Author's note: A few Westerville Abbey readers had asked for more details about Blaine's experiences in a German POW camp during WW1, and I have included two experiences in this chapter. I've tried to achieve a balance between relating the incidences, and not providing too many upsetting details. If you have any concerns, please send me a PM on this site or a message on Tumblr. No anons please - I will only answer privately to not spoil things for other readers.
6 July 1921
Blaine
Kurt, Blaine, Beiste, and Elliott are sitting at a corner table at Westerville's. They're meeting very early in the morning since Blaine and Kurt are due to board the ship that will set sail for Germany in a few hours. Blaine coughs discretely to suppress his laughter when Kurt takes out his latest and greatest work schedules.
Kurt turns to Elliott. "I think you'll need an extra person on each shift to help manage the queue outside and allow diners with reservations to enter easily. You might have to hire a couple more people on a temporary basis."
Blaine thinks this is a sensible idea. Ever since Westerville's opening and the flattering newspaper reviews, the restaurant has been filled for at least two sittings for both lunch and dinner. On the weekends, the queue outside snakes around the corner, and they've even had to turn diners away.
Elliott replies, "I've thought about that, too. My cousin Vinny said he would help me out in the evenings. Before the war, he was a doorman at a casino in Atlantic City. He's friendly and resourceful but assertive, as well. It won't take me long to train him about the reservation system and the like."
Beiste suggests, "Perhaps one of Jakub's relatives could help if needed at the lunch service? Finn's work crew isn't doing much until the beginning of August."
Kurt seems pleased that both Elliott and Beiste are resourceful. It's exactly what the restaurant needs when they're away. "That's an excellent idea. Could you talk to Finn about it?"
"Sure thing, snookums," Beiste confirms.
Kurt addresses Elliott. "One last time, let's go through what you need to do each night after closing."
Elliott gives him a weak smile. "While the waiters are cleaning the dining room, I figure out their pay and tips. Once I've inspected their final work, I distribute their money and remind them of the work schedule for the next day. I'll then place the ledger and cash takings into the safe. It's exactly what I've been doing for the past two weeks under your supervision."
Blaine looks at his wristwatch, mindful of the time. "Honey, we've gone through everything with Elliott, Beiste, and the rest of the staff at least a dozen times. LeRoy has been here each morning this past week, learning how to order the food, pay the kitchen staff, reconcile the ledger, prepare the bank deposit, and all the things that need doing while we aren't here."
Kurt throws his hands in the air. "But what if something really awful happens while we're gone?"
"Finn has already agreed to dine here each evening. He'll sort out any troubles," Blaine reassures him.
"He's only coming for the food," Kurt mumbles.
"That's not true. He's coming to help us - his family - while we are away. The food is an added bonus."
"And a darn tasty bonus."
Blaine turns around to see Finn at the entrance.
Finn impatiently taps his foot. "We better get going if you want to catch your ship. James and I have collected your trunks from MacDougal Alley. We'll be waiting for you outside."
Blaine almost has to drag Kurt from the table to the waiting car. It's not ideal that they are leaving for Europe only four weeks after Westerville's has opened, but the timing can't be helped. Next week, he is due to testify at the war crimes trials in Leipzig, Germany. It will take them five days to cross the Atlantic to Hamburg, and two days to recuperate and prepare for the trials, which is something he's not looking forward to.
When they are all seated inside the car, James begins the short journey to the Chelsea Piers on the West Side of Manhattan.
"I can't believe you're so calm about leaving the restaurant," Kurt huffs.
Blaine holds Kurt's hand and tangles their fingers together. "We've always known that we would leave for six weeks. We hired great staff, who will manage without us quite well. Beiste has plenty of experience and knows what I expect from every dish. You've done a great job training Elliott and the waiters. The restaurant will be just fine while we're away."
