Crossroads

Chapter 14

A/N: This chapter has been beta'ed by the lovely Ninquelote and Culurien. I could not thank you enough!

So I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's been pretty difficult to write, and one of the longest by far, but I think it came out alright :D

REMOVED AND REPOSTED FOR MINOR EDITS...

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

Previously on Crossroads...

"Kurt, what's going on?" Mr. Hummel, looked up from the hood of a car, and he could see the tear streak on his son's face, and that just didn't settle well with him.

"Quinn's gone dad."

"What!?" the way Kurt had said it just snapped something in him. His son had already briefed him on what had happened that morning and it worried him to no end, not only for Quinn, but also his son. Mr. Hummel knows how much the girl had already affected his son and he would be lying if he'd said that he hadn't developed a soft spot for Quinn.

"She's gone."

"Well come on then..." Mr. Hummel closed the hood and started to wipe his hands. "We've gotta find her."

It didn't take long before both were out the door. Mr. Hummel had given Kurt the car keys, while he used Mr. Jenson's car, knowing he wouldn't mind, or wouldn't know for the matter, he'd forget after a while anyway. The rain was getting heavier now, and Kurt couldn't help but feel a little déjà vu at it all, the late night and the rain.

As Kurt turned to that familiar street, he peered through to every bench, hoping to find her there, hoping to get her home safe, but they were all empty. The only person he saw walking in the rain was Patches, who grinned stupidly as he rolled down the window to ask him if he knew where Quinn was. He then drove to the small park where they usually had walks, but it looked uninhabited. Kurt was losing options now, his mind running at a mile a minute knowing all stores were closed, no mall was open and Kurt didn't think Quinn would be going back to the grocery any time soon. He couldn't help but push on the pedal harder, switching gears more forcefully than he should. But to say that he wasn't worriedscared, would be an understatement. He's beyond a doubt, terrified. Sweat had began dripping from the back of his head, his teeth grinding painfully. As he turned that familiar corner by the grocery, a flood of scenes played before his eyes.

The flash of a fist…blonde hair whipping around…a pool of blood growing…a scream.

Kurt shook those thoughts away, concentrating hard on the road, squinting to see every nook and corner. His mind wandered to the places Quinn had been in, but realized that there were only a handful of them. Mentally crossing off each option, his eyes grew in realization that there really was only one other place she felt safe. So he drove, hoping to find her there.

Church.

In the 15 minutes of driving, Kurt hadn't realized that he had already been gripping the wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white. He didn't realize that His heart had been pounding when he reached the church, and put the car on park, and he could hear the pounding in his ears as he sprinted up the steps two, even three at a time, ignoring the rain soaking his shirt through. He hesitated at the huge door, a faint echo of a few organ chords reached his ears and a sliver of light coming out through the barely opened opening. The last time he'd been to church had been his mother's funeral. He knows it makes him a bad Christian, but the memories that would invade his mind every time he smells flowers and candles could literally bring tears to his eyes. His father had been the same, though he had been pretty good at hiding the sadness, too. But Kurt pushed those thoughts away, and lightly placed his hand on the huge brass handle, and took a deep breath before pushing it open just enough for him to fit through. Once he had set foot onto the tiled floor, the melodic sounds doubled in volume, the smell of candles and floral scents once more invading his senses.

Kurt usually sat on his mother's lap whenever they go to church and hear mass, despite his father telling him to sit on his own, but not today. Today he sat on the pew on his own little bum just like what his father wanted, though clearly uncomfortable. He kept fidgeting in his seat, tugging at the sleeves of his suit jacket, his sides getting itchier by the minute. But whenever his father would glance his way, Kurt would immediately stop the scratching and the tugging. He wouldn't want to anger his father. Not now, anyways.

It still hadn't occurred to him why his parents always wanted him dressed up whenever they go to church, but he always complied because his mother always promised him ice cream after. But the tantrum that was slowly boiling within the little kid only grew as the first notes of some choral hymn began playing. In his mind, there was no use wearing a suit anymore…Mama wouldn't be taking him to ice cream later.

