Thank you for the amazing reception this has gotten! I didn't expect it to. It means the world to me!

Chapter Five

That night, it takes over an hour before Sebastian is calm enough to sleep, even after taking a sleeping tablet and "something for his nerves". Kurt ducks out to find Dr. Harris and leaves Blaine with their still-trembling boyfriend. When he comes back, Blaine is singing quietly as he holds Sebastian, and he's grateful to see that at least the trembling as stopped.

"You forgot to kiss him goodnight," Blaine starts, kissing Sebastian's head.

Sebastian shifts until he's sitting. "I've gone too many nights without kissing you goodnight." His words are a little slow and groggy from medicine as he reaches out toward Kurt. "And I'm not going to let it happen again if I can help it." He pulls Kurt close and tilts his head up to kiss him, soft and full, and god, it's been so long since they've been able to have this. Kurt can't help but kiss him back, whining in the back of his throat as Sebastian's tongue teases over the seam of his lips before pulling away. "God, I miss you both so fucking much." It comes out as a desperate whine.

Blaine lifts Sebastian's chin and kisses him indulgently. "Soon, baby." He pets Sebastian's face, watching his eyelids flutter closed at his touch. "We'll bring you home soon."

"It's been two months since the last time I was able to touch either of you or wake up with you. I just-" He stumbles. "God, I just love you so much and you've been so amazing and strong for me, and all I want is to be able to hold you and kiss you without the inevitability of a fucking nurse coming in to surreptitiously check to make sure that I haven't killed you or offed myself-" He takes a breath. "I miss you both and I want to go home, and it kills me that I can't."

Kurt eases them both down until they're lying and wraps an arm around Seb's waist to pull him close as he stretches out behind him. He presses a kiss to Sebastian's hair. "Sweetheart, you're getting better. Today was huge. Even though it hurt, it's so important that it happened. You're remembering and dealing with the most traumatic event of your life. I am so proud of you, baby, and I know that it sucks, but this is helping you get better." He kisses the back of Sebastian's neck. "And when you get better," he murmurs, low and hot. "Blaine and I are going to take you to bed and show you just how proud we are."

A familiar smirk tilts Sebastian's lips. "Is that so?"

Blaine darts a kiss to his lips and nods. "I for one plan to show you until I can't walk anymore."

The words get a watery laugh. "I love you both so much," Sebastian says by way of an answer, smiling warmly. "You're so perfect."

"We know, baby," Kurt answers, mock arrogance in his tone before he grins. "We love you, too. All that matters is that you get better and come home to us. Where you belong."

Sebastian sighs and rests his head just below the curve of Blaine's shoulder, closing his eyes. "Stay with me until I fall asleep?"

Kurt presses in closer. "Of course, sweetheart. Always."

-x-

A late February storm is pummeling the Midwest with nearly six inches of snow an hour as Kurt drives down the dark, snow-covered road, Blaine's hand held tight in his own. Sebastian fell asleep five minutes after asking them to stay, completely drained after such an emotional day.

"What did Dr. Harris say about your idea?" Blaine asks, digging in a shopping bag before taking off his shirt in favor of putting on his work uniform polo. He nearly bangs his elbow on the window in the process. "Did he think it will help?"

Kurt yawns hugely. "Yeah. He said it was a good idea to help him work through his emotions and trauma."

Blaine is shimmying into his uniform pants. "I just hate having to do this to him. And I knew his parents were assholes, but this...I just can't even fathom."

"It was like torture. They tortured him because they needed someone to hold responsible," Kurt whispers, voice low and sad. "God, I wanted to hold him and never let go. How could anyone do that to their own son?"

Blaine shakes his head sadly as Kurt stops the car outside Blaine's work. He kisses Kurt gently on the lips, hand resting, warm and grounding, on the side of his cheek. "Go home and sleep, baby," he instructs in a soft whisper. "I worry about you."

"Don't-"

"I'm still going to." Blaine kisses his lips again. "It's my job. I'm your boyfriend." He slides his thumb over the apple of Kurt's cheek. "Go to sleep, Kurt. I'll call a cab to get me when my shift is over."

Kurt lets out a deep, tired breath. "I love you, Blaine."

"I love you, too." Another kiss. "Now go home and sleep."

Kurt watches Blaine go through the automatic doors before pulling out of the lot, already making a list of all the things he needed to do tomorrow, sleep the furthest thing from his mind.

-x-

Blaine and Sebastian lay in unbroken silence, watching the snow drifting lazily to the already white ground. Sebastian's fingers drag slow and thoughtful through the smaller boy's loose curls. (He hadn't been fooled when Blaine told him he'd just forgotten to gel it down this morning. Blaine never forgets. It broke Sebastian's heart because he knew Blaine didn't forget, he'd just been too exhausted to bother. He was running himself ragged.)

