WARNING: violence and injuries are mentioned. If you find the Glee episodes Bash or The First Time triggering or upsetting, please use caution.

My story takes place in the spring of 2013, during Season 4, near the end of Kurt's first semester at NYADA.

Thank you metaldragoness!

Author's note: I tried to avoid starting a fourth WIP. I really did. Oh well! I have written three chapters of this fic this summer. I am now focusing on this fic and After the Wedding. As always, thank you for reading.

MAY 26, 2013

Bleach.

Why does my bed smell like bleach?

Why are the blankets so thin?

This isn't my bed.

So heavy.

What's that beeping?

Where am I?

I am so confused.

I feel nauseous.

Why is there...oh.

Kurt came slowly out of a deep, unpleasantly heavy sleep and looked at the plastic hospital bracelet on his arm.

Then he looked over at the IV poking him in his other arm.

Just lifting his heavy, heavy eyelids felt like a Herculean task. He couldn't manage to lift either of his arms.

"Hey there," said a male voice. "What's shakin' bacon?"

What?

With a great effort Kurt opened his mouth and tried to speak.

"Adam?" He croaked out.

"It's Dad, Kurt," said the gentle voice.

"Dad?" Kurt asked.

What was his Dad doing in...

Where was he?

With some effort, Kurt moved his head to look in the direction of the voice.

His head was killing him. He cried out from the pain.

"I'm right here, son."

Burt stood next the bed and very gently patted Kurt on the arm, tentative, afraid of bumping him or hurting him. His eyes had dark circles on them, and he wore a few days worth of beard growth on his chin.

"It hurts," Kurt cried out.

Burt reached over and pressed the call button for the nurse.

"I know, son. I just called for the nurse to make sure you're getting the right dosage of pain medication."

"Medi...what happened?"

"We'll talk about that later, son. You got hit in the head. But you're going to be alright now. I'm so glad you woke up."

Kurt licked his dry lips. "How long was I out?"

"Four days," said Burt, his voice breaking.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"Not your fault," said Burt firmly.

"Tired."

"I'm sure you are, buddy," said Burt soothingly.

"I thought you were Adam," said Kurt in a very sleepy voice." Cause you said what's shakin' bacon. He just said that to me yester...yester..."

Exhausted and confused, Kurt paused.

"Who's Adam?" asked Burt.

Kurt scowled. "Ow. I have to stop moving my head," he said slowly. "And my FACE. Ow..."

A nurse entered the room.

"The patient is awake!" said Burt.

"Oh that's great," said the nurse, whose name tag read "Jennifer."

"How are you feeling, Kurt?" asked Jen.

"Hurts."

She checked Kurt's chart. "You're due for another dose in the IV in...oh, you're overdue by twenty minutes. I'll be right back."

"I'm so glad you're awake," Burt repeated. "And I'll make sure she hurries back with your medication."

"Thanks," said Kurt, sleepily. "Where's Adam?"

"I don't know who Adam is," said Burt.

Kurt looked confused. "He's my boyfriend. I think. I..."

Burt frowned. "I've never heard of him."

"I know," said Kurt. "I think I was about to tell you about him when..."

Jen entered the room with a new bag of solution, which she hooked up to the IV flowing into Kurt's arm. She adjusted the stand and checked the tubes to make sure everything was operating smoothly.

"Kurt, would you like some ice chips?"

"Oh, yeah. So thirsty."

Kurt took a few of the ice chips in his mouth with Jen's help.

"My mouth feels like something died in it," he said wryly.

Burt chuckled.

The nurse smiled. "A little later I'll get you a toothbrush and some mouthwash. And once the doctor approves it we can get you something to drink."

"Okay," Kurt sighed. "Did anyone call Adam? He's going to be so worried about me."

Burt's forehead creased with worry lines.

"Kurt, what's the last thing you remember?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean before you came to the hospital. Do you remember getting hurt?"

Kurt thought. It was clearly taking some effort.

We are going to find the sappiest movie we can, and then that will be our movie.

Kurt remembered.

He remembered Adam, shy, insecure, his eyes sad, his head down.

Asking if he was a rebound.

Offering Kurt his hand to hold.

Adam's sad expression turned luminous when Kurt said yes to a date.

Kurt's excitement, mixed with a little fear, that they were moving forward.

