Blaine parked his rental car in front of "Hummel Tires & Lube". He sits in the car reading the yellow and brown sign and clutching the steering wheel. This is it. Kurt's father is in there. Kurt's unfinished business, if he does this then Kurt might be gone before he even gets back in this car. Blaine closes his eyes and breaths. He has to do this.

Before he left for Ohio they had gone over what Blaine should say and what he shouldn't say a dozen times. They wanted to give Burt closure, not scare him or dig up the past too much. Kurt had been nervous and excited. He so wanted to go see his dad himself but the thought of someone finally reaching out to Burt was enough, it had to be.

As Blaine stood by his front door ready to leave Kurt anxiously kept going over details they'd already discussed.

"And don't even bring up Sebastian if you can help it... or my murder."

"Kurt, I know. I won't."

"And just, make sure he knows how much I love him. And that I... That I'm sorry."

"Kurt" Blaine said with a smile and cupped his cheek. "I know."

"Right, I know you do. I trust you."

Blaine studied Kurt's face, eyes wide and eager, lips in a thin nervous line. "You know if this works... and we want it to work... you move on. Right?"

"Right." Kurt said, his voice soft.

"Meaning you won't be here when I get back."

"I know." Kurt replied looking down at his feet.

Blaine cleared his throat, "So I guess this is good-"

Before Blaine could finish the sentence Kurt's lips were on his. Kurt's arms around him. Holding him tight and kissing him hard. Blaine let go of the suitcase he was holding. It thudded to the ground as Blaine held Kurt and returned the kiss.

When they pulled apart Kurt's eyes were watery and Blaine's throat burnt with suppressed tears.

"I'm not saying goodbye to you Blaine Anderson. Please don't ask me too."

Blaine smiled and nodded. "Okay." He answered. Blaine leaned in, Kurt's eyes falling closed as Blaine gave his lips one last sweet kiss before Blaine grabbed his suitcase and left.

Blaine breathed out and forced himself to stop thinking about how the last time he saw Kurt might be the last time he ever sees Kurt. Blaine got out of the car and walked into the building. There were several mechanics around, an older man who was a little round in the middle and wore an old baseball cap walked up to him.

"Can I help you?" He asked, wiping his grease covered hands on an almost equally grease covered rag.

"Yes, I'm looking for the owner? Mr. Burt Hummel?"

"I'm Burt." the man answered, "Is there a problem?"

Blaine couldn't say anything for a moment. Burt Hummel didn't look like what he would have pictured Kurt's dad to be but the more he looked at him the more he seemed exactly right.

Burt coughed, "Uh, you okay?"

Blaine realized he'd just been standing there awkwardly. Great start Blaine!

"Hi!" He said sticking out his hand with a bit too much enthusiasm. "My name is Blaine Anderson."

Burt took his hand in a firm grasp. "Sorry, am I supposed to know you?"

"No! No. I um... I was just hoping to talk to you?"

"Cars or politics?" Burt asked. And then continued when Blaine gave him a confused look."Most people come around here needing help with their cars, or have questions about politics. The car I can help you with, the politics I've retired from."

Blaine blinked. He had gone over what to say to Mr. Hummel over and over and now it all seemed like a terrible idea. "Neither, actually Mr. Hummel. I wanted to talk to you... um... about Kurt?"

Burt's position didn't move, but Blaine could see his whole body react. Just in subtle ways, his jaw clinched slightly, he stood a little taller and the grip on his rag increased. He didn't say a word, seemingly waiting for Blaine to continue.

Blaine could feel sweat start to bead on his neck, and suddenly he felt young and stupid, but this was for Kurt. He continued on. "Sorry sir, to spring this on you. It's just that... I know. I knew your son. When he lived in California. And I, well I'm in town visiting my parents sir. I guess, I just thought I should come see you?" Blaine hated that the last part of his explanation came out as a question.

"You were a friend of my son's?" Burt still hadn't moved an inch.

"Yes sir. I understand you may not have heard of me, but-"

"Kurt and I weren't on the best terms when he lived in California. I don't really know anything about his friends from there." Burt said before sighing and tossing the rag in a nearby bin. Then he nodded his head towards a back room and started walking towards it.

Blaine followed him into a little office mostly filled with filing cabinets and a desk that was littered with papers and books. Burt sat down behind the desk and motioned for Blaine to take a seat in front. Which he did. Burt then took a second to clear some space off of his desk, muttering "It is organized chaos."

Blaine caught a glance at a couple pictures on his desk. One of Burt and a younger looking Kurt, which made Blaine gulp down some emotion he couldn't quite place. Another of Burt, a smiling middle-aged woman and a very tall young man who seemed about Blaine's age.

