A/N - very brief mention of Kurt's past assault.

Can I just take a second to thank all the new readers who have followed / favorite as well as those who have been with me all along? I'm so blessed to have such cool people reading my story, and I appreciate each and every one of you! Note: I appreciate you just a tad bit more if you leave me a review and tell me your thoughts? LOL kidding... And I can't say thanks enough for the shout outs on tumblr, twitter, facebook, etc. Really...Thanks guys!

CHAPTER 49

"Nothing at all to say to me, Kurt? Not even a hello or anything after you had me locked up and sent away?" he said evenly, no hint of malice or threat to be found.

"I- Don't call here again, Jax. We have nothing to speak to each other about." Kurt replied, sounding calm but feeling as if his world was imploding.

"Don't you dare hang up, Kurt. I don't want to be angry with you anymore. I think we're both aware of what happens when I'm not happy with you, aren't we?" Jackson spit out.

Kurt's first instinct was to look around his apartment for Blaine, who had gone home earlier to get ready for work. He walked quickly to the door and grabbed at the doorknob, only to pull his hand back as if he'd been burned. Where was Jackson? He could be standing in the hallway for all Kurt knew. He checked the peephole and saw nothing, so he quickly opened the door and sprinted down the hall to Blaine's, not even bothering to knock before whipping the door open and striding inside.

"D-Don't threaten me. You don't have the right to do that anymore. I'm…I'm not that person, Jax" Kurt said as he entered, causing Blaine's eyes to go wide and everything in his hands to drop onto the counter. He immediately went to Kurt's side and ushered him to the sofa where Jeff was already sitting. Blaine held tightly to Kurt's free hand, which was shaking uncontrollably at that point, and finally realized he was gritting his teeth so hard his head hurt. He wanted desperately to grab the phone from Kurt and scream into it at Jackson, but he didn't…he couldn't. It wasn't his place right now.

"Oh Kurt, you know I never threatened you. Don't get dramatic on me." Jackson said casually.

"No, maybe not. Threatening me would have given me some warning. Instead you just snapped and went crazy, often leaving me in pain. I'm done with that. I'm hanging up now." Kurt said firmly.

"Don't you even want to know where I am, Kurt?"

"N-no….it makes no difference to me." Kurt replied.

"Fair enough. But the Big Apple isn't such a big place, Kurt. There are still things you and I need to talk about, you know? Oh, and tell Blaine I said hello, will you?" he said with a chuckle, then disconnected the call.

Kurt was white as a sheet and trembling. Blaine was so angry he was unable to sit still and Jeff was absolutely confused about what had just happened. The phone sat limply in Kurt's hand for a minute and then fell to the sofa cushions as if forgotten. Kurt's eyes closed and he let out a long sigh. He could feel his heart beating rapidly and he forced himself to breathe deeply and calm down.

Veiled threats…that's all they were. So he figured out that Kurt was in New York. He wasn't going to let Jax get the best of him. Things, right now, were so good for him and he wasn't going to let that jerk ruin anything under any circumstances. He was determined.

"Kurt…?" Blaine said steadily. He sure sounded better than he felt.

"I'm alright. It's ok, he can't hurt me anymore. I won't let him. Now I'm prepared, right? At least mentally….." Kurt said softly.

"What the actual hell just happened?" Jeff finally said.

"M-my…my ex is apparently in town." Kurt said nonchalantly.

"Oh….yeah, uncomfortable." Jeff muttered.

"The last time we were in the same room together he raped me and tried to kill me." Kurt said just as evenly as if he were reading his grocery list.

"I'm sorry...he...he WHAT?" Jeff muttered out, certain that he'd misheard. His eyes were big and shocked and asking for Kurt to explain that statement a little better. Kurt took a deep breath before he continued.

