Chapter Twenty: Sit Back and Watch the Bed Burn

Kurt hadn't even made it halfway to his room when he heard his father's voice calling him back up the stairs. When Kurt walked into the living room Burt was waiting for him and all it took was one look at the older man for Kurt to realize something major was going on. His father was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, eyes bright and happy, wearing a smile a mile wide with his arms around an equally ecstatic looking Carole.

Finn nervously looked back and forth between the couple. "Wh-what's going on? Is this one of those interventions?"

"If it is it's for the both of us," Kurt said slowly. "And I don't need one. I swear, since the unfortunate incident with Ms. Pillsbury's shoes I have been decidedly clean and sober."

A confused look crossed Carole's face and Burt shook his head quickly. "No, no, no," he said laughing. "Ok c'mon tell 'em," he said turning to Carole.

"No, no, no, you," Carole said merrily.

"Nuh uh-" Burt laughed.

"C'mon please-"

"We said in the car you-"

"You!"

"You!"

"C'mon please you!"

Burt laughed. "Alright, so you know how I visit Carole on her lunch break every Monday? Well, today instead of eating in the cafeteria or going to China Buffet I drove her to the school and we snuck into that classroom where Kurt introduced us –very romantic of me, I might add-and I uh-"

"He proposed!" Carole interrupted gleefully, "He proposed!"

"You stole the punch line," Burt laughed before placing a quick kiss on Carole's lips.

Finn stood stock still in shock as Kurt's eyes widened and his mouth fell open.

"Wait so this…just…happened," Finn asked in a daze.

"Oh Dad," Kurt sighed, grabbing Carole's hand to get a look at her ring.

"Yeah well, we wanted you two to be the first to know," Carole said smiling at the boys.

"Yeah, after the kids in that homeroom," Burt added with a grin.

Kurt clapped his hands with excitement.

"C'mon family hug," Burt said, holding out his arms and drawing Finn and Carole closer to him.

Kurt enthusiastically threw himself into the embrace, snuggling close to Carole. Burt, Carole and Kurt were so happy that they failed to notice Finn's somewhat apathetic response to the news.

"I'm just so excited and nervous," Carole confessed.

"Oh no no don't be," Kurt said, clasping Carole's hands in his. "This is just what I needed. I will take care of it from here. I have a trunk full of wedding magazines hidden under my bed. I'm thinking of a russet and cognac theme-those are colors Finn, fall wedding colors-"

"Don't get too extravagant Kurt," Burt warned. "We're gonna take whatever savings we have and we're spending it on the honeymoon." At Carole's surprised expression Burt dropped a small bombshell on his bride to be. "That's right," he said smugly, "we're going to Waikiki! We're going to that hotel where they put up the guest stars on Lost."

Carole's mouth opened in a soundless squeal of joy but the happy expression slid off of her face when she got a close look at her son. "Finn? You haven't said anything?"

"I ah uh…I guess I'm just kind of stunned," Finn said quietly.

"Don't worry," Burt said, patting Finn on the back. "I'm already looking for a bigger house. New family, new start."

"C'mon honey," Carole pleaded, "be happy for me."

Finn looked at his mother, her eyes shining with unshed tears and he didn't have it in him to rain on her parade. She had been through so much, loved and lost and been hurt so badly and come through it all with a quiet grace and gentle spirit that he admired more than he'd ever be able to say. Finn was a little confused and concerned about how sudden the marriage was and if he was ready for a new step father and what it would mean to be brothers with Kurt but he wasn't going to ruin her moment; he wasn't going to be the reason her tears were from anything other than joy.

"I am mom," he said softly.

"Alright," Burt said joyfully. "Now listen," he said pointing to Kurt. "As the wedding planner I want you to take care of one thing. I don't care about the food or the booze at this party but I want one heck of a band. I've been eating right and I've been exercising and I want to boogie with Carole."

Kurt and Carole laughed as Burt did a couple of impromptu dance moves. "It's already taken care of dad," Kurt said with a laugh. "I'm gonna hire the New Directions as your band. It won't cost you a cent. They're cheap, they're available. Long story short-you're having a Glee wedding."

As he took in the happy smiles on the faces of the three people around him Finn decided to lose himself in the warm feeling of being embraced by his new family and worry about everyone and everything else later.

Later came far too soon for Finn's liking. The next day at school he had a run in with Sam in the weight room and realized that the blonde hadn't given up on his quest to get back his position as quarterback. Even though Finn wanted to grow and change, he didn't want to lose what little influence he had among his peers and he knew that getting removed from his position as quarterback so soon after people finding out Kurt was going to be his brother wouldn't bode well for him.

Finn needed to do something that would put the spotlight on him and show that he could come through in a pinch and shine under pressure. He needed to be the focus of something, make sure people were talking about him because of his accomplishments, and instead of gossiping behind his back about how he was losing his touch. The wedding would be the perfect opportunity for him show what he was made of since all the Glee kids and quite a few members of the football, basketball and hockey teams would be in attendance.

Or it would have been if Kurt's plans for the wedding gave him the opportunity.

He saw his soon to be step brother at his locker between classes and cornered him. "So I've been going over this itinerary and I don't really get it," Finn began. He figured his best chance at getting Kurt to make him a bigger piece of the puzzle was to ease into it slowly. "Are you sure we should release doves indoors? Won't that get kind of…messy?"

Kurt gave Finn an exasperated look. "That's why we feed them glitter Finn," he explained.

"Oh," Finn said with a small chuckle, pretending to understand how feeding the doves glitter was going to make anything better. "Well, I've been thinking about it and I really wanna do something special for the wedding. I wanna take this opportunity to sort of remind everyone that I'm, you know, a leader," he said with a slightly guilty expression on his face.

Kurt caught was he thought might be guilt flicker across Finn's face for a nanosecond but dismissed it in favor of his excitement over the upcoming wedding ceremony and the fact that Finn had voluntarily sought him out during school hours and was speaking to him in full view of the entire student body. "I have an idea," he said breathlessly. "After you walk your mom down the aisle and give her away to my dad-"

"Incredibly creepy," Finn said as he walked around to stand on Kurt's other side.

"And deliver your speech to the newlyweds-which I will write although you are free to suggest overall themes," Kurt continued on without missing a beat. "You and Carole will have a lovely mother and son dance in front of everyone."

Finn panicked. "Uh that's a terrible idea. Everybody knows I'm the worst dancer."

"Finn trust me on this," Kurt begged. "I've been planning weddings since I was two. My power rangers got married and divorced in so many combinations they were like Fleetwood Mac."

Finn leaned against the lockers and thought for a moment. Everyone knew he couldn't dance and the idea had potential disaster written all over it. But then again, because everyone knew Finn couldn't dance if he pulled it off they'd all be pretty damn impressed. "I guess if I could pull it off it would make me seem like a cool stud," he said, warming up to the idea.

"Totally," Kurt stage whispered.

"Thanks," Finn smiled beatifically at Kurt and grasped his shoulder in a show of affection. "It's a plan," he said giving the shorter boy an affectionate squeeze and one more grateful grin before walking away leaving Kurt with a delighted smile dancing across his lips.

Karofsky knew that it was irrational for him to be so angry about Kurt and Finn becoming step brothers. He knew that Kurt wasn't his and that his anger and jealousy was getting out of hand and getting harder and harder to cover up and explain away. Azimio had all but told him that they'd have to back off of Hudson after the wedding because "fairy or not, Hummel's gonna be his family and you're stuck with family even when they suck. We don't punish Lewis because his dad is a racist dick, we can't punish Hudson because his step bro likes to take it up the ass," Azimio had explained as they'd walked out of first period.

Karofsky knew that he couldn't really keep Finn and Kurt apart. He didn't care how close they were outside of school where he didn't have to see it but he didn't want to have to bear witness to Kurt laughing and smiling with the other boy. It had tortured him last year, watching Kurt trail behind Finn like a lost little puppy and Finn pretend not to notice him unless he needed or wanted something from Kurt. Karofsky had wanted to pummel Finn for being the one Kurt had feelings for and he'd wanted to pummel Kurt for not realizing that he was crushing on a boy that could never want him back and ignoring one who did. He wanted to punish both of them and then he wanted to punish himself for having such twisted thoughts in the first place.

Coming around the corner and seeing the two of them standing close together, Finn with his hand on Kurt's shoulder and the two of them smiling at one another made something inside Dave snap. He watched as Finn walked away and Kurt turned to rummage around inside his locker. Dave silently crept up behind Kurt and when the other boy turned around he made sure he was standing right in his personal space.

He felt a wave of sadness wash over him when Kurt looked at him with a mixture of disdain and terror and immediately took a step backward. The sadness was quickly replaced by anger that Kurt would let Finn get so close while going out of his way to avoid him and keep him at arm's length. Karofsky matched Kurt step for step, until they were nearly chest to chest.

"I don't want you near me," Kurt declared his voice wavering slightly as he continued to try to back away.

The words were like thousands of tiny knives stabbing Karofsky right in the heart. He'd always known that Kurt hated him; he hadn't given the other boy any reason not to, but to be so close to the object of his affection and see nothing but fear and revulsion in the beautiful multi-hued eyes he dreamed about at night and be told, point blank, that he was unwanted and unwelcome filled him with a pain and sorrow the bigger boy hadn't known existed.

It also filled him with an overwhelming desire to make Kurt suffer, to make the other boy hurt the way he was hurting.

Karofsky roughly jabbed a finger into Kurt's chest and continued to advance on him. He leaned forward until their faces were inches apart and allowed a ghost of a smile to curl his lips before he dragged his finger down Kurt's chest and snatched the wedding cake topper out of his hands. "Can I have this," he asked holding the topper in the air, finally putting some distance between the two of them. Karofsky felt a small thrill of victory as he took in Kurt's trembling lips and heard the small, hitching breaths the other boy took. He took a deep breath, memorizing the smell of Kurt's cologne and pretending that Kurt's breath was coming in shallow, rapid breaths out of desire rather than fear before he smiled at Kurt once again. "Thanks," Karofsky said mocking Finn's goodbye before he left Kurt leaning shakily against the lockers.

