Gemma and The Hallway Hands (Part 12 of ?)
Title: Gemma and The Hallway Hands (Part 12 of ?)
Author:emo_chick_87
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Puck, Finn/Mercedes, Will/Gemma (OC)
Rating: PG-13 (this part)
Word Count: 2320 words
Spoilers: Season One.
Genre: Romance/Slight Angst/Dashes of Fluff
Warnings: het romance (see parings), brief description of a hate crime, a racial slur
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Summary: McKinley High gets a new school nurse and she takes special notice of one Noah Puckerman... Get your mind out of the gutter... not that kind of notice.
AN: I had initially thought that Finn's wake up call would be about a 5/10. But I'd actually have to put this at a 9/10 at least. Sorry in advance. Please don't hate me. This is as bad as it gets I promise.
Previously on GATHH: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11
Each time his phone rings, it takes more and more of his will power not to pick up the call. Puck spends the entire afternoon huddled under his blankets, cursing himself for being so stupid. For thinking that he deserved to be happy.
Every time he closes his eyes he sees the future he could have had. The fifth floor walk up in New York. Running lines with Kurt in their living room. Getting dressed up to see Opening Night and sneaking into every other performance to watch without Kurt knowing. Watching Kurt become the beautiful man he's destined to be and getting to be by his side the entire way. Tears form behind his eyes and he wishes that he could be brave enough to tell the truth. That he could look his mom in the eyes and tell her who he really was.
While he's listening to the rain fall outside he hears his mom leaving for her night shift at the hospital. That must mean it's almost 8:00pm. He stumbles to the bathroom and is thankful that Nia is sleeping over at her friends house. The silence that settles over the house makes the thoughts he was trying to keep at bay echo wildly against the tile. Then he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
His father's chin, his mother's eyes and a nose that no one had been able to figure out. His tired eyes scream how exhausted he is. Disgustedly, he thinks, this is what I've become. Who I've let myself be. The first time he had become Puck it was something forced on him by a broken heart. If he became Puck again he wasn't sure Noah would survive.
Staring back at his reflection he notices that his hair is almost completely back. He can see the beginnings of sleep-tousled curls and with a jolt he remembers why he started all this in the first place.
Kurt. Beautiful, fragile, strong, enigma Kurt. The Kurt that he loved. The Kurt that got on the Ferris Wheel for him. The Kurt that just wanted to meet Noah's mom. The Kurt that deserved so much better than Puck.
Before he knew what he was doing he felt the rain hitting the back of his neck. Headed towards someone that would help him fix what he had broken.
**
Gemma placed both her hands over her face. Hoping that it would force the blush away from her cheeks before she breathlessly swung the door open. Noah was standing on the other side of door. Drenched, holding a torn piece of paper in his fist. His eyes wide and desperate.
“I fucked up. I need your help to fix it.”
“Noah, Jesus what the hell happened?” She ushers Noah through her front door and he stands helplessly in her entrance way. When she places a comforting hand on his bicep she can feel the tremors. “How did you find me?”
He lifts his hand and gestures to the paper crumpled in his fist. “Phone book. You really shouldn't have your address listed. That's how creepers find you.”
“Yeah. It would seem that way.”
The giggle in her voice forces Noah to raise his head. He sees her flushed cheeks, the half empty wine glasses on the coffee table and a very flustered William Schuester with a strategically placed pillow in his lap. Noah raises his hands in surrender and starts to back towards the door.
“Oh shit. I didn't mean to interrupt. Fuck. I'll just come back later.”
Gemma clasps the hand that is frantically searching for the door knob and leads Noah into the kitchen. Sending Will a look that lets him know she's got everything under control. When she sits Noah down at the kitchen table he lays his palms on the flat surface to stop their shaking.
“I'm serious. I can totally come back. I don't want to be responsible for a cockblock.”
“Noah, you probably just saved me from going too far, too fast. Impulse control has always been a problem for me. I always seem to let my heart get a bit ahead of me. So I actually need to be thanking you. Now, what's wrong?” The corners of her eyes slacken and her lips tense. That lie show taught him that means she's worried.
“I let my mind get the best of me. I think I ruined things with Kurt.”
He tells her everything. Tells her about how nervous he was ringing the doorbell. How angry he was that he had to wait until they were on the Ferris wheel before he could hold Kurt's hand. How amazing that kiss felt and how much he wished he got to do that every single day. That when Kurt brought up meeting his mother all the muscles in his throat constricted and started to strangle him. How he'd forgotten that anyone would actually want him. That he saw a look on Kurt's face that seemed laced with disappointment. Told her that look made him ignore Kurt's phone calls.
