CHAPTER 56
"Woah, woah, woah. Let me get this straight… I'm free?" Finn asked, perplexed. The Governor himself, Pope and Sara were all in his hospital room and had just told Finn the news.
"Yeah. Another victim dropped in Lima, same street, same kind of knife. But this time, the knife had DNA on it. The detective on the case brought in the guy and he confessed to both murders. You're innocent, Mr. Hudson." The Pope said.
"Yeah, I could have told you that." Finn muttered under his breath. "Um… you guys don't happen to know the name of the detective, do you?"
"We do, actually." Pope said. "Her name's Detective Santana Lopez. Why?"
"Son of a bitch. She actually went and did it." Finn murmured, a huge grin on his face.
"You know her?" Sara asked. Finn chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah, she's one of my best friends." Finn replied. "Anyways, so what happens now? Can I go home?"
"You sure can." Pope said, before taking out an envelope and handing it to Finn. Finn opened it to reveal a cheque for 200 thousand dollars. His eyes widened.
"Um… what?" Finn asked, extremely confused.
"Well, the country gives 50 thousand dollars for every year you spent wrongfully imprisoned. It's been just under 4 years so 200k." Pope explained. Finn nodded.
"Thanks." He said, pocketing the cheque.
"Oh, and I wanted to personally give you a little extra, as a thank you for what you did for my daughter." The Governor said, pulling out his own envelope and handing it to Finn. When he opened it, he nearly passed out. The cheque was for 1 million dollars!
"Um… Mr. Governor. You sure you aren't missing a decimal point or something?" Finn stammered. The Governor chuckled.
"No, I'm sure. You saved my daughter's life. I will ever be indebted to you. The money's yours."
"Wow, um… thank you so much, Governor, but I can't accept this." Finn said, ripping the cheque in half.
"You… you can't?" The Governor stammered.
"No!" Finn exclaimed. "I shouldn't be paid a million bucks for doing the basic right thing. Anyone with any decency would have done what I did. I shouldn't be rewarded for just doing what I was supposed to do. I shouldn't get paid for simply upholding the law like a normal citizen."
"Wow, um… okay. You're a good man, Mr. Hudson. A great man. Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all? Just name it."
Finn smiled and shook the Governor's hand.
"You've got a great family, Governor. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury. So you just spend as much time with them as you possibly can. Do that for me."
"Yes, sir." The Governor replied before him and Pope left the room, leaving just him and Sara.
"So, what happens to me now?" Finn asked. Sara smiled.
"Well, we're going to keep you here for the next couple of days. You're severely injured, Finn. Although the adrenaline seems to be carrying you through right now, it won't forever. We have to run a few tests on you, if that's okay. Don't worry, you're going to be okay. They're just precautionary tests."
Finn nodded and sat back in his hospital bed.
"You do what you gotta do, Doc. I trust you…"
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For the next 24 hours, Finn was being examined and tested in pretty much every possible way by Dr. Tancredi. He had physical test, mental exams, scans, blood tests, the whole 9. Finn's physical fitness was absolutely incredible. He was a specimen that Dr. Tancredi had never seen before. After all, who on Earth could possibly do 50 handstand pushups in a minute? However, the most worrying thing for her were his physical and emotional scars. She had seen, first-hand, how badly prison could destroy inmates' minds and souls, and to be in a supermax prison at such a young age… there was no telling how badly it had damaged him.
That night, Carole arrived at the hospital in Illinois. Finn had told Sara that if anything, his prison sentence had shown him how easily he could die, and he didn't want to die regretting not making up with them. Finn stared out of his hospital room window and he didn't notice Carole arrive at the entrance of the room. Her and Dr. Tancredi stood outside for a moment as Dr. Tancredi spoke to Carole.
"20% of his body is covered in scar tissue. Second degree burns on his back and arms. X-Rays show at least 12 fractures that never properly healed." Dr. Tancredi said to Carole. Carole's eyes widened in horror.
"Has he said anything about what happened?" Carole asked.
"No. I might have been his doctor in prison but even I have no idea about what goes on within those walls unless they are wheeled into my infirmary, unconscious or bleeding out. But Carole, I'd like you to prepare yourself." Tancredi warned her. "The Finn you lost might not be the one in that room."
Carole nodded and walked into the room to see her son for the first time in 4 years.
"Finn?" She said, tentatively. Slowly, Finn turned around to face her.
"Mom." He murmured. Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged him.
"My beautiful boy!" She cried as he grabbed him as tight as she could.
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Finn and Carole travelled back to Lima the next morning. Although Finn was far from fully healed, he was healed enough to go back home so they went together. When they parked in front of the house, Finn couldn't help but smile. It had been so long since he had last been in the house. He walked inside with Carole and he breathed in the familiar scent of home.
"Your room is exactly as you left it." Carole said as they walked into the living room. "I never had the heart to change a thing."
"Finn." A voice came from behind Finn and he spun around to see Burt standing there. "It's damn good to see you."
