Disclaimer: I don't own Glee

Chapter 10

"What are you doing here?"

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.

.

Oh Crap

The light flooding in the room was such a contrast to the darkness that Dave found himself squinting, for a few seconds he felt completely numb with shock; he'd been found out, this wasn't good. Even worse was that in the quite of the room the altered track of Kurt singing could be heard coming out the headphones.

So that's why he hadn't locked the door, he was coming back….maybe Dave should have thought about that.

Humbert himself looked shocked, in fact he looked terrified, stood there holding a black file in his hand he had the face of a man who had just been given the death sentence.

"What are you doing in here?" he repeated, voice shaking.

Say something, say anything, just talk!

The silence in the room was tactile and so overwhelming it made Dave feel slightly suffocated.

The growing tension seemed to be preventing either of them from moving, and evidently seemed to be causing Humbert to be deaf to the music playing faintly in the background.

His wide eyes were fixed on Dave, and almost as if someone had flicked a switch the younger man was spurred into conversation.

"I wanted to ask a question about football" he blurted out hurriedly.

Yes, football, that makes sense, that's good, nothing wrong with that!

Humbert started to move, cat like, eyes now softened with suspicion locked on the nervous teen.

If the teacher was feeling nervous or guilty he wasn't very good at hiding it, his shaking hands closed the door behind him and he proceeded to find somewhere to put his folder in a sort of daze as if trying to figure out what to do next.

Dave wished he hadn't closed the door; it made him feel like he was completely alone with the Coach despite the hundreds of students walking the corridors around him.

The perverted, depraved, creepy-

"If you wanted to ask about football Mr. Karofsky you should have made an appointment instead of walking into my office uninvited"

His voice and mannerisms startled Dave, both were slow and lethargic, as if the man was sleep walking. His eyes were starting to dart about the room, and Dave was morbidly fascinated by how long it was taking the Coach to put down his folder.

Turned out the floor was going to be the place.

The Coach suddenly saw the screen of the laptop and the track playing itself to the end of the song.

The file landed to the floor with a thud as the Coach said breathlessly, "What have you-"

He ran forward, shoving Karofsky aside and simply tore the cables from the back of the laptop and fumbled around for the 'Shutdown' button.

The screen turned black with a tiny sigh and the room was plunged into further darkness.

Dave wanted to run, he could run, the door was right there, but he didn't seem to be able to make his body function.

The Coach stood with both hands in front of him, leaning on the table, head bowed.

"What did you see"

Dave was at this point riddled with nerves, the Coaches voice was so soft it sent shivers down his spine.

Whenever Dave was nervous he was known to say very stupid things, and this was no exception.

"More what I could hear really"

"WHAT DID YOU SEE!"

GGGGG

People were laughing, everyone, no one was offering to help, not a single soul.

Kurt felt a mixture of terror and humiliation as he was forcibly marched down the halls.

He tried fruitlessly to fight against the boys, but on-top of being hopelessly smaller and weaker then all of them he was already exhausted from practice. Tears of hopelessness began to form behind his eyes: where were the Glee club when you needed them?

"Please guys, please stop!"

"Come on princess, were going to do you a favour, don't want people mistaking you for a chick all the time do you?"

"No guys please, just leave me alone!"

He hated how pathetic his voice sounded and the grip on his wrists was so tight he could feel the bruises forming.

The young soprano slowly and sickeningly felt his muscles giving in, feel his breath leaving his lungs and as they pushed him out the doors and into the warm air his body hitched as fear flooded into him.

GGGG

Puck finally turned the shower off after belting out one long, drawn out note.

"Ha! I win dude! No one can beat Puckasaurus at 'Living on a prayer'!"

Finn just grinned goofily as he grabbed for a towel and wrapped it around his hips, "Yea, well why don't you ask Kurt, see what he thought!"

Puck smirked as he wrapped a towel around his own body, "Heh Hummel, who was better me or-"

Puck stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes met an empty dressing room.

"Hummel? Kurt? Oh sh-"

He dashed to grab his clothes, panic curling in his stomach.

"Well?"

"Kurts gone"

"What?"

"I told him to stay and he's gone"

Puck grabbed any old sweater and shorts he could find lying on the side, clumsily pulled them on and dashed for the door.

