Chapter 7
True to her word, Dr. Santiago released Mike and Victoria at the end of the week. They had healed completely and she had full confidence that they would continue to improve. Will and Emma told Victoria about how Mike had led them to Christ. They embraced as family in the Lord and soon family by marriage.
Will and Emma stayed in LA a few extra days to make sure that Mike and Victoria were as mobile as possible. Finally, on the Wednesday two weeks after they had left, Will and Emma were getting ready to leave for the airport.
"We'll be back in about two months if not sooner."
"Oh! I forgot to tell you. While you were out with Emma, the director called me. I've been cast!" Mike said.
"Congratulations, Mike. That's awesome! I'll have to check my phone when I get back to Ohio and see if she called me."
"If she didn't, don't let it get you down. There's always another one. Maybe it's God saying you need to stay where you are for right now."
"Maybe you're right. The kids need me right now. We're almost ready for nationals!"
"That's great! They can't have you leaving this close to nationals can they? Anyways, you'd better get going to the airport. Don't want to miss your flight now, do you?"
"Can't do that, bro! I'll miss you."
"Hey, you'll be back soon. I know it."
The two brothers hugged and then Mike hugged Emma. Will and Emma returned their car, went through security and then arrived at their gate right as they were beginning to board. A few hours later, they were landing in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as we make our final decent into Cincinnati, we ask that you please put your trays and seats in the upright and locked position. Thank you for flying US Airways."
Will and Emma did as told and when they had come to a full and complete stop at their gate, they went out to their waiting car. After they arrived at their home in Lima, Will texted Mike to let him know they had arrived safely in Lima.
Great to hear! Tori and I are getting ready to watch a movie now. We'll see you in a couple of months! Hope ND gets to come and sing for us! Love you!
Love you, too, Mike. Will thought as he looked out the window.
"You miss him already, don't you?"
"Yes, I do, Emma. We're closer than ever now. Two months? That's way too long now!"
"Maybe…maybe it's time to consider…"
"Not now, Emma. I can't think about moving now. Not when these kids need me…need us. I can't think of a better school guidance counselor."
"And I can't think of a better glee club coach!"
"Remind me tomorrow to ask them about singing at Mike and Tori's wedding, ok?"
"You got it, Will. Let's get to bed."
Will woke up early the next day and went to his laptop computer. After typing up and printing out enough permission slips for everyone in New Directions, he grabbed a quick bite to eat. After Emma finished getting ready, they drove over to McKinley High. Before parting ways, they kissed.
"Don't forget to ask them."
"Thanks, Em."
"Don't forget to ask them what?" came a voice.
"Not now, Sue."
"William, your hair is so full of gel, I could cook eggs on it in the sunlight.. Did you say something?"
"Sue, not now! I have to get going."
"You don't seriously think that your stupid glee club has what it takes to win nationals do you?"
"Actually, I do. They are very driven and have quite a bit of talent, contrary to your beliefs. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get going."
Will made his way down the hall to the auditorium. All of New Directions was waiting for him, concern in their eyes. After assuring them that Mike and Tori were alive and well, he handed them permission slips.
"Mike and Tori have requested that you sing at their wedding in LA in a couple of months. Please have your parents sign this. Return them by Monday next week. Now let's get started on 'Born This Way'."
The kids began dancing, not quite up to par at first, but grew with each run though. After rehearsal, Rachel made her way over to Will.
"Mr. Schue, are you sure your brother wants us to sing at his wedding?"
"Yes, Rachel, I am. He and his fiancé both have requested we sing."
"Well obviously we have to practice long and hard for this! We can't be mediocre at a wedding!"
"You're right. I want you to pick a song for us to sing, Rachel. Not to sing in front of the class, but to show me the sheet music to."
Rachel whole-heartedly agreed, saying she already had a song in mind.
"Now why doesn't that surprise me? You'd better get off to class now. Can't have you being late!"
Will watched as Rachel trudged out of the auditorium. When the door closed, he chuckled softly to himself, picked up the sheet music he had and made his way to his Spanish classroom.
At the end of the day, Will and Emma returned to home and ate dinner. They talked about the events of the day and how Will hoped all of New Directions would be able to make it to the wedding.
"I asked Rachel to make a song suggestion and bring me the sheet music. Not surprisingly, she already has a song in mind."
A few hours later, they decided it was time for them to turn in for the night.
"We're still on LA time. We need to get back on Central Time," Emma pointed out.
"That's true, Em. It's good to be home though, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. Although spending time with your brother and his fiancé is important."
"Especially after that horrible accident."
"Yes. I understand why you want to get back there so badly."
"You do?"
"Yes. You're worried about them. What if they get into another accident? You don't like the idea of being so far away from them so soon after this."
"You're right, Em. That's it exactly."
