PREVIOUSLY: Michael Baxter, who is part of the Baxter family running the World Championships of Show Choirs, decided that he wants to build a team of his own, and his idols growing up were the New Directions. 10 years ago the New Directions imploded because of some scandal. They all left and no one knows where they have all disappeared to, until now. Michael using his resources has found 13 of the 16. He only has Kurt, Mercedes and Rachel left to find.

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And now the continuation:

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PART 12 - A BROKEN DIRECTION

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Knowing that the last New Direction Alumni, Rachel Berry, had been located, did not make it any easier on Michael Baxter, who to spend his Saturday and Sunday back in Dallas, Texas working on his own work which was critical for success to keep his own work going. It couldn't wait an extra week. These things normally don't.

Even though he could now start winding down from gallivanting across the good old USA, he still had 3 final places to get to. Kurt Hummel was in Bismark, North Dakota. Mercedes Jones was in Seeley Lake, Montana, and Rachel Berry was in Augusta, Maine.

He was chomping at the bit to get going again, so when he finally finished the final part of his work on late Sunday afternoon, he sent it straight to his oldest brother Jack, who was overseeing the report, and he was able to sign off on it.

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Jack knew that this would be the final week of Michael's search and find mission, which had gone on for a month. The fact that he had signed 12 out of 13 former New Directions showed Jack how hard that Michael had to work to just get a yes. He also the knew the fact Michael never got Will Schuester, was hurting him.

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So the final week, the 4th Week started, and Michael was spending the first half of the week going to see Hummel, Jones, and Berry, and trying to get them to agree to rejoining. Would he have to lie to do it? If it got to it, he would have to, then worry about the consequences later. He then would spend the last few days making sure his place was ready for next week. The first initial meeting of the New Directions Alumni in over 10 years. It was The Showdown.

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BISMARK, NORTH DAKOTA

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Monday morning came, and Michael flew into Bismark, North Dakota, and booked himself a flight to Seeley Lake, Montana for the following morning. He headed to his hotel to freshen up and prepared to meet Kurt Hummel.

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According to his notes Kurt Hummel, had been living in Bismark, for two years. He had brought himself a bar, and for some reason it was near closing. Every time it got to that point, he would call his father, Burt, and ask for money. Any time when Burt received a call from his son, it was few and far between, so it was magical. He always gave Kurt the money without asking what it was for. So the bar was funded at least by Burt.

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Michael pulled up to a stop outside the pub. It was called 'Porcelains'. It had been a running joke between the crazy high school teacher Sue Sylvester, and Kurt back in High School, and seemingly Kurt decided to use this as a name for the pub.

Michael thought the pub was in the middle of prime real estate. But the pub itself looked run down. There was a lot of foot traffic, and everyone seemed to avoid 'Porcelains' as though it was plagued.

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Michael walked into 'Porcelains', most of the area was dimly lit, bar the bar itself. It didn't feel like a good atmosphere. He walked over to the bar, and looked at the Bar Tender who looked bored. He smiled at the Bar Tender, and the Bar Tender walked over.

"Wow a customer. What can I get for you?"

"I'll have a lemonade with ice please. You don't get many customers?"

"Coming right up," said the Bar Tender "Nah it's been real slow for the last 6 months or so."

The Bar Tender made the drink and brought it over and gave it to Michael.

"That will be $5."

Michael handed the Bar Tender a $100 note "Keep the change."

"Wow... thanks," replied the Bar Tender realizing what the note was "I haven't had tip like that in months."

"Enjoy," smiled Michael taking a sip of his drink "I'm also looking for your boss, a... Mr Hummel?"

"He's over there," said the Bar Tender pointing to the far end of the room "He basically sits there the whole entire time, day after day after day,"

"Thank," replied Michael taking another sip

Michael looked at the back of the room. It was bathed in darkness. Except for what looked like light from a lap top. Michael looked hard, and could see an outline of a figure sitting in front of the lap top.

"That's pretty morbid," said Michael, he thought to himself.

"Yeah you're telling me," replied the Bar Tender

Michael took another sip, and walked into the dim part of the pub.

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He approached the table, and what he saw really made his heart sink. Sitting there was indeed Kurt Hummel, but he was fully bearded now, and it was very scruffy, His hair was longer too and also scruffy. But what gave it away were Kurt's eyes and face. It was like Kurt Hummel when he was younger, but the 10 years had certainly played their part, as he looked a little older, and way more sad, and lonesome.

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"Mr Hummel?" asked Michael walking up to the table

Kurt looked up "That's me."

"May I have a few minutes of your time please, Mr Hummel?"

"Of course you can. I'm stuck anyway. I'm trying to write my memoirs."

Michael sat down "Oh cool. That's good. Where are you stuck at?"

"The beginning," said Kurt truthfully

"Well, how long have you been trying to write for?"

"2 Years! Every day for 2 years!"

Wow, Kurt did seem to be in a bad way.

"Anyway?" said Kurt "What are you after?"

Michael saw an opening, and as usual he saw one, he took it.

"I could possibly help with your writing block Mr Hummel, and your memoirs, by creating a newer one!"