His sweet new guy.

Adam.

"I was at school and it was a few days after that big blizzard. The one where we got three feet of snow and flooding and power failures, and the governor called out the National Guard. And Adam had just asked me out to see a movie."

Kurt cleared his throat.

"Kurt," said Jen gently. "This is all completely normal, but that storm was three months ago."

"What!?"

"That was in late February. It's May now, hon. But try to relax. You may remember more in time. This isn't unusual with your kind of head injury."

She looked that big clock on the wall.

"I have to go now, but the doctor will be in to check with you in about twenty minutes, and I will be back after I help two other patients. But you know where the call button is if you have an urgent need for something. Do you need anything right now?"

"More ice," said Kurt. "Thanks."

Jen helped Kurt takes a few more ice chips in his mouth, and then left to help her other patients.

"Dad is that true? Did I really lose three months?" Kurt asked, panicking.

"I'm so sorry Kurt. But maybe it's not permanent. We'll get the doctor in here as soon as we can."

Kurt heard the door to the ICU. Burt looked over at the door. "Be right back kid."

Kurt couldn't hear the conversation in the hallway.

Burt walked out the door to see Blaine standing in the hallway.

"What is it Burt? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Kurt's awake."

"Oh that's amazing! I want to see him!"

"Hold on. Not so fast. He may have a problem with his memory."

"What?"

"He thinks he's dating some guy named Adam."

"This can't be happening."

"You know Adam?"

"No. He's a guy Kurt dated when we were apart. But I never met him."

"All right. Well, you can come in, but whatever Kurt says, you are to stay calm. Don't upset him. He's in a lot of pain. We'll talk to the doctor and get to the bottom of this."

Blaine eyes widened. He looked scared. "I hope he remembers the engagement."

"You two will be fine, kid. You've been through too much not to be."

Burt was getting a nagging feeling that might not be true, but what else was he going to say?

"Of course we will," answered Blaine. "We're soulmates. It's going to take a lot more than this to keep us apart!"

"Just take it easy."

"Of course I will," said Blaine, annoyed.

"And remember, he's in pain and he's heavily medicated," said Burt opening the door up and going back into where his son laid on the bed.

"Someone here to see you," said Burt softly.

"Adam?" said Kurt in a voice so artificially happy it had to be from the painkillers.

"It's me, Kurt," said Blaine.

"Blaine? Dad what is he doing here?" Kurt's eyes widened.

"He's your...He wanted to see you Kurt."

"He is the last person I want to see right now," said Kurt. His voice was becoming higher pitched, and he seemed afraid. "When is Adam coming?"

"You're confused," soothed Burt. "There's nothing to be scared of. It's just Blaine."

"I'm not confused about HIM," spat out Kurt. The fear was being replaced by anger. "Dad, seriously, get him out of here."

Blaine's eyes filled with tears as Kurt grew more agitated.

"It's the meds talking," Burt whispered to Blaine.

"It is not my meds, Dad. We broke up. Blaine doesn't understand that."

"I know you did kid, but..."

"...of course it didn't help him to understand that, when you brought him up for Christmas without asking me, and he...and he...thought that meant it didn't matter that he cheated on me..."

"You must be confused, Kurt. The doctors said this might happen. Tell him, Blaine."

Blaine just hung his head.

"Blaine," said Burt more firmly. "Tell Kurt he's confused."

Blaine squirmed. "Kurt was really busy at his internship and I...well..."

Burt stared at Blaine, his mouth hanging open.

Better change the subject.

"We will talk about this later Blaine. Right now we need to take care of Kurt."

"There's nothing to talk about." Kurt rested back on his pillows and closed his eyes. "He couldn't even keep it in his pants for two weeks. He just can't control himself, but I mean...this is...this IS the guy who tried to force me have sex with him in my car one time last...was it last year? Shit, I can't remember..."

Kurt wrinkled his forehead. "God, I am so high. These are really good drugs."

Kurt giggled as the pain meds kicked in and seemed to make him forget about any problems he had with Blaine being in the room.

"Kurt," said Burt gently, "we can talk about this later. Right now..."

"He's an asshole," said Kurt in a cheerful tone, his speech slurring, totally ignoring his dad.

"But Kurt, you're my soulmate," insisted Blaine in an earnest tone.

