Sooo…It's been forever since I updated. I have no excuses. Just lost the motivation for this story tbh. I will finish this story, I am determined. I can't promise it will be soon though. So this chapter is for those of you who even remember what happened in the last chapter. Thanks for reading. ;)

Chapter 11

"Wha-Where am I?" Will asked as he attempted to sit up, grimacing at his own movement.

"Mr. Schuester, you need to lie down. You've just come out of major surgery. Do you know where you are?" The short brunette nurse asked, directing his attention away from Emma. She shined a light in each eye and wrote something down in his chart. Emma squeezed his hand urging him to answer the question.

"I-I think I'm in a hospital. What happened?" His face was etched with confusion and there was an annoying pain emanating from his left side that seemed to travel throughout his entire torso whenever he attempted movement.

"You were stabbed. Can you tell me the date?" An uninterested look plastered the face of the nurse who was buried in her chart.

Will thought for a moment, trying to brush off the nurse's coldness and comprehend the question. "It's December 12th, isn't it?" He asked.

"It's the 13th today, but that is close enough." The nurse corrected, writing in his chart once more.

"I-I was stabbed…" It was a question more than a statement, but as soon as the phrase had left his mouth Will was flooded with memories of the attack and everything that lead up to it.

"It's okay Will. You're okay now." Emma said soothingly as she ran her hand along his cheek once more. It was easy for her to sense his apprehension as he kept looking into her eyes for that calm feeling he always got whenever he searched long enough in them.

Emma was thankful when he finally relaxed into her touch.

The nurse called the doctor in and had him examine Will as well, finally clearing him to move to a new room. They were in a hospital room before long and Emma quickly helped Will settle into the new space. After a small amount of food had been consumed and some sleep had been received the couple heard a soft knock at the door. "Em?"

Emma heard the familiar voice as she came to open the door, pleased to see Shannon there with a few bags. "Shannon, you're here!" Emma said, wrapping the woman into a hug. This was quite a feat for a mysophobic person but Emma couldn't help herself in this instant.

"Of course I'm here!" Shannon said, returning the hug and walking into the hospital room. "I wouldn't be anywhere else." She flashed a grin that momentarily lit up the room.

Emma smiled, ushering her over to the large chair on the right of Will's bed. Shannon placed the bags she had with her on the table near the wall and settled comfortably into the chair. "How are you feelin?" She asked, directing her question at Will.

"I've been better, but I'm not too bad." He said, placing a hand near his bandaged wound. Emma came around to the left side of the bed and fluffed Will's pillow a little bit before taking a seat in the foldout chair on the opposite side of the bed from Shannon. "You know, you really didn't have to drive all the way up here for this." Will gestured to himself, not wanting to make a fuss over anything.

Are you kiddin me? As soon as Emma called and told me what happened I was on the pavement. Friends help friends in their time of need, and buddy, this is your time of need," Shannon pointed to his bandaged abdomen for emphasis. "You gave us all a good scare there!" She added with a small chuckle.

"You're telling me," Will said, returning the chuckle, then instantly regretting the amount of movement involved in laughing.

"Careful Will." Emma grimaced, noticing his flinching. "You don't want to tear your stitches," She reminded.

Will sighed. "I know, I know. I'll be careful," he relented.

"Well I brought you guys some clothes and things from the house. I wasn't sure how long you'd be here and I didn't want you to get stuck in a rough spot without enough stuff to get by," she said, gesturing to the bag. Emma noticed the circles under her friend's eyes and remembered that she had been driving all night.

"Thank you so much Shannon. I don't know what we'd do without you," Emma said, offering her best look of thankfulness. "Have you gotten any sleep since you came in?"

"Not since about one or so. It's okay though; I can go down to the cafeteria and grab some coffee," The last thing she wanted was to have Emma worry about her.

"Shannon, you should really get some sleep. You are welcome to nap on the pull-out if you'd like. It's not the most comfortable, but it gets the job done," Emma got up from her seat so her friend would be able to use it.

"Oh no Em, that's okay. Really. I'm gonna run down the street a few blocks from here and grab a room at the hotel there. You both don't need me snoring up a storm while you're trying to rest." Shannon let out a deep chuckle at her own joke. Both Will and Emma laughed a little bit at their friend's amusement. "We can share a room if you'd like Em. I can get a double. That way you won't have to sleep in that lumpy pull-out chair."

"Oh, thank you so much for the offer Shannon, but I think I ought to stay with Will until he's discharged. The nurses said I can stay and they've already brought me some brand new sheets. I just want to make sure Will is okay. I really appreciate the offer though." Emma graciously declined, but she couldn't help thinking how wonderful her friend was to offer. The last thing she wanted to do was stay another night or more in a filthy hospital but she couldn't bear to leave Will.

