Disclaimer: I don't own Glee
Chapter 11
Kurt gazed emptily out the window, looking but not really seeing a greyish cloud pass slowly across the glass, filling up the previously blue square with grey.
It seemed to take hours, that lazy grey cloud, to move across the bathroom window.
Kurt dropped his gaze to look at his knees, which were the only things visible above the bubbly water.
They were cut badly and bled like rain water on glass down his skin and into the water creating little pink rivets.
He tried not to cry as he listened to Puck and Finn in the next room, talking in hushed whispers. Even though he couldn't hear what they were saying, he knew the subject was himself.
His muscles ached but the scolding hot water dulled the pain, it turned his previously milky white skin an angry red and left little patches over his arms that looked like rashes; he always had had sensitive skin. That was probably why the bruises showed up so clear and dark.
Everything seems so different when your on your own, lonely, and for Kurt it made him feel that much worse, because it was just him and his thoughts for company, but he didn't want to think, not right now.
He shifted and a bottle of shampoo fell from the side of the bath with a plop into the water.
It felt like time had slowed in that bathroom; the cloud over the window, the water ripples, the shampoo bottle bobbing on the surface of the water.
He unconsciously allowed his eye lids to close over his red rimmed eyes and tried to single out individual noises; the sound of the tap dripping, Finn and Puck starting up a video game, the noise of-
He plunged his head under the water, scrunching his eyes tighter shut and holding his nose.
A different, muffled, watery world; like a whole new dimension.
He thought it was so strange how everything seemed quieter and yet louder under the water; the drip of the tap, his sobs…because he was crying now, again, oh how he hated how easily he cried, how he loathed himself for that particular weakness, because he didn't want to cry, he wanted to be strong, he needed to be-
He surged out of his immersion choking and coughing from the soapy water that he had allowed to fill his mouth.
A knock at the door startled him back to reality, "Heh, you ok in there dude?"
Kurt sighed and ran his hands over his soaking wet hair, he pushed himself to reply, "Yes Finn, I'm fine, I'm coming out now"
"Ok"
Kurt hauled his screaming body out of his stewing pot and wrapped the dry, rough towel that Finn had provided around himself….great….now he had to think.
"Is he ok?"
Finn's eyebrows shot up to his hairline sarcastically as he re-entered his bedroom where Puck was sat cross-legged on the ground holding a video game controller, "Yea, just trying to drown himself"
Puck shot him a warning look. "Don't joke, I don't wanna haul his wet naked carcass out of there, I've already pulled him out a dumpster"
Finn fell to the ground unceremoniously next to his friend, grabbing a controller and taking the game off pause.
"I'm sick of those guys, I mean, the Glee club get more stick from Figgin's then they do, he's just too scared to actually deal with the problems at that school, so he just focuses on students like us, who he knows won't give him any trouble, its so out of line."
Puck's head snapped round suddenly to look at Finn, his mind drifted back to what Humbert had said, "all they'll get is a detention and a slap on the wrist…".
They were right, they were both right, something had to be done about this.
"Enough is enough"
"What was that?"
"Nothing, just, your right, Kurt left because of things like this, we can't let him get chased out again-"
Puck stopped mid sentence as he spotted Kurt stood in the doorway, dressed rather oddly in a pair of shorts, an oversized sweater and bare feet.
His hair was damp and stuck to his flushed looking face, "Its ok, you don't have to stop talking because I'm here"
Finn jumped up, "No, heh, come down here, grab a controller"
Kurt looked dully down at the plastic thing in his brother's hand, "No thank you Finn, if you don't mind I'll just watch you"
The taller boy looked slightly upset and awkward, as if he didn't know quite how to deal with Kurt or what to say, but he tried to keep light-hearted.
"Yea, ok sure, whatever-whatever you want"
Finn hesitated then returned to his spot, failing to notice how Puck continued to stare worriedly at Kurt.
The small boy sat on the edge of Finns bed and stared out the window, which was now spotted with rain.
