Broken

Chapter 7- Just Another Guy

A/N: So, y'all are wondering ages, I know Rachel's was made clear but here go:

Rachel- 19 years old
Kurt- 19 years old
Finn, Quinn, Puck, and everyone else unless otherwise noted- 20 years old
Okay, thank you to all the reviews that are left anonymous. I love them all! Thank you to suggestions, keep them coming, it gives me something to think about. I own nothing...but this plot line. And I don't own the title to this chapter. That's Lauren Conrad's handy work!

One month. Puck sat at his computer, looking over the essay due in his class on Monday. He couldn't help but think back to that night one month ago where Rachel shut him out; she hasn't said more than two words to him since. Even Pixie has ignored him, every time he came into the room that Pixie was in, she would run off, finding another room to be in. He didn't know what pissed him off more, Rachel or Pixie. And don't even get him started on the nights he has to listen to her crying and can't do a damn thing about it. Every night he wants to bang on her door until she has no choice but to open it but Finn gives him a death glare before he or Quinn slips in and comforts her.

In the one month since that night, they all fell into a routine. During the day on Monday's and Tuesday's, Quinn stayed with her until Finn and Puck came home. Wednesday's and Friday's were Puck's days, and every so often, he would let Finn and Quinn have date night on Friday. The other day Finn watched her, he usually volunteered a few hours at the library. They still kept their days on who made dinner, and most of the days Rachel sat with them.

Puck slammed the lap top screen down, going out to find something to drink. It was Friday and a date night for Finn and Quinn. He pulled out ingredients to make some sandwiches. Stomping to Rachel's closed door, he spoke through the door. "Rach, I'm making sandwiches, do you want one?" Puck was frustrated, having to speak through closed doors, and her never looking at him; her head was always down.

"Yes, please." Rachel answered in a low voice. Puck groaned, that's all he ever got, two worded answers.

As Puck made the sandwiches, he remembered that morning, Rachel had let him hold her, sing to her, comfort her. She did a complete 180 and he didn't know how to handle it yet. He heard her enter the kitchen, turning slightly so Puck could see her. "What do you want to drink?" Puck turned all the way around to see her at the table, head down.

Rachel didn't look up, but she did answer him. "Water, please." Rachel said quietly.

With the second two worded answer, Puck's balled his fist, ready to hit something. "Damn it Rachel!" He watched her flinch, but at this point he didn't care, she needed to hear him out. "What did I do wrong? I can't fix anything if you don't tell me what I did. I can't stand this bullshit!" In the back of Puck's head, he knew this was only going to make her cry, but maybe that would give him an opportunity to move in, and show her he was still here for her.

Rachel shook her head, and stood to leave the room. "It's not you." Rachel ran from the room, heading back to her room.

Puck sighed, dropping his head, "Damn it," he muttered. He finished her sandwich, grabbing a bottle of water and an apple, he brought to her room. Knocking first, he slowly opened the door. "Rachel?" No response came from the girl curled up on the center of her bed. "Here's your lunch. I'm sorry about earlier, I'm just...frustrated." He put the items down on her bed side table. When she didn't acknowledge him, he sighed and left the room.

As Puck ate his lunch, he made a decision right then and there; he had to get out of the apartment for the night. He hadn't been out since before Rachel came; he just needed one night away from the frustration. He knew there was a party tonight, he could go there, no he wanted to go. All he had to do was call in a favor from a friend.

…***...***

"Thanks again man. I really need to have a night out." Puck greeted Kurt.

Kurt sighed, slipping off his designer coat. "Not a problem, I understand. I just...it's hard seeing her like this, still." Kurt went to the kitchen, helping himself to a bottle of water.

"Trust me, I know what you mean." Puck grabbed his coat off the back of the chair, checking to make sure he had his wallet, cell and keys before heading to the door. "Thanks again, I'll talk to you later." Puck slipped out the door, a funny feeling resting in the pit of his stomach.

Kurt sighed, he loved Rachel, but tonight was suppose to be his night to be by himself. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the stove to make Rachel a cup of her favorite tea. He figured he better get on her good side.

When the tea was ready, he walked it to her room. "Rachel, honey, it's Kurt. Can I come in? I made you tea."

"Yes." Rachel answered quietly, Kurt slipped in and took in the sight of Rachel, hair limp, her in sweats and a t-shirt.

Kurt shook his head, stepping over to her bed. "Hey sweetie. How are you?" Kurt set the hot drink down on the bed side table. "Come on, Rachel, let me do your hair, you'll feel so much better. Promise."

