He turns before anyone else can speak to him, and leaves the room and heads down the hall toward the exit to the back parking lot. Right as he passes the door to the French classroom, he feels his bag ripped from his shoulder, and the cold, unforgiving metal of a locker as he’s shoved into it.
“You stupid fag. Where you going? Daddy’s not home to save you now, buddy, is he? So I guess it’s just you and me. No one to see or care whether or not you make it home tonight, eh?”
“Leave me alone, Karofsky.” Kurt replies, though he knows it’s useless. He’s screwed, and there’s no one who cares or will do anything about it.
“Ha. Like I’d do that. Too bad Azimio went home already. I guess he’s just gonna have to miss out on the fun. Come on, fag boy.”
Karofsky grabs the lapels of Kurt’s jacket, and bends to pick up his satchel, slinging it over his shoulder. With a rough shove, Dave releases his grip on the lapels, and reaches behind to hold onto to Kurt’s back instead and the two head toward the exit.
Once they’ve exited the building, Dave continues to push Kurt toward the far end of the parking lot, the complete opposite side from where Kurt’s Navigator is, and the complete opposite side from where anyone will see him. By now everyone has gone home, leaving only Glee club members, and janitors.
“Whatever you’re gonna do, just do it quick, Dave.” Kurt spits out, which only earns him a slap across the face.
“Keep moving and shut the fuck up, faggot.” Karofsky replies, shoving Kurt roughly in the back to keep him moving.
“Let go of him now!”
Both Kurt and Dave turn to where the voice has come from, Dave loosening his grip on Kurt’s back in surprise. Kurt steps carefully away from him, and shields his eyes from the bright sun to try to see the figure moving toward them.
As the person approaches, Karofsky begins to step forward, clenching his fists, and puffing out his chest.
“And just what are you gonna do about it? Who are you anyway?”
Realizing that Kurt is no longer in his grip, Karofsky turns and once again grabs Kurt’s collar.
“I said, let him go.” The voice says again, whoever it is getting closer and closer.
“Blaine?” Kurt whimpers. “What are you doing?”
“Leave him alone, Dave, or it won’t be pretty.”
“Ha! You gonna stop me?” Emphasizing his point, he throws Kurt to the ground, flat on his face. The distinct sound of a snapping bone fills the air, as the wrist of the hand Kurt tried to catch himself on snaps.
At that exact moment, Blaine launches himself at Karofsky, fists flying. Kurt cringes, and scoots as far away as possible, using only his good arm, and legs.
“You know what? You’re both loser fags. You’re so not worth this. I’m outta here.” Karofsky replies, stepping away from Blaine. “Have fun, homos.” And with that he’s gone, heading back to the other side of the parking lot to his truck. He climbs in and slams the door, the engine roaring as it comes to life. Soon enough he’s speeding off, out of the parking lot, and onto the street.
Kurt slowly stands, careful of his wrist and grabs his satchel from where Dave threw it, and slings it over his shoulder. He looks over to where Blaine is standing, still staring after Dave’s disappearing truck. With a small sigh, he begins to walk over to where his Navigator is parked.
“Hey, wait up.” Blaine calls, and Kurt can hear his footfalls as he tries to catch up.
“What do you want Blaine? Why are you out here?”
“I was just leaving, and I saw you and Dave out there, and I knew something was up. You looked terrified, and I didn’t want him to hurt you.”
“Why do you care anyways?” Kurt replies harshly.
“Because I care about you, Kurt.”
“Bullshit, Blaine! Don’t tell me that! Don’t lie to me!”
Blaine takes a steadying breath, working to keep his temper in check. “Listen Kurt, I’m pretty sure you’ve broken your wrist, and you can’t drive like that. Let me take you to the emergency room.”
“No, I’m fine. I can go myself.”
“No you can’t, Kurt. You’re hurt and you need help.”
“Maybe I do,” Kurt responds. “But not from you!”
By now they’ve reached the main parking lot, and Kurt’s Navigator. He carefully unzips the top zipper of his bag, and fishes out his keys with his good hand. He proceeds to unlock the vehicle, and open the hatch. He throws in his bag, and begins to take off his jacket, finding it difficult due to his injured wrist.
“Here, let me help you.” Blaine speaks up from where he’s standing, and Kurt’s about to tell him off again, except he really does want his jacket off. He’s hot, and it’s soaked from the wet pavement.
Blaine takes hold of the sleeve, and carefully removes it from Kurt’s wrist. He then neatly folds it and sets it next to Kurt’s satchel before closing the hatch. He takes the keys from Kurt’s hand and signals toward the passenger’s seat.
“I can take myself, Blaine. I already told you that.”
“Yes, you did. But you’re not. I am.”