It was only here, in church, hearing a necrological mass, that Kurt only realized that he would never be able to see his mother again. And for the first time since his mother died, Kurt cried. Not the silent tears, but the full on sobbing that made every head turn his way. He made a jerk to move out of his seat, but warm hands had grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him into an embrace, the scent of pumpkin filling his nose, overlying the smell of burning candles and the ever sweet bouquet. He buried his nose deeper into the wool, shaking shoulders steadied.

When the final prayers were said, Kurt raised his head to see Aunt Mildred smiling down on him, and he couldn't help but hug her tight. He would have preferred his father's embrace, but ever since that night in the hospital, he pretty much left Kurt all on his own, with only Aunt Mildred providing him the hugs he needed. But when Kurt caught his father's eye, he saw a flash of disappointment.

A small sob escaped the boy's lips, but Burt felt nothing. His wife just died for crying out loud; can't he just feel numb for once? But his thought was swiftly cut off by Aunt Mildred's reprimand, bringing the crying boy with her as she left the church.

When the casket was finally laid down on the ground with a resounding thump, Burt finally took a glance to the boy across him, standing by his sister-in-law. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt cutting through him as he saw the boy…no, his boy, standing erect, hands straight at his sides, his face as stoic as it could get. Tear streaks were still visible, but he wasn't crying anymore, though his bottom lip quivered ever so subtly. Burt's eyes softened, realizing his mistake. He was shaken out of his reverie by soft pats and thumps on his shoulder, even a hug or two from friends, but he still couldn't get the image of his own son only having Mildred's have embrace. When most of the people had left, he made his way over to Kurt and Mildred, cowering just a little as Mildred gave him a stern look before she moved out of his way so he could get to Kurt.

Kurt still stared down at the coffin, not wanting to move. He'd been a baby today, crying out loud in the middle of the mass. And when he saw how disappointed his father was at that point, he vowed to his little self to be more kept together…more grown up per se. But he couldn't help as his lip quivered as he watched his mother was laid to rest. He hadn't even dared to look up at his father, fearing that he'd be disappointed in him yet again. But then he felt hands removing the jacket that gave him the itchies. His first thought was that it had been Aunt Mildred since she was more lenient than others, but he was surprised when a pair of strong arms had lifted him and pulled him in. And when his father's familiar aftershave wafted into his nose, he instinctively curled into him and began to cry as his father whispered a small apology, softly hushing him into sleep.

The loud crack of thunder jolted Kurt out of his reverie. He shook the remaining thoughts of his mother's funeral out of his head, reminding himself of what he was supposed to be here for. He let his eyes fall on the blond sitting in one of the first pews. He was here for Quinn, and he wouldn't let some childhood memory stop him. He tentatively made a move, unsure, his steps coming in a harsh staccato.

Quinn wasn't praying. Even though she'd been sitting on this pew for almost more than an hour now, she hasn't been praying. She was merely sitting down, weight on her shoulders hunching her back. Her mind was still foggy, her eyes blurry with tears. It had been difficult, taking that first step out of the Hummel household, but she knew that she had to leave. They had been extremely kind to her for the past couple weeks, but what has she exactly given in return? Another wave of tears silently gushed down her already tear-stained face. She didn't know what to do anymore. And this is really why she'd been in church, in the middle of the night, and she had hoped that just by being here, it would give her guidance.

She had sat in silence before, but when she had heard the faltering steps echoing, she felt herself choke back a sob. And she didn't need to turn to find out who the other person would be. She was too familiar with the sharp sounds of sole to marble tile. When the steps had come to a stop, Quinn could feel a presence a pew behind her, already expecting some form of reprimand. But it hadn't come.

"You shouldn't be here." Quinn lets in a shaky breath, her eyes still kept towards a forward gaze.

"I think I should be the one saying that."

"You don't understand, Kurt." Quinn felt herself shake her head. "I deserve to be here. I have become the worst person I could ever imagine, taking more than I should, when I should have been smart enough to stay away from everything."

