A/N: Cancer and Exams. This is why this is late.

Read on oh reader.

P.S. Rob Sterling is Jeff's dad from LUL. Jsyk.

P.P.S. This chapter is for KlaineGMH and Divine529 – who are absolute dolls.

To say Burt Hummel was terrified would be one hell of an understatement. The entire contents of his mind felt like it had been put through a blender...20 times.

Nothing made sense, all of this stuff...he just couldn't comprehend it.

It's one thing being told that your son has been kidnapped and abused, (one, very large, very traumatic, and very tear inducing thing) but to find out – indirectly at that- that he wants to kill himself. That's torture.

Pure, unadulterated torture

His heart was racing throughout his conversation with Blaine, but God – he had to hold it together. He had to be the strong one here. Kurt and Blaine, they were just kids – they are just kids. They shouldn't have to deal with this stuff. Not now, not ever. And Carole. Bless her heart...she only came into the family a few short months ago – and now this. She has every right to break down and cry.

And hell- so does he...but he won't. He can't. He needs to be strong. Not only for his son, but for the rest of his family as well.

He wants to make things better. He knows he has to make things better. But dear lord, does he have no clue how to go about it.

He just wants his son back. That's all. Just his happy, cheery, smiling son – and if it took Blaine Anderson to help do that, then he would be more than willing to enlist the boys help. No matter how reluctant his own son might be.

This would work.

It had to.

Blaine didn't know what to do.

He really, really didn't.

Everything seemed to be happening so fast. Kurt was in hospital for something he still believed himself responsible for; coated in bandages and looked like he'd been wrestling the grim reaper in hell itself. Not only that, but his own friendships were falling apart. Kurt hated him. Nick and Jeff still glared at him half the time and the other Dalton boys were hardly close enough for him to talk to. Even the Warblers were acting more drawn back than usual.

Then he had to go and close himself off. To shut down and lock everyone out which only made things worse, because no one wants to talk to an antisocial knob- which was pretty much what he had become.

He just wanted Kurt back.

Old Kurt, with his smile and his voice and his brains and his wit...and dare he say it, his looks.

Burt was amazing. He just seemed...perfect. He was handling everything so well. He was being such an amazing father and Blaine was in awe. Burt had let Blaine stay with Kurt, let him talk to him – which was so much more than any other person would have done. Even if Blaine hadn't royally screwed up.

But still – now Burt was offering him a chance to make things right. To help Kurt get better. To help him apologize and show Kurt that he was a better person now. This was amazing. This was exactly what he needed.

He needed to prove to Kurt that he wasn't the same person he was a month ago. He wasn't the kid who ignored his feelings; he was the kid who cared so much he felt his heart would explode.

He wasn't an oblivious sod anymore...he wasn't...

They say you only really appreciate what you've lost – and to hell if that wasn't true for Blaine.

Kurt Hummel was scared shitless.

He was practically tied to a hospital bed, with nowhere to run to; surrounded by strange people with medical equipment, constantly poking and prodding and causing him hellish amounts of pain. Not to mention his dreams, which were constantly haunted by the sickly face of Jeremiah who, most every time, made good on his promise to have Kurt dead.

There were knives and guns and bones and blood and screaming...so much screaming.

If it wasn't bad enough, whenever he woke from a nightmare he would be sedated and forced straight back into another – and nobody would damn well listen when he told them to stop.

He didn't know what else to do.

He wouldn't talk to people. Why the hell should he if they wouldn't freaking listen?

All these people talking to him, telling him what was wrong, when he damn well knew what was wrong; these doctors- telling him what to do, what to eat, how to move and controlling when he slept. Nothing was his anymore. He didn't even have control over his own bodily functions; it was all mapped out for him by some freak in a lab coat. And Kurt hated it.

He wanted someone to talk to; someone who wouldn't just spout lies about how it was all going to be ok -someone who truly understood him. Who knew him for how he was, and wouldn't treat him like some stupid child who was too thick to understand what was going on. He fucking knew what was going on! Why did he have to keep stressing it?

But who the hell could do that?

...well...

