Disclaimer – Don't own Glee, never have, never will, I'm over it

Hello dear readers, we have made it to chapter 40 *applause*

I have two and a half months to go until my wedding day and I'm excited/stressed/nervous and just generally freaking the hell out *awkward laughter*

Something that happens in the end of this chapter (you should work out what the 'something' is) has been planned since day one and I've been working towards it from the start. I really hope that it pays off here and doesn't disappoint.

As always, thanks for reading and reviewing…

Chapter 40 – And I Said to Myself Sit Down

It was just another day at McKinley High.

Coach Sylvester marched down the corridors in a blue tracksuit, megaphone in hand and a glare in her eyes as she loudly insulted fatties and pointed out that Mr. Schue had a butt-chin. Bullying jocks roamed through the halls as though they owned them while the Chess Club ensured they kept out of their way. Groups of girls whispered and giggled together, couples stopped to share kisses whenever they could and teachers poured themselves coffee to get them through the day.

As Mercedes sat in her favourite class and smiled, the sun outside smiled along with her. Santana and Brittany discreetly linked their pinkie fingers together under the table. Tina strutted along in a short black dress, her three inch stilettos clicking with each step and the smirk on her mouth was enhanced by the blood red lipstick she wore. A fresh bite hidden under his shirt collar, Mike followed a few steps behind her, gazing upon her like a loyal puppy awaiting affection from his Master.

In Spanish class, Quinn found herself seated between Finn and Matt. As she tried to ignore the awkward situation and concentrate on Mr. Schue, she found her hand dropping down under the desk to rest on her stomach. Closing her eyes in embarrassment when Mr. Schue began to rap in Spanish, Quinn found that she could almost remember how it felt to have the baby kick. Finn had ceased chewing on his pen in favour of drumming out a beat with it as Mr. Schue performed. Matt, as usual, was silent.

As he often did, Puck ditched Math class to take a nap in the nurse's office. Not feeling in the mood to sit in a chair and solve equations, Artie also skipped Math and used his time to run around the field. An invisible Kurt had slipped into the nurse's office after Puck to perform his own special examination to determine his boyfriend's health.

Despite the fact it felt like a thousand hot pokers were being shoved through her skull every second, Rachel put on a show smile and moved through the school halls in her Cheerio uniform with her hands on her hips and her high pony bouncing as she walked.

"Looking good, Rachel," a Football player winked at her.

"Hey Rach," another Cheerio stepped up to link arms with her. "I have a date with Derek tonight. Should I wear red or blue?"

"Blue, it brings out your eyes," Rachel advised.

"Blue, I knew it, thanks Rach, you're the best," she gushed pulling Rachel in for a quick hug before practically skipping away.

"Rachel," another girl smiled at her handing over a flyer. "It's my sweet sixteen this Saturday. I really hope you'll come."

"Of course, sounds fun, thanks Katy," Rachel smiled accepting the flyer.

"Oh my god, Rachel Berry knows my name," Katy squealed excitedly to her friends.

"Have you and Artie considered running for Prom King and Queen?" Jacob Ben-Israel asked her in his nasally tone with his camera in hand. "Because the word is you two are the top contenders to win those shiny crowns."

"Oh Rachel, you'd make the perfect Prom Queen," a girl from the Debate Club claimed. "You and Artie would definitely have my vote," she told her.

Yes, just another day at McKinley High.

XXX

At lunch time, Brittany asked what everyone thought Mr. Schue's next Glee assignment would be.

"I think we should do Beyonce," Brittany stated. "That way I get to sing lead because I'm the best dancer."

"Personally I feel its time for us to have a week dedicated entirely to Broadway," Kurt said. "Other than Rachel none of you experiment with Broadway tunes enough."

"Well I think we should sing some darker material," Tina smirked as she took a long gulp of pig's blood from her thermos.

"Some Amy Winehouse or Alanis Morrisette would be cool," Santana said.

"We need some cool guy stuff to sing," Finn spoke up.

"I don't care what we sing as long as I get to add some of my chocolate thunder," Mercedes told them all as she devoured her tots.

XXX

Away from the noise of the cafeteria, Rachel and Artie took their lunch in the Choir Room, the ever silent Matt joining them.

"The vision again?" Artie asked sympathetically as Rachel released a groan and rubbed at her temples.

