Chibi-Kari: This story was sitting there in the back of my mind ever since Santana started to get meaner and meaner this season. I really don't think she's too far out of character. And The Script has inspired me once again. This is a focus on Rachel and Quinn with a bit of Puck. Friendship everyone! I don't write slash, just saying. I may continue this...or I may not. I think it could turn into a good story, but I'm not sure there is a market for it and I have other things on my plate. I don't own Glee or The Script, but I would take either for Christmas! PS I survive off of feedback...it helps my writing improve. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly!

Talk You Down

Rachel stood up and walked to the centre of the choir room after Mr. Schuester called her name. She had purposely been trying to take a backseat and giving the solos to others, but she couldn't get out of the weekly assignment. She had made it two months so far it helped that winter break took up a month of that, but Finn had yet to take notice. He had yet to take her back. And without Kurt there to tease her into indignation she could feel herself shying away from the thing she loved most. Singing. But lately it had even seemed like she had forgotten that she loved it. It hurt just waiting for Finn. And, although, she should be used to it by now she wasn't. She was at her end and maybe he would understand after her song.

She pulled herself up to her tallest and threw a look at Puck. He had introduced her to the band when they were briefly dating last year and she had immediately fallen in love with them. He would enjoy it and approve at least. "You all know Mr. Schue's assignment was to take a song from a foreign band that we connected with and sing it to the class. I've chosen Talk You Down by The Script. They're a band from Ireland that some of you may or may not know." She smiled slightly at Puck who just nodded back at her.

She closed her eyes and signaled the band with a slight wave of her hand before starting.

"I can feel the colour running as it's fading from my face.

Try to speak but nothing's coming. Nothing I could say to make you stay.

Grabbed your suitcase called a taxi. It's 3am now where you gonna go?

Gonna stay with friends in London and that's all I get to know.

Just a cigarette gone. No you couldn't be that far.

I'm driving in my car where I hope you are. Maybe I can talk you down. Maybe I can talk you down.

Oh, we're standing on a tiny ledge. Before this goes over the edge.

Gonna use my heart and not my head and try to open up your eyes. This is relationship suicide.

'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go.

Taking shortcuts through the alleys while you're racing through my mind.

Cops can chase but they won't catch me not before I get to speak my mind.

If there's still time.

Just a cigarette gone. No you couldn't be that far.

I'm driving in my car where I hope you are. Maybe I can talk you down. Maybe I can talk you down.

Oh, we're standing on a tiny ledge. Before this goes over the edge.

Gonna use my heart and not my head and try to open up your eyes. This is relationship suicide.

'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go.

We're standing on a tiny ledge. Before this goes over the edge.

Gonna use my heart and not my head. Oh, we're standing on a tiny ledge.

Before this goes over the edge. Gonna use my heart and not my head.

Just a cigarette gone. No you couldn't be that far.

I'm driving in my car where I hope you are. Maybe I can talk you down. Maybe I can talk you down.

Oh, we're standing on a tiny ledge. Before this goes over the edge.

Gonna use my heart and not my head and try to open up your eyes. This is relationship suicide.

'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go. 'Cause if you go, I go."

The room was silent and she couldn't stop herself from looking up at Finn. He was staring at her intently and she only hoped that he realized that this was it. She couldn't do it anymore and the ball was in his court. This was his last second chance. She made a mistake, but he had made worse. He cheated on Quinn. He had done the same thing. The only difference was that she had told him and he never told Quinn. She was too tired for this. She was just too tired for any of this.

"You're pathetic." Rachel looked over to Santana as the Latina stood up. "Seriously, man-hands get over yourself. He doesn't want you."

"Santana-" Mr. Schuester warned slightly with his voice only to be cut off by Santana again.

"No one wants you. Not a single one of us here wants you. Hell, your own mother didn't even want you." Santana tipped her head to the side with a mocking shrug.

Rachel blinked slowly. She felt what felt like a slap rip through her body before she went completely numb. She wasn't going to cry. She wouldn't give Santana that satisfaction and she couldn't exactly deny it. Her mother had easily replaced her. Shelby wanted to be a mother just not her mother. She couldn't say anything to refute any of it and the silence of the room was overpowering. She turned on her heel. The last thing she heard was Santana calling for her to stop being so dramatic and Mr. Schue telling the Latina she had gone too far this time.

Rachel just shut the door quietly behind her and headed for the first place she could think of where she would be alone. The walk to the bathroom was quick. Her mind was still blank as she stared in the mirror.

