Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

Chapter 3

Kurt was not a fan of hospital visits. He'd been in there way too many times, and pretty much the majority of the nurses in the cardiac wing knew his name and appearance by now. It wasn't something that he was proud of.

"Hello again, Kurt," one of the older nurses said politely as he walked past the check in desk. "How are you doing today?"

He shrugged at her and then signed the clipboard at the desk. "No better or worse than the last time I was here."

"It says here that you are scheduled for an MRI, correct?"

"That's right."

The nurse smiled sweetly at him once more. "I do hope everything goes alright, my dear. Just head on back and someone will come collect you."

Kurt nodded at her and went to sit down in one of the seats.

He hated hospitals. They smelled, they were silent, and no one seemed happy. He remembered being here with his mom, waiting and waiting and waiting. He'd been a little kid, sitting on his dad's lap and constantly looking around for the doctor who would tell him if his mommy was going to live or not. His dad would have fallen asleep two hours into the wait, and Kurt would be left sitting alone, watching people go back and forth in front of him.

He remembered seeing someone covered in blood being rushed in through the ambulance door and it had terrified him. He wasn't really sure what happened when someone had what the doctors called pneumonia. Did blood come out of her like it had been on that man they'd just rushed in? Or did her limbs and hair fall off?

"Daddy?"

Burt had just grunted and turned more in the chair, letting Kurt watch for the doctor and cling next to the sleeping form of what would be his only parent.

"Kurt Hummel?"

Kurt's head snapped up to see his doctor walking towards him. "Hello, Dr. Walker. How are you doing?"

She smiled at him and held out a hand that Kurt took. "I'm doing well, thank you. How about you?"

He stood up and began to follow her down the hallway. "I'm doing okay. I've been pretty tired lately, but that's because I had a long weekend but-"

She cut him off with a small smile. "I meant how is your life going? I would like to know things about you that don't revolve around your heart, sweetie."

Kurt blinked at her. "Oh. Um... I met someone, made a friend."

"Really? What's the name?"

"His name is Blaine and... well, I was sort of his tour guide around Lima on Friday. I had a lot of fun."

She turned around and stared at him for a while, and when he grew uncomfortable he shifted and began to wring his fingers together. "I can tell that you had fun. You look happier. That's good."

He only let a small smile slip.

"Okay, now let's get you ready for this MRI."

[*]*[*]

"Dad? What is it? Is something wrong?"

His dad was wearing something nice, and after he and Kurt had arrived back from the hospital, he'd been in some sort of happy daze the rest of the afternoon. Kurt wondered if he'd already died and this was whatever afterlife or...something.

His dad looked up at him, then held out his arms. "What do you think? Look okay?"

Kurt walked into the room and sat down on the edge of his dad's bed and examined him. "It looks good," he said after a few minutes of staring. "But seriously, Dad, what's with the suit?"

Burt looked back in the mirror and attempted to fix his tie. "Didn't I tell you? I have a date tonight?"

Well, that sparked Kurt's interest. "Oh, real- Oh, Dad. You're hopeless," he muttered, standing up and walking over to help fix his dad's tie. "So, how did you meet this lady?"

"Well, you know last Friday, when I said I'd stayed late? Well, I ended up doing an oil change on her car, and we just sort of started talking. And now... Well, I'm taking her out."

Kurt smiled up at him. "I'm glad, Dad." Then he huffed. "It's about time, too."

"Hey!"

Kurt laughed, then wandered back over to the bed and laid down on it. "So, what's her name?"

"Carole. Carole Hudson."

"Hudson? Does she have a son?"

Burt frowned. "I think so. 's name is... Finn?"

Kurt nodded. Then stood up and placed his hands on his hips, his eyes running over his dad's outfit. "What time are you picking her up?"

"In about... Oh, in ten minutes..."

"Dad!"

"I lost track of time!"

