We've gone over this in the last chapter. Here's your warning...continue at your own..."pace"...shall we say?

CHAPTER 64

Blaine had driven his mom to dinner and Cooper had gone to pick up Maggie and the kids. They were sitting at the table splitting an appetizer, which Aria had thrust upon them as they sat down, when Zayne let out a loud whoop at the door when he spotted Cooper. Because of the placement of their table, and that of the wall, Cris couldn't see Maggie yet and she was clearly antsy. Blaine just smirked. It was such a quiet place, upscale and trendy, and he always felt like he had to "behave" here, yet the owners did just the opposite. He saw Zayne hug Cooper, slapping him on the back once more, then kissing a delicate hand that appeared from behind him with his eyes shining at whoever owned said hand…and then they started to move into view.

Blaine saw glimpses of the kids first and his eyes lit up as he did. Aria had taken Evee's hand and led her to the table, leaning down slightly to speak with her along the way. Mattie held tightly to Evee's other hand and just followed along behind. Coop walked behind them, his right arm behind him holding Maggie's, obviously, but she was still mainly shielded from their view. Blaine thought this mother was going to stand on a chair any minute to see Coop's guests. They wove their way through the tightly spaced tables and were a mere few feet away when Cooper stepped aside and smiled at his mom, tugging Maggie to his side. Before he could even speak to introduce them, Blaine's mouth was on running mode.

"Jesus Christ…" he breathed out, eyes wide. "Oh my God…Maggie….you…you look stunning!" he said, smiling so wide that his face looked nearly comical. "Who are you?" he grinned.

"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult, B!" she huffed, grinning still.

"The highest of compliments, Mags. You look absolutely amazing…that dress on you might just be enough to turn me straight I think!" She nearly burst out laughing at this and Coop swatted at him across the table.

"Put your tongue away and stop drooling on my babe-alicious arm candy!" he sniped. "Maggie, this is my mother, Cris Anderson. Mom, my beautiful girlfriend, Maggie…and let us not forget these two monsters that tagged along." He said, ruffling Mattie's hair. When he reached to do the same to Evee, she stepped back giving him a look that said she might cry if he messed up her beautiful hair-do.

"Mrs. Anderson, it's a pleasure to meet you." Maggie said, extending her hand to shake. Cris stepped forward and hugged her instead, whispering in her ear so that Coop couldn't hear.

"Not nearly as pleased as I am to meet you, my dear…mark my words!" she said, as she giggled in Maggie's ear. Stepping back, she kept her smile in place and took in the sight of Cooper and Maggie together. "You're every bit as beautiful as Cooper has been telling me. And good evening to the two of you as well!" she smiled at the kids.

"Good evening, ma'am." Evee said, still holding Mattie's hand. He was being shy and had tucked himself behind his sister. Evee gently grabbed the hem of her dress and curtsied and Blaine nearly grabbed his heart and fell over he was so enamored.

"Well, I know Cooper was looking forward to sitting next to me, but I've saved this seat especially for the coolest and best dressed guy at the table." Blaine said, his smile bright as he leaned to catch Mattie's eye from where he hid behind Evee. The boy smiled and rushed to Blaine's side, slipping into the chair beside him. "What's up little man?" he said to the boy, his arm immediately going around his shoulders. "You better watch it, every chick in the joint will be trying to take you home tonight. You look sharp, dude." He smiled, fist bumping his little friend.

"Mom says I have to be quiet and be good and eat all of my dinner. What if they give me something I don't like?" he whispered to Blaine, still uncertain in such an atmosphere. Cris smiled, overhearing what he'd said.

"I think you and I can work out a deal, buddy. You just give me the signal and we'll make sure it goes away before your mom can notice, ok?" Blaine whispered back. "Sound like a plan?"

"Sounds like a plan!" Mattie smiled. He relaxed a bit more when Evee sat on his other side, her mother next to her.

Blaine couldn't keep his eyes off of Maggie. She was absolutely stunning and he was so unbelievably happy for his brother he could barely contain it. It was obvious that his mother approved if the smile on her face and her candid conversation were anything to go by.

"So, Mrs. Anderson, Cooper tells me you volunteer for quite a few charities. Do you have anything going on at the moment?" Maggie asked her.

"Hmmmm," Cris hummed around a bite of her dinner. "Not at the moment, no." she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Both Cooper and Blaine shot her a look. There was never a time that either man could remember that Cris Anderson wasn't working on something…or several somethings…and it was a shock to both of them.

"Nothing at all, mom?" Coop asked. "That's the first time I can remember that ever being the case." He asked, his face passive.

"Yes, well, I'm getting older…I…wanted some time to myself, you know." She smiled.

"How does dad feel about you being home more?" Blaine asked, taking a bite of his own dinner. He nearly choked when his mother dropped her fork, which clanged loudly against her plate. Her eyes, for just a split second, were wary, but she carried on as if nothing had happened.

"He's learning to cope with things." She smiled back, not missing a beat now. As she glanced down at her plate, Blaine shot Cooper a glance with raised eyebrows, seeing the same questions in his brother's eyes. Cooper just shrugged, mouthing "later" at Blaine.

The conversation went well the rest of the night. Everyone got along famously and the anxiety that was there at the beginning quickly wore off as everyone realized that they were, indeed, comfortable around one another. The children were remarkably well behaved and Blaine made it a point to distract Maggie while he speared all of Mattie's asparagus and put it on his own plate earning a big grin and thumbs up from the little boy. Cris grinned and shook her head at their antics, but her heart was warmed at the sight of the two of them conspiring together. Evee finished her own dinner and sat quietly playing with some very small things she's smuggled in inside her tiny purse.

When they'd finished, Aria came over to the table and asked Blaine if he'd play a song or two, but he declined gracefully, stating that he had to get to Kurt's. She must have seen the look in his eyes as she didn't push or argue with him.

