“Blaine...Mmmmmm...yes......” Kurt mumbled, rolling over in their bed and slinging his arm across the chest of the boy in question, his fingers digging into Blanes skin.

“Kurt?” Blaine asked, blinking awake. “Whats up, Beau?”

Kurt rolled back over, his eyes moving rapidly behind the closed lids. His hand went under the blankets as he grunted in his sleep, his fist moving in tugs and jerks. “Blllaaaiiiinneee,” he whined, using his other hand to search across the pillow and then the mattress for him.

Blaine scooted closer, moving his legs to hold down Kurts right leg where he was kicking.

“Hey, Beau....calm down, baby, Im right here,” Blaine soothed. He turned towards Kurt, trying to gather him closer in his arms, trying to soothe whatever was wrong. Kurt found Blaines hand and grabbed a hold of it, pulling it under the covers to get his boyfriend to touch his rock hard erection, bucking up into Blaines fist as he whined his name again. Blaines eyes opened wide and he realized what had made made Kurt so agitated. His hand went around Kurts waist instead, stroking his side slowly to calm his erratic – and erotic - movements.

“Now...please, Blaine....please..fuck me,” Kurt begged in his dream-state, his head rocking back and forth.

Blaine startled at Kurts language, then took his hands and placed them on his chest, holding him tightly and whispering loving things in his ear.

“Im right here, baby...Ill take care of you,” he said, hoping something was getting through Kurts foggy brain. It must be working, Kurt was calming down, no longer twitching or struggling. He was breathing hard, but no longer jerky, ragged breaths.

Kurt opened his eyes.

“Bee?”

“Im right here, Beau...what was going on?” Blaine asked.

“I...I was dreaming. You were...and I....oh...” he said, looking around the room, then at the glowing numbers on the clock. “Its three in the morning?”

“Yeah. You were having one hell of a dream. Do you remember what it was about?” Blaine asked, curious now that he knew Kurt was okay.

Kurt just stared at him for a moment, the room bathed in moonlight. Then he moved his hand surreptitiously, his eyes getting huge when he brushed against the hardness jutting out against the blanket.

“Ah, what did I say?” he asked, no longer looking at Blaine.

“I think you were...ah...excited?”

“Yeah. Sorry,” he apologized.

“Nothing to be sorry for – who were you with in the dream?”

“You.”

“Then why be sorry?”

“It was...well, it wasnt...oh. Shit.” Kurt swore quietly, then closed his mouth and placed a hand over it.

“Kurt – you know you can tell me anything, What is this about?” Blaine asked, getting a bit exasperated with his boyfriend.

“You wont judge me? I cant help what I dream about, Bee,” Kurt said slowly, his face taking on a tinge of pink blush that was visible in the moonlight.

“Of course not.”

“Okay...I dreamed I was on a bed...well, like a platform with padding. I was ...ah...shackled to it, wrists and ankles,” Kurt started.

“Ankles, plural?”

“Yeah...isnt that funny? In most of my dreams my leg is still there for some reason. Yes, all four were chained to posts at the corners of the platform. I wasnt wearing anything but a leather collar with spike studs and if I moved my head, they poked into my skin,” Kurt revealed, his voice getting softer until Blaine could hardly hear him.

“You - - you were standing above me, wearing...one of those tight strips of leather with a small buckle...I dont remember what theyre called? But it was tight around your...” Kurt nodded at Blaines crotch where Blaines hand was stroking with just two fingers, from base to tip. He startled, as if he didnt realize he was doing that.

“A cock ring?” Blaine guessed and Kurt blushed again, nodding. His eyes were deep blue and opened wide as he looked at his boyfriend in the small bit of light filtering in the window.

“Yeah, it was...tight. You had a riding crop and you made me turn over and...we were having...ah...and you hit my butt cheek with the riding crop and told me to get ….ah....[cough]....” Kurt tried to say, but he was stuttering so hard he couldnt articulate.

“I told you to what?” Blaine asked, his voice taking on a husky tone to it, his hand now wrapped around his shaft.

“To get harder.....and then you hit me with the...the whip,” Kurt said, his own hand back on his straining erection. He whined under his breath as Blaine leaned down and kissed him, hard and deep. Kurt lifted up from the mattress, following Blaines lips as he sat back up.

