Jonathan was drinking his morning coffee when his cell phone rang. “Hello.”

“Jonathan, it’s Jack.” Jonathan’s heart starting beating rapidly as he listened, “I have some news. Late last night the commander at Camp Victory got a call from the Red Cross delegation out of Afghanistan. They were getting ready to close shop for the night when a truck drove up and dumped off a man right at their doorstep. They figured it was one of the insurgents who had been injured in the constant skirmishes - they were only in the area to immunize children but of course they can’t ignore an injured person. Much to their surprise they realized that the unconscious man was an American soldier. He had a note pinned to his shirt with his name, rank and the fact that he was based out of Camp Victory in Iraq. Jonathan, this is one of the soldiers that was with Kurt when they were captured. He was flown to the hospital at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. I have a team waiting to debrief him there. I will let you know what I’ve found out as soon as I hear.”

“What condition was he in when he was found?”

“Bad – I don’t have all the details but it seemed like he had been tortured since almost every finger was broken but I will know more once the doctors at Landstuhl check him out.”

“Thanks Jack. Keep me posted,” Jonathan hung up the phone and sat there thinking about all the times he had held Kurt in his arms. He thought about how cute Kurt had looked when he was teaching him how to hold his pinky while drinking tea. He choked on his tears thinking about Kurt’s fingers being broken and mangled to the point where he could no longer hold his tea cup appropriately. He had been in the military long enough and had seen enough hatred in the world to know what Kurt was probably going through. His grandson was one of the strongest people he knew but even the strongest have their limits. He wondered if Kurt had reached his limit.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoox

Corporal Smith had just finished being debriefed. He had had to recount everything he remembered from the moment they left Camp Victory that fateful morning quite a few times to different people. He answered the same questions over and over again. Everyone was trying to figure out the identity of the man who had released him but the hardest question to answer was whether or not Airman Hummel was alive. Smith had been in captivity 16 days before he was released and Hummel was now going on 20 days.

Smith knew that he would not have lasted much longer in captivity. His body had almost given up on him. It was damaged to such an extent that he had undergone quite a few surgeries to repair some of the internal damage caused by the beatings. He had been out of it for the first couple of days especially since his bones had been re-broken and set because they had started to heal improperly. It was easier to keep him sedated. He welcomed the pain which was a small price to pay for the guilt he felt at leaving Kurt behind. He knew that by giving up his freedom Hummel had essentially signed his own death warrant.

Smith remembered his promise to Kurt and since he knew his family was due to arrive the next day he wanted to take this opportunity to contact Kurt’s family. He knew once his wife and daughter arrived they would not leave him alone for an instant. He couldn’t wait to see his wife and daughter but knew he wouldn’t be able to answer the inevitable questions Kurt’s family would ask with them present. He wanted to spare them the details of what he had gone through during his captivity.

Smith had refused to take his last pain medication. His body craved the healing sleep but he knew he had to contact Hummel’s family and he needed to be alert. He had made a promise to Kurt and he meant to keep his word. He had asked permission to contact Kurt’s family and had been given his father and his boyfriend’s phone numbers. He picked up the landline and dialed the overseas extension.

“Good Morning Personnel Department, Airman Anderson speaking, how may I help you?

“Hello, this is Corporal Steven Smith. I am calling from Germany.”

“Yes, Can I help you?”

“Airman Anderson, I am calling because I was captured along with Airman Hummel and we promised each other that if either one of us made it out alive we would deliver messages to each other’s loved ones.” He could hear Blaine gasping on the telephone.

“You were with Kurt? How is he? Where is he now? When were you released?”

Smith went on to tell Blaine everything that had happened to them since they were captured. He told him about the hours they spent talking in the dark about their loved ones. He also told him how Kurt had been offered his freedom and had bartered it to save his friend. “Kurt mentioned that you were the love of his life. You made him happy and he always said he could never understand how someone like you could love someone as damaged as him. He asked me to make sure you knew how much he loved you and that you were the first and last thing he thought of each day. He also wanted me to tell you that if anything should happen to him that he wants you to go on living your life and to try to find happiness again.”

Blaine was crying but he had to ask, “Why do you keep talking about him in the past tense? Is Kurt dead? I haven’t heard from his father since yesterday.”

“The last time I saw Kurt was four days ago. He was alive but in pretty bad condition. I’m sorry I keep referring to him in the past tense but in our minds we were both dead to our loved ones when we were being held captive – it was easier to deal with the pain - and I am having trouble adjusting to freedom or the thought that I am still alive. I’m sorry I can’t answer your questions. I made a promise to Kurt and I wanted to honor his request. He saved my life and I will always be grateful to him. If you ever need anything or if there is anything I can ever do for you please don’t hesitate to contact me.” He gave Blaine his contact information before bidding him farewell.

