To be honest, Burt had been worrying about the trip since Monday. He had to drive to Cleveland that Friday night to deliver a part to a customer, but he couldn't take Kurt. It would be seven hours round trip, and with an eight year old that just wasn't an option. He hired their usual babysitter, Lindsay, a high school senior, to watch him for the night and stay with him until he got back early Saturday morning, but he was still worried. Kurt hadn't slept very well at night since Elizabeth had died two months earlier. He had explained how he was leaving to Kurt, and he seemed to not be upset, so that gave him some hope. Still, he had insisted she call him if there were any problems.
It was 10:30, and he was almost halfway home when he got the call.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Mr. Hummel, sorry to bother you, but Kurt's having a hard time sleeping. He went to bed just fine about an hour ago, but he woke up crying and he won't talk to me, so I can't get him to settle down." He was afraid of that.
"Um, hold the phone up to his ear. I'll see what I can do."
"Kurt, hey, it's your dad on the phone. You wanna talk to your dad?"
"Daddy!" Kurt howled. "Dad, come home!" he hated hearing him like that. He still had an hour and a half left of the drive, but he was determined to get to him.
"Kurt, I'm coming home. I'm on my way, okay? I'm gonna be there really soon," he told him. If he hurried, he could be home in an hour, but hopefully he would be asleep again by that time.
"I m-miss you," Kurt sobbed.
"I miss you too, buddy. I'll be there in a little bit. Why are you crying? Did you have a bad dream?" he asked.
"Yeah," he whimpered. "I want you to c-come home." Naturally, it hurt him to hear him crying and knowing he couldn't be there to help.
"I'm coming home, Kurt. It's gonna be okay," he assured him. "Do you want to tell me about your dream?"
"No." he sounded tired. He knew if both he and Lindsay tried, they could get him back to sleep.
"You're tired, kiddo. I can tell. Would it help it Lindsay made you some warm milk?" he coaxed. "I told her how to do it the right way."
"Uh huh," he said. "Like Mom made it?"
"Yep, she'll do it like Mom made it. Why don't you ask her nicely to make you some, and then get back in bed and try to go back to sleep. Can you do that?"
"Yeah." The kid sounded unsure of himself.
"You do that, and when you wake up I'll be home. I love you, Kurt."
"Love you, too. Promise you'll be here?"
"I promise. Can I talk to Lindsay for a second?"
"Yeah. Hang on."
"Thanks, Mr. Hummel," she said.
"No, thank you for watching him. I know it's not easy getting him back to sleep after he's all worked up like that. Would you mind to make him a cup of warm milk? I think that would really help."
"Sure thing. And I'll call you back if there's any more problems." Burt thanked her again and then hung up. He was only an hour away, and more eager to see Kurt than ever.
She didn't have to call him a second time, so he took that was a good sign. When he made it home he entered through the front door quietly. Lindsay was sitting on the couch, and Kurt was lying beside her, his head in her lap.
"He finally fell asleep, huh?" he asked.
"Yeah. I made him his milk and let him sit in here to drink it, and next thing I know he's asleep on my lap. I didn't want to carry him to his bed and risk waking him up, but he's only been sleeping here about half an hour," she explained.
"That's great. Thanks for looking after him, I appreciate it."
"It's not a problem. He's so well behaved, I don't mind." Burt pulled out a fifty-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to her. She thanked him, and then he went to pick Kurt up so she could leave. Once she was gone, he carried him up the stairs to his room and laid him in his bed. He opened his eyes and looked up at him.
"Dad," he mumbled sleepily. "You're home." He covered him up and kissed his forehead.
"Yep. I told you I would be here when you woke up. Did you have fun with Lindsay this evening?" he asked. Kurt nodded sleepily and Burt smiled at him. "Good. Close your eyes and go back to sleep. It's late. I love you."
"Love you," he murmured. Burt stood there for a minute, watching him sleeping peacefully. The phone call from Lindsay and hearing him cry had sent him into a panic, but it was over, he was home, and Kurt was okay. And that was all that mattered.
Author's Notes:
Hope you all are liking this series so far! I love Burt and Kurt to death. I will post another chapter tomorrow!