Chapter Two

Finn walked into the empty club with Sam at his side, "That was close, Huddy." Sam laughed. Sam always laughed. It was just a big joke to him, wasn't it?

Finn rolled his eyes, "I know you think your charm can get us by forever, but we need to start thinking of another plan. Another way to transport. That was a close one, Sam." Finn growled. "Where is everyone?"

Sam rolled his eyes, "You are so nervous, don't worry so much." He laughed a little and walked up to the bar, and knocked on the wood paneling, "Schuester. You here?"

A curly haired man walked out from behind the bar, "I'm here." He grinned, "And I told you, Sam. Call me Will. Who is your friend?"

"This is Finn. Feel free to call him Hud, or huddy."

Finn shook his head, "No, don't feel free to call me that." He reached out his hand and shook Will's. "This is a solid club you've got here."

"It's alright. We call it 'Emma's', after my wife. Lots of the kids refer to it as M's though."

Finn nodded, "Well, I understand you need our services."

Will widened his eyes, "We do. We've got good bartenders, we've got great food. Hell, our talent is amazing. But, we're almost dry. We're running it close on a weekly basis and our contact dried up." She shook his head in frustration, "I understand you're hauling over the border."

Finn nodded, "Though I would appreciate if you'd keep that quite, you hear?"

Will nodded, "Ab-so-lute-ly." Will chuckled, "I'm sure you've had an earful from me. I'll just tell it to you straight. We need you, Mr. Hudson."

"Call me Finn."

"Okay, Finn. We need you. And we'll pay you enough Jack to keep you going and supply you with any transportation you need. I'm sure Sam told you we'll give you a place to stay too." Will offered, "Not to mention, the dames here aren't bad to look at." He laughed a little, "If you need more Jack then I'm offering, you can pick a bartending shift or bouncer, anything."

"What exactly is that offer, then?" Finn raised his eyebrow.

"I'm offering $52 a week for you, $40 for the blonde."

"Why is Sam getting less?" Finn was almost outraged and Sam didn't seem to care.

Will looked between Sam and Finn, and decided not to answer, "I filled him in, buddy." Sam finally said, "About you needing the money for your Mom and all."

Finn growled, "That wasn't your story to tell Sammy." He shook his head, "Why don't you even that out, $46 and $46 over the price of the liquor I'm assuming."

"You're assuming right." Will nodded. "I think that seems fair. I'll take care of the car and the gas too. So that's 100$ profit, boys." Will smiled widely at the two boys, "Whaddya say?"

Sam and Finn exchanged a glance, "This is weekly work, right?"

Will nodded in ascent, "Then you've got yourself a couple of bootleggers." Finn told Will with a small grin. "Help us unload the hooch?"

Will agreed. They walked out and did their best to carry while there were no cars passing by and Finn noticed the parking lot filled up, "What is this about?"

Will smiled, "We've got a movie theatre upstairs that runs day movies. You see, movie theatres just break even. Emma's gets us the big bucks." He laughed. "And it keeps the bull off our backs."

Finn nodded almost proudly, "Sounds like you know what you're doing here, Schuester. I'm impressed."

Will laughed and patted Finn on the back, "Well, I think it'll be a good partnership."

When they got done unloading Will showed them up to their rooms, "It's small, and you can't sleep past 11 because that is when the movies normally start." Will explained. "There is a shared bathroom down the hall, but you only will have to share with two other guys. The girls upstairs have it worse. Six girls that have to be ready at the same time with one bathroom, not to mention we might be adding one more girl to the list." Will shook his head, "So you might get a couple of stragglers down here. Don't mind them." Will laughed a bit.

Sam smiled, "As long as that singer from the other night is one of those lovely ladies. I'll be happy to give up my bathroom time." Sam joked, "I'll get our bags, Huddy."

Finn nodded and watched the men walk away before he walked into his small room, it smelled like mold and mildew and old books. Finn looked around the room and opened the window and looked over the water as the sun rose further into the sky. He had a good feel about this place, this job.

When Finn got down to the club that night he noticed how packed this place really got, "You sure what we brought will hold them for a week?" Finn leaned over to Sam.

Sam laughed, "You worry too much. If we gotta go up sooner, then we gotta go up sooner. Give Puckerman a ring and tell him to get ready."

Finn nodded, "Noted." He gulped and looked around at all of the beautiful women, and handsome men before walking up to the bar and noticing a small man behind the counter, "Hudson, Finn Hudson. You must be the resident bar tender." Finn smiled.

The man nodded his head and him and Sam, "Are you our new floor mates?" He asked and when Finn nodded he took Finn's hand, "Arthur Abrams, but you can call me Artie." He told Finn, "You got a personal supply you want me stash back here and serve you from?"

Finn reached into his coat and pulled out a unmarked bottle of Whiskey, "This is ours." Finn told him, Sam's attention and eyes were somewhere else entirely, "What you got in going through that head of yours?" Finn asked and Sam shook him off.

"I just have to go talk with someone. I'll be back."

Finn was balled up but ignored the feeling and turned his attention back to Artie. "Whiskey and soda, Artie." Finn requested quickly, "What's the big idea?" He asked pointing his thumb to where Sam was standing talking to a dark haired man.

