It’s starts out in dead silence.

Kurt’s underneath a desk, wrapped protectively around a pregnant nurse named Quinn.

He covers every inch of her tiny body he can, keeping one hand over her mouth, using the other to wrap around her swollen belly.

He’s trying to keep her and the other nurses quiet.

Because as long as they’re quiet, they’re safe.

He feels a hand clutch his shoe, he chances a glance down and smiles reassuringly at his best friend, Dr. Rachel Berry, who is being covered by their other friend’s husband (and Attending) Dr. Mike Chang. That’s when he hears it.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Kurt knows shoes better than anything else. Better than he knows how to tie his shoes. Better than he even knows his specialty, neurology. And he can give you the latin names for each section of the brain.

So needless to say he knows shoes very well. He can list off every brand name.

Draw several shoes from memory alone.

And he can also name the shoe just by hearing the sound they make.

And he knows for a fact that this particular thunk comes from army issued boots. He can tell you how much you’d have to weigh, how tall you’d have to be, to produce that exact sound.

He can also tell you that his death sounds like a two hundred pound, six foot tall, man in size eleven army-issue combat boots.

From his position he can see the shadow of the man, can even make out the outline of the pistol in the man’s hand.

And then he hears it.

The lighter footsteps.

Scuff. Scuff. Scuff.

They’re coming from the opposite direction of the man with the gun, but headed towards him.

Kurt blanches. He can already tell by the rhythm of the steps that the sounds belong to a man, that the shoes are probably top siders, the man is probably no more than five feet ten inches. Couldn’t weigh more than a hundred and eighty pounds.

He sees the shadow of the man raise an arm.

The man doesn’t know that there are three doctors and five nurses hidden under the desks.Can’t see them.

He can only be aiming for one thing.

And that’s when Kurt sees the outline of the other man.

He sees curly hair.

And that’s how he makes his decision.

He’s rolling over and running in a flash.

He crashes into the curly haired man without thinking. Knocks him to the ground.

Thinking only of covering every inch of the man with his own body.

He silently thanks the man’s parents for giving him such a small stature.

Kurt hears the bang.

Senses the whooshing movement of a bullet.

Feels a warm wetness spread across his back.

He knows pain should come.

But it doesn’t.

Kurt stares into the warm hazel eyes of the man he is now crushing with his body.

He hears the shooter spin around on his heel. Hears a door slam.

Hears a loud shout of, “We’re the SWAT team. Please put down the weapon.”

Focuses solely on the honey golden eyes beneath him. Blacks out.

Blaine gasps wildly as the blue eyed man that just tackled him passes out.Blaine struggles to sit up, wrapping his arms around the man and cringing when he encounters a warm wetness.

And then there’s an asian man bending over him, “Kurt?!” The asian man pulls Kurt off of Blaine, and a woman appears from behind him, “Kurt!” She gasps. It takes her a minute, but she turns to Blaine, “Are you okay?” Blaine nods, “Fine. Just a little winded.” The woman nods and turns over her shoulder, “I need gauze!” The asian man shakes his head, “It’s no good Rach, it’s in too deep.” Blaine can see the brunette wince, “Well it’s going to have to do for now! Tina’s on the other side of the hospital!”

The asian man looks ready to spit, “You think I don’t know that Rachel! You think I don’t know where my own wife is?! Just shut up and find a bottle of alcohol!”

Rachel is about to stand, but a blond with a swollen belly is behind her, handing over a bottle that Blaine can see is labeled ‘Rubbing Alcohol’, “Thanks Quinn!” Quinn stares concernedly down at the blue eyed, unconscious man they keep calling Kurt.

The asian man rips apart Kurt’s scrubs, then looks at Blaine, “You. What’s your name?” Blaine stumbles for a moment, “...Blaine. Blaine Anderson.” The man dumps the bottle of alcohol over Kurt’s back, chasing away the angry red to reveal pearly white, except for a large, gaping hole, “Great. Nice to meet you, Blaine. I’m Dr. Chang. You can call me Mike. Blaine do you think you can move?” Blaine finds that an odd question but realizes that since Kurt was lifted off of him, he hasn’t moved an inch, “Um. Yeah, I think I can.” Mike nods, fingers probing the area around the wound, “Spectacular. Think you can help me flip over my friend here?” Blaine nods and moves closer, “Okay. Now place your hands here,” Mike gesticulates, “We’re gonna turn him slowly,” Mike glances over his shoulder, “And Rachel, when we do you’re gonna search for an exit wound.” Rachel kneels down beside Blaine and Mike as they roll Kurt over, “But if it had exited----” Blaine finishes the sentence, “Wouldn’t it be in me?” Mike grunts, “It was wishful thinking on my part. Quinn!”

