To all of you that have read this, I'd like to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. This past week has been crazy. I've been writing in class and in band practice, but I never get that much done. I just have three more days of craziness and then I will be more focused on writing. Someone asked me what inspired me to start writing. The answer is CPcoulter. I started reading 'Dalton' a few weeks ago and it inspired me to write a fic just about Blaine's time at Dalton. I'm sorry, to all one of you that complained, that it took me so long to finish chapter two (though it really didn't, I love you Aaliyah!) Thanks for reading and tell all your gleek friends! Enjoy!

(I do NOT own Glee! I realize that all you Finchel fans wouldn't be too happy with me if I did)

Together We Are

Chapter 2

Support

"Should we make sure he's okay?" Jeff asked Nick worriedly.

"I don't know, I don't want to intrude on him." Nick replied.

"But isn't that what Simul is about? Not intruding, but being there for each other. This is why we were put in this dorm. He seems like he needs someone to talk to, to be there for him." Jeff said thoughtfully.

The two boys had been standing at Blaine's door, watching him sit on the window seat, quietly strumming his guitar, and seeing the tears stream down his face though he never made a sound, for quite sometime now.

"When I first met him this afternoon, he looked scared out of his mind, no, far beyond that. There was nothing in his eyes, they were empty of everything, of any emotion, it was sad." Jeff squeezed his boyfriends hand as he said this.

"Do you want to talk to him alone?" Jeff whispered.

Nick just stood there watching Blaine for a few more seconds, as the boy lifted his hand from his guitar and touched the window and it slid down, and he continued playing, before looking at Jeff and saying, "No, he needs all the support he can get." He looked up at his boyfriend, and they stared at each other for a brief moment, before Nick pushed the door open the rest of the way.

Blaine heard the door open, but never looked up from the window. He had been sitting there since the people who brought his things up left. All of his bags were still sitting next to the door, and he heard one of the boys trip over one of them as they came in. He saw out of the corner of his eye that it was Nick and Jeff. And that it had been Nick that tripped, though Jeff held him steady. He wanted to be alone, but deep down he knew he really didn't. He had been alone all his life, and he thought it might be nice to have a friend that understood.

Nick approached him cautiously, trying not to scare him since he didn't know if Blaine had heard them come in. Jeff caught Nick's gaze and made a motion for him to go forward. He reached out and touched Blaine on the shoulder very lightly and the other boy closed his eyes. After a moment the guitar playing stopped and the boy looked up at him.

Jeff heard Nick's small intake of breath as the boy turned around, and he could see why. Blaine's eyes were red, and his face tear stained. He remembered when Nick first came to Dalton and he looked like this.

Blaine just stared up at Nick. He started to get control of himself and wiped his eyes. Nick took the guitar from his hands and leaned it against the wall, making room so he could sit. Blaine, seeing what he was doing slid over to make more room for him, letting Nick know that he wanted him there.

Nick just stared at him for a minute, he was going to ask him if he was okay but he thought better of it and just put a hand on his shoulder and said, "I understand."

"How do you understand?" Blaine questioned, trying to wipe the tears away.

"I was just like you when I came to Dalton. Jeff here," he gestured up at his boyfriend, " was here for me, and said he was the same when he got here too." he tried to catch Blaine's eyes, but the boy wouldn't look at him. "You see, there's a reason we're placed in this dorm, Blaine. We've all been in a bad place at some point, of corse most of the boys here have been in a bad place at some point, but we just seem to be the worst cases. So whatever it is that you've been through, just know that all of us in here have been through something similar. And everyone would be there for you if you ever wanted to open up. I promise."

So this meant that Blue had been through something similar to him. He was still nervous about opening up to anyone though. All the friends he had ever had, and there hadn't been that many, had either been kicked out of their parents houses, died some mysterious way, or both. But these boys seemed really nice and sincere. He decided that he would tell them, just not yet.

Nick watched Blaine's expression as he thought about what he had just said. He suddenly smiled and looked up at Nick, the smile barely touched his eyes, but it was there, and that was what mattered. Then he said "Thank you. That's seriously the nicest thing anyone's said to me in a long time."

