Kurt sighed as once again he walked down the familiar hallways, past all the doors of the hospital and eventually found himself, again, at his dad's door. He leaned against it, trying to calm himself down first. He knew that if he went in there with the temper he had now, after the day he'd just had, he wouldn't be able to convince his dad to stop drinking. He took in a few deep breaths, trying to compose himself.
“So, is it a habit of yours to stand outside people's doors or is that just something you keep solely for me?”
“This isn't your door?” Kurt frowned, checking the number to make sure it was indeed his dad's door he was stood in front.
“No, I know. You're one off to the right.” the guy shot him a boyish grin. Kurt could feel his stomach make a tumble as he saw the glint in the boy's eyes. “Honestly though, if you ought to stalk someone, you should at least remember their room number.”
“This is my dad's room.” Kurt pointed to the door, “I just needed a moment.” Kurt said and there was such a lack of humour in Kurt's voice that the smile washed of the boy's face.
“Oh…is he going to be alright?” real concern showed on his face. Kurt nodded but didn't say anything, “well uhm, I'll see you around then? You can sit in front of my door any day.” The brunette giggled before entering his room again, “I hope your dad gets better soon.”
Me too, Kurt thought but said ‘thank you' instead.
“Hey dad,” he said when he finally entered the room. His dad was sitting up and beaming at him.
“Great news, Kurtie.” Burt smiled, “they said I can go home tomorrow.”
“That's great news dad, but I don't see this working out well if you don't promise to at least try and stop. Otherwise you'll just end up back here in a few weeks.” Kurt sighed, ignoring the image of golden brown eyes under a full head of curls.
“I'll try Kurt.” Burt mumbled, “I promise you.” he reached out for Kurt, his hands outstretched, waiting for his son to grab them. Kurt crossed the short distance and laid his hands in his father's. His long, slim hands seemed incredibly small compared to his fathers. He could feel the calluses of his dad's fingertips on his skin, the soft squeeze that made him look up at his dad and meet his eyes. Pain shot through his chest as he saw the remains of a broken man in Burt's eyes. A man who lost almost everything he had cared for and who was struggling to cope. A man who looked at his son with pleading eyes, begging for understanding. And Kurt did understand but understanding did not always create tolerance. Burt cleared his throat and with a shaky breath spoke again, “I know I've not being good enough Kurt, and I can't stand knowing I've let you down, that you are disappointed in me but you need to know that I love you.”
“I know you do, dad.” Kurt said, his voice breaking and he had to swallow hard trying to rid the lump forming in his throat. And he felt the words ‘I love you too' stick in his mouth but unable to produce them he pulled his dad in for a tight hug. He swallowed the words that were laying on the tip of his tongue and bit his lip until he tasted blood.  He loved his dad, there was no denying it but the pain that came with loving a broken man could sometimes break yourself. Kurt felt like he was losing himself in sacrifice for his dad's wellbeing. He could feel Burt's soft sobs, even if he tried to hide it and closed his eyes, burying his face in his dad's shoulder. He thought of his mum and how much he missed her, how much he needed her and wondered how things would've been if she had stayed.
Eventually their embrace came to an end and Kurt could just notice how Burt wiped his eyes before he plastered on a smile and asked Kurt how long he'd stay today. “I would like to see Doctor Schue today,” Kurt explained.
“Then go eat something first, he said he'd be checking in on me around six.” Burt patted his shoulder, “you can't live on M&M's and Mars forever.”
“I guess. Around six?” Kurt asked, checking his watch. That gave him another hour to eat, “will you be alright dad?”
“Who's the adult here?” Burt smiled, sitting up a bit more, “I'll be just fine.”
Kurt pressed down a kiss on Burt's forehead, whispered a “I'll be right back” and started his way down.

When Kurt walked back to his dad's room, feeling satisfied with food, he noticed a change in his own mood. His mum used to tell him that food could clear even the foulest mood, he figured that she might be right. So when he passed room 201 with, as usual, its door wide open again, he paused in front of it. He didn't know whether it was the effect of food in his stomach or the knowledge that after tomorrow he wouldn't be back in the hospital for at least a few weeks but softly knocked the door, seeing how the brunette looked up, meeting his face. "Hi," Kurt smiled from the door opening, his eyes searching the boys face, "what are you in here for?" he asks. Only after the question left his lips he realized that it might not have been proper to ask. He flushed and looked down embarrassed.
