The day started out like most every other day except school was finally finished for the holiday break. Kurt and Blaine were set to leave the next morning for Lima to see their families for Christmas. This will be one Christmas they will never forget but will wish they could. For Blaine it will change the course of his life forever.

A week into their visit to Lima.

Kurt and Blaine decide to go out and do a little last minute holiday shopping as Christmas was only 8 days away. After shopping for several hours in a very crowded mall. Blaine decides he needs a quick bathroom break. So he and Kurt head to the food court to eat and find a bathroom. The food court is by far the busiest area of the mall Kurt points out.

"Wow. Who knew everyone in Lima could fit into one mall. This place is packed today" said Kurt. "Well its Christmas time after all. After lunch we should go see Santa" smiled Blaine. "Sure Blaine if that’s what you want to do. Why not" said Kurt. "Well it is Kurt. I think it would be fun and we could get a picture out of it too" said Blaine. "Fine Blaine whatever you want. Just be glad that I love you so much" said Kurt. Thank you blushed Blaine. Now to find a bathroom and some food. I have to PEE and we need to eat soon said Blaine with a fidget and a little dance. You and your small bladder Mr Anderson laughed Kurt. The sign up there (pointing ahead) says the food court is around that corner surely there’s a bathroom for you in there said Kurt. Blaine smiles and says of course there is. At that Blaine slid his hand into Kurt’s sending a shiver down Kurt’s back and to his crotch.

The food court

Upon arriving at the food court Blaine starts looking at all the different food vendors and decides on pizza for his lunch which Kurt says he will get so Blaine can go and pee. Blaine hurries off down the hallway to the bathroom after telling Kurt he would be back in 5 minutes and that he loved him. Kurt goes to the pizza place window and orders two slices of pepperoni and extra cheese and 2 medium diet cokes and settles into a table near the bathrooms to wait for Blaine. Twenty minutes pass and no sign of Blaine and that is odd. Kurt calls him and there’s no answer. Which is weird Blaine never misses Kurt’s call. So Kurt sends him a text message.

Kurt: Hey Blaine are you okay in there I love you Kurt.

Unbeknownst to Kurt. Blaine was not all right. He was being beaten by the three thugs from Westerville that he had known at his old school years earlier. The same three thugs that had beaten him up at the dance he had told Kurt about many years earlier when Kurt had asked him to his junior prom. Kurt calls again and still gets no answer. Something is definitely not right. Kurt realizes that when he looks up towards the bathroom hallway that something is very wrong. Three emts with a stretcher and bags of gear had just flown passed him. Throwing all caution to the wind Kurt jumps up leaving his bags and everything else and tears through the throngs of people gathering in and around the bathroom. Kurt reaches the door and feels his stomach lurch. There’s blood and urine everywhere and a curly haired body laying in the midst of it all. Kurt shoves in passed all of the onlookers and is stopped by a burly police officer who tells Kurt the bathroom is a crime scene and that he can’t use it. It was in that moment that Kurt saw the face of the barely breathing body. It was Blaine. He was covered in bruises and cuts and his right arm was clearly broken at the elbow.

(Horror stricken) "BLAINE BLAINE BLAINE. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED BLAINE? BLAINE. OH MY GOD BLAINE" screamed Kurt.

The officer then grabbed Kurt and removed him from the scene to talk to him.

Cop: So you know the young man in the restroom?

Kurt: Yes sir hes my boyfriend. His name is Blaine Anderson.

Cop: Any idea who would want to hurt him or why they would want to son?

Kurt: (after taking a breath says slowly) We are gay sir and have been threatened and bullied when we were younger. Being gay causes people to hate you for no other reason. As to who I have no idea. (very shaken)

Cop: Where were you when the attack occurred?

Kurt: I was waiting at a table with our lunch. He said he would only be a few minutes.

Cop: Did anyone see or speak to you?

Kurt: Well the food court is packed with people but the only person I spoke to was my friend Mercedes and that was on the phone.

