A/N: So this turned out to be a much longer filler chapter than intended, but there were just so many little things that I wanted to include to set up for the next chapter that it kind of expanded. I hope that you enjoy it anyway! Thank you again to all of you who continue to read and review. I'm interested to see what you guys think of the Hummel's as a family now that they're all together! I'm open to ideas on how to develop them more. As always reviews are wonderful! Thank you all again for reading! Enjoy!

I do not own Glee.

Ch. 10

"So, what's on the agenda today?" Blaine asked rubbing his hands together.

"I thought we'd go over the notes like we were going to yesterday," Kurt said.

"No, you idiot, the car. I am not letting you work on anything else in that state. Sit down, relax and just tell me what to do."

Emma snickered at the exchange from where she sat doing her homework in the office. Blaine had parked himself with her and Quinn, who seemed to be warming up to him, in glee club instead of with his sister and had revealed to them his plan to force Kurt to rest.

"Blaine! I. Am. Fine."

"Kurt!" Blaine mocked. "No. You. Are. Not. No more arguments. Sit down in that chair or I swear to God I will kick you in the ribs myself."

Emma burst out laughing and Kurt's face screwed up in pain when he whipped around to glare at her.

"You think this is funny?"

"Not the 'you being in pain' part, but the 'you being bossed around by Blaine Anderson' part is pretty hilarious."

"Ha, ha, ha" he quipped back, sitting down in the chair and scooting it closer to the car. "You are not allowed to mess this up, Anderson."

"Understood, Mr. Hummel," Blaine answered with a comical salute.

Soon Emma was finished with her homework and came over to help Blaine. Not without comment from Kurt, although.

"Don't you ever have a lot of homework?" He inquired.

She shook her head. "Freshmen mandatory study hall. I get most of it done in there. I think I'm the only one who actually does their homework" she said dreamily.

"Fine," Kurt relented, looking back down at the homework he was working on, trusting Blaine and Emma to know what they were doing. "But please let me at least look over that when you're done." He groaned.

Emma and Blaine simply turned up the radio and started singing along to almost every song that came across the Top 40 station. Finally they called Kurt over to inspect the car before deeming their work complete.

"Looks good to me," Kurt said, wincing as he bent over the car and tightened some of the caps. "Are you ready to go kiddo? I have to start dinner yet. Dad should be home around 5:30."

Emma positively beamed. "Yup!" She ran to the office to collect her things. "And you are so letting me help tonight. I don't even have any homework that you can use as an excuse."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he chorused. "Thank you for helping today, Blaine," he said, turning his attention towards the other boy.

"It was no problem, Kurt really. You should be moving as little as possible when it comes to bruised ribs."

"That doesn't exactly fit my lifestyle," Kurt joked. "Are you going to be at the football game tonight? Puck's playing, and the girls are cheering. You could sit with us."

"I'm not sure. I have to see what my mom and Rachel are doing, but I'll text you and let you know," Blaine replied, shouldering his bag to leave. "Take care of yourself, Hummel. You watch out for him Em!" He shouted on his way out the door.

!

"So what are you going to tell Dad?" Emma asked, perched on top of the kitchen counter popping grapes into her mouth. They had just put a chicken and broccoli casserole in the oven for dinner and Burt was due home any minute.

"The truth," Kurt shrugged. "But not about my side. It's okay if he thinks I just got hit in the mouth."

Emma rolled her eyes at her brother. "He's going to be pissed after what happened with Z just a couple of weeks ago."

"I know," Kurt said with a sigh.

As if on cue the front door opened and Burt Hummel stepped though with a large duffle bag slung over his arm.

"Daddy!" Emma yelled, leaping off the counter and running towards her father. He wrapped his daughter in his arms and spun her around the kitchen.

"I missed your hugs, Emmy Girl!" he declared.

"I missed you too, Daddy!"

Kurt slid up behind his sister, and as soon as he set her down Burt engulfed Kurt in a hug. Kurt's face screwed up in pain as his side was agitated but he forced his face to regain composure as his father pulled away from him.

