "That won't happen. Nothing bad will happen to you if you tell. We will catch him."

"N-n-no," she muttered.

"Rachel, look at me," Rachel continued to sob and look at her hands. "Rachel," she said again. "Look at me." The girl met her gaze. "Do you think Mom would let that happen?"

The girl shook her head. "She wouldn't let it. It would just happen."

"Rachel," Quinn tried again. "That won't happen. It won't."

"It will-" Rachel sobbed again.

"You need to do this, Rachel," the blonde said. She leaned closer. "If, and only if, because it won't, if that happens Rachel, I swear San and I will find you." Rachel looked up at her in surprise. "Noah too. We will find you." She saw that she got to her. She saw that her promise about something she know wouldn't happen got through to her. "Okay. Let them do this."

She looked at her one last time and then snuck a glance at the nurse and doctor.. She gave a tiny nod. Quinn barely saw it, but it was there.

"Alright," the nurse began. "Your friend can stay in here if you want."

"She's my sister," Rachel frowned.

"Sorry, sister," the nurse said. "I'm going to start."

"Thank you, bug," she whispered. They positioned her legs in the stirrups and Rachel let out a sob. "Shh," Quinn whispered. "Relax. I've got you. Tell me about your favorite musical." Rachel shook her head. "Come on, please?" Quinn asked again.

"It's called..."She let out a squeal of pain and surprise when the doctors opened her knees.

Quinn shot them a look. "You tell her what you're doing every step of the way," she ordered. "Do you hear me? Every step of the way!"

The doctor nodded. "Okay, Rachel, I'm going to touch you but just the outside okay? I'm just going to look."

Rachel nodded tearfully and buried her head in Quinn's arm. Her whole body winced and she yelped in pain. Quinn searched the doctor's eyes behind the surgical mask. It was bad. She took that moment to look at Rachel's body. There were bruise marks on her cheeks as if he had covered her mouth as he held her tightly.

"Okay, honey, I know this hurts," the doctor said gently. "I'm going to go inside, okay? I need to take a look."

He had done that to her. She hadn't gotten there on time. Quinn didn't even known Rachel was there. Rachel wasn't supposed to be there. Quinn's father had hurt her. She didn't even know what he was supposed to act like as a father. She only knew the number of times he had forced himself on her and the constant absence of her dignity. She squeezed her eyes shut. She remembered what she heard outside of the door the last night in Florida. Santana had said.

"Rach, he...I …." Santana looked up at Rachel and steeled her face. She didn't notice her on the other side of the door. Watching. Listening. "I went to that room five times, bug," she said with unexpected strength. "You went every day."

Quinn blinked back tears. Her own father had been cruel, but he had an odd, uncalculated conscious that had him forcing Quinn to her knees at one moment and going to church the next. People were complicated when caught in their own lies. Quinn knew this first hand, but she had never seen other victims of its complexity and now one was lying in her arms, trembling.

With the open gown, Quinn was able to see that there scratches and scrapes all up her back. There was a hand bruise on the back of Rachel's neck as well as two distinct bruised hand prints on her rib cage. Quinn didn't realize her own breaths were hitched in her chest until they lifted up the bottom of Rachel's gown. She had a view of Rachel completely exposed. The doctors had been murmuring this whole time about how bad it was; however, in that moment she stopped breathing. Rachel's underside was littered with bruises. The inside of her thighs had fingerprint bruises peppered on them. Her entrance was red and raw.

The doctor locked eyes with her. Quinn nodded knowing what they needed from the tiny girl. "Rachel," she said carefully. "Look at me," Quinn said gently. Rachel trembled and looked up at her. "Focus on me okay? Okay?" Rachel nodded. Quinn snuck a glance at the doctor. "I skipped my appointment today. Mom is going to be mad." Rachel gave a tiny smirk. Quinn studied her face and felt a pang in her chest when her eyes became pain filled and a sob escaped her lips. The tool was inside her. "Shhh," Quinn whispered. "It'll hurt less if you relax."

"Q-q-q-uinn," Rachel trembled. "Take it out.. Please...I ...it hurts."

"I know, bug," Quinn whispered as tears poured down her face. She could see the bruises on the inside of Rachel's thighs from where she sat. She could see the towels that the doctor kept blotting with blood and handing to the nurse. She looked down again and spotted the scratches on Rachel's body and realized she wasn't sure if she had sustained those from the accident or not. Rachel's sobs broke her from her thoughts. She glared at the doctor. "Finish up," she hissed.

Rachel tried to close her legs only to sob more. "Rach, you have to keep them open or else it hurts more," Quinn told her as the girl sobbed. "Finish up and get it out of her!"

"We're going as fast as we can," the doctor assured. The doctor looked at Rachel who was breathing heavily with her eyes squeezed shut. "Rachel? Rachel?" The tiny girl didn't respond. The doctor looked at Quinn. "I can't see anything. I've only been able to get three samples. We have quite a few to go. I need her to relax or else I can't get what I need."