"That's probably a good idea. Someone to keep him company while he's healin can always do a body good." She pat Will lightly on the shoulder and he returned a smile.

"Well I'm gonna head on over to the hotel and take a quick nap. If you need a shower Em just let me know and I'll come bring you a room key." Shannon stood and grabbed her few items. Emma stood as well and walked her to the door, thanking her once more for coming all this way and bringing some things from home for the couple. Once Shannon had gone and both Will and Emma were awake at the same time, they finally had a moment to talk.

"Em, how are you holding up?" Will asked as she sat once more in her chair. He fished for her hand, holding on to it once he found it.

"Will I'm fine. You're the one in the hospital bed." Emma stroked the back of his hand soothingly with her thumb and looked at him with her sympathetic puppy dog eyes. Will melted instantly.

"Em, you're not fine. I might be the one in the hospital bed but that doesn't mean this whole situation isn't causing you stress. I'm worried what kind of affect all of this stress is having on your body." His eyes drifted to her swollen stomach just as her free hand had roamed there.

"I'm alright Will. Really. The doctor gave me a prescription in case things got too overwhelming and I can fill it whenever I need to. Don't worry about me; focus on your own healing right now." Emma's intention was to reassure Will but she had failed to properly analyze her words before she said them.

"You got a prescription from a doctor?" Will wanted to sit up but that was a bit impossible so instead he raised his head off the pillow in concern. "What for? Did something happen to you that I don't know about?"

Emma bit her lip nervously and averted her gaze. She knew he would be able to read her like a book but she couldn't help the habit. "I-I…may have had a panic attack when I saw you on the floor…covered in your own blood." Emma looked at every area in the room she could find, except for Will's face.

"You what?! Em, why didn't you tell me?"

She couldn't help but look at him after that statement, but she instantly wished she hadn't. His face was so distraught and filled with concern that it ripped her heart in two.

"I-I am telling you now…" Her voice was meek as she suddenly felt like a guilty child who had broken their mother's vase and lied about it. Will looked at her pointedly.

"How long did it last? You didn't pass out, did you?" He was obviously bothered knowing his wife was in distress while he was unconscious, and he couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt for being the cause of it.

"I'm not really sure. At the time it didn't really register that I was having a panic attack, but looking back on it I think it probably started about the time the medics came." She was looking in his general direction now, but still not at him.

"And when did it stop?" He probed.

She bit her lip. He knew that wasn't a good sign. "After we got to the hospital…"

"Emma, why didn't you tell me?" He asked, grabbing her other hand in an effort to get her to look at him.

"I wasn't trying to keep it from you Will, I just didn't think in your condition that it was necessary to bring it up." She finally looked at him, wanting to make sure he realized that she wasn't trying to hide anything on purpose.

"It's okay Em, just please tell me the next time you have a panic attack or are prescribed medication in an emergency room. I promise I won't be upset. I just want to make sure the two of you are healthy and safe." Will said, squeezing her hands.

Emma smiled meekly at his protectiveness, even from a hospital bed. He really did seem to be feeling like himself and she was pleased for that.

An abrupt knock came from Will's hospital door as the couple was once again interrupted.

"Come in." Will said, wondering which nurse had come to check on him. He and Emma were both surprised to see two police officers dressed in black uniforms walking into the room instead.

"Mr. Schuester, I'm Officer Davis and this is my partner, Officer Miles. We need to file a police report and were wondering if you would be up for talking." The man offered his hand and Will shook it politely. He looked at them hesitantly for a moment but quickly relented.

"Sure. Now is fine." He rubbed the back of his neck as though he were trying to work the stress out of it.

Emma couldn't help but hold on a little bit tighter to his left hand. She understood all too well the situation he was in and how uncomfortable and difficult it could be to talk about something like what he had gone through. Will seemed awfully tough on the outside but she knew he was really having a difficult time processing it all.

She couldn't blame him really. Being attacked so violently really changes a person. She decided at that moment that she would need to be Will's rock for a change and she would do whatever she could to help him through it.

"Alright," Officer Davis pulled out a pen and note pad, "Why don't we start with before the accident. What were you doing before you got attacked?"

"I…I don't remember much." Will's face scrunched up in thought, "I was going to get some ice from the ice machine, but I didn't want to leave my wife alone. I remember talking about it for a minute and then deciding that it would be safe to go, so I put on my shoes and began searching for the ice machine."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but you said you decided it would be safe to get the ice. Safe from what?" Officer Miles questioned, picking up on Will's choice of words.

Emma nervously looked to Will who returned the look.

