Kurt was holding onto Blaines hand as they wheeled the gurney out of the ambulance and into the hospital. Doctors rushed to them, and he barely heard anything the paramedics said because of the constant ringing in his ears.

Stabbed... Severe blood loss... Broken ribs... Cardiac arrest... Critical condition... Not sure hell make it...

‘Sir? one of the paramedics asked urgently, ‘Sir, you have to let go of Mister Andersons hand in order to let the doctors do their job.

But Kurt was unable to let go. He needed to hold on, needed to know Blaine was going to be alright. He felt hands prying his fingers away from Blaines and soon he was crying into one of the nurses shoulder as they wheeled Blaine to the operation room.

The nurse rubbed Kurts back soothingly before pulling away from him. ‘Do you want to sit down, dear?

Kurt nodded and let the nurse guide him to the chairs in the waiting room. He sat down and grabbed his notebook out of his bag. Is Blaine going to be okay?

Surprisingly, the nurse didnt ask any questions about the notebook and she just answered: ‘Mister Anderson is a strong young man, and Im sure theyre going to fix him up right now. You just have to stay strong for him, and dont give up on him, okay? Im sure hell be okay.

Kurt nodded, looking at the nurse with tears in his eyes. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

‘Hell be okay, the nurse repeated, ‘Do you want me to call somebody for you?

Kurt grabbed his notebook, scribbling something down. Maybe Blaines parents and older brother? Blaine told me he lives in L.A. for work but I know hed want Cooper to know, they are very close.

‘Do you have their numbers?

No... Im sorry.

‘Its okay, sweetie, Ill look them up and notify them. I have to go back to work now, do you think you can manage it on your own?

Kurt nodded, wiping at his eyes. He watched the nurse smile at him sympathetically before leaving. He pulled his knees up to his chest, hugging them tightly. He thought about what happened after Blaine had passed out. It all seemed so surreal: Blaines breathing getting slower and shallower, the young woman who coincidentally passed by and noticed the puddle of blood he and Blaine were in and called the ambulance, the trip to the hospital, and now he was here in the Kindred Hospital waiting room. It all happened so fast and now he could only hope it wasnt too late.

He doesnt want to lose his friend. He doesnt want to go back to Dalton without Blaine and have to sit in his empty dorm all by himself.

He doesnt want to find his voice by himself. He needs to do that with Blaine, he needs Blaines encouraging words to make sure he doesnt give up.

He just wants all of Blaine, honestly, Kurt realized as he closed his eyes and another tear trickled down his face.

After what seemed like ages, Kurt had dozed off while a doctor passed by him and walked up to the nurse who had guided Kurt to his seat. A few moments later, Kurt felt someone prodding at his shoulder while a gentle but authoritative voice asked: ‘Mister Hummel?

Kurt startled awake, opened his eyes, and nodded ferociously as he saw who was in front of him. He sat up straighter, mentally prepared himself for when the doctor would say "We did everything to save Mister Anderson, but Im so very sorry for your loss, Mister Hummel," but prayed to God that he wouldnt have to hear any sort of that news.

‘Im Doctor Netkins, one of the surgeons that operated on Mister Anderson. Im here to inform you that he just got out of surgery and is now in his room in the ICU department. He was critical when we brought him in, but we were able to stabilize him, to stop the bleeding, and to minimize the damage to his lung. He has two broken ribs that will need time to heal, but theres no permanent damage done, so he should recover fully, the doctor explained calmly. ‘Would you like to see him now?

Kurt got up, which was enough confirmation for the doctor. ‘Follow me then.

Kurt followed Doctor Netkins through the halls and to the elevator. Everything was too bright and too white and the last time Kurt was here he watched his mother lay in one of those too bright, too white rooms. He hated this place and honestly, he wished he never had to go back here. But this was Blaine he was here for, and Blaine was going to survive. So he ignored the smell of disinfectant, blood, and just sickness in general, and stepped into the elevator with Doctor Netkins.