"Your family?" Blaine asked nodding towards the photo.

"Yes. My wife Carol and my son Finn."

"You all look happy there."

"We are." Burt answered before folding his hands on the desk and looking Blaine squarely in the eye. "Okay kid, I'll give you a couple minutes. You knew Kurt?"

"Yes sir."

"And you and he were friends?"

"Yer sir." Blaine wished he could stop feeling like a kid called into the principal's office.

"Just friends?"

Blaine didn't answer for a moment not understanding the question. When he realized what Burt was asking he still didn't know how to answer. Were Kurt and he just friends? No. But then again he didn't really know him years ago either. Blaine decided an indirect answer would be best here.

"Kurt was married and he was faithful." Was what Blaine decided to say, remembering how important it was to Kurt that Blaine believed he didn't cheat.

Burt smiled softly and then leaned back in his chair a little, "And why after all these years did you come to see me?"

Blaine felt a little relieved; this was something he and Kurt had gone over. "I'm in town visiting my parents. I don't get to see them that much. My dad and I get along well now, but we didn't always" So far so true."I guess being here with him this time around got me thinking about Kurt and his dad, and... well how you two got along." Not completely true, but better than telling him what was really happening.

"Meaning how Kurt and I didn'tget along?" Burt replied.

"What? No. The opposite. When Kurt mentioned you I was always a little envious of your relationship with him. My father didn't support me growing up. Thought being gay was a phase. He's better about it now but Mr. Hummel I am in awe of the relationship you had with Kurt." Completely true.

Burt took off his baseball cap and rubbed his eyes before looking away from Blaine and speaking, "We barely spoke and when we did it ended in fights."

"I know. I know that sir. Which is why I wanted to come and tell you. Kurt... Kurt loved you. He thought the world of you, even when you didn't agree with each other, even when you were fighting. Please believe me. When he talks about... when he talked about you his eyes would light up and his smile was bigger. I know things weren't the way you would have wanted at the end... but it didn't change the fact that he loved you and looked up to you. He was sorry things got as bad as they did."

Blaine let out a deep breath, feeling good about getting all of that out. Hoping Mr. Hummel would believe and understand what he was trying to say.

Burt tilted his head back and Blaine could see he was trying to hold back the tears forming in his eyes but it was a losing battle. Finally he gave up and just swatted at the falling tears with the sleeve of his shirt.

"I should have done more to protect him. I should have kept him safe. I knew Sebastian was no good. And I should have... I should have..." He didn't finished, his voice choked up with tears.

Blaine's heart sunk. What was he suppose to do? How was he supposed to make this better? No matter what he said he couldn't give Mr. Hummel back his son. Blaine stood up from his chair and walked to where Mr. Hummel was sitting putting a hand on his shoulder.

"What happened to Kurt was not your fault. It wasn't. Kurt had a mind of his own and was going to do what he wanted. It wasn't Kurt's fault either. It just... it just was... And I know that doesn't make losing him any better, but it was not your fault. And Kurt wouldn't want you to blame yourself. "

Blaine stood by the desk for a minute with a hand on Burt's shoulder until the man got himself under control. Blaine removed his hand, suddenly feeling awkward before returning to his seat.

Mr. Hummel rubbed his bald head for a moment before letting out a long breath.

"Sorry if I'm out of line." Blaine said.

"You're not. Well, you are, but I... Thank you."

Blaine looked down at his fidgeting hands, "I just thought Kurt would want you to know."

"You knew my son pretty well didn't you kid?"

"Yes sir, I think so."

"And you cared about him?"

"Very much."

Burt nodded. "Thank you for coming by." He said standing. "And I'm glad things with your dad have gotten better."

"Me too."

Burt walked him to the exit. Blaine was about to turn and go when Burt stopped him, placing a hand on his elbow. "I'm glad Kurt had a friend like you." He said. "I'm glad he wasn't alone." Then he stuffed his hands in his pocket and went back to the garage.

Blaine stood watching him for a moment before returning to his car. He felt like a weight had been lifted from him. As many times as he'd practiced what to say he never pictured it actually going so well. He hoped he really had helped. His heart sunk at the same time though, if he had helped would that mean Kurt was gone?

Blaine had spent time with his parents at the beginning of his trip so that when he was done talking to Mr. Hummel he could go straight back to San Francisco. The flight back home felt like a lifetime.

When he finally drove up to his house his heart was drumming in his ears. He ran up the steps to his house and then just stood outside. If he didn't go in he could imagine for a little longer that Kurt would still be there. Then he felt guilty for even wanting that when things were so hard for Kurt, when Kurt so wanted to move on. Blaine finally forced himself to open the door and walk in.