When her eyes flew open, she was alone. The hospital room was empty, and the only sound was the reassuring beep of the heart monitor. She glanced down at the IV nestled into the crook of her elbow, turning her head quickly. The sight of needles had always made Santana sick, let alone the sight of needles in her.
"Hello?" she called quietly.
"Oh, Miss Lopez. You're awake. How wonderful! You've been looking good for the past few days- it was only a matter of time, after your heart restarted. It was a positive change after that," smiled a doctor. He had thick black hair that was combed over- it made Santana want to laugh, but she knew that was rude.
"How long was I gone?" Santana asked quietly.
"About two weeks. You put your friends and family through the emotional ringer, Santana," the doctor murmured, sitting on her bed.
"Did my grandma come?" she whispered hopefully.
"No, honey. No, she didn't," called a different voice. It was her mother.
"Oh, 'Tana," she cried.
"Mama," Santana sobbed, hugging her.
"Oh Mama, I'm so sorry...I didn't know I could die from that much...I never meant that."
"I know, mija, I know...but the doctor...he said it was a dose that would have killed you had Mr. Shue not found you. He wants to send you off to a...a mental hospital," Mrs. Lopez said, stifling a sob.
"Hell to the no, Doc McStuffins, we don't have that kind of money," Santana snapped.
"I'm aware. Someone else is paying the bill: an anonymous benefactor."
"I don't take charity," Santana hissed, "especially not from strangers."
"Santana, it is about time you faved your reality. You took enough pills to be a fatal dosage after clearly suffering a traumatic loss. It's not that I think your crazy- I just fink you need rest," the doctor sighed.
"Then leave me alone," Santana whispered, wiping tears from her eyes. Her response, meant to be snappy, came out weak and lonely.
"Listen, 'Tana, I have to go feed Buster. I have a feeling some others want to visit you," her mother smiled, glancing in the halls, "so I'll be back in an hour or so."
Santana smiled at her mother as she left, hoping to ease the woman's mind.
"Santana!" Kurt shouted.
"Hey, Lady Hummel, did you bring the Golden Girls and the bow tie section of Macy's?" Santana joked weakly.
"No to the bow tie, yes to Golden Girls," Kurt said, holding up season 2 on DVD. He dropped the disc onto the chair and approached her hospital bed. He hugged her gently and long.
"Time to let go now, Lady Hummel, or I'll puke all over you."
Kurt laughed, wiping his eyes.
"Rachel...her flight is on it's way right now. She'll be here soon. Hopefully, she'll be able to hold it together. Lord knows Tina and I haven't- she's soggier than...well, than her usual, I guess," Kurt smirked.
"Is Britt...I mean...never mind," Santana muttered.
"No one could get a hold of her. We figured she's probably off, doing some crazy thing with Lord Tubbington or something..." Kurt grinned fondly.
"'Tana, are you feeling better?" Kurt asked suddenly.
Santana pointed at the morphine drip nestled in her arm and rubbed her stomach enthusiastically.
"I know you're doing fine physically-getting you off the morphine is going to be the issue. I meant, ya know, mentally," Kurt said quietly.
"I'm not crazy," Santana snapped.
"I know. But you did try and kill yourself," Kurt murmured, stroking her arm gently.
"I didn't mean to do that. And the doctors are carting me off to the loony bin with pee infested elderly and Fatniss the clowns of the world," Santana groaned.
"I know," Kurt chuckled, "but it'll only be for a few weeks, and I'll visit. I'll even bring season three if you are lucky."
Santana smiled, tears in her eyes. She hastily wiped them away, embarrassed by her emotions.
Many more visitors came before she left for the hospital. Her friends all cried, glad she was alive. Will was stoic and worried and obviously guilty that he had not helped the girl sooner. Santana tried gently to console him, but he as far beyond reach.
Coach Sue's visit had a hug, tears, and guilt. The guilt was Sue's, the tears were Santana's, and the hug was the last thing she did before she left Lima Mercy Hospital.