Chapter Twelve

October 2nd, 2010

Night had fallen in Lima, Ohio; Burt Hummel had woken once since his dream of Angie, to find Carole at his bedside again. She'd since left to go home. Burt glanced around and paged the nurse. Nancy stepped into the room, "Mr. Hummel, did you call me just because you're bored?"

He chuckled softly, "How'd you know? Can I get up?" It had been a week since he'd woken from his heart attack, and while he still had to take it easy the doctors had said he was already showing signs of improvement. Unfortunately he'd also spent an entire week waiting to hear if his son would live or die. The cops had been by twice seeking to speak to the boy, only to find out he was still in a coma. They'd spoke briefly with Burt, not wanting to cause any undo stress.

She looked at him seriously for a moment, "Well, the doctor has mentioned wanting to get you moving now and you've had no issues making your way to the bathroom, you want to go see your son?"

"Yes."

"I'll go check with the doctor, give me just a moment."

He nodded and he threw back his covers, feeling the stiffness in his joints from lying still too long. When she returned a few minutes later she was smiling, "He said you can walk as long as I go with you, and as long as you sit down once we get there."

She made quick work of moving the IV pole so he could use that to walk with, and with her on his other side, they made their way slowly out of the room and down the hall to the isolation room. Burt looked at his son and sighed, "No change?"

Nancy smiled warmly, "Actually the infection is showings signs of receding," She explained. "You were asleep and we didn't want to wake you. His temperature started dropping about an hour after we gave him the antibiotics. The doctors are already talking about removing him from life support tomorrow."

Burt felt the flutter in his heart and smiled, "Thank god," he whispered.

"Your son is an incredible fighter Mr. Hummel, you should be very proud."

"I am." Burt Hummel replied softly. "I am…any chance I can go in and see him?"

"Not now, sorry, once the infection is completely gone and we get the okay to remove him from isolation then absolutely."

"Okay," Burt could understand that, he didn't want to be the reason his son ended up dying after all. "Any of the Glee kids come by?"

She smiled, "I'm assuming you mean the plethora of teens that we never see but have come more in the past two weeks, yes some of them were here earlier, they left when they were told they couldn't go in."

"Good," He replied.

She wasn't sure if he meant good they'd left or that they'd been here, but she didn't push the issue. "They're considering releasing you Tuesday." She offered. "We've got a nutritionist to talk to you about how to avoid this in the future."

"Can't wait," He lied softly smirking.

"Also, here," She handed him a card.

"What's this?"

"It's a good friend of mine…actually he's my brother, he's a psychologist for Gay teens who've been subjected to hate crimes. He specializes in helping them and their families heal…I think he'd be a huge help to Kurt after everything you two have been through."

He looked down at the card, "Thank you, I'll call him."

"Right, let's get you back to your bed."

Once Burt was settled back into bed, he flicked the TV, and was surprised to find Sue's Corner was on. He smiled at his old friend. "Oh Suzie," He chuckled.

"For those of you who've been fallowing my latest diatribe about religion, I'm happy to inform you that I just got news Lima's own Burt Hummel is doing well after his heart attack, and that his son, who suffered the brutish beating for being himself, appears to be recovering as well. The world is a cruel enough place already people, why make it any harder on people who are simply trying to live their lives. Let's try and make the world a little easier to live in so that we don't all decide to kill one another in the end…and that's how Sue Sees It," She said holding up her hand.

Burt chuckled softly. "I never miss your show, Sue," he offered, glancing over at the door where Sue stood.

"Jeanie's praying for me," she whispered softly. "My big sister…Burt…what happened to me?"

"You've become old and bitter," he laughed playfully as she came to sit beside his bed.

"I hate you." She stated.

"So I've heard. Look Suz, you know I don't believe in God much either, but the basic fact is…if he does exist he doesn't make mistakes. Your sister, my son…they're beautiful just the way they are. The way God intended them to be."

"How is Ladyface?"

Burt rolled his eyes, "That's the reason you're not his God-mother."

She smiled. "At least I'm asking!"

"He's holding his own, the doctors said the infection is dying off and they'll look to remove him from life support tomorrow if he continues to improve."

"Good, tell him to get better I need him to win the Championship this year."

He smiled, "I'll mention it."

"Get better, Bear."

"Go to hell, Cheerio," he shot back playfully as she left the room.

October 3rd, 2010

"Mr. Hummel," a gentle hand on his shoulder, woke Burt from his slumber. He looked around; the sun was shining through the window. A nurse stood over him smiling warmly. "I thought you might like to know your son was just removed from life support and the venilator, he's breathing on his own. We've also lowered his sedation."

"Can I see him?"

She nodded, "The isolation was removed an hour ago. You might like to see this anyway." She helped him out of bed, and his eyes grew wide when he heard singing echoing down the hallway. As they grew closer, Burt felt his heart swell with pride at the sight of all the Glee kids, including Will, standing around Kurt's bed singing. The only one seated was Noah, who was holding Kurt's hand, but still singing softly.

"How long?"

"Puckerman's been here for a few hours, before they took him off life support, he went in as soon as they removed the isolation. Though I think he would've gone into the cleaning room and completely santized himself if it meant sitting with that boy."