Quinn comes over to where they’re all kneeled beside Kurt, “Yeah, Chang?” Mike plucked Kurt’s ID tag off his scrubs, “Take ‘Cedes and go find one of the Swats. Make sure they get this to Finn and tell ‘em we’ve got one down. Tell ‘em it’s one of us.” Quinn nods and a black woman appears at her side, Blaine watches them go, before glancing at Rachel and Mike.

Rachel smiles kindly as she tries to stop the flow of blood from their friend, “You must be so confused.” Blaine doesn’t realize who she’s speaking to at first, “Wha--oh. Yeah. I guess. It’s just...I don’t even know his name...and he...,” Blaine trailed off for a moment, listening to the rapid shallow breaths escaping breaths of the porcelain man, “He...he took a bullet for me.” Mike chuckled, “That’s Dr. Kurt Hummel for ya.” Rachel nodded, her brow furrowing in concentration. Blaine sighed, wishing he could do more, “Will he....will he die?” Mike shook his head, “Naw, Tina will save him. She’s the best of the best.” Blaine gulped, “But he’s lost so much blood,” Blaine felt a wave of nausea roll over him, “Oh god. If he dies for me...”

Rachel started to reach out and pat Blaine, saw the blood on her hand, and thought better of it, “Look, Blaine. Kurt doesn’t do just anything for just anybody, he took that bullet because he saw something in you, something worth saving. Just concentrate on that.”

Blaine wanted to protest, but suddenly an asian woman and several people were crashing through the door. “Talk to me,” the asian woman demanded.

“Gunshot to the back. In the general area of the chest cavity. Lots of blood loss.”

“Pulse?!”

“Slow but strong!”

“Alright, on three! Everybody lift!” Four scrubbed men surrounded Kurt and lifted him onto a gurney.

The asian woman looked at Blaine, “Who’s the kid?”

Mike shook his head, “Doesn’t matter Tina. Just go save Kurt.”

Tina nodded and rushed after her colleagues. Blaine feels his jaw drop as Kurt is rushed away in a flurry of scrubs and shouted vitals.

He turns uncertainly to Rachel and Mike, “W-where are they taking him?”

Mike answers, “The OR ward in the west wing.”

“Can you take me there?”

“What? You don’t even know him.”

Blaine swallows, “I know, but he took a bullet for me. I have to at least know if he’s going to be okay. I have to be there when he wakes up to thank him.” Mike sighs and exchanges a glance with Rachel, who speaks up, “I’ll take you there.” Mike looks at her with concern, “What?! Rachel, they don’t even know each other!” Rachel nodded, “I know, but there’s a reason Kurt saved him, Blaine should be there.”

Mike ran a hand through his hair, “Alright. Fine. But first Blaine, let’s stop by the locker room and I’ll loan you a pair of my scrubs.”

Blaine is about to ask why, but then realizes that his sweater is sticking to him with Kurt’s blood, “That’d be great thanks.” Mike drapes an arm around his shoulder (Blaine tries not to flinch at the contact) and steers him in the right direction, “So Blaine, what brings you to our fine hospital on this most unfortunate of days?”

“My brother had a---oh fuck!”

“What?”

“My brother. I have to find him and his wife.”

“What wing were they in?”

“Obstetrics.”

“They’re safe.”

“How do you know?”

“That wing is immediately closed off with steel doors that cannot be unlocked without the fire department. It is also on the other side of the hospital from where the shooter is. Which leads me to the question of why you were so far away from it?”

“I was taking a walk.”

“Oh, care to tell why?”

“Honestly Mike, I just had a gun pointed at me. A beautiful man took a bullet for me. I watched said man almost bleed to death. Now’s not really a great time.”

“Beautiful eh?”

