lostandalone22 | (no subject)

Title: Only the Squeaky Wheel Gets Oiled
Prompt: Assumptions for

angst_bingo
Fandom/Pairing: Glee, Kurt Hummel
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: suicide attempt, spoilers up to 2X8
Summary: They all just assumed that the bullying had stopped and he was fine. They were wrong.

It started out slowly, so slowly that no one even noticed the difference at first. One day, he was there, in body and mind, smiling and being the diva that he always was. There was an in between period, a time when they could tell themselves that they had all done what was necessary to keep Kurt safe. He was being bullied, more than any of them, and they dealt with it. Quinn had applauded Sam for his bravery, Finn told Burt what was happening and they tried to get Karofsky expelled. After the wedding, when everything had calmed down and Kurt refused to transfer, they thought things had gotten a little better. Kurt would tell them if he were still being bullied. When he became quieter, it was attributed to him not needing to be in the spotlight. When he started having that scared look in his eyes, even when there was no threat, it was attributed to him being more guarded. Everyone assumed that he was fine, including the teachers that had looked out for him in the past. Will Schuester had twelve kids, just in New Directions, that he was tasked with molding into better people, and with Carole and his father expecting a new baby in the family, Kurt was overlooked.

When Burt Hummel went down to the basement to check on his baby boy one morning, then, it came as a shock that nearly made him have another heart attack to see Kurt laying in bed, still, hardly breathing, with a suicide note and an empty bottle of pills next to him. His scream was what made Carole and Finn come running, each running into Burt, who was still in a frozen shock at the bottom of the stairs. Finn was the first to move, kneeling beside Kurt on the floor next to his bed, shaking him lightly, pleading him to answer, hands balled into fists to hold back the tears. Carole ran up the stairs, calling 911 and telling them that her stepson had made an attempt on his life. Finn turned to Burt, letting him know that the soft hand that he held was still warm, that he could feel the pulse in his brother's hand. Burt found the trash can next to Kurt's vanity and brought it over to his bedside, working with Finn to get whatever was in his son's system out so that he would have a fighting chance.

Mr. Schuester was the first to arrive at the hospital, out of breath from running into the emergency room. He looked around to locate Kurt's family, and went over, giving Finn a stronghold hug, and telling Burt how very sorry he was before asking how his student was.

“They say he'll make it, that we got to him in time. They're pumping his stomach right now and then they're gonna keep him on a seventy-two hour.... suicide... watch.” His voice faltered on the word 'suicide,' like there was some lump surrounding the word that wouldn't pass his throat. “I just keep thinking 'how did I miss this'?”

Will just shook his head, unable to find the right answer, not even knowing if there was one for this situation. “He just never said anything. We all missed it and just assumed that he was fine. He's always been so good at hiding things.” It was a weak excuse, but the only one they had right now.