Chapter 20:

They rode the elevator down and Blaine continued to dial Kurt's number over and over, but he wasn't picking up. Something felt off and maybe he was overreacting, but he didn't want to take any chances, not when Kurt's safety might be at risk.

"Will you quit doing that?"

Blaine blinked across at Santana. "Doing what?"

"Quit bouncing and sighing," she said. "It's driving me nuts."

"Sorry," he exhaled. "I'm going to kill him if he's done anything—"

"Shut up, Anderson."

The elevator stopped and they walked out and instead of heading for the door, Santana turned left.

"Where are you going?"

"Just come on, Blaine."

Blaine followed her, still redialling Kurt's number, but it didn't look as if he would be picking up any time soon. He groaned and Santana told him to shut up again and then she stopped outside a door.

"What the—"

"Blue's Clues was, like, sleeping with the nutjob, right?"

"Um, I don't think they were—"

"Anderson!" Santana said, sighing tiredly. "Do you want to find Ladyface or not?"

"Of course, but—"

"Then shut your trap and let me handle this," she said, then thumped on the door with her fist.

There was a loud bang and then someone swearing, followed by some shuffling sounds, then the door opened slightly.

"Open the door, asshole."

Sebastian groaned and opened the door the rest of the way. He was shirtless and had his pants on backwards. His hair was stuck to his forehead and he looked a little flushed. Santana pushed past him and Blaine followed.

"You best be sweating like that because you've got a boy in your bed, because I'm gonna have all kinds of nightmares if you're like this from doing shit by yourself," Santana said, folding her arms.

Sebastian looked annoyed. "I'm kind of busy," he said.

"Your boy toy can wait," she said. "By the looks of things, he already got off."

Sebastian followed her line of sight down to his chest and unfortunately, Blaine did, too. Sebastian cursed and grabbed some tissue paper from the kitchen counter, then wiped his chest off. Blaine wished he could wipe his memory clean, too.

"So, what do you want?" he asked, throwing the tissues in the bin. "Where's the third bear? Or maybe he's Goldilocks."

"Can you shut up?" Santana asked. "I realise you love the sound of your own voice, but seriously, shut it. The sooner you give us what we want, the sooner you can go back to screwing the gay prostitute, or whatever."

Sebastian rolled his eyes and leaned back against the counter. "What exactly could you possibly want from me?"

"We need to know where Crazy Colton lives," Santana told him. "And since you spent most of your time sucking him off, we figured you must have spent some nights at his place. You know. Letting him fuck you."

Sebastian chuckled. "Okay," he said. "First off, Colin never fucked me. I'm a top—"

"If you're done mending your deflated ego, we'd really like to get what we came for."

"Secondly," Sebastian went on, "I was only ever at his place once. And he drove. I don't know his address."

Blaine groaned and stepped forward. "Do you have a vague idea of where he might live? Sebastian, please. I need you to be fast about this."

Sebastian raised one eyebrow. He looked from Blaine to Santana and then back again.

"Tell me what's going on."

Santana tried to protest, but Blaine wasn't up to listening to them fighting, so he spoke over her.

"Kurt went over there to tutor him," he told Sebastian. "He called and he sounded shaken a little while ago and now he's not picking up and I just have a really bad feeling about this. So, please, put your dislike for him aside for a minute and just help us out."

Sebastian rolled his eyes and sighed. "Look, I'm really busy—"

"Bullshit!" Santana spat out.

"Didn't we call a truce? Civil neighbours and all that?" Blaine asked.

Sebastian met his eyes and stared for a few seconds, then he sighed. "Fine," he said. "But I'm driving and I need a minute to get rid of...of...well, whoever that guy is. Go downstairs and wait."

Blaine sighed in relief and then Santana was pulling him out the door. "You've got three minutes or I'm coming back up here and I will not hesitate to go all Lima Heights on your ass!" she shouted.

"It's cute, because I have no idea where Lima Heights is."

