Velcro (part four, chapter Two.)
Title: Velcro (Or, A Million and One Different Ways to Start Piecing Together Broken Hearts (Part Four, Chapter One/?)
Sequel to Dependable. Reliable.
Author: Pulpobsessed.
Pairing: Multiple Pairings
Characters: This chapter: Dave Karofsky, Kurt Hummel, Chris Michaels (OC), and Jessica Anders (OC). Plus others...
Rating: R (for language)
Summary: The impacts of what happened at the reunion start to take shape in Dave's life - eventually forcing Dave to make a life changing decision. This is a story of heart breaks, finding yourself, finding the one you're meant to be with, and of salvation - for more than just one character.
Genre: FutureFic
Disclaimer: Glee belongs to Ryan Murphy. Not me. But this Dave...he's all mine.
A/N. The next two chapters of Velcro - in which Dave figures something out, lends a helping hand, and faces his past.
You can find all Twelve Chapters of D&R here (it starts at chapter 12, so click on the one to start back at the beginning.)
Previous Installments of Velcro: 1 | 2 | 3.1 | 3.2
Part Four
What if I can't be all that you need me to be
We've got a good thing going, we have some promises to keep
But my addiction it can be such a detriment
Please believe in this my dear, I am more than penitent
City and Colour, “Little Hell.”
[2]
Throughout his life, Dave had occasionally experienced moments that he knew would forever change the course of his life - he knew these moments were important or life changing because he got a feeling. It was a rather particular feeling... like someone had taken an ice cold snake and let it run up and down his spine. He could feel every arctic scaly inch of the creature slithering along his spinal cord.
The movements of the creature were almost a kind of morse code, telling him: Listen closely, buddy! This moment...this one, right here. It’s gonna change your life!
Dave had experienced this sensation only a handful of times: When he was ten and his mom had a miscarriage. When he was thirteen and he narrowly missed getting hit by a bus. When he was sixteen and he kissed Kurt Hummel in the locker room. When he was seventeen, while practically getting a blow job from Blaine Anderson. When he was twenty-one and watched one of his kids die of an overdose. And...now... at twenty-eight. Standing in his kitchen, making a roast beef and swiss sandwich.
Listening to his phone ring.
Dropping the mayo-y knife on the counter, he turned to grab the noisy gadget of his table. It was a number he didn’t recognize...a local number.
He swiped his thumb across to answer.
“Hello?”
He was met with absolute silence. So, again, he asked: “Hello?”
Still nothing, not a sound. Not even heavy breathing...as if the person on the other end was holding their breath.
“Ok...I’m just going to hang up now.”
Then...as he started to pull the phone away from his hear... he heard:
“Dave...?”
The voice was so quiet. Almost non-existent. A scared whisper.
“Yes?” Dave knew the voice...but he wasn’t quite ready to believe it.
“Dave?” The voice said again. Still frightened. Broken.
Dave instantly recognized it that time. Holy fuck!
“Finn?!”
Right there... as he uttered that name. Right there... that was the magic moment. When he recognized Finn’s voice was the exact moment when he felt that icy snaky start it’s journey up his fucking spine. Right then and there...he knew his life was about to change.
“I..I...I need your help. Please. God. Please.”
Fuck... at those words, it was as though that fucking snake decided to multiply by about eighty. His entire spine was frozen.
“Finn...what? What’s... Fuck. Man.” Dave seemed to have lost the ability to both think and to speak. Why the hell was Finn calling him? They had not spoken more than ten words in the last ten years. They’d seen each other at the reunion, but had nothing resembling a conversation. And then there was the fact that Dave pretty much blamed Finn for what happened with Kurt - if it hadn’t been for Finn’s selfishness and immaturity, Dave and Kurt could’ve actually gotten past all the bullshit that condemned their relationship before it even got started.
Dave heard Finn sigh deeply. Then: “Dave...I need help. Please. I don’t...I..I don’t know who...” He dropped off with a stuttering sob.
Ok. Dave steeled himself. He couldn’t deal with this as Dave, Finn’s brother’s ex-lover. He had to take this on as Dave, the social worker. Dave, the therapist. If he was going to help Finn, he had to slip into that role.
Dave closed his eyes. Steadied himself. Took a deep breath. Then, “Ok. Finn. Talk to me. What’s going on?”
“I..I don’t know. Man. Fuck. I really fucked up, Dave.”
“Ok. First off, tell me where you are.”
“I..I’m at the train station. I was gonna try and get a ticket to New York. I wanted to go see Rach. But then I remembered I can’t do that anymore. And I kinda freaked out at the security guards here...they’re holding me. Said...said I needed to call someone. I stole Kurt’s phone, I was coming to DC to see you...fuck, but then I got fucked up and didn’t. I still had the phone, so I called you.”
“Ok... let me get this straight. You came to DC to see me? But you ended up getting drunk. You were going to go to New York, but you can’t...so you got arrested and called me?”
“Yeah...fuck, I threw up on a security guard.”
“Well, that’s provably why you got arrested. Ok...”
“Please, help me. Dave. I have no one else.”
“Ok, ok. Finn...I’m gonna do my best ok. I’m coming to the station and I’ll get them to release you...”
“I don’t want to be like this anymore.”
“Then we’ll do everything we can to help you, ok? Now, put one of the guards on the phone for me, ok?”
“Oh...yeah...ok.”
Dave heard a muffled exchange between Finn and, what sounded like, a very angry security guard. A moment later, that same security guard barked into the phone: “Yes!? What!?”
Dave smiled... now this was an attitude that he was used to and could handle. He’d dealt with hundreds of guys like this.... “Hello, sir. My name is David Karofsky. I’m a local social worker...”
As Dave talked to the security guard about coming to pick up Finn, he had picked up his iPad and opened his contacts list, scrolling through to find someone who owed him a few favors. Simultaneously, he was looking up a couple addresses, and was preparing himself for what was bound to be one of the longest days of his life...
He had no idea why Finn would call him. Or what he meant when he said he couldn’t go to New York...much less that comment about having no one else. All Finn had were people...people willing to bend over backwards to make sure he didn’t realize he was in pain.
Well, the coddling was about to stop for him... if he wanted Dave’s help, he was going to play by Dave’s rules.
*******************************************
Dave footfalls echoed loudly in the uncharacteristically empty main hall at Union Station. Normally, in the middle of a Saturday, the hall would be filled with travelers flooding to the trains housed below - either heading off to New York, Baltimore, Boston, or arriving in the city for a weekend in the Capital.
But today, the hall was strangely deserted.
Dave hard soled boots made heavy slapping sounds as he strode in from the parking garage. He moved towards the information kiosk where the security guard/transit police said to meet him so he could claim Finn. Dave spotted the security guard immediately. The guy was massive. He outweighed Dave by at least eighty pounds, and Dave was pretty sure the guy was mostly muscle. Dave was not often intimidated by someone, but this guy...certainly made him pause. The guy was standing there, watching Dave approach, flexing his arms. As though he wanted to make sure that Dave knew, absolutely, that he was the alpha-male here. That Dave was in his house and he called the shots... and if Dave didn’t like that...well then Dave might find himself in lock-up, right next to Finn.
And Dave did not begrudge the guy for his supremely bad mood. Technically, all he knew about Dave was that he was friends with the asshole who vomited beer and vodka all over him. So yeah, Dave, without having even been there, was already in his bad books.
Dave wanted to punch Finn right now. Finn had already ruined this guy’s rather quiet Saturday, and he’d certainly made sure Dave’s day was not going to be a walk in the park either.
Dave plastered his best ‘I’m your best friend and will agree with everything you say’ smile on as he walked up the guy.
“Hi. You must be Officer Stevenson.”
“Yeah. You the social work guy?”
“Yes,” Dave held out his hand, “Dave Karofsky.”
“Nicetameetchu.” Officer Stevenson grumbled, his eyes sweeping over Dave. Dave paused slightly... was the guy checking him out.
“Thank you for agreeing to let me take Captain Hudson home with me.”
Officer Stevenson paused, a slight smirk ghosting over his stony features... “I could just throw his drunk ass in jail... it’s just cause he’s a damn Marine that I’m being lenient. But if he pulls shit like this again in my station...he’s a goner.”
“I promise you, he will not be making a encore performance.”
“Bettanot. But you seem like a stand up kinda guy, I did a quick check on you - you’re a do-gooder...I like that.” Dave was not sure if the man’s strange New England accent normally sounded so...sultry...or if the man really was laying the flirt on thick.
“I assure you he will behave himself. And thank you for the compliment.”
“K, I’m gonna go get him for you. You can wait here. I brought you the paper work, fill it out while I’m gone. Oh, and I included my card... ” And with that Officer Stevenson smirked again, turned and marched away.
“Well,” Dave muttered to himself, picking up the business card, “that was fucking awkward.”
He put the card down on the desk and turned his attention to the stack of papers in front of them...standard release papers that needed his signature. Dave reached into his messenger bag and pulled out his Cross pen that Chris had given him. Sighing he started filling in the first page.
Twenty long minutes later, which Dave knew he’d be forced to wait because Officer Stevenson wanted to teach him some kind of lesson...exactly as to what that lesson was, Dave was clueless. So, yeah, twenty minutes later, Dave was still standing at the information kiosk, staring in the direction Officer Stevenson had disappeared. Finally, he saw the brick wall of a man approaching. Tailing behind him was a bedraggled looking Finn Hudson.
