A/N: So, it's been a while since I last updated this story. Since then, the new season of Glee has started. Did everyone see the first episode? Brilliant. This season is going to be so good... and Kate Hudson? Man can she sing and dance... Anyway, thank you to those who read, review and follow this story, and me. Hope you enjoy this chapter. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.
Chapter Five: Finn and the Past
Senior Year
William McKinley Highschool
The New Directions had been ordered by Mr. Schuester to remain behind for an after school rehearsal to prepare them for National's. Finn, Kurt and Rachel were heading back to the choir room when Kurt told them he was going to his locker to get something. They let him go without thinking... Kurt didn't hear Karofsky and the other footballers until it was too late. The hand around his neck, and the sharp pains in his back, couldn't have been good. It was over before anything started. Karofsky was gone as Kurt fell to the ground, bleeding out and Rachel calling his name... He woke in the hospital, surrounded by friends and family... he tried sitting up, but he couldn't feel his legs, ribs, and his face was covered in scars and bruises... Finn was crying, but Kurt couldn't tell whether it was because of what happened to him, or the fact that he's awake... Burt seemed to be the most composed, but Kurt knew his father better than anyone, and he knew the man would be aching on the inside... no one likes to get news that their child is in a critical condition in the hospital...
'Kurt, you've been critically injured... severe trauma to your head and back. You may never regain full use of your legs,' the doctor said, standing at the foot of the hospital bed Kurt was lying in...
'I... can't...'
'Your throat has been damaged, there are choke marks on your neck... once it's healed, you'll be able to talk... hopefully...'
'What about singing?' Finn asked, knowing that his brother's hopes and dreams relied on his ability to sing countertenor... he wouldn't get into NYADA if he couldn't sing... there's just no way...
'Even if your throat recovers, I recommend not singing. I'm sorry, but that could cause a tear or worse damage...' the doctor replied, marking something on her clipboard, before leaving the room...
The whole room was silent, absorbing the news that had just been shared. Kurt realised two things at that moment: he may never walk again, and his singing dreams were over... he could barely remember the attack, so it's still sinking in that his dreams are over... how do you just give up on a dreams you've had since what? Age ten? No New York... No Rachel... No NYADA... Finn couldn't bear to see his brother this way, and know that he could have prevented this from happening... if I'd gone with Kurt instead of Rachel... none of this would have happened... Kurt would be fine... he wouldn't have been found... bleeding to death, and beaten... in a hallway at McKinley... if he'd gone with Kurt instead of Rachel, they'd probably been home right now, arguing over COD and trying to prevent their father from eating junk. But that's not the case. Kurt might be paralysed forever... just like Artie... Finn can see the other boy, in the corner of the room in his wheelchair, talking with Brittany and Mercedes... all of them have tears in their eyes... Rachel hasn't said a word... which is shocking, considering most of the time, she doesn't shut up... Santana is also really quiet, and Finn knows that means she cares... she might act like she doesn't... but deep down, underneath all of her own problems... she cares... more than she'd like people to think... they hadn't thought about anything at the house... Finn had been talking with Burt about what they could do to make Kurt's recovery easier, but they had nothing... well they did, but up and down the stairs in their house isn't the easiest way for the former countertenor to get around...
End Flashback
Present Day
Blaine was looking through all the photos Kurt had sitting out on the table. Apparently, in her fourth month of pregnancy, Quinn was becoming rather clucky... always looking for little tasks to do, so when she saw the photo's, she insisted on buying an album for them, and had been working on them slowly... Kurt was happy that his sister-in-law had something to keep her occupied whilst Finn was working, but he was worried because he knew she'd been coming up on some photos that he didn't want Blaine to see... or anyone for that matter... they're past photos, and they should stay there... of course, inviting your boyfriend over to stay the night, and then telling him he's not welcome to make himself at home... that's worse than someone saying that Vouge had been back-peddled, and pulled from the market. He just hopes that Blaine won't get that far into the box... he didn't want to have to talk about the past with his boyfriend... they've only been together a month and a half, and there's a whole period of Kurt's life that Blaine knows nothing about. They haven't slept together yet, so Blaine hasn't seen him naked, so for now, the scars are safe from sight, but eventually, they're going to get physical, and they're going to be on display for the entirety of the time, and Blaine will start asking questions, and... He's just not ready to relive that part of his life... Kurt sat down on the couch beside Blaine, who had put on Finding Nemo for Holly to watch, whilst Kurt handed him a coffee, and grabbed his sketch book. If there's one thing Blaine loves doing more than teaching, it's watching Kurt draw... his boyfriend is so graceful in that moment, it's like he could draw anything... he could be anything he wanted in that moment...