Kurt hurried over to the small vanity that had once belong to his mother, picked up his dad's wallet and shoved it into his hands, then began to push him towards the door. "Go, go, go, go!"

Burt sighed and headed towards the door. "I'm going, I'm going. But listen," he said, turning around once he'd reached the door. "Just because I'm going out doesn't mean that I don't want you to call me if anything happens, okay?" He said sternly.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, I'll call you."

"Kurt."

"I'll call you! Now go!"

With one last stern look, Burt headed out the door, and Kurt watched him leave until he was unable to see his dad's car anymore. Then he smiled and headed towards the couch. He hoped this worked out. His dad would need someone there for him once Kurt's heart gave out.

Kurt had settled for laying on the couch and watching TV until he felt like going to bed, but those plans changed when his phone rang. It was an unknown number, and he was hesitant to answer it, because a lot of those phone calls turned out to be prank calls. He almost let it go to voice mail, but he decided to answer it at the last second.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this Kurt Hummel?"

He frowned. "Yes. Who is this?"

"It's Mercedes."

Mercedes... Merced-

Oh.

"Oh, hi! I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you to call..."

She sucked in a breath. "No, it's okay. I'm sorry for calling you without first letting you know I would be, but..."

"But?"

"I feel bad for doing this, but my family planned some sort of group activity after school tomorrow, and so I won't be able to keep our study date."

Oh...

"So, I was wondering if you would mind coming into the choir room tomorrow during lunch? We can get started there, and then possibly, the day after that, come to glee club and we can continue?"

He thought about it, because being in the choir room hurt but-

"Okay... Why not?"

He could practically feel her relief seeping through the phone. "Okay, then. Good... I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, goodbye, Mercedes."

"Goodbye, Kurt."

[*]*[*]

To be honest, Kurt had never been looking forward to lunch more than he was now. He'd always wanted a legitimate excuse to go in the choir room, to see where the Glee club worked its magic. It was empty when he walked into it, and he took the chance to look around.

It looked like a normal choir room, but Kurt had the feeling that if he was able to sing and dance a long with them, he would have loved this room. It felt...happy. Sighing, Kurt walked over to the piano and placed a hand on it. What I would give to be a part of this club...

"Kurt?"

He turned towards the door behind him to see Mercedes standing there, with the Asian girl beside her. "Hello," he said quietly.

Mercedes pointed to the girl next to her. "This is Tina. Tina, this is Kurt. He's my English project partner."

Tina walked forward and held out her hand. "Hello, Kurt. It's nice to meet you."

He shook her hand, slightly confused. "So...are we planning on working on this today or...?"

Mercedes nodded. "Yes, it's just that most of New Directions likes to spend their lunch hour in here. Is that okay with you?"

She seemed slightly nervous, and he wondered about that. I'm not a scary person...am I?

"No, that would be fine with me."

Tina smiled at him before walking over to one of the chairs and placing her bag on it. "Why don't you join in on the mini jam session if we have one?"

Kurt wanted to say yes, he really did but-

"I'm sorry. I don't sing."

They both looked at him oddly. "Really?" Mercedes asked. "Have you tried to sing at all?"

Kurt sat down on one of the chairs. "Can we start on the project, please?"

Mercedes and Tina shared a glanced before Mercedes walked over to Kurt and sat down beside him.

"I'm going to go and get Mike, okay Mercedes?"

"That's fine, Tina."

Mercedes was giving Kurt a weird glance. He shifted slightly in his seat before reaching into his bag and pulling out his notebook. "So, do you have an idea of what we should do?"

They started getting to work, and five minutes later the rest of the Glee club came in, laughing and smiling; Kurt's grip on his notebook tightened just a bit.

Finn was holding hands with a short, brown haired girl, and Kurt could hear him talking about a 'Mystery Man' who had given his mom the time of her life the other night. Kurt let a small smile slip when Finn stated that anyone who could make his mom smile like that must be a good guy.

