(A/N So this idea has been bugging me for a while now. I know that I'm not the only one that has been a little disappointed with how Glee has been in the last few episodes. One of the things that bugged me was the fact that it took forever for the Glee kids to realize that Kurt was being affected by Karofsky's bullying. What the hell! Where were his friends when they needed him? Don't even get me started on the Rachel bashing on the show because that was irritating too. I just wanted Rachel and Kurt to have a friend! So I wanted to change the plot to how I wanted it to be. So wah lah here comes the plot bunny.)

Courage

Summary: What happens if someone followed Kurt when he went after Karofsky? Kurt realizes that maybe he isn't the only gay teen in school.

Pairings: Faberry, Brittana, Sam/Kurt or Blaine/Kurt, other pairings.

Chapter 1: You're Not Alone

"Oh we are so going to beat those boys!" Mercedes shouted as all the glee girls walked into the girls bathroom still in their costumes from their performance.

"Don't get to excited they might have something up their sleeves." Tina replied taking her headband out of her hair.

"Pshhhh...we so have it in the bag girl." Mercedes said before walking into the bathroom stall to change into her normal clothes.

Tina followed Mercedes into the next stall to change as well, while Brittany and Santana decided to use the handicaped bathroom together to get changed.

Rachel was getting her necklace off in front of the mirror while Quinn was leaning against the sinks waiting for the others to get done so that she could get changed as well.

"Quinn you do realize that there's an open stall right?" Rachel asked looking at the blonde through the mirror.

"I realize that Berry but it's also next to the one that Santana and Brittany are in." She had her arms crossed over her chest as the leather she was wearing was starting to become almost unbearable to wear. It wasn't exactly silent as it made a squeaky noise everytime it rubbed up againt another piece of leather. Plus she was really hot after they performed, the leather sticking to her skin almost like it was a part of her. 'How can these rock stars stand this?' She thought to herself.

Rachel seemed to understand. "Good thing you told me that because I was just about to go in there myself." She pulled a wipey from her purse and started to remove all the extra makeup on her face.

Before Quinn could reply Tina stepped out of the stall back in her normal gothic attire. "One of you guys can go in next." She shyly told them as she went to the bathroom mirror to do something about her wavy hair.

Quinn didn't really understand why all the others decided to style their hair to look all messy and wavy. Really not all rocker girls wear their hair like that, well maybe back in the eighties but not now. She took a glance at herself and thought that she did good in her hairstyle choice, straight with a bandana covering her head. She kinda liked the look, it gave her a little edge.

"Quinn you can go next I'm still reapplying my makeup." Rachel said taking her cover up out of her purse.

The blonde went to grab her cheerio's uniform and her purse, but she realized that she left her purse in her locker. Which contained her shoes, ponytail, brush, and her makeup. 'Damn how could I forget my purse?' "Shit." She swore aloud.

Rachel stopped what she was doing to glare at Quinn. "Watch your language. It's very unbecoming of a young woman to be using such crude words."

Rolling her eyes at the brunette, Quinn grabbed her uniform and started heading for the door.

"Where are you going? You still need to change?" Rachel asked looking confused.

"Not that it really matters to you anyway, but I forgot my purse in my locker. I'll be back." With that she walked into the hallway.

It was a little crowded since it was time for students to go to lunch. Being the Captain of the Cheerios had it's advantages as people moved out of her way. Though she did notice them looking at her fearfully as she passed by. 'Hmmmm...looks like this new look does give me a little edge.' She glared at a bunch of freshmen who dared stand in front of her locker and smirked evily when they ran with their tails between their legs. 'Yup still got it.'

She opened her locker and was just about to grab her purse when she heard something like a phone hitting the ground and then someone being thrown into the lockers. 'This is really getting old. Can't they just leave them alone?' Quinn thought to herself as she turned her head and saw Dave Karofsky staring at Kurt Hummel, who was leaning up against the lockers.