Kurt, on the other hand, hates when people watch him draw. He likes to have that element of surprise, and even though he knows Blaine isn't really watching the design, he still has a feeling of confidence loss when he's being watched. Holly is singing and clapping along with the TV, and if Kurt wasn't so focussed on what he was doing, it would have been distracting... regardless of his daughter's sudden need to sing loudly, it wasn't hard for him to retain focus... they hadn't talked about what had happened on the night of Holly's party... Kurt hadn't brought it up, and Blaine hadn't asked about it, although he was curious as to whom the man was and why Kurt had just stood there, frozen... it's another in a long series of questions to add to your list Blaine... he told himself, still flipping slowly through the photos. There was silence from the designer and his daughter, who seemed to be watching the movie now, lying on her stomach on the floor, pillow tucked under her arms. Blaine smiled, and realised just how content he was in this relationship, and how he just knows that Kurt will be the one person who he'll spend the rest of his life with... and okay, maybe he hasn't told any of this to his boyfriend, but they've plenty of time, it's not like... Kurt was in a wheelchair? Blaine asked himself, coming across the photo of his boyfriend, bruised face, in a wheelchair, with the same tall man he always sees Holly with, and another bald man, who he assumes is Kurt's father... they hadn't talked about this at all, but now it makes sense.
'You were in a wheelchair in highschool?' Blaine asked, as Kurt's head shot up, and straight to the picture he was holding... the pain was evident in his eyes, and the many deep breaths meant he was trying to prevent himself from crying...
'It's a long story,' Kurt whispered, just loud enough for Blaine to hear
'We've got a long while Kurt... I'm not going anywhere...' Blaine replied... curling up to Kurt, so he didn't have to talk loudly, and Holly wouldn't hear... the designer sighed...
'It was senior year, I should have known never to walk into that school alone, but I did. I didn't listen to my brother or Rachel...'
Flashback
Senior Year
Kurt had been home two weeks when he got his college acceptance letter... Yale University, New Haven, in Connecticut. Burt and Carole were thrilled when Finn got accepted to OSU, and knowing that Kurt would feel otherwise left out, felt excited for him too... Kurt could tell their enthusiasm wasn't real... he may be in a wheelchair, but he's not stupid... he gets accepted to and Ivy League college, and his parents won't let him go because of something that Karofsky did... you know the only way to get back at the giant meathead is to walk again Kurt... Quinn's right... only you control the future... you want to walk again... do it... he thought to himself, remembering back to the rehab sessions he'd been attending with Quinn after school for the past two weeks. Slowly, Kurt moved his left leg so he could place his foot on the floor... the same with the right foot, and then he hoisted himself up, holding onto the edge of the dining room table. Finn would flip right now if he were home... or at least inside... Kurt took a step away from the table, first left, then right... he'd have to let go, try to maintain his position without injuring himself any further... Quinn told him he needed to get up and walk around slowly... regain the feeling in his legs... so that's what he did... he let go of the table, and slowly took another step... left, right, left, right... until he was in the kitchen doorway, standing, not holding on to anything, and feeling as though for once in his life, things were going to go his way... of course, you know what they say about getting your hopes up to early...