Yeah, he's a good guy, alright.

He was writing out the outline for their project when a hand appeared in front of his face. He looked up to see a blond boy smiling down at him. Immediately, Kurt could tell that this kid had dyed his hair. He tried not to smirk.

"Hi, my name is Sam. What's yours?"

Kurt took the offered hand. "Kurt."

Sam gestured at the choir room. "Are you thinking about joining Glee club?"

And again, there was that small stab of pain in his chest that was completely unrelated to his heart conditions. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to say yes so badly, but instead he shook his head and began to put his notebook back into his bag. "No," he said softly. "I don't sing."

Sam raised an eyebrow at him. "That's what I thought too. But here I am! And it's great!"

Puckerman raised a fist from where he was standing by the piano and let out a loud whoop, then crossed the floor so that he was standing by Kurt. "Totally, dude. I mean, look at me. I'm Puckzilla. I'm a total badass, but this club is fucking awesome."

"Please do not use profanity like that in the choir room, Puck," the short brunet Finn had walked in with shouted.

"Fuck that, Rachel! Puckerman will say whatever he wants," he yelled at her, turning around and stomping over to her direction.

They're all such good friends... Sounds weird, but it's true. I never thought I'd see the day Noah Puckerman would willingly be in a room with so many different people.

It was hurting again.

He stood up, intending fully on leaving the room and telling Mercedes he'd just finish the outline by himself when he felt a hand on clap down on his shoulder; he stiffened, then looked over his shoulder. Finn was standing behind him, a serious look on his face.

"So, your dad is the one who took my mom out on a date?"

Kurt shrugged, trying to look uninterested. "I believe so, why?"

Finn stared at him for a while, then stretched out his hand. "Well, he treated her right, so...yeah. Nice to meet you, officially, child whose father is dating my mom."

Kurt let his eyebrow rise. "Uh...okay?"

Finn drew his hand back slightly. "I just... isn't that what people do when someone they love is dating someone?"

"I believe that's what fathers do, Finn, and our parents are old enough to decide who they want to date."

Finn lowered his hand more. "Oh..."

Then Kurt smiled, reached out and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Finn Hudson."

Finn laughed and returned the handshake. "My mom really likes your dad," he said happily. "I think it's about time she met someone. She's been alone for a long time."

"I know. It's been eight years for my dad-"

He was cut off as his phone rang, and the phone only rang during school hours if it was the hospital or his dad, so he held up a hand to Finn and answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, kiddo, how are you doing?"

"Dad? I'm fine. ...is there something you need?"

There was a shuffling sound, then a small 'there it is' before his dad talked to him directly again. "Two things, actually. First of all, I found that one book that I checked out from the library."

"You meant the one you checked out two years ago?"

"Yeah, that one. And second of all, your doc- Jonathan! Do nottouch that car! Sorry about that. Your doctor called. And, uh, told me some things, and one of them is that it's not a good idea for you to be driving long distances, if you drive at all."

Kurt froze. "Why not?"

"Well, it's more of a precaution. Just in case something happens while you're in the car."

Kurt was planning on leaving the choir room, seeing as Mr. Schuester had just walked in and had gathered everyone around him to talk about something, but instead he chose the chair nearest to the door and sat down on it. "Will I be okay to drive home?"

"They said short distances shouldn't be a problem; actually, driving isn't a problem, but it's a precaution that we can take."

Kurt sighed, then nodded, understanding but not happy at all. "Okay... I'll see you at home."

"See ya, kiddo."

"And Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Return that book."

"I will."

With that he hung up the phone and let his head hang down. Things had been looking up, but with the warning from the doctor, he couldn't help but feel... finished. He felt sort of drained after the phone call, and not in the drained that he usually felt, but-

Today is just not a good day now...

"Kurt?"

He looked up to see Tina standing in front of him. "Are you okay?"

