A/N: After much debate with myself I decided to tackle the aftermath of 3x14. I'm taking a different perspective from what I've read so far. Hope you all like it. Right now it is a one shot, but should you all think I should continue for a few more chapters let me know. Please review and let me know if I should continue. Disclaimer: I do not own GLEE or any of its characters. GLEE belongs to FOX and its creators.
As a teacher, when you start your career, you pray that you can have a positive impact on your students, that you can change their lives for the better. You never think that it will be your students who will change your live, who will have a positive impact on you, and yet as he sits quietly and looks at the faces of his students around him, Will Shuester knows that these kids, this group has changed his life so much. Each one has taught him a lesson; Finn allowed him to be a father figure, Rachel a mentor, Artie showed him strength, Brittany how to just enjoy the little things in life, Santana to be proud in who you are, the list goes on and on but there is one student who has impacted Will the most and she doesn't even know it. Quinn Fabray taught Will perseverance, determination, strength, how to pick yourself off, dust yourself off, and move on no matter what obstacles knock you down, and most of all how recognize your weaknesses tackle them and become a better person. Since joining his glee club over two years ago, Quinn had been through so much, she got pregnant, was disowned by her parents, bounced from one home to another, gave her baby up for adoption, then had the baby brought back to her only to lose the child again, this didn't even include the more superficial things that Quinn lost, like her reputation. Yet Quinn, though she struggled for a long time, had managed to pull her life together, to learn from her multitude of mistakes, and become the best young woman she could be, a caring, insightful, empathetic, intelligent, young woman, who was going to Yale in the fall. And that is what makes the events of the last few hours so horrific and so unfair. Because Quinn Fabray had finally gotten her life on track, was putting her past behind her and looking to the future, and future she may longer have.
Will shakes his head as he remembered the phone call coming in. They'd been standing in the courtroom waiting to see if Rachel and Finn could move their time slot for the wedding. Will still found it amazing that despite all the people in attendance, Rachel refused to get married without Quinn by her side. Rachel and Quinn's relationship was an odd complicated one, but was strong, stronger than most friendships. Finn had been very understanding as soon as Rachel had explained the importance of Quinn attending the wedding, "She's coming, she promised." Rachel said confidently.
Thirty minutes had passed since Quinn's last text message, and everyone was getting a little worried. The next slot for Rachel and Finn to get married was at 6 o'clock and the time was fast approaching. Suddenly Mercedes's phone began to ring, She'd excused herself to talk and when she returned her face had paled and tear's rolled down her cheek. "Quinn…Quinn got in and accident on the way here. It's bad, and they are airlifting her to Lima General." Time had slowed yet speed up at the same time. Gasps and cries came from Will's students. The wedding was forgotten and everyone made their way to the hospital as fast as possible.
Upon arriving the nurses had whisked Mercedes away, though Mercedes had begged Will to come with her. Will hadn't understood why the nurses needed Mercedes or why Mercedes had been the one called by the hospital. As the nurse handed Mercedes some paper work to fill out and to go inform the doctors of Mercedes presence the girl answered Will's unasked questions. "When Quinn was pregnant, those last two months, the doctors had informed her of some of the things that could go wrong and had asked that should Quinn be unconscious who would make the decisions regarding her and the baby's health. Quinn hadn't had an answer for them at first, I mean it should be your parents, but Judy and Russell had abandoned Quinn; so one night Quinn began talking about her concerns and what she'd want if something should happen to her. I hadn't understood at first why she was telling me all this, but I let her go, then when she'd finished she'd turned to me and said, 'You know me better than almost anyone now, Cedes. You're also the most like me, you have similar beliefs. I can't think of anyone else who'd I want to make decisions for me regarding my and my baby's health. Will you be the power of attorney over my health?' I'd been speechless but I agreed. Quinn had a lawyer draw up the papers the next day. After Judy took Quinn back, she came to me asked me if I'd remain the power of attorney, said she didn't trust her mom the way she trusted me. So I agreed." Mercedes had begun crying than and turned to Will, "I just never thought that…that I'd actually have to make any decisions. Help me?" Will had just pulled the girl into his arms and told her that he'd help her best he could. A doctor came out a few minutes later and informed Mercedes that Quinn needed emergency surgery. That Quinn had a broken left femur, five broken ribs, a punctured lung, and severe internal bleeding, and swelling around the brain. Mercedes okayed all the surgeries.
