Hi everyone! Thanks as always for all the support, it means so much to me. All these episodes with Fuinn 2.0 are going to be tough, but I'm doing my best. I have so much to say about that storyline that this isn't the place for... And there was Puckleberry here too! Ugh! On a more positive note, I'm glad that Heartbleed hasn't affected fanfiction. If you guys haven't been checking your e-mails because of Heartbleed, I updated my other fic too. Thanks so much for your support and review if you want me to keep going!
Chapter 34: The Sue Sylvester Shuffle
It was the second last football game of the season. Finn was glad that the football team was doing so well. It was helping him feel better about what happened with Rachel. He still missed her, but he wasn't quite ready to forgive her yet. Football practice was taking up most of his time, and it took his mind off things. The football players stood in a circle, waiting for the game to start. "All right, I just want to take a minute to tell you guys how proud of you I am. We didn't even have to win this game to go to championship next week, but nobody took it off. When we take a knee, we're gonna finish first in conference for the first time in McKinley history," Finn said.
"Football is back, bitches!" Puck backed Finn up.
"Maybe we should all break out into a song after we win," Karofsky snorted.
Finn was so tired of Karofsky. "Hey, shut it, Karofsky."
"No fricking way. I figure if I stay on you, you'll run away like your little butt buddy Hummel," Karofsky said.
Finn realized something. "That's funny, Karofsky, how you're calling everybody gay all the time, but you never seem to have a girlfriend."
A fight broke out. It felt like that was always happening these days. Maybe football wasn't such a great distraction. He got picked on more than anyone else on the team, though Puck, Sam, Mike and Artie got it pretty bad too.
x
Coach Beiste wasn't too happy with the team after the game. "What a joke. What the hell happened?! Finn, you're the captain, talk!"
"Karofsky sucks, that's what happened!" Finn snapped.
"That's crap! Hudson's a frickin' girl and couldn't take a joke about his precious Glee Club," Karofsky shouted.
Finn looked at his nemesis. "Because I'm sick of you guys getting down on us for it. We're in Glee Club. What's the big deal?"
"It's embarrassing! We're dudes! Getting all hot and bothered about singing a Ke$ha song? It's freakin' weird," Strando said.
"Yeah? Well, maybe you'll think it's cooler when I go all TiK ToK on your face," Puck snapped.
"Bring it, Puckerman," Karofsky said as the two of them got into a fight. Finn almost wished football season was over. At least the basketball and baseball teams pretty much left him alone.
x
In glee club the next day, Finn was chatting with the other guys when he saw the rest of the football team come in. Why were they here? "So this is what the ladies lounge looks like on the inside," Strando said.
"This is the choir room," Sam snapped. "Now, put up your fists because you and I are going to do some dancing."
"No, I got this, Sam," Finn said.
"Coach Beiste told us to come. Where is she?" Karofsky asked.
Mr. Schue and Coach Beiste came in. "Watch it. Everyone, have a seat," Coach Beiste said.
"You, too, guys," Mr. Schue added. "All right, New Directions, let's give a warm welcome to the newest members of Glee Club."
This was not okay! "Oh, hell to the no, Mr. Schue," Mercedes said.
"Hey! Come on! Guys!" Mr. Schue protested.
"Mr. Schue, are you serious? These are the guys that made Kurt transfer," Finn said. He didn't want to have to spend all his time at school with him.
"And there's no way that I'm sharing the choir room with a known homophobe," Rachel said. As always, Finn was so impressed by Rachel.
"I don't disagree with you guys," Mr. Schue conceded. "But I talked to Coach Beiste about it, and she and I both agreed that the kind of bullying that David does is born out of ignorance. Having him in here, as difficult as it may be for us, is an opportunity to show him and the rest of the guys that being in Glee Club is kind of cool- find some common ground."
"All of you are going to be in this Glee Club for one week, no exceptions," Coach Beiste told the football players.
"She's bluffing- next week is the championship game. Without us, she has no team," Karofsky said.
"With you, I have no team! You guys have gotta find a way to come together or we're going to get our asses kicked from here until Tuesday finds a saddlebag full of buckwheat," Coach Beiste said. Finn admitted that was true.
"If I have to stay, I'm not singing no show tunes. That is the music of my oppressors," Azimio said.
Finn had enough with their ignorance. "Do you even have any idea what we do in here?"
"No. None of them do. We have to show them. Rachel, Puck, haven't you guys been working on something? Why don't you give it a whirl?" Mr. Schue said.
