A/N: It is short and sweet but I felt I had to get something out for all of you patiently waiting for an update. I am sorry for the long wait, my only excuses are that work has been busy and I have been enjoying myself as a reader rather than writer lately. I apologize and hope to rectify that. For those you waiting for updates on Little Blue Plus and When You Need Me I'll Be There I have somethings in the works (chapters floating around in my brain waiting to be released) and I hope to update them soon as well. This chapter moves us forward in time and I hope you don't think I am jumping to quickly but I am anxious to get onto Quinn's post high school life and the next phase of her recovery. I think I have explored her recovery in the McKinley and home realm quite enough and adequately (let me know if you disagree) and it is time to explore new aspects of her life and recovery. So without further ado here is the next chapter. Please review and let me know what you think. As always here is my DISCLAIMER: I do not on Glee or any of it's characters. GLEE belongs to it's creators and FOX.
Tears slid down her cheek as she laid on the examination table, her mother by her side gripping her hand tightly, the translucent shiny emotions sliding down Judy's cheeks as well. Quinn's doctor continued the examination, poking a small sharp needle along Quinn's thigh. With each probe she'd pause and glance at Quinn who'd nod or shake her head. Slowly the probing centered around a half inch line across Quinn's mid-thigh. Poke "Nothing" Quinn whispered, poke "Dull", poke "Dull", poke "sharp". Her doctor Forest stopped and put the probe away. He motioned for Quinn to sit up, "Well Quinn I have to say your recovery is going very well. Your line of sensation has moved to your mid-thigh as you can tell with reduced sensation until just before your knee; that is great."
"I hadn't realized." Quinn admitted, she truly hadn't noticed that her line of sensation had moved from just below her butt to her mid-thigh in such a short time. It was a shock a wondrous and encouraging surprise.
"I'm not surprised by that, the sensation you have below your line is very slight and dull, you wouldn't be able to feel your clothes, it isn't sharp enough or causes enough friction."
Judy rubbed the top of Quinn's hand with her thumb, "What does this do for her chances of walking again?"
"There is no guarantee you'll completely regain all your sensation back, in fact that is about 50% likely; however, the chances of gaining enough back to volitionally control your leg muscles and have enough touch sensitivity that with therapy and practice you'll be able to walk again is 70%."
Quinn tried to control her elation, there was still a 30% chance she'd never walk again, but her odds were so much better than they had been just a month ago. "What about running or dancing?" Quinn's heart sank when Dr. Forest gave her a small half smile, "Quinn you need to understand that running, like you used to run, and dancing and any high energy activity requires more muscle control and nerve sensation than you are likely to regain. I can't be positive, none of this is positive, but if you chances of functionally walking is 70% than the chances of you regaining enough muscle control and sensation to be competitive in any sport or dance is 50% as well."
Quinn's heart broke for an instance but she hid it, she had to be positive, she had to be happy with the progress she had made, that she may walk again, she didn't need to be a runner or a dancer, she just wanted to stand on her own two feet without help, she wanted to walk across the room and kiss Puck when he surprised her with a visit, she want to hold Beth's hand as they walked around the park, no she didn't need to run or dance but how she wanted too.
"Now tell me how long are you able to tolerate the standing frame?" Dr. Forest went on with the appointment. Quinn answered his question even if her mind was dwelling on what she may never get back.
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Nationals were upon them before anyone knew it. Puck admired Quinn for all the work she had done to learn how to move in her wheelchair as fluidly as Artie during the dance sequences. It was difficult at first to coordinate two wheelchairs instead of one into their routines, but eventually it ended up working quiet well, there was symmetry to the dances now, Artie no longer looked like the odd man out. Quinn and Artie actually devised several cool two wheelchair moves that looked difficult to do.
"You ready?" Puck leaned down to Quinn who was waiting stage left as they watched the pervious choir group finish.
"As much as I can be." She fidgeted nervously in her chair moving it slightly back and forth.
"You're going to be amazing you know that right?"
