"Kurt, you think you could explain to to me?"

Burt was holding up a copy of Blaine's invoice from the shop. At the bottom, one of the mechanics had written a note that it had been paid for out of Kurt's wages, and that the part that wasn't covered yet (since Kurt only worked part time and didn't earn enough in one paycheck to cover the full costs) would come out of his next paycheck.

Oh shit.

"It's an invoice dad..." Kurt said coyly, trying to play it off as not a big deal. He had just come home for the weekend from his first week - well, partial week since he started on Tuesday - at Dalton. It had probably been the longest he had been away from his dad, and he had to say, the greeting he was getting as he walked in the door was not what he expected.

"I can see it's an invoice son. What I can't see is why you would pay for someone's transmission work especially when you told me you weren't even friends with him. So either you were lying to me or this kid took advantage of you somehow." Burt looked positively flummoxed and Kurt made a small gulp. He needed to come clean. He promised he wouldn't keep anything from his dad anymore, and that included one Blaine Anderson.

"At the time we weren't friends dad..."

"Did he threaten you too?" His dad cut in, and it was clear to Kurt that this interrogation he was getting in lieu of a warm greeting was out of concern for his wellbeing after everything that had happened in the past week with Karofsky.

"No dad. He... well... sit down. I'll tell you everything."

So they did. Kurt outlined how when Burt had his heart attack, Blaine had swooped in to help him with the driving to and from the hospital. How Blaine and him had been paired up in French for advanced study. How Blaine had retaliated against Karofsky (though Kurt said it was simply because of the bullying and didn't mention the kiss), and how Kurt had been hanging out with him everyday after school during his suspension to keep him up on his schoolwork.

When he was done, Kurt watched his father carefully, trying to gauge his reaction. Burt was very good about sitting back and looking thoughtful, even when his emotions were stirred up. Kurt wanted to know that this was okay, that his dad understood.

"I don't want you to get hurt kid..." Was what finally came from Burt's mouth.

"He's nice to me dad... he may be kind of a jerk to everyone else, but he's been real kind to me... even more supportive than my Glee club friends in some cases." Please dad, just understand.

"And this Blaine kid... he gay too?"

Kurt pursed his lips gently and then acknowledged, "I don't know dad. There are things he does... that make me wonder... but he hasn't just up and said it."

"Uh-huh. Kurt... are you sure he isn't just the latest kid you're projecting your hopes onto? I thought we went over this already with that Sam kid? Until you find someone as open and brave as you are..."

"... then I need to get used to being alone. I know dad. I do get that, but he is truly a friend."

Although if there was something more to it then I certainly wouldn't complain.

"Please be careful kid. There's more going on with that kid... then I think you appreciate... and I'm all for you having friends of all types! Hell, Finn hands out with that Noah kid and that kid has been to juvie and back. Carol and I are fine with it... in fact we think kids like that need some good influences... like you and Finn..."

"... but you don't want me getting hurt. I'm a big boy dad. I can take care of myself." Kurt wished his dad would just tell him what he had seen in that minivan. What could be so terrible that his dad was worried about him like that.

"Good, because tomorrow I booked you to work in the shop. You pay off that debt." Burt patted him on the shoulder and then pushed himself up off the couch, leaving Kurt still wondering, but happy to be hope after a very eventful, and awkward week.

After his shift on Saturday, he headed straight to Blaine's house. Blaine hadn't answered his texts or voice mails all week, and Kurt was not going to let him opt out of their friendship.

Blaine answered the door, looking at Kurt quietly, with sadness in his eyes, before he wordlessly opened the door all the way to let Kurt in.

"Blaine.." Kurt started as Blaine shut the door behind him, but Blaine held up a hand and then pointed to the living room off the side of the entrance where raised voices could be heard. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.

Kurt looked from the living room entrance back to Blaine, arching up a brow in question. Blaine gestured that Kurt should follow him and led him upstairs, to his room, where Blaine shut his door with a sigh behind them.

"I hate that man..."

Kurt reached out to put a gentle hand on Blaine's shoulder, feeling all the tension in his body. Blaine had leaned against the door instead of turning around. He looked exhausted. He looked like he had given up.

"I should have kicked the crap out of Karofsky." Blaine said with an uncharacteristically small voice, speaking against the door.

