CH10 - BROMANCES & FAIRY GODFATHERS

A/N - RATED 'M' FOR LANGUAGE. THERE'S SOME LOCKER ROOM WORTHY QUIPPING THIS TIME! Of course there is, this chapter is all about the boys… ENJOY! :-D

THURSDAY, THREE WEEKS AFTER THE BUS….

The guys have all filtered into the studio for their regular band practice. Josh offers a knowing nod to Finn, who's already seated behind his drum kit. It's time to make his announcement.

"Hey guys, listen up! BIG NEWS -you're gonna love this!"

Sam & Mike both whip around to attention, as Josh is starting to set up his guitar.

"I talked to Figgins and he agreed to book us for a PAID gig at Callbacks!" Finn was so excited to share this good news with all the guys, it'd been bubbling up in him all the way over on the bus ride to practice.

Sam, Josh and Mike all slapped each other high fives and pounded fists with Finn. This wasn't the first time they'd played there, but it'd be their first paid gig there.

"Awesome man, when is it?" Sam asks.

"It's gonna be next Friday, 9pm. We can do a 90 minute set, with a 15 minute break so maybe 12-15 song setlist? And they're gonna charge a cover at the door, so we'll get the usual base pay plus a cut of the cover."

"Man that's fantastic news, just in time too! Besides Christmas coming up, my poor abs are feeling a little unloved since my gym membership lapsed, maybe I can renew it now and get 'White Chocolate' back in fine order," Sam smiled gleefully, while raising his shirt as if to make his point.

"Can you put those sad pasty little things away dude?" Mike adds dismissively, "anyway you know your abs can't beat the washboard I'm hiding under here - gym membership or no!"

"HEY, they're neither sad nor pasty - I spray tan!" Sam scoffs mockingly. "Besides, my rock hard abs rival that of the Mighty Thor!" he retorts using a so-so impression of Chris Hemsworth.

Josh, who was busy straightening out the line for his amp, had finally heard enough. "HEY, Magic Mike and Naomi Campbell, if you ladies are done admiring each other's bodies… we actually have things to do here.. How 'bout move your asses?" He catches the puzzled look on Sam's face and explains, "Sorry to tell you this but 'The Mighty Thor' was a chick in that movie. Hemsworth is just plain Thor. Nice try though - and the chick was probably a better comparison to your abs anyway. Now get set up!"

"The boss man hath spoketh," Mike chides playfully in a fake and really bad English accent, earning one last chuckle and a shove from Sam as they set about getting their own equipment organized.

"Yeah. The boss man is perched up there on his kit, in deep thought.. HEY FINN! You gonna come back to practice sometime tonight? Maybe show us a little of your MAGIC?" Josh winks at him.

Finn grins a wide toothy grin at his buddy. Josh was the only one in the group who knew the totality of Finn's plans for this gig at Callbacks, and Finn was so jittery about what was coming, he just couldn't keep focus.

xoxo-gleegleeglee

Years ago after Finn first moved to the city, he'd been making his rounds on a pub crawl through the music district when he first found Josh McNicols playing in a little jazz club. Josh doesn't just play guitar; he's actually classically trained on piano too. Josh thinks piano helps his guitar chords since he can actually hear the whole arrangement in his head better. The tall, fit, well built sandy-blonde haired man was a few years older than Finn, and quickly became his tour guide and instant best friend.

By the time Finn started college, the pair had already been jamming together at either Finn's Brooklyn apartment or Josh's house in Hempstead. Josh was teaching Finn rhythm guitar and Finn taught Josh about hybrid acoustic/electronic drums. It was a great little partnership, and eventually they decided to get a real band off the ground.

Once Finn started school, he'd posted an ad on the bulletin board in the music students lounge, and Sam Evans joined the group as bassist. Sam was already friends with Mike Chang who played keyboards and sang backing vocals, and who also knew about the studio recording process since it was his major. So it all worked out perfectly.

The guys have been building their setlists and strengthening their playing skills as a tight unit over the last 4 years, and have formed a real comradery. They've become a true band of brothers in a literal sense. But when it comes to the most sensitive, personal things in Finn's life, he confides mainly in Josh.

So after Finn's 'guy's night out' a week ago with Blaine, Kurt, and Puck, Finn simply couldn't wait to get back and talk to Josh, who was floored by the revelations he had to share about that night.

xoxo-gleegleeglee

ONE WEEK AGO….

