I don't own Glee or its original characters.

It's been almost a year to the day today, since my first installment of this story. I'm amazed that I managed to keep writing this story for such a long time without giving up, despite the time writing such a story costs. It is funny how something you are passionate about can drive you such a long way.

I am amazed that some of you followed me along from the very beginning! And that so many came along over the course of this year and that you are still reading and waiting for an update! This is really rewarding for me and I am very very grateful for having you as my readers!

Thank you!

Chapter 58

When Santana came home in the evening, Quinn was taking a bath. Rachel stood in the kitchen and warmed the soup from lunch. The Latina quickly flipped the lights on and off to alert the brunette of her presence.

"Hey, Santana," Rachel smiled.

The black haired woman waved at her and threw her bag on a chair by the table.

What are you cooking? Santana asked with her hands.

"Pumpkin soup. Want some? There's enough left over from lunch."

Santana nodded and started pulling three bowls out of the cabinets and placed them on the table.

Where is Quinn?

"Taking a bath. Can you… could you quickly check on her and see if she needs anything?"

Santana wondered why Rachel wouldn't go herself but swallowed her comment and disappeared around the corner.

Since Rachel could not hear if Quinn was calling her, she had poked her head into the bathroom twice already to make sure she was fine. Asking her through the closed door if everything was fine was just so much more convenient.

Santana came back and reassured her that everything was ok and that Quinn wanted to soak a little longer. She stood next to Rachel, leaning her back against the counter.

"So,"Santana rubbed her hands together, before she lifted them again. How are you two doing?

Rachel put the wooden spoon down and lowered the heat under the pot before she answered.

"Ok, I guess."

You guess? You don't know? Santana raised her eyebrows.

"Santana, we are just trying to figure out how to take things from here. We won't rush anything and we both need time to digest what happened over the past two days… on top of what happened… before."

I get that. How are you feeling?

"Ok, I guess."

"Rachel!" Santana exclaimed exasperated. She grabbed the pad and pen. It was time that the ASL classes started again; she was tired of switching between sign language and writing. Writing helped her to express herself better, but she wanted to look Rachel in the eye when she was talking to her.

Give me a little more or I'll turn my psychic third eye on you and tell you how you're feeling! I know you wouldn't like that very much.

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Fine." She slowly stirred the soup again to make sure it wouldn't burn. Then she explained, signing along.

"We discussed a couple of things. Thoughts and feelings we had but never talked about. I feel relieved that this doesn't stand between us anymore now. I feel like we're very closing some gaps."

Good. Santana looked at her for a moment. And what about you and the music stuff?

The petite woman sighed. Then she told her friend about her conversations with Lauren and what she had discussed with Quinn in the afternoon. When she was finished, Santana nodded and moved the pen across the paper again.

I hope that you'll be strong enough to manage and to hold on to your wisdom that you've gained through this experience, Rachel.

Rachel frowned. That did not sound like the Santana she knew. This Santana sounded so grown up and sincere. Not that she had not been sincere before, but the choice of words surprised her. She read on.

I hope it for you and for Quinn. Because I never want to see either of you so devastated again. If any of you two screws this up again, I'm gonna hunt you down and beat some sense into you or Quinn, I swear!

Well, that was the Santana she knew, Rachel thought with a little smile.

So, whenever you have something on your heart, you can come talk to me. Promise me you will! Just talk to anybody, if it's not me, talk to Lauren or Kurt, but don't hide it, ok? You're not alone!

Rachel swallowed, touched again by Santana's sincere words.

"I will. I want this to work, Santana, I really do."

I know that, Santana signed and gave her friend a light hug.

"Can you finish the soup? I'll see if Quinn is ready."

… … …

Quinn slowly pushed herself with her feet into a half sitting position. She heard a knock and instantly recognized it as Rachel's by the sound of it. The brunette's head appeared around the door.

"Dinner's ready." Rachel greeted her with a smile.

Ok, I'm ready.

Quinn felt marginally better. The warm water had helped to loosen some of her stiff muscles that had tensed up during her fall.

Rachel still had not stepped inside, as if she was afraid to intrude into Quinn's privacy.

"You want Santana to help you out?" Quinn heard the insecurity ring in her voice.

She shook her head. Help me up?

"Sure." Rachel stepped inside and closed the door, relieved that Quinn trusted her this much and did not seem too uncomfortable to have her around her.

Then she grabbed the terry cloth bathrobe from the hook and tried not to stare at Quinn's breast as the blonde pushed herself further up.

