Chapter 34
Iuterpi - Thank you so much for the review. I hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint. These kids are all so strong and incredible, but they're still kids and you'll be reminded of this in this chapter. And while an incredible, supermom, Shelby is still human. All of them are still so human and flawed and complex and I really try to remind the readers of that in this chapter. I hope you lie this chapter. I'm a little nervous. Please let me know what you think. Thank you again for your continuously kind words.
lifeloveinsanity28 – Thank you so much for your kind words. I hope you like this chapter.
Rah – Rachel has been through a lot. She has a long road ahead of her. Thanks for your review.
TerpsCoeur – It is an intense story and it's not for everyone but I am glad you enjoy it. Unfortunately a lot of people do go through this and it is terrible but if it gives people a little insight to what people go through than I am glad. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
mindlessbanta – Thank you so much for your review. Sorry I made you cry but you may want to grab the tissues for this one.
Drea LuRuiz – I should be telling you sorry for making you think that way about Mr. Shue – but since I don't like him on the show – I can't do that. In this story though he is definitely a creep. Thanks for reviewing.
Lost little girl – Nice story idea but my idea for a sequel will be as Rachel gets to high school and exploring that part of her life. This story still has a way to go though – I can't possibly leave it here there is still too much going on. Thank you for reviewing.
look4me – this coming chapter should in fact mark the end of Quinn's resistance to most of the Corcorans. She will learn chapter just how much she is a part of the Corcoran family she is and will hopefully stay this chapter but it will still be tough for Quinn. I think when everything is said and done Quinn will learn how parents are really supposed to be however, I will say that with Noah and Santana as siblings – the 3 of them will grow into the mischievous teenagers that we expect and Shelby will need to guide them on the correct path from time to time. Quinn does not turn into a goody two shoes.
Regarding the first review – I can't believe you spent the whole day reading my story. I am truly amazed by your words. The reviews truly inspire me to write and I am trying to make this story as believable as I can. Thanks for the review.
Cookie - Santana has to learn that she tries too hard and she will but it will take some time. She has a real lot bottled up in her and she needs to let it out and seek help. These kids always seem strongest when they are helping each other and not themselves. But they will learn that once they learn to help themselves they can be even stronger. Thanks for the review.
Qwerty – I am sorry to hear about your car accident but typical of Rachel and Quinn they may try to do things that they shouldn't a little faster than they are supposed to. But with Shelby and the rest of the grownups looking out for them – they won't get away with much. Their physical injuries will heal normally it's their emotional ones that will take time. Thanks for the review.
Manly – With all the people looking for him I do not think that he will be on the loose for a long time. Lets just hope that the right people find him. The girls have a long road ahead of them but they have many people that love them and can't help them through this. Thanks for reviewing.
childstarLeaM – Wow – thank you so much for the review! Worship ? Amazing! More Rachel and Shelby this chapter, promise.
GleeLovex3 – Thank you so much for your detailed review. Quinn does have very big walls – and there will be lots of work done to break down those walls. Shelby will help her more this chapter and some of those walls will be crumbling for Quinn for some people. Shelby is mom of the year and she has to stay strong! But she will. Santana is going to have some more breakdowns because it is rough for her too. Brittany will help her through though. Thanks again for reading the story and I hope you like this chapter as well.
NayaFan – Sorry that I made you feel ill. Quinn is going to go through some hard times because she is now stuck and hurt so she will have to learn to accept being taken care of so it will be rough for her. Thank you so much for you reviews. They always make me so happy to read them.
Lolathe17th – Yes unfortunately things like this do happen in real life and most of the time it is much worse. I have seen it first hand and I am sorry that you think it is too much. But it happens and I want to show that she will grow from it. Shelby and Santana will be in the next couple of chapters a great deal because Santana has her own struggles with everything that has happened. Thanks for reviewing.
Anna – Quinn did not lose the baby in the hospital – she had a miscarriage and did not go to a hospital – just the clinic so no flashbacks. Thanks for reviewing.
Piper –It takes a little more convincing for Quinn to realizing that she is staying. She needs to hear it multiple times because remember in her family she barely did anything wrong in her family and got punished for it so she doesn't expect anything different from this family. Puck also needs to know that he does not owe a debt to anyone. Thanks for the review.
amandaes417 – Thank you so much – I just write what I know and I try to make it as believable as possible. Brittany is awesome in this story.
broadwaybound2016 – thank you so much – keep the reviews coming.
Abbie- I am sorry for the difficult read. I completely understand. I appreciate you reviewing. Thank you
Hazelstar – The driver of the car that hit them was an elderly driver that died at the scene. I don't know if Will will get castrated but we shall see. Sam and Quinn may explore their feelings later but Quinn has so much more to go through before she can't think of her feelings for boys. Thanks for the review.
Hayleywilliamsisasexymonster – Better get the tissues ready for this chapter as well – this one I think is quite the tear jerker. Thanks for reviewing. I am blushing because you called me your hero.
OTHangels – As always – thank you
krbutler – Yes the sh*t did get real! Thanks
Stacy – Sorry he is not caught in this chapter. Keep hanging on just a little longer. Thanks
Scout – In this story Brittany is very smart and she knew it would help all 3 girls. Thanks for the wonderful words.
Kimberlli – Sorry for making your heart jump. But I guess I am glad because it means that I wrote it the way that I wanted. Noah will learn his place and make it through so that he will help all the girls in the long run. Thanks for hanging in there.
SuzQQ – Rachel and Santana will have their ups and downs but their bond is solid so even with their spats and there will be – they are as tight as sisters can be. Not too many flashbacks this next couple of chapters because we have to fix the present first and foremost. Their injuries and the fact that Will is still out there is the biggest issues right now. Quinn and Rachel will get out of the hospital before they should because of their history but Shelby and the family will take care of them at home. And Brittany is a breath of fresh air in all this drama. As always I love your reviews. Keep them coming.
marinka4 - I get so disappointed with the writing of the real Glee that sometimes it is unwatchable for me. They have ruined all the female characters in my eyes. You will find out in this chapter if the kids are separated. Thanks for reviewing.
alopez208 – I think you will need the box of tissues again for this chapter. Separation will be discussed in this chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
BroadwayTheaterGleek – thank you – sometimes I don't even know how I got to 16,000 words. I try to update as soon as I can but it usually takes a week to iron out all the details. I have the outline and ideas its just filing in the words to make it all gel together that takes time.
Gleek1990 – Thank you so much – they wont find him in this chapter but you will see when. Thanks again.
Renata – No problem – if you ever have a question, please never hesitate. Quinn did open up a bit in that chapter but for her it might be one step forward two steps back. Rachel and Quinn will have a bond and they will try and work through things together but they also have to do it on their own as well. But they will always be sisters. As always I love my hugs and kisses from Brazil
val-cb – Thanks
NinjaGleek21 – Please stay tied to the chair a little longer. Then I will let you at him! Thanks for the review and the cookie.
lovecanbesostrange –Thank you so much for the kind review. I have to admit that I am a huge Grey's Anatomy fan. And during this chapter and many chapters before I had the show playing in the background. Both of the girls' fears will really be highlighted in this chapter. There are so many confusing steps forward and back. Quinn doesn't realize all that's going on, especially her true feelings about the family. She's afraid to give into them. I'm attempting in this chapter to really highlight how young the kids are. I forget sometimes that they are still kids and their naive about the enormity of the situation. Brittany is pretty wonderful and will continue to be. Although, she's not in this chapter, you get to know her father a little better. The Will situation will be addressed more next chapter. He is not going away easily, but the family will protect the girls. You are also spot on with Santana's feelings about the Cheerios and that also begins in this chapter. Thanks again for the review. I hope you like this chapter. I'm a little unsure about it myself.
Ryoko05 – Quinn's anxiety about if she is staying or going will be discussed in depth in the chapter. She is still very anxious and the adults will notice. Thanks for reviewing.
piecesofyourheart – I will tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel for these girls – it may not be in the next chapter or two but there is light I promise you. Suzy will also be taken care of and we will make sure she gets help. Thank you for sticking with this story and reviewing.
Filmaddict – Thanks for the torture ideas. The thing with Quinn is that she has been told all her life that she is useless and unworthy so it is going to take people telling her over and over again for her to finally believe it. Only some of the things will be pieced together this chapter but it is slowly going together. Thanks for reviewing.
