Chapter 17- Rude Awakenings


Kurt tapped his fingers on the side of the chair as he waited for his father to say what he needed to say.

"What the hell's going on with you, Kurt? You've never acted out like this before. And I'm not the only one who's noticed a change in you lately."

Kurt frowned deeply. He hated being in the dark about something regarding him so he urged his father to elaborate.

"I got a call from Mr. Schuester this afternoon, worried about your behaviour. He thinks you and your friends are purposefully alienating people and severing ties with your old friends."

"That is not accurate!"

Burt held his hands up defensively, fending off Kurt's impending verbal attack. "It's just what he said, Kurt. But I have to say, it sounds about right. You're starting fights with Finn, Mercedes left the house crying before term started. You can't tell me that Schuester has it all wrong?"

Kurt swallowed heavily, snarling. "Not of all it, I guess. But you're missing something crucial and it's only because you don't really know me. I haven't severed ties with any of my real friends. In fact, we're closer than ever before."

Burt was livid. "What do you mean I don't know you? Are you trying to imply that I'm not a good enough parent to you because I don't keep track of things going on in your life? I always vowed to give you as much space as you deserved, which was dependent on your behaviour. You've always been well-behaved, so I let you have some adolescent freedom."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Oh, this is about you now? Well, I can't say I'm surprised."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Clearly you've missed the point, again. Allow me to explain. I've been friends with Brittany for almost ten years now, Dad. You've met her many times, as is the case with Tina. Quinn and Santana are relatively newer to my life and I haven't had them over here that much. But those four girls are people I trust with unwavering certainty. The so-called "friends" I'm severing ties with are just people you think I'm friends with. It's all very superficial.

"Mercedes are I were very false friends to each other. She wanted an enthusiastic gay best friend, something which I find abhorrent. In her, I don't even know what I was looking for. She wanted to join Glee Club, I wanted someone to join Glee Club with. Brittany wasn't interested at the time and Tina didn't have the confidence. So I looked to Mercedes when I saw her name on the sign-up sheet."

Burt nodded, cautiously listening for a moment where Kurt made a mistake so he could point out the lies in his story. Only it never came. He should've known, really, Kurt was always honest. Whenever he lied, it was by omission.

"When I talked to her, she was thrilled that I apparently wanted to help pick out her audition outfit. I did, but only because she wouldn't have given me the time of day otherwise. When I told Tina about it, Tina agreed to join with me, because she's that kind of person. She was terrified, even though she really wanted to join, but she did it for me."

"Where are you going with this?"

"I'm getting there, Dad," Kurt forced through his teeth. He hated being interrupted. "So Mercedes latched onto me and subtly tried to force Brittany and Tina out of my life. Then when she realised I was close with Quinn, she told me I was just friends with her because I wanted to be popular. When she learned about Santana, she told me I wasn't allowed to be friends with her."

Burt Hummel suddenly loathed Mercedes Jones. That wasn't cool.

"So you see, people looking at my life from the outside assume Mercedes is my best friend and I only know the others through Glee Club. Mr. Schuester doesn't see anything that doesn't involve Finn or Rachel so he doesn't see the whole picture."

Burt nodded patiently. "Okay, that makes sense now. Thank you for explaining. But speaking of Finn, do you mind telling me what the hell's going on between the two of you?"

Kurt made no effort to mask his disdain for the boy in question and Burt rolled his eyes.

"Kurt, you're going to be step-brothers in no time at all. You need to stop this."

"And by this, what exactly do you mean?"

"You know, Kurt, don't act dumb. You're always one step ahead of everything, I'm sure you know what I'm about to say."

"Well maybe I'd like to be informed of something for once instead of you assuming that I know what you're talking about."

Burt sighed. "Fine. After last year, it's easy to see how tensions between you and Finn could run high again."

"I have a boyfriend," Kurt replied swiftly. "Someone who I actually love and I have less than zero interest in Finn Hudson, romantically or otherwise."

"This is what I don't get. One minute you're trying to get along with him for the sake of this family and the next you're all but cutting him out of your life and fighting with him. What happened between you and Finn?"

"You mean besides the last five years where he's done nothing but bully me? Up until this year, I'd never understood why I should stand up for myself. I mean, there were always going to be more bullies, but now I realise that I don't deserve this. Ever since I can remember, people have treated me differently, badly, even. When we were younger it was because nobody else understood that me liking boys was normal. When we all grew up, I expected them to know better. Well I was wrong and they bully me now because they think I'm out to get them out and convert them or whatever.

