Cooper didn't have to wait much longer to be let back into Blaine's room.

The doctors had informed him that Blaine was alright, his IV was back in, and he was once more hooked up to the machines that monitored his vitals.

He was, however given the circumstances, heavily sedated -- this time with drugs that were safe.

He would be okay -- physically.

Cooper knew that mentally, his brother would take much longer to heal. Hell, he might never be okay again.But he would help him in whatever way he could, and he knew Kurt would too.

Speaking of Kurt, his brother's soon to be high school graduate boyfriend would kill him if he didn't update him about this.

He sighed and pulled out his cell phone, inhaling as he dialled Kurt's cell.

---

"What do you mean, he ripped out his IV?!" Kurt's heart was pounding, the shirt he was considering for graduation lay forgotten on his bed.

Kurt calm down -- they said he'd be okay --

"Physically, not mentally!" the countertenor barked. "and don't tell me to calm down, he's my boyfriend, Cooper!"

I know that. God you think you're the only one worried about him? I go back to L.A. after your graduation, and I'm terrified of leaving him by himself!

Kurt struggled to return his breathing to normal.

"You think I'm not? I leave for NYADA before he goes back for his senior year!" he said. He heard Cooper sigh, and decided to change the subject. "When is he coming home?"

Wednesday. Day before Graduation, right?

"Yes." The teen sighed and sat down at his vanity. "What time? I'd like to come over and see him after rehearsal."

I don't know. Probably in the morning sometime, so just give me a call before you come over.

"I will."

---

By Tuesday Blaine was getting really bored with his hospital room. He'd read the books Cooper had brought him (some twice) and was picking up a magazine he hadn't noticed before when a voice he hadn't heard in ages distracted him.

"Blaine?"

Blaine looked up from the magazine to see Sebastian standing in the doorway of his hospital room. He glanced over at Cooper's empty seat. His brother had gone to get lunch at the cafeteria, promising to be back soon.

When he looked at Sebastian again, he saw the other teen shift his weight from foot to foot, clearly nervous.

"It's okay. Kurt's not coming by until he gets done at his dad's tire shop." he said. "You're safe."

"Let's just hope he doesn't come brandishing a crow bar." the other teen laughed weakly. Blaine didn't. "Look, I -- I know we kept it all cool with apologies and everything --"

Blaine shook his head, slumping back against his pillows.

"It's done." he said simply. "I moved on." Sebastian still looked guilty. "Look Sebastian, I accepted your apology. It doesn't change what happened -- though you may want to clear out before my older brother gets back. He's still pretty pissed."

"I don't blame him." Sebastian took a few steps into the room, arms crossed over the white polo shirt he was wearing. "I -- You don't have to talk about what happened if you don't want to."

Blaine snorted.

"Subtlety is not your style, Smythe." he said. "You know what happened -- it's all over the news. My mentally unstable mother broke into my grandparents' house, kidnapped me, and decided to overdose me on some drugs she stole from the mental facility where she was being kept. She almost killed me, and she almost killed Kurt when he and my brother, Cooper, went after her to find me."

It bothered Sebastian to hear Blaine speak about what had happened like that. Like he didn't care.

He crossed the room and took Blaine's hand in his own, surprising both of them. Yes he still had feelings for the other boy, maybe they were legit, maybe they were purely sexual -- he really wasn't sure anymore -- but Blaine was with Kurt. As much as he hated it, he had to come to terms with the fact that if they couldn't be boyfriends, maybe friendship could be possible now that the air had been cleared between them on the whole rock salt slushie incident.

"I'm sorry she did that to you."

"Yeah." Blaine sighed. "Me too." he looked at the empty chair again. "You can sit down if you want. 'S not like it's gonna kill you."

Sebastian hesitated.

"Blaine?"

The ex-Warbler felt his stomach drop as Sebastian froze. Cooper was back.

"Hey Coop. This is -- um, this is Sebastian. He goes --"

"Kurt told me," said the elder Anderson sibling. "I know what you did, and while my brother may be forgiving, I don't really see a reason to. I suggest you leave before I make you."

Blaine's jaw dropped as Sebastian nodded before silently slipping from the room with a half-hearted wave at him.

Cooper looked over at Blaine.

"What?"

Blaine said nothing; he was in no mood to get in an argument with his brother.