“You dont...think Im like that, do you? Because Im not. But the dream was...so real and you were so fucking hot...” Kurt said, closing his eyes tightly for a moment, as if to bring the vision back. Blaine froze for a moment. He had never heard Kurt utter the F-word before. Ever.

“No...it was just the power of suggestion, and Im not into whips, either, but when you talk about it, and about us....well....it must have been the magazines we found in my old room, maybe?” he stopped talking to concentrate on Kurts body, and at the moment it sure needed attention. Lots of attention.

Blaine threw back the covers, skidding his body across Kurts, his mouth loose and wet and warm on Kurts flesh. He licked down Kurts chest to his belly-button and licked down into it before he followed the light dusting of reddish chestnut hair as it led him to the base of his cock. Blaine wasted no time in preliminaries once he got there, he enveloped Kurt from tip to base in one lunge and Kurt shouted his approval, his hips bucking in celebration of the intense explosion of heat in his nerves. Blaine was sucking hard, his tongue buried under the foreskin and circumnavigating the crown as Kurt panted out words and finally just noises.

“Blaineeee...” he moaned, “Stop, baby...I dont want to come this way...stop!”

Blaine slowed down, not wanting to stop, Kurts hot blood seemed to be flowing into his own veins, too, sweeping through his body like a forest fire.

“Top?” he asked, letting go and raising his face to look up at Kurt.

“Yes... god, yes....can you ride me, Blaine?” Kurt asked, his hips jerking forward at the words.

“Yes.....” Blaine answered, trying to contain himself. All he could think about was Kurt inside of him. He moved to the side of the bed, searching blindly through the drawer for the medical-grade lube he took from Coopers office. He handed it to Kurt, then got on his knees, laying his shoulders flat against the mattress as Kurt moved into a better position.

Kurt lost no time squeezing out enough lube and warming it in his hand before he touched Blaine, who wasnt expecting it and jumped.

“Calm down, my love....” Kurts smooth voice crooned as he rubbed Blaines back with his left hand, then under to hold his cock as he slipped his right middle finger into his body. Blaine moaned loudly, and the noise that used to scare Kurt, making him think hed somehow hurt Blaine, was now so familiar – and Kurt knew it was the welcome noise of Blaines pleasure as it increased.

“Kurt...harder...oh........” he moaned as Kurt complied with his request. “Kurt push in more...” Blaine said, not realizing he was giving directions. Kurt heard and pushed in farther, finding the place he knew Blaine was wishing for. He couldnt get his finger to turn, so he pulled out and went back in with his index and middle, going straight to the elusive spot. He knew when hed found it, rubbing on both sides with his two fingers instead of directly on top. Hed read that in a book and it seemed to have been good advice as Blaine shouted out – something about saints and miracles that failed to register in Kurts mind.

It did not last very long. Blaine was pulling away from him, flipping over quickly to position himself on top of Kurt – shoving his tongue down Kurts throat as he took a nipple between his slick fingers and gently twisted. Kurts blood pressure was going up and buzzing in his ears, his vision almost blurred in the haze that was settling over him. He was awake, alert, loving every minute – but at the same time, it was so deep, so close to the bone – as if Blaine was touching him in places he couldnt even reach they were so intimate.

“Blaine....” he managed, then felt Blaine coating his erection in lube. He didnt want Blaine to ride him anymore and shoved him back to the mattress when he started to get up.

“Kurt?”

“Just....go with it, okay?” Kurt managed. Blaine saw the intense look in his boyfriends eyes and smiled at him.

“Anything you want...anything,” Blaine said.

Kurt rolled him over on his stomach, tucking Blaines hands between his thighs and the mattress. The next thing Blaine knew, Kurt had spanked him! Just one slap, hard enough to sting, but not to hurt. Blaine jumped – which was hard since Kurt was leaning his weight on top of him when he did it. He had barely taken a breath when Kurt did it again, on the other side. Blaine jumped again.

“Blaine?” Kurt asked, fear in his voice along with the sheer, plaintive want-crave-need.

“Im okay, baby....” Blaine reassured him, and realized he was more than okay – he was hard as steel and needed to get some relief. Now.

Kurt turned him back over, running his hand down Blaines belly until it came in contact with...that. He gasped, curling his fingers around the stone-hard cock. Then he couldnt help it. He moved Blaines legs apart, shoving a pillow under his ass, and balanced his body on one knee. He didnt think this would work until Blaines hands came up, taking him by the hips and holding him steady.