"We dated for a while, and I knew pretty much right away that he wasn't 'the one' and that intimate things weren't going to happen. I was perfectly clear about that, mind you. But he was someone to have around and at the start, we used to have fun. After a bit it became less fun and he started getting possessive and angry all the time. There were arguments, physical fights and restraining orders. I tried very hard to distance myself, to get away. Finally there was Jackson sitting on my bed one morning when I woke up, coming to claim was he felt was 'rightfully his'. He left the room in cuffs and I nearly left it in a body bag." Kurt explained. He was so calm in telling the story that it worried Blaine quite a bit.

"Kurt…I know you're probably a little bit in shock here. Will you drink something if I get you a glass of…whatever you want? You're white as a sheet, and I don't mind saying I'm a little concerned." Blaine told him.

"I won't turn down a Diet Coke if you have one. I…I think I should call someone, shouldn't I? The police? Oddly, I feel like I should call my dad. How old am I again?"

"You call whoever you want to call, babe. How about we start with your dad. Call him, and I'm going to call Cooper and see what we can do in regards to restraining orders and all that, alright? Are you ok with that, Kurt?" Blaine asked, truly concerned.

"I'm…yeah, that's…that's a good idea. Please do that. He…Blaine, he said to tell you hello…" Kurt trailed off, the enormity of that statement finally sinking in. "He knows…he's been around, watching. I don't know how much he knows or…but he…and…." Kurt took a deep breath and hugged himself, squeezing tightly until it hurt just to make sure this wasn't all a nightmare.

"Kurt?" Blaine said softly, raising his chin with one long finger under it. "I'm right here. As long as I'm around, he won't touch you again, do you hear me? He'll have to kill me first before he gets to you. Sit here, and let me get you that drink, ok? How 'bout something a bit stronger than the diet Coke, huh?"

"Uh huh…ok. Whatever you have." Kurt replied, his eyes a little unfocused now. He watched Blaine walk into the kitchen and pull a bottle of wine out of the fridge and then grab three glasses. Three.

"Oh, God, Jeff, you must think….Jeeez…I'm sorry. I kinda dumped all that out there without ceremony, didn't I? I apologize, that was terribly rude of me." Kurt whispered, blushing furiously at what he'd thrown out when he wasn't fully thinking.

"Kurt, don't even apologize. I can't…I'm just a…um….damn, man. That's rough. Really, I mean, you've clearly been through some deep shit. How long ago was this?" Jeff asked him.

"It's been over a year. I guess they were sending me things telling me that he was being released early, but I don't live where I used to, and I didn't leave a forwarding address for obvious reasons. I'd changed my phone number. They began sending stuff to my dad, as that was my previous address, but I thought it was letters from Jackson, and I didn't even open them….told dad to throw them out. Turns out they weren't from Jax, they were from the prison itself trying to contact me. I guess I thought if it was important, my attorney would have called, you know? And now here he is, back in my life again. Can you excuse me, I think I'm—" Kurt cut off, jumping up and hurrying to the bathroom. He slammed the door closed and the sound of retching could be heard throughout the apartment.

Blaine set the glasses of wine down on the coffee table and walked over to the door.

"Kurt, are you ok? Can I get you something? A washcloth or….anything?" He asked, concerned.

"It's…I'm ok. Give me just a minute, ok? I'm alright." He said softly. Standing from the porcelain god, he stood in front of the mirror and rinsed his mouth with water. The man staring back at him didn't look afraid. He didn't look downtrodden. He didn't look upset. He looked angry. For this, Kurt was glad. He was not going to be a victim again. He was going to be alert, aware and on his guard. Jackson was not going to get the better of him this time. No way, no how. He was going to be proactive and do what needed to be done to ensure his own safety, but he was going to go on with his life. He wasn't going to sit back in his apartment and cower away waiting on Jax to make a move. No….no he was not. He was done being the victim. He was stronger now, and he had people on his side. He had Blaine.

Opening the door of the bathroom he stepped out into the hallway, giving Blaine and Jeff a sheepish grin.

"Sorry 'bout that. I'm sure it didn't sound too pleasant out here. Just nerves." Kurt apologized.

