Chapter 3: Calling For Answers

When Wes picks up his phone the next day - after a night's sleep filled with weird dreams of the Warblers two-stepping all with slushy cups in their hands, and him yelling at them for the infuriating inability to not spill them all over their blazers while performing a number - it is about lunch time in Lima, so he tries Blaine's cell phone.

He is not prepared for the deep male voice that answers.

"Hello."

"Um, hello. Sorry, this is Blaine Anderson's phone right? Is this...is this Mr. Anderson?"

"This is Blaine's phone, yes. But actually I'm Burt Hummel."

"Oh, Kurt's father."

"Yes. Who am I speaking to?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Hummel. I am Wesley Montgomery. I'm a friend of both Blaine and Kurt. We all met at Dalton."

Wes is taken aback by the rough and fast change in tone on the other end of the line, "Why are you calling? Blaine is in enough pain, he does not need to be mocked by you guys on top of everything else. Goodbye."

The last word is spoken with anger so intense you could call it fury.

Wes is so taken aback by it being directed at him he almost forgets to ask what any of this is about, "Wait. Please. I don't know what you are talking about? Blaine is hurt? I..."

"How could you not know that? You guys threw a tainted slushy in his face last night."

"Shit! What?" Wes cringes, both at the new information given and his use of a swear word with Mr. Hummel. Gosh, how could I do that. But his focus shifts again quickly, Oh My Gosh, how could they do that.

"You didn't know?" Burt asks, still angry, but voice, too, shaky with doubt.

"I am so sorry. I had no idea, and the one Warbler I spoke too, I think he did not know either."

"What do you mean the one Warbler you spoke to?"

"I'm sorry, I think I should have been clearer about that, I used to go to Dalton. I graduated last year. I'm in college now and last night I got a phone call from someone still at Dalton and in the Warblers who told me Blaine had gotten slushied. That is all I knew. I swear. So I'm calling today to check on him, because that must have been upsetting I'd thought. I had no idea he is seriously hurt."

"In that case, sorry I yelled at you" Burt says voice apologetic and much less edgy now but still not exactly relaxed, "I thought you were one of them. I can't believe no one stopped it from happening. Clearly none of them ever has been slushied before if they thought even a normal slushy was a harmless idea. You know, kid, that hurts bad enough."

"I can't believe it either. How badly is he injured?"

"Blaine had to spend all night in hospital. Thankfully Kurt could stay with him. They were both so..." Burt cannot think of a word strong enough.

Falling silent himself Burt does not miss how saddened, more than anything, Wes sounds when he replies, "Blaine hates hospitals."

"Yes. Kurt isn't a fan either," Burt replies, voice finally growing gentler again.

"Where is Blaine now?" Wes tries to keep the sliver of panic he feels rising in his chest out of his voice but only half succeeds, and Burt thinks if he cares that much, maybe he can be trusted, at least trusted with a little more information.

"My wife and I went to meet both of them in the hospital this morning and," Burt sighs deeply, "they did some more tests they hadn't been able to do last night. This morning the swelling on his right eye had gone down enough, so, well, he has to have surgery, something about his cornea being scratched pretty deep."

Wes is speechless for a moment. How can it be that serious? How could anyone do this? His... friends?

"Wesley, you still there?" Burt asks surprised by the silence.

"Yes, Mr. Hummel. Sorry. I just, I can't believe they actually, really allowed that to happen. I know most of those guys. Well, at least I thought I did. The guys I knew last year would never have been capable of doing this."

"Kurt said it was that new kid, Sebastian something."

"Yes, I heard last night that it was his idea to slushy Kurt." Wes pauses a second as he claps his free hand over his mouth, then nervously runs it through his own hair over and over. "Oh my gosh, did I just...I hope you knew it was Kurt they were aiming for. I don't want to upset anyone further."

"Relax, Wesley, no one said it out loud to me at first, but I figured as much when Kurt started to explain."

"What did Kurt say?"

"I'm not sure he would want me to tell you. Sorry Kid, but I don't know you."

"No, no, I get it. Of course. I, um, is it okay if I stop by tomorrow? I really want to see Blaine. I take it he is with you?"

"For now, yes, but his mother will come pick him up in the late afternoon, so I'm not sure where you will be able to reach him tomorrow. The way it looks now at his parents' place. The surgery is scheduled for Friday morning, so he will be back in the hospital then. When are you exactly getting here tomorrow?"

