33 Lethal Weapon
Rachel sank down into her chair in the choir room and exhaled. Santana next to her was doing the same thing while Lauren looked at them both in amusement. "You two have been obsessed with the play for how long now...and look at you," She teased.
"Relieved its done," Santana groaned and Rachel nodded her agreement.
"Loved it, so much fun, challenging, rewarding," She shivered happily. "And the applause was wonderful. But oh sweet God I am so glad its done. No more tiptoeing around egos five days a week."
"No more reassuring Dave that he's doing fine," The Cheerio seconded.
"And no more running interference between Noah and Kurt," Rachel murmured. "No more pretending everything is fine."
"Anybody with half a brain could tell things weren't fine babe," Lauren reminded her. "You've been cool to him ever since you and Puck got back together. With good reason," She added hurriedly when Rachel's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "I'm just saying the kid isn't that stupid. He's gotta know something's up."
"Well I had a word with Shelby and told her flat out that if she ever laid a hand on my boyfriend again I'd have Daddy do everything in his power to get the adoption reversed." Rachel gave Lauren and Santana a very Puck like smirk. "I think Daddy is tempted anyway, he knows it kills Noah that he had to give up Beth."
"Yeah Puck made the same sort of threat to Shelby. I think we can safely say she's gonna keep her nose and everything else out of yours and Puck's relationship," Lauren grinned.
"I haven't had the same sort of talk with Kurt, I'm still trying to figure out his motive here," Rachel shook her head.
"The boy is bi-polar," Santana groaned. "I mean seriously, first its 'Diva I love you' then he's pissed because you and Puck might have the duet for Nationals? What is his major malfunction?"
"Same as it always is with Rachel," Lauren shrugged. "He gets jealous. She's good enough to get what she wants without needing to wrap everyone around her finger in the process." She poked Santana, "Everybody's been jealous of Rachel at one point or another, even you pretty girl."
Rachel shook her head, "Santana's never had any reason to be jealous of me."
"Sure I did B," The Latina disagreed. "Your voice, your drive, and how Puck looked at you. Back then I'd never had anyone look at me the way Puck looked at you. Even when you guys weren't dating. Even when you two weren't totally 'friends' he still always watched you."
"But that was when..." Rachel shook her head. "Everyone always hated me, I mean you said it yourself, the only reason anyone tolerated me was because of my voice." She shrugged, "It's not true now, but then? The only one who disagreed with you was Noah."
"B, you've got the best voice in the school if not the state," Lauren pointed out dryly. "And you know it. Back then you were a little...abrasive in how you critiqued people. You've gotten a little milder but you're still the best. So of course Kurt is jealous."
"But he and I aren't in direct competition for anything," Rachel shook her head. "So why is he acting like this? I mean what he told Shelby made it sound like he cared whether or not I got out of Lima."
"He may have convinced himself that he did," Santana suggested. "But when you were miserable B, he got to sing a whole lot more. You did your work but you didn't push for anything more, too busy trying to breathe through the hurt."
"I'm trying to figure out if its worth it to confront him," Rachel admitted finally. "Noah is ready to reinstate dumpster tossing just for Kurt because of what he pulled."
"It's not the worst thing that could happen to Hummel," Lauren chuckled nastily. "And we're halfway through senior year, he could deal with it until graduation."
"Well what does confrontation do for you," Santana gave a shrug when they both looked at her. "If Rachel's going to confront him she should go in knowing why she's doing it. I mean if it helps you to lay it out for him that you know what he did and you're not going to take anymore crap then go for it. But if its just going to make you more upset and hurt, then it isn't worth it."
"I think its more the first," The tiny diva frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not interested in his excuses or reasons. I just want him to be aware that I know what he did and that I don't consider him a friend anymore. I won't trust him again."
Puck came in and tilted his head at the girls she was sitting beside, "Got room for one more baby?" He set his guitar down and took a seat near hers.
"For you always?" Rachel grinned. She tilted her head at Lauren and Santana, "By the way, you two never mentioned how you started going out?"
"Well we hung out more during the summer, when all of us were chilling with you guys and Artie," Lauren chuckled. "And when school started up again we were still hanging out. And she finally got the nerve to ask me."
"Santana asked you out?" Puck sounded surprised.
