The whole night was a bit of a blur. As far as Kurt could remember, it mostly consisted of being checked over by different doctors, who all ended up thinking the same thing: concussion and bruised ribs, but otherwise he was just a bit shaken and it was nothing that wouldn't heal of its own accord. He asked about Blaine a couple of times but was told with a sympathetic look that Blaine wasn't family at each one.
After a while, Burt and Finn burst into the room.
"Kurt!" his father cried, throwing himself on top of Kurt in a tight hug. "Oh, god, Kurt, I was so worried – you can't do that to me, bud..."
"Dad," Kurt said, holding his father close, "your heart – "
"My heart's fine, luckily," Burt responded, "but are you?"
"Concussion, but basically I'm fine," Kurt shrugged, not wanting to go into details.
"How'd it happen, though, Kurt?" Finn asked, wide-eyed with concern.
"Doesn't matter," Kurt replied, but the shake in his voice gave his away.
"No, man, it wasn't – Karofsky? Again?" Finn sounded livid. Kurt was almost surprised that Finn hadn't suddenly up and left to go beat the living daylights out of his classmate. "This is a joke. How is he still legally allowed around people?"
Burt's face had gone very hard. "I'm called the police about this, Kurt. Don't you worry."
"No, Dad, don't, not tonight, at least," Kurt said desperately. He didn't know why, but he still felt he should try to defend Karofsky. There had to be method to his madness. "Look, please, go home and get some sleep. Both of you." He looked from his father to his stepbrother until they both nodded and made to go. "Oh, and – Dad? I don't know if he'd still there, but – ?"
"I'll get them to send Blaine in," Burt said, a slight smile playing on his face.
"Great. Thanks."
Kurt sat alone for a few minutes, fiddling with his bedsheet. This colour could not be flattering, especially with his cold skin tone...
There was a knock at the door. Straightening up, Kurt instinctively reached to fix his hair. "Come in," he called awkwardly.
The door swung open, revealing a tired but relieved-looking Blaine. He smiled sheepishly and shut the door behind him.
"I can't believe you waited," Kurt said.
"Of course I did," Blaine shrugged.
Kurt reached out and Blaine hurried over and enveloped him in a hug that lasted several seconds longer than strictly necessary. Kurt could have sworn he heard Blaine sniff. "Blaine, are you...?"
"No," Blaine replied quickly, pulling away from Kurt and shaking his head. "I just... I was so worried, Kurt. I've been sitting in that waiting room for hours. And your dad and Finn arrived, but they weren't allowed in in case you got overexcited or something, and no-one would tell me what was going on... Never do that to me again, okay?" Blaine hiccoughed and hugged Kurt again, tightly.
Kurt laughed gently. "I'm fine, thanks for asking," he said quietly.
After another few minutes – although Kurt had no real way of knowing the time – another doctor came in to shoo Blaine out, claiming that Kurt needed rest. Kurt tried to protest, but Blaine nodded and gave Kurt's hand one last squeeze. "You get better, okay?" was the final thing he said before going. Kurt nodded his head obediently, smiling a goodbye.