"Kurt…?" Finn was the first into the house. It smelled like something was burning and there was a picture knocked off the wall in the hallway. He walked quickly into the kitchen. "Oh my God!" Kurt was on the floor looking bruised with many small cuts as well as a black eye. Finn was down next to him in a second checking his pulse. It was slow and faint.

"Burt! Call an ambulance! Mom, get the food off the stove, it almost started a fire." Finn used what he remembered of his first aid training to make it easiest for Kurt to breathe as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Burt was petrified and wouldn't let go of Kurt's hand. He actually started crying when Finn pulled down the top of Kurt's turtleneck to try to get a better pulse, revealing that his throat was bruised the worst out of anywhere. Carole had tears in her eyes as she showed the EMT's to the kitchen and Finn explained what he'd done and how they'd found him. They soon were hoisting Kurt into the ambulance and Burt was climbing in to ride with him while Finn would drive Carole to the hospital.

Burt had held Kurt's hand the whole way to the hospital, and when Kurt's eyes fluttered, he caught his dad staring at their entwined fingers. It felt so dream-like. Their roles were reversed since the hospital just a few weeks ago.

There was so much pain. Every part of Kurt's body ached. The back of his head was pounding and his throat throbbed. He wanted to say something but he couldn't force the words out. He felt as if he never wanted to talk again. He simply closed his eyes and fell back into a dreamless sleep.

He awoke in a hospital bed, aching everywhere. By the look of the room it was morning. He wrinkled his nose as he looked around the room. He hated the smell of hospitals. He did wonder what had happened to land him here though, of all places… He looked around and found his dad asleep in the chair next to his bed and the clock across the room reading half past 7am.

Kurt tried to yawn but the second he opened his mouth his throat throbbed in protest of the strain. He looked himself over and frowned. Whatever it was, was bad. He had bruises everywhere but he couldn't remember what had happened. He knew he had a terrible headache, though. He reached up to touch the spot and encountered a heavy bandage.

Everything rushed back to him; The Christmas music, the dinner, the doorbell, then…him. He immediately broke down in tears. He couldn't tell anyone, he knew it. Karofsky had promised to rightfully finish him off if he told anyone who it was that beat him up, that much he remembered quite clearly. He was so scared. He tried to pull himself together and managed narrowly to stop crying.

A nurse came in shortly after with Ms. Pillsbury. He wanted to greet the counselor he missed, but nothing came out, yet again.

"Kurt?" Ms. Pillsbury sat softly down at the foot of his bed. "You're alright now, you're safe…You know that, right…?" He must have looked scared. He nodded slightly. "I want to talk to you about what happened…Your dad, and Finn and his mom are all very concerned."

Kurt wanted to say something, anything, but he didn't know what. He simply stared blankly at her.

Ms. Pillsbury's eyebrows furrowed. "Can you talk, Kurt…?" She asked, slowly, hoping and praying that he would answer. His eyes grew wide, realizing what she was realizing, and shook his head no, ever so slightly.

"Ah…Alright. I'm going to let you rest in just a moment. I want to know one thing…Do you remember what happened last night?" Kurt winced and Ms. Pillsbury took that as a yes. "I'm very sorry Kurt. I hope you feel better. We all miss you at McKinley. Goodbye, Kurt." She got up and left. He heard her voice humming in the hallway in low whispers.

A nurse came in and Kurt closed his eyes, pretending to be resting. She shook his dad and whispered. He got up and followed the nurse out. Kurt frowned. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to talk to anyone, about how he felt, or what had happened, or who it was. It was too painful. Physically, from the beating, but emotionally too.
Scaring Kurt more than anything, the fact that Karofsky promised to follow through on his original threats should Kurt tell anyone who did this to him, loomed over his consciousness.

The day went slowly and painfully for Kurt. His dad and Carole talked to him a lot, kept asking if he was okay, and saying how they were worried. He didn't utter a single word the entire time.

He wanted to cry when Finn came in, mid-afternoon, looking exhausted, and worried, and so sad.

"Mom, Burt, can I have a minute alone with him?" He asked breathlessly.

"Wait we haven't gotten to talk to you about…" Carole started to protest

"The nurse filled me in." Finn interrupted shortly, solemnly.

The parents left looking weary and Finn came over close to Kurt. "It was Karofsky, wasn't it? Rachel called me up in tears. He kissed you? And you didn't tell me? Are you crazy? People need to know this!" He strained to keep his voice at a whisper.

Kurt's eyes were sad as he shook his head shortly.

"I don't care. I'm telling Ms. Pillsbury." He said backing up again.

