"RUN, BABY! RUN NOW, BA-" A shot echoed as the 8 year old brunette startled with wide eyes and a trembling form blood and brain matter splattering over her.
The little girl watched with large unblinking eyes as the body before her slumped into emptiness. Dead hallow eyes stared back at her lifelessly when just moments prior were urging her with fearful passion to run.
"Rachel?" Quinn leaned over the brunette. "Rachel." Quinn tried as she began to shake the brunette awake but nothing.
"Rachel?" She tried again, only to gasp as she was grabbed strongly than flipped and slammed on to her back on the plush bed with a gun pointed at her head as feral bloodshot chocolate eyes stared down at her. The brunette's chest was heaving, her stare cool with intent to kill.
"I'M SO SORRY, PLEASE DON'T SHOOT!" Quinn strained out hoarsely.
The strained hoarseness do to the strong grip on the blonde's neck slowly cutting off her air supply. Rachel's eyes cleared from their haze of the nightmare she was just having.
The brunette gasped and scrambled back so quickly from the blonde, she fell from the bed but it didn't seem to register. She stared at the terrified blonde on her bed in shock.
Quinn's eyes were wide and frozen in fear before she herself scrambled from the bed and bolted from the room.
The brunette's eyes took in the tray of food abandoned on her night stand. "Shit!" Rachel whispered harshly as she ran an agitated hand through her hair.
Quinn ran through the hall than down the stairs with no real destination in mind, her heart thundering in her chest.
Rachel had a gun to her head. She had a gun to her head and was choking her with unrelenting force. Quinn rounded the corner and slammed into a body.
"Woah, there little lady." Carmela said with a smile as she gripped the blonde's forearms after colliding with her.
Quinn was breathing harshly and try to run but the woman's grip was firm.
"Hey, Hey what's wrong sweetheart?" Carmela asked softly than lifted a hand to wipe the blonde's tears.
Quinn's eyes widened a fraction in surprise. She hadn't even noticed she was crying.
"A gun! She had a gun!" Quinn flustered out in panic.
"Who?"
"Rachel! Rachel had a gun! She was going to kill me!"
Carmela's eyes widened than she looked back and forth before turning Quinn around and guiding her in the opposite direction of the hall that led to the entertainment room where she knew the children and Sam were watching TV.
"What are you doing?! We have to get out of here!" Quinn argued in a panic trying to get pass the woman but Carmela was a large woman and Quinn's scrawny form was no match for the hers.
Carmela finally got Quinn to the back porch through the kitchen. She shut the door behind her and Quinn's eyes were wide with fear. "You know, don't you?! You know she's-" Quinn spluttered with accusation.
"Listen, I need you to calm down." Carmela advised softly.
"Calm down? Calm down?! You sent me up there to bring her food only to almost get me killed?! And you want me to calm down?!"
"Quinn." Carmela spoke with an edge to her tone that sent a shiver down Quinn's spine.
"You don't understand!" Quinn gritted out in tearful anger.
"I do."
"No you don't!"
"Yes." Carmela said as she unbuttoned one button from her top and pulled the left corner down. Quinn gasped in surprise, there were two bullet holes mere inches apart. "I do." Carmela finished calmly.
"She.. She shot you?"
"I think it's time we talk don't you think?" Carmela suggested as she gestured to the patio set. Quinn nodded stiffly as she followed the woman to her seat.
"Quinn, before I start I'd like for you to understand that whatever we discuss stays between us."
Quinn nodded her understanding albeit nervously. She was terrified and no longer felt safe staying there with her family.
However; she couldn't mistake the look in Rachel's eyes. It was almost as if the brunette wasn't present. As if she were somewhere else entirely.
It wasn't until she was able hoarse out her words did it seem that whatever fog Rachel was under lifted.
The utter shock and disbelief on the brunette's face was sad to see. So, she wanted to understand even though her body was screaming at her to run.
"Good, thank you." The blonde stiffly nodded her welcome. "Quinn, do you know why your here? Why Rachel is putting herself in jeopardy by having you and your family here?"