"Heh, nice sweater"
Kurt turned slowly to Puck in surprise, "Oh, yea, it's my dads"
"Yea? I do that sometimes, when I'm feeling down, I grab some of my granddad's old clothes whatever, except it's the other way around, his are too small for me!"
Kurt managed a small smile, not really sure what Puck was saying or what he was trying to say.
Puck suddenly looked a little embarrassed as Finn gave him a bemused look and he turned back to the video game, shooting a zombie until it exploded.
The three remained in silence for a while, the sounds of carnage coming loudly from the television and the pounding rain on the window seeming to give permission for the quite and a reason not to talk. Kurt was grateful for the noise; it meant he didn't need to make conversation.
The room was dark and smelled of…well teenage boys with no sense of hygiene like himself, they'd all gravitated towards Finns room because it was where the video game consol was plugged, he hadn't the strength to complain, despite the discarded old socks on the floor and questionable bed sheets.
He looked back to his knees which continued to bleed, he hissed as he tentatively touched the broken skin.
Finn seemed to catch this in the corner of his eye and jumped up suddenly, "Oh man, you're bleeding, I didn't see"
Puck spun round and swore when he finally noticed Kurt's knees.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Kurt sighed impatiently at the sudden attention, "Its fine, I didn't tell you because its fine, I'm ok"
"Ok my foot, just, stop trying to be all macho and let us help you"
The three looked at each other suddenly and inappropriately began to laugh, the thought of Kurt being 'macho' sounding rather funny.
"Ok ok, not macho, just, oh can it Finn"
The tall boy was trying to suppress his sniggers in the corner.
"Just go get me a band-aid or something!"
Finn left the room leaving Puck examining Kurt's knees.
"This looks pretty nasty, doesn't it hurt?"
Kurt gazed out the window at the rivets of rain, "No more then everywhere else"
Puck flinched at Kurt's detachment of emotion; he seemed more defeated then ever.
"Look, I'm sorry, I-"
"No Puck"
"No, listen! I'm sorry! I said I'd be there for you and I wasn't, I let you down, and I'm sick of people doing that to you! Its time someone-"
"Oh God Puck, what's wrong with me?"
Puck looked on with horror as Kurt began to cry, his already large blue eyes seeming even larger when shining with tears, almost like they were under a magnifying glass.
"Kurt, no, that's what I'm trying to say, its not you! Its-"
"I feel like a splinter, like a splinter stuck in people's sides…everyone's always trying to push me out, I don't even know what I've done wrong."
"Heh, dude, you've done nothing wrong! Your just….special, unique, and dead heads like the guys that did this to you are drawn to people like you 'cause they're jealous-"
"Oh yea, everyone's jealous, jealous of the queer"
Puck flinched at the word.
"I mean they don't like people who rise above mediocrity."
"Whoa, mediocrity, big word for you Puck"
Puck looked towards Finn who was walking into the room holding an armful of band-aids and a damp cloth.
"How many of those did you think we'd need?"
Finn looked down at his arms, a sheepish expression growing on his face.
"Oh right, sorry"
Puck rolled his eyes and looked back to Kurt who was hastily wiping at his eyes, "I'm going to make this right, ok? I'm going to make this right"
The rest of the evening went by in zombie killings and last night's pizza, the boys agreeing to honour Kurt's wish to not tell and keep away from his dad and Carol for the evening and when Kurt finally dropped off to sleep he did so with the sounds of his friends ringing in his ears.
GGGGGG
"Ah, Porcelain, I thought I heard the sound of music wafting down our hallowed halls"
"Miss Sylvester, is it true, has Dave Karofksy been expelled?"
The cheerleading coach put down the shining gold trophy she was polishing and clicked the cabinet closed.
"You know I won that back in '86, lost three girls to get it, and yes, everything you've heard is true, Figgin's threw him out after he heard that he'd thrown you in that dumpster, sort of a last straw situation"
Kurt looked horrified.