"I am not sure just yet, Sir."

"Okay well, it will be an ambulant procedure, unless there are complications. And since Kurt won't let Blaine out of his sight if he does not absolutely have to, maybe give Kurt a call when you know the details of your stay? He will know where to find Blaine if he isn't right with him anyway."

"Can I talk to Kurt or Blaine now?"

"Sorry, kid, Blaine is asleep, and he needs the rest. My wife is with him. And Kurt had to go into school for two classes with tests coming up very soon, and to hand in some essay. He also wanted to tell their friends in Glee what the tests on Blaine's eye this morning came to."

"Oh, okay. Thank you for letting me know this much. I appreciate it."

"I'll tell Kurt you called. I'm sure he will call you back some time today, but giv'im the time he needs please, he has enough on his mind already."

"Of course. Thank you again for talking to me. I am so sorry for what happened."

"If you are who you say you are this is in no way your fault."

Burt does not miss how sad Wes sounds, "I thought I had taught those guys better than to attack people."

Burt lets out another deep sigh, "Yes. I...the way Kurt talked about the support he got there last year I just cannot understand how.... If you try Kurt's number at some point and can't reach him, you can always try the house if you like, or Blaine's phone, I will hold on to it for now," Burt quickly gives Wes their home number.

"Thank you Mr. Hummel. Goodbye."

"Bye kid."

xxxx

Burt had settled himself on the living room couch during the talk. As he gets up and walks back into the kitchen, phone still in hand, Carole comes down the stairs.

"Isn't that Blaine's phone?" she asks as she joins her husband at the kitchen table and sees him put it down on it, next to his drink of water.

Burt picks up his half eaten sandwich and takes a bite as he nods.

"What were you doing with it?"

"Blaine left it downstairs in the jacket we had brought him with the other of Kurt's clothes to the hospital to wear. Someone called."

"Oh. Who?"

"He says he is a friend of Blaine and Kurt and used to go to Dalton."

Carole interrupts Burt, who gladly takes the opportunity to take a sip of water and another bite, "Was it Wesley?"

Burt nods, mouth still full, and forehead forming into a frown.

Carole is smiling as she answers, and Burt thinks how nice a change it is opposed to all the tension he had seen on her face since he had come home late last night to tell her what Finn hadn't been able to, already looking worried when he first saw her.

"He is a very nice boy. He was over several times last year, mostly with some more friends of Blaine's and Kurt's from Dalton."

"Well I don't know if we should still call them that," Burt says sounding bitter.

"Isn't Wesley at college now? He graduated last year, right?"

"Yes, how do you know?" Burt asks Carole, surprised by her knowing so much about the boy he, to his own knowledge, had just talked to for the first time in his life, and could not place a face to if he tried.

"Kurt mentioned it once when I asked him if Blaine was okay. Last summer, there had been two weeks in which Blaine had just been sitting looking sad too much of the time not to notice. Kurt had said it was because Blaine had had to say goodbye to Wesley. Apparently Blaine and Wesley were really close while both at Dalton. I think Blaine felt a little lost there for a while as soon as Wesley had left."

Burt nods, "He was shocked to hear Blaine is hurt. He also said he got a call last night, from one of the guys still at Dalton and that the boy appeared to have no idea either Blaine got seriously hurt."

Having said this Burt's forehead builds into a deeper frown once again. Eyes fixed on the kitchen table now.

"Burt, I know that look." Carole is glad to find Burt searching out her eyes hearing her words. "You don't believe him, do you?"

"Carole, I, I'm just not sure.... Maybe it was my imagination. Maybe I'm simply being overprotective, but Wesley did not seem too certain about that. The other boys being quite that oblivious to what had been done I mean. Don't you think some of them must have known more than others?"

"Maybe," it is the only honest response Carole can think of.

"He asked if he could stop by some time tomorrow to see Blaine. I told him I would tell Kurt he called. And to call again to talk to us if he needs to and Kurt does not call back during the day, or he can't reach Kurt at some point the next days."

Carole wonders why Burt is still looking so very grim, "What is it Hon? I know all of this is upsetting to you, especially with all that has been done to Kurt already, but there's something else, right?"

Burt, one hand running over his head says, "I just don't know who of these kids to trust anymore. For all I know that Wesley kid could be up to something too, could just...just pretend to be someone who can be trusted. I can't imagine how bad Blaine must be feeling about all this."

