Fic: Hide and Seek (Ch. 24/?) Rated R
Title: Hide and Seek (Ch. 24/?)
Author: spookykat
Rating: R/T
Pairing: Klaine, mentions of other s3 canon pairings.
Word count: ~1,520 for this chapter, approximately 42k overall so far
Warnings: Abduction, kidnapping, bondage in a non-smutty context, foul language, homophobic slurs, violence, blood and gore (but not terribly descriptive).
Summary: Sebastian promised the Warblers that if they made him Captain, he'd get them to Nationals. Unfortunately for Kurt, Sebastian intends to keep that promise.
Spoilers: Spoilers for Michael apply, also for Congressman!Burt
A/N: I'm choosing to ignore the fact that Sam lives with the Hudmels now, because this chapter was written before that bit of info was revealed. Also, the events of On My Way and beyond do not apply to this story.
Ch 1
Ch 23
Will turned over and hit his alarm clock when it went off at 6AM, but the truth of the matter was, he hadn’t really slept. Not soundly, anyway. Ever since Kurt disappeared, he had to drink a couple of beers to get to sleep at all. If Kurt wasn’t found soon, Will didn’t know what that would mean for New Directions at the upcoming Nationals competition. Finn was just going through the motions, and even Rachel seemed to have lost her drive. Mercedes was there, but she wasn’t talking back. She wasn’t talking to anybody; not even Sam.
Although rehearsal was met with a lot less protest these days, the choir room just didn’t buzz with the same excitement it once had. It was hard to get everyone to stop asking Finn about any updates. It was impossible to ignore the possibility that Nationals might happen without him, and Will couldn’t do a damn thing about it. He hated the thought of winning without one of the original kids, but if he couldn’t get them to focus, they probably wouldn’t even finish in twelfth place this time. He could push them, he could get Sue to yell at them to try harder, but the truth of the matter was, if their hearts weren’t in it, it wouldn’t matter what anyone did.
He remembered his last assignment. He asked them to sing about loss.
“I know the last month without Kurt has been hard on everyone, especially for those closest to him,” he said, with a pointed look at Rachel, Finn and Mercedes. “But we are not helping ourselves by not addressing the elephant in the room. I’m just gonna say it. Kurt might not come back, and painful as it may be, we need to deal with it. We have to deal with it if we’re going to get our focus back in time to work on Nationals.”
Mercedes stood up then. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not gonna sit here and listen to my best friend’s eulogy before he’s even in the ground.”
“Best friend?” Quinn scoffed. “Ever since Blaine came along, you two barely talk!”
“Bitch, please, what the hell do you know about best friends? I opened up my home to you and then you act like I don’t even exist!?”
“Guys…” Will tried, but clearly, he’d lost control of the room.
The room somehow dissolved into shouting then, and Puck and Santana were the only ones to actually do the assignment that week. None of the others even bothered. He hadn’t helped them at all, and the fact of the matter was, there was nothing he could do for them but listen if they wanted to talk.
He knew his kids were hurting. He hoped for everyone’s sakes that Kurt would be found safe, but Will knew the odds were not in his favor.
Which is why he had to rewind the DVR just to make sure he was not hearing things:
“Breaking news regarding the disappearance of Kurt Hummel. Authorities say that Congressman Burt Hummel’s son was found alive but unresponsive in Indiana at an undisclosed location. Authorities were alerted to a possible disturbance in an isolated, private residence. Currently, there is a nation-wide search for the person believed to be responsible in the abduction, Dalton Academy senior Sebastian Smythe. Authorities have informed us that they are on Dalton grounds as we speak searching for this individual for questioning. Representatives for the Hummel family say that they are cautiously optimistic and are eagerly watching for any signs of improvement in his condition.”
“Emma?” he called out in the bathroom. “Emma, tell me you’re seeing what I’m seeing.”
He pressed play, and she let out a gasp. “Oh Will! You mean…he’s back?”
“He’s not out of the woods yet, but…yeah,” Will said, still dumbfounded.
“I wonder how many of the kids know already,” Emma mused allowed.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of surprised I didn’t get a call from Burt though, or Finn, or someone.”
“Will, they’re probably a little pre-occupied right now. I’ll be surprised if Finn is at school today.”