The guy looked...rough. He clearly had slept in his clothes the night before, possibly for quite a few nights. He had on a pair of faded baggy jeans, an oversize dark blue t-shirt, that looked slightly sweat stained. Overtop that, he had on, what looked like, a khaki military issue jacket. Hanging from the collar of his shirt was a pair of aviators. And, on his feet, he wore a pair of large army boots. His face was covered by at least five days worth of beard. He was sporting a rather severe buzz cut - probably done by his own hand. He looked exhausted, deep dark rings framed his normally bright eyes, which looked dull and lifeless. He was shuffling, slowly, towards Dave. But he had yet to look up and actually make eye contact.
Officer Stevenson pushed Finn forward, grumbling. He reached out and grabbed the stack of papers. “Here. Ya filled it all out? Good.” He turned to Finn, barking, “Listen up! You ever come back into my station and cause trouble again...I don’t care where you served or what country you defended, I will throw your skanky ass in jail so fast...” And with that he turned to Dave. Smiling, said in a lower voice, “You have my card, right? Maybe give me a call sometime...I could show the inner workings of the station or something.” Nodding, with a small smile, he spun back the way he’d come and disappeared back into the depths of the station.
Dave was alone with Finn, who was still busy studying the floor between his feet. They stood, awkwardly, in the middle of Union Station - a deep silence was settling over them. Finally, Dave couldn’t deal with it anymore.
“Finn...can you look at me?” The other man looked up. Their eyes met. Dave’s were filled with curiosity, while Finn’s held only shadows of pain and loss and sadness. “Finn... what’s going on?”
“I...I...need help.”
“Ok... let’s go to my car, we can talk there. Ok?”
“Yeah. Yeah, sure.”
Dave grabbed Finn’s elbow and steered him towards the parking garage. Whatever it was that was going on with Finn, Dave had to be ready to not only confront it, but probably help the guy deal with it too.
Suddenly, this Saturday was turning out to be even more hectic and stressful than just waiting around for Chris.
Trying not to be too aware of the stench of vomit and booze that was coming off Finn, Dave barreled them towards his Jetta.
********************************
Dave felt like screaming. Finn had so far said maybe about twenty words since they got in the car. They had sat there in silence for at least fifteen minutes until, frustrated, Dave and yelled at Finn to say something. Finn just apologized, again.
So finally, Dave suggested they go back to his place. To talk. This received a “Sure. Sounds cool.” And then more silence. A lot of staring out of the passenger side window took place.
Dave had tried to strike up some idle talk while driving, but after a while, he just got fed up and stopped talking. Deciding to finally kill the silence with something, he tapped his control panel, starting his iPod. A City and Colour song started playing. Dave smiled, internally, this was one of Chris’ favorite bands. Dave had taken a crash course on them... well a forced crash course, when Chris had handed him every City and Colour CD - including 3 different live albums.
So, with Finn staring moodily out the window at the passing national landmarks, and Dallas Green echoing in the car, Dave turned the car towards his condo. Growing all the more curious as to what was about to happen when he got there...and how willing Finn would be when he heard Dave’s plan.
Twenty minutes later, Dave walked out of his kitchen holding two steaming mugs of coffee. Early afternoon light was streaming through the balcony doors, casting Dave’s living room in bright light. Finn was sitting on the edge of his sofa, staring out at the balcony. Dave was not entirely sure if his eyes were actually seeing anything...he seemed to just be looking into space.
“Hey...” He said softly, with a tone of authority in his voice. “You want coffee?”
Finn started. He stood up from the sofa. Looking slightly confused. “Huh? Oh. Yeah. Thanks.”
Dave handed him a mug, “Careful it’s hot.” Then, taking a sip, he stared at the man in front of him. This was the first time he’d really gotten a good look at Finn since the reunion. He was a pale shadow of the guy he remembered from high school. The goofy grin and naiveté was completely absent. It had been replaced by a hardness...a scary darkness that gleamed out from his eyes. It was a hardness that screamed of pain, hurt, humiliation...and most frighteningly of all: hate.
“Jesus...Finn...what’s going on?”
Finn stared at his cup. He closed his eyes for a second. Then, opening them, looked back up at Dave. “I...I...I keep fucking up.”
“Ok...that’s a start. Why don’t you tell me more...” Dave sat down, gesturing for Finn to do the same.
“I can’t go home any more. I can’t go...go...to Rach’s. I...I, jesus, why are you even helping me?” Finn reached over and put his untouched cup of coffee on the side table.
“Because you asked me to.”
“I've ruined so much!” Finn’s head sank into his hands. Dave sat there listening to Finn’s strangled sobs. He took another sip of his coffee. Waiting for Finn to calm down.
Finally, Finn lifted his head again. Dave waited until he seemed to catch his breath, then... “Ok. Tell me why you can’t go to Rachel’s or home anymore. We’ll start there.”
“I...I...I stole. I stole from Kurt and mom and Burt. I took stuff...to sell.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because I needed money. I spent my last check and I wanted...I wanted a drink. I tried to get Quinn to help, but...but she told me to get away from her and never talk to her again. Kurt told me no. So I took his credit card. And sold some of mom’s jewelry.”
Dave closed his eyes. Suppressing his anger towards the man sitting across from him. “Ok. Go on...”
“Kurt found out and told me that I was using them. He said...he said...you were right.”
“Me?”
“Yeah...he said that you told him I would just keep using them and eventually it would be bad enough to hurt them. He was so mad. They told me either I get help...or never come back. I left...”
Inwardly, Dave gave Kurt a high five for finally doing the right thing... “Then what happened.”
“I got on a bus. I still had some money from mom’s engagement ring.”
“Oh Finn...”
“I know...I know! I used it to get to New York... I tried to call Rachel right away. But she was in rehearsal or something, so I found a bar and...well I got drunk.”
“Ok...”
“I remember stumbling to her apartment after that, getting her to let me in. Then I tried to convince her to have sex with me...I got physical with her. She kicked me out. Told me never to come back. Never to talk to her until I got help.”
“You tried to force yourself...”
“Yes. Dave. Ok. I know. Ok! Fuck...I’m fucked up. I screwed it all up. I hitchhiked here. I knew you lived here...I wanted to see you. I needed to...but when I got here, I found out my cheque came in and I kinda wound up in a bar, drinking my face off with some chick. Then I started to sober up. I was too chicken shit to face you. So I was going to leave....that’s when that cop at the station caught me. And I called you.”
“Finn...what do you want from me? Why are you here?”
“I...I...I need help.”
“Finn...”
“I have a problem Dave! I don’t know how to stop. I want my life back! I want my mom and Burt and Kurt...and... I...please, Dave. Help me. Kurt says you’re a social worker or something and know how to fix guys like me... please Dave. Fix me. Fix me!”
Dave stared at Finn. Dumbstruck. He’d never expected Finn to so eagerly want someone to help him...this was just, so out of the blue.
“I...I can’t help you, Finn.”
“What!? But...”
“You need to help yourself. I can give you a push, find you the people to get you on the right path...but no one can help you until you start doing it for yourself. And asking me to help you is the first step.”
“What do I do? I don’t want this anymore. I feel like I’m dying, again.”
“Again...?” Dave's eyebrows rose in surprise.
Finn, looked down at his hands. They were shaking. He was shaking all over. “I...I...I already died once. In Afghanistan. A car bomb. My heart stopped...sometimes it’s all I can think about. I see it in my dreams. Every time I close my eyes, I see it.”
“Jesus.” Dave realized he was starting to sound like a broken record. But...there wasn’t any other word for it.
“Dave... please...I want this to stop.”
Dave paused. Collecting his thoughts. He had been expecting a struggle. A fight. At least some kind of resistance...but this. This was totally unexpected. Dave took another sip of his coffee. Thinking. He opened his mouth, choosing his words, carefully. “Finn. You know that this...won’t be easy, right?”
“I know. Dave...I survived a fucking war. I’ve been shot. Blown up... I know this will probably be the hardest struggle of my entire life, but I can do it. I want to do it. I need to do it.”
“Ok. I’ll help you. Finn, I like you. I’ve always thought you were a good guy...people make mistakes. Lord knows I’ve made more than my fair share of them. And we all deserve a second chance at life. I’ve had more than one second chance, so maybe this is my time to help you get yours.”
“Even though I fucked it up with you and Kurt?”
“Wh...what do you mean?”
“It’s my fault that he never called you. It was my fault that he turned his back on you. I told him that I needed him. I begged him to...to...not leave me alone. I...I knew that he wanted to be with you, but I was scared that if he took off to see you, I’d get lost even more than...”
“Finn...”
“I know! It’s my fault. I fucked up my life and I fucked up every one else’s life too. God...I...”
“No, Finn...listen to me. What happened between Kurt and I...it might have started out having something to do with you, but it ended having everything to do with him and I. Kurt and I are not together... because he didn’t want to be with me. Look, you have a lot to feel bad for, a lot to take the blame for...but you shouldn’t feel bad about that.” Dave struggled to keep his actual feelings out of his voice. He was angry...he had always blamed Finn, even just a little bit, for what had happened with Kurt. Kurt had used Finn as an excuse time after time after time...making absolutely sure that Dave always knew he would come second in Kurt’s life.
And now here sat that very reason. In his living room. Asking for Dave to help him get his life back.
And despite Dave's training as a social worker, his general compassion, and wanting to help Finn eventually become that stand up, sweet guy he remembered...he still struggled slightly with the knowledge, somewhere deep inside him, that he was doing this for Kurt. A thought Dave desperately wanted to force out of his mind.
