Blaine continued working at the store in his spare time, though it was less and less frequent towards the end of the regular season. Burt was pushing the team hard to make the post season, and thanks to Blaine's quick moves on the ice in their final game, they were slated to face the Chicago Wildcats.

Blaine stepped onto the ice for the first playoff game and waved at the crowd. He skated towards the bench, stopping at the glass to see Kurt in his regular seat. He hadn't missed a game since they started sharing a room.

Blaine practiced with the team while the other team did their own thing on the other end and then the game started.

By the end of the first period, they were down by a goal and Tom, one of their defencemen, had been escorted out of the game for medical attention after a nasty hit.

Burt walked into the dressing room. "Well, Tom's out for the rest of the season. He dislocated his shoulder, and I don't want him ruining it more before next season. So he's out." Burt rolled the whiteboard over from behind the lockers. "This is a violent team, and we want to avoid penalties and injuries." He started drawing plays out on the board.

"Blaine, they seem to be avoiding you so far. We want to keep it that way. Finn's going to keep them off you as best he can until the third period and then you're gonna start really playing." Blaine nodded, it was all part of their strategy. They'd half play for the first period and get a feel for the other team. In the second they'd stay defensive and during the last period, after letting the team score a few times, they'd play hard.

Burt talked them through a few key things he'd noticed about their plays and they returned to the ice. Blaine, once again, stopped to wave at Kurt before heading for the bench.

The end of the second came quickly. Blaine skated over to pull Finn off one of the other players after a little scuffle and they headed back to the dressing room. Three goals down now, and another player gone for the season.

"This is bullshit! They're breaking rules!"

Blaine shook his head. "They aren't breaking rules, they're playing dirty. None of what they did is technically illegal. Like that hit on Puck, he hit Puck, but as soon as he started rambling, Puck's temper got the best of him."

"I have issues."

"What we need to do is ignore them. They're trying to get us down, and they aren't going anywhere unless we send them somewhere. So we're gonna go out there, and we're gonna make sure that we come out of this game in one piece, and with a win."

Burt watched from the door of his office as his team cheered over Blaine's words. He eyed Finn carefully. He was also staring at Burt. They silently nodded and everyone headed back to the ice.

Blaine didn't stop to wink at Kurt this time around. He needed to be completely focused or this wouldn't work.

He took a few especially vicious hits during the game, but ultimately played well. Between him and Finn, they managed to win the game.

As soon as the game was over, he glanced over to find Kurt's seat empty and his heart sank.

He returned to the locker room with the team to shower and change. Blaine moved through the locker room and to his back corner where he found Kurt.

"Kurt! What are you doing?!"

His boyfriend jumped up and captured his lips in a heated kiss. "Congrats."

Blaine grinned. "Thank you."

Kurt sat down on the bench, crossing his legs and watching as Blaine changed. "I also wanted to make sure you were okay. You took a few hits..."

Blaine smiled. "I'm fine. We lost three guys for the playoffs though." He sighed and sat down next to Kurt in only his pants. "I honestly don't know what's gonna happen now."

Kurt nodded, resting his chin on Blaine's shoulder. "My dad'll take a night to work it all out and you'll do fine. They've lost guys before, and it always works out. You; however, are spending the night in our room with thai food."

"Oooh, I must have done something right, you hate thai."

Kurt shrugged. "I don't hate thai."

Blaine smiled. "You don't like it either." He turned to look into Kurt's eyes, at least as much as he could at that angle. "What's this really about?"

"I can't reward my boyfriend for playing a great game and looking damn hot doing it?"

He laughed. "So you're softning me up so you can get laid?"

Kurt got off the bench and kissed him. "There won't be anything soft about you later."

The next day, Burt called the team to his basement for a run through of their plan. Blaine settled himself into the couch and watched as his teammates shuffled in. He'd only ever been down here a few times with the team, most other times when him and Kurt needed a quiet place.

Once everyone was settled, Burt started drawing on the white board. Blaine recognized this play, they'd run it a thousand times, only now there were spaces.

"Does anyone see the problem here?"

Blaine glanced around the room, his eyes stopping on Finn who looked like he's just swallowed a bee.

"With our injured guys out, we've got gaps in this play."

Burt smiled and nodded at Blaine. "Right. So what we need is to shuffle the lines around. But with three guys out of the lineup, people are going to get overplayed, and I don't want that."