Kurt bites his lower lip. "Well, I guess so. We've had such a good run so far. The tables are turning over at least twice for both lunch and dinner. Our reservation book is full for at least two weeks in advance. You haven't been too ambitious with the menu. You've kept it simple, with limited selections but ones that diners love."
Finn turns his upper body around to face them. "Don't forget that I'll be there most evenings. If something needs fixing, I'll do it. LeRoy will take care of the ordering and the money stuff each morning. We've got everything covered until you return."
As they approach the Chelsea Piers, they easily spot the Hamburg America ship, which will take them to Germany. Finn and James organize for the trunks to be taken to their first-class stateroom. Although it's unusual for two young men to be sharing the same cabin, they plan to use the cover story of Kurt taking care of Blaine with a reference to old war wounds, if necessary. No one is going to question a former POW on his way to testify at a war crimes tribunal. They are both war heroes, after all.
Finn meets them on the deck. "The trunks are in your stateroom. It's much more swanky than the cabin Rachel and I had on our transatlantic trip. Judging from the language most are speaking, there are a lot of Germans on board."
"It's a German shipping line. What else did you expect?" Kurt teases.
"Are you nervous about the trials?" Finn asks Blaine.
"Absolutely terrified, but I'm determined to tell the truth about what went on in the POW camp. I'm really not looking forward to seeing the camp director again."
Finn puts his arm around Blaine's shoulders. "Remember when I met with the city officials for the final inspection? You told me to imagine them wearing only their underpants. It sure helped me. Maybe it will help you, too?"
Blaine chuckles. "You're a wise man, Hudson. I'll remember that."
After they say their goodbyes to James and Finn, they find a position on deck to watch the New York City skyline fade as they sail away.
Three days later…
"Captain Voss, you don't need to invite us to your table every single evening. I'm sure there are other passengers who would also like the privilege of dining with you," Kurt politely remarks.
"Nonsense, Captain Hummel. It's not every day that I have two Allied captains aboard my ship. I've been ordered to ensure that you and Captain Sir Anderson have a comfortable passage to Hamburg."
Blaine gives Captain Voss an insipid smile. "I plan to tell my commanders in Leipzig that you have provided us with a first-rate service." Blaine stands up. "If you'll please excuse Captain Hummel and me. Captain Hummel's leg is acting up, and the best thing for it is a stroll on the deck."
"Shall I send a doctor to your stateroom?" Captain Voss asks with concern.
Kurt shakes his head. "That won't be necessary. As Captain Anderson said, walking will do the trick."
They say their goodbyes to the other dinner guests, and make their way to the upper deck. They clutch onto the handrail as the ship rocks. The sun is almost set, and while the sky is filled with orange and red hues, there is only a vast ocean in their sights.
"I really wish the Captain and the crew would let us be. The service is too good; I feel like a trapped animal," Kurt huffs.
"Don't be too harsh. They are just following orders. It must be difficult to have an Allied officer about to give testimony at war crime trials on board a ship filled with Germans."
Once the sun has set and the wind picks up, they return to their stateroom, carefully balancing themselves on the rocking ship. Although it's still early, they don't wish to go to the showroom and watch the nightly entertainment. Blaine sits in an armchair to read, but he can't really focus on the words. The ship's movement certainly doesn't help. After reading the same sentence at least a dozen times, he sets down the book and starts pacing.
Since he's boarded the ship, the nightmares have returned. They are filled with incidences that happened in the POW camp. In each and every one, Officer Heynen is leaning over him, his shifting dark eyes are menacing, and his sour breath smells of schnaps. His breathing becomes labored and he begins to panic that he won't see Kurt or his family ever again.
"Do you have ants in your pants?" Kurt teases.
Blaine looks over at Kurt, who is lying on top of the bed and reading a fashion magazine. "Where did you learn that expression?"
"Elliott, of course. He's got some good ones. Now, tell me what's going on with you?"
Blaine sits down on the bed next to Kurt. "I'm nervous about what will happen when we arrive in Hamburg. I'm sure you've noticed that I'm having nightmares again."