TommyH – He will but not sure how soon. Thanks for reviewing.
HIsland429- Thank you for reviewing. Rachel will always be Quinn's sister now in Quinn's eyes. But will they stay together this chapter should answer this question.
Nancy – I am sorry it's part of your past but I am happy that it is helping you cope. Thank you for reviewing.
Gold-Stars-Are-My-Metaphor –Thank you so much for your review. I am so happy you enjoy my story. Thank you for taking this ride with me. My reviewers definitely inspire me to keep it going.
Mia – Thank you
thisisnutz – Wow I wish I could write the book but the names would definitely need to be changed and I don't know if people would picture the characters right but its always a dream of mine to get published. Thank you for the review.
A C one – I think a lot of people hope that Will is shot on the spot but they also want him tortured so we shall see. Thanks for the review!
sachiiko yuri – Unfortunately all suffer emotionally but they will lean on each other to get through it. Rachel and Quinn will physically get better but you are right they will need a lot of emotional support to get through this. Thank you
Karissa – The girls will be home this chapter but most likely not at the same time. But you are right the girls need extensive therapy to get over this. Thanks for reviewing.
btvscharmedgirl – Sorry this one came out a little later – I had a visit from my mom and it got away from me. I hope I didn't disappoint you with this chapter. Thanks so much.
Hi everyone! first of all, stunned and amazed that this chapter is at 996 reviews. I'm truly honored. For those of you who follow me on Tumblr, you know that this chapter took me a little bit and that I erased a big portion and rewrote it. I'm not sure about that chapter itself. Please let me know what you think. If you have read this far, you know that there tend to be some triggers, but this chapter doesn't have a lot. The family is in a state of numbness that usually comes right after the dust settles. I hope that this chapter doesn't disappoint but please know that just because the family is learning pieces and finding the dress that it's going to take Rachel awhile to open up. Also, she's not the only one who has had her foundation damaged. I'm trying my best to give this story the justice it deserves. Thank you for your patience. I also apologize that this chapter is a bit shorter than normal.
Thank you all again for being patient and taking this ride with me. I have many many many more things planned. Some that you will expect and others you won't. I really hope that you stick around for the ride.
Thank you!
Quinn looked around the room. Her body ached. Her muscles felt as if they were still trapped in a state of pain that lingered and radiated through her body. She wanted to run but she couldn't . She had a cast... and a catheter... which felt so so weird. She looked next to her and Santana was in Rachel's bed. Santana was sitting up and playing cards with Shelby and Noah. Rachel was curled into her side. She had been silent most of the day. Every time the nurses came into the room to check their vitals. Rachel flinched and started to cry. Quinn caught her every few minutes looking over at her, as if to make sure she was still there. Shelby was sitting in between the beds, casually holding her cards with one hand and absently running her hand through Rachel's hair with the other. Quinn caught Santana's ghost-like eyes as she watched every time Shelby would take a break from stroking her daughter's hair long enough for the tiniest girl to forget and when the mother resumed Rachel would flinch.
Quinn leaned back. She felt the guilt from that. It radiated next to her pain.
The passing forms out of the corner of her suddenly stilled. Quinn was distracted by who was in the hallway when Shelby stood, causing Rachel to jump.
"Be right back," she whispered. Santana and Noah followed her gaze. "Keep playing please." She looked down at the girls and squeezed Quinn's hand lightly as she passed her bed. "Be right back."
Quinn followed her. She could see a few officers talking with Dr. Pierce and Shelby in the hallway. Quinn turned her head slightly, and opened her ears to the murmurs.
"We need to talk with the girls... with Rachel."
"What's going on?" Shelby asked.
"There's been a development," Captain Marshall explained. "It's important we get her testimony sooner rather than later, Shelby."
"I know that Frank," Shelby hissed lowly. "I know how this works." She ran her hand through her hair. "I just... They got out of surgery barely twenty-four hours ago."
"I'm going to caution that this might be hard from them so soon," Tom began.
"It's going to be hard either way," Captain said quickly.
"Can you tell me this development?" Shelby asked pinching the bridge of her nose.
"We need to talk to the girls, Shelby," he said starting toward the room.
"I need to know what happened," she replied.
"Shelby?"
Quinn looked at the door and saw Helen and Joey walk down the hallway. There was a look. Something had happened. Suddenly Captain Marshall caught Quinn's gaze. .
"Let's speak down the hallway, please," he said.
Shelby caught Quinn gaze, giving her a reassuring smile. She was trying her best to demonstrate that she wasn't upset as she returned to the room. "Stay here please." She caught Noah and Santana's eyes. "I'm serious." She flashed a small smile to Rachel who was still curled away from her. "I'll be right back."
Quinn sighed. She needed a plan. She eased into her pain that radiated into her body. She couldn't talk to the police, at least in front of Rachel. She couldn't. This was the closest thing she would get to family, but it still wasn't her family.
….
Shelby took a deep breath. She wasn't sure what she could handle. She didn't know if she could handle more. She felt a hand enclose around hers. She looked over and her sister was looking at her kindly. She took a deep breath. She entered a conference room off of the waiting room. Bear was standing in the room talking quietly with Gus. The last time Shelby saw him, he told her that Will Schuester had a basement room full of pictures of Rachel, her Rachel. And Quinn. She folded her arms protectively in front of her.
"What's going on?" she asked.
The detectives watched as the family exchanged glances before looking at Shelby.
"Stop looking at each other," Shelby hissed. "Talk to me! Someone just tell me!"
Joey took a deep breath. "We found something in the linen cabinet." She locked her eyes with Helen and couldn't finish.
"We found her dress," Helen finished.
Shelby frowned. "Her dress?" She looked at everyone with a frown. "Why was it in there?" No one answered. "Just say it."
"They found her Rachel dress, tights and underwear," Captain Marshall said stepping forward. "We took the clothes to the lab. There were visible stains on the inside of her dress."
Shelby frowned staring at the captain. Then it hit her. It hit hurt what he was saying. She inhaled deeply and felt her eyes fill with tears. She stepped back as her mother and sister reached back to hold her. She pushed them away and stepped away.
"No," she hissed. "No."
She had known. Her instincts had been screaming at her from the get go. How did she not see it? Why didn't she go looking for Rachel's clothes that night? She squeezed her eyes shut remembering how distraught Rachel was in Santana's clothes as Shelby forced her to allow her to examine her. Suspecting was one thing, but hearing it confirmed ached deep in her chest. What hurt the most was that they had barely said anything. "Tell me," she demanded. "Tell me!"
"I found her clothes in the back of the linen closet," Helen said with a deep breath.
Shelby nodded and looked toward Joey. "Was it... Was it the dress that she wore the day of the lesson?"
"What lesson?" the Captain asked.
Shelby shook her head as if it was something obvious that he should have known. "She had a lesson with him," She squeezed her eyes shut at she spoke. "She...She came back upset...but she wouldn't talk..."
"I was looking into it with Gus when we received the call about Rachel being taken," Bear explained.
Captain Marshall nodded. "Okay."
"We checked her after she ran into the shower," Shelby explained. She shook her head. "Other than a huge bruise on her arm-" The mother shook her head in exhaustion. "Damn it," she hissed. "She showered." Shelby was speaking to herself more than to them. She looked at Bear and the Captain. "She showered!" She shook her head. "Damn it! Damn it!"
"Shelby," Joey started.
"No," she yelled again. She took a deep breath. "Tell me. Tell me you can catch him."
"We think we can match the DNA with Schuester," Marshall explained. "We're still tracking him."
Shelby squeezed her eyes shut again. "I need you... I need you to explain to me what you think happened..." The detectives looked at her. "I need you to say it." Her voice shook. "I need you to explain it to me first." She looked at the people in the room. "I need to hear it from you... so..." She licked her lips with exhaustion and a wavering breath. "I need...to hear it because... I need to be upset... here..." She looked at her family. "I can't be upset in front of her."
The female detective next to Captain Marshall nodded. "The lab still needs to confirm," the woman began.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Shelby snapped.
"Pam Shepherd," she said extending her hand.
"She's a part of my team," Frank Marshall explained. He nodded for Pam to continue.
"Like we said before, there are stains on the inside of her dress."
Shelby frowned. "I don't understand." She shook her head. "Go on," she whispered.
"We believe that he forced her to help him ejaculate." Pam paused and watched Shelby soak in her words. "And that he did it on her." Shelby let out a sob. "It was all over the inside of all of her clothes."
