Happy Tuesday everyone!
Bonus update! I think I cleared up some of my writer's block, so you get a bonus chapter today.
Warnings: Marley has a MAJOR breakthrough and it scares the crap out of her. Nothing bad happens. She does hear Terri's voice in her head, but that's it, as far as cruelty. There is a budding POSSIBLE romance in this story now. You'll find it when you get there. I'm not sure why it happened, but as I was writing it sort of showed up. I know that there are at least three of you, who will stop reading now because of this. I simply ask you to give the story a chance. I say POSSIBLE and not possible, because I really don't know if it's actually GOING to happen, but I'm well aware that because I thought this was a good idea, at least three of you will stop reading the story.
I know some of you have expressed concern. You read Noah and think Puck. COMPLETELY understandable People have been asking for a description and while I don't mind giving it, I didn't have it. I FINALLY got a brief one come to me last night, and it has been worked into this chapter. It's not the best, but it's close and hopefully I'll get a few more details in my mind as time goes on.
As always, special thanks to NayaFan, UnholyUnderBoob, and Beaner008, for their inspirations and encouragement to even write this story and then post it. To everyone who has left me a review and/or a PM, know that those little things make me more than thrilled. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and that you have a wonderful day and please please please leave a review.
Be well
Marley was the first up in the morning and she very carefully and quietly crawled over to the toy box. "Twenty six, twenty six," she told herself softly and she began reaching into the box to pull out her letter blocks. She needed to help Noah. She sat on the floor and had pulled out ten blocks by now, when she let out a soft gasp. She waited a minute and tried to think about what she needed.
Her stomach didn't rumble but there was a definite pressure there and she realized that she probably had to go to the bathroom. She tried to think about what to do, but with the building pressure, she just took herself to the bathroom. As she struggled greatly to pull herself up to the toilet, the door was kicked shut and once she was seated, she was stuck. Her sweat pants and diaper were still firmly in place and she started to cry.
"You'll never do anything right!" Terri screamed. "Not now, not ever. You don't know anything, you're just a stupid little baby slut, who is only good for one thing!" Terri screamed and Marley was now lying on the changing table in the room she was confined to. Her back was killing her and she felt her stomach lurch as she peed herself slightly.
"Marley honey. Marley, please open the door," a voice called and it startled her out of her memory.
"He'p!" she cried out sadly.
"I'll help you sweetheart, but you have to open the door baby," Kurt said and Marley whimpered. She didn't want to move, because she had definitely messed herself.
"I duck!" she said slipping into her toddler state. She was afraid and the more scared she got, the younger her mind set. For Marley being young meant she would be safe and cared for and usually it worked for her, but when she was scared or concerned, her brain struggled with what to do. She had to be a big girl to get out of the situation she was in, but being a big girl meant she didn't feel safe.
"Marley baby, try to calm down. Papa will help you, but you have to be calm this is the only way it's going to work," he told her.
"Papa!" Marley cried and Kurt heard the panic and fear in her voice. If she didn't focus he was going to lose her completely. He was going to ignore her privacy and just walk in, but when he tried the knob nothing happened and he silently cursed their bathroom door. The lock on door was tricky and if it locked by accident, the only way to open it was by pushing the tiny silver button on the inside.
"Marley Rose, listen to Papa!" Kurt called using his hand to bang lightly on the door. He was hoping to startle her slightly in order to get her full attention. "Do you hear me baby? Are you ready to listen to Papa so you can come out of the bathroom?" Kurt called kindly and as his voice rose in volume, he woke the girls and Santana quietly made her way toward him, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Do you need me?" she whispered.
He nodded yes and Santana simply stepped back. She had to stay quiet, because she knew that if Marley heard her, she'd get all worked up again. She was close enough to help, but quiet enough to not be heard. "Marley honey, listen to Papa baby. I will help you get out of the bathroom, but we need to communicate. We need to talk to each other, are you ready to do that?" he asked her kindly and she nodded at him. "I have to hear you sweetheart," he said kindly. "Are you ready to try? Can you tell Papa yes or no?" he asked her. He was willing to wait and he was hoping she understood that.
"Y.y. ," she stuttered and he sighed.
"Keep going," Santana motioned quietly and then she went to get Marley's pacifier, Panda, Teddy Bear, and her favorite sippy cup with some ice water in it. This was going to be a challenge. She returned moments later and Kurt was pressed against the door.
"Just breathe baby girl. Keep breathing and tell Papa when you are calm. We have to communicate carefully so we can get you out sooner and cuddle up together on the couch," he told her.
