AU - Set during Senior Year on the run up to Christmas. Made as a companion story to Good Boy Kurt and will follow everyone else's POV except for Kurt's. All for added background illumination as the other story is obviously Kurt centric.

Rated M only

Warnings: Various adult themes, including abusive relationships, talk of rape, beatings, language etc... Not your thing, please move on… Plus it might help to read the other story to know what the hell is going on.


This Chapter covers Good Boy Kurt Chapter Three

From the Other Side Chapter Three


Rachel Berry:

After Quinn's news the group had sunk into depression, in order to elevate that and to keep their motivation going Rachel rounded up her fellow Glee Club members so that they could all gain solace in each other's company. It has worked to a degree they are all united in talking to Kurt if he approaches them or at least smiling at him if he won't talk to them. Rachel has flat out refused to talk to Karofsky.

Noah and Santana say no one should approach Kurt if he's with Karofsky just in case the jock goes 'batshit', until Karofsky is sure none of them are a threat to his hold on Kurt, he has his hooks sunk deeply into Kurt and Rachel is currently working on a plan to appeal to Kurt's natural spirit of competition. He's battled her for every solo he can and she is confident that a slight push is all that's needed to remind him of his former glorious Diva mentality.

Rachel can admit to herself that part of her drive to get him back is because of his unique voice that is so annoyingly close to her own fantastical range, but the biggest part is because he's her friend and she cannot leave him to the monstrous whims of that Karofsky boy and his equally monstrous parents.

Stepping up to the piano she has a brief talk with Brad who nods that he knows this one, of course he does, the man is jewel born to play so wonderfully and to accompany her as she delights her friends with her talent.

Clearing her throat to get their attentions she smiles, she might not feel like smiling but as co-captain she will lead by example. "As we are all so despondent I will now cheer you up with a selection of songs that Kurt loves," they glare at her but she don't let that deter her, "The first one is 'Once Upon a December'," Rachel informs them.

"He loves that movie," Mercedes says sadly, "He always sings along to it, it's like he can't help himself."

And with that Rachel nods to Brad and the band begins to play.

The first strains of music float into the air and Rachel takes a controlled breath ready for her mark when a familiar and much missed voice sings from down the corridor, she can feel her jaw drop open in shock and when her heart speeds up in hope she turns to stare at the door, will he walk back in? Will she get her bitchy and overly fashion conscious friend back?


Finn Hudson:

He loves Rachel, he really does, but sometimes he wonders how much she loves other people. He'd read the text from Quinn and his heart had broken all over again. He'd been looking forward to going home and telling Burt about Kurt talking to Mercedes, but now he doesn't want to get the man he thinks of as his father's hopes up only to dash them again.

And then as Rachel almost sings the first note Finn thinks he must have fallen asleep and he's dreaming because that's Kurt. Kurt is singing. Which means Kurt is totally nearby.

A murmur goes through everyone and they all turn to look, a few seconds later and Kurt drifts past the door dancing to the music and that angelic voice fills the corridor.


Mike Chang:

Sitting there he grips his girlfriend's hand and watches a gracefully body waltz past the door, the boy's face gazing into thin air as he moves to the music.

In the past Kurt had come up to Mike and asked for his advice with some dance steps Kurt was working on. At first Mike had only seen him as that gay kid and hoped he didn't get caught being in the same room as him, but as time went on Mike had come to appreciate the icy little diva, if he gave a compliment he always meant it and he'd looked at Mike and told him he was an amazingly good dancer. Mike had literally danced on air that practice and Mr Schue had patted him on the shoulder and congratulated him too.

Once Mike and Tina had become an item he'd seen more of Kurt, mostly around Tina's and he'd seen a very different side, a softer side, a sweeter side.

And when they'd found out how much Karofsky had been hassling Kurt, well there was nothing else to do but step up and tell the boy to leave Kurt alone. Mike had ended up landing on top of Artie and Sam had stepped in to save the day.

Mike wasn't that great with words, he was shy and he'd found his own way of self-expression in dance but there were no dance steps he could use to say how sorry he was that he hadn't done more for the smaller boy.

Glancing at Tina he clings to her hand and prays his friend will strut into the room and just announce he's back.


Mercedes Jones:

Oh my God! It's him! She didn't imagine this morning like she'd begun to dread she had, he was here and he was singing, oh please god let him be okay.

Come on boo the door is just there, come back to us.


Will Schuster:

Putting down the pen he'd been using to grade papers Will hurries out of his office and smiles at the sound of Kurt singing. That boy was stubborn and headstrong and so very talented that he reminded Will a little of Rachel, but you could talk to Kurt and he tended to understand the universe didn't always revolve around him.