"You're seeing Kurt tonight?" Cris asked, excited to hear it.

"Briefly…we need to talk…to straighten things out before I go back. He's expecting me, so I shouldn't keep him waiting." Blaine smiled.

"I'm glad to hear it, Squirt." Coop said with an encouraging smile. Maggie nodded her agreement. "I can take mom home with us if you need to go?"

"Nice…kicking your own brother out. I see how it is." Blaine stated flatly before rolling his eyes and grinning. "But if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it. We have a lot of things to discuss and I don't want to be out late. I was planning on heading back tonight, but I might wait 'til tomorrow. It's already later than I'd planned to leave. Don't lock me out?"

"I don't expect you back to my place, B." Cooper said, but there was no hint of anything sexual in it. He knew the two needed to talk and expected that it would go well into the night.

"Well, we'll see. Thank you for inviting me…so I could drool all over Maggie throughout dinner." Blaine smirked. "I'll see you guys later, ok?" he said, excusing himself. After saying goodbye to Aria and Zayne, he headed out, waited for the valet to bring his car, then headed over to Kurt's. Halfway there he remembered he was supposed to text Kurt that he was on his way.

9:18p from Blaine: Hey, I'm on my way. Almost there actually, I forgot to text you, sorry.

9:20p from Kurt: No need. I'm unable to have company this evening. Another time would be fine.

What the hell? Blaine was confused and starting to get irritated…enough so that he pulled over to make sure he'd read it correctly.

9:22p from Blaine: Kurt, we need to talk and I don't really want to put it off any longer. I'm going to stop by.

9:23p from Kurt: Blaine, I said no. You know there's nothing to talk about. Just go back to Cooper's, ok?

9:24p from Blaine: Fine, whatever.

Yeah, right. He wasn't going to argue over a text message again, considering how that played out last time. He was going to speak to Kurt tonight come hell or high water. Something was up, and he intended to find out what it was…Kurt was so glad he was coming over just a few hours ago and now this? Nope, not buying it.

Pulling up in front of the building he noted that Kurt's were the only lights on. That suited him fine, because if this was going to turn into a yelling match because Kurt wanted to be stubborn, he didn't want to annoy everyone else in the building.

Striding up the stairs he knocked on Kurt's door. He heard movement from the other side, but no words.

"Kurt, I know you're in there. Open the door. We need to talk." Blaine said through the wood door.

He heard Kurt shuffling around, heading toward the door, but he didn't open it.

"I don't want to talk tonight, Blaine. I'm tired. Can we do it another night?"

"No, Kurt, we can't. C'mon, I don't know when I'll be back. Open up, what gives? A few hours ago you were practically begging me to come over!" he said, getting irritated.

"I'm just…not…" he began, and Blaine thought he heard him sob or cough. "I'm not up for it tonight, Blaine."

"Kurt, that's fine. Then we won't talk, but just let me come in for a minute?" Blaine asked, getting concerned now. "I need to know that you're ok. This isn't like you, Kurt."

"Umm….I don't…really, I just want you to go, ok?" he answered back through the door.

"I don't mind telling you I'm getting all kinds of pissed off standing out here, Kurt. Open the god damned door, please." Blaine said, his temper fraying. Something was off and he wanted to know what it was. Then he heard it…another man's voice, hushed and whispering, but definitely there. "You know what, Kurt, you need to open the door before I break the fucking thing down, ok?" he said, temper shot at this point.

"Blaine…please…please go back to Cooper's house….please…" Kurt said, now sobbing outright.

Now he knew something was up. Kurt had another man in his apartment and there was no way in hell Blaine was leaving until he got to the bottom of it. He paced in the hallway for a minute going over his options. He didn't have a key. Kurt wasn't letting him in. He wasn't leaving. As he contemplated kicking in the door and how he'd probably break an ankle, he heard the locks turn on Kurt's door and it creaked open a hair. Seeing Kurt's downturned face, his red eyes and nose in the open space he approached the door slowly.

"Baby, what's wrong?" he said, but Kurt wouldn't meet his eyes. He just kept shaking his head slowly and biting his bottom lip. "C'mon…let me in. Talk to me?"

Kurt stepped back…actually, from what little of Kurt he could see, it looked as if he nearly stumbled, and Blaine approached the door. Pushing it open, he stepped inside and turned to close the door when he heard the voice again, this time, much louder and much closer.

"Hello, Blaine. I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm sure you've heard all kinds of fun stories about me, though. I'm Jackson." The man said, extending his right hand, his left holding a knife to Kurt's throat.

"I thought maybe we'd find somewhere to grab some ice cream?" Cooper said as they waited for his car to be pulled around. "But someone told me these two don't even like ice cream?" he said, gesturing to the kids, whose eyes were wide, disbelieving that he could say such a thing! Did anyone not like ice cream? He winked at Maggie who just smiled at him, loving how he teased and interacted with the kids.

"Oh please, mama, can we go?!" Evee begged, Mattie's little face next to hers just as excited. "We were good tonight, right? Just like you asked?"

"I suppose that would be ok, as long as Mrs. Anderson is alright with carting you two around with us?" she grinned. "And yes, you've been very good, thank you both."

"Please…just…please call me Cris. I'd be happy to share some ice cream with these two!" she smiled widely, and Cooper's heart soared. The smile he gave Maggie was enough to nearly bring tears to her eyes.

"Maybe we'll grab a couple of extra pints and drop them off to Blaine and Kurt when I drop you guys off, huh? Wanna surprise 'em with some ice cream, guys?" Coop asked. He was sure he'd find them in some kind of compromising position and he couldn't wait to embarrass Blaine. Mattie and Evee were definitely on board.

"So I'm kind of bummed that we didn't go back to the other place…you know, where the wait staff dumps food in your lap?" Jeff laughed, knocking shoulders with Nick. Trent and Thad gave them a questioning look and Jeff explained, all of them laughing.