He said yes, then looked over to see everyone in New Directions staring at him. "Oh, I'm sorry... I don't mean to intrude. I'll just..."

He stood up and made his way towards the door, but stopped when he hear Mr. Schuester call out to him. "Kurt...Hummel, right? I'm sorry if I got your name wrong."

"No, you got it right. What can I do for you?"

Mr. Schuester glanced him over, then gestured behind him; a blond girl walked up to him, her pony tail swinging merrily as she walked. "This is Brittany, Kurt. Brittany, this is Kurt."

"Hi," she said, holding out her hand. Then she leaned forward and placed a hand on his nose. "Your nose is soft. It's cute. Can I have it?"

Kurt stared at her. "Umm...?"

Mr. Schuester clapped a hand down on his shoulder. "That's Brittany for you. Actually, Kurt, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing Brittany a favor. She needs a dance partner for our practice run right now. Would you mind...?"

Kurt looked from Brittany to Mr. Schuester, then back to Brittany. Should he? He knew that a little exercise wasn't bad, but he didn't know how rigorous the dance routine was, or if he was even that good of a dancer, but Brittany was smiling at him, and how could he say no to that face?

"S-sure..." He said, and Brittany grabbed his hand and led him over to the rest of the group.

"Guys, Kurt said he'd dance with me!" She exclaimed happily. Then she looked down at his hands. "Your hands are soft, too. Can I just have every soft part of your body?"

"I'm sorry, Brittany, but I kind of need those body parts. Is that okay?"

She frowned. "Okay... I'd give you my hands... Or Lord Tubington's paws. I don't think he'd mind giving those away."

Kurt shook his head; he liked her. She was rather adorable.

The dance that the Glee club was doing was a slow waltz, and after hearing that, Kurt sighed in relief. If it had been the swing or the tango, he would have most definitely said no. But he could do a waltz. He had taught his dad how to dance for his uncle's wedding.

Brittany was an amazing dancer, and everyone else were great as well. The only one in the group that couldn't dance, besides the boy in the wheel chair (Kurt believed that his name was Artie) was Finn; a few times, Kurt had to jerk Brittany away from him when they got too close. Every time Finn got too close and Kurt moved them away, he'd look over Brittany's shoulder to see Finn giving him an apologetic look and him mouthing 'sorry'.

Kurt couldn't help but smile. This feeling was a good one.

When the dance was over, Brittany smiled up at him. "I like you. You're cute." Then she leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his cheek, then sauntered over to a black haired girl who was sitting on the side of the classroom. Kurt looked at her out of the corner of his eye. The way that she was looking at Brittany...

He flushed and turned away. He'd always known that he couldn't be the only gay person in the school, but now that he'd thought he'd seen someone, he didn't really know what to think.

"Well, Kurt Hummel," said a voice behind him. It was Mercedes, and she was smiling. "You can dance. Makes me wonder if you were lying about the whole not singing thing...?"

Kurt shook his head. "I just don't sing."

Mercedes sighed. "Well, Mike Chang over there," she said, pointing to an Asian boy who was swinging Tina around. "He can't sing either, but he's still apart of this club. Why don't you think about it?"

He had, oh how he'd thought about it. But if he did too much strenuous work, something bad could happen to his heart that couldn't be reversed. But he didn't tell her that. Instead, he shrugged. "I'll think about it."

She smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, Glee club!"

Mercedes sighed. "Ugh... Rachel Berry. Sometimes I wish she'd just stop talking."

"Rachel?"

Mercedes pointed to the short brunet, who was wearing a hideous outfit that Kurt wanted to burn. "She likes to think that she's the leader of Glee club. And she's annoying. Like hell."

Rachel Berry was currently holding out two outfits, and proudly exclaiming that they were what the Glee club was going to wear for sectionals.

Kurt wanted to vomit. "Oh, those are hideous," he told Mercedes.

"I know, I know."

