Prompt from Karomeled on Tumblr, which was to involve memory loss. I basically read it and my mind exploded with ideas and so…this. This is not a Blaine-friendly fic. Sorry. Also I have no working knowledge of hospitals, only what I learnt this year when my kids had to spend 4 weeks there when they were born, so sorry for all the inaccuracies – just roll with them or feel free to point them out to me for next time, I'm always up for con-crit and learning more.

Kurt hears a multitude of things. Thinks a multitude of things, as the seconds slow down to hours as he sees the other car spin out and head toward him. 'Oh shit' is right at the top of the list, along with his dad's voice 'It ain't you on the road you gotta worry about, but the other crazies okay?' and finally Dave's 'Just come home safe okay?' It's the last that makes him feel sick, because he's pretty sure he's not going to be going home, safely or otherwise.

KHDK

Dave doesn't recognise the number on his phone, but he answers anyway, stomach tight, because Kurt is five hours late, not answering his phone and he knows something has happened. Can feel the knowledge pulling all his nerves tight until he's about to snap.

"Good evening sir. I was just ringing to ask you whether you know a Mr Kurt Hummel?"

"Oh God. Yes. I know him. He's my…partner." Lover. Soul mate. The only person that knows everything about me and loves me anyway. What's happened? What's happened? What's happened?

"Are you his Medical Power of Attorney?"

"Oh god. What's happened? Where is he?"

"I'm sorry sir, but could you please tell me, are you his Medical Power of Attorney?"

"Yes. For fucks sake yes. Where is he?"

He's already gathering up his keys and jacket, listening as the person on the other end of the line tells him which hospital, the intensive care unit, how Kurt's stable, but might need more surgery. The fact that he's already been in surgery to stabilise him washes over him. The drive to the hospital takes too long, everything is taking too long. Finding a park, figuring the way to the ICU, but it all passes in a blur of need to see Kurt. There's a security guard, and a reception area surrounded by glass and wire, and a woman who he assumes is either a nurse or receptionist or whatever. He goes to the desk, and catches his reflection in the glass. Pale. Drawn. Sick with worry.

"I got a call. Kurt Hummel. He's…here." Please let him be here.

"Oh yes…one second."

Then there is a doctor, talking about broken bones, punctured lungs, multiple contusions, swelling around the brain and a possible bleed around the heart and the words wash over and around him, drowning him, and he staggers against the nearest wall, crumpling in upon himself. He might look like the strong one in the relationship, but Kurt is his rock, his grounding stone, the strong brave wonderful one…

"Is he going to live?"

"I don't know. He's alive now though, but I think you appreciate how serious this is. He's very lucky to be alive. We have him in a medically induced coma. Is there anyone we can ring for you? Just in case?"

Just in case.

Fuck.

He asks them to ring one number.

KHDK

Artie is at the hospital thirty minutes later, and he takes one look at Dave before taking his phone from Dave's trembling fingers and ringing Burt Hummel for him. And then Finn. Then a few people Dave hadn't even thought of. Kurt's boss. Mercedes. Blaine. Kurt has kept in touch with everyone, and he hears Artie asking Mercedes to pass the news on. That he will let her know the minute he hears any news. His eyes are on the corridor, waiting for the nurses to leave Kurt's room so he can go back in once they've finished doing whatever they need to do, and Artie wheels into his line of vision.

"Right. Burt's on the next available flight. Same with Finn. Mercedes sends her love and Blaine is going to come as soon as he can. What do you need?"

"For this to be a nightmare that I'm going to wake up from…" Dave replies, rubbing hands over his face.

"Well, I can't help you there, but here's what we're going to do. You're going to go and sign a waiver, saying they can tell me about Kurt, so I don't have to keep bugging you. And then I'll arrange everything with Burt and Finn. I'll get Maria to drop by your place to grab you some clothes and stuff, so you don't have to leave…anything else, you call me okay?"

Dave nods, and Artie reaches to grip his shoulder tightly.

