Blaine rubbed his eyes and glanced at the wall clock. Who would be knocking on the door at 9pm?

Staggering down the hall, Blaine looked through the peephole. Shit. Sam.

Running his hands through his hair to try to tame it, Blaine looked down and saw there was a stain on his shirt. Fuck.

Knowing it was useless to delay things, he reluctantly opened the door.

Sam looked him over thoroughly, from his long unkempt hair, his stained tee, his tired eyes, and he nodded. "Yeah, thats what I thought." He stepped in, closing the door behind him.

"Hey, Sam. Nice of you to stop by. Can I get you a drink?" Blaine tried to see if acting like a normal host to Sam would shake the displeased expression off his face.

Sam scoffed and walked into the kitchen. He started making coffee. "I think youve had enough drinks already. Were going to have some coffee and hopefully sober you up enough to talk. Now go change your shirt."

Just having Sam talking sharply like that to him was making him more alert, pulling him out of his fuzzy haze. Nodding, he went to the washroom and splashed water on his face, brushed his hair and changed his shirt.

Sam was carrying a tray of coffee and heading towards the living room. Blaines heart sank. He rushed forward, grabbing the empty beer bottles to clear space on the coffee table.

Setting the tray down, Sam just shook his head at Blaine and helped him clear up the mess of bottles and empty glasses. He raised an eyebrow at the empty bottle of tequila. They carried everything to the kitchen and put them in the recycling bin and dishwasher.

"Does Kurt know its like this?" Sam poured out the coffee and settled back on the sofa.

Blaine followed his actions. Shaking his head, he glanced quickly at Sam. "Not really. I clean up, usually. Hes been getting in late, after Im in bed. I get up before he does in the mornings." He shrugged. "One time I left stuff out, and told him youd been over."

"So you are drinking alone, hiding it from others, lying to people about it..." Sam pinned him with a direct look. "Whats going on, Blaine? I havent seen you like this for years."

Blaine looked down at his coffee cup, knowing Sam was right to question this. "I dont know."

Sam put an arm around Blaines shoulders, giving him a squeeze. "Well, your business is going well, so Im guessing its about Kurt. You said you hardly see him because hes working late?"

Sighing, Blaine took a sip of coffee. "They're getting ready for opening night in about a month. Nate gave Kurt the Associate Director position so hes even more committed to making it work."

"But you hardly see him then." Sam nodded.

Blaine shrugged. "Im happy hes working again and doing so well at it. I can see this being his new career, so Im not going to stand in his way."

Sam sipped his coffee, looking at his friend. "Why did Kurt ask you to move in here, again?"

"He was still a little weak, and the nurse didnt want him alone in case he needed help or was overdoing things. Maybe just for emotional support too." Blaine looked back at Sam.

"Wouldnt you say those reasons valid anymore? Hes obviously come a long way in three months." Sam crossed his legs on the sofa.

Blaine poured himself another cup of coffee, stalling for time as he searched for the answer. He sighed, "Ok, youre right." Kurt was stronger physically. Hes rekindled old relationships He is back working. "But we are kind of involved now..."

Sam looked over Blaines troubled expression. "Obviously, you arent totally happy with how things are and you arent facing up to it. You know you drink when things are like that. What arent you facing up to?"

Blaine thought back to the last time Sam had had a talk like this with him. It was almost five years ago, when Blaine was crashing on Sams sofa as he passed through New York. He was on tour with a band, and they were taking a few days off before hitting the road again.

Sam had come home too many nights to find Blaine surrounded by empty beer bottles. They had talked long, way into the night, and Blaine finally had to admit to himself that he needed a career change. The instability around being a musician, working job to job, travelling so much, had been OK when Blaine started out. But after so many years, he was burnt out. It just didnt fit him anymore.

Blaine had finished the tour and moved back to New York, working music jobs in the city when he got them and other jobs as they came up. He had to face up that it was time for a career change.

"Kurt is amazing, but I dont know how he feels about me. Mostly Im just a convenience, I think. A friend and company when hes home. And lately, a bit of a fling." Blaine shrugged, feeling sad.

