Kurt took my hand and led me to the garage where Burt was getting out of the car. He let go of my hand and hopped in the passenger's seat. Burt turned around from where he was gathering his tools and a couple of rags.

"Kurt, can you pop the hood for me while you're in there, please?"

He nodded with a slight smile and did just that. Burt walked over to the car, his hands full with various tools. He dropped his wrench on the ground accidentally, cursing under his breath. I bent down and picked it up quickly and handed it to him.

"Here you go." I said with a shy smile.

His eyes met mine for a moment before he took it from me. "Thanks."

He set his tools on the tool cart and walked around the car, positioning the jack lift arms. Kurt got out of the vehicle and disappeared into the back room without a word. I hit the lever and the car slowly began to rise. Under the engine compartment, Burt began to unscrew the plug on the oil pan as I positioned a bucket to catch the oil beneath it. It was really quiet for a few moments before Burt turned to me with solemn eyes.

"We need to talk."

I spoke first.

"Before you say anything else, I just need you to know that I am so sorry. In my past, I was under a lot of pressure and I had a hard time making ends meet and I ended up making a terrible decision and got caught up in some really bad stuff. But now, working with you, making my money the honest way, and meeting Kurt, I really love my life now and I never would go back to that kind of life." I felt tears begin prickling at the corners of my eyes.

Burt spoke up, raising a hand in front of me.

"Listen, Blaine…" he began, "I'm not going to ask you why you got into all of this in the first place considering it's none of my business, but I am going to say that I am happy that you are trying to fix things and become a better person. We all have made mistakes. I have even had my fair share of mess-ups in my life. That doesn't make you a bad person. That just what makes you human." He paused and stared at me for a moment. I looked away, sniffling, holding back tears. "You're a good kid, Blaine. I can't say I understand everything you're going through, but I try having an open mind. I'm proud of your honesty and your commitment to making a change. I really am."

I sniffled again and nodded slowly. I extended my hand towards him to shake his. He took my hand and pulled me in for a tight hug and patted my back. A tear fell from my eye as I took a deep breathe, wrapping my arms around him. For the first time in a long time, I felt the kind of acceptance I always longed for from my own father. The kind of embrace I'll never forget. Moments passed before he finally let me go. I wiped the tear away and smiled at him.

We looked up and noticed that the oil has finished draining. I handed him a wrench as he tightened the bolt on the oil pan. As he unscrewed the old oil filter I handed him a new one. We finished our job in silence. As we were lowering the car lift, we heard the door close from the back room.

Kurt came strolling up with a large grin and his hands behind his back. Burt went back under the hood to add fresh oil to the engine. Kurt went back into the passenger's side and tossed a piece of paper into the glove compartment before slamming the door shut.

"What was that?" I asked him, curiously.

He rolled his eyes innocently. "Oh, nothing… Just my plan to keep this guy off of our backs." He said, waving a piece of lined paper in front of me. I squinted to get a better look and read:

'Clay & Juliana Thorton
17 Miller St. East Lima, Ohio.
'

I pointed to the paper and looked into Kurt's eyes.

"Is that…?"

"His name, his wife's name, and his address? Yes, Blaine. It is." He interrupted with a devilish smirk.

"How did you…?"

"I found his insurance policy in the glove compartment. So, now, if he still wants to cause any troubles for us, we'll go on and let his wife know what kind of man she really is married to."

I smiled at him and pulled him in for a tight hug. "Kurt, you're a genius."

He pulled away and combed his hair back with his fingers. "I know." He sighed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Burt slammed the hood closed and said. "Blaine, can you pull this thing out of the garage and park it up front?"

I nodded and hopped in the driver's seat, and slowly backed the car down the parking lot. I glanced at the back seat and shuddered at the memory of the last time I was back there, naked, completely vulnerable to the guy that was now trying to ruin my life. I shook out of my reverie and pulled the car into the last parking spot nearest the road before powering it down, leaving the key in the ignition. I turned and opened the car door when the man appeared. What did Kurt say his name was again? Oh, yeah… Clay. His jaw was already bruising slightly. He crouched down next to me, eyes meeting mine, sincerely. He began to whisper.

"Listen… How about we put all of this bullshit behind us, you slide over into the passenger seat, and we'll take a little ride and we'll forget about everything that happened?"

I started trembling, feeling absolutely furious. A part of me wanted to give him a matching bruise on the other side of his face. I shook my head, clenching my eyes shut, holding back the rage inside of me. Kurt's voice sounded up. "Ahem," He cleared his throat.

My eyes shot open. He stood behind the man, hands behind his back. Burt stood a couple feet behind him, arms crossed in front of his chest. "Mr. Clay Thorton, from 17 Miller Street, how would Juliana, your dear wife, feel if she knew what kind of pervert you are? Let alone your actual sexuality?"

Clay looked up at them in surprise, all of the color draining from his face. "H-how do you know all of that?" He stuttered with a nervous laugh.

I slowly got out of the car and walked over to stand behind Kurt.

"I know a lot more than you think, Mr. Thorton. And if you ever try to mess with any of us again, I swear to you, I will ruin your life with just one simple letter to the Mrs."

Clay closed his mouth with an audible snap. Burt walked in front of Kurt so that he was standing before the man.

"I suggest you leave right about now."

The man turned and quickly ducked into his car, starting the engine, and putting it in gear. He pulled out of the driveway and took off down the road, squealing his tires.

My jaw was unknowingly hanging open in shock. Kurt looked at me with a smile. I let out a light laugh and pulled him in for a bone crushing hug. He wrapped his arms around me, returning the embrace.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He nodded and hugged me tighter.

Burt laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Come on," He said. "Let's go inside."

xxXXKlaineXXxx

TBC.

AN: I'm afraid the next chapter will be the epilogue and end of this fiction. I hope you guys like this chapter. I, myself, am quite proud of it.