Hello readers! I know it's been awhile since I've updated this story, but I've finally found an idea for this chapter! So without further a due, sit back and enjoy!

~Vikki3775

"Yo Huddy, long time no see man!" The mow-hawked boy greeted as he gave a surprised Finn a high five.

"Hey Puck." He greeted simply as he placed his bag in front of his locker and zipped it open.

"Dude, where the fuck have you been? I heard last week from mamma Huddy that you OD'd again man. She told me the day you were discharged from the hospital, which was a week ago. How come you've missed a whole week of work?" Finn sighed. He knew he was gonna have to face his best friend sooner or later.

"Look man, I told you that I was sick the entire week." He says, turning towards him. Puck scoffed.

"Oh please Huddy! I know a good liar when I see one and you are far from a pro like me. Just tell me." He leaned in closer towards him and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You got a booty call didn't ya?"

"What?! N-No Puck! Jeez, how many times do I have to tell you that I don't do stuff like that?" He huffed, stripping off his red T-shirt and throwing it on the ground. Smirking, the sex crazed boy rose his hands up in mock defense.

"Chill, chill dude. I'm just playing." Grabbing some deodorant out of his locker, he sniffed under his arms before shrugging and silently deciding that he was what he considered "clean enough" and put his uniformed T-shirt on.

"Yeah, you better be. You're lucky that Quinn isn't hearing you talk about other girls like that. She'd cream your ass."

"Now, now, no need to bring my girl into this Hud. Yeah she would kill my ass, but not as much as Santana did that one time during senior year when she caught me checking out Lauren Zizes' ass." Nodding and laughing, Finn smiled when he remembered the very short time that Puck and Santana dated, where she basically had him on a leash. Shaking his head, he took off his sweat pants and put on his fireman pants and black boots.

"Yeah, that was pretty ba-"

"Finny?" A soft voice called out hesitantly. Stopping their conversation, Puck gave his friend a confused look. Shrugging, Finn walked towards the door of the staff locker room, before a hesitant Rachel walked through, a hand over her eyes and a baking pan in her hands. Finn smiled at her adorableness.

"Hey, Rach." He greets softly. "You know you can look right? The rest of the guys are at the truck preparing for the next call and we're not naked."

Nodding, she slowly pulls her hand away from her eyes and looks around the room until her eyes land on him and his very muscled chest.

"Um...w-well Finn I was just finished with rehearsal, and I was home so..." She says nervously as her eyes flickered from his chest to his slightly amused face. Turning even redder, she simply stretched her arms out and extended the pan towards him, squeaking, "banana bread?"

Laughing, Finn walked closer to her and took it. He smiled. "Thanks Rach. These are the best." He muttered as he moved the pan closer to his face in order to smell the banana, cinnamon and walnut scent coming from the container.

"Well, well, well." A voice popped in. Breaking eye contact with Finn, Rachel looked over his shoulder and saw a smirking Noah Puckerman, who was walking slowly and cockily towards the brunette.

"If it isn't Berry herself." She frowned. She didn't know that he knew who she was. When she said this, he laughed wholeheartedly and reached over to ruffle her hair, to her dismay.

"Of course I know you my Jewish American princess! You don't think Huddy's mentioned your name constantly? For awhile I actually thought he was banging yo- ow!" Puck howled as he glared at a seemingly "innocent" Finn. She giggled.

"Well, it's nice to know that I've been talked about. It's nice to meet you Noah." She said warmly, reaching out to shake his hand. Smirking, he squeezed her hand softly.

"The pleasure is all mine.." He murmured, looking her up and down. Hearing his friend next to him clear his throat, he detached his grip from her hand and straightened up.

"And Berry, you don't have to call me by my first name. "The Puckerone" will do just fine, babe."

"Yeah, 'cause "Puckzilla" was so popular too." Finn snickered; earning a glare. Rachel shook her head.

"Nope." She says. "I like Noah much better. It fits you. It's really a nice name."

"Yeah and so is "sugar daddy", "master", and a bunch of other names you'll be screaming if you hop on the Puckerone express." He winked. Grimacing slightly, she turned towards Finn, who was surprisingly clenching his jaw; fists clenched at his side.

