Things changed for Kurt and Blaine after that morning.  Although Blaine had work to do--and he worked hard, so Kurt didnt see him that much during the day--they began to spend every night together in the bunkhouse, usually making love, but sometimes just holding each other, talking and touching.  Little by little Blaine began opening up to Kurt, talking about his childhood in Idaho including his teenage highjinx with Mike, Tina, Santana, and Sam. 

Kurt found himself endlessly fascinated by all of Blaines stories, and when Blaine began laughing around Kurt--not just when they were in the bunkhouse, but even around the others--Sam and Santana looked at Kurt in amazement.  One day Santana pulled Kurt aside and said, "I dont know what youve been doing to my boy, Lady Lips, but keep it up." 

As Kurt and Blaine grew closer, Kurt dreaded the day that he had to return to New York.  Kurt and Blaine studiously avoided the subject.  It wasnt the only thing they didnt talk about.  When Kurt broached the question of Blaines dad, Blaine just set his lips in a grim line and shook his head.  Blaine also refused to talk about his violin playing except to say, "I took lessons when I was a kid." When Kurt suggested that Blaine could have made a career as a violinist--perhaps still could--Blaine tersely replied, "I have a job."

At the same time, Blaine couldnt seem to get enough of Kurts stories about life growing up in Ohio and about studying musical theater in New York City.  Blaine peppered Kurt with questions about his dad, Burt, and he laughed so hard when Kurt told him about Burts rendition of the "All the Single Ladies" dance he fell off the bed.  When Kurt told Blaine about his mothers death, about the bullying he endured at school, and about his initial failure to get into NYADA, Blaine held Kurt tightly, stroking his hair and back and kissing his temple. 

Kurt continued to call Blaine, "my darling," and each time he did, Blaine looked at him with eyes full of gratitude and longing. 

--KB--

One night about midnight, as Kurt and Blaine lay naked and spent, limbs tangled around each other, there was a brief knock on the bunkhouse door and then Sam walked in.  Sams immediate reaction to seeing them naked and in each others arms was a hasty, "Geez, sorry," and a turning of his head so that Blaine could pull the covers over Kurt.  However, he didnt dwell on the tableau.  Instead he forged on, "Number 17 is in trouble.  She went into labor around ten, and I got her into the barn, but I think shes breech."

Blaine stood up and began pulling on his clothes quickly.  "Call the vet.  Ill be there in two minutes." 

Kurt understood enough of what Sam said to interpret that a cow was in labor and there was a problem.  He, too, began dressing as Blaine stepped to the sink and began washing his hands and arms.  When Blaine kissed Kurt quickly on the lips and turned to leave, Kurt said, "Im going with you." 

He expected Blaine to object, but all he said was, "OK.  Be careful and do what I tell you."

--KB--

When they arrived at the barn, Kurt saw an enormous red and white cow lying on her side, threshing her head and rolling her golf-ball sized eyes.  Kurts immediate reaction was to wish he hadnt been so quick to accompany Blaine.  When Sam gave his report, Kurts secondary reaction was to really wish he hadnt been so quick to accompany Blaine.

"I couldnt raise the vet on his cell, so I called the house.  His wife said hed gone on an emergency call to the Jones farm.  You know theyre in a dead zone, and no one answered when I called their house." 

"Wheres Mike?" Blaine asked. 

"Its his night off.  He and Tina went out.  Hes not answering his cell, either."

Blaine was silent for a beat, then he said, "Okay.  Run out to the Jones and see if you can intercept the vet.  Kurt and I will see what we can do until you get back."

"Maybe we can send Kurt...?"

"Hell never find the place in the dark.  Get going.  Well be okay."

Sam gave a brief nod, spun on his heels, and left.  Blaine walked to a cupboard on the wall and pulled out a pair of gloves and an apron.  The apron was rubber or plastic, long like a butchers apron.  Blaine slipped it over his head and tied it.  Then he pulled on the gloves that were also rubber and looked a lot like kitchen gloves, except they pulled up all the way to Blaines arm pits. 

