5YL Let the Encore Commence
Part 48
Once Burt and Carole were settled, they waited patiently for Kurt to be brought in. "Do you mind me asking why you're both here?" Burt asked, seeing not only Dr. Taylor, but Dr. Brady as well going over notes.
"Not at all." Dr. Brady replied. "Since your son has been under the care of more than one doctor, certain sessions have been a joint effort. And considering some of his issues, it's pertinent we're each present to gauge his reaction based on previous responses."
"Simply put, you are making sure Kurt's not just telling you what he thinks you want to hear." Carole chimed in.
"Essentially." Dr. Brady said in response. "Now, I want to remind you both not to interrupt him or to attempt to justify his responses."
"That's our job." Dr. Taylor stated as he joined them. "Also remember, you might not like what you hear, but it's important his thoughts and feelings aren't dismissed. For while you might not agree, this is how he feels."
"Are you able to help him?" Burt asked.
"We are, but following our treatment plan will be up to him." Dr. Brady told him, and then heard a sigh from Burt. "I'm aware he doesn't care for being told what to do, but if he doesn't follow the treatment plan…"
"He's only making matters worse for himself, as Judge Watkins made it clear he's done with his antics." Burt replied as Carole looked at him, hating the toll the situation had put on him. "Do you think he'll be in here longer than the week originally ordered?"
"Unfortunately, it's too soon to answer that."
"I'm not sure if it matters, but in about two weeks Blaine's going to be in Westerville for a benefit." Carole stated. "And, from what I'm aware of, there is going to be plenty of media coverage since he grew up here."
"I've been made aware of it, and our goal when all is said and done, is that Kurt will be able to see/hear about those things, without reacting. And once again be able to be a productive member of society"
"What do you mean by that?" Burt asked, as Carole shook her head.
"Mr. Hummel, your son's behavior not only cost him his job, but has prevented him from being hired elsewhere." Dr. Brady reminded him. "If not for you, what would your son be doing with his life at this time?" Difficult as it was to hear, Burt really couldn't dispute her point as if it wasn't for him, Kurt would be unemployed. She'd only finished speaking when one of the nurses escorted Kurt into the room, before leaving and closing the door behind her. "How are you feeling this morning Kurt?"
"Same as yesterday, ready to get out of here as I don't see the point of all this." Kurt replied before going to take a seat. "This is only happening because a judge doesn't care for how I treat Blaine since he's a celebrity. I have a right to voice how I feel about things Blaine does."
"Within reason." Dr. Taylor said to him. "As your previous behavior towards your ex-husband is what brought on said perimeters of behavior. Let's not lose sight your situation with your ex-husband began prior to him finding success as a musician."
"Blaine's not innocent in all this, and it never would've gotten to this point if it wasn't for that bastard Smythe and his father!" Kurt blurted out as Burt and Carole exchanged looks. "Dad, tell them, tell them what Blaine did to me!" Burt looked at him, yet it only took one look from Dr. Taylor for him to stay quiet. "Dad!"
"Kurt, you need to own your role in what's happening to you." Dr. Brady said calmly.
"If Blaine would just talk to me, none of this would be happening."
"Blaine tried talking to you, but you didn't listen to what he had to say." Carole said to him, earning her a dirty look.
"Why did you bother to come, honestly?" Kurt replied. "You made it clear the day you took Rachel's side where you stand."
"What you did to Rachel was wrong, not to mention, it wasn't truthful. Finn only ever wanted her to be happy." Carole told him. "You don't have a say in who Rachel chooses to share her life with."
"If she knew what was good for her, she'd listen to me." No sooner did he finish, Carole got up from her seat and walked towards the window, shocked by what she heard. "You can't tell me you believe Thad is good for her!"
"I don't know him well enough to make that sort of assessment, but he makes her happy, and her Dads approve, that's what matters."
"If you knew him like I do, you wouldn't feel that way."
"You don't know him!" Carole blurted out. "The last time you had contact with him prior to a few years ago, was high school. And even once you did, you never spent time with him."
"People like him don't change, look at Smythe."
"Kurt, why do you feel you have a right to dictate how your friends live their lives?" Dr. Taylor asked before the situation escalated further.
"Because I know what's best for them." This time, Burt's the one who shook his head as Carole didn't even bother turning back around to face him.
