Second Chance

5

When Beth was done eating, the trio returned upstairs. Finn and Rachel were seated in the hallway.

"Hey." Puck said softly. "Can we take Beth in?"

Rachel nodded, unable to say anything since she was crying.

Puck took a deep breath as he looked at Beth. He crouched down to her level and held her hands. "We're gonna go in and see Mommy, okay?"

Beth smiled and nodded.

"Mommy's not gonna look the same." Puck warned Beth. "She's gonna have all these wires and tubes on her. And she might have some booboos."

"I wanna see Mommy." Beth told Puck.

"And if you don't wanna go inside, we don't have to." Puck went on.

"I wanna see Mommy." Beth repeated.

"Okay." Puck sighed as he stood up. He held onto Beth's hand as he led her and Quinn into the room.

Quinn sat down in the chair beside Shelby's hospital bed and hung her head down while she softly prayed.

"Daddy, I can't see." Beth said.

Puck picked Beth up and held her in his arms. He watched as Beth looked from Shelby to the tubes and wires to the monitors and then back to Shelby.

"Mommy, wake up." Beth ordered.

Puck bit his lip and Quinn squeezed her eyes shut even tighter.

"Mommy was in a bad car accident." Puck told Beth. "And the doctors told Rachel that it was really, really bad."

"So when will she wake up?" Beth wondered.

"They said she's not gonna wake up." Puck informed Beth. "She's not gonna come back to us."

"Then where is she gonna go?" Beth questioned Puck.

"She's gonna go be with your Grandma and Grandpa and all the other angels in Heaven." Puck answered, remembering how Shelby explained things to Beth when her dad passed about a year ago.

Beth's eyes immediately filled with tears and she started crying. "I want Mommy!"

"I know, B. I know." Puck said softly as he rubbed Beth's back. "I'm sorry."

"I want Mommy!" Beth yelled as she squirmed in Puck's arms. "Put me down! I want Mommy!"

"It's gonna be okay." Puck promised as he held Beth tightly, despite her squirming, hitting, and kicking. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not fair!" Beth exclaimed as the tears continued to stream down her face.

"I know." Puck agreed. "But it's okay to cry and be sad and be mad."

Beth took a deep breath and shook her head.

"Beth." Puck said softly as he sat down and held Beth on his lap. "I know it's not fair and I know you're sad right now, but-"

"Are you sad, Daddy?" Beth cut Puck off.

Puck nodded as he wiped Beth's eyes. "Of course I'm sad."

Beth nodded back and took another deep breath.

"You need to always remember Mommy." Puck told Beth. "And you should say goodbye to her."

"I don't wanna." Beth replied.

"I know, Beth. Just try." Puck requested. "Please."

Beth stood up and walked over to Quinn. She sat down beside her and started copying her.

Puck smiled slightly at the bittersweet sentiment. He loved how much Beth loved Quinn. It was something he and Quinn had always worried about since Beth had Shelby as her mom.

When Beth was done praying, she stood up and took Shelby's hand. "I love you, Mommy. I'm gonna miss you forever and ever and ever."