Emma

It all began with a piece of gum and a credit card. Without a thought to whose mouth that gum had been in or how many hands had swiped his card for him, he pulled the piece of plastic out of his wallet and wiped the gum off her shoe.

He kneeled on the hard pavement and gently took her ankle in his warm hand as she doled out sage advice.

"There you go, Cinderella."

He released her smooth ankle and discreetly flexed his hand.

It was numb.

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The rain had been coming down for a solid 32 hours – as if Mondays weren't miserable enough.

He slammed his car door shut and sprinted to the side entrance, his coat draped over his head. He and Terri owned only one umbrella and Terri laid claim to it whenever the sky looked remotely like rain.

He attempted to keep his footing on the slippery floor as he shook his head back and forth.

"Lookin' good, Mr. Schue," Mercedes called as she passed.

He chuckled. "Yeah, like a wet dog."

He walked carefully to his classroom, his shoes squeaking with every step he took, hoping that the graded Spanish quizzes in his bag were somehow miraculously dry. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he quickened his pace to his desk, dropping his bag and coat on his chair so he could dig the phone out.

"Hello?"

"Will?" Emma. Her voice was strained and he could hear her sharp intakes of breath on the other end of the line.

"Emma, what's wrong?' Will had paused in ringing out his tie and it remained forgotten in his grip.

"Will, the –the…" She broke down sobbing.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down, Em. Breathe."

He waited a few moments, listening to her sobs quiet down and her gasps subside.

"Good. Now tell me what happened."

"I was walking into the school and I – I slipped. I landed in a puddle, my umbrella broke, and someone drove by and sprayed...mu-mud all over me. I can't… I just can't…" She left her sentence to hang in the air but Will understood what she meant.

"Where are you now?"

"Look outside."

Will rushed to the window and sure enough, Emma stood completely frozen in the parking lot next to her car.

"I'll be right there." Will snapped the phone shut and jogged out to the parking lot, slipping only once on his way.

As he got closer, he saw the mud streaks that marred her yellow skirt and the water that dripped from her hair. He didn't care that his own shirt was soaked through and clinging to his body.

She shook like a leaf and it wasn't until he placed a hand on her arm that she seemed to notice his presence.

"Em?"

She shook harder and he rubbed his hands up and down her arms in an attempt to warm her up.

"Let's get you home and into some dry clothes." He had a free period first thing that morning and he assumed the students would survive if their guidance counselor was an hour late.

He placed his hand on her back and attempted to steer her towards her car, but she pulled away from him, violently shaking her head.

"No, no, no, no. I can't."

He looked at her puzzled and he blinked a few times to shake the raindrops free from his eyelashes.

"You can't what?"

She continued to shake her head as she stared down at her skirt, her hair sticking to her forehead with every move she made.

Will followed her gaze to the mud that clung to her legs and his heart hurt for her. Of course she couldn't get in her car. Of course she couldn't walk into her office. The dirt and grime were literally debilitating.

He took his jacket off, wet though it was, and placed it around her shoulders.

"Come on, this way."

He led her silently to his car and opened the passenger door. She looked alarmed.

"Will, I can't get in that car. Look at me."

He smiled at her with what he hoped was an assuring expression. "Em, I don't care. Get in."

"Will…"

"Emma, I mean it. I don't care. Come on, my muffler is literally dragging on the pavement."

He could have sworn he saw a ghost of a smile on her face as she took a deep breath and slid into the seat. He ran around to the other side and popped the key into the ignition.

As he backed out of his parking space, he realized he had never actually seen her apartment. He didn't even know which street she lived on.

"Where to?" He adjusted the heat and made sure the vent was blowing on her. He could see the goosebumps on her legs, but he tried not to stare.

"Make a left up here." She continued to give him directions until he pulled up in front of a small duplex.

"I'm on the first floor." Her voice was still quiet and clipped and her eyes darted around like a frightened animal.

Will unbuckled his seatbelt and proceeded to undo hers when she refused to move. He jumped out into the rain again and opened the door for her. She flinched when the raindrops hit her again, as if they caused her pain.

He held her hand as he led her to her door and she only let go when she fumbled in her bag for her keys. She continued to shake as her fingers numbly searched the small clutch but she came up empty-handed. She let out strangled squeak as the bag tumbled to the ground.

Will picked it up before any permanent damage could be done but it appeared Emma's state seemed to have moved from 'shock' to 'catatonic.'

He held the bag out and asked, "May I?"

She deftly nodded her head and he searched its contents for her keys. Raindrops fell from his hair as he leaned over and mentally tallied the items she deemed most vital. As much as he wanted to respect her privacy, it was a very interesting situation he was in. How often would he have the opportunity to root through her things? He noticed cherry-flavored lip-gloss and a light green wallet before his fingers brushed something sharp and metal.

"Aha." He pulled the key ring out and held it up for her.

She silently took it from him and opened the door, letting it swing back. She remained in her spot, staring longingly into her warm, dry apartment.

Will glanced at her and then glanced at the door. He cleared his throat and again asked, "May I?"

Emma's brow furrowed. "May you what?"

Without another word, he toed off his shoes, swept her into his arms, and stepped into the apartment, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Which way to the bathroom?"

Emma was stiff in his arms, but she managed to point down a hallway to the right. He maneuvered them through the living room and down the hall without touching any furniture or walls. After he set her down on the tiled floor, she looked up at him with an expression that he could only describe as confused awe.

The tension slowly started to seep in as he realized just how small the bathroom was and just how close they were standing. He wiped off a spot of mud that had somehow made its way to her cheek. His wedding ring reflected the overhead light.

"I should go. I have a second period class." He looked at the hardwood floor behind him. "I don't think I dripped too badly. But I'll tell Figgins you'll be a little late."

Again, Emma could only nod. As Will turned to leave, he felt her hand on his arm. It was the first time she had initiated physical contact.

"Thank you, Will." She squeezed her arm a little harder. "Thank you for rescuing me."

He smiled. "My pleasure."

And with that, he turned and left.

When Emma emerged from her hot shower 30 minutes later and dressed herself for the second time that day, she would open her front door to find an extra-large yellow umbrella leaning up against her door frame with a note attached:

"Thought you could use this. See you at lunch." – Will

The detour to the store made Will fifteen minutes late for his second period Spanish class and he arrived the following day with a stuffy nose and a hacking cough, but it didn't bother him.

When he returned to his office in between classes, he would find a bag of lozenges, a pouch of Echinacea tea, and a box of tissues on his desk with a note:

"Thought you could use this. See you at lunch." – Emma

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When it rained the following Monday, Will didn't mind one bit.