Two Steps Beyond

Part 108

It was late in the morning on Thursday when Sebastian was walking across campus with Nate and John, discussing what they had in mind for the weekend when they all stopped. "Did you guys hear that?" Nate asked.

"I thought I heard something." Sebastian replied before they started walking again. But soon they heard it again and stopped once more. This time though, they all turned around and Sebastian saw Hunter running towards them.

"About fucking time!" Hunter said out of frustration once he reached them. "You'd think you would've stopped sooner when someone's yelling for you."

"Everything okay Seb?" John asked.

"Yea, Hunter's a friend of mine. I'll catch up with you later." Once they started to walk away Sebastian looked at Hunter. "What's so important?"

"Cass has been trying to reach you for the last hour. But you haven't checked your phone. So she asked me to find you. The senator is holding a press conference in ten minutes."

"Why?"

"Cass is pretty sure he's resigning over what's going on. Unlike the DA who's denying any wrong doing, he's owning up to what he did. It seems we only heard part of the backlash he had to face. People are furious that he's such a starch supporter of gay rights yet he let his son basically get away with a hate crime. If we hurry we should be able to make it to the student union before it starts." As they started walking Sebastian glanced at Hunter.

"Was Cass able to get a hold of Blaine?"

"She was after a few tries, and you might want to let Michael know. I'm sure he'd be pleased with what's happening." Sebastian nodded and took out his phone to send Michael a text as they continued towards the union.

Upon reaching it, it seemed as though quite a few people had heard what was happening as the union was full and the upcoming press conference was on every television. As they looked around for a place to get a good view and hopefully be able to hear what was said, they saw Michael waving to them. "I guess you got my message." Sebastian said as he and Hunter took each took a seat.

"Your timing couldn't have been better since I was already in here working. Shortly after I got your message my Dad called me. Does Blaine know what's going on?"

"He does." Sebastian replied. "How do you feel about all this?"

"It's kind of crazy, but in a way I expected it would happen. Now if only the DA would own up to what he did."

"I doubt that will happen." Hunter said. "The guy's a jackass."

"That's true. I think it's safe to say he probably won't be re-elected."

"Not if common decency prevails. Plus, his overall track record isn't that great." The three of them continued talking through the usual filler prior to every press conference. While they sat there, Sebastian glanced down at his phone upon receiving a text from Blaine asking if he was watching the conference. "Blaine?"

"Yea. He and Jeff are watching the press conference with Bryan. He was curious if I was watching as well. I'd rather be watching it with him."

"Understandable, but think of the conversation we can all have this evening. You know everyone is watching this if they weren't already in class."

"True."

"Shit, Trevor is with him." Michael stated after seeing him standing behind his Dad amongst his siblings. "I didn't think he'd show."

"He probably only showed because his face wasn't in the paper." Sebastian said.

"Or his parents made him." Hunter added. "Look at him; it's clear he doesn't want to be there." But soon all conversation in the union died down as the Senator began to speak.

"Good morning. I know many of you have been waiting for me to make a statement given what has recently come to light. And I'm sorry for making you wait so long. I will tell you that my actions are not something I'm proud of, as I never should've tried to circumvent the judicial system. While news reports have indicated my son was not punished he was, just not to the degree people feel he should've been."

As the senator spoke, Hunter glanced over at Sebastian and Michael and could see they were both livid at what they were hearing. For the senator to say his son was punished for his violent attack on Michael was a disgrace. Anyone with the slightest bit of knowledge of the incident knows that Trevor should've been put in jail for what he did.

"…and with that, I'm announcing that I'm stepping down from my seat in the senate."

"Senator! Senator Jackson! Is it true your son recently had another run-in with the law?" One of the reporters called out as soon as the senator announced his resignation.

The question came through crystal clear and Hunter turned in his seat and looked directly at Sebastian who sat beside him wide-eyed.

"I'm sorry, but I can't give you an answer at this time."

"So it's an ongoing legal matter?"

"No comment."

"Senator!"

As the reporters continued to call out to him, the senator and his family left the stage. "Will someone please tell me how they know about this?" Senator demanded from his staff.

"We don't know sir. Last check news of the incident hadn't made the papers. And wasn't anywhere online."

"Find out!" Soon staff members began researching as the Senator walked towards his son. "Please tell me you and those idiot friends of yours didn't brag about what you did?"

"Right, like I'm going to brag about getting punch by a faggot."

"When are you ever going to learn Trevor? Your ignorance has cost me a career I work long and hard for."

