Note: There might be some changes to the ratings of this fic. I'm a little bored with the lack of drama myself, so I will add some. Later chapters will probably contain drug use and a little violence. There will not be any graphic sex scenes (I think), but there will be some references to it.

The Glee-club have gotten their twelfth member and can compete in sectionals. Before the day is over, two more students are joining. One of them are greeted with enthusiasm, while the other one gets a cold shoulder.

A leading man and the violinist

When Jack dropped out of school a year ago to pursue his dream of becoming a Broadway actor, he'd thought it would be easy. He knew he was good, but without anything to show for himself but his voice, it was kind of hard to land any roles.

He got a few gigs singing in a club, but didn't even make enough money to pay rent on the cheapest room in the city. He had to crash with friends, while hoping to catch a break.

He really thought he'd made it when he got a chance to stand in for one of the guys in Rachel Berry's show, but it didn't lead to anything either. She took a liking to him though, and tried to help him out.

With a semi-steady job as her personal assistant, he made enough for room and board, but he knew it was only temporary. Occasionally she let him join the choir when one of the guys wanted a day off, but it was hardly very satisfying.

Jack also assisted Sam Evans on occasions over the summer, and when the guy learned that he was a highschool dropout, Mr Evans tried to convince Jack to go back to school to graduate. "You could definitely make a career with your voice and your acting skills, but it's always good to have something to fall back on."

It made sense, but Jack was not ready to go back to his old school with his tail between his legs.

When Rachel presented him with another solution, he started to seriously consider doing it.

"I've already asked my dads, and they are willing to take you in. It may be too late to apply for a scholarship, but I'll see what I can do to help." She smiled as Jack stared at her a little dumbfounded. "Your dads? As in, er, plural?"

Rachel chuckled a little. "Yes, plural. I'm sure you're going to fit just fine into their household. They are used to live with a diva." Jack accepted the friendly insult with a shrug. He knew he had it in him.

It took a little while to arrange it all. Jack's parents had fought tooth and nail to prevent him from going to New York in the first place, so when he decided to go back to school they got very pleased. They tried to convince him come home, but caved in when he explained to them that McKinley had the best arts-programs, and that the Glee director had connections on Broadway.

He knew that they supported his dream, so they accepted his explanation. His dad did however mention that they had been right when they told him to wait until graduation to pursue his passion.

He and Rachel came to Lima late on Friday, about a month after school had started. Paperwork from his old school had been delayed, and a few other things had taken it's time to arrange, but now he was there. He also had to admit that he had procrastinated a bit to make sure Rachel was done withe her show, and could go with him.

Jack's parents had come as well, and after discussing the terms for his stay at the Berry house, they promised to send a check every month to cover the expenses. It wouldn't give him much pocket money, so he knew he'd probably have to get a job.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The idea to perform on his first day at school was entirely Rachel's, but Jack didn't mind at all. Being a month late already, one more day wouldn't count, so after spending half that Monday with the guidance counselor to find out what he'd missed so far, he and Rachel had spent the rest of the school day in the auditorium rehearsing.

It was just awesome standing on that stage. He'd never sung at a venue this big before, but he felt instantly comfortable with it. This was how it should be. Being the leading man with a beautiful and famous lady by his side, was just perfect.

When the show was over and the audience had left, Mr Evans announced that Jack would be joining the Glee-club. The news seemed to please them all, and they came over to greet him. Only one guy looked a little bummed by it. He still gave Jack a smile and quick nod, but he stayed in the background.

The explanation came from a dark haired girl with a funny accent. "Hiya. I'm Gwen. I'm a senior, maybe we have some classes together." She obviously noticed that he looked at the boy hanging by himself while the others were crowding around him and Rachel. Gwen followed his line of view before she turned to him again. "Oh. That's John. He hoped for the male lead, but I think he just lost it. You are good, really good."

Jack could see it in her eyes. The girl was totally smitten by him. He took it as a compliment, but wasn't sure if he should flirt with her or just brush her off gently. After giving it a second thought, Jack chose the latter. He didn't want to get involved with anybody here. He had a goal in his life, and this school year was just a postponement of the inevitable. One time in the future he would be performing on Broadway, and nobody in this town was going to hold him back.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Being adamant about going to New York after his Junior year, Jack had done his best to graduate early. It didn't happen, but he had taken most of the required classes. That his grades sucked was another story, but he'd never planned to go to college anyway.

When the transcripts from his old school finally arrived, it was soon discovered that his grade point average was so bad that his membership in glee-club was hanging by a thread.

Mr Evans was very disappointed, but promised to try to help out.

Jack knew he was smart enough, but the workload he'd put on himself as a junior had been a little too much. What he'd thought would be an easy year with only a few classes and a lot of song and dance, would probably be harder than he'd expected.

