Blaine opened his eyes and tried to look around, but his head felt heavy – too heavy to pick up off the pillow.

“Kurt?”

A man in green scrubs came quickly over to his side.

“Its okay, Blaine, you are in the recovery room. Youre doing fine, the surgery is all over. How are you feeling?” the nurse asked.

“My tummy...it hurts.” Blaine said.

“We can take care of that, honey,” the nurse said, stroking Blaines arm. He hurried away but was back in a moment with a syringe and injected it into Blaines IV. The euphoric feeling came down like a curtain and Blaine fell back asleep, the monitors attached to him humming away with the assurance that his vital signs were doing well.

The second time he awoke, Blaine asked if his baby was a boy or a girl. Confused, the nurse asked him what baby he was talking about.

“Didnt I just have a baby?” Blaine asked. “It hurts like I did....wheres Kurt? Is he happy...?”

The nurse administered another dose of the pain medication. If Blaine hurt like that, he needed the dose.

Almost an hour later, Blaine was once more awake. He tried to see where he was, but all the white confused him. He licked his lips – dismayed that they were chapped and thought to ask Kurt if he could use his chapstick. Looking around, he realized that the walls were all white, the ceiling was white, and there was a white curtain across one side of the tiny space he was in.

“Kurt?” he called, hoping his boyfriend hadnt gone too far. Where was he?

The curtain was pulled back and the man that brought the syringe earlier came through. Blaine felt all of the memories coming back. Of course, he was in the hospital and hed had his appendix removed.

He remembered the anesthesiologist telling him the medication in the syringe would make him groggy,. He recalled the strange floating feeling when they wheeled him into the operating room and the people who moved him to the tiny, cold table, his arms on some sort of extensions of the table. Then he watched as the surgeon came in and told him he was going to be fine, the nurses putting something around his upper arm that squeezed as they checked his vital signs. It was like some sort of crazy dream, then the anesthesiologist told him he was going to fall asleep. Blaine tried to fight it, but it was as if a blanket had been thrown over him and he felt himself unable to see and then a feeling like flying and everything went black.

“Blaine? Its okay. Youre all right. The surgery went well and youre going to be fine. Whats wrong, honey, are you scared?” the man in green asked him.

“Ah...no, I remember what happened. Why is my throat so sore? I need a drink I think,” he told the man.

“Sure, Ill get you some ice chips. Your throat is sore because they put a tube down there to keep you breathing. It is a little irritated, but will feel better soon. My name is Aaron, do you remember me?” the man asked.

“Yeah, you gave me a shot?” Blaine asked.

“Yes, in your IV. That was morphine to control the pain. You can have more if you need it. How is your pain level?” he asked.

“It hurts, but not more than it has all week,” Blaine answered. He was having problems speaking due to his mouth being so dry. It felt as if his tongue was sticking to the inside of his cheeks and the roof of his mouth. Aaron gave him an ice chip with a spoon and Blaine let it melt on his tongue. That was so good after the dry feeling in his mouth. Aaron gave him several more.

“Thank you,” Blaine said, reaching out a hand to feel his stomach.

“Do you want another dose of morphine?” Aaron asked, his face looking concerned.

“No, I want Kurt. Can he come to me?” Blaine asked.

“Is that your brother? Hes in the waiting room. I can get him for you,” Aaron offered.

“No...Cooper is my brother. Kurt is my boyfriend,” Blaine explained. “Can they both come?”

“Im sorry, but only relatives can come back here in the recovery room. Do you want me to get your brother?”

“Yes, please,” Blaine asked, his eyes burning with unshed tears.

“Are you sure about the morphine? It is ordered by your doctor, you can have it if you want,” Aaron said. He had been a recovery nurse for over twenty years and could tell when a patient was fighting the need to have pain relief. “Your brother can still come back to you, even if you have the pain shot.”

The look on Blaines face was one of immense relief.

“Yes, it still hurts a lot,” he admitted.

Aaron took the syringe out of his breast pocket and pushed the liquid into the IV. The euphoric feeling came back, but Blaine fought the sleep and managed to stay awake, asking once more for ice chips.