He hung up the phone and dialed another number before he lost his nerve. He hated hurting Kurt’s family but Kurt had been pretty adamant about making sure his message was delivered if Smith made it out alive. Smith took a deep breath as he heard the phone being answered.

“Hello?”

“This is Corporal Steven Smith. Is this Mr. Burt Hummel?”

“This is Burt. How can I help you?”

“Mr. Hummel, I was with Kurt during the time he was held prisoner. He and I spoke while we were together and we promised each other to deliver a message to our respective families once we were freed…,” Smith went on to deliver his message and he was able to tell Burt the circumstances of his freedom. He thanked Burt for having raised an honorable man who had willingly given up his freedom so that someone else could live.

“Corporal Smith, I want to thank you for delivering Kurt’s message. I can hear the guilt in your voice for having your freedom while Kurt stayed behind. Please don’t let guilt get in the way of you living your life. My son must have seen something in you that made him decide to barter his freedom for yours. Please keep in touch. I would love to hear about your family.” By this point Burt could barely speak. He could feel the tears clogging up his vision. He quickly bid Corporal Smith a farewell and hung up the phone. He shakily dialed Blaine’s number. Smith had mentioned that he had already spoken with Blaine and Burt wanted to make sure he was okay.

xoxoxoxoxoxooxox

Kurt wasn’t sure how long he had been held captive. He lost track of time when Smith left. They used to keep each other company and together they were able to keep hanging on to the thread of hope that one day they would be rescued. That thread had been severed and Kurt floated in a daze of painkillers that his captors kept injecting into his system.

He was listening to his mother and Mr. Schue arguing about whether or not Kurt should wake up and try to find his way out of the medicated fog he was currently being suffocated with instead of just lying there dead to the world.

“You know I can hear you both. I don’t think I’m dead – yet,” he murmured trying to shift in the cot. That seemed to stop the present conversation.

“Kurt, I know you are in a lot of pain but I think you should try to ease up on the meds. It seems to pull you under for longer periods of time every time you are injected.”

“She’s right Kurt. I think you’ve been out of it for the past 12 hours,” replied Mr. Schue.

“It is pretty hard to fight someone off when every limb in your body is broken. Besides I can’t feel the pain anymore.”

“What happens if you OD or become addicted honey? This man is not a medical doctor and we aren’t even sure what it is he is injecting into you on a daily basis.”

“I will either die of an overdose or of being tortured and then shot. Seems like an easy choice, mother. As for the addiction part I don’t think I have to worry about being an addict because I probably won’t live long enough to deal with that monkey on my back. At least this way I’m not in agony 24/7.”

“No need to be sarcastic Kurt. I’m just worried about you.”

“I know mother. I will try to fight the next injection – that is if I’m even awake when he comes in to inject me.”

“We’ll make sure you are honey.”

Kurt nodded to his mother as he slipped back into the darkness where he could run his fingers through Blaine’s beautiful curls.

He was startled awake a few hours later when he heard the door to his room being opened. He opened his eyes and saw Hakin getting a syringe ready.

“No drugs,” he said hoarsely in Arabic.

Hakin was so startled at hearing Kurt speak Arabic that he dropped the syringe. “What?”

“No drugs please.”

“You will be in pain. I have been instructed to keep you pain free. I cannot disobey my orders,” he replied and proceeded to inject him.

Kurt just sighed and went back to cuddling with Blaine.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxo

The man sat on a chair and observed the young man sleeping on the cot. He looked like a young boy as he lay sprawled on the cot. He looked nothing like his grandfather and he certainly did not look like a seasoned warrior even though his interrogators swore that this man could not be broken even as almost every bone in his body was broken.

He had ordered the torture to stop as soon as he had found out that this was General Allen’s grandson. He had sent his son to offer him his freedom and he had been surprised when his son had informed him of what had transpired. It was at that moment that Sahid Awad knew he had to meet General Allen’s grandson. He had arrived late last night and had found his asleep so he decided to wait until the morning to speak with him. After breaking his fast the next morning he had gone to see his prisoner and wondered why he was still asleep.

“He sleeps because I keep him sedated,” answered Hakin when Sahid questioned him.

“Why? I’m sure he would not attempt to escape. The man can’t run on broken limbs.”

“I was instructed to keep him pain free so I inject him with pain killers twice a day. This causes him to sleep all the time.”

“You were instructed to keep him pain free not comatose! Do not inject him anymore and notify me when he is awake.”

“Yes sir.” Hakin had informed him that the prisoner was stirring about an hour ago and so he sat patiently waiting for him to fully wake up.