He knew all this when he entered the stage last night, but decided to forget about it at that moment and hope for a miracle.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Jack had pretty much spent the day so far running around in the halls searching for his classrooms. He had been late to every class, because nobody seemed interested in showing him the way.

It wasn't until fourth period English that he finally saw some familiar faces. Gwen was quick offering him a seat next to hers, and he was happy to take it. John sat in front of her. He turned and looked at Jack before he mouthed 'I'm sorry'.

That was a little strange. Jack didn't know what the guy apologized for, and wanted to ask, but he didn't get time before the teacher entered the room.

When the class was over, John took off without a word. Jack didn't catch up with him again until they were outside the choir room. He really wanted to know why the guy said 'sorry'.

"Oh...It was nothing. I just felt that I was a little rude yesterday." John shrugged. "I was just a little intimidated by your... " His lips curled into a crooked smile. "Your voice is really good, and you're very handsome. I felt threatened."

Jack was intrigued. "And you don't feel threatened anymore?" He asked as they crossed the floor to get to their seats. John sat down. "Ehm, well yes. I mean I do, but come on. You're gorgeous, and you sing, er, beautifully. I'd be a fool If I didn't like having you around."

John was obviously flirting, and Jack wasn't sure how to take that. The guy was very good looking and even if he stuttered a little at the moment, he seemed generally very confident and sure of himself.

If he'd thought it would be tough to keep Gwen at a distance, it would be a piece of cake compared to this. If John pulled out the big guns and went for it, Jack wasn't sure if would be able to resist.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"With Jack on the team... - Welcome Jack." Mr Evans smiled and nodded towards him. "With him, we have the twelve members we need to compete." He paused for a second. "I have to admit that Mr Schuester already signed you up for sectionals because we were sure we would be able to fill that last spot."

Jack technically didn't know what it meant, but he joined the others when they cheered. His old school didn't have a Glee-club, and the school choir never attended any competitions, so even if he had limited information he was excited.

"We have a little more than a month to prepare. I have some ideas already, but I want input from you guys as well." Mr Evans walked up to the whiteboard and grabbed a marker. "Until then, we are going to have weekly assignments. This week was cut a little short, and I'm sorry."

He turned to the board and started writing. "EUROPE. European music, European artists. We've already heard Pink Floyd and Andrew Lloyd Webber, so let's try to look at the other countries over there. Be creative. Do solos or perform in groups." Mr Evans panned the crowd. "Surprise me."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Charlie was hanging outside the door to the choir room, and she overheard every word in there. She kind of felt like she knew them all a little bit after being on stage with them yesterday. That was probably a stretch. She knew their names and she she knew their voices, but she technically only knew the few of them that she shared classes with.

During their rehearsal in the free period on Monday, Unique and Castiel had spent a few minutes talking with the musicians. Charlie wasn't used to that. Normally they'd get a sheet of music ahead of time, and were expected to play flawlessly at the performance.

This time, it had been a little different. The students in New Directions had an assignment over the weekend, and the girls in the string ensemble didn't even know that they had to attend until that very morning.

She shared a few classes with Castiel, although she knew him as Jim. Charlie didn't care about that. He could call himself whatever he wanted. She'd recognized Ianto from English class, and Kevin was in advanced Math and also in computer club with her and Garth. It wasn't like she would be a total stranger when she entered the room.

She had also got a chance to shake hands with the new guy. He was really something. Charlie could see that the other girls practically drooled over him, and she could understand. He was very handsome.

With a voice like that and a friendship with The Rachel Berry, he could have been cocky and full of himself, but he seemed very humbled to be there. He even came over and thanked them all personally after his and Miss Berry's last runthrough before the show started.

Charlie had wanted to be in Glee-club since she started high-school, but there wasn't any time between classes and orchestra. Another issue was, that even if playing the fiddle didn't put her in with the popular kids, she knew that the New Directions went through hardships that she couldn't even imagine.

This year was totally different. All the arts programs were up and running, the orchestra was thriving, and now, Charlie felt that she didn't belong there anymore.

She noticed that one of the guys from the football team came towards her. and Charlie braced herself. Even if the jocks could get punished severely for bullying the nerds this year, she didn't quite trust it. She was alone in the hall with one of them, and there would be no witnesses.

"Are you going in there?" The guy actually looked a little intimidated. "I, er, I'm thinking about it myself, but I don't know." He threw a peek over his shoulders as if he was expecting someone to come up behind him. Charlie chuckled a little to herself. A footballer in Glee-club; that was unexpected. She knew that he wasn't the first one in the history of New Directions, but this year there were none so far.

"I am. Going in there, I mean." Charlie nodded towards the door. She knew instantly that this guy was more intimidated about this than she was, and she tried not to smirk when she felt that she had the upper hand. The presumably tough jock was actually blushing a little, and Charlie had to look away so he wouldn't notice how humorous the situation was for her.