"Babe, you don't have to come see me every day. Especially with the weather like this."

Blaine turns over and looks at his boyfriend with confused, tired-god, so tired-eyes. "Don't you want me here? I mean, I know Kurt's the one who's usually here during the day when I'm at school-"

"No, honey!" Sebastian is quick to dismiss. "I love that you're here and I wish you could stay with me all the time, but honey, you and Kurt can't can't afford the gas to drive from Lima to Columbus every day. That's ridiculous. And neither of you will let me pay for gas, and I know about the night you had to get a hotel because the roads were so bad."

He takes a steadying breath because he feels himself starting to get worked up. "It just makes more sense money-wise to space out the visits. Instead of one of you being here every day, why don't both of you come here every third day or so."

The words tear his throat as if they're made of broken glass as he says them. He has to take a deep breath and remind himself that his idea makes sense, that it's the only way to make sure the boys he loves aren't working themselves to death to see him.

"Seb, we're doing fine-"

"No. You're really not, babe. You go to school all day then drive two hours out of the way to come here-"

"You're not out of the way."

Sebastian rolls his eyes but he's unable to keep the fondness from shining through. "Either way," he continues. "You drive two hours to get here, stay for three hours, and then go to work until five in the morning. There's no way you're getting more than two and a half hours of sleep."

"I only work Tuesdays and Thursdays and some weekends," Blaine defends. "I can catch up on sleep."

"But you don't!" He's a bit louder than he meant to be so he takes a breath and tries again. "Blaine, sweetheart, you can't do this. Neither of you can. You're working yourselves to death. Kurt works twelve hour days, for Christ's sake. He's in that damn car commuting more than he's able to be home or anywhere else. The only time he has to do his online coursework is when he's on break at work."

"It's only going to be this tough until I graduate, but I'm sure you'll be home by then so-"

"So what, Blaine? You're both going to keep killing yourselves until I get out of here?"

Blaine shifts until he's sitting, taking Sebastian's hands as he sits up as well. "Or until I graduate..."

"Graduation is in May," Sebastian points out sharply.

"Yes, but I talked to the guidance councilor at school and apparently, I already have enough credits to graduate, so I'm in the process of switching to online classes that run from March to May. Then I won't have to go to class anymore and will have more downtime."

"Don't do this for me," is all Sebastian can manage, overwhelmed by the lengths Blaine is going to just for him. "Please, baby."

And all Blaine-beautiful, amazing, selfless Blaine-does is give him a small smile and a shrug before saying, "You're worth it."

Sebastian starts to cry and wraps Blaine up in his arms, beyond all words.

-x-

It's easy to see the tension in Sebastian's shoulders as he sits across from Blaine at lunch, a low roar of activity omnipresent in the cafeteria.

"Seb, we can go back to your room and eat," Blaine suggests. "We don't have to stay here."

Sebastian is distracted and a little fidgety. "No, babe. This is fine. I've just got a bit of a headache." He picks up his bottle of water with his right hand and takes a drink. "I had another flashback last night so I didn't sleep so well."

"I'm sorry, honey." Blaine rubs Sebastian's arm. "More stuff about your brother?"

"No. This was..." He hesitates. "Different."

"Different how?"

"I was older and I'm starting to think that the reason I don't remember things after I drink might not have anything to do with alcohol," Sebastian says slowly.

"Travis?"

"I think so." Sebastian nods. "I think that something bad happened in a bar or a party and I'm just blocking it out. There's so much shit I don't remember. I mean, it's not hard to guess, but still..."

They lapse into silence and Sebastian looks out the window thoughtfully and Blaine takes a bite of his hamburger and just watches Sebastian-the subtle upturn of his nose, the soft curve of his lips, the clean, dark line of the glasses that frame his intelligent green eyes.

(Not being able to wear his contacts had pissed Sebastian off, and for weeks, he refused to wear his glasses. He finally got sick of the headaches, swallowed his pride, and put on his glasses. Blaine wholeheartedly supported the decision. He always tells Seb that he looks like a hot college guy with his glasses on. Sebastian remains unconvinced.)

"You're beautiful, Seb," Blaine states dreamily. Sebastian smiles, soft and warm, but doesn't turn away from the window. It's fine. Blaine's content to just look.

After a few quiet minutes, Sebastian reaches up with his left hand and removes his glasses, folding them up slowly and setting them on the table.

"Why'd you do that? You're going to get a headache," Blaine chides gently.

"No, I won't. I'll get one if I wear them though. They're like looking through Coke bottles." He looks around, appraising. "Ready to get out of here?"

Blaine nods and they walk back in relative silence. Blaine lets his hand bump against Sebastian's as a prompt, but he just moves away. He can't help but feel the bitter sting of rejection. Sebastian has never rejected him. Ever.

