Between 1.6 and 2.8 million teenagers runaway every day. The best chances of finding them are within the first forty-eight hours. When the deadline passes without any sign of Blaine Anderson, Burt Hummel hopes his son can manage to get through it. A week passes, then a month, and before he knows it, the leaves are changing colors.

Kurt isn’t handling Blaine’s disappearance well. Burt has tried reasoning with his son, gently trying to get him to admit that his boyfriend probably ran away from home. It happens every day. There are thousands of homeless, runaway teenagers living on the streets in the United States. Blaine had hard a summer, one filled with fighting, stress, and misunderstandings. The kid had slept over more times than Burt could count. He always stayed in Finn’s room.

The troubled home life, frequent sleep overs, and constant contact with Kurt spoke volumes about the likely scenario: Blaine Anderson had runaway. Severing all ties was probably easier for the kid than keeping in touch with a boyfriend. Burt has mentioned this to Kurt, but every time he brings it up his son covers his ears and refuses to listen. He’s at a loss, because this time there are no pamphlets giving him advice.

When he gets a phone call from the bank, questioning charges from out of state, he does a double take. The next day Burt heads over to the credit union and requests a statement. A helpful teller explains the drafts. He sees several entries that include gas purchases from Indianapolis, ATM withdrawals in Detroit, and restaurant receipts in Chicago. All he can see is red.

His son’s bank statement in hand, Burt drives over to McKinley with anger bubbling beneath his veins. It has to stop. Kurt may be grieving, but he can’t do this. It isn’t healthy constantly searching for a boy that ran away, one who probably doesn’t want to be found. The school secretary greets him warmly and asks him to have a seat. She seems happy that he has made this impromptu appearance. When Mrs. Pilsbury walks out, his anger grows.

A forged excuse note is discussed. Kurt had written it at the beginning of the year, stating some nonsense about physical therapy appointments. His son hasn’t attended a full day of school since it started three months ago. Burt asks to see Finn. His stepson walks into the office warily, clearly aware of what’s been going on.

“Where is he?” He hisses, furious that Finn has been covering for Kurt. “Why are you enabling this?”
“He has leads!” Finn defends. “Maybe he’ll find him!”
“Finn!” Burt runs a hand over his face. “What about Glee Club? Will he be here this afternoon?”
Finn looks guilty, but caves and spills the truth. “Kurt quit.”

Burt tells Finn to go back to class, and he calls Carol. His wife is sympathetic and insists Finn should be grounded for lying to him. She also believes they should put a stop to Kurt’s obsessive search. He agrees. When he arrives home, he takes away his son’s laptop. The computer downstairs is saddled with more parental controls. Burt leaves the television in his son’s room and calls the cell phone company to change the phone plan. Kurt will get a new phone in a few days. The iPhone is going to belong to Burt for a while.

When Kurt comes home in the late afternoon, Burt lets him have it. Kurt’s face crumples into tears, but he puts his foot down. Dinner is tense and awkward. His son pushes food morosely around his plate, eyes still red from crying. He never says one word. A week later, Carol arrives home with Kurt in tow. His son has an armload of books in his arms. Burt doesn’t think anything of it until he pops into Kurt’s room for a quick late night chat.

The tower of books has grown. Newspapers, flyers, and various pamphlets with phone numbers are sitting on his son’s desk while his homework is left unattended. Burt belatedly realizes that Kurt is still searching, he’s just found resources he can use outside of technology.

2.

Carol calls him at the garage, intense worry dripping from her voice. Mrs. Anderson had stopped by the house and had given Kurt some of Blaine’s belongings. Burt sighs and runs his greasy hands over his face. They speak quietly for several minutes. Once his wife recants finding Kurt dressed head to toe in Blaine’s clothes and crying in the closet, he knows he can’t ignore this any longer.

Therapy isn’t really his idea, mostly because he had gotten through his own grief without doling out his sorrow to a stranger. Carol makes a strong and reasonable case for it. Kurt has lost weight, barely sleeps at night, and rarely leaves his room when he is not in school. Burt keeps insisting to his beautiful wife that his son will be able overcome his obsession and grief in time, but he’s starting to seriously doubt it.