"It hasn't been fun. So far, I've had one person apologise to me for the way he acted and that was Mike Chang, probably the least malicious one of them all. All he did was stand there, not wanting to lose all his friends. He never laid a hand on me and never said a bad word about me. It was easy to forgive him because I understand how it is to want to conform so you don't lose the important things in your life."

"You mean me," Burt guessed quickly.

"No, you're not listening to me. Finn has never apologised for the years of torment I've had to endure. He and Puckerman have done so many things that I'll never forgive."

Burt grunted. "Kurt, you know I'm always on your side. No matter what. But you have to tell me about these things. Then I can see things from your point of view and have all the facts."

"You want to know just some of the things that Finn has done to me? Well, okay. I can tell you. As long as you come out of this still wanting us to be a family. Because I can do civility, Dad. I really can. Maybe I'll never come to like Finn, maybe someday he'll become something like family, but you and Carole have something special."

"Okay. Now tell me the story."


Santana smirked as she slithered around the corner, watching Finn try not to set off the creaky floorboard.

"Eavesdropping doesn't become you, Hudson."

Finn jumped a foot in the air and blushed as he realised that Santana had been standing there watching him for quite a while without him knowing. He really did need to pay more attention to things going on around him. "Lopez. What are you doing?"

"Did you just forget that I literally live here and have done for some time now?"

Finn scoffed. "I'm not that stupid."

"Could've fooled me."

"How did you get through the hall without them seeing you?"

Santana shrugged. "Kurt texted me saying that he was having an important conversation with his dad and I came through the bathroom window."

"You know what's going on?"

"Some. I can probably glean the rest out of the tone that Kurt's using. Things aren't really going well. I imagine you're going to have a big talk with Burt after this."

Finn paled. "Shit."

"Yeah, Hudson, you've been caught. All of those years treating Kurt like a piece of shit has finally caught up with you. And frankly, I don't know what the hell you think you're doing teaming up with Roadkill and Aretha because you don't stand a chance."

"Why are you all doing this? I get why Kurt and Quinn hate Puck, but the rest of you have no reason to be doing any of this."

Santana scowled. "Then you're dumber than you look, Hudson. And that's saying something considering you've got what appears to be ketchup just above your eyebrow."

Finn quickly reached up and scratched above his eyebrow, bringing his finger to his nose, then to his mouth.

"Gross," Santana muttered, looking away.

Before Finn could think of a retort, Kurt came stomping up the stairs.

"Santana, I've called everyone over. They'll be here in ten, Brittany's driving them. Sam couldn't make it tonight, though."

Finn snickered. "Brittany can drive?"

"Bite me," Kurt shot back and nodded his head back downstairs for Santana to follow.

Santana had never really considered herself a follower of anybody in her life, not really deeming many people worthy of giving her orders, even her parents, but Kurt was somebody she knew she would always listen to. Even if she sometimes disagreed with the boy, he was right a lot of the time and that counted for more than most. Kurt never gave her explicit orders, because that wasn't what friends did, but he was a natural leader and sometimes shifted into leader mode and that was when she knew to follow. Kurt wouldn't steer her wrong, she knew that much.

"Mike's coming too?" She wondered as she followed Kurt into the basement.

"Yes."

Santana knew that when Kurt became clipped and short with her, something was wrong. She assumed that something had come up in the argument with his father that he didn't want to go over, so she would drop it until he was ready to talk. There was no use pushing Kurt to say something that he didn't want to. That was counter-productive and Santana was the same way.

They settled on Kurt's queen-sized bed as he turned to her.

"Do you think we've gone too far?" He bit his lip, one of his tells that he was genuinely concerned about consequences. "I mean, I know we haven't done anything particularly disastrous to the creature yet, but are we in over our heads here?"

Santana frowned. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

"Kurt."

Kurt sighed exasperatedly. "Fine, it's my dad. He's got it into his head that this is going to end in us murdering Puck or something equally as dire."

"Let me guess. He's put doubts into your head that we've gone about this the wrong way."

Kurt nodded. "Well, yes. I mean, I would love nothing more than to see Puck with no friends and nothing to his name, but I just don't want to disappoint my dad."

"I get it, Kurt, but wouldn't your dad prefer it if you took action of someone who's made your life hell since kindergarten? Doing nothing doesn't seem to be the Hummel way."

Kurt grimaced. "According to him, revenge shouldn't be necessary because what happened to me was just the result of boys being boys. You know how it is."

A furious look flashed across Santana's face as she stood up. There was time before the others got here and she knew what she had to do.

"Santana, where are you going?"

"He can't do this to you, Kurt. He's manipulating you so subtly even you can't see it. He needs to be told that you won't accept it any longer without completely ruining your relationship. Don't worry, I won't say anything untoward, I just want him to know that there are limits to how he can treat you."

