AN

Thank you to all who read/follow/favorite and especially review! It means the world to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. If you recognize it, it belongs to Ryan Murphy. If you don't, it's mine.

Enjoy!

Sam POV

"Puck?" I asked in confusion, staring at the boy standing at my door. He gave a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hey Sam." I felt my heart clench at hearing his voice.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still in shock.

"Shit, I can leave." He said with a frown and turned to leave.

"No wait! That's not…I just mean, you're supposed to still be in juvie."

"They let me out early. I have to do major community service but…It sucked in there." He said quietly.

"Come in." I said, quickly stepping aside. He gave a small nod as he came inside and I shut the door behind him. "Do you want a water or soda or something?" I asked him.

"Water would be cool." He replied and I nodded, leaving to retrieve two bottles of water from the kitchen.

"Do you wanna sit and talk?" I asked him, coming back to the foyer. He nodded.

"Yeah, that would be cool."

I led him to the living room, taking a seat on the couch and turning my body so I could look at him. "So what happened in juvie?" I inquired.

"It was fucking terrible. On the first day, three gang members jumped me and before the security guards pulled them off, they'd already tore out my nipple ring. I thought I was a badass. There's some hard dudes in there. Guys with no families. Guys who look at you like you're come kind of dog they can't wait to kick the crap out of. And they kept taking my waffles." Puck frowned, looking like someone kicked his puppy before shaking his head. "But I wanted to come over and say thank you. Mom said an envelope of money just appeared one day. I know it was you. She also told me that you'd been visiting with her. And I know you and Quinn joined Glee. So thank you. Really, Sam. You're a better guy than I would have been." Puck said honestly.

"It wasn't any big deal. I knew she wouldn't take it if I gave it to her outright. And I'd do anything for you." I told him.

"I don't want to be that guy anymore. I don't. I wanna be someone my ma is proud of. Someone my sister can actually look up to. I don't want any part of this shit anymore, Sam." He said with conviction and determination.

"I suspect that you weren't really that guy to begin with." I observed. "You put on a front because that's what that school demanded of you. But I know you're sweet deep down. And so do the people who really know you." I commented and he looked at me curiously.

"Ya know…I thought about you a lot in juvie. I can't really figure it out but you've become my best friend. Finn used to be and then I fucked that up. But I'd known him my whole life. You just kinda walked in out of nowhere and suddenly, it was you I was calling at midnight when I had fucked up." He said, wonder clouding his eyes and I couldn't help it when I moved my hand to cover his own.

"I'm always gonna be here for you, Puck." I told him and he looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

"Maybe Santana was right." I heard him mutter under his breath as he cast his eyes to our hands, but said nothing, in fear of breaking the moment that had fallen over us. He looked back up and met my eyes, "Please, call me Noah." He murmured softly and a small smile graced my lips.

"I can do that." I whispered. He leaned in closer to me and I met him halfway as he pressed his lips to mine. I didn't move, letting him control the pace. The last thing I wanted to do was to scare him. After a moment, he pulled away and looked at for only a moment before leaning back in and kissing me again, this time more urgently. My hand went to his neck, pulling him closer. I had wanted this. I had wanted this for so long and here it was and I wasn't about to let it go. He pushed me back into the couch and deepened the kiss. But just as suddenly as it had started, it was over and he was pulling away and scrambling to his feet.

"I…I have to go. I have to go. I'm so sorry." He rushed out as he stumbled over his feet and bolted for the door. It took me a minute to realize what was happening and run after him but by the time I made it to my door, he was long gone.

"Fuck!"

Quinn POV

"Alright guys, let's get down to business! First, let's welcome back Noah Puckerman." Shue said as we were sitting in Glee Monday afternoon. Everyone but Sam cheered and clapped, happy to see him. "Puck, I hope your time in juvy has taught you a lesson or two about right and wrong?" Shue asked.

"Are you kidding me? I ruled that place. All I did was crack skulls and lift weights all day." Puck said and I saw Sam stiffen and his jaw tighten. I looked a little closer and noticed sadness bubbling underneath the surface and frowned. Sam had been acting weird since I got home on Saturday. He refused to tell me what was going on and I was starting to worry about him.

"And now, drumroll, Finn! Because I have in my hand our competition for sectionals next month" Shue said, taking command of the room again. More cheers erupted as Shue put on glasses that I had never seen him wear before and began to read. "First, the a'capella group from the all-boys private school in Westerville, the Dalton Academy Warblers. And the other team to beat, the Hipsters. A first-year club from the Warren township continuing education program. Now, they are a glee club composed entirely of elderly people getting their high school GEDs."

"Is that legal?" Rachel asked incredulously.

"How are we supposed to compete against a bunch of adorable old people?" Mercedes chimed in.

"Are you kidding? Brittle bones. Give one of those old ladies a good luck pat on the rear, it'll shatter her pelvis." Puck said and Sam scoffed, rolling his eyes. I frowned. Something wasn't right here.

