24 Aftermath

It had taken a good part of the morning but they'd gotten the mess straightened out. Finn had been released into his parents custody again. He was now up on multiple charges of assault and battery and was lucky, as LeRoy had pointed out, that he wasn't being charged with attempted kidnapping since he had tried to drag Rachel away.

Puck had nearly dozed off in the uncomfortable cop chair, Rachel next to him sleeping on his shoulder before they'd gotten through all the legal crap. Then Detective Lister had seen them and come over to talk with Rachel's dads about Jacob Ben Israel. Apparently Rachel and Puck weren't the only ones he'd filmed. He'd been running a very lucrative business showing off his female classmates and pictures he'd taken whilst the girls were unaware. His computer was a goldmine of information and assorted pictures of his classmates. It seemed he'd had cameras put in various places around McKinley which he'd use to get information for his gossip blog and pictures for his other business. The video stream of Rachel he'd apparently kept for his own personal use until she'd infuriated him by having sex with Puck.

"I'm hoping you two will be pressing charges?" Detective Lister looked at Puck and Rachel, "The records will be sealed since you're both minors but since we have to hunt up everyone else you're the only ones who can right now. You might be able to sue him for restitution. He's got plenty of money and it'll be confiscated and used to help his victims."

"It would be nice if Noah's mom didn't have to worry about money," Rachel said quietly. "I'd like it if Noah and Bekah could have trusts set up for them for college."

"That'd be somethin' of a relief," Puck admitted. "Just so that my mom don't have to worry about it."

"I'll take care of all that," LeRoy nodded, "I think we can safely say that we'll be pressing charges." Puck and Rachel nodded, "So long as Noah and Rachel aren't charged."

"Hell, it was pretty obvious that neither of them even knew they were bein' filmed," Detective Lister shook his head. "Can't charge 'em when there isn't any intent. Cyber crimes are pretty definite about that though the sexting laws are a little more twisted." He sighed, "But the two of you were instrumental in catching the guy so I'm pretty certain we'll avoid charging you." He looked at the two of them, "But I'd suggest strongly that if you two have been sexting or whatever on your phones that you delete all the evidence. Defense lawyers love to spin these charges back on the victims."

Puck nodded, "Not sure exactly what's against the law and what isn't, but I don't have naked pictures of Rachel on my phone." He looked at Rachel, "I got a couple where she's wearing one of my shirts but she's all covered up."

"Sounds fairly innocuous but get it off your phone just in case," Lister told him. "Same goes for you." He pointed at Rachel. "I'll let alla you get on with your day but lets hope we don't meet like this again, right?"

"Too right," Puck sighed. "I'm about to crash."

"Lets go home, feed you two and you can both get some sleep," Hiram suggested shaking Detective Lister's hand in thanks. "You're out of school for the beginning of court tomorrow so its not as if we need to keep you on a schedule. Have a nap and then we'll see if that suit fits you Noah," He suggested.

"Thanks Mr. Stein," Puck nodded tiredly.

Puck took a deep breath and looked at Rachel. His girl just grinned at him and nodded, taking the hand he extended. Rachel was convinced he could get a basketball scholarship to NYU if he wanted. He wasn't sure he was good enough for any scholarship but he was convinced she could get into any performing arts school she wanted. Rachel was agonizing over a strategy for applications. No matter what Ms. Pillsbury said, Rachel still wanted Julliard, she and Kurt both.

He'd been doing some research of his own and pointed out that Tisch was a great school and it was part of NYU. Rachel still thought he could make it into Julliard if he wanted. Puck looked at her as they neared his locker. They'd still been mock arguing about it this morning, he knew that Rachel was good enough for any school. His chances weren't quite as good but they weren't awful either. They were both going to be trying to keep their grades up this year, and he'd have to bust his ass on the football field and basketball court. Part of him really wanted a full ride on a musical scholarship to Julliard but Tisch wouldn't be a bad alternative.

"Noah, stop worrying about it," Rachel tugged his fingers. "Or do I need to distract you again?"

"You distract me anymore and my brain'll overload," Puck grinned and tugged her closer for a kiss.

"Enough a that," Karofsky hit the locker next to Puck's head. "You two are disturbin'."

