Cooper wants to die when he gets the phonecall.

Somehow, he knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. Cooper didn't necessarily have the best high school experience, and he still hasn't told even his parents that he's gay. Blaine on the other hand, has always insisted on being proud of who he is, even if it meant getting bullied.

But this was too far.

It is about one in the morning, after Blaine's dance when Cooper arrives at the hospital. He says a quick hello to his parents, who are probably wondering how he got there from "California" so quickly, before running to the room that they tell him to go because he needs to see Blaine. He doesn't care to explain why he is still in Ohio – why he never left for California like he said.

He walks in the room just as a nurse is walking out and the sight in front of him makes his eyes well up with tears. His little brother is laying in a hospital bed, eyes closed, a bandage wrapped around his head and probably more hidden under the blanket.

"Blaine?" he manages to choke out and the other boy's eyes flutter open.

He smiles warmly when he sees his older brother, "Coop."

Cooper crosses the room in three big strides and sits down at the side of Blaine's bed, "Who the fuck did this to you?"

Blaine shakes his head, "It doesn't matter, Cooper."

"Yes it does. What happened?"

Blaine sighs, "I went to the dance and when we left, some people followed us outside. I didn't get a good look at them." The fact that Blaine still went to the dance with another boy pulls at this part of Cooper that he tries to push down, but he can't help the lump in his throat.

Cooper wants to punch something. He wants to scream. How could somebody do this to his brother? Instead he stays calm for Blaine's sake, "But you're going to be okay, right?"

Blaine nods slowly, "Right. It could have been worse. I only have three broken ribs and a fractured collar bone. Oh and I got some stitches in my head…"

"Only," Cooper scoffs. Leave it to Blaine to be positive about something like this. "I was so terrified," He confides, the tears returning to his eyes, "I didn't want to lose you."

At that, Blaine reaches out with his good arm and takes Cooper's hand, "You'll never lose me. I promise."

It's quiet between the two of them before Cooper takes a deep breath and regains his composure, "I should probably go talk to mom and dad. They're probably going to kick me out of here to see you soon anyway, huh?"

Blaine shakes his head violently no and winces at the pain of it. He grips Cooper's hand tighter before speaking, "Please don't go, Coop. I need you."

Cooper's heart swells at Blaine's words and he tries to push his feelings back, but he can't. To be honest, he's been pretty good at hiding the way he really feels about his brother for the past few years, but lately he can't seem to control it. He smiles and nods, "Alright."

"Lay with me?" Blaine asks, once again making Cooper's heart skip a beat. He scoots over so there's more room on the bed and Cooper obliges and lays next to him. "Stay the night?" Blaine requests and Cooper doesn't know if it's allowed but he immediately nods his head yes.

"Of course." It's only been a few days since he's seen him, but it feels like forever. He cherishes any moment he gets to spend with Blaine because they're few and far between. This moment in particular will be locked away for safe keeping. He definitely doesn't want to forget this.

Blaine's hand finds its way to Cooper's and he laces their fingers together, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, B," Cooper replies, trying to hide the fact that he's on the verge of tears. He doesn't know if it's the medicine, but the way Blaine is acting is making his heart race.

As if it weren't enough, Blaine smiles and adds, "I love you."

"I love you too," Cooper returns simply, as any brother should, but Blaine just shakes his head.

"No, Coop. I love you." Cooper doesn't say anything in return because there's this lump in his throat and he's not sure that he can speak. That, and he doesn't want to say anything stupid because he's sure it's the pain meds that are making his little brother loopy enough to say it. They had been over it only a few days ago. What they had wasn't a real relationship, therefore it couldn't be love. Right?

At Cooper's silence, Blaine speaks again, "I really do, Coop. I don't know if you feel the same, and I know I'm kind of late saying it but I really love you."

Tears begin to well up in Cooper's eyes and he looks down at Blaine, who is laying in his arms, eyes closed and a smile spread across his face. He's sure Blaine won't remember it in the morning, but that doesn't stop him from smiling and replying, "I love you too, Blaine."

With that, Blaine yawns and opens his eyes to look up at Cooper then leaning up, wincing as he does so, and placing a quick kiss on his lips. "I'm so glad you're here," he manages to get out quietly.

"I am too," Cooper replies, trying not to cry before kissing his forehead, "Try to get some rest. You'll need it."

Blaine nods, then winces at the pain of doing so and that almost pushes Cooper over the edge because some assholes did this to his brother. "You're staying?" Blaine asks again, having already forgot their earlier conversation.

Cooper swallows hard, "Yes, I'm staying. As long as you need me."

