Blackbird

NOTES:

(1)Der Kaiser = The Emperor

There was something very impersonal and cold about the conference room. Kurt was not sure if it was the fact that horrible things were often discussed here, or he was just letting his nervousness cloud his judgement. There wasn't anything particularly homey about Blaine's hospital room either. Other than the birth of a child, hospitals often did not produce happy memories. He surmised that it was just sterile objectivity and then realized he was over-analyzing the banal. The truth was his mind knew what the discussion would entail and he was going into defense mode. He was going to have to relive the horror of the night before. It made him want to vomit, but he remembered the promise he had made to the agents. Offering his help would be the best way for him to live up to what he had said in movements class so many days before. This would be his chance to show them he wasn't going down quietly.

In the center of the room was a long conference table, big enough to seat twelve. Kurt sat at one end of the table and folded his legs up into the seat awkwardly. To his left sat Sam, ready to be a source of reassurance. His father had remained out in the park and decided to call his step-mother to keep her updated. Much to his chagrin, the agents insisted that he have a police officer there to protect him. He didn't understand why, but decided it was best not to argue. To Kurt's right sat Cooper, still as a statue and staring at a single spot on the table. Kurt was sure this was the worst his mind had to endure. Blaine was an image of youth and vitality and to see him so debilitated was a reminder to him that no one was invincible. He held Pam's hand. She sat leaned against the back of the chair, sure that she would end up there anyway. In her right hand, she held her handkerchief, ready to soak up the tears that were sure to come.

At the opposite end of the room, a large screen was mounted to the wall. Agents Sibaja-Mora and Freeman stood there, ready to share what they had researched. As the screen remained black, Freeman turned to each of them separately as she explained,

"I don't want to sound condescending, but I also understand that you have been through unspeakable trauma," she started by looking directly at Kurt, "Many people in your position think they are ready to see the faces of their attackers, but are surprised to find they aren't. If you feel like you can't keep going, let me know and we will stop. The last thing Sibaja-Mora or I want is to cause you more emotional pain." She met eyes with the rest of the family and added, "The same goes for you all. We know you may not have directly experienced the pain, but seeing the faces of these people may bring up some emotions you may not have thought you had."

"We also want you to know that we are very grateful for your willingness to help us, Kurt. We both admire your courage. But, keep in mind, if you see our presentation and decide that it is too much for you, please don't feel obligated to go through with it."

They waited patiently as Kurt processed their words. He continued to look into his lap as he rubbed his hands together nervously. Sam placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but Kurt did not acknowledge him. He just nodded slightly,

"I'm ready. Let's get on with it, please." his voice was flat, indicating his emotional and physical fatigue.

Freeman looked at Sibaja-Mora and nodded, indicating that she could begin. In her right hand, she held a small remote. When she pressed the large round button in the center of it, the screen came to life and displayed the faces of the four criminals who had nearly killed Kurt and Blaine. Kurt thought he was ready. When his eyes looked up at the screen he pulled in air through gritted teeth and shut his eyes tightly. Cooper's hand balled into a tight fist until his knuckles turned white. Sam appeared ready to jump out of his seat and punch the screen. The agents noticed immediately and turned the screen off,

"I think we might want to wait." Freeman said. Sam slammed his hand on the table, making the other three jump. Kurt looked at him like he had lost his mind,

"No! We have come this far, please don't stop. Don't make his family relive this again later. Just get it over with," he demanded, his voice breaking. This time, Kurt acted as the source of comfort and squeezed the hand Sam had placed on his shoulder. When they met eyes, Kurt's facial expression turned from shocked to a supportive smile. He turned to the agents and nodded.

Once again the screen displayed the faces of the demented murderers. Sibaja-Mora advanced through three different slides, each showing the men in slightly different visages. Their hairstyle and wardrobe changed in subtle, but noticeable ways. Each image of the men was taken in a slightly different setting. They could all tell by the backgrounds that they had visited more than one part of the country.