"Awww, Jeffie, were you jealous of the cute waitress wanting to grope your man?" Trent teased him.

"I don't want to go back there again…for many reasons." Nick said, giving Jeff a pointed look. It took a minute, but Jeff managed a sad smile when he realized why Nick said it. That was the night he'd left Nick and headed back to Ohio.

"No…not going there again. Never again." He smiled and grabbed Nick's hand on the table.

"So what's up with Blaine…he's home but he's leaving again? Will he need his bed tonight or what?" Thad asked.

"No, he's uh…I think he's staying at Cooper's…I don't know if he's avoiding Kurt or if he's not ready to see him or what." Jeff said. "I wish I knew what to do to make that situation better. They need to talk, face to face and work things out. Actually, I need to see him, myself, and apologize. I wasn't really there for him when he needed me to be." Jeff said a bit sadly, fiddling with his fork.

"We're not doing this again, Jeff. You did nothing wrong. You did what any other person in your place would have. If nothing else, you got Kurt out of there when he needed you to, so let's not start with all the 'Blaine hates me' stuff again. He'll come around, I know it." Nick told him.

The conversation turned to the packing and how the upstairs was moving along, Nick telling them that they may actually be ahead of schedule, which would be good for everyone involved. Kyle was far from a slave driver, but his guys were on the ball and they didn't slack off at all. The one time someone slacked off he was quickly reminded of how easily he could be replaced and that if he wanted to keep his job, he'd get back to it. Kyle was fair and he didn't put up with any bullshit from any of them. The respect went both ways.

"So, when do you talk to Kurt and get him to step in with the design stuff?" Trent asked.

"I wanted to talk with him today, but when I stopped down, he was… get this…his boss made him get a massage. MADE HIM do it, he said!" Nick told them, snickering. "He was laying on the table carrying on something fierce about Blaine having been in the building and not having the decency to stop in and say hello and how he was the reason Kurt embarrassed himself in front of Sebastian. He was going on like a magpie and I barely understood all he was saying. I figured I'd give him some time to chill out and get back to him later after his mandatory massage." Nick laughed.

"David did that? Is that why that lame ass wasn't at work today? He was getting a massage?" Jeff said, incensed. "Oh, I'm gonna get him for this…I'm gonna give him so much shit!" he laughed.

"If he's up when we get back I might stick my head in tonight and give him my sob story about the designer ditching the project. The sooner he agrees to pick the furniture, pick paint and get started on it, the better." Nick said.

"Where's he gonna be on a Saturday night when he's not out with Blaine?" Jeff asked. "He'll be home…we can have him come over and watch a movie with all of us or something."

"Sounds good…but for now…." Nick said, eyeing their food as the server placed it on the table, "Let's eat!" he grinned.

Blaine stood just inside the front door in shock. He had known something was wrong, but this never crossed his mind. Kurt looked like he was half in shock and half furious and Blaine wanted nothing more than to put his arms around him. That wasn't going to happen with Jackson here, holding a knife to Kurt's throat, his arm wrapped around him firmly so Kurt couldn't move without the knife doing some damage.

"I'm sorry, B….so sorry…" he murmured, his eyes closed. "Why didn't you stay away?"

"I can't…I couldn't. You know I can't stay away from you, Kurt." Blaine answered, dying inside from the tone of Kurt's voice…sad, sorrowful, angry. "I'll never leave you to deal with something alone if I can help it."

"So touching, but here's the deal…" Jackson said, his eyes a little wild and blinking quickly, his hands fidgeting with the knife. That scared Blaine more than anything, because he was clearly not in his right mind. He was altered…drugs? Alcohol? Something wasn't right and it made him all the more dangerous. "I came here tonight to chat with Kurt. Turns out, he doesn't want to chat with me. Who knew? I tried to get him to sit down and talk with me about the past, our past, and work things out. He's not interested, and I think I know why. I think, Blaine, it's because of you. So here's what I had planned." He said, a horrifying smirk on his face. Jackson was clearly on something, Blaine thought. The way he was continually running his hands over his face and scratching at his skin gave it away, and Kurt was aware of it, too, if his face was anything to go by.

Jackson pulled Kurt up tighter to him and pressed the knife a little closer to Kurt's skin at his neck to get his attention. Kurt whimpered at the harsh tip of the knife at his throat. "If Kurt doesn't want to talk, then we resort to actions…not words. Wasn't there an 80's song with that title? Who knows…I'll google it later. But it'll be so much more fun now, Blaine, because you get to watch. Now move that perky ass of yours on into the bedroom and let's get this party started. Have you ever seen anyone take a huge dick up the ass, Blaine? I mean, you know, in real life…not porn or something? You know, the kind where you can hear them beg and plead for you to stop? The kind that makes them scream for mercy?" Jackson taunted, limping into the bedroom behind him. Blaine wondered why he was limping and if Kurt had given him a good run for his money before he pulled the knife. He continued to limp and pace the floor, limp and pace the floor, dragging Kurt along with him.

Blaine turned, his eyes on fire, ready to kill this man who spoke so calmly of hurting the man he loved. "I can't say that I have, Jackson. The vast majority of people I know aren't raging psychopaths who have to resort to rape to get someone to put out for them." Blaine sneered. "And as far as the 'huge dick' part….well, that's not exactly what I heard…." He trailed off, a taunting grin on his face.

"Watch your mouth, fuck toy, I'm in no mood! You can be next if you're not careful." Jackson raged, shaking now, and again with the crazy blinking.

