Author's note: For those of you just starting with this story, I wanted to add a note to the first chapter. This story is partly in canon and partly AU. The story is Quinn-centric and tackles the issues of having a spinal cord injury. It's quite a long story but I hope you enjoy the journey through it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing other than a few original characters, most of whom will appear in later chapters. Fox own all the rest.

Prologue

"Rachel hurry, we're going to be late!" Quinn urged the shorter girl to get a move on. Rachel was in the girl's bathroom having a minor meltdown. Her mascara had run after Quinn had said some really nice things to her. "Why don't you go ahead with Finn. I'll go get the dress by myself and meet you there."

Glee Club had returned from Regionals with a win and Sue Sylvester had just restored Quinn to the Cheerio's because of her perseverance through the trauma of the previous two years. Quinn was thrilled. Glee Club was going to Nationals in Chicago, she was going to graduate with a 4.0 GPS, she was going to Yale and finally she was back in a cheerleading uniform. Being a better person really was working out for her.

"No I want to come with you and make sure you don't change your mind again." She ran out and linked arms with her Cheerleading friend. "Thank you for changing your mind. It means everything to me."

They practically ran out to Quinn's little red car and jumped in. Rachel talked incessantly the whole way. Quinn enjoyed the chatter; it always helped to make time go quicker and she found it more endearing than annoying these days. She had to run in and get the bridesmaid dress, relief coursing through her briefly. It wasn't Rachel being annoying that she needed a break from, but having to sit next to the brunette and pretend that she didn't love her and was happy about the impending marriage.

Rachel would never know how Quinn really felt about her because Quinn didn't deserve happiness after the way she had treated the pint-sized starlet in the past. So she would, for the first time in her life, put someone else's hopes and dreams before her own and try to move on. She was going to Yale and there were plenty more fish in the sea and if Quinn continued on this road of being a better person, maybe in the future she would deserve someone like Rachel. She lived in hope.

As they headed for the courthouse, Rachel kept getting texts from Finn. Quinn kept peering across to look at them. She turned back and had to brake sharply as there was a tractor in front. She had to ease off the accelerator until they got past it.

"Someone's not on our side today," Quinn muttered in frustration.

"Don't say that," Rachel looked across at her and put her hand on top of Quinn's briefly. Quinn looked across and apologized.

"I didn't mean anything by that, just this dumb tractor. I can't overtake around the bends."

"We'll get there." Rachel turned back to her phone as another text came through from Finn.

"WHERE R U?" It read. Quinn looked over to see what Rachel was typing back.

"ON OUR WAY," she replied.

Neither Quinn nor Rachel saw any of what happened with the truck that ploughed straight through a stop sign and into the Beetle. The brakes had failed on the truck and it T-boned the driver's side of the small red car. Quinn took the worst of the impact as the car slid across the highway and when the highway ran out, into the ditch at the side of the road.

Rachel screamed briefly as she hit the side of the car. Tiny fragments of glass blew right across from Quinn's window and struck the left side of her body, fortunately her face was turned away and it was mostly her arm that it struck. Quinn likewise didn't get glass in her face, but her body lurched sideways with the impact and was thrown around further as they rolled. When the car came to a stop it was back on its wheels having done a '360' twice. Dust settled and silence fell on the scene.

Chapter 1

There was a steady beep from the machines, reassuring everyone that they were both still alive.

Rachel's left arm lay bandaged, her right leg was in a cast to the knee and her neck was in a stiff neck brace. She had a myriad of tiny nicks in the skin on her neck and chest. She was breathing on her own, but her head had struck the passenger window and she had been knocked unconscious. There was some worry about a head injury, but when she was scanned, it revealed no damage to her brain, only some swelling on the exterior of her skull which wasn't that serious. The medics were hopeful she would start to come around within a short time period. There was a worrying injury though. Her spine was compressed and that meant she might have impaired sensation and movement in her lower body, though thankfully the MRI showed no damage to the spinal cord. Doctors mumbled about waiting to see what the damage was before a definitive diagnosis could be given.

