Ummm… wow. I love all your reviews! Yesiamstragegetoverit don't worry, I love them too! I get so many alerts and favourites one this, and I'm not one to beg, but where's the review love? This is a kind of therapy fic and I need your reviews please - that being said, thanks to all those who do review, it's greatly appreciated :D This made me cry again, Blaine+Kurt=crying me!
Chapter Eight – Not Alone
"…Dave Karofsky was last seen nine days ago at a gas station just outside of Westerville, Ohio. The public is reminded to ring the hotline if he is sighted, and DO NOT APPROACH. This man is armed and dangerous."
The jock smirked as he switched the radio off; no one would find him here. He just needed to plan his next move, then the fag would be dead and he'd be out of the country faster than the cops could catch up with him.
Kurt jolted awake as the latest nightmare left tears streaming down his face and tears wracking his broken body. Blaine slept on in the chair next to him and Kurt was loathed to wake him; Blaine had barely slept in nearly a month.
A passing nurse heard his sobbing and entered the room slowly. It was well known to the doctors and nurses on the ward that Kurt wouldn't speak to anyone but his curly-haired boyfriend, so the nurse simply gave him a tissue and refreshed his IV bags before leaving with a sympathetic smile on her face.
Blaine shifted and mumbled in his sleep before rolling over and opening his eyes sleepily to look at Kurt. Seeing the tear tracks he didn't say anything, simply rubbing his boyfriend's hand until he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
"…His superficial injuries have healed, but we're worried ab…"
…
"…want to help but I don't know what to do…"
…
Kurt was drifting again, not as deep as last time, but he felt no pain or fear in this place. He knew being here would worry everyone, his dad, Carole, Blaine, but he couldn't bring himself to surface. The last nightmare had been the worst yet. Kurt just wanted to escape the pain and retreated into his mind.
…
"…isn't he waking? I'm scared mom…"
…
"two days? But he woke up Sanny, Lord Tubbing…"
…
A sharp pain jabbed at Kurt's side – that wasn't right, he wasn't meant to feel pain here.
…
"…infection in his stab wound…"
…
The pain continued, and then peaked, forcing Kurt out of the floating place.
"AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH"
Blaine sat up immediately, all signs of fatigue wiped from his eyes.
"Kurt?"
Kurt was tossing and turning in his bed, aggravating the already-worsened wound in his side. Blaine shook Burt awake before trying to comfort Kurt. Burt pressed the emergency button to call the doctor in as he watched his son writhe in pain.
The curly-haired boy had tears streaming down his face from watching his boyfriend in so much obvious pain. Kurt had fallen back into his coma the last two days due to his infected side and weakened body, aided by the painkillers and drugs the hospital had given him. But now Blaine could feel the heat from his boyfriend's fever radiating off Kurt's skin, and his face was twisted in pain.
"DOCTOR!"
Doctor Mauswell rushed in with a team of nurses behind him. He ignored Kurt's flinching and ordered the nurses to restrain Kurt so he could take a look at his side. He took one glance and sent Burt and Blaine out of the room with a worried expression on his face.
"Burt?"
The older man looked up, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
"Yeah kid?"
"Will he be okay? This isn't fair."
"I don't know if he'll be okay, but he's a fighter." Burt sighed heavily before continuing, "Kurt's never had it easy. His mom died when he was eight, I had my heart attack, he's always been bullied for being gay and now this. But you're right, it isn't fair. What did he do wrong, eh?"
More tears slid down Blaine's face, illuminating his ghost-like pallor. "Me and Kurt, we're both tough. I'll help him Burt, I promise."
"I know kid, I know."
An hour later Blaine re-entered Kurt's room behind Burt and Carole, who had finished her shift as a nurse in the ER. The Doctor had just finished applying a new bandage to Kurt's wound and turned to Burt wearing a serious expression on his lined face.
"Mr Hummel, I told you to prepare yourself for a nasty fever, and unfortunately it appears Kurt's is one of the worst I've seen. The infection has caused his temperature to rise to over 104 degrees, which is causing severe hallucinations involving Karofsky. I'm sure I don't need to explain to you that this is likely to be extremely distressing to Kurt, and so we've placed him once again under a medically induced coma. I'm so sorry."
Blaine gasped and gripped Carole's arm tightly.
"He'll be okay?"
The Doctor studied Kurt's fever-flushed face carefully before he replied.
"Most likely. It seems his body is struggling to handle the stress, and the sooner Karofsky gets caught the better."
Burt laughed darkly, "He better hope the police reach him before I do. He might be your next patient otherwise."
The steady being noise of Kurt's heart monitor was loud in Blaine's ears as he watched over his beloved; not once in nearly five weeks had he left the hospital, and it was obvious with just one look to the dark-haired boy's face. His skin was pale and gaunt, his eyes bright with concern. He was thin and rugged from not eating much, and although he was clean from showering regularly he had a few days' worth of stubble that he couldn't find the energy to shave off.
