A/N: Sorry about the wait guys! I went away for the week and yarda yarda yarda got distracted etcetera etcetera. Anywho! We have Mike jumping on the Rachel bandwagon in this chapter thanks to a couple of reviews asking for him. Anywho. Shall we get started? Teeny warning of swearing. If you have problems with it please, please tell me and I will remedy it. Ooo and when I say three weeks at the end of the first part, I mean three weeks since Quinn found out – the start is really weirdly written.

Once more, several lines from the actual episode.

***

Chapter Five: Photgraph

The students at McKinley High had seen some atypical things passing through their halls, most of them involving the Glee club. It was normal to see Rachel Berry bolting throughout the halls, covered in slushie but seeing the rest of the club, including the jock and cheerleader members was something that immediately shook the entire frame of the schools careful grouping. And then there were the other things, like the week when they all rode around in wheelchairs as some kind of protest, seeing Finn Hudson and Puck beating the crap out of each other because of bake-sale stress. Hell, half the school had even walked hesitantly past Rachel and Finn when they were practising some duet in the hallways, but nothing could have prepared them for the aftermath of Quinn's meltdown.

If this was normal times, the Glee club usually banded off in little groups when they weren't together. Kurt, Artie, Mercedes and Tina generally stuck together, because it often took them all to manoeuvre Artie around, since her fall from grace, Quinn wasn't that close with them anymore still she often walked with Santana and Brittany because it offered a slight escape from the scathing looks she usually received from the other Cheerios. The football guys would walk in their own caveman huddle, because the sheer size of both Finn and Puck, mixed in with backup from Mike and Matt scared the crap out of almost everyone, and only Rachel ever wandered around by herself.

But something had obviously changed in the fact that Rachel was never allowed walk alone in the halls. After what the rest of the school had noticed as the splitting of Glee to Team Rachel or Team Quinn, she was constantly being walked to and from classes by Puck or Tina, was usually perched towards the front of most classes next to Artie and none of them ate in the cafeteria anymore, choosing to sit on the bleachers near the football field or to have small jam sessions in the auditorium, anything to avoid Quinn.

Since Finn and Rachel had both come clean, Quinn had immediately exiled them both and anyone who conversed with Rachel joined them. Santana and Brittany had both stuck to her side, mainly out of spite for Puck for choosing Rachel or complete confusion in Brittany's case. Evidently Mike and Matt just followed, and while Mercedes was often spotted giving Rachel sympathetic waves or smiles, she didn't dare approach her because of Kurt's current appraisal that Rachel had 'stolen his man'. Artie and Tina however had both stuck to their guns on defending Rachel, each stating that they never did really like Quinn and she was way out of line, while Puck was plainly sick of Quinn walking all over everyone with her hypocrisy and lies. Within a week of giving him the silent treatment, Quinn found herself missing Finn and his bumbling yet lovable demeanour and had forgiven and taken him back. Rachel, unfortunately, wasn't as lucky, as Quinn was still arguing the point that a boy was allowed to sleep around because it made him a stud, not that she would allow Finn to cheat ever again, while on the other hand a girl sleeping around was intolerable because it defied the entire notion of women being delicate and feminine and special if they shared that with every man who looked their way kindly. After hearing this speech for the first time, Rachel struggled not to collapse in tears, as Puck glared from next to her, whispering softly that it was all just a load of shit.

It had been three weeks.

***

Mr Schue knew something was up. He tried not to be creepy and inappropriate in the way he did it, but he often found himself watching his Glee kids. Ever since the disaster that was Acafellas, he'd realised that the kids would still need guidance for at least a few more years, and as none of them seemed as though they really wanted to speak to Emma, he would have to do.

He knew that the Glee club had been split in half again. However not like they were when Sue was still co-director, but this time it was different. Clearly something had happened between Quinn and Rachel, whatever it was it had broken Quinn and Finn up and had sent Puck spiralling into the role of Knight in Shining Armour. Not wanting to pry, Mr. Shue had agreed to ignore it all, but he was starting to get a real need to extract the gossip out of Kurt, just so he wasn't out of the loop anymore. He'd gathered that for some reason, whatever slight friendship Quinn and Rachel had going had been fully severed, and as a result, the majority of Glee had turned against Rachel and only Puck, Tina and Artie seemed ready to stick up for her. Will Schuester was not an idiot. He had heard Quinn's muffled hisses of 'slut' everytime Rachel walked past, and he'd gathered from the soft looks Finn kept shooting her, meant that there was still something happening there and whether he liked it or not, it just might affect their performance at Sectionals.

