Author's note: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed. I didn't want to leave the cliffhanger too long, so here's the rest of the story. Hope it's okay - ml
Brittany, Santana, Sam, Mike, and Tina were waiting outside the choir room when they heard the crash. They ran to see Artie lying at the foot of the stairs, face down. Blood stained the stairs and he wasn't moving. Brittany ran to her boyfriend and started to turn him over. "Artie," She whispered.
"Don't!" Tina shouted as she came up on the other side of Artie. "He could have a broken neck."
"He's already para…" Sam started.
"Only from the waist down," Tina cut in. "If his neck is broken he could lose the use of his arms or even worse." She tentatively touched Artie's neck. "He still has a pulse." She checked more closely. "He's breathing," she said, letting out a visible sigh of relief.
Santana called 911. Finn and Puck arrived, as did Mercedes and Quinn. "There's been an accident at McKinley High," she stated.
"It's no accident," Tina snarled. "Artie wouldn't go near the stairwell. Somebody did this to him." Puck exchanged a guilty look with Finn. He'd never actually pushed Artie down the stairs, but he had threatened to do so on a couple occasions.
Brittany looked helplessly at Artie as Tina told people what needed to be done. The former cheerleader looked over to Mike and said softly, "I need his book bag." Mike nodded and walked up the stairs. The book bag was in the landing. As he looked up, he saw Karofsky, who was blindly staring downward. Karofsky saw Mike and quickly backed away.
Santana told Tina, "There's an ambulance coming and the police will be here soon." Mr. Schuester, Lauren, and Emma arrived and Santana told them what had happened, as far as they knew.
Mike gave Artie's book bag to Brittany and looked over at his girlfriend. She had done all that she knew how to do and now the reality of the situation was hitting her. She started crying. Quinn comforted her while Santana moved to Brittany's side. The blonde was clutching Artie's book bag to her chest and sobbing.
"Sanny, he has to be okay," Brittany whispered as Santana hugged her friend.
xxxx
Rachel Berry was on the football field taping her interview with the local news. "I'm sorry that Tina and Mercedes couldn't make it," she said. "They're shy." She added to herself, "And they didn't know about the interview."
"So what made you and the other girls want to join the football team?" the reporter asked.
"Well, several of our glee club teammates are also on the team, and when they needed us, we felt that we had to help out. There's an old Broadway axiom that the show must go on."
"That's great," the reporter said, happy to have such a willing interview. "And you performed during halftime as well."
"We members of the glee club pride ourselves in being versatile," Rachel breezed.
"And now you have a story to tell your grandchildren."
"I suppose I do," Rachel said, her thoughts briefly returning to Finn, who she was certain would one day be their grandfather.
The reporter nodded, waited a moment, and said, "cut."
"Was there anything wrong?" Rachel asked.
"No, that's all we need. We'll cut it with segments from the video that Coach Beiste posted. We just wanted something as a lead in."
"Oh," Rachel said, clearly disappointed. "Well, maybe we can talk again after the glee club wins Regionals,"
"Maybe," the reporter said, clearly not enthusiastically. "We generally don't cover glee clubs, but we'll see."
Rachel was about to explain how unique McKinley's glee club was when she heard the sound of sirens approaching the high school.
"Sounds like they're coming here," the reporter said with a gleam in her eye. She and the cameraman hurried towards the noise. Rachel slowly followed, wondering what was happening.
xxxx
The paramedics arrived and told everyone to back away from Artie. The policemen were right behind the paramedics and Finn and Mercedes told them what they thought had happened. Puck avoided the cops and stayed near Artie.
"He's in a wheelchair and we think somebody pushed him," Finn said. The policeman walked up the stairs and pointed to chest-level stains just below the top of the stairwell. "I think you kids were right," one policeman told Finn. "There's no way somebody in a wheelchair hits the wall like this without help."
Meanwhile, the paramedics had placed Artie on a stretcher. "I want to go with him," Brittany and Tina said at the same time.
