Chapter Eighteen: The One at Christmas Eve
XVIII: Well in this life, you must find something to live for because when the darkness comes a callin', you'll go back to where you were before.
She thinks it's the first time they've all been so quiet. If not the first, it's the starkest in her memory, but that could also be due to the stifling discomfort, the painful waiting and the obnoxious ticking of the clock in the corner. Rachel can scarcely believe a night of such merriment could end in such unfathomable disaster; it makes her pause and reflect.
Is this what life amounts to? One crashing high and low after another, some colliding to create the ultimate scenario, others evening out to a daily occurrence.
This isn't a daily occurrence.
She leans her head on Blaine's shoulder, vaguely aware of his uneven breathing and shaking hands. Strangely, Rachel is having no such reaction. Part of her wonders if this is what being 'in shock' is, because she can't feel anything. Her mind, for once in her life, is blank. Perhaps she's absently training her mind to be so void of thought though; an entirely plausible scenario.
"They're not dead, you know," Santana speaks to all of them, standing up, "They're not dead, so why are we acting like they are? It's Kurt and Finn – Furt – you just know they're going to be fine. They wouldn't leave us that easily… I think it'll take many more years of hard work for that."
Rachel appreciates the humour, and sends the Latina a smile, but not everyone is feeling the same way about the situation. Blaine shoots her a surprisingly scathing look, "I think the jokes are a bit too soon. You don't actually know if they're alive or dead – making jokes about wanting them to be is disgusting."
There's a loud sniff in the room, and it's only at this point that Rachel see's Brittany is crying. It takes all of two minutes before Santana rushes over to her, wrapping arms around the woman delicately and whispering soothing words in her ear. The fight with Blaine is abandoned. Rachel wonders if Brittany is more cunning than she lets on; the timing of that sniffle is suspicious.
Quinn and Puck return with refreshments for the adults in the room. She and Blaine accept theirs with a quiet murmur of gratitude – the only ones to make such an effort. Santana and Brittany don't even take theirs, leaving Puck to place it down beside them with a sigh. Mike decides against drinking his and returns to the riveting activity of watching the door.
They sit down next to each other after passing the drinks out, easily sliding into familiar positions of ease; his arm around her frame, drawing her close and providing them both with the comfort craved. She wonders how they ever drifted so far from what they were, whilst still remaining as close and acquainted with the movements of their relationship. It saddens her for some inexplicable reason. If Quinn and Puck can't fix 'It' …
Her thoughts are halted as the doctor enters the room, causing everyone to jump in surprise. Leaning forward in anticipation, she has to restrain herself from chanting 'please be okay' aloud like she is in her head. The doctor is young, still possessing kind eyes and a sensitive nature to these cases. He glances around at them all, seeming taken aback by the number of them, but ploughs on, "Hi, you must be the friends and family of Kurt Hummel and Finn Hudson."
"That's us," Quinn replies immediately for them, eager to hear the diagnosis.
"Well, I have some very good news, which is great as I so rarely get to give it. Besides some minor bone fractures and bruising, both Mr. Hummel and Hudson remain relatively unscathed. It's nothing short of a miracle."
She forgot words could invoke these kind of feelings in you; euphoria, relief, sheer delight. They're all hugging and cheering when his next words catch their attention, "However, I am concerned by the alcohol in Mr. Hudsons system upon the collision of the cars. Luckily, I don't think he was over the limit but, alarmingly, close to it. It will be up to the victim if she wants to press charges or not. She has a broken leg, but miraculously, is otherwise fine."
"Are we allowed to know her name, sir?"
"Tina Cohen-Chang. I'm sure she'll contact your friends shortly. For now, you can make visits to them in groups of two and no more."
24th December.
It's been ten days since they all had that moment. They've all talked about it and agreed upon the realness of it; a moment in which there is a realisation of life, fragility and overwhelming gratitude. It causes all of her friends to react in different ways, perhaps telling tales of their personalities and experiences, but in the end, it means that they're not doing Christmas like they used to. Having had an early Christmas dinner last night, exchanged presents, some left the city and some remained.
Rachel is one of the ones who decided to leave. It's been a while since she saw her fathers, and only now can she feel the full weight of the guilt. Take care of your parents while you can, because they won't be around forever – right? She's not alone in this sentiment. Brittany and Finn – following Kurt's assurance that he would be fine, and an insistence he see their parents – went home yesterday, while Rachel is driving to Ohio later tonight.
Kurt is still in hospital, and rather down about it. They all visit regularly, trying to keep his spirits up, but she doesn't blame him for feeling frustrated and dejected. Christmas is meant for family, not a hospital bed. She comes to the thought that many people face that scenario every year, some more than once. It makes her feel a little sick.