"Are you alright?" Blaine asks as he shuts the door, watching as Sebastian picks up the notebook on his nightstand and starts writing. He doesn't get a reply so he just watches as the hand holding the pen moves across the paper. Blaine's brow furrows. Sebastian has never written with his left hand. "Will you tell me who you are?"

He doesn't look up. "Travis."

"And do you know who I am?"

"You are Sebastian's boyfriend, Blaine," he says, letting the pen and notebook fall back to the bed. "You can come sit with me. I can sense that you're nervous."

"I'm not." It's a terrible lie.

Travis laughs and slides over to make room. "Yeah you are, but you don't have to be. Scout's honor." He holds up two fingers on his right hand, smirking. "Come sit."

"Fine." Blaine cracks a smile and sits down beside the alter. "How old are you?"

"I am twenty-one," he says, smiling flirtatiously and exuding easy charm and confidence. "And I enjoy long walks on the beach and boys with beautiful smiles."

Blaine smiles hugely, blushing furiously and letting out an incredulous laugh. "Are you hitting on me?"

"Force of habit." Another flirty smile. "Though I would love to see Sebastian try and kick my ass for it." There's a warmth in Travis' eyes that helps to put Blaine at ease. "Don't worry, Blaine. You're safe with me. I'm totally hands-off." He looks around for a second. "Where's Kurt?"

"He's out getting everything we'll need for the service."

"Who are we servicing?"

"Travis."

"Sorry." He's not sorry. Concern touches his face. "Wait. Service...like...a funeral service?"

Blaine nods slowly. "Yeah. For Seb's brother."

"Sebastian doesn't have a brother..."

"He died when Seb was young. The doctors think that that's what started making him create alters." It's so surreal explaining this to Travis. "Kurt and I are hoping to give him some closure."

"Wow," is all Travis says.

"Not to be rude or anything, but why are you out?" Blaine asks, voice uncertain.

"Seb's worried about you. I read it in his journal. He's worried about Kurt, too, but Kurt can take care of himself."

"Hey!" Blaine is affronted. "I can take care of myself, too."

Travis just smirks. Their heads turn when there's a knock on the door.

"Hello, boys," Nurse Dani says kindly. "Blaine, I brought you some coffee. You looked like a damn zombie when I saw you come in."

Blaine laughs and takes the cup, his smile widening as Kurt comes to stand behind the nurse.

"Blaine?" Travis' voice comes from beside him so he turns to see him standing with an outstretched hand, reaching to take the styrofoam cup. "A few days ago, I saw her mix up pills into some guy's food. Let me see the cup." Blaine lets him take it and watches him examine the cup and coffee with cynical eyes before lifting it to his lips and taking a tentative sip, pausing. His face relaxes. "It's okay."

Kurt's grin is knowing. "Travis, I presume?"

The alter winks and goes back to sit on the bed.

-x-

After a few minutes of shameless flirting and teasing, Travis brings Sebastian back out. Kurt kisses his boyfriend on the lips. "Welcome back, gorgeous."

Sebastian smiles and reaches to take Kurt's hand, eyes flicking to the sheet of paper in his hand. "What's that?"

"I think I found the answer to our problems," Kurt says, grinning as Blaine snatches the paper, brow furrowing as he reads it.

"Cleaning staff wanted?" he reads, confusion in his voice.

"That part's for me," Kurt says, tapping the page. "Read below that."

Sebastian steals the paper this time. "'Full or part time house keeper needed for new, privately owned hotel. Flexible schedule. Willing to provide accommodations at a discounted rate."

"What are you thinking, Kurt?" Blaine wonders, curiosity in his voice.

"I take this job, you put in for a transfer to Columbus, and we have a place to stay without all the travel time," Kurt answers proudly. "They're going to pay me twelve dollars an hour which is three dollars more than I make now."

"Have you looked at this place?" Sebastian asks, ever practical.

Kurt hums in the affirmative. "It's really nice. The hotel itself is like a bunch of little apartments. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, and a kitchen. It's for extended stay."

"Then I say, do it," Sebastian says with a nod, handing the paper back to Kurt and sitting back down on the bed.

"Really?" Blaine wonders and Sebastian nods again.

"It sounds like a good deal to me. Then I don't have to worry about you both driving back and forth every day. Since you both seem so dead set on being here, I think this is the best option."

Blaine sits down and takes Sebastian's hands, holding his gaze seriously. "Seb, this is just as much your decision as it is Kurt's or my own. If you say no, we think of something else. We don't make decisions unless we all agree."

Sebastian presses a kiss to the back of Blaine's hand. "Thank you, beautiful," he says, quiet and adoring. "But I really do think you should go for it."