Rachel and Puck? Doing a duet? That was not okay! Duets with Rachel were Finn's thing! Well, he didn't mind the girls doing them with her, or Kurt, for obvious reasons, but Puck of all people? What was this nonsense?
Rachel stood up. "Fine. As offended as I am by their presence here, I won't let anything get in the way of a performance."
Finn found himself getting more and more annoyed as Rachel and Puck sang together. Those flirty looks they were giving each other were getting on his last nerve. They couldn't be dating now, could they? And the song choice made the situation even worse. This was a song he wanted to do with Rachel!
Rachel: Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor
Reaching for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore
Rachel and Puck: And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
Rachel: For me it happens all the time
Rachel and Puck: It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call, but I've lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
Puck: Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
Rachel and Puck: And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
Puck: For me it happens all the time
Rachel and Puck: It's a quarter after one
I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call, but I've lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
Rachel: It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone and I need you now
Puck: And I said I wouldn't call, but I'm a little drunk and I need you now; And I..
Rachel and Puck: Don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
Oh baby, I need you now...
At the end of the duet, Azimio blurted out, "The girl with the mohawk had a really nice voice."
"Funny," Puck snapped as the two of them started fighting. This definitely wasn't going to work. As they left glee, Finn caught up with Rachel.
"Hello, Finn," Rachel said indifferently.
"So, are you and Puck dating now?" Finn asked.
"No," Rachel simply stated. "I don't want to be with anyone right now. I don't think I deserve anyone."
She didn't think she deserved anyone? Now Finn just wanted to hug her. He hated what she did, but he couldn't hate her. He'd never hate her. "Rachel..."
"Don't, Finn," Rachel said. "I had the guy I wanted, and I blew it."
"Well, I'm glad you're not with Puck," Finn said. He tried to think fast for something to say to cover up that he wanted her back. "I know you said you don't think you deserve anyone, but you deserve a lot better than him."
"Well, I stand by my statement that I don't deserve anyone," Rachel said simply. She walked away, and Finn caught up with Puck by the trophy case.
They stood there in silence for a minute before Finn spoke. "Hey."
"Hey. We used to be best friends... before I got your girlfriend pregnant, and then made out with your other girlfriend and..." Puck said.
"Yeah," Finn said.
"Anyways... I gotta be honest. I really want to win this game, and I figure it's the only way us Glee studs are ever gonna get any respect around here," Puck said.
Finn didn't know if even that could get them respect. "What's your point?"
"My point is that none of that's gonna happen unless you and I become allies again, like Maverick and Iceman at the end of Top Gun," Puck said.
"So why'd youing that duet with Rachel?" Finn asked. He was still annoyed by it.
Puck didn't even answer. "Nothing like that will ever happen again. You lead, and I got your back. We need to win this championship and become legends."
Finn decided not to keep harping on things. He gave Puck a fist bump. Puck was right. There couldn't be any more infighting.
x
The situation only got worse.
The next day, Finn found out that Coach Sylvester had told Quinn, Santana and Brittany that they had to choose between cheerios and glee club and they'd picked the cheerios.
Finn was so annoyed at them. Yes, he'd chosen football over glee last year, but Glee was just beginning and he still thought status was everything. But time had passed. He saw Quinn in the hall and went up to her. "How the hell could you do this?" Quinn was the one he was most disappointed in. Last year, Coach Sylvester had kicked her off the cheerios, and the glee club had been there for her when almost no one else was.
"Oh, don't get all up in my face, Finn. What were we supposed to do?" Quinn snapped.
"Uh, quit Cheerios?" Finn said as if it was obvious. "Coach Sylvester is awful to you guys. And don't forget who was there for you the last time she dumped you on your ass- us, Glee Club."
"And you don't think that I feel awful about that?" Quinn asked.
"You don't need to be a Cheerio to be cool," Finn said.
"Oh, you are so naive. This whole school is about labels," Quinn said.
"Wow. I never realized you were so freakin' weak," Finn said.
"Oh. I..." Quinn began.
Sam came over. "What did you say?"
"All the Cheerios quit Glee Club," Finn told Sam.
"So why are you yelling at my girlfriend about it?" Sam asked.
"I'm yelling at her because I'm the leader of this team," Finn said.
"Well, maybe it's time for a change at the top," Sam said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Finn asked.
"This is kind of hot, actually," Quinn giggled.