He grabbed a clipboard off the table. "I talked to some prospects. I can get us another player right away and stick him on the line with Blaine and Puckerman. We can move Jackson up to Finn's line, and..." He continued moving the team around, writing out the names on the white board as he spoke. Blaine tried to pay attention but his mind was trying to figure out who else could play.

The team accepted the new assignments and everyone started to leave.

"Hey Coach?"

"Yeah?"

Blaine glanced around the room again, making sure he hadn't missed a new player. "Who else is joining the team?"

"In all the time we've been dating, you never once mentioned that you can skate. Now I learn that you're going to be my new team mate?"

Kurt glanced up from the sketchbook on his lap. "Back from the team meeting, are we?"

Blaine tossed himself on the bed next to Kurt. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Dad came to see me last night while you were in the shower and asked if I'd do it for a few games, just to get us through." He shrugged. "It's not a big deal, I'm the son of a hockey coach. I've been thrown in a few times as a last minute sub."

Blaine took his hand. "Kurt, these guys are assholes. You saw how rough they were playing, and I don't want you getting hurt."

Kurt smiled. "I appreciate your concern, but it's okay. You'll see after the game." He put his sketchpad down and hopped off the bed, grabbing his workout bag. "Ready to go?"

Kurt chose to change in the corner of the locker room with Blaine, which proved to make getting ready more difficult. The team headed out onto the ice and Blaine skated over to his regular spot to say hi to Kurt.

Only Kurt was skating along the boards on the other side of the ice. Blaine stared at him for a few minutes, completely stunned at how Kurt's body looked on the ice. It occured to him that Kurt had been skating all his life, and could probably skate circles around Blaine but he never expected Kurt to look so...macho.

He skated with confidence, like he did this every single day of his life and handled his stick with ease. Blaine made a mental note to tease him about stick handling later.

Everyone got into position for the puck to be dropped and started playing. Blaine got ahold of the puck and passed it to Puck to take across the blue line. He got into position right by the net and waited. Puck passed to Kurt who faked a shot and passed it back to Puck. They went back and forth a few more times before Kurt passed to Blaine.

He flicked his stick gently and watched the puck soar into the net.

Blaine grinned and celebrated by himself for a second before Kurt was in his arms. They hugged tightly as Puck awkwardly joined in, hugging them both.

They seperated and skated back to the bench for a shift change.

"Nicely done, Anderson." Kurt grinned at him once they were sitting on the bench.

Blaine grinned. "Couldn't have done it without you."

Neither of them noticed Puck shaking his head at their conversation. "I can't handle this for the whole game."

They watched the game for the next 11 minutes before hopping back on the ice. With the one goal lead over the other team, things on the ice were getting progressively more violent. Instead of sailing across the ice, the other team was playing dirty and body checking whoever had the puck.

Blaine watched as one got a particularly hard hit on Kurt. He hit his shoulder against Kurt's, sending Kurt to the ice. As soon as Blaine heard the whistle and saw Kurt on the ground, he skated over and started fighting with him.

They exchanged punches before Blaine fell to the ice. There was blood leaking from a cut on his eyebrow as he was escorted to the penalty box. Kurt watched as Puck and Finn helped him to his feet and back to the bench.

They started the clock again. Within a minute, Kurt was back on the ice, doing his best to stop the other team from scoring.

One particularly tough player decided that Blaine's reaction to the hit on Kurt was worth another hit. He casually whacked Kurt in the face with his stick.

Kurt fell to the ice, clutching his face. A high sticking penalty could be horrible for the team, but taking them down a player was worth it. Kurt, with the help of Finn and their medical guy, got off the ice. His face was cut and was bleeding. Blaine was standing in the penalty box, trying to get the official to let him out, but before he knew it, Kurt was gone and the play was going again.

A few seconds later he was allowed to leave the penalty box. With the extra adrenaline pumping through his veins, he was invicible. He was skating faster, he hitting harder, and it seemed like the other team was having a hard time keeping track of him.

Before the end of the period, he'd scored another goal and had an assist on another goal of Puck's. During the intermission, everyone returned to the dressing room. One of the main concerns at this point (for everyone) was Kurt. He'd seen high sticking injuries before, and they often ended in surgery.

He walked as fast as he could to the dressing room and immediately found Kurt in Burt's office.

"Kurt!"

Kurt had a pack of ice pressed to his left eye. "I'm okay."

"Kurt..."

"No, really. It's just a nasty gash. I'm gonna have it looked at. Brad is taking me to the hospital."

