Lights flashing. Blurs of sights and sounds. Sirens saturating the night air. Kurt was in a state of limbo. He registered a touch on his shoulder. It's warm and comforting and felt like home, but he couldn't seem to take his eyes off the nightmare in front of him. Then there was just a hurried call for a stretcher and bags of IV fluid. And then increasing shouts for a doctor. Beeps and groans and commanding instructions. It was all familiar. Too familiar.

Noises of the ER. All noises Kurt just waded through. He'd been here before. Once with his mom. Who went to sleep tired, and never woke up. No matter how much he wanted her to. No matter how much the shock paddles were recharged and the doctor yelled clear. Another time with his dad. He'd been called out of class to see his dad riddled with wires. His father always exuded strength, even when it was understandably hard to do so. It was a jarring sight. And now...

His sister.

His sister was in serious trouble; she'd lost so much blood, so much. This wasn't supposed to happen. How could this happen? He was supposed to take care of her. Protect her. He failed. Oh God he failed. And he could lose her. He can't lose her. He just can't. He couldn't take it.

They were wheeling her away from him. That broke him out of his trance like nothing else could.

"WHERE ARE YOU TAKING HER???!!!" Kurt shouted. Hands started restricting him and he began to flail out of them. "Let go of me! Where are they taking her???"

"Kurt, sweetie, they're taking her to the operating room." Blaine was trying with all his might to restrain Kurt, and to calm him down somehow. Davy was silently crying with his arms around himself. The girls arrived just that minute and Sara rushed to hug Davy. A loud sob escaped him as Sara squeezed. She was livid.

"Where's the fucker that did this. Please tell me someone knocked his ass out." She hissed at the three boys. Becky and Sue held each other for comfort, gripping Raven's hands in theirs, tears flowing from their eyes. It occurred to Kurt then that he didn't know how they got there, hell; he didn't even know how he got there. He was so out of it.

"How did you guys get here?" Kurt voice was hoarse and small after his shouting. Blaine held him a little tighter.

"Blaine called us. Davy's parents drove us here. They're out front." Sara replied.

Blaine. Blaine called them.

"I also called Burt and Carole sweetie. They're on their way straight here. I rung Finn and he should be here in a few... I got to Aunt B too. I have a dreaded feeling that we might be needing her a lot right now." Blaine trailed off.

He called everyone. Got everything in place. Made sure they made it to the hospital. Acted swiftly when Kurt was pretty much incapacitated. Even thought ahead to call his aunt, who is a kickass lawyer because he thought they might need her. Blaine. His beautiful Blaine. His rock.

"My mom's in there with her Kurt, she'll take care of her. She'll be fine, she just has to be." Blaine whispered. Kurt leaned back into Blaine for support. Support he didn't even knew he needed until it was given to him. Unconditionally.

"What, umm what about Mr. Anderson?" Kurt hedged.

"The police took him. The shot and all the background noise of the struggle were recorded on Davy's 911 call. They carted his ass back to the precinct and told me they'll be here for our statements a little later. We were all pretty out of it. Sweetie, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, this is all my fau-"

"No. No it isn't Blaine. It couldn't be. Your father is unstable and dangerous. How would that be your fault? And the fact is that he had his gun on me. It should have been ME. If this is anybody's fault it's mi-"

"What would that achieve Kurt?" Blaine interrupted worryingly.

And really, how the hell would that have been better? He's losing his fucking mind when it's Sky. Sky who is the little sister he never had but always wanted. He loved her, and would protect her with his life. But for it to be Kurt? Kurt who is his everything? His mind wouldn't even allow him to think about it.

"We would be in the same position we are now, distraught and angry and hurting, except she would be here screaming for you instead of the other way around. And I... Kurt I can't even think of the state I'd be in." Blaine said. "My father put us all in danger. I put you all in danger by even being associated with you." He looked around at them all. "But you have to know, I didn't know I was. Or I'd have... I wouldn't..." He trailed off.

What would he have done differently if he knew the extent to which his father had slipped off the edge? Could he really have stopped him re-entering their lives like he did? When he made everyone think he was the model husband again?

Kurt could see the wheels of guilt turning in Blaine's head and he couldn't allow it. Blaine knew all along that something was off. He'd been telling Kurt for months. But no one would've believed him. His father put on a great show. Kurt was about to say this when Davy spoke.

