After Deployment

15

"Did you call Santana yesterday?" Quinn asked as she looked at Puck.

"I called Santana, Jake, Sarah, and my mom." Puck nodded. "And I was thinking of calling Rachel today."

"Are you gonna ask her to tell Finn's mom?" Quinn wondered.

Puck shook his head. "I have to tell her myself, but I was hoping you'd sit with me while I call her later."

"Yeah, of course." Quinn nodded.

"Thank you." Puck said as he got up.

"Where are you going?" Quinn wondered.

"I'm gonna call Rachel." Puck decided.

"We can call Mrs. Hudson whenever you're ready." Quinn responded.

Puck nodded as he walked away.

Quinn waited while Puck called Rachel. He returned a few minutes later and sat down beside Quinn.

Quinn looked at him.

"I made Rachel cry." Puck told Quinn.

"She was upset?" Quinn asked.

"She's relieved." Puck shook her head. "She said she's proud of me, but she's glad I'm done."

Quinn nodded slowly.

"Let's call Mrs. H." Puck said as he scrolled through his phone. He set up the phone and put it on speaker before placing it on the table.

"Hello?" Carole answered the phone on the third ring.

Quinn looked at Puck, who was frozen. She took his hand and looked at the phone. "Hi, Mrs. Hudson. It's Quinn and Noah."

Carole didn't reply.

"Fabray and Puckerman." Quinn added.

"I know." Carole responded. "But you two were Finn's best friends. You should be calling me Carole."

"Sorry." Quinn apologized. "Carole."

"It's nice to hear from you." Carole said. "Noah's home?"

"He is." Quinn answered as she squeezed Puck's hand. "That's actually why we're calling."

"Everything okay?" Carole wondered.

"Noah." Quinn said softly.

"Hi, Mrs. H." Puck replied. "Uh, Carole."

"Hi, Noah. How are you?" Carole asked.

"I'm good." Puck said as he took a deep breath. "I just... I wanted to tell you that..."

Puck bit his lip as he trailed off. He looked at Quinn nervously.

"Noah had surgery because he injured his shoulder." Quinn began.

"Did you dislocate it again? I remember the first time it happened." Carole stated. "You and Finn were playing football on the front lawn and he tackled you."

"And pinned me down." Puck said, smiling at the memory. "Yeah, I did it a few more times after that, too."

"And how did the surgery go?" Carole wondered.

"It went well, but they said it could take almost a year to regain complete function." Puck replied. "So because of that, I got discharged from the Air Force. It was an honorable discharge, but it wasn't supposed to happen until the summer so..."

"Well, I'm glad you're okay, and I'm glad you're done." Carole said.

Puck looked at Quinn.

Carole went on. "We're all so proud of you, and I know Finn is, too."

"You think he'd be proud that I didn't finish my four years?" Puck asked.

"Honey, Finn was in the Army for sixteen days. He shot himself in the leg." Carole reminded Puck. "He would be so proud that you joined the Air Force in his honor and that you made it through so much."

Puck sighed with relief and smiled slightly. "Thank you."

"Thank you for helping to keep his memory alive." Carole said. "Both of you. I'm really grateful."

Quinn looked at Puck through tears in her eyes. "We were so lucky to have had him as long as we did. I just wish we had him longer."

"Me, too." Carole said with a sigh. "I'm really glad you two called. Next time you're in Lima, I'd love to see you."

"Absolutely."