Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! I'm so happy you all liked the fluffy Father's Day stuff. Speaking of fluff, this one is more on the serious side. Not that there aren't sweet moments, but it's not just filler. So, as promised...the baby incident.

Chapter 6- Scared to Death

Disclaimer- By now we all know...I do not have any affiliation with Fox or the creators of Glee. But hot damn that would be awesome.

There was something about cleaning pools that Puck actually enjoyed. When he found out that Quinn was going to keep Beth, that they were going to keep her, he had decided to really try and man up. He was not going to be like his dad, a deadbeat. So, he cleaned pools and did some yard work every now and then to earn some money. What he enjoyed most about it was that he worked outside, not stuck in some sort of cubicle working on a computer or crammed in a kitchen washing dishes. As he grabbed his net to skim the top of the water, Puck smiled because he was his own boss. How many teenagers can say that? Bobbing his head to some Kanye song blasting from his ipod, Puck used the net to catch leaves. He'd done the deep end when he felt his pocket buzz. Puck removed his headphones, pulled his cellphone out, and smiled seeing that it was Quinn.

"What up?"

"Puck?"

He immediately felt a lump in his throat. She was crying and he could hear Beth screaming in the background.

"Wh...what's wrong?"

"I don't know...she's been crying for almost an hour." Quinn sobbed into the phone and then caught her breath. "I've tried everything. I can't...she won't stop."

"Is she sick?"

"Uh..." Puck heard her put the phone down as she tended to their daughter. A second or two later Quinn got back on the line. "I don't know. I can't tell."

A dozen scenarios raced through Puck's mind, none of them good, so he tossed his net and ran for the truck. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

Puck didn't even bother telling Mr. Leeds that he was leaving, but Puck figured when the man saw that his lawn gnomes had been run over there was some sort of emergency. Racing through the vacant downtown streets, Puck missed all of the red lights and got to the Fabray's in just over five minutes. As he rushed towards the house he could hear Beth's wails coming from behind the walls.

"Quinn?" Puck flung the front door open and ran through the house. "Quinn?"

He saw her sitting on the top step with Beth cradled in her arms. "Puck." Quinn let his name roll off her tongue in relief. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She kept apologizing but he didn't know why. She hadn't done anything to Beth.

He hurried up the stairs skipping every other step and kneeled down when he reached the top. "You okay?" He placed his hand on Quinn's shoulder. She was flushed and bright red splotches covered her face.

Inhaling with stammers Quinn nodded. "I'm scared."

Puck looked down to Beth and felt his nerves swell in his stomach. He'd never seen her like that. She was screaming, literally screaming at the top of her lungs and it looked like it hurt.

"Did you call the pediatrician?"

"He wasn't there, out for lunch."

Puck furrowed his brow. "Where's your mom?"

"With...with her Bridge group." Quinn let out another cry and wiped her face. "She's not answering her phone."

"Damn it." Puck ran his hand across his head and sighed heavily. "Let me try my mom." He dialed her number hoping she would answer even though she was at work.

Quinn got up from the top step and walked around praying that would ease whatever kind of pain or trouble Beth was in. Nothing helped.

Puck got a hold of his mom and walked over to Quinn asking for a thermometer.

Quinn tried to think as she pressed a hand to her forehead. "I think there's one in the nursery. Top drawer."

Puck ran to the last bedroom on the left and rummaged through the drawer. He returned opening the case and pulling it out.

"Mom, how do I use this?" He paused for a moment and his expression changed. "You're sure that's where it goes?" Puck swallowed hard and told Quinn what they had to do.

Even though Beth squirmed and screamed the whole time, her parents were able to get a reading. As Quinn took the thermometer out and scanned the numbers, her eyes widened in fear. "One hundred and three."

"Did you hear that?" Puck spoke into the phone waiting for his mom to respond. He pushed the end call button and rammed his phone back into his pocket. "We have to go to the ER."

PQPQ

Puck didn't like driving with Beth in the car. It made him nervous and he made sure to go the speed limit, something completely out of the norm for Puck. But what made matters worse was the fact that both Beth and Quinn were crying. Quinn was crying because she couldn't to anything to help her daughter and it killed her, and Beth...they still didn't know exactly what was wrong with her.

