Waiting for the page to load, Blaine did a bit of math in his head. Regionals was in early spring, and Kurt had been taken out of class by his guidance councilor, so at some point between early April and early June of that year, Kurt's life had been completely turned upside down. Suddenly, Blaine wasn't so sure this was a good idea.

His eyes flashed to where Kurt was sleeping, beaten and fragile, on the cot in the corner of his bedroom. He had never known Kurt before he'd been taken by the Department, so, even though he looked bad now, Blaine had never seen him look another way. The Kurt he was going to see on the computer screen was the person he was before any of this had happened. This Kurt had a father and a loving home. Was Blaine really ready to see that, ready to see definitive proof of the tragic differences between that Kurt and the broken boy that lay sleeping ten feet away?

He took a deep breath through his nose and clicked the first video on the list. It started out with the two leads walking down the aisles of the performance hall singing the opening to Journey's "Faithfully". They eventually made their way to the stage and, with a crescendo, the patterned curtain rose behind them, revealing the rest of the choir.

His eyes scanned the group briefly before locking onto a slender boy swaying in the background, doing his steps gracefully, and harmonizing perfectly with the rest of the group. Blaine's eyes stayed glued to him throughout the performance. He always blended in with the rest. His steps, his voice, everything was in sync with the rest of the group.

Slowly, the boy stepped out from the crowd, making his way to the center of the stage. The voice that came out of Kurt was enough to make Blaine's jaw drop. The perfect countertenor voice was like nothing he'd ever heard before.

As he watched this Kurt, baby-faced, cheerful, and confident, singing his part beautifully without missing a step of the choreography, Blaine felt himself start crying. Tears streamed silently down his face as he listened to the performance draw to its close.

He slammed the lid of his laptop shut and yanked the earbuds from his ears, covering his mouth and pushing the laptop away from him in the same motion. It had been too much. He shouldn't have watched the video, shouldn't have drawn the parallel between that Kurt and the new broken and fragile Kurt.

Blaine's eyes flickered to Kurt's small body, watching his chest rise and fall as he slept. The breathing looked shallow, unable to take a full breath of air because of whatever was causing his cough, but still, he looked peaceful. If Blaine hadn't watched the video, he would have believed that Kurt was getting better, making some sort of progress toward being okay, but he wasn't.

Kurt would never be that boy again. He'd never have that innocence back. It was gone. The bright gleam that had been in that boy's eyes was gone from the new Kurt's eyes, replaced by cynicism and distrust.

Blaine had tricked himself into believing that, maybe, he could see a bit of that gleam in Kurt's eye whenever he let his guard down, but he'd been fooling himself. That look was that of someone who still believed that there was good in the world. That he could follow his dreams and become a fashion designer in some big city somewhere.

That Kurt was gone. That trust and innocence had been beaten out of him, slowly worn away by owner after owner until there was nothing left but a shell of a boy who had once had hopes and dreams and friends and family. Just a shell of Kurt.

He wanted to pull him into his arms and apologize for everything that had ever happened to him, wanted to hold him and promise that no one would ever hurt him again. That he was safe. He wanted Kurt to know that he was going to make everything alright again. Somehow.

He laid down against his pillow and cried himself to sleep thinking about Kurt.

The sun shining into Blaine's window was what woke him up. Somewhere in the back of his mind, as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, he realized that he'd overslept and was late for school. He tried to convince himself that it had been an accident that he hadn't set his alarm the night before like he always did.

He reached to his nightstand and picked up his cell phone, dialing the number he'd scribbled on the notepad by his clock. He drummed his fingers on the back of the phone as he waited for an answer.

"Franklin County Health Department, this is Sherry, how may I help you?"
"Yes, ma'am, my name is Blaine Anderson and I need to make an appointment for my worker. I just bought him and he's got a bad cough. He's also very underweight. I'd like to get him in as soon as possible, please."

Blaine spoke in a hushed voice, looking around to see whether or not Kurt was awake, slightly alarmed when his eyes settled onto an empty bed.

"How's 1:30 this afternoon sound, Mr. Anderson?"

Blaine agreed politely and ended the phone call, throwing his legs over the edge of the bed and going to find Kurt.

"K-Kurt?" Blaine called, worried.
"Oh, I'm..um...in the bathroom." Kurt's voice called through the door.
"Are you okay?" Blaine asked, relief creeping into his tone.
"Yes. I wanted to try on the shirt I altered and you were asleep, so I didn't want to wake you," Kurt's voice responded quickly. "W-Would you like to see it?"

"Of course," Blaine answered, his voice thick with excitement. "Let's see!"

