From now on all chapters are marked AU
Part 8
Present day
Jeff hurriedly explained what had happened back then (last chapter) and when the New Direction members that had witnessed the fight realized it was Wes who'd been the badass they just stared at the older boy in shock. Wes was now in front of Azimo, Karofsky and the others.
"I thought I made it clear to you gentlemen", he said calmly. "That I wouldn't let any of you mess with my boys."
Azimo shrunk back a bit, not forgetting the trashing Wes had done to them.
"What do you have to say for yourselves", Wes said dangerously and crossing his arms.
"You never said anything about going after your boys when they're at our school", a football player piped up and Wes sent him a death glare. He knew the rest of the Warblers and New Direction was behind him now.
"Then I tell you now", he growled. "Come anywhere near my boys and I'll-"
"WES!" Kurt's panicked voice came down the hallway and Wes flew around. "Something's wrong with Thad!"
Wes' eyes widened and he ran towards the bathroom. When he got inside he took in the scene in front of him. The girls all looked terrified while Thad was lying on the floor gasping for breath. Tina and Rachel were crying, probably in terror.
"Shit", Wes swore and kneeled down by Thad's side. "Kurt call 911! It was cherry slushees!"
"W-what does that mean", Quinn asked as Kurt rushed out.
"Thad's allergic to cherries", Wes grumbled as he took his jacket off and put it beneath Thad's head to protect it while he was having the "seizure".
"W-Wes", Thad wheezed out between convulsions.
"I'm here buddy", Wes said gently. "Thad listen to me. Do you have your medicine with you?"
"T-Trent", Thad gagged on his own voice and was convulsing something terrible. Wes nodded and got up.
"Girls, talk to him and try to make him calm down", he instructed before rushing out.
He saw Trent stand glaring at the jocks, who were surrounded by the two glee-clubs.
"Trent give me your bag!" Wes yelled and if Trent wondered why he didn't say anything. He just flung the bag over to Wes who grabbed it and started to roam through it. He found the bottle with pills that Thad took for his cherry allergy and noticed… that there was only one pill left.
"Aw shit", Wes swore and snatched a water bottle from a girl walking by. He ignored her and headed into the bathroom again. Wes emptied the water bottle in the sink, put the pill in it and filled it with water again and started to shake it until he no longer could hear the pill rattle around. He fished around in Trent's bag until he found the Warbler's insulin syringe. He made a mental note to get Trent a new one and then filled the syringe up with the medicine water.
"I hope this works", Wes said as he tore Thad's shirt open. The girls were looking at him in confusion but Wes ignored it and used the syringe. Thad hissed at the sting but his convulsing stopped a little bit. (I have no idea if this actually works or not just making things up) Wes breathed a sigh of relief before pulling the younger boy's head into his lap running his hands through his hair. Thad looked like he was about to pass out and Wes fought really hard not to show how worried he was because he could feel the pulse weakening. He closed his eyes and prayed and was vaguely aware of paramedics rushing in and taking Thad away.
A few hours later the Warblers, Blaine and Kurt were still in the waiting room of the ER. Wes had called Thad's parents but they were out of town so they told the hospital to treat Wes as Thad's next in kin until they could get there. The doctor had informed Wes that Thad's heart had stopped on the way in and then again when they had put him in a bed.
Wes was pacing back and forth in front of the distressed Warblers. If Thad died Wes would never forgive himself. He was just a tiny bit happy that this happened because Figgins decided that now it was time to get rid of the slushee machine. A bit too late if you asked Wes and all gleeks at McKinley high. But he was so mad at himself for letting it happen to Thad… and for not beating the crap out of the football team. Thad could've died… heck for all Wes knew he was dying.
He looked around the ER waiting room and saw his closest friends look at their feet. Nick and Jeff were in each other's arms, as was Blaine and Kurt. David had his hands clutched together and was squeezing his eyes shut. Rock was rubbing his back while having his arm around Luke's shoulders while the younger boy leaned into him. The three African Americans sat beside James, Joseph, Trent, John, Fred and Chris. The group was huddled together seeking comfort. Frank stood behind Niff, holding his hands on their shoulders. Wes noticed that the five freshmen sat a bit away from the rest of the Warblers and sighed. John noticed and pulled Chris and James with him towards the group. The freshmen was confused at this but was then pulled into hugs by their older friends. The New Directions sat together and Wes could feel them watching him. Wes wanted to break down like his friends were doing… but he just couldn't… he had to be strong. He turned his back to them and saw Thad's doctor come towards the group. Wes hurried over to her.
"How is he", he asked worriedly and the woman smiled gently.