As Karofsky made his way to his next class he slid the cake topper into the pocket of his letterman jacket and hated himself just a little bit more than he had when he'd woken up that morning.

Kurt felt as if he were on the verge of losing control like he had that night at the movie theater. Karofsky had come out of nowhere and Kurt had been caught off guard and thrown off kilter by the other boy's sudden appearance. Kurt could still feel Karofsky's breath lighting over his face and he swore he could feel the phantom touch of the other boy on his skin, despite his layers.

As he sagged against the lockers behind him Kurt clutched his books to his chest. His legs shook and threatened to give out beneath him. He dragged breath after breath of stale air into his chest but he still felt dizzy and nauseated. Cold sweat trickled down his back and his face slowly went from being flushed to deathly pale. The noise of the hustle and bustle of the students around him receded to a dull buzzing and he felt as if he were going to throw up, pass out and fall to pieces all at the same time.

"-urt," Kurt looked up to see Mr. Schuester standing in front of him. "Are you okay?"

Kurt opened his mouth to say yes. He intended to tell Mr. Schuester that he was fine and to thank him for asking but the words got stuck in his throat and all he could see was Karofsky looming over him and all he could feel was the terror of never knowing where or when the next assault would take place.

"…" Kurt tried to say no, that he wasn't okay, hadn't been okay for a long time and would never be okay as long the students and faculty continued to look the other way when he was under attack but nothing came out. All he could manage to do was shake his head. Mr. Schue put a comforting hand on his shoulder, allowing the gentle to touch to ground him and nodded. "Let's…let's go the principal," he said softly. "Come on," he said, gently steering Kurt down the hall towards Sue's office, keeping his hand on Kurt's shoulder and making sure to stay between Kurt and the prying eyes of the rest of the student body.

"Did he physically hurt you?" Principal Figgins asked.

Kurt wanted to scream yes. He wanted to strip off his jacket and shirt and show them every bump and bruise that marred his skin but he knew that Figgins was only asking about what had happened earlier in the hall and as much as he wanted to, Kurt couldn't bring himself to lie.

"No," he said reluctantly.

"You said he shoved you into the lockers before," Mr. Schue interrupted.

"William, I cannot expel a student for shoving," Principal Figgins sighed. "He will deny he shoved him on purpose and it will be Kurt's word against his and with no proof nothing can be done."

"He didn't shove me this time. He just terrified me," Kurt admitted.

"Mr. Hummel, I can't suspend a student because they are scary. If I could Tina Cohen-Chang and her vampire ways would be most unwelcome. Unfortunately that is the way of high school; some students are scary and others are mean," he shrugged.

"That's it?" Will burst in. "That's your advice? That's all you have to say?"

"William, I am not native to this country or Ohio. I cannot tell you how many students think it's funny to say "thank you, come again," as I walk by or how many times I was called Apu as a joke when I first immigrated," Principal Figgins sighed. "I know very well how cruel people can be. Is it difficult? Yes. Did it make me stronger? You bet it did."

"It's the fear that's the worst," Kurt said softly. "I never know when it's coming, I can't concentrate, and I don't feel like I'm part of this school at all. I feel like I'm in a horror movie where this creature follows me around terrifying me and there's nothing that I can do about it," Kurt said his voice rising sharply. "I mean, y-you, don't know what's going on in this kid's head. You don't know what he's capable of," he finished desperately.

Will rose from his seat and fixed Kurt with an intense look. He knew that Kurt was holding something back and from the sounds of things it had to be something big. Will knew that he could be oblivious but there was no missing the shake in Kurt's voice, the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes or the pure helplessness written across his face. He couldn't help but feel as if he'd failed Kurt and wonder just how many more of his students were going through the same thing, suffering in silence convinced they had no one who would intervene or advocate for them. Looking at Kurt and seeing the usually vibrant, confident boy folded in on himself and breaking down bit by bit before his eyes made Will flush with shame and vow to start doing what he could to be a part of the solution instead of a passive part of the problem. He decided he'd start by trying to help Kurt.

"What does that mean?" He asked Kurt silently willing the boy to talk to him, to open up, to not let it be too late. For the space of one heartbeat it looked as Kurt would confide in them-in him-but then he shook his head and Will's heart fell to his knees. "N-nothing. M-maybe I'm overreacting."

Will was convinced Kurt was lying. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Karofsky had said or done something that went beyond the normal bullying. He felt guilty once more and wondered if he'd made himself a little more available, paid a little more attention and been a little more diligent in making his classroom and his choir room safe places for his students if Kurt would have trusted him enough to have confided in him. There was a part of him that wondered if Kurt were keeping silent out of fear that Karofsky would hurt him or fear that even if he spoke up, no one would help him. Will hated that he suspected the answer was a little bit of both.

"Mr. Hummel," Principal Figgins said leaning across his desk. "If Mr. Karofsky harms you in any way come to me and I will personally make sure that the situation is handled. But until that happens, and I am legitimately sorry to say this, there is legally nothing I or the school board can do."

Will shook his head and stood up. "Come Kurt, we're gonna be late for rehearsal."

Kurt blinked back his tears and gathered up his belongings. He hadn't anticipated anything to come from meeting with Figgins but the man's unexpected understanding and Mr. Schue's sudden willingness to help gave Kurt a little bit of hope that things might be turning around in his favor.

"Ladies, the Kurt/Karofsky bullying situation is getting way out of control," Rachel announced to the assembled female members of New Directions. "Kurt's miserable. He's losing weight and not in a good way and he's barely fighting for solo's anymore."

"We've all been teased," Tina said, "but something about what Karofsky's doing is so much worse."

"We're all lucky enough to have boyfriends on the football team," Rachel continued on, "I say we band together and demand that they confront Karofsky."

"Okay," Mercedes said shaking her head. "I think you've personally just set the feminist movement back fifty years."

"Look I'm not saying they should hit him," Rachel said. "I'm just saying they should confront him and there's strength in numbers. Kurt helped me when he didn't have to," she admitted. "None of you would have given me a chance if he hadn't asked you to. I owe him and I know you all care about him. I do too and if something bad happens to Kurt and we didn't do anything to stop it we would never be able to live with ourselves."

The girls looked around at each other and nodded. "Ok, well, we're all in agreement and this meeting is adjourned. Ladies, go forth and find your respective muscle."

"What do you mean you won't help?" Rachel asked hurrying after Finn.

"Rach, Karofsky plays right guard. I piss him off and I get more sacked more times than Jay Cutler which means we lose. If we lose, Beiste is gonna put Sam back in as QB."

"Are you telling me a stupid football game is more important to you than helping out somebody that's about to be your family?" Rachel demanded.

"Look, Kurt and I have already talked about what I can do for him and he told me to do what could live with. I really think that I can help him more from the inside. Kurt's gonna understand and he's gonna be fine. I want to help him; I will help him, just not like this."

"I have never been so disappointed in you before," Rachel said sadly before she walked away.

Finn stared after her sadly before shaking his head and heading in the opposite direction.

"Dude was a wild animal," Mike declared.

"Manimal," Artie chimed in.

"I am so turned on by you right now," Brittany said, running her fingers through Artie's hair.

"How does it look," Sam asked Mercedes as she held an icepack to his eye.

"It's kind of hot actually," she answered with a small laugh.

"Where were you, Finn?" Santana sneered.

"I was still out on the field," Finn replied lamely. "But yeah, I totally would have given him a beat down if I'd been there though."

"This shouldn't have gone down without you Finn," Mercedes said, glaring at the teen. "You should have been leading the charge."

"Lay off Finn, guys. It's not his problem. It's none of your problem," Kurt interrupted. "I appreciate it, so much, and thank you for what you did, especially Sam, but I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"You're my friend. I got your back," Sam replied.

"Seriously, you were the epitome of a leader," Mike said to Sam.

"What is going on," Will asked walking into the choir room and stopping short at the sight of Sam's black eye. "What happened to Sam?"

"He stood up to Karofsky," Mercedes said.

"All the guys did," Tina said giving Mike's a hand a squeeze. "Well, not Finn."

"Is everyone okay?" Will asked. "Do we need to go see Principal Figgins?"

"Nah," Sam replied. "I gave as good as I got. I say we call it even. Hopefully Karofsky gets the message."

Will caught sight of Kurt slumped over in the corner and walked over to him. "You okay?" Will's heart broke a little when Kurt gave him a nod that they both knew was fake.

"Ok. Let's take our places. We have a duets competition to get underway and a wedding to rehearse for. So let's go. Artie, Santana care to start us off?"

"Fo schizzle," Artie said rolling to front of the room followed Santana.

"So we're gonna be singing The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani and Akon," Santana said. "And you all should prepare to lose, because me and Professor X are about to rock this thing."

After Artie and Santana's performance Quinn and Mercedes performed Glamorous by Fergie, followed by Mike and Brittany's take on Groove is in the Heart. Tina and Finn did a lovely rendition of Don't Go Breaking My Heart and then Rachel made everyone laugh and roll their eyes when she performed Fabulous from the High School Musical soundtrack, changing a few of the lyrics and turning her performance into a spoof of her own diva tendencies.

Then all too soon it was Kurt and Sam's turn.

"We ah, we thought about this a lot before we finally settled on a song-"

"Kurt vetoed the theme song from Boy Meets World," Sam interrupted with a grin as he got a guitar out of the corner and set up on a stool in the middle of the room.

