"Kurt… Kurt, sweetie… come on, wake up." Kurt tried to ignore the female voice and hand shaking him. "Sorry, girls. He's on this medicine that really wipes him out. Kurt, honey…"
"Mmmh stop." Kurt moaned out, trying to roll over onto his side. All he wanted to do was sleep. He wasn't ready to get up yet.
"Honey, you've got visitors." Carole whispered, giving his shoulder another shake. "Come on, wake up."
"Blaine can wait." He snuggled up to his pillow.
"White boy, you better wake yourself up and tell me why you didn't text me for ten days!" Mercedes Jones, his best friend, said loudly.
"Don't yell at him." Came Quinn Fabray's sweet and quiet voice. "How do you feel?"
"And why do you look like you haven't showered in a week?"
Kurt forced his eyes open, despite how groggy he felt. It took his eyes several seconds to focus on his friends that were standing beside his bed, worried expressions on both their faces. "That would be because I haven't." He said sleepily, pushing himself slowly into a sitting position.
"What happened, Kurt?" Quinn asked quietly. "We've heard… things. Finn only said you were in the hospital and that anything else we'd have to find out from you. Are you okay?"
"I want to know why you didn't call anyone." Mercedes cut in. "I thought we were your friends, Kurt."
Kurt rubbed his forehead and winced, mentally reminding himself to use his other arm the next time. He could move on his own but he had to be careful when it came to using the left side of his body because his healing cut from the surgery was still very sore and he didn't want to pull any stitches.
"Are you okay?" This time Mercedes' voice was quieter, less angry.
"I don't have a phone. That's why I used Blaine's phone last night to text you both. I'm sorry I didn't call. To be completely honest, I've been pretty out of it this week…" Kurt let out a soft sigh.
"What happened?" Quinn sat on the edge of his bed, on his left side.
"Be careful, sweetie." Carole cautioned her kindly. "He had surgery and his side is sensitive. Kurt, I'll be out in the hall if you need anything, okay?" She ran her fingers through his hair.
"Thanks, Carole." Kurt nodded and waved as she left. He looked up at Quinn and Mercedes sort of nervously. He hadn't seen Quinn since she had graduated with Finn last year, but they still talked on the phone a lot. Especially about Quinn's new boyfriend she had met at college in New York. It turned out Quinn made it out of Lima and Kurt was very happy for her. Mercedes he saw daily (or at least he had), of course, because she was his best friend. He felt guilty for not calling her but, at the same time, he really hadn't felt up to talking to anyone apart from his family and Blaine.
"Surgery? Surgery?"
"I had surgery on my lung. It… got punctured. That's why I haven't been able to shower. The doctor's say I can't shower until I go home." Kurt tried to make it sound cheerful. He was pretty sure he failed, though, judging by the looks on their faces.
"Can you say that again? Because I swear you said you had a punctured lung and surgery!" Mercedes exclaimed. "No wonder you didn't call, baby! Are you okay? Can you breathe?"
"Calm down, 'Cedes." Kurt gave a quiet laugh and forced a smile. "I can breathe for the most part. If I get upset or anything, though, it becomes harder. They usually put me on oxygen every few hours just to make sure…" he trailed off rather lamely.
"Oh God, Kurt." Quinn grabbed his hand. "I didn't know it was so bad."
"Yeah, Kurt. We thought you just got beat up and didn't want anyone to see you in a hospital gown. I don't even think Mr. Shue knows it was that serious!" Mercedes added.
"He knows." Kurt looked down at his hands. "The teachers were all informed. I can't go back to school for a while… and I probably won't be able to come back to Glee when I do." He felt tears filling his eyes when he thought of not being able to go to Glee club with his friends.
Quinn squeezed his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. Your health is more important. You need to get better."
"It's just hard." Kurt's lip trembled. "I really wanted to go to nationals with you guys this year. We didn't win last year… it was going to be our year." Kurt was such a baby. He buried his head in Quinn's shoulder and started to cry, not entirely sure he was even actually crying over Glee club. After all, he seemed to have a lot to cry over right then.
"Hey, I didn't end up winning nationals and I turned out okay, didn't I?" Quinn asked in an attempt to cheer him up. "And you're in even better shape now than I was back then. That whole off and on thing with Finn…" She shuddered a bit. "But you. You've already got a gorgeous boyfriend who adores you. A family who cares for you. That's better than going to nationals, isn't it?"
"Blaine is kind of gorgeous, isn't he?" Kurt sniffled, resting against her.
"That boy is damn fine." Mercedes nodded, sitting on Kurt's other side. "We saw him leaving as we were coming in. He's got a big car for being so short."
"His hair is really adorable. I never knew it was actually curly." Quinn said thoughtfully, stroking Kurt's hair.
"Look at him smiling. All we have to do is talk about Blaine to cheer him up." Mercedes grinned at him.
Kurt laughed, wiping his eyes. "He's too good for me."