"J-man, you'll NEVER believe the night I had last night," Finn says as he takes a seat at the bar in Josh's kitchen.

"So you finally lost your virginity then?"

"Very funny shithead. And NO, that's long gone.. And also I don't wanna talk about it."

"Sounds like something we NEED to talk about if you don't WANT to talk about it."

"It's embar— Nevermind it's unimportant." Finn diverts his eyes awkwardly and feels an echo of the awkwardness of that evening which he'd prefer to simply forget about altogether.

"Oh no, that's exactly WHY we need to talk now. It sounds important - for me to know - for my personal amusement and something to hold over you forever."

"Haha. Can you just shut the hell up and listen, you're not gonna believe the things I found out last night!" Finn spluttered excitedly.

"Okay, okay brother, sorry… Got my listening hat on, all ears, right. Spill." Josh cracks open a beer and slides another toward Finn.

"RACHEL." Finn beamed a gloriously triumphant grin so big his face nearly split.

"Holy shit! Really man, serious? You finally got a NAME for your chick? Did you meet her?"

"No no, didn't meet her.. But don't get ahead of me…" Finn chugs down a generous amount of his beer, takes a big breath then begins to recount his prior evening's escapades.

"Ok so, Barista Blaine? He FINALLY confessed that he does know her - which I really already knew - and they are VERY good friends. But he still didn't want to give me her name yet, said she's been going through some stuff and it might be better to just give her some more time." Finn stops for a sip of beer. His mouth is kind of dry from the nervous energy and his leg's bouncing a mile a minute on the floor.

"Dude. Breathe… Proceed." Josh already seems a little impatient. Finn's anxiety is becoming tangible already but he's listening tenaciously because he can see the crazed look in Finn's eye. Something big musta gone down last night and it looks like we're taking the scenic route to get to it… Just gotta let him find his way through his word vomit I guess.

"Well, then, I thought about it. I said maybe that decision should be hers, and maybe he should call and ask her if she'd be willing to meet me. But he refused again! I swear that dude is like, the best cock-block ever… Whatever. Didn't matter." Finn takes another swig then clears his throat. "At least he confirmed they're friends, they have been for years, going back to some play they were in together in her freshman year of college."

"So she's an actress?"

"Not just an actress dude - a Broadway performer, singer/dancer/actress!"

Josh whistles… "DAAAAMN bro. No shit! Has she been in anything big yet, something we'd know?"

"Doesn't sound like it yet, but according to Blaine she's getting really close to a leading role. AND she's in a play that's in production right now, which is a big chunk of her life - which, he says, is another part of the reason he's been holding out on me. Apparently it's her main drive/ambition, life's destiny kind of thing, and she can't afford unwanted distractions."

"Okay. It's her ETHOS. I guess I get that. Sounds a little OCD, but okay. And you, of course, would be…"

"...the BEST kind of distraction?" Finn finishes his statement as he cracked a lop-sided grin.

Josh grins back but adds leisurely, "Yeah I dunno brother. Them Broadway babes, sure they're usually insanely friggin' talented - but they're pretty much high maintenance prima-donnas, no? I've met a few wannabe's. You really want to deal with some psycho controlling bat-shit crazy chick?"

Finn stared at Josh like he had 2 heads for a long beat, narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips.

Josh understood the implied 'what the hell do you think' that corresponded with the look on Finn's face, because they were friends like that. They just got each other. "Okay I s'pose you would. At least this one time." he grins then adds "Ya masochist… "

"Okay but wait, there's still more!" Now Finn was pacing around like a caged lion looking for prey at this point of the story.

"ACT NOW AND GET TWO FOR THE SAME LOW-LOW PRICE! Just pay extra for shipping & handling!" Josh is cracking up at himself, but that one earned him a swift punch in the shoulder.

"OUCH. Sorry, I'm waiting with bated breath.. Do preach mah brotha.."

Finn glared at his buddy flatly, finished his first beer then opened another.

"The guy. The new guy, Blaine's friend, Puck? OK. First of all, HE WORKS AT MY DAD'S SHOP! He's the new hire I'm supposed to meet next week!"

"You're shitting me. No, really you're making shit up now."

