Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the reviews and adds!
Sorry it took a while, hope you enjoy!
By the time Puck had made it to the driver's side, Rachel had begun to fall over. Puck slid in his old pickup quickly and caught Rachel's drifting body. He easily slid her into a laying position with her head resting on his thigh. Brushing the dark hair out of her beaten face, Puck could tell she had passed out again. Noah had to shake his head to clear the horrifying images of someone, anyone, hurting Rachel. He needed to focus. He needed to drive.
For the first time since he had stolen his mom's station wagon at 13, Puck had to think through how to start and drive a car. He let out a heavy breath and turned the key making his truck roar with life. Even on his worst days, that noise always made him smile. But not today. Sliding into first gear, they started to move forward and make their way to the streets of Lima. There wasn't a soul in sight. Hell, there wasn't even a stray animal lingering. It felt as if everyone somehow knew that something bad had happened and they were all hiding. Puck slid easily along the roads toward Rachel's home. He had tried driving fast, but this only made his truck lurch and cause Rachel to moan with pain, so he drove slow instead.
Luckily, Puck remembered the way to the Berry's gorgeous two story from the last time he'd been there. As he pulled in the empty drive way he glanced around to see if someone might be home. Puck gently slid his leg out from under Rachel, trying his best not to wake her, and got out of his truck. Walking to Rach's front door, Puck began to consider his "breaking and entering" options. Taking in the Berry's luxurious suburb home, he figured they'd hide a key in the usual naive location: under the welcome mat, and right he was. After unlocking the door handle and two secondary locks, he nudged the door open, leaving it so he wouldn't have to fiddle with the door handle while carrying Rachel.
When Puck returned to the car, Rachel was sitting up and looking dazed and confused. Giving her a weak grin and reached for her, "Hey Rach, we're here."
She blinked her bruised eyes in confusion, "Noah? Wh- what.." and like a tidal wave it all came rushing back, the slapping and punching, the way he had called her a slut as he torn into her. "Oh Noah!" Rachel began to sob and reached for Noah.
Without a moment's hesitation, he was there. He had seen her eyes shift from confusion, to recognition, to reliving the horror. "It's alright baby, I'm here." As she sobbed into his already bloody and tear soaked shirt, he figured he give the "let me take you to the hospital" suggestion another try, but with just as much determination as the first time, Rachel refused.
"Come on," he whispered as he scooped her up into his strong arms, or as he like to call them: The Guns. Making his way across the front lawn, he noticed every time she winced or bit her busted lip in pain. He continued to apologize and sooth her. Who knew 10 yards could feel like a mile.
Trying his best not to stumble through the cracked door, Puck took another glance around the dark home. No one's home, I guess, he thought to himself. Cradling her body close he climbed her spiral stairs with ease and headed to the second door on the right. Was it weird that he had the path to her bedroom memorized? He had only been there once. Oh well. He opened her door to a world of pink. He didn't think it was possible, but he was pretty sure it was pinker than last time. Puck laid Rachel down on her comfy queen sized bed and sat next to her. "Rach, I can't make you go to the hospital. But if you don't, we won't be able to prove-"
"Noah, please," struggling to take in another breath, Rachel pushed forward, "I know that I should go to the hospital. I know that that's the right thing to do here, but I don't care! I will not go!" She took her time to enunciate each syllable making it clear to him that she wasn't going anywhere.
Puck watched intently as Rachel face of determination fell into one of whimpering and hopelessness. "Alright, it's okay baby" he brushed her hair beside her face and kissed her forehead, "I'll be right back." Puck waited for her to nod an okay to move from the bed. Turning around, he made his way into her large bathroom and started her a warm shower. While the shower was getting hot, Puck searched out a wash cloth and ran some water over it. Walking back with the damp material, Puck found her rolled up in the fetal position and rocking slightly. "Shhh... It's alright. I'm here," he kept repeating. Lifting her chin to make her look at him, he began to wipe her tears, blood, and the dirt from her face. She winced at first, but eventually she gave up and began to let tears fall in silence.
Glancing over his shoulder, Puck notice the steam forming on the bathroom mirror. He turned back and offered Rachel a sweet smile. "Come here," he whispered and lifted her into his arms and walked her to the steamy shower. Puck was a little troubled about what to do next he glanced around and decided to set her on the edge of her bathtub, which was across from her shower.
Kneeling down in front of her, Noah removed her shoes and bloody knee high socks. He kept looking in her eyes to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable. He paused for a minute not sure how to help her until she tried to undue the clasp of her bra and moaned with pain, her body was just too sore. "Here, let me." Puck stepped into the bathtub to be behind her and gently undid the clasp and helped slide the straps down her bruised arms. What he didn't expect was for Rachel to stand on her shaky legs and turn around. His jaw dropped in horror. Whoever had done this had taken the time to bite huge gashes into Rach's porcelain smooth breast.
Looking embarrassed, Rachel move to cover herself. "Aw Rach," taking her face in his hands, he rubbed her bruised cheeks lightly with his thumbs. he rested his forehead against hers and told her it was going to be okay. Puck reached down and helped her remove her shredded skirt and moved around her to open the shower for her.
As Rachel stepped into the hot, comforting shower she turned around to meet his gaze. Puck offered her a sweet smile and said, "I'll be in your room if you need me." he then turned to walk out of the bathroom. But at the last moment, Rachel reached out and grabbed his hand. Puck looked at their hands, then up to Rachel's cautious face. "What is it Rach?"
Rachel let out a sigh and let her eyes fall from his. "Noah, please. I- I can't be alone. Please don't leave me," She pleaded.
Puck looked at her intently and waited for her to make eye contact. Once she did, he understood her request. "Alright just give me a sec," he told her. When he tried to release her hand she wouldn't let go. Puck smiled at her and reassured her: "Babe, just let me get out of these clothes real quick."
It took her a sec, but Rachel relinquished her hold on Puck's callused hand. Quickly shedding his shirt, Puck debated on removing the rest of his clothing. He finally settled on removing his jeans but leaving on his boxers. After the shower he'd just go commando.
When he was finally down to his boxers, Puck stepped into the piping hot shower and closed the glass door behind him.
Rachel needed him. There wasn't a chance in the world that he wouldn't be there for her.
I thought about it, but I just couldn't make her going to the hospital work right now. Hope that's not a deal breaker!
I'll continue soon 3 -Lace
