Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the songs suggestions I received last week, I listened to all of them and it wasn't easy to pick one. Especially when I had to watch videos of Idina on tour (Nikki that almost killed me LOL)

This chapter isn't as exciting as the previous one, but at least you'll know the details of the accident and Shelby's reaction to Noah's condition.

Here's the song I choose, my awesome Beta Reader suggested it and I loved it, is a cover of "Time after time" by Eva Cassidy here's the link if you want to check it out: watch?v=8iPcE9UQ-qA

If it wasn't for you I would end up killing a character this week, you know why so thank you BaddassmotherShucker94

Chapter XXVI

He started to move his hands nervously all over his body, occasionally trying to get rid of the pieces of broken glass he had over his clothes. His vision was blurry; somehow, it reminded him of when he was drunk.

Outside he could hear car horns and people running around asking for help "Shit," Finn groaned when he felt a sharp pain invading his body. He managed to unbuckle his seatbelt and groaned again. "Puck, are you okay?" he asked.

No response.

Finn looked carefully at his friend and realized he wasn't awake. He started to panic and shook his arm with all the strength he could find. "Puck wake up!" he yelled desperately, but his best friend still didn't show any sign of response.

"Help! Somebody help us!"

He tried to climb out of the upturned truck, but he couldn't, the pain in his body was getting worse.

"Kid!" yelled a guy who was running towards the car. He kneeled down next to the passenger window and looked at Finn. "Hang in there, I called an ambulance, you think you can get yourself out of there?"

Finn nodded and with the guy's help he climbed out of the truck. "My friend, he's still in there, you gotta help me get him out of there too!" he pleaded trying to keep his balance.

The guy ran to Puck's side and analyzed him. "He's not conscious, we shouldn't move him. The ambulance will be here right away and the paramedics will take him out."

Finn turned his head and saw the truck that had hit them; it was literally a wreck. For a minute he was worried about the driver, but then he remembered what had happened; it was his fault, not Puck's. He was driving on the opposite side of the road. He shook his head and turned his attention back to the guy.

"Your friend is breathing," said the guy who was now back with him, "I need you to stay focused alright?"

"Alright," nodded Finn.

"Could you tell me your name?"

He shut his eyes firmly for a second. "Finn Hudson," he replied wincing. "My friend's name is Noah Puckerman."

A few seconds later the ambulance arrived, and Finn suddenly became restless when the paramedics started to check on him. "No, no I'm okay, really… my friend, you have to help him he's trapped in there!" He explained as he tried to get rid of them.

One of them pointed at Puck's truck. "Look, there are two of us getting him out of the truck." She looked at the teenager in front of her and noticed how he started to appear dizzy. "C'mon Finn you need to get inside the ambulance."

He tried to fight the orders one more time, but the pain in his body was too much too bare, Finn could feel how his leg became weaker and he started to drop his weight on the floor, but luckily the other paramedic caught him by his armpits just in time. Finn started to blackout just as he saw Puck getting released.

He opened his eyes aggressively and found himself in a hospital bed.

"Thank God you woke up!" gasped Carole squeezing one of his hands.

"Mom," he exclaimed tiredly, he turned his head and saw Burt who carefully played with his hair.

A young doctor entered the room and smiled widely when he saw Finn. "Welcome back, how are you feeling?"

Finn did his best to laugh, but he found the action extremely painful. "Sore."

"I would feel like that too, you have…" he checked Finn's report, "A broken clavicle, a small concussion and a few stiches on your forehead and left arm. Overall, you've been relatively lucky."

He raised his eyebrows surprised at the doctor's explanation. "I guess you're right," he smiled and waved at Kurt who had just entered the room. He blinked a couple of times trying to stop the happy tears that had started to fall; he couldn't feel happier to see his brother awake.

"How's Puck doing? Is he awake too?" continued Finn sounding a little more enthusiastic.

The room elapsed to an awkward silence.

"His condition is more complicated than yours I'm afraid," the doctor told him with a serious tone.

"How come? Is he in a wheelchair or something? Where is he?" asked Finn trying to get up, but Burt stopped him and pushed him back into the bed.

"Finn," he started. "He's in the I.C.U."

The doctor observed Finn's shocked expression and thought of an idea to make him feel more calmed. "Would you like to see him? The only one's who have visited so far are his mother and sister. We're planning to let more people visit in a few days but I can make an exception with you."

"Please," Finn begged.

