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Harry really didn't want to deal with this crap.

It was a horrible thing to think, but Harry had his exams and presentations next week so he really needed to finish those up.

He'd thought of sending a lawyer to sort everything out. Perhaps it would have been a bit cowardly, or even pompous, but so much easier. Burt had wanted to come though, and Harry couldn't very well send a lawyer when Burt was going, could he?

So here he was, sitting in a conference room in some office space or other, drinking terrible watery cold unsweetened tea.

The meeting was actually going really well. Sort of.

The Karofsky's weren't bad people. Redneck hillbilly's sure, but not bad people. They apparently were very much unaware of the budding sociopathic tendencies of their son. So this was all coming completely out of left field for them.

Fortunately, the receipts and videotape, plus a few photos taken by Harry's detective was enough to stem any real argument that 'this was all just a mistake'.

Now they were just confused. Apologetic, but confused. And in their confusion, they did what any normal parent would do… they made up plausible explanations and then excuses for their nutso son.

"Well sure, he's taken it a bit far," Mr. Karofsky said, appealing to Burt. "But you and I would have done the same to any… any… anyone of your son's sort back in high school."

That hit. Harry could see Burt flinch and pale before a flush started working its' way back the older man's neck.

"I probably would have." Burt admitted, his gaze steady and his voice grim. "And I would have been wrong. Just as your son is wrong to be harassing my son now."

"Kurt comes home with bruises because your son is throwing him into dumpsters, checking him into walls and deliberately tripping him in the halls." Harry added, pointing to three such photos on the table in front of him. "Saying that it would have been acceptable thirty years ago is like saying a hundred years ago it was acceptable to beat your wife. It was wrong then. It's wrong now. Gay marriage is legal in most of the states, including this one. If you want to say that it's ok because Kurt is gay, then we will legally be able to call this a hate crime rather than just bullying. "

Burt picked up steam after that, but so did the Karofsky's.

They were willing to pay for damages, but wanted the assault charges dropped. They kept assuring them that their son was just a little misguided and would be set to rights.

Burt wanted the bullying to stop. He wanted assurances that he knew were impossible to give.

Harry mentioned counselling, not because he would actually let this go with that, but because he was curious what the Karofsky's reactions would be.

Kind of funny, actually.

They were insulted. Very insulted.

Mrs. Karofsky became very prim, straightening her spine so that she could look down her nose at him. Mr. Karofsky became flustered and red as he tried to get something out that wasn't an insult.

"David's a good boy." He finally growled out, "he's a good boy. A boy. He might have gotten a little tough on your son there, but there is absolutely no way I'm sending him to some limp-wristed shrink to talk about feelings or some shit."

There was more, alluding to them thinking Harry was insulting their parenting in addition to their son's masculinity.

Like he said. Hillbilly rednecks.

Next time he was sending the lawyer.