Finn was staring at him. Expectantly. “Um..so, what happens now?”
“Well. First, I need you to make an absolute commitment to this.”
“Yes! I am committed. I swear it.”
“Ok. Then get your shoes on. We’re going out.”
“Where are we going?”
“To see a friend of mine. She runs the Vanguard rehab center. It’s an addiction recovery center - not too far from here.”
“Oh.” Finn’s eyes grew large. He clearly was not expecting this. “Rehab...”
“Finn...how else do you expect to get better? How else do you expect to...heal?”
“I don’t know...guess I thought you might give me a good talking to, and suddenly I’d be all better.”
“I don’t even think that happens in science fiction...”
“I know. I know. So, what is going to happen?”
“Well, when you called earlier, I called my friend and asked her to look into getting you a spot at Vanguard. I kinda figured that if you were fucked up enough to vomit on a guard at Union Station, that maybe I should at least set up something in terms of rehab.”
“Oh...well, thanks.” Finn nervously fiddled with his coffee cup. “I’m scared.”
“I know. And that’s totally ok. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who wasn’t scared about this.”
“How...how long will I be there?”
“That depends. I can’t tell you how long, but I can tell you they are the best... and they will work with you every single day to get better.”
“Ok...ok.”
“I’ll call my friend and tell her we’re on our way.”
Finn nodded, stood up. “Um...can I, you know, shower before we go?”
“Uh, yeah. I have some gym clothes you can change into so you don’t have to put that stuff back on. Come on...” Dave turned to lead Finn back towards the washroom and a shower.
Once he heard the shower start, Dave picked up his coffee cup and his phone, then he started dialing.
**************************************
Finn had disappeared into into Mariam’s office about thirty minutes ago, leaving Dave to sit in the overly bright and incredibly depressing waiting room of Vanguard’s main admission area. He glanced up at the clock, surprised to find it was already quarter after four... which technically meant he had not had anything to eat in almost seven hours.
Fuck. No wonder he was getting cranky.
He glanced over at the woman sitting behind the receptionist desk and entertained asking her where he might find something to eat. But he was not exactly sure if a rehab center made regular use of vending machines or not. He really wished he’d thought to stop at a McDonald’s or something on the way. Or perhaps had not promised Finn that he would wait for at Vanguard until he had checked in.
Dave sighed and let his head drop back, smacking against the wall with a loud crack. The receptionist’s head shot up, glaring at him for disturbing her quiet Saturday afternoon. He smiled apologetically.
It was then he saw Finn and Mariam approaching. He stood.
“Hey, buddy.” He gave Finn a supportive and, what he hoped was, a encouraging smile.
“Hey.” Finn sounded freaked out. His eyes were in constant motion.
Mariam stepped forward. “Well, Dave, we have Finn all checked in. I’m going to take him back and let him get settled. He wanted to say bye to you first.... so, um I’ll let you have a moment.” She gave them both an small smile and retreated to the receptionist’s desk. Clearly used to having her patients request this kind of moment.
“So... you ready for this?” Dave asked.
“No. Fuck, no. I’m scared Dave. Like really fucking scared.”
“I know. But I promise... you’ll make it out of here. And I’m in the city, so if you need something get Mariam to call me and I’ll come straight out.”
“I can’t have visitors for a while.”
“I know...but when you can, you can call me, ok? I’m here for you...I promise. I know lot of people in the system, so whatever you need. Ok?”
“Thank you.” Finn blinked rapidly. Clearly trying to force back tears. “No one...everyone just kept letting me fuck up...no one tried to help me get clean. Thank you, thank you for helping me. You’re...” Finn lost the battle and started to cry.
“Finn... I promise you it’ll be ok.” Dave stepped forward and pulled Finn into a hug. He let the guy cry on his shoulder, rubbing comforting circles into his back. “You’re gonna be ok.”
After a few moments, Finn pulled back. Sniffling, he asked, “Can...can I please ask you to do something...”
“Uh, sure.”
He pulled out his phone. “Can you, um, call Kurt and mom and Burt and tell them what happened?”
Dave stared at him. Eyes growing large.
“I know that the last thing you want to do is talk to Kurt...but...I can’t do it. Please.”
Dave knew what Finn was about to go through. He knew that the next seventy-two hours were going to be hell while he went through detox. He knew the pain, the sweat, the nightmares, the screaming, the agony, the sheer longing and torturous desire that Finn was about to go through as he was denied a drink for the first time in a very long time. Finn was about to walk into the detox wing and discover exactly what hell was. So this...this small request... it was nothing.
Dave could easily call Kurt... easily...
He reached out and took Finn’s phone. “Yeah...I can do that.”
“Thank you. Can you take my stuff too? My wallet and keys and shit...I left my backpack at your place anyways, since you said I couldn’t have stuff here.”
“Yeah, Mariam will give it to me.”
Mariam, with her long red hair swaying behind her, approached them. “Ok... I think it’s time to head back, Finn.”
“Yeah...ok.” Finn looked even more frightened. He looked at Dave. “You’ll be around if I need you?”
“All they have to do is call, and I’ll be here.”
“Thank you.” Finn stuck out his hand. Dave placed his in Finn’s, smiling. They stood there like that for a moment. The Finn pulled back and let himself be led back down the hallway into the depths of the center...back towards his redemption.
Dave stood there, watching Finn and Mariam’s retreating backs...gripping Finn’s phone anxiously.
****************************
OK...pick up the phone. And dial. Just pick it up. Dial the numbers. Just do it.
Dave sat at his kitchen table, staring at his phone. He had written the Hummel’s home number down on a slip of paper, which was lying next to his phone. Every time he looked at the numbers, they seemed to get more and more angry and alien to him...almost to the point he couldn’t even recognize them as numbers.
Dialing those numbers meant putting his emotional wellbeing on the line. It meant possibly opening himself up to a whole world of hurt that he thought he had filed away. It meant...Kurt.
Dave sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He needed to just do this. He had promised Finn that he would do this...he had to keep that promise.
It was just a quick conversation...a simple phone call that was meant to relay some information. Nothing emotional. Nothing traumatic.
He could do this.
Dave picked up his phone. Unlocked it. And dialed.
Within seconds an all too familiar voice came over the line. Kurt.
“Hello.” The voice was strained. Stressed. Almost frantic.
Dave’s voice seemed to disappear. He opened his mouth. But it was as though nothing was going to come out. Holy fuck. There was no way he was going to be able to do this.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
Dave shut his eyes. That voice. That seductive, beautiful, wonderful voice. It slammed into his brain and ricocheted around in his mind. In a matter of seconds, he relived every wonderful thing that voice had said to him. And every awful thing it had said too.
Dave breathed out, slowly.
“I can hear you breathing...” Kurt’s voice was getting annoyed. “I’m hanging up.”
“Kurt...”
“Oh, so you can speak.”
“It’s Dave.”
Now it was Kurt’s turn to be completely silent for a moment. Then... “Dave?”
“Yeah...hey. Er. Hi.”
“Wha... Um... I... Dave...what do you want?”
Kurt’s tone had shifted. It had gone from surprised to almost indignant over Dave’s call. Perhaps, this was a defensive tactic to protect himself from the same emotional turmoil that had made Dave so scared to pick up the phone to make this call.
“I, uh, I have to talk to you about something.”
“Oh? After our last chat, you didn’t seem all that interested in talking to me again.”
Dave sighed. Maybe a switch in tactics would be wise. “Um... is Burt or Carole home? Maybe it would be easier if I talked to them.”
“What? Why do you need to talk to my dad or Carole?! What is going on?”
“It’s about Finn.”
“Finn? What? What about Finn?”
“He’s in DC. He came to see me.”
“What? What on earth?! Dave Karofsky, what is happening?”
“He called me earlier today. He had gotten arrested at Union Station for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. I managed to get him released into my care. We talked...a lot. He told me that you guys made him leave...”
“God! We’ve been worried sick! We were all so mad about what he did - I mean stealing from his own mother... but we didn’t mean for him to just take off and not come back. That wasn’t what we thought was going to happen...”
“Have you spoken to Rachel?”
“She called. She told me what happened. I couldn’t believe it. Dad wanted to call the police and get Finn arrested or something...but Rachel had no idea where he’d gone. God... Why did he...”
“He came to me for help.”
“Where is he?! Hold on....” Dave heard Kurt put the phone down and call out for Burt and Carole. He heard Kurt’s voice grow faint, but there was the definite sound of Finn’s name. Moments later, Dave heard a mild commotion start up as clearly Burt and Carole came into whatever room the phone was in. Then, Kurt’s voice was suddenly in his ear again.
“Dave... Sorry. I’m back. Dad and Carole are here. Is Finn there? Can we talk to him?”
“No. You can’t.”
“What? Hold on, I’m putting you on speaker.”
Dave sighed. He hated being put on speaker phone...it was always like he was taking part in some kind of crazy instance of performance art or something.
“Dave? It’s Burt... why can’t we talk to Finn?”
“Because he’s not here.”
“Well where is he?” Carole’s frantic voice rang in Dave’s ear.
“He’s at a clinic called Vanguard. It’s a rehab center, here in DC.”
“What?!” Kurt’s voice rang out. Surprised. “He...he’s in a clinic?”
“Yes.” Dave said softly. He knew how difficult this could be for the family of an addict. “You understand that he needed to do this, right?”
It was Carole who responded. “Of course. We’ve been hoping that he would go to one for so long now.”
