A/N: Okay, I've tortured you long enough, have a chapter of good.

Chapter Fourteen:

"Plans never go according to plan. You plan, you get there, all hell breaks loose. Nick handed the slushee to Beats, who gave it to Sebastian, who threw it at Kurt… who was pushed down by Blaine, meaning Blaine got a slushee full force in the face. He cried out in agony. Sebastian did a quick double take, he hadn't meant for Blaine to get hurt and he could feel his heart breaking."

Time froze. There was no one around, just Sebastian, holding the empty cup, and Blaine, writhing on the concrete.

Blaine.

He'd hurt Blaine.

His Blaine.

Sweet, innocent, chivalrous Blaine had jumped in front of his own prince charming, pushing him out of harm's way.

Then Trent's hand was on Sebastian's shoulder, doing the one job Sebastian had given him: Stopping him from doing something stupid. Trent knew Sebastian was about to run to Blaine's side – and that the New Directions would rip him apart.

The Warblers turned around and left the garage, Sebastian, shaking, in the lead, with a very concerned Nick bringing up the rear. The Warblers split up into their cars. Nick and Jeff had come with Trent and Sebastian. Sebastian was shaking so bad he could barely walk, and slammed his keys into Trent's hand before collapsing into the passenger's seat. It was silent for a long time. Finally:

"What did you put in the slushee?" Nick asked, completely monotone.

"Don't," Sebastian replied.

"Sebastian, tell me what you put in that slushee," Nick said, getting angrier.

"Please don't," Sebastian whispered. Trent moved his hand from the gear shift to hold Sebastian's. Sebastian tried to shake him off, but Trent held it tight.

"Trent?" Nick asked.

"I don't know," Trent replied. Nick looked at the floor of the car, even more frustrated now. Blaine was most certainly not okay. When they'd hauled ass out of there, they'd heard an ambulance on its way. Jeff's hand found its way into Nick's and Nick squeezed it.

Once back into their room, Nick and Jeff just held each other, unable to sleep. At first it was just holding, then it was slow kisses, then finally making love, which led to a really awkward morning after.

"We're not back together," Nick said almost immediately after Jeff got up.

"Too bad, really, I was sort of feeling breakfast," Jeff said, yawning, then stumbling to his desk for his water bottle, downing half of it in seconds.

"You can't do that, J," Nick sighed. "You know why we can't be together. We need to have a serious conversation."

"Then let's have it," Jeff said, opening his arms.

"We have class."

"Who cares?"

"I will skip class and have this conversation if you eat this," Nick said, opening his desk drawer and throwing one of Sebastian's protein bars at Jeff. Jeff looked at the bar in his hands. "Please."

"Fine," Jeff said, unwrapping the bar and nibbling at a corner. His stomach churned in protest but he fought to keep it down. "Talk."

"You cheated on me," Nick said. Jeff nodded.

"Yes, I did," he said.

"You cheated on me with Sebastian while we were having a fight about, oh right, Sebastian."

"Yes," Jeff said. "I did. I was drunk but that's not an excuse."

"You shattered the bridge of trust that we had," Nick said. "I can't trust… I can't trust him. Because if you really asked me, and I was being honest, I still love you and trust you with my life." Jeff bit off another hunk of granola and battled to keep it down. "If we're going to make this work again, you can't be alone with him anymore. There will be no more drinking by either one of us. And we need to talk about cheating."

"Cheating is anything with someone that's not us," Jeff suggested. "I know."

"But it's complicated because I don't consider flirting to be cheating, and I do want to do a lot of things on your list, but not with him, J, I just can't," Nick said.

"Then why didn't you just say that?" Jeff asked. "I would have gotten over it. You didn't have to yell about it."

"And I apologize for the yelling, but it didn't give you the right to go get drunk and sleep with Sebastian!" Nick hissed.

"I don't get why you're allowed to jump at Captain Jack or Blaine, but I don't get a fantasy man," Jeff said.

