A/N: Enjoy!

Chapter 11

"Geez! I will not work under these conditions! That man is insufferable!"

"Wait, please we'll triple your pay!" Stacey pleaded and the nurse didn't even hesitate.

"No! No amount of money will make me stay, he'd better be damn happy I was forced to sign an NDA otherwise I would be singing like a damn canary!" She said before storming out.

"Dammit Sam!" Stacey shouted as she stormed into his room where he was laying there looking rather pleased with himself. "That's the eighth nurse we had in a month!"

Sam looked at her innocently. "What did I do?" He asked smugly.

"Don't try that bull shit with me! Just because you're upset that you couldn't celebrate your Superbowl win doesn't mean you get to treat people like shit! New flash if you don't let the nurses help you will miss next season, jackass!"

Sam grumbled before rolling his eyes. "I don't need them, I'll heal on my own."

"You can't even go to the bathroom by yourself! Stop being a jerk and admit you're still hurting and let them fucking nurses help!"

"I SAID I DON'T NEED THEM AND YOU CAN LEAVE TOO!" Sam shouted.

Stacey just shook her head. "You keep pushing people away and you won't have anyone left but if you want me gone, I'm gone. Oh and here." She said tossing his work phone to him.

He shot her a confused look. "You fired Quinn, remember? Then you yelled at Santana and that;s why you're sporting that black eye. I've been handling everything since but now you have to take care of it!" Stacey informed before storming out and leaving him there alone.

Sam didn't care, he knew he could take care of himself he just didn't need to do it. At least that is what he told himself that first day. By day three he was close to calling his sister back. But he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. She thought she was always right.

Sam did however, get Malcolm to convince Quinn to handle the press, he was not trying to deal with all those calls. Including the ones from his parents, trying to come back down to see him. He wasn't ready to see anyone. He was fine by himself. He had to be.

The last month had been crazy for Mercedes. She stayed by Sam's side while he was in the hospital, but filming her music video, and recording her album kept her so busy that when she got time to see Sam, he was either busy or she was told he didn't want to see her, or anyone. She knew that he was going through a lot, and for a man like Sam to miss out on seeing his hard work in person, hearing that his team was led to victory by Finn, it was devastating to him.

Getting out of her car, she grabbed her bag and the takeout she bought, and then did what she always did, she looked over to Sam's place. Usually the house would be dark by now, she would know that he was sleeping, but the lights were on and there was some weird growing sound coming from his place.

She was tired and really wanted to go home, but in truth she wanted to see Sam, wanted to make sure he was at least okay. Going to his front door, she knocked and waited. After a few minutes, no one answered and she started to get really worried. Usually a nurse or Stacey would open the door.

She knocked again, and then heard a thump and a loud groan. Using the key Stacey had given her for emergencies, she opened the door.

"Hello? Stacey? Sam?"

"Go away!" She heard as she entered the house. It was a mess and there was a smell that made her scrunch up her face.

"Sam are you okay?" She questioned as she walked further into his house before seeing him laying on the floor. She ran over to him and turned him over so that he was facing him.

"Go away, Mercedes." He said moving away from her.

Mercedes looked at him like he was crazy. "Sam, I'm not leaving you like this and where is your nurse!"

Sam grunted. "She's gone, like you should be. I can do this by myself!"

Mercedes shook her head. "Sam, how long have you been on the floor? And don't lie to me."

"I don't know! An hour or so, I don't have my phone on me."

She hugged moving down to him and lifting him to her. "How long have you been here by yourself?"

"I didn't need any help from them and I don't need it from you." He snarled.

Mercedes helped him over to the couch. "Sam, you smell, this place is a mess and it's clear you are hungry…"

Sam folded his arms across his chest, he did want her help but he didn't want her pity. And that is what he saw when she looked at him. Pity.

Mercedes moved closer to him and put his foot on the ottoman and a pillow. Heaved a sigh as she went to her bag and grabbed the take out she had bought. Grabbing a clean plate she smiled to herself as she heard him mumble under his breath.

"Here I bought General Tso's and they gave me way too much. Eat this." She gave him the plate and then brought him a glass of water.

He wanted to throw the food but to be honest he was starving, he hadn't eaten since last night. "There you fed me you can go."

She laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed a trash bag and started cleaning up. "You gonna tell me what happened or do I need to call your sister?"

Sam swallowed his food and took a sip of his drink. "I ran off my nurses, they, like you, were pitying me and I didn't need that from them so I fired them. Made them leave. Sam with Stacey as it will be the same with you.