"What? But, it wasn't him, it was a group of guys from the football team!"
"Whoa whoa whoa you sound like the fourth member of Alvin and the Chipmunks, are you saying it wasn't Karofsky?"
"Yes! He wasn't involved at all! Who told Figgins it was Karofsky?"
Sue sat down at her desk and grew suddenly quite, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"It was Humbert"
"Coach Humbert? But, he was there, he was being really nice, offering to help, he must have got confused…I've got to see Principle Figgins, get things sorted out-"
"Hold on there Porcelian, hold onto your pretty pink horses with bows in their tails, yes, something is very wrong here blah blah blah, but, wasn't there a time you would have killed to get that kid expelled? You begged us to do something, and now its been done, I didn't like that Karofsky one bit, I mean I'm certainly not saying I'm a fan of Humbert either, in fact you could say we're mortal enemies-"
Kurt blinked.
"But he could have done you a favour here"
Kurt looked confused.
"Let me break it down for you, the big bad wolf is gone, he got what he deserved, count your blessings, make the most of it, you're down one bully my friend"
Kurt seemed to contemplate this, he hesitated a little, and then turned on his heel and fled the room.
Sue frowned at his retreating back, "Hmn, rude"
She reached into the draw at her desk, brought out a book and began to write,
Dear Journal,
Things have taken an interesting twist, I was right all along, as I always am, Humbert is not one to be trusted.
GGGGG
"I want your love and all your love is revenge, you and me could write a bad romance-"
Kurt couldn't believe it, he'd taken a few days off school (claiming migraines) and all this had happened? Karofsky was gone, finally gone, he didn't have to worry about him slamming him into a locker, or cornering him or…. it was funny, Dave hadn't done anything to him in a long time, in fact he'd left him completely alone, it wasn't him who he was afraid of anymore…it was everyone else.
Kurt repressed the urge to scream in frustration right there and then, why was life so damn complicated? Still, it couldn't hurt to have Karofsky gone, as Sue had said, he was one bully down.
He jumped in surprise as he grew face to face with non other then Coach Humbert, the man didn't say a word, just stared.
"Oh, Coach, its you"
Kurt looked expectantly at the mans odd expression then suddenly gathered his thoughts, "I wanted to talk to you actually, I-"
"Can I have a listen?"
The Coach leaned in suddenly, almost uncomfortably close, and took one of the ear buds out of Kurt's ears and put it into his own so they were sharing headphones.
It would have been rather embarrassing except that there was one else in the corridors but those two.
They stood like that for a while, Kurt feeling like time had stood still as he froze with surprise, feeling the mans breath on his face, both listening to-
"Lady Ga Ga"
Kurt's face was the picture of surprise as the Coach finally, after what seemed like hours, pulled the bud out of his ear and let it drop to Kurt's shoulder. He hastily scooped it up, pulling the other out his own ear and wrapping them around his I-Pod.
"Yes, how did you-"
"I'm not that old you know"
Kurt felt himself blush with guilt as the Coach began to smile a little.
I know all your favourite music beautiful.
There was a small silence until Kurt broke it hurriedly with-
"I'm sorry, about the other day, I'm so embarrassed that you had to see me like that-"
Humbert frowned.
"Don't be sorry, I was sorry it had to happen, so sorry… are you ok, you were away for… a long time"
The Coach seemed to clamp his jaw causing a vain to pulse in his neck.
I missed you, I counted the seconds…
"Well, just a couple of days out to get my head back together, but thank you, I feel fine now, and thank you for your help and concern"
Humbert resisted the urge to put his hand on the child's sweet face.
"Well that's good, I need to go now"
Be careful.
"Wait!"
Humberts heart pounded in his chest.
"I need to ask, why did you tell Miss Sylvester and Principle Figgins it was Karofsky?"
"They told you that did they?"
Kurt nodded, eyeing the man with curiosity of the answer.
