A/N: Everyone's reviews and support have been amazing. Thanks for making this such a great experience so far! I hope you like this next installment and the introduction of some more Glee characters, including some minor characters that I'm pretty sure are from Glee canon but might be from other fanfic I have read over the last month. I apologize to any authors if I am unknowingly borrowing their OC and thank them for lending them out. It is a bit of a filler chapter, but the story will be moving along again very soon.
Disclaimer: See previous.
Puck pulled his bike up outside a well kept home not too far from where Rachel grew up. He helped her off the back and placed both their helmets on the back. Rachel bit her bottom lip and looked up at him from under her lashes.
"Are you sure this is going to be okay? I really don't want to cause any trouble…" Rachel started.
Puck cut her off with a gentle kiss. "Babe, believe me, you are no trouble, at least no trouble I'm not willing to be a part of. Seriously, my mom can just shut up. Now let's go back."
She smiled up at his bravado and took the hand he was holding out to her, leading them around the side of the house and through a gate into a beautifully landscaped backyard. Out of nowhere a small blur launched itself at Puck, hugging him around the waist and burying her face in his chest. Rachel looked at the small woman in confusion but Puck just grinned at her and gently disentangled himself.
"Thank you Puck. I know you talked to Artie and got Mike off and just, thank you. I know Mike only got in trouble because of me. I'm so sorry," the girl rambled.
"It's okay Tina, you know I would never let anything happen to my boys if I could stop it. And that guy deserved everything Mike gave him and more. You deserve that," he told her gently. "Tina, I want you to meet Rachel. Rachel, this is Tina Chang. Tina can you take Rachel for a bit? Introduce her to the others, yeah? I need to go check in with my mom."
"Of course Puck! Come with me Rachel, I know some people who are dying to meet you!" Tina told the other girl with a predatory look on her face.
"You'll be okay babe, Tina isn't as scary as she seems," Puck reassured Rachel before kissing her lightly on the temple and wandering off towards the grill.
Tina grabbed Rachel's hand and pulled her over towards a group of women on some loungers by the pool. Rachel recognized Quinn in the group but none of the others. Quinn was sipping on a lemonade and listening to the two girls drinking beers opposite her playfully argue about something. Tina pulled Rachel down to sit next to her on the chaise on Quinn's other side.
"Please tell me you are not still arguing with Britt about bridesmaid dresses Santana. I thought we settled this a few weeks ago!" Tina groaned.
"I saw the cutest dress in the window at LaBelle's downtown today and I really think we should consider it!" the exotic, tanned girl whined. "Who's your friend?" she asked Tina, taking a pull on her beer.
"I know the dress you are talking about San and it would make us all look like whores. Also, our dresses have been ordered, deal with it. This is Rachel, she's Puck's flavor of the week," Quinn answered in a bored tone.
"Quinn!" Tina exclaimed, ignoring Santana's amused smirk and Brittany's confused glance. "I'd blame your attitude on pregnancy hormones if you hadn't been this much of a bitch for the last 27 years as well! Rachel, I see you've already met Quinn. This is Santana and this is Brittany. Santana is worse than Quinn so ignore most of what she says. Brittany is my future sister-in-law." Tina explained to an amused Rachel.
"Hi Rachel!" the blonde identified as Brittany gushed. "It's great to meet you! Artie said you were attractive. Are you sleeping with Puck?"
Santana and Quinn rolled their eyes at Britt's questioning. Sometimes their friend forgot to filter her thoughts before saying them aloud.
Rachel just smiled and returned Brittany's effusive greeting, choosing to ignore her question about Puck by focusing on Artie. "He said I was attractive?" she asked.
"Yeah, when we were down at the station picking up Mike after the misunderstanding this afternoon he mentioned that you were there with Puck," Brittany told her matter-of-factly. "Mike! Come meet Rachel!"
Rachel looked over her shoulder to see Puck standing with Finn and two other men. The thin Asian waived at them before grabbing his beer and ambling over. Puck winked at Rachel and smiled. The larger African-American made a whipping motion behind the Asian's back that Puck and Finn both laughed at before motioning that they should follow their friend.
