The New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts was not only everything Kurt Hummel had hoped it would be but more. Upon his first week here, he already had a full schedule of dance, drama, and vocal lessons – and he was definitely not complaining. Why would he when he really was living his dream? But, one thing lay askew. Kurt missed his best friend, Rachel Berry. Though there was a time when he’d never thought he’d admit it, it just wasn’t the same without her. Much to Kurt’s chagrin, she had opted to stay in Ohio to be nearer to Finn, who was now running Hummel’s Tire and Lube. Kurt’s father, Burt, had a seat in congress and now needed the extra help at the shop. Rachel had given up her dreams for Finn and had taken a place in Western Ohio University’s Dramatic Arts Department where she too studied dance, drama, and song – though Kurt knew she wouldn’t have found it half as fabulous if she had come to live in New York with him instead.

Rachel and Kurt kept in touch; they had after all been best friends for four years now even if the relationship had started as “frenemies.” They eventually came to an understanding that they were similar in almost every aspect of their lives and perhaps became closer than any other two members of their old high school Glee club because of it. Rachel and Kurt shared everything, and Kurt was so glad when she and Finn went steady, even if he was also partly jealous, because at times Rachel was the only one who ever understood him and Finn took that away. She began to spend so much time with him instead of Kurt – and he might have even resented his stepbrother because of that.

Kurt knew this was selfish of him, but he had never had a best friend, and never a friend like Rachel - who he found he could always confide in. Kurt had also never had a boyfriend; never even kissed anyone, with the exception of David Karofsky, which was the most distressing experience of his life, so Kurt didn’t count that as his first kiss. He was waiting for the right person, he told himself over and over again.

So now Rachel was all the way in Ohio and here was Kurt - in the middle of New York City. The city was just as magical as it had been on that first visit for Nationals back in his junior year – the same year when Kurt had decided he knew that this was what he wanted more than anything – and also that he would do anything to make it happen. Kurt had nothing left for him in Ohio; Rachel and Finn had each other and even Burt had Carole.

Kurt was happy for them all; he knew his passion and love lay in theatre and he really was happy here in New York, (even if he was a little lonelier than he had hoped), but every time he looked out of his apartment window, or stepped out of the front door, he was reminded he was in the city where dreams came true… and all of his dreams were indeed beginning to come true. His only wish was he had someone to share it all with…

~*~

Meanwhile, a few blocks away, another young man was staring out of his apartment window, dreaming the very same thing. Blaine Anderson’s dreams were coming true too, but like Kurt, his only wish… was that he had someone to share it with.

Blaine had just graduated from The New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts barely three months ago and during his time at high school, and then at college, he had gained an impressive list of credits. No one could deny that he was extremely talented. In fact, just after graduating, he was offered the lead in a small Broadway production. It was a minor role but it was also his Broadway debut. Blaine was so excited, so thrilled, so grateful for this opportunity that he had spent the last two months literally skipping down the sidewalks of New York as he headed to daily rehearsals.

It was becoming late afternoon on January third, 2012, and Blaine was preparing to leave his apartment. He had been renting it since his first year at NYADA when he had moved to New York from, Westerville, Ohio. Since he had loved the apartment as soon as he had moved in, now that he had finished his course, he didn’t want to leave. He would hang on to this place as long as he could; it was his and he fit in it perfectly. It wasn’t a huge place; it was just the right size for one, with the room for a guest or two every now and then, (even if it was, admittedly, mostly his parents who frequented the place). He felt very at home here and that helped his nerves. Tonight was the opening of the production and he hoped he wouldn’t mess it up; it was Broadway after all, even if it was one of the smaller theaters.

Blaine rushed around his apartment collecting his bag and a beanie, and was halfway out of the door before remembering he needed a coat. How could he forget that it was freezing outside? He grabbed his wooly trench coat and headed out. Blaine was glad he wasn’t too famous when he was beginning his Broadway career because it allowed him to really digest the whole experience. He had dreamed of Broadway since he was a child, but he never expected to get here, especially fresh out of university. He also enjoyed his daily walk through the magical city to the theater, where for the first time; he would be performing in front of an audience.

