CHAPTER 22 – For what it's Worth

Lucy came running in, pulling off the scarf wrapped around her neck as she walked towards the waiting area where she saw Chloe pacing around.

"Chloe" she called that made the redhead turned her head towards her, and before any words left Chloe's mouth, she was engulfed in a tight hug by Lucy, which she give back while rubbing soothing circles on Lucy's back. She could hear sniffles from the blonde, and it made her heart crumble.

They pull away, but only at arms' length, as Chloe put her hands on Lucy's shoulders to keep her standing, because the blonde's knees were weak once she got the call from the hospital. Her bloodshot eyes pierced through Chloe's calm and worried ones when they looked at each other. With a deep breath, Lucy wet her lips to try to speak. "How is she?"

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Chloe said "She's fine, thankfully" in a croaky voice – the effect of working past regular hours. Lucy released a relieved breath as a tear left her eye.

"Her injuries were only minor, but her left leg was badly pressed with the impact of the crash, so she will be using crutches for a while her leg heals in a cast. Aside from that, she just had a mild concussion…a few scratches and wounds. But that's all." Chloe explained, feeling relieved when she explained everything to Lucy especially when she saw the blonde has calmed down.

"Can I see her?"

"Of course. Although she's still asleep." Chloe leads Lucy towards a series of halls and doors before stopping at a single room.

Room No. 2207
Rebecca Mitchell

Chloe turns the knob and pushed the door, hearing the silent squeak of the hinges as she opens it but didn't go inside. Lucy took steps forward; her steps light as if every tile on the floor was fragile and would fall off once she stepped on it with force. She was biting her thumb nail, a nervous mannerism she has, especially now she's seeing the sleeping brunette on the bed with white sheets who has bruises on her face and cuts on her cheek. Lucy stopped herself and turn her head to see Chloe by the door, silently asking why she was there, but the redhead gave her a knowing warm smile that she needs her alone time with Beca, and with that, the redhead closes the door – leaving Lucy in Beca's room.

It was a few seconds before Chloe's phone started ringing. She took her phone out of her pocket and saw Aubrey calling, she proceed to walk away from Beca's room and head to where she thought she needs to be when she answered the call.

"Bree?"

"Chloe! I got a call – "

"Yeah"

"How is she? Is she okay? Oh god, is she alive?!"

Chloe smiled at Aubrey's constant worry-filled questions about the brunette. It dawned on her how much the relationship between Aubrey and Beca has grown. If she could remember clearly, those two weren't on the best of terms when they first knew about each other. Freshman year in high school, she was a new girl then. Aubrey became her friend that year, and then the following year she started dating Jesse Swanson, who is Beca Mitchell's best friend along with Stacie Conrad.

Beca used to call Aubrey "Blondezilla" because of her uptightness and strict schedules of studying. Chloe found it amusing just as much as it was annoying to Aubrey. They were pretty close – close to ripping each other's hair out of their heads, but they've grown it on themselves and found that they were a lot similar than they would have thought. Aside from the back and forth teasing and annoying the hell out of each other – they were excellent friends, like the one for keeps.

"She's fine, Bree. Lucy's with her at the moment." Chloe said. She hears the blonde release a sigh of relief.

"That's good then." Aubrey stated. Chloe got the feeling that the blonde was to say something more. "How did you know?"

"Uhm, I work in a hospital, Bree."

"No, I mean – how did you know? Like, I'm pretty sure you were busy with other patients and stuff, right?" The blonde on the other line asked.

"Oh, the nurse informed me. I-I was on Beca's emergency call list, and the nurse just called me." Chloe said simply.

"You're on her emergency call?"

"Yeah, I mean – we're all there. You, Jesse, Stace, Lucy …and me." Chloe shrugged, not making a big deal out of it, unlike how Aubrey was making it seem to be. There was a long pause, and Chloe could feel Aubrey's need to say something through the phone, but it seemed like the comment has been swallowed down since nothing came up.

"Yeah, you're right." Aubrey agreed.

"Yeah, well listen, I gotta go. Got some "other patients and stuff" to do." Chloe snickered, teasing Aubrey with her line and she could see Aubrey's eye roll – something she got from Beca – from here in San Francisco.

"Alright missy. Let me know if something came up, alright? Tell Beca, Jess and I are worried and if she needs us there, we will be." Aubrey said.

"Aww, Bree, your sappiness towards Beca is refreshing." Chloe teased further.

"Oh like you wouldn't" Aubrey retorts, but sensed that she has hit a nerve, "Sorry, that came out wrong"

Chloe lets out a small although sincere laugh, "Don't be, Aubrey. Because you're right, I would be sappy as well towards her especially in this situation if I were on your shoes right now. But I'll let her know. Thanks. I'll update you later, alright?"

"Thanks, Chlo. Later then."