Tina angrily said, "Brittany, I know the medications Artie takes. Do you? We have things to tell the doctors so they can take care of him and you…" She stopped herself, aware her emotions were getting out of control.
Brittany reached into Artie's book bag and pulled out a plastic container with ducks on it and handed it to the paramedics. "He takes a lot of pills. And she's right, I don't know the names. But I gave him this, so he wouldn't forget to take them." It was a pill case that held a week's worth of medication. "It's only Thursday, so Friday's pills are still there."
The paramedic looked at the pills and smiled at the former cheerleader. "That's all we need to know," he assured her and turned to Tina. "We'll take good care of him."
Tina saw Mike staring at her. He'd clearly gotten the wrong idea. "Okay, Brittany you go ahead and ride with Artie." Brittany nodded a thank you to Tina and hurried off with the paramedics still clutching the book bag.
Santana grabbed Tina's shoulder. "Come on, you can ride with me to the hospital." Tina followed, not wanting to have to deal with explaining things to Mike. The policemen asked the others to stay and provide statements.
Sue arrived as the paramedics were removing Artie. "What's going on?"
"Don't you know?" Will asked.
"What are you talking about?"
Will was blunt, "One of my kids from glee club was pushed down the stairs. Did you have anything to do with it?"
Sue's eyes went wide, "William I would never…"
"Sue, you pushed Tina into the lockers last week. You tried to fire Brittany out of a cannon…"
"I think you better come with us," the policeman told the cheerleading coach.
xxxx
Santana was silent as she drove Tina to the hospital. Tina knew she had to say something, but it was hard to find the words. Finally she managed, "It's not what you think."
"And what do I think," Santana mocked.
"That I'm in love with Artie."
"Of course you are," Santana replied.
"I love Mike."
"That doesn't matter," Santana assured her. When Tina tried to argue, Santana continued. "Look, you two have a connection. Just like me and Brit. For us, they're the person we…" Santana seemed to edit herself before continuing, "they were the persons closest to us when we decided who we were going to be."
Tina thought about what Santana said. So much of what she was now, from her taste in music to joining glee club, had come about because of Artie.
Santana continued, as if talking to herself. "It doesn't matter who we're dating or if we're fighting, or even who we might end up marrying one day, that's always going to be there."
Tina sighed. "I don't know why I bother. It's not we hang out or…."
"Did you not see the video? What he looked like after you were tackled?" Santana asked. "And remember last week when somebody flattened the tires on Coach Sylvester's Le Car? How they said she tore up the teacher's lounge?"
"Yeah," Tina said.
"What had she done to you the day before?"
"She pushed me into the lockers." Tina remembered.
"Yeah, and Wheels did what he could to get even." Santana replied. "I was the lookout. He'll always care for you, five days or fifty years from now, just like me and Brit."
Tina thought about that for a minute and smiled. She turned back to Santana, "I'm sorry if I yelled at Brittany. I'll apologize when we get to the hospital."
"You better," Santana said. "Look, I know what everyone thinks of Brittany, but when I have a hangover or my family thing gets too real, she's there for me. She'll look after him…if she can."
Tina started thinking again about how Artie hadn't regained consciousness after the accident and how pale he was on the stretcher. She tried to keep from crying again. "He'll be okay, right?" she asked Santana.
Santana paused, as if thinking about the question for the first time. "Sure he will," Santana said. Tina could see that she didn't really believe it. After a few seconds, Santana pulled over and stopped the car.
"What's wrong?" Tina asked.
"I just thought about if he isn't okay," Santana began, her voice shaky. "If I have to explain it to Brittany…If I have to tell her…" Tina reached over and pulled Santana into a hug.
After a few minutes Santana had regained her composure. She put the car back into gear and turned to Tina. "You tell anyone about this, and I will end you," she threatened.
xxxx
One of the policemen took Sue downtown for questioning.
