Summary: AU - 8 years after the original Glee members graduate McKinley. Rachel Berry a Broadway star and her wife Quinn Fabray, a part-time actress and drama teacher are happily married until a stalker disrupts their idyllic life in NY. Quinn is injured protecting Rachel from the stalker and they leave the spotlight to return to Ohio until he is caught. Santana is a detective assigned to protect them but can she keep the stalker from attacking again? Faberry with Quinntana and Pezberry friendship.

There is some occasional bad language, but not too much.

Author's note:

When I decided to try my hand at writing fanfiction, I had an idea but wasn't sure how to develop it as I hadn't written any before. I picked three possible storylines and worked on them with the intent that I would choose the one I liked most and publish it, thus discarding the other two. I chose 'Being Better' as the one to pursue. I didn't expect much feedback or for it to end up being so long, nor did I envisage the interaction with readers that would lead to the developments in the story.

After some discussion with another author, I decided to post one of the other ideas because it was a different TV show and I felt it was sufficiently different to warrant it. Again, I had so much positive feedback about 'Consequences' that I continued it beyond what I had originally planned.

I guess it's therefore easy to see why I decided to post this story in the end. I could have changed it substantially to make it more different again, but I am reliably informed that it is worthy of being published. I am not entirely convinced, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

If you hate it, I apologise, but before reviewing please bear in mind that the idea for writing my three stories were all born from a single starting point so it shares much in common with the other two stories. You don't need to point this out to me – I already know. There is a twist in the tail and the perp will eventually come forth, but the ending is still a mystery!

Also bear in mind when reviewing that I don't really care if you hate Faberry so there's no point in telling me this. What is helpful to authors is constructive criticism. It helps authors to keep motivated if you tell them what you liked and what could be improved rather than what you hate. I am guessing readers would like authors to keep writing so just a hint if you are thinking about feedback in general. Negative 'whining' feedback just makes authors feel dejected because this is just a hobby and we don't get paid for it. I am very open to ideas for development so if there is anything you would like to see as part of the story please drop me a line.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or it's characters, I merely borrow them for a short time.

-The VIPs-

Prologue

"Lopez, in here."

The Sargent was his usual gruff self. Santana knew she had ground to make up after her brief suspension for taking out a perp's teeth the year before.

She was in her fourth year with the Police department and had only been with this unit for a month. She pretty much hated it for the most part, but it was less likely to get her kicked off the job for using excessive violence as she had in patrol and then the gang unit. She was a rising star, but with a temper and as such, she could be a liability. She wanted off the VIP unit desperately because it was generally where old officers went to die (well actually it was a retirement home in waiting for those who had done their time on the streets and wanted a cushy number for a little while before slipping into a life of golf.)

She had been sent there to get a little rehabilitation under the guise of promotion to detective. Her Sargent was one of the most experienced and respected officers in the Columbus PD and it was thought that he could rein her in and teach her a little self-control. The truth was that she had lost her temper and gone too far, but she cared about people and scumbag drug dealers were about the lowest of the low, especially when they prayed on school kids. Hence the guy had lost some teeth during the arrest. But now she was paying for it, she was stuck in this unit for the time being. The guys on the gang unit didn't give a shit about her sexuality, but this place was full of old-school cops who just might and that was part of why she hated it. She didn't want to let on about herself in case of disapproval, she needed to win them over and then get the fuck out of there asap.

College had gone well for her, but meant the end of her old school life and she missed that, but she joined up as soon as she graduated and it was perfect for a while. She kicked ass. She was born for this protecting people shit.

The VIP unit mostly worked as escorts for major events or major people. Dignitaries needed protection sometimes. There were crazy people out there, often with a cause and a gun. It was her job now to make sure they didn't succeed in carrying out their crazy in her part of the state. There were politicians, pop stars, diplomats, media types and they all thought they were important. In truth, most didn't really need the protection they were offered, but occasionally it was serious.

"I have a great assignment for you," the Sarge seemed excited. "We have someone important coming home to Ohio for a while and she needs some protection and I figured you are just the person for the job. This is going to be a long term assignment so be prepared to see very little of your apartment for the next few months. I think you'll like this one." The Sarge actually winked at her.

-THE VIPs-

Chapter 1

Rachel sat outside in the waiting room with her manager, a rather neurotic woman who once had dreams of becoming a major Broadway start herself, but those dreams had long since died and she spent all day on her phone arranging a constant stream of auditions for her select performers. What was happening now was beyond her skill set though and the cracks were showing. Rachel Berry had been a star even before she had finished her four year stint at NYADA. There were some people who thought she didn't even need to complete her degree in Musical Theatre, but she hadn't listened to them, instead sacrificing a little instant success for a slower approach. She still got there anyway and her latest show had sold out every night for nine months with two of the recordings hitting the top of the download charts in iTunes. She had made it and finally gotten what she wanted professionally. Personally things were also going well for her. She had used the MetroNorth pass bought by a certain blonde cheerleader, over an increasing number of weekends during her first year in college and similarly the blonde had reciprocated on the journey from New Haven in between. Who would have guessed that Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray would end up an item?

