The 000 stared Kurt in the face.

He sprang to his feet and stumbled backwards a little, clutching at his wrist as the numbers glared back at him. The zeros only stayed for a moment before the timer faded to black.

"No!" Kurt yelled, crazed with worry and fear. "NO!" He griped his wrist so tight he could feel his pulse beating too fast under his skin.

"Kurt." His dad said, also raising to his feet. Kurt glanced up for a second to see his dads drawn face and red rimmed eyes.

"No!" Kurt repeated shaking his head. He looked back down at his blank timer. "Come back! Come back!" Tears clogged his throat and made it hard to breath.

Frenzy built up inside of Kurt and he knew he was shaking, he felt like he might just shake apart into a million pieces.

Then, his timer lit up again, 000 for a moment until the beautiful number 340 reappeared.

"Oh my god." Kurt covered his mouth with his hand as a sob escaped his lips. He couldnt tear his eyes away from his timer and the number that meant his soulmate was still alive, the number that meant Kurt would survive.

His euphoria lasted only a moment though.

The numbers flickered and then the whole thing went black again.

Kurts knees gave out under him and only his dads sure arms reaching out to steady him allowed him to slump down on the couch.

"Stop it!" Kurt yelled at his timer. He didnt understand whats happening. He looked up at his dad with tear blurred eyes.

"Kurt..." Burt started, looking down at the timer.

"Whats happening!" Kurt shouted angrily. He wasnt mad at his dad, not really. He was just terrified.

"I dont know son..." Burt stopped as Kurts timer flickered again and then the number 340 blinked back on.

Kurt tensed, afraid the timer would go out again. He brushed the numbers with his thumb. "Stay with me." He whispered.

"His heart must be..." Burt met Kurts eyes and cleared his throat. "His heart must be starting and stopping."

"No." Kurt said shaking his head almost violently. "What do we do?"

Burt sighed. "I dont know. We just have to wait."

Kurt bit his lip and looked at his wrist. The numbers started to flicker. "Dont. Dont do that!" Kurt begged, his body shaking and his heart clenching, but he couldnt make it stop, the timer went blank again.

Kurt sat on the couch silently, barely even blinking, holding his breath. The timer stayed dark. Kurt started holding his wrist so tight that his nails dug into his skin . How much time has passed since the timer went blank this time? Seconds? Minutes? Should Kurt have been counting?

"Dont you dare!" Kurt yelled suddenly at the blank screen, his icy blood thawing out as anger started to flow among the fear. "You cant do this. You cant leave me. Dont you dare!"

"Son." Burts hands wrapped around Kurts grip, releasing it a little before Kurt could do anymore damage to his skin. "Im so sorry." He dads voice broke and something inside of Kurt snapped.

"No." He stood up and backed away from his dad continuing to move away until his back was pressed up against the wall of the living room. "No Dad, no!"

His dad was openly crying now, he hadnt seen him this way since his moms funeral.

His dad had given up. He thought Kurts soulmate was dead.

Kurt looked back down at the blank timer closing his eyes and breathing. I need you. He thinks and then opened his eyes and said it out loud, talking to his timer as if it was his soulmate right there with him.

"I need you. Come back. Please come back."

The timer flickered but stayed blank.

"We get to meet soon. So soon. Ive been waiting my whole life for you. Please, dont give up. Please."

It flickered again, but still no numbers.

"You listen to me!" Kurt choked out, voice determined even though it was scratchy with tears. "You are not going to die! You are not allowed to leave me. I need you and you need me!"

The timer flickered and Kurt brought his lips down to his wrist planting a gentle kiss on the timer. "I love you." Kurt said softly though his tears. "Come back to me."

The timer flickered and the numbers 000 stared Kurt in the face for a moment and Kurt couldnt breathe. Then the 340 finally, finally reappeared. Kurt slumped against the wall in relief, his limbs shaking. He sat huddled on floor breathing raggedly.

"Stay with me. Stay with me." Kurt couldnt stop looking at the timer on his wrist.

At some point Burt wrapped an arm around his shoulders and brought him back to the couch. Kurt sat next to his dad, tucked into his side, his eyes still on his timer. The number still read 340.

Burt had turned the TV off at some point and they sat in silence. Burt watched his son. Kurt watched his timer.

"Stay with me. Stay with me. Stay with me." Kurt kept repeating like a chant or a prayer. Like his words alone would keep his soulmate alive. Kurt didnt know how long they sat like that together but eventually the 340 counted down to 339.

Kurt didnt mean too, but eventually his eyes started to flutter close. He leaned his head against his dads shoulder, bringing his wrist up to his chest cradling it over his heart. The exhaustion from all the fear, pain and panic of the evening taking their toll. "Stay with me." Kurt whispered one more time before he drifted to sleep.

Kurt woke up slowly. Body heavy and mind fuzzy. He was on the couch, a thick blanket thrown over him. He could smell coffee and fried eggs in the air and he yawned as he started to sit up.

The events of the previous night hit him like a freight train. He let out a yelp and looked down at his wrist.

339

He still had 339 days until he meets his soulmate. His soulmate who was alive and well.

Kurt shuttered thinking about the pain he went through last night and the stopping and starting timer. His soulmate may not be well after all, but he was at least alive. Kurt sighed and closed his eyes again.

339 days seems like such a long time, but at least his soulmate was still out there somewhere.