Shoot to Kill

"Hummel." Kurt whipped around, his hand resting on the solid weight of the gun pressed against his stomach, and eyed the man that had said his name. Sam was beside him, back rigid and hands in his pockets, while Blaine was just a few feet behind him. The man that had spoken looked familiar, obviously one of the employees, but he did not look more than just surprised to see Kurt there.

"That the guy you left the company for?" Kurt straightened his back, tossing a glance over his shoulder to Blaine, hoping that he would be able to understand that he was telling him to be strong, to not react.

"What does it matter?" The man took a step forward but then glanced at Kurt's hand before stepping back again.

"Some of us respect your decision. I just want you to know that." And with that, the man spun on his heel and left the hallway.

Kurt felt his shoulders sag because that could have ended a lot worse than it did. However Kurt knew that it wasn't over, not even close. Not everyone he ran into would understand, not everyone there would respect his decision. They hadn't even made it through the first hallway before they ran into someone. There was no way they could make it all the way to the third floor and to Carlson's office without running into others.

They made it halfway up the first flight of stairs when they ran into the next person. The female was reading a packet of papers and rushed past them without even a second glance, until she was on the bottom stairs. Then she looked back up, gasped, and ran from the landing out of the door they just went through.

"She's definitely going for backup. Hopefully that won't include a gun, but it's best not to take chances. Get ready." Kurt pulled his gun out and then reached back with his free hand to grab onto Blaine's wrist, pulling him just enough infront of him that if someone comes up from behind them and starts shooting, Kurt would get hit first. He did it unconsciously but once he realized what he had done, he did not move. Sam nodded, taking his place at the front of the line, and continued up the steps.

At the top of the first flight of stairs, Kurt poked his head out of the door and then ushered the others out. He figured that it would give them some help if they ran to the other side of the second floor to use the stairs there, to give them the advantage of people thinking they were on one stairwell.

Halfway down the second hall, the next staircase in sight, there was a loud commotion behind them. Kurt whirled around first, pointing his gun at the two men that had slammed the door, heading straight for them. Kurt barely heard Sam say that the men were unarmed and therefore should be spared when he pulled the trigger, the bullet implanting itself in the floor near where the men were running for them.

"Next bullet goes into your skull." The men slowed down, both still edging forward until they finally stopped all together, eyes fixed on the three guns pointed their way. Blaine's hand was shaking, his finger next to the trigger but not resting on it, so not to do something stupid.

Sam lurched forward, since the men were close enough now, and grabbed the first one, pulling him back and slamming him against the wall. Following his lead, Kurt rushed at the second one, slamming his fist closed around the gun into his face. That made him drop to his knees, clutching his hands over his broken nose, blood dripping through his fingers and onto the white tiled floor. Kurt grabbed his shoulders, pulling the guy down and raising his leg at the same time, successfully kneeing him in the face so that he fell over, clutching onto his head.

Sam still had the other one pinned to the wall, punching him continuously in his stomach and ribs. The man was calling out in pain and looked half about to pass out, so Kurt pulled Sam away and looked between the two men now crumpled and moaning on the ground. They wouldn't be getting up any time soon.

"Let's go." Kurt pushed Sam forward, knowing that he was probably a little shaken but not having the time to deal with it, and grabbed Blaine's arm, pulling him after him as they ran the rest of the length of the hallway until they reached the next door.

Two women were running down the stairs that they were heading up, and Kurt tensed, ready to see what was going to happen. However both of them looked at the group of them, nodded, and continued down the steps. The only thing he could think was that they were some of the ones that respected his decision, or they hadn't heard the news.

And then suddenly there were four guys coming up the steps and two coming down, all shouting for them to stop. Sam ran up the steps to the two heading down and Kurt jumped down a few steps to reach the ones coming up, swinging out to catch one on the jaw.

From the corner of his eye, Kurt watched Blaine come down to his level and punch one of the guys there, barely grabbing onto the railing in enough time that he did not tumble after the attacker as he fell down the stairs. Kurt barely spared him an impressed look before shouldering into the two that were advancing on him, knocking one down the stairs and the other just into the wall. There was a yell above them and Kurt glanced up, seeing what was about to happen, and grabbed Blaine and pressed him against the wall, smoothing himself along the edge beside him.

A few moments after they leaned against the wall, the two men advancing on them looking at them curiously, there was a loud sound above them followed by screams as the two that Sam had rushed came tumbling down the stairs, knocking over each other and then colliding with the two that were about to grab onto Kurt. They all lay at a heap on the floor, groaning and moving sluggishly in pain, but that was enough for them. Kurt grabbed Blaine's wrist again, pulling him up the stairs and then yelling for Sam to keep going.

On the third floor, Kurt burst through the door without really caring what might be waiting for them. They were closer to Carlson's office on this end of the building so there was that going for them. The floor was empty, even though there were usually people all over this part of the building, and Kurt pulled his gun back out of his waistband because he didn't trust it.