At that, Blaine smiles and cuddles closer to Cooper, who watches his brother doze off peacefully. He wishes that things could always be this simple, but he knows they can't be. The next few days, even weeks, are going to be tough. He knows he's going to have to cancel or reschedule a few auditions he had planned, but those can wait because it's Blaine and right now, he's more important than any stupid movie or commercial.

Cooper is woken up a few hours later by their mom, who brings him a cup of coffee and something to eat from the cafeteria. He reluctantly gets out of Blaine's bed and sits in a chair across the room and sips his coffe. Thankfully, neither of his parents ask why he was still in Ohio. They're too worried about Blaine. For the first time in a long time, their father is worried about his son. Though it's a little late, it makes Cooper feel better. At least Blaine is surrounded by people who love him.

When Blaine finally wakes up that morning, Cooper has passed out in the chair in the corner of the room and is suddenly awoken by his brother calling his name. He looks up and rubs his eyes smiling when he sees Blaine sitting up and looking up at him. "Hey, B," he says sleepily, standing and stretching.

"When did you get here? I thought you went back to…" Blaine trails off because he realizes that the last time they saw eachother, Cooper was upset and leaving to go back to California.

"I uh… I never left," Cooper explains softly as he pulls up a chair next to Blaine's bed.

Blaine looks confused. "What do you mean?"

"I was staying in a hotel in Columbus… Mom and dad called and I got here as soon as I could," Cooper says, smiling sadly.

Blaine tries to sit up more but winces at the pain and Cooper steadies him. "You mean you got here last night? I didn't dream that?" Blaine asks, and Cooper wants to laugh at his confused little brother but he stops himself. Blaine probably doesn't remember him sleeping in his bed. He probably doesn't remember saying I love you either.

"I was here," Cooper confirms, still smiling slightly.

Then Blaine's face changes because he realizes what happened. "I'm so sorry, Cooper," He immediately chokes out, tears spilling out of his closed eyes.

"Woah, you're okay," Cooper reassures, grabbing Blaine's hand, "You have nothing to be sorry about. I should have been there. I could have… chaperoned the dance or something."

Blaine smiles a little despite his tears at Cooper but then he shakes his head no, "No, I mean, I'm sorry for the way I treated you."

"We don't have to talk about this now, B," Cooper says softly, "Right now you need to rest and feel better. This can wait."

Though Blaine looks like he's going to argue, he simply nods because their parents walk in the room, smiling at their sons.

If only they knew, Cooper thinks to himself, glancing at Blaine before standing.

Cooper cancels three commercial auditions for the next month in order to stay home with Blaine. Normally, he would be going crazy after being back in Ohio for so long. He was usually dying to do some new auditions or go to the beach, but right now, Blaine was the only thing that mattered.

They learned within the first few days that Blaine was in the hospital what exactly happened that night. Blaine and his friend, whose name was Jensen, had left the dance a few minutes before it was over so they didn't have to deal with everyone leaving at the same time. Jensen had drove, and they were walking out to his car, which was conveniently parked in the back parking lot, and they hadn't noticed that four boys had followed them outside until it was too late.

Jensen had troubles remembering what exactly happened, so when the police come to question Blaine, he has to fill in the blanks.

Cooper sits at his side, holding his hand as he retells what happened.

"I remember walking out back to his car," Blaine starts, trying hard not to cry as he retells it, "And we were really happy because the dance went by without any problems. And then we heard them. There were four of them, two were Juniors that I recognized, and I think one was a Senior. I could point them out if you asked…"

He glances at Cooper then his parents before continuing, "Two of them had baseball bats. The second I saw that, Jesnsen and I started running. He uh… he wasn't as fast as me, and they got him first. They hit him in the head with the bat."

At that point, Blaine can't help but tear up, "I tried to stop them, I really did. But they just kept hitting him and hitting him. Then the other one with the baseball bat – I think his name is Nick – he hit me. I uh… I don't really remember a lot after that. I just remember them kicking me and then the sound of cop cars, and then they were g- gone…"

Blaine buries his face in his hands and Cooper wants to punch something because there's nothing he can do about it. Some assholes did this to his little brother, and there is nothing he can do.

They find out later that week and three out of the four boys are in custody, thankfully, and that Jensen is doing okay, but it doesn't change the way Cooper feels. He wants the people who did this to Blaine dead, for all he cares.

It takes almost two weeks before Blaine is up and walking around the house again without too much pain. He still hasn't gone back to school and he probably won't for a while, but his parents know it's for the best. Cooper notices one morning that they have pamphlets for Dalton Academy sitting on the kitchen table, and he begs them to send Blaine there.

