A/N: Hey, I'm back from Egypt. I did get food poisoning whilst there, but all is well again now.
Here's the next chapter.
A Humongous thanks to the wonderful Pinkvegpixie, who designed several absolutely wonderful covers for my fics, including the LUL pair, Number 2 and Weightless. Love you girl. She is awesome and we should all sing her praises, seriously you rock.
This chapter is for you.
"Missing Boy Found. What really happened in that month of misery?"
The headline screamed out at Burt, whose knees buckled beneath him. He sunk down into the hospital chair behind him, his eyes never leaving the article.
"17 year old Kidnapping victim Kurt Hummel was today reported as both safe and on the road to recovery after nearly a month missing. Mr Hummel was reported missing by his father and classmates after a school outing to the local mall. He was rescued around 30 days later during a police search and raid.
However, as more information surfaces about the events surrounding the abduction, Hummel's case has gathered more and more attention for several unfavourable reasons.
The motivations behind Hummel's abduction are as of yet, unknown; but speculation is flying about whether this was all some elaborate scheme, or if this so called 'kidnapping' wasn't just a misconstrued romance."
Burt's right hand came up to rub at his temple.
"Students and classmates at one of Hummel's previous schools – McKinley High, South Lima - have commented exclusively to the 'Southern Ohio Journal' about Hummel's provocative attitude and several believe that he may have been desperate enough to voluntarily run away with his kidnapper. Hummel, an openly homosexual teen, has been accused by many as not only parading himself around, but if not going willingly- encouraging the kidnapper to take action.
One pupil, who remains unnamed, stated "He always dressed funny. Wore girl's clothes and skin tight stuff, [he was] all freaky ...totally weird. I suppose he was asking for it really"
The kidnapper, who was recently revealed to be the late Jeremiah Wilkins, 29 - employee at the mall where Hummel was last seen - has been linked to Hummel from several previous encounters. Not only do the two appear to have been on a speaking basis but co-workers of Mr Wilkins have stated that during said encounters, Hummel "had a flirtatious attitude" and appeared "friendly with the man", who was later revealed to also be homosexual.
So, is what these people correct? Did Hummel have a romantic history with his abductor and was this case an actual abduction or did Hummel go willingly?
Hopefully more news should be released as inquests and hearings take place in the near future. Dates are yet to be set as Hummel is still recovering in hospital with severe injuries, still unknown by the public. Hummel's personal doctor refused to comment on the case and... [Story continued here – click!]
Burt's hands couldn't move fast enough. He flicked his thumb across the screen, desperately pressing the link to the rest of the article.
Slowly, the small circle indicated the page was loading and Burt groaned in exasperation.
Rob and Jeff watched with matching concerned expressions as they saw the emotions flick across Burt's face.
They had both read the article. Seen the awful things people were saying about Kurt and it made them both sick.
Finally the page loaded, and Burt jumped slightly in his seat, before settling his eyes back down and continuing his reading.
"Hummel's personal doctor refused to comment on the case, but it is highly suspected that Hummel was the victim of both physical and sexual assault during his time with Wilkins.
As Hummel is still a minor, details regarding his injuries and affairs are unlikely to be released until after the official police inquest – which as previously stated, has not yet been given a set date. [An update will be given once it has.]
A further complication in the case and possible set back in discovering what really happened, is the release of the news that Mr Wilkins – Hummel's abductor - was shot dead at the scene. A police officer present at the raid that freed Mr Hummel has sited that it was an act of self defence on behalf of another, unnamed officer and defence for Mr Hummel. "It was kill or be killed" he stated, "[the other officer] only did what had to be done to save both himself and the victim".
However with this statement come issues for the police force within the district, with people calling for an explanation as to why Wilkins was shot and why he was not simply detained.
"It's barbaric" states a co-worker of Wilkins. "No one needed to die, there were dozens of police on the case, why couldn't they just arrest him? Surely they could have over powered him if they needed to?"
