Tuesday, six in the evening

"Thank God that thing's out." Kurt said uncomfortably as the tube was pulled out of his nose. It was one of the most horrible things, he thought, to have been put in through the nose. He wrinkled his nose to try and get rid of the feeling but then winced, feeling a stab of pain from his still healing cartilage in his nose.

"I bet you're ready to have actual food again. Eh, Kurt?" The blond nurse, whose name was Megan as Kurt discovered, asked him.

He coughed out a laugh, sipping water from a cup. "No, it was the greatest thing in the world to have my food predigested and shoved up my nose." He said in deadpan voice as she laughed.

"I'll tell the kitchen to start sending up soft foods for you after I'm done here. Now, it's time to clean the stitches on your face. Lie back down." Megan told him as she snapped on a fresh pair of gloves.

Rachel had finally acquiesced and brought in a small hand mirror for Kurt. He looked at his reflection again now that the stupid feeding tube was out and had undergone the daily cleaning to keep the stitches from developing infections. The gash on his forehead had healed quite nicely; it left the faintest of scars and then it was only noticeable if there was a super bright light shining on it. Lightly trailing his fingers on the clear stitches, Kurt noticed that the cut on his left cheek wasn't going to leave a scar either. The small cuts on his chin and along his jaw weren't going to leave scars as they were small and most of them were superficial enough that they didn't need that many stitches. All in all, Kurt Hummel got pretty lucky.

He put down the mirror on his rolling and settled back into his pillows. It had been a few days since everyone had had to go back to school, the New Directions back to McKinley and the Warblers back to Dalton. Lauren had to go back to her school, too. She spent the last few days with Mari's mom, Blaine, and Joey. She had promised her brothers she would return for their mother's funeral and burial.

The autopsy was still being conducted on Miranda Anderson, as the news stations reported but the preliminary reports said that she had been beaten to death with a blunt object. Joey had thrown up when he heard it, and Kurt didn't doubt Blaine probably did too. There had been no sightings of the black SUV Matthew Anderson had used to kidnap the four of them and therefore, no sighting of the man either. This had Kurt worried; even though they had police officers with them at all times, he could help but fear that the man could come in at anytime and finish what he had started.

Kurt reached into the pocket of his pajama pants and pulled out a small silver object. Luckily, when the surgeon came back yesterday he deemed Kurt well enough to wear his own clothes rather than the disgusting hospital gown he had been forced to wear the whole time he had been in the hospital. Kurt could have kissed the man; it also meant he could shower, with help. Carole took her lunch breaks with him every day she could also help him with other tasks, such as his newfound hatred for physical therapy.

One day, Carole gave him the small silver object he was now holding gingerly in his hand. She had snuck it out of the pocket of Blaine's blazer when she was collecting their clothes for evidence for the police. Turning it his hand, Kurt pressed a small knob at the top. It sprung open and revealed a simple, but elegant, clock face. Kurt smiled as he realized what it was but at the same time, he thought of Blaine. The last he had seen him was when he woken up in the ICU to his singing.

A knock at the door brought his attention to the door frame. Carole smiled radiantly as she and Megan came in the door.

"Hi, sweetie." Carole said as she sat down on the side of the bed and hugged Kurt when he slowly sat up.

"Hi… Mom." He said quietly into her short, auburn hair.

They pulled back as Megan rolled in a wheelchair. Carole started grinning wider, if that was possible. "Guess what?" She said excitedly.

"Santa Claus is actually from South Africa?"

The two nurses laughed. "No. One better, actually. You want to go see Blaine?" She jerked of her head towards the wheelchair.

He stared at her. "You're serious, right? You're not going to pull a Sunshine on me?"

"Sunshine?"

Kurt sighed, rolling his eyes at the memory. "At the beginning of the year, Rachel sent this exchange girl with a hell of a voice to a crack house thinking she was going to audition for New Directions. After she actually did audition for New Directions, she switched schools and is now in Vocal Adrenaline."

Now Carole stared at Kurt with an eyebrow cocked up. "Rachel did that?"

Kurt nodded. "Didn't Finn tell you?"

She shook her head. "No… not that I can remember. But anyway," she went back to smiling while Megan unhooked him from his IV pole. Since he had gotten the feeding tube removed, he didn't need to have so many machines attached to him and not as many IV bags dripping into him. "Yes, you can see Blaine! We just have to get you in this contraption you call a rolling death trap."

Kurt huffed. "Well, tell Finn he isn't allowed to roll me anywhere. After that ridiculous assignment Mr. Shue gave us last year…" He grumbled as he remembered Finn falling backwards nearly every ten seconds or crashing into him as he raced Puck in the hallway after school.

