A/N: We're winding down to a close soon enough my dears. The coaster is definitely destined to go through some treacherous waters. lol, to answer your perfectly fair question Kurt and Puck are both school aged, Puck being 17 close to 18, and Kurt 16 and some change. The hospital is pretty much composed of teenaged patients. I never mention it cause it doesn't seem important in terms of the story but I assume they probably have tutors or some sort of classes at the facility being that most of the residents are long term (months to years). Glad you found it smutty and perfect CarterIsMine. That makes me feel proud indeed. Warning: this chap will be heavy with some things I warned you about at the beginning of this story...
Puck was on his way to meet with Kurt to walk him to their group session when he spied Jacob walking toward him down the hallway. He had just spotted Quinn earlier. They hadn't spoken, just quietly acknowledged each other as they passed.
"Yo, Israel," Puck greets, feeling secretly proud of himself for witholding the obvious taunts and crass nick names he often threw at the kid.
Jacob walked past him without a word.
"Hey! Yo, Israel!"
Jacob barely turns to acknowledge him.
"Oh. Puckerman. I didn't see you."
"Dude, we're walking down the same fuckin' narrow ass hallway. How did you not see me?" He supplies without any real heat. Jacob just shrugs and moves to turn away.
"Hey," Puck lightly grips the dude's shoulder. "Where ya headin' man? We have group."
"Oh. Um. I forgot something in my - in my room."
"Okaay? Want me to tell Schue you might be runnin' a bit late -"
"No! No, don't worry about it."
Puck tilts his head as he eyes the kid warily. "See ya later, then?"
Jacob nods distractedly. "Yeah. Sure. Later," And he moves forward, his arms looking stiffly attached to his sides as he saunters away in the opposite direction.
"Hey, um, Puck?"
Puck turns around, surprised by the sudden exclamation.
"Yeah?"
Jacob opens his mouth, then closes it abruptly as if he's chewing on the words he seems to want to spew out.
"Er- Never mind. See ya."
"Later, Fro."
Puck shakes his head in an attempt to dispel that weird little interaction and makes his way toward the medication depository. Kurt was sitting on the edge of a nearby arm chair simply people watching. Puck stopped dead in his tracks just to be able to observe the sight of his... What? Lover? Boyfriend?... Well, his Kurt, looking light and feverishly happy.
Kurt looked like he was glowing or some shit. Seriously, Puck figured he could be pregnant judging by how toothy Kurt's grin is when his blue eyes finally spot Puck staring with a wide grin of his own.
"Hey," Puck bids as he sidles up to Kurt.
"Well Hello to you too Mr. Puckerman."
Puck holds out his arm, "Can I - You know - Escort you, or somethin'?"
"Of course kind sir," Kurt drawls in a mock haughty tone, and then loops his arm through Puck's with a laugh.
When they're in group, it seems to course by quickly. They sit directly across from each other, knowing full well that it's necessary for their planned non-verbal exchanges: sweet smiles, blushing skin, searing and sometimes bashful fits of eye contact. They make sure to share insight every now and again in terms of the group discussion to deter Dr. Schuester from calling them out, but otherwise make a bigger point to just bask in each other's presence... Puck, for once, not caring what anyone thought, oblivious to any of his peers looks or murmered words.
He just didn't give a shit. Because he only gave a shit about Kurt.
"I'm happy to announce that I'll be leaving the hospital in a few weeks."
Dr. Schuester gives Mercedes an encouraging nod. She returns the gesture, looking a bit more self assured, and continues. "I just wanted to say that... Well, I think most of us don't necessarily love the idea of being here. Some of us hate every second of it and can't wait to get out. But for me, I truly learned a lot about myself. The main thing being that even though I'm imperfect, and may have some emotional scars, it doesn't mean I can't love myself. And I know that there's others who will too."
She looks over at Tina, her brown eyes bright. Then she pointedly acknowledges Kurt. Puck is surprised to find her eyes now trained on him as she finishes.
"I know we're not supposed to talk about God in here. But I just wanna to say that I truly feel that things happen for a reason. No matter how hard or unfair... or just down right painful they can be. That you can always pull strength from Him and the ones that you love and love you in return. So you can live for your happiness, not dwell on the pain of things that already happened and that you can't change. If you truly open your heart, that is."
