As always, thank you for the amazing support I get for this story! I enjoy reading all your feedback so much and it keeps me focused:) This chapter is maybe kind of a filler, but I think you guys will enjoy it:) especially since brittana is having a little rough time on the show right now. Enjoy!

Brittany POV

Santana's eyes were roaming all over my face without saying a word. She probably has no idea what is going on and I don't want to scare her by immediately throwing myself around her. I tried my hardest to hold back tears, but they were already flowing from my eyes. I still had her face cupped between my hands as I was smiling through my tears from pure happiness that I was able just to look in her eyes again. A warm feeling slowly spread through my body and suppressed the coldness that had been there these couple of weeks.

''You came back to me.'' I smiled softly while wiping the tears out of my eyes.

Suddenly a frown appeared above Santana's eyebrows as I saw panic slowly building up in her eyes. She swallowed thickly a couple of times and her mouth opened to just close again without forming a word.

I should probably get a doctor, but I couldn't seem to make myself go away from Santana now that she's back. I've been too long without her.

''You're in the hospital honey, but you're going to be okay.'' I said softly and stroke my thumb over her cheek that seemed to be warmer than before.

The frown increased, but she didn't look around the room. She kept staring at me as I tried my hardest to stay strong for her. Suddenly I remembered the doctor saying something about possible brain damage and the fear of what is going on in Santana's head right now triggered the worries within me. What if she doesn't know who I am? What if she can't talk?

I didn't realize I was tightening my grip on her face until she moved her head away from my clinging hands. I slowly shook my head while I forced tears back into my eyes. She's pulling away from me.

''Santana please, can you say something?'' I asked with a slightly cracked voice. I didn't let go of her face even though I noticed she wanted me to. She was too weak to really move her head away from my touch and I sure as hell wasn't going to let her go. Not again.

She opened her mouth slightly and her tongue trailed over her lips that probably felt dry. I leaned closer to her when I heard a small gargle coming from her throat and saw her swallowing thickly.

''Who..'' She began and swallowed thickly again while taking a big gulp of air through her mouth. She still had wires through her nose from the breathing machine and she probably doesn't know why.

The warmth inside of me increased even more when I heard her voice again after such a long time. It was soft but I could hear the familiar husky tone that sounded even more raw than normal. I was so taking away from looking into her eyes and hearing her voice again, that I didn't even noticed what she just barely let out.

I saw her struggling to get something out again until she scraped her throat and stabbed me right in the heart with her next words.

''W-who are… y-y..''

I didn't let her finish that sentence, I can't take that right now. As soon as that warmth had spread through my body again, as soon as I felt the cold and darkness making its way back to my heart. I quickly leaned forward to close the remaining distance between us and pressed my lips on Santana's. Her lips were still a bit parted because she was trying to finish the sentence that I didn't want to hear. I don't want to know that she doesn't know who I am, because I know it's not true.

I closed my eyes as I tried to pour every inch of me into the kiss to make her feel who I am. My heart beat picked up at the feeling of having her soft lips fitting perfectly between mine. Flashes of memories ran through my mind as I pressed my lips more firmly onto hers. Flashes of Santana smiling at me, sounds of her laugh, warmth of her hugs, everything that I missed so much and thought I never would experience again.

I don't know how long I've been massaging her lips with mine now, but finally I felt her kissing me back. I smiled into the kiss before slowly pulling away with hope spreading from my lips into my mind and putting the memories back to make room for new ones. This kiss definitely gets a number one spot up there.

I scanned her face again and Santana opened her eyes slowly as the frown above her brows got replaced by a small smile spreading on her lips.

''Britt..'' She smiled softly.

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding in and sounded more like a chuckle mixed with a happy sob. I nodded rapidly and pressed another longing kiss to her lips before running into the hallway to get a doctor.

''Can I get a doctor please! My girlfriend woke up from her coma!'' I practically yelled through the empty hallway. Almost immediately after that, a nurse came out of a room and pressed her pager to probably alarm the doctor while running towards me.

I quickly ran after her into Santana's room and I felt relieve washing over me that she was still awake and now scanning the environment around her.

The nurse had a shocked expression on her face like she couldn't believe this was happening. I couldn't even believe that this was real either, but after that kiss I knew I wasn't dreaming. I took my seat next to Santana's bed again as I wrapped my hand around hers.

