After he shut himself up in his room, Kurt sat quietly on the bed for the better part of an hour before finally stirring. He found paper and a pen and began meticulously writing letters, his penmanship perfect and nary a mistake. He didn't have to restart or amend anything, thoughts pouring seamlessly out onto the pages. It was the right thing. The only thing. He couldn't do anything else. When the letters were done, Kurt tucked them into the back of his jeans. He covered the extra bulk with a baggier-than-usual shirt. There was only one more thing, and Kurt was thankful to find neither Burt nor Carol in their bedroom. He emptied two bottles of pills into his pockets before carefully replacing them in the cabinet. By the time anyone realized they were missing, it wouldn't matter anymore.

Downstairs, Kurt found both his father and stepmother in the kitchen. "I'm going to go for a walk."

Immediately Burt's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure you should be goin' out right now, Kurt."

"I'm not going to leave the neighborhood, I promise," Kurt assured with an easy smile. "Do you really think I'd go anywhere important looking like this?"

The words resonated, and Burt took in the baggy shirt and somewhat worn jeans. It did indeed look more like Kurt's uniform for days spent in front of the TV with junk food than anything he'd wear for a secret meeting with his vampire boyfriend. "Okay. Just don't be out long, huh? Gettin' late."

"Of course." Kurt leaned in and pressed a kiss to his father's forehead. "I love you."

"Love you too, kiddo." It killed him to see Kurt so morose, but he finally seemed to be doing a little better. Voluntarily leaving the house for something other than meeting Blaine was certainly progress.

Kurt grabbed a bottle of water on the way out and then exited into the night. The slight chill made him wish for a moment that he'd bothered to get a jacket only to remind himself that it wouldn't matter soon. He moved out to the edge of their property, to the small woody area that bordered the back of their property. Once he settled himself in on the grass, Kurt laid the letters carefully around him - one for each member of his family, one for each member of the glee club, and one for Blaine. The vampire might never see the words, but he had needed to exorcise the thoughts regardless. Satisfied that everything was settled, Kurt slowly began taking the pills two at a time. In what seemed like no time at all, Kurt felt the fuzzy beginnings of oblivion tearing at the edges of his mind and welcomed it with open arms.

Blaine would never be able to forgive Damien. He had been a complete fool not to realize earlier that his sire had had a hand in keeping him and Kurt apart. He could only imagine how Damien had used Finn to drive a wedge between them. Under a vampire's influence, Finn would have been helpless to do anything except obey. Indeed, the mortal would have been compelled to do anything to please Damien. And, as far as Blaine was concerned, that made Finn every much a victim as he and Kurt had been of Damien's. He paused, nearly turning on his heel and returning to the apartment. Blaine knew he shouldn't have left Finn alone there. But, if Kurt's stepbrother had any sense at all, he would have taken his advice and left before...

//Kurt...// Blaine froze in his tracks. He could feel Death's hand reaching out, closing around his spine in an icy grip that set off alarm bells in his head. Having tasted Kurt's blood, the vampire instinctively knew when the mortal was in danger. And something terribly, terribly wrong had happened. Moving in a blur of supernatural speed, Blaine arrived at the Hummel house and followed Kurt's scent. His lover's heartbeat was slowing, and panic tore at Blaine as he found Kurt lying on the ground surrounded by letters. "Kurt! Kurt, oh God... no, Kurt..." Falling to his knees, he gently cradled Kurt's head in his lap. "Please open your eyes... please, Kurt... don't leave me... not now..."

Kurt's eyes fluttered open, a task that proved monumentally difficult. Seeing Blaine's pale features hovering over him, Kurt couldn't help but smile faintly. "Blaine," he whispered. The words were sluggish and thick, and Kurt couldn't even think of anything else to add. Instead he simply stared as long as he could between slow blinks that became more and more impossible to recover from. It was the right thing. He was doing the right thing. Even if it was hard to leave everyone, it had to be the right thing if he got to see Blaine. It didn't matter if it wasn't real. It was worth it. Finally it became too much, too hard to stay awake, and Kurt let his eyes close again as he drifted off to sleep.

"No, Kurt... no, no, no..." Blaine desperately will for Kurt to hold on, to not give in and stay with him. But it was a losing battle, and the vampire startled as he detected the mortal's heart beat slowing to a halt. "Kurt, please... I love you... don't leave me... please..." He would have never imagined his attempt to protect Kurt would have led to this. Knowing that Kurt loved him enough to not want to live without him tore Blaine to pieces. "I'm not letting you go, dammit!" He fumbled for his cell phone, hurriedly dialing 911 and frantically telling the operator about Kurt's dire situation. After giving her the Hummel address, Blaine focused his attention back on Kurt. "Fight for me, Kurt. Stay with me, please? I'm going to make this all up to you--I promise. Kurt, please?" When there was no response, Blaine only had one option open to him: he could turn Kurt to save him. //No, not that way...// But he couldn't bear to condemn someone as precious as Kurt to a life of eternal darkness. Pressing a kiss to his lover's frighteningly cool lips, Blaine raced from Kurt's side to the front of the house where he banged loudly on the door for attention.

Burt opened the door, wondering if Kurt had forgotten his keys, only to find himself face to face with a pale young man that he recognized from the pictures he'd seen Kurt looking at not so long before. "What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded. A secondary thought struck him, and Burt felt his blood run cold. "Where's Kurt? I swear to god, if you hurt my son, a stake through the heart's gonna be the least of your worries." The sound of an ambulance tearing down the street did nothing to soothe Burt's sudden fear, and he found himself stepping outside to try to see where the vehicle was headed.

The weight of the letter he'd found addressed to him only made Blaine's unbeating heart ache that much more. He'd managed to swiftly conceal it before racing to get Kurt's parents' attention. Now, faced with Kurt's father, the threat of the True Death was the least of the vampire's worries. His one and only concern was for Kurt, and Blaine wasted no time in wordlessly leading Burt to the secluded spot where he'd found the older man's son. The paramedics arrived on the scene, swarming around Kurt who laid before them deathly pale, breathing shallowly, and surrounded by the letters he'd written like forgotten snow on the ground.

"He tried to kill himself," Blaine whispered, his expression one of complete devastation. If Kurt died... //Stop thinking that!// ...he would only have himself to blame. His lies and his attempts at protecting Kurt from the darkness of a life with him had led to this. And Blaine would welcome Burt's threat of a stake if Kurt was truly lost to him forever.

One of the medical attendants had already inserted an I.V. into Kurt's arm while the others bundled him onto a gurney. Then, adding to Blaine's anguish, Kurt disappeared out of sight into the back of the ambulance. Burt joined the EMTs, throwing the vampire a warning glare before the doors shut and the vehicle hurried away, leaving only the fading lights and blaring sirens echoing behind.

