The court erupted in loud murmurs, gasps and Kurt couldn't help but contribute to the noise. It should have been completely obvious, since he looked nothing like Mr. Buchanan, but he just didn't think that a family like Blaine's could have such skeletons in the closet. Flashes become blinding as the news reporters took snapshots of Senator Buchanan's snarky expression, Mrs. Buchanan's shame and Blaine's look that said that he just wanted to hide under a rock. He had closed his eyes, and his head was supported by his hands, laced together in a fist that connected with his forehead. Kurt had to admit, it would have been a lovely picture if the circumstances had been different. Any reporter that got a decent shot would probably make the front page of the political section. Headline: When Politics Come Home-The Tragedy of Ohio Royalty.

"Order! Order!" Judge O'Connor commanded with her gavel. Kurt couldn't help but close his eyes and imagine that they weren't in a courtroom, that it was Wes banging the wooden hammer to call an Emergency Meeting of the Warblers Council to order. The jury was gone, and the only way issues were decided was through a short discussion followed by a majority vote by hand raising. There were no cameras, no money, no lives on the line, just petty little complaints like what color uniform to wear or what song to perform. Blaine had an upper hand in that courtroom, but here, he was just as helpless as anyone else.

The jury finally settled down and Senator Buchanan had time to drive Blaine and the prosecution further into the ground with his opening statement. When he was finished, he connected eyes with George. It was like a playground showdown, when the bully connects with his victim and silently says this isn't over. Kurt knew that the prosecution needed to have one hell of a case. He only hoped that they would bring it.


There was break a few hours into the trial, and Blaine couldn't have felt more relieved. He ran down the hall and to the bathroom before any of the media could find him and ask him any questions. The men's room in the courthouse was kept immaculately, so he could see his expression perfectly in the mirror as he ran past it, into the stall and fell to his knees while he gagged. He felt all the blood rush to his head as he tried desperately to expel the embarrassment and shame from inside him, but to no avail. He coughed, which shook his glasses off his face and into the bowl. Dammit. He plucked them out and retreated out of the stall with his eyes squinted and his hands out in front of him to keep him from falling over. He heard the door open, and then a pair of hands rested on his shoulders. "George?"

"Close," Kurt said as he guided him over to the sink. Blaine felt for the water faucets and missed a few times before he could finally grip it. "No, Blaine, you'll burn your hand off." Kurt's hand rested on top of Blaine's and set it on the cold water faucet, which Blaine turned. "You really are blind, aren't you? What happened to your glasses?"

"Not important." He rinsed them under the water, and then dried them on his tie. When he opened his eyes, everything was blurry for the moment he didn't have them on, but then Kurt came into complete focus, smiling at him.

"Better? Well…at least your eyes are. You look awful. I mean, you don't look well." Blaine turned toward the mirror and saw the two of them, inches away from each other, looking in the same direction at the same person, him. He was shades paler than he had been when he entered the courtroom that morning. His eyes were red around the edges from the times he'd hidden his face to hold back tears, though it probably would have helped the jury in their decisions. He ran his fingers through his hair so often that it had fallen out of place. He sighed and looked down at their feet. "I feel awful. He's throwing the punches all at once, and I hate that my life had to be exposed this way, in front of everyone, by people other than me." He turned his face up to Kurt. "This isn't how it was supposed to happen, but I just couldn't bring myself to say it first." He looked around, and then dragged Kurt into the larger stall and locked the door. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "You haven't even seen it all. Not the worst of it." Kurt stood still just inches from Blaine.

"Do you know who your real father is?"

"I have a guess, but I'm not allowed to know until I'm 18. I can wager though, that my 'dad' will let it slip by the end of the trial though. That's his whole case, pretty much. He's vicious…" Kurt gave Blaine a once over and saw his posture slip into a slouch.

"This may sound a tad juvenile, but I think you need to sing something."

"Kurt, this isn't the time-"

"I don't care if you burst into a show tune in the middle of the courtroom. You are turning into a shell of your former self and the first day of the trial isn't even over yet! I won't lose you because of a man who is only out for his own gains. Just hum yourself a little tune if you have to. Please…you need to refuel and you live off music." Blaine wouldn't look up at him, so Kurt took his hand and gently took Blaine's chin to look up at him. The darker haired boy was about a foot shorter than Kurt because of his slouch. "Please, Blaine? You're killing me here. I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to look more put together. If you don't…you might not get even your mom's custody, but you might be put away to some hospital for not-put-together boys!"

"Kurt! Stop it! You're not making this better! This isn't time for jokes…"

"It isn't? Well it would be nice to see some form of life on your face! Some sign that says 'it's going to be okay'! Is that too much to ask, Blaine? Too much?"

"You don't understand!"

"Then help me understand, Blaine! I may not know what it's like to be in the middle of a divorce, or to be the child of an affair, but I do know what it's like to lose someone I love desperately! Do NOT make me go through that again, Blaine Anderson, do NOT!" Kurt grabbed the door and threw it open in anger, only to walk right into a body. "Oh, sorry sir."

"Don't be!" Kurt's eyes widened. He looked up and found himself staring into the smirk of Senator Buchanan.


So I know that this is almost a sin to publish with it being so short, but I will definitely make up for it in later chapters! I was just so tired and it was a nice place to stop! I still love reviews to know if I'm doing things well or not! Thanks for reading! =]