Chapter 18 I'm Still Standing
"Mom! Dad! Come on! We're going to be late if we don't leave now!' Noelle called as she stood by the front door. A month had passed since the Finchel wedding. Rachel found out she was due on Thanksgiving. Her next appointment would be her twelve week checkup and they could maybe find out the sex. Nationals was six weeks away and the group was busy preparing their set list.
"Noelle, as much as I appreciate that you, Josh, and Harmony are in the state track meet, it is 5 AM on a Saturday," said Kurt as he walked like a zombie.
"It's a two-hour drive to Columbus and I have to be there by eight o'clock," scowled Noelle at Kurt. "If I don't, I can't race."
"Okay, okay, we're coming," said Carole as she and Burt hurried down the steps.
"See you guys later," said Noelle. "You're coming right?"
"Yeah, we'll be there if I can drag the newlyweds and the sleeping uglies out of bed," said Kurt, pointing a thumb up the stairs.
"Alright, don't forget to remind the others. My first event starts at 10 AM." said Noelle as the three rushed out the door. Kurt saluted her as the door closed and he sighed.
"Lord help me," muttered Kurt as he climbed the stairs. He pounded on Finn and Rachel's door, and then Rory and Sam's door. Then he pounded on Finchel's door again. "Okay Frankenteen and Bride of Frankenteen, time to get up and get ready to watch Noelle smoke her competition again!"
After picking up Josh and Harmony, the Hudson-Hummels arrived at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the OSU campus shortly around 7:30. Harmony and Noelle saw Coach Bieste, Heather and Melissa standing by the registration table.
"Great, y'all made it!" drawled Heather.
"Well duh, I am the star after all!" teased Noelle. The girls laughed.
"Okay you lot, let's get your numbers and find our refreshing tent," said Coach Bieste. "Hudson, Ryker, are the other New Directions coming?"
"Yeah, they're on their way," said Noelle as she walked hand in hand with Josh. "Kurt texted me and said that Rachel was going through another bout of morning sickness but they should be here before ten."
Sure enough, around Nine, the remaining members of the New Directions that weren't involved in the track meet or on the track team arrived to the McKinley High Tent to find Noelle and Harmony stretching for the first event in preliminaries.
"Hey guys, you made it!" said Harmony, getting up and hugging everyone.
"Of course, we wouldn't miss it for the world!" said Puck. "Where's Josh?"
"With the boys getting ready," said Noelle, pointing her thumb towards the boy's team.
"Ah, okay," said Puck. "Hey, we're gonna go find some place to sit. Where do you suggest?"
"We reserved spots up in the front row of 105 for you guys," said Coach Bieste. "Here's your tickets to get in the seating area."
"Sweet," said Finn as Coach Bieste handed the group twenty tickets.
"Break a leg guys," said Rachel.
"Oh my god, don't say that! We don't need an injury, Rach!" quipped Heather teasingly. Noelle rolled with laughter.
"Sorry," said Rachel blushing.
"I wish you guys were able to join the New Directions for Nationals," Noelle said to Heather and Melissa. "I can't believe I'm graduating this year."
"Have you talked to Mr. Schue about it?" Melissa asked.
"No, but he'll probably say no just because it's too close to Nationals," replied Noelle.
"Runners for the Girls 100-Meter Dash, please report to the starting line," came an official's voice over the PA speaker.
"That's your cue," said Heather. Noelle fist-bumped Heather, and Melissa.
"Smoke them, girl," said Harmony as she and Noelle did their secret handshake.
"These girls are going to be dumbfounded," grinned Noelle.
"Knock em dead, Hudson," said Coach Bieste.
"Will do," said Noelle. She gave Josh a kiss on the lips and headed for the starting line. The other girls saw Noelle and froze in horror.
"Oh my god," whispered one of them to another. "That's Noelle Hudson. That's the speed freak from McKinley High in Lima. She broke like twenty school and state records. Fuck, we're screwed."
"Runners for Heat 1, please take your positions," called the official. Noelle got in her lane, bobbing up and down as she hummed the "Fly/I Believe I Can't Fly" medley to herself.
"Dear Lord help us," the girl next to her muttered.
"Runners, take your marks!" said the official. Noelle placed her feet against the starting blocks.
