A P O L O G I E S.

No excuse, I don't even think this peace offering is as good as it should be. But here it is.


"So Kurt and Quinn were practically screaming insults at each other in the middle of the diner," Tina managed to say through her giggles. Last night seemed at lot less funny at the time, but now she couldn't stop laughing. Kurt had said something about Quinn still wearing maternity dresses and she quickly snapped back with a snide comment about green plaid not really matching orange cashmere. Tina and Mercedes had just sat at the table in silence, cheeks red.

"I can't believe I missed that!" Artie laughed across the line. Tina was glad to be able to talk to him, it was nice just hearing his voice.

"Don't worry, I'm sure there'll be another one when you come back. Or you can just mock his new straw sunhat." She said and he laughed again.

"I can't wait. So did you guys get kicked out?"

"Nearly, Mercedes bribed them to calm down with apple pie, but it was a close call." Tina said, grinning into her phone, "And then Mike and Matt came in, so they talked to us for a bit."

"You guys hung out with Mike?" Artie asked, his voice slightly higher.

"And Matt," Tina bit her lip, ever since her dance number Artie's had a thing about Mike. Even though she's reassured him that Mike has nothing he doesn't, and nothing she wants. Not wanting to get into it again she continues quickly. "Matt told us this hilarious story about his grandma's dog. But seriously, that's the most I've ever heard him talk!"

Artie chuckled, and seems to have forgotten about his worries, "Yeah, he can talk for ages when he's excited. You should've seen him on vitamin D!"

Tina laughed, looking up when she heard footsteps at the door, "Artie, I gotta go. But we'll talk later? "

"Sure - "

"Cool. Byeee," she dragged out the word for a moment, before ending the calling and putting the phone back in her pocket.

"Good morning Tina, so sorry we're late, we had car troubles this morning, " Brenda smiled, stepping into the office as Sam shuffled behind her. "I hope you've been alright by yourself."

"Of course," Tina smiled, "Everything's fine, although it's nice to have someone to talk to." She turned to smile at Sam; it was true, it could get very boring... the company was nice, no matter who it was.

Brenda seemed thrilled to hear this, "Oh, I'm so happy you guys are becoming friends. If you ever want to leave early and spend time together, that's completely fine!" She smiled widely, almost expectantly and left for her own office.

Tina bit her lip, confused, and turned to Sam, "Does your mom-"

Sam was ever-so-slightly red, "It's nothing, she does that with every girl I meet. Especially if she knows their parents."

"Oh," Tina nodded, laughing half-heartedly, "I, uh, just so you know, I have a boyfriend."

Sam chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm not looking for anything. I have a thing with a girl at school anyway."

Tina raised her eyebrow, she wasn't exactly a social butterfly, but she knew that a thing didn't have much standing in high school. Puck and Santana were a thing, she and Artie, she'd like to think, were not.

She wanted to say something; the silence was bordering on awkward, but she couldn't think of anything that wouldn't leave one of them, probably her, red-faced and stuttering. She pulled on her necklace, and turned back to her work.


Artie frowned as he wheeled down the hallway. Well, he forced a smile at the nurses and helpers who greeted him, but he wanted to keep to himself until he got to his destination. He'd talked to Tina a couple of hours ago, and as nice as it was to talk to her, to hear her voice. Something she said kept bothering him.

Mike... Artie shook his head. No, Mike was there with Matt. And Kurt and Mercedes and Quinn.

Tina's tap dance flashed in his mind, specifically the turn Mike led her into. He'd imagined those steps so many times he probably could have done them, if he could.

He bit his lip; Tina talked to him after she had performed her dance. He knew she meant it when she said she didn't like Mike, and especially not because he dance like a "flying ninja." His words, not hers.

Artie focused on the doors at the end of the hall; he was a little nervous: it was his first group therapy session. It wasn't optional, and he wasn't thrilled. He would rather do physical therapy sessions for days, than talk about it for an hour. Especially with a lot of people, who "understand."

He wheeled into the room, to find a bunch of seats sporadically placed in a circle, large gaps between them. He wheeled himself between an empty chair and a taken one, nodding at a girl who was sitting in it. She had bright red hair, and was gripping her crutches between her straightened legs.

"Hi. Grace. You look like your dreading this as much as I am," she said, her voice oddly cheery, she reminded him of someone, "But don't worry, I have a plan on how to minimise your input and make everyone else to the talking."

Grace said that last part with a secretive smirk, leaning in conspiratorially. And it hit him, she oozed Rachel Berry.

"Uh, care to share?" he asked. He'd take all the help he could get. They both looked at the door when they heard more people coming in, and soon enough the circle was pretty much filled. Grace winked at him as if to say watch and learn, before they were all distracted by their counsellor walking in.

The counsellor was nothing like Ms. Pillsbury at McKinley. Artie almost did a double take when he saw a young guy, about 25, wearing shorts and flip-slops walk in casually carrying a few sheets of papers and a pile of pamphlets.

"Okay guys! I'm Aaron, your counsellor for these group sessions. There is another group session run by our other counsellor Sarah. If any of you think you'd feel comfortable talking to her, for any reason, just let me know and I can arrange a swap. No problemo!"

There was a pause as everyone looked around awkwardly. When no one said anything, Aaron grinned and continued, "Cool! I want to start by getting everyone to introduce themselves. A bit old school, I know, but let's try it out." He pointed to the boy right next to him, "You wanna start and we'll go around the circle?"

Artie grimaced, he hated these things... whoever invented ice breakers should be shot.

Over the next few minutes, Artie learnt that the guy with the crutches used to run marathons, the girl in the wheelchair has started baking since her accident. Then he was up.

He sighed, "I'm Artie, I'm 15 and I've been in the chair since I was 8. I kinda turned to music and arts, jazz club and I'm part of the Glee Club."

Across the circle a guy sniggered and Grace shot him a glare. Turns out she was part of her own Glee club. Maybe this Group therapy thing would be bearable.