Mercedes moved to sit down with Sam and exhaled deeply. "Sam, let me be very clear with you. I am not some weak willed nurse who ran away crying because you hurt her feelings. You need help. And if you think that I am pitying you, then you are a bigger dumbass than I recently thought. Now eat!"

Sam cut his eyes at her and went back to his plate. As she grabbed her keys he ignored the pang of sadness at knowing she was leaving but it's what he wanted, he wanted her to go.

"Don't let the door hit ya on the way out Mercedes!" He yelled as she stepped out the door. Mercedes smiled to herself, Sam was in for a surprise that was for sure, as she went home and grabbed her a few quick and easy outfits and a couple of towels. Sam needed a shower and she saw all his towels in a pile on the washer, she did not have time to wait for them to get washed and dried. Sam needed a bath immediately, at least a shower, something.

Heading back over to Sam's place, he looked up as he saw her with a bag. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Right now? I am about to get you in your chair and give you a damn shower, you smell so bad Sam." She teased placing her bag at the foot of the stairs. "So I can give you a shower outside or in your bathroom. I am so nice, I will let you pick."

"I can bathe myself!"

"Says the man who smells like ass." She teased. "Come on, you can finish eating once we have gotten you to smell better, and just because you are so much fun!"

Sam was about to say something but just watched in shock as she helped him to his chair, put his waterproof cast protector on his leg and wheeled him outside.

"This is going against my will, you know that right?"

"Your smell is against mine, so since I am able to move without assistance, my will wins." She said.

She tried to pull off his shirt but he refused to let her. He smirked at her, thinking he had her but the smirk on her face caused her to regret crossing her.

She pushed him right into the water without removing his clothes or him from the chair. "What the hell!"

"You are the one who wouldn't let me remove his shirt." She said, folding her arms across her chest.

Sam angrily reached up and took the hose spraying her. Mercedes screamed as she fought Sam. "You asshole!" She said yanking it from him.

She put the hose at the top of the shower head where he couldn't reach it and tried to ring out her dress. "Why would you do that! I am here trying to help you!" she said angrily and tossed her dress over her head without thinking.

Moving closer to him she grabbed the soap and started washing him. "I can't understand why you are being such an asshole to everyone. You act like you don't need us but you do! And there is nothing wrong with needing help. It doesn't make you weaker."

Sam stared at her, he really wished that she meant that but after how they were he wasn't sure if she meant that or was just trying to get him on her side. But either way he knew he needed help, and she was stubborn enough to be the one to help him.

"Fine, help me out of the chair, it will be easier."

She looked at him and nodded as she helped lift him out the chair and put him on the bench. Mercedes reached down to his waist, removing his joggers and boxers. Sam stared at her as she did and when Mercedes looked up and caught his eye, she was taken in the way she used to be, the way she had from the moment she saw him.

She continued to lather him up, wiping his neck and chest then moved down to his thighs. Sam groaned and she looked up to him, trying her best to do what she came out there to do, but seeing his face, hearing his voice, she was brought back to being in the shower with him so long ago.

Looking up to Sam, she could see the lust in his own eyes, see his mind going right back to when they were there as well.

"Sam…" She said leaning in to him and placing a kiss on his lips. She pulled away for a moment, looking at him and making sure he wanted this as much as she did.

Sam pulled her to him, kissing her back as she straddled him, running her hands through his hair as the water hit them at a steady pace. Sam's hands were all over her body but as much as he wanted her, as much as he needed her, he couldn't rise to the occasion.

He didn't want Mercedes to feel that, to know that he was broken, he wasn't a man he was a shell of who he used to be and this was the final nail in his coffin.

"Get off of me…" He said moving her off of his lap.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

Sam shook his head. "If you came over here, to just sleep with me, then you can leave!"

Mercedes stared at him. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm very serious." He lied, looking away because he knew deep down that wasn't the reason she was there.

"Unbelievable! You arrogant asshole, I'm not here to sleep with you, I'm here because you need help!" She spat, grabbing his shampoo and squeezing some into her hands. Sam intentionally moved his head further away from her and she huffed before stepping closer and running her hands through his hair.

"I can do that myself.." He said, grabbing her hands and pushing them away. "Go home and leave me be."

Mercedes was over his attitude and leaned down so that they were eye to eye. "Get it through your thick skull, I am not leaving so you better go ahead and accept it asshole!" She gritted out before standing up and letting out a breath. "When you're done, wheel yourself inside. Oh it's supposed to get cold so you better hurry."

