Puck was laying into the punch bag something fierce when she walked in. She watched him for a couple of minutes before pulling on some pads and walking over to him. She took up the position next to him and waited. After throwing a few more punches Puck cut his eyes at her.

"The fuck're you doing?" He said, breathing heavily.

"You were right before. It'll be difficult to replace if you break it."

"Right," He laughed, steadying the bag. "So you'd rather I break you?"

"I'd like to see you try." Santana laughed back.

Puck curled his lip at her and jabbed out a punch.

"That all you got?" She smiled at him. "Come on, Puck, I know you got more in your guns than that."

Puck advanced on her, jabbing left and right as she danced around him. Each punch was harder than the last and, after she dodged him and caused him to lose his footing, he came at her with full force, each blow knocking her back and shooting pain up her arms. She stumbled back, ending up pressed against the wall, teeth gritted and arms close to giving in, desperate to hold on til his rage burned itself out. She deserved this. She knew she did. Part of her wanted to just drop the pads and let him hit her but she knew that he wouldn't, much as he probably wanted to. His eyes burned into hers as he stood there, pummelling her into the wall, everything they couldn't say to each other communicated in this physical exchange. Just as she thought she couldn't take any more he stopped and leaned heavily against the wall next to her, chest heaving as he tried to get his breath back.

"You're fucking stupid, you know that?" He panted.

"I know." She replied, finally allowing her arms to drop.

"I've always got your back."

"I know."

"I would do anything for you." He wiped the sweat off his brow and pushed away from the wall, heading across the floor. "I fucking love you, Lopez."

"Puck," She called after him. "Where are you going?"

He stopped and looked back at her. "To get the tequila, you idiot. Come on."

Santana laughed softly and walked over to him, pulling the pads off as she went, relief washing through her. "I fucking love you too, asshole." She smiled up at him, grabbing his waist. He put his arm easily round her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

"Well start acting like it, dick."

She rolled her eyes and hugged up into him as they walked over to the lockers at the side of the room. He pulled one of them open and grabbed a bottle out of it before sliding down and sitting on the floor, his back against them. Santana sat down next to him and took a swig out of the bottle when he held it up to her.

"You remember that time we all went down to that lake after the game?" Puck asked.

She frowned slightly, casting her mind back. "Oh, you mean that game where you nearly broke that guys arm?"

"That guy was an ass." He snorted, grabbing the bottle back and taking a drink. "If you're going try and trash talk, prepare to get trashed."

She laughed. "Like you weren't just as bad."

"Please, I was the king of trash talk." He smiled and handed her the bottle. "Anyway, we all went down to the lake and you and Britt sort of disappeared, as usual, and Finn and Quinn got into this huge fight."

Santana nodded, the memory washing over her. Finn always got in a pissy mood when they lost a game and Quinn...well, Quinn just seemed to enjoy winding him up. Part of her wondered if it was just because she didn't know how it felt to lose, it wasn't something the Cheerios had much experience with, but part of her knew it was because Quinn expected more from him, knew he could be better. She took another drink and waited for Puck to continue.

"I was so mad at you." He smiled and shook his head. "I was so pissed about that game, about everything that was going on, and I just wanted you to be there for me. I knew our relationship was...well, I knew, even though I didn't really know why, that I was never as important to you as she was, I just thought that maybe, just that one night, you would see that I needed you and…"

She smiled up at him sadly and held out the bottle. He laughed as he took it, letting out a sigh before taking a big drink.

"Well, you didn't, obviously, and I just sat by the lake, hating everybody and everything, and then she came and sat next to me. It was the first time we ever really talked, you know?" He shook his head and took another drink before handing her back the bottle. "We just sat there for hours, talking and laughing and bitching, and she was so funny and smart and sweet. And then she kissed me and that was it. I had always thought she was hot, you know, but I just figured she was this uptight, stuck up rich kid, you know? I didn't know her til that night. And afterwards… I've never felt that way about anyone."