"But—."

"Kurt, you gave me a place to live when I had nothing. This is the least I can do for you. Wait here."


Santana tried not to smirk as she climbed the stairs and entered the living room, where she was glad to see that Finn was not present.

"Everything okay, Santana?"

Santana crossed her arms, pleased to see that Burt looked displeased to see her. That was the way she liked it. She instilled derision and fear in people and, even though Burt Hummel was not someone who was to be taken lightly, she was Santana Lopez and that counted for more.

"As a matter of fact, no it isn't."

Burt sighed, running a hand down his face. "Why do I get the feeling I'm about to be lectured?"

"Good, at least you're aware that you've fucked up. Mr. H, I don't say this a lot, but I'm extremely grateful that you've let me live here, even if it was Kurt's idea and we both know that boy doesn't take no for an answer when he really needs something. The fact that you've opened your home to me means more than you know.

"But since I've been here, I've seen so much more than I expected to see. And that's not including Finn's dietary requirements."

Burt chuckled lightly. The girl had a point.

"Since Kurt and I became friends, he talked about his great his dad is. How accepting you were when he came out, how you encourage him to be himself no matter what the cost. I know about how you stood up for him against Mr. Schuester about the whole Defying Gravity thing and I know that he blew the note for you. That's a really special relationship, Mr. H. You both do things for the sake of each other and that's more than I ever got with my parents."

Burt wondered where she was going with this.

"But the one thing my parents do well is complete honesty. My dad flat out told me I was disgusting when he kicked me out. The thing I don't understand is how Kurt grew up to be the most honest person I've ever met when you've never told him the absolute truth. Kurt hasn't even noticed what you're doing because he's so desperate to have a relationship with you. You're the only family he has left that hasn't shunned him for being himself."

"I love Kurt."

"I don't doubt that you do. I just don't think that you like him very much."

Burt couldn't believe the audacity. Kurt was his pride and joy, the only part of Elizabeth that he had left. Kurt had accomplished so much in his life and Burt couldn't have been prouder.

Could he?

"You're thinking about it, aren't you? All of those times that Kurt had a ballet recital or a singing performance and you didn't go because they weren't the sorts of things you wanted your son to be dabbling in. If you'd had a daughter, you would've bought her the ballet uniform with a big smile on your face like Brittany's father did. Even Quinn's joke of a father practised her routines with her around the living room.

"Going to River Dance with him is one thing, but actively taking an interest in his life is a completely separate issue. I get it; you're not interested in singing or dancing or any of that. But your love for Kurt should overshadow that. Let me tell you something. I never wanted to join Glee Club. It was the furthest thing from my mind. Only losers joined, it was uncool. But that day that Brittany came to me and said that she wanted to join Glee Club, I knew that there was no doubt in my mind. I was joining Glee Club because it would make her happy. And that's how Kurt and I became friends. I think we would've been friends regardless because of Brittany, but we connected on a more personal level through mutual interests."

Burt frowned. "So you're saying that I don't like my boy because we don't have anything in common?"

Santana gaped. "Wow, Kurt's right. You really don't listen. What I'm saying is that putting yourself second is more important than being interested in what he's doing. Hearing Kurt sing or watching Kurt dance is something so special it shouldn't matter whether you like ballet. I don't understand why you don't put all that aside and be there for him."

"Look, Santana, I never prepared for this. When I found out I was having a boy, I was so excited to take him to sports games and talk about girls. When I realised that Kurt was never going to do that, it took some getting used to."

Santana rolled her eyes vigorously. "But that shouldn't matter. Kurt is still a boy. Despite his insistence, he still thinks like a boy. Just because he doesn't play sports and doesn't want to fuck girls doesn't mean he's not still a boy. And while we're on the subject, saying that the way that the jocks act towards him is just "boys being boys" is seriously so fucked up I'm starting to wonder if you actually hate Kurt."

"Santana."

"No, you need to hear this and Kurt certainly isn't going to talk to you about it! Clearly I'm not getting through to you, so I'll ask you this now. How many times has Kurt come home from school with a slushy on him or with bruises on his face? And how many times have you looked the other way and believed whatever bullshit lie he thought to concoct so you wouldn't worry about him?"

"He could've talked to me," Burt whispered, starting to realise how badly he had treated his son.

"You know as well as I do that he couldn't have," Santana retorted. "Kurt wants you to see him the same way you see Finn. As a boy. Apart from the four of us, nobody else does! They just think of him as the honorary girl, the role he's slipped into because it's convenient for everybody else. When he was on the football team, the guys didn't congratulate him for winning them the game once they got back into the locker room. They berated him for showing them up in front of their family and friends."