"No worries, Kurt. Just as long as you're ok, alright? Have a seat. Let's get a game plan together?" Blaine answered him.

"Sounds good." Kurt said, sitting and taking a drink to calm his nerves. He sat, staring at the table for a few minutes and nobody said a word. Nobody knew exactly what to say. "So here's the thing…." Kurt began. "I'm not going to sit back and let him ruin the way my life is going right now. I have more than I could have ever asked for. A year ago I thought I'd have given up and killed myself by now. But here I am. I have friends here, a kick ass job, a great apartment and the best boyfriend I could have asked for. This is mine. These THINGS are mine. This peace of mind is mine. I'm not letting him in on that. So, here's what I'm going to do. First, I'm going to sign up for a self defense class, then I'm going to think about getting a weapon of some sort. I'm not big on that, really, but considering what's happened, I don't really think I have a choice anymore." Kurt said, a determined glint in his eye.

"What kind of self defense?" Jeff asked him, a sly grin on his face.

"Um, I don't know. Something that allows me to feel safer, more in control, more at ease when I'm out or if I'm approached, you know? Maybe some sort of martial arts?" he said, not really knowing what he wanted just yet. Blaine and Jeff shared a smile and Blaine gave him a nod and a raised eyebrow.

"Uh, I don't know what, exactly, you have in mind, but uh…I'd be happy to tell you what I know…to teach you, give you lessons if you want?" Jeff offered.

"You know about self defense?" Kurt asked, intrigued. Blaine burst out laughing. "What? What's funny?" Kurt smiled.

"We should call Trent and ask him what he thinks about Jeff's abilities…" he said, and then he and Jeff burst out laughing. Jeff had the good grace to look sheepish and he blushed a bit.

"That was an accident! I told him to be still, and NOT to move, but he didn't listen! Don't remind me…I feel bad enough as it is!" he grinned.

"Yep, looks like you're dying over the guilt!" Blaine said, laughing uproariously.

"What happened?" Kurt asked, wanting in on the story.

"I had a test…to get to my next belt, and I wanted to practice. I asked Trent to hold the board, and I said 'don't move, be very still' so I go into the spin before the kick and Trent adjusts a bit and I nailed him in the head instead and….well, he was unconscious for an hour or so." Jeff said, guiltily, but then caught Blaine's stifled laughter and then both laughed loudly again. Kurt just grinned and shook his head.

"So you think you could teach me a thing or two?" he asked Jeff. "Did you ever get that belt in the end?"

"I did." Jeff said, nodding, and hiding another sheepish grin.

"And that belt is what color?" Blaine prompted, giving Kurt the side-eye. Jeff just shrugged. "He's a black belt, Kurt. I'm sure, if anyone can teach you how to protect yourself, Jeff can. If you want him to, that is?"

"Yes!" Kurt said enthusiastically. "Absolutely, if you have time and you don't mind? I'll pay you for lessons or…or whatever you call them, but yeah, if you can teach me anything at all, I'd really feel a lot safer, Jeff."

"I'd be more than happy to." Jeff answered. "But until you're up to par, I'd feel much safer if you didn't go anywhere alone. I know I don't have any right to say that or demand that sort of thing, but you're my friend, and you're pretty damn important to this moron over here, and he's pretty important to me, so….deal?"

"Deal." Kurt smiled.

"Coop? Listen, I have to talk to you about something. It's not really my story to tell, so I haven't mentioned this before now, but…well, it's about Kurt, and I might need your help? I need information more than anything…got a minute?" Blaine asked.

"Absolutely man, what's up?" Coop replied. It wasn't often his brother called him for anything specific. Usually it was just to shoot the shit and yap endlessly about nothing, so this must be important. He listened intently while Blaine told him the whole story from the beginning. By the end he was livid…furious…especially with Kurt's attorney. He should have made Kurt aware that Jax was getting out and taken all the necessary measures to keep Kurt as safe as possible with his tormentor free again. If they weren't able to reach Kurt directly, they should have gotten in touch with his attorney at some point. The ball had been dropped and now they were behind in the process of keeping Kurt safe.

