"You've mentioned you're father but you haven't mentioned your mother."

"There's not much to say. I don't think I ever knew her. She was such a quiet and distant woman. And she let me go."

"Is there anybody in your family who you think would have accepted your sexuality?"

"Maybe Cooper."

"Your bother?"

"Yes?"

"Where does your brother think you are at the moment?"

"I don't know. I have no idea what my family have told everybody about my disappearance."

"Do you miss him?"

"Yes, If I miss anything about that life it's him."

"Do you not miss any of your friends?"

"I had friends but I wasn't honest with them, I wasn't honest with myself."

"Blaine, let's have a moment to talk about something positive? What's good about your life now?"

"The Hummel's accept me, and the guys where I don't know I'm a slave but they don't mind that I'm gay, They accept me because I'm good at what I do. And I get to write songs and play the guitar and piano which is good. I mean, I know I don't have the freedom to be whatever I want to be but I can now be who I am. I have some different dreams now."

"Do you think if things didn't go well with Kurt the Hummel's would still allow you in their house?"

"I know they would. I know that how ever badly I hurt Kurt he's still going to ask his parents to look after me. He know what I have to loose in this."

"You have a lot of faith in him."

"Yes."

"Are they a surrogate family to you?"

"No, well maybe. It's more that when I watch them I realize I never knew what family really was."

"Blaine?"

"Yes."

"Can we talk about the day that you were taken into slavery?"

Blaine took a deep breath.

"You can stop anytime you want."

"Okay, I'll try."

Kurt stared across at the empty place in front of him.

"Perhaps if we call him again?"

"Kurt, we called twice it's obvious he doesn't want to come down." Carol said.

Kurt sighed and pushed his couscous around on his plate. He and Blaine had a good weekend, they'd gone clothes shopping and baked cookies together. But now it was Monday and Blaine had been locked away in his room ever since Kurt had got back from had been giving him space. He knew he had been to the psychiatrist and might need time alone but he had expected to see him at dinner. Had been waiting for it actually. Now with Blaine's plate sat in front of an empty chair Kurt was worried. he forced himself to eat quite quickly and then picked up the plate to take to Blaine and rushed up the stairs before Carol or his Dad could comment.

Kurt knocked on Blaine's door. He knew he wasn't going to get an answer but he was going to go in anyway.

"It's just me, I'm coming in for a moment."

He was hoping not to see Blaine curled up in a ball in a corner. But he was sat on the bed, his arms crossed. His posture suggested annoyance but his eyes were dead.

"I brought you some dinner."

Blaine looked up at him. Not even smiling.

"I'm not hungry."

"Do you want to be alone?"

Blaine silently shook his head.

Kurt went over and sat on the bed keeping a distance from Blaine.

"What do you need?"

Blaine reached out and took his hand.

"Be with me, please."

Kurt gently pulled his hand away and lied down tugging Blaine into his arms. He was so happy to just be allowed to touch Blaine this time. Perhaps it was actually getting easier for him. Blaine hid his face in his chest, he looked so young. Kurt held him close and stroked his fingers through Blaine's hair humming slightly. He tried to hum the song that Blaine had written to ask him out. Blaine hadn't played it for him for a few weeks. It was usually their thing, Saturday nights in together singing to that song with some candles, some kisses and lots of talking. After gently singing 'I want you baby' Blaine looked up and smiled at him.

"Ready to talk?"

"Yeah." Blaine said.

"What did you talk about today?"

"My family and my first master." Kurt knew he had tensed up but there was not much he could do about it.

"I don't know his name." Blaine said quietly. " I feel like I should know his name, maybe it would make him less of a monster for me. But it's not possible to find out."

Kurt shook his head.

"I wish there was a way if that's what you think would help."

"You don't think it would?"

"I don't know, do you really want to know that he's a he has a job, some sort of family. Maybe it's better to see a monster than a bad human being."

Blaine was silent.

Kurt sighed. He just wish he knew what to say.

"Blaine, will you eat a little bit, I'm worried about you."
Blaine nodded and sat up reaching for the plate. He ate in silence but it wasn't uncomfortable, they were used to being sad around each other now. They were growing to accept the fact that all they needed sometimes was to have each other ate half his meal and then put it aside and turned to Kurt.

"Will you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Could you rub my shoulders?"

Kurt nodded, pleasantly surprised. He liked that Blaine was asking him for something. Blaine sat up and Kurt knelt behind him he kneaded the muscles just below the nape of Blaine's neck smiling a little too himself when he felt Blaine relax against him.

"Did you pull a muscle?" Kurt asked conversationally.

