He looked around for Kurt and couldn't see him, but then he heard his voice coming from the office.

"Just wanted something to keep me busy for a bit."

"Of course. Go ahead. And uh, how's Carol doing by the way?" replied a low male voice.

"She's alright. We haven't talked to her much lately. But Anne's taking good care of her I think."

"Well that's good."

"Yeah. Thanks for letting me stick around."

"Of course. It was your dad's place after all."

"That was a long time ago."

Blaine caught a glimpse of Kurt in the doorway and quickly ran outside before he could be spotted. He went around the side and found a small window to look through. He watched as Kurt came out into the garage. He removed his jacket, tossing it aside as he headed over to a car on the far side of the shop. He took a quick look at a clipboard and then bent over the open hood.

Blaine allowed himself to simply watch Kurt work. He watched as the muscles in the other man's arms and shoulders tensed and relaxed through the tight white tee. He watched the way his long pale fingers nimbly gripped and maneuvered the greasy tools and parts. The longer he worked the more grease began to accumulate on his hands, arms and forehead every time he reached up to wipe away beads of sweat.

A half an hour went by. The two other men in the shop hollered to Kurt that they were stopping to take a lunch break. The owner of the garage came out and the three men went out to eat at the local dinner. Kurt didn't even lift his head as they walked out.

Blaine slipped inside and made his way over to Kurt who was struggling to put together a part. Blaine continued to watch him for a moment before speaking up.

"That's the wrong size." He said casually.

Kurt tensed and Blaine could practically see the hackles standing up on the back of his neck. He turned to look at Blaine.

"What the hell would you know about it?"

Blaine leaned back onto the side of the car and crossed his arms. "I haven't always been a full time delinquent. I've had other jobs."

"Why don't you go back to them and leave us alone?" Kurt retorted. He turned around and went back to work, using his new found anger to try and shove the part into the car.

Blaine went over to him and tried to reach out to take the part. "Here, let me…" Kurt seized his wrist in a harsh grip.

"Get out of here now." He threatened in a low cool voice.

"So touchy," mused Blaine. "And when I only wanted to – aurgh!" his words dissolved into a yell as Kurt twisted his arm behind his back and pushed him until his body was pressed into the side of the car.

When Kurt spoke his voice was still calm, but had tremor of anger in it. "I want you out of my sight. I want you out of my city. I want you out of my damn life." He lifted Blaine up and began steering him towards the back door.

Blaine was in pain, but he forced a grin on his face as he muttered, "It's not your city anymore." And suddenly Kurt wasn't holding him. In a split second the air left Blaine's lungs as he took a punch in the gut. He grabbed Kurt's shoulders before swinging his arm around and punching him in the jaw. It was a heavy impact and Kurt stumbled back into a table sending toolboxes all over the floor with a loud crash.

Blaine was on him, pushing him down onto the table before delivering another punch. Kurt fought back, pushing Blaine off of him and down onto floor where he kicked Blaine square in the chest. As Blaine recovered Kurt lifted him forcibly to his feet and dragged him out into the back alley of the shop.

He shoved Blaine into the wall intentionally banging his head against the cement. "Why did you come here?" Kurt demanded.

Blaine just stared back, the question too confounding for Blaine to simply answer with a quip. Why had he come there? He locked eyes with Kurt and he became very aware of just how close together they were. He watched as Kurt's eyes, so filled with anger, flashed with something else entirely. His cheeks flushed red and Blaine guessed that it was not from the heat of the sun.

Then Kurt's eyes snapped back into focus and he raised his fist to hit Blaine once more. Blaine caught it and struggled with Kurt until he managed to turn them around and pin Kurt against the wall instead. Kurt squirmed as Blaine leaned up into him. All of his thoughts seemed to have evaporated as if Kurt's eyes had somehow swallowed them. He only felt a thumping in his chest, and a coiling in his stomach. He moved his face closer to Kurt's until their noses touched. Kurt stopped struggling, and Blaine lifted his hand to graze Kurt's cheek with his fingertips.

Very, very, slowly Blaine tilted his head so that his nose slid past Kurt's. He stopped just before their lips met. For what seemed like an eternity they hovered there. A thousand thoughts battled in Blaine's head bidding him to go forward and screaming for him to pull back. Just as he was coming to his senses, Kurt closed the gap.

And the world fell away. Blaine went on tiptoe as he pressed his lips into Kurt's. He felt a hand slide up to the back of his neck pulling him in closer, and the kiss deepened. Their mouths opened and their tongues began to glide together. Kurt's hands twisted into Blaine's hair and he mirrored the action in Kurt's so that they were both gripping each other hard as their mouths continued their attack with passionate open mouthed kisses.

And then all at once the fingers in his hair were pulling Blaine back instead of forward. Hard. Blaine yelped and stumbled backward. Blaine looked up at Kurt, his back still pressed against the wall. His whole face was flushed, his lips were still wet, and he wore a look of shock.

Once again, Blaine's feet were moving of their own accord but this time instead of bringing him towards Kurt they were carrying him away. He ran as fast as he could out of the alley and through the streets.

***

"This is a load of shit," grumbled Puck as he leaned against the back door of the bar. He lifted his head to look at Finn who was pacing back and forth amongst the other Titans strewed around the alley way. "We're supposed to sit and twiddle our thumbs while your brother plays private eye?"

"Look!" Finn said exasperated. "He says he's on it. He says he just wants to get a better idea of what we're up against."

"The only way we're going to know that is if we keep beating on their asses. If we sit here we're just letting them have free reign!"

"Maybe that's the idea," said Artie. "Let them put their guard down, and then we get 'em."