''This is impossible.'' The nurse let out in disbelief and immediately walked towards the machines next to Santana's bed.

Santana turned her head slightly to look at the machines she was attached to and fear mixed with confusion appeared on her face.

I quickly squeezed her hand lightly to get her attention and tried my best to smile as convincing as I could.

''Don't worry San, you're safe.'' I smiled to calm her down and raised her hand to press a kiss on it. ''I won't let anything happen to you ever again.''

One week later…

Santana POV

The doctor just left the room and another one was already coming in. I sat up slightly in my bed and groaned a little from the pain in my muscles that was still bothering me. The only thing I wanted right now instead of answering all those stupid questions from the doctors, is having Brittany here and just look at her. It startled me when I realized how sad and tired she looked. It looked like she hasn't slept in days and according to my mom and Quinn she hasn't.

Brittany told me everything about what happened, but honestly I couldn't remember anything. I'm kind of glad that I don't because what Brittany told me isn't really something I want to remember. I'm glad that guy who did this to me is rotting away in jail right now. I'm just glad I'm still alive and nothing happened to Brittany that night.

''Good morning Santana, how are you feeling today?'' The doctor asked and got my attention as he was scrolling through some papers in his hands.

I sat up a little more and pulled the sheets with me.

''I'm okay, little tired which is pretty weird considering I've been asleep for like a month.'' I sighed and tried to find a position that made the pain in my muscles less hurtful.

''It's normal that you feel tired Santana. Even though your body doesn't do anything, a coma can be very hard to recover from. You've only been off the breathing machine for a day and your body is getting used to do the work on its own again.'' He said as he was scribbling some notes on the paper.

''I feel nauseous too.''

''Yeah you'll have that for at least a couple more days. Your body is adjusting to normal food again instead of the enteral feeding. I'll talk with the nurse to give you some stronger medication for that.''

I nodded and let out a frustrated sight as the doctor sat down on the side of my bed. It frustrates me that I'm so dependent now and that I can't do anything instead of lying in bed all day. I don't want people to take care of me and treat me like I'm some kind of moron. But as long as I can't do it myself, there's no other way. The sooner I can go home, the sooner I can focus on making sure that Brittany is okay.

''You can consider yourself very lucky though, it seems like you don't have any serious brain damage as far as the tests point out. Have you noticed some things yourself?'' He asked with a serious voice.

I shook my head lightly ''No, except for the fact that words sometimes come a little slow and I can't concentrate on multiple conversations in the room.''

''Hmm.. That can be caused by the tiredness, but we have to keep an eye on those small things too.''

Before I could react to the doctor, a bright smile and a string of blonde hair caught my eye. Brittany was practically hopping into the room with a big flower bouquet and a big yellow smiley balloon.

''Hey there beautiful.'' I smiled.

Brittany smiled but her smile immediately faded away when she noticed the doctor.

''Everything okay?'' She asked with a voice that was filled with fear.

I felt guilty for making her feel like that and it kills me to see the way she keeps looking at me. Like I'm going away any second now. I can see her fear fade away sooner every time we talk or touch though, but it's still there.

''Yes I was just talking to Santana about how she was feeling. We'll come get her for some tests in a few minutes. I'll leave you two alone now.'' He smiled and walked out of the room.

''Are you alright?'' Brittany asked and plopped down next to me.

''I am Britt, but if someone comes in here one more time to ask me if I know my own name or what year it is then I'm going to punch someone.'' I sighed frustrated.

Brittany chuckled lightly and leaned forward to press a short but sweet kiss on my lips. When she pulled back I still felt it tingling and her blue eyes had some of those old sparks back.

''I think it's good they keep an eye on you like that, considering you can be very stubborn.''

''I should just tell them my name is Lady gaga and see how they react to that.'' I chuckled and played with Brittany's fingers in mine.

''Don't even think about it.'' She chuckled.

''Fine..'' I pouted playfully. ''You bought me flowers again?''

''No they're actually from Puck, I'll put them in a vase next to the other ones you got.'' She smiled and stood up to walk towards the sink. ''You want to know what he wrote on your card?''

''Probably something that has to do with sex.'' I chuckled.

Brittany shook her head and read the card out loud ''I very well know the reason, why you are taking so long over there. You are probably being nursed by some sexy girls in white small outfits aren't you. I won't tell Brittany, just get better soon cause I miss your crazy ass. P.s. I have some funny pictures of you that I still need to show you ;P''

''So I see Puck is still the same old moron.''

