Beca was going crazy.
Chloe had gone to get her nodes removed a day and a half ago. It was a day and a half since she had last seen her. Last seen those hypnotising blue eyes and fiery red hair. She didn't even know if the procedure had gone well or not. Beca had spent the past day looking up what the removal of vocal nodules entailed. Chloe wouldn't be able to speak for a few days but hopefully she would be able to sing again.
Beca had been staring at the chair that had become Chloe's chair. She barely blinked, hoping that Chloe would just reappear. She hadn't realised how dependent she was now on the redhead. Since waking up, Chloe had become her rock. She was the one who helped Beca remember. She was the one who had practically moved in to the hospital to be with her.
Beca sighed for what she was sure must have been the hundredth time that day. She had done everything that she could think of to bide her time. She had listened to all her mixes on her laptop many times over. She had had her dressings changed. She had even eaten the crappy excuse that the hospital called food. And yet, she still felt empty. Without the bubbly redhead by her side, she was alone. She finally decided that enough was enough.
Luckily for her, there was really only one major hospital by Barden so Chloe had had her procedure here too. Beca pressed the button on her bed, alerting the nurses. Almost immediately a nurse hurried in.
"Are you alright, Beca?" It was Beca's favourite nurse, Ann.
"Yes, uh, I was wondering if I could go and visit a friend…" Ann looked at her sceptically. She was only too aware of Beca's history of escaping the hospital. "Chloe. She, uh, had her nodes out and I wanted to go and see her."
Ann looked at her. It was usually against regulations for one patient to go and see another. But Beca had always been different. It had been amazing seeing the positive effect that the other girl was having on Beca's recovery. There was no doubt that Beca could very well be in danger if her memories returned in a rush, but this Chloe girl seemed to keep Beca grounded and helped the memories return slowly.
Ann sighed. "Do you know what ward she is in?"
Beca's excitement was short lived. She had no idea where Chloe was. She shook her head, eyes downcast. Ann sighed again. "If I happen to come across it, then I'll let you know. But this" she gestured between the two of them "never happened." She turned and left Beca staring confused.
What had she meant? They had just been talking. And why would she come across where Chloe was? She would be in another part of the hospital.
Realisation washed over Beca. She felt like such an idiot for not getting it sooner. Ann was going to find where Chloe was. It would be breaking all the rules entirely and she could get fired for doing this. Beca had never been more grateful to the nurse. Her face broke out into a large grin. She couldn't help it. She was happy. The first time since Chloe had left.
/
It didn't take Ann long to find where Chloe Beale was. If she was having a procedure to do with her vocals then she would be in the King Ward. From then on, it was only a case of narrowing it down.
/
Beca looked up when Ann wheeled a wheelchair into her room.
"You don't expect me to allow you to go wandering the hospital alone now?" Beca's face broke out into a grin as she gingerly moved from the bed to the chair. Her chest still pained her from time to time and her leg was becoming a dull ache but that still meant that she moved slowly.
When she had settled into the chair, Ann began pushing her towards her destination.
"Thank you for doing this Ann." Beca said.
"Don't mention it." Ann laughed, then added, "Like ever." Causing Beca to giggle but nod.
It took them a total of five minutes to manoeuvre through the hospital. Finally they reached Chloe's room. Ann stopped pushing Beca just before they went in.
"OK, some I'm on my break now. I'll be back in about an hour. If I find that you've disappeared again, I will find you. Remember, I'm a nurse. I can make it look like an accident." She smiled, not necessarily being serious.
Beca chuckled lightly. "Don't worry Ann. I'm not going anywhere." Beca replied, looking towards the room that the redhead was in.
Ann nodded and gave Beca an encouraging smile before departing. Beca took a deep breath before wheeling herself gently into the room.
Chloe lay there on the bed, earphones in, staring at the ceiling. She didn't even notice Beca's entrance. Beca took a moment to take in the sight of the redhead. Even in the hospital gown, she was breath-taking. Her red hair contrasted with the pale colours of the room, making it stand out even more than usual.
She slowly approached, amused that the redhead hadn't seen her yet. She stopped by the side of Chloe's bed and waited patiently for the redhead to notice her. Unfortunately, though, the redhead seemed to be deep in thought and didn't notice Beca, so she decided to make her notice her. Taking a deep breath, she took Chloe's hand within her own.
Chloe jumped slightly. She hadn't been expecting the contact. She thought that she had been alone in the room. She turned to see who was there when her eyes met with the familiar deep blue orbs that she had just been thinking about. The look of confusion disappeared from her face to be replaced by a heartwarming smile. She couldn't believe that Beca was here. The brunette shouldn't have been allowed out of her room so Chloe wondered how much begging she had to do.
Beca. She mouthed. She couldn't speak just yet. She reached up with her free hand and pulled out her earphones.
"Hey." Beca smiled. "How're you Chlo?"
Chloe shrugged. She let Beca's hand go and reached over to grab a whiteboard so that she could write down her thoughts.
Better now that you are here she wrote.
Beca smiled again, feeling warm inside at not only Chloe's words, but at the look that the other girl was giving her. "How'd the surgery go?" she asked hesitantly.
Chloe, too, hesitated, doubt clouding her features. Good, but I won't know the extent of the loss of my range for another few days.
Beca read those words with a sinking feeling. She knew how much singing meant to Chloe. Instead, she reached over, ignoring the dull ache in her chest, and grabbed Chloe's hand, giving it a squeeze. She knew that there was nothing that she could say that hadn't already been said to her.
Chloe smiled at the gesture. She knew how much of a big thing contact was to Beca, even now. She squeezed Beca's hand back and smiled at the brunette. An idea suddenly came to her.
Sing for me?
Beca stared at the words. She had never been able tosay no to Chloe, and she wasn't about to start now. She thought for a moment about what to sing. She didn't want to push herself too much because it could still hurt her to sing. But she didn't want to disappoint the redhead.
"Right from the start
You were a thief
You stole my heart
And I your willing victim
I let you see the parts of me
That weren't all that pretty
And with every touch you fixed them
Will you still love me
When I'm no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my aching soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?"
Chloe stared, open-mouthed, at the girl before her. This was definitely the Beca that she knew. Effortlessly combining the songs into something truly beautiful. And it was all for her. Chloe loved the way that Beca's eyes stayed on her the entire time. Maybe there was something else behind the lyrics.
"Although it hurts I hope he buys you flowers
I'll be the first to say that I was wrong
Oh, I know I'm probably much too late
To try and apologize for my mistakes
But I just want you to know
I hope he holds your hand
Give you all his hours
When he has the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your man
Beca couldn't sing anymore. Her chest was aching and she thought that she would probably start crying if she continued singing. She didn't know why, but she was so full of emotion right now that it took her a moment to compose herself.
She looked up to see Chloe smiling at her. Her eyes were glassy and Beca was worried for a second that she had done something wrong. Had she rubbed it in Chloe's face that she couldn't sing? Chloe began writing something on her board.
That was beautiful. Chloe smiled brightly, all signs of sadness gone. Her eyes shone brightly.
Beca smiled slightly, embarrassed. She loved being able to make Chloe smile like that. It made all the pain worth it. Chloe scooted over in her bed and, without, even thinking, Beca lifted herself out of her wheelchair and settled beside Chloe, both being careful of the other, at first, and then Chloe snuggled into Beca's side with practiced ease.
She had only done it a hundred times before.
This is a little of a filler chapter because it had to be done. The songs, which are not mine, are:
Just Give Me A Reason- Pink
Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Ray
When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars
I hope that you enjoyed this. Don't forget to review.