Burt had left to check up on the shop, Finn was at football practice and Carole was down in the ER working. He was alone with his once-again comatose boyfriend, but unknowingly not for long.
A knock at the doors startled Blaine. He jumped and turned to face the intruder.
"Wes? David? Why are you here?"
Wes looked positively offended,.
"Can't we visit our two best singers?"
David's lips twitched into a smirk, "How's he doing?"
The curly-haired boy shrugged slightly as he blinked tears out of his eyes.
"Not too good. His stab wound got infected, and his fever was so bad they put him back in the coma to try and let his body heal without the stress of the police and the manhunt."
The guards at the door were so routine it wasn't felt necessary for the regulars – i.e. the Hummel-Hudson's, New Directions and the more frequent Warblers – to show their passes. The guards were likable and friendly, and all did their job excellently since Karofsky had managed to get in.
"We were thinking about coming in to do another song, especially since he's asleep and won't be freaked out about all the boys. What do you think?"
Blaine smile; he and Kurt had such brilliant friends. "It's a great idea, Kurt would like that."
"What about you Blaine?" David asked softly
"What do you mean?"
Wes sighed slightly, "You look like shit man. Burt told us you haven't left the hospital once!"
Blaine frowned, "What am I meant to do? I love him, I'm not leaving him. That's his biggest fear. And I'm also the only one he'll even speak to."
"We didn't mean it like that," David defended himself, "but you'll be no use to Kurt if you collapse again."
Blaine looked down. It was true; he had been feeling a lot weaker again. He just needed rest, free from worrying, which he wouldn't get either way. Blaine reiterated this to the council members.
"Blaine, maybe you should talk to the doctors, get them to give you something."
"I already have the anti-nausea pills, they're not even working."
"Then just try to sleep Blaine. We have to go, but the Warblers will be back soon, okay?"
Blaine hugged his best friends. He couldn't be more grateful to have friends like Wes and David. "Thank guys."
David wiped a tear out of his eye before replying for the both of them.
"It's okay. We all miss you two like crazy."
The jock looked over his plans one last time before leaving to make that one last phone call. He had one last plan to put in place, and then he would be saying goodbye to this country for one last time.
Burt Hummel-Hudson was not normally and angry man, nor a sad man either. However since his son had been brutally raped and beaten a month ago, and the one who had done it was still out there, he had found himself snapping at every little thing. So when his stepson Finn and some friends from his glee club – Burt thought their names were Puckerman, Sam and Mike – asked for permission to start their own search party for Karofsky, he normally would've taken Finn to the side and quietly suggested that he let the cops do their job. Instead, he blew up at his stepson and friends.
"FINN CHRISTOPHER HUDSON! I ALREADY HAVE ONE SON LYING IN THAT HOSPITAL, DO YOU THINK I WANT ANOTHER? KAROFSKY IS FUCKING DANGEROUS! BESIDES, THE POLICE HAVE ALMOST EVERY MAN OUT THERE, DON'T YOU GO RUINING THEIR SEARCH!"
Burt looked like he wanted to say more but Carole entered the room from the kitchen at that point, "Burt! They were only trying to help! Please, remember your heart, you need to try and keep as calm as possible. I know that's hard, but remember that Kurt is in the best place possible. And Finn, next time, just think about your plans. I know you want to find Karofsky and help your brother, but the police are doing everything they can. Why don't you gather the rest of New Directions and find another song to sing to Kurt? He mightn't have said it to you, but Blaine said Kurt told him that he wanted to thank you guys for being there."
Finn and hid friends looked down as Carole reminded them that they had to be there for Kurt. The boys had never truly connected with Kurt, but over the last month they had come to care for him like a brother, and the trauma had brought the whole of New Directions, Kurt and Blaine, and even most Warblers together.
"Mrs H, you're right. We're sorry; we just want to be doing something. Kurt might've moved school but he's still a part of the ND family and this is killing us." Puck leant forward to give Carole a warm hug, and soon the other boys followed suit.
Wes looked around at the assembled Warblers; it just wasn't the same without Kurt and Blaine. The group might look formal to outsiders, but their dynamic was similar to that of New Directions – the were one big family.
"Warblers! I'm sure you all know about Kurt being put back in the coma-"
Worried whispers rippled across the room like a tidal wave before Wes banged his gavel against the table.
"As I was saying, this has given us the perfect opportunity to perform to Kurt. He might be scared of the crowds, and us being boys, when he's awake, but he told Blaine he could hear most things last time he was in a coma."
David cut in at this point, "So we need to find a song. It needs to show the message, but not be too depressing. Blaine's having a hard time and needs to be cheered up too. He still hasn't set foot outside the hospital."
