I rattled this up in like...two days while on holiday, with no WiFi and a whole bunch of Spotify to work my way through. I gave myself so many ideas while listening to loads of music that I had to get them out somehow. And so, this was born.

It was initially all in one long document but after reading over it a couple times it works better broken up, considering things happen over the space of like...a week? Something like that.

Anyway! Enjoy a whole bunch of Thomas Dwight Houston feelings with all your fave ships thrown in for good measure.

I always rattle on in these things...

Let me know what you think in reviews!

Part 1

Five bodies stood squashed together in a corridor of Windsor house trying to see through the crack they had made in the door, frowns etched on their faces as they analysed what they could see. The entire room was cast in shadows, the only light coming from a small desk lamp in the corner. Scrunched up balls of paper and empty Mountain Dew bottles littered the floor surrounding the bed. Dwight lay on top of it staring at the ceiling, lost in thought and oblivious to the prying eyes at the door. His fingers traced aimless patterns over a well-worn book lying at his side, his "hunter's journal" – which no one was allowed to touch for fear of extreme physical harm.

"Is he alright..?" Reed whispered, nudging David a little so he could see into the room better.

"I dunno, he isn't really moving…" David replied, looking at Dwight.

"Is he even breathing?" Wes asked, scrunching his eyes in an attempt to see into the dimness.

"Maybe we should stage a possession. That should get his attention?" Evan offered helpfully, his twin nodding in agreement.

Dwight turned his head to face the sounds, slightly amused at the sight before him. The Windsor boys had their heads stacked together comically, resembling a totem pole as they attempted to see through the gap in his ajar door. He admired their concern, but he didn't think there was much they could do that he couldn't provide for himself. Dwight sighed and went back to staring at the ceiling, ignoring the murmurs.

Blaine rounded the corner and frowned at the mass of boys hovering outside Dwight's room. "What's going on? What have you done to Dwight now?" he asked suspiciously as he joined them, trying to peer through their heads.

"Nothing, we swear! But he hasn't even come out of his room in a couple days now - we're starting to get worried." Ethan replied and shuffled over a little to let Blaine see, who hummed in agreement to the situation. Blaine also felt concerned at the sight of the Hunter in his room.

Shane's voice bellowed down the corridor, "Hey guys! Been looking all over for you!" he skidded to a stop next to his brother and smiled charmingly at Reed when his head popped out of the group at the sound of Shane's voice. "What are you all looking at?" Blaine shushed him in annoyance, not wanting to attract Dwight's attention even though he wasn't sure why they were (sort of) hiding in the first place. Shane crouched down next to Reed and wriggled against him to see inside. "Ooooh I see…this can't be good." he whispered, Reed nodding in response.

Kurt appeared next, and although part of him didn't really want to find out what was going on, he figured he better make sure there was nothing too troublesome happening. He popped his head over Blaine's shoulder, who gave a small smile to his presence. "What am I missing here?" he asked, "Have the Twins planted another baby monitor in Dwight's room? Because I'm pretty sure we all remember how badly that went last time. I didn't get a bed to myself for about a week after that."

While everyone winced at the memory, Blaine responded quietly, "No, no one knows what's going on. But I'm getting a little concerned".

"Well now you mention it, I haven't seen him outside of his room all that much lately." Kurt agreed, unable to see inside Dwight's room but sensing the worry from his friends. "Has anyone thought of, just maybe, actually talking to him? I bet that would be a good place to start." Kurt suggested to the group. Silence greeted him. "Oh for goodness sake, budge over, I'll go talk to him." Kurt tried to make his way forward to get into Dwight's room, but a small voice coming from inside made him stop.

"Please do not cross the salt line." The defeated tone to Dwight's voice was what made Kurt stop more than the actual request. He had his hand on the doorknob and his toes touched the salt, but he didn't go any further, sensing genuine discomfort from Dwight.

He softened his voice before reaching out to his friend, "Dwight…I won't come in, but do you want to tell us what's going on? We can help." Mumbles of agreement from the other boys supported his statement. Reed worried his lip between his teeth when there was no response, and the Twins held a silent conversation in their glances to each other.

At some point during the silence that followed Charlie had materialised behind the group of boys, eyebrow raised and arms crossed, waiting for them to realise he was there. When no one did he cleared his throat loudly, smirking in amusement when they all jumped in unison. The boys automatically separated and turned to face their prefect.