"Alright then." Kurt smiles and kisses Blaine and Sebastian in turn. "I'll go call the owner and let him know I'm interested. He said that if I wanted the job, we could move in whenever. I'll tell him I'll start at the end of the month."

With another kiss to each boy, he dashes out of the room to make his phone call.

-x-

He's gone less than fifteen minutes.

There's a low murmur of a hushed voice drifting through the open door and for a reason Kurt can't pinpoint, he's on edge, his skin prickling as he walks a little faster down the last short stretch of hallway.

A half step away from the door, he hears it-a shocked, pained, terrified whimper.

Blaine.

He rounds the corner into the room and bolts to where Sebastian-not Sebastian-has Blaine pinned to the wall, a hand clapped firmly over his mouth as he holds him there. Kurt doesn't waste a second thinking about the why? of it all, he just shoves the alter hard and by surprise. He stumbles away from Blaine, and Kurt forces himself between then. "Knock it off!"

X growls in frustration and shoves Kurt backwards into Blaine. "I'm getting really fucking sick of you!" It's low and dangerous. Without a parting glance, he stalks out of the room.

Blaine's body is trembling and Kurt lowers them both to the floor before Blaine's knees can give out. He pulls him close and kisses the top of his head. "You're okay, baby. Breathe."

"Seb," Blaine chokes out, not quite crying but still hysterical. "Make sure Seb's alright."

And it would be just like Blaine to worry about that. "He's okay, honey. Did he hurt you?"

Blaine shakes his head, swallowing convulsively and gasping for breath. "No. But he was going to, and I couldn't make him stop. I couldn't hit him. He's still Sebastian, Kurt. I just-"

"Shh," Kurt soothes Blaine's rushed panic. "It's okay. It's over."

He looks up at the sound of approaching footsteps to see Sebastian-definitely Sebastian-freeze, confusion leaving his face in an instant and being replaced with pure rage as tortured green eyes settle on a visibly panicking Blaine. It's clear from the recognition in his eyes that Sebastian doesn't even have to ask.

"Fuck!" Sebastian's fist collides hard against the wall and Kurt winces at the sickening crunch of cracking bones. He's sure Sebastian doesn't feel the pain yet.

There's torture written plain across his features as tears start to fall.

Blaine raises both trembling arms in invitation toward Sebastian and with a choked sob, Sebastian collapses to the floor to be wrapped up in his boyfriends' arms, crying brokenly into Kurt's shoulder as Blaine clings to him hard enough to bruise.

It's silent for what feels like an eternity before Blaine speaks. "You would never hurt me, Sebastian."

"I almost did." Sebastian's voice is cold and lifeless in a way that crushes Kurt.

But Blaine continues. "No. You didn't. I love you."

"I love you, too," Sebastian whimpers, before, "I'm so fucking sorry."

"You don't need to apologize." Kurt kisses his forehead. "You're perfect."

An hour later, they're in bed, Blaine and Sebastian passed out from the emotional crash. He misses how it feels to fall asleep with his boyfriends, to be in their arms and know that nothing can touch them. Instead, he watches, drinking in how small and beautiful Blaine looks with Sebastian, how perfectly he fits in the circle of his arms. No one could possibly protect Blaine better than Sebastian.

He brushes a lock of hair-darker now from the lack of sunlight-from Sebastian's forehead. "I love you so much. Please get better so we can bring you home where you belong." It was barely a reverent whisper.

Silence stretches on for almost an hour, with Kurt just watching and enjoying the closeness, when he sees it happen. Sebastian's features harden, his shoulders tense, and his entire energy changes. Sebastian is gone.

Kurt sets his jaw. "He's getting stronger," he says quietly, prompting, goading.

"I'm stronger," is the response he gets, quiet and smug.

"Blaine and I will never let you hurt him."

X smiles, sick and cruel. "I do so love a challenge."

With another smile, he disappears, Sebastian's face relaxing back into the peaceful calm of sleep and Kurt chokes on a sob when Sebastian cuddles closer into Blaine's side, nuzzling his curls unconsciously.

When they have to leave half an hour later, Kurt kisses Sebastian on the lips and reminds him a bit too seriously that he loves him. He takes Blaine's hand and walks out the door with a feeling of sick dread in his heart.

-x-

The jarring sound of banging on the door jolts Kurt awake. He opens bleary eyes to read 1:43 A.M. illuminated in red next and he jumps again as Blaine sits up and rubs his eyes. "What's going-"

"Kurt! Blaine! Get up!"

The entire scene is like a dream, but the next words were an ice cold slap of reality.

More banging followed by, "Dude, you guys gotta get up!" Finn's panicked voice comes through the door. "They're taking Sebastian to the emergency room! He tried to kill himself again!"

A/N: Reviews are always appreciated!