*Chapter 21*: I'm at Your Mercy

ORIGINAL Author's Notes: Thanks ever so much for all your favorites alerts reviews and kind inquiries about VB's broken foot. All are truly a balm for my soul and my foot which is slowly mending I think. I will try to update this story at least two times a week but my other story "Baby's Got the Bends" is proving to be a bit of a distraction.

MY AN:

Honor their Tether! Remember the Drummer!

Chapter 20 Summary:

Rachel rushes to Finn's bedside at the hospital after Carole tells her MP's have arrived threatening to charge Finn with AWOL. The MP's are not around when Rachel gets there but NYPD Detective Liskey and Carole and Burt arrive soon after. The detective brings news that Finn's shooter Marcus Jameson has been critically injured while fleeing police. Jameson did have Finn's possessions on him including critical papers stating Finn was on leave from the Army. A strange coincidence is discovered however Finn and the shooter both refer to Finn as "the man in the box." No one including Finn understands what this could mean as Finn muttered it to Rachel while still groggy from sedation and has no memory of even saying it and Jameson is currently in a coma.

Chapter 21- I'm at Your Mercy

A famous quote by Albert Einstein about the relativity of time went something like place your hand on a hot stove for just a minute and that minute would seem like an hour. I could identify with his theory by applying my direct experiences. Finn's visit to New York City could be divided into to two distinct segments of time: before Finn was shot in the chest in a seemingly random act of violence and after when Finn was dealing with all the ramifications of such a brutal attack. Before the shooting time moved quickly- Finn and I were so happy together that we wished we could stop time and savor each moment. After the attack, each second seemed to plod slowly after the next in an endless line of fear tedium and struggles.

After Detective Liskey left promising to be in touch I sat at Finn's bedside pondering relative time and other random thoughts such as: what could "the man in the box" possibly mean in relation to Finn? I really should have been doing my NYADA coursework I'd brought with me as I had intended. My instructors were all being extremely accommodating and understanding but that couldn't go on forever. I would have to go back but the thought of leaving Finn still so vulnerable for long stretches of the day was wrenching.

It could have been minutes or an hour when Burt returned from his search for the Army MP's who had been there earlier threatening Finn with an AWOL charge. Burt had an extremely puzzled look on his face as he returned his phone in his pocket. Carole walked over and leaned into her husband and he put his arm around her in a show of support. The gesture made me feel a small stab of what I would call envy.

"Strangest thing." Burt addressed the room. "No one on the hospital staff has any idea where the two MPs that were here this afternoon have gone. There isn't even a record that they were here like they vanished or didn't exist to begin with. The nurses station has notes on Finn's chart about him becoming angry and agitated and needing to be restrained but nothing official from the MPs suggesting he needed to be held because he was AWOL. If I hadn't seen them both with my own eyes I'd think we imagined them. They said at the nurse's station that Finn's neurologist Dr. Fielding is coming in to examine him and determine if the restraints can be removed."

Finn shifted in his bed in marked frustration. "He better take them off. This is total bullshit...Where am I going to go? I can't even find the damn door on my own right now."

I reached over and put my hand in his. "When he comes he'll understand that you can have these off and we can also ask him about the testing that got delayed today."

"You read my mind young lady." Dr. Fielding strode into the room catching the end of my sentence and answering it with a smile. "Sorry bad neurologist humor. I've scheduled a battery of tests for tomorrow morning early. How are you feeling this evening Mr. Hudson? I heard you were kicking up a little fuss earlier."

"I want out of these." Finn said dourly lifting his hands what little he could. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

Dr. Fielding took out a light and shined it in Finn's eyes among other things. "Any change in your vision today? Clearer or any sensations of light and dark?"

"I think I can see shadows of things like an outline of stuff like people." Finn responded.

"Early days yet." Dr. Fielding mused as he continued his examination of Finn. "Mr. Hudson can you push against my hand with this foot... good … now the other... excellent...I expect we'll have someone from the Army Medical Corps here tomorrow to examine you. Apparently, they know you're here. In my opinion, it would be inadvisable to try to transport you to a military hospital at this point and I intend to tell whoever shows up that."