They arrived at fifth floor and closed a glass mechanic door; inside they stopped at the second door and entered the room. The doctor smiled and gave a nurse a friendly nod indicating her to follow him outside. "Well, here's Noah, we'll be outside if you need anything."

Finn thanked them and carefully pulled up a chair near the bed. He sat down and smiled awkwardly. "Hey man."

"Shelb wake up," Tom whispered, shaking her slightly by the shoulders.

She opened her eyes and smiled sadly at him. "We're almost here, put your seatbelt back on."

After Shelby received Jesse's phone call she ordered him and Rachel not to give her any details about the accident, except one: She needed to know if Noah was alive, which Jesse made clear that he was. She also asked him to take care of Rachel until she could return to Ohio.

Shelby wanted to get back to Lima as soon as she received the news, but she knew that wasn't possible; she couldn't drop her job just like that and most importantly she couldn't leave Beth with her family without a serious explanation. She stayed in Boston until the preview of Bombshell was over, then she flew back to New York and explained the situation to her parents. It wasn't the best way to find out about her relationship with Noah, but to Shelby's surprise they were really supportive and insisted they take care of Beth, because a hospital wasn't the best environment for the toddler, but mostly because the didn't want Beth to see Noah injured.

As for Tom, he had offered himself to go with Shelby to Lima. He knew her very well and he could see that even though she had stated she could handle the situation by herself, Tom knew she was terrified and she could really use a friend with her.

Shelby straightened her seat and adjusted her seatbelt. She looked out through the window; she couldn't believe the reason why she was returning to Lima. In her head the image of Noah was him standing in the airport with Rachel, jumping and waving goodbye at her, wearing a silly grin on his face. She got distracted when she felt Tom squeezing her left hand.

She smiled at him. "Tom I haven't thanked you for doing this."

"Don't worry about that, I'm your friend, that's why I am here," he reminded her.

Once in Lima they made a quick stop at the hotel to leave their luggage and to make their respective phone calls. Shelby called Rachel, who explained to her mother that Finn was already back home, and he only had a few injuries. She was about to tell her about Noah, but Shelby told her she'd rather wait until she could be with him. It was strange but for Shelby neither of the recent events were going to be real until she saw them with her own eyes.

Shelby and Tom arrived at the hospital and asked for information at the reception:

"Hi could you tell us where we can find Noah Puckerman?"

The lady typed a few things in her keyboard and frowned. "I'm sorry that patient is only allowed to receive visits from his family."

Tom rolled his eyes. "She's part of his family," he stated.

"Right," refuted the receptionist with a skeptical tone. "If you are not coming with a family member of the patient you cannot see him."

Tom grabbed Shelby by the hand and dragged her far away from the desk. "Do you have his mother's number?"

She nodded and began to look through her contact list and just when she was about to make the call a voice distracted her. "Shelby?"

They turned around and found Santana walking with Noah's sister, the younger girl ran to Shelby and hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad you came."

Shelby returned the embrace feeling happy that Hannah wanted to see her here. "How's he doing?"

"He's stable," explained Santana sadly. "That's something."

Tom extended his hand and introduced himself. Once that was over Hannah took one of Shelby's hands and guided her and Tom to one of the elevators. "Don't pay attention to that lady, I'll take you to see him."

When Shelby saw the numbers of the elevator screen increasing, she started to feel her own heart racing, and the sad looks on Santana and Hannah's faces weren't helping her feel any better, they just made her feel more nervous. She wasn't sure if she was ready to see Noah, but before she could even consider returning to the hotel she found herself standing in front of the I.C.U. door.

"Wait here, we're going to tell my mom you came," said Hannah as she and Santana made their way inside.

Once they returned Tom decided it would be better if Shelby and Mrs. Puckerman talked in private:

"Hannah, would you mind taking me to the cafeteria? I could really use a cup of coffee right now."

Deborah gave her daughter an approving nod in response and the three of them walked towards the elevator once again.

"So you work on Broadway right?" asked Santana. "Berry and St. James are going to become like fan girls when they see you."

That comment made Shelby and Deborah laugh and feel a little more relaxed about the situation they in. Shelby's eyes showed a glimpse of sadness when she examined Noah's mom; she looked tired, but more than tired she looked devastated. Shelby could understand it, it was hard to believe that something like that was happening to him after doing so well and after finally feeling content with the things he had in his life, it was almost too unfair to be real.

"I'm sorry I didn't come right away," said Shelby lowering her gaze.

