Thanks for all the reviews! So glad that you are all still enjoying this story! So many updates in the last couple of days! Wow! Just a note: updating will slow because I go back to uni.

Chapter 8: New Directions

Kurt looked up and saw that New Directions were coming towards him, Finn leading the pack. Kurt hadn't seen them, not since the incident. He seen Puck a couple of time (the one time he picked him up and whenever he hung around at their place with Finn). They had come to visit him in hospital, but he had been so out of it at the time that it didn't really count.

Kurt wasn't sure how he felt. These people were meant to have been his family (since that's what Mr Schuster had been telling them since they started Glee Club) but they hadn't noticed that someone had been making his life hell, trying to kill him.
Kurt caught Blaine's eyes and waved his hand. Blaine quickly said something to Wes, David, Nick and Jeff and headed over to him leaving the other's looking confused and concerned.

"You OK?" Blaine asked, looking concerned. Kurt shrugged.
"Dolphin? Whose this?" Brittany asked, looking adorably confused. Blaine's eyebrows raised at the name dolphin but didn't say anything.
"I'm Blaine."
"Are you Kurt's dolphin?" Brittany asked. Blaine looked to Kurt, confused, and saw Kurt nodding. Brittany squealed and hugged Blaine tightly.

Blaine looked at Kurt over her shoulder and saw him looking amused but fondly at them both. Brittany let go and smiled at Blaine and Blaine smiled back. Kurt reach out and took Blaine's hand, tugging him closer.
Kurt looked up and saw that New Directions had reached him. Puck nodded and Kurt nodded back. Brittany had taken Kurt's other hand, swinging it gently between them.
"Hi Porcelain," Santana said, breaking the silence.

Kurt gave her a soft smile and nodded. Surprisingly, Santana had gone Lima Heights Adjacent on the footballers after the attack and Kurt had been grateful.
"Hi Kurt," Mercedes said quietly, looking guilty. Their relationship had been strained over the month, Mercedes feeling guilty that she had not noticed her best friends pain but they had been working on. Kurt nodded at her and gave her a weak smile. She looked at Kurt and Blaine's linked hands and her eyes widen slightly but she smiled more brightly.

'Blaine,' Kurt mouthed to her and she nodded.
The group said quiet hello's, standing awkwardly and guilty.
"I'm Blaine," Blaine said, trying to ease the awkwardness. "I'm Kurt's boyfriend."
Rachel's eyes widen.
"You are dating the enemy?" Rachel screeched. "Kurt, do you not remember the Jessie scenario that happened?"
Blaine just stared, wide eyed and Kurt glared at her coldly.
"Shut up Rachel," Tina hissed. "I knew you were selfish but really. This is a low blow, even for you."

"What? Kurt is a part of New Directions and we are family and Kurt is jeopardizing that," Rachel huffed.
Angry tears welled up in Kurt's eyes and Blaine squeezed his hand, wrapping his arm around Kurt's shoulder.
"Shut up man hands," Quinn snarled. "God, you haven't even asked how Kurt is doing, if he's enjoying Dalton, if he's happy but all you do is immediately think of yourself."

"I do not. I'm looking out for everyone," Rachel huffed. "Kurt understands."
Rachel looked to Kurt who shook his head with a cold glare. Rachel looked shocked and flinched back.
"I think," Burt said quietly but his voice holding dangerous undertones. "it's time for us to leave. You may come visit, but call first."

Brittany pouted and hugged Kurt.
"Can I come visit?" she asked.
Kurt nodded and waved goodbye to everyone but Rachel and stalked off, pulling Blaine along. Finn, Burt and Carol followed behind them.
"Kurt? I have to go back to Dalton with the others," Blaine said gently, causing Kurt to stop. "Will you be ok?"

Kurt nodded once, his face closed off. Blaine pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head.
"I'll message you," Blaine said and Kurt nodded once. Blaine sighed sadly, said goodbye to Burt, Carol and Finn and headed back to the other Warbler's.
"What was all that about?" Wes asked as they headed back to their bus.
"Apparently they were Kurt's friends," Blaine said with a frown.
"That girl didn't seem all the friendly," Jeff muttered.

"No," Blaine agreed. "I'm worried about Kurt. He just...closed off."
The other's looked worried as they made their way to the bus.

Kurt was silent and still on the way home.
"Kurt?" Finn asked cautiously but Kurt ignored him, staring out the window. Carol looked at Burt nervously as he drove. Kurt was closing off and she wasn't sure what to do. When they got home, Kurt jumped out and walked slowly to the house. He immediately went upstairs to his room and shut the door.

Burt sighed and shook his head.
"I know you like Rachel Finn," Burt said. "But that girl doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut."
Finn shook his head.
"She's just..." Finn started.
"She was rude Finn. Kurt is still recovering," Carol said. "You don't just magically recover from something like this. Rachel has just set him back."