Blaine. There he was again - Stupid, fucking, good for nothing Blaine.

The Blaine who Kurt wanted so desperately to talk to. The Blaine who Kurt wanted to hold him until he got better, to help him get better. Kurt may have hated him at that moment, but he sure as hell wasn't over him. He had this romantic notion of Blaine (old Blaine) coming out of nowhere and playing nurse for him (uniform and all) until he was better, then they could run off into the sunset and be happy forever and ever until they died...

And it hurt so much to know that that was all bullshit.

The Blaine he loved wasn't the asshole who liked Jeremiah. Wasn't the boy who led people on and trampled on their hearts. Spitting on their friendship as if it were nothing and didn't matter at all. No...that wasn't his Blaine at all.

Then and again...his Blaine didn't seem to exist anymore.

As his dreams kept telling him. This Blaine, this new Blaine, would never want Kurt. He wanted Jeremiah...he thought Kurt was nothing.

Just as well Kurt agreed with him then.

Robert Sterling was standing in the overly bright hospital room with one of the strangest expressions on his face that one could possibly imagine.

One side of his mouth was twisted up in a sort of confused sneer, with the other half hanging awkwardly open. His eyebrows were low and made him look rather fierce, that was until you saw the utterly baffled expression hidden in his eyes below.

Add to that the fact his hands were propped on jutted hips and his tie was sitting terribly crooked around his neck and you had the image of a cartoon character fresh out of a 1960's comic.

Slowly, he stepped into the room, taking in all the electronics and beeping machines that lined the walls; his dress shoes clicking against the plastic tiles as he marched across to Kurt's bed side and surveyed the damage.

'Excuse me sir.' One of the nurses said, stepping forward to intercept Robert before he reached the bed. 'I don't think you're allowed to be in here I-'

She was cut off as Robert turned to face her. 'Madam, I have every right to be in here.'

She scowled.

'Visiting hours are not over for quite some time, as I said, your colleagues from down stairs sent us up here, so clearly we are allowed - and I have business with Mr Hummel father.'

The nurse cocked an eyebrow and turned to converse with her colleague, her voice hushed, yet full off unshed frustration with the man.

Meanwhile the younger boy, who had been standing in the door way since he arrived, scurried over to his father's side.

'What's going – Whoa.'

Jeff froze as his eyes landed on Kurt's frame. Battered, brusied and completely smothered in bandages. 'God.' He said, as a long breath escaped his lips. 'It didn't look so bad from the door...I mean...just...shit dad.'

'Jeff.' His father scolded, but the younger boy merely shot him a look.

'Dad...this is...fuck this is unreal. That's my friend there and-'he raised his hands to clutch at his hair, his body falling against his father side. 'Oh God dad...fucking hell.'

Jeff kept his eyes trained on the rising and falling of Kurt's chest as his father slowly rubbed a hand on his shoulder.

'Go on Jeff.' He murmured, his gaze also fixed upon Kurt. 'Take a seat. I need to have a word with these lovely ladies.' He pointed to the nurses, still deep in conversation.

'Again.' He stated, his voice projecting out across the room. 'I repeat. Will someone please tell me what the devil is going on?'

Burt walked Blaine to the hospitals exit with a smile on his face. He was going to get his son back. He knew it.

Blaine was thinking much along the same lines, in the fact that whilst Kurt may still hate his guts, his father supported Blaine's plans to reintroduce himself into Kurt's life and make things right. He would get his friend back, and Burt would get his son.

Things would be ok.

They would.

They parted ways with a firm handshake and a tight, yet short lived, embrace.

Burt watched as Blaine drove off back to Dalton, giving the kid a wave of his baseball cap as he drove round the corner and out of site.

He set off back inside at a rather leisurely pace. When he left Kurt he had been asleep. If any further disturbances had occurred during his unconscious state the nurses would take care of it – as Carole kept reminding him - nightmares and alike were natural, and there was no point rushing around after Kurt when there was nothing he could do to help.

He just had to be there for him while he was awake. That was all. They couldn't expect the world from him, no matter what certain kids seemed to think.

Either way, he tried not to stress himself out to much as he meandered back up to Kurt's ward.

