June 7, 2013, 7:39 p.m.
You and I Collide: Chapter 6
E - Words: 5,210 - Last Updated: Jun 07, 2013 Story: Closed - Chapters: 16/? - Created: May 13, 2012 - Updated: Jun 07, 2013 260 0 0 0 0
November 2nd, 1918 - German Hospital
Kurt
It seemed odd to Kurt that he loved being in the hospital, but he guessed that he enjoyed his days here because he wasn't anywhere near the trenches.
All of the people at the hospital were kind and cheerful. The nurses were always smiling and joking with the wounded soldiers as they went about their duties of giving out medications and changing bandages with their minuscule supplies, always finding a way to bring a smile to the men's faces.
The women had become handy at finding other materials to make the supplies that they lacked. Usually they would turn old, tattered blankets, or even old clothing they could find into bandages to use on the men.
The doctors, on the other hand, were very rarely seen in the recovery ward that Kurt was in, since they were always burdened with the tireless job of patching up the onslaught of men coming from the trenches. However, the few times Kurt had seen the doctors the men looked dead on their feet, walking down the narrow aisle, checking in on their charges.
Captain Howell was one such man. He was always willing to stop and talk to the soldiers, even going so far as to share a smoke with them. He was a likable man; funny, charming, smart, but in spite of that, Kurt wasn't very fond of him. The Captain always had one eye on the nurses, especially Nurse Fabray, whom Kurt had grown very close to, which Kurt supposed was the reason for his dislike of the man.
Doctor Howell seemed to make it his mission to seek the nurse out and make her a flustering mess. Speaking sweet nothings into her ear and trying to persuade her into joining him (as the other nurses would) in the supply closet down the hall. Nurse Fabray, however, would return to her duties, leaving the man looking dumb in her wake. Kurt was sure this was why he liked her so much.
Nurse Fabray was a kind and wonderful woman that all of the soldiers seemed to have fallen in love with, Kurt included (in the most non-romantic sense, of course). She made it her mission to talk to the men and genuinely listen, and since they two of them had grown to be close friends, she made sure that they talked every night after her last check.
Kurt enjoyed their late night conversations. They would talk about everything and anything, their minds could conger from literature, to fashion, to music, and home.
It was in these late night conversations that Kurt learned Nurse Fabray was the same age as him and the youngest daughter of a wealthy family in Berlin. At the outbreak of the war she had decided to become a nurse and had been working at this hospital ever since.
She told him how she had to learn on the go, how to help the injured men and find inventive ways to keep them in high spirits. But it was in the dead of night that the two friends would sit in the light of a flickering candle to talk about their dreams and futures.
"What about marriage?" Nurse Fabray asked, quietly smiling at the rising blush on Kurt's cheeks.
Kurt gaped at her. How on earth had their conversation turned from him wanting to open a clothing shop to the idea of marriage?
Nurse Fabray giggled. "There must be a charming, pretty, young girl waiting at home for you." She said as Kurt looked away from her nervously.
Sighing Nurse Fabray whispered "I did it again, didn't I?"
Kurt raised an eyebrow in question. "I've hit a sore spot" She clarified.
"No, well yes, but it's fine." Kurt rambled, as the nurse looked at him in confusion at his sudden discomfort. "No, the only girls waiting at home for me are my sisters." He quipped trying to move the conversation to safer ground.
The nurse turned her attention to her nails, picking at the skin surrounding them. "I hear you talking in your sleep..." she mumbled, before turning her hard green gaze on Kurt. "About a man named Blaine..."
All the colour drained from Kurt's face. She knew and now he was going to lose his only true friend in this place. His mind raced. He really only had two options, he could deny everything or admit his leanings towards the same sex. Quickly weighing the pros and cons, Kurt chose the former; he would deny being gay until his dying breath.
"Oh god, why can't I keep my big mouth shut!" Nurse Fabray rushed out in a hushed voice, "Here I am, trying to be a friend and I go and make things awkward because of my curiosity!"
Kurt was flabbergasted. His mouth was hanging open as he watched Nurse Fabray rant.
"Honestly, I see no issue with the fact that you may be interested in men, not that you are-"
"I am." Kurt stated as he smiled at the nurse hesitantly, awaiting her reaction.
The nurse paused mid-sentence, her hands raised over her head, and her eyes bugged out a bit at Kurt's declaration. Lowering her hands to her lap, she watched Kurt intently, as if waiting for him to declare that he was joking. But Kurt didn't indicate otherwise; it was out in the open and there was no turning back now.
