"Jennifer?" Quinn pressed again when her sister still hadn't said anything.
"What do you want me to say?" Jennifer finally asked.
"That it's a ridiculous idea, that I'm sixteen and that I'm not ready to raise a kid, you know, something along those lines?" Quinn prompted.
"Ok…." Jennifer said, "Just pretend I've said exactly that."
Quinn groaned in frustration.
"You didn't say it though." She said.
"So…now you're mad at me?" Jennifer asked puzzled.
"Jen you're supposed to be my big sister." Quinn responded.
"Last time I checked I still was," Jennifer replied, her confusion rising. "Why are you upset with me?"
"Because you're supposed to talk me out of it." Quinn finally explained.
"You know I won't do that Quinn," Jennifer said simply. "If you want someone to tell you what to do, it's not going to be me, you know that."
Quinn sighed.
"I know but mom and dad aren't here," Quinn said, "So can't you at least pretend?"
"Don't you think…" Jennifer countered. "That the fact you feel like you need someone to talk you out of the idea tells you something?"
"Ugh," Quinn grunted. "You're so annoying."
"Try living with me," Jennifer teased playfully.
"I did," Quinn retaliated. "It didn't work out."
Quinn pouted for a moment, wishing that just for once Jennifer would share her own opinion on the matter.
Noting her younger sisters frustration, Jennifer relented.
"Fine," she said finally, causing Quinn to look over at her expectantly. "You really want to know what I think?"
"Yes," Quinn replied. "Besides Puck, yours is the only other opinion that I really care about."
Jennifer smiled slightly at Quinn's words.
"Ok," she said, "Just, don't blame me if you don't like it."
"I won't," Quinn, promised moving a little closer to her sister and wincing once again.
"Maybe I should make you pay for my opinion with morphine?" Jennifer suggested.
"Jen," Quinn scolded. "I already told you I'm fine…"
"Yeah you look just peachy," Jennifer noted sarcastically.
"Alright fine," Quinn conceded. "I'll ask for some pain relief if you tell me."
"Deal," Jennifer agreed.
Jennifer sat watching Quinn for a moment in silence.
"You want me to ask for it now?" Quinn asked in disbelief.
"Well, yeah," Jennifer replied smiling. "I think I'd feel better if you did."
Quinn groaned inwardly and reached for the nurse call bell tangled in the bed sheet. She pressed it once and waited, her eyes never leaving her sisters, trying to convey how annoying she found the tall blonde without having to actually say the words out loud.
Jennifer laughed to herself as the nurse approached the bed.
"Everything all right?" the brunette nurse asked, resetting the button on the wall.
"Yeah," Quinn said shifting in the bed slightly to get comfortable. "It's just, my stomach is really hurting. Do you think I could get some more painkillers?"
"Sure," the nurse said, turning around and rummaging through the drug box. "Here," she said offering a white paper cup with two small caplets inside to the small blonde.
Quinn held the cup up slightly towards Jennifer in a gesture reminiscent of 'cheers' before tipping the pills into her mouth and chasing them with a sip of water from the cup on her bedside table.
"Happy?" Quinn asked, sticking out her tongue so Jennifer could confirm she'd actually taken them.
"Ecstatic," Jennifer replied as Quinn scowled at her playfully. "Don't look at me like that Quinn," the older blonde scolded. "I'm just looking out for you."
Quinn smiled at her older sister.
"I know," she said warmly. "Thank you."
"Ok," Jennifer started, taking Quinn's hand in her own. "Seeing as you followed through on your end of the deal I suppose I owe you an opinion."
"You do," Quinn said nodding.
Jennifer paused for a moment thinking how best to word what she wanted to say.
"Well honestly," Jennifer said meeting Quinn's expectant gaze. "I think that if you're starting to consider keeping Beth then that's great."
"You do?" Quinn asked surprised.
"Yeah," Jennifer confirmed. "However, if you ultimately choose to give her up that's ok too."
"What would you do?" Quinn questioned her sister. "If you were me, would you keep her?"
