AN: The finale. Hope you all enjoyed!

Part III: Whole

Kurt woke up the next day on the couch next to Dave, he looked around in surprise, wondering at what point they fell asleep, thankfully fully clothed. He vaguely remembered getting up to get a washcloth to clean themselves off, to throw away Dave's condom, and to give Dave his shirt back to dress himself. He remembered helping Dave get comfortable by helping him prop his injured foot up on a pillow as he settled down next to him on the narrow couch.

Kurt stood up as Dave continued to snore softly, undisturbed by his movements. Kurt stretched, blinking his eyes to clear them of sleep, only to be greeted by the sight of Finn and Rachel, both looking confused but also somewhat pleased.

"So," Finn said, gulping his orange juice and setting it down. "Wanna tell us about that."

"No," Kurt yawned before rubbing his face with his hand blearily.

"Alright," Finn said, shrugging despite his defeat.

Kurt could hear movement behind him and turned around to find Dave waking up. He rubbed his back as he slowly sat up, obviously sore. He lifted his leg and brought it carefully to the floor.

"Fuck, Kurt, I-" Dave began to say until he realized the three faces staring at him from the kitchen. Kurt knew he was looking at Dave in a warning not to say anything. Dave cleared his throat, looking apprehensively between all three of them.

"Uhhh, morning," Dave said instead, attempting to sit up from the old, sunken couch.

"Here, let me help," Kurt said rushing over to him. He offered his hands to Dave, which he accepted, and Kurt carefully pulled Dave to his feet. When he stood they were chest to chest, their hands had yet to let go of each other. Kurt exhaled, looking at their hands and then Dave, who was searching his eyes with a slight frown. Kurt licked his lips and let go. Kurt picked up the crutches that were propped against the end table instead and handed them to Dave.

"Here," Kurt said softly, and Dave took them.

"Thanks," Dave said gruffly. "I um… I think I'm gonna head out."

"Oh, right," Kurt said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. "I can walk you to the parking garage. Let me just grab a sweater."

"How about the one on the floor behind you," Rachel offered sweetly. Kurt glared at her and Finn could only bury his face in his hands. He could almost hear him muttering "no" in succession under his breath as the pieces fell into place.

"Thank you, Rachel." His voice was honeyed, but his tone clearly said "shut up."

"Okay." Kurt slipped on his sweater from the night before as well as the converse he took off next to the couch. He picked up his phone as well and slipped it into the wide pocket of his sweater.

"Ready?"

"Yeah," Dave said, pausing to pick up his keys off the end table and put them in his back pocket to free his hand.

"It was good seeing you both. Merry Christmas," Dave said, nodding to Finn and Rachel. Finn nodded back with a grimace but Rachel could blind him with her smile.

"You too, dude."

"Merry Christmas, and happy holidays, David." Dave smiled weakly back at them before he followed Kurt to the door. Kurt slid it open and let Dave slip through first and then closed it behind them. They walked slowly due to Dave's current state to the pick-up truck. Dave, with one crutch tucked under his arm, pull out his keys and unlocked the truck, and stepped inside carefully pulling his boot in as well.

"Here, I will put the crutches on the other side," Kurt offered.

"Thanks." Dave sounded emotionless as he handed Kurt the crutches and Kurt went to the other side of the truck. Dave started the engine just as Kurt heard a thud. He shook his head, chalking it up to be the sound coming from the old pick-up. He adjusted the crutches so they wouldn't obscure the side mirror.

"So…" Dave said, avoiding Kurt's eyes, and played with the peeling leather of the steering wheel instead.

"I… I had fun," Kurt supplied.

"Yeah, me too.".

"Have a safe drive back," Kurt said, feeling put out that Dave could hardly look at him. Did he want to forget what had happened? Forget he ever ran into him?

Of course he did. It was just a one night stand, Kurt thought to himself. Why would want to be with Kurt? After all, he had been cheated on twice. What did that say about him?

"Thanks," Dave said as Kurt shut the door and stepped back.

Kurt held a hand up in farewell as Dave backed up out of his parking spot and followed the arrows out of the garage, leaving a cloud of smoke behind him. Kurt closed his eyes and he sighed, knowing that was the last time he would see David Karofsky.

oOo

Kurt meandered back inside to be greeted by the questioning stares of Finn and Rachel.

He ignored them as he went back to the couch and sat on it, hoping that he could pick up some of Dave's scent, but it was already gone.

"Kurt," Rachel said, coming over to sit next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You like him, don't you?" Kurt nodded, hiding his face in his hands and running them through his hair in desperation. Dave was gone. They had gone to the same school for almost two years without seeing any trace of the other man… What were the chances he ever would again?

"Though he doesn't seem to feel the same way. It was… Just us having fun, I guess," Kurt mused sadly. He looked up to see Rachel's sad expression. Even Finn was looking at him consolingly from his spot at the kitchen table.

Kurt fell back into the cushions with a groan.