The door opened slowly to reveal Kurt, a light, embarrassed blush coloring his cheeks. He adjusted the hem of his shirt self-consciously. "I wanted to leave a little bit of room in case I start putting on a little weight."

Blaine smiled and cocked his head, appraising the outfit, idly offering, "Well, I hope you but on a little more than a little weight." as he took in the way the perfectly tailored black shirt clung to Kurt's body, accentuating his broad shoulders and slim waist. A pair of tight fitting dark denim jeans clung snugly against his hips and legs.

"You look amazing, Kurt," Blaine said, his voice almost awed. It was true. He'd never seen anyone look as beautiful as Kurt did. It wasn't just the outfit, but the subtle hint of confidence that radiated from the taller boy as he stood in, what he knew was, a flawless outfit.

Kurt's face lit up at the praise. "Really?" He asked, softly.

Blaine almost laughed aloud. It was obvious that Kurt knew just how perfect the outfit looked. Before Blaine stood a boy who was clearly fishing for a compliment. And Blaine had no problem playing along. "You look absolutely fantastic. That outfit is perfect and you pull it off amazingly."

Kurt's eyes sparkled excitedly as he listened to Blaine speaking. Finally, he cast his gaze to the floor shyly. "I think I really like this outfit."

"As well you should. It's fantastic," Blaine added cheerfully, stepping forward to pull Kurt into a hug. Kurt's body stiffened minutely at the contact before relaxing into the embrace, slowly raising his arms to wrap around Blaine's middle. The shorter boy pulled away first, letting his hands slide down Kurt's arms to take his hands into his own. "So, why don't you go take a shower and I'll make you something for breakfast."

Kurt's face screwed up in confusion. "Don't you have school?"
"Yeah, but I'm not going. You've got a doctors appointment at 1:30," Blaine said easily.
"But...you're parents?"

Blaine waved his hand dismissively. "I'll just tell them that I already told them about your appointment and they said it was okay. If they even ask. Which I doubt they will. So, go take a shower. Use any of the soaps and shampoos that you want, and meet me downstairs when you're done, okay?"

Kurt nodded, a wide smile on his face. Blaine gave his hand a parting squeeze and turned to go downstairs. He heard the bathroom door shut and the water come on as he reached the bottom stair. He smiled to himself and went into the kitchen, still just as devoid of food as he'd left it.

Opening the refrigerator, he quickly realized that today was definitely the day that he'd have to go shopping. There were literally three eggs and a half carton of milk inside. He sighed and resigned himself to cooking scrambled eggs. They were a food that Cooper used to make him whenever he was sick, so he figured they'd be okay for Kurt's stomach.

He was just putting the last swipe of butter onto a piece of toast when he heard footsteps coming up behind him. Kurt had showered and changed into his new outfit, even taking a moment to style his damp hair. It would fall down quickly as it dried, but it looked amazingly well coiffed for the moment. Blaine would offer him a little bit of product after breakfast.

"Well, don't you look smart?" Blaine complimented, his voice kind. He set a plate of eggs a half piece of toast in front of Kurt.

Kurt smiled in Blaine's direction and lifted a corner of the toast to his mouth, his expression just shy of smug. Blaine laughed softly and ruffled Kurt's hair, an action met with a politely irritated huff. He was so overjoyed by Kurt's personality finally starting to peek through, that he wanted to pull him into his arms and hug the breath out of him.

Blaine waited through breakfast to see if the careful mask would return to Kurt's face, but to his delight, it didn't. Kurt just chattered excitedly about his outfit and all the plans he had for the other clothes. Blaine gave him the rundown of what the plans were for that day. They'd go to the doctor's office and then stop by the pharmacy to pick up whatever medicine the doctor prescribed him for his cough.

He explained that a trip to the grocery store was necessary, making Kurt laugh softly as Blaine observed that either they go to the store today, or it was going to be saltine crackers and Kool-Aid for dinner.

As they finished eating, Blaine collected their plates and brought them to the sink. He figured he might as well get them cleaned up so he wouldn't have to come home to a sink full of dishes. He picked up the cloth and added some soap. He hummed a song quietly as he washed. He didn't even realize that he'd started singing until he heard Kurt gasp. He dropped the plate and turned around to see Kurt was visibly shaking, his eyes wide and brimming with tears.

"Kurt, what's the matter?" Blaine asked, rushing to his side. "Hey, hey...talk to me. What's wrong?"

He had to struggle to catch what Kurt said. His voice was hitching and broken and quiet. "T-That song, Blaine. Why were you singing that song?"

Blaine didn't understand. He's just been washing dishes and humming. Maybe he remembered singing a few of the words to the Journey song that had been stuck in his head when he woke up, but he didn't understand why Kurt would be-

Suddenly, he made the connection between what he'd been singing and Kurt's reaction.

