Author Note: Sorry its a little late, I really don't know where the time went. Anyway, thank you for the continued support and thanks to everyone whose still reading. Enjoy x.

Dalton was truly beautiful, early morning mist hung in the air punctured by the glowing rays of light as they broke through the clouds, dew covered bushes hung heavy with jewelled cobwebs and glistening silver trees shone in the dappled light. The campus was at peace.

Thump, thump, thump.

Damp, heavy air filled Kurt's lungs with each breath as he pounded out yet another circuit of the running track, lost in his music feeling nothing but the constant rhythm of his footfalls he ran on despite his muscles protesting at the early hour.

Thump, thump, thump.

His mind tuned into the pulse of his breathing he lost himself in the beat of the music as it changed to a classic rock track which had him inwardly smiling at the thought of his dopey step-brother swaggering around his room whilst overly exaggerating an air guitar.

Finn truly was an enigma to Kurt, not so long ago they had been barely more than friends and now they were brothers and proper brothers to boot. Now they had a relationship built on friendship and loyalty and Kurt had begun to forget what it was like to not have Finn in his life. He had never wanted or expected his family to change, he had been happy with just himself and his father, selfishly so at times. Together they had battled everything the world had thrown at them and had managed to come out the other side all the stronger, neither had dreamed that their family would change so drastically in such a short amount of time.

Kurt had been truly delighted for his father to have found love and companionship a second time around with Carole and both he and Finn had surprised each other with the relationship they had built since becoming family, once each had let their barriers down they found that in fact they had many things in common and genuinely enjoyed each other's time and company. Smiling through his thoughts Kurt continued.

Thump, thump, thump.

His mind wandering Kurt drifted back to the events of Saturday night when in a moment of startling clarity he had decided to confide in his brother about the new escalation of the Karofsky debacle.

"FINN"

Kurt stood in his room; his phone clutched in his hand which hung impotently beside him as a hulking figure came barrelling into his room, the door banging open with the force of his entry.

"Dude you okay?" Finn breathed quickly as he scanned the room finally taking in Kurt's outfit, "you going somewhere?"

Jeff arrived seconds later having chased after Finn upon hearing Kurt yell and was hovering in the doorway not wanting to break the silence which was now settled between the brothers.

"Finn I need your help with something" Kurt said quietly as he met his brothers confused gaze, "actually I need both of you" sending a small smile to Jeff who stepped tentatively into the room before closing the door behind him.

Looking carefully at his brother who was yet to move Finn dropped down onto the bed and clapped his hands together, "Okay... what's up?"

Jeff meanwhile had taken up residence in front of Kurt's dresser, his hands braced either side of him as he leant against it, rapt attention turned to his friend who was finally speaking after an afternoon of concerned silences.

Kurt frowned to himself, continuing to hold his phone tightly in his hand as he shuffled nervously from foot to foot trying to find the right way to explain things to his waiting audience, deciding to just jump right in he managed to get out "I think Karofsky..." before Finn let forth a string of curse words effectively cutting off his explanation in the process.

"Finn... Finn calm down" Kurt implored as he waited for him to settle down again, "I can't tell you if you won't let me speak" he added sensibly.

Muttering in discontent Finn managed to regain control of his mouth although he continued to grumble as Jeff shot him concerned glances from his place across the room.

"I think Karofsky has my mom's locket"

Kurt was met with startled silence before Jeff spoke, "Kurt how is that even possible?"

With a sigh Kurt looked at his friend sadly, "I wish I knew..."

"but he can't have it Kurt, he just can't, you had it at Dalton. We turned your room upside down looking for it."

"I remember" Kurt agreed in a small voice, "but despite that I'm sure he has it and he want's me to come get it from him."

"HELL NO" Finn said jumping to his feet, "there is no way in hell you're going anywhere near that freak Kurt, no fucking way."

"Finn..."

"No Kurt. No way."

"Finn's right. I mean what's to say he actually has it anyway huh, like I said you lost it at Dalton there is no way he could have it Kurt"

"How would he know it was missing if he didn't have it Jeff" Kurt said logically, "it's not the kind of thing you just make up on the off chance."

"but that means..." Jeff pondered slowly putting two and two together to reach the same conclusion Kurt had reached earlier in the day, "that means that someone at Dalton took it from your room and..."

"and..." prompted Kurt.

"and gave it to him" Jeff said in almost silent disbelief.

"Yeah I know" Kurt agreed sadly.

