HOLLA!

Obvious disclaimers to the characters and I don't own the lyrics because I am not nearly that cool...

1st March 2012.

He was alone once more. The silence was almost deafening and even though there were the odd noises from outside the room, it seemed quieter than he had ever experienced before in his time in the hospital. Of course he had caused quite a bit of the noise, him and Blaine had got on like a house on fire and so their first proper conversation had continued over several weeks. They had managed to find just about everything to talk about from what their plans were after school, well what they had been until they had met in their unfortunate circumstances, to how crazy their respective Glee clubs were. Both boys found themselves on the verge of wetting themselves as they learnt of both the similarities and differences between them.

But the conversations had been stopped more than once. Being patients did mean that Kurt and Blaine had sessions of chemotherapy, small ones that had only happened once to each of them over since they had first met. But with a couple of days of recovery in a private room, both boys had found themselves alone at different points over the last few weeks. And it was in this state that Kurt Hummel found himself in the morning of that day. He sat staring up at the ceiling, enjoying amusing himself by looking for the cracks in the ceilings, the darker lines that showed the pure what wash's imperfections because nothing was perfect. He hated when something was just pure and perfect, it wasn't feasible and normal so something always had to change, even if it was a new wash of colour on the walls.

He was both glad and a little bored of the solitude. Still a minor, he was confined to the children's part of the hospital where the walls were covered in flowers and trucks and rather disturbingly happy smiling daffodils and the only entertainment lay in the kids toys that were really for the visitors who were that age. It gave him no pleasure or satisfaction to toy with such trivial items, so he was confined to boredom and the depressing daytime TV that held zero interest to him.

However both his boredom and solitude was not to last very much longer. "Hey Kurt." Jeff's mop of blonde hair made an appearance around the door of the ward. Kurt sat up and waved in greeting back at his new friend who was frowning at the empty bed "Where's Blaine?"

Kurt could see the silhouettes of the other boys and felt a pang of sadness that the boy they had come to see clearly hadn't given them the memo they needed "In recovery, he was in chemo two days ago."

Jeff frowned. "I thought he would be out by now."

Kurt shook his head. "You have to be in recovery for two days, it makes sure that the other occupants of the ward don't catch any radiation the body might still be getting rid of."

Jeff sighed. "Okay, we made a wrong judgement there I guess."

Kurt waved it away. "Come on in, you've made the journey. I need some company anyway and I want to hear some more about this twin of Blaine's, Tom."

Jeff blanched, clearly surprised that Blaine had divulged such an important and deep secret so sensitive to someone he barely knew. "Thanks, it seems to become an even longer trek between Dalton and here every time we travel." He leaned out of the door and spoke so that his friends could hear. "Blaine isn't here but Kurt is willing to chat."

"Sounds good to me." Hunter's light voice came through to Kurt's ears. "As long as he's willing to divulge some dirty secrets on the New Directions and their Sectionals plans."

Kurt laughed and called back, a jolly lilt in his voice. "Not gonna happen Hunter!" There was a mock groan from the joint captain. "You are not getting anything from me." He frowned with a small smile on his face. "Why are you lot still out there? Come on in, I don't want to lose my voice."

There was general laughter before the group of boys entered the room. Kurt shifted in his bed and adjusted it so that he was sitting up, his illness did drain his energy from him. Trent smiled at the boy before hoisting himself up onto the bed that was directly next to Kurt. Nick and Jeff grabbed the chairs either side of Kurt's bed, throwing cheeky grins to Hunter and Sebastian who had had the same idea and now looked furious at the boys who had placed the pieces of plastic at Kurt's right hand side. Jon joined Trent on the bed while Hunter ended up throwing himself onto the only other free bed that was opposite Kurt's. The room wasn't that big, the only other bed that was now free was the one that belonged to the missing member of the group.

A comfortable silence settled over the group as the boys settled into where they were. Sebastian had found another chair and put it between the two diagonal beds that held their friends and faced them al. "So…" Jeff started slowly, "how come you know about Tom?"