Mike settled on the lounger between Brittany's legs, kicking at Santana until she got up in a huff and sat down on the concrete with her legs dangling in the pool. Matt smacked the back of Mike's head on his way past to sit by his girlfriend poolside. Finn settled behind Quinn and encouraged her to lie back against his chest while he rested one of his hands over her swollen stomach. Puck settled on the remaining lounger between Rachel and Tina, nudging the small Asian with his shoulder before wrapping his arm loosely around Rachel's waist.
"Do we even want to know what is being discussed over here?" he asked with a wry smile.
"I just wanted Mike to meet Rachel! I didn't need you to come over too asshole!" Brittany told him petulantly, sticking her tongue out at him and pouting from her position behind Mike.
Tina ignored their antics and introduced Rachel to Mike and Matt before going to retrieve some beers for herself and Rachel. Rachel curled into Puck's side, laughing at the group and observing their interactions.
Puck seemed to be the ringleader of the guys while Quinn was obviously the leader of the girls. Their caustic barbs to one another seemed to fly over the heads of Finn and Brittany and amused Mike, Matt, Santana and Tina. Santana obviously liked attention and seemed to be closest with Brittany while the clueless blonde appeared to like everyone equally. Mike and Matt were both very funny but much more subdued than Finn and Puck. Big John telling the assembled group to shut up interrupted Rachel's observations.
"Ellieanne and I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. You all are our family and it is always a blessing to have you around. In a few weeks many of our brothers from the other Central chapters will be coming for the annual meeting. For some of you this just means more of a good time, for others it might be a lot of extra work and effort, so I want to thank you for that in advance. I hope you have a great time tonight and remember not to drink and drive… too much." Big John joked as Ellie lightly smacked the back of his head and glared at Puck in particular.
Jimmy announced that the grill was open and people started lining up to get food. "Do you want something babe?" Puck asked Rachel as Finn took Quinn's large and detailed order.
"Nope, just you," she sighed against him. Puck just grinned and cracked open another beer.
"What the hell happened now?" Mike groaned drawing the attention of the rest of the group. He responded to their questioning glances by pointing across the pool to where Chief Hummel was approaching a wary looking Big John, Caleb and Will.
"Shit, I'll be right back Rach, c'mon guys we'd better go see what's up," Puck told the guys.
"Sorry to interrupt your night guys, but I've got a problem," Hummel said to the small crowd.
"Anything for one of LPD's finest," Jimmy responded sarcastically before being quelled by looks from many of the other guys.
"There's been a fire. Up at your cabin," Hummel continued before being cut off by questions from every direction. "One at a time!" he roared over the din.
"Now, from what I can tell it is basically a total loss. I really am sorry. By the time it was reported I think it had been raging for a while. The fire department is up there now and we have the arson inspector from County on his way in as well. The M.E. is on his way up too," Hummel said.
"Wait, why is the M.E. going? It was a fire and obviously we're all here," Puck asked.
"Yeah, that's the other thing. We found a body. It's charred pretty badly, but there was a truck parked in the woods a little further down, I've got a pretty good idea who it might be…" the chief trailed off.
"Well?" Big John prodded the other man.
"The Chevy belongs to Alex Langenthol," he told them.
"Shit, are you sure?" Finn asked as the other men looked at each other, connections forming in their minds.
"We won't know until the body had been positively ID'd," Hummel continued, "but based on the tire marks at the cabin and footprints we're pretty sure. One of my deputies is on his way to Langenthol's as we speak."
"Well it sounds like some of us should get up to the cabin," Big John started, glancing pointedly at Puck and Finn. "We'll end things here early. Thanks for letting us know Chief Hummel."
The two men nodded at each other and the Chief let himself out the side gate.
"Alright, what the hell is going on here? Obviously Karofsky has gotten in bed with Casey since Casey is the only one stupid enough to go after us directly and Alex is one of Dave's boys. Losing Langenthol probably wasn't in the cards, but why are they working together in the first place? Karofsky is a shark and Casey is a chump. What does he have to gain with that alliance other than drugs in Lima and us pissed off?" Big John pondered.
