The Storm: Safe Harbor
Chapter Seventy-Two
By Gayforkurt
Summary: Kurt and Dave have come to terms with the past but can they battle the envy and jealousy of others to make a future for themselves? This is rated M.
A/N: Thank you, all! I've got a bunch of reviews and PMs from you guys and I must say it warms the old heart to know how deeply interested you are in my little tale. It will come to an end soon like all things, unfortunately, but keep reading and reviewing.
Disclaimer: Messrs. Ryan, Falchuk, et al are the owners of my favourite boys. Only the OCs and situations belong to me, alas.
"Kurt!"
"Step back, give him room!"
"Oh, my god, Kurt!"
"Don't touch him, give him room, people!"
He opened his eyes and looked directly into Xavier's concerned face. Shards of pain darted through his head and he groaned, closing his eyes against the light.
"Kurt, look at me, please!"
"Ugh, please, stop…" Kurt moaned, his hand coming up to touch his head. "The noise…"
He groaned and tried to turn his head but could only move it a few inches. He swallowed the feeling of nausea and breathed shallowly, the pain in his head receding slightly.
"Oh, my god, Kurt…" He recognized Rex's hoarse voice and opened his eyes to slits. The older man looked haggard beyond belief and Kurt tried to smile reassuringly.
"I-I'm okay, Rex, don't worry…" he trailed off as pain shot from his neck up into the back of his head. "Ow! What-what happened?"
There was silence and then he felt movement. He didn't want to open his eyes but he had to. It was Xavier again and he smiled slightly, afraid anything more would bring the pain again.
"What do you remember?" Xavier's deep voice was soft, a thread of fear running through it.
Kurt smiled and winced before answering. "Dinner, I remember dinner."
Silence again.
He tried to turn his head and then winced as someone placed a towel with crushed ice in it against his forehead. He sighed when the pain receded slightly.
As he became aware of the others standing around, he could hear soft sobs and whispers and someone was groaning somewhere. He thought at first that the groans were coming from him but he realized he had heard them when he was answering Xavier.
Someone took his hand and rubbed it and it felt really nice and warm and soothing. He smiled faintly and turned his head, opening his eyes to see Rex again. The older man looked as if he were struggling to hold back tears and Kurt grew concerned. He struggled to sit up but Xavier pressed his hand gently against his chest. He had no strength to struggle so he subsided but kept his eyes on Rex.
"Xavier, look after Rex, please? Get him something to drink…" Kurt said urgently and he saw Xavier turn his head and look at one of the women. Rex tried to smile as he continued to rub soothing circles into Kurt's hand.
Kurt sighed and closed his eyes, relaxing against what he realized was one of the huge couches, something soft, like a sweater beneath his head. He didn't know what had happened, maybe he'd fainted but he couldn't understand why his head felt like it was splitting open.
Across the room, Julian stared back at Kurt's slender body stretched out on the couch. Although there was no blood he was afraid that Kurt might have a concussion, especially as he couldn't remember the last half hour of the evening.
He turned to stare at the bloody, beaten figure of Cooper Anderson who was lying huddled against the wall. Julian shuddered as his mind replayed the sight of Kurt falling from the upstairs balcony, Anderson having thrown him over in a fit of rage. Kurt had fallen in what seemed like slow motion as he, Xavier and some of the other guys had leaped up, Xavier being the first to reach Kurt as he hit the couch and bounced off.
Julian felt as if his heart had stopped as he watched the singer's body bounce and then hit the floor. He was thankful that the parquet flooring was marginally more forgiving on the human body than cold tile or concrete. He had reached Kurt seconds after Xavier had and had helped his partner check Kurt over for injuries. Kurt must have hit his head on the arm of the couch but other than a slight swelling there were no injuries at all.
Within minutes Kurt had opened his eyes but he'd been a little disoriented and nauseous, symptoms of a mild concussion and Julian had instructed one of the dancers to go put the kettle on and sent another one for towels and ice. He had looked over his shoulder to see some of the company members hauling Anderson downstairs and he hadn't stopped them when they had laid into him.
Rex closed his eyes as he continued to hold Kurt's hand, struggling against the tears that threatened. He had heard Kurt cry out and he'd turned back just in time to see Anderson hoisting the singer to the top of the balcony railing. Kurt hadn't cried out as he fell but Rex would never forget the feeling that had gone through him as his mind pictured Kurt, broken and dead on the living room floor.