"You two shut it." He said through tears, heading off what he knew was gonna be a back and forth of blame taking between the couple. "She knew what she was doing guys. She knew what could possibly happen. And that's why she waited until I was distracted because she knew I'd try to stop her. It's none of our faults. She'd tell you all that you are being dumbasses if she could." His voice broke on the last word.

Kurt turned around into Blaine's arms and just let go. Great heaving sobs were coming out of him; his body shook with them. Blaine held on tight trying his best to soothe, though he wasn't fairing well himself.

"Come on sweetie, let's sit down." Blaine said shakily. Everyone took it as a cue to get comfortable for the long night they are anticipating. Blaine sat down with Kurt's head in his lap. Everyone took up about a quarter of the waiting area.

Sue shifted in her seat a bit and looked towards the door. "Finn. Kurt, it's Finn." She croaked out, her voice small from disuse and crying.

Finn had just stepped through the door with a red faced Rachel in tow, trying to keep up with him. As he was about to enquire at the front desk, Blaine called out to him and he headed towards them.

"How is she?" He immediately questioned.

"We don't know." Blaine said morosely. "She's still in surgery."

"Did they say anything at all?" He said, a little desperate.

"Nothing." Blaine replied. "I guess we just have to wait."

Finn squeezed Kurt's hand and sat adjacent to the couple pulling a seat beside him for Rachel. She sat gingerly beside him, silent tears making their way down her face.

All they had to do was wait, and it was the hardest thing they've ever done.

"Where is my daughter?!" Burt very nearly shouted. He was frightened and angry with himself. He knew something wasn't right with this Anderson guy, he just knew it. But he couldn't pin point it. Couldn't prove anything. And now his baby was in the hospital with a gunshot wound.

"Burt hunny, let me handle it." Carole soothed. She turned back to the nurse at the desk. "Janet is supposed to be taking my shift Sophia, is she here? Which room is Skylar in?" Before the nurse could answer, everyone turned at the voices they knew well.

"Dad!" Kurt shouted. Burt turned at his son's voice and saw the whole gang in varying states of distress, but with no bodily harm. Blaine had told him this but it was reassuring to see. He started walking toward them, Carole in tow, relived for a split second seeing that his sons were safe, and also all these kids that he considered his family. But then it was back to worry for his daughter. The expressions on the kids' faces didn't bode well.

"Nothing yet?" He asked as he reached the waiting area.

"No, nothing..." Kurt answered weakly as he snuggled closer to Blaine.

Becky heard footsteps to her right and looked up. A doctor was making his way toward them, still in operational scrubs.

"Guys, look." She pointed out and everyone lifted their heads in unison.

"Hello, I'm doctor Morris. Are you all the Hummel family? Well except for Blaine, I know Blaine."

"He is though. He's very much apart of my family." Burt answered looking at Blaine fondly. Blaine gave him a small smile. "And so is every one of these kids. Wha- what's going on with her doc? What's going on with my kid?"

"Well Mr. Hummel, she's lost a lot of blood; consequently her brain wasn't getting the oxygen it needed. Basically in layman's terms, her body went into power save mode to stop the brain using up all the oxygen it had left. But we've taken care of that the best we could. We had to close her up right away or she'd just continue losing the blood we gave her, that bullet went right through an artery."

Kurt couldn't hold in his gasp any longer. Blaine tightened his arms around him.

"Because of her blood loss she hasn't regained consciousness yet, I think the body hasn't realized that's it's being helped, like it has gone into a state of shock. We'll continue supplying her with the amount she needs. I have to say though; it could have been a hell of a lot worse. She should have already been conscious, with all the blood we've given back to her. But she hasn't woken up, and I can't predict when she will, or at this point, even if she will wake up. We've done all we can; it's literally in her hands now. She's getting situated in her room; Nurse Janet is getting her set. You guys could go see her then. On the second floor, room 206. Maybe you could go in three or four at a time, so as not to feel too crowded. We'll continue to work Mr. Hummel, anything we can think of for safely helping her wake up, we will try."

Everyone was shocked at the pronouncement. She's not awake, they don't know when she will be, or more importantly, if she ever will be again. All from the terrible misgivings of a deeply disturbed person.

