An Accident of Circumstance: Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Cooper started into wakefulness the next morning in his chair as someone tapped him on the shoulder. He smiled in relief when he noticed Kurt smiling down at him, holding two steaming cups of coffee. “Thought you could use this,” his future brother-in-law greeted, handing him one of the drinks. Stretching a kink out of his neck from his uncomfortable sleeping position, he noticed that something was wrong.
“Where’s Blaine,” he asked, panic rising in his chest.
“He’s fine,” Kurt informed him soothingly. “They just took him for some tests. In fact, he’s doing so well they’re moving him out of ICU. They wanted us to get you out of here, we just didn’t want to wake you before; you looked so tired...”
Cooper frowned. “We?”
Kurt nodded, smiling fondly. “Coop, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He led them out into the hallway and towards a small boy waiting in a chair, his eyes fixed on his legs swinging front to back underneath. The boy looked up as they approached, smiling at Kurt but turning shy at the sight of Cooper. “This is my son, Chris,” Kurt introduced. “Chris, this is Blaine’s brother, Cooper.” He walked over, pulling his son into a sideways hug facing towards him. “Come on, sweetie, say hello.”
“Hi,” the boy said softly, burying his head into his dad’s side.
“Sorry about this,” Kurt sighed. “He’s not usually this shy. I think he’s just a little overwhelmed by everything right now.”
“He’s also right here,” Chris replied, his voice muffled by Kurt’s side.
Cooper knelt down so he was on level with the boy. “It’s nice to meet you, Chris, especially since we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other now.”
“Why?” Chris asked, finally turning to look at him. Coop cursed inwardly when Kurt started vigorously shaking his head above them. Of course, he hadn’t had a chance to announce the engagement yet.
“Because I’m going to stick around for a little while Blaine gets better,” he covered smoothly.
“Thank you,” Kurt mouthed to him silently.
“Oh,” Chris replied. “Cool!”
“Speaking of Blaine, someone was excited to see him this morning.” Kurt spoke, leading Chris down the hallway. Cooper followed them, anxious to see his brother again. Taking the elevator up a few floors, Kurt led them down a series of halls until they came to another room. “Like I said this earlier, he’s still a little out of it, okay?”
Chris nodded. “I know, Dad.”
Kurt opened the door and they followed him in. Blaine was asleep, and though he still did not look one hundred percent like himself, he did have a bit more color than the last time he’d seen him a few hours prior. He really was going to be alright.
Cooper watched as Kurt walked over to the bed, leaning down and kissing Blaine’s forehead gently. Almost instantly, a smile stretched across Blaine’s face. “Kurt,” he murmured sleepily.
“You have some visitors,” Kurt informed him softly, brushing his recently washed hair off of his forehead. Blaine blinked his eyes open, smiling when he saw Cooper but beaming when he noticed Chris.
“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” Blaine told the boy, reaching out his arm towards him. “Your dad said you were okay and I knew he wasn’t lying but it’s just good to see with my own two eyes.”
“I’m sorry,” Chris muttered softly, tears welling up in his eyes. “You wouldn’t be here if I had just done what he said.”
Blaine shook his head as determinedly as possible in his condition. “No, stop that. You have nothing to be sorry for. I did what anyone would do. I’d put myself in this hospital bed a thousand times before I’d let anyone hurt you, okay?” Cooper couldn’t help but smile at his brother. He was always meant to be a father and he clearly loved the boy like a son already. And from the way Chris threw himself at Blaine, Cooper would say the feeling was mutual.
“I love you,” the boy murmured into his chest.
“I love you too, buddy.” Cooper shifted awkwardly by the doorway, feeling horribly like he was intruding. Blaine caught his eye and seemed to pick up on his discomfort. “So, I see you finally met my brother. What do you think?” he asked, grinning up at Coop and winking.
Chris shrugged. “Fine, I guess.” Cooper tried not to be too offended; they had literally known each other for a whole ten minutes at this point.
