A/N Sorry haven't posted for a few days. My Mother in Law is not doing well at all. Last year they told us she wouldn't survive the summer, but she did. Then they said she wouldn't make it till Christmas, but she did. Then they said she wouldn't make it to this summer, and here we are, but this time it looks like it will definitely be her last summer. She is basically in systemic organ failure. They sent her home from the hospital, but more as a way to keep her comfortable than as a sign she is getting better. We've been letting our son spend as much time with her as he can. I just wish our daughter could be here to say good bye to her.

Anyway, thank you all for your Favs, Follows, and Reviews!

…

Kurt woke slowly, groggy, confused. As the room came into focus and he realized he was in the hospital again, he began to panic. What the hell was going on with him? He thought he had been getting better. He could hear voices out in the hallway, the door not closed all the way. He recognized Blaine's voice, of course, and Rachel's, and one of the other voices sounded familiar, but he didn't recognize the fourth voice.

"We've identified the venom as coming from a pit viper, however, there are no signs of a bite on Mr. Hummels body, nor would it be something that could accidentally be ingested." Was that Dr. Manuel?

"I don't understand," Blaine said. "If he wasn't bitten, and he didn't eat it accidentally, then how did it get into his system?"

"And why did he pass out last night?" Rachel asked. "They said on Friday that his blood was nearly back to normal."

The unknown voice responded to Blaine's question first. "That is what I am here to investigate, whether a crime has been committed or not."

"As for what caused the most recent episode," Dr. Manuel continued. "We still aren't certain what caused him to pass out last night, although there are some signs of asphyxiation, which could indicate that he choked on something, but his airways are clear and there is no sign of damage. Frankly, I'm seriously puzzled by your fiance's condition."

Kurt frowned. He hadn't choked on anything, he was certain of that. But it had felt like he was being compressed, or squeezed. He must have made some sound of distress, because the door suddenly opened, and Blaine rushed to his side.

"You're awake! How are you feeling?"

Kurt didn't know how to answer that. Scared. Confused. Terrified. Weak. "What is happening to me?" He whispered, clinging to the darker male.

"Hey! Shh! We'll figure it out! I promise!" Blaine held him tightly. "I love you so much! We'll figure this out, okay?"

Kurt kissed him. "I love you too. I just don't know what is happening to me!"

"It's going to be alright!" Blaine said, kissing him back.

Rachel, the doctor, and the unknown man entered the room more slowly.

"Your dad is flying up from Lima," Rachel informed him. "He and Carole will be here in a couple of hours. I'm going to go meet them at the airport." She squeezed his hand, and kissed his cheek.

Dr. Manuel checked his vitals, but Kurt was looking at the man with the badge on his belt.

"Babe, this is Detective Nicholson, he wants to ask you a few questions."

The tall, thin, blue eyed blonde moved closer to shake his hand. "Mr. Hummel, we are trying to figure out if you've been the victim of a crime or not. The venom found in your system is one that is not often ingested, as pit viper meat is not usually eaten. They've examined you for bite marks, but none were found. The only wound they found was the cut on your throat where you said you injured yourself shaving. They swabbed the area to test to see if the toxin was introduced there, but it will take time for those results to come back."

The detective's speech was interrupted by Blaine's phone indicating a text message. "Sorry," He said, silencing the phone and slipping it back into his pocket.

As the detective asked him questions about places he'd gone to in the last month, what he may have eaten, or anything that could explain the venom in his system, Kurt heard Blaine's phone vibrate several more times, but his fiance continued to ignore it. After the doctor and the detective left, Kurt looked to the shorter man.

"Do I even want to know who has been texting you every other minute?"

Blaine sighed. "It's June. She's pissed that I left rehearsal early last night, and still haven't shown up today."

Kurt was really starting to hate the woman, but he didn't want Blaine to lose out on this opportunity. "I'll be fine, why don't you go on and go to rehearsals. My Dad and Carole will be here soon."

Blaine shrugged. "I'm really not happy with her right now. I am seriously thinking of dropping out of this stupid showcase."

"You can't do that!" Kurt said, squeezing his hand. "This could be your big break!"

"You are more important to me than anything else!"

Kurt smiled and kissed him. "I love you. Now get out of here! Go to rehearsals, so that witch will stop texting you." Even as he spoke he heard the vibration from the phone again.

Blaine sighed again, and kissed him once more before leaving.

…

Santana Lopez was many things, but first and foremost, she was fiercely protective of those few people she called friends. So when her Mexican psychic third eye told her what was happening to Kurt wasn't natural, she vowed to herself to find out what the hell was going on and put a stop to it.

That was why she had left her shift at the dinner early that afternoon to head to the The Bronx. She had done a lot of research on line the night before, and found what she was looking for, memorizing the address.

The store front looked empty, except a small sign in the window, instructing people to ring the bell for service. It took a minute or so after she rang the bell before someone answered.

"Can I help you?" The woman looked ancient, her grey hair braided into a turban around her head, her dark coffee colored skin weathered and wrinkled, but her black eyes still shown with intelligence, and something undefinable.

"I believe my friend may be under threat by some malevolent being. They've attacked him at least twice now."

The older woman studied her face for a moment, and then nodded her head and invited the Latina inside. "Have you brought something of his that I may use to divine what is happening?"

Santana nodded and pulled a hair brush from her bag, handing it to the other woman. She lead Santana into a back room, and instructed her to sit at a small table. After pouring them each a cup of tea, she plucked a few strands of hair from the brush, and knotted them.