Thad cleared his throat, "I wouldn't either. The media is still camped out there, it's horrible. Do they have no respect for privacy?"
"No, they just want a good story." Wes said scornfully.
Each of the Warblers had visited Kurt and Blaine at least twice in the time Kurt had woken up, most going in small groups and staying for only five minutes or so as to not overwhelm Kurt, and each time they visited (as with the New Directions too) the media attacked like vultures, trying to find out the latest news. The visitors always said the same thing, "no comment", before pushing past the cameras into the hospital.
David cleared his throat, "Song suggestions then?"
"Perfect, by Pink?"
"Just the Way You Are."
"All In, Lifehouse?"
Thad nodded his agreement at Nick's suggestion, and pointed it out to the other council members. He loaded it up on to YouTube on his MacBook and the Warblers gathered round to listen to it.
After three and a half minutes of tense listening, David uttered four, simple words.
"This is the song."
New Directions were like a dysfunctional family, each member having their own quirks. Kurt may have left them but they knew it was in his best interests; he was still their brother. And when their brother was hurt, the hurt spread to the rest of the group. Even Mr Schuester had lost his enthusiasm.
"Guys!" Rachel clapped her hand to get their attention, "I have an idea. Seeing as our last visit made them both feel better, I think we should sing another song to Kurt."
Santana elegantly unfolded her long, tanned legs before uttering words no one had ever heard her say before: "I agree with man hands."
The group stared at her in shock, their mouths hanging open.
"What? I agreed with her, I didn't admit my undying love for her. Kurt is strong, and tough, but he needs his friends. I love him, he's my gay."
"I thought Kurt was a dolphin…" Brittney whispered loudly to Tina, who just patted her knee.
"Song choices, then!" Mr Schue turned to the white board at the front of the class room.
"Kurt?" Blaine whispered in the darkness. Burt had left hours ago with Finn and Carole, reminding Blaine to get some sleep, but knowing in reality he would be watching Kurt like a hawk until Doctor Mauswell threatened him with castration if he didn't rest too.
"Kurt, I know you said you heard some stuff but not others, but I hope you can hear this." With that Blaine began to sing once again to his comatose lover.
I've been alone
Surrounded by darkness
I've seen how heartless
The world can be
I've seen you crying
You felt like it's hopeless
I'll always do my best
To make you see
Baby, you're not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through
Now I know it ain't easy
But it ain't hard trying
Every time I see you smiling
And I feel you so close to me
And you tell me
Blaine felt tears streaming down his face once more but carried on, his voice shaking ever so slightly.
Baby, you're not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through
I still have trouble
I trip and stumble
Trying to make sense of things sometimes
I look for reasons
But I don't need 'em
All I need is to look in your eyes
And I realize
Baby I'm not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna take us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through, ooh
Blaine's voice reduced itself to a whisper for the last part of the song due to the sobs that were threatening to overcome his body again.
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing, nothing, nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
You know our love is all we need
Our love is all we need to make it through.
A passing orderly stopped to see the heartwarming scene before carrying on the fetch the ever-present Doctor Mauswell. He was new to the job but even he knew that it wasn't healthy for Blaine to be like that.
Later the next day, after the Warblers had performed again for Kurt and Blaine, Doctor Mauswell approached Blaine after his rounds.
"Blaine? Please may I speak to you?"
Blaine looked at the doctor in confusion. Was something wrong? "Yes, of course Doctor. What's wrong?"
"I'm worried about you Blaine." Seeing the look on the younger boy's face he tried to justify his words, "Blaine, you don't look healthy. It isn't good for you to be like this. You need food and rest. I'm not saying leave Kurt, but please, eat something!"
Blaine looked up at the doctor through his dark eyelashes before admitting the one thing he could barely admit to himself.
"I can't. Even with the anti-nausea stuff, I can't eat without puking or sleep without nightmares. Why should I, when Kurt is being fed through a tube whilst lying in a coma?"
"Shit happens Blaine. This wasn't your fault. You shouldn't be guilty-"
"I should! I should've been with Kurt, I told Burt I'd protect him, I should've been there-"
"Why, so you could be raped too?" The doctor's words cut Blaine like a knife.
"NO! So I could be raped instead! Kurt didn't deserve this! If I was there, Kurt could've gotten away!"
The doctor realised that maybe it wasn't Kurt who could use the counselling sessions.
After painstakingly getting Blaine to sign up to a counselling session – the session would take place inside Kurt's room, if he was awake then he would just listen in – Doctor Mauswell took Blaine to see a nurse.
There Blaine received a new set of medicinal drugs, including tablets that would help him sleep naturally for at least four solid hours. It wasn't guaranteed, but Blaine didn't care. If he was awake he could watch over Kurt.
Blaine thanked the nurse who helped him, and took his tablets back to Kurt's room, thinking about the therapy session that would be taking place later that very same day.