A/N: 4 more :)

Blaine opened his eyes slowly, more than slightly confused. The last thing he remembered was being bored at work, then heat, and pain...

His confusion quickly turned to panic. He opened and shut his eyes a couple of times, blinking rapidly, panicking when it did nothing to help. He couldn't see.

"Shit." He whimpered. "Shit. I can't see. Why can't I see?" he asked, his voice gradually getting louder. "Hello? Is anyone there?" he called, his panic getting worse when no one answered him. "Fuck. Why is it always fucking me? Why can't I fucking see?" he said loudly.

"Blaine?" Kurt asked, his voice sounding like he had been asleep, or crying, or something. Kurt brushed his fingertips over the back of Blaine's hand where it rested on the bed, letting Blaine know he was there. He wasn't prepared for Blaine's reaction.

"Kurt? Kurt, I can't see. I can't see where you are. Kurt, please don't leave me." Blaine said desperately, flailing as he tried to find Kurt, to grab his hand, almost falling off the bed in his efforts.

Kurt's weight settled over Blaine comfortably, holding him still as Kurt sobbed into his chest. Blaine hesitantly brought his arms up to hold onto him, unable to tell where they were. They settled onto his back, fingers spread as he gingerly stroked up Kurt's back, the feeling so very different from when he could see what he was doing, see Kurt's face...

"Thank god you're okay." Kurt said softly, pressing their lips together. Blaine kissed him back, the familiarity of it helping him to start controlling his panic.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked quietly, when they pulled apart. "Kurt, what happened? Why can't I see?" he asked, his breath hitching as he fought to stay calm.

"There was some sort of accident at your work, a fire, and you got ash in your eyes." Kurt whispered, nuzzling closer to Blaine, lips moving against his neck as he spoke. "You have a bandage over them, which is sort of why you can't see. The doctors...The doctors said it has to stay on for a month, by then they'll know whether your eyes will recover or not." Kurt explained, trying hard to stay strong, for Blaine's sake.

"I'm...I'm going to be blind for a month?" Blaine asked, panicking again. Kurt nodded into his chest, replying out loud as he realised Blaine couldn't see him.

"At least." Kurt told him honestly, hating himself for doing it as he heard Blaine's breathing catch. "Hey... it'll be okay, I'll help you." Kurt reassured him, propping himself up on one arm, reaching for Blaine's face with the other, gently pressing their lips together.

"We will get through this." Kurt promised him.

Blaine just held him tighter, trying hard not to cry.

^.^

They let him out of the hospital that afternoon, Kurt gently steering him to the car, arm around his waist. Kurt seemed to realise exactly what he needed to hear, whispering directions to him as they went, letting Blaine know where they were at all times.

He opened the door to the car for Blaine, letting Blaine climb in by himself after guiding his hands to the seat, letting him feel for himself where the edges were. Kurt gently placed one of Blaine's hands on the seat belt, guiding the other to the buckle.

"There you go." He said affectionately, as Blaine buckled himself in. "Now, I'm going to shut your door and walk around to the driver's side, okay?" he said, knowing Blaine would probably panic as soon as he shut the door.

At Blaine's nod, Kurt rushed around to the other side of the car, noticing as he climbed in how Blaine had clenched his hands together, his knuckles white.

"It's okay Blaine, I'm still here." Kurt said soothingly, taking his hand. Blaine visibly relaxed.

"Thank you." He whispered.

^.^

Kurt drove home holding Blaine's hand, his heart breaking at how insecure his boyfriend was without his eyesight. He took care to mention landmarks as they passed them, letting Blaine know where they were.

He repeated the procedure when they arrived home, gently guiding Blaine into the lounge room, helping him to find the sofa so he could sit.

"Do you want anything? Food, something to drink?" Kurt asked gently. Blaine turned his head toward Kurt.

"I'm pretty thirsty." He said quietly. "But I don't want to be left alone." He admitted. Kurt bit his lip, trying not to cry. Knowing his luck, Blaine would sense it.

"Alright then, come on." Kurt said, reaching for Blaine's hand. "We'd better help you learn how to get around the house anyway." He told him, attempting to smile. "I'm going to put away everything I don't want broken, then we can explore the house okay?" he asked gently, steering Blaine through to the kitchen.

He placed a plastic cup into Blaine's hands, taking him to the sink, watching as Blaine reached for the tap, slowly filling his cup and turning it off again, bringing his cup to his mouth with shaky hands.

"Well done." He whispered. Blaine half smiled.

"That's not much of an accomplishment." He said, trying hard not to break down.

"It's a start though."

Blaine reached his free hand out, carefully searching for the bench, and just as carefully putting his cup down.

"Kurt, I'm tired, and it's been a ridiculously long day." He said, searching aimlessly for Kurt's face. Kurt could imagine the expression that usually went along with that request, wide, pleading eyes, Blaine's teeth worrying at his bottom lip.

He sighed, nodding.

