Hello everyone! Thanks again for all the reviews and alerts! The Gleeks in this chapter that it seems like I pick on, I am really not. There were just certain details of the first two season, things that were said or done to Puck by these characters and I double checked to make sure I got them right. Sam was suppose to be Kurt's love interest when he came on but thanks to RM being mad at Mark Salling over the release of the CD PipeDreams that Mark had worked on for quite some time, he chose instead to pair Sam with Quinn as a form of punishment to Mark. So Sam to me is on the fence about Puck on the show, whether he is a good guy or the evil seed everyone makes Puck out to be. So on with the story and as always please review they honestly help me to write giving me ideas that maybe I would not have thought of….And they really brighten up my day! Peace Hemmy
Chapter 7
All For Love And A Slushy Aftertaste
Once Dave was home alone in his bedroom he began to have a little freak out so to speak.
Oh shit! It felt so natural to touch Noah's body! I had never touched another guy before, well except for Kurt and I really don't want to think about that now!
Noah's hard body, muscles under my hands. His skin was smooth, not too soft. I could feel stubble on his chest…I wonder if he shaves? Stubble….The shadow on his cheeks…Dammit it made my lips tingle almost tickling them except it went straight to Dave Jr. My stomach felt so strange, fluttering and doing flips. I just wanted to hear him say that he was mine! That I was the one that made him hard! I was the one that he wanted to touch him! He felt so heavy in my hand! He was so hard! So big! I could feel his heartbeat throbbing in my hand as he came. The way his muscles danced across his body with each pulse!
With each memory of how Noah felt against him, in his hand, under his lips; he begins to stroke himself. Picturing Noah laying beside him, the dark hands exploring his body. Those beautiful lips sliding over Dave's leaking head. His breath becomes ragged, his eyes closed tight while his hand pumps faster harder. Seeing Noah's head bob up and down, feeling his tongue swirling…He cries out Noah! covering his hand with seed.
Dave lays there for a few minutes before cleaning himself up and crawling under the covers. Wrapping his arms around one of his pillows he drifts off holding onto his Noah praying tomorrow would be good for all of them.
DP DP DP DP DP DP DP DP DP DP DP DP
Santana was busy the night before after making sure Brittany remembered who was her real love interest and several phone calls and text messages later she was happy that Puck would get justice from the Hockey and Football teams.
Rachel is the first to suffer a cherry slushie as soon as she walks down the hallway to her locker. The bright red dye no. 7 staining the yellow dress she was wearing. She manages to find the girls restroom across the hall.
Mercedes and Sam are next as they round the corner to where Rachel had just been standing. They were slushied with blueberry. They can hear the laughter of the jocks plus some of the other students in the hallway. Mercedes leads a furious Sam to the girls restroom where Rachel is cleaning up.
Quinn was heading to Coach Sylvester's office when several jocks appeared out of nowhere each one holding a different flavored slushy. "What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you forget who I am?" Quinn uses her best HBIC voice.
Seth Jackson was the captain of the hockey team and the baseball team, he stood in front of Quinn with his slushy smirking at her before he speaks.
"It seems you pissed off someone that has more power than you do Fabray. I am hear to deliver a message to you, one that you are suppose to take back to the other Gleek Losers.
Make nice with Puckerman or this could be an everyday thing. And just for the record, I don't really care for Puck that much, but a teammate is just that; a member of A TEAM!"
Before Quinn can respond she is covered in the sticky ice of every flavor McKinley has in the cafeteria. The howls of laughter can be heard as the jocks walk away.
"Well Q it seems that you have awakened a sleeping giant. And it also seems I may need to look for a new captain of my squad." Sue tells the rainbow colored cheerleader. "Oh and the brainless oaf was right…Get over yourself Q and do the right thing for once. Puckerman is a good kid and I will personally make sure that your own teammates, the Cheerio's will do the exact same thing to you, if you fail to do the right thing and apologize to him." Sue walks away with a triumphant smile on her lips. Santana had been busy indeed.
Quinn cleaned up the best she could and called her mother for a change of clothing, telling Mrs. Fabray that she had been the victim of a prank. Her mother said that she would get there as soon as possible. Quinn asked her to just drop the clothes off at the front office and she would send someone after them.
