I'm Sorry p.1
Rachel calls Puck to get her after Finn leaves her at the Christmas Tree Lot
Rachel p.o.v.
Rachel was getting worried. After looking for a tree with Finn, and trying to patch things up, he left her in the lot. He was still mad at her for kissing Noah, and wouldn't listen to any of her apologies. It was a little ridiculous in her mind, how he could forgive Quinn for sleeping with and having a baby by him, and lying about it for months, but not her for only kissing him, then coming straight to him about it.
Being apart from Finn has helped her see how unhealthy their relationship was. Everything that has happened between them since they met has been disastrous. From them kissing in the auditorium in sophomore year, to her telling him about Quinn not having his baby. It led her to believe that as much as she thought she loved him, they weren't good for each other. She didn't know how she would get on, since almost everything in her life revolved around him, but she would do it.
Back to the present situation, Rachel was starting to get cold. Going through her phone contacts, she looked for people she could call to get her. Most of the glee club was out of the question, as they never liked her. Even the few she felt tolerated her probably wouldn't come. She thought about calling Mike and Tina, but remembered they were on their weekly date. That only left one person, and he might be too mad to want to come.
Realizing that she had very little time before the cold really set it, she pressed call and hoped that he would pick up. The phone rang a couple times before the familiar "Go for Puck" was in her ears. She knew that he hadn't looked at the screen before answering, because he either said "What's up my Jewish-American Princess" or "What now Berry" if he was upset at her.
"Noah, I'm sorry for bothering you, but I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you." There was silence on his end for a bit, then some shifting, as if he was sitting up in bed. "Rach? What's going on?" She could hear the sleepiness in his voice, and realized that she had probably woken him up.
She cringed in the cold, knowing that he didn't get a lot of sleep, between working and babysitting his sister. "I'm sorry Noah. I didn't know you were asleep." Most people thought he skipped math because he was dumb, but it was because he always got up early to take his sister Norah to school so his mom, Deborah, got some sleep before for her next shift at the hospital.
Clearing his throat he replied, "Its fine Berry. Just fell asleep with Norah while reading her a story. I was waiting for Ma to get home and zonked out."
"Oh, I forgot this week was her late week. When will she get home?" Despite how cold she was becoming, she didn't want to leave Norah home alone for any amount of time.
"She should be here in like 10 minutes." There was a pause on his end and she didn't know whether to say something or wait for him. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, he coughed and spoke instead. "What's going on Rachel? You normally remember stuff like that."
She debated on whether to lie or not, but decided to tell the truth. She knew he would already be crazy upset, but if she lied, he would be furious, and really didn't want to make things worse.
"Well…"
Noah p.o.v.
Puck was steaming mas. He was on his way to go get Rachel from the tree lot on the other side of town. She had gone with Finn, to get a tree for the club, and the moron had left her there. All this after she tried to apologize, and after he officially dumped her. He had half a mind to go find the oaf and knock his lights out. He knew Finn wasn't all there, but he never thought that he would do something that could potentially end someone's life. The only thing stopping him was a certain Jewish diva that needed him more.
Letting out a string of curses, he sped up as much as he could without breaking the law. Rachel had already been outside for close to two hours, and it was a half hour ride to the lot from his house. When he was leaving, his mom had just pulled into the driveway from work. As quick as he could, he told her everything, including the kissing, and she was completely horrified. She told him that as soon as he got her to take her straight the hospital, as she had already been outside for too long.
As he left, Deborah went inside and called Carole Hudson. While they didn't talk like they used to, after the Babygate fiasco, they still spoke occasionally since they boys had been friends since they were in pre-school. She knew Carole would never approve of Finn's actions, especially against someone as sweet as Rachel. As she suspected, Carole was very upset, and as they hung up, she could hear her screaming for Finn.
She also called the Berry men, even though they were not home. They were all close since they met each other at Temple when Noah and Rachel were in diapers. She had wanted Rachel to stay over while they were gone, but Rachel was able to stay at home on the promise that she would have dinner at the Puckermans once that week, and talk to Deborah everyday. When she reached the girls' fathers', they was outraged at the actions of the dopey boy, and gave Deborah temporary custody of Rachel so the hospital could do whatever necessary to save Rachel.
All while his mother was on the phone, Puck was trying to call Rachel. He had just got off with the hospital and told them that he was bringing someone in who had been left in the cold. Now, he was listening to Rachel's voicemail for the fourth time, cursing the fact that this had to happen to her Speeding through the lot, he tore up the path to the office, hoping that he wasn't too late. Breaking the line of trees, the sight that greeted him was not a welcome one. Rachel was sitting on the stairs of the office, practically frozen solid. She was violently shaking, as she didn't have the type of clothing needed for this type of cold. Throwing his truck in park, he grabbed the coat he brought for her and raced to her side.
When he was in front of her, Puck could see that her lips were blue, and her gloveless hands and face were pale and beginning to take on a layer of frost. She barely moved when he forced the coat on her, buttoning it up to the top and pulling the hood over her head. She was as stiff as a board, the only things moving on her were her teeth, which were chattering, and her eyes. In them, he saw straight fear, and he knew she thought no one was coming to get her. He carefully picked her up bridal style, and sprinted to his still running truck, the heat up on high. He placed her in he seat, and turned all the vents towards her, not caring about how cold he would get.
Grabbing the blankets he always kept in the bed, he wrapped them around her legs and torso, making sure none of them would move easily. Buckling her in, Puck ran back around to his side, jumped in, and drove off, speeding again through the lot. As he drove, he could hear Rachel crying out in pain, making him relieved and upset. The nurse from the hospital told him that any sounds from her meant that she was warming up, and that she would be in severe pain. He floored the gas pedal, willing his truck to move faster.
Luckily, there were no cops out, and soon enough, he was in the emergency bay. Jumping out, he got Rachel out, her shivering becoming hard shakes. She could still only move her eyes, and she was crying from the pain she was experiencing. He could tell she was getting warmer, as she wasn't so pale, but the chill coming from her was not natural, and his heart raced. Dashing inside, he told the desk nurse who he was, and she called other nurses and a doctor to come down. As they came, they brought a stretcher and a saline drip, and immediately set to work getting her warm. Since he wasn't 18, nor her guardian or family, he couldn't go with them, so he sat in the waiting room and prayed that the girl he was in love with would be okay.