"Hold her head," Blaine ordered Kurt, and Kurt looked at Blaine like hed lost his mind.

Blaine spoke quickly but firmly, "Get down on the floor and pull her head on your lap.  Scratch behind her ears or whatever you need to do to keep her calm.  Im going in."

In?

Tentatively, Kurt sank to the floor, saying, "Nice cow.  Good cow," and feeling like an idiot.  An idiot who was scared spitless.  The cow threshed her head and rolled her huge eyes, which immediately put Kurt in mind of the scary monsters in his childhood fairy tales.  Kurt reached timidly for the cows head, and she raised up and blew snot all over the front of Kurts shirt and pants. 

Ewwww. 

"Kurt, hold her head!" Blaine snapped. 

Scary cowboy was back.  Kurt took a deep breath and pulled the cows head into his now completely defiled lap.  He stroked down her neck and scratched behind her ears, and he was shocked when she visibly calmed and began simply panting heavily. 

Blaine put one hand on the cows side, and, using his other hand, he reached into the cow, saying, "Saaaaawwww," to the cow in a low voice when she visibly tensed. 

Kurt realized that when Blaine said he was going in, he wasnt kidding.  In a few minutes, Blaine had his arm all the way up to his shoulder in the cows vagina.  Kurt was at once fascinated and completely horrified. 

"The calfs definitely breech," Blaine grimly reported.  "The back legs are in the birth canal.  Im going to have to pull it so it doesnt suffocate.  Lets get her up so I can get both arms in."

"What do I do?"

"Help me see if I can push her up, then just keep her calm."

Blaine came around and Kurt and Blaine both pushed on the cows neck until she reluctantly heaved herself to her feet. 

"Okay, good," Blaine said, "just talk to her, and keep your fingers crossed that I dont need the pullers.  I dont need to crush the ribcage."

Kurt didnt know what pullers were, but he definitely was going to send whatever wishes he needed to the universe to help this birth end as soon as possible. 

Blaine walked back to the other end of the cow and, to Kurts amazement and disgust, he put both arms into the cow.  That was an image Kurt was going to have a hard time getting out of his head.  Blaine grunted and the cow opened up its mouth and bellowed, and Kurts eyes were suddenly very close to two rows of gigantic teeth and a massive tongue.  He involuntarily took a step back as Blaine gritted, "Damn it, Kurt, keep her steady."

Kurt was a little hurt by Blaines tone, but he also understood that Blaine was scared, particularly so soon after losing a colt.  He tamped down his feelings and set back to the task of soothing the cow.  Over her back, he saw Blaine straining and sweating, and then Blaine was falling backward on the barn floor, a wet, slimy creature in his arms. 

Kurt took one look at the calf and saw that it was limp and blue with glassy eyes.  Oh, God, Kurt thought, its dead. 

Blaine seemed to be of another opinion.  He felt the calfs chest and then grabbed a piece of straw from the barn floor, dusting it off, and putting it up the calfs nostril.  Apparently that didnt yield the response he wanted, so he closed the calfs mouth with one hand and covered a nostril with the other.  Then he put his mouth down and blew into the open nostril. 

Almost immediately the calf coughed.  Blaine laid the calf on its side, stretching its head and neck out.  Then he watched in tired satisfaction while the calf breathed on its own. 

At this point, the cow recovered from her ordeal.  Pulling her head out of Kurts grasp, she turned and began nosing around the calf.  Then she started licking it clean.  Kurt didnt think he could make anyone believe it, but he swore he could feel the love radiating from the cow to the little red and white calf. 

Blaine stripped off his gloves and apron, then he walked over and wrapped an arm around Kurts waist, giving him a squeeze.  They both stood with Blaines arm around his waist, watching the cow and her newborn calf. 

"Theyre beautiful," Kurt breathed.

"So are you," Blaine replied, kissing Kurt on the neck.