Blaine was so ready to get out of that hospital. He was feeling better, but not great. He needed answers. He was told he had contracted meningitis and the basics of his illness. He was told he was lucky, but he didn't feel lucky. He felt like he'd been run over by a steam roller.

Kurt and his family had been given a scary list of complications that might occur during Blaine's recovery. It included fatigue, headaches, memory loss, clumsiness, balance problems, mood swings, sore or stiff joints, eyesight problems, deafness or seizures. Everyone was walking on eggshells because they had been strongly advised to keep any and all stress at a minimum. A relapse would be disastrous.

“Kurt?”

“I'm right here, Blaine. I was just going to fix us some lunch. Any requests?” Kurt, ever patient, stuck his head back in the door.

“Hummus?”

“Okay. But you had that yesterday. Are you sure you want it again today?”

“Only if you want it, too. I don't want to be a bother,” Blaine said, poking his lip out in a pout.

Kurt laughed. “Pine nuts or artichokes?”

Blaine's eyes lit up. “Artichokes! And can we have pepp...”

“No. No ice cream. Ice cream is a treat to be eaten on infrequent special occasions, not every day. Thus the term 'treat',” Kurt wagged a finger at Blaine. “But I do have dessert planned, so no more pouting.”

Cooper had left for Columbus the day before and Blaine was missing him already. He had Skyped with his parents several times since he got sick and they expressed sympathy, but when Burt and Carole offered to let Blaine stay with them for his recovery, Mr and Mrs Anderson were relieved. They had business plans for the rest of the summer and although they thought leaving Blaine with Cooper was adequate, the Hummels were a better idea.

Cooper had a job to return to in Columbus, but had arranged to spend weekends with Blaine. It was still early summer, so school wasn't a factor and Kurt was happy to be Blaine's main caregiver. He loved making food and helping Blaine with whatever he needed. Kurt was a nurturing soul and this gave him another outlet besides Mercedes to lavish his attention on. Mercedes seemed a bit jealous at first when Kurt spent so much time with Blaine, but she was coming to love him, too, and anyone Kurt loved so much must be worth it.

Blaine had dozed off waiting for Kurt. He was tired all the time and Kurt was used to having to wake him for meals.

“Blaine....I brought lunch.” Kurt said gently. He set the tray down on the bedside table and reached over to brush the curls off of Blaine's forehead. He automatically checked for fever and was relieved there was none.

Blaine blinked awake. Burt had rented a hospital bed so Blaine didn't have to use so much energy to sit up. Kurt pushed the button to raise Blaine's head up.

“I brought soup.” Kurt set the bed tray over Blaine's lap and placed a bowl of good smelling soup with crusty French bread spread with hummus next to it on the tray. “Medications first,” handing Blaine a small cup with a number of pills in it, and a cup of water. Kurt turned to the bedside table and picked up something, put it in his own mouth and followed it with a sip from his own cup.

“What's that?” Blaine asked.

“Nothing.” Kurt silently cursed himself.

“It wasn't nothing....you're taking pills. Tell me.” Blaine looked upset.

“I have to take antibiotics for a while. It's nothing big, just to keep me safe.”

“What? Safe from ME?” Blaine's eyes were huge and his breath was quickening.

Kurt took his hand. “It's nothing to worry about. We all take them. It's just a little precaution so we don't get sick. It wasn't your fault at all, Blaine. Nobody blames you. It is just that the doctor is being cautious.”

Blaine sat back in the bed, closing his eyes. A tear was making its way down his cheek. Was there no end to the damage he had done to this family? Why had he gotten sick? This was the worst summer he ever remembered. Warm arms gathered him in close and Kurt was sitting next to him on the bed. A soft kiss brushed the tear away. Blaine turned his head to meet Kurt's lips, drinking in another kiss. His arms went around Kurt and drew him closer. They often ended up like this, just holding each other, exchanging light kisses for long periods of time.

Kurt whispered to Blaine, “I take the antibiotics so I can do this,” and kissed him deeply, holding the back of his head steady, combing his fingers into Blaine's curls before pulling away.

A very small smile crept across Blaine's face.

“Now, back to the soup! I made minestrone from scratch.” Kurt smiled at his boyfriend, glad to see his appetite was returning. He's gotten so skinny, just bones and skin, while he was sick. Blaine ate the soup, finally able to do the spooning himself after so long having Kurt feed him. He ate the bread and hummus with relish and counted the reasons he felt so lucky to have Kurt in his life.

“What about dessert?”

“Later. You wanted to wait until after lunch for cleaning up, and now it's after lunch.”