"Pity that may be," Kurt said drily. "I think this song does a pretty good job of highlighting both our talents and voices and um…showing that we understood the assignment. And in light of today's events," Kurt said, glancing at Sam and biting his lip, "It means even more to me to be performing this song with Sam who's honestly more like a brother to me than a friend."

"Right back at you, man," Sam said.

"Are you two gonna perform or bore us to death with your homoerotic subtext?" Santana interrupted.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Anyway, we're going to be performing Count on Me by Bruno Mars." Kurt took a deep breath and signaled to Sam to start playing and he began to sing.

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea,
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see,
I'll be the light to guide you

Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Wooooh, Wooooh
yeah yeah

Sam took the lyrics for the next verse, smiling briefly at Kurt before he began.

If you toss and you turn and you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song
beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Everyday I will
remind you

Ohh
Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
You'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Wooooh, Wooooh
Yeah Yeah

Kurt placed his hand on Sam's shoulder and both boys sang the next part of the song together, Kurt's high melodic voice blending flawlessly with Sam's deeper, rich tone.

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go
Never say goodbye

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
You'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Wooooh, Wooooh
you can count on me cause' I can count on you

As the last note died out applause filled the room. "Guys that was great," Will said enthusiastically. "Great message, great performance. You should be really proud."

"Thanks Mr. Schue," Kurt smiled. "It was a lot of fun finally getting to sing to Sam."

"Anytime," Sam said as he walked over to put the guitar back in the corner.

"So not to interrupt the love fest," Santana said rolling her eyes. "But who won the competition?"

"Girl, were you in the room with the rest of us?" Mercedes asked. "Kurt and Sam just ran away with this mother."

"No doubt," Artie said nodding. "You can't fight a good bromance."

"You guys sounded amazing," Tina said.

"Yeah it...it was nice," Finn mumbled.

"It was a truly inspiring performance about the power of friendship and the-," Rachel began.

"No one asked you Yenta," Santana snapped. "I guess the Blonde and the Beautiful up there did okay."

"I guess its official then," Mr. Schue asked? "Kurt and Sam are our winners. You gentlemen just won yourselves a free dinner at Breadstix."

"I can hardly contain my joy," Kurt said wryly.

Mr. Schue handed over the vouchers and then gave a sheepish grin. "You guys have to use them this week though. I've held onto them for a little too long and they'll be expiring soon."

"Of course they are," Kurt murmured.

"You hold to them. I'll totally lose mine," Sam said handing his voucher over to Kurt. "Would you mind if we go tonight?" Sam asked. "I have work the rest of the week, a family reunion on Sunday and a date with Mercy on Saturday."

"Tonight's good for me," Kurt said. "I have wedding stuff the rest of the week and a pretty important date with Blaine Saturday myself. I just have to let my dad know I'll be going out tonight."

"Aww, Kurt and Sam's first date," Santana cooed.

"Oh snap, somebody better tell Puck that Sam's stealing his cuddle buddy!" Artie laughed.

"Look Mercedes, your boyfriend got a boyfriend-and he's prettier than you," Santana cackled.

"You're just jealous cause I got myself two fine pieces of man candy-one for each arm-and you," Mercedes said, glaring at Santana, "can't even get one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think it means?"

"I think it means my fist is about to meet your face."

"Oh, it ain't nothing between us but space and opportunity, baby."

"That's enough," Mr. Schue said sharply, surprising everyone. "Santana, that was inappropriate and I don't want any more remarks like that made in here. Mercedes, same. No bullying inside this room, are we understood?"

Both girls grumbled their assent and New Directions fell back into familiar chaos, Kurt gave a cheery look around the room and decided that, all drama aside, there was nowhere else he'd rather be.

Kurt was just putting the finishing touches on his hair when his cell rang. The theme song to Boy Meets World started to play and Sam's name flashed across the display.

"Hey," he said grabbing it up before it could ring again. "I'm just about ready, I swear," Kurt laughed.

"Aw dude," Sam said regretfully. "I can't make it. My mom got called into work and my dad's sick so I'm on babysitting duty."

Kurt was disappointed. He'd been looking forward to getting to spend some one on one time with Sam to thank him for standing up for him and quiz him about what, if anything, he had planned for Mercedes' upcoming birthday.

"I understand," Kurt sighed. "Maybe next weekend we can hang?"

"Absolutely," Sam agreed. "Just you and me. Cory and Shawn. Epic bro time."

"I'm not sure that I'm a bro kind of guy," Kurt said hesitantly.

"You're totally a bro," Sam assured him. "And I'm really sorry."

"It's okay Sam," Kurt comforted him. "You take care of Stevie and Stacy and I'll…figure something out."

"Don't let those vouchers go to waste man," Sam ordered. "Call Mercy or Tina, check with Artie, ask Finn, hell call Blaine if you have to but dude, the bro code says free food must be claimed."

"I'm enjoying this bro business less and less the more rules you throw at me," Kurt teased. "But yeah, I'll find someone to go with. Don't worry about it. See you in school tomorrow, Sam."

"See ya."

Kurt hung up only feeling a little dejected. He briefly thought about calling Blaine but decided it was impractical to ask his…Blaine to make such a long drive to only get to hang out for a couple of hours before Kurt's curfew kicked in and Blaine had to drive all the way back to Westerville. He wished, and not for the first time, that they lived closer to one another.

Tina and Mercedes were both out of the running, as he knew they were both had plans for the evening.

He supposed he could ask Finn. They did have things they needed to go over for the wedding and he'd never seen the other boy turn down food.

Kurt found the lanky teen in the kitchen, staring at the contents of the freezer.

"Do I even want to know what you're doing?" Kurt asked warily.

"Mom's late and I'm tired of cereal and sandwiches," Finn whined. "I'm looking for like, a hot pocket or something."

This was going to an easier sell than Kurt had originally anticipated. "I might be able to offer you something slightly-and I do mean slightly-better than a hot pocket," Kurt said smugly. "Sam had to cancel and I have a free dinner at Breadstix with your name on it if you want it, soon to be brother of mine."

"Alright!" Finn yelled slamming the freezer shut. "I'm going to Breadstix. I'm gonna eat free," he sang as he grabbed his jacket off of a kitchen chair.

"You're not gonna change?"

"What for?" Finn asked. "I'm still clean, dude."

'I cannot believe I had a crush on you," Kurt said to himself and then smiled. "Alright then, to Breadstix we go."

"Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's to the 'Stix we go," Finn sang on his way out the door.

"I will put you out on the side of the road," Kurt threatened locking the door behind them.

"We wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait to go to the Stix the whole day though," Finn went on unperturbed by Kurt's threat.

"I won't even pull over first. I'm going to shove you out into the street-" Kurt mumbled unlocking his car and getting into the driver's seat.

"To eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat at the Stix is what we like to do," Finn sang climbing into the passenger's seat of Kurt's Navigator and buckling up.

"Finn, I swear to God-"

"It ain't no trick, you get full real quick-"

"You are bastardizing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, do you realize that?" Kurt grumbled as he drove.

"But don't eat eat eat-"

"This song is ruined for me now," Kurt moaned.

"Too much cause ya might get sick," Finn finished happily.

"Are you done?"

"Maybe," Finn said mischievously, drawing out the word. "Maybe not."

"Finn,"

"Be our guest, be our guest, cause our breadsticks are the best-"

"You are five years old," Kurt said laughing.

"Nuh uh," Finn replied. "Five and a half," he said sticking his tongue out at Kurt.

"Whatever, we're here. You're not gonna need a booster seat or anything are you?" Kurt asked teasingly.

"No, but I might need a bib because I'm gonna eat like, my weight in breadsticks," Finn joked back.

"Finn, the breadsticks here are disgusting," Kurt announced as they parked and made their way into the restaurant.

"They're a required taste," Finn countered holding the door open for Kurt.

"The word is acquired, Finn and no they're really not," Kurt said turning to the hostess and presenting her with their vouchers.

"This way, gentleman," the pretty redhead said politely leading them to a booth.

An hour later Finn had tried and failed to eat his weight in breadsticks and they were both nursing generous slices of cheesecake and going over wedding preparations. Finn had convinced Kurt to nix the doves and Kurt had convinced Finn that Pour Some Sugar On Me would not be an appropriate song for his mother/son dance with Carole.

They were playfully arguing over whether to have New Directions perform Marry You or Chapel of Love as they danced down the aisle, Finn dramatically singing the lyrics to the latter when Kurt felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder.

"Look at what we have here Dave," Tony Lewis, one of the linebackers on the team. "Hudson's on a date with his boyfriend."

"Kurt's not my boyfriend," Finn denied instantly.

"Oh you two haven't made it official then?" Lewis sneered.

"Why don't you two go slither back under the rock from whence you came?" Kurt asked his voice dripping with disdain.

"Why don't you shut up before you meet The Fury?" Karofsky shot back.

"Leave him alone, Karofsky!" Finn growled, jumping to his feet. "The other guys told you and now I'm telling you: Back off Kurt."

"Oh look Dave, he's standing up for the little woman," Lewis laughed. "What's with all you glee freaks taking up for Tinker Bell, huh? Oh I get it," he said suddenly snapping his fingers and leering at Kurt. "It's because he has such a pretty mouth, isn't it?"

Lewis didn't know it but his words unintentionally pushed Karofsky right over the edge. The jock had already been livid when he'd seen Kurt and Finn having dinner together, laughing and joking, singing back and forth to each other. Kurt had looked so happy, smiling at Finn and leaning across the table every so often to casually touch the other boy's arm. It had hurt, because Karofsky knew that Kurt would never look at him with affection, never playfully smack him on the forearm or let him steal a forkful of his dessert like he had with Finn. It had also made him angry because Lewis was right. It did kind of look like a date and that was something that Karofsky just couldn't handle.

"Look Gore," Kurt said glaring at Lewis, "why don't you and Kutchek go find the rest of your barbarian tribe and leave those of us who have mastered the art of personal hygiene in peace?"

