Past

Kurt was sitting in the living room doing homework while watching Grey's Anatomy when Finn came home. The door slammed open and Kurt just assumed football practice hadn't gone well but then Kurt heard Carole gasp and his dad cuss.

Kurt put down his textbook and got up from the couch to go investigate what was happening at the front door. When Kurt turned the corner to the front door he gasped. Finn was standing in the hallway completely covered in red slushy. His eye was blackened and his lips where swollen and cut. His left wrist also looked swollen and his whole are wasn't moving.

Kurt gasped and sputtered, he had no idea what happened but he did know that his step-brother needed to go to a hospital. He turned to his dad to say as much but noticed he was already grabbing his keys and ushering the three of them out the door.

Carole and Kurt carefully shuffled Finn into his dad's car and carefully buckled him into the truck. Once Finn was in the care the four of them quickly set off for the hospital.

No one talked, except to check on Finn every few minutes, on the way to the hospital. Every bump in the road made Burt quickly turn behind him to make sure he hadn't jostled Finn too much. Kurt held onto Finn's right hand the entire trip and shook him every few minutes when he started to doze off.

Once they quickly pulled into the parking lot of the hospital the three of them quickly piled out and helped Finn carefully out of the car and into the waiting area of the hospital. Carole filled out his paper work and got Finn check in while Kurt continued to hold Finn's hand and shake him awake.

Once he was completely checked in Carole took over holding Finn's hand for Kurt. Kurt was reluctant to give up his brother's hand but he knew that Carole needed to hold her son and that Finn, if he was fully conscious, would probably prefer to hold his mom's hand than his gay step-brothers.

They only had to wait for five minutes before Finn's name was called. They all stood up and, again, carefully helped Finn up. Before they could walk away with the nurse Burt turned to Kurt with concerned eyes.

"Why don't you wait out here?" Before Kurt could argue, because Burt knew his son and because Burt could see Kurt's face, Burt spoke up again. "Try and see if you can find out what happened by texting Noah or some of your other glee friends who are on the football team."

When Kurt still looked like he was going to argue Burt interrupted again.

"Kurt, we don't know everything that is wrong. The doctors are probably going to ask him to strip to look at his ribs and shoulder."

That and a look got Kurt to shup up and made him sit back down into the waiting room chair. He watched as his dad, step-mom, and step-brother were led into the treatment area of the ER with the nurse.

Kurt understood why he wasn't in there with Finn and his family but it didn't sit right with him that his dad had to point out to him that Finn wouldn't be comfortable with him in his room with his shirt off. He was angry and scared for Finn but he pulled out his smart phone, thank god he had it in his pocket when they all suddenly left the house.

With his phone out Kurt sent a mass text to all the glee boys on the football team; Noah, Kurt refused to call him Puck, Mike, Artie, and Sam. Kurt almost included Finn in the text that just showed how freaked out he was if he forgot to not include his hospitalized brother.

Kurt: What the hell happened at practice today!?

Noah: wat did finn tell you

Sam: huh?

Kurt: We are in the ER!

Sam: wat!

Artie: Wat happened!?

Mike: Nothing happened at practice something most have happened after we all left.

Noah: wat the f*ck happened and where the h*ll are you

Kurt: Nothing happened at all?

Kurt: He was covered in slushy and it looked like his wrist and shoulder are dislocated at least.

Noah: ill beat the f*ck out of anyone who touched by boy who was it

Sam: I saw Karofsky and Azimio with slushys when I left

Noah: ill kill em

Mike: Finn stayed late after practice to help Coach with some stuff they must have got him then.

Artie: idk guys why would they go after him?

Sam: theyve been watching all us glee guys since prom I think theyre after us again

Puck: meet me before school tomorow and well talk

Mike: Keep us updated Kurt!

Artie: ya let us know whats happening

Sam: be safe kurt

Kurt bit his lip. He had noticed that the bullying had gotten worse since prom but he had just assumed it had been him that Karofsky was after. Suddenly Kurt realized what this meant. If Finn was being beat up, actually beat up and not just slushies thrown at him, then Kurt was in deep trouble.

Kurt had always been teased, first because he liked tea parties instead of playing with cars, then it was because he dressed better or more fashion forward. In high school starting freshman year they teased him for being gay.