Over the past couple of days Quinn's noticed that Karofsky has been increasing his bullying on Kurt. Stupidly she thought that Kurt could handle it like he normally does, with pride in his step and an insult up his sleeve. Looking at his defeated face now, she realizes with a startling truth that he was letting the bullies get to him. The worst part was that she just stood by and watched it happen.

The HBIC was brought out of her musings when she heard Kurt push against the lockers and chase after the jock screaming, "HEY!"

'Shit this looks bad. Karofsky's going to murder him.' Without thinking twice Quinn shoved her stuff in her locker, slammed it shut and chased after the boy. She found his cellphone and quickly picked it up. On the screen she saw that Kurt received a message someone named Blaine. All it said was Courage.

She quickly stuffed the phone in her pocket and went on her pursuit of the two boys. She rounded a corner when she saw Kurt enter the boys locker room down the hall. Quinn ran as fast as she could. Hoping that she would make it in time to pervent a fight from happening.

When she reached the door she heard voices coming from inside. Deciding that it was best to sneak in instead of going in all guns blazing, Quinn quietly opened the door to the boys locker room and snuck inside.

Instantly she saw the two boys in a heated arguement, but it seemed that they were to immersed in each other to even notice her presense.

"Do not push me Hummel" Karofsky lifted his fist in front of Kurts face and leaned in close towards him.

"You gonna hit me? Do it." 'Does this kid have a death sentence?' She thought as Kurt straightened his posture to show his confidence.

The bully slammed his locker shut as his anger started to appear on his face. "Don't push me."

"Hit me, cuz it's not gonna change who I am. You can't punch the gay out of me anymore than I can punch the ignoramus out of you." Quinn was super proud that Kurt finally got the courage to stand up for himself. 'Maybe that's what the message meant. Courage to stand up for yourself.' Really there was no other way to describe Kurts complete 180 on his attitude.

"GET OUTTA MY FACE!" The taller boys face looked desperate almost as if he was trying to stop himself from doing something. Quinn, still unnoticed by the two boys, walked closer to defend her friend at a moments notice.

Kurt put his hand in front of his face and started to wag his pointer finger in front on the other boys face. "You are nothing but a scared little boy who can't handle how extraordinarily ordinary you are."

That's when Dave Karofsky did the one thing that Quinn in a million years never would have thought he would do. He used both of his hands and grabbed each side of Kurts cheeks and pulled him in for a kiss.

Now this wasn't the first time that Quinn has seen two people of the same sex kiss before. Normally she doesn't care, but with the way that Karofsky was kissing Kurt like he was trying to eat him and Kurts eyes wide in horror sent a wave of disgust through her body.

Slowly Karofsky pulled away a look of content on his face, the exact opposite of Kurts horrified gaze. He was about to pull in for another kiss when Quinn decided that it was time to make her appearance known.

"Stay away from him!" She shouted at the bully taking a step closer to the two.

The content look on Karofsky's face quickly washed away to shock, then to horror, and finally to blind rage. Before she even had time to react Karofsky ran at her and pushed her up against the lockers, his arm pressing against her neck.

This was what Quinn was afraid of happening when she saw Kurt chase after the boy, but she should have brought a guy from Glee with her because there was no way that she could take this giant on her own.

"How much did you see?" Karofsky whispered dangerously close to her face. When she didn't respond he pushed even harder on her neck as he screamed, "HOW MUCH DID YOU SEE!"

Kurt seemed to have snapped out of his daze and rushed over to help Quinn. "Leave her alone! You can't treat a girl like this!" He tried to push the bigger teen but was pushed to the side with the arm that wasn't holding Quinn. Kurt tripped over the bench and fell to the ground in a heap.

"Stay out of this faggot!" He screamed at the fallen boy before he turned his face towards Quinn again. "Now if you don't answer my question I'll make sure you regret it. How much did you see?"

He let up a little on her neck so she could gasp out the answer. "En..enough t..to know that you just insulted yourself with that last comment."