"I don't know what a Kutchek is," Karofsky said as he stopped glowering at Finn and looked at Kurt, "But I'd rather be one of those than a fag like you and your date."

"We're not on a date!" Finn yelled shoving Karofsky so that he fell back into the table behind him.

"Sure you're not," Karofsky retorted as he righted himself and pushed Finn back. "And you weren't just singing songs to him, grinning all dopey at him, flirting with him and eating off his plate. It's a date and you're both sick little freaks."

Kurt quickly gathered up their things, put a tip for their waitress on the table and grabbed his keys. He pushed past Lewis so he could get out of the booth and went to stand beside Finn. "Leave Finn alone," he said angrily. "He didn't do anything wrong. Finn, come on. You don't have to defend or explain yourself to these two, okay? We're leaving."

"Oh ho," Lewis cackled. "Looks like Hummel's calling the shots. Maybe I got it wrong. Maybe it's Hudson that's the girl."

"We're both guys, you jackass," Finn fired back without thinking.

"Finn," Kurt said, pulling on the quarterback's sleeve, urgently trying to get him to leave with him before he said something else the pair of bullies could use against him. "Let's just go."

"Better do what your man says Hudson," Lewis mocked.

"Fuck you," Finn snarled.

"Oh, so you two take turns then," Karofsky jeered. "Which do you like better Hudson? Pitching or catch-"

Karofsky didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Finn's fist connected with Karofsky's face, knocking him to the ground and making everyone in the restaurant stop and stare in shock.

"Shut up," Finn screamed. "That's disgusting. You're disgusting!"

"Finn we're leaving now," Kurt said, ignoring the tiny flare of hurt Finn's words caused him and grabbing onto the quarterback's arm and trying to drag him out of Breadsticks before management made it over to where the four teens were fighting.

"Ooh your boyfriend's mad now," Lewis jeered. "He gonna take you home and punish you?"

"Yeah Hudson, go on home and get your homo on," Karofsky taunted, "no one here wants to see you two cocksuckers gaying up the place."

"I'm not gay!" Finn cried his face red with fury.

"Finn, stop. Just come on," Kurt said, grabbing Finn's hand and once again trying to lead him out of Breadstix.

"Aww look, they're holding hands now," Lewis crowed.

Finn looked down at their clasped limbs and snatched his hand away as if he'd been burned. "Get off of me," he barked at Kurt, taking a step away from the countertenor and glaring at him accusingly, as if the entire situation were somehow Kurt's fault.

Kurt felt hurt and betrayal flood through him at Finn's reaction. "Fine, Finn. Feel free to stay here with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumbass, but I'm leaving."

"Ruh Roh Shaggy, looks like a lover's quarrel," Lewis cracked.

"We're not lovers," Finn bellowed indignantly, drawing even more attention to their group.

"Shut up and come on, Finn!" Kurt snapped embarrassed by the scene that was taking place.

"Don't tell me to shut up," Finn roared turning on Kurt. "I didn't do anything!"

"Neither did I, Finn," Kurt said coldly. "You have every right to be angry right now but not to take it out on me."

"Yeah Hudson, you better apologize or you won't be going to the chapel anytime soon," Karofsky sniped.

"I said shut up-"

"Yeah, the chapel of looooove," Lewis added

"It's just a song!"

"Finn, you don't owe them an explanation and this isn't helping. Come on-"

"Oh no, Finn. This is helping. I finally understand just how big of a loser you really are. Any other songs you like to sing to your little Kurtie pie?"

"Finn's not a loser! Unlike you he has more than a future of asking people 'do you want fries with that' to look forward to," Kurt sneered at Lewis.

"Defend yo man, girl!" Lewis replied smugly.

"I'm not a girl but you say that as if being a woman is something to be ashamed of. No wonder the last time you had a date people still believed the world was flat."

As a couple of girls at the table behind them started to laugh Lewis lost his composure. "I do too have a woman! Keep talking queer and I'll knock your teeth down your throat!" He growled.

"Gay bashing is so very manly."

"Is there a problem here?"

"Yes! These two assholes-"

"The pillow biter and his boyfriend-"

"My brother and I were just leaving-"

"Don't you mean your lover?"

"You gentlemen are all going to have to leave-"

"I told you I wasn't gay!"

"Come on out of the closet, Hudson."

"Kiss my ass, Karofsky!"

"I'll pass but I bet a flamer like you would like that."

"I'm going to call the police if you all don't clear out of here and-"

"I'm not gay! I'm not a queer or a cocksucker or a homo. I'm straight! Kurt's the one who's a fag, not me!" Finn yelled his chest heaving, his face red and his eyes blazing with anger, shame, fear and disgust.

Kurt felt as if he'd been thrown off the summit of a mountain and hit the rocks below when he realized what Finn had said and why he had said it.

Finn, Kurt recognized, was angry, but not because Lewis and Karofsky were being hateful and homophobic, but because they were being hateful and homophobic towards Finn. It wasn't the principle that had him upset, it was the practice.

Finn was ashamed but not because he was causing a scene or because up until a few minutes ago he would have counted Lewis among his friends. No, Kurt noted bitterly, Finn was ashamed that he'd been caught out in public, on what looked like it could be a date, with the resident fag.

Finn was afraid, but not that they'd end up being banned from Breadstix or that the altercation would turn into an all out brawl. No, Finn was afraid that word would get around and rumors would spread about him and about the two of them.

Finn was disgusted, but not at the two jocks' behavior. He was disgusted that anyone would think he was gay. He was disgusted that Kurt was gay. He was disgusted that anyone would associate him with Kurt and homosexuality.

The boy that he shared a home with was ashamed of him. The boy his father thought of as a second son was afraid of people thinking he was anything like Kurt. The boy that he'd had a crush on, thought of a friend and wanted as a brother was disgusted by him.

Kurt felt as if he couldn't breathe. Finn; sweet, well meaning, harmless Finn had called him a fag. He had screamed it in a crowded restaurant without hesitation or reservation and he had meant it. It wasn't a joke or an accident and he didn't say it like it had been the first time.

Kurt wanted to rage. He wanted to scream and shout. He wanted take his fists and pound them into all three of the football players faces until they were as bruised and broken as he felt in that moment. He wanted to pass out and throw up and break down. He wanted to use his words to eviscerate them, to be cutting and caustic and make them feel as degraded and devalued as their offensive obscenities had made him feel.

In the end he elected not to do any of those things. He simply turned on his heel and walked out of Breadsticks with his head held high leaving Finn to sputter his empty apologies to his back.

It was too much, Kurt thought as he turned the key in the ignition and peeled out of the parking lot ignoring the protesting squeals of his tires. After the roller coaster of the day he'd had, the frustration, hurt and betrayal he was currently feeling was just too much. He just wanted to go home, curl up in front of his mother's dresser and feel safe.

Kurt slammed on his brakes, oblivious to the honking and colorfully worded reprisal of the driver who had been behind when he realized he couldn't go home. Kurt's sudden recognition that there wasn't going to be a safe place for him anymore left him terrified and on the edge of hysteria. His home wasn't safe anymore. Finn lived there. Finn and his fear and his judgment and his homophobia were squatting in his sanctuary, infesting the only refuge Kurt had from the hostilities he faced on a daily basis. Burt and Carole were getting married and Finn, along with all the ugly that he had inside him was going to be a part Kurt's life, a part of his family.

Kurt was on autopilot as he restarted his car and drove on and on for miles before exhaustion took over and he maneuvered the Navigator into the first available parking lot and leaned his head on the steering wheel. He choked on a sob as he realized that one of his worst nightmares had come true. He was living with a homophobe. Kurt had never really of Finn as homophobic. Uneducated, uncomfortable, and a little fearful of what he didn't understand, yes but never had Kurt thought of him as hateful or malevolent, not even when he was actively bullying him. Now he knew better. Now he knew that no matter how many steps forward he thought they took or much changing and growing he thought Finn had done, he would always be one argument away from a slur or maybe even a slap. He wasn't safe. Finn wasn't safe and his home wasn't safe.

Kurt didn't know where to go or what to do. He couldn't go home because eventually Finn would be there. He also couldn't go home because Burt would take one look at his face and know that something bad had happened and Kurt could not tell his father. He knew, beyond a shadow of any doubt, that Burt would put Kurt's happiness above his own. He knew his father would call off the engagement, perhaps even break off the entire relationship if Kurt told him about the things Finn had said and done but Kurt didn't want that. He truly adored Carole and she made his father happier than Kurt had seen him in years. He couldn't be reason Burt and Carole lost their second chances at living happily ever after. He couldn't be reason his father was left mourning another lost love.

Blaine was too far away and he couldn't go to any of the kids in glee. He knew that he could go to Sam, Mercedes or Tina and they would instantly take his side but that Rachel, Noah and probably Quinn would back Finn out of love and loyalty. Santana, Artie, Brittany and Mike would be stuck in the middle. No one would be able to be objective and his issues with Finn would become fodder for the latest group drama. He didn't want to drag their friends into the middle and he didn't want to be the reason the group splintered apart again when they were finally beginning to come together.

Besides, he was sure they'd probably find out soon enough. There had been enough witnesses that Kurt fully expected for there to be a play by play complete with not so clever commentary popping up in the next few hours on Jacob's blog.

Kurt squeezed his eyes shut at the painful reminder that his humiliation was going to be made public whether he said a word or not. Part of Kurt wanted to pull out of the parking lot, start driving and never stop until Lima and all the hate and hurt was far, far behind him.

Kurt's fingers twitched on his keys but before he could turn them his phone rang and Blaine's ringtone sounded out.

He didn't even allow the first few seconds of the melody to play before he answered.

