A/N: You guys are awesome! This is by far the best initial response I've ever gotten to any story I've written. So way to go Kurtofsky fans! (Or Karommel, if you prefer). You beat out all my other pairings including Finn/Kurt, Puck/Kurt, Matt/Kurt, and even Finn/Puck/Kurt. Wow. I think you guys are feeling the same way I am. It is impossible to get enough Karofsky and Max Adler. I just want more of him, on the show and in fanfiction. Anyway, I tried to reply back to your reviews, but I didn't get to everyone so here is a big thank you! And another chapter. Hope you enjoy this one as much as the first.

Oh, Brother!

Chapter Two

"Dude, you're killing me here."

Dave Karofsky just smirked at him. "I know."

"Well stop it, already!" Finn said, glaring at his new friend.

"Playing video games, Finn. So it's kinda the point. Can I help it if you suck?"

'I don't suck," Finn said grumpily as his last player died a horrible, bloody death, resulting in various irritating dying noises coming from the game.

Dave quirked an eyebrow at him. "You were saying?"

Finn threw his controller down and proceeded to pout. He usually wasn't this bad, but he was distracted. He was trying to come up with the perfect plan to get Dave and Kurt together. So Dave should totally appreciate that and let him win once in a while.

"Finn? Don't you think we should talk about the plan?"

He looked over at the jock. Dave really looked worried, and Finn shook his head. "I got this… Don't you trust me?"

"Finn, yesterday you wanted to give me a makeover…"

"So Kurt's really into that stuff."

"Only if he's the makeoverer… I'm not letting you choose my clothes, Finn. First of all I'm not shopping at American Eagle, and second of all… and most important… Kurt thinks you have no fashion sense. How is that helpful?"

"That's not true. Sometimes he gives me suggestions, but… I think he likes my clothes…" He mumbled the last part. Now Dave was just being mean. Kurt didn't really think that, did he?

"But the biggest… biggest reason I'm worried about your plan is that you wanted to play video games at your house instead of mine."

"So?" It was a good idea. Kurt would have seen Dave in a good mood. It could have worked. What was his problem anyway?

"Finn, where are the video games at?"

"In my bedroom…" Of course, where else would they be?

"That you share with Kurt?"

"Yeah…"

"And what do you think would happen if Kurt walked into his bedroom and found me there?"

Crap! Dave did have a point, but he wasn't giving in that easily. "Probably nothing…"

"He would have had a Kurt-sized hissy fit, Finn. And then his dad would have come down and either murdered me or had me arrested. Game over."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"So dude, I'm asking you… no, begging you, please tell me your plan."

Finn studied him for a moment, and finally gave in. How could he resist that pleading look? Dave should totally use that look on Kurt.

"You worry too much, Dave," he said. "I'm just going to start by mentioning you, and take it from there."

"I'm so screwed."

"Don't worry," Finn said touching his shoulder reassuringly. "I've got this on lock down."

Dave was still staring ahead, shaking his head every now and then as if his thoughts were chasing him, and he was trying to push them away. Finn felt really bad for him, but how could he make him feel better?

"Look, Dave," he said. "I know you're worried this isn't going to work, but you need to relax."

The jock gave him a small humorless laugh. "Actually, Finn. I've been thinking about it, and I'm more worried that it will work."

Wait…what? "I don't get it? We want it to work, don't we?"

"Think about it, Finn. If it works… Kurt likes me…" He stopped there, trying to catch his breath at that thought, and Finn waited patiently for him to breathe again. "And he comes back to McKinley. Then I'll have to come out… to my parents, my friends, the whole school…"

"Yeah, Kurt won't want to hide. I mentioned once that he should stop standing out so much, and he bit my head off."

"Exactly, my point. I don't know if I'm ready for that or not."

"Well, you better figure it out, and soon," Finn said, and then he softened a bit. The other boy looked so sad. "I don't know about your parents, Dave, but I think the other guys will be fine with it." At Dave's disbelieving look he added, "I mean if Puck can date Lauren Zizes and no one care, than I think you can love whoever you want."

Dave suddenly looked panicked. "Whoa! Who said anything about love? I said I liked Kurt. I didn't say anything about loving him."

"Right… like. You like Kurt. Totally what I meant, dude."

But Dave's face was red and his eyes were wide. He looked gobsmacked. That was a word, right?

"Shit!" he said. "I'm so... so... screwed." He put his face in his hands.

"I know that look, dude," Finn said. And he did. He saw it in the mirror often enough. "You are in love with Kurt."

"Undeniably, irrefutably, indubitably, and exponentially screwed."

"Wow, you sure know a lot of words."

"They all mean the same thing, Finn," Dave said. "If Kurt wants me… I'm coming out."

"Can we have a coming out party?"

"Shut up, Finn."

~#~#~#~

They were all gathered at the table for Friday dinner, and they were having one of Finn's favorites. Lasagna. His mom made a mean lasagna… and for a minute he was distracted by the taste of wonderful food… and garlic bread.

He let the voices flow around him as he enjoyed his meal and thought of a way to bring Dave into the conversation.

"So Finn? How's school going?"

He looked up from his food. If Kurt's voice wasn't just a little bit higher than his mom's, he would have totally thought those words came from her mouth.

"Fine, Kurt," he said. "You?"

"Good," his brother replied with a smile. "Blaine and I went to the mall after school today. Although we couldn't go to the Gap… Do you really think they can ban you for life? Just for singing a song? It wasn't like we caused a riot or anything… well, not exactly a riot…"

Finn just nodded. He wasn't really listening. The words 'Blaine', 'mall', and 'Gap'… just made his head hurt… although the word 'riot' caught his attention. It didn't really seem to belong in that sentence. Maybe he should have actually listened to him.

"So where did you go after school, Finn?"

