Authors Note: So I most definitely was not expecting the great reactions from the 'Cows' chapter. And yes, psycho cow actually has a meaning to it. Lima is considered a "Cow town". Just think about it. And my own experiences led to that little guy. Fair warning, this chapter will be a bit more angsty, but I promise the fluff will return. As for Glee, I still don't own it.

Ever since the incident with the truck, Kurt wasn't sure how to act around Dave. Of course the two did everything they normally had been doing. Swimming, playing video games, fighting over which music to play in the car, that stuff. But there was also the other things that they couldn't really explain; the lingering touches, the locking gazes, the unspoken words.

Kurt felt like he should say something to Karofsky; maybe crack a joke about everything that happened? So as they lay in their beds one night about a week after everything happened. (Dave had won control of the radio and Pitbull currently came through the speakers.) Kurt was just about to confront the other male when he suddenly spoke up.

"Are you going to tell me about your irrational fear of cows and the dark?"

Kurt gaped at him for a moment before shrugging his shoulders as if it didn't bother him. "I went to a farm once on a trip to my grandparents. The cow started chewing on my hair and ruined my new McQueen sweater. And I swear the thing tried to head-butt me when I was feeding the chickens."

Dave let out a snort but otherwise didn't comment. The two lay in silence for a few minutes before the jock spoke up once again. "And the dark?" he asked quietly.

Kurt took in a shuddering breath; he'd never talked about this before with anyone. "When I was eight years old my mother passed away from leukemia." He whispered, the disc finally ending and leaving them in an eerie silence. "Every night, she would tuck me into bed, kiss my forehead, and wish me goodnight. She'd always leave my nightlight on." He swallowed past the lump that formed in his throat. "She told me as long as that light was on, I'd always be protected."

Dave had remained unchanged during Kurt's exchange, but he had the sudden urge to reach out and hold the small boy.

"After she died, my dad took over the role. He tuck me in, kissed my forehead, and wished me goodnight. But he never flicked on that nightlight." He swiped away a tear that had somehow escaped before looking down at his tremulous hands. "He didn't know. It was a mother and son thing. But I was so scared. I felt so unprotected that my mom wasn't there to turn on that light."

Kurt finally choked and his small body shook softly. Dave stood then, walking over and sitting down, bringing the boy into his arms once more. He thought back on how Kurt always kept his laptop open, running on the bright screen saver over his side of the room. He wondered how he didn't notice the way Kurt was seriously panicking that night. He rubbed soothing circles on Kurt's back until the tears subsided.

"When did…uh…when did she pass away?"

"August 16th." He whispered simply, a few more tears escaping.

"Kurt, you know you're safe with me. Right?"

"I do now." He whispered.

Kurt would have thought that the rest of the day would have been awkward, but once again it was the same. He glances out the window at the storm going on outside. Lightning strikes every few minutes followed by a crash of thunder as the rain pelts down on the glass door. He nearly jumps when Dave shouts out.

"That's a cheap move, Hummel!"

"Kicking someone in the balls is not a cheap move."

"Man, I didn't even know you could do that on here!"

"My character likes to play dirty. Don't you learn that in fight club?"

"How did you know about fight club?"

"Ah, ah, ah, David. Don't you know the first rule about fight club?

Dave grumbled and stuck out his tongue before blowing up Kurt's head.

"Real mature David, real mature."

The television goes static for a moment before shutting off completely along with the rest of the power, leaving them in the grayed light from the storm. It's only six so it doesn't get dark until nine, Kurt keeps telling himself, not letting the small ounce of panic hit him. He is not about to ask Dave to go get a flashlight. Paul comes into the room with a small smile. "Good thing I just finished ordering the pizza or we wouldn't have many options." He laughs.

Kurt smiles and glances up when he notices Dave stand. "I'll be right back." The jock announces without giving anyone a chance to respond before he's out the door.

Dave idly realizes that this is the first time he's been alone in his truck since Hummel got there. He finds the empty passenger seat unnerving and wishes he took the other boy with him. But he knows that Kurt would be just plain embarrassed if he came along. Dave pulls into the home depot, walking in with a small smile on his face as he goes exactly where he needs to.

Kurt chews on his slice of pizza when Dave walks into the house, walking right past them with a mumbled hello.

"David, come get some pizza!" Paul calls.

"In a minute! I'm soaked through!" his son returns.

Kurt continues to chew, staring at the battery operated clock on the wall. 8:30pm. He can see that it's almost dark and he can't really focus. He would normally use his laptop, but he didn't charge it last night, so the stupid thing won't turn on. He doesn't want to have to press a button on his cellphone or IPod every 30 seconds to keep it lit. So in general; he's freaking out.

"Hey Hummel! Can you come help me with something real quick?" he hears Dave call from somewhere upstairs. Kurt excuses himself from the table and approaches the stairs, swallowing as he looks at the near darkness, the only light from the small skylight in the ceiling. He quickly makes his way up.

"Dave, where are you?" he asks quietly.

"In our room!" he calls. Kurt tries to ignore the warmth that spreads through him when Dave calls it their room instead of just his. He cautiously walks to the room but stops at the door. "Dave. I uh…I can't go in."

"Is it because it's dark?" comes Dave's voice from somewhere inside.

"Yeah…" he whispers embarrassedly.

"Thought so." He responds. Kurt blushes and is almost angry that Dave called him up here when he knew that Kurt was-Oh.

Dave smiles from inside the room at him. The room is now flooded in a dim light and Kurt walks in, looking at the small battery operated nightlight hanging on the wall above Kurt's bed. His heart clenches when he looks up at Dave with a small smile.

"There's one in almost every room in the house that we can leave on in case the power goes out again randomly. It tends to do that sometimes.." Dave responds, running a hand through his hair.

Kurt doesn't really know what he's doing and Dave soon finds himself with an armful of a crying Kurt Hummel.

"Dude, I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm happy, Dave." Comes the muffled reply from the small soprano. Dave smiles and wraps his arms around the boy. "Thank you."

"No problem." The jock smiles.

"And Dave?"

"Yeah Kurt?"

"Don't call me dude."