"You know," the dark haired boy shrugged, "plastic surgery is apparently in this year."
"Shit, I mustve missed that newsflash", Kurt chuckled, there was something about the boy's light way of speaking that always made him smile.  It had happened yesterday and again today.
"Oh yeah, you better hurry. Ive booked myself a spot here until at least next July."
"And of course you got yourself the room with the view." Kurt nodded to the window, where it looked over the boring court yard. The guy followed Kurt's gaze, looking out the window as silence between the two of them filled the room to be broken seconds after.
"Im Blaine." the boy smiled, holding out his hand. Kurts eyes flashed to the needle in Blaines hand and swallowed. Hed gotten quite used to the view of people on monitors or catheters but it didnt mean that hed ever get used to the feeling it gave him. he quickly recovered and put on a smile as he grabbed Blaine's hand and said ‘Kurt'.
“Nice to meet you Kurt. Especially seeing as it is not in the hallway.”
“Likewise,” Kurt smiled, “if I'm honest, I'm not even sure why I came here. I just wanted to say ‘hi' I guess.” Kurt blushed.
“I'm glad you did.” Blaine smiled, “how's your dad?”
“You do?” Kurt asked surprised, only then registering the rest of Blaine's question, “Oh...uhm he's okay. He should be allowed to leave tomorrow.”
“That's good news then.” Blaine smiled but it didn't reach his eyes and Kurt wondered what he'd done wrong. Even more how it was that he could already distinguish smiles with this guy he'd only just met.
“So, I better go back to my dad, I'd like to speak to the doctor before I go home.” Kurt mumbled, not actually wanting to leave this room. There was something about Blaine that made him feel at ease. He had such a warmth to his presence and a certain light in his eyes that made Kurt feel welcome.
“Will you be here tomorrow too?” Blaine asked, his eyes hopeful and it filled Kurt with an unknown happiness.
“Yeah, should be picking up my dad when he's leaving.”
“Will you drop by here too?” Blaine smiled, it seemed to illuminate the entire room.
“Sure, if you want me to?” Kurt stammered, silently wishing he wouldn't be blushing too much.
“Yes, I'd love it if you do.” Blaine smiled.
“I guess I'll see you tomorrow then.” Kurt smiled and made his way back to the door.
“Yes. See you tomorrow,” Blaine paused, “Kurt.”

“Ah, so you're back. I was wondering if you had decided to eat until you exploded.” Burt chuckled,
“I was considering it.” Kurt sat down next to his father's bed, “usually I don't have time to cook when I get home.”
“Tomorrow, I'll make us a big meal, son.” Burt promised, “I'll make you your favourite. What do you think of pancakes?” Burt's face brightened up with a smile so big that Kurt couldn't help but hope that it all would be better from now on.
“Dad, I was like eleven when that was my favourite meal.” Kurt spoke quietly but not without humour in his voice.
“Oh...well but would you like it?” Burt tilted his head to Kurt.
“Of course dad, I'd love it.” And it was then that Kurt realized more than ever how strong of an emotion hope was. It was travelling with great speed through his every vein and filled him completely. It was strong enough to make him forget about all the bad and make him think of better times ahead. And he believed again in his dad, in his dad getting better and in himself. “I love you dad.”
A knock on Burt's door announced someone coming in and soon doctor Schue opened the door, “Hello Mr. Hummel, I just wanted to ask you some last few questions before you leave tomorrow. I also understood your son wanted to talk to me?” he looked at Kurt, who nodded.
“I was just wondering if my dad was well enough for him to leave already?”
“Well, physically he is alright again, now it's just up to him.” the doctor said and then turned to Burt, “if you'd like to answer these few questions, Burt. Just the routine ones, you know them by now.”
Kurt sighed and slumped down in his chair blocking out the conversation going on around him. He sighed feeling very unsure whether his dad would be able to be stronger this time, after all hadn't they been through this more often than Kurt could count?