"Oh Christ, Kurt. What did you do now?" Burt asked, cupping his son's cheek and running his thumb over his split lip gingerly.

"It's nothing Dad, really."

"A busted up face is not nothing, young man."

"You don't understand, Dad."

"I know," Burt interrupted. "I never understand. What was it about this time?"

"Quinn," Kurt said quietly. "She had a really hard time last night and then today in school Azimio and Ronnie they…" Kurt trailed off looking at his sister. He didn't want to repeat the awful things that they had said in front of her. "They were terrible, Dad. I wasn't going to let them treat her like that."

"Kurt, I understand that you're just trying to help but it's not like…"

"Not like what Dad? Not like she's family? Not like it's my responsibility? Don't even think for a second that that's not true."

Burt put his hand on his son's shoulder and hung his head. "I know that you did what you think is right Kurt, but you shouldn't have to deal with this stuff."

Kurt began to get frustrated and angry. "Yeah, well I do."

"You're just a kid, Kurt."

"I stopped being a kid the day that truck plowed into Mom." Kurt shot back, turning away from his father, even though it pained him.

"Kurt…" Burt reached for his son's arm again, only to have it pulled away.

"It's fine, Dad. I did what I had to do for Quinn. I'm sorry that it had to happen that way but it did."

Burt's face fell into one of resignation. "Okay, Kurt" he said with a sigh. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, Dad," replied through gritted teeth. "Casserole's in the oven. I'm gonna get started on your wash." He scooped the duffle bag up off of the floor with his good side and left the kitchen for the laundry room.

Burt sat down at the table and took off his hat, placing his head in his hands. He looked up at his daughter, standing nervously at the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.

"He wasn't asleep last night was he? He was hurt."

Emma nodded. "Quinn was over to take care of him. She begged me not to say anything."

Burt nodded in understanding.

"We all tried to stop them. Me, Quinnie, even Blaine. He wouldn't listen."

"Blaine?"

"Kurt's English partner, remember? They're becoming friends."

"How's Puck?" Burt asked, automatically knowing that he was the other half of the 'them' Emma was talking about.

"He's fine. Just a black eye."

"How about your brother? Is he really okay?"

Emma nodded. "He'll be fine. You know how he gets around this time of year."

Burt nodded his head gravely again. Next Thursday would mark the two year anniversary of the day Elizabeth was hit head on by a drunk driver in a truck. Kurt would brood for two agonizing weeks, until the anniversary of her death, with his birthday right in the middle of it all.

Kurt slumped down against the washing machine and gripped his side. It stung like crazy from his father's hug and hauling his duffle bag. He was going to have to sneak the ice pack up into his room tonight after the football game. He unzipped the bag and started sorting the laundry into light and dark piles. He had just placed the load of whites into the washer when Burt yelled to him that the oven was going off. Sighing, he placed the dark wash into a basket and made his way slowly back into the kitchen.

The conversation at the dinner table between the two men was forced and consisted mostly of what work Kurt had done at the garage during the week and what he had scheduled for the weekend. Nevertheless, Kurt was still thrilled to have his dad home for a little bit.

They sat at the football game together as a family, some of the ease seeping back into their relationship as they yelled at the referee's together. Emma just sat on the other side of her father and rolled her eyes. All of her friends were walking around together, but this time with her dad was something she cherished. Kurt had scanned the crowd for Blaine, but had received a text half way through the game saying he couldn't make it.

!

Kurt had Burt settled in the living room with a beer and college football before he chanced sneaking his ice pack upstairs. He slid it up the side of his shirt and walked quickly behind the couch.

"Shower, Dad. I'll be back down in a bit." He explained, moving up the stairs as fast as his protesting body would allow.

"You're going to kill yourself, you know," Emma smirked, leaning against the door frame to her room.

"I have an ice pack. I'll be fine by tomorrow, Em."

"You could just tell him you know."

"No. He'll only worry when there's no reason too. He doesn't need any extra stress."