"He's a good kid."

"They all are."

Burt nodded, suddenly thankful maybe the kids weren't as stubborn as he'd orginally thought. "Do you want me to clear them out?" the nurse asked.

"No, can I wait here…"

"Of course. I'm going to drop a couple of breakfast trays off, let me know if you need anything."

Burt watched them as they came to an end of the song, a couple of the kids noticed him and excused themselves, Mercedes approached him first though, her big brown eyes filled with tears. "Mr. Hummel…" She began but found herself suddenly unable to speak.

Burt didn't need to hear it, he reached out and pull the teen to his chest, she cried in his arms briefly. "That boy in there thinks the world of you Mercedes, and I know when he wakes up he won't blame you. So put that thought out of your head, okay?" he smiled as she nodded into his shoulder. "Now, I'll make you guys all a deal, you all get out of here so I can have a moment with my boys, and you can all come to our first Friday night dinner when he's home."

"Yes sir!" the kids' choursed. He gave a couple other kids hugs, Artie, Finn, even Quinn before they all finally left. Will looked at him, "Mr. Hummel?"

"Thank you for lookin' after my kid."

"I didn't do a very good job."

Burt shrugged, "Thought that counts an' all that."

Will nodded and headed to the elevator with his kids, leaving Noah and Kurt alone in the room. Burt slid the door open and smiled as he heard Noah talking. "I think your dad likes me…well a little. It'll probably take a while." He paused, "The Gleeks are sorry for the way they treated you, and while that's really just a start…I thought you'd appreciate it….even Rachael is apologizing, and for her that's like movin' a mountain or something. Dude you gotta wake up soon, I think Coach Sylvester is threatening to find another French vocalist…which I'm pretty sure there isn't one in this school."

Noah smiled, "You already look better. Though you're gonna hate that it looks like you have a zit right-"

"Puckerman," Burt warned him, "the kid's barely conscious, don't give him a panic attack."

Noah glanced up and grinned, "Hey Mr. H."

"Hey kid, you wanna go grab the old man a cup of coffee and see if you can high jack a low fat…anything…"

Noah chuckled softly. "I'll see what I can do, but I'm not Kurt. He's far better at that."

"Do your best."

Burt stepped over to the bed for the first time since Kurt had gone into cardiac arrest and smiled sadly. "You are…a brat," he joked gently. "I think you took ten years off my life there kid." He looked down at his son and sighed as he ran his hand over the kid's hair. "I'm sorry I scared you, that I put you through all this…and Kurt…" He sighed, "I'm sorry the last words I said to you were disappointment. I was," he sighed, "I was hurt kid, because you're growing up and I'm so afraid that you're going to grow up and leave and then," he closed his eyes. "I'm scared you're going to forget me," he laughed feeling stupid.

"Never," the word was croaked and weak, but Burt felt a small smile and tears slide down his face at the sight of half open blue eyes.

"Hey you," Burt whispered, pulling the chair close. "You're awake."

Kurt reached out, his hand shaky and touched his father's face, "Need to shave," He whispered weakly. Then he grew serious, "Please don't ever do that again."

Burt smiled as he pressed the good hand to his cheek then kissed his son's palm, "Hate to break it to you too kiddo, but you could use a shave yourself."

"Hurt," he whispered.

"I'll get the nurse son, you've been pretty sick."

Burt was about to step away when he realized Kurt still had a grip on his clothes. He looked down at the small hand gripping his shirt then back up to see tearful blue eyes staring at him. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked gently as he perched himself on the bed. "You should be happy, we're both fine."

But once the tears had started, Kurt couldn't stop them. Burt carefully scooted down on the bed and gently pulled his son into his arms, careful of any wires or something. "Daddy's got you," he whispered. He was positive that Kurt's sobbing wasn't helping his ribs, but he didn't have the heart to stop the poor child.

Burt lost track of how long Kurt had cried. What he did notice was at some point, Kurt's good hand, that had snuck around to hug his father, was now more relaxed, and while there was still a little heat in the boy's face from crying, he'd fallen asleep. "Burt?" Noah asked gently.

"Shh, he's sleeping, will you go get the nurse."

"He woke up?"

Burt nodded, "Started crying…I didn't have the heart to stop him."

Noah nodded and put the food and drinks down on the table by the wall and headed out the door again to get the nurse. Burt removed himself from his son's grip, but kept ahold of his hand, talking soothingly to the boy.

"I hear we had someone awake," the nurse said as she entered. She smiled at the sight of the boy who'd clearly cried himself to sleep. "How did he seem to you?"

"He said he was in pain. You're not upset?"

She shrugged, "If he woke up once, he'll wake up again, his vitals look excellent," she stated taking his pulse. "I'll check with the doctor and up his pain meds a little for now, but not too much."

Burt nodded and looked over at Noah. "Thanks Mohawk."

"You're gonna call me that forever, aren't you?"

Burt smirked, "Something about an eight year old growing a mohawk sort of brands you with the nickname forever, yes."

"Great our kids are gonna call me Daddy Mohawk."

"I'll do what I can," Burt grinned.