He was doing fine, walking slowly around the kitchen, holding on to things when he lost balance, or just needed to stop... everything was going fine, until Carole walked in... she'd been outside, helping Burt and Finn, and was startled to see her step-son standing, let alone walking... this made her drop the glass she was holding, and tears spring to her eyes... Kurt didn't want a big deal made out of nothing... he's only been going to sessions for two weeks, and he's pushing it alot just by standing now... he could do more damage if he's not careful... Quinn should be here with him, to support him through this... but she's out with Sam, and that's okay... she has a life too... Carole turned and ran outside, probably getting Burt and Finn. Kurt had two options... he could stay standing, and have his family stop worrying over him, or he could rest his back, which was aching, and return to the chair... going for protecting his back, he slowly made his way back to the wheelchair, and sat down, wincing in pain, and knowing that it couldn't be good to be in that much pain from such little movement. Burt, Carole and Finn entered the kitchen to find it empty. Burt moved into the lounge, and found his son, watching TV, no sign of ever been walking around. Carole seemed confused by Kurt's change in motions... knowing he was walking and showing Burt and Finn, he must have been scared or something... Burt sighed, turning and leaving the lounge, Finn close behind. His mother must have been seeing things, or wishing for something that was never going to happen... and it's all his fault... he could have prevented this from happening... if only he'd been there before Karofsky could... do anything... Finn had been cleaning up things, when he came across Kurt's acceptance letter for Yale. Quinn had also been accepted there, so at least, if Burt let him go, Kurt would know someone.
'You know, if Kurt starts walking again, he'll be able to apply to OSU for the fall,' Finn heard his mother say, as he followed the sound of her voice out to the backyard
'He got accepted into Yale. There's no reason he can't go... Quinn's going as well,' Finn said, handing the letter to Burt
'Finn...'
'No, I won't let you guys ruin his only other dream, because of something that fucking Neanderthal did. I swear, that I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that Kurt goes to New Haven, and if that means going with him, then so be it,' Finn said, storming back into the house, not noticing Kurt by the backdoor, listening to the conversation...
End Flashback
Blaine hadn't moved from where he was snuggled up to Kurt. I wish I had met Kurt during highschool; we could have helped one another... I know what it's like to go through something like that... well, not the wheelchair, but the bullying... and the assault... Blaine thought, as Kurt flipped slowly through the photos of him back in highschool, stopping at certain ones to tell Blaine a story. He had never seen Kurt open up this much since they had started dating... a month they've been together, and it's been the best weeks of his life... Holly seems to enjoy having him around, and there's no pressure for sex, or anything... they'll do that when they're ready. Besides, they have much more depth in their relationship... they have to... The pictures of the New Directions made Blaine's smile grow. He could now put names to faces. Quinn, Rachel... Finn, Puckerman... all of them he'd never met, but could now identify if he was to ever see them. The tallest one of the bunch, Finn, is Kurt's brother... that's why Holly knows him... he's the uncle from the mall that one day... it's all falling into place now... Blaine thought, making a mental note to show Kurt photos of him back in highschool to even the field with the past a little. Not that it's a competition or anything... just Kurt sharing something from his past, and then Blaine from his... rather simple really... it's communication 101... Something Wes and David will never understand or grasp...
Kurt couldn't help but smile at the group photo of the New Directions at National's the year they won. He wasn't in the wheelchair, which was amazing, and it was even more of a feat that he'd managed to get there, given that he'd been given a one in one million chance... Quinn is mostly to blame for that... she wouldn't give up until Kurt could walk, or dance... so really, all that credit you owe to Quinn... you never repaid her... she probably thinks you're ungrateful... he couldn't think like that... he's not that timid boy in highschool anymore... he's twenty-five years old, has his own fashion line, is more famous than even Rachel Berry could have dreamed, and has the most amazing, gorgeous man in his arms, and a beautiful daughter... what more could he want right? These pictures are of the person he used to be... he's not that same person anymore... and as far as he's concerned, they're better off in the box, stashed away in the past forever... he's told Blaine enough... there doesn't seem to be anything else to add... except maybe for the whole Sebastian thing? Are you ever going to talk Kurt? He asked himself, knowing it would be a conversation they would have to have sooner rather than later... there are already enough secrets between them...