"Well for now someone needs to go and pay Karofsky a visit and someone else needs to head up to the cabin. Whadaya want us to do boss?" Caleb asked their leader.
"Puck, you and Finn head over to Dave's and have a little chat. I'll go up to the fire with Will, Caleb and Jimmy. Chang go home and get some rest you look like shit, man. Mike take the Prospect and head back to the club house, make sure nothing is up over there," he ordered.
"I really don't think Puck and Finn…" Will started to protest before being abruptly cut off by John.
"I've made my decision, the boys can handle themselves," Big John told the younger man. "Get some answers but don't be stupid," he instructed the boys before turning back towards the party.
Tina and Rachel chatted quietly but both were keeping an eye on the men by the barbeque. They jumped a little when they heard the outburst from the guys; obviously Chief Hummel was not delivering good news.
"Watching them isn't going to make it easier," Quinn told Rachel. "He'll tell you what he wants you to know, it isn't your place to question or intrude. That isn't how this works," she explained in a haughty tone.
"Shut up Quinn, she is allowed to be curious," Tina responded.
"Actually she isn't Tina, and you know that. Puck hasn't given us any indication that he trusts her or wants her in his business. Don't be naïve, it isn't a good look on you," she spat before turning back to Santana and Brittany.
"Don't listen to her, Puck will explain whatever is going on to you I'm sure," the Asian reassured the other brunette.
"It's okay Tina, really. We only met today, some secrets are to be expected," Rachel responded, brushing off Quinn's other comments.
"How is my grandbaby doing today?" a voice asked from behind Tina and Rachel. It's owner, a middle-aged woman came around their chair to stand behind Quinn.
"Hey Carole, the baby is good. Kinda uncomfortable but good. We have an OBGYN appointment tomorrow, Finn is excited to find out the sex as I'm sure he's told you," she smiled up at Carole.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me mom, Quinn?" the woman joked. "And yes, my son is quite excited about tomorrow. Who is your friend?" she asked, noticing Rachel for the first time.
"Carole, this is Rachel. Rachel, this is Finn's mom Carole. She is one of Ellie's best friends and owns a nightclub here in town," Brittany interjected.
"Nice to meet you Rachel, are you a friend of Tina's?" Carole asked.
"No, actually we just met. I came here with Puck," Rachel explained.
"Oh, I see," the older woman sputtered as Quinn barked out a laugh.
Rachel turned a deep shade of crimson as she realized what her statement probably implied to someone that knew Puck as well as Carole obviously did. "I'm not… I don't mean… we are not…" Rachel started.
"They just met today," Tina said with a reassuring hand on a flustered Rachel's arm. "Rachel is here from New York. Her dads died and she's here for the funeral, I assume. Get this Carole, she is on Broadway!" At Rachel's surprised look Tina shrugged her shoulders. "What do you expect? You met Artie, he's a cop and observant… and he recognized your face from a picture he saw at a function he went to at your dads'. I may be from Lima but I know how to use Google, 'Rachel Berry' brings back a lot of results."
Carole's eyes widened at the mention of Broadway. "Do you sing? I love New York. I'm really sorry about your fathers, dear. If you're going to be in town for a while you should consider stopping by the club for a show or two. We'd love to have you," the motherly woman said to Rachel.
"It would be nice to keep my voice in shape while I'm here Carole. Thank you for the invitation, I will definitely consider it!" she responded enthusiastically.
Moments later the boys were making their way back over with grim expressions and tense postures.
"We're going to have to cut this short ladies. Some club business has come up. Santana can you get a ride home from Quinn? Matt needs to head back to the shop. Rachel you should go with Tina, she can take you home and lend you some stuff and drop you off to get your car at the garage tomorrow. Let's go guys," Puck instructed the group.
