AN: Hey everybody! This is the longest freakin' story I've EVER WRITTEN! LOL! BUT SOOOO WORTH IT :)

In this chapter, many, MANY truths come out. And they're not all good. But most are! And we get a closer look at Paul's ex-wife, Sarah. Be warned - it's a very, very INTENSE chapter!

My thanks to all who have reviewed, favorited and followed and to my awesome betareader, umbrella0326. And GarethGlee14 my two friends who have been with me from the beginning. :) luv you both :)

ENJOY! And please leave kind reviews.

HAVE A NICE DAY!-ILOVESMESOMEGLEEx3

Chapter 43

He knew where he would be. He wasn't sure how he knew, but that's the thing with couples. Thirty-year forced separation or not, Jack knew exactly where Paul would be. And he was right.

Perched on the porch with his back to him, Paul was standing at the far end. He appeared to be gazing at something straight ahead, his hands barnacled on the white rail. Paul stood perfectly still, the sheer picture of a statue. Jack watched for a little bit, unsure as to how to approach him. Jack was a flurry of emotions – anger, understanding, sympathetic, frustrated, and finally, back to anger. But he needed answers, as did Paul's son and boyfriend. And an apology as well. So, Jack took an easy approach, instead of a furious one that he first considered. He walked up and stood beside him, staring straight ahead too.

In the far distance, a train was slowly ebbing across the landscape, going from east to west. Jack momentarily watched the train, but Paul seemed fixated on it. Surprisingly, it was Paul that spoke first.

"That train," Paul softly said, "is headed west. Towards Fort Wayne."

Jack took a long, steady breath before asking, "Are you saying you want me to go home?"

Paul blinked twice and heavily sighed before responding, "No." He looked down at his hands but didn't move them.

"Paul?" Jack asked, turning towards him but leaning his hip on the rail.

No response.

"Paul?" Jack whispered, leaning near him. "What happened in there?"

Paul didn't answer right away. Instead, his jaw clenched and his eyes looked unfocused. Jack realized that something was seriously wrong with him and all he wanted to do was scoop him up in his arms and push his pain away.

"I'm…" Paul began, but stopped.

Jack looked at Paul's white-knuckled hands and instantly felt sorry for them. THIS time, Jack didn't hold back. He took another step and placed a soft yet firm grip on the barnacled hand. Surprisingly, Paul instantly relented, letting his hand be held. Paul shook a little, letting all the passion and adrenalin begin to seep from his body.

"Let go." Jack softly said. "Let go, Paul."

Paul said and did absolutely nothing. Jack looked up and Paul's eyes were glossy with moisture.

OH NO, Jack thought.

"Let go…of your other hand." Jack said.

And just as Paul let go, he said, "Oh Jack, I'm so –!"

Suddenly, a car pulled into the driveway – FAST! Instantly confused, the two men separated and faced the invader. The car shook a little when the brakes were firmly applied. In a flash, the headlights were turned off and the engine died away. And right then, the door flung open and the visitor rapidly emerged. Paul and Jack's eyes simultaneously widened.

Sarah.

"Hello boys!" Sarah sarcastically called out, oily smile on her face. She casually walked on the porch as if she were a guest of honor or something. "Gosh, it's SO nice to be home!"

Paul and Jack were instantly angry. And defensive.

"What are you doing here, Sarah?" Paul coldly asked.

Sarah was STILL slowly walking, her hands clasped together. She just continued to smile up at them. By that point, she had reached the stairs, but didn't ascend. Instead, she came to a stop below them, just three or four feet away. And just barely out of arm's reach.

"Oh," Sarah replied, looking down at the ground, unclasping her hands, and looking back up at her ex-husband, "I just wanted to stop by. See my son. See my ex-husband. See my…"

Her eyes never left Paul's. Jack leaned forward instinctively, as if protecting his close friend. And surprisingly, Paul responded, taking a half-step closer to him!

"Oh, how nice!" Sarah announced with a laugh and then addressed Jack. "It sure is good to see you…what was your name again? John? Jim? Jacqueline? Asshole? Husband Stealer?"

"Stop it, Sarah." Paul tiredly said. "Why don't you just leave?"

"Oh no," Sarah dreamily began, eyes returning to and fixating on Paul. "I'm not going…ANYWHERE."

She sickeningly smiled up at them as they glared at her. A sudden breeze blew her hair across her face. Sarah Karofsky pulled her hair back behind her ear and clasped the handrail. Jack looked down to see her hands were only inches from his. And then, quite surprisingly, she began falling backwards, completely extending her arms. Then, she pulled herself upright and close to Jack, and then fell back again, and THEN back to Jack! She did several of these revolutions, like she was on a school playground.

And the whole time, her cruel smile and darting eyes went from ex-husband to close friend and back again. This little game went on and on and no one said a word. The Mexican Stand-off went on for way too long.

