"They found him." The words nearly made Blaine collapse to the floor. He barely held himself together enough to close the distance between him and the pair in the entryway. His heart beat out a frantic rhythm of hope and anxiety, the world lost all senses but the sight of the tear stained woman in front of him. He could see her mouth moving, her posture firm and unrelenting. She had determination written all over her features. They turned to look at him; kind worried filled eyes on Mrs. Hudson, a resigned expression on Cooper. The world seemed to explode with the silence as they stared at him.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked. He couldn't form all his thoughts into a coherent sentence, so he focused on the important things. Kurt, the most important thing.

Mrs. Hudson approached him cautiously, throwing a questioning look over her shoulder at Cooper who gave a small nod. She gingerly took his hands in her and he immediately thought the worst. "They found him yesterday morning," she began.

"Alive?" Blaine asked his voice breaking thinking otherwise. He didn't want to think it, but he knew it was a possibility, one that left him sick. He didn't want to ask but he had to know.

"Yes, alive. For now. They say he is stable."

Blaine's mind went into over load. He wasn't sure what she meant by for now, but Kurt was alive and that gave him unimaginable hope. He had to know more. "Tell me everything."

Carole led him over to the couch and sat knee to knee with him. Copper lingered to the side, not wanting to leave his still fragile brother with this stranger that had more power over him than she knew. Cooper also wanted to know what Kurt's fate was. For someone he had never met, this man held more influence over his life and family than anyone else in this moment did.

"I don't know much. They found them yesterday morning, well morning Vietnam time anyway. He has a broken leg, but Blaine, he's really sick."

Blaine's heart leapt then plummeted. A broken leg wasn't so bad, but Kurt was sick? "What do you mean sick?"

Mrs. Hudson sighed, wiping away a lone tear that escaped her tired eyes. "They're not sure. At least the men sent to my house weren't. They only know that he is dehydrated, malnourished and has a high fever, is unconscious but stable."

Blaine leapt to his feet, "where is he? We have to go see him; I have to see that he's okay."

Cooper stood with him; ready to catch his little brother when he couldn't just run to the person he cared for. Carole however just grabbed his hand and tried to ease him back down to the couch. "We can't Blaine," she said her voice calm but motherly. "He's in a military hospital in Japan. Even if he was closer, I don't know if they would let you in to see him."

"But he's..."

"Blaine, I don't care what he is to you, they don't care, it means nothing to them and they wouldn't let you set foot in the door. Sometimes we just have to wait, even when that is the hardest thing to do." She said, giving him a knowing look but not expounding on what she meant. "I will call when I know more. Your friend Judy should be here soon. When she told me where you were, I made her promise to come be with you soon. Keep you friends close, and if you are a religious man pray. That is all we can do for now."

Mrs. Hudson left not long after. Cooper held Blaine as he cried once more, but for once, they were not wholly unhappy tears. Yes, Blaine grieved that he would not be allowed to visit Kurt, because to anyone else what they had at best didn't matter and at worst was a sick deprived thing. Above all though, Kurt was alive. He was no longer a lost soul out in the jungle never to be seen again. He was found and safe, and while sick was stable and being cared for. For once Kurt was being healed instead of trying to piece together those he thought of as friends.

Time seemed to creep by, news of Kurt's recovery was slow coming. Mrs. Hudson kept her word and called when she would receive a new update on Kurt's condition; he was healing slowly but was weak. He was slowly regaining weight. He was getting better. She like Blaine just wanted to hear from Kurt himself, it wouldn't seem real until then.

Blaine, for his part was healing too. His shoulder was almost ready healed and his soul was mending but for the hole Kurt's silence left. He was regaining the hope he had lost and could almost call himself happy once more. Happiness came a little closer when he retrieved the mail one afternoon, over two weeks after Carole Hudson's visit. Sitting on top of the pile was a familiar looking envelope.

My dearest most beautiful B,
Oh how I thought I would never be able to write those words again. A lot of my time here had been spent afraid that I would never get to see your beautiful face again, but none quite like this. I was sure we were going to die out there. You saved us; you really did, in more ways than one. Who knew that a jar of peanut butter could be so important, but it really helped keep me and the others alive, or at least from starving to death. But even more than that, you were the thought that made me fight so hard for our rescue. I couldn't hurt you like that; I knew I needed to come back to you, so I worked to make it so.