She looked at herself in the mirror hating what she saw in the refection, a loser. Her uniform was completely covered in a variety of flavored colors. The different dyes had soaked in to her skin staining it like a rainbow.
Since when did the jocks give two shits about Puck? Sure he was on almost every sports team at the school, but why are they suddenly treating him like one of their own? And not a Gleek loser? What the hell had caused Coach Sylvester to agree with the jocks? Quinn's thoughts are interrupted by a doorbell sound.
Quinn's phone alerts her to new text messages from Rachel and Mercedes. It seems that she wasn't the only victim of the sudden attack of the jocks. Rachel is calling an emergency meeting in the choir room ASAP. Mercedes is threatening to cut someone. Quinn texts back that she will be there as soon as her mother brings her clothes.
SB SB SB SB SB DP DP DP DP DP DP
Santana is waiting with Brittany in the parking lot for the boys when her phone alerts her to a new text message from Seth telling her the message was delivered out loud and clear. She thanks him in a text before laughing evilly at the thought of the mess inside.
Brittany looks at Santana knowing that look is not good for whoever she is plotting against when she receives a text from Rachel about the emergency meeting. She looks at Santana and shakes her head. She had overheard one call last night and that Puck deserved retribution.
When the boys pull into the parking lot Santana let out a "fuck yeah!" at the top of her lungs. All missions were complete, including Coach Sylvester. The petite Latina is dancing on the balls of her feet anxious to see her handiwork.
Dave and Puck pull up in the parking lot both curious as to what Santana so excited that she is literally bouncing up and down. Both boys are extremely nervous at the thought of an excited Santana Lopez for the simple reason it meant someone was going to get hurt. Probably one of them.
Dave looks at Puck with a WTH look and squeezes his hand. They had held hands since leaving Puck's driveway and they managed to steal a kiss before Dave put the truck in reverse. Now they were glad they had those few moments of alone time.
Puck is tackled by an arm full of his girlfriend Brittany. She had run across the parking lot to the truck. She is kissing his cheek asking him if they can go feed the ducks after school. Puck simply wraps his arms around the blonde's waist laughing at her agreeing to go to the park with her.
Dave is greeted the same way. The dark Cheerio throws herself into arms squealing and kissing his cheek. She whispers Plan A is complete and she wants him to walk her to the choir room. Several jocks walk by the couple and give Dave a thumbs up and he wonders what his girlfriend has been up to.
"So how was your night honey bun?" Santana asks in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"Really good! How was yours sugar pie?" Dave smacks her on the ass before putting his arm around her shoulders. A few catcalls can be heard from people.
Santana yelps at the stinging blow and is tempted to knee Dave in the crotch. She opts just to stay in her good mood. "Oh the usual ate Britt out until she forgot who Puck was and then had some ice cream." She watches Dave grimace at the mental picture she gave him.
"San that's not what happened. You ate the ice cream and me at the same time." Brittany smiles at her girlfriend's glare. Puck and Dave just look at each other hungrily both thinking about ice cream and what they could be eating.
"ENOUGH! YOU JUST SENT THESE TWO OVER THE EDGE BRITT!" Santana chastises the blonde. The last thing the boys need is to be caught looking at each other like they were sex on a stick.
Puck and Dave look everywhere but at each other as they try to calm down.
"So why am I walking you to the choir room?" Dave raises his brow at her. He has a strange feeling about this especially after the thumbs up gestures.
"Manhands called an emergency meeting a few minutes ago." Santana tells him as they all walk towards the school. Brittany and Puck are behind them with Brittany telling Puck how excited Lord Tubbington is about them 'dating'. Santana smiles when Puck groans at the name of the cat.
"And you want me to walk you there after yesterday? I don't get it; what are you up to Lopez?" Dave tightens his hand on her arm.
"You'll see when we get there. I wanted them to pay for blaming Puck." Santana sinks her nails into his side making him flinch.
The foursome walk into the hallway to many looks and whispers. Many girls are staring at the Cheerio's with envious and angry expressions. The boys are smiling and fist bumps are offered to Puck and Dave as they walk by. They stop off at their lockers to get their books and head to the choir room.
They can hear the loud voices before they enter the room. Dave stops at the doorway looking inside at the outraged Gleeks. He smiles at the four who seem to be the unhappiest.
