AN: Booooo, I'm so lazy. It's disgustingly hot in Melbourne and at the moment I'd rather go to the beach with my gorgeous nieces than fix everything I disliked in this chapter. You wonderful, wonderful reviewers deserve a hell of a lot more from me so I promise the next chapter will be up soon and Alex shouldn't get comfortable, because me thinks he's not getting off as easily as he thinks.

Puck sat on the cold concrete floor of his jail cell, ignoring the drunken ramblings of hobo Larry sprawled out on the only bench seat a few feet away. He could smell the stench of the old man's rotting coat from where he sat and he turned his head to stare unseeingly through the steel bars to the yellowing wall on the other side.

He'd been here for hours. Four other miscreants had come and gone since he had been led, handcuffed, to his current location and Puck was beginning to wonder if he'd ever be let out. Rachel's father had nearly popped a blood vessel when the Officer had announced Puck was under arrest and had assured the teen that he would be in touch with the Berry family lawyer post haste to cut through the bullshit of the situation and get him out.

The mohawked teen had been surprised by Mr Berry's determination to help him, but he supposed the almighty fit Rachel had thrown at the news was enough to spur her father into action. She'd been through enough that weekend, and the last thing her fragile emotional state needed was the worry over his worthless ass.

Rachel had burst into tears the second the metal bracelets had been shackled to his wrists, throwing her arms around him and refusing to let go, hindering the efforts of the police woman who had been reading Puck his Miranda rights and attempting to lead him out to the waiting squad car.

He'd tried to calm her down, telling her that he was a badass and could look after himself but he felt like he was lying to himself. Not being able to hug her back, with his hands restrained behind his back, he had kissed her cheek and flippantly told her to bake him a cake- preferably with a crowbar inside.

His false bravado deserted him and he'd practically wept along with her when the Officer Jerkin's hand pressed on his shaved scalp, forcing his head down as he was helped into the backseat. Rachel had stood vigil curb side with her father, Mr Shue and Ms Pillsbury as Puck was driven away. He had tried to give her a smile but had a feeling he'd grimaced instead.

The echo of a door being opened drew Puck from his contemplation and he was surprised to see Finn amble down the narrow corridor and over to where he sat. "Hey man." His former best friend grinned, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his sweater. "This is a good look for you."

Puck glowered as the tall boy bunkered on the ground near him on the other side of the bars, his long legs folding awkwardly so he could fit in the narrow space between the cell and the wall. 'Are you even allowed to be in here? Isn't it like, against the rules or something?"

Finn shrugged, "I help coach the Lima little league with the Lieutenant in charge. He said it was ok. Besides, they're required to feed you and I brought you a present, courtesy of Rachel." Out of his sweatshirt Finn pulled a package of hostess cupcakes and Pucks eyes lit up as he grabbed for them.

Tearing the plastic open with his teeth, he shoved one in his mouth in its entirety. "Oomygodddd." He groaned appreciatively, crumbs flying out of his mouth as he spoke. Finn grimaced and flicked a small chunk of chocolate from his leg. "Say it man, don't spray it." Puck grinned at him, flashing chocolate covered teeth and reached for the second treat. "If I could live on these bad boys alone, I would." Puck informed him blithely, all his worries temporarily forgotten, which Finn reckoned was the point and why Rachel had suggested that snack in particular.

"Why are you here." Puck asked when he'd licked the sticky icing from his fingers.

"Rachel sent me; she thought you might need a friend." Finn answered and Puck snorted in disbelief. "She thought I needed a friend? And what, you volunteered for the job? You hate my guts. I slept with your girlfriend remember? It's the reason you've spent the last few months not talking to me."

Finn's eyes narrowed. "You don't need to remind me."

Puck had nothing to say, and they sat in silence for enough time that the wheezing snores from the now sleeping hobo echoed around the small concreted space. After a while, Finn unexpectedly asked a question that had Puck floored. "Do you remember in the third grade, when you threw sand in Brittany's face and got us both in time out?"

Puck furrowed his eyebrow in confusion. "Dude, do you think I remember what happened last week let alone 10 freaking years ago? What the fuck has that got to do with anything?"

"Well I remember, because Ms Anderson recommended you see a psychiatrist when you claimed you didn't do it, Puck did. She thought you had a split personality."

Puck shook his head dismissively, stretching his legs out in front of him and letting his head full back against the wall with a thud. "Are you going somewhere with this Hudson? Because you're cutting into my nap time and I've had pretty shitful day."

Finn kicked his foot through the gap in the bars and fixed him with an irritated look.

"Just listen man, I'm trying to tell you something."

Letting out a long suffering sigh, Puck made a rolling motion with his hand, "Continue."

"See the thing is, Ms Anderson was right, you kinda do have 2 sides to you."

"You're saying I'm fucking crazy?"

"I'm saying, there's Puck who is a complete prick to everyone." When Puck made a sound of protest Finn fixed him with a look. "Dude, you throw people in dumpsters. You wanted to tip Artie, our friend who's in a wheelchair, upside down in a portaloo."

"He wasn't our friend at the time." Puck tried to justify unsuccessfully. "Ok so that wasn't one of my better ideas." He conceded when Finn continued to stare at him.

"Dude, sometime you just do these really shitty things and it seems like you don't give a fuck about people's feelings but it's such a crock. Your stupid 'badassness' or whatever you want to call it just isn't you." Finn took a breath. "You can sleep with dozens of cougars and tap every single girl at our school but it's not going to change who you are deep down inside. Because you're actually a good guy. A guy who watches the little mermaid to keep his sister happy and obsessively checks the air in his mom's tyres so she has one less thing to worry about."

"And I don't know where that guy went this year, but I miss him."

