Ok, guys, this is it! Thank you for bearing with me through this story. I'm sorry I don't quite know how the site works yet, but I really appreciate those who have faved and reviewed my work! Even if you haven't done those things, thank you for reading! I'm very humbled by the amount of views this has, so thank all of you! Hopefully I'll have more stories in the future :)

Enough chitchat, let's get to the conclusion!

There was a small break before the bonus round. Zero came over, smiling, and congratulated them on being an entertaining group and for winning what they had. "For what it's worth, I hope you win the thousand. But it isn't going to be easy," he said with a trace of warning, lowering his eyebrows.

"We figured as much," Kurt responded stoically.

"But we can do it," Finn said to the table. Kurt nodded, he'd been going to say the same thing, but he'd paused, knowing it would have more effect coming from Finn.

Zero smiled, "I wish you luck! You have a few more minutes to get yourselves pumped up!" He rapped on the table and returned to talk to what may have been a director or producer, they weren't sure how it all worked.

"Ok, guys, this is it!"

"We know that, man, you don't need to keep repeating it," Puck said reproachfully. Finn looked a bit hurt, but Puck gave him a thumbs up. "We got this."

After a few moments of silence, Sam asked, "What do you think it's gonna be?"

"Anything's better than gettin' hit in the nuts," Puck responded, glaring at Finn, who could only shrug, his mood a bit improved at the memory of Puck's pained face, even if he'd gotten hit in return. "So I think it should be fine."

"It is the last round, though..." Mike said anxiously.

"Don't be a buzzkill now," Sam scolded, shoving his crossed arms from across the table. "You were all happy-go-lucky a minute ago."

Mike grinned sheepishly. "Just getting anxious. I'd rather get it done right now."

"I don't like these waiting games either," Karofsky said. He'd grabbed the towel from where Sam had thrown it on the table and found a dry spot to make sure all the whipped cream was gone for sure. He didn't want to risk going to the bathroom and missing the start. He didn't want to be a mess either. Besides, it smelled better than the herring.

"The cameras are starting up again," Kurt noticed. "It won't be long."

"We can do it," Finn insisted. He was repeating again, but no one commented on it, they instead made gestures of agreement.

"$5,100, which is…?" Sam grinned.

Mike caught on fast. "$100 a piece."

The guys were a bit upset by the smaller amount, but it had been expected.

"More than I came here with," Puck said spiritedly. Sam nodded, grinning.

"And enough for Glee club," Mike added happily, encouraging a smile from Kurt. Kurt hadn't thought he'd have a chance to go to New York after the Warblers lost, but unexpectedly going back to McKinley and being a part of the New Directions again, getting that chance back, he would not let it slip.

Karofsky couldn't help smiling at how excited they were all getting.

"We just have to win one more," Sam said eagerly. They couldn't stop repeating themselves, but it was something they needed to stamp into their heads. One more round and the game was over. One more chance to win what they needed.

One more round to figure out if this was all worth it.

As Kurt had said, the cameras were already rolling. They played the part of excited contestants for the final time. Zero took his place.

"Final round. Worth more than the rest. $1,000. And remember the rule…silence! Finish the game!"

As he spoke, the cards were passed. They let them drift across the table. They scuffled over the card stock. Kurt and Mike defended theirs while the other 4 goofed around longer than necessary. They were going to make the best of it while they could.

Once again, the fight had been incredibly unnecessary. The cards were flipped. There were 5 yellow skulls. The one green SAFE card was left to Kurt. There were upset noises around the table. Kurt contained a smile, happy to avoid any more trouble. And at least they wouldn't lose on his account. It was unnaturally hard to make him laugh about such dumb stunts. Not that he hadn't, but never enough to cause a loss.

Sam made no move to pull the lever. Was it nerves? Regret? Excitement? Whatever it was, Mike quickly reached across to pull it for him. Sam looked offended when he did so, but Mike didn't regret it. He loved this show. He'd seen every episode. He'd dreamt of pulling the lever, as lame as it sounded, and he'd been waiting for an excuse to pull the thing all game. He'd wanted to snag that seat, but Sam had entered first and taken the spot. At least he got to pull it once, that was all he'd needed. He was content.

The slots changed, words flew by, and finally slowed to the final challenge.

Ball Buster.

Oh no.

They'd thought they were done with this.

As the contestants uncomfortably sat and waited to see what was to come, 4 staff members carried a pool table into the center of the room. After it was placed, they motioned toward the boys, who shuffled toward the pool table. Puck took one side and the other 4 took corners, leaving the last side free.

"The contestants must place their family jewels on the pool table and each be hit with a billiard ball."

Apparently they were not done with this.

The high schoolers looked at each other with various degrees of embarrassment and displeasure, but silently understood to avoid eye contact as they hoisted their nuts onto the table.

As soon as they'd parked their junk, an attractive woman in a tight, black dress walked out, holding a pool cue and a single 8 ball. She took her place on the open side of the pool table. She smirked at the boys. Finn looked away, embarrassed. Sam smiled sheepishly. Mike and Karofsky were too wary of the upcoming pain to take much interest. Puck gave her a wink.