Quinn looks at the unabashed satisfaction on Santana and Dave's face. She knew at that moment who was behind it without a doubt. She nudges Rachel who has been screeching about the attacks to the unscathed Gleeks. Rachel looks at who Quinn is pointing at and is filled with rage. Quinn steps in front of Santana, now dressed in regular street clothes but the dye is still showing on her face and graceful neck.
"It was YOU! YOU DID THIS! YOU BITCH!" Quinn goes after Santana
Dave steps in front of Santana glaring at Quinn. "Excuse me, we just got to school Rainbow Brite! So why are you yelling at Santana?"
Quinn is beyond pissed now. Rainbow Brite? "I was told to get over myself and to make nice with Puck! I was told that I could be replace as captain of the Cheerio's by Coach Sylvester herself after she told me to make nice with Puck too! I knew you would do anything to get back at me! You have always hated me!"
"Seems to me Coach Sylvester and whoever else told you to get over yourself was right. Are you even listening to yourself?" Dave asks the multi colored pissed off HBIC. "You mentioned Puck's name and then you made it all about YOU! Seems to me that you missed the point."
Puck is looking at the Gleeks and sees that the ones that attacked him yesterday at Sonic were the ones to suffer. Mike, Artie, Tina were left unscathed by the slushie attacks. And to be quite honest it made him just a little bit happy that the jocks stood up for him. And where the hell is Finn?
"Go to hell Karofsky! You don't belong in this room!" Rachel is now focused on Dave. "Why are you even in here? GET OUT!"
Finn makes an appearance at that moment.
"What the hell people? I can hear you yelling out in the hall!" Finn looks at his former girlfriend and current love noticing the colorful stains. He then looks around the room and notices that Sam and Mercedes kinda look like Smurfs. "Would someone mind telling me what happened and that someone being Santana?"
"To me the punishment fit the crime. Some of you needed to be reminded that we are all losers, but that we are a family. How did it make you feel when the slushy hit your face? Mad? Like a loser? Like nothing had changed? Well that is how he feels!" Santana looks at Puck for a minute and sees the hurt flicker in his eyes. She notices that Dave is pulling Puck beside him slipping an arm around his waist. "Britt go close the door baby."
Brittany does without question. She could see Dave becoming the protective bear and that was not good. Not in public at least. She stands on the other side of Puck holding his hand offering support.
"Quinn YOU do need to get over yourself! Rachel that goes for YOU too. Sam, Mercedes I know Kurt is special to both of you but you need to look at who is suffering in front of you! Finn told you all that it wasn't Puck's fault but you still choose to not even recognize Puck in any of this except as the bad guy. Even after knowing he wasn't.
So I called in some favors and yes Quinn I do have MORE POWER than YOU! So until you four can play nice with Puck this will happen everyday just like it used to; so you can feel the same way that he does." Santana sneers at the four in question.
Artie notices the way Dave is holding Puck close to him, the way Puck was around Dave playing football yesterday. It was starting to make sense to the chair bound teen.
"May I ask Puck a question?" Artie looks at Dave instead of Santana. He watches Dave nod at him.
"Puck do you want to tell us what happened? Maybe we can understand better if you tell us. You know me man, I am not going to judge you. You're my bro." Artie looks at the dark teen look down at his shoes.
"I know Artie. You, Tina, and Mike treated me good yesterday. Thanks for that guys. I really enjoyed just hanging out and tossing the ball around yesterday." Puck looks at his be-speckled friend and begins to talk about what he saw.
"I caught Kurt cheating on me with that Blaine dude Friday night. I walked in on them in Kurt's room after he lied to me about staying at Dalton to study." Puck is leaning into Dave more now as he talks. "I saw them half naked on Kurt's bed. Finn tried to stop me from going up there, he knew what was going on. And I kinda understand why you didn't tell me Finn, but the truth….it hurts just the same. You should have told me."
"I'm truly sorry Puck. I was afraid and I shouldn't have been. We have been through too much. I know I should have told you and if I could go back I would." Finn looks sadly at his friend. He turns towards Quinn continuing.
"And Quinn I agree with Santana. You need to remember that everyone stood by YOU when you were pregnant and we all stood by YOU when you quit the squad." Finn says as he looks at Quinn. After what Santana had said about her not being blamed during baby-gate he thought about it last night and the Latina was right. Everyone had blamed Puck, not Quinn.
