(Untitled)

[square_rachel]

Who: Rachel and OPEN
Where: The Hospital
When: Wednesday November 2, 1956
What: Rachel goes and visits her dad since GLEE Club got canceled
Status/Rating: Incomplete/PGish
Warnings: NONE!

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Comments

[square_rachel]

Rachel knew that none of her classmates would be here because well, what use would they have to come to the hospital. She was always so worried that more people would know her secret and she'd be treated differently but she had nothing to worry about. When she got her books and paper out to do her homework she looked over at her father and smiled. He would wake up soon, she had that feeling, he wouldn't be taken away from her so soon. "Oh and did I tell you that the costume party was a success. Finn and I looked great in our costume, don't worry we got a picture or two and I'll show them to you."

Looking back at her book she started to do her homework. Yes, things were going to get better. Thanksgiving was soon approaching, she had already gotten Finn his Christmas present even though she didn't really celebrate Christmas because of her Jewish faith she liked to give gifts to people. She just hoped that he would wake up before then.

And then she heard a knock on the door and she looked over. She had a confused look upon her face. "Mercedes? What are you doing here?" She said crossing her arms and looking at her.

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes took a tentative step into the room, watching Rachel for a moment. "I volunteer here. It gives me something to do, other than being bored at home. And seeing that Glee was cancelled today, I decided it would be the perfect time to come. ...what are you doing here? I assume you know this man, or you wouldn't be in his room..."

She was a bit concerned. Rachel must be close to the man in the coma, or else she wouldn't look so upset. Mercedes doubted that Rachel cried at much, and it appeared as though Rachel had been crying.

"Hey, are you okay?"

[square_rachel]

Rachel nodded her head. Of course, she forgot about people volunteering here. "Oh, it does sound like most people would do in their free time." She then thought of an idea when she was asked why she was here. "I volunteer here too. Ever since the tragedy of this man being shot and in a coma, I just come in here and sit with him whenever I can." Trying to show her game face so that Mercedes wouldn't question her or anything. She hated lying but she didn't want people treating her differently just because she had gay dads.

Putting her books away in her bag she got up and wiped away the tears from her eyes. This was way harder for her than she had expected.

"Yeah I'm fine. Its just hard to see people like this. I mean his family must be really devastated. So when did you start volunteering here?"

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes settled into the chair near Rachel, assuming that it would be okay for her to be there with the girl. She arched an eyebrow at Rachel's explanation for being in the man's room. It would have been believable, had Rachel been able to look her in the eye when she explained why she was there. "Are you sure? ...you don't... know him or anything?"

She didn't want to push, but she wasn't sure what to do to make Rachel not so sad if she didn't know what was truly wrong with her.

[square_rachel]

Rachel saw her sitting down and she got more anxious as she put a strand of hair behind her ear. She casually would look over at her father every now and then. And now she was being questioned, what was she going to do? She got a little defensive and she did get a little harsh. "Of course I don't know him. I've just grown attached to this man after I came in here to sit with him. I hate how nobody comes to see him, its just sad."

Okay she knew that this probably wasn't going to last long, but she didn't think how Mercedes would handle it if she told her. Would she go to the rest of the GLEE Club and tell them? She just couldn't deal with that. "Why do you ask?" She got curious.

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes arched an eyebrow slightly, as Rachel started to appear more and more nervous. "No need to get defensive, Rachel. I was just wondering is all. Would you like some company while sitting with him?" Though Mercedes had already made herself comfortable in the room, she would leave if Rachel didn't want her around.

[square_rachel]

Sighing to herself she sat down and shaking her head. "I'm sorry Mercedes, I don't mean to be all defensive and everything." This was just getting a little out of control now, what was she supposed to do especially when she wanted to sit with her and everything. "Yeah of course you can. I was just singing to the man, maybe my voice would help him to wake up or something." She shrugged, "I always sing to him and hold his hand."

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes smiled slightly at Rachel. There was definitely something going on, but Mercedes didn't want to push it. If there was something going on, Rachel could tell her on her own time, instead of feeling forced into talking about it.

"So. Do you know what happened to him? I mean, why is he in a coma? I don't know much about this patient, except the fact that he's in a coma."

[square_rachel]

Rachel sat in her seat and took her father's hand in hers and just looked up at him. She closed her eyes as she began to say a little prayer to herself, she didn't want to let Mercedes on that he was someone that she knew and was special to her.