Nick just smiled at him. He remembered that feeling. He remembered his step sister outing him to his parents, and everything that happened after that. Then he ended up at Dalton. It was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He hoped that one day Blaine would feel the same.

Jeff was watching Blaine and his reactions to Nick, making sure that he didn't get scared or too upset again. Then he had an idea. "Hey Blaine, why don't you join us for campfire."

Blaine looked a little confused. "What's that?"

"Well every night we all get in our PJs and sit around the fireplace in the living room and just talk." Nick replied smiling.

"Talk about what?" Blaine questioned, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Anything and everything. You can talk about your day, your past, your future, or you can just listen." Jeff answered, observing Blaine's reaction.

"Alright, I could go for that." Blaine said, another smile growing on his face, this time it touched his eyes a little more, Jeff noted.

"Okay, well we're gonna go get in our PJs and come back here and get you, is that okay?" Nick asked.

"Yeah, sure. Are you guys all moved in yet?" Blaine asked.

Nick and Jeff just looked at each other, figuring where this conversation would go. Jeff was the one to speak first, though he moved to Nick first and put a hand on his shoulder, after all, Michael had been more of Nicks friend than his. "Almost, we still have some things to move out of our old room."

Blaine, seeing the expression on their faces, decided not to say anything more about it, other than to ask, "Will you be staying here tonight?"

"Yes! We wouldn't want you to be alone on your first night." Nick said smiling at him.

Blaine just smiled back at the boy. "We'll let you get ready, and meet you back here in 5?" asked Jeff.

Blaine just nodded and smiled at the two boys, and they walked out, leaving him alone.

He stood there for a moment, really taking in the room for the first time. Then his eyes landed on his bags. He had no idea which bag to look in for what he needed. He finally found which bag they were in and put them on just as he heard a knock on his door and Nick peeked in. "You ready?" he asked.

"Yeah" Blaine said, just as he slipped a picture of him and Cooper in his pocket and then looked up at Nick. "Let's go."

Nick smiled at him as they walked out of the room and met Jeff and then headed down stairs.

The room was lit by candles and various lamps around the room. The boys were scattered around the room, talking softly. Blaine liked this atmosphere, it was peaceful, something his life hadn't been in a long time. He looked up just as Blue approached him smiling.

"Hey Blaine, how ya doing?" he asked as though trying to lighten his mood.

"Better." Blaine stated simply.

Blue could tell that he still wasn't ready to talk, so he turned to everyone else an said, "Hey guys, this is Blaine Anderson. He transferred from California. He'll be rooming with Nick and Jeff. Let's make him feel at home."

Everyone immediately tried to go up to him and introduce themselves, but Blue, not wanting to overwhelm the other boy said, "Now, now, let's not tackle the boy! Circle up guys." Then he turned to Blaine and said, "Sorry about that. Let's go sit." He pulled Blaine over to the gap the boys had left for him, and they sat down together.

"Alright, would anyone like to start?"

"Um, I would." said a boy that Blaine had never seen before. He was stocky with short brown hair and had an adorable smile.

"Sure,Trent, go ahead."

"Well, today, Ms. Kimmy-"

"Trent," said another boy, "we've all told you a million times, just call her Kimmy. No Ms."

"Alright, alright, well she assigned us all solos to sing for Warblers rehearsal. It's supposed to build our confidence, but I've never sang a solo before, and I'm really nervous."

Nick was the one to respond to this, "Don't worry about it. Just pretend like you're singing in front of your girlfriend or something."

"Well that would be nice. If I had one!"

"Then your mom, or your sister. Whoever, just don't freak out, I know it's hard, but I know you can do it. Just think about your audition."

"Yeah, I guess I can."

"Good, we all believe in you."

The conversations went on like this. Some about friend or family problems, some about class assignments, or Warbler practice, and even bad dreams. Almost everyone had said something when Blaine turned to Blue.

"Can..can I go?" he asked Blue slowly.

"Of course Blaine, what's on your mind."

Nick noted the way that Blue looked at the other boy and frowned, he couldn't let it happen again, but he let it go for now.