"I was brought up to become a respectable woman, God-fearing and good. But because of my actions, I have betrayed not only my parents, but also God." Quinn spoke through gritted teeth, her anger at herself evident in her voice. She wanted to scream, but she knew enough to not do it inside the house of the Lord. Quinn had expected Kurt to say something at this point, but all she met was silence. "As I have said Kurt, I deserve this. It is only right for me to take my punishment as it is and leave."

"I've become the bad guy now, Kurt. I've hurt the people that I care about…" From behind her, Kurt could see the shift in her posture. Resignation. "I can't face my parents anymore. I can feel their shame miles away. And…and my sister, I've let her down so much."

"Not to mention that I've led Finn to think that that baby is his when it's truly Puck's. And I too, led him to think that I might have loved him." Quinn had her hands on her side, palms down on the wooden pew, gripping hard. "And I cannot add you to that growing list, Kurt."

So she had stood up and momentarily turned to Kurt, the sadness etched on his face surprised her, making her hitch a breath. "Please, Kurt. Don't follow me." She quickly recomposed herself, focused at the big wooden door at the end of the aisle. Then she quickly moved away, nearly breaking into a run, hoping she could outrun him because somewhere in the back of her mind, she knows that there was no way he would let her go just like that. As she took each step towards the door, she felt her chest getting tighter and tighter, each breath getting more and more difficult to take. This was it. She really was leaving everything behind. And when the image of her baby and the hurt on Kurt's face before she had walked away flashed before her eyes as she stepped into the rain, she couldn't help but cry out loud, her tears becoming one with the downpour. She wrapped herself with her arms as if to try to stop her shaking body. When she had heard the door creak once more, Quinn knew she had to move, but it's as if some invisible force was holding her down. Unable to move from her place, she kept crying as a pair of arms enveloped her from behind, and as a voice telling her that it was okay filtered into her ear. Quinn didn't know how long they had stayed this way, but the rain still wasn't letting up, making it more all the more difficult to take a breath without risking aspiration.

As Quinn sobbed harder and harder, Kurt could only tighten his hold on her. He hadn't said much back at the church since the words that usually came to him as naturally as song had left him once again. And under this rain, he knows that body heat is the only way to keep them from freezing to death. But warmth isn't his only purpose for holding her. He knows she needed it. The more Quinn cried in his arms, the more tears blurred his vision, but he didn't care.

Dr. Murray had warned him about this, and there was no way he was ever going to leave her be. When Quinn had told him to not follow her when she headed out the church, he had shaken his head, counted to five, before heading outside. He knew he had to move fast to catch her, but something within him told him that that was not the case. And to find her still there, Kurt only did what he could; expecting to be pushed away, but surprisingly Quinn had let him.

"Let's get you home." Kurt could only estimate on how long they had stood in the middle of the rain, though if he'd take a good guess, 10 minutes would be a good one. It wasn't until a couple of minutes ago that he felt Quinn just leaned unto him, using him as a support. And when he thought it was okay to move, Quinn started to push him away.

"I can't." Quinn was now squirming her way out of Kurt's arms. He let her do so. He doesn't want to hurt her anymore than she already is. "I'm sorry but I can't."

Quinn had placed a distance between them, but not enough that they couldn't touch if one of them reached out. "Quinn..."

Quinn looked up to Kurt, her eyes brimming with a new set of tears. It has become difficult, to not cry. Quinn thought that all the crying and mood swings had gone with the pregnancy, but boy, was she ever wrong. "You should stay away..."

"Why should I?"

"You should stay away because I'm a bad person Kurt."

Kurt shook his head as the words flew out of her mouth. In his mind, this was all ridiculous. "I'm a bad person and a bad mother." Now this exclamation made Kurt look up to Quinn who had managed to add a foot more of distance between them. "Quinn, don't say that."

"But it's true." Quinn shook in her place, the cold finally getting to her.