"You'll have to kill me first. In fact, you'll have to kill me before you lay a hand on Kurt, because if you think I'm going to stand by and watch you hurt him again, you're sadly mistaken." Blaine said, anger piercing every word. "It's two against one. Granted, you have a weapon, but it's still two grown men on one. I think you're a fucking coward, Jackson, that's what I think. I think you're pathetic. Kurt doesn't want you. He didn't want you then, and he sure as hell doesn't want your convicted felon ass now!" he spat. He could tell he was starting to get to Jackson, as the man was shaking with fury now. Kurt stood ramrod straight and didn't move. Blaine knew his only choice right now was to wear Jackson thin with harsh words and make him slip up some way.

"Who the hell do you think you are, speaking to me like that, little man?" He spat at Blaine. "I have the upper hand here, and unless you want to see every inch of Kurt's creamy white skin covered in scars, I suggest you shut the fuck up!" he screamed, wincing a bit as he turned his body toward Kurt a bit more.

"Who do I think I am?" Blaine asked, still trying to rattle Jax. "I'll tell you who I am. I'm the man who had Kurt first…willingly. That's right, asshole….he's mine. Mind, body and soul, when he thinks of his first time, it won't be that horrendous, traumatic mess you put him through, it'll be the night he and I shared together in this very bed, when he said he loved me. Has he ever told you he loves you, Jax?" Blaine asked with a mocking smile. "Hmm….no, I can tell by the look on your face he hasn't. I wonder why that is? Perhaps because you're not a man at all, are you, Jackson?" Blaine taunted. It was the only thing he had to work with…his words. And it seemed to make the attacker more and more fidgety as he went on.

"Blaine…please…" Kurt said quietly, his eyes fearful, afraid of what Jackson would do to his beautiful boyfriend if he kept taunting him.

"It's ok, Kurt. He might think he can take you on because of what happened last time, but he can't handle me, and he sure can't handle both of us…he's weak. Look at him standing there using you as a shield. That's what it is now, isn't it, you dick…you're using Kurt as a shield. You know I won't come after you if you're holding that knife to his neck, but you also know if you don't have Kurt in your grasp, knife or not, I'd tear your ass up…take you down like the fucking coward that you are. Isn't that right, you fucking pansy?" Blaine spat. He was shaking so badly now from the adrenaline spiking through him that he could barely stand still. He knew, though, that one wrong move would make Jax jerk…and he couldn't have that happen with Kurt in his arms.

Jackson didn't reply, but he also didn't move. Then suddenly he seemed to have some sort of revelation, his eyes got brighter and an evil smile grew on his face.

"Y-you had Kurt…here…on this bed? Did he let you fuck him, Blaine? Or did he make you be the little fairy bottom? He won't let you inside him, will he? I took that from him…you can thank me for the rest of your short life for having to be his little bottom boy. He'll never let you in. Once he had me, he was ruined for anyone else, isn't that right Kurt?" he sneered.

"Kurt could never be ruined. He's perfect…nothing you do or say to him or about him will ever take that away. You'll never have him back, Jackson. You'll never have what we have, and no amount of force will allow you into his heart. Nothing you do will make him stop loving me, and nothing you can do or say will change how I feel about him. He'll have my love forever…long after you're gone." Blaine continued.

"Nothing I do…nothing….I…do….?" Jackson sneered with a horribly devious laugh. "Oh this is perfect. I was bent up a little bit that you stopped by and ruined my evening, Blaine, but it seems your presence alone has given me hope that this evening will not only end up the way I wanted, but so much more! This is beyond perfect!" Jackson jeered. "Get on the fucking bed, Kurt. We're gonna have a little fun, princess!" he said shoving Kurt hard toward the bed. Blaine caught him in his arms, a sobbing Kurt whispering apologies over and over.

"You'll have to kill me before you so much as breathe on him, Jackson. I won't let you anywhere close to him. You're not going to rape him again…it'll literally be over my dead body, you coward!" Blaine growled at him.

"No, no, it's ok, Blaine. I'd come here hoping to have some time alone with Kurt, but I have a better option now. I'm not going to rape him, Blaine. You are." He said cruelly, sitting down in the chair at the end of Kurt's bed, wincing in pain again. The knife remained in his hand at the ready, his eyes still wide and wild looking.

"You're insane! There is no way in hell you can physically make me hurt him. Not going to happen you psycho!" Blaine yelled.

"Oh it'll happen, because here's how I see it. You'll bend him over that bed and fuck him, Blaine or I'll kill him…very slowly…right before your very eyes. I'll carve him up like a God damned Thanksgiving turkey. You want to watch while Kurt bleeds out on the floor, Blaine? It's bound to be something new for you and your fucking preppy boy life. Now I suggest you get to it, boys. I don't have all night. In fact, I have a flight to catch in a few hours, so let's get this show on the road. Watching you rip Kurt to shreds will be fun, but then I'll have to make all this look like a lover's quarrel before I go, and I'd appreciate if you'd keep it clean. I can't be covered in blood on the plane." He sneered, scrubbing at his arms.

"Oh my God, you've completely lost your mind!" Kurt said, finally finding all of his voice.

"Do it, Blaine. And none of this soft, lovey dovey fucking bullshit, boy! …it's sick. Rip his fucking pants off!" Jackson screamed at him, and his eyes were wild once again.

"Don't do this, Jackson. Just leave now and I won't call the police or anything. Just go…there's nothing left for us now. I've moved on…you should move on, too, Jax, just…." Kurt began, but Jackson swung out, nicking his arm, blood spurting out all over Kurt's shirt, Blaine's shirt and the duvet. Kurt wailed in pain, grasping at his sliced arm, and Blaine charged Jackson only to be leveled with the barrel of a small hand gun in his face.

"Don't. Don't make me fire it. It's so loud and everything ends up so messy. We want this little bit of fun between just us, don't we?" Jackson said, so calmly that Blaine knew he'd gone over the edge. "Do it, Blaine. Fuck him, and make sure he screams. There's no other more beautiful sound in the world than Kurt's melodious voice when he screams in agony. I remember it well."