He took a large breath before he began, "About two months ago my wife was attacked in our home. It turned out to be a stalker, but the police have yet to catch him. We came to Niagara Falls from Lima, Ohio to get away from it all." He looked to the officers to see if that had clarified anything for them. They both looked at each other, then to Will, clearly expecting him to finish his story.

Will sighed. "I was worried her stalker might have followed us here, so that's why I was questioning the safety of leaving my wife on her own in the hotel room. I hadn't really thought about myself getting hurt to be honest…" Will stared off for a moment, trying his best to focus his thoughts.

"Alright, so you decided to leave. What happened after that?" The officer shifted to the seat that Shannon has formerly been occupying, making himself more comfortable for taking notes.

Will's eyes narrowed in concentration as he tried his best to remember the events of the previous night. It was almost like trying to recall what had happened the next morning when the previous night was spent intoxicated.

"I-" he stammered, "I remember grabbing my key card from the counter so that I could get back in…and the ice bucket." Emma ran her hand through his hair lovingly, trying her best to help him feel comfortable as he recounted his steps.

"I remember walking down the short corridor by the north facing staircase. I didn't see any signs for an ice machine so I turned around and went the other way. I think I remember turning down the long hallway that smelled like pastries." His brow furrowed, "Yes, it was the one by the conference rooms."

Once more Will stared off in thought as everyone in the room was on pins and needles waiting for him to remember. He put his hand on his chin as though that would help the thought process, but decided it was having no effect and placed it back on the bed. "I remember seeing a sign for vending machines and ice so I walked past to conference rooms and into the room with the ice. I filled the bucket and then…and then a man came in. The man from the boat." Will's eyes narrowed as the emotions he felt in that moment came flooding back to him like an angry wave in the ocean, relentless and harsh.

"From the boat?" Emma's attention was immediately caught by this. "What man?" Emma swallowed hard.

Will had tears coming to his eyes by this point. "Emma." His hand squeezed around her hand that hadn't left his side since the officers had arrived. He removed her other hand from his head and held onto it too. "All I could think of was Emma alone in the room. As soon as I saw him I knew who he was and I was so scared he was going to hurt you. I hadn't even thought about him hurting me." Tears were pouring freely as he sniffed.

"Will, what man did you see? Who did this to you?" Emma urged, anxiety growing wildly by the second. They had seen her stalker on the boat?

"The-the man that took our picture." Will stated as he finally was able to remember the previous evening. It was like the missing puzzle piece he knew he had but couldn't quite figure out where it belonged until this moment.

Emma gasped and released one of her hands to cover her mouth. She had to sit down in the chair to stabilize herself.

"Excuse me, you've met this man before? Is he the one who did this to you? Do you know what his name is?"

Questions flowed from both officers as Will and Emma were simply trying to come to grips with the information.

"I don't know who he is. I'd never seen him before in my life before the boat. He-he's the one. He's the one who hurt me." Will said, gaining a small amount of composure as he reached over for the box of tissues. He offered one to Emma and took one for himself as well.

"How about you, Mrs. Schuester?"

"I-I don't think so. I mean he seems familiar, but I don't think I know who he is." Emma felt useless. After two months of agonizing torture over who the stalker was they had finally figured it out and she had no clue who the strange man was. It was all so discouraging.

"What happened after the man came in?" Officer Davis asked.

"I talked to him for a minute. I could tell something was off and I just wanted to get back to Emma…to make sure she was okay. I tried to walk around him when he-when he stabbed me," Will swallowed hard, knowing that he needed to continue, "I remember the way he looked at me when I fell to the floor. It was so cold. So uncaring. I've never seen anyone look like that man did in that moment. It was one of the scariest moments in my life." Shivers encompassed his frame briefly. "I blacked out after that, then I woke up here."

"Thank you for your time Mr. Schuester. We will send a sketch artist this afternoon so we can get a composite drawing. I'm also going to have your files transferred from Lima. We'll do everything in our power to stop this man. If there's anything else you can remember or you think may be important to this case, feel free to call me." The officer had stood and offered his hand to Will, who politely shook it, then offered his business card, which Will took.

"Thank you Officer Davis." Both men escorted themselves out of the room, allowing the couple to have some time alone.

As soon as the door closed Will moved over in his bed ever so carefully allowing enough room for his wife to squeeze in. She complied and gently curled into his non-wounded side as they held each other and cried. Questions of fear and doubt flooded the forefront of both of their minds. When would this be over?

X

Rehab. Will hated rehab. Why did he have to go anyway? It's not like he had broken a limb or anything. Though he did think it might be nice to get to the bathroom without help again. It had been an agonizing three days in the hospital and he was already wanting to be discharged after the first day. He knew he was getting close though. The doctor had said his wound was healing nicely and now that he was up and moving in rehab on his own, his prospects of being discharged were turning in his favor. Hopefully he would only require one more rehab appointment before getting the okay, and that was in just half an hour.