"This shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have gotten pregnant, I wouldn't have been rejected by my own family, I wouldn't have made your life miserable, and I wouldn't --"

"Quinn, this isn't you talking..." Kurt kept his focus on Quinn as she began rambling on the things that shouldn't have happened, but he just had to cut her off. "You just can't wish it all back, Quinn. What's past is past. And you just can't wish that Sophie wasn't born. I know you know that she is the best thing that ever happened to you." Kurt managed to breathe in a ragged sigh, his own emotions catching up to him. "You just can't." Kurt had thought that bringing her daughter up would knock some sense into her, but her response had caught him off-guard. With a shaky sigh, Quinn looked into his eyes, and Kurt could not believe it. "But I can." It came out as a whisper, but to Kurt, it was as if she just screamed it into his face. The sincerity in her voice literally shook him to the bone.

"I can't provide for her, Kurt. You know that." Kurt could feel the self-hatred coming off her in waves, and he couldn't help but feel his own ire rising too. But he stayed silent still, seeing her bow down her head. "What can I, an 18 year old with no job do?" She scoffed, then rising her eyes to his again. "Nobody would want to hire me because of the baggage."

"You don't have to worry about that if you stay with me, Quinn." Kurt breathed deep, in hopes to calm his rising voice. "You don't have to worry about anything!"

Kurt saw Quinn shake her head this time, with each shake sending a wisp of hair around her face. "You've been too good, Kurt. You and your father. You've been everything that I could have wanted in a family. But my being here is only going to drag you down, too" Kurt couldn't believe what he's
hearing, and he was consciously suppressing the need to just grab her by the arms and shake her head back in place. "Sometimes, I just wish you hadn't found me that night."

"What!?" With this, Kurt snapped. Of all the stupid things he's heard, but this took the cake. "You wish I hadn't found you!? Then what did you plan on doing, Quinn? God damn it, you would have died in that weather!"

"Are you seriously going to throw everything we've..." Kurt was practically shouting now, and it didn't help that they were still in church grounds, with both rain and tears stinging their eyes. "D-do you want to throw this all away?"

"But don't you see it, Kurt? I've been with you for barely a month and I'm already ruining your lives!"

"What on earth ever made you think that?"

"You're supposed to be in New York, or any place far from here. But no, you're stuck here in Lima, and with me hanging around, I bet you're not willing to leave it anymore." Quinn had already raised her voice too, straining so as to not be drowned out by the rain. She needed him to hear this. "You're supposed to be in Fashion School, Kurt. Not Law. And my God, Kurt, accounting? I knew even before you told me that you hate math."

"And not to mention that rift between you and your dad. You might think that everything's fine, Kurt, but I see it. You don't talk to him or hug him as much as you did before." Kurt stood dumb shocked, speechless, ignoring the splashes of rain Quinn sent his way as she began flailing her arms about, putting emphasis on each of her statements.

Quinn was now heaving, but that didn't stop her. She let her gaze fall on the ground. "And if I wasn't here, that horrible thing by the grocery wouldn't have been as bad. They would have let you go if I hadn't let them make me some kind of bait." Quinn swallowed hard; her throat had gone dry from the crying and the shouting. "I am nothing but a burden to you, Kurt. That's all I am."

Quinn felt spent; her limbs had gone limp, exhaustion creeping up on her. But she stood her ground, unwavering, despite the heated gaze he sent her way. But when a draft came through between them, both bodies involuntarily shook. When she finally looked up to him, the rain has plastered his hair onto his forehead, though his face remained stoic, but that little twitch she sees at the corner of his eye gave away his emotions. Quinn knows she's hurting him now, but she knows he'll get over it. Right?

Kurt may have looked calm and collected on the outside, but inside he was a mess. How could she do this to him? He kept his gaze still on her, trying to make her look up to him. And when she finally did, he locked his eyes with her, willing…daring her to break it. But when she didn't, he began to take the 3 steps towards her, taking each and every step with sureness, that when he was less than a foot away from her, she sort of stumbled in her place.

"There was and will be no way I'm ever going to Pratt. By missing that Monday meeting, I have officially flipped them off, so to speak." Quinn breathed harder through the wetness covering her face, not used to Kurt being so firm in his speech, his voice lower than she's ever heard before. "And not to mention the quality of living I'd have to keep up in New York."