At first it was just slushies, locker shoves, and an occasional dumpster toss. Sophomore year things started to get worse. The bullies went after him almost every day and the dumpster tosses went from occasional to once a week or more. Once the glee club started and the football boys joined thing stopped for a little while. The confrontation during Gaga week helped for about a month, after that the slushies and locker shoves resumed without as much force and then didn't happen as often as before.

As time passed the locker shoves got harder and more often. For the most part the dumpster tosses stopped but that was mostly because Noah was the one to implement them. Finn and the glee football guys were what kept some of the bullies away.

Most of the bullies knew that Beiste liked the glee kids and she was very against bullying. That didn't stop all the bullying but it did detour the worst of it. After Karofsky kissed him during junior year things with Karofsky got worse. He shoved him more and made faces at him.

Once Burt and Sue found out and Karofsky was expelled the bullies took great pleasure in torturing him for getting Karofsky expelled. When Karofsky came back things were worse for about a week before everyone but Karofsky settled down to just slushies and locker shoves. Karofsky still shoves him harder than anyone else and more often but except for bruises covering his shoulders he hasn't been hurt too badly.

The problem is if the football glee boys are being targeted, especially Finn who is once again captain of the football team, then he was sure to be beat up worse than Finn. Kurt knew that the school wouldn't do much, even if they could prove that Karofsky and Azimio did it. He bit his lip and thought about all the things the bullies had done to him and what they did to Finn.

Oh god. They were going to kill him. It wasn't an idle thought, Finn normally didn't get beat up or really bullied beyond smack talk and an occasional problem during football practice, but he did. If this is what they did to Finn then what would they do to someone who they really don't like and already bully.

Kurt started to panic. It was only nine months until graduation but so much could happen in nine months. If the people who were protecting he were no longer offering any protection it would be open season on the gay kid. Maybe they wouldn't kill him but Karofsky had been moving into his personal space more and more recently.

Would he beat him up, or worse, rape him? Kurt didn't know and he was really starting to get scared. No one at this school really cared that he got beat up, that he was teased for being gay. He knew he didn't have it as bad as some school, like the kids a few towns over who was beat almost to death after a school dance, but it could just be worse now.

Kurt didn't notice how much time had passed in his panic but he did hear his dad call his name. He jumped up from his seat and looked to the entrance of the treatment area of the ER. His dad was standing in the door way and signaling for Kurt to come to him.

Kurt quickly moved toward his father. He tucked his phone back into his pocket and made a quick decision not to tell his dad what the guys thought happened, it would just upset him and Burt's heart still wasn't the strongest.

Once Kurt reached his father Burt ushered him into the ER and then led him down a hallway and Kurt assumed they were going to Finn's room. Once they were around a corner Burt stopped them and turned to face Kurt.

"Did you found out anything from your friends?"

Kurt bit his lip but shook his head. He wasn't really lying. Technically no one knew for sure what happened, everything was just speculation and it was possible, though not likely, that something different had happened.

Burt gave his son a skeptical look but he didn't question his son. Instead he just sighed and dropped his shoulders. Burt lifted his hat and scratched his head

"Finn's got a dislocated shoulder, sprained wrist, two bruised ribs, and a concussion along with cuts and bruises all over."

Kurt gasped and nervously twittled his fingers. They most have really gone after him for him to be that hurt.

"Can I see him or is he not awake?"

"No he's sleeping but you can come in his room and see him. He's been pretty out of it the entire time until the sedated him. They are moving him into a more permanent room now so you might want to wait another few minutes. They still have to cast his wrist but they've put wraps around his ribs and given him a sling."

Burt gripped his son's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Let's go get something to eat from the cafeteria. Or at least let's get some coffee for us and Carol."

Kurt nodded and let his father guide him down the halls to the hospital cafeteria. The cafeteria wasn't crowded but there was a few people scatted around at a few of the tables. Burt guided him threw the cafeteria, grabbing a sandwich for himself and Carol and also nudging Kurt to grab something.

Kurt grabbed a salad and helped his dad grab three large black coffees for himself, Burt, and Carol. Once Burt paid for their meals and then shuffled Kurt to sit at one of the booths in the corner of the cafeteria. Once they were both seated they both started to eat, in silence again.

