“I hate to say it son but you look like the walking dead,” Charles laughed as Cooper trudged upstairs wrapped in his comforter.

“I feel like it.”

“Good timing,” He jiggled the tool box he held in his hand. “I just finished up with your room and was about to start on Blaine’s so you can go right to sleep.”

“Wait…what are you doing?” He followed his father into Blaine’s room and frowned. The windows had completely blown off their hinges and hung limply against the wall, snow filtering in.

“The men must have gotten in through these windows,” Charles sighed, heaving the window up to put it back in place. “Psychopaths have to leave us to fix their mess.”

“Yeah,” Cooper’s mind rushed to catch up with the lie they had woven. “Crazy fuckers.”

“You’re not too old for me to punish you for cursing,” He waved the hammer at him with a smile and Cooper gave him a nervous smile back. “Now go downstairs and rest. I think Blaine is watching movies or something.”

With a nod Cooper went downstairs and yawned as he reached the bottom step.

“Hush a bye, don’t you cry,” The singing made him startle and stumble into the wall. “Go to sleep my little baby.”

Heart pounding, Cooper ran into the living room to see his mother sitting on the couch, stroking back Blaine’s hair and singing.

“Mom!” Cooper hissed standing perfectly still but she didn’t move.

He took a few steps forward and she glanced up smiling at him.

“Hi sweetie,” She said and stood up, frowning as he staggered backward to get away from her. “What’s wrong?”

“Who are you?” He asked shakily.

“…what?” Tricia looked at him strangely.

“Coop what are you doing?” Blaine asked him sleepily.

“Take a seat,” Tricia led him to the other side of the couch. “Honey you’re burning up. Lay down, I’ll get you a glass of water and some aspirin.”

He slumped back in the couch, closing his eyes as Blaine pushed himself up painfully.

“Cooper,” He sighed, placing a hand on his brother’s back.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” Cooper jerked away from his hand and glared. “This is all your fault.”

“…why?” Blaine whispered, looking hurt.

“You always get yourself in trouble with no thought to how it affects people around you,” Cooper’s teeth gritted together so strongly that he felt his jaw crack. “So just…just don’t even talk to me right now.”

Blaine fidgeted awkwardly, unable to leave but clearly wanted to. He stared at the firm set of his brother’s shoulders and the clear anger in his eyes. For a moment he was actually afraid Cooper might hurt him and scooted back.

“Here,” The strange mood in the room vanished as soon as Tricia came back into the room with a glass and handed it to Cooper. “Drink it all.”

“What’s going on down here?” Charles called as he made his way down the stairs.

“Cooper’s sick,” Tricia sighed.

“You always did take things to the extreme Coop,” He chuckled and looked at the rather pathetic sight of his sons lying on the couch pale and sick.

“Hmm,” Cooper raised his eyebrows and slumped back.

“How about we order pizza?” Charles suggested and both of his sons perked up visibly.

Later that night after finishing a box of pizza both brothers were on the couch, covered in blankets, and watching old episodes of Bridezillas.

“I’m sorry,” Blaine muttered glancing nervously at his brother.

“For what?” Cooper sounded muffled from the blankets covering the lower part of his face.

“For being an attention whore basically,” He couldn’t stop the tears rising to his eyes. “You were right. I do…do things that get other people’s attention and I don’t notice how it impacts other people. So I’m sorry.”

“Blaine, you’re not an attention whore,” Cooper frowned. “Where on earth did you get that idea?”

“You said it earlier,” Blaine whispered and Cooper pushed himself up.

“I would never say that,” He put a hand on Blaine’s leg and squeezed. “I’m sorry if I did. I didn’t mean it. You know how I get when I’m sick.”

“You act like a pissy four year old,” Blaine grinned lightly before pitching his voice higher. “’I hate you and I’ll never forgive you and you’re not my friend anymore.’”

“How do I sound like that?” Cooper laughed before dissolving into a coughing fit.

“Whatever I was close,” Blaine leaned back. “Don’t make fun of me. I don’t have a kidney or spleen.”

“God Blaine!” Cooper laughed loudly, grinning at him. “You can’t play that card for sympathy.”

“I can do whatever I want,” Blaine smirked.

“Just because you’re the baby of the family,” Cooper rolled his eyes.

They both jumped at the sudden explosion of a bride on the show and laughed to themselves. The vicious fight between the bride and a bridesmaid caught their attention.

“So, Kurt’s been a good boyfriend,” Cooper said slowly.

“God not you too,” Blaine laughed.

“Really bro,” Cooper squirmed until he was sitting up fully. “I was worried when you were so into a guy that was graduating a year before you…”

“Come on Coop,” Blaine glared.

“Let me finish. I was worried because you were talking about a future with this guy and following him to New York,” He continued. “But seeing how amazing he’s been and how much he loves you I can see why you see a future with him. The whole family loves him and we would complain if he became a part of our family as well.”

“Coop,” Tears filled his eyes and Blaine wiped them frantically.

“I just wanted to say that,” He smiled at his brother. “Kurt a keeper.”

“He is,” Blaine smiled back.

“Hi boys,” Tricia walked back in holding a plate of cookies before freezing. “Blaine honey what is it? Do you need your pain meds?”

“No,” Blaine scrubbed at his face. “I’m fine.”

She gave him another worried look but put the plate in front of him and rubbed his back. Blaine was only able to eat half of one before he fell fast asleep.

“You should probably go up to bed as well,” She smiled but fear made him queasy.

“I can just sleep on the couch with Blaine,” He snuggled back into the blankets.

“Seriously? Hon, I know Blaine isn’t tall but you are and your back will be killing you tomorrow. Just go upstairs, I will watch over him,” She rested a hand on Blaine’s shoulder.

“Go to bed. I’ll stay here,” Cooper stared her down for a long moment before she sighed and agreed.

Cooper sighed and looked hard at his sleeping brother.

He knew Blaine had gotten rid of the spirit. He had destroyed it and it had very nearly killed him. However, something was still wrong. Maybe it was just paranoia but Cooper was terrified that this fight wasn’t over.