Flashback
Three Months till National's
The "Finn" of it All
He'd been walking more and more. Finn had caught onto his brother's secret, when he caught Quinn bringing him back from therapy. She didn't even bother to hide the fact. Sam didn't seem to be on Finn's side either, but seriously... Kurt should be walking around if he can... why is he hiding? Finn thought, walking into the lounge to find Kurt standing idly staring out the window. He turned to see his brother, and smiled softly... Finn hadn't pressured Kurt to keep walking after that. they needed to get his full strength back before they broke the news to Burt and Carole... getting their hopes up and then crushing them will surely hurt more than it should... hell it would hurt me... Finn thought, helping his brother around the small room whilst Quinn watched from her chair. He shouldn't be, but he's growing closer to Quinn again... maybe it's the unfinished bond, or maybe it's just something else, but he shouldn't be feeling this way about Quinn when his own brother is the priority... besides... Rachel would probably kill him...
'You like her again don't you?' Kurt asked, as they reached the other side of the room, out of the earshot of the pretty blonde cheerleader
'Kurt... I'm with Rachel...'
'I know, and Rachel's one of my best friends, but you have to follow your heart sometimes... if that leads you to Quinn, then so be it... seriously Finn... are you in love with Rachel, or the idea and security of her?' Kurt asked
'When did you become so wise?' Finn asked, sarcastically, but secretly thinking about what his brother had just said...
He'd been thinking about it for weeks... Rachel is the kind of person anyone would push away at the first sign of... well opening her mouth... Quinn used to be a bitch, but she's changed alot in three years... it's hard, because Finn doesn't know whether or not to go with his heart or stay with Rachel... he can't ask his brother because he doesn't want to put Kurt in that position... in fact, he should blame him for this... after all, it is his fault he's now got to reconsider everything he's know for the last three years... he can go with Quinn, the first love of his life... or he can stay with Rachel... a woman he could see himself settling down with... think how loud your children will be if you have them with Rachel? He thought, chuckling, and then mentally slapping himself... Kurt had told him that he needed to choose, to make the right choice, he should follow his heart... but he needs to make sure that it's the person he can see himself with for the rest of his life... he needs to spend some time apart from both of them, and then make a choice... which is why Finn had to listen to Rachel cry the whole way back to her dads' house, and then the slap, and dealing with an explanation to Hiram and Leroy. They'd understood, but still weren't happy about it. Finn could understand... Kurt was still up when he got home, doing his leg exercises when he walked into the former countertenor's room. Mr. Schuester still wants Kurt to attend National's with them, even though he can't sing on stage... Rachel would probably sing sappy ballads for the next three months... but he has to stay strong... he needs time to adjust to what Kurt said... his brother is, ultimately... right.
3 Years Later
Junior Year of College
Finn
He'd been out with mates, not expecting to bump into anyone from highschool, but he was back in Lima, and he knew it would happen sooner or later. Quinn was working at the Lima Bean, happily talking with her co-worker. Kurt was off somewhere with his boyfriend Sebastian, and their one year old daughter Holly. He's an uncle... god he should tell Quinn that news... he approached the counter slowly, catching her eyes as she look up and blinked... a rush of emotions ran through him and he now knew the reason Kurt had told him all that stuff back in Senior year... it was leading him to this moment... where he would meet Quinn, and possibly have the future he never thought possible... he ordered a coffee, and told her where he was staying, that they should meet up, and that she looks good. She smiled, thanked him, and Finn left, leaving the ball in her court... it was her turn now... he'd waited long enough, and now it's his time to get it all... if only Kurt would dump Sebastian, they'd all be fine... Rachel is dating Puck, she's happy with a baby, surely there's no hurt feelings right?
He met up with Quinn later that night, and they had a great time. He was staying with Sebastian and Kurt in Westerville, so they made the night their own, by doing things they used to, before they broke up the first time...