Everyone stood and began to gather their things. Rachel looked at Puck and started to speak but stopped herself when she noticed the set of his jaw and the stormy look in his eyes. He looked over at her and flashed a smile that didn't cover his real feelings.
"I'm sorry about this baby, but you'll be fine with Tina, trust me," he reassured her with a quick hug and a chaste kiss on her lips.
Behind them Quinn was standing with her hands on her hips glaring at her husband. "What do you mean you don't know what time you'll be getting home? You are not going out to do anything stupid are you? We've talked about this Finn!" she bit out.
"Quinn you know I have to do things sometimes that I can't tell you about. I promise I'll be home later. Have San stay and watch a movie or something, you'll be fine!" he told her before turning back to Puck. "Let's do this man."
Quinn grabbed Santana's wrist and stormed off towards her car. Puck filed this spat away to talk to Finn about later.
"What the fuck is going on?!?" Quinn cried when Finn stumbled into their bedroom several hours later. His left eye was already turning black and blue and there was blood drying below his nose and the corner of his lips. She hurried out of bed and hauled him into the en-suite.
He sat down heavily on the closed toilet seat while his wife wet a towel and tilted his face up so she could get a better look.
"I knew you shouldn't have left with Puck," she admonished, gently wiping the blood from his visage.
"You don't know anything Quinn! What the hell is wrong with you lately? Stop busting my balls! I had important shit to do; it wasn't like I was at a strip club. Fuck woman!" he said, brushing her hand away and standing up.
Ignoring the shocked look on her face he grabbed the cloth from her and started the remove the blood himself using the mirror. "What?" he asked her reflection. "What do you want to yell at me about now?"
"I think you should tell Big John that you want to cut back on club stuff for a while," Quinn told him.
"Why would I do that?" Finn asked.
"For fucks' sake Finn! We're having a baby! I need you here, not out risking your life for the club! How do you not see this? How have you not volunteered for this already? Your FAMILY needs you" she yelled, stalking back into their bedroom.
"I get paid by the club Quinn! We make money when I do things for the club! You think my job at the shop and your part-time income from the hospital is going to buy diapers for this baby while paying our mortgage? I do what I do with my family and FOR my family, or have you forgotten?" he yelled back.
She huffed and crossed her arms against her chest, leveling her gaze at him and narrowing her eyes. "No, I have not forgotten anything they have done for you," she started.
"US," Finn interrupted.
"Fine, us," she agreed with an eye roll. "But that doesn't change the fact that your obligations have changed. When you leave I don't know what is going to happen, if you are going to end up in the hospital or in jail or worse dead. I'm not stupid, but sometimes I think you are. What am I supposed to do if one of those things happens?"
"I'm not going to die baby," he humored her. "Karofsky's guys got the jump on us tonight but it wasn't a big deal. We got out just fine and we saw Casey there so we have proof for Big John now. It wasn't a big deal, I promise."
"This time Finn! It wasn't a big deal THIS time, but what about the last time or ones still to come? Huh? What are you going to do when you are watching the baby and Big John tells you to go back Puck somewhere? Are you just going to hope the kid can fend for himself? You going to call me home from work to take care of him? Take him to the clubhouse! That's a brilliant idea! Caleb and Jimmy and watch him and teach him drinking games! Of course!" Quinn ranted.
"Wait! Back up! 'Him'? The baby is a boy?" Finn asked, staring reverently at her baby bump.
"Yeah, I was going to tell you at dinner tonight before our appointment tomorrow. One of the techs at work wanted to practice ultrasounds and I volunteered. Surprise, it's a boy. A boy that I am not going to raise myself! The MC is great and I know they are your brothers, but if something happens to you they are not the ones stuck being single parents, I AM!"
Finn exhaled loudly, looking down at his feet. "I don't know what I can tell you to make this better," he admitted.
"I need you to think about what you are doing and make a decision," she told him coolly. "I love you and your son and I need you. The club can wait," she said before rolling over on to her side, her back to Finn.
He took his shirt and pants off, getting into bed beside her but being careful not to touch her in case he set her off again. "I can make this work," he whispered before flicking off the bedside lamp.