"I made this choice, Quinn. You said some words, yes. But you didn't make this decision for me; I sent that application on my own free will." Kurt didn't want to seem so overwhelming, but he knew he had to. "And as for the rift between me and my dad…" He felt himself scoff harsher than he should, inwardly cringing as she let out a little squeal. "Really, Quinn. My dad might look like the toughest guy in Lima, but the man's a sap. There is nothing that we can't work through."

"Now that thing by the grocery? That was nothing new to me, Quinn." This time he heard her gasp at his confession. Not many people knew about it, now she's one of them. "But with you in the fold, it scared me out of my wits; but there isn't any situation that wouldn't have me worried for you."

"And that's why—"

"No, Quinn. Let me finish." He gripped her elbows, willing her to keep her eyes on him. He felt his eyes water again, but he blinked them away. "You're my friend, Quinn. No matter what you say or do, I will always be here for you whether you like it or not." Quinn's eyes were already red and puffed from crying, but the hot tears kept on flowing. She bit her lip in hopes to stop them, but it was futile. "You're part of my life now, Quinn. You and Sophie."

"When I told those doctors back at the hospital that I was the father of that baby, I meant it." Kurt let out a ragged breath, the familiar clench in his chest returning. "I may not be the biological father, but when that baby came..." Kurt momentarily took a pause. He could literally feel himself fall apart, coherency out the window. "...but when Sophie came, I p-promised to myself...I would try to give her the b-best life she could...because she doesn't deserve this, Quinn." Kurt felt himself sigh in hopes to regain his composure. "The bigotry and the prejudices that come from growing up in Lima…Sophie doesn't deserve it."

"I-I know that you don't see yourself living with us for the rest of your life, and I'm not holding you down on it, you may leave when you want to, but not yet. I'm not going to let you go when you barely can stop bursting into tears." Kurt softened his grip on her arms when Quinn started to openly sob. "W-when you're better; y-you c-can go." He swallowed hard, trying to stop his stutter. He should never stutter; it gives away too much. "But as long as you're with me, living under my roof, you are my responsibility. And you know I can't shy away from that."

"I can't let you leave, Quinn." He shook his head, eyes straying away from her. "You're planning to leave Sophie with me. Now what am I going to tell her when she asks for her mommy? 'I'm sorry kid but your mother skipped town when you were still a baby!" Kurt saw Quinn flinch. It was harsh, he knew, but the frustration that built up within him was getting more and more difficult to handle. But he willed his voice down a notch. "I can't let you do that to her, Quinn."

"And that thing about you being a burden? That is nothing but bull crap and you know it." Kurt took a step back, exasperated. "Have you seen how much you make my dad happy? Ever since my mom died, he has been somewhat withdrawn, always working on those cars in the garage…" The rain was starting to let up now, but the sky was darker than it had been, only a lamp post illuminating the two. It's a wonder nobody has found them yet, with the raised voices and all.

"But when you came, it was as if he found a different outlet. He asks much about you, how you're doing, what you like for lunch. And it's good because it takes him away from all the drama I get for being…" Kurt let himself trail, unwilling to stray from the point. "I always try to make my dad happy, but you, Quinn, you make him happier. And I'm not going to let that go."

"And don't get me started on Aunt Mildred. You wormed you way into her heart on the first day you met." Quinn watched Kurt practically pacing in front of her, explaining just how screwed up her logic was. "D'you know that she's an alcoholic? Didn't you see her slip in a little sip every now and then?" Quinn didn't know what to say, she hadn't really seen anything. Though she did sense a different scent underneath that sweet pumpkin smell she always seemed to have. Kurt saw her hesitation. "Well she is. She has been ever since my cousins turned 10. But you know what? When she found out that you were pregnant, she stopped sneaking in the bottle. It's some kind of superstition for her. That's what she told me before she left. She said that she finally found a reason to stop…at least for another ten years." Quinn this time couldn't help but bite back a smile. But it didn't last long when she saw the serious face Kurt still wore.

"And do I really need to explain what you've done to me?"

Quinn stilled. Kurt had been ranting about how she'd affected other people, and she might have had a little inkling of how, but when he directed that last question to her, straight to her face, she didn't know how to respond.

