Author's Note:

Okay, I'm feeling generous. A few more of you blessed me with some reviews, and that last episode of the show ("Rumors") had some great moments for Sam - he's such a sweetheart. By the way, I knew Dave had a thing for Sam, why else would he be checking out his ass in "Born This Way"? ;-)

Anyhoo, I usually update on Saturday, but I'll send this one out on Friday to share my good mood. Here ya go!

Don't know anything, don't know anyone, and certainly don't own anything. Please feel free to review with constructive criticism, etc.

06 - Band-Aid

"Guys, can we talk?" Blaine asked.

"Sure," Wes said. He and David led Blaine to a table in the corner of the Dalton cafeteria.

"I've been thinking over the past week or so," Blaine said, playing with his cup.

Wes and David just sat quietly, looking at him expectantly.

"I ... guys..." Blaine shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Guys, I'm thinking about leaving Dalton." He waited for them to say something, but they just waited. "I'm thinking about transferring to McKinley with Kurt." He waited a little bit longer. "Are you going to say anything?"

"We were wondering how long it would take you," Wes said, before taking a sip of his latte.

"Yeah, watching you two together was getting to us all," David said, shaking his head.

Blaine looked a little hurt.

"I mean, looking at the two of you together was bad," David started. "Seeing you without him is worse."

"Even just when you're talking about him," Wes said.

"You're eyes just ... sparkle," David said. "Wes doesn't even look like that when he's with Diana."

"You're just all sappy," Wes said looking at David with a grin. David nodded at him. "David doesn't act like that when he's talking to Sara."

David shook his head. "You're making us all look bad."

"And feel bad," Wes nodded.

Blaine broke a smile and laughed softly. "So you're okay with it?"

"We're not gonna say that we like it," David said. "I mean, first we lose Kurt and now you. Our prospects for any competition wins are quickly evaporating."

"Blaine, I know you didn't tell us everything that happened to you before you transferred," Wes said, now more serious. "I know there's a lot of shit that went down that you never mentioned." Blaine arched an eyebrow at Wes' use of profanity, as he wasn't usually the type. "I know there's heartache there that goes beyond anything you may be able to put into words. So you deserve to be happy, and Kurt seems to do that for you."

"We're gonna miss the hell out of you, man," David said, "but Wes is right. You deserve it." Blaine looked down wiping at his eyes. "You know Jeff's gonna miss you a lot. For some reason the kid looks up to you."

"No accounting for taste, huh?" Blaine finally managed.

"Nope," David said.

"You do have to promise one thing though," Wes said.

"Two actually," David said.

"First you have to come back and jam with us from time to time," David said. "And it wouldn't hurt if you brought Kurt with you, too."

"You also have to come help sing us out at graduation," Wes said smiling.

"You got it," Blaine said smiling. He stood and hugged them both.

"Come on," Wes said. "We'll go help you break it to the others."

"Most of them have been waiting for it since Kurt left though," David said as they walked toward the door.

"I am going to miss you guys."

A few days later Sam was on 'guard duty' again. He leaned against the row of lockers waiting for Kurt so that they could walk to practice together. Kurt had explained to the others that Dave had apologized, but they remained in protective mode.

Kurt had just closed his locker when he looked up to find Dave closing his across the hall. Dave smiled and nodded toward him. He smiled back and then the two headed in their own directions.

Sam noted the exchange. "Kurt you have got to be way stronger than me."

Kurt looked at him curiously.

"With all that Karofsky put you through, I just don't know if I could have forgiven him that easily."

"There were some ... extenuating circumstances," Kurt said after some careful thought.

"Okay," Sam said not looking very convinced by the explanation. "Well, if you're good then I'm good, I guess."

"I should thank you," Kurt said.

"Why?"

"Well this is the second shiner you've gotten on my behalf," Kurt said smiling at him.

"What?" Sam said with genuine surprise. He had told everyone that he'd smacked himself while opening his locker, intentionally leaving any mention of Dave out of it.

