Chapter 14
Rachel woke up Sunday evening to find that she was in her own room, but she wasn't alone; a sleeping Santana was pressed up against her. Rachel smiled. She remembered how great Santana had been when she had made it back to the Lopez residence earlier that morning. The Cheerio had held the girl's hand as she recounted the attack to the police in the Lopez living room and when she had finally been able to shower and lie down on Santana's bed, the taller girl lied down right next to her while she repeatedly told her, just like she had after Dr. Lopez had finished cleaning her cuts, that she was okay and that she was safe. Rachel figured that someone who would show her that kind of love and support wouldn't simply be hanging out with her out of sympathy or a misplaced sense of obligation. She came to the conclusion that Santana had simply lashed out because she was simply afraid that her sexual affair with Brittany would be publicized before the she was fully prepared to emotionally deal with the consequences.
Rachel could hear several voices outside her room and was curious as to what was occurring downstairs. Figuring she should wake the girl so that she could properly thank her for her support throughout the whole ordeal. It only took two light shakes to rouse Santana, who had only been slightly dozing.
"Hey," the Cheerio said when Rachel's face came into view, "You okay?" Rachel nodded. When Santana sat up, Rachel threw her arms around her, causing Santana to smile and return the hug.
"Thank you, Santana," Rachel said simply. Rachel only broke the hug off when Santana's hands traveled a bit too far south and settled on the lowest part of Rachel that was not making contact with the bed.
"Hands! Hands!" Rachel cried out. Santana laughed. When the Latina pulled back, Santana's smile left her face and she looked Rachel in the eye.
"Rachel, I am sooo sorry for Friday." Rachel didn't need an apology, as far as she was concerned, after this morning, Santana should be nominated for Sainthood. She wondered if the Pope would take a Jewish girl's nomination under consideration.
"Santana, you don't have to apologize."
"Yes. I do," she quickly replied, "I just freaked out and I didn't mean it. And I'm sorry." Rachel just hugged her again. Santana's hands once again began to wander.
"Hands stay up," Rachel giggled. When they pulled apart for the second time, they heard a knock on the door. The two girls turned and saw Brittany poking her head in.
"Can I join yet?" the blonde girl asked. Santana and Rachel let the dancer know she could come in. Brittany squeezed in behind Santana settling her hand on her girlfriend's waist.
"Everyone's still downstairs," Brittany told Santana.
"Everyone?" questioned Rachel.
"Glee club," explained Santana, "After your dad took you home, Puck and I followed in the car and then I called Brit and told her to meet us at your house."
"San told me to tell everyone else what happened, so I just called Kurt." The soprano had taken over for Brittany and within three minutes of her phone call the entire club, as well as Blaine, had been informed.
"You didn't have to do that," Rachel said. Santana and Brittany both rolled their eyes. Rachel and Brittany moved to head downstairs, but they realized Santana wasn't following.
"Brit and I are together." Brittany looked like Santana had just told her Lord Tubbington was going to have kittens. She was so happy that Santana had finally admitted it, even if it was just to one person.
"Brittany S. Pierce is my girlfriend." All three girls in the room were smiling. Santana turned to look at the other cheerleader.
"I'm sorry if I made it seem as if I was ashamed of you. Ashamed of us," Santana apologized to the blonde sincerely, "You're amazing Brit and I could never be embarrassed of you." While Santana was usually nicer when it came to Brittany, she rarely showed such affectionate and heartfelt sentiments with the girl, let alone in front of a third party. Santana didn't know if she was ready to come out, but she wanted Brittany to know how much she meant to her.
Rachel, feeling as if the two had more private things to say to each other, told the girls that they could use her room to talk and quietly shut the door on her way out. She heard her father speaking to someone on the phone, most likely her Dad since he called the person on the other line 'baby'. When Julius saw her enter his room he smiled and interrupted his significant other.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Julius passed the phone over to her as she sat down on the bed's edge next to him.
"Rachel, startshine, are you alright?" Hiram rushed out.
"I'm fine, Dad, just a couple of scrapes and bruises."
"Scrapes!" Hiram exclaimed. Julius, knowing his husband's melodramatic tendencies when it came to broken skin, had left that part out of the story. He could hear Hiram now yelling out over the receiver.
"Julius Leon Berry! You told me she just had a bruised arm!" Rachel, who had moved the phone away form her ear to save her hearing came to her father's rescue.
"Don't be mad at Daddy, you know you don't handle blood well. Also, they're very tiny scrapes. In all likelihood they'll be healed before you return home." As Hiram began bombarding her with questions about her physical health, emotional well being, and every other possible topic under the son, Julius took the phone and let the man know that Rachel had to go and make sure the large group of teenagers downstairs weren't eating them out of house and home.
