A/N: Dear readers, thank you so much for your feedback; especially with a chapter like the last one, when I was worried I might lose you! More later, so standard disclaimer time: I don't own Glee or other products/songs etc. (just a fanfic-writin' borrower!)

Kurt hummed happily, as he pulled his black Navigator into the driveway to number 21, Blaine's house. He'd showered, fixed his hair, and dressed in record time, eager to shower Blaine with the kisses he'd had to hold back on at school. He smoothed his jacket as he got out of his SUV and smiled; much as Blaine had appreciated the Cheerios uniform, he felt pretty certain he'd like this outfit too.

Blaine had raced home, and also showered and changed super fast, and waited anxiously for Kurt's arrival. He couldn't wait to be with him, and his mind wandered to the amazing halftime performance that had totally blown his mind (and had an undeniable effect on him physically, even now, just thinking back!). He scolded himself silently, mind out of the gutter!, figuring it would be a bit much to greet Kurt in that mode.

Blaine fretted; he hadn't been able to get much out of Wes, except that Wes gathered from Sebastian's seclusion (he'd turned him away in the dorm, giving the lame excuse of homework piles to address – on a Friday night) that for whatever reason he needed some space. He'd been reassured that Kurt texted him back right away when he'd gotten out of the workout room; whatever had happened, Kurt was safe, and seemed as focused on having a date in as he was.

His mom was at the Hummel residence, enjoying coffee with Burt and Carole. Putting on some of his favorite French Roast, he made some coffee to enjoy with Kurt, and prepared some grapes and cheese and crackers. While he was waiting he finished off a lonely piece of leftover pizza that was hanging around in the fridge, and heard Kurt pulling in just as the coffee beeped, ready for them to drink.

Blaine snatched open the door before Kurt could knock, and grabbed him inside, immediately surrounding him with a bear hug and coming together for a sloppy, delightful kiss. Kurt smiled as they drew back for air, and Blaine led him to the couch, singing "I think we're alone now"; Kurt kissed his damp curls and whispered, "Really, Blaine? Cheesy 80s? You know what, I don't care!" and giggled as they crashed onto the soft overstuffed sectional, arms and legs intertwining.

"Well, we are alone, for a few minutes, at least; Mom's at your house visiting." And Blaine proceeded to kiss Kurt's jawline, nibbled on his ear, and then moved to slow kisses on his throat, as Kurt leaned back with a soft groan, wondering how this boy could do this to him, every single damn time! "Well, good, this would be a touch awkward", his breath hitched as Blaine continued kissing his neck in a most distracting way, "if she were right here." Blaine simply hummed in response, loving Kurt's hands on his chest and sides.

Blaine noticed the wrap on Kurt's left ankle, as his foot grazed up and down Kurt's leg. "Does that hurt again, sweetie?" He bent over to examine it gently, as Kurt reassured him, "well, it was sore after halftime, but I iced it. It's still a little sore, though I'd kind of forgotten about it as of a few minutes ago..."

Blaine lowered him to fully recline on the couch, then moved so that Kurt's feet were on his lap. He started to massage the bare feet, gently at first, then a little more firmly as Kurt all but purred in response. He massaged the right ankle first, and Kurt felt like he was turning into a puddle, wondering for the thousandth time how he managed to be this lucky. "Do you want me to try this ankle?" Blaine asked softly, and Kurt nodded, reaching to unwrap it, before Blaine nudged his hand away and did it himself. Blaine looked at the thin longitudinal scar alongside Kurt's shin, and bent to kiss it gently before turning his attention back to massaging the injured ankle. Kurt felt the lightly calloused fingers gently manipulate the muscles and sore ligament, and damn! It felt like heaven. He had no idea how much time had passed, when Blaine's face was suddenly beside him, planting a light kiss on his cheek as he whispered, "better?" into his ear.

"You have no idea," he answered lazily, so relaxed now. "How on earth are you so good at this?"

"Just lucky, I guess. I wouldn't say I'm perfect at it," he teased.

"No?" Kurt honestly thought he was.

"No." Blaine answered firmly. "I think I still need practice. Lots and lots of practice. I mean, it could take months or something until I get it right..."

"Well, when you put it that way, I'd say I'll be happy to let you practice, whenever you want." Kurt stretched and yawned, and Blaine thought it was adorable how his face squinched, and he looked in that moment like a contented and spoiled cat. "Stupid scar," Kurt muttered, looking down at the offending leg.