Once Burt was about half way through his sandwich he stopped eating and looked at Kurt. It took Kurt a few minutes to realize his dad had stopped eating but when he did he set down his fork and looked at his dad expectantly. Burt cleared his throat and dropped his sandwich onto the cellophane wrap it came in.

"Kurt, are you sure no one knew what happened today."

Kurt bit his lower lip and shrugged his shoulders.

"The guys said Finn left after them but that nothing happened at practice so they don't know what happened."

Burt looked at his son. He knew that Kurt was holing something back but he also knew his son well enough to know that if Kurt didn't want to tell him yet he wouldn't. Burt sighed and finished his sandwich as Kurt picked at his salad.

Once Burt finished and he saw that Kurt wasn't really eating, just picking at it to look like he was eating he got up and grabbed his coffee as well as Carol's sandwich. Kurt got up and tossed his salad as well as his dad's sandwich wrapper and grabbed his coffee as well as Carol's.

The two of them walked in silence down the hallway to an elevator. Once in the elevator Burt pressed the button for the fourth flour, which was marked children's ward on one of elevator sides. Kurt giggled a little to himself thinking that Finn was still a child as his birthday was in August.

Burt grinned at his son seeing where he was looking and thinking of his Fankenteen of a step-son lying in one of rooms with giraffes painted on the colorful walls. The two of them shared a smile before resuming the silence that had taken over the day.

The elevator ride wasn't long and it made a ding sound before the doors opened. With the doors open the two of them walked out of the elevator and Burt led them through the hallways again to a room marked 431. Burt knocked on the slightly ajar door and then opened it before there was any response.

The room was small but the walls were covered in blue paint that helped remove some of the hospital feel to the room. Then again so did the huge giraffe painted onto the wall opposed to the bed. The bed was obviously brought in from a different area of the hospital as the bed looked too big for the room.

In the bed Finn was sleeping. He looked so much smaller sleeping in a hospital bed. His arm was in a sling to immobilize his shoulder and his wrist was wrapped in gauze and probably some sort of splint that Kurt couldn't see.

He was connected to so many tubes and wires and the beeping reminded you that you are in fact in a hospital. Finn suddenly stirred in his hospital bed. Everyone turned and the conversation between Burt and Carol stopped. He didn't open his eyes but shifted around in the bed quite a bit before Carol grabbed his hand and spoke softly to him.

Finn shifted some more but when Carol ran her hand over her son's forehead he opened his eyes slowly. He made some undistinguishable noises that sounded like he was in pain while Carol quickly comforted her son. Burt left the room for a moment to get a nurse but was quickly bad.

Kurt just stared at his injured step-brother. He looked like he was in such pain and he looked so fragile. When his dad came back with a nurse Kurt moved to the back corner of the room so she could check on Finn and so he wouldn't be in the way of his step-mom or dad.

The nurse checked some things with Finn's monitors then the chart at the end of his bed. She then spoke quietly to Finn and Carol before nodding and walking out of the room. Finn grimaced but his eyes wandered around the room and settled on Kurt.

Kurt smiled at him and moved toward the end of the bed to gently squeeze Finn's foot. Finn grinned at him and tried to shuffle up into a sitting position. He winced in pain and the three of them jumped forward to help him back down. Finn huffed but stayed laying down on the bed. Carol grabbed a remote on the side of the bed and reset the bed so Finn was more upright without having him sit up.

"Hey Kurt."

Kurt smiled back at his step-brother and squeezed his foot again.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I'm cool."

He said it but it wasn't convincing especially when he winced slightly after he finished talking. But everyone smiled at him and squeezed whatever part of Finn's body they could reach.

"Finn do you remember what happened?"

It was Burt who first spoke up. He didn't want to ruin the moment but he needed to know if Finn remembered so he could contact the school at least or maybe get the police involved. Finn looked a little confused at first but then he winced and nodded.

Burt waited expectantly for Finn to start telling what happened but the room was silent. Burt pulled his cap up and scratched his head. Obviously Finn didn't want to talk about it but at some point at least he was going to need to tell someone what happened.

The room was silent for a moment before Kurt's phone started to vibrate frantically in his pocket. Kurt pulled out his phone and saw that the glee guys were texting him wanting to know how Finn was doing.

Kurt: He's gonna be OK. Sprained wrist, dislocated shoulder, bruised ribs, and lots of cuts and bruises.