Quinn had finally moved to New York after she graduated, qualified as a teacher and took up a position teaching drama in an exclusive private school in the Upper West Side. She loved performing still and took part in a number of small productions, but it turned out she loved teaching just as much.

For the last seven years, they had been open about their relationship and the final two had seen them happily married, living in a nice Manhatten apartment and thinking about starting a family.

And then the letters started to arrive.

Sent to her manager's address first of all, then the theatre of her latest show and then finally, their home.

That had been when NYPD had taken notice, but they hadn't had enough time to fully complete their investigations before the attack.

The worst thing was that it wasn't Rachel, the intended victim who had been hurt. It was Quinn.

-THE VIPs-

"Who is it this time?" Santana expected some politician who had blown the public coffers and stirred a vendetta from some haters.

"I think you'll recognize the name. None other than Ohio's favorite daughter, Rachel Berry." The Sarge, or more particularly, his wife was a big fan of musicals and they had seen Berry perform several times over the last couple of years.

"What the fuck!" Santana spat out the coffee she had been drinking and groaned.

"I thought you liked singing?" The Sarge looked at her confused. She'd been impressive, beyond impressive actually at a department night out in a karaoke bar in Columbus.

"You don't understand, Sarge. We were at school together."

"You know Rachel Berry?"

Santana nodded. "Yeah, I used to bully her at school when she was a freshman, well actually as a sophomore as well."

"Little Miss Righteous, you, a bully?"

She groaned again. She hadn't seen Rachel for a few years, not since they broke apart as a group of friends to go to college. She heard somewhere that she was gay now, which hadn't entirely surprised her, but that was about as much as Santana had heard. She was never one for keeping up with celebrity; she had been more interested in becoming one. That was part of her past life and now she worked in big black boots, with a badge, a gun and handcuffs; celebrity was not part of her remit anymore, unless you counted the ones she had to protect..

Santana explained how annoying Rachel had been, but how they eventually became friends only to part company when college came around. "I haven't seen her since she left for New York, Sarge. But if I know Berry, she's probably just as high maintenance as she was back in school. Hence the groan. Don't get me wrong, I like her, but she is annoying as hell sometimes."

"Well, I had the pleasure of talking to her this morning and I can honestly say she was nothing but charming, especially considering what she is going through right now."

Santana didn't like the sound of that at all. She had assumed it was a run-of-the-mill VIP job, but the Sarge's tone suggested otherwise.

"What is she going through?"

"This is on the quiet and highly confidential. You wouldn't ordinarily be taking a job like this, but I am aware of your …" he searched for the correct terminology, "sexuality and I thought this case would be ideal for you in the circumstances."

"You mean because she's gay and so am I we would get along together?" Santana was completely confused and a little bit offended.

"No, nothing like that. She's married anyway. No I mean she is the victim of a hate crime, well actually her spouse was the victim, it's complicated." He liked Lopez, she was no nonsense and not like some female cops who took offence too easy, actually she wasn't remotely politically correct and was capable of dishing plenty out to the guys she worked with. He didn't want to offend her so chose his words carefully. "She was and most likely still is, the intended victim of a hate crime by someone unknown at present. I'll start from the beginning." The Sarge ran his hand through thinning brown hair. "Ms. Berry has attracted the attention of a stalker. This particular whack job has issues with her sexuality and it seems that if they cannot have Ms. Berry, then no one can. It started with letters professing love and then became hate mail. It got to the point that her life was threatened. NYPD eventually got their asses into gear, but before they could find the guy, Ms. Berry and her wife were attacked on the way home from a performance. Ms. Berry was fine, but her wife was not."

"Oh my God!" Santana muttered. "Why wasn't this in the news? Berry is like big time these days."

"Her manager has kept a lid on the whole thing at the request of Ms. Berry. Her wife has been transferred to the rehab hospital here for the foreseeable future and they wanted to drop out of the spotlight until the guy is caught. The FBI is on the case now, but in the meantime, we need to make sure she and her wife remain safe. That's now your job. As far as the public are concerned, the story is that she is taking some time off to record a new album."

"I wonder why they came here, she swore she would never come back."

"They have a house in Lima. I think they feel safer somewhere a little out of the spotlight and it's close to family for the both of them."

"Her wife is from here too?" Santana's curiosity was peaked.

"I believe that's what she said. She's waiting in the foyer. Here are the notes, but you can read them at your leisure. Ms. Berry assures me they have a room for you at their house in Lima, so you are on familiar turf. Make sure she gets to and from the hospital safely every day and report in as necessary. You have the support of the sheriff's office in Lima if you need immediate back-up. I suggest you make a visit there at the earliest convenience and make nice with them."

"What about her wife? I can't watch over both of them if they're not together."

"Hospital has security and procedures put in place by the Feds, but as the target is Ms. Berry, we believe she was just collateral damage in the attack. Damned brave, she pretty much threw herself over her wife and ended up being stabbed in the back."

Santana's head went down thinking about Rachel and what she must be going through. Imagine having all your dreams come true, only for some crazy to use that against you and almost kill the person you love. She didn't even consider how dangerous this assignment could be.