"And if they don't agree with your view?"
"I try to convince them my way, is the right way, as I'm only trying to stop them from making mistakes." Kurt replied.
"Did these views ever benefit you, personally?"
"I don't understand."
"Did you ever push one of your friends in a certain direction, whereas their action benefitted you?" Dr. Taylor repeated.
"Sure, I benefitted sometimes, but I was always looking out for them."
"Are you sure about that?" Dr. Brady asked.
"Of course, and there is nothing wrong with benefitting because your friends made the right decision."
"The right decision in your mind or theirs?"
"A right decision, is a right decision." Kurt replied, causing his doctors to look at one another. "You know what else is the right decision, for the two of you to let me out of here. Again, the only reason I'm here is because Sebastian's convinced Blaine to want nothing to do with me. Whether Smythe likes it or not, a part of Blaine is always going to love me."
"Son, Blaine made it pretty clear when the two of you were getting divorced, he wants nothing to do with you." Burt said to him, surprising Carole. "And he's said it time and again in court. It's time to let go of him."
"Don't tell me what to do! As I said, none of this would be happening if Blaine would just talk to me. I could make him see how wrong all this is." At this statement, Carole turned and looked at Burt who seemed shocked, while the doctors were talking to one another.
"Wrong to you, may be right to Blaine." Dr. Taylor said to him. "This is a prime example of what's right for one person, being utterly wrong for another."
"You don't know Blaine like I do."
"Kurt, is this need to talk with Blaine and have him see things your way stem from feelings you still have for him or because of who he's become?" Dr. Brady asked.
"Who he's become?" Kurt asked.
"When you and he divorced, he was merely a college student, and now, he's a highly successful, award winning musician." Dr. Brady inquired. "Does that play into your change of heart when it comes to him?"
"Are you implying I only care because he's famous?"
"Are you saying his fame doesn't play into things?"
"No, not really."
"So, it does."
"I didn't say that, stop putting words into my mouth!" Kurt replied in frustration. "None of you understand!"
"Then help us understand." Dr. Taylor told him, as Kurt got up to walk the room. "Kurt, what are you thinking?"
"That none of this would be happening if Blaine had just done what I told him to do!"
"And what was that?"
"To forgo his dreams and teach." Kurt said to him. "If he'd done that, none of this would be happening."
"Are you implying that Blaine following his dreams caused what's happening to you?" Dr. Brady asked.
"I didn't say that!"
"Yet, it's what you implied, so what is it?"
"Dad, are you going to let her talk to me like that?"
"She only asked a question Kurt, one I'm curious of the answer of as well. Why is Blaine following his dream the reason you're here?"
"Because if he was a teacher, I wouldn't have gone looking for him, I wouldn't have cared what he was up to. And then, I never would've known he was with Smythe either!"
"So, you only went looking for him because he was becoming successful." Dr. Brady said to him.
"I was curious, and then…"
"Then what?"
"After his show, I needed to see him as, as he reminded me a lot of the first time I saw him. Yet that all changed when I saw Smythe all over him. That's when everything changed."
"How did it change?"
"It just did."
"That's not an answer Kurt." Dr. Taylor told him. "Do you not want to answer with your Dad and Step-Mom here?"
"My life was fine until I saw them, why couldn't he just do what I told him for once! If he had, I'd still be at Vogue and he may or may not be with Smythe."
"So, Sebastian isn't the issue."
"Oh, he's an issue alright, but he probably wouldn't be the same one if Blaine hadn't found success as a musician." Kurt replied.
"Now let me get this clear, Blaine not listening to you and following his dreams, is the reason why you have a permanent order of protection against you." Dr. Brady stated as Kurt merely looked at her. "Am I correct?"
"I…"
"Kurt, what did we talk about two days ago?"
"That I need to take responsibility for my actions, but…"
"There are no buts." Dr. Brady stated. "Neither Blaine or Sebastian forced you to behave in the manner which put you in this situation. According to the court records, they have gone out of their way to ensure you don't play a part in their lives."
"If only…."
"If only Blaine would talk to me, so I've heard." Dr. Brady finished for him. "Kurt, the only life you have control or say over, is your own. Which means, others aren't at fault for things you do or say. No one can force you to do anything."
"Really, because I'm not here by choice."