One stayed to tag evidence at the crime scene, while the others went into the choir room. Mercedes sent a quick text to Kurt, telling him Artie had been hurt and was heading for the hospital. She then sent another to her parents, telling them what happened and asking if her grounding could start tomorrow.
xxxx
Rachel followed the reporter and cameraman inside, hoping to talk to them about Regionals. She was sure that if she could explain the situation with the Warblers and Aural Intensity that the reporter would be much more likely to come back after they were victorious. Then she turned the corner and the policeman, the blood, and the broken wheelchair at the foot of the landing.
"What happened?" She asked.
The policeman looked up and shrugged. "Kid in a wheelchair got tossed down the stairs. There are some real sick pups in the world."
Rachel got out her phone. She had muted it for the interview. There were no missed calls or messages. She knew there were no other kids in school in wheelchairs at McKinley this year, but she had to ask anyway. "Do you know who it was?"
"The other kids said his name was Artie."
"Others?"
"Yeah, they're in the choir room, wherever that is."
Stunned, Rachel managed, "I know the way."
xxxx
Mike was sitting in the choir room oblivious to the other surrounding him. He kept thinking about how Tina had acted. He knew Tina cared for Artie, but seeing the evidence up close had rattled the quiet dancer.
"He'll be okay," Finn assured Mike.
"What?" It took Mike a second to understand what Finn meant. "Oh, yeah. I'm sure he will be."
"So, do you think Coach Sylvester did it?" Mercedes asked.
One of the policemen looked up from his paperwork.
Mike suddenly realized he hadn't told anyone what he's seen. He had been so distracted by Tina's reaction that…Then he realized something else. Part of him didn't want to tell them. That frightened him almost as much as Tina's behavior did. He swallowed and took a deep breath. "Guys, I think it was Karofsky. When I got Artie's book bag off the stairs, I saw him looking down the staircase.
"Son, why didn't you tell us that earlier?" the policeman asked loudly. Before Mike could answer, the policeman continued. "So, who is this Karofsky."
Finn answered for Mike. "He's a football player. He's a big guy and he's picked on all of us. He got suspended for threatening one of our teammates. Made him transfer."
The policeman turned to Will. "Do you have any information on him? Phone number? Address?
"I think I can find the information in the office," Will said. "I better call Principal Figgins."
xxxx
Mercedes turned to one of the other policemen. "Can we go to the hospital and find out what's happened to Artie?"
The officer nodded and the kids left the choir room.
xxxx
As they were leaving, Rachel saw them at the exit at the far end of the hallway, but they didn't hear her calls to them before the doors closed behind them.
xxxx
Finn drove Quinn and Mercedes, while Lauren went with Puck. Mike and Sam rode together. Rachel pulled out her phone and dialed Finn, but there was no answer. She tried Puck, and finally Mercedes. Her fellow diva answered.
"Rachel, where were you?" Mercedes asked. "Karofsky pushed Artie down the stairs."
"Is he all right?"
"We don't know. We're heading for the hospital now."
Rachel felt she had to ask, and she felt ashamed as she said, "Can I come?"
"What? Yeah. Of course you should get your rear end over here. And when this is over we'll want to know why you blew off practice."
xxxx
Brittany was crying in the emergency room when Santana and Tina arrived. "What happened, B?" Santana asked, fearing the worst.
"She won't let me see Artie or tell me what's happening!" Brittany sniffled pointing to a young nurse at reception who was talking to one of the guy interns. "And there are all these forms and Artie's mom won't answer her phone."
"It's okay," Tina said. "I can handle the forms. Did you try Artie's dad?" Brittany shook her head. Tina pulled out her phone and explained to Santana, "His mom kind of drinks and"
"No need to continue," Santana sighed.
Tina hit a long-unused number on her contact list. "Hi, Mr. Abrams, it's Tina. Yes, it's been a while. I'm really sorry to call like this, but something happened at school and Artie's in the hospital."
"They won't really tell us anything because we aren't family and..." She listened. "Okay, I'll try."