The bruise on the blonde's ribs had taken on a nice multi-colored shade.

Rachel steadied Quinn as she slowly brought her feet under herself and helped her to stand up.

Quinn took a couple of deep breaths to ease the pain, while Rachel draped the robe over her and helped her slip her arms into the openings.

Quinn was glad she remembered the breathing technique she had learned before giving birth to Beth. That helped a little to ease the pain, though she couldn't take too deep breaths.

Rachel supported her while she stepped out of the tub and helped her put her pajamas on. There was no sense in get fully dressed again.

It felt so natural to have Rachel so close, but the bond between them was still very fragile. This could be seen and felt in every hesitation they displayed.

Rachel lightly placed a hand on the small of Quinn's back when they walked out of the bathroom. Quinn relished the touch, knowing that it was another attempt to get to get closer.

They all settled at the table and enjoyed the soup without much conversation. All three women looked tired; the events of the last days were still clinging to their bones.

Rachel said good bye to the two other friends soon after they finished eating. She promised to come back the next morning before Santana had to leave for work.

The brunette gave Quinn a light hug before she left.

Quinn stole another kiss from her when Rachel's cheek brushed by her. With a sheepish smile she told Rachel that she was looking forward to seeing her again the next day.

Me too, the brunette signed and she held Quinn's gaze for a moment, while she cupped one of her cheeks with the warm palm of her hand.

The petite woman's cheek was burning where Quinn's lips had touched her. She was hesitant so show the same kind of affection, even though it itched in her fingers and her whole being. She needed to know that Quinn was comfortable with that and the little gestured from just now, placing that kiss on her skin, gave her hope.

She bent down and whispered in the blonde's ear: "Sleep tight!" Mimicking Quinn's motion she placed a soft kiss on her cheek. They exchanged an intensive look before the brunette forced herself to step back.

Santana walked Rachel to the door and gave her another hug. Twice in one evening, Rachel was astonished. It told her how deeply Santana had been affected by their situation and how much she liked having the brunette back in their lives. She shortly pressed the taller woman against herself before she let go.

"See you tomorrow, Santana."

See you, star. The Latina signed.

Rachel frowned shortly, then smiled and walked out with a little wave.

… … …

Rachel had been glad when Santana came home. It was not because she did not want to spend more time with Quinn, but she had felt the fatigue catch up with her and she needed some time alone to digest everything.

Back at home she sat in front of her laptop, her hands poised over the keyboard. She wanted to say so much, but did not know how. Whenever she started to write something, she erased it again. Nothing seemed to adequately express her thoughts and feelings. Writing things down had helped her a lot over the past months. But tonight, the words just wouldn't come to her, there were too many different images flashing through her mind.

She thought back to the two days in the hospital, about the look of longing, pain and hope Quinn had given her every time she went to visit.

Over the past days she had realized - with the help of Lauren - that indeed there was no way to hide. There was no place on earth where she would ever feel completely at ease. The only possibility she had was to live her life here and now as good as possible. She had the resources, she had the support and love of friends and family and she had the drive.

She still could not explain why it had hit her so hard again after all the time she had spent learning and adjusting and enjoying things again, even without hearing.

It would not always be easy. Lauren had said as much and Rachel had experienced it herself.

But wasn't life about going on, about experiencing and learning?

The only other possibility she had was to not live at all. However, this did not seem to be an option any longer. She did not want to give up anymore. She wanted to prove to the world that she was still capable of doing things. Things she loved.

And she knew she loved one thing more than anything. Spending time with her friends – and Quinn. She needed all of them in her life. Hearing or not. They kept her sane and pushed her along.

What had happened was not going to change, Rachel couldn't erase the past. But she could make sure that she would not let something like that hit her so intensely again.

She could understand that Quinn was hesitant and feared that with the next episode or disappointing experience Rachel would turn her back again. And Rachel also understood that Quinn did not want to be hurt again.

She needed to show her somehow that even though she still had to learn a lot, she was capable of taking care of herself and in a wider sense that she was capable of taking care of Quinn. She wanted Quinn to know that she could stand on her own two feet again. And that she could provide for them, even for a family, on the long run.

She needed an occupation.

The past months Rachel had focused on learning to live without hearing, to compensate, to get back into the world, with all ups and downs. She had been busy surviving.

Now she felt the familiar pull again. It was a feeling that started in her stomach and spread across her chest, making her restless and a little impatient.