''They were all so happy when I told them the good news.'' Brittany smiled and walked back towards me with the balloon in her hand. ''I got you this one.''

I lifted my arm slightly to grab it from her and it felt like my arm was the size of a whale. As soon as the thin wire of the balloon was in my hand, I dropped my arm back on the bed. I immediately saw Brittany getting worried again so I just smiled at her like it wasn't bothering me that I can't even raise my arm properly yet.

''I love it. Why a big yellow smiley though?'' I chuckled.

''It probably sounds stupid..'' She shrugged.

''Britt nothing you every say is stupid, you know that.'' I grabbed her hand a squeezed it tenderly. It caused her to look to me again instead of the balloon.

''Well.. the longer you were in a coma.. the more I forgot the way it looked like when you smiled. I even forgot how to smile myself because it hurt too much.. But then I remembered the first moment I told you that I loved you. You smiled then, and your whole face changed with it. It kind of lit up, like there were sunbeams coming from inside you.'' She stopped shortly and pressed a kiss on the back of my hand. ''Then I started seeing your smile again in my dreams. I allowed myself to be swept away by it, to drown in it - the way I'd done so many times before. The way I would willingly do again, because at least I had that. A smile.''

My heart swelled in my chest as Brittany was describing something simple like a smiley on a balloon in such a way that it made me feel even more loved by her. She was smiling at me now, but the smile seemed misplaced. As if she was forcing it to make me feel better, to make me feel less guilty. Because she knows how I feel, she knows that I hate myself for putting her through this even though I couldn't do much about it. We haven't really talked about everything that happened yet or the problems that are waiting for us. Like school, my recovery, or other shit. It's not something I want to talk about now and probably Brittany doesn't want to either.

I squeezed her hand to get her to look at me as I saw her secretly wiping away a tear that had fallen from her eyes. It kills me to still see her so upset and I don't know exactly what I can do to make that sadness go away. She's probably still unsure if I'm going to be okay even though I'm talking and moving already which the doctors think it's a freaking miracle. I don't think it's a miracle if I have Brittany to fight for.

''Come here.'' I smiled and pulled a little on Brittany's hand.

She got the hint and started to stand up from the chair. I tapped my hand lightly on the bed and tried to scoot over a little. After a few groans of pain and Brittany lifting me up slightly, I managed to do so. She carefully laid down against me on the bed and rested her head on my chest after carefully putting my IV a little to the side.

''Am I hurting you?'' She asked softly.

Actually her weight on my body caused my muscles to protest a little, but I couldn't care less about the muscle pain right now. Brittany needs this comfort and I need to feel close to her in this way again too.

''No..'' I said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

She snuggled closer into me and maneuvered herself underneath the sheets too. Her hand caressed my lower arm until she rested it over the spot on my chest where my heart was beating more rapidly.

''You know, we were lying in the same position when you woke up a week ago.'' She mumbled softly.

''You were lying on top of me?''

''Yeah I was just.. I didn't know what to do anymore and I figured.. I wanted to cuddle with you one last time.''

I slowly took her words in and a shiver ran down my spine when she talked like she was going to hurt herself if I hadn't woken up. I laid my hand over hers on my heart and rested my chin against her forehead.

''It doesn't matter anymore now Britt, I'm back and I'm not going anywhere.''

''I know..'' She said with still a little doubt in her voice. ''Do you remember when you woke up?''

''Not exactly but I do remember that you were there..''

''You didn't recognize me at first..'' She mumbled sadly.

''Yes I did.'' I said confused.

''No, you were asking me who I was and then I kissed you and then you remembered.''

''Okay maybe I didn't know your name, but the moment I opened my eyes and looked at you, I knew.. I knew you were my everything..''

Suddenly Brittany lifted her head up and smiled at me so brightly that it made me all warm and fuzzy inside. It even made me forget about the pain in my muscles for a second. She placed a lingering soft kiss on my lips and another peck after pulling back.

''I love you so much.''

God, that never gets old to hear that from Brittany.

''I love you too.'' I said as we fell into a comfortable silence. Simply enjoying being around each other now and feeling that closeness slightly returning.

''Just so you know, you can still lay on top of me whenever and wherever you want to.'' I said with a playful voice.

She laughed a little and tightened her grip around me.