"You are looking at four men that the FBI has been tracking for more than two years. They have a pretty nasty history and connection to Nazi sympathizers. Each of their grandfathers either worked closely with or supported the Nazi party. This," the screen changed to the passport image of captain of the gang, "is Elias Weber. His grandfather was a very well known Nazi SS Guard, straight out of Auschwitz. During the height of the Nazi occupation, he had even earned the nickname 'Der Kaiser.'(1). Hitler even awarded him the SS Long Service Award for his dedication to the Reich." The images now changed to that of a tall, stiff and authoritative man in a well pressed uniform. He stood before a mass grave, his face looking eerily satisfied. Kurt shivered, but continued to watch as the image changed to a different be-speckled man. "Weber's father was raised to support the Nazi party and even started his own group of supporters. This was years after the war was over, mind you."

Sibaja-Mora continued to the next slide, showing crime scene photos,

"Weber thought he would keep up the Nazi mission and that's when, in the mid 1990s, the bodies of several Jewish families turned up all over Berlin. As soon as he was implicated and his name was flagged all over Interpol, he packed up his family and headed to South America. Elias was only a boy at the time." Kurt watched with a deadpan face. None of this history lesson was interesting to him. All it seemed to do was glorify them by giving them unneeded attention. He decided to be polite and continued listening. This time the image showed another crime scene, except Weber himself was lying dead in the middle of the mayhem. Freeman explained the image,

"Then, about ten years later, his father was gunned down in a standoff with Argentine police. His family had to flee, and quickly. Fortunately for Elias, his father taught him well in the art of espionage. He slipped through Interpol's fingers and basically vanished. His mother was apprehended, but she remains in a European prison and is pretty tight-lipped."

"Then, Elias turned up in southern California about five years later, near or around 2010. Except, this time, he had help. That is when he met and befriended fellow Nazi sympathizer," that was when the screen changed to the passport photo of his lieutenant, "Peter Abel. Similar background, except we're talking mindless loyalty. He was Elias's right hand only have sporadic reports of their sightings throughout San Diego. This was around July of 2011. By September of 2011, they had found their two recruits, Christan Hall and Benjamin Schneider."

Two more mugshots appeared on the screen. Kurt took one look at those dead, emotionless eyes and could feel the bile coming up to the back of his throat. He turned his attention to Blaine's family and Sam. They remained still, their expressions devoid of feeling, as they continued to stare at the men who nearly killed him and Blaine. Agents Sibaja-Mora and Freeman could see that the images were beginning to bring up sour emotions, so they turned off the screen and took a seat at the end of the table. Sibaja-Mora continued,

"Once their gang was assembled, they averaged about five to six months in each area. Each time they seemed to be targeting minorities. In San Diego, it was Hispanics and their families. They left a calling card in the form of the words 'die Stärke' spray painted on the Hispanic-owned homes and businesses. That's when it got a little personal for me. Then, they just seemed to disappear for a month or two. We thought we had eyes all over the country, but they always eluded detection."

This comment seemed to get under Cooper's skin. He looked at the two women with judging eyes. Kurt could understand his frustration that these men hadn't been caught sooner, but he had to understand that it was not the fault of these two agents. Pam seemed to detect the tension in her son's body. She turned back to face him and, placing a gentle hand on his thigh, was successful in helping him settle down.

"The gang was busy for the next year or so. Next, they stopped in Austin, Texas and targeted black Americans. Several couples were found murdered in their homes. After about six months of a killing spree, they moved on to the Chicago area where they seemed to be going after Jewish individuals. And now, almost two years since they started, they are in the NYC area with a taste for the LGBTQI community. With each city, they got smarter, and more methodical. With each city, they became better at sneaking away."

This is when Sam interrupted. His voice was laced with annoyance,

"Why the hell didn't you get them all in San Diego?"

To the surprise of Kurt and Blaine's family, neither of the agents was offended or surprised by his question. They both nodded, their faces not showing disdain or shock, but understanding. Freeman folded her arms in front of her,

"You are right, Mr. Evans. You all have every right to be angry with the Bureau for not apprehending these men. Believe me, when it got to Texas, and they targeted black Americans, that's when I got involved. It got personal for me that time. And this is why we need your help. These men expect the FBI to come after them. They won't expect you," she pointed at Kurt who made no movement. His face appeared exhausted and broken. While hearing the history of those murderers was bad enough, he knew the tough conversation was yet to come. As if reading his mind, Sibaja-Mora met eyes with him. Her face conveyed messages of encouragement and sympathy,

"Kurt, we would like to hear your account of what happened. Anything you can remember will be helpful. The more details we can get from you, the better. Then, we can put your account on file and it will be even more evidence against them."