"Yeah, the same one," Rachel answered. "I can see a girl but I don't know who she is or what's happening. It's so frustrating. I know she needs help, I can feel it. I just don't know what's going on, who she is, or when it's going to happen. And if I try to concentrate to make the vision form fully rather than be a confusing blur I get a massive headache. And if I try to ignore the blurry vision I still get a massive headache."

"We will find a way to get rid of this, I promise," Artie told her and she smiled weakly in response though she didn't seem convinced. "So… have you spoken to Quinn lately, bro?" he asked Matt who shook his head. "Maybe you should," Artie suggested. "You had a child together and gave her up for adoption. Even if you aren't a couple you should at least talk about it."

"Normally I would agree with you," Rachel said. "But being Quinn's best friend and having the ability to hear her thoughts I know that she isn't yet prepared for such a conversation. Maybe some day. But not right now. As it stands she'll tear Matt a new one if he tries to approach her for a conversation about the baby. In fact, Quinn will pretty much lash out at anyone who tries to talk about the baby. It's just too sensitive a subject matter at the moment. Well, truthfully it's been too sensitive a subject matter since she first suspected she was pregnant. She won't be prepared to talk about this for a long time, maybe never."

"Does she regret it?" Matt asked.

"The adoption?" Rachel checked as she was never able to read the boy's mind for some unknown reason. Matt nodded in confirmation. "No, she believes she did the right thing. It wasn't easy for her and she does miss the baby and have genuine affection for her but she doesn't regret giving her up so that she might have a better life that Quinn isn't able to provide. Oh come on, not again," Rachel whimpered burying her head in her hands as the blurry vision of a girl struck her mind once more.

"Just breathe through it, Rach," Artie soothed. "Think of all the techniques Brittany taught you."

"None of that works," Rachel complained. "I think I'm going to skip next class and sit in a dark corner of the library for a while. It's quieter in there. Quinn will probably ask so just tell her I'm fine and try to downplay it; she worries."

"Hey, I'll come with you," Artie said and Rachel shook her head.

"I'm sorry," she apologised to her boyfriend. "But I can hear you worrying about me too and it's sweet, it is, but…"

"But it's hurting you," Artie sighed.

"I'll go," Matt offered as his thoughts never penetrated Rachel's mind to cause her discomfort.

"Thanks, man," Artie said appreciatively before wrapping Rachel up in his arms and kissing her temple. "Just do your best to block it all out," he advised her.

"I'll see you later," Rachel pecked him on the lips before leaving with Matt for the library.

XXX

"She's really not getting any better," Artie confided to Kurt and Tina. "I freaking hate this. I care about her so much and she's in pain and I can't stop it. If I'm around her too long I just make it worse."

"We seriously need to think of something," Kurt said. "And we need to think of it fast. I don't know how she's managing to get through the school days with a smile on her face."

"Rachel loves performing," Tina stated. "And she's good at it too. No matter what, the show must go on, even if she's plagued with constant headaches. She's an actress," she shrugged.

"Well I'd happily give her a Tony Award," Kurt replied. "But I'd rather give her a cure."

"If I knew how to do it I'd cure her myself," Tina said sympathetically. "But none of our theories or ideas are working and we've all agreed to rule out hospitals for fear of psycho government types swooping in and experimenting on her."

"There must be something we haven't thought of yet," Kurt reasoned.

"Maybe we could Google it," Tina suggested.

"The internet, really?" Artie asked doubtfully.

"Why not? Everything else is on the internet nowadays," Tina pointed out.

"It wouldn't hurt to look," Kurt supported. "And we're all out of any other ideas. Even Brittany's suggestion that Lord Tubbington perform an exorcism on Rachel is starting to sound optimistic."

"If we can't fix this, if we can't make it go away," Artie said. "What will happen to her?"

"I don't know," Kurt answered quietly. "And I certainly don't want to find out. We will help her."

"I think she'll go insane," Tina stated bluntly and the two boys frowned at her. "Oh, don't give me that look when you both know I'm right. The longer this goes on the more likely it is that Rachel will be driven insane. She must have a really strong mind to have been able to last this long without going cuckoo."

"I know you're trying to help, Tina," Artie said. "Or at least I think you are, but sometimes you really should just keep your mouth shut and this is one of those times."