"Do I want to know?"

"No."

His step-mom rolled her eyes. "Okay let's get you in this thing."

Kurt put Blaine's pocket watch in his pocket and flipped the blanket off of his legs, wincing at the sight of his bright orange leg cast.

It took a little time to get him in the chair; all three of them were trying to navigate his leg onto the raised leg rest with causing him too much pain. In the end, it took a pillow, a few choice swears with Carole looking at him sternly every time he swore, and a towel. Carole rolled Kurt backwards out of his room and, still going backwards, rolled into Blaine and Mari's room.

Blaine was asleep, exhausted from his physical therapy session that morning in his room. Mari was sitting up and doing homework her mom had brought for her from school. She looked up as Carole walked backwards, dragging something in front of her. Her face lit up as she saw Kurt and was about to say hello until he, Carole, and a nurse held a finger up to their lips. Mari shut her mouth and smiled, figuring out that Kurt was going to surprise Blaine.

Kurt mouthed to her He's just asleep, right? as Carole and the nurse left the room.

She nodded and mouthed back He had PT at four.

He rolled his eyes. Figures.

Mairead watched he slipped his hand into Blaine's and took a small trinket out of the pocket of his pants.

Kurt looked at Blaine for a moment. Sure, he had bags under his eyes, a feeding tube up his nose, and various other aspects, but he was the most handsome person he'd ever laid eyes on. He slipped his hand into his and watched as Blaine snuffled a little bit, his eyebrows knitting up as if he was having a bad dream.

A tune popped into Kurt's head and he smiled, just having thought of the perfect way to wake him up.

"Really, Blaine. I would have thought you would last longer than this." A brunette boy said, cracking his knuckles.

Blaine looked up from where he was on the ground, coughing from the force of the punch he just received to the stomach. "And I never thought you would stoop this low; oh, wait, yes I did." Blaine remarked.

Another kick to his back had Blaine sprawled on his stomach and a mouthful of grass in his face. Blaine tried to get up, using his knees and hands, but a foot pushed him back into the ground. "Why are you doing this?" He said as best as he could, the foot also pushing the air out of his lungs.

"You know why, homo." A voice sounded from behind him. "'Cause you're a sick freak. And I think the whole world would be better without pedophiles like you."

Blaine laughed mirthlessly in spite of his pain. "If I'm a pedophile, then what the hell are you? God's pet poodle?" He tried to push back against the foot, but his arms already hurt too much from trying to punch the boxing bag in gym class this morning.

The foot came off of his back but before he could try to get away, he was being dragged to feet by his hair. Blaine yelled as he felt his scalp protesting. He came face to face with one of his attackers.

"I knew it." Blaine muttered under his breath.

The boy holding him by his hair punched him in the stomach. "What was that, fag?" He whispered threateningly in Blaine's ear.

"Wouldn't you like to know." He coughed out.

Pushing Blaine into his friend, who immediately pinned his arms to his sides, he cracked his fingers again. Blaine suddenly dreaded what he thought might be coming his way as he tried to fight his way out.

He felt intense pain blooming in his body, being kicked in the crotch. "How'd you like that, fag? You want some more? Gladly." Blaine felt the force of being kicked into his stomach again.

Suddenly, he was on the ground as for some reason he was released from the other boy's arms. He stood up dizzily and tried to run away but he was surrounded by the fence and the two boys in front of him. Holding his fists up in front of him, Blaine tried to look threatening. "So you decided to come back and beat me up some more, didn't you? Just because I like boys?" Blaine shouted at Tyler, the boy who'd been beating him up. "I'm right here, go ahead and fight me!"

Blaine braced himself as the hulking figure came towards him, grinning manically. For some reason, he could hear a tune in his ears. The song quite familiar.

Wait, Blaine thought as Tyler came closer and closer. This… isn't… supposed to be here.

Tyler raised his fist and Blaine closed his eyes. The voice was still sounding through his brain, as if he had heard it a thousand times. Blaine felt the first punch to his face as everything went black. But for some reason, the song was still ringing in his ears.

Blaine floated, just listening and trying to figure out where this was coming from. Why does this sound familiar? There wasn't anyone singing when Tyler beat me up… Blaine thought as he floated upwards. Wait… is that…?

Blaine slowly woke up but kept his eyes closed, listening to someone singing by him. He felt a warm hand in his own cold one. The tune sounded a little different as he tried to clear the haze in his brain.

