"They found them! All of them are ok and are trying to get out now!" I yelled so only our little group that kept getting larger with family and friends could hear me. They all started sighing in relief or expressing soft comments of happiness except for Finn. A small smile crossed his face before he sat down in the spot where he was just standing. "This is good news Finn. Rachel and the rest of them are ok. Mike and Puck will get them safely out. If you are upset with me about earlier I'm very sorry. I let my nerves get the best of me and I didn't handle it correctly." I told him as I kneeled down beside him so only he would hear me. "I signed up for the army for my father; to put his name back on everyone's honorable list. Up until now we have just done drills and exercises for the real thing when it comes. I come home and the real thing is going on right in front of me and the first thing I did was choke. It should have been a no brainer and I should have been the first one in the building to help them but my cowardness got in the way." "Finn, this is an extreme event that no one can ever be ready for or plan for. You are not a coward for not going in there where there is real danger happening. The army wouldn't have sent you in there alone like Mike and Puck so it isn't the same. You are going to great things in the army but you have to take the time to be great. It doesn't just come naturally." "I should have gone in there to save her."
It figured then that he was struggling with two separate gilts in this moment. There was a part of him that was disappointed in the serviceman he was training to become for not running in there to safe other lives. The other one seemed to have a little more of a hold of him though and it was the half that was telling him he should have ran in there to save the love of his life. Although I'm still not convinced that they are meant to be together. "Do you love her and I mean can't breathe or see the stars straight without her?" Finn turned his head back to the school for a bit while he thought the question over in his head. That was the proof I needed right there. You don't have to think about a question like that when you are that in love with someone. "I guess no. I have a deep love for her but it clearly wasn't enough to make me run into the school to save her." "That was kind of what I thought. It isn't a bad thing Finn but you need to tell Rachel this so you can both move on. It isn't fair to either of you to keep living in the maybe of things. You need to move on." "Thanks Quinn, who knows maybe Puck really will get the girl." "They both would be lucky then."
Finn and I shared a hug then but stayed like that as it turned more into just sitting close with each other while we waited for anything new. It was then that we heard two loud gun shots that were close together and in the part of the building that was very close to us. "That sounded like it came from where the audio room should be." Kurt said in a numb voice as Finn and I got to our feet and we all huddled together then. Santana started to shake while Kurt and I had tears starting to roll down our cheeks. Shots fired, shots fired. We have both shooters in our custody. One in cuffs the other has bullet in leg. A civilian went down in fire and has yet to move. Send in paramedics to the second floor the boy has a Mohawk and deep green t-shirt on. We all heard the police scanner say that was just on the other side of the tape. People around us started to cheer but all I could feel was Finn holding me up as my knees apparently went weak without me realizing it. Puck was shot.
GLEE
"The first floor is completely clear and there are policemen every few feet down there. Since we are not trying to sneak around the police to get out of here, all we have to worry about is getting down to the first floor. Thankfully we have the steps right here so it shouldn't be too hard. We will go in groups so we don't have to worry about them catching all of us at once. Got it?" Mike said and we all nodded in understanding. The thinking was that Puck was going to open the door and check to make sure the coast was clear before any of them went running out. He would stay there and then close the door back again when they were in the clear. We were going in three groups with two minutes separating the times that we would run out to the steps.
The first group that was going to go was Joe, Amy, Janie, Sam, and Artie. Joe was going to look after the two freshman girls who were panicking the most while Sam carried Artie out. The second group was going to be Sugar, Kyle, Jake, Mike, and I. Puck was going to be the last one out with the rest of the last group to make sure no one got left behind. Rachel wasn't thrilled about that but Puck didn't give her a choice. This whole experience and the last 5 minutes really showed me how much I always thought Rachel had picked the right guy. I thought Puckelberry was always better than Finchel and knew that they would find some way back to each other. Rachel moved to give Puck a big squeeze before he walked over to the door to make sure the coast was clear; only proving my suspicions. "Ok, are you guys ready?" Puck asked releasing Rachel and quietly crept to the door.
Puck stood up to see in the hallway through the window that looked clear. Gently he opened it as the first group made their way to the door to get ready to run on Puck's cue. Sam pushed Artie's wheelchair up next to the door so he could just grab Artie and run as Artie unbuckled his seat belt. "Remember, once you get downstairs, put Artie somewhere and get some police heading up this way just in case." Mike whispered close to Sam's ear. Puck started shaking his hand that was facing us that meant for the group to start running. They took off as fast but quiet as they could to the steps running down them. Puck said he was going to stand by the doorway until he saw the last head go out of his sight and knew the shooters wouldn't be able to see them either.