"No, I just want to be touched by you and this seemed the least scary way. I mean.. I don't mean that.." Blaine turned around and gave him a worried look.

"It's fine. I know what you mean."

Kurt leaned forwards and pecked him on the lips.

"Thank you." Blaine said laying back down on the bed and holding his arms out. Kurt smiled and laid his head on his boyfriends chest hearing the steady heartbeat. They laid together in the opposite position to what they were before, supporting each other, taking alternative roles. Yes, Blaine needed him a lot at the moment but they could do this, they could be equal partners.

" Anytime." Kurt sighed happily hooking his leg around one of Blaine's so they were wrapped around each other.

" What song did Mr. Shue pick for you?"

Kurt sighed and let himself collapse back against the pillows.

"Oh god, that man and his love of disco."

Kurt glanced through the doorway. His Dad was exactly where he thought he would be, in front of the T.V. watching the match. Kurt hummed quietly as he walked through to the kitchen and picked up the plate of snacks he had previously made up. Then he walked confidently into the living room and placed the plate of hummus and vegetable sticks in front of his father then sat down.

Burt glanced up at him then reached for a carrot stick.

"Thanks kid."

Kurt sat watching the little figures on the t.v. running from one end of the pitch to the other counting silently.

One hundred and eighteen, one hundred and nineteen, one hundred and twenty.

"What's the score?"

Burt sighed and grabbed the controller muting the T.V.

"Make it quick."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I said make it quick, I know you want to talk and I want to relax and watch the match."

"Blaine is having a hard time with the psychiatry."

"I know."

"I was wondering if there was some way to make it easier on him."

"I think that it's going to be hard no matter what we do Kurt."

Kurt nervously grabbed a carrot. His Dad wanted him to be quick so he should just get it over with.

"I was thinking, he has difficulty at night.."

"No Kurt."

"You don't know what I was going to say."

"You want to sleep with Blaine. The answer is no. I'm not allowing that. "

"It's not like anything would happen." Kurt complained.

"I know that, but still. You're under my roof and for now I'm saying no."

"But what if he has a nightmare?" Kurt whined. "Honestly what's wrong with us just sleeping together?"

"You can go and calm him. Or if he's particularly upset then I'll make an exception but Blaine has to do this on his own, he has to realize that he can do this on his own and not become reliant on you."

"That's ridiculous. I was really hoping that you could talk to me about this like an adult."

"Kurt, you and Blaine are eighteen and I know you're in love but at your age you should take things slow. If you believe that you are going to be together for the rest of your life then you can take your time on these things."

"But.." Kurt tried to think of an argument for that. "But, I.. I mean.. just."

"Oh, oh, damn. How could he miss that shot."

Kurt sighed and stood up.

"Is the conversation over?"

"Yep."

"You won't reconsider?"

"Nope."

Kurt thought about slamming the door on the way out but he knew that it would just prove that he wasn't old enough to share a bed with his boyfriend.

Kurt pressed the key again.

"Want me to teach you to play don't cry for me Argentina?"

"Maybe another day, right now I want to hear whatever it was you were scribbling out when I came in to say goodnight last night."

"I wasn't working on a song. I was writing my diary. Move up." Kurt moved along the seat and Blaine sat beside him in front of the keyboard. Blaine quickly ran his fingers along the key tapping out a quick melody.

"How about a bit of Wicked?"

"Hmm.. Maybe later. You won't believe what Dad said yesterday, he wouldn't let me sleep with you because you would become reliant on me."

"He's right."

"What..." Kurt stared at him blinking at his boyfriend. "We're a couple."
Blaine put his hand on his leg.

"And we can be a couple but I'd hate to be too reliant on you Kurt. I need to be able to take care of myself and do things for myself and have my own life, you and your Dad have given me that and it's a good healthy thing. We are a couple and you are the most important thing to me but we can be the most important things in each others life and still have things independent of each other."

Kurt moved his leg away.

"So you don't want to sleep with me?"

Blaine smiled and leaned over to kiss Blaine cheek.

"One day I will get to be with you every night but as it is I want that to be something special, something that we choose to do and aren't forced to do by my anxiety."

"Well, we can't even choose to sleep together because dad says it's not right. I don't' see why he gets to judge."

"For now he's right. I am in a bad place. I could easily become reliant on you for emotional support. It's too much for one person, that's why I have to go to the trained councilor. Kurt, when we are ready to take that step we will go to him together and tell him we are ready and I'm sure when that day comes he's going to let us share a room."

Kurt let out a little whine and laid his head on Blaine's shoulder.

"I really just wanted you to be pissed off with me not to make me see sense."

