Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
Chapter 20:
Valerie and James simply stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity after Blaine left.
"What are you doing here?" she asked finally, turning back to the sink so she could rinse the soapy water from her hands. "Josh and Blaine don't -"
James shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about whatever issues that our kids have with me." he said. "I heard about that kid, Kurt."
Valerie nodded, toweling her hands dry as she turned back to her husband.
"Alright. What about him?" she asked.
James sat down slowly at the table. Valerie looked longingly at the dishes, wishing she could finish them and just ignore her husband, but she knew she couldn't. She sighed and sat down next to him.
"How...how's Blaine been, considering?" he asked quietly.
Valerie rolled her eyes.
"You would know if you'd managed to be there the night he was rushed to the hospital because the person responsible for Kurt's kidnapping shot him." she snapped. "What's wrong with you, James? I don't understand, you've been practically M.I.A., Josh wants nothing to do with you, and I don't even know what Blaine must think - considering how much you ignore him -"
"I do not!"
Valerie glared at him.
"James, I've seen the way you treat him when you're here. Don't tell me I'm a liar, because I've actually been here for him since he came out. You decided to go get drunk and have a few affairs to cope."
He scowled.
"Maybe, but I have never abused him!" he protested. "I've seen what other parents do when their children come out to them! I never wanted to be that for Blaine!"
Valerie nodded.
"At least you own up to your mistakes...but you need to leave. Now. I really don't want to deal with you talking my ear off about your regrets or whatever. Isn't Maggie waiting for you?"
Maggie was James' latest affair. Valerie had only learned her name after intercepting a phone call meant for her husband.
James stared at her wordlessly.
"I'll...come back at some point, I guess."
He was gone in seconds.
"What do you think happened today?" asked Nick, watching Blaine read in the Commons.
Jeff shrugged.
"I don't know, but he's been in a pretty crappy mood since he got back." he looked at his friend. "I thought David said something about talking to him though, so...I don't know man...maybe something with Kurt?"
Nick sighed.
"Well I doubt he'd be crabby at all after seeing Kurt, but I don't know...something's not right though."
Jeff just nodded.
He was back in that disgusting shed, hands tied to that ring on the wall.
But something was different. There was another person in there with Karofsky.
Kurt gasped as the unknown person lifted his head.
Hazel connected with blue.
Blaine.
"No!" he cried. "Dave, no - let him go -"
Karofsky laughed, and Kurt started screaming when he saw thejock turn towards his boyfriend, pulling the pocket knife from his pocket.
Kurt's eyes flew open, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest.
"It was a dream." he said softly. "It-It was a dream. Breathe, Hummel...come on...it's okay, you're safe."
The countertenor curled into a fetal position, limbs still trembling.
He didn't sleep for another two hours.
Karofsky groaned and leaned against the bars of his cell.
He remembered he was allowed one phone call.
A small grin spread across his face.
He knew exactly who to call.
"Are you okay? You look like you didn't sleep well."
Kurt looked up at Mercedes, startled.
"No, I-I'm fine, 'Cedes." he said weakly. "I-I just drifted for a moment."
She crossed her arms and leaned forward, a knowing look on her face.
"Boy, you may think Blaine may buy that crap, or maybe he doesn't and acts like it, but I'm not doin' that." her face softened a little. "Tell me what's wrong, Kurt. I want to help you."
He stared at her for a moment, before letting the magazine in his lap slip off and onto the floor, and his face went, if possible, several shades paler.
"It's the nightmares," he whispered. "They're worse. I-I had one last night, and - 'Cedes he had Blaine. He could have killed him, and I know it was a dream, not real - but I was terrified -"
She was out of her chair in a flash, wrapping her arms gently around him, careful not to hold on too tight.
"I'm so sorry, Kurt." she said.
The phone by Kurt's bed rang, startling them both.
Mercedes frowned.
"Who'd be callin' you through the hospital line? Don't you have your cell?" she asked.
He shook his head, eyes not leaving the phone on the bedside table.
"I had it when he kidnapped me - it died, and the screen was cracked. Dad's getting it fixed for me. Might be something important." he reached for the reciever and picked it up. His face brightened a little. "Blaine. Hi." he tried to ignore Mercedes' smirk. "What? No...no that's fine. Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. 'Bye." he looked at Mercedes. "Blaine's coming tomorrow."
She couldn't help but giggle at her best friend's happiness. He needed a lot of that now, and she was so glad he had Blaine.
"Alright, now that that's out of the way, I say we attack the mop on your head that is putting even Sam's hair to shame." she laughed at his offended look. "Relax honey, I'm not talking you going blonde or anything, it's just your hair looks really...not you."
Kurt just rolled his eyes.
"As long as you don't make me look like I'm going through a Bieber phase, I think I can handle it."
Mercedes just laughed.
Thoughts?
Constructive criticism is welcome - no flames please.