The pressure was back on her neck again as the boy leaned in closer to her face. "If you repeat what you saw to anyone I'll kill you." He turned to look at Kurt who was slowly getting up from the ground. "Both of you." Then he released his hold on her neck and took a step back. Kurt quickly caught Quinn before she fell to the ground.

Karofsky watched as Quinn coughed and spluttered as she tried to catch her breath. Once she caught her breath she smiled gratefully at Kurt and stood up straight. She glared at the other boy with her HBIC attitude. "Is that a threat because its two against one. We can easily go to Principal Figgins and you'll be expelled before you can even blink."

"You sound so sure of yourself Fabray. Like they would actually believe your story. You may be kissing Sylvester's ass, but no ones going to think that I would kiss a faggot."

"I would watch your language if I were you or you will regret it."

He raised his fist in anger and took a step towards Quinn and Kurt. "You want to go another round."

Before Quinn could reply Kurt stood in front of her and looked the other boy in the eye. "We won't say anything so just leave us alone."

Karofsky smiled wickly as he started walking out the door. "Oh this is just the beginning." With that he walked out the door.

They both stood there looking at the door for a few minutes not sure what to say. After what seemed like hours, which was more like minutes, Kurt took a deep breath and walked over to sit on the bleachers. The bell rang signaling the end of lunch and the start of next period. Quinn had a feeling she was going to miss science today.

The blonde looked at her friend and sighed when she saw that the defeated look was back on his face. 'Like that bastard hasn't done enough already.' She went over and sat next to him. Leaning over she lightly bumped her shoulder with his, telling him that she's here for him.

"That was my first kiss." Kurt stated sadly. "At least the one that counted."

Quinn looked over at the petite boy, his head was down and he was gripping the bench with both his hands so hard that his knuckles turned white. Reaching a hand out she gently grabbed his left hand and squeezed it. "Don't let him get to you Kurt." She then went into her pocket and took out the boys phone. "Remember what your friend Blaine said, have courage."

Kurt turned his head towards Quinn in surprise. She saw unshed tears building up in his eyes and her heart went out to the boy. All he wanted was to be accepted and loved for who he was. 'You're a coward Fabray.'

"How did you know about Blaine?" She handed him the phone and Kurt stared at the message with a blank stare.

"I picked your phone up in the hallway. I saw you go after that bastard and I thought that you might have needed some help." Quinn replied watching as Kurt kept staring at the screen. "Though I don't think I was much help anyway."

"Thank you." Kurt responded still looking at his phone. His face was full of emotion and Quinn feared that he might have a breakdown at any moment.

The room was enveloped in silence again as Quinn watched Kurt stare at his phone. The words Courage etched into the phone as if it was mocking Quinn.

"I don't think I have enough courage for this." Kurt whispered brokenly. "I'm too much of a coward to handle all this hate. I just want to run away and never look back. Just get away from this hellhole."

Quinn couldn't stand hearing Kurt degrade himself like this. She knew that she was apart of the reason the poor boy thought so lowly of himself and it made her disgusted with herself. "Kurt your not a coward. To me your the bravest person in this school for not being afraid of who you are."

Kurt laughed darkly at the girl. "Look where that's got me Quinn? I'm the only openly gay teen in this school full of bigots. I'm constantly a target for bullying."

"Just because your the only openly gay kid in this school doesn't mean your the only gay kid in this school."

"Well obliviously I'm not the only gay kid in this school or did you forget what just took place earlier." He said it in a mocking tone.

Quinn braced herself for what she was going to say because she knew that this was a big step. Definetly life changing. 'Now or never Fabray. Listen to your own advice and have some courage.' She squeezed Kurt's hand again and turned her body a little more in his direction so that they were looking at each other fully.

"Listen when I say this Kurt you're not alone in this. You just figured out that you were gay before others who are gay did. You actually had the balls to come out no matter the consquences while others hide in the closet fearing rejection. You are brave."

Kurt was staring at Quinn taking in everything that she said. "Quinn I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Karofsky has no right to try and take away your courage. You can't let him take that away from you. Kurt your stronger than that. He's the coward." Quinn then took a deep breath before she continued on. "I'm the coward."