Santana nodded again. She didn't know what to say. She and Puck had known each other since they were thirteen. They were so similar in so many ways, they just got each other. Seperately they made questionable decisions, together they were downright bad. She had so many firsts with Puck, first cigarette, first drink, shoplifting, sex...it was just easy and fun. But when Britt came along, she knew that she was different. And that night at the lake had been a turning point for her too. The two of them had fooled around before, mainly just making out in front of guys and a few drunken fumbles at cheer camp, but that night at the lake was the first time they had sex. She had felt it building all day, the air between them had just seemed to hum with electricity. Quinn had kept giving them weird looks and snapping at Santana to concentrate during their routine. And when Brittany had gone down on her and made her come for the first time she genuinely thought she would die, and she knew she hadn't missed a thing. And although it would be nearly two years before she admitted it, she fell in love with Brittany that night, just as it seemed Puck had fallen in love with Quinn.

"You know, I always thought that one day I would get her, one day she would let me in. Even after Beth was born and I blew it, even after she became head bitch of Lima, even after Devon…" Puck took another quick drink, shaking his head quickly. "When I left I was so scared. I couldn't believe what you guys...that Sue had so much...just, how could you do that?"

"Puck…"

He held his hand out to stop her. "It's just, before that it was fun. It was like we were in some sort of movie or something, you know? Sure, sometimes it felt like...I don't know, I had a bad feeling sometimes, and some of the girls would take things too far, but...fuck, the look on her face. It's like I have that image burned into my head and I can't get it out."

Santana nodded, her eyes on the floor. She knew exactly what he was talking about. The fear in her eyes, the blood running over her body, the pitiful cries to anyone who would listen, the look of horror and resignation when Britt finally stepped in front of her.

"But when I found out about you, I started to hope again, you know?" Puck stood up unsteadily and started to pace. "I thought maybe if you were just playing along, trying to fix things, maybe she was too. Maybe there was still a chance that I could save her, maybe I could get her back. But then…"

"Finn."

Puck nodded, leaning against the lockers. "Finn."

Santana stood up slowly and pulled him into a hug. "I thought I could save them too. I really tried."

"I know you did." He whispered, hugging her back. "I'm the one who had to save your ass cos you never know when to stop, remember?"

She chuckled sadly and they stood there, locked in an embrace and memories of their lost loves.

"I'm so sorry." She said into his chest. "All this time I have been so wrapped up in my own shit that I didn't even stop to think that you were going through the exact same thing."

Puck sniffed and patted her on the back, effectively telling her to let go. "It's alright, you'll just have to lend me your girl some time."

Santana laughed loudly and punched him in the arm. "Dream on, Puckerman. Don't think I won't do extremely bad things to you if you touch Rachel, especially since that would now involve you cheating on Cara."

An extremely cute and dorky smile spread across Puck's face and he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Whatever."

Santana laughed at him and picked the bottle up off the floor. "Speaking of whom, I guess I should go apologise to her as well."

"Woah, who are you and what have you done with Santana?"

"Shut up, I know when to apologise." She shrugged. "I'm just normally right, so I don't have to."

"Yeah, right." He laughed, following her out. "So, are you and Rach okay?"

"Not really. I've got some work to do." She sighed and looked down the corridor towards their room. "But she said she'll wait up for me so…"

"Yeah, I bet." Puck laughed, earning him a glare and another shove. "You'll be fine. She's so in love with your sorry ass it's sickening."

"Yeah," Santana said distractedly, her eyes drifting back to their room. She had a strange feeling.

"Ha! Don't even act like the feelings aren't mutual." Puck grinned at her from halfway across the kitchen. "I've never seen you so whipped."

"Fuck off, Puckerman." Santana spat at him, finally advancing across the kitchen towards him, leaving their room behind. "You should see your dopey face whenever Cara is around."

"Shut up." He growled, shoving her towards the garage.