***

Puck was worried. And he wasn't a worrier. Not like Finn who lost sleep because of little things like getting vaporised on level two, no Puck only ever worried about important things like whether his mom was dealing okay, or if his sister was getting picked on, he'd made sure long ago that his dad's mistakes wouldn't affect the way his little sister would grow up. But tell anyone about that, and you'll get your ass kicked. But this time, Rachel had catapulted herself to the top of his worry list. Ever since he'd practically dragged her out of the girls bathroom, shed attached herself to him, almost refusing to stay out of his sight in case Quinn ambushed her once more, not that he really minded, but it was the sad haunted look that was constantly plastered on her face that scared him, She was slowly fading from the slightly crazy yet determined Rachel Berry he had dated and turning in a zombie-like shadow of her.

Now that Quinn had announced to the entire Glee club what Finn and Rachel had done, Rachel had stopped calling attention to herself, and Puck never thought he would ask for this, but he really really wanted to hear her lecture him on not taking care of his voice, or hear her list every person who had won a Tony in the last fifteen years, anything but the short vague comments he'd been getting now. He knew she was having a few problems, beforehand Finn was really her only friend and now Quinn was forbidding him to see her at all and she wasn't all that friendly with any of the other Glee kids, plus Puck knew how close Rachel and her fathers were, and that being on the outs with them was killing her.

He sighed and looked up from his thoughts. A shifting on his right alerted him to Rachel once more and he stroked her hair and she smiled softly from her position on his shoulder. Next to her Mike was chattering away about some action movie he'd stayed up to watch the night before and Rachel appeared to be only half listening,

"And then this bad guy like jumps out of nowhere and whacks the good guy, who like does this awesome spin and hits him back. And then they're like wrestling on the floor and totally not noticing that these other guys are standing in the doorway totally ready to pounce! I'm telling you Rachel, you so have to watch it!" he exclaimed and Rachel smiled, she did rather have a soft spot for Mike, one of the only football players who never threw a slushie at her. Puck rolled his eyes, ever since Mike had come up to their little group two weeks ago and apologised to Rachel, he was constantly trying to organise group activities to get Rachel out of her funk.

"I'll try, 'kay Mike?" Rachel murmured tiredly and Mike nodded excitedly before trotting to sit back with Brittany as Tina wheeled Artie over,

"Rach? You okay? Y-y-y-you look a l-l-l-little crappy," Tina stuttered and Puck jerked in surprise, moving Rachel's hair out of her eyes so he could get a better look at her, she chuckled lightly as he frowned. She was slightly pale and clammy and the dark circles under her eyes weren't very well hidden,

He opened his mouth to protest before Rachel slapped her hand against it, "Noah," she muttered warningly, "I'm fine. I think I picked up a bug somewhere. I just need a bit more sleep okay?" Puck reluctantly agreed, patting her head back into its position on his shoulder as Mr. Schue finally wandered in.

"Alright guys!" he chirped, "I was thinking we need a slight break from our Sectionals prep, what with the yearbook pictures coming up and everything. So Rachel? Care to start us off with Defying Gravity?"

From the back-row, Quinn scoffed lightly and Kurt rolled his eyes, Rachel sighed deeply, lifting herself away from Puck.

"Umm...actually Mr. Schue, I'm not really feeling that well and I've been thinking and I think Kurt should take the solo,"

Around the room eyes widened slowly, Rachel Berry of all people was giving up a solo? Without being forced?

Mr Schue cleared his throat, "What do you mean Rachel? I thought after the diva-off that we agreed you won the solo fair and square."

Rachel smiled wearily, "I know. It's just; I know Kurt blew the note. The high F. I've heard him practising in here and he can hit it without issue. I can't say I know why he blew it, but nethertheless I think he should have it. What we want to do is blow the judges away, and Kurt performing that solo is what we need to do that exactly. It can be to appeal to the judges our diversity and ability to, I dont know, prove that difference doesnt matter, it's the talent that does. Kurt deserves that solo. Not me."