Blaine, however, had no intention of not following. Vanishing into the night, he arrived at the hospital long before the ambulance, and waited with overwhelming concern for Kurt to arrive. He mentally cursed himself for not carrying his lover to the building himself. It would have been far quicker, and Kurt might already be out of danger. As he stood there under the harsh white lights of the hospital hallway, Blaine's vampiric senses told him that Kurt had very little time left. And the crushing dread that filled him almost galvanized him into finding the ambulance, wrenching its doors open and retrieve Kurt. But then, the vehicle arrived and he caught a fleeting image of Kurt before he was quickly moved into the emergency room. Blaine kept out of sight, although not being at mortal's side wrenched him to pieces. Would God listen to a vampire's prayers? Blaine hoped so, because--at that moment--praying seemed to be Kurt's only hope.

*****

That alone galvanized Finn into action. He couldn't let anyone--not even Kurt--realize that Damien wanted to see him again. With one last glance at the vampire, Finn departed and returned home. His journey was difficult, thanks to the blood loss and the constant urge to return to Damien. But, somehow, he made it, and the hastily scribbled note he found sobered him immensely. Kurt. In the hospital.

Finn did not think anything could have broken through Damien's spell. Reading those words, however, struck a chord in him and his brotherly concern had him scrambling for his car keys. As an afterthought he applied a bandage to his fresh throat wound. Then, heedless of the speed limit, Finn was racing to the hospital. He found his mother and Burt in the emergency room, and was stunned to learn what had happened to his stepbrother. The bullying, Blaine's rejection... it all became too much for even Kurt to endure. Finn's stomach lurched. //I should've been there for him. It's my fault. Mine...//

There was small consolation when a doctor reported that Kurt would pull through. Finn had never felt so guilty. And he immediately volunteered to stay and look after him. Burt insisted instead that Finn take Carol home while he remained with his son. Reluctantly agreeing on the proviso that he relieve Burt as soon as possible, Finn left with his mother. Tormented over Kurt's condition, he kept his thoughts to himself even as he wanted to scream and rail at the world.

Unbeknown to Finn Blaine watched from the shadows. Only the sun could tear him away from Kurt, but he too vowed to return. Nothing would keep him from seeing Kurt again, and doing everything in his power to repair the damage he had caused.

*****

Kurt woke with his stomach rolling and his throat aching. As he slowly forced his eyes open, Kurt groaned at the harsh throbbing of his head. There was so much pain... he had expected oblivion, not pain. Maybe going to church more often with Mercedes would have been a good idea. Finally Kurt managed to get his eyes fully open, and he looked around the room. Gone were the images of Blaine, pale and glowing and ethereal from the night before. Instead there was harsh neon lighting and his father collapsed and snoring softly in a nearby plastic chair. The blinds nearby were drawn tightly, but Kurt could see light peeking through them as well.

Alive. He was alive. He was awake and hurting. And alive. The thought made Kurt's heart ache along with the rest of him. He'd failed utterly and completely, and now everyone would know. He'd be lucky to get committed. Worse would be going back to everything, to school to being tortured and to spending every day missing Blaine like a phantom limb.

Sensing Kurt's alert fulness, Burt stirred in the chair that had become his makeshift bed. He jolted awake and leaned forward, reaching for Kurt's hand and squeezing it in his own. "Kurt?" he ventured softly. Burt's throat thickened with emotion, and he swallowed hard. "Son, I'm here. You're alright, everything's going to be okay."

*****

In the hallway, Finn's phone rang, and as soon as he answered, a familiar voice purred, "Hey, baby, I've got a favor to ask you." Damien was tired of playing nice. It had gotten him nowhere, and if he'd just been ruthless the way his own sire had always encouraged him to be, Kurt could have been out of the way that first night. Everything could have been so mucheasier. "I need you to get rid of the boy. I want you to kill Kurt. Wait until you're alone with him, and do it. I don't care how." If Finn was caught or did something hard to cover up, it didn't really matter. The mortal's hands would be the ones committing the crime, and there would be no proof that Damien had anything at all do with it. "I want it done, and I want it done tonight. When it's finished, you can come see me." That was a risky proposition, but Damien knew that even the hold he held over Finn might not be enough without the promise of a reward. "Take care of it, and you can have whatever you want." With that, Damien ended the call and left Finn to do what needed to be done.

Finn stared at the phone, trembling on the spot. His mouth opened and closed, unable to form words. His throat wound pulsed, while Damien's orders clouded his mind and blotted out the voice screaming at him not to obey. Damien wanted him to kill Kurt, then he could have anything he wanted from the vampire. It seemed like such an easy thing to do. Especially when Damien's tone caressed away all his worries over such a deplorable act. Finn moved as if in a trance toward his stepbrother's room, pocketing his cell along the way. There were no second thoughts, no question of not carrying through Damien's wishes. All he wanted, all he lived for now was to please the vampire.

He stopped short when he found Burt talking things over with Kurt. Interrupting, Finn rested a hand on his stepfather's shoulder. "Mom thinks it's time you went home and got some rest," he said, sounding perfectly normal. His eyes ticked towards Kurt, all innocence. "You've got me for the night."

It warmed his heart that Finn was trying so hard to act as if it was somehow normal to be left watching over his stepbrother in the hospital. "You don't have to stay." Before Burt could protest, Kurt reminded him more quietly, "I'm on psych watch. They won't really leave me alone anyway." His stepfather insisted, and in the end Kurt didn't really mind. Of everyone, Finn would understand the most. He probably wasn't any happier or any less disappointed, but at least he would understand in a different way. When Burt finally left after getting an additional text from Carol, Kurt smiled up at Finn. "Thank you for staying."

"It's no problem," Finn assured him. "I'm just sorry I wasn't there for you last night." He didn't press Kurt over his actions, he simply acted as if it were just another day. Damien's voice continued to echo in his mind. Soothing with promises even as it demanded to be obeyed. "I'm sorry about a lot of things, Kurt." Finn glanced away, not out of guilt over what he planned to do, but to check that no one would be interrupting them. The door was closed, and his best course would be to wait until his stepbrother was asleep. Then, he could quietly follow through with the vampire's wishes. "You never should've had to go through all this," he continued quietly. It would be helping Kurt, right? Putting him out of his misery, while pleasing Damien at the same time. "Everything's gonna be okay now. I promise."

Kurt smiled in return and reached out to give Finn's hand a squeeze. "I hope so." Between the medication he'd taken himself and the antidepressants they had put into his system since, Kurt felt utterly exhausted. Soon his grip on Finn's fingers loosened and fell away and Kurt's eyelids fluttered in an attempt to stay open at all. "Sleepy," he murmured by way of explanation before his breathing slowed. Sleep proved far too intoxicating a possibility to deny, and soon Kurt was unconscious once again. He looked peaceful despite still being pale. Only the dark circles under his eyes and the IV in his arm really told the story of just how much he'd been through in so short a space of time.