“He needed a real push. And I think your refusing to help him anymore and finally calling him out on his actions... that’s probably what did it. He came to me for help. I did the best I could.”
“This might be a stupid question,” Kurt spoke up again. “But aren’t those places hard to get into? I mean...when I did some research, the waiting lists are long.”
“I know the woman who runs it. I asked for a favor...she owes me a couple.”
“David.” Burt said quietly. “Thank you... really, thank you. This is certainly more than we could have ever asked for.”
“I wanted to help him. He’s a friend...and he needed someone to get him on the right path. Regardless of anything else that might be going on...well, Finn deserved to be given a second chance.” Dave knew that he meant so much more than what was going on with Finn...he hoped Kurt got that message.
“Can we come see him?” Kurt asked, timidly.
“No. He has a bit of a long road ahead of him before you can visit him. He’s going to be in hard core detox for the next probably seventy-two hours, but won’t even be transferred to the general population wing for at least a week.”
“God...Finn...” Carole sounded like she was about to start crying. “How...how long will he be there?”
“Depends. When I talked to Mariam today, she said that it could be eight weeks...it could be twelve. It will depend on how well treatment goes, how well he responds to therapy and how committed he is. Which, if our chat today is any indication, is pretty damn committed.” Dave paused...waiting to see if they were going to interrupt. They didn’t, so he continued. “Look, it’s best to understand exactly what’s going on. He has to take a break - it’s the best way to think of it. A break from everything, all the stressors that cause him to drink. After a period of detox, he’ll do a lot of group and individual therapy - that will help him deal with his problem and find ways to confront it. It will also give him a tool box of tricks to help him prevent himself from going back to alcohol again.”
“When can we see him?” Carole was clearly crying now.
“When he and his doctors decide to open up the treatment to include you... then he’ll start a process of reconciliation. But you have to be patient with him...he has a long road to go down before he’s ready to start involving you.”
“Will...will he be ok? I just, I need to know if my son will be ok!”
“Carole. I can promise you that this place is the best. And I know that Mariam and her people will do everything they can to help him. I swear it.”
Dave heard Carole start to say something, but it got lost in the sound of her breaking down into hard desperate sobs. Dave heard Burt say that he was going to take Carole upstairs...then there was some mumbling by both Kurt and Burt. The phone went silent for a little while. Dave figured that Kurt had gone to help them, or was sitting silently trying to choose his next words.
Then, softly... “Dave? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Kurt, I’m still here.”
“Wh..why are you helping us?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“After how I treated you! I...I don’t deserve this.”
“Well...see the thing is, Kurt, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for Finn...because he needs me. Because he asked for my help. You do know that not everything in the world is about you, you know."
“Fuck! Yes. I know that Dave...you don’t have to get like that. I’m trying to say thank you.”
“Then try saying... Thank you. Makes you sound like less of an asshole.”
“David, do you think we could quit with the animosity and bitchiness for a minute? I just found out my brother is in rehab.”
“Right...I’m sorry. Are you ok?”
“I guess so...I mean...yeah...I’ve been begging him to find help for so long, I guess I just never expected him to do it.”
“I think it had everything to do with his realizing that his actions actually had consequences. That they hurt the people he loves. He hit rock bottom when he...assaulted Rachel.”
“I can’t even believe that happened.” Kurt sighed. “Dave...I’m scared for him.”
“I know...but like I said to Carole. This place is the best, Kurt. If he’s strong enough to survive in Afghanistan, he’ll make it through at Vanguard.”
There was a long silence. Dave heard Kurt breathing. He could almost hear Kurt collecting his thoughts.
“Dave...”
“Yeah, Kurt?”
“I’m so..so sorry for...”
“Don’t Kurt. Please. Don’t. I can’t go back to talking about that.”
“Please...can you just let me say what I need to say?”
Dave knew that letting Kurt go back down this route would be a bad idea. Especially now... when he was not entirely sure where he stands with Chris. But...
“Ok...say what you have to say.”
“I’m sorry. I screwed up. I got scared because you were someone I didn’t need to fix, someone who was just perfect...who was perfect for me. Who I could see myself with. But that scared me. A lot. And rather than admitting that I was scared and ask for help from you, I took the coward’s way out and hid...I hid behind Finn and his problems. I used him as an excuse. I didn’t know how to deal with all this...I didn’t know how to talk to you, so I pushed you away. I hurt you. Badly. I wasted the chance of having something amazing, all because I was scared and stupid. I am so sorry for what I did, Dave.”
Dave sat there, slack jawed. He had absolutely no idea how to respond to that. Kurt Hummel rarely if ever admitted he was wrong. He was not exactly the best at apologizing... but this...this was, just...wow.
“Wow. Kurt...I...thank you for that.”
But, apparently, Kurt wasn’t done quite yet.
“I still miss you...I know I shouldn’t. I mean all we had was one night in a hotel room, but I still miss you. I think about you a lot.”
Dave screwed his eyes shut. Fuck. Those were the exact words he was so terrified of hearing. After what had happened between them, Dave had taken all his feelings for Kurt and squished them into a tiny little ball and forced them down as deep as he could. As far as he was concerned, Kurt and any possible reality that involved him was completely defunct. But now...here was Kurt, saying things he had once longed to hear. Giving that deep dark space inside Dave just enough light to make it possible for those feelings to almost become possible.
“Kurt...don’t, please. Don’t say those things. After everything...please don’t say those things. I...”
“Look, I know you’re with someone...Mercedes and Az told me that you were. But I needed you to know that I miss you.”
Dave suddenly really wanted to see Chris. Wanted to feel his arms. Wanted to stare into those amazing green eyes. Wanted to hear that deep strong laugh. He didn’t want to be sitting on the phone talking to Kurt Hummel about the step-brother Dave had just gotten admitted into rehab. He didn’t want to be talking about how much Kurt bloody Hummel missed him.
No. He wanted his boyfriend. He wanted the guy he loved. He did not want this reality.
“Kurt...”
There was silence on the other end for a moment. Then some kind of noise in the background... something loud. “Hold on a second, Dave...”
Dave lowered his head onto the table. Un-fucking-believable. After a moment, Kurt’s voice reappeared. “Dave...I need to go. Dad wants to talk. Um... ok, this is a bit weird, but he wants to know about how much rehab is going to cost... can you email me some information or something? Or we can talk later?”
“Uh...” Dave’s brain was not working... “Yeah, I can email you Mariam’s contact info, if you mention my name, she’ll reply.”
“Thanks! But, can we still talk?”
“Kurt... go talk to your father. Please...I can’t...I...shit.”
“Ok. I’m sorry if I upset you. But I’m going to go now. Bye Dave.”
“Bye...”
Dave heard the call disconnect. But he sat there, the phone still against his ear. He sat there, staring at the table in front of him. Then slowly, he dropped the phone to table. Then he lowered his head down on the table with a loud thump. Groaning.
*******************************
It was long after midnight. The remnants of Dave’s large pizza dinner - namely, an empty cardboard box - lay forgotten on the coffee table. As did the two liter bottle of Coke he’d consumed along side it, and the half eaten tub of Haagen Daz that was slowly turning into something that resembled congealed fat rather than ice cream.
Dave had spent the last few hours thinking. Primarily thinking about Kurt’s admission. How much was Kurt Hummel’s word worth? The last time he took Kurt at his word, well Dave ended up with a heart that was majorly broken. Was Dave even partially willing to let himself go down that road again?
And why would he? He had Chris. Well...he might have Chris.
Hell, who knows, maybe he was about to end up single again and could chase after Kurt like an deranged obsessed lovesick fool. Dave wanted Chris. He was sure of it.
Dave sighed and looked at the clock on his tv screen - 12:45. And still no word from Chris. Dave really wanted to go to bed and forget this day had ever occurred. He briefly thought about Finn, wondering how he was doing. Had the agony of detox set in yet? Or was he still in the honeymoon period before his body started to crave the toxins it had grown so accustomed to.
Dave pulled his robe a little tighter around himself. His brain was in overdrive. Jumping from thoughts of Kurt to Chris to Finn to trying to protect himself.
He felt exhausted. This day had just been too much.
As though it had just read Dave’s thoughts, his phone started going on...Chris. Sighing, Dave answered.
“Hello.”
“Hey you.” Chris sounded just as exhausted as Dave did.
“Hi.” Dave couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice. “Done at work?”
“Yup. You ok? You sound tired.”
“It’s been a really really shitty day.”
“What happened?”
“A lot.”
“Wanna tell me about it?”
“I do...” Dave left the statement hanging in the air. Willing to tell Chris about his day, but also desperate to talk to him about everything.
“Ok..." Chris' voice indicated that he got the hint. "Can I still come over? Or is it too late?”
“Nah. I want to see you.”
“Good...cause I’m downstairs at your front door.”
“Then get up here, silly!”
“Ok, I think your concierge is starting to wonder why I’m standing in the lobby.”
“Hurry up.” Dave pushed himself up and walked to stand in his door way. Moments later, the elevator dinged open and Chris stepped into the hallway. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a simple white t-shirt underneath a dark brown blazer. On his feet he wore a pair of square toed boots. His hair was stylishly messed up, although Dave could tell he had been running his hands through it in frustration. And, best of all for Dave, he was wearing those sexy glasses of his. Over one shoulder he had slung his messenger bag. In the other hand, he was carrying a bouquet of flowers.
Dave's face erupted into a massive smile.
Chris walked quickly down the hallway, smiling. He stopped inches from Dave, grinning up at him. Dave leaned forward and kissed him.