Blaine pushed her down the hall before she could shout back at him. They waited by the door. They were there for what felt like a long time and Blaine began fidgeting, his nerves getting the better of him.

"Try calling him again."

Blaine looked up at Santana, then dialled again, but there was still no answer.

"Fuck," Blaine said, quietly.

"You really think little Colin is capable of doing something damaging to your little girlfriend?"

Blaine looked up at Sebastian's voice. He was fully dressed now, pants on the right way.

"Can we just go?" Santana asked.

"You don't?" Blaine asked him. Sebastian knew Colton better than Blaine did.

Sebastian only shrugged and walked out the entrance door. Blaine and Santana followed. They got in Sebastian's car and he started driving.

"Where's the escort?" Santana asked.

"Wasn't an escort," Sebastian told her.

"Sure," she laughed, cruelly.

"It was that kid from our English class. The one with the blonde hair."

"That really narrows it down," Santana said sarcastically.

"He's showering, but I gave him clear instructions that he has to leave as soon as he's done."

"Can we stop talking about your sex life?" Blaine asked.

Sebastian eyed him through the rearview mirror. "Have you tried calling him?"

"Of course," Blaine said. Did Sebastian think he was an idiot?

"Not Hummel," Sebastian said. "Colin."

"We don't have his number," Santana said. "Do you—Oh. Of course, you do. I bet you guys had hours of creepy sexting going on."

"Can you shut her up?" Sebastian asked, frustrated.

Blaine shook his head, dizzy. "Can you just call him please?"

Sebastian sighed and pulled over. He took his phone out and pressed a few buttons, then held it to his ear. Blaine leaned forward, hoping for some sort of reply, but none came. Sebastian shook his head.

"No answer," he mumbled, throwing his phone on the passenger seat.

"Can we keep driving?" Blaine asked. "I mean, you have some idea of where he lives, right?"

Sebastian shrugged. "I think so," he said. "I can't promise you I'll find it right away, but.."

"Try," Blaine demanded.

He started driving again. "Look, I don't know what you think might have happened. You think Colton's gonna tie him up in his basement, or something?"

"Asshole," Santana said. "Way to calm him down."

Blaine shook his head. No scenario Sebastian mentioned could beat the ones he had been conjuring up himself.

"Well, Colton doesn't have a basement," Sebastian pointed out, "if that makes you feel any better."

"It doesn't," Blaine told him.

"Can't say I didn't try."

Twenty minutes later, Sebastian started making small hmm sounds.

"What?" Blaine asked. "What is it?"

"I think it could be somewhere around here.." he said, looking around.

"Pull over!" Blaine said.

Sebastian did so, immediately and once the car had stopped, Blaine climbed out.

"Anderson, what are you doing?" Sebastian asked.

"Knocking on doors," he told him. "If he lives around here, someone's bound to know him, right?"

Sebastian sighed. "He hasn't lived here long, maybe not."

"We have to try, right?" Blaine asked, looking to Santana.

She looked unsure, then sighed and climbed out after him.

"I'll take this floor, you go upstairs. Keep your phone on and we'll call if we find him, right?" she said.

Blaine nodded.

"What about me?" Sebastian asked, still inside the car.

"Get the fuck out and help us, asshole," Santana said.

They were in the wrong building. No one knew Colton there and Blaine was feeling panicked. It wasn't like Kurt not to answer his calls for so long. Something was wrong and he needed to find them or he was going to go out of his mind.

"Maybe we should call the cops," Blaine said, once they were back in the car.

"Relax," Santana said. "We don't need to do that. Do you think Berry might know something? I mean, she might know someone he hangs out with and we could ask them where he lives."

"He said he doesn't talk to anyone at school," Sebastian told them. "I'm pretty sure it's around here somewhere.."

"Think harder," Blaine urged. "What did he live near? What floor? What colour was the building? Anything!"

Santana laid a hand down on his shoulder. "Okay," she said. "We'll figure it out. Just keep your head on."

