FIC: By Your Side - Chapter Four (Dave/Puck)
Title: By Your Side
Author: kosherrainbow
Beta: with help from both nubianamy and imaginaryglory
Rating: PG13, safe
Word Count: roughly 5,200
Warnings: cancer, minor character death,
Summary: When Noah Puckerman is left to raise Beth on his own, he is surprised to find just who ends up standing by his side. Dave/Puck
Written for Glee Reverse Big Bang. Art Prompt Found Here
Artist; nubianamy
Chapter 4
Two and half Months Later
Puck walked towards the hospital’s cafeteria, arms tucked behind his back, hiding the bag out of sight from Dave who is standing in the same spot they had met at least once a week since Beth brief infection driven visit to the hospital.
Dave smiled warmly as he spotted Puck, “I thought you going to miss the adventure of ‘chicken’ nugget day…”
Smiling mischievously, pulling the bag out, “I thought we could use a change a pace.”
From the look of it one would have thought the screenwriter had just told the doctor he had won the lottery. The skipped the crowded serving lines and headed for an empty table, diving right in for both the barbecue sandwiches and conversation. It had been easy to fall into the routine. And it was easy as for Puck to bend his flexible writing schedule to suite Dave hectic one. He only made sure to keep Beth first.
And then a month into the arrangement Puck had started picking Kyle up from school. And when he could Beth would hand out with Dave and Kyle when Puck needed to focus or had a telephone meeting with his agent.
“I was wondering….” Dave listened as Noah kept talking just behind him walking back towards Dave's floor.
“What?” The doctor asked when the sentence dropped off. He turned to see the black haired man staring in amusement at the small sign on the wall.
“These exist?”
Curious the doctor approached. On-Call Room
“Of course.”
And when asked if people use these for what he had seen on TV the doctor responded with an eye roll. Still, he was dragged in to the small vacant room.
“Happy…”
He was cut off by a sudden awareness of Noah’s face inches away from his. So close to…
“Sor-“ It was Dave’s turn to do the interrupting as he leaned forward.
It was quick, and a little rough, but it didn’t take but a moment for Noah to reciprocate.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now.”
“What? Make out with someone in an on-call room…”
“No. Well, yes….But…actually…the kissing you…I didn’t know if you…”
Dave nodded, “What do you say we try a normal hospital free date? Saturday?”
Xxxxx
Beth dropped her backpack by the desk in her room before she continued searching for her dad. The door to his room was cracked open and she peered in enough to see him running a nervous hand through his hair. It appeared he was trying to decide between two shirts laid out on the bed.
She laughed, making herself known, “Between those two he’d like you better shirtless.”
The pre-teen made her way to the closet and pulled out a red button down. “Here much more date material.”
He thanked her and began to put on the shirt letting silence fall for a little while. Before...
"Dad?"
"Yeah, B?"
She took her time saying anything as if she was considering her words, a lesson Shelby had taught her, "Are you two...dating now...officially?"
The buttoning of his shirt was paused. He probably should have a expected that or at least brought it up himself. "That's the goal...are you okay with that?"
A quick nod, "Yeah... I like him...and I get to hang out with Ky more now." He thought she was done until he heard almost under her breath He thought she was done until he heard almost under her breath, “And I’m glad he’s not…”
“What was that?”
She shrugged, “I know it’s weird…but I’m glad you’re gay….I think it would have been harder if you were dating girls.”
it took him a moment before the dots connected himself, “Beth…I would never try to replace her…”
She shook her head of dirty blonde hair, “No…it seems silly but it’s ….just…I already have two moms…even if Quinn doesn’t…I have my fill of moms…” He pulled her over and into a hug.
“I love you, kiddo.”
“Love you, too dad.”
Xxxx
“Kyle! Now. I’m not telling you again.”
The shout came sounding right back from down the steps. “I’m not hungry.”
Dave sighed, exhausted from this arguing with his son. In the last three months since the kiss in the on-call room. Kyle had not been as receptive as Dave had hoped.
He looked down the hall where his boyfriend was coming out of the kitchen.
“I think it’s time I give it a shot.” Noah said bounding up the stairs to be met with a slammed door. He knocked and met with a ‘go away’ so he tried the door and which opened up. With a smile for the moment he remembered the only door inside Dave’s house that had a lock was the bathroom, the reason that they only spent the night with children nearby at the Puckerman’s.
“Go away.”
“Sorry, bud, no can do. I just want to talk.”
