Chapter 15

I know I've left you all with quite a bit of drama going on. I couldn't help it. I really really had to. But I promise that from now on, you all will see the wonderful Finchel you've been craving. These two are going to be happy little nuggets. Hurray for happy nuggets!

Everything from the moment she got the phone call all the way to the hospital felt like it was going in slow motion for Rachel. She was having trouble breathing, and even the baby seemed to notice that her insides were in knot; it didn't like its mother's emotions too much. But she couldn't help it.

What she also couldn't help was the traffic that was on the highway at almost one in the morning. Seriously, people in LA never slept.

"Drive the fuck faster, asshole!" she yelled at the driver in front of her, who it seemed like he was purposely trying to try her patience. Well, she definitely didn't have any. Not right now. Not when she had no idea what condition Finn was in, and if he was even going to make it. They wouldn't tell her anything over the phone, despite her begging.

If he was in a coma, this was the end. People rarely woke up from comas. Or worse, if he was dead...she may was well be dead too. There was no way she could or even would take care of a baby, their baby, without Finn. She needed him like the air that she breathed, and right now, she didn't feel like there was any air left.

Practically running through the ER entrance, Rachel skidded up to the nurse's station. "I-I'm looking for my boyfriend. He-he was in a car accident, and was brought here, and one of the doctors called me and-"

"Name?"

"Hudson. Finn Hudson. Please, can I see him?"

"Ma'am, the doctor-"

"Don't you dare fucking tell me I can't see him. I'm sorry, but I just...I'm pregnant, and I need to see him and to know that he's okay. Please." She had tears in her eyes. She was desperate here, clearly.

"Rachel Berry?"

Rachel turned the moment she heard her name. A man in a white lab coat was walking her way. "Yes. Are you Finn's doctor? Is he okay?"

"Yes, yes, I'm Finn's doctor. And yes, he's going to be okay."

It was as if time starting going again. Relief washed over her and she felt like she could finally breathe. "Can I see him?"

"I will take you to him." He began leading her to the hospital room. "He was unconscious when he came in and lost a lot of blood, but we managed to stabilize him. He's sleeping for the time being. He has a broken leg, and multiple fractures in his arm. Stitches just about everywhere on his left side, so don't be surprised when you see him.

"And he's going to be okay?"

"He's going to live, if that's what you're asking."

That was all she needed to know. She didn't care if he had all broken bones. He was alive. He was going to live. That was good enough for her, at least for the time being.

The moment she saw him, she immediately felt hot tears on her cheeks. And it most likely wasn't from the fact that everything made her cry now that she was pregnant. He was so broken, physically, and she couldn't help but feel an enormous amount of guilt.

"I'll leave you." The doctor closed the door.

Rachel carefully approached the hospital bed where her boyfriend was sound asleep. He didn't look like he was in any pain, but then again, those needles weren't shooting water up his arm. He wasn't moving, just the rhythmic up and down of his chest.

His leg was in a cast, and his left arm in a splint. Sure enough, every exposed part of his skin had stitches holding him together. There was even one on his left cheek. If Finn was in this condition, there was no way the car was even better. Not that it even mattered anymore. He was here, and he was alive. It was all she needed.

She pulled up the chair right next to his bed, and just stared at him. The baby stopped kicking her, which was a good sign, so she felt less nauseous. But she still felt like this was her fault. No - she knew it was her fault. She started the argument that caused him to storm out and to drive angrily on the already dangerous streets of the city. She did this to him.

"...who died?"

His soft voice caused her to focus on his face, and she saw that his eyes were half open. Was he dreaming?

A small sob was heard, and she fell apart once again, not knowing what to do with herself anymore. "I...I'm s-sorry I did...this to y-you. I s-shouldn't have m-made any p-plans without asking you f-first. I'm so...s-so sorry, Finn."

He offered her his right hand, and she immediately took it, kissing his knuckles and crying freely now. How could he love her now? She'd nearly killed him.

"You didn't...do anything, sweetheart. It wasn't anyone's...fault. Some idiot ran a red, and...hit me hard. Not...you."

How could he not blame her? How was that humanly possible? She'd clearly done this. He wouldn't even have walked out if it hadn't been for her.

"People...argue, and get angry with...each other. Relationships aren't perfect, no matter...how hard we try. I was being...stupid, and got angry for no...reason. But it wasn't either of..our faults that this happened. I promise."

She couldn't contradict him. She didn't want to. He was safe. He was speaking to her. He wasn't angry. He was alive.