"Thank you so much doctor." Kurt whispered when he realized that everyone was too stunned to reply. Davy sat down hard in his chair, and stared into the distance where they disappeared with Sky hours ago, tears still escaping his eyes. "Come back to me." He whispered.

Kurt sat like a sentinel at his sister's bedside. He held her hand tightly in his. When he first entered the room earlier, something really hit home. It had a couch and a closet and very small chest of drawers. Which means it was not a room for someone they expected to be there for a very short time. This cut him more than anything else. In essentials, his sister was whole, she had taken to the donated blood and the doctors had patched her up well.

But she wasn't awake. And no one knew when she would be.

He sat and watched their glee friends and teacher come and go and violate the doctor's request of three or four persons at a time. But he couldn't begrudge them this. He watched the parents and guardians of Merry's band of misfits come to visit and to take them home. Needless to say they more or less kicked and screamed that they didn't want to leave. In the end they grudgingly agreed to go to the Hummel house and make it their home base. They'd receive anyone who called with greetings and cards and flowers and would carry them to the hospital. He watched as Davy flat out told his parents that he wasn't going anywhere, and there was nothing they could do about that. He watched all this, and it didn't surprise him. It was hard, once you get to know her, to not care about Sky. She was such a firecracker that she lit up the lives of anyone she came in contact with. Which is why it was so disconcerting to see her just laying there. This girl that's usually so full of life and light.

Finn had gone on another food run for all of them.  Davy fell asleep in the chair opposite him, with Sky's other hand in his and his head on her pillow. Blaine was on the couch behind him, stretched out and dozing, his hand resting on the small of Kurt's back. Kurt's eyes were getting heavy; he knew he should sleep. He felt like he needed to sleep for a week. But he doesn't want to miss anything. What if she woke up and he was asleep? What if she couldn't speak to communicate and needed him but he was out cold? He could practically hear her saying ‘that's bullshit Pippin, shut your goddamn eyes, I'm not going anywhere!' He actually managed a small smile before he bent a little to rest his head on Sky's bed.

Burt was at the front desk sorting out paper work with Carole and the hospital records keeper. Janet and Bella were outside with the police, who had questioned the kids on their version of events from the night. The police had no problem believing them as they got a glimpse for themselves what state Dan was in when they picked him up.

Janet was breaking down now.

After keeping together so well throughout, participating in Sky's surgery, getting her placed in one of the best rooms with no added charge, she can't help but think this is largely her fault. For failing to see what was really going on, brushing off her sons suspicions and chalking it up to her husband not understanding his lifestyle. Did she want her marriage so bad that she turned a blind eye to her husband's sickness, or was he that good of an actor? Because from the looks of it, Dan was severely schizophrenic, and she felt that as a certified, practicing nurse, she should be able to tell the signs of that, regardless of the person's acting skills. She let Dan come into her life and wreck it again. Threatening her son and his boyfriend, actually hurting one of the kids to the point of medical surgery and recovery. Even Bella had sensed something wasn't right. And there was her evidence right there. She grew up with a mantra of never doubting Bella's hunches. It's one of the things that made Bella a great lawyer, excellent observational skills. Christ, had she wanted it to work so badly that she ignored even that? The answer was yes, and a lethal dose of guilt spread through her bones like wildfire. She wanted the Dan she used to know, who looked at her like she was the world and the sun and the moon and the whole freaking universe. She had that back and she didn't want to let it go on the off chance that something was up with the perfect husband picture Dan presented.

No more.

She was gonna take responsibility for her actions, she was gonna do all she can for the Hummels. And though it won't make up for even a fraction of what happened, she could only try and try and continue to try. That's one of the things that made her a great nurse, the desire to make everything all right the best way she can. She'd find Burt, and apologize as profusely and sincerely as she could, it's a little thing in her eyes, but it's a start. She'd find Blaine and apologize for doubting him, and hold on to her baby for dear life. She'd talk to Bella thoroughly about the divorce process and papers. This didn't mean she was abandoning Dan; Lord knows he needed her, but this is a little overdue. She will always do what she can for him, but she wanted to be able to move on. Cooper was flying in, and by the looks of things, he would have to decide what would happen with all his dad's assets and business ventures. Dan wasn't going to recover, his level of sickness required institutionalization. It scared her to think he was so far gone and able to hide it so well. He needed help, and she'd make sure he got it.