Finn moved jerkily like a doll being controlled by a puppeteer. Damien wanted Kurt dead, and Finn's only purpose in life was to please the vampire. It didn't matter what he planned to do was horribly, irrevocably wrong. Nor did he care that he loved Kurt as if he was his real brother. All that mattered was fulfilling Damien's desire. Finn gazed at Kurt for a long moment, taking great care in checking that he was asleep. Then, he straightened and quietly looked around the room until he found exactly what he needed. An extra pillow in the slender closet. He gripped it in his hands, trembling as he moved back toward the bed and closer to Kurt's slumbering form. In a few minutes it would all be over. Both Kurt's suffering and his life.

//Kill him! Kill him!// Damien voice echoed in his mind, urgently driving Finn forward. Without hesitation, he started to lower the pillow over Kurt's blissfully unaware face...

...only to have to violently wrenched from his grasp!

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Blaine growled, baring his fangs as he slammed Finn against the wall. Anger flared and the vampire nearly lost control, using every last ounce of his willpower not to shred Kurt's stepbrother into pieces.

Finn struggled to break free of Blaine iron grip to no avail. "I have to do it! I have to!" he pleaded, thrashing desperately against those immovable arms.

Sadness replaced rage as Blaine quickly realized what had happened. //Damn you, Damien...// Finn's eyes were glazed over, and the signs of his sire's glamour were clear. "Listen to me, Finn--listen..." Blaine stared hard at the mortal, but it was no use. Finn was too far gone, and Damien's control was too powerful to break. There was only one way to free him... He wrenched the bandage away from Finn's neck, revealing the fresh bite marks he knew he would find there. And then, Blaine lunged forward, tearing into the wound and filling his mouth with Finn's blood.

Finn inhaled sharply, his eyes widening as first pain, then ecstasy swept over him. He could physically feel Damien's influence melting away, the cloud obscuring his thoughts clearing. His lips parted, and a ragged whimper erupted from his throat as Blaine continued to feed. He mewled softly when the vampire eventually withdrew, leaving him aching for more. Dazed eyes settled on Blaine, who was staring at him with an intensity that was almost frightening.

"Finn, you're going to forget about tonight," Blaine told him, his tone low and hypnotic. "You're going to forget everything Damien told you to do. Do you understand?"

Nodding slowly, Finn whispered, "Yes, I understand."

"Good." Blaine's shoulders visibly sagged with relief. "Now, I want you to get yourself cleaned up, okay? Then, go over to that chair..." He nodded to the recliner on the other side of the room. "...and get yourself some sleep." Releasing the mortal, Blaine watched as Finn obeyed without question. The jock disappeared inside the bathroom, emerging with the blood stains washed clean. Finn's eyes flicked heavily as he sank into the recliner, and then, in less than a minute, he was fast asleep.

Tossing the pillow aside, Blaine felt the gravity of what had just occurred weighing down on him. Outside he'd watched as Kurt's father departed for home. And, if he hadn't risked sneaking into the hospital, then Kurt would most certainly be dead at the hands of his own stepbrother. Blaine didn't blame Finn for his actions. After all, under Damien's influence it was completely out of his control. No, he blamed himself for leaving the jock alone with his sire. He should have known something like this would happen, even if he never dreamed Damien could go this far to keep Kurt out of his life.

//Kurt...// Blaine folded himself into the empty chair beside his lover's bed, his unbeating heart breaking at the sight of him sleeping so peacefully. He reached out, slipped Kurt's hand into his own, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Kurt?" he called out softly. "Kurt, I'm here. I'm never leaving you again."

At first Kurt was sure that the voice was part of his dreams, some pleasant creation of his unconscious mind. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes again to find Blaine staring back at him. His eyes widened at once, and he struggled to sit up, the movement somewhat awkward given how bone tired he still was after everything. "Blaine?" Looking down, he saw the vampire's fingers curled around his own and looked utterly and completely confused. "What are you..." He shook his head and tried to make sense of it. His heart pounded helplessly in his chest, the hope almost as painful as the loss had been. A glance at the other side of the room showed that Finn was crashed in the more comfortable of the room's two chairs, and Kurt looked back up at Blaine. "Why are you here?" Surely Blaine should have been with his sire, should have been happy somewhere with someone like him instead of in the hospital. "How did you even... even hear..." The words trailed away as Kurt looked down, ashamed suddenly of how pathetic he must seem, how young and stupid.

Blaine could hear Kurt's pulse quickening, the uncertainty rolling off him in waves. He started, "They didn't tell you?" //Of course they didn't. His father hates me.// He shuddered, leaning forward and gripping Kurt's warm hand a little tighter. "I have no right to ask this of you, but can you ever forgive me?" Crimson tears pooled and threatened to fall from his eyes, as Blaine choked on a deep-throated sob of emotion. So much had happened that he didn't even know where to begin. "Ever since Damien turned me, he's tried to convince me that relationships between vampires and mortals never work out. I believed him, until... I met you." Blood streamed down, staining his face as he mournfully went on. "I loved you that first night, and the thought of being without you made me want to walk out into the sun." He shook his head, knowing all too well the desolation Kurt had felt to attempt to take his own life.

"There's no excuse for me bringing Jeremiah home." The memory still haunted him. "But, if it hadn't been for him, I might have ended everything then and there." Blaine didn't know if he could ever make Kurt understand as the words continued to pour out of him. "Then, he was killed and I truly thought I was responsible. Even though I wasn't, I was terrified of hurting you. And there was Damien making me believe it would happen." //Damn him...// "That's why..." He swallowed, his vision blurring as more scarlet tears rained down. "...I lied to you. Kurt, I don't love Damien--I never did. I only wanted to keep you safe. That's all. I never meant to hurt you."

"You really were there... last night... you found me. You knew," Kurt realized. Blaine had taken his own letter, and Kurt felt a pang of sorrow at the realization that his father had kept the knowledge from him. "Did you... read it?" It had been desperately important that he try to explain to Blaine that more than just their separation had made him do what he did. He'd even confessed what Karofsky did, how torn up he'd been over the memory of their last kiss being marred by something so horrible. Before Blaine could even answer, something even more important struck him, and Kurt scooted over, away from Blaine. A moment later, he patted the uncomfortably small sliver of bed. "Lay with me?"

