When Kurt got out in the cold again, he felt his heart breaking that he was leaving the boy he loved behind. Kurt was doing this to protect Blaine though. Just like he was doing this to protect his family. Maybe when they caught Karofsky he could go back.

He walked for hours after leaving the letter on Blaine’s bed.

He didn’t even know where he was going. Nothing looked familiar. Kurt felt tired, and cold and his stomach growled in hunger by the time it was dark. He didn’t want to risk going to a shelter, knowing Blaine would probably look for him.

“Hey kid, you got any cigarettes?”

Kurt ignored the woman and kept walking down the street trying to pace himself faster. “Hey I’m talking to you!”

He felt his heart race as he looked around for anywhere safe.

The lady had caught up to him though and grabbed his arm “Do you have any fucking cigarettes?”

Kurt whimpered and shook his head. “No mam,”

“What do you have?” The woman asked bluntly, she looked him over as though he was carrying a wallet somewhere and wasn't saying.

“N-nothing mam,”

The lady shoved him on the ground “Fucking hell, I’d kill for a cigarette,”

Kurt took his time getting back up when she left him there. He wrapped his arms around himself and it started to snow.

“Great,” Kurt muttered. The next few days remained the same, he would keep walking and walking and stop every time a public toilet would be in view to get a drink of water in the taps. One time he came across a black banana that was still in its skin in the rubbish bin. He ate it bit by bit for the next few days.

He slept under trees, or buildings.

He missed the warmth of Blaine’s house. He missed the warmth of Blaine’s  mother cooking and Blaine’s bed and most of all he missed Blaine.

He missed him terribly. When he would try to fall asleep he would mumble “Dors Bien Blaine,” As though Blaine’s spirit was with him anyway. Kurt didn’t sleep well, if at all.

People never seemed to notice how defeated he was. Nobody stopped to ask if they could help him. Mothers always pulled their kids close when he walked on by. His pajamas was getting dirty from sleeping on the ground.

He did find a $5 note one time and remembered Blaine saying people took money all the time – it wasn’t really a crime. He hesitated as he walked up to a coffee shop. The person behind the counter was judging him. He could feel the stares.

He looked at the food.

Sandwiches were almost  double his money. Cakes were about half his money, even mochas cost at least $6  “Can I help you?” The girl asked tired of him standing there. He shook his head and she looked slightly relieved. “N-no thank you,”

Kurt sighed. He kept walking hoping he’d come across something cheaper. Eventually he came across a 7 Eleven and bought a packet of biscuits so he could nibble on those and a bottle of water.

Kurt wondered what Blaine was doing. Wondered if Blaine would be looking for him.

One time he slept in the park. He had found a bench to sleep on. He shivered as he tried to ignore the snow falling.  It was so cold.  “Well look who we have here,” A man smirked as he came nearby. He was swaying and didn't look like someone you wanted to mess with.

“Aren’t you pretty,” He added. Kurt sat up in shock as the man had put his hand on his ass and gave it a light squeeze.

Kurt tried to go but the man held him “Shh don’t be scared pretty boy,” He was hovering over him now, his lips attached themselves to Kurt’s roughly. Kurt could taste alcohol and bad breathe. He tried to shove him off, but the man continued to kiss him. “Mmmm,” He kissed down his neck making Kurt squirm. He was nothing like Blaine.

He felt panic at the thought he might get raped.

“Please,” He whimpered trying to say stop but the man pushed himself against Kurt “Now that’s more like it,” He grinded against Kurt groaning and Kurt was crying now. He wanted to go. “I love it when faggots beg, you like that ha?” He pressed down on him more.

He wanted Blaine.

The man tried to kiss Kurt again but Kurt bit him.

