Chapter 5:
"Mom? Why don't you go home for a bit and take a shower? Maybe get some rest." Finn spoke up after the doctor had left the room. He had an arm wrapped around Rachel as he ate his breakfast.
"Are you sure, honey?" Carole asked gently.
"I'll be fine. You've been here non-stop and I appreciate you getting Rachel to get some rest last night but I know you didn't sleep well here." Finn explained.
Carole nodded and started to stand. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Mom, go. Rachel will stay with me until you and Burt return." Finn replied with a slight chuckle.
"Okay. I'll be back before they release you." Carole responded, grabbing her purse and keys and carefully closing the door behind her so it wouldn't make a bang.
Finn moved the rolling table out of his way and turned to Rachel. He placed a gentle kiss to her temple before speaking. "We didn't finish our conversation."
"No, I guess we didn't." Rachel said softly.
"Well...do you want to stay?"
Rachel bit her lip and looked up at him. "Of course I do but you know how hard I've worked to get this role." Finn nodded. "I know the producers would be confused and disappointed if I said I didn't want it now."
"You don't have to have all the answers now but what does your heart tell you?" Finn asked her.
"That I'm where I'm meant to be..."
"Then let's leave it at that for now. We'll take it one day at a time until your certain, okay?" Finn interrupted.
Rachel nodded and reached to run a hand over his stubble covered cheek. "You're amazing, you know that?"
Finn smiled and kissed her palm. "Only because of you."
"No, it's always been in you, you just don't always see it." Rachel smiled back. "So the MRI went okay?"
"Yeah, they said the bruising in my stomach was going down but I'd still be in some pain until it's fully healed." Finn explained as there was a knock on the door. He groaned and threw his head back against the pillows. He just wanted some time with Rachel.
A nurse entered and frowned at their position on the bed. "Sorry but I need to take the sling off so Mr. Hudson can get some circulation to his leg before he gets released."
Rachel nodded and reluctantly moved off the bed. She didn't go far though, just to the chair she had set her stuff done on. She watched the nurse intently as she started unhooking the sling from its hook. She wanted to make sure the nurse wasn't hurting Finn. Rachel caught the wince from him when she slowly lowered his leg and Rachel gave him a look of concern.
"I'm fine, Rach. It's just stiff from being kept still for so long." Finn said noticing her look and the glare that Rachel sent the nurse.
The nurse gave Rachel a small smile as she left the room. Rachel looked back at Finn as she left. "Do you need anything? Are you in any pain?"
"Just you. Get back up here." Finn replied with a smirk.
Carole returned with Burt and Kurt about an hour before they were set to release Finn. Finn was sitting up in his bed, running his hand through Rachel's hair while she slept on his chest. Carole smiled at the sight as did Burt. They knew it would take more than an ocean to keep those two apart.
"Hey mom. You look better." Finn whispered softly so he didn't wake Rachel.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Carole said just as soft.
"Better now that my leg isn't stuck in that stupid sling." Finn mumbled. Rachel started to stir and Finn looked down at her as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. She smiled up at him and looked around the room.
"Oh hi, Carole. When did you get back?" Rachel asked sitting up some.
"Just a few minutes ago. The doctor should be in soon so you should probably get up, though I know you don't want to." Carole said with a smile.
Rachel smiled back and nodded. She moved back to the chair and Finn grabbed her hand almost instantly, not wanting to lose contact with her.
There was a knock on the door a few minutes later and a doctor walked in with a clipboard. "Evening everyone. Everything seems to be progressing as expected so we're going to release you but if anything at all seems wrong, please don't hesitate to come back in."
"Absolutely, yes. I can agree to that." Finn said with a big smile. He was just happy to be able to sleep in his own bed without people coming in every hour.
"I'll get your discharge papers ready, should only be a few minutes." The doctor replied with a smile as he left the room.
Burt placed a duffle bag on the bed next to Finn. "We brought you some clothes to change into. We'll step out while you get dressed."
Finn thanked him as they left the room, leaving just Rachel with him again. "Rach, do you mind? I kind of want some privacy to change."
