FINAL chapter. Thanks for reviewing and reading!

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"There you are!" David exclaimed from the student parking, upon seeing Kurt at the entrance to McKinley High School.

"Good morning, Dave." Kurt said, a little subdued. It was expected that Kurt would be exhausted from such an emotional evening. He had broken up with Blaine in rather a physical way. Dave took in Kurt's appearance as he approached.

Kurt was wearing a black and white sweater vest, which would've been too warm for Dave, and black trousers. Pretty subdued for Kurt, but dressy nonetheless. Dave smiled as he approached Kurt.

But as Dave looked closer, he saw the damage. Kurt still had bags under his eyes and his head hung low just a little bit. His posture was ever so slightly slumped and he wasn't standing as straight as he could. Dave thought Kurt would need at least a week of sleep to recover from Blaine's trauma. He mused that he wished he could be with Kurt as he slept, protecting him, holding him…..

"Dave?" Kurt asked.

"Oh, sorry Kurt. I was just thinkin'"

"About what?"

"You."

Kurt smiled. Dave couldn't stop loving it when he made Kurt smile. This smile was honest and carefree. Dave was overjoyed.

The two boys then entered the school together, with Dave, of course, opening the door for Kurt. Students were all around them doing what high school students usually do – talking, gossiping, opening and shutting lockers, rushing to the snack bar, etc. But Dave and Kurt were practically alone, walking in a companionable silence. Dave's smile remained. Kurt's did not.

Kurt slightly adjusted his backpack and suddenly winced. Dave noticed.

"Your back? Do you want to go to the nurse? Do you want to go home or something? Want me to carry-" Dave rushed.

"No. I'm fine." Kurt replied, rather curtly.

Dave, not quite knowing what to do, kept his pace with Kurt, keeping his eyes on him in a sideways glance from time to time.

Dave was exhausted from the previous night too, but not as much as Kurt. Blaine had received the shock of his life. Azimio and Mercedes came through when it looked like Kurt was about to leave with Blaine, not standing up for himself. David was pretty proud of himself for insisting Kurt listen to him and their friends. Dave was even impressed with his Dad, although he didn't want his involvement.

Dave casually adjusted his satchel, still smiling.

"Want me to walk you to your first period class?" Dave nicely asked.

"Sure." Kurt quietly replied.

Dave knew that Kurt was lost in thought. Being the introvert that he was, Dave knew to give him his space and let him think. Kurt had been through a whirlwind of emotions and violence in the last few weeks and it had to have taken its toll. So, Dave was doing what he always did – protect and give space.

"Dave?"

"Yes?"

Kurt didn't say anything for nearly a minute. Dave was getting nervous. Kurt, still lost in thought, came to a stop at his locker. Dave stood right beside Kurt, the overprotective guard dog coming out. Kurt slowly turned the combination and opened his locker.

Then, Kurt paled. Dave was alarmed.

Kurt was staring wide eyed at his locker, frozen to the spot. Dave peered inside the locker.

On the door was a student picture of Blaine Anderson. Snarling, Dave ripped the photo from the door and started to rip it.

"Wait!" Kurt yelled.

Dave stopped and looked at Kurt, a quiet fury all over Dave's face. Kurt paused and then held his hand out towards the photo, looking at Dave. Dave was uncomfortable, but handed the photo over anyway.

Kurt stared at it. It was a nice photo of Blaine in his Dalton Academy uniform. Blaine had a little smile and he appeared so innocent, yet smarmy. Kurt then placed his fingers gently over the image.

Dave watched all of this nervously.

Please don't change your mind, Kurt!

Kurt's fingers slowly drifted back and forth over the photo for what seemed like an eternity to Dave. Dave, furious, held his emotions at bay as best he could.

Then, quite suddenly, Kurt held out the photo for Dave.

"I just wanted to say goodbye to him in my own way. You can destroy it now."

Dave didn't hesitate. He practically snatched the photo out of Kurt's hand and ripped Blaine to pieces. When he was done destroying the photo, he dropped the confetti-like photo on the floor and stomped on it.