"He may be too good to you but he's not too good for you." Quinn corrected, handing him a tissue.
"He is, however, too hot for you."
"Hey!" Kurt gave a watery hiccough and then laughed. "You can't be mean to someone in a hospital. It's in the rulebook."
"All I'm saying is you could decrease his hotness and give it to someone else, who can date me. If you want, you know?" Mercedes beamed at him.
"I'm quite happy with his hotness where it's at, thanks." Kurt huffed.
Quinn just shook her head. "You'll find someone when the time is right, Mercedes. It will be when you're least expecting it. Right, Kurt?"
Kurt nodded, wiping his sticky face. "Yeah… I still can't believe I met Blaine the way I did. It had been such a crappy day and… he was…"
"Sexy?" Mercedes grinned again.
"Oh yes." Kurt laughed. "But I really…. I really didn't expect it. Everything was going wrong and then… there he was."
Quinn rested her head against his and linked their hands. "Was it love at first sight? We weren't talking much then…"
"For me it was." Kurt gave another laugh. "I don't think it was for Blaine. He says it was but that he just didn't know it then. I'm happy with how it happened though."
"Oh, Kurt…" Mercedes leaned forward and hugged Kurt. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
"Not today, please." He whispered into her neck.
Quinn put her hand on his back and rubbed it gently. "You tell us whenever you're ready to talk and not one minute before. We brought you something."
Kurt sat up curiously. "What is it?"
"It's in the hall. I'll get it. We wanted to surprise you, but I wanted to yell at you first." Mercedes let Kurt free from the hug and went into the hall, coming back with a basket. She set it on the bed and Kurt sat up, carefully pulling it onto his lap.
"We got the snacks because I remember how bad the hospital food was after I had Beth." Quinn laughed. "We got the book because you're obsessed with Judy Garland. We thought you'd enjoy it."
"And the pajamas because we knew you'd be in bed a lot. I know you love that navy pair, Kurt, and it looks amazing on you, but it won't last if you wear them every day all day until you're better." Mercedes added. "And those are rainbow socks. We just had to."
Kurt felt tears filling his eyes. He was such an awful friend for not having them visit him sooner. They were so nice to him, and he felt as if he'd treated them like crap. Why were they so nice to him?
"We just wanted to let you know we're here for you, Kurt. We love you." Quinn said softly, arm around him.
Kurt leaned against her, beginning to cry. "I love you guys too. Thanks for not coming in and asking me about neon green boas."
"She didn't!" Mercedes gasped. "Miss Bossy Pants is dumb but she can't be that dumb!"
"Is that a beanie baby too?" This time Kurt gasped, pulling a little plush orangutan out of the basket. "It's Bongo! Oh my God, it's Bongo!"
Quinn laughed and just hugged him. "Finn said something about how he—"
"Destroyed my last Bongo? Brutally murdered him?" Kurt prompted.
"Ran over it with a l—."
"Don't! It's too painful!" Kurt hugged the beanie baby, blocking out her words. "My poor Bongo."
"Just keep this one away from any lawnmowers."
Kurt made an expression of utmost despair. "My poor, poor Bongo never saw it coming."
"Well this is certainly a weird first thing to hear walking into a room."
Kurt's face suddenly lit up and he gasped, "Hi Blaine!"
"I thought that was you, Mercedes, but I wasn't completely sure. How are you? Hi, Quinn." Blaine gave a small wave and took one of the seats next to the bed as the bed was full.
"I love your hair. It looks so soft." Quinn said, looking as if she was refraining from reaching out and touching it the dark curls.
"Thanks." Blaine looked at Kurt hugging his small stuffed animal and smiled. "How do you feel?"
"Sorry for myself." Kurt responded. "But I've got Bongo and crackers so I will carry on."
"Okay, Kurt." Mercedes stood. "You're starting to look a little tired."
"I always look tired. I always am tired." He sighed. "I'll steal his phone and talk to you two later?"
"Not before you're ready, but do call us." Quinn ruffled his hair and then kissed his cheek. "I'm going back to NYU tonight so if I'm in class I'll call back."
"Alright." Kurt nodded, waving a bit. "Thanks for coming all this way to see me."
Quinn grabbed a pen and napkin, scribbling her phone number on it and handing it to Blaine. "Call me if he needs anything or if anything happens, alright?"
"Will do." Blaine nodded and accepted the napkin. "And I've got your number still, Mercedes."
Mercedes hugged Kurt. "Let people take care of you, alright?"
"I'm trying." He said softly.
"Text me when you get home."
"I will. I promise."
Both girls gave Blaine a hug before leaving. Blaine looked at Kurt who had begun to sniffle. "Hey, hey… don't cry." He climbed onto the bed. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"
"I'm such a b-bad friend."
"Why do you think you're a bad friend?" he asked, wrapping his arms around Kurt.