"So what if he left, he probably had class!"

"No! He was scared, I told him to stay, he wouldn't have left, I said I'd look out for him"

Puck was out the door, leaving a very confused Finn in his wake.

"Wait up! I'll come with you!"

GGGG

The Coach spun around where he stood, before Dave could take in the startling change in the Coaches face and the sickening look of rage in his eyes Humbert was advancing towards him, now so close their noses were inches apart, his face contorted.

Dave couldn't collect his wits he was so stunned, his mind went blank as he stuttered at the man's anger.

"I-I just came across it, I didn't-"

"YOU STUPID LITTLE BOY! GET OUT! YOU'RE OFF THE TEAM, YOU'RE OUT THIS SCHOOL! GET OUT!"

The enraged teacher was pushing him now, eyes wild, and with so much strength it surprised the larger boy considering their size difference.

"Don't think I don't see"

This stopped the man in his tracks, almost as if Dave was red hot he let go and the teen found both him and the Coach face to face, both flustered and panting.

"What did you just say?"

Dave startled himself; it had just fallen out his mouth. He began to talk with more courage then he felt, noting the guilty and frightened look on the man's face.

"Don't think I don't see what's going on with you and Kurt Hummel. I saw you-!"

"What are you talking about?"

They were both shouting now, interrupting and overlapping, voices rising above the other to be heard.

"-YOU KNOW NOTHING!"

"I've seen you with KURT, I saw you STROKE HIS HAIR, I saw you SMELL HIM IN THE DRESSING ROOM! Don't think I don't see what's going down here! And what the HELL is up with that recording!"

Humbert had gone very still, his face was expressionless, but there was a tiny glint of something in his eyes that Dave couldn't read.

"That is something I agreed to do for the Glee club"

Dave threw up his hands in disbelief.

"Oh come on! That is the creepiest thing I've ever heard in my life! What-what are you some kind of stalker? You're the real deal aren't you? Exactly what you hear about on the news!"

"You've misunderstood Dave, I told you in the beginning I wanted us to get along-"

"Oh don't be all nicey nicey all of a sudden to cover your ass, I saw you, I've got evidence-"

Dave motioned towards the laptop.

"What's your deal with Kurt? Your some kind of pervert, you into girly dudes, what-?"

The Coach looked disgusted, his face twisting grotesquely.

"It's not like that, don't twist this into something dirty, I'm not a bad person, you don't understand!"

The Coach actually looked upset, and for once Dave believed the words coming out his mouth was the truth, and it unnerved him even more.

"You actually mean that don't you? You don't think what you're doing is wrong? WELL HERES A NEWS FLASH FOR YOU, ITS COMPLETELY MESSED UP MAN! KURT DOESN'T WANT YOU SNIFFING ROUND HIM-"

"YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT KURT!"

Dave almost chocked on his shock, his face the picture of disbelief.

He almost couldn't get his words out he was stuttering so much.

"And you do?"

"More then you know"

The silence that followed this sentence almost swallowed Dave whole.

"Ex-excuse me?"

Humbert had spoken the words so softly and his face matched this softness, he started to walk towards Dave, eyes fixed and unblinking. The revelation seemed to have calmed the man, as if he knew there was no where else to fall, his secret was out, there was no point in trying to cover it up.

"I want you off the team, from today you are no longer welcome. If you tell anyone what you've seen and heard, or go near that… perfect boy again, I will make sure I make yours a miserable existence, do you understand?"

Dave went still and fear began to grow in his stomach like poured concrete setting fast.

"Further more I don't want to see or hear you ever again, as far as I'm concerned you are no longer a part of this school" he hissed.

The two men stood face to face, Dave's eyes wide with anxiety and fear.

"But-"

"He's mine"

Both of them froze suddenly.

They'd said it at exactly the same time.

Dave felt sick, not only because he'd admitted his feelings out loud, but he'd said it in-front of this twisted lunatic- and at the same time.

Humberts face looked like it didn't know what expression it was trying to pull, like it had lost its connection to the man's mind and was just hanging loose.

It was an odd time to think about such a thing, but Dave noted how his eyes seemed to be three different colours… ok, Dave really wanted to sit down, he needed to get out, he needed this to be a dream.