With their lips still slightly touching, Chris whispered, “Dave...”
“Yeah?”
Sequel to Dependable. Reliable.
Author: Pulpobsessed.
Pairing: Multiple Pairings
Characters: This chapter: Dave Karofsky, Kurt Hummel, Chris Michaels (OC), and Jessica Anders (OC). Plus others...
Rating: R (for language)
Summary: The impacts of what happened at the reunion start to take shape in Dave's life - eventually forcing Dave to make a life changing decision. This is a story of heart breaks, finding yourself, finding the one you're meant to be with, and of salvation - for more than just one character.
Genre: FutureFic
Disclaimer: Glee belongs to Ryan Murphy. Not me. But this Dave...he's all mine.
A/N. The next two chapters of Velcro - in which Dave figures something out, lends a helping hand, and faces his past.
You can find all Twelve Chapters of D&R here (it starts at chapter 12, so click on the one to start back at the beginning.)
Previous Installments of Velcro: 1 | 2 | 3.1 | 3.2
Part Four
What if I can't be all that you need me to be
We've got a good thing going, we have some promises to keep
But my addiction it can be such a detriment
Please believe in this my dear, I am more than penitent
City and Colour, “Little Hell.”
[2]
Throughout his life, Dave had occasionally experienced moments that he knew would forever change the course of his life - he knew these moments were important or life changing because he got a feeling. It was a rather particular feeling... like someone had taken an ice cold snake and let it run up and down his spine. He could feel every arctic scaly inch of the creature slithering along his spinal cord.
The movements of the creature were almost a kind of morse code, telling him: Listen closely, buddy! This moment...this one, right here. It’s gonna change your life!
Dave had experienced this sensation only a handful of times: When he was ten and his mom had a miscarriage. When he was thirteen and he narrowly missed getting hit by a bus. When he was sixteen and he kissed Kurt Hummel in the locker room. When he was seventeen, while practically getting a blow job from Blaine Anderson. When he was twenty-one and watched one of his kids die of an overdose. And...now... at twenty-eight. Standing in his kitchen, making a roast beef and swiss sandwich.
Listening to his phone ring.
Dropping the mayo-y knife on the counter, he turned to grab the noisy gadget of his table. It was a number he didn’t recognize...a local number.
He swiped his thumb across to answer.
“Hello?”
He was met with absolute silence. So, again, he asked: “Hello?”
Still nothing, not a sound. Not even heavy breathing...as if the person on the other end was holding their breath.
“Ok...I’m just going to hang up now.”
Then...as he started to pull the phone away from his hear... he heard:
“Dave...?”
The voice was so quiet. Almost non-existent. A scared whisper.
“Yes?” Dave knew the voice...but he wasn’t quite ready to believe it.
“Dave?” The voice said again. Still frightened. Broken.
Dave instantly recognized it that time. Holy fuck!
“Finn?!”
Right there... as he uttered that name. Right there... that was the magic moment. When he recognized Finn’s voice was the exact moment when he felt that icy snaky start it’s journey up his fucking spine. Right then and there...he knew his life was about to change.
“I..I...I need your help. Please. God. Please.”
Fuck... at those words, it was as though that fucking snake decided to multiply by about eighty. His entire spine was frozen.
“Finn...what? What’s... Fuck. Man.” Dave seemed to have lost the ability to both think and to speak. Why the hell was Finn calling him? They had not spoken more than ten words in the last ten years. They’d seen each other at the reunion, but had nothing resembling a conversation. And then there was the fact that Dave pretty much blamed Finn for what happened with Kurt - if it hadn’t been for Finn’s selfishness and immaturity, Dave and Kurt could’ve actually gotten past all the bullshit that condemned their relationship before it even got started.
Dave heard Finn sigh deeply. Then: “Dave...I need help. Please. I don’t...I..I don’t know who...” He dropped off with a stuttering sob.
Ok. Dave steeled himself. He couldn’t deal with this as Dave, Finn’s brother’s ex-lover. He had to take this on as Dave, the social worker. Dave, the therapist. If he was going to help Finn, he had to slip into that role.
Dave closed his eyes. Steadied himself. Took a deep breath. Then, “Ok. Finn. Talk to me. What’s going on?”
“I..I don’t know. Man. Fuck. I really fucked up, Dave.”
“Ok. First off, tell me where you are.”
“I..I’m at the train station. I was gonna try and get a ticket to New York. I wanted to go see Rach. But then I remembered I can’t do that anymore. And I kinda freaked out at the security guards here...they’re holding me. Said...said I needed to call someone. I stole Kurt’s phone, I was coming to DC to see you...fuck, but then I got fucked up and didn’t. I still had the phone, so I called you.”
“Ok... let me get this straight. You came to DC to see me? But you ended up getting drunk. You were going to go to New York, but you can’t...so you got arrested and called me?”
“Yeah...fuck, I threw up on a security guard.”
“Well, that’s provably why you got arrested. Ok...”
“Please, help me. Dave. I have no one else.”
“Ok, ok. Finn...I’m gonna do my best ok. I’m coming to the station and I’ll get them to release you...”
“I don’t want to be like this anymore.”
“Then we’ll do everything we can to help you, ok? Now, put one of the guards on the phone for me, ok?”
“Oh...yeah...ok.”
Dave heard a muffled exchange between Finn and, what sounded like, a very angry security guard. A moment later, that same security guard barked into the phone: “Yes!? What!?”
Dave smiled... now this was an attitude that he was used to and could handle. He’d dealt with hundreds of guys like this.... “Hello, sir. My name is David Karofsky. I’m a local social worker...”
As Dave talked to the security guard about coming to pick up Finn, he had picked up his iPad and opened his contacts list, scrolling through to find someone who owed him a few favors. Simultaneously, he was looking up a couple addresses, and was preparing himself for what was bound to be one of the longest days of his life...
He had no idea why Finn would call him. Or what he meant when he said he couldn’t go to New York...much less that comment about having no one else. All Finn had were people...people willing to bend over backwards to make sure he didn’t realize he was in pain.
Well, the coddling was about to stop for him... if he wanted Dave’s help, he was going to play by Dave’s rules.
*******************************************
Dave footfalls echoed loudly in the uncharacteristically empty main hall at Union Station. Normally, in the middle of a Saturday, the hall would be filled with travelers flooding to the trains housed below - either heading off to New York, Baltimore, Boston, or arriving in the city for a weekend in the Capital.
But today, the hall was strangely deserted.
Dave hard soled boots made heavy slapping sounds as he strode in from the parking garage. He moved towards the information kiosk where the security guard/transit police said to meet him so he could claim Finn. Dave spotted the security guard immediately. The guy was massive. He outweighed Dave by at least eighty pounds, and Dave was pretty sure the guy was mostly muscle. Dave was not often intimidated by someone, but this guy...certainly made him pause. The guy was standing there, watching Dave approach, flexing his arms. As though he wanted to make sure that Dave knew, absolutely, that he was the alpha-male here. That Dave was in his house and he called the shots... and if Dave didn’t like that...well then Dave might find himself in lock-up, right next to Finn.
And Dave did not begrudge the guy for his supremely bad mood. Technically, all he knew about Dave was that he was friends with the asshole who vomited beer and vodka all over him. So yeah, Dave, without having even been there, was already in his bad books.
Dave wanted to punch Finn right now. Finn had already ruined this guy’s rather quiet Saturday, and he’d certainly made sure Dave’s day was not going to be a walk in the park either.
Dave plastered his best ‘I’m your best friend and will agree with everything you say’ smile on as he walked up the guy.
“Hi. You must be Officer Stevenson.”
“Yeah. You the social work guy?”
“Yes,” Dave held out his hand, “Dave Karofsky.”
“Nicetameetchu.” Officer Stevenson grumbled, his eyes sweeping over Dave. Dave paused slightly... was the guy checking him out.
“Thank you for agreeing to let me take Captain Hudson home with me.”
Officer Stevenson paused, a slight smirk ghosting over his stony features... “I could just throw his drunk ass in jail... it’s just cause he’s a damn Marine that I’m being lenient. But if he pulls shit like this again in my station...he’s a goner.”
“I promise you, he will not be making a encore performance.”
“Bettanot. But you seem like a stand up kinda guy, I did a quick check on you - you’re a do-gooder...I like that.” Dave was not sure if the man’s strange New England accent normally sounded so...sultry...or if the man really was laying the flirt on thick.
“I assure you he will behave himself. And thank you for the compliment.”
“K, I’m gonna go get him for you. You can wait here. I brought you the paper work, fill it out while I’m gone. Oh, and I included my card... ” And with that Officer Stevenson smirked again, turned and marched away.
“Well,” Dave muttered to himself, picking up the business card, “that was fucking awkward.”
He put the card down on the desk and turned his attention to the stack of papers in front of them...standard release papers that needed his signature. Dave reached into his messenger bag and pulled out his Cross pen that Chris had given him. Sighing he started filling in the first page.
Twenty long minutes later, which Dave knew he’d be forced to wait because Officer Stevenson wanted to teach him some kind of lesson...exactly as to what that lesson was, Dave was clueless. So, yeah, twenty minutes later, Dave was still standing at the information kiosk, staring in the direction Officer Stevenson had disappeared. Finally, he saw the brick wall of a man approaching. Tailing behind him was a bedraggled looking Finn Hudson.