“Go ahead, Beau...you can do it, I wont let you fall,” Blaine said. Kurt panicked and struggled until he was back on the bed beside Blaine. He looked betrayed for a second, but Blaine was not going to let him give up. He pulled Kurt close to him, then turned him away from his body and spanked him on his left butt cheek. Hard. Kurt yelped, trying to jerk away but Blaine had a good grip and was strong. He spanked him on the other side until his skin was red – and let go.

“Are you going to fuck me now?” Blaine asked, caught up in the moment.

Kurt did not hesitate – he found a balance point and with Blaine keeping him steady, he shoved into Blaine as hard as he could. Blaine groaned his pleasure. Loud.

Kurts eyes opened again, staring at the man below him, seeing the pleasure on Blaines face as he helped Kurt to find a rhythm. It only took a few beats and steadied out, so good...

Kurt could not remember it feeling this good the other times. They had done the act less than a dozen times since getting together. Perhaps wanting to pace themselves for a lifetime of being together, maybe being so young they were still unsure of themselves. But this wasnt like any of those hesitant, gentle times at all. Kurt wanted to pound Blaine into the mattress. Hard. And Blaine was singing out his approval in praise and begging. Each sound only served to push Kurt further into the frenzy as he thrust in and out. He was beginning to tire, his muscles were starting to show tremors and he could feel the burn in his thigh - but it was too good to stop.

“Kurt...KURT...” was all Blaines brain could articulate. He was in shock, was this his Kurt? And it had never felt sooo good. This could never end, ever, even if it killed them both. He took in a breath, meeting each hard thrust with one of his own as Kurt hammered – and then slowed almost to a stop. He looked down at Blaines face, the face of the man he loved, cherished, wanted to spend eternity with, and dropped down one last time, his cock diving so far into Blaine that it triggered a chain reaction and they felt the tremors as the end came near – each wanting the best for the other, waiting and still as it came over them like a blanket of thunderclouds rolling in before the storm. Kurt closed his eyes briefly, then opened them to look into Blaines golden caramel and mossy green eyes.

“I love you,” he mouthed as he thrust one final time and his orgasm came, shaking him to his core, only Blaines own climax coming through the mantle of Kurts world, making him love Blaine even more.

They lay on the bed, both boys spent and boneless, unable to move except to lean forward to kiss. They might have dozed, might not have. Who was to say? It was as if they were the only two left in all the world.

“Kurt?”

“Yeah.”

“That was....” Blaine hesitated, his brain searching for an adjective powerful enough to describe what just happened.

“Yes, it sure was,” Kurts voice sounded like honey as he remembered the intense feelings of a few minutes ago.

“For you, too?” Blaine asked, a brow lifted in question.

“Yeah. I dont know if we can ever top that, Bee.”

“No. Probably not.”

“What happened? Why tonight?” Kurt asked.

“I dont know. I dont think it was the spanking, though. It was more – determination? Wanting to be able to top? You were different – still my Beau, but somehow more.”

“Yeah, I felt like that. Like it was more. Like I had you, and you understood without me saying...I needed you so damn much.”

“I needed you, too. We are each others strength and weakness I think. With both of us needing to show that to each other, and needing to feel that from each other, maybe it was just the perfect storm?” Blaine pondered.

“Yeah. Like that,” Kurt agreed. He rolled just a little, enough to be able to curl into Blaines side. Blaine put his arms in their usual place and Kurt tugged the blanket up to their shoulders.

“Goodnight, baby,” Blaine whispered into Kurts hair, leaving a sweet kiss on the top of his hair.

“Sweet dreams,” Kurt returned, glancing at the clock that said 4:30 A.M. He snuggled his face down into Blaines neck and heaved a sigh of contentment.

~KB~KB~KB~KB~KB~

“Its hard to believe the summer is over,” Kurt said, walking hand in hand with Blaine. Classes had started on Monday and tryouts for the polo team were tomorrow. Kurt was really nervous. He had done his best to learn and catch up with his buddies that were on last years team. He had yet to meet the new coach that was coming this year, though, and he was worried he might not be good enough.

“We did a lot this summer, Beau,” Blaines voice interrupting Kurts thoughts, “Look back on the past year of your life!! You were so distraught about your life and feeling so much guilt you ran away. You know I thank my lucky stars every single night that I was the one to find you,” Blaine said, tears in his eyes for the first time in weeks.