“Ow!” Kurt begged him "Please don't touch me,"

Kurt was still crying when the man let go and looked angry at Kurt after he wiped blood from his lip. “Why you fucking little devil,” He grabbed Kurt's side harshly and pushed him facing his head down on the seat with him back on top of him. Kurt watched in fear as he kept one hand on Kurt's chest to hold him down, his legs were on Kurt's lets to keep him still and his other hand was trailing down to his pants “Stay still and it won’t be as bad,”

Kurt was pleading now “Please don’t …please,”

“Hey get off him!” A woman yelled. The man looked over to her, she had another man with her “Get off him NOW,”

It was Rebecca. The man ignored her. Rebecca screamed at him "I believe the boy said no, GET OFF HIM,"

Kurt whimpered as the man was forced of Kurt and Rebecca came to his aid. The man that had been walking with her was the one to get him off. “That’s my husband, don't worry your safe” She told Kurt who was in shock. The husband managed to threaten the guy by calling the police but the stranger walked away grumbling about wasting time.

“Kurt…come on let’s get you up sweetie,” Rebecca helped Kurt from the ground and dusted him of. “There we go, come on – we’ll get you cleaned up at my place,”

“No,” Kurt pleaded. If Rebecca found out, Blaine would know where he was.

“Kurt sweetie I know you’re scared but it’s dangerous out here, at least let us get you some food and we’ll walk you to the shelter afterwards okay, Blaine’s there tonight,” Kurt hesitated but her husband seemed nice as he smiled at him “We’d love to help you Kurt but It’s up to you,”

Kurt nodded but he wouldn’t let Blaine see him. He wouldn’t. Especially not like this.

He got to eat a proper meal that night at Rebecca’s small apartment with her husband. They offered to wash his clothes while he had a shower which he thanked them for. They also asked if he would like to stay the night considering he'd been nothing but polite and thankful for their help.

He stayed there for the night on the lounge.

It was nice to know there were good people in the world, despite all the evil.

The next day he thanked them for their hospitality and told them he better go.

“Blaine will be at the shelter again on Wednesday, are you sure you don’t want to stay another night hon till then?”

“I’m sure, thank you,” His heart hurt at the mention of Blaine. He was so tempted to go back and see him.

At least he knew he wasn’t far from where he began. He felt like he walked for miles.

Rebecca gave him some sandwiches for the road, and he thanked her husband for getting rid of the man from last night. He still shivered thinking about the way he touched him.

He felt disgusting but the shower helped.

Blaine had turned pale when he read the letter. He could hear his mom “Sweetie?” but all he wanted to do was go out there and search for Kurt. He left the house in a hurry and got in his car. Kurt couldn’t have gone far. Every day, every hour he wasn’t at school, he was doing just that, and there were no signs of Kurt Hummel.

 It had been days…weeks even and Wes was seriously concerned about his friend. Blaine barely eats. He barely sleeps. All he can do is think about the boy who ran away.

Blaine broke down one day when Wes asked if he was ever going to go back to the Warblers. Nick had been over taking them for some time now, but Blaine didn’t feel like singing.

Since when had Blaine never felt like singing? Even in his bad days Blaine would sing.

When Blaine worked in the shelter, it wasn’t the same. He kept hoping for Kurt to come. Hoping that maybe he’d change his mind or he’d try to get some roof over his head.

“I’m telling you Jeff, it’s like Blaine died when Kurt went away, all of the happiness he once had isn’t there,”

Wes felt like he knew the boy perfectly now. Blaine had described him in every detail over the weeks especially that time he had been sick. There was a distraught boy under the Dalton stairs was shaking violently, and looked ill. Wes tapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Excuse me sir?”

The pale boy barely blinked. “S…sorry…I’ll go,” His voice was barely audible.

Wes frowned and asked Jeff who was coming nearby to take his backpack.  Jeff nodded and looked concerned at the sick kid “Is he okay?” Wes shook his head. Something about this kid though reminded him of what Blaine had said.

His skin was pale, almost like snow I never seen anything like it before. It feels so soft too despite the fact he’d been on the streets.

This boy was very pale. “I don’t think so, can you get Blaine?”

Jeff told him he’d be right back. Wes sat down near the boy. “What’s your name kid?”