Burt gasped.

"When Kurt won Nationals for the Cheerios, we all thanked him for his hard work and celebrated with him once we got back. Then he quit because he didn't want to be considered a girl. He could've done with some support. After the fourteen minute French Celine Dion medley, it was the least he deserved."

This was the first Burt had heard of Kurt's accomplishments. He knew he had a solo at Nationals, but he didn't know the true extent of it. Ashamed of telling his friends that Kurt was on national television for cheerleading, Burt had skipped the event and hadn't even tuned in to watch it. Instead, he had gone to a bar with his buddies and played pool and drank beer until well past midnight. While his kid was singing and dancing for his life to win a national competition. Sure, it would have been a team effort, but Kurt was the lead soloist, it would be his triumph more so.

"My boy did that?" Burt couldn't help but whisper.

Santana growled under her breath and Burt was fairly certain he knew what was coming.

Usually, he wouldn't have let Santana steamroll over him and bitch at him for how he was raising his child, but she was one of Kurt's best friends and knew him better than Burt himself did, so she was prime to give insight on how to improve. After the discussion he had had with his son about the bullying, he knew he had to do better. Next on his list was Finn, but he would wait until Carole was with him. She had decided take a long bath while Burt and Kurt talked.

Santana hissed. "You didn't even watch Kurt on TV? Man, Mr. Hummel. I thought it was a travel issue that stopped you from coming to Nationals."

"That's what Kurt said?" Burt felt more ashamed that his son had to lie to his friends because Burt wasn't a good enough parent to support him in something he loved doing.

Santana huffed. "Kurt likes to paint a picture of you with colours you don't deserve, apparently. You've been good to him, but not at all as good as he makes you out to be. He thinks because you didn't kick him out after he told you he was gay, that you're everything a parent should be. Accepting your child for who they are is the bare minimum a parent should do.

"Look, I realise that I've probably overstepped, but you needed to hear all of this. Just try, Burt. Try to be the dad he's always dreamed that you were. He pulled a huge gaslight on himself and made himself think you're something you're not. Take a chance to properly get to know the amazing kid you made."

A knock at the door interrupted Santana's spiel.

"That's probably Britt bringing everyone over. I'll get it. I hope you've learned from my Parenting 101, Mr. H. He needs you more than he lets on."

Santana slipped out of the room, leaving Burt to pretend that he wasn't crying just a little bit. He had failed as a parent. Elizabeth would be furious at him were she alive.

Santana opened the door to see Brittany, Quinn, Tina and Mike standing to greet her. She rolled her eyes at how much it resembled a Muppets sketch. She took Brittany's hand and led her in. "Kurt's in the basement. He has something he wants to say, I think. It's been a pretty heavy night."


Everyone shuffled into the basement, Santana giving Burt a meaningful look as she left, trying not to smirk at the disheartened look on his face.

When the five appeared in the basement, Kurt was clutching his phone to his ear, his face paler than usual.

"Okay, thank you, Mary. If there's anything else I can do, please let me know. I'll call you if I hear anything. Bye."

Kurt inhaled deeply and Santana knew that he was trying to stop himself from crying. She also knew that in about three seconds, Kurt would need an strong embrace.

She nudged Mike. "Get ready to hug him."

Mike frowned as Kurt stood up and clutched his side. The former quickly wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist. Kurt was shocked at the contact but buried his head into the boy's shoulder, muffling his sobs.

The girls gave him some space, but Tina and Brittany patted his back every few seconds, making sure he was okay. Kurt gently pushed Mike away and breathed deeply.

"Thank you, Mike. Thank you, girls."

"What's wrong, Kurt?" Quinn asked, deeply concerned about her favourite boy.

Kurt looked up, his expression a mixture of both uncontainable rage and worry. "Sam is missing. His phone is off, his family haven't seen him since he left for school this morning."

Mike blinked in confusion. "He was at football practice. Oh my god," he added, face going still.

"What?"

"He stayed behind to do some weight training. Some of the others did, too."

"I do not like the sound of that," Brittany commented.

Kurt grinded his teeth together to stop himself from punching something. "Since the school is locked down for the night, he can't be there."

"I'll start the car," Brittany nodded, anticipating Kurt's next move and ran upstairs to get the car ready.

"What do we do?" Mike whispered to Santana as Quinn led Kurt to the car.

Santana narrowed her eyes. "We do whatever we can to get Sam back. I don't think it's going to be pretty."

As Mike followed after the Latina, he had the same lingering suspicion.