Just wanted to thank everyone who is reading and enjoying this so far, i'm so chuffed that you don't seem to think it's comeplete rubbish. Shout out to Onyx Nailo, thanks for the great reviews, and also to JustAStrangerPassingBy, STARZHEI, Demented Symphony and WingedWolf121. njferrell, hope you like my little Burt/Sue, i loved your idea :)
The next time Kurt was aware of anything concerning his surroundings he was slowly opening his eyes to find that Mercedes was in all honesty now sitting in the chair that had been occupied by Sam the last time Kurt was awake. So, for a second, the most rational explanation was that he had in fact dreamed the events of the previous night, and that his subconscious was just pining for Sam like he had assumed. Which wasn't that great either, truth be told.
So when Mercedes' face almost split with a huge grin and she excitedly grasped his hand saying "I knew you'd come round soon! Your dad's in the bathroom and the hero of the week got dragged home by his mom about a half hour ago, protesting as he went. That boy sure didn't want to leave you." Kurt thanked his lucky stars that at least he wasn't now having weird hallucinations about the quarterback.
"Wait, why was she dragging him off?" Kurt asked, confused. Seemed like all he was at the moment was perplexed, but hey, he guessed it was the after effect of the morphine. Come to think of it he did still feel a little woozy.
Mercedes looked curiously at Kurt and wondered what was running through his mind.
"Well, apparently he'd told her he would come home as soon as you were settled in, and that obviously didn't happen. She turned up at about half seven in the morning, like I said, and told him in no uncertain terms that he was not to stay out like that, at least not without telling her." Mercedes shook her head.
Rolling her eyes, she continued "And then he went off the deep end about how he needed to stay and make sure you were okay, and I was not having that!"
Kurt could almost imagine her spitting venom at being told that she wasn't capable of looking after him.
"So what did you say then?" He asked with what he hoped was mild curiosity.
At this Mercedes nearly giggled and had to put a hand over her mouth to restrain herself.
"I told him that he was gonna get his toned white ass kicked if he thought he could get away with implying I couldn't look after my boy, so much so that he would have done better in his obviously sleep deprived state" she smirked.
"And how did 'boy wonder' take this?"
"He spluttered something 'bout not wanting to get in a fight and not meaning it like that. Then his mom high fived me and told him he better get his 'toned white ass' into her car"
Kurt was almost crying with laughter and he didn't think there was anyone in the world like Mercedes when someone needed cheering up. However, he still needed a few questions answering in a non-comedic way.
"Cedes, did he say anything else about why he wanted to stay?" Kurt asked hopefully.
Mercedes bit her lip as she tried to remember what had happened only a little while previously. Goodness she must be getting tired too. But she was sure he had said something. Yep, that was it!
"He said that he wanted to make sure he hadn't done more harm than good when he caught you, Kurt. Boy really seemed worried you know, I heard the nurses saying how he wouldn't stop bothering them when you came in, asking whether he had done alright, if he'd done what was best for you. Apparently he has pretty worked up about it."
Kurt tried to process this information calmly, while most of him was screaming that he should ask the nearest person what the hell was going on. The star quarterback had caught HIM, Kurt Hummel, resident punchbag and slushie receptacle, accompanied him to the hospital, held his hand while he was unconscious, and then fought with his own mother over leaving the hospital at half seven on a Saturday morning when he had in all probability had no sleep in the previous twenty four hours or more. It was beyond odd. It was damn preposterous.
Mercedes let Kurt mull that over for a little while and then decided that if she didn't say anything now he might slip back into unconsciousness, he looked so frozen.
"So, I was thinking, how're you going to thank him, Kurtie-pops?"
She immediately realised this was not a good time to tease him with silly nicknames as he turned the full force of his patented Kurt Hummel glare on her.
"Mercedes Jones, if you ever call me that again I will personally rip out Rachel Berry's oesophagus and strangle you with it!"
