"Blaine!" Kurt shouted, scrambling around in the bed to untangle himself from the sheets. A warm hand came around his waist, pulling him back so he was close to Blaine's warmth.

"It's okay. Kurt. It will all be okay," Blaine said, trying in vain to wake up all the way.

"Blaine! Where's Holly? WHERE'S HOLLY?" he was shouting and this time it woke Blaine up. The man sat up in bed, his arms around Kurt's waist trying to stop him from falling as he tried to exit the bed with the sheets wrapped tightly around his legs.

Kurt, honey, calm down..let me help you," Blaine said but Kurt's struggles got worse.

"I have to get to her...." Kurt panted, exhausting himself in the struggle to unwind from the prison of the sheets.

"Kurt," Blaine said in a voice that was so commanding that Kurt stopped immediately. "Kurt, lie still." Blaine ordered.

He untangled Kurt's legs from the sheets and pulled them back, stroking his hands over Kurt's shoulders and back as he allowed him to sit up.

"Holly..." Kurt said in a hushed tone, his eyes beseeching his Dom.

"She's fine, Kurt, I promise," Blaine tried to reassure him.

"Where?"

"Honey, she's with your dad and brother. They are taking good care of her and we can go see her in a few minutes."

"The monitor – it's been turned off. I don't see the LED light," Kurt observed, panic in his eyes.

"I turned it off last night. You were in no shape to take care of anyone and Holly was with her Grandfather. Do you remember we talked about that?" Blaine asked, but Kurt shook his head. "Well, that's the medicine, Kurt. Do you remember the shot you got from Dr. Wes?" Blaine hated having to bring that up, but it was important that Kurt understood so he wouldn't have a panic attack. Panic attacks drained Sub blood levels quicker than almost anything.

Kurt shuddered and focused back on Blaine. His eyes hadn't left his Dom's face and now the sadness filled them, making Blaine shrink inside himself because of his part in the whole thing. If he had been a proper Dom instead of trying out his harebrained theory...but that was water under the bridge now and was unproductive. He sighed to himself.

"Yes, Blaine, I do remember. And he's coming back again this morning," Kurt just wilted in Blaine's arms, limp and lethargic.

"You know why it's necessary, don't you, baby? It saved your life. You know not all Subs who suffer a loss and then so much trauma survive, don't you?" Blaine asked, gathering Kurt into his embrace to give him warmth and support.

"Yes, I know. I was so frightened. You held me, Blaine, and it made it....bearable." Kurt looked away from Blaine for the first time. He told himself that he didn't blame his Dom for the Sub Weakness, he knew he was deep in the throes of it when he met Blaine, but perhaps Blaine had not acted responsibly when he knew how sick Kurt actually was. He could never say that to Blaine, didn't want to even think it after all Blaine had done for him...but it was what it was. Kurt closed his eyes and gave his dizzy head a tiny shake.

He remembered the other things that had happened: his Levi, his son, was back with him. For that alone he owed Blaine his life...for Levi and Holly both. His little Holly – with her smile on her pale pink lips and golden skin. She was safe. His father, Finn and even Noah were here with him. He thought about how lucky he was compared to having to have these Synthetic Dom Chem shots. They were a two-edged sword at best. While they made him terribly ill, stole is memory, and would cause him to go through withdrawal, not to even think about the pain involved in the administration of the medication – they also saved his life. Any idiot could see.....he did need them.

"When will Wes get here?" Kurt asked.

"Twelve hours from the last shot – about six. We have an hour and a half. Are you going to be all right until Wes gets here? Does it hurt too much? Wes left some pills for the pain with instructions that you are to take them before your pain gets unbearable. Do you need one?"

"Yes. My hips really hurt. Thank you, Blaine. Can I see Holly and Levi?" he asked.

"Sure, I'll get you some relief from that hip pain and then we'll order breakfast and maybe eat with the children?" Blaine suggested. He was anxious to see them this morning, he was already in love with Holly and hoped to develop a relationship with Levi.

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

"Daddy!" Levi squealed, running into the room as soon as Blaine opened the door. "Uncle Puck said I could come wait here for Daddy," the small boy said to Blaine as he walked past him.

"Well, Daddy is waiting for you. I will lift you onto the bed with him if you like," Blaine offered.