Rachel gave the big lineman a smile, "Hello David, and how are you finding McKinley today?" The football player had stuck around her house to help with the clean up and while he admitted he'd thrown Finn out purely for the pleasure of seeing the quarterbacks comeuppance Karofsky had also apologized for slushying she and Puck sophomore year. It hadn't been a long conversation and Puck had kept a good eye on them both but she'd decided to give the lineman a chance to be nicer to her. That included talking politely.

"Same place it's always been," Dave chuckled. "So I wanted to ask you guys, seriously. What are my chances?"

"Gotta have some specificity man," Puck pulled his books out and waited for Rachel to select hers.

"For the glee club," Dave looked sheepish. "I know I gave you all shit about it all summer, but when we did the halftime show it was a lotta fun. And the way you guys sang at the party, if you can do that without practice... I wouldn't mind doin' it full time ya know? I like music and I'm a senior…wanna do something fun?"

"What about Azimo and the guys?" Puck wondered, "Won't they give you shit?"

"Hell, I figure if you, Kurt, Mike and Finn can handle it, I should be able to," Dave shrugged. "And if I'm ever gonna come out I gotta learn courage from somewhere."

"Its too bad Azimo won't join," Rachel mused. "He has a lovely bass. It'd be nice to have some guys besides Noah that aren't super skinny."

"Girl lookin' good!" Santana grinned as she and Brittany passed, "See you in Spanish?"

"As always," Rachel rolled her eyes. "Seriously Dave, you can read music which puts you a step ahead of Finn when he started. And when you get going you have one hell of a tenor. I think you have a good chance." She grinned, "And if you and Noah would like help preparing your audition pieces I would be honored."

"Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that your next assignment is done?" Puck teased as she got her books. First period was European history and all three of them were in the same class this year.

"It might," She smiled impishly up at him. "I'll admit that it is one of my favorite songs."

"Can't wait," Puck grinned and looked at Dave. "You'll do fine," He offered what reassurance he could. "C'mon home with Rache an' me, we'll find something you'll like singing. That's half the trouble, finding something you connect with, that you can sing and feel something."

"Yeah? Sweet man, that'd be great," Dave nodded. "Oh hey, are Kurt and Blaine gonna come too? I heard him say somethin' about the drama of last minute decisions."

"I've got Lit with them this afternoon so if we don't all meet up for lunch I'll ask then," Rachel promise. "Got a little crush Dave?" She teased sotto voice.

"Yeah Rache, on your dad," Dave grinned at her. "LeRoy is seriously hot for an older dude."

"Ewwww..." Rachel mock shuddered. "You are forbidden to speak of that again David Karofsky."

"You two are freakin' me out," Kurt joked as he came up to them with Blaine, "Karofsky don't you know Rachel's supposed to drive us all crazy?"

"I think my tolerance for crazy has gone up," Karofsky laughed. "Puck an' Rache are gonna help me with my audition for Glee. You two in?"

"Whose house?" Kurt wanted to know, "I'd suggest Rachel's simply because she's got that stage in her basement." When Dave looked confused Kurt grinned, "Oh yeah, you were too busy talking with my boyfriend about football to check out the performance space."

Blaine sighed dramatically, "You will never understand the depth of commitment a Buckeyes fan possesses Kurt."

Puck burst out laughing as Dave put his hand over his heart solemnly, "Damn you clowns are gonna make us all late." He wrapped his arm around Rachel, "Let's hit this shit."

"Noah," Rachel chided him, "Language."

Puck grinned and kissed her before she could continue, loving that a second of kissing him and she'd completely forget what she'd been saying. That had come in handy more than once this summer.

Dave and Kurt were arguing with Blaine, Santana and Brittany were laughing over something the boys had said. Rachel had gone up into the kitchen to get 'refreshments', and Puck decided he'd go up and help. She was humming to herself in the kitchen, pulling out fruit and cutting it up for a salad, making sandwiches and putting a ton of her homemade cookies on a plate. "Missed you," Puck admitted, coming up behind her and putting his hands on her hips. "School's as bad as work for not gettin' to see you."

"Hmm..." Rachel turned and wrapped her arms around his waist, "I'm a little worried about this year baby," She admitted. "It's our last year in high school and I...don't want to lose you."

"You ain't gonna lose me gorgeous," Puck pressed a kiss to her forehead and then to her cheek. "I love you. Why would you think you'd lose me?"