"Well, I transferred here from California, like Blue said, and I was really nervous about coming here. And to be honest, you guys kinda scared me at first." He said cautiously.

Trent almost looked hurt by this.

"And whys that?" asked Blue.

"Well its just that I've never been treated so warmly by so many people, well by anyone really."

Blue leaned over to him and whispered, "You don't have to tell everyone this now."

"No, it's okay."

Blue just nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"My home has never really felt like home. My school has always felt more like the Holocaust than school, and I've only ever had one true friend, not counting my brother, but both of them mysteriously disappeared."

There was a small intake of breath from around the circle as everyone stared at him. Blue looked like he couldn't even comprehend what he was saying. Nick just put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay you guys" Blaine continued.

"When did that happen", asked a boy he hadn't heard speak yet.

"Well, my best friend, his name was Stephan-"

"Wait, was?" the boy questioned.

"Yeah, he's been missing for some time, and the police report is still open, but I have my assumptions."

"And that would be?"

"Well, his parents kicked him out and he stayed with me for a few days, but one day he was called out of class and no one ever heard from him again. I thought I had seen his father at school that day, but I never said anything to him, but when I asked his dad about it he said he wasn't there and that he had no idea where he was, or could have gone."

"Why did they kick him out?" asked Blue.

This time Blaine hesitated, not sure if he wanted to answer this, but he decided to anyway. "Because someone told them that he was gay." he said quietly.

Blue saw the look of pain as he said this and said, "Alright, well, I think it's time to call it a night. You can all hear the rest of Blaine's story whenever he's ready to tell you. Now, off to bed, you all have class tomorrow."

All the boys got up, except for Blaine, Blue, Nick, and Jeff. Blaine looked as though he were day dreaming, and Blue was looking at him concerned. He looked up to see Nick glaring at him. Great, he thought, just great.

Blaine finally looked up to see the three boys staring at him in concern, "I'm fine you guys, I'm fine."

"Alright let's go to bed then. Come on Jeff." Nick said.

"Go get some rest Blaine, I'll see you in the morning." Blue said with a reassuring smile.

Blaine smiled back at him, and gave him a brief hug when he got up, and whispered, "Thank you". When he pulled away, Blue was smiling.

"Anytime."

Blaine smiled at him one last time before heading upstairs.

With one last glare at Blue, Nick and Jeff followed behind Blaine.

When he got back to his room, Blaine started unpacking and looking around. He had a good size walk in closet and a bathroom big enough for two. There was a queen bed in one corner of the room, a couch and chair in the other, and a desk and some shelves taking up a wall.

An hour later all his bags were unpacked and he was laying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

His conscience wouldn't grant him sleep. The things that happened that day were racing through his mind. He thought about that morning, about the last time he saw his mother, he knew he would probably never see her again. He wondered if he would ever forget her screams, and if he would ever forget the feeling of what caused his screams. He thought about what school would be like tomorrow. He thought about Blue and Nick and Jeff, and he wondered what the accident was that they all talked about.

When he finally fell asleep, his sub conscience wouldn't grant him peace either. He dreamed of Cooper. At first they were sitting together just talking until he started slowly disappearing and as he disappeared his father took his place. He was holding the baseball bat that he used to chase Blaine out of the house with in one hand, and the anonymous letter, saying Blaine was gay in the other. He immediately tried to get away, but he couldn't move anywhere. His father swung at him with the bat. He missed the first time and came closer the second, the third time he was sure his father would hit him, but he heard his name being called, and the scene froze.

"Blaine, Blaine, wake up!" Blue had tried to wake the boy up four times now. And he was just about to shake him when he opened his eyes. He looked terrified at first, trying to back into the wall, but then remembering where he was he stopped and let his breath out. He was breathing really hard too. As if he had been running from something. And from the look on his face, Blue figured he had been.

Blaine was shaking. He had been scared out of his mind. He had just relived one of the worst moments of his life. He was sweating and he couldn't control his breathing.

Blue just watched the boy, deciding on what to do or say. He finally just put a hand on the other boys shoulder, and tried to catch his eyes. "Are you alright, honestly, because you're starting to worry me."

