A/N: Lots of dialogue in this chapter. You all better appreciate it, because it just about killed me to write!

"I think we should talk."

Lacing their fingers together and squeezing gently, Rachel nodded hesitantly. Glancing up at Quinn's tear-stained face, she felt once again that her normal blunt approach would be sorely out of place. Reaching up to carefully wipe a tear away from the blonde's face with her thumb, she murmured, "I don't really know where to start."

Leaning into the gentle touch and comfort that Rachel provided, Quinn sighed. "I know that you know what you want to ask, and I appreciate you trying to be sensitive to my needs and feelings right now, but maybe just think of the top five most pressing questions you need answered. I promise I'll try to be as honest as I can."

Thinking for a moment, Rachel nodded again and scooted so that she was a little closer to the blonde. "Okay. Open and honest. Just...remember that I care about you a lot, Quinn, and I'm only asking so I can try to understand what you need from me."

When she got a slight nod from Quinn in response, she took a deep breath and chose her first question.

"Are you safe right now?"

Arching an eyebrow slightly, Quinn nodded.

"Unless there's something you need to tell me?"

Blushing slightly at her poorly chosen wording, Rachel shook her head hurriedly before thinking of what to ask next. Her tone was far more hesitant as she settled on her second question.

"Are there times when you aren't safe?"

Quinn was quiet for a long moment, and Rachel could see the struggle playing across her face as she fought with how to answer. Finally, she looked up and met Rachel's eyes and barely whispered, "Yes."

Torn between bursting into tears because she had been right and being overjoyed that Quinn trusted her enough to be honest, Rachel took a deep breath to try to calm her emotions. She didn't want to screw this up, and she had a feeling that her remaining three questions could be life-changing for both of them.

"Is someone hurting you?"

Slow tears were welling in Quinn's eyes, and Rachel scooted a tony bit closer, trying to offer whatever comfort she could. Unable to answer verbally, Quinn nodded and braced herself for what she knew was coming next.

Trying to find a way to word what she wanted to say, Rachel finally asked quietly, "Do you...I mean, would you maybe be comfortable telling me a little bit more about what's been happening? Only if you feel safe, of course, I just...I really want to be able to help, Quinn."

The look on Rachel's face was so heartbreakingly earnest that Quinn found herself unable to refuse. Drawing in a deep breath, she turned so that she was facing the brunette, their knees bumping each other. She tangled her fingers with Rachel's, looking down at the alternating tan and white and idly noting that the contrasting shades looked good together. Looking back up, she met Rachel's eyes, deadly serious. "You have to promise that you won't tell anyone, okay? I'm only telling you because I trust you, and god there are so many people out there I can't trust, and I just...I need to know that this will stay between us."

Biting her lip, Rachel hesitated for a moment. If she promised Quinn that she wouldn't tell anyone but then found out that something terrible was happening, she wasn't sure how she would be able to get the blonde help without breaking her trust and alienating her. Mentally weighing her choices and deciding that she would cross that bridge when she came to it, she nodded. "I promise."

Squeezing Rachel's hand in thanks, Quinn tried to gather her thoughts. She had thought that simply admitting to Rachel that she was being hurt would be the hard part, but now that the brunette had asked for a more detailed explanation of what was going on, she saw how wrong she had been.

She still maintained that even Rachel might not be able to handle hearing everything that was happening, and she made some quick mental adjustments. It was possible, she decided, to tell Rachel part of her story without giving everything away and scaring the girl off. With any luck, she would be able to keep those other things hidden away in the dark corners of her mind and heart forever. Gathering her courage, she paused only for a second to figure out where she wanted to start before opening her mouth and starting to speak.

"It's been going on for as long as I can remember...ever since I was little, it's just how things have been. I used to be so convinced that all families were like mine, nothing but conditional love and trying to tiptoe around on eggshells that were always breaking. There was always so much anger and hate and resentment in my house, but I didn't know any better. I didn't know that a family is supposed to be a safe place, not one where you feel scared all the time."

Rachel can see in Quinn's body language the toll living in such a place has taken on her. The blonde's shoulders are slumped, as though she is trying to make herself smaller, and her eyes are firmly fixed on the ground. Briefly, she wonders why she has never noticed these signs before, but then feels like kicking herself when she realizes Quinn never wanted her to, and she was too concerned with her own life to care enough to look.

Quinn glances up, just long enough to see that Rachel is still there and paying attention, and when the brunette gives her a quick nod of encouragement, she continues. "I think the first time I realized maybe not all families were like mine was when I was in kindergarten. I had this best friend, Danielle, and I was going to have my first sleepover ever at her house. I walked in, and just...I couldn't understand why they were all so happy, why they were smiling and laughing. I had never seen people look like that while they were at home, and I asked Danielle about it and she told me that all families were like that. All families loved each other. And I was so confused, but I didn't want to say anything because she was my best friend and I wanted her to like me and I wanted to fit in and be like everyone else."

She could see the question in Rachel's eyes, but she needed to take it at her own pace. Mercifully, the brunette didn't prompt her or say anything, just sat there and listened as she tried to tell her story.