The mother shook her head. "He forced her... he …. He forced her to wear it home." She looked at the family. "That's why she freaked out when the water was spilled on her." Shelby paced away from her family trying desperately to grasp the situation.
"Shelby," she heard her mother calling her.
"No," she shouted as she put her hand up. "I just... What do you want to do? How do you suggest that we move forward?"
Captain Marshall looked at them. "We start by talking to them. We need to see where they are." He saw Shelby's look of confusion. "We have a forensic psychologist that we can bring in-"
"She won't talk to him. She has her own therapist," Shelby said quickly. "She won't talk to your person. Quinn definitely won't talk to her. She's just warming up to her therapist now."
"Let's just figure out where we are," Bear said gently. She looked at Shelby and she took a deep breath. "Okay?"
"We all stay," she said simply.
Captain Marshall narrowed his eyes. "Fine," he said finally. "But if I ask you or anyone to leave you leave."
Shelby nodded and started out of the room. "Let's do this."
She led the group back into the room. She nodded with a stern look and wore the look into the room.
Quinn knew that look. No one had the guts to go against that look. Quinn turned her head. She didn't want to look at that. She looked over at Rachel. She was still laying on her side into Santana. She wasn't making any noises, but she could see her back rising and falling more rapidly. She was heaving; she was nervous.
"What's going on?" Noah asked standing up.
"We need to talk to the girls," Shelby said. She looked over at Quinn who was leaning up slightly. She put her hands on the bar on Quinn's hospital bed. "Can you do this?"
Quinn looked at her and swallowed. "I..." she looked over at Rachel. "Okay."
Shelby leaned down and looked over at Rachel. "Bug? Can you sit up please?"
"I'mtiredmumma," she whispered, but the noise was muffled because she was speaking for the most part into Santana's side.
"Sweetheart, we just want to talk with you," she said quietly.
"I don't want to," she muttered. "Ican't." She reached up and took Santana's hand. "I don't want to."
"Rachel," Shelby whispered. She ran her hand over her the top of Rachel's head. She swallowed the lump in her throat that built when Rachel flinched. "This is very hard, bug. However, you need to get up and try." She leaned forward. "I love you so much, you just need to try."
"Maybe we shouldn't," Noah began as he stood up and looking at his family.
"Nothing happened," Rachel said a little more loudly making a quick eye contact with Captain Marshall. "Nothing happened, Mommy. I promise."
"Rachel," she whispered.
"Mom," Santana interjected. Rachel gripped onto her tighter.
"I'm not sure-" Joey began.
There was a quiet beeping that increased in the background.
"Rachel," Pam began. "We just want to ask you a few questions."
"I can't," she muttered.
"Pam, I really think that this room is getting too crowded," Captain Marshall suggested.
"Ican'tIcan'tIcan't," Rachel whispered.
"I'll talk to you," Quinn interjected. "Leave her alone. I already told you it was Will Schuester."
The beeping in the background subtly increased.
"Quinn," Pam said turning away from Rachel. "Can you tell me what happened that day?"
Quinn looked over at Rachel. Her shift caused her to wince in pain. She looked at Pam.
Pam continued, "We need more than the name, Quinn." She looked at the now packed hospital room. "We need to know what happened in the room with the both of you. How did you get there? How did Rachel get there?
The blonde felt all eyes on her but all she heard was the sound of her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Captain Morgan was right. The room was crowded. Her heart was beating so fast that it was almost as if she could hear it.
"Quinn, we just need to know what happened," Pam said.
"I have a headache. I can't be concentrate with all these people in here." She looked at Shelby briefly and then looked away. "Maybe if I could talk to you alone."
The beating pounded in her ears. Suddenly the beating became off. It wasn't succinct; there were two beats. Except one was beating faster. Quinn looked over at Rachel. In that moment, she realized that the faster beat wasn't hers.
"You all need to get out." They looked up and Tom came into the room, followed by a nurse.
"What?" Santana shot defensively.
"Not you," Tom said coming over to Rachel's bed. "But I do need you to move over." Santana scooted over. "Rachel, you need to calm down honey." She kept a tight grip on Santana. Tom looked over his shoulder. "Shelby, we need to clear the room." Tom turned back to Santana. "We need to calm her down."
"Rach," Santana whispered. "It's okay. Come on, Rach." The grip that the girl had on her was tight and surprising.
Rachel loosened her grip and Tom leaned her back. "You're okay," he assured. "You're just having a panic attack."
He continued to talk to her quietly as Shelby moved everyone out of the hospital room and turned back to the room.
"What can I do?" Noah asked his mother.
"Hold on," she whispered with a small, weak smile. She turned toward Quinn. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she said with gritted teeth. Shelby squinted her eyes.
"It's time for your pain meds," Shelby said. She looked over her shoulder at Rachel. She spotted a nurse coming in. "We can ask them to increase the dose."
Quinn shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
Shelby frowned and turned to Rachel, Santana, and Tom. The nurse was putting the familiar nebulizer mask. She heard Tom muttered instructions to the nurse. Medicine was put in the IVs of both girls. After a few more minutes, the girls relaxed and the beeping slowed and they were asleep.
"Noah, can you take Santana to go get something to eat. Meet your grandparents out in the lobby please."
"Mom, I want to stay here," Santana said as she ran her hand through Rachel's hair.
"I know," Shelby said gently. "Please just get something to eat and then you can come back. Okay?"
She nodded slightly as she watched Shelby look anxiously at Dr. Pierce. She looked down at Rachel. "Fine," she whispered.
Shelby watched her two eldest leave the room.
"So what's going on?" she asked when their footsteps faded in the hallway.
"Shelby, I wanted to talk to you about the surgeries and how the girls are expected to recover. I feel that they both will recover from their physical injuries just fine."
"But?" Shelby asked, waiting for the last ball to drop.
"They are healthy girls but it could be a long road for the both of them. Rachel is small for her age and she doesn't eat much but after this week she is going to have to increase her caloric intake and start taking vitamins. Quinn is maturing fine but she is underweight for her size and she is also going to need vitamins and close monitoring because a simple cold could turn into something serious with her if she gets run down."
Tom's face was relaxed but there was more. Shelby could see it. "I know all this," Shelby explained. "Tell me what you're not saying."
Tom took a deep breath. "Having said all this I know that you were there when I did the exam on Rachel and you saw the scratches and bruises. We did a more thorough internal exam in the operating room," he said slowly, watching Shelby's face. "I am not the police. However, medically, I believe that while I am not 100% positive I do think she was not raped … penally. … but with his fingers." Shelby felt tears spring from her eyes as the ironic relief swept over her body. "We also did an internal exam on Quinn and there was no evidence of semen but we did take some samples just to be sure. It is imperative that she talks to the police but based on what we saw there is no evidence that she was raped this time either." Shelby gave him a tearful smile. She realized that he wanted to tell her this to ease the blows that would come. Tom was telling her the things that her daughters couldn't tell the police weren't ready to disclose. He continued. "Both of them will need follow up exams at some point as well. Rachel more so than Quinn. We can arrange that at my office, if its more comfortable for them. But Shelby they will begin to heal physically and both of them while they have to be careful will grow to be wonderful women."
"Thanks, Tom," she muttered.
"I'll have them move another cot or two in here for you and Noah."
He started for the door.
"They weren't raped?" she whispered. It was a mixture of a statement and a question.
"Yes," he said. "That's what I think. That's my medical opinion."
Shelby nodded tearfully. "Kay."
Silently, he bowed out of the room, allowing her the time to piece her broken pieces back together.
…...
Santana felt like she was moving in slow motion. She leaned slightly into her brother as he walked next to her. He wrapped his arm around her. While they didn't like each other all of the time, they had built a rapport over the years that just fit; this was one of them.
"You're doing a good job, Taz," he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks I really -" She stopped mid-step.
"What?" Noah asked feeling Santana's body tighten. "San?"
Everything was still moving in slow motion. However, something changed. Something was different. They weren't moving in slow motion because her heart and body ached with exhaustion anymore. Now the adrenaline was pumping.
"Hey!" Santana called. A group of doctors turned to look at her. All except one. The one that Santana recognized. She knew that face; it was burned permanently into her memory. And she knew that there was no way that he was medical professional.
"Hey!" Santana broke away from Noah.