"Soulmate my ass. Who believes in that shit? Not me. Would my soulmate cheat on me? Would my soulmate tell me it was MY fault 'cause I wouldn't answer my damn phone at Vogue? VOGUE!

"Do you...do you know how many people would KILL to get an internship at Vogue?

"Fuck that noise," muttered Kurt. "Soulmate. Phfft."

Kurt seemed a million miles away. Kurt's voice was getting quieter.

"Dad would you call Adam? He's going to be so...so..." Kurt was asleep again mid-sentence, his mouth hanging open.

Burt turned to Blaine.

"Hallway. Now."

Kurt let out a snore.

Out in the hallway, Blaine wasted no time defending himself.

"I don't know what Kurt's was talking about," Blaine insisted, his expression like a sad, earnest puppy.

"You'd better pray that was just the drugs talking, kid. So help me..."

Jen walked up and saw the angry look on Burt's face.

"Is there a problem, sir?"

Burt breathed deeply. Inhale. Exhale.

"No problem, Miss. I'm a little worried because Kurt just fell asleep again. Is that normal?"

"The doctor is due here any minute, sir. Kurt is the first patient he is going to see. I can't comment specifically, but yes, you might see him sleeping a lot in the next few days, even if he is recovering normally from his coma."

Burt let out a breath. "Okay. Good. Also I was wondering if you had Kurt's contact information on file."

She looked at Blaine. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave for a moment."

"But I'm his fiancé!"

"What's your name?"

"Blaine Anderson," Blaine said impatiently, rolling his eyes.

"I'm sorry Blaine, but I have to follow the law."

"If we were married, this wouldn't be happening," muttered Blaine angrily.

"Blaine, go get yourself a cup of coffee or something," said Burt.

"But I just had a cup of coffee," Blaine whined.

"Now," Burt said in a stern tone, glaring at Blaine until he left and walked down the hall toward the elevator that would take him to the cafeteria.

"How can I help you, Mr. Hummel?" asked Jen.

"I just want to find a phone number for his friend Adam. He keeps asking for him."

"He is not on my list of contacts."

"Do you know if he's been here to visit Kurt?"

"Not while I've been on duty, no. I don't recall an Adam."

"Okay, I'll try his roommates. Thank you."

"No problem sir. I do have to ask you to go to the visitor's lounge to make the call, since cell phones are not allowed in the ICU."

"Yeah, okay," said Burt, rubbing hand absent-mindedly over the back of his head. "Can you come get me if the doctor shows up while I'm on the phone?"

"Yes, I will," said Jen.

Burt went in the lounge and dialed Rachel's number.

It went to voicemail.

He tried Santana.

"Mr. Hummel?"

"Yeah Santana, it's me."

"Is Kurt okay?"

"He just woke up."

"Oh thank GOD," said Santana. "I'll be over in...crap, I'll have to call in sick for work. I'll be there as soon as I can get on the subway!"

"Wait, Santana, I need to ask you something."

"Of course Mr. Hummel, do you need lunch or something? Do you want me to bring some of your clean laundry?"

"No, not right now. It's just...Kurt is asking for some guy named Adam, and I never heard of him."

"No way," said Santana softly.

"He's high on pain meds and he seems really confused. You should have heard him yelling at me for bringing Blaine in the room."

"Oh my God."

"So do you know if this Adam is a real person?"

"Oh yeah he is."

Something in her tone made Burt very curious.

"Do you have his number?"

"Yeah, I do. Why don't I call him, and ask him to call you."

"Please do that. Kurt is very worried about him."

"Is he really," said Santana, in a soft, amazed voice. "Yeah, I'll go do that."

Burt sat down and tried to read a magazine, but he really couldn't concentrate.

After a few minutes his phone lit up with an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Hummel?"

Yes?

"This is Adam Crawford ."

Was than an English accent?

"Thank you for calling me back, Adam."

"You're welcome. Santana told me what happened. I'm so sorry to hear Kurt was attacked. How is he doing?"

"He just woke up. He was unconscious for four days."

Burt heard a gasp.

"How awful. You must have been so scared. But he's awake now?"

"Yeah, and I know this is really awkward, but he asking for some guy named Adam, who he thinks is his boyfriend. Do you think you're the right Adam?"

Adam let out a sigh. "Or the wrong one."

"Come again?"

"He must be confused, Mr. Hummel."

