Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. Even if I did I would never publically take credit for season 3 – it's a mess (and not in the fun Christian Siriano way).
Summary: The Berry family faces a tragedy. Will the Glee club be there for one of their own? Set season 2 post Finchel breakup (because I can't stand them together!)
A/N: Sorry for starting a new story while I still have 2 pending. That's terribly unprofessional! I know, I hang my head in shame.
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An accident. It's described as an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally. It's as simple as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Rachel hates that word. She's in a hospital waiting room because of an accident. An unexpected, unfortunate incident. An unexpected, unfortunate incident is why her fathers are in surgery fighting for their lives. The two men who mean the world to her may die all because of a stupid accident.
It doesn't seem right. Something so terrible, so significant needs to have a reason. There needs to be a why, a purposeful why. A stronger word than just accident. Happenstance can't be the reason her world's crashing down around her.
"Hiram Berry?" Rachel's head shoots up. It's the doctor, or at rather a doctor, one of the many working on saving her fathers' lives. She stands. A shaky yes escapes her lips.
"Is my dad OK?" The doctor takes her hand as he sits down; Rachel follows. She doesn't like how long it takes for this man to speak. She doesn't like the pity in his eyes or the fact that he's still holding her hand.
"Is my dad OK?" she prompts again, her voice louder. The doctor takes a breath. He looks young and uncomfortable.
"Ms. Berry, I'm doctor Roberts, I'm one of the doctors who worked on your father Hiram." When he says this Rachel's mind starts to run away from her. Worked? As in past tense? Does that mean Dad is in recovery? Is he dead? What does "worked" mean?
"What does that mean?" She finally asks out loud as she draws her hand out of his grasp. Dr. Roberts takes another deep breath.
"Ms. Berry, I'm sorry but-" Her head is shaking side to side franticly.
"No."
He keeps going, "Your father sustained severe trauma to the head. We tried to relieve the pressure by removing a portion of his skull, but the swelling increased too rapidly to be alleviated. As of now, there's no sign brain activity."
"But his heart's still beating? He's still alive?" She thinks there still may be some hope; it break's Dr. Robert's heart.
"Ms. Berry, I'm sorry, but your father is brain dead. There's no chance that he will regain consciousness. He's in a permanent vegetative state."
She wants to wake up. Her dad cannot be brain dead. He can't be because she saw him this afternoon. He was fine. He was happy. He was alive. As Rachel's brain refuses to process what she has just heard, Dr. Roberts takes it as a cue to continue.
"I know this is difficult-" No you don't "-but I need to ask you some questions concerning your father's wishes?"
"Wishes?"
"Yes, his desire to donate his organs. According to his driver's license he's a registered donor, but familial permission is still required and with your other father still in surgery, that decision falls on you." He hates his job sometimes.
"You want me to let you take me dad's organs?" He really hates it.
"His organs could save a lot of lives Ms. Berry." Instead of acknowledging his request immediately she asks, "Can I see him? My dad, Hiram Berry. Can I see him?" From the look on Dr. Roberts' face, she's sure that this isn't the first time he's heard the request from a donor's family member.
"You can…you can have his organs; he'd want to help as many people as he could. My dad is a good person." She thinks it's important that this stranger know that, that this doctor understand what a great man her dad is.
"He'd want you to have his organs. I just want to say goodbye first. I'll sign whatever you need me to sign, I just want to say goodbye. Please."
He agrees and lets her know that he'll come get her once her father has been moved from the OR. Dr. Roberts stands to leave, but stops when Rachel's hand shoots out and grabs his scrub top.
"Wait! My daddy? How's my daddy?" She feels like the worst daughter in the world for almost forgetting to ask about him.
"I'm not sure, but I know doctors are still operating on him." When Dr. Roberts sees the desperate look in her eyes, he knows he has to give her something more. He's just given her the worst news of her life; he owes her something more.
"From what I understand, the driver's side sustained the worst of the impact. Your father Leroy was sitting on the passenger's side; and, the fact that the doctors are still working means he's still fighting. That's a good sign. I'll make sure someone updates you as soon as possible."
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He's very still. She doesn't understand how a person can be so still, especially her dad. He's the type of person that dances while they vacuum and gestures while they speak. There's bruising and scraping all along the side of his face. The doctors stitched his head back up, but she can see the where they cracked open his skull. She wants to vomit. She wants her dad to open his eyes.
She positions herself close to his side so that she can takes his hand and links their fingers. Before she opens her mouth to say goodbye, she tries her best to reign in her tears. She takes a few steadying breathes before she starts.
"I'm so sorry, Dad. I…" Her voice cracks, "I love you so much. I…I don't know how to say goodbye. You're not suppose to go away yet. You're suppose to be here with me and daddy."
"I don't want to say goodbye. I…I…" She has to stop for a moment in order to choke back her tears.
"Thank you for everything. You always made me feel like I was special, like I could do anything."
She has to stop again because some tears managed to escape. She takes another breath and violently wipes the streaks off her face with her free hand.
"You were the best dad in the world," she says sincerely. "You don't have to worry, OK? Daddy and I are going to be OK. I promise. You raised me to be a good person. A star. I won't let you down, Dad."
The hardest part is getting out the song he use to sing to her as a child.
Come with me my love
To the sea
The sea of love
I want to tell you
How much I love you
She knows she's butchering the song, her throat is too tight with emotion to get much sound out, which upsets her because her dad deserves the best and she's making a mess of one of his favorite's, but she keeps going.
Do you remember
When we met?
That's the day I knew you were my pair
I want to tell you
How much I love you
The melody is all but lost now; still she's determined to finish this.
Come with me my love
To the sea
The sea of love
I want to tell you
How much I love you
Once the song is over she leans down and brings their intertwined hands up to her lips and kisses his. Afterwards, she gently places his hand down on the gurney. She stands and moves to the head of his hospital bed.
"I love you so much, Dad." With that she leans down and gives him one final kiss goodbye.
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The song is Sea of Love and it's by Phil Phillips.