"Swear on my drums man, no lies. AND. Here's the big one: He. Is. Her. COUSIN."

Josh was once again mid-swig of beer which then spewed into the air, this time spraying all over Finn. He decides he really needs to quit drinking when there's important information being shared, or at least when Crazy Finn is talking.

After choking on his suds for a moment, he coughs out "That's just.. so, so.. Is there even a word for that? I'd call it coincidence but that's not the right word. It stopped being coincidence a long ass time ago, like before the electric bus maybe. So c'mon man, are you ever really going to meet her?"

Finn's wiping the spewed beer off himself with a kitchen towel that Josh just tossed at him. "So, Blaine still refuses to be that connection, right? Without a name, a phone number, anything else to go on, I can't just make it happen myself - well, minus the universe and it's apparently sick sense of humor… whatever. So then. While him & Kurt were busy eye-fucking each other and singing together, me and Puck spent over an hour drinking and swapping stories - and side note, Josh, you and him are seriously gonna be best buds when you meet - but anyway…" Josh silently chuckles in his throat and motions with a waving hand for Finn to continue the story.

"Keep it in drive man, you're starting to spin out again."

"Sorry. PUCK had been in kind of a pissy mood for the first half hour of the night. Even felt like he was grilling me, like a drill sergeant, or like a father worried about his teenage daughter on a first date.. But I hadn't learned that he was her cousin yet at that point."

"That's fucked up. Continue."

"So. After the booze is flowing a while, I'm basically BEGGING Barista Blaine to give me details, thinking y'know, he'd have loosened the vice on his tongue by then? But NO, still hitting a concrete wall. He should work for the CIA or something. Anyway.. then I'm pleading for him to at least give me a name, or better yet, he can give her MY info and she can call me if she wants. And Blaine's still shooting me down, and hemmin' and hawin', and then Kurt - that fucker - pulls Blaine away to go pick another damn karaoke song for them to perform together."

"Sounds like Kurt. Impeccable timing, that one.. You should teach him to drum."

"Absolutely HELL to the NO. Stop interrupting." Finn stops for a breath and another swig of beer. "Anyway. Puck overheard part of me and Blaine talking. He asks what exactly I'm grilling Blaine about. So by then, I'd had like 4-5 shots with the guy and, well I dunno how many beers, a lot I think, and I'd probably tell him my bank account by then because he's just turned out to be this super cool dude, and so anyway I start to explain about my 'muse in a rainbow coat' and THAT's when he says, 'oh, you mean Rachel?'.. I almost fell off my barstool!"

Josh is nearly passing out from laughter, and is hanging on the edge of his seat waiting for more details to come spluttering out of Finn, and he says "Dude, I have no choice but to believe you now, because this is way too convoluted for your dumb ass to make it up."

Finn nods in agreement and continues. "Shhh stop talking. Puck says he kinda understands why Blaine is being so protective, because HE is even MORE protective of her, being her cousin and all, and anyone who thinks they're gonna mess with her is basically 'getting their ass beat' - well, he was a lot more profane and really, really angry, so I'm paraphrasing there. But then he adds 'what do you want with my cousin anyway? And it better not involve sex!'"

"Stop. What in the actual fuck Finn. Just, let me sort out this goddamned funnel cake of a story you just dropped in the pan here… Your muse's name is Rachel. Her best gay is your barista, who is now your friend and also your drum student, and also now dating your brother apparently, and who is also friends with her COUSIN.. who is now your employee? Did I miss anything?"

"Yeah. Puck? He works at Callbacks too."

Josh just snorted his beer through his nose in response. That one burned pretty badly. He's really gotta quit drinking around Finn.

"Shut the fuck up." Josh clapped back.

"Serious. He's actually worked there longer than me."

"How the HELL did you not know him already if he works in, oh let's see, TWO of your THREE places of employment? — And by the way, what the hell are the odds of that?"

"I can't compute that high."

"No shit Sherlock. You're lucky you can count in the 4 beat with your sticks to start our songs," Josh says snidely.

"Very funny. Ass-face. And actually, odds are obviously pretty good that we wouldn't have met… I'm only at the bar around weekends as needed, and Puck is mostly there during the weekdays; neither of us works enough hours or same days to have crossed paths yet. Not like I hang out there in my spare time, seeing that I don't really have much of that anyway."

