"Hey, Hummel," Karofsky's voice cracked like a whip through the crisp, November day.

Kurt kept his head down, pretending not to hear the unpleasant voice behind him. His pace increased as he hurried to get to Glee club that he had afterschool.

"Hummel, look at us when we're talking to you," Azimo sneered, anger very present in his voice.

"You're only making it harder on yourself," Dave screamed.

Kurt turned on his heels. He wasn't afraid of them. "Making what harder, exactly?"

"The lesson we're going to teach you," Karofsky said, his lip curling upward in

satisfaction. His hands were behind his back, a smug expression on his face.

Kurt raised his eyebrow, "A lesson?"

"Yeah, Hummel, do you remember that promise we made you a few years ago?" Azimo asked, as he and Dave stepped closer to Kurt who had his arms crossed across his chest.

"The promise to try to dress like actual human beings who own more than one jacket?" Kurt asked, cooly.

"Snarky remarks will get you nowhere," Dave smiled evilly. He was now only inches away from Kurt.

"Neither will acting like a neanderthal."

"Ooh, you think you're so funny. But you wanna know what will be even funnier? When you're on the ground sobbing. Yelling for your faggy boyfriend who is too sick to come to school today," Dave smirked, revealing what was behind his back- a shiny, silver crow-bar.

"Maybe this'll teach you to not turn our main guys into fags like yourself."

"I didn't 'turn him into a fag,'" Kurt replied, backing up, making air quotes with his fingers. "Beat me up, go ahead. But a fancy little crowbar won't stop me from being who I am. I promise you I'll never change. This is me and-" WHAM. Azimo's fist collided with Kurt's face. "What the Hell is your-"

But, Kurt couldn't finish his sentence because Karofsky had hit him in the stomach with the crowbar, sending Kurt crumpling to the ground in pain.

"Maybe you'll think twice before turning our friends gay, Hummel," Karofsky sneered, hitting Kurt on the head with the crowbar. Kurt heard his tormenter's brutal laughs as he closed his eyes and the darkness consumed him.

When Kurt regained consciousness, it was dark out. He tried to get up off the ground, but he couldn't move. He hurt everywhere. He could barely open his eyes or think about what to do.

He scrambled to find his phone which was laying on the ground a few feet from him. After practically crawling over to it, he dialed the most familiar number to him, with shaking fingers. The same number he had dialed countless times. His and Blaine's smiling faces lit up on his screen as the phone rang on the other line.

Blaine answered on the second ring. "Hey baby, sorry I wasn't-"

"Blaine," Kurt interrupted him. He could hear the pain and tears in his voice and he was sure Blaine could too.

"Oh my God Kurt are you okay?" Little did Blaine know just how far from "okay" Kurt was.

"No. Blaine, please help," Kurt pleaded, wincing in pain as he tried to stand up, but failed.

"Where are you? What happened?" Blaine demanded, his heart racing.

"I'm at school. In the parking lot. I'll explain when you get here. Just please, hurry," Kurt couldn't even open his eyes, it hurt too much. His head felt like it had been split in two, and he could feel the warm blood streaming from different places on his body.

"I'm already on my way. Do you need to go to the hospital?" Blaine asked, his voice full of concern.

"Yes, absolutely. Have Cooper drive you so I can sit with you in the back. Please, Blaine," Kurt asked, biting back his lip in order to scream from the excruciating pain that was filling every cell of his body.

"I'm one step ahead of you. It's going to be okay, Kurt. You're going to be okay. I'll be there soon. I'm going to stay on the phone with you while we drive over, okay?" Blaine asked, and Kurt could hear car doors slamming on the other side of the line.

"Okay," Kurt nodded. He barely could hear Blaine on the other end of the line instructing Cooper over the massive throbbing in his head. "Come quick, Blaine," Kurt whispered, letting more and more tears stream down his face.

"KURT!" Kurt opened his eyes slightly to see his boyfriend running full speed at him. "Oh my God Kurt. Oh my God," he repeated over and over, kneeling down next to the shaking boy.

"Blaine," Kurt whispered, latching himself onto Blaine's sweater.

"Sssh, come here," Blaine picked Kurt up in his arms, being careful of his many injuries. He carried him over to the car which Cooper was sitting in, waiting for them. "Hold the snarky remarks, Cooper," Blaine grunted, placing Kurt gently in the back seat. He climbed in the back with him, letting Kurt's head rest on his lap. "Cooper's going to take you to the hospital, okay?" Blaine asked gently, wiping the blood off of Kurt's head with his sleeve.