That concluded the call. Chloe looked ahead and saw that she was now in the pharmacy hall, she actually didn't need to be here, only got lost with her steps while talking to Aubrey. Her phone chimed a text from Lucy, indicating she should go back to Beca's room. She walked back and entered the room, seeing Lucy sitting beside the bed, holding Beca's hand and the brunette, still unconscious.

"Hey" Chloe said quietly. Lucy smiled at her.

"Hey…"

"So, uhm, you need me for anything?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah" Lucy softly let Beca's hand go and stood up to walk towards Chloe. "But first, I wanted to thank you for taking care of her while I wasn't here yet." Chloe smiled at this and shrugged it off.

"It's nothing. I'm her friend; it's what I'm supposed to do."

"Yeah, and that's what I'm going to ask for you to do." Lucy said, looking back at Beca. Chloe looked at Lucy with confused eyes. "I will be away for a few days, with the shoot coming up and all. And I won't be here often, as much as it hurts me not to be by her side when she's in this state"

"Lucy, what are you saying?" Chloe's face was serious now.

"What I'm saying is" Lucy looked at her in the eyes, "I want you to check up on Beca. Be there for her, while I'm gone. I could've asked Stacie, but she is pretty busy too, and she's in LA. I guessed, since you work here and live here, and you're Beca's friend – I figured you're the perfect person. Is that alright?"

It was as if her breath was caught in her throat, and with the sanitized atmosphere in the room, her lungs seemed to be hollow. Not that she should make it a big deal, but it coming from Lucy was something she didn't expect. Although in contrary, if Lucy knew her past with Beca, then she would be the last person Lucy would ask to watch over her girlfriend.

"I-alright." Chloe nodded her head hesitantly, and then Lucy hugged her tight. When they separated, Lucy took her stuff on the chair she was sitting before. "You're leaving already?" Chloe asked.

"Unfortunately, yeah. I was in the middle of a meeting when the hospital called, the same time when I saw your text. So I really need to get back to work. But please let me know if she has woken up." Lucy said, and then with a pat on Chloe's shoulder, she left.

Chloe was left alone in Beca's room with Beca's unconscious body lying on the bed. She looked at the brunette, and she felt nervous. She doesn't know why, but she knows for a fact that she does. And with this fact, Chloe fumbled for her phone and called Aubrey.

"Chloe, what's up? What happened?" Mama Bear Aubrey Posen's voice was on.

"Nothing, Bree…just…I need your advice."

Chloe could imagine a raised eyebrow of Aubrey. "For what?"

"Lucy left for work…and she will be gone for like, a few days…leaving Beca here for me to take care of. She entrusted Beca to me, Aubrey." Chloe said in a slight panicked voice.

"What happened on acting ignorant about everything?" Aubrey teased which earned her a groan from the redhead. "Listen, Chlo. You're close friends with your ex-girlfriend's girlfriend – do you realize how weird that is?"

"Yes, Aubrey. I know."

"And not only is she drawn to you – she even left her girlfriend on your arms."

"Yes, Aubrey. I know. But it's not like she knows everything about me…and Beca."

"And it's making you guilty, aren't you?"

"You read me so well, Bree."

"Well, just don't take advantage of Beca, and we're all good." Aubrey shrugged.

"Of course I wouldn't take advantage of her, Bree!" Chloe hushed, her face blushing. "I'm not a creeper and not even a home-wrecker."

"Joking, Beale. I was joking." Aubrey laughed. "But seriously though, you've been doing a pretty good job keeping all the awkwardness to yourself. You don't have to break your record just because you're left alone with Beca." Aubrey said.

"But that's just it, Bree. I am left alone with Beca. This would probably be the first time we'll be alone in a room, ever since she came back. And I'm nervous as hell when she wakes up. What am I even going to say to her? Hey, your girlfriend's away but she told me to take care of you while she's gone. Oh btw, do you remember we used to date?" Chloe sarcastically said then emitted a nervous laugh at the end of her rambling, thinking how crazy it sounds like in and out of her head.

"Relax, Chlo. It's just Beca. If it helps, remember your moments with her when you two were just friends. You're basically attached at the hip back then, you can do that even now. Take it easy okay?" Aubrey advised. Chloe took a deep breath and nodded her head once the advice sunk in her head.

"Okay."

"I'll talk to you later?"

"Yeah. Later Bree."

Chloe puts her phone back in to her pocket. She nervously releases an air ash she turns her whole body towards Beca who was still sleeping peacefully. She dare not to take a few steps closer because if she did, she thinks she would get sucked in, or fall on the floor or something horrible that she didn't want to think of.

She was just glad that the brunette was still sleeping, because if Beca saw her in this state, she would roll off the bed laughing her ass off…probably.

