Author's Note: As promised, here is how the Glee club is faring. Rachel will get more likeable as the story progresses (hopefully). I'm not a big Rachel fan, except for in fic. So I'm going to try and keep her canon at first, and then make her more likeable. I dunno, canon!Rachel irks me a lot. Next chapter will probably be Kurt's next visit with Karofsky, and then the one after that might be his release! What do you think? Also, don't forget to tell me who you think he should end up with: Blaine, Karofsky, or Puck. Karofsky is winning.

Rachel had been an insufferable bitch since Kurt had been admitted. Finn and her had broken up, and she'd become obsessed with finding a replacement for Kurt. When she broached the topic with Glee club, Finn had been unsure who was going to hit her first: Mercedes or Puck. Mercedes had said the usual, "I will cut you," but Puck had stood and stared Rachel down until she sat herself back in her chair, and took her place in the front of the room. Everyone had gone quiet, curious to see what Puck was going to say.

"Careful Berry, your selfish is showing," he said, frowning at her. She looked away. "Now. Here's what I think. Fuck Sectionals. Kurt's in an institution because we didn't realize what was going on with him. I can't believe some of you can just sit there and act like some stupid singing competition is the most important thing in your lives right now. Berry, I hope you're embarrassed, 'cause I'm embarrassed for you." He turned and strode out of the room, ignoring Mr. Schue's calls that he hadn't been dismissed.

Puck was outside leaning against his truck before he knew it. He pulled out the letter he'd gotten two days ago from his back pants pocket, and smoothed the wrinkled envelope. Pulling out the thin paper, he reread Kurt's perfect handwriting.

Dear Noah,

I hope me being sent to the crazy house doesn't put a damper on our blossoming friendship. Also, please keep a running journal of Rachel's outfits. I'll need to know how much insulting I have to do when I come back. I hit ninety-six yesterday, and I cried. I mean, it's good news I guess. I'm four pounds closer to getting out than I was last time I wrote. i think it's kind of funny that we're writing now. I mean, I'm glad you can keep yourself unbiased and write back honestly, unlike Mercedes, who can't keep herself together to save her life. By the way, thanks for sending that other little note from Karofsky. He came to visit me. I think he's trying to change. At least, that's what 'Cedes says. How are you doing? How is Sarah, and Glee Club? Write back soon; I'm going mad in here.

Kurt.

He sighed heavily. He hadn't been to see Kurt, because Kurt had asked him to try and keep everyone away. Apparently Karofsky had snuck past Puck's defense though. He put the note back in his pocket and lowered his head, staring hard at the ground. His friendship with Kurt had kind of popped out of nowhere. One day, his mother had come in saying he had mail "from that crazy clinic in Cleveland." He had taken it apprehensively, surprised when he opened it to see Kurt's request that they be penpals while he was away.

His sister Sarah had quickly become enamored with Kurt after Puck showed her pictures from his old yearbooks and Kurt's Facebook. She had demanded to be able to write to him too, so he always included whatever little note she wanted to send, and Kurt always replied in kind. It made her happy, Noah suspected, to have someone other than her big brother to talk to about things. Kurt was great at giving advice, Puck had learned. At first, Puck had done it for Sarah. Now, he did it because Kurt was easy to talk to and funny, too.

"Puck?" Oh, no. Rachel Berry was suicidal, apparently.

"Get away from me, bitch." He didn't look up, therefore he missed her flinch.

"Noah, I —"

"Only friends call me Noah. Kurt calls me Noah, you know," he said conversationally, finally looking up to meet her eyes. She almost wished he hadn't; his face was so angry.

"I'm sorry, Puck," she said, sounding chastised. "I...I was out of line. And I'm sorry that I didn't realize. I was unaware you and Kurt had become friends. And I'm sorry if I offended you or anyone else with my desire to win. I know that I'm a star and that I can be rather overbearing, but without Kurt we really don't have a chance."

"Good. No one should be worrying about Sectionals right now anyways. Kurt needs us."

Rachel shook her head and gave a rueful smile. "I think you're being selfish too, Puck. Kurt would want us to go on and win for him, even if he couldn't be there. I know how awfully cliche that sounds, but it's true. You know it is. So the question is why you don't want to perform without Kurt."

"Go away, Berry."

She squeezed his shoulder once and left.

Three days later, they had some homophobe named Lauren in Kurt's seat, and Puck's heart cracked a little.

Karofsky had the Ben Israel kid up against the locker so fast that he lost the grip on his camera and it skidded three feet away. "Listen here, Jewfro, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once," he breathed in the kid's face. "Do not, and I repeat do not, ask any questions about Kurt. Don't talk to the Glee club. Don't talk to the football team, or the teachers, or his family. And keep your camera outta my face. Do you understand?"

Jacob nodded frantically, eyes wide, before Karofsky slammed him once more and then left, leaving Jacob to slide to the ground in relief.

Karofsky met up with Azimio a few minutes later. He was getting tired of upholding his facade with his friend, and it was slipping more and more every day. He'd already warned his best friend to back off Glee club. Azimio didn't question it because he was a follower and did as he was told, but Karofsky knew he was suspicious.

"Practice was cancelled tonight, dude."

"Great," Karofsky replied, eyes downcast.

"Yo, Karofsky. Can I talk to you?" Dave glanced up to see Noah Puckerman striding towards him, frown firmly in place.

"Sure, whatever dude."

"In private."

Karofsky bade farewell to Azimio and stood facing Puckerman defiantly, arms crossed. "What?"

"We need to talk."

"About?"

"Kurt."