"She's doing her best!" Quinn shouted. She felt the the girl in her arms jump. She combed her hand through Rachel's hair. "Rachel, you need to relax so that it can be over." She felt Rachel's head shake into her chest.

"Please, Quinn, please no more," Rachel sobbed.

"We need to wrap up here and get her up to CT," a doctor said in a voice intended to be quiet but Quinn heard. "There's blood in her urine."

The doctor sighed. "I'll take it out, but we're going to have to try again later." Quinn shot her a glare. "Rachel, take a deep breath." The tiny brunette let out a little cry as the tool was removed.

She looked at Quinn with big eyes as she pulled her legs up to her chest. "I want to go home."

The blonde nodded. "I know."

Rachel let out a sob. Quinn looked up and the doctor was feeling her stomach. "Her stomach is tender and soft." The doctor looked at Quinn. "You don't look so well."

Quinn looked at her. She just needed to throw up again. Seeing Rachel like that made her want to throw up, that was it.

"Quinn? What is she doing in here? Erons, you know she shouldn't be in here." Quinn looked up. Mr. Pierce was here. She squeezed her eyes shut. God, her head hurt. Dr. Pierce, she corrected. He walked over to Quinn. "Come on. You need to get your head cleaned up and that wrist taken care of," the doctor said.

"There you are," an intern said rushing into the room. "I've been looking all over or you."

Quinn took a deep, but nauseating breath. "I'll be right back," she said quietly. There was no response. "Rachel?"

She looked down. Rachel's face was relaxed again.

"What's happening?" she asked frantically.

"Get her out of here," Dr. Pierce ordered to the intern and Rachel was laid down.

"What's going on?" Quinn asked feeling the blood rush to her head. The intern led her out of the room, but she looked over her shoulder one last time and saw Rachel's battered and bruised bottom half. She was still bleeding. She was in the hallway now, her head ached and her left side hurt even more. She just … She just needed... She swallowed hard trying to articulate words in her head. She suddenly spotted Shelby and realized that's exactly who she needed.

…...

A nurse led Shelby, Noah, and Santana down the hallway. Shelby felt her heart freeze in her chest as she watched a nurse carry an arm's full of paper bags from Rachel's room. She knew what those bags were used for. She spotted Tom Pierce run his hand through his hair in exhaustion. He turned and froze when he saw Shelby's look teetering between the nurse walking away with the bags and back to him.

She turned to Noah and Santana and looked at them with a stern look that attempted to cover up her anxiety.

"Go wait in the lobby—''

"Mom," Santana began. She pointed at the room. "Rachel needs us."

"Noah, Santana, now!" Shelby snapped.

Santana jumped at her mother's voice. Instinctively tears began to fall. "What's wrong with her? What's going on?"

"Sweetheart, just go," Shelby said with urgency. "Please. I'll tell you once I find out."

She watched her son lead her eldest daughter away. She made sure she was out of sight before she turned with a shaky breath and hands to Dr. Pierce.

"What are those doing coming out of her room? I thought it was a car accident! Did you do a rape kit on my daughter?"

"Shelby," a voice called out. She turned and Gus was walking toward her. "We need to talk."

Shelby felt the color drain from her face. She couldn't do this. She couldn't. Maybe...she thought to herself. Maybe this was all wrong.

Suddenly she saw a blonde emerge from her daughter's room.

"Quinn?" she asked more sharply than intended.

Something was wrong. Quinn was staring ahead. She didn't respond to her name. Shelby pushed past Gus and walked toward her. That's when she noticed the girl's gown was a mess and there was blood on it.

"Quinn," she said more quickly. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

The girl turned and looked at her. She opened her mouth repeatedly trying to form words but nothing came out.

"Quinn," Shelby said again more shakily.

She shook her head. "She's ….. She's... She's in there." She looked up at her and met her eyes for the first time with a look that haunted Shelby to the bone. "I'm so sorry... I... I …. She said... she... She just wanted to get away... and then... we... I ….. We were at thestoplight... He... I didn't think... he... "

Quinn didn't feel her knees go weak. She didn't even feel her entire body hit the floor, but she felt Shelby's arms wrap around her. "You're okay, Quinn," Shelby whispered. The mother looked over her shoulder and shot Gus a harsh questioning gaze. "I've got you."

She felt Quinn go limp in her arms. "Quinn?" she whispered. "Quinn?" Her body wasn't moving.

"Tom! Tom! Help me! Tom!"

…...

Shelby licked her bottom lip and took a deep breath. They had taken Quinn. She had collapsed. Quinn had collapsed. She was waiting. She was waiting for news. She glanced around the corner and looked out into the waiting room. Noah was pacing and Santana had her head in her hands. She had to tell them. She had to tell them that she failed. She failed again.

"We're going to take both of them into surgery right now," Tom said.