Now he looked up and smiled in gratitude as someone forced a cup of hot, sweet tea into his hands. He didn't want to let go of Kurt's hand but the singer smiled at him encouragingly, his blue eyes startlingly vivid in his white face.
Kurt watched as Rex raised the cup of tea with shaking hands and his heart sank as he watched the older man. Maybe Rex should retire or take a break soon, he thought; running this company was getting to him more and more. He sighed and sat back against the soft, bulky sweater, holding the towel with the ice in it as he looked at the hovering Xavier.
"Well, why won't you tell me what happened?" He couldn't understand why no one would explain all this to him. He smiled and thanked the girl who handed him a cup of tea as well, but frowned when Xavier took the cup and held it for him. "Hey, I'm not an invalid, I can do it."
Xavier ignored the pout and lifted the cup to the singer's lips, knowing he could outwait him. He smiled when Kurt huffed and then opened his mouth slightly for the tea. It was sweeter than Kurt probably took his but he needed the jolt that the sugar would give him.
When Kurt had drunk half the tea, Xavier gave him a break and allowed him to sit up a little more. Kurt looked across at Julian and then around at the others, noticing the tension in the bodies of his colleagues. "What?"
One of the performers stepped up behind Rex and looked at Kurt sadly. When Kurt looked at her inquiringly, she shrugged and looked at Xavier. "I think he should know."
Rex started to shake his head but Kurt answered, "Yes, please, someone tell me and stop being so damn mysterious!"
Strangely enough, the tension in the room eased a bit at this sign of fire from the singer and Xavier nodded. "Do you remember hitting Anderson earlier?"
He winced at how wide Kurt's eyes became and, if anything, the singer grew even paler. He watched as memory seeped into the blue-green eyes and Kurt's mouth rounded into an 'o'. "Oh, god, yes, I-I think I broke his nose!"
Xavier's eyes flickered to where Anderson was lying and he nodded. "Yeah, well, he has more to worry about now."
Kurt looked confused and as if the nausea was returning but he gulped and asked, "Why, what happened?"
Julian came over, making his way between the members of the company who were standing around, seemingly unable to move away from the small tableau formed by Kurt, Rex and Xavier.
Julian's voice was cold, nothing like his usual sound as he answered Kurt. "Cooper Anderson threw you over the balcony. He was waiting in the dark upstairs and he … just… threw you over."
He was shaking by the time he'd finished gritting out the words and someone put a hand on his arm and he stopped. He took a deep breath. "Xavier reached you, just as you hit the couch… but you fell off onto the floor."
Xavier took up the narrative then. "You must have hit your head on the arm of the couch because you were out for a few minutes. How do you feel now?"
Kurt touched a hand to his head but he didn't wince; his head was a little tender but nothing he didn't feel with a hangover. "Not bad, thank you. Oh, shit, you mean Cooper tried to… to kill me?"
Xavier stared at him, unspoken words that Kurt was sure said 'I told you so' swimming in the ebony depths. The dark-skinned agent shrugged. "I dunno; what would you call it?"
Conversation had started up again after Xavier finished talking and Kurt looked around the room, not seeing Cooper. "Where… what happened to him… after…?"
One of the other men cursed quietly, venomously and then turned to look at the far wall. "The bastard got what was coming to him, innit?"
Kurt gasped and his hand went to his head, his eyes widening in horror. "Wh-what? No, you didn't…!"
Another guy spoke up, looking as if he would really have loved to have another go at the crumpled man. "No, we didn't finish him off; we're waiting for the police."
Cooper groaned and stirred, pain exploding in every part of his body, not just his face like earlier. He could hear voices but not well and it felt as if he were lying on the floor. He realized it would be better if he just stayed still and he groaned again as something (someone) hit his leg hard.
Kurt, hearing the groan and finally realizing it was Cooper, frowned and then muttered as the pain came back a little more forcefully. Xavier lifted the cup to his lips and he took a grateful sip before sitting back. He thanked Julian when he handed him two Tylenol which he took with the tea.
"Wh-what's g-going to happen to him now?" He looked at Rex and then at Xavier and Julian. He tried to hold back a shiver but he couldn't and someone dashed away only to return in seconds with a blanket from the back of one of the couches. It was draped around him and he sighed in gratitude.
Rex's face hardened as he glanced over at where Anderson was and frowned down at Kurt. "He's going to be charged with attempted murder."