It was dead silent as Kurt realized what Quinn meant. His eyes widened and his mouth opened in surprise. "Quinn are you telling me what I think your telling me?" He asked and for the first time he gently squeezed her hand back.

Quinn hesitantly smiled a little at the gesture before she uttered the two words that she was so afraid to say to any of her peers. "I'm gay."

They stared at each other for a long time as if they were just seeing each other for the first time. Really they were seeing each other for the first time or at least coming to an understanding.

Kurt's face was still set in disbelief as he tried to come to terms with what Quinn just said. "How long have you known?"

Quinn looked over her shoulder suddenly feeling a little self consious. "Can we talk about this somewhere else. I know I just told you and you have questions but I don't want the wrong person over hearing us."

The petite boy nodded in understanding as he got up and lent his hand over to Quinn to help her up. "Why don't we just skip the rest of the day. I'm not really up for learning anything after the day I've had. And you young lady need to get out of all that leather you must be dieing of heat." He joked earning a genuine smile from Quinn.

"Sure we can go to my house, my mom already knows my secret anyway." At Kurts shocked face Quinn quickly continued on. "Don't worry I'll explain everything. You are right I need to get out of this deathtrap like now."

They both laughed as they exited the locker room both in better spirits then earlier.


Quinn pulled into her driveway as Kurt pulled into the spot next to her. They decided that it would be easier to just take seperate cars because they had no idea how long this conversation would take.

After she told Kurt that she was gay it felt like a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. Even though she knew that she would be accepted by him, he would be a hypocrite if he didn't, it still felt great to know that at least one of her peers was on her side.

They entered the two story house and Quinn walked into the living room where she knew her mother would be. It was two in the afternoon so her mothers soaps where on.

Sure enough when they entered the living room Judy was wiping her eyes with a tissue as she yelled at the screen. "Jason how you just cheat on Janet with her step sister while she was in a coma. You heartless bastard!"

She rolled her eyes at her mothers behavior. Really these shows were so stupid, but as long as her mother was happy.

Suddenly she heard a gasp to her left and she turned her head at Kurt. He looked postively godsmacked. "Jason cheated on Janet! How could he!" Quinn smacked her hand against her forehead, leave it to Kurt to watch the same freaking soap opera as her mother.

"I know it's not right. Janet has a 50/50 chance of living and he goes and does that." Her mother replied still focused on the tv. Soon her mother realized that she wasn't alone and quickly whipped her head back towards the two teens. Quinn was actually wondering if her mother got whiplashed with how fast she turned her head.

"Quinn what are you doing home your supposed to still be in school. Why do you look like one of those biker girls?" Judy paused her show and stood up facing her daughter with her hands on her hips.

"Ummm...well long story really." At her mothers glare Quinn decided to explain it the best she could. "This is my friend Kurt Hummel, I told you about him. He was being harassed today at school so I tried to defend him. That didn't really work out and we got to talking. Well one thing lead to another and I told him."

Apparently Judy didn't need to be told what it was that Quinn said because her eyes widened in happiness and she ran over and hugged her. "Quinn I'm so proud that you told someone else that your gay. But that doesn't explain why you look like your one of hells angels. Are you trying to pick girls up at the bar. You know how I feel about dating a person you met at a bar."

Quinn laughed at her mother. "No mom I'm not picking up women at the bar. This was my costume for Glee Club. I didn't have time to change out of it."

Her mother laughed as well looking a little too relieved that her daughter wasn't picking up girls at a bar. She then noticed the other person in the room. "I've heard a lot about you from my daughter and your a very brave young man. Your father and mother would be very proud."

Kurt looked a little surprise by her last statement. "Thank you. Did you know my parents?"

"I'm going to go change real quick. I'll be right back." said Quinn. She went up the stairs leaving Kurt and Judy by themselves.

Judy smiled at the young boy. "Well I really didn't know your mother that well because she was three years younger than me, but I was good friends with your father. How is he? If it's alright that I ask?"