"Both of them?" Shelby asked as Quinn was wheeled away on a gurney. "I just need to understand. Quinn's spleen? and Rachel's what? What's the surgery for? Explain it to me." She searched her friend's eyes. "Please explain this to me."

"Yes, in the accident," Tom explained. "The car flipped and the girls both sustained some internal injuries. We believe that they're minor and we just have to stop the bleeds, but we need to go under. We need to take them in and we need to look. Rachel has a collapsed lung, and a lacerated kidney which is causing internal bleeding and Quinn a lacerated spleen which is causing internal bleeding. Both need surgery right away. While under anesthesia they will do the exam on Rachel and look at all the scratches that Will did -"

"Which kidney?" Shelby asked. "She had a bad kidney infection last year and the doctors said it was weakened and we needed to watch it."

"We'll check it," Tom assured.

"And Quinn spleen? What's the worst case scenario?" she asked.

"Worst case scenario is that we have to take it out," he said. He saw Shelby's worried look. "She can live a healthy life without it. The only main thing is based on her age she might need to be on antibiotics for a few years."

"Years?" Shelby shouted.

Tom Pierce put up his hands. "Shelby, no worst case scenarios yet. You need to breathe."

She asked, "Don't tell me to breathe. Don't tell me to breathe! So far this afternoon, my daughter was taken while I stood outside of the door... and...I don't... I don't know what happened to her... And then two of my girls were in an accident. And now you're telling me that they need surgery...And now, Tom, I need to go tell my other two kids that we think that something happened to their baby sister again, but I won't know until they do an exam on my little girl because she was crying too hard for her to get through the exam awake." She looked at Tom. "So, I can't do it. I can't breathe."

"Do you want to see them before they go in? Both of them are out, but -"

"Yes," Shelby said quickly.

She was led down the hallway. Quinn was laying back. Her eyes were closed and there was a large handprint bruise on the top of her arm. "We're going to to the best we can."

"I know," she whispered. Shelby leaned down and kissed Quinn's forehead. "I love you. Come back to me," she whispered. "...Was she...was there any evidence that she was hurt? By him, I mean?"

"She had some bruises, but we checked her briefly," he began.

"Briefly?"

"She kinda escaped," Dr. Pierce said.

Shelby chuckled and ran her hand through Quinn's hair. "Of course, you did," She spoke softly to the sleeping blonde.

"It's time," a doctor said from the door.

Shelby leaned forward. "I love you. I love you and I'm proud of you and I need you to come back."

"Shelby, we need to go," he whispered.

"Okay," she whispered kissing Quinn once more. "I love you."

She watched her wheel out of the room. Shelby forced herself to breathe as she was led to Rachel's room. Rachel had a few more tubes connected than Quinn. Shelby spotted the bruises around her mouth and on her neck.

"Hey, bug," she whispered. She leaned down and stroked her hair out of her face. "Mommy's here, Rach. I'm right here."

"I promise you," Tom began. "That we will keep you updated and we will do our best."

"I don't expect any less," she whispered.

Gus and another detective entered the room. Shelby looked over at them as she rested her forehead onto Rachel's. She looked at them.

"You're going to do the exam now?" she asked quietly without looking up.

"Yes," Gus nodded.

"Apparently, they tried before but it was too much for her," the other detective that Shelby didn't recognize said.

Shelby nodded absently. "No one can really calm her down to do those exams," she whispered. She bit her lip. "Is there any chance... Is there a possibility that maybe..." She looked up at Gus. "Could we be wrong? That maybe…. That maybe she wasn't hurt….. That he didn't touch them…. Touch her…"

Shelby had no control over her tears at this point because the idea of it was too hard. It hurt too much. It was exhausting.

Gus looked at her with regret and apologies, a look that made Shelby want to scream and cry all at once.

Shelby shook her head. "Explain to me again, Tom, why they are both passed out? What happened?"

"Their bodies are in shock, Shelby. They've been through a great deal of trauma today. They both have concussions and they both are suffering from internal bleeding. While we're confident that their injuries are fixable they would have difficulty staying awake. We also gave both of them some pain medicine intravenously and that would make them drowsy."

Shelby gave another small nod. "Okay." She took a deep breath. "Should I…. Should I stay with her?... While you…. you examine her?"

Gus looked at her carefully. "Do you want to?"

"No," Shelby trembled. "But what if… what if she wakes up? I should be here."

"She won't," Tom assured, nodding to the anesthesiologist.

"I'm her mother.. I should know…." She said looking down at Rachel. "I wasn't there the first time. I should… I should be here." She looked at Gus and Tom with greater confidence. "I'll stay."

Gus nodded. "Okay. Will you be doing this, Tom?"

"I can or I can get another doctor," he said. "Whatever would make you feel more comfortable."

"I … I … If you could…. I would like you here, as a friend, if you can," Shelby managed. "I know that that's a lot to ask of you since you—"

"I don't want to be anywhere else," Tom assured. "Alright. Let's get this started."