The guy looked...rough. He clearly had slept in his clothes the night before, possibly for quite a few nights. He had on a pair of faded baggy jeans, an oversize dark blue t-shirt, that looked slightly sweat stained. Overtop that, he had on, what looked like, a khaki military issue jacket. Hanging from the collar of his shirt was a pair of aviators. And, on his feet, he wore a pair of large army boots. His face was covered by at least five days worth of beard. He was sporting a rather severe buzz cut - probably done by his own hand. He looked exhausted, deep dark rings framed his normally bright eyes, which looked dull and lifeless. He was shuffling, slowly, towards Dave. But he had yet to look up and actually make eye contact.
Officer Stevenson pushed Finn forward, grumbling. He reached out and grabbed the stack of papers. “Here. Ya filled it all out? Good.” He turned to Finn, barking, “Listen up! You ever come back into my station and cause trouble again...I don’t care where you served or what country you defended, I will throw your skanky ass in jail so fast...” And with that he turned to Dave. Smiling, said in a lower voice, “You have my card, right? Maybe give me a call sometime...I could show the inner workings of the station or something.” Nodding, with a small smile, he spun back the way he’d come and disappeared back into the depths of the station.
Dave was alone with Finn, who was still busy studying the floor between his feet. They stood, awkwardly, in the middle of Union Station - a deep silence was settling over them. Finally, Dave couldn’t deal with it anymore.
“Finn...can you look at me?” The other man looked up. Their eyes met. Dave’s were filled with curiosity, while Finn’s held only shadows of pain and loss and sadness. “Finn... what’s going on?”
“I...I...need help.”
“Ok... let’s go to my car, we can talk there. Ok?”
“Yeah. Yeah, sure.”
Dave grabbed Finn’s elbow and steered him towards the parking garage. Whatever it was that was going on with Finn, Dave had to be ready to not only confront it, but probably help the guy deal with it too.
Suddenly, this Saturday was turning out to be even more hectic and stressful than just waiting around for Chris.
Trying not to be too aware of the stench of vomit and booze that was coming off Finn, Dave barreled them towards his Jetta.
********************************
Dave felt like screaming. Finn had so far said maybe about twenty words since they got in the car. They had sat there in silence for at least fifteen minutes until, frustrated, Dave and yelled at Finn to say something. Finn just apologized, again.
So finally, Dave suggested they go back to his place. To talk. This received a “Sure. Sounds cool.” And then more silence. A lot of staring out of the passenger side window took place.
Dave had tried to strike up some idle talk while driving, but after a while, he just got fed up and stopped talking. Deciding to finally kill the silence with something, he tapped his control panel, starting his iPod. A City and Colour song started playing. Dave smiled, internally, this was one of Chris’ favorite bands. Dave had taken a crash course on them... well a forced crash course, when Chris had handed him every City and Colour CD - including 3 different live albums.
So, with Finn staring moodily out the window at the passing national landmarks, and Dallas Green echoing in the car, Dave turned the car towards his condo. Growing all the more curious as to what was about to happen when he got there...and how willing Finn would be when he heard Dave’s plan.
Twenty minutes later, Dave walked out of his kitchen holding two steaming mugs of coffee. Early afternoon light was streaming through the balcony doors, casting Dave’s living room in bright light. Finn was sitting on the edge of his sofa, staring out at the balcony. Dave was not entirely sure if his eyes were actually seeing anything...he seemed to just be looking into space.
“Hey...” He said softly, with a tone of authority in his voice. “You want coffee?”
Finn started. He stood up from the sofa. Looking slightly confused. “Huh? Oh. Yeah. Thanks.”
Dave handed him a mug, “Careful it’s hot.” Then, taking a sip, he stared at the man in front of him. This was the first time he’d really gotten a good look at Finn since the reunion. He was a pale shadow of the guy he remembered from high school. The goofy grin and naiveté was completely absent. It had been replaced by a hardness...a scary darkness that gleamed out from his eyes. It was a hardness that screamed of pain, hurt, humiliation...and most frighteningly of all: hate.
“Jesus...Finn...what’s going on?”
Finn stared at his cup. He closed his eyes for a second. Then, opening them, looked back up at Dave. “I...I...I keep fucking up.”
“Ok...that’s a start. Why don’t you tell me more...” Dave sat down, gesturing for Finn to do the same.
“I can’t go home any more. I can’t go...go...to Rach’s. I...I, jesus, why are you even helping me?” Finn reached over and put his untouched cup of coffee on the side table.
“Because you asked me to.”
“I've ruined so much!” Finn’s head sank into his hands. Dave sat there listening to Finn’s strangled sobs. He took another sip of his coffee. Waiting for Finn to calm down.
Finally, Finn lifted his head again. Dave waited until he seemed to catch his breath, then... “Ok. Tell me why you can’t go to Rachel’s or home anymore. We’ll start there.”
“I...I...I stole. I stole from Kurt and mom and Burt. I took stuff...to sell.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because I needed money. I spent my last check and I wanted...I wanted a drink. I tried to get Quinn to help, but...but she told me to get away from her and never talk to her again. Kurt told me no. So I took his credit card. And sold some of mom’s jewelry.”
Dave closed his eyes. Suppressing his anger towards the man sitting across from him. “Ok. Go on...”
“Kurt found out and told me that I was using them. He said...he said...you were right.”
“Me?”
“Yeah...he said that you told him I would just keep using them and eventually it would be bad enough to hurt them. He was so mad. They told me either I get help...or never come back. I left...”
Inwardly, Dave gave Kurt a high five for finally doing the right thing... “Then what happened.”
“I got on a bus. I still had some money from mom’s engagement ring.”
“Oh Finn...”
“I know...I know! I used it to get to New York... I tried to call Rachel right away. But she was in rehearsal or something, so I found a bar and...well I got drunk.”
“Ok...”
“I remember stumbling to her apartment after that, getting her to let me in. Then I tried to convince her to have sex with me...I got physical with her. She kicked me out. Told me never to come back. Never to talk to her until I got help.”
“You tried to force yourself...”
“Yes. Dave. Ok. I know. Ok! Fuck...I’m fucked up. I screwed it all up. I hitchhiked here. I knew you lived here...I wanted to see you. I needed to...but when I got here, I found out my cheque came in and I kinda wound up in a bar, drinking my face off with some chick. Then I started to sober up. I was too chicken shit to face you. So I was going to leave....that’s when that cop at the station caught me. And I called you.”
“Finn...what do you want from me? Why are you here?”
“I...I...I need help.”
“Finn...”
“I have a problem Dave! I don’t know how to stop. I want my life back! I want my mom and Burt and Kurt...and... I...please, Dave. Help me. Kurt says you’re a social worker or something and know how to fix guys like me... please Dave. Fix me. Fix me!”
Dave stared at Finn. Dumbstruck. He’d never expected Finn to so eagerly want someone to help him...this was just, so out of the blue.
“I...I can’t help you, Finn.”
“What!? But...”
“You need to help yourself. I can give you a push, find you the people to get you on the right path...but no one can help you until you start doing it for yourself. And asking me to help you is the first step.”
“What do I do? I don’t want this anymore. I feel like I’m dying, again.”
“Again...?” Dave's eyebrows rose in surprise.
Finn, looked down at his hands. They were shaking. He was shaking all over. “I...I...I already died once. In Afghanistan. A car bomb. My heart stopped...sometimes it’s all I can think about. I see it in my dreams. Every time I close my eyes, I see it.”
“Jesus.” Dave realized he was starting to sound like a broken record. But...there wasn’t any other word for it.
“Dave... please...I want this to stop.”
Dave paused. Collecting his thoughts. He had been expecting a struggle. A fight. At least some kind of resistance...but this. This was totally unexpected. Dave took another sip of his coffee. Thinking. He opened his mouth, choosing his words, carefully. “Finn. You know that this...won’t be easy, right?”
“I know. Dave...I survived a fucking war. I’ve been shot. Blown up... I know this will probably be the hardest struggle of my entire life, but I can do it. I want to do it. I need to do it.”
“Ok. I’ll help you. Finn, I like you. I’ve always thought you were a good guy...people make mistakes. Lord knows I’ve made more than my fair share of them. And we all deserve a second chance at life. I’ve had more than one second chance, so maybe this is my time to help you get yours.”
“Even though I fucked it up with you and Kurt?”
“Wh...what do you mean?”
“It’s my fault that he never called you. It was my fault that he turned his back on you. I told him that I needed him. I begged him to...to...not leave me alone. I...I knew that he wanted to be with you, but I was scared that if he took off to see you, I’d get lost even more than...”
“Finn...”
“I know! It’s my fault. I fucked up my life and I fucked up every one else’s life too. God...I...”
“No, Finn...listen to me. What happened between Kurt and I...it might have started out having something to do with you, but it ended having everything to do with him and I. Kurt and I are not together... because he didn’t want to be with me. Look, you have a lot to feel bad for, a lot to take the blame for...but you shouldn’t feel bad about that.” Dave struggled to keep his actual feelings out of his voice. He was angry...he had always blamed Finn, even just a little bit, for what had happened with Kurt. Kurt had used Finn as an excuse time after time after time...making absolutely sure that Dave always knew he would come second in Kurt’s life.
And now here sat that very reason. In his living room. Asking for Dave to help him get his life back.
And despite Dave's training as a social worker, his general compassion, and wanting to help Finn eventually become that stand up, sweet guy he remembered...he still struggled slightly with the knowledge, somewhere deep inside him, that he was doing this for Kurt. A thought Dave desperately wanted to force out of his mind.
Finn was staring at him. Expectantly. “Um..so, what happens now?”