"How so?" asked Kurt

"My name is Michael Baxter. My family is running the World Championship of Show Choirs."

"Show Choir?" said Kurt "That takes me back, I use to be in a show choir. Those were the days. Long... Long... Long... ago."

Kurt was drifting off in his thoughts.

"I know you were," Michael said trying to snap Kurt out of his thoughts "I grew up watching Show Choirs. In particular the New Directions."

"New Directions..." replied Kurt looking at his computer screen as though as he watching the television "I was... in... New Directions."

"Yes Mr Hummel... That's why I am here."

"Why? Why are you here?"

"I'm running my own team in the World Show Choir competition, Mr Hummel, and I want you to be on it."

Kurt just stared at the screen some more. "Wait... what?"

"I'm running a team in the World Show Choir competition. and I would like you to be on it."

"Why me?"

"You had a unique high voice Mr Hummel, there's not many males with those high voices who could sing as well as you."

"What makes... you think... that I can sing Mr Baxter? Let along sing high?" It's been 10 years."

"It's like second nature Mr Hummel, it should come back naturally!"

"Can you sing Mr Baxter?"

"Unfortunately I can't."

"Then what gives you the credentials to say if a voice can come back to normal after a 10 year hiatus?"

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Even though Kurt had a point, he wasn't in the head space to really believe that. So Michael had to stay on the front foot.

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"That maybe true Mr Hummel, but I have been a great student of watching Show Choirs over the years, and so I have an ear which can pick up who is a good singer, and who isn't, and who has the ability to pick it up again. That to me are my credentials."

Kurt just sat there looking like he had been beaten.

"That's fair enough... Touche,"

"You are a idol of mine, Mr Hummel," said Michael going in for the kill "It pains me to see you sitting across from me wasting away. You had everything going for you and then whatever happened with the New Directions 10 years ago, affected you hard, and you haven't been able to recover from it. I'm not trying to judge you, so if it sounds like I am, I apologize, but I am offering you a way back. Redemption."

Kurt took the bait "Redeem myself? How?"

Michael got up, and searched for a light switch and found one.

"Excuse me if this hurts."

Michael turned the switch on, and the light was so bright that Kurt had to shield his eyes. Michael quickly sat down and opened his briefcase.

"As I said before I'm building my own Show Choir team, and I want you to be a part of the team. I want you so bad, that I'm going to offer you a $1 Million contract. $100,000 of that you will receive instantly in your bank account once you sign. The rest, $900,000 you will receive next week when you come to my home in Dallas, Texas, for the first team meeting."

Michael waited for Kurt's reaction. It was a little slow in responding.

"Did you just say $1 Million?"

"Correct. I'd even throw in an extra Million to buy this place off of you. This is sitting on primate real estate land."

Kurt looked around at his pub.

"Are you serious?"

"Very."

Kurt's eyes had adjusted, and he looked around some more around the pub. He was also deep in thought.

"I suppose it's fallen down during my period of self-indulgence," replied Kurt who felt he had some how awaken from a slumber "If I sell I have a couple of conditions."

"Sure, Just a couple?"

"Yes."

"What are they?"

"It stays a pub, it keeps the name 'Porcelain's' and I get 10 percent profit."

"That's 3," said Michael

"It is. So if you want me for your team Mr Baxter, I'll sign providing you agree to those 3 conditions."

Michael sat back smiling. If it hadn't been for Kurt's overall disposition, and the way he was at the beginning, Michael thought that he'd just been played.

"Very well Mr Hummel," Michael said taking out a contract from his briefcase. "I'll say yes. I'll have my lawyers get something drawn up, and get it to you in the next 48 hours, for your signature. Here's the contract to join my team."

Kurt gave a small smile. "If you think I can my voice back, and you believe in me that much, then, why not give it a try again, and get my redemption back."

Kurt took the contract and signed it, Michael got on his phone and texted a number.

"You're initial $100,000 is now in your account,"

"Good, good," replied Kurt giving the contract back

Michael put the contract in his briefcase, and passed a card to Kurt.

"The details on the card is for the meeting next week in Dallas, just let me know your flight details, and I'll get one of my assistants, to pick you up, at the airport."

"Very good."

Michael got up, and held out his hand, and Kurt shook it.

"Like I said, I'll get my lawyers to send you through the contract within 48 hours for this place. It's a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Hummel."

"Well I need to judge next week if I can still handle something like this, but it show be okay."

Michael smiled, as he closed his briefcase "I'll see you next week then Mr Hummel."

Kurt nodded. "Be a gem, and turn the light off on your way out... please."

Michael walked over to the switch, and turned the light back off. He then headed to the bar, and placed his glass back on the counter, and looked at the Bar Tender.

"This place will get better with me in charge, and you can keep your job."

"Thank you. This place needs working on."

"It will be."

Michael turned and looked back in the direction of where Kurt was. He was still sitting in the dark. Michael shook his head, and left.

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There are now two more New Directions Alumni left to sign up. Mercedes Jones, and Rachel Berry. What shape are they in? After clearly Kurt Hummel's shock of changed characteristics. Stay tuned as Mercedes Jones is up next.