don't wake me up, i am still dreaming; the story's undone, unravel at the seams

The first thing that he hears is the steady beep in the distance, and he wonders how anyone is supposed to sleep through that. Kurt knows that it's possible, though. Knows that he's done so any number of times after spending far too many hours at the hospital, a hand closed tightly around his father's, clinging to its warm. His heart lurches at the memory, faint though it is, permeating his consciousness like a thick fog.

He's not seated in one of those hospital chairs though. Doesn't have the telltale soreness at the base of his spine. Instead, this moment feels more like an earlier incident, of being swathed in crisp, clean sheets after his own operation. There was always one of them in the room, at least. Times were tough enough that they could never spare the same hours, could never call off entire days to stay with him.

But before he opens his eyes, Kurt lets it wash over him, the feeling of wonder and the memory of a mother's palm smoothing over his forehead.

It feels like time has passed, though. Years. Years, until the warmth that resides best in his thoughts isn't that of a parent, but instead one of a partner, and Kurt struggles against restraints wrapped around his body, needing the comfort of one person in particular

When he opens his eyes, however, that's not who he finds.

[ Preplaying post-Koh, after Blaine's disappearance. Feel free either to catch him right after he wakes, or a day or so after. ]