The Truth Always Comes Out

                           Chapter 5: Found

Blaine, looking a little scraggly from a few days of beard growth, messy hair, and baggy eyes due to lack of sleep, is sitting on a bench with his ankle elevated. It still hurts but the swelling has gone down some and he doesn't have to hop around anymore. He finished eating a sandwich he picked up at a drive thru while watching some kids playing at the park. Feeling numb he allows himself to think about the situation he is in and what his options are. He keeps imagining his Mother being raped and assaulted. He holds his head tightly as he can hear himself thinking. “She must have been so scared. I remember how scared I was when I was locked in the choir room at McKinley because of the shooting incident. Mom must have felt 1000 times worse. I feel so uncomfortable in my skin. To think I was conceived during a rape. You are supposed to be conceived out of love. I feel so dirty. I wish I had never been born. How can my parents look at me and not be constantly reminded of what Jack Hill had done to them. When I think about it I get sick to my stomach. Maybe they should have given me up for adoption. How can my parents even love me? I was the result of something terrible. My poor Dad, he got stuck raising a kid that he can't really love and is gay on top of it. No wonder we have had issues at times. What about Joey? He could die but do I want to help Jack Hill? I can't think any more it's making my head hurt.” Blaine shakes his head and stands up and starts walking to where he doesn't know.

Burt calls the Andersons before heads home to see if they have heard any news. Unfortunately, they have not. They are heading out to a charity function they have to attend even though they don't want to. Burt locks up the shop and travels home wondering about Blaine. He gets home just in time to hear his phone ringing, hoping it is Blaine, he soon realizes it is Kurt. “Hi Kurt, how are you doing buddy?”

Kurt has been patiently waiting in New York for news about Blaine. He really wants to be in Lima searching for Blaine. He figures if Blaine was coming to New York he would have been here by now. He was going to call his Dad and tell him he was coming home. Kurt called home and Burt answered the phone and greeted him like always. Kurt said, “Dad, I am calling to let you know I am coming home. I have purchased a ticket and I will be there tomorrow afternoon around 3 p.m. I will not let you talk me out if it. I have to find Blaine.” Burt says, “Okay, maybe you will be able to find him.” Kurt started packing as soon as he finished talking to his Dad. He had packed everything he would need, except for one thing. The suit, the suit he wanted to wear to Blaine's graduation. He sat down on his bed and yelled, “You're graduating Blaine! I'm supposed to be coming home to see you graduate not search for you! Where are you?” Kurt picked up and held the picture of them at junior prom while tears fell down his face for the first time.

Angela and Tom return home to a too quiet house. Angela sits down in the same chair, looking out the window. Burt and Carole are heading upstairs to their bedroom knowing they would have another sleepless night. Kurt is packed and lying in his bed rubbing the ring on his finger wondering, “Where are you Blaine?”

Blaine has walked for miles now causing his ankle to throb severely. He is listening to his mind talk, still trying to come up with answers when suddenly he stops. The stars are out, the street lights are on, and the temperature is falling. He looks around at the houses and realizes he has been here before. “Man, I just walked into Kurt's neighborhood of all the places,” Blaine said. Disgusted with himself he walks towards Kurt's house and sees that the lights are out. “They must have gone to bed,” thought Blaine. He remembers some of the great times he had with the Hummel-Hudson family. Fatigue and the pain of his ankle have Blaine deciding he cannot go any further. He sees a glider on Burt's front porch. He quietly hobbles up the steps and lies down on the glider trying very hard not to make a noise. He covers himself with the throw from the back of the glider and lays his head on the soft arm rest. He drifts off to sleep promising to be up and gone before it gets light out.

Burt was up before the crack of dawn and went downstairs to make some coffee. He didn't sleep well, concerned about Blaine who is like a son to him and Kurt who is barely holding it together. He decides he will see if the newspaper has been delivered because he knew he wouldn't be going back to bed. He looked through the window in the front door but didn't see the paper. He opened the door and turned his head each way but didn't see a newspaper. He starts to close the door then thinks, “Maybe it's on the lawn,” so he opens the door and walks out on to the front porch and down the steps. He surveys the lawn and sees nothing. He jumps when he hears a loud thud that comes from behind him on the front porch. He turns toward the noise but doesn't see anything since it is only dawn.

Blaine awakes when he hears the front door squeak open. He starts to panic when he sees Burt walking down the steps. He carefully leans forward to watch Burt when he loses his balance and falls with a loud thud to the floor of the porch. He quickly scrambles to a corner and covers himself with the throw.   

 Burt walks back up the steps and sees the glider moving. He stops the glider and looks around and his heart drops. The throw is covering something, a human, he whispers “Blaine?” Burt moves closer. He sees some curly black hair not covered by the throw. He moves closer and slowly says, “Blaine, Blaine I just want to help you.” From under the throw he hears the words, “no, no, no.” being said softly. A relieved Burt knows he has found Blaine.

“Blaine, look at me,” Burt says. Blaine slowly pulls the throw down so Burt can only see his eyes. Burt continues to move closer to Blaine while saying, “It's okay Blaine. I just want to help you.”  Burt is finally next to Blaine and he slowly slides down the side of the house and sits next to Blaine. “Fancy meeting you here,” Burt says, noticing Blaine squinting like he does when he laughs. “Your parents told me what happened.” Silence “They want to help you through this.” Silence “We all want to help you if you will let us?” Burt says while Blaine remains silent. “Well, while you're thinking about it why don't we go inside and have some breakfast?” he asks. Burt starts to stand when Blaine quietly says, “I can't. Why would you want someone like me inside your house? I'm not good enough.” Burt sits back down and slowly pulls the throw off of Blaine and says, “You have known me for a while Blaine. Some people might say I am overly protective of my family.” Burt says as Blaine chuckles without looking at Burt. “Do you think I would ever invite someone into my house if I didn't think they were good enough? Burt asks. Blaine looks at Burt. Their eyes meet for the first time and he says, “No.” “Good, now that we have settled that, how about some breakfast?” Burt says as he puts a hand on Blaine's shoulder and pushes up so he can stand. Blaine slowly stands not putting weight on his right ankle. Burt holds the door open while Blaine limps inside. “I will ask Carole to take a look at that ankle.” Burt says as he shuts the door, happy his family is back.

Blaine walks into the kitchen and sees Carole sitting at the table drinking coffee. She sees Blaine hobble into the kitchen and she rushes towards him saying his name. She hugs him as her eyes are filled with tears. Blaine sits down slowly with his head hanging down not making a sound. Burt follows and hugs Carole. “Where did you find him?” Carole asks excitedly. “I'll tell you later,” Burt whispers. They watch Blaine closely as they make breakfast. They quickly realize that they may have found Blaine but it is definitely not the Blaine they know. Blaine excuses himself to use the bathroom. While he is gone Burt gets his phone and dials Kurt. “If anyone can help Blaine right now it's Kurt,” Burt says as he walks to the living room. A few minutes later Blaine returns and sits down to a plate of food and a cup of coffee in front of him. He picks at the food only eating a few small bites. Burt returns and hands Blaine his cell phone saying, “It's for you.” Blaine puts the phone to his ear and says, “Hello, Kurt?” and begins to cry. Burt and Carole move to the living room to give Blaine some space while Burt makes one more call. Burt picks up their landline phone and dials the Andersons. Tom picks up the phone and says, “Hello.” Burt replies, “Hi Tom this is Burt Hummel and Blaine is here.