Together We Are

by Sam Lewis

What would your life be like if there had always been someone out to get you? If everything you knew changed in less than a day? But there was still someone out to get you. This is the story of Blaine's life before and after he met Kurt.

19. The Nightmare Before Christmas

So here I am again, apologizing for taking forever to give you guys another chapter. I've had the worst writers block ever this time. But never fear, I didn't forget about it!

I'm planning on a Chapter 20 and then an epilogue, so even though this ending kind of seems like it could be the ending, it's not. I promise. I've already started on the next one.

So without further ado, please enjoy chapter 19 and don't forget to shoot me a review or PM and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!

(I do NOT own Glee, just a dedicated fan)

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Together We Are

Chapter 19

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

---

Blaine's eyes fluttered open slowly, turning his head to find Kurt's face. He smiled when he remembered where he was. "Hi."

"Hi," Kurt said, laughing at how out of it Blaine seemed. "I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'd rather be awake with you," Blaine said, smiling.

"You're cute when you're asleep," Kurt said.

"So I should go back to sleep?" Blaine asked sarcastically.

Kurt laughed. "No. I was just making a statement," he said, leaning over to kiss him.

"Mmm," Blaine moaned against his lips.

Kurt smiled and pulled back.

Blaine curled up against Kurt's bare chest. He closed his eyes and sighed contently.

Kurt giggled to himself and ran his hand over Blaine's back gently. "What's that?" Kurt asked gently, running his finger over the scars.

Blaine rolled over so he was face down on the bed so Kurt could further investigate the scars.

"Is this from-" Kurt started to ask. He stopped when he saw Blaine nodding.

Kurt leaned down to kiss each of them. He then kissed up his back and to his neck. "I love you," he whispered against the skin on his neck.

"I love you," Blaine replied quietly. A realization crossed over Blaine and he sat up. "What time is it?"

"I don't know. Why?" Kurt asked, sitting up too.

"We have class," Blaine said.

Kurt groaned. "I guess we should get up then. We don't want Dustin to come in and find us."

Blaine laughed to himself. "That would be hilarious."

Kurt laughed too. "That it would."

"I guess we should go shower and get ready," Blaine said slowly.

"You can shower in here if you want to," Kurt said, smiling.

Blaine smiled back and nodded.

Kurt got up and pulled Blaine up with him. "Come on." He took Blaine's hand and pulled him into the bathroom. He turned on the water and then turned to Blaine, leaning in to kiss him.

"Mmmmm, it's too early for this Kurt," Blaine whispered.

Kurt laughed and pulled him into the shower.

Blaine relaxed as the hot water hit his shoulders.

Kurt caressed Blaine's cheek, leaning in to kiss him again.

Blaine pulled Kurt into his arms and held him there, just letting the water run over them.

Eventually the two were clean, and Blaine got dressed in a pair of sweats so he could walk back to his room.

"Good morning sunshine," Jeff said as Blaine walked back out of his room and towards Kurt's again.

"Good morning," Blaine said, smiling.

"Well someone's happy," Jeff noted.

Blaine nodded and walked past Jeff towards Kurt's room. "You ready?" he asked, opening the door.

"Yeah," Kurt said, picking up his bag. He took Blaine's hand and started walking towards the stairs.

Blaine reached over and kissed Kurt's nose and then his lips as they walked.

"What do you think?" Jeff whispered to Nick, watching the two of them.

"They totally did it," Nick said.

"You think? I mean they could just be-"

"They totally did it," Nick repeated.

Jeff laughed. "You're silly."

"I know," Nick said, shrugging and fluttering his eyelashes.

Jeff rolled his eyes. "And a goofball."

"But that's why you love me, right," Nick asked.

Jeff smiled. "That and other reasons," he said, stopping to kiss him.

Nick couldn't help but smile as Jeff kissed him.

"Come on," Jeff said, wrapping his arms around Nick and pulling him towards the school buildings.

After class, Jeff met Blaine outside of his classroom.

"Hey Jeff," Blaine said, smiling at him.

"Hey," Jeff replied, smiling back.

"So I had a question for you," Blaine said hesitantly.

"Ask away," Jeff said.

"Well, I was um, I was just curious. When was the last time you saw Carmen or Stacey?" Blaine asked slowly.

Jeff looked down at his feet as they walked. "Not since a few months before he died."

Blaine nodded.

"Why?"

"Just curious," Blaine answered.

Jeff nodded. "I haven't really gotten the courage up to go and face them yet."

"Oh," Blaine said quietly.

They walked into the Music Hall together for Warbler practice and met Kurt and Nick.

"Okay guys," Kimmy started as they all sat down. "This year we're going to be performing a few Christmas songs at the Christmas program. Is everyone up for that?"

The boys all started talking at the same time, which she assumed was a unanimous yes.

"Alright. Then lets start rehearsing."

After rehearsal, Blaine found Kurt waiting for him by the door.

"Hi," Kurt said.

Blaine leaned in to kiss him. "Hi. Will you wait for me a second. I have to go talk to Kimmy."

Kurt nodded.

Blaine walked over to Kimmy.

"Hey Blaine. What's up?" Kimmy asked.

"I want to do something for Jeff during this performance."

Kimmy smiled. "Okay. Like what?"

"There's someone I want him to see. I want to bring them here."

Kimmy nodded. "If you can get them here, I'm fine with it."

Blaine smiled. "Thank you," he said, throwing his arms around her.

Kimmy laughed. "No problem."

Blaine pulled back and ran towards Kurt.

"What was that about?" Kurt asked.

"You'll see," Blaine said, smirking as he pulled out his phone. "Hey Santana. I need a favor."

"Watcha need?" Santana asked.

"I need a phone number."

"Okay. I need their name and city."

"Stacey and Carmen Bradford in Lima Ohio."

---

"What are you so excited about Blaine? It's just a Christmas program," Jeff said as they walked to the performance court to set up the stage.

Blaine had been smiling since they started rehearsing for this program two weeks ago and Jeff had no idea why.

"Just because. I, um, I get to sing with Kurt," Blaine lied easily. It wasn't even really a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth.

Jeff stared at him. "You've sang with Kurt before."

Blaine smiled. "But it's different."

Jeff sighed, giving up. "Fine. Whatever you say."

Blaine laughed.

An hour later, the Warblers were gathered backstage getting ready for their performance.

"You ready?" Blaine asked Kurt, leaning in to kiss him gently.

Kurt giggled. "Definitely."

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Please welcome your very own Dalton Academy Warblers!" Kimmy yelled.

Their program consisted of variations of some classic Christmas carols such as Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and Let it Snow.

But their closing number featured Kurt and Blaine.

Kurt stepped forward first.

Kurt (Blaine):

I really can't stay (But baby, it's cold outside)

I've got to go away (But baby, it's cold outside)

This evening has been... (Been hoping that you'd drop in) ...so very nice (I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice)

My mother will start to worry (Beautiful, what's your hurry?)

My father will be pacing the floor (Listen to the fireplace roar)

So really, I'd better scurry (Beautiful, please don't hurry)

But maybe just a half a drink more (Put some records on while I pour)

The neighbors might think (Baby, it's bad out there)

Say, what's in this drink? (No cabs to be had out there)

I wish I knew how... (Your eyes are like starlight now) ...to break the spell (I'll take your hat; your hair looks well)

I ought to say no, no, no, Sir (Mind if I move in closer?)

At least I'm gonna say that I tried (What's the sense in hurting my pride?)

I really can't stay (Baby, don't hold out)

Kurt and Blaine:

But Baby it's cold outside

Blaine spun around, kissing Kurt on the nose and smiling at him.

Kurt (Blaine):

I simply must go (But, baby, it's cold outside)

The answer is no (But, baby, it's cold outside)

This welcome has been... (How lucky that you'd drop in) ...so nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)

My sister will be suspicious (Gosh, your lips look delicious)

My brother will be there at the door (Waves upon a tropical shore)

My maiden aunt's mind is vicious (Ooh, your lips are delicious)

But maybe just a cigarette more (Never such a blizzard before)

I've gotta get home (But baby, you'll freeze out there)

Say, lend me your coat (It's up to your knees out there)

You've really been grand (I thrill when you touch my hand)

But don't you see (How can you do this thing to me?)

There's bound to be talk tomorrow (Think about a lifelong sorrow)

At least there will be plenty implied (If you caught pneumonia and died)

I really can't stay (Get over that hold out)

Blaine and Kurt:

But Baby it's cold outside!

Kurt and Blaine sang the last note and then kissed under the mistletoe hanging at the front of the stage.

Jeff smiled at his friends and then looked up at the back of the performance court and watched as she walked in.

If she didn't have those same long, light brown curls, the same milk chocolate eyes, and those same manicured nails, though they were dark red now, Jeff wouldn't have recognized her. She was at least a foot and a half taller than when he had last seen her and her hair was all the way down her thin back. She was wearing dark, tight skinny jeans, with a tight fitting white blouse and a black scarf. She had on deep red heeled boots and she was wearing a matching red overcoat.

She walked down the isle scanning the stage.

Jeff stood still, frozen. He covered his mouth with his hands to keep himself from screaming.

When she made eye contact with him, he ran forward, jumping off the stage. He ran down the isle of people and threw his arms around Carmen, starting to cry.

Carmen held onto him, crying softly into his shoulder.

Jeff just held onto her. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too Jeff," Carmen said, pulling him closer.

Blaine walked down the stairs slowly and down the isle. Smiling at his best friend.

Carmen turned around at the sound of his footsteps. "You must be Blaine."

Blaine nodded. "That's me," he said, smiling at her.

Jeff looked at Blaine in confusion. "Wait, you know Blaine?"

Blaine smiled at him.

Jeff's eyes got wide. "Oh my god. You? You did this?" he asked.

Blaine nodded. "Yeah."

Jeff threw his arms around Blaine's neck as he started sobbing. "Oh my god."

Blaine smiled. "Calm down Jeff."

"I can't. You have no idea how much this means to me Blaine."

"Well what are you hugging me for?" Blaine asked.

