Kurt ran to his car his body feeling like he might vibrate out of his skin. After the initial shock of hearing Blaine was hurt he couldnt move fast enough, he grabbed his phone and his car keys and he was out the door. He backed out of the driveway calling Coopers number.

Cooper didnt answer so Kurt left him a hurried message, trying not to sound as panicked as he felt.

"Cooper, you need to come home. I…" He closed his eyes. How did you tell someone on a voicemail that their little brother had been attacked? "Its Blaine. Hes hurt. I dont know much right now, but Ill call you as soon I find out anything else."

He hung up and swallowed back a sob, willing himself not to cry. He didnt need to add to this disaster by getting in a wreck on his way to the hospital. He still managed to make it to the hospital in record time and pulled into a parking space and sprinted into the emergency room. His heart was in his throat and his feet not carrying him as fast as he wanted to move. He stopped and the front desk out of breath.

"Blaine Anderson." He said to the woman up front. "I need to see Blaine Anderson."

She handed him a clipboard. "Sign in and I can give you a visitors pass." She turned to her computer to look up Blaine as Kurt hastily filled out his name.

"And what is your relation to Blaine Anderson?"

"I…" He blinked. "Im his brother-in-law.” That didnt feel right but he figured saying he was family would help him see Blaine faster.

She nodded and gave him a pass which he clipped on his shirt and listened as she gave him directions to where to find Blaine.

"Sorry I cant tell you anything about his condition, but Ill let them know youre coming and they can send a nurse or-"

"Yes. Thank you." Kurt said voice tight, he was already moving away from her. He just needed to find Blaine.

He got on an elevator and rode to the floor hed been directed to, stomach doing flips, the Chancellor's works ringing in his ears, a group or students attacked Blaine. Kurt kept moving, his need to get to Blaine overcoming his desire to break down and cry. He went down a hall to a nurses station needing to know how Blaine was but scared to hear it at the same time.

"Blaine Anderson." He said to a nurse and she nodded.

"Come with me."

Kurt held his breath as she led him to a hospital room, his head was spinning and his throat was tight. Please, please Blaine be okay.

He walked into the room and nearly collapsed on the spot, his legs feeling wobbly. Blaine was sitting up on the side of a bed his legs dangling over the edge. He was wearing a hospital gown and there were some cuts and bruises on his face, but he was awake and up and smiling at a nurse.

"Oh god." Kurt breathed and Blaine looked up at him.

"Kurt!" He called and held out a hand.

Kurt didnt need any more of an invitation, he rushed forward and wrapped Blaine protectively in his arms. He held him close tucking his head in the crook of Blaines neck breathing him in.

"Its okay Kurt." Blaine said rubbing a hand up and down Kurts back. "Dont worry, it's okay you dont have to cry."

That was when Kurt realized there were hot tears running down his cheeks. He sniffed and backed up a little to look Blaine in the face, but kept his arms around Blaines back. "A-are you okay?"

Blaine smiled and then winced and Kurt took a long look at his face. There was a bruise on the right side and a cut at the corner of his mouth, he had a bandage on his left temple and an ugly gash over his right eye that had been stitched up.

"Im fine Kurt." Blaine answered, but he didnt look fine.

Kurt swept the pad of his thumb just under the stitched up cut on Blaines face. "No. Youre hurt."

Blaine sighed. "It isnt so bad. Its Dalton policy that I had to go to the hospital when there is a possibility of a concussion or internal bleeding or whatever."

Kurts eyes widened and his breath hitched. "What?"

"I dont have a concussion or internal bleeding!" Blaine said quickly, "They just had to check. It isnt nearly as bad as last time."

"Last time." Kurt repeated the thought painful to him.

Blaine shook his head and pulled Kurt in closer to lean their foreheads together. "I keep saying the wrong thing. But Kurt, really Ill be fine. Ill be a little sore for a bit, but fine. Hunter got in a few good swings with his goons standing around watching, but then some other students came outside and the whole thing broke up really fast."

Kurt swallowed and nodded placing a soft kiss on Blaines cheek, and then his chin and then his lips. He pulled back and smiled as he saw that Blaine had closed his eyes and leaned forward an expression of pure delight on his face. Kurt chuckled a little as Blaine opened his eyes again.