“Nothin’ to talk about.”
Puck sighed and sat on the desk chair while the ten year old began to at least pretend to be avidly reading a comic book. He figured they’d have to talk eventually…it was one of the…perks of dating someone with a kid. “When I was a kid,” He started feeling rather cliché, “My dad left my mom with me and my sister. It was just the three of us, and I had to be the man of the house…and then she brought this guy home, and I thought she was trying to replace me. I thought I wasn’t doing a good enough job.”
Kyle had clearly stopped reading the comic book and was now focused on listening. Taking that a sign he was doing it right he continued, “I thought this new guy was going to replace my dad. But he didn’t.” In fact the man hadn't even stuck around, but that was not a relevant detail for now, "And I don't want to replace your dad... Or take Dave away from you. But you know what I do want?"
"What?"
"I do want to see if can be friends? Can we try that?"
The well considered answer took a moment, "Okay. We can try."
"I'll take it little man. Now how about we get some dinner?"
Xxxx
Kurt waited until Rachel had dragged Beth off to go a show before he turned his attention to Noah, "So...?" When that received no answer he tried prompting again, "You and Dave?"
"What about it..."
"Oh come on Puckerman for someone who indulged a little much in high school it's like pulling teeth."
"I grew up."
Kurt sigh, frustrated.
The other man had been one of his most loyal and supportive friends since high school. He supposed it was the least he could do. "When did you know it was right to ask a boyfriend to move in?"
Xxxxx
"The trip was great, but I'm glad to get back to you." Noah sat down on the couch, Kyle was at a friends and Beth was in her room studying.
Dave smiled but his sigh was heavy, "There's something we need to talk about."
Noah looked him his face clouded in concern, "I was going to say the same thing but from you face I have the feeling its not about the same thing,"
"I was offered an attending position in California. I applied a while ago, I didn't think I'd get it. It was just a dream."
The more Dave talked the more Puck's stomach dropped. His mind trying to figure to figure out what it meant for them, then "I wasn't even thinking...I just said yes."
"I guess that answers that question." He began to untangle himself.
"Puck..." Dave tried, "We can still...your writing can....
"That's not the point You just yes without thinking. Didn't even think about Kyle ore moving a cross country, or Beth who's become attached to you and Kyle...or...' he was reluctant to say it, "me."
"I just..." The word thought was on his lips, but he stopped his head. "This isn't the end, please...you are the first person in a long time that I felt this way about. Not talking to you was stupid...I got ahead of myself."
"Just go please...unlike you, I need some time to think."
xxxxx
"You've reached Noah Puckerman. If this is business you've got the wrong number. If this is family, you know the drill." Beep.
"Noah, I don't know how many time I have to say it before you believe me...I don't if this is just you needing time to be angry...or if....I can't lose you over a mistake...I should have talked to you...please give me a chance to talk to now. I don't want to leave like this. I never wanted this to mean I was leaving you..."
Noah was in the middle of cooking dinner. His mind failing to stay focused on the burgers in front of him. Eyeing his phone he wondered what Dave had said this time.
"Beth!" He called out..."Dinner's ready."
Her normal pace would have been slow enough they would have still had time to finish up, but she was faster this time. "Where's Dave and Kyle?"
"Its just the two of us." Noah shuffled things about before he decided to continue, "Its actually the two of us from here on out."
"What..." He watched as she put the pieces together as he divided the fries and salad between the two plates. There was an edge of panic in her voice, "But Kyle and I can still be friends, right?"
He took his time moving the burgers from the pan to the buns, "Actually, sweetheart...Dave and Kyle are going to be moving to California for Dave's work. But I'm sure you guys can Skype and talk whenever you want."
Sullenly, she stayed silent, picking at her food. He thought the conversation was over until she said, "Why couldn't we have gone, too? Or did they not want us to?'
xxxxxx
Dave opened the door, surprised to see Puck standing there.
"Since you don't like thinking when making decisions; do want this job?"
"Yes."
"Do still want me?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to do long distance?"
"No."
"Do you want to find a place together in California?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
Noah pulled Dave across the threshold, unaware, as they kissed, of the triumphant smiles on the two kids behind their respective parents."
xxxxx
Dave smiled as Puck laid against him, both of them fighting sleep a finger, tracing vertically across his chest.
"So, Beth convinced you."
"She pointed out we could probably all use a fresh start."
