CHAPTER 22

The throbbing pain in his head started before he even got the chance to open his eyes.

What the hell happened?

He cracked one eye open, and his hand immediately shot up to shield it. That light was blinding. He noticed the soft material on his arm, and slowly tried to open his other eye. His arm was covered in gauze, and he could feel a tight bandage around the top of his head. Man, his head was killing him, and dammit! Can't someone turn that light off? He might as well have been staring directly into the sun.

Finn tried to take in a deep breath, but quickly regretted it. A shooting pain was sent up his right arm, and his throat burned worse than that time he got strep throat in eighth grade.

Seriously, his head was killing him.

Plus, he smelled like smoke…

It only took another moment for him to remember. The fire. His house went up in flames, and he ran back in. Obviously he hadn't made it out in the best condition.

Ignoring his grogginess, he attempted to lift himself off the bed because he really, really wanted to know what was going on but the room was spinning around him. Like he literally couldn't focus, and for a moment he thought he might throw up. Or pass out. So he just let himself collapse back onto the bed.

That's when he noticed that his other hand was resting on someone's hand. It was Bella, her hair spread all over the place, and she was slumped half on the bed, half on the chair with his McKinley football sweatshirt dwarfing her body. A pang of guilt ran through him. That position she was in couldn't be comfortable, and he wondered how long she'd been there.

How long had he been there?

He ran his fingers through her hair, smiling for a moment, then reached for the glass of water that someone placed next to his bed. The liquid felt good on his throat, and he tried to sit up again as the walls stopped rotating around him. Rubbing his eyes, he starts to push the blankets off himself.

Just as he freed himself from the sheets, Bella started to stir. She shifted a little, and then jumped up quickly, her eyes landing on him in shock for one second before she squeaked out a sound that he thought was meant to be his name.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and before he could say anything to console her, she launched herself onto the bed, peppering kisses across his face.

"Oh Finn, I was so scared. Kurt called me and-" she started, but stopped when she noticed a pained expression cross his face as he turned to look at her. "I should inform the doctor that you're awake!" she exclaimed, turning away from him and running out of the room. He heard her scream the word "nurse" as she disappeared down the hallway.

He tried to shift around in his bed. It was no use. He was soo uncomfortable.

Bella returned less than two minutes, practically dragging the doctor and an additional nurse into the room with her.

The doctor asked him how he felt, then proceeded to check his breathing. The medicine started to kick in shortly after, and he lay back down in the hospital bed, holding Bella's hand in his. She smiled up at him and asked if he was okay.

"I'm feeling better," he replied, honestly.

"Do you have enough pillows? Hospitals never give enough pillows. Do you need me to go get you more? Though that nurse really seems to dislike me. Do you want something to eat? I could go down to the cafeteria. God knows how long it'll be until the nurse comes here with your dinner. Are you..." Her voice trailed off when she saw the corners of his mouth rise and saw him holding back a laugh. "What are you laughing at, Finn?"

"Babe, you should go home, get some rest," He murmured softly, reaching his hand up to graze the dark circle under one of her eyes. He didn't want her to leave. At all. But he felt bad; she had clearly been there for hours.

"I'm fine." She replied. He sighed.

"You sure? Because you don't look so good. I mean, you look beautiful, but you look kinda really tired."

"Finn, your life was at risk today. I'm not leaving," she shook her head definitively. Why was he telling her to get rest when he's the one in a hospital bed?

"Bella, it's really okay. Go ho..."

"I'm not leaving your side," She said, her voice softer this time, and she looked down at their entwined hands. Finn smiled at her and fell back down onto his pillows. Bella nodded and smiled back. "Oh! I have to call your mom and Kurt! They're going to kill me when they find out you woke up and I didn't call them!"

Finn watched as she ran around, looking for her phone, and he chuckled as she skipped out of the room when she found it.

She was crazy. He was glad she was here.

His mom and Kurt got there a little while later. Carole cried and it looked like even Kurt got a little emotional during their awkward brother hug as well. Finn then got a little hungry, so the nurse brought him a meal to his room. He scarfed it down quickly. Puck also came by with some clothes and Finn tried not to wince in pain when Puck playfully punched him on the shoulder. He meant well.