'How is Kurt doing?' Quinn asked, as they approached the apartment block the former countertenor was living in
'He's dating this douche that we all hate and has a daughter... Holly... she's so adorable...'
'Oh my god... can I come up and meet her?' Quinn asked
'Sure, Kurt will be thrilled to see you,' Finn replied, smiling
End Flashback
Present Day
'When was the last time you sang? It feels like forever since I've been near a mic,' Blaine said, later that night as they sat down for dinner
'Daddy hasn't sung since highschool... he hurt his throat...' Holly said, missing Kurt's facial expression and Blaine's frown
'How did you hurt your throat?' Blaine asked
'Finn has a record company if you want to record something I could probably pull a few strings...' Kurt replied standing and moving into the kitchen...
Kurt Hummel, you are an idiot. That was the perfect opportunity to tell him... oh shut up... the argument in his head was drowning out the laughter of his boyfriend and daughter, but not the pain that had been dredged up from the place it had been buried all those years ago. Maybe if he talked, it would lift the weight... make it all go away... then again... what's to say that if he told Blaine about Sebastian, and the past... the man wouldn't up and leave faster than Rachel could say 'Broadway?' . Sure he'd tried to sing a couple of years back, but he hadn't been able to achieve anything where he used to be able to. Eventually, Blaine would figure out that it had something to do with highschool, but he's not ready to talk about it... when will you be ready Kurt? It's been seven years... are you seriously going to keep holding onto this? He asked himself, kicking over the boxes on the kitchen floor, making them crash to the ground... Blaine and Holly appeared at the door, worried looks on their faces... Kurt just left the room, muttering things to himself, and wondering if he was ever going to be able to let his boyfriend all the way in... he should never have let Sebastian get as close to him as he did... but Blaine's not like that... he's different... he's charming, funny and considerate... that's why you love him... right Kurtie? He heard Brittany's voice in his head... then why can't you tell him? Why can't I tell him?
Sebastian had been keeping a low profile since arriving in town. He knew where Kurt's house was, and the security team really needed to be briefed, because his friends kept leaving the path gate open for anyone to just walk in... Well except for Quinn, who always made sure it was shut and locked... nothing that would be easy for anyone to crack... Well except for Sebastian, who made the technology... well he didn't make it per say... the people who work for him did... Kurt just doesn't know much about his family... well, he knows more than most... but that's not enough... he's not leaving until I say he can... that wasn't the deal, and will never be the deal... Sebastian thought, as he stood out the front of the large mansion, staring up at the house before him... he's done well for himself... the man thought, hands in his pockets, waiting until Finn and Quinn had gotten inside before making his move... he wasn't sure how this was going to turn out... but Holly is his daughter too, and he shouldn't be denied seeing her on her birthday... five years old... it's lucky he didn't throw Kurt and Holly out on the street... if only it wasn't for the designer incessant need to live a real life, he wouldn't have cheated, and lost Kurt... then there's that teacher... apparently, according to Wes, they're dating... he wouldn't do that to me... Sebastian thought, making his way up the path to the house. He reached the front porch and the light flicked on... he was seriously hoping that they'd all be distracted by the five-year old, and not see the light... then again, ringing the doorbell wasn't the smartest option... they're sure to hear it...
He doesn't have to wait long... it might be late, but he knows that Kurt will still be up, either trying to get the girl into bed, or just sitting on the couch pining after him... he checked his watch once more, and waited, seeing the shadow of a person on the other side, before the door cracked open to reveal Kurt's shocked face... the only words he could think of were
"I still love you", but that's not what he wants to say right now so he settles for something less dramatic...
'Hi Kurt...'
A/N: Next chapter: Sebastian's return stirs up a mix of emotions for Kurt. Blaine finds out what really happened with Kurt and Sebastian. A 'First Time' may be around the corner for the couple. Sebastian goes back to his meddling ways, trying to get in between the Klaine love. Brittany and Santana have news, and Mercedes lets Finn in on a secret she thought would remain buried... Tune in to find out what it is...Thank you. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.