A/N: Grilled Cheesus is here. Please enjoy (oh, and a big thanks to my first reviewer- love you girl!- and all those who've favourited/followed this story. You all rock!)

Please drop a review to let me know what you think? It really would mean the world to me! :)

Kurt bounced off a tree, sword flashing as he twirled it through the air, slashing through one man as he rolled forwards out of the way as he fell, dead. He looked around. Jesse's message had indeed got back to Aladorn who'd taken it upon himself to send troops over to try and get rid of him.

Needless to say, Kurt wasn't about to take it lying down as he brought the sword up, letting it clash with another man's. He saw the glowing red eyes and elongated fangs beneath the face mask the creature wore. Vampire. He kicked the creature in between its legs, watching it howl and crumple in pain as he focused his energy on the earth, searching for the element he needed. Grasping it, he pulled upwards. The vampire howled as roots wrapped around his arms and legs, the smell of burning flesh filling the air as Kurt brought out a dagger and threw it at the vampire's chest, watching its eyes go wide as it slumped back, the life leaving it as he ran, pulling the blade out from its place and the roots untwisting. Rushing over, he defended Santana and they stood back to back.

"What was that human song? 'Saturday Night's alright for Fighting'?" Kurt asked, blocking some more blows that were sent his way and sending a few of his own back, grinning at the pained cries that came as replies.

Santana laughed. "Well it's one way to spend a weekend!" She laughed and sliced a man's head from his shoulders. There were three of them against a force of 25. Needless to say, it was taking a while to dispose of them all. Luckily, they were still standing but Aladorn's men were down to 19. Just then, he felt Santana sniff. "Humans. On their way. Headed from the Western entrance." She barked at Kurt. From the corner of his eye, he saw a vampire rush off from the battle, hunger in its eyes.

"I'm on it!" He promised. "Brit, cover her!" He ordered, cutting down two men as he ran after the rogue, only pausing to make sure his girls were safe before taking off after it.

Grateful the battle was in the park, Kurt jumped into the trees, traversing the branches with ease as he ran along them and bounded from tree to tree, eyes latched onto the vampire. Then he heard footsteps ahead and let his eyes flicker.

Sue Sylvester was walking along, oblivious as she sipped her protein drink, hand in hand with another woman. Kurt groaned and jumped down, shifting as he moved to get ahead of the vampire. They were racing now, Sue's scent heavy in the vampire's nostrils as Kurt pulled ahead.

Sue only noticed Kurt was barrelling forwards when he was a few feet away. "Lady lips, what on Earth-?"

"Sue, move!" Kurt barked and pushed the two women aside as something came flying towards them. Sue lay there in the grass as Kurt jumped up and tackled the creature, the pair rolling and scrapping like wild animals until Kurt, in a move she'd never seen, punched the thing in the face. "Leave them alone!" Kurt demanded as the thing pinned him. Sue could finally make it out in the darkness. It looked just like another boy, except the person was clad entirely in black and had freaky contact lenses in, their eyes glowing a savage orange from beneath their balaclava. Her blood ran cold at the blood soaking the person's hands and the daggers he had stowed in his belt, one half out of its sheath.

Whoever they were had meant to kill her.

Maybe even hurt her sister.

"Mine, the prey is mine!" The person pinning her student snarled until Kurt kicked him off, twisting fluidly and chasing after it. Again, they lunged at each other and rolled around, punching and kicking and snarling at each other. For the second time Kurt was pinned but he seemed to hold off the other boy fairly well. Sue cradled her sister in her arms.

Then Kurt turned to stare at Sue. "Miss Sylvester, close your eyes, you don't want to see this." He advised.

"But-!"

"No seriously, do it." He assured her. Sue closed her eyes, also shielding Jean's from the spectacle. And then winced, the sound of flesh hitting flesh resonated in her ears before a pained howl cut through the park and she heard running footsteps. She opened them again and saw Kurt stood tall, brushing himself down despite the bruises and cuts he was now sporting. "There." He murmured, eyes roaming the darkness. He turned to Sue, and his blue eyes were startling in the dark of the evening. "You alright?"

"Lady Hummel...you just saved me from getting killed." Sue gasped. "Never mind that," She looked down at her trembling sister. "You saved Jean's life."