"I know about you too Karofsky, I know you caused Kurt to transfer, I know how you treated him…I thought you were just a mindless bully that deserved to be punished….turns out….we're not that different, am I right?"

Dave's head snapped up and looked into the Coaches eyes with distress and horror etched in his face.

"Well now, I know you won't tell anyone now, or I'll have to tell everyone your little secret. I knew you were trouble, boy, from the start, I think I may have to get rid of you after all-"

Dave couldn't hear the last bit because he'd turned on his heel and dashed from the room. His head was throbbing, his limbs were shaking, he needed to lie down, he needed-

He fell into the boys bathroom, leant over the bowl and heaved, nothing but acid leaving his empty stomach.

Humbert was left standing alone in the dark.

He knew, he knew, he knew, he knew, HE KNEW, HE KNEW!

"God damn it!"

Humbert grabbed his coffee mug and threw it across the room, watching it smash into three clean breaks.

Why hadn't he been more careful? He'd never understand, no one could understand! It wasn't dirty or sordid, he wasn't a bad man!

"I'm not a bad man!"

He near cried into the silence.

Why! Why did he of all people have to find out! But there was nothing wrong with it he just could never understand. Not at that age, he thought Kurt was his?

This one needed to go, more urgently then he'd first thought.

Humbert was confident he'd frightened him enough to not tell anyone, besides, he had his own secret to keep.

But he needed to go….he really needed to go.

GGGGG

Kurt's knees dragged across the ground as he tried one last attempt at breaking free. He knew it was pointless, but maybe it would buy him some time till someone noticed and helped him.

He eyes met the giant metal box, so familiar and yet suddenly so terrifying.

It seemed so different now then it did then, he had friends now, he shouldn't be alone, he shouldn't be facing this alone!

"Please guys, just let me go!"

His voice had grown hoarse now, he had been jabbering frenziedly when he first saw where he was headed, but now he was starting to resign himself.

Usually he would hand Finn his best clothes so they wouldn't get ruined…funny how Finn and Puck were there when he didn't want them, and now when he needed them, they were no where to be found.

"This'll help princess, no one will want to smell you after this!"

They hauled him up so they we're carrying him sort of like you would when folding a sheet, two boys grabbed one leg each and the others held him under the armpits.

Then he felt himself being swung and he braced himself for the feel of garbage bags and the unbearable stench.

He didn't have long to register that he was falling longer then usual, until suddenly all the wind was knocked out of his body.

He threw his head back and scrunched his eyes with agony as his body smacked to the bottom of the empty dumpster accompanied by a loud, echoing thud.

Intolerable pain shot through him, so much so that for a few seconds he didn't feel human, he felt like his soul had been torn from him and then thrown back in again.

He couldn't move, he just felt a gurgle in the back of his throat.

Suddenly he took in a giant breath of air, and chocked on it.

He began to cough as he heard laughter distantly and muddily in his ears.

He attempted to twitch his fingers but decided it was best just to lie for a few seconds. He let his eyelids lazily slide open and tried to ignore the stabbing pain that he felt in his back, shoulders and coccyx bone.

He couldn't do this anymore, he just couldn't.

A tear slowly fell from his eye, and then he was sobbing, openly and unashamedly.

GGGG

"Kurt!"

"Kurt!"

"KURT!"

"God damn it!"

Puck threw his hands to his head and kicked the nearest dustbin.

"Puck chill out, we'll find him"

"Don't you get it! I said I'd look out for him! I promised! We're supposed to be there for him dude!"

Finn looked at Puck with a confused expression.

"What's this really about Puck? I know you like Kurt and all, but not that much, why is this so important to you?"

"'CAUSE I'M SICK OF BEING A SCREW UP!"

"Puck?"

The timid little voice sounded ten times louder then Pucks shout, even though that shout had left Finn standing speechless.

"Puck, is that you?"

Puck swivelled round and desperately tried to seek out the tiny voice.

"Puck help"

The voice sounded miserable, and in pain, more importantly it was unmistakably Kurt's.

"Kurt! Kurt where are you!"

Finn, finally recovered, had run over to where he thought the voice was coming from and he beckoned to Puck from the dumpster.