"I should have called." His lip trembled. Damn his emotions. He hated crying, but he felt like it was all he did lately. It wasn't only depressing, but it also really wore him out. He wanted off of the medicine and he wanted to feel better.
"Kurt, you're in the hospital. You've been dealing with a lot of stuff lately. It doesn't make you a bad person for not having visitors. You don't want to stress yourself out more." Blaine whispered calmly, trying to make him feel better.
"You and Dad have been here though."
"You couldn't have made me leave if you tried." Blaine kissed Kurt's cheek and tried to change the subject. "You get to go home tomorrow."
"I can't wait to shower." Kurt sighed. "I'm sorry if I smell."
Blaine laughed. "You don't smell. You don't need to be worried about it."
"I know my hair is awful. I don't know how you can touch it."
His hand moved to Kurt's hair instantly and he began playing with the light brown locks. "You've got more important things to worry about, Kurt. Like getting better. You worry over stuff you don't need to think twice about. Just try to relax and not stress today, okay?"
"Fine." He looked up at Blaine with big blue eyes. "Can we watch Aladdin?"
"Sure, Lizzie." Blaine grinned at him.
"I hate you."
***WBUCT***
"You're so light, kid." Burt said as he easily lifted Kurt off of a wheelchair and placed him into the back seat of his car the next afternoon. "Hand me that towel in the front seat, please, Blaine. Both of them."
Blaine opened the door and did as told, watching Burt wrap the seatbelt up in the towels. "So the seatbelt doesn't mess with your stitches." He grunted, seeing Kurt's confused face. "Sit up straight."
"It's hard." Kurt moaned, trying to sit himself up straight but struggling. It had felt so easy yesterday, but yesterday he had been on some serious painkillers. Now he felt as though every move was slowly killing him. Burt put his hands under Kurt's shoulder and pulled him up gently. Kurt winced as the seatbelt was buckled and went to move it.
"No, kid. You've got to keep it on." Burt situated it in a way that was a little better but still uncomfortable. "Don't slouch down or it'll rub. And don't give me that look, Kurt. There's nothing I can do about it."
"Just drive fast then." Kurt shrugged, moaning again.
"Sit back with him, Blaine. Don't let him slouch down."
Blaine nodded and got into the back seat. Although they had gotten up very early, it took four hours to go over everything that Kurt would need, how he needed it, what medicine he had to take and when, what was normal, what wasn't normal, how Kurt would have to shower, how he could lay, how he could move, how he couldn't move… It wouldn't have taken so long if the doctor had done it all at one time, but he felt the need to keep leaving.
Burt got into the driver's seat of Kurt's car (he'd known his truck wouldn't have held the three of them comfortably), and started the engine. "Are we hungry? I'm starving."
"No KFC, please." Kurt said sleepily. Moving into a wheelchair and into a car had made him feel like he hadn't slept in days. Things were becoming foggy and he realized just how weak he really was when it became a chore to hold his own head up. He felt Blaine squeeze his hand and then fell asleep.
…
"Have you got him?"
Kurt curled up to whoever was holding him, waking from his deep sleep.
"Yeah, I've got him."
"Mmmh, Blaine." Kurt said cheerfully. "Your shoulder is like a marshmallow."
"That medicine must have kicked in." He heard his father say.
"Woah!" Kurt cried out suddenly as everything seemed to lurch. He clung to Blaine, eyes widening.
"I'm just stepping onto the porch. It's okay." Blaine said reassuringly.
"Don't drop me. I don't want to fall. The ground is hard." He muttered very quickly.
"I know. I'm not going to drop you. Stop moving. I'm going up another step."
"Woah!" Kurt jerked in his arms, pushing out his own arms as if to stop a fall. "You're going to drop me!"
"I'm not going to drop you if you stop squirming." Blaine grunted, taking the last step. "There? See. All done. Where do you want him?"
"In the kitchen." Kurt chirped.
"No, no. On the couch." Burt said very firmly.
Kurt was having none of it, intent on standing his ground despite the fact that putting him in the kitchen was quite impossible seeing as Kurt couldn't sit up himself without support. "No. In the kitchen."
"Kurt, on the couch."
"No, in the kitchen. With the dog."
"Kurt, we don't have a dog."
"His name is Fido and we've had him since I was six. He's only got three legs."
"The kid's been watching that Animal Shelter infomercial again." Burt said, pointing to the couch. "We'll move him to his room later."
"Where's Fido?" Kurt questioned, having forgotten he wanted to be placed in the kitchen. "This couch is comfy, Daddy. I'm glad you didn't get that hideous green one because it looked—it looked like—oh hi, Blaine."
Blaine eased him onto the couch, carefully laying him down. "Hello, sweetheart. Do you feel okay?"
"Oh, I feel great! Can we go for a walk? Or a run? You like to run, right? I know you do and I think it's silly. I don't like to run but, you know, I really feel like I can run right now. All the way to…."