Freeman agreed with her partner and added,

"Also, the details of your account can help us figure out if there are any inconsistencies in their habits."

"What would that indicate?" Cooper asked.

"That they are getting sloppy, or desperate. When this happens, they don't watch their backs and we can strike." Both agents had an air of determination about them. While Kurt did not feel comfortable talking about this, he really did want to help them bring these men to justice.

The room fell silent as all eyes were suddenly on Kurt. He felt more uncomfortable at that moment, with everyone staring at him, than he had while he looked at the horrific images. He could feel his heart begin to beat faster as a thin layer of sweat formed on the palms of his hands. His temples began to pulse and he could sense his blood pressure increasing. Sam moved his chair closer to him and started rubbing comforting circles on his back,

"Take your time, Kurt. We're all here for you. None of us are judging you."

He met eyes with Sam, looking for answers. Sam could tell he was pleading, but responded with a look of encouragement. He had to get this off of his chest. For all he knew, it could be more cathartic than he expected.

"Elias first appeared at the Spotlight Diner about three weeks ago," Kurt looked across the table and saw Agent Freeman beginning to write down the details of his story while Sibaja-Mora folded her hands in front of her and listened intently. "He was very charming, I have to admit. We hit it off right away. Then he started coming more frequently. He was so nice, I just...I can't believe I…" his frustration came out in the tone of his voice. Sibaja-Mora held her hand out in front of her, gesturing to Kurt to calm down,

"Kurt, these people are professionals. They are master manipulators. Do not feel like befriending him is your fault. He did this to all of his victims in order to…"

"...gain their trust." Kurt finished her sentence. She nodded, as if to reassure him that he was right and there was nothing to be ashamed of. Her silence and replacement of her hands in front of her indicated to Kurt that he should continue. "Peter appeared at Mosh Pit and befriended Blaine in a very similar way. I actually met him there when I was hanging out one night. He was great at appealing to Blaine's interests."

Cooper and Pam were now leaning forward on the table, listening very closely to Kurt's words. The mention of their brother and son was of great interest. They wanted to hear something about Blaine before he was injured. It was a taste of normalcy that they both needed.

"How did they introduce themselves to you, Kurt?" Freeman asked.

"With the names you presented," he indicated to the screen and the presentation they had just finished. Sibaja-Mora closed her eyes and nodded,

"What? What does that mean?" Sam sounded nervous now.

"This is a good sign. It tells us that they are either running out of allies willing to cover their tracks, or about to take it all the way to the end. Every other crime, they used a variation of their names as an alias. The fact that they gave you their birth names tells us that they meant to kill both of you. The fact that they didn't means they will try to return to finish the job. This means we have a better chance of catching them."

Sam looked flabbergasted. His jaw nearly hit the floor,

"Except the fact that it puts Kurt and Blaine in more danger."

"And you have every right to be upset by this. However, this is why we have increased our security presence in the area and at the places where you are all staying." she pointed to Cooper and Pam who appeared perplexed.

"Why us?" Cooper asked.

"I would rather be safe than sorry, Mr. Anderson. Kurt, please continue." Freeman said, indicating that she did not want any more interruptions. "Take us to the day they decided to hurt you."

Kurt took a deep, cleansing breath. He was determined to finish his recount of the event and decided to keep going this time, without pausing. The likelihood of that, though, was slim.

"Well, as I said, they had gained our trust. We encountered the other two throughout the two weeks and they just spat nasty words at us. Peter actually came to our rescue on both accounts. Great way to win our trust. However, neither of us knew that the men were connected because they were never seen together."