"You can have all the fantasy men you want, you cannot cheat on me with the man trying to ruin my life," Nick said. "And doing a very good job, I might add."

"You have never been with anyone else," Jeff said. "Don't you wonder what it would be like, to not be us? Don't you ever wonder if we knew what was out there, we wouldn't want to be together?"

"What am I hearing?" Nick asked, covering his ears, angrily. "You're not in a position to break up with me."

"I'm not breaking up with you, I'm fighting for our relationship, because I'm the one who's been out there and I can tell you that there's nothing better for me than you," Jeff said. Nick stopped, looking at Jeff. "I Niff you, Nicky."

And those three words had always been able to fix everything.

"I Niff you too, J," Nick said. Jeff took another big bite of granola bar and chewed it slowly. "So, so much." Jeff focused on eating the rest of the bar while Nick silently stewed on his next move. Jeff knew it was less than a minute now before he caved. He just ate the granola bar, finally finishing it and throwing away the wrapper. Nick caught him with an arm around the waist and a smile. "Forgive and forget, okay?"

"Forgive and forget," Jeff echoed.

"Life's too short," Nick said, the last thing he said for a while, as his lips were busy doing other things. But finally, when he did say another thing it was this: "And not another word about it. Forgotten, I mean it."

"Forgotten," Jeff said. "Except, one thing?"

"No," Nick said.

"It's important."

"Okay, what?" Nick relented.

"You're next." Nick coughed, suddenly choking on his own spit.

"Excuse me?" he asked.

"The last Warbler," Jeff said. "You have to be next, because there's no one else."

"I will not be next because I don't ever plan on being with anyone but you ever in my whole life," Nick said. "Ever."

"Not even John Barrowman?" Jeff asked.

"Not even John Barrowman," Nick said. "No one but you."

"What about a threesome?" Jeff asked.

"I'll think about it."

"What about a threesome with John Barrowman?"

"I'll think about it more."

"Nicky?"

"What."

"Wanna know a secret?"

"What."

"You're bigger."

It was like a cloud had lifted. A cloud that had been hanging over the Warblers for a month, it was gone and the sun was shining. Except for one thing: Blaine. They didn't know what was going on with him, no one dared to try to contact him. Sebastian was taking it in stride, being the fearless leader. He had every Warbler wrapped around his little finger. Every Warbler except Nick and Jeff. Nick and Jeff were not taking any more of his shit. And Nick and Jeff were the only Warblers besides Trent that knew Sebastian had stayed up the whole night before crying. He was in love. Bad.

Sebastian called a meeting, himself, Trent, Nick, and Beats, about a gameplan for here on out. This was the gameplan: Sebastian didn't have one, and he was open to suggestions.

"Here's a suggestion," Nick said. "Blaine is never going to go for you, especially not now, so why don't we all just cut the underhanded crap and lay low for a while before we all get expelled? They're investigating you, Sebastian. They're tracking down the Warblers and asking questions. What do you expect us to say? Because I'm prepared to roll over on you. I'm not getting kicked out of here, and with your record, I'm sure they'd believe me."

"You're sure one to talk, Mr. Violence," Sebastian shot back. Nick glared at Sebastian, but something on the desk caught his eye. A large envelope, addressed to the Sterlings.

Oh, shit.

There was nothing Nick could do now, just do what was right by his boyfriend.

"J, you have to go home," Nick said. "Go, home, and tell your parents about us. Tell them everything. And tell them not to open any envelopes they get."

"What?" Jeff asked, looking up. He hadn't bothered to eavesdrop on the meeting, not when Nick would tell him everything that happened, and he was too busy trying to eat a bowl of cereal. "But I'm eating and everything."

"Yep, that's great," Nick said. "Cheerios, delish. Go home."

"But… not without you," Jeff pouted.

"Can't. I'm playing the part of Sebastian's right-hand man," Nick said.

"You know what you should do?"

"What's that?"

"You should totally just stab Caesar." Jeff got up, set his cereal bowl on his desk, picked up his coat and keys, shoved his shoes on, and left the room, blowing a kiss to Nick.

