A/N: So sorry for the long wait, I hope your all sticking with me!

These past couple of weeks, I've been at band camp as an aide, and can I tell you, there's this little boy with a Mohawk, wheres the muscle tee's and shorts with skater shoes and walks around like he owns the place. He is adorable and every time I see him, I can only think of the mini-Puck from Glee! Makes me laugh every time!

Thank you all so much for the alerts and faves on this story :) It blew me away. You guys are AMAZING. As usual I own nothing.

Chasing Pavement

Chapter Two- Somewhere Only We Know

Finn woke up at 3:30 in the morning, to Rachel's side of the bed cold. He knew she was there when he had laid down, only because he had possessively wrapped Rachel in his arms. Besides there wasn't a night where Rachel went to sleep after him, he made sure of it. So, when he woke up and realized she wasn't there, he knew what had happened. She had left. She had left him. Now, Finn wasn't stupid. He knew he could be controlling of her, but it was only because Rachel meant so much to him.

He also knew that Rachel was still in love with someone else. That someone else being her ex-husband. He was sure that Rachel ran right into Puck's waiting arms after the fight they had last night. So sure, in hindsight calling her a stupid annoying freak was a bad idea...he mused as he was throwing on clothes, hellbent on going out to find her. Thinking about where she would go, he realized that Puck was almost too obvious. Besides her dads, that's the first place he would think to look, and Rachel knew that. So where did she go? He pulled out a phone book and started calling hotels, motels, truck stops, really any place where she might go. He was going to find her, even if it took him all day.

…***...***

"Damn it!" Finn yelled to no one in particular, throwing his phone and the phonebook across the apartement. He'd been looking for awhile, at least three hours. And no one had seen or heard of a Rachel Berry, Rachel Puckerman or Rachel Berry-Puckerman. He was at his wits end and needed her back in their apartment where he could keep her safe from people like Puck.

He grabbed his keys and tore out of the apartment and down the stairs. He noticed Rachel's car still sitting in the garage, so he figured she didn't get very far (please read in super fast speed) butobviouslyshedidbecauseshe'satPuck'snowyoudumbfuck. Finn didn't even know where to start now, he had called every single place in the phone book, checked the last time a train left. Since they weren't married-yet, yeah he knows, that's really bold of him, but he'll get her to agree-he couldn't check to see if she had taken money out of an ATM or bought a plane ticket. She had no clothes, therefore she didn't plan to stay away for long. She has her own money, she'll just buy more. The little voice in the back of his head was nagging at him, telling him he was stupid for not figuring out a way to make sure she never left.

Finn drove for what seemed like hours, stopping at gas stations, random people on the street, showing them pictures of her, asking if the had seen her. Most took him as a worried boyfriend, looking for his girlfriend. And sure he was, they just didn't know he was a controlling bastard. Finn slammed the car door shut, trying to figure out his next move. Puck's, I have to try Puck's. Finn knew Rachel would never go there, but he had to try, he couldn't rule it out just yet.

…***...***

"Rach. Rachel. Come on babe, let's get up now," Puck gently shook her shoulder, it was close to noon and Puck was getting a little worried.

Feeling the gentle shakes and hearing a calming voice, Rachel groaned as she rolled over. "Five more minutes!"

"Uh, babe, it's almost noon, you never sleep this late. I'm beginning to worry." Puck stood back and took in Rachel. He had noticed the bags under her eyes the night before, and knew instantly she hadn't been sleeping properly but he never thought it was this bad. "I have breakfast waiting for you..."

"Mmm, and that would be?" Rachel sat up, trying to adjust to the light shinning into the room.

"Only your favorite. Figured it would be a nice surprise." Puck shrugged, turning around to go back down stairs. "Come down when your ready."

Rachel scooted out of bed and walked a familiar path to the upstairs bathroom. So little had changed since she had been gone that it felt like she never left in the first place. Even the little feminine touches in the bathroom had stayed, she realized,smiling to herself. It was almost like Noah was trying to convince himself that if all of her little feminine things stayed, she wasn't really gone. That thought alone made Rachel smile like the Cheshire cat. Looking at herself in the mirror, she realized just how much more well rested she looked. Staying in that awful apartment with Finn had done little for her sleep patterns, and most nights she was too petrified to sleep for even four hours.

Walking out of the bathroom, she took the time to admire the fact that all the paintings on the walls were still the same. He literally didn't change anything. That thought made her happy. It made her feel safe. Rachel slowly walked down the stairs, humming to herself.

Halfway down the stairs, her phone beeped, letting her know she had a text message. She dreaded having to look at it, but she knew she had too; taking a deep breath she looked at the phone. Seeing Finn's name made her set into a panic attack, if he knew where she was, then maybe she wasn't protected, maybe he would take her back and give her hell. Once she was safely on the floor, she opened the message.

**Where the fuck are you? If you are anywhere near Puckerman, I swear...

Rachel felt all the breath leave her lungs as she re-read the message, she tried to hold in the sob threatening to escape, but she had no control over her body. She heard in the background a cup clang against the counter, and heavy footsteps coming towards her.

"Shit, Rachel, what's wrong?" Noah's panic voice came through the haze, "Baby, please, what's going on?" Puck had been leaning against the counter, sipping on a fresh cup of coffee when he heard Rachel coming down the stairs. Not soon after did her hear her fall to the ground, he dropped everything and ran to her. "Baby? Please say something?" Puck reached for her, scooping her up in his arms, and as if it was all those years ago, she curled himself further into him.

She felt safe where she was, she felt loved, she felt like she could take anything on. So why was she still in mid-attack? Rachel clutched onto him like he was the only thing keeping her afloat. "No-ah," she chocked out, she knew she needed to tell him, for him to make it all go away. "He-he-he..."

"Shh, your safe. I'll protect you," I'll love you, Puck added in his head, he hated seeing her like this, so hurt. Puck looked for what could have caused all this; spotting her cell phone, he picked it up and read the text that she had. He felt anger rise in him, felt the need to punch something, but the sobbing girl in his arms kept him grounded. "Baby, shh, he won't find you." Puck stood up with her still in his arms, and brought her into the living room.

"How do-do you know that! How can you say that!" Rachel pulled away only enough to look Puck in the eye. "Tell me Noah! How do you know?"

"I won't let him," Puck whispered, still holding her tightly.

Rachel felt a fresh wave of tears come to her eyes, "You say that now..."

"No Rachel, he won't hurt you anymore. I won't let it happen." Puck so badly wanted to tell her that he still loved her and would always would, but it was too soon. This shit with Finn was too much as it was.

"I trust you," Rachel whispered, swallowing her feelings down. Puck nodded slowly, pulling her a little closer.

After what seemed like hours of silence, Puck had thought up an idea. "Let's get out of here." Puck squeezed her waist, leaving a lingering kiss on the top of her head.

Rachel looked up at Puck, confusion swimming in her eyes. "Go where?" Sure she trusted him, but she didn't know how far the trust went yet.

"You'll see, come on babe."

A/N: Okay, quick update. Are we still loving this story? Let me know!