Nearly two weeks later Blaine was finally cleared to go home. He was laying on top of his blankets dressed in a baggy Buckeyes t-shirt and plaid pajama pants that were a tad too long.

“Ready?” Tricia grinned at her son, grabbing his bags and stepping aside so Kurt and a nurse could bring in a wheelchair.

“I have movies picked out and a whole list of types of cookies and brownies I’m going to make for you,” Kurt was thrilled that his boyfriend was getting out of the hospital and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

Blushing, Blaine glanced over to his mother who was just smiling softly to herself.

“Let’s get you home Blaine,” The nurse helped him into the wheelchair, avoiding moving his bandaged side too much.

“Can I push him?” Kurt asked and the nurse nodded.

As he pushed him down the hall, Kurt reached forward and squeezed his shoulder. With a warm smile Blaine reached up to place his hand over Kurt’s.

It took a lot of maneuvering and some shouts of pain before they were able to get Blaine sitting comfortably in the back seat of the car. With a tired smile, he squeezed Kurt’s hand and the door was shut after him.

“He’s going to pass out as soon as we get home,” Tricia juggled the pile of prescriptions before leaning in and giving Kurt a tight hug. “Thank you Kurt for everything. We’re so lucky to have an amazing young man like you in our family.”

Kurt felt his eyes fill with tears a little and he hugged her just as tightly.

“Is it okay if I come by later?” He asked as they pulled back.

“I can’t promise he’ll be awake,” Tricia laughed, nodding towards Blaine who was currently fast asleep against the car door. “But we are always happy to have you.”

With a final wave he walked off to his car and left for home. Tricia drove as smoothly as she could to avoid waking up her son, pulling up to the house shortly after.

“Sweetheart?’ She gently shook him awake. “We’re home. Let’s get you inside.”

Blaine nodded sleepily and just whimpered softly as she held him around his waist and helped carry him in. His eyes flickered, scared, to the stairs and guest room.

“Let’s get you on the couch,” Tricia led him into the living room and let him fall onto the pile of blankets and pillows. “I want you to sleep here so I can keep an eye on you.”

“I’m sorry you had to come home early from your trip,” He said sadly as she grabbed him some pills and a bottle of water.

“Honey,” Tricia sighed and looped an arm around his shoulders while he sipped on his water. “You’re my son. I know that after you came out we weren’t exactly there for you and I am so sorry for that.”

“I did drop it on you…I don’t blame you for not knowing how to react,” Blaine shrugged.

“It’s not an excuse. I love you and shouldn’t have to learn to accept you. I just want you to know that I love you no matter what and always will love you,” Tricia kissed her son’s forehead and smiled at him. “Plus Kurt is just the greatest and I completely understand why you love him as much as you do.”

“He is the best,” Blaine’s eyes were heavy with sleep and he smiled softly.

“Get some sleep,” Tricia stroked back his hair and pulled blankets up to his chin. She stepped back into the kitchen and got to work cleaning up the dishes that had piled up over the past few days.

“Hey mom,” Cooper said from the door. He was dressed in a large sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants that went over his feet.

“Hi,” She looked at him curiously. “Are you alright?”

“I’m not feeling too hot,” He shivered lightly. “I think its been the stress from the past few weeks.”

“Tell me about it,” Tricia laughed.

“Is Blaine home?”

“He’s asleep on the couch,” She motioned towards the living room and Cooper leaned out of the door to see him curled up on the couch.

“Shouldn’t he be in his room?” Cooper raised his eyebrows.

“I’d rather him be down here so I can keep an eye on him,” Tricia paused to really take in the exhausted slump in Cooper’s shoulders and dark circles under his eyes.

“Yeah, keeping an eye on him is probably a good idea,” He muttered before shaking his head slightly. “I really feel horrible.”

“You worry about your brother too much,” Tricia patted him on the cheek and handed him a glass of water. “Blaine’s alright now. He’s safe so you can go to sleep. If you want we can go to the doctor and see if we can get you something to help you sleep?”

“Maybe,” Cooper shrugged a little. “I’m going to head upstairs.”

He began to walk up the stairs, stumbling a bit on the steps before he got into his room and collapsed into bed falling asleep almost instantly.

The wind was icy cold as Cooper hurried into the house. He shook the light covering of snow off his shoulders and shrugged off his coat.

“Blaine?” He asked and didn’t get an answer.

His jaw tightened.

“Blaine?” He shouted again and walked further into the house, getting annoyed at his brother. “Where are you?”

Fury made all the muscles in his body clench and he stormed up the stairs. He slammed the door open to meet the surprised eyes of his brother.

“Coop?” He asked, sitting up.

“Why the fuck didn’t you answer me?” He snarled and Blaine shrunk back.

“I didn’t hear you,” Blaine muttered.

“I’m sick of this,” Cooper rolled his eyes stalking up to his younger brother. “I’m so fucking sick of you causing all these problems. First you come out as a fag, then you get beat up, then this happens?”

Blaine’s eyes filled a little with tears and Cooper felt a smug satisfaction.

“You like it don’t you? The attention?” He scowled. “That’s why you do this shit.”

“Are you sick?” Blaine asked, curled in on himself to make himself smaller.

“I’m perfectly fine and I’m about to be better,” He instantly wrapped both hands around Blaine’s throat and squeezed.

Cooper shot awake screaming, kicking out and trying to twist away from the hands that were on him.

“Cooper!” His mother shouted. “Honey wake up you had a nightmare! Wake up!”

His body shook slightly with sobs and he scrambled up, not wanting to remember how he felt kneeling in front of his brother as he strangled him.

“Honey?”

“I’m sorry,” He said shakily. “I’m so sorry.”

“We’re you dreaming about finding Blaine?” She asked, pulling him into a hug. “Sweetheart he’s fine. He’s safe and you don’t need to think about that anymore. You saved him.”

Trembling, Cooper nodded.

“It’s a little weird…but can I sleep in the living room?” He asked, pulling back. “I just…I need to know he’s alright.”

“Sure,” Tricia smiled and brushed back his hair. “I was going to sleep there as well. We can set up the inflatable mattress.”

Cooper sighed softly and gathered up his comforter before they walked downstairs. The relief at seeing Blaine sleeping peacefully was overwhelming for a moment and he pushed aside the coffee table to make room for the inflatable mattress.

The family found comfortable positions around the living room and one by one fell asleep. Cooper tried his hardest to sleep since he was so exhausted but every time he closed his eyes he saw his brother’s desperate eyes as he strangled him.

He didn’t sleep that night.