"This is going to be an interesting week." Burt muttered. "I'm going to go and separate all of his medicine and make a list of everything before I forget. I'll just be in the kitchen. Can you handle him?"
"Yeah, I've got it."
Burt ruffled Kurt's hair and headed into the kitchen to separate Kurt's many pills.
"Blaine, I like your hair like that." Kurt leaned up.
"Hey, lay down. You're going to hurt yourself."
"It's so curly and bouncy. Well, it would be if it were longer." He did not lie down, but attempted to stand.
"Kurt, Kurt. Stay down. I'll sit by you."
"You look Asian. Well, not really. Well. Blaine, are you from Japan?"
"No."
"China? Cause they're practically the same, you know. In Asia. And they talk really fast. It's so cool." Kurt was talking very quickly still, his mind going a mile a minute.
"My mom's from the Philippines and my dad's Irish." He said calmly, wondering if Kurt had thought that when not under the influence of painkillers and had been too afraid to ask.
"So… are you Asian or not?" Kurt asked, head tilting to the side.
"No. I am not. I am from Ohio like you."
Kurt suddenly lurched forward, kissing Blaine.
"Kurt, you've got to stay down. You're going to tear your stitches out." Blaine wrestled him back into a laying position. As much as he would have liked a nice make out session, it was hardly the time.
"You don't want to kiss me. I don't want to kiss you either because I really don't like your hair. Curls are stupid."
"You just told me how much you liked my hair curly." Blaine pointed out, moving Kurt's arms from being crossed over his chest as he pouted. "I think you secretly love them but want me to think you don't, you silly thing. I know you love them, so you can stop pretending. Don't do your arms like that over your chest. You're going to hurt yourself."
"Will you lay with me?"
"I don't want to hurt you. You're going to be more in pain now that you're not on the medicine at the hospital. Plus, the couch is too small."
"I feel fine, though! Hey, did we get food? I'm starving!" He moved to sit up. "Dad? Daddy!"
Burt wrestled Kurt back down again, having reached him. "Kurt, even if you feel like you feel fine, you can still hurt yourself. Just because you can't feel it doesn't mean you haven't done something. Do you understand?"
"Don't be so mean to me." Kurt whined.
"If you aren't going to listen to us, you're going to hurt yourself. Do you want to have to go back to the hospital?"
Kurt shook his head, rather child-like.
Burt nodded. "Okay. Then you just lay down. Blaine will put the TV on and I'll bring you your food in five minutes. Alright?"
"Alright." He nodded very seriously. "I'm sorry."
"See how long that lasts." Burt laughed, standing up straight.
"I'm going to be very good, Daddy." Kurt maintained his serious expression, making Blaine laugh. God, why was Kurt so damn adorable? It made Blaine love him even more.
"Let's make this easier on ourselves, Blaine…You lay still, kid, and I'll get you a puppy."
"A real one?" Kurt's eyes lit up as if he'd just been told Christmas was coming early. "I won't even move."
"Okay. Blaine's going to tell me if you act out."
"I've wanted a puppy since I was 7!" Kurt breathed excitedly as Burt left the room. "I'm so excited! A puppy! That's a baby dog."
Blaine sat on the floor next to the couch. "Let's watch some TV. What do you want to watch?" He flipped to the TV guide. "Let's see… Gilmore Girls is on?" Kurt shook his head. "Okay… Judge Judy?"
"She's got a serious attitude problem."
There were many witty comebacks that Blaine could have had to that statement, but because—and only because—Kurt was still hurt he decided to hold them until the next opportunity arose. While Blaine was convinced that Kurt was, without a doubt, the sweetest person ever he knew very well that when Kurt was mad he could get an attitude that would rival… well, anyone really. So Blaine nodded, biting back his funny comment, and continued down the list.
They spent ten minutes debating shows ("Toddlers and Tiaras?" "Who do you think you're dating?" "Fine, Rocko's Modern Life?" "His wardrobe is worse than Finn's." "Family Guy?" "I don't like Stewie." "Shark Attack?" "Do I look like my dad?" "Sister Wives?" "Have you seen their clothes?" "The news?" "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL!" "Well that doesn't come on for another 2 days, Kurt.") until finally Blaine was able to get Kurt to consent to watching the Food Network. Blaine didn't spend much time watching the show, though, because he had to keep an eye on Kurt and make sure he didn't forget his promise to not move. Besides, he really liked looking at Kurt. He'd gladly take the excuse.
Over the next two hours, Kurt's demeanor changed. It was very evident his medicine was wearing off. He slowly became less energetic. He smiled less and, by the beginning of the third hour, he looked like he was about to cry from the pain. "My side hurts really bad, Blaine."
"I know, I know. I told you not to move so much." Blaine whispered softly. "You don't want to aggravate it. Try to pay attention to the show and not think about it. You can take your medicine in two more hours."
