ICE STORM

Part 6

 

“I was thinking that we should all turn in early. There won’t be enough light to do much of anything,” said Debbie, as she cleaned off the table.

 

“We’ll have to move some furniture around to fit everyone in this room so the fireplace can keep us all warm,” said Vic, thinking out loud.

 

“If we bring the mattresses down from upstairs we won’t have to sleep on the cold floor,” suggested Michael.

 

“That’s a great idea, honey.”

 

“Let’s see, we’ll put the playpen closer to the fireplace to make sure that Gus stays nice and warm. I’ll sleep in my chair. We can pull out the couch for you women,” Vic started to plan.

 

“I hope you don’t mind me sharing your bed,” interrupted Debbie, looking to Mel and Lindsay.

 

“Of course not, and it’s not our bed, it’s yours. We are so grateful that you have opened your home so we could keep Gus comfortable.”

 

“There was never any question, we’re family and we take care of each other.”

 

“That leaves 2 full and 1 twin size mattresses,” continued Vic.

 

“We’ll take the twin,” said Justin. “Ben and Michael can have one full size and Ted and Emmett the other.

 

“That’s not fair to the two of you. We can draw straws to see who gets the twin,” offered Emmett.

 

“No, it’s okay. The twin is fine,” stated Brian.

  

“So, why did you want the twin bed, Sunshine? I know you and you have a reason.”

 

“There is a set of flannel sheets for it that are so comfy and cozy. The size doesn’t matter because we always end up in the middle of any bed we sleep in anyway. And these sheets are just amazing. They are why I got that set for our bed, but these are even better because they are old and worn in.”

 

“Let me guess, they have some ridiculous comic book character on them,” smiled Brian, looking at Michael.

 

“Yeah, they do, but I am not sure who, must have been before my time. I always meant to ask you, Michael. Who is that?”

 

“Aquaman,” explained Michael.

 

“Wait! I find it hard to believe that Brian Kinney has flannel sheets on that legendary loft bed,” said Ted.

 

“The kid thinks the loft is drafty and is always freezing. He woke me up so many times because he was cold that I finally gave in. I held out for a long time because I was scared friction would cause an unwanted spark,” Brian laughed.

 

“I don’t suppose you brought the pajamas my grandmother sent us,” asked Justin.

 

“I have told you many times that I will literally freeze to death instead of wearing plaid flannel pajamas. Besides, they make you look twelve years old.”

 

“I’m surprised you don’t make him wear them all the time,” snickered Ted.

 

Brian’s answer was a withering look.

 

Brian and Michael moved the table right into the kitchen. Ben placed the coffee table on top of it. The chairs were stacked in the kitchen as well.

 

Mel moved the playpen as close as she safely could. Emmett moved the easy chair to the opposite side of fireplace, Vic helped Ted and Justin shift the couch as far down the wall as possible. Then they opened it to see how much room was left.

 

“We’ll all fit but it’s going to be tight,” said Vic.

 

Ben, Brian, and Michael followed Deb upstairs. In her room, she pulled the blankets and sheet off her bed. Michael and Ben turned the mattress onto its side. Brian hadn’t been in Deb’s room since he was a teenager. The colors almost blinded him. Coming back to reality he took the end of the mattress and started for the door. They made it down the hall without a problem.

 

Brian started down the stairs backwards. Justin rushed to help him. When the got half way down the fitted sheet that remained on the bed got caught on a family photograph that hung on the wall. Michael squeezed between the wall and the mattress to unhook it. He had a hard time reaching it and had to stand on the tip of his toes. He finally did reach and release the picture but lost his footing and stumbled down the stairs knocking into Justin and both then fell into Brian, causing Brian to lose his grip. All three landed in a heap on the floor. Ben held onto the mattress which snagged onto a step and Ben rested it there so that it didn’t tumble and fall on top of the three men. Debbie shrieked as she watched the men fall.

 

Brian landed on the floor first. Michael slamming on top of him, and then Justin landed on top of both of them.

 

“Justin?” Brian said, with obvious concern.

 

“I didn’t hit my head. I’m okay. I think I had it easier than you did. Are you okay?”

 

“I think so, but would the two of you get the fuck off of me.”

 

“Michael, are you alright?” asked Ben.

 

“Yeah, I just can’t seem to get up.”

