Thanks so much for all the reviews. They really mean a lot to me. I've already started brainstorming my Season 6 and I'm really excited for it. Some other characters from Glee might be playing more prominent roles. In the meantime, enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 52: Flu
Finn sat in his room working on homework when his phone rang. He looked at it and saw that it was Mr. Schue, then picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Finn, it's Will," Mr. Schue said.
"Hey," Finn said. It still felt weird to call his former glee club director by his first name.
"I ran into your mom and Burt today," Mr. Schue continued. "They told me you had an interview for the position of the glee club director in New York. How did that go?"
"I think it went well," Finn said. "They told me that you said good things about me."
"Of course I did," Mr. Schue said. "And the glee club members who were members last year told me that they and the 2013 graduates had a little something for your interview, too."
"They did!" Finn said. "They made a video where they all talked about me. I wasn't expecting it, but it was a really nice touch."
"I'm sure you'll get the position, Finn," Mr. Schue said. "You'll be great."
Finn smiled to himself. "Thanks. So, how are the New Directions?"
"Well, we got our theme for Nationals," Mr. Schue said. "This year every glee club gets assigned an individual theme. Our club got Disney."
"Disney?" Finn asked.
"Yeah," Mr. Schue said. "The girls really want to do something from Frozen."
"That doesn't surprise me," Finn said. "Rachel, Kurt and Santana LOVE that movie, and Tina comes over to watch it with them sometimes. I even think it's pretty good."
"And of course, we're preparing for both the weddings," Mr. Schue said.
"I appreciate that you guys are willing to come to New York for both weddings," Finn said.
"Of course we are," Mr. Schue said. "These aren't just any weddings. It's you and Rachel, and Kurt and Blaine."
Finn smiled to himself and coughed. His throat did feel a little itchy today. "Well, how are you and Emma and Daniel?"
"Daniel's great," Mr. Schue said.
"Rachel and I were talking the other day, and we were wondering, would you and Emma like Daniel to be the ring bearer in our wedding?" Finn asked. "Obviously he's too little to do it himself, but you and Emma can help."
Mr. Schue laughed. "I'd love that. You two are his godparents, after all."
"We are," Finn said. "I just wish we got to see him more."
"I know," Mr. Schue said. "And if we go to LA - "
"You're still considering taking the job in LA?" Finn asked. He hoped by now that Mr. Schue would have decided to stay at McKinley.
"Finn, this is very difficult," Mr. Schue said. "You know how much I love the glee club. But at this school, there's a real budget, and there's not someone like Sue to always be tearing us down. The salary and the benefits here are also better. Emma and I want to have more children eventually, and more money would definitely be a plus."
"Does the glee club know anything about this?" Finn asked as he coughed again.
"I just want them to completely focus on getting ready for Nationals," Mr. Schue said. "I'm guessing you haven't told Rachel or Kurt or anyone else?"
"No," Finn said. He felt bad not telling Rachel. He didn't like keeping things from her. And even when he didn't tell Rachel something, he would tell Kurt.
"Good," Mr. Schue said. "I know she'd tell Kylie if you told her... sisters tell each other everything."
"Engaged couples and brothers should tell each other everything, too," Finn pointed out.
"Finn, don't give me that," Mr. Schue said. "I'll tell everyone when I'm ready."
"Okay," Finn said as he coughed again. "I'm actually studying for my finals, so I should go soon."
"Yeah, you do want to keep your spot on the Dean's list at an Ivy League school, don't you?" Mr. Schue teased.
"Yeah," Finn said. "Good talking with you."
"You too," Mr. Schue said.
Finn hung up the phone and returned to studying. Yes, finals were a few weeks away, but he'd made the Dean's list against all odds fall semester, and he felt like he had to keep his spot there this semester. He'd had a shift at the diner earlier today, and Rachel was at the theatre, since tonight was her on call night. Kurt, Blaine and Santana all had evening shifts at the diner tonight.
Finn figured he might have done all the studying he needed to do tonight. His head really hurt and he just wanted to lie down. He closed his books and collapsed on his bed. Maybe he'd feel better after some rest.
x
"Finn!" Finn felt someone shaking him. He opened his eyes and saw Rachel standing there. The window blinds were still open, and he could tell it was dark out.
"Hey, Rach," Finn croaked.
"Finn, are you okay?" Rachel asked. "You're asleep on top of our bed in day clothes..."
"I'm not feeling well," Finn said.
Rachel put her hand on Finn's forehead. "Oh, you are feeling pretty warm. How about you put on your pajamas, and we'll take your temperature?"
"Okay," Finn said. He pulled on his pajamas as Rachel left their bedroom, coming back with the thermometer and a drinking cup. "I poured you some ice water."
"Thanks babe," Finn said.
Rachel gave Finn a kiss on the cheek. "Let's take your temperature."
Finn obliged and opened his mouth, letting Rachel take his temperature. When the thermometer beeped, Rachel looked at it. "Oh dear. 101 degrees."
"Oh gosh," Finn said.
