Chapter 10 Awaken
Disclaimer: I do not own glee in any way, shape, or form.
A/N: Hello, Readers… It certainly has been awhile, hasn't it? For that, I greatly apologize. Life has a way of throwing many other things at you. I've also had a Puckurt story taking up a majority of my thoughts lately that I've been plotting and planning. Here, though, is the next installment of Shot Into Love to which I hope you enjoy. Since it has been quite some time, I will include a small piece of the last chapter as a reminder to where we are in the story. Let the drama begin…
**Kurt and Dave**
PREVIOUSLY ON SHOT INTO LOVE – "Someone will be out shortly to give you all an update." With that, she not-so-subtly guided them out the door and in the direction of the badly decorated waiting room.
"What's wrong? Why did you guys leave him?" Paul asked.
"Dr. Richardson is going to be in there in a minute to examine Dave. He still seems stable but I swear his fingers moved. I had him try again in case it was only my imagination. I was so glad I wasn't imagining that."
"Oh thank goodness. Let's hope he comes back with good news."
The pacing continued until the doctor stopped in the doorway and said, "Mr. Karofsky…"
*GLEE*
"Mr. Karofsky… I have great news. Once the nurse explained what Kurt had told her, I did a few simple tests. It looks like David is regaining consciousness. We're going to run a few more blood tests, and then hopefully move him to a different room out of the ICU. If he does well within the next few days, I don't see any problem with him going home."
"Thank you so much Dr. Richardson." Relief was clearly evident in the elder Karofsky's tired voice.
"One of the good points in my job. A nurse will be out in a little bit to get you and take you on up to Dave's new room."
An Hour Later…
A pretty nurse in lavender colored scrubs guided Paul, Kurt, Mercedes, and Burt into a room with a single bed. David was wearing an oxygen mask and seemed to be resting comfortably. He even seemed to have more color in his cheeks. The nurse introduced herself as Lucy and told them she'd be David's nurse until the next shift change. She also informed them that while Dave wasn't in a coma, he was on pain medication and other drugs so it wouldn't be a surprise if he slept more than he was awake. Lucy quickly checked the boy's vitals and silently slipped from the room.
Burt and Paul took up a position on Dave's right side while Kurt and Mercedes settled on the left. Everyone silently watched Kurt wrap his hand ever-so-gently around the injured teen's hand. Everybody was surprised when Burt patted Dave's leg and began to speak, "he Dave. I'm glad to see you're hanging in there. I know this won't be the only time I'm gonna be sayin' this, but thank you for what you did. You told me you'd protect my son, and that's exactly what you did. You also said you were gonna prove yourself. You did that too. I know this is unimportant but for both our sakes I'm going to say it: the past is done; it's forgotten. From now on we focus on getting you back on your feet. Paul, you've got yourself one hell of a kid."
"Thanks Burt. I think we both got lucky in that department. David, son, I want you to rest. Give your body some time to heal. We'll all be here waiting for you."
"Paul? Dad? Do you think it would be okay if I stay here with Dave tonight? I really don't want to leave him," Kurt asked, almost sure the answer would be no. Since his gaze was so focused on where Dave's hand lay in his, he missed the silent conversation that passed between the dads.
"Let me go check with the nurse to make sure it's okay," Paul replied before retreating from the room.
Kurt's gaze snapped up to his father's grinning face. "Really? I figured you'd say no."
"The way I see it, if you're at home and not here then you'll only stay up all night worrying about him. So if you're here you'll be able to see for yourself that he's okay."
"Thanks for understanding Dad."
"No problem bud."
"I had to do a little sweet talking, but the nurses finally gave the okay," Paul stated with a smile.
A shuffle from the bed quickly drew everyone's attention. Long, lush eyelashes fluttered swiftly against smooth cheeks before slowly creeping open. A set of beautiful green eyes soon found and focused on a certain pair of watery glasz ones. A soft murmur of, "Kurt," and a slight lift of a corner of a mouth was all that occurred before the injured jock easily drifted back into sleep. The room's four other occupants shared an astonished look before they all broke out into smiles. Dave was going to be okay.