Josh nods in agreement "yeah that much is true.. And you really need to do something about that. YOU NEED A LIFE FINN."

Finn rolls his eyes, but continues, "Working on it. As for the shop… he literally just got hired by Burt like a week ago, but with school and stuff I've just been busy so I hadn't met him there yet. Yeah sure, I already knew his name and we figured out the shop connection immediately when Blaine introduced us."

Josh is just sitting and processing this massive data dump which Finn just purged himself of, while watching Finn, who's still pacing around the counter with all this nervous energy in need of a release.

"Finn, sit please man, you're making me dizzy huh?" Finn blows out a big breath and plops down on the stool next to his friend, then rubs his hand over the top of his head as Josh continues. "This is probably the craziest shit I've ever heard of man. Maybe what you've been saying is true after all, maybe this really is MAGIC? Because I don't know what else.. Wait.. what's that movie, with the hot babe from Underworld in it… ahhhm.. KATE BECKINSALE.."

"Yeah she's smokin' hot.. dirty hot" Finn agrees with an affirmative head shake and a wicked grin.

"Nup wrong - Megan Fox is DIRTY hot. You had it right the first time."

"Whatever. They both have pretty awesome boobs though," the pair decide to agree on that point.

"Right. But yeah, Kate, and the dorky guy, Lloyd Dobbler… what's-his-ass, John Ballsack or whatever… They did a movie together. Hold on, I'm Googling it. Okay.. ahh SERENDIPITY. Yeah, YES yeah man! That's exactly this whole insane plate of spaghetti. It's serendipitous!"

"What does a movie have to do with anything? And how the hell do you know about this movie? You hate movies, especially if there's no blood or boobs. Wait, is there boobs in it?"

"Not naked ones, no. And not true Finn. Anyway that's your opinion of movies. I, however, watch lots of movies, I just don't share all my secrets."

"So you're a closet chick-flick lover, eh? You wanna go watch Beaches with Kurt and Blaine?"

"No. Whatever Finn. Bette Midler can SANG by the way. But just watch that movie. Then you'll see what I mean."

"Just tell me, does the guy get the girl in the end?" Finn asks jovially with his half grin.

"Well DUH, doesn't he always?"

Finn chuckles and thinks for a beat. Then he remembers, he hasn't shared the most important part of everything he learned last night.

"OH HELL! Hold up Josh, I almost forgot the whole point - dammit my brain is totally spinning out of control. Ok so Puck suggests that if Blaine won't help me, that HE had an idea, at least to get us in the same place at the same time. Now that he knows we have this musical connection, y'know, she's a singer and me in a band, and he thinks I'm pretty cool - well I think I believe him about that point, I'm not 100% - and also, now that I know he'll kill me if I did anything to hurt her - again, paraphrasing, A LOT this time - HE suggested WE play a gig at Callbacks and HE will INVITE HER."

Josh offers a fist bump, which Finn pounds and they both blow up with waving fingers and sound effects for good measure. "You're the man Hudson. Sounds like we have a set list to plan… And also, hey Romeo. Do YOU have a game plan to get her, y'know, once you've met her?"

Finn looks at Josh like he just killed his puppy. Crap. Hadn't really thought that far ahead.

xoxo-gleegleeglee

ONE WEEK AND 1 NIGHT AGO….

Blaine's so excited about this meet up tonight with the guys. Not only does he get to introduce Puck to Finn, but he finally gets to see Kurt again. They've talked on the phone every day since Finn introduced them, and they've had two lunch dates now. Blaine finds Kurt's passion for all things fashion related just adorable. They have many common interests and things seem to be going really well between them.

He's also made a decision to finally share some info about his Diva with Finn. He's really not ready to actually setup a meeting or give too much away, because Puck has filled him in on the Brody of it all that happened recently. That poor girl, she absolutely needs time to heal, not just physically but emotionally. Besides, Puck's her cousin, if he wants to decide to let the cat out of the bag, it's better that it comes from him. Better for ME too haha.

Blaine and Kurt had agreed to meet at Blaine's place then go to the karaoke bar together, since 1, his place is closer to Beats Karaoke Cafe, and 2, Kurt can review his wardrobe and suggest to Blaine any last minute attire changes (so they can coordinate).