"Thank you Mr. Anners," Levi said, his chin in his chest as he reluctantly allowed Blaine to put his hands under his arms to lift him. Once on the bed, Levi was so very careful of his dad. He moved with exaggerated care and sat as close as he could. Kurt's arms went around the sturdy little shoulders in a gentle hug. He tried not to wince as Levi bumped his bandaged hip.

"Daddy, Mrs. Rose is bringing us breakfast. She said we get Sweedish toast."

"Are you sure? Maybe she said French toast?" Kurt asked, grinning.

"Oh, yeah. That. And I can have maple or pecan or Lincoln Berry on it," Levi informed him.

"Ah...lingonberry. My favorite," Kurt said.

"Well, if we get lingonberry syrup, maybe it is Sweedish toast after all?" Blaine laughed and Kurt smiled, too. Levi just looked from one man to the other, not following the conversation.

A knock on the doorframe of the open door made them all look up to see Puck standing there with Holly in his arms. He walked across to Kurt, who was still lying in bed, and smiled down at his friend.

"Good morning, Kurt. How are you feeling, Dude?" he asked.

"I'm okay, a little dizzy and my hips hurt, but I'm okay," Kurt said.

"Are you up to holding your daughter before I steal her heart away?" Puck asked.

Kurt smiled at the gentle kidding. "Yes, but...." he looked at Blaine, standing near the bed. He looked with pleading eyes and patted the bed beside him. Blaine sat where indicated and put a supporting arm around Kurt.

"Okay, Noah. Thank you for taking care of my children, I appreciate it so much," Kurt's big blue eyes sparkled as he looked into Holly's face.

"It was a struggle. Mrs. Rose thought it was her job, but we had a talk and I got them ready. Holly already had her bottle," Noah smiled at the sight of his friend with his baby. He felt a slight burning in the back of his eyes at the site, but Noah admonished himself that he was not a sentimentalist and this was not going to lead to tears.

"Where are Dad and Finn?" Kurt asked.

"Burt was up with you most of the night, mister. Don't you remember?" Noah asked, then blushed as he remembered Blaine explaining how the shots played with Kurt's memory. Kurt looked confused and Blaine tightened his grip around his Sub's waist.

"Nothing to worry about, Kurt. Yes, Burt was here with you, but you slept through most of it. Little wonder you don't remember," Blaine said in a soft voice, giving Puck a hard look. Puck gave one back and then his face melted into a smile as Kurt looked back at him.

"And Finn? Honestly, Kurt, it's just after five in the morning – do you really expect him to be awake?" Puck asked. Kurt laughed.

"Well, I guess not," he admitted.

Just as they got settled, Mrs. Rose came in with a tea cart and Blaine ushered everyone to the chairs. Kurt asked Noah to help him – and Blaine gave him an astonished look while Noah slid his hands under Kurt and lifted him up, carrying him to the sofa and tucking him in. Blaine, carrying Holly, was quick to sit on the sofa at Kurt's feet in spite of Noah's outraged looks behind Kurt's back. He pulled a chair as close as possible to the side of the sofa where Kurt was leaning on a pile of pillows.

Breakfast was French toast and there was indeed lingonberry syrup for it. Levi was thrilled to eat sitting on a footstool and setting his plate on the coffee table. There was plenty of food, juice, tea, and coffee and everyone was eating when Finn showed up, sitting down with a minimum of words so he could eat a plate himself.

Blaine was worried about Kurt, he hardly touched the food on his plate and Blaine whispered in his ear, asking if he was feeling okay, to which Kurt replied he was a little sick to his stomach. He held his daughter once again, singing softly to her as he gazed into her eyes. She cooed at her daddy, trying to grasp his face and kicking her chubby little legs in frustration when she couldn't make her hands move where she wanted them. Finally, she was able to put her hand on his soft cheek and the astonishment on her face was comical. Kurt grinned and Blaine, ever attentive to the man he was falling in love with, saw it and a warm sensation came into his blood and settled in his belly, to see this tender exchange between Kurt and his tiny daughter. Blaine had to close his eyes to keep the tears from forming. It wasn't until later that night that he realized part of that feeling was the wish that Holly might love him like that some day, too.

Puck offered to take Holly back to her bed and Levi took her place on Kurt's lap. His breakfast done, he wanted nothing more than to sit with his daddy. They talked for a while, Levi telling him all the things he had done while he was with his grandparents and uncles in Ohio. Blaine got a text that Wes was on his way and took Levi very reluctantly to his Uncle Puck. Finn was up now and the two men decided to take Levi to a local park for a short time while Kurt was with the doctor.