"Set!" Noelle bent down to the starting position. The gun fired and Noelle took off in a flash.
"GO NOELLE GO GO!" cried Josh from the sidelines. The New Directions were roaring in the stands as Noelle smoked the other runners in her heat and crossed the finish line first in nine seconds. The stadium erupted in cheers as Noelle saluted the crowd and pointed to the New Directions, who were roaring with cheers and screams.
An hour later, the four girls had qualified in all of their running events, moving on to the finals, with the exception of the 4x880, in which they already did the final and won first place. Josh had qualified in his running events as well. Heather and Melissa were competing in shotput and discus, while Noelle and Harmony were doing the long and high jumps and pole vault for the field events. Noelle smoked the competition in all of her finals, from the 100 meter dash to the 1600 meter.
The last running final for Noelle was the 3200 meter.
"Runners take your marks," said the official. Noelle took her stance on the blocks.
"Set!' The gun went off and Noelle started running. Each lap was 400 meters, so she had to run eight laps. She paced herself like the other runners and on the seventh lap she picked up the pace, taking the lead.
"YEAH! GO NOELLE!" cried Harmony, cheering her friend and teammate around the track. As Noelle crossed the finish line, taking first place, everything went black. Harmony screamed and ran over to Noelle, as did Heather, Melissa, Coach Bieste and Josh.
"Noelle? Noelle!" cried Josh, trying to shake her. The other New Directions in the stands saw Noelle collapse and immediately headed over to the finish line.
"What's going on, what's wrong?" asked Carole and Burt as they rushed towards Noelle with the others.
"I don't know, she crossed the finish line, and then she just collapsed," said Harmony as a trainer checked Noelle over.
"She has a pulse, and she's breathing," said the trainer. "She must have blacked out from exhaustion."
A moan came from Noelle and the group looked at her as Josh cradled Noelle's head.
"Noelle? Baby? Are you okay?" asked Josh.
"Ugh, I think so..." Noelle replied. She looked to her right and left as she looked at her friends staring at her and then a wave of panic swept over her.
"Oh no," Noelle panicked. "I can't feel my legs. No, not again."
Finn paced the floor of the emergency room waiting area at the Columbus Children's Hospital as the group waited on news of Noelle's condition. After her proclamation of losing the feeling in her legs, Noelle had been carted off by ambulance, the rest of the New Directions and the Hummels following in their vehicles. Coach Bieste had stayed at the meet to accept Noelle's awards on her behalf.
"This can't be happening again," Finn growled as he paced the floor.
"Calm down Finn, maybe her legs were just so worn out from running that they temporarily shut down," said Puck.
"Yeah, we won't know until the doctors finish running tests on her," said Carole. "Sit down sweetheart."
At that moment, a doctor came out into the waiting room.
"Family of Noelle Hudson?" he asked.
"That's us," said Burt. "How's my baby girl, Doc?"
"Mr. Hummel, Mrs. Hummel, your daughter's MS has relapsed," said the doctor. "I'm sorry."
"No," breathed Josh, sinking back down into his seat and sobbing.
"But the doctors in Lima said it was a misdiagnose," replied Carole, placing a hand to her heart. Tears were falling down her face.
"We ran a CAT Scan and MRI and discovered that her spinal cord was showing the signs of myelin inflammation that corresponds with Multiple Sclerosis. Your daughter's MS is a type that is most common in MS patients. It's called Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. They can have signs or symptons, then suddenly be completely cured for a long time and then it returns."
"Dear lord," muttered Kurt, sitting down in a chair. "So she's not going to be able to walk again?"
"If she does, it will probably be temporarily," said the doctor. Burt sat down next to Kurt and he cried into his hands.
"Can we see her?" Carole asked him.
"Sure," said the doctor, motioning towards the triage doors. The group followed him into the triage and he led them to Noelle's room. Noelle was laying in the bed, staring at the ceiling. She saw the group coming into her room and she smiled weakly.
"Hey, he told you, did he?" Noelle asked.
"Oh honey, oh sweetheart, oh I'm so sorry," sobbed Carole as she hugged Noelle.
"It's okay Mom," replied Noelle. "I had a feeling this day would come."
"You knew?" Burt asked.