When they arrive at Beats, they find Finn already waiting for them at the bar, but Puck hasn't shown yet. The trio go off to find a table and get drinks, then Kurt immediately shuffles off to sign up for a song leaving Blaine and Finn to await Puck's arrival.

"Hey! How've you been Finn?"

"I'm good, busy.. School's almost done so I've got alot on my plate. What about you man, still practicing those beats I taught you?"

"Haha, I try.. I did get a practice pad to use at home like you suggested. It's not the same feeling as a full drum set but it definitely helps with the sticks. I dunno though, not sure I'm cut out to be a drummer."

"You serious man? You're awesome! You've got the most natural talent of anyone I've ever met! You should totally keep with it."

"Well that's really nice of you to say Finn, thanks I appre–"

"BLAINE-STER! Whaaaasup dude!" Blaine's conversation is interrupted by Puck's overbearing greeting as he drapes his arms over Blaine's shoulders and shakes him vigorously.

"Oh hey Puck! About time, we wondered what was keeping you!"

Finn's ears prick up instantly - he did say PUCK right? That's weird. Can there possibly be more than one guy with that nickname? Surely there had to be…. Otherwise that means…

"Finn, I want you to meet Noah Puckerman, but please call him Puck because—"

Finn and Puck finish his sentence in unison, "only my mom and my cousin call me Noah." They all glare at each other in stunned silence, Puck with a confused look plastered on his face and Finn smirking.

Blaine speaks first. "Ahhh sooo, that was.. weird? Guys, have you already met?"

Finn seems to be holding the key that unlocks the answers to the questioning faces looking at him, so he speaks next "Well, you've already met my step-dad, but we're supposed to meet tomorrow at Hummel Automotive. I believe you're our new mechanic. Finn Hudson, nice to finally meet you," he grins warmly and extends Puck a handshake in greeting.

. . . .

"BLAINE! OOPS so sorry to interrupt brother dear, but I need to borrow him! C'mon Blaine, let's pick a duet to sing together!"

Fucking KURT. I introduced the guy to you, you could at least share him with me, I FOUND him! Yeah. I guess the fallout continues.

. . . .

Puck was already informed by Blaine that Finn was Desperately Seeking Diva before tonight's outing with the guys. He was extremely happy that Blaine had been withholding info about Rachel up until this point and thought it was a smart move, especially in light of recent events.

When Blaine suggested he come out for a guys night to meet this prospective Romeo, Puck was more than willing, and had insisted he was going to grill this guy thoroughly to ensure he wasn't a creeper rapist or serial killer - because over his dead body was ANYBODY getting close to Rachel again without his blessing.

But Puck was unaware that the 'dude' he planned on grilling was the son of his new boss. Blaine also hadn't revealed Finn's name to him; he'd only mentioned he was a college student, and the drummer giving him lessons, and also a regular at the Perks.

The fact that Finn turned out to be his new boss sort of changed things a bit in Puck's eyes, and he needed a new strategy to screen this potential suitor for his favorite cousin - especially after what she's already been through. A few days after 'the Brody incident', Rachel did end up telling him about her pursuit of a mystery guy from the bus. Puck had reminded her that when they chatted online, she mentioned wanting to tell him something 'unimportant' later at lunch. She'd still been reluctant to tell him at all for fear of his typical over-reacting, but he pried it out of her.

Even after the Brody thing, Rachel still seemed interested in finding this guy, and Puck was not in a position to deny her her own right to decide. He was, however, still her cousin, and would still have some input on the subject.

"So what's this intel you're milking my boy Blaine for?" Puck slings an arm over Finn's shoulder and slurs the question loudly, just as a waitress sets a new tray of shots down in front of them.

"Uhh.. well, it's about a friend of his. A girl, someone I've been trying to meet. He's been stonewalling me pretty good though, has been for weeks now."

"A girl huh? Didn't know Blaine had many girlfriends.. HAHA. Tell me about her." Puck says as he tosses back a shot and offers one to Finn.

Finn shrugs weakly, throws his shot back, grimaces at the bitterness then responds, "I'm not sure there's a lot I can say right now. And what I can tell you will probably sound pretty crazy."

"Try me, I'll tell you if you're crazy or not. BELIEVE THAT!"