Wes came, took Kurt's blood samples, and was at the window, looking through the microscope, when a knock came to the door. Blaine got up – everyone in the house knew what was going on, so he was surprised anyone would interrupt them. Opening the door he found Burt, looking nervous but determined.

"Can I please speak to Kurt?" he asked, looking Blaine in the eye. Blaine's first instinct was to deny him, to keep Kurt to himself and nail the door shut. He was already so emotional, knowing what was about to happen to Kurt and dreading it more by the moment. He looked at Burt's face and knew that this was probably the hardest thing Burt had done in his lifetime with the exception of losing Elizabeth. He knew the torture the shots were to Kurt, but he came anyway. Blaine stepped back and welcomed him into the room, ashamed he had wanted to stop him.

"Hey, Buddy, how are you feeling?" Burt asked, sitting down next to Kurt and squeezing his thigh. Kurt tried to smile at his dad, but he failed. Blaine was standing with Wes, so Kurt put his arms around his dad and held him. "I'm going to be here for you, Kurt. I can't take the pain away, but I can be here for you. I love you."

"Thank you Dad," was all Kurt could get out.

Wes walked back to the bed where Kurt was lying.

"Well, we do have some good news. I measured the levels and checked the cells. Twice. I have never seen this happen with only two shots, but your levels are in the safe zone, Kurt. I don't even want to guess at why or how long this might last, but given the jump once again in the Dom Chem levels – I am going to recommend not giving you a third shot for now."

Blaine grabbed Wes by the shoulders and kissed him. Wes staggered back from the hug as Blaine launched himself at the poor man, who smiled good-naturedly at his best friend.

Burt was hugging Kurt to him and Kurt was just lying there, a smile on his face.

"Now, don't get too confident. It might be temporary, we don't know a lot about the exact chemistry of why Subs have Weakness. I want to give you some supplements," Wes said and Kurt jerked back for a second, then looked at his doctor.

"Okay, Dr. Montgomery. I'll do what you think best," he said in a dejected voice, absently rubbing his right hip where it still hurt.

Blaine went to Wes' side and asked in a soft voice, "Do I need to get in bed and hold him? Will it hurt as much as the Synthetics?"

"No, Blaine. I can give these with a simple IV. One is a booster, but not the actual synthetic, the other is a counter measure to try to make the withdrawal less severe. Kurt, if you would lie back and relax, I'm going to set up an IV and it will take about half an hour to administer this. You might feel uncomfortably warm and you might get shivers but there should be no pain. Are you ready?"

"Yes, sir," Kurt said, turning his head so he didn't have to see the needle enter his arm. Burt held his other hand and Blaine, who had gotten in the bed next to him, held his head in his lap, stroking his back to keep him calm. Wes had it all set up and the medications dripping into Kurt's arm in a matter of moments. All four men were silent for a while, eyes on the drip. Everyone was glad about the recovery Kurt had made was so short a space of time, but no one was willing to tempt the Fates by celebrating yet.

It was only five minutes into the treatment when Kurt started to shiver.

"I'm cold," he whined, trying to burrow into Blaine. His Dom sat him up and gathered him into his lap, pulling the blankets around him before he turned his eyes to Burt in apology. Maybe he should have asked if Kurt wanted his dad to hold him. Burt looked back and shook his head no, indicating that Kurt belonged with Blaine. He went to the sofa and got another quilt, draping it over Kurt. He sat down and Kurt's hand found his father's. Blaine smiled at Burt, nodding his head when he saw.

It was about ten or twelve minutes later when Kurt whined loudly and tried to throw the blankets off. He pushed both Blaine and his dad away, saying, "Sorry, sorry," before lying down with his arms stretching out and the blankets thrown back. It wasn't long before sweat was rolling off of Kurt's body and he whined when Blaine took off his shirt and blotted him with a towel. Wes, took his temperature and put a cool hand to his forehead.

"Kurt, I know you're uncomfortable, but it's almost done. This will help you," the doctor said.

By the end of the time when Wes removed the IV, Kurt was indeed feeling better, even if it was just the ceasing of the hot flashes and shivering.

"I'll be here tonight, Kurt. Have Blaine call me if you experience anything uncomfortable or strange. Your memory should be fine this time, no problem like the SDC," Wes told his patient.