"At least twice a night," Kurt confirms.
"Thinking of the trials and my testimony is bringing back memories that I'd rather forget."
Kurt sits up and rubs Blaine's back. "It will soon be over, and then we'll have a wonderful holiday in Westerville. Your body feels so tense. How about you take a hot shower, and then I'll give you a massage?"
Blaine leans forward to give Kurt a chaste kiss on the lips. "That sounds really perfect."
Blaine goes into their en-suite bathroom and takes a long hot shower. He lowers his head so that the water spray hits the back of his neck, and stands there for several minutes while his muscles relax. He uses lavender soap, and the smell of Kurt washes over him. Once he's finished his shower, he dries and forgoes his night clothes; instead, he puts on his new terry cloth dressing gown that he received for his birthday.
When Blaine returns to the bedroom, he notices that it's dimly lit, with scarves draped over the lampshades to diffuse the light. Kurt has changed into his night clothes and is waiting for him next to a towel laid on the bed.
Kurt holds up his hands and wiggles his fingers. "These magic hands right here? They're going to get you back to your happy place. Now, take off that dressing gown and come lie down."
Blaine certainly doesn't need any further prompting. He undoes the sash and slips the dressing gown off his shoulders, allowing it to fall and pool by his feet. He lies down on his stomach, rests his head on the pillow, and closes his eyes. He's most definitely ready for Kurt and his magic hands.
Blaine feels Kurt's weight when he straddles his body and sits on his buttocks. The scent of lavender fills the room as Kurt rubs the aromatic oil in his palms. Using gliding movements in long, even strokes, Kurt spreads the warmed oil across his back. Kurt sings softly, his voice soothing Blaine.
"Hmmm…. Your hands feel so good."
"I told you they were magic."
Kurt uses shorter, circular strokes, using his thumbs to knead his neck and upper back. "I can feel all the tension in your muscles."
Blaine begins to relax, as the stress in his muscles melts away under Kurt's expert attention. Kurt traces the scar on his upper back with his finger.
"Blaine, you've never told me how you got this scar. It might come up in the trials, and it may help if you explained it to me first."
Blaine lets out a deep sigh. He's never told a soul what had happened, but Kurt is right. He'll probably have to relate the story during the trials. He should practice it first, and who better to practice with than Kurt.
"It was during the spring of 1917. We had been settled at the POW camp in Münster for about four months, and we were working in a coal mine. The British prisoners refused to work after three Russians died in a cave-in. The conditions were so dangerous, and no one wanted to die of the same fate. We were made to stand at attention with bayonets at our backs until we changed our minds. Karl Heynen, who is on trial next week, had been on a drinking binge. He used every trick to demean us, but he couldn't bend our will. When one of my privates collapsed from exhaustion and lack of food, I stepped forward to object. Heynen pushed me backward, and I collapsed onto a barbed wire fence."
Kurt leans over and kisses Blaine's tear-soaked cheek. "Oh, honey, that must have been awful. I presume you didn't get any medical attention."
Blaine scoffs. "Absolutely none. Most of the POW doctors had died during the previous winter, treating prisoners with typhus."
Kurt kisses the scar. "I'm so proud of you, standing up for your soldiers' rights. The scar is just a reminder of how brave you are."
Kurt continues with his massage and murmurs softly, "You're safe now. You'll soon have your day in court and help to put Heynen behind bars. No one is going to harm you, not while I'm around. You know I protect those I love, and no one pushes the Hummels around."
Using his thumbs for pressure, Kurt moves his hands from Blaine's shoulders all the way down to his hips, over and over again. Surprisingly, Blaine doesn't get a stiffie. Instead of being aroused, Blaine feels safe and secure, knowing that Kurt loves him and will take care of him. Blaine relaxes to the rhythm of Kurt's hands and the ship's movement. He feels cherished with Kurt by his side, and he dozes off into a deep sleep.