"He's just fine", she said. "We got his heart beating on its own again and it's beating strongly. His on allergy medicine right now and will be able to leave the hospital tomorrow."
"Thank God", Wes said sighing heavily with relief.
"He's asking for you", the doctor said. "You are Wes Montgomery right?"
"Yeah", Wes croaked out. "Where is he?"
"First room to the right down that corridor. I'll inform your friends of what's going on." Wes nodded and hurried off, knowing his friends probably got more worried because of it. But he trusted the doctor to calm them down.
Wes knocked on the door and stepped inside and smiled gently. Thad looked at him, smiled weakly and held his hand out for him. Thad was pale as a sheet and was dark around the eyes as if he hadn't slept for days or had gotten black-eyes on both eyes. Wes hurriedly walked up to him and took his cold hand in his and putting his other hand on Thad's shoulder.
"Hey", he said smiling. "How are you feeling?"
"Like crap", Thad groaned and Wes sat down on the bed.
"You sure looks like it", he joked. "At least they got all that red color off your face… cherry red is not your color."
"Neither is it yours", Thad joked and Wes chuckled at the memory of his own slusheeing.
"At least it didn't nearly kill me", he said and sighed. "I'm sorry Thad."
"For what?" Thad asked looking at him with big eyes and Wes started to rub his hand with his thumb in a soothing way. "It wasn't your fault I got targeted and it's not your fault I have a deadly allergy to cherries."
"But I should have stopped those jerks from nearly killing you", Wes said.
"It's not the first time it's happened", Thad mumbled.
"Thad, that's no excuse."
Thad sighed and tried to sit up. Wes helped him and was sure he was comfortable… by sitting so that Thad could lean his head on his shoulder. Wes leaned his head on Thad's while having his arm around his shoulder and rubbing Thad's arm soothingly. Wes had always been very protective over Thad because the younger boy had been a mess when he started at Dalton.
Small for his age and terrified of basically everything and with so low self-esteem that Wes wondered how he could even find it in him to walk or just exist. Thad had been treated as a waste of space by his parents because they were always working or away on business trips. Thad had been raised by their British Butler and an older, strict woman was his tutor. That's why Thad used words as mock and sir or just… upper-class British English.
When Thad started a public school at the age of 10 he got bullied because of it. He was beaten up, spat on, mocked, hurt and pushed around. The poor kid hadn't been pulled out of that school until halfway through freshman year when a couple of bullies had thrown their cherry milkshakes at him and forced cherries down his throat. They knew he never ate them and guessed it was because he just didn't like them… but then Thad got an allergic attacked and collapsed. The boys started to scream and a teacher got there… just in time. It was lucky for Thad that the hospital was 15 minutes away from their school… otherwise he wouldn't be alive now. His parents pulled him out of that school and put him in Dalton, why not before? Because Thad's father was of the opinion that Thaddeus had to man up and show those low-lives that he was not afraid of them or anything and that no matter how hard he got beaten he would always get back up.
The poor kid hadn't bonded to anyone during his first week and after two more weeks Wes decided that enough was enough. If the freshmen refused to bond with their new classmate Wes would do it himself. He sought Thad out and found the younger boy crying. Wes stayed with him, comforted him and sang to him. They gotten a bond quite quickly and Wes brought Thad with him wherever he went, even Warbler practice. He had explained to the rest of the council - Wes had been on the council since his sophomore year - and the members that Thad was in need of comfort and a sense of safeness. The Warblers all hurriedly agreed to help the scared boy, because it tore at their hearts seeing him like that. When it turned out Thad could sing really well he didn't even have to audition, thanks to Wes he already was a Warbler. Thad quickly bonded with the rest of the Warblers, especially the boys in his own grade. But his closeness to Wes stayed and their friendship was strong. Thad snuggled closer to Wes and mumbled:
"I know it's no excuse…"
"If you relapse on me now I will kill you myself", Wes joked gently rubbing the boy's arm.
"Aw please sir I am way beyond that kind of nonsense! This attack shall not and I repeat not have me squirm around in a hole of self-loathing because I know for a fact that I am better than that. I know that I am stronger and that I am worth something, a lot, to a lot of people. I was not targeted because I'm me I was targeted because I got out the door first."
"Good we're getting somewhere", Wes joked again. "Do you remember when you got teased back in sophomore year and had a relapse? You thought no one cared about you, not even me or David. I feared you were going suicidal on me."
"Me? Please you mock us sir! Suicide is the way out for someone who has given up on everything. A gentleman does not kill himself and puts his closest friends and family in suffering and self-loathing. He talks it through with someone and asks for help."