“Wh--what?”

“Chill kid. It’s about time Kurt got some.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Just do me a favor, don’t break his heart. I like to be a surgeon and if I had to beat you to a pulp it might ruin my hands.” Blaine didn’t get a chance to respond before a pair of scrubs were being thrust at him.

Two hours later, Blaine was pacing back and forth in front of a door. Only four people down in a hospital wide shooting.

Why couldn’t Blaine have been one of them?

Why was he wishing that he had taken the bullet instead of that man?

Because the man didn’t deserve it.He was innocent.

So did that mean Blaine did? No...

Then what’s the problem?

Why are you in so deep over someone you’ve never even met?

Blaine throws up his hands in frustration.

Five hours later, Blaine is joined by a couple other groups of people, all family of the other gunshot victims.

Nine hours after, Blaine’s phone is buzzing, Cooper’s name flashes on the ID, “Hello?” Blaine’s voice is gruff when he responds, “Hey Coop!”

“Blaine, damn it! Where are you?!”

“I’m in the waiting room of the OR. Chill. I’m fine.”

“YOU’RE WHERE?! WHY?”

Blaine has to hold the phone away from his ear, “It’s a long story.”

“Then you damn well better start explaining! I have been worried sick! You just walk out! And ten minutes later they’re locking us down! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I HAVE BEEN?!”

Blaine wants to chuckle, sometimes he would swear Cooper had been the hormonal pregnant woman, not Elise, “I know, Coop. Just chill. How’s Elise? How’s Amber?”

“They’re fine. They moved us all into one room, so it’s kind of crowded, but the Police say it’s safer this way.”

“Safer? I thought they got the guy.”

“They did, but it’s some precautionary bull shit. Now care to explain why the hell you’re in the OR waiting room?”

“Coop, it’s such a long story. When they let you go, come meet me here. I’ll explain everything.”

“This had better be damn good Blaine.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Don’t you ‘dad’ me. I was worried sick.”

“I know Coop. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“Me too. Give Elise a hug for me and kiss my niece. Tell them I send my love.”

Thirteen hours later a nurse bustled out of the doors labeled, “Authorized Personnel Only” she looked around, “Kurt Hummel? The family of Kurt Hummel?” Blaine stood up hesitantly, he wasn’t family but no one else had shown up, “Um, I guess that’s me.” The nurse eyed him uneasily, “And how are you related to Dr. Hummel?” Blaine chewed his lip, “Um, cousins?” The nurse clearly didn’t buy it, but at that moment the asian woman Blaine recognized as Tina came through the doors, “Take him to see Kurt. Read him in.” The nurse spluttered, “B-but Dr. Chang he’s---” Tina cut her off, “Then I’ll do it,”

Tina turned to Blaine, “Follow me please.”

Blaine didn’t say anything just followed. It was silent for a few steps before Tina cleared her throat.

Blaine glanced at her, her face had softened and she looked years younger than she had when barking orders,“Mike told me what happened.”

Blaine shrugged, “Good. Cause I wish I knew.”

Tina smiled at him warmly, “Kurt saw something in you.”

“That’s what Rachel said. But it’s ridiculous. He didn’t even really see me until he was already hit.”

“Blaine, let me tell you something. I’ve known Kurt the longest out of anyone here. I know him better than I know myself. I can tell that you feel like he took that bullet for nothing, but I know he saw something in you worth saving.” Blaine didn’t say anything, and Tina continued.

“Kurt’s dad won’t be able to make it for a few more hours, and his brother’s busy with other patients, and I really don’t want him to be alone. So can I read you in and trust you to be there until a family member arrives?”

“Of course.”

“Excellent. I like you Blaine.”

“Thank you. Erm...I think.” Tina laughed softly and opened a door to reveal Kurt, his eyes shut, an oxygen line under his nose, IV’s taped to his hands, and thick bandages creating ripples in the gown.

Blaine stood awkwardly by his bedside as Tina talked, slipping back into the hard, older-seeming woman. “The bullet entered from behind, just barely knicking an artery to the left of the heart. It lodged in between a couple of veins, spawning the heavy bleeding. He lost several liters of blood, all of which we replaced by way of transfusion. While on the table he flat lined twice, and due to the lack of oxygen to the brain for those periods of time, he may have some brain damage. We have placed him in a medically induced coma, which could last for anywhere from three to seven days. When he does wake up however, he will be in a severe amount of pain.”