"Nah, I asked her." Lauren waved her hand dismissively. "No she finally asked what she'd been wanting to know since she'd gotten friendly with you Rachel. She asked me what it was like to kiss you."
Rachel blinked and shook her head, "Why all the curiosity?"
Santana wasn't quite blushing but she was avoiding Rachel's gaze, "You had this totally hot guy, and confident girl both hanging with you. As far as I could tell you weren't gay but you had no problem with Lauren kissing you. And I knew Puck had been hung up on you since the two of you had dated that week. So I asked Lauren what the big deal was."
"Okay," Rachel grinned, "Lauren, can I assume you said good things about me?"
"I told her you were very good," Lauren grinned lasciviously. "And then I told her that I wouldn't mind kissing her to see how she compared if she was worried."
"Such a line," Santana chuckled lazily.
"It worked," Lauren reminded her. "I got my mouth on you. And I asked you out. And you said yes." She wrapped her arm around Santana's shoulders, "Not that she isn't still curious about you Rachel."
Rachel could feel herself blushing, as she leaned into Puck's embrace, "I don't think Noah would want me satisfying that curiosity." She shook her head, "And I think Lauren might just hit me if I offered."
"I dunno," Lauren grinned. "I've kissed you, I can't blame San for wanting to do the same thing. You're a damn good kisser Rachel. It's not the same as kissing someone you love but...yeah...there's a lot to be said for raw talent."
"Yeah, discussion for another time," Puck tugged Rachel further into his embrace. "Like when I won't combust in public at the thought."
"And when we're not about to have company," Santana grinned.
She was right, the rest of the glee club was entering the room, followed by Shelby and the Trouble Tones. "What are they doing here," Rachel whispered to Puck curiously.
Mr. Schuester came in and smiled as he saw Mercedes, Sugar and Quinn along with Shelby. Coaches Sylvester and Beiste entered the choir room and exchanged loaded glances before they took their customary places. "All right everyone, I've got great news. In exchange for being allowed to perform one of their numbers at each competition the Troubletones will come back to New Directions."
There was some uneasy and displeased muttering and Rachel watched as the co directors frowned, they hadn't known anything about this little maneuver of Schuester's. Frowning she raised her hand, "Why should we take them back?"
"Just because you can't handle the competition-" Mercedes began and Rachel cut her off.
"I wasn't the one who stormed off the play rather than take the role I was assigned. I'm not the one who demands solos without earning them," She snapped the words out. "You took off so you could have the spotlight on your own. But we're a team here and we vote on solos now. Mr. Schuester didn't have the right to make that deal with you."
"I was perfectly within my purview as the choir director-"
"Actually," Coach Sue interrupted Mr. Schuester with a smile of pleasure. "You weren't William. If the kids want the girls back then its up to them."
"They've worked hard get this far in the competitions," Coach Beiste added. "Why should these three be allowed to come in and benefit from that? They haven't done any of the work. And to give them one of the three songs New Directions would be performing?"
"Exactly," Artie looked at the girls. "I don't mind if they want to come back, but no one here automatically gets a solo or songs. We vote on them. We want the best."
"Hey I can sing rings around that skinny little white bitch," Mercedes pointed at Rachel. "I am the best."
"Enough," Coach Sue's hand slashed through the air like a sword. "If the girls want to come back, the team votes on it, simple enough. As always, solos and songs will be voted on, no designated songs allowed. Period. End of discussion." She looked at the group, "Now, all those in favor of the Trouble Tones rejoining New Directions raise your hands."
Rachel raised her hand, the girls had good voices except for Sugar and Sugar could at least dance. Puck however, refused to raise his hand, and neither would Lauren or Santana. Rachel sighed in irritation but didn't nudge her boyfriend to put his hand up.
Sue was busy counting hands, "All right, that's more than half positive so the girls are back." She rolled her eyes. "Take some seats and pay attention, you three are now very far behind the rest of them."
Coach Beiste waited until everyone was finally in a seat, Mercedes next to Kurt, Sugar taking a seat in the front row near Artie and Quinn in the back near Brittney before she picked up her clipboard. "Puck, you and Rachel were working on a retro duet, how's that coming?"
"Pretty good I think," Puck's voice was relaxed and lazy. "We think next practice we'll be ready to show everyone." Rachel nodded her support and Coach Beiste marked something down on her notes.