"Dave told me," Kurt said. "Besides, the lockers open the wrong way. You would have had to have slammed your head in your locker for the cut and bruising to be on that side." Kurt grinned.

Sam winced at the stupidity of the failed attempt at a cover up, still, no one else had pointed out the oversight. "Well I figured I'd do better with a matched set." They both laughed and Sam thought for a moment. "Dave? When did you start calling him Dave?"

"We both kind of decided that neither of us really liked the old Karofsky, so we figured that Dave would be a fresh start."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Sam said after giving it some thought. "You know, he is a pretty cool guy once you get past that attitude of his. Extenuating circumstances, huh?"

Kurt shrugged and nodded.

"Oh well, let's get to class."

Blaine smiled as Kurt entered the passenger side of his car. The two shared a quick kiss as Kurt pulled on his seatbelt, and then Blaine started driving.

"Blaine, are you sure about this?" Kurt asked.

"Yes, I'm sure," Blaine said smiling at him.

"I just want you to be sure you're sure."

"That's why we're doing this shadow visit thing, remember? Besides," he shrugged, "like I told you, it's been eating at me that I'm a year behind because I ran from my problems. You inspire me so much, Kurt, on so many different levels. Seeing you face your fear and diving back into it..." Blaine sighed. "Plus, tuition at Dalton is steep and I've been feeling guilty about putting my parents to the financial hardship. Besides, it's greener; we can carpool and save loads of gas." He sighed again. "Damn it, I miss you. Okay, there, I said it."

Kurt smiled broadly, as Blaine glanced over at him. At the next stop light, he leaned over and gave Blaine another kiss. "Hey, take the next left. It'll bring you straight around to the student lot instead of going all the way around the school."

Blaine put on his turn signal and entered the left turn lane. "I'm just glad that I live close enough to Lima to be able to choose McKinley as my school. There's no way I'd want to transfer back to my old school!"

"Hey, Dave," Sam called as he came jogging toward Dave.

"Oh, hey, Sam," Dave said smiling. "Not many people call me that."

Sam shrugged. "Kurt said you preferred it, so I figured I'd oblige ... if it's alright."

"Karofsky hasn't been very nice to people, so I figured he needed a time out," Dave said. "So, please, yeah, call me Dave."

"Well, I'd just been noticing that Dave hadn't been having much fun lately," Sam said. "You're keeping to yourself a lot and ... well, how 'bout some lunch?"

"Really?"

"Hey, don't look so shocked. I ... what you did ... taking a look at yourself, figuring out that you'd done something wrong and then making it right... That takes guts ... that's the type of person I'd like as a friend."

Dave blushed.

"Well, how 'bout it?" Sam said, smiling brightly.

"Sure, just let me dump my stuff in my locker."

Blaine had been enrolled at McKinley for about a week. He had settled into his classes fairly easily, and had been welcomed into New Directions with open arms. They had offered to forgo the usual audition, since they'd all heard his solos at both Sectionals and Regionals, but he had insisted. For his audition, he chose a duet with Rachel, telling them that he wanted to see if it sounded better sober. It had.

Most of the others were already in the practice room as Blaine and Kurt walked down the hall. Suddenly they were both shoved against the lockers.

"Hello lovebirds!" It was a gang of hockey players. "We figured it was about time for your welcoming toast." They all held slushee cups filled to capacity.

"Guys this is really getting ridiculous!" Kurt yelled. "At least the football players had the decency to hit and run."

"Oh shut up you little homo!" the tallest one said.

"Leave them alone Tyner!" Dave yelled shoving his way past the gang to stand in front of Kurt.

"Well if it isn't the wannabe," Tyner said.

"Wannabe nothing," Dave said, rolling his eyes. "I quit the hockey team for something better, namely the championship football team."

Kurt arched an eyebrow. He noticed the other glee kids crowding through the doorway, and saw Rachel run down the hall toward the auditorium.

