It was cold in the room he was in and it smelt of pristine cleanliness, like Ms. Pillsbury’s office. He wondered why it was so dark; surely he had been lying amongst the remains of the theatre for hours now and it should be daylight. Then he realized it might be, if he opened his eyes first.

Indeed, there was daylight. It stung his eyes just as the hash black smoke had done. He squinted at his surroundings; white walls and a window with the blinds cracked. He was lying in a bed covered with a white blanket, and he was not wearing his own clothes. Hospital.

Someone was humming. ‘Let It Be’ by the Beatles. A nurse looking to be in her 30s was the source of the song. She came through the door with a coffee in her hand and smiled when she met Kurt’s eyes.

“Morning, sweetheart,” she greeted him cheerfully. She set her coffee cup down on a little table beside his bed and reached down for something Kurt couldn’t see. Suddenly he was sitting in a 90 degree angle. “How are you feeling?”

“I…” A thousand questions swarmed his mind like impatient bees. “Am I okay? Where’s Blaine? Is he okay? Is he here too? Can I see him?”

The nurse just smiled a small understanding smile. “Yes doll, he’s here. Been here all night. But the doctor wants to see you before you may have visitors.”

Kurt nodded. It sounded fair. As much as he wanted to see Blaine and know for himself that he was alright, he wanted to find out when he could go home.

Soon the nurse returned with a tall man with blonde hair, someone Kurt presumed was the doctor. If he had more defined lips and his hair colour came from a bottle, he could look like Sam Evans. Burt was following close behind.

“Hello Kurt,” the doctor greeted him in a friendly tone, clutching a clipboard.

“Hi,” Kurt replied, his voice muffled by Burt’s shoulder as he was enveloped in a tight hug.

“Good to see you, buddy,” Burt told his son as he pulled away.

“Kurt, I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

The boy’s chest tightened.

“See, what happened last night… the fire started in the cinema lobby and everyone was evacuated. When the cinema you and your friend were in collapsed, the firemen were told by the cashier that nobody had purchased tickets for that show and it would have been empty.”

Kurt nodded. His eyes widened as he noticed the look his father was giving him. “W- no, dad, we didn’t sneak in or anything, I pre-ordered our tickets online. They came in the mail weeks ago.”

“I believe you son,” Burt assured him as his face returned to a some-what calm expression.

“Wait, what’s the bad news?” Kurt looked back to the doctor.

“The nerves in your right leg have been supremely damaged. Your brain can no longer send messages to it and so you will not be able to move it.”

Kurt blinked slowly as he took in the information of his condition. It was all he could do. He didn’t know what he was feeling, it all came at once like a giant ball of jumbled emotions rolling down a steep hill he was standing at the bottom of.

“Ever?” his mouth asked before his brain could form a more efficient question.

“You will have to spend a couple of months doing rehab, learning to walk again after loss of leg function. More often than not patients recover and regain all previous abilities.”

Was it just Kurt or was the room growing colder, smaller?

“You’ll have to stay here a few weeks and complete a couple of sessions before we can send you home.”

He thought he might cry, but he knew it could be worse. He could have lost his leg. His nerves could be so damaged that there was no chance of recovery. He could have been paralysed. A month or two spent in hospital was nothing compared to losing all hope of getting to Broadway.

“Burt, if you’ll follow me, I have some forms I’ll need you to fill out…” the doctor started and the two men shuffled out of the room.

“I’m Grace,” the nurse told Kurt. “I’m always here when you need anything.”

“Thankyou,” Kurt whispered. He was still in a slight state of shock.

“You have a visitor,” she smiled and gestured to someone out in the hall.

Blaine bustled in and suddenly everything felt alright. His eyes were red-rimmed and he was wearing a jacket that Kurt recognized as Finn’s – probably credit of the generous hospitality of Carole. His hair was slightly un-gelled as he had probably been running his hands through it anxiously all night long.

“Kurt,” he said breathlessly, taking the boy’s hands. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to be here but the nurses wouldn’t let me see you. I’m pretty sure they have a severe case of homophobia. Except Grace, she’s so kind and accommodating.”

Kurt gripped Blaine’s warm hands, glad to be able to have him in his reach. “I’m so happy you’re here. You didn’t leave all night?”

“I wanted to know as soon as you were awake. I had to know you were alright.”

“And you’re okay? You’re not hurt?”

“A few scratches on my exterior but I’m lucky.” His eyes grew more sombre at his choice of words. “I’m so sorry, Kurt. I would trade places with you in a heartbeat.”

“No,” Kurt shook his head forcefully. “I couldn’t stand it if you were the one in this bed.”

The pair took a moment to just be together. They each thanked the universe that the other was safe and by his side again. Kurt’s mind started to replay the whole tragic scene over but he waved it away before it could arrive at the punch line.

“Blaine, I love you. Which is why I can see how tired you are. We’ve been through a lot, and I love that you’re with me, but I’m fine here. Why don’t you go home, take a shower and get some sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

Blaine wasn’t amused by his wry joke. He did not find anything funny about the state his boyfriend was in, and it was too soon for him to approach it in the same manner Kurt did. Still, he agreed to take care of himself and promised he would be back tomorrow. With a kiss to Kurt’s temple he left, leaving the bed ridden boy to brace himself for the coming week of no school and no Glee Club.