"You didn't have to resign. People would've soon forgotten. It's not like other politicians haven't done worse than protect their own kid."

"You have no idea what you did, do you? You just couldn't stay away from those boys, could you? Was I really asking that much from you? When you attacked Michael and I saved your ass it went against everything your Mom and I stand for."

"Aren't you the same person that taught me to embrace my beliefs growing up regardless of what others thought?"

"You're right, I did. But that was also at a time when your beliefs didn't hurt other people. Whether you agree with homosexuality or not, why do you lash out the way you do?"

"It's wrong and it's disgusting! And because of people like you, it's running prevalent. I can't walk down the street without seeing it. Why should I have to be witness to their gross displays?"

"Trevor, people see things all the time they don't like, but that doesn't give you the right to beat the crap out them because of it! And when you went after that Anderson boy, it wasn't because of something he did on the street; you sought him out specifically after I told you to leave him alone."

"Anderson thinks he's special because his actor brother stood up for him. He needs to know having an actor as a brother doesn't make him different from the rest."

"He didn't do anything for you to go after him."

"God, you should see the way he and Smythe flaunt their relationship. Constantly holding hands and kissing, it's nauseating."

"How would you know?" Trevor just stared at his Dad. "You didn't?"

"It wasn't necessarily me."

"But you orchestrated it. You had your friends follow those boys, didn't you? Didn't you?" When the senator slammed his fist on the table everyone looked to them but quickly turned away.

"You always told me to keep a close eye on those that have done me wrong."

"Neither of these boys have done anything to you! Smythe was still in high school when you got kicked off the lacrosse team and expelled from school. Your actions are what caused everything to happen to you, not him! While Anderson just happens to be his boyfriend. Had you even met him before you confronted him?" Trevor shook his head. He'd seen his Dad angry before, but things were heading into uncharted territory for him. "And from what I've read, Smythe would've been on the lacrosse team no matter what. The kid is a stud on the lacrosse field."

"Great, so you're following him."

"Not directly, I'm following my alma mater. And his name has been all over the sports highlights. Now, you're going to go directly home with your Mom while I try and find out how news of your latest indiscretion came to light."

"You can't keep me locked in the house Dad."

"As long as I'm supporting your ass I damn well can. It seems to be the only way to keep you out of trouble. And the last thing we can afford right now is you getting in trouble again."

The press conference had long ended and the three of them were still sitting in the union. "I can't believe he said Trevor got punished." Michael said quietly as to try and control how upset he was. "We know that wasn't the case. People that have done far less have received harsher punishments. Did you know he didn't even spend the night in jail?"

"How is that even possible?" Sebastian asked.

"His Dad. He got him released on bail so quickly if you had blinked you probably would've missed it. While I was stuck in a fucking hospital bed with tubes coming out of me, taped up ribs and more, he was sitting at home like nothing happened."

"I'm so sorry man." Hunter told him. "That's wrong on so many levels."

"The worst part wasn't for me, but that's probably because at that time I was so drugged up I didn't know better. But it tore my parents apart knowing he was at home." As Michael spoke he noticed Sebastian glance down at his phone. "Call him, I wouldn't mind."

"No, I don't need to. If he needs anything he'll call me. Plus Jeff is with him."

"Does Jeff know what's going on?"

"Jeff was there when Trevor went at him and Hunter here showed up while it was going on."

"Let me guess, Trevor wasn't alone."

"You're right, he wasn't. He had two friends with him." Hunter replied.

"Were they all going after Blaine?"

"No, it was just Trevor. The other two were trying to keep Jeff out of it."

"Is it safe to assume, Trevor wasn't the only one that beat you?" Sebastian asked.

"You're correct. Though his friends got harsher penalties, but none of them got what they deserved. Let me guess, your arrival surprised them Hunter."

"It did. Once I got them to let go of Jeff, he and I pulled Trevor off of Blaine."

"His friends didn't try and stop you?"

"Let's just say going to a military school granted me a bit of an advantage."

"Hunter, what exactly did you do?" Sebastian asked as he only thought Hunter had push the guys off of Jeff.

"Maybe after I pushed one of them away, I might've flipped him."

"You did what?"

"I flipped him. It's a basic maneuver, I didn't really think about it, just reacted."

"How did Jeff not tell me that?"

"Probably because he was dealing with the other guy and had his back towards me.. All he saw was the guy on the ground, not how he got there."

"That is something I would've loved to have seen." Michael told him.

"Safe to say he was surprised."

Once classes ended for the day, Hunter saw Sebastian sitting outside the lecture hall on one of the benches. "You alright Seb?"