"P.p.p.p. . he'p," she said.
"Yes baby girl, Papa is going to help you as soon as you tell me you are ready. We have some instructions to follow to get you out," he tried.
"N.n. ," she cried.
"Marley you have to listen baby. I know you are very scared and that's okay, but I need you to just breathe and listen to Papa. As soon as you are calm we will work on getting you out. Tell me baby girl, do you see the door knob?" he asked her.
The bathroom was pretty small. It was usually a tight fit when Marley was changed in there, but it was wonderful when Marley was freaking out. With the room so small, and Marley's 'parents' wrapping her tightly in hugs and cuddling her, made her feel even smaller in the already tiny space. Kurt needed to know where she was in the bathroom, what position her body was in, and then he could get her out. Until she told him all of that, they were stuck. Hearing her baby's cries though, Santana went Rachel's room and woke her up. "We need to get the tools, where are they?" she asked.
"What tools?"
"Marley locked herself in the bathroom and she's freaking out," Santana said.
"Never a dull moment," Rachel groaned and she carefully rolled over and started looking for the tool kit Burt had left with them not that long ago.
"Marley baby, listen to Papa sweetheart. Where are you?" he asked her.
"Duck Papa, duck here!" she yelled, thinking he didn't understand where she was and as she spoke, she furiously wiped away her tears. Her chest was starting to hurt her, as she couldn't quite figure out how to get her breath under control.
"Keep breathing baby girl. Papa is right here and I'm going to give you every direction I can to have you out quickly," Kurt told her. "Are you sitting on the potty or are you on the floor?" he asked her kindly.
"P. ...potty," she called back to him.
"That's alright sweetheart, can you see the doorknob from there?" he asked.
"No," she cried.
"Shhh, you're okay Marley, let's keep breathing. In and out sweetheart, nice and calm, because you are very upset, which is okay, but because of that you're not focused. Try baby girl. Try for Papa, breathe in and out," he told her and turned around and picked up Panda, holding it tight in his arms. He swayed gently back and forth and rubbed the toy's fur gently. In his mind it was Marley and he was falling into a full Papa mode, in order to calm her on the other side of the door. The girls were still looking for the right screw driver at this point.
After a moment, she finally spoke. "Pa...Pa..." she panted. "I see," she pushed out in one breath and her lungs were starting to burn now. She was trying; she had to. Big girl Marley was fighting to take over, because baby girl Marley was terrified that she was going to be stuck in the bathroom forever. The problem was if Kurt couldn't get her to act calm and fast, she was going to pass out from hyperventilating.
"Good baby girl, very good. I'm very proud of you. Now, tell me sweetheart, can you reach the door?" he asked.
"Duck papa," she called out and she started to cry.
"Shhh, it's alright baby. It's okay. I know you're stuck. We're almost ready to get you out. Just tell me baby girl, can you reach the doorknob?" he asked her and she whimpered in response. "You're okay baby girl, just keep breathing, you're almost out of the bathroom," he told her.
"D.d.d.d, ah, ah, p.p.p.p...tee," she pushed out and he turned to Santana to see where she was and what was taking so long.
"I know baby, I know," he cooed gently, squeezing Panda tighter in his arms. "It's okay that you're stuck on the potty sweetheart. I just need you breathe with Papa, and then try to reach the knob. If you can, that's great, if you can't, we'll try something else," he told her kindly.
"Papa," she cried and now she was grasping at her own chest. It burned so badly and she didn't know how to make it stop.
"I know baby, I know, let's breathe baby, breathe with Papa," he told her and he coached her to breathe in and out and finally he heard her catch her breath properly. He sighed in relief and then spoke kindly. "Marley baby, I am so proud of you sweetheart, you are doing so well. Do you see the doorknob now?" he asked her.
"Eh," she pushed out, but he could tell it was getting down to the wire. If she didn't hit that stupid little button soon, she was going to pass out.
"Very good my darling. Now, can you reach it? Can you just reach your hand out and touch it?" he asked kindly. "There's a little button sweetheart. It's just a tiny little silver thing and as soon as you push it, I will be able to open the door," he explained.
He heard her moaning and reaching, trying to get to it, but she was too far away. "Papa he'p!" she cried and he hung his head.
"Okay Marley, okay, it's alright baby," he said and then he turned to see all the girls looking at him, with a mix of frustration and sadness on their faces.
"None of the tools will work. We have to get the door open first, all the bolts are on the inside," Rachel said and Kurt growled softly before turning back to the door.