"In here! Puck, he's here!"

"Oh Sh-"

Puck sprinted over and was tall enough to see inside the dark and near empty box.

There lay Kurt; still and small and broken.

He was curled in on himself but it was too dark to see his face.

Puck felt sick inside, numbed with shock.

"Oh Jesus, HOLD ON KURT!"

He looked to Finn, who looked as white and horrified as he felt.

He stood for a second, at a complete loss of what to do. A sudden thought struck him.

"Are you hurt Kurt? Can you stand?"

There was a silence, then a pitiful. "No, Puck, please just get me out"

"Oh God, oh God, Oh God"

His head snapped up suddenly when he saw Finn approaching, the bin that Puck had kicked dragging behind him.

"Here, stand on this and jump in, then hand him to me and I'll carry him out"

Puck nodded as he helped align the bin.

"Hold on Kurt, I'm coming in to get you ok?"

The silence was a good enough answer for him.

He hauled himself onto the bin with ease and then crouched to his knees and peered in, trying to gage where to stand so as to avoid landing on Kurt's leg or arm.

"I'm jumping in now, don't be startled"

The same metallic thud reverberated around Kurt's ears as when he fell as Puck jumped into the dumpster.

The larger boy kneeled down and hesitantly began to work out the best way to get Kurt out without hurting him.

He asked Kurt throughout if he was ok and then finally settled on holding him under the knees and around the shoulders despite the hiss of pain coming from the small boy.

It didn't matter whether it hurt for a while he surmised, he just needed to get Kurt out.

"Who did this to you, I'll kill them"

He was more talking to himself, just to find any outlet to vent his anger.

"Finn!"

He lowered Kurt over the edge and down to the tall boy, who held him in his arms in a similar fashion.

When Puck jumped out the sight that met his eyes shook him to his bones.

Kurt was crying, really crying, he'd buried his head in Finns shoulder now but before Puck had seen his blotchy red face and tear stained cheeks.

He wasn't used to seeing Kurt like that, in fact he'd never seen Kurt like that, not once, even when he used to….

A shudder of shame tore through him and almost brought him to his knees.

It just proved Pucks earlier thoughts; the kid's defiance had been broken, he wasn't the same Kurt he used to be, he was vulnerable and frightened- and Puck had let him down.

He noticed the small boy's knees, they were torn and bloody, it made Puck feel cold inside.

"Kurt, I'm-I'm so sorry-"

"Just take me home please, I just want to go home"

Puck nodded, more to himself. "Yea, ok, yea"

Finn looked worriedly down at his little brother and then sympathetically to Puck and mouthed, "This wasn't your fault"

Finn took control from there, Puck had no idea what to do in these situations, he wasn't usually the one who had to deal with the consequences from the victims perspective, never had to be the one to pick up the pieces.

Whoever did this to Kurt would pay, Puck always had made sure that when he threw anyone in the dumpster it was full enough to break the fall, he would never let anyone get hurt like this.

And that makes it better?

Puck shook the thought from his head and turned all his attention to Kurt.

GGGG

Humbert stormed through the corridors, heart thumping, head swimming with thoughts and emotions and fears that he didn't know how to handle.

Funny, Karofsky really did remind him of himself when he was at school…funny.

But that stupid, insolent BOY! He could ruin EVERYRHING all his plans, his dreams! He was trying to help Kurt, not hurt him! What right did that mindless fool have to interfere and make accusations!

He had to get rid of him, right now, he had to-

What…?

The boy with the Mohawk was carrying Kurt, his Kurt, out of the dumpster.

Suddenly, like a kick in the gut, unthinkable pain and anger clouded his senses at seeing the beautiful child being carried from such a filthy place. Then he felt rage, it was so confusing, he felt under paralysis of his own jealousy, no one should touch him, no one should-

Before he knew it he was running, pushing open the doors, sprinting across the ground, he watched the boy being handed from Puck to Finn, he had to get to him, he had to see if he was-

"Heh! Hudson, Puckerman! Heh! What happened, is he ok?"

The two boys turned their heads in response to the shouting, and Humbert watched as Finn looked down to Kurt in response to something he'd said.

The child looked so small, Humbert began to tingle with unspeakable convulsion and sorrow at the sight.