Kurt nodded slowly, "okay."

They rode in silence for a few minutes, then Blaine finally spoke up again. "Who did this?"

"Does it even need an explanation?" Kurt asked, shutting his eyes tight.

Blaine went rigid. "I'm going to kill them. I am going to kill them. Each and every one of them."

"That doesn't look good on a record, bud," Cooper commented.

"Shut up, Cooper. I don't care. I am going to kill them," Blaine half screamed, steaming with anger.

"Blaine, please stop yelling," Kurt pleaded.

"Sorry," Blaine whispered, leaning down to kiss Kurt on the head. "I am going to kill them," he repeated once again.

"Blaine, no. Just leave them alone. They're not worth our time."

"Sorry. I just can't stand the idea of anyone wanting to hurt you. You don't deserve to be hurt. You deserve the best out of life. Not this."

"Well sometimes bad things happen to good people, Blaine. Just like you with your Da-...well anyway," Kurt said sadly, reaching up to touch Blaine's face lightly. "Why are you crying?"

"Because Kurt. I just want you to be safe and happy. You deserve it. I just wish I could keep you safe and.." Blaine finished lamely, grasping onto Kurt's hand.

Kurt gave a watery smile, "I love you Blaine. You were out today, you're sick. Don't worry about me, okay? Worry about yourself and your health."

Cooper spoke up from the front seat, "You guys need to stop being so sweet, it's sickening." That made Kurt laugh, he laughed and his face brightened up. "Everything will be okay Kurt, trust me. And I'll make them put you into Carol's care. Carol's a nurse there, very sweet and motherly. She took care of Blaine when he was there, and she loves to talk too. You won't ever be lonely."

"Thank you, Cooper. Just be quiet though, you talking isn't going to help his throbbing head."

"Mr. Hummel, there's someone here to see you," the doctor said, gently. Kurt snapped his eyes open. He could only hope it would be-

"Blaine!" He cried hoarsely, once his boyfriend stepped into the room, flowers in his hand. They were forget-me-nots, his favorite.

"Hey sweetie," Blaine smiled, pecking Kurt on the cheek and handing him the flowers

before bringing a chair over to next to Kurt's bed and settling into it.
"I missed you," Kurt said, lacing his and Blaine's hands together.
"I missed you too," Blaine half smiled.
"But, it's okay. I'll be okay. The doctor said that I have a mild concussion that should go away soon, and a broken arm. Hence the cast," Kurt gestured to his left arm that was laying across his chest in a sling.
"I'm so sorry Kurt. I'm so sorry. So so sorry. If I had been strong enough to face them, you wouldn't be here, hurt. I'm so so sorry."
"Blaine, it's not your fault. I accept your apology, though," Kurt smiled, bringing Blaine's hand up to his mouth, kissing his knuckles lightly.
"I..yes, it is Kurt. I'll never be able to forgive myself."
"But, I forgive you."
"I..I can't do this," Blaine dropped Kurt's hand quite forcefully, slumping back against the chair, closing his eyes.
"Can't do what?" Kurt asked, raising his eyebrow in suspicion.
"Can't do this. Can't do us."
"Are you..are you breaking up with me?" Kurt asked, flabbergasted.
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I am. Just know that it's nothing you did. I know they always say that, but it's true. It's me. I'm a dumb idiot who doesn't deserve you. You deserve someone a million times better than me. You deserve the best. Which isn't me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I did this to you," Blaine looked at Kurt with sad eyes.
"I can't believe this," Kurt shook his head, looking disappointed. "You're letting them win, Blaine. They're tearing us apart; which was their goal. If we go our separate ways, they will get what they want. You'll just go back to being one of them."
"Yeah? Well, I don't care. If anything, I'm glad. At least someone will be happy."
"So, you'd rather them be happy than me?"
"That's not what I meant. I just mean that I won't ruin another person's life."
"You didn't ruin my life, Blaine," Kurt said quietly.
"And I'm not as strong as you are. You are the strongest person I've ever met, Kurt. You go through Hell and back everyday, and you still manage to come out with a smile. But, I'm not like you. I can't be that strong. What they say hurts. What they do hurts."
"I smile because I have a reason to. I have someone who makes everything worth it."
"I'm sorry, Kurt. I'm so sorry. I should leave before I make everything else worse," Blaine said regretfully, picking up his jacket, striding over to the door.
"So, that's it? You're just going to leave? Just like that? But, I love you, Blaine. I love you more than anything or anybody," Kurt pleaded.
"Well sometimes love isn't enough, Kurt. I'm sorry" Blaine said, leaving the room, closing the door, leaving Kurt in silence.
"Then nothing's enough," Kurt whispered, collapsing against the bed, as his heart broke in two.
***

