A week and a half. Rachel has been radio silent for a week and a half. Quinn can honestly say she has never felt so mentally, emotionally, nor physically unstable in her entire life.
She has no idea why she can't sleep or why she's constantly distracted with nothing but thoughts of Rachel.
She had called Carmela but the woman just gave her a cryptic answer that basically equaled she wasn't telling Quinn shit.
Quinn's also now kicking herself for starting that fight with Kate Livingston. Because now she's been suspended for two weeks and has been going stir crazy just sitting in her motel room alone.
Sam always comes home to inform her that not only has Rachel not returned to school but that Kate Livingston has a mark on her head for when she returns to school.
Quinn sighed in annoyance. She's walking home from the store and is so distracted with her thoughts of Rachel that she didn't know she was being followed.
She was muttering to herself when an all black Camaro pulled up beside her. Quinn startled as her eyes widened when the tinted window pulled down.
"Hey easy lay, it's been a long time." The man's smile was anything but sweet.
Quinn's breath was stolen from her lungs but her fear only took hold for a split second before she threw the plastic bag with children's Tylenol at the guy to buy her the second she needed to run.
The blonde's feet slammed on the pavement and her heart rate sky rocket the moment she heard him shout to his goonies to 'Get her!'
Quinn did her best to get her breathing under control or she knew she'd lose steam fast. She heard the squeal of the tires.
She knew what that meant. She'd be chased by car and whomever he sent on foot. The blonde knew not to duck through an alley.
She stumbled her way passed the few people that were on the street damning herself for coming out late instead of staying home but Stevie had a fever and he needed the medicine and Sam was out grabbing them dinner.
She could hear them behind her. Their footsteps heavy, giving her some leverage but she knew they run more than she does because they're required to catch the person their boss orders them to.
She herself hasn't been staying on top of her running though she should but hasn't since she's no longer a cheerio.
Just as she was going to hit the corner the black Camaro skidded to a halt in front of her, she spun around to run but ran smack hard in to solid muscle.
"Now why did you have to go and run, easy lay?"
The men's laughter made her skin crawl. She fought but was roughly shoved into the car anyway. The car peeled off leaving tire tracks. The car was silent.
"So, how have you been?" The man asked.
Quinn had a disgusted scowl on her face but kept quiet. If only he knew what she only dreamed of doing to him.
"Come on, is that any way to treat me?" He asked as he lifted his hand to caress her cheek. Leaning in to kiss her but she roughly pulled her face away flaring his anger, he grabbed her by the hair.
"Is that anyway to treat the father of our daughter? Huh?" Quinn whimpered. "You know I could just take her right? She'd be gone just like that and you'll never see her again." He growled and Quinn's eyes welled with tears but not of fear only built up fury.
She felt nothing but pure unadulterated hateful rage for the man and the fact that he threatened to take her daughter only made her mind twist with all the ways she'd torture him before killing him.
"Now be a good little bitch and behave." He spoke as his goons laughed.
His hand landed on her thigh and began to caress her.
She grit her teeth knowing exactly what was going to happen but she didn't know why because he hadn't divulged why he was back.
Last she heard he was in prison and was sentenced to seven years giving her plenty of time to run away with their daughter.
Just as his lips were going to touch hers, multiple blow outs were heard than the car swerved. Everyone in the car yelled and screamed as the car spiraled out of control until it spun into a tree.
It took a moment but the goons and the bane of Quinn's existence stumbled out of the car.
Quinn groaned as she was left to fend for herself, she felt her neck throb and her head swim. She slowly climbed out of the car herself. Just then she heard a grunt to her left before the sound of a body hit the floor landing right in front her. Her eyes widened in shock.
"SHIT! GET DOWN!" One of the goons shouted, grabbing his boss and shielding him the best he could as bullets whizzed at them.
Quinn screamed and stumbled to run but she didn't get far as she was grabbed around the waist.
She fought to release herself but the grip was strong and the sound of a gun exploding a shot near her caused her ears to ring and her body stop fighting.
She ducked than more bullets whizzed by she and whomever had a hold on her. Who ever it was, was strong but she was not about to die because of one of his goons.
So she put all her force behind her only chance at getting away and elbowed him causing his grip to release her.
She ran as fast as she could but for some reason the bullets were still flying in her direction.
Just as she looked back a body blocked her view and she heard a grunt of pain before the person in front of her shot back than spun around grabbed her wrist and dragged her through the nearest alley.
Dragging her as they ran as fast as they could. Just as they were reaching the lip of the alley she heard his goons voices than gun fire raining down on them.
She was once again grabbed by the waist and pulled in front of the person who was dragging her than another grunt of pain was heard.
The streets were empty now and you could hear the pounding of several footfalls a good portion away from them.
They rounded the corner of the alley and made it across the street and through the next alley by the time his goons reached the alley they just escaped.
They kept running in a maze like manner until her 'Rescuer?' began to slow down.