Just the name and this statement that hadn't been heard by the other boys earlier caused them to look up in surprise. Kurt explained the conversation the two boys had had just a few weeks ago, picking out the more important moments and leaving out the stuff they didn't need to know, not all of it was important. The guys were very good listeners, laughing at the right moments and all appearing very attentive. It wasn't very long a story and the boys were nodding at the end as Kurt finished.

"Something just didn't seem right about the story. Not that Blaine was hiding something from me but that there is a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that is missing."

Nick nodded his assent. "Now that you put it the way you do, I have to agree with you. It's too obvious, too well occurred."

"It is almost as if someone planned it to be that well executed." Sebastian mused, his keen and analytic mind whirring over the events as he had never done before.

They were all thinking about the information they had been given separately and experienced together. No one had really thought of Tom's death as anything but a tragic accident. But now they observed the harsh reality of what had really happened, it did seem odd and just unusual. "I don't think too well executed." Trent mused in thought, "I think it was deliberate but also accidental and it was just well covered up."

Jeff raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I understand what you are saying Trent."

The boy breathed deeply before expanding on this point. "Think about it this way. I think that someone deliberately killed Tom, you got it?" Trent nodded. "But I think his method of killing, the placing and the timing was accidental. I think it was an opportunist killing that had some basis of planning. And then, because it was an accident at the time, the killer made it look as if it was one. Does that make sense?" He queried and there were nods from all over the room.

"That just leaves us with the important questions of who killed Tom and why?" Kurt mused, his eyes slightly glazed over as he considered each of the available options. "What was the motive? Who was there at the time of the murder? How on earth can we know that?"

"Clocking in!" Hunter chimed in almost immediately. Kurt frowned not understanding as the other boys nodded eagerly in agreement, smiles stretching across their faces. How had they not remembered that small factor? "Each boy at Dalton has a pass on a lanyard." Hunter explained to Kurt. "When a boy enters or exits any building around the grounds of Dalton, they have to clock in or out with the pass. That was how they knew Tom was missing; it would be the perfect way to narrow down the field."

Jeff shook his head slightly. "But will they still have the records to show who was in or out of the building?"

Sebastian smirked. "Jeff that is why you have me." He turned to Kurt with a look of satisfaction written in a smirk all over his face. "I used to be a computer hacker, nothing too big, just a hobby of mine. I can access those files, even if they've been deleted, within 15 minutes or so."

Kurt raised an eyebrow. As much as he disliked the boy, he couldn't help but admire the efficiency that he boasted and sort of believed. "That would be great." He looked around at the boys and paused before deciding to continue with the question that had been plaguing his mind for a while. "Can you guys tell me anything more about what happened to Tom?" His voice softened as he noted to himself that a couple of the boys would have been there at the time, trying to sound as sympathetic as he was. "I know a couple of you must have been there but I just want to understand."

The boys glanced at each other. Could they talk about it? Even now, merely the mention of the twin made their skin crawl. It was Nick who lifted his head eventually. "I will."

Nick started right from the very start, from Tom and Blaine's arrival at the school, something that very few of the boys had forgotten. He described in detail the boys they had encountered, their relationship with their siblings and the various teachers. The other boys who had been around at that time added in their own little memories and quips that they remembered. The description of the death shook Kurt right to the core, worse than when Blaine had first told of it. One day he would ask Blaine about it, one day he would find out the truth from the boy's point of view and try to understand it. Nick continued past the death, a haunted ghostly emptiness in his voice as he talked of the funeral and the recovery that all the boys faced themselves as well as dealing with their friend.

"It took a while to even get him to talk again. It had to be the darkest days Dalton had seen in a while. Most of us recovered after a few days, sure the memory lingered in our minds and there was the odd moment, but Blaine just stayed in his room for about three weeks."

"More than that." Trent's voice was an echo of sadness and sorrow. "I was supposed to move into Blaine's room after Tom's death but I didn't change for nearly four weeks as he didn't want to see anyone. He barely ate; we had to put food through a cat flap to make sure he had something." He shook his head. "After that at least he seemed to throw himself even more into Dalton life. He made it into the Warblers and as both a music group and a new family; we were his therapy as he attempted to recover. I don't think he still has in all honesty, he is still recovering. It means we have to stay strong for him. It's the first time he's mentioned Tom almost voluntarily since his death."