“Dont cry, baby. We did meet, and you saved me. Where would I be now if you and Trent hadnt taken me back to your dorm or your brother didnt find my dad and bring him to get me? It must have all happened for a reason, right?” Kurt commented. He was so grateful at how it all turned out. “You and Trent – you guys saved me from myself. I am the luckiest guy in the whole world, Bee.”

They walked on in comfortable silence, each in their own thoughts as they made their way to Drucillas Pond and then to the summer house. It was a warm day, but not too hot – the perfect sort of day to just spend with someone you love. They lay down on the floor of the gazebo, holding hands as they looked up at the fluffy clouds above them through the break in the roof.

“Maybe we can ask Trents folks if we can fix this up? It would be a fun project. I helped my dad build the bench in the backyard and the tree house. We could do this,” Kurt offered. He pictured the summer house refurbished. They would most likely have to pull the wisteria vines off – but maybe save them and they could grow back next year.

“Thats a great idea, Beau. I know the guys would all help. They love a challenge,” Blaine grinned. They were quiet once more and would have been amazed if each knew what the other was thinking because it was the same vision – the two of them getting married in the summer house with all of their loved ones gathered around.

“Gosh, weve been here for almost two hours, Bee. I suppose we better get back. I want to be sure my riding clothes are ready for the try-outs tomorrow. First impressions are lasting ones, and I want to look good for the new coach,” he explained, Blaine smiling at his frenzy.

“Sure, want a hand up?” Blaine offered. Kurt put out a hand and they brushed themselves off and started back to the campus where they had spent the better part of yesterday moving their things back into their dorm room in Candelaria Hall.

Coming back to the campus, they were surrounded by students, all seeming to be in a hurry to get somewhere, cardboard boxes in hand. It was going to be a good year for Dalton, Kurt could feel it in his bones.

~KB~KB~KB~KB~KB~

“New candidates for the Dalton Polo Team will be ready at ten a.m. At the polo field, horses saddled and ready.” The loudspeaker could be heard all over campus as Blaine and Kurt headed for the stable. All of the team had to try out, there were no place-holders from last years team it had been announced. The new coach wanted to see for herself what the boys were made of before deciding on this years team.

The boys were joined in the stable by their friends and teammates from last year, everyone rushing to get their horses ready. There was a lot of tension, but it was friendly and the horses seemed as eager as the boys to get a chance to show off.

“Easy, Misty, youre okay, girl,” Kurt crooned to his horse. He closed his eyes and put his forehead on the horses soft cheek, the dove gray of her coat shining from the grooming Kurt had given her the day before. He and Blaine and Trent had taken their horses for a light run on the field, then groomed them. Afterwards they cleaned and polished the tack so it was in tip-top condition the next day. Blaine had a feeling that they were being judged on their care of the horses and equipment as well as their ability on the field.

“Good morning,” came a loud voice from the door of the stables. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what the interruption was about.

“I am Roz Washington, the new head coach for the Dalton Polo Team. Many of you may have heard of me. I won three gold and one silver medal at the last Olympics in dressage, cross-country, and show jumping events. I was Captain of the Womens Polo Team at Cornell University for four years. I know horses and I know what it takes to make them athletes,” she said in a very loud voice.

“I also know what it takes to win polo at a collegiate level. Universities will be scouting for scholarship-worthy young people, and I plan to give them not one, not two, but a team of excellent polo players by the end of the first semester. Do you understand?” she demanded. All of the boys nodded their heads and answered her.

“Make sure your horse is saddled and ready, and return them to their stalls. Make sure your equipment is ready. Make sure you have your horses health records ready for me to inspect. I will start on the east side of the stable,” she said, and with that, the boys complied with her commands.

Trent, Blaine, and Kurts horses were stabled next to each other in the middle of the first row on the east side of the barn. They sat on bales of hay in the hall in front of the stalls, waiting their turns. Kurt was leaning on Blaine, their hands intertwined to still any nervous twitches. Trent was leaning on Kurts leg as he sat on the floor in front of his friends.

Coach Washington was inspecting Jeffs horse when the three friends stood up. They would have their turn soon.

“The next horse is Misty, correct?” she said, turning the page on her clipboard and staring at Kurt.