Mercedes dropped by a little later, probably for Kurt.

It wasn't until Burt came back that reality started to set in a little deeper.

"Apparently the fire was an electrical fire," Burt explained, placing a hand on Finn's shoulder and wrapping his arm around Carole. "They haven't located what exactly caused it though."

Burt told everyone in the room about his chat with the cops and all the kind words from their neighbors. When the subject of insurance and a place to stay came up, Finn tuned out. It was too hard for him to listen to stuff like that. His medicine was wearing off and his head was starting to spin again. Bella pressed a wet rag onto his forehead, which was awesome. It was like she read his mind. And she still hadn't let go of his hand.

Finn noticed Carole tearing up at whatever Burt was saying and he looked up.

"Mom?" He murmured.

"Everything is gonna turn out alright," Burt tried to comfort her.

"Until then everyone is more than happy to help," Mr. Schue said, taking Carole's hand. What? When did Mr. Schue get there? Finn really needed more medicine.

"I'm just glad you're all okay," he heard Mike chime in. Well, that makes him feel a little better until…

"Yeah, me too," Kurt agreed, smiling at him. "Especially after Finn had that mental break down and ran back inside the burning house." He remarked, letting out a sarcastic laugh, but everyone else in the room shifted around awkwardly. Finn shut his eyes in frustration, and Bella's hand slipped from his. He was hoping that this wouldn't come up. Ever. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." Kurt stammered, apologetically.

"It's okay man." Finn murmured. He desperately wanted the subject to be changed.

"Finn, sweetie…" Carole started but he interrupted her before she could say anything. This really wasn't the time. He chanced a glance at Bella and saw that she was sitting completely still, and was avoiding eye contact. Great. Kurt had to bring up running back into the fire at the right time, didn't he?

Thankfully, one of the nurses came in and reminded them that Visitor Hours were over in fifteen minutes, and everyone started to say their goodbyes. Mr. Schue patted him on the back, Kurt and Mercedes hugged him and walked out together, and Carole kissed him on the cheek and promised to be back first thing in the morning to pick him up. Bella's parents told Finn to feel better soon, and Mr. Dawson told Bella not to be home late.

"I'll be home shortly after you, dad." She told him and kissed him on the cheek. A few seconds later, Finn and Bella were alone in the hospital room, and her eyes were shooting daggers at him.

"Bella." He murmured, praying that she would understand. She interrupted him though.

"Finn, what did Kurt mean when he said you ran back into the fire?" Bella snapped, crossing her arms and looking down at the floor.

"He.. uh.. I ran back into the house." He murmured. Bella put her head in her hands and turned away. "Bella… please, hear me out!" he begged.

"What, Finn? What were you thinking, putting yourself in danger like that? Please enlighten me." She yelled. She was seriously pissed. His mind went blank. How could he admit something like this? That he went back into his burning house to get a picture. She'd probably slap him silly if he said that.

"I… uh… Bella." He muttered, his head spinning again.

"Finn, I was terrified when Kurt called me this morning. I haven't been that scared since… well, since they kidnapped me in the summer. Why .. What possessed you to run back into your house, you idiot?" She really didn't mean to get that angry but she couldn't help it.

"I had to. I'm sorry." He muttered. He hated that he upset her like this. There was nothing he hated more than seeing her hurt.

"What do you mean you had to? It was the most irresponsible, inconsiderate decision… Did you even think about your mom? What if…" She shook her head. "I have to go." She whispered, turning toward the door. Finn's heart sank a little bit.

"Bella, no please, you have to listen… look, will I see you tomorrow?" God, she was frustrating when she was angry.

Her face crumbled and he wanted to get up and hug her, but she turned and walked toward the door. She paused for a second, and turned around, looking at him sadly.

"Finn, I can't do this. I love you. More than I ever thought I could love a person. But that phone call… it scared the crap out of me. I can't deal with getting that call every time you do something monumentally stupid like running into a burning house."

Finn gritted his teeth in frustration.

"So, what, we're breaking up?" He asked, his voice emotionless.

"I'm sorry." She whispered with tears in her eyes before walking out of the room. Finn slammed his fingers down on the button on the wall next to his bed. Where was that damn doctor with his medicine?