Puck doesn't break eye contact with her.
"Amen, Sista!" Puck mocks playfully. Her smirk slowly spreads until she's full on beaming at him. Dr. Schuester chuckles as do several other group members.
"Alright then group. With that, I think it's time to conclude our session. Thanks Mercedes for sharing that with the group and congratulations on your upcoming discharge. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts today. Until next meeting," Dr. Schuester says brightly while waving for their dismissal.
Kurt strides along side Puck with an easy grace. It just feels natural... Right... Or maybe like the two words spliced together or something. They have a little while before their next scheduled activity so they decide to spend it simply walking and talking.
"Now that I really look at you. Something about you is innately Jewish. Can't see how I didn't notice it at first."
"Probably cause I don't have a huge gigantor schnoz, a secret stash of coupons and a fuckin' hankerin' for big black women. No offense to your fag hag."
"None taken on her behalf. I know that was your best attempt at being PC. And I adore you for it."
Puck smiles but then goes quiet. Kurt nudges his shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong? Was it the Jewish comment? I'm sorry - I know how you don't like talking about that - "
"No. It's not that. C'mon babe seriously. That shit isn't - it's whatever now. I was just thinkin' about Jew Fro."
"Really? Why?"
"I saw him earlier and he was actin' kinda weird."
"Isn't he always a little weird. He's Jacob after all."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Hm. He wasn't at breakfast or group today, and Mercedes mentioned something about seeing him talking to - God I can't even say his name - "
"Gavin?"
Kurt nods, his eyes burning with clear disgust and unresolved angst.
It hit him so hard that he nearly fell over.
Kurt grabs hold of his arm in order to steady him as he sways slightly with the pending realization.
"N-Noah. What's wrong? What're you - Hey!"
Puck takes off at a blinding pace, rushing past patients and orderlies in a blur of panic. Kurt follows along, but even his long legs aren't able to keep stride as Puck races ahead. He vaguely registers Kurt's shouts, or other people's grunts of displeasure and irritation as he bowls past them, nearly knocking some over.
When he gets there he doesn't hesitate as he practically rams the door open with his shoulder.
"NO! Fuck, Jacob! Fuck!"
He bounds foward into Jacob's dorm, capturing Jacob's dangling legs in a firm grip, trying to slacken the pull of the make shift rope crushing his neck. Puck struggles to hold him up, desparation to keep him upright exuding from every pore of his body.
Kurt is gaping, his hands fly to his mouth in shock. "Oh God! No!"
"Kurt! Get help! Get someone!"
Kurt seems to awaken from his momentary stupor and rushes off blindly calling out for help.
Jacob feels cold even through his thin uniform pants. But Puck keeps holding tightly, pushing upwards with great exertion when he begins to feel his grip slipping.
A commotion has begun to mount and Puck feels himself breaking when Tina's screams echo in his ears from the doorway.
Kurt is holding her, trying to pull her back. Then a team of orderlies rushes in. Puck doesn't remember much after that. It was as if he was listening to various voices from the end of a long tunnel, barely discernable from his own whirling thoughts.
He does feel the heavy weight pulled away from him, and sort of feels it when a hand takes his and guides him out of the room. The pressure from the hand disappears shortly after.
Kurt... It had been Kurt drawing him away from the room as it was swarmed by people working to cut Jacob down. He thinks he recalls Dr. Schuester asking him questions, and Jerry patting him on the shoulder and then submerging himself into the sea of white uniformed figures.
Eventually after the commotion begins to die down, the halls clear of spectators, he notices him standing in the adjoining hall entrance from his position on the ground; Puck sitting slack against the wall as the remaining staff are either brushing past or standing idle. Kurt is somewhere off in the distance, talking to Dr. Schue, or consoling Tina - he's not exactly sure - at the moment, he only has eyes for one person...
Gavin is talking to another orderly, his head shaking back and forth, his dark eyes attempting to communicate what Puck thought was supposed to be pity or some semblance of feigned empathy.