That got a little laugh out of Kurt, which was good enough for Dave. The boys looked at each other and smirked.

"C'mon", said Dave, "I'll buy you something at the snack bar."

"No thanks. I'm not hungry."

Dave looked troubled and Kurt noticed immediately.

"My appetite," Kurt began hesitantly, "isn't what it used to be….."

Dave wanted to reach out to Kurt, but held back. Instead, he gazed at Kurt sympathetically. Dave stroked the strap of his satchel instead.

Kurt resumed getting his books for the morning classes. They had plenty of time before class began. Suddenly, Kurt stopped moving, staring into his locker at absolutely nothing. Dave didn't like this one bit.

"Kurt?"

Kurt didn't say anything for a moment. Then, deliberately, he turned his head towards Dave.

"Dave…."

"Yes?"

Kurt, again, waited a moment before saying anything.

"I need time….."

"I understand." Dave gently replied, "I would too in your situation." And then, Dave leaned forward and in a near whisper that didn't lose any of its intensity, added "I'm not going anywhere."

Kurt's face crumpled for just an instant before returning to its neutral state. Dave continued to penetratingly stare at Kurt. Kurt got the message.

"Thank you Dave." Kurt said quietly.

"Of course. I mean that. When you're ready, you tell me."

Kurt smiled at Dave. Dave was proud of the entire situation. And, he could even be proud of himself.

Then, Kurt had a questioning look on his face as he studied Dave.

"If I tell you something, do you promise not to get mad right away?" Kurt asked.

Dave knew this was a loaded question, but chose to trust Kurt anyway.

"OK." Dave responded.

"Blaine called me after I left your house."

Dave quickly hid his fury.

"Oh."

"Yeah…."

Dave, suddenly uncomfortable, shifted his weight on the locker and stood back up straight.

"What did he want?"

Kurt hesitated. Dave watched everything with a hawk-like stare. He was furious with Blaine for breaking a rule Dave clearly laid out last night, and a little angry with Kurt for taking the call.

"He tried to get me back. I let him talk for maybe a full minute before I finally interrupted him." Kurt said.

"What did you say?" Dave asked, almost accusingly, afraid of the answer.

Kurt dropped his head a little and Dave's heart could've sunk to the floor.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…

Kurt slowly raised his head back up to Dave and smiled.

"I told him to never call me again and to go to hell."

Dave beamed at Kurt and couldn't help a little physical contact. Incredibly pleased, Dave placed a hand on Kurt's shoulder in praise.

"Kurt! That was awesome! I'm so reliev-" Dave started and suddenly stopped.

Kurt's smile changed into a knowing smile.

"Don't worry, Dave. I can't go back to him."

Dave slowly removed his hand from Kurt's shoulder. He was never more proud of Kurt than in this moment.

"You are so strong, Kurt." Dave said thoughtfully.

"Some of that is thanks to you." Kurt replied softly.

Dave dipped his head bashfully.

"And Mercedes. And Azimio, for God's sakes!" Kurt said.

Dave laughed.

"Yeah, he's a good friend, Kurt." Dave said laughingly.

Neither boy said anything for a little while. They just looked at each other with little smiles on their faces. Students milled around them, teachers opened classroom doors, a janitor walked by, and neither boy seemed to notice anything. They were so wrapped up in each other in that moment. Two boys just smiling at each other. God, it was awesome!

I love you, Kurt.

Suddenly, the first period bell rang.

"Crap. Gotta go." Kurt said.

"Me too." Dave said, a little sadly.

"See ya' in geometry?" Kurt asked, smile back in full force.

"You bet." Dave replied, a smile on his face too.

Kurt then turned around and walked down the hall. Dave watched Kurt as he strolled down the hall and around the corner, out of eyesight. Dave sighed and trotted to his first period class. Dave was happy.

I'm so proud of you, Kurt.