With Wes gone, Burt got up and beckoned Blaine into the hallway. It bothered Kurt for a minute, the two were obviously talking about him, but he was still too tired to care.

"Blaine, do you need any help? He probably needs a bath and the doctor said he has to keep quiet. Do you want me to sit with him? Because I think as much as I want to be here with him, he needs to have you close. You're his Dom and you're in a Declared Vow. He isn't a child any more, I'm afraid," Burt said with a bit of melancholy in his voice.

"Burt, he's still your son and always will be. I will take a short nap with him and then we'll have lunch together, all right?"

"Sounds like a plan," said Burt, shaking Blaine's hand as he put it out, then just hugging him.

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

With everyone gone, Blaine went back to the bed and sat in the chair.

"Kurt, I think we better get you in the bathtub. Wes said the bandages could be left off and water won't hurt them. How does that sound?"

"Blaine, I'm still a bit shaky --can you get in the tub with me? I" Kurt asked.

"Sure," Blaine smiled at him.

Blaine took his time to remove the bandages so as not to pull on Kurt's tender skin. It was red and angry looking when Blaine was done, and he felt bad - -he had been so careful.

"Okay, baby, let's get you into the tub. I'm going to go set it up and run the tub full of water, you can lie under the blanket until I come back," Blaine said.

Once in the bathroom, Blaine turned on the water so it was just the other side of warm, then poured some lavender and chamomile essence in the water because of their calming effect.

He set out fluffy towels and robes and turned on some quiet, soothing music. He thought briefly about lighting scented candles, but the smell of the lavender and chamomile was already perfuming the air so he used unscented ones.

"Are you ready, Kurt?" he asked upon reentering the room. Kurt looked sleepy, but answered right away.

"Yes, Blaine," and started to get up. He winced in pain as his arm brushed the site of the injection on his left side, but quickly covered it up, hoping Blaine didn't notice. He didn't want to appear even weaker in his Dom's eyes, not now that he had gained so much strength. He wanted to be strong for Blaine.

Settling down in the hot water of the tub, Kurt couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief as the heat penetrated his skin and warmed his whole body. Blaine motioned for him to move forward a little, then slipped in behind his Sub, his arms coming around him by habit. Blaine closed his eyes and just thought about how lucky he was to have Kurt. Arthur had never wanted to do anything like this, had avoided Blaine's touch most times and made fun of him for being "too gay" because he was not afraid to show how he was enjoying things. Even a moan in the bedroom would cause Arthur to stop and look at Blaine with disgust, ending the interlude.

Blaine shook his head, he didn't want visions of Arthur to ruin this time with Kurt.

"How are you feeling, Kurt? Is the water too hot?" he asked, sliding his arms around Kurt, under his arms so he could clasp his hands together over his belly and pull his lover closer. Kurt leaned back on Blaine, wiggling to get settled and getting a soft gasp as he brushed against Blaine's cock.

"No, it's fine. It actually feels wonderful. My hips don't hurt now, thank you, Blaine," Kurt said, lying back on Blaine's chest while Blaine took a washcloth and used it to squeeze hot water over Kurt's shoulders.

"Are you glad the shots are over? No, never mind – that is a stupid question. Of course you're glad. Kurt, I am so sorry. I know it's my fault you went into Sub Weakness to that extent and so quickly. I don't know anything I can do to change it, but I promise I will make it right with you. I'll do anything you ask..." Blaine started to say, but Kurt reached up and put a hand over his mouth.

"No, Blaine. There is no reason for you to be either sorry or for you to make anything up to me. I was already in crisis when we met. I know that you were doing the best you could, because I believe in you. Even though we have known each other for just a few days, I know you are a good man, Blaine, and would never do anything to intentionally harm me. I do understand your philosophy of how a Dom should act in a union, and I think it has merit. I think I was too far gone for it to work, though," Kurt said.

"Thank you for having faith in me. That is something even my parents don't have. Even Cooper, my brother and the only one that has been consistently supportive all these years doesn't have the faith in me that you do," Blaine said, his head drooping.

"Oh, Blaine...I have faith in you," Kurt said, looking at Blaine over his shoulder with his eyes big. Blaine hugged him in tight for a moment, then relaxed and continued squeezing hot water over Kurt's shoulders.

"Blaine, can I ask you something? I mean, it isn't something a Sub should ask, but I think I'd like to know," Kurt said, barely audible with his chin on his chest.