"Marley baby, talk to Papa honey, do you hurt?" he asked her.
"Es, owies!" she said tears falling slowly down her cheeks.
"Okay baby, tell me where. What hurts?" he asked her.
"Here, an, here," she said to him, slipping into her little girl space, forgetting that he couldn't see her.
Santana covered her face and Quinn elbowed her gently. "New game for baby Marley," she said. "Review body parts," she said and Santana shot her a look that said back off. "Calm down," Quinn said. "She's fine, we just have to get her to realize that and right now, he's talking to her and from what I can see he's doing a very good job," Quinn said and at this Santana nodded her agreement, trying to relax.
"P.p. , ah, papa," she pushed out.
"I'm still right here baby, just keep breathing, I'm thinking about how to help you get out of there," he told her kindly and she nodded, falling quiet, breathing as he said, and letting him think. He grabbed a chair, pulled it over to the door and then took Santana's hand. He guided Santana into the chair and she looked at him curiously for a moment. "Marley baby, are you sitting on the potty?" he asked her and she called out a soft yes. He looked at Santana and knelt in front of her. "You're her. I'm thinking muscularly. She's got to stand up and shuffle toward the door to open it. I need you to do whatever it is she says she's doing," he said softly and Santana nodded. She liked this agreement.
Santana had been at most of the therapy sessions, she knew what to do when Marley complained of pain. Rachel and Kurt knew as well, but Santana knew why Marley would have pain in the first place, where as Kurt and Rachel struggled a lot more with that. Fixing it was one thing, avoiding it being caused all together, was something else.
"Okay Marley, ready, here's what you need to do, you are going to have to put your hand on the wall and your other hand on the sink and push yourself up to standing," he said.
"NO NO NO!" she cried.
"Calm baby, please stay calm," he pleaded with her.
"N.n.n. an Papa, owies!" she said.
Santana nodded and looked at Kurt. She placed her hands on her stomach took a deep breath and folded forward, so she was bent over her lap. "Alright baby, alright, try this. Take your hands and put them on your belly for me," he said and then waited a beat before continuing. "Good girl, now take a deep breath in and then exhale. Now, the next time you breath in and you exhale bend forward for me," he told her and Santana shook her head no. She touched her lips, made a soft kissing noise and then pointed to her knees. His eyebrows shot up into his head, but he waved her off when Marley called out.
"Kiss papa?" she asked and Santana nodded wildly and pointed to her knees. He was getting through to her and that was all that mattered at the moment.
"Yes baby, kiss your knees. Just like Mr. Joe taught you."
She tried, but only moved a few inches and started to cry. "I..I..I..I..I..I..I ka, ka, ka, can't,' she cried.
"It's alright sweetheart. It's going to take a couple of tries," he told her. This was killing Santana. She wanted to jump in and talk to her baby, her little girl, her clearly scared child, but she wasn't about to ruin whatever it was that Marley was building with Kurt. If she stayed calm and trusted him, then this would all work out okay. She was a good Mommy, she knew what to do, she just had to communicate it to Kurt so he could communicate it to Marley. "Marley baby, tell me, how many times does Mr. Joe make you practice something?" he asked her.
"Hun'red," she whimpered and Santana rolled her eyes and held up one hand, all five fingers spread wide. Joe never made her work that hard.
"Okay, well that seems excessive, why don't we just try five. You've done one, so we'll do four more, and then you should be able to kiss your knees. It took some time, and very slow counting, but he got her to do it and then he looked at Santana. He didn't know what came next.
While he'd been counting, Santana had motioned to Quinn and Rachel for pen and paper. She was going to write key words down for him to say as well as instructions if she needed to. She couldn't talk. She couldn't break the bond that he and Marley had going, because if she did, Marley would stop working for him and be stuck in that room for a lot longer than necessary. She was already in there for at least seven minutes by herself and that was six minutes too long for Santana's liking.
ROCK, is what she wrote down on the paper and Kurt shook his head no and looked at her with confusion, so she demonstrated. She pointed to her feet and placed them flat on the floor, then she bent forward to "kiss her knees" and he saw the rocking motion. Marley's body was essentially cold. She'd been sleeping. She'd probably crawled out of bed, but Marley liked to shuffle her crawl instead of picking up her limbs. She would slide them across the floor carefully, and that was not how she was going to get her body warm. The rocking motion was intended to warm her muscles slightly, get some blood flow to the area, and help her to stand.