"Santana, I can't—"

"Well, try harder," she said. "Look, Blue's Clues. Drive around a bit. Maybe we'll get lucky. Blainers, you keep calling Kurt. Text him. Maybe he can't talk right now."

Blaine nodded and pulled out his phone and Sebastian started the car. Blaine typed a text.

To: Kurt.
Hey. I tried calling. Look, let me know you're okay. Please, Kurt. We're trying to find you, but we don't have an address. Text it to me? Just get in touch. I'm so worried. I love you so much. Just get back to me. Please, baby.

He sent it and held his phone in his sweating hands, willing it to buzz with a reply. It never did.

They drove around for another ten minutes and then Blaine couldn't take it any more. He groaned and buried his face in his hands.

"We can't just drive around like this," he panted. "He might not even live here."

"No, he does," Sebastian insisted. "Seriously, it's around here."

"Anderson, look," Santana said, "I think Hummel is fine, okay? Maybe Colton is just freaking him out a little and he doesn't want to upset him. I'll bet that's it. I'm sure he'll call in a little while and he'll be absolutely fine, okay? We'll keep looking, you keep calling and we will find him, alright? Just keep calm. Deep breaths."

Blaine nodded. He hoped she was right.

A few minutes later, Sebastian stopped the car and looked up, eyes narrowed.

"Pretty sure this is it," he said. "I mean, I think it is. It looks familiar."

"Worth a try, right?" Blaine said, opening the door.

"Anderson," Sebastian said. "I'm thinking up the stairs and down the hall, right to the very end. I think."

"'Kay," Blaine said, then he ran inside, Santana following. He made it up the stairs, heart thumping, then went down the hall. He wondered if it was the on the right or left.

"Pick one," Santana said.

"Uh," Blaine said.

"Right," Sebastian said, coming up behind them. "This is the right place."

Blaine hammered on the door and if Colton didn't open it up in the next twenty seconds, he was kicking the door in. He waited, but nothing happened.

"Colton, open the damned door!" Blaine shouted. "You have five seconds or I'm kicking it in and you can explain to your landlord why you're missing a door."

He waited for a reply and none came, so he stood back, but Santana grabbed his arm. He looked at her for an explanation.

"Calm the fuck down," she said, then stepped forward. "Hey, nutjob. If you don't open this door I'm spray painting every inch of the halls with your name and don't think I won't do it. That's how we do it in Lima Heights Adjacent!"

"Again with the Lima Heights?" Sebastian asked, but they both disregarded him.

"I'm kicking his door in," Blaine decided.

"Fine," Santana said, finally.

They stood back and Blaine gave the door a few shoves and it opened. They walked through the empty apartment and no one appeared to be around. Blaine saw a glass and a cup on the table and Kurt's bag by the sofa.

"Fuck," he mumbled, heading for the bedroom.

"I'll try the other one," Santana said.

Blaine nodded and tried to open the door, but it was locked. His blood ran cold in his veins. He looked to Santana and she pushed the other door open and walked inside. He heard her say something and followed her inside, just as she punched Colton in the nose. Blaine went towards him, Sebastian following. He grabbed Colton by the collar and shoved him up against the wall, not caring about the fact that he was supposed to be letting go of his violent streak.

"Where is he, you freak?" he asked, teeth clenched.

"Is this Kurt's phone?" Santana asked, behind him.

Blaine turned his head and looked at her. He shivered. "Yes," he confirmed, turning back to Colton. "What's going on?" he asked.

Colton stammered and Blaine wasn't sure what he was saying.

"Look, you little creep," he said, louder now. "Tell me where the fuck my boyfriend is or I'm putting you through the window."

"Blaine?"

Blaine turned his head at the sound of Kurt's voice. He let Colton go, throwing him to the ground and turned around.

"Kurt?" he said, voice going a little high.

"Bathroom," Sebastian said, gesturing to the door.

It opened and Kurt came out looking surprised, his blue eyes wide, cheeks flushed. Blaine went to him and pulled him close, relief surging through his body.