“Please…don’t beat me up. I’ll go soon, just…” He blinked his eyes open a couple of times and blanked out. He was in a bad shape. Wes wondered if the skin was his natural colour or because he felt like ice. “I’m not going to beat you up,” Wes assured. The boy was barely able to look at Wes. “…Is….this Dalton?”

Wes observed the boy looking around him. He was skinny. He looked like he wanted to vomit or just past out. Wes felt sorry for the kid.

“Yes it is, did you come looking for someone?”

He has brown locks over his forehead, he has green no I think blue? I’m not sure but they are the most unusual and gorgeous eyes I’ve ever seen…and he was wearing this hoodie which looked like a giant had worn…it had an M on it? I think it represented a school….but he might of gotten it from goodwill or something

There was no red hoodie or pants like Blaine had describe but then he noticed something, Blaine had an exact pear of pajamas just like that.

Oh my god.

“Kurt?” Wes asked and Kurt flinched when he tried to touch him. He was completely distraught. Blaine was there not soon later. He rushed over upon seeing the boy who was lying in the little sun under the stairs “Oh my god,”

“It is Kurt isn’t it?” Wes asked as a confirmation and Blaine nodded. “I looked everywhere for him Wes,” He kneeled down to the pale boy.  “Kurt?” He asked.  Kurt was unresponsive. He had blanked out as soon as he saw Blaine. He touched his hand, they were really like ice.

Blaine carefully lifted the boy he loved into a sitting position and asked if Wes could hold him like that while he pulled of the wet and dirty clothing. Blaine reached for the hem of his filthy pajama top and pulled it up over Kurt’s head. Once he disregarded the useless item he immediately took his blazer of ignoring the coldness that hit his skin and wrapped it around his cold friend.

“I’ve got to get him inside,” Blaine insisted he would carry him. Kurt wouldn’t feel comfortable knowing someone else touched him. He knew Kurt well enough now to know that. He lost so much weight Blaine thought sadly. He barely weighed a thing as Blaine lifted him and cradled him to his chest.

“Come on guys,” He requested. They walked with him to his room. Kurt’s eyes was still closed. It was snowin last night so he imagined that’s why Kurt’s hair was damp.

He placed the taller boy in his bed still with his blazer on him and covered him with his Blankets.

He traced Kurt’s face to make sure he was real, and he wasn’t dreaming this. He kissed Kurt’s cheek. Remembering the first time they kissed, and how things could have been different if he hadn’t been so quiet about what he was planning to do. He should have told Kurt but he was back. He decided to call his mom. He knew if he wanted to look after Kurt, the school would call his mother for her permission. He told her the situation as rapidly as he could and Mrs Anderson loved his son for his compassion but was of course worried that his son was over emotional.

“Blaine honey, if the school doesn’t agree for you to have him stay, bring him to me. I’ll look after him and you can visit Kurt on the weekend okay sweetie? I know you’re upset, but we’ll make sure Kurt’s okay, can you put Wes on the phone dear?”

“Yes mom,”

Blaine handed the phone over. He was stroking Kurt’s hair. Blaine couldn’t get over how within just a short time frame Kurt had lost weight again, and his jaw was more firm than before which he traced it with his thumb.  Kurt stirred slightly at his touched and he smiled sadly at Kurt. He needed food in him fast, and warm clothes. Jeff was also sitting near Kurt’s bed and asked Blaine if he should get anything.

“Can you just call one of the teachers to come here?” Jeff nodded and without a word he left to do as requested.

“Okay, Blaine this is what I want you to do, ask the school if Kurt can stay with you until the weekend, and then on Saturday I want you to bring him home okay honey?”

“Really mom?”