"She said she had a gut feeling to help us."
"That's true. Rachel wants to keep you and your family safe."
Quinn's eyes raised to meet Carmela's.
"You see, Quinn, Rachel is very special. She's also very.." Carmela searched for a word for a moment. "She's very sensitive in a way that can come across as.. Paranoid."
Quinn furrowed her brow in confusion. Rachel never gave off that vibe. If anything she seemed pretty comfortable in her own skin. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you need to remember to always be careful."
"Careful?"
"Yes, I sent you upstairs with specific instructions that you did not follow. Which in hindsight, I shouldn't have sent you up at all but I did give you specific instructions. Now, tell what instructions did I give you?"
Quinn calmed herself down enough to think back. "You told me to bring her, her food and I did than she went all psycho on me and tried to-"
"Quinn. What instructions did I give you?" Carmela interrupted.
The woman was staring her down with a significant look.
"I.." Quinn licked her dry lips and thought back once more. "You asked me to take Rachel's food up to her and be sure to be as quiet as a mouse."
"And?"
"And.." The blonde shut her eyes in shame as it dawned on her clear as day why exactly Rachel reacted the way she did. "And you told me to place the tray on her night stand and leave as soon as possible. Being sure to not wake Rachel."
Carmela smiled. "Precisely and what did you do that caused her to wake up exactly?"
Quinn bit her lip and cast her eyes down to her lap briefly before looking back up at the older woman. "I.. I put the try on the night stand like you said and I was going to leave, I swear but.. I wanted to speak to her. Privately at least, I've been waiting all night and I know I disregarded everything you told me to do and I'm sorry. I tried to wake her up."
"I see and now you think she's some psychopath?" Carmela spoke with a raised brow and slight tinge of incredulous in her tone.
Quinn swallowed thickly. "What was I suppose to think?" The blonde replied in a small tone.
"Did you notice anything in the moment she had the gun pointed at your head?"
"Um.. I don't know.."
"Think child. What did you see in her eyes? Her face?"
Quinn licked her lips self consciously. "She looked.."
"Yes?"
"She looked.. I don't know like she wanted to kill me but like she wasn't.. She wasn't there? Like it wasn't me she was seeing?" Quinn explained in a confused like question.
Carmela smiled once more. The blonde teen before her was smart. "Yes."
"What?"
"Yes, that's exactly right. She wasn't present and she never is when certain things contribute to make her sleep.. difficult."
"I don't understand."
"Quinn, Rachel may come looking for you soon and I hope that if you take anything from this conversation that you take this.. Rachel is a protector, a warrior, a saint and a sinner but most importantly she's a soul that has been burdened with crosses that I would never wish on anyone. Not even my worst enemy." With that Carmela patted the blonde's thigh and stood up.
"Go easy on her, Quinn. Because I guarantee you she feels awful and just as upset as you are."
With that Carmela left the blonde to her thoughts. Carmela went back into the house and headed straight for the stairs that left to the second floor.
Only to watch Rachel stampede down the stairs in a rush. Carmela could clearly see that what Rachel had accidentally done was weighing on her terribly.
"Carmela, I'm leaving for the rest of the weekend. Will you please drive the Fabray's back to their place Sunday evening?"
"Of course, Rachel."
"Thank you. Anything they want or need just call me and I'll have Gerard bring it over." Carmela nodded. Just as Rachel was about to turn and leave Carmela grabbed her wrist.
"You know, she will forgive you."
Rachel shut her eyes. "She told you?"
"Yes but Rachel.. She will."
"That's doubtful."
"She will. Just give her time. Enjoy the rest of your weekend."
Rachel nodded and pulled the older woman into a hug before grabbing her leather jacket off the coat rack and grabbing her motorcycle keys.
"See ya."
"Bye, sweetheart. Ride safely and text me when you get home."
"I will."
Rachel climbed onto her bike and started it before pulling off.
"You must be joking, H."
"No, I'm serious B." H replied.
"You want me to put my ass on the line because you want some pictures? H, I'm too pretty to die and you know mama Fina will murder me for this."