"I..." Rachel rested her forehead on his chest. "We're going to be under a lot of pressure. Our grades, your sports, glee club and colleges... I've seen couples who've been together all through high school break up their senior year."

"Rachel, angel what makes you think that I'm ever going to get enough of you?" Puck kissed her gently and then more passionately as she moaned and parted her lips for his tongue. "I told you Rache," He groaned as he kissed her throat, "You're mine. I ain't lettin' you go. If I gotta follow you to New York I will but I'm not letting you go less you tell me you don't love me anymore."

"That's not possible Noah," Rachel moaned. "I'll never stop loving you." She gasped as his hand slid from her waist to her ass and hitched her body up against his, "Oh god baby," He knew his cock was rubbing right up against her clit. Her skirt was hiked up over her hips and her legs had wrapped around his waist instinctively. It was second nature to brace against the counter and slide his hand down between her panties and her skin, feeling how damp she was against him.

Puck groaned into her mouth as he felt her heat and slick juice on his fingers, pushing up and inside her and curling them so they hit just the right spot while his thumb found her clit and rubbed, his guitar calluses touching just where she needed. "That's it angel," He muttered against her skin, "You need to relax, come around my fingers Rachel, I promise I'll take care of you."

"God, oh god, Noah," Rachel moaned shuddering around his hand, "I want you inside me, please Noah, please," She tried to unbuckle his belt, groaning in frustration when he pushed closer to her and kept her from getting his pants off. Puck nearly grinned, he'd learned patience and Rachel had learned to be impatient.

"Have to wait for that angel," Puck pressed a hard kiss to her mouth before he found the curve of her ear and bit carefully down on the curve of it. "C'mon now Rachel, you know I love to watch you come for me. You want my tongue on you instead? Make you ride my face later gorgeous." He muttered into her ear, "Gonna eat you until you're screamin' and then fuck you until you can't scream anymore, make you take every inch a me Rachel." With a choked cry she shuddered and her body tightened spasmodically around his fingers, sweet and hot as her orgasm blew through her body. "That's it baby," Puck murmured. "Feel better now?" He carefully tugged his fingers out of her body and leaned against her.

"Hmm..." Rachel giggled and took his hand, licking his fingers. Puck groaned as his jeans instantly felt five times too tight. Rachel'd figured out over the summer that he loved that she didn't mind the taste of herself. She'd shamelessly used that to drive him crazy until he'd nearly fucked her face at one point, delighting in making him lose control. "Noah, I just want to go up to my room and lock the door."

"By yourself?" Puck teased and was rewarded with another giggle, "S'okay gorgeous. Let's get Dave settled with his song."

"Hmm...quickly I hope," Rachel groaned. "I want you inside me before we have to start on homework and dinner."

"Least Bekah's got afterschool stuff now, don't gotta pick her up," Puck reminded her. "That's a coupla extra hours." He licked his fingers and kissed her once more before washing his hands and grabbing the tray of snacks she'd put together.

It seemed to take forever but they got Dave settled into a good song. And Puck had taken a few minutes to reassure the guy that he'd play guitar so Dave at least had music because it was hard enough to belt something out without doing it acapella. Kurt and Blaine had promised they'd be there to support the lineman but it had still taken fucking forever before everyone had left.

Puck turned and looked at Rachel, "Hey gorgeous, how're you feelin'?"

"Horny," She grinned. "Please take me to bed now Noah, we'll do homework when my dads come home."

"Damn you are the most awesome chick," Puck grinned and scooped her up. He wasn't a giant like Finn but Rachel was so tiny she made him feel like she was. The stairs to her room were easy and then they were shutting the door behind them and he was tugging off her clothes. "I'm beggin' Rache, don't ever stop wearing these skirts," He muttered as he pulled off her socks and then went to work on the rest of her clothing until she was completely nude. She was so damn gorgeous it was a wonder his cock didn't just go off from lookin' at her. All curves and legs and soft creamy skin with that beautiful olive tone that was shades paler than his, "So fuckin' beautiful."

"Noah if you don't take off your clothing I won't be responsible for my actions," Rachel warned him as her hands pulled his shirt up from his waist and began pulling it over his head. Her hands went to his pecs and shoulders, squeezing and rubbing over his skin like she couldn't stop touching him. Her hand touched metal and her eyes widened. "What's this? You put your nipple ring back in?" She leaned forward and fastened her mouth to it, tugging slightly as she sucked and sending sensation straight to his cock.