Kurt looked around, "Good thing the nurses left."

Blaine smiled brightly. "They dont know who you are, you could…" He looked to the ceiling and tapped his chin like he was thinking. "You could probably kiss me again, for real. If you wanted too."

Kurt laughed, happy relief bubbling inside him and chasing away his earlier fear. "I signed in as your brother-in-law. I probably shouldnt."

"Ah." Blaine said a little disappointed. "Hey, do you know if the school called Cooper or if we should let him know?"

"Oh my god!" Kurt cried and looked down at his phone, it was set on vibrate and there were three missed calls and five text from Cooper. "Shit, shit, shit."

Blaine watched him with widening eyes as he realized the problem. "Oh no." He twisted around on the bed and picked up the hospital phone and started dialing looking back at Kurt. "If they catch you with your cell phone theyll make you turn it off." He said as he waited for someone to pick up on the other end.

"Cooper!" Blaine looked relieved when his brother answered. "Im fine. Im fine." There was a pause and Kurt couldnt make out what Cooper was saying on the other end but he could hear his voice well enough to know Cooper was panicking. "Cooper really, take a breath. I am fine. I'll tell you all about what happened but… No, just-  I'm a little bruised."

Kurt knew Blaine was down playing things, but he was going to let it go if that helped Cooper not freak out too much. "Seriously they are going to release me soon and Kurt can- What do you mean youre on your way?"

Kurt watched as Blaine spoke with his brother feeling guilty that hed made Cooper worry so much. When Blaine got off the phone he scooted back in the bed to leaned against the back of it. He sighed and smiled. "Cooper was on his way back anyway and he is going to meet us here."

Kurt nodded and Blaine patted the bed next to him. Kurt looked around the empty room for a moment wondering if it would be okay and then decided it didnt matter. He crawled up on the bed and sat next to Blaine curling his arms around him as Blaine leaned his head down on Kurts.

“Blaine-” Kurt began his voice a little wobbly.

"Theyll come in a little while and tell me I can change and get ready to go and Im sure you have questions about what happened, but for now lets just…" Blaine sighed "Can we just be? Here, with each other?"

"Yes." Kurt said and tightened his hold a little. Kurt had a pretty good idea what had happened. The Chancellor said hed been attacked on his way out of school and Blaine had mentioned Hunter. Kurt clenched his jaw, he didnt know this Hunter character but he just couldnt understand how anyone would want to hurt Blaine.

Kurt rubbed his cheek against Blaines shoulder, unconsciously trying to be even closer to him without hurting any of his injuries. Blaine sighed in Kurts hold like he was completely content to sit in a hospital bed bandaged up all long as Kurt was with him.

Blaine was right, a nurse came in after a little while saying they were preparing his discharge and Kurt went back to the hall to give him some privacy to slip back into his clothes. While Kurt waited Cooper came bursting down the hall running so fast he had to skid to a stop at Blaines room.

"Kurt!"

"He really is okay Cooper." Kurt said before Cooper could even ask.

"Where is he?"

Kurt nodded towards Blaines room. "Hes changing back to his clothes, theyre releasing him."

Cooper let out a breath and pushed the hair back from his forehead; he stopped and took a good long look at Kurt. "Are you alright?"

"Me? Im fine. I wasnt there when it happened."

"On the phone… you just sounded… In your voicemail you didnt sound okay." Cooper put his hands on his own hips as he spoke and tilted his head, he looked remarkably like Blaine.

"I was scared." Kurt said softly. "But I didnt mean to scare you."

Cooper shook his head. "No, Im glad you called. What happened?"

Kurt started to explain as much as he knew, about the Warblers and Hunter and what little hed learned from the Chancellor. He was most of the way through when Blaine came out of the room. He was in his uniform slacks and shirt, tie and blazer tucked under his arm. There was a bright red stain on the front of his white shirt that made Kurt feel a little sick.

"Squirt!" Cooper cried and engulfed him in a hug. "What the hell Blaine? You have to stop this. Youre going to give me gray hair."

"Im sorry." Blaine murmured against Coopers shoulder before Cooper finally let him go and took a good look at him.

"Are they releasing you?"