She backed down, seeming to shrink slightly under his stare, and then continued with her train of thought. She had thought it might be nice for them to do something to thank Sam for helping Kurt so much after his accident. However, though she got Kurt to agree to her idea, he insisted that she should be the one to do the actual performing.
"You totally have the voice for it 'Cedes, and even I know I couldn't pull a number like that off like you."
"Look Kurt, I appreciate that you really enjoy being on the cheerios, but I just don't think it's safe if they're doing things like this." Burt said exasperatedly.
He could sense that his son was gearing up for a big fight over this and that was not what he needed right now. He had been called to the hospital on a Friday afternoon to be told that his son was unconscious and unresponsive with possible head injuries and a definite broken arm, and he did NOT want to be argued with over whether Kurt should stop the activity that had put him there in the first place.
Kurt could tell that Burt was getting angrier, but he wasn't going to let cheerios go without a fight. So what, he'd had one bad fall? Quinn had told him once that she had gone ass over tits off a pyramid more times than she could count, and that hadn't stopped her!
"Dad, I don't care if I have to sneak around behind your back to do it, I am staying with the cheerios! Being on that team and in with the Coach is the only thing stopping the other half of the school giving me a slushie facial on a daily basis. So apart from the fact that I really, really enjoy it, do you really want to do that to me?" Kurt knew that he was emotionally blackmailing his dad and it was tearing him up inside to do it, but he couldn't not stay on the cheerios. The only way he would quit would be if it was an out and out clash between that and Glee - no, New Directions.
"Kurt, I understand that-"
"No dad, you don't. It's not your fault, but you never will. Let me try and fight my own battles, okay? I can take a few falls off a pyramid."
Burt could now see there was no way his son was going to agree with him over this, but he had to at least try to do something.
"Fine Kurt, you can stay on the cheerios. BUT, I want a word with your coach. Sue something?"
Kurt nearly fell off his chair.
"ARE YOU INSANE?"
"Kurt! Don't you dare shout at me like that!"
Kurt sat back down and tried to calmly face his father. "Dad, I get that you want to make things easier, and safer, for me. But trying to do that by going to argue the toss with Sue Sylvester? That's like sticking your hand inside a snake's mouth and hoping it doesn't bite!"
Burt just looked blankly back at Kurt. "We will leave it there for today Kurt. Just be thankful I'm letting you carry on cheering."
"Cheerleading dad!"
Kurt could practically see the eye roll he knew Burt was holding back.
"Just go to bed son. Just... get better"
Kurt could sense the hurt and worry his dad was carrying around when he said that, and just for a second he had a mad urge to run and hug him, and never let go. Instead he placed a quick kiss on his cheek, looked into his eyes and then turned and made his way up to his room.
Sam had spent the whole of Monday wandering round in a slightly dazed fashion. He was pretty sure Quinn had noticed, but she wasn't pushing him on it, which he was thankful for. If anyone asked him what was wrong, he didn't think he would be able to answer them. Or at least, answer them honestly.
He really didn't know what was wrong anymore. Or what he wanted. He had thought he had wanted Quinn but... Every time she had been around him since Saturday something had felt different. And sure, they had made out, but even though it felt just like it always had, he wasn't even concentrating on it any more. He couldn't stop his mind wandering to other things. Or more accurately other people.
Like Kurt.
Which, any way you sliced it, was confusing Sam no end.
So he was really glad Kurt was off school and wasn't going to be in glee club today. Because he didn't think he could face that. That said, when he and Quinn walked down to the choir room after last period, he was feeling quite positive. After all, no matter what he said to placate the jocks, he did quite enjoy glee. Which was why he walked into the room with a pretty large smile on his face.
Only to have it promptly slide right back off again when he noticed the figure sitting in the back row next to Mercedes.
Kurt had seen Sam enter with that gorgeous smile on his face and he could have sworn that his heart was beating twice its normal rate. He really needed to stop being like this. He tried to avert his eyes from the somewhat disconcerting sight, but not before noticing the slightly pained expression that had stolen across Sam's face as he had noticed Kurt.
