Author's Note: This came to me the other day while at work. It stuck with me and I knew it had to be a story. Now I know I've kind of gone with this theme before, but I promise it's totally different story, and probably not what you'd expect. Reviews are awesome! Also I promise to have the second chapter of "Let Go of the Rest" up tomorrow, it's almost done. But tomorrow is also my birthday, so I'll do my best! (For the record I do not want to turn 26 and would prefer to stay 25.) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
It's freezing. And it's bound to be one of those horrible windy days, where the winter air bites, even through your warmest layers. Minnesota never fails to be the first state to catch winter, always missing out on those perfect fall days. He takes the last sip of his cup of coffee, never really liking the taste, but needing the warmth. It's around 6:30 in the morning, and the sun is finally starting to make its presence. This kind of weather is terrible on time, in the summer months work begins an hour earlier. But he figures an extra hour during the daylight is far better than frost bite.
Setting down his empty cup, he heads toward the front door. His boots (with extra thick socks) are first, followed by his fleece jacket, then an oversized winter coat, a wool scarf, and finally his favorite winter working gloves. Stepping outside and heading through the snow, he's warm for about a minute, before the cold sets in. The barn isn't too far away and his boots are solid, but the snow is a few feet deep and each step is a large effort. Up in the distance he can see Bill and Cameron, the two farm hands, moving snow away from the barn door, each with a shovel in their hand.
"You two need some help? There are easier ways of doing this you know?"
"Son, do you see us fitting anything but ourselves and a shovel through this snow?"
Bill was an older man, somewhere in his fifties, he'd been at the farm for the last twelve years. He called every man younger than him, "Son", and always had the last sarcastic remark.
"Hey, it doesn't hurt to suggest. Got an extra shovel?"
Cameron handed it over to him and they continued on. When the barn door was clear, the sun was high in the sky. They still had to get the cows out for a few hours so they could clean the stalls, and the small chicken coop needed attention. Not to mention, fire wood was already running short.
Opening the barn door, the smell of manure and dust hit his nose. The first time he had properly smelled a barn, he'd promptly ran for the relief of fresh air, now it had become almost welcoming.
The cows greeted them with persistent mooing, as if they were begging to be let out. Unlatching the stalls, the plump cows meandered out of the barn. Once the doors were shut again, all three men loosened their scarves and removed their gloves.
"Damn that's strong."
"I swear Cameron, that comes out of your mouth every time we're in here."
"Well, it's a fact. These cows stink."
Cameron was around the same age as himself, only at the farm for the last year. He had been in the military, but was discharged after a motor vehicle accident during training, that left his knee weak.
Each grabbing a shovel, they heaved the manure into wheel barrows, then added fresh hay. When lunch time finally arrived, the barn was spick and span.
They ate lunch on milk buckets, listening the wind whirl outside. He was glad for the mug of coffee he'd brought, they were spending the rest of working day in the snow.
The sun helped keep the warmth in for a while, as did the messy chicken coop. Cleaning up around a bunch of birds took more energy than he would have cared to use.
By the time late afternoon came, the chickens were nestled into their nests, and the cows were safely in their stalls. They spent the rest of the day, shoveling more snow and bringing back what firewood they could get too. The trees were buried in snow, so they restored to fallen logs and branches.
When five o'clock hit, they said their goodbyes like always and went their separate ways, ready to repeat the process all over. That was life on a farm though, a whole lot of work, and little room for free time. Today was an easy day though, mild in work and chores. Tomorrow would mean more shoveling, mostly down the main roads leading to the farm, and the continued quest for more firewood.
The next morning he got up, had his coffee, bundled up and headed out the door. Bill had just come up the road in his old pickup, snow plow latched to the front, he had someone else with him.
"Hey Bill, good morning. I see you've got the snow plow. Should make things a little easier today. Where's Cameron?"
"Cameron will be out of commission for a few weeks. Turns out the boy can't walk without falling, poor kid snapped is wrist in the fall. Good news is, a buddy of mine called me about a farm hand looking for work, snagged him right away."
The new guy was tall, looked strong and eager. Ready to work.
"Hi, nice to meet you, thanks for allowing me to work here. Names, Chris Hudmel."
His voice was oddly familiar but he really couldn't place it. But he swore it was from somewhere in his past. Someone familiar. That couldn't be right though, because, well, it was impossible. The guys face was covered, but that voice.
"Not a problem, with Cameron out, we would need an extra hand anyway. Have you ever worked as a farm hand before?"
"Never actually, but I did grow up in a small town and I'm a quick learner."
"Great, let's get started boys."
"You know I don't think I caught your name."
"Matt, Matt Rutherford."
Chris stopped in his tracks, Matt could only see his eyes from beneath his scarf, but shock seemed to radiate from him.
"Something wrong?"
"Oh no, sorry."
Together they piled into Bill's truck, headed for the main road. When they reached the road, Matt grabbed both shovels from the bed of the truck, while Bill double checked the plow on the front. Starting up the motor once again, Bill prepared to move down the road.
"Now, as Bill pushes the snow away, we have to follow behind and shovel the remaining snow. If all goes right, this should only take about two or three hours."
Matt directed Chris as to where to throw the snow as they went, avoiding any large piles of snow. By the time their arms ached and their backs were a little stiff. They decided to take an early lunch in order to rest their muscles and refuel. Getting back in the truck they drove back the farm, getting their quickly with the newly clear roads. Taking their lunches, they headed into the house, the barn was full of cows today, plus he kind of wanted to give the new guy a proper welcome.
The house was perfectly warm when the men stepped into it, nice change from the cold weather outside. Taking off his scarf, coat, and boots, he went to make a cup of coffee.
"Well, Chris how do you like it? Now too much I hope."
"Oh not at all, although I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow."
"Probably, but your muscles eventually get used to it. And you might want to take that scarf off, get too hot and you won't be able to adjust to the cold properly."
He poured two cups of coffee, one in each hand, intent on giving them to Bill and Chris. It was as he turned around that everything clicked.
The two cups fell to the ground, shattering and splattering hot coffee everywhere, a puddle begin to form at his sock clad feet.
In front of him was the face of someone he hadn't seen since high school. Someone who he'd recently learned had died.
"Finn Hudson?"
"Umm yeah. I really hoped you wouldn't remember me."
"You two know each other?"
"We went to high school together. But I transferred junior year after my family moved here. You're supposed to be dead? It was all over Facebook and the Lima Journal website! What are you doing here in Minnesota?"
"It's a long story. And I promise to tell you, but please promise you won't tell anyone. Especially Rachel."
"Rachel Berry? Crazy, Broadway bound Rachel Berry?"
"Yes and it's very important that she doesn't find out. No one needs to know I'm alive, not yet."
"What's so important that you can't tell your friends and family you're alive?"
"I'm trying to stop the Apocalypse."
AN/2: Do you like that I went with Matt? I needed a character that no longer held any ties to McKinley, but would still recognize Finn. Stay tuned!