"Sorry." Blaine said placing a kiss to his forehead. "Want to watch project runway and get pissed off with anybody who dares to use jersey."

"There's a time and a place for jersey. And it's the nineties."

On Thursday Kurt was again left waiting for Blaine. When he didn't turn up after ten minutes Kurt knew where Blaine was. He drove back to the house and went straight to Blaine's room. He knocked quietly.

"Blaine it's me. If you don't want me to come in just tell me."

Kurt waited and he didn't hear anything.

"Blaine? Coming in now."

When Kurt walked in he felt his stomach drop. Blaine was in a ball on the floor again. Kurt took a deep breath and decided to go for making as light a deal out of it as possible. He walked in and sat on the floor next to Blaine.

"You know you really do look adorable in that sweater."

Blaine looked up at Kurt, his face was ashen.

"Thanks." He muttered.

"Bad session again?"

"Yeah."

"Want to talk about it?"

"No."

Kurt nodded silently.

"I'm sorry." Blaine's voice broke. "I'm sorry."

"No, come here." Kurt pulled him into his shoulder.

"I miss him.. I miss him Kurt."

"Who?"

"My brother. I miss him. We were so close as children."

This time when Blaine started to cry it was different. It was a heartbroken sobbing. Blaine wasn't crying over the pain of his past he was crying over the pain of his future. He was crying because he was going to have a future without his brother.

"Wait, Blaine don't you have an address or something?"

"He lives in LA. After finishing studying law like my Dad wanted he went to do a post grad at the uni."

"How about we try and find him?"

"I don't know what my parents said about me Kurt."

Kurt squeezed his hand.

"Well, do you think he would believe you over your parents?"
"I don't know. We hadn't spoken to each other in ages we just grew apart. But he and my parents were really arguing when I left because he was determined to become an actor."

"He sounds like you. If he started at the start of this academic year then he might not have finished yet."

Blaine was quiet for a long moment then he whispered.

"But what if they find me."

Kurt held him as close as he could.

"They can't do anything to you. Come on, tell me all about your brother. I want to know."

"We used to sing together."
"Oh, two handsome Anderson boys, did you dance too?"
"Yes." Blaine sunk himself down onto Kurt's lap. Kurt smiled a little.

Two hours later Blaine was lying fast asleep with his head in Kurt's lap. Kurt felt he could sit there all night with his gorgeous boyfriend after he had fallen asleep talking about his brother.

Kurt looked up when the door creaked open. Burt looked in.

"He misses his brother." Kurt said quietly.

Burt nodded.

"You can stay here tonight."

"Thanks."

"There's pasta in the fridge."

Kurt nodded.

Kurt reached over to turn off the alarm. Then turned back to continue watching his simply adorable when sleeping boyfriend. His thick eyelashes were fluttering gently against his cheek. Kurt bent forwards and kissed him gently. Blaine grumbled sleepily. Last night Blaine had woken up in Kurt's lap. They had gone downstairs to eat and then they had laid together and Kurt had decided to talk about his mother.

"Blaine, sweetie it's morning."

Blaine turned and hid his face in his pillow.

"Not morning."

"It is sweetie."

"No."

Kurt laughed and pulled the pillow away from his face.

"You're beautiful."

Blaine turned over with a sigh.

"Are you going to be alright?"
Blaine nodded quietly.

"Take a sickly, and look after yourself then if you feel up to it come out with us tonight."

"The movie?"

"Yes."

"Okay, that movie was fabulous! Anne Hathaway is just getting better." Kurt said as he walked out blinking in the light of the hallway.

"So are you no longer mad at her for.." Tina asked.

"We do not talk of that."

Kurt caught the fact that Blaine meet her eyes and rolled them.

"Did you just roll your eyes." Kurt said looking between them.

"Uh.." Blaine said.

"You were? Weren't you? Oh my god. You were. That is brilliant."

Kurt was so happy that Blaine was one comfortable enough to roll his eyes at him and two to share a sarcastic moment with Tina.

"Uh..I don't understand you."

"You were rolling your eyes with Tina, that's like the first sign of hag friendship."

"You do realize you're making this a little awkward right with your over reaction to everything right." Tina said.

Mercedes and Mike had joined them whilst they had been speaking.

"Do you guys want to come with us to Rachel's?"

Kurt looked over at Blaine silently asking him if he wanted to go.

"No." Kurt said looking back. "We're going to go to go get ice cream."
Blaine gave him a little smile.

"I'll be over at Rachel's tomorrow for a sleepover so she won't miss me."
"Well is you say so. Have a good night."