It was more than Blaine could have hoped for, more than he deserved. He nodded silently, shifting carefully onto the bed and wrapping an arm around Kurt's waist as he laid beside him. His body ached as it reacquainted itself with the welcoming heat of Kurt's. Blaine had thought he would never be close to the beautiful mortal again, and a low whine rumbled from his throat. "No, I didn't read it," he confessed, close to breaking down all over again. "I couldn't bring myself to, not until I knew if you were going to be okay or..." Trailing off, the vampire swallowed down the rest of his words. Instead he focused on Kurt, reaching out and caressing his lovely cheek with his fingers. "Last night, I came to see you... to explain about everything that happened, and that's when I found you." Emotion welled over, and an intensity came over Blaine as he began to visibly tremble. "Seeing you like that... nothing's ever scared me so much. Kurt..." He shook his head, fighting back a cascade of fresh tears. "...I never meant to hurt you... never..."

Kurt shifted and rolled onto his side, pressing in against Blaine and rested his head on the vampire's chest. He had to move carefully thanks to the IV, but it was well worth the effort. Being so close to Blaine felt like going home, and he could hardly believe that he might have died without ever realizing that Blaine still loved him. "Please don't think that it was just... it wasn't just what happened with us. I was so tired of... of everything. Of trying to be what everyone needed me to be, of being scared to go to school. Th-the other day... one of the guys who's been giving me hell all year... he kissed me." The memory alone made Kurt shiver. "When I thought about going back there, about seeing him again... I couldn't." The tears had begun to flow at some point, and Kurt barely even noticed as he soaked Blaine's shirt and held the vampire tighter. "I know it's silly, but I felt like he took... took my last kiss with you away, and..."

Blaine's expression twisted into one of raw, unadulterated hatred. He could abide almost anything, but someone who had been systematically tormenting Kurt trying to force himself upon him was where the vampire drew the line. Somehow Blaine managed to calm himself for Kurt's sake. He found an inner peace from his lover's presence alone. But he would never be able to let this go. Kurt's safety meant more to him than his own existence, and he would gladly risk anything to protect him. Blaine openly embraced Kurt, pressing him closer and whispering tender words of encouragement as the emotional dam broke. "I don't care what I have to do, how hard I have to beg," he promised, softly kissing the top of Kurt's head, "but I'm going to do everything in my power to convince your family that we should be together."

"I'm not letting you go again," Kurt answered, voice small and strained. It was getting difficult to keep talking, but there were still important things to say. "Don't care what anyone says. Not letting you go. I love you, Blaine." He didn't care what Finn saw or thought when he woke up. He didn't care what his father said, not anymore. They'd lost precious time already, and Kurt wasn't willing to give up another second. "Can you stay? Tonight, can you stay here?" Kurt didn't want to let go a single second sooner than he had to. Never again if he could help it, though he knew that the sun would mean parting for at least the daylight hours.

"I'm not going anywhere," Blaine promised, soothing Kurt's fears with gentle caresses along the length of his back. "You slept through most of last night, but I kept watch over you outside." More tender kisses followed, then the vampire's ticked his gaze over Finn's slumbering form across the room. He sobered, drawing back and tilting Kurt's chin to meet his eyes. "There's something I have to tell you, and it's not going to be easy to hear," he started after a moment's hesitation. "It's about your brother." The last thing Blaine wanted to do was upset Kurt, but everything needed to be out in the open. Especially after the terrible event that had almost happened. "Finn hasn't been himself lately, has he? It's because he's been with Damien." He allowed the gravity of the revelation to sink in before carefully treading forward again. "When your brother shared his blood with me, it loosened Damien's hold and Finn came to see me." Blaine decided it was probably for the best withholding how the jock had thrown himself at him. "He told me everything. How Damien had used him to try and keep us apart."

"I knew he gave me the creeps!" The words were out of his mouth before Kurt thought how ridiculous and honestly silly the response was given the gravity of the situation, not to mention who Damien was to Blaine. "Sorry..." Kurt reached for the water on his nightstand and took a few sips before he spoke again. "He... will he be okay?" Looking at Finn sleeping peacefully in the chair, it was hard to think about how shaken he'd been over the past week. It made Kurt feel all the more horrible for putting his stepbrother through even more. Suddenly a great many things made more sense. Damien knew that his parents - whatever their views - weren't likely to appreciate Finn being attacked. It would drive an immediate wedge between him and Blaine. It had worked even better than he probably intended. "Is there something we can do to... to keep Damien away from him? I know he's your sire... I... I know he's part of your life..." It was hard even thinking of trying to be considerate of someone who had trie to take away one of the most important people in his life and nearly killed another. "But if I hadn't found Finn that first night... he could have died..."

"He's not the only one who might have died," Blaine declared gravely. His eyes were dark and haunted as he lifted them to Kurt's. "I'll keep watch over your brother. You won't have to worry about him." He rested a hand on Kurt's shoulder, offering him support. It became difficult to summon the words, especially when he knew how it would affect his mortal lover. But they needed to be said. "Kurt, I want nothing more to do with Damien. Not after tonight. Not after what he did." Another visible shudder coursed over the vampire. "When I left my apartment last night, Finn was still there... with Damien. I was a fool to leave them alone together! But I had to see you... and then I sensed you were in danger." His sad gazed ticked over to Kurt's sleeping stepbrother again. "Damien bit him, used him. Kurt..." Deep anguish etched itself across Blaine's face, shadowing his features as he finished, "...if I hadn't been here to stop him, Finn would have killed you."

Kurt opened his mouth at once to protest that it simply wasn't possible, but then he thought of how Finn had been affected before. He thought of the dark scratches still healing on his stepbrother's forearms and the dreams he'd had about Blaine from one encounter. Swallowing hard, Kurt slowly nodded. "So Damien asked him... to... god..." He'd gotten the vibe pretty quickly that Blaine's sire didn't like him, but he hadn't really imagined that the man would want him dead or that he'd be so cruel as to use Finn to do his dirty work. "But, then... why's he sleeping? Shouldn't he be more..." Kurt looked over at his brother's form slumbering so peacefully in the chair. "Upset?"

"That's because I bit him," Blaine answered softly. "If I hadn't, then your brother would still be under Damien's control." Having never seen anyone as far-gone as Finn before, there simply was no other way to save him. "He'll be okay now, I promise." Blaine's fingers stretched out, tenderly caressing Kurt's arm in an intimate, reassuring gesture. "If he's in any danger, I'll know. But he shouldn't want to see Damien anymore. Not after tonight." Swallowing, the vampire's anger over his sire's actions threatened to well up inside of him all over again. "And neither do I. Damien and me... we're finished. I could forgive him almost anything. But hurting you... no, he cannot be a part of my life anymore."

"Since Finn didn't... didn't... didn't do it," the words were too harsh to speak aloud again, and Kurt could feel his voice faltering at the attempt to vocalize the thoughts, "do you think that he'll come back? Would he.. would he come after me or... or after Finn?" It was a lot easier to think about the practical implications than the more complicated ones. Finn wouldn't want Damien anymore because he'd be dreaming of Blaine again. It still made Kurt feel nervous, though it eased his mind to know that Blaine loved him, wanted him. Just feeling the vampire's body against his own calmed some of the tidal wave of emotion that had been swelling inside. "You can't be with us all the time."