"I promise no one will know. Come on B, your the best hacker in the world."
"Unfortunately and though it pains me to admit this and I'll deny it until my last breath but I'm the second best hacker in the world. Baby's the first."
"Semantics B, I just want to see what they look like."
"You know damn well we both know you just want to see what blondie looks like."
"Fuck you, B. I'm only trying to watch baby's back."
"Yeah sure, You keep telling yourself that. In the mean time, What do I get out of this exactly? Other than being skinned alive by mama Fina."
"I'll let you drive my limited edition Lamborghini Veneno."
B's mouth dropped open in shock and disbelief. NO ONE was allowed to even look in desire at H's Lambo without fear of a beat down. Let alone touch it, even just with your pinkie but actually driving it was a guaranteed bullet in your head.
"Seriously.." B asked in awe.
"Yes."
"Like your not going to flip your shit and break into my place, tie me up than throw me in a freezer and leave there for a few days?"
"No, I swear."
"Your not going to try an kill me and make it look like an accident? Like you did Leon?"
"No, I promise and I only disposed of Leon because Leon was not only a useless piece of shit but he also knew too much about a certain situation that I was involved in and escaped unscathed and unmasked from. He eventually would have cracked if someone were looking for me and decided to either pay him off or torture him enough to reveal who I am. Not to mention, he ate all my Suzy Q's that baby bought me for my birthday, the same day at my birthday party when he was high and drunk off his ass and you know how much I love my Suzy Q's." H spoke casually.
B stared at H and not for the first time wondered how someone so innocent looking ended up being such a psychopath.
"Sooo, are you in?" H asked.
"I know I'm going to regret this but I'm in."
"Yes! B, I knew I could count on you!"
Rachel sat on her couch with a bottle of rum and a tumbler a quarter full of it.
The brunette had been drinking for an hour now and her mind could not and would not stop with the images of Quinn beneath her. Terrified, red faced from being choke and crying all at her hands.
"Stupid!" The brunette growled to herself.
Her phone ringing was the out she needed not to stew in her anger.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Rachel?"
"Sam?" The brunette sat up instantly in worry.
"yeah it's me."
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah.. Well, I'm not sure. It's just.."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Quinn. She's sort of.. freaking out."
"Freaking out?"
"Yeah, she wants to know where you are and has been arguing with Carmela about."
Rachel winced. Carmela was a gentle soul but if pushed too far she's liable to snap your neck and as much it pains her to hear what Carmela had to deal with upon her departure. She's also too chicken shit to face Quinn and she's never too chicken shit to face off with anyone.
She doesn't know why Quinn causes not only worry, fear, anxiety and shame within in her but she also causes warmth, excitement, joy, and happiness by the mere sight of her.
Which is why she can't face her. She's terrified. Just because Quinn wants to know where she is doesn't mean it's a good thing. She could potentially want to deck her and she wouldn't blame her one bit.
"Sam, I'm sorry but I have some things to take care so I won't be back the rest of the weekend but I'll see you at school. Okay?"
"Okay, Rachel I'll let her know. Be safe."
"I will."
The two hung up and Rachel sat back and shut her eyes before chugging what was left in her tumbler and just drinking straight from the bottle.
"Oh my god, she's.." Whispered B with awe struck eyes.
"Fucking hot." H finished, jaw on the floor.
"No wonder baby's protective of her."
"No, this isn't just about her looks, B. It's something else but I can't fucking lie this blonde Barbie bitch is something else. She doesn't look like she belongs on earth. Look at this, it says she's the youngest cheer captain in Mckinely history." H stared at the blonde's cheer photos from the year prior and had to admit it was impressive.
"So, are you satisfied now?" B asked.
H's eyes narrowed. "No.. I want dirt."
"Hold on a second, you said you only wanted to see what she looks lik-" Before B could finish a knife was at his throat.
"I. Want. Dirt."
"Putting a knife to someone's throat is not only rude but completely uncalled for H and you can't kill me mama Fina will have your head in a jar."