"I can't answer that," Jennifer said sadly. "Quinn, as much as you don't want to hear it, I'm not you, I haven't been where you are and honestly, I don't have the slightest idea what I would do in your situation."
Quinn dropped her gaze for a moment, clearly upset but her sisters' words. She'd expected Jennifer to say something, anything that would make her see the solution that had been staring her in the face all along. To offer some words of wisdom that would make her realise that she'd always known what she wanted to do.
Noticing her sisters sombre mood, Jennifer leant in closer to the small blonde, pulling her chin gently up to meet her own eyes.
"Look Quinn," Jennifer said smiling. "I can only tell you what I know, nothing more."
Quinn watched her eager to hear what she had to say.
"All I know is this." Jennifer carried on, not once moving her eyes away from her sisters'. "Being a mom is hard work. There are days when I wake up to find cereal sprawled across the kitchen floor and toys strewn across my living room. Sometimes I just want a little bit of peace and quiet, but instead I have to sit and listen to the two of them shouting and laughing with each other."
"You aren't exactly selling this Jen," Quinn pointed out.
"I'm not trying to," Jennifer said smiling. "It's the truth, that's all. You know, there are days where I wonder what my life would be like without the boys…"
When Jennifer didn't continue, Quinn prompted, "And?"
"And I realise," Jennifer said, "that I can't. I can't imagine my life without my kids. Not now. They mean everything to me. Sometimes they drive me crazy and I just want to strangle them to death, but if anyone tried to hurt them…"
Jennifer left the words hanging between them.
"So you're saying I should keep Beth?" Quinn questioned.
"No," Jennifer replied shaking her head. "I'm not saying that Quinn, in fact, I think that it doesn't really matter what I say. You already know what you want to do, you're just afraid to make a firm decision."
"Why would I be afraid of that?" Quinn asked probingly.
Jennifer laughed not giving anything away.
"Because," she teased, "that decision is going to shape the rest of your life."
"How can you be so sure that I already know?" Quinn asked her disbelievingly. "I feel so confused and you act like I'm an open book that anyone can read."
"I just know you Quinn," Jennifer replied.
"So what do you think I really want?" She said slyly.
"Nice try," Jennifer laughed. "You'll just have to come to that conclusion on your own."
"You know," Quinn complained jokingly. "What is the point in having someone here who supposedly knows me so well, if I can't use that knowledge to my own advantage?"
"At least I give you something pretty to look at," Jennifer said winking playfully.
"Don't flatter yourself." Quinn said, laughing despite her best efforts.
"Look at it this way," Jennifer began, "who would you rather be looking at right now, me?"
Jennifer put an exaggerated smile on her face.
"Or mom?" she finished mimicking their mothers' glare.
Quinn laughed momentarily, but soon stopped dead, her eyes lifting from Jennifer's towards the ICU doors.
Jennifer followed Quinn's gaze, a feeling of uneasiness creeping over her at the sight of their mother standing outside with Mr Schue, a nurse showing her how to gown and glove up correctly.
After a moment, the nurse entered the ICU, their mother following after her, making her way towards Quinn's bed. Finally, Judy seemed to notice Quinn watching her approach, and sped up until she was nearly running. As she reached the bed, Judy flung her arms around her youngest daughters neck, pulling her into a tight embrace, ignoring Jennifer sitting astounded beside them.
"You're all right," Judy said, her arms still tightly around the small blondes.
Quinn gasped slightly in pain and Judy quickly released her.
"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Judy asked, running her fingers through her daughters hair, brushing a stray lock out of Quinn's eyes.
"No," Quinn said reaching for her abdomen and throwing Jennifer a warning look. "I'm ok, just a little sore."
Judy followed Quinn's gaze as if finally realising her older daughter was here.
"Jennifer," she said coolly.
"Mom," Jennifer replied, her voice taut with anger.
"I didn't know you'd be here." Judy said dismissively.
"Someone had to be," Jennifer replied simply.
Judy sneered at the tall blonde before turning back to Quinn.