Jeff let go of him and wrapped his arms around Carmen again.

Nick walked down the isle towards them. "Blaine," he said quietly.

Blaine turned to him questioningly.

"Thank you," Nick said, hugging him briefly.

Blaine nodded and smiled.

"Is Stacey here?" Jeff asked, letting go of his chokehold on Carmen.

"No. I came here with one of my friends," Carmen said. "He went to go sit with his friends though."

Jeff raised his eyebrows questioningly. "He?"

Carmen laughed. "Yeah."

"Who is he? Do I need to set him straight?" Jeff asked, laughing too.

"Would you really need to set one of my friends straight Jeff?" Puck asked, walking up behind Carmen, followed by Sam and Finn.

Jeff's eyes got wide. "Puck?"

Puck laughed. "Hey man," he said, hugging him.

"You know Carmen?" Jeff asked.

"Well I know Carmen," Sam said, stepping forward to stand beside her.

Jeff smirked at Carmen and she punched his arm.

"Shut up," she said playfully.

Jeff laughed. "I didn't say a word."

Puck was watching him intently. "How have you been Jeff. I haven't seen you in a while."

"Pretty good," Jeff said, trying not to make eye contact with him.

"I, uh, I haven't been to your place in a while," Puck said quietly.

"Yeah, that makes two of us," Jeff said, looking down.

Nick walked up behind Jeff and took his hand, squeezing it gently.

Jeff sighed and squeezed his back.

"Finn," Kurt said, walking to the group and seeing his brother.

"Hey bro," Finn said, reaching down to hug him.

"So we all know each other then?" Carmen asked.

Blaine laughed. "Pretty much," he said, taking Kurt's hand and pulling him to his side.

"Hey Jeff?" Sam asked.

Jeff looked up at him.

"Can we talk?"

Jeff nodded. "Sure." He turned to Nick and kissed him softly. "I'll see you later."

Nick smiled. "See ya."

Jeff led Sam out of the court and towards the main sidewalk. "What's up?" he asked.

Sam took a nervous breath. "Well Carmen's kind of making me do this. Since she doesn't have Michael anymore. And she's not really on speaking terms with her dad. You're the closest thing she has to either of them."

"Sam. You know we haven't seen each other in almost a year right?"

Sam nodded. "I know. I know better than you think."

Jeff looked over at him. "What does that mean?"

"She's missed you so much. You and Michael both. She cries herself to sleep most nights. You were her best friend. Her brother. Just like Michael. And she lost you both on the same day."

Jeff looked down at his feet. "I didn't know what to do."

"I know. I understand. But she needs you back. She needs closure."

Jeff nodded. "So what is it that she's forcing you to do?"

Sam smiled. "Well, she wants me to ask you, but I'm just going to tell you, because that would get awkward. We're dating."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "No way. I couldn't tell by the way you were acting around her."

Sam sighed. "Oh thank god."

Jeff laughed. "Just don't hurt her. Keep her safe and happy. And we won't have a problem."

Sam smiled. "No worries."

"Wait. How long have you guys been together?"

"Almost a year," Sam said quietly.

Jeff shook his head. "Then why are you asking me this now?"

"She thought it might help."

"Help what?"

"Help you guys get close again."

Jeff looked down again. "Nothing's different now than it was before."

"Except that Michael's gone and you're both older and from what I understand, you've changed quite a bit," Sam said.

"If by 'changed' you mean people don't scare the shit out of me anymore, then yes. But none of that would change our relationship."

"Look man, I'm only the messenger. You should talk to her about this. Not me."

Jeff nodded. "Yeah. You're right."

They turned around and started walking back to the court.

"I'm sorry by the way," Sam said after a long moment of silence.

"For what?"

"That you lost him. He was like, your boyfriend right?"

"He was, but we hadn't been that in a long time. So it's okay," Jeff said.

Sam watched him. "Don't lie to me. Because I know. I know you found him. I know you watched him jump. You can't possibly just say its okay."

Jeff nodded. "It's not," he whispered.

They walked in silence again, until they walked past the Music Hall.

"Wait," Jeff said. "I think I just saw Carmen walk in there." He walked in the direction she did. "The court is right over there," he said, pointing Sam in the direction of the huge tent.

Jeff ran towards the music hall. When he opened the doors, it was eerily quiet.

"Carmen?" Jeff asked. He didn't get a response so he walked down the long hallway. He reached the Warbler hall and looked through the window. Sure enough, there she was. She was sitting on the piano bench, playing with the keys.

Jeff opened the door quietly and walked in. He moved over to her quietly and sat down beside her on the bench. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Carmen ignored the fact that he was even sitting next to her for a long moment. "This is where Michael spent most of his time, isn't it?"

Jeff reached over to stroke her hair gently and then wrapped his arm around her.

She turned into his shoulder and started crying. "I miss him so much Jeff."

"I know. I miss him too," Jeff whispered, hugging her protectively.

"Why did he do it Jeff?" Carmen questioned.

Jeff hesitated. At his funeral, both Stacey and Carmen had been told that he was just going through too much and he ended it. Jeff had known that it was wrong that they were told that, but he couldn't tell them the real reason. Then. Carmen was old enough to know now. She deserved to know.

"Someone pushed him to it," Jeff said quietly.

Carmen looked up at him. "What?"

"I'm sorry Carmen, it's not-"

"Why wouldn't you tell me that?" Carmen shouted, standing up.

"I wanted to, but-"

"Then why didn't you?" she shouted again. She turned around and ran out of the room and then out of the building.

Jeff chased her back to the performance court. When he got there, he found her in Sam's arms.

Sam looked up at Jeff with a confused look on his face.

Jeff walked up to Carmen and touched her shoulder.

She looked over and pushed him away violently.

"Carmen I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. But they told us that it would be better if you thought that he did it willingly. Please," Jeff begged.

"I can't even look at you right now," Carmen said, turning away from him.

"You should believe him."

Jeff's head snapped towards the entrance of the tent when he heard the voice.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Jeff asked, pulling Carmen behind him protectively.

He laughed. "You'd be surprised at how well you remember all of the secret entrances that you used to take your best friends through. I'm referring to Michael by the way, not you. You just happened to tag along."

Nick walked up slowly behind Jeff to take his hand.

He wasn't phased by Nick. "Carmen, right?" he asked. A look of genuine shock crossed his face.

Carmen nodded, hiding behind Jeff more.

"I won't hurt you honey, no need to be scared."

Jeff laughed. "Yeah. I'm sure that's what you told her brother too. Right before you told him to jump out of a window!"

Carmen gasped quietly. "Him?"

Jeff ignored her and pushed her back towards Sam, who immediately took the same defensive stance Jeff had. Finn and Puck also moved to stand in front of her.

"Why do you all think I'm some crazy lunatic?" Sebastian questioned.

Jeff stared at him.

"Because you are," Blaine said, moving to stand beside Jeff.

He laughed. "You might want to be careful there Blaine. You remember last summer right?"

"I'm sure better than you," Blaine said.

He laughed again. "Are you sure about that? Because I think your third drink that night might not agree with you."

"Oh, so you were sober when you tried to kill me? Is that what you're saying? Because I think that does make you a crazy lunatic."

"Blaine be careful," Jeff said quietly.

"Why? What else is there he could do to me?" Blaine questioned. "He wouldn't try to kill me here. There are too many witnesses."

Sebastian stared at Blaine. "You'll regret that."

"Sebastian are you in here?"

Blaine froze when the all too familiar face peeked in the tent.

He walked to Sebastian and took his hand, leaning up to kiss him.

Blaine started laughing, getting hysterical. "You?" he asked.

"Hi Blaine, nice to see you too."

"So your whole innocent boy act was just, an act?" Jeff asked. "What about that day in the old school buildings. You 'just needed someone to blame besides him'?" he said, pointing at Sebastian.

"You're all so naive," Blue said. "Well you were back then."

"You've been helping him," Blaine said, it was more of a statement than a question.

Both Blue and Sebastian laughed.

"So they rightfully hated you," Blaine said, gesturing to Nick and Jeff. "I believed you! I trusted you! How could you just turn your back on all of your friends?"

Blue let go of Sebastian's hand and walked towards Blaine. "I didn't. Not all of them."

"Yes you did! He hired people to kill Jeff. He forced Michael to commit suicide. He killed Dan. He tried to rape Kurt. He tried to kill me, more than once. And you-" He stopped, realizing what he was about to say.

Blue smiled. "I saved your life. If I hadn't known where you were that night, you'd still probably be down there, though you'd be dead."

"Why? Why would you do that?" Blaine asked, horrified.

"To make you trust me. To make them trust me." He gestured to Nick and Jeff. "And it worked."

Sebastian's head snapped up as he heard voices outside the tent. "Come on Blue, it's not worth it right now. Not yet."

Blue nodded and walked towards Blaine. "Goodbye," he whispered, kissing him on the cheek.

Blaine shoved him back and he fell on the ground.

Sebastian walked forward, glaring at Blaine. He had his hands out as if he were going to strangle Blaine.

Puck jumped in front of Blaine before Sebastian got to him.

Sebastian stopped. He glared at Puck for a moment and turned around. He helped Blue off of the ground and they ran out of the tent.

Blaine stood frozen, staring at the place they disappeared.

Jeff put a hand on his shoulder. "Blaine, are you okay?"

Blaine clutched his stomach and turned to run towards the trash can, throwing up in it.

Kurt ran to him and rubbed his back gently.

Blaine stood up straight a few minutes later. "I hugged him. I kissed him. I confided in him. I thought I loved him. And all this time-" He covered his face and laid his head on Kurt's chest. "He's just as bad as Sebastian."

Jeff turned and walked slowly to Blaine and Kurt. "Blaine."

Blaine looked up at Jeff. He pulled back from Kurt and allowed Jeff to hug him close. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I'm sorry," he cried.

"I know. It's okay. You don't have to be sorry," Jeff whispered.

"Yes I do. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Blaine repeated, wrapping his arms around him and gripping him with most of his strength.