Tina slid a pen into the binder rings of the chart. When she spoke again, her voice was soft once more, “You can hold his hand if you want to.” Blaine didn’t respond, just clasped the porcelain hand in both of his own.

Tina brushed a hand over Kurt’s chestnut locks, “Kurtie hon, you sure do like your dramatic beginnings don’t you?” And with that, she exited the room. Blaine sits in silence for hours.

The only sounds are Kurt’s shallow breathing, the beeping of the heart monitor, and the going ons of the hospital outside the room. For some reason Blaine can’t explain, he can’t bring himself to feel like he shouldn’t be here. This is a stranger’s room. Given that stranger may have saved his life. But still, shouldn’t it feel the least bit like intruding? It didn’t though. Blaine can still feel the impact of Kurt’s body colliding with his own. Shouldn’t it have felt like a foreign body? Unknown? It didn’t though. Its presence felt so familiar, more familiar than Blaine’s own. Blaine can still picture Kurt’s bright blue eyes. Shouldn’t they have looked like a stranger’s eyes? Like he had never seen them before? They didn’t though. They felt so familiar, like he had seen them everyday of his life. And even now, holding Kurt’s hand, its weight felt so familiar. Like the words of an old song slipping off his tongue. Like the halls of his high school. Like the back of his hand. It didn’t feel like a stranger’s hand.

Blaine wanted to smack himself. He could feel it. He could feel himself falling for this beautiful stranger. Damn it Blaine. You don’t even know if he’s gay, Blaine berated himself. But what was it Mike said? Something about ‘bout time Kurt got some’. And he was talking to me. He as good as told me Kurt’s gay. Blaine felt like punching the air in victory. How do you know he’s not dating someone else? Blaine momentarily felt his hope slip, Oh no---Wait. Nope. He can’t be, Mike said he hadn’t ‘gotten any’. Kurt’s got to be single. Blaine felt slightly better now, How do you even know you’re his type? For this, Blaine had no answer. It was true, he knew nothing about Kurt, other than that he was a doctor, kind, and beautiful. Oh for the love of---Why am I even thinking about this?! The man’s on his deathbed for me! Blaine was genuinely glad that mind-reading was a virtual impossibility, because if anyone ever knew what had just been going on in his head he would be extremely mortified.

Blaine sighed, stroking a thumb across the back of Kurt’s knuckles. Blaine checked the time on his phone. Five am. Christ, Blaine thought, it’s not even the same day anymore. It had been almost four hours since Tina had dropped Blaine off, and Blaine had to wonder if she was going to come back. He decided that she probably wouldn’t, as she was most certainly needed in other places.

Just as Blaine was about to lay back in the chair a nurse had placed beside Kurt’s bed, the door burst open. A bald man in a plaid shirt stomped in, “Kurt!” He exclaimed. The man (who Blaine assumed was Kurt’s father) didn’t even seem to notice Blaine, he grabbed for Kurt’s hand (the one Blaine wasn’t already holding) but stopped as he noticed the IV taped to it. It wasn’t until the man reached for the other hand that he took in the second presence in the room, “Who’re you?” The man’s voice was gruff with emotion. Blaine jerked back, “I---uh. Blaine Anderson, sir.” Blaine stood, extending one of his hands to the man. The man didn’t shake hands with Blaine, “Care to tell me why you’ve got ahold of my boy’s hand?” Blaine gulped, unsure of how to respond. The man’s face softened a bit at Blaine’s hesitence, “Look kid, if you’re with Kurt, I’m not going to bite your head off. S’long as you’re honest about it.” Blaine blinked a couple times, “Um, no. No sir. It’s not like that.” Burt nodded skeptically, “Care to tell me what it is like then?” Blaine bit his lip, “What all have the nurses told you?”

The man’s deeply worried, borderline insane, expression was back, “That there was a shooting. He flatlined. Blood loss. Possible brain damage due to lack of oxygen.” Blaine nodded solemnly. The man--Mr. Hummel, Blaine mentally corrected, spoke again, “I still don’t know why you’re holding Kurt’s hand. How do you know my son?” Blaine chewed the inside of his cheek, opting for the truth, “I---the thing is Mr. Hummel. I don’t really. I’ve never met Kurt before in my life. I’ve known him for a little under twenty-two hours now.”