With her plan firmly in place, Janet felt infinitely better. Her stabs of guilt weren't going away any time soon, but she'd try to make it right.

Kurt's concept of time and space was a little blurred. The best he knew for sure was that he was on a park bench. Central Park, his brain helpfully provided. But it puzzled him. First and foremost, what the hell was he doing here? He's supposed to be in a hospital back in Lima, desperately wishing his sister to open her eyes. Secondly, from what he knew of his life, he'd never been to Central Park. He'd dreamt of going there, fueled no doubt by his vision of moving to New York. But one look around showed this was more a memory than anything else; it felt like he knew this place well. Thirdly, he knew it should be spring, it was gearing up to be summer now actually, but the park defied that perception, and was alive with the colors of fall. Vibrant reds and brilliant oranges, bright yellows and deep browns. WTF?

Kurt turned to his right and looked beside him for the first time. There was a woman, with flowing chestnut hair, porcelain skin, and startling blue eyes. All of which he knew well. He saw these features every time he looked in the mirror, every time he looked at his sister. She even wore a floaty white cotton dress that he knew well. It was his favorite dress of hers. She looked at him with a big grin before she eased back on her elbows and let the fall sun warm her face a bit.

"Mom?" Kurt asked in a whisper, afraid anything louder would take the vision in front of him away.

She looked at him and nodded. "In the flesh... umm... So to speak." She answered.

"Mom." Kurt said, much stronger than the last time. He reached his hand out and found that he could touch her. He always dreamed of his mother, especially when he was younger, but she was always incorporeal. He couldn't touch her, couldn't hold her. She'd always slip away like mist. A tear escaped his eye as he maneuvered her into an awkward hug. He had grown quite a bit since he last did this. She chuckled.

"My gorgeous boy, my gorgeous, strong, mature, stubborn boy." Kurt half sobbed half laughed at this.

"You're really here, I'm not dreaming?" He asked, hopeful.

"Well of course you're dreaming, baby. It's the only way I thought you'd accept this better. If I suddenly appeared when you were awake you'd be thinking that you should check yourself into the loony bin." Kurt laughed fully at this. His mom was here and joking and making him laugh like she always did. Dream or not, his mom was here. He continued hugging her, taking in her scent. It was just like he remembered it, like sunshine and roses and a very subtle lavender. They embraced in silence for a bit. He was taking it all in while he could, recommitting every thing to memory, because he knew this could not last. His mom clung to him, like she was doing the same thing.

"She's really beautiful." She finally said into his hair. Somehow he knew exactly whom she was talking about. "You did a wonderful job Kurt."

"Mom that wasn't me, that was genetics."

"Not what I meant." She chuckled. " She's a beautiful person. Inside and out. That is thanks to you. You took care of them, kept them together when I went, when I couldn't be there. I'm very proud of you, my son." Kurt smile threatened to take over his face. "Though she does have quite the potty mouth."

"Believe me I've tried to get her out of that habit." They both chuckled and a comfortable silence came over them. Until Kurt got apprehensive.

"Mom, you're not here for her are you? She's not gonna leave us like you had to right?"

Elizabeth smiled down at him. "It's not her time." Kurt let out a sigh of relief.

"She's gonna be fine. Quite frankly she's too stubborn to let this keep her down." Kurt laughed until his sides ached, because this was so true.

When he calmed down, he asked. "Why are we in Central Park mom? And why is it so familiar?"

"We came to New York the year Sky was born. A month prior to that as a matter of fact. It's my favorite place to be, especially in the fall. Your father would drive me up here and just sit with me, chat with me, have a picnic, or whatever we decided. We came and frolicked in the leaves that year."

As she said it, Kurt started to remember bits and pieces. His mom with a round belly, picking up leaves and piling them on his body, throwing them at his dad. It was perfect.

"What are we doing here though?"

"This is my version of heaven Kurt. This park in fall. Playing with my family. Only I get my memory versions of you. This is how the system works. Everyone gets his or her little slice of heaven. Their own little space. There are special cases, where some slices are shared, for example soulmates might be so in sync that even their versions of heaven turn out to be the same. But it does exist. And not if you live your life to a set of rules, but if you are inherently a good person." Kurt was fascinated.

"And there's a God?" He asked.