"It's not going to be too bad," Blaine caressed his leg again, sending shivers down his spine.

"I suppose." Kurt smiled a crooked smile, "and it does remind me of other things, too." Blaine looked up, a little confused. "You held me in your arms for the first time then – the least romantic venue possible! But in all that, you held me and made me feel like I would be safe again, and I didn't even know yet it was you!" Kurt's eyes misted up; they'd talked about so many things, but not that. "You felt like home, even then."

Blaine's eyes were threatening tears by the time Kurt finished. He wanted so badly to tell him right there and then that he loved him, would do anything to protect him, and that he felt like this was forever. This feeling had been growing in him, but thinking back, he'd started falling for this beautiful boy before he'd even rescued him that day. "You do know I stalked you, back then?" he tried for a casual, teasing tone, but his uneven voice betrayed the strong emotion he was in the grip of.

Kurt smiled at him, a look full of love and peace. Being kissed senseless by Blaine was amazing, no doubt about that, but looking at him when he had that look in his eyes, and hearing him say these things in his voice, which betrayed every emotion he had as much as his expressive eyes did, was really incredible. "Tell me all about it," he encouraged.

"You did figure it out, right?"

"Maybe. I want to hear you tell me."

"It started the very first day I met you. You remember?" Blaine looked hopefully at Kurt here.

"I do. I'd just gotten a very forceful locker slam, which knocked me to the ground, and you reached up to help me stand. I didn't even get a good look at you, and then you were off!" Kurt smiled at him, remembering it perfectly. "I was so surprised to see you out in the parking lot later that day!"

Blaine smirked, and gave a little kiss to Kurt's hair before answering. "No, I wouldn't say surprised, terrified maybe is more like it," and he gave an evil grin. "That was the first time I got you alone."

"I think you enjoyed spooking me; I may or may not have forgiven you," Kurt drawled, and Blaine distracted him with his lips on his again. When he drew back to watch him, waiting for more, Kurt conceded, "all right, fine; I forgave you for looking so freaking scary a long time ago."

"You love the badboy look," Blaine cooed.

"Only on you! You delinquent," he teased. "I quite like some of your other looks as well."

Before he could elaborate, they heard the sound of Blaine's mom pulling in, and got up to get the neglected coffee as she came in the house. "Hi, mom!" Blaine greeted her, and hugged her as she joined them in the kitchen. "Did you have a good time?"

She met them with a dazzling smile that made her look too young to be Blaine's mother. "Wonderful! You were great in the game, and Burt explained it all for me. And we had coffee and coffee cake – it was so nice!" Turning to Kurt, she added, "Honey, your dad is such a nice man. And Carole is so good for him."

"I know, right? It's good to see him happy," he agreed. "Also, it doesn't hurt that she's a nurse, and makes sure he eats right!"

Christine giggled; Carole was right: Burt's son tried so hard, wanted to control everything, and was such a good son. She adored him too, and it was clear to her that they were crazy about each other. "Honey, I'm going to call it a night. Good night to you, too, Kurt!" Turning back to Blaine, she added, "remember, you've got that job tomorrow, so don't stay up too late, okay?"

"Got it, mom. Good night!"

They helped themselves to a snack with their coffees. "You do make good coffee, Blaine Anderson; I may have to keep you."

"Is that a promise?"

"Hmm... maybe."

Blaine got up, and standing behind Kurt's chair, starting kissing Kurt's neck with breathy kisses that tickled and felt incredible at the same time. "What would I have to do to get a promise out of you?"

Kurt's heart skipped a beat, he would swear it. Did Blaine really feel that way about him? He felt like the honest answer was simply nothing, nothing at all; he would gladly keep Blaine forever. It was risky to feel this overwhelmed with that emotion, like a tide that would pull him under that he would be helpless to defend against. He didn't answer, just sighed in happiness as he turned to jelly.

The quiet break in their conversation brought to Blaine's consciousness something he really didn't want to forget; the alarm of it coming back full force. He sat back down, knees touching knees, and gathered Kurt's hands in his own. His love, and protective feelings came back, as he asked him, "What happened with Karofsky tonight?"

He didn't deny it, but Blaine studied Kurt's face, now looking mystified at him. "What? How?"

"You didn't get hurt or anything?"