Mr. Hummel looked confused,“It’s Burt. Now, care to elaborate?”

Blaine sighed, “Mr---I mean Burt. I....how about I just start from the beginning?”

Burt crossed his arms, “Sounds as good a place as any.”

Blaine nodded, then was about to sit back down, before he jerked up, “Oh. God. Excuse me. Um, here, please sit.” It took some convincing, but eventually Burt took a seat in the chair next to Kurt’s bed, and Blaine stood on the other side.

“So this morning--I mean I guess yesterday morning now. My niece was born---”

“That’s great kid, but what’s that got to do with Kurt.” “Trust me Mr--”

“Burt, kid. It’s Burt.”

“Burt then. Anyway, a couple of hours after her birth, I decided to take a walk. Wanted to give my brother and his wife some private time. I walked around the hospital for hours. And that’s when this all started.”

Blaine tried to swallow the lump in his throat that was forming, “I didn’t really notice it at first. Because they don’t announce it over the intercom. But the whole place went into lockdown. Entire wings were closed off, and when the wing---when the wing Kurt was in closed off, I was in there too. I was confused so I was walking to the nearest nurses station to ask what was going on and--” Blaine choked and he saw genuine concern in Burt’s eyes.

Burt reached over to pat the hand Blaine had on Kurt’s arm, “Look kid, if this is too hard, I can find Tina or Mike or Rachel, I’m sure they could tell me.”

Blaine gulped, “No. I can do this. I just---I feel so bad about it Mr--”

Burt glared at him, “Kid. Try to call me Mr. Hummel one more time and I’ll snap a finger. And it won’t be my own.”

Blaine nodded, “Right. Yes. Sorry. I’ll---uh---I’ll give you the short version.”

“That’d be nice.”

“Yes. So I was walking down the hall and that’s when I saw the man. The shooter. I saw him raise his gun, but then...Kurt. Kurt was there and he knocked me to the ground. I was so confused, because I heard the bang. I heard the bullet flying. But I didn’t....I didn’t feel it.”

Blaine felt his face crumple, “I’m so, so sorry that this happened to him, Burt. I’m sorry he saved me. I’m sorry you have to be here. I’m sorry.”

Burt stood up and put an arm around Blaine, “Look kid,” Burt tapped Blaine’s temple to make him meet Burt’s eyes, “Do not ever. Apologize for what happened today, do you understand me? I get that you feel bad about this. I feel bad about it too. But it’s no one’s fault. I heard that the guy was a schizo, it was somebody else’s job to keep him on his meds, and they didn’t, and this is just the aftermath. You have nothing to apologize for. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. And don’t. Do not. Ever. Be sorry that Kurt saved your life. Kurt doesn’t do anything rash, and if he saved your life, it’s because he saw something in you. And I know him, I know he’s not sorry he did it. In fact, if he were awake, he’d probably slap you for saying such a thing.” Burt chuckled as he thought of his son. Blaine mopped at the tears in his eyes, feeling incredibly stupid for the way he reacted.

When Burt noticed that Blaine had calmed down, he went back to sit in the chair. They sat in amicable silence for a while, until Burt finally spoke up, “I know you feel bad that he’s here, in this hospital bed, but I think you should know, that in truth I’m glad for the excuse to come check up on him.” Blaine nodded, “Do you live very far away?” Burt shrugged, “We’re from Ohio, I own a mechanic shop in Lima.” Blaine flashed a small smile, “That’s cool. I’m from Westerville. Where’d Kurt go to school,” Blaine doesn’t even think about it before the questions out, “I mean--Uh. Sorry, that sounds kind of nosy, doesn’t it? I apologize.” Burt just chuckles, “No, no. It’s fine, really. I miss getting to talk about my kids. And it’s only natural that you should be curious.” Blaine didn’t say anything, but Burt continued, “He and his step-brother Finn went to McKinely. You heard of it?” Blaine had to think on it, “Hm...yeah, actually I think my school’s show choir went against theirs a couple times.” Burt grinned, “You might have seen them then. They were both in Glee Club their whole high school careers. Where’d you go to school?” Blaine swallowed, “Uh...I transferred to Dalton my sophomore year.” Blaine worries for a minute that Burt will question it, but breathes a sigh of relief when he says, “Oh yeah, with the blazers?”