“He’s such a nice kid Blaine…It hurts me to know what he’s going through. I’d love to help in any way I can, and with you at school and Cooper at Los Angeles it’d be a joy to look after someone else for a change, especially someone who appreciates my cooking, and obviously his father is worried sick about him, I know how I’d feel if you were in Kurt’s position”

When Blaine had told Burt he had run away again, Burt had been absolutely gutted. He helped Blaine on his searches and he didn’t blame Blaine. “It’s not your fault, Kurt does what he thinks is right even if it isn’t smart,” Burt acknowledged and Blaine broke down. Burt held the sobbing boy in his arms until Blaine calmed down.  “You’ve done your best Blaine, you’ve tried, and that’s all I can ask for,”

“You’re the best mom ever you know? I love you,”

“I love you too B, give that boy a kiss for me,” Blaine nodded. “I want him home Blaine,” She insisted. Blaine smiled. “I’ll bring him home on Saturday,”

“Can you carry him?” Jeff asked in the background who had been watching in shock.

Eventually Jeff returned with their English teacher. Mrs Ryan looked concerned by the amount of attention being paid to the ill boy in Blaine’s bed.

“What’s going on here boys?”  Blaine stood up to face the issue at hand as he addressed her. “Mrs Ryan, my friend is really ill and tired he needs my assistance, I’d like him to stay with me for now if that’s okay?” Blaine had Kurt towards his chest and Kurt had unconsciously moved closer to his t-shirt.

“Does his parents have his permission?” Mrs Ryan asked looked worried as the boy’s colour was evaporating from his already pale skin.

“I haven’t asked them yet,” Blaine wanted to lie and say yes but Mrs Ryan wasn’t someone to meddle with.

“Blaine I’m not sure if this is a good idea,”

“Please…he’s exhausted, he hasn’t had an easy time, he won’t be any trouble,” He looked down at Kurt as though to prove his point and his eyes begged his teacher to see what he saw. Mrs Ryan did look at Kurt and nodded using her hand to ask Blaine to follow here. “Come with me. Let’s go talk to the principal, and he can decide,”

Wes just nodded to Blaine and said he’ll watch Kurt for him. Blaine thanked him and followed his teacher down the hall.

Blaine told the principal as much as he could saying Kurt was struggling with coming out about his sexuality, people didn’t react kindly to Kurt. He also told Mr Dalton what his mother had told him about looking after him but she didn’t want Blaine to be driving all the way home until the weekend where she’ll take over the care of the boy. When they called Mrs Anderson. Blaine listened to the conversation which was on loud speaker. They then called Burt. Blaine inhaled and exhaled, trying to breathe because he worried about Burt’s reaction.

He knew Burt had been sick in the past, eventually Finn had told him about it and how Kurt looked after him and worried so much all the time, it was odd at home because there was no one to stop Burt from going after more chips. One time Finn saw Burt going into the cupboard late at night and he  just stared at a packet of chips for an hour before closing the door and sighing as though he knew Kurt would hate him for it.

He hoped Burt didn’t mention Kurt being missing because the school would make too big a deal out of it, and he just wanted Kurt safe. “Mr Hummel, your son appears very ill, and Blaine Anderson one of our students would like your permission to have him stay here for a week, is that okay with you sir?”

“He’s there?”

“Yes that’s correct,”

“Of course Blaine has my permission,” Blaine let out a sigh of relief and soon the school was thanking Burt for his time. “Blaine can I have your number?” Burt asked at which Blaine gave willingly. “Thank you for trusting me,” Blaine added.

His mother made out like she knew Kurt for a long time and how he wouldn’t cause any trouble and that they could trust Blaine with his best intentions in taking care of this boy, and not disregarding the school’s policy with his behaviour. Blaine loved his mother more than anything in that moment. He sat impatiently while he waited for the teachers to discuss the arrangements with his mother.

“And Mrs Anderson, is it true he’s only to stay for the week in Blaine’s care with your permission?” Mr Dalton asked as Mrs Anderson agreed.