"I love you."

"What?"

Carole is smiling wide, "I love you for caring so much."

"I love you too," it is the first honestly happy, tired but happy, smile Burt has managed since the scary call from Tina last night, telling him Blaine and Kurt were on their way to the emergency room, because Blaine got hurt.

"Wesley is a very polite young man, I cannot imagine him having anything to do with it. Kurt and Blaine will know what to make of the call I am sure. Let's just wait till Kurt gets home and something in his stomach - he has been dodging meals all day - and he has a hard enough time being away from Blaine at all today. Let's not worry him more than he already does."

Carole presses a quick kiss to her husband's lips, "I should get back up there, I don't want to leave Blaine alone to long in case he wakes up and needs something. As drugged up as he still is I really don't want him to try and get up on his own."

Burt briefly takes Carole's left hand and squeezes gently before he has to let go as she gets up.

He finishes his sandwich and water, and starts to gather his keys, wallet and jacket, all the while trying to focus on what will need doing at the garage when he gets there, so he can finish it up quickly and pick Kurt up from school in time. He had insisted Kurt is to drive nowhere by himself today. Distracted does not even begin to describe the state Kurt had been in all morning. Thoughts never anywhere but with Blaine.

On his way out to his truck he sees that the mail has arrived.

Several letters in hand he climbs a moment later into the driver's seat planning to only quickly flip through them then toss the letters onto the front passenger seat.

But there is one letter that instantly grabs his attention and before he knows it he is on his way to Kurt's school instead of work.

xxxx

Walking down the halls to find the class Kurt should currently be in Burt starts wondering if it is such a great idea to give the letter to Kurt straight away.

If the news isn't good, it will be all too much. But, he has been waiting for this letter so long. He is strong, he will be fine. In the best case scenario so much better than he has been feeling all day.

And for a moment Burt stops in his tracks thinking back to the sickly pale boy with the puffy eyes and the scared expression, barely and badly hidden under a forced smile, they had encountered only hours ago.

Carole and he had found Kurt sitting alone on Blaine's hospital bed, Blaine already having been taken in for the first tests, and Kurt once again not allowed to be with him. "Just be there, I just...I just wanted to be there, to hold his hand through it," Kurt had told them in tears, through wracked sobs.

He had told them too, after calming a little, how some doctor had snapped at him about being lucky he had been allowed to stay at all.

Tears of his own just under the surface, thinking How can people be so cruel? He is just a child. They are just children, scared and... Burt shakes the memory, and takes the last steps towards the room he has been headed for ever since he entered the school grounds.

It is a good thing Kurt had insisted on making painstakingly clear where exactly he could be found in the time he had to spend here today, in case he was needed, incase Blaine got worse somehow.

Burt looks in, finding Kurt instantly. He is sitting taking notes, well, trying to by the looks of him.

Burt knows that distracted expression all too well. Kurt's mind is miles away.

Usually, seeing Kurt this way Burt has to ask where, or guess.

Today he knows.

As Burt looks over to Mr. Schuester to catch his attention Burt already knows that focus will shift again, completely, only moments from now, as soon as Kurt holds that letter in his hands.

Burt hates the shock he sees when Kurt looks up at hearing his name called and spotting his father in the door to the room, Damn, I should have thought of that, of course he will think this is about Blaine.

The father tries to smile at his son in comfort, reassurance.

xxxx

When they leave the school together only 20 minutes later Kurt is smiling wide.

Burt had not expected to see that smile for a while - after finding Kurt utterly devastate in the ER last night, alone in that cold empty hospital room this morning.

The letter, the good news, could not have come at a better time, Burt is sure of it.

Kurt does not stop beaming all the way home.

xxxx

It had been the last class of the day for Kurt, and he had already talked to the Glee guys, first thing as he got to school.

Today it had really been lucky to have Mr. Schuester as his teacher, he had allowed Burt to take Kurt home early, knowing enough of what has been happening to give in without further questioning.

xxxx

As they pull into the driveway Kurt looks worried for a second, a thought crossing his mind, "Blaine is still here, right? His mom did not come early or anything to pick him up. Did she?"

Burt shakes his head, "She called earlier, saying she will probably be late if anything. So Blaine is definitely here. He might be asleep though."

"I have had to be patient for so long, I think I can manage to wait for him to wake up. He needs the rest."