“Yes, Coach,” Kurt said. He led Misty out of her stall and patted her jaw to calm her.

“Where are her health records?” the coach snapped.

Kurt got the binder out of its place beside the door of the stall and handed it to her. She took her time reading it, glancing up at Kurt every few minutes, as if evaluating him. He kept Misty calm through crooning to her under his breath and keeping his hand on her face or neck.

After the usual questions concerning how long he had owned the horse, if he knew the names of the different pieces of equipment, she narrowed her eyes at the last entry.

“She was lame just three weeks ago. Are you sure shes ready to play?” she asked.

“That morning we were going to the field and her gait changed. I immediately stopped her, dismounted and called for help from a teammate. He inspected her foot and leg and found nothing. Another teammate had a hoof-pick and he was able to remove a sharp rock from her shoe. I walked her back to her stall when we saw she was no longer favoring the foot and called the vet. His records are clipped to the back of that page. He saw her within a few hours and she showed no other lameness. I had him X-ray the foot before we let her back on the field and Doc Ketchum saw her twice more, finding nothing, and declared her fit to play polo,” Kurt said, hoping he had done nothing wrong.

Coach Washington took the horses lead rein and walked her to the end of the hall and back.

“Okay, on to equipment. Let me inspect her saddle first,” she said, giving no indication of her thoughts. She went through her routine and declared that she was done.

“Next player. Your horses name is Aurora?” she asked Blaine.

It was a while before the coach had conducted the last inspection and the horses were all getting nervous. They were given the sign to go out to the field finally and Blaine put Kurts helmet on him. Kurt was perfectly able to do it himself, but it had become tradition for him to do it for Kurt, then buckle the chin strap and kiss him before they mounted the horses.

Once Kurts and Blaines helmets were in place, Blaine put his hands together to boost Kurt into the saddle, then mounted Aurora and they were off. Coach Washington had observed Kurts less-than-smooth gait and the boost Blaine gave him into the saddle. She could tell something was off about that student, but couldnt put her finger on it just yet. None of the other boys needed a boost into the saddle. She couldnt see anything different because Kurts prosthesis was covered by his boot that came up almost to where his knee would be. Roz made a mental note to keep a sharp eye on those two.

Try-outs were simple, but brutal. Coach Washington shouted out commands and the boys did their best to comply with them as fast as they were able. They rode in patterns, hit and passed the ball with their mallets, cornered and backed the horses on the field. She watched not just the athletic ability of the horses, but that of the boys and how they treated the horses. Did they ask too much of a tired horse? Did they allow the proper rest? Did they ask too much in terms of speed or maneuvering? Coach Washington had sharp eyes and a fast hand when it came to writing notes as she watched the boys.

It was finally over. She had questions for a few of the boys and asked them all to dismount and rest their horses. She saw Kurt dismount, his movements didnt ring true in some way that she could not quite understand yet. Checking through her notebook for the physical fitness certificates that each boy was required to provide, she saw his was from a doctor in another city and had little to no information other than an evaluation that said he was cleared to play polo for the school year. He had not been on the team the previous year, so there were no health records for that.

“Listen up. I will call you each by name. You will mount your horse and ride over to me at a walk. I will give you this signal,” she demonstrated an arm movement, “and you will ride your horse to the end of the field and back. You may walk or trot or lope, no galloping. Anderson, Blaine on Aurora. You are up first.”

Blaine mounted Aurora with a kiss on her nose first, then rode over to the coach and did as instructed. He chose to walk his horse because she was a bit tired, but not in need of rest yet. He rode back, not too nervous, and gave Kurt a tiny nod as he passed him. Stopping in front of the coach one more time, he dismounted and spoke to her as she asked a few questions.

“You may return to the stable or watch the rest of the candidates as you wish, Anderson.”

Blaine walked Aurora back to his place beside Kurt.

“Barnes, Trent,” the coach called out.

It was finally Kurts turn and he swallowed, trying to maintain his nerves. Nick was next to him and gave him a boost into the saddle. It took Kurt two tries to seat his prosthetic foot in the stirrup correctly, but he was ready and walked Misty over to Coach Washington. She gave him the motion to go to the end of the field and back. He halted Misty in front of her and dismounted, almost stumbling for a brief second, but righted himself with little trouble.

“Why do you need to have a boost to mount?”