As Puck's truck drew nearer to the emergency room, he knew he'd have to park illegally and get towed or let Quinn go in by herself. But, he wasn't going to let her do this alone. So, he parked his truck alongside the curb painted with a red stripe and ushered Quinn and Beth in to the emergency room. Good thing they lived in Lima, the ER wasn't very crowded and they were seen by a doctor just a few minutes after their arrival.

"Ma'am, can you tell me what's wrong with this baby?"

Quinn shook her head. "I don't know. She has a fever and won't stop crying."

"What other symptoms does she have?" The doctor pushed on Beth's belly and examined her jaw line.

"Uhh...she...I don't know. She's just been really fussy."

"Have you notified the parents?" The doctor didn't look up as he poked and prodded the baby with a stethoscope.

"We are the parents," Puck said in an angry roar.

The doctor gave both Puck and Quinn an apologetic look and then used a small otoscope to look into Beth's ears.

"It appears that she's got an inner ear infection." He gestured for a nurse to come over. "This baby is...how old is she?"

Puck couldn't answer, his world went silent at the word 'infection.' Quinn was still pale but coherent. "She's just over four weeks."

A nurse approached the doctor and took Beth in her arms as the doctor told her the situation. "We've got a four week old with an inner ear infection due to a probable upper respiratory infection. Transfer her to Pediatrics, and make sure she gets some Augmentin. And use some numbing drops to ease the pain."

"Wait, can we go with her?" Quinn shook her head as the nurse whisked Beth away.

"You and your...friend can go to the desk and fill out paper work, when you're done a nurse will escort you back to your daughter. Another doctor will give you information then."

Puck put his hand on Quinn's shoulder and pulled her into a hug. He ran his hand up and down her back to give her some comfort but this was all too real. Experiencing something like that, being completely powerless, it scared Puck to death.

PQPQ

They were at the hospital for three and a half hours. Once Beth's temperature got back down to normal and they eased the pain from her ear, a doctor gave Puck a prescription and sent them on their way. Before they went to the house, Puck stopped by CVS, filled the prescription and grabbed a bag of Skittles. He thought Quinn might want something, even if it was just a lame pack of candy. He offered them to her with a smile but she never took her eyes off of their daughter.

Beth slept the whole ride home and she stayed asleep for a while. They quietly entered the house and saw Ms Fabray waiting in the foyer. Quinn's mother had gotten the frantic voice mails and met the young duo at the house relieved to see that everyone was okay. She apologized for not getting the news faster and about cried when she saw how exhausted and drained Quinn looked.

"I know it's late, but I'll make you two some food." She looked at Quinn's expressionless face and sighed. "Quinny, you've got to eat something."

"I'm just going to go to sleep." Quinn sluggishly walked up the stairs and disappeared into her room.

Puck gave Ms Fabray a nod and she understood that he would check on her, make sure she was okay. Once Puck put Beth in the nursery, he went to Quinn's room and opened the door quietly.

"Quinn?"

She didn't answer him, but he walked over to the bed and laid down next to her anyway. He heard her sniff away some tears before she spoke.

"I can't do that again." A single tear rolled down her cheek and it stung her tender skin. "What if she..."

"Shhh." He turned to face the same way she was and rested his chin on top of her head. "She's fine."

"This time." She wiped the tears from under her eyes and sighed. "But what happens when it's something worse?"

He shook his head. "Don't do that." He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Don't think like that."

"I c-can't help it."

Puck sighed heavily and put his cheek on hers. "I won't let it happen."

Her voice caught for the last time. "Promise?"

"Promise."

As Quinn drifted off to sleep, Puck thought about the promise and how it was a pretty tall order. He'd do anything to protect Quinn, to protect Beth, but somethings were out of his hands. But after the chaos they had endured that day, Puck swore he'd never let anything happen to them, not if he could help it. His family would always come first, and he'd always do things in their best interest. So, as his eyelids became heavy with sleep, Puck wrapped an arm around Quinn and kissed her just below the ear.

Alright, so this was Puck and Quinn's first real obstacle as parents. A sick child (especially your first) can be down right terrifying, and I thought this would be a great way to show how the pair would react. How'd I do? Did you like it? Wold you want more chapters like this?

So, I got a lot of requests for the first date chapter. It's a little daunting (I don't want to fail miserably), but I'm going to do it...and it's next. YAY!

Question Time- How many of y'all would like to see jealous Puck? What about jealous Quinn? If you have an idea, send it my way and I'll put it into words.

I love reviews :)