Changed Directions

When Quinn woke up for the second time, her arms were empty and the other side of the bed was cold. Sitting up slowly, she caught sight of a folded paper resting on Rachel's pillow.

'Sorry for leaving you to wake-up alone, but you looked so peaceful.

I've gone with Sarah to visit Alex. Feel free to stick around my place (Santana told me it was your day off); I should be back in a few hours.

Love you,

Rachel

P.S. Despite the rocky start to yesterday afternoon, I am so grateful that you came to see me. Thank you.

Quinn felt another small flash of guilt at the reminder of her accusation that her girlfriend was cheating on her.

Stop it. It happened, you over reacted a little. She obviously forgives you. Let it go.

But I-

No buts. Get up, shower and find something to wear.

Following her conscience's orders, Quinn cleaned up and dressed in a pair of Rachel's sweatpants and a zip-up hoodie. As she was searching for something to eat in Rachel's fridge, her phone went off. 'Say Hey (I Love You)' by Michael Franti & Spearhead drifted from the small device.

"Hey, sweetie," she began, but was cut off by an unfamiliar voice.

"Sorry, this isn't Rachel. Um, is this Quinn?" The woman sounded slightly frantic, and there were muffled shouts in the background.

"Yes it is. May I ask who you are and why you have my girlfriend's cell phone?"

"This is Sarah."

"Is Rachel okay?"

"Actually, no, she isn't. Alex's family showed up and things have turned into a verbal bloodbath. Alex and her family…"

"I know." Quinn breathed out. Last night, Rachel had told her many things about the brunette's best friend; including that Alex was kicked out of her home at age eighteen after coming out to her strict, conservative, Catholic parents. Quinn had felt a connection to the woman, remembering her own experience of being kicked out by Russell. Fortunately for the blond, her mother was accepting when she'd come out to her before leaving for college. "What's happening?"

"Alexis' older brother and her father are in a shouting match wit- Shit! Rachel!"

Quinn's heart halted, before speeding up. "What the hell just happened?" She yelled into the phone.

"There was a punch landed, and it wasn't by Rachel."

"Fuck! Where are you?" Quinn slipped on her shoes and jacket, and grabbed her wallet.

"Gates of Eternal Rest cemetery."

"Okay, I'll be there as fast as I can. Can you call Noah Puckerman and Kurt Hummel?"

"Yes."

"Good." Quinn swallowed hard. "Please watch out for Rae." She ended the call.

Running down the stairs and out of the club, Quinn slammed her thumb down on speed dial three, flagging down a taxi at the same time.

"Where to?"

"Gates of Eternal Rest; and if you step on it, you can keep the change."

Quinn's leg was bouncing like a jackhammer with anxiety as she listened to the phone ring.

"Come on, pick up the fucking phone!"

"Q, what's up? Aren't you spending your day off with Berry?"

"San." Her voice cracked.

"What's wrong?" There was urgency and worry in the Latina's voice now.

"I- I need you to get to the Gates of Eternal Rest cemetery. Today's the anniversary of Alex's death and her family showed. They're like Russell, S; violence and all."

A stream of Spanish and English curses flowed through the phone. "I'm on my way."

The line went dead just as the taxi pulled up outside of the cemetery gates. Stuffing two twenties into the driver's hand, Quinn leapt out of the car; sprinting towards the sounds of a loud argument and scuffle.

…

AN HOUR EARLIER

Rachel and Sarah stood in front of the granite headstone. Rachel held her best friend's Air Force uniform jacket in her arms, hugging it to her chest, while Sarah traced a finger over the engagement right given to her by the love of her life. Neither spoke, each in a sort of trance like state as they let their individual memories wash over them.

The crunch of grass, crisp in the early October air, broke Rachel from her thoughts. Lifting her head to take in who was approaching, she tensed, anger coursing through her body.

"Finally decided to care now that it's not tainting your perfect, good Catholic family image?" Rachel growled out, pulling Sarah back into the present. Looking up, she felt the air vanish from her lungs. She had never met Alexis' estranged family, but she recognized it from the single photo Alex had kept of them.

