For a minute...everything went quiet. Like everything that happened that night was just a dream and he's slowly starting to wake up. Kurt let out a breath. His whole body was shaking and there was a commotion around him. Kurt opened his eyes to find himself facedown on top of someone. His feet felt hot. He pushed himself up to see Trent groaning in pain and clutching his shoulder. Kurt felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see a man looking concerned.
"Hey, kid, you okay?" He asked.
Kurt nodded quickly and looked at his feet. Small rockets were smoking on the heels of his shoes. He scowled and took them off.
"Kurt!" Kurt looked up to see Blaine rushing towards him. He collapsed to his knees and put both hands on his shoulders. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"Yeah...no, I'm-I'm fine." Kurt replied. He was still processing what happened.
Blaine sighed in relief and pulled his boyfriend into a hug. "Oh, God...I was so worried." He sniffed.
"Out of my way! Move it!" Kurt and Blaine pulled apart to see Burt pushing through the crowd to get to his son.
Blaine helped Kurt to his feet. "Dad, I'm okay." Kurt reassured him. He hugged him. Burt breathed heavily in relief.
Kurt cleared his throat and turned to Trent. "Trent, talk to me. Are you okay?"
"Oh...God, my shoulder!" Trent cried out in response.
"Trent...you saved my life." Kurt said, overcome with emotion. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Trent said trying to keep the pain out of his voice. "Go. Win Regionals. You deserve it."
Kurt nodded. He and his friends headed back onstage and finished their song. Everyone stood up and applauded wildly.
'We got this in the freaking bag!' Puck thought.
XXX
After the last performance, Leah Jennings and April Rhodes sat at a table in the judges room.
"I think Vocal Adrenaline was good, but...wow!" Leah exclaimed. "The New Directions! Even with all the crap and the sabotage that's been going on, they just stood tall and kept going!"
April took a swig of her flask and smiled in agreement. "I couldn't agree more! I don't think anyone else would've kept at it, but damn!"
"Oh, and what about that duet with that Jewish girl and the handsome brunette with the plastic-like hair?" Leah asked. "They had so much chemistry. I actually thought they were going to kiss when the song ended!"
"That would have been a mistake." April pointed out. "And a horrible repeat of last years' Nationals."
Leah nodded. "True. Also...it didn't sound like the girl sang it. It sounded like a male countertenor was voicing over."
"It actually was a male countertenor." April nodded. "I worked with New Directions a few times, I know that voice anywhere."
"So...why do you think that guy voiced over that girl?" Leah asked, puzzled.
April shrugged and shook her head.
"Ladies, I have three words for you: Best. Regionals. Ever." Rod said smiling as he came in.
"Well, I got two words for you: I agree." April quipped.
"Ooh." Rod laughed and pointed at April.
Leah chuckled and turned to Rod. "We were just talking about how strong and brave the New Directions were tonight."
Rod nodded thoughtfully. "You know, I always had a soft spot for the New Directions. They really bring a song in my heart. But tonight...well...I'll be damned if they only make it to second place."
Leah smiled. "Well, guess we know who's going to LA for Nationals, then."
XXX
The New Directions waited nervously backstage. Kurt walked over to Finn who had his ankle propped up on a coffee table. Rachel was next to him.
"Hey." Kurt greeted as he sat down. "Did you listen to the recording?"
"Well, considering I was there, I really didn't need to." Finn replied. He sighed. "Kurt, I think you and Blaine should listen to it together."
Kurt looked at his brother in confusion. "Okay." He looked behind him to see Blaine walking up to them.
"Hey. Is everything okay?" Blaine asked.
"Finn sprained his ankle, Rachel's vocal chords are damaged until we can get her to a doctor, and I was rocketed off the stage." Kurt recapped. He shook his head. "I just hope something good comes out of this. Oh- I also planted a recording device in Finn's pocket before he confronted Sebastian." He rewound the recording and pressed play. The four of them listened. Blaine stood up, turned around, and ran a hand through his hair when it got to the part where Sebastian shot someone.
