Author's Note: Visiting day! I was really excited about this chapter. It introduces some of Blaine's issues with Kurt, and we see some Kurt/Karofsky interaction. You'll also see Kurt meet up with Burt, Finn, Carole, and Mercedes this chapter. I hope I portrayed Kurt well in those parts; I'm not so sure. A lot of people requested to see a visit between Kurt and Dave, so I tried to deliver. As always, I love reviews: criticisms, compliments, advice, and requests.
It was Visiting Day at the institution. This was a big deal, because that meant that people other than immediate family could come see patients. Blaine was dying to introduce Kurt to his father, who had finally gotten back from some business trip. Kurt wasn't looking forward to seeing Carole and Finn, however. He and Blaine were seated in the rec room, watching the news on TV. An orderly entered almost silently, glancing around before her eyes settled on the pair.
"Kurt? Your dad is here. He brought some others, too." Kurt stood and breathed deep, eyes downcast and dull. He didn't look even remotely excited to see his family. She wondered if he'd be excited to see that one big guy with the letterman jacket, or the black girl who looked near tears just being here.
"Okay. Thanks," he said quietly, making his way to the visiting room, Blaine close behind.
When they entered, Kurt saw Finn's tall form straight away, and Blaine grasped his hand tight, squeezing before letting go. He whispered in Kurt's ear, "Don't forget. Courage," before turning to a man with the same curly black hair and devastating eyes as him.
Kurt began making his way towards his family, eyes fixed solely on his dad. Burt hadn't spotted him yet. "Kurt!" came a voice from his right. He whirled, but before he could see who it was, he was pressed up tight to a strong chest that smelled of Axe and sweat and teenage boy. He coughed slightly, carefully wrapping his arms around whoever had snatched him up. He pulled back slightly and saw that it was Karofsky.
Yanking away, he wrapped his arms around himself protectively. "What the hell are you doing here, Dave?" he demanded, frowning.
"I need to talk to you, Kurt. After you visit with your family, of course." Dave gestured towards where Burt, Carole, Finn and Mercedes waited. "Go see them. They need to make sure you're okay. And when you're done I'll be waiting right here."
Nodding slowly, the small boy walked away, towards his dad. "Son!" Burt said, reaching out to hug him. Kurt flinched away, unable to help it, and Burt pulled back. He looked as if someone had slapped him.
"I don't... I'm sorry." Kurt tried to explain himself, but he didn't really know what there was to say. He viewed touch in an entirely different way now.
"The doctor says you can get out soon, if you keep up with gaining like you have been," Finn said, eyes dark and worried. He pulled Kurt to his chest, ignoring the boy's discomforted squirms until Kurt just relaxed and prayed it'd be over soon. "God, Kurt, we miss you so much."
"How's the house?" he asked, when he was finally released.
"Too quiet without you," Burt said, voice soft. Carole nodded in agreement next to him, and Kurt noticed the band glinting on her finger.
"Engaged? And you didn't even tell me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and feeling a stab in his chest. He was so far out of touch with these people.
"Oh. Well, we wanted to wait until you got out. Two big things in one day; we were gonna wait to celebrate until you came home," Carole tried to explain, embarrassed.
"Uh-huh. I think I have —"
"Kurt?" The unmistakable voice of Mercedes Jones cut through the chattering of families catching up. She'd apparently gone to search for him.
"I told you he'd show up," Finn said, smiling weakly as Mercedes yanked her boy into a huge hug. He squirmed, though it was futile.
"Mercedes, get off," Kurt whined frantically.
She released him suddenly. "I'm sorry. How are you white boy? I wish I was in here with you sometimes. At least I wouldn't have to see Rachel's awful outfits and deal with her diva attitude. There's this new girl in Glee. Total homophobe; we'll have to show her what's what when you get outta this place. When is that, by the way?"
Burt, Carole, and Finn looked horrified at Mercedes treating Kurt...like himself. Kurt, however, smiled happily while the two claimed a table and began gossiping away.
"I have the cutest, craziest roommate, 'Cedes..."
"You should've seen the sweater Rachel wore yesterday. Pink. With cats!"