 

Everyone came to watch the three men fumble and struggle to get up. The more they tried, the less effective they were. Ted chuckled, “I had a scene like this one on the site last week. Except they were all naked.”

 

“Michael’s eternal wish,” laughed Emmett.

 

“Stop moving all of you,” ordered Vic. They all froze.

 

Emmett offered a hand to Justin, who grabbed and pulled himself up. Michael rolled onto his side and then he and Brian get up.

 

“That’s it! Ben and I will move the mattresses. With no help,” snapped Brian.

 

Michael turned to argue but knocked a porcelain angel with his elbow.

 

Debbie gasped as he watched it fall, helpless to stop it from the top of the stairs.

 

At the last second, Brian caught it. His fingers formed a loose basket so as not to break the delicate details like the wings and the halo.

 

The collective breath that everyone held was exhaled.

 

“Thank you so much, Kiddo! That one isn’t available anymore,” exclaimed Debbie, just before she kissed him several times.

 

“Varsity soccer served you well. Your reflexes are still quick,” smiled Vic.

 

“I’ll put it back. Thanks for saving my ass yet again,” sighed Michael.

 

Michael reached to set it back onto the shelf, his elbow knocking yet another angel in the series which teetered on the shelf, falling off, and shattering on the floor.

 

“MICHAEL,” Debbie snapped. “You just don’t know how to be careful. It is a wonder I have any left at all.” Debbie said disappointedly.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“Clumsy fuck,” chuckled Brian, slapping Michael in the back of the head.

 

“I’ll clean it up,” said Michael sheepishly.

 

The first mattress was placed where the couch had been. Brian and Ben had an easier time with the second mattress, which was placed in the middle of the room and then the twin to the other side.

 

“Christ! Everyone better piss before we get in bed because a late night trip could be dangerous,” said Deb, looking at the small spaces between the sleeping areas.

 

Vic brought down an armload of sheets and blankets. He handed the Aquaman sheets to Justin with a smile. Brian carried over the plastic storage containers that had been on the roof of the jeep. With Lindsay’s help, he started to distribute the contents. He held up a pillow with a Captain Astro pillowcase.

 

“Nice to see some things never change,” he laughed, handing it to Michael.

 

“This one is pretty boring. Must be yours Ted,” said Brian.

 

“Actually, it’s mine,” answered Ben. “It is unbleached cotton. No chemicals. Better for the environment and better for me.”

 

“There is no doubt THIS is Emmett’s.”

 

Everyone laughed when they saw the magenta, lime, fuchsia, and turquoise striped pillowcase with orange and yellow large flowers scattered on it.

 

“What?” Emmett asked, and everyone laughed harder.

 

Lindsay pulled out a pillow with a navy pillowcase. “My God! This is amazing,” she said, as she rubbed her hand over the smooth material.

 

“It should be. It cost a hundred dollars,” replied Brian.

 

“You spent a hundred dollars on a set of sheets?” gasped Debbie.

 

“No, he spent a hundred dollars on each pillowcase,” corrected Justin.

 

“Holy shit!”

 

“I know, I’m scared to eat in bed and spill something on them,” said Justin.

 

“What about…uh…well…” Lindsay asked.

 

“Luckily cum washes right out of them,” explained Brian.

 

Lindsay pulled a matching one out of the container. “Which is yours and which is Justin’s?”

 

“His is the lumpy one. Can you believe that I had to get a new pillow when he moved in? Mine used to be real down but it made his allergies act up. So now it is all synthetic.”

 

A beige striped pillow was passed to Ted and an ivory floral set belonged to Mel and Lindsay.

 

Everyone worked to make their beds. Soon Deb came down in multicoloured happy face flannel pajamas, ready for bed.. Vic was next in grey flannel. Then the couples started to make their way to the bathroom to get ready. Gus was getting increasingly sleepy. He came downstairs with Lindsay in a green footed sleeper. She took him to the pullout and started to read to him.

 

“NO! Momma, my Jusin read,” the toddler insisted.

 

Justin having returned wearing a grey sweat suit, commented. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

 

“Sure, whatever gets him to sleep fast.”

 

Justin took the boy and the book from Lindsay, went to the twin bed, snuggling together, he started to read. Everyone else went to the hall or kitchen so they wouldn’t be a distraction. Whispers were heard once again.

 

About ten minutes later, Brian slowly and quietly walked to the youngest members of the group.

