After I Break

DISCLAIMER: The author does not claim ownership of the characters used in this fictional story, nor does she intend to make money out of it. Any concept, entity and the like that you recognize belong to their specific owners. This story was written and published for the purpose of entertainment only. Thank you and enjoy. Final chapter.

Chapter 6: The Aftermath

010101010

(Three weeks later…)

Blaine straightened his navy blue bow tie and smoothed his hair. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. He still looked the same on the outside, but inside, he knew he had changed.

'The events of three weeks ago would change anyone, he thought ruefully. A soft knock on his bedroom door sent him back to immediate reality. A head of dark waves, identical to his own, popped in his door.

"Someone called Finn's here to see you, little brother."

"Thanks Cooper."

Blaine took one last glance at himself before heading towards his bedspread. A bouquet of fresh pink roses lay on top of his pillow.

Pink roses.

Kurt's favorite.

Blaine tried to blink back the tears that were forming in his hazel eyes. He grabbed the roses.

'Kurt,'

The dark-haired junior sighed as he headed downstairs. Finn was waiting for him in the Andersons' sitting room.

"Blaine," Finn greeted him somberly.

"Is it time already?" Blaine asked. Finn nodded.

"Everybody's waiting for us."

Blaine took a deep breath.

"Let's go."

Both boys stepped out of the Anderson household and made their way towards Finn's waiting car. A few minutes later, both were strapped in their seats and Finn was driving through a side street. He eyed the other boy warily. Blaine was biting his lip, looking nervous, holding onto his seatbelt for dear life. Finn couldn't help but let his mind flash back to that fateful day just three weeks ago. This, now, today, felt like an ugly déjà vu. The older boy cleared his throat.

It will be fine Blaine, I promise."

Unlike three weeks ago, Blaine did not contend with Finn. He simply nodded and continued to stare at the road ahead.

010101010

A number of cars were parked outside the Hudson-Hummel household when Finn and Blaine arrived. Finn parked nearest the doorway and shut the engine. He unbuckled his seatbelt and shot a glance at the boy beside him.

"Come on, let's go inside. Kurt's waiting for you."

Blaine sighed and picked up the roses on his lap. He unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped off the car.

The walk towards the house was short, but to Blaine, it felt like forever. Finn preceded him and opened the door for both of them. They were greeted by Carole's warm face.

"Blaine, thank goodness you're here. Everyone's early, but it's you he's waiting for."

Blaine nodded at her nervously. Finn noticed his reluctance and clapped him on the back, motioning for him to step forward. They entered the sitting room where a number of familiar faces sat: Mr. Schuester was conversing with Artie in hushed tones; Rachel spoke to Mike and Tina about NYADA and Julliard; Mercedes held hands with Sam –they all looked up once Finn and Blaine arrived. Mr. Schuester eyed the dark-haired junior kindly. The rest of Kurt's Glee friends gave him small smiles. Blaine felt relieved that they were all there for Kurt –to support the countertenor… to see him off.

Rachel stood up and walked towards the pair who was standing. She gave Finn a peck on the cheek and Blaine a brief hug. She then smoothed the skirt of her navy blue mini dress. She looked at Blaine.

"Are you ready, Blaine?"

'Ready? Will I ever be ready to see Kurt go?'

Blaine smiled at Rachel briefly before turning to Finn.

"I want to see him now."

Finn nodded at him, then at Rachel, before ushering Blaine out of the sitting room and down the hall. He stopped in front of a dark paneled mahogany door with a bronze handle, gave it a twist and pushed it open. He turned to Blaine.

"You'll need to say goodbye soon."

Blaine tipped his head wordlessly and entered the room. The first thing he noticed upon entering was the large closet that stood by the corner farthest from the door. It was open. It was empty. A four-piece luggage was packed and ready to go –to storage most likely. Kurt had so many wonderful pieces of clothing- pity; he could not take them where he's going. Blaine let himself smile at that fleeting remembrance. A desk stood beside the closet, adorned with cut-outs and numerous what-not –most, if not all were related to Broadway. The books that were once littered on top of it have been placed back in the shelves long before. It was already almost bare as was the rest of the room. In the middle of the space sat a double bed, its thick white coverlet already turned up –not a crease was in sight. Its pillows fluffed meticulously. Blaine carefully laid the bouquet of roses on it.