Blaine backed up a few paces and struggled to think clearly. There had to be a way past this. He was only one man. Any weapons they might use were in the other room…knives in the kitchen, scissors in the living room or Kurt's sewing room. The odds of being able to use a lamp to swing at him when it was plugged in and…..And then, like a gift from God, it hit him.

"Fine, I'll do it. Kurt will forgive me, because he knows that I love him, don't you, Kurt? You know I love you and I would never steer you wrong, isn't that right, baby? But I'm not doing it bare." He said, ripping the side of Kurt's pajama pants down and making his boyfriend gasp. Blaine tugged on Kurt's briefs, shoving them down to his ankles roughly, just as he knew Jackson wanted.

"Blaine…." Kurt sobbed. "Don't….don't, please…" he silently begged, tears falling now.

"It's the only way, Kurt. But like I said, I'm not doing this bare, Jackson. You want to hurt Kurt, then whatever, but I'm not having my junk shredded in the fucking process!" he yelled. "Ha! The 'fucking process'…see what I did there?" he went on, confusing Kurt and watching Jackson's eyes alight with a spark of hope that he might actually get to see this all come to fruition. This was all about watching Kurt suffer, after all. Kurt had been the one to put him in jail, right? It was Kurt's fault. This poor dope was just along for the ride. After this, Kurt would never be able to love him….what did it matter? There would be no "after this" for either of them anyway. Furiously blinking now and scrubbing at his skin, their tormentor growled in frustration.

"Just shut the fuck up and do it, Anderson. I don't have time to listen to you narrate it!"

"Unless you want it hard and bare, Kurt, I suggest you find some lube somewhere. I know Sebastian replaced whatever he stole last weekend. He brought your favorite, baby, the raspberry. He told me what you said about the raspberry when you two went out a couple of weeks ago. You told him it was your absolute favorite, and here I thought it was the kiwi….in the drawer, Kurt…." He left off, never losing eye contact with Kurt for a second, trying his damned best to say what he needed to say without words.

Kurt was shaking, barely able to stand. He kept his eyes on Blaine's, chancing a small glance at Jackson, but long enough to see he'd lowered the gun, yet still held the knife at the ready. His eyes back to Blaine's, he moved to his bedside table and pulled the drawer open. Nothing. Nothing that would help could possibly be in this drawer. Blaine knew what was in here…condoms…lube…pad of paper and a couple of pens…a chapstick…..Jesus Christ, where in the world had that come from?

"Oh God…." He murmured, spotting the Taser. "Oh God, Blaine….I can't…." he whispered, well aware that Jackson could hear him.

"You can, you'll do this and get through it. When it's all over, you'll be happy it's over. Just get it over with….grab the lube, baby…let's give him a show, shall we? We don't have all night, here, Kurt." Blaine urged, tense with the fact that Jackson had a gun as well as a knife.

"Hurry the fuck up, Kurt, or I'll make him do it bare!" Jackson snarled.

Tears were steaming down Kurt's face now, he was shaking and pretty sure he was almost hysterical. Blaine knew it was here….how?

"C'mon, baby…let's just do this as quick as we can and be done with it, ok? I know you can do it, Kurt. I know you can get through this. We'll end it together here, Kurt." Blaine said, his words of encouragement lost on Jackson as if he were to be taken at his word, literally.

Kurt reached in the drawer and wrapped his hand around the Taser, his back straight, his breathing still a bit off, but it felt good in his hand. Just as Sebastian had told him….it fit there. And he had one shot to make it worth the trouble of him placing it there…it had to have been him.

"Kurt…just do what you need to do, let's get this over with, love…" Blaine encouraged him, still blocking Kurt from Jackson's view. "C'mon, Kurt…."

His blood pumping through his system was all he could focus on. It was as if he could feel it rushing through his veins, moving his body slowly.

"Jackson, you don't need to do this…" Kurt said once more, listening for his reply. He needed to know he hadn't moved. He needed to know he was still in the chair. One shot. That's all he had here…one shot.

"That's it, just do it bare, Anderson, this is-" he began.

Kurt spun toward Jackson and away from Blaine, and with his blood rushing in his ears, he pulled the trigger. At the same moment, Blaine moved the other way, leaving Kurt wide open to do what he needed to do. It seemed like slow motion, the tiny wires shooting from the weapon toward Jackson. He saw Kurt's intent too late, but raised the gun partially anyway, and as the probes caught him, the gun fired.

The sound was deafening, but Kurt refused to let go of the Taser. He held the trigger tightly, now watching Jackson writhe in pain on the floor as the volts tore through him for what seemed like days to Kurt.

"Kurt!" he finally heard Blaine through the haze of rushing water in his ears. "Kurt, stop, put it down!" Blaine told him, having moved the gun from Jackson's hands as well as the knife. "Baby…it's done. You did so good, Kurt….let it go now." Blaine said, as he heard the front door crash against the wall in the living room.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Hummel, where the hell are you?!" Sebastian screamed, running through the apartment, Hunter hot on his heels.

"Seb...in here!" Blaine called, cradling Kurt now, as his knees gave out and he threatened to fall to the floor in a heap. "SEB!" he called, immediately after saying it once. "I've got you, Kurt…I've got you. You're ok. You're…fuck! FUCK! Jesus….Seb, call 911!" he said as the man in question rushed through the bedroom door.

"On it…" Hunter said, his cell phone to his ear now.

"Kurt…baby, you're bleeding….I have to see where…where…just hold still ok? Oh my God, the gun went off, Seb…I didn't know…I think it hit Kurt! Jesus…." He wailed, while Kurt floated away in his own mind, not even feeling the pain.

"Is ok, B…" he mumbled. "S'ok…just my arm….is ok…." He said before blacking out in Blaine's arms.