"Does...does it hurt?" she asked softly.

"It did. Not anymore. I'm shot up...with morphine. Can't...feel a thing." He looked at her, and she saw how in pain he was. He was being brave for her. "Im sorry I scared you. I didn't mean to."

"Scared me...is an understatement. Big understatement. I didn't want to live...if you weren't alive."

"Don't say things like that."

"I mean it. I refuse to live without you." She did mean it. She wasn't going to live and breathe on the earth if he wasn't doing that with her. He was a part of her, and when half of her dies, the other half can't possibly survive.

He weakly squeezed her hand. "I love you...Rachel. I promise...I won't leave you. Can't get rid of me...that easily."

"I love you, too. So much." She leaned over and rested her forehead against his. She needed to be close to him. But not too close. She didn't want to hurt him.

His eyes closed, and he remained silent for a moment. They never had to say too many words, because whatever they were trying to communicate was being silently heard. They had that special sort of connection. That tether. Their hearts just knew.

Then, he moved his chin upwards, and kissed her slowly, as if that sealed the end of their argument. It sure felt like it was the end of it, because she felt forgiven.

"I won't go on the tour."

"What?"

"I won't go on the tour. I know how much you'll worry about me. And you're right. Being on the road when I'm..that pregnant just...isn't good for me or for the baby. I won't go," she said carefully.

"Rachel...are you sure? I don't want...you to resent me."

"I could never resent you. I am absolutely positive. I won't go, not without you. And you need to stay here to finish that film. So, I'm staying here with you."

She looked determined, and she wasn't sure if he was just too weak to argue with her, but he didn't try to. He looked happy with her decision. And she knew that he was. He worried about her every single day of his life. Her being on the road in her condition would give him a heart attack. And she certainly didn't need that.

"What the fucking fuck?! I want to see my brother! I will fucking sue your sorry asses if I don't fucking see him right this fucking moment!"

Rachel couldn't help but crack a smile. When she looked at Finn, he was trying hard not to start laughing. They both knew who that was. There was only one person that could manage the 'f' word five times in the span of three seconds and actually make it make sense.

"I should leave you two. She's your sister." It literally pained her to say that she was going to leave him. She wanted to stay there the entire time he would. She was going to sleep in that damn chair for as long as she needed to.

"No, stay. I want you here."

That's all the convincing it took for Rachel. She was staying.

The door opened, and a blonde head popped in. "Oh, fuck, you look like hell."

"Thank you, Alex. It's wonderful...to see you too." He was forcing it all. She could tell.

"Hey, Rachel," Alex nodded to her with a small smile. She was definitely over her obsessive phase with Rachel, but she still secretly wanted to sleep with her. It was a thing. Like a Freebie Five list. "Finn, my god, what happened to you? Fell asleep at the wheel again? I fucking told you to never drive when you're tired."

"I'll be just fine, Lex. Broken leg...fractured arm, and the stitches. But I'll live."

Rachel was protectively hovering beside him. In case he needed her for something in within the span of a millisecond.

"You sure? I had to steal that bitch nurse's schedule thingy to find your room. Nobody was telling me a damn fucking thing. Fucking service in here is shit. God."

"Go home, Alex. It's late, and...you get really cranky when you're...tired."

"No fucking way. I'm staying right here."

"Rachel's staying with me, don't worry...about it." He smiled softly at Rachel and squeezed her hand again.

But Alex looked unsure. "No, don't you tempt me like that."

"Come back when you're rested, sis. I appreciate...you coming out here, but I...am totally okay for now. I promise."

Alex yawned and scratched the back of her neck. "Promise I'm not being an awful little sister?"

"Pinky promise. Go ease...Mom and Dad's minds about me."

"Better yet. A picture." She pulled out her phone.

"No, don't-" Too late. She'd taken it. "You little fucker."

Rachel raised her eyebrows. Finn never swore. Not that word or any derivatives of it. He was definitely shot up on the morphine.

Alex leaned over and kisses Finn's cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow. I love you, Finn."

"Love you...too, Alex."

The moment she walked out was when Finn started snickering at Rachel's facial expression. "What?"

"You said the 'f' word!"

That only caused him to laugh harder. "Stop...that, laughing hurts."

"But you said the 'f' word!"

He was going to be okay. That's all that Rachel knew. He was going to live and be okay and come back home with her as soon as he could. So maybe their perfect little life wasn't so perfect. Perfect wasn't real. But Finn was as close to perfect as she needed. And he was all she needed.