“Well. First, I need you to make an absolute commitment to this.”
“Yes! I am committed. I swear it.”
“Ok. Then get your shoes on. We’re going out.”
“Where are we going?”
“To see a friend of mine. She runs the Vanguard rehab center. It’s an addiction recovery center - not too far from here.”
“Oh.” Finn’s eyes grew large. He clearly was not expecting this. “Rehab...”
“Finn...how else do you expect to get better? How else do you expect to...heal?”
“I don’t know...guess I thought you might give me a good talking to, and suddenly I’d be all better.”
“I don’t even think that happens in science fiction...”
“I know. I know. So, what is going to happen?”
“Well, when you called earlier, I called my friend and asked her to look into getting you a spot at Vanguard. I kinda figured that if you were fucked up enough to vomit on a guard at Union Station, that maybe I should at least set up something in terms of rehab.”
“Oh...well, thanks.” Finn nervously fiddled with his coffee cup. “I’m scared.”
“I know. And that’s totally ok. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who wasn’t scared about this.”
“How...how long will I be there?”
“That depends. I can’t tell you how long, but I can tell you they are the best... and they will work with you every single day to get better.”
“Ok...ok.”
“I’ll call my friend and tell her we’re on our way.”
Finn nodded, stood up. “Um...can I, you know, shower before we go?”
“Uh, yeah. I have some gym clothes you can change into so you don’t have to put that stuff back on. Come on...” Dave turned to lead Finn back towards the washroom and a shower.
Once he heard the shower start, Dave picked up his coffee cup and his phone, then he started dialing.
**************************************
Finn had disappeared into into Mariam’s office about thirty minutes ago, leaving Dave to sit in the overly bright and incredibly depressing waiting room of Vanguard’s main admission area. He glanced up at the clock, surprised to find it was already quarter after four... which technically meant he had not had anything to eat in almost seven hours.
Fuck. No wonder he was getting cranky.
He glanced over at the woman sitting behind the receptionist desk and entertained asking her where he might find something to eat. But he was not exactly sure if a rehab center made regular use of vending machines or not. He really wished he’d thought to stop at a McDonald’s or something on the way. Or perhaps had not promised Finn that he would wait for at Vanguard until he had checked in.
Dave sighed and let his head drop back, smacking against the wall with a loud crack. The receptionist’s head shot up, glaring at him for disturbing her quiet Saturday afternoon. He smiled apologetically.
It was then he saw Finn and Mariam approaching. He stood.
“Hey, buddy.” He gave Finn a supportive and, what he hoped was, a encouraging smile.
“Hey.” Finn sounded freaked out. His eyes were in constant motion.
Mariam stepped forward. “Well, Dave, we have Finn all checked in. I’m going to take him back and let him get settled. He wanted to say bye to you first.... so, um I’ll let you have a moment.” She gave them both an small smile and retreated to the receptionist’s desk. Clearly used to having her patients request this kind of moment.
“So... you ready for this?” Dave asked.
“No. Fuck, no. I’m scared Dave. Like really fucking scared.”
“I know. But I promise... you’ll make it out of here. And I’m in the city, so if you need something get Mariam to call me and I’ll come straight out.”
“I can’t have visitors for a while.”
“I know...but when you can, you can call me, ok? I’m here for you...I promise. I know lot of people in the system, so whatever you need. Ok?”
“Thank you.” Finn blinked rapidly. Clearly trying to force back tears. “No one...everyone just kept letting me fuck up...no one tried to help me get clean. Thank you, thank you for helping me. You’re...” Finn lost the battle and started to cry.
“Finn... I promise you it’ll be ok.” Dave stepped forward and pulled Finn into a hug. He let the guy cry on his shoulder, rubbing comforting circles into his back. “You’re gonna be ok.”
After a few moments, Finn pulled back. Sniffling, he asked, “Can...can I please ask you to do something...”
“Uh, sure.”
He pulled out his phone. “Can you, um, call Kurt and mom and Burt and tell them what happened?”
Dave stared at him. Eyes growing large.
“I know that the last thing you want to do is talk to Kurt...but...I can’t do it. Please.”
Dave knew what Finn was about to go through. He knew that the next seventy-two hours were going to be hell while he went through detox. He knew the pain, the sweat, the nightmares, the screaming, the agony, the sheer longing and torturous desire that Finn was about to go through as he was denied a drink for the first time in a very long time. Finn was about to walk into the detox wing and discover exactly what hell was. So this...this small request... it was nothing.
Dave could easily call Kurt... easily...
He reached out and took Finn’s phone. “Yeah...I can do that.”
“Thank you. Can you take my stuff too? My wallet and keys and shit...I left my backpack at your place anyways, since you said I couldn’t have stuff here.”
“Yeah, Mariam will give it to me.”
Mariam, with her long red hair swaying behind her, approached them. “Ok... I think it’s time to head back, Finn.”
“Yeah...ok.” Finn looked even more frightened. He looked at Dave. “You’ll be around if I need you?”
“All they have to do is call, and I’ll be here.”
“Thank you.” Finn stuck out his hand. Dave placed his in Finn’s, smiling. They stood there like that for a moment. The Finn pulled back and let himself be led back down the hallway into the depths of the center...back towards his redemption.
Dave stood there, watching Finn and Mariam’s retreating backs...gripping Finn’s phone anxiously.
****************************
OK...pick up the phone. And dial. Just pick it up. Dial the numbers. Just do it.
Dave sat at his kitchen table, staring at his phone. He had written the Hummel’s home number down on a slip of paper, which was lying next to his phone. Every time he looked at the numbers, they seemed to get more and more angry and alien to him...almost to the point he couldn’t even recognize them as numbers.
Dialing those numbers meant putting his emotional wellbeing on the line. It meant possibly opening himself up to a whole world of hurt that he thought he had filed away. It meant...Kurt.
Dave sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He needed to just do this. He had promised Finn that he would do this...he had to keep that promise.
It was just a quick conversation...a simple phone call that was meant to relay some information. Nothing emotional. Nothing traumatic.
He could do this.
Dave picked up his phone. Unlocked it. And dialed.
Within seconds an all too familiar voice came over the line. Kurt.
“Hello.” The voice was strained. Stressed. Almost frantic.
Dave’s voice seemed to disappear. He opened his mouth. But it was as though nothing was going to come out. Holy fuck. There was no way he was going to be able to do this.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
Dave shut his eyes. That voice. That seductive, beautiful, wonderful voice. It slammed into his brain and ricocheted around in his mind. In a matter of seconds, he relived every wonderful thing that voice had said to him. And every awful thing it had said too.
Dave breathed out, slowly.
“I can hear you breathing...” Kurt’s voice was getting annoyed. “I’m hanging up.”
“Kurt...”
“Oh, so you can speak.”
“It’s Dave.”
Now it was Kurt’s turn to be completely silent for a moment. Then... “Dave?”
“Yeah...hey. Er. Hi.”
“Wha... Um... I... Dave...what do you want?”
Kurt’s tone had shifted. It had gone from surprised to almost indignant over Dave’s call. Perhaps, this was a defensive tactic to protect himself from the same emotional turmoil that had made Dave so scared to pick up the phone to make this call.
“I, uh, I have to talk to you about something.”
“Oh? After our last chat, you didn’t seem all that interested in talking to me again.”
Dave sighed. Maybe a switch in tactics would be wise. “Um... is Burt or Carole home? Maybe it would be easier if I talked to them.”
“What? Why do you need to talk to my dad or Carole?! What is going on?”
“It’s about Finn.”
“Finn? What? What about Finn?”
“He’s in DC. He came to see me.”
“What? What on earth?! Dave Karofsky, what is happening?”
“He called me earlier today. He had gotten arrested at Union Station for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. I managed to get him released into my care. We talked...a lot. He told me that you guys made him leave...”
“God! We’ve been worried sick! We were all so mad about what he did - I mean stealing from his own mother... but we didn’t mean for him to just take off and not come back. That wasn’t what we thought was going to happen...”
“Have you spoken to Rachel?”
“She called. She told me what happened. I couldn’t believe it. Dad wanted to call the police and get Finn arrested or something...but Rachel had no idea where he’d gone. God... Why did he...”
“He came to me for help.”
“Where is he?! Hold on....” Dave heard Kurt put the phone down and call out for Burt and Carole. He heard Kurt’s voice grow faint, but there was the definite sound of Finn’s name. Moments later, Dave heard a mild commotion start up as clearly Burt and Carole came into whatever room the phone was in. Then, Kurt’s voice was suddenly in his ear again.
“Dave... Sorry. I’m back. Dad and Carole are here. Is Finn there? Can we talk to him?”
“No. You can’t.”
“What? Hold on, I’m putting you on speaker.”
Dave sighed. He hated being put on speaker phone...it was always like he was taking part in some kind of crazy instance of performance art or something.
“Dave? It’s Burt... why can’t we talk to Finn?”
“Because he’s not here.”
“Well where is he?” Carole’s frantic voice rang in Dave’s ear.
“He’s at a clinic called Vanguard. It’s a rehab center, here in DC.”
“What?!” Kurt’s voice rang out. Surprised. “He...he’s in a clinic?”
“Yes.” Dave said softly. He knew how difficult this could be for the family of an addict. “You understand that he needed to do this, right?”
It was Carole who responded. “Of course. We’ve been hoping that he would go to one for so long now.”
“He needed a real push. And I think your refusing to help him anymore and finally calling him out on his actions... that’s probably what did it. He came to me for help. I did the best I could.”