"The second time I went over to her house, her parents were worried, I guess, and started asking questions. Wanted to know how I had gotten my bruises, that sort of thing. I told them I had fallen, because that was what I told everyone, and they dropped it. But the next time I came over I had a cast on my arm, and when they asked what had happened and I said I fell, they decided to take matters into their own hands. CPS showed up at my house the next day, and my parents were so mad. They played the part of indignant but cooperative parent flawlessly, and I told the social worker that I had fallen out of a tree. She was so taken with my family's charm, she was gone within the hour and never looked back."

Quinn winced at the memory, her voice getting quieter. "I never talked to Danielle again after that. My parents said they were a mean, nasty family, and I couldn't be associated with them. They moved within the year. I didn't really hang out with friends for a while after that. I saw them at school, and that was plenty. If having sleepovers meant they would have to move and my parents would be angry, it wasn't worth it. When I met Santana and Brittany in fourth grade I started to spend time outside of school with them, but I tried not to talk to their parents. Parents meant questions and questions meant trouble, and more trouble was absolutely the last thing I needed."

Rachel shook her head in disbelief. Quinn had obviously been hurt if there had been bruises and a cast; it just didn't make sense that nobody would have poked around and asked questions. Quinn seemed to catch the silent question and sighed, shrugging her shoulders.

"I was good at hiding it. You learn pretty quick not to talk about certain things, and if you get good grades and don't cause trouble people don't like to poke around. Sort of a 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth' mentality, I think."

Rachel had been trying to maintain her silence so that Quinn could talk at her own pace without interruption- she knew that this had to be impossibly hard for the blonde, and while she was telling Rachel things that seemed slightly irrelevant, she knew that this was Quinn's way of working through things. That said, she was unable to contain herself at the blonde's statement.

"That's ridiculous!"

The second the words were out of her mouth, she was immediately chastising herself for interrupting. Softening her voice, she tried again. "I just don't understand how so many people could be so oblivious. There had to have been signs, something to alert them to the fact that you were- that you were being hurt."

Not commenting on the way Rachel stumbled over the last part of her sentence, Quinn tried to lighten the oppressive mood. Letting a small smirk slide onto her features, she asked, "What? Can't stand the thought that I might be a better actress than you?"

Rachel's smile was forced, but it was something.

Sighing as she tried to articulate her reasoning, Quinn let the smirk fall off her face as her brow furrowed slightly. "I just wanted to get through high school so that then I could get out of here forever and never look back. That was why I was so mean...it was what everyone expected, and I couldn't risk doing anything that might make people suspicious. I'm so sorry, you didn't deserve any of it, and I didn't mean a word of what I said. It's just...I made it this far without anyone knowing, and it's worked for me." At the incredulous look on Rachel's face she grimaced and amended her sentence. "Mostly. I didn't see the point in anyone else being involved, not when I was so close to getting out, and then you had to come along..."

Thinking back to the first night that she saw Quinn in the park, Rachel decided that she might as well just ask her questions if Quinn was going to give her answers. She didn't know when the blonde might be this open with her again, and she was desperate to understand the other girl's life. "That first night, when you were on the swings-"

Quinn didn't wait for Rachel to finish her question before answering. "That's where I go when I need to get away for a while. You saw..." She swallowed hard, still unused to talking about what went on behind closed doors so openly. "You saw the bruises. If I showed up at Santana's she wouldn't let it drop...normally the park is pretty empty that time of night. You showing up was pretty much the last thing I expected."

Nodding, Rachel felt a twinge of worry as she wondered how many nights Quinn had spent outside. Lima wasn't exactly a big town, but bad things still happened, and an attractive teenage girl outside by herself...asleep...Rachel shuddered and pushed the thought from her mind.

Quinn's eyes flickered up to Rachel's face and she felt a pang of guilt at how patient the little diva was being.

"Rachel..." She started slowly, searching for the right words, "I'm sorry about taking off and leaving that note. And I'm so, so sorry for hurting you. I never meant to hit you, and I wish more than anything that I could take it back. You were so unbelievably kind to me, and I never seem to do anything but hurt you."

Rachel opened her mouth to protest but closed it when Quinn started talking again. "When I left that note I was trying to protect you the only way I knew how. I thought that maybe if you weren't around me then you would be safe, and that's all I really want." Pausing to look at Rachel and make sure she was paying attention, Quinn's tone was deadly serious as she said, "I'm not a safe person to be around, Rachel. What happened the other night is just the tip of the iceberg- if you ever got hurt by them, and it was my fault-"

This time it was Rachel who cut Quinn off, shaking her head sharply. "Quinn, I understand what you're trying to tell me, but I've weighed the risks and I know what I'm getting myself into!"

Shaking her head sadly, Quinn murmured, "I'm not sure that you do, Rach." Unwilling to fight the blonde about it, Rachel lapsed into silence for a minute. There was still one thing that Quinn hadn't really addressed yet. She knew for sure that Quinn was being hurt, that this had been ongoing for her entire life, but..she still didn't know for sure who was hurting the cheerleader. Bracing herself for the awkwardness of the question she was about to ask, Rachel steeled herself and softly asked, "Who is them?"