Cooper turned the corner to deliver Maggie and the kids home after ice cream but barely made it around the corner before he was turned away by a police officer keeping traffic back. He could see several ambulances as well as a few police cars between Blaine's building and Maggie's totally blocking the short street.

"You live here?" the cop asked as Coop rolled his window down.

"She does…my….my girlfriend lives there," he pointed, " and my brother lives in that building, actually." He said, his anxiety now creeping up steadily. "What's happened here?" he asked.

"Just another Saturday night shooting….lover's spat I'm sure." The officer said nonchalantly.

"Shooting?! Cris repeated from the back seat. "Oh my God, Cooper, Blaine's at Kurt's. Go see…Cooper…..Please!" she said, attempting to keep calm for the kids, but nearly shoving him out of the car. He pulled over, half blocking the street and sprinted from the car to the apartment building. Several officers attempted to keep him back, but he pushed through, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the landing outside of Kurt's door. Spotting Jeff and Nick, he grabbed the blonde, nearly shaking him to get answers.

"Cooper, he's ok. They're both ok. Please…" Jeff said, his arms now pinned to the wall by a hysterical Cooper.

"Hands off!" Nick shouted, shoving Cooper away. "Dude…they're ok. I've seen them both up and walking around. I know you're worried, but just…just calm down, man. Looks like they're taking the body out."

"BODY?" Cooper said a bit too loudly, his eyes almost comically large.

"Kurt's ex…he came looking for trouble." Jeff said, his eyes downcast. "Dunno what happened, really, except they were talking about a Taser and apparently he was already hopped up on something wicked and his heart…I dunno… but I don't think he made it."

"Oh Christ, Blaine…" Cooper muttered. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he texted his mom back that both Blaine and Kurt were well, but he knew nothing more.

10:39p from Cooper: Mom, they're good. I can see 'em both talking….it's alright. They weren't…well, they're ok. Have Mag's move the car and wait at her place for me? Please? I'll find out what I can and be over as soon as I can.

Sometime later the medics left with the stretcher and, as Jeff had stated, it really didn't look like the man under the sheet was moving. They assumed the worst had happened. There were still police officers inside talking to Blaine though. Kurt looked sort of catatonic, wrapped in a blanket in Blaine's arms on the sofa, eyes unfocused and body shaking.

"I've got you baby…" Blaine muttered over and over, his arms and legs wrapped around Kurt and holding him tightly.

"He would have killed you, Blaine…he was going to. He told me. I just wanted to take the garbage out. I went out the back door…left it open….he was there when I came back. He was going to kill me…kill you…." Kurt mumbled to nobody in particular. "I couldn't let him kill you, Blaine…."

It was many hours later when everyone was finally gone. The bullet had actually only grazed Kurt's arm and 18 stitches later, between the knife wound and the bullet wound, he was released by the paramedics. He refused to leave Blaine's arms, though, so he gave his statement to the police from the safety of his cocoon in a blanket from the sofa. The whole thing was pretty cut and dry. When Kurt took the garbage out, Jackson was waiting. He forced his way back inside with Kurt not long before Blaine arrived. According to Kurt, Jax had gone on a verbal rampage, accusing Kurt of ruining his life and killing his mother. Unbeknownst to Kurt, Jackson's mother had passed away while he was in prison, from a broken heart, he'd said, placing the blame for him not being with her in her final hours squarely on Kurt's shoulders.

Clearly he'd come for revenge, as he was prepared to come in and kill Kurt. Later, as they'd heard him say, he planned to make it look as if Blaine had done it in anger, and get out and back to Ohio in a matter of an hour or so. He had it all planned out. He just hadn't planned on Blaine actually showing up; or the Taser in the bedside table.

It was Jackson's pure luck that nobody else in the building was home at the time. Sebastian and Hunter had been out of town for a couple of days together and had just come in the front door when they heard the gun go off. Jeff, Nick, Trent and Thad had returned from dinner about 30 minutes later to find flashing lights and sirens all around, people rushing in and out of the building. By the time Cooper arrived, the whole building was in chaos.

Blaine sat quietly on the sofa with Kurt still in his arms when there was a knock at the door. Although the last officer had pulled it shut, it wasn't locked. Kurt wasn't sure it would lock anymore after Seb had foregone his keys and just smashed the door from its hinges after hearing the gun shot.

"S'open!" Blaine called out. A small army made their way into Kurt's apartment, all quiet and serene, all wanting to do anything they could to help. Kurt cringed as they all meandered in, but he didn't move from Blaine's arms, his head buried in his boyfriend's chest listening to his heart beat and willing his own to finally calm down.

"Oh honey!" Cris said, sitting down beside Blaine on the sofa, her arm around him and the other arm reaching for Kurt, brushing his hair from his forehead and out of his eyes. "Oh Kurt, darling, are you ok? Can I get you anything…anything at all you poor boy?" she said, her eyes shining with tears.

"I'm ok, Mrs. Anderson, really…" Kurt replied softly.

"A cup of tea, perhaps?" she urged. Kurt's coloring wasn't so good.

"That actually sounds nice, now that you mention it…" he said with a small smile. Cris was up and on it in a flash.

Kurt made eye contact with Jeff, a smirk on his face as he told Jeff that he'd literally laid Jackson out on the kitchen floor at least twice with a few moves the blonde had taught him. He looked proud of himself and Jeff gave him a big smile and a hug for his efforts.

"It was going quite well, I mean…you would have been proud of me, Jeff…but he had this rather large knife…" Kurt trailed off. "If I hadn't been so freaked out, it probably would have been funny. His face when I landed that first kick to his chest was so confused it was almost laughable."

"I am, Kurt. I am so fucking proud of you, knife or no knife, you didn't sit back and let him do whatever he wanted. You fought back!" Jeff said, leaning over to set a smirking kiss on Kurt's forehead.