Blaine nodded, “With the blazers.”

Burt looked like he was enjoying a private joke and Blaine questioning eyebrow, “It’s nothing, really. It’s just I spent a lot of time trying to get Kurt to go there and he refused because of the uniforms. He’s very passionate about his clothes, see. He was very disappointed to learn that he couldn’t bedazzle his scrubs.”

Blaine couldn’t help but laugh aloud, “Kurt sounds great.”

Burt nodded, “Kurt is great. He’s a good man,” Burt looked a little wistful, “He’s just a very independent man.” Blaine felt things quickly becoming heavy and wanted to lighten the mood, “Could you tell me more about him?”

“Well what more would you like to know?”

“I don’t know. Anything.”

Blaine and Burt spent the whole day talking about Kurt, and the more Blaine learned about him, the more he had that ‘old familiar song’ feeling running through his veins. It seemed like every little thing that was revealed about Kurt, Blaine had known for years. But that wasn’t possible. Was it? Of course not. They only just met yesterday!

Around eight pm, there’s a knock on the door. Burt and Blaine look up expectantly, all day nurses have come in and out to check Kurt’s vitals, but none knocked. Tina came in, a paper bag in hand, she tossed it at Burt, “Eat up. Then grab your coat. We’re leaving.” Burt spluttered, “W-what?” Tina giggled, “C’mon Burt. I’ve had nurses watching you this whole time. I know you haven’t eaten, and if Kurt wakes up and finds out I haven’t been watching out for you, he’ll kill me.” Burt wrinkled his nose at the sandwich he pulled out, “Don’t know why you and Kurt consider this food.” Tina rolled her eyes, “Because you’re on a strict diet and it’s healthy. Now Blaine, Mike should be here in a few minutes with real people food. I told him to grab you a burger and a coke. I hope that’s okay?” Blaine looked up in bewilderment, “Y-you didn’t have to do that!” Tina smiled, “Puh-lease. Obviously you haven’t been on the receiving end of one of Kurt’s rants. If he saved you just to have you starve to death, I would never hear the end of it.” Blaine blushed and looked down at the covers. Tina nudged him and let out a carefree laugh, “Lighten up Blaine. He’s going to be fine. Now Burt, hurry up and eat. My back is killing me and I want to get home.” Burt frowned, “So go home.”

Tina turned a glare on him, “Don’t pull that with me Burt. You’re coming home with me tonight and you’ll do it without complaint or so help me god I will have you banned from this room.” “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

“You couldn’t.”

“Finn can.”

“He wouldn’t.”

“Believe me Burt, he’s way more scared of me than of you.”

“I regret the day you ever learned the ‘Bitch Stare of Doom’ from Kurt.”

“Everyone does.”

Blaine quirked an eyebrow, “The what stare of what?”

Tina looked at him, smiling once more, “Kurt does this thing, like he glares at you super hard. Like scary hard. Honestly, if he directs the look at you, you should run. Run and hide. But in high school, Finn named the look ‘The Bitch Stare of Doom.’”

“Right. And who’s Finn?”

“Kurt’s step-brother.”

“Oh. Right.”

At that moment, Mike walks through the door, “Hey Blaine,” he kisses Tina’s cheek, “Got you a cheeseburger and an extra fry. I know you’ve got to be starving.” Blaine looks at Mike gratefully, “Thank you, Mike. Really. You didn’t have to do this.” Mike chuckles and winds an arm around Tina’s waist, “Puh-lease. Like I have a death wish. Speaking of which, Burt. Home. Now.”

Burt sighs, “What did he do? Make you all sign a contract ‘If I am in a medically induced coma, please continue my torture of my father?” Mike chuckles, “No. But,” Mike points at himself and Tina, “Don’t have a death wish. Look, I know you’re worried about Kurt, but I’ll be here all night looking after him and all I ask is that you make sure and look after Tina.”

Tina groaned, “Um, hello? Fully grown adult with medical degree here. Perfectly capable of looking after myself.”

