Slow Fade

Chapter 10

The next morning Kurt felt almost euphoric from the very moment he woke up. He was ecstatic about the success of his new clothing line of course, but his euphoria was actually over his 'date' with Blaine. It felt strange to spend time with the doctor where they were just Kurt and Blaine, not Mr. Hummel and Dr. Anderson. To Kurt it felt like he'd seen a whole new side of Blaine, and to be completely honest with himself Kurt felt that he was falling even more for the dapper doctor. Never before had Kurt thought he'd been in love, but he certainly couldn't help but think that his growing attraction to Blaine was more than a simple infatuation.

It felt so right to have Blaine at his side the night before and Kurt dreamed of what it would be like to bring him to all his celebrity events. Even though Blaine had been extremely anxious from the start, it showed Kurt that the doctor was human and had things that would scare him too. Kurt felt empowered to tell everyone that Blaine was his boyfriend even if it was fake, and even if Blaine could make Kurt feel like a blushing teenager rather than an A-list celebrity. It felt hollow and wrong that it was all an act, but Kurt would milk it for all it was worth. As good of an actor as he was his feelings for Blaine were definitely not an act.

Suddenly Kurt heard the sound of his phone ringing and he quickly answered it.

"Hello?"

"Kurt!"

Kurt's thoughts about his night with Blaine disappeared in an instant as he recognized the voice on the other line. "Dad!"

"Hey son," Burt Hummel said. "We haven't talked in awhile, how are things in Tinseltown?"

"Crazy as ever," Kurt admitted. "How are you feeling? How is your heart?"

"Still beating," Burt grumbled. "But I'm more concerned about you."

Kurt winced, "I take it you saw the picture."

"The whole town is talking about it," Burt replied. "But I also saw your red carpet interview last night, is there something you want to tell me?"

Kurt groaned inwardly, he didn't want to drag his father in this whole mess since it was so complicated, but he also wouldn't lie to his father.

"Blaine is-a friend," Kurt said lamely.

"Is that all he is?" Burt asked."I thought he was your boyfriend."

Kurt sighed, before continuing. "Blaine really is a friend; we are pretending to be boyfriends."

"Why on earth would you want to do that?" Burt asked, confused.

"Blaine was my doctor and I gave him a hug once to thank him for helping me and we were photographed. To save face I switched doctors and we are pretending to be boyfriends to save face," Kurt explained.

Burt was silent for so long that it began to make Kurt nervous.

"You know son, I've always worried about you being out there in California. When you became famous I've hated the way the media won't leave you alone," Burt said.

"It comes with the territory," Kurt said. "I can't be famous and not have paparazzi to deal with."

"I understand that," Burt said. "And I've always been proud of how you've dealt with it, you haven't let that fame go straight to your head the way so many stars do."

"All thanks to you," Kurt answered.

"Still I was concerned and that is why I asked for Finn to look out for you," Burt replied. "I don't get to see you as much as I would like and you are still my kid even if you are a movie star. I'm just worried that this thing with this doctor could come back to bite you and I just want you to be careful"

"I will be," Kurt breathed. "I promise."

"But I know you are keeping something from me," Burt scolded.

"What?" Kurt exclaimed.

"You hate going to the doctor Kurt, I had to bribe you with new clothes and accessories just to get you to consent to a physical. And if you had to have a shot it was even worse," Burt commented. "So why on earth would you be willing to see a doctor unless something was seriously wrong?"

Busted, Kurt thought. "I've been having some strange medical problems lately," he admitted.

Burt was immediately agitated as though someone woke Papa Bear. "What kind of health problems Kurt?"

"I've been feeling off lately and so I went to the doctor. I was just diagnosed with aplastic anemia," Kurt said.

"That doesn't sound good," Burt said.

"It is treatable," Kurt said reassuringly. "I'm going to have a blood transfusion and that should help."

"A blood transfusion? So this is serious!" Burt replied. "Is there something else?"

"I had a seizure the other day," Kurt admitted feebly.

"And you didn't tell me?" Burt said, obviously angry.

"I didn't want to make you even more stressed out," Kurt said. "But I have the best care possible I promise."

"You should have told me Kurt," Burt reprimanded. "Why didn't Finn tell me?"

