Karofsky blinked blearily, one hand on the kitchen counter and the other around his beer. His legs are shaking, and he gives a weak grin as someone on the football team roars with laughter at his state. He's at someone's house - someone on the football team, he knows that much - for some end of school party. His head was aching, probably from the combination of the pumping stereo and ninth - or is it tenth? - beer of the night.

"Someone can't handle their beer!" is called out from across the room. Had Karofsky been in a better state he would have marched over, but as it is he'll probably fall over if he takes his hand off the counter. Instead he turns to a nearby teammate.

"Where's Hudson?" He gets an odd look for that.

"Why? Missing your boyfriend?"

Karofsky scoffed. "I'm not a homo."

"Whatever dude. Some Glee party. Same as Puckerman and Evans and…" His teammate's voice trailed off. "Whoever the others are," he finishes.

"Glee Club," another footballer laughed. "Bunch of fags." Karofsky laughed with the rest of the team, and he's glad no one is sober enough to realise how fake it is. He took another swig of his beer, in the hopes of making the party more bearable. The conversation turns to something else, and Karofsky hopes the topic will be forgotten.

The night went on, and Karofsky eventually finds himself sitting alone on a couch, trying not to pass out.

"Santana and Brittany man. You hear they're doing it?" Strando asked as he walks up.

"No shit," he mumbles.

"I'm telling you," Strando continued, "glee turns you gay. Surprised we're all straight after what Beiste did." When Karofsky didn't reply, Strando kicked him. "What, you're not a fag too, are you?"

"Of course not man," Karofsky saids as he lies down.

"Good," Strando says, a note of relief in his voice. "What type of chicks do you like then?"

"What?"

"You heard me."

Karofsky paused. "Uhm…smaller than me."

Strando scoffed. "No Zizes for you then."

"Brown hair, I guess," Karofsky continued, closing his eyes. "Pale skin."

Strando gave Karofsky an odd look. "All I need is a good pair of tits." He raises his hand for a high-five, which Karofsky halfheartedly returned. Strando snorted. "Sometimes, you really are like Hummel."

"As if. I told you, I'm not gay."

"Yeah? Well you're awfully defensive."

"Dude, I'm not a fag."

"We saw what you were like with Hummel before. Kind of like you had a crush on him dude."

"I'm. Not. Gay." Karofsky said, gritting his teeth.

Strando continued to ignore him. "I saw him follow you into that locker room one time."

Something in Karofsky's stomach dropped. "He kissed me!" Karofsky exclaimed, just as the music from the stereo stopped. In an instant, the rest of the room was staring at him.

"Hummel came on to me dude," Karofsky said. There was a moment of silence, then he added, "he's fucking predatory man."

Strando glanced around the room. "Boys," he began. "I think it's time to pay Hummel a visit. Show him what happens when he tries to infect one of us." He made his way to the door, followed by a handful of others, before turning around and looking at Karofsky. "You coming or not?"

A few miles away, the New Directions, with the addition of Kurt and Blaine, are having a party of their own in Rachel's basement. "My dads are in Columbus for the Judy Garland Extravaganza," she had explained, drawing a look of envy from Kurt.

Kurt and Blaine are sitting off to the side, watching as Rachel gives yet another impromptu performance. Their hands are clasped together and there's no conversation, they just sit and enjoy each other's company. As Rachel finished her rendition of Maybe, from Annie, Blaine stood up.

"I've gotta go to the bathroom."

"Charming," Kurt said with a wry smile. Blaine stuck his tongue out, then made his way up the stairs. Blaine had only been gone for a minute when Mercedes took his place.

"You two look happy," she remarked.

"We are," Kurt said with a grin.

Mercedes smiled. "I'm glad. You've been through so much, you kind of deserve it."

Kurt was about to respond when the door to the basement was slammed open and eight members of the Titans made their way down the stairs. Kurt paled as he saw Karofsky.

"Ladies," Strando said with a smirk.

"What are you guys even doing here?" Finn exclaimed as he and Puck made their way over, only to be pushed aside.

"Something that should have been done a long time ago." As Strando grabbed Kurt, and Mercedes made to push Strando off, the room descended into chaos. Sam, Puck, Finn and Mike were in individual fights within seconds. Tina was swung at as she made to pull out her mobile, and while Lauren tackled the footballer to the ground, someone else was after Tina immediately after.

Strando punched Kurt in the gut, causing the smaller boy to fall to the ground. "That's what you get for wanting one of us." Strando glared at Karofsky. "What are you waiting for?" With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Karofsky half-heartedly kicked at Kurt, before being pushed away by Strando. "You're such a fag." Blinded by anger, Karofsky at kicked at Kurt's ribs, causing a crunching sound, followed by a groan from Kurt.

"Now that's more like it!" Strando grinned.

For what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, the scene continued. The sound of sirens down the street caused the footballers to bolt, leaving Kurt lying on the floor, doubled over on himself, drifting closer and closer to unconsciousness. Puck and Sam made to follow after them, but were restrained by Mike and Finn.

"They won't be able to escape the police, and you guys need to be checked out," Quinn explained as he eyed the bruise forming on Puck's face.

"Kurt? KURT!" Blaine called out as he raced down the steps, running to his boyfriend's side, kneeling beside him. "C'mon, stay with me," he urged, reaching for Kurt's hand, "stay with me." The rest of the club circled the pair, but remained silent. They're nursing their own injuries, though none of them are as bad as Kurt, and most of the girls, as well as Artie, have escaped unscathed.

"Blaine," Kurt managed to choke out, his eyes closing.

"No, stay with me Kurt," Blaine continued, his voice rising. He shook Kurt gently, but was immediately stopped by the whimpers of pain from Kurt.

"It hurts."

"I know, the ambulance is on its way, just stay with me Kurt," Blaine said. But it was all in vain. As the paramedics made their way down the stairs Kurt's eyes closed, and he passed out.