Senior Year

24

Quinn managed to avoid Puck until Friday after school. When she went to her locker, he was waiting there.

"Hey." Puck said.

"Hey." Quinn repeated.

"I feel like I haven't seen much of you this week." Puck noted.

Quinn shrugged as she opened her locker. "I've been busy with physical therapy, doctors, and homework."

"I talked to Santana." Puck stated. "And Rachel."

Quinn froze for a moment and then continued exchanging her books again.

"They said you have physical therapy today." Puck went on. "And Santana was gonna go with you, but I told her to let me take you."

"What about Beth?" Quinn asked as she closed her locker and looked at Puck.

"Beth's with Finn's mom today." Puck told Quinn. "She practically begged me to babysit."

Quinn bit her lip.

"She's fine, Quinn." Puck promised. "And we can pick her up on the way back."

"Okay, fine." Quinn gave in as she started wheeling herself to the parking lot.

-

The car ride was mostly silent. The only sounds were the soft sounds of Puck singing along to the radio.

When they got to physical therapy, Puck helped Quinn out of the car and into her wheelchair before wheeling her inside.

"This place looks depressing." Puck noted after Quinn signed in.

"It is." Quinn said. "I keep coming here and nothing's changing."

Puck frowned. "Well, you saw the doctor recently, right? What'd they say?"

"They said they're happy with my progress, and my cuts and bruises aren't infected and are healing nicely." Quinn informed Puck.

"That's good then." Puck noted.

Quinn shrugged. "The bruise on my chest is pretty nasty still."

"Q, you gotta start being proud of how far you've come." Puck told her.

Quinn looked at Puck.

"I'm proud of you." Puck stated. "Every freaking day. Beth is, too."

"Thank you." Quinn said softly.

"You're making progress and you'll be walking soon." Puck added. "And you'll be dancing right beside me at Nationals."

Quinn smiled slightly. "I don't know about that, but hopefully."

"You have to believe in yourself more." Puck told Quinn.

"I appreciate your support and the Mr. Schue-like pep talk, but can we work on my exercises now?" Quinn requested. "The sooner we start, the sooner we get to be done, and then the sooner I can go home and shower."

Puck nodded and helped Quinn stretch her legs. She stood in the standing frame for a while, and then did other exercises. Then, she changed and went in the pool.

Quinn sat in the harness and moved her legs with her hands.

"You're doing great." Puck smiled. "Do you need me to do anything?"

"You wanna come in and help me move my legs?" Quinn requested, half-kidding.

Puck nodded. "Sure. Let me get someone to help you while I get my swim trunks from my car."

Quinn raised her eyebrow and nodded as Puck got someone to help her before walking away.