"It means that maybe the reason everyone hates us is because we need some new leadership. Face it, you've had your feet in both worlds for a year, and never been able to bring them together. Maybe someone else could," Sam said.
"What, as in maybe you?" Finn asked. No. He didn't want someone else taking over his role as the lead of glee. It made him feel so special
"As in yes," Sam said. Before Finn knew it, they were fighting in the middle of the hall until Mr. Schue came up and pulled them apart.
"Hey, hey! How many fights do I have to break up this week? Now calm down... and get back to Glee Club. Come on," Mr. Schue said.
Finn turned to Quinn. "Hope to see you there."
x
Quinn, Santana and Brittany didn't come to glee that day. Finn was leading the football team in a warmup number for the halftime show that the glee club would be doing, and they'd already put on their Zombie face paint. Since they'd be dressed as Zombies for the performance, Finn decided that they should do a song by The Zombies for their warmup number.
Finn: Well no one told me about the way she lied
Well no one told me about her, how many people cried
But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know? Why should I care?
Please don't bother tryin' to find her
She's not there
Finn with New Directions and the Football team: Well let me tell you 'bout the way she looked
The way she'd act and the color of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool
Her eyes were clear and bright but she's not there
Finn: Well no one told me about her, what could I do
Well no one told me about her, though they all knew
But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know, why should I care
Please don't bother tryin' to find her
She's not there
Finn with New Directions and the Football team: Well let me tell you 'bout the way she looked
The way she'd act and the color of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool
Her eyes were clear and bright but she's not there
Surprisingly enough, the football players seemed to enjoy the number, but it didn't last. They were slushied by some other students, and the non Glee club members of the football team weren't taking it well. "This is gonna be fine," Finn told them.
"Yeah, of course it is. 'Cause I'm quitting Glee Club," Karofsky said.
Finn was a bit relieved. But then Coach Beiste had something to say. "No, you're not. Fact is, covered in ice and red dye number seven, you guys look more like a team than you ever have out on the field."
"I don't care. I'm out," Karofsky said.
"Then you're off the team," Coach Beiste said.
"No way!" Karofsky shouted.
"Yeah," Coach Beiste shot back.
"If we all quit, you barely have enough guys to play next week. It's the championship game. You're not going to throw it away," Karofsky said.
Finn didn't want them to quit the team. The fact is, they couldn't win with only a few people. "Don't do this. If we stand together, and we do the halftime show, we can win this game and be kings in this place," Finn said.
"Good luck with that," Karofsky snapped.
x
Rachel went out to coffee with Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes a few days before the game. Rachel was glad that Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes were letting her hang out with them, because she'd been so lonely lately. "Now, I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but you guys better be pulling out all the stops for Regionals, because the number we just rehearsed is so off-the-hook, it's dangerous," Blaine said.
"Seriously. People should wear protective headgear when they're watching it. Guys, we're kidding," Kurt added.
Rachel honestly wasn't bothered if the Warblers won Regionals. She just wished she could get back with Finn. "Yeah, well, it's just hard to laugh right now with everything going on at McKinley."
"I mean, look at us, the stars of two rival show choirs sitting down to coffee- our school is so messed up, we can't even keep our own football team together," Mercedes added.
"It's so sad, you guys. Coach Beiste and Mr. Schue were so close to getting everyone at the school together," Rachel told Kurt and Blaine.
"Why hasn't Finn told me anything about this?" Kurt asked. "I mean, we live together. I mean, I bring him a glass of warm milk every night, just in the hopes that we'll have a little lady-chat."
"Warm milk? Really?" Blaine asked.
"It's delicious," Kurt protested.
Rachel knew Finn. "Finn's too proud to complain. He feels like he has to be strong for everyone, but I know it's just killing him inside. I hope he realizes that if he and I were still together, I could make him feel a lot better, you know."
"Let it go, Rachel," Kurt said.
Rachel had probably said too much about herself and Finn to her friends lately. "I just wish that here was a way that we could help. That's all. Yeah."
"And the worst part is how bummed the guys are. I mean, they already suffer enough abuse just being in Glee. I really think winning the game could have eased some of the pressure, at least for a little while," Mercedes said.
"Wait, so the whole team quit?" Blaine asked.
"Everybody not in Glee," Mercedes said. "I mean, you can't play football with five guys. And one of them is in a wheelchair."
"Yeah, Coach Beiste put up a sign-up sheet for people to join. I think they'll take anyone at this point," Rachel said.