Aaron left to get Cooper and Blaine closed his eyes, trying not to cry. He wasnt in pain anymore, but he felt so emotional, so...he didnt know what. He was tired, maybe that was all. He laid back, trying to clear his mind when he felt two pairs of warm arms around his shoulders and a kiss on his cheek. His eyes fluttered open to find Kurt staring into his face. Cooper was holding his hand on the other side of the bed.

“Kurt, they told me you couldnt come back here,” Blaine said.

“Dont worry, Dr Nelson okayed it. How are you feeling?” Cooper asked.

“Aaron gave me another dose of the pain medicine, so Im okay. Im really thirsty, though,” Blaine said.

Kurt turned to Aaron, the question on his lips, but Aaron answered.

“He can have a few more ice chips, then if hes still doing okay he can have a sip of water,” the nurse said.

Cooper took the cup of ice chips and fed several spoons of it to Blaine.

“Do I get to take my appendix home in a jar?” Blaine laughed.

“No, Squirt. Those days are long gone. It isnt legal to do that any more,” Cooper told him. They had both remembered their grandfather telling them he kept his tonsils in a jar of formaldehyde.

Cooper and Kurt sat beside Blaine, holding his hands and talking to him until hed been able to drink some water and then eat a piece of toast. Kurt ran his fingers through Blaines curls and kissed his hand as they waited to be sure Blaine was doing well enough to go back to his room.

“Anyone here need a ride up to the fourth floor?” an orderly asked as she came to take Blaine back to his room.

“Sure,” Blaine said, trying to smile at the woman.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

It was late in the evening and Kurt has dozed off in the recliner next to Blaines bed. Cooper was getting ready to leave for the night.

“You sure youre doing okay, Squirt?” he asked, walking over to sit beside Blaine on his bed.

“Yeah, it really doesnt hurt any more. It kind of aches a little, but it isnt bad,” Blaine said.

“You sure its okay for me to leave?” Cooper asked. “I can stay if you need me, but I think you need Kurt a lot more.”

“Dont say it like that – Ill always need you, Coop.”

“I know. Blaine, I can see what he means to you. Im not offended that you need him more now, Im not. He is your boyfriend – but more than that, he is what you need. It shows in your every action, and the same goes for him. You should have seen him waiting for you to come out of surgery, Blaine. He walked back and forth, wringing his hands and looking paler by the minute. He wouldnt even let me give him a cup of tea – I thought for a while that I was going to have to call a doctor in. You were all he could think about.

“Blaine, he told me that you mean the world to him and I believe it. He must have said he loved you more than life itself a dozen times. He was so out of it, I dont think he even knew I was here. You arent a little kid anymore, you are almost a grown man and you are making connections that will last your whole life. I love you enough to let you do that. You know that even though Im losing my childhood playmate, you will always be my brother and I will always love you.”

Blaine wiped a tear from his face. Hed be happy to get back to the dorms and be able to get through one day without the tears flowing. He held his arms out and Cooper hugged him - very gently because of his surgery – and patted his back.

“Ill see you tomorrow, kid,” he smiled and left.

Blaine sat still for a moment, then pushed the button to lower his bed so he could lie down. He was beyond tired. The pain medication was strong and made him sleepy, but his doctor had told him that they would be weaning him off the shots and switch to pills tomorrow. By the end of the week, he wouldnt need them any more.

Kurt twitched in his sleep, saying something that Blaine couldnt understand. He looked agitated, so Blaine called out to him. He wanted to get up and go to Kurt, but he was supposed to stay in bed for now. He called him again and Kurt roused, looking around him for a moment before concentrating on Blaine.

“Oh...I guess I dozed off. Where is Coop?”

“He went home, which is where you should be,” Blaine said. He wanted Kurt to stay with him more than anything, but he knew the boy had been there for two days now and he needed to get his own sleep.

“No, no...Ill stay. I can sleep in the cot again, no problem,” Kurt said, coming over to sit in the place Cooper had just left.

“Kurt, I love you and I want you to be with me more than anything, but you need to get a decent nights sleep. Go back to the dorm and take a shower, put on your pajamas and go to sleep. Ill still be here in the morning, I promise,” he teased.