"Hey babe, I know you said you'd call and it's still kinda early but I've had a long day and I'm about to crash-"

"B-Blaine?" Kurt choked out as his tears fell in earnest and what little composure he had left completely abandoned him at the sound of the other boy's voice. "I need…I c-can't…F-F-Finn," he babbled incoherently, trying in vain to get a grip on himself and his emotions.

"Kurt! Kurt, breathe baby, its okay. I need you to calm and stop crying so you can tell me what happened. Did someone hurt you? Are you okay?"

"No," Kurt sobbed, too emotionally overloaded to do anything but be honest. "I'm n-not okay. I'm never okay. Don't you know I'm a c-cocksucking fag? That's not okay, Blaine."

"Who the hell-, Kurt where are you? Are you at home? I'm getting my keys now and-"

"No," Kurt screamed. "I'm not at home. I can't go home! Finn's at home. Finn a-and all a-and I-I"

"Jesus, okay babe calm down for me, please," Blaine begged. "I didn't mean to upset you. You're not at home; you don't want to go home, that's okay. That's fine. I'll come get you, okay. Just, just tell me where you are."

Kurt peered out of his windshield. "I-I...I don't know. I don't know where I am. I just started driving and pulled over and I'm not sure and I don't know-"

"Hey, hey babe it's okay. You're in your car. Check the GPS. Tell me what it says and I'll come get you."

"Please hurry," Kurt asked, his breath hitching painfully. "It says uh I'm on Lincoln Boulevard."

"I promise I'll be there as soon as I can, okay? I need you to listen babe, Jeff is gonna come with me so he can drive your car back for us, okay?"

"Back to Dalton?" Kurt asked quietly. "Is that allowed?"

"We're not going to Dalton, I'm gonna take you back to my house. It's gonna be past curfew by the time I get to you and-"

"I'm sorry," Kurt whispered. "You d-don't have to come. I'll be fine. I'm always fine in the end. It's okay. I can…I'll be fine. Please don't get in trouble-"

"Kurt," Blaine said sharply. "We won't get in trouble. Just let me help you. Now, what do you see around you? Landmarks, businesses, anything?"

"I…I think I'm somewhere in Russell's Point," Kurt said. "I'm in front of a Subway."

"Is it open?"

"Um, yeah. Til eleven, according to the sign."

"Okay, babe listen to me. Go inside and wait for us. Stay on the phone with me though, okay?"

"Okay," Kurt said as he slipped out of the SUV and locked the door. The merry sound that the bell hung above the door made when he entered seemed to mock him as he took a seat. Kurt thought that he'd be forced to order something but his misery must have been so apparent that the other patrons mercifully left him in peace.

"-rt? Babe? Talk to me! Kurt!"

"I'm here," he said dully.

"You don't have to tell me what happened but I need to know if you're hurt."

"Not physically," Kurt whispered.

"Babe, just stay there and hold on. I'm coming for you."

Blaine's navigation system had estimated it would take a little over an hour for him to reach Kurt. Between the fact that he was in a high performance sports car and Jeff drove like he was racing the devil himself, they managed to make it to Russell's point in a little over forty minutes.

"We're pulling up now, babe. I'll be inside in a minute okay. It's safe to hang up now," Blaine said, waiting for Kurt to disconnect before he hung up himself. He had stayed on the line with Kurt the entire drive, resisting the urge to demand that Kurt tell him who had hurt him and how they had done it. He'd been terrified, a million nightmare scenarios playing out in his head, each more horrific than the one before it. Blaine's arms ached with the need to hold Kurt and make sure that the other boy was safe. Blaine didn't even wait for Jeff to the cut the engine before he leapt from the car and barreled into the Subway. He frantically looked around the small dining room until he caught sight of Kurt in a back corner booth, curled into himself as if he were doing his best to be invisible.

"Kurt," Blaine exhaled gratefully as he came to a graceless stop in front of the brunette and hauled him to his feet, wrapping his arms Kurt's impassive frame.

Kurt weakly returned the embrace, choosing instead to burrow his head into the space between Blaine's neck and shoulder and cry quietly.

Jeff entered and made eye contact with Blaine. When Blaine shook his head slightly Jeff nodded and went to the counter to order a sandwich and give the two some privacy.

Blaine pulled away from Kurt and cupped his face in his hands, forcing him to make eye contact. Kurt's eyes were swollen and red rimmed, his skin was far paler than Blaine had ever seen it and he'd bitten his lip so much it was chapped and bleeding. Minus ripped and torn clothing, Kurt's appearance reminded Blaine of how he'd looked after Azimio had attacked him. He wanted to force Kurt to tell him who'd hurt him, drive down to Lima and unleash his wrath but it was obvious that was the last thing Kurt needed at the moment so Blaine forced himself to hold onto his tongue and his temper.

"It's okay now," he soothed. "Babe, I need your keys. Jeff's gonna drive the Navigator remember?" Kurt nodded and placed his keys into Blaine's outstretched hand without protest. Silently Blaine handed them over to Jeff who had suddenly materialized beside the two boys.

"I'll take really good care of it, Kurt. I promise," the blonde said kindly before squeezing Kurt on the shoulder and once again leaving the two boys alone as he went and started Kurt's car.

"Come on, babe. Let's get you out of here now, huh?"

Kurt nodded and followed Blaine to his car, silently climbing into the passenger's seat and pulling on his seat belt.

Blaine got into driver's seat and started the car, heading back towards Westerville. He checked his rearview to make sure that Jeff was behind them and then gave Kurt what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

Blaine had no idea what had happened or who had done it but he did know that when he found out there would be hell to pay.

Kurt had fallen asleep on the drive back to Westerville and Blaine hadn't had the heart to wake him. He had opted to take Kurt to Devonwood since it was closer than his own home and it would give him a chance to speak with Jasper in the morning about his parents' upcoming visit.

He and Jeff parked the cars in the garage themselves and then Blaine sent Jeff off with Antoine to be settled into a guest room before he shook Kurt awake. "Hey, wake up sleepyhead. We're at my home."

Kurt blinked the sleep out of his eyes and looked around the garage, which was more like the show room floor of a custom car dealership than a typical garage. "This is your house?" He asked.

Blaine chuckled. "This is a garage, babe and no, not my house. We're at Devonwood, its Jasper's house but it's more like home to me than other place-including my own."

"Should I be here? Won't he get upset? It's a school night. What if he thinks I'm a terrible influence on you and I make a bad impression before we've even met and-"

"Calm down, hush babe," Blaine quieted Kurt. "It's fine. Trust me it's not the first time I've taken an impromptu vacation in the middle of the school week. I promise it'll be fine. Besides, I doubt that anyone will worry that you're the bad influence."

Blaine led Kurt inside, pretending to ignore Kurt's startled intake of breath at the opulence surrounding them. He tried to look at things from Kurt's point of view and remind himself that not everyone grew up in an environment where marble floors and Schonbek chandeliers were commonplace. He quickly hustled Kurt up to his bedroom, not wanting the boy to get overwhelmed and begin to worry again.

Kurt halted just over the threshold and stared at the bed.

"I know what you're thinking and you're right. A California King is a bit obnoxious for just one person but I needed a bed big enough for me and my ego," Blaine joked.

Kurt smiled weakly. "So where do you sleep then?"

"There's the sarcasm I know and love," Blaine remarked. Kurt continued to stand just inside the doorway, his arms wrapped around himself as if he were trying to keep from going to pieces and the sight both angered and worried Blaine.

Blaine wanted nothing more than to take Kurt in his arms and comfort him but he remembered how Kurt had responded to his attempt at consoling him back in the tree house so he instead of pulling the other boy into his arms he went to his bureau and pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms, a clean pair of boxer briefs and a t-shirt.

"Here," he said holding out the clothing to Kurt. "Go shower; it'll relax you and give you a chance to have a little time to get your head together before we talk."

Kurt didn't respond verbally, he simply nodded as he accepted the small bundle.

Blaine moved past Kurt and went into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, allowing the steam to begin filling the room before he hit a button and turned on some music. "There you go," he said. "The towels are linen closet there," Blaine said gesturing to the door, "The red robe is for company, there's a new toothbrush in the top drawer and you stay in here as long as you need to. But when you get out, we're gonna talk, okay?"

Blaine wasn't sure what he'd expected but it wasn't to suddenly have an armful of Kurt Hummel. He recovered quickly and brought both arms around the brunette to hold him tightly as Kurt leaned down slightly so he could bury his head in the crook of Blaine's shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered, "Thank you for caring. Thank you for coming. Thank you for being safe."

Blaine barely held himself together when he heard those words. Kurt being so raw and vulnerable was bringing up emotions in him that he had no idea what to do with. "Don't thank me," Blaine whispered thickly, "You don't ever have to thank me." He held Kurt for a few moments more before the other boy broke the embrace.

"I'm gonna get in the shower now," Kurt said, his voice strained and tight as if he were fighting back tears.

"Okay," Blaine said, squeezing Kurt's hand softly before exiting the bathroom.

Almost as soon as the door closed, Blaine heard Kurt let go. Harsh, unrestrained sobs sounded from inside the bathroom and it took everything in Blaine not to go charge back into the room and try to quiet Kurt's cries but his instincts told him that Kurt needed to breakdown about whatever had happened to him that night and he needed to do so in private.

After what felt like hours Kurt emerged from the bathroom, a halo of steam behind him, dressed in Blaine's pajamas and looking far too innocent and vulnerable for his own good. Blaine had long since changed into his bedclothes and was sitting Indian style, waiting for Kurt.

Blaine had decided he'd let Kurt broach the subject of sleeping arrangements. He knew it was terrible timing and didn't say much for his character but he was absolutely not going to pass up the opportunity to have Kurt in his bed even if there was precious little chance of anything happening.

"I…I sleep on the left side," Kurt said quietly, shuffling forward until he was at the foot of the bed.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I sleep on the right," Blaine replied, getting up and turning down the sheets.