That had been over three hours ago and there was still no word on Quinn. Will sighed surveyed the room. Finn held Rachel close in the furthest corner both staring into space, Artie sat by Rory and Sugar all three staring at the TV but clearly not paying attention to it, Mike and Tina held each other's hands whispering quietly tear stains running down both their cheeks, Blaine and Kurt stood leaning against each other and the wall hands around each other's waist, Santana had Brittany's head in her lap gently stroking it, both still had tears running from their eyes, Mercedes sat with her head resting on Sam's shoulder the boy rubbing her hands gently with his thumb, Burt, Carol, Hiram, and Leroy stood in a small group talking quietly and throwing glances at the teens every few minutes, Emma and Sue sat on either side of Will, somehow will was holding both their hands, then there were the two people sitting directly in front of the double doors leading to the OR, Judy Fabray and Noah Puckerman. Will didn't know what to think of Judy Fabray, the woman had once abandoned her daughter but she'd come back for Quinn and was here now. Judy had looked heartbroken when she learned that it would be Mercedes not herself making the decisions about Quinn's health, it was definitely a hard pill to swallow for a parent, but not an undeserving one in Judy's case. Will was most scared for and sad for Noah. God knew that his relationship with Quinn was confusing and wrought with hurt and betrayal, but there was an undeniable connection between to the two, a bond that could only come from having a child together and possible a denied and unrequited love. Will didn't know where Quinn and Noah's relationship was going; he just prayed they'd have a chance to find out together.
Two more hours passed before the doctor came out again, he motioned for Mercedes to join him, but the teen looked around at all the eager faces and made a decision, "Everyone here is Quinn's family, so whatever you have to say you can say to us all."
The doctor nodded before starting, "As you know Quinn came in here in very serious condition, her hear failed once on the way here and two more times during surgery," Will's chest tightened at the idea that Quinn had nearly died three times already. "We managed to revive her each time. During the surgery we were able to repair most of the internal damage, her spleen had burst so we removed it, we reinflated her left lung, she is now on a respirator to help her breath so that her lung can heal and strengthen. We repaired the broken ribs, set her femur and placed it in a cast. Also we discovered that she has severe swelling around her spinal cord, at this time we can not determine the extent of the damage to her spinal cord. With that being said she will be paralyzed from the waist down, though whether or not the condition will be permanent or temporary we won't know until some of the swell subsides. Quinn also suffered severe head trauma that cause the area around the brain to fill with fluid increasing the pressure on the brain. It is crucial to decrease that pressure as quickly as possible so we drilled a small hole in her skull to drain the pressure. We will continue to monitor the pressure in her brain and respond accordingly. As of right now we have placed her in a medically induced coma in order to allow her body to heal."
Will was overwhelmed by everything they'd been told. Quinn was quite literally broken. "When will she wake up?" Mercedes asked quietly.
"How long we keep her in the coma will be determined by how quickly the swelling in her brain decreases. Hopefully we can take her out of the coma in a few days, but even then we can't say when she'll wake up." The doctor talked gently and calmly to the group. He tried to talk to the teens like adults but not overwhelm them, Will thought it was nice of the man, but he hadn't done a very good job as Will was having trouble wrapping his mind aroud Quinn's condition and he was an adult.
"But she'll be okay right? I mean other than her…her l…legs?" Noah asked from beside Judy who looked like she was going to faint.
"I'm sorry but it is really too early to tell. All we can do is wait. She'll be moved to ICU soon, only family and Mercedes are allowed in there, I'm sorry." The doctor left before the group could protest.
"She had my baby, I'm family." Noah insisted and started walking towards the ICU.
"Wait Puck, let Judy go first." Mercedes called as she eyed the woman who though gave birth to Quinn, had only been a mother to her in the last year or so. Will walked over to Noah and pulled the boy into a hug. "She'll be alright. Its Quinn, she's the strongest person we know." Noah nodded into Will's shoulder, "Why don't you go call Shelby?" Noah pulled back to look at Will surprised but then muttered an affirmative and left. Will knew things between Quinn and Shelby were rocky, but this had to change things, put everything into perspective. Quinn was still just a kid who made a mistake and Will thought she deserved another chance.
Eventually everyone but Mercedes, Judy, Puck, Santana, and Brittany left. They'd all return tomorrow early in the morning and sit outside in the ICU waiting room. They were all determined to be there for Quinn even if they couldn't be in her room. Will had no doubts that his kids would find a way to be with Quinn.
As Will got in his car, Emma joining him and taking his hand, Will sent up a pray, he asked God to let Quinn live, to wake soon and for her paralysis to be only temporary. "Don't you think you've tested her enough, given her enough challenges to overcome. She's risen to the occasion every time, please give her a break. Quinn deserves to be happy to follow her dreams, Please Lord please, don't take our Quinn from us." Emma squeezed his hand again in comfort, tears falling from her eyes. Will leaned over whipping the falling tears from her red stained cheeks, "I love you."
Her eyes fell shut and then opened, "I love you too, and Quinn will make it, she's Quinn Fabray."
Yes, she was Quinn Fabray and Quinn Fabray could beat anything.
Please review and remember to let me know if you want me to continue. Thank you!