As they get out of the car and walk into the house Burt adds, "You can eat something while you wait kid. I haven't seen you eat anything all day."

"I had some tea earlier."

"You know that does not count as food, Baby."

Kurt's head snaps around to the couch, "Blaine, you are awake."

And Burt doubts Kurt even registers Carole sitting in one of the armchairs, magazine in hand, as he throws himself on his knees in front of the couch Blaine is sitting on, feed propped up, and leaning against one of Kurt's extra huge pillows.

"You won't believe what happened today," Kurt says excitedly, tenderly taking hold of both of Blaine's hands with his."

"Hey, you said I could tell him, Kurt."

Blaine lets out a small laugh, He looks so much more awake now than just a moment ago, Carole thinks happily as she looks questioningly between Burt and her step-son.

"He got it."

"What?" Blaine asks, not quite following yet.

"Dad, go ahead. I will chew off all your ears about it anyway for the next weeks," Kurt says never looking away from Blaine's face.

Burt, eyes fixed on Blaine too now, after briefly glancing over to Carole who already seems to have caught on, says, "My son is a NYADA finalist."

"Oh my GOSH! Love, that is amazing," Blaine shouts throwing his arms around Kurt's neck and pulling him deep into a hug. "I told you you have a real shot at it. They would be insane to turn you down. They will see you and instantly fall for you like I did."

Blaine pulls back as he hears the sniffle, and finds Kurt's eyes, tears running down Kurt's face, "Hey, don't cry," Blaine moves to gently wipe the tears away with his fingertips.

"I just..."

"I know, Baby, it is all so much right now."

Kurt nods, wordlessly.

"I love you," Blaine hums softly, soothing.

"I love you too. Thank you for always believing in me. Even when I couldn't," Kurt says through the tears still falling, clearly overwhelmed.

"Hey, what good would I be if I could not do that for the person I love," Blaine smiles as Kurt's tears ebb away and Kurt lets out a wet laugh.

"Oh, I know a thing or two you'd still be good for," he says with a smile that is quickly shaping up to be really more of a soft smirk.

Blaine's voice drops to an urgent whisper, "Kurt Hummel you did not just make a sex joke in front of your parents."

"Shoot," Kurt's eyes widen as he turns around to find Carole and Burt still there.

But they are only smiling wider at Kurt's blush, Blaine pressing a steadying kiss to Kurt's right temple.

"Like we don't know you two are sexually active," Burt almost chimes.

Kurt's eyes grow impossibly wide, while Blaine just looks ahead stunned, It's my meds talking. This is my meds talking, clearly.

"That we never tried to stop you does not mean we never noticed," Carole adds smiling still.

"And yes, we love our weekly date nights, but really twice every week in the last months, we started that to give you guys some room."

"I think they really mean it," Blaine whispers uncovered eye wide.

Kurt turning back around and burying his head in his boyfriend's shoulder murmurs, "Oh wow, I think so too."

Kurt can feel Blaine's shoulders begin to shake and wonders for a moment if he is crying, until he hears the chuckle. A moment later they are both audibly laughing, holding each other close as they let go of all the tension built deep since last night.

As Blaine and Kurt settle into each other's warmth on the couch, Burt and Carole sneak off towards the kitchen, aware the boys will appreciate a moment alone after all the intrusions the hospital drama had brought with it.

xxxx

As soon as his call with Burt had ended, his head had gone into overdrive.

Blaine is hurt. How? Blaine is freakin' hurt and needs surgery! Idiots, "Such idiots," he had started mumbling to himself while first dialing Jeff's, then David's and Nick's numbers. "Seriously," he had kept murmuring to himself, "you are ignoring me? All of you? Ugh!"

For a second he had actually considered leaving an angry voicemail on ever single Warbler's phone whose number he still has, but he had quickly decided that so was not worth his time or attention right now. I need to see Blaine as soon as possible. I hope Kurt calls back.

Now, a couple of hours later, a couple of hours filled with worrying about Blaine, finishing up a paper and mailing it to a professor with an apology for not being able to make it to class the next day, and waiting, waiting for Kurt to call, Wes is totally on edge as he types in his last details to purchase the electronic ticket for the flight back to Ohio the next day.

He tries Jeff's phone again, as soon as he is done, still hoping for, still not getting an answer.

"Never a good sign. Great, now I am talking to myself. I really need to get there. This chronic lack of information is driving me insane."