Puck Really?

Third in the Fifteen Years Universe: Puck moved to the Big Apple to find himself and to find the friends he had lost touch with after high school up until the wedding he had seen coming when they were all 17. The only people who ever thought he was worth anything or ever believed in him. FABERRY ONE SHOT, with a Puck twist.

A/N: This is the third story in the Fifteen Years Universe. How is it that Puck got in good with our girls? This is where it all really started.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters

Noah Puckerman walked down a busy sidewalk in New York City. He had only been in New York twice. The first time had been for Nationals junior year. The second had been the previous summer for Quinn and Rachel's wedding. Then a day later for Santana and Brittany. Now he was back and just as lost as he had been in high school.

He hadn't heard from any of the girls since graduation and he enlisted in the army. He was out now and trying to figure out what he wanted in life. He had considered making a life time career of the service but decided he needed more. Then being home with his mother after a month of being out, he received the invitations to both weddings. He had missed these girls so much and it hit him as he read the invitations that he had to be there and see them again.

Rachel his favorite Jew had been a guiding light for him. Santana had always kicked his ass in gear and pushed him to be more. Brittany was just a sweetheart that was always kind and made him think the world wasn't all bad. Quinn made him a man. The experience they had with Beth had forced him to see the errors in who he was. It took him a while but he finally wasn't that same immature ass he had been. He was a man he could be proud of, but he just needed to figure out where to go from here.

The weddings were beautiful and he enjoyed seeing his four favorite girls all so happy together. He was surprised to find out that he and Kurt were the only once from the glee club that were invited to the weddings. Rachel told him that no matter what he would always be her favorite Jew and that it had been important to her and Quinn that he was there. Even if Quinn would never admit it.

After the weddings he spent a few days hanging with Kurt in the city then headed home to Lima. He worked with Finn at the tire shop for a while just for something to do until he could figure it out. He never said a word to the boy about Rachel getting married. The guy had a wife and kid now so if she or Kurt didn't tell him it wasn't his place to do so. The guy screwed that one up all on his own. After months of this and being totally unhappy he decided he needed a new start and decided New York would be the place to go. The only true friends he had ever had were there and he was sure he could find work.

Unfortunately he was an idiot and only got Kurt's number at the weddings and he was in Europe working on an internship with some fashion designer and he was unable to reach him. He was at a loss as to how to find the girls since they were all unlisted. He decided to go and get a job and a place to stay then try to find the girls. He found a job at a club as a bouncer and rented the apartment above the place. He wanted to take some classes to be a bartender finding he liked the atmosphere of the club and wanted to work behind the bar, not just look intimidating and bust heads as needed. He would look into that later, he'd already been in the city for over a month and hadn't yet been in contact with the girls.

Now here he was walking down the street to see if he could catch Rachel coming out of an audition Kurt had texted him that she was at. He wouldn't give out any other personal information on any of the girls without permission and he could respect that. As he approached the building he heard a scream from the alley beside it and his blood ran cold as he took off at a run. He'd know that voice anywhere.

Rachel was having a bad day. She had woke up late to her clock radio flashing. The power had gone out at some point in the night and now Quinn would be late for work. She didn't have anything in the morning to do but she hated starting her day late. It always threw off her whole day.

After getting Quinn up and rushing to help her out the door she started laundry and found the laundry room flooded an hour later. She called maintenance and they were swamped so she had to deal with water everywhere and it was a few hour before they arrived to fix the washer. By the time they were finishing up Quinn was coming in as she was about to leave for an audition she was already running behind for.

After a quick kiss she was out the door and hailing a taxi to try and make her call time. She made it with only 10 minutes to spare but she was there. She thought her audition went great and was positive she nailed it and would be getting a call back. She thought her day was finally looking up but when she went to leave she saw the paparazzi outside. She wasn't sure how they knew she was there but she really didn't want to deal with them.

Quinn was going to kill her when she found out she didn't use the car service that she and San found for her. Every driver they had was actually trained as a body guard. She had a hectic day and forgot to call them. After she won her Tony, Quinn and San were nervous wrecks anytime she went out alone if she didn't use the service and now that she had an Oscar nomination they were worse, both very over protective.

She groaned inwardly and decided to step out the side door so she could get away without being seen. She really wasn't in the mood today to try and flag down a cab while being hounded by these people. She usually enjoyed the attention but today was just not the day.

As she slipped out the door she smiled not seeing anyone at the end of the alley. Just as the door closed a man came from behind her stopping her. "Hey there pretty lady."

Rachel backed up opening her purse. "Here, I'll give you everything I have on me. Just let me pass, we can forget about this and you get your money."

The man laughed humorlessly. "Oh I'll get the money but I think we can have some fun first."