"Moving on. Since this seems to get you guys jazzed about sectionals last year, I wanna make this week our second annual boys versus girls tournament." Shue said which was met with cheers from the veteran members. "So! Split up into two groups, and, uh, figure out which songs you're gonna sing."

We all started moving at once, getting into groups. Kurt headed for the girl's group before Shue called out. "Kurt, gonna say it again. Boys team." I looked over and saw my friend roll his eyes and head over to us, sitting down with his arms crossed. It seemed like everyone was having a rough week.

"Sam! Sam, what's going on? Why are you so angry?" I asked my brother when I finally found him after school on Tuesday. He didn't stop punching the bag, in fact, he punched it a little harder. I tentatively put my hand on his arm only to have him swinging at me. I didn't duck in time as his fist collided with my eye. "Fuck!" I yelled, my hands coming up to hold my face. He was always easily startled, especially when he was in this kind of mood, but in all my years of calming him down, he had never actually hit me before.

"Quinn?" He asked and I looked up to him looking at me horrified. "Holy shit! I am so sorry!" He said, his own hands covering his mouth as he looked at my rapidly bruising eye. He reached out to grab my shoulders but seemed to think better of it. "I am so sorry. So so so sorry." He muttered, his eyes still wide with shock. I dropped my hands and shook my head before meeting his eyes.

"Sam. It's fine. I'll put some ice on it." I muttered, trudging over to our sports therapist's office, knocking lightly. He opened the door and took one look at me, shaking his head. He grabbed an ice pack and handed it and some Advil to me before sending me on my way. I returned to Sam and found him sitting on the bench just staring at his hands. "Wanna tell me what's been bothering you?" I asked him, sitting across from him.

"Noah kissed me." He said after a few minutes of opening and closing his mouth. My jaw fell open. I was definitely not expecting that. "Saturday, while you were at your game, he came over. He wanted to thank me for looking after his mom and the money and joining Glee. He told me he didn't want to be that guy anymore. The guy who didn't care. And I told him I didn't think he was at all and he kissed me and then he freaked and bolted and now he extra doesn't give a fuck but I know it's all an act. I know it. And I just.." Sam trailed off, breaking down in tears. I took my brother in my arms and held him tightly as he cried.

"I'm so sorry, Sam. I'm so sorry." I murmured into his hair, rubbing his back comfortingly as he cried silently into my shoulder.

Our bubble was burst when we heard the locker room door fly open and shut and then fly open again.

"I am talking to you!" Kurt's voice came from a few locker rows down. Sam pulled away and looked at me, his wide eyes mirroring my own.

"Girls locker room's next door." Karofsky's voice rang out. I frowned and stood from the bench, creeping quietly to see what was going on.

"What is your problem?" Kurt screamed.

"Excuse me?" Karofsky replied.

"What are you so scared of?" Kurt again.

"'Sides you sneaking in here to peek at my junk?" Karofsky this time. Stupid fucking idiot. I felt Sam beside me and I shook my head, putting my finger to my lips and creeping a little closer so I could actually see what was going on without being seen.

"Oh yeah, every straight guy's nightmare, that all us gays are secretly out to molest and convert you. Well guess what, Ham hock? You're not my type." Kurt retorted. Go Kurt!

"That right?" Karofsky asked with a sneer.

"Yeah. I don't like chubby boys who sweat too much and are gonna be bald by the time they're thirty." Kurt sneered.

"Do not push me, Hummel." Karofsky snarled, raising his fist. Kurt eyed it warily but stood his ground.

"You Gonna hit me? Do it." He said with conviction and my eyes widened as Karofsky slammed his locker shut.

"Don't push me!" He snarled again.

"Hit me, 'cause it's not gonna change who I am. You can't punch the gay out of me anymore than I can punch the ignoramus out of you."

"Then get out of my face!" Karofsky screamed.

"You are nothing but a scared little boy who can't handle how extraordinarily ordinary you are!" Kurt said, his finger in Karofsky's face. And then the unbelievable happened. Karofsky grabbed Kurt's face and kissed him. Kurt was terrified and shocked and didn't know how to react, that much was obvious. Karofsky pulled away and stared at Kurt for a moment before going back in for more. Kurt put his hands up and pushed Karofsky away with force I didn't know he had. He put as much distance between himself and the larger boy, his face terrified and angry and shocked. Karofsky stared at him a moment longer before slammed his hands on his locker and bolting out of the locker room.

I blinked as I stared at Kurt who had sunk to the floor, his head resting on his knees which were pulled up to his chest. I quietly made myself known, walking to Kurt and sinking to the floor next to him and pulled him into a hug. He jumped, startled before noticing it was me and let himself collapse into my arms. I looked up as Sam came into view, his own shock written on his face as he slid down the locker on the other side of Kurt, wrapping the boy in his arms. I locked eyes with Sam over the top of Kurt's head as we had a silent conversation. Something needed to be done about that boy. But for now, I just did my best to comfort my two favorite gay boys.