I think this plot has been done before at least to some degree so to those authors out there no disrespect I just felt like writing.

Things to know before reading:

It's senior year (and b/c I don't want to make up new characters no one new has joined ND)

The team knows Mercedes and Sam are going out.

Rachel did not agree to get back together with Finn at the end of New York.

Lauren and Puck broke up over the summer (amicably).

Brittany has asthma.

After having seen the New Directions perform at National's earlier in the year, Chicago's Saint Stephen's Episcopal Prep School invited the McKinley glee club to take part in the school's annual fall invitational. Will Schuester immediately accepted the offer without checking with the budget conscious principal. Figgins would only shell out enough money for a school bus and four hotel rooms for the team that placed twelfth at Nationals.

The drive from Lima to Ohio was a little over four and a half hours so Mr. Schuester figured that if they left right after school let out at 3:15 on Friday, they could make it to the city around eight thirty or nine, if he factored in traffic and a couple of stops for gas and dinner. At the half way mark, the bus pulled over into the gas station of a convenience store.

"Alright, guys," Will announced, "Now would be a good chance to stretch your legs or use the bathroom. Remember, we're stopping in about an hour for dinner, but if you want to grab a snack do it in the next ten minutes." With that the students rushed off the bus, most heading straight for the restrooms, located inside the store. The store itself was surprisingly empty. There were two customers perusing the aisles and one man heading the cash register.

After using the restroom, Rachel joined the rest of the team in the middle of the store, looking for a light snack. Her vegan diet pretty much limited her to nuts and some cereals. Deciding she'd rather just wait for dinner, Rachel walked towards the back wall where all the beverages were. She looked through the windows and finally decided on some mineral water.

Rachel bent down to grab a bottle of Perrier. She gripped the green glass by the neck and began lifting herself up. Something made her freeze. She saw the exposed butt of the gun sticking out of the waistband of a man whose attention was on the beer section. Unprepared for and frightened by the sight, Rachel accidently let the glass slip, crashing to the ground. The various conversations being held between show choir members up front prevented the noise from reaching their ears. However, one person was close enough to hear. When it shattered on the ground the man looked away from the alcoholic beverages towards the ground where he saw broken glass, water, and Rachel's trembling legs.

"You okay, miss?" When Rachel didn't answer he lifted his eyes towards her face, which was still focused on the gun. The man followed Rachel's line of sight and realized that his jacket was no longer covering his weapon. Rachel's eyes finally caught the armed stranger's and the two became trapped in each other's gazes, neither one of them knowning what to do. The tension was broken by Puck.

"Berry, Schue says we got to go if we want to be in Chicago by nine," the teen said, standing behind her. The man, still looking into Rachel's eyes, slowly shook his head. She didn't know if he wanted her to know she wasn't going anywhere or if he just wanted her to keep quiet.

"Berry? Did you here me?" Puck couldn't shake the feeling that was wrong.

"I'll…I'll be right there, Noah," she said trying to keep her teammate from coming closer.

"We're all at the cash register. So if you want anything you better hurry up and pay."

"Ok," she said, but making no effort to move. Puck turned to head back to the front of the shop.

"I didn't see anything," Rachel told the man once she was sure Puck was out of earshot. She had every intention of calling 911, but in order to do so she had to get outside. The gun carrier looked like he was going to agree and started to move his head up and down, but then his partner stepped up next to him and saw that accomplice's weapon was exposed and that the girl in front of them had obviously see it. Gunman number two did not address the situation with the same aplomb. He immediately whipped out his concealed gun.

"Nobody move!" The scene was unreal for the New Directions, most of who were standing behind each other in line by the cash register. They really had no idea what was going on, but then Gunman #2 lifted his gun into the air, letting off one round, causing a few to let out a scream and sending most of the teens to the ground in fear.

The previously calm man, who had originally been willing to let Rachel go, was now much more panicked. He yanked his gun out and quickly started making his way to the front of the store to block the doors. When he was almost to the doors, another shot rang out, the bullet imbedding itself into the wall. The cashier, whose actions were being driven by hysteria, had attempted to shoot the man with an emergency pistol he kept concealed on his side of the counter. It sounded like everyone was screaming. Gunman #1 responded with a shot of his own, this one hitting its target in the chest. The victim was sent back collapsing on the floor. No one was sure if he was dead. With a shaky hand the man pointed his gun at Mr. Schuester.

"Check him!"

"Wha-"

"I said check him!" Will realized he meant the cashier and as he uneasily stood up to look over the counter he saw that the man's chest wasn't moving; he was dead.

"So?" Gunman #1 demanded.

"He's dead." At that Quinn started crying.

Outside, Paul Jeffreys was walking towards the convenience store to let Mr. Schuester know the bus was ready to go when he heard a gunshot. The man could make out a gunman at the back of the store standing by one of the students. Paul quickly dialed 911 on his cell phone.

"911, what's your emergency?" the operator asked stoically.

"I'm outside the quick stop and I heard a gunshot!"

"Alright sir, calm down," the operator replied, trained well in the handling of emergencies.

"Can you give me your address?" As Paul rattled off the address as best he could he heard another gunshot.

"You need to hurry, there are kids inside!"

"I've dispatched to police, sir. They should be there shortly. Can you tell me how many children are with the gunman?"

"Thirteen! And a teacher!"

"And there's only one person with a gun?"

"I dunno? I think so. I can't tell!"

"Alright, just stay calm. The police are coming. Just stay on the line with me and tell me what you see."

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Gunman #1 was pacing back and forth. Realizing that his partner was loosing it Gunman #2 harshly grabbed hold of Rachel's arm and dragged her with him to the front. The short teen was shaking once again and had tears flowing down her face. When Puck saw Rachel his heart stopped. She looked terrified and none of them could help her.

"Frank, get it together!" Gunman #1 (aka Frank) stopped his pacing and looked up at his partner.

"Fuck you, Lou! I just killed a guy!"

"Well get over it and help me over here!" Lou commanded.

"Alright all of you, get to the wall now!" The singers and their choir director quickly complied, few of their eyes leaving Rachel.

"What are we gonna do?" cried Frank.

"I dunno. Just give me a minute!" Lou didn't have a minute. Seconds after the words left his mouth, the sound of approaching police sirens could be heard.

A/n: Don't expect orderly updates. Don't really know where this is headed. If anyone likes it ideas are always welcomed.