"I can't wait." Tears filled his eyes. "It really, really, really hurts."
"Shh, shh. I'll get you some Tylenol to hold you over, okay? Lay right here."
Kurt nodded, watching his boyfriend leave the room. His side was bothering him more than it had yet, even when he'd first woken up from his surgery. He knew it was because he was on less powerful painkillers, but the pain was almost unbearable. He also knew he couldn't have his medicine for two more hours because the doctors didn't want him to become dependent on the drugs. It didn't make it any easier, though, knowing the medicine that would take his pain away was sitting two rooms away.
Blaine came back quickly, untwisting the cap. "I'll give you one now and if you don't feel better, I'll give you another in an hour. Alright?"
Kurt moved to reach for it and winced.
"Here, I'll help you. Stay still." Blaine got on his knees, reaching for his glass from their earlier lunch. "Open your mouth."
"This is so embarrassing." Kurt moaned.
"It's just me. Plus, think of it as payback for that time I got drunk and you had to stay up with me. You can't kiss Rachel though." He flashed Kurt a smile. "Now open up."
Kurt did as told after shuddering at the mental image of kissing Rachel Berry.
Blaine put the pill into his mouth and held the glass of water to his lips. Kurt drank as if his life depended on it. Blaine didn't rush him or look annoyed, sitting with him until the glass was empty. "Do you want me to get more water?"
"No but thank you." Kurt gave him a weak smile. "Thanks."
Blaine kissed the top of his head as Burt came into the room. He had a very odd expression on his face, but said nothing. He sat down in a chair that was near the couch and looked at the TV not really paying attention to it.
Kurt assumed it was just because he'd walked in on an affectionate moment, but he couldn't be sure. He returned his attention to the TV, or tried to at least but he was still finding it hard to focus on anything. His hand rested over his aching side and he found himself looking down every so often as if he expected to see blood. Blaine's fingers began running through his hair again and his eyes began to close involuntarily.
"Get some sleep, Kurt." Blaine whispered. "You'll feel better."
By that time, though, Kurt was already dozing.
"Is he asleep?" Burt asked.
Blaine nodded. "It sounds like it."
"I don't even know how to bring this up… Blaine, the police officer called me when I was separating his medicine. Some other kid was attacked last night. They think it was the same people who did this to Kurt."
Blaine felt his blood run cold. A cold feeling seeped over his entire body and then was rapidly replaced with anger. His eyes fell back on his poor, sweet, and injured Kurt. "Did they catch them?"
Blaine knew the answer, but he had to ask anyway.
Burt sighed. "No. The kid is in a coma. He might not wake up."
Blaine squeezed Kurt's hand, feeling mixed emotions. He felt bad for the boy in the hospital. He felt angry at the people who kept doing this. He also felt relieved, so relieved, that Kurt was not the one in a coma. Kurt was home and on the way to recovery. Kurt would be okay eventually. He didn't wish a coma on anyone else… but he was so glad it wasn't Kurt.
"It was a block away from where Kurt was attacked." Burt rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe that could have been Kurt. I don't get it. I don't get why people act like this… I don't want to tell Kurt. Not unless we have to. I don't want to scare the kid even more. When he was talking to the cops when you were gone… The kid is horrified. I can't make it worse. The cops better catch these creeps."
That wasn't realistic. Blaine knew it and, hell, Burt probably knew it too. These men would go unpunished for their actions. The likelihood of these men being caught and punished… it wasn't very high.
It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair.
Blaine wanted to tell Burt how unlikely it was that the people who almost killed Kurt would be punished. He wanted to be honest but couldn't make the words come. Maybe he didn't want to believe it himself.
Instead he just continued to run his fingers through Kurt's hair and said, "I hope they catch them too."
***WBUCT***
Kurt sat in the bathtub the next morning, being very careful to keep his bandages dry. It was proving difficult. It would be at least two weeks before he could shower or bathe without his bandages, and even then he would have to be extremely careful.
"You doing okay in there, kiddo?" Burt called for the fifth time in 20 minutes.
"If I need you, I'll yell!" Kurt called back, sinking lower into the tub. All he wanted was to be able to slide down more until only his head wasn't submerged. Not only was he annoyed he couldn't have privacy while taking his bath, but he felt extremely silly taking a bath to begin with. He felt as though he needed a toy boat to play with or something. He wasn't five; this was ridiculous.
He knew he needed to come out of the bathroom soon but he was comfortable… Well, as comfortable as he could be in his current state.
He was also a little disgruntled, too. His side and chest were killing him, but he absolutely hated being on the painkillers. They messed with his head and he could hear himself saying nonsensical things but there was nothing he could do to stop them. It was like he was trapped, in a sort of way.
He hated the looks of sympathy he would get from Blaine and felt like he was probably starting to annoy Blaine with all of his questions and ramblings. After all, he'd said some pretty ridiculous things to him. Asking him if he was Asian? Seriously? There was a reason that Kurt had never talked about it and it was because it was rude. You don't just go up to people and ask if they're Asian. Well, apparently a drugged up Kurt Hummel did.
