(What the hell!) Blaine felt white-hot rage coursing through him as he blindly found his way back into the hospital. He was gripping his phone so tightly he was surprised he hadn't crushed it. No way on God's green earth was that man taking his daughter, even temporarily. It didn't even occur to Blaine that he had just thought of Alex as "that man" and not his husband. Blaine somehow found his way into the ER, clocked back in and grabbed the stack of paperwork sitting at reception. Paperwork was everyone's least favorite chore, and normally Blaine agreed, but right now he couldn't see himself interacting well with others. He sat down behind the desk and started copying some of the doctor's notes that were less than legible with furious energy.

"Um, honey, are you o.k.?" Simone, the head nurse, asked cautiously as she pushed herself back to sit on top of the desk next to Blaine.

"I'm fine," Blaine answered with finality through gritted teeth, not bothering to look up. He felt a hand on his shoulder as the pen was eased from his hand.

"What?" He looked at her with some frustration. He didn't want to talk or even think right now. All he could do was feel rage.

"Look at the paper, Blaine."

Glancing down he cringed slightly at what he found. "Oops," he looked up at her sheepishly. He had been writing so hard that he had ripped right through with the pen. He lifted the ruined paperwork to find writing on the desk surface. He sighed then and leaned back in his chair to run his fingers through his hair.

Simone began to laugh lightly and Blaine quickly joined her, thinking of how ridiculous he must have looked to her, but the laughter was soon joined by tears pricking the corners of his eyes. The other nurse looked at him in concern.

"Hey, it's super slow in here today and I know that Lisa has been looking for extra hours. Why don't you head out and I'll see if she can come in early." Simone had already picked up the phone and was dialing the night nurse before Blaine had a chance to respond. She pulled him from the chair and waved goodbye. He mouthed a thank you as she started talking to Lisa and he headed down the hall to the locker room.

His backpack slung over his shoulder, he quickly headed to his car. After climbing into the driver's seat and pulling from the parking lot he realized he had no idea where he was going. He thought of picking Adelaide up early from day care, but considering his current state of mind, some alone time was probably in order. He thought of all the, yet to be assembled, furniture sitting in their apartment and decided to put his frustrated energy to good use. He could also use the time to think.

Ten minutes later he was in some old worn out jeans and an under shirt sitting in the middle of his living room. He was surrounded by pieces of an entertainment center, instructions in his lap. It looked pretty straight-forward. Thank goodness for IKEA and their instructions in picture form.

As he methodically put the pieces into piles and sorted the nuts and bolts he thought back to the day when the tension between he and Alex had finally snapped.

"Alex, who is Travis and why did he just text asking if you're 'free for the usual' tonight?" Blaine stood with Alex's phone in his shaking hand, not believing what he had just read.

"Oh, that's just a guy from accounting. We've grabbed burgers a couple of times when you've worked the night shift." Alex shrugged it off, but it was too late. Blaine saw the hitch of his breath and the flash of panic in his eyes.

"Don't. Lie. To. Me." Blaine enunciated each word as he stepped closer. The lack of response and the refusal to meet his gaze was answer enough for Blaine. He dropped the phone on the counter and stepped back again slowly. He had known things were over. He had even known that they didn't love each other anymore. To be cheated on and lied to though? That was almost more than he could take. Suddenly, he wasn't just hurt. He was livid.

He turned and picked up Addy, who had been playing with a Barbie and watching them cautiously, and carried her out the front door. Alex just watched him walk out. Blaine trotted across their front yard and into the neighbor's. He knocked on the front door with a shaking hand and was more than relieved when Mrs. Peters answered with a smile. Addy was watching him curiously but didn't seem upset, for which he was thankful.

"I'm so sorry to bother you like this at the last minute but we've had a little family emergency and I was hoping you could watch Addy for a little bit," he looked at his elderly neighbor, desperately trying to hold his emotions in check. She had watched Addy on occasion before and the little girl loved to play with the old woman's many cats.

"Of course I can," Mrs. Peters answered with an understanding nod and held the door open for Addy to step inside.

Blaine set the little girl on her feet and held her shoulders so they were almost nose-to-nose. "I'll be back to get you really soon o.k.? Please be a good girl." Addy had looked at him with disconcerting depth and put her tiny hand on his cheek.

"Don't be sad, Daddy. I love you."

Blaine almost lost it.

With a quick hug for his daughter, he nodded his thanks to their neighbor and said he would be back within the hour.

