Kurt was half asleep when he heard Blaine coming down the basement stairs. Kurt could tell he'd taken off his boots because he couldn't hear the distinct sound of the heels hitting the concrete steps.

Blaine came into the bedroom, looking terrible. He had red, swollen eyes and a pinkish flush to his cheeks as though he'd been crying. He was dressed in his Dalton sweats and mismatched socks, obviously thrown on at the last minute with no product in his hair. Kurt held out his arms and Blaine fell into them, holding Kurt so tightly he had to struggle to make Blaine loosen up enough for him to breathe.

“Is Cooper waiting or can you stay?” Kurt asked.

“He just dropped me off, he's on his way to the airport to go to Chicago for a meeting. I just couldn't be home alone, Kurt. I hope it's okay I came without any notice?” Blaine said.

“You know you're always welcome here, Blaine. My dad is happy to have you stay after all you've done for me. Now, take off all those layers and cuddle in here with me, then tell me what's going on with you,” Kurt demanded.

Blaine took off everything but his boxer briefs and crawled into Kurt's bed. He scooted down so even his shoulders were covered and put his arms around Kurt, sighing in contentment. He closed his eyes as Kurt began to massage his biceps, working his way to Blaine's shoulders.

“You are so tense, tight like a bow string ready to snap. What is going on, Blaine?”

“Mom and Dad left yesterday for Atlanta on business and Cooper was leaving this morning. None of them will be back for two weeks and the day they get back is the day of my surgery. We scheduled it so I can start to recover during the two weeks of spring break, so I don't miss too much school,” Blaine explained.

“Okay, but you must have known this already? Why the tears?” Kurt asked, kissing Blaine's hair and brushing his fingers over his cheeks.

“I don't know. One minute I was fine, I mean they do this all the time, since I was a little kid, but this time I just didn't want them to go. And when Cooper told me at dinner he had to leave, too, I was overwhelmed. I know you've been busy, so I didn't want to bother you over such a small thing...but it got bigger in the course of the evening and by nine o'clock last night I just couldn't take it any more. I asked Coop if I could sleep with him, and I did for a while, but he had to leave and I called you,” Blaine finally finished.

“Oh, so it's the surgery you're most worried about?” Kurt asked, but he already knew the answer to that. It was a much bigger thing than any of them had imagined it was going to be, plus the recovery would be long and painful.

“I am kind of scared. I keep telling myself that I need to do it, that it will make my life better if I'm not reminded of it every day. But I'm also scared of the pain, the risk, just everything. And I don't want to be that scared little boy any more, but I can't seem to stop it,” Blaine whispered next to Kurt's ear. It was as if Blaine couldn't even say the words out loud.

“Blaine, I know it might hurt for a while, but you already know it will change your life. And you know exactly what they will be doing, right? Plus, Dr Sanderford told you she will be giving you pain medication. I do know it will probably be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life, but this will be worth it. And you will come through with flying colors because you are strong,” Kurt told him.

“No, I'm not. I just always follow the crowd like a good little lamb, never stepping out of my comfort zone. Argggh.”

“That is not true. Who was that masked man that drove through a blizzard with an almost nonexistent chance to find a kid on a bridge – then made him give up the idea he had to take his life, and brought him home to heal. You are strong, Blaine. You were strong for me that day when I couldn't do it for myself. Now I'm going to be strong for you on the day of surgery and every day after until you've healed. Okay?”

“Okay. I'm out of panic mode now, I'll be fine as long as I have you, Kurt. I love you,” Blaine admitted.

“And I love you, too, you silly goose. Now, go to sleep,” Kurt admonished.

Twenty minutes later, they were still awake.

“Blaine?”

“Yeah, I'm still awake. I'm sorry, am I keeping you up?”

“No. I just can't sleep, either. Do you want to get something to eat?” Kurt asked.

“Sure. We won't wake your dad, will we?”

“No, he's a pretty heavy sleeper.” Kurt said, turning over to look at Blaine. “But first, are you okay?”

“I don't know. I want to say I'm fine, but the truth is that I don't feel fine. I feel scared,” Blaine admitted.

“I understand. C'mere.”

Blaine scooted closer. Kurt turned on the lamp and took Blaine in his arms. He gently moved back the sheets and looked at Blaine's belly. Although he hated anyone to see, Blaine allowed Kurt to do this, to slide his finger along the scars, Blaine shivering at the sensation.

“Blaine, this will be gone. But, if you're really scared and you don't want to do it, this is your body and you make the decisions about it. You can say no,” Kurt told him, although he knew that Blaine already knew this. He leaned down and kissed Blaine's belly, running his lips tenderly over the scars.

“But, that's just it. Yes, I'm scared. I have had surgery before and I am afraid of the part where they put you to sleep. And I'm afraid of the pain after. But, Kurt, the whole point is that this is my body, and I want it back. I know that sounds selfish...” Blaine said.