Finn really doesn’t help things. Kurt has managed to convince his stepbrother that Blaine did not run away. Burt knows that Finn was close to his son’s boyfriend. His stepson is sweet and an overall good kid, but he’s incredibly naive for his age. Kurt has him hooked on possible leads. Finn is now addicted to crime shows and has stopped playing video games so he can read mystery books. Apparently, his stepson seems to think that if he learns about any and all missing persons cases (even fictional ones), then he can help Kurt narrow down his search.

It’s frustrating. They are feeding off of each other, and it’s making his son worse. Burt knows he has to act. It’s April. Even if Blaine didn’t runaway, he’s probably dead. Kurt won’t even consider the option. Burt yanks out the phone book and flips over to the pages for therapists. Lima is full of them. After he calls around, one stands out.

There is a lesbian therapist in town with years of experience. Burt spends four hours on the phone discussing Kurt. Instantly admiring her direct yet sensitive manner, he makes an appointment for his son. Kurt throws a fit. Burt forces him to go, threatening to take away his library card if he doesn’t. Kurt pales at the threat, cries angrily, and finally gets out of the car.

Two hours later Kurt is waiting in the main office, an unreadable expression on his face. Burt knows the look well. It’s his son’s mask. He won’t be talking to him any time soon. When he asks Kurt how his first session went, his son keeps his mouth tightly shut. Burt calls Nichole later in hopes she’ll give him some insight. She does.

“Frankly, Mr. Hummel, I think you waited far too long to intervene!” Nichole’s voice stays perfectly pitched, never faltering even though she is chewing him out. “Your son is clearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown!”

Burt’s guilt and concern grows as he listens to her rant. She isn’t calling him a bad parent, but she’s certainly letting him have it for hoping his child will move on without intervention. He listens to her advice and agrees to meeting her tomorrow in her office. Dr. Waters believes he’s never dealt with his own grief properly, that Kurt’s issues when it comes to Blaine are a ripple effect from losing his mother at such a young age.

The appointment is a little strange, but he’s got to admit the woman has some points. Burt gets the number of a support group for family members that have missing loved ones, their address, and detailed advice on how he should proceed with his son. It helps. Kurt reluctantly goes to the meetings. This seems to help him a lot more than the therapy. Burt still insists Kurt needs to go see Dr. Waters several times a week.

Dr. Waters is pleased that his son is starting to warm up to her a little, though she won’t tell him everything Kurt says. Client confidentiality and Kurt’s status as a legal adult do not entitle Burt to any particular details. She tells him quite frequently that it doesn’t matter if he pays for his son’s visits.
“Kurt is starting to cope better.” Dr. Waters promises him one day. “Give him time.”

Burt is pleased with Kurt’s progress. His son starts to show up on time again for his shifts at the garage, spends time with Finn when the tall boy is visiting from college, and even starts mentioning things he might do in the future. Debbie Conners is the one to burst his pleasant, sound bubble. He winces as she starts her radio show at seven one night. Kurt is guest hosting a radio station in Columbus. The first segment is dedicated entirely to Blaine. Dr. Waters calls him in the morning, informing him that they need to talk.

3.

Things don’t come to a head until Burt meets Erin Rose. She is an elegant, graceful woman with beautiful dark eyes and ebony skin. Burt is introduced to her on Thanksgiving. Snow is falling from the sky as she takes a seat next to Kurt. Erin is charming, but a profound sadness lurks underneath her pleasant demeanor. After dinner Burt offers her some tea and she accepts.

