Without You Chapter 8, a glee fanfic

Rory found his eyes slowly fluttering open to a incredibly bright light and this annoying sound of something beeping. Quickly opening his eyes, he found himself in a hospital bed. Panic overcoming him entirely, he sat up quickly and looked around for anyone he knew, a familiar face. Once he saw that he was alone, he instantly pressed the HELP button on the side of his bed and waited for a nurse or a doctor to come in. A few moments later, a friendly young nurse entered and saw that he was awake. Within a few minutes, she had informed Rory about the car accident he and Harmony were in, how a drunk driver had hit them and how Harmony was in another room. In a moment of fear, Rory's head began to spin and the world got fuzzy again. His medicine was kicking in fiercely.

After about an hour of check up's, Rory was released from his room once he had woken up and was told which room Harmony was in. Thanking the doctor as quickly as possible, Rory ran as fast as he could in the direction he was pointed into. Slowly opening the door, tears filled his eyes as he saw Harmony, his better half and lover, laying helplessly in the bed before him. Her faced was bruised, covered in black and blue. Her hair was put up into a bun and she had IV's running into her frail arms. As Rory slowly made his way to Harmony's bed side, a few silent tears fell down his face.

"H-Harmony?" He whispered as he pushed back some of her hair and kissed her forehead softly. "Baby?" He asked quietly as he sat down next to her bed and took her hand in his. "C'mon, wake up." He whispered as he looked down at the ring on her finger that he had placed on it only a few nights before. "We have to go pick out flowers for our wedding. And you have to drag me to a million stores and make me pick out things that I won't even ever know what they are for." He whispered, tears still slowly falling on the bed next to her.

Everyone knows what static on a television is like. The annoying high pitch squeal followed by numerous lines of every direction covering the screen. It isn't whatsoever calm, but the never-ending way about it makes you feel it will never seize. Everything's on hold until it decides to pass, letting the screen go back to the way it was, only you are unable to be sure what is going on now that the static was present for so long.

If Harmony's situation could be described in the right way, it would be this very way. Soon enough, after the static had made its welcome throughout her head, a flutter of her eyes and she could feel the world coming back to her. Beeping…so much beeping and even sobbing was heard close by. What was going on? Her eyes opened to see she was in a room, kind of like the one she had been in not too long ago when her grandmother was ill. Her sight was fuzzier than she would have liked it to be. A whimper heard again and her eyes flew to what appeared to be a man sitting next to her, his head buried. He was holding her hand? She pulled her hand quickly out of its reach, realizing it was her in a hospital bed now, not an sick family member. She tried to sit up, but found the burning sensation pulling at her lungs making her lay back down. A hand flew up to her face and her eyes frantically looked around the room. Where was her mom? Her dad? Where…

"What's happening? What's happening?"

The voice coming from her lips was meek, but frantic nonetheless.

Rory had put his head down as he tried to collect himself. It wouldn't be a good idea to let Harmony see him like this when she woke up. He needed to be strong, and show her that everyone was going to be alright, they were both alive, and as long as they had each other. They could get past this little set back, Rory just needed to see her beautiful eyes, hear her laugh and see her smile again.

Feeling her hand move out of his, his head instantly shot up. His heart skipped a beat when she asked the questions, showing that she was awake and alert. "Oh Harmony." He smiled as he pulled her in for a hug. "It's alright sweetheart, we were in an accident. I'm so sorry baby. But it's alright, we are both fine." He whispered as he pulled out of the hug. His smile was wide; it almost felt like it was going to stay on his face, which wasn't always a bad thing.

"I love you Har-" He started, and then his smile faded as he saw the way she was looking at him. She looked scared, and like she..she didn't know who he was. "Har?" He asked as he sat down at took her hand. When she instantly pulled it away, he felt his heart drop. Something was wrong, just the look in her eyes could tell anyone that.

But everything was going to be alright, as long as they had each other.