Jonathan Davenbrook was a stiff postured, broad shouldered man, with black hair streaked with gray, a clean shaven, chiseled jaw and stony emerald eyes.

Mary Davenbrook had an almost permanent demeanor of looking down her nose at those around her. Dark brown hair was pulled back into a severe bun, making icy, light blue eyes stand out from almost white skin.

Alex had two siblings; an older brother and younger sister. Matthew and Catherine shared the same air of haughty superiority as their parents, and the same hard, emotionless eyes.

"Alexis was taken from Earth by God for being an abomination. We're here to pray that, maybe one day, Hell will cleanse her soul of the sin." Jonathan spoke.

"Alex died a hero! Alex died defending her team!" Rachel shouted. Then she said, quietly but fiercely, "Alex died revenging part of the only family that she was a part of that actually loved her; all of her."

"She died a dyke!" Matthew spat out.

Rachel took two steps towards Alex's brother.

"Alexis Davenbrook was an honorable, beautiful person. She was a good soldier, great friend and loving fiancé. She deserved a loving family that cherished her for who she was. Instead, you cast her aside because she didn't fit your idea of a perfect, obedient, Catholic daughter. And now she's dead and you still don't feel a damn sense of remorse. She and eleven other members of my team died, and you don't care."

"Your team deserved to die." Jonathan said coldly. "They were willing lead by you, a dyke, and so enabled you. God took them as punishment."

Rachel's vision clouded over with a red haze, numbing the lancing pain that shot through her heart at the man's words. "You bastard!" She screamed, charging towards him. Matthew stepped in her way, shoving her back. Then a fist connected with her jaw.

"Shit! Rachel!" She heard Sarah yell as she crashed into the ground. It broke her from her anger, and she began to turn towards the woman. That was when Matthew's foot slammed into her gut, landing her flat on her back. His foot smashed into her side again and she heard a sickening crack.

"Bitch. You deserve to die, just like my sister did."

Rachel twisted, punching the man in the groin. He stumbled away and she fell back with a groan as pain lanced through her side.

Suddenly, blonde hair and worried hazel eyes filled the injured brunette's vision.

"Quinn, how-" Rachel began, voice hoarse from pain.

"Shh, baby." Quinn cupped her girlfriend's cheek. "Sarah called me from your phone." Screaming in Spanish began near the two women and Quinn's lips quirked up in a ghost of a smirk. "And I called Santana while Sarah contacted Puck and Kurt."

Rachel tried to sit up, but again fell back, gasping and clutching her side.

"Rae, what's wrong?" Hazel eyes searched half-closed, hazy brown ones.

"I'm near positive Alexis' brother broke a rib or two when he kicked me."

Quinn's eyes clouded with angry tears. "Son of a bitch." She looked over her shoulder. "Kurt, Sarah, one of you needs to call an ambulance. One of those bastards broke Rachel's rib."

Fuck, Boss. What happened? That set of assholes took off when Santana started screaming." Puck said, appearing on Rachel's other side.

"Alex's family is made up of a bunch of homophobic assholes." Sarah replied, standing near Rachel's feet. "Needless to say, we don't see eye to eye."

Kurt stepped up behind Puck. "Ambulance is on its way, LBF." Rachel smiled, wincing as the movement sent a twinge of pain through her bruised jaw.

"Tú idiota." Santana said, appearing behind Quinn. "Nunca me asuste... nos asuste así otra vez."

"Lo siento, Santana." Rachel replied in perfect Spanish, to the Latina's surprise. "Y siento haberte involucrado en esto."

"I couldn't leave you to fend for yourself against Russell 2.0 and spawn." Santana mumbled.

"Thank you." Rachel replied with a nod. Then her eyes shut tight as pain shot through her side. "Fuck that hurts." Quinn grabbed the brunette's hand, lacing their fingers together. The ambulance could now be heard nearby, and paramedics raced over to them.