"Oh my God, Kurt, I'm so sorry," Blaine gushed, his voice desperate and pleading. "I'm so sorry. I didn't even think."

"How did you know about that?" Kurt sobbed, his words partially muffled by his hand. "That was so long ago..."

"I looked it up on YouTube. Please don't be mad at me. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-" Blaine broke off, unable to think of an excuse or an apology that could explain how truly sorry he was. He took a deep breath and put a hand on Kurt's shoulder, pleased by the fact that Kurt didn't try to shrug it off. "You were amazing, Kurt."

The other boy's breath hitched again, his eyes sparkling sadly. He opened his mouth, looking as though he was about to speak, but closed it just as quickly.

"Kurt, please say something," Blaine prompted, his voice desperate. He needed to find some way to help, and he couldn't help if Kurt wouldn't give him something to work with.

Kurt cast his eyes to the floor, tears streaming freely down his cheeks. Blaine finally gave in and wrapped his arms around the crying boy's shoulders. Kurt rested his head against Blaine's shoulder and let himself be comforted. "I'm sorry, Kurt. I shouldn't have-"

The taller boy sniffled and pulled back to look at Blaine's face. "It's okay, Blaine. Don't cry."

He hadn't realized he'd been crying until he felt Kurt's thumb brush away a tear. His heart jumped as he realized how the tables had turned. He tightened his hold on Kurt, pulling him closer. "Are you okay? Please, tell me the truth, because I want to help you be okay if you're not."

Blaine took Kurt's hand and led them back to the table. He slid his chair next to Kurt's and took his hand, squeezing it gently to prompt him to answer. Kurt took a deep breath and answered, his voice thoughtful. "I'm okay. It's just—It's been a long time since I heard that. It just brought back a lot of memories, I guess."

Blaine gave Kurt's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Tell me about them. The memories, I mean."

He wanted to get Kurt talking, to get him to open up. He wanted to make Kurt reminisce over happy memories. It was naive to think that, by focusing on pleasant memories, he'd forget about the bad ones, but if it took his mind off of the abuse for even a second, it was worth it.

A small, watery smile touched Kurt's face. "Well, glee club was the only place I ever really felt like I belonged. Being..." Kurt hesitated, his face screwing up in worry. Worry over what, Blaine wasn't sure. Was he worried about how Blaine was going to react? The younger boy kept his face even and made a show of actively listening, hoping that Kurt would continue. Finally, he did.

He took another calming breath and tried again. "Being gay in Lima didn't make me many friends, but I always felt comfortable when I was in glee club. It was the only place I didn't get picked on. I had friends there." Kurt looked back toward the floor. His eyes had gone distant and sad.

"Well," Blaine tried. "For what it's worth, you have a friend here, too."

Kurt looked up. His eyes were brimming with tears, but they were much less sad than they had been. He smiled softly, squeezing Blaine's hand. "Thank you, Blaine. I don't think you'll ever know how much that means to me."

His voice was so earnest that Blaine believed him. He believed that he'd probably never grasp what it meant to Kurt to just have someone to listen and comfort him. He gave Kurt a small smile and pulled him into a quick hug. When he leaned back against the back of his chair, Kurt's eyes were distant again, this time, however, they still had the brightness that Blaine had grown to love.

"Wanna tell me what you're thinking about?" Blaine asked. "You don't have to, but you can if you want. I'd love to hear more about you."

Kurt met his eyes, smiling softly. "I was thinking about my dad, actually. He drove all the way to Columbus to watch us perform. I just remember, after we lost, he came up and told me how proud he was of me. And how proud my mother would be." Kurt sniffled once, there were tears in his eyes, but he didn't look sad. It just looked like he was remembering something that meant a lot to him.

Blaine thought about the way Kurt stumbled over his earlier admission and asked, "Did your father know you were gay?"

Kurt let out a short peal of laughter, his eyes suddenly sparkling. "Yes, he knew." Another laugh. "He knew before I even told him."

"Was he okay with it? With you?" Blaine asked, not sure if he was overstepping some sort of boundary. He figured that Kurt's father must have been a pretty accepting man from the way Kurt talked about their relationship.

"He said that he'd always love me no matter what. He always supported me in everything I wanted to do. He told me that he'd do whatever he could to make sure that I had all the opportunities in life that straight kids have," Kurt said, smiling fondly. "He was kind of my best friend, in a way."

"I can tell," Blaine remarked, returning Kurt's smile.