He had stopped pacing now, making his way to her slowly. He got within her personal space, and she could practically see the tear streaks on his face. Quinn could no longer count the number of times she cried tonight, though she guessed it was more than she ever had before, and she figured she had to add one more to that list when she could practically taste the saltiness again. When she didn't say a word, Kurt had to step away once again just so he could vent.

"Jesus, Quinn. I care for you!"

There. He said it, more like shouted it really. But Quinn could see that it was honest and genuine. And coming from Kurt, she knows it's difficult for him. And when she sees his eyes drop, she felt something fall within her too. And as she saw the change in his stature, she knew she has broken something in him, and that just made the pain swell even more. This was not how she wanted this to play through. She had imagined it to be quick, that she'd be out of his life before he'd notice, but she'd underestimated him. And she'd underestimated just how much she has integrated herself into his life in just a month. She'd caused him to hurt more than she ever imagined, and for some reason, that just made her numb.

Kurt now felt tired, his verbal outburst drained him. He might have stated his father and Aunt Mildred as excuses for her not to, but in reality it's more of a selfish idea in his mind. He didn't want her to leave. He really didn't want her to go, and it just might have showed. Though Kurt knows there will never be anything more between them than being friends, but that didn't shake the feeling away that Quinn belongs there with him. When he raised his eyes back to her, he could only hope he could get a positive reply.

"Please, Quinn. Come back home?"

Oh, God, he's pleading.

Quinn heard his barely whispered question, and his cracking voice just about did her in. She has dug herself a gigantic hole, and she knows she'll need all the help she can get to come back up to the surface. So she ignored that empty feeling growing inside and slowly nodded. And it didn't take much for Kurt to move towards her and pull her into his arms, holding her tight, as if he didn't, she'd fall away from him again. And Quinn let herself be held, because that's the only thing she could give him now, and she owes him that much.

Soon, she felt herself being moved, but at this point, she was too distracted to care. All she knows is that Kurt has her, and that's fine by her. The drive back was as silent as ever, other than Kurt's hushed voice over the phone to tell his dad that she's with him, the cracking voice not going unnoticed. But she'd stayed in place, head bent low. Quinn ignored the wet feeling all over, the thought of the upholstery just fluttering by. She didn't know what to do now, except sit and move whenever and wherever Kurt
takes her.

What seemed like only a minute to her, was actually an excruciating 30 minutes for Kurt. He constantly risked a glance her way, keeping one hand on the steering wheel, the other over her hand, afraid that if he just let her go even for a second, she'd be gone as quickly as she had been before. He could see she was still distant, but wasn't sure if it was because she finally understood her actions, or because he scared her until she was numb. Kurt couldn't help but whisper a little prayer that it was the former.

Quinn didn't realize she had fallen asleep until a warm, heavy spray hit her full on. When she finally opened her eyes, she realized that she wasn't in the car anymore, but that she was standing in a bathroom she knows she hasn't used before, being held up by Kurt, who stayed outside the shower.

"Quinn, we need you to get warm. You're shaking like crazy." The softer tone of voice was a sweet change from the forceful ones she had heard before, and Quinn couldn't help but sigh in relief at it. She had to admit, she missed that.

Kurt had asked her if she'd be fine if he let her have her privacy, but she shook her head no, surprising Kurt. Quinn would be lying if she'd said that she didn't need him there. When she quietly points out that he's shaking too and when she tells him that she's not sure if she could stand up on her own, he takes this opportunity cautiously, and steps into the warm shower with her, though keeping some sort of space between them. And when he suggested that they might as well sit since their knees aren't as stable as they should be, Quinn nodded, and laid back into him. At first, he stiffened at the closeness, but soon his body relaxed as well, and they stayed like that for how long? Neither knew.

It was weird; Kurt had to admit, having a woman as close to him as Quinn was. But he had already told her that he would do anything and everything to make her better, and if this was it, than he couldn't refuse. When the water eventually turned cold, he slowly made a move to turn the water off, carefully getting out from behind her. She let out a small whine at the loss of contact and warmth, but Kurt only found out that she had already fallen asleep.