Once the door was closed again, Mike kept an eye at the window just to make sure that the first escape didn't throw any red flags to the shooters. "One down, two to go", Puck said as he made his way back to the corner. "Be careful out there, once this is all over, I will tell you all the New York stories I have. I promise." Rachel told me and pulled me into a hug. "Don't worry babe. If you get shot in the arm, my dad will buy you a fake one so you don't have a nub." Sugar told Rory before she blew him a kiss as the second group started to move toward the door. "Ok, second group get ready." Mike said as he moved from the window to crouch down and give me an intense kiss before moving behind me in the line we formed. Puck went by the door again. "Ready?" We nodded our heads as he gently opened the door and looked out into the hallway. It must have been clear because he started to wave his hand. Sugar was the first one out with one of the new guys following but by the time the third one got to the door Puck started to curse and I knew something was going on. "He's coming! We need to go now!" He said in a deep quiet voice that seemed to echo the room.
Everything after that was a blur. Puck twisted his body out into the hallway the same time that Mike had turned around to grab the arms of everyone else in the corner to start huddling them towards the door.
GLEE
I first heard a faint sound squeaking on the stair case that was located right in the middle of the hallway coming down from the third floor and then saw his body as he was turning to the second set of steps. That was when I started to cuss because only two had gone from this group and they weren't even in the clear yet and I saw no signs of the help Sam was supposed to get yet. I turned around to see all of the scared pairs of eyes looking at me but I concentrated the most on Rachel's that were horrified and it killed me. She had to be safe and I knew I would do anything to make that happen. Nothing would stop me from keeping any harm away from her. "He's coming! We need to go now!" I told them and Mike must have know exactly what I meant because he was turning to grab the others still in the corner and got them to move to the door because we were all going now. Rory grabbed Brittany's hand just as I stepped into the hallway to give them some time to get away without looking at Rachel. She was the only one who could have stopped me from doing this heroic move. It made the most sense that it should be me though as I wasn't in school, I didn't have a career, or getting engaged soon to my high school sweetheart. Mike had told me about proposing soon in the ride over here when he was freaking out about getting to Tina.
"Well if it isn't Puck, the king of all bullies here at McKinley. I couldn't have asked for a better grand finale than this. You are the reason for all of my problems in the first place. You were the one who started tossing me in dumpsters and throwing slushies at me in the first place just because I was a music student. It's funny how things have changed now. You are the one who is begging for me to stop instead of the other way around." Adam said as he entered the hallway and was clearly surprised by my appearance but was undoubtedly happy about it. "Adam, I didn't do that stuff the last two years that I was at school. I'm sorry for the year I did do that to you though." Trying to pull all the strings I could to keep him occupied while the other got out and so he wouldn't kill me too. I really wanted the chance to get out of here and kiss the crap out of Rachel. "You might not have actually done anything but you started it all leading the way for other jocks to follow in your footsteps." Rory, Brittany, and some other freshman I didn't know ran out as he was talking and it got his attention but the gun never moved from me.
"Oh I see you had to come save the special freaks that you became friends with. Do you only go after certain freaks or are we all welcome to share the same space with you now?" He shouted as I saw Blaine and Rachel run through causing my body to relax since she wasn't in danger anymore. Rachel was safe and that was what my ultimate goal for this adventure was. "I don't have any problem with freaks anymore. In fact, I consider myself a freak and would never do any of the bone headed moves I did back then again." Mike and Tina ran out then and I knew I had to wrap this up somehow or my number was going to be up. "Yeah right, you have nothing that makes you a freak. There is nothing holding me back from shooting you right now to prove a point to all jocks who think they are invincible." Adam raised the gun and it was even with my chest now. Maybe I wasn't going to kiss Rachel tonight.
Rachel let out a blood curdling scream then. I turned my head a fraction to my right to see her trying to run up the steps but Mike had pulled her into a death lock and was trying to pull her back down the steps while she fought with him. He would keep her safe for me since this was the end of my road. I knew she wasn't completely happy with Finn but he would make sure she would be ok and that was better than nothing at this point. I closed my eyes turning back to face Adam while keeping an image of Rachel fresh in my mind. Opening my eyes to face him, I saw his hand flex as he started to pull the trigger the same time that Mr. Shue jumped up as best as he could from his position on the floor close to Adam. He has his hand on his stomach where the bullet must have gone through while running over to Adam to knock him over. The gun shot off the same time that the two of them collided and fell to the floor. That was when I felt the bullet starting to rip through my skin and it caused me to fall to the ground. As I was closing my eyes, I saw a policeman coming up the stairs and shot the other gunman in the leg as he had been behind Adam the whole time. "Noah, stay with me please!" I heard Rachel screaming next to my face just as everything went dark.