"Kurt, they said you couldn't stay in there too long. So you should try to wrap it up, okay?"
Kurt let out a noise of frustration.
"I heard that. Come on, Kurt." Burt sighed.
Kurt pulled the stopper out of the tub and watched all the water go down the drain. When the tub was empty he gingerly reached for his boxers, tugging them on. "Okay, Dad. I'm ready."
Burt came into the room and grabbed the towel, helping Kurt dry off. "Feel better, kid?"
"Cleaner, not better." Kurt sighed, wincing as Burt stood him up in the tub.
"Can you make it out of the tub?" Burt questioned, making eye contact.
"I can try." This was the first time Kurt had stood in two weeks and his legs shook. He lifted his left leg and swayed a bit, but Burt kept a firm arm around his lower waist.
"Here, just swing your leg over… there you go, good. Are you okay?"
Kurt nodded his head, feeling off balance but rather proud of himself. That pride was short-lived however. He moved to lift his other leg but lost his balance, toppling onto his dad.
"Are you okay? Kurt?" Burt asked urgently as Kurt cried out, "Oh my god, I am so sorry!"
"Don't apologize. Carole, can you come in here?" Burt asked, trying not to yell because Blaine and Finn were still asleep. Kurt was letting out whimpers, more shaken up than anything.
Carole rushed in. "Oh sweetie, let's get you up." She leaned down, putting Kurt's arm over her shoulders. "Nice and slow, okay?"
Kurt nodded, not sure whether he was suddenly shaking from nerves or from a fever.
Carole lifted Kurt enough so that Burt could stand, and Burt easily picked him up, carrying him to his bed.
Burt immediately pulled back the bandages over the front of Kurt' chest. "Everything looks fine, Carole. Do we need to call a doctor?"
"No, I think he's fine as long as he didn't tear anything." She bent low to survey his stitches. "No, they're all fine."
Blaine stumbled in, half asleep. "What was that noise? Is everything okay?"
"Is everyone just going to stand here?" Kurt asked impatiently. "I'm barely dressed and this is getting really awkward."
"Kurt fell getting out of the tub." Burt explained to Blaine as Carole helped Kurt tug on some large sweatpants.
"These are Finn's, but I think they'll be more comfortable for right now." She whispered in a soothing voice and then pulled one of Kurt's old t-shirts down over his head. "There we go. Just scoot on back against the pillows and rest. Does your side hurt?"
"No more than it did." Kurt sighed. So much for being proud of himself. He couldn't even get out of a freaking bathtub? His eyes narrowed as Burt moved to help him scoot back and he exclaimed, "I can do it, Dad!"
Burt looked at him anxiously. "Kurt, I'd rather help."
"I'm not going to pull a stitch by scooting back!" Kurt looked down at his hand and then whispered, "I'm sorry."
Why was he so angry? His dad had only been trying to help.
"I'm going to go get your medicine." Burt sighed, still looking at Kurt.
"I don't want it." There was a stubbornness to Kurt's tone.
"Kurt, you have to—." Burt began.
"I'm eighteen and I don't have to do anything you tell me to!" Kurt said defiantly. "I don't like taking it. I just don't want to take the stupid damn medicine."
"What do you want me to say here, kid? Clearly you want something that I'm not giving you so let's stop acting like a spoiled brat and be out with it. We're both tired and bickering will get us nowhere."
Kurt stared out the window.
"Why don't you like taking it, sweetheart?" Carole asked, sitting down by him.
"I don't know." He felt tears filing his eyes.
"Does it hurt you?" He shook his head. "Are you scared?" He shook his head again. "Well, what is it?"
"I-it makes me feel w-weird." He wiped his eyes. "Why am I freaking crying again?" He put his hands over his face and his shoulders started to shake.
"Weird how, honey?" At least Carole was being very kind and patient with him. Burt looked too frustrated to even speak.
"I-I dunno. T-they m-make me f-feel loopy. And h-hurt my stomach. I s-sound ridiculous."
"No you don't." Carole wrapped an arm around him. "Not at all. What else?"
"I-I don't like s-saying s-stupid things. A-and it makes me f-feel s-so sad and a-angry. And tired and w-weak."
"Honey, you have to take the pills. You'll stop feeling so loopy once you're used to them and in two weeks they're going to switch your medicine to something a little less severe. It won't be forever. If you don't take them, you're going to be in a whole lot of pain. None of us want to see you in pain."
Kurt gave a small nod, wiping his eyes. He looked at Blaine, face all puffy from crying. All he wanted was for Blaine to sit by him and tell him everything was going to be okay.
"Alright." Burt clapped his hands. "Glad that's resolved. I'll go get the medicine then."
