Chapter 63: Thanksgiving

"Why are you whispering?" Nigel lowered his own voice.

"Rachel's sleeping."

"No, I'm not." Rachel's voice was scratchy from tears. "You can tell Nigel."

Kurt sent Nigel a helpless look, and then turned away from the laptop. "Why don't you come and talk to him yourself?"

Nigel mouthed 'what?', and waited as Kurt shifted out of screen, and Rachel appeared. Kleenex in hand, eyes burnt from tears, hair mussed, this wasn't a Rachel that Nigel had ever seen before. "What happened?"

"Finn happened!" Rachel glared into the screen. "He says he can't let me ruin my life. He dumps me. I don't hear from him for months, not one text or email. And then he shows up just when I'm actually starting to get over him."

Kurt's head slid into view. "He turned up when Rache was having dinner with Brody."

Rachel's face replaced Kurt's. "And then he had the nerve to ask me if anything was going on with Brody, after totally disappearing on me!"

Kurt played Jack-in-the-Box again. "They broke up last night."

"I don't know why I'm so upset! It's totally ridiculous! He broke up with me last June."

Nigel could see how wrecked she was. "Wow! Really bad timing! I'm sorry, Rachel."

Rachel sniffed. "Yeah."

"What did Brody say?"

"He left when Finn showed up. He said to call him."

"So call him."

Kurt didn't pop into view but Nigel could hear his voice. "Stop crying. Get in the shower, and call him."

Nigel watched Rachel's profile as she talked to Kurt. "I can't call him. I'm a mess."

"That's what the shower's for, go."

Kurt was back in centre screen. Rachel's voice faded as she got farther away from the laptop. "What am I going to say to him?"

Kurt mouthed 'OMG' at Nigel and turned to call after Rachel. "Say what you always say, the first thing that comes out of your mouth!"

Nigel had to smile at the snark in Kurt's voice. His boyfriend had obviously run out of patience. "Rough day?"

"Try a rough two days. I thought she was never going to stop crying!" Kurt relaxed back against the pillows on his bed. "I have a strict twenty-four hour policy on sympathy."

Nigel grinned. "You're strict about a lot of things." Just to make sure Kurt got the double entendre, Nigel let images show in his eyes.

"Not lately!" Kurt barked out a laugh. "The guy who needs my hand is in Boston."

"Moi?"

Kurt laughed. "What's new at Sovereign Bank?"

"We just had our six month employee evaluations. Apparently, I am 'passing all expectations'."

"Congratulations! That's awesome! Does that mean you can get your transfer soon?"

"I don't know, Kurt. It may make it harder. They may not want to let me go, now."

"Nigel!" Kurt was pissed. "So screw up already!"

"Kurt, I'll get there. I promise, even if I have to work for another bank. Okay?"

"I swear to Dior, Nigel, if you're not here next year, I'm transferring to a school in Boston."

"You love Parsons!"

"Yes, I do. So get your ass here, Dennison."

Nigel laughed. "Yes, sir."

Kurt smiled at the image on his screen. "I like the sound of that."

"Me too."

"When are you coming in?" Burt hated Skype.

"I haven't booked my flight yet. I want to co-ordinate with Nigel. But we'll be there Wednesday night sometime."

"Do you want Finn to pick you up at the airport?" Burt looked around the kitchen to make sure no one was around. "Say yes, he's going crazy around here. He doesn't know what to do with himself."

Kurt shrugged. "If he doesn't mind the drive, sure."

"He won't mind. He needs to talk to someone besides us anyway."

"I don't think I can help on this one, Dad."

"I know, I know." Burt took his baseball cap off, and scrubbed the top of his head before putting it back on. "Just let him talk, okay?"

"No problem. I'll text both of you our flight information, when I book. Gotta go, Dad."

"Don't forget. You know how Carole gets at the holidays."

Kurt smiled as he ended the call. Right, like Carole was the one who worried overtime!

Nigel grabbed his carry-on, and followed a trail of passengers off the plane. He ignored the baggage carousels in favour of the exit signs. The glass doors slid open and Nigel scanned the crowd looking for a thin young man, with the most amazing … Kurt! Nigel's eyes zeroed in on Kurt and he didn't have to see anything else. His feet kept moving but that was mere chance, his eyes never veered from the lithe mirage in front of him. He kept walking until Kurt exploded against him. Kurt's arms locked around him, and his mouth claimed him. Nigel's hands skittered over Kurt, lightning touches over the younger man's back, and shoulders, and into his hair, every touch confirmation that Kurt was finally there.

"Jeeze, bro, the guy has to breathe."

Finn's amused complaint pried the boys apart. Kurt turned to face his step-brother. Nigel kept his arm tight across his boyfriend's chest, holding Kurt close, Kurt's back to his chest. "No I don't." Nigel laughed. "Hey, Finn."