When she went down the stairs she could see Blaine and the rest of the club seated around the sofa and chairs they had brought in from the dinning room, the only person missing was Puck.
Although he had come to secretly like the gleeks, Puck just needed time alone to process everything. He was staring out into the yard thinking about the same thing he had been ever since he had seen Rachel on Santana's bed: it could have been so much worse. Worst-case scenarios continued to run through his head and he just needed some air.
Kurt was the first to notice that Rachel was no longer asleep upstairs.
"Diva!" He exclaimed, quickly making his way to her. As he looked her over, Kurt's eyes became wet. Seeing that he was too afraid of hurting her, Rachel took the initiative and hugged her friend. After thanking everyone for coming and reassuring them that she was all right, the majority of the kids started to make their leave. Rachel asked were Noah was.
"Out in the back," answered Finn. Rachel went outside and found Puck sitting on steps of the back porch. She sat down next to him and he draped an arm around her shoulders. In return she put her head on his shoulder. The two just sat there, the presence of the other silently reassuring each that things would be okay.
On Monday morning Rachel went to Santana's locker holding four Tupperware containers.
"These are for your father and Stephanie," the shorter girl said as she handed Santana three boxes, "They're my world famous sugar cookies." Santana looked through the clear plastic containers.
"Are these in the shape of stethoscopes?"
"And Caducei. I outlined them with black frosting because the shape alone was a bit vague and perplexing."
"Impressive." After Santana put them in her locker, Rachel then handed her the fourth box.
"And this batch is for you." Santana saw that her cookies where frosted red and white and in the shapes of hearts, cheerleading outfits and bullhorns with Go Santana written on them.
"These are awesome, Berry!" she said taking a bite of one of the heart shaped ones.
"We'll my father and I just wanted you to know how grateful I am to you and your family for this past week. He didn't help bake them, though. I thought it best not to show my appreciation through food poisoning." Santana laughed and placed the forth box into her locker as well. The two then walked pinkie and pinkie to history.
As Puck was walking through the halls before sixth one of the hockey players caught his eye. John Arnold was Thomas' closest friend in Lima. Something about Santana's recount of what happened to Rachel suddenly popped into his head: she said he grabbed her hard and she could hear other another voice yelling nearby. Deciding to listen to his gut, Puck approached the other teen at his locker.
"'Sup John." Puck noticed that John was purposely avoiding eye contact and that he looked like he hadn't slept in over 24 hours.
"Puckerman?" The boy sounded nervous. Deciding not to beat around the bush, Puck asked what he wanted to know.
"Tell me, what kind of coward beats up a girl?" Puck was referring to Thomas, but John's response surprised him.
"I never touched her!" A couple of students around turned to look what appeared to be worthwhile drama.
"You were with him?" Puck's fist made contact with the locker.
"You piece of shit!"
"I was in the car! He said he just wanted to scare her. I didn't know what he was gonna do," the boy tried to explain himself.
"Didn't know what he was gonna do? The psycho spray painted her locker with a swastika and drew 'kike' all over the school!"
"I know but-"
"But what? He threw a brick through her window! What did you think was gonna happen?"
"Not that! I mean I just thought he was gonna scare her that's all. I mean we all do shit like that all the time." When he saw that Puck was confused and wanted him to continue.
"We call that Hummel kid faggot and, when Sue's not around, Becky retarded. No one cares. I mean we've been doing shit like that since freshmen year. Hell, you throw Jewfro into the dumpster like every other day." Puck understood John's logic: if the school tolerated one form of bullying why would John assume they wouldn't tolerate another. Still that didn't mean Puck wasn't gonna kick the shit out of this kid.
"I tried to stop him!" Puck grabbed John's jacket, but before he raised his fist, he tried to reel his temper in.
"Listen, this is what you're going to do. You're going to come with me to Figgins' office and tell him everything that went down. Then when he calls the cops you're gonna tell them. And maybe if you're lucky I won't have to kill you." John did as told, relieved that he was going to live another day and that he could get what happened off his chest. After giving his statement John was then taken away to the station for a more in depth interrogation.
Although Julius Berry had been helping his life (and legal) partner Hiram work on his summation from home on Tuesday when Kurt told the man that his daughter had yet to buy a dress for prom, which was two days away, Julius immediately grabbed his credit card and went shopping.
During rehearsals that same day Rachel pulled Quinn aside as the rest of the kids were listening to Tina's rendition of Bulletproof.
"Quinn, for the last time, I swear 'I Never Told You' is not directed at Finn." The prom queen nominee had been giving Rachel the evil eye ever since she rehearsed it for the class.
"While I admit I do tend to choose songs based on their strange ability to narrate episodes in my life, I promise I just like Colbie Callait."