“Would you like some water?” he asked when he saw his eyes open. He put a straw up to the young boy’s mouth and watched him take a sip. He started to close his eyes but seemed to notice that his was not Hakin. He forced himself to focus on the older gentleman.

“Who are you?”

“I am Sahid Awad, Airman Hummel. I will have Hakin help you clean up and then we will speak.” He turned to Hakin and gave him instructions in Arabic to have the prisoner bathed, fed and in the interrogation room within the hour. He sent in his bodyguards to help Hakin since the young boy could not bear his weight on his own legs.

Kurt’s blood froze when he heard he was being taken to the interrogation room. It had been awhile since he had been interrogated and he wasn’t sure he could survive another beating.

An hour later Kurt was feeling almost human. He actually smelled good and while he could still feel every broken bone he was glad to be alert and sitting down with a full belly. He had asked Hakin the date and was amazed at how long he had survived captivity. It had been over a month since he had been taken captive and about two weeks since he had last seen Smith. He hoped that he had been released as promised. He looked over at the older man sitting across from him and asked, “Was my friend released?”

“Corporal Smith was delivered alive to the Red Cross as promised. He has since been reunited with his wife and child.” Kurt sagged in relief. He had been afraid that Smith had secretly been executed before his body wasnturned over to the Red Cross.

“Thank you.”

“I keep my promises Airman Hummel. I once promised myself that if I was ever in a position to settle my debt with General Allen I would. I just never thought it would take over 20 years – actually I never really thought I would ever get a chance to repay his kindness to me and my family. I was overjoyed to hear that I was actually going to erase that debt - except for the fact that you ruined it for me by saving someone else so I still feel like I am in debt to your grandfather. My son explained your reasons but I needed to hear it from you because I am having trouble understanding how someone who has been tortured and beaten gives up his freedom knowing he will probably die in captivity?”

“Corporal Smith is a good man. I’ve worked with him since being in Iraq and have seen how he is with his men and with the children around Camp Victory. He has a family and I didn’t want his child to grow up without a father. It is as simple as that.”

“Nothing is ever that simple. Can you tell me a little bit about your grandfather?” He saw Kurt hesitate, “After all I did release your friend alive.”

Kurt knew that prisoners of war were not to give out personal information that could and probably would be used against them but he figured he did owe the man so he talked about his grandfather.

“I know your mother died on September 11th and I knew that it must have been a terrible blow for General Allen. Your mother was his only daughter. Daughters always hold a special place in their father’s hearts.”

“I don’t remember much about that time since I was very young and all I knew was that my mother was gone. Did you ever try to contact my grandfather?” Kurt was curious.

“No, I never did. I was tempted to and I did send a wreath to your mother’s funeral but your grandfather and I have very different belief systems as far as what is right and what our faith tells us is right. We had an uneasy truce while I was held captive and he never really knew how grateful I was for how humanely he treated me and my men. I knew without a doubt that if it had not been for your grandfather we would have all been killed within days of being captured. Humans do terrible things to each other during war and such acts can easily be justified as sanctioned killings. There is a song about war that says “…nobody is right, if everybody’s wrong….” and yet each side continues to steadfastly fight for their beliefs. May I ask how you got that scar?”

“I was in LAX when it was bombed last year. If my teacher had not protected me with his body I would have perished that day. That day changed my life and it was also why I decided to join the military. It was my turn to make a difference and to fight back against terrorism. I survived that bombing but it looks like my time has come to an end and ironically at the hands of terrorists but at least it is on my terms. I know I’ve made an impact on Corporal Smith’s family and I never gave the enemy information that could be used against my country.”

“Your death will be an honorable one when it comes time to die but it will not be at my hands. You have made your grandfather and your country proud. Five of you were taken captive and only two of you were strong enough to survive the brutalities inflicted on you without giving up any information. I refuse to have your death on my conscious Airman Hummel. You will be released to the International Red Cross tomorrow morning. Please give your grandfather my regards. You may use my name when they debrief you although it is not my real name it is the one I was using when I was brought before your grandfather. He might not remember me but I will be able to wipe my slate clean.” He stood up reached over to shake my hand but realized that my broken hand and fingers were too swollen and mangled to manage a handshake.

“Thank you,” Kurt whispered as he left the room. He was dizzy with relief. Instead of being tortured again he was given his freedom. Hakin came in and had the bodyguards carry him back to his cot. Hakin asked him if he wanted an injection and he shook my head. He wanted to be conscious when he was released to the Red Cross.

“I’m going home mom….” he whispered. He didn’t hear her response but he could hear her singing to him as he drifted off to sleep.