"Oh, I didn't even see you."

"It's alright. You seem to be in your own little world right now."

"You could say that. Do you have time to talk or do you have to get to another class?"

"I'm done for the day actually; I was just going to head to the subway." Hunter replied as he sat down next to Sebastian. "So, what's going on?"

"This might sound stupid, but that press conference really pissed me off. I've barely been able to get it out of my head. Class would distract me but as soon as it was over it was back in the forefront."

"I could see how that's happening. I don't think I've heard that much bull spewed in a long time. While he tried to be remorseful for what he did, he kept trying to justify it at the same time. Have you spoken to Blaine since?"

"I spoke to him before my last class. He thought the presser was a bunch of bull as well. Said the only thing he didn't have a problem with was his resignation."

"He's not the only one that felt that way. The first class I had afterwards was my Civics class and it was the entire topic of conversation. While I doubt it's what my professor had in mind, he led a discussion about it since it seemed everyone watched it. I can happily say most people were on Michael's side while the rest were rather indifferent. Everyone basically felt the senator needs to be held responsible for what he did."

"We'll have to wait and see if that happens. The way the justice system works it could be years till that happens."

"Hopefully that won't be the case this time around. Why don't you go home and take a nap, you look exhausted."

"I'd love to, but I can't. I've got a ton of stuff to do. Maybe when I'm done with my homework."

"Hopefully, you get done early. Don't want you sleeping through what the girls have planned."

"Well, if I'm too tired, I just might have to skip it."

"You can't!" Hunter's quick response caught Sebastian off-guard.

"Excuse me; I'm sure they'd understand."

"Come on Seb, you know while Rachel and Santana might understand, you know Britt would be disappointed."

"That's not fair Hunter, using the Brittany card is playing dirty."

"I got my point across though, didn't I? You know she'd be upset."

"Do you know what they have planned?"

"Maybe."

"Hunter."

"Sorry, I've been sworn to secrecy. So, go take your ass home and take a quick nap before starting your homework. Do you need me to call you to wake you?"

"No, I'll set my alarm. Thanks though. I guess I'll see you later tonight."

"That you will. And remember Seb, dress appropriately."

When Blaine came home that afternoon, Sebastian was stretched out on the couch working on homework. "It's going to take a while seeing you here when I get home." Blaine said before leaning over the couch and giving him a kiss. "But it's a pleasant thing to adjust to."

"I'd hope so." Sebastian replied as he sat up a bit so Blaine could sit next to him. "How are you doing?"

"Better than the last time we spoke. You?"

"Good, besides being slightly tired."

"Take a nap."

"I did. Wish it could've been longer but I've got work to do. And before you say anything else no we can't skip out on tonight."

"Why is that?"

"Because I was reminded that Britt would be upset if we did."

"And who reminded you of that?"

"Hunter, and he's right she would be. While I could deal with Santana or Rachel being upset, I can't deal with an upset Britt."

"She's your weak spot Bas."

"Secondary weak spot, you're my first."

"That's questionable." The words had barely left Blaine's mouth and he found himself on his back with Sebastian lying above him. "Did I say something wrong?" The smirk on Blaine's face let Sebastian know he knew exactly what he did and soon Sebastian's lips were on his. Slowly the kiss deepened and it wasn't till Blaine tugged on Sebastian's shirt did it break. "What?"

"We can't."

"Give me one good reason."

"I've got homework."

"Not good enough." Blaine said before sliding his hands down till he could grab ahold of Sebastian's ass. As he pulled Sebastian against him, the softest of moans escaped Sebastian's lips. "Sounds like you want this as much as I do."

"Never said I didn't. The problem comes when I'd prefer to spend the rest of the day in bed with you and everything else becomes forgotten."

"What if I promise that won't happen?" Blaine told him. "Plus, as you were reminded we can't miss tonight so that means we need some self-control."

"Well then, what are we waiting for?"

By the time Blaine and Sebastian walked into the gym that evening they were more relaxed than they'd probably been since they'd gotten up this morning. "Do you know where we're supposed to go B?"

"Rachel's text said room two seventeen. And we better move hurry otherwise we'll be late." When they reached the room everyone, including Beat and Dave was inside, except for Santana and Hunter. "Please tell us Santana didn't go out looking for us."

"She didn't, but I'm sure she would've if you hadn't been here when she returned." Thad replied.

"Where's Hunter?" Sebastian asked.

"Don't know." Jeff said.