Kurt pulls out his phone and shows the texts and calls he had made at the time of the attack.

Cop: Ok one more question and we're done. Do you have his parents names and a phone number and maybe an address so we can notify them.

Kurt: Yes of course I do. There names are Hannah and Kenneth Anderson. Their home number is 715-555-4233 and their address is 720 Pine Bluff Road over in Westerville. I can call them now if you want me to.

Cop: Thank you and what is your name son.

Kurt: My name is Kurt Hummel.

Cop: Thank you Mr Hummel but I will have my chief call them.

After a moment of silence and as Officer Fields is standing to leave Kurt looks up and says where did they take Blaine? Which hospital? And is there any way to keep his name out of the headlines at least for now?

Cop:They took him to Lima Memorial Hospital. He is in the er being treated. It looks pretty bad. he’s unconscious and badly injured. Please get someone to go with you. Yes for now we will with hold his name until his family is notified.

Kurt smiled gently and said thank you and grabbed his things and hurriedly ran to Blaine’s car. Once in the drivers seat of the car he fished his phone out of his jacket and calls his dad.

Kurt: Dad. Its Kurt something has happened to Blaine. I need you to meet me at Lima Memorial Hospital.

Finn: Kurt what happened (yelling). Burt is at the garage still. I’m on my way Kurt. Hang tough. I’m coming okay.

Kurt: Okay (unsure sounding). I’m scared Finn. He's unconscious and there was so much blood on the floor. What do I do? I can’t do this. I need my dad. (starts crying)

Finn: Kurt where are you? Please calm down. Kurt talk to me.

Finn: (On his cellphone) Puck. Its Finn come get me something happened to Blaine he’s at the hospital.(pauses) I dont know Kurt hasn’t said. Just get here. He can’t drive like he is. Hold on ok. (Back to the house line). Kurt where are you right now?

Kurt: I am sitting in Blaine's car at the West Lima Mall.

Finn: Puck and I are on the way okay.

Kurt: Okay (shaky) I need to call my Dad. Thanks Finn.

Finn: Anytime Kurt see you soon.

The call ends.

Kurt dials his dads garages number and as soon as the line is picked up and he hears his dads voice hes telling him what happened and he’s frantic.

Kurt: Dad Blaine has been hurt really bad. He’s at the hospital and unconscious. There was blood everywhere. What do I do? How did this happen? Who would do this to him? Dad I can’t lose Blaine. (starts sobbing)

Burt: Kurt Kurt son please calm down. Being upset and frantic won’t help Blaine right now. Have you called his folks?

Kurt:(replies weakly and still crying) No the police said they would. I can not believe this is happening. Who would hurt him?

Burt: I don’t know Kurt. Blaine is nice and sweet to every one.

Kurt: I know. (sobbing as he remembers a few times Blaine wasnt so nice)

A memory of Blaine being not so nice

Kurt thought for a second and remembered a time when Blaine wasn’t so sweet and nice. It had been right before Sectionals his senior year. Sam had just returned to Lima and wanted to use sex to win Sectionals. Blaine however did not and felt that the dance Sam was teaching everyone was cheap and it made them look like they were selling themselves. Kurt remembered Blaine yelling and charging after Sam.

"I AM NOT FOR SALE" screamed Blaine at Sam. "I will not do that dance" and then Blaine lunged for Sam. Mike Puck and the rest of the guys kept the punches Blaine threw from landing. At the same time Finn and Blaine were having issues too but all was well by Sectionals and we won Kurt thought happily. As Kurt’s mind wandered over other happy times like the time Blaine told him he loved him after the loss at Nationals at the Lima Bean there was a knock on the car window startling Kurt from his thoughts. It was Finn.

Finn arrives at the mall

Kurt started the car and rolled the window down. Finn you startled me said Kurt. Come on out of the drivers seat. You are in no shape to drive said Finn. With that Kurt slid out of the car and was in the passengers seat. The ride to the hospital was silent. Neither boy spoke.