Kurt silently climbed into bed while Blaine turned off the lights. When he felt the mattress dip under Blaine's weight and then settle he eased across the middle until he was in the other boy's personal space, Blaine acting as the 'big spoon'.

"Kurt-"

"It was Finn."

Blaine's hold on Kurt tightened minutely but he showed no other reaction so Kurt continued. "He…our parents are getting married and I thought…I thought things were better now," Kurt tried to explain.

"There was this duets competition in Glee; winner gets a free meal at Breadstix. Sam and I won but he couldn't make the dinner so I uh…I invited Finn. We've been…it's been better with us lately. Good even."

"So um, we went to Breadstix. And it was fun. A lot of fun and I thought…I thought 'this is what it's going to be like to have a brother'. And then um…K-Karofsky and Lewis-he's another barbarian in a letterman's jacket-saw us and started picking on F-Finn, calling him gay and saying we were on a d-date."

Kurt took a deep, shuddering breath and then began speaking again. "We uh...we all got into it. Karofsky and Finn were shoving each other and Finn actually hit him. People were staring and I tried to get Finn to leave but he was so angry and the manager came over and those two slack jawed yokels just wouldn't stop goading Finn and he kept getting angrier and angrier and he got mad at me so I got mad at him and then they really started in on him, calling him the girl in the our relationship and-"

Kurt's normal poise and eloquence had completely abandoned him. He was rambling, starting and stopping sentences and not completing his thoughts. Blaine took one of his hands and gently stroked over Kurt's chest and stomach in a rhythmic, soothing motion and was alarmed when he felt how fast the other boy's heart was racing and the tremors that wracked his body. Blaine was convinced that Kurt was on the verge of losing it completely, perhaps even having a panic attack of some sort and he wasn't sure if he would be able to handle the outpouring of emotion from the younger boy when it came.

"So the manager asked us all to leave but Karofsky and Lewis just wouldn't shut up and Karofsky told Finn to…come out of the closet and called him a flamer and Finn…Finn…he…he…F-Finn…" Kurt stopped talking and Blaine noticed the trembling had gotten worse and his breathing more labored.

"Hey, hey," he said, worry making his voice sharp. "Breathe with me, babe. In and out, just like that, there you go," he commanded softly as he directed Kurt to breathe with him in tandem. "There you go, babe. It's okay. You're with me and you're safe," he repeated over and over while he ran his fingers through Kurt's hair.

After a few minutes that felt like forever Kurt managed to calm himself and began speaking again. "They wouldn't leave him alone," Kurt whispered. "They wouldn't leave him alone and he just…Finn said he wasn't a queer or a c-cocksucker. He said he wa-wasn't a homo."

"Oh babe, Finn's an idiot but I'm sure-"

"He said I was a fag, not him. He called me a fag."

It was as if a switch had been flipped and Blaine went from wanting to comfort Kurt and giving Finn the benefit of the doubt to seeing red and planning the jock's demise.

"Everyone was s-staring at us, at me. He was s-so angry. He screamed it, Blaine. He c-called me a fag like it was no big deal. And he was so disgusted that anyone would call him gay. He was ashamed. I disgust him. He h-hates me," Kurt said screwing his eyes shut and trying to block out the image of Finn's angry face.

"He's going to be my b-brother. I have to live with him and he h-hates who I am. I'm not…my home…it's not safe anymore," Kurt said. As his voice broke on the word home, he finally gave in and let the tears fall, turning around and burying his head in Blaine's chest, his fingers tangled into Blaine's shirt as he unleashed gut wrenching sobs that made Blaine physically ache for him.

"Your dad-"

"He's happy with Carole. My mom died e-eight years ago and he'd been on exactly three dates before Carole. He d-deserves to be happy. So does Carole. I can't…it'll ruin everything. I can't…but I don't know how…how do you live with that kind of hate? My home…I was safe at home. It was my only other safe place. My h-home. I-I can't…Blaine I can't…"

"It's okay, babe. I promise its okay," Blaine soothed as Kurt continued to cry. Blaine found himself inundated with protective instincts that he hadn't known he possessed as he rubbed Kurt's back, placed gentle kisses on his forehead and plotted to bring Finn, Karofsky and anyone else who'd ever hurt Kurt to their knees as the other boy cried himself to sleep.

Finn had thought that calling his mom, explaining to her he'd gotten into a fight, been kicked out Breadstix and Kurt had abandoned him there would be the hardest thing he'd ever have to do. He'd been wrong.

Explaining why Kurt had left him there was a million times harder.

"I do not understand you," Carole said her face tight with anger and her eyes filled with disapproval. "I may not be a perfect parent Finn but I taught you better than that."

Burt hadn't said a word to him. From the minute the story had tumbled out over Finn's lips Burt had been on the phone calling Kurt's cell leaving voicemail after voicemail, trying in vain to get in touch with his son.

"Mom, Karofsky and Lewis kept-"

"I don't care, Finn!" Carole cut in sharply. "There is no excuse, none, for what you said about Kurt and even less than that for what you said to him. I did not raise you to be hateful and I did not raise you to be ignorant. I don't care what those other boys say or do, I care what you say. I care what you do. And right now I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in you."

Having Rachel's words from earlier parroted back at him by his very own mother made them hit home in a way that Finn was unprepared for. Tears suddenly filled his eyes and the gravity of what he'd done slammed into him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"That doesn't really help anything right now," Burt said clearly trying to keep his temper.

"But I am sorry," Finn said. "I didn't mean-"

"I know what you meant," Burt snapped. "You think I didn't use that word when I was your age? Some kid gets clocked in practice we tell him to stop being such a fag-shake it off. We meant it exactly the way you meant it. That being gay is wrong, that it's some kind of punishable offense. Kurt isn't as smart as he thinks he is. I see him leave for school in one outfit and come home in another. I don't know everything, but I know that my kid gets dragged down forty miles of bad road every damn day in this town. I know there are guys who make it their mission to make his life a living hell and I thought you were different."

"I-"

"I thought that being in Glee club and being raised by your mom meant that you were some…new generation of dude who saw things differently, who just kind of came into the world knowing what it's taken me years of struggling to figure out. I guess I was wrong."

"You weren't wrong," Finn insisted. "I'm not like Karofsky or those guys. I wouldn't hurt Kurt like they do-"

"Oh honey, you did hurt him," Carole said softly. "You hurt him worse than they ever could. Kurt trusts you-or at least he did. He considered you a friend-a brother and you humiliated him and what's worse you let him know in no uncertain terms that you neither accept nor respect him."

"I do respect him," Finn said. "I don't understand the whole liking dudes thing," he confessed. "But I respect him. Kurt's a good person. Yeah we butt heads on some stuff and I don't get him all the time but I don't hate him-"

"No, you just hate one of the biggest parts of who he is," Burt interrupted.

"But I don't," Finn denied. "I'm not…I'm not a hateful person. I'm not," he said tears spilling down his cheeks.

Carole came and put her arms around Finn and he sank into the embrace. "I'm sorry. I swear I'm sorry. I don't hate Kurt. I don't hate anyone," Finn mumbled into her shoulder.

Burt softened a little at the sight. "I love you kid. I do, and I love your mom, but this…has to be fixed or we can't…Kurt comes first for me, just like you come first for your mom. Every time he steps out of that door that kid has to fight a war against hate and intolerance. I'm not gonna let the enemy into his home. I won't do that to him. He can't…I won't do that to him. If we can't fix this then…," he let the sentence trail off.

"Please," Finn said softly. "Give me a chance to fix it. I'll fix it."

"Finn honey, this is going to take more than good intentions and an apology," Carole said.

"But that's a start! And it has to count for something that I'm sorry, like legit sorry not fake sorry. I don't understand Kurt being gay and I'm…kinda scared of what it means and just…uncomfortable," Finn said, acknowledging it out loud to his parents for the first time, "but I'm willing to try. I have been trying. I'm willing to try to understand. That's gotta count for something," he said honestly.

"Finn, you have to understand that there is nothing wrong with who Kurt is and you have to-"

"Carole, honey he won't get there overnight or because we tell him to," Burt interrupted gently. "I was a jackass for a lot of years. It took being Kurt's dad for me to pull my head out my ass. If he's serious about trying-"

"I am," Finn insisted.

"Then it's gonna take time. Time and patience and education," Burt finished up.

"Puck," Finn said suddenly. "Puck used to be like me and then he called some numbers. Said he talked to some people that explained some stuff to him. I could…I could find out who he called and get those numbers from him."

Carole nodded. "That would be a good start. There's a PFLAG chapter in Columbus. You and I are going to the next meeting," she said, her tone making it clear it was not up for discussion or debate.

"What's PFLAG?" Finn asked.

"It stands for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays," Carole explained. "It's an organization that promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends. They provide a place that people of different orientations, as well as those that love them can get support, learn coping skills; get education, and find advocates to help with the cause of ending discrimination. I think it'll do you some good to attend some meetings and get educated and it'll help me to find out how to best support Kurt."

"Kurt and I will come too," Burt said, surprising Finn and Carole. "You may be the one struggling kiddo but we're a family and if you're serious about making changes then we'll go at this like a family. Besides, I'm not perfect. Maybe those meetings will help me out too and God knows Kurt is aching to relate to some kids like him. I'm actually embarrassed I didn't think of us going to PFLAG years ago. But you're gonna apologize to Kurt and you are never, and I mean never, to say anything like that to or about him again. I'm serious Finn, that's a deal breaker. You throw hate at him again-"

"I won't," Finn promised and he meant it. He knew what he'd said to Kurt was wrong. He knew when he heard guys talking about how nasty it was to have sex with another guy or how they didn't want to "catch the gay" from Kurt that it was mean but somehow he'd never thought of it as hate. Finn was not a hateful person. He had a temper. He could be thoughtless and he could be mean but he wasn't heartless. Finn lacked the willful maliciousness and ability to enjoy inflicting damage on other people that it took to be hateful. Even when he was participating in bullying Kurt, he never enjoyed it. There was always a palpable sense of wrongness to the actions that made Finn feel dirty, guilty and as if he had somehow failed at something big.

