Kurt didn't know what he expected going into Sebastian's hospital room, and if anyone asked him how did it go, he wouldn't really know what to say. He didn't presume Sebastian would be thrilled to see him or that he would have any heartfelt conversations with him or anything like that, but even after all the weirdness and nerves, Kurt was able to leave the room feeling strangely satisfied.

He was glad he decided to get Sebastian the journal instead of the usual or expected balloon arrangement or 'get well soon' card. Especially since it helped save the situation when it had gone beyond awkward and tense.

The look on Sebastian's face when Kurt handed him the box full of crayons, markers and other art supplies was just priceless.

"What's got you so happy today huh?" Burt asked and Kurt blushed as he realized he'd been caught smiling at his own thoughts.

"Oh, nothing... Just remembering something about a friend."

"A friend huh?" Burt said, lifting an eyebrow and grinning, "Anyone special?"

"Oh no dad, no!" Kurt laughed nervously, "It's nothing like that."

"Then who is it? Do I know him?"

His dad was looking at Kurt as he drove, and he realized he couldn't just change the subject now. But how could he explain?

"Remember Mrs. Smythe, from the waiting room?"

"Uh-huh?"

"It's her son, he's in the hospital and well... I visited him today while you were getting your radiotherapy."

"You know him?"

"Yeah, kind of, he used to go to Dalton but uh-" Kurt stopped himself before he could say something he regretted. He didn't want to lie to his dad, or hide things from him, but he didn't know how much he could say without risking Sebastian's secret.

"So you were friends?"

"No, not really but... Well we just kind of knew each other."

"He's a friend of Blaine's then?"

Kurt went stiff at his dad's mention of Blaine, and started back-pedaling immediately.

"No, he started at Dalton when Blaine had already transferred to McKinley... Uh, I just know him from the Warblers and stuff, just that..." Kurt could feel his face burning up, he needed to change the subject and quick.

"Anyway... How are you feeling, dad? Did they doctor say anything?"

"It was good, nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe it will be different once we're closer to the surgery date."

Kurt's stomach dropped every time his dad mentioned the surgery. He knew it was coming, and that it was necessary, but it was also scary in a way. He just really wanted this whole thing to be over and his dad to be healthy and safe again.

"Time flies by..." Burt said as he looked out the window, "Just four more weeks and I'll be done."

Yes. Kurt thought to himself. Hopefully it will be just four more weeks.

The next day, Kurt was practicing his piano when his phone buzzed with a new text message notification.

From Blaine Anderson:

Hey Kurt. I was wondering if I could come over tonight. Would that be okay?

Kurt looked down at his phone and frowned. Blaine wanted to talk? He couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about it. Even though they had been in fairly good terms since Christmas, it was still a little weird sometimes.

Kurt wondered what this could be about, so he quickly replied.

To Blaine Anderson:

Sure. Is everything alright?

A couple of minutes later, he finally got another text from Blaine.

From Blaine Anderson:

Yeah, I just want to talk :) Can I come by at 7?

To Blaine:

Ok. See you then.

Kurt was very curious as to why Blaine wanted to come over and talk. They talked on a fairly regular basis, over Skype chat, or Facebook. He wondered if there was anything important Blaine wanted to talk about, that would require them do it face to face.

He didn't want to stress about it, he had enough worries just with his dad's condition. So for the rest of the day, Kurt made himself busy tidying up his room, cleaning downstairs, organizing his Vogue collection, anything to keep his mind busy.

Suddenly his phone started ringing, and he felt his stomach do a little jump as he realized it was Blaine.

"Hello."

"Hey Kurt, how are you?"

"I'm... fine. Just doing stuff around the house, nothing really."

"Great, um... can you talk?"

"Yes?"

This was awkward. Why was it awkward?

"Are you still coming over?" Kurt asked.

"No, actually… that's why I'm calling."

Kurt didn't know if he was relieved or disappointed to hear that.

"It's just, Cooper is in town and mom wants us to go out to dinner and stuff. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, we can talk some other time... right?" Kurt said tentatively, even though he was really curious about what Blaine wanted to talk about.

"Yeah... I guess."

Blaine sounded defeated, sad.

"Is something bothering you?" Kurt asked.

"No. I mean, yes."

There was a brief pause, and Kurt braced himself for whatever Blaine was going to say next.

"I know you have been driving your dad all the way to Cleveland for his treatments and I haven't gone with you, not even once."

"Blaine it's okay, you have school; and besides it's not that far-"

"No Kurt but... I should be there with you, and I feel bad because I haven't."

