Karofsky stared at Kurt for just a second before his head dropped. His hand was still propping up Kurt's head but he couldn't face Kurt any longer. Specific thoughts ran a mile a minute in his head until they became a jumbled mess of shame, guilt, fear, and ultimately, responsibility.

Tears threatened to fall along his strong, full jaws. He started to shake a little. The passion in that moment forced Karofsky to revert to a child-like state. He just sat there like a child who just got caught stealing from the candy jar. He still dutifully held Kurt's head, but Kurt no longer really needed it. And Kurt didn't fight it and didn't know why either.

Simply put, both boys were stunned by their respective actions and didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, Karofsky started to hum. At first, it was just a series of tentative, low rumblings that could've been interpreted as whimpers. But gradually, Karofsky began to hum a song.

The humming was low and melancholy. Yet beautiful. Kurt watched this massive, terrifying bully, one hand cradling his head while the other dangled in Karofsky's lap. The song Karofsky was humming took on a life of its own as Kurt listened. The song had a slight arc to it and then dipped low again for the bulk of the tune. Kurt, fascinated, watched and listened.

Kurt couldn't help but fall in love with the sad song, but was amazed at Karofsky. He'd never seen Karofsky this…vulnerable before. To his knowledge, nobody had.

Karofsky kept humming as if nobody else was in the room. The humming went on and on, with an excruciating longing to it. It almost brought tears to Kurt's eyes.

Quite unexpectedly, Karofsky stopped humming.

Silence….

"That was beautiful." Kurt quietly said. "What is that song?"

Karofsky kept his head down, fighting off tears, fighting off himself.

"It's the theme song to a 1980s movie called 'The Stone Boy.' The movie is about a boy who goes hunting and picking peas with his older brother, and accidentally shoots and kills his older brother. But instead of running home to tell his family, he just finishes his chores." Karofsky softly replied.

Karofsky pauses. Kurt suspects Karofsky isn't finished explaining, and he's right.

"The movie," Karofsky says, "is about how loved ones recover from a tragedy … to learn to love again."

Karofsky slowly raises his head and looks at Kurt. Kurt is devastated to see the anguish in Karofsky's eyes, the tears that are almost ready to fall.

"Do you hum that often? It's beautiful, but kinda sad." Kurt gently asks.

Karofsky studies Kurt for a moment, keenly aware he still is cradling Kurt's head. He's tempted to stroke his fingers in Kurt's fine yet disheveled hair, but correctly holds back.

That would probably freak Kurt out.

"No." Karofsky sadly replies, "Only when I'm …sad."

Kurt is suddenly uncomfortable and angry. His bully, the one who tormented him for nearly a year now, is not allowed to ask for compassion from his victim. Not at all!

Kurt starts to sit up, pulling out of Karofsky's grasp, getting Karofsky's full attention. Kurt plans to sit beside Karofsky, but a wave of dizziness slows him down. Kurt falls slightly to the side, resting on his arm, until he's ready to sit up.

Karofsky, still in protective mode, reaches to steady Kurt as he's falling to his side, but Kurt forcefully pushes his hand away. Kurt eyes Karofsky warily and Karofsky drops his hand, but forces his eyes to stay on Kurt. Karofsky wants to do whatever it takes to help him recover, but Kurt doesn't want his help. Even if he needs it.

"Look Karofsky," Kurt angrily begins, "thank you for helping me after you locker checked me for the hundredth time, but I don't really want to have a heart-to-heart talk with an unstable closeted jerk!"

Karofsky just stares at Kurt. The words hurt him, but he knew they were coming.

Kurt rights himself and starts to get up. But a new, more vicious wave of dizziness stops him mid-stance and turns into a full-blown dizziness attack of sorts. His vision clouded with spots, Kurt starts to come crashing back down to the injury bench when he feels Karofsky's lightning quick response. Karofsky places his strong hands on each of Kurt's biceps, guiding him back down to the bench. Because Kurt is falling and because Karofsky is in protector mode, he places Kurt right beside him, thighs touching.

Kurt is panting, desperately trying to catch his breath and involuntarily, Karofsky gently rubs Kurt's arms, soothing him. Kurt is still dazed, panting now only slightly, as he looks up into Karofsky's eyes. There's no sadness anymore – just concern in Karofsky's eyes. He keeps his steadying hands on Kurt's arms even though Kurt by now has basically recovered.