"So, we invited Elias to our house for dinner yesterday. I was finishing a class up at NYADA and, on my way home, I stopped at Garrett's because he had texted me and wanted to chat. As we talked, he started giving me details of his attack that led me to conclude that we had just invited the Nazi to dinner. I got home as fast as I could and, just as I approached the front door, I got a text from Blaine. Elias had arrived early and he discovered he was die Stärke." The tears were burning his eyes at this point. The images before him were blurred by the collection of liquid against his corneas. His voice began to quiver as he continued, "Elias's friends were there to greet me. When I got into the apartment, they forced me and Blaine to sit and listen to their personal history. They kept telling us how we were weak and we were tainting their 'Aryan race' or something. They told us we had to be cleansed of our 'sins,' it was disgusting."

Cooper reached his hand over from the corner of the table and took Kurt's. He too had tears in his eyes as he listened to the details of the night of terror. Kurt appreciated the gesture of sympathy and squeezed his hand in return,

"This is going to be hard for you two to hear, guys." They nodded to indicate their understanding. "They made Blaine get on the ground and then they made me tie him up. After that was done, they tied me up too and then taped our mouths shut. Before I knew it, I was on my bed being straddled by this monster, Elias. He started cutting me…" he had to pause to catch his breath and regain his composure, "...and then he just kept hitting me all over. I could feel his knuckles digging into my flesh. Everything started spinning and all I can remember hearing was Blaine screaming for me from across the room."

"After Elias was done cutting me, they dragged me over to Blaine and I laid there forever. They asked me if I was ready to be cleansed and I just told him to screw off. Then…" he began to sob as he looked at Cooper and Pam with immense guilt on his face, "...they broke Blaine's fingers because I said no. It was my fault. Before I could help him all four of them just decided to start beating the living shit out of us. By the time they stopped and ripped the tape off our mouths, we were coughing up blood."

"That's when Elias started strangling Blaine. I shouted at him to stop. I shouted until I barely had a voice and when he stopped he just decided to start kicking him again. He just wouldn't stop and it was all my fault. All because I said no."

Cooper just shook his head, trying to convince Kurt that everything was okay and it was not his fault. While he appreciated the sentiment, it would take him a while to be convinced.

"Blaine spoke up then. He told them that they were cowards and that the reason they haven't been able to convert anyone was because they failed. Love would always win. I just piped up by agreeing with him. They didn't like that at all. Peter started warming up the brand," Kurt pulled his shirt down to reveal the angry burn on his chest. All three of his friends gasped in horror. He recounted the final part of his experience, "They held both of us down and branded us with a hot metal rod. It was so excruciating. Then we saw the police lights flashing outside. Elias started panicking and he spat out orders in German. The men untied us and ran. Elias stayed behind. Blaine and I held each other for dear life. Then, suddenly, I felt Blaine push me. That's when I heard two loud pops right before I hit the floor. I held myself tight and I could hear Elias approaching me from behind. Before he could do anything I emptied a can of MACE into his eyes. He ran away and I found Blaine a few feet away. Elias had shot him twice. He...he...protected me. He..took the bullets for me…"

Cooper didn't hesitate. He got up from his chair, walked over to Kurt and held him tightly in his arms. In mere seconds, Kurt could feel two more bodies joining the embrace. They held each other with an air of understanding and deep compassion. Kurt could feel their unspoken love pouring into him as he sobbed into Cooper's shoulder, feeling slightly guilty for getting saliva and mucus all over his leather jacket. Cooper made no movement, and only wanted to show Kurt that he was glad he shared his story. And Kurt knew, without his saying so, that Cooper felt no anger towards him for what happened.

The two agents waited patiently as Freeman continued to write the details of Kurt's account on her notepad. Sibaja-Mora looked on and felt a sense of pride. Not for herself, but for Kurt. She regarded him with the utmost respect and admiration. Not only had he and Blaine survived at the hand of four of the most evil criminals she had ever pursued, but he came out ready to assist her with a level of courage that she could only aspire to.

The group of friends broke from their loving embrace. Sam continued to stroke Kurt's back, hoping that it was still bringing him comfort. SIbaja-Mora leaned forward, bringing her gaze down to meet Kurt's until he obliged,

"Kurt, you are the bravest person I have ever met. I know that it was extremely difficult to tell us that, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are helping us more than you realize."

"I want to catch them now. Let's get the hell out of here and catch them."