"Well, I don't need to make formal introductions as you already know each other. She's with her manager at present in the foyer, I suggest you get to it. Don't forget to study the brief." He nodded at the rather thick file he had given the young officer. He smiled as she left his office, Lopez was as kick-ass as they came. If anyone would be motivated to protect the young couple it would be her.

-THE VIPs-

"Rachel?" Santana could see the diminutive star pacing in the foyer as she entered. Her face was the same and the long brunette hair was still worn long, though not with the shorts bangs she had last seen her with. She had a worried look across her features. No doubt the concern she felt for her own safety but her injured wife as well.

Not expecting someone to call her by her first name, the brunette looked up and the worry vanished momentarily, replaced by the disbelief of recognition and surprise all at same time.

"Santana!" She stepped forwards quickly and embraced the taller woman dressed in a dark pant suit and white shirt. Rachel released her just as quickly, her arm having brushed against the holster for Santana's service weapon. "What are you doing here? Are you a cop?"

Santana grinned. "Detective actually. Only for the last month, though. You could have struck me down with a feather when I found out I got assigned to protect you." Concern was written across her face. "You look just the same, only worried."

Rachel looked shocked. "You're my escort?" A nervous smile appeared. What was it the Sarge had said, charming. "I wish we were having a reunion under different circumstances, Santana. You look great. Obviously not eating too many doughnuts." She smiled genuinely hinting at the still athletic figure of the former cheerleader, then and gave her another hug. "It really is good to see you again. I actually feel relieved. It's hard to trust anyone anymore. I don't even know where to start, but I need to see Quinn can you take me there?"

"Quinn? As in Fabray? I haven't seen …"

"Quinn is my wife, Santana," Rachel laid a hand on Santana's arm. "I'm sorry I thought they would have told you."

Santana looked stunned. Then her mind went back to what the Sarge had said. Rachel's wife had thrown herself on top of her and been stabbed. She had been transferred to the big rehab hospital in Columbus. It was like a punch in the gut.

"The Sarge just gave me a quick brief, but not a name. I haven't had time to look through the file in detail. Quinn is your wife?"

Rachel nodded, tears forming. "We've been married for two years, but we have been together since college. I thought you might have known."

Santana's hand flew to her pocket and she handed Rachel a tissue. "I've not really taken much interest in showbiz, Rachel, sorry. I got myself a little detached from all that sort of thing after Brit and I broke up."

Rachel wiped her eyes. "Can we please go? I need to see her and I can explain more as we drive. I need to let my manager get back to New York as well. She's not coping." Rachel nodded over to a middle aged woman talking in an urgent whisper into her phone and looking somewhat stressed.

"Come on, let's get you out of here."

-THE VIPs-

Santana insisted Rachel wear a bullet-proof vest while outside. "You keep this on whenever we are exposed to people you don't recognize. I know it seems overkill in Ohio, but unless you can ID the guy..."

She left the rest unspoken.

Rachel complied straight away, but didn't know how it fastened up, so Santana fastened it for her.

"I'm so sorry you are going through this," the taller woman announced as she went ahead and checked outside the main doors. "Let's go," she waved Rachel out after her and took her to the black, department-issue sedan waiting by the curb.

They set off across town to the rehab hospital. "Tell me about Quinn. How is she?"

The tears flowed for a few minutes and Santana had to concentrate carefully as she drove, blinking away her own tears.

When Rachel eventually got control she explained the situation. "It happened three weeks ago. We were just coming out of the little theatre where Quinn was in a play. She takes on a few roles on top of her teaching job."

"Teaching, Quinn's a teacher?"

"Yeah, she started out teaching some acting classes in the holidays when she was still in college and just fell in love with it. She decided it was as important as acting. She teaches drama three days a week and then does some smaller productions, off-Broadway stuff. Mostly she just does plays, but she's been known to do the odd musical as well." Rachel smiled at the thought.

"I was on the matinee that day so I managed to get over to see her evening show and I must have been followed because it wasn't planned. I showed up unexpected to see Quinn and then we left out the back way because the Police told me to avoid crowds and I can attract attention quite easily these days. I think it's the nose," she looked at Santana briefly and the taller woman gave her a sympathetic grin.

"It was dark by the time we left and he just came out of nowhere, but I think Quinn's sixth sense kicked in, because she seemed to know it was happening before me and as he lunged at us, she pushed him away. I think I might have been screaming because my voice was really hoarse the next day and we attracted some attention, but before anyone could intervene, he lunged at us again and Quinn just stepped in front of him and pushed me away as hard as she could. I didn't even realize he had a knife. I got a small wound across my left arm but she took the blade right in the middle of her back" She started crying again. "It's just like that damned accident happened all over again."

Santana realized Rachel meant the car accident that had left Quinn badly injured in senior year and had spent four months in a wheelchair, some of it unsure whether she would regain the use of her legs. The connection suddenly took place in her brain. Quinn was stabbed in the back and in a rehab hospital.

"Fuck! Don't tell me she's going to be stuck in a wheelchair again."

Rachel didn't reply, she just stared out of the windscreen for a few moments. "It's not quite the same as the car accident, Santana. This time she won't be getting out of it."