"Hang on a minute, when did he call you" Finn asked his demeanour protective as he loomed over his brother, a hand gently squeezing his shoulder in comfort.

Jeff looked from Finn to Kurt before releasing his grip on the dresser and taking a step toward them with an outstretched finger pointed in Kurt's direction, "that's what you got earlier at the garage wasn't it? That was him. Kurt why didn't you tell me?" said Jeff his eyes sad and his hand dropping back to his side making his shoulders slump in disappointment.

"I... I wasn't sure it was him at first" Kurt replied in a small voice, "but who else would use McKinley as a meeting place? And..."

"and...?" Finn pressed.

"and I'm so used to handling things alone that it didn't cross my mind to tell you okay" Kurt spat at the floor.

"and now" Finn asked quietly as he lifted his chin so that their eyes met.

"and now I realise that I don't have to do stuff alone anymore..." Kurt admitted quietly before finding himself enveloped in a tight bear hug which lifted his feet clean off the floor as single tear tracked down his cheek and marked Finn's shirt where it finally fell.

"You know we're coming with you right" Jeff said in a tone which left no room for argument, "Actually I kinda hoped you would" Kurt smiled at him to which Jeff nodded once, his jaw set with determination.

"I'm gonna call Puck" Finn said releasing his brother before striding the short distance to his own room to grab his phone, "Finn is that really necessary...?"

"Ahhh Kurt don't you think we should have back up?" Jeff asked seriously.

With a sigh Kurt turned his full gaze on his friend, "Jeff, WE do not need back up, I need back up, I want you to stay out of trouble. You are my moral support"

"Save it Hummel" Jeff said indignantly, "if you seriously think I'm not involved in this you have totally lost the plot" and he crossed his arms firmly over his chest and glared at his friend to confirm his mood.

"Fine" Kurt humphed but he shot his friend a small smile just the same which earned him a twitch of Jeff's lips in response before Finn strode back into the room effectively breaking the moment.

"He's on his way."

"Okay Princess what's the plan?" Puck asked from where he was leant against Kurt's bathroom door, it had only taken him fifteen minutes since Finn's call to arrive at the Hummel house where he had been ushered up the stairs by Carole.

"Um I don't really have a plan..."

"Dude you've gotta have a plan" Finn chipped in.

Kurt looked at the expectant faces in the room, "Um okay then...Uhhh he wants me to meet him at the back of the school at midnight, so I guess the plan is show up, get beat up, come back...?" which earned him exasperated looks from the other three in the room and a growl from his brother.

"Man it's dark round there, they turn the lights out" Puck mused aloud.

"How do you know" Finn asked curiously.

"Dude you remember last year when I liked that Bailey chick?"

"Yeah"

"Well we spent some time round the back there, in the dark if you know what I mean" and he shot a wink at Jeff who smirked as Finn raised his fist inviting a bump from Puck, "Nice..."

"Can you focus please" Kurt sighed impatiently his nerves already on edge and reliving Puck's conquests were doing little to settle them.

Puck had the decency to blush a little "sorry Princess" he mumbled through a grin as Jeff openly laughed at his awkwardness.

"Look I need to meet him on my own" Kurt said against a wave of protest, "I need to get my locket back and if he knows you guys are there then he's just gonna toss it or break it or ..."

"Kurt it's okay we get it" Jeff smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah bro we get it but we're still gonna be there in case you need us to kick is ass okay"

Feeling the knot inside his chest ease Kurt smiled at his brother before nodding in agreement and relief, looking down he began to scroll through the contact list of his phone, "I need to call Blaine," staring at his phone he missed the hesitant look which fired between Finn and Puck.

"Princess I don't think that's such a good idea" said Puck, his hand lying over the one Kurt was using to hold his phone and gently pushing it down to his side again.

"Why not?" Kurt asked in confusion.

"Look at it this way, there's no way he can help you even if you tell him, we've gotta go soon. Do you really wanna lay that on him and them leave him to stew on it?"

Kurt looked from his phone to each face around the room, his lip pressed between his teeth as he worried it until it was almost painful, looking at Jeff for his opinion he saw his own troubled expression reflected in his friends apprehensive face, "but Nick and Blaine..." Jeff began, fully understanding the pressure Kurt was putting himself under, "but nothing" Puck spoke over him, "its better if they don't know" and he looked to Finn for back up.

"Pucks right guys. You'd only worry them. Is that what you want? Do you really want them to be worried all night and not be able to do anything about it? Think about it Kurt."