Though he was pretty sure they would have to talk about it eventually...and not just about that, about everything.And that scared the hell out of him.

---

On Wednesday, Colin and Cooper brought Blaine back to the house. Kurt called shortly after one and said he'd be coming by.

Cooper did notice a change in his brother's silent, mostly terrified demeanor as he cuddled with Kurt on the couch.When he went to bed (much earlier than usual) later, Kurt went with him, and then came back twenty minutes later.

"He go to sleep okay?" Cooper grabbed the remote and quickly changed the channel to a local station.

"Yeah...I lay with him until he did." Kurt supressed a groan as Cooper's commercial for Free Credit Rating Today.com/savings flashed across the screen. "Really, Coop? A rerun of America's Next Top Model is on in ten minutes. I'm not missing it because you want to count how many times you show up on screen."

The older man just laughed and passed him the remote.

"Won't have to do that next year," he said. "My agent left me a message -- some indie director saw my audition for Transformers 4. He wants me to come in for an audition in person."

"That's awesome. Have you told Blaine?"

"Nope." Cooper sighed. "I only got the message as we were leaving the hospital. With everything going on -- I --" he broke off, staring down at his hands. "I don't want to leave him."

"I don't either. I know he thinks about it...and tomorrow is going to be hard enough as it is --"He was cut off when they heard a scream come from upstairs.

"Blaine," Cooper swore silently. "Stay here, Kurt." he ran upstairs to his brother's room.

Blaine was thrashing around in the sheets screaming for their mother to go away. When the actor touched his shoulder, he awoke, panicked as tears slid down his cheeks.

"Coo?"

He smiled and nodded.

"Yeah it's me, bud. Bad one huh?"

Blaine nodded, breath hitching.

"It was Mom, and she -- oh God, Coop --"

"Sshh, come on Blainers, it's alright," he whispered, reaching over to stroke Blaine's hair. "Sshhh. Go to sleep okay? No more nightmares. No more."

Blaine wiped at his eyes and scooted over on his bed. His brother laughed, totally getting the message.

"Coo?" the teen whispered, breath hitching as he rolled onto his side and laid his head on the on Cooper's chest once his brother had gotten comfortable. "Can you sing?"

Cooper nodded, trying not to cry himself.

Come stop your crying, it will be alright
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here, don't you cry

Blaine's hand curled around his own. His breathing was beginning to calm, though tears still rolled down his cheeks.

For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm
This bond between us can't be broken
I will be here, don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yeah you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more
You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always

He felt Blaine snuggle against him and buried his face in the boy's dark curls, sighing.

Why can't they understand the way we feel?

Both Andersons looked up, startled at the new voice. Kurt was standing in the doorway, smiling softly at them.

They just don't trust what they can't explain. Blaine's voice was slightly hoarse, his eyes red and puffy, but he was staring at Kurt with that same lovesick puppy, you-are-everything-to-me sort of look.

Cooper snorted and nodded at Kurt, knowing exactly what his little brother wanted.

I know we're different but deep inside us
We're not that different at all.

Kurt clamboured onto the mattress and Blaine immediately tried rolling over, but without much success. The countertenor just laughed and kissed his cheek before cuddling up next to him, one arm winding around his boyfriend's waist while his cheek pressed gently against the back of Blaine's shoulder as he sang.

And you'll be in my heart
Yes you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more
Don't listen to them
What do they know
We need each other
To have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know

Cooper smiled at Kurt, mouthing 'thank you' to him before adjusting his hold on Blaine, lifting one hand to rub the teen's back.

When destiny calls you, you must be strong. he sang softly, knowing the injured boy sandwiched between him and Kurt was slipping quickly into slumber. I may not be with you, but you've got to hold on.

They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together

He wasn't surprised that Kurt sounded half asleep when he joined in this time, and had to supress a smile when he saw how he was practically wrapped around his boyfriend, eyes closed, looking so peaceful.

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Believe me, you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on
Now and forever
Oooh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
I'll be with you
You'll be here in my heart
I'll be there

Always. It came out as half a mumble, but Cooper didn't laugh as he watched Kurt snuggle as close as he could (which wasn't much considering everyone's current positions) against Blaine, who was already asleep.

Always. he repeated, even though Blaine couldn't hear him. He could have stopped if he wanted to -- they'd reached the end of the song anyway. I'll be there for you always.

I'll be there
Always