Blaine thought about saying yes, but changed his mind and just shook his head.

"What's wrong?" Blue sounded like he was begging now.

Blaine didn't even know where to start, and Blue could see it in his face so he just said, "Just tell me what the dream was about."

"I was with my brother at first, but then my dad came and he started to try and hit me with the baseball bat he chased me out of the house with and he missed the first time and the second time he got closer, he would have hit me a third but-"

"Shh it's okay, you're safe, he can't ever hurt you again."

Blaine was shaking even more now. Blue moved his hand to Blaine's and held onto it until he finally got control of the shaking. "You're gonna be okay." said Blue. "I promise." They stared at each other for a long moment, before Blue leaned towards the other boy a small inch. He looked to Blaine to see if he realized what he was doing, he just stared back at him, as he leaned in too. Blue closed the distance between them, and ever so softly kissed him. He then backed away saying, "Sorry I couldn't help myself."

Blaine just gazed into his eyes for a moment before saying, "No, it's okay." Blue smiled at him and leaned towards him again. Blaine was the one to close the distance between them, but this time the kiss wasn't as gentle, there was more longing than the first time. Blaine was the one to pull away and he sat back and stared at him, smiling.

"I, um, have to get ready for class..." Blaine said, his voice a little shaky.

"Yeah, um, me too... I'll see you later."

"Later." Blaine repeated, and he leaned into the boy again, hugging him this time and holding him tightly.

Blue hugged him back, resting his head on his shoulder. He pulled away and smiled, kissed Blaine's cheek, got up, and walked out.

Blaine leaned back on the bed. "Oh my god, what did I just do...?" he thought to himself. He sat there for a few minutes before getting up to get ready.

When Blaine finally reached the school buildings he had to pull out a map. He felt really ridiculous, having to do that, and at his old school, he would've been beaten up for holding a map, but he had to keep telling himself that this wasn't his old school. This was Dalton Academy. The guys were all really nice here and he knew he didn't have to worry about being getting punched in the face here.

He was just about to ask someone for help when he saw Blue. He immediately started walking towards him. He was just leaning up against a wall, as though waiting for someone. When he saw Blaine, his face lit up, and he walked towards him without a backward glance at the door he was standing next to.

"Hey Blaine!" he greeted with a bit too much enthusiasm. "You look a little lost, need some help?"

"Yeah. Please, I feel ridiculous with this map." Blaine said, flinging the map in the air.

Blue laughed a little. " Alright, where are you going to?"

"To Mr. Spencer's class."

"Oh wow" Blue said, "you're not even in the right building. This is the main building. The café is here along with the library and all the presentation halls. The next building over is the Math and English hall. And there's the music hall, with the Warblers room and the band room. And then there's the history lab over there," he gestured out a window behind them, and Blaine could see a glorious tall brick building, much like the other buildings, though this one looked older. "And then there's the building you're looking for. The science lab. It's right past the music hall. By the way, the entire building is themed as Professor Snape's potions lab from Harry Potter. Mr. Spencer is a little obsessed."

Great, Blaine thought. But he had always loved Harry Potter, so it might be really cool.

"Thanks Blue." Blaine said, smiling.

"Anytime." Blue answered, smiling back. They were staring at each other. It took everything Blue had to not kiss Blaine then, so he just reached out and hugged him instead.

The hug surprised Blaine a little, but he welcomed it and hugged him back. He pulled away, smiling more than before.

"I'll see you after class?" Blaine asked.

"Sure, let's meet for lunch. I'll wait for you outside the café." Blue said smiling still.

Blaine just nodded, turned and walked towards the science lab.

"Blue, what the hell are you doing?" questioned a familiar voice.

"Shit." Blue whispered to himself, the smile vanishing as soon as he heard the voice and remembered why he had been standing there in the first place. He had been waiting for Dan.

"How much of that did you see?" Blue asked.

"Enough. I've seen the way the other boys look at you when you're around him. And Jeff was at the other end of the hall by the way. He saw just as much as I did. They're going to protect him, however they can. They're scared they're going to have a repeat of last month."

"I just don't understand why they don't trust me."