''You're crazy for thinking about that right now..'' She chuckled.

''It's kind of hard not to think about those things with you half on top of me.'' I smirked. ''But it's probably a big turn off that I'm still wearing a fucking diaper. ''

''Would you rather want to pee in your bed?'' She chuckled.

''It's not funny. It's embarrassing.'' I pouted.

''It's normal in your situation. Don't be embarrassed about it honey and besides, tomorrow the physiotherapist will help you start walking again so you can go to the bathroom by yourself and stuff.''

''Still, I'm wearing a damn diaper Britt.''

''You're still sexy to me. What if we're ninety years old and we're incontinent? Then we're both wearing diapers.''

''Ew gross.'' I laughed and kept a stupid grin on my face because Brittany still sees us together if we're ninety years old.

''You're telling me you won't think I'm sexy anymore if I'm old and incontinent?'' She let out pretended to be offended.

''Uhm no but probably a lot more sexy times in the shower then so we can change our diapers afterwards.'' I laughed.

Brittany started laughing as well as she was probably picturing that too. Laughing hurts a little in my stomach but it feels way too good to finally see something of the old happy Brittany back. She cuddled back into me and I slowly feel the familiar tiredness creeping over me again. I just close my eyes for a little while now.

Brittany POV. The next day

Santana made me promise to go to school today and eat something at home instead of a hospital meal. It was hard to leave her behind, but now I left with the knowledge that she would still be there when I came back. I briefly talked to some of our friends at school to keep them up to date about Santana's condition. They all want to visit her, but the doctor told me it's probably too tiring and overwhelming for Santana to handle right now. She called me this morning that she took a few steps today with the doctor and that the diaper she hates so much is off now. She can be so stubborn sometimes though, but that's one of the many reasons why I love her.

It's still a miracle that she doesn't have any brain damage. At least so far it looks like that and she remembers me and her parents. Quinn visited her too because Santana asked about her and the doctor thought it was good to see one more familiar face. I'm still worried about her even if she's doing so good. I notice that she's very tired and falls asleep even in the middle of a conversation. When she talks it's very slowly and sometimes it seems like she struggles to find the right words. I talked to the doctor about it and he said he would keep an eye on that, but considering how long Santana has been in a coma he thought it were normal aftermath symptoms.

I just got off the phone with Santana's mom and she told me they were visiting later tonight too and if I wanted to pass that along to Santana. She tried to call Santana herself but she was probably sleeping so she didn't pick up the phone.

A few minutes later I entered Santana's room and found her staring towards a card in her hand. I recognized Tina's card and smiled that Santana was reading all the cards people had send to her. There were different cards spread over her lap and she was so occupied with the card in her hand that she didn't even notice that I had walked in.

''Hi.'' I smiled and leaned in for a kiss. ''Are you reading all your cards?''

Santana didn't really respond and stared back to the card in her hand. She looked confused and scared and it made me frown to see her like that. I leaned closer so I could read what the card was saying and it was a very sweet message from Tina. Why would Santana be upset about that? I turned my gaze back to Santana's face and because I was closer to her face now, it was easy to trace the tracks of old tears.

''Have you been crying?'' I asked worried and sat down next to her.

''N-no..'' She replied with a broken voice.

''Santana don't lie to me, not now. What happened?'' I asked softly and stroke my hand through her hair.

She just shrugged so I took the card from her hand and read it one more time to see if there really wasn't something in it that might upset her. Suddenly something came in my mind.

''Don't you now... uhm do you know who Tina is?''

''Of course I know who Tina is.''

''Then what got you so upset about the card San?'' I asked.

''Just because.. I don't want to talk about it okay.'' She said a little annoyed.

''Why did you cry?''

''Brittany please drop it.''

''I want to help you, but if you're going to close yourself off now I won't be able to. Why did you cry after reading Tina's card.'' I asked again in a pleading voice.

Santana looked at me with frustration, but then I saw her gaze softening. She avoided my eyes and shrugged ''I didn't read her card..''

''But I saw you looking at it.'' I frowned.

''I didn't read her card, because I can't!'' She yelled. ''I tried every damn card I got and I can't read it Brittany. I can't even read who wrote it!''

It startled me that she suddenly started yelling, it startled me even more what she was yelling and now she was sobbing in her bed while burying her face in her hands.