Rachel knew that feeling. It had always appeared when she knew she had to take her life into her own hands and needed to take action.

She needed a purpose.

She needed to know she could make her own living and would not be dependent on another person. She had spent a lot of time with Quinn while getting her bearings. But she had not much else to do.

That fact was also one of the triggers that had made her flip. She knew that everyone in that old choir room had finally found a job, had gotten closer to finding out what they wanted to do with their lives.

The Glee meetings had always been so full of excitement. They always happily shared what they had achieved, despite the doubts that Sue Sylvester had tried to sow into their hearts. Even Puck had gotten his act together and founded his own company. Almost all of them had places to go and jobs that fulfilled them. Most of all, they all had a positive outlook on the future. They knew they were on the right track.

But Rachel had been pushed back to square one, and she had nothing to tell, except about her accident. While everyone was moving forward, she had moved backwards. Now she had to start from scratch.

After the months of not knowing how she should move on and what she could do, she finally felt the tug forward again.

After every small step she had taken, Rachel had felt as if she had run a marathon. She had to assess and learn from each new situation and then, once she regained her breath, take the next step, face the next hurdle.

Now, however, she felt like something had lifted off her chest and she was able to take deeper breaths and was able to move on at a slightly faster pace.

What had happened in Lima had thrown her back, yes. But she had come a long way to take on advice and seek help, and her friends had given her clarity and had helped her open her mind again for other things.

The last new acquaintance, Kayla, had given her the final push.

She had to leave that place of self-pity and dread. She had to go on.

In order to go on, she had to let go.

She had to cut the ties that bound her to her old life. It didn't mean that she should forget and ignore everything about it.

That she had already tried and had gotten her nowhere.

She had to find a way to live with her past without letting it weigh her down. Talking to the kids from that school for the deaf, maybe even accompanying them to a show to give them a glimpse behind the stage, could be a way. This experience might also help her to find a new direction in life.

Rachel hadn't told Quinn about that conversation yet, but she vowed to do it the next day. And she would talk to that reporter as well. If he was still interested to do the interview with her, she was willing to do it.

Rachel Berry was ready to face the world again.

Just like in high school, every time something was thrown at her, made her stumble, she would emerge stronger than before. It seemed like the last stumble had now fueled her courage, her ambition even more.

Despite the fatigue she had felt when coming home, she started drafting an e-mail to Patrick Remmond, the reporter who had addressed her after Quinn's concert.

Dear Mr. Remmond,

We met shortly before Christmas at a concert in the Avery Fisher Hall.
You expressed your interest in doing an interview with me. I am willing to discuss terms and conditions and timings.

Rachel thought about how to be contacted best and if she really wanted to deal with this reporter personally. Then again, she did not have a personal assistant anymore. Melissa had offered her help more than once, but Rachel felt bad to contact her now when she hadn't talked to her for months. If she wanted to do this and get the whole Sharon story behind her, she had no other choice than to deal with it on her own.

Please get back to me as soon as possible by e-mail as I have a tight schedule during the next weeks, but I might be able to offer a free slot next Tuesday.

Well, the last part was not entirely true, but that he didn't need to know. Rachel didn't want to give him the feeling that he could dispose of her time as freely as he wanted to.

Regards,
Rachel Berry

Reading over the short message once more she sent it off with a satisfied nod.

When she was finished, she took her phone and sent a message to Kayla.

Hello Kayla, I have thought about your
offer and I think I would like to talk to you
and your friend to learn a little more about this idea.
If it would be all right with you, maybe we can meet
sometime next week to discuss the details.
Have a nice evening,
Rachel Berry

Rachel did not expect an answer back so quickly, thinking that Kayla might be on duty, but not a minute later her phone vibrated. Kayla suggested to meet the upcoming Monday afternoon. Rachel agreed and sent the text off with a smile. They agreed on a time and location and Rachel felt the little tingles of nervousness, but also of excitement in her stomach.

Yes. It was the right thing to do, she thought.

Rachel felt that the actions she had taken by writing that reporter and contacting the nurse, put mortar to her words she had bravely exclaimed all afternoon. Now they were not just empty phrases anymore. She truly wanted to live up to her own aspirations she had expressed.

She realized that only if she kept moving forward, she and Quinn would be able to have a future together. If she stayed on the same spot, she would only weigh Quinn down and make her and herself unhappy.

Rachel sent a prayer skywards to thank for the clarity she had received.

The brunette closed the laptop and walked towards the window and looked out at the lights of the city.