This was evil.

"Begin!" Zero shouted.

The woman lined up her shot toward Puck, who was trying his best not to look nervous, even though his hands were gripping the side extra tight. At the last moment, she slanted to the right and hit her mark dead on. The ball bounced off the side and ran diagonally into the corner on her right. Sam crumpled to the floor with a small, surprised groan. None of the other boys found it funny, knowing their turn was coming, but Karofsky and Puck let out small chuckles. Even the ever silent Kurt covered his mouth and a puff of laughter. Finn looked at them with disappointment, wondering where the teamwork had gone, but realized that they were still on TV. They had to keep it interesting.

The woman lined up the next ball slanting to the left, no fake outs this time. Karofsky hissed but stayed standing, only hunching slightly to indicate pain. The 3 at the table chuckled along conspiratorially, wondering who was next. Sam was still kneeling on the floor. This woman was an excellent shot.

Next she shot straight forward. Puck expected a fake, looking toward Mike's corner, and he was blindsided. Finn breathed, "Aww man..." as Puck crumpled just like Sam, kneeling with his head down.

Now Finn understood what Mike and Karofsky had said about hating waiting games.

Mike was next. He made an exaggeratedly pained face and fell to his side, cradling himself. None of them were sure how much of it was an act and how much of it was real. They assumed it was mostly real.

The woman licked her lips and chalked the cue. She was certainly drawing things out for her last victim. Finn wanted to fake an injury, collapse to the floor, cry for his mom, whatever would get him out of this. He knew he couldn't. He was the leader and he had to be strong.

And so Finn was the last too fall with a small groan.

Through all of that, even though they'd all got hit in the nuts twice in the span of 20 minutes, none of them had been overly loud. No one had laughed or groaned in excess. They waited for it from their pained positions. The floor was littered with craning necks from all kinds of angles, as they were in too much pain to pick themselves up.

Zero inevitably announced, "You survived the battle…and won the money!"

The boys cheered from where they were, finally finding the momentum to stand up. They high fived, clapped backs, and were generally rambunctious, even as they wobbled on their feet. They'd done it! They'd succeeded in their grand mission to get the Glee club to New York, with money to spare! It had all been worth it, even though it had been more painful than they'd all anticipated. Finn was so proud of his team, at how well he'd gotten them to work together, even though it had taken a promise of money to do so...a victory was still a victory!

Zero came over and congratulated them. He promised that they would receive a check once everything was in order.

The frivolity muted.

"We don't get it right away?" Finn asked, confused. He'd always thought you got cash, or at least a check, as soon as the show ended. Why flash money if they couldn't have it?

Zero laughed a bit. "I'm sorry, but it doesn't work that way. We have to do background checks, make sure you are who you say you are, legal stuff. You understand?"

The boys were dumbstruck.

"Yes, of course," Kurt cut in, as he was the only one able to hide his shock at the horrible realization.

Zero nodded. "Thank you for coming in today, I'm sure we can make a great episode out of this! Now all you need to do is go to Jen at the front desk of the studio. Just give her your names and the show name and she'll find your paperwork. After that's filled out, you're all set to go."

"Thank you," Kurt responded. Zero walked back to the cameras and the boys walked into the hallway. They walked by the waiting room and saw a group of girls, probably there for the next recording. They didn't stop until they got to the elevator.

"I didn't know they did background checks!" Puck said angrily before the doors had closed all the way.

"So all of that was for nothing?!" Kurt had held it together in the studio, but now he was furious. He turned on Finn.

That was the worst part of being the leader. If anything went wrong, even if it wasn't his idea, he was the fall guy.

"We...uh...worked together as a team..."

"UGH!" was the collective response.

"Which will really help us in New York. If we can make it through this, we can make it though anything!" He was desperate to put a positive spin on this.

"No extra money!" Puck and Sam lamented, as if they hadn't heard him.

"I won't be on TV..." Mike pouted, thinking of how disappointed Tina would be.

"Thank God," Karofsky muttered. He was grateful, but annoyed too. He'd done this to repay a debt to Kurt and none of it had made a lick of difference.

"No New York," Kurt huffed, pulling at his also ruined shirt.

"Now hold on!" Finn rose masterfully. "We may not get the cash or be on TV, but we will get to New York! I guarantee it."

The elevator door opened and the boys walked to the exit.

"By selling taffy." Puck deadpanned.

"We'll do what it takes!" Finn said fiercely. "And, who knows, maybe we'll still get the money. Maybe their background check isn't very good."

The others looked hopeful, except Kurt, who rolled his eyes, "I doubt it. Let's just get back to McKinley and pretend this never happened."

Finn was dismayed, but hopeful.

There was still a chance.

Finn was wrong.

He waited by the mailbox every day. Even after they raised the money to go to New York. Up until the day before they took the plane, he hopefully checked it. But there was never any money.

And why would there be?

They were so upset about the possibility of not getting the money that they forgot to fill out the paperwork.

But they still made it to New York.

As a team.