"Okay, let's go." He said, moving to lead Blaine out of the kitchen. Blaine tugged him to a stop.

"I want to try." He said earnestly. "But...Don't let go off my hand, okay?" he added insecurely.

Kurt agreed, following Blaine as he felt his way out of the kitchen and up the stairs, trailing his fingers along the wall. He made it to their bedroom, turning to collapse on their bed and missing. Kurt caught him just before he hit the floor. It was further away than Blaine remembered.

"Almost." Blaine said with a sigh, searching for the bed blindly.

"Blaine... don't you think you should shower?" Kurt asked him, slightly amused.

"Oh. Right." Blaine sighed. "I think..." He blushed. "I think I might need help."

Kurt blushed but agreed. It wasn't as if they hadn't showered together before, it was just odd because, well, Blaine couldn't see.

"Am I allowed to get the bandage wet?" Blaine asked, reaching up and gently feeling the edges.

"They gave me extras." Kurt said softly. "But I can't expose your eyes to light, or even unbandage them for too long." He sighed.

"Could you fix the bandage so it's still over my eyes but I can wash my hair?" Blaine asked, turning his head blindly from side to side, searching for Kurt. "It feels weird, like there's stuff stuck in it." He sighed.

"I think so." Kurt said, reaching for Blaine's face, holding it still as he tried to work out how to hold the bandage on. "Yes, I can do that." He said firmly. "Hold still, okay?" He told Blaine, picking up a pair of scissors and gently cutting the bandage on one side of Blaine's head, holding it securely across his eyes as he used medical tape to attach the bandage to the side of Blaine's face, repeating the procedure on the other side.

"There we go." He said, helping Blaine up and guiding him into the bathroom.

Kurt undressed quietly, touching Blaine's arm every now and then so he knew he was still there.

Blaine fought with his buttons until he gave up with a sigh, asking for help.

He hated this, hated not being able to do anything, having to ask Kurt for help with everything. All he wanted was his independence back. But that wouldn't happen until he could see again.

He stayed silent throughout the shower, gradually becoming more and more depressed as Kurt had to help him find the soap, washed his hair for him, and handed him his towel when they got out. It was after Kurt helped him dress himself, turning the clothes the right way out and showing him where the back was that he lost it.

"How are you being so patient?" he asked, flinging himself backwards from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm fucking blind, and so freaking helpless it's not funny, and you're just... just being so patient, and helpful and..." his voice trailed off as he started crying.

Kurt crawled up his body, hugging him to his chest as Blaine cried, rocking him slowly.

"Shh." He soothed. "Shh. It's okay Blaine, I'm here." He whispered. "I'm not going anywhere." He promised him, holding his face with one hand. Blaine crawled into his lap, clinging to him, hiding his face against Kurt's shoulder.

Kurt stayed silent until Blaine stopped crying, slowly rubbing his back as he hugged him tight.

"It'll be okay Blaine." He whispered, shushing him as he tried to protest. "We'll be fine. I don't mind helping you, because you need me." He told him honestly, lifting his chin until he could see Blaine's face.

"Besides, wouldn't you do the same for me?" Kurt asked, leaning forward and kissing him gently.

Blaine nodded, nuzzling into his hand.

"Of course." He said, mildly affronted. "But that's different."

"How is that different?" Kurt asked gently.

"Because I don't like feeling helpless." Blaine admitted in a whisper. Kurt didn't know how to reply to that, merely hugging him tighter.

"We'll fix that." He whispered, when they'd both calmed down a little. "We'll make you independent, at least at home, okay?"

Blaine nodded, tucking his face into Kurt's neck.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"And stop thanking me, okay? You don't have to thank me. I'm looking after you because I love you, and I refuse to leave you alone and hurt." Kurt told him, holding Blaine's hand up to his face so Blaine could feel his smile.

Blaine traced his fingers over Kurt's lips, pulling his head back before slowly moving it forward, gently guiding their mouths together, kissing Kurt gently.

"I love you." He breathed, when he pulled away.

"I love you too." Kurt whispered, gently tracing Blaine's features with his fingers.

Blaine kissed the palm of his hand before Kurt pulled back with a sigh.

"Come on, let's change that bandage so we can sleep." He said, wiping at his eyes, smiling at Blaine.

^.^

Kurt made Blaine lie down on the bed, making him promise to keep his eyes shut while he cleaned them and bandaged them again. Kurt kept talking as he moved around the room, letting Blaine know he was still there as he collected a washer and bowl of warm water. He settled back at Blaine's side, setting his supplies on the bedside table.

"Okay, ready?" he asked gently. Blaine shut his eyes tight.

"Ready." He mumbled.

Blaine could tell by the dim light around the edge of his eyelids that Kurt had turned the lights off, leaving the room lit by only their lamps, hoping to minimise damage just in case Blaine opened his eyes.