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Dave was nearly the first student to arrive in geometry class that morning and Kurt was one of the last. This often happened since Kurt's third period French class was all the way on the other side of campus. Dave watched the door for Kurt's entrance, like he always did. He was growing impatient.

Kurt finally arrived. He seemed to have a little spring in his step, for as tired as he looked earlier that morning. Dave, smiling, watched Kurt as Kurt immediately looked for Dave and smiled back. Kurt then walked to his seat two rows over. He sat down, situated his backpack, removing his geometry textbook.

Then, Kurt frowned. Kurt and Dave understood the context of Kurt's failings in geometry. Blaine's vicious first abusive attack was a geometry textbook hurled at Kurt's head. Dave watched Kurt just stare at the orange cover.

Kurt closed his eyes momentarily. Dave was nervous.

Then, Kurt opened the textbook and quickly opened to the chapter they were studying, a little smile on his face. Relieved, Dave sighed. Kurt looked at Dave. Realizing he was being watched the whole time, he knowingly smiled at Dave. Of course, Dave had to grin back.

Class began. The teacher was droning on about various angles and protractors and whatever. But Dave was in the habit of watching Kurt in their only class together. However, when he turned his head, he discovered that Kurt was looking at Dave. And then, to Dave's astonishment, Kurt gave a subtle little wink. Dave could've giggled.

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The end of the school day was fast approaching. Dave approached Kurt's locker for the final time that day.

"So, do you have glee today?" Dave asked happily.

"Yes, I do, thank you. And you have football practice?" Kurt responded congenially.

"Yup."

Dave watched Kurt place a couple of things in Kurt's satchel and then Kurt shut his locker, turning towards the choir room. Dave walked right beside him.

"Dave?"

"Yeah?"

"About what we talked about this morning…." Kurt said.

"Which part?" Dave joked, "We kinda covered a lot!"

Kurt laughed, "Yeah, we did." But Kurt's facial expression softened a little, almost affectionately as he looked at Dave.

"When I said I needed time….."

Dave stopped walking. Kurt did too, giving Dave a little questioning look. But Dave was serious.

"Yeah?" Dave asked as gently as he could.

Kurt took a half step closer to Dave. There weren't very many students left in the halls at this point and the few that remained were too focused on getting the hell out of school.

"I meant what I said. When I'm ready, I'll let you know." Kurt said.

Dave smiled warmly at Kurt.

"Like I said," Dave said softly, "I'll be right here."

Kurt and Dave smiled. They both resumed walking together to their respective destinations. Azimio caught sight of Dave and started walking towards him until a curt shake of Dave's head waved Azimio off. Azimio, smirking a little, waved his hand in the air and strolled on his own towards football practice alone.

Kurt, of course, saw all of this.

"You could've walked with him, you know. Or, rather…he could've walked with us."

Dave's smile got even broader. "Nah. I like walking with you."

Kurt smiled timidly.

"OK."

So, Dave and Kurt walked down the hall, turning right, and then later stopping at a crossroads of hallways. Kurt would need to turn left again to get to the choir room and Dave would have to keep going down to the hall to get to the practice fields.

The boys looked at each other with such passion in their hearts. Little, knowing smiles were on their faces for a while until little tufts of laughter would erupt from their mouths. Then, normalcy resumed and they just stared at each other again.

"Have a good practice, Dave." Kurt said.

"And you have fun in glee, Kurt."

Kurt looked at Dave with such affection then. Both boys knew they would be dating someday. Time must heal wounds, right?

Kurt waved to Dave, turned, and slowly headed towards the choir room.

Dave waved back and watched Kurt stroll away. He waited until Kurt reached the choir room near the end of the hall. When Kurt arrived, he stopped.

Dave's brows furrowed a little.

Kurt turned his head, heavily winked, waved again, and entered the choir room.

Dave laughed out loud and waved his goodbye.

Then, Dave walked ahead and out the door. He knew Kurt's geometry grade would improve. He knew they both had great best friends. He knew he would date Kurt someday. He knew he was in love with Kurt.

Dave knew a lot of things.

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