I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and forced the tears back to be strong for her. I quickly walked to the other side of the bed where her IV wasn't in the way and sat down next to her. I threw my arm around her and as I pulled her into my side and she buried herself into me.

''Sshh.. it's going to be okay.'' I whispered while rocking her carefully back and forth in my arms.

''I c-can't even r-read'' She sobbed lightly.

''I know, but you can learn it again. I'll help you every step of the way okay, it's going to be alright.'' I whispered. ''You've made it this far, this is just a small bump in the road.''

''I feel like a moron, even a four year old can read.'' She mumbled while sniffing her nose.

''You've been in a coma for 5 weeks Santana, you don't have to be embarrassed about anything right now. You're a fighter and you can learn to read again.'' I smiled and squeezed her tighter against me. ''Let me show you something.''

I carefully let go of her and stood up from the bed. I have to show Santana that this isn't something to get depressed about, but something that we'll overcome together again. I walked towards the other side of the bed and grabbed the wheelchair that she can use.

''What are you doing?'' She asked confused. ''I don't want to see the doctor now.''

''I know, I'm taking you out of this room for a little while to set your mind on other things.''

I carefully lifted her out of the bed and she let out a little squeal before I placed her in the wheelchair. I made sure her IV pole was attached to the wheelchair and rolled her out of the room.

''It's probably no use to ask you what you're planning to do huh?''

''You'll see.''

After a few minutes I rolled her out of the hospital doors. It was cold outside since it's already december, so I wrapped my coat around her before kneeling down next to her. People were looking at us, probably wondering what we were doing in the middle of the sidewalk, but I didn't care.

''Okay now what?'' Santana chuckled.

I grabbed her hand and kissed her cheek. ''Look around and tell me what you see and hear?''

''Uhm people staring at me.''

''What more.'' I chuckled.

''Okay let's see, I hear honking cars, see people running around, a homeless person and uhmm stoplights.''

''Okay now remember that.''

I stood up and rolled her back inside the hospital and into the elevator. I pushed the button of the top floor and enjoyed how Santana was still frustrated about what this was all about.

We reached the top floor and I rolled us towards the end of one of the hallways.

''What are we doing here?'' Santana asked confused but curious.

I opened up the door that led towards the roof and rolled the wheelchair towards the beginning of a small stairs. It was only a few steps but too many to lift a wheelchair with Santana on it on my own.

''Okay hold your IV bag, I'll carry you up.'' I said and before Santana could protest about going on the roof, I lifted her up bridal style and made sure Santana had her IV bag in her hand. After reaching the roof, I sat her down on top of a big block and quickly ran down to grab my coat and her wheelchair.

''You're not planning on throwing me off the roof or something huh?'' She chuckled playfully as I reached the top again.

''No then I would've already done it.'' I teased back.

''Okay then tell me.'' She smiled as I lifted her back in the wheelchair and wrapped my coat around her again.

''Okay..'' I began and rolled us towards the edge where a small fence was for safety. ''Tell me what you see here.''

We both looked up and saw stars brighten up the sky and I heard Santana gasp by the sight of it.

''I see stars.'' She smiled.

''Mmhm, what more?''

She looked in front of her and then looked around.

''I see skyscrapers, birds, the moon.. oh and our building in the distance..''

''A little different up here isn't it'' I smiled as I sat down next to her. ''and yet it's the same. We haven't gone anywhere. We're just looking at things from a new perspective up here. Inside of you and me too, there are honking cars and stoplights. But there's also this.. '' I smile as I point towards the view again. ''We just have to do the work and climb the stairs to find it. ''

''I don't know how you did it, making me smile when I was sad. But thank you for this.'' She smiled. ''And as we're seeing things from a new perspective from up here.. can I see you as I my official girlfriend then?''

I smiled and sat on my knees in between her legs. I rested my arms over her thighs and tucked my coat a little tighter around her.

''I secretly already told everyone here that you're my girlfriend.'' I chuckled softly.

Santana's eyes widened but I could see the big smile spreading across her face.

''Well then will you please wheel me to my bed and just like cuddle, kiss and be cute already '' She chuckled.

''Whatever you say.'' I smiled and place a soft kiss on her lips before rolling us back towards the stairs.

As we're on the way back to her room, I look around me. I see people running around, always rushed, always late.. But sometimes it slows down just enough for all the pieces to fall into place. Fate will work its magic and make Santana better. Even if fate sometimes needs to have a push in the right direction.

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