Jeff just held him, rocking him gently, while the Mckinley students stood watching in shock over what just happened for the second time in their presence.

Carmen stood, watching as her second brother comforted his best friend. He reminded her so much of Michael. She wondered how many times Michael had done for Jeff what Jeff was now doing for Blaine.

"Can we go home?" Blaine asked quietly.

"Yeah," Jeff said, looking to Kurt.

"I need to go talk to Finn, can you walk with him?" Kurt asked.

Jeff nodded.

"I'll be there in a little while Blaine," Kurt said, kissing his forehead.

"Okay," Blaine said hoarsely.

Jeff walked to Sam and Carmen. "Can I steal her from you for a bit. I have something to show her."

Sam nodded.

"Kurt can bring you guys to the dorm to get her when you're ready?" Jeff asked.

Kurt nodded.

"I'll see you in a few," Sam said to Carmen.

Carmen smiled and nodded and she followed Jeff and Blaine out of the tent.

"Isn't he a little old for you?" Jeff asked once they were out of earshot.

"He's seventeen, I'm fifteen. It's no different than you and Michael. Except that he'd be twenty now," Carmen said quietly.

Jeff looked down at his feet as they walked.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's okay Carmen. But speaking of him, I have something to give you."

Carmen smiled.

Jeff turned to Blaine. "Are you alright?"

Blaine didn't answer. He was breathing heavy and was still holding his stomach with his arm.

"Just breathe," Jeff said quietly, rubbing his back gently.

Blaine still made no sign that he was listening to him, other than moving closer to him.

When they walked into Simul, Jeff found Blaine a bottle of water and a box of crackers.

"I'll be in my room," Blaine said quietly, walking into his room and closing the door.

"Is he okay?" Carmen asked.

"He's been dealing with a lot, but he'll be fine," Jeff said. "Sit here, and I'll be right back," he said, pointing to the bed and walking into his closet.

He rummaged around the shelves until he found what he was looking for. He walked back to the bed and sat down beside Carmen. "I found this in his room after he died. I'm assuming it was your Christmas present for that year, I'm not sure. I didn't open it. But I thought you should have it," Jeff said, handing her a small box wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper.

Carmen took it from him with shaky hands. She stared at it for a long moment and then unwrapped it slowly. There was a tiny piece of paper folded up in it.

"Dear Carmen,

I love you so much. You're my best friend, and the best sister in the entire world! I don't know what I would do without you! I can't wait to see you grow up. And I can't wait to spend every minute I possibly can with you. What's in here doesn't possibly symbolize how much you mean to me and how much I love you. But it will remind you that I'm always in your heart and I'm not going anywhere. I love you Carmen.

Love Michael"

Tears streamed silently down her face as she picked up the small box.

She pulled out a silver, heart shaped locket. She opened it and found the last picture they had taken together. She was wearing the red bikini he had bought for her that day from one of the high end fashion stores, she didn't remember which one. They were on Long Beach in California where they spent most of their summers together. They looked so happy. On the other side of the heart was an inscription: I love you Carmen. Forever in my heart.

"Oh my gosh," Carmen whispered. She handed the necklace to Jeff. "Will you put it on."

Jeff took it from her. He stared down at the picture for a few seconds and then gently clipped it around her neck, smoothing her hair down around her shoulders, just like he used to.

Carmen smiled. "Do you remember doing that?"

Jeff smiled too and nodded. "That was the same day you made me learn how to braid, because you wanted your hair to be extra curly the next day for school."

Carmen laughed.

"Do you remember the night that you came into Michael's room and woke us up because you were having nightmares?"

Carmen nodded. "Because I didn't want to wake up daddy and Stacey. Or walk in on them having sex."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "And you slept in between us with your kitten. You know neither of us slept that night. You were so convinced that something was going to get you and we didn't want you to wake up and freak out."

Carmen giggled. "Are you serious?"

"Yep. We talked all night."

Carmen shook her head. "You're crazy."

There was a light knock on the door and Sam peeked in. "Hey guys, Kurt told me where you were. Are you ready Carmen?"

She nodded. "Yeah." She turned to Jeff. "Promise me we'll see each other more."

"I promise. Now come here," he said, hugging her. He pulled back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I love you. I'll see you soon."

Carmen smiled. It had been so long since she had heard those words. "I'll see you soon." She stood up and walked to Sam, taking his hand. "Blaine has my number by the way. Text me."

Jeff nodded. "I will. Hey Sam, will you ask Puck to check on my brother when he can?"

Sam nodded. "Will do. Bye Jeff," he said.

Jeff walked out behind them but went into Blaine's room. He found him curled up on his side on his bed, crying quietly. He was only wearing a pair of sweat pants and the rest of his clothes were strewn about his room as if he had thrown them in his anger.

Blaine completely ignored Jeff.

Jeff walked to the bed and kneeled down on the floor beside him. He gently wiped some of the tears from Blaine's eyes, stroking his cheek softly.

Blaine squeezed his eyes shut and tried to bury his face farther into his arms.

Jeff just kept stroking his cheek rhythmically, trying to calm him down.

Kurt walked in quietly a few minutes later. He climbed onto Blaine's bed slowly and laid down behind him and wrapped his arms around him.

Blaine grabbed onto his hand and, intertwining their fingers, pulled it right up to his face.

Jeff stood up and nodded at Kurt.

Kurt looked up. "Thank you," he mouthed.

Jeff nodded again and walked out of the room quietly.

When Blaine heard the door close he began to cry harder.

Kurt pushed some of Blaine's hair from his eyes and kissed his temple. He didn't say anything. He just held him, kissing his bare skin softly until he started to calm down.

"Kurt," Blaine said quietly.

"I'm right here," Kurt said just as quietly.

Blaine rolled over so he was facing Kurt. He buried his face in Kurt's chest, breathing heavily. "I just want this to all be over."

"I know," Kurt whispered, holding him close still.

After a few minutes, Blaine took a deep breath and pulled away from Kurt. "I need this to be over."

Kurt leaned in to kiss him, but Blaine pulled back.

"No. Don't," Blaine whispered, trying to push him away.

Kurt stopped him. "Blaine, I know that you're upset about all of this. And it's been going on for a long time and you feel betrayed. And I understand if you don't want to kiss me, but don't shut me out. Lets get through this together."

Blaine nodded and hugged him. "I love you Kurt."

"I love you Blaine," Kurt whispered.

"Please don't leave me."

"Never Blaine. Never," Kurt promised.

"Hey guys, do you want to-" Nick started as he walked in. "Oh sorry."

"No. You're good. Do we want to what?" Kurt asked.

"Um, some of the guys were going to put on a Christmas special or something. Do you want to come watch?"

Kurt turned to Blaine who was nodding. He turned back to Nick. "We'll be down in a minute."

Nick nodded and walked out.

"Are you sure you want to?" Kurt asked Blaine softly.

"I'm sure," Blaine answered.

They both got up and made their way downstairs. Blaine had left his shirt off out of habit, though he soon regretted it.

When they got to the living room, they found a small group of the guys including Nick, Jeff, Brian, Cameron, Trent, Wes, and David sitting around the TV.

"Hey guys," Jeff greeted, patting the spot on the floor beside him.

Blaine pulled Kurt towards where Jeff was sitting.

"Holy shit Blaine," Brian said in shock.

Blaine stared at him in confusion. "What?" He then realized that Brian was staring at the scars all over his chest and stomach.

Jeff stood up and pulled off the zip up hoodie he was wearing and wrapped it around Blaine.

"I didn't even think about that," Blaine whispered to Jeff. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing to me Blaine," Jeff whispered back.

"Sorry," Blaine mumbled, sitting down beside him.

Brian stared at Blaine in horror. He had some idea of what had happened to Blaine in the past two years, but he had never seen those.

"Blaine-" Brian started.

"Brian, don't," David whispered to him knowingly.

Blaine pulled the hoodie around his bare skin and cuddled up against Kurt who wrapped his arms around him protectively.

"It's okay," Kurt whispered when he felt him shaking.

As the movie played, Blaine's shaking only grew worse. So Kurt pulled Blaine across his lap and rocked him gently.

Blaine buried his face in Kurt's chest and held on to him, trying to calm down.

"You should take him upstairs," Jeff whispered to Kurt.

Kurt nodded. "Come on sweetheart, lets go lay down."

Blaine let Kurt pull him up and walked up the stairs with him.

"I didn't mean to upset him," Brian said guiltily once Kurt and Blaine were out of ear shot.

"It's not your fault Brian. He was upset before you said anything," Jeff said.

Brian looked down sadly. He and Blaine weren't close, but Blaine had told him quite a bit about his life and he had never expected that.

---

Blaine woke up in Kurt's arms in his own bed. He got up slowly so as not to wake up Kurt and walked to the window. It was still dark outside, so he could see that there was a strange light coming from the direction of the school buildings.

His curiosity took over and he decided to go check it out. He walked downstairs and was about to walk outside when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Going somewhere?" Blue asked, walking down the stairs.

"What are you doing here?" Blaine questioned. He didn't back away like he would have if it were Sebastian. He knew Blue wouldn't hurt him.

"I came to apologize, but-"

"I don't want your apology. It wouldn't mean anything anyway. So why bother?"

Blue sighed and shook his head. "I see how happy you are with Kurt."

"Why do you care?"

"Because regardless of what you may think, I did care about you."

Blaine stared at him. "I don't get it."

"Get what?"

"Why didn't you try to get me to help you and Sebastian? Why weren't you honest with me? You had no reason not to be."

"You trusted Nick and Jeff. I could tell. You wouldn't have listened to me."

"I didn't trust them any more than I trusted you. Especially after you told me about Michael."

Blue watched him carefully. "You know what actually happened." It was more of a statement than a question.

Blaine nodded. He hesitated before asking his next question. "What about that first day in the café? You told Sebastian he wasn't welcome here."

"They all had to believe I was on their side."

"Were you the one that told him to come here?"

"No. That was Dan."

Blaine gaped at Blue. "Why would he do that?"

