Burt forced himself to concentrate on driving, to stop his thoughts from running away with themselves and jumping to conclusions about what the hell he was getting himself into. He glanced at the dashboard – it was 23.45, and he was driving to one of the roughest parts of Lima to pick up a kid he barely knew. Despite his best attempts, Burt couldn't stop his mind from replaying their phone conversation over and over; the shaky, stuttering words, the hitching breath.

'Help? Blaine are you hurt? Do you need me to call an ambulance?

'No' the response was almost shouted back at him, 'No, please, I'm not hurt. I just…my car…I can't get home.'

Burt had his keys in his hand and his arm half into his jacket before he even knew what he was doing.

'Ok, Blaine I'm going to pick you. Where are you?'

'Um…I'm not sure. I just ran, I didn't see where I was going. I'm sorry'

Ran? The alarm bells that were already ringing in Burt's head jumped an octave.

'It's alright Blaine. What can you see? Anything that might give me an idea?'

'I…I think I'm on a high street. There…there's a bike shop, and a café next to it with a yellow awning'

'Radleigh's Bikes? Is the window covered with cardboard?'

'Yes, yes, that's it'

'Shit, Blaine, what the hell are you doing in that neighbourhood?' He blurted out the reprimand before he could stop himself, and could almost sense the boy on the other end of the phone flinch at his raised voice. 'I'm sorry, Blaine, I shouldn't have said that. It's fine. I'm coming to get you now. Are you somewhere safe?'

'I'm at the bus stop opposite the shops.'

''Ok, stay right where you are. I'll be there a soon as I can'

23.53. He eased his foot down on the accelerator.

Burt finally reached his turning and slowed down, peering into the dark ahead of him. At last he saw him in the distance, a tiny figure sitting hunched over with his hands wrapped tightly around himself.

As he pulled up under a street lamp and Blaine raised his head to look at him, Burt heard a soft gasp, that he distantly recognised must have been his own. With his hair messed up, clothes ripped and a growing bruise on his face, Burt could see that Blaine was barely holding himself together. 'It doesn't really matter whether he and Kurt ever end up dating' he thought to himself, 'I'm pretty sure I'm permanently involved in this kid's life now'.

AN: Thank-you sooooooo much for all the reviews and the advice. Was really helpful. And I am beyond flattered that people have put me on their faves/alerts.