The emergency medical technicians checked Kurt over before moving to deal with Cooper's multiple bruises and abrasions from the fists and feet of the company members. They finished up quickly and then it was the turn of the polizia who questioned everyone who had seen even just a part of the incident.
Anderson was removed under the furious eyes of the group, Rex walking outside with the senior police officer and giving him Anderson's personal details and an outline of the incident. No one in the group knew how the police operated in Italy but since no one had any sympathy for the man, they didn't much care what happened to him.
Kurt had been adamant that Cooper not be charged with attempted murder but aggravated assault. He had frowned most ferociously when Julian and Xavier had attempted to change his mind but as he had been the one to hit Cooper hard enough to damage him in the first place, he saw the man's retaliation as something that fell within that purview and not that of attempted murder.
The police officer had written everything down and when leaving had informed Kurt that after Cooper had been charged, the public prosecutor, Signor Lorenzo Vezzelli would start an investigation. The policeman stressed to Rex that Kurt would have to be present for Cooper's pre-trial, his udienza preliminare, the date of which Kurt would be informed within the next week as legally they couldn't hold Cooper for very long.
Everyone had shuffled discontentedly at that as it meant a pall would hang over the rest of their vacation. Rex had nodded, however, and gone outside with the police when they took Anderson away.
Julian and Xavier escorted Kurt upstairs to bed and since they were sharing a room, kept watch through the night, just in case. Kurt, when he'd realized that they were going to sleep in shifts, had smiled sadly but gratefully. He really felt better when they were there and he wondered, as he drifted off, if he would ever return to a normal existence. Maybe falling in love with one of the world's youngest billionaires came with a number of issues but he couldn't care less. Loving David was well worth it.
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KHDK
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Dave rubbed his chest as he listened to Xavier's calm voice over the phone, his brows furrowed in a massive frown. When the agent had called to tell him about Kurt, for a split second he'd thought Kurt was dead and all the blood had drained from his head. He'd collapsed into the nearest chair and his hand shook as he held the phone. The relief he felt when Xavier had gone on to explain everything had been followed by nausea and now he sipped at a snifter of brandy as the man continued his report.
"So he can't come home right now? I will see you later then… and don't tell him I'm coming, please."
He gave further instructions before ringing off and then called Puck at his flat. Within minutes the other man had called him back to let him know he and Devon would come with him and that Dave should meet them at Heathrow by 5 a.m. Dave smiled in relief that Puck, with his years of experience in the U.S. Army and then as his chief of security, could mobilise within the shortest time possible.
With his mind a little more settled, he let Mrs. Lawrence know that he would be joining Kurt who had suffered a minor accident. The housekeeper had roused herself when she'd heard the phone ringing and provided the brandy for her employer who seemed to have suffered a bit of a shock. Now she nodded and asked him to pass on her best wishes to Kurt for a speedy recovery.
Dave's mind was a hotbed of anger, guilt and remorse. Xavier had explained about the incidents and Kurt's breaking Cooper's nose and now he felt that if he hadn't egged the man on, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. He hurried through his ablutions, threw some clothes in a bag and within a half hour he had the driver get the car ready to take him to meet Puck.
He turned to the worried women, Eddy having joined Mrs. L., and explained that he didn't know when he'd be back but that he would keep them informed. He really didn't want to see them in tears so he hurried through his farewells and headed out to the car, remembering to leave voicemail messages for both Marty and Monica. It wasn't normal for him to dash out of the country in the wee hours so he had to inform his people to hold things down, especially any news that might leak into the press.
Marty, in particular, had a few more things to sort out: he needed to retain a firm in Milan for whatever legal representation Kurt would need. He would also have to get in touch with their own lawyer they retained, Lynnette Miles Forrester, Q.C. and give her a heads up as to what was happening. If needs be, she might have to fly out to Milan to oversee the situation. Dave would feel better if he had a familiar legal representative, anyway, no matter how excellent a firm Marty found in Milan.
Puck and Devon were waiting for him and the men silently went through their pre-flight checks before they were ready to leave. Dave sat, deep in thought, only smiling when the steward brought his coffee, although he refused the pastry and fruit he was offered. Kurt was the only thing on his mind and he was really too wrought up to eat anything. Food could wait – he only wanted to see Kurt.