Quinn's injuries were much worse. Her left side was bruised from head to toe. She had taken a lot of the glass impact on her exposed left shoulder, left thigh and the side of her neck; she was covered in white butterfly strips to close the tiny nicks. She had a closed head injury and the medics didn't know when she would wake up. They were giving her heavy doses of medication to keep her brain from bleeding. She also had on a hard neck brace, but in addition she now had a body brace on as well to protect her spine which had fractured in two places just above her hips. The doctors were talking to Judy Fabray at the moment, telling her that Quinn had suffered a spinal cord injury.

The whole of the Glee club waited outside for news, only family had gone in so far, plus Finn of course; he was Rachel's fiancé after all.

It was eight hours after the crash by the time Rachel started to stir. A relieved looking Finn came out to tell them she was waking up, but was so doped she didn't really know what was happening. They were all relieved to know but hung on for more news, hoping that Quinn too would wake up soon, but they were disappointed and one by one, as parents insisted their children return home, they drifted away not knowing Quinn's fate.

Finn kept a vigil outside intensive care with Rachel's dad's and Quinn's mom. The next days were a blur for all of them.

Rachel didn't remember the first four days after the accident, even though she had been conscious at times. She hadn't been able to comprehend the things they had said to her with any clarity, but had been comfortable in her daze. Now she was uncomfortable and had started to remember. Her first thoughts were for Quinn.

"Is she okay?" Finn had squeezed her hand and shook his head.

Panic flashed through Rachel's features. "Is she …?"

"No, but she's in intensive care, Rach. She has a head injury and has only just come round. The doctor's say she has a spinal injury as well. They're going to operate on her tomorrow." He brushed back the hair hanging over her eyes, there was still a little blood round the left edge of her ear that he'd missed and looked around for the wet wipes to clean it off.

"Have you seen her yet?"

"No only family is allowed at the moment."

Rachel's back was in agony and her legs felt like they had permanent pins and needles. The doctors said this was good, but she couldn't move them and was panicking. She had pain written across her face, but a determined look to get the answers she wanted from her fiancé.

"I need to see her."

Rachel had to wait three more days before she was allowed to move and Quinn was allowed more visitors. By this time the pins and needles were almost gone and she could feel her legs but couldn't move them. She was frustrated by this; the doctors said she would have to use a wheelchair for a few weeks, but that she should eventually make a full recovery. It would take some physical therapy, especially as she had a broken fibula as well, but she would be back on her feet well before graduation.

Finn wheeled Rachel into Quinn's room. It had taken almost a week for Quinn to wake up, but she was finally coming around. When Rachel took Quinn's right hand in hers and squeezed it, she felt Quinn reciprocate.

"Quinn, can you hear me?" Rachel's voice was almost childlike. She took in the pale form of the cheerleader, lying stretched out. She could see the IV lines, neck brace and body brace; a white plastic vest strapped to Quinn's torso with broad Velcro straps. She recognized the catheter tube running from under the sheet to the large collection bag steadily filling with urine fastened to the side of the bed. Hers had been removed two days ago. Her lower body was covered by the sheet.

"Mom?" she heard from Quinn's mouth.

"No Quinn. It's Rachel and Finn." Eyes flew open and strained to see her, but sat down she was out of view.

"Rachel?"

"Quinn, I'm so glad you're still alive." Tears ran down Rachel's cheeks. "I have been so worried that you wouldn't wake up." Rachel's small hand threaded in between the rail at the side of the bed and took Quinn's hand in hers.

"Hey," Finn peered over so Quinn could see him. When their eyes met, his crinkled into a smile, but hers just started weeping.

"I'm so sorry, Finn. The wedding … It's my fault."

"Sssh Quinn. The truck that hit you failed to stop, the brakes failed. It's okay, Rachel's going to be okay. We're just glad you're still alive."