She felt a smile spread across her face and her heart get a bit lighter.

She had lifted the anchor that had kept her moored to the spot. Rachel Berry was ready to set sails again.

… … …

The next morning Rachel arrived at Quinn's apartment and was surprised to find the blonde standing in the kitchen, making herself some tea.

Santana had opened the door and was on her way out to work.

"Hey Rachel, see you later, I'm late, sorry," she apologized signing the last part of the sentence and disappeared down the hallway, before Rachel could say anything in return. She focused on the other woman.

"Good morning, Quinn."

The blonde turned her head and smiled. "Good morning!"

Rachel draped her coat over one of the chairs and placed her bag on the seat.

"How are you feeling today? Are you still in much pain?"

Quinn wagged her head. It's a little better. The pain killers help. I can move a tiny bit better. She signed.

The singer still could not reach all the way up with her right arm, but her movements were less restricted than the past two days, which made it much easier for Rachel to read the signs.

"Good," Rachel smiled relieved. "Did you sleep ok?"

Quinn nodded. Then the water heater behind her clicked and the noise told her it had finished boiling. You want some tea?

"Yes, please. My fingers are freezing, its soooo cold outside!"

Quinn tried to lift her arm to get the mugs out of the cupboard, but couldn't reach up. Rachel had anticipated that and was already moving around the counter to help.

"Thanks," Quinn was a little embarrassed and it angered her that she couldn't do such a simple task herself. She sighed. Well, luckily this was only temporary.

When she had settled on the couch, Rachel sat in the armchair facing her. The silence between them felt awkward while each of them sipped their tea.

"This is weird," Rachel offered after a moment.

What, you sitting so far away or us not talking after our discussion marathon yesterday? Quinn smiled challenging.

"Both."

It never bothered us before when we had a moment of silence between us. I mean… I… damn, sorry, that was a poor choice of words.

"No, well, anyway, you're right. But I would like to tell you something."

What? Quinn raised her eyebrow and hoped that Rachel had not taken a decision again regarding them or their … current relationship – however that was defined right now – without telling her.

The brunette seemed to sense Quinn's insecurity. "No, nothing that concerns us. Not directly anyway."

Okay, so what? Come on, spill, Rachel!

"I have decided to do the interview. I wrote that reporter an e-mail," Rachel offered.

Quinn shot her a surprised look. Really?

"Really. I have decided to get a clean slate once and for all with Sharon and … well, I guess with my life as well. Somehow it feels like I need to do this as part of… getting closure. I was so afraid of people seeing me, recognizing me, but whenever they did, nothing really bad happened, except for…" she waved her hand…"you know … Sharon. The others mostly just told me positive things about how they liked my performance and that they were sad that I couldn't do it anymore. And you know, it's perfectly fine for them to be disappointed and I'm ok with them telling me that." She looked at Quinn. "Now, doing this interview, I'll go public and officially let everyone know what had happened. I mean, by now most of them probably guessed it anyway, but at least they'll have an official statement from me."

Quinn tilted her head and looked at Rachel. It was a little difficult to believe that this was the same person who had told her that she never wanted to have anything to do with music or people who could hear. But her words sounded so sincere. This was not just talk, this seemed to come straight from her heart. She said it in the way you tell something that you have truly understood and experienced. Something that you really felt inside.

Rachel was putting actions behind her words. This took away some of the doubts that still lingered in Quinn's own heart. Rachel was fighting hard to make this work, to convince her that she had learned from her past mistakes. It eased some of the pain in the blonde's heart.

"And you know what else?" A small shy smile pulled at the corners of Rachel's lips and interrupted Quinn's train of thoughts.

What? What? It must be something exciting Quinn realized, the way Rachel looked, even if there was some surprise mixed into her features. As if she couldn't quite believe herself what she was going to tell her.

The brunette told her about her encounter with the nurse from the emergency center and how she had helped her getting information on Quinn's condition that night.

"I went back yesterday day after my visit to you to thank her properly for her support. We talked for a few minutes and when she realized that I had worked on Broadway, she asked me if I was willing to… well, to…" she took a deep breath. "… to talk about Broadway to a class at the school for the deaf."

Her eyes had a tiny sparkle and that was all Quinn had to see.

And are you going to do it? She asked smiling.

This would be a huge step for Rachel and Quinn was not sure if she was ready for it, not after everything that had happened. But she kept her doubts to herself. Hadn't she just one minute ago agreed that something had changed in Rachel and that she seemed… more at peace with her situation? Well, maybe peaceful was not the right word, but the way she talked and what she planned to do just seemed as if she were more accepting of her situation. Accepting and ready to move on.