Finn laughs, dispatches his next shot of Jaeger, then launches into his story about his months-long chance encounters with the mystery girl in a rainbow peacoat. He's got enough giggle juice piping through him now that he even tells him about the bus, and the connection he feels with her, despite the fact they've never met.

Then suddenly his ears auto-tune to the sounds of Kurt and Blaine singing their duet:

[KURT]
This is my word, this is my way
Show me a sign, sweep me away
This is my word, heartbreaker, gatekeeper
I'm feeling far away, I'm feeling right there

[BLAINE]
Deep in my heart, deep in my mind
Take me away, take me away
This is my word, dream maker, life taker

[BOTH]
Open up my mind
All I believe, is it a dream
That comes crashing down on me?
All that I hope, is it just smoke and mirrors?
I wanna believe, oh
But all that I hope, is it just smoke and mirrors?

Finn catches on to the song they're singing and chuckles out loud to himself. Dammit Kurt, thinks he's funny. Blaine too. Everyone's a friggin' comedian lately. Whatever. At least they sound good together.

He pushes the distraction of his brother's falsetto aside and returns focus to Puck.

While telling his story, he'd been gauging Puck's response at each step along the way, and had fully expected the guy to laugh him right outta the bar, but he didn't. In fact, Finn finds himself blindsided by Puck's next words:

"Sounds like you're talking about Rachel." Puck looks down to the tray of booze in front of him and grins a sly knowing smile, which Finn misses because he's too flabbergasted. RACHEL? Her name is Rachel?

Puck quickly downs another shot and exhales victoriously, while Finn just stares at him in stunned silence for what seems an eternity.

"You know her too? Are you - you wouldn't screw with me right?" Finn knows he sounds like a simp but he just can't care about that right now.

"Know her? Hell yeah, since BIRTH. So what do you want with my cousin anyway? And it better not involve sex."

"Wait. Wait a minute. Hold on…." Finn twists up his face incredulously. "Did you say she's your COUSIN? H-How, I don't, its, it's not…" and yeah, there goes the word vomit. "PROVE IT!" he finally spits out.

Puck makes an 'are you serious' face to Finn while whipping out his cell phone. After several seconds of tapping (and opening 3 wrong apps and accidentally dialing his mom - because he's honestly pretty sloshed right now), he finally scrolls through his gallery and finds the exact photo he's looking for; the one of Rachel in her rainbow striped coat.

"Is this her?"

Puck's smugness is pretty obvious; of course he already knows it's her. He also knows Rachel is apparently looking for Finn.

Finn was gobsmacked and pulled the phone - and Puck's hand along with it - for closer inspection. "How. You? How is this possible?" he asked incredulously. He looked at him very seriously and responded, "Look I don't know how to put it, but for months she's felt like some kind of good luck charm, or some mystical force. I'd see her for that brief, whatever, millisecond in a crowd, or hear her voice, or her laugh, and I could feel something. It's not about sex man, I promise. She's special, I can already tell. Am I right?"

"You're so right you can't begin to imagine." Yeah Finnster, that was totally the right answer B-T-W, heheh. Guess you made it to the next round. "Dude. Sounds like you've been love struck."

Finn's trying to find the right things to say now, because it's sinking in that this dude sitting right next to him is related - by blood apparently - to the potential girl of his dreams. It doesn't even matter that he's an employee right now; Puck just became the keymaker who could unlock Finn's access to 'The Source.' Now he understands why Neo wanted through that doorway so badly.

Screw Mr Coffee. This goofy (and somewhat scary) mohawk guy is gonna be Finn's new BFF - assuming Finn can keep his word vomit in check.

"Well, it could be something like that, I can't really say for sure until I get the chance to meet her… but. Until just right now, I didn't even know her name."

Wow this dude sounds so whipped already, how does that happen without even meeting the chick yet?. No wonder cuz is looking for him. She likes taking in strays and broken things to nurse back to health. Still, I gotta have a little more fun before I let this dude off the hook.. HAHAHA!

"This is your lucky night Finnocence!" Puck clasps Finn's shoulder tightly as he gulps down another shot, "see, normally, I'd fucking catapult you off the Brooklyn bridge just about now for even THINKING about my girl Rachel.. especially considering the shit I've been helping my lil cuz deal with lately… I can't promise I might not still grind your bones into tiny fucking bite-sized pieces and flush your shit down the toilet in the cheapest nastiest strip club in the city. Have you ever seen one of those toilets man? It ain't pretty."