He wondered what it must have been like for Kurt to have a father who loved and supported him unconditionally. Blaine knew that, in his own way, his father loved him, but he knew that he didn't support Blaine's "lifestyle choice". Though he'd never said anything to Blaine about it outright. He'd overheard his father telling Cooper that it was best not to encourage him, because it was just a phase that he'd pass through.

Cooper had argued with their father, but ultimately, they both knew it was futile to try and change their father's mind about something. It was later that night that Cooper had come into Blaine's room and promised that he'd always stand by his side.

Blaine's train of thought came full-circle as he remembered how the story about Kurt's father ends. "I'm sorry you lost your father, Kurt," he offered, feeling as though the words could never be enough to convey how deep the sentiment went.

"I miss him every day," Kurt answered. "I think the worst part about losing him is that I didn't get to say goodbye. They said he collapsed at the shop and was taken to the hospital. That was all I heard. I didn't get to go to his funeral." Kurt sighed sadly, his voice a low murmur. "I don't even know where my father is buried."

"Then we'll find him." Blaine's voice was solemnly enthusiastic, sure. "Kurt, no matter what it takes, we'll find your father."

Kurt smiled and squeezed Blaine's hand tightly within his own. His voice was barely above a whisper when he finally answered. "Thank you, Blaine. Thank you for everything. All of this." He gestured to his clothes and the empty glass of milk in front of him that Blaine had missed when collecting dishes to wash. "I don't know how, but I will repay you for all of this somehow."

"Kurt, you don't have to repay me for anything," Blaine promised. "All you have to do is get better. That's all the payment I need."

Another smile lit up Kurt's face, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"Now, I've got to go take a shower to get ready for your doctor's appointment. Will you be okay by yourself for a few minutes? You don't have to do anything. Just watch TV or read. You can do whatever you want, okay?"

Kurt nodded in agreement, still looking mildly uncomfortable with being left alone. Blaine gave his hand a parting squeeze and dashed upstairs to the shower, completing the task in record time. He threw on whatever clothes he touched and darted back downstairs.

The first thing he noticed was that the dirty glass on the table was gone, now resting in the dish strainer. The counters had been wiped down and the egg pan had been cleaned, also now in the dish strainer.

He called Kurt's name, receiving an answer coming from the living room. Kurt was straightening cushions on the couch. He had just turned to run a rag across the coffee table when Blaine grabbed him by the waist and playfully pulled him down onto the couch.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked, poking a finger into Kurt's chest. A quiet peal of giggles bubbled out of Kurt. "Because it sure as hell doesn't look like watching TV or reading a book."

Kurt laughed again quietly before sighing. "I-I just want to help, Blaine. I feel useless just sitting around."

Blaine sighed and lifted Kurt from his lap, setting him down on the cushion beside him. "I'll make you a deal, alright? You get better. Like, really better, and we'll talk about it, okay? Until then, I want you to sit around and do nothing. Read, sew, watch TV, it doesn't matter, but just relax."

Kurt smiled and made a show of leaning back against the back of the couch, looking like the picture of leisure. Blaine laughed, because something about the gesture looked as though it was dripping with sarcasm. He ruffled Kurt's hair lightly, earning himself a disapproving scoff followed by a quiet laugh.

Blaine clicked the television on, putting on one of his recorded shows. He delighted in how quickly Kurt got involved in the program.

His face was screwed up in adorable confusion. "So...that girl, Elena, she's got both of those hot vampires falling all over her?"

Blaine laughed and tried to explain the premise to Kurt, who seemed to get more confused as the conversation drew on. He promised that, once they got back, he'd bring out his DVDs and they'd have a marathon so that he could catch up. Kurt seemed excited by the idea.

He caught himself staring at the way Kurt's eyes would sparkle whenever he was excited. It wasn't just his eyes. When Kurt would smile, really smile, his entire face would light up. His nose would crinkle as his mouth turned up into a crooked smile.

As the episode ended, Blaine checked the time on his phone. They were already running late, so Blaine stood up quickly, pulling Kurt to his feet. "Ready to go?"

Kurt nodded and Blaine made his way to the coat rack by the door to retrieve his jacket, holding it open for Kurt to slide into. He shrugged his own jacket on, looking away as Kurt slid his armband into place.

Blaine held open the passenger's door for Kurt, closing it immediately once he was inside to help block the biting wind from getting into the car. He made his way to the driver's side and got in quickly, turning on the car.

As they drove, Blaine had the radio on. He sang along quietly to the CD he'd put in. At Blaine's urging, Kurt had rifled through his CD collection and picked one to put in the player. Blaine sang along quietly. Slowly, he realized that there was something adding to the melody. He stopped singing for a moment and listened.