"Whatever," she relented, holding her hands up in surrender before going back downstairs.

Kurt let the water gently massage his side and face in the shower before washing himself carefully and stepping out. He was just about to text his sister to see if she could come up and wrap his side up again when his father knocked quickly on his door and entered.

"Christ Almighty, Kurt! I thought you said you were okay!" Burt roared, taking in the large green bruise covering his son's side.

"I'm fine, Dad. It's just a bruise."

"Like hell it's just a bruise. Your ribs have got to be bruised. Did you go to the emergency room at all last night?"

"No, Dad. I'm fine. There's nothing that they could do anyway except tell me to ice it. I'm sure they're not broken."

Burt just hung his head and shook it. "I can't believe you kid. You let me hug you like that. You did all of my laundry already. Christ Almighty," he repeated. "In bed, now. Let me strap that ice pack back on you." He said, picking up the ice pack from the dresser.

For once, Kurt didn't argue with his father because he was physically being taken care of by someone other than Quinn. Soon, Kurt's side was wrapped back up and he was propped up against his head board. Burt sat next to him on his bed and Emma was stretched across the bottom of it watching Ohio State play Michigan State.

!

Kurt awoke to find that at some point during the night, his dad had undone his dressing enough to remove the ice pack and had wrapped him back up. His side felt slightly better than the day before but he knew that he had agitated it too much yesterday. He threw on his closest t-shirt and a pair of jeans and eased his way down the stairs.

"No way, kid" Burt said immediately. "You are staying home and in bed all day. I don't want you moving more than to go to the bathroom or get food. You're on bed rest."

"Dad, the garage…"

"Will be fine without you for a day. Besides, I'm taking Emma with me. She can help out. You are going back upstairs. I'll be up before I leave with an ice pack. I got some more at the store this morning, so they'll be in the freezer if you need them. If you can't get it wrapped back up just hold it there against a pillow or something okay?"

Kurt groaned out an "okay," and nodded his head in defeat.

!

There was only so much Saturday morning Food Network Kurt could watch before he went insane. He had already traveled downstairs for a new ice pack and had it propped up against his side with a pillow. He didn't want to risk bending over his DVD shelf to look for something to watch. He was bored out of his mind. Puck could bring his X-Box over, but he was at an all day football practice.

Come over?He texted Quinn.

Sorry, Mother/Daughter church picnic… barf. Was what he received back.

Kurt turned his phone over in his hand musing his next move.

Dad found out about my side and put me on bed rest. Entertain me please? He sent to Blaine.

I'll be right over. Was just about to send out an SOS to get away from Rachel. ;) –B

Kurt chuckled, instantly regretting it.

Key's under the flower pot. Let yourself in, I'm upstairs.

Kurt groaned and leaned his head back on his pillows. His feelings for Blaine were becoming confusing. At first he was just another hot gay kid. Then he was a hot gay kid who was his English partner. Then he was a gay kid that he had to protect from bullies. Then he was a gay kid dealing with his unaccepting family and past demons. Then he was his friend and someone to lean on.

Kurt didn't think that he would ever reveal his true self to anyone but his family, Puck, and Quinn. He never thought that he'd have someone that would understand the way Blaine did. He had presented his real self to Blaine and he hadn't judged him. He may have thought that he was an idiot for acting the way he did but he understood his need to protect himself from everyone and everything. So why didn't he feel the need to protect himself around Blaine?

Kurt's thoughts were cut off as Blaine popped his head in the door, holding a glass of juice.

"Hi there, sickly!" He proclaimed, bright eyed and smiling.

Kurt let out a huff and rolled his eyes. "I am not sick. I'm injured."

"And whose fault is that?"

Kurt crossed his arms over his bare chest and didn't answer.

!

"What about, 'I Feel Pretty'?" Rachel asked. She was standing on the stage that their father had made for her in the finished basement.