'I'm not sure you can,' Quinn thought in the dark, brushing away silent tears. 'You and Puck both lost your fathers to the club. I'm just not sure you can.'
Puck woke up to noises in his kitchen. Lifting his sheets he noted that his boxers were still on. 'Obviously I didn't sleep with anyone last night, who the fuck is here at… 8:30am?' he wondered. Suddenly the events of the previous night returned to him. 'Right, Rachel!' After his and Finn's non-confrontation with Karofsky he had been angry and restless. Driving by Tina's Puck noticed lights still on and stopped by hoping Rachel was still awake, which she was, and he managed to talk her into coming home with him.
He gingerly got out of bed and looked around his room for pajama pants before deciding that this was his house and boxers would be fine and wandered towards the smell of coffee.
"Morning babe," he rumbled, his voice sending shivers down Rachel's spine as he hugged her from behind while she stood at the counter spooning sugar into a mug.
"Hey you," she grinned up at him. "Sleep well?" she asked, turning in his arms before gasping at the sight in front of her. "What happened?"
"I told you, things didn't go quite as we wanted last night. It isn't a big deal. Finn looks worse; guy needs to learn how to protect the face. It's like I've taught him nothing!" Puck joked, trying to deflect the remaining questions in her eyes and distract her from his bruised torso.
"Yeah, well Quinn can worry about Finn, I'm concerned about you. Sit down, let me get you some ice," Rachel ordered, pointing Puck towards a stool at the small breakfast bar and walking towards the freezer.
"I'm fine, really. A little sore, but it looks worse than it is. Seriously baby, just sit down and have some coffee," he cajoled.
"Don't cry to me later if it swells or whatever," Rachel huffed, turning from the refrigerator and moving to pour him a cup as well. "How do you take it?" she asked.
"Black, two sugars," he replied, taking in her attire for the first time.
She was wearing one of his old t-shirts from Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire several years ago. It was old and faded and fell to mid-thigh. When she turned though he swore he could see some panty.
"Stop checking me out and drink your coffee," she blushed at his obvious leer.
They continued to banter for a few minutes until both their heads turned at the sound of a key in the front door lock.
"Noah!" Ellianne's voice rang out. "I've got some groceries for you, please tell me you are actually out of bed," she yelled, carrying a paper bag into the kitchen before stopping short at the sight of her son and Rachel, barely clothed and at the kitchen counter. "Oh, you're here," she said with a look of thinly veiled disgust at Rachel.
Rachel hopped off the stool and kissed Puck on the cheek before setting her empty mug in the sink. "I think I'll go take a shower, you don't mind if I borrow a towel do you Puck? Good morning to you as well Ellianne," she trilled as she breezed out of the room and into the hallway.
"Sure babe, there's extra in the hall closet," he called after her, glaring at his mother.
Ellie crossed the kitchen and set the bag on the counter, silently putting things away while Puck looked on, a thunderous look on his face. When he heard the shower start up in the other room Puck decided to unleash his annoyance.
"What the fuck ma?" he roared. When she opened her mouth to respond he quickly started again. "First of all this is my house, a little notice would be nice. Second she is my company, and whether we did anything or not show her a little respect. I know you're a bitch, but calm the fuck down. She has done nothing to you so leave her the hell alone. And honestly? I don't want some lecture from you on my life. I'm 28, move on."
"Fine." Ellie responded.
"That's all you have to say? Fine?" Puck asked.
She sighed and turned to face him. "Yes, that is all I have to say. You're right, you are an adult, I don't have the right to lecture you on your choices anymore and I don't know Rachel at all so I'll lay off. Are you happy?"
"I'd be happier if you believed any of that," Puck replied with a snort.
"What do you want from me Noah? I'm your mother and it is my prerogative to worry about you and forgive me if I seem overbearing but your choices and taste in women since Janelle, hell since BEFORE Janelle, have been total shit," she cried.