"I think you need to sleep tonight," Rachel said. "I'll call your professors and tell them you can't be in school tomorrow."
"But finals are only a few weeks away," Finn moaned.
"Finn, your health is more important," Rachel said. "Go to bed."
"Okay," Finn said. After getting under the covers, he didn't have much trouble falling asleep.
x
Finn woke up a few hours later. He'd hoped he'd woken up in time to e-mail his professors to say he wouldn't be in today. Sure, he felt a little better after getting some sleep, but his head still hurt and he was feeling a bit hot.
Finn went into the kitchen and saw Rachel sitting at the table on her laptop. "Hey! How are you feeling?" Rachel asked.
"As well as I can with the flu," Finn admitted.
"Well, I made some surprises for you," Rachel said, handing Finn a bowl and a cup from the stove. "Some chicken soup and some tea."
Finn smiled. He could always count on Rachel to take care of him. "Thanks."
Rachel smiled back. "No problem. I called off at the diner and for school today."
"Rach, you didn't have to," Finn said.
"Yes I did," Rachel retorted. "I want to make sure my fiance gets better."
"You are going to be the best wife ever after we get married," Finn told her.
"Well, I sure hope I will be," Rachel said. "How about after you finish your soup and your tea, you and I cuddle on the couch and watch a movie?"
"I'd love that," Finn said. After he finished his soup and tea, he and Rachel went to the couch, and in honor of what Mr. Schue had told him about Nationals, they decided to watch Frozen. By the end of the movie, Finn's head was starting to hurt again. "Rach, is it okay if I go lie down?" Finn asked.
"Baby, you don't need to ask, you're sick," Rachel said softly.
"Thank you," Finn whispered. His stomach was feeling a little icky, so he went to the bathroom before going to bed and coughed. After some coughing, he threw up over the toilet.
"Oh, Finn." Finn turned around and saw Rachel standing there. "My poor baby."
"Sorry, Rach," Finn gagged.
"Finn, there's nothing to apologize for," Rachel said. "You have a bug. You go get some rest, and I'll take care of this."
Finn felt bad for leaving a mess for Rachel, but at the same time, he didn't feel up to cleaning. "Okay. I love you, babe." He wanted to give her a kiss, but he knew that he couldn't risk giving her germs.
"I love you, too," Rachel said. "Just go get some sleep."
x
With Finn asleep, Rachel went back to the living room to work on her homework. As she began reading over one of her books, the phone rang. Rachel looked at the phone and saw that it was Rupert. "Hello?"
"Rachel, Marissa has a cold," Rupert said. "Do you think you could perform tonight?"
Normally Rachel would jump at the chance to perform, but with Finn sick, she wanted to be here with him. Plus, if she ever did get to perform, she would want Finn in the audience. "Have you talked to Taylor?"
"Taylor's visiting her family in New Hampshire this week, remember?" Rupert asked.
Rachel felt torn. She didn't want Finn to be alone when he was sick, but she had always wanted to perform as Fanny Brice on Broadway. "Well..."
"Is something going on?" Rupert asked.
"Well, my fiance's sick," Rachel said.
"Don't you guys live with his brother and some other friends?" Rupert asked.
"Well, yes," Rachel admitted.
"Then there we go," Rupert said. "Your friends and your future brother-in-law can keep an eye on your fiance tonight. We need you in the show." He hung up the phone, leaving Rachel thinking. She didn't want to leave Finn alone. Not when he was sick.
But before Rachel had a chance to protest, Rupert hung up the phone. Just as he hung up, Kurt, Blaine and Santana came in. "How's the invalid?" Santana asked.
"He's sleeping," Rachel said. Then she told her friends what was going on. "Guys, Rupert just called - Marissa has a cold and Taylor's out of town. They want me to fill in as Fanny tonight."
"Rachel!" Kurt exclaimed. "That's so exciting!"
Rachel sighed. This wasn't what she pictured her first Broadway performance to be. "But I want to stay here and take care of Finn."
"We can take care of him," Kurt said. "Rachel, you're not going to get many opportunities to perform, as an understudy. Take it."
"But this is so last minute," Rachel thought out loud. "I can't get you guys or my mom tickets, or call up my dads and my sister and Mr. Schue to see if they can come to New York..."
"That's what being an understudy is, isn't it?" Santana asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Rachel admitted.
"Maybe you can bribe Marissa to give you a show for all of us to come to," Santana encouraged.
"Yeah," Blaine said. "We'll be here for Finn. You just go have fun tonight."
"Get all of the audience members on their feet," Santana added.
Rachel went back in her room to check on Finn before she put her bag together to go to the theatre. Finn was still asleep when she went in the room, so she quickly kissed his head before she left. When she got to the theatre, Rupert and Sidney were waiting for her. "Thank God!" Rupert said. "We were worried that we might need to get one of the extras to do it."
"Well, that's what an understudy's for, right?" Rachel asked.
"It is," Rupert said. "Thank you so much, Rachel. The costumes are in Marissa's dressing room."