“Tell you what,” Blaine started again, looking directly at Chris. “I bet Coop is starving. If it’s alright with your dad, how about you go with him and get yourself a treat. That way you can get to know each other a little better, okay?”
Chris rolled his eyes. “Why do adults always have to come up with excuses to try and get some alone time? You could just ask...”
“Yeah, Blainers, sorry I’m crampin’ your style.”
Blaine sighed in exasperation. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. You both mean a lot to me and are going to be family soon and I really would love it if you got along.”
Chris froze. “Wait...what did you say?”
Blaine frowned at Kurt. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Tell me what?” Chris asked, looking back and forth between the rapidly.
“I wanted to wait until we were both together.” Kurt told him softly. He crouched down to look at his son. “Blaine and I...we’re getting married. I know we talked about this before-”
“Dad!” Chris cut him off, throwing himself at his father and nearly knocking him over with the force of his hug. “I’m so happy for you. Finally!” He turned to Blaine again. “And you too, obviously. I...I’m really happy that you're going to be a part of our family, for real now.”
Blaine grinned at him tenderly. “Me too, buddy, you have no idea.”
“Come on kid, let’s leave these lovebirds alone for a little while,” Cooper interrupted, walking towards his nephew to be. As Chris nodded and took his hand, Cooper belatedly remembered his practically empty wallet. He looked over at Kurt, who seemed to understand and pressed a twenty into his son’s other hand.
“My treat,” Kurt said, though he was looking at Cooper the entire time. He felt a wash of shame, hating that he was in this position, but nonetheless he was grateful to Kurt for helping him save face. He led Chris outside, asking a nurse for directions to the cafeteria.
“I’m sorry I was so shy before,” Chris told him as they walked into the elevator.
Cooper gave him his signature smile, turning into it slightly. “It’s okay, I’m kinda a lot to take in,” he informed Chris with an exaggerated wink, eliciting the intended giggle. “But I think we’re going to get along just fine.”
*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Kurt pulled up a chair and settling in next to Blaine as Cooper and Chris left. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell him sooner, I just...didn’t want to jinx it. Like if I told him then we’d get here and...” he shuddered just thinking about it.
“But I’m okay,” Blaine reminded him softly, reaching over and taking his hand, pulling it back to cradle on his chest.
“You’re okay.”
They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Blaine spoke. “Is something up with Cooper?”
Kurt hesitated. “Why do you ask?”
Blaine shrugged. “He just was acting kind of weird right before and after you gave Chris the money.”
“He’s kinda broke.”
Blaine frowned. “How broke?”
“I don’t know but he doesn’t have a job. He was adamant about not asking for help. I think he’s embarrassed about the whole thing.”
Nodding, Blaine looked up at Kurt thoughtfully. “I think I have an idea.”
“I wonder if it’s the same as my idea?”
“Have him move in with us?” Blaine asked.
Kurt nodded. “I know it’s not ideal, but it could work.”
“But what about when we move?”
Kurt bit his lip. “I was thinking he might be interested in coming to New York. I move into the new place next week, but it’s still a while until you and Chris come officially. There’s plenty of room there and hopefully he can get on his feet before you even come.”
“I don’t know,” Blaine sighed dramatically. “I’m not sure how I feel about him walking around shirtless with you all alone…you always had a bit of a crush on him...”
Kurt puffed up a little in indignation. “I have self control, thank you very much.” He was instantly disarmed when he saw the teasing glint in Blaine’s eye. “I’ll have you know that there is only one Anderson brother I am even remotely interested in, at least when he’s not being a jerk.”
Blaine grinned. “You love me.”
Kurt nodded, feeling tears suddenly creep up at him, though he tried his best to push them back. “I love you. So much.” He leaned over to kiss him properly, though his way was blocked by the oxygen tubes stuck in Blaine’s nostrils. He sat back reluctantly, the angle really just not conducive to any meaningful closeness. “Cooper told me that he called your parents.”