"Kurt, you can ask anything. I don't have rules about what you can ask me," Blaine said in what he hoped was a reassuring tone.

"It's about what Dr. Wes said to you, that your idea about how a Dom relates to their Sub. He seemed to think it was an idea worth pursuing, but not for now, right?" Kurt asked.

"That's what he said," Blaine agreed.

"I was wondering...I don't know how to ask this, Blaine," Kurt stopped talking, his nerves shot and he started to curl in on himself. He was afraid to ask- and perhaps more afraid of what the answer would be.

"Hey, Kurt, there is nothing to be worried about. Honestly, you can ask me anything. I think we owe it to each other in this Declared Vow, don't you?" Blaine turned Kurt a little sideways so he could see his face.

"Yes, but Noah told me a Sub cannot ask for favors or anything...that they were known to lose their claim over less," Kurt said.

"I suppose that is true, Kurt, but we don't just have a claim – we have something much more sacred than that. We gave each other our vows, you can ask me anything," Blaine reassured Kurt.

Kurt sat for a while and thought. He felt better about asking, but he was still apprehensive. He thought about keeping quiet and letting things happen, but he needed to know, so he could be prepared. He let out a sigh and Blaine cupped his cheek.

"Just let me know what it is that's bothering you, my love," Blaine pleaded, trying to draw it out of his reluctant Sub.

Kurt put his head down even more and his voice was so soft Blaine had to strain to hear it.

"Are you going to hit me?" he asked. "I'm not...not afraid of being hit, I can take it, I just want to know ahead of time. Is that allowed?" he whispered, looking everywhere but at Blaine.

Tears gathered in Blaine's eyes.

"No, Kurt. I'm not going to hit you. I don't believe a Dom has to physically abuse his Sub in order to maintain his own ego...it's just wrong. I do understand the dominance role in giving strength to a Sub, at least I hope I do. I can do that, Kurt. I will do that. But as all the Fates as my witness, I will not strike you. I have too much respect for you to ever do that. I'd leave you before I would hit you," Blaine was getting louder as he got more worked up.

Kurt was sliding down in the tub, away from an over-excited Blaine. He was happy Blaine said he wouldn't hit him, but he was still confused in his mind why he was so happy about it. Kurt was not afraid of physical pain, it was something else, but he didn't know words to describe it. Blaine had understood right away though -it had something to do with respect.

Seeing Kurt huddling in the bottom of the tub, as away from him as he could get and not get out of the tub, Blaine relented and grew quiet.

"Hey, Kurt. I didn't mean to scare you. Come up here with me," he coaxed, touching Kurt on the shoulder to give him some support. Kurt complied with the request, but was stiff and cold.

Blaine recognized the fear he'd seen in his Sub several times before. He sat up straighter in the tub, let some water out and refilled it with hot water.

"C'mere," he said and Kurt drew closer. Blaine turned him so Kurt's back was toward him once again. He pulled him close and put arms around him, then began to kiss the nape of his neck, smoothing stroked down Kurt's arms, then his chest. He whispered in Kurt's ear – how much he believed in them as a couple, how he would take care of him because he deserved it, how brave he had been and how strong in the face of all the adversity.

"Kurt, I have never been more proud of anyone in my life. Here you were, so sick with Sub Weakness that you were in crisis – yet you held on and took care of your children, you maintained every aspect of your life for months. You are more than a great dad or a great man, Kurt. You are a hero in your children's eyes - -and you are a hero in mine. I have never seen a stronger man in my life," Blaine told him, and Kurt relaxed into Blaine's arms. He didn't think he was a hero – he thought he was just doing what a father should do for his children. That's what he told Blaine.

"But, Kurt, that is what a true hero is. Not the man that just swoops in and stops a car from hitting a baby on the road – that is a fluke of the cosmos, I never even thought about it, it was simple instinct. But you take care of and love Holly and Levi every single day of their lives. That is what being a hero is all about. You are there for them, come rain or shine. Don't you understand that?" Blaine asked.

Kurt looked sheepish, but it was getting through to him.

"I do it because there is nothing else to do. I can't quit, they have no one else, Blaine. They depend on me, I can't let them down," Kurt said, shaking his head.

"Many people would give up, call in Government Child Services to take them. It would be the simpler path to take, but it never crossed your mind, did it?"

"No!" Kurt almost shouted.

"Of course not. This is what I see in you, Kurt, why I see us together as long as you'll have me. There is a strength in you that defies everything. It is a big part of why I love you," Blaine said.