He tells her all this and looks at her like she holds the answers to all of his problems and she's going to know exactly how to put things right. Instead she's just quiet for a long time and Noah thinks he sees disappointment in her eyes too. When she finally speaks, her voice is a tense whisper.
“Is there a reason you don't want Kurt to meet your mother?”
“If she meets him she's gonna have to know that he's more than just a friend.”
“And that would be a problem because?”
“Because then I would do what she always said I would. I'd be her disappointment.” Noah is staring at his fingertips and thinking about Kurt's gently brushing over them.
“Noah, coming out is never easy. Especially as bisexual. Every day you'll encounter people that won't understand who you are. You'll face prejudice from both sides. Gay and straight. Bi-phobia is a real problem but the only way we can get through it is with honesty. It would have been really easy for me to lie to Will. I could have passed as a straight girl to him and he never would have known the difference. But I can't be that girl anymore. I can't be the one who lies about who I am.” Her voice starts to shake with emotion.
“But I can't be another man that breaks her heart. I can't be her failure.”
“When we first started talking, you used to call yourself a Lima Loser all the time.”
“Yeah?”
“So, why don't you anymore?”
“I dunno. Maybe because I don't feel like one. At least I didn't before last night. ”
“Noah, everyone comes out at their own pace and I understand if you don't feel like this is the time for you. But if you're honest with yourself and the people who love you, you will not be a disappointment. You have to stop worrying about how people think you should live your life and live it the way it makes sense for you.”
“But what if she hates me?”
“She's your mother. She might not get it but I can't see her hating you. If worse comes to worse, I have a really comfy couch..”
Gemma's warm hand rests on his and Noah feels like he could make a really important woman in his life proud for the first time in a long time. He nods his head and heads for the door. Gemma gives him a tight hug and kisses him on the cheek.
She locks the door behind him and she turns to head back into the living room. Instead she collides with Will's solid chest. Strong arms encircle her waist and his breath is warm on her face.
“Thank you for not lying.”
Gemma runs her hand down his cheek and looks at him in awe.
“Thank you for coming back.”
**
When Norah Puckerman walks into her house after a twelve hour shift at the hospital, a sharp chill runs down her spine. Noah is sitting on the couch, wringing his hands and he looks like he hasn't been to bed.
“Noah baby, what's wrong? Is Nia okay?”
“Yeah Ma, everything's fine. I just have to talk to you about something.” In an instant she knows that this is it. The talk she's been waiting for since Noah's twelfth birthday party. She sits next to Noah on the couch and folds his hands into hers.
“Okay baby. What is it?”
“Ma, I'm in love with Kurt.”
“Oh, is he that nice Hummel boy?” Noah's eyes go wide and he looks like he's about to swallow his tongue.
“I always liked him. I'll be happy to see him around here again.”
“Ma, I don't think you understand. I'm telling you Kurt is my boyfriend. That we kiss and are probably going to do a bunch of other stuff too. I'm talking about wanting him like I want girls.” His voice is calm and slow. Like he's trying to explain something to a five year old.
“I understand you just fine. I've known who you are since you were twelve. I'm just happy you finally trust me enough to tell me yourself.”
“You....you knew?”
“Of course bubala. A mother always knows. I want to meet him properly. I only have Saturday off this week. Be a dear and invite that boy to Temple. Rabbi Adler will want to meet him.”
Then she kisses the top of his head and heads towards the shower. Leaving her son stunned and smiling.
**
Noah is rushing up the Hummel's driveway to tell Kurt the good news when he notices that something is not right. The lawnmower is running and laying on it side. Angry hateful words paint the siding beside the front door and Finn is curled up in a ball by the stairs. When he places his hand on Finn's heaving back he lashes out violently and connects with Noah's jaw.
“Finn, buddy calm down. It's just me. It's Noah.”
Finn's eyes uncross and he stops fighting Noah's attempts to hug him.
“Noah? Oh thank God. Did you see them?” Finn's arms lock tightly around Noah's waist and Noah can feel him shaking.
“No. There's no one here but you and me.” Finn nods against his neck and Noah can feel warm wetness seep through his shirt. When he pulls away slightly he can see that Finn is covered in blood.
“Holy fuck, man. What happened?”
“I was mowing the lawn, listening to my ipod and all of a sudden I just got rocked. I think someone sucker punched me and I was down. Everything just goes blank after that.”