He'd begun taking notes about five minutes into the conversation and by the end of it, he had a full page scribbled down.

"So….that's where we stand. I'm terrified, Coop. I don't think I need to tell you how important he is to me. If anything happens to him…." He trailed off, but Coop interrupted.

"We won't allow that. Between you and Jeff, he should be with someone else at all times if he's not in his own apartment. You said he spends time with Hunter as well, right? That's just one more person to shadow him if necessary. Tell you what, I'll get on the horn and make some calls and we'll get all this stuff going so you guys can sleep better tonight, ok? It's late, but I know some people still able to get the ball rolling. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know what's going on. Aren't you supposed to be at work tonight?" Coop asked.

"I'm leaving now. Jeff's going to hang out with Kurt. They have work to do. If not sewing, then learning how to kick some serious ass!" Blaine chuckled.

"Sounds good….keep me posted on anything else. Kurt answers no more calls from private numbers, ok? None." Coop told him.

"I'll tell him. You staying in tonight? You could drop by the Dive if you want?" Blaine offered.

"Nope, I have a date. Blaine…she's um…she's…" he said, pausing. "You know that stupid look you get on your face when you think nobody's watching you and you're staring at Kurt? The one where all the little hearts and starts start drifting around your head and you look all love struck?" Coop asked. Blaine tried to sound put out, but he knew it was true. "Yeah, well….I um…I kinda feel that way about her. I don't really know what to do with that. I've never felt like that with anyone. Ever. ANYone, Blaine. I think she's the one." He said with absolute certainty.

"I sure hope so, man. You're running out of options in the New York area, Coop. If they're not married or lesbians, you've dated just about every girl in town." Blaine laughed, teasing his brother.

"Shut it, Blainey. Just….when you meet her, know that she's really, really important, ok? And be careful tonight. He's out there somewhere and he'll do what he has to do to hurt Kurt, alright. Be on your guard."

"Will do, big bro. Thanks for your help."

"Anytime, Squirt. Anytime."

"Don't give me any shit. I know you know where he is, and all I'm asking you to do is to mail this to him. I can't see him. I can't call him. I can't text him, and I can't email him. I'm resorting to snail mail, and you're the only one who can help me, so help a guy out, Blaine. I don't give a good God damn if you read it to him over the phone, just make sure he knows what it says some way or another. Please?" Nick whined, still trying to hand Blaine an envelope. Reluctantly, Blaine took it.

"I don't know how long it'll take to get it to him, or even if he's still where he was when I talked to him last! Nick, he told me what happened. I need for you to know that this…this whatever it is that's going on…it's killing him, too. He didn't just walk away thinking 'well, that was fun' and decide to move on. He did this because he wasn't willing to risk his family's safety just to keep himself happy. Between that and things with you and your dad, he felt he had no choice. He wanted to do what was best, and now he's miserable. He's hurting, Nick. Fix this, and come back for him, ok? He needs you." Blaine told him.

"I want nothing more, Blaine…seriously. This last week has been an absolute nightmare and I'm starting to really lose it, man. My dad's MIA and nobody seems to be able to contact him. I don't know if it's good or bad, but I think he got wind of what was going on and he's laying low to come up with a plan of his own." Nick replied. "Still, I need to know when I get him back that he'll be safe; that there won't be anything standing between us anymore, and certainly not my dad. I need him back. Soon. Please Blaine?"

"Yeah, ok, I'll take it and get it to him somehow. I don't know when that'll be, like I said, but I'll get it to him, ok?" Blaine said with a grin and then rolled his eyes at Nick.

"Thank you, B. And for what it's worth, if I have to do something drastic to make this all happen, I will. He's that important to me. This shit with my dad? This isn't anything compared to the lengths I'm willing to go to have him back." Nick said, his face stern.