The night dragged on in a similar manner. Dave would occasionally shift in his sleep, Kurt slept awkwardly off and on in an uncomfortable hospital chair, and nurses would come in and out throughout the night and check Dave's vitals.
Come morning, a gentle hand on Kurt's shoulder roused him from sleep. He came to and looked up into the loving eyes of Mercedes Jones who was currently extending a cup of coffee his way. He gently wrapped his hands around the cup and tentatively took a sip. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. How'd it go last night?" Mercedes asked, pulling a chair up next to his.
"Relatively uneventful which I'm looking at as a good thing. He'd start to come to a few times but was quick to slip back to sleep."
"That's good. And how are you holding up baby boy?"
"I completely detest these hideously uncomfortable chairs. If you're sitting here for any length of time worrying about the well-being of a loved one, you'd think they'd at least make an attempt to allow you to have a margin of comfort but no. Other than that I guess I'm okay. I just really wish David would fully wake up. I won't be able to completely relax until he does."
"I can't begin to tell you how glad I am to see you're all sunshine and rainbows this morning," she deadpanned.
"Oh, shut up."
"Drink your coffee."
"What lovely commentary to wake up to," a gruff voice rasped out. The bickering pair jumped out of their seats.
"David, you're awake!" Kurt exclaimed.
"How you feeling, boo?" Mercedes asked.
"Water?" Dave moaned.
"Oh!" Mercedes was quick to pour a cup of water from the container left on the bedside table and placed the straw to the boy's lips, allowing him to take several sips.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Kurt inquired.
They watched as the teen closed his eyes and tried to search his memory for what took place. His eyes flew open. "Azimio. He had a gun. He was gonna shoot Kurt. Oh God! Kurt, did he hurt you?"
"Calm down. Physically, I'm perfectly fine. You pushed me out of the way at the last minute. You were shot David."
"I was shot. What…" Dave went to shift his body and grunted in pain. "Fuck! Damn that hurts. What, was I shot in the shoulder? It hurts like a motherfucker."
"You were actually shot in the chest. You're very lucky so please don't move or at least be more careful," Mercedes chided. "I'm gonna go find a nurse. They're gonna want to know you're awake. I'll be back."
Upon Mercedes' exit, Kurt breathed a sigh of relief. "You don't know how glad I am that you're going to be okay. You had me worried sick."
"I didn't mean to worry you. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Do you happen to remember anything else about what happened?"
"I don't know it's all still kind of fuzzy. I vaguely recall you and 'Cedes singing I think."
"Yeah, it was what you wanted."
"I'm sure it was amazing. You're looking at me differently… did something else happen?"
"Not really. You did say something though."
"What was it? What could have you looking at me like that? I don't… No. No. No. No! Please tell me I didn't say what I think I did."
"Dave, it's okay."
"It's anything but okay. Let's both just forget I ever said anything. Blame blood loss or shock or something. Please," the boy all but begged, intent on looking anywhere but at Kurt.
"There's no way I'm going to forget that you love me. I could never want to forget that."
"Kurt, please…"
"I love you too. David, really, it's…"
"No! No. Don't you dare say that! You don't love me. Hell, I don't deserve love from you period. The fact that we're friends is some crazy ass fluke as it is. You don't love me."
"David-"
"You were in shock. I had just been shot and you were freaked out. It's understandable. A gun was aimed at you and fired. I was shot instead. I blurted out something I shouldn't have, and now you think – for whatever reason – that you love me. I protected you and you're grateful, I get that, but you don't love me Kurt. You don't. You can't." Every word Dave spoke was like a knife to Kurt's heart. Tears poured down his face. He couldn't believe that Dave thought the only reason he said he loved him was because he took a bullet from him. It was more than that. Way more. With a throat thick of tears, Kurt could take it no longer. He spun and ran from the room as fast as he could, never even noticing Mercedes and the nurse lingering by the doorway. He may as well have been shot because that's exactly what it felt like.