H chuckled darkly. "Oh sweet B, who said anything about killing you. However; if you don't get me my dirt your most valued possessions are going to be a distant memory." She gestured toward the boys neck and when recognition filled his eyes. They widened in shock and fear. He sat up immediately. "So, uh.. What is it that you want to know?"
H smiled wickedly. "I thought you'd see things my way."
Monday morning found Rachel tired at her locker. She had been doing surveillance all weekend. Quinn not far from her mind.
She had been doing a little research when she stumbled upon a video. It was old and held information that would be considered a bomb if fallen in to the wrong hands.
"Berry!" Was called from down the hall and the entire hall turned in the direction of it.
All jaws hit the fall as they realized who just called the new girls name like that.
Rachel's eyes widened as Sam stood behind a very furious looking Quinn with wide eyes of his own.
He knew she was pissed and eager to get to school but hadn't expected that reaction upon seeing the brunette.
Rachel swallowed thickly as the blonde stormed down the hall towards her. Quinn looked feral and completely oblivious to the crowded hallway.
The brunette felt her palms begin to sweat and her heart hammer. Her brain was screaming at her to run but she was frozen in place for various reason that she couldn't identify.
Just as Quinn was reaching the brunette red, white, and black stepped in her way. The blonde's tunnel vision was still going as her own heart thudded madly.
Quinn couldn't explain why seeing Rachel at school acting as if nothing was wrong mad her fly off the handle and really you can't blame her.
Rachel had a gun to her head than left for the rest of the weekend without so much as a bye. The brunette felt it perfectly okay to talk to Sam but not her?
The blonde has been stewing in what? She isn't sure but it felt like a need and not having Rachel there to sedate the need only fueled her anger and it built over the weekend.
Adding fire to the flame, Carmela's surprised enlightening look that she bestowed upon Quinn when the blonde exploded in anger as to why she was so upset and saying 'Oh now I understand exactly what's wrong with you.' but not actually divulging to Quinn exactly what it was she understood that the blonde didn't only pissed Quinn off more.
And now with her anger on full destruction mode and Rachel just barely within reach only to have three cheerios block her way caused for a very bad morning for Quinn.
"I don't know who you think your talking to like that easy lay but you do not talk to Rachel like that. Rachel's too good to be seen talking to a slut like you. So get your delusional ass out of here." Kate Livingston said with attitude.
The hall way burst into laughter expecting the blonde to do her usual routine of running away in tears but the hall fell silent when Quinn's HBIC glare surfaced on to her features.
"Move." The blonde growled without an ounce of fear.
"Excuse me, easy lay? I know you did not jus-"
"Move, now."
"Oh I see your forgetting your place."
The brunette cheerio reached forward to grab the blonde but was shocked into reality when the blonde's fist collided with her nose. "Don't touch me!" Quinn growled once again.
The brunette cheerio pulled her hand back from her face in shock.
"Oh my god, Kate your bleeding!" The other cheerio squeaked.
"You bitch!" Kate growled as she attacked going straight for Quinn's hair.
"FIGHT!FIGHT!" Was chanted in the hallway.
Rachel rushed forward to shove her way through, cursing herself for not stepping in sooner but she had been shocked and rooted to her spot by the blonde's display of dominance that may or may not have caused a stirring in her pants.
From her vantage point she could see the other two cheerios had jumped in and Quinn was now out numbered and getting her ass handed to her.
Sam was fighting to get to his sister but people were shoving him back. Everyone had their phones out recording the blonde's beating.
Rachel had to give it to Quinn she was still fighting back though the odds were against her. She didn't cower she took blow for blow and that to Rachel was admirable.
The brunette finally broke through the crowd and jumped into the fight by landing a solid punch to one of the cheerios, knocking her on her ass.
The other cheerio she tapped her on the shoulder and the girl turned only to be met with Rachel's fist.
The brunette turned her gaze on the brunette and blonde fighting on the ground with Quinn now having the upper hand, just wailing on the girl below her.
Rachel grabbed Quinn by the waist lifting her off and dragging her through thrashing wildly.