I don't know how much you know of our ordeal, but before our helicopter was shot down, we lost all radio communication. That was our only hope of rescue, so we worked to fix it. It was hard and in the end, Jackson succeeded. They say I have been here almost three weeks and honestly, I don't remember most of that. Two of the guys who came in with me, Ballard and Jackson, have already been sent stateside. I guess when the army loses you it earns you a discharge. Steele and Winters, the other two guys who survived leave tomorrow to go home. I wish I could say I was going with them, but the doctors say I will probably be here another week.

I've been sick, they are still not sure what I had, but they figure some virus or bacteria took advantage of my weakened state. Whatever it was, I am finally feeling almost human again. They want me to gain a bit more weight. It has been a fight since I woke up for them not to try and feed me meat. I have been getting a lot of eggs and cheese though, and I swear half the things they give me are fried. They really want me to gain some weight. They laughed at me when I told them I didn't want to see another jar of peanut butter again. I wasn't really joking. I am grateful I had it but when all you eat for days is a spoonful of peanut butter, it loses its appeal. So I will forever sing my praises to the stuff, as long as it stays far away from me.

It was a horrible ordeal, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy; but I'm coming home. I am really coming back to you. I may be worse for the wear but I get to be with you now. Yes, the world is still not perfect, things will never really be easy for us in the world, but I get to be back by your side. I don't want to leave you again. I could get a house or apartment somewhere in Kent, or maybe buy some land on the outskirts. Now that the army is almost done with me I don't have to be afraid, I could go to school or move anywhere I want; but I want to be with you. If it is what you want.

Think on it. Don't worry about writing me; hopefully I will be long gone from this place before a letter would arrive. I love you. I wish there were better words to express my feelings, but since that is all I have I will just say I love you.

All my loving,

K

Blaine waited with bated breath for his phone to ring. Judy was even more of a constant presence as they waited for word of Kurt return. Carole had promised to relay any information on Kurt's status the moment she heard, but all Blaine could do was wait for her call. Cooper watched as Blaine slowly packed most of his belongings, his heart heavy with the thought he was losing his brother once more.

In the weeks he had stayed with Cooper and Mary, they had slowly rebuilt their relationship that years and familial pressure had eroded. It became clear to Cooper as each day passed that Blaine was stronger than he ever thought about being. His own small rebellions were nothing compared to Blaine's willingness to risk all for his own happiness. Cooper envied him for his strength to go after what he wanted. In his younger days before Copper had understood what his duties were, he dreamed of going to Hollywood to be an actor. He knew now, that those dreams were foolish, but seeing Blaine go after his dreams made Cooper think.

Blaine was sitting at his desk, staring at the manuscript before him, pondering what to do with it. The house was quiet, Mary having already retired to bed, and Cooper slaving away in his office over yet another case for the Anderson firm. Blaine flipped the pages scanning them, half reading, half remembering the words that had poured out of him. Finally, he set them aside; he didn't need the fantasy when the reality would be returning to him soon. In the distance, he heard a phone ring.

Blaine listened carefully trying to determine who would be calling so late at night, trying not to let hope take over only to be disappointed. He heard footsteps thumping down the hall, towards him, the weight and rhythm identifying then as Cooper's. Blaine turned in his chair, hoping they would stop in front of his door; they did. Blaine was across the room opening the door scarcely before Cooper could finish rapping. Blaine's face was expectant as he asked, "Kurt?"

Cooper smiled but it was tinged with sadness. "His flight should arrive tomorrow afternoon in Columbus. I have all the information Carole gave me here." He said handing a piece of paper to his younger brother. He took a deep breath before continuing, "I know you are not cleared to drive yet, so I would be happy to drive you, if you'll let me."

Blaine leapt at Cooper, throwing his good arm around his neck, hugging him fiercely.

Blaine lay awake that night, unable to sleep. After a year of separation, he was finally going to see Kurt again. He didn't care that his first moments would be shared with Mrs. Hudson and his brother, he just wanted to feel Kurt in his arms again, to know for himself that he was real and alive and his. He lay in bed, fingering the details of the watch Kurt had given him so long ago. As day crept ever closer, Blaine finally drifted off to sleep.

Blaine was surprised the next morning when Cooper called in sick to work. As far as Blaine knew he had never do so in the years he had worked for their father. Mr. Anderson saw it as a form of weakness and never allowed his sons to call in sick from school. "Better to be sent home and show your dedication than to stay at home and have it questioned," he always used to tell them. When Blaine asked Cooper how their father had reacted, he merely shrugged and said, "I think it's time Dad learned to be a little disappointed sometimes."

Mary hovered around the background as Cooper and Blaine loaded everything in Cooper's car. Blaine was leaving a few things behind, but nothing of consequence; they all knew he would not be coming back, not for anything close to a permanent basis. Once the car was loaded, Blaine turned to see his sister in law with tears in her eyes.