Maybe there was hope indeed.

She noticed how Rachel waited for her to turn her attention back to their conversation.

Quinn blinked. Sorry, was just thinking, she apologized and repeated her question, more for herself than for Rachel. Will you do it, talk to the kids, I mean?

Rachel inclined her head to one side. "I have thought about it. Rationally I would be the perfect person to tell those kids something about the whole business because of my experience on stage. And because of my experience…" Her voice trailed off.

Of having visited a show and a concert without being able to hear? Quinn finished softly for her and hoped that the encouraging smile she sent across to Rachel reached her.

"Yes," the brunette breathed.

Quinn cocked her head and studied her for a moment. You gave me the rational reasons, but how do you feel about it?

Rachel shrugged. "You know, the funny thing is that no matter how much I try to run away from everything music related, something always pushes me right back to it. Be it people praising my performance or someone like Kayla asking me about talking about it in front of some school kids. Or…" She looked at her hands for a moment. "…falling in love with one of the most beautiful Broadway singers," she smiled shyly.

"Maybe something or someone..." she rolled her eyes at that, "wants me to stay connected. I haven't figured out the reason, but maybe I should stop struggling and fighting against it and just take on the chances I'm given."

She paused for a second.

"I have told Kayla I would do it."

Rachel raised her eyes to gauge Quinn's reaction.

To her surprise the blonde heaved herself from the couch and came over to her. Gingerly she sat on the coffee table; much like Rachel had done the day before. Again she almost had to smile and the reversed situation that seemed so often to happen between them.

Rachel, I… Quinn wiped a tear from her cheek and laughed embarrassed. I am really proud of you! This is… I don't have words to describe what I feel, but to do something like that is a big step. I mean, let alone just accepting the idea and thinking about it is huge. Wow!

"I know." Rachel said slightly humbled by Quinn's words. Then the blonde's hand was moving again.

Please only do it if you are absolutely sure, ok? You don't have to prove everything at once.

"This has nothing to do with proving something to someone. This is about me wanting to do these things. This comes directly from here," and she pointed at her heart, "and not from here." This time she touched her head.

The heart always tells the truths.

Rachel smiled and nodded. She remembered the night where they had talked about how the truth – in the sense of anything that felt true to Quinn - always made the blonde cry.

Rachel felt the same with this possibility that she had been offered. The feeling seemed to start in her chest and spread out through her body. It did feel right, somehow.

"You know, I can't promise I will always be a hundred percent ok with that. But if I don't try, I never will. The surprising thing about this is that for the first time since my accident, when thinking about musicals or talking about my experience, I feel a little excited again!"

The brown eyes sparkled again.

"I feel I could make a difference of how those kids experience a musical without the benefit of hearing the music or the dialogues. When I watched you in Les Boehmiens I found out that there is so much more you can take out!"

Quinn was surprised at the excitement that came across with Rachel's words. She had been signing again in parallel. The way she moved her hands brought across a whole different level of energy, positive energy. Something definitely had changed. Maybe Rachel really was ready to step forward again. Maybe her words form the day before were really born from her inner attitude.

The blonde singer wished so much that this was true. Her own pain was still not forgotten, but at least it started to mend a little.

Talking about things had helped. Seeing how Rachel had found her inner motivation, her inner drive again, did also help.

Maybe Rachel had to go through that deep valley in order to rise above her own failings and learn through the experience. Maybe it had been necessary for her to take every single painful step of the way in order to really know where she stood now.

Quinn felt a wave of peace cloak her like a coat.

If Rachel had to live through all that pain, and if Quinn had to be part of that path and got to see life blossom again in her, then maybe it was all worth it. It didn't make it all less painful, but it was easier for her to deal with it when trying to see the larger picture and not just her own hurt.

… … …

Santana came home around five in the afternoon, having an early evening off as some of her clients were still on vacation. She found Quinn and Rachel bent over a game of Trivial Pursuit. The Latina raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you ain't got nothing better to do?" She asked. Quinn looked up and eased the frown of concentration that had crept onto her forehead after hearing Rachel read out the question.

"Tell me what the largest Mountain in Scotland is." Quinn demanded.

"Hey, no cheating!" Rachel threw in, even though Quinn had not signed the last sentence, she was pretty sure what the blonde had said to the Latina.

"As if you knew," Quinn grumbled, this time signing along.