"And how do I stop her from toppling over herself?" he asked softly and Santana put her hands straight out in front of her. Marley was going to have to brace her own body against the wall and Kurt sighed. Everyone sighed. Quinn had been with them for less than forty eight hours, and even she knew Marley was going to resist this idea, for fear of falling forward.
"Tell her," Santana growled quietly, so he took a breath and tried to explain.
"Okay baby girl, that's five," he said when he heard her call out the number. "Now can you put your feet flat on the floor for me?" he asked and she did so, calling out a soft yes. Her chest was still tight, but it wasn't burning as much any more. "Good job sweetheart, now rock forward, kiss your knees and try to touch the wall in front of you. Keep going until you can touch and then tell me," Kurt said.
"I faw," Marley yelled.
"No sweetheart, this is just practice, you're not standing up yet, I promise you," he told her and with a very heavy and fearful sigh, she started doing as asked. "Count for me sweetheart. Count as many times as you need to until you're kissing your knees and touching the wall at the same time," he said. It took her until attempt twenty five, before she had enough force and mobility to lean forward and touch the wall at the same time. Santana had never been more grateful for a tiny bathroom. While Marley was practicing, so was Santana. She was trying to figure out what muscles needed to be worked in order to get her to stand.
She sat and thought and then stood up and down several times. Sometimes her eyes were opened, sometime closed, but she was focusing on what she needed. "Core," Santana thought to herself. This was going to be completely core and thigh based. Her core had to be tight to keep her balance, her quadriceps in the front of her thighs and to contract in order to stand and her hamstrings had to relax in order for her quadriceps to contract. She was trying to figure out how to tell Kurt to do this, when she realized it wasn't a forward rocking motion, it was more of a forward and upward motion that Marley needed. She took a moment and practiced that while Marley was still calling out her own practices in the bathroom.
"I done Papa!" Marley called out and her stutter was now gone. Kurt was praying it would stay like that too.
"Very good Marley, I'm very very very proud of you," he gushed and he couldn't' see it, but she was smiling. She loved when her 'parents' were proud of something she'd done. "Okay baby, we're going to try standing now are you ready?" he asked.
"I faw," she whimpered.
"I know you're scared baby and I know you think you might, but your body is so strong now, that you are not going to fall. I promise you. Remember how Mr. Joe says you have to use your core? That's exactly what this is, and I promise you that when you do, it'll get you up to standing. You can absolutely do this baby girl, I promise you," Kurt told her.
"Papa," she whimpered. "I s'ar'd," she stammered and the pain in her chest started to come back with a vengence.
"I know baby, I know and if I was next to you I would hold you and reassure you, but there is a door in our way love and the only way I can get to you, is if you try. It's okay to be scared but still try, can you try for me Marley?" he asked.
"I tie Papa," she cried, tears slowly falling down her face.
"Good girl Marley, very good girl," he praised her. "Now, I want you to rock slowly like you've been doing, but think about your core. Think about your tummy and keeping it tight, can you do that?" he asked her.
"I rock?" she asked.
He looked at Santana and she nodded ferociously. "Yes my good girl. I want you to rock slowly and keep your core very tight," he said and she did as asked.
"Is tie," she called out to him sadly.
"Good girl baby, keep rocking slowly, let's make sure your muscles are warm," he said and then looked to Santana for the next step. She pointed to her feet and made sure they were spread apart a bit, so that her left foot was more forward than the right. Once that was set, she rocked slowly and then stood herself up, with her arms out to the side and Kurt pictured her holding on to the sink with one hand and the side wall with the other. "Okay baby girl, keep practicing baby, but put one hand on the sink and one hand on the wall. You're going to use them to push yourself up," he told her.
"S'ar'd Papa," Marley said.
"I know baby, but as soon as you get this, you'll be able to reach and open the door and then I will be able to hold you for as long as you want. I am so proud of you baby girl. you are doing so good," he praised her. She trembled and they all heard her stutter come back.
"N.n.n. f. ..faw," she said but she rocked as Kurt told her.
"As soon as you think you're ready baby girl, you just push yourself straight up to your feet. Keep your left foot slightly in front of your right, keep your core muscles tight and just rock and then push. You can do this baby girl, I'm not worried at all," he said. The truth was, he was terrified, but he put on a brave front. All the adults were terrified. Even Quinn had a deep concern for Marley. She'd seen the gamut of ages that Marley could be, and she was convinced that Marley was positively freaking out in the bathroom, but trying to be brave. Only the heavens knew what age Marley would be when that door finally opened.