As the case gains higher and higher traction within the media, more and more people are speaking out. Now that Wilkins is unable to give his side of the story, friends and family of the man are worried that the truth may never be known and that Hummel's side will try and swing the system their way, as the only witness and surviving participant in the events, in order to gain higher monetary compensation."
Burt felt disgusted. He hadn't even considered money or anything like that. Court and all this nonsense the reporter was spilling meant virtually nothing to him.
His first and only priority was his son's recovery- both physically and mentally.
Not that he and Kurt hadn't spoken about the severity of his injuries... at all.
The boy had scarring and gaping wounds all across his body. Not to mention the terrible discovery made days after he was brought in that found ...well...bodily fluids belonging to Jeremiah around Kurt's more intimate areas they hadn't yet had a chance to wash.
Hell, he didn't even know if Kurt knew he was sexually assaulted like that, with all the drugs in his system chances are he was unconscious at the time. Burt's stomach churned.
God, the man thought, He was so pathetic. He hadn't even had the balls to tell Kurt what the doctors had found; couldn't summon the courage to just talk.
They couldn't prove penetrative rape, but God, did it seem likely.
And Kurt...anyone who saw this article would assume the worst. Would assume he'd been raped and abused like that, would have supposed knowledge that Kurt himself didn't have.
His friends, his school mates, his teachers, people from the shop. They would all know before he did. They would all take the article as it stood. And Kurt would be judged for it for the rest of his life.
How would he progress through life? How would he make new friends? Heaven forbid, but how would he get a boyfriend? How would it happen when everyone either saw him as the poor little traumatised raped boy or the sexual deviant who was asking for it.
God it made him sick.
"Whether or not any compensation will be paid out for the victim and his family is yet unknown, but if they choose to pursue the matter, then they will certainly have a strong case to back them.
As of yet, the family and close friends of Mr Hummel have made no comment regarding the boys current state. No comments have been offered regarding either him or his condition, other than to say he is healing. [Hummel's status as a minor protects files from public access.] Mr Hummel has so far decided to keep the whole matter very under wraps and private and this reporter certainly doesn't blame him.
When a case like this happens in a town like Lima, things can escalate very quickly, and for a previously unknown boy, events like this can bring around much unwanted attention and detrimental effects on his future.
Hopefully more information will be released in the near future in order to paint a clearer picture of what really happened, but as it is, we wait patiently and wish Kurt a speedy recovery."
Burt didn't know what to make of the article.
On the one hand they seemed to be stating the truth - that Kurt was merely a victim, but half the time they were making him out to be a sexual deviant- which just wasn't true. In any sense of the word.
Hell, he hadn't even needed to give Kurt the talk. Just a brief, you matter and he was set.
Kurt was the least sexual boy he knew.
And he knew born-again Christians...
Burt's eyes scanned over the screen again; his mind trying to absorb all the information and speculation about his family.
It made him sick to think people could look at his son and see that. It made him truly, truly sick.
Especially the interpretations underneath the pictures paired with the article.
The first, and the one on the front page article Rob had shown him, was a shot of Kurt in his cheerleading uniform at Nationals, with pompoms clutched in both hands, a playful smirk on his face and his left leg kicked high above his head.
The second was Kurt's sophomore yearbook picture, of him in one of his very low cut tops. The kind with the swooping neckline that women use to shown of their breasts, but Kurt used for fashion.
Captioned beneath the first picture were the words: "Could Hummel's suggestive displays have been one of the appeals Wilkins found. Were his highly sexualised routines, [as choreographed by Sue Sylvester of Sue's Corner] one of the factors leading to his abduction?"
And beneath the second: "Hummel's provocative clothing has brought around comments suggesting that he 'asked for it'. Many women's rights activists, most notably those associated with the 'Slut Walk' for rape victims argue that fashion choices are not an invitation for abuse. But does that apply here?"
They were exploiting his son.