"Go be happy Blaine," she said pulling him into one of her gentle hugs. Blaine didn't know what to say so he just kissed her on the cheek and carefully got in the car. He sat fiddling with the paper in his hands showing Kurt's flight information as he waited for a Cooper to bid his wife goodbye. The long ride to the airport was filled with silence.

They made their way inside and Blaine spotted Mrs. Hudson standing back from the gate, waiting, hands wringing each other as she scanned the crowds. Kurt's flight should be landing any minute. She looked over and saw them, a true smile for once on her face. She was waving them over so she missed what was going on behind her. A familiar figure caught his eye. It wasn't Kurt not yet, but the long brown hair on a petite frame was unmistakably one from his past. She had flowers in her hair and a cardboard sign hanging by her side. Blaine couldn't read it before she was moving. He followed her with his eyes and in doing so caught his first look at Kurt. He was just entering the building, his uniform drab, wrinkled from so many hours of travel as it hung on his frame. He was leaning heavily on a pair of wooden crutches, his left leg bound in a cast. His skin was pale, more so than normal and without the shine of life Blaine was used to seeing. His eyes were tired as they began to scan the space in front of him before widening in shock. Before Blaine could move, the girl he had been introduced to as Rachel was in Kurt's face. The words spewing from her mouth seemed to echo across the walls. "You're not wanted here, baby killer!" Her spit then painted Kurt's face as tears welled in his eyes.

Blaine rushed forward as did Cooper and Mrs. Hudson. Kurt just stood there, unmoving, not even to wipe the spit from his face. Blaine grabbed Rachel's arm spinning her to face him. "You know him, you know Kurt, and he is not a killer." He yelled.

She seemed to take a good look at the man she had accosted and recognition lit in her eyes, only to turn cold once more. "He wears the uniform; he's just a baby killer like the rest of them." Before anyone else could say a word, Rachel stalked away. Silence filled the space as the three of them watched her go in shock. Then it hit Blaine, Kurt was right there. He spun around taking him in properly. Before he could stop himself, he gently wiped the spittle from Kurt's face before bringing him into as tight if a hug as he could with one arm.

Kurt gripped him tightly back so hard it made Blaine's shoulder ache, and his crutches clattering to the floor but he didn't care. Kurt was here, in his arms, real, alive and his. He felt tears wet his collar as his own trekked down his cheek. Unintelligible muttering filled the small space between them, too relieved to be together to stay silent, yet too overcome to form proper words. In their private bubble they didn't notice the stares they earned from those passing them on the way to their own destinations; nothing mattered but the other and being together once again.

After a few minutes just watching the two men in front of her, Carole could hold back no longer. "Kurt?"

Kurt's head whipped up, as if just now noticing there were other people there for him. It took all his effort to pry himself away from Blaine, neither wanting to let go but knowing they had to. Carole clutched Kurt to her, no different than any mother would hold onto their child in the same circumstance. Blaine longed to reach out and just touch Kurt again, but held back and looked over at his brother. He was surprised to find his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Seeing Blaine looking at him he drew him into his side without a word. The two brothers held each other as Mrs. Hudson inspected Kurt, sweeping her eyes up and down his frame. After a long while, she suggested they all go out for dinner.

As they made their way out of the airport, Blaine introduced Kurt to his brother. Kurt raised a questioning eyebrow to Blaine as he shook Cooper's hand. Blaine hated parting from Kurt even for the short car ride, but knowing he was going to try and persuade her to let them take Kurt home to the farm, helped to ease the pain. They followed the Hudson's car to a small diner.

At the table, Blaine and Kurt sat as close as possible while out in public; their hands brushing and lacing together under the table. Neither adult missed the action, but nothing was said. Blaine thought he caught the curve of a smile on Mrs. Hudson's face a time or two. They made polite conversation as they devoured the food in front of them. Carole tried to talk Kurt into coming back home with her, and Blaine would have been lying if he would have said that his heart didn't spend up when Kurt politely refused saying he wanted to go back to the farm. Without missing a beat, Cooper offered to drive them. Kurt cautiously agreed.

They sat in the back seat, talking quietly as Cooper drove. "What happened to you?" Kurt finally asked the question dying to get out since he first laid eyes on Blaine.

Blaine rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly within his left hand. He had been glad to avoid the topic so far and was not of the mind to talk about it now. However, he knew he had to. "Um, I was shot?"