"I was so worried when the hospital called," Judy said emphatically. "I just had to come and see you."
Jennifer rolled her eyes.
"Where's dad?" Quinn asked eagerly.
"Yeah, where is dad?" Jennifer seconded. "Does he even know you're here?"
Judy hesitated a moment.
"Of course he does," she said smiling at Quinn, brushing the side of her face comfortingly. "He just, he had something really important to deal with at work…that's all. He'll be in to see you later. Then we can talk about you coming home…"
"Home?" Quinn asked smiling slightly at the thought and glancing hopefully at Jennifer, who said nothing, just sat watching, her silence speaking volumes about her own views on that arrangement.
"Of course," Judy said smiling. "We have missed you so much Quinn…"
"You have?" Quinn asked quietly, emotional at finally seeing her mom again.
"Oh sweetheart," Judy said, "you know that we love you. You're our daughter…"
"How could she not know?" Jennifer asked sarcastically. "I mean, you do a superb job of showing it mom."
"Oh please," Judy scolded her eldest daughter. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you Jennifer."
"Interesting," Jennifer replied a blank expression on her face. "Because supercilious bitch seems to suit you just fine."
"What did you just say?" Judy said, turning to her eldest daughter fully now.
"I think you heard me," Jennifer said not backing away from her mom's angry stare.
"Jen," Quinn said pleadingly.
Jennifer glanced back at her sister, ignoring Judy who still stared at her fiercely.
"I think I'm going to wait outside." Jennifer said standing up from her chair and leaning over to kiss Quinn on the forehead. "Let you two talk…"
Jennifer glanced at her mom as she slowly passed her, Judy watching her closely.
"I think it might be best if you leave altogether," Judy said, causing Jennifer to stop in her tracks. "We'll make sure Quinn gets home alright."
"You're unbelievable," Jennifer said approaching her mom once more. "How can you come in here and act like the last six months haven't even happened?"
"I'm not," Judy said dismissively, "the last six months have been hard on everyone, but now it's time for us all to move on, to be a family again."
Jennifer laughed to herself in disbelief.
"I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must have been for you these past few months mom," Jennifer mocked. "It must have been terrible, being homeless and scared…"
"Jennifer," Quinn called to her sister, pleading with her to stop. "Please."
Jennifer looked at the small blonde before her. She looked grey and defeated and Jennifer knew then that Quinn would forgive their parents for everything, because she loved them and after months of loneliness she wanted nothing more than to feel like she belonged somewhere.
"I'm disappointed in you Jennifer," Judy said causing the blonde to look back in her direction. "I thought that you'd show your own mother a little more respect than that."
"Respect is something that you have to earn," Jennifer said snidely, "and when I look at you now I feel nothing but contempt."
Jennifer closed the distance between the pair of them.
"You walk in here and pretend like the way you behaved is nothing to be ashamed of," Jennifer said lowering her voice, "but you have been kinder to strangers than you have to Quinn. You've shown compassion to someone you barely even knew, guided them to a shelter, offered them a warm bed for the night, some security, something to eat…"
Jennifer paused momentarily.
"Yet you discard your own daughter like she means absolutely nothing to you and you expect me to stand here and tell you that's ok?" she finished. "That the fact that you're here makes up for everything you've done?"
Judy held her chin up slightly in a sign of defiance.
"Aren't you leaving?" she said.
"I am," Jennifer said, turning to look once more at Quinn who watched her helplessly before turning and starting back towards the doors.
"No," Quinn called after her sister. "Jen, I don't want you to leave."
Jennifer and Judy both turned back to Quinn.
"I want you to leave," Quinn said stoically looking at her mom.
"Quinn sweetheart," Judy said stepping towards her daughter and reaching for her hand. "You don't mean that."
Quinn withdraw her hand from her mom's grasp.
"I don't need you," Quinn said.
"Of course you do," Judy replied. "You're just a teenager."
"No," Quinn disagreed. "I'm not just a teenager anymore. The moment I had a baby I became an adult, I became responsible for somebody else and I would never do to my daughter, what you and dad did to me."