“I just learned to ride a few months ago and I find it is easier on Misty if I do,” he said truthfully, leaving out the part about his leg.

“Can you mount your horse by yourself, Mr. Hummel? Your teammates might not be there to babysit you during a rough game. What would you do then?” she asked, becoming impatient with him. She knew there was something going on and it frustrated her that she couldnt figure it out.

“Yes, I can,” Kurt said, feeling defiant.

“Show me.”

Kurt went to the other side of his horse. He was really worried. He had been able to do this alone, but he tended to have a problem in the prosthesis not being on tightly enough for the right amount of control and several times he had accidentally hit Misty with it when he mounted. He was holding his breath for a moment, stepped into the stirrup and started to mount, but he felt the prosthesis shift and he knew it would hit her flank, so he stopped.

“Im sorry, Coach Washington, but I cannot do that without endangering my horse. Thank you for the opportunity to try out,” he said, trying to school his face into a neutral expression as he patted Mistys neck and led her off the field.

She watched him leave, then turned her attention back to the roster.

“Smythe, Sebastian.”

~KB~KB~KB~KB~KB~

Blaine followed Kurt off the field. Thad looked around, wondering if they should all follow and try to talk Kurt into just telling the new coach why he needed help mounting. Kurt had worked hard all summer, going out in the field with Sunny and Misty, sometimes even Aurora or Cindy to practice the moves he needed to for polo. He had worked harder than anyone Thad had ever seen to master the skills needed to play. This was simply not going to happen, and Thad knew everyone on the team would agree.

“Kurt?” Blaine dared to ask, seeing Kurts hand tremble as he uncinched Mistys saddle. Blaine rushed to help, but Kurt put up a hand to stop him.

“No, let me do it,” Kurt said in a very, very soft voice.

“Okay, baby,” Blaine returned, then he went over to Kurt, putting his arms around him from the back and kissed his shoulder. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Bee...but I think I want to do this alone. I dont mean for you to leave, Aurora needs to be taken care of and the rest of the guys will be here soon with their horses...but I want to take care of Misty by myself this time.”

“Of course, Beau. Ill be here if you need me.”

They removed the tack from their horses, replaced their halters and rubbed them down before taking them back to their stalls for water and a bucket of oats. Kurt forked some hay into the feed rack that Misty shared with Aurora and then he just sat on a bale of straw inside Mistys stall and put his face into his hands. The other boys trickled in, each rubbing down their own horses. Kurt could hear them talking quietly among themselves.

“She said she would post the results tomorrow morning on the stable door,” he heard one of the boys tell another. Kurt hoped Blaine made the team. He didnt need to worry too much about that – Blaine and Trent were the best riders on the team, even better than Sebastian - who trained in Europe.

He heard someone speaking in an agitated whisper down at the end of his row, but he couldnt make out the words. Then someone else joined in the conversation.

“Hes sitting in Mistys stall, Shhhhhh,” he heard then: “Sorry, I thought he was gone, lets continue this back at the dining hall.”

Then everyone was quiet and Kurt heard the boots walking away.

He got up, dusted off his breeches, and unhooked the latch on Mistys stall door. He didnt see anyone else, so he leaned over and kissed Misty on her sweet face, offering her a few sugar cubes from his pocket. He knew it wasnt good for her, but surely two or three wouldnt do her any harm. He knew if he wasnt on the team that he should find Misty a new home. Maybe Blaine would take her back as his other horse, she lived for the game of polo.

“Goodbye, girl,” he crooned, rubbing her between the eyes and turning to shut her door and go back to the dorm. He needed a shower before his dad got there. Hed asked his dad not to come and see the try-outs, he wanted to do it on his own, but as hard as he tried it wasnt enough. Maybe he really was the cripple the bullies at McKinley said he was. Maybe he was just that fucking useless.

Kurt had thought that Blaine might be waiting for him on the bench outside the stable, they usually walked back to the dorms together, but Blaine wasnt there. Well, it was his fault, hed asked Blaine to leave him alone. He couldnt even do that right – he just meant getting Misty ready in her stall, not for Blaine to leave him alone for the day. Kurt shrugged his shoulders. He felt the prosthesis slipping again and realized it was loose. That happened with all the activity of polo, so he looked around to be sure he was alone and slipped behind a pine tree to unbuckle his riding pants. He lowered them and pulled the prosthesis to its rightful position, then reattached it at the better angle and pulled his pants back up, zipping them quickly and buckling his belt. He took an experimental step, but it wasnt right. He did the procedure once more, satisfied he had it right and walked down the crushed granite path back to the dorms.