"I told them not to let you in," Kurt grunted once he saw who had just entered his hospital room. He was sitting on the window ledge, looking out the window at a family who were walking in. They looked happy; like they had received some good news. Something Kurt hadn't received in a week. Unless you count the news that he'd be released soon. But that didn't matter to him. It would just mean he would have to return to school and face the painful walking memory every day.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing," Blaine said, sitting cautiously on the chair next to Kurt.
"In which aspect?" Kurt asked, trying to hide the pain in his voice.
"The physical," Blaine answered, looking like that wasn't the answer he really wanted to give.
"They said that I would be released within the next few days. I'll be in this cast for a while, but there's no brain damage." Not physically anyway, Kurt thought, never tearing his gaze from the window.
"That's good," Blaine said, but Kurt could tell his heart wasn't into it.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Kurt finally spoke up again. "Was it easy?" Kurt blurted out.
"Was what easy?" Blaine asked, knitting his eyebrows together.
"Saying all those cute things. Acting like you loved me. And then just leaving me after two years, and our whole life of friendship. Leaving me like I was nothing?" Kurt asked, his voice cracking.
"I didn't leave you like you were nothing. I left you because I was putting you in danger. I did what was best for us."
"Yeah, because a broken heart as well as an arm are so much better," Kurt said sarcastically.
"Please don't bring this up," Blaine pleaded.
"No, Blaine! I can't not bring it up! Not when I think about it every waking second. Not when I can't stop blaming myself for it. Not when everything is falling down around me!" Kurt could feel the tears pooling in his eyes as he stared at Blaine "Just answer the question."
"Was it easy? Of course it wasn't easy. It was the hardest thing that I've ever had to do."
"Nobody said you had to."
"I did."

"You know, if you didn't want to be with me, you could've just told me."

"I did want to be with you," Blaine admitted. "I do want to be with you."

"Then why'd you do it?"

"Because I couldn't live with myself knowing that I did this to you. Not directly, but if it

wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this hospital room right now."

"You weren't the one that beat me up."

"But they beat you up because of me."

"So, has it made it better? Putting me through this? Putting you through this? I can tell

you're upset, Blaine. I can. I know you."

"In some ways it has. In some ways it's better. Because I know that you won't be in pain anymore because of me. But in the end, it's worse than anything I've ever had to go through. And it's all my fault."

"A broken bone heals faster than a broken heart," Kurt pointed out.

"It's the worst mistake I've ever made, Kurt," Blaine stood up abruptly, tangling his fingers in his hair.

"Then change it."

"Change it?"

"Yeah, take it back. Take me back."

Blaine looked at Kurt for a moment, like he was going to do just as he said, but he turned on his heels and headed for the door. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that, Kurt. You're better off without me."

"But I want you. Only you. I need you, Blaine," Kurt said so quietly, he wasn't sure if even Blaine heard it.

"I'll...I'll see you around, Kurt. Bye," Blaine said, closing the door behind him.

"Forever," Kurt whispered as the tears started to slowly stream down his face.

"Unless you are here to tell me I've won the lottery or something, I don't want to see you right now. Sorry, but it will make things worse," Kurt snapped at Blaine who was standing on his porch.
Blaine rubbed the back of his neck, nervously. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Can I..can I come in?"
Kurt pondered it for a moment, then finally decided that things couldn't possibly get any worse than they were now. He had already gone through countless boxes of tissues and his collection of sad movies..and that was a lot. "Sure, why not?" He opened the door for Blaine to enter, hoping against hope that he wouldn't walk out single. "Can I get you anything to drink?" Kurt asked, formally. It was weird being so formal with Blaine. Even with their blow out.
Blaine must have sensed it too, because he laughed slightly. "No, it's okay," he and Kurt settled down onto the couch, quite a bit of distance in between them.
"So?" Kurt asked, raising his eyebrow.
"I've been thinking and well," Blaine's face seemed to relax a little. "You were right. About everything. I was just so upset and I took that you on you. I'm so sorry."
"Please stop apologizing."
"Sorry. Woops. Anyways, even though it's more painful to stay, I have to. I can't leave you, Kurt. There's no way I can. I don't know how I ever convinced myself that I could." The next thing he knew, Kurt had pounced on him, sealing his lips over Blaine's. "How are you always right?" Blaine asked in between kisses.
"Good looks aren't all that I have, Anderson," Kurt smirked, pushing Blaine down, so he was on top of him.
"Kurt, you're going to hurt yourself. You still have the cast," Blaine pointed out, but smiled as well.
Kurt bit back his lip, "Yeah, I guess you're right. I mean, I would say "don't worry, we won't go any farther than this!", but the next thing we know, all our clothes are in a big, sweaty pile on the floor. And I'm not ready for that. Not yet, at least," Kurt climbed off of his boyfriend, laying down on the couch next to him, their faces inches apart.
"Neither am I. One day, though," Blaine smiled, pushing Kurt's hair out if his face. "I love you."
"I love you too," Kurt said, confidently.