It was beginning to become uncomfortable as the silence stretched around them. The only noises in the ward were the sounds of forty men breathing slowly and the small snuffles coming from Rolph's bed.
The two of them sat searching each other's eyes, unexpectedly Nurse Fabray grabbed Kurt's hand, and let lose a smile that caused her eyes to sparkle in the dim light. "Well then, tell me all about this boy."
Kurt looked at the nurse in bewilderment, "wait, you're fine with me liking men...romantically?" he said, choosing the last word very carefully.
"Honestly, no." She said, smiling even wider at how Kurt looked worried. "I have to admit a small part of me is disappointed. You would have made a perfect husband."
Kurt snorted, as his smile returned. "Oh please, I would make a horrible husband."
"That's true, you would be stealing all of my cloth to make yourself a new outfit, and then making me a fabulous dress that all of the women in the neighbourhood would only dream of owning. To make matters worse you could come home from the shop to come make me dinner, and maybe do some cleaning, so that I could relax after looking after the children all day. You're right you would be a horrible husband." She joked.
"Haha, very funny." Kurt smirked, before becoming somber again. "You are honestly fine with me being gay?"
"Yes, Kurt, I am." She replied growing slightly displeased that Kurt doubted her. "Now tell me all about this man you are having dreams of."
"Why?"
She grinned devilishly. "Because I have to live through someone's love life."
Letting out a gentle laugh, Kurt shook his head. "Fine, but I should warn you, the story doesn't have a happy ending."
"I'm sure it does." She said, as she leaned her elbows on the edge of Kurt's bed.
So Kurt told her about how he met Blaine, his night in the shell hole and how they had some moments together. He did however leave out the parts about Blaine attempting to kill him at the beginning, how Bobby also shared the hole with him, and that Blaine wasn't German.
"You weren't joking." She said as she leaned back giving Kurt a sad smile, "it didn't have a happy ending."
"Of course it didn't." Rolph said from his bed, startling the two to turn to look at him. "It's a romance that happened in the middle of a war, it would never last."
"Ever the romantic." Nurse Fabray said shaking her head at Rolph before looking back to Kurt. "Don't listen to him, he wouldn't know romance if it hit him over the head."
Ignoring the conversation Kurt looked at Rolph in horror. Rolph knew. Oh god, Rolph knew he was gay.
As if he read Kurt's mind Rolph chuckled, "Don't worry kid, I have no problem about you being queer, you're still the same man, and nothing will change between us. And besides," A twinkle grew in his brown eyes as he winked at Kurt. "It just leaves more ladies for me."
Kurt couldn't help but laugh, as Nurse Fabray rolled her eyes.
Rolph was truly a character.
November 4th, 1918 - German Hospital
Kurt
Rolph kept his word; nothing had changed between the two of them since he had found out about Kurt's preference for men. If anything it seemed to make their friendship grow. The two of them talked during the day and played cards at night after they went for their midday walks.
Since he had found out, Rolph seemed encouraged to pursue all the nurses, his reasoning being that his biggest competition was out of the race for all the beautiful women. So naturally he had to up the anti, so he could console all the broken hearted nurses.
Kurt had reminded him several times that the only woman that knew was Nurse Fabray, but Rolph ignored him and proceeded to flirt with the women... Horribly, mind you, but no one had the heart to tell him since it seemed to lift his spirits.
Rolph had it in his head that he should be telling the women how ‘it must have hurt falling from heaven' and ‘that someone should write a letter to God because he was missing an angel' and that that was how he was going to win their hearts.
But no matter how many lines he used it never seemed to work, instead it was all the nurses and Kurt could do to try and suppress their laughter, all the while hiding how they rolled their eyes at him.
And today was no exception.
Rolph seemed on a mission to win over someone, so when he asked Kurt to join him for their afternoon walk Kurt gaped at him.
"But you were on a roll..." Kurt joked.
"Shut up Private." Rolph grunted as a small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, "are you coming or what?" he asked again as he grabbed the crutches next to his bed.
Throwing the blanket off of his lower half Kurt swung his legs over the side of the bed before he grabbed his single crutch, "Of course, I need to get out for a bit."
Kurt and Rolph hobbled in silence along the dusty aisle of the large room, stopping periodically to talk with some of the men, when they needed a quick breather, or rather when Kurt needed one.