…

Shelby leaned back against the wall in the hallway. They had informed her before Rachel's exam that Quinn had been examined before surgery and save a few bruises, there was no evidence of any other injuries. However, Shelby's relief was temporary because at that moment she had seen Rachel's lower half. When they had the trial she had seen photos and she had to run out of the room to throw up. In person, she had to throw up again. There was no control.

It was like she wasn't there.

There were so many bags: brown bags, small plastic ones. Q-Tips. Every photo that was taken made her jump. The nurse that was watching her daughter's vitals kept resting her hand on her shoulder. She didn't want comfort because clearly her baby girl had gotten known when she was brutalized.

They collected a few hairs.

She was still bleeding a bit.

There were scratches where there shouldn't be.

They had told her they weren't sure what he used, but he had used something. Shelby felt a new bile in her throat. "Based on the scratches," the detective explained. "He probably used his fingers."

Shelby swallowed a sob. There was no avoiding it. She hated herself because she felt thankful alongside all of the heartache. She felt thankful because Quinn hadn't been hurt like Rachel. She squeezed her eyes shut or maybe Quinn received the bruises because she was big enough to fight back, while Rachel didn't have a prayer.

She had been told their clothes had been taken into evidence as soon as they arrived at the hospital. They had told her that Rachel's underwear was missing.

Could Sue get Quinn a new uniform? Shelby shook her head. Why was she thinking about Quinn's uniform.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Two minutes ago Tom had kicked her out of the room. He had kicked her out because Rachel's punctured lung collapsed completely. They told her that she couldn't be in there and she knew that. She couldn't do any of it. Rachel was taken immediately to surgery. This was all too much.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"I can't do this," she whispered.

"You can," Joey responded. Had she been standing there the whole time. "Mom and Dad are on a flight here as we speak."

Shelby looked at her thankfully. "They are?"

"Yeah."

"Your son and daughter are in the waiting room freaking out," Joey said. "You need to speak with them."

Shelby shook her head. "This is going to kill them."

"No," Joey said. "Right now thinking they know and waiting for confirmation is killing them."

She took a deep breath.

"Okay," she whispered. She walked slowly in go the waiting room. Noah was still pacing and Santana still had her head in her hands with her heel anxiously tapping up and down.

"Mom, what happened? Are they okay? What's happening? What took so long?" Noah asked frantically.

Santana looked at her with defeat, as if she knew. She just needed to be told.

"They're in surgery right now," she said with a wavering voice. "They… They're in good hands but... they're hurt."

"How.. How hurt," Noah wondered out loud. "They're gonna be okay. Right?"

Shelby nodded softly. "We think so."

Santana bit her lip. "Rachel was…. Was missing … and then… and then she was in a car accident….."

She looked up at her mother. "Please tell me that … that…. Quinn took her for a joy ride or something…." She bit her lip and continued quietly. "Because... because... that's what I need to have happened."

Shelby sighed and sat down next to her daughter. She looked at her and then at her son. "The police are still figuring out what happened.-"

That's all Shelby was able to get out. That was it. Santana began to sob; that was all she needed. Noah pulled Santana into his arms.

"She's gonna be okay," he whispered. "They're both going to be okay."

Santana couldn't hold it together because she knew they weren't going to be okay for a very long time.

….

Bear pulled up in front of the house. There were police cars all around the house. There had been no sign of him. There had been a couple of students who said they "might have" seen Will Schuester leaving the school. However, there was no sign of him. Shelby had just broken the news when he left for the house. His blood was boiling and he wasn't sure if he was in the right state to be there. However, Captain Marshall wanted him there. To calm him, Gus drove him over. He wasn't sure if he should ask Gus, but he knew Gus had seen Rachel's injuries. He wanted to ask, but he couldn't find the words.

"Why did they call us?" he asked as they climbed out of the car.

"They said they found something. Because you're close to the family-"

"I am family," he interrupted.

Gus continued. "They wanted you to take a look."

Bear frowned. "Fine," he nodded as he flashed his badge and the two of them went into Will's house.

It was clean and well-decorated. It looked hardly lived in. "What I can't figure out is why he took her to the school," Bear said out loud.

"Simple," a tall man said emerging from the basement. "It was closer."

"Captain Marshall," he nodded.

"Carlson," he nodded. "I'm sorry to be here."

"I'm sorry you're here too," Bear nodded.

"Well, we think that your guy basically lost control," Captain Marshall began. "He had a plan and your trip to Florida and Rachel stopping her lessons threw him off. Our forensic psychologist is flying in. I think... actually, I know that this case is going to be very big."

Bear frowned realizing what he was saying.

"You found his stash, didn't you?"

Captain Marshall nodded. "This is going to be a big case, Carlson."

Bear took a deep breath. "Okay. Tell me what you know."

"I know we need to bring the state police in and maybe even the feds," he continued.