The elevator ride itself was quiet; Kurt fidgeted with the buttons on his blood-stained vest, and the doctor sighed every time the elevator made a "ding" sound as they went up, with soft elevator music playing in the background of it all.

‘Hes still sedated, but we expect that hell wake soon, the doctor said as the elevator doors slid open again and they walked down the hall, ‘He might be a bit confused when he wakes but thats just a little side effect of the sedation. Theres nothing to worry about, but I will come to check on him later, just to make sure there are no post-surgery complications. Here is Mister Andersons room.

The doctor pushed the door open and Kurts breath hitched in his throat when he saw Blaines pale figure on the bed.

The room was quiet except for the heart monitor that beeped along to Blaines slowed-down heart rate, and Kurt wanted nothing more than to hear Blaines cheerful laugh again, or the way his name sounded on Blaines lips.

When Kurt finally managed to get his legs working again, he slowly made his way over to the bed and sat down in one of the chairs by Blaines side. He held Blaines hand and let his other hand roam through the hair that had sprung free from the hair gel, willing his tears away as he thought he saw Blaine lean into his touch ever so slightly.

‘Ill leave you to it, the doctor said, almost scaring Kurt by interrupting the silence around him and then he heard the door close quietly. Only when he knew that he and Blaine were alone did he start to cry again. Blaine looked too small, too fragile, and he just didnt look like the happy, strong Blaine he had only known for a week. It was silly, but he pressed a soft little kiss to Blaines hand he was holding before resting his forehead against their joined hands as tears fell from his eyes.

******

When Blaine awoke, he felt a dull pain in his chest and it took him a while to realise that oh yeah, they stabbed me. He whimpered and slowly blinked his eyes open as he suddenly felt soft fingers roaming through his hair. ‘Krt, he slurred when he saw Kurts angelic face on his left, ‘it hurts.

Kurts heart skipped a beat when Blaine said his name. He nodded and pressed the button on the right side of Blaines bed, hoping a nurse would show up soon and then he continued to run his fingers through Blaines half slicked back hair.

Youre here, Blaine continued softly.

Kurt nodded, a small, sad smile on his face.

I honestly thought I was going to die.

Tears made their way down Kurts cheeks as he looked down to the white blanket that was covering Blaine, and he gave Blaines hand a little squeeze.

Please, Blaine then said, making Kurt look at him with wide and tear-filled eyes, ‘dont cry.

Kurt untangled his fingers from Blaines hair and wiped at his own eyes before looking into Blaines. They had lost a tiny bit of their shine, but they were still beautiful to gaze in in Kurts opinion.

The door opened, and both he and Blaine looked at the small, young woman that walked into Blaines room. She had red hair, tied into a high ponytail which made her hair look longer, and emerald green eyes that shone in the sunlight. She graciously came closer while looking down at her clipboard that contained all of Blaines information.

‘How are you feeling, Mister Anderson? Are you in a lot of pain? she asked, finally looking up to Blaines face.

‘Just a dull pain, Blaine answered, ‘but it hurts nevertheless.

The nurse smiled sympathetically. ‘Ill take care of that right away. She fiddled with Blaines IV bag and pulled away when the morphine inside of it dripped a tad quicker than before. ‘There you go. Youre already on a pretty high dose so thats all I can give you.

‘Thank you, Blaine said and gratefully smiled at the nurse.

‘No problem. Oh, and if the drugs dont work, she looked back down at her clipboard to write something down, ‘you can always ask doctor Netkins for a stronger drug that doesnt require a high dose to work, okay?

‘I will, Blaine smiled.

The nurse clicked her pen off and looked up at Blaine again. ‘Then Ill leave you two alone again, she turned around, walked to the door and opened it before continuing, ‘I might come by to check on you later.

Both Blaine and Kurt nodded before the nurse left the room and left Kurt and Blaine alone again.

Feeling better? Kurt wrote down as soon as the door fell shut behind the nurse.