It wasn't the sort of thing you could do over the phone. 'By the way, Mom, I've been in a relationship with that guy we met on a cruise ship ten years ago. Well, it's been almost a year now, but I didn't tell you, and there were other guys before him, oh and did I ever mention I'm gay and that's why kids were beating me up in middle school? Right, well, we have rehearsal, gotta go! PS, don't open any letters!' No, you can't do it over the phone. Jeff didn't live too far off, a couple hours. He'd be back before nightfall, as long as his parents were cool.

"This is not okay anymore, Sebastian," Nick confronted him, alone, outside Sebastian's room, after the incident with Santana.

"It really sounds like someone wants his boyfriend's parents to get some sexy pictures in the mail," Sebastian said, unlocking his door and walking inside, holding the door long enough to let Nick in too.

"No, I don't want that," Nick said. "Can you not see how far this is getting out of control? You may have blinded Blaine. Permanently. Aren't you supposed to be in love with him?"

"Please," Sebastian snorted. "He's pretty, but I don't do emotions."

"Keep telling yourself that," Nick spat, turning on his heel and leaving. Trent was in the hall, as if waiting for him. "What do you want?" Trent followed Nick into his room instead of going into Sebastian's.

"Blaine has to have surgery," Trent echoed what Santana had said.

"Yeah," Nick sighed. "But he'll probably be okay."

"His eyes always were pretty," Trent said.

"I have no sympathy for you," Nick said, shrugging.

"I wasn't looking for any," Trent said, turning a stare on Nick. "I do what I want, you're not my mother. If I want to do Sebastian in my spare time, I will."

"It's not a relationship," Nick warned him. "Don't let him fool you. Sebastian only loves two people, Blaine and himself. He's got the rest of the Warblers wrapped around his finger, don't be one of the sheep."

"I'm not a sheep," Trent said. "What we have is real–"

"No, it isn't," Nick said. "Think about it. Has it ever been real? Was it real last time?"

"It's definitely real," Trent said. "We watch Doctor Who, he absolutely adores 9, by the way, and then he whispers sweet things and we do it, and we cuddle, and we hold hands under the table at lunch. It's real."

"No, it isn't," Nick said. "I'm sorry, Trent. I should have been there to protect you. But I can't even protect Jeff, how can I expect to protect everyone?"

"You don't have to protect anyone, especially not me. I'm a big boy, I can handle myself," Trent said.

"But it's not real, you have to know that," Nick insisted.

"It is!" Trent insisted harder.

"It's not real. Think about it. Even around the other Warblers, he's not affectionate with you. You're not in love. It's not real," Nick said. "It can be fun, but it won't last, so don't let yourself get hurt."

"I know what it is," Trent said. "I'll be fine."

"Yeah, you probably will. And who knows, maybe you'll rub off on Sebastian." Trent smiled and left the room, not really reassured, but no longer thinking about Blaine at any rate.

Shortly after, Nick saw an envelope, addressed to the Sterlings, on the floor near the door. Someone had slipped it through the gap. Sebastian. Nick picked it up and set it on Jeff's desk. He had no interest in the contents, in fact, he was going to tell Jeff to burn them when Jeff got back around dinnertime.

"How did they take it?" Nick asked quietly.

"They already knew," Jeff said. "Apparently so do your parents. They said something like it's about damn time I got my act together and told them about this important step in my life. And you know Sarah…"

"My parents know?" Nick asked, suddenly feeling sick.

"Yeah, they're totally cool with it, just evidently annoyed you hadn't gotten around to telling them," Jeff said.

"I haven't seen them!" Nick said. "I was going to tell them when I saw them…" Jeff shrugged.

"What's with the envelope?" Jeff asked, seeing the thick yellow envelope on his desk.

"Sebastian's surrender," Nick said, sighing.

"For real?" Jeff asked, interested. "Did you look in it?"

"No!" Nick said. "I would like to maintain a healthy distance between myself and Sebastian's dick."

