A/N- Sorry guys! I've been super busy lately and just haven't had the time to write. We've made it out of the super angsty chapters! There will still be some occasional angst, but it will mostly be romance from now on. Thanks again for reviewing and story alerting. Make sure to keep doing it. Enjoy :)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Glee or its characters, nor do I own the Kings of Leon
I must have drifted off while I was waiting for Rachel to come back because when I opened my eyes she was already sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed reading a magazine. Her bottom lip was swollen, a dark bruise had formed across her right cheekbone, and she had a bandage covering the cut on her forehead.
"Rach?" She looked up from her magazine and grabbed my hand.
"Hey sleepy head. How are you feeling?"
I propped myself up on my elbows and looked at her incredulously, "How am I? I should be asking you the same thing! I can't believe he did that to you."
"Quinn, I'm fine. I look a lot worse than I feel. I only needed five stitches."
"Stitches! That moron made you get stitches? I'm so going to kill him once I can move my damn legs!"
"Sweetheart, please calm down. Nothing good is going to come out of getting angry. The police already spoke with me. Finn won't be coming near either of us for a good long while. There's nothing to get upset over."
"Nothing to get upset over my ass," I mumbled.
"Sorry what was that?" she said sternly.
"I didn't say anything."
"Thought so," she teased.
I stuck my tongue out at her and patted the space next to me. She immediately crossed the room to sit next to me on the bed. I lifted my arm to wrap it over her shoulders. A small sigh escaped her lips as she put her head on my shoulder. I bent my head to place a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Now I know how you must have felt when I was in the coma. Seeing you hurt was torture. I couldn't even get up to help you. I never want to feel that again," I whispered into her hair.
"I felt the same way. Do you get what I mean when I say that I don't care about your legs or the seizures? As long as I still have you alive and with me, I'll be just fine."
"I get it now Rach. Sorry I doubted you."
"You never have to be sorry about that. I understand where you were coming from. You've never been appreciated for all that you are, only your looks. But, believe me when I tell you that your beauty is the least attractive part of you, and that's saying something. Everything about you is gorgeous."
"Where did you come from?" I breathed out.
"Mars. I'm totally a Martian, sent here to destroy the world, one beautiful girl at a time."
A throaty laugh escaped my lips, "Way to ruin a romantic moment."
She gave me a cheeky grin and tilted her head up to give me a soft kiss. She broke away when a knock sounded from the front of the room. Dr. Pierce loomed in the doorway looking sheepish.
"Sorry girls, but I have some news you might want to hear. Today marks two weeks after you were first admitted into the hospital. Your recovery has been miraculous. Nobody even expected you to live past the first twenty four hours. We believe that you can go home. Today."
"I'm sorry, what did you just say? I can go home? But what about the seizures? And I still can't move my legs!"
"We have medication for the seizures. As far as your legs go, we don't actually know that you will gain the mobility in your legs back. You need to get used to using that wheelchair. There is nothing we can offer you here that you can't get at home. You're completely stable."
"I just can't believe I can go home this early. It seems too fast."
"Of course you don't have to actually go home right now if you feel uncomfortable. But, you will have to leave eventually. You can think on it if need be."
"No! I just…," I trailed off. I looked at Rachel and said, "What do you think Rach? Should I go home or wait for a while longer?"
She seemed to ponder it for a moment before she answered, "Honestly, I'm terrified of you going home. I don't want something bad to happen so far away from the hospital. But rationally I understand that you do have to leave eventually. What is the difference between today or three days from now? Why not go home, where you'll be comfortable?"
I smiled at her before I turned to Dr. Pierce, "I guess it's settled then. I'm going home today."
"Excellent! I'll just go have the nurses get your discharge papers ready. You should be out of here in an hour or so." He grabbed my chart as he left the room.
"Oh crap! I just realized that my mom isn't even back from Paris yet. Now what am I supposed to do?"
"Well, you could always stay with me and my dads. We'd be glad to have you. And, it might ease the stress I have about you leaving the hospital."
"Are you serious? That would be great! I wouldn't want to impose though."
"Don't even worry about it. I'll send my dad a text to let him know we need to get the guest room ready. I'll also have him come pick us up. His car is more…accessible."