Blaine pondered that worrying thought. It was true, he wouldn't always be around hovering like a guardian angel. But he could make damn sure he did everything in his power in order to keep Kurt and his family safe. "As long as no one invites Damien into your home, and someone is with you and Finn when you go out at night, everything should be fine," the vampire decided, hoping his words allayed Kurt's fears. "I'm going to take care of you, Kurt. I promise." Blaine cupped one warm cheek, gazing deeply into those startling blue-green eyes. He leaned in closer, brushing their lips together for what seemed like the first time in ages. The kiss, tender and achingly sweet, lasted for minutes. And, when Blaine finally drew back, there were fresh tears pooling even as he smiled. "Close your eyes, get some sleep," he gently urged. "I'll be right here."

"Don't wanna sleep," Kurt murmured even as he snuggled into Blaine's embrace. "Don't wanna miss this." He struggled valiantly to keep his eyes open, but talking hurt, and without the stimulation of conversing to keep him conscious, Kurt soon found himself drifting off again. Once or twice he managed to open his eyes just to make sure that Blaine was still there. Each time he smiled at the comforting knowledge that it wasn't a dream. Blaine was with him, loved him. Finally Kurt gave in entirely to sleep and fell into a peaceful doze with his whole body wrapped around the vampire's.

Blaine held and watched over Kurt throughout the night. Having the chance to love and be loved by the beautiful mortal again was a precious gift the vampire intended to never squander. Time ticked by far too fast, and Blaine could already feel the tingling pull of the rising sun. Leaving Kurt's side was painful, but he had no other choice in the matter. Blaine pressed a soft kiss to his lover's cheek, whispering a promise to return as soon as dusk fell. Making his way home in a blur of speed, his thoughts returned to Damien. Blaine's rage against his sire's actions surfaced again, and it took every ounce of his self control not to find a sharpened piece of wood, go to the other vampire's apartment and drive it through his chest. He would never be able to forgive Damien--never.

*****

When Burt arrived bright and early at the hospital, he found both of his boys asleep. He felt a pang of guilt over Finn having stayed all night with Kurt, but took solace in the fact that it was the weekend and his stepson didn't have to worry about school. Checking on Kurt, whom he was pleased to find had a lot more color than when he'd last seen him, Burt then padded across to Finn. "Hey, you ready to go home?" he asked, giving the jock a gentle nudge.

Finn woke, yawning widely as he blinked up at the older man. He felt incredibly refreshed and full of energy, which seemed a little odd considering he'd spent the night in a recliner. "Mmm... yeah, is Kurt okay?" His eyes focused on his stepbrother, who slept soundly across the room. Before Burt could answer, Finn jolted. Memories flooded into his waking mind. First Damien, then Blaine biting him... feasting on his blood. He paled, and Burt immediately noticed the change in him.

"What's wrong? Did something happened?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern beneath the brim of his cap.

"Yeah... everything's fine..." Being a terrible liar didn't help Finn, and he quickly added, "I just remembered some stuff I've gotta do." Without waiting for Burt's reaction, he hurried out of the hospital room, down the hallway, into an elevator, and out into the parking lot. Finn didn't stop for a breath until he was in his car. Leaning his forehead against the steering wheel, he tried to make sense of the troubling images flitting through his mind. None of it made any sense, and worse still, most of last night was a complete blank. Absently he reached up and felt the fresh bite marks concealed by his collar. //Damien...// If he went to him tonight, then he was sure the vampire could explain everything.

*****

The day dragged on, and Finn found himself even more confused than before. He couldn't work out exactly what had happened to him. All he remembered was being with Damien one minute, then Blaine biting him the next. None of it made any sense, and Finn grew frustrated over the missing time in between those events. As evening drew close, he told his mother he wanted to get an early start and spend time with Kurt. So, he left the house early and made a beeline for Damien's apartment. Finn parked his car, climbed the steps outside of the building, and found the vampire's door ajar. "Damien?" he called, taking a tentative step inside.

"He's gone," Blaine replied, turning at the sound of Finn's voice.

"What do you mean, 'he's gone'?" Finn asked dumbly. The apartment had been stripped bare, with no sign that anyone had been inhabiting the rooms.

Blaine, who had come to confront Damien, understood Finn's confusion. "Apparently he packed up everything and left."

"But... he can't just leave," Finn started to protest. He sighed, and leaned heavily against the wall. Torn, Finn didn't know how to feel anymore. He still felt that strange draw towards Damien, and yet it wasn't nearly as strong. Somehow he knew that Blaine feeding from him had something to do with that.

"It's alright, Finn." Blaine moved closer, placing a calming hand on the jock's arm. He could literally feel the tension coiled in Finn's body. "Damien's leaving was the right thing to do. It's for the best--trust me."

"Is it?" Finn wasn't so sure. He flicked his gaze to meet the vampire's warm, comforting eyes. "Why did you bite me?" he asked bluntly.

Blaine started at the question, but managed to expertly skate around the true reason, "Because Damien had glamoured you too deeply. You weren't yourself, Finn. And it's more important for you to be there for your brother than to be used by someone."

Finn opened his mouth to speak, only to close it again. He didn't like being jerked around, and he'd called Damien out on it once before. "So, does that mean I'm going to start following you around like a puppy?" he wondered aloud, sounding slightly pathetic.

"No." Blaine shook his head. "You'll probably have some... vivid dreams, but that's all." He offered the mortal what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "You're still Finn; I didn't glamour you." Leading him towards the door, Blaine paused and added, "I'm going to see Kurt tonight. Do you want to come with me?"

Finn thought it over for a moment, still trying to let the ramifications sink in. "Yeah," he finally answered, "I'd better. I mean, Burt's gonna be there and... the last thing Kurt needs is a big scene... right?"

On that Blaine agreed. He was more than prepared to meet Kurt's father again. They had a lot to talk about, and he determined to convince Burt Hummel that he and Kurt belonged together.

*****

The sound of voices roused Kurt, and he opened his eyes. The bright sun streaming through the windows made him blink and sigh. Blaine would be back at his place sleeping, and Kurt felt a pang of regret that he would be stuck in the hospital for at least another day or two. Above and beyond the physical effects, they wanted him on psych watch to be sure he didn't do anything even more foolish. Kurt swallowed and shifted to stretch some of the stiffness from his muscles. He spotted his father standing by the bed and offered a smile that faded slightly a moment later. "You should have told me," he offered in the same quiet, scratchy voice that he was getting all too used to. "It wasn't you or Carol or Finn. Blaine found me. He called the ambulance." Kurt let that sink in for a moment before adding, "He was here last night, and he'll be back tonight. I know what happened to Finn's father scares me. What happened to Finn scares me... but that doesn't make it Blaine's fault. He's doing everything he can to protect us."

