The ride back to Lima proved to be semi-awkward for most of New Directions. No one really knew what to say when Blaine climbed onto the bus, hand held tightly by Kurt. No one commented that his hair was ungelled, or that he wasn't wearing his normal cardigan, or one of his bowties.Sure they knew he'd toned down the 'wearing a bowtie every day' thing, but it was still weird not to see him with one.

"Blaine, you want to sit with me?" called Mike, gesturing to the empty seat next to him. Tina sat in the seat across from him, smiling at both boys.

Blaine looked over at Kurt, who smiled softly and nodded before sliding in to sit next to Tina.

"Sorry 'bout what happened yesterday," the Asian boy said when the bus finally started and pulled out of the hotel parking lot.

Blaine said nothing. Mike didn't want to pry, so he hesitantly wrapped an arm around the other boy's shoulders. He'd seen both Cooper and Blaine's reaction to the woman, watched as she tried to attack Mr. Schue.He'd managed to figure out, based on both Anderson sibling's reactions that they were related -- that the woman was possibly their mother.

The thought the woman could be their mother -- God, he couldn't even imagine what the two boys had been through. True to his word, he'd said nothing -- not even to Tina."You have fun with Cooper last night?" he asked finally.Blaine actually smiled this time.

"I did. Movie marathon, pizza, and got to talk to my grandparents a little. Told 'em we kicked ass at Nationals."

"Cool." Mike bumped his fist with his own. "Hey I was thinking -- next weekend --"

"What about next weekend?" Blaine asked.

"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. Go see a movie or something."

"You know I have a boyfriend right? He's sitting next to your girlfriend?"

Mike snorted and shoved him playfully.

"You know I don't mean it like that, man." he said. "Come on, might be fun."

The junior glanced out the bus window, then at his friend.

"Yeah. That'd be cool, Mike."

He saw Kurt smile at him over Mike's shoulder.

---

Cooper sighed and climbed out of his rental car, into the driveway of his grandparents home. He had to admit, it felt good to be back.

His grandmother was sitting out on the porch, face masked by the book she was reading.

"Good book?" he called, grinning when she lowered it and her eyes widened at seeing him. "Hi Grandma."

"Yes it is actually." Heather chuckled and set her book down on the cool stone before standing and moving to greet her grandson. "It's wonderful to see you, Cooper."

"I missed you, Grandma." he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"Missed you too." Heather pulled back and grabbed his suitcase. "Come on, we'll drop off your bags in your room, and then you've got to fill your grandfather and I in on what happened in Chicago with Jenna before Blaine gets home from Kurt's."

His heart sank, but he agreed nonetheless.

---

Blaine didn't know whether or not he should move. He could hear Cooper's breath hitching, every time he cried out in pain as he made his way down the hall.

He clutched his bear tighter, and curled up in the corner of his closet.

"B-Blaine." he heard soft rapping on the door and reached over to unlock it. Cooper opened the door, and the little boy felt like crying all over again. His big brother was on his knees, using the door handle to keep himself upright.

"Coo!" he scrambled to his feet and wrapped his arms carefully around the brunette's neck. "Bad?"

He nodded.

"Yeah buddy. My back's just a little messed up right now." he winced again, and let go of the door, causing Blaine to jump back as he fell forward, bracing his hands on the soft, light blue carpet of Blaine's room. "I'll stay in here tonight with you okay?" he tried to control his breathing. God he hoped nothing was broken...though he was pretty sure if something was, he'd be in a lot more pain than he was right now.

"Okay Cooper." Blaine looked frightened as he watched the teenager climb -- crying out once but quickly biting his lip and trying to keep quiet -- onto his bed. He didn't move until Cooper beckoned to him and then climbed on top of his Spiderman bedsheets and hesitantly snuggled against his brother's body. "I don't like Mommy hurting you."

"Neither do I buddy. I don't like when she tries to hurt you either."

"Is that why she hurts you bad? 'Cause you don't let her hurt me?"

Cooper felt a tear slide down his cheek.

"Yeah Blainey that's part of why. Mom's sick too though. She's...confused...but you know what?" He let one arm wrap carefully around the toddler's shoulders.

Blaine looked at him curiously.

"What?"

"Tomorrow I'm gonna call Aunt Becky, okay? We're gonna get out of here, buddy. We're gonna be safe."

"Blaine? Earth to Blaine...are you there?"

Blaine flinched and turned his head to see Kurt's head resting on his pillow, his expression thoughtful as he watched his boyfriend.

The two were holed up in Kurt's bedroom (door open of course), curled up on his bed. Kurt's father, Burt, had picked Kurt up at McKinley, and asked Blaine if he'd like to come, and also if he wanted to stay for dinner. The junior had politely declined dinner, explaining that he'd promised his grandparents he'd be home by six.

"Sorry...I didn't mean to space out on you."

Kurt smiled and rubbed his arm.

"It's okay. What were you thinking about...if you don't mind me asking?" he said.

Blaine blinked back tears.

"Her." he said. "I'm sorry, I know you said not to think about her, but --"

Kurt pulled Blaine against him, letting the junior's head lie on his chest, one arm settling on his stomach. The dark haired teen breathed deeply, trying to focus on what was going on now, instead of what had happened fourteen years ago. He concentrated on the feeling of Kurt's soft, comfy quilt, the fluffiness of the pillow on which his head rested, but most importantly, the feeling of calm, of safety he had being in his boyfriend's arms.

"It's okay." The countertenor murmured. He really didn't know what else to say, because they didn't know where the Anderson brothers' mother was, and Kurt knew neither of them would feel remotely safe until she was back where she belonged: Sacramento. "It's okay, Blaine. The police will catch her, and everything will be --"

The other boy buried his face in Kurt's chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt hard.

"You don't know that. You can't -- She's going to hurt him, or me -- or hell maybe both of us -- and it's going to be all my fault because I had a meltdown -- I didn't stand up to her --"

Kurt lifted his head and tugged Blaine's curls gently, relieved when the dark haired boy looked up at him.

"Don't talk like that." he said pleadingly. "Knowing what you two went through, I -- I don't want to think about it. You're going to be fine. You have Cooper, and you have me -- especially me." he nearly melted at the look Blaine gave him...that 'I love you so much' look. It was the only way he could describe it.

"I love you." he said, voice cracking.

The brunette just smiled and pulled him up for a kiss.

---

"She seriously approached the two of you in the auditorium?"

"I wanted to kill her when she touched Blaine." Cooper stared down at the cup of coffee Heather had made him. "When he started having a panic attack --"

"Coop, you did what you could. You got Blaine out of there before she could do any damage." said Colin, taking a sip of water from his glass.

"But she ran out." his grandson protested. "Their glee coach didn't do anything even after she tried to attack him! She's clearly not on her meds!"

Heather touched his arm.

"There's nothing we can do about that now, Cooper. We don't even know if she's coming here."

Cooper got up from his seat at the table and walked over to the sink, reaching over to turn on the faucet as he dumped what was left of his coffee down the drain.

He felt a hand on his back, and turned to see Heather staring at him, hazel eyes (the same their father and Blaine had inherited) reassuring, pale lips curled in a calming smile.

"If she does, we'll handle it," she said quietly. "He's gonna be fine, Coo. We won't let her near him. I promise."Just then they heard the front door open, and a voice call,

"Mom? Dad?"

Cooper looked over just in time to see a dark haired man, dressed in a plain white tee shirt and dark jeans (one leg had a hole in it), and dark boots. It was a huge contrast from his mother's halfway decent appearance (though her light brown hair had looked in need of a wash).

"Dad."