Rachel was upset that she and Quinn couldn't make eye contact. "How are you feeling?" She asked, hardly daring to hear the answer.

"Did they tell you about my legs?" Quinn's voice sounded haunted.

Rachel squeezed her hand again. "Your mom told us you have a spinal injury."

"I'm paralyzed from my hips down. I can't feel anything Rachel. It's like they aren't even there." Her voice cracked and she couldn't say another word.

"Hey, don't get upset," Finn tried to calm her down. He put his hand on her uninjured shoulder and rubbed it gently. "Everything's gonna work out. I'm sure you'll get better. You just need to be patient and everyone's praying for you."

"Everyone?"

"Yeah, the whole school is upset at what happened."

Quinn looked horrified. "Everyone knows?"

"Just that you were badly hurt and in the hospital. We haven't been in school either so I don't know what your Mom has told Principal Figgins. But don't worry about it. Everyone will just be glad that you've woken up and have been talking normally. They said you had a head injury and we were worried you might not be yourself afterwards."

She grimaced in pain as she tried to look at Rachel again but failed. "Rach, you sure you're okay?"

"I just have a few scrapes and hurt my leg and back a bit, but I'm going to be good as new in a few weeks, Quinn. You don't need to worry about me at all. Promise me you'll just concentrate on getting better." The singer's small hand squeezed Quinn's again.

"Okay, I promise. Finn?" She looked for him as he had moved out of her line of sight. "Can you tell Santana I want to see her? And Mercedes."

"Sure, I'll send them a text right now, whatever you need Quinn, just ask." He moved back and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

"Thanks," she appreciated the kindness he showed her and her eyes drifted closed again, squeezing out tears of both physical and emotional discomfort. Rachel pulled out a tissue and gave it to Finn to wipe Quinn's tears away.

Rachel was in pain and as much as she wanted to stay, she knew she couldn't sit up for much longer. "I'll come by again later, okay Quinn."

"I'm not leaving anytime soon," she made a half-hearted attempt at a joke.

Finn could see Rachel was struggling with the pain and rushed her back to her own room. He lifted her on the bed so she could rest, but Rachel was crying freely now. It wasn't fair that she and Quinn had gotten close only for this to happen.

"I feel terrible, she was driving me to our wedding and now…" she couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Rach, please don't get upset. I can't bear to see you so devastated. Be thankful that you are both alive."

"But what if she is permanently paralyzed, Finn? I don't know if I could cope to see her like that. It would destroy her, especially after she just got her Cheerios uniform back. She didn't even get it back for a day!"

"Rachel please, it won't be so bad. We'll all help her and look at Artie, he's okay. She will be as well."

"Quinn is not Artie," Rachel countered. "She's supposed to be going to Yale."

It was quieter than it had been the first night when everyone was there and wailing into their hankies. Santana sat outside the room taking a deep breath. She felt sick. Brit squeezed her hand. "I can't believe this, Brit."

For once her girlfriend had nothing insightful to say. "Go in and see her. I'll wait here for now."

Santana gave Brittany a kiss and stood. She tapped on the door and went in. Judy looked pleased to see her and gave her a hug, but Santana's eyes remained fixed on her best friend who was lying motionless on the bed. Judy left briefly saying she was going to get coffee and talk to the nurse, but Santana knew she was just giving them some space.

"Hey," she leaned over Quinn, wanting to touch her but realizing pretty much everything looked wrecked.

"San," Quinn tried a smile, though it seemed forced.

"You did a number on yourself girl."

"Come round the other side," Quinn wanted Santana to hold her hand and the left was too sore from where it had been wrenched from the steering wheel.

Santana took in the covered up bits and wondered if her friend could even feel the sheet over her lower half. Rachel had warned her about the body brace, but even so it was a shock to see it for real.

Santana took hold of Quinn's good hand with one of her own and stroked her friend's arm with the other.

"The lengths you'll go to prevent the dwarf from marrying doughface."