He observes him, but then his eye glimpses the gurney roll past, Jacob's pale hand - the only visible portion of his body - dangles lifelessly from underneath the white sheet.
Puck is standing, fists clenched tight. Then his feet are moving of their own accord toward the smarmy bastard. The orderly he had been talking to has just walked away to rejoin the left over throng.
"Gavin!" He shouts.
The slick haired orderly turns, a devious smirk stretching across his thin lips at the sight of Puck approaching. He laughs and then strides away.
"Hey!" Puck tries, but Gavin has already disappeared out the closest exit leading outside. Puck looks around, then sees the door just swinging closed as he rounds the corner. He moves quickly to follow.
"Hey there Puckerman. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Gavin is lighting a cigarette, then spewing smoke rings, his profile covered in semi-darkness.
"What did you say to him?"
"Sorry? Say to who twinkle toes?"
"You know who I'm talkin' about. Don't play dumb!"
Gavin chuckles. "I'm sorry. I say a lot of shit to a lot of people boy so you'll have to forgive my memory lapse."
"Jacob. Mercedes saw you talkin' to him today."
"Oh that." Gavin blows out a swirl of smoke slowly. "Nothin' much. Just talkin' man to man."
"What. Did. You. Say," Puck growls.
Gavin's eyes narrow, his head turning a bit to check the area for any other people before returning his glare to Puck.
"Alright. I talked to him. Had us a little chat about him leaving and all. He was being a little bitch about the whole thing. So I thought I'd give him a little pep talk."
Puck's jaw was hurting it was clinched so tight, but he restrained himself, waiting.
"Told him that his Daddy was right to not want him. How could anyone want to deal with a pathetic little shit like him? And that if I was his Daddy, I'd probably put him out of his misery myself. But why bother when he could do the world a favor and just take himself out. Hell I thought it would toughen him up a bit. Didn't think he'd really do anything. Guess I stand corrected."
You - Son of BITCH!" Puck roared as he launched himself at Gavin, landing a solid punch to his jaw. Gavin was able to counter quickly though, grabbing his fallen cigarette and smashing it into Puck's cheek.
"Aaaagh!"
Puck is momentarily stunned by the pain. Gavin punches Puck in the stomach and then moves to pull out his club. Puck spotting his movement, runs forward, tackling Gavin and forcing them to ram into the chainlink fence. They rebound off of it, causing both men to stumble slightly. Gavin rains a two fisted blow to Puck's back like a hammer - once, twice - but Puck punches wildly, landing several body shots and a clean hook to Gavin's nose.
And then he's straddling the dude, punching him in the face over and over again. His knuckles are swollen and bloody, but still, he keeps punching. For Jacob... For himself... For Kurt.
"Noah stop it! Please!"
Only that voice could permeate his rage, instantly catch him off guard, instantly cause him to stop.
Kurt was standing a good twenty feet away, not far from the door. He was accompanied by both Jerry, Dr. Schuester, and a few other orderlies standing with their hands on their utility belts, itching to reach their clubs.
"Puckerman. Get up. And get away from him. Now!" Jerry orders sternly. Puck swallows, his back initially facing them. He huffs and then rolls off Gavin, who is groaning steadily in pain.
The group hasn't rushed him yet. Puck thinks that might have to do with Jerry and Dr. Schue being there. Maybe they'll try to talk him down a bit before cleaning his clock.
Puck is staring now, his eyes drifting over the group. His feeling of deep satisfaction is slowly dissipating when he notes their hardened, almost sad expressions. His eyes suddenly feel warm.
"I should kill him, you know. I should rid the world of this son of a bitch -"
"But you're not gonna do that Noah," Dr. Schuester reasons.
"Who says I won't huh? He deserves no less."
"Whatever he's done to anger you Noah, you have to ask youself will it be worth it?"
"Maybe. Yeah," He breathes, the warmth becoming too much behind his eyes.
"C'mon kid. Don't do this - " Jerry adds hastily.
"Don't do what? Do this?" And he sees them move forward, but he was too quick. The club was out and around Gavin's throat.