"Yes I do, and I haven't even looked at the answer yet. So. You know it or not?" She wiggled her eyebrows challengingly.

Quinn shook her head, looking at Santana who just shrugged. "Mac Mountain, maybe?" Quinn snorted and interpreted for Rachel who rolled her eyes.

"Jesus, this ignorance!" The brunette mocked. "It's Ben Nevis."

"Yeah, that one," Santana said slowly and pronounced so Rachel could read her lips. Then she placed her things into her room and came back out.

"So, what are our dinner plans?"

She looked between the two other women and could not stop the happy feeling rise inside her at seeing Quinn and Rachel apparently a lot more at ease with each other. She had missed this so much.

They had become her second family. She had loved their dinners together; she had come to love to know that the house was rarely empty. Hopefully this peace treaty would last.

Maybe she could get a more detailed picture from Rachel a little later. She had talked to Quinn the evening before and had learned about all the things they had discussed and how Quinn felt about it.

Now she was eager to hear the other side of the story.

She did not have to wait for long, because just like the evening before, Quinn decided to take a bath. Somehow soaking in the hot water seemed to help her muscles to relax and afterwards she felt like she could move a little better.

Is it ok if I went into the tub for a moment? She asked Rachel. She felt a little bad leaving her alone. But before she could revel more in her doubts, Rachel broke her out of her thoughts.

"Sure. Santana and I can prepare dinner, ok? You feel like anything special you'd like to eat?"

Quinn smiled. Pizza! With my usual toppings!

Rachel chuckled. "Ok, Pizza it is then. The majesty has ordered. Need help getting into the tub?"

The blonde shook her head. No, I'll try by myself today. If you hear me scream then… I mean…. I…. Quinn didn't know that she could stutter in sign language but that was what she was just doing after her stupid slip of tongue – or slip of fingers? Whatever it was, she felt her face turn red with embarrassment and watched with huge eyes Rachel's reaction.

"So if I do hear you scream, no worries, I'll rush to your side. If I don't hear you – which will probably be the case - I'll rush in anyway to check on you," Rachel quipped with a grin.

She understood why Quinn felt bad, but she wasn't particularly fazed about the comment. She just didn't want Quinn to flinch every time she used the word 'hear' or made any reference to it. Not after everything they have been through.

"It's ok, you can say it, Quinn."

Sorry, I wasn't thinking.

Rachel cupped Quinn's cheek with her hand. "You know, actually that's a good thing. You shouldn't always have to think when we're talking. You shouldn't have to check every single word you're saying in order to avoid the word hear."

Ok, Quinn signed relieved after a moment and Rachel noticed how her shoulders relaxed just a tiny bit. Good to know you'll come to the rescue, she then added with a mischievous smile before she turned to head for the bath tub, or do you just use this as an excuse just to see me naked?

Rachel snorted. "Yes, I do."

When Quinn had disappeared into the other room, Santana came out of hers, having changed into some other clothes.

So. What's for dinner?

"Pizza. Can you order?" Rachel asked her friend.

Sure. Taking the order from Rachel for Quinn and herself, she called the delivery service and added her own favorite Italian dish to the list.

Rachel went into the kitchen and pulled out some plates, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Carefully she set down the dishes and turned.

"What?" Her eyes flicked between Santana's darker ones and her lips and hands. When the Latina did not speak, she prompted her again. "What, Santana?"

I'm just thinking how to phrase this.

"Phrase what?"

Berry, let me think, ok?

"You interrupted me, so…"

"Yeah, well…" Anyway, how're you doing? She added with her hands.

Rachel frowned. "You already asked me that yesterday."

And today is another day. Humor me, Berry, will you?

"Hey, I'm not one of your corporate asses you can boss around." Rachel exclaimed.

No, but you are one of my best friends and after the shock you gave me Santana scribbled on the ever present note pad on the counter, and added: yes, you did! after seeing Rachel's skeptic look when the brunette read the first sentence over her shoulder, when you broke up with Quinn, I think I'm entitled to know about your progress and how you're doing.

Rachel threw her hands in the air, but the right words wouldn't come out of her mouth.

She dropped her arms finally and breathed out. "Fine." And she went on to recapture the day for Santana.

The Latina perked up when she talked about wanting to do the interview and that she had already contacted the reporter.

Rachel was a little surprised about her friend's reaction when Santana pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head.

The brunette steeled herself for another discussion.