"Yeah well," Kurt panted, rubbing his forehead and leaving a smear of blood. "As much as some people don't like you, I tend to be against murder. And," He smiled at Jean. "I understand the importance of family. No way would I let anyone harm Jean." He promised her softly, soothing Sue's fears. "All the same," He eyed the surroundings warily. "We'd best get you out of here." He decided. "Let's go." Kurt announced, taking her hand and dragging the women away. They walked at a quick pace, Sue a little disconcerted about what just happened and didn't question how quickly they reached the exit of the park. "I'm going back in."

"What?"

"That v-person needs to be stopped." He shrugged. "Will you be alright?" He checked. She nodded. "Alright. Well then, erm, I guess it'd be better if you went home." He concluded awkwardly before turning to run back.

"Porcelain!" She called out and Kurt stopped, turning to look at her. "Thank you." She offered. "For saving my sister." Sue clarified. Kurt just inclined his head in acknowledgement and ran off into the park again. Sue stood and watched as his figure retreated into the shadows again.

And, although she was positive it was just her imagination, he seemed to grow taller and leaner as he ran.

Shaking her head, and rubbing it, she began to walk back home with the decision for cocoa and bed firmly in mind.

Even the most impressive and fearsome cheerleading coaches needed to relax after a brush with death.

Come Monday morning Kurt, Brittany and Santana were all sore and aching. It had taken them all weekend to track down the 25 men sent to destroy them and they were too drained to heal all their injuries as they lay in Santana's bedroom, groaning. Kurt had a black eye and bruises mottling his right thigh and side, a cut near his hairline and scratches down his left arm along with bandages wrapped around his torso from where 6 men had cornered him, leaving their mark across his back and chest. Santana was dealing with a colossal lump on her forehead and a bruise swelling on her jaw, not to mention she felt like she'd broken three ribs and had the bruises to prove it- though in reality she knew the broken bones weren't there. She'd cut open the back of her head and her right ankle was killing her. Brittany wasn't doing any better: Her face had escaped damage but she had an impressive assortment of bruises all over her torso and a burn on her right shoulder. A gash across her back throbbed and pulled each time she moved and her right knee ached whenever she tried to move it. All three of them were stiff all over and wanted nothing more than to skip school, but knew it was out of the question as they drove into the parking lot.

"So, if anyone asks, I got beat up by some homophobes, Santana ended up having issues in Lima Heights Adjacent and Brit...well, see it as an opportunity to get creative, yeah honey?" He offered.

"Sure." She agreed, kissing his cheek. "Let's get this over with." She mumbled. The three exited the car and limped their way into school. Instantly Kurt was assaulted with a shove into some lockers, Karofsky stopping to laugh at him.

"Having fun, Gaylord?" He mocked.

"Not today Karofsky!" Kurt spat, already feeling his battle scars throbbing as he slammed his locker open. He levelled a glower at the boy. "Run along before I forget my 'no violence' policy and slam your face into the lockers and see how you like it." He threatened.

"You threatening me?" Karofsky challenged, crowding Kurt into the lockers.

"Yes, I am." Kurt promised, going toe to toe with him. Karofsky looked taken aback. "What? You think I can't defend myself against you? Because that is so far from the truth it's laughable." He smirked. Karofsky growled and sent a fist flying only for Kurt to twist out of the way, letting it collide with the locker.

"You'll pay for that faggot!" Karofsky roared, throwing another punch that didn't even come close to hitting Kurt. He tried one last time, throwing his hand forwards with as much force as he could only to miss Kurt and hear a definite crack in his hand. Crying out in pain he retreated, still scowling. "You watch your step Hummel; you'll pay for what you did to my hand!"

"I didn't do anything asswagon." He yelled back. "You just picked a fight with a locker!" He snapped. Angrier than before and feeling his bandages pulling tight, Kurt wrenched open his locker and managed to rip the door off its hinges. "Damn it." He cursed, holding the useless door in his hands.

"Hey Kurt! Oh my God what happened?" Mercedes yelped, hands clapped to her mouth.

Rachel, seeing her reaction to Kurt, walked over in concern. "Hi guys and oh my God what in the name of Barbara what happened to your face?" She demanded.

"It's not so bad. I took a walk and some homophobes thought it would be funny to teach me a lesson." Kurt dismissed, waving off their apologies and sympathy. "Plus my locker's bust, so I might be a while." He grimaced as the bell rang. "You should get to home room." He suggested.