"God Rachel," Puck groaned his appreciation. "Yeah...wanted to see what you thought." He felt her hands on the waist of his jeans, pushing them down until he was toeing out of his shoes and stripping off his socks and jeans at the same time. "Ya like it? Or should I get rid of it?" Finally nude he put his hands on Rachel's waist and pulled her towards him, turning so he could press her back onto the bed. She felt so good under him, so right, he groaned as his body covered hers and he could kiss her.

"I like it, it's like your mohawk, it's you, a bad boy you, but still you," Rachel moaned as his hands found her breasts and began to stroke and tease the tips, alternately palming the soft swollen mounds and pulling at her nipples. "Noah, please, please come inside me," She begged him. "Need you so badly."

Puck knew he wouldn't be able to wait long, spreading her thighs and sliding slowly inside her he groaned his pleasure. Sometimes it was just so perfect he was convinced he was dreaming, that he needed to make it last, so he set a slow, easy pace, wrapping his arms around her body and holding Rachel to him. He knew she both loved and hated when he took his time, when the precipice came at a walk rather than a gallop, but there was something ideal about the measured rush of his blood, of feeling her body tightening by minute degrees around him. Being able to whisper his affection, how lovely she was, how he wanted to be the last man to have her, the last man to love her.

He could feel Rachel's body trembling as he slowly pressed into her, deep enough to hit every little spot that drove her mad, slowly enough that she was moaning and begging for more as he refused to increase his pace. Her back arched, her breasts pressing to his chest as he kissed her, her mouth like wine, making him drunk with sensation as she shuddered and writhed under him. "Noah, baby, please," Rachel's gorgeous voice was breathy and low with need and he could feel her getting closer. "Please baby, make me come for you," Her lips found his shoulder, pressing open mouthed kisses to it as she arched up again, his hands beneath her back keeping her full length against his body as he moved inside her.

"Wanna take my time with you gorgeous," Puck groaned into her ear. "You feel so good, you can't be real angel, just another dream a you an' I gotta make it last." He moaned as he felt her body tightening around him, "Not yet Rache, baby I gotta..." He groaned and knew he was going to lose his shit as she began to use her kegal muscles, tightening rhythmically around his cock as he slid inside her. She moaned as her attempts to bring on his own orgasm hastened hers and her thighs tightened around his waist. "God Rache, fucking...hell..." He groaned harshly into her hair as she trembled, tightened and then clamped hard around his cock squeezing like a wet velvet fist until he was pushing forward one last time, unable to stop his cum from tearing out of his body, flooding her deep inside.

He couldn't stop shuddering, pressed kisses to her shoulder and her hair, feeling her soft hands caress his back and felt a slight sting, "Damn baby, you scratch me up again?" Puck huffed a laugh into her hair, "You are the perfect woman you know that right?"

"I'm perfect because I drew blood and I bit you?" Rachel asked whimsically, when he raised his body slightly so he could look her in the eye she nodded at his shoulder. "When I started to come, I was moaning into your shoulder, I lost control and bit down. You're going to have a bruise shaped like my teeth."

"That is so hot," Puck grinned at her. "See, perfect." He pressed a kiss to her lips, "So keep the nipple ring?"

"If you like it," Rachel smiled up at him. "I wouldn't recommend it for football games, and its probably just as well you took it out before Juvie, but it looks..." She traced her fingers across his chest, "It looks like my Puck. My Puck from sophomore year, before Noah fell in love with me."

"Puck's just an act gorgeous," He grinned down at her. "I know it sounds like multiple personalities but Noah's been in love with you for a long time...longer'n I liked to admit."

"Me too," Rachel smiled softly. "It was a little disturbing, thinking I was in love with someone else and... worrying and thinking about you all the time."

"Yeah I know," Puck grinned and kissed her softly. "How much homework you got gorgeous?"

"A rather frightening amount actually," Rachel made a face. "Enough that we should probably get to it."