"He's a stubborn son-of-a-bitch. He'll pull through…"

KHDK

A week later and Kurt still hasn't properly woken up. None of the doctors are concerned, because somehow they can tell Kurt is making progress. He's noted that two of the smaller machines are gone this morning, which he supposes is a good thing, and it's actual hard evidence that something is actually getting better where Kurt is concerned. He's been taking turns with Burt to sit with him, only one person allowed in at once. Artie has been supplying food for them every night, bringing clean clothes for Dave, instructing him that the last thing Kurt needs to wake up to is a smelly Dave. Finn has come and gone, with plans to return though. Dave can tell he's badly shaken at how tiny, small and broken Kurt looks lying in the hospital bed, skin the same colour as the sheets. Tubes threading into him as if tying him to life

KHDK

Kurt wakes on the ninth night, and his whimpers of pain snap Dave out the half sleep-state he'd been in, slouched in the chair beside Kurt's bed, a blanket draped over him by one of the night-shift nurses. He reaches for the call button, under strict instructions to press it if anything changes. He's not had to use it yet, and they obviously take him at his word, because there are suddenly three nurses, one asking him what's happened, the other flicking a light into Kurt's eyes and the other pressing buttons on one of the remaining machines. He's pushed toward the door, told that this is good, he can come back in in a minute. So he goes out to ring Burt and tell him Kurt's awake.

KHDK

They move Kurt to another ward. His left arm is in plaster, and his legs both in splints, and they're keeping him sedated so he doesn't move too much, so the bones can be allowed to knit together, but he has some lucid moments. He can't talk though, tubing and face mask preventing it, and he just looks confused the whole time his eyes are open, which is only seconds at a time. Despite this Dave is finally starting to relax, starting to accept that Kurt is alive and is finally out of danger. Isn't going anywhere. Isn't leaving him.

KHDK

Kurt doesn't know what has happened, what weird alternate world he's in, but he doesn't like it. It's painful. And the only person he recognises is his dad, and he looks terrible. Like's he's aged a decade overnight, but he puts it down to the stress of him being in hospital and his dad's recent heart attack. Then there's the other guy who is there nearly every time he opens his eyes. He looks like Karofsky's better-looking older brother maybe, and he doesn't even know if Karofsky has an older brother, nor does he care. He wants the mask off his face, and tubes out of his arm, and the fuzzy feeling in his head to go away. He wants to move his limbs, but they feel heavy and weighted down. He can't even lift his head, so his eyes are the only thing. Even wiggling his fingers and toes takes a supreme amount of effort, making him tired, and he slips back into sleep.

KHDK

When he wakes next, the mask is gone, and both his dad and the guy he's mentally dubbed Karofsky senior are sitting at the end of his bed, talking quietly. He's not sure he wants to interrupt them, because they look very intent on whatever they're discussing, and then he hears his name, so figures they must be talking about him. Which is weird. He can't figure out why his dad would be talking to someone about him…unless it has to do with why he's in hospital.

"What happened?" His voice sounds croaky, his throat dry and painful. Karofsky senior is on his feet instantly, holding out a cup with a straw in it which he sips at gratefully.

"You were in a car accident. A bad one. You almost died…" his dad says, and his voice cracks at the end and Kurt wants nothing more than to get up and hug him. Instead Karofsky senior is reaching out a hand and patting his shoulder in a comforting way, which looks weird because there's no doubting the family resemblance now.

"Oh. Who hit me? You?" He wants to say more, ask more, but his throat is already aching with the effort, so he goes with as few words as possible. And it's the only plausible excuse he can think of, this guy being here, was if he was in the other car that hit him. Instead the other guy is starting to look alarmed, eyes flicking to his dad with worry.

"Go and get a doctor Dave…" his dad says, voice quiet, and Senior Karofsky leaves the room, but not before sending Kurt a look that he has no idea how to interpret. Worry. Pain. Relief. Joy.