"Santana, what?"
Santana raced toward the group of doctors. No one moved.
"Someone grab him," Santana screamed.
Bear rounded the corner. "Santana? What's going on?"
"He's there!" she said hurriedly. Bear walked over to the doctors and searched their faces.
"Santana," he began. "I don't think..."
Santana arrived there and looked at the doctors. She saw him. However, somehow, he wasn't there anymore.
"I..I..I.. swear," she stuttered. "I swear I saw him." Was she seeing him? or was he there?
"Come on," Bear said. "Let's get you some food."
"I want to head back to the room," Santana said starting back toward the room.
"No," Bear said. "Let's take you down to the lobby."
Santana gave in and followed them to the lobby.
"Sanna, you look so tired," Joey said.
"Thanks," she sneered. She folded her arms. "I need to head back."
"Your mother is with them, San," Nana said. "They're okay."
"Here," Joey said handing the kids an energy bar. Santana took a bite but felt eyes on her. She bit into the bar and chewed it slowly. Was this lunch? or dinner? Joey interrupted her. "Nana and I are going to take the shift tonight and you and mom are going to get some rest in a real bed so you can come back and help them tomorrow."
"No," Santana said simply. "What about Noah?"
"He slept last night," Joey said simply. "You didn't."
Santana frowned at her. How did she know that? She didn't want to admit it but Rachel woke her up at least every hour. One might have assumed that the Rachel would have slept the night. However, she didn't.
"I'm fine," Santana assured. "Rachel can't sleep alone right now. Quinn can't sleep alone either. Someone needs to be in the room." She shook her head. She waved a hand at her uncle. "You haven't even caught him. I heard you talking in the hallway. He's obsessed with her. He's not just going to go away."
"Santana," Bear began. "That's not something I want you to worry about. It's not your job."
"It is my job," she snapped. "Quinn and Rachel have been through enough and they're not going to go through anymore. Why don't we have a policeman on the door? And not one of those fat, old guards. I want someone real who can run and wrestle someone and-"
"Santana," Bear interrupted. "Do not worry about that."
"How can I not? She doesn't have a damn kidney. Quinn doesn't have a freakin' spleen because they were driving away from him."
"They weren't in a high speed chase, San" Nana said quietly. "They were sitting at a light. They were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Santana scoffed and shook her head. "I know that. I wasn't there... I should have been there."
"We're taking you home," Nana said simply. "It's not up for debate."
"Nana, Rachel needs me." Her voice was softer and more defeated. She was pleading.
Helen looked at her softly. "She has you, but she has you less when you're not at your best."
Santana sighed as she was led back down the hallway. Shelby was sitting quietly in the room watching the girls sleep. She wouldn't want to leave, Santana thought. They wouldn't make us leave.
"Shelby?"
"Yeah?" she asked standing and walking towards the door.
"You need to go home," Helen said casually.
"Mom," she said as she shook her head. "I'm not leaving them. Things are too chaotic right now and -"
"I checked with the doctor," Helen said. "They'll be out for the night."
"They can't be alone."
"They won't be," Joey said. "They'll be out for the rest of the night. Noah and I will stay."
"No," Santana argued. "Why does he get to stay and I can't?"
"I already told you," she told her granddaughter. "You need to sleep."
"I'll sleep with Rachel," Santana said. "I sleep better with her and -"
"Santana, you're going home. You can come back afterward."
"I'm not leaving," she argued. "I'm not leaving her. She can't wake up alone. You don't understand!" she was now shouting. "You don't know what it's like! You don't know what she'll be like if I'm not here." She felt a pang in her chest. She didn't know either; she only know what Rachel was like in the hospital when she was there for infections not like she was after she went through something like this. The thing was, Santana knew what how upset Rachel still was when she woke up alone. She wasn't going to responsible for that again; she couldn't be. "I'm staying here!" she said tearfully. "I'm staying!"
Shelby saw her own tiredness on her daughter's face. She saw the anxiety and exhaustion that traced her features. She knew that they needed to go.
"San," Shelby said quietly. "Noah will stay, but we need to go. We'll go home. We'll shower. We'll eat. And come back."
"Shelby, you really need to sleep," Helen said. Her youngest daughter shot Helen a look. "Okay." She looked at the family. "Okay."
…..
After careful instructions from Santana, Noah settled into Rachel bed. His uncle was pacing in the hallway. He tried to explain that he could take anyone down, but his uncle told him that wasn't his job. He had to bite his tongue and tell her that he had done this before. He glanced over at Quinn. He had a new respect for her. He knew she didn't want to talk about what had happened to her, but he could see it in her eyes. Something had. Everything that she had dealt with they hadn't talked about. Her father, Finn being an asshole, the pregnancy... He trailed off. Neither of them were the talking types. However, he wanted her to not feel alone, but he wasn't sure how to do that. He couldn't do that for Santana or Rachel. How could he do that for a new sister?
He looked at the clock. They were coming back soon. However, Rachel was still asleep next to him. Santana was careful to tell him that her pain medicine only lasted for a certain time. However, his mother interrupted her and explained that the nurses know when to give the girls their pain medicine. There was nothing he could do. He was useless. He could be comforting, but he was the last person they would go to. He could do tasks, but not good enough. He could do a lot, but he was always second best.
A tiny moan brings him from his stupor. He looked down and Rachel was gripping tightly onto his pant leg.
"Ipromiseiwonttell," she mumbled. Suddenly her little body jumped. She looked around frantically and the beeping in the room increased.
"Pleasenomore. Please. Ithurts," she mumbled as she frowned deeply in her sleep.
He bent over his torso that he was closer to her. He hated all of the wires. If they weren't there, he would lift her up and into his arms. Santana had said exactly what he was thinking. He was busy running plays on the football field and Rachel was inside begging for someone to come to her rescue and again, he wasn't there. No one was there for her
"Calm down, bug. I'm right here," he whispered.
She sat up a little and much to his protests wrapped her arms, clad with wires around his neck. She was wearing a smaller hospital gown now. It actually fit her. It had animals on it. Did they need to remind everyone around them of her innocence? His aunt once explained that it was to make the kids feel more comfortable. He still hated it. Quinn didn't have to wear one with animals, but hers had a weird pattern, like stripes or puking dots, he wasn't sure what the pattern was called.
"I'm glad you're here," she whispered.
"Rach, you should really lay down," he soothed hugging her as if she was already shattered glass. Rachel continued to hug him silently. "San will be back soon."
"Okay," she whispered, but she didn't let him go.
He waited a few moments. She was trembling slightly. The last time he was in the hospital when they were in New York he knew exactly what to do. However, the instincts he had at ten years old were gone. Age had worn them away and all he was left with was doubt.
"Noah?" he voice was quiet.
"The nurses will be in soon, Rach," he said quietly. "Do you want anything?"
She shook her head. "Are you mad?"
He frowned. "No, why would I be?"
She shrugged.
"When you leave, Noah," she whispered. "Don't forget me okay?"
"Rachel," he said gently, pulling away from her. "I'm not leaving you. not now. Not ever."
She searched his eyes. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. Finally she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Sing me the song?"
He frowned . He put his hands on her ribs, bt then pulled away because he remembered that she broke her ribs. He needed to see her, to try to look at her eyes. He needed to make sure she understood. He wouldn't leave her. "Rach, did you hear what I said?"
"Noah," she whispered. "Please sing me the song." She gripped a little tighter. "Please."
He knew that she hurt. With broken ribs and a weak body, he knew she was hurting. He didn't want to hurt her more, but she was still pushing herself because she needed Noah to understand something he couldn't. He couldn't argue with her now. He sighed and began humming the classic Beatles song.
"Close your eyes and I'll miss you..."
He continued to sing it. Rachel was back asleep. Why after all this time did she think he was leaving her? What did he have to do to disprove that? He heard Quinn give a tiny whimper of pain in her sleep. Soon after the nurses came in and put stuff in their IVs. He frowned watching Quinn. It occurred to him in that moment that she had no one to hold her; not that she would want anyone to. Her surgery had left her body weak too. She would never admit it; therefore, he never would either. He knew that her surgery was in her abdomen and her stitches, a broken arm in cast, a concussion and stitches in head, and general aches and pains from car crash left her aching more that he could understand.
"Son, she needs to lay back down," a nurse told him gently.
"I'm not your son," he said lowly as he cradled Rachel's head and laid him next to him on the bed.
