Prompt: Kerry -"You were right, you did do me a favor with that kiss." - 'ER'

From the back porch, I looked across the yard to my stepbrother sitting under an old oak tree. Though his head was buried in his arms, I couldn't forget the haunted, pale look he had worn all day. My stepbrother was taking this whole Karofsky situation way too hard, and I didn't understand why. Yeah, I was glad the guy didn't succeed in killing himself, he had been a teammate after all, but all Karofsky had done was make Kurt's life a living hell. Not that I thought for a moment Kurt would celebrate him being gone, that wasn't Kurt, but I also didn't expect him to withdraw into himself and not eat.

Afraid I was going to bungle it, I still set out across the yard. I couldn't stand not doing anything when Kurt was clearly hurting.

"Go away," Kurt said as I approached him, not bothering to look up.

"Not going to happen." I said, sitting down next to him.

Beside me, Kurt sighed.

"So, are you going to talk to me or do I call your Dad?" I asked.

Kurt finally looked up at me. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I?"

Kurt let out another long sigh.

"Kurt, we're all upset over the news but you're moping around like you're responsible."

"I feel responsible, Finn," Kurt whispered.

"What? After everything he's done to you how could you possibly-"

"He asked me out. At Breadstix's on Valentines Day and I told him no."

"Of course you did. You're with Blaine. He should have respected that."

"But then I started ignoring his calls. I know what it's like to feel alone. To feel like you have no one to talk to. I should've answered his calls. Especially as seeing him with me at Breadstix is what started this whole mess."

I put my arm around his shoulders. "It's still not your fault. Karofsky made the choice he did on his own. The only thing you can do now is offer him support."

Kurt nodded but was silent for a few minutes. "Finn, can you keep a secret for me?"

"Of course," I replied, feeling confused.

"Karofsky kissed me once. That's what started the whole death threat situation. He didn't want people to know about it. I hated him for doing that but now, I think he might have done me a favor with that kiss when I think of the people who came into my life because of it - Blaine, Wes and the Warblers, and you. It even showed me how much everyone in New Directions cared about me. Without that, I may have been Karofsky."

I didn't respond, not knowing what I could say to that confession. Instead I pulled him closer to me, resting my chin on top of his head. I couldn't imagine my world without Kurt in it now, and in a way, I had Karofsky to thank for making me come to the realization of just how special he was.