He rushed toward her and grabbed her arm. She screamed once before he put a hand over her mouth and pushed her further back into the alley. He pushed her beside a trash bin concealing them for the opening of the alley and slammed her into the wall. Her head hit the wall hard and she saw stars. Tears ran down her face and all she could think was she should have listened to Quinn and Santana. Now she would be lucky to get out of this alive.

Her head was swimming and she felt like she was going to vomit. The man grabbed and yanked open her coat and reached for her shirt then he was just gone and she slumped to the ground. She heard grunts and yelling looking over trying to regain her footing to get away.

She was startled as a body hit the trash bin next to her and what she saw stunned her. Right there next to her was Noah, fighting the man. She tried again to get up but fell back down and blacked out.

Puck had never been so scared in his whole life, and he had been in Iraq. He had heard her scream and took off down the alley. When he found her a man had her pinned to the wall pawing at her clothes and Puck saw red. He pulled the man off and punched him square in the face.

The man was built though and was up in a moment and they were fighting. He tried to subdue the son of a bitch but he was a damn bull. They scraped for a few and he threw the man into the dumpster. He spared a glance at Rachel seeing her struggle to get up. The man took that opportunity to charge him and they fell back. Puck was back up in an instant and was about the charge him again but he caught sight of the knife the guy now had in his hand.

They circled each other for a moment then the guy lunged at him again aiming for his chest. Puck deflected the attack and the man swung wild catching him in the side. He didn't even feel it as he grabbed the man's arm and swung him into the wall. His head connected with a sickening crack and he fell to the ground. Puck grabbed his phone calling 911 giving them the location asking for two ambulances and the police describing what had happened and to who so they would hurry. He quickly checked the man for a pulse then ran to Rachel after finding one.

Rachel was unconscious now and he checked her over as best he could without moving her. He almost sobbed as he felt her head and pulled back a bloody hand. He looked up as the sirens rang out and ran to the end of the alley to direct them to her. The paramedics got to work and he told the police what had happened. The paramedics loaded Rachel up as he grabbed her bag and climbed in with her.

They arrived at the hospital in no time and he stood in the emergency room and watched as they wheeled her back. He just stared for a moment than his brain functions started again and he looked through her bag for her phone. Once he found it he called Quinn.

She answered after three rings. "Hey baby, how was your audition?"

Puck almost sobbed at her voice, this was going to suck. "Q, its Puck."

There was a slight pause. "What are you doing with my wife's phone?"

Puck sighed. "I'm in New York and I didn't have your number. I'll explain it all later, you need to come to the New York Presbyterian Hospital on 6th and 51st, Rachel's hurt."

There was a gasp then he heard rustling. He heard her yell away from the phone. 'San, Rachel's hurt in the hospital we gotta go.' There was a pause then 'I don't know we have to get to her.' He heard more rustling then she spoke to him again. "What the hell happened and how are you with Rachel?"

Puck sighed again about to answer when a doctor came out calling for Rachel's family. "Hold on Q, the doctor just came out." He held up a hand and rushed to the man. "I'm with Rachel."

The doctor looked at him suspiciously. "Are you family?"

Puck ran a hand through his hair. "She's one of my best friends. I saved her. How is she?"

The doctor held up a hand. "I can only talk to family."

Puck huffed. "I have her wife on the phone." He held the phone out to the doctor.

The doctor shook his head. "I can't release information over the phone. Have me paged when her family gets here." He said as he walked away.

Puck pulled the phone back to him. "FUCK!" Then he spoke to Quinn again. "He won't tell me anything and won't talk to you unless you're here. You gotta hurry, I don't know how bad she's hurt but she was unconscious when they brought her in with a gash on the back of her head. Her pupils were equal and responsive but that's all I know."

Quinn gasped again on a sob. "We're almost there." and the phone disconnected.

He stumbled over to the chairs and slumped into one. He was feeling slightly dizzy. About fifteen minutes later Quinn, Santana and Brittany rushed into the waiting room. Quinn ran to the desk Brittany holding on to her and Santana made a beeline for him.

San stopped in front of him. "What the fuck happened?"

Puck's head lolled back and he looked up at her. "I went to see her. Kurt told me she had an audition so I was trying to catch her. I heard her scream and ran into the alley next to the theater. Some guy had her pinned to the wall by a dumpster. I pulled him off her and beat the shit out of him. The police have him but her head is hurt and she was unconscious." He couldn't keep his eyes open so he just closed them as he finished talking.

San grabbed him in a hug. "Thank god you were there. Where the hell was her security?" As she pulled back she saw blood on her arm and left hand. "What the…?" She grabbed his shirt pulling it up and gasped at the deep cut in his side and the blood pouring out of him. "Oh god! QUINN! HE NEEDS A FUCKING DOCTOR. HE'S BLEEDING BADLY."