God, she had had so many over the past two days, it would have been nice to just enjoy the evening with some lighter conversation. Not that she didn't appreciate all the talking with Quinn, but right now she felt like she had poured her soul onto the table and just didn't have the energy anymore to discuss anything else that night.

Wearily, she looked at Santana. "You have a problem with that? I told you before I might consider it."

Yes, I know, and I partly understand why you want to do it. But Rachel, you can't handle that directly all by yourself!

"Why not?"

Because you are too emotionally involved in that! Rachel could almost hear the sound of the pen when Santana smacked it on the counter after she finished writing.

"And you aren't Santana? If I remember correctly, you almost wanted to kill Sharon!"

Santana rolled her eyes. Well, whatever, but you shouldn't do that interview alone. I'll be there with you. I have gotten to know that woman – at least from afar - and I have heard how she threatened you.

"Santana, I'm going to have the interview with the reporter, not with her!"

Rachel, don't try my patience. And I know she won't be there, but you are doing this because of her. I'll be there with you.

"What, are you my manager now?" Rachel threw her arms in the air.

Yes. Consider me that for this interview. Fact is, this might get pretty emotional and you might want to have someone on your side who can avert the mean and too personal questions. You want someone with you who can back you up and who can tell people to their face if they went too far. Not that I currently see that danger, but you never know. If everything goes well, I'll just be sitting in the back corner quietly observing and I won't do anything else, I promise.

Rachel eyed Santana wearily. Part of her was moved by the fierce protectiveness the Latina displayed. She had a point. This could get pretty emotional and that was never a good thing with reporters. So it would be good to have someone with her. On the other hand, she had handled so many interviews, she would think she could handle this one as well. Yes, but during the other interviews you weren't deaf and you didn't have your former manager trying to ruin your life, a little voice in her head told her. Rachel sighed.

"Fine. Promise you will hold back as long as I don't need a watch dog."

Santana chuckled at Rachel's choice of words. Deal. Tell that reporter to contact me regarding the details. You want to stay in the business, so don't let your guard down too far. I'm still not sure I like the idea of that interview, but well, that is your decision. Will you have an interpreter with you?

Rachel nodded. "Yes. I asked Carmen if she would help me with that."

Good. Forward me the e-mail you sent to him and I will organize the rest and keep you in the loop.

Rachel shook her head. "I still don't get why you want to do that, Santana. That's not your job. You already have one training people and not organizing a simple interview for one of your friends."

Well, we'll see about 'simple'. The interview will be on a quite personal level if you talk about your accident and the consequences. This increases the necessity of having a friend there with you.

Santana softened her gaze and Rachel noticed the real concern behind the dark eyes.

The petite woman smiled and inclined her head shortly. "Ok." After a short moment she laughed and added: "Maybe I should have given you a different nickname."

Santana raised an eyebrow. Which one?

"Bulldog!" Rachel said laughing.

Santana smirked and shook her head slightly.

You are something else, Berry, honestly. Oh, someone is at the door! And she pointed towards the entrance. Rachel fished her wallet out of the bag and waved Santana off when she wanted to pay the delivery guy who stood outside with three deliciously smelling pizzas.

Santana took the food to the table and nodded with her head towards the bathroom. Rachel picked up the cue went to help Quinn get out of the tub again.

… … …

Soon they sat around the table, blissfully biting into their still hot slices. Rachel chewed slowly and thought about the past two days and what would happen now. The forty-eight hours were over.

Quinn didn't need a babysitter anymore, technically speaking. She felt better apart from the pain in her ribs, but that was to be expected to last for a few more days.

Rachel wouldn't have to come over the next day. Technically speaking.

Quinn looked up from her plate and met Rachel's gaze.

The blonde realized as well that her 'observation time' was over and that there was no real reason for Rachel to come over the next day. Technically speaking.

Santana let her eyes wander between the two women. "You two have exactly the same expression on your face. That's creepy. Care to let me in?"

Rachel noted Santana's hands moving out of the corner of her eye, but could not tear herself away from Quinn. She tried to understand what was going on behind the blonde's hazel eyes.

Quinn in turn wondered the same about Rachel. She had blocked out Santana's voice, focusing on her former girlfriend, wishing she knew what to do next.

The brunette finally broke their eye contact and picked up the pizza slice from her plate. It was hard to keep looking at Quinn not knowing what the blonde expected from her. It was hard having lost this unique connections they had shard. It was even harder knowing that she had purposely destroyed it.

Suddenly the pizza didn't taste so good any more. She pushed it away, catching Santana's frown.