"Do you know anything about the MPs that were here earlier today that upset my son so much?" Carole asked.

"No, I don't. Though I heard a little about it from the nurses just now." Dr Fielding's usually cheerful expression clouded a bit. "And I don't appreciate uninvited guests troubling my patients even if they are representing Uncle Sam. Finn may I call you Finn?" Finn nodded at this. "Finn it is crucial you try to relax as much as possible and let your body do the work of repairing itself. A lot of my job is just making sure I give you the opportunity to do that."

"Once I have these off." Finn raised his bound hands. "I think it will be easier to do that."

"Well let me go work on that. I'll check in with you in the morning after your follow up MRI and other tests. Try to get a good night's rest." Dr. Fielding moved to leave gesturing to Carole and Burt to follow him out while putting his hand out to me with a silent request that I stay with Finn.

"Uh...Burt and I are going to grab a quick dinner in the cafeteria honey. Rachel can we bring you anything?" Carole said thinking quickly. I requested a salad and some tea though I wasn't hungry in the least.

I sat with Finn distractedly trying to make conversation as I watched Dr. Fielding Carole and Burt talk briefly outside Finn's room. I couldn't hear what was being said through the glass window but it looked like it wasn't good news. Carole shook her head and seemed to ask the doctor a question. His answer was a short shrug.

When the doctor left I stood up quickly and told Finn I was going to the bathroom and I'd be right back.

I quickly caught up with Carole and Burt who were just a few steps down the hallway "What is it? What did he not want Finn to hear."

"Dr. Fielding is an unusual doctor. I think a good one but certainly unusual." Carole mused almost to herself. "Honey he just wanted us to begin to prepare Finn for the possibility that the Army will want to medically discharge him." Carole replied "I have to admit I have mixed feelings about this. A part of me is relieved but I know Finn will be devastated. He so wanted the chance to redeem the Hudson name and find out more about his dad's dishonorable discharge."

"As far as finding out about his dad's discharge there may be other ways to do that other than Finn being in the Army." Burt spoke up. "But we'll talk about that later."

"Would Finn's discharge be... honorable? I mean he wouldn't end up like his dad, would he?" I asked.

"If he were discharged because of his injuries my understanding is that it would be neither honorable or dishonorable it would be a medical discharge." Carole answered. "Dr. Fielding seemed to think that when the Army doctor visits Finn and examines him that doctor will make the determination whether Finn will be able to remain in the Army based on Finn's likelihood of full recovery in the near future."

I sighed. At least he wouldn't be leaving the Army with another blemish on the Hudson name. To say I was conflicted would have been an understatement. I, of course, wanted Finn well and happy and if he wanted to be a soldier then so be it but his enlistment in the Army had separated us. I wondered how Finn would react if he was discharged. I was already worried about his state of mind as it was. He'd been through so much in the last 48 hours not the least of which was being shot.

Walking back to Finn's his room I paused in the doorway to study him feeling a little guilty that he wasn't aware I was there. The sight of him lying strapped to his bed eyes closed skin still pale under his recent tan two days of beard stubble on his cheeks- he really reminded me of a caged animal in the zoo. Fierce misery seemed to be radiating from every part of the man I loved and I felt powerless to help him. That thought drew me up short. When did I start with this defeatist mopey attitude? Finn was alive by some miracle when he probably shouldn't be. I should seize any chance I got to savor that miracle given to me... to us.

First order of business cleans him up and make him feel as much like himself as possible. I knew they had hospital staff who could and would bathe and shave Finn but not on my watch. If I could sing some of the most challenging songs on Broadway I could certainly give my fiancé a shave.

Turning around in Finn's doorway I resolutely strode to the nurses' station down the corridor. The nurses seemed startled but accommodating at my requests. I was back standing over Finn's bed in less than 10 minutes a determined set to my chin. "Finn you have the look of a wild man and not in a good way. Time to get cleaned up."