"You can't leave me out here!" Sam replied and she just smirked at him.

"You said you didn't need me or my help, so I'm not leaving you, I'm letting you do it on your own." Mercedes quipped before grabbing a towel and walking back inside hoping she was doing the right thing.

Sam sat there completely shocked before deciding he would show her that he didn't need her. He took a deep breath and stood up, making sure not to put any weight on his left leg but even that was hard. The floor was slippery and he didn't have much to grab onto but all he needed to do was grab a towel and get to his chair.

"You can do this." He said to himself as he reached for a towel and right before he could grab it, his right leg slipped and he fell down hard. He let out a loud groan feeling the pain rip through his left leg and he took a few deep breaths but the pain was slowly becoming unbearable.

Mercedes heard Sam fall then the groan he let out and almost went out to help but she made herself stay put on the couch, if he wanted her help he would call out for her. She knew she couldn't leave him out there once the temperature dropped but she could at least teach him a lesson in humility.

Sam half expected Mercedes to run out when he fell but she didn't and he was currently still laying on the ground with water running down on him. The hot water had already begun to turn cold and just like she said it started to get cold but he couldn't bring himself to ask for help. He attempted to crawl to his chair but any movement caused him more pain, he let out an annoyed breath knowing he had no choice but to eat crow,

"Fuck it." He muttered before managing to sit up and lean against the shower wall.

"Mercedes!" He shouted but when she hadn't come he knew she was going to make him work for it.

"MERCEDES!" He shouted louder and this time he saw her slowly approach him.

She looked him over and shook her head. "Yes?" She asked and he sighed.

"Can… canyouhelpme?" He mumbled out quickly hoping she heard him.

Mercedes had to hide her amusement. "Sorry, what was that? I didn't hear you."

"I asked if you could help me." Sam said through gritted teeth.

"Can I help you what?" She countered and Sam rolled his eyes.

"Can you help me, please."

Mercedes smirked. "You look like you're doing just fine to me." She teased before turning and starting to head back inside.

"Mercedes please! I'm sorry for being an asshole… please help me get back inside."

"Maybe…"

Sam's eyes widened at her. "Maybe?!"

"I will help you, and you will call your sister and everyone else you were an asshold to and apologize."

"Fine! Whatever! Just get me up please. I am in pain and cold." He begged.

Mercedes sighed heavily and moved to help him up. She grabbed a towel wrapping it around him and helped him to his chair. "Sam…I know all this must feel emasculating and like you are less than, but none of this is Stacey's or Quinn's or Santana's fault…oh yeah I heard about the black eye…and it's not your fault either. This isn't something that you did to yourself, it was just something that happened."

Once they were inside she helped him into a pair of sweats and heated up his plate of dinner giving it back to him.

Sam stared at her for a moment. "I feel weak."

"Okay, maybe you are for the moment, but that doesn't mean that you always will be. You go to therapy, you do the work and you won't be."

"I don't want people pitying me, I've worked my ass off to get here and I did it on my own… I should be able to do this too." He said softly.

"I don't pity you Sam, no one does. Especially not your family who loves you, your friends…Sam all we want is for you to get better, so accept a ride to therapy, dinner, or help around the house, you won't get better if you keep this up."

"That's just it though, they shouldn't have to do any of that… you shouldn't have to be here doing this. I know I was an asshole to my nurses but I'm not used to people I don't know telling me what to do. I just… I don't understand how this happened." He said getting choked up. "This is a career ending injury and everyone keeps telling me if I just do this or do that but no one is being straight with me about it not succeeding."

"Okay, first of all I am here because I want to be. Secondly, Sam, the only person who can stop you from coming back from this, is you. You have the support, you have the rehab team but if you don't have the heart, then you will fail."

Sam looked at her and took in everything she said, all of his nurses kept trying to appease him but he just wanted them to talk to him like this, honestly.

He let out a sigh and nodded. "Thank you for that, I can't promise I won't be an asshole all the time but I'll try to do better." Sam hesitated for a moment, running his fingers through his hair. "I've always had to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders so having other people carry my load will never feel good to me."

Mercedes smiled remembering her grandmother would always sing to her when she felt overwhelmed and figured it might help Sam too. She turned and grabbed his hands, taking a deep breath.

"If there is a load, you have to bare that you can't carry.

I'm right up the road, I'll share your load. If you just call me…" She sang remembering this part was what her grandmother would sing and it always filled her with warmth and hope.