"Sush!" She wasn't quite sure, but after a few minutes of silence in the choir room, she thought she heard Sam Evans' voice again. It was supposed to be her cue, but the football guy had thrown her off.

"I'm going in right now, I have to play for them before I do my song audition. Come on." Charlie turned the knob quietly and pushed the door open slowly. The football player followed her in, but he stopped by the door while she snuck over to the band.

Mr Evans was obviously ready for her, and as soon as she'd picked up her violin, he nodded for her to start. There was no time for fine tuning, but she was pretty sure the instrument was good to go anyway.

The first few measures of 'Londonderry air' trickled out as Mr Evan's addressed his class. "I'm gonna give you an example." He chuckled a little as he threw a peek at Charlie. He mouthed 'I'm sorry' before he turned back to his students. "I should have chosen something else, because I didn't have time to learn the lyrics perfectly."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Oh, Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side…"

The director looked lost for a split second, but then he continued.

"The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,

'Tis you, 'Tis you must go and I must bide."

When he again seemed like he'd forgotten how to proceed, Jack decided to help out. He knew that song very well.

"But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,"

Jack sang with Mr Evans as he walked to the front of the class.

"Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,

'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,—

Oh, Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so!"

Sam stepped to the side and took a bow as he threw his hand out towards Jack. "You can do it alone. I'm officially outsung."

Jack could hear that the rest of the band was joining the lonely violin, and he let them play a few extra measures before he started on the second verse.

Being the new guy, he was a little afraid that the rest of the class would think that he was a little too bold. It couldn't be helped. If they didn't like him it would be their loss. Jack knew that he was really a nice guy, and he'd help any one of them out if they needed it.

"...For you shall bend and tell me that you love me,

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!

Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny boy, I love you so."

The band went quiet, and the young girl with the violin played the end measures all by herself. It sounded beautiful, and when she was done the whole class cheered wildly,

Jack wasn't sure if they applauded for him or for her, but that didn't matter. They all seemed to like what they'd heard, and the smiles on their faces when they looked at him seemed genuine.

The new new guy and the girl who made it happen.

Dean didn't know he had been clapping until multiple sets of eyes stared at him. He didn't feel very confident as he pushed away from the wall, but he did his best not to let it show.

"Hey. That was good." He nodded towards the singer. "Jack isn't it? English class. I sit right behind you." A good portion of his English class was there, and even if he hadn't elaborated too much, they've all probably heard that he had dropped a few lines about the nerds in Glee.

Jane - Dean remembered her name now - and the twins didn't look very amused by his appearance, while John rolled his eyes as he seemed to be on his way over to greet him. Dean sent the guy a piercing stare, and it worked because he slumped back down in his seat again. It wasn't until this moment Dean realized that this was the guy who'd spotted him eavesdropping. It was a little embarrassing to discover. They'd been in class together for a month already, and Dean hadn't even recognized him.

In the corner of his eye, he could see that Gwen was looking down as she did her best to cover up a giggle. He chose to ignore it. Wade - dressed as a girl with makeup and all - gave him a small wave and an encouraging smile.

Sam's friends, Jo, Kevin and that funny looking guy Garth, were looking at each other and seemed to hold their breaths. The blue-eyed boy that Dean remembered from the hall the other day, was just staring curiously at him, and the British guy seemed totally unaware of what was happening.

Dean nodded towards the band and gave the red-headed violinist a quick smile before he looked around for Mr Schuester. He wasn't there, but a tall, blonde, handsome guy was pushing away from the piano and came towards him. "Hi. Who are you? Are you here to join?" His smile was contagious, and Dean couldn't help smiling back. "Well, er, yeah. I kind of…"

The guy reached his hand out. "I'm Sam Evans, I'm the director of Glee-club. You will have to audition. I can set up a time right now if you wish?" Dean grabbed his hand and shook it. "Uh, well… Can I do it now?"

Dean had been curious about the Glee-club for a long time, and had been listening in on several occasions, so he knew how things worked in there. Mr Evans shrugged and panned the group. "Shall we let him?"

A unison 'yeah' came back. Not all of the voices sounded equally enthusiastic, but Dean tried not to let that get to him. He walked over to the drummer and gave him a few instructions before he turned towards the audience.

The drummer had picked up a set of congas and started hitting them at the required beat. The Brit seemed to wake up, and it was clear that he knew what was coming.

"Please allow me to introduce myself

I'm a man of wealth and taste

I've been around for a long, long year

Stole many a man's soul to waste…"

Dean tried not to think about it as an audition. He pictured himself in front of the mirror in their little apartment singing all by himself. The director was quietly tapping his thigh to the beat as he watched the performance.