"Sarah!" Paul exclaimed, standing upright. "Just leave!"

"Actually," Sarah said, coming to a stop and standing upright herself, "I have a serious question. It's about Dave."

Paul's eyes narrowed and Jack simply watched her.

"What is it?" Paul asked.

"It's a very, very, very, very…VERY serious question."

"What is IT?"

She waited a long moment before she looked him dead in the eye and asked, "Well, it's a very important question and I have to make sure you know the answer."

"Sarah…" Paul warningly began.

"Alright, here it is." Sarah stated. She cleared her throat. And then she cleared it again. And again. And AGAIN.

Then, she took a deep breath, held it, and loudly exhaled. And then, she did this again. Paul and Jack each exchanged annoyed glances before returning to the troublemaking woman below them.

Finally, she looked up at them and asked, "Does Dave like blackberry pie?"

"Get the fuck out of here Sarah!" Paul roared.

Sarah just giggled and took a step up the porch. But she was surprised to see Jack take a threatening step towards her.

"Stop causing trouble, Sarah." Jack venomously said.

"Me?"

Jack said nothing, refusing to bite.

Sarah smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be gone soon." And with that, she took the remaining steps up until she was face-to-face with Paul and Jack. Under the porch light, the once-beautiful face showed the ravages of years of sadness and rejection. Paul took a step towards her as she watched him warily.

"Sarah," Paul asked, with a surprising gentleness to his tone, "what ARE you doing here?"

"I'm here to see my son," she replied, reaching for the door handle, "IF you don't mind."

"Sarah." Paul said, with a finality that stopped her in her tracks. "He's fine." Paul Karofsky took a step towards her. And then, he surprised everyone by opening the door for her. "You did a good job with him, Sarah."

Her arrogant, condescending demeanor cracked for a second as she stared at her ex-husband. She looked away at nothing in particular. Jack glanced at Paul and then right back at the heartbroken woman in front of him. And that's when Sarah looked back up at him with a show of fierceness and toughness that Paul always knew she had.

"Well" Sarah nastily began, "I'll see to that!"

And with that, she stormed into the house.

.

"You really are going to be OK."

He knew Kurt was right. But that's not how Dave felt.

"I just wish…"

Kurt stroked his back a little more determinedly. Dave simply held Kurt tighter. He didn't want to cry in front of his new boyfriend or anything. But his emotions were becoming an avalanche and if he was going to cry in front of anyone, it would be Kurt.

Kurt pulled back a little, but Dave refused to let him go. So, Kurt resigned to resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder, languidly stroking along the tense muscles in Dave's back.

Soft whimpers could be heard and Kurt squeezed a little tighter.

"Let it out," Kurt whispered, "if you have to."

"I'll be OK…now."

Dave pulled back and stared at the lush avenues of azure that were Kurt's eyes. He felt Kurt use his index finger to gently stroke his temple. Dave's eyes halfway closed at the passionate touch.

"Thank you, Kurt."

"Anytime…BABE!"

Dave chuckled at the silly reference. And then, his eyes intensified and Kurt knew what would happen next. And he was right.

Dave leaned forward and their lips met in the softest, most passionate of kisses. He turned his head a little as Kurt moaned –

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

The boys jumped at the sudden roar, their heads flipping towards the now-open door. Their eyes widened and they immediately separated.

"Mom!" Dave exclaimed. The boys were up in a flash as Sarah Karofsky barged into the room!

"Get away from my son!" Sarah charged towards Kurt. Kurt, wide-eyed, backed up a few steps. Her hands almost reached him before she felt her own son blocking her path!

"Mom! Stop!"

They struggled. Dave easily but reluctantly held his mom's arms at bay as Kurt took several more steps back.

"Stop it, mom!"

Finally, after what had to have been fifteen seconds of struggling, Sarah stopped and backed up, hateful eyes glued to the glee clubber.

"What have you done to my son?!"

"Nothing mom! Just STOP!"

Remnants of Karofsky The Bully could be heard and Kurt was now shaking. Stunned, Dave stood like a rock between attacker and potential victim. All three were panting as they heard hard steps on the staircase, approaching them. Then, her furious eyes shifted to Dave and instantly bellowed sympathy.

"Oh David!" she painfully exclaimed. "David! Not my son too!"

Dave looked down momentarily. After he quickly checked Kurt over, he returned to his stricken mother.

"Mom. I –"

"Oh my Daviiiiiid!" Sarah whined as she approached him. Her hands found their way to his cheeks. "Not my sweet Davey boyyyyy!"

Dave took a step back. "I'm still me, mom!" Kurt watched as now, unbeknownst to Sarah, Paul and Jack silently stood in the doorway, just as wide-eyed as the teenagers.

"Mom," Dave gently began, "I'm still me."