"Mr. Abrams is out of town. He's asking if you can tell us what Artie's condition is?"
The nurse stopped her conversation and the intern left the area. "I'm sorry, but I can only give out information to the immediate family," she said.
"But Mr. Abrams is on the phone."
"I'm sorry, but I can't be sure of that," the nurse replied, and turned to enter some data off a form.
Santana had seen enough. "Okay, Nurse Ratchett. Listen to me. Either you tell us and Mr. Abrams what's happening with his son or I'll take five minutes out of my day to pick up your little playmate and steal him from you."
"She'll do it," Brittany confirmed. "Easy."
The nurse looked at Santana and opened her mouth, but thought the better of it. "Have Mr. Abrams hold the line," she said. "I'll check with ER."
Tina put the phone on the counter and started filling out the forms while Brittany and Santana waited. Within a minute, the nurse returned. "Artie is in surgery. They're concerned about the trauma to his brain and they told me that they'll give you an update as soon as he's out of surgery, which should be a couple of hours."
"Thanks," Brittany said as Tina relayed the information to Mr. Abrams. Brittany and Santana linked pinkies as they walked back to their chairs and Tina completed the forms as best she could. Within an hour the other kids, Rachel, Kurt, and Blaine had all shown up, as had Mr,. Schuester and Emma.
xxxx
During a quiet moment, Kurt asked Rachel, "What's with the stars on the jacket?"
Rachel stifled a groan. "Not you, too. First Finn, then Karofsky, everyone seems so bent out of shape that…"
"Rachel," Kurt "I was just asking." He turned to Blaine and raised an eyebrow.
Blaine mouthed "Diva."
xxxx
The wait was difficult for all of them. Mrs. Abrams showed up, clearly drunk, and so Will and Emma spent most of their time dealing with her. There were few distractions, only the local television news playing on a loop in the waiting room.
Santana and Sam left to get Brittany and Tina something to drink. Both of the girls had been crying and were probably getting dehydrated. "What do you think will happen?" Sam asked.
"I don't know," Santana hated to admit. "It makes you think, though. I mean, one minute you're here. The next…"
They looked into each other's eyes and hurriedly found an empty room. When they returned, half an hour later, Brittany asked where her soda was.
Quinn looked over at Sam, got up and walked to her former boyfriend. "Your sweatshirt is on backwards," she noted.
Sam smirked at her and shrugged his shoulders.
Kurt got up as well and said, "I remember where the soda machines are from when I was here with my dad." He turned to Quinn, who smiled in agreement.
As they walked, Kurt asked Quinn what happened between her and Sam.
"It was my own fault," Quinn said. "I cheated on this cute, great guy who was willing to make a total fool of himself for me. Now he's with Santana and he's turning into this shallow, sex-obsessed…"
Kurt cut in, "There's a word for that, sweetie. It's called a 'boy.'" They both laughed.
"So what's the story with you and Blaine?" Quinn asked
"Second verse, same as the first. I like a guy who just wants to be friends." They reached the vending area and debated soda choices. They decided that juice and a possible sugar crash might help Tina and Brittany get some sleep tonight.
xxxx
Tina kept sneaking looks over at Mike, who was avoiding her gaze.
"What the hell is that?" Lauren asked. The news was showing the interview with Rachel, cut with sections of Artie's video from the championship game.
Finn looked up, "Hey Rach, you did the interview. Why didn't they want to talk to Tina and Mercedes? Everyone looked over at Rachel.
"Uh, they didn't need much footage. They just wanted a little something for an intro to the video."
"So they only asked for you?"
Rachel knew she couldn't lie. "No, they called me at home and I kind of forgot to tell you guys about it…I did it after class. It was only a few seconds."
"Unbelievable," Santana said. "Artie gets attacked while Man Hands is playing star. Wonderful."
"Guys," Finn cut in, "this is not the time. Let's try not to kill each other before we find out what's happened to Artie."
Things settled down again and Kurt and Quinn returned with drinks for Tina and Brittany.