Sam wrapped his arms around Blaine. "Kurt is a great guy, and I know you really care about him. But you know this whole situation isnt healthy for you. You wouldnt be sitting around an empty apartment drinking if it was. You deserve better than being Kurts boyfriend, or whatever you call it, out of some sort of default. Time to come home, Blaine."

Blaine burrowed into Sams arms, glad that he had such a good friend that really understood him and cared enough to make him talk it out.

"What am I going to tell Kurt?" Blaine mumbled against Sams shoulder.

Pulling back, Sam got off the sofa. "You are going to have to figure that out. Id recommend the truth. Now, come on. Lets pack up your stuff. Ill take it home and you can stay to talk to Kurt. It will save you coming back later, when its more awkward, to get your shit."

Blaine nodded, thoughts whirling in his head, as he followed Sam to his bedroom.

---

He was idly watching TV when Kurt got home. The booze had worn off, leaving him feeling tired, but the coffee was keeping him awake. Not a good combination.

Kurt looked tired, but there was an energy around him still. Blaine had come to label it theatre. Kurt was energized by working in that environment, with so many highly trained singers, dancers and crew. It was obviously where he belonged.

Sinking onto the sofa, Kurt draped his arms around Blaine and gave him a hug. "You are still up. Good."

Blaine swallowed nervously. "Kurt, we need to talk." He got it out fast, needing to start this conversation before he lost his nerve or got distracted by Kurt.

Kurt stilled, pulling back and looking closely at Blaine.

Taking a deep breath, Blaine let it out slowly, trying to calm down. "Um... The three months are up and I think its time that I move home."

Kurts eyebrows rose, and Blaine saw a flash of hurt in his eyes before they dropped to his phone to type. "Blaine, no. I want you to stay." He reached over, taking Blaines hand in his.

Shaking his head, Blaine squeezed Kurts hand lightly before pulling back. "You wanted me to help you out, until you were strong enough. And now you are hardly even here. I think its a sure sign youre ready to be on your own, Kurt."

Getting up from the sofa, Blaine tried to keep his emotions under control. "I hope we can stay in touch, stay friends, Kurt." There were a thousand more things he wanted to say, but he was seconds away from losing it. Kurt was just blinking up at him, frozen in place, his big eyes troubled.

Turning quickly, Blaine walked down the hall, thankful that Sam had already taken his duffle bag of clothes. This was hard enough already, and he just wanted to go. Get back and crash in his own bed.

But then Kurt was just there, right in his face, pushing Blaine against the wall. His body was pushed fully against Blaines, pinning him as his lips found Blaines. The kisses were hot, deep and hard, and Blaine couldnt help but react, powerless against such heat. His arms went around Kurt, holding him close, his heart thumping hard in his chest. He should stop this, should go, but he just couldnt.

Kurt pulled back, looking down at Blaines face, seeing his kiss-swollen lips and the heat in his eyes. Smiling, he took Blaines hand and led him back to his bedroom. Moonlight washed over Blaine as Kurt slowly stripped him, his eyes admiring as his hands explored his bared skin.

Kurt pushed Blaine down on the bed and slowly undressed, his motions as graceful as a dance. Blaine soaked it all in, how beautiful Kurt looked in that cool light, before joining him on the bed. His skin was warm and delicious.

---

Waking up early, Blaine rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. Last night had been incredible, but it was still time to go. Time to go back to his life.

After a quick trip to the bathroom, Blaine dressed and looked over Kurts sleeping form under the covers. He had first seen him in this apartment, in the coma. And now he was seeing him for possibly the last time in this apartment, asleep after their night together.

Brushing a tear away from his eye, Blaine leaned over lightly kissed Kurts cheek. "Goodbye, Kurt."

And as Blaine left Kurts apartment, Kurts life, ready to get back to his own, Blaine let out a sigh of relief. It was hard. It was sad. But it was right.

---
-Disclaimer: I own nothing