“No, it doesn't. It's yours and you make the decisions. And I will be here for you every step of the way, okay?”

“I know you will, Kurt. You're my best friend.”

They didn't say any more, just went upstairs to fix something to eat.

“What do you want?” Kurt asked.

“Can we have poached eggs on toast?” Blaine said with a wistful look in his eyes.

“No problem, just get out the bread for the toast and I'll get the water on to simmer.”

The boys had just sat down when they heard a noise at the kitchen door.

“Kurt, I heard someone talking...Blaine??” Burt said, widening his eyes.

“Hi, Dad. Did we wake you up?” Kurt asked as thought it was commonplace for him to be in the kitchen at 5 in the morning making eggs.

“No, I'm always up at this hour, ever since I was a kid. To what do we owe the pleasure, Blaine?”

“Oh, well, my folks are out of town and then Cooper had to fly to Chicago, and I called Kurt to see if I could stay here for a while,” he explained.

“Of course you can, glad to have you, now can I have some of those eggs?” Burt asked.

“No. But I will make you a white omelet if you want, with turkey bacon?” Kurt smiled.

“Well, I guess that's okay. Thanks, kiddo.”

The boys went to school that day and met up after to come home to Kurt's house. Blaine stayed for the rest of the fortnight until the day before his surgery was scheduled.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Kurt was holding Blaine's hand. He had helped as Blaine got out of his clothes and into the surgical gown he'd be wearing in the operating room. He was lying on the gurney, a blood pressure cuff on his left arm and an IV in his right arm. The anesthesiologist had given him some medication and he was very groggy, but still aware of Kurt sitting by him. His parents and Cooper had been here up until they were ready to give him the medication. The nurse had asked for him to choose only one person to be with him now, and he wanted Kurt. It was hard to say, and he saw the sadness in his mother's eyes, but he knew that Kurt understood more than they did, so he went with his heart.

The surgical team nurses came and gave Blaine several more medications in his IV and told him they were ready. Kurt was allowed to walk down the hall with him and kiss him goodbye as they wheeled Blaine through the double doors to the surgical rooms. Kurt went back to the waiting room to sit with the Anderson's.

It was hours later, hours in which Kurt tried to keep up the conversation, but failed. He answered questions, spoke about the weather and about school, but just didn't have his mind on anything but Blaine. The surgery was scheduled to take about five hours, and by the seventh hour, he was like a cat on a hot tin roof – jumpy and snarling. Cooper finally went over to the sofa where he was sitting and sat next to him. He pulled Kurt into his arms and just hung on. Kurt struggled at first, then settled close to his boyfriend's brother and let him rub his back. The stiffness that had been there for hours began to feel a little bit better. Cooper didn't say anything, just held Kurt as his head leaned onto his shoulder and he finally dozed off. Viviene smiled at her elder son, proud of him for comforting the boy.

Kurt jerked awake as he heard the automatic door open. Dr Sanderford came into the waiting room to speak to the family.

“Blaine came through the surgery quite well. I was able to remove all of the scar tissue and either through the Z-plasty or the grafts his belly will not show any sign of the former scars. He will have different scars, however. As I discussed with you before, grafts work best if they are taken from the patient themselves – although each of you volunteered to donate and I know Blaine appreciated that. The skin was removed from his thighs and buttocks. The sites will be quite painful for several weeks, something like a severe burn, but we have several things to help him with that.

“When you go in his room, you'll see a machine. It's called a Negative Pressure Wound Therapy pump, or NPWT. It creates a vacuum around the healing wound to promote healing. It isn't painful in itself, but Blaine will be in moderate to severe pain for several weeks. We will start with the morphine self-administering pump. He will be able to push a button when he needs the drug and that way he won't have to wait for a nurse to give him a shot. It is set so he can only have a certain amount, so it is safe.

“The most important part of Blaine's healing will be contact with those people he loves that support him. I had a cot sent to his room if anyone wants to spend the night, and there are no restrictions on visiting hours for him. Now, if you would like to see Blaine, he might be waking up about now. Only two people at a time, so you'll have to take turns. You can call me if there are any questions,” Dr Sanderford finished. All four of them just sat there. They had been given the same information just before the surgery, so there really wasn't anything to ask about. Viviene and Edward got up and followed the nurse to the recovery area to see Blaine first.

“Mom? Dad? Is it you? Oh....it hurts,” Blaine said, still very groggy. The nurse came over and administered a dose of morphine into his IV. They could see their son relax.

“Hi, honey. The doctor said you came through it all just fine. You go back to sleep and we'll stay here with you, okay?” Viviene said in a soothing tone. Edward held Blaine's hand and stroked his forehead.

“We're here for you, son.”

“Thank you. I love you.......” Blaine slipped off to sleep once again and his parents sat and held his hands until he woke up again. “Kurt?”

“He's out in the waiting room with Cooper, honey. Do you want me to get him?” Viviene asked.

“Yes. Cooper, too.” Blaine said and closed his eyes.

