Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, Tony and Maxxie.

Chapter 4:

"I told you dude, it was a bad idea to hire the gay stripper," Sam Evans said as he and Mike Chang entered Kurt and Tony's apartment later that night. They were followed by Finn who looked exhausted from the party but there was a smile plastered on his face. At least the bachelor party was not a complete failure after all.

"Well the gay stripper turned out to be hotter than the girl stripper who performed next," Mike countered as he regarded Tony with a nod of his head. Tony returned the gesture.

Kurt looked up at the trio and rolled his eyes. He knew that it was Mike's idea to hire the gay stripper as a gag gift for Finn. If he had known about it before they hired the stripper, he would definitely put a stop to it to avoid any trouble. Well, the performance turned out to be okay until Tony decided that he needed to bed the blonde stripper. Of course it didn't happen and his best friend was now sporting a huge black eye, a cut eyebrow and a cut lip. And even worst, a bruised ego.

"What are you all doing here? You're all supposed to pass out from too much booze," Tony said and Kurt was relieved that the latter was now sober. He couldn't handle another drama tonight.

"Unlike you, we know how to control our alcohol," Sam said with a smirk. Tony threw a pillow at his direction. "And bro, you look like shit right now. That guy could really throw his punches. "

"He's lucky I'm not pressing charges," Tony said as he fingered his right eye and winced.

"May I remind you that it was your fault Tony," Kurt said as he put the final band aid on Tony's cut eyebrow. Tony had refused to be taken to the hospital, said it was too much work and they would have to fill out tons of paperwork and stuffs. Kurt knew that Tony just didn't want to be questioned on how he got the bruises so he didn't argue anymore and just clean the wounds instead.

"Are you going to defend him again?" Tony asked dryly. Kurt knew better not to argue. Tony was stubborn if he wanted to be. Defending Noah Puckerman would just definitely agitate Tony further. But somehow, he felt the need to defend the guy. Noah Puckerman or Puck had good intentions and Kurt didn't blame him when he punched his best friend. What Tony did was out of line. A rich spoiled brat needed to be taught a lesson every now and then.

"I'm just saying that you have to control yourself sometimes," Kurt answered and then his mind drifted back to Puck. Kurt remembered how Puck's beautiful hazel eyes flashed in anger at Tony. Aside from anger, Kurt had also seen deep concern for the blonde and he suddenly wondered how it felt to like to have someone who would defend and protect him like that.

Tony stared at him with an eyebrow raised but didn't say anything. Kurt just noticed something passed on Tony's blue eyes.

It gave him the chills.

***!***

Puck jingled his keys as he walked toward the club's parking lot to his car. His shift at the club ended fifteen minutes ago. It was already past two in the morning and he was tired as hell. He longed for his bed so badly.

As he approached his car, he spotted a tall guy leaning against it. The two lamp post at the parking lot was enough to illuminate the place and he instantly recognized the guy. He would never forget the face of the guy who disrespected Maxxie. He was glad to see that his punches damaged the pretty boy's face. Served him right for being a world class douche bag.

"I thought strippers make a lot of money," the guy said coolly, "I was supposed to trash your car but I think it'll do more damage to me than me to it."

Puck gritted his teeth and shook his head in disbelief. Pretty boy surely took his sweet time researching about his car. Probably got the information from the Club Hyacinth's valet parking. He breathed deeply. He was tired from work and he had no time to deal with rich spoiled brats like this guy. He stared hard at the guy and said, "Look, you deserved what happened to you so quit whining like a college chick."

"Am I supposed to be offended?" The guy asked sarcastically. "Newsflash Magic Mike, that was a bachelor party with straight guys and alcohol. If your friend didn't want his ass fucked, he shouldn't have accepted the job to begin with. Are you kind of people that desperate for money?"

Puck's blood boiled at what the guy said. He balled up his fist in anger and as he was about to open his mouth to say something, two guys grabbed him from behind and pinned his arms to his side. Any protests from him was quickly stifled with a sharp blow to his left rib which made his gasped for air.

Tony walked toward him. "Nobody punches Tony Stonem and get away with it." That being said, Tony punched him hard on the face. "And this is for humiliating Kurt." Tony punched him again. Twice. Thrice. He lost count as everything went black.

***!***

Kurt cracked one eye open as his mobile phone rung loudly. He blindly reached for it from his bedside table and almost dropped the expensive gadget. His bedside clock read six am and he groaned loudly. He didn't have any class until twelve noon. He grudgingly tapped the answer button without looking at the caller.

It was Mike Chang and he sounded worried. "You might want to go to the frat house and see for yourself."

Kurt's brain was probably still asleep because he couldn't comprehend what Mike was trying to say. "What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice still clogged from sleep.

"Remember the mohawked guy who punched Tony?" Mike explained. "Do you think Tony would just let it slide?"

The chills he had felt two nights ago became a full time frost bite. Kurt dropped his phone. He somehow knew that something terrible would happen to Puck.

***!***

Kurt arrived at the frat house in less than five minutes from the apartment. He had probably violated ten traffic laws on the way but all he cared about was to go to the frat house as soon as possible after that phone call from Mike. So after splashing cold water on his face and brushing his teeth, he got in to his car and zoomed to the frat house.

He took off his seatbelt and climbed out of the car and ran inside, up the stairs to Mike's room. He knocked on the door. "It's me."

"Wow, that was fast Kurt," Mike said as soon as he opened the door. Kurt quickly stepped inside and his heart ached at the sight of a sleeping Puck lying on Mike's bed. Puck's face was swollen and there were a couple of stitches on his left eyebrow. His torso was also wrapped in a bandage, a sign that some of his ribs were broken. His right hand was also wrapped in a bandage. He sat slowly on the bed beside Puck.