Shortly after that, the doctor came into the waiting room. "Artie had bleeding on the brain, but we think we were able to stop it and relieve the pressure. We haven't found additional damage, which is positive. He's out of surgery and in intensive care. We'll try to keep you posted, but most likely it will be several hours, probably longer, before we can give you a prognosis as far as his recovery.
"So what do we do now?" Brittany asked.
The doctor tried to offer a sympathetic smile. "I know it'll be hard, but I'd suggest going home. If one of you wants to stay, I can give you updates, but really there isn't much that can be done at this point."
"I'm staying," Brittany insisted.
"Brit, are you sure?" Santana asked. "Like the doctor said, there's nothing we can do now?"
"I need to," Brittany said. "Artie's been there for me. I can do this for him."
"Okay," Santana said sadly. "I'll bring over a change of clothes in the morning. Tina, do you want a lift?"
"I'll take her," Mike said.
Puck elbowed the dancer. "I think us guys need to talk about something." He and Sam headed away from the others with Finn and Mike. Lauren came along also. Kurt and Blaine looked at each other, then got up and joined them.
"We need to find Karosksy," Puck said.
"The police have probably already picked him up." Finn protested.
"I wouldn't bet on it. From what I heard in juvie, the Lima cops don't have a great track record."
"I think we owe it to Artie to look for him," Sam said. The other nodded.
"Who drove?" Finn, Puck, Sam, Kurt, and Blaine raised their hands. "Okay, Kurt, can you and Blaine take home the girls? The rest of us will try to figure out where Karofsky could be.
Kurt thought to protest, but decided against it. He was fairly certain the guys wouldn't be able to find Karofsky, so at least he'd be accomplishing something by taking the girls home. The rest of the guys and Lauren left and Blaine and Kurt returned to the girls.
Will and Emma took Mrs. Abrams home.
Mercedes said that she would keep Brittany company. Quinn said she could ride back with Tina and Mercedes. As they looked around, they saw that Rachel had already left.
"Well, I guess we go home," Kurt shrugged.
As they were leaving, Blaine stopped as they exited the elevator. "Rachel said that Karosky went off on her this morning about the stars on her jacket, right?" Kurt nodded. "Karofsky's a football player, right?"
"Yeah," Kurt said.
Blaine said, "I think I know a place to look for him."
Kurt suppressed a shiver as he said, "Let's go."
xxxx
Blaine and Kurt hopped the fence and walked into the football stadium; there was a lone figure at the center of the field. The full moon was bright enough that he could be easily recognized; it was Karofsky. He would run a few steps, act as if he were throwing a block, then he would run back to the middle of the field. He was sweating heavily in the cold weather; he must have been doing this for hours.
As the two teens approached Karofsky, he noticed them. Kurt was afraid of what the bully might do, but he only yelled, "Call a play."
"What?" Kurt asked.
"Call a play, freak."
Blaine seemed to understand. "Sweep."
"Weak side or strong side?" Karofsky asked.
"Weak side," Blaine clarified.
Karofsky moved into position as if he were waiting the snap of the ball. Suddenly he was in motion. "I make sure the tackle cuts off the end," he wheeled to his right, "I locate the weak side linebacker and kick him out," He threw his body as if making the block." He leapt to his feet. "Another play!"
Blaine called out all of the football plays he knew, until Karofsky lay panting, exhausted on the ground. Cautiously, Blaine and Kurt came closer and sat beside him.
Karofsky tried to explain. "This is the only place where anything makes sense to me anymore," he said. "There's a play, you have your assignment, and you either win or lose that play."
"It's simple," Kurt said.
"Are you kidding?" Karofsky laughed. The sound shook Kurt. "It's hard as hell. Coach would make us run the same play again and again. There are a thousand details to get right. But you can get it right… Not like everywhere else."
Kurt didn't understand what Karofsky was trying to tell him.