They were putting him out there and exploiting him for all the world to see. Making him out to be some kind of overly sexual freak who paraded himself around like a tart and good lord if that didn't hurt.
Burt glanced back at his son, still asleep on his hospital bed.
How could anyone make out that this sweet innocent boy was like that? God, it just wasn't right.
Robert watched as Burt read, seeing all the stages of emotion flicker across his face.
Shock, horror, disgust, anger. It was all there
Rob wanted to comfort the man but he had no idea what to say. This shameful article had made him feel sick and he didn't even know Kurt all that well.
Hell, Jeff had been distraught when he'd read it, and Kurt and he were merely friends. Imagine how the boys family must feel, having their son demonised by the press.
Well...maybe demonised was being overly dramatic, but it certainly felt fitting at the time.
He stepped forwards and extended a hand to pat the sitting mans shoulder.
'It's all going to be ok Burt.' He said softly. 'Kurt's a minor, they can't print anything more. Just speculations'
'But that's just it.' Burt replied, his voice rough. He didn't look up. 'These speculations. They're tearing him apart on the front page. They don't know him, but that doesn't mean they won't make stuff up to use against him. It's what the kids at his school did, and this is just that. Just over grown bullying.'
'They've got to print something. We...You publicised so much to look for him. They just want a follow up.'
'But why this? Why are they making him out to be so rotten. Why can't they just have the decency to leave him be. Just...God I don't even know.'
Burt gave a long sigh and reached out to hand Rob back his phone; his head then sinking down into his hands.
'I just want my son to recover. I want him to have friends and be happy and just get back to normal, but how the heck is that supposed to happen with these scum bags pressing him down and making him out to be evil. He was already hated before...what about now though? Now that everyone suddenly has an opinion of him. It's wrong. Its god damn wrong.'
'I think...' Rob started, sucking in a breath as he struggled to find the right phrasing. 'I think we need to...force socialisation on him. Not in a bad way.' He added quickly. 'But, I think we need to try and get him to integrate with his friends again before he gets the chance to completely close himself off. If we catch it before he completely isolates himself maybe we can prevent that whole side from evolving.'
Burt grunted; though that didn't say much.
Robert continued, 'I'm not saying get everyone and their mother to come talk to him. Probably not many people at all. Perhaps just a couple of people from Dalton...Jeff, perhaps Nick too. They're all friends and they can be pretty mellow when they want to be. They also know quite a lot about the case and what's happened. They helped track him down too, so it's only fair that they get to see him. I wouldn't recommend McKinley folk though – not when it seems some are already talking – who knows what slip ups could be made.'
Burt grunted again.
'If we just have a few close friends come and talk to him every so often then maybe we can help him get better. The nurse said he has bad dreams – maybe some social interaction will take his mind off things and give him something else to dwell on.'
Burt stayed silent.
Jeff stopped his humming and stared at his father.
Then Robert fell silent too.
The room was cold.
Each of the rooms 3 conscious occupants shared meaningful looks as they silently tried to work out what to do. Kurt was still out cold on the bed, a drip slowly pumping fluids into his body and several other machines pinging monotonously in the background.
Burt didn't want to think about it. He just wanted normalcy, but that wasn't an option.
Rob wanted to help – so much, but he barely knew the family, and didn't know what to say.
Jeff...well, Jeff just wanted his friend back.
Finally, after a good few minutes of quite mind whirring, Jeff spoke up.
All eyes shifted to him as his slow even voice rang out across the room.
'You may think this is a bad idea but...I think we need to talk to Blaine.'
A/N: Blah, Blah random stuff.
Ok, that was a chapter. I shall try and update soon, but yeah...shiz isn't good atm.
But anyway, think positive. The new characters for the show look pretty awesome. (Cough gorgeous...I mean, what?) and it's summer...so shorts :) yey. Also TLOS - No.1 :)
For now though, I bid you farewell. And hopefully see you all soon.
TTFN