Kurt was absently humming along to the music, his fingers keeping time on his knees as he stared out the window. Blaine's smile stretched widely across his face as he listened to Kurt's humming turn into quiet singing. He did his best to make it seem as though he wasn't paying attention. He wasn't even sure Kurt realized what he was doing.

He just listened in silence to the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.

-xXxXx-

Kurt had been silent in the waiting room, keeping his eyes locked on the floor as though he was suddenly interested in the ugly pattern of the carpet. It was strangely empty for the middle of the day on a Monday.

"You alright?" Blaine asked quietly, keeping his voice whisper quiet to keep from attracting the attention of the lady behind the counter.

Kurt gave a small nod. "Y-Yeah. Just nervous," he answered, drying his palms on his jeans.

"You don't have to be afraid here, Kurt. Doctors are meant to be impartial. I've been here before. Your doctor is really nice. She'll treat you well," Blaine reassured, reaching down to give Kurt's hand a light squeeze before pulling away.

A door opened and a lady in dusky pink scrubs poked her head out. "Blaine Anderson?"

He put a hand on Kurt's back to help him to his feet as he led him to the door, following the nurse into an exam room. She gestured for Kurt to climb up onto the exam table and for Blaine to take a seat in the plastic chair in the corner of the sterile room. He moved the chair next to where Kurt sat and rested a hand on his knee in a comforting gesture.

She bustled around, fussing over taking Kurt's blood pressure and temperature, scribbling the findings down onto his chart. "You've got a bit of a temperature, son," she remarked, closing the folder and leaving the room with the reassurance that the doctor would be in shortly and that he should change into the gown that was folded on the table.

Kurt changed silently, climbing back onto the table with a grimace. Blaine noticed that the bruises on his legs had grown darker in the middle but were slowly beginning to yellow around the edges. They were healing. Before he'd put the gown on, Blaine saw the bruises on his torso were healing as well.

There was a soft knock on the door before it opened, a kind-faced female doctor came in, a friendly smile on her face.

"Hello..." She trailed off, checking the chart in her hand, looking for Kurt's name. Another smile touched her face as she quickly continued. "Kurt."

Kurt greeted her shyly, his eyes still cast to the floor, clearly uncomfortable with speaking conversationally with a stranger.

Blaine shot a pleading glance at the doctor, begging for her to work harder to put Kurt at ease.

She walked over and dropped down on the little rolling stool and rolling over to the desk. "Kurt, I just want you to know that I've been treating workers for many years. I'm not here to judge you or your owner. My job is to help you and get you healthy. Nothing else."

Blaine smiled and nodded at the doctor before turning to look at Kurt. "She just wants to help you. I would never have brought you anywhere that I thought they might hurt you."

The doctor smiled softly at Blaine, clearly pleased to finally see an owner who was actually worried about his worker.

"Now," she asked, clicking her pen and setting it down on the folder before standing up to examine Kurt. "Can you tell me what's wrong? Blaine says you've got a cough. I'd like to check that first. When did that start?"

Blaine listened carefully as Kurt nervously began to explain the source of his cough. She nodded along as she pressed the head of the stethoscope against strategic locations of Kurt's back, instructing him to take deep breaths. Kurt followed her instructions carefully, obviously still slightly distrustful of letting someone see him as vulnerable.

She scribbled down her findings on his chart before turning around and prompting, "So...those are some pretty nasty bruises. I'd like to check them out, if you'd let me."

Kurt bit his lip and nodded his agreement. He dropped the gown and stretched out on the table, resting his face in the cradle of his arms, embarrassed about being so exposed.

"Kurt, I could step out if you wanted. I don't have to stay," Blaine said quickly, hoping to put Kurt more at ease. He didn't want to leave, but he'd do whatever it took to make Kurt comfortable. He was secretly pleased by how quickly Kurt's head lifted and turned toward him.

"No!" Kurt almost shouted. He quickly schooled his expression into something more neutral and responded, his voice now almost shy with embarrassment. "I mean...I'd like it if you stayed."

Blaine kept his tone and expression even, intent on not making a big deal out of Kurt's request. "Then I'll stay with you." He reached up and took one of Kurt's hands, a small smile on his face. He could feel Kurt relax as he slid his thumb across the knuckles of his hand.

The doctor prodded a couple of the bruises, obviously checking for something. Finally, she sighed and asked, "May I ask how you got those bruises on your thighs, Kurt?"

Kurt's eyes turned sad and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Blaine was suddenly sure that he didn't want to hear what was coming next. Kurt didn't have to say it. Blaine knew. He squeezed Kurt's hand protectively, as though he could protect him from the memory.

"They're from my last owner," Kurt mumbled quietly, clearly embarrassed. "He was very rough."