Mr. Schue openly gaped and Kurt looked as though all his dreams had come true, yet utterly confused at the same time. Both Artie and Tina glanced at Rachel worriedly while Puck hugged her to his side once again, finally she was speaking again.

***

One thing the Glee kids had noticed in the past few months in Glee club, was that Mr. Schue had a very easy to read face. And so after Kurt had spotted him storming out of the teachers lunchroom, looking mighty pissed, he took his chance.

Perching himself on the piano bench, Kurt spread the previous Thunderclaps across the piano.

"Where's Rachel?" he asked and Finn struggled to hide his smile at the mention of her name,

"She's not here yet," he stated matter-of-factly and Puck rolled his eyes,

"Miss Pillsbury wanted to see her. Something about why someone wrote man-stealer across her locker," he said, shooting a glare at Quinn.

Kurt raised his eyebrows, "Perfect. Based on my investigation, I'm of the opinion that a yearbook photo would only fuel the flame of anti-Glee club terror. I think I speak for all of us when I say that not having to pose for a yearbook photo might be a blessing in disguise. I suggest not fighting Figgins' ruling."

At that moment a more calmed down Mr Schue entered,

"Oh hey guys. Ah looking at old Thunderclaps?" he asked and Artie looked about nervously,

"It's really unsettling."

Mr Schue nodded, "And totally unfair. Hey can I borrow one of these?" he said, half-wrestling the book from Kurt's arms, "You know what? This year's Thunderclap is going to have a Glee club photo with every one of your smiling faces in it. You have my word on it."

He left the room cheerfully, not noticing the obviously fake smiles that greeted him as he left.

***

By their Glee practice that afternoon, they were all somewhat scared of Mr Schue's rapid mood changes. As they normally did at the start before he showed up, the Glee kids had spread themselves around the choir-room. Finn, Artie, Puck, Matt, Mike and Mercedes were attempting to start an impromptu mash-up, Kurt had relieved Brad of the piano, while Quinn studied and Brittany and Santana tried to distract her away.

Suddenly Mr Schue marched in, a big grin on his face, followed by Tina and Rachel who were both still trying to scrub the accidentally split juice out of Tina's shirt.

"Hey guys! Great news! Glee club gets a photo in the Thunderclap!" he exclaimed, looking ready to start singing, "Yep, it's going to show everyone at this school that Glee club is on its way up. When we win Regionals, those 'Claps are going to be collector's items! I mean all of your classmates are going to be begging for your autographs. But I had to compromise to do it. Umm...we only get a quarter page in the back. Which means, we have to pick two team captains to appear in the photo."

Almost automatically both Mercedes and Kurt raised their hands, "We nominate Rachel!" they said fake-enthusiastically.

Rachel looked up from where she was spraying stain-remover on Tina, "What?"

Mercedes grinned, "Put it this way. Rachel pretty much has Glee written all over her. She's the perfect captain."

Mr. Schuester raised his eyebrows, "Really? Rachel what do you think about being one of our captains? I was going to put it all to a vote but seeing as Kurt and Mercedes seem so adamant that you're a good choice,"

Rachel shrugged, still kneeling on the floor in front of Tina, "I suppose it would always be good practice. It's fine with me."

Mr. Schue looked pleased before clapping his hands together. "Alright! Anyone care to volunteer themselves as co-captain?"

Blank faces greeted back at him, before Kurt spoke up, "Why? We are all happy to have Rachel as captain, no need for two. She can do the picture all herself, because if anything, anyone who has heard her sing, knows that Rachel Berry is the epitome of Glee Club." he finished off with a sparkling smile at Rachel, who hesitantly smiled back, still cautious of who was actually on her side.

Half of the other kids nodded in agreement, bar Quinn who looked bored, Finn whom was staring at Rachel hesitantly and Puck, who was attempting not to leap to Rachel's rescue once more. Mr. Schuester half-opened his mouth to argue the point that Glee would most likely need two captains when Finn suddenly jumped to his feet, ignoring the warning glances Quinn was shooting at him,

"I'll do it Mr. Schue. I can be Rachel's co-captain. I mean she said to me once that I've gotta stop letting other people's opinions rule my life. And I want to do this." he said and Quinn looked as though her head was about to explode, while Rachel's eyes widened in shock, her mouth dropping slightly, just as Puck narrowed his eyes at Finn, trying to figure out his motive.