"No. You shouldn't have. Come on. Talk to me." Kurt brought his hand down to entwine his fingers around Blaine's hand, tugging him back towards the bed. Without any fight in him, Blaine let himself be led, flopping listlessly onto the bed on his stomach.

Kurt stood by the bed for a minute, looking over Blaine. His clothes were still the same, his hair was still a mess of curls, but yet he looked weaker and smaller, as if he had shrunk into the size he really was. It was the first time Kurt had really noticed that he was taller than Blaine since Blaine usually held himself up with so much more confidence and power than he was now.

"I don't want to talk about the fucker downstairs. Tell me about Dalton. Distract me."

Kurt sighed and crawled up onto the bed, sitting beside the pile of Blaine and starting in about how he had been greeted with applause by the Dalton Glee club - the Warblers, how they had asked him to show off his countertenor range, and how he now had a canary to take care of as part of Warbler tradition. He told Blaine all about how accepted he felt at Dalton, where classmates gave him high-fives on the way to classes, and the courses were actually challenging and taught by teachers who cared not only about their subject matter, but the students as well. He admitted that being in the Warblers was a lot different than being in the New Directions, and that individuality wasn't as celebrated, which he should have known since the place had uniforms, but he had been asked to audition for a solo at sectionals on Monday. Kurt had even waited in his care at McKinley on Friday afternoon to see Rachel to ask her opinion on what to sing, though he had to wait until he saw Karofsky leave before he felt alright going to the school to talk to her.

"Uniforms?" Blaine spoke into his blankets, muffling his voice.

Kurt chuckled and pulled out his phone, bringing up a picture one of his new friends at Dalton had taken of him in his uniform.

"You look good in it." Blaine acknowledged as he propped himself up on his elbows to look at the picture.

Kurt smiled softly, and reached over to rub Blaine's shoulders, who gave an appreciative moan in response.

"I'm sorry I didn't text back..."

Kurt kept up the massage, looking down at the boy under his hands. "I'm sorry I had to leave."

"French sucks without you."

"I'm sure you're doing fine. We can still hang out on weekends... I board there during the week."

"I was going to go to Dalton you know."

Kurt paused the shoulder rub, looking down at Blaine in confusion. "When?"

Blaine took the pause in the rub as a cue that it was done and rolled over onto his back, looking up at Kurt as he spoke. "After my troubles at my last school... everyone recommended it, but my dad wouldn't sign the papers for it."

How different would Blaine have been if he had been in a safe place like Dalton instead of a place like McKinley? Kurt admitted to himself that Blaine wearing a blazer and tie would look a little odd, if not adorable.

"Why... why didn't he sign?"

"Because I'm not worth the tuition..." Blaine looked away as he said it, clearly quoting his father.

Kurt wrinkled up his nose, looking over to the doorway, "You know... I'm beginning to hate that man too."

Blaine made a small chuckle and his eyes regained some of their familiar twinkle as they looked back up at Kurt. "I missed you."

Kurt smiled back to Blaine, "I missed you too."

"Forgive me for not texting back?"

Kurt chuckled and nodded, "Yes, although, it might cost you dinner."

Blaine sat up and held a hand out to Kurt. "Deal. Let's go."

"Now?" Kurt queried, putting his hand into Blaine's.

"Now."

The pair of them dashed down the stairs, and were at the door when a voice boomed out from the side room.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing you little fucker?"

Blaine froze in place, and Kurt could feel in his hand the tension he had just worked so hard to reduce build right back up.

"Jay... leave him be..." Mrs. Anderson's voice came out from behind him.

Mr. Anderson was standing in the doorway to the living room, looking at Blaine, then at Kurt. His eyes narrowed in rage, not unlike what Kurt had seen in Blaine's eyes when he got mad. Kurt's own tension built up quickly, sensing the danger of the situation he had found himself in.

"Shut up woman." Mr. Anderson snapped back to his wife, keeping his eyes locked on Blaine.

"We're just going out..." Blaine started, but was quickly interrupted by his father.

"What the fuck boy?! How dare you bring that -" he gestured at Kurt, "- into my home."

Blaine took a step in front of Kurt, putting himself between Kurt and his dad. "This is NOT your home old man."

