FINALLY!
Oh my god, you guys. I can't tell you how much I stressed over FF not working. I tried to reach out to as many of you as I could, but there are so many guest reviewers and readers, I didn't know what to do. I'm glad this is working again.
In case this happens again, you can find me on AO3, also known as archiveofourown, a fanfiction site that is much, much better than this one. My username there is heartsmadeofbooks. All links and relevant info is in my profile. If you don't know the site or don't know how to get there, it's always easy to find a fic if you search "Klaine fic flowers in the window ao3" on google. Same for any other fic you might want to find :)
Anyway, let's catch up, shall we?
Enjoy!
Everything was confusing at first. His throat was dry, his back hurt, his legs felt filled with lead. The constant beeping that surrounded him was incredibly irritating, but it also helped Burt connect the dots a lot faster as he stared up at the ceiling: he was in a hospital.
He had felt a little more tethered when Kurt was hovering over him, his blue eyes tearful, his hand grasping Burt's so tight it made his fingers hurt. Now he was alone and he felt as if he was floating – every thought in his head made him panic and worry. How long had he been here? What had happened to him? He didn't even want to think about Kurt having to sit next to his hospital bed for who knows how many days.
Burt blinked, feeling tired. The last thing he remembered... oh, the hotel. He had been about to drive back to Ohio when he collapsed. So what was it? A heart attack, maybe?
He struggled to move and noticed it was too difficult to sit up. He felt weak and heavy at the same time, as if he was being pushed back onto the mattress by an invisible hand. So he tilted his head instead, trying to find out where Kurt was, though he could hear him screaming for a nurse or a doctor, or anyone, and the mixture of pain and joy in his son's voice his chest ache. God, his boy. What had he put him through?
His eyes found Kurt at last. He was standing just outside the door to his room, his hand gripping the edge of the door as if needing something to hold him up. There was distress in his face, days old, etched to his features too deeply to go away this quickly, just because Burt had finally opened his eyes. No, it would take Kurt some time to shake this off.
Just as he tried to call him, to bring him back to his side so he could offer comfort, any comfort he was capable of in his current state, a hand was pressed against his boy's shoulder, and Kurt was suddenly turning and melting into the embrace of a man Burt had never seen before in his life.
Burt watched in quiet amazement how Kurt allowed this man to hold him, their grip on each other tight and a little desperate. They pulled away and the other man cupped Kurt's face like it was a precious thing he was scared to break, his eyes searching. He saw Kurt's lips moving as he talked, probably explaining, and Burt was confused by what was happening, by the sheer intimacy between them even when he had never seen them together before. Who was this man?
A friend maybe? It was the only explanation. Kurt worked alone, so a coworker was not an option. It was definitely not his boyfriend, because Burt knew Nick well enough by now, and they looked nothing alike. But Kurt... his boy, who had always been a little skittish when people touched him, who always kept a cool distance between himself and the rest of the world, always careful not to get hurt again... to see him so open, to see him fall into someone's embrace like that...
Burt felt his heart jolt, but not in a painful way.
It was hope, he thought. But hope for what, he still couldn't say.
It all lasted no more than a few seconds, but it played in slow motion like a movie right in front of Burt's eyes, until a nurse and a doctor came into his room in a rush, making the men break away from their tight embrace, to follow them.
Kurt stood a little apart, one of the stranger's arms around his waist. Kurt's hands searched for the man's free hand and squeezed it between his own, as he watched Burt with a watery smile, until the doctor and nurse got in the way, blocking his view of his precious boy.
Burt turned his head, too tired to fight them, and let them do their job.
It seemed like it took a million years for them to check whatever they needed to check. They kept asking him questions, telling him to nod, shake his head or just move his fingers if that was too much work. Burt did his best to comply, but he was starting to slip back into sleep, his eyes dropping out of their own accord.
"What's wrong?" It was Kurt's voice, a nervous edge to it, that made him snap his eyes open once more. "Why is he falling asleep again?"
Burt looked aside. Kurt had come closer, stranger in tow, his hand still captured between Kurt's as if Kurt had completely forgotten he was holding it.
"Don't worry," the nurse said with a reassuring smile. "It's normal for him to be tired. But he woke up, sweetie. You can stop worrying so much now."
Burt saw his son's shoulders visibly relax. The man standing next to him began to rub his back comfortingly, a smile on his handsome face.
Burt had so many questions.
The man leaned into Kurt's side, his hand going up to his shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze. "I'll go get Coop, he must be worried," he murmured softly. He had a nice, calming voice. "We'll come see you later, okay?"
"Of course," Kurt said, his eyes leaving his dad and going to the stranger, sparkling and wide. "Thank you, Blaine."
Blaine. So the stranger had a name. And it wasn't one Burt had heard from his son before. Who was he?
With one last squeeze to his shoulder, Blaine let go and walked out of the room. The doctor and nurse moved away, too, and Kurt immediately latched to his hand, which Burt made the effort to hold back, hoping to reassure him without words.
The doctor was saying something, and Kurt was nodding at him, but Burt didn't pay attention. He was too sleepy and too busy staring at his son to care what they said. He looked as tired as Burt felt.
They were finally alone after a few more minutes, and Kurt turned to him, leaning close to kiss his forehead. Burt closed his eyes at the contact, his fingers tightening against Kurt's hand.
"God, I'm so happy you're awake, dad," he whispered, his eyes going all watery once more. But he was smiling, and it was the most honest, beautiful smile Burt had ever seen. "Don't ever scare me like that again."
It was said half as a joke, but Burt could hear and see the plain terror barely hidden in Kurt's gaze and tone, and he couldn't help feeling guilty for however long he had kept his son waiting for good news.
He cleared his throat – talking seemed like the hardest thing he had ever done, but he managed to get a few words out: "Sorry, kiddo."
Tears ran down Kurt's cheek, but he laughed. "Just... never again," he pleaded.
Burt let out a little, quick smile and tilted his head into the pillow, sleep finally winning out this round. He held on to Kurt's hand as he fell asleep, a silent but firm promise.