She placed the hairs in a dish of herbs, and set them on fire, studying the patterns in the smoke. Santana watched her as she sipped the tea, noting that the woman's eyes seemed to cloud over.

"Three beings fight for your friend's soul. One means him no harm, though they wish to posses his affections. One only wants him because of the first. But the third wants him out of the way. The first two will sort themselves out in time, but you will need the aide of the first to vanquish the third."

"Can you tell me who they are?" Santana asked.

The old woman shook her head no. "The first two dance in shadows, the third hides in plain sight. I will make you a talisman to help protect your friend, but the one who seeks to harm him is powerful. It may not be enough. You must be vigilant."

Santana nodded. "What do I owe you?"

The woman blinked, her eyes once more crystal clear, as she smiled at the younger woman. "A truth will be payment enough."

The dark haired woman frowned. "What truth?"

"You will understand in time. It will not be I who collects the debt. When the time is right, you will confess."

Santana didn't appreciate the crypticness of the woman's message, but watched as the older woman formed a small piece of clay into a disc, embedding in it a small white feather and a sprig of rosemary. She added a small amethyst to it, and inscribed it with symbols Santana didn't understand. The woman then baked it for thirty minutes, and after it cooled, placed it on a leather cord.

"Your friend must wear this at all times, it will protect him from mental assault and dark magic."

Santana took it, thanking the woman. Now came the hard part, convincing Kurt to wear it.

…

Blaine arrived at the rehearsal studio to find June shouting instructions to a group of dancers. When she spotted him, she frowned.

"Finally decided to show up, I see. You know, I am beginning to think you don't deserve everything I've done for you, Blaine."

"Kurt is in the hospital again," he stated. "He's very ill."

"He's probably faking it! I told you to dump him."

"He's my fiance, the love of my life! I am not dumping him! And he is not faking it! The police are involved. They think someone is trying to hurt him. They found traces of snake venom in his blood."

She waved that off. "He's a distraction to you. You should be focusing on you, your career. You are young, you'll find another love someday."

"If you are going to constantly belittle the man I love, then I am out of here. Nothing is more important to me than Kurt." He turned to leave.

"Fine, I'll drop it. The showcase is just over a week away. Come along, there is someone I want you to meet."

Blaine hesitated before turning back. He really didn't want to be here. He wanted to go back to Kurt and forget about this showcase. It was becoming more hassle than it was worth. But it could launch his career, and then he could help Kurt with his career. Sighing, he turned around.

"Not another word about me breaking up with Kurt, or I will be out of here."

She rolled her eyes, and turned to walk towards the stage, waving someone over. The man was about the same age as him, but taller, with medium brown hair and green eyes. Some people might think he was handsome, but Blaine thought he looked like some kind of rodent.

"Blaine, I want to introduce you to Sebastian Smythe. He will be featured along with you in the showcase."

Sebastian looked him over in a way that made Blaine's skin crawl, a smirk on his face. "Well, hello, Handsome. It's a pleasure to meet you."

His emphasis on the word pleasure left no doubt what the other man was thinking. Blaine didn't reply, merely shook the man's hand. Even that minor touch made Blaine feel dirty. June was speaking again, but Blaine wasn't really paying attention. He was thinking about Kurt.

…

Elliott couldn't stop thinking about Kurt. Something didn't add up, and he hated mysteries. He had heard the doctor talking about venom in Kurt's blood, but he didn't understand how that could be. He had tasted the man's blood just a few days before, and there had been no venom then. Yet according to the girl, who he had learned was named Rachel, he had been hospitalized a week ago, the same night he had last drank from him.

He had 'bumped' into her as she had been leaving the hospital earlier, apparently to go pick up Kurt's parents from the airport. He had said he'd been concerned after seeing Kurt pass out after his audition. The girl had been very chatty, and he had learned much from her.

Apparently after Elliott had left Kurt last Sunday night, Kurt had collapsed from dehydration and anemia, and his blood wasn't clotting properly. But how had he gotten the venom in his system, and why had he been bleeding again after Elliott had sealed the wound?

After Rachel had left, he had gone up to Kurt's room, but the fiance was there, as was a man who appeared to be a detective. Kurt was answering questions about things he may have eaten, places he could have gone where he might have gotten the venom in his system. Only Elliott seemed to notice Kurt's heart race when asked if he thought he had been bitten. Kurt wouldn't remember that, though. Not yet, anyway.

Elliott turned and walked away. He needed to think some more before he pursued Kurt further.

…

After Blaine and the detective left, Kurt dozed off again, but his sleep was fitful, full of twisted dreams. He woke up screaming.

"Easy, kiddo! You're fine, just fine."

Kurt turned to look at the man sitting beside his bed.

"Dad!" He sobbed as the older man hugged him.

"I'm here, Kurt. You're okay now. I won't let anyone hurt you." Burt held him tight, rubbing his back soothingly. "What were you dreaming about?"

Kurt frowned. What had he been dreaming about. Flashes of memory came to him. Shoved against a wall. Stolen kisses. Dark Blue eyes. "Karofsky, I think." No, his eyes are hazel green. "I'm not sure. I don't know why I'd have nightmares about him now, though. It's all kind of fuzzy."

Burt studied his face. "Well, your body has been through a lot of stress recently. It's bound to bring back bad memories. The important thing is for you to get better, and for us to figure out how this happened."

"I'm scared, dad."

"Me too, kid. Me too."