"Yeah, you too." Finn said, shaking his hand. He then walked past them and over to their family housekeeper, who was standing in the corner of the room.
"It's good to see you, Raisa." He said to her.
"Welcome home, Mr. Finn." She said, giving him a hug. She then turned to Carole. "Mr. Puckerman phoned. He wants to join you for dinner."
"Wonderful." Carole smiled. Finn suddenly heard the swing of a door opening upstairs. He smiled slightly and walked over to the stairs, where Kurt was standing.
"Hey, bro." Finn smiled. Kurt's face lit up and he ran over to Finn, giving him a huge hug.
"I knew it. I knew you were getting out of there!" He exclaimed. "I missed you so much!"
"You were with me the whole time." Finn whispered into Kurt's ear.
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After 4 years, everything that was once familiar was now unrecognisable. The face Finn saw in the mirror was a stranger. Finn stood in his room, holding a picture of him and his family from 6 years ago, and he smiled faintly at how innocent he looked. He looked so… carefree. Now, he felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he was drowning because of it. Suddenly, the door to his bedroom swung open.
"What did I tell you? That is exactly why you don't go home from a nightclub before 7 am!" The voice said. Finn smirked faintly and turned around.
"Noah Puckerman." He chuckled, giving Puck a hug. "I missed you buddy."
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"Okay, what else did you miss?" Puck asked as him and Finn's family sat down for dinner that night. "Super Bowl winners: Giants, Steelers, Saints, Packers, Giants again. A black president, that's new. Oh, and on Lost… they were all dead. I think."
"What was it like there?" Kurt asked, suddenly. The table suddenly went deathly silent. Kurt had asked the question that was burning on all of their minds but they were all too afraid to ask.
"Hot." Finn replied, shortly. Technically, that wasn't a lie. Finn had turned off the A.C in the prison so it was scorching hot.
"Dude, tomorrow, you and me do the city!" Puck exclaimed. "You've got a lot to catch up on."
"That's a great idea." Carole smiled. Suddenly, the housekeeper walked over to them to collect their plates when suddenly, she tripped over Finn's foot.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Finn." She stammered.
"Нет проблем." Finn replied in Raisa's native language of Russian, meaning 'No problem'. Everyone at the table's mouths dropped.
"Dude, you speak Russian?" Puck asked, confused.
"I didn't know you took Russian at McKinley." Burt said, surprised.
"And I didn't realise that you guys were having another baby, Burt." Finn said, not a hint of emotion in his voice. Burt choked on his drink and the table rang silent once again.
"I didn't say anything." Kurt said.
"He didn't have to." Finn responded. "It's so obvious."
Carole took a deep breath.
"Finn, this wasn't planned, but Burt and I are married and I don't want you to think that either one of us are disrespecting your father."
"Well, given that you're clearly in your second trimester, closer to 6 months pregnant, and you didn't bother to come visit me at all to tell me the news, I guess I wasn't important enough to hear the news."
"Finn, we would've told you but we didn't think you wanted to see us." Carole stammered.
"You didn't think I would want to know that I was going to have a goddamn sibling?!" Finn exclaimed, his voice rising slightly. "You know what? You don't want me at your big moments? Fine! But you're not invited to mine! I didn't need you back then and I don't need you now. I'm gonna get through college without you, I'm gonna get a great job without you. I'm gonna marry a beautiful girl, and I'm having a whole bunch of kids. I'm gonna be a better parent than you ever were, and I sure as hell don't need you for that because THERE AIN'T A DAMN THING YOU COULD EVER TEACH ME ABOUT HOW TO LOVE MY KIDS!"
After Finn's outburst, he took a deep calming breath and looked Burt and Carole in the eye.
"You know what? It was a mistake coming here. I'm going to grab a bag and I'll be out of here for good." He murmured, before getting up and leaving the table. "And Puck, buddy, I think I'll be taking a rain check on tomorrow."
"Yeah, um… totally… totally understood." Puck stammered, still recovering from Finn's explosion. "Another time."
Within an hour, Finn had packed a duffel bag and he stormed out of his house for the last time. He had to get away and he wasn't coming back this time. With just a bag and his guitar in his hands, he exited the house and hurled his house key into the potted plant in the front of the house. From there, Finn got into a taxi and headed to a motel for the night, texting his address to just one person…
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"Fibonacci. I want to know how you got to him. And where he is. Right now." Abruzzi growled. Abruzzi and Finn were in the gardening shed, grabbing some equipment for their P.I. time and ab
"Not gonna happen, John." Finn replied.
"Fine. So be it." Abruzzi replied. He gestured to the other 5 inmates in the gardening shed, who were all secretly Abruzzi's men, and they lunged at Finn, grabbing him so he couldn't move and ripping off his shoe and sock. A set of gardening shears were quickly put to his 4th and 5th toes on his left foot. "Now, I'm gonna count to three." Abruzzi spat. "One…"
"If I give you that information, I'm a dead man." Finn snapped. "You know it, and I know it."
"Two…" Abruzzi continued.
"Not gonna happen, John." Finn whispered.