"Okay, through this hallway is a meeting room. From there, it's a straight shot to Carlson's office. He has a gun in his office so Blaine, stay behind me and Sam." If Blaine was going to answer, maybe protest, it was cut off by another voice.

"He already knows you're coming, all three of you. He saw it on the monitors." Kurt whirled around, pointing his gun in the direction the voice had come. Stanley was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, staring down at them from only a few feet away.

"I don't want to shoot you Stanley, I really don't. But this has to end. I am going in there and ending this, one way or another." Stanley shrugged, turning to look down the way they would be going soon.

"He sent everyone down, or told them to stay in their offices. The people you've run into were too brave, or maybe too stupid, to listen to instructions." Sam was making a sound, silently asking Kurt to hurry up. However Kurt knew Stanley well enough that although he did love the sound of his voice, he didn't love it this much.

"What do you want Stanley?" He shrugged once more and uncrossed his arms, letting them fall to his sides.

"I am going to go call our medics, to check on the people you've encountered." He turned away and headed down the side hallway, away from the three of them. They looked at each other, each deciding it would be best not to ask questions at this point, and started towards the meeting room.

Getting closer to the office door, which was now in view, Kurt reached down to grab Blaine's hand this time, twining their fingers and squeezing tightly. At this point, he really had no idea what the outcome would be. Releasing his grip, Kurt moved to the door and threw it open, quickly aiming his gun at the man sitting at his desk in the far corner of the room.

"Ah, Kurt. I've been waiting." He stood, although didn't move forward when he saw that now all three of them had their guns trained on him.

"This must be Blaine Anderson. And of course Sam, it is good to see you in one piece." Kurt heard Sam growl but none of them moved for a moment. Frank Carlson might have been a lot of things, but he was not a stupid man. Kurt shot a glance to the other two before moving forward, his gun still pointed at his old boss.

"I think you know why I'm here." Carlson nodded, glancing down at his desk before taking a few steps out from behind it. Kurt made a sound, halting the older man before he could move further.

"DId I ever tell you that you were one of my favorites? It wasn't because you were particularly good at what we do, although you had your moments. The reason you were one of my favorites was because you were smart. You had a past that made you angry and you used that anger to do your job. You were good because you were angry."

"I was only useful when I was hateful." Carlson laughed, leaning against his desk as he did so.

"What do you expect Kurt? We're murders. We're killers. If you don't have hate in your heart, what do you have?" It was sarcasm, but Kurt understood what he was getting at.

"So why couldn't you just let me go? Why did you put a hit out on me?" Carlson glanced over Kurt's shoulder to where Blaine was, his eyes hardening just a fraction.

"I did it becauseyou were one of my favorites. I was going to name you my heir apparent. You were going to get everything when I retired. I couldn't have the person that I was going to name successor run off into the sunset, not under these circumstances. If it had been anyone else, anyone but a target, maybe. But you broke protocol, you declared war on the company by doing so. You had to be made an example of!"

His voice raised as he spoke until finally he was yelling, his hands flying into the air as he did so. It was shocking to see this, since Carlson was always calm. His chest tightened, not knowing how to react to an unhinged version of the man he knew.

"It didn't have to be like this you know." Carlson nodded, glancing once again back at Blaine.

"I imagine you would have done just fine in this position, if it wasn't for him." Kurt shook his head firmly, his hand steadying.

"No. I wouldn't have taken the position, even if I didn't have Blaine. I'm sorry but this is not what I wanted, this is not what I've ever wanted. Are you going to take off the hit?"

Carlson stared at Kurt, as if measuring him up. It was a look that he had given him many times, each time as unnerving as the last. However this time, Kurt was not unnerved, he was completely calm. He waited, even though he was pretty sure he knew what Carlson would say.

"I cannot back down from this Kurt." However before Kurt could say anything, before he could even think about pulling his trigger, there was a flash of a tiny pistol in Carlson's palm as he raised it in Kurt's direction. He fired the gun and Kurt barely had a second to move, rolling out of the way so that the bullet would miss him. He didn't even spare a look over his shoulder, even though he heard a gasp and then a shuddering exhale. If someone was shot, he wouldn't be able to focus. When he got to his feet, moving to steady his hand, Carlson was right there and knocked the gun from his grip.

Kurt swung, the heel of his hand connecting with Carlson's neck, and dived for the gun. He could see Sam and Blaine, both watching them with their guns pointing downwards. Neither looked injured, so that was good, however it was apparent that they would not be able to help in this fight without doing more harm. If they fired a single shot in their direction, they had just as much chance of killing Kurt as killing Carlson.

Carlson grabbed his leg, pulling him backwards and rolling him over. As he did, he rolled him onto his arm, making Kurt cry out. He was still reaching with his uninjured arm for the gun, kicking out to get away. He winced as Carlson bent his foot, moving as if to break his ankle, but he spun around and kicked hard, hard enough to knock himself out of Carlson's grip, and scrambled for the gun again.