At the word 'love', Kurt cringed a little. How could this wonderful man 'love' him? They hardly knew each other. But Kurt couldn't doubt Blaine's word – he had looked in his eye and knew he was telling the truth -or at least the truth that was in his heart.

Kurt turned once again in the tub and snuggled his face into Blaine's neck, his arms around his Dom. He might just love him, too, as scary as that was. He tried to analyze why it was such a frightening thing, after all he was the one that Initiated the Declaring Vows, had done the most important thing a person could possibly do in life: he had entered a Union that was not only a bond recognized by the Government, but a personal sacrament that bonded him to Blaine for life. And he had been so sure, he had made the decision after knowing Blaine for two days. Kurt closed his eyes at the impact that thought had on him. Sometimes it seemed too big to even understand.

Blaine's hand ran along Kurt's side, down his ribs to his hips and brushed over the injection site while he studied Kurt's face, looking for any sign of residual pain. Kurt took in a breath of air when Blaine touched it, but it didn't look nearly as painful as Blaine would have figured.

He took a washcloth once again, but this time he soaped it up, washing Kurt, rinsing him and when he was done he washed himself. Then they just relaxed with the water jets turned on, feeling the soothing swirling water. He stroked down Kurt's side for a while, gently rubbing his muscles and whispering sweet things in his Sub's ear.

He finally set the washcloth down and used his hands to skim over the wet skin, flushed warm with the bathwater and the beginnings of arousal. He slid his fingers down Kurt's chest, stopping to play with his nipples. Kurt reacted immediately, a sharp intake of breath and his hand involuntarily jerked back.

Kurt stopped and said, "No, it's okay...I am just really sensitive there, and I wasn't expecting you to..." Kurt stopped, but Blaine knew what he was going to say.

"It's fine, Kurt. Just relax. Is it okay that I'm touching you?"

"Yes, please don't stop on account of my squeaking like that. I'm not used to doing things like this and I'm a bit overwhelmed."

"Do you want to go back to bed?" Blaine asked.

"Maybe." Kurt blushed, then said in a very soft voice, "If you come with me. I feel like I need you beside me right now, Blaine. Is that okay?"

"That's fine, my Kurt. All this can wait – we'll have another day."

Kurt got up and stepped out of the tub, grabbing the towel Blaine had set out for him. Blaine was out almost as fast, taking the towel from Kurt's hands and drying him. He quickly dried himself off and they were wearing the fluffy white robes as they went back to the bedroom.

"Kurt, are you feeling okay now? I mean, does anything hurt?" Blaine asked.

"No, the hips are sore if you rub them, but otherwise okay," Kurt said, looking at his Dom with those big blue eyes.

"I don't want you to put any clothes on just yet. I want you to get into bed, but on your hands and knees," Blaine said. Kurt struggled with this for a moment. It was what Puck had said to him and while he was grateful for what Puck had done for him in an emergency, Puck was not his knight in shining armor. He didn't want thoughts of having sex with Puck to interfere with what he was building with Blaine. He carefully made his mind go blank, concentrating on song lyrics and things to occupy his memory.

He had relaxed for a few moments when he felt Blaine's hands on his back. Blaine was behind him, stroking along his back, running his fingers through Kurt's chestnut hair. It felt good.

"Kurt, I'm going to remove your robe now," Blaine said, untying the sash and taking Kurt's arms out of it. He folded the garment and took his own off. He saw the stiffness of Kurt's muscles as he waited on the bed on his hands and knees, the anxiety rolling off of him and Blaine changed his mind. He would start slower and work up to that.

After helping Kurt to lie down on his back, Blaine returned to stroking Kurt all over, down his arms, his legs, his torso. He was stroking firmly, no tickling, as Kurt let go of the tension for the day. He had been relieved when Wes said he didn't need another shot, but now he was frightened a little about what the withdrawal would be like. He had heard horror stories about that. Dr. Wes was coming back around six to take his blood levels again and Kurt prayed to the Fates that he would be in a safe range again.

Blaine rubbed and touched Kurt all over in an attempt to keep him relaxed, but it wasn't as successful as he had hoped. He went on to the next step as outlined by Wes on the paper he gave Blaine on the first day. He pulled Kurt close to himself, making sure he was touching all along their chests and legs, Kurt drinking in the feel of Blaine's skin touching his. Blaine kissed Kurt, a little worried until Kurt finally responded. He threw himself into that kiss, giving Kurt as much as he was able. Then he climbed on top of Kurt, just laying on him, his weight pressing Kurt into the mattress. He could feel Kurt unwind, feel the muscles give way as they relaxed.

