Author Note: Thanks for your patience. Updates will be once a week for now but I have managed to get a few more done so thanks for the break. x

Theres a little Finn/Kurt brotherly conversation at the end of this chapter which I quite like. See what you think. x

"Okay people can we have some order here please" Wes shouted from his position in front of the fireplace in the common room.

Warblers were crammed in, some sitting on the plush couches others standing in small groups but all were chatting between themselves and not listening to Wes.

Jeff and Kurt were in full discussion about the possibility of Jeff returning home with Kurt at the weekend to check out the garage, both them and Nick completely missing Wes's call for attention. Kurt and Jeff were huddled on one of the couches whilst Nick perched in front of them on the low table, his arms braced on his knees as he leant forward to listen to their excited chatter. Blaine had yet to arrive which is how Jeff had managed to secure a place next to Kurt, normally it was a given that Blaine would occupy any space next to him but he had been called to the office after class so Jeff had jumped at the chance to irritate Blaine by taking up residence next to Kurt and he had absolutely no intention of moving. David was standing at Wes's side although slightly behind his shoulder and was rolling his eyes fondly at his friend's attempts to gain control over the ebbing noise that was the Warblers.

Wes tried to gain everyone's attention again with little success, looking over his shoulder he caught David smirking in amusement and shot him a scalding look which David had the decency to look guilty at.

"OKAY PEOPLE, come on shut the hell up and let the man speak" David shouted whilst clapping his hands together.

"Thank you David" Wes said through gritted teeth and a fixed fake smile.

"No trouble fearless leader" he laughed whilst thumping him on the back and bouncing across the room to plant himself next to Nick on the table.

"Right, now that I have everyone's attention" he said glaring around the room catching individual gazes in his glare as he did so, "Sectionals is fast approaching and we need to start sorting out a set list, so any ideas?"

Instantly the room exploded into shouts and suggestions too jumbled to discern from each other, faces were animated, excitement evident on every face. Wes smiled widely his mood immediately lightening; this is what he loved about the Warblers, their unstoppable enthusiasm and unmitigated joy at unleashing their talent on the world.

"Alright, alright as much as I love your gusto let's do this in some sort of order" he grinned as he gestured for quiet by raising his hands, an immediate reduction in noise followed leaving just a low rumbling of conversation.

"I'm going to leave a box at the front here and anyone can post a suggestion over the next day or so okay? Also, there isn't a theme this year so go crazy, almost nothing is out of bounds, myself, David and Blaine will have a look at the suggestions and make a short list which we'll put the vote in a week or so"

Nods and murmurs of agreement resonated around the room, "okay so that's it for now, unless there's any questions I guess the meetings over" Wes smiled expectantly.

"Say Wes who are we up against" Nick asked loudly from the back of the room.

"Ah, right well..." he glanced somewhat nervously toward Kurt who was regarding him curiously, "actually we're up against McKinley High and a youth group of under privileged kids."

"Aww man, they'll get the sympathy vote" someone groaned resulting in murmurs generating around the room.

"Come on now don't be like that" Wes interrupted glancing at Kurt again who was sitting quietly with his eyes downcast, an unusually restrained Jeff rubbing his knee with reassuring stokes.

"We're judged on talent not where we come from, they won't have any advantage over us I promise" he reassured with a winning smile before capturing Kurt's gaze and adding "and McKinley are hosting."

"McKinley are good" someone voiced, "yeah tough grouping this year" could be heard as everyone returned to their conversations although Wes continued to hold Kurt's gaze until it was pulled away by a certain curly haired warbler.

"So what'd I miss?" Blaine asked as he leant between Kurt and Jeff making Kurt jump in the process, neither of them noticing when he'd arrived and settled on the back of the couch.

"Jesus Blaine don't do that" Kurt gasped bringing his hand up and smacking him on the arm.

"Sorry baby" he grinned.

"Wes just announced Sectionals" Nick informed.

"Oh yeah, damn I wanted to be here for that" Blaine moaned, "So who did we get?"

"Ah, actually we got McKinley and a youth group" Nick said with a glance at Kurt.

"Oh" Blaine said in understanding, "how do you feel about that baby?"

"Fine I guess, I mean it had to happen sometime right?"

"I guess so yeah" Blaine smiled in sympathy.

"Anyway Blaine before you rudely interrupted Kurt and I were discussing our weekend away" Jeff grinned whilst throwing his arm around Kurt's shoulder and pulling him into his side.

"Jeff" Kurt swatted as Blaine looked between them in confusion and then at Nick who was smiling fondly at his boyfriend.

"Sorry what am I missing here?"

"Jeff's coming home with me this weekend, dad's pretty busy so I'm taking Jeff to look around the workshop, maybe get to work on some of them" Kurt explained to a puzzled Blaine.

"Seriously" Jeff asked with wide eyes "we get to work on them too?"

"Sure why not" Kurt shrugged.