Kurt's eyes widened, as he demanded to know more. The story took most of the drive back to the farm with all the questions Kurt was asking him. It was clear in his eyes that he wanted to grab Blaine again and hold him, make sure that he was really safe. Blaine wanted to tell him that he could that Cooper would understand, but he wasn't naive enough to take Cooper's tentative acceptance as more than that. He truly wasn't sure how Cooper would act at another long hug, or more. It was like a slow torture, sitting in the back seat with Kurt and not being allowed to touch.

It was almost dark by the time they instructed Cooper to pull onto the driveway from the dirt road. Earlier in the day the change to the property would have been evident far sooner. As they bumped up the driveway both boys craned their neck for a glimpse of the dark farmhouse in the distance. It was dark no longer though, light shone brightly through the window, too brightly to be produced by the old kerosene lanterns or candles they were used to in the old house. "What?" Kurt asked quietly, unsure what had happened to the simple house he had left.

Something must have alerted the occupants of the house to their presence because before Cooper's car could come to a halt three figures stood on the porch. Puck stood next to Quinn who was holding little Beth's hand, all three were looking curiously at the car in front of them. Puck's hair was shorter now, barely brushing his ears; he wore blue work pants and a plain white T-shirt. He looked so much older it surprised Blaine. He felt a jolt of guilt when Puck's eyes lit up at the sight of Kurt emerging from the car. He hadn't talked to either of them since visiting to gather ingredients for the care package. He wasn't sure what they had heard in the last few months.

Puck ran down and swept Kurt off his feet, sending his crutches clattering once more to the ground. He spun him around whooping, "Hot Damn, you're alive!" It was the type of greeting Blaine had wished to give, the type he had dreamed of for months. Kurt wobbled unsteadily once Puck placed him back down once more. Blaine was by his side in a breath, arms around his waist to steady him.

"What happened to the house?" Kurt asked his eyes scanning the yard.

"We thought you were dead and all you have to talk about it the damn house?" Puck asked, his words harsh but there was no venom in his voice.

"It's just... it's just so... different." Kurt said softly tears evident in his voice.

Quinn picked up Beth and slowly walked down the stairs towards them. "Sometimes things have to change whether we want them to or not. But we kept your room just the way you left it."

Kurt wasn't looking at his friend; however, he seemed mesmerized by the little girl in her arms. He whispered her name and reached a hand out towards her. Beth didn't know him though and pulled back, clinging to her mother.

Kurt looked crestfallen, "I think... I think I want to go to bed now. It's been... I'm just so tired."

Blaine watched as Kurt cautiously walked up the steps and out of sight. Puck helped Cooper unload the boxes into the barn, not wanting to disturb Kurt. Blaine watched from the steps, using all his will power not to follow after Kurt, not yet. Once his things were safely in the barn, Blaine bid his brother goodbye with the promise of keeping in touch. As his car was thumping back down the drive, Blaine hastily took his leave of the others and entered the house.

Everything was different from the first time he had entered the house. The walls were painted white, and gauzy curtains now hung from the windows. Neat furniture lined the walls of the living room now. The stairs were no longer a wonder to behold as you ascended them. It was no longer the free spirited place Blaine once knew. Now it was just a house.

He knew Kurt's door, not by sight, but only by placement. Carefully he opened the door. He let out a breath he had been holding when the familiarly painted walls greeted him. His breath caught though when he saw Kurt curled up on the bed crying in earnest. Blaine crawled in bed behind him, clutching him with his one good hand. He whispered softly i his ear, "I have you, everything will be okay now."

Instead of answering, Kurt rolled over capturing him in a long awaited kiss. Tears still leaked down his face, wetting both their cheeks, but their lips moved together, tongues exploring and hands gripping. Kurt pulled back, "I could have lost you and I had no idea. Everything is so different. Please say we're okay."

Blaine smoothed a hand across his cheek. "Hey, you didn't lose me, and I didn't lose you. And we are more than okay, we are together and there is nothing better than that. The world may change around us, but I will never stop loving you Kurt Hummel. I spent too long away from you and that will never happen again if I have my say. I love you."

Kurt nodded with him, as if he were trying to convince himself that everything was truly all right. "I love you." He said before kissing Blaine once more. Quietly they undressed each other in the candle light. Bare skin brushing bare skin. They took in the sight of each other. Kurt ran his hands through Blaine's now longer locks. Blaine fingered the shorter fringe of Kurt hair. Kurt helped take Blaine's sling off; he gently unwrapped the bandage, and took in the now pinked scar the bullet and surgery left in their place. He kissed gently at the skin. When they finally moved back lay on the bed, they held on to each other. Hands still brushed and kisses were stolen, but they mainly just revealed in the fact that the other was there safe in their arms.