GLEE
Finn was still holding on to me while I just cried into his shirt. "He will be ok Quinn; he has to be ok for all of us." Finn kept repeating as he was rubbing my back. This was a nightmare and I can't deal with this. I need to know what is going on even though Puck and I weren't together we still had a history. "Oh my gosh, its Blaine, I see Blaine!" I heard Kurt shout and he took off under the tape to run to Blaine. I looked up from Finn's shoulder then to see them all making their way out of the school. All of the new freshmen were out of the school first followed by Blaine, Joe, Brittany, Rory, and Sugar. Santana took off faster than I had ever seen her run before while Brittany started running back to her. I kept looking to see Sam, Artie, Mike, and Tina. It looked like Sam was pushing Artie but I'm pretty sure he was using his wheelchair to hold himself up. Mike was wrapped around Tina as much as he could but let go with one of his arms when the parents got to them. The five of them were in a big huddle that was hugging each other. It was then that I saw the two paramedics that had run inside coming out with Mr. Shue on the stretcher with Rachel walking behind them while holding on to the side of Puck that wasn't shot.
I went running then to Rachel and Puck. I smiled at all the others that I had passed including Mr. Shue who was awake until I made it to Rachel and wrapped her in a hug even though she never let go on Puck. "I was terrified that the train would be the last time I had ever saw you." I told Rachel while the tears kept coming down and then looked over to Puck. "Don't ever scare us like that again." "Yeah because it was my goal to get shot; it's a bonus that I have a gun scar now. All the greatest badasses have gunshot stories." Puck joked as Finn came to us then as a paramedic came through also. "Mr. Puckerman, we need to really get you to the hospital to get your shoulder fixed. Plus I'm sure your mom will want to talk to you right away." "I will be right there Noah. Wait for me." "Always Berry" I used that as my cue and walked over to Sam who was just walking around with his hands on his head looking lost. "Hey, are you ok?" I asked and he collapsed against me and started to cry. "It's ok Sam, I'm here and I won't go anywhere."
GLEE
I gave Finn a small squeeze once Noah had left with the paramedic and then took a quick step back. "I'm so glad you are ok. Are you hurt?" "Uh no, Noah went out of his way to make sure I was ok and that is why he ended up getting shot in the shoulder." "Yeah that sounds like him. He has always been a little paranoid when it comes to you. I guess that is because he really does love you." "I was thinking the same thing. How is the army treating you?" "Pretty good; I mean it is hard work but it is all worth it. I miss you though." "I miss you too Finn but think this space was also a really good thing." "I have actually been thinking about that. The distance has made me realize that maybe we aren't meant to be together." "It hurts to admit it but I think you are right. We weren't meant to be together Finn. I'm sorry." I reached into my bag and pulled out the ring Finn gave me last year and laid it in his hand. "I will always love you Finn" "I love you too Rachel. You better get to Puck; he needs you." I gave him another hug and then turned to run to the ambulance to catch up with Noah.
"You're not going with Finn?" Noah asked as I climbed in next to the stretcher he was lying on in the ambulance. "No, uh I wanted to stay with you Noah if that's ok." "Yeah that's fine with me Berry. Just hope he doesn't get too jealous since you are his on break fiancé." Why is it that I have to have these feeling for someone who can aggravate me so much! "Believe it or not Noah but it is possible that you don't know everything! Has the last hour meant nothing to you? I have never been so scared in my life and the first time that I felt a little better was when I saw you running through the door to save me. Why is it that I have all of these feelings for you when you irritate me so much? Not that you deserve an explanation, but I just gave the ring back to Finn." I told him as I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to give my best pissed off expression before I ended up ducking my head down. "You are just as irritating Berry. I have been watching your back and trying to take care of you for the last 3 and a half years to have you run back to Finn every time. Never once have you given us a fair chance even though I have been crazy about you this whole time. It became clear to me today though that I think I'm in love with you. When Quinn told me you were in the school I lost all trains of thought and could only think on saving you."
"You love me?" I looked up at him and saw that his eyes were a little watery but they were also full of truth. "I have loved you for a long time now but didn't realize it until today." "Why would you say that to me now, Noah?" "What the hell Rachel? We just went through a shooting that proved just how much I love you and you are mad about the timing?" "There isn't anything we can do about this now. I'm living in New York going to school and you are in California with your own business. I can't go through the aggravation of another long distance relationship." "I left California Berry. If you want I will move to New York with you and work on my music career." "You would move for me." "I would do anything for you Berry." I leaned over to give him a kiss and ended up wrapping my arms around him forgetting about his injury until he pulled back groaning in pain. "Oh, I'm so sorry" "No problem babe, I'm a badass." The paramedic closed the doors then and I saw Mike and Tina through the window. He had his arms around her and was kissing her with a passion that could have set the whole area on fire. It was hard not to look at them with jealous feelings but I felt Noah's hand moved around mine at the second. "That's us now. We have that kind of love." I smiled back at him. "Oh you think so?" "Yeah, I know so babe. Mike plans on proposing to her tonight. He doesn't want to wait until it's too late to make her his wife. Same goes for me babe; I plan to make you my wife one day." The smile that stretched across my face felt like it was never going to disappear.
I don't own anything Glee just love the show! I hope you all enjoyed this story! It was one I had wanted to publish for awhile but just didn't know how people would react to it. So thanks again