A/N: Seriously, there are no words to how sorry I am that it has taken so long to update this story when it's completely finished!
Chapter Ten
September 24th, 2010
Burt woke up sometime mid afternoon that Friday, the room was empty. He looked over to see the chairs were all empty, except for Kurt who lay unmoving in the next bed. Burt reached over and gently pushed the button to put his bed in an up order. He looked over at his son, concern causing his brow to furrow. Something wasn't right.
Pressing his hand to his chest, he carefully pushed himself over to the edge of the bed, and carefully put one foot on the ground, and then the other. Reaching out he gripped the chair and staggered a few feet, he then gripped the edge of Kurt's bed. "Kurt?" He croaked, "Kurtie," He whispered, reaching out he pressed his hand to Kurt's forehead, concerned when he found it damp with sweat and hot. "Nurse," He called his voice weak, "NURSE!" He called louder this time, groaning in pain as it shot through his chest.
"Mr. Hummel-" The nurse began.
"Kurt-he's…he's sick," Burt managed as she began to try and move him back to his bed.
"Yes we are aware-"
"No!" He hissed, groaning again as the pain lanced through his chest, "He's running a fever. I know my boy, something is wrong!"
She looked over at Kurt, pressing her hand to his forehead; a fever was putting it mildly. "Lie back down, please, and I'll go get the doctor. He wouldn't want you to fall or get sick again."
As Burt carefully moved and supported himself back to his bed the nurse looked at his son's chest, studying the molted and bruised flesh before letting out a low string of curses and hitting the call button. Burt watched as things began to happen around him, another orderly had come to help him back in his bed, but everyone else was swarming around his son giving orders-and after another two life long minutes, all the machines began to wail.
"He's in v-fib!"
It was like watching a horror movie in slow motion as the doctors tried everything they could to bring his child back from the brink of death. Was this how Kurt had felt, so lost and hopeless? He glanced over at the door to watch Noah standing there in horror, tears coursing down his face.
One minute passed…then another…then one more before someone finally spoke, "I've got a pulse!" The doctor called, "Run some blood tests find out what kind of string of infection he's developed, check his lungs for signs of infection, start him on antibotics, I need cool compresses and someone grab me a cold bag of saline," She ordered.
Burt watched as the three other medical staff headed out of the room. The doctor stopped over to him, "You should've have been out of bed, but I'm glad you were." She offered gently, "Your son appears to have developed a staph infection. We're going to run some tests and do our best to fight it."
Burt could only nod, feeling sick over the thought that now that he was awake, his baby may not make it. He felt a hand grip his and looked up to see Noah standing over his bed. "He's strong Mr. H."
"I know Mohawk, but it sounds like he was already down to begin with…who kicks a kid when he's already down."
Burt pushed the door open gently to the bedroom and looked inside, it was well past midnight and his stubborn boy had already headed off to bed. He now lay in his Tinkerbell flannel pants asleep, Burt had to smile as he lay atop a set of Star Wars sheets, his son was certainly different, he granted the kid that.
Stepping forward he crouched down in front of the bed, gently brushing the hair from his son's face as he slept soundly sprawled on his tummy. "Hey little guy," He whispered softly. "I know you miss mommy, but I'm still here," He murmured before leaning forward and pressing his lips to his son's head. "I'll always be here." He stood and watched his son for another long moment before standing and heading to the door.
"Daddy?" A gentle voice caught his attention.
He glanced over his shoulder, surprised to see the faded blue eyes staring up at him, "Will you sing?"
Burt smiled softly, and nodded, "Sure kiddo, scoot over." He kicked off his shoes and snuggled down on the bed against the headboard, taking his son into his arms. He smiled as the little head rested easily against his chest. He began to hum a few bars, singing softly to his child.
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand Hold it tight
I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
He watched as his son slipped into a gentle slumber, and smiled, he forgot sometimes how much his boy did look like him. He had more of Angie's angelic facial features, and certainly more of her mannerisms, but there were things Kurt did, said and had that were completely Burt.
The boy worked with his hands and he did it well, if Burt wasn't positive the kid was destined for fame and fortune he'd say his son was meant to be a mechanic or surgeon the way he could fix a car and seemed to enjoy it.
Then of course there was his eyes, while they were a deeper blue than his, they were definitely his eyes. His laugh-not the fake one he occasionally put on when he was embarrased or was faking interest, but his laughter where he'd lost control he was laughing so hard was his fathers.
Despite his wife's many attempts, Kurt's hair was from his father as well, dark straight, unlike Angie's strawberry blonde. His ears were also Burt's, not that either of the parents would ever admit that part.
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all
Burt couldn't help but be in awe over his child, stunned at how beautiful the child had been when he'd first been born and how handsome he was now. He could remember the first week they'd brought Kurt home, he'd been so panicked that he'd wake up one morning and Kurt wouldn't be breathing or he'd fallen out of his crib, that after thirteen checks in one night, Angie had drug the crib into their room and on Burt's side of the bed so he could stare at the infant all night.
For awhile he wife had joked that Burt got up more during the night to watch the sleeping infant than she did. But Burt was so thrilled to have a little boy that he just couldn't stop looking at the tiny baby. Now here he lay with his tiny baby, who wasn't so tiny anymore but would always be his baby.
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other,
to have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on,
Now and forever more
Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always
Life support, it felt like a death sentence to Burt Hummel as he lay in bed, getting better every day, while his son grew steadily worse. The doctors explained that he had a viral staph infection that was shutting down his organs one by one. Their concern was if they couldn't beat it, and it infected his blood stream he would die. The men who'd done this to him had been apprehended yesterday, Noah had come to tell him. But now, Noah almost refused to come in-nor did the rest of the Glee club. Burt felt a wave of anger over it, not Noah…he was far too aware of the guilt the Mohawk kid was carrying around over his son's injuries.
But now he was beginning to think that Kurt felt alone even inside his own body. He looked over at his son and felt tears fill his eyes. "I'll talk to the club tomorrow," Sarah Puckerman offered from where she stood in the doorway.
"They won't listen. They claim to be his friend…" He shook his head, "I want to blame them but how can I."
Sarah stepped forward, gently gripping Burt's hand. "Burt, he's going to make it, he's a strong boy."
"How strong before he breaks."
"Strong enough," she offered quietly. "I'll do what I can, you've always been the champion for these kids Burt, let us do it for awhile."
He nodded. "He's my baby Sarah," he whimpered.
Sarah sat down on the edge of the bed and hugged the man close. Kissing the top of his head, "I know." She whispered, "I know."
Burt Hummel hadn't cried on anyone's shoulders since his wife died, but as he sat there and cried for his son, he realized that his son had been the strong one for the past week and a half, now it was his turn, only he'd take better care of himself.
As Sarah got up to leave, dropping a kiss to Burt's forehead, she paused at the doorway and smiled sadly. "Noah's terrified you're going to beat him up if he hurt's Kurt."
Burt smiled slightly, "May beat them both up after all of this," He joked. "You tell your Mohawk that he should come see me and I'll set him straight in a good way."
"I'll tell him when I get home."
Burt nodded and turned his head to watch his son, eyes beginning to slide shut. He sighed at the hope that his son would pull out of this fine. "Please don't take him…you've take my wife, and my daughter…I don't have anyone left but him." he murmured as he fell asleep.