Blaine kissed his forehead and nodded at Brad, the team's medical guy before looking back at Kurt. "I'm gonna go let Burt know we're both out for the night."

Kurt grabbed his arm. "Blaine, no. I want you to go out there and win. I saw you play after I got hurt, you were on fire. Go out there and finish the game."

"Ku-"

"No. You're doing this. When the game's done, I'll probably still be waiting to see a doctor, and you can come see me. Okay?"

Blaine sighed and nodded slowly. "Okay."

Kurt smiled. "Good, now go win the game for me."

Blaine kissed him gently and headed for the door.

"Blaine?"

He spun around as best he could on his skates. "Yeah?"

Kurt winked at him. "Make sure you take time and shower afterwards?"

Blaine shook his head, grinning from ear to ear and rejoined the team.

Blaine went on to score once more, earning the first hat trick of his career, and assisted on another goal. He celebrated briefly with the team before showering and heading to the hospital.

Kurt was having his eye examined when he got there, so he waited.

It wasn't until half an hour later that Kurt appeared next to him wearing a black and grey eyepatch that he realized he'd fallen asleep.

"Blaine, wake up."

Blaine's eyes opened and he relaxed at Kurt's touch. "Kurt. How's your eye?"

"We'll talk about it tomorrow, okay? My dad's here, he's gonna drive us home."

Blaine nodded and got up, taking Kurt's hand and walking with him. By the time they were outside, Blaine was wide awake and probing Kurt with questions.

"What's going on with your eye?"

Kurt sighed. "I don't want you to freak out."

Blaine stared at him.

"I need surgery. It's minor, and the recovery time isn't that bad, two weeks. That's nothing in the world of eye surgery. I go in on Thursday morning, I'll be in recovery by lunchtime and awake for dinner." He smiled. "I'm gonna be fine."

"It's a good thing we're playing that team again. I'm gonna kick that guy's ass."

Kurt smiled. "You could, except he won't be playing either. Dad contacted some Hockey Board official friend of his and had him suspended for three games. So you have three games to kick them out of the playoffs."

"Your dad may be my favourite person, you know that?"

Kurt laughed. "Come on, I'm gonna be needing someone to take care of me tonight..." He grinned at Blaine.

"I really don't think that's going to be an issue." Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt's waist, placing his hand in Kurt's back pocket.

The first round of the playoffs was over before it really got going. Kurt's injury had lit a fire under the team, driving them to defeat the other team in the first four games. During their small break between the first and second rounds, Kurt had his surgery and started the recovery process with Blaine waiting on his hand and foot.

The Hudson/Hummel/Anderson family had settled into a comfortable routine together. Blaine's mom had her nurse come in daily to check on her, Carole was always there for that while Kurt spent his mornings changing his own post-surgery bandages and showering. Burt had the team practicing constantly.

Afternoons were different. Burt let everyone go early, which left Blaine at work, Finn with Puck and Kurt with Blaine's mom. They'd bonded since he became housebound. Every afternoon they'd have lunch together and then watch their soap operas in Mrs. Anderson's room.

One afternoon, during a storyline neither of them cared for, Mrs. Anderson turned to Kurt.

"Kurt, I want to say a few things."

He turned to her and smiled. "What is it?"

"I want you to know that I know how you feel about my son, and I think we both know I won't be around much longer to make him feel all the love in the world, which is why I want you to promise me something. Promise me that once I'm gone, you won't let him shut himself away. He's going to want to, he's going to want to hide himself away and not deal with anything. He's going to say things he doesn't mean, and I need to know that you'll be here to make him feel better when I can't."

Kurt's eyes were glistening with tears he wouldn't let fall. He reached over and gently took her hand, staring at her right in the eyes. "I promise."

She smiled. "Thank you."

They returned to the show, Kurt's head suddenly full of thoughts. At the next commercial he turned to her again. "I don't know what's in store for Blaine and I, but I want to ask you for your son's hand in marriage. Just in case."

"You don't have to ask, darling. As far as I'm concerned, he's been yours since the day you met."

Kurt decided against telling Blaine about their conversation, for obvious reasons. They were in a good place, and a conversation about his mother's impending demise was sure to set them in a bad direction. Either way, it wasn't hard to see that Blaine was suffering from watching his mother get sicker.

Kurt's eye was healing up nicely, and he was finally able to go back to work. The team had advanced to the finals, which was causing a lot of media coverage. Burt was being pulled in front of cameras, as was most of the team. It was tiring everyone out. Blaine had been getting a lot of publicity for being part of the team after his whole career debacle, and he was almost always exhausted by the time he got home.