Rachel laughed. "What? It's not like it's nothing I haven't seen before."
Finn laughed with her. "I know but I would really like a minute alone, if that's okay?"
Rachel's smile fell. "Oh yeah, of course. I understand." She started to stand but Finn tugged on her hand so her attention was on him again.
"You'll have me all to yourself once we get back to the house. I promise I'm not rejecting you. I've just had a lot of people in and out of here the last few days and I just need a minute, okay?"
Her smile returned and she nodded before leaning down a placing a quick peck on his lips. He smiled at her as she pulled away and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
It was twenty minutes later when they were finally wheeling Finn out of the hospital in a wheelchair. Rachel was beside him, holding his hand as his mom pushed the chair. Burt had run ahead with Kurt to grab the car so Finn wouldn't have to go that far. Carole put the brakes on as Burt pulled up to the curb. Finn locked eyes with Rachel and brought her hand up to kiss her knuckles. She gave a soft smile as Carole brought the crutches over that he would have to use for next six weeks. With some difficulty and a lot of laughter from Finn at how clumsy he is, he was finally out of the chair.
"Rachel, can you help Finn into the car while I take the chair back inside?" Carole asked her.
"Of course, that's no problem." Rachel replied placing a gentle against Finn's back. Finn smiled down at her, evidence of a laugh on his lips. "What's so funny?"
"You helping me. I'm practically twice your size, short stuff." Finn said letting the laugh escape.
"I may be short but I'm determined to make sure you don't fall." Rachel said sincerely.
It took a few tries to get his injured leg into the car without hurting him but Rachel managed right before Carole came back to the car. Rachel ran around to the other side as Carole climbed in up front. Rachel squeezed in beside Finn and leaned into him as he pressed a soft kiss to her hair.
"Let's go home." Carole smiled looking at them both in the rearview mirror
.
"Gladly. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed." Finn replied.
They pulled into the Hudson-Hummel driveway about ten minutes later and Finn was all smiles. "It feels good to be home."
"I'm glad you're getting to come home and not the alternative." Rachel said soft enough for only Finn to hear. He pressed a kiss to her temple and squeezed her tight to his side.
"Me too, Rach." He whispered in her ear.
Burt helped Finn out of the car this time after he shut the car off. Finn was already becoming a pro at using the crutches. It only took him a few minutes to make his way inside with Rachel close on his heels. They helped him to the living room and he insisted on sitting in his dad's recliner, so he could easily prop his leg up.
"Do you need anything?" Rachel asked trying to make him comfortable.
"I'm okay for now. Do you want to watch a movie?" Finn asked her as she took the seat closest to him on the couch. "Anything you want."
"Anything?" Rachel asked with a smirk.
"I'm going to regret this but yes. Even Funny Girl." Finn replied with a laugh, already knowing what she would choose. He had gotten a copy of the movie awhile ago for her so she didn't have to always bring hers over.
Rachel smiled and popped the movie in, pressing play before taking her seat again.
"Why are you sitting all the way over there?" Finn asked her with a quirk of his eyebrow.
"I didn't want to cause you any discomfort. That chair isn't that big." Rachel explained.
"Trust me, your tiny self will fit. Come here." Finn smiled.
Rachel carefully maneuvered herself in between his legs and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Perfect." He whispered huskily in her ear. She blushed and leaned back into him gently.
They were about halfway through the movie when Rachel glanced up at Finn and realized he had fallen asleep. She smiled, thinking that he looked more like a little boy than a fully grown man when he slept. She ran a hand softly over his cheek and almost as if a switch flipped in her, she knew what she would do about her decision for Funny Girl.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Yay! Finn is finally home! I wrote this chapter while listening to the full Season 1 soundtrack and I never realized how much Cory's voice improved over just Season 1. Sorry to leave another cliffhanger but next chapter Rachel will make her call to the Funny Girl producers. Any guesses on what her decision will be? As always I enjoy each and every review and I do read them all. So please give me feedback and thank you anothergleekgirl for being my inspiration to continue this story.