"Stay back! All of you! Or I'll snap his fuckin' neck I swear to Christ!"
Their clubs are out now as well, except Jerry, who's hands are reaching out, pleading for Puck to relinquish his hold, to stop this madness.
"Puckerman. Don't be a fool, boy! This is only gonna make it worse for you - "
"Trust me Jerry. My life has been nothin' but a bunch'a fuckin' worse from the start. This won't make a whole lot'a difference."
Jerry and Dr. Schuester step forward.
"Don't!" Puck yells, the club crushing further into Gavin's neck causing the man to gurgle like a struggling animal and helplessly squirm against Puck's grip.
"Alright - Alright! We'll stop. Just put it down now Puckerman. Let's just stop all this."
"Noah - Puck. Let's calm down, alright? Listen to Jerry."
Puck has been watching them, the adults, trying desparately not to look at Kurt. He knows the moment that he does, his resolve will crumble like a house of cards.
"Noah."
Puckerman feels the tears building, but he won't look at him.
"Noah. Please. I know he hurt me. I know that he's done awful things. But this, this isn't the answer. All this is going to be is the end," Kurt pauses, sniffling, hiccuping back a sob. "The end of you and I, maybe forever. And I don't want that. The very thought, it makes me feel like nothing. Like I'm nothing. And I can't do this - I can't do life without you in it."
Puck's tears fall. His brown eyes piercing into blue.
"So honey.. P-please... D-don't leave me."
The tears taste salty as they leak over his trembling lips.
"I - I fucked up Kurt. And I'm so - so sorry."
Puck only has eyes for Kurt now, boring into them with every feeling of love he could produce. Kurt steps forward, slowly making his way over to Puck.
"This fucker -" And Puck puts tension on the club causing Gavin to make a distinct choking sound, the other men make a sudden jerk forward at the movement, Kurt halts his advances - "He hurt Jacob too. H-he made him give up. Made him not wanna try. If I just would've noticed sooner. I could've saved him. I could've stopped him in the hallway and told him how great he was. How great he could've been. God I was so stupid -"
"No. You're not. Jacob made a choice. It was his choice to make. Just like it was my choice when I tried to... To k-kill myself."
Puck winces at the words. He hated to think of Kurt trying to leave him. Hates to think of what his life would've been like had the boy succeeded. But Kurt didn't succeed, and now here he is, kneeling by Puck's side.
"But I'm so thankful. To - I don't know - God, or whatever space alien happens to watch over us."
Puck smiles softly at this.
"That for whatever reason, I made it. And that I met you." Kurt reaches out and strokes Puck's cheek affectionately. Puck closes his eyes and leans into the touch. His grip loosens on the club but he doesn't completely release it.
"Kurt," Puck whispers.
"Y-yes, Noah," Kurt chokes out, his hand running along his cheek.
"Kiss me."
"W-what?"
"Please. Just - Kiss me."
Kurt nods, tears falling swiftly as he cups Puck's face between his soft hands and pulls him forward. Their lips meet and it's tender, and gentle, and so very perfect. When they pull apart, Kurt rests his forehead against Puck's, eyes closed and hand curled tightly at the base of Puck's thick neck.
"Babe. I'm gonna need you to listen to me. Okay?"
Kurt nods again, keeping his forehead pressed against Puck's, shaking with lingering sobs.
"I'm gonna let him go. When I do, I need you to walk away from here and don't look back. Can you do that babe?"
"I - I don't know -"
"Please Kurt. I need you to do this for me."
It was then that Kurt pulls away just by a few inches, his blue eyes bright with despair. He bites his pink lip, chewing it nervously, and finally nods to signal his agreement.
"Alright then," Puck whispers.
Kurt dips his head for another kiss, this one full of unadulterated passion, longing, and every piece of love that he's ever felt for the other boy. Then he pulls away, his eyes never leaving Puck's until he is at a presumably safe distance. Puck shoots him a smile, then releases the club from around Gavin's throat, letting it fall limpy from his hand.
Kurt turns around and walks away. He cries softly to himself as he hears the grunts, the thudding noises, the screaming, but he ignores it, certain that his heart is breaking as he disappears inside the building.