"We will Mike thanks."

Blaine wrapped his arm around Kurt's back as they walked out the building and into the streets. It was quiet being that time of the night when the children have gone to bed but those of a partying age were not yet ready to go out. It was starting to get dark but the streetlights had not yet turned on. There were a few people mulling around the cinema but as they walked towards the small ice-cream shop on the edge of the town there were less and less people.

"So, how was your day?"

"Good, honestly. I just spent the day relaxing. I'm so glad we're going to spend some time alone together. I feel like this week we've not actually got to enjoy our time together."

"Yeah, it's been tough but I think it's necessary. I think you need to talk about everything that's bothering you. I mean, Blaine, I didn't even know you had a brother."

Blaine nodded solemnly.

"Anyway let's just forget all that for tonight. Let's go get ice-cream. I'm three flavors away from having tried them all."

"You know they're seasonal right. If you get the mini cups you could get all three flavors tonight."

"No." Blaine sighed.

"Calories? Because I have to say you look fantastic." Kurt looked his boyfriend up and down obviously and Blaine shook his head at him.

"No, one's fruity one creamy and ones chocolatey."

"Oh, it sucks when your favorites are at different ends of the ice-cream scale."

They had been so involved in their conversation that they hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps falling heavily behind them.

Kurt felt a hand grab his arm and pull him roughly.

"What?"

"KURT."

Next thing Kurt knew he was on the floor. He heard a startled grunt and saw Blaine hit the ground next to him. Kurt looked around tying to make sense what was going on. They were in the alley next to the ice-cream shop. There were no lamps there. Kurt looked up and saw two faces staring down at him. It was too dark to see their faces properly, but they were perhaps college age and one had a goatee both were in denim jackets and if Kurt wasn't in total shock he would make a comment on that.

"What's up Fags?"

"Hey, watch your mouth." Kurt said then felt a sharp pain to his side that left him gasping.

"Kurt."

Kurt blinked trying to clear the tears in his eyes as he heard movement beside him, everything was happening quickly. But he could see that Blaine had got up. He rolled onto his back to look up and saw Blaine fierce and shoving one of the men away.

"You don't touch him!"

"Oh yeah what you going to do sissy boy."

"I can deal with creeps like you."

"Creeps." The boy sneered. "Did you hear that. He likes other boys dicks and he thinks we're the creeps."

Kurt took a deep breath and used the time they were distracted to push himself to his feet. They had to keep them talking, if they could keep them talking just a little while longer then somebody was bound to walk past. But as he got to his feet he noticed the other boy, short cropped hair with light framed glasses and a look on his face as if he'd just stood in dog muck turn to him.

"Oh, want some more do ya?" He walked the two steps up to Kurt and pushed him roughly. Kurt had been ready for it so he managed to keep his footing.

"Leave him alone." There was something dangerous in Blaine's voice. An element that had never been there before.

"Why are you doing this? What have we done to you?" Kurt asked glancing nervously towards the wide open street just a few yards away but nobody was coming and the boy was blocking the way.

"You're alive. But maybe we can do something about that."

"Oh please." Kurt snorted. "What's with the macho act? You're just trying to hide your own insecurities in hate."

"Enough talking."

This time Kurt hadn't anticipated the sharp blow to his stomach. He found himself bending over double gasping.

"BASTARD!"

There were noises all getting confused in Kurt's mind. He tried to look up and could make out Blaine arms in a tangle around the boy who had just hit him. The other was coming up behind him.

"Blaine."

Kurt was overtook with a wave of nausea from the pain in his belly, he was forced to close his eyes for a few moments. He tried to center himself and straightened up. He opened his eyes just in time to see both the boys on Blaine the three bodies so close and moving so fast it was hard to see what was going on. Forgetting pain Kurt rushed forwards and grabbed the shoulders of the boy with the glasses tugging him with more strength then he though he had possible but as soon as the boy was away from Blaine they were both running out of the alleyway and into the street. Kurt watched them stunned wondering what had happened to make them run. Then he head the harsh breathing behind him and turned to look at Blaine.

Blaine was looking up at him his eyes wide with panic, his hair had flopped over to half cover his eyes and he was slumped slightly forwards his hands holding onto his side.

"Blaine. Blaine, what's wrong." Kurt took the half a step forwards and reached out to touch him on the arm.

Blaine made a sound somewhere between a chock and a growl as he slowly moved one hand away from his belly revealing a dark patch. Kurt stared for a moment the shock too much for the information to sink in. Then he gasped. Blood. Blaine was bleeding, badly. In what seemed like slow motion Blaine toppled to the floor.