"Now what? One minute I see you two guys all lovey-dovey and now you are both pulling a face. What's happening here?" Santana looked from one to the other. She tried to sign again, but failed at the lovey-dovey and pulled a paper close to write down what she had said.

When neither woman said anything, Santana slapped her hand on the table, which caused Quinn to jerk her head towards her best friend. The Latina picked up the pen and simultaneously scribbled down her words while she spoke.

"All right, I know what's going on. Quinn, why don't you ask Rachel to come visit you again tomorrow? And Rachel, why don't you offer to look after Quinn and help her out tomorrow? This way you don't have to make such long faces. Problem solved. I mean, I love my best friend here, but it's about time someone else combed her hair in the morning and helped her getting dressed. "With that she pointedly looked at Rachel, who blushed slightly under the glowering look from the Latina.

Quinn looked at her plate, but couldn't hide a small smirk.

After a second, Rachel also had to smile. Leave it to Santana to pick up on the tension and voice the obvious in her own special and very unsubtle way.

It was funny when both women looked at each other and asked at the same time:

"Will you?" "You want me to?"

Santana snorted and shook her head, but wore a very content expression on her face while she slowly devoured the rest of her dinner.

Honestly, as much as she loved her friends, sometimes she wished she could push them like she pushed her clients.

Later, when Rachel left and Quinn accompanied her to the door, Santana was glad to hear an almost whispered "See you tomorrow," from Rachel. When her best friend then slowly reached out to give the brunette a small hug and a kiss, her heart was happy for a while.

… … …

Back at the table, Santana smirked at her.

"So, Q, I'm glad you both managed to wipe that frown off your faces."

Quinn looked confused. "Which frown?"

Santana rolled her eyes. "C'mon, don't play dumb. When both of you realized that you didn't need a babysitter anymore."

"Oh. That."

"Yes, that." The Latina eyed her roommate for a couple of seconds. "How does it feel?"

The blonde thought for a moment. She knew Santana was not referring to her physical aches and pains. She let out a long breath and then shrugged a little.

"Strange. Strangely foreign, as if we were walking on raw eggs when being around each other. On the other hand, it feels… good. I'm relieved that we are at least talking again."

"And kissing." Santana smirked.

"Yeah, well, that too." Quinn smiled a little. "Guess we need a little more time to comfortably get back to that, too."

"But it felt right," Santana prompted her.

"Yes. It did."

Quinn leaned against the back of her chair. "Rachel is going to do the interview. And she has another project that she is probably going to take on."

Santana heard the surprise in Quinn's voice. And a little pride.

"She told me about the interview and I'm going to be with her when she speaks to that reporter. He seems nice enough, but I think she needs an objective person with her." Santana said.

Quinn snorted. "As if you can be objective. You'll rip that reporter in two if there is only a slight hint of him stepping out of the line."

"You got that right!" The Latina laughed. "Are you mad that she did not ask you to be present? I mean, not that she asked me, I just invited myself."

"Guess you didn't leave her another chance." Quinn smiled at the protectiveness Santana showed towards Rachel. "She told me about it and no, I'm not mad. Rachel didn't want to expose me, but I will be there nevertheless. At least listening in to make sure as well that this guy doesn't overstep any boundaries. I know that business and how tricky and sneaky these people can be."

"That reporter will be surprised to see such a crowed."

"Has she told you about her talk at the school?"

Santana frowned. "What talk?"

Quinn smiled. The Latina noticed again something glimmer in Quinn's eyes, and it wasn't tears. It was joy, admiration and hope. When the former Cheerios captain explained, Santana understood her reaction.

"Wow. That's a major leap forward. Guess she really meant what she said about wanting to move on."

Quinn nodded. "Yes. I… I'm still a bit worried that this might be a little too much. I'm still worried that this might trigger another set-back, but on the other hand I'm surprised and proud that she is taking those steps. It … it gives me hope that she can truly accept me and my profession. She is working hard on overcoming our issues."

"And so are you. Quinn, I'm really happy that you two are reconnecting. It broke my heart to see you both so devastated. You belong together; there is no way around it. And…" she hesitated a moment, before she continued. "…you've become my family. I can't have my family break up," she smiled wistfully.

Quinn moved over to where her friend stood and gave her a hug, touched by the raw emotion she saw play across Santana's face.

"We're on the mend," Quinn answered when she pulled back and repeated it with a smile. "We're on the mend."

And her heart did feel like it was healing.