Blaine’s face hardened just ever so slightly. “Oh?”
Kurt frowned. “Cooper said he told you when you work up, you must have still been out of it from all the meds. He said they’re flying out this morning, should be here any time.”
Blaine raised his eyebrows in shocked disbelief. “How nice of them.” Suddenly his face paled. “Shit.”
“Honey, what’s wrong, what’s going on? Do I need to get a doctor?”
Blaine shook his head. “No, no doctor. It’s just...I never told them about the house.”
“Blaine...” Kurt began, but stopped at his fiancé’s half-hearted shrug.
“The house was put in my name. I dealt with all the insurance stuff. I didn’t think they would care or if they did they would say if was my fault and I just didn’t want to deal with that.”
“Does Cooper know?”
Blaine shook his head miserably. “I know I should have told him, but he hated that house as much as I did. I still don’t understand why I thought moving back to that place was a good plan.”
“You’re going to have to tell them.” Kurt told him softly.
“I know,” Blaine sighed in aggravation, settling back into the cot and staring up at the ceiling. “Sometimes I hate being an adult.”
Kurt chuckled. “Tell me about it.” He squeezed his hand. “Come on, you should try and rest so you have the energy to talk to them, and the police. They’re going to need a statement at some point.”
Blaine nodded. “Did they-?”
“Yeah, he’s locked up. He’s not coming anywhere near us or our family.”
“Good,” Blaine replied. “I was terrified near the end, there. That the police wouldn’t find me in time, that I wouldn’t be coming home to you, that I’d practically be making you a widower twice over and how much that would kill you...”
“I know,” Kurt replied soothingly, kissing his hand. “But you’re here. You're safe and not going anywhere. Now get some rest, I’ll stay right here okay?” Blaine nodded, already slipping off into sleep. Kurt couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, unconsciously synching his own breath in time with Blaine’s. Yes, the road ahead wasn’t going to be easy and he would have to leave far sooner than he would like. But right then in that moment, everything was strikingly perfect.
Next
Cooper started into wakefulness the next morning in his chair as someone tapped him on the shoulder. He smiled in relief when he noticed Kurt smiling down at him, holding two steaming cups of coffee. “Thought you could use this,” his future brother-in-law greeted, handing him one of the drinks. Stretching a kink out of his neck from his uncomfortable sleeping position, he noticed that something was wrong.
“Where’s Blaine,” he asked, panic rising in his chest.
“He’s fine,” Kurt informed him soothingly. “They just took him for some tests. In fact, he’s doing so well they’re moving him out of ICU. They wanted us to get you out of here, we just didn’t want to wake you before; you looked so tired...”
Cooper frowned. “We?”
Kurt nodded, smiling fondly. “Coop, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He led them out into the hallway and towards a small boy waiting in a chair, his eyes fixed on his legs swinging front to back underneath. The boy looked up as they approached, smiling at Kurt but turning shy at the sight of Cooper. “This is my son, Chris,” Kurt introduced. “Chris, this is Blaine’s brother, Cooper.” He walked over, pulling his son into a sideways hug facing towards him. “Come on, sweetie, say hello.”
“Hi,” the boy said softly, burying his head into his dad’s side.
“Sorry about this,” Kurt sighed. “He’s not usually this shy. I think he’s just a little overwhelmed by everything right now.”
“He’s also right here,” Chris replied, his voice muffled by Kurt’s side.
Cooper knelt down so he was on level with the boy. “It’s nice to meet you, Chris, especially since we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other now.”
“Why?” Chris asked, finally turning to look at him. Coop cursed inwardly when Kurt started vigorously shaking his head above them. Of course, he hadn’t had a chance to announce the engagement yet.
“Because I’m going to stick around for a little while Blaine gets better,” he covered smoothly.
“Thank you,” Kurt mouthed to him silently.
“Oh,” Chris replied. “Cool!”