"Blaine..." Kurt whispered, tugging his hand gently. They could leave. They could just leave.

"I paid for it. My money. Definitely not your money!" Mr. Anderson snapped back, taking a step forward.

Please Blaine, why aren't you just leaving?

"Jay... don't. Leave them alone." Mrs. Anderson's voice came out from within the living room, and then Kurt could hear her arguing softly in that foreign tongue with her mother.

Blaine's father took another step forward while Blaine held his ground. Behind him, Kurt stayed put. He desperately wanted to go, but wasn't going to leave Blaine there alone.

"Kurt. Go." Blaine said calmly, despite the position he was in.

Before Kurt could tell Blaine that, no, he was not going to abandon him here, his dad let lose a snarl and took a few more steps forward.

"Kurt?! Is that your little boyfriend's name? You bring this faggy ass shit into my house after everything I've tried to teach you?! "

There was just so much to take in with that statement. Boyfriend. Faggy. Certainly Mr. Anderson was incapable of teaching Blaine anything aside from hate.

"Screw off and leave him out of it!" Blaine snapped, and Kurt squeezed his hand gently. Please, let's just go his hand tried to tell Blaine.

But as soon as he squeezed Blaine's hand, Mr. Anderson's fist made contact with his son's face, creating a sickening popping noise. Blaine stumbled back, Kurt caught him with a yelp, and Mr. Anderson advanced on them both.

"Blaine!" Kurt cried, trying to pull him back and away from his father, but Blaine pulled himself out of Kurt's grasp and launched himself at his father, hitting him back as Kurt watched in wide eyed shock.

"I've called the police!" Rang Mrs. Anderson's voice from the other room, and Kurt could hear her stumbling towards them.

Kurt took in a deep breath then and ran towards the father-son fight, where both men were circling one another now waiting for the other to make a move. Kurt reached and grabbed for Blaine's hand, pulling him forcefully now, which he knew he should have done in the first place.

"I'm not going without you."

Blaine's hand pulled back for only a second before he started backing away with Kurt's lead, keeping his eyes on his father the entire time to ensure the older man wouldn't do anything more.

They ran to Kurt's car, where Kurt quickly started it up and backed out once they were in without even fastening his seat belt. This was one of those times where seat belt safety came second to getting the hell out of there.

"Will your mom be alright?" Kurt asked as soon as he felt he was alright to talk, speeding down towards the freeway. God his heart was pumping like crazy.

"He won't lay a hand on her... " Blaine mumbled from his seat.

Kurt looked over then, seeing that Blaine's lip was split and his cheek was puffing up. His heart broke immediately for him, and he just wanted to take Blaine into his arms cradle him and tell him everything would be alright.

But would it?

He drove quietly for awhile, and then decided to take Blaine to his house. He needed to go somewhere he felt safe, and somewhere he knew Blaine would be safe.

Blaine stayed quiet for the whole drive, just looking out the window as if he was lost in another world. Every now and then Kurt would look over to him, just to make sure he was still there, and still in one piece.

As they pulled into his driveway, Blaine finally spoke. "I guess this is your house huh?"

"Yes... " Kurt slid out and then ran around to Blaine's side of the car, intending to help him out even though Blaine was already out by the time he got there. Kurt knew exactly what was meant by being a mother hen in that moment, and also knew he was being one. He led Blaine into his home and directly into the kitchen where he told Blaine to sit while he grabbed some things to clean Blaine up with.

"Dad!" Kurt called out at one point. He knew Burt and Carol were home since their cars were parked outside. Finn's car, thankfully, was nowhere to be seen.

As Kurt sat himself in front of Blaine with the first aid kit, Burt and Carol made their appearance from down the stairs. They were both still dressed, and Kurt quietly thanked whatever powers that existed that he hadn't interrupted anything intimate. Probably just watching TV together in his dad's room.

Both adults went wide eyed, but as soon as Carol saw the blood on Blaine's lip she came over and introduced herself as Carol, Kurt's stepmom, and asked if she could get him a drink. Blaine shook his head, not even looking up. Kurt could see how tense Blaine was, how scared to be out of his element, so he asked Carol to just go grab a glass of water.

