Well, no-one needs to hear the excuses! (I had no internet, ha!) I do apologise for the wait and sincerely hope this makes up for it a little bit! The next chapters a little longer but hopefully the wait will be (a lot!) shorter :) Enjoy!
After a short greeting and a few softly voiced questions about where they would start searching Rachel and Kurt hadn't spoken another word the entire two hours they'd been out together. They had decided they would sweep the park and then move onto a new set of housing developments the other side of town.
They hadn't seen any of the normal homeless people hanging around but Kurt hadn't really expected to, it was a cold and cloudy night. It was on the cusp of raining and if his nightly searches had taught him anything it was that those without permanent homes tended to try and find any type of shelter, no matter how meager, on nights like tonight.
Kurt had no desire to explain himself, his actions or anything about his relationship with Blaine to Rachel. The less information he gave his friend, the less ammunition she had to use against him at a later date. The fact that she was out with him searching was enough of a risk. It seemed more than Blaine's own family was prepared to do. He didn't even know if Cooper had told anyone that Blaine was missing, especially since he seemed to still believe that the boy was hiding out at his friend's house.
It was just after one in the morning when Kurt told Rachel it was time for her to head home and even though she had started to protest Kurt has just waved her off and walked off in the opposite direction. It was obvious to Rachel that her best friend had only just begun his search for the night and she doubted he would be home before the sun rose.
The reality of Kurt's situation struck her as she was waiting at a stop light. Kurt held all the markings of a man who had lost the most important part of his life, she had seen it all before with him. The slight stubble growing along his jawline, seemingly constant red lined eyes and the dejected slump of his shoulders. The way Kurt was acting wasn't like he did after he broke up with someone, he was acting the same way he had when his dad had died. Her best friend was in love with his seventeen year old student.
Rachel resolved that she would keep Kurt's secret as close to her own heart as possible. The last thing he needed was more interference or worse, heartbreak and Rachel had a strong feeling that Cooper Anderson would not take it lying down if he found how just how involved Blaine's teacher was. Rachel sighed as she pulled into her driveway, a constant question spinning in her mind.
Was it a one-sided obsession or did the boy return Kurt's feelings?
Four days passed before Tracey saw the young boy that the strange couple had come in asking after. She watched him take a seat at the worn down counter, blowing harshly on his cold hands. Another waitress approached him to take his order and Tracey began making his normal hot chocolate. She added a little more milk and more whipped cream than she would normally but if the older man was right and this little slip of a boy was pregnant then he really needed to put some more meat on his bones.
She walked over to the countertop and placed the drink down with a gentle smile, she watched as the boy looked up in surprise.
"You looked like you could use something chocolatey and slightly bad for you."
"Thank you. It's getting really cold out." Blaine wrapped his hands around the mug, grateful for the warmth it provided.
"What do you fancy today, honey?" Tracey leaned against the counter, watching the wariness in the young boy, wondering what could have happened to make him run from such a handsome looking man. She saw his eyes dart around the café, seemingly trying to pick something out. "Anything catch your eye?"
Blaine stared across at the waitress, confused as to why she seemed hell bent on starting a conversation with him today.
"Uhm. Maybe a grilled cheese? Do you have any soup? I'm feeling hungry today."
Tracey wandered off and was back in her original place shortly after, a strange look on her face. She leant over the counter, her hand close to Blaine's. "Honey, I've got something I need to tell you but you have to promise me you won't run off."
Narrowing his eyes, Blaine hesitated before nodding his head. "Okay… What is it?"
"A couple of days back a couple of people came in asking after you. An older fella and a young girl… Probably about your age?" Tracey paused, ready to grab onto the boys hand if he tried to make a move, she needed to know he was safe. "They said you ran away but it had all been confused along the way, you thought he was in trouble because of you. Look, he gave me a phone number to call the next time I saw you but…" She paused, looking into wide hazel eyes once more. "I figure this should be up to you, I don't wanna hand you over to some psycho, honey."
Blaine felt his hands shake and he stared down at the melted whipped cream in his hot drink. The hot chocolate started to feel curdled in his stomach and all his fears about Kurt came rushing back. But what… It had been confused? What did that mean?
"The man. What did he look like?"
"Oh honey, that man was like an angel. Damn fine, he was. Gorgeous blue eyes. I'd be tempted to call him myself just to see him again, oooh-weee, what a man!" The women's description was so over the top that Blaine couldn't help the chuckle that escaped.
"Yeah, Kurt's gorgeous." The words were out of his mouth and said so sincerely that Tracey had no doubts that Angel-face had been telling the truth.