"Hey Kurt, I-" Burt stopped mid-sentence when he realized that Kurt wasn't the only one in the living room. His son and Blaine were curled up in each other, probably not even paying attention to the fashion show that was blaring from the television; or anything else for that matter. "I thought you two broke up."
"We did, dad. But now, as you can see we're back together. And I've never been happier." Kurt smiled, never taking his eyes off of Blaine's
Burt had to smile at that too. "I'm glad. I'm glad things worked out. I'll let you two have some alone time." He leaves the room, not being able to stop smiling at how happy they were.
"I love you." He hears Kurt whisper, and looking through the doorway, sees Kurt holding Blaine's hand.
"I love you too." Blaine whispers sweetly, pressing a kiss to Kurt's lips. "I can't wait until we're ready, y'know, to go farther then we've gone before."

"Soon. I'm tired now. Do you want to come up to my room? I'm just going to take a nap.." Kurt trailed off, yawning.

"Yeah, yeah. Sure." Blaine answers quickly, getting up off the couch and helping Kurt up too. He led Kurt up the stairs by his hand, and then they climbed under the covers.

"Blaine," Kurt whispered, settling into his arms.

"Yes, my love?"

"I'm scared to go farther. I mean, I want to. I"m just scared. I have no experience what-so-ever and what if I do something wrong and.." Kurt trailed off.

"Trust me, I'm an expert. Been practicing for years with my purple friend." Blaine waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"I.. I uh. I want to top. If that's okay." Kurt blushes, drawing little swirls on Blaine's chest with his finger.

"Of course it's okay! I'm fine with what you want." Blaine presses a kiss to Kurt's head. "You can take a nap, I'll still be here when you wake up."

Kurt closed his eyes, and drifts into a light sleep, waking up a few hours later. Blaine was absent from the bed, but the sound of water running in the bathroom alerted him that Blaine was still here.

Blaine must've been taking a shower,and his dad was going to let him spend the night.

Kurt walks down the stairs, the smell of hot food beckoning him. "Hey dad."

"Blaine's spending the night, if that's okay. I mean, I'm sure it's okay with you. He has to sleep on the couch in your room though, and I will be checking in on you two." Burt says sternly, even pointing his finger.

"Have you been taking lessons from Cooper or something? I swear to god if that kid points his finger one more time, we'll have to cut it off." Kurt laughs, noticing Blaine walking down the stairs, his curls wet and matted, and a few water stains on his shirt. "Hey."

Blaine takes the seat next to Kurt, holding his good hand. "Hi. I hope you don't mind that I took a shower, I thought you wouldn't get up yet."

"It's fine, you're here now, that's all that matters. And you get to spend the night. Andddd, eat Carol's delicious food." Kurt smiles, pressing a kiss to Blaine's cheek.

Carol was Kurt's stepmom, making Finn his stepbrother. "Awh thanks sweetheart, but it's not as good as the food you can make."

Kurt blushes, "I've had a ton of practice." Blaine looks eagerly at the food in front of him, his plate had some sort of chicken, potatoes, and green beans. "The chicken's grilled, there's a citrus-y sauce on it. It's good, don't worry sweetie."

Blaine and Kurt eat in silence, only answering when someone asked either of them a question, but they were all too hung up in Finn's stories to even notice them. "It's really good, but I bet yours is the best." Blaine whispers in Kurt's ear, smiling.

"Hardly." Kurt got up from the table, and cleaned off both their plates.