Marley rocked and rocked and finally she started to notice that her heels were leaving the floor and her bottom was leaving the toilet seat. "P.p.p. ...pa," she stammered, stopping her rocking motion for a minute.
"What's happening baby girl? What can I do?" he asked.
"I.I..I.I.I.I ugh!" she growled in frustration.
"It's alright baby, take your time," Kurt encouraged her.
" .pah. shhh," she managed to stammer and Kurt thought about it and looked at Santana who was already holding up a piece of paper that said push on it.
"Put your right hand on the sink top baby and your left hand on the wall. Use those things to help push you up," he told her and Santana nodded her agreement.
"I tie," she pushed out as evenly as she could and she continued to rock and push, until she finally stood up. The problem was, she got so excited that she lost her tight core and fell back down to sitting and started to cry. Terri was right there, yelling and screaming, telling her how bad she was, how terrible she was, what a freak she was, and why no one would love her.
It took all of three seconds for Quinn to rush to the door and start yelling. "Marley Rose, this is Auntie Quinn. I need you to listen to me very carefully!" she said seriously and Rachel stood at the kitchen counter. She wanted to get involved, but everyone was going to be starving by the time they got Marley out of the bathroom, so she just fixed up some bacon, toast, and eggs for everyone, once this was all over. "What's her middle name?" Quinn asked.
"We don't know," Kurt said.
"Seriously?" Quinn asked in surprise and then turned back to the door. "Marley Rose, listen to Auntie Quinn. Tell me what happened baby girl, so we can help you out of the bathroom. Inside, Marley was screaming in fear and in pain and Santana wanted nothing more than to break the door down. She stood up to do so and Quinn stopped her. "NO!" she said. "She's this close. She is so close and I know you're freaking out and I know she's freaking out, but you can not stop her. She has to work through this and then she'll be okay, and as soon as we get her out of there, I will eat breakfast and go get you all a new lock, with no ridiculous button on it. Talk to her, but do not break down the door," Quinn said seriously.
"You are on very thin ice Fabray! That is my kid in that room and I have to get her out!" Santana growled.
"Yes you do, but you don't have to go in and get her. You actually can't go in and get her, so talk to her. Bang on the door, call her name, find a way to get through to her, even when she's all freaking out like she is, because her wanting you, that will get her out here. I've been here two days. You are her Mommy. Be that. Right now! Don't rush in and take care of everything for her. Rush in and help her help herself! You can both do this!" Quinn lectured. "When she comes out, then you can do it all for her, if that's what you both want, but for now, make her try."
Santana growled protectively and then banged on the door. "Marley Rose, do you hear Mommy!" Santana said almost angrily. "Marley Rose, listen to Mommy right now!"
"MOMMY!" Marley wailed.
"Yes Marley. Mommy. Mommy is right here, right outside this door."
"H'ep Mommy!" she wailed.
"I'm trying baby, but you have to calm down. Calm down and breathe with Mommy and then we'll go through the steps to get you out of there."
"No, down, faw, no and," she cried.
"Calm down and breathe Marley Rose," Santana said sternly, although her facial features were betraying her voice. She already had tears in her eyes. She hated that she couldn't just rush in and get her little girl. "Listen to Mommy little one. Listen to Mommy's voice. Did you stand?" she asked.
"I did!" Marley called after a very long moment, where Santana, Kurt, and Rachel were beginning to think she passed out. "Terri way, Mommy he'p," she cried. "Go way! Mommy he'p!" she cried loudly and Quinn looked at Santana.
"She's in her head. Help pull her out," Quinn said and Santana looked at her with confusion. She thought she was doing that, so Quinn took Santana's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. She'd never been so glad she took her psychiatry classes before this moment. "Terri, you back up from Marley right now! Marley Rose, listen to what Mommy said," Quinn yelled into the room and it was loud enough for Marley to hear her.
"Marley, you stood up. You did it baby girl, you just got surprised and fell back down. You were so proud of yourself, you forgot to hold your core," Santana told her.
"Mommy! Terri, here, he'p," she said with sheer panic, her lungs burning furiously as she gasped for breath.
"No baby, she's not there. You're in your bathroom, in your house, your safe and Mommy, and Papa, and Mama, and Auntie Quinn are doing everything we can think of, to help get you out. Your house Marley. Terri is in jail. Terri was bad, very very bad, and she went away," Santana told her.
"Mommy," she cried pitifully.