 “Yes Mr Dalton. Just a week because I’d like Blaine not to take any days of from his studies, but he can come to our home on the weekand with Kurt but for the time being if you’ll have him, whatever extra things you need to provide him with I’ll pay for, he’s a dear friend to us, and I don’t want Blaine missing out on school so he can drive the boy on an almost 2 hour trip when he’s upset, and I can’t ask of any other student to drive him because that’d also take time from their studies, I know how much you want your students to do well,”

His mother was a genius. Blaine tried not to let his surprise show on his face as he waited for their approval. The teachers seemed impressed and were nodding with this option. “That sounds like a fine deal Mrs Anderson,”

“I already told Wes that me and Nick would be happy to have him in our room, so Kurt could stay with Blaine in Wes’s bed for the time being, and I’ll sleep on our couch, we have a pull out, which is actually quite comfortable,” Jeff offered siding with Blaine. He also didn’t mention it was in front of the TV, which Blaine figured was his main reason for being so optimistic and when did Jeff get here? Blaine wondered but nodded at his friend. He would buy them sweets for a whole year as a thank you. The two teachers look at them carefully and seemed slightly considerate. Kurt was currently in Blaine’s room as they spoke. He was too ill to even know where he was.

“That’s very nice of you Mr Dawson but will 2 other people be of a distraction to your own studies?”

“No mam, Wes and Nick are both in the Warblers the only thing that might be of loud noise in our room is us practising for Regionals, and you know what Wes is like, he’s worse than Blaine’s mother,” Mrs Ryan was well aware of how accomplished the Warblers were in their competitions so she nodded in approval.  “Excuse me, what was that Jeff? Did I hear you complain when I have Blaine bring you some of our famous cookies?” Mrs Anderson was on loud speaker which obviously Jeff was not aware of as he went to apologise. “No! I’m sorry of course not. I meant that in a good way!”

The teachers laughed, and Blaine grinned.

“Okay…well can we go see the boy?” Mr Dalton asked. Blaine nodded and showed them the way back to his room. The principal looked at the boy lying on his bed. Kurt really did look unwell. It always hurt Blaine to see him like this, but he knew Kurt had not had it easy even before Blaine had come along.  He was wrapped in blankets but his skin was still cold.

“You sure he shouldn’t be taken to the hospital? He doesn’t look well,” The principal had put a hand on his forehead and Blaine agreed. “I want to take him when he wakes up sir, I think it’d be slightly scary waking up in a hospital room without anybody being there since I’m not family,”

“That’s understandable,” Mrs Ryan commented with a smile at Blaine before looking to the principal

“Mr Dalton what do you think?”

“I think Blaine should be rewarded for his efforts, you’re a good kid Blaine. And Mrs Anderson is very admirable for allowing Kurt into her home as well, I see no problems with this arrangement if there is a parent agreement,” Which is exactly why Blaine had called her previously.

Mr Dalton put his hand on shoulder. “You have half an hour to make sure he’s okay and then I want you to get back to class okay? I’ll let your teacher know an emergency came up,”

“Thank you Mr Dalton, and Mrs Ryan,”

“You better thank Mr Montgomery too for sparing his side of the room,” Mrs Ryan smiled at them both before they left the boys alone.

“Well I have to get to class,” Wes commented and Blaine nodded “Thank you Wes,”

“No problem Blaine, he’s lucky to have a friend like you,”

“And I’m lucky to have you guys as my friends,”

“Sappy,”

“You started it,”

“Bye Blaine, I’ll make notes for you okay, hope he’s alright,”

Blaine watched as Wes grabbed his satchel and headed out the door. Blaine knelt beside the bed and just watched Kurt sleep. “Kurt?” He asked. Kurt was sleeping restlessly, as though being in a warm bed was uncomfortable. Blaine held his hand with his left and used his right to stroke his hair.

 “Kurt?” He asked again trying to not to wake him up and frighten him. Kurt just shifted into another position, but he didn’t wake up. He leaned over and kissed Kurt’s forehead.