"Fuck," he said, quietly. "God, Kurt. You're okay. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said. "I'm fine."

Blaine turned to look at Colton, who was looking timid, standing by the wall. He moved to go towards him, but Kurt pulled him back. He looked at him.

"Let's just go home," he said, sounding tired. "Don't do anything, let's just go."

"But—"

"I'll tell you everything, I promise," Kurt informed him. "Right now I just really want to go home."

Blaine sighed, Kurt's eyes wide and shining. "Alright," he said, taking his hand.

"Go wait in the car," Santana said.

"What?" Blaine asked. "Santana—"

"Just do it."

Kurt tugged him out of the room and grabbed his bag. Sebastian walked out with them and they headed down the stairs.

"How did you find me?" Kurt asked.

"Sebastian," Blaine said. "He'd been here before. It took us a while, but.." He shrugged.

Kurt looked back at Sebastian. "I sort of owe you a thank you, I guess."

Sebastian smiled, slowly. "Guess so," he said. "Are you..okay and all?"

Kurt nodded. "I'm fine," he said. "I just really need to get home."

They reached the car and climbed inside. Kurt and Blaine sat together in the back seat. Blaine pulled him close to him and kissed the top of his head.

"I was going crazy worrying about you," he told Kurt.

"I dropped my phone in his room, then locked myself in the bathroom," Kurt said. "I would have called if I could."

"Speaking of which," Sebastian said. "This is yours." He handed him his phone back.

"Thanks," Kurt said, looking down at it. "Crap. I didn't mean to make you worry that much. You called so many times. I would have been going out of my mind if I'd called you this many times and gotten no reply."

"You're okay," Blaine said. "That's the important thing."

"What do you think Santana's doing?" Sebastian asked.

"I dread to think," Kurt said, sighing.

"Do you think we should make sure she hasn't killed him?" Blaine asked.

"I'll go," Sebastian said. "But no fucking in the backseat of my car. Only I get to do that."

Sebastian got out and Kurt and Blaine grimaced. Blaine looked down at Kurt, thinking about how lost he had felt when he'd thought he'd been hurt. He just really loved him.

"You're okay, right?" Blaine asked. "I mean, you're not hurt?"

"No," Kurt said. "I'm fine. He just sort of creeped me out. I'll tell you everything once we're home. I just really want to get home right now."

"Understandable," Blaine said, kissing the top of his head again. "I'm so happy you're okay. I was so scared."

"I'm fine," Kurt told him, hugging him tighter.

Blaine tilted Kurt's chin upwards and kissed his lips sweetly.

"Hate to break up this little love fest," Santana said, opening the passenger door. "But you're okay, right, Hummel?"

They stopped kissing and Kurt smiled.

"I'm fine," he said. "What did you do?"

Sebastian climbed into the driver's seat. "She gave him quite the beating," he said. "Now I know what they do over in Lima Heights."

"You know it," Santana said, smiling to herself.

Sebastian started the car.

"There's so much sexual tension between you guys," Kurt told them. "Seriously, if you both weren't gay—"

"Well, we are, so shut it," Santana said. "I'm going to have to scrub my mind clean after that statement."

Blaine laughed with Kurt and they headed home.

The second they were in the door, Kurt pulled Blaine into their bedroom. He collapsed down on the bed and groaned. Blaine went and sat next to him.

"What happened?" he asked.

Kurt groaned a second time, then opened his eyes and looked up at his boyfriend. He sighed and pulled Blaine down next to him.

"Okay," he said. "Everything was going fine,—well, apart from the part where he changed into those terrible clothes—but it was going okay, with the tutoring and all and then when we were done, I was ready to leave, but he wanted to talk. He looked like he had something on his mind, so I thought maybe listening would help him. He started asking me how he could impress a guy and I figured he had his eye on someone. It's funny, because for a second, I thought it might be Sebastian, but.. Um, so he asked me about you and why I liked you and I told him and he started to get a little too close.