Grasping ahold of his anger once more he walked steadily back across the yard, thankful his little girl would not be present for the coming battle. Once inside he was surprised to find an empty kitchen and living room. "Alex?" He called his husband's name with obvious distaste and heard a "Back here," come quietly from the bedroom. He walked with skepticism into the room where they had shared a bed for the last five years, thinking this was the last place he wanted to be. His anger returned tenfold when he found Alex packing a bag.

"Going to meet 'Travis'?" Blaine flung out with disgust.

"Yes."

"You... You have GOT to be kidding me!" Blaine stuttered his disbelief. How did Alex always find a way to shock Blaine with his arrogance and selfishness. Love is blind had taken on a whole new meaning. Only if this was love Blaine was pretty sure he wanted nothing to do with it.

"Look, you know. Why pretend? You wouldn't have let me sleep in the bed tonight anyway so I'll go, get what I need and we'll discuss this tomorrow when you've calmed down." Alex leaned back against the dresser with arms crossed calmly.

Blaine simply stared. "I don't even know what to say to you right now. I don't know who you are," Blaine's voice was dangerously quiet.

Alex scoffed, "I'm the exact same person I was. You're the one that has changed. We used to have fun. We used to have sex. The only things you are interested in now are your patients and Addy."

Blaine had no response at first. He knew that as much as Alex was being an ass, this much was true. They had grown apart so much that they literally had no common interests anymore. The few times they did talk it started with Alex flinging some ridiculous accusation at him, moved on to a loud fight and ended with a slammed door and Blaine bringing a sleeping Addy into bed with him so he could hold her. (Wait a minute...) Something suddenly clicked as he thought of how so many of those fights had started.

"It was you, the whole time." Alex looked over at him at with both confusion and disdain.

"What are you even talking about?"

"It was you the WHOLE FUCKING TIME!" Blaine roared as he stepped directly in front of his husband. "Every time you accused me of being unfaithful! Every time you threw ridiculous accusations in my face it was because YOU were the one who was cheating on ME! You tried to lesson your guilt by convincing yourself that I was doing the same!"

By this time angry tears were streaming down his face. Even knowing that their marriage had been on the decline, practically since it started, did not stop the deep stab of pain from this betrayal. "So, how long have you been at this, huh? Since we got married? Before that?" By this time Alex was angry too and he gripped the sides of the dresser tightly. He denied nothing, only stood there, breathing heavily and glaring at Blaine with ice-cold eyes. "You are such a selfish bastard!"

Blaine saw it coming out of the corner of his eye. Alex's fist leaving the dresser and flying toward Blaine's face. The boxer in him momentarily took over and he instinctively blocked the punch with ease and brought up his own fist for a counter blow. At the last second his brain caught up with his body and he stopped just short of striking his husband in the jaw. For almost thirty seconds they stayed exactly as they were, Blaine's right hand still raised in the air and both of Alex's thrown up defensively. Eventually Blaine sank back down onto the bed and covered his face with both of his hands.

"I'm going. We'll talk later when we've both cooled down." Alex turned to leave, grabbing his bag on the way out. Blaine's voice stopped him.

"There's no fixing this, Alex." Blaine stared at nothing and spoke in a hoarse whisper. He heard movement a few seconds later and when he looked up Alex was gone.

He walked in a trance next door and collected his little girl. He had know idea what he said to Mrs. Peters. He didn't have any response when Addy took his face in her hands and simply questioned, "Daddy?" He turned on the Disney channel and ordered a cheese pizza, Addy's favorite, before crouching down in front of her. "Daddy needs to be alone in the bedroom for a few minutes. Will you be o.k. watching your show?" She nodded solemnly sensing his tense mood. He forced a smile for her sake and tickled her tummy saying, "Hey there, not so serious! Everything is just fine." She giggled, pushing at his hand as she turned back to the television. He quickly stood and walked to the bedroom.

The moment the door was closed he fell against the wall and slid to the door, sobs wracking his body. He finally let himself go completely. All of the tension that had been building over the years, all of the hurt, all the feelings of being so alone while not really alone poured out of him with the tears. Ten minutes later he was almost cried out... and slightly embarrassed at being balled up on the floor. As he slowly climbed to his feet he caught his reflection in the mirror. He walked closer to examine his reflection carefully, hardly believing what he saw. Eyes so red and swollen that he could barely see. Shoulders slumped, giving him a dejected look. He ran his fingers experimentally across his collarbone realizing for the first time how prominent it had become. He never ate very well when he was feeling pressure or stress and those things had been abundant in the last few years.

"Daddy?" The door cracked open slightly and he saw one wide hazel eye and one curly black pigtail poke around the edge.