Oh, his eyes, his eyes make the stars look like they're not shining

His hair, his hair curls perfectly without him trying

He's so wonderful and I tell him every day

Listening to the music, he tried to figure out who it was.

Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment him, he won't believe me

It's so, it's so, sad to think he don't see what I see

But every time he asks me "Do I look okay?"

I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change

'cause you're amazing, just the way you are

And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile

'cause Blaine, you're amazing, just the way you are

His breath caught in his throat as he finally realized who was singing to him.

His lips, his lips, I could kiss them all day if he'd let me

His height, his height, he hates but I think it's so sexy

He's so wonderful, and I tell him everyday

Blaine's eyelids slowly started to open up, the blurry outline of someone sitting next to him in front of him.

Oh, you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change

If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same

So don't even bother asking if you look okay

You know I'll say

He blinked a few times and Kurt singing softly to his hand came into clear focus.

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change

'cause you're amazing, just the way you are

And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile

'cause Blaine, you're amazing, just the way you are

"K-Kurt." Blaine croaked out, his throat dry.

Kurt snapped his face up and his eyes widened. "Blaine." He breathed out.

Blaine slowly brought their hands, still entwined with Kurt's, up to his mouth and kissed the back of his hand gently. "I," Blaine coughed out, trying to clear his throat of the tickling feeling in the back of his mouth. "I love you." He whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

Bringing both of their hands towards him, Kurt brought it up and cradled them against his chest. "I know." Kurt smiled, tears coming down his face.

Blaine moved their hands towards Kurt's heart, hoping to feel that beautiful rhythm.

Kurt winced slightly and brought the hands down to the bed. He lifted his other hand and held it out to Blaine.

Blaine tried to blink away the tears in his eyes at the little silver object.

"Carole found it in your blazer. She brought it to me to give to you. I know how much you love this." Kurt said softly.

The little silver pocket watch was still in mint condition. Blaine clicked open the small clasp. He smiled as the little hands showed the correct time.

"Thank you, Kurt." He choked out.

They both sat like that for a little bit, just enjoying the other's presence. Blaine dozed as Kurt rubbed circles into the back of his hand with his thumb. Mairead had put in her ear buds and listened to her iTouch while reading her history textbook, which her mom brought in for her.

Time slowly passed, but the two boys didn't care. Kurt watched the cheesy soap operas on the TV and talked with Mairead quietly.

Carole poked her head into the room and saw her step-son struggling to keep his eyes open as his boyfriend slept. She put her hands around his shoulders and watched as he slowly turned his head and looked at her with half-lidded eyes. "C'mon, let's get you back to your room, okay? It's already time for you to be hooked back in. And I brought some food for you." She told him quietly.

Kurt looked at her with pleading eyes, begging her to let him stay with Blaine.

She shook her head. "I promise, tomorrow."

He sighed, bringing their still entwined hands up to his lips. Blaine woke up slightly and tightened his hand around Kurt. "Hey, I have to go. I love you, Blaine. I promise I'll be back tomorrow."

Blaine hummed and turned his head the other way on his pillow; going back to sleep with a smile on his face.

Carole wheeled Kurt back into his room. Getting him up on the bed was a bit easier than going down, in her opinion.

"I don't know why I'm so tired all the time." Kurt yawned as Carole covered his legs with the blanket. "All I've been doing is sleeping and doing that damn physical therapy."

She chuckled. "Well, your body does need to heal, sweetie. Here, I brought you some homemade vegetable broth." Carole took the cover off of a Tupperware container she brought with her.

Kurt dipped his spoon in and took a sip. "This is really good." He sighed in delight, using his taste buds for the first time in awhile. "Who made it?"

"You're either going to be surprised or worried if I tell you." Carole said mysteriously, a little smile appearing.

Kurt twitched an eyebrow up.

"Finn."

Kurt spluttered, having took a spoonful of the broth. Carole smirked as she gently patted his back as he regained his breath.

"How?" He said a little weakly as he sipped water through a straw in his cup. "He can't even cook premade soup in a pot without the smoke detectors going off!"

Carole rolled her eyes. "Well, it was sort of Finn's cooking. Rachel brought over the recipe from her dads and she cooked it while he chopped the vegetables."

He snorted into the container as he finished the broth, enjoying its surprisingly delicious contents. As he did so, Carole disinfected her hands and snapped on a pair of sterile gloves. She hooked him back into his IV bags.

Joey walked using his crutches in looking a little worse for wear. His eyes were red and he was sniffling but gave the two of them a happy, if tired, smile.

Dropping the spoon into the plastic container, Kurt exhaled a happy sigh. He got to see Blaine today and finally felt full in his stomach. His eyes started to drift slowly down as the drugs and the warmness of the broth lulled him to sleep.