"All right, we'll make sure to leave time for it next practice then," She looked at Artie. "Artie, you mentioned something the other day about some ideas?"
"Yeah, me, Santana, Lauren, Rachel an' Puck, we were all hangin' out and lookin' at some old vinyl," Artie explained. "Puck's mom has this old record by Poco. There's a great song on there...it'd be awesome for a group number."
"All right," Schuester tried to take control of the practice back into his hands. "Get the music and we'll take a look." Rachel rolled her eyes and leaned against Puck as Schuester continued, "Meanwhile, lets go over some of the other songs, I'd like to hear different voices, so we're going to switch everyone around for each song."
Puck leaned down to whisper in her ear, "He's really lost his mind now. Why don't he just tell us who he wants us to sing with."
Rachel barely kept from giggling and nodded her agreement, "Cuckoo for cocoa puffs."
Puck looked at Dave, AZ and Sam and grinned as Artie rolled up to them, Mike and Blaine behind him, "Guys." He shook his head, "I promised Rachel that I'd stay out of her talk with Kurt." He explained dryly. "Didn't promise to not listen in."
"So we're here to keep you from goin' nuts and throwin' Kurt in a dumpster?" Dave summarized and Puck nodded.
"Pretty much yeah," He shushed them as there were footsteps on the stage. He wasn't prepared for Rachel's to pop her head around the curtain to see all of them hiding back stage.
"Seriously Noah?" She sighed, "You promised."
"Said I'd stay out of it. But I wanna hear this as much as you," Puck reminded her. "The guys are gonna keep me from doin' somethin'... uncouth."
"I had hoped to keep this private," Rachel frowned at him. "You guys can't mess with Kurt after this. You aren't supposed to know about it."
"Rachel, if Kurt did something that bad...we won't get violent, but..." Blaine hesitated and shook his head. "He's my boyfriend... I need to know this stuff too."
Puck watched as Rachel nodded and then looked at the other boys, "But you guys, you can't do anything. All right?"
"We'll leave it up to Puck and Blaine," Artie said after a moment of looking at the other boys.
"All right," Rachel sighed and when she would have disappeared onto the stage again Puck grabbed her and pressed his lips to hers.
"I'm right here if you need me baby," He reminded her.
"Hmm..." Rachel took a deep breath and Puck did the same as she let the curtain fall again, hiding them all from view. It didn't take long before Kurt's distinctive voice was heard across the auditorium.
"Diva," He greeted Rachel. "Tell me we're going to revive Wicked for Nationals."
"That would be great," Rachel's voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "But aside from it not being retro enough...I don't know if I could sing a duet with someone I can't trust Kurt."
"And you think you can't trust me?" Kurt actually sounded hurt and Puck ground his teeth together.
"Kurt, please stop pretending," Rachel's voice was painfully tired. "I know what you did. I just want to know why."
"What do you think I did?" Kurt had a huffy tone to his voice, as if he was folding his arms and cocking his hip. Puck felt his fists clenching and Dave's hand on his arm reminded him to breathe.
"You went to my mother Kurt. You went to my mother and told her that Noah and I were intimate and that he'd keep me in Lima," Rachel was breathing deliberately, Puck could hear her voice was painfully even. "You said that we were practically engaged and talking about marriage and children. You lied to her."
"You two were talking about marriage and children," Kurt protested. "And you'll get stuck here with him."
"Kurt," Rachel's voice had grown chilly. "First of all, we might have talked about marriage and children but that was for ten years in the future. We're Jewish. Religiously we're obligated to produce offspring. So of course we talked about it. We're in love, we're dreaming. But we know its not something for right now."
"Then why talk about it, honestly Rachel, you talk about him as if he's going to be around forever," Kurt sounded scornful. "We both know that if you leave him here in Lima you'll never see him again." Puck heard that and nearly growled his anger. This time it was Artie who bumped his legs and reminded him to calm down and remember that they weren't supposed to be there.
"How dare you," Rachel was almost hissing her voice was so cold. "My boyfriend is intelligent and talented. He's in the running for a basketball scholarship for NYU. His grades are well above average and he's a brilliant song writer. He's getting out of this gorram town Kurt. We're getting out together."