Artie shook his head, "I've never seen that man here before. But he's got our hoofer on his arm."

"The blonde?"

Artie nodded, "That's Brittany, one of the dancers. She's swell, maybe that's her fella. I've been stuck on her for a while now."

Finn tilted his head, "She's a doll, but a little tall for you. Don't you think?" Finn chuckled until he heard Will's voice coming from the stage.

"Ladies and Gentleman, we have a special treat for you. Our weekend singer has decided to give a special performance for our new guests. I'm pleased to announce Ms. Rachel Berry."

The dark haired small woman with dark long hair curled tightly and a jeweled headband that matched her pretty red dress, with a low waist and low back and her a smile that could be seen from Russia. "Look at her." Finn whispered under his breath.

She took the microphone from Will and smiled widely as the music started and the most beautiful voice came out of the smallest little body.

I can't sleep at night
I can't eat a bite
'cause the man I love
He don't treat me right.
He makes me feel so blue.
I don't know what to do.

Finn was amazed, flabbergasted, extremely smitten.

Sometime I sit and sigh
And then begin to cry
'cause my best friend
Said his last goodbye.
There's a change in the ocean,
Change in the deep blue sea, my baby,

If Finn would have looked to the side he would have noticed the same face mirrored on Sam's face.

I'll tell you folks, there ain't no change in me.
My love for that man will always be.
Now I can read his letters.
I sure can't read his mind.
I thought he's lovin' me.
He's leavin' all the time.

Finn watched her intently, focused on every sad word that poured from her mouth. Her eyes searched the crowd like she was looking for someone and when they met his, they lingered. He titled his head and smiled at the dame and he saw her resist but smile back. The song was so sad, she didn't seem to want to break character.

Now I see my poor love was blind.
Now I got the crazy blues since my baby went away.
I ain't got no time to lose.
I must find him today.
Now the doctor's gonna do all that he can.
But what you're gonna need is an undertaker man.
I ain't had nothin' but bad news.
Now I got the crazy blues.

When she finished she did a small bow and backed away and Finn turned to Artie, "Is she was one of the girls upstairs?" Finn asked him quietly.

"She sure is. She's a dream, huh?"

Finn nodded slowly, "Her voice, that hair, that dress… those eyes." Finn shook his head, "I think I need a ciggy." Finn rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

Artie pulled a pack from his coat pocket, "Take a seat, stay a while." He teased him and Finn replied by sitting down and lighting his cigarette and taking a sip of his drink. Damn he wanted to meet that lovely lady and apparently it was written all over his face. "She'll be out in a moment."

"Do you think that's Brittany's Daddy?" He mentioned as he looked at Brittany and the dark haired man.

Artie shook his head, "I can't imagine why she'd work here if she had a swell behind in her back pocket."

Finn had to agree, he watched as Sam, Brittany and the unknown man flapped gums as he waited for the canary to make her way to the floor. He wasn't feeling as good about this place anymore, and at the same time he was more excited than ever.

Finn heard a small girl clear her throat to the side of him, "Mr. Hudson?" She asked sweetly.

Finn jumped to his feet and took the womans hand, "Miss Berry?" He asked with bright eyes.

"The one and only." She claimed with a bright grin.

Finn chuckled at her statement, and she continued to speak, "You're the new bootlegger. I met Mr. Evans last week, but you, you're quite… giant, and please, call me Rachel."

Finn blushed and grinned at her, "You're welcome to call me Finn." He told her back taking her hand and kissing it lightly, "Your voice, it's simply amazing."

Rachel nodded sheepishly, "I guess you could say I can sing." She said shyly but something told Finn that she wasn't shy or modest. Not in the slightest. At least not about her voice.

Finn agreed though, at least for a minute, "I guess you could say that." He echoed.

She looked him up and down, "You're quite spiffy." She told him quietly. "That suit, I mean. It's real nice." She told him before turning to Artie, "The usual." She requested and Artie nodded and started pouring.

Finn bit his lip and looked the beautiful girl up and down, "How long have you been working here? A doll like you seems like she could do better."

"Hey now." She warned, "This place is my home, Mr. Hud—I mean, Finn. My girls live here and until they decided to leave, I'm kind of stuck here. I would never leave Santana and Tina behind. They are my family But don't you dog on this place. It's my home and it's quite swanky. There isn't a better place in Chicago. I'll tell you that much."

"Oh is our Miss Berry already giving you an earful?" Will joked with Rachel and put his arm around her, "She's a handful, but she can sing."

"She's not bad on the eyes either." Sam said walking up behind Finn, "Good to see you again, Miss Berry."

Rachel smiled at Sam, "Welcome back, Mr. Evans." She directed her attention back to Finn, "Well now we have two handsome men to keep me entertained." She beamed.


A/N: Yes, Artie does have working legs. Mostly because when he was little cars probably wouldn't have been around and I don't know the protocol for wheelchairs in the 1920's. How do you like the beginning and meeting Rachel for the first time.

Reviews are so appreciated. Thanks for reading.