"I cant believe that you would not tell me about this!" Rachel looks at boyfriend with an indignant glare. "I'm your girlfriend! You are suppose to tell me everything!"
"It wasn't any of your business. I love you Rachel, but you would have told everyone in this room about it. Well everyone except Dave." Finn knows that there is more to this strange and sudden friendship.
"Okay so Kurt cheated and you caught him. But that doesn't explain what that sack of garbage is doing in here! And don't give us that bullshit that he is your boyfriend Santana! We all know you and Brittany are together!" Quinn looks at the strange group with a sneer of pure hatred on her face.
"Fuck you Fabray! We don't have to say anything else to you!" Santana is ready for a fight with the blonde ice queen.
"Don't you dare call him that you self centered bitch!" Puck startling everyone shouts at Quinn gripping Dave hand in his own. "Because he cared enough to find me! To talk to me! To ask me what the hell happened! He cares about ME!" Puck can feel the tears slipping past his lashes falling down his cheeks. "And I care about HIM!"
The whole room is suddenly quiet. So quiet that you could hear Brad the piano guy come in. The Gleeks stare at Puck and Dave.
"You told everyone and anyone that would listed to you that it was my fault that you got pregnant! And it wasn't! You wouldn't let me claim my own child! You wouldn't let me tell Finn the truth! Do you know how much it hurt me that my best friend was seeing MY BABY as HIS for the first time? I begged you to tell Finn the truth! I begged you to let me take care of you and Beth! And then YOU gave her away! You acted like I was nothing! YOU CHOSE FINN OVER ME! JUST LIKE KURT CHOSE THAT HOBBIT OVER ME!" Puck is so full of emotions that it is like a dam bursting as all the pent up emotions come spilling out of Puck. He turns to Mercedes next.
"Mercedes do you have any idea how I felt that day in this very room when YOU told me that Quinn made her choice and that basically I wasn't good enough for Beth? That it took a hell of a lot more to be a baby's father than what I was and that Quinn chose Finn! That I just needed to forget about it! That it was about what Quinn wanted? I was suppose to act like Beth wasn't even mine! All because you didn't want to see Quinn hurt anymore or Finn to be hurt! What the fuck about me? I was dying inside! I was Beth's father! Not Finn! But you acted like I wasn't fit to be a good enough father! YOU CHOSE FINN BEING THE FATHER OVER HER OWN REAL FATHER, ME!"
Mercedes flinches at the words Puck is spewing at her. She does remember that day and it breaks her heart to hear the anguish/betrayal in his voice.
"Sam you came in here to this school and tried to take my place with Quinn! All you had to do was ask me and I would have gladly shoved the bitch at you! I think you learned your lesson though didn't you?" He doesn't wait for an answer as he turns his full fury on Rachel.
"And now you Miss Berry! I haven't left you out! You couldn't wait to replace me! When you found out I was in Juvie all you had to do was call my Ma and she would have told you when I was getting out! But no you sent Finn on a mission to find someone else to fill my spot! You never even called me or my Ma to see if I was okay! You were more worried about that damn competition than you were about someone who had been there for you every time you needed something!
Every time you wanted to hurt Finn you used ME! Sing a duet with me! Let's start seeing each other! But YOU were in love with Finn the whole time! You were ready to fuck me just to get back at Finn for sleeping with Santana! I was the one who told you no! That I couldn't do that to Finn! But you tried to change my mind remember Rachel? You were going to use me again!" Puck's anger is full blown now. His face red, the tears falling, his body shaking trying to contain the sobs.
"None of you ever cared when I was hurting or I wanted to just end it all! Did you guys know that Finn and I cried together that night, the night Beth was born? We grieved together! Did any of you know besides Artie or Santana what Juvie was really like for me? Tina and Mike never judged me! Only the four of you! Over and over again! You would use me and then judge me for it! But you were still my family to me! I was always there for you! Where the fuck were you at?"
Dave pulls Puck into his arms holding the jock close to him. He gently kisses Puck's forehead whispering that it was going to be okay. He tells Brittany to take Puck to the restroom to help him clean up his face and to just get him out of the room. Puck doesn't want to go but Dave assures him that he will be right behind him. Brittany whispers to Santana 'make sure Bear doesn't hurt anyone' before she leads Puck out the door.