"Oh honey, that man is so sweet on you. He looked terrible, you need to go get him. You're both miserable." She stopped talking when she heard her name called and waved her hand around, motioning to Blaine. "Stay here, don't move."
Too stunned to do or say anything else, Blaine mechanically drank the rest of his hot chocolate. If Kurt was out looking for him… Who was the girl? The only person he could think of that would care if he wasn't around would be Tina but that would mean that Kurt must have told her quite a lot. A large plate half packed with fries and the other a huge grilled cheese was put in front of him, halting his thoughts.
"Sorry honey, no soup today."
"Oh! Uhm, just the sandwich would have been okay."
"Hush up and eat." Her smile was kind and it made Blaine flush, not used to the kindness of strangers.
"The girl with him, did she have dark hair?" Blaine looked down at his plate, afraid in case the answer wasn't yes. If it wasn't Tina then it meant more people knew about their secret and Kurt could be in even more danger.
"Pretty much black, cute little thing. Dark dress sense with some frills here and there." Tracey folded her arms and looked across at Blaine, who was trying to eat the fries with some kind of decorum but had ended just absently shovelling them three at a time into his mouth. "Go home, honey. Find out what's going down. Then if you still need to run, do it."
"I feel like I should be paying a fee for you." Blaine smiled the first smile he had meant in days.
"Everyone makes mistakes; the thing that matters is how you fix 'em." With that bit of advice, Tracey turned her back and walked away.
His stomach was completely full for the first time in days; Tracey had fed him, placing a bowl of chicken and rice in front of him when he had finished his fries. After that had been another hot chocolate and after that was apple pie. Tracey hadn't said another word to him aside from "No thank yous, please. Just eat honey" when she put the pie down and Blaine found himself silently thankful for her silence, he had too much to think about to keep up a conversation.
He felt his eyes droop and he stifled a jaw cracking yawn. He thought on what Tracey had suggested, maybe he should go and see Kurt, just to say goodbye at least.
Mind made up, Blaine took a twenty out of his pocket and looked around for Tracey, hoping that it would be enough for everything she had brought him. He caught the busboy watching him and Blaine started to ask for the cheque before he was cut off by the other boy.
"No, no. All paid. Have a good day young one."
Blaine whirled around, looking for any other waitresses or a cashier but no-one else was around, only the busboy who just smiled at him and walked back into the kitchen.
Blaine smiled at his vacated seat and the memory of Tracey standing behind the counter before bundling up and leaving the small café.
Kurt was listening to the CD Blaine had given him for his second Christmas gift, it was a recording of The New Directions in the small choir room at McKinley. His mind and heart felt numb, he could feel the hope that finding the café had given him beginning to slip away. It had been just over sixteen days since Blaine had gone missing and the ache was worse with every hour.
Dave had called him just after noon to make sure he was actually resting and Kurt had only rolled his eyes and mumbled something about a meddling Rachel. It was now just past four and he was debating whether to go out and search again. He had gone out last night and gotten back at eleven in the morning and his original plan was to get home and rest and try to block out his thoughts but the more he spent alone the more he thought about poor Blaine out there alone.
He got up from the couch, resolving to go out and look. He would rather be out searching than inside thinking. Lifting his eyes toward the ceiling, he pleaded once more.
"C'mon mom, dad. Help me find him."
Kurt grabbed his coat and shrugged into it, grabbing the small sketch of Blaine and folding it into his breast pocket, trying not to stare at it for longer than necessary.
Sighing deeply, he opened his front door and shivered slightly at the sudden cold air. He leant back through the door and tied a scarf around his neck before slamming the door shut behind him. He kept his eyes on the small blue car, nightfall closing in quickly. At first Kurt thought the darker shadow against the side of the car was a trick of light, his fault for parking so far from the nearest street lamp, but then it moved and he caught a glimpse of something red. His breathing stopped and his heart and stomach almost leapt out of his throat.
Fuck. Please don't be… Don't be a trick. It has to be…
On light feet he moved closer, hoping and sending silent prayers to whoever would listen with every step. Tears streamed down his face and he refused to bother to wipe them away, not wanting to take his gaze away from the shadow, afraid it would disappear.
Feet… Ankles… Burgundy legs… Kurt raised his gaze a bit and… Oh.
He was curled up against the car, his head resting by the front wheel, sound asleep.
Blaine. It was Blaine.
Kurt knelt down in front of his, his hand brushing softly against the boy's cheek and let his tears fall once more.
He's home.