She hears the front door open, but before she calls out to discover the identity of the newcomer, she hears loud giggling and laughter. Rachel smiles to herself as she continues to curl the ends of her hair slightly; Quinn and Puck are back with Beth. Since they were unable to take her the previous weekend because of Kurt, Shelby allowed her to stay last night. Beth's going home in an hour or so, but Rachel knows that every second of time spent with that girl is priceless to her biological parents. She thinks the group often underestimate the power of what they went through giving her up – and finding her again.
Rachel listens closely as Beth devises a ludicrous game for them to play; she has an extraordinarily overactive imagination.
To be honest, she had been glad for the peace during the day. Santana and Brittany's goodbye this morning and taken it out of her; both their sexual and tearful goodbye and been heard loud and clear by a disgruntled Rachel. She worries about her lack of reaction towards their relationship, but figures that it's because they all knew secretly the whole time. Their little group enjoyed pretending.
She finishes her make-up and pouts prettily in the mirror, completely satisfied with the reflection. It took a lot of years before she could come close to feeling that. She's changed so much since her Lima days, but she supposes that so has Puck and Quinn. Finn, too – even if he didn't spend all his school years there.
Rachel grabs her purse and heads out to the kitchen and lounge area. Immediately upon seeing her, Beth launches herself into her arms, singing a Christmas tune familiar to everyone merrily. "Rachel! You look really pretty. Where are you going?"
"Rachel has a daaate," Quinn sings, coming to put her arms around Beth from behind. At ten years old, the girl is quite tall and her biological mother can comfortably put her arms around her shoulders.
Puck stands from the couch, looking like had had received a beating from one of the cushions, "Hot date, Rach? How is this the first I heard of it?"
She struggles to cool the flames she feels in her cheeks, "Because you tell everyone everything, Noah."
He laughs outright, "Someone's tetchy! Come on Princess, give me a smile, it's Christmas!" He flashes her a wide smile, which she can't help but return. Rachel loves Christmas and it would be a crime not to get on board.
"Beautiful," He says theatrically. Puck comes to stand beside her then and throws his arm around her, "Make sure he really wines and dines you tonight, you deserve it."
Rachel is touched by the sentiment, and really smiles at him this time, "Thank you, Noah. But in the name of equality, it shall be wining and dining together, not him wining and dining me."
He rolls his eyes, pulling away and telling Quinn, "I give up."
"You go, Rachel. Girl power!"
She meets Beth's hi-five, then eyes Quinn, "Have you got her brainwashed by the 90s?"
"Shut up and go." She replies jokingly, but gestures to the door. Rachel hugs them all tightly, wishing them a Merry Christmas. She tries not to get tearful, but can't help it – emotion has always been something Rachel never lacked. Quinn has sympathy written all over her face, causing her to pull Rachel in for another hug.
After a few loving and comforting words, Rachel is in date mode and ready for Christmas.
Like the majority of the world, he hates hospitals. He's not fond of falling into cliché's, but there's no way around this one. He can't stand them, and unlike a lot of people, he has no real reason for this. There's no childhood trauma, no gravely sick relative or untimely death; he just hates hospitals. They represent sickness, death, unhappiness. Rachel argues with him on these points (of course she does) and maintains that it also represents life, beginnings, hope and joy. She likes to talk about the birth of new lives, while he seems to focus on the exit of old life. That says it all, really. It makes him smile just a small bit, because he and Rachel would seriously never, ever work.
Regardless, he tries to channel some of Rachel as he waits for Kurt's parents to leave. Finn left yesterday, and he volunteered to see Kurt until visiting hours ended. After all, no one likes being alone on Christmas Eve. Mike is sure that there's no one at home, anyway. Puck was out with Quinn for the day and probably still is, Santana is in hibernation and Rachel's going home.
Seeing Carole exit the room, Mike gives her a polite nod. Unfortunately, Carole stops next to him to talk – which, normally, Mike would have no problem with, but being here makes him on edge. The discomfort he feels is pressing heavily upon his chest.
"Mike, dear, how are you?" She asks, leaning forward to hug him. "It's so good of you to stay with Kurt this evening."
"He's one of my best friends, there's nothing I'd rather be doing tonight," he tells her, being semi-sincere. In the world of realism and actual possibilities, this is what he'd rather do tonight.
She gives him a sad smile, "We're just sorry we have to leave, but our families have come to Lima for the holidays and –"
"Kurt understands, Mrs. Hummel."
"Carole, Mike, you should know that by now."
