Summer Lovin'

April

"I can't imagine after all you've been through taking on a baby. How do you manage Andy?" Carole Hudson-Hummel twirled the cord of her home phone around her finger as she spoke to her late husband's aunt Andromeda Tonks. Despite living in a different country and only being related by marriage Andy had been the only member of Christopher's family to help out after his death. Even now that her husband Ted had passed and Carol had remarried Andy made a point to call once a week.

"Honestly darling I'm glad to have him. Losing Ted and then my sweet Dora so soon after I don't think I could have managed if Teddy didn't need me. As it is this little boy has given me a new lease on life but enough about me dear, how is Burt?" Carole sighed as her thoughts were turned to her husband.

"He's managing, you know him always putting on a brave face but I'm scared Andy. I don't want to lose him." Carole couldn't keep the slight shake from her voice. She rarely spoke to anyone about Burt's prognosis. The doctors seemed very positive but cancer was still CANCER and Carole couldn't shake the fear of losing the only man she'd really loved since Finn's father died.

"Try not to be so negative darling. From what you've told me his chances are very good. Just take care of him, keep him from overworking himself and I'm sure he will pull through." Carole let out a shaky chuckle.

"You make it sound so easy but the man is determined. He's worried about money and spending more and more time in the shop. Finn's decided to go off to school and with Kurt at NYADA the tuition bills are piling up. With his medical expenses on top he insists there's no money to hire more mechanics. I just don't know how to make him see reason."

"Hmm you know I think I have a way to help you with that Carole. My Teddy has a godfather you know. He's as kind a boy as you'll ever meet and he's got a real love of mechanical work. He's had jobs at a few shops but I'm afraid he's been a bit sabotaged."

"Sabotaged?"

"Yes quite, he was dating my nephew Draco and I'm afraid he's a bit of a snob. Didn't like Harry coming home all covered in grease and whatnot so he kept showing up and making a fuss. And well you know how mechanic types can be as soon as they found out Harry's preferences lay away from the norm they fired him. Harry was crushed of course, the first time but he picked himself up and tried again only to have the same thing happen."

"How horrible!"

"It really is and finally he's wised up and kicked my nephew to the curb but word's got round to the local shops and now no one will hire him. He doesn't really need the money, he inherited a rather sizable fortune when he turned seventeen but he so loves the work my heart just breaks for him."

"Oh how awful that poor boy! But you said that could solve my problem? I don't think Burt would hire him Andy, not because he's gay but Burt is just so worried about money!"

"Didn't you hear me say he doesn't need money? That's my point I haven't talked to him but I bet if you and Burt put him up and kept him fed he'd work for nothing!"

May

Burt Hummel knew that being gay didn't have to mean dressing in designer clothes and walking around in heels. That said his frame of reference was a little skewed, his son Kurt put the flame in flaming and he was okay with that but Burt had only ever met Blaine and Rachel Berry's dads. That was why when Carole asked him to take in a gay english mechanic who was willing to work for free he was a little skeptical. Carole was relentless however pulling out all the stops in her mission to take on a new mechanic and lay off the long hours in his shop in favor of restful recuperation.

When Burt tried to picture what the new mechanic might look like the closest he could get were the mechanic's from Finn's Glee club performance of Grease. It was with this tentative image in mind that Burt arrived at the Lima Bus Depot and waited for his new mechanic. The boy's flight from England had landed in New York and the boy had taken a Greyhound the last leg of the trip. Burt arrived in time to watch the bus unload. A well dressed boy stepped off and Burt winced but was relieved to see him approach and hug a waiting woman. Burt watched as the rest of the passengers filtered off.

Soon the bus was empty and Burt still had no idea which passenger was his mechanic. Most of the passengers had greeted family and soon only two or three were left lingering on the platform. An older man who had promptly settled himself on a bench and fallen asleep, a nervous looking woman who kept scanning the platform anxiously as if expecting someone to appear and a slim scruffy looking teenage boy. The kid was short probably about 5' 3" or 5' 4" if Burt was feeling generous, he wore a loose white T-Shirt with a grease stain near his shoulder and hole just above the hem. His jeans seemed to fit him fine but one knee was torn and not in the stylish way that had become popular a few years back Burt was pretty sure that if his son had seen the outfit he would have burned it.