"You'd be the only one," Jeff said, picking up the envelope and weighing it between his hands. "It totally just hit me. I can't believe I did this."

"Yeah, well, you're lucky I Niff you so much," Nick sighed.

"No one has ever Niffed anyone as much as I Niff you," Jeff replied, blowing a kiss at Nick. "Can I look in it?" Nick shrugged.

"Go ahead," he said. "Nothing you haven't seen." Jeff nervously turned the envelope over and dumped the contents onto their bed. The pictures weren't of great quality, but certainly recognizable for what they were – photographic evidence of Jeff and Sebastian's drunken one night stand. Nick glanced over at the pictures, then looked away. He didn't care. He didn't want to know.

"There's a note," Jeff said, picking it up. Sebastian's handwriting, short and simple.

Jeff– Sorry. You deserve better. Remember to eat. –Bas.

"I know this is going to sound so stupid," Jeff said, tears suddenly welling up in his eyes, "but I miss him."

"You're right, that is stupid," Nick commented.

"Not – not Sebastian, per se, but my dance partner, my friend," Jeff said. "He kinda looked out for me."

"J, Sebastian is evil," Nick said. "Pure evil."

"He wasn't," Jeff said. "Not at first. Don't you remember?"

"No," Nick admitted. "All I remember was him trying to ruin my life." Nick got up from his desk and walked over to the bed, intent on gathering the pictures and throwing them all away, but then the images had caught his eye, and he was shuffling through them, looking at each one. "Didn't you notice he was taking pictures?"

"I wasn't noticing a heck of a lot of anything," Jeff said.

"What is this, like, six different positions?" Nick asked, flipping through all the photos.

"Seven," Jeff said, handing Nick the one he was holding. Nick took a deep breath and sighed it out, then stuffed all the pictures back into the envelope.

"We're gonna have sex now. If you like those pants, take them off immediately," Nick announced. Jeff was only too happy to comply, immediately dropping his pants and stripping off his shirt. "And then we're going to order pizza and one of those chocolate cakes, because I'm starving."

"I'm not up to pizza yet," Jeff barely breathed, as Nick pressed him up against the back of the door.

"You will be by the time we're finished," Nick half-growled.

"Oh, God."

"Good, the exhibitionists are finally here," Sebastian remarked as Nick and Jeff walked into the practice room and took their seats at the council table.

"We were in our room, the door was shut, it's not our fault you don't know how to knock," Nick said. "And, really, like you're one to talk."

"Anyway…" Sebastian said. "Business. Our mutual acquaintance, Lady Hummel, has extended an invitation to us. I, for one, am extremely surprised, but evidently we are due in the April Rhodes Auditorium at McKinley High School, at three-thirty. We will, therefore, be leaving right after this meeting adjourns. We will not be staying there for long, because I am allergic to the stench of public schools."

"No you're not," Nick said.

"Yes, I am," Sebastian insisted.

"You dragged me and Jeff to McKinley for no reason to watch Blaine at Sectionals," Nick said. "You didn't seem to be suffering an allergic reaction then."

"Shut up," Sebastian said. Nick considered pulling rank over Sebastian, but then rolled his eyes. It wasn't worth it. Sebastian babbled for twenty minutes about this, that, and the other thing, because adjourning the meeting and the Warblers made their exodus to the parking lot.

"Now get the hell out of my auditorium," Artie said. "School's out!" The Warblers slowly made their way out of the school.

"Do you think he'll shape up?" Jeff asked Nick as they went.

"I doubt it," Nick said. "Leopards can't change their spots. This is Sebastian we're talking about."

"I thought he was supposed to be in love with Blaine," Jeff said.

"This is Sebastian we're talking about," Nick repeated. "Do you really think he can be in love with anyone?"

"Yeah," Jeff said.

"He's not," Nick said.

"I know Sebastian better than anyone on this team," Jeff said. "I was sure he was in love with Blaine. Not that they could ever be together or anything, so it's really best he got it out of his system."

