Chapter 9- Tick Tock

Kurt jumped as his phone rang loudly in his pocket. Taking a second to fish the object out of his tight pants, he put it to his ear without looking at the contact.

"Hello?"

"Kurt!"

"Dad, hey! How are things?" He was genuinely happy to hear his Dad's voice, it had been a while. Admittedly, they had both slacked at the whole keeping in touch thing since Kurt had moved out there.

"Good, good. I just wanted to hear your voice. Carole and Finn are visiting her sister, so I'm on my own for a few days."

"Well, why don't you invite some of the guys over? Get some food, play poker or something. Surely there has to be some kind of game on this weekend?"

Burt laughed. "You're right as usual. That's not really what I wanted to talk to you about. We haven't talked much since the shooting."

"Oh."

"Kurt, I think you should come home."

Kurt blinked quickly, feeling like he was missing something. "What, why?"

Burt paused for a second. "It's clearly not safe there. And I miss you, buddy. I know you had to fly the nest at some point, but things aren't the same without you around. You're my kid."

"I can't just drop everything and move back home. I have a boyfriend and a lead on a new job. I'm starting to make a life for myself."

"But—."

"No, Dad, I can't. Life in New York didn't work out, I've already started over once. Let me at least give this a try before I think about my options. I hate starting things that I can't finish."

"I'm not going to win this one, am I?" Burt chuckled down the phone.

"Nope."

"Fair enough. But you always have a home here, Kurt. No matter what."

Kurt frowned. "Is something wrong? Are you sick again?"

"No, I'm not sick. I just worry about you sometimes. The world is a scary place."

Connor edged through the door at that moment, carrying takeout bags.

"I'm fine, honestly. Listen, I'll call you tomorrow okay? I'm just about to have dinner. Alright, love you."

"Love you, buddy."

Kurt put the phone down, the smell of the Chinese food wafting through the apartment.

"Was that your boyfriend?" Connor smirked.

Kurt nodded. "Yeah, it was. He's charming and he worships the ground I walk on."

"But does he get you Chinese food?"

Kurt watched at Connor unloaded the rice onto some plates. "Mmm, point taken. I might have to break up with him."

Connor walked over with the plates and kissed Kurt's forehead. "What did you do today?"

Kurt shrugged. "Cleaned, watched some TV. I don't start work until next week so I'm kinda losing my mind here."

Connor smiled. "Well, we can have dinner and then spend some much-needed quality time together.

Kurt liked the sound of that and said as much. "That was just my dad on the phone. He wants me to come back to Lima."

Connor frowned. "Is everything alright?"

Kurt took a box of food and nodded. "I think so. He probably just misses me but won't let me know that. We're close, but emotions aren't really his thing unless they're necessary."

"You don't have to tell me that," Connor replied swiftly. "My parents are the same. I know they want the best for me, but they just don't know how to be nurturing."

"What are they like?"

Connor sighed. "Well-intentioned. But they had me when they were really young, so they were never prepared to be parents. Especially to someone like me."

"I get it. There's been something off about my dad for as long as I can remember. It's like he looks at me and forgets who I am. Since my mother died, it was fraught between us, to say the least."

"What was she like?"

Kurt's eyes filled with tears, as though on command whenever his mother was mentioned. "The best person I knew. She was the person I was closest to in this world and then she died. Cancer."

Connor put a hand on Kurt's knee. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I'm still dealing with it, I just worry about my father. He has Carole now, but he was never really the same after she died."

"Because you were closer to your mom?"

Kurt nodded. "I think so. He used to tell me that when I cried, he would just pass me over to her because I wouldn't stop until she was holding me. When it was just him, he didn't know how to comfort me."

Kurt gazed into the distance, something about that statement bugging him, though he wasn't sure why.

Annalise Keating stared at the phone that was being thrust in front of her eyes. She read the message three times as her eyes flickered back to her husband.

Sam put the phone back in his pocket and folded his arms. "What do we do?"