"Blaine, I know you care about my dad, and he knows it too. But it's not your responsibility; it's mine. So don't feel bad okay?"

Blaine stayed quiet for a few seconds, and Kurt wondered if what he said upset him.

"Blaine?"

" You're right. Will you tell me if you have to go down on a weekend though? I could drive you guys down there." Blaine said, voice shy and hopeful.

"Of course, I will."

"Okay."

"We'll speak soon then... say hi to Cooper for me."

"I will... bye Kurt."

"Bye."

Kurt took a deep breath as he hung up. Having mixed feelings about Blaine's words. He knew Blaine cared about his dad, but he wasn't obligated to go with them. Besides, Kurt wondered what would happen if they ever ran into Sebastian's mother while they were down there.

Did Blaine even know Sebastian's mother? Kurt had no idea how close Blaine and Sebastian ever got, or if Blaine ever went over to Sebastian's house. Just thinking about that possibility made him uneasy, and he didn't want to dwell on those thoughts. It was in the past.

Speaking of Sebastian. Kurt suddenly remembered about him, and he wondered if Sebastian was doing better, if the doctor had taken him off the feeding tube, if he'd liked the journal, or if he had thrown it away.

He took his computer and logged into Facebook, wondering if he should message him. He was going down to the clinic again tomorrow, after all, and he'd told Sebastian he was going to visit him again.

Kurt: Sebastian?

Kurt wondered if Sebastian was going to respond or not, but a couple of minutes later, he did.

Sebastian: Kurt...

He smiled.

Kurt: Hi! How are you liking the journal so far? :)

Sebastian: I can't use it.

Kurt frowned as he looked at Sebastian's words, confused as to what he meant.

Kurt: Why not?

Sebastian: It's your fault.

Kurt: What?

Sebastian: You didn't bring me any scissors. There is stuff that's supposed to be cut and I have no scissors.

Kurt laughed out loud. Sebastian couldn't possibly be serious. Once he was done laughing and shaking his head in disbelief, he typed a response.

Kurt: That's no excuse! And besides, it's paper! You can fold it and cut it with your hands!

Sebastian: No, can't do it.

Kurt: yes you can! You have hands, don't you?

Sebastian: I don't like the sound of paper being torn. It's like screeching chalk on a blackboard, or rubbing your fingernails in denim.

Kurt: You are crazy.

Sebastian: it's awful... can't do it.

Kurt: So, if I get you scissors you will use the journal? Is that what you're saying? :)

Sebastian: Maybe.

Kurt: Fine.

Sebastian: Maybe not.

Kurt: You're impossible.

Sebastian: You're ridiculous.

Kurt laughed reading Sebastian's messages, somehow not taking offense but finding it hilarious. Sebastian was so stubborn; it was unbelievable.

Back in the hospital, Sebastian was staring at his phone, smiling. He was holding his phone in one hand and in the other one he had the journal.

The sun was going down, and from his hospital room window, Sebastian had an amazing view of downtown Cleveland. He wished he could go out and walk around, see if there was anything interesting, but he couldn't even leave his room, let alone go out to the city.

No, instead he was stuck there in the hospital, playing around with the Journal Kurt gave him. He looked at the text in the page and laughed, it was so stupid. He then grabbed the journal and threw it against the wall so hard that it bounced off and ended up under the corner table. Sebastian laughed. This was so ridiculous, but he had to admit it had felt really good to throw the damn thing.

Now he had to get up from the bed to pick it up, but he didn't want to.

Suddenly the door to his room opened and his parents came in. He couldn't deny he was happy to see them. His mom was hugging him tightly before he even had the chance to say hello.

"Hey guys..."

"How are you baby? We came as soon as we could."

"I'm feeling pretty good." Sebastian said, and it was true, he did feel pretty good, compared to how he'd been the past few days at least.

"I see they finally took you off the tube." His dad said, squeezing his knee affectionately.

"Yeah, this morning." Said Sebastian. Taking the thing out had been even more uncomfortable than having it in the first place, but he was glad to finally have it out.

He'd had it taken out earlier that day, before visiting hours, so now his parents were there and even if their visits were shorter than he'd like, he appreciated the effort they put into driving all the way down to the hospital when he knew they were really busy with their respective jobs.

They talked for a while, and it was pleasant until his dad looked at the empty corner table and noticed the absence of the floral arrangement.

"Hey, what happened to the flowers?"

Sebastian stiffened automatically.