“I just want to tell you how much I love Kurt.” Erin begins, smiling. “He wants to make sure I’m not alone this year, like I was last year. He’s such a pleasure. I can’t wait until Melinda meets him. I’m sure they will get on well.”
“Who’s Melinda?” Burt figures it’s one of her relatives.
“My sister.” Erin pulls out a gold locket from under her shirt. “Melinda disappeared two years ago. Kurt is going to help me find her.”
“What?” He gasps, eyeing the smiling black woman. “I don’t understand. Why is he helping you find her?”
“Because.” Erin clutches the necklace in her hands. “Melinda disappeared the same day Blaine did. We’re expanding our search into Georgia. I got a tip that she might in the area!”

Erin finishes her cup of coffee and joins everyone else in the living room. Burt pretends to enjoy the evening, but he glares knowingly at Kurt throughout the festivities. His son doesn’t even bat an eye anymore when he’s angry. The bank calls him again in May, informing him that there are some suspicious charges from Florida. He takes care of the over draft fees for Kurt, neglects to mention it to Carol, and sits down to talk to Finn. Burt can’t keep his son as an employee anymore. The other guys at the garage are frustrated and annoyed every time Kurt skips a shift to help Erin look for Melinda.

Taking off for an entire week without prior announcement can’t be dismissed. Burt gives his son an ultimatum: the garage or Blaine. Kurt stubbornly balls his hands into fists, glares, and choses Blaine without a second thought. Burt asks his son to find a new place to live. It kills him to make this decision, to force Kurt into realizing the consequences for his actions, but he simply can not take the stress anymore. Carol is incredibly frustrated with both of them. Burt apologizes profusely to Elizabeth at her grave the day after Kurt moves to Columbus.

Their relationship is strained and they barely speak to one another for months. Kurt simply stopped calling, won’t answer his family’s phone calls, and stays away. Finn goes to visit his stepbrother the most, though he neglects to mention anything they talk about to Burt. Life goes on until he sees Kurt at Christmas. A think black girl accompanies him, though Erin spends the holiday with family in Florida. Melinda clutches his son’s hands tightly. She won’t let Burt anywhere near her, trembles whenever Finn speaks to her, and stuffs extra biscuits into her purse. Kurt patiently takes care of Melinda throughout the entire night. Burt never calls him on it, but he knows his son is helping the girl because she has something to do with Blaine.

4.

When a familiar and well known football player walks into the garage, he blinks in confusion.
Dave Karofsky asks to take him to lunch. Burt agrees and learns that the Quarterback is currently dating his son. Dave brings out a small black box, which contains a beautiful gold ring.

“I want to marry your son.” Dave admits nervously once their appetizers arrive. “But I want your blessing. I’m hoping I can help you rebuild your relationship with Kurt. I know he misses you.”

Burt grunts his approval, hoping his son is finally ready to move on. The proposal is exaggerated and elaborate. Burt, Carol, Finn, Erin, Melinda, and Mercedes are in the stands (though Kurt is unaware of it) when Dave pops the question in front of a very large audience. Kurt claps his hands happily and even does a little dance when Dave slips the ring onto his finger. Burt smiles. His son really is moving on. Blaine is never mentioned anymore, all of his son’s folders and flyers have been put away. Dave has helped him heal. Burt loves the football player for that alone.

It’s easy getting caught up in the whirlwind romance. Burt fully supports Kurt in his new relationship. Their bond is reformed, Carol is thrilled at the news, and Dave becomes a permanent fixture in their lives. Finn is the only one that seems hesitant to accept the union.

A week before the wedding, they fly to a five star resort in Michigan and enjoy the festivities leading up to the ceremony. Kurt throws himself into the affair, holds Dave’s hands when they’re in public, and is downright giddy. It’s the happiest Burt has seen his son since Blaine disappeared.

Burt is more than a little drunk as he stumbles back to his suite at three in the morning. The hallway is incredibly long, Carol has vanished into thin air, which is too bad because he feels like kissing her neck. Maybe he’ll call the front desk and see if they have seen her. Quiet voices interrupt his pleasantly buzzed stupor. Finn is speaking quietly to Kurt.