Mr. Schue practically danced with happiness, giddy at the idea of his Glee club being in the yearbook, before settling down to the business of the day. Halfway through, Finn grabbed Rachel's hand gently in his own, pulling her to his side, much to Puck and Quinn's dismay. Leaning down, he whispered into her ear, "After the photo, I think we need to talk. I mean I haven't had a chance since that thing and I guess I owe you a coupla apologies."

Rachel hesitantly nodded, giving him a weak smile, before he wandered back over, flinging an arm around Quinn's waist, ignoring the distasteful glares she was shooting Rachel's way. Rachel herself attempted to ignore the glares, taking her seat once again next to Puck and Tina.

***

Unfortunately, Mr. Schue's excitement over his two Glee captains was not to last for long. Rachel had been waiting for at least ten minutes for Finn to show up for their photo, before finally subsiding to go inside alone. However halfway across the school, Puck shook his head as he watched Finn scrubbing vigorously at his face, clearly making no move to meet up with Rachel. Sighing, Puck turned away and started to head for the classroom the photographers had taken over. At least this way he could make Rachel happy, and show off his totally badass guns in picture-form for many years to come. It was win-win...even if buck-teeth and a Hitler moustache were kinda hard to pull off, no matter how badass you were.

He walked into the classroom, just in time to see Rachel demonstrating one of her over-the-shoulder poses, chuckling softly to himself, she looked up and grinned.

"Hello Noah. What are you doing here? I thought the football picture was being taken down on the bleachers." she asked, standing to hug him lightly,

"Just thought I'd come see my third favourite girl. After my mom and sister, because of obligation and all," he replied cheekily and she stared at him pointedly,

"Noah." she glared warningly and he held up his hands in surrender,

"Alright, alright. I saw Finn in the locker-room and I guessed he'd stood you up, and I wanted to offer you my incredibly sexy face to join yours in this Glee photo. After all, we're two good looking Jews. It's natural for us to look this good."

Rachel's smiled in shock and she threw her arms around Puck's middle again. From behind them, the photographer cleared his throat.

"Listen can we hurry this up? I've gotta blow. I've got a casting session in half an hour," he blurted and almost automatically, Rachel's eyes widened,

"A casting session for what?" she asked and Puck shook his head, only Rachel.

"My brother-in-law's shooting a commercial for his store, I'm directing it. I just do this school photos for the money,"

Rachel stood there looking wide-eyed until the photographer turned to stare at her,

"I can cry on demand," she stated, "It's one of my many talents. I'm very versatile, and aside from nudity and the exploitation of animals, I'll pretty much do anything to break into the business."

From behind her, Puck tried to stifle his laugh, was it just him or did it sound like Rachel had rehearsed this entire speech in front of her mirror before.

"W-w-well you certainly seem talented and all but I-I-I need, there's other speaking parts in this thing, I need like a bunch of other actors too," the photographer said and Rachel smirked,

"I can help with that."

She looked up to meet Pucks eyes, a grin slowly spreading across her face.

***

As much as she loved the thought of being on primetime television, on pretty much in the eye of every family in Lima, Rachel was really started to regret setting up that commercial. Sure Rachel could puff up her ego and boast about herself all she wanted, but the truth was, she was still a teenage girl who often found herself attaching blame to the person she knew best – her. As far as she could see, if she hadn't organised that commercial, they wouldn't have been thanked in mattresses and Mr. Schue wouldn't have opened one, causing himself to be fired as Glee Club director.

Sure while the others – namely Puck – kept reassuring her that it was not her fault, that if Terri Schuester hadn't been lying to her husband for all these months, he wouldn't have had to open and sleep on that mattress, Rachel couldn't shift the blame away, all she focused on was that while Saint Quinn had managed to manipulate Coach Sylvester into paying for the Glee photo, no matter how secretive, thus making her everybody's favourite person yet again, Rachel would just be known as the annoying, self-absorbed girl who ruined everything, like she always did.

It didn't matter that Quinn was lying directly to Finn about the parentage of 'their' baby, as it appeared all the Glee kids would have her back anyway, given they all seemed to be clued up to everything anyway. And as soon as the news hit, it still wouldn't be Quinn sheltering most of the blame, it'd be Rachel once again, this time for being the other woman, who had made Quinn doubt her relationship with Finn, thus pushing her straight into Pucks arms.