It was when Kurt and Rolph started these walks that Kurt quickly learned that the infection had affected his energy levels, something Nurse Fabray assured him would disappear with some activity. So naturally the nurse saw this as an opportunity to get both of the men out of their beds and walking so they could be sent home sooner, an opportunity both men jumped at.
Since both men were learning how to cope with their injuries, they were always under the watchful eyes of the nurses. Rolph was learning quickly about how to maneuver with his crutches, while Kurt was still forgetting that his leg needed the aid of his crutch but was always reminded by the pain that would follow.
The men never wandered far but, as usual, they wound up in the ill-kept courtyard of the hospital. They sat at an old stone bench, Rolph leaning back to watch the clouds of smoke linger in the sky over the horizon of the forest below. While Kurt let the warm November sun sink into his skin and his injured leg stretch out in front of him.
"Have you written home yet?" Rolph asked as he stared absentmindedly towards the smoke.
"Yeah, but I haven't gotten anything back." Kurt mumbled, as he leaned forward to pick at the pads of his hands, giving Rolph a sidelong look.
Rolph smiled, "Give it time kid, you know the army they, take their sweet-ass time doing everything."
"That's true." Kurt grinned. "So, why were you so excited to get outside?"
"I wanted to talk to you... In private."
Intrigued, Kurt turned his full attention to Rolph, noticing that he was fidgeting with the cuff of his jacket. "Oh?"
"How do you do it?" Rolph rushed.
"I'm sorry?" Kurt asked, wondering why everyone seemed to ask him questions without specifying what they were talking about.
"How do you get a broad to like you?"
So that's what all this is about, Rolph was wanting to get advice, something Kurt was more than willing to give to get the man to stop with all the cheesy lines. "Well first don't call them broads." Kurt said smiling at the blush that rose on Rolph's cheeks. "And second, you really need to stop with all of those horrible lines."
"Oh please those are genius! The broa-, I mean the Nurses love them!"
Rolling his eyes dramatically, Kurt sighed fixing Rolph with a steely glare. "They're tacky, and if you haven't noticed they are obviously not working well for you."
"Well then, what should I do?" Rolph questioned looking at Kurt with his big brown eyes.
"Oh I don't know," Kurt mocked, "maybe have a civilized conversation with them? And no that does not include you commenting on how they fell from heaven, or anything similar."
"So I just talk to them." Rolph repeated, like it was the most intriguing information he was ever given.
"Honestly?" Kurt asked watching Rolph in disbelief. "Is it so odd to just have a simple conversation with a woman?"
"I'm not you, Hummel, women aren't naturally drawn to me." Rolph exclaimed throwing his hands in the air.
Snorting, Kurt watched as Rolph let his head drop. "Are you kidding me? Have you seen you?" Kurt asked gaining the other man's attention again, "I thought you only lost your leg not your hearing?" Kurt jested nudging Rolph in the shoulder, getting a half smile in return.
Satisfied Kurt continued, "You're a very attractive man-"
"And you are not my type Hummel," Rolph teased.
"I'm very aware that your type is blonde with green eyes," Kurt said flippantly, catching Rolph stiffen beside him. "It breaks my heart but I think I'll survive the heartache. Anyways, as I was saying your attractive, you have a great personality, and you're funny when you aren't being an ass. Just stop trying so hard and be yourself, and maybe you will catch the eye of our lovely nurse."
"H-how did you know?!" Rolph stuttered, staring at Kurt with wide eyes.
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Really? I'm surprised everyone doesn't know. You are always staring at her... Discreetly, mind you, but if people watch you they would notice."
"And here I thought I was being subtle..." Rolph mumbled.
Kurt smiled. God, this man was adorable when he was shy. "You are." He assured him. "I don't think anyone knows but me and the only reason I know is because I have nothing better to do than read and watch you, in the least creepy way possible, mind you. That and I'm in tune to these kinds of things-"
"Because you're gay?" Rolph asked innocently.
"No," Kurt chuckled, as the man sitting beside him blushed. "Because I'm a hopeless romantic."
The Lieutenant nodded his understanding before the two men lapsed into a silence, watching the bare branches of the trees sway in the November wind.
Shivering, Kurt glanced at Rolph who seemed to be very deep in thought. "I think I'm going to head in," he paused, noticing that Rolph was fidgeting again with the cuff of his jacket. "Are you going to join me?" he asked as he stood leaning his weight on his crutch.
Rolph looked up at Kurt. "I think I'll stay out here for a while, think some things over."
