Title: I'm Half Doomed & You're Semi - Sweet
Pairing, Character(s): Jesse St. James/Rachel Berry
Rating: PG-13.
Spoilers:Up to Hell-O. (For this part) But the entire fic will continue up to 'Journey'.

Jesse St. James is fairly certain he could never make it in a career as a spy. Sure he has the required elements of stealth, intelligence, physical health (and appearance), but even with all of that, he's committed the one fault that has to be at the top of every spy's "Do Not Ever (Under Any Circumstance) Do List". He'd fallen for his assignment.

Jesse St. James is fairly certain he could never make it in a career as a spy if Rachel Berry had anything to do with it.

The initial task had started easy enough; find Rachel Berry, woo her, guide her to her mother's (Shelby's) arms, win a 4th consecutive show choir national championship title. It had started easy enough.

He remembers the first time he saw her, or rather the first time he'd been forced to pay attention to her. It was an instinctual response, his body reacted to talent on its own regard and he couldn't have been happier for that fact than in that moment. She commanded her audience; her form was flawless, voice powerful and crystal clear; Jesse couldn't look away.

The only flaw was a slight lack of confidence (probably only detectable to him) that had hindered the emotional depth of the legendary song. It grew with each syllable though, as the performance gained momentum, so did she. Embracing the intensity Barbra had embedded in the song, but adding her own. The song meant something to her, she held a connection that had been void in any of the other performances he'd seen that day (and he was being honest, in quite some time).

She hits the last note flawlessly, holding it with the ease of a seasoned performer. The audience's loud cheering is what breaks him out of a trance that had left him (almost) completely stunned.

Rachel Berry, he thinks, had inherited quite the talent. He leaves before they ever exit the stage, he already knew who won.

The next time he sees her it's a sort of accident. He'd asked around and found out that Rachel frequented the local Lima music/book store. So he took a trip and decided to scope the place out.
The first few times he goes she's not there, he looks around and browses the selection of sheet music and books (the celebrity biographies become his personal favorite). The place soon becomes a favorite of his; the quiet murmur of people engaged in conversation, the low sounds of music lessons being giving in the back rooms wafts through the space to create an ideal calming atmosphere.

He wanders in one day after a particularly draining practice with Vocal Adrenaline to spot Ms. Berry herself perusing through a copy of "The Very Best of Lionel Richie". He understandably panics, as assimilating himself into her life hadn't been planned until next week. Even so, he gears himself up for the challenge (he's anything if not quick on his feet), steels his shoulders and struts over to the brunette.

The Rachel Jesse had prepared himself for is the exact opposite of the one he gets. He'd imagined Rachel's off stage persona to be equivalent to the one onstage. What he gets is a sort of timid, reserved version of that dynamic girl who sang 'Don't Rain on My Parade" like she owned it. He doesn't know whether to be disappointed or delighted (he'll later find out the timid Rachel Berry he met that day was only one side of her personality and it was brought out because of him; he's more pleased about that than he probably should be).

They wander around for a while, (rather he walks and she follows closely behind, dazed and star struck) him doing much of the talking, he doesn't mind (he's used to it). Then he gets an idea that's nothing short of genius.

Sitting down on the piano bench he plays he first few bars to "Hello" before he begins to sing, beckoning her to do the same (he wants to see that girl again). He peaks out of the corner of his eye and watches her face as awe takes over. He smirks, not even fathoming the idea of humility, he was that good. The smirk however, fades as she opens her mouth to join him in the song. He has to fight for concentration, almost missing a key.

This time her performance is flawless. Their voices blend together in a way that seems to be meant to be. Jesse is not one to believe in fairy tales and destiny (other than his own inevitable success as a performer) but singing with Rachel made him want to. They were so in synch it was disconcerting and yet he could imagine himself doing this and nothing else as long as she was with him.

The songs ends, applause begins, the adrenaline of a performance wears off, and he regains his bearings. Rachel Berry was an assignment, nothing else. He skips ahead a few more days on his meticulous plan to woo, and asks her out for a date on Friday. Rachel Berry was an assignment.

She smiles at him and right then he knows he's doomed.