"I know baby, I know. You just have to stand, Like you did before for Papa and then reach over and push that damn button and then the door will open. I know your scared Marley, but you can do it, and as soon as you do, we can all sit down for breakfast and Auntie Quinn will go get us a new bathroom doorknob, just like she promised," Santana said and Quinn shot her a look of disapproval. "Then don't offer what you don't mean!" Santana hissed at her. "Come on baby girl, just try again for Mommy. You can do this baby, I know you can," she told her and Marley cried.
She wanted to. Mommy was on the other side of that door and that was way better than Terri being in front of her.
"You worthless piece of shit, you can't do it, you never could. No one will ever want a baby slut like you. No one!" Terri growled.
"Mommy!" Marley cried in fear.
"I'm right here baby. I'm here and you are safe, in your bathroom, in your house. As soon as you stand up, like you did for Papa, and hit that little button Mommy will be able to come in and help and hold her baby girl."
"You are completely safe Marley. Mommy and Auntie Quinn are right outside this door, waiting for you to stand up, like we know you can, and press the little button," Quinn told her.
"Mommy!" Marley cried again.
"Come on baby girl, rock a bit, push yourself up, and then just reach over and hit the tiny little silver button on the handle and then you'll be out of the bathroom," Santana said and they heard a lot of grunting, groaning and crying. What was only seconds, but seemed like hours later, there was a soft click, and Santana was able to open the door.
"MOMMY!" Marley wailed and she flung herself and Santana, her body giving out on her and Santana gathered her close.
"I'm right here baby," she cooed softly.
An hour later, Marley had been fed her breakfast, and was now cuddled up tight, in Rachel's arms, her body going into light spasms, as she put tension in her body. She'd been horrible. She'd done everything wrong, and now both Mommy and Auntie Quinn were leaving. She wanted to go with them, but she was too weak from her struggles earlier. She was too tired. Her body didn't have the energy to do anything other than lay there, and so she laid against Rachel's body, in pain, listening to her heartbeat and crying heavily.
"I good Mommy," Marley cried once Santana approached them.
"Shhh, yes, you are sweetheart. You are a very good girl," Santana said and she carefully helped Marley to her feet. She got a good grip on her and Marley's head went straight to her shoulder. "Oooh, Mommy wishes you were smaller," Santana cooed softly.
Quinn stepped in behind Marley and helped support her. "Why don't you sit, we still have to wait for Kurt and Rachel," she suggested.
"She likes to climb on top of me, I'm afraid I won't get back up," Santana said and Marley let out a soft shriek, her back locking out for a moment.
"I good," Marley cried, struggling to keep her eyes open and her grip on Santana was getting tighter and tighter.
"Sit," Quinn told her.
Santana rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch. Quinn helped Marley to straddle Santana's lap and then she knelt down. She pushed Santana's legs apart a bit, to give her a wider base and Marley's bottom fell slightly through the space. "Shhh, Mommy's here baby girl, Mommy has you," she told her and she rocked slowly side to side.
"Has she been in the rocking chair at work?" Quinn asked.
"Several times, she loves that thing," Santana smiled and Marley wiggled for a moment, turned her head inward, rubbed her cheek on Santana's shoulder, and let out a soft whimper. "What baby?" she asked her gently and Marley simply blinked once. "Yes?" Santana asked. "Yes you like the rocker at Mommy's work?" she asked and Marley blinked again, but only once. "I know, the rocker is fun huh? Say, we go to work, and Mommy goes to do her job, and Marley stays with Nanny Susan and they read stories in the rocking chair," Santana said gently, essentially speaking for her.
"I can't wait to read to Marley in the rocking chair one day," Quinn smiled and little tears leaked out of Marley's eyes. This was it. They were going to get rid of her. Leave her to fend for herself. It seemed that her Mama and Papa were leaving as well and her heart broke. She needed someone, she couldn't be on her own. She broke down into tears and held tight to Santana, her knuckles turning ghost white.
Santana sighed and gathered Marley as close as she could. "You three go, tell Noah what happened. Leave my phone here, since you'll be with Rachel and Kurt, and then if he wants to call and talk, he can. I can't take her with us, and I can't leave her here," Santana said and Quinn noticed Marley was trembling violently.
"Are you sure, you're going to be okay?" Quinn asked kindly.
"Yeah," Santana said and Quinn nodded, stood back and just watched for a moment, as Santana worked to calm Marley down. It was oddly a huge turn on to see this once rough and tough cheer leader, with a bad ass attitude, become this calm, sweet, loving, very delicate woman, taking care of her child.