The girls exchanged a look. "A-Are you sure?" Rachel asked hesitantly.

Kurt grit his teeth together. "Positive." He ground out. Then he stiffened. A wave of magic curled through the air, and his ears pricked up. The patter of swift footsteps echoed from the entrance of the school. "Seriously, go." He advised.

"Kurt-!"

"I'm fine!" He blurted abruptly, wincing at the bite in his voice as he kept his focus on the slithering sounds nearing him. "Look just...just go alright?" He asked wearily, faking tiredness. "I'm...I'm really not up for company at the moment."

Mercedes looked ready to argue but Rachel pulled her away. "Alright then. Well...I'll see you in English then." She mumbled and dragged the black girl away despite her loud protests. Once they'd rounded a corner and walked down the corridor, Kurt turned to go confront whoever had entered the school only to realise he was still holding the locker door. He awkwardly set it back in its frame, making a note to fix it later on if he got the chance, before pulling out a sword and taking off down the corridor, letting scales emerge as he shifted. Skidding around a corner, Kurt came face to face with something he didn't want to see.

"Oh for the love of Iaxor what do you want now?" He groaned at the three opponents stood in the hallway.

"Blood." One offered.

"Pain." The second chimed in.

"Your utter demise." The third concluded.

Kurt winced and tilted his head, relenting somewhat. "Well, at least you're all upfront about it." He conceded, then charged, the creatures all rushing towards him. He thanked the Gods that he and Brittany had done some more research as it flooded his mind.

Demons feed off pain and fear.

Be bold to defeat them.

With those facts firmly in mind, Kurt charged and swung violently, twisting his blade expertly as the three surrounded him. One slashed at his back so he twisted and blocked, grateful they were unarmed as his sword cut through one arm, blood spurting everywhere as he manoeuvred the fight to his advantage. By the time he was where he wanted to be, Kurt had sustained an extra injury to his shoulder, felt bruising begin to mottle his leg and was pretty sure he'd cracked his collar bone, not to mention he had some deep claw wounds across his back and face. Still, he grinned.

The leading demon was taken aback. "You do not fear us." He stated.

"You wish." Kurt promised darkly, meeting the red eyes with a hard glare of his own. "Still, just for kicks, let's spice things up. How fast can you move?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow before sprinting down the corridor, his enemies chasing and in hot pursuit.

Kurt grinned savagely as he shot through the halls of McKinley like a bullet, injuries burning but an immensely satisfied warmth spreading through him that had little to do with the blood seeping through his clothes. He couldn't deny the thrill of battle made his heart sing.

Speeding through the corridors he slammed open the doors and leapt into the car park of the school, making a sharp turn and sprinting towards the nearby children's park which happened to be vacant. Using a piece of park equipment he swung around in a sudden move, kicking the lead demon hard in his chest and knocking all three sprawling as Kurt brought his elfish tendencies to the surface, his bloodlust running through his veins and reflexes as sharp as ever as he twirled his sword back into an offensive position. The demons recovered quickly, too quick for Kurt to launch a proper attack so he waited, poised.

"What are you?" The one armed demon rasped. "You are no shifter, no mere warlock." He dismissed casually. Kurt raised an eyebrow, silent as he observed. From their feet shadows started seeping out towards him. Kurt's eyes went wide. That wasn't in their textbooks. A little on edge, he let a shield charm slip out and wrap around him, stopping the shadows from harming him, or at least he hoped so. Soon he noticed one of the lesser demons- one he'd given a nasty cut to over their back- lurched forwards with little warning and he blocked its slashing claws with ease. Kurt backpedalled as fast as he could, wincing as one struck a nasty blow to his face, punching him right in his bad eye. With a savage war cry he charged, weaving a web of steel with the sword. A few seconds later, the lead demon lay dead on the ground, a pool of dark, sticky black blood oozing from its multiple wounds.

Kurt wiped away blood from his lip with a deadly smirk and launched himself at the demons again.

