"So you are doing the operation in six days?" Quinn confirmed, as she sat on the hospital bed, her hand clutching on to Puck's. She had been in the hospital for almost a week now, and awake for about 2 days and the realisation of everything was finally slipping in.
"Yes, in six days the procedure will take place" The doctor replied with a soft smile as he closed Quinn's file and placed it back on the end of the bed. "It is a simple one; everything will be okay Miss Fabray."
Quinn nodded, before she watched as the doctor left the room and a nurse entered with a plate of food… dinner. Quinn groaned internally as she saw the food and held her breath as the smell wafted through the room, her hand unconsciously clenching harder onto Puck who leant forward and whispered into to her ear, "Breathe babe, you are doing so well."
-x-
A few hours after Quinn had fallen asleep in Puck's arms she had woken up to the hushed voices of Puck and Emma. She opened her eyes and looked at them curiously, wondering what they were talking about, she heard the word 'water.'
"Q" Puck said quickly as he realised she was awake. "You doing okay now baby?" He asked, trying to distract the girls mind from the ploy he had been creating with the school's guidance counsellor.
"Wh-what are you two talking about?" She questioned, her eyes looking directly at Puck in her typical fierce Quinn Fabray glance. The walls that she had down earlier had been built straight back up, and she wasn't letting any enemies in, her stubborn personality shining through once again.
Emma could feel the tension rising and decided to take command in the situation. "About you." She told Quinn honestly before she continued. "You asked me earlier why I wasn't pestering you about food and drink and I told you I would once things were settled with Puck."
"You could have like given me a day!" Quinn snapped back, feeling cornered once again. Why was everyone constantly intruding on her life. Yes, she was in a fire, yes she had burns, but NO she did not want to drink anything.
"Actually Quinn we couldn't, your condition is quite serious," Emma retorted in a gentle voice, trying to make the other girl feel at ease. She could see the confusion on Puck's face as he tried to work out what to do, whether to stay strong, or cave and comfort Quinn.
"Miss Pilsbury is right babe" Puck added in, as he finally worked out his allegiance. Whilst usually he would do anything for Quinn in a heartbeat, her health and the baby's health, was the most important thing to him right now and she was putting that at risk.
Quinn groaned, "Why do you keep making me do things?" She questioned. "I just want to be able to do what I want, like before. You don't understand, I was in charge, of the whole school. Everyone looked up to me, I had control. I don't have that anymore."
"But Quinn, you didn't have that even before the fire" Emma answered, not wanting to bring up her downfall after the entire school found out she was pregnant, but finding it necessary. "What you need to remember is, you don't need control. Think of all your friends in Glee, you aren't in control of them, and you love them, and they love you. So many people love you Quinn and want you to get better. So take control of your life, and decide to drink. Keep yourself hydrated, for you, and for the baby."
Quinn bit down on her lip, mulling over what Emma was saying to her. She looked over at Puck, who raised his eyebrows at her, silently telling her that Emma was right.
She sighed quietly. "Fine. What do you want me to do?"
Puck grinned widely at Quinn, before leaning towards her and kissing her gently. "We need you to drink some water Q." He watched as Emma went to go and get the glass and handed it to Quinn. She took it shakily in her hand and looked at the liquid, before she took a deep breath and started to take a few sips. After her lips tasted the refreshing liquid, she started to gulp it down faster, her dehydration clearly evident. She finished the glass before she handed it over to Puck, who hugged her and whispered in her ear. "I'm so proud of you baby."
-x-
After the nurse had set the food down and left the room, Quinn looked over at Puck with a pained face. "I can't eat this." She said quietly, shaking her head. "I can't. This isn't about me wanting control… I can't."
Puck saw this coming, and struggled to compose the right words to say. He stroked her hair back, trying to calm her. "You need too Q. You need to do it for you and the baby. You've got to stay strong. I need you to stay strong so you can make it through the operation."
Quinn shook her head again. "Puck, I can't." Tears began to fill her eyes as she looked down at the food, she wanted to be sick. "My stomach can't take it. I have no room."
Puck bit down on his lip, frustrated. "You haven't eaten in days!" He remarked before calming himself down. "Okay. How can we do this?" He asked, trying to look for a way to compromise, he really should have asked Emma about how to tackle this situation.
"We can't do this." Quinn replied stubbornly, before she moved the tray off her bed. "I can't eat it."
"How about a bacon sandwich?" Puck joked half-heartedly, before Quinn scowled at him. He quickly gave her an apologetic look before he sighed. "Can you just take one bite?" He asked. "I'll feed it to you if you like."
Finally Quinn relented, "Fine." She muttered, before she watched as he scooped up some pasta on to the spoon and fed it to the blonde. She took it in her mouth, and pulled a face of disgust before swallowing it quickly.
"Good girl" Puck praised her, "I knew you could do it." He desperately wanted to make her eat more, but he was under what he called the 'Quinn effect' and he found it almost impossible to go against her wishes. "Can you just do me one more favour?" He asked.
"I'm not eating anymore" She retorted quickly.
"I don't want you too" He replied equally as quick. "Will you just, just speak to Miss Pilsbury again okay? Tell her how you feel. She helps you."
Quinn thought about it for a moment before nodding as she rubbed her stomach. "I'll talk to her." She agreed.