On either side of the bed, stood two side tables; on top of them were two identical picture frames: the left one carried a photograph of a woman with long deep blonde hair and sparkling green eyes –she had a month-old baby sleeping peacefully in her arms; the one on the right hand side on the other hand, showed two boys with their arms wrapped around each other, huge smiles on their faces, wearing identical uniforms –their eyes, twinkling, as if all was well in the world.

Blaine smiled at the image and grabbed it. He slipped the photo out of the frame and placed it in his pocket.

"You're not stealing from me, are you?" a soft voice asked. Blaine spun around. He knew and loved that voice since forever.

"Kurt,"

Kurt stood by his en suite bathroom door, looking unnervingly plain and subdued in a white t-shirt and blue jeans. He smiled ruefully at Blaine and gestured at the photo the latter took.

"I may want that for voodoo practice after I leave the facility you know,"

Blaine winced.

"The way you say 'facility' –you make it sound like a prison sentence, Kurt." Blaine bit his lip. Kurt looked at him knowingly and sighed.

"I'll be locked up for six months without even a photograph of my family and friends to keep me company –no phone calls, no internet access –"

"Kurt, it will be for your own good." Blaine said softly, moving towards his boyfriend. "You need to recover Kurt. You need help."

Kurt did not react to what Blaine had said. Instead, the older boy sat on his made bed. He eyed the roses but did not make a move to touch them.

"Everybody in that room out there says the same thing. Do you really want to see me gone?"

Blaine shook his head mentally before responding.

"We love you, Kurt. I- I know I told you I wouldn't tell a soul about what you did, but after that accident – I can't lose you Kurt –"

"You already did."

Blaine sighed.

"I want you whole and healthy – it might be too much to ask but I wish things were back to the way they used to be –"

"By sending me to a mental institution?" Kurt blurted out heatedly. "I survived that stupid car accident only to you guys lock me up again? Wasn't three weeks in that hospital bed enough for you?"

Blaine took a deep breath.

"It's not a mental institution, Kurt. It's a therapy facility."

"It's a glorified prison, Blaine!" Kurt spat out. "You want me locked up away from you all so you could all go back to your perfect little fairytale worlds without me pulling you down –"

"Kurt, that's not true! All of us –we all care about you. We want you to get help. I want you to get help Kurt, for you –for us two. Please."

Blaine made a move to envelop his boyfriend in a hug but Kurt pushed his away rather violently. Blaine ran his fingers through his dark curls.

"Kurt, please – I won't see you in six –please don't leave mad –"

"Mad?" Kurt stood up and let out a dark chuckle. "Don't you mean, crazy?" He then picked up a leather duffel bag that was by his bedroom door –it contained nothing but the bare essentials. He made a move to leave the room when Blaine caught up with him and held him back.

"I'll wait for you, Kurt."

Kurt spun around and stared at Blaine with a dark gleam in his once lively blue-green eyes.

"I won't be back Blaine. I will go only because there is nothing left for me here but, Kurt Hummel's gone for good. Once I step out of this room –"

"Kurt –"

"I loved you Blaine." Kurt took his eyes off of the dark-haired junior. "But all of that is now gone. Things –things have now changed. A lot."

"Kurt –"

"Don't wait for me anymore Blaine. If ever I survive that hell hole… things will never be the same. Please don't expect -I'm much too broken to be whole again."

Without another word, the countertenor stepped out of his room, bypassing the throng of people there to see him off in the sitting room and straight outside to a nondescript white van parked among the low bushes. As two scrub-clad attendants secured Kurt's seatbelt and drove him away, Blaine remained standing by the window. No matter what…

'Kurt, please stay safe... I'll be waiting.'

~FIN~

010101010

Reviews are welcomed.

Author's challenge: If you think you could write more of this story, please feel free to do so. You can do an alternate ending stemming from chapter 5 or an epilogue after Kurt's recovery (or the lack thereof, whichever you fancy.) Please PM the author if you plan to take on this challenge so that readers of this story may read your work. Thanks.