Kurt ran from Burt's truck to the hospital's revolving doors as fast as he could with Burt trailing after him. He pushed his way through the doors and sprinted towards the elevator to take him up to the fifth floor and to Blaine.

Blaine.

Kurt's heart soared at the thought of Blaine sitting up in his bed talking to Julie and Cooper, sharing jokes and laughing with him. Of course, he knew this was unrealistic; he'd be lucky if Blaine was talking, never mind laughing.

Kurt heard Burt's heavy footsteps behind him as he sped up down the corridor where Blaine's room was. His heart was pounding, his hands were sweaty and his eyes were moist both from the wind in his eyes and the unshed tears. He spotted Cooper outside the room, sitting on the chair restlessly.

“Cooper!” Kurt called, his face breaking into a grin. Cooper's head snapped up to look at him and his grin matched Kurt's as he stood up.

“Kurt!” he beamed when Kurt skidded to a halt in front of him, Burt finally catching up a few seconds later.

“Is Blaine okay?” Kurt asked nervously, wringing his hands together. Cooper's smile faltered.

“He – uh…”

Kurt's heart, which had been soaring merely seconds before, went plummeting to his feet. “Oh god, what's wrong?”

“Blaine…” Cooper sighed. “He's fine. Well, he was until Dad got here.”

Kurt's jaw dropped. “What?! But we spoke literally fifteen minutes ago!”

“He arrived about five minutes after you hung up,” Cooper rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at door to Blaine's room as he bit his lip. “Look, you and I both know you're far better for Blaine than Dad will ever be but I don't think…”

Cooper trailed off as the door creaked open and Julie's tear stained face appeared. She smiled broadly and threw her arms around Kurt's neck when she saw him. She held him tightly as Cooper and Burt stood silently beside them. Kurt could feel Julie crying into his shirt but he didn't care; he just wrapped his arms tighter around her.

Her eyes were still shining with tears when she pulled away to look Kurt in the eye. She wiped away a tear from his cheek that he didn't even realise had fallen.

“Oh honey,” Julie began with a content sigh. “I'm so glad you're here.”

Kurt was about to reply but was cut off by the door opening a second time but this time Michael stepped out into the corridor. He regarded Kurt's face stonily before letting his eyes fall on Julie's hand holding tightly onto his. He squinted his eyes that were so much like Blaine's and squared his shoulders as he clasped his hands behind his back.

“Mr Anderson,” Kurt began shakily. “I-I wondered if it would be okay if –“

“I don't want you to see him,” Michael replied coolly.

Kurt felt sick. “I'm sorry?”

“You heard me. I don't want you to see him,” Michael repeated flatly. “I don't think it would be good for him right now.”

Kurt stared at Michael in astonishment; Burt gripped Kurt's shoulder tightly and had to bite his tongue so as something vulgar wouldn't fall out. Julie increased the pressure on Kurt's hand but looked just as shocked as he did. She stared up at Michael with wide eyes and a slack jaw. Nobody knew what to say, or rather, they all were afraid to speak.

“Bullshit.”

Julie gasped at the cuss that had come from Cooper's mouth. Everyone turned to look at him; he still sat on the chair with his head in his hands and the heels of his hands digging into his eyes. Michael scowled at him.

“What did you just say?”

Cooper looked up slowly, glaring at his father. He stood up and stood directly opposite him.

“You heard me,” Cooper echoed Michael's earlier words. “I said bullshit.” He paused as Michael's expression hardened and he took a step closer to Cooper just as he continued talking. “All of us know that Kurt is what Blaine needs right now; someone to talk to who understands him. And let's face it; you're definitely not that person. Did you not just see him in there?!” Cooper pointed viciously at the window in the door. “You were agitating him –“

“I was not –“

“Well you certainly weren't calming him down!” Cooper exclaimed. He turned to Julie. “Mum, tell him! Blaine was fine before you came and then he started to get all fidgety and restless!”