"Okay," Rachel said as she began to head to the dressing room.
Jean Baptiste came up to her. "So, you're Fanny tonight?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "This is a less than ideal night to be doing it, since Finn's sick..."
"So your friends and aren't coming tonight either?" Jean asked.
"No," Rachel sighed. "This isn't how I pictured my first Broadway performance." She was afraid to say that in front of the director and producer, but she did feel comfortable telling her fellow understudy.
x
The curtain went up, and Rachel had to admit, even though her family and friends weren't here, it did feel pretty good to be on this stage. Thanks to all the times she'd seen the movie, she knew all of Fanny's lines, and thanks to rehearsals, she'd gotten familiar with the other cast members.
Even if she couldn't have her family members and friends here, she had to admit, it did feel good to be singing the songs she'd loved her whole life on a real Broadway stage. Even though she wasn't the official lead, it was as if the audience didn't care. They cheered at the end of every song, often on their feet.
Rachel just hoped before the production ended, she'd be able to bring her dads into New York to see her perform and have her fiance and friends in the audience.
x
Finn woke up from his nap, realizing that now it was dark outside. Even though he wasn't feeling well, he did feel a bit weird about sleeping for most of the day. At least he did feel a little less achy after this nap. He went to the living room, where Blaine was watching a baseball game and Santana and Kurt were reading fashion magazines. "Look who's up!" Kurt declared.
Finn sat down. "Hey guys."
"How are you feeling?" Kurt asked, handing Finn some saltines. "Rachel told me to give these to you when you got up.
"A little better," Finn admitted. "Thannks for the saltines." Then he noticed someone was missing. "Where's Rachel?"
"Rachel had to fill in tonight for the lead actress in Funny Girl," Santana said.
"What?" Finn asked. He hated himself for getting sick. Tonight had been Rachel's first performance on Broadway, and he spent it at home asleep.
"I'm sure she understands, Finn," Kurt said, clearly noticing that his brother was upset. "Don't beat yourself up."
"I always wanted to be there for her first performance on Broadway," Finn sighed.
"She'll probably have another one at some point, and we can all go to it," Santana said. "I'll make sure she does, trust me."
"What do you mean by that?" Blaine asked.
Before Santana could answer, the roommates heard a knock on the door. "Maybe Rachel forgot her keys," Blaine mused, going to the door.
But it wasn't Rachel on the other side of the door. It was Mercedes. Kurt and Santana jumped up and ran to hug their friend. "What are you doing here?" Kurt asked.
"Well, now that I'm done with classes for the summer, I was thinking I'd spend the summer in New York, looking for inspiration for my solo album," Mercedes told her friends.
"Solo album?" Finn asked.
"Yes!" Mercedes confirmed. "I love working with the band, but I want to work on an album of my own, too. I was wondering if I could crash on your couch for a little while?"
"Of course!" Blaine said.
"If you bought a twin bed, you could share my room for the summer," Santana suggested. "There's enough room for another bed."
"Awesome!" Mercedes said, looking at Finn on the couch. "Hey, Frankenteen."
"Finn's a bit under the weather," Blaine explained.
"Awww, poor Finn," Mercedes said. "Where's Rachel?"
"Rachel's filling in tonight at Funny Girl," Blaine explained. "I bet she'll be really excited to see you!"
"She will!" Kurt said. "Tomorrow night all of us are off, so we'll have to have Sam, Tina and Artie over for dinner so you can see them!"
Mercedes clapped. "I'd love that!"
Finn gave Blaine a look, and Blaine gave Finn a similar look back, letting Finn know he was thinking the same thing. Of course they were happy that Mercedes wanted to spend the summer in New York. But of course, there was the situation with Sam and Tina. Sam was happy with Tina, but he did talk about Mercedes a lot. He was always the first of the group to see new songs from Mercedes's band and always showed them to Finn, Blaine and Artie. But with Mercedes in New York, what would this mean for Sam, Tina and Mercedes?
Blaine tapped his phone, and Finn nodded. When Blaine began texting, Finn knew who he was texting.
The door opened, and Rachel came in. "Mercedes!" she exclaimed, giving her friend a big hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I'll be sharing Santana's room for the summer while I look for inspiration for a solo album, is that okay?" Mercedes asked.
"Of course it is!" Rachel said. "I'm so excited you're here!"
"So, Berry, how was your Broadway debut?" Santana asked.
Rachel smiled wide. "It felt so amazing to get to sing those songs on that stage. I just wish you all had been there."
Finn took Rachel's hand. "There will be another show you fill in for that we can all go to."
Rachel nodded. "I know. How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling better," Finn said. "My fever's gone down. I think the care from my fiance helped."
"In sickness and in health, right?" Rachel asked.
Finn nodded. "In sickness and in health."
Chapter 53 preview: It's Mother's Day and various gleeks do special things for their moms. More wedding prep. Rachel, Finn, Kurt, Blaine and Santana invite Sam, Artie and Tina over to see Mercedes - how will it go?
10 reviews unlock Chapter 53!