To this day Will still doesn't know what made Kurt leave Glee, he thinks the others picked on him about Dave, and Will has to admit he was worried too until he heard about Kurt collapsing in class and Will made sure that he spoke to the nurse to find out why. Poor Kurt, he always did take on too much and the sight of Dave acting like a mother hen and clucking over his small boyfriend brought a smile to the teacher's face. The way they looked at each other they were clearly in love and the fact that Kurt showed no fear of Dave in the slightest had eased Will's worries.

In the choir room Rachel was standing at the piano with her jaw open and Will always secretly enjoyed it when one of the other kids upstaged her, she was amazing but she had an amazing diva attitude to go with it, and at least she no longer had a crush on him though.

Striding forward Will walks after the dancing form as he sways around the other students, and Kurt sings so perfectly that Will wishes everyone could have the chance to hear him.


Noah Puckerman:

Watching Mr Schue flit out of the door Puck shakes off his shock at hearing his little bro singing. He may have been hasty in dismissing Mercedes' overly hopeful news this morning, 'coz there has to be a lot of Kurt left if he's singing in school, the little peacock never could resist being the centre of attention.

And that might be the key to getting him back. Play nice with Karofsky and then pay attention to Kurt's singing and dancing, maybe get Mercedes' help with some pretty clothes and then tempt Kurt away from Karofsky.

It could work.

Almost as one they all move over to the door and then they start battling to all look around the door to see what happens next.


Will Schuester:

Kurt's miles away and smiling happily as the song comes to an end so Will reaches out a hand and lets it fall gently on that small but toned shoulder, Kurt practically leaps in the air and makes a sound suspicious like a dog's yelp.

Spinning on the spot the boy turns and those wide blue eyes take in Will standing there smiling, Will sees a moment of panic as the singer glances back at the choir room and it's as if he suddenly realises where he is.

Deciding to break the ice and test the waters to see if Kurt's interested in coming back Will asks, "Hi Kurt, how are you?" Belatedly he says, "I didn't mean to startle you, I guess you were miles away, somewhere nice I hope?"

For a moment those blue eyes unfocus and a genuine smile slides across the boy's face, Will doesn't get to see that smile often, "Hello Mr Schue, I'm fine thank you, and yes it was somewhere nice," the soft sigh is almost inaudible in the corridor.

Wanting to let Kurt know that he is always welcome Will tightens his grip on that shoulder, yes the boy has put the weight he'd lost back on, "Good, you know my office is always open if you need it."

Nodding the boy replies, "I'm sorry I interrupted your practice," and he looks down at his shoes.

It wasn't a practice and frankly Will wouldn't have cared if it was, "It's fine, in fact it was wonderful, its been too long since I've heard you sing, you nailed it perfectly," he did better than that, there had been a dream like quantity to Kurt's performance that made it out of this world. Guiding Kurt out of the flow of students so they didn't get in anyone's way Will says humorously, "It does Rachel good to be quiet and listen to someone else sing, especially when that singer is easily as good as she is," the girl would pitch a fit if she heard that and no doubt storm out but it was true.

And when Kurt frowns at Rachel's name Will knows that his students did something and a cold pit opens up in his stomach, what did they do?


Santana Lopez:

Caught up in the doorway the Latino girl makes good use of her elbows to fight to the front, she almost makes it to the door when she overhears Mr Schue's comment about Rachel and she smiles to herself, the little hobbit needs a good put down now and again.

Santana's eye is caught for a moment by Artie, he's sitting in that damn chair like always, and he's craning his neck as if that'll help him see down the corridor. Her heart squeezes and she roughly pushes it aside, she doesn't care for him, he's just a dumb boy she can bend to her will, a boy who will be good and help her keep Britt, that's all he is too her.

And if she says it enough it might be true.


Will Schuester:

Changing the subject Will asks "So will I see you at the big game tonight? It'll be nice to sit and catch up with you," he likes finding out about his students and always tries to help them out if they are in a jam, "We can watch as David flattens the other team," he offers and remembers Shannon making a joke about only fielding the boy because he'd mow the opposition down.

Blinking in surprise the question has caught Kurt off guard and he shakes his head, "Err, no. David forbade me from going and ordered me to stay home."

That's a strange way to put it and Will files that one away for now, he knows that Kurt can be a bit overly dramatic, "Oh that's too bad, maybe another time," and he watches as Kurt just nods and says nothing.

A little anxious Will rattles on talking about the last few games, maybe he should talk to Shannon and Emma, get their feedback on this, after all he can be a bit blind about things.

Behind him Will can hear his students fighting in the doorway, sometimes he wonders how he ended up with them and then has to remind himself that he volunteered for this.

Kurt is clutching some sheets of paper and Will asks, "More school work?" He knows how studious the boy can be and wonders what he's brushing up on.

"No Mr Schue," Kurt says and holds them out for Will to take, "They are new recipes I found, I thought I could try them out. It's hard to make interesting and varied meals on a budget, I've found a few sites that specialise in them and they've posted new ones."