“That's not true,” Michael narrowed his eyes at Cooper. “He was happy to see me,” He also turned to Julie. “You can tell him.”

Julie looked torn as she glanced between Cooper and Michael who were both looking at her expectantly. She began wringing her hands again and her eyes welled up with tears and Kurt knew all she really wanted was just some ounce of happiness out of her family that Blaine was awake.

“I…” she trailed off and looked pleadingly into Kurt's eyes.

“Mr Anderson,” Burt decided to finally step forward and speak. “I don't wish to offend you but I don't like the way you spoke to my son. You can say all you want that a man to be with another man is wrong but you can't deny that our two boys love each other very much. Cooper's right in that Kurt is the one that has the ability to talk to Blaine and the only person Blaine thinks understands him. I love your son very much, Mr Anderson and all I want is for him to be better already. Could you please even consider letting Kurt in, even if it's only for ten minutes?”

Michael examined Burt silently with his eyes. He took in the greasy baseball cap on top of Burt's head, the dirty clothes that Burt hadn't had time to change out of since coming home from work, the tatty steel-toe boots and grease stained fingernails. Burt was a big contrast to Michael in his pristine grey suit and polished black shoes.

Every was silent as they waited for Michael to speak and finally he breathed deep in through his nose.

“Fifteen minutes and Julie and Cooper have to be with you,” Michael said stiffly as he opened the door again. Kurt rushed past him before he changed his mind and entered Blaine's room.

Blaine was propped up with pillows and was picking at his fingernails. His curls were unruly and his face was devoid of emotion as he stared unseeingly at the bed sheet. He was chewing hard on his lip and Kurt could see his leg shaking underneath the blanket covering him.

Kurt's breath caught in his throat when Blaine's eyes met his when he entered the room. The world stopped turning as he stared into the beautiful hazel eyes he never thought he'd see again. His jaw went slack and all of the words he'd planned on saying to Blaine when he finally woke up and all the kisses he'd wanted to shower him with suddenly seemed stupid. So, instead of rushing forwards, Kurt stood at the door, his eyes swimming with tears and his hands wringing together. Blaine's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked at Kurt.

“Blaine…” Kurt whispered and he took a step forward.

Blaine frowned further. “Hi.”

Cooper and Julie stood quietly just behind Kurt and they exchanged uneasy glances as Kurt took another step toward Blaine.

“I was so worried,” Kurt croaked and Blaine didn't have time to respond before Kurt burst into tears and he collapsed into a chair beside Blaine's bed. He grabbed the younger boy's hand and held it tightly. “I'm so glad you're…”

Kurt trailed off when he felt Blaine wriggling his fingers, trying to get his hand out of Kurt's grasp. Kurt looked up at him, his brow knotted in confusion and his vision blurred from his tears. Blaine's lips were pulled tight and he looked extremely uncomfortable as he tried to move as far away from Kurt as possible.

“Blaine,” Kurt sniffed, his heart beginning to pound again but this time from fear. “W-what are you –“

“I'm sorry,” Blaine cut him off. He was looking at Kurt with a confused expression. “I don't know who you are.”

There was a stunned silence. Julie's hand covered her mouth after a shocked gasp escaped, Cooper's jaw was hanging open and his eyes flickered from Kurt to Blaine; Blaine looked around the room uneasily, not knowing what he'd done wrong. Kurt stayed on the hard plastic chair, his hand still stretched across the bed to try and reach Blaine's again. He only had one thought going through his mind:

No.

“Blaine –“ he tried again, his voice stronger this time and he moved his hand to try and hold Blaine's again.

“I really am sorry you're upset but I don't know who you are,” Blaine repeated, starting to look panicky and shooting pleading looks towards Julie and Cooper.

“I-it's me…” Kurt choked. It was surprisingly hard to find words when it felt as if your world was crashing down around you. “It's Kurt.”