"Here... hold this to your cheek." Kurt directed, giving Blaine a cold pack. Blaine quietly obeyed, flinching slightly under the cold pressure.

Kurt's dad looked confused, and his eyes told Kurt that he needed answers. Kurt excused himself quietly, telling Blaine he would be back in just a moment, and led his dad into their living room.

"His dad hit him..." Kurt explained.

"So you brought him here?" Burt whispered back, looking over Kurt's shoulder into the kitchen at the kid who was just sitting there as if he had lost a championship match.

"Where else should I have taken him dad?" Kurt snapped. He needed his dad on his side right now. He needed his support.

Burt's eyes searched Kurt's, and he nodded with a little reluctance in his movements. "Get him cleaned up and set up a bed on the couch. We'll talk once he's alright. Do I need to call the police?"

Kurt looked back at Blaine, wishing that Blaine would just sit up a little straighter, hold his head up higher, just... be Blaine again. "His mom called them... I was just focused on getting him away from his dad..."

Burt sighed and patted his son on the shoulder. "I'll set up a bed on the couch. You take care of your friend."

Kurt nodded, giving his dad a small, grateful smile before going back to the kitchen and sitting back down in front of Blaine. By this time Carol had brought out a glass of water and set it beside Blaine. When Kurt returned to his side, she left to go talk with Burt and quietly set up a couch bed.

"Blaine. You'll sleep here tonight." Kurt told him.

Blaine nodded once, lifting his head to look at Kurt. "You shouldn't have been there..."

Kurt dabbed Blaine's lip gently with a wipe when he lifted his head. "You shouldn't have to deal with that."

Blaine rolled his eyes and Kurt couldn't help but smile softly. That little gesture from Blaine told Kurt he was still in there, if only subdued for the the moment.

"It'll be fun. Like a sleepover!"

"Never had a sleepover before..." Blaine admitted, and Kurt looked to him in shock.

"How have you never had a sleepover Blaine Anderson?"

Blaine chuckled and reached up to stop Kurt from wiping off his lip. "It's alright now... and I just haven't. You'll have to teach me all about pillow fighting and makeovers and ghost stories I guess."

Kurt laughed and leaned in to give Blaine a hug, "That was scary as fuck."

Blaine nearly spurted the drink he had just taken from the glass of water in surprise. "Did you just swear?!"

Kurt grinned, holding onto Blaine tightly yet. "Nope. You might need your ears checked."

Blaine responded by nudging Kurt in the stomach, "Come on. I want my makeover."

Kurt laughed and led Blaine upstairs, showing him his room.

"Blaine..." Kurt quietly started as he felt safe that they were alone and in confidence.

"Kurt..." Blaine mimicked back. Blaine had to know that Kurt was about to start a serious conversation and was trying to goof off to evade it.

Kurt sighed, looking back to Blaine. "Why didn't tell me you were gay?"

Blaine arched an eyebrow, wincing as the motion pulled on his puffy cheek. "I didn't know I had to release that information to you."

Now it was Kurt's turn to roll his eyes. "Come on. You know how hard being openly gay has been for me... I would have thought... you would have at least told me..."

Blaine frowned, looking down at the ground with guilt covering his face. "Well... I wanted to... it's just... I've gotten used to hiding it... "

"Is that why you were bullied at your other school?"

Blaine nodded, shifting from one foot to the other as it was clear the conversation had him feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry Blaine."

Blaine gave Kurt a weak half-smile, and the pair sat on the edge of Kurt's bed for a moment quietly before Blaine posed a question.

"What was your dad like... when you told him?"

Kurt smiled at the memory. "He told me he knew already... and that he loved me no matter what."

"Huh..."

Kurt looked over at Blaine who looked even more dejected. He wrapped an arm around Blaine's shoulders and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry Blaine... I wish I could share my dad with you. Your dad doesn't deserve you."

Blaine made a small laugh and then pulled back, looking at Kurt. "I thought we were up here for makeovers."

Oh Blaine Anderson... Kurt thought to himself as he looked at the smug boy grinning across from him ... how you avoid tough conversations.

They spent the rest of the evening eating Chinese food they had delivered, watching Kurt's favourite musicals, and Blaine even let Kurt trim his hair and put a little gel into it.