Will nodded, and played the report over and over again in his head as he got ready for the day, vowing to call Burt himself on the way to work.
It’d been a long time since Will arrived on campus with so much spring in his step. Kurt was back. What that meant for Kurt himself was enough cause for rejoicing, but what it meant for his little group made everything just seem so much easier all of a sudden. Finn and Rachel would finally have their focus back. If they were lucky, they might even persuade Blaine to rejoin. It was all coming together, and all Kurt had to do was wake up.
Will remembered what it had been like when Kurt left for Dalton, what a gaping hole was felt by his absence and how hard it was to remind the kids that Kurt had left then, even if it was just for his own safety. Now, though, it was like Kurt was back from the dead, and he hadn’t even woken up yet.
“William, given the obnoxiously cheery grin on your face, I assume you saw the news this morning regarding Porcelain,” Sue said, barely unable to contain a grin on her own face herself. “Either that or you and The Chippette did the wild thing, and that is not a mental image I care to have this early in the morning.”
“Best. News. Ever! Seriously…I had to rewind the DVR and ask Emma to come into the room just to make sure I wasn’t still asleep.”
“I came by because I wanted to prepare you. The media outlets have already begun sniffing around asking about me because of the two of us, I’m the one who’s made headlines already. You might want to have answers prepared.”
“I appreciate that, Sue, but I doubt they’re going to ask any tough questions.”
“Of course not. As his favorite teacher, of course you know all about him.”
* * *
Blaine didn’t know when he fell asleep, but he woke up to a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry to wake you, sir,” a strange woman was saying. “But it’s time to check his vitals, and you’re welcome to stay if you’d like, but I need…”
Blaine nodded and the chair scraped against the floor as he scooted it back against the wall.
Finn walked in, holding two cups of coffee.
“Any change?” Finn asked. Blaine shook his head. “I went for a walk. I had about a billion texts from Rachel and everybody wanting to know how he’s doing, and I needed some air.”
“I dunno what kind you get at The Lima Bean when you go there with Kurt, but I, uh, figure you could use this.”
Blaine took it gratefully. “I appreciate it.”
Finn shifted on his feet. “So, um…Rachel says that there are a ton of reporters around the school sniffing around. She’s kind of trying not to love the whole being famous part because of how it happened and everything, but I can totally tell she’s not hating the limelight.” Finn glanced towards the bed. “He’s not going anywhere. You want to come talk a walk with me? Stretch your legs a bit?”
Blaine shook his head. “I don’t want to leave him alone.”
“So, um…Artie says he’s going to try and talk his dad into driving their van up to Indiana, and a bunch of the guys are gonna try to carpool after class. You sure you don’t want some fresh air?”
“No, Finn, I really…”
"Dude! Ixnay on the overhearing-ay, okay?"
Blaine stared blankly.
"I kinda need a word in private," Finn said, jerking his head in the nurse's direction. "Didn't they teach you Pig Latin at Dalton?"
Blaine hesitated.
“Come on, Blaine, a few minutes away won’t kill you!” He glanced towards the nurse who gave them a wary glance.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I could use a little.” They walked down the hallway to the elevator.
“What the hell was that for? It’s not like she was listening anyway, and who knows if he can…”
“Dude! I didn’t want anyone overhearing, okay?”
“So what’s the word?”
“Rachel says JBI tried to offer her a deal. Sexual favors for intel on where Sebastian is.”
Blaine nearly spit out his coffee through his nose. “Either I’m still asleep or…”
“No, no. You’re awake, man.” Finn said. “Look, the thought of Rachel cheating on me isn’t cool, but if it’s for Kurt, I’m kinda thinkin’ maybe…”
“Finn, are you kidding me?!” Blaine sputtered.
“Rachel says he claims to know where Sebastian is hiding. She thinks he’s legit.”
“Kurt told me once that Rachel also thinks Cats is still running,” Blaine said with a snort of laughter. “Besides, Mike and that other guy tried to go off on their own and it almost got them in a lot of trouble. Plus, if you think I’m leaving here as long as Kurt’s still in trouble you’re…”
A nasally female voice came over the loudspeaker then. “Paging Dr. Snyder to Room 314.”
“314…” Blaine realized, blanching, making a sprint down the hall. “Kurt’s room.”
Finn was right on his heels behind him.
Chapter 25