Rachel gave a small moan at the loss of contact. Noah leaned down and wrapped his arms around her, making sure to grab George for her.
He was eighteen years old. He was now a man. He didn't know what he wanted to do or who he wanted to be, but he knew that he wouldn't leave them alone. He couldn't do much, but he knew he couldn't. He couldn't help but think about the letter. He felt a pang in his chest. That monster wanted to see them. Although, Noah became confused and uncomfortable picturing Rachel as a eighteen year old, he was going to make damn sure that he never saw her. Ever. He would never see Santana. He looked over at Quinn. He didn't know all of the details but he knew that monsters might not think the same, but they were made the same. Quinn wouldn't ever return to Russell. Not ever.
…..
Shelby knocked gently on Santana's door. She hadn't heard much movement in there since she heard the shower stop running.
"San?" she asked gently. She didn't get an answer. "San?"
She opened the door and wasn't surprised to see her strong daughter wrapped idly in her towel staring down at the sweatshirt that was still lying on bed, where Rachel had gently folded it. She had worn it that night and then brought it back from Florida.
"I-I-I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't know why Rachel lied to me. It doesn't make sense. She doesn't lie to me."
"San," Shelby said walking into the room.
Santana stepped back and shook her head. "No," she said. "She wouldn't lie to me."
Shelby knew that Santana thought that Rachel wouldn't lie. However, Shelby knew that Rachel understood the burden Santana bore. She was now comprehending it more than ever before that Rachel saw exactly what Santana put herself through everyday. However, before this the lies had been little. It wasn't the volley ball battles at school, before it was lunch boxes that were taken, small lies about quiet memories that snuck under the surface. All the hints had been there. Shelby missed them too and she felt the ache of it every minute when she was reminded of it. She felt foolish in that moment, even more so than the moment before, because her strong, incredible and stubborn daughter, was realizing it too.
"She wouldn't...She...She wouldn't..." Santana said.
She was staring there in the room wrapped in a towel but practically exposed in every way.
"Santana," Shelby said gently. "You did nothing wrong. She was trying to protect you in the only way she knew how."
"No! No!" Santana said grabbing a sports bra, underwear, and sweatpants. With her towel still on, she pulled the sports bra on over the towel and her underwear and sweatpants on a rapid pace. She shook her head as she pulled the towel off. Of all her children, Santana and Noah were the ones that seemed to forget modesty. They were always changing in front of her when they were trying to carry on conversations. Rachel would changed in front of her, but not as sporadically as Santana and Noah. Quinn was definitely not one to forget and change in front of someone.
"Santana," Shelby started again.
The sixteen year old grabbed the sweatshirt from the bed and pulled it over her head.
"She lied to me. She lies. She lied to me." She waved her arm. "How did she think I couldn't handle it? Me? Me?"
She started for the door. "I could have fixed this. This never would have happened if she told me!" She looked at her mother. "Does she not trust me?"
"Santana-" Shelby began again.
"I tried," she began. "I tried," she whispered forcefully. "I checked on her once. In the lesson. Kurt was there. It went fine. I just... I …. What did I do wrong? Tell me what I did wrong."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Santana," Shelby said taking a step toward her. She cupped her face gently in her hands. "Nothing. Rachel lied. She didn't want us to know. She didn't want us to know. She still doesn't. It's not on you. That is not on you."
"It is," Santana yelled pulling away. She swung her arm out and swiped a lamp off of the table. "It is!"
"Santana," Shelby said. "Look at me. Just look at me."
"No," Santana said. "she picked up the lamp's ceramic piece and start to throw them in the trash can. "NO," she said more forcefully. "We need to get back. We need to go."
"Santana," Shelby said more forcefully. She put her hands over the pieces and stopped her. "Look at me."
"No, Mom. I can't look at you. I can't stop. I can't not think about how everything I do isn't good enough and how people like you and Brittany are trying so hard for no reason."
"San, what?"
"Nothing," she muttered throwing the pieces in the trash. "I'll get the vacuum."
"Santana, stop," Shelby commanded. She stopped, but didn't turn around. "Rachel may need you right now, but I need you to be healthy. You're exhausted. You need to take care of yourself. I know you would never hurt Rachel, but you need to figure this out and I need you to see that this is not okay." She saw Santana tilt her head slightly, but the girl still didn't turn around. "You know that these outbursts of yours are becoming more frequent. I'm grateful that you're reigning it in now. You're picking up. But you need to figure this out."
"I'm pissed, Mom," she snapped. She took a breath. "This shouldn't be happening. This shouldn't have happened."
"I know, San," Shelby said gently. Her own eyes teared up. "I know. I retraced everything. Why I didn't go into that locker room earlier, why I didn't go looking for her dress earlier. how I didn't see that she was lying. Now, it's obvious, but you can't go back. But punishing yourself …..it doesn't ease that."
"You don't know, Mom," Santana said finally turning to her with her arms crossed. "You don't know."
"I know what it's like, San," Shelby whispered to know how one mistake ruined everything. "I know what it feels like." She took a shaky breath. " To know if you would have stayed, things wouldn't have happened."
Santana's face fell. Her mother had never talked about it. She had never said that. Santana knew exactly what she was talking about. She was talking about New York. In the back of her head Santana always wondered if her mother felt guilty. She spent a lot of time blaming her mother. They talked about it a few times in therapy while in New York. She brought it up a few times with Julia, but her mother never prompted it. She never offered her own feelings. Santana looked away from her mother. It was too real; it was too much. Therefore, she opted to stare at the tiny shattered pieces of ceramic lamp on her carpet. They lay waiting for something to take them away, because otherwise they would remain broken, ready to cut the vulnerable.
"Bottom line, San," Shelby finally said. "You need to rest."
Santana looked at her, drained. "So do you." She muttered. "But I can't do it here. Can't we just go back to hospital?"
Shelby shook her head gently. "No, because you can't rest there. The nurses are coming in every hour or so to check Rachel and Quinn's vitals. I know you wake up every time. This is why you're so tired. You need your rest to be strong. You need to be willing to help yourself." Santana looked back at the pieces on the ground. Shelby continued. "Eat the dinner your Nana made with me and then let's take a nap. We'll head back after that."
Santana looked at her for a moment.
"Okay," she conceded. "Okay."
Perhaps it was in Shelby's plan the whole time. Or perhaps it was Helen's plan. After dinner, Santana assured her mother that they would be getting up in an hour tops. However, Santana didn't wake up after an hour. When Shelby woke up four hours later, Santan was still sleeping soundly next to her. She called Bear at the hospital and was assured that Quinn and Rachel hadn't woken up. Rachel woke up once with Noah so they increased her pain meds so she could sleep through the night. Noah was curled around Rachel. The nurses had managed to figure out a system where they wouldn't wake Noah up when they came to check Rachel's vitals. Shelby crawled back into bed and wrapped her arms around Santana and they both slept. Before she gave into sleep, there was a vague memory of the pieces of lamp that remained un vacuumed on the floor. Despite its memory, she drifted into sleep knowing that she needed to follow her own advice.
….
The next morning, Santana jolted awake next to Shelby.
"We did not sleep for an hour," she announced. She hurried around the house getting ready to leave. Shelby barely had time shower and get dressed before Santana was in the garage honking the Range Rover's horn. Shelby faintly heard her mother scolding Santana at the fifth honk. She felt her daughter's anxiety, but it seemed to be amplified.
When they finally arrived back at the hospital, Santana reminded her mother of how late they were. Shelby had to inform her that it was still only five forty-five. Rounds weren't until six in the morning. She never thought she would see the day that her daughter would scold her for not waking up before five in the morning.
"Finally," a nurse said with an exasperated sigh.
"What do you mean finally?" Shelby asked, finally catching up with Santana, who had moved ahead of her.
"Well," the nurse said with a slight role of her eyes. "Your older daughter woke up at four am. Ask me how I know?" Santana opened her mouth to ask, but didn't have a chance to ask a question. The nurse's question was apparently rhetorical. "She's been ringing the nurse call button every six minutes. Yes, six. Not five. Not ten but six." She let out a heavy sigh. "Also, your son, snores. And your youngest daughter has been poking him and then occasionally he makes this loud snoring noise that scares her enough to send her heart monitor off. She's playing your son like a jack in the box." Santana snorted in laughter under her hand. Shelby gave her a gentle nudge. They were all aware of Noah's snoring antics. "Please," the nurse continued with a frown at the women. "My staff is exhausted. We have other patients."