"There has to be a way to look him up," Rachel offered Kurt weakly. Kurt could only laugh.

"Okay, yeah…" Kurt laughed humorlessly, "Let me just stalk him. He doesn't want to be with me, Rachel."

Just as Kurt finished his statement, he heard a frantic knock at the door. Confused, he stood up to go answer it. He held his breath, hoping for only one person to be on the other side, and he was correct. David Karofsky stood there, a look of desperation on his face. Kurt saw that he had parked rather haphazardly in the space he had just vacated.

"Can I talk to you… Privately?" Dave asked breathlessly. Kurt could only nod wordlessly, following Dave out into the parking lot. He shut the door behind him, hoping the man didn't see Rachel hopping around in excitement and Finn silently fist-pumping into the air.

Kurt turned back to Dave who was digging in his back pocket after he placed the crutches together under one arm. Kurt assumed that he was taking out his keys once more. Maybe he decided he needed Kurt to drive him back after all.

"You dropped this," Dave said, holding out a phone. Kurt's phone. Kurt stared at it disappointedly, despite having nearly lost the device. "I found it between the passenger seat and the door."

Dave handed it to him and Kurt took it. It must have caused the thud he heard. Kurt, however, looked at Dave in confusion.

"How would you know it was there?" Kurt questioned, tilting his head as he stored it in the back pocket of his jeans instead.

"Because as soon as I made it to the main road I tried to call you," Dave said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh?" Kurt said, his breath catching in his chest. "You… You still have my phone number?"

Dave's head dropped, looking embarrassed.

"I… I memorized it back in high school," he started, and with a sigh, continued, "But I added it to my new phone when I got it once I moved to New York, hoping that one day I would have the courage to call you. But I decided that that wasn't the best idea. That I should move on and leave you alone. That you didn't owe me anything after everything I did to you. Same as last night. You told me you and your ex broke up, and I know you were hurting. I just… Assumed what we had… Did… That it was a one-time thing."

Kurt smiled at him, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

"So… You tried calling me," Kurt sniffed. They were both utterly stupid. Both thinking the other only wanted a one night stand.

"Yeah… Needless to say, I was a bit surprised when I heard your ringtone in my car. One Direction? Really?"

"Hey, they have a lot of good songs," Kurt said defensively, "plus they-" Kurt wasn't able to continue what he wanted to say. Dave had already leaned forward and captured Kurt's lips, his one free hand at the nape of his neck. Dave pulled away sooner than Kurt had liked but stared into Kurt's eyes.

"I couldn't stand the thought of not seeing you again," Dave said softly. "I knew you could reject me all over again, but I don't care. Tell me to leave and I'll leave and you'll never have to see me again. If I ever see you on campus, I'll look the other way. But if you give me a chance to show you what you mean to me, to fucking cherish you in the way that you deserve, I promise I-"

It was Kurt's turn to interrupt Dave.

He all but threw himself at the burly man, nearly knocking him off his good and bad feet as he kissed him as if his life depended on it. Like Dave would exit his life once more and had to physically keep him there. Kurt wound his arms around his neck, and Dave returned the kiss in equal fervor, their tongues greeting each other as Dave leaned into Kurt, pressing him up against the cold metal of the door and Kurt had to slip his hands around his waist just to keep him upright.

Dave drew away, still holding onto Kurt for dear life as he tucked his head into Kurt's neck, kissing the skin there.

"I'm so glad you came back," Kurt laughed, referring to more than Dave returning his phone. Kurt ran both of his hands up and down Dave's strong back. He couldn't stop smiling.

"Me too," Dave said, pulling him away, showing Kurt the lopsided, genuine smile that he was already crazy about. It was like he was a different person than the one he saw in the car when he took him to the hospital. He tore his walls down and he was once again like the boy that once showered him with Valentine's Day gifts for an entire week before revealing himself in a gorilla costume.

"I still have to go back though," Dave responded despondently. Kurt opened his mouth to object, but Dave gave him a reassuring peck. "Just until after Christmas at least. I told my uncle I would help him at the farm, and spend time with him and my aunt and cousins for Christmas, but I'll be back for the spring term. I want to try to come back before the New Year, actually."

"New Year's, hmm?" Kurt toyed with a button on Dave's shirt. "I'd very much enjoy a New Year's kiss from you at midnight."

Dave's lip quirked, appearing delighted and amused.

"I think I can manage that," Dave said quietly as he brushed his thumb over Kurt's pink cheeks.

Kurt smiled brightly, his face feeling like it could split in two as he pulled Dave into a hug once more. He buried his face into his neck and inhaling his woodsy scent that he already missed so much. He never wanted to forget this feeling. For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to feel worthy-to realize he was strong enough alone, but also what he had been missing in another person. Someone who would not take him for granted-someone who would always come back to him, appreciate him, and, someday, maybe love him. It scared him to death, however, but he knew Dave would be worth it.

For the first time in a long time… He felt whole.