Hi guys! Hope you're liking the story so far. Ok, so just to be clear, I'm not usually a 'upload a chapter everyday' type of author. Or even a "Upload on a semi-regular basis' type of author. I add chapters whenever they're done and I'm not busy. Hope that doesn't lose me any fans or followers. Just...I have a VERY busy life, so I have to prioritize. Anyway, I'm saying this because it's unlikely I'll be uploading a lot this week. We're opening our play, so I'm gonna be REALLY overly busy. So ya, fair warning.

...

Answering questions:

1) Unfortunately, Seb WAS asleep when Thad said he loved him AND when he kissed him. He has no idea Thad feels that way. Don't worry though...I've got BIG PLANS!

2)...there is no 2. I just feel weird writing 1 without a 2. Feel free to ask questions if you're confused. I LOVE to help and answer.

...

WARNING! This one is ANOTHER cliffhanger ending! I'll try not to keep you waiting to long this time.

Two days later and Seb was being released. His room was filled to the brim with flowers and other assorted gifts from his friends and some family.

When they'd FINALLY gotten ahold of his mother, she had been in hysterics and it had taken hearing Seb's croaking voice telling her he was alright for her to believe it. She insisted on trying to find a flight to America from Paris. With the Steroids and now THIS? Her baby boy NEEDED his Mommy. Seb's only protest was time and money, which she quickly shot down saying she had all the time in the world for her child, and that money was no object. She'd be there around the same time as Seb's dad. They were working out plans for him to meet her at the airport and have them travel to Dalton together.

Thad was getting Seb's things together and Wes was getting all the forms and paper work done. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smythe had given Wes and Dean Mirren some basic guardian rights for when they couldn't be there. They trusted Wes and The Dean to take care of their son when they couldn't. As soon as Wes and Mrs. Mirren were done, the boys would go home.

Just as Thad was putting ANOTHER card into the designated box, there was a knock at the door. "It's open!" He called.

The door creaked open and a large, burly guy in an Ohio State sweatshirt stepped into the room. "Sorry...looking for a friend of mine..."

Seb looked up and beamed at the voice. "DK! You came!"

David Karofsky caught sight of Seb and smiled. "Bast!" He went over and hugged Seb gently. "I was worried about you man!"

Seb laughed. "I'm FINE. Granted, I wasn't before, but I am now."

Karofsky sighed. "Why do I get the feeling I've heard those words before?"

Seb smirked. "You haven't just heard them. You SAID them. Last year when I came to see you. After...after you..."

Dave hushed him. "We don't need to talk about THAT! What is past is past and gone...or some shit to that effect."

Seb laughed and hugged his friend. After the whole suicide thing, Seb had come to talk to him and apologize. David had assured him that it wasn't Sebastian's fault, something he was STILL doing to this day, as Seb still refused to believe it. After hanging out together a few times, the boys had become close. Dave was now one of Seb's best friends. Granted, he wasn't anywhere NEAR as close to Seb as Thad was, but still, he was a friend.

Thad felt a twist in his stomach. Jealousy. He logically knew Seb and Dave were JUST friends...but so were him and Seb now. That could easily change. He was afraid that things would change between Dave and Seb instead of Seb and himself. He cleared his throat to remind them they weren't alone in the room.

Dave started at the noise and pulled away. He looked at Thad again and blinked. "OH! Thad! Dude, I TOTALLY didn't recognize you out of uniform!"

Thad laughed. "Hi Dave. Nice to see you...and I don't look THAT different, do I?" He looked down at himself, wearing an oversized Dalton hoodie, light denim jeans, and ratty old sneakers. He'd worn casual clothes instead of his uniform, them being more comfortable for hanging out with Sebastian at the hospital.

"Sorry Thad, but you sort of do." Seb laughed, "You're so anal-retentive about your uniform. To see you in slacker clothes...well, it's a little weird."

"Hey!" Thad pouted, "I'm dressed almost the EXACT same way Dave is!"

"Yes." Dave nodded, "But I ALWAY dress this way. It's my style. It works on me: The big, bulky, overly muscular jock. You...not so much."

Thad glared softly, but deflated. "I guess you're right. I'm usually A LOT more put together. Just...today, I had more important places to put my energy." He gestured to Sebastian and then around the room.

Dave nodded. "Lotta shit to get loaded I see. Want some help?"

Thad shook his head. "Not yet...but soon maybe."

David nodded and went back to talking to Sebastian as Thad continued to pack things.

"So..." Seb drawled, "Anything new in our little bear-cub's love life?"

Dave turned a deep scarlet. "Well...um...yes."

Seb gasped and nearly squealed. "Oh my god! Are you serious? When? Who? What's he like? How did you meet? WHY have I not met him yet!?"