Trying not to show the hurt on his face, or think about what it meant that the sight of him made Sam upset, he turned to Mercedes and went over her plan again.
"So, you're going to ask Mr. Shue if you can say something? Then you'll sing your song and everyone will clap, and it will be over? Yes?"
"Relax Kurt! It will be fine, and I thought you wanted to thank him, anyway?"
"I did. I just... don't want to make it a bigger deal than it already is"
Mercedes flashed him her biggest smile and said "It won't be. Don't worry." And with that she hopped down off her stool and made her way to where Mr. Shue was stood at the front of the room.
Sam had been watching their exchange closely and though he couldn't actually tell what Mercedes was saying to Kurt he could tell she was trying to pacify him about something. Sam wondered what was going on. But did she need to lean so close to Kurt to whisper whatever it was in his ear? Not that Sam was jealous. At all.
Okay, maybe a little bit.
Glancing over at Kurt again while Mercedes spoke to Mr. Shue, Sam noticed that he was nervously fiddling with the edge of his cast. It was large and just as bulky as it had seemed on Friday night. And although Kurt had accessorised his sinfully tight skinny jeans, cream shirt and fitted jacked with a large bag labelled Marc Jacobs, said cast was clearly visible. Kurt was undoubtedly very self-conscious about it so Sam tried not to stare, and looked up at his face instead, just in time to catch Kurt staring at him.
Blushing furiously Sam quickly turned away and tried to pretend that he hadn't just been checking another guy out.
Get a grip Kurt! He's here with Quinn, his GIRLFRIEND for god's sake! Just breathe. In and out. And in. And out. He wasn't looking at you for the same reasons you were looking at him.
Kurt turned his attention instead to the front of the room, where Mercedes was just setting up for her number. Smiling to himself, he remembered her impressive practice run at his house the day before. She had this down, and boy did it suit her.
"Okay, so you've probably noticed that my boy Kurt here is in glee even though he hasn't actually been in school all day. Well, the reason he shouldn't have been in school, as you probably know, was his unfortunate (at this point Mercedes scowled) fall on Friday. And there's someone who helped make that fall a lot better than it could have been, so Kurt is here because we - he - wanted to thank them. And what better way than through song?"
Mercedes glanced at both boys concerned and smirked when she saw that Kurt was looking anywhere but in Sam's direction and Sam was turning redder and redder as she spoke. Well, she didn't care if Sam was convinced that he was as straight as they come. Sam and Kurt were meant to be together as far as she was concerned, and something as simple as presumed heterosexuality wasn't going to stop her plans.
Turning to face the glee club as a whole, she started to sing.
Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need
Sam was mortified. He knew that Mercedes, and therefore Kurt, was directing the song at him. And, thanks to his mom's Bonnie Tyler obsession, he knew exactly what song it was. It seemed impossible, but he thought his face was getting even redder than it had been when she was speaking.
I need a hero, I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life, larger than life
Somewhere after midnight, in my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet
Oh god. Kurt felt like he was going to melt with embarrassment! Sure, with just him and Mercedes in his basement room it had sounded like a good, if a little cheesy, idea. Now, in glee with everyone there and Sam (Kurt was trying not to look, but still. You can't not look at perfection.) fidgeting nervously with his t-shirt and looking petrified, it seemed like the stupidest concept to ever have entered Mercedes' head. Wait, oh god, what if Sam thought Kurt was trying to imply he wants to be 'swept off his feet'?
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero, I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear there is someone somewhere, watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain and the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach, like a fire in my blood
Sam sneaked a look at Kurt while pretending to watch Mercedes as she sashayed around the room looking pleased as punch (Did he really just think that? This was NOT the time for an attack of the clichébug!). My god he looked cute when he blushed, little rosebuds of colour staining those normally perfectly alabaster cheeks. Sam wondered if the rest of his body was just as perfect. Woah, not a good idea! He put his head in his hands and quickly thought about grannies in leotards and other disgusting things.