"Well, the good news is, you actually only need four more guys," Blaine said. "High school regulations actually let you play a couple guys short, if you want to. But if they figure out a way to make it work, you can bet that we'll definitely be there to cheer them on."
"Totally. Blaine and I love football. Well, Blaine loves football. I love scarves," Kurt said.
Then Rachel had an idea. If she and the other girls joined the team, maybe they could do it. Sure, they didn't know how to play, but the boys could probably handle the playing. Rachel just wanted Finn to get this championship. She wanted to see him happy.
x
Rachel talked to Mercedes, Tina and Lauren, and they all thought it was a good idea. Lauren said that she could use her skills from the wrestling team to play football, so that made things even better. The four of them arrived at glee, ready to tell the boys their idea.
"Why can't we just let them back on the team, just for this game?" Sam asked.
Coach Beiste wouldn't budge. "No. We carry this thing through, even if it means having to forfeit the game."
Finn looked defeated. "I can't believe this is it."
Rachel led Mercedes, Tina and Lauren to the front of the room. "Maybe it isn't. We want to join the team."
"We, who?" Artie asked.
"All us Glee girls. We want to join the football team, and we want to play in the championship," Mercedes said.
"Come on, guys. Stop screwing around. It's not cool," Mike said.
"What's not cool is you guys not respecting women enough to realize we're perfectly capable of playing football. And don't forget who the state champ in Greco-Roman wrestling is. I've got offers from three different professional wrestling organizations for after I graduate, so..." Lauren said.
"Rachel, have you actually seen a tackle football game?" Mr. Schue asked. "When they tackle you, it hurts."
"Yeah. And not in the good, Mellencamp way," Puck added.
"We thought about that," Rachel said. "But the truth is, is that you guys don't really need us to play. You just need enough players out there to field a regulation team. So when they snap the ball, we're just going to lie down on the ground."
"Well, I'm not. I'm going to bring the pain," Lauren declared.
"I guess they won't get hurt if you stay down," Coach Beiste said.
"Okay, what do your parents have to say about this?" Mr. Schue said.
"We all have signed permission slips from them. It took some convincing, but they understood what it means to all of us," Tina said.
Mr. Schue turned to Coach Beiste. "What do you think, Coach?"
"I think... Welcome to the football team," Coach Beiste said.
x
The night of the game, Finn was getting nervous about the girls. Well, he knew Lauren would be fine. She was a better wrestler than any of the boys. But Mercedes, and Tina, and Rachel... Rachel. She was so tiny. She probably weighed less than 100 pounds, and there were people on the other team who were nearly 400. She could break a bunch of bones... Finn's thoughts were distracted when the other guys from the team came over. "It's not too late," Finn told them.
"To commit social suicide?" Karofsky asked. "How the hell you going to play with five guys, huh? You have got to be kidding me."
Then the girls came on to the field. "What the hell are they doing?" Azimio asked.
"What you don't have the balls to do," Finn said before he went to join the rest of the team. He smiled at Rachel and patted her on her head. He had to admit, it was pretty cute how she put gold stars on her helmet.
The game was a disaster. The other team was dominating, and Finn couldn't really focus on the game. He was more concerned at making sure that Rachel didn't get hurt. Eventually, Tina got injured, and Finn was even more discouraged. The team rounded up. "We're still in this," Finn said to himself more than anyone.
"Give it up, Finn," Rachel said. "Our only shot at redemption right now is to kick butt at the halftime show."
Finn had to think fast. "Sam! Come here. I need you to play quarterback for the rest of the half."
"Okay," Sam said.
"Puck, when the half ends, you gotta go convince Karofsky and the rest of the guys to do the halftime show with us," Finn said.
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Puck said.
"Figure it out. You're my wingman, right?" Finn said.
"I got tone," Puck said.
Finn realized the bus hadn't left for the cheerleading competition yet. Maybe he could get Quinn, Santana and Brittany back. He took off for the parking lot. "Where are you going?" Rachel called.
"Can't have a halftime show without cheerleaders," Finn called. He found the three girls waiting for the bus. "Hey."
"What are you doing here?" Quinn asked.
"Stopping you from going to Sue's Regionals competition," Finn said. "You guys got to come to the game with me."
"Haven't you been paying attention?" Quinn asked. "If we're not Cheerios, we're nothing."
"You think that, but it's not true," Finn said. "You joined Cheerios to be popular, but you joined Glee Club because you loved it. Sue doesn't care about you guys. She's fine killing Brittany. Tell me honestly. If you didn't think it would hurt your reputation, which would you choose?"