Tonight had put that feeling into perspective for him. Every time he laughed at a derogatory joke or pretended not to see when Kurt was shoved or slushied, every time he had stood idly by while Kurt was thrown in the dumpster or helped the guys pull a prank on him, he had failed. He had failed Kurt, he had failed his mom and he had failed himself.

All the thinking that he'd been doing over the past couple of weeks came into focus and Finn realized that he could no longer play both sides of the fence. He couldn't continue to take half measures and sweep things under the rug. Kurt had told him to do what he could live with and Finn realized that he couldn't live with being someone that would hurt his friend, his brother, for no good reason. He couldn't live with being the person that had put the look of betrayal on Burt's face or made his mother cry. He couldn't live with being the person that wrecked his family and he couldn't live with being the type of person that got lumped in with the Lewis' of the world.

He thought back on how helpless and humiliated he'd felt at Breadstix and realized that Kurt probably felt like that-and worse-every single day, multiple times a day. The fact that he'd played a part in causing that kind of distress caused a fresh wave of tears to well up in his eyes and his stomach to twist painfully. Finn still wasn't sure who he wanted to be or how he was going to get there, but he knew he didn't want to be the person he'd been.

"He's not answering," Burt said, his voice quivering just the tiniest bit. "I've left that boy dozens of messages. Kurt always gets back to me and he's not…"

"I'm sure he's fine," Carole attempted to reassure him. "But I think it's time we start checking with his friends."

Burt nodded then grimaced. "I only know Tina and Mercedes' numbers."

"I'll call everyone," Finn said straightening up. "I…I made this mess. I gotta clean it up."

Burt nodded once and then left the room, leaving Finn standing alone in the living room with Carole.

"This is a good start Finn," she said nodding and giving him a tight smile. "But it's just a start. And it's the bare minimum of what you're going to have to do. But I'm proud of you for being willing to do it."

"Thanks mom," Finn whispered.

"You're still grounded. And I will figure out the rest of your punishment when I'm not so angry and disappointed and upset," Carole continued. "But I know one thing we need to get straight right now: I don't want those boys you argued with tonight in this house. I don't care that they're on the team with you. They are not welcome. And not just them. No one on that team is welcome in our home if they are homophobic. Burt was right. That kind of poison has no place here. Do you understand me?"

Finn nodded.

"Okay. Do you need me to stay with you while you call your friends?"

Finn shook his head. "I…I think I need to do this alone."

Carole gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Okay honey. I'm going to go check on Burt. Call me if you need me."

Wow, you keep finding new and special ways to fail, don't you Soft Serve? I haven't heard from Prancy Smurf but if I do, I'll call Burt. You can kiss my dial tone.

That was mean, Finn. Kurt is my favorite ex-boyfriend and you're not even in my top ten favorite make out partners so if you two can't be friends anymore you need to know I'm on his side. Lord Tubbington and I are very disappointed in you.

That's all kinds of foul, yo. I can't believe you went out like that. I haven't heard from Kurt but you better watch your toes tomorrow. My wheels and I are gonna be looking for you.

You did what? Oh you just wait until I see you. You think I told Artie off? You haven't seen anything yet.

He's not here, Finn. And I don't know that I'd tell you if he were.

Damn Finnocence. When you fuck up you go for the gold. Look, even if you are dumbass you're still my bro so if you need a place to hide for awhile ch�teau de Puckerman is available. If I hear from him I'll call you. If Burt goes after you, there's no shame in running. I've found that most old dudes can only chase you a block or two before they get winded.

Is that what you think of my father's? That they're…I can't even say those words, Finn. I can't believe you would say those words. I love you but I don't like you very much right now and I would appreciate it if you didn't call me. I need time to…goodbye Finn.

You betta stay out of my sight because whenever I see you, I'mma cut you. I don't care if it's ten minutes or ten years from now, I'mma cut you and I'mma cut you deep.

I can't believe you. I honestly can't believe you. You…don't talk to me. I don't even…just don't talk to me. Kurt's my best friend and you, as of now, you're nothing to me. And you better pray he's okay because if he's not, what went down between me and Karofsky in the locker room is nothing compared to what I'm gonna do you. Kurt liked you. He thought you were a good guy, so did I. But you're not. You know what, you're worse than Karofsky and the rest of those guys because they never pretended to be any better than they are.

Finn had spent the better part of an hour making phone calls and being chewed out by every member of New Directions. He was sure most of his friends hated him and to top it off he had no idea where he stood with Rachel. He had one person left to call and he didn't anticipate things going any better with Quinn than they had with anyone else.

"Quinn," he said as soon she picked up. "It's Finn. Listen, is Kurt there? If he is we really need him to come home or at least call, but really to come."

"Finn," Quinn said sharply. "You're rambling. What's wrong?"

Finn took a deep breath. "I…Kurt and I got into it with Karofsky and Lewis at Breadstix-"

"Oh my God, Finn! Are you okay? Why are you looking for Kurt? Did they…did they drag him off somewhere?"

Finn blinked. "No, no it wasn't that kind of fight. Well, a little but not too bad. We just…See Sam cancelled on Kurt because he had to babysit and so Kurt took me to Breadstix in Sam's place so we could go over stuff for the wedding and have some bro time, you know?"

"Charming," Quinn said wryly.

"Anyway," Finn continued, "Lewis and Karofsky came over to our table and started giving us crap about being on a date and which one of us was the girl and…I just…I got mad and it was embarrassing because everyone was looking at us and I…"

"Oh Finn," Quinn said softly. "Please tell me you stood up to them."

Finn squeezed the phone. "I…did at first," he said. "But they just wouldn't stop. And Kurt kept trying to make me leave and I was just so mad and I…I didn't mean to hurt him, Quinn. I swear I didn't."

"You hurt Kurt?"

"I…I said some really nasty things and he…he took off and no one's seen him. Burt's called him like a million times and he won't answer and it's bad, Quinn. Burt's worried and sad and pissed and my mom is all quiet and disappointed in me. Rachel might dump me and Puck's the only person in Glee who doesn't want my ass on a platter-"

"Your head Finn," Quinn interrupted. "Your head on a platter."

"Whatever body part doesn't matter, point is they all want it. They'll probably be a lynch mob waiting for me when I get to school tomorrow."

"What," Quinn hesitated. "What exactly did you do?"

"I fought with Karofsky. We pushed each other and he just…he was so mad. I don't know what his problem is. It's like he's on some kind of personal mission when it comes to Kurt. Like one of those missiles that lock onto its target and just keep going after it until it blows it up. But um…we just…we argued. Kurt did too, for a little while. Then Karofsky told me to come out of the closet and called me a flamer and I saw people giving me these looks, like I was…dirty or something. It made me mad and made me feel…ashamed."

"So people looked at you like you and your friends look at Kurt and what, Finn? You couldn't take it? Kurt takes it every day."

"I know that!" Finn exploded. "I just…I got angry. I wasn't thinking. I just wanted them stop talking and calling me names and for people to stop looking at me like I'd personally offended them by just like, being in the same room breathing their air and I…I said some stuff."

"Stuff like what?"

"I said…I said I wasn't a queer and some…other stuff. I called Kurt a fag."

"Oh Finn," Quinn said sadly. "Why would you say something so ugly and hurtful?"

"I told you! I was mad and embarrassed and I just…I wasn't thinking. I swear I wasn't trying to hurt him. I just wanted everything to stop. I just wanted the teasing and the dirty looks and the feeling bad to stop."

"I'm sure Kurt feels that way all the time," Quinn said bitterly. "Finn, I know you. You never mean to hurt anyone and yet you keep finding spectacular ways to cause people pain."

"I know you want to tell me how much I suck right now-"

"No, I don't," Quinn cut him off quickly. "It won't do any good. I know what's it's like to make such a horrific mistake that you don't even recognize yourself as the person who did such a terrible thing. I'm not gonna judge you, Finn because I can't. That's not my place. I do want to help though, if I can."

Finn blinked. Ever since she had gotten pregnant, lied to everyone and given Beth up for adoption, Quinn had been different. Sometimes she was like the popular Regina George-esque cheerleader she'd always been, sometimes she seemed really sad and lost and other times she was like a new, improved, sweeter version of herself. Finn never knew what to expect from her anymore.

"Th-Thanks. But I don't know what any of us can do. I called everyone and no one's heard from him."

Quinn was quiet for a moment. "Finn," she said slowly, "has anyone called Blaine?"

Finn smacked himself on the forehead. "No! I... don't have the dude's number though. I don't think anyone does except Kurt."

Quinn was quiet for a few moments. "Thad might. Give me a minute."

Finn held onto the line, praying that Thad could come through and that Blaine would either be with Kurt or know where he was.

After several minutes Quinn came back on the line. "I got Blaine's number. It's 614-555-7624. Finn…if I were you I'd let Burt be the one to call."

Finn swallowed, knowing Quinn was right. Neither Kurt nor Blaine would be too receptive to him and Burt needed to talk to his son and make sure he was alright.

Burt, Finn realized with a pang, was probably the only person who could convince Kurt that it was safe for him to come home.

"Thanks Quinn. I really owe you one," Finn said.

"No you don't Finn," Quinn said softly. "Like I said, I know you. You're better than who you were tonight, who you've been for the last few weeks, I know you are."

"You're the only one who thinks that," Finn said sadly. "Everyone else thinks I'm awful."