"He was just trying to get Nick and Jeff and me to work out our issues. He didn't know it would cost him."

A realization crossed over Blaine. "It was you. You killed him."

"No. I put poison in his drink one day. He's the one that drank it."

Blaine stared at him. "He trusted you."

"He trusted me because I wanted him to. Just like you. I didn't need Nick or Jeff to trust me as long as you did."

"Why did Sebastian tell me he couldn't get to you, so he had to kill me?" Blaine asked, changing subjects.

Blue smiled. "Sebastian has jealousy issues."

"What?"

"I loved you Blaine. And Sebastian knew it. He was angry. He wanted you gone so he could have me," Blue answered.

Tears of rage filled Blaine's eyes. "How can you stand there and say that you loved me."

"What did I do to make you think that I didn't ever love you? Other than leaving."

"Are you kidding me? You killed Dan. You've been helping Sebastian try to kill me and my friends. You lied to me."

"But I saved your life Blaine. And Sebastian almost killed me for it. And I never helped him try to kill you. I've been trying to keep him away from you. I convinced him to take Quinn instead of you. And Kurt. And I lied to protect you. If you had known the truth, you would've hated me."

"But I do hate you. I hate you more than anything!" Blaine almost shouted.

"Is there a problem here?" Brian asked, walking down the stairs.

"No. I was just going for a walk," Blaine answered.

Brian looked at the way the two were staring at each other. "Can I join you?"

Blaine nodded and stormed out of the dorm building.

"Get the hell away from here," Brian growled at Blue as he walked past, following Blaine.

Brian caught up to Blaine and immediately regretted not getting his coat because it was snowing outside, but it seemed that Blaine didn't care.

Blaine noticed Brian beside him, but he ignored him. He was trying to focus on finding out what the light was from and forgetting the conversation he had just had with Blue.

Off in the distance, they could see a flickering light in the window of one of the old school buildings.

Blaine started to walk faster towards the old building, with Brian close behind.

When they got to the door Blaine turned around and motioned for Brian to stay quiet.

Brian nodded and followed Blaine in.

They got up to the third floor of the building and could hear soft voices along with the crackling of a fire.

"They're probably hobos. Lets go Blaine," Brian mouthed.

Blaine shook his head. "Those aren't hobos," he mouthed back. He knew exactly who it was. Even in whispers, he would be able to tell who that voice belonged to anywhere.

He slowly walked to the cracked door that the light and voices were coming from and peeked in. There was Sebastian, Louis, and Douglass, all sitting around the fire place talking quietly. A few seconds later, Blue walked in from a door on the other side of the room.

"Did you do it?" Sebastian questioned.

"No. Blaine came out of his room before I got the chance."

"Did he see you?"

"No. He left to go for a walk," Blue answered quietly.

Louis glared at him. "So why didn't you do it when he left?"

"Because Kurt woke up and came downstairs. So I ran."

"You couldn't have hidden somewhere? Waited until he left? Or-"

"Enough Louis," Sebastian interrupted. "We'll just have to try again."

"Why are we killing him again?" Douglass asked.

"Because I don't want Blaine to be happy. He doesn't deserve it," Sebastian answered harshly.

Blaine started to shake when he heard that. He was only assuming what they were talking about. But he was assuming the worst.

"Can't we find another way? Stab him maybe?" Louis asked.

"No. Blaine wouldn't ever let us get that close to him. They're inseparable," Sebastian said thoughtfully. "Except for maybe now. You can come in Blaine, I know you're standing there."

Blaine hesitated but then walked in.

Sebastian smirked. "And you brought a friend. How lovely."

Blaine glared at him.

"What? No welcome back hug from either of you?" Sebastian asked, pretending to pout.

"Sure, I'll welcome you back to the place where you'll be killed if that's what you want," Blaine said.

Sebastian laughed. It almost sounded like a cackle to Blaine. "You think you can kill me?"

Blaine stared him down. "I just want to know what Dan had to do with you being jealous of Blue loving me."

Sebastian glanced at Blue. "So you did talk to Blue. And it wasn't my intention to kill Dan."

"Who then?"

"Jeff," Sebastian answered. "But Dan picked up Jeff's cup."

"Yet another one of your plans gone wrong," Blaine said sarcastically.

"Yes. But it didn't fail. I still got what I wanted. You weren't happy."

"So all of this was just to make me miserable?"

Sebastian nodded. "And to eventually kill you."

"So let me get this straight," Brian interrupted. "You all, a bunch of prep school boys, wanted to kill Blaine because Sebastian was jealous of Blue loving Blaine?"

Sebastian smiled. "Oh there's so much more to it than that my friend. This started long before Blaine. And at first it wasn't even my plan to kill him. Just make him suffer. But he kept fighting back. He kept getting away from me. It made me angry. So now, here we are. And this needs to end here," Sebastian said.

"Blaine!" Jeff called from two floors below.

Blaine turned to Brian. "Go tell them I just needed to be alone and I'll be back at Simul soon," he instructed.

Brian noted the way Blaine hadn't said 'home', but Simul. "But Blaine, I can't just leave you-"

"Just do it Brian. Please," Blaine pleaded.

Brian hesitated. "Fine," he said, hurrying towards the stairs.

Sebastian smirked again. "You really don't want your friends to come help you?"

"I don't see what they have to do with this. You've done enough to them. This is between you and me."

Sebastian's smile grew bigger. "Get out," he said to Douglass, Louis, and Blue. "You want this between us, it will be."

Blaine stood in the middle of the floor, staring forward while Sebastian began circling him.

Douglass and Louis disappeared through the other door. Blue hesitated. He stared at Blaine and glanced down at the floor board he was standing on and nodded.

Blaine nodded ever so slightly and watched Blue disappear behind Louis and Douglass.

"So, we both want this to end tonight, right?" Sebastian asked.

"Right," Blaine confirmed.

Sebastian stopped circling him and stood right behind him, breathing on the back of Blaine's neck. "How should we play this?"

Blaine smiled to himself. "Like this," he said, shoving his elbow back into Sebastian's ribs.

Sebastian was only temporarily stunned. He straightened up and came after Blaine, striking him in the jaw with his fist.

Blaine swung back at him but missed.

Sebastian laughed and pulled out his knife, tossing it on the floor to Blaine. "Here. Take the knife. Protect yourself."

Blaine slowly picked up the knife, but was soon disarmed by Sebastian who stabbed him in the leg and then sliced through Jeff's jacket that he was still wearing and into his skin.

Sebastian laughed again and tossed the knife back.

"Blaine! We know you're up here," Jeff's voice called from the staircase.

Sebastian ran to the fireplace and picked up one of the fire logs.

Blaine stared at him just as Jeff, Nick, and Brian came running in the door.

"What are you doing?" Blaine asked as Sebastian picked up a second log.

Sebastian smiled and tossed one at the door on the other side of the room and one at one of the windows. He picked up another and walked to the door behind him.

"You lose," Sebastian said quietly, closing the door behind him.

The four boys in the room stood in shock as they saw the flame under their only other escape.

Brian and Nick immediately started trying to put out the fire with their jackets.

Jeff glanced around the room and then his eyes landed on his only other escape, the other window. He picked up a loose brick and tossed it through the glass.

Blaine was the first to notice how Jeff was just standing, looking down at the ground below him. "Jeff what are you doing?"

"It's the only other way out. We have to," Jeff said slowly as he stared down at the ground.

"Jeff. There's another-"

"I'll finally know what it felt like. What he was thinking when he-"

"Jeff," Blaine said more firmly.

Jeff finally turned around.

"There's another way out." Blaine ran to the floor board that Blue had been standing on and ripped it up. There was a small staircase, leading down and out of the building.

Just then, Nick began coughing from the smoke that was filling the room.

"Come on guys! We have to go," Blaine shouted, descending down the staircase. He had to push things out of his way and beat out some flames with his foot, but they made it outside fairly easily.

"Are you okay?" Jeff asked Nick as he started coughing again.

There was a loud bang and the building exploded completely in to flames.

Blaine looked up to see Sebastian looking in their direction with a knife in his hand.

Brian looked in that direction and saw the same thing Blaine had. He turned and ran towards him.

"Brian! Don't!" Blaine screamed.

Sebastian smirked and slung his knife with precision, slamming it right into Brian's chest.

"Brian!" Blaine ran to him just as Sebastian ran off. He kneeled down beside him and looked at where the knife hit him, knowing that it wasn't good.

"Blaine," Brian sputtered.

"I'm right here Brian," Blaine whispered, tears streaming down his face.

"Do- don't let hi- him do it. You h- have to- to stop him," Brian tried to explain.

"Stop who?" Blaine questioned frantically.

"Blaine! Look!" Nick yelled, pointing back to the building.

Blaine looked up to see Blue struggling with Louis through a window on the floor above where they had been.

"Him," Brian whispered, glancing at the window where Blue was standing.

"What are they doing?" Jeff asked quietly.

Blue shoved Louis back and then looked around the room. Realizing there was no other way out, he tossed something through the window, looking down.

"Blue!" Blaine shouted. "Don't!" He stood up to run into the building, but was stopped by Jeff's arms.

"You can't go in there. You'll die Blaine," Jeff said firmly.

"I have to. I have to stop him," Blaine mumbled, struggling against Jeff's arms.

"I love you Blaine! Don't ever forget me!" Blue shouted. He smiled at Blaine one last time and jumped out of the burning building and onto the concrete below.

"Blue!" Blaine screamed. He was still being held back by Jeff, but he was fighting hard. "Let me go!"

"Blaine, he's gone," Jeff whispered to him, seeing Blue's lifeless body, only a few yards from them.

Blaine screamed at Jeff, but Jeff held on to him.

"Concentrate on your friend that's still here," Jeff said, gesturing to Brian.

Blaine hesitated, but ripped his arm from Jeff's grasp and kneeled back down beside Brian who was barely breathing.

Brian's eyes started to slide closed and his breathing slowed down.

"Brian, stay with me. Please. Come on," Blaine said, shaking him gently. "I can't lose two of you."