Chloe decided to clear her haze-induced mind, because 14 hours in a hospital without even a shower was taking its toll on her…add some more drama in her life, and probably she would need to take the whole day off the next day. And probably the next day after that…if she was only allowed to.

She was about to leave the room, her hand already at the door knob when she heard a groan. Her whole body froze, and her grip on the knob tightened. Her eyes were wide, but she closed them hard, thinking if she didn't move and pretend not to see anything – she wouldn't be noticed.

Staying in that position for a couple of seconds failed her once she was called by a small rough voice.

"Excuse me?" Beca called out to the person who was standing like a statue by the closed door of her room. Her head was ringing, like she was hit by a steel rod over and over again. Her left leg felt numb, and she can't feel her toes. Her voice sounds like a broken crack of a radio, and her throat itches and hurts at the same time.

The person didn't respond to her call, and she was getting frustrated. "Excuse me" she said with more force this time, and it hurt like a bitch. It was worth it though, because the person turned around…and much to her surprise, she saw Chloe.

"Hey" the redhead walked towards the bed, fidgeting with her fingers and taking nervous glances around the room, avoiding Beca's eyes. "Uhm, you shouldn't strain your voice. I'll explain later. Answer me with a nod, okay?"

Beca nodded.

"I'll get you some water." Chloe said, hurrying to go outside of the room, leaving Beca alone, quite confused.

When Chloe closed the door behind her, she took a breath as if it was smelling like hell inside – not that it was, it's just that she was really nervous about Beca waking up and she not being able to connect her mouth with her brain. Talk about good timing. She hurriedly went to get a disposable cup and filled it with water at the water dispenser then walked back towards Beca's room.

"Hey, Chloe!"

Chloe turns her head to see Louis walking towards her with a smile, the white doctor coat flowing gracefully behind him as he took his strides. Chloe greets him with a tired smile and a silent wave of hand.

"Damn, you look horrible." Louis laughed, "which is kind of surprising since you always look bright and sunny. Now you look like there's a gray cloud over your head."

"Yeah, well we all have our bad days." Chloe shrugged, still holding the cup of water for Beca.

"You haven't ended your shift yet have you?" Louis guessed, which was confirmed to be right once he got a silent nod from the redhead. "How many hours?"

"Fourteen"

"Jeez Chlo, you have to go home and take your rest." Crossing his harms over his chest and a worried look on his face, "Seriously Chloe."

"I-I can't. Not yet, anyway." Chloe muttered, not looking at the guy. She was fiddling with the rim of the cup, thinking Beca might be confused as to where she is right now. Louis was about to ask when he took sight of the door information in front of them, and then he realized.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Car accident. She's fine though and she's awake. So…"Chloe said. "I gotta…y'know" she pointed towards the door, and was about to open it but Louis' hand was on her wrist before she could turn the knob.

"Hey, look, how about I take care of her? After you give her the water, you go home and take your rest. I promise, I'll watch out for her." He offered, and he received a tired grateful smile from Chloe.

"Thanks Lou…but, I think I'll be able to handle this one. I'll go home later, I promise."

It seemed like Chloe wasn't about to change her mind, so without another word, the redhead entered the room and Louis sighed as he walk down the hall.

Beca was staring out the window, her expression unreadable but somehow calm and then she turned her head towards the door once she heard it open and saw Chloe come inside with a cup of water. Chloe hands it over with a smile, as she gladly accepts it, muttering a 'thanks' before drinking it. She felt quite relieved when the cool fresh liquid entered her dry mouth and sooth her rough throat, that she elicited a satisfying moan. Chloe looked away and blushed at the sound.

"Thank you, Chloe." Beca said once she emptied the cup and put it on the bedside table.

"You're welcome." Chloe said, trying to erase every bit of inappropriate things that has formed in her mind. "So, do you remember what happened?" she said with a light tone, trying to make things not so serious in the room.

Beca's eyebrows knitted a bit, thinking about what she could actually remember. "Uhm, I remember driving around town. But then I got hit."

"Yeah. You were involved in a car crash 2 hours ago. You got a few scratches and bruises, but the main injury is on your left leg" Chloe gestured towards Beca's casted leg that was hanging by a steel rod. "You'll need a crutch for like, a few weeks before your leg goes to full recovery."

Beca just nodded in understanding, not that she could do so much about it. Silence once again became louder in the room, and Chloe needed to say something just so she wouldn't be deaf.

"By the way, Lucy was here." She said, and this made the brunette look at her. "She was really worried about you but you were still asleep when she left for some unfinished meeting at work." Chloe smiled. "You're really lucky to have her, Bec. She's a keeper."

Beca smiled at this then looked at Chloe, who was now sitting beside her bed. "Yeah, she is, isn't she?"

Chloe nodded in agreement. "She was really worried about you that she was probably having second thoughts on going away."

