An authors note...So very happy with the positive response to the last chapter. Love you guys, thanks! This one immediately follows the last, is sort of a filler chapter, and has small periods of angst...which goes to show how the healing process is sometimes one step forward and two steps back.

Disclaimer-Glee is the property of FOX, the creators and the writers.

Let It Be

As Alicia expected, her and Artie had a relatively restless night. They were both painfully aware that this would be the last night they'd be spending together for a while...family members were not allowed to stay with the patients at the rehabilitation center. And that in itself was going to be a major adjustment...for both of them.

So when he'd asked if she would stay in his bed with him, "just this one time" and with the reasoning that "sleeping on the chair might not be good for the baby", Alicia couldn't possibly say no. He fell asleep easily in her arms, and with a smile on his face. She laid there for a long time, just watching him, thanking God she still had her child to hold.

The morning was a rush of packing, paperwork and bittersweet goodbyes. It was hard for anyone to not to fall in love with those big blue eyes, that adorable smile and sweet, innocent disposition...the staff on this ward, as well as the pediatric ICU where Artie had spent ten days of his stay, were no exception.

The transfer itself was short and uneventful, though it did give Artie a opportunity to enjoy a little bit of fresh air and warm sun for the first time in a month. More paperwork and instructions were given out when they arrived and he was quickly moved from the transport gurney to yet another hospital bed.

There Artie sat, taking in his new surroundings. It was a private room, more plain than his last, but bigger and a bit homier. The charge nurse who checked him in, checked him out, and gave them a quick overview, said that they could bring in as many personal items as they'd like, to make his stay more pleasant...provided they take it all home when he's discharged. Artie liked that, but liked the idea of going home even better.

It wasn't long before she, nurse Robin, came back into the room. "You ready to get that cast off, Little Man?"

Artie's eyes went big and he looked from the nurse, to his mother, and back again.

"Dr. Murphy said he had two to four more weeks in the cast," Alicia balked in protest. She'd been given more information in the past two days than she could process, but of this she was certain.

The nurse nodded. "But he gave us the okay to replace this one with a short cast...right below the elbow. It's very important that we start strengthening that arm as quickly as possible." Artie broke out into wide smile that Robin couldn't help but return. "It'll be nice to be able to scratch your nose again, huh?" she quipped playfully.

Artie scrunched up his face and brought his right hand up to his nose in mock defiance. Robin played along and gave a fake glare of incredulity, then chuckled. "I'll go grab an orderly and we'll take you down to remove this one, then we'll get some quick x-rays that will tell us how you're healing and put on a brand new cast."

"Do I get to pick the color?" Artie asked hopefully.

"Of course," Robin returned enthusiastically, "we have an entire rainbow down there." Artie's impossibly widening grin made Robin laugh again, "I'll be right back."

A million thoughts were running through Alicia's head, but when Robin returned, a strangled gasp caught in her throat and only one thought remained. "This is Brad," she started out by introducing the large staff member to her left, while still keeping a close eye on the distraught looking mother. "He's going to help us to get you from point A to point B until you're able to do it for yourself."

"Is that mine?" Artie queried, eyeing the small wheelchair Brad pushed in with an excited curiosity.

"For now," Robin replied with a gentle smile. "You're getting a custom model my friend, fit just for you and your needs. And you know the best part?" she paused and watched as he shook his head in anticipation, "you get to help design it."

"Really?" he squealed with delight as he glanced between the nurse and his mother. Alicia's tight smile and shaky nod was met with Artie's exuberant, "Cool."

Robin left Brad get Artie situated while she tended to Alicia, who had turned her back and was obviously fighting tears. The emotional mother startled a bit when a comforting arm slipped around her shoulders. "I knew this was coming, but...I just...," she stuttered apologetically.

"Nobody can ever prepared for something like this," Robin assured her with a gentle squeeze. "And I know it will take some time to get used to, but this is the key to his independence." There was a pause while Robin turned away momentarily. "He's smiling," she whispered encouragingly.

At this, Alicia let out a teary chuckle and nodded. Robin smiled and said, "This is a good thing."

Alicia nodded again and from behind, she heard Brad's voice. "All set here, Rob."

The nurse turned attention back to her patient. "Let's roll then," she exclaimed.

"Wait," Artie called out, halting the procession. He looked between Brad and Robin and asked, "Can my mom push me?"

Alicia composed herself enough to face him and smile. She tried her best to hide her surprise at being asked and shock that the first thing she noticed about him was his beautiful face...not the chair. "Sure Honey," she managed and stepped over to take hold of the handles.

Robin smiled at the exchange. "Follow me."

...

ANx2...So sorry for the delay! Wishing everyone a very happy Thursday and wonderful Thanksgiving day to my fellow Americans.