"Sounds more to me like Kurt doesn't have any plan at all." Jesse said with his eyes locked on Finn. "We got our asses kicked, and then Kurt disappears, and tells us to lay low. He doesn't even tell us this in person. He has Finn do it."

"Stop Jesse," growled Finn.

"Stop what? I'm just pointing out the truth. Your brother is chicken. Have you even seen him lately?"

"Yes, he was home late last night."

"And did he tell you anything?"

"No."

"Why do you let him take charge like this, Finn? Why do any of us let him take charge? I think, if he can't be bothered to show his face then you should man up and make the decisions. Or maybe I will."

"Shut up!" Finn snapped. "Kurt and I are both in charge. We made this decision together. This is my call, Jesse!"

"Hey Titans, look at this." When Sam spoke they all turned and looked out onto the sunny street beyond the alleyway where a young man was walking by. It was the Hawk, Trent.

"Isn't that one of those bastards?" asked Puck.

Artie sprung to his feet. "Let's have some fun with him."

"I don't know," said Jesse darkly. "Is this approved by Kurt?"

Finn glared at him and then shouted a "come on!" to everyone. They swarmed into the street. Trent turned his head and when he saw the Titans approaching he broke into a run. They chased him down, shouting jeers and insults, until they finally overtook the Hawk and pinned him to the ground.

"Hey there you little shit," greeted Mike.

"You shouldn't be out on your own," said Finn. "These streets are dangerous. You might get hurt."

"I'm not afraid of you," said Trent looking up at them all with his jaw set bravely. They all laughed. They pulled him to his feet and started beating him up. Trent tried his best to take everything without showing the pain but it was clearly getting harder as the men continued to rail on him. This went on until a voice made them all pause.

"Alright, that's enough." They all turned to see Kurt standing, and watching them.

"Finally decided to show?" asked Jesse.

"Of course," said Kurt. "Why, were you feeling lonely without me?"

"We just thought that maybe you'd decided to go into hiding, and let these lowlifes take over Lima."

"You know I'd never let that happen." Kurt hissed.

"Dude," chimed in Finn. "They were just worried because they didn't know where you've been."

"Well you can quit worrying," said Kurt. He looked straight at Trent and addressed him directly. "Remember when you sent one of us as a message? Well now you get to play messenger boy. You can tell those Hawks that they better stay off the streets because we're coming for them. If we see any of you we'll make you regret it. We won't rest till every last one of you is out of Lima for good." Kurt looked up at Sam and Mike who were both holding Trent. "Let him go." He said. They did and Trent spat at Kurt's feet before running away with all his might.

***

Later that night, Kurt was once again sitting across from Santana, and staring at her in the low-lit night club. She took a long sip from her drink before looking back at Kurt.

"You seem moodier than usual," she observed. Kurt let out a long sigh. "You know, you're in here so often, and I know it's not just to visit little old me. I've seen the way you watch that stage, Kurt. Have you ever thought of trying it?" Kurt simply fixed her with penetrating look.

"Alright, alright. Look, here's the scoop. No one is quite sure where Anderson is from. What they do know is his parents are still alive and well, but he left them when he was fifteen, and has been making it on his own ever since. He's a loner. Never stays in one place very long."

"That could be useful," murmured Kurt.

"There's another thing," said Santana. She took a moment before continuing. "I have it from a very reliable source that he shares your… interests."

Kurt stiffened, his eyes going wide. "What are you…?"

"He's a homosexual." Santana said, her eyes studying Kurt's face.

"I'm not!"

"Kurt, honey, it's okay. I've known for a long time now. It doesn't change anything."

"But, how did you know?"

"You're not obvious, if that's what you're worried about," she said. "Though you should make a bigger effort to sweet talk the ladies more. No, I'm just very good at reading people, and we've been close for so long."

Kurt shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Santana had assured him that his secret was safe with her, but it was still unnerving to realize someone knew about it without his own knowledge.

"Anyway," said Santana. "That's all I have for you. No need to thank me for doing a perfect job for you."

"Thanks, Santana," said Kurt, getting up and heading out the door.

Kurt turned his feet homeward and walked through the dark streets, his mind heavy with thought. Kurt knew before his meeting with Santana what Blaine was. Blaine had made that quite clear to him that morning. That was precisely why he'd rushed to deliver his ultimatum. Blaine was a serious danger to him. If anyone found out what he was, it would be the end of his life. But he wondered if there was another way to take care of Blaine.

Kurt didn't get far before the soft strumming of a guitar met his ears. He paused and listened closely to the sound. He walked toward it, and after a minute a voice began to sing.

Love me tender,

Love me sweet,

Never let me go.

You have made my life complete,

And I love you so.

To Kurt, it was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. It was warm and rich. Kurt kept following the sound, winding his way around the buildings. He was drawn to it, like a moth to flame.

Love me tender,

Love long,

Take me to your heart.

For it's there that I belong,

And will never part.

Kurt finally found himself at the bottom of a fire escape. High up on one of the landings was a dark silhouette. Kurt could make out the shape of a guitar, but had no way of identifying the face. The more he listened to the voice, though, the more completely it took him over. It was like it was inside him as well as all around him. He leaned against the wall, staring up at the dark figure, and listening closely.

Love me tender,

Love me dear,

Tell me you are mine.

I'll be yours through all the years,

'Till the end of time.

Love me tender,

Love me true,

All my dreams fulfill,

For my darling,

I love you,

And I always will.

The strumming finally came to an end and all fell silent. Yet, Kurt could still hear the echoes of that voice in his ears. A part of himself compelled him to climb the ladder so he could get closer to that figure. He desperately wanted to know who it was. He had a hand placed on the first rung when a different voice broke the silence.

"Anderson. Anderson! Blaine! Get in here and go to sleep already you're giving me a headache."