The night was spent sitting in the waiting room, sometimes getting up to pace for a while and then slumping down into a chair. Both Finn and Burt did it. His mom fiddled with an empty cup of water instead.

"I don't understand." Burt mumbled. The words had seemed to grow into some kind of mantra; He would repeat them every hour or so. Finn just concentrated on breathing. It wouldn't do them any good if he passed out. Then finally, a doctor emerged from the room.

"Burt Hummel?"

"Yeah. How is he?" Burt couldn't get up from his chair fast enough. Finn had been pacing, and practically jumped over to his side.

"Your son overdosed on Oxycodone. It's an opioid analgesic medication. It's... a very strong painkiller. He went into respiratory arrest in the ambulance, and into cardiac arrest here. His condition is for now stable, and we have pumped his stomach."

The doctor turned to Finn. "It was very fortunate that you found him so quickly. His liver and kidneys only suffered minor damage; as of now we doubt that he will need a transplant."

Carole was there beside them now. "So he's going to be okay?"

The doctor hesitated. Finn didn't like that. "He... took a whole bottle. That much is in most cases fatal, but as I said, he was lucky to be found early. However, it's a fast working medicine. Some has already entered his blood, and we have him on dialysis to filter it out."

"But is he going to be okay?" This time, it was Burt. He looked as frightened as Finn felt.

"We hope so, but the next 24 hours are critical. He's in a coma right now, and we're not a 100% he's going to wake up again. We've ignored the paragraph in his medical records which states that he doesn't consent to life-support, since his mental health can be questioned, rendering his judgement impaired. We're doing everything we can to make sure he pulls through."

All three of them collapsed in chairs, the doctor looking at them apologetically.

"I know this must be a lot to take in at the moment, but I need to ask some questions. We noticed a large amount of bruises covering his torso, back and legs. One of his ribs are fractured too. Did you know of this?"

Finn felt like he had been punched in the gut. Kurt wasn't being bullied any more. Sylvester had seen to that. "No." Burt looked shocked, and his mom was choking back tears. "He was bullied before, but not any more. Couldn't it be from cheerleader practice? I think that gets pretty rough."

"Sadly, I doubt that's the case here. The injuries speak for themselves; someone did this to him. We have to involve the police after we've done a complete physical examination. Do you know of anyone who spends a lot of time with him? I would question the three of you, but I can clearly see this is news to you all."

"He... he has a boyfriend." Finn choked out. But Sam had always seemed like a cool guy, maybe a bit possessive. Yet decent. "They spend a lot of time together."

"Hopefully the physical comes out with some hints, perhaps even DNA. For now, you can go sit with him."

It was a cautious rush into the room as soon as the doctor left them. Kurt looked so tiny in the bed, pale against the sheets. There were tubes and small hoses connected to him, the heart monitor beeping slowly. The hospital gown revealed some of the bruises the doctor had spoken of. It barely looked like Kurt.

But it was Kurt. There was no way around that.

"Oh god, son." Burt collapsed on the chair closest to the bed, and Finn pulled up two other so he and his mom could join him. Something crinkled as he sat down.

The letters. They crinkled softly again as he pulled them out of his pocket, staring down at them without blinking.

"Finn?" His mom had noticed them too. Burt seemed to have eyes only for his son.

"I found these beside Kurt. I-I kinda forgot about them." There was one for him, his mom, Burt, Mercedes, Sam and glee club. And a testimonial. Kurt had known what he was doing.

He gave Burt and his mom the ones that were labelled with their names, and took hold of the one saying Finn Hudson in small, neat letters. His hand lingered on the one for Sam. He probably shouldn't read it, but what if Sam had been the one to hurt Kurt? Maybe the letter could give some clue. He would start with his own, first.

From his left, Burt gave a choked sob. On his right his mom sat staring blankly at the piece of paper in her hands.

A simple white paper with perfect rows of small, slightly curved letters. Finn knew it well, he had copied from Kurt's homework and borrowed his notes on so many occasions.

But right now, it wasn't helpful. It almost felt mocking.

Dear Finn.

I'm sorry for springing this on you. You probably have enough pressure with Rachel and school. However, these are my last words to you. And I don't want to have any regrets. I'm sorry for acting so insane when you moved in. I admit; I had ulterior motives and I was out of line.

My feelings for you should have died, especially after I started my relationship with Sam. I liked him, but I never cared for him like I cared for you. But I was fine just being your friend, your brother. That was enough if it meant seeing you smile.

I still loved you.

Maybe, in another world, it could have been us. But not in this life. I have, had - past tense now - Sam. I need to come clean about him too. He isn't who you think he is. He's not the perfect and sweet boyfriend he seems to be. I know I deserved a lot of the things he called me, and I think on some level I deserved some of the physical abuse. I never really did learn to fit in.

Yet many times he was out of line. Some I can't even bear to think about. It's in the past now, I'm free. I'll be with my mother - I hope. If he's right I won't end up there, but I think I should be allowed some hope.

Suicide is pathetic, I know. But I just can't live like this any more. I know my dad will find a family in you and Carole, you're still the ideal son. This is better for everyone.

I just wanted to tell you that you're a wonderful person, and that I'm sure you'll have a bright future. (Possibly with freakishly tall kids. I'm sorry, it had to be said.) I've left you my bank accounts, amongst other things, in the testimonial.

Sincerely,

Kurt.

Finn felt weak. He was such an idiot. Kurt had to wake up. And then Finn had to set everything right. He should have talked to Kurt about his dreams, thoughts and feeling. He really did think they might work great as a couple, and he did like him, but he had been scared.

Scared of what people would do, what they would say. Finn was a people-pleaser, that was what Rachel kept calling him.

He never once tried to please Kurt though.

"Sam did this." Finn breathed, and Burt looked at him.

"What?"

"The bruises. It was Sam." Then he was tearing at the envelope containing Sam's letter, and his vision blurred with rage. He realised that his hands were shaking. Burt wordlessly snatched the paper from him, his expression mirroring Finn's.

"That son of a bitch." Burt was out of his chair and out the door in a second. Finn guessed he'd gone to find the doctor.

Finn stayed, trying to comfort his mom. She really liked Kurt. They all did.

Burt came back soon, falling down on the chair and softly grasping Kurt's small hand.

As the night wore on, Finn wasn't sure if he was the one comforting his mom or if she was the one comforting him.