"I believe you."
"Are you sure? Because you still look like you want to slap me."
"Sorry. That's just habit. And yes, I'm sure." Although Rachel still wasn't Quinn's favorite person, the girl, like all the gleeks, had noticed Puck and Rachel's relationship grow. And, even though the two seemed determined not to admit it to one another, she could tell they liked each other more than just in a friendly way.
When Puck and Rachel stepped into her house after Glee they were confused as to why the living room couch had four dresses laid out over it.
"Daddy?" Rachel called out. Julius stepped out of the kitchen holding a takeout bowl of udon noodles and chop sticks close to his face.
"Oh good your home," the father said, placing his dinner on the dinning table.
"Hello, Noah."
"Hey, Mr. Berry."
"Noah, I told you call me Julius."
"Right. Sorry, – I mean Julius."
"Daddy, why is the sofa covered in dresses?"
"Kurt Hummel called me during lunch this afternoon and told me that you had yet to buy a dress for your junior prom. So I took the liberty of purchasing some options for you." Julius knew his daughter very well so before she could protest about the charges to his card he informed her that he would return the dresses she didn't choose. When he saw Puck getting ready to walk back to his truck, Julius jumped in – Kurt also told him Rachel still didn't have a date to prom either.
"Noah, why don't you stay? We have plenty of take out from Mr. Mioko's and I promise most of it has meat in it," sensing that Puck didn't look convinced Julius added that Rachel would need a second opinion on which dress looked best.
"Daddy, Noah doesn't want to stay and watch me try on dresses," the girl stepped in, trying to save the boy. Puck thought that wasn't really accurate; he'd love to watch Berry repeatedly take off her clothes, he'd just rather do it in like a lingerie store or a bedroom.
"I won't take no for an answer," Julius said jokingly. The joke however was lost on Puck who could only think 'do not piss off the six-foot-three black father.' Puck called his mom and let her know that he'd be eating at Berry's he could have sworn she squealed. Miriam quickly tried to play it off as a coughing fit.
"Mom?"
"Sorry, Noah, just a bug in my throat." Puck rolled his eyes; he knew an excited-Jewish-mother squeal when he heard one. Miriam told her son to be polite and then she added to try to keep his shirt from wrinkling (what?). The mother then hung up.
Rachel told Puck to go help himself to some takeout while she changed. Julius Berry, aside from being one of Ohio's most sought after attorneys, was an excellent stylist. Each dress he chose for his daughter was better than the next. Puck wasn't much help; he said they all looked good. Puck wanted to give her other, more strongly worded, compliments but he figured it would go against his 'do not piss off the six-foot-three black father' plan. Even though the bruises on her back and arm were still visible, having now turned sickly greenish-yellow color, Rachel decided that she would choose dress number three: the strapless baby pink gown that was synched at the waist.
Puck was at Artie's house working on his math homework Wednesday evening when the conversation suddenly shifted to Prom.
"Dude, just ask her already," Artie stated, "Prom's in like three days. If you don't ask her, then I'm gonna do it."
"Do that and I'll roll you off a cliff." Puck retorted.
"But then who will my date dance with?"
"Ha Ha. You're a funny guy," Puck said unamused.
"Look," Artie said trying to build up his friend's confidence, "She's not gonna say 'no.'" Puck looked skeptical.
"She spends like every free second of her day with you," Artie explained as if he were talking to a five year old. "And Kurt told me he heard to her refer to Friday as Noah-Rachel movie night. Trust me. She wants you to ask her. She waiting for you to ask her. So nut up already and do it."
On Thursday Santana threw her water bottle at Pucks balls.
"What the hell, Satana?" Puck yelled. He managed to protect his boys, but he kept his hands employed as a makeshift cup.
"Just checking to see if they're still there."
"What?"
"Be a man and ask her out." Was her only response.
By the time Friday rolled around, Puck had yet to ask Rachel. Ever since Santana tried to castrate him he'd been keeping his hands over his zipper every time he was in her presence – that shit was traumatizing. However, he wasn't expecting Brittany to toss her water bottle at him and he went down.
"Sorry Puck," Brittany said, standing over the boy, "But, San said you wouldn't see it coming if I did it. Like a blizzard attack." She meant blitz. Knowing he'd just cause more pain for himself if he got mad at or upset Santana Lopez' girlfriend – only the Gleeks were told of their official status – he just nodded and tried to breathe through the pain.
Friday night found Rachel and Puck in her living room watching Jurrasic Park. During the scene where Dr. Grant was feeding the brontosaurus Puck grabbed the remote and pressed paused.
"Did you need to use the restroom, Noah?" Rachel asked trying to figure out why he had stopped the movie.