Puck considered Finns rambling and was dismayed to discover there was some kind of truth to it. "I don't know either. I guess I have been a dick."

Finn nodded in agreement.

"Man, you know I am really sorry for that whole Quinn thing." Puck scratched behind his ear almost nervously. "I shouldn't have let her drag it out and make you think that Drizzle was yours. That sucked."

'You call her Drizzle?" Finn perked up.

"Yeah dude, it's like the best baby name ever." He replied seriously.

"It really is!" Finn and Puck shared a grin and bumped fists through the bars.

"So we're cool man?" the mohawked boy asked hesitantly and Finn nodded. "Yeah, you know, as long as you don't snake anymore of my girls."

Aware that he may be rocking the foundation of their renewed friendship, Puck couldn't help stating firmly "Berry's not your girl."

Finn considered him carefully. "I know that, I'm just trying to figure out when exactly she became yours."

Puck shot him a look that clearly said he belonged in the Looney bin."You're on crack man. We're friends that's all. There's nothing untoward going on with me and Rachel."

"Untoward?" Finn was amused. "Right. You've been mooning after her for months, you're just too stupid to do anything about it."

Puck bristled in mock annoyance. "Pot. Kettle. Black, dumbass. I'm not the one who followed her around like a love sick puppy. Maybe I backed off so you could get your act together and date her like you should have in the very beginning when Berry first fixed her stalker eyes on you."

"Says you who eats lunch with her every day and buys grape flavoured slushies, which you hate, just because you know she'll want a sip but is too worried about the calorie count to actually get one of her own. You hold her purse while she pees man." Finn countered with a smile.

'I do fucking not!" Puck denied vehemently, his face turning all sorts of red. "Ok that was one god damn time but I-" Finn was laughing so hard, tears rolled down his cheeks. Puck sulked until the Quarterback's chuckles subsided.

"Rachel's good for you." Finn realized. "I approve."

Puck rolled his eyes at his friends self importance. "Gee thanks." He let out a sigh and ran a hand over the swollen side of his face. "She is good for me," he admitted eventually "But she sure as hell deserves better." He lifted his head and met the other boys gaze. "I'm scared I'm going to hurt her."

Finn cocked his head in consideration. "Puck might." He agreed, holding steadfast when Puck's defeated expression turned into a glare. "But I know Noah would rather 'light himself on fire' than do anything to hurt the woman he could potentially love."

Puck looked like someone had punched him in the gut. "Who said anything about love?"

Finn's eyebrows shot through the roof and Puck rolled his eyes again, "Alright." He grumbled, "Just don't say anything to anyone. I don't really want to deal with that when there's already enough shit going on."

The taller boy glanced around the room worriedly. "Yeah I'll say. You're in jail man."

Puck let out a bark of laughter. "You've been sitting here for an hour and you've just realized that?"

"Naw man, I got it but I mean, HOLY CRAP!"

"I know right? I'm sitting here and fucking Langenthol is out there walking around like his shit don't stink."

Both boys were shaking there heads. "We'll figure something out. He can't get away with what he did to Rachel. If the cops can't make any dirt stick, we'll dig some more up." Finn promised and Puck was grateful to have his friend back.

The jingle of keys had the two footballers looking up to see Officer Jerkins striding toward the cell. "Time to go Puckerman, your girlfriend just posted your bail."

"Bail?" he asked as he stood, the muscles in his thighs protesting.

"5,000 bucks." The Officer confirmed, turning the key in the lock and beckoning the teen out. "You're free to go and can collect your belongings at the front desk. The details of your court hearing will be mailed to you in a few days."

Rachel flew into his arms the second Puck was in her sight. "Oh Noah, was it terrible? I can't believe they detained you for so long." She fretted squeezing him tight and looking over his shoulder at Finn before he could answer her. "Did you have a chance to converse and sort out your differences?"

Puck pulled back and glanced suspiciously between the brunette and Finn, the latter who was ducking his head sheepishly. "I may have asked to talk to you alone for a while. I figured it was time to clear the air, and having a set of bars between us wasn't such a bad idea if things turned ugly."

Puck punched his arm lightly and scowled. "And you encouraged him?" He asked Rachel in disbelief and she shrugged, "Yes. It was successful, was it not? And besides, it gave me ample opportunity to formally make your mother's acquaintance."

Puck straightened and looked around in alarm. "Shit, my Mom's here?"

Rachel crossed her arms, "Noah, you were arrested. Of course your mother is here."

At precisely that moment the hair of the back of Puck's neck stood on end and he turned slowly to face a sombre looking Mrs Puckerman who was flanked by both of Rachel's fathers. "Hey Mom, what's up?"

The older woman fixed her son with a scowl that all assembled were amazed to see had a cowering effect on the young man. "What's up? WHAT'S UP?" she screeched.

Puck held up his hands in surrender and walked slowly towards her. "Calm down Mom, this is all a misunderstanding."

She tapped her foot impatiently, "Oh so Max Langenthol is mistaken when he says that you broke his son's jaw is he?" Puck shuffled his feet, "Alex's face might have connecting with my fist but he-"

"I know," Mrs Puckerman interrupted, flashing a sympathetic glance Rachel's way. "I'm not condoning your actions Noah, but I'm proud of you for standing up for your friend. However, sneaking out last night? Not on buddy, you're grounded."

"Aww Mom."

"Say goodbye to Rachel and Finn." His mother was wearing her no nonsense look and Puck knew it was fruitless to argue so he reluctantly shook hands with Finn and brushed a kiss against Rachel's cheek. "And to think I wanted out of that cell." He muttered as he crossed to the desk to pick up his wallet and cell phone.

He nodded to both Mr Berry's and with a last glance at Rachel followed his mother out of the station. He hated lectures, and he had a feeling the one his mother was rehearsing was going to be a doozey.