Burt sank down in the chair beside Kurt's bed, feeling the weight of the last couple of days bearing down on him. It seemed he was fighting a losing battle trying to keep Kurt safe from vampires. Of all the people his son had to fall for, why did have to be one the undead? "Kurt," he started gently, "if he wasn't in the equation to start with, you wouldn't need protecting." His shoulders sagged in the universal sign of defeat. In his heart Burt realized why his son had tried to take his own life. Kurt was in love, and being without Blaine had nearly killed him. What could he do? If he kept on refusing to allow his son to see this... vampire, then things were bound to worsen. And if Kurt did pursue a relationship, Burt would be constantly worried about whether or not he'd end up drained of blood. "Last night was a nightmare," Burt went on. "I never want to live through anything like that again." He sighed, leaning forward and reaching for Kurt's hand. "I'm sorry I hurt you, hurt you so much you wanted to end it all."

"No! No, dad... it..." Kurt grasped his father's hand hard in his own and squeezed it as tears blurred his eyes. "It wasn't just you. It wasn't... it wasn't just what happened with Blaine. It's everything at school, it was feeling like I had to hide... and... and being so tired of trying to be strong and brave all the time. I should have asked for help. I... what I did was stupid, but now at least I'll be getting it." He offered his father a slightly wavering smile. "A doctor came in yesterday, talked to me about therapy. I don't know if I want to go on any medication after I leave here, but I... think talking to someone would be a good idea." As the light in the room dimmed, Kurt found himself looking to the window with a feeling of mixed apprehension and relief. "Will you stay? To meet Blaine? I know you don't like what he was, but a year ago he was just... just a boy. He was bullied, and he was in glee club, and... and if you can try to think about him as just Blaine, I think you'll really like him."

Burt found it incredibly difficult to refuse Kurt anything. Especially after the hell his son had been through. The anguish in Kurt's eyes and voice were heart-wrenching, and Burt realized there was no other option except to allow this relationship to go ahead. "Okay, okay... I'll stay and meet him," he relented, fixing Kurt with a slightly stern expression. "But this is on a trial basis, you got me, kiddo? If I find even a scratch on your neck, then this whole thing's off. You got me?" Burt trusted his son, but he didn't know if he could ever afford the same courtesy towards a vampire. Perhaps it would be best to think of Blaine as a victim, to humanize instead of vilifying him? "Kurt, I'm not doing any of this to hurt you. I want you to know that." Burt sighed, adding, "If this guy means that much to you, then I'm willing to give it a shot."

The thought of doing things properly and not spending his nights sated and wrecked in Blaine's arms was disappointing, but if it meant that his father might be able to accept them together, Kurt knew he could put his libido on hold. It would be hard, but it would be worth it. "I will too. I won't lie to you about where I'm going. We... we'll do this the right way this time. Really dating." Going back and starting again could be fun. Maybe and Blaine needed that time given how often they'd misunderstood one another or done precisely the wrong thing in the name of protecting each other. In the end pleasing Burt might mean making what they shared even stronger. "Thank you for doing this. Thank you for giving him a chance. I know that isn't easy."

"I must be out of my damned mind," Burt decided with a shake of his head. Allowing Kurt to date a vampire qualified as the worst idea ever. If he could only be honest with his son, present his case for why being in love with one of the undead terrified him, then maybe Kurt would understand. But Burt had made a promise, and he couldn't break it even now. Kurt was in love, and all the older man had to hold onto was the hope that his son's trust in the vampire wasn't misplaced. "All I want for you is to be happy," Burt continued, softer now. "And if this Blaine is the... man for the job, then I won't argue about it anymore."

As if on cue, the door opened and Blaine strode into the room, closely followed by Finn. "Good evening," he greeted, ready for the fight of his life as he faced Kurt's father. Then, the totally unexpected happened. Burt Hummel stood up, turned and extended his hand.

"I didn't get a chance to say this last night, but thank you," he started, gripping Blaine's hand and trying to ignore the coldness of his skin. "Thank you for saving Kurt's life."

Kurt had to blink to clear the tears in his eyes. For the first time in a long while, they were tears of pure happiness. He knew that his father being cordial to Blaine didn't mean the man accepted him, but it did mean that Burt was trying. For the first time since he'd started seeing the vampire, Kurt felt like he might be able to make his life fit together somehow. Seeing the stunned look on Blaine's face, Kurt gave an encouraging nod before looking past them both to Finn. He found himself wondering why they'd arrived together but made a note to ask after his father left. Right now what mattered most was seeing that he and Blaine found some common ground. "I'm glad you're back," Kurt greeted his boyfriend almost shyly before holding out his own hand to beckon Blaine closer.

It was rare indeed for Blaine to find himself at a loss over how to react. Never in a million years did he ever imagine Kurt's father not only thanking him, but also literally extending a hand in friendship. "You don't have to thank me, sir," he gently insisted. "I would do anything for your son." Offering Burt a warm smile, he turned his attention to Kurt and gratefully accepted his hand. "This means the world to both of us," he told Burt, glancing back at the older man. "We love each other, and for what it's worth, I promise I'll always take care of him."

Burt hadn't expected Blaine to turn out to be so nice, so... human. For the first time, he felt as if he could understand what Kurt saw in the vampire. However, he couldn't completely let down his guard or stop worrying about his son's safety. "I appreciate that," he replied, unable to deny Kurt's sudden change. With Blaine's arrival it was suddenly as if everything was right with the world, and nothing untoward had ever occurred at all. "As long you'll both abide by a few rules, we shouldn't have a problem." Sensing that the pair were anxious to be alone, Burt decided to take a chance and leave them alone. "Finn, are you staying?" he asked his stepson.

"Erm, yeah," Finn answered, taken aback as much as Blaine. "There's some stuff I wanna talk to Kurt about."

Burt nodded, "Alright, I'll see you at home." He pressed a kiss to Kurt's forehead, then flashed Blaine a guarded smile before leaving.

The vampire watched his lover's father depart. He sat down on the edge of Kurt's starched white hospital bed, still holding his hand and reeling from the turn of events. "I don't know what just happened," Blaine confessed, "but something tells me you had something to do with it."

"I was honest with him. I told him what I wanted. I should have done that before," Kurt confessed with a sigh. He'd told his father what he wanted, but he'd bowed to everyone else's needs and desires, he'd given things away until he couldn't remember why he was bothering anymore. "He isn't happy about it, but he promised to try. We may have to be a bit more... um... proper." The teen blushed furiously at the thought of the things they'd done and even coming close to talking about it in front of Finn. "Right now I'm just happy you're here." With that said, Kurt finally turned his attention to Finn who still looked stunned and tired. "Are you okay?"