"When I was 13, my dad told me, 'David, I know you don't want to go to law school like I did. That's okay. Just do your best, play football, find a nice girl and settle down and I'll be just as proud of you as if you went to Yale. I got it half right."
"Have you told your dad…" Blaine asked.
"Are you kidding? All I can talk to him about is football. That's all he ever asks me about."
"Have you ever mentioned anything else to him?" Blaine asked.
"My dad's not so easy to talk to," Karofsky said. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the ground. "How's wheelchair kid?"
"His name is Artie," Kurt spat back.
"We don't know," Blaine said. "The doctors were working on him when we left. He was unconscious."
"I'm in so much trouble," Karofsky said, opening his eyes and looking over at the two of them. They nodded. "What am I gonna do?"
"Let us take you home," Blaine suggested. "Things can only get worse the longer you stay away."
"I guess."
"And try talking to your dad," Kurt said. "He might surprise you in a good way."
"I think it's too late for that."
xxxx
Kurt was nervous having Karofsky in his car, but the bully seemed different now, somehow less threatening. Still, after they stopped the car and saw Karofsky enter his house, both Kurt and Blaine breathed sighs of relief. They drove back to the hospital so Blaine could pick up his car in the hospital parking lot. Kurt texted Mercedes and found there was still no change in Artie's condition.
"So," Blaine asked, "are you going inside to wait for news about Artie?"
"No, Mercedes will let me know when they tell her anything. I think I'll see how my dad's doing on his inventory, maybe take him a snack."
"I understand. When you hear from Mercedes, let me know," Blaine said as he got back into his car.
xxxx
It was around three in the morning when a nurse came into the waiting room. Mercedes and Brittany were still awake, and looked up as the she approached.
"Just wanted to let you know, "she said with a smile, "Artie woke up"
Brittany hugged Mercedes with relief. "Can we see him?"
"Just for a minute," the nurse said.
The reality of the attack again hit Brittany as she saw Artie in the hospital bed. His forehead and one eye were bandaged, and IVs were inserted into his hand. He didn't have his glasses on so all he saw were two blurs. "Babe?" he asked as he heard her crying.
"Artie I was so scared," Brittany said.
"What happened?" he asked.
"You don't remember?" Brittany asked.
"Not really?" Artie admitted. "I remember being upstairs at school. I found your keys," he told Brittany, as he patted where his shirt pocket should have been and felt the hospital gown. "But I guess I lost my clothes somewhere."
"The keys were in your book bag," Brittany said, remembering why he had been upstairs before glee practice.
"You're kinda blurry," Artie said, "can you come closer?"
"I don't want to," Brittany said, suddenly self conscious. "I've been up all night and…"
"Please?" Artie asked. "Hospitals kinda freak me out. The last time I was here…"
"I know what you mean. Sometimes, my cat totally freaks me out. I think he wants my room for himself."
"Uh, okay," Artie said. His head was pounding and his entire body ached. "I'd just like to have you close for a minute."
Brittany pulled up the chair by the bed and sat beside him. She tentatively reached out her hand and took his. Artie looked even more fragile close up. She saw him wince as he let her extend his arm.
"What's wrong with your arm?'
"It's just all my muscles feel like they've seized up."
"Oh, I know how to handle that," Brittany said, happy to have something to do. She started to rub the muscles in his arm. At first, Artie tensed even more, but within seconds his arm started feeling better.
"Wow," Artie sighed, amazed. "When did you learn to do this?"
"At cheer camp. I have lots of experience bumps and bruises from falling off pyramids."
"But I've never seen you get a step wrong," Artie said.
"Not anymore," Brittany agreed.
"I've had to deal with physical therapists half my life. You should teach them how to do this."
After a few minutes, Artie asked her to stop and as best he could pulled her close to him. When he could finally focus on her face he said, "You are so beautiful." He enjoyed being able to see her again. "I can't believe you stayed."
"Of course I did, you're my boyfriend. I couldn't just leave."
"Thanks. You really are the best girlfriend ever." Brittany pulled his hand to her cheek and kissed it.