"Just remember you'll be seeing them in a couple of months and they're only a phone call away until then."
"Thanks, Emma. How do you always know just what to say?"
"It's in my job description as guidance counselor."
"Ah. Well, madam guidance counselor, it's getting late. We should get to bed."
The couple retreated to their bedroom where they stayed the rest of the night.
One month later, the New Directions arrived at the airport to fly to New York for Nationals. They had worked hard and felt like nothing could stop them. They boarded the plane and buckled their seatbelts. It would be just a simple two-hour flight to New York and they'd be ready for Nationals. The excitement of the group hung in the air. They were an hour into the flight when the plane started to shake. A couple minutes later, the pilot came over the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the pilot. We're experiencing quite a bit of turbulence and I will be leaving the fasten seatbelt sign on for the remainder of the flight."
The shaking continued and passengers were starting to get nervous. Will didn't know what to do. He wished he could stop the shaking because he, too, was starting to get nervous. He looked over to his glee clubbers and saw fear in their eyes.
"Mr. Schue, the shaking's going to stop soon, right?" Quinn asked.
"I think so, Quinn. We're just going to have to ride this out. The pilot knows what he's doing."
As they continued flying, the shaking worsened, which made the passengers start to panic. Never before had they flown through such turbulence. Will, in his panic, remembered something that Mike had told him.
If you pray, God hears you. Remember that.
It's worth a shot. God, I don't know if you're there, but if you are, please make this shaking stop. It's not safe and it keeps getting worse and worse. I know Mike would hate me for this, but if this shaking stops, I'll seriously consider the fact that you might be real.
One minute later, the shaking stopped and the passengers began to calm down.
Ok, God. A deal's a deal. I'll talk to Mike about this after we land.
After picking up their luggage, he kept his word.
"Hey, Will. What's going on?"
"Hey, Mike. So the craziest thing just happened."
"What's that?"
"So we were flying to New York when, an hour into our flight, we encountered some turbulence. It was enough to make the pilot turn on the fasten seatbelt sign. I didn't think anything of it at first, but then it got worse. I've never experienced so much shaking. I remembered you saying something about prayer, so I told God if He made the plane stop shaking, I would consider the fact that maybe He is real."
"And?"
"The shaking stopped a minute later."
"Don't you see, Will? He's trying to show you His presence."
"I don't know, Mike. What if it was just a coincidence? What if it was just a patch of storm cells and we just happened to pass through a minute after I prayed?"
"That's always a possibility, Will, but God isn't a God of coincidences."
"Ok, so let's pretend for a minute that God really did make the plane stop shaking. What then?"
"Then He's saying 'Hey, Will! I'm right here. I'm always here.'"
"I guess I need more proof. I never said I would believe in him. I only said I'd consider the fact that maybe he does exist."
"I know. But, Will, he answered your prayer."
"I need more proof. I'll keep you posted."
"Alright, Will. Let me know how nationals goes."
"Will do. Bye, Mike."
Will hung up and caught up with the kids and they made their way out to the bus waiting to take them to their hotel.
The next day, Rachel walked up to Will.
"Mr. Schue," she whispered. "I can't believe this has happened. I woke up this morning and my voice was gone!"
"What? Ok, let's get you some warm tea and honey."
He led her to the hotel restaurant and ordered the tea and honey. After she finished drinking, he told Rachel to go back to her room and rest a while.
"Maybe that'll help your voice. I'm putting you on vocal rest all day today. We need your voice back by the day after tomorrow."
Rachel nodded and made her way out of the restaurant. Will sighed.
Great. My female lead has lost her voice and no one else can sing the part! I can't believe this is happening!
Suddenly a thought occurred to him.
If Mike's God made the plane stop shaking, maybe he can make Rachel better by the day after tomorrow! God, you know my situation. My female lead has no voice and she needs it back soon. Please make her better. Show me you are really there.
Will paid for the tea and honey and made his way through the hotel to the elevator and made his way up to the room.
I really hope Mike's God can hear my prayers. I need Rachel better.
The next day, the New Directions met up for lunch at the hotel restaurant. Rachel suddenly spoke up.
"After resting my voice all day yesterday, I tried it this morning to find that my voice has come back fully!"
God? Did you do that? Did you really make Rachel better that quickly? Will wondered.
He felt that strange feeling in his chest he had felt after reading the tract. This time, though he knew what it was. He looked at Rachel and saw how happy she and the rest of his glee clubbers were. Then he thought of Mike and how happy he looked when he told him he had read through the tract. Mike didn't know this, but he had kept the Bible the chaplain had given him and it now was shut up in his desk back in Ohio.
Ok, God. First, you allowed Mike and Tori to survive the accident, then you made the airplane stop shaking and now Rachel has her voice back. I think you've shown me enough. I believe.
