July 16, 2013, 5:46 p.m.
Still Standing: Chapter 10
M - Words: 1,565 - Last Updated: Jul 16, 2013 Story: Complete - Chapters: 13/13 - Created: Apr 15, 2013 - Updated: Jul 16, 2013 94 0 0 0 0
"Coop? Can I talk to you?" Blaine called out as everyone filed out of his room at night. "Just for a bit."
"Sure," Cooper nodded, waving to his parents and Kurt before taking a seat. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to ask..." He grunted as he forced himself into a seated position. "Ask how you were feeling about tomorrow?"
"Fine," Cooper shrugged.
"Fine?" Blaine fixed him with a stare. "You can't handle watching me get my IV, how are you going to be able to get anesthesia and have two giant needles insert into your pelvis and..."
"La, la, la!" Cooper covered his ears, turning a strange shade of green.
"See! I don't want you to do it," Blaine sighed. "You're going to go through all that pain and..."
"Blaine," Cooper took his hands. "I'll be fine. I'm going to be unconscious the entire time so don't worry. Even if I wasn't put under anesthesia I would still do it."
"Thank you," Blaine whispered, voice cracking. "You...you might be saving my life."
"I'm glad I can," Cooper smiled behind his mask. "I'd do anything for you."
"I don't know how I'll pay you back for this."
"Let me tell you how," He leaned in closer to his brother. "You can move back to New York with your husband. You can have children. You can sing on Broadway. You can go to your grandchildren's baseball games or ballet recitals. You can grow old. That's how you are going to pay me back."
Blaine nodded tearfully before he was scooped up into a tight hug.
"I love you," He whispered.
"Love you too baby brother," Cooper's voice was thick. "After the procedure I'll come here as soon as I can."
"Good luck," Blaine smiled up at him.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Cooper rubbed the top of his head. "Sleep tight. You've fought so hard and after tomorrow it's just downhill. You'll be okay soon."
"Night."
Except Cooper was so not okay.
"So there are two needles?" He asked, voice slightly squeaky and foot bouncing nervously.
He was laying on an uncomfortable mattress in the pre-op room dressed in a gown and surrounded by nurses. At first, he was calm but with the nurse carrying around all the needles his calmness was vanishing quickly.
"The needle for the IV is rather large," The nurse's eyes widened when Cooper paled. "So we inject you with a numbing agent to make the IV easier."
"Okay, okay," Cooper's eyes flickered to Kurt and his parents. "I'm fine. Let's get this party started."
"Want me to hold your hand?" Kurt tried to hide his smile. "I'm here in the place of Blaine for moral support so I'm happy to help."
"Nope," Cooper shook his head quickly. "It isn't helpful that you look so nervous mom."
"You'll be fine sweetie," She paused from biting her nails and gave him a smile. Andrew shifted from foot to foot, looking all around the room.
"Okay, stick me," Cooper held out his hand and the nurse smiled, quickly injecting his hand with the numbing agent.
"We'll be here when you wake up," Lisa gave him a kiss on the forehead as the anesthesiologist started his IV.
"Yeah," Cooper's eyes started growing heavy. "I'll be okay. Blaine will be okay."
"Because of you," Lisa smiled.
Cooper's head bobbed forward and he jerked back with wide eyes. It was almost comical to watch him struggle against the anesthesia before he sagged against the pillows and fell asleep.
"We'll take good care of him," The anesthesiologist smiled as they unlocked the wheels on his bed. "I'll call you when the procedure is over."
They left the pre-op room to find Burt and Carole waiting. Lisa gave them both a smile and hug before happily accepting Carole's offer to go get coffee.
"You alright?" Burt asked Andrew who sighed.
"It's strange," He shrugged. "I love my sons, both of them. I had...trouble accepting Blaine and I know I struggle to connect with him."
Kurt crossed his arms over his chest when Andrew's eyes flickered over to him. He had never felt particularly comfortable around Blaine's father. Andrew was a quiet man who kept to himself most of the time, never making an effort to really talk to Kurt.
"But I feel like the only time I spend time with Blaine is when he is in the hospital," Tears filled his eyes and he let out a sharp huff. "He was in a coma after the attack and we didn't know if he was going to make it or be the same. Now this?"
Burt reached forward to place a hand on Andrew's shoulder and squeezed.
"It's not fair and every second reminds me that I've never actually taken the time to talk to him," Andrew shook his head. "I was always just...waiting for another day."