However, when the receptionist on Kurt's floor told him he had visitors waiting in Kurt's room – that did sent a small jolt of panic through his bones.

Burt sped up his pace as he neared Kurt's door. He was anxious to see who was inside; praying to whatever deity there was that it wasn't another one of Kurt's school friends. They weren't allowed inside. Not unless they had direct involvement with the case and Burt wanted to keep it that way.

However, Burt would have to say he was most certainly shocked to see to heads of white blonde hair sitting by his sons beside- especially as he didn't have a clue as to who these two where.

'Uh-Hm.' Burt announced his presence in the room with a low clearing of his throat and the two seated men jumped, spinning around almost instantaneously, their faces alive with panic. Until that is, their gazes landed on Burt- whereupon the elder of the pairs face lit up with a smile and he leapt to his feet.

'Mr Hummel.' Robert said, striding over and extending a hand, which Burt accepted with a confused smile. 'Great to see you.'

'Likewise...' Burt replied; his voice wavering on a name.

'Robert.' The other man filled. 'Robert Sterling. I was helping the boys with your son's case a while back. Security tapes, and that jazz.'

'Aah.' Burt said, although the lack of recognition was plain. 'That's...great...'

Robert smiled but Burt still looked confused. 'You mind telling me what you and... Your son? - are doing in my kid's room?' He asked; his voice harsher than perhaps it should have been.

'Aah.' At this Robert raised his arm and slung it around Burt's shoulder, much to the other mans discomfort. He slowly led him inside until they were stood by a sleeping Kurt's beside. Robert slowly lowered Burt into one of the rickety plastic chairs he had previously been perched on and stuck a hand into his pocket and began to rummage around, searching for something.

'First and foremost.' He said, with bright eyes. 'We came to see how Kurt was doing. Jeff and he are rather close and well...he was worried to be frank. He was one of the 3 kids who tried their hand at detective work in the search for your son. He cares a great deal about Kurt and just wanted to make sure all was going okay...well, as okay as one could be given the circumstances.'

Jeff's lips twitched upwards in the beginnings of a smile, before he shut it down and looked back at his feet.

'However.' Robert continued. 'Burt. Can I call you Burt?' The other man nodded. 'Great. Well, you see. I'm not sure how much time you've spent in the 'outside world' recently but...well, there are some rather troubling events occurring out there concerning your son that i thought we ought to alert you to.'

At this, Burt tried to get to his feet, before being forced down again by Robert, who was pulling out his phone.

'Whilst Kurt went missing, I know you contacted several media outlets, as did I, to try and spread the news and help locate him.'

Burt nodded, although he looked like he was ready to interrupt.

'I suppose you could say that said media outlets are rather keen on finding out the follow up to the story, now that Kurt's been found...and well...'

'What do you mean?' Burt questioned his voice low and level, though there was an unquestionable fury growing in his eyes.

Robert turned around and extended a hand to his son, who was standing off to the side of the room.

'I think Jeff would be better off telling you his part of the story, and then I can tell you mine. '

Jeff moved slowly over to Burt and laid a hand on his dads shoulder.

'Well...basically-'he started, eyes fixed on Burt who was half glaring by this point. His brow crinkled and folded and his cheeks tense. 'The press have been pushing for answers as to...what's happening with Kurt. I don't know what they did or how they got their information, but yesterday a group of reporters turned up at the end of the school drive at Dalton.'

Burt's face went red as his jaw tensed. His grip on the chairs arm became almost lethal and both Sterling's, winced at the seats unfortunate fate.

'They were...pushing us for answers as we drove home. Like, shoving microphones in our faces and stuff, asking what we knew and things. A few of the younger kid's parents reported them to school security, but we didn't really know what to do.'

'We thought it best to tell you.' Robert continued, watching Burt carefully. 'Because...well, after they went to Dalton they started retracing Kurt's past. We heard that there were people- reporters, heading to McKinley this morning. We weren't sure if they actually got there, or if they got any information. But maybe you'll want to contact and censor any of Kurt's friends who know what's happening, or teachers for that matter, because who knows what they'd spill fo a good bribe.'