Annalise picked up her bag. "This is your mess and I have a client. I don't care how you do it, but you make sure this goes away."

Sam's eyes bulged.

"Not like that."

Sam nodded. "I'll fix this, Annalise. I promise."

Annalise had heard that particular phrase too many times in her life to believe that he would, but she just shrugged. "I hope you mean that."

She left the room quickly, without giving Sam any chance to respond.

The man dug out his phone again and flicked through his contacts, finger landing on a particular one.

He hit call.

Frank sighed as his phone buzzed on the bedside table. He broke his lips away from Laurel's and huffed at the Caller ID.

"Sorry," he murmured as he picked up the phone. "What?"

"I need you to do something for me," Sam's voice rasped on the other end of the call, desperate lacing his tone.

Frank lay back, smiling apologetically at Laurel, who was buttoning her shirt. She waved him away and climbed off the bed.

"You want me to what? Are you gonna tell me why? I guess that's a no. What do you want me to do if…? Alright. I'll get it done."

Frank tossed the phone onto the bed and stretched his arms behind his head. "Come back to bed."

Laurel grinned. "You're clearly whipped by whoever called you if you can answer the phone while we're together."

Frank grinned back. "I'll disconnect my phone completely if you get back over here."

Laurel grabbed her bag and shrugged. "You could always have phone sex with whoever you were talking to."

Frank wrinkled his nose. "Don't think that's gonna happen."

"I said I'd meet Kan in the library. But I'll come over tomorrow."

Frank's gaze lingered firmly but softened after a few seconds. "You'd better."

Laurel gave him a smoulder before she left his apartment, leaving Frank unsatisfied and shirtless on the bed. She gave half a thought to going back in there and continuing where they left off, but she couldn't figure out why the look on Frank's face as he talked on the phone was troubling her. She hadn't seen who was calling, but she knew that it couldn't have been good news. As she walked to the elevator, she thought about how 'good' Frank was for her. He was exciting and genuinely seemed to like her, but he was unpredictable and morally hazy. That wasn't something that she needed clouding her judgement as a future lawyer. But she did feel something for him, and she knew that he could make her happy.

That was when Laurel decided to stop thinking so much. Everything between her and Frank was still really new and she didn't know what was going to happen between the two of them.

One thing she did know: Frank Delfino would probably break her heart…and she would still take the risk of that happening.

Kurt fixed his tie and walked in the office that was to be his new place of work.

He had met with Laurel's friend Kan about the position, and they had gotten along fairly well. Kan was clearly infatuated with Laurel, but understood that she was into someone else. Kurt hadn't confirmed that, but knew that it was true to some extent. Kan had been impressed by Kurt and had passed his stuff along to his friend, Simon. Simon had emailed Kurt saying that he was very impressed by his resume and wanted him to start after a brief phone call.

Kurt was fairly excited, but also quite nervous considering how his last employment stint worked out. He knew that the chances of there being another shooting were minimal, but he didn't want to take that chance.

Simon came over to greet him immediately. "Hey, Kurt! Great to finally meet you, Simon Drake, we spoke on the phone."

Kurt smiled. "Nice to meet you. Thank you again for coming through with this. There's only so long I can live rent-free with my boyfriend before I start to feel a little helpless."

"Oh, you have a boyfriend?"

Kurt frowned but nodded. "Yeah, is that alright?"

Simon's eyes widened, realising. "Of course! I…it's not a problem that you're gay. Quite the opposite actually, I…should shut my mouth."

Kurt chuckled. "I thought I was supposed to be the one who was flustered today."

Simon blushed. "No need to be nervous, today's just about getting you acquainted with the building and the computer system. I'm just an assistant myself, I used to be here full time but I'm at law school now."

"Oh, at Middleton?"

"Yes!"

"My boyfriend's enrolled there. You know might him, Connor Walsh?"

Simon gaped. "You're Connor's boyfriend?"

"So you know him."

"Only by reputation," Simon replied. "He's got Professor Keating's exam trophy, right?"