Artie noticed the other shape in the room, "Cedes?" He was amazed she'd been quiet for so long.
"You scared us," Mercedes said.
"Sorry, wasn't the intention."
"What did the doctors tell you?"
"They said that I can probably be out of here in a couple days if I'm lucky. And that I shouldn't try to do stairs again any time soon."
Mercedes texted everyone and Brittany sat by Artie's bed holding his hand until the nurse returned and told them they had to leave.
xxxx
Santana came by early the next morning and picked up Mercedes and Brittany so they could go to school. They all sneaked a quick visit with Artie before leaving.
Santana surprised Mercedes by telling Artie, "I hope you feel better,' and kissing his forehead. She didn't hear the former cheerleader whisper to the boy, "If you ever scare Brittany like that again I will cause you so much pain that this will feel like a sunburn." But she smiled as she pulled away from him.
Just after they left, Artie had another visitor. It was Tina, with a spare pair of glasses for him. "I kinda broke into your house," she admitted.
"I won't press charges," Artie said. "Thanks for doing it; I feel helpless enough being here - not being able to see anything on top of that, it's pretty much my recurring nightmare."
"No problem. I know you hate hospitals."
"It brings back a lot of bad memories," Artie admitted. He managed to fit the glasses so he could see out of the eye that wasn't bandaged. "Hey, you're old school Tina today," he said, noting the skull jewelry and black lace gloves.
"Just felt like getting something from the back of the closet today," Tina said. "You look terrible," she said, unable to suppress a giggle of relief at being able to see him at all.
"Thanks," Artie said. "Nice to know the inside and the outside match."
"I'll have to tell Kurt. This might be a first for you"
"Santana says you took care of me after the accident," Artie said. "I really…"
"Hey, I put too much time into being your friend. I'm not letting go of you without a fight."
"I'm glad," Artie said. He looked at the clock. "I know you have to go to school, but maybe you could…or you and Mike could come by tonight? It'd be nice to have someone to talk to."
"I think we can manage it," Tina said, Artie's IV free hand and giving it a squeeze.
xxxx
Puck saw Finn by his locker before school. They had driven all over town the previous evening, but hadn't been able to find Karofsky.
Mike came by and said, "Did you hear? Karofsky turned himself in. Admitted the whole thing."
"That's a relief," Finn said. "Mercedes said Artie couldn't remember what Karofsky did, so at least we won't have a trial to deal with."
"So, you think that means Kurt will come back?" Puck asked.
Up ahead of them in the hall, Mullet#3 slushied Rachel.
"Not really sure about that," Finn admitted. Finn and Puck went forward to help Rachel.
"I'm surprised the two of you are speaking to me today," Rachel said.
Puck said, "Look, yesterday was about what happened to Artie, not you being a b-"
"What he means is that I'm sure everyone will forget about it soon enough," Finn said.
Mercedes passed them in the halls and greeted them, "Puck… Finn…Someone who better stay out of my face for the next two weeks."
"Or not," Finn said.
xxxx
Tina saw Mike just before classes started. "About yesterday…"
Mike cut in, "You were concerned about Artie. I understand."
On one level, Tina was almost disappointed. She wanted to talk about this, to explain. But that wasn't Mike's nature. She realized that in a way, both she and Artie had changed in their new relationships. She was more adaptable to what Mike wanted, and Artie was more attentive and sensitive to Brittany's needs. Maybe they were still shaping each other's lives.
"Asian kiss?" Mike asked.
"Asian kiss," Tina answered.
As they passed a utility closet, Santana and Sam opened the door and emerged, hot and sweaty. Santana shrugged as she passed the two Asians.
xxxx
Meanwhile at the Lima police station. The chief detective was clocking out after an all-nighter. He turned to one of his colleagues and asked. "Did you ever feel like you forgot something."
Meanwhile, in a corner interrogation room, Sue Sylvester shouted, not knowing the room was soundproof. "Somebody let me out of here!"