Blaine's stomach rolled sickly at the words.

The doctor just nodded, her impression trained and impartial. "Blaine, I'm sorry, but could you step out for a moment while I talk to Kurt? I'd like to ask him a few questions."

Kurt's eyes flashed with anxiety, but Blaine gave him a peaceful smile and squeezed his hand. "It's okay, Kurt. I'll be right outside. She'll tell me as soon as I can come back in. I'm going to be right outside the door."

The other boy nodded hesitantly and Blaine stood up to walk out, closing the door behind him. He waited anxiously outside the room, pacing, as he wondered what was happening inside. He was pretty sure that she would insist on giving Kurt some sort of examination. Blaine was relieved by the thought. He knew that it would be embarrassing for Kurt, but ultimately, it was necessary. He just hoped that Kurt understood that.

Finally, the door opened. The doctor smiled gently and allowed Blaine back into the room. Kurt was sitting awkwardly on the table, now fully dressed.

"Well, it seems that Kurt as an upper respiratory infection, but it's nothing that a dose of antibiotics can't clear up. He's severely underweight, so I'd think about buying him some supplemental nutritional drinks to have along with his meals. Other than some scarring, I don't see anything permanent. I think he's going to be just fine." The doctor smiled and handed a small sheet of paper to Blaine, a prescription for Kurt's antibiotic, and left the room with a parting smile.

Kurt fell into step behind Blaine as he paid for the visit and the receptionist called in the prescription to the local pharmacy, holding the door on their way out. Blaine helped Kurt into the car and climbed in the driver's side. The other boy seemed almost relieved after the visit. He seemed relieved to know that there wasn't anything lasting. Physically at least.

"So, we'll go pick up your prescriptions and I'll drop you off at home. I'd like you to take your medicine and then lie down for a while. Just relax," Blaine said calmly.

Kurt nodded and let his hands rest against his lap. Blaine reached across the car and took Kurt's hand in a friendly, reassuring gesture. It seemed to relax Kurt. They rode in companionable silence as they went through the drive thru to pick up Kurt's medicine.

Blaine walked Kurt inside and helped him up the stairs, suggesting that he change out of his clothes and into a pair of Blaine's pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. Blaine turned down his own bed and gestured for Kurt to climb under the covers, handing him the remote as he settled onto his bed. "Pick whatever you want to watch, alright. I'm going to run downstairs and make you some toast so that you don't have to take your medicine on an empty stomach."

Blaine returned quickly with a small plate, sitting with Kurt as he ate, before offering him the pill and a glass of water. He took the glass when Kurt finished and set it on the nightstand.

"Just relax and I'll be back shortly, alright. I'm just going to get a few things. Is there anything special that you want?" Blaine asked, hoping that Kurt would actually ask for something.

He bit his lip anxiously. "C-Could you get me some ginger ale? My mom used to give it to me when I was sick and it always made me feel better." His voice was nervous as though he was awaiting some sort of rebuff. Blaine smiled widely and pulled Kurt in for a hug.

"I will be right back with food and ginger ale," Blaine said happily. He jotted his cell phone number down on the notepad by his alarm clock and set the cordless phone next to it with the instruction for Kurt to call him if he wanted or needed anything.

Kurt smiled and promised that he would. "Goodbye, Blaine. Thank you for all of this."

"You're welcome. And, you don't need to thank me, Kurt. I just want you to get better." He leaned down for another hug. "Goodbye, Kurt."

Kurt was just lying down on the bed as he turned to walk out the door. He shut the door tightly behind him even though he was sure that his parents wouldn't be home before he got back, if they came home that night at all.

He locked the front door behind him and walked down the small walkway toward his car. He glanced back toward the front door and breathed a sigh of relief. Kurt was inside. There was now definitive evidence that he was going to get better. The thought warmed Blaine to the core as he thought about the beautiful boy asleep in his bed, safe and peaceful.

-xXxXx-

Blaine finished shopping in record time. While he knew that Kurt was safe and sound, and probably asleep, at home, he was still anxious about leaving him there alone. He picked up food with Kurt's healing stomach in mind and rushed home, carrying all the bags inside on his first trip.

He set the bags in the kitchen and made a quick trip upstairs to check on Kurt. The sleeping boy was curled up, arm slid under the pillow. He looked warm and comfortable underneath the blankets. Blaine walked over to the bed slowly and brushed his fingers through Kurt's hair. He loved the way sleep relaxed his features into something calm and peaceful. For a moment, it was easy to forget all the torment that Kurt had endured.

Blaine rested his palm lightly against Kurt's cheek, smiling as he felt him nuzzle into it unconsciously. He checked the clock and figured that he could afford to let Kurt sleep for a little while longer. He gave Kurt's sleeping form a parting glance and left the room, walking slowly and quietly down the stairs.

