A/N: Glee doesn't belong to me. Neither does Puck. This was just a random, fluffy, plot bunny that attacked me at four am. I couldn't sleep until I had written it. Hope you enjoy. xo.
( Also posted at my livejournal : pixie_gleek. )
"Noah?"
Dark eyes squinted at the doorway, where the silhouette of a little girl stood. He reached up, running a hand through his disheveled mohawk and frowned.
"Yeah?" he answered, his voice hoarse from disuse.
"Where's Mom?"
The girl's somnolent question rested in the air for a few moments before he spoke again. "Dunno, Sarah," he mumbled. "Why?" He knew exactly where his mother was. Well, not the precise location, but the sixteen-year-old knew she was out getting wasted. That had been her Friday night ritual for as long as he could remember, but he wasn't about to tell his little sister that.
"I want her," Sarah Puckerman replied simply in a small voice.
"Sarah, she's out."
"It's storming."
Sure enough, a few seconds after the small girl's whining complaint, an enormous clap of thunder sounded just outside the window, and Noah's annoyance dripped away. He sighed. Sarah was afraid of storms, and usually went to sleep in their mother's bed when the weather would keep her awake. Noah noticed that she'd stepped further into the room, obviously wanting to be comforted.
"You can sleep with me." As soon as the words escaped his lips, Sarah bounded over to him, crawling under the warm comforter with her older brother. Once she was settled, Noah nestled himself back into bed. The room lit up briefly before another boom of thunder resonated through the house. Sarah whimpered softly and snuggled into Noah's side. He heard a soft sob from his sister and sighed. "Don't cry," he murmured. He hated it when she cried.
"I'm scared." A tear dripped onto Noah's forearm, which she was clinging tightly to.
"Don't be," he whispered, wrapping his free arm around her shoulders. "The storm's not gonna hurt you."
"It might." Her voice was weak with fear. Noah leaned down to press a kiss to her dark hair.
"I won't let it," he promised.
As the storm quieted, so did Sarah. She'd stopped crying and released his arm from her iron grip, though Noah's other arm lingered around her shoulders. It took only a few moments for the broken little family to fall asleep and for the storm to subside completely.