"Ah, that's better, Kurt, does it feel better now?" Blaine asked and Kurt nodded. Blaine rolled off then asked Kurt to roll over.

Reaching across the bed to the tube of lubricant he had left there, Blaine took some and after whispering what he was doing so as not to startle his Sub, Blaine began prepping Kurt, slowly stretching and offering comfortable sounds and words to keep him calm. Kurt leaned into Blaine's fingers, letting out tiny urgent sounds of encouragement as Blaine kept up the steady rhythm of the massaging fingers. It was surprising how quickly Kurt was ready, and he was trying to turn to get better access to Blaine's body. Kurt was desperate for a touch, a kiss, anything.

Blaine repositioned himself so he could hug Kurt, Kurt on his back with Blaine on his knees between Kurt's long legs in order to lean forward to kiss whenever they felt a need to – which was pretty often.

Blaine looked down at Kurt. He looked scared, although Blaine was pretty sure it wasn't because of him or what was about to happen. No, he was probably scared of the withdrawal. Blaine meant to take his mind off of it if he could. According to Wes, the symptoms of withdrawal would start the next day and Blaine wanted to be ready for them.

First, he gently layed down on top of Kurt once more, but didn't put his weight into it. No, he was barely brushing against his skin – as much skin as he could touch at one time. Then he sat beside Kurt and once more ran his hands down the beautiful, flawless pale skin that was almost luminescent.

"Oh, Kurt, you are so beautiful, it's hard to believe you're mine. Even though I feel like I've been blessed with a real live angel, I need to know you are mine. I want you to tell me if anything is painful to you, or scares you, or for any reason you want me to stop. What is your safe word?"

"Persian".

"Good."

Blaine leaned over to the bedside table and took out a piece of black fabric.

"Are you claustrophobic at all?" Blaine asked.

"No, Blaine," Kurt replied, looking at the scarf curiously. Then something dawned on him...was Blaine going to tie him up? His heart started pounding, his head getting dizzy, his stomach whirling. He had always had a fear of being tied up. He began to shiver and no matter how hard he tried not to, a whimper came out of his throat.

"Kurt? Are you okay? Is it the withdrawal starting so soon or is it that you're cold? It is cool with the window open, I could close it," Blaine asked with concern.

"No, I'm fine, now. I just hadn't eaten anything and my blood sugar must have been down," he replied.

Blaine stopped immediately and went to get Kurt some cookies and juice. Returning to the bed, Blaine sat on the edge and watched as Kurt was rubbing himself through the sheet that Blaine had draped over him. It wasn't as if he was trying to bring himself to orgasm, no...it was more like he was just a nervous habit. Blaine watched him for a while, smiling as he could see the shadow under the sheets of what he was doing. Blaine got hotter, watching Kurt absentmindedly palming himself through the sheet.

Kurt caught sight of Blaine out of the corner of his eye and realized what he was staring at him. His hand stopped in mid-stroke and his face turned pink.

"I'm sorry, Blaine. I didn't realize I was doing that," Kurt said and hung his head.

"Hey, I'm not upset at you. Why were you touching yourself, though? I've never seen you do that before," Blaine asked, just curious.

Kurt looked up into his eyes and couldn't lie. Lies never came easy to Kurt, he was raised to tell the truth even if it was painful, to never let a lie fall from his tongue, and he tried to live up to his father's expectation of him.

"I was thinking of you, Blaine."

Blaine swallowed, his cock perking up again with interest. He moved his leg a bit to try and take some of the pressure off of it.

"What were you thinking?" Blaine asked in a lower voice, his arousal beginning to choke him as he looked at his Sub.

"That I wanted you. I wanted you to touch me, to take me, to use me. I don't understand why I'm feeling like this, I do like to have sex with you, Blaine, but this is more. This is insistent and driving, I don't think I've ever felt like this before and it's scaring me," Kurt admitted, moving closer to Blaine to put his nose into his neck and hide. He wasn't used to feeling this aroused without direct stimulus and he was embarrassed by it. He felt his body was betraying him, like he wasn't in careful control the way he usually was.