"Back off, Sterling…mine!" Blaine said, his hold tightening, his smile beaming with pride for his beautiful, strong boyfriend.

As Kurt found Sebastian's eyes watching him, he mouthed a "thank you" to him from across the crowded room. Seb sauntered over, his meerkat grin in place as usual.

"How'd you know?" Kurt asked him.

"How'd I know what? That you might need it one day? You can't be too careful, Kurt...you just can't. My whole life…jobwise, is built on 'what if'…it's just how I work. But it sounds like you nailed it, Hummel. Good job." He said smacking Kurt on the shoulder that didn't have gauze and bandages around it. "Say something to Hunter, though. I think he's about to have a meltdown. He was so worried about you he threw up in my kitchen." Sebastian smiled, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

Kurt looked up to see Hunter, pale white and antsy, pacing the floor in his living room near the door.

"Hunter…it's ok." He said, watching the man's eyes swing to him, giving him a wary grin. Kurt patted the seat next to him on the sofa and Hunter sauntered over slowly, sinking down on the seat. Blaine continued talking with everyone else to his left as Hunter sat on Kurt's right side.

"You're ok?" Hunter asked.

"I'm…physically, I have a few stitches….from a cut and then the bullet grazed my arm when the gun went off and….Hunter, let the blood flow through my fingers, please?" Kurt laughed. Hunter eased up a bit, not letting go though. "I'm not sure how I'm doing with the fact that I killed a man in my apartment tonight, though." Kurt said, not realizing that there was a lull in the conversation just then, and every single person in the room turned to look at him when he said it. Kurt dropped his eyes as Blaine squeezed him tighter.

"You defended yourself, and you defended Blaine." Hunter said quietly. "There's no shame or guilt in that, Kurt. You did what you absolutely had to do to survive. That's why you're alive and he's….well, he doesn't deserve to be alive anyway. I wish it had happened this way the first time." Hunter said, his voice stern now and quite assertive.

"Hunter's right, Kurt. If it had been Jeff, it would have been the same thing. I'd have done whatever I had to do to make sure he and I got out alive and well, and to hell with whoever caused the threat. We do what we have to do make it, Kurt. No shame in that." Nick told him. "I'm only thankful that Sebastian had the presence of mind to put that Taser in your drawer."

"Which reminds me….how did you get that in here without me knowing it, Seb?" Kurt questioned.

"I…I um…..Blaine?" Seb said, suddenly shy and unsure how Kurt would feel about the keys. Blaine just shrugged as if to say "you're on your own here". "I have a set of keys?" Sebastian said, as if he were asking if that was the right answer.

"You have a key to my apartment?!" Kurt bellowed.

"I actually have keys to every door in the building." Sebastian said, a bit bashful now. Everyone was watching him now with raised eyes.

"Well, I don't know how the new owner of the building is going to feel about it!" Kurt joked. "Has anyone met him or her yet, anyway?" he said, looking around. Nobody would meet his eyes, though. They all just shook their heads.

Later, after everyone had left, Blaine said they should probably get some sleep as it was well past 4:30 a.m. Kurt was adamant about not sleeping in his own bed, though, and Blaine clearly understood. Nothing in there had been touched, and was obviously still a wreck.

"Jeff…" Blaine said when he'd picked up the phone.

"B? What's wrong…you need me?" Jeff said, sitting up in bed immediately.

"Nick still there? Can I talk to him for a sec?" he asked.

"Yeah…yeah…Nicky….babe, wake up. Blaine wants to talk to you."

"Yeah, B, what's up?" Nick said, clearly sleepy.

"I know it's not the most normal request, but I was wondering…about the sleeping arrangements. I know you guys are already sleeping in Jeff's bed and I don't want to wake Trent and Thad, and Kurt's not really keen on sleeping in his bed after all that." Blaine asked.

"Oh my God, yeah…no problem. Yes, absolutely. Go to my place. There are a slew of beds there just waiting to be slept in, man. Seriously…Just…I'll call and have 'em let you in, ok? Don't worry about anything, just use whatever you need and make yourselves comfortable for as long as you want, alright? If you need anything at all, Terrance is at the door, Phillip will stand on his head for you or Joseph is always around somewhere for anything bigger." Nick said.

"We don't need anything but a spot to sleep that doesn't have bloodstains." He said to Nick as Kurt closed the bathroom door. "He's holding up fairly well for now, but I don't think it'll be long before it all hits him. When it does, I have a feeling it won't be pretty. I need to call Burt, and I'm thinking an appointment with his doctor wouldn't be a terrible idea either. Blaine said, concern in every word.

"I'm sure you're right, man. Listen, you stay as long as you need and let me know if there's anything at all we can do, ok?" Nick told him yawning widely.

"Thanks, Nick. Much appreciated." Blaine smiled into the phone, then hung up.

"Terrance?" Nick said when the man answered. "It's Nick."

"Oh! Mr. Duval I've been trying to reach you all evening! It's seems that-" he began, but Nick cut him off.

"I'm sorry to…." Yawn "to call so late or early as it may be, but my friends Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel will be there shortly and they are to have full access to anything they need, ok? It's been a really long night for everyone…traumatic for them both, and I don't want them to be disturbed, ok?" Nick said, yawning again.

"Very well, sir, however, I think you should know, sir, that-"

"Thank you Terrance, you're one in a million. I'll see you soon." Nick said, barely able to keep his eyes open anymore, and he hung up.

By the time they packed a bag and got it into the car, then drove to Nick's it was nearly dawn. They settled into Nick's bedroom, not even considering a guest room after Kurt had tested out Nick's bed. Jeff hadn't been kidding…it was like laying in heaven. After a quick, hot shower where Blaine softly scrubbed him down while he held a plastic bag over his stitches and bandages, Kurt dried himself off while Blaine washed, then dried himself. They changed into pajamas and snuggled up into each other, pulling the covers up to their chins and just holding on. Kurt was still shaking a little and Blaine wasn't sure if it was normal or not. He could be in shock for all Blaine knew.

