The song ended and another one began with a tune that was very familiar to Blaine. He quickly glanced up at Kurt.

'Mind if I sing?'

'No, not at all,' Kurt replied. Blaine sang along with the words and paused when the chorus started.

'Do you want to join in, Kurt?' he asked, hoping that he would be able to hear Kurt sing. His wish faded when Kurt shook his head.

'I…I don't really feel like singing right now,' Kurt replied, his voice failing to mask his sadness. 'But I like listening to you sing.'

So Blaine continued singing along, comforted by knowing it was the least he could do to distract Kurt from the turmoil that was overshadowing him.

…

Dalton looked like a gated fortress from the outside, but Blaine knew it was nothing of the sort on the inside. Still, it did look like a foreboding place to anyone who walked up to it after dark. Kurt's hand's trembled slightly as he approached the gate to ring the bell, and Blaine prayed he could hold on long enough not to fall off.

'I'm sorry, Dalton Academy for Orphaned Boys' visiting hours are over,' crackled a stern voice over the speaker once Kurt had rang the bell.

'I'm sorry to disturb you, but I have a student with me,' Kurt replied. Blaine had Kurt's attention as he pointed up to one of the pillars beside the gate where a security camera was situated. Blaine was lifted high in the air as Kurt brought his palms up close to the camera to present him to whoever was watching inside.

Immediately the double gates to the school began to creak and swing inward. Blaine saw the other boy raise an eyebrow as if impressed, but otherwise stayed silent as they walked up the pathway to the front of the school. Kurt was ushered quickly through the visitor's reception area, and Blaine was happy he did not receive anything more than curious looks thrown his way.

He directed Kurt down familiar hallways until they reached the senior common room. Its doors were open and he could hear voices in discussion so loudly that snippets of conversation spilled out into the hallway. Blaine urged Kurt to walk in, and they were faced with a dozen or so Warblers, each in their own sleeping attire. The conversation died down as soon as Kurt walked in the room, arising again as murmurs of excitement as they recognized who Kurt had brought with him on the palm of his hand.

'Oh Blaine, thank God you're here!' Trent rushed forward, his nightgown flapping behind him. 'I was so worried, I didn't want to leave you behind and I know that's what we discussed as worst-case scenario, but-'

'I'm fine, Trent,' Blaine assured him, responding to the panicked look on Trent's face as the other boys crowded around them. 'And it's all thanks to Kurt.'

Trent's eyes flickered up to Kurt and he took a hold of Kurt's wrists with both hands. Blaine felt Kurt freeze slightly in surprise.

'Thank-you,' Trent said, his eyes glistening with gratitude. 'Now we have Blaine back, we can go back to focusing on our setlist for Sectionals.'

'Ahem.'

The boys turned around to the person standing away from the group, arms folded, who had cleared his throat loudly. Wes looked just as menacing in his striped pajamas as he did in uniform.

'I think we need to discuss the matter of why our little Warbler had to be returned to us in the first place,' he said smoothly, eyes darting between Blaine and Trent. 'And anyone else at the center of this mess,' he continued, looking over and Jeff and Nick, who shrank back slightly.

'Okay, so we failed,' Trent replied, letting go of Kurt's wrist and holding out his palm. Blaine stepped on to it without second thought. 'But Blaine is safe. Isn't that what matters?'

'Four of you broke the rules,' Wes said, ignoring Trent's previous response. 'I think that warrants some sort of punishment. Four weeks without extra-curricular activities, at the very least.'

A collective cry rose up from the boys and they rushed forward to plead their cases.

'But we'll miss Sectionals!'

'How are we supposed to learn our dance moves without them?'

'Wes,' Blaine said, trying to school his expression into something more serious. 'Don't you think we would be at a disadvantage at competition if we show up with gaps in our carefully-practiced routines?'

'May I remind you…' Wes said, stepping forward as the dozen or so boys stepped back. '…of all the students at this school that would be willing to take your places for a chance at competitive glory?'

That seemed to create a thoughtful silence, until a voice from the back of the room spoke up.

'If…if I may say something,' Kurt said, his voice wavering as all eyes came to rest on him. Blaine watched him with fascination. 'I know that you have these rules in place for a reason. For safety, is that right?'

'That's correct,' Wes replied.

'Well…I have guaranteed Blaine's safety while he has been away. And I…I also happened to mess up while trying to help out my glee club. Couldn't our failings be payment enough for what happened? Can't we call it even?'

All eyes in the room returned to Wes. He sighed and rubbed a hand through his hair.

'If the student representative council hears about this, they'll be hell to pay. For all of us.'

'We know,' Blaine replied. 'That's why they won't find out.'

The taller boy eyed him but Blaine didn't flinch under his gaze. He was the only Warbler immune to the wrath of Wes.

'We need to arm you with a tracking device,' Wes said, and just like that, laughter and conversation returned to the room. Blaine noticed Kurt standing by shyly, and he was about to call out to him but Wes beat him to it.

'We would like to thank you for the return of out smallest member,' Wes said politely.

'I-you're welcome,' Kurt stammered. 'Um…' Blaine realized that the room had gone quiet again, this time because all ears were tuned in to Kurt and Wes's conversation. 'I mean, it's nice that everyone is so friendly to one another here.'

'That is thanks to our zero-tolerance harassment policy in place at this school,' David said, as Wes nodded proudly beside him. 'No-one gets treated any differently.'

'No-one gets bullied?' Kurt responded, though it came out as a mere whisper.