Rachel sighed from her position in the front row of seats in the auditorium, waiting for her dads to pick her up. They'd promised they'd go out tonight and finally talk through what had been ignored for the past few weeks, something Rachel wasn't particularly looking forward to. Scrunching her hands nervously in her lap she crumpled the bits of paper lying there. Grimacing at the paper-cut that bloomed, she smoothed out the brightly coloured pamphlet and the hastily scrawled note out.

R. Can't take too much of Q's attitude much longer. And like I've said before, it should be bros before hoes. Not that I'm calling you and Quinn hoes, it's just a saying. But what I mean is I think I need to tell Finn. The whole truth about what happened between Q and me. And I think I'll need your help with it – though tell anyone that and I'll slushie you into next week. Call me tonight please. - Puck

Truthfully, Rachel's brain was starting to hurt with all the scandals and gossip that was flying around. All she'd managed to make of it was that for some reason Noah wanted her help, to announce to his best friend that he had impregnated his girlfriend, whom happened to be the same girlfriend who wanted to ruin Rachel's life for also sleeping with said boyfriend. Rachel chuckled lightly, and they say soap operas didn't happen in real life. Then her eyes fell on the pamphlet Miss. Pillsbury had placed in her hand when she had left their meeting the other day. The titled blazoned in front of her eyes and Rachel couldn't help but think that not only did she ruin Glee club and potentially their chances at Sectionals, as well as the relationship with her only real friend at McKinley and her fathers trust in her, but it looked like she may have just ruined her life that little bit more.

***

A/N: Again! Sorry about the wait. Truthfully I've been kinda having a Charmed marathon, which means I've been sitting in front of the TV not the computer, until I finally dug up our mini-laptop thingy which enables me to multitask! Anyway let's see – I crammed an entire episode into one chapter, I brought up some Puckleberry and a teeny bit of Mike (dont worry there'll be more soon), I made up another totally awesome pamphlet from Emma (which you'll see soon too) and I made Puck finally grow some! Plus I made Rachel all angsty which is really weird so I'll bring perky Rachel back soon – and the little blaming thing at the ends is me reflecting on what I do (the whole blame myself for things going wrong – which I do A LOT!) as well as my annoyance with the show at times – just the whole how the Glee kids all have seemed to forgiven Quinn, and the Cheerios and Finn and Puck etc for all the bullying and teasing and yet they still all dislike Rachel heaps because she's a little conceited, when she's never picked on any of them.

Alright rant over. Let me know what you think of this chapter. And I apologise for any mistakes I missed – this laptop thing has terrible keys. Half the time they dont work, and there's no proper quotation marks or apostrophes so I had to fix it all on my desktop computer and knowing me I missed some.

As for the lovelys who reviewed last chapter; here are my replies!

mayball31695 – Aww thanks! I promise I'll work on putting in some major Puckleberry. It's been a little slow at the moment.

bjaarcyDon't worry I have no clue either, on one hand Finn and Rachel are adorable when they're together but Puck/Rachel is like a whole other brand of awesomeness. Hehe thanks. Ooo I don't know. Either one, though I want to see Kurt shifting between both groups, like attempting to dress the guys before joining the girls. :)

EvieI totally agree. I never did understand why they all hate Rachel so much. I think out of them all, only Finn, partially Puck and Brittany like her, and two of them are kinda idiots. LOL. I have this whole idea of Puck having this sweet side of him that only his mum and sister really see. Yeah, I do think in the show, Quinn needs to be taken down a peg or so. Just the whole she still has everyone on her side and yet she cheated on her boyfriend! Aww thank you!

Like-Vines-We-IntertwineYep. In my opinion it's about time someone did. Hehe, and I do love the drama.

...World.LOL. I think we need to organise this like massive group-hug for Rachel. I think she deserves it. Hehe as you can see from my rant above, I highly agree – so here's to hoping the next 9 episodes involve them being nice! Yeah, I love Tina and Artie. I'm going to work out their issues soon too.

chrpangelAww thank you!

