Not Afraid
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Chapter 1: Not Dead Yet
After her parents were killed in a gay-bashing incident, Tracy Anderson lay in a hospital bed on a ventilator, while her uncle Noah Puckerman sat by her side. Noah had been there for a week, and he didn't attend the funeral, so that Tracy wouldn't be alone. At this moment, Tracy's grandfather, Burt Hummel, entered the room and seated himself on the other side of Tracy's bed.
As Burt glanced at Tracy, he said, "I found her clinging to life not far from the house." Noah's expression grew somber as he recalled what had happened. Struggling to suppress his emotions, he felt the bile rise in his throat. Unable to hold it back any longer, he excused himself and rushed out of the room, quickly puking into a nearby trash can.
A nurse soon entered the room, disposing of the trashcan. Noah emerged from the bathroom, his face still etched with pain and shock. He addressed Burt, his voice trembling with emotion. "Their heads were on pitchforks in your front yard. Mrs. H's body was gutted, and there was blood everywhere. I haven't been able to sleep since I found them. I had made the cops clean up the scene before you arrived."
Noah's words hung heavily in the air, and everything that had happened took its toll on him. The events that he described were haunting and unimaginable. He could feel the pain etched on Tracy's face, and he could imagine her struggling to breathe on the ventilator.
As Noah continued to speak, his voice cracked with emotion. "When I was about to leave, Tracy squeezed my hand so tightly that I thought my fingers might turn blue."
The gesture spoke volumes, revealing the depth of love that Tracy and Noah shared at that moment. It was a testament to the strength of their bond. Noah's anguish was palpable as he recounted the horrific sight that had awaited him when he arrived at Burt's house.
At that moment, the gravity of the situation hit both men hard. They understood the significance of the bond that connected them, a bond forged through tragedy and grief. They knew that together, they could face the darkest times and find solace in each other's arms.
Burt left Tracy's hospital room to get some coffee and returned, hearing Noah's girlfriend, Quinn Fabray, say, "Puck, come home. Tracy is fine, and Mr. H is watching over her."
Noah, clearly frustrated, shouted, "What am I supposed to come home to, Quinn? We don't live together anymore, and thanks to you for reporting me for hitting a guy! I don't have a job! Did you know I'm Tracy's godfather? Kurt told me a month before he died!" Burt knew Noah was right, but he couldn't help but wonder why Kurt hadn't had Tracy return to Rachel. It was unusual for him to act without consulting anyone.
As Burt pondered the situation, Quinn ran out crying. Burt entered the room and saw the scene unfold before him. Quinn seemed overwhelmed, and Burt knew that something was very wrong.
Burt approached Quinn and gently asked her what was wrong. She shared that she had tried to talk to Rachel about Kurt's will the previous night, but Rachel had refused to speak with her. Furthermore, Burt learned that Rachel told Quinn she was leaving for New York early that morning without any explanation.
Burt realized there was more to the story than he had known. Kurt had entrusted Noah with the honor of being Tracy's only godfather, and he wondered why Rachel hadn't mentioned that fact.
Burt was determined to get to the bottom of the situation and understand why Kurt had made this decision. He knew Kurt's decision must have been for a good reason, and he intended to find out the truth.
Noah said, "First, Kurt and Blaine found me drunk outside Scandals a few times over the past three years. Second, Quinn and I have been on-again, off-again dating for years. Third, I am in AA now, and I lied to Quinn about it. I got a job at Mick's shop. Kurt, Karofsky, and Blaine told me they saw me dancing naked at Scandals. I know nothing else happened because if it did, I would know."
He brushed Tracy's bangs out of her face and continued, "I tried to become a better man and prove to everyone that I am no longer that loser."
Burt looked at Tracy and said to Noah, "Karofsky told me you asked him to take your virginity several times. You told him and Kurt you were done with women and tried to ask Karofsky out."
Noah coughs and says, "I'm glad I joined AA before you told me. I love Santana, and Kurt has become like a little brother. But I don't want anyone's junk inside of me."
He pulls out his phone and shows a picture of his gun closet. He chuckles, saying, "I also have a flamethrower, but prefer to use my paintball gun on punk kids who think they're as badass as me. I bet. If I had come out in high school, I would have been Kurt's dream guy and your ideal son-in-law. Finn might have freaked out, like he did when he learned Beth was my baby, but he would have gotten over it."
They soon heard Tracy say, "Uncle Nono?" Burt went to get a doctor while Noah stayed by her bedside.
Noah lowered the rail of Tracy's hospital bed and pulled her onto his lap. The doctor then examined Tracy, while Noah rubbed her back and sang along to My Little Girl by Tim McGraw, which played on his phone. As he finished singing, Tracy touched his cheek and said, "Daddy."
Tracy saw Rachel enter with a police officer as she said to Noah, "Four men in blue suits like yours stormed into the house and beat up my parents just for kissing each other. I tried to bite one on the leg, and he threw me against a wall. I fell asleep hearing Papa Blaine yelling at them as he tried to fight back. The men told Papa Blaine they were your friends, not my parents. One of them knew my name and told me to tell you Sharp Shooter was sorry. He called the man I bit Eagle Eye. I woke up outside, and Grandpa Burt found me."
Noah looked at the officer and said, "Their names are Brad Hudson and Eric Johnson. I bet the other two are Wesley Gilmer and Trent Washington. They were dishonorably discharged after I turned them in for their attack on her grandpa, Congressman Burt Hummel, last week. He is in the room across the hall." The officer nodded and headed to Burt's hospital room.
Rachel sits on the other side of Tracy's hospital bed and says, "Jesse went through Kurt's will and found out you're Tracy's only godparent. I'm okay with this since Shelby has Beth. You and Burt better stay away from any boy Tracy wants to date."
Tracy pouts and says, "I want Daddy and Grandpa to help me find my soulmate."
Rachel sighed and told Noah, "Your ex-friends in the Navy tried to kill my dad and stepfather this morning, and Brad confessed to the attacks, but the other three say you ordered the attacks. The police know they are lying, and they believe someone else is behind the attacks." They soon heard Noah's commander, General Michael Young, yelling at Burt about his morals.
Noah storms into Burt's hospital room and pins Mike against the wall as he yells, "You want to talk about morals, sir? Mr. H's granddaughter could have died! Now, she is my new daughter! I may not be Burt's son, but he is like a father to me! You have had it out for me for years and never liked me! How can you call yourself Burt's friend if you can't respect him?"
Noah releases his grip on Mike as he says, "Well, I'm glad she's not going back to her fag-loving mother. Puck, being gay is against God, and I am glad that I did that. So, Tracy isn't being raised by those fairies." A Naval officer, Anthony D. DiNozzo Jr., whose father knew Noah's father, Nick, arrested him.
Chapter 2 will be up soon. S/N After dealing with hospital staff for years. Burt is not the type to stay in his hospital room. Any NCIS fans that read this, leave suggestions on how to start the next chapter.