The Gleeks stare in amazement at the tenderness Dave shows to Puck. The gentle touches, the soft words. The love that shines in his eyes for Puck.
"I am only going to say this once to the four of you because I don't think the rest of you are out to hurt Puck." Dave pulls up to his total height as he stares down the four Gleeks in question.
"Puck deserves so much better than friends like you! He has done so much for you and you treat him like he is nothing but a scapegoat for your stupid mind games! Something that you can use and then just toss away until you need it again. He is a human being just like you!
He and I used to fight constantly when I was bullying you! He always stood up for you against me! And now I am the one standing up for him against you! Ironic isn't it? So listen to me very carefully when I say this…
IF YOU FUCK WITH HIM ANYMORE I WILL PERSONALLY SEE TO IT THAT EACH OF YOU SUFFER EVERY DAY! THE FOUR OF YOU THINK YOU ARE SO HIGH AND MIGHTY! TRUST ME YOU WONT BE SHIT WHEN I AM FINISHED WITH YOU! I WILL MAKE YOUR SENIOR LIFE HELL! BETWEEN ME AND SATAN YOU WILL BE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN! AND IF ANY OF YOU GET THE BRIGHT ASS IDEA OF OUTING HIM OR ME I WILL PERSONALLY END YOU!"
Dave stalks out of the choir room in search of the emotionally battered Puck.
"I will back Dave up in any way I can! Puck does deserves better friends than the four of you!" Santana follows Dave out the door. She knows that Brittany is taking good care of Puck, but she needs Brittany to hold her right now. Santana knows Quinn is capable of outing all of them and it terrifies her.
Finn looks at the four Gleeks before he walks out of the choir room. Artie, Mike, and Tina follow behind Finn. Each one looking at the four in disbelief. Artie stops the little procession at the door to wheel around to the four still standing there, "you know Santana and Dave are right, Puck deserves friends that will stand beside him. Each one of you has played a part in destroying him and yet you each wonder how he can be the way he is…It's because you taught him so well." Artie shakes his head as Tina wheels him out the door.
The four Gleeks are left standing there to think about their past sins and the current ones that they are committing. Each one lost as to how to fix their relationship with Puck.
Dave walks into the restroom hearing Santana muttering in Spanish as she and Brittany hold Puck in their arms. The Jewish teen is sobbing quietly. Dave wraps his arms around Puck as the girls step away. Santana pulls Brittany to the door and locks it, trying to give the boys privacy.
"I'm sorry Dave, for being such a loser." Puck's breathing is ragged from crying and his words are hoarsely spoken. He looks up into green hazel eyes full of comfort and warmth.
Dave gently kisses Noah's trembling lips. "You are going to be okay Noah. I promise you. You are not a loser. You are one of the most talented people I know. You play on every fucking team but hockey for this school. And we are champions.
I loved watching you play ball yesterday. The way your body moved, the way it felt against me when I took you down. All I wanted to do yesterday was rip your clothes off and fuck you senseless." Dave watches as a blush creeps up in the dark tear stained cheeks. He brushes the pads of his thumbs across them wiping them away.
"I love to hear you sing in the truck. It sounds so fucking sexy when you let loose. You are so free when you play or sing. I have heard you play the guitar before and I wish I could do that. You make love to it when you play. Your hands are so graceful moving across the strings."
Dave nuzzles the stripe of dark hair with his arms wrapped around his boyfriend. He can feel Noah calming in his arms, his breath becoming even. He pulls back from the dark Jewish teen.
"Since I found you that night in the park, you are the first and last thing I think of. The first time I held you I knew you were the person I had been waiting for. I am proud that you are in my life even if that includes two crazy cheerleaders, a demonic cat, and our parents.
Your real friends care about you. Artie, Mike, and that weird Asian chick in their own way stood by you yesterday. Even Finn is standing up for you. I know it still hurts knowing that he knew about everything, but he is trying so hard to earn your forgiveness.
The other four don't matter. If they cant be true friends to you then they simply don't matter."
"You matter to me Dave." Noah raises his lips to Dave's his dark hazel eyes closing as he feels the first brush of Dave's lips against his.