"You're here, because of your inability to abide by the rules. Not because of something Blaine or Sebastian have done."
"I'm here because they can't stop flaunting their lifestyle, a lifestyle that should be mine in my face!"
"Why should it be yours?" Dr. Taylor asked as Burt seemed a bit taken back by the outburst. "Blaine worked hard to achieve it, and enjoy all the perks of his success." He then took a few steps towards him. "Kurt, is it the fact Blaine has this success or that he has this success and you are no longer part of his life?" Kurt simply looked at him, before scanning the room as the others waited for an answer.
"Why are we talking about Blaine when they're here?" He responded as he made his way back to his seat. "Shouldn't we be discussing how they should be helping me and not siding with my ex and his friends?"
"Helping you, we've done nothing but help you since you got yourself into this mess!" Carole told him. "Who was it that bailed you out the first time you violated the restraining order? Who bailed you out when you were held in contempt? Who moved you from New York to Ohio when you lost your job? Who let you live with them? Who gave you a job?"
"Carole."
"No, I'm sick and tired of him pretending he's been in this on his own when he hasn't!" Carole said to Burt in response. "Do you realize how much money you've cost us? Of course not, because you only care when something affects you personally. You don't care about the stress this has put on our marriage or your Dad's health."
"I do too, and I've told Dad as much." Kurt replied.
"Those are words Kurt, as your actions say you don't care! You've yet to take responsibility for any of this, instead you've laid all the blame at the feet of Blaine, or Sebastian, or Rachel, or hell, anyone who didn't take your side or see things your way. The world does not revolve around you!"
"Carole, enough!" Burt exclaimed as he stood. "This isn't what he needs right now."
"You mean, the truth?" Carole said in response. "Our lives have been turned upside down ever since he's attempted to reinsert himself in Blaine's life, something Blaine wants no part of!"
"Only because of the meerkat!"
"No, as Blaine made it clear the day he left you, he no longer wanted anything to do with you! And right now, while others might think part of you still loves Blaine, I don't!"
"Then why do you think he's fixated on Blaine?" Dr. Taylor interjected.
"Because he's now rich."
"He's always been rich." Kurt replied.
"No, his parents are rich. Now, the money is all Blaine's." Carole corrected him. "And you can't stand to see him, and Sebastian, enjoying the fruits of his hardwork." She then took a deep breath as Burt looked on. "Admit it, a part of you has always been jealous of Blaine."
"I have not!"
"Do you believe him Carole?" Dr. Brady asked, to which she shook her head. "Burt, do you?"
"Dad, you know that's not true, I always supported Blaine."
"Honestly, I don't know." Burt solemnly replied.
"Dad."
"Kurt, I'm telling the truth as I don't know." Burt told him. "Nothing about this has made sense to me. You fought the divorce, yet throughout the process you did nothing but bad-mouth Blaine, and accuse him of cheating. Then, once it was finalized, I didn't hear his name again, that is, until you found out he was performing. And from there, your life was never the same. To quote Carole, you became obsessed with not only him, but his life with Sebastian." His response caused Carole to do a double take given he'd tried to stop her only moments prior.
"Kurt, what do you have to say?" Dr. Taylor asked as he stared at Burt and Carole.
"They don't understand, and clearly, never will." Kurt replied.
"Is that all?"
"That if they actually cared about me, they'd want me happy, and to have the things I want, deserve."
"Such as?"
"They know what I want." Carole made no attempt to hide her response, as it his statement reinforced everything she believed.
"Do you?"
"It's as I said, he wants Blaine's lifestyle, the one he's sharing with Sebastian." Carole said. "It's why he gets so mad when he sees them in designer clothes or at award ceremonies, he wants that life, not Blaine."
"Carole."
"I'm sorry, but it's how I see it Burt." She then reached for her purse. "If you'll excuse me, I need some air." The doctors nodded before watching her walk out the door as Burt and Kurt looked at one another.
Once she was gone and the door reclosed, Dr. Brady looked at each of them. "Were either of you aware she felt that way?"
"I had an idea." Burt said before looking at Kurt. "We only want you to get better."
"There's nothing wrong with me! When will you finally get that Dad, this is only happening because of Blaine!"