Blaine sighed. While he appreciated Kurt's help, it was still a bit embarrassing to have his boyfriend help him to the bathroom and bathe him, but it was even worse when Carole or Burt did it. He didn't mind Cooper, but Coop was only here on the weekends. Blaine was resigned to it, though, and painted a brave smile on his face. If Kurt could do this without a whimper of complaint, Blaine could at the very least accept it with grace.

“C'mon over to the edge of the bed. Do you want to try standing up today?” Kurt's kind voice said.

“Yes!” Blaine was glad to try again. It was so frustrating not to be able to do so much as walk to the bathroom by himself. He leaned out for Kurt to steady him and swung his feet over the edge. Kurt slipped fuzzy puppy slippers over his feet and he put them down on the floor. He eased his weight onto his shaky legs, Kurt murmuring encouragement the whole time. One foot moved a few inches, he shifted his weight and moved the other foot. Kurt was thankfully ready with his arms around Blaine because the fifth step ended in Blaine's knees buckling. Kurt swooped him up before he could fall, a bright smile on his face.

“Five! You made it five steps today!” Kurt hugged Blaine closer to his chest, dropping a kiss next to his boyfriend's mouth. Blaine leaned his head on Kurt's shoulder, frustrated it was only five steps. But it seemed nothing was going to dull Kurt's happiness at Blaine's progress and he stepped into the bathroom, helping Blaine to pull off his pajama pants and set him on the toilet. He leaned over the bathtub and turned on the water, checking the temperature and adding a cup of milk along with some sort of good smelling liquid from a small bottle and a few...flowers? Hmmm...Kurt did some strange things.

“Are you okay by yourself for a few minutes? I can run the dishes back down to the kitchen and give you some privacy,” Kurt asked.

That was something Blaine missed. For so long, he had to have a nurse, or more often Kurt, stand by him while he took care of bodily functions. Blaine had accepted it as necessary, he certainly didn't want to fall, but having some privacy would be a relief.

“I'm okay for a few minutes, but....can you stay in the bedroom just in case?” He hated to ask.

“Of course! Just call when you're done.” Kurt left to change Blaine's linen so he could have a fresh bed to return to. He sat down on the chair next to the bed, more tired than he had thought he was. This was such a hard thing to do day in and day out. It wasn't that he resented it at all, he loved Blaine and would be with him as long as Blaine allowed it. But the gains were so slow to happen. Blaine was still almost too weak to do anything and he slept most of every day. Still, there had been none of the worst of the dangers...his hearing and eyesight were okay, they had Blaine's hearing tested last week. No seizures, though Kurt had taken a short class at the hospital about how to deal with that if it should come.

Blaine was still tired and the clumsiness was still pretty bad. He couldn't drink a glass of water without his hands shaking and spilling a bit. Kurt had resorted to a covered glass with a straw to preserve Blaine's dignity. Progress this week? Blaine could finally wipe his own butt. Kurt smiled, thinking about the day that happened, how relieved poor Blaine was. It hadn't bothered Kurt to do it, but that was the thing that really bothered Blaine the most.

“Kurt?”

“I'm on my way.” Kurt got up, took a deep breath, and went back in to Blaine.

“I have an idea,” Blaine was practically blushing. Kurt looked at him in question. “I don't think it's fair.”

“What?”

“That you get to see, feel, and touch every private part of me, and I've never even seen you with your shirt off.” Blaine stared at Kurt, crossing his arms over his chest. It might have been threatening if Blaine hadn't been sitting there with no pants on.

“Let's get your shirt off and you into the bathtub, then we can talk about it.” Kurt reached for the hem of Blaine's T-shirt. After removing the shirt, he lifted the boy and settled him into the warm bathtub, reaching for a washcloth to start washing Blaine's back.

“That would be easier if you were in here with me.” Blaine gave him the sad puppy eyes.

Kurt had spoken to the doctor before they took Blaine home. He had asked Kurt in to have a private conversation, knowing how close the boys were. The doctor told him, without asking any questions, that Blaine was very weak, that having sex was very tiring and Kurt would have to use his instincts to decide if it was okay.

Recovering from meningitis was a tricky road, full of potholes, and a misstep could set him back. He would be frustrated with the clumsiness, the sore joints, the inability to be independent. Emotional swings due to sex could make things worse, so Kurt would have to be careful. Kurt protested that they had only kissed, nothing more, but the doctor just nodded. He wanted Kurt to know every contingency, and with being in constant contact, being the caregiver, dynamics could change.

So, with much trepidation, Kurt unbuttoned his shirt. Blaine's eyes got huge and he forgot to breathe. He had only been half-kidding, never expecting Kurt to agree. But here he was, pulling his jeans off, removing his boxer briefs, and standing beside the tub naked.

