Separation (4.09) - Burt POV
(this chapter contains missing scenes from 409 and leads into 410, with the end finishing at the exact moment that the next chapter "Health and Healing" begins. These scenes are written from the point of view of Burt Hummel...)
Also I want to send a HUGE Thanks to all those who are (still) reading this fic after so long... I 3 your comments and likes and I hope you share this with others who miss the show and the boys who inspired so many fanfictions. Thanks again -di
The call was quick and came a mere two days after the Winter Showcase at NYADA, in which Kurt had performed despite the fact that his admission to the school had been rejected the previous spring. After hearing Rachel gush loudly about how Kurt had totally brought the house down. Burt reasoned there was no way his son wasn't going to be admitted to the prestigious performing arts school soon and he was both relieved and ecstatic to find that he was right.
"Dad! Dad! I GOT IN!" Kurt was all but screaming over the phone and Burt was thankful he'd pressed the speaker button as he ate dinner with Carol. "I just got the letter and Dad, I can't believe it! I got into NYADA."
Across the table Carol's spoon hit her bowl and Burt swallowed quickly to answer, "That's great news, son."
"Congratulations, honey!" Carol said softly, damp eyes meeting Burt's.
"We're so proud of you, Kurt," Burt said heartily, setting down his own spoon and reaching for his water glass.
"I can't believe this, I'm so…" Kurt took a long breath, as though trying to steady himself. "This is just amazing, Dad. Rachel wants to celebrate, but I had to call you first." Kurt gasped and then his voice grew calmer, more thoughtful in a way that made Burt take notice. "Oh and um… Blaine's calling me, I should tell him too."
"Oh," Burt's voice left him involuntarily and he cleared his throat before he spoke, ignoring the look Carol shot his way. "You two talking again?"
The line remained silent for a long moment before Kurt spoke, his voice guarded. "I called him on Thanksgiving and we've been talking. It's weird I guess but it's like..." The line went quiet again and Burt chanced a glance at Carol, her eyebrows were also raised. "I don't know dad. It's just, complicated but he's still… He's Blaine, ya know?"
"Yeah, I do," Burt said kindly, smiling slightly at Carol across the table.
"Anyway I'm going to go party with Rachel, she's so excited. I think she's told half the school already but… I can't believe I got in." Kurt gushed as though struggling to keep himself calm and Burt imagined him dancing on the spot.
"Of course son, you go have fun. You deserve it. Thanks for sharing the news, truly." Burt said, shaking his head at Carol's insistent expression. "I love you kiddo."
"We love you," Carol said, smirking as she continued to eye her husband.
"Couldn't be more proud of you, Kurt." Burt added heartily.
"Thanks guys," Kurt added in a warm almost sappy tone. "I love you both. Have a great night, I'm going to call Blaine back before Rachel loses it completely."
"Sounds good. We're really happy for you. Talk to you soon, son," Burt said and he turned away from his wife to push the button to end the call.
Chuckling happily under his breath, Burt busied himself by mixing his spoon through Carol's homemade wild rice soup. Which was tasty but needed bread and Burt knew that went against all the doctors orders. He sighed before he spoke, feeling his wife's eyes boring into him, full of accusation. "There was no point telling him now." Burt said, his voice guarded. "They're only running tests, we don't know for sure what's going on yet. It can wait, let him have tonight."
Carol tilted her head to the side, glancing around the dining room that Kurt had designed. It was timeless in it's beauty, and she loved every inch of it. "No you're right. It wasn't the right time, but…"
"I know," Burt shrugged, then sighed sadly. "There will never be a right time."
"Not really, but that's not what I…" Carol's voice trailed off and Burt found her gaze when she spoke again, her voice questioning. "Blaine?"
"Yeah," he nodded knowingly, because there had always been a chance of this. Kurt and Blaine's relationship had been strong from the start. Not flighty like the girls Finn brought home, or over-the-top like Sam's constant, ever changing crushes. No there had always been something different about Kurt and Blaine, something chemical. Something truly undeniable. He absently stirred the soup, thinking of days long passed when he noticed Carol still watching him and sighing, he added. "I'll talk to him."
"Good," Carol agreed as she stood up, offering Burt the last part of her roll and a kiss on the cheek before clearing the table.