I looked away at the reminder that my legs still didn't work. Would they ever be back to normal? There was so much I was going to have to relearn.
"Quinn?" Rachel asked softly, "I've been meaning to talk to you about something. I was waiting for a good time to bring it up, but since you're getting discharged I should tell you."
I turned my head back around to face her. She looked shy and uncomfortable. No, it couldn't be! She couldn't possibly be breaking up with me now, after everything we had been through.
"Are you breaking up with me?" I choked out.
Alarm spread across her face, "Oh gosh no! Quinn, I could never break up with you. That's not what this about. I'm sorry you misunderstood me."
"Oh thank god. You really terrified me there. What did you want to talk to me about then?"
"Well, I talked to Artie yesterday. As much I believe that your legs will work again, we don't know how long that will take. You're going to have to relearn a lot of things. So I asked Artie if he would be willing to sort of, mentor you. He said he would be happy to help you. He's the only person that can possibly understand the mental pain you're in right now. Also, he's been in the chair so long that I'm sure he has a few tricks and-"
I covered her mouth with my hand. She really was cute when she rambled.
"Rachel that is an amazing idea. Thank you. Truly. I really will need a lot of help, and who better to learn it from than Artie."
She breathed out a sigh of relief, "I was so nervous! I didn't want to anger you or make you sad. I'm glad you're going to let him help you. I really think it will help."
"Me too. I love you."
A soft smile graced her face. "I love you too."
In less than an hour my discharge papers had been filed and I was ready to leave. Rachel had helped me change out of my hospital gown into some regular clothes. I had settled for a yellow dress with a white cardigan in order to make everything as easy as possible. Jack came in and lifted me into my wheelchair.
Once I was securely in the chair he handed me a small plastic bag, "That has your seizure meds. It also has your pain killers for your ribs as well as your head. Don't hesitate to call if you have any questions or concerns. Dr. Pierce wants to see you in two weeks for a check-up. Be safe Quinn."
"Thanks Jack." I would really miss him. He had been a really nice guy.
Rachel handed me our bags so I could hold them in my lap. She pulled the brakes off the wheels and pushed me forward. My eyes fluttered shut on instinct; I had always hated seeing all the sick people in hospitals. I didn't open my eyes again until we were in the lobby. Both of Rachel's fathers were standing at the entrance, ready to take us home.
"Hey girls," Leroy greeted. We continued out of the hospital into the vast parking lot.
"Where did you park the car daddy?"
"Row C Section 5," Hiram said.
I made a mental note to remember that Hiram was daddy and Leroy was dad. The Berry's car was a large white van. Rachel walked to the side of the car and slid the door open.
"Um, how should we do this? I should have googled it!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Don't worry baby girl, your daddy and I looked it up. We got this."
Suddenly Leroy's strong arms lifted me up into the air. He gently set me into the car and pulled the seatbelt across my body.
"I trust you can do the rest?" he asked.
I blushed and nodded my head. Hiram came around to fold up the wheelchair. He set it directly behind my seat for easy access. Rachel went to the other side of the car and slid in next to me. She planted a reassuring kiss on my cheek before she buckled her seat belt.
Her dads opened their doors and climbed into the car. Leroy inserted the key into the ignition while Hiram turned around to face us.
"OK Quinn, our house is only ten minutes away from the hospital so you won't have to be in the car for long. How are you feeling sweet heart?"
"I'm fine, thanks Mr. Berry."
"Please call my Hiram darling."
"OK."
Rachel grasped my hand tightly in hers as we pulled out of the hospital parking lot.
"Do you girls mind if I turn on the radio?" Leroy called back.
Rachel looked to me; silently asking if it was alright. I nodded my head and she said, "Sure dad, just not too loud."
Leroy turned the volume dial and I was pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn't show tunes. My head started bobbing along to the beat of the music.
"I really like this song. What is it?" I asked Rachel.
"It's the Kings of Leon. Contrary to popular belief I do listen to all different types of music. I just tend to favor Broadway."
"Well, I must say I underestimated you Miss Berry. My mistake, it shall never happen again."
"Such a smooth talker Fabray."
"You know it." Just then the car pulled to a stop in front of a large two story house.
"Welcome home Quinn," Rachel whispered against my neck, and in that moment, nothing had ever felt better.