 

“See what I mean, he gets Gus to sleep but falls asleep himself,” he said matter-of-factly.

 

Carefully, he pulled the sleeping baby from Justin’s arms and took him to the playpen. Lindsay joined him to ensure the child was adequately warm. Both parents kissed their sleeping son and turned to get into their own beds.

 

“Look at him. He’s so peaceful that he reminds me of an angel,” said Lindsay, looking at the sleeping teen.

 

Everyone settled into their beds as Vic double checked the candles blowing the last one out. Brian had to shift Justin a little to make room for himself  but soon everyone was asleep under several blankets after a long day.

 

An hour later a scream woke everyone.

 

“JUSTIN”

 

“Nononononononono.”

 

“GOD.”

 

“Justin, wake up. PLEASE. Wake up. JUSTIN.”

 

No one moved, remembering what Brian had said about Justin’s nightmares. They were quite surprised to hear the fear and anguish in Brian’s voice.

 

“Brian. Brian, wake up.”

 

“NO,” Brian yelled as he startled himself awake, gasping for air.

 

“Justin,” he whispered with a shaky voice.

 

“I’m here, I’m okay. Look Brian, it’s over. It happened a long time ago.”

 

“There was so much blood,” came the gasping reply.

 

“I know, but here give me your finger, feel the scar. See, it’s all healed now. It’s okay.”

 

“You weren’t moving. I thought you were dead. I have never been that scared. I couldn’t tell if you were breathing because that son of a bitch wouldn’t stop yelling. I should have bashed his fucking head in.”

 

“No Brian, we both know you could never be like him. It’s over. I am okay, now.”

 

“You wouldn’t wake up. I stood there and watched you night after night but you wouldn’t wake up.”

 

Gus began to cry.

 

“Fuck! I probably woke everyone up. How embarrassing.”

 

“It’s okay. Just a minute, I’ll go get him before he wakes Lindsay up.”

 

Brian tried to calm himself and Justin returned with Gus. Gus reached up and gave Brian a kiss and felt tears on his cheeks.

 

“Dada cry?” Gus kissed him again. “Kiss all better,” he said happily.

 

“Thank you, Gus. All better now,” he replied. “Everything I need to be all better is here in this bed with me.”

 

All three of them snuggled together falling into a peaceful sleep.

 

The bright sun streamed through the windows shining in Ben’s eyes, waking him. He slowly sat up and looked around. Vic was already awake and reading Deb’s copy of The Enquirer. They exchanged a look and then Ben looked to the smallest of the makeshift beds. There under a plaid patchwork quilt slept a beautiful blond boy turned onto his side with his left hand resting on the side of a handsome man with brown hair whose right hand rested on the blond’s hip. Between them, a smaller yet virtually identical version of the oldest man clutched a teddy bear and snored an adorable baby snore. Ben watched for a minute smiling and then made his way to the bathroom.

 

One of Lindsay’s eyes opened slowly trying to adjust to her surroundings. Seeing the empty playpen, she jumped up. “Gus?”

 

“It’s okay, look,” assured Vic.

 

She looked to where he was pointing. “How precious, I wish I had a camera,” she sighed.

 

Mel and Deb were stirring having heard Lindsay. Deb got out of bed and carefully walked between the mattresses. She stopped next to Lindsay.

 

“That does my heart good,” she smiled. Then she headed to the kitchen.

 

Mel stumbled into Lindsay half asleep. She was confronted yet again with another side of Brian she had never witnessed before. Even in his sleep, Brian was the picture of protective concern, but what surprised her was how peaceful and loving he seemed with his defenses down. They moved to the kitchen to help Deb figure out what to make for breakfast.

 

Ted woke up at exactly 7:15am; his internal clock never failed him. He stretched and tentatively crawled over his lover. He grinned at the sight before him. Brian’s and Justin’s arms made a protective barrier to prevent Gus from getting up without them.

 

Emmett turned over and his heavy quilt flapped off the edge of his mattress and hit Michael in the head.

 

“Hey!”

 

Michael sat up trying to orient himself. When he realized where he was and what happened, he threw his pillow at Emmett and hit him right in the face. Emmett groaned.

Both men stood up.