"Help is coming," Nick said as he slid his phone back into his pocket, still coughing.

"It's going to be okay Blaine," Brian whispered. "He knew it had to end this way. Sebastian's gone. He can't hurt you anymore."

"No. It can't end this way," Blaine whispered back, tears still streaming down his ash covered face. "You have to hold on."

Brian tried to take a breath, but couldn't.

"Brian. Please. Stay with me," Blaine pleaded.

"I love you guys," Brian mumbled, his eyes sliding closed for the last time.

Blaine laid his head down on Brian's stomach and started crying. He then remembered that Sebastian had gotten away. He looked up and took off running back towards the building.

"Blaine!" Jeff screamed, chasing after him.

But Blaine was much faster and made it into the building before Jeff caught up to him.

"Jeff. You can't go in there," Nick said quickly.

"I have to get him," Jeff said, struggling against his boyfriend.

"I can't lose you Jeff," Nick whispered in panic.

Jeff turned to face him. He kissed him gently. "I love you. I'll be fine."

Nick let him go slowly. "I love you too."

Blaine had no idea what he was doing or why he had looked in the building for Sebastian. Why would he be in here?

"Help," someone groaned from a floor above him.

Blaine tore up the stairs and into the hallway on the second floor. But the voice didn't come from there. He ran up another floor, but couldn't make it to the top since it was in flames.

"Blaine!" Jeff called.

Blaine slipped through a door and into another room with another set of stairs. He ran up them and found himself in a room with a body on the floor and a familiar boy sitting in the corner.

"Who are you?" Blaine asked quietly.

The boy stood up and Blaine gasped.

"Stephan?" Blaine whispered.

Stephan smiled. "Hi Blaine."

Blaine threw his arms around his best friend. "What are you doing here?"

"The more important question is what are you doing here?"

"I came to find Sebastian, he's this guy that-"

"I know who he is," Stephan interrupted. "Why did you want to find someone who's trying to kill you?"

Blaine stared at him. "I don't know."

Stephan smiled. "You're still just as stubborn. We both know that you know exactly why you came back."

"If you know, then why did I come back?" Blaine pressed.

Stephan just smiled at him.

Blaine ran a hand through his hair. "I guess because I wanted to make sure he was dead."

"You didn't even know if he was in here," Stephan pointed out.

"I wanted-" Blaine stopped, not wanting to admit it.

"You wanted to kill him," Stephan finished. "Why?"

"Because he's the reason Dan and Blue are dead, he tried to kill me and rape Kurt. Because he's ruined my life," Blaine screamed.

Stephan nodded.

Blaine hugged him again. "God I've missed you. Where have you been?"

"With a friend of your friend," Stephan answered.

Blaine pulled back. "Who?"

"Michael, he's a friend of Jeff's."

Blaine stared at him. He noticed for the first time how clean Stephan looked. He wasn't covered in ash or dirt or even snow.

Stephan looked as if he were listening to something. Then he turned to Blaine. "It's time for me to go meet Blue and Brian. I've been waiting a long time for this."

Blaine just kept staring at him.

Stephan stepped towards Blaine. "Don't worry. I'll take care of them. I'll tell them you said hello."

"Stephan," Blaine said quietly.

Stephan smiled. "I miss you. Stay safe."

Blaine nodded. "I miss you too."

"Blaine!" someone yelled.

Blaine watched as Stephan disappeared. He hadn't realized before then that he was actually on the floor.

"Blaine! Come on man. We have to go!" someone yelled again.

Blaine looked up and saw an unfamiliar man and woman standing over him.

"Can you walk?" the woman asked.

Blaine didn't respond, he just closed his eyes as he started coughing from the smoke.

"Just pick him up Jacob," the woman instructed.

Blaine felt someone picking him up off of the floor but he didn't care.

"Move that out of the way Morgan!" Jacob shouted.

Blaine opened his eyes to see the outside of the building completely in flames. He glanced to where Blue had been laying and saw that he was standing up next to Stephan, a boy Blaine had never seen before, and Brian.

Blaine slung himself out of Jacob's arms and onto the ground just as the three disappeared.

Jacob immediately tried to pick him back up, but Morgan stopped him.

"It's okay, we're far enough away from the building," Morgan said quietly.

Jacob kneeled down beside Blaine on the ground as he started coughing again.

"Go home Blaine. It's okay," Blaine heard Stephan whisper from somewhere close by.

"Blaine," Jeff said, running up to him and sitting down beside him, Jacob, Nick and Kurt close at his heels.

"Stephan," Blaine mumbled, still coughing.

Jeff looked up to Nick. "Did he just say...?"

Nick nodded, watching Blaine carefully.

Kurt looked between the two boys. He had no idea what they were talking about.

"Should we move him out of the snow?" Jacob asked.

"Probably," Morgan answered. "Hello! I need a medic over here!" She stood up and jogged to one of the ambulances.

Kurt kneeled down beside Blaine's head and gently stroked his cheek. "Blaine," he whispered.

Blaine took a deep breath. "Kurt?"

"Hi sweetie," Kurt said softly.

"C- can you go ge- get Stephan?" Blaine asked quietly.

Kurt looked to Jeff for help.

"Blaine, Stephan isn't here," Jeff said gently.

"Yes he is. I saw him. I talked to him," Blaine answered. "He said he knows Michael. He's been with him."

Jeff closed his eyes. "Blaine, Michael-"

Nick put a hand on Jeff's shoulder and shook his head. "Now is probably not the best time."

Jacob looked at them in confusion.

"Michael's dead," Jeff mouthed to him.

Jacob nodded. He knew it wasn't uncommon for people to see things that weren't there when they had been inhaling smoke for a long time, but he had never seen someone as convinced as this boy.

Jeff glanced over to see Blue's lifeless body still on the ground. He stood up slowly and began walking to him.

"Jeff," Kurt said.

"Just let him be," Nick said quietly.

Jeff walked to Blue's body and kneeled down beside him. His eyes were still open and he gently slid them closed with two fingers.

"Jeff. What are you doing?" Mr. Mike asked, walking up behind him.

Jeff hesitated, staring at Blue.

"Come on, you guys need to get home," Mr. Mike said, pulling Jeff away from Blue.

"No. Actually they need to be checked out at the hospital and then get down to the station to tell us what happened," Morgan said to Mr. Mike.

"Oh come on Morgan, you're kidding right? They've been through enough tonight," Mr. Mike said.

"No," Jeff said. "If this will get them to arrest Sebastian and Louis and Douglass, then I'm all for it."

"Well, you see, that's the problem," Morgan said.

"What are you talking about?" Mr. Mike asked.

"We found Louis in the room that Blaine was in. Dead," Morgan answered.

"The room was on fire, that doesn't mean anything," Jeff said quietly.

"Fires don't stab people," Morgan said.

"Are you serious? Are you accusing Blaine of killing him?" Jeff questioned.

"I'm not accusing Blaine of anything. I don't know which one of you it was, but he didn't just stab himself," Morgan said.

Jeff stared at her. "We've come to you ten times telling you what Sebastian and them have done to us and you haven't done a damn thing about it! But now that one of them is dead, you come to question us?"

"I'm sorry Jeff. It's regulation," Morgan said.

"Like hell it is," Mr. Mike said, pulling out his phone. "Was it regulation when you disregarded their complaint about your nephew?"

"Wait," Jeff said. "Nephew. Sebastian is your nephew?" he screamed.

Mr. Mike laid a hand on Jeff's shoulder. "It's okay. I can fix this," he said, pulling out his phone. "Hello? Dean Wright?"

Mr. Mike walked away with Morgan to try and work things out.

Jeff looked at Blue one last time and walked back to where Blaine was still laying on the ground, coughing.

"Could you maybe go get him some water and a blanket?" Jeff asked Jacob dully as he walked up.

Jacob nodded and walked away.

"Louis is dead," Jeff said quietly once Jacob was gone. "She thinks one of us killed him, probably only because she's Sebastian's aunt."

"Oh god," Nick whispered. "Are you serious?"

Jeff nodded and pulled Blaine into a sitting position.

Blaine groaned but didn't fight against Jeff. He had stopped coughing but now he was shaking.

Jeff hugged him close and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry Jeff," Blaine mumbled.

"For what?" Jeff asked.

"For everything."

Jeff pulled back to stare at him. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Yes I do. This is all my fault."

"No. Blaine, Louis is dead. Sebastian probably is too. He can't hurt us anymore."

"But so is Brian! And Blue! And it's my fault!" Blaine shouted.

"Blaine, oh god, we got here as soon as we could," Kimmy said as she rushed up with Jasper.

Blaine just sat on the ground, staring forward and ignoring the five people around him.

"Blaine," Jasper said softly, kneeling down in front of him.

"Where's Coop?" Blaine asked so quietly it was barely audible.

"He's on a business trip in Columbus. I haven't called him yet, but he should be home in couple days."

Just then Jacob came back with a blanket and a paramedic. "Come on Blaine, they're going to check you out at the hospital. All of you."

"I don't need to be checked out at the hospital, I just need to go home," Blaine replied.

"Honey, you should go to the hospital," Kimmy said gently.

"We can check them out here," the paramedic said quietly.

Jasper stood up and helped Blaine off of the ground. They all followed Jacob and the paramedic to the ambulance that was still parked nearby.

When the paramedic had finished poking and prodding at Blaine and decided he checked out well, he walked to Kurt, and hugged him.

"Blaine," Kurt whispered. He could feel how hard Blaine was breathing and could tell how he was trying to control himself.

Jeff and Nick walked up a few minutes later and both laid a hand on Blaine's shoulder gently.

"Boys," Mr. Mike said, walking up to them. "Agent Morgan has wisely decided she doesn't need to speak with you all at the station, but Agent Jacob will be by in the morning to take your statements. So you can go on home. I'm sure Dustin is waiting for you. Agent Jacob will be accompanying you."

"Come on Blaine. Lets go," Kurt whispered, trying to let go of him.

"No. Don't leave," Blaine mumbled.

