A/N: My apologies for this chapter being so short, but hopefully I'll have another one up in the next few days. Also, shameless plug: for anyone who read Dead Like Kurt, I plan on publishing a one-shot sequel at some point this weekend to tie up a few remaining loose ends. I'm not sure what the title will be, but keep an eye out for it or check my profile in the next few days. Also, I've added a few songs to the playlists of all the stories over the week. Okay, shameless plug over. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee


Chapter 44

"Have you talked to him at all?" Blaine asked, subconsciously biting his lower lip while he waited for an answer.

"No, he hasn't called," Finn answered. He was sitting on the living room couch after school, talking to Blaine on the house phone.

"Well, what did Burt say when you talked to him last?"

"I don't know dude," Finn sighed. "He just sounded really stressed out and said he was ready to come home. Apparently Conrad's been running the place for the past three days."

Blaine drew in a deep breath and released it. He didn't want to bombard Burt with phone calls while they were away, so he relied on updates from Finn. And Finn wasn't the best at remembering details.

"Do you think they're coming home soon?"

"No idea, dude. Honestly, I wish I could tell you more, but I just don't know. All I know is that things are really stressful around here and I don't expect them to get any better when Burt and Kurt do get home. I'm starting to get the impression from Burt that he thinks this is a giant waste of time."

"But Kurt's been working so hard," Blaine countered, knowing that there was no point in trying to convince Finn. "Burt can't just give up on him."

The line was silent for a moment and Blaine was worried that the call had dropped.

"Finn?" he called out tentatively.

"Okay, no offense Blaine, but you really don't have any idea what this is like for Burt, or for me and my mom. I mean, yeah, you're his boyfriend and you see him on the weekends or whatever, but you don't live with him day in and day out. You don't see how hard it is for Burt and my mom when he's transitioning four or five times a day. It's exhausting and I don't think it's right for you to sit there and say what Burt should and shouldn't do."

Blaine was completely taken aback. He wanted to be mad at Finn, but he knew he was right. Blaine liked to think that he knew what it was like, and if he was being honest with himself, after learning so many lessons the hard way, he was still prone to giving himself the occasional pat on the back for being with Kurt. Having it laid out for him by Finn was definitely humbling. If he was with Kurt for any other reason than because he loved him and couldn't be without him, then he wasn't with him for the right reasons and he was determined to be with Kurt.

"You're right, Finn," he answered after a moment to gather his thoughts into words. "I don't know what that's like and I'm sorry. I guess I'm just scared, you know? I just want Kurt to be happy and healthy and I'm scared that it's not going to happen."

"I know," Finn answered quietly. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, dude. Like I said, it's been really stressful around here, not knowing…"

"Yeah," Blaine answered, filling the void where Finn trailed off. "So, um, I know I've been bugging you a lot and I appreciate the updates more than you know. Will you call me if you hear anything?"

"Sure thing, Blaine."

Blaine hung up the phone after saying goodbye and lied back down on his dorm room bed. It was killing him not to be able to talk to Kurt, especially knowing how bad the treatment was going. He reminded himself that Kurt was strong, that Kurt could do anything he put his mind to. He just hoped the alters would let him.


"Okay, Conrad."

Dr. Akin dropped his head into his hand, unable to hide his weariness and frustration from the past few days. Conrad had held true to his words. He was done talking with Dr. Akin, and as much as he tried to earn Conrad's trust, nothing seemed to be working.

With Burt Hummel breathing down his neck about the cost of treatment and the fact that no progress was being made, Dr. Akin was throwing in the towel. He'd never met a patient he couldn't help and as reluctant as he was to give up on Kurt, he just didn't see how he was going to be able to keep him any longer.

"So, are we done here then?" Conrad said angrily, arms crossed defensively. He was visibly fuming after repeatedly telling the doctor that he didn't know anything about some guy named Mark, although Dr. Akin suspected he did. It didn't matter how the doctor phrased it, whenever he mentioned Mark's name, there was always a flicker in Conrad's eyes, a subtle change in his expression, but as soon as it appeared, it was gone.