"Yeah," Puck forced himself to pull away from Rachel and groaned. "Damn you're gorgeous, school's gonna be harder to concentrate on now than it ever was last year." Rachel tilted her head curiously and Puck explained, "Last year, I was just in love with you, tryin' to be friends, wantin' you to be happy. Worked on my school stuff to keep from goin' nuts thinkin' about you with Finn, and then about you not with him but still in love with him."

"Ah," Rachel nodded her understanding as she disappeared into the bathroom for a moment, coming out again to grab a fresh pair of panties and bra. "Now you have me...most definitively," She added teasingly. "And school is an unwelcome distraction from me, rather than a welcome one."

"You got it," Puck watched her get dressed and spared a thought for the idea that there was no other girl he was so happy to watch get dressed. Pulling on his own clothes, he smiled at the pull of the scratches on his back. He was some sort a sick fuck but he loved when Rachel marked him. "I wish I had your focus sometimes angel."

"Oh you'd be amazed at how distracting I find you Noah Puckerman," Rachel smiled at him as she pulled on her shirt and a pair of yoga pants.

"Hafta tell me 'bout that sometime," Puck grinned. "But right now, let's get going on homework so we've got it done 'fore your dads get home." He wrapped his hand in her hair and kissed her on the neck and cheek and finally her lips. "If I could wish for one thing Rache..." He sighed, "Damn I love you so fucking much it hurts."

"What would you wish for Noah?" Rachel's hand was on his wrist, holding him in place against her. Her gorgeous dark eyes were huge as they looked up at him.

"That I could..." Puck took a deep breath and shook his head. It wasn't fair to throw everything at her at once, less than a month into senior year wasn't the time to tell her he wanted to marry her. Too much pressure, too much expectation. "I wish I never had to leave." He said finally. It was the truth, but not all of it.

"I know how you feel," Rachel sounded sad and Puck looked down at her.

"You okay angel?" He kissed her gently, "You know you got me as long as you want me right? I'm in this for the long haul so if you get sick a me you're gonna hafta be the one that tells me its over."

"I would never tell you that Noah, never," Rachel looked up with suddenly furious eyes. "Sometimes I just don't understand what you see in me. I'm not easy to deal with. I'm driven and ambitious and high maintenance."

"Yeah," Puck shook his head. "But you're sweet and loving and you take care of everybody you love even if they don't see it. How can I not be with you? You're 'bout the only one who believes in me 'sides Coach Beiste an' Ma."

"I really love that woman since this summer," Rachel smiled. Puck grinned and nodded his agreement as he began to grab his books and opened the door to her room. Coach had sat him down for a heart to heart about what he wanted this year. Between the two of them they'd figured out he really wanted a musical scholarship but he'd be happy with an athletic scholarship for either football or basketball. NYU looked like it was a possibility, Coach knew a few people there and they had a basketball program. So Coach had suggested he really concentrate on basketball and enjoy football but not kill himself with it unless some school started really making noises. But then Coach knew his goal was to get to New York no matter what.

Puck groaned as he pulled his books out of his locker, a month into the school year and interesting didn't even begin to describe it. Some crazy chick had decided she wanted to be in Glee club but she couldn't sing. Then Rachel's birth mother had been brought in to be a director of a second glee club at McKinley. Rachel was so tense these days an orgasm barely de-stressed her anymore and Puck knew he wasn't much better. He and Rachel were going over to Shelby's house in a couple of days to visit so he could spend a little time with Beth. It'd be the first time he'd seen his daughter since she'd been born and he was so wound up he doubted an orgasm would get rid of his tension either.

Finn was on the football team until his day in court and whatever sentencing was meted out. He was still the quarterback. Puck couldn't really blame Coach and she'd talked with him separately afterwards, about why she'd done it. If Puck and the other boys were to have any chance at football scholarships they needed to win games and attract scouts. That wouldn't happen with the backup quarterback. "I'm sorry pumpkin, I know it doesn't seem fair," Coach had looked at him sadly, "If I had someone else that could do the job, I'd put him in it. But Dave and AZ are seniors too and they don't play basketball. They need us to do well this season."

"I get it Coach, and I appreciate you talkin' to me about it," Puck grinned at her. "If it helps I'll do my best to be totally professional on the field and off with him. He's purely pissed at me these days anyhow so that might make it easier on all the guys."