"I'm not leaving sweetie. We're going back to the dorm together, okay?"

Blaine let Kurt pull away but stuck to his side as they walked.

Kurt wrapped his arm around Blaine's waist and took his other hand.

Jacob helped them through the mob of students and teachers and walked them all the way back to their dorm.

"I'll see you boys tomorrow morning," Jacob said quietly before he turned to walk away.

The four stood in the middle of the living room in front of the twenty boys standing in various places, awaiting their arrival.

Cameron stood at the bottom of the stairs staring at the four. "Where's Brian? They're just still talking to him right?"

Blaine looked at him sadly and shook his head.

"Then he's on his way? Or he got hurt?" Cameron questioned, tears coming to his eyes since he already knew the answer.

Blaine walked across the room and hugged Brian's best friend.

"It's not true, it can't be true," Cameron sobbed.

"I'm sorry Cam," Blaine whispered.

Cameron pulled away and sprinted up the stairs.

"Blaine," Kurt said softly, walking up behind him. "Let's go upstairs."

Blaine nodded and let Kurt pull him up the stairs. He stopped him when they got to their floor.

"I need to run upstairs for a second. I need to see something," Blaine said quietly.

"Do you want some company?"

"I need to do it alone. I'll only be a minute," Blaine answered, squeezing Kurt's hand. He turned and limped up the stairs.

He walked down the hallway and stopped at the door he was looking for. He had never been in it, he figured no one had in a long time, but he could see the way Jeff cringed anytime he walked past it.

He walked into the dark room and turned on a lamp. The kitchen and living room had been cleaned out so he walked upstairs. The four doors still had names on them. Nick, Jeff, Michael, and Sebastian.

Blaine slowly opened the door to Michael's room and walked in. He flipped on the light and looked around the room. The window still had no glass in it and had caution tape across it.

There were still school books and CDs and bags around the room and the closet was still full of clothes.

Blaine walked to the nightstand and picked up a picture of Jeff and a tall, thin boy with light brown hair who he recognized as the boy that was standing with Stephan. Both of them shirtless with sunglasses on the beach in Miami.

"That was our first summer in Miami," Jeff said quietly from the doorway.

Blaine jumped and turned around to find Jeff with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Jeff said slowly.

Blaine set the picture back on the night stand and walked to hug his best friend.

"I am so sorry Blaine," Jeff whispered.

"I am too Jeff," Blaine said in to his shoulder. "What are you doing up here?" he asked, pulling back.

"The same thing you are," Jeff said softly.

Blaine nodded. "I saw the way you were looking out of that window. When you were thinking about jumping. It scared me. It terrified me."

"It scared me too Blaine. Because I thought I was going to die tonight. More than once."

"Me too."

Jeff sat down on the floor, leaning back against the bed and patted the floor beside him for Blaine to sit. "Tonight, you- you said you saw Stephan," he started slowly.

Blaine took a deep breath. "Jeff, I was inhaling smoke, I watched two people die, I thought I was going to die, I was scared, I was crying. And apparently I was seeing things. I'm not crazy or anything."

"That's not what I meant at all," Jeff whispered. "You said he was with Michael."

"Jeff. It didn't mean anything, he wasn't really there."

"I know, but..." he trailed off.

Blaine nodded. "I know."

"We should probably get back downstairs," Jeff said after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah," Blaine agreed.

They stood up and Jeff reached down to hug his friend again. "Are you alright?"

Blaine just shook his head slowly.

"I know how it feels. I know you don't want to talk about it, but don't bottle it up. It just makes it worse," Jeff said.

Blaine pulled back and nodded. He took in the room one last time and walked out.

"Hey," Kurt said as Jeff and Blaine walked back into the dorm.

"Hey," Blaine replied quietly. "Can we go upstairs."

Kurt nodded and stood up from the couch to take his hand, walking upstairs with him.

"He asked about Stephan," Nick said softly once Kurt and Blaine had closed their door.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him to ask Blaine," Nick answered.

Jeff nodded as the tears started to come back to his eyes.

"Come here," Nick whispered, hugging his boyfriend as he started crying.

Jeff gripped on to Nick and continued crying. "I love you Nick," he said in between sobs.

"I love you too Jeff."

---

"Can anyone tell me anything about that?" Mr. Spencer asked on the last day of class before the Christmas holiday. "Mr. Anderson?"

Blaine completely ignored the fact that his name was said. He didn't care. He just kept staring forward.

Mr. Spencer sighed and turned to Jeff who was watching Blaine in concern. "How about you Mr. Sterling?"

Blaine had returned to class less than a week later. Dustin had told him he had to go back if he didn't want to fail the semester and Blaine needed to show everyone that he was okay.

However, Cameron had locked himself up in his room with Lexi since he found out about Brian.

"Hey," Kurt said quietly from the doorway of the science lab as Blaine was packing his bag.

"Hey," Blaine said, looking up and then going back to his bag.

Kurt crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Blaine.

Blaine sighed and rested his head on Kurt's shoulder and closed his eyes. He pulled back and kissed him.

Blaine had shown no emotion over the past week except for when he kissed Kurt. He kissed Kurt in a way that let him feel all of the pain and sadness that he felt.

Kurt hadn't told anyone, he figured it was just Blaine's way of dealing.

"How was class?" Kurt asked softly.

Blaine just shrugged. In all honesty he didn't know. He wasn't paying attention long enough to know.

Jeff glanced over at the two from where he was shoving his books in his bag.

"Hey Jeff," Kurt greeted as he walked over.

Jeff smiled slightly and laid a hand on Blaine's shoulder.

Blaine flinched away from the touch and walked toward the door.

"He'll get there," Kurt whispered.

Jeff nodded and they followed Blaine out.

As they were walking down the sidewalk, they were stopped by David.

"Hey guys!" David said cheerfully. "My parents are going to be out of town for New Years and I'm throwing a kick ass party at my house, you guys wanna come?"

"Sure David. That sounds like fun, right Blaine?" Kurt asked.

Blaine nodded in agreement but didn't seem very enthused.

David smiled and ran off to find someone else to tell.

Great, somewhere else for everything to go wrong, Blaine thought.

"Are you ready to go home?" Kurt asked Blaine quietly. He could see the tears form in Blaine's eyes when he said the word home and he reached out to take his hand.

Blaine gripped Kurt's hand with all the strength he had.

Blaine ran straight up to his room when they walked into the dorm.

"Hey," Nick said, walking over to Jeff to hug him.

"Hey," Jeff said, smiling in relief.

"How was-" Nick started.

"Is Blaine okay?" Wes asked, walking down the stairs. "He just ran to his room crying."

Kurt sighed and started for the stairs.

Wes looked between Nick and Jeff. "He'll be okay, right?"

Jeff looked down. "We can only hope."

"Where did you say you saw him?" Kurt asked from the top of the stairs.

"He was running down the hallway towards your room," Wes answered.

"He's not there."

Wes thought for a minute. "He might have gone up to Cam's room."

Kurt nodded and turned around again.

"Wait. Kurt," Jeff called.

Kurt spun back around.

"If he's with Cam, let him be," Jeff suggested. "Cam hasn't talked to anyone, and if Blaine can get him to talk it might help both of them."

Kurt nodded and walked back down the stairs.

Blaine was listening from behind the stairs that led to the next floor. He knew they were worried, but he hadn't realized just how much. He slipped up the stairs quietly and walked to Cam's room. There was no one downstairs so he walked upstairs and quietly opened the door to his room.

He found Cameron curled up on his bed asleep with Lexi playing on the floor in a pile of stuffed animals.

Lexi's face lit up when she saw Blaine and she giggled lightly, trying to throw one of her toys at him.

Blaine put a finger to his lips as he sat down with her. He picked her up and set her in his lap. She pulled one of her stuffed animals over and Blaine held it up and made it dance, sending her into another giggle fit.

"Lexi, please, daddy's trying to sleep," Cameron groaned from his bed. He opened his eyes and froze when he saw Blaine. "Blaine. Hi."

"Hey Cam. Sorry, I was trying not to wake you up," Blaine apologized.

Cameron got up and sat down on the floor with them. "No it's okay."

Blaine looked back down at the still giggling Lexi. He noticed for the first time how blue her eyes were and he sighed as he looked into them.

"She has her mom's eyes," Cam said softly, noticing the way Blaine was staring.

Blaine nodded. "Just like Blue's."

Cameron watched him. "It wasn't just Brian that night, was it?"

Blaine shook his head. "No. It wasn't."

"Who else?" Cameron asked slowly, not really wanting to know the answer.

"Louis. Possibly Douglass and Sebastian. And Blue."

"Oh god Blaine, I'm so sorry," Cameron whispered.

Tears slowly started streaming down Blaine's face.

Lexi looked up and laid a hand on his cheek. "Blue?" she questioned softly.

Blaine bit his lip to keep from losing it.

"He's at home with Brian and the other angels Lexi. He's okay," Cameron said softly.

"He not coming back?" Lexi asked.

"No sweetie. He can't. He's busy. But he loves you and I'm sure he's watching over you," Cameron whispered. He looked up at Blaine. "And you."

Blaine nodded and looked away.

"Come here," Cameron said, holding out his arm.

Blaine slid over to Cameron to hug him with Lexi still in his lap.

"I love you both. We'll get through this," Cameron said quietly.

Blaine quickly wiped his eyes. "This isn't what I came up here for. I came up to make sure you were okay."

"Well honestly, I'm not. But I'm dealing. Just differently than you."

Blaine nodded, playing with Lexi's fingers lightly.

"It's gonna be okay Blaine. I promise."

Blaine just nodded again.

"Now don't you have some packing to do so you can go home?" Cameron asked.

"So do you."

"I don't know. I was thinking about just staying here."

"Alone?" Blaine questioned.

"I won't be alone. I have Lexi, and lots of the guys stay here," Cameron answered. "I'm not ready to go home just yet either."

Blaine nodded. He hugged Lexi and then Cameron and stood up. "I'll see you in the new year."