"What?" Finn blinked at his stepbrother, still dazed over everything that had happened. "Yeah, no... I don't know." He exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging as he flopped into the recliner he'd slept in the other night. Wired and anxious, Finn's legs bounced up and down nervously.

Blaine didn't have to rely on his vampiric instincts to know what was bothering him. He took it upon himself to explain things to Kurt in Finn's stead. "Damien left town," he said softly. "Your brother went to see him to get some answers, and we both found the apartment stripped bare." It came as something of a relief--albeit a sad one--that his sire would no longer be a problem. It didn't mean Blaine could let down his guard, but at least he and Kurt might relax a little.

"I... just want to know why I can't remember anything," Finn faltered, getting back on his feet and pacing the room.

Feeling responsible and protective towards the jock, Blaine left Kurt's side long enough to place his hands on Finn's arms and stop him in his tracks. "Finn listen, it doesn't matter," he said gently. "He's gone, and you're free of him. There's nothing to worry about, okay?"

Blaine had a calming effect on him, and Finn visibly started to relax a little. "Yeah, you're right..." He trailed off, glancing sheepishly over at Kurt. "You two probably wanna be alone. I'll come by and see you tomorrow."

*****

Leaving the hospital, Finn had never felt more achingly empty in his life. He had nothing now--no prospects and no one to turn to. Damien had abandoned him, and Blaine--despite also biting him--only had eyes for Kurt. Not that Finn wanted a relationship with Blaine. It was the fact that--like Damien before him--Blaine had cast him aside. The whole thing was absolutely crazy, but the one time he felt complete was giving himself over to a vampire. No one would ever be able to understand, not even Kurt. The pain/pleasure of being taken, of feeling those sharp fangs tearing into his flesh, the blood pouring into a ravenous mouth... had all became a drug to Finn. He was addicted, and the two beings who could give him what he needed--what he had been missing--were no longer an option.

Instead of going home, Finn wandered the streets of Lima. He drove aimlessly, finding even his favorite classic rock radio station little comfort. The ache clawing its way inside of him intensified until he started to tremble like a druggie who'd gone without a fix for too long. He wasn't even the least surprised to discover himself eventually parked outside of The Last Drop. Fang-bangers, the undead, and curiosity seekers were either lined up, or making their way inside the bar. For the briefest moment Finn doubted his actions. Until he spotted one of the vampires leading a willing mortal into the shadows between buildings. Knowing that someone was about to enjoy the fulfillment of being claimed was too much for Finn.

Leaving his car, he fished out his fake ID and headed for the club's entrance...

*****

"Just... look out for yourself," Kurt instructed gently. It was hard not to be bothered by obvious - albeit temporary - connection between Blaine and Finn, but he shrugged it off. If it helped Finn feel better, that was the important thing. He didn't deserve to suffer anymore from Damien's control. Once they were alone again, Kurt sighed and held his hand out for Blaine again. "I'm glad he's gone. I know it doesn't mean that he won't come back, but I'm so glad that... that at least for now, maybe we'll be safe." He knew that, given time, his father could get used to Blaine and maybe even come to like him. If they were really free of Damien's influence, life could truly get back on track. "Right now I'm just ready to go home." Quietly, voice rough from the strain and far too much use, Kurt added, "They said that if... if I still seem to be doing well tomorrow, then I can go home. Maybe go back to school on Monday." The thought honestly terrified him. The idea of facing everyone when they knew precisely what he'd done, of seeing Karofsky and the rest of his friends when they knew how much they'd gotten under his skin, scared him half to death.

Blaine hated the idea of Kurt returning to a life of daily torment. He fairly seethed over the thought of one of Kurt's harassers daring to lay a finger on him, let alone kiss him. The act would not go unpunished. Indeed, if Blaine ever hoped to protect his lover during the day, then he would have to send a message to those who sought to harm him. Blaine buried his feelings, concentrating instead on Kurt. "I'm glad they won't be keeping you too much longer," he confessed, raising Kurt's warm hand to his cool lips. "I was afraid you might not be able to go home for a long time." When he was mortal, he had known a few other teenagers who either tried or succeeded in taking their lives. Those who survived were usually shipped off for psychiatric care. "All I want is to see you smiling again," he added, leaning in closer and pressing a tender kiss to the mortal's sweet lips for the first time in what seemed like ages.

Kurt let the sweetness of the moment wash over him and sighed as Blaine drew away again. "Then you're going to have to stay close. I'll be okay at school. I... I'm going to be seeing someone. A psychiatrist. I'd say it makes me feel crazy, but... the truth is what makes me feel crazy is what I did. I need to stop trying to do everything on my own." He hated talking about it, but the less he talked and the more he held in, the more difficult it would be in the long run and Kurt knew it. "It's frustrating even to me thinking about how far I have to go with all this and how much I need to work out and... and if you don't..." Unable to look into Blaine's eyes as he said the rest, Kurt's gaze focused on the vampire's hand clasped tightly in his own, "If you don't want to wait or deal with it, I understand. I don't want you to stay just because you're worried about me."

"Kurt," Blaine started, cradling the back of his lover's head and forcing him to gaze into his eyes. "The sun could blast into the room, and it wouldn't make me leave you." He brushed his lips against Kurt's again, smiling softly. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily." Circumstances and misunderstandings had already kept them apart far too long. And Blaine vowed to never allow anything or anyone to stand between them again. "I love you, Kurt," the vampire reaffirmed. "Your problems are my problems. We'll face it all together." He pressed his forehead to Kurt's, then wrapped his arms around him, embracing him tightly. "So, do you want to tell me what your Dad meant by a 'proper' relationship?" Blaine asked in a playful tone, hoping to lighten Kurt's mood.

"Hmmm... he said he didn't want to see any bite marks," Kurt answered with a roll of his eyes and a dramatic sigh. "I'm guessing I'll also be grounded for awhile. Possibly until I graduate." That was a gross exaggeration, but Kurt knew that his father wouldn't let the lying and sneaking around he'd done go unanswered. "that means we may have to do things like family dinners and game night with my parents for awhile." It sounded painful even to him. Still Kurt was grateful to be alive to share those things and have Blaine by his side. A smile finding its way to his face as well, Kurt nudged his lover. "You sure you can't be scared away?"

"Absolutely not," Blaine replied, returning Kurt's infectious smile with a grin of his own. "There's something you have to know about me, Kurt. Nothing and no one is ever going to scare me away from you." Another kiss, then the vampire was nuzzling his mortal lover's throat. He would miss not having the intimate luxury of feeding from Kurt's delicious blood. But actually being with Kurt was far more important than satisfying his hunger. "You know, I'll be happy as long as we're together," he murmured, glancing up into that startling blue-green eyes. "That's all that matters." Blaine reached up to comb his fingers through Kurt's hair, adding, "We have a lot of time to make up for, don't we?"