"I knew I could count on you pumpkin," Beiste smiled at him. "Oh, and here's your phone." Puck grinned at her. He'd started asking her to hold onto his phone during practice because he'd reloaded Rachel's pictures onto it and he didn't want anyone he hadn't vetted to see her photos. The only condition Coach had made was that she wanted to see the photos so she was sure they weren't nudes.

"Thanks Coach," He grinned. "Oh hey, whatcha doin' on Thursday night?"

"Nothin' but going over the playbook why?" Coach blinked at him in surprise.

"Well you're kinda the only teacher I can stand these days, Mr. Schue seems to have written me off since Rache and I got together after Nationals," Puck said quietly. "Which kinda sucks you know because between you and him and Rache and my mom you all straightened my ass out. It's like if I don't do things the way he thinks I should he just...don't care anymore." He shrugged, "Anyway, my mom was having Rachel's dads and Rache over for dinner and I was hopin' you'd come. It'd be kinda cool to have you over so you can talk with alla us an' not get interrupted every five freakin' minutes-" He stopped as someone came running up to them. "Like that," He finished dryly.

"I'd love to have dinner with you and your family pumpkin," Coach grinned at him and Puck smiled.

"Awesome, Ma gets home at six so dinner's at seven. So show up anytime after six. Knowin' Rachel she'll be hounding me to clean up and all so I'll be unavailable for conversation until then anyway," He shook his head.

"Sounds good, can I bring anything?" Coach took the paperwork the guy had handed her and stuffed it in her binder.

"Tums and Pepto in case you don't like Ma's cooking," Puck laughed. "Ma would say bring yourself and that's present enough." To his surprise his coach blushed and he grinned at her, "It's totally true." He looked at the clock on his phone, "Shit, I gotta go Coach, Schue won't make me run laps but I'm sure he'd come up with something equally musically exhausting. See you tomorrow!"

"See you tomorrow Noah," He'd heard Coach say her goodbyes and took off at a sprint. Glee hadn't been all that much fun with Schuester giving he and Rachel the evil eye. Dave had made the cut and Rachel had actually made a bet with Azimio so that the big linebacker had to try out for the club. She'd been right about his bass and he'd made the club. Of course now they had more guys than girls and that wasn't counting Finn.

Puck scowled down at his books, he still couldn't believe after all the crap Finn had put the club through that Schuester had just welcomed him back. The quarterback had the nerve to act as if he was the one who had been wronged, as if Puck and Rachel had done something to him and Schuester wasn't doing anything to discourage the attitude. It was enough to make Puck want to leave glee club but that would just about kill Rachel. So they had to put up with Finn in rehearsals, at least until the sentencing.

Rachel came up to him as he was trying to remember what book he'd need for English and tapped a Steinbeck novel. "It's this one. Remember we read the chapters last night?" She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Aren't you excited?"

"Sorry gorgeous, my minds a total blank," Puck gave her a tired smile and was grateful when she didn't lambast him but just grinned more widely and kissed him again.

"Today we find out about the parts for the play," Rachel reminded him excitedly. "And since Coach Beiste and Miss Pillsbury are the adult supervisors with Artie directing Finn won't automatically get the best part."

"Damn," Puck grinned. "You're right. That is cool." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and grabbed the rest of his books. "I maintain you'll be an awesome Mimi," He told her.

Rachel shrugged, "Mercedes was pretty good when she auditioned."

"I just don't see Mercedes as Mimi," Puck shook his head and grinned slightly thinking of how sophomore Puck would have reacted to this conversation. He would have freaked and run, not been excited about his own audition.

"Well you're by far the best Roger," Rachel told him staunchly, "I've never heard 'One Song' done better."

"We'll see won't we," Puck grimaced as they arrived at the classroom. No wonder he'd tried to block the class out, Finn was in the same damn class.

"We don't even have to look at him," Rachel offered soothingly. "We're not even on the same side of the class."

"Some comfort," Puck sighed and held the door open for her.

Author's Note: I know it seems as if nothing is happening in regards to Schuester and Finn. Have faith. Court cases, even juvenile ones, take time to go through the system. Our favorite couple won't be dealing with Finn for long.

Now as to the chapter… it's sort of transitional and I'm not sure how good it really is so if you guys could point out anything that feels just off a bit I'd appreciate it. I'm trying to give the impression of the school without going into a lot of detail because frankly I remember high school with a certain amount of horror and it's not my favorite place in the world.