Dave stayed silent for a moment, "Remind me I owe her a huge birthday present."
Author: kosherrainbow
Beta: with help from both nubianamy and imaginaryglory
Rating: PG13, safe
Word Count: roughly 5,200
Warnings: cancer, minor character death,
Summary: When Noah Puckerman is left to raise Beth on his own, he is surprised to find just who ends up standing by his side. Dave/Puck
Written for Glee Reverse Big Bang. Art Prompt Found Here
Artist; nubianamy
Chapter 4
Two and half Months Later
Puck walked towards the hospital’s cafeteria, arms tucked behind his back, hiding the bag out of sight from Dave who is standing in the same spot they had met at least once a week since Beth brief infection driven visit to the hospital.
Dave smiled warmly as he spotted Puck, “I thought you going to miss the adventure of ‘chicken’ nugget day…”
Smiling mischievously, pulling the bag out, “I thought we could use a change a pace.”
From the look of it one would have thought the screenwriter had just told the doctor he had won the lottery. The skipped the crowded serving lines and headed for an empty table, diving right in for both the barbecue sandwiches and conversation. It had been easy to fall into the routine. And it was easy as for Puck to bend his flexible writing schedule to suite Dave hectic one. He only made sure to keep Beth first.
And then a month into the arrangement Puck had started picking Kyle up from school. And when he could Beth would hand out with Dave and Kyle when Puck needed to focus or had a telephone meeting with his agent.
“I was wondering….” Dave listened as Noah kept talking just behind him walking back towards Dave's floor.
“What?” The doctor asked when the sentence dropped off. He turned to see the black haired man staring in amusement at the small sign on the wall.
“These exist?”
Curious the doctor approached. On-Call Room
“Of course.”
And when asked if people use these for what he had seen on TV the doctor responded with an eye roll. Still, he was dragged in to the small vacant room.
“Happy…”
He was cut off by a sudden awareness of Noah’s face inches away from his. So close to…
“Sor-“ It was Dave’s turn to do the interrupting as he leaned forward.
It was quick, and a little rough, but it didn’t take but a moment for Noah to reciprocate.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now.”
“What? Make out with someone in an on-call room…”
“No. Well, yes….But…actually…the kissing you…I didn’t know if you…”
Dave nodded, “What do you say we try a normal hospital free date? Saturday?”
Xxxxx
Beth dropped her backpack by the desk in her room before she continued searching for her dad. The door to his room was cracked open and she peered in enough to see him running a nervous hand through his hair. It appeared he was trying to decide between two shirts laid out on the bed.
She laughed, making herself known, “Between those two he’d like you better shirtless.”
The pre-teen made her way to the closet and pulled out a red button down. “Here much more date material.”
He thanked her and began to put on the shirt letting silence fall for a little while. Before...
"Dad?"
"Yeah, B?"
She took her time saying anything as if she was considering her words, a lesson Shelby had taught her, "Are you two...dating now...officially?"
The buttoning of his shirt was paused. He probably should have a expected that or at least brought it up himself. "That's the goal...are you okay with that?"
A quick nod, "Yeah... I like him...and I get to hang out with Ky more now." He thought she was done until he heard almost under her breath He thought she was done until he heard almost under her breath, “And I’m glad he’s not…”
“What was that?”
She shrugged, “I know it’s weird…but I’m glad you’re gay….I think it would have been harder if you were dating girls.”
it took him a moment before the dots connected himself, “Beth…I would never try to replace her…”
She shook her head of dirty blonde hair, “No…it seems silly but it’s ….just…I already have two moms…even if Quinn doesn’t…I have my fill of moms…” He pulled her over and into a hug.
“I love you, kiddo.”
“Love you, too dad.”
Xxxx
“Kyle! Now. I’m not telling you again.”
The shout came sounding right back from down the steps. “I’m not hungry.”
Dave sighed, exhausted from this arguing with his son. In the last three months since the kiss in the on-call room. Kyle had not been as receptive as Dave had hoped.
He looked down the hall where his boyfriend was coming out of the kitchen.
“I think it’s time I give it a shot.” Noah said bounding up the stairs to be met with a slammed door. He knocked and met with a ‘go away’ so he tried the door and which opened up. With a smile for the moment he remembered the only door inside Dave’s house that had a lock was the bathroom, the reason that they only spent the night with children nearby at the Puckerman’s.
“Go away.”
“Sorry, bud, no can do. I just want to talk.”