Finn cautiously finds his feet and glances towards the front door. And that's when he sees it. Painted heavy and thick in dark blue spray paint. Anger courses through him and he charges up the stairs. Ripping off his shirt, he moves to wipe the still wet paint away when Kurt's fingers wrap around his wrist. “No, Finn. We have to leave it. The police will need pictures.”
Shock stops him and horror floods him as he realizes that if Kurt's back that means Mercedes is back too. He sees her standing wide eyed at the end of the walkway.
She sees the boy she loves. T-shirt hanging limp in his hand, his eye swollen shut, his torso covered in fresh bruises and boot prints. His body is covering a good portion of the words and it's hard to see through her tears but she knows what it says. It makes her heart break. In large sloppy scrawl, written in all capitals. Sending a dagger through her.
NIGGER LOVER is painted on Finn's house and Mercedes can't help but think this is all her fault.
**
The police take three hours to show up. Kurt is comforting Mercedes downstairs while the boys are waiting outside. Burt is pacing the porch and railing against his tax dollars being used to fund such ineptitude.
In the end they take everyone's statement and all the pictures they need but Finn knows that at least one of the officers agrees with what went down. Thinks he got what he deserves. He also thinks that has a lot to do with why Burt almost gets hauled down to the station, when he hears that officer say that he's surprised it wasn't about the 'other' one.
Finn drives a stoic Mercedes home and makes her promise that this doesn't change anything. He tells her that he loves her and insists on walking her to her front door. When her father opens the door and sees Finn's face he knows what happened without him needing to explain. Mercedes crumbles into her father's arms and he gives Finn a grateful smile.
It's dark when he gets home and he sees Burt scrubbing furiously at the hateful words. Finn picks up a cloth and goes to work right beside him. Finn's elbows creak and his arms are sore before he can finally break the silence.
“Burt, I'm so sorry.” Finn drops his rag in shock as Burt grabs him by the shoulder and spins him around. Burt's eyes are aflame and his voice is fierce.
“In this house, no one ever has to apologize for who they love. You got that, son? No one.”
Finn nods and Burt pulls him into a tight hug. The tears that spring up burn his swollen eye but he really doesn't care. For the first time in his life, Finn knows what it feels like to have a father.
Author:emo_chick_87
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Puck, Finn/Mercedes, Will/Gemma (OC)
Rating: PG-13 (this part)
Word Count: 2320 words
Spoilers: Season One.
Genre: Romance/Slight Angst/Dashes of Fluff
Warnings: het romance (see parings), brief description of a hate crime, a racial slur
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Summary: McKinley High gets a new school nurse and she takes special notice of one Noah Puckerman... Get your mind out of the gutter... not that kind of notice.
AN: I had initially thought that Finn's wake up call would be about a 5/10. But I'd actually have to put this at a 9/10 at least. Sorry in advance. Please don't hate me. This is as bad as it gets I promise.
Previously on GATHH: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11
Each time his phone rings, it takes more and more of his will power not to pick up the call. Puck spends the entire afternoon huddled under his blankets, cursing himself for being so stupid. For thinking that he deserved to be happy.
Every time he closes his eyes he sees the future he could have had. The fifth floor walk up in New York. Running lines with Kurt in their living room. Getting dressed up to see Opening Night and sneaking into every other performance to watch without Kurt knowing. Watching Kurt become the beautiful man he's destined to be and getting to be by his side the entire way. Tears form behind his eyes and he wishes that he could be brave enough to tell the truth. That he could look his mom in the eyes and tell her who he really was.
While he's listening to the rain fall outside he hears his mom leaving for her night shift at the hospital. That must mean it's almost 8:00pm. He stumbles to the bathroom and is thankful that Nia is sleeping over at her friends house. The silence that settles over the house makes the thoughts he was trying to keep at bay echo wildly against the tile. Then he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
His father's chin, his mother's eyes and a nose that no one had been able to figure out. His tired eyes scream how exhausted he is. Disgustedly, he thinks, this is what I've become. Who I've let myself be. The first time he had become Puck it was something forced on him by a broken heart. If he became Puck again he wasn't sure Noah would survive.
Staring back at his reflection he notices that his hair is almost completely back. He can see the beginnings of sleep-tousled curls and with a jolt he remembers why he started all this in the first place.