"So today is that day," Burt smiled. "Blaine is an amazing kid."
"Tell Lisa I went to see him?" Andrew took a step back and smiled when the Hummels nodded.
"Blaine?" Andrew gently shook him, dressed in his contamination gear. "Son?"
"Dad?" Blaine blinked awake. "What's wrong? Is Cooper okay?"
"Cooper just went in, he only had a slight panic attack with the needles," Andrew chuckled. "How are you feeling?"
"Nervous," Blaine bit his lip. "The transplant is tomorrow and it is the last thing we can try."
"It'll be fine," He took a seat next to the bed as they lapsed into an awkward silence. "You know I love you, right?"
"Yeah," Blaine nodded, looking confused.
"I don't say it enough but I love you and your brother more than anything," Andrew reached forward to tap his chin with his finger. "I'm so proud of everything you've done and how strong you are. I just want you to know that I am happy to have Kurt as a son-in-law and am so glad that you've found happiness because you make my happy."
"I love you too," Blaine smiled.
"I've been distant because your being gay felt like something that I couldn't understand and honestly, it made me uncomfortable. After this, I've realized that it was such a stupid little thing that kept us apart," Blaine's eyes swam with tears.
"I thought you hated me for it," He whispered.
"I could never hate you. You're my son and I will never stop loving you," Andrew rubbed his leg through the blanket. "So, you've never backed down before. I know you are going to kick this cancer in the ass."
"That's the plan," Blaine smiled.
They stayed up talking for almost an hour, Blaine relaxing and finally smiling with his father. Blaine showed his father a few pictures and videos from NYADA and Andrew was stunned at how talented his son was.
"When you get your first role on Broadway, even if you're just a chorus singer, I want tickets to opening night," Andrew grinned and Blaine beamed at him.
It was a start.
Kurt slid back into the room when he was almost asleep and slipped under the sheets with him. Smiling, Blaine turned towards him and rested his head against his husband's chest.
"I'm pretty sure my dad just said goodbye to me," Blaine muttered.
"He was really upset earlier," Kurt rubbed against his back. "He just realized that he needed to talk to you soon."
"Because I'm going to die."
"Shut up," Kurt slapped him in the chest.
"Don't hit me! I have cancer!"
"And you're moping!" Kurt pressed his mouth through the mask to the top of his head. "I wont let my husband mope."
Blaine smiled softly and reached to rub his fingertips over Kurt's ring through the gloves.
"God, I can't wait to kiss you as my husband."
"I can't wait to have sex," Kurt sighed and Blaine let out a surprised laugh. "Seriously. We haven't consummated the marriage."
"Well with all of what we did when we moved into the apartment together," Blaine teased. "Poor Rachel and Santana."
"Mm, that sounds like fun," Kurt smiled. "So, that's what is on our list for when you get better? Sex?"
"And cheesecake," Blaine yawned. "Maybe at the same time."
"Whatever my baby wants," Kurt chuckled and smiled when he felt Blaine's breathing even out as he fell asleep.
The next morning everyone gathered around his hospital bed, including Cooper who limped in and sat instantly.
"How are you feeling?" Blaine asked.
"Totally fine," Cooper shrugged and winced.
"Fine?"
"No it hurts like hell," Cooper groaned. "But I got juice and graham crackers when I woke up by a super hot nurse so it's all good."
"Of course he was drooling," Lisa giggled at the dirty glare her son shot her.
Pauline walked in with a IV pole and smiled at the group gathered around Blaine's bed.
"Ready to get this started?" She grinned, moving the bone marrow to his bedside. "It'll only take an hour and you wont feel anything."
"Sounds easy," Blaine's lips twitched.
"Ready?" She held the needle over his port and pushed it in without a problem. "I'm going to start it."
Every person in the room watched as the bone marrow started flowing through the port. Pauline nodded, looking pleased and wrote something down in her chart.
"Okay," Blaine looked up towards the ceiling, shaking slightly. "Okay."
Without a word, Kurt slid next to him on the bed and gathered him in his arms. The tears started flowing and Kurt hummed softly as he held him.
"It is emotional," Pauline said softly. "I know. What are you feeling?"
"I hate it but I'm scared," Blaine let out a shaky laugh and Lisa quickly held a hand up to her mouth. "I'm terrified."
"You're okay," Kurt whispered. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Blaine squeezed his hand.
"So...we just wait?" Cooper asked, watching them with wide eyes as Pauline nodded. "Okay...we'll wait."