 

“Fuck, it’s chilly,” said Emmett moving closer to the fire. Michael stood frozen in place. He had seen Brian and Justin together many times and in almost every imaginable situation, even having sex. He had never seen anything like this, however, the intimacy was obvious. Then he remembered Brian’s nightmare. He had wanted to go to him but Ben stopped him. “It’s not your place Michael,” had been Ben’s retort. Michael was surprised that the bashing still affected Brian so much and how open his best friend had been with the little twink. I used to be the only one that saw the vulnerable side of him, he thought.

 

Eventually, everyone that was awake made their way to the kitchen. They exchanged pleasantries. Several commented that the weather had improved and the ice appeared to be melting. Huge chunks of it fell from the trees and rooftops.

 

Movement, noises, and his hungry stomach forced Justin from his peaceful slumber. He opened his eyes to see the man he loved still asleep. He never tired of the sight. He tried to extricate himself from the tangled embrace he was in with the toddler and the older man. His movements woke Gus, who giggled.

 

“Monin Jusin.”

 

“Hey little man,” the teen smiled, one of his famous sunshine smiles.

 

“Sunshine, just what I need on a cold morning,” said Brian, as he leaned in to kiss his boys good morning.

 

Justin’s stomach rumbled again.

 

“Hungee. Me hungee too!”

 

Brian looked around the empty room. “Where is everybody?”

 

Gus’ lower lip started to tremble, “Mommy?” He asked.

 

“I’m right here, pumpkin,” said Lindsay, returning to the room having heard her son call for her.

 

“Good morning, you two.”

 

“Hey,” they answered in unison and Brian frowned.

 

Lindsay lifted her son, his teddy bear, and a blanket into her arms. She pulled the blanket around him to keep the chill away.

 

“I guess, it would be too much to hope for that the power is back on, huh?” sighed Brian as Justin snuggled closer to him for warmth.

 

“Not here, but the sun is shining and the ice is melting. The power crews have been working non-stop and a lot of areas are back up,” explained Ben as he sat back down on a mattress.

 

“The ice is melting? How are the roads?” Brian asked hopefully. “I could really use some hot coffee.”

 

“They seem okay. I think we could all use something hot.” Ben replied.

 

Brian got out of the bed quickly and moved to the window.

 

“BRIIIAAAANN!!” Justin whined at the sudden rush of coldness that surrounded him.

 

“Will you shut up? I hate it when people whine. Go back to sleep.”

 

Justin answered by sticking out his tongue and burrowing himself under the blankets once again.

 

Brian grabbed his bag and went to the bathroom. A few minutes later he came back downstairs and went out to the jeep. He scraped the windows without much difficulty as the temperature was now just above freezing.

 

Mel watched him drive off.

 

“That inconsiderate ass just left. How are we supposed to get home now?”

 

“Keep it down, Sunshine is still sleeping,” said Deb.

 

“Did you really think he would stick around when there were other choices available?” Ted offered.

 

“Maybe he didn’t want to see us after that nightmare. Brian doesn’t like to appear weak. He probably didn’t want to face us,” explained Lindsay.

 

“Did you know he had nightmares like that?” Vic asked Michael.

 

“No, I had no idea.”

 

“What the hell was he talking about ‘stood and watched night after night?’” Deb asked.

 

Everyone shook their heads and no one had an answer, not even Michael.

 

Justin pulled the blankets off of his head.

 

“We both still have nightmares about the bashing but they are getting better. Brian was very deeply affected by it than anyone believed. Me included, but now, I know. What he referred to was the fact that he stood outside my hospital room every single night. ALL night. He was so scared that I would blame him and his guilt was so overwhelming he couldn’t face me. But he stood there for hours every night in the hospital watching me sleep through the window. I still don’t understand why no one was there for him. My nightmares have gotten better since I remembered our dance. So have we because now I know how he feels. It was all there in the dance, in the song he selected. Hell, even in the fact that he was there in the first place.”

 

Justin got up and started up the stairs, “Oh, and he didn’t desert anyone. I would bet anything that he is at the closest coffee shop that is open getting us all something to warm us up. He’ll get something for us to eat too, so don’t fill up on cereal, he added.

 

“Yeah, right,” said Mel.

 

“He lives in a fantasy world,” said Michael.

 

“We probably won’t see Brian for days if the power is working at the baths,” chuckled Ted.

 

A few blocks away, Brian carried several large bags out to the jeep and then returned to Grandma Flora’s Coffee Shop for the rest of his order.

 

THE END

Return to Ice Storm