Part 1: Of hospitals and monosyllabic morons.

"Ladies," Blaine smiled charmingly, coming to stand in front of the nurses' office. A few months ago a smile of that caliber would have turned them all into puddles of wobbly smiles and flushed cheeks. Dr Anderson was that charming. However, the good nurses had learned that when Blaine tried to bring that much attention to his smile, it only meant one thing. He wanted something and you had better run... fast.

"What do you want?" Katie asked with an indulgent smile and a raised eyebrow. Katie Georges was Blaine's favorite nurse. She was 42, had a lovely little boy named Stuart and she had a terrific sense of humor. She also was a hard worker and she always had Blaine's back, no matter what. Katie also happened to be one of the few person who knew him very well. Which meant that she knew all of his tactics, especially that smile. The one that promised but also deceived.

"Can't a guy just drop by to say 'Hello'?" he tried with as much innocence as he could muster.

"You wouldn't," she answered with a smile. "So, I repeat, what do you want? And you better think hard before answering this time."

Blaine pouted at her no-nonsense tone of voice. "I need a favor," he confessed.

"Shocker," Lucy, one of the newest addition to the staff dead-panned. Blaine looked at her and winked for good measure. She rolled her eyes and grabbed a patient's chart before leaving.

"Out with it, Doctor," Katie all but ordered.

"I need you to come with me... somewhere next week," he said his eyes pleading.

"Somewhere, where?"

"This gala my mother is putting together..." as soon as the words were out, he saw the kind nurse's eyes harden.

"Nu-uh! You can take your pouts and your pretty eyes away from me," she said taking a file from the rack and walking around him toward a patient. Blaine followed, not ready to give up just yet.

"Pretty please," he begged coming to stand in front of her, effectively blocking her path. Katie sighed and crossed her arms. She might have glared as well but no one could really hold that against her. She adored Blaine, she really did. He was like a charming younger brother she could talk boys with. He was a kind man with a big heart and the best doctor she knew. However, if he kept inviting her to these stuffed up event concocted by his (bitch of a) mother, she was going to go Mohamed Ali on him.

"Blaine, honey, I love you with all my heart but there is no way in hell I'm going anywhere with you ever again!"

"That's a bit harsh," he winced.

"That's sugar coated."

"C'mon, Katie. It'll be... fun," he tried, clearly desperate now. He really didn't want to go anymore than she did but he had to and going alone was out of the question.

"Fun? Like the last time you said it would be fun? Remember the "fun" we had last time?" she asked raising an eyebrow. That eyebrow was scary; it never boded well for Blaine. "I remember a lot of drinking, a taxi ride from hell that included vomit and having to tuck you into bed. Shall I carry on?" She was getting worked up now and Blaine realized he had been defeated. Katie started walking again, hoping Blaine wouldn't follow.

"It wasn't that bad," he said appearing next to her again. Katie rolled her eyes.

"It was that bad and more. Not only the event on itself was boring, people kept staring at me as if I was a charity case," she held up her hand to stop Blaine from protesting. "Don't even bother denying it," she added. She watched her friend and the hurt and desperation in his eyes made her heart ache. She truly wished she could help him but she wasn't what Blaine needed. She took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"I'm not the solution. I can't be anymore, love," she finished. Katie leaned over to peck his cheek before walking down the hallway of the pediatric ward.

Blaine stood there for a while thinking about solutions that couldn't be found before sighing and heading back to work.