~*~*~*~

Kurt let out a deep breath as he stared up at the school from his seat in his car. He knew he was ready for this... at least he thought he was ready for this. He stared at the school for a few seconds and he couldn't help but feel his body tremble as he took a couple more deep breaths, "I can do this... I can do this... I've got this... I'm good..." he let out as he finally pushed the car door open and stepped out.

"Kurt!" he heard and he almost jumped out of his skin, head snapping back until he spotted Finn. He let out a breath and sighed softly as he gave a nod, smiling weakly as he gave the other a wave, "hey there Finn..." he let out as the other jogged up to him. Their parents were currently engaged and had planned to have their wedding soon but Kurt being the wedding planner and having ended up in the hospital had postponed things.

"Thought I'd walk you to your first class and stuff... you know... we can... hang out a bit," Finn said and Kurt couldn't help but lift an eyebrow before sighing softly, "I don't need a bodyguard Finn..." he said and the other frowned, "Kurt... by now the entire school knows you were in the hospital... that you got attacked. People are going to be all over you with questions... Karofsky and Azimio... you know they're going to say something offensive... let me help... I can make sure they all leave you alone..."

"I..." Kurt frowned at this point and looked away from Finn... the entire school? How much would they know about the attack. He trembled a bit at this point and Finn frowned as he saw tears welling up in Kurt's eyes, "I don't..." he let out, his breathing quickening, "I... how... how much do they know... what... what do you know about it?" he asked, finally turning to look at Finn again.

"Kurt... I... please calm down..." Finn said with a frown, "I... your dad and my mom told me... they wanted me to keep an eye on you... Kurt... Please don't be angry. I'd never tell anyone what happened to you unless you wanted me to. Ok? It's none of their business... I'm sure they have no idea about... you know... that part... no one knows... They just think you got roughed up or something."

Kurt sobbed softly at this point, embarrassed that Finn knew and ashamed that he'd let any of it happen. His whole body was trembling at this point and he couldn't calm his body as he shook his head, backing away from Finn before the other moved forward, grabbing him and pulling him into a tight hug. Kurt panicked at first and shook his head frantically, "No... no please... no... don't..." he begged, completely lost in the moment.

"Shhh... Kurt it's me... it's ok..." Finn let out, trembling himself as he hugged the other tightly, trying to calm him, "No one is going to hurt you... everything is alright now... you're safe..." he let out, not really sure where all of this was coming from. He'd never... done this type of thing before for a person... let alone another dude. But... Kurt looked so fragile right now... so afraid.

"I... I don't... this wasn't a good idea... I don't... I can't..." Kurt let out, starting to relax at Finn's words, coming back to himself. He'd felt so... alright before... why was he feeling so lost now? It was like... there was some kind of block in his mind... pushing away the thoughts and memories of what had happened... making him forget... but... Finn's words just made it all come crashing back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything about it," Finn let out, biting his bottom lip. He wasn't sure what to do from here. He was glad Kurt seemed to be calming down though. Once the other stopped sobbing and just rested in his arms he finally let the other go, "you ok dude?" he asked, frowning as Kurt nodded and wiped his face with the back of his hand, "I... I'm ok..."

"Good... we better get to our lockers and then get to class. We're gonna be late," he let out, smiling weakly to the other who nodded, no longer protesting when Finn walked with him to his locker, the two of them sticking together until Kurt was safely in his first class. Finn nodded to him before turning to head off towards his own first class, glad that things had calmed down.

Once he was out of first class he slipped out into the hall and tensed. He walked towards his next class and he noticed people whispering and looking towards him and finally a familiar afro came into view, a cameraman behind him, "Kurt... Kurt!" Jacob let out as he tried to get in the others face, "I'd like to ask you a few questions..."

"Back off!" came Finn's voice suddenly as the larger boy stepped between Jacob and Kurt, "Leave him alone," he said, narrowing his eyes as he looked over to Kurt, "come on. Don't want to be late for our next class," he said with a nod and Kurt quickly followed behind him, ignoring Jacob.

The rest of the morning was like this and soon it was lunch time. Finn picked him up at his class and escorted him there. Kurt had decided it was safer to wait in class until Finn came. All the other students were so eager to get out of class that they didn't bother with him thankfully.

The two of them moved over towards the Glee table after grabbing their food and sat down, the others were all fairly silent and Kurt sighed finally and groaned, "Just ask already... I know you want to..." he all but snapped out. He was getting a little irritated truth be told and he felt like he might blow up if this didn't get dealt with soon.

Rachel bit her lip but was the first to speak, "We're just worried about you... we... we wanna know what happened Kurt... and we want to know that you're alright now..." she let out, frowning at the clearly upset boy. The others nodded and agreed fairly quietly and Kurt finally nodded.