Kurt. Beautiful, fragile, strong, enigma Kurt. The Kurt that he loved. The Kurt that got on the Ferris Wheel for him. The Kurt that just wanted to meet Noah's mom. The Kurt that deserved so much better than Puck.
Before he knew what he was doing he felt the rain hitting the back of his neck. Headed towards someone that would help him fix what he had broken.
**
Gemma placed both her hands over her face. Hoping that it would force the blush away from her cheeks before she breathlessly swung the door open. Noah was standing on the other side of door. Drenched, holding a torn piece of paper in his fist. His eyes wide and desperate.
“I fucked up. I need your help to fix it.”
“Noah, Jesus what the hell happened?” She ushers Noah through her front door and he stands helplessly in her entrance way. When she places a comforting hand on his bicep she can feel the tremors. “How did you find me?”
He lifts his hand and gestures to the paper crumpled in his fist. “Phone book. You really shouldn't have your address listed. That's how creepers find you.”
“Yeah. It would seem that way.”
The giggle in her voice forces Noah to raise his head. He sees her flushed cheeks, the half empty wine glasses on the coffee table and a very flustered William Schuester with a strategically placed pillow in his lap. Noah raises his hands in surrender and starts to back towards the door.
“Oh shit. I didn't mean to interrupt. Fuck. I'll just come back later.”
Gemma clasps the hand that is frantically searching for the door knob and leads Noah into the kitchen. Sending Will a look that lets him know she's got everything under control. When she sits Noah down at the kitchen table he lays his palms on the flat surface to stop their shaking.
“I'm serious. I can totally come back. I don't want to be responsible for a cockblock.”
“Noah, you probably just saved me from going too far, too fast. Impulse control has always been a problem for me. I always seem to let my heart get a bit ahead of me. So I actually need to be thanking you. Now, what's wrong?” The corners of her eyes slacken and her lips tense. That lie show taught him that means she's worried.
“I let my mind get the best of me. I think I ruined things with Kurt.”
He tells her everything. Tells her about how nervous he was ringing the doorbell. How angry he was that he had to wait until they were on the Ferris wheel before he could hold Kurt's hand. How amazing that kiss felt and how much he wished he got to do that every single day. That when Kurt brought up meeting his mother all the muscles in his throat constricted and started to strangle him. How he'd forgotten that anyone would actually want him. That he saw a look on Kurt's face that seemed laced with disappointment. Told her that look made him ignore Kurt's phone calls.
He tells her all this and looks at her like she holds the answers to all of his problems and she's going to know exactly how to put things right. Instead she's just quiet for a long time and Noah thinks he sees disappointment in her eyes too. When she finally speaks, her voice is a tense whisper.
“Is there a reason you don't want Kurt to meet your mother?”
“If she meets him she's gonna have to know that he's more than just a friend.”
“And that would be a problem because?”
“Because then I would do what she always said I would. I'd be her disappointment.” Noah is staring at his fingertips and thinking about Kurt's gently brushing over them.
“Noah, coming out is never easy. Especially as bisexual. Every day you'll encounter people that won't understand who you are. You'll face prejudice from both sides. Gay and straight. Bi-phobia is a real problem but the only way we can get through it is with honesty. It would have been really easy for me to lie to Will. I could have passed as a straight girl to him and he never would have known the difference. But I can't be that girl anymore. I can't be the one who lies about who I am.” Her voice starts to shake with emotion.
“But I can't be another man that breaks her heart. I can't be her failure.”
“When we first started talking, you used to call yourself a Lima Loser all the time.”
“Yeah?”
“So, why don't you anymore?”
“I dunno. Maybe because I don't feel like one. At least I didn't before last night. ”
“Noah, everyone comes out at their own pace and I understand if you don't feel like this is the time for you. But if you're honest with yourself and the people who love you, you will not be a disappointment. You have to stop worrying about how people think you should live your life and live it the way it makes sense for you.”
“But what if she hates me?”
“She's your mother. She might not get it but I can't see her hating you. If worse comes to worse, I have a really comfy couch..”
Gemma's warm hand rests on his and Noah feels like he could make a really important woman in his life proud for the first time in a long time. He nods his head and heads for the door. Gemma gives him a tight hug and kisses him on the cheek.
She locks the door behind him and she turns to head back into the living room. Instead she collides with Will's solid chest. Strong arms encircle her waist and his breath is warm on her face.
“Thank you for not lying.”
Gemma runs her hand down his cheek and looks at him in awe.
“Thank you for coming back.”