Cameron smiled. "Yeah. See ya."

Blaine smiled back and walked out of the room to go pack for Coop's.

---

"Welcome," David said, opening the front door for the five or six boys that had arrived at the same time Blaine had. It was New Years Eve and they were all at David's party.

"Hey Blaine," Jeff said softly, approaching him slowly.

"Hey. Where's Kurt?"

"He's in the living room," Jeff said, gesturing for Blaine to follow him.

Blaine followed Jeff into the living room and found Kurt sitting on the couch next to Santana.

Santana smiled when she saw Blaine. She stood up to hug him.

"Santana," Blaine said softly to her.

She pulled back to look at him and reached down to squeeze his hand.

"Do you want a dri-" Santana started but Jeff elbowed her. "Dance. I was going to say dance. Do you want to dance Blaine?"

Blaine stared at her. "Maybe later."

Santana nodded and smiled and then turned to glare at Jeff as he nudged her again. "What?"

"We have to make sure he doesn't drink," Jeff whispered, pulling her away.

"Why?"

"Because he gets worse when he drinks."

"Worse?"

"Depressed," Jeff answered quietly.

Santana nodded and went to join Brittany and some of the other New Directions that she had invited.

Blaine sat down next to Kurt on the couch and curled up. "I missed you."

Kurt smiled. "I missed you too." He leaned towards him and kissed him gently.

Blaine sighed against his lips and closed his eyes.

Around midnight, Blaine pulled Kurt up and into a long hallway with a lot of doors. Blaine walked past all of them and up a staircase and into another long hallway. He opened a door near the end of the hallway and pulled Kurt in.

They stood in a small bedroom with a big window on one wall and a king size bed on another.

Blaine pulled Kurt into a tight hug.

"Are you alright?" Kurt asked Blaine quietly.

Blaine just held on to him until they heard the chant from downstairs.

"TEN, NINE, EIGHT."

Blaine pulled back to look at Kurt. "I love you."

Kurt stared at him in concern. "I love you too."

When they heard the cheering come from downstairs, Blaine leaned in and kissed Kurt.

Kurt smiled against his lips and tried to pull back but Blaine wouldn't let him.

Blaine kept kissing him and pulled him over to the bed. They laid down together, still kissing as Blaine crawled on top of Kurt and started to pull their clothes off.

When Kurt only had his pants left on, he pulled back from Blaine. "We don't have to do this Blaine."

"Yes I do. I have to show you how much I love you," Blaine mumbled.

"Blaine, I know how much you love me. You don't have to show me anything," Kurt said, gently stroking his cheek.

"I want to," Blaine said, pleading in his eyes.

Kurt finally just nodded and pulled Blaine back down as they began kissing again.

---

Blaine woke up curled up next to Kurt, both of them wrapped in a blanket.

He stood up to get dressed and then sat back down on the bed. He leaned down and kissed Kurt's forehead softly, knowing that it would wake him up.

Kurt stretched and opened his eyes. "Hey," he said sleepily.

"Hey," Blaine replied, stroking Kurt's bare skin with the tips of his fingers.

"Are you alright?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah," Blaine said, faking a smile at him.

Kurt sat up. "Are you sure?"

Blaine shook his head. "No."

Kurt reached out to hug him and Blaine reluctantly hugged him back. "What's wrong?"

Blaine pulled back and stood up. "Nothing. I'm fine."

Kurt stared at his boyfriend. "Blaine, I know what you've been through. I can't say that I understand it or that I know how you feel, but I do know that you don't always have to be strong. It's okay to not be okay."

Blaine hesitated but turned around and climbed back on the bed and curled up in Kurt's lap as he started crying.

Kurt didn't say anything, he just wrapped his arms around Blaine and rocked him gently.

Blaine laid down on Kurt's chest as his crying turned into sobbing.

"It's okay," Kurt whispered, starting to get a little worried.

"I need t- to stop. I ca- can't do- do this," Blaine tried to say, wiping his eyes.

"No you don't sweetheart. It's okay. It's just me." Kurt tried to pull his hands from his face.

"No," Blaine mumbled, still trying to pull away.

Kurt kept his arms around him, using all of his strength.

Blaine, being stronger than Kurt, ripped away from Kurt and ran out of the room.

Kurt pulled on a pair of sweat pants and chased Blaine.

Blaine had been in the house before, but he still got lost as he ran through the hallways. He ended up in a room that resembled a small library.

"Blaine," Kurt said, running in behind him.

"No. Stay- stay away from me," Blaine said, backing farther into the room. He took another step and knocked a table with a glass lamp on it. It shattered as the table crashed. "You'll just end up hurt."

"I don't care Blaine. I just want to help you. I want to be here for you. But you have to let me."

"If I do, you'll end up hurt. I can't do that to you."

Kurt took a step toward Blaine.

Blaine flinched again and knocked into something else just as ten boys came running in to see what the noises were.

Kurt stopped and just held out his hand as Blaine started to cry harder.

Jeff tried to take a step forward, but Nick put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Let him do it," Nick whispered.

Blaine just stared at Kurt's hand for a few long seconds, and then slowly walked into his arms, letting go of every wall that he had built up.

Carmen ran in with Sam, followed by Santana, Brittany, Puck, Quinn, Finn, and Rachel.

Jeff stood in the doorway with his hand covering his mouth at the sight of his best friend. He had seemed to be so numb to everything the past couple of weeks and Jeff had known this would happen, but he had no idea it would be like this.

Carmen gently laid a hand on Jeff's arm. He turned to look at her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Blaine had collapsed in Kurt's arms, so Kurt was sitting on the floor holding Blaine in his arms who was sobbing and sounded like he'd never stop.

"I love you," Kurt continued whispering in Blaine's ear.

"It's my fault," Blaine mumbled.

"No it's not Blaine."

"If I- if I hadn't gone downstairs that- that night, none of- of this would have- have happened," Blaine stuttered.

"Blaine. Listen to me," Kurt whispered firmly into his ear. "None of this is your fault. It's Sebastian's. Please don't blame yourself for this."

"I have to take my anger out on someone, and Sebastian's not here, so..." Blaine trailed off.

"No. You can't hurt yourself like that."

Blaine buried himself farther into Kurt and started sobbing harder.

"What the hell is going on down here?" David questioned, running in.

Puck held out his arm to keep David back.

"Oh," David whispered when he saw Kurt and Blaine.

"Sweetie, lets get you home," Kurt whispered.

Jeff walked into the room and pulled Blaine off the floor and hugged him. "I love you Blaine." He pulled back. "All those people standing over there love you too. And not one of them blames you for anything."

"Well," Brittany said. "I blame him for taking my dolphin away."

Blaine smiled and glanced at Kurt as he wiped his tear stained face.

Jeff laughed. "Well other than that, no one blames you for anything."

Blaine nodded and hugged Jeff again.

Nick walked in and hugged both of them, pulling Kurt into the hug too.

Soon all of them had walked into the room and had formed one big group hug around Blaine.

"David! What the hell is going on here?" someone shouted from downstairs.

"Shit," David whispered. "If you're a girl, go that way," he instructed, pointing to a hallway on the other side of the room. "Everybody else, follow me."

"Hey dad," David greeted as they entered the living room. "I just invited some of the guys over from Dalton. They're all leaving though."

David's dad nodded at them as they filed out of the door.

"So I'll see you in a few days," Kurt said, walking Blaine to his car.

Blaine nodded and leaned in to kiss him. "I love you."

"I love you too."

---

The rest of Christmas break went by slowly for the boys. Nick went to see his aunt in New York, Kurt went back home to Lima, Jeff stayed at Dalton with a few of the other guys, and Blaine stayed with Coop, Kimmy, and Jasper.

Blaine had only seen Kurt once over break at David's "Kick Ass New Year Party". But that was the only time he had seen him or any of his friends.

"How are you feeling?" Coop asked as Blaine was packing his car to head back to Dalton.

"I'm fine," Blaine answered quietly.

Coop watched him. "You've barely talked at all the past two weeks."

Blaine shrugged.

"Blaine, I know what it's like to lose a friend. I know how you feel. You can talk to me."

"Why does everyone keep telling me they know how I feel? You don't know how I feel. You don't know at all!" Blaine yelled.

Coop took a step back. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help."

Blaine sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I know. I'm sorry," he said, reaching out to hug him.

"Blaine!" Kimmy called from the front porch. "There's someone on the phone for you."

Blaine pulled back and faked a smile at his brother. He turned and trekked through the snow back to the porch.

"Who is it?" Blaine asked when he walked into the kitchen.

"I have no idea," Kimmy answered, handing him the phone.

"Hello?" Blaine asked.

"Blaine Anderson?" a girl asked.

"Yeah," he said slowly. "Who is this?"

"My name is Paige, I'm Blue's sister."

"Um, hi. What can I do for you?"

"I'm at the hospital in Lima and I have a friend of Blue's that says he wants to see you," Paige said.

"Oh, yeah, I can be there in less than an hour," Blaine answered nervously.

"Great. I'll see you then," Paige said, hanging up the phone.

Kimmy raised her eyebrows. "Who was it?"

"Paige, Blue's sister. She's at the hospital with a friend of Blue's and he wants to see me."

"Are you going?"

"Well yeah, I owe that to Blue," Blaine said.

Kimmy nodded. "Will I see you at school tomorrow?"

"Maybe," Blaine said sadly.

Kimmy hugged him. "I'll see you later."

Blaine nodded and walked outside to his car where Jasper and Coop were standing.

"I'll see you soon little bro," Coop said, kissing the top of his head.

Blaine faked another smile and hugged Jasper. "Bye guys," he said, getting into his car.

He drove into Lima and to the hospital. When he got inside he wasn't sure who to ask for because he had no idea who he was going to see.

"Hi, I'm looking for-" Blaine started to say to the nurse at the front desk.

"Blaine!" a tall girl called from a hallway.

"Never mind, there she is, thank you." He turned and walked to Paige. He had only seen her once but he would have recognized those blue eyes anywhere.