A few hours later Santana and Brittany were alarmed to see Kurt looking even worse than he had been. His right hand was completely bandaged up, the white material stretching up under his sleeve as it travelled up his arm; he was limping considerably as he favoured his left leg even more heavily. His black eye was even worse than before, and he looked visibly drained as he limped towards his next class. Kurt briefly met their eyes and shook his head almost imperceptibly, before he was roughly slammed into a locker, nearly dropping his books. Kurt couldn't quite hide his pained expression as he disappeared into the masses before either of his friends could catch up with him.

Brittany tapped into the link. What happened?

Demons. 3 of them, early this morning entered the school. I drove them out. Please don't ask.

What happened to them? Are they still out there?

They were dealt with. Kurt's response was short, but delivered in a way that had Brittany's skin crawling.

Kurt...

I'm fine.

He sealed the link before she could probe further and Brittany slumped, shaking her head as Santana shot her a questioning look. Her girlfriend just chose to squeeze her hand and they went off to their class together.

Down in her office Coach Sylvester nearly leapt from her seat in shock when she noticed the Hummel boy limp past. She barely suppressed her wince at his appearance. He looked like he'd gone into the ring with several professional boxers, and the boxers came out on top. However, he didn't even acknowledge her as he shuffled past awkwardly, a bandaged hand gripping his books and his face scratched, bruised and battered almost beyond recognition- at least in her eyes. She made to leave the office as he stumbled and almost crashed into a wall. But before she could get to him the boy had made his way into class and she slumped down into her seat. Still, she focused out of the glass, thinking back to the night in the park that Saturday. Was it the same guy who'd left Hummel with those injuries? Had his defence of her and her sister left him that battered? Sue couldn't feel guilty, not when her sister was alright, but she did feel a little sorry for the boy.

Sue Sylvester quickly promised herself to always keep an eye on that boy and, even if he didn't know it, repay him for keeping her sister safe and alive. She was indebted to him, and knew she would be forever just because he kept Jean safe. The only person she needed above all else, and he kept her alive. And that meant Sue would now do just about anything for that young man.

Kurt struggled through the rest of his school day, barely awake as he tried to focus on keeping his magic inside him and not accidentally letting it loose on his 'peers'. He staggered through English, barely able to focus on the teacher and almost getting angry enough to punch a jock through a wall as he kept repeatedly kicking his chair. He skipped lunch, too tired to eat, and climbed a large tree that stood near the school, perching on a high branch to get some solitude. He smiled then, spending the hour breathing in the smell of the bark and the leaves. A bird landed nearby and chirped at him inquisitively. A beautiful blue jay, a native bird of Ohio, Kurt knew, with marvellous and striking feathers, cocking its head as it stared at him, fully aware he wasn't like the rest of the school. Kurt's smile grew soft and tender, letting his native language roll off his tongue with ease.

"I won't bring harm to you." He promised, truthful as always. The bird chirped happily and hopped onto his knee from its perch on a flimsy nearby branch, peering at him with large eyes. He stroked its feathers fondly. "You are very beautiful. Your feathers are so soft and colourful." He confessed to the bird, watching as it trilled with pleasure and preened, its chest puffing out. He admired the blue feathers with a longing look, still stroking it absently. With what felt like concern the bird pecked at his hand, head cocking curiously. "I used to come from a world of nature." He explained, sadly looking out at the buildings, only a few trees littered about. "Lots of my blood...it was born into the forests, despite my mongrel heritage. My heart belongs to it." He sighed and looked down. "Living in this world of concrete and cars and technology...I'm out of place. All I want is the trees and the skies and the clear blue waters." He admitted softly, a tear rolling down his face. The bird hopped closer and fluttered its wings helplessly, chirping at him. He smiled sombrely. The bird caught his sleeve in its beak, exposing his bandaged arm and hopping onto it, tapping it. "A fight to keep people safe. People who don't know of the magic now roaming the planet." He looked down. "Demons...pack a punch." He admitted wryly. The bird fluttered agitatedly. Offering his hand, the little blue jay hopped onto it and he lifted it to his face. "You make a wonderful listener." He complimented as the bird ducked its head under its wing. A true grin broke out as the bird started flying around him, eventually settling on his shoulder. It leant its tiny head against his neck as they sat, Kurt's breathing the only thing to disturb the silence. "Do you have family?" He asked. The bird shook its head sadly. "I'm sorry. I know what it's like." His face grew morose. "I don't even know if my family is dead or alive." He looked at the bird. "You want to be my family?" He asked, almost joking. The bird seemed to consider for a second, then just hopped closer. Kurt smiled, realising he'd made a companion of the little creature. They spent a few more moments in the tree, before he glanced at his watch, frowning as he took in the time displayed across the clock's face. "Well, I've got to rejoin 'civilisation'" He rolled his eyes at the last word, exchanging a glance with the bird. "Fancy joining me?"