"It's okay, he would hate to see you drop everything for him," she assured Shelby with a sympathetic tone. "I'm sorry I didn't call you as soon as I heard what happened."

Shelby shook her head. "Don't apologize for that, I'm a mother too. If I was in your position I would have run to see my child and forgot about everybody else too." She remained silent for a brief instant. "Deborah, I still don't know exactly what happened that night, I couldn't pull myself together enough to listen every time Rachel or Jesse tried to tell me."

She nodded and guided Shelby to a set of chairs not to far behind from where they were standing. "Not even Finn remembers well what happened, what we know is thanks to one of the witnesses, a man who stayed with them until the ambulance arrived. According to him they were driving, when suddenly a car that was driving on the wrong side of the road hit them. The truck spun a few times and then it landed on the other side of the road. Finn managed to get himself out of the truck," she paused and cleared her throat, "But Noah was unconscious when the ambulance came and he hasn't woke up ever since."

"He's in a coma?" whispered Shelby before wiping a few tears from her eyes.

Deborah nodded in response. "He has a head trauma and that's why he hasn't regained any consciousness."

"Can I go and see him?" asked Shelby with a broken voice.

"You don't even need to ask," stated Deborah. "He's in the second room. I'll go home for a while, since you're here and Hannah's with the other kids, and don't worry I'll notify the reception who you are, I don't want you to have any other trouble with seeing him when you come back."

For most of the people opening a door may seem like an ordinary thing to do, but for Shelby Corcoran something as simple as that seemed like something impossible to do. She could have sworn that doorknob was one of the heaviest things on the whole planet. The simple idea of seeing a Noah completely different to the one she loved was terrifying, but somehow she found the strength to go inside.

"Can you believe it Puck? I don't even know why I'm still with him, he's a good guy but he's so afraid of commitment, and I'm not getting any younger here."

Shelby raised one of her eyebrows and cleared her throat, causing the girl who was siting next to the bed to jump up, blushing slightly, but when she saw the woman at the door, her scared expression was replaced by a smile. She walked up to Shelby and offered her a handshake. "You must be Shelby, I'm Alice, Noah's nurse."

Shelby returned the gesture but still looked and felt confused. "How do you know who I am?"

"Well, Finn, Santana and the others keep saying to him that you were going to come visit him soon. They also told me you're Rachel's mother and after seeing you I didn't have to think twice to make the connection," Alice chuckled.

Shelby nodded and carefully walked closer to his bed, she touched one of his hands, and she noticed some straps "Why is he tied down?"

"He moves a lot and that makes it hard for the IV's to stay in place," explained Alice as she grabbed a couple of blankets and started to make her way to the door. "I should give you two some privacy."

"Alice?" called Shelby nervously. "I don't know what to say to him."

The girl smiled. "Don't worry the others felt that way too on their first visits, a few of them blame themselves for the accident. Finn said it was his fault because he asked Noah to pick him up at his house, and Rachel said it was her fault because she was whining because she wanted to eat vegan pizzas. They both cried their eyes out."

Alice shrugged before continuing. "I couldn't stand it so I told them that the only one who was responsible for the accident was that freaking wild driver not them, and I said that Noah looked like the type of guy who wouldn't let them blame themselves for something like that."

"He is that type of guy," agreed Shelby.

"The point of this story," continued Alice, "Is that in the end they all learned how to be comfortable around Puck, even Santana, although we had to drag her out of here the first time she saw him. She just started to yell at him like crazy, I guess that's her way to deal with pain. But now they just talk to him about how everything is going, that's what you have to do."

Shelby nodded but she was still a little uncomfortable. She grabbed his right hand and sighed deeply.

"He's your boyfriend, I imagine you've talked to him while he's asleep before."

That comment made Shelby laughed bitterly. "It's not the same, he's not going to wake up and mumble something at me."

"How do you know that?" asked Alice with a serious tone. "He's not dead, he's just unconscious."

Shelby brushed Noah's knuckles with her thumb. "He's in a coma, I don't know what's worse," she snapped.

Alice sighed. "Noah's still there Shelby, I just think he needs a little reminder of what's waiting for him here," she said as she gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "If you don't feel comfortable talking to him you could read him something," she suggested. "Finn's brought tons of comic books, he and Santana come so frequently that they often ran out of topics for conversation. Or maybe you can sing to him, he likes that."

"He does?"