"Blaine! I didn't even talk to him!" Kurt hadn't wanted that fright he'd had earlier to intrude on this time with Blaine. He also hadn't wanted to bring it up.

"No. But something happened."

"Do we have to talk about this right now?" Kurt knew even as he said it what the answer would be.

"Yes! And now I'm even more worried, why do you look so scared, thinking of it!" Blaine looked worried, and was starting to sound upset.

"I don't even know how you know -"

"Tell me!"

"Fine. I was icing my ankle, in the Cheerios workout room, and I saw him at the window, and I heard him try to open the door."

"What!" Kurt's heart sank, Blaine now was starting to look panicked.

"It was locked, Blaine. It's always locked, you need to enter a code to get in, just like always!"

"Go on."

Kurt looked away. "Like I said, he couldn't get in. Then I heard Sebastian yelling at him – he sounded furious! – and he took him away. I stayed there a while longer, I don't know how long. Then Coach Sue came, and she got me a blanket, and we headed back to the game." He tore his eyes away from the floor, and looked hopefully over at Blaine, who still looked horror-struck. "Nothing happened!"

Blaine's expression darkened, as he thought of Karofsky. "Thanks to a locked door! He – he came after you, after – after the halftime show!"

Kurt stared at him, not getting where he was going with this.

"Damn it, Kurt! Don't you get it! You looked hot, and then you did that amazing number, and shit! He probably was after you -"

"I'm fine! Don't do this -"

"Don't do what! What if he'd cornered you -"

"Stop! No, Blaine, stop right there!" Kurt's tone hit Blaine like a slap. "You wonder why I didn't want to mention it tonight? There's your answer! I'm fine, and I don't want everything to be about him and all the other assholes in the world!"

"But how am I supposed to protect you if I don't know -"

"You're my boyfriend, not my bodyguard!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not god damned Princess Peach, waiting for Mario to save her again and again! I managed before, and I don't want you obsessed with trying to fight every bully in this school!"

"But I would do anything to keep you safe -" Blaine's tone was now a mixture of anger, hurt, and confusion.

"Yes! Exactly what I'm afraid of! Do you realize you told Finn that if I hadn't been crying that I was bleeding and hurt you were going to take on Rick the Stick and two of his asshole friends because of what they'd done to me? Without even thinking –"

"What is there to think about?"

"How badly you could have gotten hurt, taking on three of them by yourself! You think I don't worry!" Kurt was now standing, eyes blazing. "I don't want this to be what we're about -"

"But you've got to tell me things, so I can keep you safe!"

"Aaagh! You don't get it!"

"No, because you haven't explained it to me!"

"I am not made of glass, I am not going to shatter the minute you turn your head -"

"You don't realize how dangerous someone like Karofsky can be in that situation!"

"That's it! I'm going home – you cannot lock me in a giant pumpkin for safe keeping! What the hell!" And Kurt quickly stormed out, remembering not to slam the door at the last minute. He hadn't made it to his Navigator before he dissolved in a torrent of tears.

A/N: Don't hate me. I'll update really soon. I swear it.

Thanks again to my reviewers, and those who wrote me messages as well. Last chapter was one I wasn't sure would go over the way I wanted it to, but your feedback reassured me, and I needed it (not too proud to say it!).

This chapter, especially the end, was very hard to write, but brings some of their issues to the fore, which I'm sure you'll catch.

Selibow, I snuck in a 21 for you (still not sure why, but okay). Loquaciouslauryn, I'm afraid you were right; Kurt not telling Blaine about this himself didn't make this any better. DancingintheRayne, Sebastian is angry at Dave, for good reason; more later! Orange-Coyote, as you predicted, yes, drama ensued... oh well, the signs were there! BlurtitallOut, as you can see, Blaine did anything but brush off the Karofsky thing (though maybe Kurt wishes otherwise).Claudiavonberckefeldt, well, it's still playing out, hope you approved of how it's going so far. Sopphires, you know I appreciate your support, and good feedback helps grow better fics! Msdarque, more excitement in this chapter, some of the sweet kind, some (sigh) angsty; hope you liked! Tristan, hope you also enjoyed the sweet klaineness at the beginning, and forgive me for the angsty cliffhanger.

If you're still reading … very little happens in any chapter that is throw-away. So, solve your own cliffhanger: Kurt has stormed off, Blaine is sad … but there was a promise several chapters ago that is going to be relevant...