His father, Burt Hummel, never mentioned that he used to be friends with the Fabray's, but then again Kurt's heard some things from Finn about Russel Fabray. "He's doing fine, but why don't you visit him if you really want to know. I'm sure he'll love to see you if you were friends back in high school."

The older woman hung her head a little in sadness. "I don't think he would want to see me. You see your father and my husband used to be best friends but they had a falling out, and I think Burt might still be mad that I took Russel's side over his."

"You look truely sorry about whatever you did." Kurt did notice that Ms. Fabray did look truely sorry about whatever falling out they had back in high school. Right now his father needed support more than ever. "I don't think he's the type to hold a grudge. You should visit him one of these days."

Quinn came down the stairs as Judy nodded her head. "I think I'll do that." She turned to face her daughter, who was now in blue sweat pants and a white tank top. "Quinn I'm going to go upstairs and watch the rest of my show. You two talk, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about." She smiled at the two teens before she made her way upstairs.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Quinn asked as she walked into the kitchen.

Kurt took a seat on the couch and called out to the blonde. "Water is fine." He shut the tv off and waited for the blonde to come back into the room. He wasn't worried about missing his soaps since he DVR's them at home. She walked in and threw the water bottle at him before she sat down on the other side of the couch facing him.

"Did you know that your parents used to be friends with my dad back in high school?" Kurt asked as he opened the water bottle and took a long drink from it.

"Yeah my mom told me when I told her that he was in the hospital. She's the one who made me send all those cookies and cakes when I visited you. I think that was the only thing that she thought that she could do at the time."

That's when he did remember all the food that he received from Quinn when his dad was in the hospital. "Tell her that we appreciate it. Please try to convince her to visit him. I'm sure that whatever happened in the past can be over looked." He really did feel bad for Judy and he was hopeing that his dad would have someone to talk to when he was away. Plus they can bond over the fact that both their children are gay.

"I'll see what I can do but thats not why we're here." Quinn took a drink out of her water before continuing. "I know that you have a lot of questions and I'll answer them as truthfully as possible."

Kurt looked at the girl still not really believing that this is true. Out of everyone in school who he assumed was in the closet, never would he have guessed that the head cheerio was one of them. "How long have you known you were gay?" He wanted that one out of the way first because this has to be new for her. She was pregnant last year and dating two seperate guys there's no way that she could figure out that she was gay on top of it all.

Quinn knew he was going to ask her that question first. She knew better than anyone that it was hard to believe that she of all people was a lesbian. "Well to sound a little cliche I guess I've always known, but I didn't come to terms that I had feelings for women until last school year. A couple weeks before we went to Regionals."

"Really!" Kurt was a little shocked to learn that Quinn's been to terms with her sexuality for that long of a time. "What made you accept the fact that you were gay?"

"Beth." Was Quinn's simple reply. When Kurt gave her a look of confusion she decided to explain herself. "I had a lot of time to think when I was pregnant, especially in my last few weeks. I realized with what happened between Shelby and Rachel that eventually either Beth or myself will seek the other one out. I wanted her to be proud of me when she did see me. I wanted her to know the reasons why I gave her up. I knew that she wouldn't care if I was gay or straight just that I was her birth mother. She would be disappointed in me if I didn't learn to accept myself. So I stopped being in constant denial and came to terms with my sexuality." She had tears in her eyes as she talked about the daughter that she gave up for adoption.

Kurt reached over and grabbed one of Quinn's hands. She tearfully smiled at the gesture before she went on. "I gave birth to her and I gave her up. It really was the hardest thing I ever had to do so accepting that I was gay was nothing compared to that."

"When did you tell your mom?" Kurt remembered how hard it was for him to tell his dad the truth, but it had to be harder for her. Quinn's parents already kicked her out once for a mistake she made and being a lesbian went against everything that they believed in so whos to say that they wouldn't kick her out again.