Dave kisses Noah letting his tongue tease Noah's bottom lip asking for entrance. Noah grants it moaning into the kiss slightly parting his lips. Dave takes full advantage of it stroking Noah's tongue with his own in a slow steady rhythm. Dave deepens the kiss, tasting every inch of Noah's willing mouth. While his hands stroke Noah's back and then cupping the perfect orbs kneading them,as they fit into his strong hands.
Noah fists one hand in the front of Dave's shirt while the other is stroking the soft locks of Dave's hair. Every touch from Dave sets his body humming with desire. He can feel Dave's reaction to the kiss against his hip. Noah moves his hand from Dave's shirt, sliding the palm of his hand down the strong chest and stomach until he is palming the larger jock through Dave's jeans. His fingers trace the outline before rubbing his palm harder against the rather large bulge.
Dave groans across Noah's lips at the sensations coursing through his body. He can feel the soft gentle touches of Noah's fingertips along with the friction of the warm palm. Dave can feel Noah's hand leave the back of his neck moving to his chest and finding one of the hard buds. Dave feels his knees begin to weaken as Noah begins to tease it, rolling it between his thumb and finger. Dave wants to thrust against the dark hand that is palming him but he doesn't want something this special between them to happen in the boys restroom. So he pulls away from the sexy boy that is making him forget everything but his touch.
"Baby I don't want this to happen here. I want to be with you Noah, but I want it to be special for both of us. Last night at the park was wonderful. Being alone with you out in the open next to the duck pond was right. Being in the boys restroom isn't." Dave hopes that Noah understands that it isn't the Jewish teen that is wrong but the location. He kisses Noah's forehead hugging him tightly. "I want to treat you right. Let you know what it like to be taken care of because you matter so much to me."
Noah can't believe what Dave is saying to him. No one has ever cared enough to treat me like a person instead of a thing. But he is right I want it to be special too. I just want to stay here, in his arms. He nods at the big teddy bear holding him wrapping his arms around big guy.
Both boys become aware of Santana and Brittany making out against the door. Brittany's back is pressed against the door and as Santana kisses her passionately while her hand is buried on Brittany's spanx bottoms. Brittany is grinding against the hand moaning into the kiss gripping Santana's hips. Noah nudges Dave in side and a smirk forms over the kiss swollen cinnamon lips.
"Satan get you hand out of my girlfriends panties." Puck chuckles at the death glare he receives from Santana when she breaks the kiss removing her hand from Brittany's undies.
"Cheating on me already Santana?" Dave looks at Puck after saying that to make sure he didn't upset the smaller jock, seeing that he didn't he continues. "I guess this is going to be our first fight huh honey bunch?"
"Only if you want it to be my huge lump of sugar." Satan enjoys the flush of anger that instantly appears on Dave's face. "You had your tongue down her boyfriend's throat so I only thought it was fair play to return the favor."
"That's it you psychopathic twig! I am not fat! I am going to break you in half!" Dave begins to advance on Santana as the evil Latina bares her claws at him.
"Bring it chubby lover!" Santana snarls at Dave.
They are interrupted by someone banging on the restroom door.
Brittany has no idea who to help so she runs to Puck hiding behind him. She doesn't want to see any bloodshed. Puck just watches as the two 'lovers' circle each other until the pounding on the door resumes.
Puck holding Brittany's hand walks to the door ignoring the squabbling duo and opens it. Dave sees a familiar orange afro and grabs Santana pulling her into a heated kiss. Puck seeing Jewfro stumble into the room, reacts the same way pulling Brittany into a steamy kiss with his hands wandering everywhere on her body.
Jacob Ben Israel had been known to either faint at the sight of sex or to just jizz his pants in under a second but not this time. Seeing two of the hottest couples in school heatedly making out caused the poor perverted virgin to do both simultaneously.
Santana was going to punch Dave until she saw the fallen Jewish boy laying on the cold tile floor. "Well I think we got the right kind of exposure as far as gossip." She looks over at Brittany who smiles innocently back at her.
Brittany walks over Jacob's unconscious body to Santana and kisses her deeply then the blonde whispers something that makes the dark Latina turn a bright red making her giggle.
The couples pair up and walk out of the restroom just as the bell sounds ending first period. The guys walk the girls to their classes and then take off for their own.
By lunch time the whole school was buzzing about the make out session Jewfro stumbled in on, making Santana smile. They were the new it couples of McKinley and no one would fuck with them now.