Blaine turned on the small radio in the kitchen to fill the silence as he put away the groceries, stocking the cupboards with soups and other Kurt-friendly foods before turning to put away the bottles of Ensure in the refrigerator.

A pair of hands darted out to take the bottles from Blaine's hands. He nearly dropped them all as he let out a surprised yelp. His hand flashed to cover his heart as he spun around.

"Jesus Christ, Cooper. You scared the hell out of me!" Blaine threw out a playfully defensive smack in his brother's direction.

"Sorry, B," Cooper apologized in a mumble, his voice tense.

"What's the matter?" Blaine asked, worried. He hadn't heard his brother's voice sound like that in a long time.

Cooper frowned and leaned against the counter, his eyes hard and questioning. "Blaine, I talked to mom and she said that you'd gotten a worker. Is that true?"

Blaine sighed and nodded, but Cooper's eyes flashed with anger and he began speaking before Blaine had a chance to explain.

"What in the hell is the matter with you? I am so disappointed. I thought I raised you better than that, Blaine." His voice turned sad by the end.

"You don't understand, Coop. He'd been marked a reject. I had to help him. I couldn't just let him die." A flash of pain shot through Blaine at the mention of such a sensitive subject. "I didn't know what else to do. I've got to help him." Blaine could hear the desperation in his own voice.

Cooper seemed to relax a bit at the explanation. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Blaine's middle. Suddenly, Blaine felt as vulnerable as a child. The weight of everything came crashing down on him and he found himself sobbing out the entire story against his brother's shoulder.

He felt himself being led to the living room and pulled onto the couch, Cooper's arms securely around him as he explained everything. Finding Kurt curled up on the blankets, the bruises, the tears, every time Kurt would flinch away from contact. Cooper just held him tightly and whispered reassurances into his ear.

Blaine finally cried himself out and leaned away from his brother, sniffling and wiping his eyes with his hand. He could almost see Cooper's heart break at his expression.

"Blaine, I'm here now. It's going to be okay. We'll take care of him," Cooper promised, his voice earnest.

The younger boy sniffled again and reached out to hug the his brother. "T-Thank you, Coop. I've got to help him. I don't understand it, but there's just something about him that..." Blaine broke off. He wasn't sure what he the end of that sentence was.

Cooper gave him a small reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Blainey. It's going to be okay. Where is he?"
"Upstairs. Asleep," Blaine said, pointing toward the stairs absently.

Cooper nodded knowingly. "Did you clean out my old room?"
"Not yet. I've been really busy. He usually sleeps on the cot in my room, but he's in my bed right now. He took his antibiotic and fell asleep," Blaine offered.

"So you already took him to the doctor?" Cooper asked, more as a statement than a question.
Blaine nodded.

"Let's go clean out my room so that he has a place to sleep at least," Cooper suggested, standing up.

Blaine bit his lip, suddenly not so sure that giving Kurt his own room would be a good idea. "Coop, I'm not sure that he'd feel comfortable having his own room. He's sort of afraidof...being alone."

Cooper nodded again. "Well, why don't we get it cleaned out and let him choose. I'm sure, eventually, he'll feel comfortable enough to sleep on his own. I'll just crash there until then."

Blaine smiled and gave his brother a hug. He'd never been more relieved to feel as though he wasn't alone.

As they shifted the boxes into the hall, Blaine asked, "Do mom and dad know you're home?"
"Yeah, I told them," Cooper answered flatly. "They're not going to be home until this weekend though. Jenkins invited dad to his ski retreat in Lake Tahoe or something."
"Well, I'm glad they told you," Blaine remarked bitterly, lifting a box out of the way. "I'm glad they're not going to be here for awhile. I don't like how dad treats Kurt."

He explained all about his father's first interaction with Kurt and watched Cooper's face contort with disgust. "I hate that, Blaine. I don't understand how someone can think they're superior to another human being. It just—It baffles me."

The was a small shuffling coming from inside Blaine's room and both boy's eyes flickered toward the door, waiting for it to open. It didn't. Blaine set down the box he was holding and gestured for Cooper to follow him. He turned the handle on the door and pushed it open slowly, glancing inside and seeing Kurt sitting up in bed.

He motioned for Cooper to enter first. Blaine stood behind his brother and watched Kurt's eyes widen. He threw himself out of the bed and fell to the floor in a submissive gesture, covering his face as he cried, "I-I'm sorry. B-Blaine said it was okay."