"Glee Club," Brittany said without thinking.
Finn smiled at Brittany and then looked at Quinn. "I know you, and you don't think you are, but you're strong enough to do this."
Quinn smiled at Finn. "Okay."
Finn turned to Santana. "What about you, Santana?"
"Screw her, she put me on the bottom of the pyramid," Santana said.
Finn felt a sense of accomplishment. "Come on, we've oy got a few minutes."
Coach Sylvester came over. "No time for a foursome, ladies. Bus leaves in five."
"We quit Cheerios," Quinn said.
"You can't quit Cheerios. It's blood in, blood out. Now get your sweet little cans on that bus," Coach Sylvester said.
"We still quit," Santana said as they began to leave.
"You're my stars. If you leave, I have no performance!" Coach Sylvester said.
"Sucks for you," Brittany said. Finn got the girls back in time for the halftime show and discovered Puck had convinced the football team to rejoin and do the halftime show. They'd put on their zombie facepaint and were ready for the show.
Santana and Rachel: Off with your head
D-dance dance dance till you're dead
O-off off off with your head
D-dance dance dance till you're dead
O-off off off with your head
Artie: It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark, ah
Ah, Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
New Directions: You try to scream (Artie: Ah)
But terror takes the sound before you make it (Santana: Heads will roll, heads will roll!)
You start to freeze
Artie and Rachel: As horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed, ah, 'cause this is
New Directions: Thriller, thriller night
Artie: And no one's gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it's
New Directions: Thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a
Killer, thriller, Tonight!
Santana and Rachel: Off with your head
D-dance dance dance till you're dead
O-off off off with your head
D-dance dance dance till you're dead
Santana: Ooh, you hear the door slam
And realize there's nowhere left to run
Ah, You feel the cold hand
And wonder if you'll ever see the sun
New Directions: You close your eyes... (Artie: Ah)
And hope that this is just imagination (Artie: Ah) (Santana: Heads will roll, heads will roll!)
(Artie: Ah) But all the while
Artie and Rachel: You hear the creature creeping up behind
You're out of time
New Directions: Thriller, thriller night
There ain't no second chance
Against the thing with forty eyes, girl
Thriller, thriller night
Oh oh
You're fighting for your life inside a
Killer, thriller, Tonight!
Santana and Rachel: Off with your head (New Directions: Thriller night)
D-dance dance dance till you're dead (New Directions: Thriller night)
O-off off off with your head (New Directions: Thriller night)
D-dance dance dance till you're dead (New Directions: Thriller night)
Finn: Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand (Santana: Ahhhhh)
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y'alls neighborhood
And though you fight to stay alive (Santana: Off with your head)
Your body starts to shiver (Santana: Dance 'till you're dead)
For no mere mortal can resist (Santana: Heads will roll, heads will roll!)
The evil of Thriller (Santana: Heads will roll, on the floor!)
New Directions: Thriller night!
Artie: Cause this is
New Directions: Thriller, thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more
Than any ghost could ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
Artie: So let me hold you tight and share a
Killer, thriller, Tonight!
Santana and Rachel:
Off with your head (New Directions: Thriller night)
D-dance dance dance until you're dead (New Directions: Thriller night)
O-off off off with your head (New Directions: Thriller night)
D-dance dance dance until you're dead (New Directions: Thriller night)
O-off off off with your head
The crowd seemed to enjoy the performance, and the rest of the game went well. By the end of the game, McKinley had won, and Finn felt the best he'd felt in weeks.
x
At school on Monday, Finn saw Quinn in the hall. "Hey."
"Hi," Quinn said. "I never got a chance to thank you. For helping me do the right thing."
Finn had to admit, it was weird seeing Quinn in normal clothes. "Aw, you would've come to it on your own soon enough. So, how does it feel being out of the uniform?"
"Weird," Quinn said. "Did turn a couple of heads. You were amazing this week. On the field and off. Reminded me of why I loved you." She kissed Finn and walked away, leaving Finn confused. Where did that come from? Wasn't she dating Sam now?
"Hey," Finn heard another voice say. He turned and saw Rachel. She hadn't seen Quinn kiss him, right?
"I just wanted to say congratulations on being the MVP," Rachel said. "You were really good."
"You think so?" Finn asked.
Rachel looked uncomfortable. "Yeah. I'm really proud of you."
"Well... thanks," Finn said. Before he had time to say anything else, Rachel was walking away. Had she seen what just happened?
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