A/N: I kept meaning to post this when I got back from holiday, but I got so tired in the evenings that I forgot. But I felt like I owed it to all you guys that have reviewed, and story alerted and waited patiently whilst I was off tanning ;) So what if new people don't get to read, just because I posted it so early in the morning (English time), at least (I hope) you guys are all getting to read. I hope you're still as enthusiastic about this story as I am; so for now I have Chapter 3 all ready for you:
The next day there was uproar at school. Rumours flooded the corridors, each story getting bigger and more extravagant. Rachel was pretty sure by lunch period that Sam had not been dragged along thirty blocks, screaming for his life, before passing out from loss of blood and falling from the vehicle; contrary to popular belief.
In Glee Club it was worse. As the people closest to Sam, the whole club wanted Rachel and Puck to describe the whole event in detail.
"Was there a lot of blood?" asked Mercedes, biting her lip.
"What did the doctors say?" Tina questioned sadly.
"Did you see who did it?" inquired Santana sharply.
"No," whispered Rachel simply.
"But…" started Tina, furrowing her brow.
"Guys give it a rest; we're not allowed to say anything. It's an open hit and run case, between us and the police. Besides Rachel's had a hard couple of days." Puck put an arm protectively round her shoulders and led her away to a seat.
Santana watched them with an unreadable face. Whether it was anger, confusion or sadness Puck did not know. He just knew he had to do anything to protect his girl from this horror. Not that she was his girl exactly. He just always felt like she was and he would do anything to look out for her. One day he would tell her the reality of his feelings, but today was not that day. She had enough to handle without him confessing his love for her on top.
He drove her home later and helped her out the truck.
"Do you want me to come in with you?"
"No," said Rachel, her voice cracking slightly, "I'll be fine."
"I'm coming in." Puck stated forcefully and Rachel nodded thickly, her eyes filling up.
He brought her a glass of water and she sipped it delicately before saying,
"I just can't get the image out of my head. Of him, lying there, all mangled and distorted."
She paused, taking another sip.
"And his poor family. They've got enough worries as it is."
"There's nothing we can do about it. The best we can do is wait. We should work hard on the song for the competition. Maybe if we win, we can dedicate the song to Sam on TV and start a public campaign for his hospital bills?"
"Oh, Noah, you're always full of such great ideas." Rachel smiled and nuzzled his shoulder with her nose. "But wait, there are only two of us now, there needs to be at least three in a group!" She wailed, putting her head in her hand.
"We'll worry about that later. Is my guitar still here?"
"It's in my room."
"Come on, let's go practice."
xxx
It was certainly a shock for Rachel in the next few days when she strolled into school to see Santana sat behind a table bearing a huge banner saying,
'SAVE SAM EVANS – MAKE A DONATION TOWARDS HIS HOSPITAL BILLS'
"Wow Satan, what a surprise, found a heart in a jar somewhere?" asked Puck cynically eying her sarcastically.
She stood up and moved in front of the table, leaning back on it folding her arms defensively.
"It just simply isn't fair on poor Sam. Some of us are a lot more fortunate than others, it's only fair that we do everything we can to support him. I'm leading the cavalry for Saving Sam."
Rachel was stunned. She didn't know what to say. Thankfully Santana was still talking and made no sign of stopping.
"I'm having a bake sale on Friday and every Wednesday following that. I'm also selling these cute little badges for Save Sam and if you want to make a simple donation you can sign up here." She brought a clipboard out from behind her back and held it out towards Rachel, raising her eyebrows at her.
Rachel took the clipboard signing her name and an amount of money before passing it to Puck.
He paused momentarily saying, "This all seems rather sudden Santana, and suspicious."
"What?" She sighed heavily, "I can't be nice for once without having an ulterior motive."
"No," He said shortly, "You can't."
"Watch me." She replied sharply, returning to sit on her table, resting her folded arms on its surface. "I am."
She smiled falsely as Puck threw the clipboard down in front of her, "Thanks for signing up, hope to see you at our bake sale this Friday and every Wednesday following that. Don't forget to pick up a badge to Save Sam. 'Bye now!" She called after him as he marched away from her, a nervous Rachel following in his wake.
"Maybe she is just being nice, Noah." She said, scuttling after him. "Maybe you should give her the benefit of the doubt."
"Why would I do that?"
"Well, she seems to really want to help Sam. And even if she is doing it for tarnished reasons, at least what she's doing will have benefits for him. So let her have her bake sale and make her badges, no matter what the reason, because either way, Sam will be getting the care and money he so sorely needs."
"Why are you always right?" Puck smiled down at her, "Always there to talk some sense into me. You're brilliant Rach!" He squeezed her waist tenderly.
Her cheeks tinged pink slightly and she smiled back as he walked away from her. He only ever called her 'Rach' or 'Rachel' when he was being particularly nice and, dare she say it, loving. Other than that it was always 'Berry' or 'B'. She noted the abundance of the use of 'Rachel/Rach' these days and grinned to herself happily before trotting down the corridor after him, watched viciously by Santana.
Want more? R/R x