Alice nodded. "Sometimes his friends sing to him. Jesse and Rachel even sang a duet for him a couple of days ago, and his brain responded very well to that. Just let him know you're here, that's all he needs. I'll be outside if you need anything." She paused and looked at Noah. "And Puck, don't think I'm done ranting about my boyfriend, I'll give you all the details in a while."

Once the door was closed Shelby felt some tears starting to fall. "Beth misses you so much Noah, she wanted to come with me. I didn't tell her I was coming to see you but I think she suspected something."

She moved her hand to his face and visibly winced as she felt the few cuts he had sustained. "I can't believe I'm saying this but I would really like to hear one of your charming compliments, or to see you giving me one of your sad puppy eyed looks," she chuckled before continuing, "The musical went great I wish you could have seen it." She stopped herself and lowered her face closer to his hand, letting all her frustrations out with a few sobs, as she kissed his hand softly. "You have to wake up Noah I can't stand seeing you like this, you can't do this to me and Beth we need you" she whimpered somehow wishing her words would have some magical effect that could bring him back.

Shelby took a moment to calm herself and to wipe some tears from her face. She looked at him one more time; he looked so calm, almost relaxed if he could only know how much worry he was causing the ones who love him he would just wake up with a jump. It was then when Shelby noticed Noah's left leg; it seemed to be on a cast or something similar. His mother didn't mention that, then again Shelby couldn't blame her; it wasn't the most important thing about Noah's condition at the moment.

"I just realized that you've never heard me sing, and you know why that is?" Shelby went on, "It's because I always felt nervous to sing around you, I know it seems stupid. Alice said you've liked it when your friends sang to you before, I don't have a duet partner like Jesse but I think I can work something out."

She took a deep breath to get rid of her nervousness and she started to sing:

Lyin' in my bed I hear the clock tick

And think of you

Caught up in circles confusion

Is nothing new

Flashback warm nights

Almost left behind

Suitcase of memories

Time after

Sometimes you picture me

I'm walking too far ahead

You're calling to me I can't hear

What you've said

Then you say go slow

I fall behind

The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting

Time after time

Shelby stopped herself from singing when she felt Noah squeezing her hand slightly, it wasn't a strong grip but for Shelby it meant everything. "I'm here Noah," she told him. "Find your way back, we'll be waiting for you." She turned her face to the door when she heard it being opened; it was Finn and Santana.

"Sorry Miss C. we didn't know you were here," he said shyly.

"Don't worry guys and Finn please call me Shelby. I stopped working at McKinley a while ago, and you no longer study there anyway," she encouraged him with a soft smile. "How are you feeling?"

He didn't move from his spot, but he gave her small grin. "Better, thanks for asking."

Santana walked closer to her and looked at Puck's right hand. "Is he squeezing your hand?" she gasped excited.

Shelby nodded. "He just did it, when I was singing to him."

The Latina girl smirked. "Told you, she's just what he needs," she teased looking at Finn. "We should come back later, you deserve some privacy."

But Shelby stopped the pair. "Stay, both of you talk to him, he could use the company of all of us."

Finn nodded eagerly and took a seat next to her, while Santana sat down on a chair on the other side of the bed. "Puck, guess who just blushed like mad when Alice called him cutie," teased Santana, while looking at Finn.

"Shut up!" whined Finn rolling his eyes.

Shelby smiled and kept listening to the teenagers talking about some other things, while she was playing with Noah's right hand. She wished he could see how great those two were getting along, he would be so happy and relieved that they put all their troubles in the past for a change and that they were sharing jokes and laughing, but should could sense something else, like a glimpse of worry, she imagined deep inside they were scared the summer would come to an end and Puck would still not show any signs of improvement "You're good friends to him, both of you," she commented all of the sudden.

Finn shrugged feeling embarrassed. "He's our brother."

"We know that if it was either of us in his place, he would do the same without hesitating," continued Santana. "You're a great girlfriend to him Shelby, he loves you, we can all tell."

Finn nodded and looked at their joined hands. "I think that now you're here, he'll come back at any moment."

"Shelby did Rachel tell you about the senior prank Puck and I pulled?" asked Santana, changing the subject to something more casual.

Shelby shook her head in response.

"I thought so. Well, let me tell you a very interesting story," the girl started with a smirk on her face.

Don't worry this is not going to be like "The Vow" Puck is going to remember Shelby when he wakes up, but that doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect right away.

Have a nice week, and until then next update.