Blaine snorted. ‘Youll know when I start to get woozy and start talking nonsense. Then youll know Im perfectly fiiiiiiiiine.

Kurt grinned and Blaine smiled at the sight before Kurts grin faltered again. ‘Whats wrong? he asked, suddenly very serious.

I just still cant believe you did that, Blaine. They werent even sure youd make it. Kurt wrote.

Blaine sighed, knowing exactly what Kurt meant with "that". ‘I wanted to protect you, he said slowly, ‘and if I needed to die just to make sure you were safe then so be it. It wasnt your fault they attacked me...

It is my fault... If I defended myself 8 years ago then I wouldnt have been bullied for all those years after, I wouldnt have been attacked, then I wouldnt be mute, you didnt have to protect me and then we wouldnt be here. Thats what you did, Blaine, you risked your life to save a kid that is too much of a coward to defend himself.

Blaine shook his head. ‘Dont say that. You are not a coward, Kurt. You are so much stronger than any other person I know and I saw how you wanted to break free from those bullies to try and protect me. That takes a lot of bravery, not cowardness.

I was so afraid that I was going to lose you, Kurt wrote.

‘I promised you that you wouldnt lose me, Blaine said, putting his hand on Kurts, ‘Everythings going to be okay now.

Kurt nodded and tried to stifle a yawn but failed.

‘Go home, visit your parents or something, Blaine said softly, patting Kurts hand, ‘You need some sleep, its been a long day for the both of us.

Kurt shook his head ferociously as he looked up at Blaine.

‘You dont have to stay, Blaine tried again, ‘Ill be okay, the nurses will ta-

Kurt had put a finger on Blaines lips to silence him. He pulled the finger away again when Blaine sighed softly and he reached for his notebook instead.

I dont want to leave. I want to stay here, with you. Is that okay?

‘Oh, Blaine breathed, eyebrows raising slightly in surprise, ‘Of course thats okay, Kurt.

Kurt smiled gratefully and curled up in his seat, pulling his knees up to his chest.

I told the nurse to call your parents and Cooper. Your parents might be on their way as we speak.

‘I dont think so, Blaine huffed.

Why do you think that? Kurt wrote down, frowning.

‘They never really cared about me, you know? Blaine shrugged, ‘I always felt like Cooper was their favorite kid.

Im sure they love you as much as they love Cooper.

They dont. Ive always been the misfit, the outcast, of my family. Im gay, therefore Im not ‘normal. Cooper is 25, has a beautiful girlfriend and he already has a great career in L.A. since he graduated high school. Look at where I am on the other hand, Blaine looked around the hospital room and shrugged.

Im sorry Kurt wrote down as he guiltily looked down at the ground.

Oh, Kurt, no. I didnt mean it like that. I mean that... This place, Ohio in general, is not where I want to be. I want to go to New York, maybe land a role on Broadway, make art and help people. I want to make my parents proud by showing them what Im made of, you know?

Kurt nodded. You will! You will do all of those things and you will make people proud. And if your parents arent proud of you, then youll still have me to lean on, okay? I will always stand by your side.

Thats... Thats really, really sweet of you, Kurt, Blaine smiled gratefully at Kurt, You are a really amazing friend.

Blaines heart skipped a beat when he saw the grin on Kurts face. He loved that smile and he loved being the reason for it.

‘You know Ill always stand by your side as well, right?

I know Kurt answered, his eyes drooping a little bit.

‘Good, Blaine said, ‘Now that you know that you should sleep.

The corners of Kurts mouth twitched up into a smile and he nodded before closing his eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep as he dreamt about holding Blaine in his arms, protecting him from harm just like he had done for him.

Blaine watched Kurt as he slept. The way his hair fell adorably onto his forehead, his eyelashes fanned out over his cheeks and how the corners of his mouth twitched every once in a while.

God, he looks stunning, Blaine thought, If I could only make him mine...