Kurt's breathing returns to normal and he blinks a few times, making sure there are no dizzying symptoms.

"Thank you." Kurt whispers.

Karofsky nods.

The two boys stare at each other. Karofsky hasn't removed his arms, something Kurt is mindlessly grateful for. No real thoughts pass between the boys. They simply stare at each other. Finally, Karofsky tentatively, slowly removes his arms, placing them back on his lap. Kurt looks away, knowing he can't go anywhere right now. He's afraid to get up, but isn't scared that he's in the care of his terribly feared bully.

Karofsky quickly looks Kurt over, making sure he's alright. Kurt turns and watches him do this, with a confused expression on his face.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Kurt asks in almost a whisper.

Karofsky stops and looks up at Kurt. There are no more emotions in Karofsky's face. He has decided what he has to do. He cannot see Kurt hurt anymore, especially having witnessed just how badly he has hurt Kurt. That kind of emotional damage has to happen over time and Karofsky knows this. In short, Karofsky is taking responsibility for his actions.

"Kurt….I….." Karofsky stammers over how to talk. How do you apologize for terrorizing a fellow gay guy? How do you ask for forgiveness? What happens after that? Will Kurt forgive him?

Kurt, surprising himself, patiently waits.

Karofsky's strength begins to falter. He starts to shake and can't stop one tear streaming down his face.

"I'm s-so frickin' sorr-ry, Kurt." Karofsky tearfully begins. Kurt's eyes widen in shock. "I'm just so sorry for…what I did to you." Karofsky tears his eyes away from Kurt and stares into his hands. His body slumps, crumbling in on itself.

"Are…are you serious?" Kurt genuinely asks.

Karofsky slowly turns and gives Kurt the most open, heartfelt look he has ever given anyone. He knows he has to do this. He cannot be the bully anymore. He knows he's caused way too much damage to many people, especially Kurt, and he will not be that person anymore. Not after seeing and feeling the damage he's caused.

"Absolutely, Kurt. I c-can't do this anymore." Karofsky replies almost tearfully.

Stunned, Kurt watches Karofsky. This totally unexpected move by Karofsky catches him off guard, but noting how sad and vulnerable Karofsky is right now, he decides to believe him. This is Kurt's chance at relative peace at William McKinley High School and he's not going to refuse it.

So, Kurt does what he does best. He forgives.

"I know. I know."

Karofsky's head shoots up at Kurt, a little smile forming on his face. Then, horrified at crying in front of Kurt, angrily wipes the tear away.

"Then, would you do me a favor?" Karofsky quietly asks.

"This is a strange time to ask me for a favor, but go ahead. What is it?' Kurt responds.

Karofsky affectionately looks him for a moment before responding. He knows Kurt will understand his request without much explanation.

"Please call me David. That's my name. I don't want to be Karof…." And then, Dave stops. He can't continue. Besides, no further explanation is needed.

Kurt puts a little smile on his face.

"Of course, David."

Dave gives Kurt a big, broad, boyish smile. He's made headway with this beautiful, talented, angelic boy and if that's all he gets, then that's fine with him. But, of course, since he's made headway, he wants to push for a little more.

"Kurt," Dave eagerly begins, "I will never, never hurt you again. I want you to take that for granted. I can't believe it ever started in the first place! It was never supposed to go that far! And that death threat! I couldn't kill you! Not you! I just wanted to reach out and stop whatever was going on and I will never do that again! I'll even stop others from hurting you too! I want you to know-"

"David!" Kurt interrupts, "Stop."

Dave stopped his frantic rambling, looking at Kurt with a confused expression on his face. Then, he became apologetic – again.

"S-sorry." Dave mumbles.

Kurt smiled. He never anticipated his day to be like this. He was a zombie throughout most of the day. Concerned friends, like Mercedes and Rachel, tried to get Kurt to talk, but Kurt was beyond reproach at that point. Finn kept his eye on Kurt at home and school. But he couldn't watch Kurt at school as much as he wanted.

The daily torment had pushed Kurt beyond his limits to deal and his brain had shut down. But this long-winded revelation and apology from Karof-, Dave, had done wonders and Kurt was beginning to come back to his old self.

"But David," Kurt began. Dave faced Kurt, giving him his full attention. "We have a lot of talking to do."

David nodded.

.