She looked at him, aware that her son spoke, but didn't listen to his pleas. And then, quite suddenly, HER eyes widened.

"I know a place!" she cried. And then, she eerily whispered, "I know a place."

Dave's eyes furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Kurt and Paul stood rooted to their spots. But Jack's eyes widened even further!

"I know a place, David! I know what to do now…" Again, her hands found their way to his cheeks before she whispered, "I'll take you there, my sweet boy…"

Dave was still confused. But every other male in the room showed instant alarm. And TERROR.

"No, Sarah."

She whirled around facing the doorway, unaware of who said that. "You stay out of this!"

"He will NOT go there!" Paul vehemently said. "You are NOT taking my son there!"

"Oh no, mooooom!" Dave wailed. "Nooooo!"

"Oh Davey," she began, dropping her hands, "they'll make you all better. And there, you'll see –"

"NO!" Dave roared. His mom involuntarily shrunk back. Kurt's eyes closed and Jack and Paul took a step closer to them. "I will NOT go there!"

"But Dave –"

"NO!"

And with that, he turned around and walked up to Kurt. He snatched up his boyfriend's hand and held it up for all to see.

"He is my boyfriend, mo –"

"NO!" she screamed. "No, no, no, no, NOOOO!"

"Leave, Sarah!"

"No, I will not!"

"Don't do this, Sarah!"

"Stay out of this!"

"I don't want to!"

"He doesn't want to!"

"It's not your decision!"

"Fuck you, Sarah!"

"David is coming with me!"

"No, he's not!"

Kurt covered his ears and turned around. Shock and tears consumed his vision as he took a couple of steps away. Echoes of the horrible, horrible argument smashed through his fingers as his eyes tightened even more! More screams, more arguments, more accusations, more EVERYTHING until he couldn't take it anymore!

"SHUUUUUT UUUUUP!"

Everyone went silent. Four heads turned towards Mr. Kurt Hummel, glee clubber and fashionista, completely stunned by his loud cry.

"Just shut up!" Kurt yelled. "Shut up all of you!"

Dave touched his arm and Kurt violently shook it away. Dave watched his boyfriend quickly turn around and march right up to his mother!

"Do you know what goes on there, Mrs. Karofsky?"

"MISS K-Karofsky…" she muttered.

"WHATEVER!" Kurt roared. "Do you know what happens there? Do you know what kind of hell goes on there?! You have no, NO idea what you're asking your son to do! They torture people there, MISS Karofsky. That's right! They TORTURE people! They put people in pain for YEARS TO COME! So, don't you fucking DARE send my boyfriend there! Because IF you do, I will bring you DOWN!"

And before anyone could respond, Kurt fled. Paul watched him go by, but Jack grabbed his arm and held him. Kurt looked at him like he'd been betrayed.

"Let me go!" Kurt screamed.

"No, Kurt! Don't run from this!" Jack yelled. And then, his voice softened as he leaned towards him. "Dave needs you."

Panting, Kurt turned and saw the devastated look on David Karofsky's face. After a few seconds of thinking, Kurt slowly walked towards him, eyes glued. Every single adult watched Kurt walk towards him, who looked like each momentous step was causing significant pain. He passed a wide-eyed Paul, a stunned mother, and finally, a suffering boyfriend, who quietly enveloped him in his arms.

Tears fell. Dave held him tighter. A few soft moments went by before Dave slowly raised his head to his self-righteous mother.

"I will not go there, mother." Dave quietly but firmly said. "I…will…not."

Sarah looked away with clear disappointment on her features. She closed her eyes momentarily before returning them to her suddenly confident son. Suddenly, she extended both of her arms towards her son and his boyfriend.

"But look at this!" she exclaimed. "It's not…RIGHT!"

"Yes, it is mom," Dave calmly replied, squeezing Kurt even tighter. "It's so, SO right."

Sarah scoffed. "You're just a teenager, Dave! How would you know?"

"I know because I've never –"

"Dave…" Kurt weakly said. Dave quickly looked down at him. "I can't…breathe…"

"Oh!" He quickly loosened his hold as Kurt now could take full breaths. "You OK, babe?"

A quick, disgusted sound filled the room before Kurt replied, "Yeah. I'm OK. I can breathe now."

Dave chuckled and Kurt joined in. Jack and Paul couldn't hold back their own cute, little smiles. But Sarah became stone-faced. She stared at absolutely nothing. Gradually, the men in the room recovered from the comic relief and all eyes fell on the former beauty. Her head ever so slightly hung and her posture slumped. Male eyes flipped from one to the other, and eventually, back to her.

"Both…" Sarah whispered. "Both my son…AND…husband…"

Nobody said a word.

