The whole staff room erupted in laughter.

"No, I swear! I had to drag him away from Emma's room three times during the night!" Rose exclaimed, "And he kept going on and on about how he was the blue knight and he had to protect her from the evil dragon that comes at night and-"

"Evil dragon? I thought nurse Catherine had retired last year?" Kurt remarked dryly, eliciting another roar of laughter.

"Who's nurse Catherine? Was she that bad?" Blaine asked, while dipping a cookie in his coffee.

"Well… let's just say she could reduce the kids to tears with some of her facial expressions." Kurt answered.

"Kids AND staff members!" Jenny added.

"Right," said Rose, "but anyway, one of guys needs to talk to our little knight Jeff today. Tell him no more nightly excursions!"

"I think it's cute," Kurt said, "and they say chivalry is dead. I bet all you ladies would just love to have a knight sitting next to your bed all night-"

"Oh yeah? I bet you would love to have a knight IN your bed all night!" Emily quipped, receiving a high five from Rose.

Kurt giggled and blushed, his eyes flitting over to Blaine, who was now watching him with an amused expression on his face. Kurt raised an eyebrow and Blaine winked.

Again. In front of everyone. Kurt frowned mockingly.

That man needed a stern lecture on winking behavior in public settings.

"Oh, Kurt, that's right, I almost forgot," Jenny said, interrupting Kurt and Blaine's silent flirtation, "we have a full house at the moment, would you mind staying tonight for the night shift? You can have tomorrow and Friday off to compensate."

"Yeah sure, no problem..." Kurt answered, draining the last of his coffee, and wiping some crumbs from the table.

Blaine gathered his notes from the briefing, and stood to leave, as Dr. Taylor entered the room.

"Oh hey Jonathan," he said, "I didn't know you were in the house."

"Yeah... I just came back from the ICU," Jonathan said, "I was with Chloe Turner... she passed away 20 minutes ago."

Kurt snapped his head around to look at the oncologist. "Oh, shit! Already? Poor girl... Damn!"

Jonathan nodded, "She never regained consciousness after that stomach bleed, she was too weakened. Her parents were with her when she died. They wanted me to express their thanks to you guys for taking such good care of Chloe, during the past few months."

Blaine sighed…"Poor girl... the last thing she experienced in her life was throwing up blood and suffering horrible pains..."

The whole room had turned silent by now. There was no more laughter.

That afternoon, Kurt went down to the mortuary. He didn't like the place, although the hospital had gone out of its way to make the environment as comforting as possible.

The children were laid to rest on a bed, in separate cooled rooms. There were flowers in the rooms, colorful pictures on the wall, even stuffed animals.

But none of it changed the fact that it all felt so wrong. Children weren't supposed to die. They were the epitome of life. Kurt would never get used to this part of the job.

How could he?

Kurt spotted the door he was looking for. Attached to it was a small card with Chloe's name and a drawing of teddy bear on it. He entered the room with reverence in his step.

The little blonde girl looked like an angel. She was so pale, so lifeless, yet so peaceful.

Kurt's gazed at the girl for a little while. Then, his hands reached for his breast pocket, and removed the pin he was wearing. It was a purple mouse with a pink bowtie. Carefully, he fastened the pin on the lapel of Chloe's white dress. He straightened an imaginary crease in the fabric of her dress, and caressed the girls cheek lightly with the back of his hand.

"Sleep tight, sweetie, you've been so brave…", he whispered, and left.

"Thanks for helping out, honey, I'm so glad you're here, it's been hectic last night!" Rose said, as she plopped down on a chair in the staff room.

Kurt poured two mugs of coffee, brought them over to the table, and sat down next to his coworker.

"Nah, no problem, you can't handle this on your own." Kurt checked his watch. "Look, it's 2 AM already and we haven't had a moment's rest up until now. When will the management realize we need two full time night nurses on this ward?"

Rose shrugged, "They're managers. That means they just think everybody should manage."

Kurt chuckled.

"But anyway, I'm glad we have some time together, to catch up. So… you never told me how your date with Anderson went?" Rose said.

Kurt sipped at his coffee and answered. "It started out good, but it didn't end well. I've invited him over for a rematch this Friday."

"Oh? What happened?" Rose frowned.

"Well, let's just say... he told me some personal stuff, about his past... and I kinda freaked out. And I shouldn't have. But I won't go into detail about this… I need to respect his privacy..."

"Oh no, I understand. I'm curious as hell of course," she laughed, "but I won't pry... But… you guys will be okay, right?"

"Hmmmm... I think so… I hope so." Kurt put his mug down and turned towards Rose.

"Can I ask your honest opinion on something?"

Rose nodded, "Sure?"

