Chapter 45

"Who's she?" Karofsky asked, ignoring Kurt's terrified mumblings.

"He found her before she could be moved from a room after a customer rented her. He refused to let us remove her and we didn't want to harm him, as per your request." Jerome explained. It put Kurt on edge how polite he was being in comparison to what he had come to expect with the tall man. "He seems to be... protecting her."

"Odd." Dave murmured, the way he spoke making Kurt think of people talking about a dog who'd done something strange, acting like he didn't know what he'd done or that he could hear them.

"I'll leave you two for a moment. Find either me or Jonathan to remove his band." Jerome said calmly, as if he did this every day, before walking away.

Karofsky smiled to himself before coming to crouch beside the bed. Kurt and Alexandria huddled against the back corner, neither willing to get any closer to him.

"Kurt?" he said slowly, holding a hand out. "Come on, you're safe now."

"Wha- you... you took me? You, you stole me from Blaine, you-"

"Hey, it's okay. He's not gonna hurt you anymore." Dave soothed. Kurt's eyes widened for a moment before he closed his eyes.

Okay, so, what? Dave thinks he's been abused by Blaine? Where the hell did he get that idea? Doesn't matter. If he thinks he's abused... Dave clearly thinks he's been spooked by Blaine, so he seems to be trying to be calm... of course that could change any minute. Best idea would probably be to... play along.

"Is- is that why you p-paid them to take me? Because you thought he was hurting me?" Kurt clarified hesitantly.

"I don't think, I know." Karofsky mumbled, before smiling again. "You're okay now Kurt. Come on." He held out his hand invitingly and Kurt eyed him warily. Alexandria nudged him forward and he snapped around to look at her curiously.

"Just go," She whispered. "better than most you'll get around here and he's just gonna hurt you if you don't."

"I won't hurt you." Karofsky repeated calmly.

"Go!" Alexandria hissed again, shoving him forward. He pitched forward, not expecting to be pushed, and managed to fall face first into Karofsky's chest. He yelped in fear and tried to push himself away, only to fall onto the floor.

Dave sighed and slid his arms under Kurt's legs and behind his back. Kurt squeaked when he was lifted away from solid ground, instinctively curling into Karofsky's chest and wrapping his arms around him.

"Come on babe. Let's get you outta here." Kurt looked back at Alexandria, who smiled the tiniest bit.

"Good luck." She mumbled. They both knew what would happen to her once she was gone.

"Good bye." He whispered.

His grip on Dave tightened when they went down the stairs. He set him on the couch and told him to stay, going off to find Jerome. When they returned, however, and Jerome tried to reach out for him, Kurt scrambled off the couch and away from him. He was done with Jerome.

"Kurt." Karofsky chastised. "He's just taking off the shock collar. Relax." Kurt frowned but held out his arm obligingly. The collar clicked off and he rubbed the indent it had made subconsciously.

He wouldn't say he was glad to leave the strange building. Leaving was good, on one hand. He was away from Jerome, and the strange people that came in and out at all hours. On the other hand, he was being moved yet again, making it harder for him to be found.

Karofsky wrapped an arm around his shoulders and guided him toward the door. Kurt kept his head down nervously and got into his truck without complaint. After a few seconds of silence, a black CD case landed on his lap. He looked at it curiously for a second, before glancing up at Dave.

"Pick something." He invited. Kurt eyed him warily for a few seconds. Dave just smiled and nodded toward the case. "Come on, that's every CD I've ever owned. There's gotta be something you like in there."

Kurt shrugged to himself and began flipping through the reasonably sized case. It was nowhere close to the library of music that he and Blaine had, but it was respectable for someone who had no passion for music. He finally found a CD near the very back that he'd actually heard of. He passed it to Dave hesitantly. The football player just quirked an eyebrow and shrugged, sliding it into the player.

They drove in relative silence, only the soundtrack breaking the quiet. Kurt tried to keep track of where they were going, but after half an hour of driving he gave up.

Sound the bugle now...

Play it just for me

As the seasons change...

Remember how I used to be

Kurt shifted in his seat as he let out a sigh. Dave glanced him.

Now I can't go on...

I can't even start

I've got nothing left...

Just an empty heart

He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to keep the tears from flowing. Damn it he missed Blaine. He missed Sam, his friends, his family, his school. He just wanted to go home.

I'm a soldier,

Wounded so I must give up the fight

There's nothing more for me...

Lead me away

Or leave me lying here

His forehead hit the window and he let out a ragged breath as a single tear streaked down his cheek. He wouldn't let Dave see him cry. He couldn't.

Sound the bugle now...

Tell them I don't care

There's not a road I know that leads to anywhere

Without a light, I

Fear that I will

Stumble in the dark

Lay right down and decide

Not to go on

The car stopped and a heavy hand rested on his shoulder as he choked down a sob.

Then from on high,

Somewhere in the distance

There's a voice that calls,

'Remember who you are...

His seatbelt was undone, and arms lifted him from his seat to Dave's lap. Kurt just gave up, letting himself go limp in his arms. Dave would see him crying either way.

If you lose yourself,

Your courage soon will follow,

So be strong tonight...

Remember who you are'

Dave patted an odd, uneven rhythm on his back as he sobbed. He finally managed to grit his teeth and school his features back into his usual mask, wiping the last tears out of his eyes.

Yeah, you're a soldier now,

Fighting in a battle,

To be free once more

Yeah, that's worth fighting for