That night, Cooper is sitting in his room on his laptop, trying to schedule work for the next month, when there's a knock on his door. It's hanging halfway open and he can see Blaine leaning on the doorframe.

"Hey B," Cooper says, smiling, "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Blaine says, walking in the room and shutting the door behind him. When the door closes, Cooper's heart stops. He knows they're about to have a serious talk, and that absolutely terrifies him. "Mom and Dad are sending me to Dalton," Blaine says, breaking the silence. He sits on the end of the bed, and Cooper studies him for a moment. His arm is still in a sling and his ribs are probably still bandaged under his shirt, but the bandage on his head is gone. He still has a pretty dark black eye, but it doesn't look half as bad as it did a week before.

"Good," Cooper says, smiling nervously, "You'll like it there a lot."

Blaine nods in response then glances up at Cooper again. "Coop, we need to talk."

Cooper gulps and shuts his laptop, looking up at him. Blaine almost looks like he's on the verge of tears, so Cooper nods, "Alright."

"I know you've been avoiding it, and maybe I have been a little bit too…"

Cooper nods in agreement. He has been avoiding it. He doesn't want Blaine to break his heart yet again. After seeing him broken in that bed and hearing him say I love you, he doesn't want to get let down again. He doesn't know if he can take it.

"I'm so sorry, Cooper," Blaine finally gets out, looking down at his hands, then back to his brother's face, "I don't- there isn't an excuse for the way I treated you."

Cooper shakes his head, "You're a teenager. I can't expect you to know exactly what you want and the last thing I want to do is manipulate you into being with me."

"No, Coop. Listen," Blaine urges, "You're not forcing me to feel any of the things I feel. I'm doing that on my own. I made that choice last summer when I kissed you back. You're not manipulating me…"

It's quiet for a moment before Blaine speaks again, "I think I was just scared. I mean, dad didn't – and probably still doesn't – accept me. And he doesn't even know that you're gay. The last thing I wanted to do was give dad another reason for him to hate me more, and a reason for him to hate you. I was just really scared of him finding out, so I decided that maybe it would be best if I tried to get involved in someone else."

"Blaine…" Cooper says softly, reaching out for his hand. He doesn't know what to say, but he hopes that touch says it all.

"The worst part is, I- I didn't really even like him all that much," Blaine continues, his voice wavering, "I mean, I don't feel the way I do with you. I honestly don't think that anyone could make me feel that way… I just feel like shit, because I was being selfish. I didn't care if I hurt you – I was just trying to be what I thought was normal. And look what happened. To both me and him… If I had just been honest with myself…" Blaine trails off as a few tears escape his eyes.

"Don't say that," Cooper says, scooting closer, "Don't you dare say that this is your fault."

"But…" Blaine starts, sniffling.

"No," Cooper cuts him off, "It's not your fault. It's those close minded assholes. And I swear to God, I'll make sure they pay."

When Blaine doesn't say anything, Cooper continues, "I can't blame you for getting scared, Blaine. We should have talked about what we wanted out of things a long time ago. I was just worried that it would scare you off…"

"Well can we talk about that now?" Blaine asks, looking up at him, his eyes wet with tears.

"Sure," Cooper replies softly.

"I was so scared when everything happened that night," Blaine starts, "When they were hitting me, I could see my blood on the ground and the last thought I remember having before I passed out was that I wished you hadn't left. The last conversation we had, you were mad at me. I didn't… If I died, I hated knowing that your last memory of me would be us fighting. I didn't want that."

Cooper's heart lurches at the thought of what would have happened had the cops not shown up. Had the boys kept beating Blaine and his friend. He shakes the thought from his head because Blaine is alive and sitting right in front of him, staring at him with those big hazel eyes. "Well… What do you want?" He asks, squeezing Blaine's hand.

"I want you, Cooper," Blaine says right away, catching him off guard, "I meant what I said when you got to the hospital. I love you. And not like brothers. But I love you."

Cooper isn't sure when he started crying, but suddenly he can feel the wetness on his cheeks and then Blaine is leaning forward and using his good hand to wipe the tears away. Then their faces are mere inches apart, and Blaine is looking at him, waiting for a response. "I love you too, Blaine," Cooper finally manages to get out, "I always have."

With that Blaine closes the gap in between them, pressing their lips firmly together. Though it has only been a few weeks, Cooper sighs into the kiss, realizing how much he missed it.

Blaine pulls away quickly, the angle that they're sitting hurting his ribs. Cooper understands immediately and scoots back so Blaine can lie down with him. They lay like that until the two of them fall asleep together, their bodies intertwined.