He sighed as the warm washer gently cleaned his eyes, wiping the muck away as Kurt cleaned them gently, smearing some sort of ointment over them again before wrapping a new bandage around his head. Kurt lowered his face to Blaine's gently kissing each eye through the bandage before kissing his lips.

"All done." He whispered.

"Time for sleep?" Blaine asked him tiredly, yawning.

"In a second. Just let me put all this stuff away." Kurt told him, caressing his face one last time before moving away from his side.

He was back a few seconds later, curling into Blaine's side as he tugged the blankets up over the pair of them.

"Night Blaine." He whispered.

Blaine hugged him close, resting his cheek on the top of Kurt's head. Maybe things would be okay, as long as he had Kurt to lean on.

^.^

As the days passed, Blaine gradually become more and more independent in their house, finding himself capable of doing almost everything without Kurt's help.

Kurt had banned him from the kitchen while he was cooking, after Blaine had almost burnt himself on the stove by accident. Kurt had bought him a couple of audio tapes, and Blaine spent a great deal of time listening to those, listening to the same couple over and over until Kurt got sick of them, going and buying him more.

Blaine was still clingy, not wanting to be left alone. Kurt got into the habit of talking nearly all the time, letting Blaine know where he was, that he hadn't abandoned him.

Kurt knew that Blaine felt awful about it, about not trusting him to leave, but he knew he'd probably do the same if he was in Blaine's place, being unable to see, to check if he was still there.

They ended each day the same way – with Kurt gently cleaning and putting a fresh bandage of Blaine's eyes. Kurt was pleased that the amount of muck had lessened dramatically, until there was nearly none at all, celebrating every time his eyes improved.

The time after having his eyes cleaned, and before them falling asleep curled together, was the time for honesty, them whispering to each other about how they felt, admitting their insecurities. As it got closer and closer to the end of the month, Blaine became more and more worried about his appointment, scared of what the doctor would say when he finally went back.

^.^

Finally, the day of his appointment arrived. Kurt led a protesting Blaine out to the car, shutting the door behind them as he laughed at Blaine's adamant decision that 'he didn't need to go see the doctor, he was fine having a bandage around his head for the rest of his life'.

Kurt shut his car door in his face, climbing into the driver's seat, taking Blaine's face into his hands.

"Blaine, shut up." He laughed, kissing him quiet. "You won't regret this, I promise." He told him gently.

"Fine." Blaine sighed, pouting. Kurt kissed him again.

"I'm going to drive now, and I don't want you to whine anymore okay? This is happening, whether you want it to or not." Kurt told him firmly, smiling at his expression.

Blaine slouched back into his seat, still pouting as he buckled himself in.

It didn't take him long to get over it, and before they were even halfway there they were talking happily again.

^.^

Blaine's nerves came back as Kurt led him through the hospital hallways, the smell of disinfectant doing little to calm him down.

In the doctor's room, he was sat on a chair as the doctor turned the lights off, explaining how they'd be checking his eyes in a slow, calming voice.

Almost before he was ready, he felt the doctor's hands at the edge of the bandage, gripping Kurt's hand almost too tightly. Kurt said nothing, knowing how nervous he was.

The doctor gently unwound the bandage, the last of it falling off Blaine's face as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"You can open your eyes now." The doctor said softly.

"Come on Blaine." Kurt encouraged. Blaine turned his head towards the sound of Kurt's voice, opening his eyes slowly.

He blinked a couple of times as shadowy figures settled themselves into Kurt and the doctor, their faces becoming clearer the longer he looked.

And then everything was clear, and there was Kurt. Perfect Kurt. Perfect Kurt who looked after him and who loved him and was so god damn good looking and Blaine knew that from that moment on, he'd cherish every single second he had his eyes open. He raised trembling fingers to Kurt's face.

"You let your hair grow." He whispered, drinking in every feature of Kurt's face, the face he hadn't been able to see in forever, spending that whole time feeling Kurt's face with his fingertips, and longing to see it again.

Kurt laughed, a little odd sounding as he tried not to cry.

"You should see yours." He replied, tugging on a strand of it.

The doctor interrupted them then, shining a little light into Blaine's eyes.

"All good." He announced a few seconds later. "You should be okay now, but give your eyes time to adjust to light." He said, slowly brightening the lights in his office, making Blaine wince and squint his eyes, opening them again when his eyes adjusted. "And wear sunglasses every time you go outside, at least for a couple of weeks."

Kurt and Blaine nodded, thanking the doctor as they left.

Blaine stared around the hallways as Kurt steered him to the car, taking in everything. It was like viewing everything for the first time - it was new and strange and he was a little disoriented.

"Everything's so... bright." He said in awe. Kurt laughed.

"Just wait until you see what I did to our house." He said over his shoulder, still walking as Blaine stopped to stare out a window.

"Wait..." Blaine said, hurrying to catch up. "What did you do to our house?"

A/N: I wanted to write an alternate ending to this where Blaine ended up Blind forever, but...I got too emotional and couldn't do it.