Finn bit the inside of his cheek hard and winced at the gruesome depiction. He was kind of afraid to interrupt, but sort of hoped it might distract Puck from any further thoughts of chopping him into tiny pieces. "So, she's going through something? A bad breakup?" he ventures tentatively.

"Yeah you could say that, but you don't even know the half of it.. That slimy weasel-dick motherfucker dared to put his hands on her, and frankly he's real fuckin' lucky I haven't already broken my promise to her and chopped his goddamned balls off with a dull pocketknife and shoved them down his cowardly throat…" Puck throws back another shot, then another, and continues.

"THAT bastard is breathing borrowed air right now. In a past life, I would have already revoked his oxygen privileges. Especially after what he did to her.. to HER, RACHEL, my sweet, innocent, tiny little baby cuz. She couldn't hurt a fly! Did you know that Finnster? Seriously, she WOULD not hurt a fly. I've actually watched her let'em go free out the window… What was I saying?"

"Errm…. Borrowed air?"

"YES THAT'S RIGHT! Yer ga-dammm right. That fucker! He left his little bag of nose candy at her place too. Dumbass loser. Yup, I found it and gave it to the cops… And he hurt her. He did things… well fuck, if I have to tell you I just might also have to kill you because I think I'm too drunk right now to stop myself."

Finn shares a nervous laugh with Puck who's cackling like a hyena, but who then abruptly stops and turns a serious stink eye on him, like a medicine man conjuring a voodoo curse. Finn shivered a little just then.

"No ser'sly. But I like you Finny boy. Funny boy.. Like Funny Girl, HAHAHAHA…"

As Puck spirals into another chuckle-fest, Finn doesn't understand what's so 'funny' about that? Inside joke, maybe? And did he just say he gave drugs to the cops? And that some asshole ex hurt her somehow, like physically? What the hell happened to my muse? KNEW I SHOULDA GOT OFF THE BUS! As murderous as Puck sounds, Finn's also feeling the bile building again, and his jaw involuntarily clenched tight.

"But nooooo Finnessa. This is not your worry… Like I said, YOU sir, my new friend, and super-freaky-tall boss of mine, apparently,.. YOU are in luck. Tonight. Right here. Because the Puckmeister is ALLLLLL over this thing. I actually LIKE you dude. So does Blaine… not in that way though, 'cause I can see him macking on your brother at this moment."

Puck pauses for another shot, encouraging Finn to follow suit, then continues his drunken rant, "I'll tell you 'nother thing I know about you. Mr. Hudson sir. There's gotta be like, at least 20 pieces of NYC's finest tail in this place tonight - ink-cluding our waitress, but you, yoooouuu ain't made eyes at not-a-ONE of 'em, even though alotta of 'em been eye-fuckin' you half the night! So either you'd rather ol' Blainey boy actually was lookin' up your skirt, or, you're a sincere, trustworthy kinda guy who really just wants to meet my cousin."

"I can promise it's not the former," Finn quickly assures with a nervous grin.

"Naaahhh didn't think so. HAHAHA! Y'know, yer old man's pretty cool. And you seem pretty awesome too dude. And harmless, like a lovesick puppy, and plus, I want to keep working at the shop 'cause I like it there.. So. I'm gonna tell you HOW you can meet my girl - s'long as you underrrstand, I'll ser'sly Heisenberg your ass in a vat of acid and flush your melted goopy remains like so much jizz in one of those spunky toilets in East Harlem or someplace if you everrrr. EVER. hurt her… farshteyn… Capiche?"

"Sure… ahh yup. Totally capiche. S-So then, you're gonna be like, my fairy godfather?" Finn chuckles.

Puck shoots him a sideways grin, slaps him on the back shaking him by one shoulder and retorts "NO SON - Imma be your Fairy PUCKFATHER! Keep up, man!" and the two crack up hysterically and each throw back another shot.

xoxo-gleegleeglee

CALLBACKS - part1

It snowed all night while Finn tossed and turned. Images of his tiny muse dancing in his memory - made even more vivid by the photo that Puck shared with him - along with the nervous anticipation of the next day prevented any chance of restful slumber. So he'd hardly slept at all last night. But tonight was finally THE night!