They said their goodbyes to the rest of the band and headed out the door together. They had about 3 blocks of the same route before they broke off to go their separate ways.

"Listen, Nick, I was meaning to ask your opinion on something, anyway. Jeff told me you were in real estate? The lady that owns my building is tossing around maybe selling the place. I think I'd like to see what it's worth and maybe make her an offer before she puts it on the market. Do you think you could take a look at it and tell me what a good offering price might be? I don't know squat about real estate prices in the city." Blaine asked.

"Sure, I can come over whenever. It's not like I have a day job to go to anymore!" he scoffed. "Do you want her there when I'm there or should I just assess it first and then you can talk to her?" Nick questioned.

"If you'll just look at it first, that'd be awesome. I dunno, it feels right….like it's something I need to do. I need to have this building. I want the whole third floor, though. I could really turn it into an amazing space with a music area for me and a workroom for Kurt. But if he moved up there with me, that would leave two empty apartments. Of course, I'll rent them out, but I can't do that until the space is done, and…." He trailed off noticing the look Nick was giving him. "What?" he smiled.

"Ok, well, one: you're babbling, you haven't even spoken to her about it and you're already making major changes to a building someone else owns! Two: You've moved Kurt in and you guys have been dating for, what? Two days?" Nick laughed.

"It's been more than two days!" Blaine said, feigning irritation and haughtiness.

"And three: Here's where we part ways, man." He laughed more, slapping Blaine on the back. "But listen, I'll call you tomorrow and come over to take a look at it, ok? Won't take long. See you later, and be careful getting home."

"Yeah, you too. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

When Blaine got home, Jeff was already sleeping. He figured Jeff would be up before him in the morning , so he left the envelope on the kitchen counter next to the coffee maker and put a note next to it that read 'Nick gave this to me tonight. I'm supposed to mail it to you, wherever you are, and if that doesn't work, I'm to read it out loud to you over the phone!" With that he added a smiley face and headed off to his own bed. It had been a long, exhausting day.

Staggering from his room, Jeff went directly to the coffee pot to start something brewing before hitting the bathroom. Spotting the envelope sitting there, he read the note and nearly dropped it. Nick sent him something. Deep breath, Jeff, he told himself. Carefully slipping a butter knife inside the flap, he tore the top open and pulled out the letter, sniffing it for good measure. "Nicky…." He sighed.

Hey Pretty Boy,

I'd really love to have the words to tell you how much I miss you, but there are no words enough to express that. I think of you a thousand times a day and hope you're safe and happy. I also hope you're planning on working this out when my dad is out of the picture. I'll make it so that he is, no matter what it takes. Please believe me. You and I are meant to be together. I hope you still want that. I see, now, how unbelievably miserable life would be without you in it, and I don't like it one damn bit.

You left your Dalton t-shirt here. I sleep with it every night right up in my face. It smells like you, and I'm forever grateful that you didn't see it when you were packing to leave that night. God, I can't even think about it without breaking down. Waking up and finding you gone was just…Jeffie, it was heart wrenching. You're such a part of me now, even after such a short time. I can't imagine the rest of my life without you in it, right by my side. I hope I'm not overstepping. I sincerely pray that these are things you want as well. If not, I will let you go, but it will be hard…nearly impossible. You're the other half of me, and without you…well, I'm incomplete.

There are so many things you need to know. I wish like hell I could just pick up the phone and call you. It would take forever for me to write it all out, but there are things I think you should be aware of. I've turned over everything I have on my dad to Paul, my attorney. He brought in investigators and they went hog wild with the files and computers at the office. I can't begin to tell you what they found. My dad isn't stupid. Leaving things on his computer wasn't ignorance, it was arrogance. He doesn't think he'll get caught with any of this, and if he does, he sure doesn't think anyone will go against him to do anything about it, especially his sons. Well, let me tell you, he's about to have his world rocked. When my brothers found out everything he's interfered in, every relationship he's sabotaged, every business deal that was highly illegal that could get us all thrown in jail, every dirty, back alley transaction that's taken place with company money….well, I'll say only that it was a helluva day at the office, and not in a good way.