From the tack room, a face was in the shadows looking out the window and observing the boy as he pulled his riding breeches down. At first she told herself she was just making sure he wasnt going to pee on the stable or something – but she waited and saw what Kurt was really doing and put that bit of information in her mind for later.

~KB~KB~KB~KB~KB~

“I move that we tell Coach why he has to have help mounting Misty,” Jeff said.

Wes banged his gavel, bringing the arguments to a temporary halt.

“One at a time, gentlemen. I believe you are up, Sebastian,” Wes addressed the boy who was sitting by himself in a straight-backed chair by the door.

“Kurt specifically asked us not to tell Coach Washington about his prosthesis. I believe he has that right and as a faithful Warbler brother, he has the right to have his wishes followed by us. Period. End of sentence,” Sebastian said.

“I agree,” David said when Wes acknowledged him. “If Kurt wanted her to know, he would have told her himself.”

A buzz of voices was heard and Wes felt the need to bang the gavel again. The Warblers were unruly tonight, perhaps more than he had ever seen them. He knew it was because of the polo tryouts and he was worried that the anger was going to affect more than just the polo team. He had called this impromptu meeting when he heard that Kurt and Blaine were out to supper with Kurts dad. He didnt want either of those two to get wind of it. Things needed to be decided and presented in a cohesive way or, Wes knew, they would never convince Kurt to agree to their idea.

“It isnt fair and as his Warbler brothers it is up to us to make this right,” Trent said, more angry by the hour since Kurt left the field when he refused to mount Misty by himself.

“I have something that might work,” Nick offered. All eyes in the room turned to him. When he saw that they were all paying attention, Nick went on and explained his idea.

“So, should we go over and do that tonight or tomorrow morning?” Nick finished after telling them all of his scheme.

“In the morning – its too late tonight. She said she would post the new team roster on the stable door at eight,” Nick said, recalling hearing that from Roz herself.

“Is everyone agreed?” Wes asked and each boy there raised his hand immediately.

Wes pounded the gavel.

“Done. Meet here at seven and well go see her,” he instructed. “Thank you, men. I know you will never regret standing up for your brother.

Kurt, Blaine, and Burt got back from supper- still arguing about whether Blaine should have left the tip because it had been Burts idea to include Blaine in the idea of going out to eat. Kurt had not addressed the issue of not making it on the polo team. He didnt want to talk about it and made his wishes known to Blaine in no uncertain terms. Blaine rolled his eyes, but did as Kurt asked. He wished he had stayed home. He knew the Warblers were meeting about Kurts rejection by the coach, and he wanted to be helpful – but he couldnt think of a single thing he could do to fix it.

~KB~KB~KB~KB~KB~KB~

“So, theyre posting the team players at 8:00 today?” Burt asked his son over the phone, eager to see his Kurts name on the list of players.

“Thats what Coach said,” Kurt explained once more to his dad, who was staying at the Andersons carriage house.

“Okay, Ill stay here until seven or so, then we can walk over together,” Burt offered and Kurt let go a silent sigh of relief. He had been up most of the night worrying about what to tell his dad today when he didnt make the team. There were 16 slots for players and over 25 students had tried out.

In a polo game, each team has four players on the field. In professional polo, each horse has maybe 3 to 5 minutes during the chukka (period) to run before being switched out for another horse. Because high school kids can rarely afford to have a whole string of ponies, they switch players when they switch horses, thus the need for more players per team. The game is divided into six chukkas, each being about 7 minutes long, so there is time for most of the players to get field time during each game.

Kurt had gotten up early, even for him. He was worried about how to tell his dad and didnt know what to do right now. His homework was done and he had nothing to do but sit and watch TV or something. Blaine was not up yet, or so Kurt thought. He went into the bathroom and took a shower.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Kurt called when he emerged from the bathroom, showered and dressed for the day, but got no answer. He walked back over to the bed, intent on waking his boyfriend, but was met with a bunched-up blanket and no boyfriend.

“What the hell?” Kurt thought. Blaine must have slipped out while he was in the shower. Maybe he went to get them some breakfast?