"And we are well-aware of that," Shelby replied. "Don't worry. I will make sure my children know this behavior is unacceptable." Shelby gave the nurse a nod. "It will not happen again."
Shelby grabbed Santana's hand that was still trying to muffle her scoff and headed into the girl's room.
"Quinn, take your finger off that buzzer," Shelby said as Santana went over to the bed and smacked Noah in the head.
"Wake up, butthead," she said as she leaned over and kissed Rachel on the forehead. "Morning, bug."
Rachel gave a small smile. "Hi." She turned to her mother. "Mommy, can we go home?" Rachel asked as Santana shook Noah awake. He rolled out of the bed and ran his hands over his face as Santana climbed into the bed taking the spot he occupied seconds before.
Shelby sighed. "I'm not sure, Rach," she said gently sitting on Quinn's bed, noting how the blonde grimaced uncomfortably as if she felt out of place. "We need to wait until the nurses start their rounds." She turned to Quinn. "That call button is not a toy. What is it that you were so anxious to accomplish may I ask?"
Quinn frowned. "Well, I want to leave." She lowered her gaze slightly. "I thought I was leaving."
"I don't know if you guys can be discharged yet. You haven't even gotten out of bed and -"
"Well, get me out of bed," she interrupted. "I want to get up."
"Quinn, calm down. Healing takes time. You need to give your body a chance to rest." The blonde grumbled something to herself. "What was that?" Shelby asked leaning her head down and forward to catch the girl's eyes.
"Nothing," Quinn whispered.
"What did you say, Quinn?" Shelby asked again. She looked over and saw Noah saunter into the restroom and Santana whispering quietly to Rachel playing with George, causing the tiny girl to smirk. "They're not listening. What did you say?"
"I just want to go," the blonde said catching the woman's eye. "I just …. I need to get out of here."
Shelby looked at Quinn's eyes carefully trying her best to read them. "You're not leaving until your body is ready and the doctors and I say so." She took Quinn's hand. "I love you too much for you to push your body. You need to rest and treat it right." She looked at her with her brows raised. "You need to respect the work they do in this hospital. They don't need you ringing that bell every six minutes."
Quinn nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry."
"Alright, but make sure you apologize to them too." The blonde nodded. "And Rachel, your brother is not a toy. You need to be resting."
Rachel rubbed her eyes and leaned back into Santana. "I am. I want to go home."
Shelby took a deep breath. "I know, Rach." The sound of a toilet flushing filtered into the room as Noah teetered in. "Wash your hands, Noah." Shelby ordered. He huffed and turned around. "We all need to talk guys."
Rachel turned her head and looked up at Santana, causing Shelby to think of her when she was little. She looked so much younger in that dinosaur patterned hospital gown. Shelby took a deep breath. She had to focus. Noah emerged from the restroom and plopped himself in a chair.
"I need to know what happened, girls. It's just us, okay?" She looked at the four kids.
Her eyes paused at Quinn's cast, the finger bruises on Rachel's faces where he covered her mouth as she screamed, at the hand print bruise on Quinn's upper arm.
"We need to talk," Shelby said gently.
"Nothing happened, Mommy," Rachel whispered leaning into Santana. Quinn looked at her and Shelby could tell the blonde's own head was spinning.
Shelby spotted Bear come to the door behind them. She went on before Santana could say something. "Rachel," she said gently. "The day before yesterday, was a very scary day for me." Rachel looked at her and then looked down at her the stuffed monkey, quietly lifting its arms and clapping them together. "You were taken and we didn't know where you were."
"Well... I...I... um..." Rachel continued to look at her stuffed monkey.
"Eighty-four minutes, Rachel. I didn't know where you were," Shelby said. She looked back at Quinn. "and then I didn't know where you were for about seven. It would have been longer, Quinn. However, you're very good apparently of sneaking out of Elyse's office." She looked at them. "You are safe here. I just need to understand what happened."
"Nothing," Rachel whispered. "I just... um... well... uh... "
"I skipped and I wanted to speak to Mr. Schuester," Quinn said suddenly.
The four brunettes looked at her. "What?" Santana asked.
"I wanted to speak with him," she said with a slight nod.
"Quinn, please don't," Rachel whispered. "You don't know anything. Please … don't …. please stop talking."
Shelby looked over are her dinosaur patterned child. For some reason, she felt so distracted by the dinosaurs. Why was Rachel wearing dinosaurs?
"Rachel," Shelby said regaining her focus. She saw big tears running down her face.
"I promise... I'm okay... I just... I just want to go home."
The mother took a deep breath. "Rachel, we found the dress in the linen closet."
Rachel's head shot up and then she winced; she had forgotten about the concussion. Her breathing became rapid. She opened her mouth to form words but they were stuck. Shelby could see her visibly shaking.
"Sweetheart, you're safe with us."
"Hey, kiddo," a new voice said at the door. They looked up and a young doctor at the door. "Sorry. I'm Dr. Sullivan. Did Dr. Pierce tell you we were bringing her down for a CAT scan?"
Shelby took a deep breath. "What?" she asked with her eyes closed.
"Good morning," Dr. Pierce said walking into the room. "Rachel, you ready for your cat scan?" He looked around the room sensing the tension. "Is everything okay?"
Rachel nodded. "I'm ready to go. Can Santana come with us?"
Dr. Pierce looked at Shelby and she gave a nod. "Santana, let the doctors do their job and be on your best behavior," she said standing up. She gave rachel a tight side hug. "I love you," she said quietly into Rachel's ear, kissing her softly on the forehead. "We'll talk more later okay?" Shelby walked them to the door and exchanged a look with Joey in the hallway to follow the girls. Shelby turned back and the nurse was taking Quinn's vitals. "Noah, they're going to change the girls' bed linens and things." She rubbed her son's toned arms as he gave a big yawn. She caught Bear's eye. "Go with your uncle and get something to eat?"
"Why does Rach need a CAT scan?" he asked looking at the door.
"They need to make sure her other kidney is working," she said softly. "She's okay, Noah."
He frowned. "Can I go with them?"
"I don't know if you can catch up," Shelby began. "You can try though."
"Will Quinn need one? I can go with her," he said looking at Quinn.
"What?" Quinn asked as the nurse took off the blood pressure cuff.
"He's asking if you need someone to go with you to get a CAT scan."
She frowned in surprise. "I don't," she said quietly. She shook her head. "I just want to get out of here."
"Well, you can't until you're all healed and stuff," Noah replied.
Quinn rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm getting out of here."
Shelby arched a brow. "Noah, go get some food please."
He frowned and looked at Quinn, but left.
"What's going on?" she asked as she nurse removed the blood pressure cuff.
"I told you," Quinn said trying to sound tough, but failing. "I just want to get out of here."
Shelby narrowed her eyes. She knew that there was something that the girl wasn't saying.
"We going to try and get you up out of the bed today," the nurse began.
"Well, I'm leaving today," Quinn spat. "I hope I'm out of bed."
"Quinn!" she scolded. "Cool it."
The nurse went on regardless of the the tension. "Right now we are going to remove the catheter and get you in the bathroom to wash up a little. We have a special bag for your arm and we can't get the iv wet either so we will help you."
The nurse reached for the IV. "Okay, you're going to feel a little pinch-" She paused. "Or not." SHe looked back at Shelby.
"What?" Shelby asked.
"It seems that the IV has already been taken out and it's just taped to her hand to make it look like it's in," the nurse explained. She reached and felt the sheet. It was wet. "How long have you been letting your medicine go into your bed?"
Quinn frowned. "I don't want the medicine anymore because it makes me so tired and I don't want to sleep." She avoided Shelby's eyes and pressed her lips together with a sigh. "I just want out of the hospital and to get on with where I'm going."
Shelby frowned. "Will you please excuse us?" The nurse looked at her with hesitation. "Please."
The woman sighed and left. Shelby followed her to the door and closed it behind her. SHe paused for a moment at the door, resting her hand on the handle. Quinn could only guess that she was gathering her thoughts. Perhaps this was the moment where this perfect person would finally lose it. Quinn didn't realize how badly she needed Shelby to lose it until it became a possibility. Now that it was, it was also a hope. Shelby turned slowly in a way that reminded Quinn of a horror film she saw when she was younger.