The boy had glanced around the station before lugging his bag over and leaning against a wall. Clearly content to wait for whomever would be sent to get him. Burt approached him with a friendly smile.

"Harry Potter?"

The boys eyes snapped up and rested on Burt's face.

"Burt Hummel?" The boy's voice was confident and his eyes were hard but his face relaxed into a friendly smile when Burt nodded and held out his hand. The boy, Harry shook it firmly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I can't tell you how thankful I am for this opportunity." Burt smiled feeling better about the arrangement already. The kid looked like a mechanic and a firm handshake says a lot about a man.

"Well I'm glad to have you Harry, come on I parked out back." They headed for the parking lot after Harry brushed of Burt's attempt to help with his bag. Burt drove him to the garage first and with the test clear in his voice asked him to change the oil on his car. Harry didn't hesitate grabbing tools and shimmying under the car. Impressively Harry completed the change in just under ten minutes, Burt's personal best was eight minutes. HIs shop advertised twenty minute changes and Harry had already topped what the other's could manage so with a grin and a handshake Harry had a new job and Burt had a new mechanic.

Harry had been working cars since he was nine, when Vernon Dursley had handed him the user's manual for his new company car and the supplies for an oil change and promised him no meals for a week if he damaged it. It had taken Harry four hours of careful reading and diagram interpretation but he'd managed it. In hindsight he suspected some magic may have come into play as well but he couldn't be sure. After that it was usual for Harry to maintain the Dursley cars just as he maintained the yard and the house.

Over the years Vernon couldn't resist the temptation to brag about his mechanical prowess to his neighbors and coworkers and soon Harry was repairing their cars as well with Vernon taking the credit. Luckily Harry found he loved it, working with his hands and learning the ins and outs of what makes things go. He loved that he could stalk through Petunia's normally spotless house covered in grease and she could only scowl and point him to the bathroom to clean up. He took particular pleasure in "accidentally" tripping and smearing grease on her carpets, even with the smack across his head he would inevitably receive.

After Harry finished the accelerated post war N.E.W.T's program and failed spectacularly in Potions he decided that despite Kingsley's assurance that the Auror Corps would still be thrilled to have him a job in law enforcement was not in his future. Instead he spent a month tearing down the charms on Sirius's flying motorcycle and then tearing down the engine to see what changes his godfather had made. At the end of the month he'd put the thing back together with new parts as needed and found his calling.

The month Harry had spent working in a small family owned mechanics shop had been the happiest he'd been since before the war. He worked hard all day and came home sore but content with Draco waiting for him. At first Draco was good about it though his attitude was that of someone indulging the whimsy of an amusing child rather than supportive lover. Eventually however Draco had become less amused and when Harry had, completely by accident, ruined one of Draco's dress robes by tossing his grease stained t-shirt onto the top of the laundry pile Draco had reacted. He blew into the shop all righteous fury and angry scolding, giving Harry a vicious lecture in front of Harry's boss and coworkers. It was embarrassing but Harry couldn't stay mad at Draco at least not anymore. Not even when he found out two days later that his boss didn't want 'A fairy' for a mechanic.

He'd only lasted two weeks at the next shop before Draco had come in a made a scene. Harry was pretty sure this one had been on purpose but still forgave Draco. Harry was unsurprised to find himself out of a job but was surprised to find his former employer had called around to warn the other mechanic's in the area not to hire him. That had hurt but Harry tried to make the best of it. He still had Draco so he bought an old junker and started to restore it to pass the time. A week later Draco had announced his intention to marry and produce a Malfoy heir. The other man had actually been shocked when Harry ended their relationship.

So when a week later Andromeda had called to tell him that a distant relative of her late muggle husband owned a mechanics shop and was terrified her husband would work himself to death, he jumped on the job. She'd explained that the muggle man had been diagnosed with cancer but was too worried about money to cut back his own hours and hire someone new. When she told him he could work in the shop in exchange for food and board instead of money Harry had been thrilled. He didn't need money but the idea of having someone else feed him three square meals a day was too good to pass up. Especially considering Andy's assurances that his sexuality wouldn't be an issue.

So nearly a year to the day after the final battle Harry found himself on a Greyhound bus to Lima, Ohio. He'd apparated to New York but agreed with Andromeda that he ought to meet up with them using muggle transportation just to keep up appearances. Burt Hummel was kind man and Harry quickly settled into life at the Hummel residence with Carole treating him more like another son then an employee. Harry had found most mother's did this and suspected it had something to do with his being an orphan that just made women want to coddle him.