He was totally going to make a remark about Kurt not looking like his mother when he realized this was his chance. "I went to Dave's to play video games."

"Oh, that's nice," Kurt said.

Maybe it was going to be easier than he thought.

"Is he a new kid? Or do I know him?"

Finn looked up from his food, his mouth open. Kurt gave him a disgusted look which reminded him he still had a mouthful of food. He quickly shut it again and swallowed before talking. He didn't need another ten minute lecture on Miss Manners. Whoever that was.

"Uh… Yeah, Dave… Dave Karofsky."

"What the hell, Finn!"

Kurt was staring straight ahead, his blue eyes wide, and his hand over his mouth.

The outburst had come from Burt.

"I cannot believe you are friends with that jerk! He was the whole reason Kurt had to transfer!" he yelled.

As his mom tried to calm Burt down, Finn just stared at him with frightened eyes. He was pretty sure it was bad karma to give your new stepdad a heart attack.

"Kurt? Are you alright?" His mom had a worried frown on her face.

"First… he… never…" he whispered. His face was pale and Finn thought he might pass out at any moment. He was thankful then that he hadn't brought Dave over. He shuddered at how Kurt would have reacted to that.

"Look at what you did, Finn. Are you happy, now?" Burt glared at him. Finn tried to remember the plan but with Burt giving him the death glare, it was difficult. Still he had to try.

"Look, guys," he said. "You don't understand. Dave's changed. Remember the Championship Game? He was with us when we performed at the half time show… He's totally cool, now."

"Oh, that's okay then. Let's just excuse all his bullying."

And even Finn knew that Burt was being sarcastic. He didn't mean any of that. Finn almost used his argument about how he and Puck had changed, but then decided admitting to Burt all the things they used to do to Kurt would just get him killed.

"Kurt?" Carole said again.

He looked at her but his mind seemed far away. "The cake… it looks so sad without a top…"

Burt just shook his head. "See?" he said, his hand waving in Kurt's direction. "Great job, Finn. From now on, I don't want you to ever mention that boy's name in this house, again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," Finn said glumly.

That might make getting Dave and Kurt together a little more difficult.

~#~#~#~

Finn was trying to play video games, but he wasn't doing very well. His eyes frequently strayed to watch Kurt as he hunched over his school books, studying. At least he had some color back in his cheeks. Finn had been a little scared before.

The addition wasn't done so they still shared a room. Finn didn't care anymore. He wasn't afraid of being around Kurt, and it was more like having a sister anyway...

"Finn? Do you mind? I can't concentrate with that noise," Kurt said in his diva bitch voice.

A sister who was constantly on her period.

"Sorry, Kurt."

That got him a look. He usually didn't apologize… well, not for playing video games. It was his room, too.

"What's up with you?"

"Nothing?"

Kurt abandoned his studying and moved to sit primly on the couch next to Finn.

"Are you really friends with that Neanderthal?"

"Yeah, Dave… (he whispered the name, just in case Burt had super dad hearing) has really changed, Kurt."

"I sincerely doubt that, Finn. You don't know what he's capable of."

Finn didn't answer that. "I feel sorry for him."

"You've got to be joking."

Finn didn't want to say too much, but it irritated him that Kurt was acting all prissy.

"I think…" he whispered. "I think he's gay."

Kurt opened his mouth, and then closed it quickly. "Why would you think that?"

"Well when the football players had to join Glee he really enjoyed it. He was happy and proud, Kurt." His brother just glared at him as he talked. Kurt was definitely high maintenance. Did Dave really want to have to deal with that all the time? Was it really worth it? Then he thought of Rachel, before she cheated on him, and how happy they were. She was definitely high maintenance, but it was worth it. He realized then that he had stopped talking.

"Finn, if being in Glee and enjoying it proved that you were gay… well let's just say I might have stayed at McKinley…" He sighed then, and Finn had the feeling he was imagining what it would be like if all the Glee guys were gay.

"Sorry, Kurt. There's more to the story, I just got distracted. Anyway the hockey team cornered us and threw slushies on us. But before that they said something about Karofsky turning gay. His face changed. He didn't look angry or sad; he just looked scared."

Kurt had his legs crossed, and he was moving the top one nervously as he stared at Finn.

"So what if he is gay, Finn. That doesn't give him the right to torture people."

"I know, but I think it was harder for him because he was afraid of anyone finding out. I think he likes someone… I think he likes you, Kurt."

"That's insane, Finn," he said. "Why would you say that? He was awful to me."

Of course, Finn knew that Dave liked Kurt… a lot… but he couldn't say that. So he made stuff up as he went along, and he thought he did a pretty good job. "The jocks always bullied people together... in groups, Kurt. But you were the only one that Dave picked on by himself. I think that means something."

Kurt just looked angrier. Finn wasn't sure it was going very well at all.

"We are not in grade school, Finn. Kicking me and pulling on my pigtails is not appropriate courting behavior."

Finn didn't know what to say to that. Had Dave really kicked Kurt? And what that hell? Kurt didn't have pigtails. He shook his head.

"Just give him a chance, Kurt."

"Absolutely not, Finn," he said quietly, as he he turned away and put his hand up to his mouth. Finn wondered if he was remembering the kiss. He also wondered if that was a good thing or not. "I'm done with this conversation. I don't want to talk about David Karofsky anymore." He stood up and folded his arms across his chest. "You can have whomever you want as a friend, Finn, but I would appreciate it if you would never speak of him to me again."

Kurt turned quickly and practically ran into the bathroom.

Finn shut his eyes. This matchmaking thing was hard. How did Kurt ever manage to do it? Dave was going to be so disappointed.

This was harder than getting to level twenty of his favorite zombie video game.

At this point, Operation: Kurtofsky was a fail.