She shrugged, "I'm rolling around like an idiot while the Trouble Tones do a complicated and energetic dance to Edge of Glory." Puck sighed, most of the time Quinn was confident and assured in her chair, it was amazing considering she'd been in if for just over two month; but every once in a while she would let her insecurities rise to the surface. Kneeling he placed his hands on her thighs and squeezed tightly, enough for her to just feel their reassurance but not had enough to cause a bruise, it was fine line between the two with her dulled sensation in that area. "Don't sell yourself short Quinn, your moves are just as difficult and you have a whole course to yourself to show off that great voice of yours."
"I'm trading lines with Tina."
"Doesn't matter, everyone will notice you."
Quinn giggled and looked away, "Don't let Tina hear you say that." Puck shrugged and lean in placing a gentle kiss to her forehead, causing her to look back at him, their eyes meeting. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, the comment catching him off guard, wasn't that supposed to be his line. "You've become such a thoughtful, caring, compassionate and wise man, Noah. You raise me up when I flounder in the depths of my fears, you make me laugh, and most of all you make me feel loved." Slowly she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. It was brief as kisses go but it was amazing, soul repairing, mind blowing. Her lips so warm and soft, he'd missed there feel against his lonely lips. She pulled away only to rest her forehead upon his own, "I know I told you I wasn't ready, that I needed to fix myself before we could be something more and I stand behind that still but I wanted you to know that I'm getting better and that is because of you. I see you Noah, I know what you do for me and I appreciate it more than I think you will ever know, and though I'm not ready to be together yet I need you to know that I'm getting close and I just pray that you'll still be here when I am." She said the last bit shyly and there was a hint of fear to it.
Taking the only chance he believed he'd have for a while he kissed her, longer than she had him, but still much quicker than he wanted. "I'm not going anywhere; you Quinn Fabray are totally worth it." She was, she was worth waiting until the end of days, besides even if she didn't acknowledge it or realize it, to Puck they were together and had been since she woke up and ask the truth of him and trusted him to be the one person to never lie to her.
"Noah and Ally when you're done going all Notebook on us with your nauseating confession of love we have a competition to dominate." Santana broke the moment and Puck remembered that they were surrounded by half of their friends. Standing he straightened and cocked a smile trying to regain his badassness, "Yeah let's do this."
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Quinn laughed as she wheeled the trophy around on her lap, they'd one they had actually won the Show Choir Nationals. It was amazing and unreal and just perfect. "Kinn, Kinn!" Quinn paused and turned to see Beth running towards her trailed by her Mom, Shelby, and Frannie. Handing the trophy to Finn she pushed herself towards the running toddler. Showing off the athleticism she'd inherited from both Quinn and Puck, Beth quickly and easily climbed up Quinn's legs and into her lap. Quinn relished the slight pressure of the toddler on her legs. Nothing meant more to Quinn that the fact that she could feel Beth sitting on her even if it was ever so slightly. "Little Bug what are you doing here?"
"Prise, Kinn. Mama said we prise you."
"I am most certainly surprised, did you have fun."
"You so pwetty and I sing better than Wachie." Quinn giggled now she knew Beth was biased; there was no way she sang better than Rachel. Rachel's solo had be outstanding, the brunette's best yet.
"Thank you and what about Noah?"
"He did Otay." Beth giggled as Puck yelled "hey" before taking her from Quinn's lap and spinning her around. "Otay Otay 'Oah good too." Beth yelled and Noah flipped her onto his hip. "Much better." He kissed Beth's cheek and Quinn's heart flutter she really did love Noah more than anything, but she need to be better, she need to be worthy of him before she made anything official and she wasn't there yet, close but not yet. Noah deserved the best and she would be the best, for him and for Beth.
"You did great Sweetheart." Judy hugged Quinn tears shinning in her eyes.
"Yeah kiddo that was great." Quinn tried not to roll her eyes at Frannie but it was so hard when she insisted on calling Quinn kiddo.
"Thanks and thank you for coming."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Frannie said as she hugged Quinn and for the first time in years Quinn actually believe her sister.
Noah deposited Beth on Quinn's lap before gaining everyone's attention. "I think it's time to celebrate."
Everyone cheered and Quinn smiled, they'd done it and it was time to celebrate.
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