"If there is I haven't seen him yet. I just accept this as my reality now. I never tire of here." Kurt paused. It was a bit to take in. For a moment Elizabeth let him, saying nothing. But then she spoke up.

"I'm overjoyed that you've taken care of them Kurt; you've outdone yourself, but I'm also ridiculously happy you started living." Kurt was puzzled at this. Sensing his confusion, Elizabeth continued.

"You weren't living Kurt. It was like you existed to simply care for others and that was it. While that's commendable and incredibly brave, it wasn't as good of an existence as you could have had. I didn't like that, it depressed me. You have to live your own life. But who said you couldn't do both? Also I couldn't go another year watching those kids at school doing awful things to you. So I sent you Blaine. One of the nurses just decided to retire and that job application just happened to come in Mrs. Anderson's mail. He was having a rough time too. Both of you needed a break, worked out perfectly."

"Wait! What??? Oh my God mom. You've been meddling in my love life?"

"Well only a little, you can't blame me for using the little pull I had, especially if it brought you Blaine right? What a fine hunk of boy he is!"

"MOM! Oh my god!"

"Hey, so I can't talk boys with my son anymore??? We used to discuss how handsome Prince Charming was in detail as I remember it. Now you have your own." She winked. "And it took you long enough too! I was seriously thinking about getting in on Sky's convoluted plans, whatever they maybe and try not to make it go awry."

"Oh my God." Kurt groaned, his blush spreading down to his neck as he buried his face in her shoulder. Then he thought of something.

"Mom... How much have you been watching?" She giggled and his face threatened to burn right off with the heat of his blush.

"Oh I studiously turned around for all those parts." Relief flooded through him, til she spoke her next words. "But you boys sure are loud as hell, and with filthy mouths too." She was full on laughing at this point and Kurt's face resembled a good red wine.

"Mooom." He whined.

"Oh hush, it's fine. You were happy and healthy and all I could ever wish for you. I hadn't anticipated what would happen with Mr. Anderson. Unfortunately I'm not all knowing. But I take care of you the best I can hunny. All of you. I even sent Carole, Burt really needed her. I might have left your world physically, but I'm always watching over you, always with you, remember that." A few tears escaped without Kurt's knowledge.

"It's time for you to go now hunny. Wake up."

Kurt was crying in earnest now. "Not yet mom, please, just a little while longer."

"You've spent all the time you should, and my it's time to go. I love you, my beautiful boy, I will always be with you."

"I love you mom." Kurt's chocked off sobs were echoing loudly, and his vision was starting to blur again.

"Wake up." His mom said.

And he did. He woke up to Blaine soothing his back and Davy alert as can be, by the looks on their faces, he must have been sobbing out loud. What caught his attention though, was the hand squeezing his desperately. Blaine and Davy were both looking at him and didn't notice the hand squeezing his.

"Merry!" He sobbed out. Davy's head snapped around just as Blaine's did, his hand reaching out to take Sky's other hand in his again. Sky's eyes were shifting and she was groaning.

"Go get your mom!" Kurt shouted to Blaine. He started to move towards the door immediately. "And my dad! Get everybody! Merry, hunny can you open your eyes? Can you hear me?"

She groaned again. "Aww Pippin, what is with all the racquet? My head hurts. A lot!" She said scratchily. And Kurt was laughing and sobbing at the same time. Kissing every part of her hand that he could reach.

Davy put his head on her pillow, tears leaking out of his eyes, but his facial expression was stern.

"Anata wa watashi to isshodesu ka, Skylar-chan?"  He asked.

"Watashi wa koko ni iru." She answered.

"Anata wa watashi wo kowagatte." Tears started pouring down Sky's face at this.

"Gomenasai. Aishiteru." She said.

"Aishiteru, Skylar-chan." He replied and he closed in for a kiss, almost lying down fully on the bed. Sky kissed back like she needed it to survive. She rested her forehead on his when she needed air.

"You came back, you came back to me." He whispered.

"I'll always come back to you." She replied. She gave him another chaste kiss before she turned to Kurt.

"Pippin. I... I saw her. I really did, she was with me, she told me you were waiting for me." And she didn't need to say who it was, because Kurt saw her too, talked with her, hugged her, cried with her, laughed with her.

"I saw her too. I have a feeling she was always with us."

A second later, a barrage of medics came through the door