He tried to resist the urge to reach out and touch him but stopped himself at the steady gaze he was receiving from Puckerman.

"Its ok, Sir, Kurt's a bit bashed up, he just wants to get home"

"What-what happened? Is he-what happened?"

Puck spoke up.

"Some friggin' ass holes tossed him in the dumpster-"

"Puck! Mr. Humbert, we need to get him home, is it ok if we-"

"Do you need any help? I'll get some help-"

"I think we just need to get him home, thanks"

"Yes, yes of course, get him-get him home, get him…home"

Finn gave the man a thankful and apologetic smile and made to turn away until Humbert stopped him.

"Wait, wait hold on, I wouldn't-wouldn't be a very good teacher if I-Kurt, Kurt, can you, can you walk?"

The Coach couldn't help it, he just wanted to reach out and hold him, to make him better, tell him everything would be ok, and he also was finding it increasingly difficult to see someone so close to Kurt.

"Can you-"

He motioned towards Kurt who up to now hadn't turned his face away from Finns shoulder.

Suddenly spurred into miserable action, the boy started to lower his body from Finns grip, more from embarrassment at being caught by the Coach in such a vulnerable position then actually feeling ready.

He hissed with pain as his feet tentatively felt for the ground, eyes avoiding the three worried gazes.

"That's it, that's good, that's a good sign, I know a lot about injury out on the field, if you can walk that's a pretty good sign"

The three boys chuckled ironically at the man's obvious attempt to diffuse the seriousness of the situation.

He had his arms held out, face a mask of concern, ready to catch Kurt if he fell, almost like he was a child taking his first steps.

Almost as if checking himself the Coach suddenly held back, bringing his hands back to his sides.

Be careful.

He couldn't help it, how could someone do this to such a perfectly beautiful child?

Somebody like Karof- oh….oh that was interesting.

He tried to keep a check of the tears threatening to well in his eyes; it was like watching a small puppy being repeatedly kicked- agonizing.

Kurt finally had both his feet laid flat on the ground and stood uncomfortably.

"You ok Kurt?

"Are you hurt, are you in pain?"

Kurt looked up now, and bravely fixed his eyes onto the Coach.

They were blood shot and red rimmed, but the Coach felt a stab of something so overwhelming he could barely stand under their miserable gaze.

"I'm ok, I just need to lie down, thank you, Sir, Finn?"

His voice was laced with pain and misery and he looked towards Finn who held him firmly under the arm, together they both began to take tentative steps.

Each step was torture as pain shot up his spine, but he could move, that was a good sign, nothing seemed beyond repair.

"Kurt I'm sorry-"

"Its ok Puck, it wasn't your fault"

"I'll come over, can I come over?"

"Yes, fine, just- its fine"

He took a few more agony filled steps until Humbert couldn't take it anymore, "Ok, ok I can see you can walk, but I think it'll take you a hell of a long time to get home at that pace, Finn, I think you need to carry him again"

The Coach found those words difficult to say, tried to keep the resentment and bitterness out his voice, he almost couldn't resist the urge to carry him himself, but he was feeling extra cautious.

Kurt couldn't keep the look of relief off of his face as Finn nodded appreciatively and gently bent down to scoop the light boy into his arms.

"Ok, well, you take care of him, get better Kurt, hope to see you out on the field soon"

No one present could understand how passionately he meant that.

The boy with the Mohawk caught his eye suddenly and Humbert looked towards Puck curiously, the boy looked so worried and concerned that he briefly felt endeared to him, but then his feeling changed and jealously threatened to overflow out of his eyes.

He really could be a problem, he obviously cares about him.

He gave Finn's retreating back one last fearful glance and then grabbed for Pucks arm, perhaps a little too hard.

"Puckerman, how did this happen, tell me, please"

Puck looked down at the man's grip on his arm and rubbed his neck uneasily.

"Puckerman, please, I will not stand by and allow something like this to happen at this school, tell me what you know"

Puck looked at him with something akin to growing respect and seemed to be debating what to say. The man had a grim expression, and for a moment Puck could swear he saw resentment, but it soon passed.

He sighed suddenly and seemed to resign himself.