Kurt leaned forward and kissed Blaine, their lips meeting and Blaine giving a quiet whine. He wanted Kurt to hold him all night, but he wasnt that selfish.

“No arguments. I am too tired and too sore to spend my time arguing. Go. Home. Now.”

“Okay. I do need a shower and a change of clothes. Ill see you in the morning,” Kurt conceded. He kissed Blaine one more time, cupped his cheek and told him how much he was loved, and left.

Blaine pushed the button on the morphine machine and let the drug take him off to sleep.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“Kurt!”

Kurt stopped and turned in the hallway of his dorm building to see Trent and Jeff rushing towards him.

“How is Blaine?” they said together.

“Hes much better. He came through the surgery fine, they let me go sit with him in recovery, and it all looks good. Hes mostly sore now and he still has the IV antibiotics to get rid of the infection,” Kurt reported. He felt as if hed been saying those words all day long.

“When can he have visitors?” Trent asked. The Warblers had sent Blaine a large flower arrangement that arrived soon after he was back in his room.

“Maybe tomorrow. They are probably going to let him come home on Wednesday, so four more days,” Kurt said. Hed forgotten today was Saturday, the day he had promised to help Carole move into his dads house.

“Okay, well call you first, then only a few of us at a time?” Jeff asked.

“Yeah, that should be fine,” Kurt said. He wanted to get under a hot shower, but didnt want to be rude to his friends. He looked at Trent, trying to return his smile, when he realized something else. Both boys were wearing loose-fitting, ripped and stained jeans and dirty T-shirts. That was not what Dalton boys wore. He looked again, his head cocked to the right, trying to figure out something but he was so tired and sleepy he couldnt get it.

“Why are you two dressed like rag-pickers?” he asked. They laughed at the archaic word.

“Hey, my grandmother used to use that word, it is perfectly acceptable,” Kurt said, his feathers ruffled.

“No, Kurt – we arent laughing at you, just that it took you so long to see what we were wearing,” Jeff said. “You are the closest thing to the Fashion Police Ive ever seen.”

Kurt just looked between the two, still puzzled. Then Wes walked by, wearing old clothes that looked as if hed been painting a house and the house won.

“We were helping a friend today,” Trent said, looking at Wes and Jeff. Wes nodded to Trent and he went on.

“You mentioned you had promised to move Carole and Finn into your dads house. We knew you were with Blaine at the hospital, so the Warblers went and ah...moved her.”

Kurts eyes got huge.

“You guys...you moved her whole house?” he asked, astonished. He had figured it would take several weeks to get everything in storage or moved into Burts house.

“Yeah...she kept saying we didnt need to do it all, or that she was going to pay us, but we did it to help you. We couldnt take any money for it, it was an act of kindness we told her,” Wes said.

“We knew you wouldnt make a half-assed job of it, so we did it right, Kurt,” Trent assured his friend.

Kurt was beside himself with gratitude. He felt tears coming and tried to excuse himself to go take a shower, but he didnt want to be rude to these amazing friends.

“Let the poor kid go take his shower and get into bed. You can chat tomorrow,” Sebastian said as he walked up, giving Kurt a hug. “Off you go, Hummel. Unless you want me to join you in that shower?” he joked. Kurt said a hurried goodnight to his friends and stepped into his dorm room.

The hot shower could not possibly last long enough. He stayed under the pounding water and scrubbed himself. His mind was so full of thoughts that he was almost dizzy. How kind were his friends to take his obligation and make it their own? He would have to do something for them – maybe bake some goodies. Yes, they would all love that.

His thoughts turned to his father, doing well but what about next time? Was he going to lose his dad just when he needed him the most? Kurt knew it would do no one any good to brood and worry, but he couldnt help it.

And Blaine....poor Blaine. How did he miss knowing that Blaine was so sick? He had only been thinking of himself that night at Indian Lake, withholding himself and his virginity from the boy that he loved more than life. What would be the harm in letting Blaine make love to him? None. It was Kurt being selfish again. He wished his mom was there, she would be able to tell Kurt what to do, or his grandmother. Tears mixed with the hot water splashing off of his skin as he stood under the shower. No amount of soap would fix this.