The bird settled itself in his jacket pocket as he climbed back down the tree, slipping once or twice due to the impaired vision caused by his black eye, and slipped back into McKinley crowds, his new little friend trilling quietly for his ears only. Kurt sighed as he slipped into his next class: Home Economics. Already there were jocks tossing flour at one another as he dropped his bag and slid into his seat with a heavy sigh. The blue jay in his pocket- and he really needed to give the little guy a name- nudged his hand and cheeped, his black eyes glittering. Kurt smiled, petting the soft feathers with his fingertips. Just keep going. Because it was all he could do.

After he got home Kurt spent his time polishing his daggers, smiling at the bird who was hopping around, gleefully soaring around his room before landing on various objects to inspect them as he continued cleaning. Kurt eyed the stack of books he had with disdain, before sighing and pulling out a scroll, unfurling it to examine the law he was working on passing. He only got about a paragraph in to the looping cursive before giving up, rolling it back up and piling away his books. Wolfing down his homemade curry, he changed into his nightclothes, stuck his now sharpened and gleaming daggers underneath his pillow and waited as his new friend built himself a nest on his bedside table. Smiling, he flicked off the light and snuggled under the sheets. Tomorrow would be better. At least, he hoped it would.

3 days later...

The boy prince frowned as sunlight woke him from his slumber, his little bird chirping in his ear in order to act as his alarm clock. Luckily, his injuries had- for the most part- healed up so that he could go about his daily business and function as a regular citizen of Ohio without arousing suspicion, and allowed him to use his magic again. His new friend- who he'd taken to calling Zendric- was now a constant companion, despite Santana's slightly primal urge to eat him when she first came into contact with the creature. Since then he'd been everywhere with Kurt, even making him laugh after causing havoc for some jocks, flying around their heads and dropping twigs in their hair all day after seeing them shove Kurt into a locker. They'd even established a morning routine: Kurt would wake up at 6, and Zendric would trill in his ear as an alarm, and if Kurt refused to wake up he'd get pecked until he did so. It wasn't as painless as his old alarm, but the prince could concede it was far more effective. Rolling to the other side to avoid squashing the critter, he stripped and waited as the blue jay hopped onto his shoulder before going into the bathroom. He filled the sink as a bird bath for his friend and got in the shower, rubbing shampoo through his hair. Shaking it under the water he closed his eyes and tried to transport himself back to his homeworld, reminding himself of all the times he'd been in the natural waterfalls of the forests and played with the creatures surrounding them. He almost succeeded in getting lost in his memories, but the cold porcelain of the shower anchored him to where he really was. Stuck on Earth with a task he never wanted. Sighing bitterly to himself he turned off the water, towelling his hair dry as he let Zendric hop onto his shoulder. The bird fluffed his feathers to get rid of excess water and pulling on a new outfit, carefully shrinking his daggers and staff, sticking them in his bag in case.

He exchanged a look with his little bird. "Well, as always, this is as good as it'll get for me. Ready?" He asked the bird softly. Zendric just puffed out his chest and chirped, making Kurt laugh as he opened his jacket, letting the tiny animal settle in the specially sewn pocket. Heading up the stairs to his kitchen, Kurt grabbed an apple, rolling it down his arms and catching it in his other hand for fun, when he realised Burt probably hadn't had a proper breakfast that day, catching the note from the man that said he had to be in the garage early. Groaning, he set to work making the man a proper breakfast, and hoping he'd catch him before school started.

"Hey dad." Kurt greeted, strolling into the garage and wrinkling his nose as the smells of grease, oil, and other noxious fumes assaulted his nose. In his jacket Zendric curled deeper into the pocket away from the stench. "I brought you breakfast." He continued, holding out the paper bag. "Susanne Summers said skipping breakfast is suicide." He recited, barely refraining from rolling his eyes at the random celebrity he'd summoned up to create the statement. In truth, he was concerned about the man's health, having seen signs of deterioration. Of course he wouldn't say anything, considering how little he knew about human bodies in this world, but he was still concerned for the man.

