Fighter
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Chapter 1: The Code
For months, Burt Hummel received mysterious pictures in the mail from his granddaughter, Tracy Anderson. These pictures depicted a strange green blob with a peculiar set of numbers written or painted on it.
Initially, Burt dismissed these images as nothing. However, as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, the pictures continued to arrive with the same numbers written on them. Curious, he decided to investigate further.
One day, Burt received a call from General Michael Young, the commander of Noah Puckerman's squad. General Young shared with Burt that he had also received similar pictures in the mail with the same numbers inscribed on the green blob.
Intrigued, Burt and General Young collaborated to decipher the mysterious code. They studied each image, comparing the numbers and seeking patterns or meanings that might reveal the true nature of the code.
Based on their research, Burt and General Young discovered that the numbers were latitude and longitude coordinates. This sparked their curiosity, and they wondered if the pictures were somehow related to Noah Puckerman, who had been missing in action months prior.
With renewed determination, Burt and General Young continued investigating the code. They contacted the FBI for help in unraveling the mystery and finding Noah Puckerman.
As the pieces fell into place, they realized that the numbers in the pictures represented a specific location. It was a location that required further investigation, one that might bring them closer to finding Noah and bringing him home safely.
They had a starting point, but it was still unknown what secrets it held and how it would guide them closer to Noah.
Meanwhile, in a prison in Iraq, Noah was naked with his hands shackled above his head while being whipped to within an inch of his life.
Noah stayed strong and showed no emotion as they continued to whip him. He kept repeating the numbers on his dog tags and never answered their questions, regardless of what they did to him.
Blood pours from his body as the torture continues. But he refused to react in any way. Noah had no clue if anyone was searching for him or if anyone knew that he was alive.
Noah's squad suffered the same torture, but they died within a month. He had endured immense torture for six months and wondered if he would ever make it out alive.
One day, a month later, a group of stormtroopers came and rescued Noah. They found him unconscious under a pile of concrete.
When Noah woke up in the hospital, he saw Mercedes Jones standing beside Burt and Mike. Noah asked to speak to Mercedes alone.
As soon as they are alone, Noah asks, "Do you have any pictures of Tracy?"
Mercedes sighs and hands him a picture from her purse. Then she says, "I was on tour in London when I got the call. What happened, Puck?"
Noah held Mercedes's hand before he told her that his squad had been shot down and tortured. He was the only survivor after a month, during which he lost track of time. When he could finally sleep, he saw Tracy drawing green blobs or praying for someone to rescue The Hulk.
Mercedes chuckled and inquired, "Puck, do you remember dressing up as The Hulk for her second birthday?"She pulled a photo Tracy drew of a green blob from her purse. Then she said, "For months, she dreamed about The Hulk getting whipped like Jesus, and he would say, 'Save me.'" General Young and Mr. H also got pictures and spent months searching for you."
She hands Noah a compact mirror as he looks at his reflection. Mercedes continues, "Kurt and Mrs. H are in London. All they know is that you were found."
Burt returns holding Tracy as Mercedes says, "She begged Mr. H to bring her here."
Noah holds Tracy in his arms as she says, "Everybody is so stupid, Uncle Noah. I told everybody where you were since your fighter plane crashed. What did they think those numbers were? Nothing! God showed me those numbers, for God's sake! I'm just a kid!" She soon buries her head in his chest and cries as Noah rubs her back.
He notices Tracy's other father, Blaine, approach. Then Blaine says, "Quinn is yelling at General Young. Mercedes told Quinn you were here, but Burt was instructed not to tell her."
They soon hear Quinn yell, "Mr. Hummel is not my family, and you told him before me! I'm Puck's girlfriend!"
She enters Noah's hospital room and sees Noah holding Tracy. She takes a picture Tracy drew from her purse and asks the others to leave. Kurt is about to take Tracy when Quinn says, "I want to talk to her too. She tried to tell me about Puck for months, Kurt. I owe her an apology for not figuring out what this picture meant sooner."
Quinn stares at the drawing as Kurt leaves. Then he asks Tracy, "What do these numbers mean?" pointing to the numbers in the picture.
Tracy rolls her eyes and says, "That's where they found Uncle Noah. Duh! I told you where he was, but you didn't figure it out."
Tracy slaps Quinn and yells, "I had nightmares about The Hulk being whipped like Jesus forever! He is your boyfriend, and I had nightmares about him being whipped like Jesus! He brought the place down, trying to free himself the day he got rescued, and yelled, "Save me!" Before he gets hit in the head! How would I know that if I didn't dream about it? I was so afraid to go to sleep because I didn't want to have nightmares of The Hulk being whipped like Jesus! I haven't slept in my bed since Uncle Noah went missing, and I can't nap without dreaming of him!"
Quinn tries to hug Tracy when she pushes her away and yells, "Go away! I won't forgive you! My Grandpa Burt and General Young are the only ones who figured out what those numbers meant! Why are you mad because you weren't told about Uncle Noah first? I told you first, Aunt Quinn, but you were too stupid to figure out that was a picture of Uncle Noah!"
Tracy breaks down, and Noah tells Quinn, "You were all I thought about the whole time. I promised God that if he got me out of that hell, I would change my life and become a better man."
Tracy looks at Quinn and says, "Aunt Quinn, I forgive you. Does Aunt Beth know you and Uncle Noah are her parents?" Quinn shakes her head no but says nothing.
Noah takes Quinn's hand as Burt returns, then asks, "Mr. H, could you see if your buddy Mick has an opening at the shop? I love the Navy, but I don't want to put Quinn through that again. I want to return to Lima. I don't want Quinn to become a single mother to our future kids."
He rubs Quinn's hand with his thumb and continues, "Mr. H, I know Kurt is not my brother, but you are the closest thing to a father."
Noah sighs and tells Quinn, "I don't have a ring, and this is fast."
Quinn takes Noah's other hand and says, "Yes, I will marry you."
Chapter 2 will be up soon.