"Honestly Rachel, why are you even bothering to lie about this," Kurt's voice dripped condescension. "I know that you were fooling yourself about Finn's potential for a year but at least he started out fairly decent. But Puckerman? He's a Neanderthal. I don't see how you can insist that he's the love of your life when he's such a philistine. He knows nothing about New York, knows nothing about musical theatre or fashion or anything important. All he knows is drinking and partying and making trouble."
"You don't know what you're talking about Kurt," Rachel sounded as if she was struggling to control her voice now. Puck wanted to hit Kurt and just carry Rachel off to hold her and cuddle her until she felt better. "You don't know Noah. I don't know what happened to you, I thought you were actually a friend. I thought you'd changed. That you were learning to accept people the way we accepted you. But you haven't. You still judge people by what you see. And you look at my Noah, the boy who loves me...loves me so much and makes me so happy... and all you see is Puck. You don't see how he's changed."
"Because he hasn't changed," Kurt rolled his eyes. "Even when he was dating Lauren he was telling Blaine and I how your snippy tone of voice made him want to go down on you. He's just as much of a hound as he always was."
"He what?" Rachel sounded surprised and a little confused.
Kurt sounded pleased now that she was confused and might listen to him, "When you and Lauren were trying on jeans, Puck told Blaine and I that when you used a certain tone of voice it made him want to...you know."
"No Kurt, I seriously doubt Puck used the words 'you know'," Rachel had that prissy prim tone to her voice and Puck nearly groaned as his jeans felt two sizes to tight.
"He said when you get that prissy tone to your voice he wanted to make you ride his tongue," Kurt sounded embarrassed and defiant. "I told you he's a barbarian."
"No, he's highly sexual," Rachel was rolling her eyes, Puck could tell from her tone of voice. "I happen to enjoy Noah's creative imaginings. I love him Kurt. I might have loved Finn once, but it wasn't ever like what I feel for Noah. Finn was high school, he was something I should have known all along that I'd outgrow. Noah is someone I can love for my entire life and trust that he'll love me back. We've seen each other at our worst Kurt. And we still love each other. I'm sorry you can't see that."
"He's using you, for the love of-" Kurt sounded beyond exasperated and Puck rolled his eyes. "How can you be so blind Rachel?"
"How can you?" Rachel's voice made Puck's chest ache she sounded so controlled he knew she was upset. "I could forgive everything you said here Kurt. Its your opinion and you're entitled to it. But you went to my mother and you told her all that and because she thought you were my friend she believed you. And the two of you..." She took a deep breath that Puck could hear, "Kurt you tried to break us up. And when we weren't talking, when we were both so unhappy, you kept trying to set me up with other guys."
"What are you saying then," The male diva's voice sounded as if he was actually worried.
"I'm saying that I don't trust you anymore," Rachel told him her words resounding with finality. "I don't trust my mother and I don't trust you. You hurt me Kurt. I might have been able to forgive that. But you hurt Noah. And that I won't forgive."
"What are you going to do then," Kurt asked worriedly.
"I'm not going to do anything," Rachel was moving, Puck could hear her shuffling her papers and stacking them before she began to leave the stage. "Noah already knows what you did. I just wanted to know why you did it."
"But-"
Rachel had just reached the curtain and her hand was holding the edge of it as she spoke to her ex-friend, "There's nothing you can say Kurt. You can't talk me into trusting you again. And if I can't trust you then you're not a friend. I don't have room in my life for people I can't trust."
Puck watched as she came backstage and tugged her into his arms, "Oh baby." He murmured into her ear. "I'm sorry baby."
"C'mon," Mike's voice was hushed. "Let's go."
Puck nodded and felt Rachel's head move in agreement. "We've still got Glee in half an hour," He reminded her. "You gonna be okay then?"
She waited until they were in the hallway before Rachel replied, "I'll just use it as fuel for the music." She looked up at him, "Thank you though for not barging in and hitting him."
"Oh I was tempted," Puck shrugged. "But I knew all of that already. It was hardest for Blaine to hear." He looked at the only other openly gay boy at school, "You all right man?"
"It's hard to hear what he did," Blaine admitted. "I mean, I really care about him, its so hard to hear that he did that, he just... thought he knew what was best and he..."
"I know," Rachel nodded. "He had his reasons and he's still your Kurt."