Quinn yelled at the nurse at the desk to get a doctor and ran to them. Santana pulled off her sweatshirt and pressed it to his wound while she relayed what he had said. Puck was barely conscious and the girls were freaking out.

A doctor, an orderly, and two nurses came running over with a gurney and lifted him onto it. Santana told them she was his sister and they promised to come out as soon as they had word. As they pushed him through the doors another doctor came out and called for Rachel's family.

They rushed to him and Quinn sobbed out. "How is my wife?"

The doctor led them to the chairs and sat with them. "She is still unconscious and has a head injury. She doesn't appear to have any other injuries. We have run an MRI and other test to see the extent of the injury. We also just finished with the stitches to the gash on her head but there was not a lot of blood loss. We'll know more when we get the results back and she wakes up. I can take only one of you back to be with her now."

Quinn hugged the other two. "As soon as I know more I will let you know. Have them call back when you know what's going on with Puck."

The girls nodded and she followed the doctor to Rachel. When she entered the room she gasped at the sight before her. Rachel looked so tiny in the bed and was pale as a ghost. Quinn rushed to her side and gently grabbed her hand. "Come on baby. I need you to wake up. You have to be ok, I can't breathe without you."

She lay her head on Rachel's chest and cried. After she calmed a bit she sat next to her, never letting go of Rachel's hand. She lay her head next to their joined hands and prayed. She had no idea how long she lay there when the doctor came in.

"Mrs. Berry?"

Quinn looked up and smiles slightly. "Berry is her stage name. Our name is Fabray."

With a smile and a nod he continued. "Ok Mrs. Fabray. Your wife's tests came back and she does have a minor concussion, but otherwise her tests look good. She should wake soon, and I want to keep her at least overnight for observation. But I am very optimistic that she will be just fine."

Quinn sobbed out her relief and kissed Rachel's hand. "Can you please go out and tell our friends in the waiting room that she is ok and what is wrong with her. Tell them I will come out to see them when I can."

The doctor nodded and left the room. Quinn lay her head down next to their hands again and thanked god that it wasn't any worse and prayed for her to wake soon. A nurse came in shortly after and told her that Puck was going to be ok. They had to give him a transfusion and he had a lot of stitches but he should be fine. The nurse told her that Britt and San were in his room with him and the room number. She sighed in relief and thanked the nurse before laying her head back down.

A little while later Quinn startled when she felt the hand in hers move. She lifted her head up swiftly and stood leaning over her wife. "Rachel? Baby, wake up. It's time to come back to me now. Come on honey open your eyes."

Rachel groaned and turned her head toward Quinn's voice, but didn't open her eyes yet. "Noah, I saw Noah."

Quinn almost sobbed again in relief. "You did see him. He saved you baby."

Rachel opened her eyes then closed them again on a moan. "Oh god that hurts. It's too bright."

Quinn hurried over and dimmed the light, pressed the call button then leaned back over Rachel. "Ok baby, I turned the lights down. You have a concussion and you're going to have headache for a while."

Rachel opened one eye then the other and pulled Quinn down to her in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."

She kept repeating it over and over crying. Quinn kissed her softly. "No baby, there's nothing to apologize for."

Rachel shook her head slightly groaning at the pain. "It was my fault. I didn't call the service for a car. I went out the side door to avoid the paparazzi. I'm so sorry."

Quinn shook her head and kissed her again. "Ok, just stop now. You're ok and we will talk about that later. All that matters to me is that you're ok. God baby don't you ever scare me like that again."

Rachel gave a sad smile and closed her eyes. "I'll do my best."

A moment later a nurse came in. "It's good to see you awake Mrs. Berry." She checked her vitals then asked her some questions. "Ok, everything looks good. I'll page the doctor and I know they are preparing your room so you should be moved soon."

She left and the doctor came in a little bit later. He examined her and ordered some pain meds for her head. They moved her a short time later and Rachel was settled in a private room.

Quinn kissed her lightly. "Ok baby, you can't have more than two more visitors tonight and if I don't let San and Britt in here soon I think San's head will explode and Britt will lose it. I'm going to grab some coffee and let them visit with you for a few then I will be back."

Rachel smiled and kissed her again. "Ok, tell San not to yell too loud when she comes in."

Quinn chuckled then left the room. She made her way down the hall. San was able to have them put on the same floor so she knocked and entered Puck's room. He looked up at her and smiled sadly. "Hi Q, how is she?"

Quinn rushed to his good side and hugged him gently. The police had talked to Rachel and she knew that if it wasn't for him, Rachel would have been hurt so much worse than she was. "She's going to be fine. She has a massive headache. The doc says it's a mild concussion, but she's ok. Thank you so much Puck. I don't know what I would have done…"

She trailed off on a sob. Puck rubbed her back lightly, repeating. "She's ok, she's ok."