"I told her after I gave birth to Beth. She told me she left my dad and she wanted me to come back home with or without Beth. But I knew that I had to tell her. I couldn't just go back there only to be kicked out again for being honest with myself. I just bluntly told her that I was gay and if she didn't want me to come back home then I understood.

"Of course I caught her off guard. Before that she thought that I was straight and happy with men, but she quickly reassured me that she loved me no matter what and that she would love to have me come back home." Quinn didn't mention the fact that the two women cried like babies and embraced each other in god knows how long. She was happy that she told her mom because their relationship has never been better.

Kurt was happy that Quinn at least had a strong support system in her mom because she was going to need that in the long road to come. Now they had each to lean on too. "So how many people know your gay?"

"Only you and my mom for now."

"Why?"

"It's one thing to tell your parents your gay it's another thing to tell your peers. You should know that." Kurt knew all to well, he still remembers that hole in his car window that Mercedes broke when he turned her down, afraid to tell her the real reason that he wasn't attracted to her.

Quinn leaned backwards against the armrest to crack her back before she went on. Once she was satisfied she got comfortable again. "Listen Kurt I haven't made the greatest decisions in high school even when I said that this year I was going to make a change I find myself falling into my old ways."

"Then why the sudden need to make amends?" Kurt asked really trying to understand Quinn but the girl was a complex.

"Like I said earlier I was a coward, but seeing you stand up for yourself against Karofsky made me realize what's the worst that could happen. I can still make a change if I want to and I want to start that by asking if you'd like to be my friend." Quinn said holding out her hand towards the boy.

"Quinn we're already friends." Kurt stated staring at the hand like he's never seen it before.

The blonde shook her head and explained. "During the summer I made a promise to myself that I would atone for all the things I've done to the people I've hurt last year. There's quite a few on my list. I never apologized for bullying you last year or for not being there for you sooner with the Karofsky thing. So I want us to start a new. We'll consider ourselves gay buddies." Quinn joked earning a laugh from Kurt, who took the offered hand and shook it.

"You know I just realized that your dating Sam still. How are you doing to break that to him?" Kurt asked his 'new' friend.

Quinn groaned at that earning another laugh from the boy. "Don't remind me. My mom already gives me enough crap with that. I'll tell him when I can trust him."

The boy diva nodded his head in understanding. "You can never be to careful."

Suddenly a sly grin came on Quinn's face making Kurt a little nervous. "Soooooooo tell me who is this Blaine guy anyway. A potential boyfriend."

"Uhhhhhhhhh..." Kurt's face was as read as a tomato as he tried to come up with an excuse.

"Oh now you have to spill and spare no details."


Kurt was standing in front of his open locker, looking up at a picture of Blaine with the words Courage underneath it. It's been a few days since the kiss incident and him befriending Quinn.

To his surprise he was happy that he wasn't the only one in the school that was gay. Sure Quinn wasn't ready to wave a pride flag around anytime soon, but knowing that he had someone in this school that he could talk to was more than enough for him right now.

He was still staring at the picture so he didn't notice the figure getting closer to him until it was too late. Karofsky once again slammed Kurt into the lockers and watched in amusement as he fell to the floor in a heap.

There eyes connected for a second before Karofsky turned around and walked down the hall leaving Kurt on the floor.

Before he could start to go into a depression a familair voice broke through his thoughts. "Are you alright? I saw what happened, I wish you'd let me say something." Quinn stuck her hand out for Kurt to grab onto.

The boy quickly pulled himself up and dusted himself off. "We're going to ignore him for now. If anything gets too serious then we'll tell." The blonde nodded her head in reluctance, only agreeing with Kurt because he was her friend and it was his decision.

"Come on I'll walk you to class." Quinn said handing Kurt his backpack.

"Isn't the man supposed to walk the woman to class? Not the other way around."

Quinn waved off Kurt with the back of her hand. "Please Hummel I'm more manly than you are."

They started laughing as they made their way to their classes. At least right now life was good for the two.

(A/N So I hope you like it so far, but I was wondering...Should I continue? Please don't be afraid to tell me your thoughts.)