Chapter 51: Crack, boom, Pop!

April – Sophomore Year – Age 20

It was a spring time Saturday afternoon when Santana went out to the store for a few last minute groceries for their dinner that night. Little did she know that an idiot would run a stop sign and plow into the driver's side of Santana's car. While neither car was going super-fast, it was quite jarring. The car behind her pulled up and called 911 before checking on both drivers.

"God did that suck!" Santana swore. A young man in army fatigues came over to her.

"Miss, are you okay?"

"I'm pretty sure I've got some whip lash, a broken arm," she replied after a brief self-assessment.

"I've already called the ambulance, Miss..."

"Lopez, Santana Lopez,"

"Miss Lopez, I need to check on the other driver; are you going to be alright?"

"Yes, thank you Mister?"

"Lieutenant Joshua Gale, ma'am."

"Thank you Lieutenant."

"No problem, please don't move until the ambulance gets here."

"I'm just going to call my fiancé." She gingerly reached over and got her phone, dialing Finn's number.

"Hey, babe, you forget the grocery list again?" he joked as he answered the phone.

"Finn, I'm fine, but I got into a car accident."

"Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm about two blocks from the store, and they need to take me to the hospital to get checked out."

"I'm going to meet you there."

"They are probably going to need help getting me out of the car, I got hit in the middle bar and my door won't open at all."

"How bad are you?"

"Prelim self-diagnosis is a broken arm and whiplash at the very least."

"My god," Finn breathed.

"I'm very lucky Finn," she said. "Can you see if Amanda or John can take Char? Or come stay with her? I don't want her back in the ER if I can help it."

"I will call them," Finn said. "Are there any EMS there yet?"

"A cop car just showed up. I'll text if I can find out more," Santana replied.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Amanda and John both came over to stay with Charlotte and threatened Finn for updates on Santana's condition. Finn drove carefully to the ER a few blocks from the college. When he parked and went inside, he went directly to the info desk. "My Fiancé Santana Lopez was brought in a little while ago. She was a in a car accident and I am her next of kin."

"Let me look her up," the receptionist said. "Olay, she is getting an x-ray, but I will get an orderly to take you back to her bay."

"Thank you so much," he replied profusely. The orderly took Finn back to the room with three bed spaces. He was directed to the empty space at the end of the room. He didn't wait long when Santana's bed was wheeled back into the rightful spot.

"Baby," she greeted, holding out her right arm for a hug. Finn tried to hug her tight enough to assuage him but not hurt her at the same time.

"I'm so happy to see you," he murmured into her ear as they embraced.

"I'm happy," Santana replied.

"So what have they said?" Finn asked as he pulled back, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Mild concussion, broken left forearm, whiplash and severe bruising" Santana replied. "They are going to set my arm, watch for swelling, and maybe cast it tonight"

"Why wouldn't they cast it?" Finn asked, confused.

"It it's too swollen, I'll get a splint and comeback to get it casted when the swelling goes down."

"I hope it gets casted tonight."

"Well, Sue used to give us tricks to keep the swelling down if we ever got hurt, so I'll tell them," Santana assured him.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Santana was released from the hospital later that night. They set her arm, followed Sue's anti-swelling routine and casted her with a red cast. When Finn drove her home, Burt and Carol were at the house. Apparently when Finn called them to let them know what happened, they dropped everything and drove down. Burt was the first one out and opened the car door for them.

"Sweetheart," Burt said before gingerly helping her out of the car.

"Poppa Burt," Santana replied. "I'm okay. I promise." They all walked into the house. John and Amanda were curled up together on the loveseat. Charlotte was coloring at their feet. They woke from their restless sleep and Amanda shot up to hug Santana as well.

"Thanks for coming over guys," Finn said gratefully to Amanda and John.

"Of course," John said. "So is she alright?"

"Mild concussion, some whiplash, and a broken forearm," Finn rattled off. "It could have been much worse."

"And her car?"

"They are probably gonna total it. I called the shop they towed it to and they told me the damage," Finn said. Burt was listening in as well. "The frame has significant damage. They had to take the door off to get her out."

"I'll keep an eye out for a good car for her," Burt said. "Definitely by the end of this semester."

"Yeah, I'm going to e-mail her teachers and do what they did for me a few months ago. She needs a week of rest and recover. Hospitals even gave us a note for each teacher. I should probably email Charlotte's child care and tell them what's going on, and that she will be there for a bit longer than usual."

"Good deal," John agreed. "Let me know how I can help."

"Will do man, will do."