"That's not telling me much," Bear said with measured pace.

"This thing is bigger than your niece," he said quietly.

"Not to me," Bear said quietly.

"Come with me."

They walked quietly down into the basement. There were boxes and regular storage. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.

"Where is it?" Bear asked.

"You'll see," he replied as he went through an open door that barely even looked like a door.

Bear stopped. The room was covered. You couldn't see the wall. There were photos covering it everywhere. Children that Bear didn't recognize. Then he stopped at the middle wall of the enclosed space. They were all of Rachel. Rachel at dance recitals. Rachel at the park with Santana and Noah. Rachel with Shelby. They went as far back as when the family had just moved back to Lima. There were old newspaper clippings from New York about the case. Headlines.

"Also," Marshall said interrupting his thoughts. The Captain closed the door and on the back of the door were pictures of Quinn and her father leaving the country club. Quinn at football games. Quinn leaving her parents house for school. The pictures were everywhere.

"How many victims do you think this guy has had?" Gus asked looking around the room in astonishment.

"Too many."

…..

Santana sat between the two beds. The monitors seemed like their sounds were amplified. Her mother was at the door talking to the doctor. They had put Rachel and Quinn in the same room. Santana wasn't sure what time it was all she knew was that it was dark outside. She heard her aunt and uncle talking outside in the hallway. She hadn't been told the whole story, but she knew that she was outside leading a practice and worrying about Brittany while Rachel was inside. Rachel had been inside that school, screaming for someone to help her and their mother was frantically looking for her all while Santana was out waving her pom-poms.

She heard her mother speaking with the doctors. They had to remove Quinn's spleen. They didn't teach anatomy in McKinley. Santana didn't understand what that meant for Quinn. Were spleens important? The blond had returned from surgery first and she was still sleeping.

Rachel came in a few hours later. The doctors told her mother that Rachel's kidney had to be removed. There had been too much scarring from before and then damage from the accident was too much. She now had an ugly tube down her throat. They said she was still having trouble breathing. Rachel couldn't breathe on her own; plain and simple. There was a tube in her throat; a tube was breathing for her. She knew Rachel would be crying and screaming but she couldn't, she simply couldn't.

Now Santana sat there, just staring. They had told her they weren't going to wake up until the morning. She took a heavy breath. She would wait.

"Shelby," she heard her uncle call.

"I need to talk to you."

Santana sat up and exchanged a look with her brother, who was leaning against the window ledge with his arms folded.

"Alone," he said spotting the kids. "We need to talk alone." He made eye contact with Noah and Santana. "Do not leave this room."

"But-"

"I mean it," he said sharply.

Santana looked back at her brother. "What's going on?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know," he mumbled. He gave her a weak smile. "We'll find out."

She leaned back in her chair. She could hear her mother yell in frustration, "You're serious?"

"Hey, San," Noah called. "Aunt Joey said we should make a list of stuff we might need at home."

She shook her head. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to distract her. He didn't want her to hear. He was still trying to protect her.

"I don't know, Noah," she hissed. "I just..." she trailed off studying Rachel's face. There were bruises on her neck and face. Why hadn't she gone after Quinn? Why hadn't she been there? Would she have been able to stop it? She felt numb; she felt broken; she felt useless. Everything had happened too fast; it had broken too fast.

"Santana?"

She looked up.

Everything was broken.

Santana sat up slightly so that she could at the girl in the doorway more directly. Brittany gave a small, tight smile. "I brought you coffee. I remember the last time Rachel was in the hospital, you um... You didn't want to sleep because you were afraid she would wake up and you'd miss it. So..." She held up the cup. "Black with three sugars."

The brunette just looked at her. Why was it that she had this person, this nice kind person? A person who brought her coffee and stuck by her? Why did she have this person and she couldn't figure out how to cope with her love? Santana frowned. She didn't know how to cope with anything.

"And in case you were hungry," Brittany continued as Santana just continued to stare. She held up a box of cereal. "I picked up that gross cereal you like."

Santana gave a small smile.

"Thanks," she managed.

"Can I sit with you?" She sat anyway without waiting for an answer. "Just sit. No talking don't worry." She opened her bag. "Oh," she said sitting up and opening it slightly. "I brought something for Rach."

Santana frowned Brittany pulled out Rachel's monkey, George. She gave Brittany a tearful smile as she watched Brittany put the monkey next to Rachel. She watched as the blond took her bag and walked to the opposite of Quinn's bed and stealthily pulled out the lamb. Santana looked at her questioningly.

"She's been my friend since were little. I know about it." Brittany gave her a little smirk. "Don't make fun of her."

Santana wiped her tear and watched Brittany make herself comfortable in the seat next to Santana. She gave her a questioning look.

