Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
A/N: This chapter is for Crista, who begged me to do a chapter where Puck is sick. It's more of a filler chapter, I suppose, but she wanted me to do and no one can say no to her.
Puck's pretty sure he's going to die. His head feels like it's about to explode and he can barely even swallow because his throat is so sore and swollen. He's already gone through three boxes of tissues and 17 cans of chicken noodle soup since Thursday. He groans, rolling over in the bed trying to get comfortable. He's got a spiked fever but he's freezing so the blankets are pulled to his chin. His mom insisted that he should go to the doctor but he told her he could just sleep it off. Now, it's Saturday, he's home alone and he's convinced he's about to die of starvation. He reaches for his phone but it's just out of reach and when he lurches forward he manages to grab it. He groans when he feels his muscles ache from the sudden movement.
He takes a few minutes to calm down before searching through his contacts. He's not sure why the first person he thinks to call is Rachel but now he's got the phone pressed against his ear and she's answering.
"Hello." Even through the phone he can tell she's smiling brightly.
"I'm dying, Berry." He tells her. "Like seriously, I'm on my deathbed."
"Your mom warned me you might call." She chuckled. "She told me you had a cold and that you were sleeping it off at home. Did you need to me to bring you something?"
"Soup." He says the word quickly. "I haven't eaten since my mom left this morning and that was a six this morning."
"Oh dear." He hears her rustling around her room or wherever she's at. "You could have called me earlier. It's nearly noon. If you're sick you need to keep your fluids up. I'll be right over. Stay in bed and don't even try to get up."
"Thanks, Berry." He lets the phone slide back down onto the bed after he hangs up and closes his eyes, hoping to get some sleep before Rachel shows up.
He's not sure how long it's been since he hung up from Rachel but he hears a knock on his bedroom door and then the door swing open revealing Rachel who is carrying a large tray with a large bowl of soup stacked on top.
"You came." He mumbled.
"I said I would, didn't I?" She smiled moving towards his bed.
"I guess so."
"Sit up." She told him and he obeyed. Rachel sits the tray on his lap and perches herself comfortably on the edge of the bed.
"Chicken Noodle?" He asks warily.
"Of course." She smiled. "You're mom told me you won't eat any other kind."
"Berry?" He looked up at her. "Would you feed me?"
"What?" She laughed. "I most certainly will not."
"My mom always does it when I'm sick." He begged, even going so far to pout a little bit just for the added effect. "Please, Rach."
She rolls her eyes knowing she's about to cave and picks up the spoon, scooping up some of the spoon and blows on it lightly before carefully feeding it to him.
"Just don't breathe directly on me." She told him but he can see the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. "Regional's is coming up and that is the only reason I'm doing this. We can't afford to be short one member just because you die from not being able to even feed yourself."
He grunted in response and she feeds him another spoonful. "You're the first one I called." He said.
"Is that so?" She studies his face closely.
"I knew you wouldn't let me down." He nodded. She gets him to finish the rest of the soup before setting the tray on his desk and going back over to tuck him in.
"You are so hot, Noah." She mumbled, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead and cheeks.
"Thanks, babe." He grinned.
"We should take your temperature." She ignored him and moved out of the room in search of a bathroom.
She's only been in the Puckerman house one other time and that was last year during Hanukah. The Puckerman's usually spend Hanukah at the Berry's but Debbie had insisted they do it at her house last year. Rachel wasn't familiar with the house but she finally found a bathroom and sifted through the medicine cabinet until she found a thermometer.
Back in Puck's room, it took some convincing but she finally got it under his tongue and when the stick beeped she read the temperature out loud.
"103.2." He shrugged. "S'not that bad. I can handle it, Berry." He coughed and she stepped back. She could not risk her voice by getting sick.
"We need to bring down that fever." She told him and hurried out of the room only to bring back a cold washcloth a few minutes later. She carefully laid it on his forehead and he jumped slightly.
"Shit's cold, Rachel." He mumbled.
She smiled softly. "I'm sorry." Rachel bent down slowly and kissed his cheek. "My dad always used to tell me that kisses make healing faster." She explains when he looks up at her.
"Maybe I could get one over here?" He grinned and pointed to his other cheek.
She laughs lightly and bends to leave a wet, sloppy kiss on his other cheek. "Better?" She asked.
"Much." He nodded and pulls the blankets up to his chin again. "S'freezing in here, Berry."
"You've just got chills." She said.
"Shit's fuck up." He grumbled. "How can you have a fever and chills at the same time?"
"I really am sorry that you feel so ill." She sat on the edge of the bed again.
"If you really felt bad, you'd crawl in her with me and warm me up." He said.
"I'll go get another blanket." He watches her leave and then she back and covering him up with a thick blanket in a matter of seconds.
"I love it when you take care of me." He mumbled. "My mom always complains about it the entire time." She smiled down at him. "I know I turn into a huge pussy when I'm sick but thanks for putting up with me, Rachel."
"Scoot over." She sighed.
"What?" He asked.
"I'm getting into bed with you." She caved. "Make some room."
She doesn't lie down with him because she's still not going to risk it but she does sit against the headboard and he lays his face in her lap as he drifts to sleep. She trails her fingers lightly over his arm, trying to soothe him, and lets him sleep like that. She knows he's probably drooling all over her skirt but she's doesn't really mind. He's lying on his stomach and his head in on her lap with one arm hooked around her waist and the other his draped across her legs. Even when she knows she should probably leave and get home she doesn't because she doesn't want to move or wake him up.
"Rachel?" Debbie's voice is whispering from the doorway and Rachel's head jerks in that direction. "Have you been here all day?"
"Since about noon." Rachel nodded.
"It's almost nine o'clock, sweetie." Debbie smiled.
"I didn't want to wake him." Rachel explained, carefully sliding out of the bed. When she stood up he stirred slightly but she placed a pillow under his head and he seemed content again. "He's slept most of the day."
"It was very sweet of you to watch over him." Debbie said once they were downstairs.
"It wasn't any problem at all." Rachel smiled. "I didn't mind."
"Get home safe, dear." Debbie walked Rachel to the front door.
"Tell Noah to feel better." Rachel said.
"I will." Debbie watched Rachel walk out to her car and pull away. As Debbie shut the front door she wondered why her son didn't bring this girl around more often.