A Collection of Glee Oneshots 5

After Service (Quicketh/Quinn/Carole)

"Quinn."

Quinn looked up at Carole.

"Can you give me a hand inside?" Carole requested.

"I'll help you, Mrs. H." Puck offered.

"Don't move." Carole shook her head. "Beth's too comfortable with you."

"Alright." Puck gave in, and Carole looked at Quinn.

"Coming." Quinn said as she got up from the couch. She followed Carole into the kitchen. "What can I do to help?"

"Honey, I..." Carole took a deep breath. "Why don't you have a seat?"

Quinn furrowed her eyebrows and sat down at the table.

"You guys seem like you're doing well." Carole began.

"We are." Quinn nodded. "Noah's been adjusting to being home, but Beth's really glad to have him back, and we're good."

"Good." Carole echoed. "And he's okay? No issues or anything?"

Quinn paused and looked at Carole. "Why are you asking me that?"

"Because." Carole answered. "I'm seeing things in him that I saw in Christopher when he came home."

"Y-You've barely seen Noah." Quinn stuttered.

"I know." Carole nodded. "And I'm sorry, but I'm worried and I thought you should know."

Quinn bit her lip.

"I don't mean to overstep, but I'm trying to help." Carole added.

"You're not overstepping." Quinn promised as she looked at Carole. "I appreciate you looking out for him."

Carole smiled slightly and nodded.

"Noah took Finn's death really hard. I mean, we all did, but especially Noah." Quinn began. "He joined the Air Force impulsively and that ended abruptly, too, and... I think it's all catching up to him now."

Carole nodded slowly.

"He's been having trouble sleeping." Quinn admitted. "At first, I thought it was just because he was uncomfortable from the surgery, but then he started having nightmares. I'll wake up to him sleepwalking or screaming."

Carole held Quinn's hand while Quinn continued.

"He doesn't remember any of it by morning. And I've tried talking to him, but he gets defensive and he hides. If something's wrong, he hides it as much as he can."

"Has he been drinking?" Carole wondered.

"Noah's always been a drinker." Quinn answered. "He disappeared for a day last week and when I asked him about it, he told me he was with Jake."

"What did Jake say?" Carole asked.

"I didn't ask him." Quinn shook her head. "I know he wasn't there."

Carole frowned.

"I don't know what to do." Quinn added. "I can't help Noah if he doesn't want my help."

"Can I try talking to him?" Carole offered.

"You can."