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KHDK
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The beautiful morning dawned fresh and clean, almost as if nature were trying to wipe away the sordid events of the night before. Kurt, his headache having receded to a much more manageable level, had risen with the sun, looking over to see Julian watching him from an armchair. He simply smiled at the blond and gone into the en suite to take care of business, his mind turning almost immediately to Cooper. He couldn't help but regret his part in the whole affair and as bits and pieces of the night's events came back to him, he finally agreed with Rex that he could have handled things differently.
He sighed though and as he stepped out of the shower, he wiped the fogged-up mirror clear and stared at himself. His eyes looked normal, at least the pupils were even so the concussion had been pretty minor, but the shadows beneath them made him look more fragile than he actually felt.
Well, he said cynically, that's what makeup is for, isn't it? He shook his head at himself and donned his robe before exiting the steamy bathroom. Julian had left and only Xavier was on the other bed so Kurt slipped quickly into his clothes for the day, wondering if they would have to go to the police station that morning.
As he tended to his unruly hair, Julian returned with a tray loaded with tea, rolls, fruit and a little pot of conserves that someone had located in the pantry. Kurt smiled at the blond as the man set the tray down on the coffee table.
"Please, Julian, join me?" When the agent nodded and took one of the other armchairs, Kurt smiled at him softly. "I want to thank you for being so patient with me," he coloured as he hated to admit when he was wrong. "Xavier had actually warned me that this might happen." He waved his hand at the shocked blond. "Oh, not that he would attempt to kill me, just that he might snap."
He took a sip of the sweet herbal tea and sighed as the hot liquid made itself felt on its way down. "I'm afraid I was a bit too overconfident. I just didn't expect things to go this far, y'know?"
Julian put his teacup down and nodded as he looked at Kurt sadly. "You'd be surprised at the things people can do in the spur of the moment." He looked down at his hands and then back at Kurt. "What do you want to do now; stay here or go back to Milan?"
Kurt sighed as he sat back, curling his legs up under him and staring out at the lightening day, the birdsong sweet and piercing in the still air. He shook his head and then winced, realizing he would have to take another dose of the painkillers shortly.
"Oh, I don't know… I guess we'll have to see what the police want us to do. I've never been in quite this situation before so I'll have to play it by ear."
Julian nodded and helped himself to a roll, stifling a tiny yawn after he'd eaten it. Kurt, noticing the aborted yawn, smiled at him and nodded towards the bed. "You can go ahead if you want to… I'll just go out on the terrace and let this beautiful morning overwrite the ghastly night I've had."
He grinned at the uncertain look on Julian's face but it fell as the man shook his head.
"No, thank you. I think I'll wait until Xavier is up and then I'll take my turn," Julian looked seriously at Kurt. He knew David was on his way, probably with Puck and Devon and he didn't want Kurt to be without at least one of them until the others arrived.
Kurt pouted, standard response to not getting his way, but nodded eventually. "Oh well, I'll take this tray down and then head out to the terrace. You will be joining me to see that none of the birds try to assault me?"
He softened the cheeky words with a little grin at the blond, happy when the man returned it with a smile. They headed downstairs, Julian holding the door for him as he headed out to return the tea things and then they went out onto the terrace. Julian snagged the blanket Kurt had been given the night before and when he sat in one of the deckchairs, laid it across Kurt's legs.
Kurt couldn't hold back the giggle as he thanked the other man. "Oh, wow, now I feel like one of those old folks taken out to get the sun. Thank you for making me feel old, Julian!"
The other man simply shook his head, secretly glad that the previous night's events hadn't dampened Kurt's spirits. He knew his feelings for Kurt were still somewhat compromised but he didn't care. As long as he was on hand to protect him or provide any aid at all, he was fine. Kurt would never return his feelings but he found that the thought was becoming less painful as time went on. In fact, he rather fancied himself a knight of old who would carry a tendresse for his liege's lady, not expecting anything from her in return for his devotion.
He berated himself after a while for his fancifulness and smiled as he watched Kurt turn his face toward the rising sun. The air was really fresh and the scent of the bushes and flowers was just beginning to make itself known. It was a beautiful morning and Julian hoped it was a just a herald of the days to come.
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KHDK
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Dave, Puck and Devon had landed at Milan Malpensa, the closest airport to Lake Como and were now headed up to the villa. The mood inside the limousine was somber but Dave was determined that Kurt would not see how much the night's events had scared him. Within an hour he would see his love again and then they would decide what they wanted to do. He wouldn't force him to leave if he didn't want to but he was going to do everything within his power to persuade him to do so, at least after whatever hearing or trial was held. He was tired of people trying to hurt the man he loved.