"You left your keys in your duffle at practice when you left with your mom." She gave a non-chalant hug. "I just thought I would pick up something for you." She handed Santana the bag. "Packed you some sweats. The comfy ones. I figured you didn't have time to change out of your uniform." She smiled at Puck. "I was going to get some for you, Puck," Brittany replied. "But I didn't want to go in the zoo that was your room, but I saw a pair of your sweats on the dryer."

"Thank for breaking and entering, Pierce," Noah laughed.

"Yeah, you know," Brittany said reaching out taking Santana's hand.

Santana felt herself nodding. While everything felt broken, it felt as if she was holding it together for one more minute, one more moment. Brittany took her hand and sat next to her. Santana still felt numb and broken and shattered, but Brittany's touch kept her a little more whole, even for just a moment more.

Noah watched the girls sit silently, thankful that Brittany could be there for Santana in ways that he never could. She wouldn't be alone with her around. Brittany and Santana eventually fell asleep around three in the morning. He knew that he was tired but he couldn't feel it. He was still wide awake. Waiting for another ball to drop. He heard his uncle tell his mother that Will had followed Rachel and the family for a long time and there was evidence. Had he missed that? He had missed it.

He just missed it.

"Noah?"

He looked up and his grandparents were standing there with a bag of groceries. Was it morning?

"Where's Mom?" he asked.

"Talking to the police."

He took a muffin. "Oh." He took a bite. "When did you get here?"

"Flew in a few hours ago," Helen said softly walking around the room and gently kissing everyone on the forehead.

"Did you sleep?" Michael asked running his hand through Noah's messy hair.

He shrugged.

Coughing noises interrupted the room.

"Helen, get a nurse," Michael said quickly going to Rachel's side. The tiny girl was coughing around the tube; she was waking up. He ran his hand over her forehand. "You need to calm down, Rach. I know it's uncomfortable. We're going to take the tube out. You just need to calm down."

Her frantic tear-filled eyes looked up at her grandfather. Her breathing calmed but was still gurgled around the tube.

Noah still held his muffin loosely as he watched his grandfather try to calm Rachel down. Santana and Brittany woke up with a start as Dr. Erons and Dr. Pierce came running in.

"Hey there, kiddo," Dr. Pierce said gently as Michael backed away. "You're doing great. This means that you don't need this anymore. Look at me Rachel. Just relax, okay?" Rachel gave a slight nod. "Alright."

He took the tube out carefully as Rachel sputtered around it. "Good job, Rach," Michael said. "Good job."

Rachel looked around and spotted Quinn. She looked up at Dr. Pierce. "She's okay. She's going to be just fine," Tom said without waiting for the question.

Noah watched still holding his muffin. He opened his mouth to ask something.

"S-s-sanny," she called out with a hoarse voice.

"I'm right here," Santana said accidently side swiping a nurse to get to her.

Rachel reached her hand out to take her hand. "I'm right here," Santana whispered.

Noah couldn't be here anymore. He dropped the muffin in his hand and ran from the room. He couldn't be here. He couldn't be there. He felt his feelings explode out of his chest. It was just too much. It was all too much. He sprinted down the hallway. He just needed to get out of there. The doctors had barely even started rounds. No one was there. He just needed to keep running.

He stared at the door. Santana was screaming. Rachel was screaming. They were all screaming. He rammed his shoulder into door. Nothing. He needed to get in. He couldn't get it. He ran over to the phone and dialed 911. He waited a few seconds until he realized there was no dial tone.

"Noah!" Santana screamed from the other side of the door.

He needed to get out. He needed to. He had to. He might only be ten but he needed to get out because he knew there was nothing he could do. He wasn't strong enough. Hiram had locked them in. The locks were too high and complex for him to unlock. The windows were padlocked. How was he -

He looked back at the window. He could get out if he smashed the glass. When he and Santana lived with their mom and dad back in Manhattan, there was a fire escape and his father told him that if there was a fire and he couldn't get the window open to use a chair. Noah had laughed because his father actually told him to throw a chair through the window. However, his father told him he was serious and that if he ever needed to get out and couldn't to run at the window with a chair.

"Make sure to cover your eyes," Noah repeated to himself as he picked up the metal chair.

He ran at the window with all his might. What if it doesn't break? he thought seconds before he hit it. It did. It shattered. He climbed out of the window scraping his arm on the broken glass, but he didn't notice. He sprinted down the fire escape. He had no idea where they were. He hadn't been outside the apartment for so long. He took a deep breath. Run. Run. He knew he had to just run.

Noah rounded the corner and ran into someone pushing him away from him.

"Leave me alone," he shouted.

"Noah, it's me," Michael said wrapping his arms around his grandson. "It's just me."

"I couldn't be in there. I can't. I can't," he said as his knees buckled. "I can't do this."

"I know. I know." Michael pulled him close. "I know."

…...

