"Rachel baby, wake up." Mom's voice called into my subconscious. I groaned and my eyes moved rapidly under closed eyelids. I felt so heavy and groggy. Somehow, I made my head move slowly to the right, but my eyes still didn't open. "Rachel honey." Mom called again. I groaned and tried to open my eyes again. This time they blinked rapidly open to slits and then closed again. I felt someone squeeze my hand and I tried to open my eyes again. This time they stayed open. I blinked rapidly to try and clear some of the blinding whiteness of the walls from glaring into my vision. Mom came into focus sharply. She was smiling a wide smiled and stroking my hand. "Hey baby. How are you feeling?" She asked. I groaned and squeezed her hand as I cleared my throat.
"Groggy. Did the surgery go well?" I asked. Mom smiled and nodded.
"The doctor said it went great. That should be the last surgery, hopefully you can go home tomorrow." Mom told me excitedly. I put on a fake smile and nodded. Home, I hadn't been home in weeks, it was going to be weird to be back in the small home that mom had rented for the year. I really wasn't looking forward to having to deal with Beth while I was trying to heal either.
"That's awesome. Did he say anything about when I'd be able to dance again? What about Nationals, it's my last year." I asked. Mom smiled.
"He said you'd be on crutches for at least two weeks. Then you'll have to do a couple of weeks in physical therapy. I think with your determination, two months tops, that gives you a whole month to get ready for Nationals at least." Mom told me calmly. I felt my throat getting tight with worry, but I put on another fake smile and acted like nothing was wrong. Mom smiled and pushed my bangs back behind my ear. She started to hum a song softly before she opened her mouth and started signing. "I'm only one call away, I'll be there to save the day. Superman got nothing on me, I'm only one call away. Call me, baby, if you need a friend. I just wanna give you love. Come on, come on, come on. Reaching out to you, so take a chance." Mom's voice rang out in a completely stripped down and powerful ballad. "No matter where you go you know you're not alone. I'm only one call away. I'll be there to save the day. Superman got nothing on me, I'm only one call away." Her voice was so soft and gentle that I found myself letting exhaustion wash over me in waves. I was half asleep when she launched into the next verse. "Come along with me and don't be scared, I just wanna set you free. Come on, come on, come on. You and me can make it anywhere, for now, we can stay here for a while, ay 'cause you know, I just wanna see you smile. No matter where you go, you know you're not alone. I'm only one call away, I'll be there to save the day. Superman got nothing on me, I'm only one call away." Mom's voice lulled me completely to sleep, and the next thing I knew I was waking up several hours later. I could tell because there wasn't any more natural light coming in through my windows. Mom wasn't in the room and I was kind of glad that it was just me. I finally had a minute to be alone with my thoughts. I was more upset than I was letting on obviously, I really didn't want mom or Finn to worry. I smiled and played with the ring on my finger. It was a gorgeous engagement ring and I was so happy to be engaged to him; even though it was going to be awhile before we got married. I glanced up from my ring and found Finn standing in my doorway.
"Hey babe." Finn smiled. I smiled at him, a real smile. He came and sat down next to me on the bed. He grabbed my ring hand and held it tightly.
"Hey Finn, how are you feeling?" I asked. Finn shrugged.
"I'm good, I just feel bad about getting you into this." Finn told me. I shook my head and stared down at my heavily wrapped food. "Your mom said it would be at least a month before you could even start thinking about dancing again." Finn added. I nodded.
"Yeah, that's okay though. I'm kind of a fighter." I told him shrugging. Finn smiled and kissed me gently, but firmly on the lips. When he pulled away from the kiss he was grinning widely.
"Yeah, it's kind of your thing." He agreed. I smiled and nodded before going in for another kiss. Finn smiled and accepted the kiss.
"Okay you love birds. Break it up." Mom's voice called. I smiled and pulled away from the kiss. Mom was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. "I didn't see you sneak in Finn Hudson." She said. Finn smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry Miss C. I knew she was out of surgery so I wanted to come check on her." Finn answered. Mom smiled.
"It's okay Finn. I should have had you pick up some food though. I'm starving and it's been hours since Rachel ate. I'm sure she's hungry too." Mom teased. Finn shot up from his position on my bed.
"I can run out to get some food for you Miss C." Finn said eagerly. Mom chuckled.
"No that's okay Finn. I'm teasing, you've probably been on your knee too much today anyways." Mom dismissed his offer. Finn shrugged.
"It's been three weeks since the accident, my knee is fine." He brushed it off. Mom shook her head and chuckled.
"If you insist, I'll take a Chicken Caesar salad with Italian dressing." Mom told him. Finn smiled and nodded. He turned to me.
"What do you want babe?" Finn asked. I smiled.
"I'll have the same, just with ranch." I told him. He nodded and bent down to kiss me. When he pulled away he was grinning like a fool.
"Back in a flash babe." He promised and left my room.
"You've got him pretty whipped Rach." Mom told me and sat down in her usual spot. I smiled and nodded, I certainly did.
Songs featured in this chapter:
One Call Away- Charlie Puth
Hey guys! Sorry it took so long. Please drop a review and let me know what you think. Happy Thanksgiving here in America!