Beca's eyebrows furrowed at this. "Going away?"

"Oh, she'll be gone for a few days for that shoot she was talking about. I mean, she told you haven't she?" Chloe was nervous now, she didn't want to cross any lines, and by the look that was emerging on Beca's face, Chloe thinks she has said something she must not have.

"No she didn't. I thought that's why she was relocated here, because this is where the shoot would be." Beca said, slightly shaking her head, and she seemed upset. But then, she smiled. "Well I guess you can't really avoid that, right?" she looked back at Chloe, who was looking scared. "Hey, you okay?"

"Uhm" Chloe stammered, "for a second there, I thought I had crossed some sort of line." This made Beca laugh, and while Chloe became confused first, she followed the laughing brunette.

"You're not in trouble, Chlo. I promise." Beca said, after her laughs had died down.

"Would I be, if I told you she left me in charge to take care of you?" Chloe said which created another silent environment. Beca was looking at her expectantly. "Would I?" she asked again.

"Why would you be in trouble, Chloe?" Beca asked, as if it's not even possible in the slightest bit. Chloe just looked at her, quietly choosing between if she should straightened up Beca's mind and tell her what's she feels about everything or take Aubrey's advice and just try to not ruin everything.

Thankfully, she chooses the later.

"Nothing, uhm –" letting out a nervous laugh as she stood up from the chair beside Beca's bed and walked around it, her hand ran through her messy bun and she started to neat down her scrub suit to make herself not look much depressed. "What I meant was, if it's alright with you that I will be the one taking care of you while you stay here. Because, y'know, you'll be staying here for a few days with your observation and therapy, and all." Chloe rambles. "I mean, like – "

"Chloe, if you think I would be mad because my girlfriend asked you to take care of me while she's gone – you're wrong." Beca said with pure calm. "I know we've had a rough past, but like I said – we should just forget about all of it and move past by it. I don't want anything to come between us anymore. I missed you being in my life, Chloe. I missed my best friend." Beca continued.

Chloe was just silent. Her eyes wide from the statement of the brunette.

"I was hurt, yes…but you had your reasons, and maybe it was time for us to go on our separate ways. I mean, everything happens for a reason, right?"

Is this the real life? Is this a fantasy? Was she having her head float in the air because of tiredness, or is she really hearing this from Beca? Chloe just stood there, not knowing what to do since her past with Beca has been brought up by Beca herself.

So much for trying to avoid the awkwardness.

Is it this, though? The moment. The chance of being able to say anything at all, just so Beca knows. In retrospect, Beca wasn't able to get so much from Chloe's side of the story. They just left off with nothing but pain in their hearts, so maybe this is the universe's way of telling Chloe that this is her chance. With one deep breath, Chloe braved herself and stood beside Beca's bed, looking straight into Beca's eyes.

"Well, if that's the case, then…I just wanted you to know, that I was stupid. Everything about it. But for what it's worth, my feelings for you never changed. Never was, never will." Chloe smiled warmly towards the brunette. "Alright." She exhaled, her eyes getting teary and her nose getting stuffy. "I'm going to let Lucy know you're awake. Then if you need your stuff, they're all in the cabinet there beside your bed. I'll report to Aubrey and Jesse as well because they are worried too."

"Uhm, Stacie?" Beca asked.

"Oh, Stacie's kind of busy at the moment. But I'll let her know too. Is there anything else you need me for?" Chloe asked.

Beca shook her head with a smile.

"Okay. Well, you go take a rest, I'll be back tomorrow morning." Chloe looks at her watch and it read 15 minutes 'til midnight. "So, have a good night sleep, Bec."

"Take care going home, Chlo. And thanks."

"Thank you too, Becs. For everything. And for still keeping me in your emergency list." They both smiled at each other, before Chloe left the room and when she was outside, it was like the whole world's weight was gone on her shoulders. She started to smile, and this one feels like it's the sincerest smiles she has ever done for quite a while. Plus, her fantasy of going home and take a well needed rest was starting to become a reality.

All thing's good. All thing's great. And if she was being honest, she started to have hope once again.

A/N: And I'm starting to have hope on this fic once again.

Hey there you awesome readers!

Thank you once again for reading this chapter. I do have to admit, I might've started it after I posted last chapter and with tone it's going on right now, I'll be able to post the next chapter sooner than later. Big thanks to the inspiration that gave me when I read the reviews on my stories. It really gave me the boost I needed, so you guys just put some reviews on whenever you like but know that I'm reading them. It's all appreciated.

Anyway, I'm not trying to be a downer, but don't expect Chloe and Beca to get back together. For those asking if there's an end game – there will be, but no pairing. Just think that everything will fall into place, on the right time and on the right place. And you will understand why.

Thanks again for the follows, faves and the never-ending support from all you readers! Big kisses to all of you! Until the next update!