He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
"Because I felt something needed to be done and that boy needed to be taught a lesson once and for all."
Kurt squinted his eyes in disbelieving gratitude, "Thank you, no one has ever taken a step like that, ever, they're all too afraid."
Humbert nodded, unable to look at the boy in case he would break down in front of him, "Well you're welcome, as for those who really did…do that to you, I'll find out who they are and punish them too"
Kurt couldn't believe it, he had found someone on his side, someone who would help him, he never imagined it would be the strange new Coach, but heh, you find help in the strangest places, look at Puck!
"I really appreciate it, I truly truly do"
Humbert nodded once again, he made to go, until he stopped one more time. "Better keep this between us, sometimes to make a change, you've got to be a little, sneaky"
Kurt smiled and watched with a light heart and a bemused expression as the odd Coach walked down the halls.
GGGGG
"You lied to us, you said it was just some guys, and it was Karfosky!"
Kurt found himself face to face with a very angry looking Noah Puckerman, Finn Hudson and Mercedes Jones.
After entering the Glee rehearsal room he had been bombarded by the three and manhandled to his seat, which was where he found himself now, his angry friends towering over him.
"No! It wasn't! I swear-"
"I come to school, I found out that the student who did this to you was expelled, and I think, wait, Kurt said there were more then one, I look into it, turns out, it was Karfosky!"
Kurt looked at Puck square in the eye, "Will you listen to me! Humbert, the Coach, he told Sue and Figgins that it was Karofsky!"
"Why the hell would he do that?"
Kurt turned to Mercedes, "He told me why he did, it, he knew about Karofsky and he thought he deserved to be taught a lesson. He did it to help me!"
There was a silence between the three, Santana and Britney looking slightly confused as they walked in and saw the three looming over Kurt.
Finn spoke up finally, "He did it just to help you out?"
Kurt nodded ardently.
"What a great guy! I mean wow, he's like, the only one who's tried to help you, ever! How totally awesome!"
"Wait wait hold on, that's all well and good, but baby, what about the people who actually did this to you, its very nice that Karofsky is gone, but he didn't do this, doesn't it feel wrong to you?"
Puck scoffed, suddenly fuelled by admiration for the Coach. "No! Come on Mercedes, think of what crap that douche put Kurt through, hell he chased him out the school without getting so much as a slap on the wrist, or have you forgotten?"
"No but-"
"But nothing! The Coach has done what all of us was afraid to do, stand up for Kurt, for years we've let you down, and this guy has been here for barely a week and he's already gone behind Figgins back and actually done something to make a change! In my books, that's pretty decent!"
"Pucks right, we've tried doing what's right, and it's not worked, I think its time we took matters into our own hands!"
Puck pointed towards Finn and nodded his head enthusiastically. "Exactly!"
Mercedes held her hands up in defeat, "Ok ok whatever, you boys do whatever you have to do, as long as my boy is alright, than it's ok with me"
She hugged Kurt firmly and whispered in his ear. "Are you ok? You can tell me?"
Kurt smiled fondly at her.
"I can't lie, it's been a crazy few days, things aren't going as I expected. I can't say I don't feel a little guilty about Karofsky, but he got what he deserved didn't he?"
"Yea? And what about the guys that actually did it?"
Kurt grimaced, "I know I know, but Humbert said he would find out who they were and punish them too"
"Humbert again? Look Kurt, I know this guys done a nice thing and all, and I'm grateful to him, but you've got to be careful"
"Careful about what? The guys a hero, he's the only one who's ever stood up for the little people and made a difference!-"
"I get it Finn!"
"Ok ok, people settle down, settle down!"
The four Glee members were momentarily distracted at the entrance of Will Schuester, arms full of music books.
He dropped them heavily down on the piano and picked one from the top of the pile, it read Blood Brothers.
"Musicals, we all love a good show tune and have sung our fair share, but what about those more obscure ones?"
He moved towards the whiteboard and wrote down, Under-appreciated.