"Then he started saying he knew I liked him, but I just didn't want to, because I felt like I was betraying you, or something? I don't know. Anyway, I tried telling him he was—that he had it all wrong, you know? But then he was, he was kissing me and I pushed him off, but he kind of..like, went back in for another? So, he was sort of..on me again and I didn't know what was happening, really, but I pushed him off again and I felt sort of, I don't know, flustered and I went into his bathroom and that's when I called you and then I went back outside and I told him again that I felt nothing for him, but he..he was adamant, you know? And I tried to leave, but he had this..this look in his eye and told me to stay and I don't know why I did it, but I went back into the bathroom and I locked the door.

"I guess I dropped my phone when I spun around. So I just sat there at the edge of the tub wondering what the hell I was doing. I don't know why I didn't just tell him to get the hell out of the way and let me leave. I mean, I should have, right?"

Blaine shrugged. "He's sort of scary. I mean, he has those dark, evil eyes and stuff."

Kurt smiled slightly. "I didn't mean to worry you," he told Blaine, truthfully. "I just panicked, I guess. It was a dumb thing to do, but he was saying all this stuff about him being my soulmate and I just couldn't get round the fact that he believed what he was saying. Do you think he's actually capable of being dangerous? I mean, really?"

Blaine shrugged again. "What kind of things did he say to you?"

Kurt shut his eyes.

"Just that I didn't have to worry about hurting your feelings and that I shouldn't let what he and I have slip away just because I feel like I'm betraying you. Which is crazy." Kurt swallowed. "He got a little brave then, telling me he was better in bed than you."

Blaine smiled at that.

"He started saying he wouldn't be rough with me, like you are—this just sounds crazier the more I think about it," Kurt said, shaking his head. "He said he wouldn't leave marks on me and...and stuff. Um, so, he was saying all of, uh, that. And then he said he'd told his mom about me. God." Kurt laughed weakly. "I think I just want to erase this entire night from my mind forever."

"I really think I'm going to punch him," Blaine told Kurt. "I should just go back over there now and—"

"He's definitely not worth it, Blaine."

"He freaked you out," Blaine protested. "He can't get away with doing something like that."

Kurt shook his head and shifted his body until his eyes were in line with Blaine's. He reached across and placed a hand on his cheek.

"Look," he said. "I'm fine. I'm still in one piece and I'll laugh about this in a couple of days, you'll see. I don't think he'll even speak to me again, not if Santana has anything to do with it—"

"Don't you think it should have been me? That threatened him, I mean?"

"Blaine," Kurt said, sighing quietly, "baby. It really doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Forget about it," Kurt said. "Seriously, it's over and I'd like to forget it. Besides, you showed up and got me out of there. Thank you. I would have eventually come out, but I'm glad you guys showed up when you did."

Kurt bent and kissed his lips once.

"I love you so much," Blaine told him, kissing him again.

"I love you, too," Kurt said, smiling. "I want to go shower, okay? I'll be right out."

Kurt pushed himself up, but Blaine reached out and caught his arm. Kurt looked down for an explanation.

"You're okay, right?" Blaine asked, eyes wide. "I mean, I know you keep saying it wasn't a big deal, but you sounded and looked pretty shaken. I just.. I want to make sure you're okay."

Kurt smiled and his heart contracted. He knew Blaine cared, but that didn't mean it wouldn't always have this effect on him.

"I'm absolutely fine," Kurt said. "I might have even overreacted a teeny, tiny, little bit."

Blaine smiled.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asked him. "I mean, you looked so scared. I want to make sure you're okay, too."

Blaine nodded. "I'm absolutely perfect as long as you are."

"As long as I'm perfect?" Kurt teased.

Blaine chuckled. "I guess that means I'll be perfect forever."

"Cheesy," Kurt said, rolling his eyes fondly. "Love you. be right out."

The following morning, Kurt woke up and Blaine was still asleep. His throat felt dry, so he climbed out of bed carefully and pulled on a pair of pyjama pants. He checked the time and it was only a little after five in the morning, so he still had time to sleep. He left the room to get some water and found Santana in the kitchen, making a sandwich. She heard Kurt coming up behind her, but didn't turn around.