"What was that for?" He asked, wanting her to keep going.

"My nana used to sing it to me when I felt overwhelmed, she was one of most selfless people I've ever known and she always helped people. I haven't sung that song in a long time… feels good." Mercedes admitted.

"Me and my gammy used to sing together too, she isn't the best singer but we always have a good time."

"You sing?" She was surprised because she'd only ever heard him talking about football, nothing else.

Sam shrugged. "Eh, does in the shower count?" He asked playfully and Mercedes could tell his mood was getting better.

"Only if you prove it next time."

He shook his head. "You are off bath duty… I damn near died waiting on you." He tested.

"Boy, I see that cold air messed with your memory because I tried to help you but you refused." She replied nudging him playfully on the shoulder, noticing him wince. "Where's your medicine?"

"On the counter over there." He nodded to the kitchen.

She got up and grabbed the bottle carefully reading it before fixing him another glass of water. "Okay so it says to take these for pain as needed and two if it's unbearable. So one or two? Red pill or blue pill?" She asked with a soft laugh.

Sam chuckled. "Well Morpheus, that depends what does the red or blue pill get me?" He joked.

Mercedes put one pill in her right hand and two in her left. "You take the blue pill, the story ends, you believe whatever you want." She said lifting her right hand. "You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland and I show you just how deep the rabbit hole goes." She asked, putting on her best Morpheus impression.

Sam laughed, shaking his head and staring at her. Talking to her, joking with her, it took him back to wanting to get to know her better. Her hair fell over, covering her eye and he reached up, placing it behind her ear. All he wanted to do was kiss her, take her into his arms and make her his again, but the shower hit him like a ton of bricks, how he couldn't get up, how he wasn't able to do what he wanted. He could see the look in her eyes, he knew she wanted to kiss him just as much as he wanted her. Pulling away he put on a smile. "Morphius, that all sounds amazing but I take the pill that will help with this agonizing pain I am feeling right now." he said and immediately regretted it.

Mercedes noticed his mood shifting back and nodded before handing him two pills and the glass of water. "Have you been sleeping down here or…?" She asked, grabbing the empty plate.

Sam took the pills and nodded to her. "The couch pulls out but I've been sleeping on the recliner because of the pain."

"Have you tried sleeping in a bed since you've been home? With your foot elevated?" She asked.

He shook his head no. "No, as you have heard I haven't been the easiest patient…"

"How about tonight we see if it helps? You could even lay on your side… the recliner can't be too good on your back." She suggested.

Sam looked at her for a moment. "I would need you to sleep with me." His eyes widened. "I just mean, in case I need help I need you there next to me. Which means I need you to sleep in the bed with me."

"I… that sounds reasonable. You have a guest bedroom right? I won't be able to get you upstairs myself."

"Yeah, Kurt actually set it up for me, King bed, soft sheets, lots of pillows." He laughed. "There is also a mini fridge so I can have drinks to take my meds or if I get hungry and can't get up."

"Okay, well let's get you settled and I'll shower then… join you." She said nervously. She wasn't sure why she was nervous hell she'd had sex with him multiple times already but this was different.

Sam did as much as he could to help her get him into the guest room. He nodded over to the portable toilet feeling his face flush with embarrassment. "That's so I don't have to fall on my face and go to the bathroom."

"You can just wake me up and I'll help you… I'm a light sleeper." She said laying him onto the bed before grabbing a pillow and placing it under his leg.

It didn't take long for Mercedes to shower and get back to the room. Sam stared at her for a moment, taking her in. "You are breathtaking…" He muttered.

Mercedes looked at him then down at her plain shirt and pajama bottoms before remembering the pain meds and laughing. "I'll take that compliment with a grain of salt." She said getting into bed and getting comfortable.

"Take it however you want…it's true." He slurred. "Most beautiful woman I know."

"Mhm, get some sleep Sam." She said giggling.

"Plus you have an amazing ass!"

"Ohhkay, you're definitely high." She said, adjusting him so that he was on his side."Does that feel alright?"

As she hovered over him, he pulled her down to him. "You have the softest lips…beautiful eyes…" He let his hand move to her face. "I could kiss those lips all the time."

Mercedes blushed looking down at his lips and thinking the same thing but she didn't want him while he wasn't aware so instead of giving in and kissing him she simply kissed him on the forehead and got back in her spot.

"Good night Sam."

Sooooo Sam is stubborn but she's up for the task! The next two chapters will be fluffy!