Kurt finished rinsing his hair for the last time and stepped out of the shower, drying himself briskly and pulling on his flannel pajamas with little kittens on them. Blaine had bought them for him when they were shopping in Columbus one day. Kurt loved them and felt a teeny bit better wearing them now as he pulled the blankets over his shoulder and hugged Blaines pillow. He was asleep in minutes.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“Kurt, Kurt! Wake up!”

Kurt sat up, looking around at the room he was in. He recognized it as the apartment Andy had given him, but he was lying in Andy and Buddys bed. He got to his feet, looking down to see he was dressed in a tuxedo. With fuzzy bunny slippers. What?

“Buddy, hurry, you dont want to be late to the wedding, do you?” his dad called.

Kurt walked into the living room looking for his dad, but all he saw was Murphy, his fathers golden retriever, and Buck, Buddys humongous mutt, sitting on a bench wearing top hats and carnations tucked in their collars.

He turned to see Andy was standing at the French doors, the sun shining in and a bright smile on his face. He held out his hand and when Kurt grabbed at it, Andy put his hand in Blaines. Kurt did a double take – Andy and Blaine could be twins, but he knew the difference. Andy cupped his chin and kissed his cheek, then turned his face to Blaine and did the same. Uncle Buddy came, still young and obviously in love with Andy as he kissed his hand. The two older men smiled at the younger ones and walked out the door – off until they could see them no more.

Kurt turned to Blaine, confused and torn, but Blaine was smiling, running his finger down Kurts cheek and then kissing his neck, so soft, so gentle. Kurt could feel nothing but Blaines love, as if it were somehow tangible. He moved forward, taking Blaine in his arms and kissing him over and over.

Kurt jerked awake.

“Blaine!” he shouted, and kept on shouting. He was confused. Was that a dream? Was it merely his subconscious telling him something? It seemed straightforward to him – Andy and Buddy wanted him to be with Blaine.

Kurt had only been asleep for a few hours, but he knew he would never be able to get back to sleep now. It was almost one in the morning, but he got dressed, packed a few things in a knapsack, and grabbed his keys. He made sure he had his phone and left to get his car.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

Kurt sat on the recliner in Blaines room. He hadnt had any trouble getting into the hospital – when his dad was in the hospital in Lima, Kurt found out that he could enter through the ER entrance because it was never locked. As long as he looked as if he belonged there, nobody bothered him. It worked at this hospital, too.

Blaine was sleeping, but Kurt could tell it was a very fitful sleep. Blaine would rock back and forth, anxiety pouring from his pores. Kurt had gone over and stroked his cheek, held him close and whispered that he was safe, that Kurt was here with him. That worked several times, but now Blaine seemed to be searching for something, whining and whimpering as he tossed in the bed. It was heartbreaking. Kurt thought to call the nurse, but he was reluctant. He thought he ought to be able to offer better comfort than someone in scrubs that had never met Blaine before.

“Hey, Babe, can you hear me?” Kurt whispered, sitting once again on the side of the bed. Blaine twitched, turning from one side to the other.

“Blaine? Sweetheart, Im here for you. Baby?” Kurt tried to comfort him.

Blaine opened his eyes.

“Kurt? Are really here, or are you a mirage?”

“Do you see any palm trees? Of course Im really here, baby.”

“Come cuddle with me. Im cold and lonely – and you looked gorgeous in the tux,” Blaine said as he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

“What tux?” Kurt asked.

“The one with the fuzzy bunny slippers,” Blaine explained as his eyes remained closed.

“What? Bunny slippers?” Kurt asked, but a soft snore was all the answer he got. He pulled back the covers and slid into bed next to Blaine, tugging him close and putting his arms around him. He let out a contented sigh, nuzzling his face into Blaines neck.

Kurt was asleep in the blink of an eye.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

Blaine woke up when the nurse took his hand to check his bracelet.

“Its okay, Blaine. Im just going to take your vital signs, you can go back to sleep,” she said, smiling at him as she worked around the other body in the bed with him.

“Do you need any more pain medication?” she asked.

“I have the pain pump, but I havent needed it since yesterday afternoon,” he answered. He was feeling much better, just a bit of a sore place over the incisions.

“The orders are to take it off if youre not needing it. I can give you some percoset for the pain. It isnt as strong, but it lasts longer.”