"So, Rach, Britt, care to tell us all why we're here?" Blaine asked as he looked around the room that only contained mats and mirrors.

"We're all taking a self-defense class." Santana said as she walked through the doorway.

"Excuse me?" Thad said.

"You heard me Thaddeus, we're taking a self-defense class…all of us so don't think you're leaving."

"Never said I was planning to leave. Care to tell us why?"

"After everything that's happened we, meaning me, Rachel, and Britt thought it best if we all learned to defend ourselves." Santana then looked over at Blaine who was leaning against Sebastian. "This isn't just about you Blaine. We should all be able to defend ourselves. Every one of us is at risk."

"We'd all been thinking about it, but after what happened with Trevor we realized we weren't the only ones that should take the class." Rachel added. "And since there are enough of us they agreed to host a private class."

"Now I know why Hunter was so adamant earlier." Sebastian said to no one in particular.

"Damn right I was adamant." They all looked towards the door as Hunter walked in with whom they could only assume was their instructor. "The girls are right, everyone can benefit from taking this class."

"After what you did to Trevor's buddies, it sounds like you don't need this class."

"He doesn't." Brittany replied. "But he wants to be here. He was willing to teach me, Santana, and Rachel, but when we mentioned the idea of all of us taking a class he thought this was the best way to do it."

"You were going to teach the girls how to defend themselves?" Jeff asked.

"I was. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all."

"So, are you guys' game to do this?" Hunter asked.

"Yes." Blaine replied. "They girls are right, we could all benefit from it."

"Cool." Once all the guys agreed, Hunter introduced their instructor for the evening. While they all began to stretch, Hunter knelt between Blaine and Sebastian. "Are you guys sure you're okay with this? Santana was afraid how you might take it."

"While I wish they just told us what they had in mind, it makes sense." Blaine told him.

"And now I know why you said I couldn't miss it." Sebastian added.

"You know they didn't tell any of the guys because they felt all of you would say it wasn't necessary and they were just overreacting." Hunter said to them.

"They had a point B."

"True. They knew the best way to get us all here was to not tell us what they were planning. Would you answer something for me Hunter?"

"If I've got the answer, certainly."

"Do you think this can really help?"

"I do. Put it this way, if you guys pay attention someone as tiny as Rachel can protect herself to some extent. Cass, Lexi, and Tasha have all taken similar classes. And I can tell you, my sister can flip me."

"Cassie isn't much bigger than Rachel." Blaine said.

"Exactly. So, pay attention guys."

Since Hunter had taken hand to hand combat classes at his military academy, he helped the instructor demonstrate each of the moves before asking one of the group to come up and take part. While the girls were hesitant at first when they were asked to partner up with one of the guys, they soon realized this was the best way to handle things. Given that if they were going to be attacked, it would probably be by a man. As the class progressed each of them got more into, as their confidence levels rose. "So, you ready to try and flip someone Blaine?" Hunter asked as they stood in the middle of the mat.

"Are you sure you want me to do this?"

"You won't hurt me."

"I know I won't, it's just…"

"Blaine, I'm not going to take it easy on you. Just do as the instructor asked and we're good, okay?" Blaine nodded in response. Once they had an understanding of what was being asked of them, they began. When Hunter came up behind him, Blaine barely flinched before he flipped him. It wasn't till he heard the thud of Hunter hitting the floor did he realize he did it.

"Are you okay?" Blaine asked as Hunter looked up at him with a smile on his face.

"I'm okay. Damn, that was quick." Hunter replied as he got up off the mat.

"I…"

"Relax, it's a good thing. Even though I knew you were going to do it you still caught me off-guard."

"Way to go B!" Blaine looked to the side and saw Sebastian smiling at him.

"How'd it feel?" Hunter asked.

"Good, though are you sure you're okay?"

"Positive. Now go pair up with the others, as you're going to learn what it's like to get flipped as well."

By the time the class ended all of them were in a great mood. While they clearly paid attention and learned quite a bit, their instructor along with Hunter made it fun. "Thanks Hunter!" Brittany said after giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"You are welcome."

"If we do this again though, I'd prefer not to get flipped by you." Beat said with a smile.

"That's one time being bigger doesn't help. It hurts when you hit the ground."

"Tell me about it. So, do you guys feel any better?"

"I feel more confident." Rachel replied. "I never thought I could take down someone bigger than me."

"All it takes is knowing how to do it. But just remember more often than not your better off doing something else and running away as fast as you can."

"You mean kick'em in the balls." Santana said with a laugh, while all the guys cringed.

"Exactly."