"Both…" Sarah breathily repeated. "Both…my son…AND…"

And just as she started to turn towards the door, she was greeted with a male arm in front of her face! Startled, she came to a stop and looked straight forward. Sarah saw black hairs on the muscular arm as well as a fist. But then, a closer look revealed the truth.

Awful, ugly, DEEP scars.

"This is why," Jack quietly began, "Dave can't go there."

Sarah closed her eyes.

"No, Sarah." Jack insisted. "Look. This is what Dave will endure if you send him there."

She turned her head away. Away from him. Away from the truth. Jack gave up on her and started to turn around when his eyes fell on the boys. Twin pairs of incredibly shocked and saddened eyes fell on Jack's arm. He quickly pulled his sleeve back down. It was only then that the boys looked away, like Sarah did.

Heavy, ugly, vacuous silence filled the room. Nobody moved or said anything. Sarah turned around to face everybody. Jack had retreated back to Paul and stood by his side. Kurt crept impossibly closer to Dave and stood by his side. And Miss Sarah Karofsky watched everything unfold before her. Outmanned and outgunned, she realized defeat. That's when her tears began to fall.

Turning back around, her shoulders bounced up and down as impassioned little cries escaped her throat. She cried. She cried and cried and cried. Second passed before a pair of supportive arms encased her. At first, she struggled against them. But the arms insisted and wouldn't let her move. So, she gave up and fell against whoever was holding her.

Seconds passed. Finally, her tears started to dry up. Breathing normalized. And soon, her head resumed its normal position. The kind arms gave one gentle tug before they released. And after a few moments, she took a deep breath and turned around. All four men were exactly where they were before.

"Do you love him?" Sarah asked Paul. Shocked, he acted like he didn't hear her. So, she repeated – "Do…you…l-love…" And then, she indicated Jack, "him?"

It quickly dawned on everyone in the room that Paul hadn't said anything in a while. Eyes watched him, anticipating his response. But Paul merely stared at her for what seemed like an eternity. But then, something happened.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he raised his arm around Jack Hampton and secured it on his shoulder. Jack exploded in tears! Sarah dropped her head. Kurt watched lovingly as Dave's eyes couldn't have gotten wider.

"I know," Sarah began, crossing towards the door, "where I'm not wanted."

And just as she got to the doorway, she felt a familiar hand on her bicep. Stopped in her tracks, her grief-stricken eyes looked up into those acquainted hazel eyes she loved for over eleven years.

"I really did," Paul softly said, "love you, Sarah."

She scoffed.

"I really, REALLY did."

Sarah narrowed her eyes. "I found them, you know."

"What?"

"Those photographs."

Paul's eyes widened.

"Despite," Sarah quietly began, "your best efforts to hide them, instead of destroying them, I found them." And then, she took a step towards him and boldly added, "that's why I left you."

She quickly wriggled out of his grasp and ran out of the room!

"Sarah! Sarah!" Paul cried, chasing after her.

A few seconds later, Jack, Dave, and Kurt heard a car engine revving. And then, they heard the car accelerate...

She was gone.

Nobody said a word. Kurt and Dave stood side-by-side, but their arms held on to each other for dear life. Jack still stood near the doorway staring at nothing in particular. The overhead light flickered thanks to an annoying bug. Jack's eyes drifted towards it, as did Kurt's and Dave's. The bug wildly flew around the lamp and Jack intentionally ignored the reference to The Fly.

Slow, laborious steps could be heard from the hallway. All three heads turned to see who was returning to Dave's bedroom. It was obvious who it was going to be, but they stared in anticipation nonetheless.

A few seconds later, Paul entered the room and came to a stop beside Jack. Dave and Kurt watched them. So many emotions engulfed the four men in the room. But Jack's face became an enormous question mark.

"Did…?" Jack began, as he stared into those beautiful Karofsky hazel eyes. "Did you mean…?"

Paul said nothing. Instead, he cupped Jack's face and held it steady. Neither man cared that two wide-eyed teenagers were watching them, eagerly anticipating an answer to Jack's question – but for different reasons.

"Yes, Jack."

Jack burst into tears for a moment before he gathered himself. He desperately clasped Paul's hands that were on his face and begged with his eyes for more. And more. And more…

"I've waited," Jack quietly began, "thirty years to hear you say that."

Kurt's tears couldn't have been stopped and Dave was surprised to feel some of his own. But the boys didn't exist in that moment. No. Shutterbug and The Fly stared into each other's eyes, tiding out the oceans of time that separated them.

And then, Paul whispered, "I'm gay, Jack… And I love you."

Jack exploded into tears as Paul kissed them away. Kurt joyously smiled and wiped away happy tears of his own.

Dave frowned.

AN: Thank you all for reading. Up next Paul, Jack, Dave, Kurt, Burt and plenty more! :) please review and stay tuned! Have a nice day!-ILOVESMESOMEGLEEX3

.