As he loads his gear into his truck and makes ready to leave for their show at Callbacks, he still just can't believe this is ACTUALLY happening. Months of hoping and searching and scheming is finally reaching the apex within the next two hours. And it's ended up being facilitated by the wildest, raunchiest, and possibly scariest guy he thinks he's ever met. But that's ok, because tonight, SHE was going to be there. His muse. He was finally going to meet RACHEL.

At least, that's what Puck had reassured him of, no fewer than 6 times by text and twice by phone over the last couple days. So did Blaine. Even Kurt tried to offer reassurances - and he hasn't even met her yet either!

Puck had explained to Finn that he would invite Rachel to Callbacks simply to see the show, but he wasn't going to mention the secondary purpose (or really, the primary in Finn's mind) of meeting Finn. He told Finn that as long as he was there to 'chaperone" he'd be ok with the two of them being there together. The plan was for Finn to stop by their table before the show for Puck to make their introductions; after that, it would be up to Rachel to decide what happens next for herself. It was so important now more than ever that SHE make her own decisions.

Puck did NOT tell Finn that Rachel being in control of her choices is something her therapist recommended as part of her recovery process in the aftermath of the attack.

Puck DID remind Finn there was a toilet at a strip club in New Harlem with his name on it if anything went south tonight.

Josh, for his part, has done his level best for the past week trying to keep Finn's nerves under control; but he had the feeling there was something besides just meeting this girl for the first time that had Finn all wound up lately.

He'd be right though, if only he knew what Finn did. Finn didn't reveal anything to Josh about whatever happened to Rachel - involving cops and drugs and an apparent abusive ex? or whatever it was that had Puck so bloodthirsty that night - mainly because he doesn't know all the details, but also because Finn figures it isn't his story to share.

. . . . .

It's an hour and half 'til showtime and Finn's just arrived at Callbacks. He's more nervous about this show than any other they've ever played. He and Josh put together a special setlist just for Rachel, including a couple of new songs Finn just wrote (and of course, they were again inspired by his muse).

He arrived early to get a little liquid courage, just enough to take the edge off. He ordered his beer and glanced around the place - it was already pretty packed - when he noticed Puck, Blaine and Kurt walking in together. He's really glad they reserved a table for them close to the stage, looks like it'll be a full house tonight.

Finn greets the trio with fist bumps and bro hugs, then chats with them briefly at the bar while they order their drinks. As they're about to make their way to their table, Finn realizes he'd left his kit bag in the truck and tells the guys he'll be right back.

He heads toward the door, pushing through the incoming swell of patrons. He spots what seems like an opening in the flow of bodies coming at him and quickly darts in that direction, when he accidentally walks right into a small figure who was virtually hidden from view in the crowded entry. He looks down and is about to apologize, but then he freezes in place when he realizes, it's HER.

xoxo-gleegleeglee

A/N - YAAAY! they're finally face to face! Finchel fans rejoice! All the best fluff is still to come - and of course I left you hanging just a little bit longer - don't hate me for that! LOL :D

I gave you a nice long chapter to chew on for a while. I hope you enjoyed reading all this hilarious bromance goodness…This one might just be my favorite chapter so far, except maybe for Finn & Blaine's first meeting - i had so much fun writing that scene! But Drunk Puck, that was a real joy to wrap my head around! LOLOL . I just hope dear Noah survives without alcohol poisoning, considering the shot count between him & Finn was 8-4 in that scene!

Hope you caught the Matrix reference :)

And also Puck's little touch of Yiddish (farshteyn)

And the nod to Breaking Bad, just because it's one of the greatest TV shows ever made!

Song credit to Imagine Dragons, Smoke & Mirrors from the 2015 album of the same name.

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I don't own anything - except my free will to borrow from great artists who've been showcased within… thanks be to them!

The Matrix - belongs to the Wachowskis (they're sisters now - get that right please)

Thor/Mighty Thor - belongs to Marvel

Imagine Dragons Belongs to themselves

Funny Girl belongs to.. Someone who isn't me. Fanny Brice's Heirs maybe?

Breaking Bad - belongs to Vince Gilligan, please thank him when you see him.

THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE REVIEW!

FAITHFULLY FINCHEL FOREVER XOXO

—gleegleeglee—