"Well, it's certainly out of the question now," Nick said. "If I meant to hit Sebastian with a slushee and accidentally got you instead and accidentally made you have eye surgery, would you talk to me?"

"Of course I would, but I Niff you," Jeff said.

"I have an idea," Nick said. "Don't let anyone leave yet." He ran to catch up with Trent, whispering an idea to him as they walked down the McKinley High steps. Trent nodded and they sprinted across the street to the 7/11.

"Thirteen slushees, please," Trent ordered, taking his wallet from his pocket to pay for them. One for every Warbler except Sebastian.

When they got back, Trent quickly distributed the Slushees, while Nick went to find Sebastian, who was loitering next to his car, talking to Jeff. Nick stole a kiss from Jeff, then handed him one of the Slushees in his hands.

"Wh- What are you doing?" Sebastian asked, nervously.

"You know, the McKinley kids rave about these," Trent said. "They're so delicious, and they don't make for a bad face wash either." He threw his slushee at Sebastian, hitting him squarely in the face. The ten other Warblers and Jeff followed suit. Finally Sebastian was just looking at Nick, the last person holding a red beverage of doom.

"Just do it," Sebastian pleaded. Nick walked up to him, getting really close into his business.

"This," he breathed, "is for Jeff." He pulled Sebastian's waistband toward him by the belt and poured the entire slushee into the gap. "Come on, guys," Nick said to the rest of the Warblers. Trent pulled Sebastian's keys out of his pocket and got in the driver's side of the red BMW. Nick and Jeff climbed in the back, and they drove off, leaving Sebastian there alone and covered in red slush.

"I am so going to pay for that later," Trent said, chewing on his lip.

"He deserves it," Nick said.

"Yeah, maybe he does, but he's still my boyfriend," Trent said.

"God, how can you even use that word about Sebastian?" Nick asked. "And furthermore, why would you even want to? He's despicable."

"No, he's alright," Trent said. "We talk about stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" Nick asked.

"Blaine, most of the time," Trent said. "Jeff too. The future. Our families. Regionals. Music. Anything."

"What am I doing in these talks? Anything raunchy?" Jeff asked, suddenly interested.

"Nah," Trent laughed. "You were his best friend, he misses you."

"I've got Nicky," Jeff said. "I don't need Sebastian." Nick nodded, proud.

"He might have broken you up, but he got you back together too, not to mention kept you alive when you weren't eating," Trent said.

"Excuse me?" Nick asked.

"Sebastian was putting crushed up vitamins and stuff into Jeff's water bottle," Trent shrugged. "And he used your and Blaine's telepathy to find out about Drops of Jupiter."

"Blaine and I are not telepathic," Nick groaned.

"He was doing what to my water?" Jeff asked.

"Thad and I were helping," Trent said. "He couldn't always get close enough."

"I don't even…" Jeff began.

"Look, he cares," Trent said. "He cares about the two of you and it scares him because he's never cared about anything before. And he cares about Blaine, too. He had some flowers sent anonymously. I know it doesn't make up for anything, but he does care."

"You think he cares," Nick said. "If he cares so much, how come he doesn't seem to care about you? You're his boyfriend."

"He cares about me," Trent said.

"Then how come every other Warbler got their first solo after Sebastian tallied them off, and you still haven't had one?" Nick asked.

"I don't know, I didn't ask," Trent said. "Maybe because it's more for me than just once. He never promised me anything besides the best night of my life. He had to bribe everyone else with solos."

"Didn't bribe me with a solo," Jeff grumbled, folding his arms. "It just sort of happened."

"I got solos without it," Nick said, shrugging. "Maybe I'm just lucky."

Sebastian didn't leave his room for three days after the slushee incident. Even Trent tried to coax him out, but he didn't answer the door.

"I'm really concerned about him," Trent said to Nick and Jeff.

"I'm not," Nick said. "Screw him. Not literally, of course, I'd say you already have, and that sure didn't help."