Both agents gestured for him to slow down,

"It's not that simple, Kurt. We have to take it one step at a time. Not only do we not want them to attack you again, but we don't want to scare them off," Freeman explained.

"We also want to get you and your friends set up in secure lodgings. We recently did it for Garrett for his safety, and we need to make sure that these men don't get to you either. This includes Kurt, Mr. Hummel, Mr. Evans, Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Anderson. The FBI has worked alongside local hotels to put you all up in safe accommodations, somewhat like witness protection," Sibaja-Mora elaborated on one part of the plan as Freeman stood and walked to the door. When she opened it and gestured to someone in the hall, Kurt and his friends were faced with five strangers who entered the room and stood before them, saying nothing.

All four of them sat in stunned silence as they stared in amazement at what their eyes were witnessing. The five strangers could have been their doppelgangers. Each of them was dressed in a similar wardrobe to the person they resembled. Also, their hair and makeup had been done to make them look as much like Kurt and his friends as possible. Even their mannerisms appeared to mimic those of the people they impersonated. The agents took their stunned silence as a sign to continue,

"These are your decoys. They will go to your current accommodations, have their makeup and wardrobe changed and then, when we bring each of you there, we will have you collect your things and sneak you out an undisclosed exit to an unmarked car. From then on, any time 'you' exit, it will be one of these people. We will be able to set you up at your new accommodations provided by the Bureau once we do the switch. Then our decoy agents will continue to live out your current habits. Hopefully this will convince our Nazi pricks that nothing has changed."

Cooper was the first to speak up,

"Why do we need decoys? Is there something you aren't telling us?

The agents looked at each other. They appeared to have a silent conversation with each other and soon, Sibaja-Mora took out the remote once more. When the screen came to life, revealing the mugshots of the men, she immediately advanced to the next slide. Kurt, Sam, Cooper and Pam were faced with a grainy image from what appeared to be a dashboard. Pam squinted her eyes and then made a sudden realization as she spoke,

"Wait, that's The Presidential. That's our hotel," she pointed to herself and Cooper. The agents nodded, and Sibaja-Mora pressed the button on her remote. They watched as the video came to life, showing pedestrians walking by the entrance to the hotel.

"This is a stakeout car parked outside your current accommodations. It has been there since Mr. and Mrs. Anderson arrived," Freeman nodded toward Cooper and Pam. They continued to look confused and Freeman lifted her eyebrow, "Just keep watching," she added.

Seconds later, they made a collective gasp as Elias appeared to stroll near the front door. He meandered for a minute or so before finding a comfortable spot against the wall. With his hands in his pockets, he leaned his shoulder against the cement support at the corner of The Presidential. Within moments, Cooper and Pam watched themselves leaving the hotel. They watched in horror as Elias followed them with his gaze. They got into their Uber and, as it pulled away from the curb, he continued to watch it while it disappeared down the street. Elias stood there for a moment, appeared to look around, and then joined the crowd of passers by as he disappeared from sight.

The room was engulfed in a terrified silence. The agents looked at them, taking in their expressions of recognition. They seemed to be grasping the situation.

"We also have video footage of Christian outside the Hilton about a block from this hospital," Freeman looked directly at Sam who knew what she was alluding to. He could only cover his mouth in utter disbelief. Freeman was not finished as she added one more detail, "Finally, we have more footage of Peter strolling in front of your apartment several times, Kurt."

Kurt clenched his fists in his lap and shook his head in disgust. This had to stop, and it had to stop now. He didn't want to wait. These men had to be apprehended. But, when he looked at the stunned faces of his friends, he realized he had to be patient not only for the sake of their safety, but that of his father as well.

"We have to be strategic, folks," Sibaja-Mora said, "we can't just pounce without stalking first. We know that, because they are exhibiting this behavior, they are only getting braver. So, we will continue to have agents outside each of these hotels, and the apartment and we will strike when we think the time is right."

Freeman nodded, "We can do this, folks. We will catch these guys. And this," she pointed to the decoys, "is how we do it."

As Kurt examined the five individuals made up to look like him and his friends, he had a sudden rush of hope. Could this really be happening? Were they actually zeroing in on these monsters? Would justice actually be served? He knew he had to be patient. He knew it, but he still hated it.