After many requests I have written the next installment of Captain's Orders. I do hope you all enjoy. I honestly don't know how long it will take me to get the next one out, but since the next chapter will probably be the finale I'll try and write it over winter break.

Thank you all for your support and interest in this story! - Heidi

Blaine set the tray of food down and paced his cabin for a while. It was weird wasn't it, what just happened? Then why was he so calm about it? No, no, it wasn't strange; Kurt had just done that because he was so overcome by his emotions.

Why do I want more? What is wrong with me?

Blaine found himself sitting on the floor biting his lip in stressful frustration. He ached at how alone he felt now that Kurt wasn't in his arms. Just that brief moment of affection he felt caught up with every ounce of familiarity he'd ever missed.

He decided that dwelling on whatever it was he was dwelling on was doing him no good so he sat at his desk and ate his, now cold, dinner and went over to his bed to get as much rest as he could manage before the new day.

As usual, Blaine woke from his sleep, only his time he wasn't covered in cold sweat with a heaving chest and a pounding heart. He sat propped up by his elbows perplexed by the change in routine, but eventually dismissed it as it was probably just a fluke.

It was not yet dawn; he guessed around 4 in the morning. This time of year the sun rises around 6, and that is when the crew starts their day. He got up out of bed, lit his lantern, and let his eyes adjust. Since he wasn't very tired he decided to go below deck to the kitchen and clean his dinner plate from last night. He dressed himself and grabbed the plate in one hand while carrying the lantern in the other. He skillfully pushed open his cabin door with his hip, crossed through the threshold, and closed it the same way. He walked below deck and turned to the right when he reached the end of the stairs. He set his tray down on the counter top and set his bowl in a bucket of water with other dishes in it to soak. He looked to his left, down the length of the kitchen. There was one, small, round, window letting in just enough moonlight to emit a blue-white glow in the room. At the far end of the kitchen there was an open doorway that led to a storeroom, only since they gained Kurt's services, and the regular crew's quarters were so packed full, that storeroom now doubled as Kurt's sleeping quarters.

Seeming to have lost all control of his motor skills Blaine found himself walking over to the storeroom. He could just barely see the outline of Kurt's sleeping face.

I just have to see him. Just look. Just.. Just…

He was there. Standing over Kurt as he slept, like a lunatic.

Kurt shifted in his sleep, as though he knew he was no longer alone in his little room.

Time seemed to slow down and Blaine watched the soundly sleeping Kurt for what seemed like an eternity until Kurt's eyes suddenly snapped open. Blaine shuffled backward with a start until he hit a barrel and stumbled backward toward the doorway. Kurt laid there for a while staring at the ceiling. After a few seconds he let his eyelids droop back down, but then he thought about a noise, a noise he may or may not have heard.

Maybe it was in my dream? …Ah well, no harm in checking I suppose.

Kurt opened his eyes and scanned the room until he realized there was a silhouette near the entry way. He sat up in alarm but put too much weight on one arm and WHAM! The hammock flipped over and Kurt fell, face first, onto the floor.

"KURT!...Oh my God… Kurt!"

Kurt's eyes fluttered open, dazed and throbbing in pain, he could barely see in the dim light and his hearing, muffled and distant, made it hard to make out what his company was saying.

Blaine tried again.

"Kurt, God, are you okay? That was a nasty fall you took."

Kurt looked in his direction.

Oh, it's Blaine.

"Shit, your nose is bleeding. Come on, let's get you cleaned up"

Blaine grabbed Kurt's arm and helped him up off the floor. He walked him into the kitchen while Kurt held his face and mumbled incoherently.

"Here, look up," Blaine said holding Kurt's chin and gently forcing it upward.

He reached over and dipped the tip of a rag into a bucket. Kurt winced as his face was dabbed with the salty ocean water. The pain woke him up from his dizzy delusion. He looked at Blaine for a while, studying the features of his face, memorizing his little quirks, but decided it would be strange if he stared for too long so he finally settled on looking off to the side. Blaine finished cleaning the blood from his face and moved over to wash the rag as best he could.

"..Uh-h..Thanks," Kurt said just above a whisper, "but, um.. why were you in my room?"

Blaine shot his head in Kurt's direction, looking utterly horrified. "I uh, I was just–," he stammered, looking hesitant.

Kurt cocked his head with interest, his eyes growing wider with every passing word.

Blaine sighed heavily and then puffed up his chest. "I was just… Checking on you," his eyes darted back and forth, face growing redder by the second. "Okay?" he said with heightened emphasis.

Kurt noticed the panicked look in Blaine's face and decided not to question further.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Thanks then, I guess."

The two sat in silence for some time. Blaine admired Kurt in the moonlight. Kurt pretended he was busy by examining the floorboards and picking at his fingernails. Blaine scooted closer to Kurt and reached out to touch his face. Kurt jumped in surprise, but relaxed into Blaine's hand and then looked at him questioningly.

"Captain? What's—"

"Kurt" Blaine whispered as he leaned closer.

Oh so beautiful his name sounded rolling from Blaine's lips. Kurt. He called me by name. Finally…Finally he... –Why does that make me so happy?

Suddenly realizing how wildly inappropriate the situation was, Kurt snapped back away from the on-coming affection. Blaine was taken aback, and he retracted his hand and spun around quickly to hide the damaged look on his face.

"Blaine, I'm..I'm sorry" Kurt said tenderly as he slid off the counter top.

Kurt walked over to talk to Blaine face-to-face but before he could the boy stormed out and rushed up the stairs out of sight.

Kurt stood there with his hand on his face where Blaine's had just been.

He heard heavy footsteps and a door slam overhead.

I guess that's it, then.