"Oh, well, fuck you," Trent replied, getting up and storming out. He stormed right into Sebastian's room, slamming the door behind him. Sebastian was sitting shirtless on his bed, bottle of tequila in one hand, TV remote in the other.

"Go away," Sebastian groaned.

"What is the matter with you? What are you doing with your life?" Trent asked.

"It's Saturday, so anything I want," Sebastian replied. "Leave me alone, Trent."

"What are we?" Trent asked.

"I'm drunk," Sebastian said. "You're sassy."

"Sebastian, I'm serious."

"So am I," Sebastian replied.

"You know what I mean," Trent said.

"Friends?" Sebastian guessed. "Maybe less. Warblers with benefits."

"Don't minimize this," Trent said, suddenly pointing a finger in Sebastian's face. "You wanted to give a relationship a try. I thought that's what we've been doing."

"I was wrong. Relationships are too much work," Sebastian said.

"Then that's all you had to say," Trent said. "Warblers with benefits." Sebastian shrugged. "Any time I want?"

"Sure," Sebastian agreed. "But non-exclusively."

"Okay," Trent said. "Isn't that more like Warbler booty call?"

"No, I have Beats for that," Sebastian said. "You're different."

"Cuz we talk about stuff?" Trent asked.

"Yeah," Sebastian sighed. "The Warblers deserve better than me. Nick should be in charge."

"You did a great job for Sectionals and I'm sure you'll do great for Regionals," Trent corrected him. "Whether we beat Blaine or not is pretty irrelevant. I don't think anyone expects us to. That's what this season was, whether we could beat Blaine."

"I may have accidentally taken him out of their lineup for Regionals," Sebastian said. "Surgery, Trent. Fucking eye surgery."

"Stop it," Trent said. "We all know you weren't aiming for Blaine, and yeah, rock salt was probably going a bit far, but only Nick and I know about that. And Jeff. And Beats. And Thad."

"Don't stick up for me," Sebastian said. "I have no excuses."

"Sebastian…"

"Don't try to clear my name," Sebastian said. "Just let me get expelled and I'll be out of your hair."

"The disciplinary council requires witnesses. I got a summons. I testify on Monday."

"Good, at least it will be fast," Sebastian said.

"Why are you so sure you'll be expelled?" Trent asked.

"Always am in the end," Sebastian said.

Sebastian was a no show for Warbler practice on Sunday – the first practice since the whole fiasco. Nick, as head of the council, became acting Captain for the practice.

"We're not doing MJ for Regionals," Nick said. The rest of the Warblers murmured assent. "In fact, the theme was delivered to me yesterday morning, which I will reveal shortly. Before I do, I have a song for us. Hun, can you pass out of the music?" Jeff immediately got up and started passing out the pages that would inevitably end up all over the floor. "On last Michael song, then we're done with it forever. Trent Warbler, congratulations on your first solo." Trent looked down at the music, which read 'Trent's solo: Black or White'. "You were the first one on that stage in solidarity to Blaine, even though you're getting naked with Sebastian. You helped us remember what loyalty really is, and proved that no one has to sleep with anyone to get a solo. Please, I'm serious about this, if anyone wants to do a number, talk to me. I'm not Wes, I'm approachable." The team laughed. "Beats? Hit it."

But if you're thinking bout being my brother
If don't matter if you're Black or White

"Now then, we need to talk about Sebastian," Nick announced.

"He doesn't deserve to be Captain," Trent of all people said. Nick didn't have time to ponder that too much, though, because the others started getting uppity.

"Or lead singer!" Thad interjected.

"Order, order, please!" Nick called.

"All in favor of Nick becoming the new Captain of the Warblers?" Jeff asked. Every hand went up immediately.

"Jeff, please," Nick said.

"Nominations to fill Sebastian's council seat," Jeff continued.

"Trent," Thad said.

"Second," David grunted.

"All in favor?" Jeff asked. All hands again. "Unanimous." He banged the gavel.