Finally they broke through to the other side, Sam fought to get to them to follow.
"GET OFF OF ME!" Quinn screeched.
"NOT UNTIL YOU CALM DOWN!" Rachel yelled back as she used her body to control the blonde's weight that was throwing her off a little.
The brunette slammed her back against an exit door to get them outside. Dragging a fighting Quinn with her.
Sam looked terrified as he followed. He hasn't seen his sister this angry since she was first being bullied when she had her fall from grace.
Finally reaching the far end of the football field away from the school, the bleachers and any where they could be heard the brunette released the blonde.
"Are you okay?" Rachel tried to step forward and check the blonde only to receive a harsh shove.
"Don't you dare!" Quinn fumed.
"Quin-"
"NO! You don't get to stand here and ask me if I'm okay!"
"Why are you so mad?!"
"You left me! You left me after you put a gun to my head and expected me to be okay with you leaving without some form of explanation!"
"You what?!" Sam's eyes grew wide before filling with betrayed anger.
Rachel grit her teeth completely ignoring the fact that Sam was looking at her with raged murder in his eyes.
"What was I suppose to do?! Come to you and say hey sorry about that!"
"No but the least you could have done is speak to me about it! Do have any idea how terrified of you I was?! God, Rachel! We don't know anything about you and you think running away when you could have almost killed me was a bright idea?!"
"I don't know okay?! I don't know how to do this!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"This! This fucking thing that regular, normal people do! I've never had friends so I don't know the proper protocol for these situations! I freaked out because yeah! I could have and probably would have killed you if you didn't speak! So I'm sorry but I don't how to fix things or talk about emotions and shit! I wasn't raised that way. In my family it's kill or be killed and we were always taught to kill and walk away! Fuck, Quinn, I'm sorry, okay?! I'm so fucking sorry.." The brunette burst into tears.
The two blonde's eyes widened in surprise. Quinn's softened at the sight but Sam's were still guarded because he was just told she almost killed his sister.
Quinn walked up to the brunette and hesitantly reached out. When Rachel didn't react violently, she stepped into the brunette's personal space and hugged her.
"Hey, I'm sorry I didn't consider that."
"You hate me." Rachel whimpered in such stark contrast to the bold, fearless girl they had met their first day of school. Quinn felt her heart melt at the vulnerability and fear in the brunette's voice.
"I don't hate you, Rachel." Quinn assured softly.
"Well you should. I'm a fucking basket case."
"No your not. I forgive you okay?"
Rachel pulled back from the hug to look into honest green eyes with disbelief.
Quinn smiled sadly. "I spoke to Carmela and she explained a few things. I was just furious with you because Sam told me he spoke to you but when I called the number back you refused to answer. I was still dealing with the fact that you.." The blonde bit her lip and shook her head. Trying to explain to Rachel why she was so upset. "You told me I could trust you and that we were safe." Quinn explained softly.
Rachel could see it in the blonde's eyes. Quinn had given her trust to the brunette the night before Rachel had put a gun to her head. The brunette's eyes slammed shut.
"Fuck." The brunette whispered before pulling back from the blonde completely.
Quinn could see how her words had hit a nerve unintentionally. "Rachel.."
"No." The brunette shook her head. "You're right. I promised and I'm the one that broke it."
"That's not what I meant."
"I'm going to go now." The brunette said abruptly not waiting for a reply, turning on her heel immediately.
"Rachel please, that's not what I meant at all! I just.." The blonde fumbled for her words as she followed Rachel along with Sam off the field toward the parking lot.
"It's fine, Quinn. I get it." The brunette said as she mounted her bike and started it quickly. "Be sure to get checked by the school nurse, please. I'll see you around."
"RACHEL!" Quinn called as the brunette peeled out of the parking lot. "FUCK!"
"Quinn?" The blonde looked at her brother completely forgetting he was there. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Not now, Sam." Quinn licked her lips. Fear engulfed her and her stomach bottomed out at the possibility of never speaking to Rachel again. Than a thought hit the blonde and she turned to Sam with brighter eyes. "Do you have Carmela's number?"