“This might be a stupid question,” Kurt spoke up again. “But aren’t those places hard to get into? I mean...when I did some research, the waiting lists are long.”
“I know the woman who runs it. I asked for a favor...she owes me a couple.”
“David.” Burt said quietly. “Thank you... really, thank you. This is certainly more than we could have ever asked for.”
“I wanted to help him. He’s a friend...and he needed someone to get him on the right path. Regardless of anything else that might be going on...well, Finn deserved to be given a second chance.” Dave knew that he meant so much more than what was going on with Finn...he hoped Kurt got that message.
“Can we come see him?” Kurt asked, timidly.
“No. He has a bit of a long road ahead of him before you can visit him. He’s going to be in hard core detox for the next probably seventy-two hours, but won’t even be transferred to the general population wing for at least a week.”
“God...Finn...” Carole sounded like she was about to start crying. “How...how long will he be there?”
“Depends. When I talked to Mariam today, she said that it could be eight weeks...it could be twelve. It will depend on how well treatment goes, how well he responds to therapy and how committed he is. Which, if our chat today is any indication, is pretty damn committed.” Dave paused...waiting to see if they were going to interrupt. They didn’t, so he continued. “Look, it’s best to understand exactly what’s going on. He has to take a break - it’s the best way to think of it. A break from everything, all the stressors that cause him to drink. After a period of detox, he’ll do a lot of group and individual therapy - that will help him deal with his problem and find ways to confront it. It will also give him a tool box of tricks to help him prevent himself from going back to alcohol again.”
“When can we see him?” Carole was clearly crying now.
“When he and his doctors decide to open up the treatment to include you... then he’ll start a process of reconciliation. But you have to be patient with him...he has a long road to go down before he’s ready to start involving you.”
“Will...will he be ok? I just, I need to know if my son will be ok!”
“Carole. I can promise you that this place is the best. And I know that Mariam and her people will do everything they can to help him. I swear it.”
Dave heard Carole start to say something, but it got lost in the sound of her breaking down into hard desperate sobs. Dave heard Burt say that he was going to take Carole upstairs...then there was some mumbling by both Kurt and Burt. The phone went silent for a little while. Dave figured that Kurt had gone to help them, or was sitting silently trying to choose his next words.
Then, softly... “Dave? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Kurt, I’m still here.”
“Wh..why are you helping us?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“After how I treated you! I...I don’t deserve this.”
“Well...see the thing is, Kurt, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for Finn...because he needs me. Because he asked for my help. You do know that not everything in the world is about you, you know."
“Fuck! Yes. I know that Dave...you don’t have to get like that. I’m trying to say thank you.”
“Then try saying... Thank you. Makes you sound like less of an asshole.”
“David, do you think we could quit with the animosity and bitchiness for a minute? I just found out my brother is in rehab.”
“Right...I’m sorry. Are you ok?”
“I guess so...I mean...yeah...I’ve been begging him to find help for so long, I guess I just never expected him to do it.”
“I think it had everything to do with his realizing that his actions actually had consequences. That they hurt the people he loves. He hit rock bottom when he...assaulted Rachel.”
“I can’t even believe that happened.” Kurt sighed. “Dave...I’m scared for him.”
“I know...but like I said to Carole. This place is the best, Kurt. If he’s strong enough to survive in Afghanistan, he’ll make it through at Vanguard.”
There was a long silence. Dave heard Kurt breathing. He could almost hear Kurt collecting his thoughts.
“Dave...”
“Yeah, Kurt?”
“I’m so..so sorry for...”
“Don’t Kurt. Please. Don’t. I can’t go back to talking about that.”
“Please...can you just let me say what I need to say?”
Dave knew that letting Kurt go back down this route would be a bad idea. Especially now... when he was not entirely sure where he stands with Chris. But...
“Ok...say what you have to say.”
“I’m sorry. I screwed up. I got scared because you were someone I didn’t need to fix, someone who was just perfect...who was perfect for me. Who I could see myself with. But that scared me. A lot. And rather than admitting that I was scared and ask for help from you, I took the coward’s way out and hid...I hid behind Finn and his problems. I used him as an excuse. I didn’t know how to deal with all this...I didn’t know how to talk to you, so I pushed you away. I hurt you. Badly. I wasted the chance of having something amazing, all because I was scared and stupid. I am so sorry for what I did, Dave.”
Dave sat there, slack jawed. He had absolutely no idea how to respond to that. Kurt Hummel rarely if ever admitted he was wrong. He was not exactly the best at apologizing... but this...this was, just...wow.
“Wow. Kurt...I...thank you for that.”
But, apparently, Kurt wasn’t done quite yet.
“I still miss you...I know I shouldn’t. I mean all we had was one night in a hotel room, but I still miss you. I think about you a lot.”
Dave screwed his eyes shut. Fuck. Those were the exact words he was so terrified of hearing. After what had happened between them, Dave had taken all his feelings for Kurt and squished them into a tiny little ball and forced them down as deep as he could. As far as he was concerned, Kurt and any possible reality that involved him was completely defunct. But now...here was Kurt, saying things he had once longed to hear. Giving that deep dark space inside Dave just enough light to make it possible for those feelings to almost become possible.
“Kurt...don’t, please. Don’t say those things. After everything...please don’t say those things. I...”
“Look, I know you’re with someone...Mercedes and Az told me that you were. But I needed you to know that I miss you.”
Dave suddenly really wanted to see Chris. Wanted to feel his arms. Wanted to stare into those amazing green eyes. Wanted to hear that deep strong laugh. He didn’t want to be sitting on the phone talking to Kurt Hummel about the step-brother Dave had just gotten admitted into rehab. He didn’t want to be talking about how much Kurt bloody Hummel missed him.
No. He wanted his boyfriend. He wanted the guy he loved. He did not want this reality.
“Kurt...”
There was silence on the other end for a moment. Then some kind of noise in the background... something loud. “Hold on a second, Dave...”
Dave lowered his head onto the table. Un-fucking-believable. After a moment, Kurt’s voice reappeared. “Dave...I need to go. Dad wants to talk. Um... ok, this is a bit weird, but he wants to know about how much rehab is going to cost... can you email me some information or something? Or we can talk later?”
“Uh...” Dave’s brain was not working... “Yeah, I can email you Mariam’s contact info, if you mention my name, she’ll reply.”
“Thanks! But, can we still talk?”
“Kurt... go talk to your father. Please...I can’t...I...shit.”
“Ok. I’m sorry if I upset you. But I’m going to go now. Bye Dave.”
“Bye...”
Dave heard the call disconnect. But he sat there, the phone still against his ear. He sat there, staring at the table in front of him. Then slowly, he dropped the phone to table. Then he lowered his head down on the table with a loud thump. Groaning.
*******************************
It was long after midnight. The remnants of Dave’s large pizza dinner - namely, an empty cardboard box - lay forgotten on the coffee table. As did the two liter bottle of Coke he’d consumed along side it, and the half eaten tub of Haagen Daz that was slowly turning into something that resembled congealed fat rather than ice cream.
Dave had spent the last few hours thinking. Primarily thinking about Kurt’s admission. How much was Kurt Hummel’s word worth? The last time he took Kurt at his word, well Dave ended up with a heart that was majorly broken. Was Dave even partially willing to let himself go down that road again?
And why would he? He had Chris. Well...he might have Chris.
Hell, who knows, maybe he was about to end up single again and could chase after Kurt like an deranged obsessed lovesick fool. Dave wanted Chris. He was sure of it.
Dave sighed and looked at the clock on his tv screen - 12:45. And still no word from Chris. Dave really wanted to go to bed and forget this day had ever occurred. He briefly thought about Finn, wondering how he was doing. Had the agony of detox set in yet? Or was he still in the honeymoon period before his body started to crave the toxins it had grown so accustomed to.
Dave pulled his robe a little tighter around himself. His brain was in overdrive. Jumping from thoughts of Kurt to Chris to Finn to trying to protect himself.
He felt exhausted. This day had just been too much.
As though it had just read Dave’s thoughts, his phone started going on...Chris. Sighing, Dave answered.
“Hello.”
“Hey you.” Chris sounded just as exhausted as Dave did.
“Hi.” Dave couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice. “Done at work?”
“Yup. You ok? You sound tired.”
“It’s been a really really shitty day.”
“What happened?”
“A lot.”
“Wanna tell me about it?”
“I do...” Dave left the statement hanging in the air. Willing to tell Chris about his day, but also desperate to talk to him about everything.
“Ok..." Chris' voice indicated that he got the hint. "Can I still come over? Or is it too late?”
“Nah. I want to see you.”
“Good...cause I’m downstairs at your front door.”
“Then get up here, silly!”
“Ok, I think your concierge is starting to wonder why I’m standing in the lobby.”
“Hurry up.” Dave pushed himself up and walked to stand in his door way. Moments later, the elevator dinged open and Chris stepped into the hallway. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a simple white t-shirt underneath a dark brown blazer. On his feet he wore a pair of square toed boots. His hair was stylishly messed up, although Dave could tell he had been running his hands through it in frustration. And, best of all for Dave, he was wearing those sexy glasses of his. Over one shoulder he had slung his messenger bag. In the other hand, he was carrying a bouquet of flowers.
Dave's face erupted into a massive smile.
Chris walked quickly down the hallway, smiling. He stopped inches from Dave, grinning up at him. Dave leaned forward and kissed him.
With their lips still slightly touching, Chris whispered, “Dave...”
“Yeah?”