Baby? He talked to her like…like he loved her or knew her, for the matter. He seemed so scared, putting a pit in her stomach. Her body stiffed when he put his arms around her. He had to have thought she was someone else by the way he was so emotional. She watched him as he questioned her, her eyes widened when she realized he knew her name. Not only did he know it, he had shortened it like they were friends or old pals. Where were her parents? She wanted her mom to come in and explain to her, like she always did in these situations.

"I'm sorry, but could you tell me where my mom is?"

"Your Mum?" Rory asked as he gave her a puzzled look. He had never met her parents, he had never even talked to them before. "Yeah, baby we can get your parents." He whispered as he went to put his hand on her cheek, then quickly pulled it away.

One thing she remembered about hospitals were the remotes that they had when you needed help. She reached up gently with her left hand, only to be stopped by her eyes settling on the ring on her finger, sparkling in the light above her. Her jaw fell lightly, her eyes looking back to the unfamiliar face staring down at her.

"Wha..I..I need a doctor. What happened? Somebody?"

Her voice was stronger now, not trembling like it had been before. Something was wrong, this couldn't be right. She needed answers and she needed them now.

Rory watched her as she looked at the ring on her finger and a look of horror came across her face.

"D-do you not know?" He whispered letting it set in. "Do you know who I am?" He whispered, looking into her eyes for an answer. When Harmony shook her head, she watched the mysterious boy's face change to pure white when she said she didn't know him. Was she supposed to? She felt so confused and yet…her head hurt so much. When she shook her head, Rory's heart dropped to the floor. "I uhm..I'll get a doctor." He nodded as he kissed her hand. As he quickly exited her room and found the nearest doctor and explained what had happened. When he exited the room, Harmony's eyes flashed back to the ring on her hand, her eyes squinting together. She patted her hands along her body, a spike of pain coming from every touch.

Once the doctor agreed to go in and talk to her, Rory asked him to go first and that he would be in shortly. He figured that he being in there would scare her, and she needed a moment. As the doctor entered the room, Rory stood against the wall and started to cry. Hiding his face in his hands, he slid down the wall and wrapped his arms around his knees that were pulled up to his chest. How could this happen to them? To her? He loved her so much, and now…she didn't even know who he was,

After a few minutes, Rory collected himself and went back into the room. Instead of going to her bed side, Rory stood at the back of the room, watching Harmony looking over charts that the doctor was showing her.

Jumping at the sound of the door click, Harmony saw the uniformed doctor walk in. She smiled in relief as he joined her, watching him closely as he checked the machines that she was hooked up to.

"Miss Harmony, you're finally awake. I heard you don't remember what happened at all?"

"I…I'm sorry I don't. Do you know where my mom is?" Her eyes pleading, she was waiting for her to walk through the doors.

"I'm sorry, I do not. Do you know why you are here?"

"No. I-..no. Can you please tell me?"

"You had a little accident. Let me show you on this clipboard.."

Harmony tried to keep focused on all the injuries the kind doctor was telling her about, but her mind was racing. There was something she wasn't getting, nor understanding. Where did these injuries come from? Jumping again, her eyes dashed to the door to find the boy who had hugged her and…looked at her so intently. This time, however, he stood at the back of the room rather than stand beside her. The doctor turned around to the unfamiliar boy. The boy's cheeks were red, his eyes stained as if he was upset.

"Can I speak to you outside, please?"

Rory nodded as he walked outside with the doctor. "Why doesn't she know who I am?" He asked, placing his hands on his hips. "I'm her fiancé, Doctor." Rory said, looking at him hard for answers.

"She has amnesia, Mr. Flanagan. The right side of her brain was damaged in the crash and she can't seem to remember anything."

"B-but why does she remember her name? Or that she has a mother?" He asked, shifting on the balls of his feet.

"There are some cases where people tend to forget things that happen with the accident. It could be where they can only remember certain things, or their brains were effected so they can remember anything a from a year or two before the accident."

"Will, she ever remember?" He asked quietly.

"In most cases they do. It could take a few days, weeks, months. With medication and therapy, she should remember."

"What can do to help? How can I get her back? I…I have to have her back." Rory asked.

"Try and help her remember. Show her pictures, videos, things like that" The doctor explained as his name was paged over the intercom.

