"So let me get this straight -- some first class asshole had Cooper arrested because you wouldn't --"

"That's only part of it, Dave." Blaine barely noticed as the older man grabbed two lifebelts from a passing steward, and shoved one over his head. "He tried to hurt another boy, and --"

"That same boy you were staring at?"

"Yes -- Cooper got into a fight with Sebastian, and Sebastian didn't like that Kurt's father stopped his arrest. And he -- he told on Kurt for coming with us to Third Class, and well -- long story short, he ambushed me and he -- he tried --" Blaine's voice faltered, and he stared at his shoes. "Kurt saved me."

Dave nodded.

"But then you came back to tell his family 'bout the ship sinking right?" he said.

Blaine nodded and the two made their way down the crowded hallway.

"Sebastian -- I'm pretty sure he framed Cooper for breaking into his cabin. He -- He was arrested, and Puck, Sebastian's valet -- he locked me in our cabin."

Dave swore audibly.

"So he's in the Master At Arms' office." he said.

"I figured." Blaine frowned. "How'd you know?"

He shrugged.

"Someone I know got arrested this afternoon. They let him go though. Told me it's down on E-Deck -- Blaine no!" he grabbed the teen's arm as he tried to run. "It's flooding --"

"I'm not letting him die, Dave!" cried Blaine angrily. "Get off!"

He yanked his arm out of Dave's grip.

"Wait!" Dave grabbed the axe from where he'd dropped it. "You might need it."

Blaine grabbed it, nodded once at Dave, and disappeared into the crowd.

----

Kurt didn't stop running.

He tore down the hall, every now and again pushing a door open, poking his head into rooms, and shouting Cooper's name.

Then he heard it:

"Kurt?!"

He turned and began wading through the water (now just past his knees) as he and Cooper yelled back and forth until he found the right room.

"Cooper, I'm so sorry -- I should have stopped them -- Oh my God." he gasped, seeing the dried blood on the older man's face. He hadn't thought Cooper's injuries were that bad.

"Kurt I'm okay," Cooper said, "They framed me -- Puck caused the bloody mess when he thought he could persuade me to tell where you and Blaine were." he paused. You -- you have to find the key."

Kurt's eyes fell on Cooper's hands -- handcuffed around the pole he was standing next to. Without thinking he ran to the nearest cabinet and began combing through it.

----

Blaine swore silently as he made his way down to E-Deck.

He came down to one passageway -- trying to ignore how cold the water was. Then he heard voices coming from one side, and decided to head in that direction.

"Cooper it's -- it's not here. The key, it's not --"

His heart began pounding frantically. Kurt was with Cooper?

"Then this is what I want you to do -- find help. If you can't, you find Blaine, and the two of you get off this damn ship. Understand?"

"I -- I'll be back as soon as I can."

Then Blaine saw Kurt stumble out of the room and shrug off his coat, leaving it to float in the icy Atlantic water.

Then he turned, and froze, brilliant blue eyes widening, jaw dropping.

Blaine nearly dropped the axe.

"Blaine!" and then Kurt was wading quickly through the water, and throwing his arms around the curly haired boy.

Blaine hugged him back, careful to keep the axe blade away from Kurt's porcelain skin. Then he pulled back, only to crush his lips against the other boy's, initiated a heated kiss.

Kurt broke it, lifting one hand to cup Blaine's cheek, brush away the tears that had started to flow.

"We have to help Cooper." he said softly. Then his eyes fell on the axe. "That might actually work. Come on."

He pulled Blaine into the Master At Arm's office. Cooper's jaw dropped.

"Blaine!"

Blaine waded over to where his brother stood and hugged him tightly.

"Coop! Coop, Oh God --"

Cooper didn't have time to be stunned or say anything, because he spotted the axe now in Kurt's hands.

"Blaine," Kurt's voice was soft. "You need to move, okay?"

The elder Anderson's stomach lurched. The axe wasn't ideal, but it was all they had. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

"Do it. Now."

He closed his eyes and extended his hands so Kurt could see the chain linking the cuffs, heard Blaine's voice shake as he told Kurt how he should hold the axe.

Then there was the sound of metal breaking, and he could hear both boys gasping and cheering. When he opened his eyes, he looked down to see the link broken, and he was no longer cuffed to the pole.

He hugged Kurt and Blaine fiercely before following them out of the room (and violently swearing about how cold the water was).

Kurt froze, staring at the water gushing upward, blocking the stairwell he'd come down earlier -- the same one Blaine had used to find them.

"This -- It was how I found Cooper." he said, crestfallen.

Blaine hugged him gently.

"Then we'll find another way. It'll be alright." he said, "We're gonna be okay."

Kurt could do nothing except nod as the brothers led him the opposite way to seek an alternate escape.

He hoped one could be found quickly.