"Do you remember when we were at Mr. Shu's wedding?" Quinn asked after a few moments.
"I do," Santana said and then she looked up and smiled. She remembered very well and absolutely none of it was something she was ever going to, or wanted to, forget.
"Yeah, well, don't let this go to your head, but watching you with her, makes me want to do that all over again," she smiled and she leaned in and kissed Santana's cheek. "Definitely more than two times," she added with a grin.
"Dirty girl," Santana grinned and Quinn moved to sit next to Santana, rubbing Marley's back as she rested against Santana.
"Tee in," Marley said sadly and tiredly.
"Shhh, it's alright baby. Mommy has you and Auntie Quinn is rubbing your back. You're okay my sweetheart," Santana told her gently.
"You are a very good girl Marley. Auntie Quinn loves you very much, even though it's only been two days. You are too special and too sweet to have been tortured the way you were," Quinn told her.
"Tee-in," Marley slurred.
"Yes my love?" she asked her.
"Eye-ah, ffff," Marley said and Santana kiss the top of Marley's head and then pointed to the pacifier on the table. She also made a mental note that the word didn't quite come out correctly. Quinn picked it up and went to put it in Marley's mouth, but Santana stopped her.
"She gets to decide, not us," Santana said and Quinn gently put it in Marley's hand. Marley wrapped her fingers tightly around it, and closed her eyes. It took until Rachel and Kurt were ready to leave, for Marley to fall asleep.
"Okay, I'm ready," Rachel said and Kurt came out of his room, announcing he was ready as well.
"The three of you are going. She is far too worked up and far too tired to go. When she wakes up later and if she's up for it, then we'll come join you, but she needs to sleep," Santana said.
"Are you sure, you don't want one of us to stay with you as well?" Kurt offered. He'd seen how upset Marley was, and he knew they were lucky Marley was even speaking. So far, she'd said everyone's name, and that was it. Most recently, she asked for her pacifier, but nothing more than that. She was completely terrified. They tried to assure her and tell her how proud they were, that she was able to stand up on her own and unlock the door, but she didn't acknowledge anything they said.
"We'll be okay. She's probably going to sleep the entire time, but I can't ask her to stay awake any longer. She needs to sleep."
"See you later Mommy," Quinn smiled and she gave Santana a kiss to her temple and moved to the door. Rachel and Kurt followed suit and pretty soon, it was just Marley and Santana.
"Mommy," Marley whimpered.
"I'm right here baby girl. You are in Mommy's arms, very safe, and you can sleep now. When you wake up, we can decide what to do next okay," Santana told her. "Rest for now my love, Mommy is here and she's going to be here for a very long time."
When Quinn, Kurt, and Rachel got to the hospital, there was a lot of commotion going on. Moving carefully through the chaos, they went to Noah's room and found things even more chaotic in there.
"Whoa! STOP!" Quinn said, in her best Mistress voice.
"Do you think, we have that? You know, like somewhere in our bones or way down deep in our toes or something? I mean it has to come from somewhere right?" Kurt asked Rachel softly and she simply giggled at him.
"Maybe it's a cheerio thing," she offered.
"Why are you all in here. Noah, it's Quinn!" she yelled to him. "All of you need to get out now and read the damn chart! He can't see! You can't come in here and just start poking and prodding with no explanation of who you are! Where is your supervisor!" Quinn demanded. She managed to grab the attention of one male nurse and cornered him. "I want to speak to your supervisor, here, in person, now!" she said.
"Yes ma'am," the guy said and he ran out of the room. As soon as everyone was gone, she softened immediately.
"Noah buddy, this is Quinn. Rachel and Kurt are with me. I'm going to move closer to the bed," she told him and he raised his left hand as high as it would go.
"Wawa," he managed to push out and Quinn moved as fast as lightening. She couldn't imagine how painful and disgusting his mouth must feel, so she got him the water, and a kidney tray to rinse in. "Ache you," he said once he finished.
"So polite," Quinn praised.
"Noah, there were a lot of people in here, can you tell us what happened?" Rachel asked kindly.
"Where Mar-ree?" he asked not ready to answer Rachel's question yet.
"She had to stay home with Santana buddy. She had a very long night and she was very sad and did a lot of crying, which leaves her pretty exhausted. We do have our phones, so you can call her though, if you want to," Kurt explained.
"Mar-ree, talk Mar-ree," he said and he looked genuinely upset. Marley wasn't there. Santana wasn't there. This could be potentially dangerous as far as his safety was concerned. Quinn had returned, which was a good sign, but the fact that the other little one, this family had taken on, wasn't there, that concerned him.