"Too much," Kurt agreed. Every second apart had felt like years, and now he had no idea how he'd spend any time without Blaine. The truth was that if it hadn't been for the drugs, he would have tried to persuade the vampire to just hole up in the room with him all day, sleeping or not. "I wish school wasn't during the day." Being awake all day for class and then half the night to be with Blaine had been taking its toll, and Kurt knew that some compromise would have to be reached eventually. "You could maybe stay over sometimes... be there when you wake up?" Kurt didn't know how his dad might react to the idea, but it put his mind at ease. "I just want every second we can get."

Blaine understood completely. If he knew Kurt's father would agree, then he would have suggested Kurt simply move in with him to make things easier for everyone. It was out of question, of course. But a lovely idea nonetheless. "We'll work something out, I promise," the vampire murmured. "Even if we can only see each other on weekends, every minute we have together will be worth it." His chilly fingers roamed from Kurt's lush, dark hair to caress a warm cheek. "You don't have to worry about me not being here anymore." A soft kiss, sweet and lingering, then he added, "I love you, Kurt. We're going to make this work, I know we will."

He'd intended to stay awake and alert for the duration of Blaine's visit but found that the medication in his system still meant drifting in and out. Kurt found it rather pleasant nodding off only to find himself waking with Blaine's arms around him and his lover's cheek resting against his hair. "Mmm... like this. Missed this," Kurt murmured against Blaine's shirt. He knew that eventually his father or Finn would come back to take their "shift" watching over him, but he didn't mind. There weren't any secrets anymore, and he didn't need to hide the way he felt about Blaine. "I don't even mind so much being in the hospital... not when I get to spend the time with you." It only took a glance at the clock to know that Blaine would be leaving soon, and Kurt held on a little tighter. "I'll miss you today."

Blaine took on a melancholy expression, even as he smiled warmly into Kurt's eyes. He despised the thought of leaving him, and he wished that all hospital rooms could be equipped with accommodations for vampire visitors. "We'll see each other again tonight. I promise." Blaine tipped Kurt's chin up with icy fingers, seeking out his lover's delectable mouth, and indulging in a kiss that left them both aching with passion and longing. "Right now I want you to concentrate on everything we have to look forward to." And Kurt's future would be bright, especially after Blaine made certain that no one ever hurt him again. "There's one word I want you to remember. For me, okay?" Another kiss, more tender this time, then, "Courage. When we're apart, think about how strong and brave you really are. It will keep me with you." He pressed his hand to Kurt's chest, feeling his heart beating rhythmically beneath his palm. "Right here."

From anyone else, the speech would have seemed impossibly cheesy. From Blaine, it was all sincere warmth that left Kurt wondering how he could have doubted Blaine's affections for a second no matter how strange things had gotten between them. "I love you," he whispered. Soon enough the vampire had to take his leave to retreat from the rising sun, but Kurt felt better. The more time they had, the better he felt. The smile still lingered on his lips when the door to his room opened again. Kurt spotted a spray of flowers and opened his mouth to greet his father. The face he found behind the vibrant arrangement was one he didn't expect, and Kurt's smile faltered and fell. "What are you-"

"Kurt, please," Dave Karofsky began in a voice that was nothing like the mocking tone that Kurt had grown so used to hearing in the halls, "please, just... I just need to say how sorry I am." The jock set the flowers down on a nearby table but didn't move a single step closer to the pale boy on the bed. "I made such a mess of... everything." There were tears in the young man's eyes, "And I know I can't ask you to forgive me, but you have to know how sorry I am, Kurt."

Stunned to the point of not knowing what to say, Kurt gaped for several beats. "You made my life hell," he finally whispered. Kurt's voice gained strength as he added, "You tortured me. You... you attacked me, and... and now you're... you're bringing me daisies?"

The jock looked as if he was on the verge of running but finally squared his shoulders and nodded. "Yeah. I'm bringing you flowers. I'm apologizing. I'm... I'm telling you that you don't have to worry anymore. I won't hurt you anymore. I won't touch you. I won't... I won't even talk to you again if you don't want. And they won't hurt you either. The other guys. They won't."

The certainty in the words struck Kurt, and took a slow breath to get his thoughts together. "You're gay."

"Yeah. I just... I'm not ready for... for everybody to know. I know I'm a coward, but football's my shot. It's my chance to get out, and if the guys found out..."

"Then they'd treat you the way they treated me." The words were soft, sympathetic rather than accusing, and Kurt sighed. "I won't tell anyone. I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone, not even on you."

"Kurt, I never wanted-"

"I believe you. We all have parts to play in high school. You were playing yours. It... this... this wasn't because of you. Not just because of you. It was a lot of things," Kurt allowed. He hesitated. "The flowers are lovely, David. Thank you."

The small concession brightened the other teenager's face at once. "Yeah? I hoped you'd like 'em. You wore this shirt last week that... it kinda matched." The admission brought a blush to his face that Kurt wouldn't have believed possible twenty minutes before. "Uh, I gotta get to school. I'll... I can bring you your homework if you want... so you don't get behind."

It was an additional olive branch, and Kurt nodded his agreement. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that." They both fell silent and Dave ducked out of the room after an awkward little wave that left Kurt shaking his head. Blaine would never believe what had happened, but he couldn't wait to fill him in.

******

As darkness threw its cloak over McKinley High School, Blaine pushed the front doors open and stalked down the shadowed hallways. Football practice ran late this time of the year, which turned out to be fortuitous in the vampire's search. Anger swelled deep inside of him as he could almost smell Kurt's fear permeating every inch of the oppressive gloom. After tonight, no one would ever dare to step foot near his precious lover again. Blaine had never been vindictive, not even when he had also been tormented on a daily basis when he was still mortal. He'd worked out, even taken up boxing for self defense. But he still couldn't bring himself to fight back. Being undead, however, had broken whatever chains kept his ire in check. And there was no hesitation on sending Kurt's bullies a potent message.

Having no trouble finding the locker room, Blaine concealed himself as the jocks separated and filed out after showering. He waited, hands clenching and unclenching reflexively as he contemplated which mortal to snatch. He didn't have to ponder long, as he caught a faint whiff of Kurt's scent on one of them... One left behind and taking his time dressing. Blaine's fangs emerged, and he stormed into the room in a furious burst of speed. He grabbed the startled mortal by the throat, hauling him to his feet and slamming him hard against the lockers. Blaine's message was simple, "Never bother Kurt Hummel again."

Then, deafening screams rang out.