"I don't know, Rach," Blaine responded, agitated. He didn't even feel like being around her with the way she had been on his case about Kurt. Sometimes he just wanted to scream in her face that she didn't understand Kurt because she didn't know him, but he knew it wasn't his place to tell all of Kurt's insecurities to his sister just to get her off of his back.

"What is this audition even for?" He rubbed his forehead.

"Just in case Mr. Shue makes me audition for my sectionals solo to make it seem like anyone else had a fighting chance."

Blaine rolled his eyes and decided to play devil's advocate. "What if you don't get a solo for sectionals?"

Rachel's draw dropped. She snapped it shut quickly and shook her head. "I will have a solo at sectionals. What you should really be worried about is whether or not you will have one."

Blaine resisted the urge to rub his forehead again. "I have more important things to think about than glee club."

"Like Kurt?" She snapped.

Yes, Blaine thought. Like Kurt. Like, wondering if Kurt is doing okay. Was he in a lot of pain? How did his father take seeing that'd he'd been in another fight? Was he at the shop or was he taking it easy? Was his hair perfectly coifed or beautifully messy like it was after he got done running his hands through it while working on a car? Whoa, where had that one come from? Of course Kurt was attractive, he'd thought so the very first time he'd seen him even if he had been belligerent. But, he'd watched as that façade peeled back and faded away. Kurt was no longer the bad boy who ignored him and put his boots on his desk. Kurt was a friend who was struggling with way more than any sixteen going on seventeen year old should.

Kurt was a beautiful boy with a kind soul who had the ability to understand him like no one else could, not even his twin sister. He knew when something was bothering him. He knew when to gently prod him for an explanation and when to leave him to his own thoughts. Kurt understood what he had gone though at his old school and his need to start fresh at McKinley. He could laugh and joke with him even when there was something serious hanging in the air over their heads.

"Yes, Rachel," he said, a dopey smile forming on his face. "Like Kurt."

"I told you he was bad news, Blaine."

"And I know he's not. You don't know him like I do. And believe it or not, I am his friend. Just because you're daddies little girl who sits on her high horse you do not get the right to judge people and look down on them like he thinks he has the right to."

Rachel was shocked. Her younger brother had never talked to her this way before. He'd always gotten in trouble for his temper.

"Just because you don't understand someone, doesn't mean they're bad. I love you, Rach, and I know you're just concerned about me but I'm a big boy and I can handle myself."

His phone buzzed in his hand and he looked down to see a message from Kurt flash across his screen. His smile turned bright again and he quickly replied back.

"I'll see you later, Rachel. I'm going to my bad influence's house to make sure he's okay."

He tromped up the stairs heavily and grabbed coat out of the closet.

"Mom!" he yelled into the kitchen. "I'm going to Kurt's! I'll be back later."

"Okay dear! Be careful! I love you!"

Blaine smiled. God, he loved his mom.

He let himself into Kurt's house and stopped in the kitchen to fill a glass of juice for his friend. He walked up the stairs quietly, feeling awkward in the almost empty house. A door halfway down the hall was slightly open and he could hear the voice of Rachel Ray drifting from it. He craned his neck around the entrance to see if Kurt was inside.

Kurt was propped up on his bed, shirtless. A gigantic bruise stuck out around the edges of an ice pack that was held in place with a pillow. Blaine's eye's drifted from the bruise to Kurt's chest. He knew that the boy was toned from his muscular biceps and forearms but Kurt's chest was beautifully pale and sculpted. His clearly defined abs met the prominent V of his hips impeccably. He tore his eyes away from Kurt's exposed torso and gazed upon his face. He seemed to be deep in thought and Blaine could tell his hands had found their way to his hair. It was mussed perfectly. Blaine couldn't believe the wonderfully gorgeous boy lying in front of him was his friend.

"Hey there, sickly!" he forced himself to say instead of fussing over Kurt's injury, drawing attention to himself. He decided then that it didn't matter what his sister said, it didn't matter what anyone else thought, it didn't matter if Kurt was hurt physically or mentally, somehow he was going to take care of this boy.