Rory took a deep breath as the doctor walked away. Once he thought about what to say, he slowly entered the room. "H-hi." He whispered as he looked at the girl looking back at him. "Can I sit?" He asked, pointing the chair next to her.

Hearing the sound of a clunk, Harmony opened her eyes to see the unrecognizable boy entering her room again. When he asked her to sit, she nodded slowly in response. His voice was meek, but nevertheless very kind. He seemed very trustworthy. She watched him as he joined her in a chair beside her bed, settling down quite easily. Her head cocked to the side curiously at his arm, then noticing the redness of his face and the swelling of his eyes. Taking a harsh breathe, she brought her hands up to her stomach, settling them there.

"I'm Harmony…but since you said my name earlier, I think you already know it.."

She pierced her lips together to stop their quivering, her nerves settling a slight bit. Something about this boy, though it was unexplainable, comforted her.

"So..what happened to your arm?"

"Yeah, I know." He frowned as he looked at her hands. He wanted nothing more than to take them in his, kiss each finger and tell her it's going to be alright. "Your real name is Charlotte, but you don't tell many people that because you thought Harmony would be a better stage name." He whispered, still keeping his gaze low. He hoped that if he told her that he knew all of her secrets, she would remember.

Biting his bottom lip, he nodded when she asked about his arm. "I was in a car accident, the same one you were in, Harmony." He whispered as he looked up at her. "The doctor told me I should try and help you remember some things. And I don't have any pictures of us, or videos but I will. I can bring things back next time." He smiled.

"This is going to be hard to hear-" He paused, knowing she wasn't going to believe him at first. "My name is Rory, Rory Flanagan…and that ring on your finger.." He said as he paused to point at her hand, "I gave that to you, proposed to you, a few nights ago." He said, feeling tears come back into his eyes. "And I know that you don't remember me right now, but I'm going to help you remember for as long as I can." He whispered as he wiped away some of his fallen tears. "I'm not going to give up on you, because you didn't give up on me." He whispered, smiling up at her.

How did he know her name was Charlotte? A clump grew in her throat, her eyes squinting in curiosity. Who was this boy? At the mention of the car accident she was supposedly in, she sat up quickly, fighting the pains shooting through her as her thoughts ran mad through her head. Spinning might have been the better word to use, her eyes scanned her body and for the first time, she noticed the various bruises scattered all around. Her eyes went back to the man that was speaking, curiously looking at his arms for an equal amount of injuries. He seemed to be better, a few cuts covering his handsome features, but nothing too unbearable.

"Pictures..of?"

Us. The word stung in her mind when she repeated in her mind how he had said the word. As he presented himself formally, her harsh breathing became more rapid and for a second, she thought she'd be sick. She did know him, or at least that is what she did. She looked back down at the ring on her finger. It was so beautiful; but yet she didn't seem to remember receiving it. Her lip began to quiver again and her face began to redden. She wasn't the one to cry in front of strangers, unless she was acting, but this situation seemed different to her.

"I wish I knew who you were."

"I wish you did too." Rory whispered as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He didn't know where to go from here. What do to, what to say, he was stuck. He would spend every day and night here until he could fix Harmony, but he was running out of time. He only had until March until he would be sent back to Ireland.

Harmony's eyes flashed to the white board on the wall over his shoulder. It read her name, the doctors' name…and then a date. The year was 2012. Her eyes grew wider, much more frantic that they had been. She was undeniably frightened.

"That board isn't right…it's not..it can't be 2012. Where's my mom, where's my dad? This.."

Her eyes flashed back to the board, reading the top. 'New York City, New York'. She put a hand on her stomach and her face flushed completely. She was dazed, to say the least.

"I think I am going to be sick."

Maybe he should just let her be. Tell her that this was all a mistake and let her live her life without him. He knows that he didn't make her life that much easier, having a foreign boyfriend couldn't be all that easy. If he went back to Ireland, and Harmony went back to her life, she could fall in love with a normal person, not having to worry about their permit of the hassle of having family who lived so far away. Maybe she would be better off without him.