She released a shaky breath. "I know this is difficult for you-"
"Actually, you don't," Quinn fired.
"You're right," Shelby said. "I don't. But you need to take care of yourself, Quinn. I need you to take care of you."
"That's what I'm doing!" she fired back. "But you keep messing it up!"
Shelby narrowed her eyes. She released another breath. "Quinn," she said calmly. "You need to get better. You can't do that if the nurses are injecting medicine that they think is going into your body into your mattress." She pinched the bridge of her nose. " You will be going home when the doctors decide that you can go home – and I am disappointed that you took out the IV. You understand, now that this might mean that you have to stay longer, right?" Quinn frowned. "Lets start cleaning you up and i will go talk to Dr. Pierce and see when and if we can get you out of here anytime soon." She started back for the door and paused. She turned back. "They're probably going to give you a sponge bath..." She searched Quinn's eyes. "Are you okay with that?"
"No," Quinn spat.
Shelby sat gently on the edge of her bed. "Do you want me ask if I can do it instead?"
Quinn shook her head. "Well, I feel disgusting..." She let her own words sink in.
Shelby saw the girl begin to retreat into herself. She spoke up attempting to bring her back. "Well, I need to know how to do it when you're home. I'll suggest that Rachel do it with you. She hates it. I know she would feel better having someone do it with her. What do you think?" The blond looked up at her quickly and looked away. She gave a brief nod. "I'll go get the nurse. Jackie said she wanted to stop by and talk to you. Hopefully, we'll have you girls home in the next day or so..."
Quinn let Shelby's voice drowned out. There it was, Quinn realized. Jackie was going to tell her she was going away. The words that they had said the day before were false. She knew that good people didn't have the heart to say the bad things, the truths. And the trust was, Shelby didn't have time for her. She just didn't. The woman had too much on her plate, but she was too stubborn to give up her charity case that was Quinn Fabray; and the charity case knew that. She was confirming everything that she thought. Quinn watched Shelby leave. She didn't realize it would hurt this much to acknowledge what they already knew.
She barely noticed the nurse come back. The woman led her to the bathroom and took out her catheter. Shelby wasn't back yet. Quinn looked at the door one last time, hating that she was disappointed at the woman's absence and confused about the loss that she felt.
She felt as if she was floating in slow motion. It was as if the exhaustion and the reality that had become her life was just hitting her. She was led back to her freshly changed bed where a tray of discolored hospital food waited for her. The nurse said something about eating but she simply leaned back in her pillows, waiting for this chapter of this terrible novel that had become her life to be over. Her eyes settled on Rachel's monkey that lay neglected on the newly made bed.
The door opened and she jumped slightly.
"Oh, sorry," said Pam. "I was looking for your mother."
"She's not my mother," Quinn said quietly. "She's just... She's a nice woman that is being better to me than I deserve." She sat up and looked at the woman.
"Well, let her know that I stopped by," she said. Pam started to leave.
"No," Quinn said. "I want to talk to you." The woman frowned in hesitation. "You want to know what happened, don't you?" Quinn paused. "Rachel needs to be safe. I'll tell you what I know happened."
…..
Shelby went down the hallway and spotted Pam and Captain Marshall talking around the corner. She gave a heavy sigh. SHe wasn't sure where to begin, but she knew the girls needed to get better. She wanted to catch the bastard, but hounding the girls wasn't going to do it.
She spotted Tom as she rounded the corner.
"Shelby, hi," he said putting down the chart he was signing.
"Hi," she began. "I really need to get them home. They're not doing well here. I would also like the nurse to bathe Quinn and Rachel together. I think they need to support each other."
Tom nodded. "Sure," he replied. The two began to talk about the possibilities of releasing the girls' home early. Tom's main concern was making sure that any procedures that were needed were completed.
"I don't know, Shelby," Tom began. "I understand what you're saying but..."
"Tom," she interrupted. "This isn't just hard because of the situation." She searched her friend's eyes. "This is hard because both of these girls have done this before. And I think you know that."
Dr. Pierce had been friends with the Corcorans since they moved to Lima. He wasn't an idiot. He watched the news. He knew what had happened to the family. His own girls were too young to remember the national hype around the case. He sighed.
"I know," he whispered. "I'll try. He took a deep breath. "If things get worse... emotionally, I mean... we can look into maybe having someone do some home visits."
She nodded. "So... you and I have talked a lot..."
"Yeah..." he said confused.
"As my daughters' doctor." He nodded again. "However, you and I haven't talked at all about that fact that your daughter is dating my daughter."
He gave a nervous smile and leaned back away from her grabbing another chart. "Shelby," he said with a shake of his head. "Now's not the time for that."
"I actually think it is, Tom," Shelby replied.
He took a deep breath and stared at the chart for a few moments before looking up. "I love my daughter and I care deeply for Santana. I always have." He looked up at her. "We're getting used to the idea."
"It's not an idea, Tom," Shelby said carefully. "This isn't something that just sprouted out of nowhere, like the Kool Aid stand they made in your front yard when they were ten and which then morphed into them selling your lawn furniture." She shook her head. "This is who they are. They're discovering who they are and that is hard enough as a teenager, but discovering that they are different than most of their other peers, different than who they thought they were... That's so hard... They need our support."
Tom closed the chart. "I appreciate what you're trying to do here," he said shaking his head. "But at the end of the day, Santana is your daughter and Brittany is mine." He put up his hand. "I know that I love my daughter and I will not tell you how to raise yours. I'll support Brittany and I will, but this isn't an easy adjustment for Valerie and I."
"And it is for me?"
Tom opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped.
Shelby shook her head. "Because of Leroy," she said with a shake of her head and an unamused smile. "I'm more complex than the person you've simplified me to be in your head." She paused and watched him. "And so is your daughter." She started to walk down the hallway and paused. "When you're ready, I would like to talk to you about this." She scoffed. "Maybe when you've adjusted to the 'idea.'"
"Shelby," Tom called. He walked up to her. "I'm a good man."
"I never said you weren't," Shelby replied. "But to me it isn't about you being good or bad."
"How's that possible? I mean..." he trailed off again.
She chuckled. "It's possible because it's how I see things. I've been through too much for there to be clear cut lines of good and bad." She sighed. "I respect you and you and Val are two of my oldest friends. We just see the world differently." She gave a deep breath. "It's just hard because our worlds tend to be pretty intertwined."
…..
Quinn looked at Pam for a moment, pausing. However, she knew she had to tell her or else they would never catch him. She began.
"I was supposed to go somewhere and I went back to school instead," Quinn said.
"Where were you supposed to be?" Pam asked.
Quinn shook her head and continued. "But Santana and Coach Sylvester wouldn't let me practice."
"Why is that?" Pam asked.
The blonde looked at her and continued. "So I knew that Will Schuester was inside." She avoided Pam's eyes. "Rachel was different since her last lesson with him...She was scared... and …. She was different...I wanted to talk to him about it..." She looked up at the detective with a new fierce look. "I knew he knew something." SHe shook her head. "When I got there, he was fixing his shirt." She narrowed her eyes at the memory. "He had this bruise on his face. I looked around and Rachel's coat was on the floor..." Quinn bit her lip. "I walked around and saw her underwear under his desk... " The blonde straightened, unaware that Pam was already aware of those details because the evidence from the classroom had been recovered. "Rachel wasn't there." She shook her head. "So I went in grabbed the coat ….That's when I noticed blood on the floor and that's when I went to look for Rachel..." She paused for a moment and then said hurriedly, "Then I found her in the locker room. She was a mess... She was crying and wanted to leave. So I … uh... borrowed, Noah's keys … and then... well... you know the rest..."
Pam looked at her carefully. "How did you get that bruise on your arm? It looks like it's in the shape a hand."
The door opened suddenly.
"What's going on here?" Shelby asked.
"I came in here looking for you and Quinn wanted to speak with me privately," Pam said casually.
"I should be here," Shelby said sternly. "You know that. She's a minor."
The blonde frowned and turned away from Shelby. "That's all I remember," she said to Pam.
"You need to leave." Shelby's tone was simple.
She nodded. "Alright," Pam said. "Thank you, Quinn."
Shelby followed her out into the hallway. "You had no right," she said once the door was closed. "You knew to wait until I was with her."