“Okay, Im good with that then,” Blaine said. He took the two pills she gave him in a tiny paper cup.

The nurse walked over and felt his tummy, making sure he wasnt in too much pain, then typed a bit into her computer, all without disturbing Kurt. She smiled at the boy, turning to Blaine.

“Hes a beautiful man, isnt he?” she asked. Blaine blushed.

“Yes, maam. Hes the best. I love him so much,” Blaine sighed, running his fingers through the chestnut hair and letting a finger trail along his cheek to his jaw and down to his neck. Blaine looked up at the nurse as she spoke to him in a soft voice.

“I could see it, you know. That he belongs to you and you to him. Thats why I let him stay. I could see you needed each other for you to heal. He is here to help your body, Blaine, but you are here to heal his mind. Trust that you were meant for each other, stay by his side, Blaine,” she said and when he blinked his sleepy eyes she was gone. Had he just nodded off? He thought so, he was that tired, but maybe....

Blaine settled his body back into the blankets, Kurt squirming to get closer to him. Kurts fingers reached up, running through his curls in the comforting gesture that he had come to know. He felt Kurt as his body heat warmed Blaines chilly chest, kissing his jaw and down to nuzzle into Blaines neck to keep himself warm.

Blaine smiled, knowing that Kurt loved him as much as he loved Kurt. In spite of the dreams, he was tired and sleepy. He closed his eyes, at ease and comfortable in the fact that Kurt was here with him, here where he belonged. With Kurt nestled so close beside him, he wasnt afraid of the dreams.

“I love you, Kurt,” Blaine murmured.

“I love you, too,” whispered the sleepy boy next to him.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“I had the same dream. Well, almost,” Blaine burst out. Kurt had been telling Blaine about the strange dream that led to him coming to the hospital in the middle of the night.

“Tell me what we were wearing,” Kurt asked, his voice soft and afraid.

“We had top hats and blue carnations pinned to the lapels. Even the dogs had top hats and flowers...” Blaine started to say. Kurt just sat and stared.

“Do I talk in my sleep?” he asked.

“No. Oh, you thought you had told me? No, baby, I was asleep until around four when the nurse came to take away the pain pump. They switched me to pills so I can go home,” Blaine explained. He was glad to get away from the subject of dreams.

“Good. The sooner youre home the better. I miss you so much,” Kurt said.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

The doctor came in, a bright smile on his face.

“How are you feeling this morning, Blaine?”

“Much better. I am doing fine on the pills instead of the pump,” he bragged.

“Well, I think you will probably be able to return home today. I need to speak with Dr. Radosovich, but I think we are of the same mind.”

Blaine smiled. The doctor felt his belly, asked a few questions and told Blaine when he could return to his office to have the staples removed. He shook both boys hands and left to process the dismissal paperwork.

Cooper came in just as the surgeon was leaving.

“Hey, Squirt. Kurt. Its good to see the two of you. How did you do last night, Blaine?” Cooper asked, going to stand by his brother and lift the hem of the hospital gown to look at the bandages over the incisions.

“Hey, you could ask you know!” Blaine said in an indignant tone, smacking his brothers hands away and pulling the thin gown over his knees and pulling up the blanket.

“Dont get your knickers in a twist, little brother, I was just checking. I saw Dr Nelson in the hall. He said you were probably going home today. I think you need to come to the house, not back to your dorm. Next Monday is the start of winter break anyway. What do you say?” Coop asked. He was excited about having real snow for Christmas.

Blaine smiled a little, his brothers excitement was contagious. But his eyes kept looking at Kurt.

“You are invited, too, Kurt,” Cooper added.

“That sounds wonderful. I need to spend some of the time with my dad, but I think it would be great. Thank you for inviting me,” Kurt said

“Cool. I know where all the decorations are! We can do the whole house,” Cooper grinned.

“Not without me!” Blaine shouted good naturedly.

“I would love to come over and help decorate!” Kurt said. In his opinion, Christmas decorating was one of most fun hes ever had. He only wished Uncle Andy was there to help. The mental image of Andy smiling at Kurt came to him, but he only wished they had been given more time together. He missed Andy.