Disclaimer: All characters, with the exception of Caroline, belong to Ryan Murphy, BradFalchuk and the rest of the Glee producers.
Prompt: What if the Unholy Trinity weren't the only Trio in Glee?
Caroline Hudson loved her brother, really, she did. But sometimes even she couldn't deny Finn Hudson could be a complete dumbass when he wanted to be.
Caroline weaved her way through the large group of half-clothed teens, ignoring the way some of the guys in the cramped locker room shouted at her to get out. It was as if she hadn't been the Football teams on-the-field medic and had already seen most of them half-clothed if not practically naked since freshman year.
When Caroline finally found her brother, she immediately thrust her hand into his back, sending the taller teenager into his locker with a loud thud. Finn swerved around, glaring at first before his eyes widened. "What the hell, Care?" He snapped, hastily retying his towel around his lower torso.
Unnerved with the number of stares she could feel digging into her back, the young woman grabbed onto the nearest person next to her, which was coincidentally both the twin's mutual best friend. "Puckerman, get everyone outta here pronto." She demanded lowly, scoffing at the leering way her Jewish friend peeked at her chest.
"Anything for you, Hudson baby." He purred jokingly, laughing as she slapped his shoulder with a roll of her eyes.
Once the boys all began to file out of the room, Caroline spun to face her bewildered brother. " ." Was all she said, wondering if her brother would somehow understand where she was coming from. Judging from the bank look on his face, however, Caroline bristled. Leave it to Finn not to know what had royally pissed her off, even when he was the one that orchestrated everything.
"Can you explain to me why pulled me out of second period to tell me how he couldn't wait for me to audition for that freaking Glee Club? That it'd be awesome for their credibility to not only have one Hudson in their merry band of misfits but two?" Caroline ranted as her brother finally opened his mouth.
"Look Care, I was meant to tell you but it all happened so fast!" He exclaimed lamely. "I was caught with some drugs in my locker and said he would either report it to Figgins which means I'd lose any chance of a scholarship I can get or I join his Glee Club and it's cleared from my records. I mean scholarships, Care, you know how important that is to Ma."
Caroline bit her lip, thinking. It was obvious from the sheer panic in her brother's eyes that he was serious. But was he honestly dull enough to fall for Shuester's tricks? "Mr Shue told you this? Finn, that's blackmail. He has absolutely no right to do this, I mean, let me tell Ma and we can take this to the school boa-" Caroline paused as her brother held up a hand, seeming to have had enough of their conversation. "Look Care, I already had a think about this and I don't want Mum getting involved at all. You know how tough it's been for her lately, so I'm going to join Glee to keep things quiet and that's it."
It was clear from the slight twinkle in his eyes that somehow, in some way, the idea of the McKinley High Glee club had appealed to her brother in a way that nothing else had before. Sure there was football, and there was Quinn Fabray – Finn's long-time girlfriend, but there was something about the way her brother seemed so at ease with his current predicament that confused the curly-haired teen before it clicked.
"Oh my god," She gaped, "You want to join Glee."
Finn's cheeks darkened, and already Caroline could see her brothers question before he spoke. "Yeah I do," He admitted, "But I can't do this on my own, Care. Please, can you just…do this for me?" He asked her, his big brown eyes wide and pleading.
For a moment, the locker room was silent. Neither twin spoke. Instead, Finn placed a hand on his sister's shoulder while she thought to herself. It was no secret at McKinley High that Finn and Caroline were close, and even though Finn was the bigger one out of the Hudson twins, Caroline was the older one, meaning most of the time, she made the final calls when it came to the two of them.
"You know I would follow you, without a doubt, Finn." Caroline broke the silence. "But are you sure about this? Glee isn't exactly well appreciated here." She explained slowly. "I mean, think about your rep." Unlike her brother, she didn't earn her popularity from being a part of the Cheerio's. Sure, she did Volley and Track but she'd mainly earnt her popularity from her staunch indifference to the school's hierarchy. Caroline liked to think she had friends from all corners of the school whereas Finn only knew the Footballers and Cheerios.
Guess that's where Finn and I are different, Caroline thought.
Even though he'd never admit it, Finn basically thrived off popularity. Being popular made him feel accepted, and Caroline knew how scared her brother was of not fitting in. So imagine her surprise when Finn shook his head, not a sprinkle of doubt etched across his face. "No, I'm sure about this. I want to do Glee, Care. And I think I can handle what happens to my rep." He stated firmly. "But I can't do this alone. So, what do you say?"
Naïve hope had seeped onto her brothers face then, right along with his crooked grin that always seemed to con her into joining in on troublesome schemes. Scoffing, Caroline clapped her brother back on his shoulder. "Glee it is, then." The older twin announced, smiling as a bubble of laughter tumbled out of Finn's throat.
Say what you want about Finn Hudson, even though he could be a complete dumbass with a knack for getting himself and others into chaos; Caroline, being the usual victim – you had to give him credit because sometimes the very same chaos he'd lead you to could turn out to be the absolute best damn thing that could ever happen.
Caroline would know.
Because one great chaos he led her to happened to be the McKinley High's disgraced Glee Club; the place where her entire life would change.
So this story is the result of me wondering if Puck and Finn had a third in their gang, someone who would've balanced them out and kept them in line, could their friendship have been as salvaged more than it was towards the end of season 4? I don't know if I'm making sense right now, but I've been bawling my eyes out after re-watching The Quarterback so in honour of Cory Montieth- here is The Brothers Keeper.