"Yeah," Blaine nodded. "It's just difficult realizing that my Kurt could do that." He shrugged, "I'm just going to keep quiet about it for a while, think about it and see if maybe he's been doing stuff like this...what he thinks is best for people regardless of what they feel or want."
Puck nodded his understanding and pulled Rachel closer, "Well if you love him, don't give up on him man. God knows I'm screwed up an' Rachel didn't give up on me."
Blaine nodded and offered them a smile as they entered the choir room, "Well at least I'll have some damn good music to listen to. That always gets my brain working well."
Puck grinned and grabbed his guitar while Rachel took her place at the piano. Before long the rest of the group had filed in, Shelby who'd volunteered to help in an advisory capacity was leaning against the wall next to Coach Beiste while Sue had chosen to stand near the office door. Mr. Schuester came in last and nodded at everyone before taking a seat next to Sugar. Puck looked over at Coach Beiste and she nodded that they could begin. Puck couldn't believe that Schuester was being this much of an ass but he grinned at Rachel and she began the opening notes.
Puck looked at Rachel and remembered how it had felt when he thought he'd lost her before he began to sing,
"When you lose your love
And it makes your life turn cold..."
Rachel took the next lines, her voice vibrating with that same pain,
"When it tears you apart
Your heart and soul just can't go on..."
Puck smiled at Rachel and they joined their voices for the next three lines, love and the pain of losing it resounding through their words,
"When love's alive, it sets you free
When it's gone, it's plain to see
How even love can become a lethal weapon..."
Rachel began the second verse, her soprano anguished and Puck knew she was thinking of all the times he'd lost his mind, lost control and that last time when he'd ended up in Juvie,
"When you lose control
And you scare yourself sometimes..."
Puck nodded, admitting to himself, in the music that there were times when he didn't care if he lived or died, he was so miserable with what his life had become,
"When you really don't care, yeah
That your life is on the line..."
Puck took the lead for the next three lines, Rachel weaving her voice in a descant around his,
"No one outside can understand
You take your life in your own hands
And even love can become a lethal weapon..."
Rachel's voice rose in a wail and Puck kept his voice low, emphasizing hers,
"Killing you, that's the last thing love
Was ever meant to do
Become a lethal weapon..."
Puck looked at Rachel and they merged their voices, what he loved best about singing with her, when they meshed perfectly together. He loved how they sounded, like everything in his heart showed in their voices,
"You know there is no hope of breaking free
And what you suffer happily
That's when love itself becomes
A lethal weapon..."
Puck let his hands simply pluck the tune out of the guitar while the piano went spare and echoing as they repeated the last lines almost acapella,
"That's when love itself becomes
A lethal weapon..."
Puck grinned as the applause rang out after that moment of stunned silence that was the greatest compliment a performer could get. "Wow," Beiste and Shelby were looking at each other and Beiste regarded her fellow directors. "I'd say that's definitely in the running for Nationals."
"What do all you think?" Sue asked the rest of the club, "Show of hands, a song for Nationals?" Puck shot a grin at Rachel as nearly every hand in the room went up. Kurt and Mercedes were the exceptions.
"But who's going to sing it then," Kurt asked. "Because you said that if they arranged it, it didn't necessarily mean Rachel and Puck would be singing it."
"That's true," Mr. Schuester nodded. "You've all got the music. We'll have performances of the song next week. We'll vote on it then. Artie, what about that other song you were talking about? Did you get the music?"
Author's Note: So this chapter's song...love this song. It's by a group called Honeymoon Suite and if you've never heard it, its off the Lethal Weapon soundtrack. It's incredible.
Now the showdown with Rachel and Kurt, I know it wasn't the smackdown or bitchfest that a lot of people wanted, but I think Rachel really is trying to grow as a person. And that means talking to people, not ranting at them or letting them rant at her. Emotionally its less destructive if she doesn't let Kurt gather steam and unload a pile of garbage on her so keeping it clean and simple makes her life easier
As for Mr. Schuester, I've got a lot of people asking if he's going to lose his job. I haven't decided yet. Still working that out. But by the time I've got this story completed ya'll will find out. So you'll know when I do basically.
What did we think? I had someone ask how Santana and Lauren started dating and thought I'd throw that in there because it seemed funny to me and Santana's always been a little competitive about certain things.