"Sebastian's right in here," Paige said as they walked down the hallway.

Blaine stopped in his tracks. "What did you just say?"

Paige turned around in confusion. "I said Sebastian's right in here."

"Why am I here?" Blaine questioned. "So he can try to kill me one last time?"

"Now I see why he didn't want me to tell you who he was," Paige mumbled. "Don't worry. He can't hurt you."

"Oh yeah? Like I believe that."

"Blaine, my brother loved you. You're practically all he talked about. You were his world. I would never do anything to hurt you."

Blaine stared at her for a long moment and then nodded hesitantly.

Paige nodded back and turned back around and walked to a door a few feet from them.

Blaine walked in and what he saw wasn't what he had been expecting at all. There was Sebastian, the boy who had tried to kill him and was responsible for killing other people, laying in a bed, wrapped in gauze with IV needles sticking into him everywhere.

"Hello Blaine," Sebastian said just above a whisper, which Blaine assumed was as loud as he could talk.

"What do you want from me?" Blaine asked harshly.

"Oh still so rude," Sebastian said sarcastically. "I thought you might want some answers." He gestured to the chair beside his bed.

Blaine glanced at the chair and then walked to the other side of the room to sit in the chair farthest from him.

"I expected nothing less of you," Sebastian said, laughing. "So, ask away. I've heard you ask a lot of questions."

"You told-" Blaine hesitated before saying the name. "Brian, that this all started long before me. What did that mean?"

"Starting from the beginning I see," Sebastian said. "My dad killed my brother the year before I came to Dalton for being gay. So, in a way, I was just like you. I was a handful I'm sure."

"Was?" Blaine interrupted.

Sebastian shot him a glare.

"Sorry."

"Anyway, I slept around a lot. Mostly with girls, but not always. I wanted to get rid of the memory of my brother. But that didn't work. Then I met Louis. He was the first guy I slept with when neither of us were drunk. And it was pretty amazing. But he was violent. Very violent. Anytime either of us hit the other or whatever, I felt okay. But then I met Michael. And he was the complete opposite. He was sweet and he cared about me. And I couldn't say no to him. When Quinn told me she was pregnant, I couldn't stand to tell him, so I ran. And when I came back, we slept together. But he wasn't violent like Louis. And it brought back all of the memories. I knew I couldn't resist him, so I had to get into his head, and I did. And then he killed himself."

"But, what did I have to do with any of this?" Blaine asked.

"After Michael died, I left. But I came back in secret sometimes to visit Louis. One time as I was leaving, I saw Blue, and he reminded me a lot of Louis and Michael. We fooled around a bit, but nothing serious. Then you came along. And Blue fell for you. And when I say fell, I mean he smacked the concrete from a two hundred story building."

Blaine cringed.

"Sorry, bad analogy in light of the situation. But I didn't like that. I didn't want anyone else to have Blue. So I had to make you go away too. But you were a fighter. So I just had to make you suffer. And my plan worked marvelously."

"You came to Dalton to kill Kurt that night, didn't you?"

Sebastian smiled. "Yes. But what happened worked even better to help my marvelous plan."

Blaine stood up, knocking his chair over and walked to stand over Sebastian, getting in his face. "Let me tell you something. Dan, he had a family that loved him. Michael, he had a sister and a best friend who went crazy when he died and still haven't fully recovered. Kurt, you scared him so bad, he wouldn't let anyone near him for weeks. Brian, he had friends and a family that cared for him and loved him more than anything. Jeff, what those people did to him changed him completely. Me, you've just turned me crazy. And Blue, he had a sister who loved him and who he loved. You said you loved him. And Michael. Yet you keep killing the people you love." He turned to walk out of the room and saw that Paige was no longer siting there.

"You forgot one," Sebastian said.

Blaine turned around and stared at him in confusion.

"Stephan. He was coming to see you a few months ago, but he never made it."

"Is this it?" someone said outside of the room.

"Yeah," Paige said as she led two police officers into the room.

"What the hell Paige?" Sebastian questioned.

"I think you'll find everything you'll need on here," Paige said, handing one of the officers a tape recorder from under a chair.

The other officer nodded and pulled out his handcuffs to cuff Sebastian to the hospital bed.

"Wait," Blaine said quietly.

The officer who was standing in front of Sebastian moved out of the way so Blaine could see him.

"This marvelous plan of yours, did you plan for it to end this way?" Blaine asked.

Sebastian glared at him.

Blaine walked over to his bed again. He leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Game over. You lose."

Sebastian cringed away and turned his head.

Blaine stormed out of the room and started running down the hallway and towards the parking lot.

"Blaine!" Paige called after him. She ran to catch up to him and grabbed his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. He's getting what he deserved," Blaine said.

"But I can see that seeing him, it upset you," Paige said sympathetically.

Blaine nodded. "I just need to leave."

"Back to Dalton?" Paige asked.

Blaine hesitated. "Yeah," he said unconvincingly.

Paige watched him intently. "I'm flying out to San Francisco in a few hours to visit some friends and to get away from here and I could use some company."

Blaine thought for a moment and nodded. "I have some things I'd like to do out that way too."

Paige smiled. "Great. I assume you want to go back to Dalton first."

Blaine nodded again.

"I'll pick you up in two hours," Paige said.

"I'll be waiting," Blaine replied. He turned and walked quickly out to his car and drove back to Dalton as fast as he could. He jumped out of his car and started running towards Simul but was stopped by David.

"Are you going some where?" David questioned.

Blaine just stared at him. "Good news travels fast."

"Blaine, I know you've been through a lot. I know you've lost a lot. But you can't just run away from everything. That's what Sebastian did, he ran. You can't run like him, like-"

"You have no idea what I've been through! Or what I've seen or dealt with! You've always had everything handed to you. You've never lost anything the way I have. You have no idea how it feels to watch someone jump from a burning building. Or how it feels to hold a friend with a knife sticking out of his chest while he takes his last breath. Or to sit by your boyfriend while his best friend lies in a comma for months and to keep seeing him when your boyfriend leaves you and his best friend. Or to have your father tell you he hates you while he beats you over and over again. Or to not even know if your best friend is alive or not. You have no idea! No idea! And don't you ever compare me to that bastard. I'm nothing like him."

"Blaine, I-"

Blaine turned and ran towards Simul again. He walked in and found Jeff alone in the living room on the couch.

"Whoa Blaine, what's wrong?" Jeff asked when he saw him crying.

Blaine walked to the couch and curled up beside him, burying himself into his best friend.

Jeff wrapped his arms around him in shock as he started sobbing. "Hey, shhhh. You're okay."

"No. Jeff. I- I-" Blaine tried to say.

"It's okay Blaine. Just calm down."

"I have to leave," Blaine mumbled after a few minutes.

Jeff sighed. He was expecting that. Paige had called Nick and told him what happened at the hospital and that she and Blaine were leaving for a while so he could get his head back on straight. "Can we talk about this or-"

"No Jeff. I have to leave. I have to get out of this place."

Jeff nodded. "Just promise me that you'll come back, okay?"

Blaine stared at him. "What? No 'I understand how you're feeling, we can just talk it out'?"

Jeff smiled. "No. See, I do know how you're feeling Blaine. That's why I know that if this is what you need, this is what you need. I'm not stopping you."

Blaine hugged him. "Thank you. For everything. I promise I'll come back."

Jeff pulled back to kiss his forehead and smiled at him again.

Blaine stood up and headed for the stairs. When he got up to their room, Nick was closing the door to Kurt's room.

"Are you really leaving?" Nick asked softly.

Blaine nodded slowly.

Nick nodded back and hugged him.

Blaine pulled back and smiled before turning to Kurt's door.

"Hey Blaine," Nick said quietly.

Blaine turned around.

"I'll see you soon."

Blaine nodded and smiled. "I'll see you soon." He watched Nick descend the stairs and opened Kurt's door. He was sitting on his bed, staring out his window. "Hey."

"Hey," Kurt said, turning to look at him. "You're leaving?"

Blaine nodded. He saw the tears form in Kurt's eyes and he walked to him to hug him. "Not for good. I'll come back."

"I know," Kurt said into his shoulder.

"But before I go, I need to tell you something."

Kurt nodded and sat down on the bed again.

Blaine sat down beside him and took both of his hands. "Kurt. I love you with all of my heart and soul. And I know, and you know, that this isn't really goodbye for us. I swear on my life, that I will find my way back to you. And when I do, when I'm not lost anymore, I promise we will spend every second of the rest of our lives together. Okay?"

Kurt nodded as his lip started to quiver.

"Come here," Blaine said, pulling him in to hug him again. He pulled back to kiss him with more love an passion than he ever had before. "I love you Kurt Hummel."

Kurt took a deep breath. "I love you too Blaine Anderson."

Blaine kissed his nose and stood up. "I'll see you soon," he said, repeating the words Nick had said to him.

"I'll see you soon," Kurt replied. He stayed on his bed and watched Blaine walk out of his room before curling up and crying again.

Blaine walked down the stairs quickly and back into the living room.

"Blaine," Jeff said as he opened the door.

Blaine turned around to find Nick and Jeff at the bottom of the staircase holding hands.

"Don't take too long, okay?"

Blaine nodded. "I love you guys."

Both Nick and Jeff smiled and waved as he walked out of the door.

Blaine walked down the sidewalk that led to the parking lot. He watched all of the happy, smiling boys taking their things back to their dorms and catching up with each other.

He made it out to the parking lot just as Paige pulled up. He moved all of his bags from his car into hers and slid into the front seat beside her.

He took in Dalton one last time. Off in the distance he could see the blackened remnants of the old school building. But in front of that were all of the new buildings and the laughing, happy boys.

Blaine couldn't help but smile at the way they were all so happy. He wanted that again. And he knew he wouldn't find it at Dalton. He had to find it elsewhere, away from all of the bad memories. But he knew he would come back one day. One day soon.

So, even though Dalton may not have been his home, these people were definitely Blaine's family, and he would never stray too far from them.

---

Song List:

Baby It's Cold Outside