Poor Kurt, Will is still shocked that things have ended so badly between father and son, though Kurt seems to have adjusted if the little domestic scene of Kurt and Dave in the connivance store was anything to go by, but then Kurt always was more mature and self sufficient than the boys his age.

Scanning the recipes Will finds one for chicken in tomato, "Oh wow this sounds really good, what site did you say these are from?" He says, "I admit I'm eating way too much junk food than is good for me, I think it is the cooking for one, I just don't feel up to it most nights." The apartment is echoingly empty and Will finds it saps his strength to do anything when he gets home.

"I'll write it down for you, you can go back and look at some of the older ones too," Kurt pulls a notebook out and scribbles the address down. "There you go, you might want to check out some of their singles tips, like batch cooking once a month and freezing all of the food, so you only have to warm it up to eat when you want it, saves on cooking during the week."

Bossy as ever Kurt hands the piece of paper over and Will hides his amused smile at being pushed around by a child. He knows he's going to share the advice with Shannon though, she's been complaining about cooking for herself, saying she's bored with all the recipes she's got. "Thanks," he tells Kurt, "I'll check it out that's a really good idea."

He's glad the subject came up because he gets another of those rare sweet smiles, inspired Will tries to keep the conversation going over other shops and bargains and then Kurt wrinkles his nose in mild horror.

Laughing Will apologises, "I should have known better than to try and talk fashion with you Kurt."

"I'm sorry," the fashionata says in that haughty superior tone, "I know that you don't have a lot of money, but those vests," a shudder goes through that thin body. "I mean I've taken over buying David's clothes for him and I'm slowly weaning him off polo's, he wont go for all of my ideas but we are making progress on his wardrobe, however limited our options are by monetary constraints."

Drawing himself up the teen gestures to himself in that over the top way he does and Will struggles to hide another smile, "My own outfits are not to the high standards I would like but I have to buy with an eye to them lasting, and I'm also saving towards a sewing machine so that eventually I will be altering things to my heart's content." Kurt grasps his hands together and practically dances on the spot as he bounces on his heels, "Oh for that joyous day."

Which jogs Will's memory, "Mercedes said she talked to you this morning and that your fashion sense was still in good working order, even if you couldn't fully apply it to yourself," Will had overheard snatches of their meeting though they've been shutting him out lately, so he'd ambushed her on the way to her test, Will grins at Kurt and tells him, "Her words not mine."

His mouth makes an "o" shape, like he's startled and starts to blush, and when Kurt blushes it blooms across his whole face, a lot of girls would kill for that milk maid complexion.

Unhappily Will backtracks in case he's offended Kurt, "I didn't mean to upset you Kurt, and she seemed really happy that you spoke to her. I know she misses you and she practically skipped into the choir room before the tests she was that happy about it."

Frowning Will starts by saying, "I do wish you'd never fallen out in the first place and I really hope you two can patch it up," oh no, Kurt was looking even more upset so Will quickly tacked on, "And here is me lecturing you and trying to tell you what to do, I'm sorry Kurt I know what an incredibly thoughtful and deeply private young man you are, I'll stop prying now."

Will had learnt the hard way that kids like Finn where open and happily came to you, while those like Puck and Kurt only did so when things were so wrong and falling apart that they literally had no choice.

Strangely a thoughtful expression passes over that pale face and Kurt smiles at Will happily, "It's fine Mr Schue and thank you."

"You're welcome," and then he catchs sight of someone walking down the corridor towards them scowling, "Hello David," Will greets the jock having not missed the loving look Kurt had given the bigger boy.

"Hi," Kurt shyly says glancing up at his boyfriend.


Dave:

If been searching for Kurt for twenty freaking minutes and I'm getting really worried, then I happen to pass near the choir room and spot him talking to Mr S. Oh thank god he's okay. They're both standing there smiling and talking but I hurry over anyway just in case the Gleeks have pulled another stunt on Kurt.

If they have they are gonna feel the 'Fury' this time. Kurt's been through enough.

The dreamy loving smile Kurt gives me makes my heart skip a beat and my legs wobble as I get nearer. And my day is suddenly looking up, things must be better between us if he's smiling at me like that.

When my boyfriend looks up at me from under his eyelashes and greets me my breath catches in my throat and my brain shuts down, he's so fucking beautiful. Blinking I somehow regain the power of speech and I can feel my scowl melting away under the happy reassurance of Kurt's steady adoring gaze.

How the fuck was I lucky enough to land him?

"Hey babe, Mr Schue," I answer them and I'm curious so I ask him, "What are you doing outside the Gleek club?"

Have those losers actually grown a pair and asked him to come back? Will he finally get a chance to sing and dance and gossip the way he loves to?


A/N: Sorry for any and all mistakes, I'm only human. And I'm doing my best to keep them all in character but it's hard bouncing from POV to POV.

I refuse to promise how often I'll update this one, its tough to write.