Kurt didn’t wake up the entire time he watched him sleep. He had to go to class. He sighed. First he kissed Kurt’s cheek. He left a note right next to Kurt so if he did wake up hopefully he wouldn’t freak out when he woke up in some strange place. He shut the door, feeling a bit cruel, but he didn’t want anyone walking in on Kurt, and he definitely did not want Kurt leaving Dalton like he had his mom’s place. Blaine couldn’t focus in his next class. He tried to, he really tried to but he kept wondering if Kurt was awake or if he’d run away and what would he say to his principal if Kurt did run away.  He had a free period after so he planned to go back and check up on him.

As soon as the bell went and rushed back to his room. He panicked. Kurt wasn’t there.

The note was on the bed so obviously Kurt had at least picked it up. Maybe he should have woken him up, but how did he get out? He looked to the window which was closed and frowned. Did one of the teachers kick him out? Then he heard a sound. He followed it into the bathroom and Kurt was vomiting.

“I thought you ran away,” Blaine admitted and kneeled down beside Kurt. He rubbed soothing circles in his back while the boy heaved what was left in his stomach, if anything was left in there. He felt bones in his back.

“Feel better?” Blaine asked as Kurt sat back slightly. His eyes watered.

“I don’t feel good,”

“Have you eaten?” Blaine had brought some sandwiches just in case from the school’s cafeteria.

“I don’t think I could stomach anything right now,” Kurt said as Blaine helped him back up. Blaine got him a warm cloth and cleaned the mess on his face. “Come on, let’s get you back under the covers, I’ll get a bucket in case you need to vomit again okay?”

“I didn’t want to ruin your sheets,” Kurt seemed embarrassed and just overwhelmed. Blaine helped him under the blankets and tucked him in like his mother used to do to him and still does when he’s sick.

“Don’t worry about that, Dalton has its own laundry department,” Blaine explained as Kurt struggled to keep his eyes open. He wasn’t even sure Kurt heard him then. He seemed so lost.

Blaine patted his hand. “Why don’t you sleep some more? I’ll be right here,”

“Blaine?”

“Hm?”

“I’m so sorry,” Kurt fell to pieces as he clutched at Blaine “I’m sorry,” He kept saying it over and over but Blaine just held him and assured him he was fine. Everything would be fine. Eventually Kurt stop crying and looked at Blaine tiredly.

Blaine reached a hand to cup Kurt’s right cheek and wiped a tear that fell with his thumb.

“No more crying, you’re here now. That’s all that matters,” Blaine pressed a featherlike kiss to his cheeks. Tears began falling down Kurt’s face again. Blaine kissed them away. “Shhh, it’s okay. Kurt…do you have everything you need? I need to go back to class.

Kurt just nodded and stared at him like he couldn’t get enough.

 “You’re staying here for the week, you know that right?” Blaine said before leaving and Kurt’s eyes widened. “What about the teachers?” Blaine chuckled at his concern. He went to touch Kurt’s hair. He was so happy Kurt was back.  “They’re fine with it, I already spoke to them while you were sleeping, and mom wants you home on the weekend,”

“I thought she’d hate me,” Kurt admitted. After running out like that without no warning, Blaine could sort of understand Kurt’s theory behind that but tilted Kurt’s head up at him who had looked sadly down at his bedsheet. “Mom isn’t like that. She kind of figured out the reason why you left, she was more worried than angry that you did,”

Kurt looked tired. “Why don’t you sleep some more? You look exhausted,” Blaine tucked him in again and brushed back the hair from his forehead. Even though he was cold to touch his head was really warm. He had a high fever. “Here take these first,” Jeff had come in and handed him some Panadol. “Thanks Jeff,” Blaine smiled. Jeff nodded and left quietly.

Kurt sat up slowly to take the medicine. Blaine held onto him so he wouldn’t fall because he looked like he could barely keep awake and Blaine handed him a glass of water to take.

Kurt started to close his eyes as he relaxed again under the covers.

Blaine was dying to tell Kurt he loved him, but it could wait. Kurt needed rest. He leaned down and pecked his lips. “Sleep well, I’ll be back soon,” He stroked Kurt’s cheek and then left to go back to class.