June

Kurt arrived home in Lima a day earlier than anyone expected. Desperate to get out of the house and away from Rachel's constant rehearsing (She'd won a spot in the chorus of The Book Of Mormon and hadn't stopped singing since) Kurt had left as soon as classes let out and driven all night rather than wait until morning. Kurt could have auditioned for a summer show as well but decided to use his break to catch up with his dad and make sure he was taking care of his health. He was still doing Chemo twice a week and while the cancer hadn't spread it hadn't gone into remission either and Kurt couldn't justify staying in New York if he didn't have to.

Kurt let himself into the still quiet house at about five am and rather than wake the whole house he simply staggered to his room and collapsed into bed. He slept peacefully for most of the morning and after a quick shower wandered downstairs just before noon. He found Carole in the kitchen making lunch.

"Oh Kurt You're up! We saw you'd got in sometime in the night but you looked so tired we didn't want to wake you." As she spoke she placed a sandwich in front of him and after discreetly checking to make sure it wouldn't violate his diet he ate it gratefully.

"Where is everybody?" he asked curiously looking around. Carole smiled at him as she packed sandwiches into a bag.

"Well Finn is working with his study group. He's taking summer classes at the community college now and spends a lot of his time at the library. Burt and Harry are down at the shop," Kurt stared at her.

"Harry?" He asked finally when she gave no further explanation. Her eyes widened.

"Oh! Didn't anyone tell you? Harry has been staying with us he's been helping Burt at the garage. I was sure Finn or Burt would have said something." Kurt gaped at her.

"No, nobody said anything about it. Who is he? Why is he staying here?"

"Harry is a friend of one of Finn's father's aunts. I mentioned to her that Burt was working too hard but didn't want to bring on a new mechanic. Harry happened to be a mechanic and was willing to work in exchange for a place to stay and food to eat. He's really very sweet and always willing to help out around the house too even though that wasn't part of our deal. I think you'll like him."

"So he just works at the garage for free?" Kurt asked disbelieving. Carole nodded. "But why?"

"Well how about you go take them their lunches and ask him? You two have so much in common I'm sure you'll be great friends." Carole said handing Kurt the bag of sandwiches she'd packed and hurrying him toward the door. She was swinging the door closed behind him so quickly Kurt didn't get a chance to ask what on earth he would have in common with some greasy mechanic.

Kurt walked casually through his father's shop and up the stairs to Burt's office. He could see his father bent over his desk through the glass window scratching away at some paperwork. Despite Kurt's best efforts to encourage Burt to take the garage paperless, his dad still insisted on hand written paper records for every transaction. Kurt tried not to think about how many trees had to die to keep the shop running. Burts only concession was agreeing to scan anything over a year old into the computer and recycle the paper records.

He knocked gently before pushing open the door and was greeted with a warm hug when he stepped through the door. He couldn't resist sinking into the comfort of his father's arms. Even at twenty he still felt like a kid when his dad hugged him and he loved it. After a moment Burt stepped back and held him at arms distance.

"Let me take a look at you," He said warmly giving Kurt's shoulder a squeeze "You've lost weight are you eating enough?"

"I'm glad you noticed I've been trying out that new Doctor Phil diet," his dad just rolled his eyes before pulling him into another hug.

"I've missed you Kurt. I'm glad you decided to come home for the summer." After a moment Kurt reluctantly broke free of his fathers arms and held up the bag of food Carole had sent.

"I brought your lunch," he told him and Burt took it gratefully opening the bag and pulling out two separate plastic bags inside.

"You really are a good son, I'm starving" Burt told him before walking to his door and pushing it open "Potter! Lunch is here Come and get it before I eat yours too."

Harry heard Burt's yell but didn't rush knowing the man would never actually eat his food. Instead he finished tightening the belts of the Chevy Cruze he was working on before strolling casually up the stairs to Burt's office. He was surprised to see another tall man standing inside talking to Burt. As he drew nearer he recognized the stranger as Burt's son Kurt. Harry hadn't met Kurt but had seen enough pictures and heard enough stories from both Finn and Burt to know him on sight, it was a good thing too because if he hadn't had time to brace himself he didn't think he'd have been able to form words in front of such a gorgeous guy.