*

“Is everyone here?” Wes asked, counting noses to be sure all of the Warblers that were trying out for the polo team were assembled. He nodded his head, they were here.

He led the way to Coach Washingtons office and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” her voice rang out. The boys filed in quickly and quietly.

“And to what do I owe this honor this morning, gentlemen?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“We would like to ask you a question,” Wes said, very polite.

“Which is?”

“We, as faithful friends of one of our own – Kurt Hummel – would like to plead his case. We think that perhaps if you understood a few things about him, you might see him in a different light.”

“Why would I need to do that? The roster is here in my hand, in this sealed envelope. I have no reason to discuss anyone on the team before it is posted, so please be on your way now and allow me to post the roster,” she said in an acid tone. Roz did not get to the position she held by suffering fools lightly.

“We wanted to tell you how hard Kurt has trained to be here,” Trent started to say. “He had never even touched a horse in his life until nine months ago, and he trained every minute he could all year, all summer, just to be able to try out.”

“Im sure you all tried hard, but my team does not win with amateur training and sympathy votes. It wins with the players that show the most aptitude for the game. Now, the results will be posted as I said. Do not come back here, understood?”

“Coach Washington, we just wanted to tell you that we play as a team, and without Hummel, we are not a team. Without him on the team, Im afraid none of us can play,” Sebastian said.

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, Maam. I was just explaining how our team works. Good day, Coach,” he said and the Warblers left the office.

Roz walked out of her office into the bright fall day, taking her time to go to the stable door to hang the official roster for the Dalton Polo Team. She was confident in her choices, as she was with everything in her life and a bunch of unruly, privileged, and pampered children were not going to push her into a decision she didnt think was in the best interest of the team and the school.

She had a smile on her face as she walked along, she could hear the boys behind her, their eyes on her. She was not intimidated in the least. Her word was law and they would learn it one way or another.

Kurt gave up trying to find Blaine. The boy had left his phone on his nightstand and when Burt showed up to walk with Kurt to the stable, he left with his dad, knowing his boyfriend would probably meet him there.

Roz was at the stable door, stapler in hand to put the roster up. She knew all of the boys who tried out were standing there, and she knew the boys that had visited her that morning knew she hadnt made any change to the roster.

Kurt walked up to the group, Blaine joining him and running his arm behind Kurts back to steady him. He knew what the Warblers had talked about in the meeting last night and he was with them this morning. He knew Coach hadnt made any changes to the roster, so he was holding Kurt very tight.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” Roz addressed them. She slit the envelope open with a knife from her pocket and removed the neatly printed roster and stapled it to the stable door. “Here is the roster for the Dalton Polo Team. I expect the team to be at practice this afternoon at 4:00. Do not bring your horses, we will be going over rules and schedules. You may step up and see if you made the team.

Everyone took a breath. They stood together, as if waiting for something and finally Wes turned to Kurt.

“You first, Hummel,” he said. The fate of the rest of the Warblers on the team rested on whether Kurts name was there. Burt patted his sons back and gave him a little push. Kurt walked the longest stretch of ground he had walked in his time at Dalton, but he did not stumble. He looked up at the list and read down the names, not a bit surprised to see his friends listed. There, under Trents name, were the letters spelling out:

Player: Hummel, Kurt Horse: Misty

He couldnt get air into his lungs. He finally gasped, feeling the rest of the boys behind him take in a collective breath.

He started to tremble.

“Im in,” he whispered, then looked around at his friends, at all the people who had known him for less than a year, but took him into their hearts and supported him and loved him. He took in another breath, realizing nobody heard him. He said it again and his voice sounded loud as it echoed across the field.

“Im in !!!” he shouted and everyone let out whoops of joy. Blaine and Burt were there, picking him up and putting him on their shoulders as they danced in a circle, the rest of the Warblers and the other boys on the Polo Team shouting congratulations. They finally let Kurt down and he fell into Blaines arms.

“I knew you could do it, Beau, I knew it!” Blaine said, kissing his boyfriend thoroughly right in front of his father, but Burts smile never faltered. He was so damn proud of his boy. He only wished Elizabeth were here to see it. Kurt hugged him and then went back to Blaines arms.

“Im in, Bee....Im on the team! Dad! I made the TEAM!” he shouted again because it felt so damn good to do it.

~KB~KB~KB~~~~THE END~~~~KB~KB~KB~