The Way We Were

The Way We Nationals

Mr. Shue welcomed Coach Beiste on the bus with Coach Sylvester and Ms. Pillsbury. The kids were already seated. He did a final head count before nodding to the bus driver and sitting next to his fiancée for the trip to Chicago.

W.W.W.

The girls jumped on the beds, having a massive pillow-fight while Kurt recorded it on his phone.

"I'm hungry!" Santana announced as she hit Tina.

"Chicago has great food." Marcy jumped off a bed and landed with a soft thud. "I'm thinking... hell, I don't know. I just want something that'll wake up my tongue."

"Let's find a food truck!" Brittany's blue eyes widened.

The girls ran out screaming, Kurt following behind, laughing.

W.W.W.

"What happened?!" Mr. Shue was at his wits end. He'd just broken up fights between the guys and now Mercedes was in bed, pale and sweating.

"We got hungry but Aretha wanted something from this greasy food truck." Santana crossed her arms.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Shue." Mercedes moaned as Quinn mopped her forehead with a wet towel. "It just smelled so good."

"Next time pay attention to stranger danger." Marcy smacked her lips.

Quinn's lips twitched. "It'll be okay, Mercy."

"I've got a brew to knock this right outta her!" Coach Sylvester declared. "But you have to drink it all and soak in an ice water bath! Do everything I tell you and you can beat this!"

Mercedes whined.

Mr. Shue felt dread.

W.W.W.

The group got in a prayer circle, really scared. Mr. Shue was telling them how they had to go out and represent when Mercedes announced that she hoped they wouldn't do it without her.

They were so happy to hear her voice and see her looking way more healthy than the last time they saw her. "Mercy!"

"I don't know how she did it and I feel like I'm stuck together with pins and needles but I think I can move." She giggled.

The group sagged in relief before Finn gave one of his famous pep talks then Joe prayed.

The lights and buzzers went off, signaling it was time to go on. They raced out and it was showtime!