Mom's furious on our behalf. She adores you, babe, even after only one meeting. No surprise there! She told me she can 'see it in my eyes, how much you mean to me, and that I'm absolutely lost without you.' Well, she's right. Everyone can see it, and because of that, everyone can also see the depths of my despair having to be without you until this is all settled. It will be settled, Jeff, even if it means you and I escape to our own private island for the rest of our days. I need you like I need air and my only hope is that you won't give up on us.

If this is the only way we can communicate, then so be it. I miss you so much, Jeff…so fucking much. Please… please just come back to me. We'll do whatever we need to do to work it all out.

I love you, Jeffie, with all my heart.

Your Nicky

Blaine woke a couple of hours later and staggered into the kitchen in search of the coffee he could smell from his room. He took one look at the coffee maker and realized Jeff had made a pot, but hadn't poured himself any. The man in question was sitting sideways on the window seat staring out over the street and the traffic below. He either hadn't heard Blaine come into the room or he just didn't care. The letter held in his hand and clutched to his chest was a pretty good indication of what Jeff was thinking of.

"Hey…" Blaine offered by way of a greeting.

"Morning…" Jeff responded, but he didn't look in Blaine's direction.

"I see you found the letter. I hope it was ok that I took it from him. He just seemed so…I dunno…desperate to communicate with you in some way. I felt like an asshole even considering telling him no. I'm sorry if what's inside upset you?" Blaine said, pouring himself a cup of coffee, then grimacing at the taste. Time to brew a new pot. This one wasn't anywhere near fresh.

"S'ok, man. Thanks for bringing it home." Jeff said, but then his voice hitched and Blaine set the mug down and approached him.

"Jeffie?" he said softly.

"Oh god…..god please…don't….not Jeffie." He sobbed outright now. Blaine surged forward and pulled Jeff into his arms for a hug, hanging on tight and letting Jeff get it all out.

"Ok, just 'Jeff'….duly noted. I'm sorry, I didn't think…I wasn't thinking." He said, rubbing circles on Jeff's back. "You know I'm all ears if you want to talk about it. If you want to yell at me for introducing you guys or whatever, because nobody knows better than me that all of this is my fault when it comes right down to it. I'm really sorry, Jeff. If I'd had even a clue that this would happen—" Blaine began, but Jeff cut him off.

"No…I don't regret a minute of it. Not one single minute with him…it was all time well spent and I wouldn't change it or give up one second spent together. I just…damn it, Blaine, I just miss him so much. How in the world did I manage to get so attached to someone so quickly? What was I thinking?!" Jeff railed. "..'m so stupid…" he said, sobbing into Blaine's shirt again.

"You're not stupid! Don't say that. You fell hard and fast for someone who loves you. There's nothing wrong with that, Jeff….nothing at all. He misses you just as much. He flubbed three songs last night and I could just tell his heart wasn't in it. It's really hard on him, too. I know that's no consolation, but at least you're not alone in your misery." Blaine said, no hint of humor at all in his tone.

"I don't want him to be sad. I need for him to move on. If he does, then maybe I can…until then….." Jeff broke off, burying his head in Blaine's shoulder again.

"Wait…what? Move on…as in with someone else? Jeff, that's not going to happen. Not in this lifetime. He's moving heaven and hell to get his dad out of the picture so you'll feel safe enough to come back. If you ask him to move on and tell him you plan on doing the same, you'll break him, Jeff. He's counting on you wanting everything back….wanting him back. I kinda thought that's what you wanted as well?" Blaine said, trying not to sound accusatory.

"I do…I want him back more than anything, but Blaine I gave his dad my word, and that's really all I have anymore. I can't go back on it. I don't know what I can do…what I can say to him to make him understand that. I thought that if I left, things would be better…that his dad would leave him alone, maybe even give him his job back or whatever, but….Oh God, it's turned into a big clusterfuck and I feel like Nick is doing all of this for me and I can't even be there for him when it's all said and done. I have to tell him…somehow. I can't leave him hanging on waiting for someone who can't be what he needs."