He didn't want to wake her, but she needed to get out of the wet clothes. But Quinn could barely move. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but it's just that she can't. Though she always knew that Kurt could carry some weight, if the dance moves and the lifts they used to do back in Glee were any indication, but she was surprised at how easily he lifted her out of the bathtub, and on to the closed commode.

He was talking to her now, Quinn could see from behind half-lidded eyes, but for some reason, it all came to her as muffled noises. At her unresponsiveness, she could see Kurt getting worried. She didn't really know what was happening, but she just blamed it on the hypothermia.

Kurt quickly wrapped a dry towel around Quinn, telling her to stay where she was until he got back. He saw her give one small nod, and with that he flew out the bathroom door, and in less than a minute, probably the quickest change he's ever done, he was back in dry clothes, carrying a set of her pajamas. He gently asked her to change, but when she didn't answer, he asked her once more, louder. And finally when he hears her croaked, intelligible reply, he felt his heart drop. He lifted a hand to her cheek, shocked to find it cold to the touch. He knew he had to get her out of the clothes fast and get her warm, but she wasn't moving, just staring at him. Kurt shook his head, continually muttering the same apology over and over again, slowly peeling her clothes one by one. And when he reached to the point where it was only the under garments concerned, he muttered those apologies louder and frequently, this time closing his eyes as he did so. She might still have been covered by the towel; Kurt knew this shouldn't be happening. But he proceeded with it anyways, Quinn only letting out a few squeaks to which he only apologized even louder.

It was a challenge, no doubt, dressing someone up. The concept isn't new to Kurt, but when that person is someone you truly care about, and is unresponsive; your heart can't help but break a little. And that was the case, with Kurt now lifting her out of the bathroom, and into a soft bed.

Quinn didn't recognize the sheets, but she relaxed onto it nonetheless. She had turned to her side, her most comfortable sleeping position. But when she realized that Kurt was moving away from her, she managed to voice out despite the dryness of her throat, asking him to stay. She sensed his hesitancy, but she sighed back into him as she felt him lay behind her.

The distance was still there, but she needed warmth, and she'd let him know ever so subtly with a little whine. And she silently thanked God that he wasn't dense and he caught on the idea very quickly that he already closed the distance between them, laying an arm around her. Quinn couldn't help but revel in his warmth, and it was here that Quinn realized that they had been both shaking still, though she was sure it wasn't because he was cold anymore.

Words still weren't spoken until she realized that she wasn't in her room, but in his. Through heavy lids, she scanned what she could until her gaze fell on to an opened suitcase near the closet, half filled with clothes and books. This made Quinn bite back a sob, but unfortunately, due to their closeness, Kurt caught it.

"You should go, you know."

"But I can't." She felt his sigh at her nape. "And if I do, I leave tomorrow."

"Then you should go."

"But you…"

Quinn stopped him with a voice that still cracked, squeezing the hand that lay on her stomach. "I w-was wrong, Kurt. Y-you showed m'that much. I should nev'r have th-thought of leaving."

"I-I promised that I'd g-get better," Quinn took a long, shaky breath, trying hard to find the words. "…and I will."

Breathing was still kind of difficult for her, considering the dry throat and the clogged up sinuses, but Quinn drew another breath, steadier than before, yet her voice still came out as a whisper, but with more conviction. "Now you have to promise me that you won't let anything stop you from getting your life back."

Kurt had been speechless yet again. Here he was comforting her, and she just flipped their situation as easily as before. The question still lingered in the air, but Kurt had already eyed that letter on his dresser, and he sighed, urging Quinn to go back to sleep.

Quinn didn't hear or feel any answer that night, but when she woke up the next morning, she felt a pang of regret and loneliness, only partly tempered by a soaring elation when she found herself alone in bed, and the suitcase gone from its place by the closet.

A/N: So, what do you guys think? This took long to update, but i think I'll be able to get the next one up even longer...But don't worry, I'll still finish this story when I can.

Reviews would be awesome!!!