Rachel walks into the apartment, exhaustion creeping into her step after a long day of classes followed by practice with her mother in preparation for her Funny Girl audition. With two weeks left the diva's doubled her prep time and it's starting to show. Not that it matters, this is 'The role of her lifetime' and the diva will not let it pass her by.
Kurt is sitting on the couch when she walks in, an open suitcase on the table in front of him, he doesn't respond as she enters the room. "Going somewhere" Rachel asks after placing her coat on the hangar at the door. Rachel is caught off guard as he turns to face her, the redness around his eyes and his unfocused gaze concerning her "What's wrong?" she asks, moving swiftly into the room. "He shouldn't have been on the road" Kurt says softly. Rachel steps closer, placing her hand on Kurt's arm "What's wrong Kurt? What happened?" she says with a slight insistency. "There was an accident" Kurt says softly, his voice breaking as he speaks "They said it was bad" Kurt pauses, a terrible sadness in his eyes as he turns to Rachel "They don't know if he's gonna make it" he says softly. "Oh Kurt" Rachel says, she lays her hand on his shoulder "Your dad's strong, he'll be ok" Rachel sees confusion wash over Kurt's face followed by a painful sadness "Oh, Rach No" he says softly, turning to her "Dad's OK" Confusion crosses her face, mingling with the fatigue "Not Burt?" she says "Then…" her voice trails off as her eyes jump to his. Her blood runs cold as Kurt places his hand on hers "It's Finn" he says softly. Rachel pulls away "No" she says, stepping away from the couch "No" she repeats, falling to her knees. "Is he ok?" she asks, not looking at him "He's gonna be ok right?" Rachel turns to face him. "It's bad Rach" he says softly, he reaches for her hand "He's in surgery. They aren't sure if he's going to make it" Rachel gasps, her eyes un-focus and her hands start to shake. "No" she says after a moment "it's wrong, it can't be. It's not Finn, he's ok" she says, her words coming faster as her hands continue to tremble. "I'm flying home" Kurt says "In about 2 hours" Rachel turns to face him, tears streaming down her face "I have to go" she says, her voice breaking. Kurt nods "Dad called your house, there's a ticket waiting for you"
"Yeah dad, we're here" Kurt says into his phone, continuing to pace across the terminal "I don't know, she's not talking" he says, his voice drops to a whisper "It's not like her" Rachel is seated at the terminal gate, silent tears streaming down her face, she hasn't moved since they got there. "Yeah, OK I'll tell her" Kurt says "How's Carole?" Kurt nods to himself "Ok, yeah, go back to her. Thanks dad… I love you." Kurt closes the phone and sites down next to her. "He's out of surgery" he says softly "But he's in ICU" Kurt pauses "The doctor doesn't know when he will wake up" Kurt lays his hand on her shoulder but Rachel doesn't respond. "Dad is at the hospital with Carole, your dads are going to pick us up." Rachel doesn't look over, she doesn't see the stricken look on Kurt's face, see the tears fighting to trail down his face as well as they wait.
Rachel is vaguely aware of Kurt sitting in the seat next to her as the plane lifts off. Looking down she's surprised there's no blood coming from the wound in her chest. How could this happen? She was finally doing well, two more weeks and she'd have the part. The lead in Funny Girl, her first step onto Broadway, not that it matters. She won't make it two weeks; she won't make it two days, not without him. 'Finn' the pain pierces her, chasing away all thought, her mind echoes Finn over the rest of the flight; Finn in her loft, Finn at NYADA, Finn in the auditorium; the pain, walking away, leaving him there. The joy seeing his show, the fear and self-loathing at Mr. Shue's wedding, his intensity 'We are endgame,' kissing his head as she slipped out the door.
Rachel's father, Hiram, is waiting just outside the terminal when they arrive; his eyes pass back and forth between the pair as they walk over, neither one look good. He places a consoling hand on Kurt's shoulder as they walk down the hallway. "Dad" Rachel says softly. Hiram's heart falters; she sounds… broken. "Oh honey" he says, pulling her into his arms, Rachel curls her head against his shoulder, her shoulders shaking as he holds her. Kurt gives him a slight nod as their eyes meet, Hiram guides his daughter slowly to the car, Kurt walking next to them silently.
"Dad" Kurt calls out, nearly falling as he exits the car. Burt meets him with a rough embrace, held in his father's arms Kurt finally lets the tears flow. Burt comforts his son, holding him close as the Hiram and LeRoy approach, escorting their daughter between them. They stand for a few moments before Rachel looks up at Burt "Where is he?" she asks, her voice breaking "Where's Finn?" The intense look on her tear stained and reddened face reminding Burt of just how strong the pair's connection is. "Upstairs" he says "ICU. Carole is with him" Rachel nods slightly, reaching out she lays a hand softly on his shoulder "I'm sorry" she says, her voice filled with emotion. Rachel stumbles forward and heads forward with a single minded determination. Hiram, LeRoy and Burt share a look and the Berrys leave Burt and his boy in private.
Carole's ear catches a rather familiar voice echoing down the hallway "I don't care what time it is" comes the voice "I don't care when visiting hours are" closer now, "My fiancé, Finn Hudson, where is he?" Carole turns towards the door, her son's limp fingers falling from her hand as she opens it. "Rachel?" she says, turning to see the girl curled up against the wall, a wild look in her eyes; two nurses hovering over her, Rachel turns at her voice, stumbling to her feet when she sees Finn's mother "In here" Carole says, turning to the nurses "She just flew in from New York and she's family" she says, locking eyes with the nurses, leaving the rest unsaid. The nurses nod, understanding what side of ICU the youth was in. "Where's Finn?" Rachel asks as she takes a step forward. "In here honey" Carole says, guiding the young diva into the room.
Finn's unconscious body lay in the bed; his skin pale, and he had bandages covering the left side of his face and wrapped loosely around his ribs. She could see the black tip of stitching peeking out from under bandages across his chest and coming out from under the bandage wrapped around his right arm. An array of tubes and bags surround the bed, lights flashing on the machines meaning nothing to her in that moment. Rachel crumples to the floor next to the bed, her fingers barely wrapping around two of his, tears flowing freely down her face; she's softly repeating something as she rocks lightly in place. Hiram and LeRoy enter the room silently a few minutes later; Hiram handing Carole a cup of coffee as they join her silent vigil. Several minutes later Kurt and Burt enter the room, Kurt's hand covering his mouth as he sees Finn. Burt moves to embrace his wife, who buries her head against his shoulder, as Kurt moves to sit next to Rachel. She leans her head against his shoulder, fingers still entwined with Finn's, fingers trembling. "Don't leave me" Rachel echoes "I can't do this without you"