"Whatever, I'm sorry ok," Tina told him. "We'll help her get rid of this thing. I promise."

"This recurring vision she's been having," Kurt said thoughtfully. "Any chance this mysterious vision could be a clue to stopping the voices and the visions."

Artie and Tina shared a thoughtful look at the idea.

"Well?" Tina prompted growing impatient with Artie's lack of verbal response. "Could this vision Rachel's been having lead to some kind of cure for her?"

"I don't know," Artie answered. "I honestly hadn't thought about it."

"So think about it," Tina replied.

"I'm thinking," Artie responded defensively, sparks emitting from his fingertips due to his frustration.

"Could you think a little faster?" Tina huffed.

"T, quit stressing him out," Kurt interjected as a few more small sparks of blue burst from Artie's fingertips. "Rachel's vision, what exactly happens in it?" Kurt asked Artie.

"That's the thing, it's not a fully formed vision," Artie explained. "It's just a blur. All Rachel can tell is that there's a girl and she needs some kind of help. But she doesn't know who, or when, or why. But it's the same thing each time, it just keeps repeating in her head."

"Maybe we could try out the Choir Room theory again," Kurt suggested. "If the five of us just sit in there a little longer…" he trailed off not really knowing what to say.

The bell rang signalling the end of class and in the blink of an eye Tina had gathered her things and left the room, probably snatching up Mike along the way for a quick make-out session and special drink.

Walking together at a normal speed, Kurt and Artie continued to discuss Rachel's wellbeing. As they were trying to decide whether it would be worthwhile to sit around in the Choir Room again Karofsky stalked by, shoving Kurt against the nearby wall.

"Yo, back the hell off," Artie defended giving Karofsky a shove back.

"Just keep the homo away from me," Karofsky sneered before moving along.

"You ok?" Artie checked turning to find Kurt rubbing at his elbow.

"I'm fine," Kurt replied. "Thanks," he added just as Puck came storming over.

"What the hell was that?" Puck demanded to know, pointing after Karofsky.

"Just the usual 'Neanderthal bullying the gay kid' drama," Kurt told him. "Forget about it, Noah," he said in a more serious tone in response to the displeased look on his boyfriend's face.

"Karofsky seriously needs me to rearrange his face," Puck spat aggressively.

"He's not worth it," Kurt said. "What we really need is to think of a way to help Rachel."

"Quinn told me she was getting worse," Puck looked to Artie for confirmation.

"It's bad, worse than bad," Artie admitted.

"Fuck," Puck swore not knowing what else he could possibly say. "I haven't really seen her round school today. Where's she at?"

"The library with Matt," Artie answered. "It's dark and quiet in there, less painful," he elaborated.

Turning the corner, they walked into Matt but Rachel was not with him.

"Dude, where's Rachel?" Artie asked.

"She said she needed some air," Matt told him. "Nearly twenty minutes ago," he said checking his watch. "I was just on my way to try and find her."

Instantly, Artie sped up his pace as he headed outside of the school in search of his girlfriend. Without missing a beat, Kurt, Puck and Matt followed after him, Tina, Mike, Mercedes and Quinn joining them along the way.

"What's going on?" Quinn asked. "Where's Rachel? I haven't seen her since first period and she's not answering her phone."

"She needed some air," Matt said.

"And you let her go by herself?" Quinn asked with an accusatory tone.

"Oh look, mummy and daddy are fighting," Puck teased.

"Not now, Noah," Kurt reprimanded.

Leading the way outside, Artie marched down the school steps and spied Rachel sitting cross-legged on a bench and holding hands with Brittany, Santana and Finn standing nearby.

"What's going on?" Artie asked as he reached them.

"Ssh, they're meditating," Santana told him.

"Is it helping?" Quinn asked.

"Doesn't look like it," Finn answered as Rachel released a whimper and let go of Brittany's hands in favour of cradling her head.

Pushing by Finn and Santana, Quinn sat by Rachel on the bench and let a hand rest comfortingly on her shoulder.

"Rachel, sweetie, maybe you should go home and rest," the blonde suggested in a motherly tone.

"That doesn't sound like a bad plan," Puck said.

"Yeah, you look like hell, Berry," Santana supplied with her ever delightful honesty.