Santana looked over at Quinn. She was still asleep. She wasn't awake yet. Brittany had just left with her parents to go home and change. She didn't know what to say to her. All she could do was hold her hand. That's all she could offer. Her thoughts were interrupted and she sat up straighter as Rachel shifted in bed. She watched with a weak smile as Rachel opened her eyes. She had fallen asleep soon after the tube had been taken out. Doctors told them that was normal. She watched as the tiny girl looked around frantically. She reached her hand out and took it, holding it tightly.

"You're not alone, Rach," she whispered. "I'm right here."

Santana expected Rachel to look up at her. She expected the girl to be relieved. Instead she watched as the small girl looked down at her feet, or at least Santana thought it was her feet until Rachel started tugging at her gown.

"San," she whispered without breaking her gaze from the gown.

"Yeah?"

"Can I…." Santana watched as Rachel swallowed tiredly. The girl looked up with her with glazed eyes. "Can I have my clothes back?"

Santana's eyebrow's furrowed and her lips smashed together as they tried to hold in her sob. She looked away for a second as she sucked her tears back in. She knew that Rachel was exposed under that light gown. She knew that the little girl felt it too. She could see the fear register in Rachel's eyes. There was no avoiding it. She licked her lips and held her bottom lip in her mouth for a second as she regained her composure.

"I'll see what I can do," she whispered. She leaned down and ran her hand over the back of Rachel's head and kissed the top of her forehead. "I'll be right back," she whispered.

Santana walked out of the room as fast as she could. She turned two corners down the hospital corridor before she slammed her back against a deserted hallway. It was there that she let the tears fall. She released a sob as she let her legs crumble and she slid down the wall. She let the tears cascade down her face as she banged the back of her head against the wall a few times. Her fears had just been confirmed. She had felt broken before, but now the broken pieces were crumbling into small pieces; it became real.

…...

Shelby massaged the bridge of her nose and she reentered the girl's room. Santana was gone. She knew that Noah was with her father. She turned as she heard quickened footsteps running toward the room. She watched as they ran past the room. She frowned wondering where they were going to so fast.

"Ms. Corcoran," a young intern said suddenly. "I need you to come with me."

She followed like a ghost closely behind the young man. She had feeling. She had a feeling, she told herself. She turned the corner and spotted Santana sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up to her chest. The nurse's station shelf had been knocked over.

"I can't do this," Santana whispered once Shelby stepped in front of her. Santana looked like she was staring at her mother's feet. Shelby wasn't sure if she was scared to look up or she just couldn't.

Shelby leaned over and took Santana's hands. "You can. We will get through this."

Santana looked up and shook her head. "I can't, Mom." She attempted to bite back her tears. "I can't watch her go through this again. This time it's worse. She can remember more, understand more," Santana scoffed. "Talk more."

"And she needs you. And I need you. And it's okay if you're not the strongest or the bravest," Shelby said softly. "We just need you."

Santana gave a heavy sigh. "I don't know how to do that."

"We'll figure out," Shelby said with a tearful smile.

Santana didn't look like she believed her but she gave a quiet nod. She looked over at the supplies she knocked over. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"I know," Shelby whispered.

The two of them silently started to pick up the mess. Thankfully very little was broken.

"I don't think I can do this," Santana whispered as she put the last package of supplies left.

"What?" Shelby asked.

"Any of it." She looked at her mother. "I can't lose her."

"We won't," Shelby whispered. However, she too was unsure. She was unsure what was to come and what they would be able to handle and how they would break because they were just scratching the surface still. It was just beginning.

…..

Quinn's eyes fluttered open. Shit, she thought. Where was she? She looked to her left and Rachel was asleep. She looked to her right and Santana was asleep on a cot. She looked down and her lamb was in her arms. She hurriedly stuffed it under her pillow. Jesus, she thought. Ouch. She had a cast on her arm and an IV on the other. She gave a heavy sigh; it was real.

The door was open and she could see Shelby talking with Jackie and Gloria. They were shaking their heads. Here it was. She had ruined it. It was over. She might as well leave. She tried to sit up but a pain shot through her ribs. She must have made a noise because Shelby came running in.

"Quinn, you need to lay back," Shelby said. "You've had surgery. They had to take out your spleen."

Quinn frowned. Did she need that? "I just wanted to get going. Get out of your family's way."

"What are you talking about?" Shelby asked as Jackie and Gloria exchanged looks.

"Listen, I've caused enough trouble," Quinn began.

"Quinn," Shelby began. "You haven't."

She shook her head and threw a glance at Rachel. "If she was sitting in the backseat she wouldn't be here."

"Actually, she would probably be worse," Shelby whispered. "Noah's car is a two door. It was flipped. If she was in the back it would have taken them longer to get to her."

The blonde shook her head. "The airbags went off and -"

"Quinn, this is not your fault," Gloria assured. "Someone ran a light and caused this. Not you."

The teenager felt her eyes water. "She's going to be okay right?"

"Yes," Shelby assured. "And so will you."

She shook her head as she let out a sorrowful cry. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Shelby asked with a tearful smirk. "I messed everything up." She looked at Jackie. "You're going to send me away aren't you? To that home in Columbus? This was the last straw right?"