"Come here sweetie." Father reached out for daughter and the two met with open arms. Blaine sank back down to the floor this time with precious cargo and no more tears. That's it. Enough. No more fights. No more tip-toeing around his husband. No more family meals filled with so much underlying tension he could barely eat. No more nights of being frustrated at Alex's late hours, especially knowing now what had really been going on. No trying to make the best of things when he knew better. Addy deserved better. He deserved better. Things were going to change, starting right now.

It was rather fitting that the pizza delivery boy chose that moment to ring the bell. He suddenly felt hungrier than he had in months. Leaping to his feet he snatched Addy up and said, "Lets eat!"

After settling Addy back onto the couch with a slice of pizza on a paper plate, happily watching Finding Nemo, he sat at his desk with his laptop and phone intent on making some plans. While quickly devouring four slices of his own, he really could do with gaining a little weight, he made a call to the supervisor at the hospital where he worked in Columbus. She had mentioned job opportunities at a hospital a couple of hours away if anyone was interested in a transfer at staff meeting the other day. The only reason he had really payed attention was because the hospital was located in Lima where Jeff, Nick and Wes lived. After the events of the last week he found the timing and location of this opportunity rather serendipitous. His manager had been more than happy to make the call, assuring him that his resume and reputation practically made him a shoo-in. After that things just seemed to fall into place, making him more sure than ever that this was right. She called him back not ten minutes later saying her could start the next Saturday. He found an apartment complex online that was near the hospital that got great reviews. He saw that there were vacancies and decided to call in the morning about getting an interview. In the meantime they could stay in a hotel. He then called Jeff to give him an extremely abridged version of what was going on and to ask for a recommendation for daycare for Addy. Jeff saw through the evasiveness and tried to get him to say what was really happening.

"Look, I promise, I'll tell you everything when I get there. I... I just can't tonight. I just can't."

A short pause, "O.k,. I'm here for whatever. Whenever you need me."

"I know. Thanks... and Jeff? I might be needing some legal advice..."

Blaine could hear the smile through the phone, "Well, I just so happen to have a rather intimate connection with the most brilliant legal mind in all of Ohio. I just might be able to hook you up."

"Thanks, man." Blaine smiled at this. The first real smile that day.

"Seriously though, you know Nick will be more than happy to talk, as your friend or your lawyer. Whatever you need."

Blaine hung up shortly after, considering this tricky part of the equation. Gay marriage and divorce was such a hot button topic, especially in a state that didn't recognize said union as legal in the first place, and was filled with many quagmires when it came to legalities. Oh well, he would deal with that later. Nick really was brilliant and the most important thing right now was to get himself and Addy into a better environment.

While Addy curled up with a doll on the couch, sound asleep by the time Marlin and Dori were riding the EAC, Blaine packed as many of their things as he could fit in his car. It was 80 percent Addy and 20 percent him when it came to the things filling his trunk, passenger seat and all of the back that didn't contain Addy's carseat. He packed every toy, blanket and possible item of comfort he could find for his little girl, hoping to make the transition easy. For himself he took only what was necessary. Nothing to remind him of this life. He could replace everything else.

By the time he finished it was after midnight. He set the alarm on his phone for 5 in the morning. He wanted to be up and out early in case Alex decided to come back before work. Carefully picking Addy up, he carried her to his bedroom and held her close as she continued to dream. Sleep evaded him though and he settled for resting his eyes and brain, failing miserably at the second goal.

As the night-time hours passed he slowly felt his mood and outlook begin to change. Fear turned into hope. Resignation turned into determination. Frustration turned into a desire for change. It was going to be okay. Better than okay. They were finally going to be happy.

His ringing phone brought him back to reality. Seeing that it was Jeff he decided to answer.

"Hey man, are you alright? I called the hospital and they said you left early."

"Yeah, I just... o.k., no, I'm not. I'm dealing with an Alex thing and just needed to be alone for a bit." Blaine was surprised at how steady his voice remained considering he was still literally shaking with rage.

Jeff saw through him and heard the anger underneath the quiet tone though. That's what happens when you remain friends with someone for 16 years. "Is Addy still at Carole's?"

"Yeah."

"O.k., here's what's gonna happen. You stay where you are and do what you need to do. I'll pick Addy up when I get Elise and then Nick and I will pick up some takeout and bring the girls to your place. We'll have dinner and the girls can play. If you need to talk to Nick about that legal stuff you mentioned before I can even take the girls out for a bit so you can have some privacy."

Blaine didn't think he could love Jeff anymore in that moment if he tried. How had he lived for so long in a town without his closest friends?

"That sounds wonderful. I'll be here."

Blaine hung up then and sat there, looking at his partially assembled entertainment center. He knew what he needed to do. Thankfully his lawyer was coming to dinner.