Dave laughed. "WOAH! One question at a TIME! Ok, YES, I'm serious. I met him a few months ago. His name is Jayke..."

"OH!" Seb said in realization. "The cute blonde you kept ranting about?"

Dave nodded, smiling. "Ya. That's him. As you said, I've ranted about him, so you know what he's like AND how we met. And as for why you haven't met him yet...I finally got the balls to ask him out the day THIS..." He gestured to the bed, "happened, so I had NO chance to tell one of my best friends I have a date."

Seb glared, "Oh hush you! You KNOW I didn't do this on purpose!"

David nodded. "I know. Frankly, I'd be worried for your sanity if you did."

Thad sighed and relaxed, the twist in his belly gone. Dave had a boyfriend. Seb and DK would stay just friends. He'd still have his chance to ask Seb out...when he was ready.

Seb smiled, "Wes got the incompetent bitch who poisoned me fired. Dad talked to the owner and they came to an agreement. Dad won't sue if the Lima Bean agrees to CLEARLY display allergen warnings on all of their food. The owner agreed instantly. She really did agree with Dad that it's dangerous not to have them. Medically for the customers and legally for the Lima Bean."

David laughed, "That's great! One more restaurant people with food restrictions can feel safe in."

Seb nodded, "It's a small victory...but it's still a step."

"Ya." Thad grumbled, "but did the ends justify the means?"

Dave and Seb looked at him confused.

Thad sighed. "I'm happy the Lima Bean is changing for the better...but was it really worth you having a reaction and nearly DYING? I don't think so. It doesn't balance out. I wish there were more positive to counteract the negative."

Sebastian and David were silent, unsure what to say. Then, Seb opened him arms. "Come here." He said softly.

Thad went over without hesitation and let himself be wrapped in Seb's arms. The smaller boy let out a breath and closed his eyes.

"I'm fine." Seb whispered, "I know you were scared, but PLEASE don't stay bitter about it. Though anger and hate do look well on you at times, this is NOT one of those times. You holding a grudge is an ugly thing."

"Except when it's Hunter..." Thad mumbled.

Sebastian snorted. "Ok. Yes. HUNTER doesn't count. But it's sort of impossible NOT to hate the guy!"

Thad nodded and pulled away, smiling. "Ya. What was it you said you put him in your phone as?"

Seb snorted. "Drill Sergeant Dip-wad. I was gonna do Dip-shit, but I censored it for the sake of the little boys who might see it."

Dave laughed. "That's clever."

"That's Bas." Thad smirked.

Sebastian blushed. "Shut up."

The group laughed and went on with the banter for about another half an hour before Thad finished packing the stuff up and Wes came to say that the paper work was done, and Seb would be released soon.

Dave had to leave after a bit...he had a date with Jayke that night. Seb and Thad teased him as he left while Wes rolled his eyes at his brothers' antics. All four were laughing as David left.

Wes clapped his hands. "Ok! Ready to go Bas?"

Sebastian scoffed. "Is that even a QUESTION?!"

Wes and Thad laughed.

Thad helped Seb get changed into his street clothes. Sweatpants he wore for Lacrosse practice. A T-Shirt from his old school in France. An old college sweatshirt of his dad's that was WAY to big for him. Beat up old socks and sneakers that'd probably give Kurt an aneurism if he saw them with the sheer LACK of fashionability.

Thad snorted. "Now you look as bad as me."

Bas pouted and flipped him off.

Thad laughed as Wes returned followed by a nurse with a wheelchair.

Seb screwed up his face. "Do I REALLY have to ride in that thing?"

"Hospital policy." Wes nodded.

Seb sighed and accepted defeat as the nurse disconnected all the IVs and machines and wires and monitors from him. He winced as some of the needles slipped from his skin. "Shit! How is it these things always seem to hurt more coming OUT than they do going IN? It makes no sense!"

Thad and Wes shrugged.

Soon enough, the nurse had finished. She started the try to lift Seb into his wheelchair, but he stopped her.

"Thank you, but no thank you." He said politely.

She didn't back off. "Honey, you're still a little fragile. You can't get into the chair by yourself. You need someone to help you..."

"THAT is what I have my family for." He said more sternly.

"Family?" She said, confused. "What Family? Your medical sheet mentions no siblings and your parents have yet to come and I heard no mention of Aunts or Uncles or cousins coming..."

"He means US!" Thad said forcefully, "WE are his family. We're standing RIGHT HERE!"

The nurse looked at him with that patronizing look adults often give to toddlers who don't understand something. "How exactly are you related honey?"