"Would you think it's crazy if I told you... I'm kinda... that I might have fallen for him? It must be crazy. I mean, you can't fall in love with someone in just a couple of days, now can you?" Kurt said breathlessly.

Rose seemed lost in thought for a minute.

"I don't know if that's crazy. Falling in love can happen quickly, I guess."

She continued her train of thought.

"There's another possibility though... like maybe you're only now allowing your feelings to surface and bloom into something more? I honestly think you've liked him a lot longer than you seem to think… I'm not blind, you know." Rose smirked. "Does this makes sense to you?"

Kurt looked at Rose, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hmmm... it could be. I don't know. I don't know what to think about it, really."

"That's your problem, Kurt, you think too much. Love isn't rational."

"Oh dear God, why does everyone keep saying that?" Kurt laughed.

"I think he's got it pretty hard for you too, pun not intended." Rose smirked.

Kurt slammed his hands on the table in mock indignation. "That's it! I'm outta here!" He stood up and drained the last of his coffee. "I'll go check if the kids are all asleep. See you in ten!"

Kurt went from room to room, checking in on the children while taking care not to disturb their sleep.

This was one of his favorite parts of the job. Seeing those little faces lost in a peaceful slumber, knowing it often was the only moment these kids weren't in pain or misery.

Most of the children were asleep at the moment.

Only 2-year-old Cassie had been awake and fussing in her cot, but Kurt quickly knew what the problem was. He'd changed her diaper, and tucked her back in, together with her stuffed bunny.

As he neared little Jeff's room at the end of the corridor, he heard loud wails coming from behind the door. Kurt rushed in quietly, only to find the 5-year-old boy, huddled on the floor in a corner next to the window, sobbing so hard it almost broke Kurt's heart.

"Hey, hey, little buddy." Kurt spoke softly, crouching down next to the boy, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I... I'm scaaaaared...", the little boy hiccupped, hiding his face in his hands, as tears poured out of his eyes and fell onto his lap.

"Come here," Kurt said, sitting down next to Jeff and pulling him into his arms. He rubbed the boy's back soothingly. "Why are you so scared? Did you have a bad dream?"

Jeff shook his head. "Dragon... dragon comes at night..."he cried. "He'll eat me. Daddy says I'm stupid to be afraid... but I'm so scaaaaared!" the boy wailed again.

Kurt frowned, he didn't like Jeff's dad one bit. He was a rude, ill mannered guy, and to know he would be saying things like that to his scared son... Kurt drew Jeff into a tighter hug.

"Is that why you really went to Emma's room last night? Because you were scared to be alone?" he prodded gently.

"Y- Yeah..." the little boy stuttered.

"Well, look, Jeff, here's what we'll do. You go lie into your bed, I'll tuck you in, and I'll stay here until you fall asleep. Okay? That dragon won't come anywhere near you, I promise."

"Kurt...Can you hold me some more?" Jeff asked timidly.

"Sure." Kurt nodded, and he settled himself onto Jeff's bed, in a half sitting position, holding Jeff into his arms, until the boy finally fell into a deep slumber.

Kurt groaned. He was sitting in the staff room, head on the table and arms sprawled out. That double shift had really worn him out. Plus, he'd been sitting in an awkward position on Jeff's bed for almost half an hour. His back was killing him.

It was almost time for the morning briefing. Jenny had already come in, and they were now waiting for the rest of the staff.

Kurt straightened his back, and decided to take a quick walk around the corridor, just to stay awake.

He was sauntering towards the end of the corridor, near Jeff's room, when suddenly the door of that room burst open. Kurt almost jumped in surprise. Jeff's father stomped outside, looking furious, his eyes flitting around and falling on Kurt.

Kurt's felt the blood drain from his face at the rage he saw in the brute man's eyes. The anger seemed to be directed at him.

"YOU!" the man roared, storming over to Kurt, grabbing him by the fabric of his tunic, and slamming him violently against the wall. "YOU FILTHY LITTLE FAG! Keep your fucking hands of my son, you hear! You like sneaking up to little boys during the night and feeling them up, do you? You PEDOPHILE!"

He slammed Kurt back again, this time so hard, Kurt's head flew backwards and hit the wall.

The blow was so hard he was seeing stars.

He heard footsteps, running in their direction. Just as the man was raising his fist to punch Kurt in the face, he squinted his eyelids and saw Blaine arriving just in time to pull the man away. He watched the doctor trying to calm Jeff's father down, but couldn't focus on what was being said.

Well. This whole situation was certainly some kind of d�j� vu…

He blinked with his eyes and saw Rose looking at him with worry in her eyes. "Are you okay honey?" she asked, holding his face in her hands.

Kurt nodded. "Yeah… I'm fine, don't worry. Just a bit shook up." He pulled her hands from his face.