Hunter tilted his head and gazed at Kurt with a fixed expression. "You know what Kurt? I think you might be something special." Kurt raised an eyebrow at this rather strange remark, unsure of how to respond, and the other boys turned to look at him in confusion. "I think you might be the one to finally heal Blaine. We've all tried but I have a good feeling about you. Blaine already seems a lot more relaxed than I've seen him since he began to get ill."

Sebastian opened his mouth to object, sure it was the job of the boyfriend and not some random stranger who he had barely met or knew to do such a thing. But then he shut it, silently admitting to himself that it wasn't actually a lie. Blaine had been doing better since he had met Kurt and the boy had even respected their moments of privacy by putting ear buds in and closing the curtains around his bed, he wasn't such a bad guy. He may not be such a bad guy but Sebastian still didn't trust him a little bit, even if he wasn't sure the reason why. Kurt didn't notice this but he was one of the few who didn't.

"I feel bad that I brought it up." Kurt's voice was miserable in its tone and his eyes were cast downwards, his brow creased slightly. "I didn't mean to hurt Blaine by bringing it up and obviously I've reopened a wound with you guys. Can I do anything to make you guys feel better?"

There were protests that it hadn't affected them really but the drop in energy in the room was evident. It was Jon who answered the question and surprised Kurt. "There is actually." All eyes turned to the boy who was smiling, beaming in fact. The boy turned to Kurt, running a coarse hand through his hair. "We've been compiling songs that are Blaine's favourites and each of us has sung a solo." Many of the others could see where and liked where this was going. "Did you say you were a part of your show choir?" Kurt nodded, mutely. "Well it's a 10 track CD and we haven't got a 10th soloist. We got Carlie and a couple of his old Warbler friends to solo the other two tracks but we need a final soloist."

Kurt's jaw dropped open. "Wait, are you asking me to be it?"

Jon shrugged. "You can say no but if you're part of a group that won Nationals, you've got to be pretty god. We and the rest of the Warblers can be your backup as we've done before."

Kurt felt the skin stretch on his face as a smile danced on his lips. "I would be honoured. But how do we record it and what's the song?"

Jon grinned. "If Blaine isn't back, can we visit you tomorrow? I can bring the stuff then. And unless you've been living in the last century, you'll recognise the song."

He glanced to the other boys who nodded in encouragement. Then, as one, they started singing the backing to a song that Kurt agreed he would have to have been living in the last century not to recognise. As it built up, Hunter nodded to Kurt who opened his mouth and began to sing.

You shout it loud,

But I can't hear a word you say

I'm talking loud, not saying much

I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet

The look of surprise showed Kurt that the boys were pleasantly pleased with how well he sung. His pure voice rose up with the others, blending as well as lifting and leading them.

You shoot me down, but I get up
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose

Fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim

Fire away, fire away

As they continued, only Sebastian noticed out of the corner of his eye, there was a small gather at the door. Without anyone else noticing and as he continued to sing, he got up and opened the door so they could hear them better.

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium

Kurt closed his eyes and leaned back as his voice climbed higher, reaching out for the higher notes. As he reached the peak notes, the top ones he would reach for, there was an admiring whoop from Nick who had broken out of the song and it was match by a few of the spectators.

Cut me down, but it's you who'll have further to fall

Ghost town and haunted love

Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones

I'm talking loud, not saying much
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose

Fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim

Fire away, fire away

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium

But Kurt wasn't fazed as he solidly kept singing.

I am titanium
I am titanium
Stone hard, machine gun

Fired at the ones who run

Stone hard, as bulletproof glass
You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

The voices of the boys made him feel so much more than the Glee club had ever had and it was almost effortless the way he soared with the notes and only momentarily did he pause for breath every time he couldn't possibly reach another note without it.

I am titanium

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium

You shoot me down, but I won't fall

I am titanium
I am titanium

And at the end, he was only broken out of his reverie by the cheers and clapping that reached his ears. He opened his eyes and smiled his thanks to the asserted group of patients, doctors and visitors at the door. He inclined his head slightly and indicated the other Dalton boys who were following his example. Eventually it died down and the group dispersed, leaving the boys and Kurt alone once more.

