Set in the Cupcake 'verse ie Chapter 4.

The first thing Puck noticed was that she was sniffling.

It wasn't the loud, obnoxious sniffles that Finn had given the last time the guy had gotten a cold. That had sounded like a freight train sounding its horn. Berry's was more delicate and quiet, as if she was trying to hide the noise from listening ears. While at first it had been kind of funny because Kurt had actually heard said sniffling and had gotten this incredibly bitchy look on his face, when Hummel opened his mouth Puck found himself frowning.

'Rachel, I sincerely hope that you aren't infecting us with your…disease.' There was no missing the malice in the little bitch's tone and Puck saw Rachel's eyes dim and mouth tighten at the edge.

'Dude, just sit on the other side of the room,' Mike's exasperated tone made Rachel shoot him a grateful look. She must have noticed Puck's stare because she met his gaze briefly before turning away, making him frown.

Halfway through Glee was when Puck thought shit really started.

'Mr Schue,' Rachel halted during their run-through of Don't Stop Believin', her voice sounding distinctly stuffy. Finn seemed concerned, his hand hovering uncertainly behind Rachel. 'I'm sorry but I sincerely request that I be able to leave early. If I continue any further I risk permanent damage to my vocal cords and that would be extremely detrimental to our chances at Regionals.'

Mr Schue, the poor bastard, blinked. 'Err…sure Rachel.'

'I would like to request that Matt be dismissed as well so that he would be able to provide me with transportation home. I arrived with him to school this morning-'

'I'll take Berry home,' Puck interrupted once he heard about Matt. Rachel looked astonished while Matt simply gave him one of those Buddha looks his football teammate had perfected, whereby he slanted his head to the side and seemed to contemplate the universe.

Mr Schue actually looked worried to be leaving Rachel with him. 'Is that alright with you Rachel?'

'Chillax Mr Schue. Berry's totally on board the Puckerman express. Let's skedaddle Crazy before you get infected with some of Hummel's bitchiness,' Puck said, shuffling towards the front of the room while Schuester reprimanded him on his language and Berry reluctantly seemed to trail her trolley bag behind her.

It had been a week since The Great Cupcake Caper (as Mike had taken fondly to calling their little baking marathon) and Puck remembered the supreme awkwardness between Rachel and himself that followed afterwards. It was like Puck had accidentally smoked some of that Chronic Lady and imagined that Rachel had labeled him the sweetest boy I know. He had, of course, feigned complete and utter ignorance about her Disney Princess moment because admitting that he had heard her meant confronting that he actually, you know, cared.

'I must admit Noah, that I find it supremely-' Rachel let out a loud sneeze that shook her frame. For a second she stood horrified before whipping out a pink monogrammed kerchief from her skirt and dabbing gently at her nose.

'Yeah, well, whatever. Let's just get you home. And don't even think about blowing snot all over my dashboard.'

'Never let it be said that you don't have a way with words,' Rachel rasped and holy shit, was she actually starting to sound worse?

This thought in no way affected his decision to speed all the way over towards Berry's house.

When they arrived at her house, Rachel turned to him with this sleepy dazed look and muttered something about being supremely thankful and all that shit. Puck rolled his eyes and cut the engine, even reaching out to drag Rachel all the up her porch with her retarded pink bag banging against his shins.

'Well, thank you once again,' she said with this sense of finality. Puck pushed his way past her, dumping her bag unceremoniously on the floor as he meandered his way towards the kitchen.

'What are you doing?' Rachel asked, all alarmed.

'I'm trying to make you soup. Duh,' Puck retorted, opening a random cupboard.

'Soup?'

'Yeah. No offence Berry but you look like an extra on the Night of the Living Dead. I figure since you helped me out with the whole cupcake thing, I could return the favour.'

'But…you can't cook. Which was why Michael requested that I assist you.'

'I can't bake Ms Miriam-Webster. There's a difference. Now could you please go fucking lie down or something?' Puck huffed out, hauling out a huge cooking pot. He saw Rachel pinch herself. 'No Berry, you aren't dreaming. If you were I'd be wearing an apron with the words Too Hot To Handle. And nothing else.'

'If you burn down my house, expect a lawsuit,' Rachel shot back, pivoting around and giving him a nice view of her ass.

Chopping up the chicken and dicing the carrots, Puck wondered why the hell he was doing this. He wasn't, like, interested in Rachel.

Was he?

Shaking his head, he narrowly missed slicing his finger in half.

When he brought the soup up to her, Rachel was practically swallowed up in her comforter. Her eyes were closed and Puck saw her eyelids flutter, as if her rest was fitful. Setting down the bowl of soup on her bedstand, Puck stood by her bedside. Hesitantly, he reached down and grasped her shoulder and shook her slightly.

'Hey Berry. Berry. Wake up.'

Nothing. She slept on, turning away from him. Only thing was she grabbed onto his hand and settled them against her chest.

Fuck.

He tried tugging free but her grip was vice-like.

'C'mon Berry. You're not Stephen Colbert and my hand sure as fuck isn't an Emmy. Let go.' He refused to acknowledge that there was some kind of desperation buried in his voice. Because he was pretty damn close to the bed where Rachel had let him grab her ass when they had "dated" and for some reason, the thought was making him supremely uncomfortable.

Realizing she wasn't going to release him anytime soon, Puck heaved an exasperated sigh. Even when she wasn't conscious, the girl was making him feel like they were supposed to be attached in some way. Cautiously he managed to make his way over to the other side of the bed (in a totally badass way that involved killer ninja moves) and reluctantly settled himself on the edge of her bed. Leaning against the headboard, Puck glanced down at her. Unable to resist, he rubbed a thumb against her cheek.

Rachel shifted. Puck froze. She sighed, leaning into his touch.

No way did his heart just beat faster.

Resting his head against the wall, Puck closed his eyes.

That's how Rachel found him when she woke up, blinking to make sure that Noah Puckerman was actually in her bed. The blood rushed to her cheeks when she saw the way she had enclosed his hand in hers, pressing it up between her chest. Twisting her head to glance at her clock, head swimming and heavy, she noticed the now tepid bowl of soup resting on her bedside table. Her gaze shot back to the slumbering teenage boy, her chest spreading with warmth that wasn't related to any kind of illness.

Mind made up, she inched herself closer towards his body with his arm still clasped within her embrace. When he didn't move, she rested her head on his lap and felt sleep edge its way over her.

Hearing her breathing even out, Puck cracked open one eye and studied Rachel's peaceful face.

She thought he was kind of comforting.

And just like the last time, Puck sure as hell didn't move. Instead he slumped down further and drifted off to the scent of mint and rosemary, Rachel's small body telling him that he cared.

He cared a whole fucking lot.