"Alright, well, I'll see you later." Kurt carefully walked back to the oak doors of the hospital, keeping an eye on his feet as they moved over the loose gravel.
"Hello, Private."
Kurt paused, glancing up to see the bright smile of Nurse Fabray.
"It's good to see you moving around so well." She said as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "With the way you're recovering I have no doubt the doctor will be signing your release papers very soon."
"Oh god, I hope so." Kurt said dramatically, as he readjusted his weight to his good leg shivering as another breeze went past.
Nurse Fabray glanced up into the clouds, shaking her head. "You should head inside; I fear we may get some snow."
"I was on my way back." Kurt assured her, as he began to slowly make his way inside.
"Oh, Herr Hummel!" Nurse Fabray called, running back to his side her cheeks flushing slightly. "Have you seen the Lieutenant? I have some medication for him." She held up a clasped hand, as if she needed to justify her reasoning.
Kurt nodded as he fought a smile. "He's at our usual spot."
Nodding, she breathed out a quick thanks making her way to the bench.
Debating with himself, Kurt turned on his heel and walked as quickly as his leg could take him to see the two interact. Hiding behind one of the large maples Kurt watched as Nurse Fabray called Rolph's name in a breathless voice.
Being startled from his thoughts Rolph stood abruptly without the support of his crutches making him tumble over landing on his side causing Kurt to start to make his way from his hiding place, before he remembered that he wasn't supposed to be there.
Kurt didn't have to dwell on the thought of helping his friend for long since Nurse Fabray ran quickly to his side. She fussed over him before helping him back to his position on the bench. "Are you alright?" She asked her eyes and hands flitting over his chest and leg.
Kurt observed the two of them as Nurse Fabray fussed, while Rolph watched her with adoration in his eyes. When she brushed a hand on the knee of his good leg Rolph winced.
"Do you have a bandage?" he asked, causing the young woman to look at him with worry written all over her features, "Because I think I scraped my knee falling for you."
Kurt couldn't help but shake his head and groan. He couldn't watch this. Making a quick exit, he paused when he heard the musical sound of a woman's laugh.
Grinning Kurt continued his trek back to his bed. Well, maybe not all of Rolph's lines were so bad.
November 11th, 1918 - British Field Hospital
Blaine
Blaine had been working as a stretcher bearer for a month when he got the notification. The moment Rory came rushing over bright faced and panting with a strange sparkle in his clear eyes Blaine realized that something big was about to go down.
"B-Blaine" he panted, pausing only a few feet in front of the other to double over at the waist in order to catch his breath. Blaine waited patiently, turning away briefly to help some poor bugger blinded by a gas attack sit up on his wooden plank bed.
"I'm going home!"
That took Blaine by surprise. His head swung back so he could look at the boy straight on, the shock clearly evident. Rory just smiled widely that dreamy grin slathered across his face.
"I'll finally get to see Sugar again" he gushed. Blaine hadn't been able to form words, a sickening feeling settling low in his stomach. He found himself scared, wondering if this was some sick joke some arse was playing on the poor kid or maybe their superiors finally caught wind that they were behind what was now being called the great pudding mystery.
"I - what?" Blaine stumbled over his words, his throat feeling dry and his tongue not wanting to work. Rory hadn't stopped talking but rather continued to gush over his one true love, all things Blaine had heard over a hundred times already.
"Anderson!" Head Nurse Beiste lumbered over to where the boys were standing dumbly, a stoic look on her face. Blaine snapped to attention knowing that if caught wasting time he was bound to be loudly and publicly reprimanded.
"Yes ma'am." He called back, feeling the need to salute the hulk of a woman as she continued to bear down on them. Rory had finally silenced himself and was now just staring at their unofficial boss with a silly little smile.
"Get that man over to the nurses' station then grab your pack."
If anything, Blaine was even more confused than before having talked to the small, Irish boy. He stared up at her, his thick eyebrows almost lost in the dark curls of his fringe.
"...why?" She looked down her nose at the boy with an expression that clearly said not to argue and why ask such a ridiculous question.
"Because..." Beiste started slowly, as if talking to a small child "You're going home."
Blaine found himself having to sit down where he started to cry harder than he had in years, watching, mildly entertained, as Rory, flushed from panic, stuttered and raced about trying to find a solution, while Beiste hunkered down and rubbed soothing circles on his tense back.
He was going home.