Carole disposed her gloves and sat down on the side of his bed. She pulled the covers over him and up to his shoulders. "Kurt, I have to go. But I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

Kurt smiled as he grunted, letting the drugs drag him back to sleep.

She brushed the hair off of his forehead as she whispered "I love you, sweetie." Carole turned off the light behind his bed and pulled forward the curtain that divided the room in half.

Joey was in a similar state, fast asleep but with a hand hanging off the side of his bed. She smiled and pulled the blankets over him. Quietly putting on a fresh pair of gloves, she also hooked him back into his IV pole. Joey moved a little and that was when Carole noticed he had something gold colored clutched in his hand. She turned off the light behind his bed.

Walking into the room across the hall, she discovered Blaine was exactly how she and Kurt left him. She quickly checked his monitors, making sure everything was in order before walking over to Mairead's side off the room.

Mairead was still up, reading a book while still listening to her iTouch. She looked up as Carole pulled the curtain to make Blaine's side darker so he could sleep. "Hi Carole." Mairead smiled.

"Hi honey." She smiled back. "What are you reading?"

"Just a little fantasy book. Lauren always makes fun of me every time I read this, though." She held up the cover with her free hand, the other in a black sling.

Carole looked at the two hands cradling a red apple over a black background. "Is it good?"

Mairead laughed softly. "To me it is. To her, she thinks I'm just a big sap for these books." Her face grew somber. "Carole, that was Joey crying, wasn't it? I could hear him as he went into his room."

She nodded grimly, remembering how he came in.

Mairead looked down at her braced and bandaged wrists, her book laid abandoned for the moment in her hand. "It's my turn tomorrow isn't it? To talk to the detectives?" She asked quietly.

Carole sighed. "Yes, honey, it is. It's all three of you guys tomorrow. They won't wait any long now that you guys are mostly off the more heavy painkillers. They need the evidence. Your dad's lawyers are going to be there too. Trust me; they fought for as long as they could, to let you four have enough time to recover."

Looking back up, she had tears in her eyes. "I'm not afraid, but I'm… scared. What if they don't believe me?" She asked, her voice wavering.

The older woman's eyebrows knitted together as she brought a hand up to tuck a strand of black hair behind the younger girl's ear. "Why wouldn't they believe you? Mairead, you've been through as much as these boys have, if not more." She asked in disbelief and worry.

"It's just…" she hesitated. "People have never believed what I've said in the past. I'm scared what I say isn't going to be viable evidence for when they catch the damn son of a bitch."

Carole looked a little sadly at her. "Come here."

Mairead scooted forward to the end of her bed as she leaned into Carole's open arms.

"Mairead, sweetheart, you're thinking too hard about this. You're going to talk to them tomorrow and they are going to believe you. I know they will." She said as she rubbed her arm soothingly.

"But what if?" Mari whispered, close to tears.

"No, there's no 'what ifs' here. You're going to tell them and they'll use it as evidence. You're strong, Mairead. Don't be afraid." Carole said, feeling remorse for her.

A few tears slipped out of her closed eyes. She sniffled, not helping the feelings that overcame her. She leaned even more into her arms, savoring the welcome feeling of her arms around her. Ten minutes passed before she looked back up at the woman hugging her.

Carole smiled warmly. "Feel better?"

She gave a tiny smile. "A little. I just can't help feeling like this all the time."

"As you should. It's normal for anyone to feel like that, not just you. Okay?" Carole told her gently.

Mairead nodded. A yawn stretched her face as Carole laughed gently.

"Why don't you get some sleep? It's going to be a long day tomorrow." She turned to shut the light off.

She shook her head. "I think I'm going to read a little more before I sleep."

"Okay." Carole helped her scoot backwards into the pillows.

"Carole?" She asked timidly. "Can you… can you stay with me tomorrow when I talk to them? I mean, if it's not too much trouble and I know I have my mom and Julia's going to be in there too but she's asking the questions; I know you have work and all." Mairead shut her mouth before she could ramble on any further.

Carole thought for a moment, thinking of what time she needed to be at work in the ED. "I'll see if I can. But just remember, they're not there to accuse you. Relax, and just tell them. Okay?"

Mairead sighed as she nodded.

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Carole said.

The Vietnamese girl nodded again as she hugged Carole. She watched as she walked out of the room before putting her ear buds back in and pressing her iTouch back on. Flicking her finger up on the device, she selected a playlist of her orchestra performances; letting the sounds wash over her as she read and eventually fell asleep.