"Simon, did you hire me just so you could get the trophy?"

Simon chuckled, feeling more relaxed. "No, but if the shoe fits…"

Kurt grinned. "Touche. So where am I headed?"

Kurt fell into step with Simon and headed to start his orientation at the business. He was eager to get started and settle in - he had done far too much moving around and starting over already for his liking. Going from Lima to New York to Philadelphia in the span of a few years, and graduating from Columbia to breaking up with Blaine and starting to date Connor and losing his job and finding another. It was a lot of change for Kurt to handle, and it was a miracle he wasn't losing his mind on top of everything else.

"Am I boring you, Mr. Walsh?" Annalise's voice rang out across the lecture hall.

Connor jerked and looked at the front of the class. "Sorry, no, I'm with you now."

She gave him a hard stare. "Good. So, following the trial, I would like each of you to write an analysis of my performance in court. Evaluate the legal techniques that I use, any cases that I cite, and point out any areas of improvement. I may be a damn good lawyer, but there is always room for improvement. That is a lesson some of you need to be learning now before your hubris gets in the way of your progress. Don't be shy, be brutally honest. I'm a big girl, I can handle it."

Connor scribbled down the basis of the task as Annalise said: "Mr Walsh if you could stay behind a moment."

Connor stayed in his seat as everybody else got up to leave. Asher stuck his tongue out immaturely as he got up. Connor packed up his things and dawdled over to Annalise at the front of the class.

"I'm sorry for spacing out."

Annalise shook her head. "I just did that to embarrass you. I know you're worried about Kurt's testimony, but he's smart. He's prepared."

Connor shoved his hands in his pockets. "He's just been through a lot and I wouldn't want this to dredge up old wounds."

"He's recounted the events a few times, he's starting to work through his trauma. I've also suggested that he see my husband for a few sessions to process it going forward."

"He didn't tell me about that."

Annalise smirked. "That's because he called him a quack and said he didn't believe in talk therapy. If I were you, I would try and give him a nudge in that direction. He needs it."

Connor had no response to that, because he thought Kurt probably did need some kind of professional help with everything that he had gone through, but also thought that Annalise was in no position to be recommending anything on Kurt's behalf.

"He's going to be fine," Annalise added before swiftly leaving the room.

Connor knew that he would, in time, be fine and hoped their relationship would be one that would last. He saw no reason why it wouldn't, but things always seemed to blow up right when they were getting good for Connor.

Kurt looked down as his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He stopped in his tracks, adjusting his bag on his shoulder.

It had been a successful first day at work; he had become acquainted with the system, the employees, and could genuinely see himself settling into the job for at least a good while. He had texted Connor about his day and said he would pick up some dinner on the way home.

He checked his phone and read the text that had come through.

Unknown Number: Kurt, it's Annalise. I need you to stop by the house whenever you get a chance. There's something I'd like to go through with you.

Kurt frowned; usually, Connor would relay Annalise's requests to him. That was the logical things to do as they lived together, but Kurt figured she might have just gotten tired of going through a messenger.

I'm just finishing work, but I'll be there soon.

Kurt put his phone away and left the office, wondering what Annalise could have in store for him this time. They had prepped for the trial and Kurt was feeling as ready as he possibly could. Annalise had taught him about channelling his performance energy for the trial as he committed to his own truth. It would help him access his memories in a clear way without giving nervous energy that some might confuse for a lie.

Kurt pulled up outside the house, taking deep breaths as he walked to the house. The house he was beginning to associate with the shooting just as much as he was associating it with it being Connor's place of work.

He walked to the door and knocked sharply a few times. He knew how big the house was and sometimes that meant that a simple knock at the door couldn't be heard from the other side of the house.

This time, however, the door opened easily, where Kurt saw a smiling Frank.

"Hey, Frank, Annalise texted me to come over."

"Sure, come in," Frank said, stepping aside so that he could allow Kurt entry.