The night was quiet. She couldn't hear his goons anymore. The person dressed in black with a ski mask stumbled on their feet finding purchase on the brick wall behind them.
"Are you o-" Quinn's words were cut off when his goons could be heard approaching in the distance. Her 'rescuer' stood up instantly but still tired.
Grabbed her hand and pulled her along only this time Quinn didn't fight him. They ran together using the shadows for protection.
If felt like they had been running forever until Quinn began to realize they were on her side of Lima again. Her rescuer had slowed down considerably and Quinn knew something was wrong.
It wasn't until her rescuer stumbled than fell into a pile of trash did Quinn really freak out but also filled with curiosity. He was too weak to stop her so Quinn reached for his mask than gasped in shock at who it was.
"Oh my god, Rachel!"
Rachel groaned in pain. It was than that Quinn could see it. Blood. Blood pouring from a open wound. A bullet hole.
"Oh shit.." Quinn whispered with wide eyes.
The blonde swallowed thickly looking back and forth as she tried to apply pressure to the wound causing Rachel to groan in pain some more.
They weren't far from her motel now. "It's okay Rachel. I'll get you to a hospital."
"No.. Please.. No hosp.." Rachel groaned as she fought to stay awake.
"Rachel we have to!" Quinn urged as her eyes welled at the sight of the normally strong girl below her slowly losing consciousness.
"No.. Car.. Carme.. " Rachel breathe out.
"Carmela? You need me to call Carmela?" Quinn asked urgently.
Rachel could just barely nod.
"Okay. Okay." Quinn said more to herself. She looked at Rachel's body and decided that she could make it to the motel faster if she carried Rachel.
The blonde pulled Rachel into a sitting position than fought to stand her up with Rachel's somewhat help than she stoop low to drop Rachel over he shoulder.
Rachel groaned once more in pain. The blonde grunted a little at the dead weight but coach Roz had made her carry heavier things than Rachel while running not to mention she had been heavily pregnant not too long ago.
"Don't worry Rachel, I've got you. Everything's going to be okay." Quinn whispered as she walked to the edge of the alley.
She glanced back and forth before speed walking as fast as Rachel's weight would let her toward her motel. Still being mindful to use the shadows to hide them.
It took almost another 15 minutes to get to the motel but they made it and Quinn was drenched in sweat from exertion.
It didn't help that she had to actually climb the stairs with Rachel on her shoulder but finally she reached her door.
She quickly pounded on it while looking back and forth nervously. She knew they'd be quiet inside and careful before checking to see who was at the door.
Not soon enough she heard the locks and chains being rushed open and Sam opened the door with wide fearful eyes as Quinn stumbled in.
"Oh my god, is that Rachel?!" Sam whispered harshly keeping it down because all the kids were asleep.
"Yes." Quinn grunted as she dropped Rachel's body onto the bed and immediately going in search of the phone she and Sam share.
"Quinn she's bleeding! A lot!" Sam whispered in worry.
"I know okay!" Quinn replied in a frantic whispered rush, her eyes wide as her trembling fingers search for Carmela's number. She found it and pressed send. It rung four times before a tired Carmela answered.
"Hello?"
"Carmela! It's Quinn, I'm sorry to bother you so late but it's Rachel!"
"Where are you?"
"At our motel. S-"
"I'm on my way." Carmela replied more awake, urgent but somehow calm.
Quinn was confused as to how Carmela would know where they were. "Okay."
"Quinn in one word, how bad is it?" Carmela asked. Quinn's eyes widened. How did she know?
"Severe." Quinn replied.
"Shit."
The phone clicked off and Quinn looked to Rachel's prone body. The brunette had made the sheets a burgundy red.
"What the hell happened?" Sam asked in fear.
"I.." Quinn was at a loss for words. Rachel looked ghostly pale but was still breathing.
Both teens jumped out of their skin not a moment later as a knock resounded. Quinn and Sam looked at each other.
Quinn walked to the door silently and looked through the peep hole. Her heart stuttered and she practically ripped the door off it's hinges in her haste to open it. Carmela rushed in.
"Lock the door." Carmela instructed. "Sam move Rachel to the center of the bed."
Sam nodded and did as he was told. Carmela opened her bag and began putting on nylon gloves and pulled out a pair of scissors.
She immediately began cutting Rachel's shirt open as Sam stood back and turned around to give Rachel privacy.
"Thank god." Carmela breathe out in relief.
Quinn furrowed her brow and walked over to see what Carmela meant.
Rachel was wearing a bullet proof vest. However; one bullet was stuck just beneath her shoulder. Carmela immediately set to work. "She's lost a lot of blood. How long ago was she shot?"
"A good while ago. We've been running for well over an hour, I'm sure." Quinn replied.
"From who?" Carmela asked.
Silence. Quinn bit her lip nervously. She felt herself filling with disgust.
"Quinn? From who?" Carmela asked not removing her eyes from her concentrated task of removing the bullet and it's fragments, her tone set in a no bullshit manner.