"Dr. Taylor, would you mind escorting Kurt back to his room, as I'd like to speak with Mr. Hummel?"
"Of course, Dr. Brady."
While Kurt clearly objected to being told to leave, Dr. Brady knew she couldn't have this conversation with him present. "How are you feeling Mr. Hummel?" She asked calmly, having noted how frustrated he was by what had occurred.
"Frustrated, confused, as I don't understand how it got to this point." Burt replied. "This isn't the boy I raised. I don't understand why he's become so obsessed with Blaine."
"So, you don't agree with your wife's perspective on the situation?"
"It's not that I don't agree, I, didn't really know she felt this way. You see, we try not to talk too much about it given we don't view things the same way."
"What would you say, if I told you that your wife's thoughts on the situation, weren't that far off?" Dr. Brady told him. "That the reason your son has fixated on Blaine, is not only because they were once involved, but because of the success he's achieved."
"Wait, so you're saying this is all based on jealousy?"
"No, it's more serious than that. You see Mr. Hummel; your son suffers from narcissistic personality disorder." Dr. Brady told him. "Are you familiar with the term?"
"My son's not a narcissist."
"But he is, as he displays more than one of the traits, rather strongly." She told him. "He is preoccupied by fantasies of success, power and love. He requires excessive admiration in regards of who he is. He's got a strong sense of entitlement, something which has been accentuated by Blaine's success and his jealous of it. Along with the fact he believes he should be enjoying those accolades instead of Sebastian. He's also exploited his friends for his own benefit. He's also shown to be envious of others, such as Blaine and Rachel, yet believes they were jealous of him. Kurt's also displays arrogant behaviors and attitudes and is practically incapable of empathy in regards to how his actions impact others." Dr. Brady told him. "More often than not, this is displayed by one or two of these traits, yet as you can see, your son exhibits more than a few of them."
"How did this happen, as I didn't raise him this way?"
"I wish I had a straight forward answer for you, but I don't as there are often plenty of factors in play that cause this type of behavior."
"Are you able to help him?" Burt asked.
"As I stated earlier, yes, as there are a few medications we can prescribe. But, he's also going to need to continue constant psychotherapy."
"Why is he so fixated on Blaine?"
"From what I can dissect, part of it stems from the fact at one point he did in fact love him. The other, his former love is now living the type of life he's always dreamed of." Dr. Brady told him. "From everything I've ready, Blaine's extremely successful, as well as admired for surviving all that he has."
"So, you're aware that Blaine was the victim of a hate crime." Burt said to her.
"I'm also aware, courtesy of the courts, your son also abused Blaine in numerous ways."
"I don't know why he did that, as he truly did love him at one time."
"Your son's jealous of Blaine, helped fuel the situation. Kurt told us, at one time they each attended NYADA, yet shortly after Blaine's arrival, he felt as though he was living in his shadow. From this statement, I'm not surprised that Kurt attempted to sabotage Blaine, even if he wasn't aware of it at the time. Just as he told Miss Berry, she might never be a star, that she should accept she might only ever be an ensemble player."
"He told you this?"
"He did, but not directly." Dr. Brady told him. "You see, it's obvious Kurt was fine with his friends succeeding, as long as their success didn't overshadow his."
"You have to know, I would never condone this."
"I believe you. What matters now, is getting your son on the right path."
"You've yet to address Blaine and Sebastian's recent trip."
"Only because as you could see, he's not ready to hear about it." Dr. Brady told him. "And I will let Judge Watkins know, it's going to take a bit more time till I'm comfortable releasing him into the care of the department of corrections."
"It's that bad?" Before Dr. Brady had a chance to respond, Burt sighed. "I didn't mean it that way."
"I know, as this is a subject, difficult to wrap your head around. So, while I understand your desire to help your son, you can no longer excuse his behavior."
"I won't."
"Mr. Hummel."
"I promise, I will no longer excuse his behavior." Burt then rain his hand over his hand. "Clearly, Carole has a better perspective on this situation, and she and I need to have an in-depth conversation."
"Sounds like an excellent idea." Dr. Brady told him. "And Mr. Hummel, remember, there is nothing you could've done to stop this."
"I'll try. I just hope you can teach him an appropriate way to respond to Blaine's success, and his life with Sebastian."
"That's one of our goals Mr. Hummel, I assure you."