"Oh, Jeff….there has to be a way? You can't give up on this. You guys are awesome together! I've never seen you so happy. We'll figure something out…I promise you, we'll make it work out, ok?" Blaine said, trying to comfort his best friend.

"Coming here was stupid. I should have stayed home in Ohio with mom and Gram. But that's the first place he'd come looking…and all of those guys are still there outside the house. Sneaking in wouldn't be an option by any means. Being here, though…the city…it just makes me think of him…everywhere I turn he's there. It's breaking my heart over and over again." Jeff said sadly…bitterly.

When Blaine's phone buzzed on the table, he picked it up and grimaced at the screen. Jeff didn't miss it.

"Who's it from?" he asked.

"Uh…" Blaine said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "I asked Nick for a favor last night, but that favor involves him being here…in the building. He's going to take a look at it and assess the property…get me a price. Mrs. Raymond is thinking of selling and I want to make her an offer before it goes on the market."

"Wait…you're buying the building? The whole thing?!" Jeff said excitedly. That's awesome! But why?"

"Well, I really want the third floor to myself. I want the whole thing…I want skylights and a rooftop deck and a music area and a workroom for Kurt's designs and….I just want this. I don't know why, but it feels right. Like I'm home and I need to have it. Dumb, huh?" Blaine asked sheepishly.

"No. It's not dumb at all. I think it's a great idea, actually. And not at all because you'd then have two empty apartments down here…one for me…right?" Jeff tried to smile.

"If you want it, it's yours. You know anything I have is yours if you need it or want it." Blaine said smiling. "I mean, geez, Jeff, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be here anym—" Blaine began, but Jeff cut him off harshly.

"Don't! Don't say it…don't even go there. It's not true. You'd have been just…just fine, I'm sure. I don't like hearing you talk like that, ok?" Jeff told him sternly.

"Jeff, we both know I'd be dead if you hadn't come along when you did. I was well on my way with those guys beating the living hell out of me. You, who didn't even know me, took up for me when my 'date' took off to save his own ass….no pun intended." Blaine said with a crooked grin. "You're my knight in shining armor." Blaine said with a huge cheesy grin and leaned over to bump into Jeff's side, causing him to chuckle as well.

"Enough you idiot…" Jeff laughed. "It worked out just as well for me, remember? I got a pretty damn good friend out of the deal." He said with a shy smile toward Blaine. "The broken hand and bruised ribs were well worth it. But how about next time you get into a more fair fight, huh? Four on two is just asking for it, and, I mean, you sure didn't do much to help, besides laying there in the parking lot, bleeding out and all that—" he said, breaking off when Blaine tackled him to the ground and started pummeling him, laughing hilariously, now that it was nothing but a distant memory and he could finally make it through a conversation without flashbacks and breakdowns.

"You jerk…it's a damn good thing I love ya or I'd have to kick your ass out!" Blaine laughed.

"You wouldn't do that, you're too much of a good guy." Jeff smiled, pulling himself up off the floor and sitting on the sofa. "So text him back and tell him to come over. I'll make myself scarce for a little bit. I was thinking of checking out that resale store down the block for a few things. The lamp you have in there sucks, just fyi, and I need to pick up a few books at the library I've been wanting to read. Just text me when it's safe to come back?"

"Ok, if you're sure. I don't think it'll take too long."

"Ok…lemme jump in the shower real quick and I'll be out of the way." Jeff said heading for the bathroom.

"Jeff?" Blaine called after him. When Jeff turned, Blaine paused, unsure if he should say what came to mind, but in the end, he just said it anyway. "We'll get him back, ok? We'll do this together and make it work. I know that's what you want, and I owe you that much."

"Al-alright. Ok." Jeff said, nodding. "Love ya, dude." He said, disappearing into the bathroom.