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
Mercedes looked around and saw that everyone apart from the two loverboys was completely absorbed in the song, dancing and singing along. Hmm, so no one would notice if she was a little creative with the lyrics.
Kurt needs a hero, he's holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be Sam
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night!
She glanced back at Kurt to see that he was staring daggers at her. Well, she thought, if this is what it takes! The means justify the ends, or whatever her mom was always saying. He'd forgive her eventually, if everything went to plan.
Kurt didn't think so. Especially as Sam seemed to have slumped over with his head in his hands. Talk about embarrassment, Kurt really hadn't needed that just then. But he slowly noticed that everyone was whooping and clapping, and that Finn had got up and was enthusiastically jabbering at Sam. Well, at least Sam was now smiling awkwardly at him, not curled in a ball of shame on the floor.
Finn had really wanted to thank Sam for what he had done, and he supposed now was the best chance. Well, dude did look a little ill, but as he'd apparently been up all night with Kurt at the hospital, something Finn wanted to hug him for, it was probably sleep loss or whatever that big word was, right?*
"Sam, I just wanted to really thank you for what you did, like, saving Kurt n'all."
Sam seemed to sigh as he said "Finn, it was really nothing. What anyone else who's worth a damn at this school would've done."
"But... I can think of quite a few people who probably wouldn't have." Finn looked confused.
This time, Sam did sigh. How was this guy not being held back a year?
"Exactly Finn. That's why I said 'Anyone worth a damn'."
"Oh..." Sam just shook his head resignedly.
At that moment Mr. Shue clapped his hands for everyone's attention and Kurt was pulled out of his moping over Sam. He motioned for quiet and then got them all to sit back down. When everyone was in his or her respective seat, he began.
"Well, after that impressive performance by Mercedes, and by the way Sam we all feel the same about your actions, I just wanted to let you all know what your next glee assignment will be."
"Dance songs?"
"Disco?" groaned Puck.
"Katy Perry?"
"Something stupid?"
"Bad 70's rock?"
The last one was Finn.
Just then raised voices could be heard in the corridor, slowly gaining volume as if they were travelling towards the room.
"Look, I'm sorry Sue, but as a parent I really must insist that proper safety precautions are taken before you get the kids to do things like that."
"And I have told a thousand parents Mr. Hummel, my cheerios will never bow to governmental pressure about nonsensical health and safety regulations. They are perfectly fine. A little toughening up won't hurt them."
Spluttering, then "Miss Sylvester, I really must protest, it is far too hard for-"
Kurt was horrified! He had specifically told his dad not to argue with the Coach. And here he was doing exactly that! He was going to have a serious talk with Burt when he got home. After he stopped being so embarrassed.
"Mr. Hummel, try training the only multi-award winning, female and male Cheerleading squad in the history of the most beautiful United States of America. Now that's hard!"
The rest of the club were awkwardly looking at the walls and the ceiling as the voices faded away down the corridor, and Kurt actually wondered if you could die from embarrassment.
He was grateful when Mr. Shue glanced round at everyone and then smiled and began again.
"No, guys, this week we will be doing... MUSICALS!"
There was someone screaming in the background, but Kurt couldn't really tell who it was. Rachel probably, he thought. But oh my god we're doing MUSICALS ohmygod! Kurt actually looked up and thanked the ceiling for finally giving him the only category he really loved.
Quinn was slowly looking between Sam and Kurt while all this was going on. Well, she knew what Kurt's favourite musical was and with the current sexual tension in the room she could guess what song he was going to do. She was just glad there was a reprise in the show. Because she was sure she was going to be singing it sometime soon.
* Finn is thinking of 'deprivation', i believe.
Song is 'I Need A Hero' by Bonnie Tyler (Has also been in Shrek). A/N Cookies and hugs to anyone who thinks they can guess what song Kurt will sing.
Reviews are muchos loved -hint hint- :)