"Hey buddy…uh…what's the last thing you remember?"

"Um. School this morning…Rocky Horror for glee club…"

His dad reaches to get him the water again, and Kurt can tell he's worried about something.

"What?"

"Kurt…that was ten years ago."

KHDK

He'd kind of gone into shock then, and then there were more tests, doctors poking and prodding and repeated stupid questions about what year it was. The answer he gave them didn't change, even though his dad had said it's now 2020, and he has no reason to doubt his dad, he can't get his head around it. The doctors have left now, his dad looks exhausted and Senior Karofsky, (who he's now pretty sure is actually David Karofsky), is hanging back by the door to his room. His dad looks at him, and then at Karofsky and then back at him before standing.

"You two need to talk. I'm just going to go and get a cup of coffee. I'll be right back. You want anything Dave?"

"I'm good for now thanks Burt…"

It's weird to hear his dad called Burt, particularly be someone he's pretty sure he goes to school with. Went to school with? He's getting confused.

"So, who are you? You kind of look like a guy I go to school with…"

"Kurt…" the guy looks physically ill, and he looks down at his hands and then back up at him. "I'm Dave Karofsky…we did go to school together. Uh…"

"Yeah. I thought it was you. Why are you here?"

"You recognised me?"

"Well, I thought maybe you were an older brother or something. Look, I appreciate your concern, but why are you here? I mean, you bully me at school."

"I used to bully you. And…it was a long time ago."

"Not for me."

"I…yeah. Sure. Okay."

Karofsky goes silent, and Kurt sighs, because he has no idea why, but this guy looks like he's lived through the accident as well, but it's as if all his injuries are internal.

"I'm sorry okay? I can't help it. I'm sure you're a great guy really, but I still don't get why you're here."

"I…I'm…uh…they said we shouldn't fill you in too much, to let your memories return naturally…but a lot has happened in ten years."

He hadn't considered it before, what it had actually meant. He'd been busy listening to the doctors catalogue his injuries, rehabilitation, how his home will need to be modified so that he can live in it while he recovers. But ten years. Gone. Something he may never get back. He feels panic well up inside him, because where are his friends? Does he even have any? What about a job? And a boyfriend? Has he even had sex? High school graduation? College? He can't remember anything, he can feel the tears threatening, throat going tight and his body is shaking, and he's crying and he has no idea if this is delayed shock, but whatever it is really sucks.

"Shhshhshh Kurt…Kurt, it's okay…we'll get through this. You'll get through this…"

Karofsky's voice is quiet and soothing and he's stroking Kurt's hand, one of the few places that don't hurt to be touched, but he pulls it away, frowning, because this just doesn't make any sense. Sure ten years might change a person, but holding hands with a guy that yesterday pushed him into his locker…it just doesn't seem right somehow. He sees the flash of hurt on Karofsky's face, but he doesn't understand why, and he straightens up and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans, coughing to clear his throat.

"How're you two goin'?" his dad asks, and he has a cup of coffee in one hand, and a water bottle in the other which he passes to Karofsky without saying anything. Karofsky sets it down, but then excuses himself to use the bathroom, but it just sounds like an excuse to leave…and that's fine with Kurt, because he still doesn't get why he's even here, and maybe with him gone his dad can give him some answers.

"Dad. Why is Karofsky here?"

"Dave? Oh…" His dad looks at the door and then back at him, and Kurt recognises the determined set of his mouth.

"Dave has been here every day and every night since the accident. The only time he's left you is either when I've been here or when the nurses kicked him out. I know I didn't like it when you two started dating, but I think he's the only guy that could love you almost as much as I do…"

"Wait…he's gay? He's my boyfriend? I have a boyfriend? Oh my Gaga…"

"You haven't said that in a long time…" his dad says with a huff of amusement, and Kurt feels the panic starting to return, because of course things have changed. Everything would have changed, but some things are starting to make sense.

TBC...

Probably going to the 3 or 4 parts long. Will update weekly until it's finished.