"Jeffrey!" Nick shouted as Trent joined them at the council's table. "No." Jeff immediately stopped everything he was doing and looked at the ground. "We are not throwing Sebastian out." Immediate protests. "But we're not going to let him run the whole show. He is one of us, no matter how you look at it. I, obviously, hate him twenty times more than the rest of you, but I think we can all agree Sebastian is the better soloist–" More protests, louder. "Warblers, please! I appreciate your faith in me, but we're up against Blaine and the New Directions, and we need to have the best if we don't want to wash again this year. Regionals are in three weeks, the theme is inspiration. Please begin thinking of songs. We'll reconvene on Tuesday, 5pm. Meeting adjourned." The Warblers dispersed. Jeff and Trent latched onto Nick as he made his way back to the dorms.

"You can't be serious," Trent said.

"This, coming from you, are you serious?" Nick shot at Trent. "Mr. I'm-in-a-relationship-and-it-is-real-I-promise?"

"Shut it, you know I was being blackmailed," Trent said icily.

"No, you weren't," Nick said. "You actually like him."

"My personal life and Warbler life are separate," Trent said. "What I do with Sebastian on my own time has nothing to do with the council or solos or Regionals. I can have sex with him and still think he's the worst thing to happen to the Warblers ever."

"Which part of your life does Sebastian's disciplinary hearing fall under?" Nick asked.

"None of your business," Trent shot back. "Why do you care?"

"He's trying to ruin my life," Nick said. "And doing a good job about it."

"Then why did you force us to let him stay?" Trent asked.

"We need him," Nick said.

"He's despicable," Trent said.

"You're the one dating him," Nick pointed out.

"I'm not dating him," Trent protested.

"Getting naked with him, fine, same difference," Nick spat.

"Excuse me for having a little fun. Nothing your boyfriend hasn't done," Trent snarked. Jeff was still looking at the ground and hadn't said a word since Nick had told him not to.

"Jeff knows that was wrong and had made up for the transgression," Nick said. "Haven't you, dear?"

"Yes, Nicky," Jeff said quietly.

"Sebastian is evil and I'm not denying that, but I still want to win," Nick said. "Sebastian is our best chance. It's our year." Trent just turned into his and Thad's room. "Jeff?"

"Huh?" Jeff asked, snapping his head up.

"Whatcha thinking about in there?" Nick asked.

"Nothing really," Jeff said. "I'm just really, really sorry."

"Hush. We've forgiven and forgotten. After all, I'm next" Nick sighed. "Go take a shower, baby, I'll join you in a minute." Jeff obeyed silently. Nick went next door and knocked on Sebastian's door. No reply. Nick tried the handle. Unlocked. Surprisingly, Sebastian was lying on the floor in the center of the carpet in his uniform. Not moving. Nick was concerned until the door creaked and Sebastian's voice rang out:

"Leave me alone."

"Sebastian…" Nick said, kneeling down next to him.

"Fuck off, Nick," Sebastian replied.

"Excuse me, Sargent Sassafras," Nick said. "Take it down a notch, will you? We need to talk. Seriously." Sebastian didn't move, so Nick continued speaking. "Why are you on the floor?"

"I have a hangover and it feels nice," Sebastian retorted, snootily.

"Okay…" Nick said, rolling his eyes. "Do you want to stay a Warbler?"

"Yes," Sebastian replied immediately.

"Why?" Nick asked. Sebastian sat up on the carpet across from Nick.

"My entire life, it's the only thing that's been constant – show choir, that is. I've been to what feels like a million schools, but the only thing that's been the same is this. And when I get kicked out of here and get shipped off to Chicago public school, I'll try out of show choir there, and probably get beat the hell out of for it. I don't know why I love it so much, I just do."

"It's right up there with sex, huh?" Nick joked.

"Hey now, I wouldn't go that far," Sebastian said. "Winning, sure, but…"

"We're going to – I. I'm going to let you stay on the Warblers if you want to. I will not tolerate any more blackmail, violence, or cheating, however. The Warblers have a deep tradition of class and sportsmanship."

"They elected you Captain, then," Sebastian said.