Nigel opened the back door on Finn's old clunker. He tossed his carry-on across the back seat and followed it in, reaching for the seat belt. Kurt wasn't happy about it, but he took the front passenger seat. What he really wanted to do, was crawl into the back seat with Nigel, over Nigel. But he couldn't leave Finn sitting alone in the front seat like he was some kind of chauffer, not when his step-brother had been nice enough to drive out here to get them. Kurt talked to himself as he clicked his seat belt in place. Nigel was here, in another hour they'd be home, and … he corralled his thoughts. Soon!

"Carole must be glad you're home!"

"Yeah." Finn nodded, and looked over his shoulder, as he backed out of the parking space. Eyes searching for the red exit signs, he didn't see Kurt move. The swat to the back of his head took him by surprise. "Hey! What the hell did you do that for?"

"Like you don't know! What were you thinking? Do you know how worried Carole was? We all were?"

"I told her I was fine." Finn made a pathetic attempt to defend himself.

"No, you didn't. You sent her a text! You run off to join the army, and you send a text! Nice!"

"Okay, I screwed up. Is that what you want to hear?" Finn had not forgotten that Nigel was in the back seat. He just didn't care. Nigel was practically family.

"No, actually. I want to know what you're going to do now."

Finn merged onto the highway. "I have no fucking idea!" He glanced over at Kurt. "Rachel told you what happened, right? Can you believe it? I couldn't even get through basic training!"

It might still be too soon, but Kurt thought that Finn had done enough wallowing. "Easily! Co-ordination has never been a particular talent of yours. And guns? Please!"

Finn snapped a look at Kurt. The hurt and angry words died on his lips when he saw the teasing smile and sympathetic, understanding in Kurt's eyes. An unwilling smile twitched at Finn's lips. "Maybe."

"I'm sorry it didn't work out. You'll find something else, preferably something that doesn't involve ammunition."

"I don't know, Kurt. I'm totally lost. No life, no plan to get a life, and no Rachel."

Nigel listened to the two brothers in the front seat. He knew they were talking about Finn's lack of direction, but he wasn't really paying attention. He was listening to the soothing hum of Kurt's voice. The cadence of Kurt's speech was music to Nigel. The soft tones vibrated down his spine, whispering, promising. Soon!

It was well past midnight, when they pulled into the drive-way. They kept their voices down as they entered the house. Burt and Carole had long since gone to bed.

"Thanks, Finn. See you in the morning."

"Night, Finn."

"Night, guys."

"Finally!" Nigel unzipped Kurt, as he walked backwards towards the bed. Falling onto the mattress, he tugged Kurt down with him.

Eyes dark and bodies tense with need, they were trains hurtling towards each other, dark, dangerous, shattering. Now, now, now! Kurt thought the words were his own thoughts blasting to every cell in his body. But as he hovered over Nigel, and his boyfriend dragged his legs back and angled his hips up, Kurt realized the words were also a litany falling from Nigel's lips, a prayer, and a command.

Panting, slamming into each other, Kurt reached for Nigel, and stroked, his hand moving in sync with his body. "Come with me, Nigel, now!"

Thanksgiving Day was divided between the families. Laughter, and hugs, and way too much turkey! Glass in hand, Carole stood and smiled at the faces around the table. "I'm thankful for all the men in my life." Kurt scanned the table, and realized with a jolt of surprise that, yes, without Rachel; Carole was the only woman at the table. "I'm thankful that all my boys are here." She looked at Finn. "Safe and…" She looked at Kurt and Nigel. "… happy, and home." She leaned over and dropped a kiss on Burt's lips. "I'm thankful for the man who made all this possible."

In the end, of course, the long weekend wasn't long enough. Finn drove them back to the airport. Kurt clicked his seat belt open, and hugged his step-brother. Nigel opened the back door. "Thanks, Finn. See you at Christmas."

Kurt stood on the pavement, holding the car door open, as he ducked his head to speak to Finn. "Go talk to Mr. Schue. You guys were always close."

Finn nodded, and waved Kurt off. "Go, see you at Christmas."

Nigel and Kurt went through security together. They sat beside each other, hands clasped, leaning into each other.

"Flight 564 to Boston, now boarding. Passengers in aisles 12 through 24 please proceed to the counter, boarding passes ready."

Nigel stood. "That's me." He pulled Kurt close, his hand brushing Kurt's hair back, and lingering along the younger man's face. "Just a few more weeks, and you'll be in Boston."

Kurt nodded. "I'll catch the first train, after my last exam." He turned his head and kissed Nigel's hand. "We'll have a week, before we have to come back to Lima for Christmas."

Nigel brushed Kurt's lips with his own. "Have some fun, please. I love you."

Kurt tightened his arms around Nigel, not wanting to let go, ever. He stepped back, and smiled, and called out to Nigel as his Boston Boy walked away. "Nigel, remember."

Nigel turned, and grinned. "I'm yours. I know."