Then she asked that question, she was going to struggle answering this question. "Yeah I know what happened. He was shot in a crossfire going somewhere." She then burst into tears, "Its all my fault too."

Looking at Mercedes she finally had to tell the truth. "I can't do this anymore, Mercedes I've been lying to you, I know this man, pretty well actually. He's......He's my father." She then put her hands over her face as she just burst into tears again.

[just_mercedes]

"I doubt it was your fault, Rachel..."

Mercedes scooted her seat closer to Rachel, and reached toward her. She rested her hand on Rachel's shoulder. She wasn't sure of what to do to make the girl feel better, and she was kind of in shock about what Rachel had said. She thought she had met Rachel's father at the party, and from what she could remember, that man was not this man. Unless...

"Rachel, you have two fathers?"

[square_rachel]

Rachel nodded her head. "Yes, it was my fault."

She could barely get everything out because she was sobbing pretty badly. When Mercedes put a hand on her shoulder she took it and squeezed her hand. This was the last person that was going to know, she didn't want it to get around school. She didn't want to get a bad reputation because she had two dads.

Taking a tissue she blew her nose and then took another tissue and wiped the tears from her eyes. Nodding she looked at Mercedes, "Yeah I do. He was on his way to see the musical when he got shot in a crossfire because there was a riot going on. If I was so persistent of him coming opening night he would have been home and he would be okay. He could have came closing night or some other night but know he wanted to make me happy and now look at him. I don't know when he's going to wake up." She sniffed a few times before throwing her tissues away. "Its kind of why I've been so distant lately especially at my own parties."

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes squeezed Rachel's hand when the girl took her hand. "Oh, Rachel. I'm so sorry." She leaned toward the girl, and gave her a quick hug. She wasn't very good at consoling people, and she was at a loss of what to say.

"I'm sure he'll be okay, Rachel. And you can't blame yourself for what happened, how were you to know that there would be a riot going on, and that he'd get caught in the crossfire?"

She sighed softly, and glanced over at the man who turned out to be Rachel's dad. "And it's cool that you have two dads, Rachel."

[square_rachel]

Rachel looked over at Mercedes and smiled at her even though she had tears in her eyes. "Its okay, I'm slowing dealing it. Finn has been so great, I've just been trying to be distracted so I can at least get through the day." She then hugged her back. "I'm just glad that your not mad or anything, I don't want people to know because I don't want to be treated any different."

Patting her eyes with another Kleenex she nodded as she looked at her father and put a hand on his hand. "I sure hope so. I wish that he would just wake up or show me a sign that he's still here. For my father to wake up is my Christmas Wish this year." Even if she didn't celebrate Christmas she still wanted to wish that for her family. "Or at least before Thanksgiving."

"Thanks, most people would just start treating me differently. That's why my parents did what they did so that I could have a normal life. But I like that my life isn't exactly normal. But having to hide the fact that I have a black and white father is pretty hard."

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes rolled her eyes a bit at Rachel. "Of course I'm not mad. And I wouldn't treat you any differently because of who your parents are, that's silly. And I'm not going to treat your parents any differently, either."

She had been wondering why Rachel had been acting so strange recently, and now that she knew about Rachel's other father, his being in a coma and all, she understood.

[square_rachel]

Sitting in there she nodded her head. "Thank you, I mean I know that your of a different color and everything, and I'm not one to judge because people are people to me. Its just that I'm so afraid of telling everyone in GLEE because of what they'll say, so if you could just keep this between you, me, and Finn, that would actually be really great."

Looking over at her father, he looked so innocent. He must be enjoying this rest, but all she wanted him to do was wake up. "Why don't you let me introduce you to him. If you'd like you could talk with him." She brought Mercedes over to the bed, "Hey daddy, I want you to meet someone, this is my friend Mercedes, she has an amazing voice."

[just_mercedes]

Mercedes listened quietly as Rachel spoke, as Rachel stated that she wanted this to be kept just between them. And Finn. "No problem, I will totally be quiet about it. I understand that you don't want people judging you because of who your parents are. People are mean like that."

When Rachel said she wanted to introduce her to her father, Mercedes nodded. "Of course I'll talk to him." She smiled at Rachel, and followed her to the side of the bed. "Hello, sir." It was a lame start, and she knew it. But she had never spoken to a coma patient before. "You would have been so proud of Rachel, with the great job she did as Maria."