Burt left the room, and Carole gave Kurt a small squeeze. "You're going to get through this all, Kurt, and you're going to be a stronger person because of it."
Kurt gave a forced smile, wiping his nose with a Kleenex Blaine handed him.
"In no time you'll be back in school and then it will be summer and after that you'll go to college." She stroked his wet hair. "Your whole life is about to start, sweetheart. This is just a very small setback in many wonderful things to come. Okay?"
He nodded, trying to ignore how light-headed nodding made him. "Okay."
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I think Blaine will be able to comfort you a little better than me." She stood. "Here you go, sweetie."
Blaine gave her a weak smile and took her seat. "Thanks."
"Kurt, do you want some breakfast?"
Kurt shook his head.
"What do you want, Blaine?" Carole reached out and ruffled Blaine's messy hair, surprising him.
"O-Oh, I'm fine." Blaine stuttered, looking surprised.
"He has an upset stomach for an excuse. Now what's yours?"
"She's giving you the look she gives Finn. Better just tell her to make you some toast." Burt said cheerfully coming in with pills and a glass of water.
"Toast sounds good." Blaine said softly, taking the pills from Burt.
"You boys leave the door open." Burt said as the two left.
"Yeah because there's going to be a whole lot of fooling around." Kurt muttered.
"Here." Blaine held out the medicine, setting them in Kurt's open palm. "Take them."
"Sorry I asked you if you were Asian." Kurt whispered, looking down.
"You wouldn't be the first person." Blaine laughed loudly.
"You don't even look Asian really." Kurt muttered, still embarrassed. "Only some expressions will make you… I say the stupidest things sometimes. It bothers me. Sorry if it annoyed you."
Blaine rubbed his back. "It's adorable, Kurt. It didn't annoy me at all. I promise. In fact, it kind of made me want to snuggle you."
Kurt gave another weak smile, but this one looked less forced than the one he had given his stepmother. He swallowed his pills, downed the glass of water, and curled up against Blaine's side. Blaine began to hum quietly and Kurt played with the fingers on one of Blaine's hands. The other hand ran through Kurt's hair soothingly.
"What are you humming?" Kurt whispered, eyes closing.
"I dunno. I was just kind of humming." Blaine answered, messing up his hair and grinning. He would probably never get the chance to mess up Kurt's hair without getting slapped, so he decided to make the most of it. Because it was wet, he was even able to get it to stay standing up.
"Stop it." Kurt whined. "I know what you're doing and I don't like it. And quit grinning."
"You know me too well." Blaine laughed, bending down to kiss his head.
"Just you wait until I feel better, Blaine Anderson."
"I'm sorry but it's really hard to be intimidated by someone whose hair is st—." Blaine was cut off as his cell phone began to ring.
Tension filled the room. It was as if both of them knew what it was. Who else would be calling Blaine so early? Kurt slowly sat up and Blaine reached over, picking his phone up off of the end table. "Mom" the blue screen flashed.
Kurt reached over, grasping Blaine's hand in his.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Blaine! Sorry to bother you. Something must be wrong with your UK account because we received a notification saying 50% of your tuition has been credited to our account. Do I need to send you the paper?"
Blaine's mother had a thick accent, but Kurt was able to clearly understand every word.
"Blaine?"
"Mom, I'm in Ohio."
There were several moments of silence. Blaine was biting his lip, his chin rested on the palm of his hand.
"Oh, are you visiting that boy?"
"That boy has a name, mom. It's Kurt." This wasn't going to go well. Kurt squeezed the hand that he was still holding and Blaine sat up, running his other hand nervously through his hair. "And I'm here to stay. I withdrew from UK."
He closed his eyes, waiting for it. Waiting for her to shout for his father. It didn't come. He opened his eyes and looked down at his phone. She had hung up.
"Fuck." Was the only word to escape his mouth. Well, the cat was out of the bag now. She would call back soon enough after she'd consulted with Blaine's father. She would give the argument the man would have given himself if he weren't too disgusted to even talk to his son.
His phone rang again after a few silent minutes passed.
"Hello?"
"Your grandmother is calling the Dean, Blaine. You need to go back to school."
"Mom, I'm not going back." He closed his eyes. He felt Kurt's hand on his back, rubbing small circles.
"You have to go back to school! Do you know how expensive out of state tuition is, Blaine? Do you know what your father will say? What your grandmother will say? Blaine, she's running for a seat in the Senate. You can't do this to her!"
Carole stepped in quietly with his toast. Kurt mouthed something to her and she nodded, setting the plate down.
"I'm not doing anything to grandma and I really could care less what dad will say." His mother began shouting, a mixture of Tagalog and English. Blaine was hitting his forehead as Burt came in. "Mom… mom… mom, would you shut up?"
Kurt jumped as she began shouting even louder, but Blaine looked completely unfazed.
"Who's he talking to?" Burt whispered, although the woman was shouting so loudly she wouldn't have heard anyway.