Blaine realized the Kurt couldn't see him behind Cooper and quickly jumped out, lifting Kurt to his feet and guiding him back toward the bed. "No...No, Kurt, this is Cooper. My brother. He won't hurt you. I promise. I wanted you to meet him. He's going to be staying with us for awhile."

Cooper slowly stepped forward with his arm extended. "Hi, Kurt. I'm Blaine's brother, Cooper Anderson. Blaine told me about everything that's been going on. I'm here to help in any way possible."

Kurt's nervous eyes flickered to Blaine, who nodded his reassurances. Kurt slowly stuck out his hand and shook Cooper's. "T-Thank you. I'm Kurt Hummel."

Blaine decided to intervene, hoping to lead the conversation into a less tense direction. "I went shopping and I picked out a bunch of stuff that you can eat. I didn't forget your ginger ale. Why don't you come downstairs and I'll make dinner. The doctor said that you could start eating small portions of regular food, so I'm going to let you pick what you want."

A small smile touched Kurt's face, so Blaine stuck out his hand for the other boy to take. Kurt grabbed it quickly and allowed himself to be led downstairs.

Blaine suggested the Kurt rummage through the cupboards to see what he wanted to eat. The tall boy's eyes sparkled as he looked over all of the food. Of all the food he could have chosen, Kurt decided that he wanted grilled cheese sandwiches. Blaine laughed softly at the request. He had expected him to choose something more elaborate. It didn't seem like Kurt to want something so unoriginal.

Cooper offered to cook while Blaine sat at the table and kept Kurt company.

"Like I was telling you, Coop pretty much raised me," Blaine said easily. "Then he moved to New York and got a job in a high powered law firm. You should see his apartment, Kurt. It's amazing!"

The older Anderson turned around from the stove and smiled at his brother. "Blaine usually spends the summer with me. Maybe you could come with him this year," Cooper offered, smiling as he plated three grilled cheese sandwiches. Blaine stood up to pour small glasses of milk for everyone.

Kurt's eyes suddenly lit up like Blaine had never seen them before. "New York? Y-You'd let me go to New York?" Kurt's voice was awed and dripping with disbelief.

Cooper and Blaine spoke simultaneously. "Of course."

Kurt's eyes sparkled like sapphires and a heart stopping smile spread across his face. "I've always wanted to go to New York," he whispered, his voice alight with excitement.

Cooper set plates down in front of their respective seats, helping Blaine with the milk before sitting down to eat. Blaine joined shortly after, setting a glass down in front of Kurt.

"Well," Cooper said, gesturing absently with the half sandwich he held in his hand. "We'll have to get you to New York then, won't we? I'll have plenty of vacation time by then to show you around, but I'm sure Blaine could do just as well as I could."

Kurt's face screwed up in confusion. "Show me around? But, I wouldn't be allowed to go into tourist attractions, and I doubt they'd let me on the subway."

Cooper was already shaking his head. "No, Kurt. New York isn't like Ohio. Slavery is illegal in the state of New York as of January 1st of this year. I should know, I was the one who fought for the bill to pass."

Blaine was nodding. "Coop's a lawyer and all the worker's advocacy groups in the city were trying to get him to take their case. They finally won. Didn't you see it on the news?"

"I-I wasn't allowed around the television," Kurt looked down, his eyes thoughtful. Finally he asked, "Illegal?"

Cooper nodded, smiling as he took a bite of his sandwich, swallowing before answering, "Yep. All slaves above the age of eighteen were automatically considered free citizens and the children and teenagers were removed from the houses and put into care facilities. I mean, it's not ideal, yet, but eventually."

Tears were brimming in Kurt's eyes as he contemplated Cooper's words. He chewed each bite of food carefully, his eyes distant and thoughtful.

Finally, Cooper stood up, taking his plate to the sink. "I know it's early, but I'm gonna take a shower and go to bed, I think. That drive is terrible." He stretched his arms above his head, leaning side to side in order to work his stiff muscles. "I'll take my old room tonight. I think we got enough cleaned out that I can actually close the door now."

Blaine smiled softly at his brother. "Night, Coop."
"Night, Blainey. Goodnight, Kurt. It was nice to meet you."

Kurt looked up from his plate and gave Cooper a small smile. "It was good to meet you, too, Cooper. Goodnight."

As soon as Cooper disappeared from the room, Blaine took Kurt's hand, staring into his eyes with an earnest expression. "Kurt, I started thinking about something recently, and I won't do it unless you're completely okay with the idea. I'm not telling you that this is how it's going to be, I'm asking for your input, okay? Nothing happens unless you agree."

Kurt nodded, his expression abruptly anxious. "What is it, Blaine?"

"Kurt, as soon as I graduate next year, I want to move to New York, and I want to take you with me."