Kurt's eyes popped as he shook his head furiously this time. His eyes pleaded with Finn.

"Man, I thought you could trust me. I wanted to be here for you. Now you won't even talk? What the hell man." He sounded offended and disgusted. Guilt crept into Kurt's mind, but he fought it back. This had nothing to do with Finn, what else was Kurt supposed to do? He was close to tears, though. This whole situation was emotionally draining. He wanted to say something but when he started to try it just hurt too badly. He just couldn't force the words out.

"Y'know, Kurt, I keep wanting to say 'give me one good reason why I shouldn't' but you can't even respond!" He ran his hand through his hair frustrated. "You didn't talk to me when you had the chance and now it's lost. Gone. I can't stand this Kurt." Finn had tears in his eyes when he turned back. "I wish you would've talked to me. I'm trying to be a leader, and good person, and do both Glee and Football, and all that nonsense at school, but if you can't even talk to me about something important and I'm your brother now, then what good is it even doing?"

Kurt wanted to say something to comfort Finn. Just like he'd wanted to say something to his dad; to Mrs. Pillsbury; surely to many more people to come. Yet again, he couldn't force the painful words out.

Finn looked away from Kurt and ran his hand through his hair, composing himself.

"I won't tell anyone. Not yet. But you need to come to terms with this. Karofsky is sick, absolutely sick, and really needs to get some attention." Finn said finally.

Kurt took a deep breath and nodded. Finn looked sadly at Kurt again, and turned to leave. Rachel came in just then with a small bouquet of flowers. The two looked awkwardly at each other for a moment before Finn walked out. Rachel set the flowers on Kurt's beside table.

"I'm so sorry, Kurt. This is all my fault." Rachel said, starting again to tear up.

Kurt shook his head furiously.

"No, it's true, I told you not to worry and now look at you…" She gestured to Kurt.

Just then there was a knock on the open door. Rachel and Kurt both looked up and saw a shy and worried looking Blaine standing in the doorway. Rachel stood up and walked quickly over to him. She thrust her hand out. "Hello, I'm Rachel Berry. You're Blaine Anderson, lead soloist of the Warblers. It's a pleasure to meet you." He opened his mouth a bit surprised.

"Oh, uh, hi." He said distractedly and Kurt smiled.

"Well, I'll come see you later, Kurt. I'll leave you two to talk." She said and Blaine glanced back at Kurt. "Well, for you to talk to Kurt…" She said frowning.

"Right…" Blaine said slowly. Rachel waved to Kurt and then left. "Hi Kurt…" Blaine said as he walked over to the bed. Kurt smiled sadly at him. "Wow…" Blaine said, looking Kurt up and down. "I can't believe you're laying there…helpless and silent." He couldn't break his gaze away from Kurt's bruised neck. "I'm so sorry." He said breathlessly as he fisted his hair frustrated. Kurt sat up, looking at him closely. His eyes were red and the spaces under them were lightly purpling. Kurt leaned up so his face was close to Blaine's. Blaine's mouth opened in surprise as Kurt took his thumb and brushed just under Blaine's eye, wondering if he had been crying.

Blaine turned away harshly and pressed his hand to the spot where Kurt's thumb had brushed. Kurt blushed and frowned. He closed his hand at sat back, watching Blaine from the corner of his eye. His chest rose with a deep breath, and then fell in a deep exhale.

"I'm sorry." Blaine said softly, coming closer to Kurt. Kurt raised an eyebrow questioningly at him. "It surprised me." He explained. Kurt nodded. "I knew you were supposed to talk to your family about…the situation last night. Then you didn't answer my call." He said, not meeting Kurt's eyes. "I was worried." He said softly, looking at him timidly. Kurt smiled. "And then I heard this morning." He looked away. "I can't believe this happened to you," He said breathlessly. He looked at him with moistening eyes. "I'm so sorry…" Kurt shook his head, trying to show Blaine he was alright, but the movement stretched the skin of his throat and he winced involuntarily. Blaine took Kurt's hand and rubbed soothing circles with his thumb. "I brought you some music." Blaine said, taking out his iPod.

There was a playlist entitled "Kurt." Kurt smiled and looked through it with his free hand. Blaine was still holding Kurt's other hand, and whether he realized it or not, it made Kurt feel a lot better. All of Kurt's favorite songs were in the playlist, Defying Gravity from Wicked, The Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as Hey Soul Sister by Train, and a few other favorites Kurt was always humming.

Kurt smiled brightly and hugged Blaine, careful not to hit his throat. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of being close to him. Even if they weren't dating it was nice to have a friend that could be there for him when things went wrong, even if it was difficult.