Blaine narrowed his eyes and scrutinised Kurt in the same way Michael had scrutinised Burt except there was something searching in Blaine's look, like he was trying to remember something. His eyes travelled over Kurt's face, stared at his nose, studied the coiffed hair on his head but when he met Kurt's eyes again… there was no spark of recognition.

“I am sorry,” Blaine began and he looked over Kurt's face again quickly another few times before looking back down at his hands. “I think you should go.”

And just like that, Kurt's heart shattered

“Blaine –“

“Please go.”

This time there was a plead in Blaine's eyes and Kurt felt was sure that the world was crumbling as he slowly got to his feet and ghosted past Cooper who was staring at the floor and Julie who had tears snaking down her cheeks. He opened the door and met Burt's eyes when he stepped into the corridor.

“Kurt…”

“Let's go Dad,” Kurt replied and averted his eyes to his feet as he made his way from Blaine's room. He walked at a steady pace down the corridor, down the stairs, out the doors and into Burt's truck. He slumped down into the passenger seat and turned the music up loud.

You don't want me, no

You don't need me

Like I want you, oh

Like I need you

And I want you in my life

And I need you in my life

“Jesus, Kurt, what do you have in this thing?” Jeff asked as he lifted one of the sealed boxes sitting on the floor of Kurt's room.

“My record collection,” Kurt glared at him and added. “Be careful with it!”

Jeff looked as if he was about to laugh at Kurt before Blaine said, “Seriously, if you value your life, you'll listen to him,” and Trent nodded in agreement. Jeff wiped the teasing smirk from his face and hurried out of the room.

“You're not taking these with you?” David asked, looking through all the Warblers sheet music sitting on Kurt's clear desk.

Kurt sighed and looked slightly torn for a minute as Trent's, Blaine's and David's eyes turned on him. He sighed heavily and looked down at his feet.

“Some of it, just not that lot,” he gestured to the pile of paper David was holding.

David gave him a funny smile. “Hmm. The only songs that seem to be missing are Animal and Candles.”

Kurt blushed and looked back down at his feet; he could feel Blaine's eyes on him from across the room. They hadn't spoken to each other much that morning other than the normal formalities. Kurt wasn't sure if Blaine was annoyed at him leaving Dalton or if he was just keeping his distance, preparing himself for when Kurt really left. He'd been the last one to show up to clear out Kurt's dorm and he'd hardly made eye contact with him all day.

“All done?” Burt asked, his head appearing around the door to the room.

“Almost,” Kurt replied. “Just two more boxes and that's us done.”

He saw Blaine avert his eyes to the floor out of the corner of his eye.

“Help me with this one, Trent,” David said through gritted teeth as he picked up a particularly heavy box. Trent and Burt laughed as Trent went to help David navigate their way to the truck waiting outside the dorm building.

The roomed fell into silence as the bickering of David and Trent disappeared down the staircase beside Kurt's room. Blaine's eyes stayed on the floor, Kurt played with a stray thread in his jumper and Burt stood awkwardly in the doorway. One final box sat on the floor.

“So, uh, do want me to get that?” Burt asked, stepping into the room and making his way towards the box.

“No!” Kurt said suddenly. Burt stopped in his tracks and looked up at Kurt with a confused expression. “I-I mean – that's okay… er, do you mind going to make sure if David and Trent arrived at the truck in one piece?”

An understanding flashed through Burt's eyes as he simply nodded his head and exited the room without saying anything else. Kurt and Blaine stood on opposite sides of the room; Blaine was still staring at his feet with his hands in his pockets and Kurt was staring at him, willing him to lift his head and meet his eyes.

“I guess we should probably take that down?” Blaine's voice surprised Kurt and the other boy was already bending down to pick the box up before Kurt reacted.

“Blaine,” he said softly, stepping forward and placing his hand on Blaine's forearm just as he touched the box. Blaine's head snapped up to look at Kurt and when their eyes met, Kurt was taken by surprise to find Blaine's eyes suspiciously bright. His mouth fell open as he whispered, “Blaine.”