“Fine.” Kurt huffs as he moves over to the door and reluctantly allows Blaine to help him in. Once he’s buckled and ready to go, Blaine shuts the door and moves over to the driver’s seat. He turns on the Navigator, and smoothly exits the parking lot.
The ride to the Emergency Room is quiet and uncomfortable. The tension a tangible sensation in the air.
“You really shouldn’t have bothered, Blaine. Now you’re stuck here with me. You should have just gone home,” says Kurt, finally breaking the silence.
“No, I was not going to leave you there like that, injured because of Karofsky. I wasn’t going to allow him to hurt you anymore.”
“Blaine, Karofsky I can handle. But you, showing up and pretending to care – what are you after? What are you hoping to accomplish? That I can’t handle.”
“Kurt, like I already said, I still care about you, despite what happened to us.”
“Translation: despite what you did to us.”
Blaine sighs as he pulls into a spot in the emergency parking area. Kurt immediately unbuckles and opens his door, but not before saying over his shoulder, “As soon as I’m taken care of, I’m going to see my father. I think you’d better call someone to take you back to your car. And give me my keys.”
“I’m not calling anyone – I’m staying here with you. You need someone.” But he hands Kurt his keys anyways.
Kurt walks around to the back of the Navigator and opens the hatch, one handedly rooting through his bag for his wallet. Driver’s License, proof of insurance, the remaining twenty dollars he has left for purchases….
As they enter the reception area, it’s relatively quiet. Kurt motions for Blaine to sit down, and the look on his face must be serious enough because Blaine doesn’t object. Kurt then turns to the receptionist and begins answering questions and filling out forms.
When he’s finished, he goes and sits down to wait – two seats to the right from Blaine. No way did he want anyone to think they were a couple or something.
He’s only been seated for a short time when a door opens and a male nurse motions to him. Kurt stands and reluctantly looks at Blaine – he’s determined to come along, no sense arguing and making a scene.
The nurse introduces himself as Nurse Collins, and leads them down a small corridor to a curtained off area to the left. He motions for Kurt to take a seat on the papered bed, and for Blaine to sit in the small chair in the corner.
“So,” he says, motioning to Blaine, “Friend, family…?”
“Acquaintance,” Kurt cuts in, seriously not wanting the nurse to get any wrong ideas, or for Blaine to say something stupid and untrue.
“Alright, well, I’m going to take your blood pressure, temperature, stuff like that. So just hang on a second while I get the equipment.” He turns and exits the room, closing the curtain behind him, leaving Kurt and Blaine alone.
Kurt remains facing away from Blaine, not in the mood for awkward conversation. He really just wishes Blaine would leave…or hold him. Ha. Like that’s gonna happen.
Nurse Collins returns, brushing the curtain aside and pushing a small metal tray, covered in medical equipment. He sets to work , wrapping the blood pressure cuff around Kurt’s arm, sticking the thermometer underneath his tongue, and so on and so forth. After he’s finished all procedures, he once again exits the room, notifying Kurt that Doctor Miller will be there shortly.
Once again the boys are thrown into awkward, tension filled silence. Until Blaine breaks that silence, that is.
“Do you need anything?”
Really Blaine? What a stupid question. “No.” Kurt answers stiffly. He can hear Blaine sigh behind him, and he just rolls his eyes.
Almost half an hour later, Doctor Miller finally makes his entrance. By now the dull pain in Kurt’s wrist has turned into a full out throb.
“So, Mr. Hummel. What seems to be the matter?” Hmm, the nurse didn’t even ask, Kurt muses.
“I think I broke my wrist,” is Kurt’s simple reply.
“And how did you receive this injury?” Dr. Miller prods, reaching out to lightly examine Kurt’s wrist.
No hesitation. “I slipped and fell in the wet school parking lot. Broke my wrist trying to catch my fall.”
“You sure you ‘just fell’? Can you explain the hand print on your cheek?”
Kurt, forgetting Dave had slapped him, fells the blood to fill his cheeks as his brain stumbles around to find an answer.
“I-I don’t know,” Kurt stutters, and he knows the doctor doesn’t believe him. But lucky for Kurt he doesn’t pry any further, just gives a slight shake of his head and a murmured, “Hmm.”
The next hour and a half is filled more pointless questions, X-Rays, and more forms. By the end of it, Kurt is tired and hungry. But he still needs to see his dad.
He hands the receptionist his Driver’s License, Insurance card, and the twenty dollars, saying it’s all he has and he’ll pay more as soon as he can. Lucky for him, the nurse is kind and understanding.
Kurt begins the trek to the elevator that will take him to the ICU, then remembers that Blaine is still with him. He sighs and turns around.
“Are you seriously gonna come with me?”
“Of course, Kurt. I’d follow you anywhere.”