Harry swung the door to Burt's office open and sent Kurt his most winning smile as Burt introduced him.

"Kurt this is Harry, you'll probably see a lot of him this summer he's staying in our guest room. Harry this is my son Kurt." Harry smiled but didn't take the hand Kurt offered.

"Sorry I don't want to be rude but I'd hate you to get grease all over your nice clothes." Harry told him the other boy smiled back at him but only nodded in response. Harry turned his attention over to Burt and the lunch bag he was holding out to him. "Awesome! I'll go eat in the shop so you guys can catch up."

"Don't be stupid. You know I have to live vicariously through you. All I got for lunch is a lean turkey wrap a salad and an apple. What did Carole pack for you?"

Harry shrugged before sliding down to sit on one of the empty chairs across from Burt's desk and peeking into the bag. Kurt sat in the other chair and Burt settled into his watching Harry unpack his lunch with hungry eyes.

"Looks like. . .Oh nice Roast Beef Sandwich, bag of crisps and chocolate pudding Score! I gotta tell you Burt if she weren't your wife I'd marry that woman." Burt snorted.

"Somehow I don't think she's your type Harry." Harry shot Burt an amused grin as he unwrapped his sandwich. Burt scowled down at his turkey wrap before turning to watch Harry take a bite of his sandwich.

"Mmmm It's so good," Harry told him mockingly.

"That's just not fair. I'm her husband why don't I get roast beef?" he pouted surprisingly it was Kurt who answered him.

"Because you're not supposed to eat red meat dad." His tone was chiding and Harry wondered if he was annoyed by the way Harry was teasing his father. Burt shrugged looking guilty before speaking up again.

"You don't understand Kurt, she always feeds Harry better it's just not fair." Harry laughed.

"I'm telling you Burt it's the orphan thing. All women are hardwired to want to feed me. They look at me and all they see is Oliver Twist begging for more gruel."

"You're an orphan?" Kurt asked in a surprised tone. Harry made a noise of agreement and nodded as he chewed on his sandwich using his full mouth as an excuse not to go into detail. Burt probably sensing Harry's disinclination to talk about it changed the subject.

"So Kurt I really wasn't expecting you until tonight or tomorrow morning. Didn't your classes just let out yesterday afternoon?"

"Yeah but I had to get out of there. Holy Gucci! Rachel is in full diva mode you'd think she got a lead role the way she's been carrying on!"

"And you drove all night?" Burt asked. Kurt nodded. "Did you drive your car over?"

At Kurt's not Burt turned back to Harry.

"How close are you on Mrs. Wilde's Chevy?" Harry swallowed before answering, hesitant to look like a slob in front of Kurt.

"I'm done I finished her tune up before I came up for lunch."

"That was quick what was wrong with it?" Burt asked in surprise. Harry shrugged.

"Nothing much a rock got up into the housing but was too small to do any real damage. I drove it around the block and it's quiet as a mouse. I tightened up all her belts to be sure though. She's gonna need a new timing belt soon but I reckon she can go another year on the one she's got." Burt nodded.

"I'll tell her when she picks it up then. That's good after you're done eating I want you to do a tune up on Kurt's car. Check everything and change the oil replace anything that needs it just tell me what equipment you used so I can mark it on the inventory."

"Sure thing bossman." Harry said with a salute before shoving the last bite of sandwich into his mouth and standing up. "I'll go now"

Kurt handed Harry his keys and couldn't help the way his eyes followed the other man as he left the room. Harry was, against all odds, disconcertingly sexy. His clothing was atrocious and his hair looked like it had never met a comb it liked. He was also layered with lean muscle that was clearly visible through his thin grease stained t-shirt. Kurt had almost swallowed his own tongue when Harry had stretched causing his shirt to ride up and expose a line of muscular tan abdomen. The sound of his father pointedly clearing his throat pulled Kurt back to the present. He blushed furiously when he saw the amused way his father was looking at him.

Oh my gaga my dad just caught me checking out his employee. Luckily Burt didn't call him on it and Kurt hurried to talk about something else in an attempt to distract his father.

"You're letting him work on my car?" He asked, when Burt had given him the car it was on the condition that only Burt work on it. He'd insisted he was the only one qualified to make sure his boy was safe. His dad just shrugged.

"Harry's a really talented mechanic. He doesn't cut corners. I'm getting older and I don't want to risk missing something and sending you out in an unsafe car."