"I'd followed Tony last night but I was too late to stop him. He drove too fast and I lost sight of him," Mike relayed, "Then I remembered he mentioned the name of the club where he," he gestured at Puck, "works. I thought Tony was just bluffing when he said he's going to teach him a lesson."

Kurt breathed deeply. He felt really bad for Puck. He didn't deserve to get hurt like this. He was just protecting his friend. Kurt bit his lower lip hard. Tony was a really a huge jerk sometimes.

Mike continued, "Then I found him all bloody at the parking lot. I took him to the hospital and had my personal doctor to attend to him to avoid questions. It was a good thing that he didn't have to be confined. Tony had gone fight club on him. He has three broken ribs, a fractured right wrist and four stitches on his eyebrow."

Kurt looked at Mike and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for taking care of him." He looked at Puck again. He knew he shouldn't feel guilty but it was gnawing his guts.

"I have a seven am class so I'll leave you to him," Mike said as Kurt watched him wore his jacket and disappeared behind the door.

Kurt turned his attention back to Puck. A wave of sympathy washed over him. "I'm so sorry," he muttered softly.

***!***

"Where am I?"

Kurt turned around and closed the book he was reading. His gaze landed on Puck's left bloodshot eyes. The other one was swollen shut. Puck was now awake. Relief flooded him, It was already two in the afternoon and Kurt had ditched his twelve noon class to watch over Puck.

"You're in Mike's room," Kurt answered. Puck looked confused but didn't ask further. He tried to sit up and winced at the effort as he clutched his right rib. Kurt quickly walked to the bed and helped Puck sit up.

"Kurt?" Puck said softly and Kurt's heart fluttered. Puck remembered his name. Kurt just prayed that Puck had already forgotten that humiliating night at Rachel's shower party. "I'm sorry."

Kurt was lost? What was Noah Puckerman sorry for? "What do you mean?" Kurt asked in a confused tone.

"For what happened at the shower party. I didn't mean it to happen," Puck elaborated as he tried to stand up. Kurt stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder. Puck just looked at him and remained seated.

"Water under the bridge," Kurt said and smiled briefly. "I'm sorry too. Tony can be really hot tempered and he always loses control."

"You don't have to apologize for him. Your friend is an asshole," Puck said matter of factly. Kurt didn't respond to that. No arguments there.

"Do you want to eat? I went to my favorite restaurant while you were asleep," Kurt said, changing the subject. "I bought lobster bisque. I always eat it whenever I'm sick."

"I just want to go home," Puck said simply.

"I'll take you home but you have to eat first so you can take your pain meds," Kurt said with a smile. Puck didn't return it.

"I can eat at home," Puck said flatly then he muttered a curse. "Have you seen my phone?"

Kurt nodded and pointed at the bedside table where Puck's wallet and mobile phone laid. "I've already contacted your friend Maxxie. I found his number on your speed dial, he's on number one so I just assumed."

Puck just nodded.

"He said he'll be here by four, said he still has exams but he'll be here as fast as he can," Kurt said further.

"I'll wait then,"

"Maybe you should eat first while waiting for him," Kurt said as he walked to Mike's mini pantry and took out the container of lobster bisque from the takeout bag.

"Look Kurt," Puck said from behind him, "I appreciate your concern but you don't have to do this. I know you're just doing this out of guilt. It was your friend who broke my ribs and not you so just stop being worried."

Kurt slowly turned around, his heart twisted by what Puck had said but he completely understood where Puck was coming from. "I just want to help."

"I know that you're thinking that we can be friends but we can't be," Puck said and it was like a blow to the heart. Kurt swallowed a huge lump in his throat. Yes, he was thinking along those lines. Puck had said sorry to him and Kurt had thought that it was an opening to start a friendship. What was happening?

"Wh-why?" Kurt asked and he hated the hurt in his voice. He just formally met this person five days ago but he was extremely affected by his words.

Puck was about to explain when he was interrupted by a knocking on the door.

"Noah? Noah? Are you in there?" It was probably Puck's friend, Maxxie. Kurt walked to the door and opened it. A petite blonde in turtleneck and jeans stood on the doorway. Kurt was right. He remembered the pole dancer.

"Yeah, he's in there," Kurt said, Puck's words still weighted on him but he decided to just ignore it for a while. Maxxie quickly stepped in and Kurt watched as the blonde hugged Puck carefully and kissed the top of his head. Kurt quickly looked away.

"Oh god Noah, I was so worried. I called your phone like hundred times. I called Nacho and he told me that he'll look for you and then I got the phone call from him," Maxxie gestured at Kurt. "Thank you for taking care of him." Kurt turned his gaze back to the couple.

Kurt just smiled. He suddenly felt awkward when the blonde came to him and extended a hand, "Maxxie Oliver," the blonde said as Kurt shook his hand. "And I know you're Kurt Hummel, Noah had told us about you."

Kurt was about to respond but Puck spoke first. "Max, can you take me home now?" The blonde gave Kurt a sweet smile and then turned to Puck and helped him stand up. Kurt watched as Puck put a good arm around Maxxie as the blonde supported Puck's weight. He wanted to help but immediately dismissed the idea. He didn't want to hear any cruel words from Puck again.

He quietly watched the couple as they disappeared from view. Kurt sat down on the bed and released a breath he didn't even realize he was holding.

He knew why Puck couldn't be friends with him. It was not because of Tony and what he did. It was because Puck didn't like him.

TBC.. All mistakes are mine.