"I don't know for sure, all I know is some idiots from the football team-"

"The football team? My football team?"

"Yea, they're a pleasant lot aren't they?"

Humbert stood and looked to the floor. An idea was forming in his head.

"All I know is some of the guys must have dragged Kurt here after practice, and…gave him the dumpster toss"

Puck couldn't bring himself to mention how both him and Finn were only in the showers at the time and could have prevented it if it weren't for their stupid sing off.

"A 'dumspter toss?"

Puck looked increasingly uncomfortable.

"Yeeeaaa, its something that goes down here, it's like, you…throw someone in a dumpster"

The Coach looked incredulous for a moment and then made to reply until Puck gave him another idea.

Puck suddenly was filled with anger and regret and rotating his shoulders he kicked out to the dumpster leaving a heavy, tinny sound.

"God!"

"Mr. Puckerman, please"

"Sorry du- Sir, it's just so unfair, Kurt doesn't deserve that"

"Don't worry Mr. Puckerman, I won't allow whoever did this to get away with it…. they'll get their punishment, but I tell you something, if I weren't a teacher I'd teach them a proper lesson, all they'll get is a detention and a slap on the wrist, doesn't seem fair after what poor Kurt has been through."

Puck stood for a moment and seemed to be getting his own idea.

Humberts eyes flashed momentarily.

"Anyway, good day Mr. Puckerman, take good care of Kurt."

He turned away at this and marched across the field, trying to keep the satisfied look off of his face; all this could work to his advantage.

Maybe this was his opportunity to get rid of Karofsky, and get closer to Kurt, maybe he could look like the hero…

He wasn't sure what he felt about Finn, Finn was the boy's family, he could work around that, perhaps taking them both on would make it seem less suspicious. But he could think about that later.

But Puckerman…he'd said he was just a friend, but was there more to it? Was he just like Karofky….no, it didn't seem like that, here he was after all, helping Kurt, his Kurt.

But Humbert felt a twinge of resentment at seeing the child in his arms, it should be him, Rupert, who held Kurt like that, but that would come in time, he just had to be patient, and sensible and careful. More careful then he'd been. If he really wanted this one, he'd need to be more careful.

He would get rid of Puckerman like he planned, if all went according to plan he could get rid of both Puckerman and Karofsky, he would just have to be patient. He wouldn't allow anyone near his Kurt again, and more importantly wouldn't let anyone get in the way of what he wanted.

He unlocked the door to his office, careful now to never leave it open.

Striding to his desk he took a key from the back pocket in his trousers and unlocked the drawer. Taking out a small note pad and a pen he noted that his hands were beginning to shake, he looked down at the name Karofsky and drew one uneven line through it.

He ran a hand through his hair, began to scratch at his arm.

He then turned the page and read 'he has a brother, this complicates things, Puckerman could be a problem too', he then wrote underneath, Perhaps not as much as a problem as first imagined, if Puckerman delivers his end.

He suddenly reached for a cushion that was sitting on a chair, brought it to his face and screamed.

GGGGG

Dear Journal,

Many things have come to my attention in the past few days, 1) It is impossible to manage a championship cheerleading squad, be a major televisual celebrity and have a personal vendetta against two individuals…so I've decided…I will place all my efforts in personally destroying and bringing down one RUPERT HUMBERT.

Sue scrapped the pen underneath his name several times until it nearly ripped through the paper.

2) I belie

The door to her office banged near off its hinges.

Speak of the devil.

"Humbert, what the hell-?"

"Its Hummel, Kurt Hummel, I just had to watch him being carried out of a dumpster-!"

"Wait, whoa whoa whoa there bucko, slow down, you'll live longer, who threw porcelain in a dumpster?"

"Karofsky, Dave Karofsky"

GGGGG

A/N: I struggled a little with this chapter, I'm trying to figure out how Humbert feels about people, what he wants to do etc, I think I've finally got it right now! :)

Thanks to all my reviewers! Much much appreciated!

And 'Mabe' to answer your question; 'Lolita' definitely inspired this fic, obviously I took the name Humbert and also I studied the book at University last term and really got into the psychology of it, that's why I'm really interested in Rupert Humberts thoughts, why he does things and what his thoughts are on other people. :) thanks for the review!