"Call me Burt, please."

"We dated in the winter, for a bit over two months, but then Kurt got back together with Blaine a few weeks ago, and he broke things off with me."

"I'm really sorry about all this, Adam. Kurt is experiencing some memory loss. He seems to have lost the last three months. He says the last thing he remembers is a conversation with you at NYADA right after a blizzard, when you asked him out to a movie. Does that mean anything to you?"

"Yes, it does," said Adam very quietly.

"I hate to drag you over here if you two aren't on good terms, but right now he really wants you here. He wouldn't let Blaine in the room."

"How odd," said Adam. "Well, of course I'll come."

"Here, let me get the room number for you," said Burt, reaching for the slip of paper in his pocket.

Burt walked back into Kurt's room to find him fast asleep. Dropping into a chair, Burt was soon napping himself.

He woke some time later to see a tall, blond young man with broad shoulders standing outside the glass window. Burt walked over to the door and stepped out into the hallway.

"Adam?"

"Yes, are you Mr. Hummel?"

"Please call me Burt."

"Adam Crawford," said Adam, shaking his hand.

They entered the room, and Adam's face crumpled when he saw Kurt asleep in a hospital gown, with his battered face and throat covered with angry red cuts and dark bruises.

"Is he in a lot of pain?" whispered Adam.

"We're making sure the meds are flowing," said Burt. "But yeah. His head hurts a lot."

Adam shook his head. "Santana told me what happened. That is so like Kurt to step in and defend a stranger with no thought of himself."

Burt looked over at Adam, his face thoughtful.

"You really care about him, don't you."

Adam looked startled. Burt sat down, and Adam took the chair next to Burt and put his head in his hands. He took several long breaths, trying to get his emotions under control.

Burt reached one hand over and patted Adam on his back for a moment.

Kurt stirred. "Adam?"

Adam looked utterly shattered. He stood and moved over to the bed.

"How are you sweetheart?"

"Better now that you're here," sighed Kurt.

Adam very gently took Kurt's hand.

Burt's eyes filled with tears. "Kurt do you want a few minutes alone with Adam?"

"Yeaaaaaaaaah," said Kurt, still sounding stoned from the pain meds.

Adam chuckled.

"I'll be right outside," said Burt, going out the door and standing outside the glass window.

"Adam."

"Yes, Kurt?"

"Where were you?"

"I came as soon as I heard, sweetheart."

"I feel safer with you here."

Adam bit his lip, squeezed his eyes shut, and tried very hard not to cry.

"My dad let Blaine in here. He's sooooo creepy. He acts like I'm still dating him. He..." Kurt seemed lost for a moment. "He scares me. Will you stay until I'm asleep?"

"Of course I will Kurt. And your Dad is right outside."

Kurt didn't say anything else, and soon he was fast asleep.

Adam walked into the hallway.

"How is he?" asked Burt.

"He seems...confused. Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Burt led him down the hall to the visitor lounge.

Adam looked on the verge of tears. "Are you all right?" asked Burt.

Adam seemed at a loss for words. "I will be. His face..."

"I know."

"And he...I think I should tell you this. It could be important. He told me Blaine scares him."

Burt looked startled.

"And he seems to think he's dating me, but he actually broke up with me a few weeks ago to get back together with Blaine."

"I am so sorry to put you through this, Adam. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you coming."

"I'm sure what you have been though is much worse," said Adam. "Not to mention Kurt."

"I think it's very generous of you to come."

Adam shrugged and looked at the floor. He looked devastated.

"It's really hard seeing him like that. All bruised and cut up and drugged," said Adam.

Burt sighed. "He's always been such a healthy kid. Never in the hospital, not since he was born. Born three weeks early. Life was his party and he was eager to get here and start living it. They thought his lungs were gonna be immature, but he came out screaming."

Burt wiped a single tear off his face.

"Tomorrow's his birthday," said Burt.

"I know," said Adam.

Burt looked at Adam with a soft expression. "Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I need some more caffeine."

"That would nice," said Adam.

"You can tell me all about NYADA. Between his classes and his internship and his part-time job, Kurt doesn't have much time to tell me college stories."

"I'd like that, Mr. Hummel."

"Burt."

"Burt."

When they got to the cafeteria, Burt was relieved to see that Blaine was nowhere to be found.