"Oh cool" Jeff said excitedly grinning wildly at Nick who was openly laughing at his excitement.

Over the next several minutes Kurt withdrew inside himself as conversation continued around him; they would be facing McKinley on their home turf, he would have to return, return to the school he was forced to leave, forced to stand in front of the faces he never wanted to see again. The voices of his friends merged and faded into a hum as his own thoughts took over his consciousness, how was he supposed to do this, what if the jocks were there, he wasn't sure he would be able to stand let alone sing if he even caught sight of a red jacket. Suddenly feeling claustrophobic in his own head he stood and pulled his bag onto his shoulder, ignoring the scuffle between Nick and David as they both tried to take possession of the space he had just vacated "I think I better call Finn, see if he knows about sectionals" he said absently as he began to head across the room.

"You okay Kurt" Blaine called as Kurt headed across the common room; "sure" he smiled in return, "I'll see you guys later okay."

"Okay" Blaine smiled as he watched him leave.

"Not going with him" David questioned at Blaine's forlorn expression.

"No" said Blaine bringing his focus back to his friends, "I think he needs some time to come to terms with the fact that we're up against his brother and his old glee club."

"We are?" asked a clueless David.

"David I swear you came down in the last shower sometimes" Nick laughed from his spot on the couch next to Jeff a smug smile on his lips in response to David's sulky pout, "Kurt came from McKinley, how could you forget that?"

"Ah crap sorry" David winced apologetically, "do you think he'll be okay?"

"He'll be fine" Blaine replied with conviction whilst staring at the doors through which Kurt had disappeared, hoping to convince himself just as much as everyone else.

"Dude" Finn shouted happily into the handset causing Kurt to pull it away from his ear until the greeting subsided.

"Hey Finn" he smiled.

"How's it going, you're okay right"

"Yes, Finn I'm fine" Kurt replied with a soft smile at his brothers concern.

"You after your dad dude?"

"No, actually I wanted to speak to you"

Kurt had found himself an alcove in the main corridor and had sat himself down on the window seat, his legs were pulled up to his chest and his hands were wrapped tightly around his knees, his chin resting on the top of them as he held the phone to his ear.

"Okay what's up?"

"We've just been told about Sectionals"

"Oh" Finn replied, "and you're worried right?"

"You knew" Kurt gasped, "why didn't you tell me we were up against you?"

"We just found out today" Finn confirmed with concern.

"Oh"

Several moments of silence hung in the air before being broken by Finn.

"Are you okay dude?"

"I honestly don't know" Kurt murmured quietly whilst turning his shoulder to shield himself from the eyes of passing students he gazed through the window and out into the grounds, "you know McKinley's hosting too don't you?"

"Yeah, the guys are stoked" Finn smiled despite his concern.

"Honestly I'm pleased for you Finn it's just I don't know if I can ever come back to that school, even to perform, what if Karofsky realises I'll be there, I don't think I can even chance it."

"Hey come on Kurt there is no way he will get anywhere near you" Finn cut him off, "your warbler guys will be there and so will we, Puck and I won't let anyone get near you dude honest" he said with resolution.

"Thanks but I really need to think about it" Kurt replied quietly, "it's just not knowing if he's gonna be there you know?

"Kurt I promise it will be fine"

"Yeah I know" Kurt said with a small smile, his head resting on the glass of the window.

"You okay now?" Finn asked softly.

"Yeah, thanks"

"I don't suppose you wanna share your song choices with me" Finn goaded trying to gain a rise out of Kurt and ignite his usual snark.

"Absolutely not" Kurt returned with mock indignation before adding "besides we haven't decided yet it's going to a vote next week."

"Oh right, same here bro but you know how it works here we never decide what we're doing until a few days before"

"Yeah I remember" Kurt smiled.

"Kurt I promise it will be okay alright, try not to worry, just concentrate on trying to beat us yeah, coz we're not gonna go easy on your ass" Finn chuckled.

"Never expected you to" he smiled, "it'll be funny watching you guys perform without me though" he sighed.

"It'll be weird for us too you know dude, seeing you up there with another glee club, I just hope we can pick you out of all those blazers" Finn joked.

"Finn you know I always stand out in a crowd, even in the hideous blazer" he grinned somewhat returning to his old self.

"Yeah I know" Finn laughed, "so listen dude, thanks for calling, it means alot you know, that you wanted to talk to me about this stuff"

"You're my brother Finn, who else was I going to call?" Kurt said tenderly earning a blush from Finn which he obviously couldn't see.

"Look I gotta go but promise to call me if you need to talk some more okay?"

"Okay"

"You promise?"

"Yes Finn I promise" Kurt replied with a role of his eyes.

"Cool, catch you later man"

"Bye Finn"

Ending the call, Kurt wrapped both arms around his knees and hugged them closely for several minutes whilst staring blankly out into the darkening grounds before finally pocketing his phone, shrugging on his bag and trudging in the general direction of his dorm room.