His thoughts were interrupted by her questions. He looked at the board as well and saw nothing wrong with it. It had the date, January 18th, 2012. "What year do you think it is, Harmony?" He asked as he looked back at the girl in his bed. "How old do you think you are?" He asked, pushing some of her hair back behind her ear.

She winced as the touch of him on her cheek, putting her hands over her eyes as she tried to remember. Just anything, if anything. Looking back at the board, her eyebrows furrowed and she knew this couldn't be right.

"It's 2010. It has to be. I…I'm still in high school. At least I think I am. I don't know."

Harmony covered her face again, but this time she didn't hold back. She was sitting up, attached to various machines and wires, crying in a hospital bed with a boy she did not know, in the year supposedly known as 2012. She was so confused. It was almost as if she didn't know what was real anymore. She was lost, in every way possible. She heard the door open, but didn't care to look up at who it could be or who it would be. Her stomach hurt and her head continued to spin and for a second, she felt like she was dying. Was this what it was like? Slowly losing your memories until there was nothing left to live for until you slowly withered away?

The doctor pecked on Rory's shoulder and nodded towards the door, waiting for the young man to join him. Once he finally did, he squinted his eyes at the distraught man.

"Okay Rory, I'm going to be completely honest with you. The results back are saying amnesia. Like I said before, could be weeks or months. She'll remember slowly, at her own pace. Try to start from the beginning and go from there. It's like puzzle pieces, some she'll remember on her own and some she'll need help with, but in time, it'll help. When her head and injuries heal too, the easier it'll get. She'll have medication and she can even go home soon, or whenever she's ready. I even phoned her parents..they will be here soon as well."

Rory nodded as he listened. What was he supposed to say? 'Ok Doc, I'll just wait here until the government comes and takes me away.'

"Thank you, Doctor." He did his best to smile. He knew that, that was what he was going to have to do from now on. He was going to have to do his best to smile. He knew that sometimes, that smile was going to be real, but more than that, he knew it was going to have to be fake and forced. But Rory didn't have anyone, Harmony was all he had in this world, and now she was being taken away from him.

Heading back into the room, Rory stood at the end of Harmony's bed by her feet. "Your parents are coming, I'll just uhm…" He paused as he looked up at the ceiling and put on a fake smile. "I can leave, if you'd like. I uhm… I know that you're scared, Harmony. But there isn't anything to be scared of. I know you still think you are 18, but you're not. Most people are scared of their futures, you know? Where will they live? Who are they going to become? But I can…uhm..you are this great person. You are so talented and strong and just beautiful. And you are the girl of my dreams." He said a few tears running down his face, but he still smiled. "You just, know how to take control when things go wrong, and you always know how to fix things when they are broken. And now, now it's my turn to try and fix things." He whispered as he finally looked down at her. He smiled gently when he saw that her eyes were closed. "But this, I don't know how to fix this Har" He whispered figuring she was asleep. "I have 2 months before I have to go back to Ireland, and what if you don't remember by then? How can I just leave America and my friends and my job and…you?" He asked starting to cry a bit more. "How can I leave you?" He repeated as he looked at the door. "But don't uhm, don't be scared because I'll fix this, I'll fix you." He promised.

"I should go." He whispered to himself as he headed towards the door.

Harmony kept her head buried, but she heard the boy…Rory…come back into the room and walk to where she figured was the edge of the bed. Her hands were drenched with her tears, but she didn't dare look up. She had to get out of this nightmare. However, once he began to talk, her bawling settled down to a small whimper. His words were kind, gentle, but she could also hear much desperation in his voice. He was scared, as she was, so he must not be lying when he was saying such sweet things about her. She had to remember him, this person that must be so important to her. What did he mean he had to leave? She took the hands slowly off of her eyes and held them tight in her lap, her head still hanging low. She watched his feet head towards the door and before she could stop herself, she held her head up and beckoned him.

"Wait…please don't go."

As she stopped him, a knock was heard at the door and soon enough two figures were seen entering the door. A shorter woman with dark hair, her eyes distraught but blue as can be, and a taller man with brownish hair and a light mustache came barging in. Harmony's face brightened at the sight of her parents, a smile swiping across her face. Holding her arms out, she was embraced by her mother and then her father.