“Nothin’ to talk about.”
Puck sighed and sat on the desk chair while the ten year old began to at least pretend to be avidly reading a comic book. He figured they’d have to talk eventually…it was one of the…perks of dating someone with a kid. “When I was a kid,” He started feeling rather cliché, “My dad left my mom with me and my sister. It was just the three of us, and I had to be the man of the house…and then she brought this guy home, and I thought she was trying to replace me. I thought I wasn’t doing a good enough job.”
Kyle had clearly stopped reading the comic book and was now focused on listening. Taking that a sign he was doing it right he continued, “I thought this new guy was going to replace my dad. But he didn’t.” In fact the man hadn't even stuck around, but that was not a relevant detail for now, "And I don't want to replace your dad... Or take Dave away from you. But you know what I do want?"
"What?"
"I do want to see if can be friends? Can we try that?"
The well considered answer took a moment, "Okay. We can try."
"I'll take it little man. Now how about we get some dinner?"
Xxxx
Kurt waited until Rachel had dragged Beth off to go a show before he turned his attention to Noah, "So...?" When that received no answer he tried prompting again, "You and Dave?"
"What about it..."
"Oh come on Puckerman for someone who indulged a little much in high school it's like pulling teeth."
"I grew up."
Kurt sigh, frustrated.
The other man had been one of his most loyal and supportive friends since high school. He supposed it was the least he could do. "When did you know it was right to ask a boyfriend to move in?"
Xxxxx
"The trip was great, but I'm glad to get back to you." Noah sat down on the couch, Kyle was at a friends and Beth was in her room studying.
Dave smiled but his sigh was heavy, "There's something we need to talk about."
Noah looked him his face clouded in concern, "I was going to say the same thing but from you face I have the feeling its not about the same thing,"
"I was offered an attending position in California. I applied a while ago, I didn't think I'd get it. It was just a dream."
The more Dave talked the more Puck's stomach dropped. His mind trying to figure to figure out what it meant for them, then "I wasn't even thinking...I just said yes."
"I guess that answers that question." He began to untangle himself.
"Puck..." Dave tried, "We can still...your writing can....
"That's not the point You just yes without thinking. Didn't even think about Kyle ore moving a cross country, or Beth who's become attached to you and Kyle...or...' he was reluctant to say it, "me."
"I just..." The word thought was on his lips, but he stopped his head. "This isn't the end, please...you are the first person in a long time that I felt this way about. Not talking to you was stupid...I got ahead of myself."
"Just go please...unlike you, I need some time to think."
xxxxx
"You've reached Noah Puckerman. If this is business you've got the wrong number. If this is family, you know the drill." Beep.
"Noah, I don't know how many time I have to say it before you believe me...I don't if this is just you needing time to be angry...or if....I can't lose you over a mistake...I should have talked to you...please give me a chance to talk to now. I don't want to leave like this. I never wanted this to mean I was leaving you..."
Noah was in the middle of cooking dinner. His mind failing to stay focused on the burgers in front of him. Eyeing his phone he wondered what Dave had said this time.
"Beth!" He called out..."Dinner's ready."
Her normal pace would have been slow enough they would have still had time to finish up, but she was faster this time. "Where's Dave and Kyle?"
"Its just the two of us." Noah shuffled things about before he decided to continue, "Its actually the two of us from here on out."
"What..." He watched as she put the pieces together as he divided the fries and salad between the two plates. There was an edge of panic in her voice, "But Kyle and I can still be friends, right?"
He took his time moving the burgers from the pan to the buns, "Actually, sweetheart...Dave and Kyle are going to be moving to California for Dave's work. But I'm sure you guys can Skype and talk whenever you want."
Sullenly, she stayed silent, picking at her food. He thought the conversation was over until she said, "Why couldn't we have gone, too? Or did they not want us to?'
xxxxxx
Dave opened the door, surprised to see Puck standing there.
"Since you don't like thinking when making decisions; do want this job?"
"Yes."
"Do still want me?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to do long distance?"
"No."
"Do you want to find a place together in California?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
Noah pulled Dave across the threshold, unaware, as they kissed, of the triumphant smiles on the two kids behind their respective parents."
xxxxx
Dave smiled as Puck laid against him, both of them fighting sleep a finger, tracing vertically across his chest.
"So, Beth convinced you."
"She pointed out we could probably all use a fresh start."
Dave stayed silent for a moment, "Remind me I owe her a huge birthday present."