Rachel shook her. "Where did Noah go?" She looked up at Kurt. Even though she hasn't really talked to Puck, she still felt safer when she knew he was here. She knew he would protect her.

"He...um, went out sweetie. You know, to go do some things. He'll be back later." Kurt gently rubbed her back. "Do you want to talk?" Rachel shook her head. Kurt didn't know what else to do, so he just sat with her, watching a few movies.

Around ten, he heard the front door open and Finn and Quinn talking quietly. "Puck?" Finn called out, Kurt shook his head, now knowing Puck never told them he was leaving.

Kurt walked out the living room, "I don't know where he went, he just said he needed a night out. So, I came over to sit with Rachel." Kurt looked at Finn, recognizing the pissed look.

"Are you kidding? He should have called me." Finn left Kurt and Quinn in the living room and went to check on Rachel. "Hey Rach, I'm home." Finn couldn't tell if Rachel was awake or asleep.

When Rachel rolled over, she sat up to look at her brother standing in the door way. "Oh, hi Finn." Rachel sat up a little more and pulled her knees to her chest. "Is Noah home yet?" She knew she shouldn't ask, she has been avoiding him.

"Um, no, he's not." Finn walked to her bed, sitting on the edge, a small smile playing on his lips. "Quinn and I went for a walk tonight in the park, we saw this little girl skipping down the path with her parents and her brother, she was singing some song. Do you remember when Dad and Daddy would take you to see a Broadway show and I would have to go, but after when we would walk back to the hotel, you would skip while holding Dad's hand singing your favorite show tune? I would just roll my eyes and think how crazy you were." Finn chuckled to himself. "Or when were even younger and you would dress me up and make me sing some weird song..."

"But later you loved it and joined the show choir with me." Rachel remembered the day her brother joined, she was excited but he just wanted more time with Quinn, or so he says.

"You never sing anymore." Finn looked at his sister, who flinched at the unpleasant memories attached to the show choir back home.

Rachel could feel the tears burn her eyes. "I know," she said quietly.

"You let Puck sing to you. You haven't let someone..."

The tears slid down Rachel's cheeks. "I know Finn!" Rachel hid her face in her blankets, sobbing.

"Why won't you talk to him? He's only trying to be your friend." Finn rubbed his sister's back.

She gulped in a large breath, "Because, the last time..."

"Come on Rach! He won't hurt you, Puck's not like him. Sure, Puck can be an ass, sometimes inconsiderate when it comes to other people. But he can be nice. I saw that when you came. He cares..."

"Please Finn, I don't want..."

Finn stood, talking over Rachel, cutting her off. "You don't want to hear it? Well listen Rachel, you came here for a fresh start. It's been a month, a rocky one, but still." Finn walked towards the door. "I love you Rachel, you'll always be my baby sister but I want to see you get better. If Puck will help you get better, let him in, and let him help you. Because nothing Dad, Daddy, Quinn or I have done has helped. This is our last option, so please, let someone help you..." Finn trailed off, when Rachel just continued to cry, he shut her door and walked to the living room. "Any word from Puck?" Finn asked Quinn, realizing Kurt already left.

Quinn shook her head, "No. Do you want me to stay the night? Just in case..." Quinn trailed off.

Finn nodded, "I hope the jackass has his keys, I'm ready for bed."

"Me too." Quinn stood to join Finn.

"Do you know what the first thing Rachel asked me?" Quinn shook her head, "If Puck was home yet." Finn sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Quinn looked at her over tired, over stressed boyfriend. "Of course she did, just because she hasn't talked to him doesn't mean she doesn't misses him. Come on, let's go to bed. I'll rub your back for you." Finn smiled, heading back to the bedroom.

…***...***

Puck stumbled up the stairs of his apartment building. At this point in time he wishes an elevator was available. He really hadn't meant to pass out, he did plan to come home last night. But after three beers, he moved to the whiskey, and after that, his night's all a blur.

He finally makes it to the apartment door, he struggled to get the right key into the door, his headache was worse than most. After what felt like 20 minutes, someone opened the door for him. Puck looked up to see Finn in his pajama pants and a t-shirt, Finn looked pissed on top of it. Puck couldn't blame him, it was 6 in the morning. "Hey..." Puck swallowed down the feeling of throwing up. "...Finn. Thanks man."

Finn didn't move out of Puck's way. "Where the hell have you been? We have all been worried. You could've called!"