"Pleased to meet you

Hope you guess my name…"

Dean decided to be bold. He took a few steps forward and reached out to pat Jack's shoulder. He chose Jack because he was the only one in the front who seemed unconditionally pleased about the whole thing. To the rest of them he only threw a smile and a nod before he stepped back again.

"But what's puzzling you

Is the nature of my game…"

Dean kept singing as he walked around in the room, and after the second chorus, the whole choir joined him. The subtle 'Woo-woos' he could hear in the background of his own voice pleased him immensely.

The song was very long, so Dean cut a few of the verses. He didn't want to take up too much of their time.

"So if you meet me

Have some courtesy

Have some sympathy, and some taste

Use all your well-learned politeness

Or I'll lay your soul to waste, mm yeah…"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Charlie smiled to herself. The guy that looked so intimidated and almost scared when she met him in the hall, was putting up quite a show. Even if his voice wasn't as good as Jack's, this guy was definitely star material.

Mr evans went up to him and patted his shoulder. "Welcome to Glee-club. What's your name? I'm guessing it's not Lucifer." Charlie knew that he referred to the song, but nobody except the British guy seemed to find it remotely amusing. "I'm Dean, Dean Winchester." He gave the crowd a quick nod.

Charlie noticed that some of the students in there didn't seem too happy, and she wondered why. Madison and Mason - she remembered their names from the show last night - were sticking their head together. The blonde girl looked like she'd just eaten something she didn't like, and both Kevin and Garth were shaking their heads as they shared a telling look.

With the slightly hostile environment at the moment, Charlie wasn't sure if she should try to get an audition today. She started to pack up her instrument, and decided to wait a couple more days.

"Hey. You were going to audition as well." Dean had obviously noticed that she was about to sneak away and came running over. "You helped me over that threshold," he waved towards the door. "I will support you unconditionally in your try-out."

Charlie panned the audience as she shook her head. "I'm not so sure your unconditional support will help me." She whispered as she closed the violin case. "I need their support, and I'm sorry to say, but it looks to me as if they don't like you very much."

"Charlie, Charlie, Charlie." Kevin and Garth had obviously picked up that she'd planned to sing. They were clapping and tried to urge the rest of the choir to join the cheer. A few of the others picked it up, and soon the whole crowd were singing her name.

Mr Evans looked at her. "Seems to me that you don't have a choice. Come on. You play beautifully, I'm sure you can sing wonderful as well."

Charlie had been singing since she was a toddler and she had taken vocal lessons in her early teens, but she had never sung in front of an audience before. Playing in the orchestra was very different from this. Even when she had a solo performance, it wasn't this nerve wracking. She could focus on the instrument and the sound of the music instead of herself.

She cleared her throat. "I, I didn't warm up, I wasn't, well I was, but…I prepared a song, but I can't…. I have to… European, you said? I know a few." Completely out of breath, she had to pause to inhale. Mr Evans chuckled a little as he patted her arm. "The European thing was an assignment for the members, and since you're not a member yet…" He smiled at her. "Whatever you want. And remember, this room is magical. Warm-ups are rarely necessary."

The song that she'd planned to sing included the violin, but she decided not to try to hide behind the instrument. Dean had showed extreme boldness in there and she didn't want to be any less daring. It was perfectly clear that the guys in the club didn't like Dean very much, but he'd still managed to put up a great performance of an otherwise - in Charlies opinion - sad and boring song.

Charlie already had the support and she only needed to show that she could actually sing. She gestured for Brad to scoot over so she could share the piano stool with him. Her proficiency on the piano wasn't great, but she dabbled.

She hit the keys and started playing, and it took but a second for Brad to pick up and play with her. After the short intro, she got up and left the piano to him.

"When are you gonna come down?

When are you going to land?

I should have stayed on the farm

Should have listened to my old man."

The smiles in front of her calmed her down a little. The group was swaying from side to side in sync with the beat, and she could hear somebody humming along.

"So goodbye yellow brick road

Where the dogs of society howl…"

Did someone actually howl a little? Charlie wasn't sure.

"You can't plant me in your penthouse

I'm going back to my plough…"

It was a little weird standing there without her violin. Charlie didn't really know what to do with her hands. She was so used to performing with it that she actually lifted her arms and pretended to hold an imaginary fiddle. The guitarist picked up and during a short solo, he managed to make his instrument sound like a violin.

"Back to the howling old owl in the woods

Hunting the horny back toad

Oh I've finally decided my future lies

Beyond the yellow brick road."

The choir was joining her on the 'aaa's' at the end, and with the harmonies they added it sounded awesome.

Songs in this chapter

Danny boy - L: Frederic Weatherly, M: Londonderry air, unknown composer

Sympathy for the Devil - L/M: Jagger/Richards

Goodbye Yellow Brick road - L: Bernie Taupin, M: Elton John