“Well, move over, Blaine.” Blaine gasped and moved toward the faucet end of the tub. Kurt climbed in after him, back against the tub, pulling Blaine closer. “Like that?” Blaine scooted so his back was against Kurt's chest. He smiled.

Blaine was at a loss for words. Kurt took the washcloth, rubbed it with soap, and began to wash Blaine's back for him. The smile on Blaine's face could light up the sky. Kurt rinsed him and he leaned back against Kurt's bare chest. It was warm and as Kurt's arms came around to wash Blaine's chest, he could feel his cock stir for the first time since he got sick.

After washing his boyfriend, Kurt washed himself and they slid down in the water, made hot again by letting some out and fresh water in, Kurt spilling more of the oil into the water.

“What's that? And why on earth did you put flowers in the water?” Blaine asked.

“Well, I've been reading a lot about recovering from meningitis. One of the things I read about was aroma therapy. The oil is lavender, which is calming, and the flowers are chamomile – they do the same thing. Milk in the water is good for your skin.”

“Oh, that's why my pillow smells like that, like flowers. I wondered what it was. Thank you, Kurt, you make me feel so taken care of, so loved.” Blaine sighed and snuggled back against Kurt.

“I stuffed the pillow with lavender for you, I'm glad you like it.”

Blaine was practically pasted to Kurt, his ass wedged close between Kurt's legs, which was becoming somewhat of a problem. He was getting harder by the second, and Blaine's wiggling was making it very difficult. He tried to move Blaine a bit farther away, but was met with resistance and a whimper. Blaine just scooted closer, bringing Kurt's arms tighter around him.

“Ah, Blaine....” Kurt began.

“Kurt. I'm tired, not dead. I spend a lot of time lying in that damn bed and..well, I think about things.”

“Things?”

“Okay, I think about you. And about us.”

“What do you think?” Kurt asked in a very quiet voice. He'd been doing a lot of thinking, too.

“I love that we cuddle. I love that you feed me and care for me, doing the things I can't do yet. But with your hands on me in such a familiar way, I admit that I wish there was more.” Blaine was blushing.

“More?”

“Yeah. More.”

Kurt moved his hand down to run his fingers along Blaine's erection. Slowly at first. He leaned forward a bit and kissed the back of Blaine's neck. Blaine shivered and pushed back against Kurt a little more, then let his hands fall down in the warm water and slide along the outside of Kurt's thighs. Kurt's left hand was holding Blaine around his waist while his right hand began a slow rhythm on his cock, from base to tip, gaging how his boyfriend was liking it.

Kurt stopped kissing for a second to try and see Blaine's face, but Blaine emitted a sighing whimper at the loss of contact, and Kurt's lips returned to kiss down the side of his neck. Blaine's hands were now gripping Kurt's thighs, the fingernails beginning to dig into his flesh and Kurt's hand went faster and a little bit tighter. It didn't take very long for both boys to be breathless, panting with anticipation as Blaine got closer, the hardness of Kurt rubbing almost unconsciously against his back.

“Oh...Kurt....” came out in a throaty whisper, making his hand move faster.

“Come for me now, baby,” Kurt whispered encouragement into his boyfriend's ear and Blaine spurted pearly strings over Kurt's hand, hitting the tile and reducing Blaine to a boneless limp body, shuddering with the aftershocks of his orgasm. After a minute to gather his remaining strength, Blaine turned in the tub – reaching for Kurt but was stopped by hands holding him in a gently hug.

“No, no...I'm okay. This is too much for you, you're still recovering.” Blaine knew he was right, but it didn't seem fair.

“Not fair....” he whimpered. “Can I do anything else?”

“No.” Kurt was trying to contain himself, trying to think of something other than his naked boyfriend sitting right there in front of him.

Blaine leaned closer to Kurt, placing his head on Kurt's shoulder and whispered in his ear. “You could do it yourself....”

Kurt pulled back and looked at him. “What?” Masturbating in front of his boyfriend? Well,.....

Blaine moved down Kurt's chest, kissing him and licking along paths until he got to the nipple and sucked gently. That was all it took for Kurt to comply with Blaine's request. He took his rock hard cock in hand and started with a lazy stroke, leading up to a splashing climax as Blaine gasped and ran his hand over the spent length in appreciation.

By this time, Blaine was clearly exhausted. Kurt got out of the tub, dried off quickly and pulled on some yoga pants. Then he lifted Blaine out and carried him to the bed, wrapped in a fluffy towel. He dried his friend off, Blaine very sleepy and limp in his clean pajamas, and let Kurt tuck him under the covers for an afternoon nap.