It took a week for Kurt to be discharged from the hospital and another week after that before he was strong enough to return to work. Shit. Kurt really hoped he had enough sick time to pay for all of that time out of work; otherwise he was going to be royally screwed.

Despite feeling better, Kurt experienced a myriad of lingering symptoms. He was still experiencing the myalgias and fatigue, which took a greater toll on his body since he spent most of his day on his feet. He wanted nothing more than to crawl back into his bed and sleep away the lingering aches and pains, but he had to get back to his life. The world was not going to stop revolving because he was sick.

He paused in the living room on his way out the door and saw Santana sitting in the living room starting at the picture; the picture they both tried to not stare it, because it usually ended up just like this. He sighed and stepped closed to her. As the distance between them shortened he saw her shoulders bob from sobs. He quickly rounded the couch and threw his arms around his best friend. She looked at him through tear glossed eyes. "It's still so hard." She choked out with a sob.

"I know. I know." He whispered in her ear as he stroked her hair and held her tight. This was a common occurrence in their home. People told them it would get easier; they told them it would get better. They made the mistake of listening to them. It hadn't gotten easier and it was certainly not better.

After a few minutes their tears stopped flowing and their breaths evened out. Kurt took the picture from Santana and kissed it before putting it back on the shelf.
"Come on San, we are going to be late."

"Yea." She quickly put herself together before grabbing her pocketbook and heading out the door with Kurt. "Shit its cold." She complained as they exited their home on their way to the subway.

"Well it is January, Tan."

"You're lucky you're still sick or I would show you where to stick that sarcasm."

"I love you." He laughed. "But I have to stop at Duane Reade on my way home from work and pick up some prescriptions. Chinese when we get home?"

"Only if you buy the wine."

"When would I ever not buy the wine?"

"True." She replied grabbing his hand and making their way down to the subway.

oXoXo

4:15. Only fifteen more minutes until I'm out of here. Blaine had a ridiculously stressful day at work. Between their billing manager putting in her notice and Kittura, Kitty, being her normal bitchy self he was going to pull his hair out. If he wasn't as overwhelmed with everything as he was he would fire her, but no part about him wanted to hire a new secretary and new billing manager at the same time. He closed Quickbooks and cleaned up his office a bit. He was more than ready to go home and after he talking to his the head office assistant he was leaving.

On his way out to talk to her he heard Christie, one of the Medical Assistants, talking to Dr. Craig. "Kurt Hummel was released from the hospital last week and I scheduled him for a follow up tomorrow. He said the myalgias and fatigue are persisting but the cough is better."

Blaine perked up. The first time he had seen the patient was when he practically passed out in the waiting room. He was unsure why, but there was something about the man that drew him to him, and something also eerily familiar about him.

"Good, make sure you tell Miss Wilde to make sure that Mr. Hummel is brought straight into an exam room when he gets here. I don't think he is contagious anymore but I don't want to take the risk."

"Yes sir." Christie said as she headed back to her desk to re-submerse herself in her pile of paperwork. Ugh she was drowning just like I was. She needs an assistant. Hell I need an assistant. Maybe I'll get an assistant for both of us. Blaine shook himself out of the zone he got lost in and went to talk to Gloria.

"Hey Glor, any hits on the ad for Gail's job? Any good hits?"

"Yea, I set up two interviews for tomorrow, both look pretty promising. They both have over ten years of experience in medical billing and both have knowledge of our software."

"Oh thank God, I really don't want to train anyone. I just don't have the time or the energy."

"I know Blaine. Anyway, how are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, the anniversary is coming up."

"Yea. I-I'm okay I guess. We are just taking it a day at a time. He said forcing a smile.

"Ugh, Christie fine, I hope he doesn't bring his friend back with him. That chick has a serious attitude problem. Crazy self." Blaine heard Kitty say just a couple of feet away.

"Kittura, you are one to talk. Now watch how you speak of patients, I am already not happy with how you treated Ms. Lopez and Mr. Hummel the last time they were here. You are on thin ice, check your attitude." Blaine has finally had it with Kitty. He finally lost his temper with her. If you knew Blaine, you knew it was a rarity for him to lose his temper, he was always calm and in control. Christie and Gloria silently giggled with their mouths gaping at the outburst.