Mike smiled and kissed her temple, “I know sweetie. But I worry about you.”

Tina rolled her eyes, “And I, you, my dear. I you. Look,” she picked up her purse and Burt’s coat, “At least try and get some sleep.” She tiptoed to kiss his lips, took Burt’s hand, and on her way out kissed Blaine’s cheek, “Look after him Blaine.” Blaine smiled in response, watching as she left.

When the door shut, Blaine looked up at Mike,“So what do we do now?” Mike chuckled, “Well first, you eat.” Blaine looked at him uncertainly, and Mike sighed, reaching for the McDonald’s bag. Mike carefully pulled out the burger and unwrapped it, gingerly handing it to Blaine, “Eat.”

Blaine doesn’t feel very hungry but takes a bite anyway.

Mike pulls a chair up to the bed, “So, Blaine, how you feeling?” Blaine shrugged. Mike chuckled, “Oh come on. Day you been having? Gotta have some thoughts.” Blaine shrugged again and Mike huffed, “Okay, look Blaine. It is only by the very hair of my chinny chin chin, and the fact that Kurt is the Chief's second in command, that there is not a whole barrage of psychiatrists in here cross examining you. You’re either going to talk to me, or leave here to talk to some stranger.”

Blaine looked at Mike, “You are a stranger. You’re all strangers.”

“But you don’t find us strange.”

“In the threatening since of the word? No.” “Care to explain?”

“Promise you won’t check me into a psych unit?” “If I did, Kurt would kill me.”

“Okay. First. There’s that. How come you all seem so bent on protecting me for him?”

“Because we’ve all known Kurt for a very long time. And Kurt can be a very scary person when he wants to be. And I have a feeling that you being in anything less than perfect condition when he wakes up may make him want to be scary.”

“But that doesn’t even make since. He doesn’t even know me!”

“And you don’t know him.”

“And?”

“So why are you here.”

“I--uh---I”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know Blaine. I can tell you know.”

“I...first it was because I needed to know he would be okay. And then it was because I didn’t want him to be alone. And now...”

“Now it’s because?”

“Promise you won’t think I’m nuts?”

“Swear it.”

“It’s just...I was standing there, and then Tina says, ‘You can hold his hand if you want to.’ And I did, because I felt this pull in my gut. Like I just had to hold his hand. And then I did. And it was so weird. Because I’ve never held his hand before in my life. Never laid eyes on him before. Never even heard the name ‘Kurt’. But it was like he was just so familiar. Like I’d held his hand a thousand times before. Like I’d looked into his eyes all my life. And even when he was knocking me over, I felt like I’d felt his weight before,” Blaine claps a hand to his forehead, “Oh dear lord, I sound insane. You’re really gonna have me committed no aren’t you?” Mike laughed, “Nah. I can empathize with that.”

Only then did Blaine catch the ring on Mike’s finger, “How long have you two been married?”

“Just a year last month. Think you can keep a secret?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“What about you, Kurt? Can you keep a secret.”

The heart monitor beeps in response.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Tina and I just found out two weeks ago that she’s pregnant.” Even though Blaine had barely known Mike for a whole day and a half, he felt ecstatic for the man, “That’s fantastic. Congratulations.” Mike grinned, “Thanks. We were planning on telling Kurt yesterday, but,” Mike glances sadly at all the machines, and a heavy silence ensues.

Several minutes pass before Mike finally nudges the untouched soft drink on the table next to Blaine, “Drink up.” Blaine did as he was told, “Can I ask you something?” Mike shrugged, “Go for it. We’ve got all night.”

“Is it crazy to think I might be falling for him?”

“Do I think that it’s crazy to fall in love with someone you’ve never had even a single conversation with? Yes. But let me let you in on a little secret. Love is crazy. The more you love someone, the less sense anything makes.”

Blaine huffed, “I’m nuts. He might not even like me.”

“Blaine. Need I remind you where you sit? He saw something in you. Something worth saving.”

“But what?!”

“Honestly Blaine. I don’t know. Tina could give you a guess, but even she could be wrong. You’re just going to have to wait until he wakes up.”

Blaine let out a groan and raked his fingers roughly through his curls, “NRGGH.”