"Not quite," Dr. Akin sighed. "I've invited your father here for a joint session and he should be here in just a minute."

"My father? Ain't no way, man, my father went to the gas station for a pack of cigarettes when I was three and never looked back. Don't know who you're talkin' about."

"Burt," Dr. Akin answered, mentally kicking himself for the mistake. "Burt Hummel will be joining us."

"Oh, yeah, my bowling buddy," Conrad nodded. "But don't think I'm gonna talk just because he's here, I already told you, I ain't got nothin' to say to you."

Mercifully, there was a knock at the door and after the doctor called for him to come in, Burt entered the room warily.

"Burt," Dr. Akin greeted, standing briefly and motioning to the couch where Conrad sat. "Please, have a seat."

"Dr. Akin," Burt greeted back gruffly, and with a bit of suppressed anger, "Conrad."

"Hey old man," Conrad greeted playfully, but one look at Burt told him that that probably wasn't the right approach.

"So," Dr. Akin cut in, before things got too heated. "As you and I have discussed, Burt, I've been doing everything I can to try to get Conrad to cooperate with me—"

"Yeah, well it looks like your best isn't good enough, Doc, just like I suspected."

"I think that Conrad—"

"Can we cut the bullshit?" Burt interrupted, anger rising exponentially by the second. He was a man at the end of his rope. "I've been sitting here with nothing to do over the past week but sit and listen to the helpless, pitiful family members in this program with me moan and groan about how nothing is ever going to get better. And to have them tell me to just lie down and accept that Kurt, my son, is going to continue to deteriorate and there's nothing I can do about it? I don't think so."

"Burt—"

"No, I'm done talking to you," Burt snapped, causing Dr. Akin to flinch, before he turned to Conrad on the couch next to him. "Kurt, this has to stop. We need to stop doing this."

"I don't know who you think you're talking to, buddy. The name's Conrad."

"Fine, Conrad." Burt spit the name through gritted teeth. "I need you to leave my son alone so that he can live the life he deserves. You're making no effort here. None of you are. Not you or the other alters and certainly not Kurt. Why the hell are we here Conrad?"

Conrad turned his head away, refusing to make eye contact with Burt.

"Hey!" Burt shouted. "I asked you a question!"

Conrad still ignored him, training his focus on a tree outside Dr. Akin's window.

"You know what?" Burt said, quieter this time, but still very upset. "You tell Kurt that I'm done here. I'm driving back to Lima, tonight. If he wants to stay, then fine, he's got money in his trust, but I'm not doing this anymore."

Dr. Akin watched helplessly as Burt stood up and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Turning to Conrad, he was alarmed at first when he saw the boy slightly slumped over, until he saw Conrad's eyes flutter. After a few minutes he lifted his head and when he did, it was obvious that Conrad was gone and Kurt was back.

"Kurt?"

"Yeah," Kurt answered, looking visibly shaken and on the verge of tears.

"Are you okay? Do you remember anything from the past few days?" Dr. Akin wasn't prepared for this. If there was going to be a transition, he expected it to be one of the other alters, not the host.

"I need to go find my dad," Kurt answered in a wavering voice. He got up from the couch and hurried quickly to the door.

Thankfully, Dr. Akin's office was at the end of the hall, so Burt could only have gone one way. Kurt jogged, despite the heavy weight of his limbs, desperately hoping to catch up with his father. He'd experienced more co-consciousness over the past few days then he'd ever had in the past, and he remembered the conversation that just took place with amazing clarity.

"Dad!" he shouted as he rounded a corner and his father's retreating figure came into view. He continued jogging toward him, thankful that'd Burt stopped and even more thankful when he turned around to wait for him.

"Dad," he repeated breathlessly when he finally caught up to him. He was expecting something from his father, maybe more yelling, or if he was lucky, maybe he'd draw him into a hug. But the elder Hummel just looked at him with a blank, tired expression that told Kurt that his own father had thrown in the towel. That hurt more than anything and Kurt wasn't willing to accept it. Before he knew what he was saying, the words were out of his mouth.

"I want to find Mark."


Thoughts? Thanks for reading.