Chapter 4

It's so insane cause when it's going good, it's going great
I'm Superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane
But when it's bad it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snapped
Who's that dude? I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her, I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

Puck looked at Artie as Rachel left the kitchen and shook his head, "Fuck man." He cursed and pushed out of his chair to pace. "I wanna hunt the son of a bitch down and gut him." He clenched his fists, "She's hidin' her bruises with makeup, she's walking stiff and her breathing is off."

"I can't...imagine what she's been through," Artie agreed. "This is just surreal man, I mean-"

Shouting in a familiar voice interrupted him, and Puck was half way out the door before he even realized his body was moving. Rachel was at the front door, and Puck thanked God that she always locked the screen door behind him because she'd opened the heavy door before she'd checked the peephole. Jesse St. James was standing on her front porch raising Cain at the top of his lungs, shouting at Rachel that she had destroyed his life.

"Rachel, back up and call the cops," Puck came up behind her and carefully put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm serious baby, call the cops an' tell 'em you want a restraining order unless they can keep this bastard from being released on bail."

Rachel was already dialing, her voice a steady murmur behind him as Jesse began ranting at Puck now about stealing Rachel, about how he knew the slut was two timing him, and how he should have knocked her teeth out. It was all Puck could do to not slam open the door and throttle the kid. Perfect face and teeth, his handsome face sneering at Rachel as if she was the one who'd been wrong.

"You wanna shut your mouth," Puck kept his voice low and mean and even, the voice he used when he was ready to beat the crap out of someone and he was just saving his energy for his fists. It never failed to scare the hell out of people. "I'm not some five foot nothing girl you can use your fists on," He told the thinner boy coldly. "I'm not the girl you promised you loved before you used her and then treated her like a punching bag. I'm bigger and I'm meaner and I promise you that if I ever catch you alone you will never be able to sing another bass note because I'll make you a permanent fuckin' soprano."

Jesse St. James had something in common with every other guy who'd stood toe to toe with Puck and seen that look in those hazel eyes. It wasn't a comfortable sort of knowledge, but every other male who'd looked Puck in the eye and heard him speak so coldly and plainly knew that if Puck ever got his way that he'd make sure they died a slow and painful death. There weren't many people on that list, Jesse St. James, a hockey player who'd pushed Rachel and Kurt around a few too many times and Jacob Ben Israel who'd taken one too many photo's of Rachel over her fence. Facing Puck through Rachel's screen door the wanna be actor was almost glad to see the cops coming up the front walk behind him.

"This man threatened me," Jesse pointed at Puck.

"Puckerman is that true?" One of the cops clearly recognized him, "You been threatening him?" He was one of the taller cops, dark auburn hair with tanned skin and a wry expression that told Puck he didn't particularly care what Puck had said but he had to ask.

"I told him that he should shut up," Puck shrugged easily, his voice still dark but no where near the level of murder he'd been at before. "Reminded him that I wasn't a tiny little girl he could beat up so easy. And I told him that he should stay away from Rachel. That was after he called her a few nasty names and accused her of sleeping with me when they were dating." He shrugged, "It ain't true but I got a rep."

"Yeah," The other cop was a woman, one he vaguely recognized as the oldest daughter of one of his old customers. Blonde hair, light blue eyes and a nice rack that Puck noted out of habit if not interest. "Yeah you do. Is Ms. Berry here? She called in the complaint."

"I'm right here officers," Rachel poked her head around Puck's arm and he shook his head and unlocked the screen door. "Would you like to come in? We were having cookies and drinks and talking about music videos before we were interrupted."

"We'll just need to take your statement," The woman cop told her. "I can come in while my partner puts Mr. St. James into the squad car."

"Please do," Rachel welcomed the cop into the house, "Artie's back in the kitchen." She explained, "It's the most convenient place for us to hang out."

"This shouldn't take very long," The cop looked over her shoulder at the retreating figure of Jesse St. James being taken to the squad car.

Puck watched as the cop sat at the table and took out her pad, she wasn't bad looking, he just...didn't really care. "So will you guys keep him in jail this time? Or at least make it so the son of a bitch can't come near her?"

"Ms. Berry can get a restraining order, and we'll do our best to enforce it," The officer, her tag said Brewer, told him in a quelling tone. "If he shows up, you call us, we'll handle it. You, Puckerman, will not."

"I make no promises," Puck smirked. "If he shows up here, and he tries to beat on Rachel with me around I'm not going to let him do it."

"Not saying you should," The cop rolled her eyes. "But we'd prefer you just call us."

Puck rolled his eyes, "Yeah, 'cause I wanna go back to juvie." He sat and chomped down on a cookie, keeping his eyes on Rachel. "Seriously though, if he gets out again an' comes around Rachel, you guys can't be around all the time."

"No, that's why we encourage Rachel to not really go anywhere alone," Brewer said flatly. "You mentioned earlier that you have an alarm system. I want you to be sure to arm it when you're home. From what I can tell this guy's a coward. If he can't get you alone he can't hurt you."

"We'll make sure she's not by herself," Puck was warming up to this cop, she was practical at least. "So keep the security system on, don't go anywhere alone."

"Ms. Berry, don't misunderstand me," Officer Brewer looked at Rachel solemnly. "When I say don't go anywhere alone I mean stay in a crowd or with someone large and intimidating. Much as I dislike saying it, Mr. Puckerman fits that description. Don't go out with just one of your girlfriends. Crowds or your dads, someone fairly physical, someone Mr. St. James won't mess with."

"I understand," Rachel nodded. "Thank you very much for coming. I do appreciate it."

"Get that restraining order set as soon as you can. That can only help your case," The cop stood and nodded at the boys. "Stay safe Ms. Berry."

Author's Note: So one thing I know is that restraining orders are difficult to enforce. The best advice a cop can give you is to get one because then you're on the record with the problem and try to never get caught alone.

I also wanted to thank everyone for the feedback and support. You've all been very kind with the faves and follows and reviews. I really appreciate it.

I do want to make clear that in the end, this is a Puckleberry tale. That being said, it may take more than a few chapters before we see these two together in any sense let alone a carnal one. We're also working with three different viewpoints here in case I wasn't clear before, Artie, Rachel and Puck.

I hope you enjoy and please don't hesitate to ask any questions. I'm editing on the go and putting this up as fast as I can so if I miss something I'd love it if you guys would tell me.