Quinn swallowed. "Brody.. Brody Weston."
"Brock's boy?"
"..Yes." Quinn answered shamefully but still confused as to how Carmela knew that.
"Hmm.. So am I to assume you were on the west end of Lima? What were you doing there Quinn?"
"No! I wasn't there. I was at the store getting Stevie some medicine and Brody just showed up. I tried to run but they caught me and forced me into his car. I don't even know how Rachel found me but the next thing I know we were being shot at and running." Quinn pleaded her case.
"I see but why you, Quinn?"
Quinn swallowed. For some reason she felt it in her bones the moment she met Carmela that she could never lie to her. "He's.. He's my daughter's father."
Silence. Quinn was now met with silence and for some reason it hurt.
Carmela continued her task and not an hour later was Rachel bandaged.
"Alright, She's set and every things out. I will advise that when she wakes, you give her these." Carmela said as she pulled a bottle of morphine from her bag. "Only one bullet got stuck. There were also three that skinned her. She'll feel like crap in the morning but she will be okay. She might or might not wake up tomorrow but as long as she's breathing she'll be fine, so let her rest."
The two blonde's nodded. "I can trust her in your care, right? Because she can't be out and about like this. So she'll be staying with you until she can fully be on her own."
"Of course, we'll take care of her." Sam assured. Carmela nodded.
"Quinn, a word please?"
Quinn swallowed thickly as she stood up and followed Carmela out to the balcony of their floor.
"Yes?"
"I hope you know I don't blame you."
Quinn scuffed her shoe on the ground and nodded.
"Quinn, you must understand that this isn't your fault and you shouldn't blame yourself.
Quinn bit her lip and though her eyes glassed pink she was strong enough not to let them fall.
Was she scared for Rachel? Fuck yeah she was! Did she feel like she almost got Rachel killed? Damn straight but all she could do now is wait for Rachel to wake.
"How did you get here so fast?" Quinn asked.
"Oh honey, when Rachel met you she already felt like she had to protect you. I've been your neighbor since then." Carmela replied with a knowing smile.
Quinn's head shot up in surprise. "What?"
"I live downstairs in room 3c. I'm Rachel's eyes and ears in here and where ever you go until she knows your permanently safe."
Quinn was shocked to silence.
"Go on sweet heart. Get some rest. Everything is going to be okay." Carmela assured.
Quinn nodded dumbly as she turned around and entered her motel room.
Upon entering she saw her brother doing his best with a cloth and a bowl of water, trying to clean the blood off the brunette.
Quinn left the room than returned with her own towel and water. She kneeled on the opposite side of Rachel and began helping.
She herself was covered in Rachel's blood but her focus was strictly on Rachel.
Rachel groaned and hissed as her eyes fluttered open. She tried to sit up. "Fuck!" The brunette growled as her eyes widened at the pain.
"You shouldn't try to sit up."
Rachel turned her head to her left to see Quinn sat on a chair next to her bed. Rachel shut her eyes in relief as her head dropped back down to the pillow.
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked remembering exactly what happened.
"I should be asking you that, don't you think?"
Rachel could tell by the blonde's tone that she was not happy.
"I'm fine."
"Your fine." Quinn repeated with a slow nod of her head taking in the brunette's answer. Rachel could feel the blonde's eyes piercing through her soul and swallowed thickly just knowing she was in for it.
"Like I said I'm fi-"
"Fine! Yes I heard your lie the first time." Quinn spoke low, calm but cutting.
"What is your problem?"
"My problem?"
"Yes, clearly you seem upset with me but I can't fathom as to why?"
"Oh I don't know Rachel, let's discuss it again, shall we? First, you give me 12,000 dollars to handle my father's debt. Than you drive my siblings and I two hours away to your cabin and tell me that we're safe. Than I bring you breakfast in the morning only for you to almost blow my brains out. Than you leave for the rest of the weekend and turn up at school on Monday and still don't understand why I'm livid with you so I explain, you take it the wrong way without hearing me out. Than you disappear for a week and half without so much as a word to either Sam or I. Than you somehow reappear when I apparently need saving only to get yourself shot in the process and you can't fathom as to why I seem to be upset with you?!" Quinn growled the last bit out and Rachel had the descency to look ashamed.
"Quinn, I-"
"Don't! I don't want to hear any excuse or cryptic bullshit you want to feed me!" Quinn cut her off barely containing her anger. "So now that I know your awake. I'm going to go for a walk now before I upset you or myself further and I'd like you to heal comfortably."
The blonde stood up than turned on her heel and stormed out the room, causing Rachel to jump after slamming the motel room door.
A whistle resounded to Rachel's right, startling her.
"Boy, you are in the dog house, boss." Carmela said as she popped another popcorn in to her mouth after watching what she's now sure is a very pissed off Quinn Fabray who has feelings for an oblivious Rachel Berry but she's not dumb enough to get in the middle of that.