Rachel had returned to school to pack up her stuff. Her pregnancy was starting to make her moody and tired all the time, and the commute from school was getting to be too much.

Burt, Carole and the rest of the team were at the final game of the season. Win or lose it was all over tonight. And Kurt was stuck at the store in the middle of a thunderstorm.

He would be done his shift in time to make it back home for the first period, which Mrs. Anderson would be joining him for, and they were going to order in some food and have a fun night.

At least that was the plan.

Ten minutes before he was due to close the store, his cellphone rang. He pressed the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Is this Mr. Kurt Hummel?"

Kurt didn't recognize the voice. "Yes it is, may I ask who's calling?"

"Mr. Hummel, my name is Emily. I'm a nurse at Grace Hope Hospital?"

"Uh hi, is everything okay?"

"I'm calling because earlier tonight Mrs. Jane Anderson was rushed into the emergency room. A neighbour noticed her laying on the floor of the kitchen and broke into her house. Anyways, she woke up a little while ago and asked me to call you instead of her son."

Kurt stopped dead in his tracks. "Is she...?"

The nurse hesitated and then sighed. "If it's possible, Mr. Hummel, I'd suggest coming to the hospital as soon as possible. I'm not sure how much longer she has."

Kurt's eyes filled with tears and he nodded. "Of course, I'll be there as soon as possible. What room is she in?"

He jotted down the information before shutting off the computer and the lights and locking up. He ran across the parking lot to his car and flew out of the parking space. Should he be calling Blaine? Should he be calling Carole? Anyone?

He quickly found a parking space at the hospital and made his way up to her room. His mind was running a million miles per hour. Blaine should be skating around on the ice right now, scoring goals, hitting people.

He arrived at her door and opened it slowly. The room was quiet except for the beeping of machines Kurt couldn't figure out the function of and the shallow breaths coming from Mrs. Anderson. He made his way into the room and took her hand gently. She was asleep, or so it seemed.

He gently sat down in the chair next to the bed, still holding her hand as his phone chimed. He glanced down, a text from Carole.

"how is everything there? r u watching the game?"

He let go of Mrs. Anderson's hand and typed a quick reply telling Carole that he was stuck at the store but everything was fine. He hated lying to her, but this was potentially the biggest day of his dad's career. He couldn't ruin that. Not yet.

His head shot up as a tall, brunette nurse entered the room.

Kurt stood up. "Sorry, there was no one outside and I didn't know..."

She nodded. "It's okay. Are you family?"

Kurt hated himself for it, but he knew there was no other way around it. "She's my fiance's mother. How's she doing?"

The nurse smiled. "You must be Kurt."

"Emily?"

She nodded. "If anyone asks, she's your aunt, okay? It's after visiting hours, but family is allowed to stay. She told me her son is playing...something."

"Hockey. He's on the Warthogs' team."

She smiled. "I know this must be really overwhelming, but I was thinking maybe we could have a quick chat about some of the options here."

He nodded and took a seat. She did the same and pulled out a few papers.

She explained that Mrs. Anderson wasn't doing well, and she would be living through the machine for the rest of her life, if that's what the family chose, and if she remained strong enough. The other thing that could happen at any moment involved a blood clot making it's way to her heart.

If the latter happened, she wouldn't make it through the night.

Nurse Emily excused herself and left him alone. Kurt glanced down at his phone again, Carole had sent him at least five pictures of Blaine on the ice, and the team on the bench. It was hard to grasp how happy everyone was right now knowing what he knew.

He sat with her, gently holding her hand and flicking through things on his phone. He'd found someone posting regular updates on twitter from the game, which was helpful. He was completely engrossed in his twitter feed when various monitors around the room started beeping and blinking red lights.

Kurt dropped his phone and ran for the door.

"Can someone help me in here please!?" He yelled frantically down the hallway towards the nurses' station.

Within minutes, a crowd of nurses and doctors were surrounding Mrs. Anderson's bed trying to revive her as Kurt stood in the doorway.

There was a lot of yelling happening, but Kurt couldn't even begin to process what they were saying. He was nearly knocked down by another set of people rushing some other machine into the room.

"CLEAR"

All the hands shot into the air as the paddles from the new machine were pressed to her chest. Her body jumped and everyone stared at the monitor.

They moved back and repeated the process.