Wow, nearly four hundred hits in 24 hours! THANK YOU! So one reviewer (come on guys, where's the love? I need love, and love=reviews!) told me to kill Karofsky… how I wish he had never returned to McKinley, as if he would really change that much! This chapter's a little shorter, but is pretty important – and who doesn't love Wevid?
Chapter Two – I'll Carry You Home
Blaine entered the room alone, the Hummels allowing him a few minutes with his boyfriend before they saw Kurt. The short boy sank into a chair at Kurt's bedside, his eyes never leaving his beloved's face. Bandages and bruising aside, Kurt, his Kurt, looked as if he were simply sleeping instead of lying comatose in a hospital bed. Blaine let out a single tear as he took Kurt's hand, picking it up and kissing the untouched skin gently.
"Kurt," Blaine choked, "I am so sorry, if I was there-"
"If you were there kid, it could've been you in this hospital bed" Burt, Finn and Carole had entered the room, their eyes on Kurt as well.
For a while the four kept a silent vigil at Kurt's bedside, Finn eventually falling asleep around five am. Carole left Burt with Blaine as she went to get a coffee, the two most important figures in Kurt's life each not having said a word to anybody in hours. As Carole returned to the room Finn's phone rang loud and shrill in the silent room, reminding everyone of the world outside Kurt's room. Finn answered sleepily, but jolted awake as Noah Puckerman's voice sounded through the speakers.
"Finn dude, where are you? Early football practice started, like an hour ago and even I turned up! Beiste's going crazy, she says that if you and Karofsky ain't here in twenty minutes you're benched!"
Finn took a steadying breath before answering, knowing that what he said would change the way his best friend would see the world, forever. "Man, I- something's happened, it's Kurt. We're at the hospital, it's… It was Karofsky. He went back after Kurt."
"Karofsky? No man, he changed! Is my boy okay? What happened?"
"Puck, d'you- d'you think you could come down here?" Finn broke down, his body wracked with sobs.
"Yeah sure dude, I'll ask Beiste. I'll be there in twenty, hold on."
Meanwhile back at Dalton Wes had called an emergency Warblers meeting, David, Nick and Jeff at his side.
"Warblers, I'm sure many of you have heard what has happened to Kurt by now. We haven't heard anything from Blaine yet, but it didn't look too good. All we can do right now is be there for Kurt and Blaine, and Kurt's family." Wes took a deep breath, David's hand on his shoulder giving him the support needed to continue. "Kurt was raped, by the bully who sent him here. He is one of us, and we will support him, even if it's just an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. While we wait for news, Jeff suggested thinking of a song to sing to him to let him know we are there for him."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled boys, yet David, Wes, Nick and Jeff paid no attention to them, all wrapped in concerned thoughts about their absent friends.
"What about the New Directions?" David asked suddenly, "We should sing with them. They're Kurt's family just as much as we are, but have they been told yet? We could do a collaboration, show our support as one solid unit."
"That's a brilliant idea David!" Wes said, smiling slightly, "but what song?"
Just as Wes finished his statement his phone rang in his pocket, Blaine's name flashing as he looked at it. "Blaine?" He asked tentatively, "How's Kurt? What's happening?"
David could only hear one side of the conversation but by Wes' tone of voice he knew Kurt wasn't doing too good.
"Yeah, of course. Me and David will just grab some clothes, okay? We'll be there as soon as we can; just stay with Kurt. He needs you, and you need him."
David looked at Wes questioningly, "What's going on, how's Kurt?"
"Not good; Blaine didn't say much but it sounds pretty bad, Kurt's in ICU. He wanted some company I think, Kurt's parents have gone home to rest and Finn has one of the New Directions there for support. He hasn't told the others yet. He also said we needed to get a pass thing from security, something about police outside Kurt's room and TV crews at the front of the hospital, so we need to lose the uniforms."
"Shit, poor Blaine. Kurt's his lifeline. Let me just change clothes and we'll go. Nick, Jeff, can you come up with a song?"
Jeff nodded and asked the pair to say hi to Blaine, and they'd be there as soon as they were allowed.
Blaine sat alone at last with Kurt, Finn finally having left to inform the New Directions with Noah. Only the irregular thumping of Kurt's heartbeat that was being emitted from the monitor broke the heavy silence, and Blaine was thankful for each beat that meant the love of his life was fighting hard.
"Kurt, I don't know if you can hear me, but I love you. I love you so freaking much, you know that right? If I knew this was going to happen I would've never left you, I would've skipped seeing the Dean. I would have fought hard for you, protected you. I'm so sorry. I love you." And with that emotional outburst, Blaine began to sing, slowly at first, but gaining momentum as he got further into the song.
Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
Doctor Mauswell paused outside Kurt's room next to the police, his heart swelling at the scene unfolding in front of him.
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
So if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
Wes and David, having gained their security passes stopped to listen with Doctor Mauswell, tears streaming down their cheeks while they watched Blaine weep onto Kurt's forehead as he sang.
I'll stand by you
And when... When the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you and I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Blaine sobbed as Wes and David laid comforting hands on his shoulders, letting the shorter boy know they were there for him.
"Blaine, the police need to talk to us all. Jeff and Nick will be here soon. The police are already leading a manhunt for Karofsky, he's going away for a long, long time, we promise."
"I can't leave Kurt," Blaine muttered, "I can't leave Kurt! What if something happens? I can't leave Kurt!" He repeated like a mantra running through his head.
Wes snapped Blaine out of his reverie by clicking his finger sin front of his face; "Blaine! Blaine man, don't you want Karofsky brought down? It's the only way. They can do it in here I'm sure; you don't have to leave Kurt."
Blaine looked momentarily surprised before answering Wes, meeting him squarely in the eyes. "Good." He whispered, "because there's no way I'm leaving him alone, not now, not ever."