"Come on," Artie said taking his girlfriends hand. "I'll take you home and make you some soup."

"I'll draw you a nice hot bath with bubbles and light a scented candle," Quinn offered.

"I have a CD in my locker you can borrow," Brittany told her. "It plays whale music. Lord Tubbington finds it really relaxing."

"When I'm stressed out and stuff I usually play Halo," Finn chipped in.

"Not helpful, dude," Mercedes told him.

"Guys, I'll be… I'll be fine," Rachel spoke up. "I just need… I just need some space," she took on a slightly hysterical tone as she moved away from them all.

"Rach, wait," Artie made to walk after her but Tina grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Let her have some space," Tina advised. "Give her a chance to breathe. It can't be good for her being crowded like this."

Begrudgingly, Artie hung back, watching on as Rachel walked away, rubbing at her temples and seemingly muttering to herself.

"Matt, could you maybe catch up with her?" Artie asked him. "Just look out for her, make sure she's ok on the grounds that your thoughts don't hurt her."

Matt nodded and made to take a step but Santana blocked his way.

"Whoa, come on, Queen T's right, Berry needs some space," Santana commented. "And look, she's fine," she pointed in Rachel's direction. "We can all see her. She's perfectly safe. Nothing's going to happen. Just trust your Auntie Tana and calm the fuck down ok."

"I have a really bad feeling," Quinn voiced.

"That's probably just the feel of your stretch marks rubbing together," Santana responded.

"You're such a bitch," Quinn retorted.

"I try," Santana smirked.

"I kind of have a bad feeling too," Kurt spoke up.

"Sex with Puckerman can have that affect," Santana told him.

"What is it, babe?" Puck asked circling his arms around Kurt's waist from behind, opting to ignore Santana's jibe.

"I don't know," Kurt replied. "I just have this odd feeling in my stomach. I feel like something bad is going to happen. Something's going to go wrong, I just don't know what."

"Hey, don't worry," Puck kissed his cheek. "The Puckersaurus is here to protect you."

Still rubbing at her temples, Rachel had moved further away and was now outside the school gates and moving along the sidewalk. Closing her eyes, a spectrum of colours burst behind her eyelids. Indistinct noises sounded in her mind and as she opened her eyes, the girl in the vision presented herself once more.

"Who are you?" Rachel called out to her. "Let me help you. Just tell me what you want."

She took a step off the sidewalk, stretching her arm out in an effort to reach the girl in her vision. Her fingertips passed through the vision-girl's shoulder and she flipped her blurred brunette hair over her should before turning round to face Rachel. The vision-girl's features changed from their blurry state and became fully focused as she screamed out. Along with the sound of a car horn, the identity of the girl in the vision was revealed. Rachel Berry had been having a vision about Rachel Berry. Standing in the middle of the road with a car blaring its horn as it sped towards her, Rachel screamed as the vision faded to be replaced by an electric blue light.

Seconds later, Rachel had a stinging pain in both hands and scraped knees from where she'd landed on all fours after being pushed out of harm's way. Forcing herself to her feet, she turned around in search of her rescuer, not entirely sure what had happened.

"Artie!" she cried out in horror seeing her boyfriend sprawled out in the road, the car having struck him before colliding with the school gate. "Artie, Artie?" Rachel called desperately rushing to the boy's side.

"My legs," Artie croaked in a frightened tone. "Rach, I can't feel my legs."

It didn't dawn on Rachel until she and the rest of the Glee Club were sat in the hospital waiting room that she couldn't hear Artie's thoughts, or anybody else's.

"It's quiet," Rachel said.

XXX

The Glee Club sat in the waiting room for hours but a nurse advised that Artie was refusing to have visitors other than his parents. The boy didn't attend school for the next two and a half weeks. Rachel no longer heard thoughts or saw visions. Mercedes had no control over the weather. Tina had no thirst for blood or superior strength. Kurt had lost the ability to turn invisible and walk through walls.

On his first day back to school, Artie was in a wheelchair.

To Be Continued…

A/N: In a way, this could be seen as an ending, but as it feels like the Kurt/Puck element of the story would be very lacklustre if this was the ending it will continue for at least one more chapter to tie up the odd loose end and really give the Kurt/Puck relationship a more deserving ending (hopefully anyway)

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Love and Hugs, IceQueenRia xox