Puck winced at Finn's loud voice. "Dude...quiet please. And I needed a night..." Puck blinked his eyes open. "Can you let me in?" Finn moved out of his way, but followed Puck into the kitchen.

"Do you know where Quinn has been all night?" Finn watched Puck try to find the aspirin and a bottle of water.

Puck shook his head. "No, why don't you fill me in." Puck snapped.

"Trying to calm Rachel..."

Puck whipped around. "Yeah? What's new?" Puck finally located the pills, moving to the fridge for water.

Finn slammed his fist down on the counter top, "This time Rachel was worried you had been killed or some shit!"

Puck sighed, lowering his voice. "I don't know what to do. How to help, I feel useless. She won't even talk to me."

Finn moved to sit down, "Puck, what happened two years ago, really hurt her. Maybe you should sit down." Puck came and sat down next to Finn. "A little over two years ago, Rachel was 'in love' with a kid that I didn't like so much. But he was in show choir with her, they were the leads, and pretty amazing ones too. They met her sophomore year and started dating almost immediately. She was so happy, he was over almost every day, my dad's loved him. We even did double dates," Finn shrugs, shaking his head at the memory. "About six months in, Quinn brought up how she could see him controlling her, and the small signs of mental abuse." Finn saw the confused look in Puck's face. "You know, like telling her she wasn't dancing well enough, that she needed more practice. Or her voice was shaking and she needed to run more scales. Quinn said the big clue was when Rachel ordered fries at dinner and he told her that she didn't need any more calories in her diet." Finn watched as Puck became upset. "But I pushed it aside and told her not to worry, that Rachel was a big girl and she could handle herself. I should have done something..." Finn shook his head, looking down and away from Puck. "But a year in, no one was able to pick her up from dance, that's when..."

"Finn?" Quinn stood in the door way, on the verge of tears. "Rachel, she's coming in for breakfast." Quinn nodded, walking to the coffee pot. Seconds later they could hear Rachel's door open and close.

Finn looked over at Puck, "I guess we'll talk later." Finn stood and left the kitchen before Rachel could come in.

Puck watched Rachel walk in, and when their eyes met, Rachel's shoulders fell, like a weight had just been removed. Rachel didn't say anything, just went to find breakfast. Puck stood, "I'll be in the shower." But instead of him going to his room, he went to Finn's. "Tell me what happened!" Puck needed to know the rest before he jumped to conclusions.

Finn sighed, "I can't and I won't discuss details. It's not my story to tell. All you need to know is Rachel's boyfriend attacked her that night. Raped her and left her for dead. We found her hours later when someone found her. We almost lost her that night and since then she hasn't been the same. She hasn't sang, danced, baked, nothing." Dropping his face into his hands, Finn let a few tears leak, he hated bringing up that night. It was too much for him. "Now you know..."

Puck stormed out of the room, heading to his, shutting and locking his door, he began to pace the length of the room. He couldn't think of what kind of sick bastard would hurt Rachel like that. How could he have left Rachel for dead? How come Finn didn't say something when Quinn noticed it? Where were her father's? How come they didn't see it?

Puck's headache came back full force, he really didn't have the energy to think this much. Plopping down on his bed, he realized the story Finn told him still had gaps, but at least he now knew some of it. Puck had a lot to think about. Scratches at his door brought him from his thoughts. Puck opened it, seeing Pixie on the other side. "Hey girl." Puck smiled when Pixie ran in and jumped up onto his bed, softly whining. Puck re-closed his door and went to join the small dog on his bed, Pixie curled into Puck and started to fall asleep. He rubbed her back slowly, happy that one of them was no longer ignoring him.

…***...***

"Finn?" Rachel called out from the kitchen.

"Yeah Rach?" Finn was playing a video game on the couch.

"Have you seen Pixie?"

"Nope. Want me to check the bedrooms?" Finn paused his games and stood up.

"Yes, please. It's time for her to eat."

"Okay." Finn checked his room first, but no Pixie. Then Rachel's, but he still couldn't find the dog, he checked the main bathroom, but couldn't find the small dog. He glanced at Puck's but he didn't think Pixie would be in there, but he opened the door to look, just in case. "Rachel, I found Pixie. Come here." Rachel was by Finn's side in a minute, peaking into Puck's room were here Pixie laid curled into Puck's chest.

"Oh, I guess leave her. As long as I know where she is. Can we leave the door opened?" Finn nodded, leaving Rachel in Puck's doorway.

A/N: Oh boy...Questions? Comments? Please, I love to hear them! :)