Ding-dong! The doorbell rang loudly through the Hudson home.
"Finn, can you get that please?" Carole called from the kitchen.
"Sure thing mom." Finn said, pausing the movie he was watching and standing up to make his way to the door. Opening the door he saw two uniformed men standing on their front step. "We're looking for Finn Hudson." they said. "Y-yeah, I'm Finn." he told them, his heart starting to pound. They held out what looked like a telegram and began to say how sorry they were. Finn couldn't bring himself to take the offending piece of paper. As they were speaking he could feel his knees going weak. He clutched the front door in hopes that it would keep him standing. He heard his mom calling out, asking who was at the door. He tried to call out to her, but found himself unable to make a sound.
"Finn, honey, who was…" she said as she walked to the door. Seeing the two military officers, her voice immediately dropped off, as she took a gasping breath. Trembling, he looked to her, tears welling up in his eyes, "Mom." he whimpered. She quickly made the few extra steps to the door, reaching for her son's hand. "Baby, why don't you go sit down. Momma can take care of this." Seeing his hesitation and the desperation etched into his features, she gently squeezed his hand, "It's okay Finny, I'll be right there."
Holding her hand until the last possible moment, he shakily made his way to the living room sofa. Her eyes stayed on him until he all but collapsed onto the sofa. She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply as she saw his arms wind around his middle. When she opened her eyes, she rounded on the officers, fixing them with a deep glare. "What on earth were you thinking? He is a 16 year old boy!"
The older of the two officers, looking apologetic, began to explain, "Ma'am, we're here because…"
"I know damn well why you are here!" she hissed at them in a hushed tone. "What I don't understand, is why you would give this news to him without asking for his mother!"
"He… he's the next of kin. It's our duty t-to bring news to the next of kin." said the younger officer, stumbling over his words. The look on her face deepened, her jaw setting into an even more menacing glare. "And he is my 16 year old son and it is my duty to protect him. At the very least, I should have been standing right next to him when you told him his father was dead. You though, have taken that away from me." she said, grabbing the telegram out of the younger officer's hand. The older officer lowered his eyes momentarily before looking back up at her, "You're completely right ma'am. We're so sorry. Please tell your son we're sorry too and we are deeply sorry for your loss." Giving them one last glare, she shut the door, making her way back to her son.