This time, Carlson threw himself down onto Kurt and knocked the gun away, the weapon sliding across the floor and towards the door. Kurt winced as the older man continuously hit Kurt in the ribs, the same area that Drake had hit the night before, trying to roll himself out from under him.

There was a gunshot and Carlson gasped, rolling off of Kurt. Before Kurt could roll onto his back, to see who shot, there were two more gunshots. When he rolled over, he could see who had taken the shot. Sam and Blaine were both looking at the person next to them, holding Kurt's gun in his hand.

Stanley's hand was steady, pointing the gun at Carlson's dead body. He closed his eyes, letting the gun fall from his hand and pressed himself against the wall.

Sam rushed over, jumping over the body to get to Kurt, helping him stand and checking his arm, asking in a quiet voice if his ribs were broken, glancing at Stanley every now and then. Blaine moved forward once Kurt was past the body, grabbing his arm and letting his hand rest on his cheek, tilting his face down so that they could look into each other's eyes for a moment. A moment which was interrupted by Stanley's voice.

"I wish to have a word with Kurt. Neither of you will be bothered on your way out of the building. He will be right behind you." Sam and Blaine looked from Stanley to Kurt, who with one hard look at Stanley, nodded to them.

"I'll be down there in a few minutes." The two of them looked reluctant, but left anyways, tossing a look from Stanley to Kurt before shutting the door behind them.

Kurt moved away from the body, from Stanley, and wrapped his good arm around him to hold onto his side. His ribs didn't feel broken, but they were bruised at best.

"Why did you do that?" Stanley shrugged, his eyes going from Kurt to the man at his feet.

"Did you know that my brother was married once? Married with two kids. He lost his wife and kids because of this job, he let it eat at him until he had nothing but hate in his veins, until he could no longer love. And he wanted his employees to be the same, the hate and kill and never feel an ounce of remorse. And he wanted you to follow in his footsteps. However when I looked at you, I did not see my brother. I saw something else."

Kurt stepped forward, feeling that Stanley was not a threat to him. For all of his persistance and awkward flirting, the man was stronger than he had seemed. There was more to him than Kurt ever thought to look for.

"What did you see?" Stanley smiled, looking up from his brother to Kurt.

"I saw me. I saw someone who had gone through hell and come out a little darker, who wanted people to pay, to feel power over someone. I knew that in time, that darkness would fade and you would want out."

"I still don't understand. Why did you kill your brother? Because of me?" Stanley laughed, although the sound was soft and hollow.

"No, my dear Kurt, not just because of you, although that was a contributing factor. I decided that I would not let my brother turn anyone else like him, I would not let him kill you just because you care. It should have always been me. I was supposed to have taken over this business, I wanted to change it, but my brother would never let it go. I did what I did because I had no choice."

Kurt stepped forward again, angling himself away from the body so that he didn't have to see it again.

"What will you do with it now?" Stanley shrugged, looking towards the desk that Carlson had once sat at.

"There is a lot that needs to be done, a lot that needs to be changed. A lot of people will be angry with my changes but it has to be done." Kurt nodded, understanding at least that much, even if he didn't fully understand everything else.

"Well, consider this me tendering my resignation, won't you?" Stanley smiled, a more honest one than the one from before, as he stepped out of the way of the door so that Kurt could leave.

Kurt was barely out of the room before Stanley called him back.

"Oh and mister Hummel? There will always be a job here for you if you want it." Kurt glanced over his shoulder, feeling the burning throb in his arm and the ache in his ribs, remembering the jolt of fear when he thought that either Sam or Blaine had been shot during the scuffle, and shook his head.

"I don't think I'll be taking you up on that Stanley. Good luck though." He nodded to the man before heading towards the stairs, ignoring the looks of the few people he passed as he made his way out.

He stepped out of the front door, giving the guard there a look. It was the one that always flirted with him, but he did not seem to be in a flirting mood today. Sam and Blaine were leaning against the wall and Kurt made his way to them, good arm wrapped over himself still.

"What was that about?" Kurt sighed, glancing up at the building before looking back down at his friends. Well, his friend and boyfriend?

"Just clearing the air. It's over though. It's over and I'm out and we're free." Sam smiled, the scars tightening around his mouth as they stretched. Blaine reached forward and put a hand on Kurt's, the one that was pressed against his aching side.

"Let's get out of here."

Kurt was more than okay with that suggestion.

A/N: Thank you all for... just being awesome. The reviews, the alerts, the favorites, the random tumblr stalking... I just love you all right now. There is one more chapter, sort of an epilogue. I don't know how long it will be, but it'll provide closure. On the subject of a sequel, I will be writing one. The chapters will alternate points of view, with Kurt's being first. I plan on writing a oneshot or two (or three?) before I start the sequel though, so keep an eye out for those. Thanks for reading.

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