Quinn finally calmed and looked to San and Britt. "She's in 309 and waiting for you. You can only stay about 30 minutes then they want her to rest."

San hugged her. "Ok, we're staying with Puck tonight so I will head home and get a bag for us then go to yours and get some things for you and Tiny."

Quinn nodded into her neck then San and Britt hurried out of the room needing to see that she was ok for themselves.

Santana opened the door and almost burst into tears seeing her in that bed, Brittany did. San rushed over and gently got into bed with her and held her close. "If you ever scare me like that again Tiny I swear to god…"

Rachel sighed into her and hugged her back. "I'm sorry. I promise I will never be that stupid again."

Brittany came over and kissed her forehead. "Why didn't you call the service Rae?"

Rachel explained her day and how she had forgotten to call then what happened after the audition. "I don't know what I was thinking. I had such a bad day I just didn't want to deal with them tonight. I'm so sorry San."

Santana shushed her. "Ok, it's over now. Just don't do that again. I think I lost 10 years off my life and I think Quinn almost died in that moment we got the call. Britt was frantic with worry."

Rachel sniffled and hugged her tighter. "I know, and I'm so sorry. I promise to do better."

Santana sighed. "I know you hate that you need them sweetie but you are becoming too famous and you need protection. Not to mention how damn tiny you are. Just call next time or schedule them beforehand so you don't forget."

Rachel kissed her cheek. "I promise I will."

Santana kissed her temple. "Ok, enough talking. Just rest until Q lets us know our time is up and we will come back as soon as they allow us to."

Rachel sighed and fell asleep with her head on San's chest while Brittany rubbed her back. After talking to Puck for a bit Quinn went back to Rachel finding her and Santana a sleep together in the bed and Brittany watching like a sentry.

Quinn smiled. "How long have they been a sleep?" She whispered.

Britt smile slightly. "Since San got upset with her about the security. They fell asleep right after."

Quinn sat in the seat next to the bed. "Let's let them sleep for a bit. The nurse will be in here shortly to wake Rach for her memory test. We'll wake San then too."

Brittany nodded and just turned back to watching them. She stood unmoving until the nurse came into do her check. The nurse woke Rachel and asked her questions gave another dose of meds then left the room. San didn't wake.

Britt watched as Rachel fell back to sleep. "Q?"

Quinn stood up next to her. "What honey?"

Britt turned to her. "Did that man hurt Rachel?"

Quinn looked confused for a second then the light went off. "Oh no honey. Puck didn't let him."

Brittney nodded wiping a stray tear. "Good. I was afraid to ask."

Quinn put an arm around her. "We wouldn't have kept that from you sweetie. We know you love her too."

"I know but it's like San is in love with me. I know she is but she's a little in love with Rach too. That's ok, I know they are like family but it would so kill San if that happened to her. I know it would kill you more and I don't think I could pick up all those pieces."

Quinn wiped her own eyes. "I know honey but you don't have to so don't worry about that anymore."

Britt looked into her eyes. "Q?"

"Yes honey?"

"I don't think I could pick up my own pieces either."

Quinn pulled her into her arms, "Oh sweetie I know," and they cried together for a moment before Quinn pulled back and kissed her nose. "Let's wake San and let her go to the apartments."

Britt shook her head. "I think we should leave them. I'll go get our stuff and be back in a bit. San won't sleep later after we leave her so let her sleep now."

Quinn nodded and let her go telling her to be careful. Her own heart breaking over what almost happened to her love. She sat back in her seat just watching them sleep waiting for Britt to get back. After she returned the nurse was back to wake Rachel again and they woke San to go stay with Puck. After they left Quinn crawled in bed with Rachel and fell asleep just holding her and thanking god she was ok.

The night was tedious for Rachel. She hated being awoken every hour and just wanted to rest. Quinn had to calm her quite a few times. The next morning Puck was released before Rachel, they still hadn't told her he had been hurt. When he came in to see them before leaving to go home Rachel found out about his injury she insisted he go home with them to recover and he agreed wanting to be close.

They all went home and stayed at Rachel and Quinn's for a week before any of them returned to their own homes. Rachel was more diligent about her security after what happened and felt very guilty about Puck being hurt because she hadn't been as cautious before.

Puck became a permanent fixture in all their lives and was often around just hanging out. He was home with them and was happy with his decision to move and they loved him being there. He found his love of the club life in the place he worked at and started classes for bartending. A few months later Rachel won her Oscar and the girls got a larger place and decided to all live together. This finished calming Santana about the incident and made Brittney and Quinn happy. Rachel was overjoyed to all be living together again.

She was never again lax on her security and often let the girls overdo it with body guards but she never complained. She was just happy to be so loved.