**
When Norah Puckerman walks into her house after a twelve hour shift at the hospital, a sharp chill runs down her spine. Noah is sitting on the couch, wringing his hands and he looks like he hasn't been to bed.
“Noah baby, what's wrong? Is Nia okay?”
“Yeah Ma, everything's fine. I just have to talk to you about something.” In an instant she knows that this is it. The talk she's been waiting for since Noah's twelfth birthday party. She sits next to Noah on the couch and folds his hands into hers.
“Okay baby. What is it?”
“Ma, I'm in love with Kurt.”
“Oh, is he that nice Hummel boy?” Noah's eyes go wide and he looks like he's about to swallow his tongue.
“I always liked him. I'll be happy to see him around here again.”
“Ma, I don't think you understand. I'm telling you Kurt is my boyfriend. That we kiss and are probably going to do a bunch of other stuff too. I'm talking about wanting him like I want girls.” His voice is calm and slow. Like he's trying to explain something to a five year old.
“I understand you just fine. I've known who you are since you were twelve. I'm just happy you finally trust me enough to tell me yourself.”
“You....you knew?”
“Of course bubala. A mother always knows. I want to meet him properly. I only have Saturday off this week. Be a dear and invite that boy to Temple. Rabbi Adler will want to meet him.”
Then she kisses the top of his head and heads towards the shower. Leaving her son stunned and smiling.
**
Noah is rushing up the Hummel's driveway to tell Kurt the good news when he notices that something is not right. The lawnmower is running and laying on it side. Angry hateful words paint the siding beside the front door and Finn is curled up in a ball by the stairs. When he places his hand on Finn's heaving back he lashes out violently and connects with Noah's jaw.
“Finn, buddy calm down. It's just me. It's Noah.”
Finn's eyes uncross and he stops fighting Noah's attempts to hug him.
“Noah? Oh thank God. Did you see them?” Finn's arms lock tightly around Noah's waist and Noah can feel him shaking.
“No. There's no one here but you and me.” Finn nods against his neck and Noah can feel warm wetness seep through his shirt. When he pulls away slightly he can see that Finn is covered in blood.
“Holy fuck, man. What happened?”
“I was mowing the lawn, listening to my ipod and all of a sudden I just got rocked. I think someone sucker punched me and I was down. Everything just goes blank after that.”
Finn cautiously finds his feet and glances towards the front door. And that's when he sees it. Painted heavy and thick in dark blue spray paint. Anger courses through him and he charges up the stairs. Ripping off his shirt, he moves to wipe the still wet paint away when Kurt's fingers wrap around his wrist. “No, Finn. We have to leave it. The police will need pictures.”
Shock stops him and horror floods him as he realizes that if Kurt's back that means Mercedes is back too. He sees her standing wide eyed at the end of the walkway.
She sees the boy she loves. T-shirt hanging limp in his hand, his eye swollen shut, his torso covered in fresh bruises and boot prints. His body is covering a good portion of the words and it's hard to see through her tears but she knows what it says. It makes her heart break. In large sloppy scrawl, written in all capitals. Sending a dagger through her.
NIGGER LOVER is painted on Finn's house and Mercedes can't help but think this is all her fault.
**
The police take three hours to show up. Kurt is comforting Mercedes downstairs while the boys are waiting outside. Burt is pacing the porch and railing against his tax dollars being used to fund such ineptitude.
In the end they take everyone's statement and all the pictures they need but Finn knows that at least one of the officers agrees with what went down. Thinks he got what he deserves. He also thinks that has a lot to do with why Burt almost gets hauled down to the station, when he hears that officer say that he's surprised it wasn't about the 'other' one.
Finn drives a stoic Mercedes home and makes her promise that this doesn't change anything. He tells her that he loves her and insists on walking her to her front door. When her father opens the door and sees Finn's face he knows what happened without him needing to explain. Mercedes crumbles into her father's arms and he gives Finn a grateful smile.
It's dark when he gets home and he sees Burt scrubbing furiously at the hateful words. Finn picks up a cloth and goes to work right beside him. Finn's elbows creak and his arms are sore before he can finally break the silence.
“Burt, I'm so sorry.” Finn drops his rag in shock as Burt grabs him by the shoulder and spins him around. Burt's eyes are aflame and his voice is fierce.
“In this house, no one ever has to apologize for who they love. You got that, son? No one.”
Finn nods and Burt pulls him into a tight hug. The tears that spring up burn his swollen eye but he really doesn't care. For the first time in his life, Finn knows what it feels like to have a father.