~*~

Kurt’s loneliness was often amplified on these dark lonely winter nights. He had returned to Lima for a week over Christmas and New Year, but now he was back in his lonesome New York apartment. It was a small place, quite cozy too, but he didn’t have his loved ones and he feared that said a lot. A place is only as good as the people in it.

Kurt decided to head out for a walk to clear his mind. His favorite two places were Times Square and Central Park. Much to Kurt’s dismay, tonight the park was filled with couples holding hands, and staring lovingly into each other’s eyes, as they looked over at the Christmas decorations in awe. They were beautiful of course, but all the doting couples made Kurt feel more alone than ever. He carried on walking thought the city, wrapped up in a large overcoat with his designer scarf and even warmer socks. Kurt hated to be cold; his pale porcelain complexion caused his cheeks to blush rosy red and he hated the way it made him look. It contrasted too much with his skin tone.

Kurt walked through the city taking in the atmosphere. It was late afternoon now but it was already dark. The winter caused the daylight hours to become minimal, so Kurt hurried through the streets towards Times Square where he was hoping to sit on a little wall and inhale the feelings around him, the passion of the theater, the hustle and bustle of the workers and tourists alike.

But Kurt never made it to his favorite place of thought.

~*~

Blaine was finished for the night – and the performance had gone quite well if he was honest with himself. He exited the theater via the back stage door and signed a couple of autographs, making sure to thank everyone for coming too. He loved to make an effort for those who supported him; he felt it was really important. After all, he held steadfast to the belief that a performer was nothing without an audience. Blaine smiled and waved as he walked away from the small crowd that had greeted him, and they waved back before they also left. As he walked home, Blaine thought of the lovely comments his fans had said - and he smiled to himself. His fans. He really had fans now. He was an actor. He was doing what he loved. He was the luckiest man alive.

He just wished… he had someone to share it with.
As Blaine rounded the corner from Times Square, he found himself in a dark alley way. He usually passed by this way very quickly but something made him stop tonight. He blinked a few times, but after his initial shock subsided, he discovered he could make out a figure curled on the ground. Blaine looked around warily but quickly hurried over. He knelt down beside the figure and flinched a little as he placed a hand on him. Whoever it was had been here a while and they were freezing. From a distance, and also at first glance, the figure could have androgynously been male or female. They also appeared to be very warmly clothed under a slight frame of layers.

But on closer inspection it was clearly a young man, a handsome young man, Blaine couldn’t help but notice. The open wallet casually lying by the man’s side indicated that according to his ID, his name was Kurt Hummel.

Blaine quickly emptied his mind of his distracting thoughts, pulled out his cell phone, and dialed for an ambulance.

“Nine-one-one, fire, ambulance, or police?”

“Ambulance,” Blaine said swiftly.

“ What is the nature of your emergency?”

“Um, there’s a young man here, no more than nineteen, passed out and he’s freezing cold. I don’t think he’s drunk or anything though.” Blaine mumbled at high speed, adding in the last part as an afterthought, hoping they wouldn’t tell him it wasn’t important.

After giving his name and location, and promising to stay put, Blaine held his cell, staying on the line in case the paramedics needed help finding them, and moved to get a better view of the strikingly pale boy’s face. He placed a hand cupping his cheek and felt himself growing worried. He had always been very caring; a mentor to the younger Warblers at Dalton Academy, but here lay a complete stranger and Blaine just couldn’t leave him either.

Eventually, the paramedics arrived, and Blaine was going to try to explain that he had found the chestnut haired boy here alone, with no signs of trouble, but if he learned anything from watching several seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, it was that if Blaine alerted them to the fact that he was just a stranger, he would probably never see this strikingly attractive stranger again – and he couldn’t let go just yet. He could tell it wasn’t looking good. In the time Blaine had been there, the beautifully broken form on the ground had not moved a muscle, but at least he was still breathing, (which to be honest, Blaine thought, was a miracle in itself, considering how cold it was).