November 9th, 1918 - German Hospital
Kurt
"I have a letter for you!" Nurse Fabray sing-songed as she walked up to the side of Kurt's bed handing him the yellowing paper.
Kurt snatched the letter from her hands, earning himself a chuckle from Rolph and a giggle from the nurse. "Someone is eager," she laughed as she sat on the edge of Rolph's bed.
Unfolding the paper, Kurt could see his father's messy writing on the page. Taking a deep, calming breath, he began to read. How everyone missed him, and that Lena and Noah were waiting till he came home to have the wedding. That little Anna was so happy to hear that he was okay, and that his father was ‘so very proud of him'.
Wiping a few stray tears from his eyes, Kurt reread the letter another three times before he turned to his patiently waiting friends.
"My sister is planning on getting married in a few months whether the war is over or not." Kurt chuckled, his companions smiling at his excitement. "And Anna misses me, she keeps telling all of her friends that her brave, big brother is coming home."
Rolph chuckled again, making Kurt blush in embarrassment "Sorry, I'll stop."
Nurse Fabray glared at Rolph, nudging his shoulder. "Ignore him, I want to hear more!"
"You are so pushy." Rolph joked, earning a swat on the shoulder from the nurse. "Well you are!" he defended, as he raised his hands to stop the nurse from hitting him again. "You're always pushing meds on me, and telling me to sleep and making me and Kurt go for walks-"
"Don't bring me into this." Kurt chuckled as the nurse looked affronted by Rolph's words.
"I do it for your own good!" she squealed, glaring at Rolph, before the two of them started to quarrel again.
Sighing Kurt decided that he needed to stop the two of them since they were starting to draw unwanted attention. "Hey! If you want to know more you need to shut your mouths."
Kurt couldn't help but laugh at the expressions that crossed their faces, they looked like children that had just been scolded by their father, which Kurt had to remind himself seemed very much the case. Their faces were flushed, Rolph grinned like an idiot looking quite smug with himself and Nurse Fabray tucked a stray hair behind her ear before clearing her throat. "Sorry. You were saying?"
"Oh, never mind." Kurt chuckled as the pair gave each other sidelong glances. "So, Nurse Fabray, you mentioned that I get to be sent home in the next day or so?"
Getting caught once again, the nurse flushed even redder. "Oh yes, the doctor already sent out your discharge paper work about a week ago, and I personally sent word to your father that your train will arrive on the eleventh."
"So, I go home in two days?" Kurt asked in awe, hardly accepting the words.
"Lucky bastard." Rolph mumbled, earning himself an elbow in the chest. "You know I think this may be seen as abuse."
Nurse Fabray rolled her eyes, "Oh please. Am I abusing him?" She asked Kurt, looking at him for assistance.
Kurt smirked as he got Rolph's attention, "If anything, her actions may be seen as favouritism." He held back another laugh as both of them gaped at him, "Which I have to say breaks my heart, because I thought I was her favourite."
Jumping off of the bed as if she was scalded, Nurse Fabray moved to Kurt's side hugging his shoulders in an attempt to hide her ever reddening face, "Oh Private, everyone knows you're my favorite." She assured him giving him a tighter squeeze for emphasis before she leaned back and smiled at the two men.
"God I'm going to miss you guys." Kurt whispered, glancing at the smiling faces of his two companions.
"I know what you mean, kid. But hey, we can write each other-"
"Oh I would love that!" Clasping her hands together, Nurse Fabray moved quickly to grab a pencil and paper. When she returned she shoved it in Rolph's hand. "Well go on then write yours down, one for each of us."
Balancing the paper on his knee Rolph quickly jotted down his information before handing it back to the nurse. Smiling broadly, she handed it to Kurt so he could include his information. Once he was done she added her own before ripping the paper and handing the information to each of the men, tucking the last copy into her pocket.
They glanced over the addresses, noticing one small detail that neither man knew before.
"Quinn?" Rolph whispered, looking up at the nurse, who nodded.
Kurt looked at the flowing script of her handwriting, "I, honestly, never would have guessed."
"Well now that you both know, you still need to keep it hush-hush." She said, setting both men with a hard stare. "I'm still your nurse after all and as you both are aware I shouldn't be telling you."
Winking, Kurt nodded. "Your secret is safe with me, Nurse Fabray."
Smiling Quinn turned her head to look at Rolph. He was still staring at the piece of paper, rubbing his thumb over the words.
"Lieutenant?" Quinn asked, breaking Rolph from his entranced state.
