Kurt ached to help Blaine as he grit his teeth and slowly, painstakingly raised himself off the bed but he knew Blaine had to do this for himself. Instead he hovered close enough to satisfy his nerves but far enough away to give Blaine the space to sit, then stand (however shakily) and slowly walk around the room.
"Very good Blaine, How do you feel?"
"Okay I guess. I'm tired all over again."
"That's perfectly normal. You'll probably be a bit out of it for a few days. But your O2 stats are solid, so I am happy to say we can discharge you provided you follow up with an allergist in three to five days. Here is a prescription for pain medicine for your cuts and bruises, and an antibiotic cream that you should apply every 6 to eight hours, or after showering. You should be resting as much as possible, and drinking and eating regularly. You are slightly malnourished and dehydrated, so it is important to maintain your intake. Do you understand?"
Blaine looked panickedly up at Kurt, not realizing they had seen his bruises but calmed down after Kurt took his hand firmly and began to trace gentle patterns on the still sweaty skin. He murmured in his ear.
"I've got you Blaine, just a few minutes more and we'll be home. Just follow me. I'll take care of everything. You're safe, remember?"
Blaine nodded, and obediently followed Kurt as he gathered up the paperwork and pushed him in the hospital mandated wheelchair out to the doorway.
"Are you okay with taking a cab? You still look pretty shaky babe."
Blaine wanted to argue that it was too expensive and that he was fine, but even the short trip standing up had left him wishing for a nap, so he nodded gratefully and stepped into thee dark confines, infinitely grateful to rest his head on Kurts shoulder during the short trip.
"Blaine we're just going to get out by the pharmacy so I can get your medicine. It's right next to the apartment."
Blaine nodded, too sleepy to really consider what was being said and followed Kurt into the overwhelming lights of the pharmacy and finally back out into the street and back up the stairs into his tiny apartment.
"How are you feeling Blaine?" Kurt asked, noticing the way Blaine was drooping in the security of the apartment.
"Just tired and sore I guess. I don't know, my head feels all weird. I feel kinda sweaty and gross. Can we. I mean is it okay if I take a bath or something?"
Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaines waist before responding, so Blaine had no choice but to look at him.
"This has always been our place. You can do whatever you want babe. Just let me know how I can help. Promise me it's our place."
Blaine couldn't help the unshed tears that shone behind his eyes as he kissed him languidly and lovingly, not minding that he needed to lean on Kurt for support as their tounges lazily intertwined. Their kiss was not desperate nor needy but warm and gentle and caring. They broke apart easily, but without losing their closeness as Kurt led the drooping Blaine over to the couch and settled him onto the soft pillows. Blaine whined a the loss of contact as Kurt went back to the kitched but he was soon back with water, tomato soup, and medicine. Setting that onto a table he joined Blaine on the small couch, wrapping an arm around his waist so he was spooning the now sleeping boy.
After about half an hour in which Kurt relished the peaceful expression on Blaine's face and tracing patterns through his hair Kurt realized that Blaine needed to eat and take medicine and so did he.
"Blainers wake up, it's time to eat. You've got to take your medicine. You're here in our apartment in the ciry. You were discharged from the hospital and now we're sleeping."
Although Blaine tensed a bit as he came into consciousness once he breathed in Kurt's lilac scent and felt his arms around him he calmed, sighing softly.
"Hey Kurt. I'vee got to use the bathroom."
"You'll be okay?" Kurt asked worriedly.
"Of course" Blaine replied sweetly, but as he awkwardly pushed himself up he winced and sighed. "Guess Not."
To Blaine's eternal gratitude Kurt was there, wordlessly wrapping an arm around Blaine and helping him to the bathroom. He left Blaine at the door, knowing he would need privacy but listened attentively incase he needed help. He set a tray of food on their bedside table and remade the covers quickly before going into the bathroom to check on Blaine, who met him at the door. His face was scrubbed pink and his hair was brushed and he was smiling as he took Kurt's offered hand and followed him to the bedroom.
"Come here," Kurt said, kissing Blaine sweetly.
"Hi." Blaine said.
"Hi" Kurt whispered into his skin.
"So Blaine." He said, leaning Blaine back onto the pillows and cupping his face in his hands.
"We need to figure out a plan. I know you're scared and tired, but we need to figure out what to do. Do you still want to stay with me? I want you to."
Blaine nodded, clearly uncomfortable but he leaned into Kurt's touch, closing his eyes as he nodded.
"Oh Blaine look at me. I've got you, I've got you. It's okay. It's going to be okay. I promise. We just get to start living NY a little bit early. Tell you what. But we have to let McKinley, and glee club know you won't be coming in. I'm sure Mr. Schuster will figure something out with Figgins. It'll be okay Sweetheart. I promise. Oh Blaine. Come here."
Seeing that Blaine was in no position to come anywhere, with his eyes half closed and the obvious exhaustion in his body Kurt instead slid an arm underneath his shoulder so that his head lolled onto the older boy's chest. It was terrifyingly easy to lift him into his arms and settle him in his lap.
"You've got to eat Baby. Just a bit. Here, I've got some soup. There you go babe. Here's some water. You've got to hydrate Hun. There you go. Is there anything else you want to eat?"
Blaine shook his head and pressed a kiss to his boyfriends cheek.
"Thank you. I know we have to be responsible, but can we just stay here for a bit? I've missed you so much."
"Of course my love, of course. Oh Blaine I've missed you love."
He laid Blaine back on the bed and helped him to turn over, continuing to murmur words of comfort into his ears as he began to work his tightly wound sore muscles with his gentle fingers, pushing and kneading in the practiced way Blaine loved. Whenever he found a bruise or cut he covered it with gentle, languid kisses over the hurt, sometimes pressing his cheek to Blaine's lightly tanned skin, sometimes simply kneading his sore muscles with the ridges of his knuckles until Blaine was nearly sleeping, but instead of the exhausted desperate tiredness he had felt before now he was simply worn down, still giddy with the relief of his safety and with the fiercely protective touch of Kurt, his Kurt, overwhelming his eyes and his nose and his mind with love.
As Blaine finally slackened into peacefulness underneath him Kurt didn't leave, but instead settled down to sleep beside him, snaking an arm around his waist so that he rested his cheek on Blaine's splayed arm, seeking the contact that h had missed so much. Whatever had happened, he was glad to see Blaine. He had missed him so much, and at least he would stay right where Kurt could be with him. They had promised each other a few months after they had met, as they lay curled together so close that they were full of only each other, so close that nothing else seemed to matter, that they would always protect each other. He was overwhelmed with guilt because he had failed to protect him once again, his love, the boy who had given him back himself after so many people had taken it all away. No more. He vowed in that moment to do whatever it took to make up his promise to Blaine. If he still could. He realized he still didn't know the full story, and sleepily decided to try to talk to Blaine. After a nap of course. They both needed it.