"Yeah." Blaine said looking tired.

"Im going to talk to your doctor first okay?" He turned to Kurt. "You got this?"

Kurt nodded as Cooper strode away. Kurt moved over to hold Blaines hand; Blaine smiled down at their entwined fingers for a moment before looking back up at Kurt. He was hurt and obviously exhausted but his eyes sparkled when he looked at Kurt and thats when Kurt knew.

He knew his dad was right, maybe he and Blaine being together was hopeless in the long run, but Blaine was worth it. He was worth any pain that came later if there was any chance at all of being with him now.

Cooper got back and Kurt dropped Blaines hand. There were still things that needed to be worked out. Cooper seemed satisfied that Blaine should be released. He looked back and forth between Kurt and Blaine. "Kurt would you drive Blaine home? And Ill drop by the drug store and get his pain medication."

"Of course."

The car ride home was quiet, Blaine had been given some medication at the hospital to help with his head and the bruises on his abdomen and it was marking him tired. Kurt drove him home and kept stealing glances at him, placing his hand over Blaines at every stop to brush his thumb over his skin. Blaine sighed and leaned his head back on the seat rest.

"Hunter will be expelled." Blaine finally said.

"Good." Kurt replied and there was an edge to his voice that Blaine hadnt heard before. He opened his eyes to look at him.

"The Warblers arent going to cheat."

"I think they should all just be disqualified anyway."

"Kurt. The Warblers didnt do this to me. It was Hunter and a couple of his guys. All three of them will be expelled. Zero tolerance bullying policy, remember?"

"This wouldnt have happened at all if the Warblers had just stood up for themselves yesterday." Kurt replied his voice still sounding steely.

"Or it would have happened yesterday. I dont blame the Warblers."

"Youre more forgiving than I would be."

"I doubt that Kurt. You always see the best in people."

Kurt glanced at him and smiled so sweetly Blaine wanted to tell him again that he loved him, but kept it back. Blaine needed to talk to Cooper, a conversation that could end up a train wreck, but he couldnt go behind his brothers back. He was in love with Kurt and nothing was going to change that, but he loved Cooper too and didnt want to hurt him.

They made it home before Cooper and Kurt helped Blaine upstairs, he was beginning to feel a little stiff and sore. He sat on his bed as Kurt started rummaging through his dresser looking for pajamas.

"I can get those you know."

"I dont want to hear it. Sit there and let me take care of you."

Blaine smiled and took the clothes from Kurt.

"Im going to go make you some tea, you change and we are throwing out that shirt."

"The tie too." Blaine said and felt bad as Kurt winced.

He changed just like Kurt had ordered and was in bed when Kurt got back, "Youll need to eat with your prescription later, but are you hungry now?"

"No. Kurt really, I am okay, just tired."

Kurt nodded and then placed the tea on the lamp stand. "Its here if you want it." Kurt stood near the bed and fidgeted a little, Blaine reached out for his hand and made him sit down on the bed next to him.

"Kurt." Blaine said cupping his face, he looked miserable.

"Your school called and just said youd been attacked and brought to the hospital." Kurt rushed out. "I didnt know how bad it was and…" He stopped obviously trying not to cry.

Blaine leaned forward and kissed Kurts forehead. "Everything is going to work out." Blaine assured him, and he meant more than just his recovery, he hoped Kurt understood that.

Kurt was in the living room when Cooper got home. He had wanted to stay upstairs in Blaines room, but he thought he might be crossing a line into creepiness if he sat there and watched Blaine sleep.

"Hows he doing?" Cooper asked toeing off his shoes and sitting down on the sofa next to Kurt.

"Asleep. He keeps acting like it isnt a big deal."

Cooper nodded a serious look on his face that Kurt wasnt used to. "He was like that after the dance too. I dont know how much he told you about that, but he was unconscious for a few days, stuck in the hospital for longer than that, and then he had to do physical therapy to get back to normal. He kept trying to convince me it wasnt a big deal and he was fine. I think he just wanted to keep me from murdering the guys who did it too him."

"What happened to them?"

"Juvie." Cooper answered. "One is out already and has moved out of state the other two are still in."

Kurt shuddered, he hated thinking of Blaine in that situation.