Blaine stepped between Kurt and his attacker.

"Mr. Berton, I will not tolerate this kind of violence against any member of my staff," he said in a commanding tone that was very unlike Blaine. "You will follow me to my office so we can have a normal conversation about this."

He turned towards Kurt and said, in a slightly softer tone, "Kurt, you come too." and beckoned both men to follow him.

Blaine closed his office door and strode to stand behind his desk, facing the two men who were sitting in front of it.

"Now, Mr. Berton, would you be so kind as to explain why I found you attacking one of my nurses on a ward full of children?" Blaine asked, deceptively calm.

Mr. Berton, who had been silent since Blaine had pulled him off of Kurt, started spewing his accusations again.

He pointed at Kurt and hissed, "My son told me this fairy here crawled into bed with him last night! Fucking fag can't keep his hands to him! I don't want any homo going near my son again, especially not this child molester!"

"WHAT? HOW DARE YOU!" Kurt yelled furiously. "Your son was scared last night! I only comforted him and held him till he fell asleep! Something you can't be bothered to do it seems! What kind of father are you anyway, calling your son stupid for being scared and attacking the people who take care of him!"

"KURT! That's enough!" Blaine shouted, trying to get Kurt to shut up before things escalated; and he'd have to call security.

Kurt snapped his mouth shut and slumped back in his chair, lowering his eyes to the floor. He felt utterly humiliated.

Blaine put his hands on the desk and hunched toward the outraged man. "Mr. Berton; I'll have to ask you politely to leave this hospital, and to not come back here, unless you can behave in an acceptable way, AND apologize to nurse Hummel for the verbal and physical assault… I'll leave it to nurse Hummel to decide whether or not he wants to press charges against you, but I assure you that if he does; he has the full support of this hospital."

Kurt was still not looking up. Blaine's words only succeeded in making him feel marginally better.

Jeff's father huffed. "HA! I'm not apologizing to a disgusting fag!".

"Watch it… Mr. Berton", Blaine hissed, "you're talking about the man I love, and I do not take your insults lightly!"

Both Kurt and Mr. Berton were looking at Blaine with eyes wide as saucers.

Kurt couldn't breathe.

What the hell? What did Blaine just say?

Mr. Berton snapped out of his stupor. "Oh… I see... so that's how it goes over here... just a whole bunch of fags, huh? Well, I don't want my son to spend one more minute in this gay hospital. I'm taking him away from here."

Blaine sneered. "If you even consider pulling your son out of this hospital while he's undergoing treatment for a life-threatening disease; I promise you I'll be calling social services faster than you can say 'child neglect'."

Mr. Berton pounded his fist on the desk in outrage, jumped out of the chair and stormed out of the office, swearing like a madman.

Kurt was panting from emotion. Blaine quickly strode towards him, and went to sit on the edge of his desk, in front of Kurt.

"Are you okay?", he asked worriedly, "You hit your head pretty hard there… here, let me see..." Blaine touched and prodded at the back of Kurt's head with both his hands. "Does this hurt?"

"I'm sorry- what?" Kurt was too distracted by the awkward pose they were sitting in, to even hear Blaine's question. His face was almost pressed against Blaine's abdomen, as the doctor stood slightly hunched to examine Kurt's head.

"I said; does this hurt", Blaine repeated, still touching Kurt's head.

"No... no no, I'm fine!" Kurt pulled away. "Blaine...", he looked up, "why in the world did you say to that man that you love me?"

Blaine froze.

Realization seemed to set in.

"Damn, I did, didn't I...? I'm so sorry, I know it was a stupid thing to say… but my emotions got the better of me. I'm really sorry, Kurt, I shouldn't have said that..."

Ah.

So he hadn't meant it. Kurt's heart fell.

He nodded in understanding and stared at Blaine's knees.

"I should've told you first." Blaine whispered.

Kurt's eyes snapped up again.

"What... you mean you do... you do love me? How?"

Blaine smiled lovingly at Kurt and laid a hand on his face, slightly caressing Kurt's cheek with his thumb.

"How? I think the question should be 'how not?', because, how could I possibly not love you?"

Blaine leaned in and gave a tender kiss on Kurt's forehead.

Pulling back again, he said "I'd like you to go to the ER before you leave, just to be safe. Let them do a full check up of your head, okay? I have to go now, but I'll see you tomorrow night, right?"

Kurt nodded, still speechless.

Blaine let his hand fall from Kurt's face, slid from the desk, and left the office.

Kurt just sat there, blown away by everything.

He'd just been saved from an attacker and received a declaration of love. For the second time in his life.

He might as well face it.

He was Kurt Hummel, eternal damsel in distress.