"Because they blame you for Michael. They think that you were the one that pushed him to it, not Sebastian."

"But I was just trying to keep Michael away from him! I never tried to hurt him!" Blue was shouting now.

"I know, I understand that, but they don't. They blame you. They thought Sebastian was good for him."

"Well, they were wrong. I just need to make them see that."

"Well good luck, you know them, they don't listen to anyone. Go ahead, try to reason with them, but it won't work. The only thing I can think of that would make them listen, is to hear it from Sebastian himself, and since he probably won't be coming back anytime soon, that leaves nothing. Sorry bro, but I don't know what to tell you."

"Its okay, I'll find a way to make them understand. If its the last thing I do, I'll make them see the truth." Blue said. Dan could tell that he mean it all too much.

Blaine was standing at the door at the end of the main hall, watching Blue. He had no idea who he was talking to or what they were talking about. All of a sudden a boy jumped out in front of him.

"Hi Blaine! I'm David."

David was a tall skinny black boy that he had remembered seeing at campfire last night.

"Well hiDavid. "

"Where are you heading to?"

"Mr. Spencer's class, I-"

"Great! Me too, let's go!" David responded cheerfully.

Blaine just let David pull him along until they reached the science lab. Inside was decorated as a dark dungeon, much like the potions lab in Harry Potter. Blue had been right.

"It's a little freaky at first, but you get used to it." David said.

"Hey David!" called a boy from down the hall. Blaine turned around, seeing the boy he remembered as Trent. "Oh hey Blaine."

"Hey Trent." Blaine said smiling at the boy.

"Do you have Spencer's class with us?"

"Yeah, I'm kinda psyched to meet him."

"Oh my gosh, I love his class. It's so awesome!"

"Well lets don't keep Blaine from it then." David said, pulling the two boys along. They reached a wooden door that said "Mr. Spencer's Lab" on the outside. David turned and smiled at Blaine, opening the door.

Inside was set up much like the potions lab, minus all the cauldrons, the potion ingredients, and Draco Malfoy sitting at the front of the class. He liked this atmosphere. It was much like he always imagined the potions lab would be. David pulled him to a table in the second row, and the three boys sat.

At the front of the class was a tall, skinny, brunette man, he assumed was Mr. Spencer. When he turned around, he spotted Blaine and said, "Well hello there, you must be Blaine. I'm Mr. Spencer, I believe you will enjoy yourself in this class."

Blaine smiled at Mr. Spencer. He had never really liked science, but he already knew he would like this class.

The rest of the morning went by in a blur. He met so many new, nice people. And he knew he would never remember all their names. When the bell finally rang for lunch, he practically ran towards the main hall to find Blue. He was waiting by the café door, just as promised.

When Blaine reached him, he pulled him into a tight embrace.

Blue just laughed, hugging the boy back. "Well hi there."

"Sorry." Blaine apologized, "I'm just glad to be with someone whose name I actually remember.

Blue laughed again, "Yeah, I understand, it's a little overwhelming at first, but you remember after a while. Let's go eat."

Blaine followed as Blue led him in. It didn't look anything like what he had expected. It looked just like an actual café.

They walked into line and ordered their food. When they got it they went and sat down at a table by a window. The boy that Blue had been talking to earlier walked up to the table.

"May I join you?" he asked.

"Of course, Dan. Blaine this is Dan, he's in the room right across from you.

Blaine smiled, "Nice to meet you Dan."

"So how was your first day of class?" Dan asked, sitting down.

"It was great, I love it here."

"Good what's your-" Dan was cut off by a small commotion by the door.

When Blue looked up he choked on the food that he was eating. That was a face he never thought he'd see here again.

Dan just stared at the door, where the boy had just walked in. He had told himself that the next time he saw him he would have every intention of punching him in the face. But since he never thought he would actually see him again, he was too shocked to move.

Blaine looked back and forth between the two, confused. He looked around and saw Nick and Jeff staring towards the door too. He looked and saw a boy in a leather jacket standing at the door as though he owned the world.

"What? No applause? I'm hurt."

Every eye in the room was staring, as Sebastian Smythe walked the rest of the way into the room.