“I can’t take this, man.” Finn insists, thrusting his hand at Kurt. “It’s yours.”
“It’s from Blaine.” Kurt whispers, closing his hand around his brother’s. “Finn, I need to know it’s safe.”
“But you always wear it!” Finn hisses. “Why are you giving it to me?”
“It isn’t right.” Kurt finally admits. “I can’t wear it when I’m married to Dave. It isn’t right, Finn!”
“Okay, okay.” Finn grumbles as he pockets something. “I’ll hang on to it. What are you going to do if you find him?”
“Dave already knows.” Kurt promises. “He knows that when I find Blaine, I’ll divorce him.”
“Oh.” Finn frowns in thought. “And he’s okay with it?”
“Yes.” Kurt nods. “Dave--he’s really a good friend. I like him.”
“Do you love him?” Finn pulls Kurt into a hug. “Do you?”
“No.” Kurt folds into Finn’s arms. “But I do like him. I’d feel guilty, wearing Blaine’s ring when I’m with Dave. I don’t want anything to taint what I have with Blaine.”

Burt stumbles away from his son, angry and upset. Carol is in his room when he gets back. She sees his expression and asks what’s wrong.
“I was looking for you.” Burt slurs, completely forgetting what he had seen in the hall. “I wanted to kiss you.”
The hangover in the morning is enough to make him regret drinking so much, heartburn keeps him down for most of the day, and he vows to never touch another beer for as long as he lives.

5.

The girl walks into the shop on a cold, grey February day. Burt frowns at her and the curly haired kid trailing behind her. He smiles warmly at her, thinking she’s a new customer. The girl asks for Kurt. Burt’s grin falters. His son has lived in California for the last three years. Kurt calls him occasionally and visits a few times every year. Finn has reunited with Mercedes Jones. They have started dating. Life is great. Burt has no idea how this girl knows his son, but he can’t let her talk Kurt into giving her money or a place to stay.

“He doesn’t even live in this state anymore.” Burt stares hard at her, though he hands her kid a sucker. “What do you want?”
“You must be Burt.” The young red head offers her hand. “My name is Lynn. I--I wanted to give him something. Melinda told me I could find you here.”
Melinda’s name perks his curiosity. “Yeah. I could give it to him, if you want.”
“I don’t want to cause any trouble.” Lynn begins, setting a gold ring on the counter. “But I wanted to give this to him.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why?” Burt sees two hands clasped together, and strange symbols engraved around the inside of the ring. “How do you know Kurt?”
“I don’t know him.” Lynn’s face crumples, and tears slide down her cheeks. “Blaine used to say his name a lot. When I found out that Melinda was in Columbus, she told me about them. I can’t stay long--I have to drive back to Indianapolis. But will you do me a favor?”

“Sure.” Burt hands her a tissue, and she accepts it gratefully. “I’m sorry I took it. The ring, I mean. The drugs made me crazy. Will you tell Kurt that I only stole it because I was jealous?”
“Jealous?” Burt doesn’t understand why a junkie would be jealous of a runaway. “Why would you be jealous of Blaine?”
“Because.” Lynn dries her blue eyes. “I’d never had anyone that loved me like that. Not really. I owe Blaine more than I can ever repay.”
“Why’s that?” Now he wants to know more.
“He helped me escape.” Lynn whispers, nervously glancing around. “I have to go.”

Lynn hurries away from the shop, scooping her child into her arms, and running for her car. Burt stares at the ring for a long while. The ring clearly means something to Blaine and Kurt, but he doesn’t want to give his son any false hope. Kurt is married to a good man, is well cared for, and has moved on from Blaine Anderson. Burt stealthily begins to slide the ring off the counter and aims for the trashcan.

Finn stops him, spotting the gold ring as soon as he comes in from the garage. “Dude!” He scoops the ring off the counter. “I saw that girl. Did she give you this?”
“Yes.” Burt groans inwardly, knowing nothing good can come of this. “What is it?”
“It’s Blaine’s ring!” Finn beams, pocketing the ring. “Wait until Kurt hears about this!”