"No, I needed to ask you something." Taking a breath, he popped the question.
"Would you like to go to prom with me?"
"Is this because Santana has been throwing things at your….well um that area?"
"No this is because I like you and I want to go to the dance with you." Rachel smiled.
"Well I don't know. I mean Artie did ask me…" Upon seeing his face, Rachel laughed and quickly informed him she was joking.
"I'm kidding, Noah. Artie told me to say that when you asked."
"Are there any cliffs in Lima?" Puck grumbled.
"I would be honored to go with you, Noah." A quiet 'yes!' could be heard from the kitchen. Apparently Puck wasn't the only one with a Jewish mother. Both teens shook their heads and tried to act as if they hadn't heard Julius and Hiram, who had returned Thursday evening. Not wanting to make a big deal about it Puck said cool and then hit play. Rachel just snuggled up closer to him.
Prom was a hit. With the money Figgins had saved on music he was able to rent out a dinning hall in one of the nicest hotels in Lima. The Warblers did a fantastic job and did the New Directions. Also, many of the McKinley girls who had come without dates were excited because, when ever they were able, the boys from Dalton Academy would ask them to dance.
As expected Quinn and Finn won the crown. Quinn was over the moon. Finn was just happy his girlfriend was happy. The floor cleared so that the two could share a dance to Lifehouse's You & Me, sung brilliantly by Blaine. As the spot light focused in on Finn and Quinn, Brittany leaned over and whispered into Santana's ear that told her she voted for her.
After the Warblers finished singing the last song on the set list, Forever Young, the majority of the New Directions were confused as to why the all boy choir didn't seem to be leaving the stage. However, before they could contemplate it any further they heard the sounds of drums introducing a new song. Rachel immediately knew the number, seeing as how Puck had recently made it his life's goal to introduce her to every piece of music ever composed by a Jew. The girl shook her head, smiling at how totally inappropriate the song was. The Warblers organized themselves into two groups leaving the middle open. Puck appeared behind them and stepped through to grip the microphone stand. Finding Rachel's eyes in the crowd he smirked and then started:
(Puck; Warblers;Both; Blaine; Blaine & Warblers)
When I watch you, wanna do you, right where you're standing…yeah.
Right on the foyer, on this dark day, right in plain view…oh, yeah….
Of the whole ghetto, the boot-stomped meadows, but we ignore that, yeah.
You're lovely, baby. This war is crazy, I won't let you down…oh, no no….
No, I won't let them take you, won't let them take you…Hell, no no…
Oh, no…I won't let them take you, won't let them take you…Hell, no no…
No, oh no, no, no….
And when our city, vast and shitty, falls to the Axis, yeah…
They'll search the buildings, collect gold fillings, wallets, and rings…oh, yeah.
But oh miss black eyeliner, you'd look finer with each day in hiding, oh yeah…
Beneath the wormwood, ooooo, love me so good…
They won't hear us screw away the day.
I'll make you say:
"Alive! Alive! Alive with love, alive with love tonight…"
(No, I won't let them take you, won't let them take you…Hell, no no…
Whoa, no…I won't let them take you, won't let them take you…Hell, no no…)
"Alive! Alive! Alive with love, alive with love tonight…"
Our Treblinka is alive with the glory of love….
(Love Love Love)
Treblinka is alive with the glory of love! Yeah!
(Love Love Love)
(Ok, speed it up….Go!)
Should they catch us and dispatch us to those separate work camps,
I'll dream about you. I will not doubt you with the passing of time….Oh, yeah.
Should they kill me, your love will fill me as warm as the bullets, yeah.
I'll know my purpose. This war was worth this. I won't let you down…
No, I won't….
No, I won't….
No, I won't….
Blaine, who had stopped dancing with Kurt so he could join his group midway through the song stepped out from the rest of the Warblers and nudged Puck who smiled and passed over the mike and walked off stage making his way over to Rachel who had been "dancing" with Artie.
(Alive! Alive! Alive with love, alive with love tonight…)
As Blaine sang the final lines of the song Puck took the girl's right wrist and twirled her so that she was facing him. He took her face in his hands and kissed her as if they were the only two people in the room.
Hell no no, oh no (Alive! Alive!) I won't let them take you, won't let them take you (Alive with love, alive with love tonight) Hell no, no,
No, no!
When Puck and Rachel finally pulled apart for air they both had humungous smiles on their faces.
A/n: I'm a total romantic at heart so obviously we had to have a happy ending - epilogue still to come. I know not everyone like's Say Anything's Alive With the Glory of Love, but I don't care it's one of my favorites so it had to be used. PS Lyrics to the song are not mine (obviously) they belong to the band Say Anything.