Lunar Kitty KatExactly. That bit really bugged me in Wheels, the fact she was going off at Finn, even though he was trying, whereas she wasn't at all, I mean she still could have gotten a job for a few months at least. And the threatening to find another dad if he couldn't so what she wanted? And yeah, I think they all pick on Rachel mainly because she's talented and most likely because of her dads. Quinn and her parents look to be anti-gay and I can see Puck and Finn as little kids like coming to the conclusion that it's not fair of her to have two dads when neither of them have one – just in that twisted way little kids analyse things. Hehe yeah, Rachel'll meet Puck's mum and sister soon; I was so disappointed that they didn't show it in Mash-up. Because wasn't that the whole point, that Puck dated her because his mom wanted him to date a Jewish girl. Yeah, I love Tina and Artie, they're adorable. I'm thinking that Brittany would probably take Rachel's side too, but she's being held back by Santana and Quinn, and that Mercedes would probably stick up for Rachel, if not for the fact Kurt would be p***ed. Aww I'm glad you like that bit. It's my favourite.

TheLlamasWillTakeOverTheWorldAww thanks. WE HAVE MIKE! :P Sure it was the world's tiniest mention – but he will be back! Hehe. Yeah I love the idea of Mike and Rachel being friends.

BibzHehe I thought you might. Bitchiness and the victim – sounds like Quinn most of the time. LOL. I love Jump! Sorry I didn't actually show that scene, I just couldn't imagine it any different to actual one.

Ch3lsBishopLOL. Totally didn't. Hint hint nudge nudge. :) Hehe I'll say it again, I love Tina and Artie, they're like my favourite characters after Puck, Rachel, Finn and Brittany. It kinda hurts my head trying to work around how that'd all work. Far too confusing.

Literati LoverThank you! I know, I loved how sweet Puck was in Mash-up! And then they broke up which made him all not sweet. :( LOL. Finn's sitting there looking stupid faces are hilarious though! I seriously could make a list for every episode how many times he does and awesome face. Oooo I didn't mention where Rachel was staying. So I'll do it now! I can her being at home but like staying in her room constantly, and then on weekends going to Tina's until she desperately has to go home.

Gabi-in-wonderlandYep. *massive group hug* for Rachel. :P LOL. I can totally see Puck as having this huge inner superhero thing for women. Agreed – let us all blame Quinn. :)

Katrina SeederAww thanks! LOL. I'm going to set up a shrine for my Kurt. He's so much more likeable. Hehe I can Artie doing that. I've actually seen a guy do it once. His girlfriend had run into the bathroom in tears with a bunch of friends, and he was leaning on the wall outside, just glaring at everyone.

violent-smurfDitto! I see myself in her too! And again ditto with the stupid decision thing – thus why I refused to watch the 'You're The One That I Want' scene in Hairography, because that was just awkward! Yes, I'm refusing to write awkward scenes, because then I sit here feeling all uncomfortable for no reason. Hehe I have Mike! Well a little bit. But he will be back! With more lines than ever! I'm so jealous of the pock and lock – I wanna do that! Yeah I think they'd be step-siblings. Sorta, Drizzle's dad would be Puckleberry's stepdad and vice versa but they'd still have their separate mothers. So it wouldn't be blood related so maybe it could still work! A little creepy but relatively legal! Alrighty we have Jacob insulting Finn and pregnant pornographic pictures coming up! But not until after Sectionals because that's when the Rachel stuff will come out! Yay! Random-speak! I have so many school books that are covered with nonsense that only me and a few others get, it's terrific! The thing about speaking at a decibel only dogs understand sounds like me before a friend and I go see Harry Potter. We get all squealy and bouncy and people stare at us weirdly.

GleeLover Aww thanks! Hopefully I can make my updates much quicker again.

Adienna Thank you! It's always good to hear!

youliveanduburn Aww yay! Thanks very much!

xSpencer-Rose - LOL. Please don't burst! Hehe here's the update! LOL. I'm glad you think it's epic - I do too! Kurt'll come around eventually, once he recovers from shock. :P

***

Anyway. Should update soon – hopefully. A friend and I are having a Glee marathon so hopefully more ideas come from that. Plus I'm back at school again – eww – and I can write fanfiction in class like I always do! And now I believe I still have 5 seasons of Charmed to go and the TV is calling my name. And once again my promotion thing – bjaarcy's 'Tik Tok' which is as I've said incredibly awesome! As well as Ch3lsBishop who is doing this challenge too. I'm pretty sure it's called These Moments In Time.

:P