"Hey Blaine, why don't you head out? I'll finish up here." Christie mentioned to Blaine.

"Yea, I think I'll do that, I need to get home." Blaine rushed back to his office and put on his coat and grabbed his backpack. The amount of things he had to shuttle back and forth to work would be a lot easier if he had a car. But, this is New York; he'll deal with taking a back pack on the subway.

As he exited his office he put the ear buds in his ears and let the music take him to his happy place. Music, his only escape, and one love he had that he never had to worry about leaving him. He put on Luther's greatest hits and let the soulful baritone feel his ears and calm his nerves.

He was lost in the world of notes and chords and his body was remotely taking him on his routine home. Auto pilot took over and he didn't even realize that he was already at the pharmacy until he walked straight into someone carrying a handful of prescriptions.

oXoXo

It was a long, miserable day at work for Kurt. He had two weeks' worth or orders to inventory, he had to start on next month's orders, plan the displays for the next two weeks, and fix everything that they people filling in for him managed to destroy while he was away. All of this while he still felt like garbage and should still technically be at home getting better. He was going against doctor's orders by going back to work, but his bills were not going to pay themselves. They may have the basement apartment in a brownstone in Brooklyn, but it was still New York and everything was expensive. He and Santana were not planning on living together forever; money in the bank is a luxury he would like to keep.
By the time Kurt got to Duane Reade he was regretting his choice to go back to work. His body was screaming at him and he couldn't say he blamed it. Thank goodness tomorrow was a half day and he would be at his desk placing the stores orders.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The way-too-cheerful pharmacy tech asked from behind the desk.

"Kurt Hummel, here to pick up my refill for my Lexapro and new prescriptions from erythromycin and Robutussin with codine." He lady nodded and went to grab his prescriptions as he refocused his attention on the 164 unread emails in his inbox. Ugh, and he has to respond to each and every one of them. Not like he had anything better to do tonight; just sleep. Who needs sleep? Not his sick body, nope.

"Here you are Mr. Hummel. That will be thirty dollars; antibiotics are free." Kurt handed her his credit card and signed for the medicine. "Thank you, I hope you feel better."

"Thank you, have a nice night." He replied politely before turning to walk away. He lost himself in an email from the buyer of his company complaining that the warehouse messed up his order for the displays. It was going to be a disaster and he had no time to fix it. He had no other choice but to be fashion forwards and 'make it work'. He felt a migraine beginning. Great, those are coming back; another thing to talk to the doctor about tomorrow. He was about thirty seconds away from losing his marbles when the force of another body knocked him out of his trance.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry I should have been paying attention to what I was doing! I always get lost in my music, and oh I'm sorry." Blaine began to ramble as he bent to pick up the bag that was knocked out of Kurt's hands.

"Oh, no – it's quite alright, it was my fault. I shouldn't be reading emails and walking at the same time; it's a recipe for disaster."

"I know right, I do it all the time for work. It's become a horrible habit-" Blaine finally stopped rambling and looked at the person he walked into. "Oh Kurt, hi."
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Kurt was obviously confused. Confused but captivated. The man standing before him was absolutely stunning.

"Oh, forgive me, the last time I saw you, you were pretty much unconscious. My name is Blaine; I am the office manager for Dr. Craig."

"Oh my God, I am so embarrassed. I am so sorry for all of that." Kurt's cheeks flushed. This gorgeous man had seen him on one of his worst days ever and in sweatpants. Sweatpants.

"Don't be, we all get sick. Well, uh, I'll let you go; you look like you need some more rest."

"Yea, I still feel pretty horrible."

"Well I must say you look a lot better. Not that you looked badly before, I-just – yea. I'm going to stop talking now."

Kurt just laughed at Blaine. Is he flirting with me? That's adorable. "Well thank you Blaine. I'll see you around." Kurt smiled at Blaine and walked away; being sure to put his phone away in his satchel before walking. He didn't want walk into any other people tonight, his luck couldn't be the good twice.