"Quinn?" Judy pleaded.
"I needed you," Quinn said tears forming in her eyes. "I needed you more than ever and you threw me out of my home, left me with absolutely nothing but what I could pack into a suitcase in thirty minutes."
"I was scared," Judy said reaching for Quinn's hand again, the blonde pulling it once more out of reach.
"I was scared," Quinn said loudly. "I was terrified. My whole world collapsed when I found out that I was pregnant and I couldn't even tell the two people who supposedly cared about me the most because I was petrified of what you would do, of how you would react."
"It was a shock…" Judy tried to defend.
"No it wasn't," Quinn interrupted her. "You'd known for weeks and you did nothing, said nothing. You reacted exactly the way that I expected you…I guess I was just hoping that you'd both prove me wrong" Quinn laughed a little, "but you didn't."
"I'm sorry," Judy apologised.
"It's not enough now," Quinn said crying. "For so long I've wanted to hear you say that, to hear you asked me to move home and now that you do, it doesn't mean anything to me."
"You don't mean that." Judy said.
"Yes," Quinn said looking at Jennifer who was watching her with an unreadable expression on her face. "I do."
Judy didn't say anything for a moment, shocked into silence by her daughters' words. She glanced at Jennifer a menacing expression on her face.
"You did this," she accused her eldest daughter. "You always were a conniving little bitch Jennifer, whispering in her ear, feeding her all this rubbish…"
"You did this," Quinn shouted defending her sister. "Not Jen. She was the only person that stood by me, that didn't make me feel like a complete failure. She was there for me when you weren't, offered me a place to stay, some security, not you."
"You're making a mistake," Judy said turning to her youngest daughter. "You'll regret this tomorrow."
"No," Quinn said shaking her head. "You might regret this for the rest of your life but my conscience is clear. I don't want to live with you because I don't need you or your influence. I did this without you and I'll carry on that way. I have everything I need. I have Jen, I have my friends, and I have my daughter. I don't need anything else."
Judy turned back to Jennifer who had a satisfied look on her face.
"Aren't you leaving?" she asked mimicking her mothers' own tone from earlier.
Judy threw a glance between her two daughters, Jennifer standing in front of her with her arms crossed over her chest, Quinn watching her, the tears from before, quickly drying where they fell on her cheek. Without a word, Judy turned and headed towards the ICU doors, almost knocking a nurse over in her haste to get outside. As she left she threw her gown and gloves haphazardly on the floor before disappearing through the doors and out of sight.
Jennifer looked at Quinn and smiled sadly.
"I can go after her if you want?" the elder sister offered taking her seat once again beside Quinn.
"No," Quinn said, "I meant everything I said."
"So, no regrets?" Jennifer asked her.
"Not yet," Quinn replied smiling.
"What do you mean?" Jennifer asked taking her sisters hand.
"You were right Jen," Quinn responded. "I think deep down I always knew what I wanted."
"Oh yeah," Jennifer said, "and what's that?"
"I want to keep Beth," Quinn said finally, her eyes fluttering slightly. "I'm going to keep her."
"Are you sure?" Jennifer asked as Quinn reached for her stomach.
Quinn smiled weakly.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Quinn replied her eyes closing slightly.
"Are you ok?" Jennifer asked her sister standing up in concern.
Jennifer shook Quinn gently trying to wake her up.
"Quinn?" she said worry entering her voice. "Quinn wake up…"
When Quinn did not respond, Jennifer turned towards the nurses' station and called for help. Within seconds the brunette nurse was beside the bed trying to wake Quinn up.
"What happened?" the nurse asked Jennifer.
"I don't know," she said anxiously. "One minute she was talking, the next…."
"Quinn?" The nurse called trying to wake the small blonde. "Quinn can you hear me?"
When there was still no response, the nurse placed glanced up at the monitors and noted that Quinn's blood pressure was dangerously low. She called to another nurse to get a doctor stat before pulling back Quinn's covers, revealing a pool of blood soaking into the sheet.