"You know, you should really call your dad, Kurt. If this gets to him before you talk to him, he'll be a wreck, love." Blaine said softly. Kurt sat up and hunched into himself, his legs crossed and his hands in his lap, fidgeting.

"I know…and I will. Later in the morning. I need to try and sleep for a little bit first. I think it might help some. Besides, if I call him now, on a Sunday morning at the ass crack of dawn, he'll panic. Better to wait until noon or so when he's wide awake."

"If you want to wait, then we will. A few hours shouldn't hurt anything." Blaine told him, holding his arms out for Kurt to snuggle into…but he didn't. Not yet. He sat on the bed, facing Blaine to pull him into a sitting position, and then grabbed his hands, holding them in his own, tracing the lines in his palms contemplatively.

"I'm so sorry, Blaine. Just so damn sorry to have dragged you into all of this."

"You didn't drag me into anything I wouldn't have willingly done for you, Kurt." Blaine said with a soft smile, shaking his head.

"I did, and if not for me, you'd be sleeping in your own bed, dreaming and…and…." Kurt began, then clenched his eyes shut tightly…and then Blaine saw it coming. The dam broke and Kurt let go completely. He was babbling endlessly, his eyes wild and his mouth going a mile a minute. The tears came and he gasped out with ugly sobs, nose running and eyes red. He considered shushing him, calming him, but in the end, he knew it was best to let Kurt get it all out, and so he did. He sat quietly, just holding Kurt's hands and letting him ramble.

"I knew he was coming back. I knew he was close by, I could just feel it, and I have to tell you, these past few weeks, I haven't even locked the door. I wanted him to approach me, Blaine. I wanted to get it all over with. I wanted to prove to myself that I'd gotten stronger and that I was every bit as tough as he was. I wanted him to come to me, Blaine. When I came back up those steps and saw him there I momentarily panicked….but then something kicked in and I thought 'this is it, Kurt. This is the time for revenge and retribution!' and Blaine, I went a little crazy. I used every single move Jeff taught me and I kept hitting him and hitting him, I kicked him so many times I didn't think I could raise my leg again to do it another time if I'd had to…and he just wouldn't stop. I'd knocked him squarely off his feet twice…maybe even three times and he kept getting back up. It was like a stupid horror movie when you think surely they've shot, stabbed, smashed, run over the villain enough times to completely kill him, but he just wouldn't stop and I couldn't…Blaine, I was so afraid when you knocked. I ran for the door, fully intending to make you go away and I couldn't…oh my God you stubborn man, you wouldn't just go and I was so terrified that he was going to hurt you and I would have given anything…anything, my life included, for you to just go and avoid everything. He could have me, but he wasn't getting you in the bargain, Blaine. I love you so much, and…..and I couldn't….he was… he said to get rid of you or he'd gut you like a fish right in front of my face and Blaine...I couldn't…I…I can't….he said such awful things and….and…"

"Kurt, stop! Jesus, honey, please….you're shaking, Kurt. Calm down, come here, let me….please, Kurt, just calm down." Blaine said while Kurt sobbed quietly in his arms, his hands fisted in Blaine's t-shirt, holding on for dear life. "I'm ok, you're going to be ok, it's over. He can't come back, you did it, you won, Kurt. You were stronger this time, and you stood up for yourself….and for me. You are the reason we're sitting here together in one piece and not laying half dead in your bedroom hoping someone will come check on us because they haven't seen us in days, Kurt. God, baby, I'm just so damn proud of you, and I know you're going to have to work through this, but I want you to know…I NEED you to know that I'm going to be here for you every step of the way…every step, baby. Please…please look at what's happening…we're here, together, and we're ok…because of you. So thank you for that, love…" Blaine said, his hands on Kurt's cheeks forcing eye contact. "Ok?" he Blaine said, a hopeful smile on his face.

"O-Ok…..alright." Kurt said unsteadily, leaning forward to place his forehead on Blaine's chest. He sat that way for a bit, just listening to Blaine's heart beating and replaying Blaine's words in his head…you did it…you won, Kurt….you were stronger…so damn proud of you…I'm going to be here for you….we're ok, because of you… How many times in his life had he wanted to hear those words…how many years had he wanted to be stronger…how long had he waited for someone to be there for him. He had it now…he had it all, and he was not, under any circumstances, going to let what happened the night before bring him down. He'd wasted too much time being down. No more. He was stronger now…he could protect himself, he could protect Blaine and he planned on taking this opportunity that was handed to him and making the very best of it.

He had a great apartment, his dream job, a loving family, good friends and the cherry on top of this sundae…the most loving and amazing boyfriend he could ask for. No….Kurt Hummel was not going to allow this to dent his happiness.

"Thank you, Blaine…for just being there….for not walking away…running screaming out the door when you saw him and the threat he posed. You could have, and you didn't. You stayed, and I know you stayed for me. Nobody else has done that for me. So thank you for that." Kurt said so silently that Blaine had to strain to hear it even in the silence.

"There is no way you'd have gotten me out of there, Kurt." Blaine said, still running his fingers through Kurt's damp hair.

"I know…so stubborn…" Kurt yawned loudly.

Get some sleep Kurt, ok?"

"Blaine?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"Don't let go tonight, ok? Please?" Kurt said, his voice a little gravelly from crying.

"Not even if the hounds of hell come to drag me out of this bed, Kurt. I'll be here…right here, when you wake up, love. I promise."

"I love you, Blaine."

"Love you, too, Kurt. More than ever."

And so yeah...there's that. C, thank you for reading, re-reading and reading again until it was right. I know it cost you more than a few tears. I appreciate it :) Hugs, lady!