"Yeah, yeah, my lips are sealed." He answered mimicking the lock and key movement next to his lips.
Returning to her spot on Rolph's bed she placed her hand on his knee and squeezed, making the poor man gawk at the back of her head, then at Kurt with a look of utter confusion.
Kurt held back a bark of laughter and shook his head. Poor Rolph, he was so oblivious.
Quinn got more comfortable on the bed, her hand still resting on Rolph's knee "So, tell us more about home, Kurt."
"Yeah, kid, tell us about home, I need something to tide me over till I get my papers."
November 11th, 1918 - Düsseldorf - Train Station
Kurt
Stepping off the train, Kurt slung his pack higher on his shoulder glancing around the station looking for his family; something he deemed would be no small feat. The station was packed.
"Hey, kid." Kurt turned looking into the opened window to see Rolph hanging out halfway. "Don't forget to write."
Kurt smiled "I won't."
"Good, now get going. Your family is waiting." Rolph maneuvered his body so that he could reach out the window. "Good luck, kid."
Kurt clasped Rolph's hand, shaking it. "You too, Rolph. Stay out of trouble."
Rolph threw his head back and laughed. "We may have only known each other for a few weeks but I thought you would at least know I live for trouble."
Fighting back his own smile Kurt gave Rolph a look. "That's exactly why I told you to stay out of it."
Rolph chuckled. "No promises. Now get going before I get teary."
Rolling his eyes, Kurt gripped his crutch tighter, turning his back to Rolph. "Bye Rolph, see you around." He waved as he made his way into the throngs of people crowding the platform.
"See you, kid!" Rolph yelled over the crowd, causing Kurt to pause to see the man waving like a maniac. With a final wave, Kurt worked his way through the mass of people looking for the familiar faces of his family.
Kurt couldn't believe the war was over. It was that morning that all of the men had been woken from their beds and told that Germany had signed a truce ending the war in favour of the Allies. Just like many of the men, Kurt had mixed feelings. A huge part was relieved that it was finally over, but another worried for the future of his country.
It was odd for Kurt that as he hobbled among the people on the platform, he was stopped a number of times by people he didn't even know. They were giving him pats on the back as well as words of encouragement about his injury. Some even went so far as to touch the black third class wound badge that he wore on his uniform.
However, after the seventh person stopped him, Kurt's patience was starting to wear thin. He was anxious to see his family again and all these people were just making it damn difficult to do so.
Finally breaking free from the tight grasp of a woman, Kurt attempted to hurry his pace in hopes he could avoid more people stopping him from his goal.
"Kurt!" a small voice squealed, breaking him from his thoughts.
Looking up, Kurt caught a flash of blue before being tackled. "Whoa! Hello to you too, Anna." Kurt chuckled as Anna's arms squeezed his midsection, her head buried into his chest. Smiling Kurt wrapped his arms around her shoulders placing a tender kiss on the top of her head.
"Anna! Be careful!" Lena yelled, as she ran up to Kurt's side wrapping her arms around him. "Thank god your home." She whispered in his ear as a stray tear escaped her eyes. Extracting an arm he wrapped it around Lena's waist pulling her into his side, taking in the smell of her perfume.
A hard hand landed on his back startling him, "Good to have you back." Noah smiled, looking at the crutch resting in the crook of his arm, "So, what's it like to get shot?"
"Noah!" Lena exclaimed, scandalized at the question her fiancé had asked.
Smiling, Kurt shook his head. "Good to see you too, Noah."
Taking a look around Kurt noticed he couldn't see his father. "Where's Dad?"
Letting go of her vice grip around Kurt's middle Anna emerged wiping a few tears on her sleeve, before pointing towards a brick column. "Daddy, wanted to talk to you by himself." She sniffled.
Nodding, Kurt gave Lena a quick kiss on the cheek, and ruffled Anna's hair.
Leaning over to grab his pack that he'd dropped on the ground, Noah snatched it from his grasp and slung it over one of his own broad shoulders. "Go see your Dad, I've got this."
Murmuring his thanks, Kurt gripped his crutch and made his way over to his father.
Burt was leaning against the column watching other families being reunited with their sons, smiling at the happy tears that flowed from the ecstatic loved ones.
"Hey, Dad." Kurt said breathlessly as his father whipped his head around to stare at Kurt.
It only took Burt two quick strides to get to Kurt and wrap him in his strong arms. Letting out a breath he hadn't noticed he was holding, Kurt let tears fall. He was finally home.