"What you did and what you've been doing is awful," Quinn said bluntly. "But you're not. I know what it's like for people to judge you based on the worst thing you've ever done. All you can do is hold your head high and prove them wrong. And yes, you have a lot to make up for but I believe you can do it. I'll help you anyway I can, but I won't lie to you. You did a horrible thing and no one is going to forgive or forget just because you're sorry and you want them to."

"You're gonna have a lot to make up for, especially with Kurt," Quinn continued. "You are going to have to earn back everyone's trust and respect one bit at a time. It won't be easy and you'll want to give up but if you really mean it when you say you're sorry, you'll stick it out and do what it takes to prove that you deserve a second chance."

"Thank you," Finn said again. "I…you deserve it. Your second chance. You totally deserve it."

"I fought for it. You fight for yours."

"I will. I am. I…I hate this," Finn confessed. "I hate that I can't be like Sam or Puck and just not care that Kurt's gay. I don't hate him for it, I just…it doesn't make sense to me. Like boobs and girls are awesome and I don't understand how Kurt can be a guy and not want to…it just doesn't make sense and I hate feeling like a bad person for being uncomfortable and not understanding and I hate that I'm uncomfortable in the first place."

"Then do something about it," Quinn replied. "Finn, the fact that you want to change; that you want to understand puts you miles ahead of creeps like Lewis. You know you're wrong and admitting that and wanting to change it is half the battle."

"My mom…well the whole family…is going to a PFLAG meeting," Finn admitted. "And Puck gave me some hotline numbers to call and websites to look up."

"What's PFLAG?"

Finn explained as best he could. "That's a really good start Finn," Quinn said encouragingly when he had finished.

"Burt…he kind of…I don't think they'll get married. If I can't…if I don't change me and my mom are gonna lose the best thing that's happened to us in a long time."

"Then you have one more reason to fight," Quinn pointed out.

"What if…what if I'm just broken?"

"You're not broken," Quinn said. "You're just…uninformed and isolated. Kurt's the only out gay kid in Lima. The only other person you know that has gay relatives is Rachel and something tells me you wouldn't be very comfortable telling her certain things."

"Yeah," Finn said softly. "Some of the stuff…it would hurt her feelings or make her think I think bad stuff about her dads."

"Do you?" Quinn asked.

"Not really," Finn said. "Like I said…mostly I just don't understand."

"Maybe PFLAG is exactly what you need," Quinn said. "You'll get to talk to other people who have family members who are gay or lesbian and you'll get to ask questions and speak freely. Maybe you'll meet other people who struggled like you are and you can ask how they found the road to acceptance. Maybe you'll find understanding and your uncomfortable feelings will change once that happens."

"Maybe," Finn said. "I mean, it would be nice to get my questions answered. I feel too weird trying to talk to Kurt or Burt and there's no way I'm asking either of Rachel's dads some of the questions I have. And…it would be cool to meet other siblings who maybe can tell me how they handled their bro or sis being bullied. I think," Finn said slowly, "I think this PFLAG place might be good for me and good for our family. I mean, the only other gay kid Kurt knows is Blaine and he's a total jerk that's just trying to get in his pants-"

"And you just went dangerously off course," Quinn interrupted. "Regardless of how you feel about Blaine, whatever happens with the two of them is their business and Kurt's decision. If it helps any, you should know Kurt isn't throwing himself at Blaine. He's going slow."

"Good," Finn breathed. "And not because of the gay thing, but because Blaine is a total ass."

"Takes one to know one," Quinn joked. "Okay, now give that number to Burt and let him see if Kurt's with Blaine. And Finn? I'm here for you if you need me."

"Thanks Quinn," Finn said softly before hanging up.

"Burt!" he yelled.

"Did you find him?" Burt asked anxiously as he ran into the room.

"No," Finn admitted. "I ah…I told everyone what I did. They would have heard about it anyway and…it needed to come from me. And Quinn got me Blaine's phone number so you can call him and-"

"Give me the number," Burt said already reaching for the phone and holding his hand out to Finn.

Burt dialed as quickly as he could with shaking fingers. The phone only rang twice before Blaine picked it up.

"Hel-"

"Blaine," Burt cut him off. "This is Burt Hummel. Kurt…have you heard from my boy?"

"Fuck," Blaine swore. "I mean, I'm so sorry Mr. Hummel. It didn't even occur to me to call you. I called Kurt earlier and he when he answered he was incredibly upset. It concerned me so I had a friend come with me so he could drive Kurt's Navigator back-trust me when I say Kurt was in no condition to be behind the wheel- and picked him up and brought him back to my house-"

Burt felt as if his knees were going to give out. "He's with you? He's safe?"

"Yes sir. Yes he's with me and he's safe. I promise you I would never let anything happen to him. He's asleep…he…I know he would have called you if he'd been thinking clearly. It's just…tonight's been rough on him."

"Why didn't you bring him home?" Burt asked sharply.

"He didn't want to go home," Blaine said bluntly. "He didn't think he'd be safe there. Mr. Hummel, I don't know how much you know, if anything, about what happened tonight but when we talked on the phone Kurt was crying so hard and such a mess that he couldn't even make a coherent sentence. I legitimately thought he'd been attacked, that's how bad he sounded. And after I got him here he almost had a panic attack telling me what happened. After seeing him like that I wasn't going to force him to go home if he didn't want to."

Burt dragged a hand over his face. "This is his home," Burt said lowly. "He's always safe here."

"With all due respect sir, Kurt disagreed."

The words hit Burt like a physical blow. His son hadn't wanted to come home. He hadn't felt safe. "He…I know what Finn said to him," Burt said slowly.

"Then you know why he didn't feel safe coming home," Blaine said.

"Yeah kid, I get it. But he needs to know he is safe here. We…we got some family stuff to work out."

"I understand that. And I'd never stand in the way of that. But sir, Kurt cried himself to sleep," Blaine said strongly. "He was exhausted and he's finally getting some rest. I promise you I'll bring him home tomorrow but just, please let him stay here so can get some rest tonight."

Burt was torn. He wanted Kurt home. He wanted to take him in his arms and take away his pain. He wanted to promise him that home always had been and always would be a safe place. He wanted to see for himself that his baby boy was in one piece.

And he wanted him far away from Blaine and Blaine's bed.

Burt wasn't a fool. He wasn't deluding himself into thinking Kurt was tucked away in a guest room. From the quiet, controlled way he was speaking, Blaine was probably lying right next to Kurt. Images of exactly how Blaine might "comfort" Kurt played through Burt's head and made him flinch. He was barely ready for Kurt to be dating; Kurt sharing a bed and possibly his body with a boy both of them hardly knew was almost more than Burt could take.

But he also knew that they all might need the night to decompress and process the events of the night. Burt understood that Kurt needed to be where he felt safe and right now, as much as that pained Burt to admit, Kurt felt safe with Blaine.

"Kurt has permission to sleep-just sleep-at your house," Burt said as he rallied all his restraint and self control to say the hardest words he'd ever said where his son was concerned. "When he's ready, you bring him home tomorrow, understand me? I-I'll call him out absent to McKinley tomorrow."

There was a pronounced pause on the other side of the line as if Blaine had expected to have to work harder to convince Burt. "Trust me sir, all we're going to do is sleep."

"Son, admitting you're in bed with my kid isn't exactly conducive to me not driving to Westerville and dragging him home," Burt said tiredly. "Just…respect him. He's upset. He's in no state to make any kind of major decisions. Do not push him, do not pressure him, do not take advantage of him or they will never find your body. We clear?"

"As crystal."

"Alright then," Burt said before he changed his mind. "And Blaine? Thank you for taking care of him."

There was another small silence before Blaine answered softly, "You don't have to thank me. I wouldn't want anyone else taking care of him tonight and I know Kurt wouldn't have wanted anyone else to see him like that."

Burt's eyebrows shot up and scrubbed his hand over his face. The absolute certainty and poorly concealed possession in Blaine's voice and slight challenge in Blaine's statement had him almost changing his mind about allowing Kurt to stay. As far as Burt was concerned the two teens hadn't been seeing each other long enough for any of the things Blaine's statement implied to be happening. They weren't, to Burt's knowledge, even officially boyfriends. All of this was moving too quickly for Burt's liking and he resolved to broach the subject with Kurt.

"Just stop talking past the close, kid," Burt said quietly. "You tell Kurt to call me when he wakes up."

"Yes sir."

"Night Blaine," Burt said and damn wasn't that awkward.

"Goodnight sir," Blaine said before hanging up the phone with a gentle click.

"You did good," Carole said softly coming and putting her arms around him. "Finn's asleep. Thank you for giving him a second chance. I know that was hard for you."

"I love that boy," Burt said, kissing Carole's hands. "I've been where he is. But I won't have him chasing Kurt out of his home."

"I understand."

"But if we're gonna do this family thing we gotta hang on through sunshine and rain," Burt continued. "I gotta believe we'll all come out the other side okay."

"I think so too. We raised good boys. They'll be fine and so will we. I think we made the right choices tonight."

"Then why is everything in me screaming to get in my car and go get my kid?" Burt groaned.

"Because he's your baby," Carole replied. "But he's not a baby, honey and Kurt's a smart kid. He isn't going to do anything he's uncomfortable with and you have to trust him to know his limits."

"I don't know if I trust Blaine to respect those limits."

"For tonight honey you're going to have to."

"Jesus, I'm not ready for any of this."

"Ready or not, honey Kurt's dating. There are going to be boys and fights and heartbreaks and the whole nine yards. It's also more likely than not that some point there will be sex. We'll have to cross those bridges when we get to them and you're going to have to accept that your baby isn't a baby anymore. Now you need to stop working yourself up and come to bed. It's been a long night and we're all exhausted."

Burt checked the locks, turned off the lights and followed his fianc� into their bedroom hoping that a good night's sleep would help put the heartache and horror of the day behind them.