“Speaking of Blaine, someone was excited to see him this morning.” Kurt spoke, leading Chris down the hallway. Cooper followed them, anxious to see his brother again. Taking the elevator up a few floors, Kurt led them down a series of halls until they came to another room. “Like I said this earlier, he’s still a little out of it, okay?”
Chris nodded. “I know, Dad.”
Kurt opened the door and they followed him in. Blaine was asleep, and though he still did not look one hundred percent like himself, he did have a bit more color than the last time he’d seen him a few hours prior. He really was going to be alright.
Cooper watched as Kurt walked over to the bed, leaning down and kissing Blaine’s forehead gently. Almost instantly, a smile stretched across Blaine’s face. “Kurt,” he murmured sleepily.
“You have some visitors,” Kurt informed him softly, brushing his recently washed hair off of his forehead. Blaine blinked his eyes open, smiling when he saw Cooper but beaming when he noticed Chris.
“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” Blaine told the boy, reaching out his arm towards him. “Your dad said you were okay and I knew he wasn’t lying but it’s just good to see with my own two eyes.”
“I’m sorry,” Chris muttered softly, tears welling up in his eyes. “You wouldn’t be here if I had just done what he said.”
Blaine shook his head as determinedly as possible in his condition. “No, stop that. You have nothing to be sorry for. I did what anyone would do. I’d put myself in this hospital bed a thousand times before I’d let anyone hurt you, okay?” Cooper couldn’t help but smile at his brother. He was always meant to be a father and he clearly loved the boy like a son already. And from the way Chris threw himself at Blaine, Cooper would say the feeling was mutual.
“I love you,” the boy murmured into his chest.
“I love you too, buddy.” Cooper shifted awkwardly by the doorway, feeling horribly like he was intruding. Blaine caught his eye and seemed to pick up on his discomfort. “So, I see you finally met my brother. What do you think?” he asked, grinning up at Coop and winking.
Chris shrugged. “Fine, I guess.” Cooper tried not to be too offended; they had literally known each other for a whole ten minutes at this point.
“Tell you what,” Blaine started again, looking directly at Chris. “I bet Coop is starving. If it’s alright with your dad, how about you go with him and get yourself a treat. That way you can get to know each other a little better, okay?”
Chris rolled his eyes. “Why do adults always have to come up with excuses to try and get some alone time? You could just ask...”
“Yeah, Blainers, sorry I’m crampin’ your style.”
Blaine sighed in exasperation. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. You both mean a lot to me and are going to be family soon and I really would love it if you got along.”
Chris froze. “Wait...what did you say?”
Blaine frowned at Kurt. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Tell me what?” Chris asked, looking back and forth between the rapidly.
“I wanted to wait until we were both together.” Kurt told him softly. He crouched down to look at his son. “Blaine and I...we’re getting married. I know we talked about this before-”
“Dad!” Chris cut him off, throwing himself at his father and nearly knocking him over with the force of his hug. “I’m so happy for you. Finally!” He turned to Blaine again. “And you too, obviously. I...I’m really happy that you're going to be a part of our family, for real now.”
Blaine grinned at him tenderly. “Me too, buddy, you have no idea.”
“Come on kid, let’s leave these lovebirds alone for a little while,” Cooper interrupted, walking towards his nephew to be. As Chris nodded and took his hand, Cooper belatedly remembered his practically empty wallet. He looked over at Kurt, who seemed to understand and pressed a twenty into his son’s other hand.
“My treat,” Kurt said, though he was looking at Cooper the entire time. He felt a wash of shame, hating that he was in this position, but nonetheless he was grateful to Kurt for helping him save face. He led Chris outside, asking a nurse for directions to the cafeteria.
“I’m sorry I was so shy before,” Chris told him as they walked into the elevator.
Cooper gave him his signature smile, turning into it slightly. “It’s okay, I’m kinda a lot to take in,” he informed Chris with an exaggerated wink, eliciting the intended giggle. “But I think we’re going to get along just fine.”