Put that way he couldn't muster up a sensible argument but furtive glances toward a worried looking Jeff didn't do anything to ease his apprehension. Slowly he placed his phone on the dresser before gesturing for Jeff to do the same, Jeff reluctantly followed suit earning him a satisfied nod from Puck who clapped Kurt on the shoulder and steered him out of the room, Finn grabbed Jeff by hand and did the same.

Thump, thump, thump.

The light was brighter now as Kurt continued to pound the circuit, the campus was showing small signs of life and his breath was no longer misting as he breathed, he was aware that he was no longer alone on the circuit but the other figures were lost in their own worlds so did not disturb Kurt's. Coming to a stop Kurt dropped his hands to his thighs and breathed deeply before standing and rolling his head from side to side; rummaging through his bag which he had left on one of the lower bleachers he reached in and grabbed a bottle of water before bringing it to his lips and gulping down the cool contents. Kurt looked around the campus, music still thumping in his ears, the sun was shining through the tree's and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. Grabbing his bag he slung it over his shoulder before walking in the direction of the dorms only to be caught by the arm causing him to spin around and stare straight into the smirking face of Christian.

"Hummel"

Pulling his headphones from his ears in one swift motion Kurt glared directly at him "what the actual fuck do you want?" Kurt asked caustically.

"Nice eye" Christian smirked gesturing to the deep bruise on Kurt's face, "is that a new one?"

"None of your fucking business" Kurt growled before turning and beginning to stride away his nerves taught, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Matching his stride Christian continued to goad him "You know I think you must like it rough Hummel you certainly seem to collect bruises well enough, never took Blaine for the rough type though" he mused as Kurt fumed next to him.

"Drop dead" Kurt spat as he tried to increase his pace.

"So do you bruise anywhere else I wonder?"

"I'm talking to you Hummel..."

"Fuck you Christian" Kurt grabbed his headphones, stabbing them back in his ears and turning up the volume until he thought his ears might bleed before stalking away.

Smiling widely and slowing his stride before coming to a stop Christian watched him go with a smirk, pleased with himself for ruffling his feathers so easily.

Kurt continued to stalk down the corridor toward his dorm, a scowl on his face and music still ringing loudly in his ears when his arm was grabbed again from behind.

"I said Fuck off" he shouted swinging around sharply yanking his arm from the firm grip only to be met with the confused face of David who was taking a step back in shock.

"Oh god David I'm so sorry" Kurt apologised his hand covering his open mouth, wide eyes staring at his surprised friend.

"Uh Kurt are you okay?" David asked but received no response.

"Kurt..."

Kurt stared at this friend for several moments before realising he was still plugged into the thumping music and reached for his headphones before pulling them out in one swift motion.

"David I am so sorry"

"Don't sweat it man, I just wondered if you were okay? I saw you talking to Christian outside and you looked pretty pissed."

David watched closely as Kurt stiffened at the mention of the boys name and made a mental note to keep any eye out for the sleaze bag.

"I'm fine" Kurt hissed through gritted teeth, "and for the record I wasn't talking to him, he was talking to me, I was just trying to get away."

"Noted" David said with understanding eyes.

Placing his hand on Kurt's shoulder he noticed that he was positively vibrating with unspent tension.

"Are you sure you're alright Kurt"

On a heavy breath Kurt smiled in response, "I'm fine David. Thank you."

"No worries"

Kurt smiled once again before resuming his walk to his dorm David falling in step beside him, "so how come you're out so early?" Kurt asked in interest.

"Football training. You?"

"Laps"

"Before school Hummel, I am truly impressed"

"Yeah well, I couldn't sleep and sooner or later Jeff is gonna wanna come running with me and frankly I need the practice for when that happens."

"Stamina issues" David smirked.

"David you have no idea about my stamina" Kurt winked, "but yes, Jeff will run rings around me and..."

"and you don't like to lose?" David queried with a smile.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Actually yes, yes it is"

"Drat" Kurt mumbled, "anyway I should really go get ready for class but thanks for the concern" Kurt said sincerely as he reached his dorm room, "hey no worries" David smiled before turning to walk to his own room.

"Oh hey Kurt"

"Yeah?"

"You let me know if he gives you any problems okay?"

Kurt regarded his friend before a small smile crossed his lips and he responded with a nod "sure David, thanks" before disappearing into his room and closing the door behind him.

I apologise for any mistakes but it was fairly late when I posted this so please forgive any errors. x