Burt wishes he could have thrown the thing away when he had the chance. He winces as Finn reaches for the phone. “Wait. I’m not sure we should tell him. He’s married, Finn.”
“Yeah, but he’ll want it!” Finn starts pushing buttons. “Blaine gave him a matching ring before he disappeared.”
“What?” Burt never knew this information.
“Kurt didn’t tell you?” Finn waits impatiently for his brother to answer. “Blaine had them inscribed.”
“What does it say?” Burt dreads the answer.
“It’s Gaelic.” Finn says happily. “They both say, ‘Never Say Goodbye’.”

Suddenly, his son’s obsessive search makes perfect sense.

1.

The private rehab center doesn’t even look like a hospital. It’s a sprawling mansion nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Burt peers at the place and rings the bell on the gate. Four months ago, his son had divorced Dave and promptly vanished. Burt tried pressing his former son-in-law for information, but Dave refused to cave. The football player clearly knows what has happened to his son and he won’t give any details. Not even Finn has spoken or seen Kurt for months. Melinda will not tell him anything either, so Burt ends up hiring a private detective. Cooper Grant does some digging (for four hundred bucks an hour), and finds them two months later.

They are in Oregon at a private, exclusive hospital. Cast iron gates surround the property. Security cards him, drags him into the lobby, and are irate he came without explicit permission from their patient. Burt asks why his son is a patient there, states his concern, and very politely asks to see Kurt. One of the doctors ventures out during his interrogation. She introduces herself as Dr. Fox. He begs to see his son. She disappears for a while.

When she comes back, Kurt follows behind her, wearing loose fitting scrubs and towing Blaine by the hand. Burt stares in disbelief at the boy dressed in a familiar uniform. He’s wearing that ridiculous Dalton get up, even though he’s twenty-six years old. Kurt doesn’t look happy and Blaine stares at the floor. Burt is silent as Kurt coaxes Blaine onto one of the leather couches in the main lobby.

Dr. Fox sits besides Burt. Kurt smiles in greeting, though he remains by Blaine’s side. “Dad. You shouldn’t have come here.”
“Hello, Blaine.” Burt forces a smile. “It’s good to see you again. Kurt, we’ve been worried sick.”
“Finn knows where I am.” Kurt says stiffly. “I swore him to secrecy, and I said he couldn’t tell you unless it’s an emergency. What’s wrong?”
“Finn didn’t tell me squat.” Burt sighs, hating the fact that his stepson had lied to him. “I hired a private detective.”
“What?” Blaine whimpers, leaning into Kurt’s shoulder. “We can’t stay here.”

“Blaine.” Kurt wraps an arm around his shoulders. “It’s okay. We’re safe.”
“This isn’t an emergency?” Dr. Fox glares.
“No.” Burt feels about two feet tall under the brunette doctor’s glare. “I was worried because I haven’t seen or heard from my son for months.”

“He’s helping Blaine through rehab.” Dr. Fox informs him coldly. “And is actively participating in Blaine’s therapy. I have half a mind to move them, knowing that you’ve disturbed my patient’s recovery.”
“Dad.” Kurt stands, hauling Blaine to his feet. “I’m sorry, but I’m taking Blaine back to our room. Please, don’t tell anyone else where we are.”

They disappear around a corner. Blaine trembles, and quietly asks Kurt for a cookie. His son produces a ziplock bag of Oreos, proceeding to hand Blaine one. Burt watches the scene and turns to speak to Dr. Fox. “I don’t understand. My son is staying here with an addict, and a runaway. Why? Isn’t rehab supposed to be handled alone?”
“We’re making an exception for Blaine.” Dr. Fox purses her lips into a frown. “And you should know that he didn’t run away. He was kidnapped and held prisoner for years.”
“Oh.” Burt feels even lower as he stands to leave. “I’ll leave. Please, I didn’t mean to upset them. I won’t come again. I’m sorry.”

Guilt creeps into his gut and he cries while he drives away from the clinic. Kurt had known all along. Burt knows he’s a terrible father. Elizabeth would be ashamed of him.