A/N: You can also enjoy this short companion ficlet prompted by another tumblr friend who wanted some brotherly!blinn.

Most kids would be excited by the idea of being home alone. Like anyone, Finn enjoys the independence, but the responsibility his mom and Burt leave him with make the day much less enjoyable. For one, she wants him to clean the house while she's on shift. Mainly because the Andersons are coming over that evening to pick up Blaine, so the house has to look well-kept.

Someone's gotta do it, and with Burt in DC for the next few days and Kurt in New York indefinitely, the duty falls to him.

Is he supposed to use Windex on the televisions, or what?

"Want some help, Finn?"

And that's the other responsibility: Blaine.

Not that Blaine is a burden or anything. It's just Finn has been on edge where Blaine is concerned.

A few days ago, he got fiercely ill with what they eventually learned was Lyme Disease. Finn only remembered a hand full of times when he'd gotten that sick. Kurt had told him Blaine had had a temperature of 103.4, and that was a scary number for Finn who couldn't remember a time being over 101 himself. And even with that, he'd felt miserable. He'd had the flu and was only seven at the time, so it must've left an impression.

In any case, seeing Blaine like that was very unnerving. And he knows it's totally his fault for Blaine throwing up. After learning what it was, Finn looked up the tick-borne disease on the internet and nausea was a very uncommon symptom. Not unheard of, but also not normal.

It was definitely the pizza, which was his fault. It had been Sam's idea though, so maybe it was his fault. But then again, he was the one that mentioned bringing it home.

"Finn?"

"Yeah, sorry, dude. I was just thinking."

"What about?" Blaine asks, picking up a dish towel to dry the dishes Finn has been cleaning.

"Responsibility. Hey! Do you know what I use on the TVs?"

"Probably not what you were thinking…"

"Windex?"

"Whoa, no, Finn! That'll ruin the screen," Blaine laughs. "What do you still have to do yet?"

"Uh… mom wants me to mop the floors I think. But then I also told her I would mow the lawn."

Blaine frowns. "If you wait too long, you'll be out in the heat at the hottest part of the day. Why don't you do that now and I can work in here for you?"

"Are you sure you're up for that?" Finn inquires, thinking back on how tired Blaine's been lately.

"Yeah man! I'm done packing, and the least I can do for your parents is help out around here when they went out of their way to take care of me for a month."

"You're sure?"

"I feel great. Honestly. Plus, I'll be out of the heat. So we're good."

It would be nice to get finished early. He and Blaine will be able to hang out for his last afternoon here instead of working and packing.

"I'm really gonna miss you, dude. I like having you around," Finn admits while handing the last dish to Blaine for drying.

"Me too. It's been really great."

"Even with Lymes Disease?"

"Yes, even with Lyme Disease."

Blaine sticks his iPod in his pants pocket, his earphones in his ear, and blocks out the sound of Finn's mower outside. He starts off by sweeping the kitchen, bobbing his head to Katy Perry and sliding around in his socks.

He's come to know this home so well – he doesn't really want to leave. Not that he dislikes the Anderson home or his parents, who are unfortunately gone more than they're present. But the Hummels – Burt, Carole, and Finn – they're his family too. And they will be officially. One day.

One day, Kurt will be laughing at him for dancing with a broom like he is now, but they'll be in their New York apartment instead of Lima, Ohio.

He really missed dancing and singing while he was sick. He'd never felt exhaustion like that before. It had been completely incapacitating, but at least his energy is coming back now.

If he mops the kitchen first, he can do the bathrooms while it dries and then make lunch for himself and Finn. With that in mind, Blaine begins mopping, the beat ever persistent in his earphones.

He's back in the kitchen, watching two grilled cheese sandwiches slow cook, when it hits him and he's suddenly so tired.

Must've been all the dancing…

The door is just opening when Blaine hits the floor and the world explodes into black.

"Blaine? Come on, dude, wake up." Finn is clearly about to panic, and although Blaine is only half-awake, he's conscious enough that he knows he should answer.

"Ouch," he replies, blinking until Finn comes into focus.

"What do I need to do? Do you need something? Water? Did you hit your head?" Finn babbles.

"Whoa, Finn, slow down. I'm fine," he answers, easing himself into a chair and glaring at Finn when he tries to help. He's embarrassed because heknows he's been really tired. He should've known not to push himself, but he just wanted be okay.

"What happened?" Finn prods, ignoring Blaine's cold stare.

"I – I must've pushed myself too hard," he admits.

"Blaine, dude. You're my bro, you gotta be honest with me."

"I really was fine this morning. I didn't lie to you, Finn."

Finn sighs, relieved, but Blaine still needs to know he's important to him. "You know you can come to me too, right? I know I'm not Kurt or anything, but if you're feeling bad or anything… I have your back all right?"

"I- I know, I just wanted to help," Blaine whispers, head lowered.

"I know. And you did."

He helps Blaine to the couch to rest and brings his bags up from downstairs for when his parents arrive. When Finn comes back, Blaine is nearly asleep.

"Hey Finn?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you not tell Carole about this?"

"Yeah no. I know better than that, dude."

"Me too… But I figured I'd try."