Viviene and Edward kissed their son's head and left, Kurt and Cooper replacing them beside the bed.

“Kurt? Cooper? It hurts......” Blaine said as the nurse looked first at the chart and then at her watch before administering the next dose of morphine.

“I'm here, Squirt. I love you, Bee,” Cooper said, stroking his brother's cheek.

Kurt had a hard time gathering strength to speak, but he knew Blaine needed it. He steeled his spine and opened his mouth, “Blaine, I'm here, baby. I'm here.”

Blaine smiled and opened his eyes. “I'm glad. Stay here, okay?”

“Of course we will. Both of us, Blainers, we'll be here as long as you need us,” Cooper comforted his brother.

The nurse came in, “We can move him up to his room now. We have him in wound care, so you will have to wear surgical gowns if you want to stay in the room, hospital procedure. He is very vulnerable with the grafting sites still open. Come with me and I'll get you gowns, masks, and gloves. You wear them anytime you are in his room.”

Cooper and Kurt left to get the proper gear and the orderlies took Blaine up to his new room. The boys came soon and sat down on the chairs beside the bed, each holding a hand. His parents came a little later and they all took turns being with Blaine for the next two weeks. A few others came to visit the next week, Jeff, Wes, David, and Nick. They didn't know the exact reason Blaine had surgery -only that it was to 'repair' something from a surgery he'd had a few years ago. It all served to cheer Blaine up and he eagerly awaited the day he could see the results.

~°~°~°~°~

“Kurt, can you come over to the hospital?” he asked on the phone.

“Actually, if you look at the door to your room, I'm about...” and Kurt walked in, coming over to kiss Blaine.

“Oh, good. The doctor is getting washed up, she is going to remove the bandages. They took them off before, but I was still on the morphine pump and I kind of slept through it. I wanted you here to see it with me,” Blaine explained.

Dr Sanderford walked in, smiling at Kurt. She was wearing sterile garb, so she couldn't touch anything, but her smile was enough.

The removal of the bandages was a little painful, but Blaine was so happy he didn't notice it much. There, where the ugly word had been was a clear, pink stretch of skin. Blaine's eyes got wide and he sat with open mouth, amazed that the evidence of that horrible long-ago day was gone.

“Now I can forget it,” he whispered to himself, but Kurt and the doctor heard him. Kurt laced his fingers with Blaine's and the doctor smiled, still measuring bandages and tape.

“You still need to be extremely careful. No jumping, running, lifting or sex. You cannot risk stretching this skin in any way for another three to four weeks. Okay?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Blaine answered.

“That being said, I think you're okay to go home again. Are you up to that?” the doctor asked.

“Hell, yeah! Oh...excuse me, yes, ma'am, I most certainly am,” Blaine blushed, but the doctor smiled.

“It's fine, I do live in the real world and if you don't have a right to shout 'hell yeah', then nobody does. You've been through a lot. I think with this surgery and your therapy appointments you're going to be just fine. Now, I have to go, but I'll see you in the morning and probably dismiss you by noon. I have your follow-up appointments scheduled and gave that information to your brother, Cooper, and I think that's it. Oh, and it was so nice to meet you, Kurt. Blaine is one lucky guy to have you to take care of him,” she smiled.

Kurt smiled back, “Yes, and vice versa, he takes good care of me, too.”

The next morning, Cooper was at Blaine's hospital bed bright and early to take him home. The doctor had been in before seven and dismissed him, so he was dressed and ready to go.

“Hey, Cooper!”

“Hi, Squirt. Mom and Dad wished they could be here, but you know how the business goes. They took the two weeks off to be with you, but they had to get back,” Coop tried to explain, as he had been doing for sixteen years now.

“I know. I was grateful to have them. I know they care, but I am so happy to have you here, Cooper. You have been the best parent to me that anyone could ever have,” Blaine said in all seriousness.

“Hey, did they forget your morphine drip, because you just sound looney all of a sudden,” Cooper blushed.

Blaine didn't say anything, he just punched Cooper in the arm and grinned up at him.

“So, where's Kurt?” Blaine asked, he was sure Kurt would be there to escort him home, this being all his idea in the first place.

“He's downstairs with his dad. Burt had a checkup this morning, so we're meeting them in the main lobby since we drove in together,” Coop explained, getting Blaine's bag and getting him settled in the wheelchair to leave the hospital.

Down in the lobby, Burt and Kurt were waiting, smiles on their faces. Burt had come twice to see Blaine and was glad to see him getting better.

“Lunch is on me, boys. Kurt has searched the whole town to find a place that serves the worst, most tasteless food possible, so if you want to ditch out, I would understand,” Burt said, winking at Kurt.

“Sounds wonderful, let's go,” Cooper accepted and Blaine nodded his head. Blaine was allowed to get out of the wheelchair at the door and they all piled into the Navigator and made their way to the restaurant.

~*~*~*~*~*~~*