When they finally left, Kurt allowed his father to hug him, but he kept his distance from Carole and Finn. Mercedes gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek with instructions to "get home soon, white boy". He watched them go, then went over to where Karofsky still sat and waited.
"Why are you here?" he asked, suddenly tired.
"I wanted to see you. How are you doing?" Karofsky asked, eyes filled with unusual concern.
What Mercedes had said to Kurt only ten minutes before replayed in his mind. I think Karofsky's worried about you. He's been really nice to Glee club lately, making sure we're okay, not being bullied. It's like a total one-eighty with that guy. I don't get it. And he's been asking about you. Obsessively. He wants to make sure you're okay. Kurt shrugged.
"I'm fine as can be. And you?" Kurt answered, playing his cards carefully.
"I'm...okay. It's weird, not having you at school anymore. When do you think you'll be back?"
"Soon, hopefully. Once I reach one-twenty, they're gonna release me and I'll have to see a shrink once a week. Home weighings and careful observation while eating are what awaits me when I get out. How's school?"
"Boring. Everyone's talking about why you're gone. People went so far as to say you eloped with some guy. I couldn't stand to tell them how stupid they —"
"Dad, this is Kurt!" Oh, no. Blaine. Dave and Kurt both looked up, and there Blaine was, scars all up and down his arms, towing the man Kurt had seen earlier.
"Hi, Kurt," the man said apologetically. "I'm Andrew." Kurt shook the offered hand. "And who's this?"
"I'm Dave," Karofsky said. "Kurt's boyfriend." That was added with a glare at Blaine, who looked completely unruffled.
"Really? That's funny; Kurt's never mentioned you." With that, Blaine led his father away, chattering on about this thing he'd done in the arts room.
Kurt dropped his head in his hands. "Oh, God, I think Blaine thinks we're dating."
"Who? Me and you or you and him?" Dave asked, a teasing grin lighting up his face.
"Shut up!" Kurt muttered, but there was no real heat behind it.
"So this is like this first time I've ever seen you in anything not designer." Dave's gaze slowly raked over Kurt's body, and the small boy felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I like it."
"Visiting hours are over. To schedule another visit, please stop by the front desk in the reception area," a voice said over the PA system.
"Can I...can I come see you again, Kurt?" Dave asked, suddenly looking uncomfortable and vulnerable.
Kurt surprised himself by saying, "Yeah. I think I'd like that." Dave smiled, squeezed his hand, then made his way out the door.
Later that night, when Blaine and Kurt were preparing for bed and taking their night medicines, Blaine broached the topic of Karofsky's statement. "So," he began, "you never mentioned your huge, football-playing boyfriend."
"He plays hockey, not football," Kurt corrected. "And he's not my boyfriend."
"Well, he doesn't seem to agree." Blaine seemed pouty, and Kurt didn't get it.
"Blaine, you act like I'm cheating on you or something. Nothing's going on with me and Dave, and you and I are just friends. You know that, right? I mean, you know better than anyone that you can't form relationships beyond friends in a place like this." Kurt couldn't understand why Blaine looked so upset.
"Right. Good night, Kurt."
"Night, Blaine."
Kurt didn't fall asleep until an orderly came in and gave him another sleeping aid, and when he asked what time it was, she whispered that it was about two. Great, Kurt thought. Now I feel guilty, and I'm not going to sleep right for a week. After the pill, he fell asleep quickly, but he dreamt of monsters and things chasing him, and Dave and Blaine ripping each other apart for reasons he didn't understand. He dreamed of blood and chocolate cheesecake and his Lincoln Navigator being driven off a bridge. He wondered, when he woke up exhausted and bleary eyed, if his shrink would have anything to say about the symbolics of his dreams when he went to his session today.
Explanation: The reason Kurt is cold towards Burt, Carole, and Finn while opening up easily to Mercedes is that he just wants to be treated normally. No one in his family did that. Mercedes sat him down and began gossiping, which is something they did all the time at school. I think he'll get out soon, and we can deal with the fallout from Glee Club. I'm thinking of having the next chapter be centered around how the school (particularly the club) is dealing with Kurt's absence.