Kurt walked into the house, expecting to see Annalise in the living room or in her office. But as he looked around, he didn't see her. "Where is Annalise?"

Frank folded his arms. "She and Sam are out to dinner."

"Then why would she…oh. You texted me."

"We need to have a little talk."

Kurt frowned. "Is this about the trial or about Connor?"

Frank shook his head. "This is about you. You need to leave Philly."

"What? Why?"

Frank tilted his head. "After the trial, you go. That's that."

Kurt stared at the man opposite him. "Let me get this straight. You want me to leave my home, quit my job, and break up my boyfriend and you won't even tell me why? Sorry, but that's not something I'm gonna do."

Frank took a step closer to him. "Oh, you're gonna do it. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what'll happen if you don't."

"If you could give me a valid reason why I should go, then maybe I will. But you can't. These are just threats without foundation."

Frank grabbed his arm. "I'm not asking here."

"Let go!" Kurt snapped, ripping his arm away. "I think it's time I went home."

Frank blocked his exit, standing in front of the door. "You're not leaving until I know you'll do what I say."

Kurt threw his arms up. "Why would I do that, Frank? Who wants me gone? Because I know it's not you!"

Frank's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think that?"

"You don't know me. I'm a witness in one of Annalise's cases, not a friend of yours. You'd have no reason to want me gone. So who is it? Annalise? Sam?"

Frank's mouth twitched.

Kurt smiled wryly. "So, Sam. What does he find so intolerable about me that he needs me to leave town? Fuck, I've met the man once in passing. So I don't know what could possibly be so wrong with me."

Frank deflated a little. "I'll tell you this. It's not about you."

"Bullshit," Kurt snapped. "Of course it is. If I'm the one they want to go. I just can't figure out why. Do you even know why?"

Frank grinned, there was something about this kid that he liked, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. "You're a little spitfire aren't you? No wonder Connor took a liking to you."

"Answer the question."

Frank held his hands up. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't. That's not for you to know."

"You seriously expect me to uproot my whole life just because you tell me to do it?"

Frank smirked. "I didn't have to ask so nicely."

"You didn't ask me at all," Kurt retorted wisely.

"I'll give you some time to think it over. If you're not gone after the trial, we'll speak again. And maybe I won't be so nice next time."

"Oh, how kind of you," Kurt spat.

Frank stepped aside, allowing Kurt to walk to the door.

As he reached out for the handle, Frank leaned in close to him.

"Don't fuck around here, Kurt. Play the smart move."

Kurt scoffed and shook his head before leaving the house.

One Week Later

"What are you doing?" Wes snapped as Michaela went to grab the trophy.

Michaela turned back to him. "We have to either destroy or hide the murder weapon. This is why you were on the waitlist."

"Michaela…" Laurel sighed softly, although she did agree with the girl's plan.

"What, Laurel? I'm right and you know it. Kurt, since you're not helping move the body, can you come help me with this?"

Kurt nodded dumbly and walked over to Michaela, covering his hands with his sleeves.

"You know you're going to have to burn that later," she whispered. "It's a cute sweater."

Kurt cracked a rare smile. "I know. I'm sorry you got caught up in this."

"We're in this together now. All of us."

Connor sighed as he, Wes, and Laurel heaved the wrapped rug onto their shoulders, stumbling at the weight of it.

"You guys need help?"

Wes gritted his teeth. "We got it. Just make sure that trophy is dealt with."

Kurt looked to Michaela. "You clean the floor, I'll handle the trophy."

"I can…"

"Michaela, this is my fault. I'd rather my fingerprints be found on this thing than yours."

"What about…?"

"Do you want to stand around and play 20 Questions or do you want to get on with covering up a murder?"

Michaela huffed. "It wasn't murder, it was self-defence! That could easily be proven in court."

Kurt clenched his jaw. "Well, we're not going to court. We're making sure nobody ever finds out about this."

"Kurt…if you want to talk about this…"

"Thank you. But not now."

Kurt sighed.

"Now we have to get away with murder."