Quinn didn't feign confusion, but she hesitated to answer. Rachel squeezed their entwined hands gently, and the careful contact reminded Quinn of why she was telling Rachel all of this in the first place. She trusted the smaller girl, and now she had to trust that Rachel would reward that trust with belief instead of suspicion. Taking in a deep breath, she whispered, "My mom."

To her credit, Rachel was able to keep her surprise from showing on her face, but that didn't mean she wasn't taken aback by the answer. She hadn't really even accounted for the possibility that Quinn's mom might be the one hurting the blonde- in all of her imaginings, it had always been the stoic father figure, determined to run an authoritarian household and keep his daughter under his thumb. It was just so...unexpected. Realizing she hadn't said anything yet, Rachel looked up and immediately felt awful at the look of resigned sadness on Quinn's face. The cheerleader had obviously taken her silence as disbelief, and Rachel hurried to correct her.

"Quinn."

Barely raising her eyes to meet Rachel's, Quinn waited for the inevitable interrogation and skepticism, and was unprepared for the brunette to reach out and gently cup her cheek in one hand. Rachel opened her mouth, and out spilled the three most glorious words Quinn had ever heard in her entire life.

"I believe you."

Unable to help herself, she launched herself at the tiny singer and found arms instantly encircling her, promising comfort and safety and support. Rachel's words had eased an ache inside of her that she hadn't even known she had, and Quinn found tears springing to her eyes. She had never thought she would hear those words directed at her, and it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of her shoulders. She hadn't told Rachel everything (especially not that), but the fact that the diva believed what she had told her...it reaffirmed her trust in the brunette and seemed to justify all of the hopes she had pinned on the smaller girl by telling her.

Rachel held Quinn tightly, stroking her hair in silence as she cried. She just wanted to protect the girl from all of the evil in the world, from all of the terrible things that had been done to her. There were still questions that were nagging at the corners of her mind, but they could wait. Quinn was safe, for now, and that was what mattered. As she felt the blonde nuzzle into the crook of her neck, Rachel vowed to do whatever she had to in order to keep the girl safe. There was no way she was going to allow Quinn to be hurt again, not after all this. The cheerleader had been living for so long without anyone willing or able to protect her, but no more. If it was the last thing she did, Rachel promised herself that she would fight to keep Quinn safe and make sure that her mother never laid a hand on her ever again.

Several minutes passed in silence as Quinn enjoyed the comforting feeling of Rachel's arms around her, keeping everything bad at bay. Eventually, though, she pulled back.

As Quinn drew away, Rachel could see the obvious exhaustion on her face, and she could feel the weariness that was practically radiating off of her body. Panic hit as she realized that Quinn was going to get up and leave and go back to her house and her mother. Rachel's mind raced for a way to keep Quinn away, and she said the first thing that popped into her head. To hell with the original five question limit- she had already gone past that, and she might as well just go for it.

"I just have two more questions for you, Quinn."

The blonde was a bit confused but mostly just tired and resigned, and she nodded her head. She could practically see the wheels turning in Rachel's mind, and she felt a spark of curiosity. The brunette seemed satisfied with whatever she ha been thinking about, and she watched Quinn carefully as she said, "Are you going to be safe if you go home tonight?"

The question stirred a familiar feeling of dread in Quinn, and images of all the things that could happen passed unbidden behind her eyelids as she blinked quickly to try to clear the thoughts away. Her throat felt clogged, and she cleared it before shaking her head, eyes downcast in embarrassment. She hated this feeling of vulnerability, of being exposed with her secrets out in the open for prying eyes to see. A gentle finger slipped under her chin, encouraging her to look up. Rachel gave her a sad half-smile when their eyes met, and her voice was barely audible as she asked, "Then will you come spend the night with me?"

Unable to help trying to inject a bit of levity into the situation, Quinn arched an eyebrow and smirked suggestively. Rachel immediately blushed vibrantly, but didn't retract the statement. Quinn weighed her options in her mind- she could decline Rachel's invitation, but now that the diva knew where she usually hid, she would probably only last an hour or two out there before being dragged back the the Berry residence. If she agreed to go, it would be a near-crippling blow to her pride, but it would be a whole heck of a lot warmer and safer...not to mention it would save her at least one lecture. Sighing and knowing she was beat, Quinn nodded slightly.

As soon as the blonde nodded, Rachel felt a grin break out on her face. She was just- so relieved- and while she could tell Quinn wasn't thrilled, the cheerleader hadn't exactly put up a fight either.

At the sight of Rachel beaming at her, Quinn felt a small smile cross her lips as well. It was impossible not to smile when Rachel was looking at her like she had just given her the greatest gift in the world. She wasn't sure how long they sat there smiling at each other, but eventually Rachel stretched and pushed herself up. Extending a hand down to help Quinn up and off the floor, she smiled when the blonde kept a hold of her hand even after she was standing.

Reviews are much appreciated- let me know what you think!