He opened his eyes to squint in the direction of my voice and spoke listlessly. "What's the point? I'm stuck here in this damn bed with no hope of getting out anytime soon."

"Finn Hudson where is the man I know? The man who won us Sectionals when the odds were stacked against us. The man who kissed me in front of hundreds maybe thousands of people at Nationals just because he felt he had to. The man who has helped countless friends when all seemed hopeless..."

"I'm not sure that man exists anymore Rach."

"Well it's time for someone to help you. We'll start with a bath and a shave. You'll feel better clean." I bustled over to the sink in his room and ran some warm water in the basin the nurses had provided and dropped a cloth in it.

"I think we'll start with the shave. It can't be much different than when I shave my legs though a smaller area." I mused aloud.

"Why is you saying that a little scary and not at all comforting?" he replied tartly. He made a joke a little one but still... that was encouraging.

"I'm counting on you to give me tips as we go." I added conversationally. "Do I just put on the shaving cream?"

"I use an electric razor so how should I know?" he seemed inclined to be uncooperative I could see.

Shrugging I put some shaving cream in my hand from the small bottle the nurses had given me and started to gently spread it over Finn's cheeks and jaw. Starting with the flat areas first seemed a good idea. When I had his cheeks and jaw well covered I stood back to admire my work.

"It's a good look for you. You look like GI Joe Santa or something." I chuckled warming to my task.

"Errr... Rach you need to get my neck too." Finn lifted his chin as if to show me.

"Okay here is this right?" I spread cream down his neck.

"Yes, now remember not to press too hard just kind of glide the razor over my skin in the direction the hair is growing and you won't cut me."

"Cut you? Maybe this isn't such a good idea..." What was I thinking taking sharp edges to Finn's face?

"Come on Rach. You've got this. Besides all this stubble is really itchy now that you mention it." Finn looked expectantly in my direction. "Just promise to leave me with both eyebrows."

I'm embarrassed to admit that my hand shook a little as I held the disposable plastic razor against Finn's neck. I slowly swiped it over his slick skin through the cream.

"That's a good start but you need to press a little harder like when you shave your legs right?" Finn said encouragingly.

"I'm not in danger of cutting my jugular when I shave my legs." I grumbled nervously trying for humor and failing.

I tried several more strokes of the razor finishing his neck and so far, I hadn't drawn blood which was reassuring. Feeling a little braver I moved to his cheeks using my thumb and index finger under his jaw to tilt his head to my liking. The room was silent except for the sounds of our breathing the beep of Finn's heart monitor and the soft hiss of the razor over his skin. Finn seemed perfectly relaxed unlike me.

After carefully finishing his chin I moved to the hardest part- the area above his upper lip with the indentation I so loved to kiss. Admonishing myself for my wayward thoughts I slowly and meticulously shaved the small space gently swiping some excess shaving cream from his lips with my thumb when I finished. The beeps on the heart monitor sped up a little and I let out a soft laugh.

"What?" Finn asked actually smiling a little as I wiped his face clean with a warm cloth from the basin I'd brought.

"Every girl's fantasy... her man strapped to his bed … powerless under her hands and at her mercy."

"Babe... didn't you know... you never needed to strap me down for that." Finn intoned huskily.

"Only you and I could manage to get hot and bothered in the pseudo-ICU of a hospital Finn." I leaned in and kissed the now clean-shaven side of his jaw.

"The sad part is we haven't even gotten to the bath yet." he mused before he turned his head toward me and whispered softly. "Rach...there's something I miss almost as much as seeing your face."

"What's that Finn?"

"Your kisses." he rose off of his bed as far as his restraints would allow seeking me. I met his lips with mine in a tender slow kiss that lasted for a long time until the nurse came in to remove his restraints. We were both almost sorry.

I just had to throw in a few Finchel moments here to break up what I hope is a lot of intrigue and angst.

So, will Finn be discharged from the Army? Wonder how he'll react if he is. What's up with the mysterious disappearing MPs and their charges against Finn for being AWOL? The "man in the box" thing is truly a puzzle. VB has so much to think about. Reviews and theories are very welcome!