"Mom…Dad…where have you been?"

The embraces were much needed, feeling as if she hadn't seen them in ages. When they finally pulled away, Harmony's eyes flitted to Rory who still stood by the doorway.

"This is..uh..Ro-"

And before she could finish her words, Harmony's mother, Rae, took a step forward after wiping her eye.

"Rory. Oh Rory."

Rae gave him a sweet smile, similar to her daughter's, before taking a step forward and holding out her arms and pulling him into a sincere hug.

"We've heard a lot about you.."

After her father, Peter, went over to Rory as well and shook his hand, Rae went back over to her daughter and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"I'm going to go talk to Rory okay love? I'll be back."

Looking at Rory to follow her, she didn't stop walking down the hallway until they got to the end of the hallway where two chairs resided for them to sit.

"I'm sorry we have to meet on such unfortunate circumstances, Rory. I just…I just wanted to tell you that I feel like I already know you from Harmony's letters."

Reaching into her long blue jacket pocket, Harmony's mother pulled out a stack of letters, all handwritten and handed them to Rory.

"I know this is a hard time, for all of us but especially you. I just wanted to bring you these in case you needed a little reassurance. Read them…I think you'll enjoy what she has told me about you. I'll be back in the room…"

She turned to leave him to himself, knowing that if the letters would have the effect on him the way they had on her, he would want to be alone.

This was not the way that Rory wanted to meet his future parents-in-law. He intended on having them over before the wedding, drinking tea and making some lame jokes trying to get on their good side. Instead, they were meeting at the hospital, when their daughter was almost killed in a car that he was driving. He expected them to hate him, call him some American slang names and tell him to never see their daughter again.

Instead, they were kind to him, understanding even. They treated Rory like..family. But did they even know that he had purposed to Harmony? He never got their blessing like he wanted too, and if she wrote these letters, how could they know? Panic hit Rory as he sat down and watched the woman, who could be his mother in law walk down the hallway and dissapear into Harmony's room.

After he let out a deep sigh, he looked down in the pile of letters in his hand. He could tell there were quite a few and he thought maybe if he read one each day instead of them all at once, they could help him day by day. Slowly opening the first one, he saw that it was a shorter letter, which was nice because he didn't know how many more tears his eyes could produce.

Dear Mom,

I cannot believe Dad ran over another raccoon on Dixie Highway. He needs to stop taking it or they'll rename it Dixie Dieway just for him. I'll send PETA on his ass, you know I will.

In other news, I have some pretty exciting news. Don't laugh at me because I wrote this instead of called, but I like the whole writing handwritten letters scenario. I went on a date tonight. You know me, Mom. You know I don't do dates. I do 'Harmony's going to live forever alone, but surrounded by her Tonys'. This was different though, Mom. He is literally the sweetest person I've ever met. He's so considerate and so kind and held the door open for me just like in the movies. He took me to this antique store that you would have loved and bought me the most beautiful necklace. I have it on as I write this. And his Irish accent..to die for. Literally, I'm pretty sure I could listen to just his voice to the end of time and be plenty satisfied. He's from Dublin so if you and Daddy want to take another one of your extreme vacations, I'll ask him where to stay.

I really like him, Momma.

His name is Rory Flanagan, and I hope one day you'll be able to meet him.

Love,

Harmony

Rory instantly felt his eyes tear up as he saw Harmony's beautiful handwriting on the paper he held in his hands. All he could do was smile at the way she spoke about him. He would hold a thousand doors for her if it would bring her back to him. If that was what she liked about him, then that was what he was going to show her. Rory was going to make Harmony fall in love with him all over again.

Once he finished the letter, he placed in back in the pile and stood up. Recollecting himself, he slowly made his way back towards Harmony's room. Knocking softly on the door, he waited until someone said he could come in. "I think I am going to go back to..our place. And I have some things to do, but I'll come back tomorrow." He said to Harmony's mother. "I promise."