"Please tell me you're wearing clothes," she said.

Kurt smiled. "Blaine would walk out here butt naked," he told her. "I, however, have better manners."

She turned and looked at him, smiling a bit.

"Want me to make you a sandwich?"

"I'm good," Kurt said. "I just wanted a glass of water."

"I woulda thought you'd want something a little stronger after last night," she said, turning back to her sandwich.

"It's much too early," he said, chuckling.

He watched as Santana filled a glass of water, grabbed her plate, then took both over to the kitchen table. She gestured for him to sit down.

"Come on," she said, sitting down herself. "Come tell Auntie 'Tana all about your night at the house of crazy."

Kurt sat down and took the glass of water from her, muttering a thank you. He sipped it, his throat feeling instantly better. Then he told her everything he had told Blaine about what had occurred at Colton's. She listened intently while eating her sandwich, lettuce and mayonnaise falling out of the bottom.

"You know, Hummel, I don't think he'll be bothering you again."

"You didn't murder him, right?" Kurt asked. "I mean, he's not dead or anything?"

Santana laughed. "I'm not going to jail over a worthless asshole like Crazy Colton," she told him. "Nah, I just made sure he knew what would happen if he messed with us again."

Kurt smiled. It seemed like such an unlikely friendship, but he was so glad to have her there.

"Thanks," he said. "I know we spend a lot of time getting on each others nerves, but I'm glad we're sort-of friends, Santana."

"Bet you never imagined being friends with McKinley's resident slut, huh?" she asked, grinning. "Then again, I bet you never imagined you'd be screwing McKinley's resident asshole jock, either. Or maybe you did imagine it."

Kurt blushed very slightly, because she was waggling an eyebrow at him, knowingly.

"Guess not," he said, quietly. "You're not a slut, Santana."

"Like hell I'm not," she said. "I slept with almost every guy at school."

"And now you're an out and proud lesbian," he said, smiling. "Which reminds me. Did you call Brittany?"

She sighed, looking down at the pieces of lettuce on the plate. She started chewing on it.

"I called," she told him. "But I don't know. I told her everything, but she's living in Ohio. How do we make that work if she lives there and I'm here?"

Kurt shrugged. He knew what it was like wanting to have a long distance relationship. Blaine hadn't wanted to hold him back and he guessed Santana and Brittany were dealing with the same thing now.

"What's she doing these days?" he asked. "Is she at school?"

"No," she said. "She's got a job at Breadstix. I guess she sort of has my old job. Ironic, huh?"

"So, she wouldn't think about coming out here?"

"I can't ask her to do that."

"I don't mean you have to ask her," Kurt explained. "I just meant that maybe she would want to. You know, if she knew you were totally serious about this relationship?"

Santana was quiet. She shrugged.

"Keep in touch with her," Kurt said. "You don't know what could happen."

"Just because your life is a freakin' romance novel doesn't mean mine is, too," she said.

"My life is not a romance novel, Santana," he said, frowning. "It took a lot to get to where we are now. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. You'll get there. You'll be okay. In the mean time, just don't give up."

She shook her head and sat back. "In the mean time, I'm just going to keep drowning my sorrows in alcohol," she told him. "You okay with me throwing a little party for my birthday in two weeks time?"

Kurt blinked. "Yeah," he said. "I guess. Just..don't trash the place, okay?"

"Oh, you'll be there to keep an eye on things. It could just be a small thing. Like Blainers had. Then I can go out and dance with strangers, or get laid, or whatever the fuck I want."

"You regretted that last time."

"I know," she said. "And I'll regret it again, if I do it. So, you, me, Anderson, Berry and Manboobs? Whaddya say?"

Kurt smiled. "Sounds like a blast."

"That's taking it a bit too far," she said, smiling. "But it could be worse, right?"

"Definitely," Kurt agreed. "It definitely could be worse."