Finn looked guilty and shuffled.
"I know you thought you were doing good," Burt said. "Thinking it would be good for Kurt to see his friends, but all at once? He wasn't ready. You guys hurt him a lot."
"We didn't mean to," Finn said sulkily.
Burt sighed again and sat down in his chair.

"You may not have meant to, but you still did. You have to earn Kurt's trust back and it won't be easy," Burt said.
Finn nodded and sighed. Finn knows they had screwed up. Hell, Kurt and Mercedes barley spoke and they were best friends. Kurt had spent more time with Santana and Brittany then anyone. They had been the only ones who had been looking out for him. Once a Cheerio, always a Cheerio. This had been a surprised to everyone and they all felt guilty.

"Should I go check on him?" Carol asked, biting her lip.
"Give him some time," Burt said gently, looking worriedly up to the ceiling. Carol sighed sadly and slinked into the kitchen to start making dinner, worried about her step son.

Up in his room Kurt collapsed on to his bed, sobbing soundlessly. He had always known that Rachel thought nothing but herself but for once, just once, he thought that maybe she would care enough to ask how he was doing. Kurt sobbed harder, she didn't care.

Kurt knew that it would take time to trust his friends again. Santana and Brittany had been there for him after the attack. They knew they had screwed up and came to visit him all the time in hospital, telling him they were sorry and knew that knew it would take time but they were willing to work for his trust again. They others had felt to guilty to stick around for long. Mercedes was trying and Kurt knew she felt horrible for it but it just wasn't the same anymore. Even his relationship with Finn was still tense. Kurt couldn't stop flinching around him, no matter how much he tried. They just didn't understand what it was like. Santana and Brittany, they had admitted to Kurt that they were in a relationship together and understood the pressure he was under but they were never bullied.

Kurt sobbed harder as he thought what Blaine must have thought. Rachel had been so rude to him. Kurt cried, cried at the unfairness, the hurt and pain.
He must have cried himself to sleep, because the next think he knew, someone was stroking his hair.
He sat up groggily and blinked, his eyes stinging because of the tears.

Kurt looked up to see his father perched on the edge of his bed.
"You OK?" Burt asked. Kurt shrugged, rolling on to his back.
"It will take time Kurt. You can't heal over night," Burt said.
Kurt hesitated and started to sign.

'How can I trust them again?'
"I don't know Kurt," Burt sighed eventually. "But they are your friends."
Kurt nodded.
"Blaine called while you were asleep," Burt said and Kurt bit his lip.
"Carol talked to him," Burt continued. "Told him it was stressful day and that you weren't feeling all that well."

'thanks' Kurt mouthed Burt nodded. He pulled Kurt into a hug and Kurt held him tightly. Burt held Kurt for as long as he needed, only pulling away when Kurt did.
"Carol made dinner, yours is still in the oven if you would like it," Burt said.
Kurt nodded and followed his father down stairs. Finn was in the living room, watching TV and Carol sat with Kurt as he ate his dinner.

When Kurt finished, Finn came wondering in and sat across the table from Kurt. Kurt flinched as Finn brushed past him and Finn looked sad at this but took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry Kurt," Finn said. Carol and Burt looked at each other and left the room, to give the boys time to talk.
"I shouldn't have brought all New Directions to see you," Finn continued. "That wasn't fair."

Kurt just stared and nodded once, telling Finn that no, it wasn't fair that he had done that.
"We miss you Kurt. We're trying but you haven't been making it easy," Finn said.
Kurt froze and narrowed his eyes. He grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled down his words harshly.

Easy? What part of this is meant to be easy Finn?

"Look, we screwed up OK, but you have always distanced yourself from everyone. You've never fitted in," Finn said, stumbling over his words as Kurt eyes grew narrower.

Fit in? Do you think it has been fun all these years, not having any friends? Do you think it has been fun be labelled a disgrace, a freak for my entire life? None of you have made it easy to fit in Finn, not one of you.

"I didn't- what I mean is-we're trying, but you're not letting anyone in," Finn stumbled. Kurt slammed his hands down on the table and Finn jumped. Kurt snarled as he pushed the pad to Finn and got up, walking away.

Karofsky would have killed me if you hadn't accidently walked by. I would be dead. You think you're a hero, but you were just lucky. How can I trust any of you when you have done nothing to earn it? How many time have I taken a 'bullet' for you but have never been given the same treatment in return. I was just a back up voice in your lives and I'm through with it.

Finn dropped his head to the table and sighed. Kurt was right and they had probably lost him forever. They only people Kurt would allow to see him now from New Directions would be Santana and Brittany. Finn sighed again and looked up, seeing his mother looking disappointed from the kitchen.

I'm sorry for those of you who like Finn and Rachel but I really don't. They annoy me. Please review!