"What?" Quinn thought Santana was being serious for a moment." "No, I wouldn't. I could never hurt Rachel again, not after what I did to her in the past. Please don't call her names."

They were interrupted by a nurse who came in and checked over the IV. "Sorry to disturb your visit, but I need to take your pressure Quinn." She hooked up the machine, tentatively wrapping it around the uninjured part of her left arm. When she had done, she lifted the side of the sheet revealing Quinn's legs. They were covered with white pressure stockings. The nurse peeled them down and checked the legs carefully. The left had more butterfly strips on the thigh and this was where the nurse spent most of her time checking for signs of infection. Santana could see that the legs were completely limp and unresponsive. A sickening sensation built in her stomach. "Quinn, your legs are cold so I'm going to put the blood pressure cuffs on for a while."

"What's that for?" Santana asked the nurse.

"Because of the injury to her spinal cord, her legs aren't able to feel temperature and her leg muscles aren't working, so blood isn't circulating as fast. The legs are a long way from the heart, so they cool down quicker than normal. It will be better once she's out of bed and moving around." She gave Santana a warm smile.

"Can I do anything to help?" She asked.

"Can you plug this into the socket on the wall?" the nurse handed her the end of an electric cable which she plugged in as asked. The nurse folded back the sheet from both feet and slipped on a pair of weird looking boots with tubes sticking out and to which the cable was attached. It took a couple of minutes to get them on, but then she took a control pad, checked the settings and switched it on. There was a funny noise coming from them and Santana gave her a curious look. "The cuffs have small airbags inside that inflate and deflate, sort of like having a massage. It helps to push the blood back up to the heart quicker."

"Oh, okay." She turned back to look at Quinn who had tears in her eyes even though she hadn't felt any of it. "Why are you crying?" Santana asked.

"It's embarrassing. I can't even feel it and it's still mortifying. The therapist comes in and moves them around a few times a day and each time it makes me feel ill just thinking about it." More tears flowed.

Santana tried to cheer her up the only way she knew how, treating her normally. "Yeah but you got those sexy looking white stockings, they kinda remind me of what Berry wears."

"I told you already, stop making fun of her. She's hurt too, you know. I almost got her killed. I would never have forgiven myself if she had. I ruined her wedding day and almost ruined her life again. Why can't I get anything right when it comes to Rachel?"

Santana was a little taken aback. She was thoughtful for a moment, then suddenly it hit her. "Oh God. You are in big trouble. You like her!" Santana's mind was reeling. "That's why you asked me about the picture in my locker that she gave me. You're gay for Berry."

"What? No. I was just surprised because you always seemed to hate her and then suddenly you started being nice to her."

"That's because when I got outed by Finnocence, she was completely non-judgmental." Santana paused while her brain made the connections. "Exactly how she treated you when you got pregnant. Is that when this started?"

Quinn gasped. How the hell had Santana figured this out from nothing. Tears ran from her eyes. "You can't tell her. Promise me you won't say anything to her. I don't deserve to be happy, San, but she does and I think finding out might make her unhappy and drive her away. She loves Finn."

"Cool your tits, Fabray. I might be a bitch, but usually only when it's deserved. I gots to say though, I'm worried about you."

"Don't be. I'm not worth worrying about. That's why I wanted to see you. I can't stand the thought of everyone knowing and coming in here feeling sorry for me. It was bad enough when I was pregnant; all the stares and whispers behind my back. What will it be like now I'm broken? Ten times worse and it's too much. I don't want anyone seeing me like this so you have to keep them all away, except Mercedes."

"Hey, stop it. I know it was harsh when you were knocked up, but this is different. Everyone is on your side and you need them to help you through this. I don't think even I could keep them all away. I promise not to say anything to Rach though. Brit's outside, she wants to see you, can I go get her?"

Quinn gave in. She was tired of fighting against everything. "Sure," her eyes fluttered as pain ran through her head. "But not for long, I'm really tired."