"Quinn," Jackie began sitting at the edge of her bed next to Shelby. "While I think it might do you some good to start over, Shelby wants you and I think you want to be here too." Quinn looked at her in confusion. "This wasn't your fault. We want you to stay where you feel safe and comfortable. And if that's still with Shelby, then we will make sure it happens."

"But what I did," Quinn whispered.

"You did nothing, Quinn," Shelby assured. She gave a small chuckle and took Quinn's hand. "Well you did break some rules that we will talk about but we will discuss all that later right now though. You need to get better. You helped Rachel more than I can thank you for and the accident was not your fault in any way. Alright? I love you so much and I am so happy you're okay."

Quinn shook her aching head. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

"You're so much more than that," Shelby whispered.

"Excuse me, ma'am," a police officer said from the door. "We need talk to the girls if we can."

"Well, you can't," Shelby said simply. "They are just waking up from their surgeries. Come back later this afternoon. If you need someone's approval, go find their doctors."

"Ma'am, we really need to ask the girls some questions," the police officer began.

"I understand that," Shelby said. She looked at Quinn.

"What do you want to know?" Quinn interrupted them.

"Quinn, you don't have to -" Shelby began.

"It was Will Schuester," she said simply. "Thats all you need to know right now."

"Miss we really-"

"That's enough," Dr. Pierce said from the doorway. "They all need to rest, officers. Come back this afternoon."

"We understand why you need to ask," Shelby said quietly. "But now is not the time."

"Yes, ma'am," the police officer nodded. "We'll certainly be back this afternoon."

Quinn leaned back in the bed. She had barely been away for five minutes and she was already exhausted.

…...

Noah leaned against the door. His arms were folded as he watched everyone sleep. Santana against hospital policy climbed into Rachel's bed. Shelby had given Santana a pill to help her sleep. She and Santana were asleep together. Shelby laid her head back against the chair in the middle of Quinn and Rachel's bed. Nana and Pop-Pop had gone home with Joey and Bear to collect some things from the house. Brittany had gone home too so he was the only one still awake.

He stood up slightly when he saw Quinn move. Her eyes blinked open.

"Hey," he said walking toward her. "You okay? Do you need anything?"

Quinn shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she said clearing her throat. "Am I okay?"

Noah chuckled. "You're okay." He nodded. "You just passed out from the surgery. You were awake for a bit. You remember talking to the police?"

Quinn nodded. "Yes," she mumbled. "Sorta."

"Do you want me to get you something?"

"No," she muttered. She looked over at the three sleeping forms. "They're okay? Rachel okay?"

Noah gave a nod and perched at the end of Quinn's bed.

"Yeah," he said. He looked at Rachel sleeping against Santana. "I know …. I …." He took a breath. "Listen,...I never thanked you."

Quinn looked at him. "What?"

"You saved her," he whispered.

"I don't know what story you heard," Quinn replied. "I didn't save her. I just found her and...well... got her into an accident... in your car. I don't know how to repay you for your car but I will as soon as I get out of here and find out where they are placing me. She keeps saying she's going to try to keep me around but -"

"Hey," he said quietly. "Quinn, you saved her. You found her... and because of that he didn't...Mom won't ever let you leave. Ever. It's not going to happen. Ever."

"You can barely pass geometry. What do you know?" Quinn snapped.

"I know we're not letting you go," he said quietly. "I just," he shrugged. "Forget about the car because... You saved our sister." He bit his bottom lip. "In my book," he continued. "I owe you." He took her hand. "Seriously. Thank you."

Quinn looked at him. She tilted her head. She realized in that moment she had never seen Noah Corcoran cry. She squeezed his hand that she was still holding.

"You don't have to thank me," she said. "I didn't -"

"Don't say you didn't do anything," Noah said shaking his head. "You did everything." He looked in her eyes. "Everything."

…...

Bear walked into the hallway. "Let's get these things. I want to head back."

Joey nodded and entered the bathroom.

"Mom, what are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm getting some fresh linens. Those linens at the hospital look uncomfortable. I understand that it's not the Four Seasons but they should invest some of their budgets on high thread counts," Helen mumbled.

"Whatever," Joey mumbled as she opened the medicine cabinet. She started to put the girls' tooth brushes and toiletries in a bag. "Seriously, this family is the only family I know that likes the cinnamon flavored toothpaste. Right? I mean..." She shook her head. She had to talk about toothpaste because she couldn't talk about anything else. "Right? Cinnamon? So gross. At least mint tastes like mint. Right?" She turned. "Mom?"

She turned around and her mother was frozen at the linen cabinet.

Joey dropped the toothpaste in the bag and walked over to her mother.

"Mom?"

Her mother turned to her slowly. Her face frozen in fear. Joey looked down. She was holding Rachel's dress.

Thank you all again for your endless support. There are no words. Please let me know what you think.