His brother stood nearby, leaning against the railing as he stared out at the night sky. He had on a smaller coat that Blaine was pretty sure was not keeping him as warm in the cold Atlantic air, but the older brother had insisted.

That was the thing about Cooper looking after him. He gave up a lot, would do anything to make sure Blaine was happy.

Even on days they went hungry, or Cooper was out all night trying to find more work, or more food, and sent Blaine to stay with their neighbor, Sue Sylvester. The woman may be -- questionable, but she looked after the teen without complaint -- at least to Cooper's face.

He shivered and turned his thoughts back to the boy he'd seen earlier.

And the man he'd seen with him...

Something about that man just made him so angry...Blaine couldn't explain it.

His eyes roved over the deck as he shoved his hands deep into the coat pockets, trying to keep them warm.

A crashing noise caused him to turn around, and his eyes immediately narrowed; the gate that banned third class from mingling with first had opened, and someone had fallen down the steps.

Blaine immediately felt Cooper's hand on his shoulder. It took him a moment to understand why: it was the boy from first class.

They watched a man come barreling down the steps and grab the fallen, yanking him to his feet and dragging him under the stairwell.

"Coop --" Blaine was frightened. "Coop he's -- he did it."

But Cooper was already running over, and Blaine was forced to watch as his brother grabbed the teen's attacker (the man Blaine had seen with him earlier) and literally threw him across the deck.

Blaine took that oppertunity to run over to the stairwell. The boy looked up at him cautiously, blue eyes sparkling with tears. His shirt was ripped at the collarand he was gripping his left arm, where the sleeve of his suit jacket had been torn and shoved back, wincing occasionally.

"I-I'm not going to hurt you," Blaine kept his voice calm, extending his hand hesitantly. "You're safe now -- It's okay." he paused. "I'm Blaine Anderson."

"K-Kurt Hummel." the boy responded. "I'm sorry but you're wasting your time. I'm fine -- I --"

"Kurt, you're not. I saw you fall. My brother's currently kicking the crap out of the guy who probably pushed you."

Kurt's face paled.

"Oh God." he gasped, launching himself onto his feet, somewhat unsteady. "We -- You have to stop him." Blaine frowned. He hadn't met a man who could best Cooper in a fight (fights that didn't happen often -- only if Cooper was really upset -- like after he had been attacked, and had come home from the hospital, fees generously paid by their other neighbor, Will Schuester -- he had wanted to pulverize the scum that had hurt his little brother). "You don't understand -- if Sebastian doesn't kill your brother, his manservant, Noah Puckerman, will." he said desperately. "Come on!"

They could hear shouting coming from their left as Blaine helped Kurt (who insisted he was fine, but the poor teen wouldn't budge) out from under the stairwell.

Blaine screamed. The man -- Sebastian -- had Cooper pinned to the wooden floor of the boat deck, hands around his throat.

"Sebastian no!" yelled Kurt. "Let him go!"

Sebastian didn't move.

"Sebastian, stop -- you'll kill him!" Kurt stumbled forward and shoved Sebastian off of Cooper as hard as he could.

"He has to pay for coming at me like that!" Sebastian shouted, eyes darkening with rage as he looked at Kurt.

"He was trying to protect me!" Kurt retorted. "They saw you push me down the steps -- "

Cooper gasped for breath as Blaine ran over to him and hugged him lightly.

"'M okay, B." Cooper panted. "I'm okay." he hugged his brother back.

By now they had been joined by a few officers and the Master at Arms, having heard the commotion.

It wasn't long before Burt Hummel and Sebastian's manservant, Noah Puckerman, joined them too, and Sebastian ordered the officers to put Cooper under arrest.

"He tried to kill me!" he barked.

"He was trying to protect me!" Kurt protested, tearing his eyes from Blaine being pushed away from Cooper as the older sibling had his hands cuffed behind his back, and looking up at his father earnestly. "He thought Sebastian was a drunk passenger, Father --"

"Where'd the bruise come from?" questioned Burt, eyeing a mark forming on his son's exposed arm.

"I took a tumble down the steps," It was half a lie -- he knew if he told the truth, Sebastian would find some way to turn it on Cooper and punish them both. And from the look of it, Cooper was all Blaine had. He couldn't let Blaine lose him. "It'll heal perfectly well."

The Master at Arms stepped in front of Cooper, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Is he telling the truth?" he asked.

Kurt stared at Cooper impassively, hoping like hell the other man was smart enough to agree.

Say yes...please say yes, and Father won't say another word -- he won't listen to Sebastian on a ludicrous charge like this -- you and Blaine can be together -- God please say you agree...

"Yes." his voice was calm, but he stared at Burt beseechingly, willing him to believe the lie. "I only did what I did to protect your son, sir. I was mistaken, and I'm sorry."

Burt considered him for a moment, and then nodded.

"Let him go." He held up a hand as Sebastian made to protest, his face incredulous. "I don't want to hear it, Sebastian. It was an honest mistake, and the important thing is my son is safe."

Sebastian scowled, but looked at Puckerman.

"We're leaving, Puck."

Burt however, was staring at Cooper, who was being uncuffed. Blaine didn't waste a moment once his brother's arms were free and launched himself back into his arms.

Sebastian stopped and turned around, Puck following suit.

"This is Blaine," Cooper supplied. "Blaine?"

Blaine turned around, not allowing Cooper to break his grip, and looked at Kurt's father uncertainly.

"Thank you for letting my brother go, sir." he said quietly.

Burt nodded at him.

"You're welcome." he replied. "I apologize for Mr. Smythe's lack of sympathy -- I lost my first wife when my son was younger. I don't want you to lose your brother -- though the circumstances are entirely different." he paused. "I'd like to invite both of you to dinner with our group tomorrow night."

Kurt couldn't resist smirking in Sebastian's general direction. It was a rare occasion where the man did not get what he wanted out of Burt, and even more rare that Kurt got to see it happen.

"That would be wonderful," said Cooper, letting go of his brother with one arm so he could shake Burt's hand. "We'll see you then."

Burt nodded and beckoned to Kurt, who followed his father back to First Class. Sebastian gave both Andersons a withering look. Cooper's grip on Blaine tightened when he saw the other man's eyes rove over his brother's body in interest. He didn't let go until both Sebastian and his manservant were gone.

Then Blaine yawned and he laughed before starting to lead the dark haired boy back to the steps that led to the lower decks.

"C'mon. Bedtime, Blainers -- we've got a big day tomorrow!"