"You clean up good kid." Burt noted, passing through the living room for what had to be the tenth time that evening. Kurt was sure his dad was keeping a close eye on them both.

Blaine smirked, running a hand over his head, "Feels fucking weird... Ow!" He got an elbow to the stomach from Kurt when he swore.

Burt just chuckled and wandered off again, Kurt wondering if he should time how long it took before his dad checked back in. He really did love his dad, not just because he was allowing this without much questioning, but because he clearly cared, but Kurt was seventeen for goodness sake. Some space would be nice.

"So what are you singing for your solo audition on Monday?" Blaine asked, looking over to Kurt as he slurped some chow mien up. Kurt mentally added 'table manners' to the list of things he would work on with Blaine in the future.

"Well... I was going to sing a Celine Dion classic..." Blaine's face scrunched up in what was clear disgust when Kurt said that. ".. but then Rachel convinced me to do Don't Cry For Me Argentina from Evita."

"Never heard of it." Blaine acknowledged, another slurp following his admission.

"You're gay and you've never seen Evita?!" Kurt stammered, eyes going wide as Blaine shrugged a response. "Well that is changing right now!"

Kurt found his Evita DVD and put it in, crawling in beside Blaine to watch the film under the covers with him. It was there that Burt found them not thirty minutes later, sound asleep with their heads balanced against one another.

"Just friends... right."

"What do you mean you're not going to press any charges?" Kurt asked of Blaine the next day on the way back to his house. Once they had called his house to ensure his father wasn't there, Blaine insisted on going back home so now Kurt was driving him.

"Really Kurt? Have you ever dealt with the legal system?"

Kurt shook his head so Blaine explained.

"Well let me explain... they make the victims feel like the criminals, put you through interrogations, and delay things forever. You don't get any satisfaction out of the process and if anything, you're made to feel like your pain is somehow an inconvenience to them... add to that the legal fees and you're effectively paying up the ass for getting screwed."

Kurt frowned, looking at the road and trying to imagine it. It wasn't hard given what he had gone through with Karofsky. Unless he could prove anything, or provide witnesses, he had been forced to deal with it until it got so bad he was run off.

"I've handled this for a long time Kurt... the only difference this time was that you were there to see it. I can manage... I usually leave as soon as he shows up so I don't have to deal with him at all..."

"Is that why you were around at six in the morning the first day you drove me to the hospital?"

Blaine nodded, "Yes... I have a little place I sleep at out near a campground. It's very romantic... under the stars and all that shit."

Kurt chuckled, "Adding 'all that shit' to a description somehow makes it sound less romantic."

"Kurt?"

"Yes Blaine?"

"I promise to text you this week."

"You'd better or you won't have just your dad to worry about." Kurt made the joke quickly and then sucked in a breath, realizing how tasteless it actually was. He looked at Blaine in panic, worried that he had insulted him by saying it, but instead was face with a broad grin.

"I guess I better text you then."

Blaine was true to his word, texting Kurt everyday, asking for pictures and updates on life at Dalton.

Kurt didn't get the solo, but came in a close second after the tag team of Nick and Jeff, who had auditioned many times. Nick advised him that while his Don't Cry For Me Argentina was flawless, he needed to remember not to stick out so much. The Warblers prided themselves on uniformity, and that meant not drawing attention to yourself with overly dramatic songs.

Blaine had promptly texted him back that the Warblers were morons and asked Kurt if he needed to pee on any of their cars.

Then Blaine had texted Kurt telling him that Mercedes as well as Puckerman, of all people, had been trying to frantically recruit him to replace Kurt for sectionals.

Why did you have to tell them that I sing? -B

Because it was amazing and you're wasting your talent by keeping it hidden. -K

Maybe I don't want to end up locked in a porta-potty for 24 hours like Puckerman did. -B

What?! -K

Oh fuck yah. He tried to recruit some guys from the football team and they locked him in the shitter. Didn't get out until this morning when I heard Assclown McDouchebag talking about it in the halls with Dumbass McAssface and decided to do my good deed for the day and let him out. He stank. -B