"What is this?" Burt demanded. Kurt listed off what he'd made. "Where's my usual?" Burt asked. Kurt could have sworn he could see a pout.

"A coke and two Slim Jims?" Kurt asked sceptically.

"Yeah, breakfast of champions-!"

Kurt cut across the man sternly, unable to believe that that was what the man classed as healthy eating. "Dad, you are not a kid anymore," Kurt scolded. "You need to start taking care of yourself."

"Huh, guess with enough hot sauce this will be alright, thanks." The older man grunted.

Kurt raised his gaze to the heavens. "Baby steps, baby steps..." He chanted quietly as the man moved away to continue his work on the vehicles within the garage.

"Hey, don't forget, Friday Night Dinner is six instead of seven this week." Burt reminded Kurt. "Carole and Finn are coming over and she has to work the night shift." The mechanic muttered distractedly from under the car as Kurt examined his teeth, frowning. With a glance at Burt Kurt let his eyes flash momentarily, watching as his body morphed again, the angular features that had been somewhat too pronounced shrinking away again.

"Oh I-I can't do this Friday." Kurt apologised. "The sing along Sound of Music is at the Old Royal theatre. It's a once a year event." He explained, lying through his teeth. In actual fact he'd be running over to one of Aladorn's check points and trying to scope it out to see what was going on, before trying to make it back in time so no one would get suspicious and his cover wouldn't be blown. But Burt didn't need to know that.

"And last week you had to camp out early to be first in line for those Gray's Anatomy DVDs?" His dad checked with obvious disdain.

Kurt looked affronted. "Season six Dad!" He protested. In actual fact he'd been getting his ass handed to him and warding off three assassins that had been sent looking for him, but that wasn't something he could tell his father. Burt then went on about the tradition, Kurt squirming in his place. He knew it was important to the man, but it wasn't something he could help. "I know but, I'm a teenager. Friday night's are important to me." He pointed out, still uncomfortable under Burt's gaze. "Look, why are you making me feel guilty about this?" He demanded. "I of all people know how important this relationship is between you and Carole!" Kurt defended.

"Those Friday Night's are more than important, they're sacred." Burt scolded. Kurt felt his breath hitch, a flashback unwillingly floating in front of his mind as Burt mirrored his true father's words. "The whole point of having something sacred is that it takes precedence above everything else."

"Daddy, why do we have to wear these crowns?" A young Kurt asked, pulling at his circlet as it rested atop his brown hair. "They're annoying!" he complained.

The King crouched down in front of his young and only child. "Because they're important."

Kurt pouted. "So is studying, but I don't have to do that every day!" Kurt grumbled.

The King laughed. "Well, these crowns are more than a important." He corrected. "They're sacred."

"So?"

"So, when something is sacred, the whole point of it is that it comes before anything else." He explained to his son, the little boy's blue eyes peering up at him. "And that's why the crown stays, okay?"

"Okay Daddy."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

"S-Sing along Sound of Music is sacred to me." Kurt argued back.

"You think I don't know that?" Burt shot back. "Okay? Wasn't I the one who bought you that Maria bonnet when you were six?" Kurt raised his eyes to the heavens at that. I was still trying to find my footing, you know. He couldn't help but think. "Look, the point is if you start giving up stuff like Friday Night Dinners then the next thing you know you've got nothing to hold onto. Okay, let's face it Kurt, if we don't schedule it, we don't hang out, if we don't hang out, then our lives, they just go right by each other." Burt pointed out, Kurt fighting back a wince as the words struck a little close to home. "We don't share very much-!"

"I'm sorry." Kurt interrupted before Burt's words could penetrate any further. "But...I'm not missing something I've looked forwards to all year just for another dinner." He promised, already pushing off from the desk he'd been leant on. "Maybe we could do it Thursday or something." He proposed.

"I've got to tell you Kurt." Burt turned to face the boy with tears in his eyes. "I'm real disappointed in you."

Kurt just sighed and flounced off, hoping to hide his limp with the strut as he fought down the bitterness clawing up his throat, making his way to school and trying to avoid the pain lingering in his chest.

Maybe Glee would make things a bit more bearable.

"...That we should pay tribute to him. In music. You know, pay tribute to Jesus."