"Ok, well I just wanted to give this to you Finn. Feel free to share with your other friends."

"Oh trust me Rach, I'm not sharing anything." He said stubbornly, as he hugged the pan as if it were his teddy bear. She laughed softly before sensing his still tense expression and frowning.

"Um... Noah, is there a way that you can give us a second...alone please?" She clarified when he still didn't get it. Nodding, he smirked again.

"Alrighty then." He turned around so that his back was to the door as he walked back slowly. "I see how it is. Huddy tell me how this "conversation" goes when you're done. Nice to see ya again Berry." Winking, he left the room; whistling as it got quieter the farther away he got from them. Turning around and shaking her head, Rachel looked at a slightly fuming Finn, who was staring at the floor, refusing to look at her.

"Finn? Finn, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He muttered, still refusing to look at her.

"Finn, you must be crazy to think that I don't notice something is wrong with my best friend." Her voice got quieter. "Are you upset that I came to visit?"

Snapping his head up, he shook his head no hurriedly as he touched her arm gently.

"No, no Rachel. I'm happy to have you here. It's not that." Mentally slapping himself for telling her that something was wrong, he sighed in defeat.

"Fine, you win." She smiled triumphantly. "I just don't like the way he talked to you. It's rude and you don't deserve to be treated that way. Plus, he has a girlfriend and he shouldn't be saying those thin-"

"Finn." Stopping his rant, he looked up at her sheepishly and blushed.

"I'm fine," she reassures him. "That's just who he is. We can't change tha-"
"But it doesn't matter. He's said much meaner things about you in the past and I never told him to stop 'cause my pride got in the way. This time, I'm not gonna let that happen because your my best friend too and you should be respected." He huffed out. Reaching forward and grabbing both of her shoulders gently, he sighed and looked into her eyes.

"I don't want to do the same mistakes that I did before. If that means I have to stay away from people like Puck, then I don't care. I don't want to lose you again; I won't lose you again." He whispered.

Hearing this, Rachel's heart warmed up a bit. The fact that he was so insistent on making sure she was treated right made her happy. It showed her that she could trust him again.

"Finn you don't have to do that okay? I know how Noah works and I've got a few comebacks up my sleeve of he gets too vulgar. I understand where you're coming from, but I'm not the short petite brunette you once knew in high school anymore. I don't need you to stick up for me. I've got this, okay?" Sighing, but nodding reluctantly, Finn steps back.

"Ok." He grins slightly. "But don't expect me to just sit there and not say something if I'm around when he says things like that." She smiled.

"I didn't think you would for a second." Smiling also, he turned around, Walks to his locker and put the pan inside before locking it securely.

"Gotta make sure this doesn't get stolen from me." He winked at her. Then, reaching down, he grabbed his grey uniformed T-shirt and it on; oblivious to the brunette gaping at his muscles as they flexed on his back. Then, turning around, he smiled again, walking towards her before a siren echoed through the building.

"Fire in Bushwhick avenue. Mother and daughter trapped. Let's go guys, let's go!" The sheriff announced through the speakers as the siren continued to project. In a rush, Finn grabbed his jacket, put it on, grabbed his hat, before walking swiftly towards the brunette and looking at her softly.

"Well that's my cue." He chuckled slightly. "Um..I'll text you and let you know what happened, since I know you'll worry." He smiled and pulled her into a warm hug.

"Yo Hudson! When I said report for duty, I didn't mean next week, I meant now!" Barked the firefighter's boss through his walkie-talkie. Jumping apart quickly, Finn sighed and grabbed the device out of his jacket pocket.

"Sorry Sir." Putting it back to where he had it, Finn looked again at Rachel and kissed her forehead softly, but quickly.

"I'll talk to you later baby-er- Rachie." He corrected as he left the room quickly. Still shocked from the accidental use of the term of endearment, Rachel nodded slowly; already aware that he had left.