Once Kurt had been secured in the ambulance, the paramedics insisted that Blaine accompany them. He was to explain his story once more to the doctors at 548 Broadway, which was the nearest hospital, and this he couldn’t argue. He didn’t know why but now that he had found Kurt, he couldn’t just leave him. He would do everything he could to help the vulnerable and innocent looking perfectly porcelain man now safe in the back of the ambulance.

Blaine complied getting in the back and took the foil space blanket offered to him. He himself had become cold as time had passed waiting but he had not realized this until he was in the warmth of the vehicle.

The whole ride to the hospital Blaine couldn’t take his eyes off the Kurt lying in front of him. When they whisked him off to the ER, Blaine stood alone outside the doors, staring at the point in the distance where he had disappeared around the corner and out of sight.

~*~

Blaine had no idea how much time had passed. He stood still and watched numerous new patients disappear just as the young man Blaine found had done. After what felt like a lifetime, the paramedic who had entered with them, reappeared and called Blaine over.

“So are you a relative or a friend?” the paramedic asked Blaine kindly, pulling him from all his thoughts. Now, Blaine was not big when it came to lies, and he wasn’t very good with hospitals either, but those few seasons of Grey’s Anatomy had also taught him that if he wasn’t at least one of those people, the Paramedic would more than likely send him home. All he could think was of every moment he had spent watching over Kurt, and in a random fit of spontaneity, which had been known to happen with Blaine, he decided he would risk telling a white lie and claim to actually know him. He had forgotten all about his first Broadway performance that had only ended mere hours ago.

“Sir?” the paramedic questioned again.

“Colleague,” Blaine answered in a strangled voice. His throat was dry from not talking for so long, especially after an evening spent with lots of singing. “I just found him like that. I’ve never really had the chance to meet him before tonight. He was just lying there when I walked around the corner and… my heart fell when I recognized him.” Blaine thanked that his acting skills were paying off. The official seemed to buy it.

“Okay, well we are going to need someone to stay with him. He should be waking up soon and we need to find out his next of kin. Could you see if you could fill in this paper work for us? With these forms complete we’ll be able to contact them and take things further from there.”

The paramedic, (Dr. Rick Montague, Blaine noticed his name was), had a worried frown and was looking at Blaine with concern. He was deathly pale.

“C’mon, let me get you a coffee and I can show you to him,” Rick urged already leading Blaine to the hospital’s standard coffee machine.

He handed Blaine a small filter coffee. Blaine looked at it as if he didn’t know what to do with it. He blinked a few times before remembering to take a sip and mumble his gratitude with thanks.

The pair rounded the corner and Blaine found himself in little private side room with the young man in the bed. He was paler than ever and had black rings around his eyes. Blaine sighed sadly. He looked so sick.

“What’s wrong with him?” Blaine asked quietly.

“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that Mr. Anderson as you aren’t a relative. I’m sure his next of kin will be able to tell you everything once we can get them here after Mr. Hummel wakes up.” Rick seemed apologetic as he looked at the curly haired young man who was clearly worried.

Blaine choked out a small ‘okay’ noise and took a seat in the chair besides Kurt’s bed.

“When he wakes up, please ask one of the nurses to page me. I will need to talk to him.” Rick nodded once to indicate his exit before leaving the two alone.

With Rick gone now, there was nothing to do but wait for Kurt to wake up. His empty forms could not be filled without speaking to him first. So Blaine just sat watching the beautiful boy before him, longing to reach out and show his support by, at the very least, holding his hand, but figured that would probably be too risky; he wasn’t even sure if this man was gay or if he would find that uncomfortable. Despite everything however, he had to keep reminding himself that Kurt was a stranger.
And yet, even looking as sick as he did, he was also undeniably beautiful. He had a perfectly chiseled jaw, with defined cheek bones. Now that he wasn’t covered by all his jackets and his scarf, he had a smooth but strong looking torso and arms too, from what Blaine could see through the hospital gown, and through the blankets pulled up over him.

Blaine never imagined anything could make his feel more star struck than the dazzling lights of standing center stage on Broadway, but sitting here quietly, as morbid as it all was, Blaine was starting to think he had found something that proved him wrong about that.

Because nothing could compare to the sleeping form of the young man in front of him.