'It's because we all come from similar circumstances,' Thad added. 'We're all orphans here.'

'Oh, of course,' Kurt said, quickly trying to brush off his remark. But Blaine couldn't miss the way his breath hitched, his eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears.

'Guys, would you please excuse us for a moment?' Blaine said to the room, his eyes still trained on Kurt.

The boys filtered out of the room, saying their goodnights and wishing Kurt luck at competition. Trent placed Blaine on the arm of a nearby sofa and as the last of the boys shuffled out of the room, Kurt let out a sigh, hugging his arms to his chest. He was looking down at his feet, avoiding Blaine's gaze.

'Kurt?' Blaine inquired softly. 'Come here, take a seat.' He patted the section of the sofa next to him.

Very slowly, Kurt wandered over to the sofa and sat down.

'Are the Warblers all gay?' Kurt asked him, still avoiding eye contact.

'No,' Blaine replied, thinking that it was a strange question to ask. 'Well, I am, and we all kind of suspect Nick and Jeff are, but they just haven't figured it out yet.'

Kurt nodded silently. He took a deep breath before continuing. 'I just…feel so unsafe all the time because of who I am. And I know I've been promised protection at school but it doesn't seem to be working.'

'I know,' Blaine replied gently. 'I saw it firsthand.'

Kurt sighed. 'I have friends in the glee club…well, if you can call them that. But I still feel so isolated. And I know that I should be grateful that I have my family, but…'

'But you're unhappy,' Blaine finished for him. Kurt nodded in agreement as a tear rolled down his cheek.

'Kurt, you shouldn't have to put up with being in an environment where you are constantly looking over your shoulder. You deserve better than that.'

'I know,' Kurt replied softly. 'Dad and I have a meeting tomorrow at the school so I can't do anything but wait until then.' He placed his hand in the pocket of his coat and used his sleeve to wipe his eyes. 'So you've never been bullied?'

'No.'

'Never been made fun of because of your size?'

'Maybe when I was younger. But here, not that I am aware of,' Blaine replied. 'The Warblers sometimes tease me about climbing the furniture. I don't want to have to rely on them 24/7, you know.'

Blaine thought he saw a hint of a smile playing on Kurt's lips, but it had vanished by the time Kurt had stood up from the sofa.

'Kurt, if you need to talk about anything, you'll know where to find me.'

'Not in my satchel this time, I'm guessing,' Kurt replied, and Blaine barked out a short laugh before sliding down the front of the sofa. He stood in the center of the rug as Kurt reached the door, pausing as his hand touched the handle.

'Thank-you,' Kurt said, turning around to look down at Blaine.

'For what?'

'For listening.' He attempted a watery smile in Blaine's direction before slipping out the door.

It only took a few seconds for Blaine's subconscious to align with his thoughts and he rushed to catch up with Kurt, praying that he hadn't gone too far.

He slid under the door and into the hallway and was relieved to see Kurt was only halfway down it.

'Hey Kurt – wait!'

Kurt stopped at the sound of his voice and turned around. Blaine ran up to him, breathing heavily.

'Blaine?' Kurt crouched down to get closer to him.

'Thanks for stopping. I just want to ask you something,' Blaine said, still catching his breath. He observed that Kurt had seated himself down in the middle of the hallway. He looked towards Kurt's knee: it was an easy climb.

'Do you mind if I..?' he asked, tugging at Kurt's trouser leg. When Kurt gave his approval, he climbed on Kurt's leg and walked until he reached one of Kurt's knees. Then he sat on it cross-legged, just as Kurt had seated himself cross-legged on the floor. 'What will happen after the meeting if nothing more can be done?'

Kurt took a deep breath and raised his eyes to the ceiling, as though it would give him an answer.

'Well,' he said, eyes peering down at Blaine. 'Dad said that we can look at home schooling for a little while. There is a support network in Lima but we have to do some research.'

'I have an excellent recommendation for a tutor, if you need one,' Blaine replied. 'But I was just going to ask you that…' He clutched his hands together, feeling a little apprehensive. 'That if you would consider having me stay with you and your family for a little while, to keep you company regardless of whether or not you return to McKinley. I will be more than happy to help around the house,' he continued, as Kurt began to open his mouth to speak. 'And I promise I won't be too much of a burden.'

'I…I mean, that would be wonderful,' Kurt replied, and Blaine's shoulders sagged in relief. 'Won't you miss out on your classes?'

'We had our exam period last week,' Blaine replied. 'And we only have two more weeks before we break for the Christmas period.'

'Already?'

'We kind of cram a lot in during our school year. And they arrange it so that the Warblers have time to practice for competition without classes getting in the way. We're kind of treated like rock stars around here,' he admitted, looking up at Kurt's face sheepishly. While he knew he was asking a lot from Kurt, the first taste of freedom he had away from the Warblers had shown him just what was missing in his life. The hallways of Dalton became quiet after lessons ended as most of its pupils spent their Christmas with relatives. He wouldn't mind spending Christmas with a family just for this once. Besides, Blaine thought Kurt could use a friend right now.

'So if we "adopt" you,' Kurt said, using the term loosely. 'How long can you stay?'

Kurt didn't question Blaine's motives; his eyes shone eagerly and revealed to Blaine that he was just as open to the idea as he was.

'As long as you want me.'

The next day, Kurt emptied out his locker and left McKinley, saying his goodbyes to the glee club. By the weekend, Blaine was set to stay with the Hummel-Hudson household.