"It is stupid I know," Kurt said. "I just didn't want you to worry since I'm scared what the stress will do to your heart. And Finn didn't tell you because I asked him not to."

"I don't like it that you didn't tell me," Burt replied. "Don't keep stuff like this from me anymore."

"I promise," Kurt said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"All is forgiven," Burt said. "But there is something else I wanted to ask you. Were you still coming this weekend?"

Kurt gasped as he suddenly remembered. A month ago Carole asked him to come to Ohio to celebrate Burt's 50th Birthday. He had told his assistant to mark it down in his calendar, but he'd been so distracted late he had completely forgotten all about it.

"Of course," Kurt replied. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Good," Burt said. "And bring that new friend of yours, I want to meet him."

"You want to meet Blaine?" Kurt asked in confusion.

"I didn't stutter," Burt grumbled.

"I will ask him about it," Kurt promised. "I need to go though, so I will call you later."

"See you soon Kurt."

//////////

Blaine looked at Kurt in silence as the bag of AB+ blood slowly emptied into Kurt's arm. Ever since the crazy night before things had been awkward between him and the movie star, and Blaine wasn't quite sure why. It had been an incredible night for him and Blaine was still amazed that he was actually on a red carpet at a high profile Hollywood event the night before. If his teenage self could see him now, he would be completely freaking out. And yet despite this the dynamics between them had shifted somehow.

It didn't help that when Blaine woke up that morning and realized what day it was, he wanted to fall back asleep and mope for the entire day. Every year was the same, and he hated that it still continued to make him feel this way. When he spent time with Kurt and pretended to be his boyfriend, he couldn't help the deep sense of guilt he had. Especially since his feelings for Kurt were beginning to frighten him because of how strong they were. And feeling that way today made his insides clench uncomfortably and put him on edge the entire day.

Going to the office had been a chore, but it seemed that they finally had a system for getting him in and out of the office without the paparazzi swarming. Blaine was still being inundated with requests for him to take on additional patients, and even a few of them left his care since discovering his sexuality. His staff was curious but respectful and Blaine found himself falling into his work, the grief he felt over today's significance melted significantly. At least until his appointment with Kurt.

Wes and Blaine smuggled Kurt into a hospital earlier in the day to run several tests including an MRI and EEG. Now they were sitting in a room where Blaine was looking over Kurt's chart and Kurt was getting his blood transfusion. Kurt kept trying to start a conversation, but Blaine really wasn't in the mood and answered him as shortly as possible.

"Blaine, what's wrong?" Kurt asked cautiously.

"Nothing," Blaine said looking up and trying to smile but failing miserably. "Why do you say that?"

"To be honest you are acting like you are carrying around your own personal rain cloud today," Kurt commented.

"To be honest it really isn't your business," Blaine muttered staring down hard at the chart in front of him.

"Why are you being so mean?" Kurt demanded. "We are supposed to be friends!"

Blaine sighed, "I'm sorry, but this has just been a bad day."

Kurt's tone softened. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really," Blaine answered honestly studying the iv machine and the now empty plastic bag hanging. "I think you are done."

Blaine called in Wes who removed the needle and took the chart with him as he bowed out of the room.

"I have a question for you," Kurt said carefully once Wes was gone.

"I'm listening," Blaine said.

"My father's birthday party is this Saturday; would you be willing to accompany me to Ohio?"

"Don't you think it is too soon for me to meet your family?" Blaine asked hesitantly.

"My father knows the truth," Kurt admitted. "About everything and he wants to meet you even if we are just fake boyfriends."

Blaine looked at Kurt and suddenly felt the urge to hug him and to kiss him? He wanted to tell Kurt how his time with him had been amazing and that he was thrilled with every moment he spent with him even if it was pretend. The words stuck to the roof of his mouth as he was suddenly furious at himself. Blaine felt so guilty when he remembered why this day above all others could made him want to scream at the top of his lungs and then want to sleep until he could never wake again. His feelings for Kurt were growing stronger by the day, but they were the same feelings that scared the crap out of him. It was wrong how he felt about Kurt especially when he thought about Mark, and Blaine couldn't handle how awful that made him feel.

"I can't do this anymore," he said at last to Kurt, not making eye contact. "I have to go."

Blaine didn't look back and failed miserably to keep the hot tears from running down his cheeks.