"Okay, buddy, we can call her," Rachel said and she pulled out her phone to dial the apartment. "You can hold it, or you can just listen," Rachel said giving him an option and he didn't know what to do. She was used to options. They hadn't done the yes no game in a long time. Plus, he could speak. Maybe not all that well, but he could speak and Rachel was used to Marley. Get her to talk and keep it up. That had been Santana's goal.
"Phrase your options better," Kurt told her and she gave him a funny look. He rolled his eyes and spoke up. "Noah, let me know when you see me okay?" he asked and he carefully walked into his line of vision. Once he was in sight Noah raised his hand. "Good job," he praised him. "Now, Rachel has forgotten, because we're used to Marley, so we have to do things a little bit differently. When we give Marley options, she already knows what we're talking about, but she didn't learn it immediately, we had to teach her, so I'm going to teach you okay?" he asked and Noah raised his left hand. "Very good. Now, option one will be your left and and two will be your right hand. So tell me bud, do you want to hold the phone to your ear or do you want it on speaker?" Kurt asked him and Noah raised his right hand. He could barely hold things without help. He wasn't about to drop the phone and piss Rachel off.
Rachel nodded and pressed send, then speaker. The phone rang and Santana answered. "You just got there, how could anything possibly be wrong?" Santana asked in frustration.
"First of all, calm down. Secondly, why is she screaming?" Rachel asked. Noah immediately went on edge. He heard it too and Marley screaming was a scary sound.
"She drifted off, woke up, realized you'd all left, and now she's freaking out because, in her words, not mine, she ruined everyone's life."
"Tell our little drama queen that she needs to calm down, she did not ruin anyone's life and then call us back. Noah wants to talk to her, but I can hear her, she's not ready to talk to anyone," Rachel said.
"No, not at the moment, but be prepared. If I can get her to calm down, I'm going to bring her down there. She's been begging for you specifically for the last few minutes," Santana said. "She wants you to rub her tummy."
"Again? I thought we fixed that with her diet," Rachel said.
"We did, but now we are making her eat more steadily and she's apparently backed up. I have to call Miss Susan and get her an appointment, but for now, she wants Mama," Santana explained.
"Alright, call us back when she's calm, love you," Rachel said automatically.
"Weirdo," Santana smiled but even Noah heard the honesty and return of emotion in her voice.
They hung up and Rachel looked at Noah. She took in his features quickly. His cheeks were still blue and purple although the outside edges of the bruses were now green and yellow, which were signs of healing. He was definitely underweight, because his cheeks were sunken in and his hands were pure bone and skin. He was only five foot four maybe and in the bed, he looked even smaller. He was still growing though, so she expected that with proper nourishment and care, now that he could get it, he'd grow another few inches over time and tower over all of them. He had a patch over his left eye, that he'd had since they came in and the right one was simply healing, still swollen from the last beating he got before he came to the hospital. One look and she knew that this boy needed love and affection, just as much as Marley did. Whether he wanted to get it as a baby or an adult, she didn't care, she just wanted him to get what he deserved. "Santana doesn't like the L word," she said finally. "Can I move your hair a bit buddy? It's in your eyes," she told him and he raised his left hand. She brushed his light brown hair out of his eyes and ran her fingers gently through his hair, combing it into a neater appearence. "You are so handsome Noah," she praised him.
"No talk, no Mar-ree, no talk," he said seriously and while Quinn was okay with what he said, she was not okay with how he said it. He'd been rude and while he'd suffered torture, that was no longer the case, and she was not going to allow him to be rude.
"Ah, ah, ah," Quinn said kindly. "You don't have to tell us anything yet, but you can calm down a little bit. Rachel was only giving you a compliment. No one is going to do anything, you aren't told about, or ready for. Not while I'm here and you can bet that I will be talking to the supervisor about why there was a circus in here before I showed up. Things will get straightened out. In the mean time, you do not get to be rude to Rachel or Kurt, or anyone who is trying to help you, or you get a time out. The rules for Marley, as far as manners go, are the exact same for you," Quinn said.
"I think it's in their DNA. They got a gene somewhere that we just don't have," Rachel told Kurt when Quinn finished speaking and they both laughed. Quinn made a face, but they didn't pay much attention to her and Noah couldn't see it. So Rachel smiled and talked to Noah, "So buddy, what would you like to do before Santana and Marley call us back?"