"Oh, baby, it's okay. I think it's the SDC shots, Wes said they might heighten your responses. Don't worry, we can talk to Wes tonight when he comes," Blaine soothed.

Kurt was hugging Blaine around his waist as he buried his face in Blaine's neck. He moved his hand, very slowly and began to stroke Blaine's leg. Blaine hummed in pleasure and Kurt jumped.

"I...didn't mean to do that. Maybe you should leave me alone, I'm not myself right now and I don't want to do anything to make you angry with me," Kurt almost whispered, his thoughts swirling in his head.

"I will go if you want, of course, but I thought maybe you might want me to stay. I understand why you're reacting this way and I don't mind. I love you, Kurt, and I believe we can work through this together," Blaine said.

"I trust you, Blaine," Kurt said, looking up at his Dom, his eyes sparkling for the first time that day.

Blaine lifted the length of black fabric and Kurt cringed.

"That's the second time you've done that. Tell me what's going on in your head, Kurt. I can't fix it if I don't know what's wrong. Tell me." Blaine spoke in a very firm voice, letting Kurt know this was a command. Kurt replied immediately.

"I'm afraid of being tied up, Sir," Kurt answered. Blaine gave him a stern look.

"Oh...I mean Blaine."

"Rest easy, I'm not going to tie you up. It is for a blindfold, but if you don't want to do this, you only have to speak up. I won't make you do anything you don't want to do."

"No, blindfold is fine, I'm just afraid of having my hands tied."

Blaine pulled back the covers and got out of bed, closing the blinds and making the room very dark. He returned to the bed, sliding up next to Kurt and touching him from chest to knees as he lay close. He began stroking, just slowly at first, over his chest, down to his belly. Kurt hummed in acceptance, his breathing getting faster, his hands twisting in the blanket.

Blaine pulled Kurt forward to sit up and tied the blindfold on him, not too tight. Kurt nodded, he couldn't see anything.

Blaine started to kiss his Sub, first on the mouth, working his way up to his temple, never letting his hands leave Kurt's body. He went back down to his neck and licked a stripe on the tender skin, biting softly, sucking gently. Kurt wanted to move, wanted so badly to do the same things to Blaine, but he didn't think he would be allowed. He was the Sub, he waited to have things done to him, he didn't initiate sex because it wasn't allowed. He began to quiver, trying to hold his muscles still.

Blaine was worried. He was trying to calm Kurt down, to get him to relax but now his body was so tightly clenched, so stiff he could feel the muscles tremble. He stopped.

"Kurt, tell me what's wrong, you are shaking. Am I doing something wrong?"

"No. Not at all. I love what you're doing. I do, don't stop."

"I need to know more...tell me what you're thinking right now," Blaine demanded.

Kurt burst into tears. "I don't know, I don't understand it at all. I have never felt like this. I don't want you to be unhappy with me, Blaine, but I want something, I can't explain. I told you, I've never felt like this, it's foreign and frightening. I want to do things that are not appropriate for Subs to do, and I cannot get them out of my mind," Kurt said, his muscles trembling from his efforts not to move them.

Blaine came closer to him, scooping Kurt up and bringing him close to his chest, removing the blindfold.

"Tell me, Kurt. What is your body telling you? What does it tell you to do?" Blaine asked in a low voice. He knew that the SDC shots gave Subs a burst of Dom Chem and one of the side effects was that it could go to his brain and make him a sort of Dom, having dominating feelings and urges. Wes had told him about this and also that one way to keep the Sub safe with this amount of SDC in his system, he should be allowed to act like a Dom. Blaine thought about that and realized it was probably what was happening.

"Tell me," Blaine said one last time, stroking Kurt's face and then down his side.

"I want to be inside you, Blaine, Not have you enter me but the other way. I have never done that, I'm frightened to even try, but at the same time I am craving it so much I can't think of anything else," Kurt said, turning his face away in shame.

"It's the SDC, Kurt. It does that to you. I can help, though. I will let you do whatever you want with me. I was serious, Kurt you can tell me anything and I won't judge you."

It was the first time Kurt had smiled since they began.

Kurt pushed Blaine down on his chest on the bed, stroking his back and waiting for him to relax. He ran his fingers over Blaine's skin and let out a sigh.

"You are so beautiful, Blaine. So extremely beautiful," Kurt cooed to his Dom for a few minutes, then gave in to the urge that had been hitting him all morning: He climbed on top of Blaine, just resting his body, being close to Blaine was all he needed for a moment.