"There's no permanent cure for MS, Dad," Noelle replied. "I knew I was in remission, I just didn't know for how long. I was hoping it would be after I graduated, but I guess not."
"Well, we want you to know that we're just glad it wasn't anything serious, like a broken bone or something," Santana replied. "We need you for Nationals."
"Thanks San, and don't worry, I wouldn't have let you guys down for that," Noelle replied as she hugged Santana.
"I called Mr. Schue, he and Emma are driving down with your wheelchair," Finn said. "They'll be here in a couple hours. Well, what does this mean now? Are you still going to New York? To NYU?"
"No reason for me not to," Noelle replied. "I can still play and sing. Just in a wheelchair."
Finn nodded and saw Josh standing in the back. Noelle followed his eyes and looked at Josh.
"Babe, you okay?" Noelle asked Josh.
"Give us a few minutes, you guys?" Josh asked them. The group nodded and after everyone hugged Noelle, they left Josh and Noelle alone in the room.
"I'm sorry," Noelle replied as Josh sat on the bed with her.
"Why didn't you tell anyone you knew your MS was going to come back?" Josh asked.
"I didn't want to upset or make my parents or Finn or Kurt, or you fret over it," Noelle replied. "I saw a doctor a few months ago for a checkup and they had noticed that the inflammation was flaring up again. They said it wasn't anything to worry about though." She noticed Josh was holding an envelope in his hands.
"What's that?' Noelle asked.
"My parents brought this to me at the meet," Josh replied. "It's from Syracuse."
"Syracuse? Why did you apply there?"
"I didn't," Josh said. "A recruiter saw me at the State Basketball championship. He wants me to sign."
"Oh my god," said Noelle, raising a hand to her mouth.
"I don't know what to do," Josh replied. "God, this is everything I've dreamed of. Playing for a Division I school, with a chance to go to the Final Four. But I don't want to be-"
"Sign," Noelle interrupted.
"What?" Josh asked in disbelief.
"Sign," Noelle said again. She placed her hand on his arm. "If this is what you want, then don't let me get in your way."
"Noelle, I want to go to New York with you," Josh replied. "I want to be with you. I want to marry you and grow old with you."
"And we can do that," Noelle said. "But you need to follow your dreams."
"You'd really let me go?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, I would, I love you so much I'd let you be happy," said Noelle. Josh sighed.
Noelle sighed as she hung the ten medals up on her wall, and set the trophies in place.
"The end of an era," murmured Noelle as Rachel placed a hand on her shoulder. "Man, it feels weird to be in this chair again."
"We're just glad you're okay," Rachel replied. Noelle smiled at Rachel and placed her hand on Rachel's belly.
"How's my niece or nephew doing?" Noelle replied.
"Fine, but making me crave meat," Rachel replied. "Definitely a Hudson." Noelle laughed.
"Come on, let's go get ready for morning rehearsal," said Rachel.
"Okay," Noelle said with a smile. Noelle rolled out of her bedroom and into the living room, where Finn, Kurt, Rory and Sam stood.
"Ready to go guys?" Finn asked.
"Yeah, we're ready," said Noelle.
"You okay Noe?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, fine," smiled Noelle. "And guys? Thanks for being there for me."
"Of course," Rory replied.
The group exited the house and piled into the van and headed to McKinley. The group entered the choir room to see the other New Directions and Will standing there.
"Hey guys, you made it," said Will.
"Yup," said Finn.
"How are you feeling, Noelle?" Will asked her.
"I'm okay," said Noelle, wheeling over to the group. "It's going to be rough, but I'll manage. I have before. Before we rehearse Mr. Schue, I was wondering if Josh and I could sing something for the group?"
"Sure, the floor is all yours," said Will.
As the music started, everyone smiled as Noelle started to sing.
Noelle:
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like a winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use
Josh: And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'mma coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
But if you need to know while I'm still standing
Josh and New Directions: You just fade away
Noelle and Josh with New Directions harmonizing:
Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
Noelle:
Once I never could hope to win
You starting down the road leaving me again
Josh: The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus
Josh and Noelle with New Directions: You'd be a clown by now
Noelle and Josh with New Directions:
Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
Noelle and Josh with New Directions:
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
Noelle and Josh with New Directions (Josh): Don't you know, I'm still standing (Ooooh)
Better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor
Feeling like a little kid
(I'm still standing) I'm still standing
After all this time (Standing)
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing
Yeah! yeah! yeah! (Yeah!)