"I understand that, Mrs. Corcoran, but honestly, she didn't tell me much." The mother frowned. "There is a lot that she's not saying, particularly about what happened to her."
They were interrupted as Rachel was wheeled back into the room. Tom followed them in with papers in hand. "I think that we might be able to release, Quinn today if she'd like," he said quietly.
Shelby gave a grateful nod. "That'd be great."
Santana watched her mother sort out paperwork. Quinn was going home. Apparently recovery for a spleen was less than the recovery for a kidney. However, she knew that Quinn was primarily going home because she was a terrible patient. Her mother wanted Quinn to be comfortable at home. And Santana knew what Shelby Corcoran wanted, she got.
Santana watched Quinn wait quietly in the wheelchair. She had a strange look on her face that Santana couldn't read. Rachel was sleeping quietly in the crook of her arm. The CAT scan took more out of her than they expected.
"What's wrong?" Santana asked.
"Nothing," Quinn replied quickly. "Can you thank Brittany for bringing my lamb?"
Santana scoffed. "Thank her yourself. She'll probably be over later while we're grounded. At least for boot camp."
The blonde gave a brief, tight smile. "You need to be strict at practice when you go back because you need to get the squad back as a unit if you're are going to nationals."
She narrowed her eyes. "Quinn, you might not be able to practice with us, but you won't be banned. You lost a spleen not the use of your entire body." She shook her head. "Plus, I don't even know if I want to do Cheerios anymore."
This caught Quinn's attention, pulling her from her catatonic state. "What? Why?"
Santana bit her lip and ran her hand through Rachel's hair. All Santana could think about was Rachel screaming for help and her out on the field thinking that that was where she should be. Quinn must have read her mind.
"Rachel wouldn't want you to quit because of her. Cheerios need you to be their captain."
"Quinn," Santana said carefully. "You're not off the team. You're captain."
"Whatever," the girl replied, thinking that she knew the truth.
"We will talk about it at home," Santana replied. "Rachel should be released soon too."
Rachel stirred in the bed and rubbed her eyes.
The blonde looked at Santana knowing that she could never verbally thank her for all that Santana had done for her. She just didn't have the words. "Just make sure you give Brittany the chance you both deserve. Brittany is there for you so use her even if it is just to be her friend."
"Quinn," Santana said nervously. "What are you doing? I'm going to see you later..."
The blonde shrugged and stared at the girl for a few seconds. "Just incase you get distracted by something that inspires you to do something stupid between now and then," Quinn said in her typical HBIC voice, but she let a small smile slip.
"You're being weird," Santana said with a frown.
"Sanny?" a small voice interrupted.
Santana broke her gaze from Quinn and looked at Rachel. "Hey there, sleepy head?"
"Can I go home?" Rachel asked.
"I don't know, Rach," she replied. "Quinn's going home though."
She watched as Rachel's eyes became big and then full of tears. "What?"
"It's okay," Santana assured. "You'll go home soon too."
Rachel turned and looked at Quinn. "Can I … I'm thirsty...Where's Noah?"
Santana arched her brow. "I'll go get you some ice chips. I can find Noah and Mom for you, okay?"
The tiny brunette didn't break her gaze from the blonde. "Okay."
The elder girl kissed Rachel on the head and climbed out of bed. She gave the slightly younger blonde girl a ghosted pat on the shoulder. "Be right back."
Rachel stared at Quinn and wrapped her arms more tightly around George. It was happening. It happened anyway even without her staying what happened, she still ruined everything
Quinn looked back at Rachel, realizing how hard it would be to say goodbye to her. She hoped Jackie would take her from the house so she didn't have to see Rachel again.
"I …. I'm so so sorry, Quinn," Rachel whispered tearfully.
"None of this is your fault," Quinn said carefully. "Things will be better this way I promise."
Rachel released a small sob. "They won't. I ruined everything. I don't want you to leave."
"You didn't do anything, Rach," she assured. "This is because of what I did and I take up too much attention."
The girl shook her head rapidly. 'You don't. I promise you don't." She looked at her with a plea in her eye. "I need you," she whispered.
"You need to be the strong girl that I know you are," Quinn whispered. "Tell the truth and be good to the others."
Rachel squeezed George tightly, understanding deep in her heart that she would lose them too when they found out that Quinn leaving was her fault. "I'm so sorry."
"Rachel, look at me," she said gently. "You did nothing wrong. I did. That's it. And I'm sorry for that," she whispered. "You are one of the strongest people I know. You can do this. I need you to tell them what happened. Can you do that?"
She didn't answer, but she simply looked at Quinn.
"Rach, you mean more than I can ever say. And... you'll always be my sister, okay?"
Rachel nodded, tears were freely flowing.
"We might not see each other for awhile and even if we don't you need to know that I'm okay and to worry about you. Okay?" She watched as Rachel sob, unaware of the defeat that was settling in the girl's heart was mirroring her own. "As soon as I get some freedom from this group home or wherever they send me, I will make sure to come back to visit you if your mom lets me."
Rachel wiped her tears. "She will."
"We might not be able to though," Quinn explained. "So we might have to do it secretly because your mom probably doesn't want Quinn around you anymore." She stared at the ground, realizing how much she ruined. She regained some strength and chewed her bottom lip. "So maybe we can meet at the park near your house."
Rachel looked at her with big eyes hoping that her one last promise would allow Quinn to stay. "I promise I won't tell."
Quinn gave Rachel a small, grateful smile. She was upset that she couldn't explain the world harsh world to girl, but she was appreciative of the fact that despite what she had been through that reality hadn't eliminated all of Rachel's optimism.
"I already told the truth, Rach," she whispered. She watched with a small sob as Rachel soaked in her words and began to cry harder.
"Quinn," she said with a defeated whine. "You shouldn't have done that. I could have handled it."
"No, you couldn't," she replied shakily.
"Please stay," she begged.
"I can't," Quinn said noticing Shelby and the family returning. She wiped her tears furiously. "Be strong, Rachel."
"But-"
Shelby opened the door with a tired smile. "Ready, Quinn?" she asked. The blonde gave a weak nod. "See I told you would go home."
Quinn forced a smile and tried to ignore the tiny sob that came from Rachel.
"You'll see her soon, Rach," the mother assured.
The blonde couldn't look back at Rachel as she left, because she knew that what Shelby just said couldn't be further from the truth.
Shelby watched the girls with a frown unaware of the promises that had been made and broken in those few minutes and even more unaware of how those promises were built on a misunderstanding that was so distant from the truth.
…..
Quinn couldn't help feel like cattle as she was ushered into the house by Helen and Joey. It had taken almost twenty minutes assuring Shelby that she didn't need her to settle back at the Corcoran house. Helen had given her strict orders to sit on the couch.
"Really, Ma'am," Quinn said. "I would like to go up to the room I've been staying in."
"Your room isn't ready yet," Helen responded, causing Quinn to frown. "Lay on the couch please and rest. I'll get you something to eat. I told you not to call me ma'am," she chuckled. She continued her ramble as she placed pillows and blankets around Quinn to get her comfortable. "Now, Dr. Pierce says you need to eat regularly and take your medicine to keep your strength up. Also, you need to stay in bed. This is a very special arrangement he set up for you. Normally, they would have preferred you stay in the hospital but your mother insisted that you needed to be someplace familiar. So No moving around very much. He said we should even walk you to the bathroom. Your body is still weak and... "
Helen continued to talk as she walked away from her, but Quinn blocked her out not concerned about what she was saying. She looked at the clock wondering when Jackie was going to arrive. She should pack. Why was she down here? She should get her things together. Standing Quinn looked toward the stairs. They were taunting her with their height and difficulty. She sighed. She didn't need any help.
The doorbell rang interrupting her thoughts. That must be Jackie, Quinn thought. Would she be upset that Quinn wasn't pack yet? As she walked slowly to the door, Quinn realized she was ready to leave everything behind, even her lamb as long as she got out of this house, this town.
"Don't get up and answer that door, young lady," Helen called from the kitchen.
Quinn ignored her. She finally reached the door and opened it. She felt her weak body lose the last ounce of strength she had left in her body.
"Hello, Quinn."
Quinn stared at her in shock unable to move.
"What are you doing here?"
Thanks for reading! Sorry again for the short chapter. The plan is for the next update to be Tuesday. Sorry that this chapter was late. Please let me know what you think. Sorry if it disappointed. Please send me PMs with any questions or concerns.