"Haven't we already done something like this?
"Yes Artie, sort of, but I want to celebrate those songs from musicals you don't hear everyday, good good music, that doesn't get the recognition they deserve."
Kurt's ears picked up, this sounded right up his street.
GGGG
The Coach brought the sugary liquid to his lips and took a tiny sip, he looked down to his notes and at the crossed out name of Karofsky, he'd scribbled a few more lines through it since last time, almost ripping through the paper.
The boy was gone, he'd succeeded, things were going to plan, he just had to be patient and see what Puckerman did.
He felt like his patience was growing thin, he'd missed Kurt more then he could say, waiting for him had seemed like torture, like he'd lost a part of life, but he'd learnt from past mistakes, patience and time was all he needed. Soon it would all pay off and he'd never have to be without Kurt again, ever. Never have to feel that panic, that pain, that agony…
He looked down to his watch, Glee club had already started!
He dashed from the room, being careful to lock the door after him.
GGGGG
"Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown.
You put in your eight hours
For the powers that have always been."
Mercedes voice echoed strongly around the room, Will watched, always excited to see his Glee club perform, having a special place in his heart for show tunes.
"Then You go" "Downtown "Yes, you go"
Where the folks are broke.
Downtown
Where your life's a joke.
Downtown
When you buy your token,
you go
Home to skid row."
Will laughed at Pucks enthusiasm and Rachel's constant attempt to be seen, he was looking forward to Kurt's solo part though.
"Downtown Uptown you cater to a million jerks. Uptown you cater to a million whores.
Where the cabs don't stop
Downtown
Where the food is slop
Downtown
Where the hop-heads flop
in the snow
Down on Skid Row
Uptown you're messengers and
mailroom clerks
eating all your lunches at the
hot dog carts.
The bosses take your money
And they break your hearts.
You disinfect terrazzo on their
bathroom floors.
Your morning's tribulation,
afternoon's a curse
And five o'clock is even worse"
Will was impressed by Quinn and Santana's vocals. He looked fondly at his group until suddenly Kurt came to the front and began his solo.
"Poor! All my life I've always been poor.
I keep asking God what I'm for,
and he tells me "Gee, I'm not sure
sweep that floor, kid."
Oh, I started life as an orphan,
a child of the street
Here on skid row.
He took me in, gave me shelter, a bed,
Crust of bread and a job
Treats me like dirt, calls me a slob,
Which I am."
Will frowned suddenly, slightly perturbed by the look on Kurt's face.
"So I live" "Downtown" "That's your home address. "Downtown" "When your life's a mess.
Ya live"
Ya live"
Kurt's eyes shimmered dangerously; maybe he was just improving even more on his acting skills?
"Downtown" "Where depressions' jes'
Status Quo."
Kurt was looking angry now.
"Down on skid row" "Someone show me a way to get
outa here,
'cause I constantly pray I'll get
outa here
Please, won't somebody say I'll get
outa here
Someone gimme my shot or I'll
rot here."
Humbert listened intently by the door, eyes wide and staring.
"Show me how and I will,
I'll get outa here
I'll start climbin' up hill
and get outa here
Someone tell me I still
could get outa here
Someone tell lady luck
that I'm stuck here"
"I'll get you out" Humbert murmered.
Gee, it sure would be swell
to get outa here
Bid the gutter farewell
and get outa here
I'd move heaven and hell
to get outa Skid
I'd do I-dunno-what
to get outa Skid
But a hell of a lot
to get outa Skid
People tell me theres
not a way outa Skid
But believe me I gotta get outa
Skid Row!"
"I'll get you away from here Kurt, I'll get you out of here, I promise"
"Woo! That was great guys, really great, especially you Kurt, shall we have a round of applause for our Seymour! Now remember guys, tomorrow is our 'under-appreciated show tunes' solos, so everyone think of their solos!"
GGGG
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and put this on their alert/favs list, and sorry about the delay! ^^