Wes couldn't help the smile that got onto his face. He held Thad a little bit closer and said:
"I am so proud of you right now. A few years ago those words would never leave your mouth."
"Well I've had great people pulling me through it…" Thad said and then looked up at Wes with big eyes. "Can we go home now?"
"No you have to stay the night."
Thad just groaned.
"What is this I hear", an amused voice said from the door and they looked up and saw the Warblers enter. David was it that spoke.
"Is our Thad forgetting that gentlemen do not groan", David asked grinning.
"I did not groan David Mitchell", Thad said smirking. "I just showed my displeasure and annoyance with the situation in a non-verbal way."
"You groaned", the others, including Wes said.
"I most certainly did not", Thad said and yawned. "Why is it getting so foggy in here?"
Wes chuckled. "Just go to sleep you upper-class brat."
"Oh shut your mouth charlatan", Thad grumbled but fell asleep, still holding one of Wes' hands.
"I feel most insulted and recent that comment!" Wes said grinning and then turned to the others. They all smiled. It had been close… but Thad pulled through. Like the Warblers always did. Wes carefully moved away so that Thad was lying down and decided that now… now could he be "weak" for a bit.
He sunk down in a chair and buried his face in his hands. He knew he must look a mess. His hair was standing up in every direction and his jacket was open and his shirt tussled. He looked so down it almost scared the others. The boys looked at each other and decided that Wes was in the need of some cheering up. Jeff grinned and turned to Nick and whispered something in his ear and Nick started to chuckle. Jeff moved towards Wes while Nick waved the others to him and started to explain their plan to him. Jeff sat down beside Wes and sighed dramatically.
"Gosh it disturbs me to see you Wesley" he said and Wes looked up to glare at him at the use of his full name. "Looking so down in the dumps." The Warblers moved over to them and stood in a semi circle in front of them, blocking them from view. Jeff threw his arm around Wes' shoulders and moved his hand to gesture to all the Warblers.
"Ev'ry guy here'd love to be you Wesley", Jeff went on and the Warblers nodded. "Even when taking your lumps." He pulled Wes closer. "There's no man in town as admired as you! You're ev'ryone's favorite guy!"
"Oh so now I'm a Disney villain", Wes grumbled and rolled his eyes but Jeff didn't stop there.
"Ev'ryone's awed and inspired by you and it's not very hard to see why."
He grinned at Nick, Blaine and Trent. Said boys cleared their throats and sang:
No one's slick as Wesley
No one's quick as Wesley
No one's neck's as incredibly thick as Wesley's
For there's no man in town half as manly
Perfect, a pure paragon!
You can ask any Tom, Dick or Stanley
And they'll tell you whose team they prefer to be on
All Warblers:
No one's been like Wesley
A king pin like Wesley
Jeff:
No one's got a swell cleft in his chin like Wes
Wes rolled his eyes and got up with a small smile and sang:
As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating!
My what a guy, that Wesley!
Give five "hurrahs!"
Give twelve "hip-hips!"
Wesley is the best
And the rest is all drips
No one fights like Wesley
Douses lights like Wesley
In a wrestling match nobody bites like Wesley!
Kurt smiled happily and sang with the girls of ND, they had also come into the room when they heard singing:
For there's no one as burly and brawny
As you see I've got biceps to spare
Not a bit of him's scraggly or scrawny
That's right!
And ev'ry last inch of me's covered with hair
No one hits like Wesley
Matches wits like Wesley
In a spitting match nobody spits like Wesley
I'm especially good at expectorating!
Ten points for Wesley!
When I was a lad I ate four dozen eggs
Ev'ry morning to help me get large
And now that I'm grown I eat five dozen eggs
So I'm roughly the size the barge! – The Warblers sniggered because Wes weren't really that big of a guy.
"Wait that's Finn", Wes remarked and everyone sniggered at the tall teen, who looked confused.
Oh, ahhh, wow!
My what a guy, that Wesley!
No one shoots like Wesley
Makes those beauts like Wesley
Then goes tromping around wearing boots like Wesley
I use antlers in all of my decorating!
My what a guy,
Wesley!
Wes laughed as he was in the middle of a huge group hug. He was amazed that Thad hadn't woken up through all this, but suspected it had something to do with the drugs he was given.
"Feeling better", David asked his friend.
"Yes… except for the fact that I am now a Disney-villain", Wes chuckled and shot a look at Jeff. Jeff just grinned innocently. Wes shook his head and they all settled down until the nurse told them it was time to go. Wes left the room last, taking Thad's hand and whispering to the sleeping boy that he'd be back first thing in the morning.
TBC