The door opened slowly and Rachel saw Quinn slip in the door from the mirror. The blonde stood behind her waiting for an inclination that she was noticed.

Quinn had tried to make Rachel miserable, but she would never say something so hurtful. There was a line that she would never cross. And as someone who had to give up her baby she couldn't stand for something like this. Santana seemed to be out for blood lately, but this was farther than the other girl had ever gone before. Now Quinn could only watch the small brunette stare at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but wonder if this would be Beth seventeen years from now.

"Rachel, Santana was totally out of line." For once Quinn couldn't work her voice up to the commanding tone she normally spoke in. She was almost afraid of breaking this silence. Rachel had never reacted this way before. Normally she stormed out in a huff. This was completely different. That's what made Quinn follow her. She left Puck to yell at the Latina and followed Rachel with thoughts of Beth swimming in her head.

Rachel laughed bitterly. "Was she?"

Quinn's eyes widened slightly. "Of course."

"Funny. You all agreed with her just a month ago. None of you wanted me. You told me that." Rachel gripped the sides of the sink to steady herself. To hold on for just one more minute.

"Puck didn't say that. You know we say hurtful things sometimes, but we're always there for each other. We were there when Kurt's father was sick. We were there for each other for Brittany. You guys were there for me when I was pregnant. You were there when everyone found out Puck was the father." Quinn tried to grasp at straws.

"And you told me that you would make my life hell if the roles were reversed. Everyone told me to get over Jesse when that went down. The only time anyone wanted to run to my aid was after VA egged me and that was as Kurt said 'No one else can mess with her.' No one was there when Finn broke up with me. Either time. And none of you were there when everything went down with my mother. You guys have always cared only about how it affected you. And everyone has the gall to call me selfish. I make an effort to be there for everyone else." Rachel spun around and headed for the door.

Quinn made it through the door before it had a chance to swing shut. She couldn't really defend against anything that Rachel had said. There wasn't really anything to say to that. "You know what Santana said was a lie, Rachel. I'm here for you now! Puck is in there defending you. And I'm sure that Shelby misses you. It's so hard to give up your child. I would know."

Rachel spun around furiously. Her face was twisted into a scowl and Quinn took a slight step back. "Don't tell me what Shelby felt. I know what she said. She blatantly told me I wasn't family. She didn't want me. She wanted a family with your daughter. So you know what? Santana may be a bitch, but at least she doesn't lie about it. What you did isn't the same as what Shelby did. You had to do what was best for the child you loved. Shelby dangled a relationship in front of me and then just turned me away. Even you aren't that heartless."

Quinn didn't know what to say. Rachel had been quiet about what happened just mentioning that she didn't talk to Shelby anymore. She had no idea that anything like that happened. Not that she even knew the entire story now. Rachel was loud, but she was always quiet about herself and how she really felt. Everyone thought she had bounced back. Hell, that was why Quinn started to go after her again this year. She was still hurt over giving up her daughter and it seemed like Rachel had just moved on like nothing was wrong. It didn't seem fair so she wanted to make her hurt too. She didn't realize that Rachel was hurt. Was still hurting.

Quinn couldn't find the words to say to stop Rachel from continuing down that hall and right out the front doors of the school. She wasn't sure what to say, but she would have to say something.

"What you guys went through wasn't the same." Puck's voice startled Quinn.

She turned to her right and found him leaning against the lockers staring towards the doors. "I know it's not exactly the same."

Puck's gaze snapped to hers and she saw understanding there that she didn't want to realize. "No. You have no idea at all. You don't know what it's like to feel abandoned. You have no idea what anything she is going through is like. And you never will. You felt betrayed by your parents, but it wasn't a surprise and you got your mother back. You don't know what it's like to think everything is okay one day and then have someone show you just how much they never wanted you. You don't wake up everyday and wonder what you did wrong. It hasn't just happened to her once. It keeps happening. Over and over and then Santana rubs it in. You will never understand." Puck laughed slightly. "I have been waiting for her to have this meltdown though."

It took her a second to realize how he understood Rachel. She could understand why he was the lone voice that stuck up for her in his own way. He saw his father's abandonment in Rachel. He felt the same way and could see himself in her. "What should we do?"

Puck eyed her carefully before shrugging. "I'm going to do what I've been doing. The same thing she's always done for me. I'm going to be there."

He looked at Quinn one last time before shoving his hands into his pockets and walking towards the locker room. Quinn watched him until he turned the corner before looking back to the doors Rachel had disappeared through.