Will had to admit he was pleased to no longer be using the wheelchair. Or the walker for that matter. Yes, the cane he was using as support was much more dignified, and he would only need that for the remainder of the day with any luck if his physical therapy session went well. It had never really occurred to him how often a person uses their abdominal muscles until his injury.

He was thankful to have Emma by his side every step of the way though. Even with her fatigue and inability to get a good night's sleep in the hospital, (even though he had on several occasions banished her to the hotel room with Shannon), she was like a rock to him. Always there to encourage when he needed it, and praise when he was feeling down. Yes, he was lucky with this one. He couldn't help admiring her as she helped him stabilize his walking on the path to the bathroom. He hadn't really needed it at this point, but she liked feeling useful and he loved the way she lit up when she felt she was being helpful, so he had pacified her request and allowed her to escort him to the bathroom.

It wasn't until his physical therapy session was over that Will really had a moment to celebrate. The doctor had issued him a clean bill of health and he was okay to be discharged. They were going home finally, and Will couldn't contain himself as he pulled his wife into a hug. Not too tightly of course, for both of their sakes. Emma was just as ecstatic as Will was, though perhaps more apprehensive about what to do next. They had planned to return to Lima once Will was discharged, but beyond that they didn't know. She was just pleased that the SPO had been re-issued to not only her, but Will as well. She could rest a little bit easier with that knowledge.

The car ride home was a long one, and Emma was quite tired of driving by the time they pulled into Shannon's driveway.

"Looks like the officer is already here," Will said, pointing to the police car parked in front of Shannon's. He waved at the man who waved back.

"Oh good. I was hoping he would beat us here."

"Why don't I grab the bags from the back and we can get the two of you tucked into bed," He said as he reached over and rubbed her stomach for a moment.

"Why don't I have Shannon help with the bags while we get you into bed, mister," She placed her hand over his and looked at him pointedly as she opened the car door. His hand fell from its place atop their growing child as she angled her body sideways so it would be easier to get out. The new weight of the baby was making formerly simple movements a new challenge every day.

"You heard what the doctor said. No heavy lifting and no marathons for at least a week. Not until your stitches are fully healed," She gave him a knowing smirk as she closed the door and made her way to the front door, disappearing into their friend's house.

Will's mouth hung open for a moment as he took in her confident words. So much for his plan of getting what he wanted with a puppy dog look. He should have known he wouldn't be able to argue with her.

He quickly grabbed a few bags from the back and headed in before anyone could reprimand him. He put them in their bedroom completely unnoticed by either woman. Shannon had made her way outside to retrieve the rest of the bags when Will noticed Emma walking into their room with a sigh and a tired expression. She was so wiped out and her bed was the only thing she desired at the moment.

"You look a little tired after the drive. Why don't I get you something to eat really quickly before you head to bed?" Just like Will to be putting her needs before his own.

"That's alright Will, I munched on some fruit in the kitchen when I came in. I think I'm just going to change and head to bed," She had reached the foot of the bed by this point and stopped for a moment as a yawn overtook her. She stretched her arms up to the ceiling as she yawned quietly, raising her blouse to reveal just a tiny amount of baby bump.

Will couldn't help but seize the opportunity as he reached over to her and brought her stomach to his mouth, placing soft kisses on the exposed skin protecting their baby. Emma immediately giggled into his touch as her yawn all but dissolved. She ran her fingers through her hair as he continued his soft kisses on every inch of her stomach, and she couldn't help but giggle again once he reached her sides. They were especially sensitive and he couldn't help but tickle them when he had the chance. The giggling subsided and the couple gazed into the other's eyes. Will tugged softly on Emma's arms, gesturing for her to sit down next to him. She complied as she rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"We are going to be okay Emma. We're strong. If anything, this whole situation has just proven that time and time again." Will tried his best to reassure her.

"I don't feel strong." Emma replied, meekly.

"I know, but you are. And we are making progress in the case, now that the police have a composite sketch, and there's more to go on. I'm sure this will be over with before we know it." He rubbed circles on her back as she relaxed into him. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Yeah. Hopefully sooner rather than later." Emma added. "Let's go to bed."

"Lets." Will said as he stood, then helped his wife up from her sitting position. They both got ready for bed quickly, too tired to be tedious about a routine. Will and Emma were in bed before they knew it and Will immediately pulled Emma into him. She wrapped her hand around his, which was lightly draped over their child.

"I love you Will Schuester."

"And I love you Emma Schuester. Good night my love." He softly kissed her head. They were both out cold as soon as their eyes closed.