Unfortunately, Rachel seemed to have heard his comment and turned on him, huffing. "Excuse me, but seeing as you are not in Glee club and therefore have no say in the outfit choice, you should refrain from giving out crude comments."

Kurt stared at her; the room had gone quiet. "Seeing that outfit and knowing that everyone in the club has to wear it makes me glad that I'm not in Glee club. As I said before, it's hideous. And it's hard for me to take you seriously when you look like the offspring of a snap dragon and a peacock."

Rachel looked taken aback.

'Ooh's went around the room.

Rachel's face flushed. "L-like you could come up with something better!"

"Actually," Kurt said, shifting his bag to his other shoulder. "I could. I could do much better."

He suddenly found his arms being grasped by Puckerman, who looked almost desperate. "Please come up with something better! I hate wearing what Rachel has us wear!"

There were pleas coming from almost everyone in the club, and from his position over in the corner, Mr. Schuester smiled. "Fashion off then, Rachel, Kurt?"

Kurt shrugged. "Sounds fine with me."

Rachel huffed. "Fine."

Mr. Schuester held out his hand for Kurt to take. "Have fun and good luck." Then he leaned down and whispered, "I hope you win. Rachel does pick... interesting outfits."

Kurt laughed. "I'll do my best, Mr. Schuester."

"Call me Mr. Schue."

"Okay."

And now the day was officially better.

He said goodbye to the Glee club members, then headed towards his next class, panting and slightly out of breath, but happy.

The rest of the day went by quickly, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of his locker, putting his books away and reaching for his coat.

A beeping sound from his phone alerted him to a new text message, and he pulled it out, then smiled.

Having a good day? Mine has been pretty boring. ENTERTAIN ME! D: - Blaine

Kurt sighed and shook his head, all the while laughing softly to himself.

Are you in your history class again?

Blaine's reply was quick.

Yes, and it's awful!

Kurt glanced around at those walking past him, heading to class. He didn't really want to go to his next class; he was feeling more tired because of the dancing, and he knew that if he got too tired, he'd be forced to miss school tomorrow, so...

I'm sorry. I feel bad that your history class isn't full of kids using their pencils as weapons and trying to kill the teacher.

Blaine's reply was quick.

That happens in your school? D: O:

Kurt let out a small laugh.

Well, maybe I was exaggerating. By a lot.

He could almost picture Blaine's laugh, which was a sight that he loved a lot. Smiling, he finished putting his books away, and when his phone beeped again, he closed his locker and turned away to check his phone.

He had barely put it up to his face when he found himself being shoved back into his locker, and a voice yelling at him, "Get out of my way, lady."

A second later something cold, frozen, something that hurt was hurled into his face.

He inhaled sharply, his breath catching in his throat.

He'd heard of slushie facials before, but he'd never gotten one, even when he wore his more (his dad liked to call them outrageous) interesting outfits. He'd been called names before, that was for sure, but he'd never actually been given one.

It hurt.

He reached up and wiped the slushie from his eyes, then looked to his right to see the person who had slushied him.

Well, apparently the two people who had slushied him.

Karofsky and Azimio.

Great...

He leaned back against his locker, then shook his head and headed out of the school before the bell for the next period rang. He just wanted to go home.

The first thing he did when he got home was take a long, hot shower, and while he was in the shower, he sang. He didn't sing powerfully, or heartfelt, he just sang, letting the words flow out of him. He sang about being free, being happy and loving life.

And then he cried. He cried because he would never be free, and while he'd had a few moments of happiness, he wondered if he'd ever have them again.

And loving life?

How was he supposed to love something that he'd never be able to have fully?

Author's notes: So... Less Blaine, more New Directions. Things are starting to ~move now.

I just wanted to thank every one of you who reviewed, favored, or alerted this story. It means a lot to me, so thank you.

Well, I'll be putting up the next chapter next Thursday, but possibly Wednesday (insert random wink here). Let me know what you think, please!

UO