"He's that good? Carole said you're not even paying him." Burt nodded but looked a little uncomfortable as he answered.

"Yeah when I found out how talented he is I offered to start paying him but he wouldn't hear of it. Says he doesn't need the money and that having someone cook for him is better compensation."

After chatting with his dad for a few more minutes Kurt left him to his work and with nothing better to do he walked over to where Harry was leaned over the engine of his car using some sort of wrench to tighten the bolts that held some part of the engine together. Kurt discretely admired the other man's behind as he approached. Harry's jeans were not exactly tight but fit him well and clung attractively to his lean thighs. Kurt tried not to think about it. It wouldn't exactly be the first time he'd had a crush on one of his dad's mechanics, his top secret highly embarrassing crush on Jack a former employee who had worked for his dad when Kurt was twelve sprung to mind. Kurt hadn't known it at the time but later discovered that Jack had been fired for referring to Kurt as a fairy in front of Burt.

The memory stuck with him and he didn't want to make Harry uncomfortable by having an inappropriate crush especially considering they would be living together.

The sound of a throat clearing behind him caught Harry by surprise and caused him to jump smacking his head against the hood of Kurt's Cadillac. He cursed rubbing the back of his head and swirled around angrily. His anger faded as he found himself facing a very apologetic looking Kurt.

"Oh I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" he asked moving forward suddenly to look at the back of Harry's head. Harry stepped back.

"Oh yeah I'm fine, just a bump." Harry told him with a forced smile. Kurt's eyes had shifted to his fingers and he quickly exclaimed.

"There's blood on your hand! You're bleeding!" Harry glanced down and was surprised to see the tips of his fingers coated in red.

"Huh" he said moving to poke at the wound when he found his movement stopped as Kurt caught his wrist. Harry looked up at him in surprise the other man flushed and quickly let go.

"Don't touch it! You're hands are filthy you don't want it to get infected." Kurt told him turning around to scan the shop as he spoke "My dad has a first aid kit around here somewhere, just wait here and I'll help you clean it."

"That's really not necessary" Harry told him "It's just a scratch."

"It is not stop trying to be tough," Kurt told him over his shoulder already walking toward the back of the shop where the first aid kit was mounted to the wall. Harry watched him for a moment before turning back to the Cadillac, he was nearly finished with the tune up and only had the air filter left to do. He quickly located it on the engine and began to unscrew the connections holding it in place. He wondered if he could get it off and the new one on before Kurt got back.

He was just tightening the last connection when Kurt's returned.

"I thought I told you to wait for me!" Harry sent him a sheepish grin and shrugged.

"I was almost done." Kurt was staring at him with wide worried eyes and Harry shifted uncomfortably "What?"

"Do you have any idea how much you're bleeding? It's run down into your face now! I don't think the first aid kit is going to be enough you need stitches!"

Harry shook his head but stopped quickly as it caused his head to spin. He stumbled to the side and Kurt had to steady him.

"I'm fine really." Harry told him even though he was seriously beginning to doubt the truth of his statement "It's normal for head injuries to bleed a lot."

Kurt just rolled his eyes.

"No you're not. You almost fell over I'm going to tell my dad what happened and then I'm driving you to the emergency room. Wait right there and DON'T MOVE."

Harry recognized Kurt's tone from the many times he'd been threatened by Hermione and decided not to cross him. Instead he slid to the ground and sat cross legged on the floor of the shop. When Kurt came back with Burt in tow Harry found himself being helped into the car (though Kurt insisted he sit on a towel so as not to get oil on his leather seats). Three hours and five stitches later Harry was escorted by Kurt back to the house and to his room with a firm order that he wasn't to go anywhere further than the bathroom until tomorrow.

Author's notes: Okay so Originally this was supposed to be a quick one shot because the idea wouldn't leave me alone. As you can see it's rather taken on a life of its own. I've said in my other Glee fic that I don't like writing Kurt because he is outside of my frame of reference but this idea took hold and I haven't been able to shake it.

With that said how am I doing so far? I've tried to keep as true to Kurt as I can. I feel like season four Kurt is a little more mature and easier to write than it would have been for me to take on Kurt in the earlier seasons.

Please review and let me know what you think. I don't expect this to be a very long story but I could be wrong because I felt the same way about Stairs To No Where and it's still going.