"I got cornered walking home from Mercedes house..." he mumbled and Mercedes put her hand over her mouth and shook her head, "I knew I should have drove you home... I should never have let you walk home alone." Kurt just sighed at her words and shook his head, "It's not your fault. I insisted..."

"So... what all... did they do?" Puck asked after a moment, the others looking just as curious and Kurt felt both fear and anger boil just below the surface, "they... there were five of them... homophobes... pushed me around, kicked me, punched me... then... this... dog... huge dog..." he went quiet at this point, the memories of the attack flashing through his mind and he was sure he was going to throw up.

"Kurt... you don't have to tell them anything..." Finn said, looking to the others and narrowing his eyes, "Just leave him alone..." he all but hissed as he put a hand on Kurt's shoulder as the other shook his head, taking a deep breath, "No... no it's fine..." he let out, no intention of telling them about the rape but he could tell them about the creature... dog or... whatever it had been.

"I don't really know exactly what it was... it was really dark but it was some kind of dog... huge... It just... went balistic... came out of the back of the alley and just... tore through the five men like they were bricks of butter... there was blood everywhere... I saw... I saw several of them being ripped apart... then it came for me..." he said before going quiet again.

Everyone's eyes were wide and Santana lifted an eyebrow and rolled her eyes, "geez... talk about exaggerating..." she mumbled out, "bet you it was a spaniel or something and probably licked them to death," she chuckled, getting looks from everyone except for Kurt who's eyes were on the table.

"Fuck you Santana..." Finn piped up instantly as he glared at her, "little spaniels don't take fucking chunks out of people's shoulders... and they don't rip people's throats out either..." he hissed, "Those five men are all dead... whatever that thing was... Kurt's lucky to be alive..."

Santana shut up pretty quick at this point and everyone looked at Kurt with wide eyes. Kurt just stayed quiet before shaking his head finally, "I... I gotta go... I think I'm gonna be sick..." he let out as he got up quickly and rushed out of the lunchroom. Finn was quick to follow, rushing after him, worried for the other while the rest of the Glee club sat there shocked.

Kurt rushed into the nearest boy's washroom and into the furthest stall from the door, dropping to his knees as he threw up, heaving and gagging. Finn frowned as he slipped into the washroom and walked towards the back stall, "Hey... you ok, Kurt?" he asked, frowning, "You should have just left it. You didn't need to tell them all that stuff..."

Kurt pulled away finally and grabbed a piece of toilet paper to wipe his face, tossing it in the toilet before flushing as he moved to stand, "I wanted them to know... I wanted them to realize that I'm not just moping for no reason... And it'll shut them up at least. I can deal with the stares and whispers from everyone else... but not my friends..."

Finn smiled weakly and sighed, nodding to him, "Alright then... you wanna go back?" he asked and Kurt finally nodded and the two of them headed back towards the lunchroom. Finn frowned a bit as he looked Kurt over... it was like he'd thrown up all his fears and worries... he just looked... well maybe a little pissed but for the most part... he looked... ok...

Kurt felt, somehow, stronger now. Like he'd finally managed to push all the bad away again and it didn't feel so bad anymore. He didn't understand it but he felt like he had before. The worries were gone. He'd gotten out what he'd needed to say... he'd proven that he wasn't just some weak kid but a survivor... not that he really understood why he'd survived in the first place... but still... He felt better now...

He smirked a bit after a moment as they slipped into the lunchroom and headed back to the Glee table. Maybe he was ready after all... He just needed a little adjustment time. He took a deep breath as he sat down, reaching out to start eating, ignoring the strange looks that passed around the table.

"You... alright not Kurt?" Tina asked quietly and Kurt looked over to her and gave her a nod, "ya... ya I'm ok now... I feel better. I think I just... needed to get it all out," he said with a shrug, "I was just... scared about what people would think... I didn't want to deal with the stares and the gossip and... you know... people who think I'm a liar..." he said, chancing a glance to Santana who opened her mouth then closed it quickly when Finn glared at her.

"Wow, you recover really quick," Artie let out as he looked Kurt over as the other continued to eat quietly and neatly. He looked back to Artie at this point and shrugged, "I don't know... I've been feeling a little off lately... I don't know... but I'm fine really... I feel... alright... good even. I just have these bad flashback moments every now and then. You'd be the same way probably if you'd come face to face with 'the jaws of death'."

The others just looked a bit confused still but finally returned to eating and started chatting about random things that really didn't matter. Kurt relaxed more and just listened to them talk, not really adding anything in himself. He might feel ok but he wasn't really up for chitchat just yet.

~*~*~*~