"This is between us and the ladies Karofsky," Tyner said, to a chorus of "yeah's" from his cohorts.

Dave was breathing heavy now, his jaw clenched tightly. "Just lay off, Tyner."

"Dave," Kurt said from behind him. "It's okay."

"See the ladies are thirsty Karofsky."

Dave glanced back to Kurt. "No, it's not. Not anymore." He turned back to glare at Tyner. "If you're gonna throw then throw, otherwise shut up and fuck off."

"Ladies first," Tyner said. "These are for the queers; we'll go get you some afterwards.

That was it. Dave felt something inside snap. Before it would have meant his fist would fly, but not this time. "Well if you're starting with the queers ... then ... go ahead and start with me."

Kurt's eyes grew wide and Blaine let out a quiet, "Shit!"

Most of the hockey players lowered their cups out of pure shock, but Tyner held fast squinting at Dave. "Here ya go then, fag!" He slowly dumped the cup over Dave's head.

Icy blue liquid ran down Dave's hair and face. Kurt quickly pressed his hand against the collar of Dave's letter jacket, preventing it from running inside and down his back. Dave's fists balled as he shuddered from the cold.

Before anyone else knew what was happening Mr. Deen had hold of the back of Tyner's letter jacket. Mr. Schuester slammed a large trash can onto the floor.

"That's enough!" Schuester yelled.

"More than enough," Deen said, almost growling.

"Cups in the can, NOW!" Schuester barked.

"Will?" Deen said.

"I got it," Schuester said.

"Okay, everyone in a letter jacket, except the three behind me," Deen said, indicating Finn, Puck and Sam, "follow me. We're going to see Principal Figgins." A few started to protest that they hadn't actually thrown their slushees. "NOW!" he yelled.

Sam walked over to Dave. "Are you alright?"

Dave ground his teeth, fighting a shiver. He wasn't sure if it was the ice or the realization of what he'd just done sinking in. He didn't remember the last slushee being anywhere near this cold, so he was beginning to suspect the latter.

"Extenuating circumstances, huh?" Sam said looking at Kurt. Kurt gave him a crooked half smile.

"Why don't you guys go help him get cleaned up," Schuester said.

"Yeah, come on," Blaine said grabbing Dave's shoulder and turning him in the direction of the boy's locker room.

Sam turned and retrieved Dave's backpack from where he had dropped it and followed them.

"The rest of you get back to class or wherever you're supposed to be," Schuester said.

The glee kids filed back into the practice room, all of them in a daze.

"Did what I think happened, really just happen?" Puck asked as he sunk onto one of the chairs.

"If you mean somebody standing up to a slushee ambush, yeah," Mercedes said. "And if you're talking about Karofsky just telling everybody that he was gay, yeah I think that just happened too."

"That's what I saw," Lauren said, looking at the Cadbury Egg she held in her hand then putting it back away. For once her heart just wasn't in it.

"Did you know anything about this?" Rachel asked Finn.

"No, not a clue," Finn said, shaking his head. "Mr. Schue?"

Schuester sat down on his stool shaking his head. "I think we we're all in the dark on this one."

In the boys locker room Blaine and Kurt led Dave to one of the benches. Sam grabbed several towels from the stack. He placed Dave's backpack under the bench beside him and offered him one of the towels.

"Wow," Blaine said breaking the silence.

"Are you alright Dave?" Kurt asked.

Dave sat stunned.

"Dave, man," Sam said, "that took massive guts. I ... wow."

"Dave, come on, man, say something, anything," Blaine said.

"Band-aid," Dave said, beginning to towel off his face.

"I beg your pardon?" Kurt asked.

"Band-aid," Dave said again. "I couldn't just stand by and watch anymore. I had to do something. Then when it came down to it, I remembered Derrick saying something about making it quick, like ripping off a band-aid."

"I'm not exactly sure that's what he had in mind," Blaine said hazarding a small chuckle.