I'm still standing (Standing)
Yeah! yeah! yeah! (Whoa uh oh)
I'm still standing
Yeah! yeah! yeah! (Yeahhh eh eh eh eh eh)
I'm still standing
Yeah! yeah! yeah! (Oh oh...)
I'm still standing
Yeah! yeah! yeah! (Yeah yeah yeah yeah!)
I'm still standing
Yeah! yeah! yeah! (I'm still standing, I'm still standing)
I'm still standing
The group cheered and clapped as Noelle and Josh ended the song, Josh landing in Noelle's lap, their arms stretched out wide in a flair of "Ta Da".
"Now that's optimism!" said Will with a laugh. "Alright, let's get going on rehearsing you guys. Only five weeks left until Nationals in Chicago!"
Noelle was at her locker, putting her books away later that day when Josh came up to her.
"Hey, can I talk to you?" Josh asked.
"Sure," said Noelle. "What's up?"
"I didn't sign with Syracuse," Josh replied.
"What?!" cried Noelle. "Why not?"
"Because this came in the mail," said Josh, holding out another envelope. It was from Pace University.
"What's this?!" Noelle cried.
"I had an audition at Pace for The Actor's Studio over the Christmas holiday," said Josh. "And guess what? I got in!"
"Are you serious?" Noelle cried. "Babe, that's like, one of the best acting schools in the country!"
"I impressed James Lipton with my impressions," Josh replied with a grin. "Especially my Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney."
"Babe, are you serious about New York then?" Noelle asked.
"Yeah," said Josh. "I told you, you're my first priority. We're in this together, Noe. You and me."
"Okay," said Noelle. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Only about a million times," replied Josh with a smile. "Come on, we'll be late for Physics."
"Hey Mr. Schue," said Noelle as she wheeled into the choir room.
"Hey Noelle," said Will as he stood in front of the piano, looking over some sheet music.
"What's that?"
"Some stuff I'm contemplating for Nationals," said Will. "They're enforcing the thirty-three percent vintage rule again."
"Oh cool," said Noelle. "Let's see what you got." Will handed her the sheet music and Noelle frowned.
"What's wrong?" Will asked.
"Disco is dead, Mr. Schue," replied Noelle. "Yeah, I love the Beegees, but no. NO way. Instead of Stayin' Alive, what about something like Paradise by the Dashboard Light?"
"I think that's a great idea," said Will. "With you and Josh on lead vocals..."
"No, it should be Finn and Rachel," said Noelle, shaking her head. "They can sing that better that Josh and I can. And have the other seniors sing a few verses. Let everyone have a shot."
"Well, the Troubletones are going to sing Edge of Glory, but we need a solo," said Will.
"Celine Dion?" smiled Noelle. "Yeah, I love her, but who doesn't?"
"I was going to ask Rachel, but I think you should sing it," Will said. "I've heard you sing Celine, it's in your range."
"Really? You want me to sing this?" Noelle asked, holding up the sheet music.
"You've earned it, Noelle," replied Will. The other members were walking in and sitting down in the chairs.
"Alright, I'll do it," said Noelle.
"Okay you guys, I've finally got our setlist picked thanks to the help of Noelle!" said Will.
"Awesome!" said Finn.
"First, Noelle is going to have the solo," said Will. "Noelle has agreed to sing Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back To Me."
"Whoohoo!" cried Brittney as the group clapped.
"The Troubletones are singing Edge of Glory," continued Will, "and for the final number, it will be a group effort. All of the seniors, with Finn and Rachel on the lead vocals, will take turns singing verses of Paradise By The Dashboard Light."
"Are you serious?" asked Finn. "I love Meatloaf!"
"Now, Vocal Adrenaline has a secret weapon that is not so secret," Will continued. "His name is Wade "Unique" Adams. He's a transgender that just has an incredible voice. We need to up our game."
"Then I suggest we start practicing," Rachel added.
"Right, let's get to work guys!" said Will, clapping his hands together.