Over the next several days Burt was so immersed in financial aid forms, required college admissions forms and freshmen housing deferral forms that he almost forgot about the embedding test results. Carol's vegetable heavy dinners remained the only clear reminder as the busy days ticked by and Burt remained hopeful.
That was until the phone call came, in which the nurse refused to give him any information because the doctor insisted on speaking with Burt in person. That was certainly a bad sign.
Burt didn't want to think about the word, the disease, the truth but after the meeting he couldn't stop thinking about it. He was too young to die. He had to be around for his son's wedding, and to meet his grandchildren. He wanted his feeble elderly days with Carol, when they could share a bitter fondness over memories of their years lived and the people they loved.
He would beat this. He had to.
Burt no longer turned up his nose at Carol's healthier meal options. While taking the time to plan and rearrange his schedule, he made sure to check in on himself. Aware that his body needed a break as his mind worked through the next steps he had to take to keep on living.
The worst thing was that Burt had to tell his son that he had cancer. At Christmas no less. He really couldn't imagine anything worse.
While the plan was forming in his mind and on paper, Burt didn't get the opportunity to contact Blaine until after another short phone call with Kurt that broke into a dinner with Carol, his step-son Finn and his sometimes pseudo-foster-son Sam.
Kurt was elated after a long day at his internship and he gushed about missing everyone while slipping in small comments about how much he loved Vogue and New York and the City and oddly, Blaine. When he first said it, Burt thought he'd misheard, but Carol's ears had perked up too. He knew he hadn't imagined it when, as Kurt was rambling on he said it again, almost thoughtlessly. Anyone who heard him talk would know that Kurt still loved Blaine.
Burt was deep in thought as he listened, taking a moment to appreciate the sheer amount of happiness in his son's voice as he continued to rave about anything and everything under the sun. Kurt seemed to be unaware of what he was saying, suddenly slipping in mentions of Blaine as though nothing had changed. That was until Sam spoke in a rush, his voice breaking in when Kurt fell silent for a moment in a way that felt not only disruptive but intrusive.
"Congrats on getting into that school Kurt." He said simply and Burt turned to him, aware that he had more to say. They ignored Finn's muffled agreement, staring at each other in irritation and dificance. When Sam continued his voice was almost pushy as he Burt continued to scrutinize him. "And ya know, in case you're ever wondering, Blaine loves the hell out of you too, man."
There was a short stretch of silence before Carol shifted in her seat and Kurt spoke over his dad's awkward cough. "Right, um... Thanks, but I just… " Kurt cleared his throat rather louder than was normal for him before adding. "I mean he's still my best friend… anyway, I'll let you guys finish dinner. I think Rachel might be trying to burn down the kitchen again. Night."
"Goodnight, Kurt," everyone said together as Burt said. "Love you son, goodnight."
"Love you too, Dad." Kurt said his voice further away. "Talk to you soon."
As the lined clicked off Burt turned his focus back to Sam, catching his attention at once. Sam blanched, a moment of caution crossed his features before he swallowed the food in his mouth and spoke directly to Burt, unashamed. "Hey man, I'm sorry, but Blaine's my boy. I've got his back and he like, really really loves Kurt. I know it's complicated and all, but I'm just saying. Kurt has a right to know."
No one spoke as Burt continued to survey the boy who had taken over his guest room for over a year, he had known Kurt before Blaine and know he knew Blaine after Kurt. In a way he had a better insight to their relationship than anyone else. Burt cleared his throat before his spoke, his question deliberate because he had no intention of having a full discussion about this with multiple people over dinner. "So you think they'll work this out, then?"
Sam spoke immediately as though certain of his response. "Yes sir, I do."
It was several hours later, as the house began to quiet down, that Burt finally felt ready to call Blaine. He had the tickets lined up, the itinerary set and he felt confident that this was the right thing to do. He had to go to New York for Christmas, though he still cringed at the price, because he needed to speak to Kurt in person and because he wanted the holiday with his son.
Furthermore, he knew Kurt and Blaine well enough to know that what they both needed now was time to talk to each other, face to face. They needed to cry and hug and maybe fight. To meet this separation head on. They needed to start working through this, no matter what happened. And more importantly, Burt didn't want Kurt to be left alone immediately after receiving the news of his father's illness. They would all need each other's support now.
Burt was aware of how long it had been since he had last spoken to Blaine and he had a moment to wonder what Blaine would think of him calling when he answered with a kind, but nervous. "Hello?"