Burt finally leaves the room, pulling his hat down over his head as he does so. It appears as though it's been twisted over a couple times, leaving Mike to wonder unnervingly the kind of emotions running in the room.
"Mike, it's good to see you. Thanks for staying with my boy."
"Like I said to Carole, it's my pleasure."
They both bid goodbye then, wishing him the merriest of Christmases before leaving Mike to the largely empty corridor and relatively quiet area. Kurt's sharing with one other person, but they've been unconscious for a while now, so it's basically like his own room.
He inhales deeply, then takes swift steps into his friends room. As soon as he sees the expression on Kurt's face, he leaves his discomfort at the door. They're just friends talking, as they would on any other day in any other place.
"So, the 'rents have been awful with my gossip quota, what have you got me?"
Mike laughs, having expected this, "Well, Rachel's on a date as we speak –"
"Never!" He gasps, overdoing it for comical purposes.
"I know. It looks like the Finn and Rachel saga has finally seen its end.."
"I wouldn't say that." Kurt mumbles lowly, seeming serious now. "Finn was pretty upset with the whole Jesse situation. It… It's one of the reasons we crashed."
It's the first Kurt or Finn has spoken about the circumstances surrounding it. Mike doesn't know what to say, but wants him to continue and thinks nodding is the best way to encourage that. Kurt shrugs, "Whatever, they can deal with themselves. We're all big boys and girls here."
Just as Mike is about to offer a consoling word and question, there's an exclamation from the door, "Dudes! I have been looking everywhere for this damned room. Did you get moved, Maria?"
Kurt rolls his eyes, "No, you just forgot. Maybe I should draw a map?"
"Don't need no map," Puck replies, puffing out his chest.
"You know that means you do need a map?" Mike asks him, pulling up another chair beside Kurt's bed. Puck takes it, frowning all the while.
After another moment, he shakes his head, "Whatever. Here, I brought you that shit you asked for."
Kurt gives him a critical eye, and replies with distaste, "I didn't ask for any shit."
Familiar with Kurt and Puck's interactions, Mike zones out for a minute as he studies how bad Kurt looks. He's sitting up in the bed, the dowdy, salmon coloured blanket bunched at his waist and his legs appear to be crossed. His skin is still drastically pale, almost the colour of the white metal of the bed, which makes his dark bruises and cuts all the more shocking. There's a 'nasty stitches scenario' – as Puck puts it – across the left side of his forehead. Kurt's right arm sits stiffly in a glaring bright green cast, a ghastly colour to Mike.
"Right, Mike?" Kurt asks pleadingly.
There's only one way Mike can answer, especially since he has no clue what it's about, "Sure."
His face lights up, "Oh, thank you! Here," He shoves a white polar bear teddy, some Hersheys chocolates and a mixed flower bouquet into his waiting hands. Mike looks at him in puzzlement, hoping that he'll explain this without prompt. It's obvious Mike has no idea what's going on.
Puck saves him. "Why can't I bring the gifts to that chick? You know I'll bring the charm,"
"And the sexual harassment lawsuit," Kurt replies, barely sparing him a glance. "She's five doors up from here on the right, and her name is Tina Cohen-Chang. Can you give her those and this card? Please assure her it's not a bribe, but just something to try ease my crushing guilt."
"Why can't Puck do it?" His tone is weak even to his own ears. "He even wants to!"
"Besides the obvious reasons, you and her are probably from the same place and what if she doesn't speak English? I did notice your last names have a common component." Mike almost rolls his eyes at how racist that could be perceived as.
"The whole name, maybe?" Puck adds, deadpan.
Kurt ignores him, not surprisingly, "Please, Mike? I need you to do this for me. Please?"
Unable to refuse a battered and bruised friend, Mike grumbles, "Where's her room again?"
Hey All! I'm terribly sorry about the unbelievable wait for this chapter. I'm struggling with finding inspiration lately. Glee annoys the hell out of me lately, mainly whenever Marley is on screen. But, hey, I'll persevere for the original Glee cast and the good new characters.
Thank you very much to "tonotfeelyourrain" for the amazing reviews, it's partly the reason this chapter is here! I have half of the next chapter done, including the Mike/Tina scene ;) So, hopefully, it won't be too long. HOWEVER, I have exams now till mid-May so it could be a while. I'll also be updating LWGYH soon and perhaps a one-shot.
Thank you for reading, and I would be ever grateful for a review! I don't own Glee or "As it Seems" by Lily Kershaw btw, which is such a great song. Also don't own Friends. Bet you thought you nearly got me on that one...
Quick still ahead in the polls at the moment, but Quam seems to be inching in. Finchel also the most popular choice, rather than St. Berry...
Until next time,
CN.