"Dare I ask what you're all doing here?" he prompted, patiently waiting for a response.

They all looked between themselves for a moment before Reed spoke up. He motioned toward Dwight's door, "Dwight hasn't come out of his room for a few days now, and he won't talk to any of us…we're just a little worried about him. More than usual, I mean." The rest of them nodded in agreement.

Charlie broke his gaze away from the boys and looked into Dwight's room, gathering as much information as he could in one sweep. When his eyes fell on the journal at Dwight's side highlighted by the light coming through the door, his expression softened a little. He glanced at his watch, an action so brief that most of the boys missed it, and seemed to be lost in consideration for a moment. He finally nodded to himself and moved forward, closing the door silently in one smooth movement. Turning back to the boys Charlie's expression was etched with serious tones, and he made a point of holding eye contact with each boy as he spoke.

"I want you all to listen to me very carefully right now, and do not question what I am about to say," he paused, "You are to leave Dwight alone for the next couple days. Do not bother him in any way, even if your intentions are to help. Unless he comes to you, you are not to pester him to talk. And when he emerges you are to act like normal – well, at least as normal as you lot can be. Understand?" his eye contact was unwavering as he looked at all the boys – it was almost unnerving.

Everyone but the Twins nodded, who continued to look troubled as they glanced back to Dwight's door.

"Evan, Ethan, the same terms apply to you." Charlie said, catching their exchange. When their expressions didn't change, Charlie sighed. "Look, guys, I know you're all worried, but can you please just do as I ask? If not for me, do it for Dwight? If it helps, I know what's bothering with him." He continued to speak over the beginnings of protests from the Windsor's, not willing to argue with them, "But it's not my place to bring it up. If Dwight wants to talk about it, let him come to you. I think this is maybe just something he needs to work through by himself. We can all be here for him if he needs us."

The Twins still didn't look completely convinced, but nodded slightly as Charlie finished speaking. "Now on you go, shoo, the lot of you. I'm sure you have work to be doing." He gestured for them all to move along, away from Dwight's door.

The group broke off in different directions, following orders, but Charlie caught Blaine's elbow before he could disappear after Kurt. "Blaine, can I have a word?"

"Sure." Blaine replied. He turned to Kurt, sensing Charlie wanted privacy, "Um, I'll get you in my room?" Kurt glanced briefly between the two boys but said nothing, smiling in response, and disappeared down the corridor.

Once they were alone Charlie spoke, but even then it was just above a whisper, "I'm only telling you this because I feel he may come to you over anyone else, but this stays between us." The prefect still looked serious but his eyes softened as he continued, "If I remember correctly…Alan's birthday is coming up in the next week, and I don't think Dwight is going home, so I guess he's unsure how to handle it this year. Can you just…make sure the rest of the guys give him some peace? And if he does come to you…" Charlie trailed off and shrugged, looking back at the younger boys' door, "Listen to him, I guess? I don't know what he might need but I think he might see you as the person most likely to understand."

And Blaine did understand. Ever since Shane's scare with the landslide, Blaine had been able to relate just the tiniest bit to how Dwight must have felt. Or rather, is feeling, as Blaine thought Dwight continued to carry the pain of losing Alan with him every day. Except Blaine didn't lose Shane - he got his brother back. Something Dwight would never have the opportunity to experience. It almost made Blaine feel guilty sometimes.

So yes, Blaine could do this for Dwight. Whether the younger boy sought out his help or not, Blaine would always be there for him. Blaine looked at Charlie intently as he spoke, "I can do that. If he emerges, I'll make sure I'm around."

His response seemed to satisfy Charlie, who nodded and gave Blaine's shoulder a gentle squeeze. With one last glance at Dwight's door, they both headed down the corridor to discover what trouble the rest of the House was already getting up to.

From inside his room, Dwight silently thanked Charlie. He knew his friends only wanted the best for him, but he wasn't ready to talk about his feelings and he didn't have the energy to pretend like everything was okay, so he was grateful that Charlie asked them to back off for now.

Dwight was positive Charlie knew why he was upset. Ever since the year he requested to go home for…this…Charlie had always been more sympathetic to his needs around this time. We really don't give him the credit he deserves…

Dwight picked up his journal again, flicking through it until he found pictures of a birthday party. Goofy smiles lit up the pages, and Dwight smiled sadly as he traced his younger brothers' glowing face, wishing more than anything he was here so they could celebrate another birthday together.