Cooper interrupted his thoughts though by clearing his throat nervously. "Kurt we need to talk."

"Okay…" Kurt turned to give Cooper his full attention.

"I... um… Im not sure how to say this so Im just going to go for it and I need you to hear me out, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

Cooper cleared his throat again. "When I was first assigned a Lifemate I was devastated. I thought my life was over. I know that sounds like an attack on you, but it wasnt personal, I just… Ive never wanted to be married. When I met you I thought, well at least hes cute and funny, but didnt expect much… from us… you know as a couple?"

"Right." Kurt said not knowing where this was going. A few months ago these words might have hurt, but as it was, he was over Cooper in any romantic way.

"But then I got to know you better and, well frankly Kurt youre… great. Amazing even. And I am glad I was paired with you because…"

Oh god no. Kurts stomach dropped, if Cooper was about to tell him he was in love with him Kurt was going to fall apart.

"You look terrified." Cooper said stopping his train of thought. "Your face just got this ‘Oh my god I am about to be sentenced to death' look on it."

Kurt shook his head. "No… I just…"

"Let me finish, Ill be fast." Cooper said. "I think youre great and I respect you a lot thats why its hard for me to tell you that… Um… Ive been cheating on you."

Kurt stared at him blankly for a long moment. "What?"

"I tried not to at first and then especially when I started to get to know you, but then it became glaringly clear that nothing was going to happen between us and I kind of went back to my, uh bachelor habits. When Im on trips and stuff." He finished, looking guilty and nervous like he thought Kurt might explode on him.

"You… youve been cheating on me when youre out of town?."

Cooper had the decency to blush. "Yeah."

Kurt wanted to be angry. He should be angry. His husband was sleeping around behind his back, but instead Kurt felt something else bubbling inside of him and before he knew it he burst out laughing. He held his stomach and toppled over with the force of it.

"Oh… oh god Cooper!" He said when he finally caught his breath. "I thought you were going to say you were in love with me!"

"No." Cooper said looking at Kurt like he might have lost his mind. "You were scared I was in love with you?"

"Im sorry Cooper, I dont mean to hurt your pride, but I dont love you. Not like that and I thought you had developed feelings for me and this is much, much better than that."

Cooper smiled a little even though he still looked wary. "Obviously youre not in love with me Kurt. Ive known that for a while." Cooper said and his smile grew. "I guess if we are making confessions there is another big one I should tell you."

"Bigger than you cheating?"

Cooper shrugged. "Um. Yes. You should know the reason I took so long to come around to the idea of moving to New York. I was waiting to see what Blaine was going to do and then I was going to do my best to move us to the opposite side of the country. So that youd be away from him."

Kurts mirth immediately dried up.

"You were trying to keep Blaine and I apart?" He knew, Cooper knew about them and he wanted to stop it.

"Only because it was so apparent that my kid brother was, well is, crazy in love with you."

"What?" Kurt squeaked out feeling his cheeks flush.

"Yeah Kurt, he is seriously head-over-heels for you. But youre a harder nut to crack; I didnt think you felt the same way so I wanted to get you away from Blaine to protect him. But then the letter came from the Lifemate registry and we all thought it was for Blaine and you about passed out-"

"I didnt about pass out"

Cooper ignored him "And I realized it. Youre in love with him too."

Kurt didnt know what to say, this was all so much to take in at once.

"Thats when I decided we should all go to New York. You two can be together that way."

"What?" Kurt knew he wasnt expressing himself very well, but this all seemed to be too good to be true.

"You do love him right?" Cooper asked and for a split second his face hardened and Kurt decided he never wanted to get on Coopers bad side.|

"I… I havent even told him that yet, but… yes." Kurt could hardly breathe, was Cooper actually okay with this?

"Good."

"Good?"

"Yeah, good." Cooper smiled brightly. "Oh and thanks for not hating me over the cheating. You dont hate me over the cheating?"

"Not at all." Kurt said still stunned.

"Great!" Cooper stood from the couch. "I think we should move your stuff into the guest room, were done pretending here, right?"

Kurt blinked and nodded. He wanted to laugh or cry or shout from the rooftops, but he was still too shocked. Did Cooper just give him and Blaine a free pass to be together?