Chapter 35
Emergency
"Wait, did you just say... accident?" Bella asked.
"Yes, he did," Mr. Schuester reassured her as he entered the room, "I just got off the phone with Quinn's mom. She is at the hospital now."
"What are we waiting for? We need to get there," Alajandra said.
They all piled in to separate vehicles and rushed to the hospital.
"We are here to see Jeffrey and Quinn," Ms. Pillsbury said to he lady at the front desk.
"Right this way," the woman left her seat and lead the group down the hall into a small white room with two beds that were separated by a light green curtain.
"Oh, my god Jeff, are you okay?" Naomi asked scanning him and noticing a large bandage on his head and some bruises.
"Just peachy, except I can't feel my legs," he answered angrily.
"Wait, you can't feel you legs?"Alajandro asked.
"Just kidding, I think I could get up and do a dance. Why would I lie about that?"
"Why are you being so mean?" Alyssa asked.
"Didn't the doctor tell you about Quinn?" he asked, "The pick-up hit on her side and he was going 65 in a 45."
"Wait, is she..." Alegandra began.
"Dead?" Rosa finished.
"She is in a coma, and he isn't certain when or if she will ever wake up," Jeff began to cry.
"Oh, my god," Ms. Pillsbury said, leaving the room.
"I... I loved her... and now she is going... going... to... DIEEEE!" Jeff's crying turned into bawling and the room remained in shock.
"I'm sure that she will be okay," Ulises tried to cheer him up.
"Even if she is, I am going to be in a wheelchair for who knows how long! I was raised well enough to not discriminate against people with handicaps, but I never wanted to become one. I mean, it is bad enough that I have that stupid neurological disorder that causes me to shake and twitch all of the time."
"Hey, I am in a wheelchair," Artie interjected, "I can help you along the way."
"Thank you Artie."
The doctor came into the room.
"Woah, too many people. Each patient is only allowed five visitors at a time. I need to speak to Jeffrey alone right now, so you all can determine who gets to visit him first in the lobby."
They all left the room.
"Well, what is the bad news doc?" Jeff asked.
"It could be bad or good. I cannot predict whether or not you will be able to walk again."
"HOW CAN THAT BE GOOD?" he shouted.
"It means you at least have 50/50 chances, and that is better than an absolute no, right?"
"I guess so."
"Well I will let you break it to your friends," he turned to leave the room.
"Sir, can I please get a wheel chair?"
"Of course, I will send someone to help you now," he left the room and five minutes later another man in a nurse's uniform came into the room with a wheelchair.
"I'm sorry that you have to do this. I will try my best to do as much on my own," Jeff said as he sat up and failed at moving his legs.
"It's okay, it is my job to help you," the guy lifted him into the wheelchair.
"Thank you," Jeff rolled towards the door, "Can you show me to Quinn Febrey's room?"
"Right this way," Jeff wheeled after him, and entered another room where Quinn was on a bed and her mom was weeping in a chair at the end of the bed.
"Quinn?" Jeff grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "If you can hear me squeeze back," nothing happened.
Jeff: I can't win, I can't reign
I will never win this game
Without you, without you
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you
I won't run, I won't fly
I will never make it by
Without you, without you
I can't rest, I can't fight
All I need is you and I
Without you
Without you
Woooooh!
You! You! You!
Without You
I can't erase, so I'll take blame
But I can't accept that we're estranged
Without you, without you
I won't soar, I won't climb
If you're not here, I'm paralyzed
Without you
Woooooh!
You! You! You!
Without You
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you
Without you
The song had no effect and Jeff began weeping hysterically.
Jeff returned to his room where, Naomi, Alyssa, Rosa, Alajandra, and Rachel were waiting.
"Where were you?" Alyssa asked.
"I went to see Quinn."
"And?" Rachel asked.
"She is still in a coma. Oh, and the doctor has no clue if I will or will not be able to walk ever again."
"I am sorry," Rosa replied.
"The doctor said that you can leave today though," Alajandra mentioned.
"Great because Finn's house is totally made for people in wheelchairs."
"We already thought of that, and Artie's parents said that you could stay there."
"I have something that I would like to say now, but you all have to promise not to be offended," Jeff instructed.
"We promise," Rachel answered.
"You all believe in your gods and we are so close to Christmas. Can you tell me why he would do this to me, of all people? I like to think that I am nice, and I may not be religious at all, and honestly I have been quite skeptical since my mom passed away, but I thought he awards people who do good things."
Update 3/9/12: "God works in mysterious ways," Rachel began, "Maybe this is going to make you a better person."
"Why do I have to be the better person though? Why couldn't it have been someone else?"
"I don't know, Jeff," Alajandra began, "but..."
"We all know that you will make it through this," Rosa finished.
"Yeah, don't worry about it," Alyssa added.
"Okay, well can I go?"
"Yes, just let us get the doctor," Naomi said as she left the room and the doctor entered about a minute later.
"Hello, Jeffrey. I just finished all of your paperwork and you can get out of here in a few minutes."
"Thank you," Jeff replied and Artie came into the room.
"Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I can help you with the wheel chair things. It takes a bit of getting used to and you will realize right away that you are cut down to less than half of your height. Also, your sexual tensions will probably build up faster due to your need to cope with the fact that you can't use that area for much."
"Umm, I don't really feel comfortable talking about sexual activities with you. No offense, I wouldn't talk about them with anyone really. I understand all of the other stuff though and I will definitely take you up on your offer."
"Okay, Mr. Jenni, you are clear to go," the doctor informed.
"Thank you."
Update 3/24/12: Jeff wheeled out of the hospital and Artie's dad was waiting in handy-capable van, where everyone helped him get in and went their separate ways.
"Hi, it's Jeff isn't it?" Artie's dad asked on the ride home.
"Yeah, thanks for taking me in."
"No problem, we are glad to help," Artie's dad replied.
"I hope I am not that much of a burden," Jeff said.
"No, we love having company."
Jeff took out his phone and pulled up Ivan Flores in his contacts.
"Hey, I just realized that my car is still at the theatre. You can have it until I am able to drive again if you go and pick it up," Jeff said when Ivan answered the phone.
"Gee, thanks," Ivan replied.
"You're welcome," Jeff answered and hung up the phone.
"Time for your first lesson, wheeling," Artie said once they got to his house and were out of the van, "It may sound easy, but you have to build up your arm strength."
"Got it," Jeff attempted to get up the ramp by the front door, but ended up rolling back down.
"I told you it is hard. It took me some time to get used to it too," Artie said as he rolled up the ramp with ease.
"I can do this. I am not going to give up," Jeff tried again, but it was in vein.
"Don't push yourself too hard," Artie advised.
"No need to worry, I am going to make it this time," Jeff pushed so hard that he thought his arms were about to fall off.
"Hey, you made it," they both went inside and Artie showed him down a hall to his bedroom. It contained a nightstand and a queen sized bed with a temporary bar stand to assist the handicap-able at getting into the bed.