"That was such a rush." Kurt breathed with a wide smile. "Thank you so much, i would adore to record that for Blaine. If you will let me of course." He added quickly.

Nick breathed deeply before smiling broadly. "That has got to be the most amazing performance of Titanium I have ever heard." There were cheers of assent and all the boys had mouths that were slightly dropped open in surprise. Kurt nodded deferentially to them, a smile curling up at the corners of his lips. "Okay, you lot can stop looking like goldfish. Please tell me you've never heard or seen a countertenor before…"

This did cause them to close all their mouths although Sebastian's mouth shot straight open as he fought back to reply. "It isn't every day you come across one and one who has such a range as you. Has Blaine ever heard you sing?"

Kurt shook his head. "We've both been pretty exhausted recently and I've never heard him sing something except at competitions but not impromptu."

"Why didn't you ever get more solos at the competitions?" Jeff suddenly demanded and Kurt laughed at the indignation in his voice. "You must have had, what, one line at Nationals? How thick is your teacher to not be able to see your talent."

Kurt sighed and smiled gratefully at Jeff. "Mr Schue was blinded by the admittedly strong talented girl Rachel who you would have seen taking most of the solos. She's so overbearing when it comes to singing that as much as she can be a sweetheart, she is a total control freak and will go crazy if she doesn't get her way."

"Let me guess." Jon smiled lazily, sensing Kurt's anger boiling up slightly. "And every time you try to come in with an idea or ask for a solo, he points out the one that you had that wasn't even for a competition and doesn't seem to see the fact that she has represented you at every event?"

Kurt gaped; it was exactly what he was going to say. "How do you know?"

Jon shrugged. "It was like that at my middle school except the person who got the solos was just annoying and a control freak. She wouldn't listen to anyone else and persuaded the teacher that they didn't need anyone in the group but her. Of course when she got too big for her boots and decided to go out to the competition alone, she was crushed as she had no backup and while she had a good pair of lungs on her, there was no support."

Kurt cracked a smile, it sounded like Rachel could have used that earlier in her career. "Wow, that must have taken her down a peg or two."

Jon smirked. "Yeah, she quit the club and we went on to win our state choir competition because we didn't have her and sounded better without her."

At that moment before any of the other boys could chip in with their own stories, Dr Green popped his head around the door. "Kurt?" He asked softly.

Kurt smiled in greeting to the older man. "Hi Dr Green, can I help you?"

Dr Green chuckled. "I think I'm the one who is supposed to be helping you right now. Great job earlier, you have a fantastic voice."

Kurt ducked his head, embarrassed. "Thank you, I'm sorry if we caused any disturbances."

Dr Green shook his head. "Stop being so hard on yourself Kurt. It was a great relief to hear something as beautiful as that wafting out of the door into the corridor rather than the usual blare of utter rubbish we are subjected to each day."

There were a few smiles at this almost wistful tone to his voice. "Can we help you with anything else sir?" Hunter stood respectively and turned towards the doctor who was smiling.

He shook his head and indicated the clock. "Only one thing. I'm sorry to say but its closing time for visitors."

Sebastian started wide eyed. One thing that Kurt had learnt about the Dalton boys was that they were always out before closing time for visitors and they had made it a habit of never over staying their welcome. "I'm sorry Dr Green, how could we have been so foolish to not notice that." Nick muttered as the boys quickly scrambled up. Jon and Trent helped Hunter smooth down the sheets of the beds they had perched themselves on. Sebastian, Nick and Jeff returned the chairs to where they had been and the boys were ready to go in under two minutes.

"Thanks for staying guys." Kurt smiled weakly. "I really appreciate hearing all the stuff that you told me, it must have been hard."

Trent smiled gently. "Hey, you are on the same road as us, trying to finally solve the mystery that we've been pondering for years. I'm personally glad that we have a fresh mind and look on it from you."

One by one, the boys smiled and waved Kurt goodbye before they all left. The energy in the room had been lifted slightly since the performance and Kurt leant back on the pillows, waiting almost too eagerly for the food to come, however disgusting it was. It was something to look forward to and now, when he had the list of people who were out of the buildings on the night of the murder, he might start to finally work out what had happened.

What do you think? Did it work? Did you enjoy it?!