A few of the guys responded back, mostly with get well wishes and one from Puck, again, expressing his interest in getter Karofsky and Azimo back. While Kurt was texting back the guys Carol started a light conversation with Finn and Burt about football.

With the guys reassured Kurt put his phone back into his pocket and pretended to have any idea what his family was talking about. He didn't have to pretend long because a few minutes later a doctor in dark blue shrubs knocked on the door before entering the room.

She smiled and introduced herself as Dr. Sara Robinson. She checked Finn's chart and vitals while Kurt shuffled toward his corner again. Once she was finished with her exam she turned to the Hudmels.

"So Finn because you have a concussion along with your other injuries we are going to keep you here overnight. We'll evaluate your condition again tomorrow afternoon but you should be able to go home then.

For now we will cast your wrist and get you a more permanent sling. Unfortunately there isn't much we can do for your ribs except to keep them bound for the time being and give you some pain medication.

I understand you're on your high school's sports teams?"

She waited for Finn to nod his head before continuing.

"Unfortunately I'll have to bench you for the rest of the season. You won't be up for much other than walking for a few months with your ribs and I don't want you popping your shoulder out of its socket."

She flipped through Finn's chart one more time before turning to Carol and continuing.

"Now because Finn is technically a minor one of you," She gestured lightly to Burt and Carol, "can spend the night with Finn but you don't need to."

Burt and Carol looked at each other for a moment before Carol said she would be staying the night. Dr. Robinson nodded and marked something on Finn's chart.

"OK we'll get a cot in here for you to sleep on. We can also bring you some food with Finn's or you can go down to the cafeteria and get your own. Just let the nurse know when she comes in asking for Finn's food choice.

Right now you have about," She paused and shuffled Finn's chart around in her arms to check the watch on her wrist, "twenty minutes left before she should start making her rounds so think about it."

She put Finn's chart back at the foot of his bed and turned back to the Hudmels.

"Visiting hours end at eight though they aren't likely to kick you two," She nodded at Burt and Carol, "out but you," She nodded at Kurt, "they might."

She checked her watch again but didn't seem to be in a hurry so much as doing it out of habit. She smiled at them and handed Burt her business card.

"If you have any questions don's hesitate to call me or have one of the nurses page me but if you have any questions now you can ask me."

Carol spoke up after a few moments of silence.

"When will he be able to return to school? I know he'll still be here to class tomorrow but will he be able to return to school on Monday or should he stay home longer?"

Dr. Robinson nodded and turned slightly so she was facing Finn as well as Burt and Carol.

"He should be able to return to classes on Monday but I should know more tomorrow after you," She nodded her head at Finn, "have rested a little bit and you've recovered some from the trauma."

Finn groaned a little and the doctor grinned a little at him.

"I'll leave you for now then if you don't have any more questions. Don't forget to call me with questions and concerns. Finn you'll want to sleep quite a bit the next few days and I'll have a nurse come in in a few minutes to give you something to help you sleep.

I know you probably want to do other things but sleep really is the best thing for your healing right now."

Finn signed but nodded and even yawned a little bit which made Dr. Robinson smile. She turned to Burt and Carol one last time before leaving the room. Finn yawned again and shook his head but Burt chuckled at his step-son.

A moment later a nurse knocked on the door before entering. She smiled at them and explained that she was giving Finn a light sedative that would put him to sleep fairly quickly and he would probably sleep for a few hours.

They all nodded, including Finn who looked a little put out but tired all the same. She gave Finn the drug, checked his vitals, and then left the room. It only took a few minutes for Finn to fall asleep but when he did Burt suggested that he could take Kurt home so he could finish his homework and get some decent food before coming back to the hospital for a few hours.

Kurt wanted to protest but Carol urged them both to go home if for no other reason than to get Kurt some new clothes and to get his cell phone and iPod so he had something to do if he couldn't fall asleep later. Kurt reluctantly left Finn's room with his father.

The two of them walked down the hall to the elevator and then out of the hospital to the car. The entire walk to the car was silent and the drive back home was only filled with music because Kurt was continually messing with the radio in his dad's truck.

Once they pulled into their driveway emotions suddenly hit Kurt again. Everything that had happened to Finn and everything that could happen to him. God he was in so much trouble and he had no idea how he was going to stop any of it.

Writing the texts was a lot of fun :) and all spelling and grammar errors there were done intentionally