Puck had spoken with Xavier and Julian when they had landed in Milan while Devon was dealing with the limo company and let them know that they were in Italy and on their way. He'd instructed them to keep Kurt occupied and away from the front of the house if possible. Xavier had grinned at that and told him he would try to get Kurt to take a nap, citing his ordeal and that he had no idea Dave was on his way.
Now Dave was tapping his knee, the nervous energy using this route to escape as he stared out at the beautiful scenery whizzing past them. His eyes were turned inward though as his mind dwelt on his fiancé. In a way he was glad that he had an excuse to see Kurt even though he could pop over to Italy any time he wanted. His schedule was pretty much of his own making but he'd never been in love before and he had not wanted to crowd the beautiful singer.
If he'd had his druthers, Kurt would never have returned to the company but he couldn't act like some medieval husband with Kurt. The singer would have his balls for cufflinks or something if he ever tried to act his lord and master, that was a given. Still, he wished he could have him entirely to himself, sharing him with his family and friends only occasionally. He sighed and then sat forward in anticipation as the road signs started to indicate their proximity to the villa.
As the long vehicle turned onto the steep, winding driveway, he stared up at the massive building, taking in the façade of field stone that glowed warmly in the bright sunlight. He didn't own any properties in the Italian Lake District, finding it too much of a haven for celebrities of all sorts but looking at the house now, he found he wanted to rethink that decision.
Finally they pulled up in front of the wide, shallow steps that led up to a small porch framing huge dark doors. Rex, who had been informed by Xavier that David was on his way, opened them and stepped outside, anxiety clear on his drawn features and Dave felt a pang of sympathy for the older man. Clearly the night's events had taken their toll on the AD and Dave hurried to greet him. He didn't want the man to think he in any way held him responsible for what had happened to Kurt.
"David, thank heavens you've arrived." Rex held his hand out and Dave grasped it warmly, shaking it firmly and then moving aside so he could introduce Puck as his security consultant and Devon as Puck's associate.
The three men moved with Rex inside the cool, slightly darker interior of the beautiful old villa and looked around at some of the company members who were lounging there. The slight buzz of conversation tapered off as Kurt's colleagues stared at David, Puck and Devon. Rex waved a hand toward them and informed the curious watchers who their visitors were.
Some recalled seeing David at the opening night drinks party and nodded in acknowledgement; the others stared in avid curiosity. Rex guided the men towards the stairs, chatting quietly with David and telling him what the police had said. Dave nodded but in truth, his mind was on Kurt and only Kurt. He longed to see him and couldn't wait.
Rex led them along the upstairs corridor, trying not to glance at the spot where Anderson had thrown Kurt over and moved quickly to the doors at the end of the corridor. Knocking softly, he stepped back as Xavier opened it and nodded quickly at the visitors. He stepped aside, allowing them to enter and Dave's eyes were immediately drawn to Kurt.
He alone stepped forward to look down at the man who had fallen asleep on the couch, his pale hands clutching the magazine he'd obviously been looking at when sleep had stolen him away. A soft smile wreathed Dave's face that was a mix of love, affection and relief. Kurt didn't look injured and apart from the faint shadows that Dave could see beneath the long lashes, he looked wonderful.
He turned to smile his thanks at Rex and nodded at Puck and Devon who came up beside him to gaze down at Kurt. Puck grinned at the little snore that suddenly came from the singer and he clapped Dave on the shoulder before pulling Devon away. They needed to give the two some privacy and with that in mind, he left with the other men in tow.
Dave was grateful for Puck's considerate action and after staring down at Kurt for a couple of minutes, decided to take a seat and wait him out. He didn't have long to wait, maybe forty minutes before Kurt sighed and stretched, the magazine sliding from his lap onto the floor.
Kurt grabbed for the magazine he'd been looking at – the latest Italian Vogue issue – hoping to catch it before it fell when he realized someone was watching him. He turned his head slightly upward to look behind him as the person apparently was seated in the armchair beside the sofa and he gasped at the familiar features.
"David? David!"
Without a word Dave moved to sit beside Kurt and hauled the laughing singer onto his lap and held on. His heart had started hammering when Kurt had stirred and now to hear his voice after the scare he'd had was almost too much to handle. He buried his face in Kurt's neck as they held each other tightly and all the anger, fear and grief poured out of him now.
"I am going to kill him."
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TBC
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