Kurt looked at his boyfriend with concern. "Blaine...I'm sure whoever was shot will be okay."
Blaine just swallowed and shook his head. "I just...God!" He breathed heavily and his eyes were burning.
"Hey. Guys, it's time." Will stuck his head inside the room.
XX
The four teams stood and waited anxiously for the emcee to announce the winner.
"And now, the lovely wife of Ohio's state Senator, Lizzy Neilson!" Everyone applauded as Lizzy smiled and walked onstage.
"Hey, everybody! Okay...I have nothing cute to say. Ooh! Puppies! That's cute, right?" Everyone just stood silently. "O...kay. Anyway...in third place...Vocal Adrenaline!" Everyone cheered. The New Directions heaved a collective sigh of relief. There was a tense moment of silence as they awaited the announcement for first place. They all held hands and squeezed their eyes shut. "And now, the winner of the 2012 Midwest Regional Show Choir Competition is..."
'Please, God.' Will thought anxiously.
"MCKINLEY HIGH NEW DIRECTIONS!" Lizzy announced. The New Directions screamed, jumped up and down, and hugged each other. "Congratulations, you're going to Nationals in LA!"
A trophy was handed to a beaming Will. Sebastian waved his arms in frustration and shook his head angrily. Lizzy waited until the applause died down before continuing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, before we leave here tonight, Kurt Hummel of the McKinley High New Directions has something he would like to say." She turned to Kurt. "Kurt?"
Kurt walked up to Lizzy with a smile. "Thank you, Lizzy." Kurt turned to the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'll be brief. Simply put: my boyfriend and I have had a trying year. But before I get into that, let me just be a good sport and congratulate the Warblers for their remarkable effort. I have been bullied, teased, called a fag numerous times...someone even attempted to throw a tainted slushy in my face. Over the years, I've learned to avoid such bullying by leading them into a false sense of security. Allow me to demonstrate." He pulled out the recording, pressed play, and held it to the microphone.
"What the hell did you spike my fiance's water with?" Finn asked.
"I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about." Sebastian said innocently.
Sebastian's eyes widened. He glared at Kurt and Finn, who glared back and gently pushed Rachel behind him to shield her.
"Don't bullshit me!" Finn growled. "I know it was you! Your Warbler friend warned us that you might sabotage Regionals! As if putting Blaine in the hospital because of a rock salt slushy wasn't enough, you had to damage someone's vocal chords, too?"
The audience gasped in horror. Sebastian tried to lunge towards Kurt, but was held back by a few of the Warblers.
"So what if I did those things?" Sebastian growled. "I tried to slushy Kurt in order to humiliate him so badly, Blaine would want to get with me! I sabotaged Regionals so that I would win and Kurt and by extension, you and the rest of you jokes would lose! So let me tell you something: I just shot the former head of the Warblers' Council. I am not afraid to shoot you. Now...here's what's gonna happen: you are going to walk away and keep our conversation to yourself. If you tell anyone what I did, the first thing I will do is put a bullet in your fiance's head. Got it?"
Everyone was stunned to silence. Kurt clicked off the recording device, put it in his pocket, put the microphone to his lips and haughtily stared at Sebastian. "Sebastian Smythe, you've just been Hummeled." The whole auditorium exploded with applause. The Warblers and even Vocal Adrenaline couldn't help cheering for Kurt. The girls in New Directions and Blaine tackled Kurt with a hug and the boys either clapped him on the shoulder or gave him a high-five. Pucks' friends from the Lima Police Department walked onstage and approached Sebastian.
"Sebastian Smythe, you're under arrest." One of the cops said as he placed handcuffs on him. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can or will be used against you."
Sebastian gave a murdurous glare in Kurt's direction. 'One day...I'll get you for this, Hummel. You will pay dearly.'
Kurt and Blaine looked on as Sebastian was being led away. They felt like a giant weight had been lifted from both their shoulders. Kurt finally got his revenge, and hopefully things will return back to normal.
Okay, so...I might post an epilogue. If I do, I will post it either tomorrow or (Since I'll be going out of town for the weekend) next week.