'No one at Dalton said anything Mr Hummel.' Jeff interjected. 'The headmaster is having words with all the pupils and he's making sure no one says anything...not that anyone actually knows what's happening now bar Blaine...but...' he trailed off and stared back down at his shoes, which were squeaking as he twisted them on the cold plastic floor.

'Jeff reported it to me the evening after it happened and I spoke to the school as well. They are placing someone near the gates to keep away as many people as they can, but that's the best they can do. We weren't sure who knew about Kurt's case. We only knew that it was Blaine who had been missing the most, so Jeff presumed it was he who would know what was going on as he was probably here with you. Only, Blaine wasn't around today, so Jeff didn't get a chance to talk to him about the press.'

'Not that I think he'd blab or anything.' Jeff added quickly. 'He won't tell a soul. Not about this.'

'Yes.' Robert continued. 'But now we know that people want answers we need to make sure no one says anything. I say this entirely for Kurt's benefit, but if people start publishing stories about him, it could be very detrimental to his emotional and mental recovery. I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure that any media form bitching about someone is enough to make them want to stay in the hospital.'

After a few moments Burt spoke.

'No one at McKinley knows what's going on. No one except Finn. We...Carole and I thats is, made sure to keep everything under wraps. A few of his singing friends from Kurt's old choir came round to the house a few times while he was missing, and a couple asked Finn if they could visit him now...but so far, we haven't let anyone in.'

'I hate to say this Mr Hummel.' Robert said slowly. 'But that's probably for the best. Minimal contact between Kurt and his outside friends is the wisest option right now. With all the gossip-mongers hanging around the schools you never know what could be let slip, and Kurt's case...it's very...interesting. Not many other boys have this kind of thing happen to them, and you'll probably have papers hanging around looking for a scoop for quite a while. You might want to consider talking to hospital staff as well. They have a confidentiality clause in their medical licence, but that hasn't stopped people blabbing before. I'd recommend just having those who know about Kurt and his injuries staying with him – if you know what I mean. The fewer people who know the err...dirty details, the better.'

Burt stood up and stepped up to Kurt's bedside, extending a finger to run down his brow and tuck a stray piece of hair behind his ear.

'I'm not sure how much you know – or if the nurses told you anything.' At this both Sterlings shook their head. 'But what happened to Kurt was more than just a normal...God, none of this is normal...but more than a normal abduction case. He wasn't just beaten and such...he has more...God, what did the doc say...creative injuries. '

At this Jeff blanched.

'I think you're right Mr-' Burt paused.

'Rob. Please.'

'Well, I think you're right Rob. The fewer people involved. The better. But if that's the case, the Kurt's gonna get awful lonely. I can't stay with him all the time.'

The two men nodded, not sure what to say and the room fell silent.

Burt continued to run his fingers through Kurt's hair as the boy remianed in his chemically induced sleep.

After another moments silence, he spoke up.

'Is that everything?' Burt asked, through gritted teeth, dreading the answer before he even asked the question.

'Aah...' Robert said with a grimace. 'I hate to say this, but No. I err...well; maybe you should just take a look for yourself.'

He toyed with the screen of his phone for a moment before passing it over to Burt, who surveyed the glass for a second before his entire body froze and he nearly dropped the cell in shock.

On the screen was an internet page. The homepage of one of the local papers; and blazed across the top of the screen, with a large image of a sophomore, cheerleading Kurt below it, were the words:,

"Missing Boy Found. What really happened in that month of misery?"

TBC...

A/N: So, trying to work out if you all hate me or if I'm crap. Less than a 3rd of norm reviews last chapter. Am I shit? *fearful look*

I hope not. Anyway, I hope the seven or so of you still reading this are all good and having a good summer time. My birthday just passed so I celebrated that. And it's kinda sorta sunneh at the mo. Which is always a plus. I shall get working on my tan so I no longer look like the love child of Frosty and Casper.

Also, if anyone would like to help me with these picture things for the fics, then I would be eternally grateful. Because I know – zilch.

But blah- I digress.

Keep being awesome.

TTFN