Chapter 2

Kurt gasped as he tried to open his eyes, the searing pain causing him to lose his normal composure and cry out loud. A shadowy feeling immediately appeared over him, hovering – but he could just feel that it wasn't threatening. The shadow exuded calm and warmth and Kurt squinted, trying to make out the shape of the shadow. It was a man. Looking at him. At his face. Peering into his eyes. Through the cracks of his eyelids, Kurt could see honey amber warmth. The most beautiful warm brown eyes were staring at him, looking for any sign that he was awake and present. It was the gold specks that mesmerized him and Kurt wondered if he was dreaming or really waking up. He could drown in those eyes and never come up for air. He could wrap himself in the warmth of those eyes and go back to sleep. Except he heard quiet words beside him and felt a large hand, calloused from years of honest hard work fixing cars, wrapping around his own hand. And he knew his father was there. His Dad. His sole source of comfort in a sometimes harsh and cruel world. And Kurt had certainly endured his share. But with his dad's love and support, he rose to each challenge in his life and fought to live and love his own way. His dad. His rock.

He whimpered "Daddy…oh, Daddy" and was immediately wrapped up in his father's arms who held him and rocked him while he cried and cried until he just couldn't. He tucked his head against his father's chest, under his chin, and let his dad hold him like he was a small child. And Burt Hummel wasn't letting anything or anyone get close to his son. Kurt was his only child and he had lost Kurt's mother, Elizabeth, when Kurt was eight years old so it had been Burt and Kurt on their own for ten years until Carole and Finn joined their family. They learned to live again after the loss of Elizabeth, finding ways to deal with their grief and helping each other live. And here they were again, facing a loss so traumatic that Burt feared for Kurt's fragile psyche.

"Mr. Hummel," was said so softly, yet each man turned to the sound. It was the shadow…the eyes…that was addressing them.

"Mr. Hummel, I am Dr. Blaine Anderson and I found Kurt in the hallway as he fainted. I brought him here and have been monitoring him. I had him admitted on an emergency basis so I could officially treat him and prescribe some medication to help him sleep. I am aware of his circumstances and right now, I am concerned for his well-being, as much as you are. Please spend as much time as you need to with him. He is responding to you and his vital signs are stronger. I will be checking back shortly after I finish my nightly rounds. I will be here all night so if he needs anything, I will be able to address his needs immediately."

"Doctor?" Blaine barely heard the word uttered from Kurt. As he saw Kurt struggle to lift his head from his father's chest and turn it towards him, he saw Kurt's eyes for the first time. They were blue green with swirling grey, like a storm over the ocean, clearly the most distinctive colored eyes he had ever seen. It is said that the eyes are the windows of the soul and in this moment, Blaine believed he was looking into Kurt's soul. And he was drawn in by the depth of the emotion he saw there.

"Where is my son?" Kurt whispered. "Where is Rene?"

Burt looked at Kurt, understanding his question and answered. "I will take you to see him when you are ready."

"I'm not sure you are strong enough to walk right now, but we can take you in a wheelchair if you want to go soon." Dr. Anderson offered.

Kurt didn't realize he had been holding his breath. He let it out slowly and tucked his head back in the safety of his father's embrace. "I'm so tired, Daddy."

"Mr. Hummel, I think it best that you sit here with Kurt for a while. If he needs to sleep a bit more, let him. He will want to be strong when he sees Rene for the final time. You will need to be strong for him when he has to say good-bye and leave."

Blaine walked up next to the bed, looking all the time at Kurt's face. He reached forward slowly, two fingers touching Kurt's chin lightly to get him to turn towards him. Kurt opened his eyes again. Stormy ocean found warm honey amber. The two men locked eyes and stared at each other, not understanding but feeling something but hard to identify in the swirl of emotions of the moment. "Kurt, please let your father take care of you. You need to drink water to stay hydrated and try to get some food in your stomach. You are going to need your strength. The next few days will be incredibly difficult. Your family and I will help you, but you need to take care of yourself. You need to grieve, but you also need to celebrate Rene's life." With that, still staring at Kurt, he laid his hand over Kurt's hand resting on this father's shoulder. Blaine felt a tingling in his hand. Kurt's hand reacted to the touch and he knew that Kurt felt it, too. They both blinked and this time when they looked at each other, they found something more. Neither had believed in love at first sight, but they each felt something so deep, they were each independently questioning their beliefs. For Kurt, this was not the time to dwell on his own feelings, other than the hole in his heart – aching for Rene. For Blaine, this was his patient and as a professional, he was bound to care for this man with utmost respect for his loss and privacy.

Blaine turned to leave the room and closed the door quietly behind him. Kurt took a deep breath and the sobs overtook him as the loss felt deeper than ever. Burt called a nurse for something to help calm Kurt and allow him to sleep. Three hours later, Blaine checked Kurt's chart at the nurse's station, then pushed open the door to Kurt's room but only opening it wide enough to see that Kurt was sleeping and Burt was sitting beside Kurt's bed, his head laid on the bed and snoring softly. He noted that the big man was still holding Kurt's hand. He was protecting his son and Blaine could rest comfortably, knowing his patient was cared for.

XXX

When Blaine stopped by Kurt's room early the next morning, it was empty. Blaine inquired of the nurse on duty and she said that during the early morning hours, Kurt had awakened and insisted on being taken to Rene, so his father had escorted him to the room where Rene lay. They had been gone for a while.

Blaine rushed to find them, worried about Kurt and what effect seeing Rene would have on his patient. He found the room, but no one was there and Rene's body had been removed. He asked the attendant where Kurt and his father had gone, but the attendant had no idea. He had been called to move the body and had just returned. Blaine checked in with the station just down the hall, but no one knew the whereabouts of Kurt or his father. Blaine headed back to Kurt's room. Still no sign of either man. Blaine went to the cafeteria, hoping they were there to get coffee. No, they weren't there either. He finally went to the finance office and found that Kurt had paid their bills and apparently left, without being released by a doctor. Blaine was worried, but knew that Burt would bring his son back if necessary. So Blaine started his morning rounds. He was so busy, he worked right through lunch and really didn't have time to think of Kurt again until late that night as he stopped for a cup of coffee. He stared into the coffee cup for a moment, letting out a slow breath and came to terms with the fact that although he had felt something and he wasn't quite sure what that something was, Kurt was facing so much right now and was focused on burying his son. Kurt had to move on, one day at a time. And there was no room for Blaine in his thoughts.