*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Kurt pulled up a chair and settling in next to Blaine as Cooper and Chris left. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell him sooner, I just...didn’t want to jinx it. Like if I told him then we’d get here and...” he shuddered just thinking about it.
“But I’m okay,” Blaine reminded him softly, reaching over and taking his hand, pulling it back to cradle on his chest.
“You’re okay.”
They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Blaine spoke. “Is something up with Cooper?”
Kurt hesitated. “Why do you ask?”
Blaine shrugged. “He just was acting kind of weird right before and after you gave Chris the money.”
“He’s kinda broke.”
Blaine frowned. “How broke?”
“I don’t know but he doesn’t have a job. He was adamant about not asking for help. I think he’s embarrassed about the whole thing.”
Nodding, Blaine looked up at Kurt thoughtfully. “I think I have an idea.”
“I wonder if it’s the same as my idea?”
“Have him move in with us?” Blaine asked.
Kurt nodded. “I know it’s not ideal, but it could work.”
“But what about when we move?”
Kurt bit his lip. “I was thinking he might be interested in coming to New York. I move into the new place next week, but it’s still a while until you and Chris come officially. There’s plenty of room there and hopefully he can get on his feet before you even come.”
“I don’t know,” Blaine sighed dramatically. “I’m not sure how I feel about him walking around shirtless with you all alone…you always had a bit of a crush on him...”
Kurt puffed up a little in indignation. “I have self control, thank you very much.” He was instantly disarmed when he saw the teasing glint in Blaine’s eye. “I’ll have you know that there is only one Anderson brother I am even remotely interested in, at least when he’s not being a jerk.”
Blaine grinned. “You love me.”
Kurt nodded, feeling tears suddenly creep up at him, though he tried his best to push them back. “I love you. So much.” He leaned over to kiss him properly, though his way was blocked by the oxygen tubes stuck in Blaine’s nostrils. He sat back reluctantly, the angle really just not conducive to any meaningful closeness. “Cooper told me that he called your parents.”
Blaine’s face hardened just ever so slightly. “Oh?”
Kurt frowned. “Cooper said he told you when you work up, you must have still been out of it from all the meds. He said they’re flying out this morning, should be here any time.”
Blaine raised his eyebrows in shocked disbelief. “How nice of them.” Suddenly his face paled. “Shit.”
“Honey, what’s wrong, what’s going on? Do I need to get a doctor?”
Blaine shook his head. “No, no doctor. It’s just...I never told them about the house.”
“Blaine...” Kurt began, but stopped at his fiancé’s half-hearted shrug.
“The house was put in my name. I dealt with all the insurance stuff. I didn’t think they would care or if they did they would say if was my fault and I just didn’t want to deal with that.”
“Does Cooper know?”
Blaine shook his head miserably. “I know I should have told him, but he hated that house as much as I did. I still don’t understand why I thought moving back to that place was a good plan.”
“You’re going to have to tell them.” Kurt told him softly.
“I know,” Blaine sighed in aggravation, settling back into the cot and staring up at the ceiling. “Sometimes I hate being an adult.”
Kurt chuckled. “Tell me about it.” He squeezed his hand. “Come on, you should try and rest so you have the energy to talk to them, and the police. They’re going to need a statement at some point.”
Blaine nodded. “Did they-?”
“Yeah, he’s locked up. He’s not coming anywhere near us or our family.”
“Good,” Blaine replied. “I was terrified near the end, there. That the police wouldn’t find me in time, that I wouldn’t be coming home to you, that I’d practically be making you a widower twice over and how much that would kill you...”
“I know,” Kurt replied soothingly, kissing his hand. “But you’re here. You're safe and not going anywhere. Now get some rest, I’ll stay right here okay?” Blaine nodded, already slipping off into sleep. Kurt couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, unconsciously synching his own breath in time with Blaine’s. Yes, the road ahead wasn’t going to be easy and he would have to leave far sooner than he would like. But right then in that moment, everything was strikingly perfect.
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