The next night…
Blaine sits up in bed, panting and disoriented about where he is. He opens his eyes to see Kurt sitting at the bottom of the bed with all the lights switched on.
"What do you need?" Kurt asks with concern.
"Could I please have a glass of water?"
Kurt goes to the living area to pour a glass of water and pick up a hand towel. After drinking the entire glass, Blaine dries his sweat-soaked face.
Kurt rubs his back, and asks, "Do you need space or do you want me to hold you?"
"Definitely hold me," Blaine confirms. "I always want you to hold me."
Kurt returns to bed and spoons his body against Blaine's back, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Can you remember what you were dreaming about?"
Blaine sniffles quietly.
"Does it have to do with the day you got the scar? Yesterday, you were on edge every time I mentioned it."
Blaine decides to tell the rest of the story. "After the guards released me from the barbed wire, I was dragged into the solitary confinement cell. The food rations were cut even further, and I only had light for two hours a day. I could hear my soldiers in cells nearby, and I would sing to give them courage and to let them know that they were not alone. When I rested, my thoughts were of you and my family. I wanted to return to Westerville Abbey so badly."
Kurt's fingers card through Blaine's curls. "We wanted you to return to Westerville so badly, too. What happened next?"
"On the fifth day, the guards dragged me to the sub-officer's room. I was asked if it was true that I was from a farm back home. I told him that I used to work on a huge farming estate in England, which produced food crops and had a large dairy. I certainly didn't tell him that my family owned it. I might have exaggerated my experience as a farmer," Blaine sheepishly admits.
"You grew up on a farming estate, and that's all the German officers needed to know. I can vouch that you are an excellent blackberry picker."
Blaine smiles, remembering the first time they were alone in the kitchen garden greenhouse. "It turned out to be a good thing to tell him. Along with my soldiers, we were reassigned work duty to the fields as farmhands. None of us stepped inside a mine again. The Russians and Irish weren't as fortunate, but there was no other mine cave-in."
"I'm glad to hear that. Now, instead of remembering about the POW camp, let's think about happier times in the kitchen gardens. Do you remember Brittany's cat, Lord Tubbington, and how crazy he would get after eating catnip? How you used to escape Rachel and Cooper's vocal competitions by keeping me company in the kitchen gardens. There was that day…."
Kurt's melodic voice continues recounting the happy times they have had in the Abbey's kitchen gardens. Blaine closes his eyes and can remember all the details. They are fond memories of falling in love with Kurt. They must go back to the kitchen gardens when they visit Westerville in a week's time. With these happy thoughts, Blaine drifts to sleep once again.
The next day…
Blaine shakes Captain Voss's hand. "Thank you for making the journey as comfortable as possible."
Captain Voss replies. "Good luck with your mission."
While they walk down the plank to disembark the ship, Kurt's legs wobble. Blaine wraps an arm around him to keep him upright. After spending five days on the ship, it will take them time to get their land legs again, especially for Kurt, who still experiences muscle pains from his war injuries.
Kurt points ahead. "There's a welcoming committee for you."
Blaine soon spots a group of soldiers wearing British military uniforms. There is one man frantically waving his hands in the air. When they come nearer, Blaine recognizes the soldier trying to get his attention.
It's his longtime friend and former commanding officer, Major Nick Duval.
Author's notes
The POW experiences that are recounted are loosely based on first-hand accounts I was able to find on the Internet. I want to emphasize that brutality wasn't the norm in the German POW camps during World War One. The main problem was the lack of food, which was also a widespread problem for the German population. Diseases such as typhus were also rife.
Many thanks to my fantastic betas - Fearlessly, Lilyvandersteen, Dblmalfunction. I made the last-minute edits and performed the final proofreading by myself, so all mistakes are mine.
I'm HKVoyage on Tumblr.
Next up: Nick Duval and Kurt provide support for Blaine during the Leipzig War Crimes Trials.