Burt had just come back from a long stint in the hospital. He had been there giving Paul moral support till it was confirmed that Dave was out of any possible danger, after which he was convinced to go home by the other troubled father.

 He entered the house to see Kurt sitting in the living room, an episode of one of his fashion shows going on as he texted someone with a big smile on his face. He knew that smile; that one was restricted to a boy with big dreams and a heart full of love for his son. He had gone and met Blaine after the incident had happened.

 Burt almost hated to burst the bubble of happiness on his son’s face, but it had to be done. He told Kurt to switch off the TV; Kurt opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it at the look of seriousness on his father’s face. He switched it off and sat down next to his dad on the couch. Burt looked at his son, thinking of how easily it could have been him in Paul’s place, back in the hospital. He refused to think of it though, as he took Kurt’s hand in his and said, “David Karofsky is in the hospital after attempting to commit suicide.”

 Kurt gasped and lurched up from where he’d been sitting, running out of the room. Burt followed worriedly as Kurt vomited in the washbasin. He rubbed his son’s back as he finished washing his mouth out. Kurt then went to the kitchen and began to heat some milk to calm himself, a habit he had started with Finn but then went on to make it his own. He then turned round and asked him, “How did you find out?”

 Burt was going to answer but he realized the milk was boiling over and onto the stove. He switched it off and literally escorted Kurt to the couch again. “When I went to McKinley before you had gone to Dalton, Paul knew that Dave was out of the closet. So he came to me for advice, as I was the only father he knew that had a son who was out, if not just gay, so to speak. So every time Dave did something he couldn’t understand or interpret or just wanted help, he came to me. I know I should have told you this before, but I was the one who suggested he change schools for the next academic year, so he wouldn’t be surrounded by peer pressure to bully a person who was just like him, that’s you. But I didn’t know that…” his voice choked up as images of Kurt in Dave’s place flittered through his mind and he started crying and the comforting went the other way around.

Kurt hugged his dad as he repeated that it was okay over and over again. He had an idea of what his dad had been thinking, but didn’t want to jump to conclusions. Burt then wiped his tears and determinedly said, “I meant it when I told Schuester that Glee changed your life. I shudder to think what would have happened. We would never have started walking towards each other; and if you had gone down the same path as David…”

 Kurt shushed him immediately. “I would never have done that, Dad. Not only because it’s a very, very messy business to get involved in, but also that I couldn’t bear the thought of trying to leave you alone.” Burt sniffled and nodded as Kurt smiled. “Now, let me get you some hot coffee and we’ll watch reruns of Deadliest Catch together, okay?”

 As Burt nodded, Kurt made a mental note in his mind to tell Blaine as soon as they met the next morning.