Taking a deep breath Santana slowly made her way over to the table where Kurt was now picking at the bottle top of his juice. When she reached the table, she cleared her throat to get Kurt’s attention. He looked up startled to have been pulled from his own thoughts. When their eyes met confusion flickered across his face. How did she know he’d be here?

“Kurt,” Santana started as she took the seat opposite him. “Urm, what are you doing here? Is it your dad?” she asked, even though she knew that wasn’t why he was here.

“Oh, I-I, no.” Kurt stuttered eyes now back on his salad as Santana continued to look at him expectantly. “It’s Blaine.” He sighed, tears beginning to pool in his eyes. Santana reached out her well manicured hand placing it on Kurt’s and holding his loosely. He looked up at her as she squeezed his hand encouragingly. “He-he was attacked yesterday. He hasn’t really spoken about it at all. I almost lost him Santana. I can’t lose him!” Kurt sobbed, in an instant Santana was by his side as he sobbed uncontrollably onto her shoulder. She sat there rubbing his back soothingly until his sobs turned into hiccups. “But wait, Santana, why are you here?”

“Oh, I volunteer here sometimes, you know with the kids in the children’s ward. It was my dad’s idea, he works here.” Santana said looking at her lap. She looked up to meet Kurt’s eyes which were now red and puffy, but had an unreadable look in them.

“Dr Lopez.” Kurt said taking in the blank expression on Santana’s face. “He’s your dad, isn’t he?” a small nod. “Is that why you were calling me last night?” another small nod.

“I was worried Kurt. All of the New Directions worry about you. We all love you and by an extension of you, Blaine. My dad said a kid our age had been brought in after an attack and, I-I just didn’t want it to be Blaine; as in your boyfriend Blaine, my friend Blaine” she said in a small voice when he didn’t speak again. “I talk to him sometimes you know, Blaine I mean. He’s really helped me. I-it’s really helped knowing that there is someone who actually cares about me for me. Not the Santana I show to the rest of the world, but the one that actually cares, and hurts. He’s my friend.” She looked up only to see Kurt’s eyes on his lap. “Please don’t be mad at me Kurt, I was, I mean, I am just so worried about him.” Her eyes were now brimming with tears which were threatening to overflow. Kurt looked up, there were fresh tear tracks on his cheeks but as he looked at Santana. He couldn’t see the Cheerio who was usually so strong and confident and even vicious, she looked as broken and scared and worried as he felt.

Kurt stood up, still having not said a word; Santana’s head dropped as she let the tears she had been holding in begin to fall.

“Come on, let’s back upstairs, you can keep me company while he sleeps.” A shocked look flickers across Santana’s face before being replaced by a watery smile. Taking his hand she stands up and the exit the hospital cafeteria both of their unfinished lunches forgotten.