Oh. Ædorne. No. Brittany's thoughts came through as the listened to Finn talk about his revelation.

Yeah, I'm with Brit. No way I'm paying homage to some dumb false God. Santana agreed angrily.

I'm with you girls. There is nothing they can do to make me support some false God that is so prejudice and ignorant around what must be over half of the planet end up being treated as weaklings and sub-humans. Kurt agreed.

"Sorry, but if I wanted to sing about Jesus, I'd go to Church. And the reason I don't go to Church is most churches don't think very much of gay people. Or women. Or science." Kurt pointed out smugly as he smirked to Santana.

"I don't see anything wrong with getting a little church up in here." Mercedes shrugged.

"I agree." Quinn concurred. "I had a really hard year and I turned to God a lot for help. And I for one wouldn't mind saying thanks."

Santana shook her head. "Thanks for what? That it didn't come out a lizard baby?" She sneered.

Mr. Schuester looked thoughtful. "Well...maybe our song selections don't have to be about Jesus just about...spirituality." He compromised. Kurt shared a smile with Brittany. He was glad to see Mr. Schue was taking his advice onboard about listening to them.

When they all started arguing Kurt rolled his eyes and chose to start playing with his phone, a device he'd been fascinated with since he'd arrived in this world and one he was quickly becoming proficient with as he perched off to one side. He couldn't help but feel like a dark cloud was hanging over him. Not only was he upset at lying to his foster father (as he'd taken to calling him in his head) about where he needed to be next Friday, but he had to try and continue his war effort by going over to the manor to check on his men as well as examine the bodies of the people who had been with Jesse.

Something didn't sit right with him about that.

He still had two in stasis- as weird as it was- and had been going out to try and analyse them each night in private, going back and collating data as he tried to piece together why such expert fighters were flanking a human boy on a recruiting mission.

Although, as he glanced up to see Brit and Santana dancing, Kurt couldn't hold back a smile. His girls were happy, and their happiness was something that always warmed his heart. He went back to his phone feeling a little bit more relaxed.

After all, if they weren't worried, why should he be?

Comatose.

That was all he could hear.

The guilt was clawing at his chest.

The last conversation he'd had with Burt was him completely disregarding the man's wishes. Yes, he'd had a good reason, but all he could think of was the way he'd just dismissed everything that had been pointed out towards him.

And now he was comatose.

"I don't understand what you're saying!" Kurt blurted as the doctor continued talking. "When is he going to wake up?" Kurt demanded, fear roiling in his gut.

The doctor looked grave. "I don't know."

Kurt didn't register Mr. Schuester's words, just pushing past and going to the room. Once he got there though, it was like time had slowed down. He approached the curtain hesitantly, then grabbed it and ripped it back.

Like ripping off a bandage.

Kurt felt like he was going to be sick.

His father. The man who'd help him grow and shaped him in ways his true father hadn't. The man who was lying there, hooked up to all sorts of machines.

And he might never wake up.

Kurt could feel his hand shaking. "I need a minute." He requested hoarsely.

The two teachers hesitated. "I...don't think you should be alone Kurt-!" Miss Pillsbury admitted.

"Just give me a moment alone with my father." Kurt cut over harshly. He waited until he heard their footsteps, the door open and close, and then he was alone. He'd barely registered Mr. Schuester's words as he stood looking down at the man in the bed.

My father.

Kurt felt wave upon wave of guilt and pain hit him. Because it was true. As much as he missed his real family, his biological parents, he couldn't really deny it: Burt Hummel was his father in a way he knew the King could never be. Lost in this strange world Burt had helped him grow. He'd nursed him when he was sick, held him as he'd cried, even put up with the strange happenings around Kurt and helped him deal with it. Not to mention the help through all the homophobia and the bullying he received.

"Dad?" Kurt whispered, the word rolling off his tongue properly, now he allowed it to. Tentatively, he took his hand. "Can you hear me?" He asked, voice choked up and thick with tears.

Can you hear how scared I am?

"If you can hear me...squeeze my hand." He begged, holding his breath. Not even a hint of pressure met his grip. "I-I'm holding yours right now." He stuttered, feeling his throat closing up. "Just squeeze back." He pleaded. "Come on Dad. Just squeeze my hand." He begged. Nothing happened.

And Kurt felt the dam break.