I know! I know! It's been sooooo long! Life just took a crazy busy path there for a while but I'm back! Thank you all so much who never gave up on this story or me! Your reviews have made me make time in my hectic schedule to continue this story. I know this chapter isn't too long but I needed to ease everyone back into it ;) haha! Keep those reviews coming! Enjoy!

Finn slowed his pace as he reached the top of the stairs and turned the corner. He heard almost inaudible mumbling. He furrowed his brow and stepped closer to the door to Rachel's bedroom. The door was cracked with just enough room so that he could see her tiny frame inwardly cussing as she tried to maneuver herself around her bedroom with her crutches, grabbing clothes and bathing items. Her hands full, she reached down for one of her crutches. As her hand grabbed the handle the clothes tumbled from her hand and hit the ground.

"Fuck." She whispered harshly.

Finn's eyes widened a little. In all the years he'd known Rachel she had never been one to cuss. He tried to remember a time when she had but he was drawing a blank. He watched her struggle with her crutches for a moment. He felt bad for thinking the whole scenario was cute but it really was. He decided to end his amusement and offer his assistance. He tapped lightly on the cracked door.

"Rach? You alright?" He didn't open the door.

"Yeah," he could tell by the way she said it that she was anything but fine.

"You sure?"

"Positive," she was being sarcastic now.

He pushed the door open softly and stepped inside Rachel's room. He'd only been in there a select few times. He thought back fondly to the time she had almost mauled him dressed like Sandy from Grease. He smiled to himself, not noticing that he had started to space out.

"Finn?" She looked at him, confused by his smile. "Why in the world are you smiling?"

Finn was snapped back to reality and immediately felt embarrassed by his smiling. "I was uh...sorry."

"It's ok."

They stood there awkwardly for a few moments. "Can I get my bath now please?"

"Oh yes, sorry. I'm sorry." Finn began to retract from the room but then turned back around.

"Yes?" She waited for him to speak.

"Um...enjoy your bath." He turned around and almost ran out of the room. Why was it so hard to talk to her now? Maybe because every time he looked at her all he saw were the barely healing cuts and bruises from...him. He wanted to vomit every time he looked at her. That sounded bad. She was beautiful, always had been and always would be. No, not because she wasn't beautiful, it was because instead of the bright, vibrant girl he knew, he saw someone almost lifeless. He swore again that if he ever got his hands on the person you did that to her, he would make him wish he was dead.

Finn nervously tapped his foot and looked at the clock. "They've been in there a long time huh?"

"Finn, calm down." Mr. Shue took a drink of the coffee that had suddenly become cold in his hand.

"Yeah, yeah I'm sorry Mr. Shue. Just...I dunno makes me nervous."

"It's just Emma, Finn. Rachel wanted to talk to her."

"I know, I just want to be there. I don't know. I don't want to be overprotective either." He ran his fingers through his thick hair. He let out a small laugh. "I honestly don't know what to do."

"Can I ask you a question?" Rachel looked up from the spot on the kitchen table that she had been staring at.

"Anything Rachel." Emma leaned in reassuringly and lightly placed her hand on top of Rachel's, glad when she didn't jerk away.

"Sometimes, when I look at Finn..." She caught her breath. "Sometimes when I see him...I see the...man..." She spit the word out, knowing that whoever did this to her was anything but. "...who did this to me. Will it always be that way?"

Emma narrowed her eyes. "I'm not going to try to tell you something that I don't know the answer to just to make you feel better. You're too smart for that. I can't tell you how long it will last or if it will ever go away. But I can tell you what I think. I think you're a very strong young woman Rachel, one of the strongest I have ever met. I know you will get through this. I don't know how long it will take but I know you want Finn here and I know you don't really see him as that person. It's a common response though. Every male will look like him to you. But I know Finn means more to you than you really let yourself believe and it will pass Rachel. Just don't push it ok?" She smiled when she saw a nod from Rachel.

"Thank you."

"Anytime Rachel."

A loud crash echoed through the living room and everyone jumped. Rachel closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, shaking away the tears that were threatening to pour.

"Puck!" Finn jumped up and grabbed his friend by the arm. "Definitely not needed man."

Puck looked down at his knuckles which had become cut and bloody upon making contact with the wall in Rachel's living room. "Are you serious? Are you fucking serious?" Puck was pacing now, not paying any attention to the blood dripping from his hand. "I'll fucking kill him."

Finn shot a glance at Rachel and saw that she was really crying now. He tried to calmly stop Puck's rampage throughout the room. "Puck man just listen." He put a hand on his shoulder and Puck instinctively pushed him aside causing Finn to stumble. "Get off of me." He yelled and everyone quieted as they heard a door slam. Rachel had left. Everyone was so caught up in Puck's outburst that they hadn't noticed Rachel run off in tears.

"Just great Puck." Finn sat down and put his head in his hands. "I knew this wasn't a good idea yet."

Puck quieted. "Look, I'm sorry. I just...I don't understand. How could this happen?"

Mercedes spoke up. "You didn't even let her finish Puck."

He just nodded, knowing his outburst had been totally uncalled for at the moment. Rachel had barely begun to talk when Puck put two and two together and had punched a hole straight through the wall.

"I'll fix that too." Puck looked at the wall regretfully.

Finn shook his head. "It's fine. I just think we better postpone the rest of this talk."

Everyone nodded in agreement, still shocked from Rachel's news and Puck's outburst. Finn slowly said goodbye to everyone. Promising to call them at let them know when they could come back. Puck apologized again for how he had acted and allowed Quinn to drive him to the emergency room to get his hand checked out. When the last of them had gone he sat there alone for a moment and wondered what he had done by inviting them there, well not really them, just Puck. Rachel didn't need that now. He couldn't imagine how that must of scared her. He got up and walked slowly up the stairs to her bedroom. The door was closed but he could hear muffled sobs from the other side. He knocked lightly and all at once she quieted.

"Rach, it's me I was just..."

She cut him off. "Come in."