"Carole? Carole, honey you've got to calm down. I'm sure he's fine and he'll call you as soon as possible." Rachel paced in her penthouse apartment as she tried her best to reassure the worried sick mother on the other line. She turned around and faced her tv; watching as the CNN news reporter stood in front of the very building that Finn and his fellow crew mentors went to. Apparently from the reporter, the old factory building in Bushwhick collapsed, and the second floor soon joined the first floor. Reports say that the mother and daughter made it out safely, but they're missing a firefighter.

Gulping, the brunette tried to listen to both the television and the mother's worried voice as she tried to process all of this.

"...I tried calling him, I-"

"I know Carole, me too." She sighed. "Look, we've just got to be optimistic, ok? I'm sure Finn's fi-" Suddenly, a rushed knock on the door stopped her sentence.

"Wait a second Carole." Going up to the door, Rachel opened it, expecting to see the pizza delivery man; seeing a very dusty Finn Hudson who was still in his uniform; coughing heavily instead.

"Oh my god, Finn!" She yelled in relief as she pulled him into a hug. Still coughing, he smiled before she pulled him in her apartment and closed the door.

Hearing frantic muffles from her phone Finn grabbed it from her ands and asked, "Is that my mom? My phone got lost in the fire and she's probably worried sick." Nodding, he answered the phone and spoke to his now crying mom in a soothing voice as he took a seat on her couch.

Still confused as to how he got here, Rachel walked back towards the TV to be given a breaking news update.

"It seems that Matt Ruthford has been rescued from the remains of the fire and is on his way to the hospital right now." The reporter turned around, and looked back at the ambulance as it drove away fast into the night. She turned back to the camera. "As for the other brave firefighters, they have been dismissed by the sheriff and are safe and sound with their families." She smiled. "Back to you Joe." Turning off the TV, Rachel turned around and watched as her best friend finally ended his phone call with his mom and handed it to her.

"Thanks." He croaked out before coughing again. Nodding silently, Rachel tried to avoid the sting in the back of her eyes as she closed them for a second; only making then worse when a tear escapes and falls down her face.

"Hey. " Finn husks out, getting up from his seat and walking towards her. Taking off his jacket, he engulfed her into a hug and rubbed her back soothingly. "It's ok. I'm here right? There's nothing to worry about."

"I was just so scared." She whispered. "I didn't know what happened to you until your mom called me in hysterics." She looked up at his dusty face while still hugging. "I wanted to act reassuring for her sake but..." Her bottom lip wobbles. "...I couldn't help but worry too." Kissing her forehead, Finn hugged her tighter.

"I know I should've called you guys but my phone got lost and we were all to busy worrying about Matt to do anything." He said softly. "I'm sorry I got you guys so worried. It'll never happen again. I promise." Nodding, she held on to him tighter and whimpered like a baby as he chuckled softly.

"I'm still upset though." She murmured unto his ashy shirt.

"Of course you are Rachie. How about this..I'll stay here with you tonight in order to prove to you that I'm ok. Do we have a deal?" He wiped some of her tears. Nodding but smiling slightly, she says,

"Deal."

"Finn?" Rachel whispered as she slowly stepped into the guest room.

No answer.

"Finn?" She said a little louder.

"Mmmwhat?" Finn mumbled turning towards the sound. Rachel couldn't help but smile.

"C-Can I sleep with you? It's getting lonely in my room and I'm still scared."

Slightly more awake, Finn nodded, grinned sleepily and said, "Sure."

Rachel climbed in the bed next to him and automatically fell in his arms; her head resting on his chest.

"Hey Finn?"

"Hmm?" He tightened his arms around her.

"You know I'm a big cuddler, right?"

"Yeah Rach I know." He yawned out. After a moment of silence, the brunette felt herself falling asleep and turned towards him.

"Finny I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."

"Nightbaby." He slurred.

Rachel's eyes widened. This was the second time today that he called her by that pet name. Was she just imagining it? Brushing it off, she shrugged and drifted off into a deep slumber.

There you go guys! I told where Finn works and showed you some Puck! Stay tuned for the next chapter and tell me what you thought about this one. Bye!

~Vikki3775