"Yes, but I'm not accepting it. I'm not a good leader. Head of the council with Jeff at my side, that's my job," Nick said. "I'll remind you that the council has executive power over the captain. The council picks the songs and the council picks the solos. Watch your step."

"I'm not on the council anymore?" Sebastian asked. Nick bit his lip.

"No. Trent's taking the spot," he said. He stood up to leave. "We'll review the situation after Regionals. The theme is 'Inspiration'." He walked to the door before pausing. "I've been called as a witness to your hearing."

"Good, I'd hate to have them call someone biased," Sebastian said.

"I'm going to lie," Nick said. "As much as I hate to admit it, the Warblers need you. You're not getting expelled, Sebastian." Sebastian stared ass Nick turned to leave.

"I'm still planning to collect you, if I'm not expelled," Sebastian warned. Nick was the only Warbler Sebastian hadn't taken yet, though he still had a good portion of the school yet to conquest.

"Good luck," Nick snorted. "And don't expect me to be nice to you just because I'm saving your ass." He left the room, slamming the door behind him. Nick stormed angrily into his own room, throwing the pieces of his uniform around the room before heading into the bathroom and joining his boyfriend in the shower. Jeff was just rinsing the conditioner out of his hair.

"Hey baby," Jeff said when he heard the shower curtain open.

"Hi," Nick said.

"What's the matter?" Jeff asked, stepping out of the stream of water and opening his eyes.

"Nothing," Nick sighed.

"Nicky, who knows you best?" Jeff asked.

"You do," Nick said, grudgingly.

"And what's the matter?"

"I'm just worried," Nick said.

"About…" Jeff prompted.

"Blaine. Regionals. Sebastian's disciplinary hearing. Our history project that's due tomorrow and we haven't started yet," Nick listed.

"It's okay," Jeff said, working shampoo into Nick's hair in a soothing manner. "If he gets expelled, whatever. We're screwed for Regionals anyway. Even Sebastian can't beat Blaine, who, by the way, you know is going to be fine. You're telepathic, remember?"

"We're not telepathic," Nick mumbled.

"Come on, at least try it," Jeff said. "I'm worried about him."

"We're not telepathic," Nick repeated. "Everyone knows about Blaine and Teenage Dream, I was trying to make you guys jealous."

"Then how did Blaine know about Drops of Jupiter?" Jeff asked.

"He asked me," Nick said.

"Well that makes it a heck of a lot less romantic," Jeff frowned.

"I still thought it was romantic, until I found out Sebastian was behind it," Nick said. "And it's actually still pretty romantic."

"Do you think he'll get expelled?" Jeff asked.

"No," Nick said shortly.

"You aren't going to tell them the truth?" Jeff asked. Nick shook his head. "Why not? You hate Sebastian."

"I do hate him, but we need him," Nick said. "Everything I said at practice was true. And I might need a favor from him someday, so it's better that he owes me. Plus it'll keep him away from me for a while, at least. Trent got called too. I'm sure he'll put in something good."

"I got summoned," Jeff said. "I'm a councilor too."

"I know," Nick said, nodding, as Jeff carefully washed the shampoo out of his hair. "Ah, shit, soap in my eye." He reached for a washcloth to get the suds from his eyes.

"Don't nod while I'm washing your hair, you dork," Jeff reprimanded. Nick wiped his eyes and discarded the cloth as Jeff continued to wash his hair. Jeff knew a lot about hair, he had quite a lot of it to keep up.

"J, I would never ask you to lie for me, or even for Sebastian, you know that, right?" Nick said.

"Yeah, I know," Jeff said.

"You're going to, though, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Jeff sighed.

"You don't have to," Nick said.

"I think our stories should probably match, or we'll all get busted," Jeff said.

"Then what are you going to say?" Nick asked.

"I don't know."

A/N: So, you all love me again? Right? Yes? Yay. Hugs for everyone.

Next time: Jeff and Sebastian become friends again, Regionals is lost, and Sebastian is put on trial.

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Samantha.