"Hey, I'm gonna give you one last chance. Tell. Me. Where. Is. Fibonacci."
Finn didn't respond. Abruzzi turned to his man beside him.
"Three." He finished, nodding to his henchman. The shears were quickly brought together, slicing straight through Finn's two toes in the process!
"AAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! Finn shouted as his two toes fell to the floor. His cries of pain attracted the guards, and Abruzzi's men quickly dispersed. Finn felt himself grabbed by three guards and supported as he limped to the infirmary. Dr. Tancredi's eyes widened when she saw him. Finn was placed on the hospital bed by the guards and Tancredi already started preparing to treat him.
"Thanks, guys. I'll take it from here." She said. The guards didn't move though. "I said thank you, I'll take it from here." She snapped again. The guards reluctantly shuffled out the room, leaving just Finn with Tancredi.
"Okay. Let's take a look at you." She said, gently, as she carefully lifted the paper towels off Finn's foot to reveal his foot with two missing toes. Tears of pain rolled down Finn's cheeks and he screamed in pain as she dabbed his foot with a disinfectant. "What happened?" She snapped.
"Nothing." Finn grumbled in reply. He couldn't snitch. If he snitched, he'd be as good as dead.
"This isn't nothing, Finn. I need you to tell me what happened." She repeated.
"Don't make me lie to you." Finn whispered in pain. "Please."
"Okay." She said. "Now, this next part's gonna hurt."
"Wait… this part? So, what? The other part just didn't?"
She ignored him.
"One… Two… Three."
"AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"
"FINN! WAKE UP! FINN!"
An unfamiliar voice pulled Finn out of his nightmare flashback and as he came to, he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. Back in prison, if anyone was in your cell during the night, they were trying to kill you and Finn, still stressing from his prison PTSD, thought just that. He grabbed the person's hand and judo flipped them over, putting a hand on their neck to constrict them as he saw who it was. It was just Santana.
"Finn!" She exclaimed. Finn lifted his hand completely and scampered back to the corner of his motel room, on the floor.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He cried.
"No, it's okay, Finn. It's all right." Santana whispered, gently. "You're home. You're home."
"What time is it?" He murmured.
"It's 9 am." Santana replied. Finn nodded and slowly stood up.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Clean myself up a bit." Finn stammered. He could feel himself still sweating from the flashback. Santana nodded and Finn walked into the bathroom. He splashed water on his face and it was surprisingly refreshing. He then changed out of his sweaty pajamas and put on a pair of slacks. Just as he was about to put on a shirt, he heard Santana's voice behind him.
"Wait… how did you get those?!" Santana exclaimed, rushing over to him. She could see scars all over Finn's body. Some gunshot wounds, stab wounds, burn marks, stitches, slashes, shrapnel scars… all souvenirs of his two Army missions and most of them were from his 4 years in prison.
"Don't you ever knock?!" Finn spat as he quickly tried to put on a shirt to cover it.
"No… wait… stop… Carole said you had scars but..." Santana stammered as she grabbed the shirt from him and examined his chest, too shell-shocked from the scars to notice how crystal-cut Finn's abs were now. If nothing else good, prison had built him into a much more physically built person. "I… um… I… Finn, what happened to you out there?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Finn murmured. Santana sighed.
"Of course you don't. Because you never want to talk about anything." Santana muttered as she headed for the door of the motel room.
"Wait…" Finn called. "Where are you going?"
"Why should I tell you?" She snapped. Finn sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry, Santana. I need to get better at talking about what happened to me there. But I'm not ready yet. Okay? And that's why I'm going away for a while."
"Going away? W… w… where?" Santana stammered.
"Far, far away. Not sure exactly where yet. I just know I need to get out of this town, get out of this country for a bit to take some time to, you know, heal."
"Well, how long will you be gone?" She asked. Finn shook his head.
"I really don't know." Finn replied. "Could be a couple of weeks. Could be a couple of months. Could be a couple of years. I'm only 20 years old. My life could take me anywhere and I hope it does."
"Well, Finn, I think that's actually a good idea. But please know that Lima always has a home and a place for you."
Finn nodded and hugged Santana.
"Thanks, San." He replied. "I'll see you… when I see you, I guess."
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He was on a plane less than two hours later, this time leaving the country completely. He needed to be anywhere but the States, the further the better. And the place he was going was quite possibly the furthest place he could possibly go: Capetown, South Africa…
He landed in Cape Town after a grueling 17 hour flight and as he stepped out into the South African air, his first first thought was that it was so… humid. Heat rained down on him like the breath of hell. The scorched city shimmered in the intense white rays of the sun. His hat cocooned his head in warm sweat, the arid heat burnt at his lungs. As Finn walked past the Welcome to South Africa sign at the front of the airport, he spotted the rows of brochures. Finn walked over to them and one of them instantly caught his eye: World Wildlife Fund Finn had always loved camping and being in nature and the WWF was a foundation that protected natural ecosystems and wildlife. Finn looked at the phone number at the bottom of the page and smiled. Maybe this could be the start of something…