They managed to make their way up to a passage, blocked by a door that was either locked or jammed shut. Cooper threw his weight against it and they broke through onto D-Deck.

Someone -- probably a steward -- started yelling about the damage. His rant went ignored as the three found their way to a crowded stairwell, blocked by a locked gate.

Blaine's breath caught in his throat.

What are we going to do?

Then he saw Kurt staring at him, reassuringly, and he couldn't help but smile, and nod, understanding the silent message as he took the other boy's hand in his own.

We'll be okay.

If Kurt believed that then Blaine had to try to believe they'd get out of this alive.

"Well shit, you found him." he flinched and turned to see Dave making his way toward them. "You look like hell." he told Cooper.

Cooper rolled his eyes.

"What's going on, Dave?" he asked.

Dave sighed and crossed his arms.

"They're not letting Third Class through to get to the boats." he said sourly.

Kurt's jaw dropped.

"What -- they can't do that -- it's not --"

"Kurt, they don't care." replied the older man exasperatedly.

"If you believe that, you're crazy." said Kurt angrily.

"This isn't the time for an argument!" exploded Cooper. "We've got to get out now -- it's flooding fast." he grabbed Blaine's arm and tugged them up the steps to the gate.

Blaine bit his lip and exchanged a look with Kurt as Cooper let go of his hand to grip the iron gate.

When the steward refused to open the gate, Cooper actually lost it, tugging furiously at the bars of the gate.

Then he spotted a bench, and got an idea.

"Blaine, Dave help me with that!" he yelled, shoving his way through the crowd and grabbing onto the bench.

Blaine immediately dropped Kurt's hand and ran to help his brother, and Dave followed.

Kurt was left with nothing to do but scream (and occasionally push) at people to move as the other three pried the bench from the floor.

It took a few tries, but finally the gate gave way, and then he was being pushed up and over the bench, past the stewards by Dave, and Blaine was being lifted up and over it by Cooper.

The four took off, ignoring the steward's protests.

---

When they finally got to the boat deck, Kurt immediately tried to find someone who could tell them where any boats (if there were any left). Once they got word that there were boats on the other side, Blaine was tugging him along as Dave and Cooper hurried alongside.

Finally they'd managed to find a boat. Blaine yelled for Dave to go check the other side, and he started to leave, but then Blaine looked at Cooper.

"Coop, go with him."

Coop stared incredulously at his little brother.

"Are you insane? I'm not leaving you --"

"Coop, if we can't get on this we need to know there's another one on the other side!" Blaine gave him what was meant to be a brief hug, but Cooper held on, fighting the urge to cry. "Go -- it'll be okay. If I don't see you --"

"Don't." Cooper pressed a quick kiss to the top of Blaine's head. "I love you, B."

Blaine smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Love you too, big brother."

With that, Cooper took off with Dave, leaving Blaine and Kurt to wait for the lifeboat in front of them.

---

Sebastian couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Not only had Cooper Anderson escaped the Master At Arms, but there were Blaine and Kurt -- together, waiting for a boat. Blaine was saying something, and Kurt was frantically shaking his head no.

He knew what Blaine was saying: If there's a spot you have to take it. You have to get off the ship.

Sebastian may have hated Kurt for screwing things up -- but he couldn't let him die. Burt was already off the ship. If Kurt didn't make it off alive, he'd never hear the end of it.

He sighed and walked over to the two.

"Kurt listen, you've got to go -- get off this thing before it sinks. Don't worry about me!"

"Blaine I'm not going unless you go with me!"

"Kurt, get on the lifeboat." said Sebastian.

Both boys turned, startled. Blaine's hazel eyes went wide, and Kurt's jaw dropped. So they'd thought he'd be on a lifeboat already? Well he would be, given time.

Kurt shook his head, his eyes filling with tears as he looked at Blaine.

"I can't, Blaine -- I can't leave you. Please --"

The slightly shorter boy cupped Kurt's face in his hands, trying not to cry.

"You have to." he said quietly. "I can't live with myself if you die, Kurt. I -- Just go. I promise, I'll be on another boat, and we'll meet up in New York. Okay?"

"I can look out for him," said Sebastian suddenly. He didn't blame Kurt for the skeptical look sent his way. "I can get him to a boat, Kurt -- you know I can."

Blaine was silent for a moment, but then he nodded, and pressed a quick kiss to Kurt's lips.

"It's going to be okay." he murmured. "New York, right?"

Kurt nodded, tears sliding down his cheeks. He threw his arms around Blaine's neck and held him tightly before he was forced to let go when the officer yelled for anyone else -- man, woman, or child -- to get in.

Blaine kept eye contact with him as the boat began to lower toward the water.

"I don't know what to say except thank you." he mumbled.

Sebastian shrugged.

"Wasn't all me, Blaine." he replied. "Nice lie by the way."

Blaine slid his arms onto the rail, tilting his head down slightly, vowing not to take his eyes off of Kurt until the boat rowed away from the ship.

"Not as good as you." he said simply.

Then the two heard screaming, and Blaine swore when he realized why: Kurt was on his feet, making his way across the lifeboat, and then Sebastian yelled, "No!" at the same time Blaine screamed Kurt's name.

Kurt jumped and caught on to the railing, and Blaine's heart nearly stopped -- but then he took off running because two men had pulled Kurt back onto the ship, and he was gone.

Blaine prayed he could find Kurt quickly.