"Family doesn't end with blood." Wes said politely, though his tone was also slightly annoyed and threatening. "We are his brothers. We're taking him home. We can take care of him. THANK YOU for your help, but we can take it from here."

The woman blinked in surprise before letting go of Seb with a huff and strutting out of the room. She was clearly NOT use to having her authority questioned.

"Well, She was PLEASANT!" Seb said sarcastically.

Wes snorted. "Stubborn in the line of duty."

Thad rolled his eyes. "Well, she's gone now. Let's go."

Wes and Thad quickly and smoothly lifted Seb and got him settled into the chair.

Seb made a face. "As soon as we get to the car, I'm getting out of this thing and leaving it."

Wes nodded...but then got a devious look on his face. "Maybe you SHOULDN'T..."

Sebastian was about to protest, but then he saw the spark in Wes's eyes and smirked. "What are you thinking?"

Thad seemed to read Wes's mind and chuckled. "Just imagine how FREAKED OUT the guys would get if you showed up in a wheelchair! We could scare them SO BAD!"

Seb beamed. "You two are EVIL! I love it! We are SO doing it! I may HATE this chair, but I can NOT pass up a chance to pull such a beautiful prank!"

The boys all laughed as they made there way out of the hospital and to the car. Seb climbed in the back with Thad and they stashed the chair in the trunk. Wes got in front and they drove off for Dalton.

"The Dean is finalizing Hunter's expulsion." Wes reported, "He should be gone by the end of the week."

"That's GREAT!" Thad cried, "We'll never have to deal with that jerk again!"

Sebastian scoffed. "Ya, right."

Thad raised an eyebrow, "Something the matter?"

Sebastian sighed, "Just...he might be gone from Dalton, but he's not gonna be out of our lives. We're testifying against him at the trial...and he can find other ways to hurt us."

Thad bit his lip. Seb was right. Hunter could still hurt them in someways. They weren't safe yet.

Wes glanced at them in the rearview mirror. "Hey." He said gently, "You guys are gonna be fine. The Dean and I aren't going to let him hurt you..."

"And if he does you'll fix it." Seb finished, "We KNOW. But Wes...there are somethings even YOU can't fix!"

Wes's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I know. Trust me I know. But that doesn't mean I can't TRY."

Thad sighed. "Brother Bird...he didn't mean it like that..."

"I know how he meant it." Wes said gently, "I'm not mad at Seb. Just pissed at the situation."

Thad and Seb nodded. It really was a suckish situation, but there was nothing the boys could do to change it. They just had to ride out Hurricane Hunter and pray they survived the storm.

They shifted the conversation to lighter topics, quickly falling into planning their prank with the wheelchair. They'd have to start it right away when they got there in case some of the boys were watching for them. Soon enough they were parking in the Dalton lot and putting the plan into action.

Sebastian chuckled, "Ok. Let's do this!"

Wes got out and unloaded Seb's chair. Thad got out his side and walked around to open Bas's side. Sebastian steeled his face to a complete dead pan, even managing to force out a few crocodile tears for extra power. They were gonna milk this thing for all it was worth.

Thad poked his head in Seb's side and unbuckled him, making a big show of pretending to comfort the boy. He was trying his hardest not to burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole thing. His job was made easier looking at Sebastian. The boy was a talented actor, and if Thad hadn't helped plan the prank he'd likely have been one to fall the hardest for it.

Wes rolled over the chair, face completely solemn. He waited for Thad to back off a little before reaching into the car and picking up Seb, lifting him out of the car. He placed him gently into the chair. He bent down and wrapped the boy in a hug.

"Show time." He whispered softly, "Just remember what we agreed: Any of the boys start to get REALLY freaked out or upset, we end this ruse and tell them you're fine."

Seb's face never broke character, but he nodded. He made it look like Wes had just said something comforting, but made it clear he agreed with and understood what Wes had said.

The group of them made their way into the building. Thad was pushing Seb's chair the whole way. Wes walked slightly in front of them, pushing a shopping cart that carried all of Sebastian's stuff. They passed many students and staff, all of which looked on with expressions of distress. They obviously bought the trick. When they passed the Dean, they did wink at her to let HER know it was fake. She played along and shook her head in mock pity, but discreetly winked back to show she understood. A group of Seb's lacrosse friends hugged him and offered to take Seb's things up to Wes's room. Seb felt a bit of guilt for the lie once the boys had hurried with his things to help, but he knew them well enough to know they'd laugh at it as soon as they found out.

They got to the door of the Warbler commons. Inside, all the other Warblers were waiting for him. Now it was REALLY show time.

"You ready?" Thad asked.

Seb sighed melodramatically, "Let's get this done with."

Wes nodded and opened the doors.