Dave laughed dryly as well. "I just couldn't stand it anymore. I can't do this anymore. I can't pretend anymore." He absently toweled his hair then the front of his shirt. "The mask is just too tight; I can't breathe anymore."

Blaine and Kurt both looked at him knowingly. Sam stared in awe.

"Let's get you out of those wet things," Kurt said. "Do you have a change in your locker?"

"Uh, yeah," Dave said removing his jacket and shirt. He kicked off his shoes as Kurt went over to his locker to grab something for him to change into. Placing his socks in his shoes, Dave stood and slid off his jeans. Taking the towel that Sam offered, he went into the showers.

Blaine and Kurt sat on the bench leaning against one another, while Sam leaned against the lockers.

Kurt watched Sam as he stared off into space. "Are you alright, Sam?"

Sam started back to reality, at least part way. "Yeah. I think he's the bravest person I've ever met."

Blaine shrugged, before leaning his head on Kurt's shoulder. The three enjoyed a comfortable silence for several moments before Blaine said, "Maybe I should just bite the bullet; slushee myself and get it over with. What's your favorite flavor?"

Kurt arched an eyebrow, "Why? Do you want me to lick it off?"

Blaine smirked then cleared his throat, shrugging. It started slowly, and then the laughter built. The tension was officially cut.

Coach Beiste came in as Dave exited the showers, a towel wrapped around his waist. She followed him over to the bench where the others were. "Hey guys," she said to the others, then turned to Dave. "I heard what happened. Are you doing okay kid?"

"Not the first time I've been slusheed," Dave said, still looking blank.

"I'm thinking it's the first time you've come out though," she said kindly.

"Oh that," he said absently as he sat down on the bench. "Yeah, that was the first time I ... said it." He glanced over at Kurt who patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.

"You got guts kid, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise," she told him.

Deen walked in. "Everything okay, Shan?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so Danny," she said smiling at him. "I'll let you get dressed," she told Dave then walked around to the other side of the bank of lockers. She turned to Deen and poked him in the chest. "Mr. Hold-Out."

He looked at her innocently.

"So, how long have you known?" she asked.

He shrugged.

The coach considered for a minute. "The baseball field... I wondered why you had to go all the way to the top of the bleachers to discuss extra credit."

He half smiled.

"Ya big softy!" She said, draping an arm across his shoulder and kissing him on the forehead.

Dave came round the lockers followed by the other three.

"Are you alright?" Deen asked him. Coach Beiste removed her arm from his shoulder as he stepped forward toward Dave.

"I need to tell my parents ... before they hear it from somewhere else." Dave's voice was quiet and even. He seemed numb.

Deen nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Dave nodded. "Please."

"Do you want some more company?" Kurt asked. "We can stay outside. Just be there so you're sure that someone's in your corner."

"Help you celebrate ... or commiserate ... whichever the case may be," Blaine said.

He looked at them both. "Yeah, I think I could use that."

"I should probably excuse myself," Sam said sadly. "I'm not exactly a member of the club." He walked over to Dave and offered his hand. When Dave took it, he pulled him into a half hug. "Good luck man."

"Thanks," Dave said then watched him go.

"Come on, I'll drive," Deen said.

"Good luck," said Coach Beiste as she watched them go.

End notes:

Thanks again, hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to let me know one way or the other.

By the way, I'm just going to flat out apologize if my characterization of Blaine seems a little more like Darren. I'm beginning to think that Blaine Anderson and Darren Criss are either identical, but opposite, twins or some sort of "Jekyll and Hyde". I can't be the only one to have noticed that they look the same, but different. Darren's hair naturally parts (if you can call it that) on the right through his curls, while Blaine's parts on the left and is always slicked down with the gel. Blaine is more stayed, but he's got that mischievous yet not quite readable grin plastered on, while Darren is always boisterous, on the verge of bouncy. I just don't think either of them could stand to be in a room filled with tension without trying to break it. Jekyll and Hyde I tell you! :-)