“I'll just get this…” Blaine cleared his throat and looked back down at the box he was about to lift up but Kurt cupped his cheek, forcing their eyes to meet once again. Blaine quickly blinked his tears away.

“What's wrong?” Kurt asked quietly as his thumb caressed Blaine's cheek; the smaller boy leaned into the touch. He looked down for a moment more and then finally lifted his eyes to Kurt's face.

“I just really don't want you to go,” Blaine's voice was small and it was said in a tone Kurt had never heard before. “I didn't realise how lonely I was before I had you, Kurt. I'm going to miss you so much.”

“Oh Blaine,” Kurt whispered and had to bite his lip to stop himself telling Blaine he loved him.

Blaine looked conflicted for a minute before continuing.

“I just really don't want you to get hurt. That Karofsky guy is still at that school and I know I'm going to be so worried about you. I want you to be safe,” Blaine wasn't meeting his eyes again.

“I will be safe, Blaine. Finn's there, as are Puck and Sam,” Kurt assured him. “I'll be fine.”

A single tear fell from Blaine's eye as he looked at Kurt again. His voice broke as he answered his boyfriend.

“I really hope so.”

“Oh honey,” Kurt gushed before reaching forward and pulling Blaine into his arms. Blaine buried his face in the crook of Kurt's neck and he tightened his arms around his torso. They stayed like that for another couple of minutes before Kurt's phone buzzed. They pulled apart and Kurt read his text from Burt which told him to hurry up.

“We'd better get going with this, then,” Blaine said, his voice now back to normal as he went to pick up the box again.

“Wait,” Kurt's hand stilled his. “Look inside it.”

Blaine frowned at him but opened the flaps of the box nonetheless. His mouth fell open as he looked at what was inside.

“Kurt…” he said quietly.

Kurt bit his lip as Blaine took in the contents of the box. There were mountains of Lima Bean coffee receipts, the sheet music for Baby It's Cold Outside and Teenage Dream, a picture from the Warblers performance at Regionals, coffee cups with their names on them, several pieces of paper that had notes scribbled on them from Blaine during study periods and, of course, the picture Blaine had taken the night of the benefit at McKinley when he'd unexpectedly pushed his lips against Kurt's and snapped the photograph before Kurt had a chance to react. It was their first picture together as a couple.

Blaine looked up at Kurt again with a smile on his face and before Kurt had a chance to say anything, he'd leaned forward and crashed his lips against Kurt's. When they pulled apart, Kurt smiled weakly as he felt tears start to prickle at the back of his eyes.

“It's not creepy then?”

Blaine merely answered him with another kiss.

They kissed for another while before Burt text Kurt again and threatened to come back up to the room and drag Kurt away. Blaine laughed as Kurt read out the text and got to his feet, pulling Kurt up with him. They brushed the dust off their knees and Blaine straightened his top before leaning over to pick the box up.

“Here, I want to give you something,” Kurt said, looking around his room for something for Blaine.

“Why?” Blaine frowned.

“Because I have lots of things to do with you but you only have the one picture of you and me,” Kurt looked up and down his outfit and finally settled on his rhino pin. He took it off the lapel of his jacket and slowly handed it over to Blaine. Kurt shrugged, “Something to remember me by.”

Blaine lowered Kurt's hand with his own, rejecting the pin. His looked directly into Kurt's eyes, his own shining with love and adoration. Kurt frowned slightly. Blaine's eyes flicked to the pin for a second before once again meeting Kurt's gaze.

“I don't need it,” he said softly.

“But just to have – to remember me…”

“Kurt,” Blaine cut Kurt off as a smile played on his lips. “I could never forget you.”

You can't feel me, no

Like I feel you

I can't steal you, no

Like you stole me

And I want you in my life

And I need you in my life