Oh my gosh Blaine. Thank you for that! Wait... who is Dumbass McAssface? -K

Azimio. Duh. -B

Naturally. -K

Anyhow. Now the Puckerman kid wants me to join the club. -B

You should. -K

I thought we already went over how I don't like to make a target of myself. -B

They'll accept you though Blaine. You need other friends there. -K

How about no? -B

Blaine... -K

Kurt... -B

You would look really good dressed up and dancing on stage. -K

Won't have time anyhow. -B

Oh really? Have some big date lined up? -K

God no. I can't cheer for you if I'm stuck in a green room with them is all. -B

You're coming?! -K

I believe I just said that. -B

Kurt flushed up, drawing a questioning glance from his roommate Trent. He shook his head dismissively at Trent and rolled over in his bed. Blaine was coming to see him sing at sectionals this weekend.

Kurt had hoped to run into Blaine before the performance, but he was nowhere to be seen, instead running into Rachel who was freaking out at the concession woman because she had no Raisinettes to sell her. Rachel unloaded onto Kurt - about not getting a solo, about Finn sleeping with Santana last year (apparently she was the only one that didn't know that), and about the demands of their newest recruit.

"Mercedes told me about Blaine..." Rachel told Kurt then, drawing his attention.

"Told you what?"

"That his dad hits him.. that he came to stay with you guys on the weekend."

Kurt arched an eyebrow, "How did you hear about that?"

"Well... your dad talked to Finn about it, and since I'm not on speaking terms with Finn, he told Sam, and Sam told Quinn, and Quinn told... anyhow... the whole club knows."

Kurt frowned a little. "I don't think he'd like that everyone is talking about him..." ... and god forbid he ever found out they were talking about him either.

Rachel nodded, "Oh of course... it's just... wonderfully dramatic is all. The badboy with a secret sad homelife. Wonderfully romantic..."

Kurt rolled his eyes. Of COURSE Rachel Berry thought domestic abuse would be 'wonderfully romantic'.

"Anyhow, I just want you to know that we'll keep it to ourselves and keep an eye on him for you."

"Thank you Rachel." Kurt said, leaving then as Rachel had to run off to meet with the club. He did miss them, especially when it came to being able to be acknowledged for his uniqueness, but he was safer at Dalton, there was no denying that.

Kurt went to take his seat with his fellow Warblers, and despite his efforts to look around the auditorium, he couldn't see Blaine anywhere, so he quickly shot him a text.

Where are you? -K

I'll be there. Promise. -B

Kurt sighed and settled down then, watching a group of adorable old people sing as their first bit of competition. He had to admit, on being inspiring alone, this group would easily win - but would they all still be alive by the next round of competition?

Then it was their turn. Kurt took his position on stage and did his best to smile and dance in sync with the rest of the Warblers, hoping that Blaine would be impressed from wherever he was in the audience. He knew he wasn't standing out in the performance, but Nick and Jeff did an amazing job of Hey Soul Sister and he was proud to back them up.

He was glad to return to his seat. He loved performing, but even after all this time, was still a bundle of nerves whenever he got onstage.

Sam and Quinn came out, singing I've Had the Time of My Life to one another in a ballad that typically would have gone to Rachel and Finn. They did a fabulous job of it however, and Kurt admonished himself for ever thinking that Sam was gay given the eyes he was making at Quinn.

And then it happened.

The rest of the New Directions were revealed by a pull of a curtain, and there, with them, was Blaine - dressed up in a matching suit with his hair gelled back like Kurt had done for him the last weekend.

Kurt's eyes couldn't have been larger.

As Santana sung lead on Valerie, Blaine was there as part of the group, dancing and singing along. Kurt couldn't pull his eyes off him, even with Mike and Brittany doing some phenomenal dance moves at the front of the stage.

Oh Blaine Anderson... you tease.

Kurt became anxious and eager to talk to Blaine, though had to suffer through waiting on stage for the results. He kept glancing over to his New Directions friends, Blaine in particular, with curious glances. Each time he looked over, Blaine was grinning back at him.

The Warblers and New Directions tied for first place. Both were going onto regionals.

And with that announcement, Kurt was free to cross the stage and hug his old friends. He stopped in front of Blaine though, looking him up and down.

"You're a jerk you know."

Blaine laughed. "Oh but the look on your face was worth being a jerk."

Kurt was sure that anything that got Blaine dressed up like he was right now would be worth it.