"Whatever ma. Just let it go, alright? I like this girl and that hasn't happened for a long time. There is something about her. And no, I'm not just thinking with my dick. We have not slept together. I'm not even sure she's sticking around, so just stop," he told her in a resigned tone.
"Fine," she responded and fixed herself a cup of coffee as they heard the shower turn off.
"Be nice," Puck warned his mother who looked at him innocently over the rim of her coffee cup. "Right," he scoffed. "Listen I'm gonna to hop in the shower too, I'll be out in a moment."
He met Rachel as she was coming into the kitchen in her clothing from yesterday. "I'm gonna wash up, I'll be out in a moment and then I can take you to pick up your car, yeah?" he asked, taking her in his arms and kissing her forehead.
"Sure babe, sounds good. I'll just hang out with your mom until you're ready," she told him with a smile.
"Oh God, we're all going to die," he joked as she swatted at his retreating figure.
Rachel raised a single eyebrow in Ellie's direction before heading to look in the fridge for actual breakfast fare.
"Apparently I owe you an apology," Ellie started.
"Well don't say anything you don't actually mean. I'm a big girl, I can handle the mean girls on the playground just fine," Rachel told her from her spot crouched behind the open door.
"Retract the claws kitten," the older woman told her. "Fine, no apologies. Just try to see this from my point of view. Puck is Puck. He likes women and bikes and alcohol and his boys. You are Rachel Berry. Don't look so surprised honey, I know who you are. Anyway, you don't fit into his life and he doesn't fit into yours. In this family, you need trust and you need honestly and you two probably won't ever have that. You are way too different. I'm perfectly content to stand back and let this unravel on its own," Ellie told a gob-smacked Rachel. "Let Puck know I'll see him at work and don't worry, I'll see myself out."
When Puck emerged from the shower a few minutes later Rachel was standing at the sink staring absently out the window.
"What's the matter, babe," he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Nothing, nothing at all. Just thinking about my plans for the day. I need to see my fathers' lawyer and take care of some things before the funeral tomorrow." She explained.
"I see. Where's my mom? You didn't kill her, did you?" he joked.
Rachel didn't smile at his attempt at humor, just continued staring ahead.
Burt Hummel groaned as he slid into the booth across from his son and signaled to the waitress to bring him a coffee.
"You look tired, Dad. The bags under your eyes are quite unsightly," Kurt told the older man while perusing the menu.
"Thanks son, good to see you this morning too," Burt replied before yawning and rubbing at his eyes.
Kurt took a good look at his father and sniffed the air. "Why do you smell like campfire? Were you up at The Reaper's cabin? Is it true they found a body?" he asked.
"Kurt I came here to eat with my son, not to play twenty questions and give you and Mercedes something to gossip about while you do each other's hair or whatever," Burt admonished his son, looking back down at the menu. "Thanks sweetheart," he said as a waitress filled his mug.
"You boys know what you want?" the woman asked.
The men placed their orders quickly and Kurt launched into a detailed explanation of the new costumes he was designing for a show at the nightclub where he worked. Burt zoned out and nodded whenever he saw an expectant look on his son's face.
"…so Carole told Mercedes that maybe she should consider doing something a little different because she thinks that people around here would be more receptive to a Carrie Underwood-vibe than to Mercedes' Jennifer Hudson-vibe and Mercedes threw a total diva fit. Emma tried to calm everyone down but Carole sneezed by her and she ran off the stage to disinfect herself. Anyway, I'm dying to be able to do a country-themed show but as Mercedes' BFF I need to take her side on this. Can I help you?" Kurt broke off, snapping Burt out of his stupor.
Chief Hummel turned in his seat to see a small, well dressed Indian man standing with a tall, imposing blond woman. Both were wearing dark suits and shades, holding out wallets indicating their status as agents with the FBI.
"Chief Hummel, I assume?" the woman asked. At his hesitant nod she continued, "I'm Agent Sylvester and this is my partner Agent Figgens. I'm going to have to ask you to dismiss your flamboyantly gay son because we," she started, gesturing between Burt and herself, "need to have a little chat."