"His mother." Carole whispered and sat down, putting a hand on Blaine's knee.
"I don't care about some stupid campaign, mom! I could care less if grandma ran for President of the United States. No, I won't talk in Tagalog because I don't want to! I can't just waltz back into UK. I withdrew. Don't you even bring Dalton into this because that is j—"
"This is that boy's fault! That boy! He's brainwashed you!"
Blaine made a motion like he was going to throw his phone as Carole patted his leg. "This has nothing to do with Kurt and stop calling him 'that boy'." He spoke calmly. Kurt wouldn't have been so calm if it had been him on that phone call.
"That school! That camp was supposed to stop this! We spent $25,000 sending you those summers and what did you do? You get sent home because you—"
The reaction was instant. Blaine snapped his phone shut, his hand beginning to shake. He hadn't expected that. Not from her, maybe from his dad. He opened the phone and pressed the power button, promptly shutting the phone off. Kurt was still rubbing his back, Carole's hand still on his knee, and Burt was leaning against the wall, arms over his chest, looking angry.
Kurt leaned forward, his chest resting against Blaine's back, and hugged him from behind. Blaine leaned back slightly, still careful of brushing against his sensitive side. Kurt didn't know what to say, but he found himself wondering exactly what one would do to get sent home from an awful camp like that. Clearly it was something Blaine did not want Kurt or his family knowing about, because the way Blaine's eyes widened was instantaneous and he snapped that phone shut with record speed. He kissed the back of Blaine's head, his ear, trying to comfort the boy who had spent every single minute of the last two weeks doing the same for him.
"I'm fine." Blaine said shortly, setting his phone down beside him.
"She's going to call back." Kurt whispered.
"I know."
"You just leave that phone off. There's nothing they can say, at this point, that can't wait." Burt said gruffly. "What's done is already done and they can't force you to go back to Kentucky. I don't care who your grandmother thinks she is; she doesn't have control over colleges in another state."
Blaine nodded, taking a deep breath.
"Eat your toast." Carole ruffled his hair and left the room with Burt, quietly closing the door.
"Blaine, w—" Kurt began, quietly. He was never one to pry for information. Then again, he never knew there was information big enough to be withheld.
"I really don't want to talk about it right now, Kurt." Blaine cut him off. He didn't sound annoyed or impatient. There was no unkindness in his voice whatsoever. He just sounded stressed out and sad.
"Let's lay down." Kurt scooted down, wincing a bit.
"Here, let me help." Blaine offered him a small smile and gently helped him into a lying position. He couldn't be worrying about his parents right now. They knew Kurt lived in Lima, but they didn't know where. They also didn't know Kurt's last name, so there was no worries about them going down to the garage. No. What he did need to worry about was Kurt, who would surely begin reacting to his medicine soon. If he could get Kurt to sleep before the side effects kicked in, he would be much happier. "That good?"
"Mhmm. Lay with me." Kurt held the covers up.
Normally Blaine would have protested, stating that Burt wouldn't like it. But he got under the covers and scooted close to Kurt. Kurt linked hands with him underneath the covers, letting his head rest on Blaine's shoulder.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Kurt asked, having forgotten about how upset he'd been twenty minutes earlier. It was funny. He was as worried about Blaine as Blaine was about him.
Blaine nodded and rested his chin on top of Kurt's head. "Come on. Let's get you to sleep before that medicine kicks in."
Kurt nodded and closed his eyes. The room was silent and Kurt's head rose with Blaine's chest with each breath he took. He felt Blaine's fingers stroking the back of his neck while he listened to Blaine's heart. After fifteen minutes, he sighed. "I can't sleep, Blaine."
"Why not, babe?" Blaine kissed the top of his head.
"I don't know…" he shifted and snuggled closer to him.
Kurt fell silent, but spent the next several minutes shifting and trying to get comfortable. Generally when he and Blaine lay together, Kurt would instantly find that perfect position.
"Why is this happening?" He moaned. He could feel himself becoming sleepy but every time he was nearly asleep, he'd be jolted out of his doze and would be left wide awake. He became increasingly more restless as the time wore on, letting out whimpers of frustration.
Blaine leaned over and kissed his cheek, then began very softly singing to him. He was singing some song that Kurt had never heard before but his voice was so beautiful, as it always was, that Kurt felt himself practically melting into a puddle. His eyes kept opening and closing, but Blaine's eyes remained on him. He had gotten midway through the chorus the second time around when Kurt's hand finally went limp at his side and he let out the tiniest of snores.
Blaine gently eased himself back down next to Kurt, careful not to jar his boyfriend awake. Kurt did shift slightly, but didn't stir. He yawned and looked at the clock. It was only nine in the morning. Maybe he'd join Kurt in going back to bed. It was either that or sit for hours dreading his next parental encounter. Sleeping was definitely the better option of the two, so he closed his eyes and let himself fall back asleep.