"I uh... I had the nurse take them away."

"Why?" His mother asked, confused.

Sebastian stayed silent for a few seconds, looking at his dad, then at his mom and then decidedly at the wall. "They were giving me allergies."

His mother frowned, "Bastian, you don't have any flower allergies."

He saw from the corner of his eye how his dad crossed his arms and so he braced himself before speaking.

"I'm actually allergic to hypocrisy." He replied between his teeth, and he heard his mother gasp.

He hated that he was speaking like that to her, when it was really aimed at his dad. After all, aunt Helen was his dad's sister, and his father probably knew more than anyone exactly why she had distanced herself and her son from Sebastian.

Mr. Smythe shook his head, disappointment evident in his features, and Sebastian looked up at him, waiting for what was surely a lecture to come.

"Sebastian..." he started.

"What, dad?" his eyes were almost challenging now.

"You can't... you shouldn't have done that! Your aunt brought them for you, she came to visit you, but you were asleep. What if she comes again? How do you think she'll feel about you throwing away her present?"

Sebastian felt like boiling water was bubbling inside his stomach, bile rising in his throat.

"How will she feel? Dad... you can't be serious."

He felt his mother's hand over his own, squeezing softly, unspoken words clear through the touch, trying to calm him down, but he couldn't. Sebastian felt his body shaking from the sheer frustration at the sound of his father's words.

"What about how I feel, dad? I don't want to see her!"

"Bastian please calm down..." he heard his mother say, voice quiet but firm, her hand soothing circles on his back. Sebastian wanted to shake her off, but couldn't bring himself to do it. He felt himself slightly detached from his own body, eyes fixed on his father's back, who had turned to look out the window, probably trying to calm himself down to avoid snapping at him.

When his dad turned around though, his expression was not angry like Sebastian expected. It was stern, unreadable. He didn't say anything, just shook his head in disappointment, and in that moment he might as well have just yelled at him because the look he gave Sebastian felt like a slap to the face.

He didn't understand what was happening, but before he realized, his eyes were full of tears that streamed down his face as he tried to blink them away, and the shaking he felt inside before was now evident as he looked down to his hands and noticed them trembling.

"Sebastian?"

"Stop... bringing people!" he growled, his voice cracking and a sob escaping him.

"I don't want her here! I don't want anyone here! Why don't you get it? Why won't you leave me alone!" He was yelling now and his mom looked terrified, his dad had lifted his arms in surrender, and Sebastian could see them moving their mouths, but he couldn't hear what they were saying anymore.

Sebastian covered his face with his hands and tried to breathe, but he felt like he was drowning. He felt his mother's arms around him and he fought against himself to try and muffle his cries, to stop the tears, to put himself together. But he couldn't, not when he was so, so angry. He slowly lay back and rested on his side, his mom moved to sit in the bed next to him, and slowly moved him until he was resting over her lap. He was still grabbing her clothes tightly, hiding his face from both his parents, breathing harshly. He knew his dad was standing next to the bed but Sebastian didn't dare to look at him.

They all stayed in silence, until Sebastian's cries had died down and he was starting to doze off. He felt like a child throwing a fit, it was freaking embarrassing, but he was exhausted. He wanted to stay right there, in his mother's lap. Holding on to her clothes with tight fists that slowly unclenched as he drifted off to sleep.

He wasn't sure how long he was asleep, but he briefly drifted back into consciousness when his mother moved his head off from her lap and back to the pillow. Sebastian could feel her hand caressing his face but he stayed still, feigning sleep. He could hear them whispering and decided to stay still as he heard their conversation.

"I'd never seen him like this Vivienne, it kills me... it just kills me."

"Just give him some time... he's not himself right now."

"I am very worried about him."

"I am too."

There was a pause and Sebastian wondered if his parents had left the room, but then he heard his dad speak again.

"I know he doesn't want to go see Dr. Mitchell, but do you think she could come here?"

"What do you mean?"

"I want him to see a therapist Vivienne, and if he refuses to go, then we will have to bring the therapist to him."

He felt his chest tighten at his father's words, but he didn't hear his mom say anything else. Sebastian stayed still as he felt her come up to him and kiss him on the cheek. He then heard their steps as they gathered their things and exited the room.

Sebastian waited a few seconds after he heard the door close to finally open his eyes, and in that moment his frustration was so big that he felt like he wanted to scream, but instead he just hid his face in the pillow and cried.

Author's note: Hope you guys liked this chapter, it was kind of transitional but necessary. Let me know what you think :)