More Repercussions

Part 1

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Entering the diner, Brian saw the gang sitting at the booth.

"Where have you been?" asked Michael, as Brian neared. "I've been trying to get in touch with you for two days."

"I've been busy," sighed Brian.

"Justin must be feeling better," offered Emmett. "You're still not letting him get out of bed, huh?"

"I bet he can hardly walk," grumbled Ted.

"He can, but he's not much better," explained Brian.

"He's still sick?" Lindsay asked, concerned.

"Yeah, he hasn't been able to keep much down for almost four days and his fever is still pretty high," Brian answered, tiredly.

Debbie walked up. "How's Sunshine?"

"Well, he kept a few sips of water down through the night and some more this morning," Brian answered. "I came to get some soup, but I'm not sure what kind he should have. I know he likes tomato but it would be too thick."

"I'll strain some vegetable, so it's just the broth," said Debbie heading back to the kitchen.

"Brian, if he hasn't kept anything down for four days, he's dehydrated," cautioned Ben.

"I know. He's very weak."

"I think he should see a doctor. You should take him to the emergency room," insisted Lindsay.

"You should have taken him days ago," corrected Melanie.

"I know, but ever since…" Brian sighed, his mind wandered but he pulled himself back from those awful memories and continued, "he got out of the hospital. He really doesn't want to go back. It's almost like a phobia now."

"But, still," Michael answered.

"Hopefully, he'll eat the soup and drink some juice and start to get his strength back," Brian said.

"Let's go!" Debbie said, tapping Brian's shoulder with one hand, a paper bag in the other.

"Where?"

"To your place, of course, no offense but you are not exactly the nurturing type. Until, his mother gets back from Florida, I'll take care of that," offered Debbie.

"When does she come back?" Brian wondered.

"Tonight."

"Good. Maybe she can talk him into going to the hospital."

"Let's all go, maybe one of us or all of us can convince him," suggested Emmett.

Everyone agreed and started to file out of the diner's booths.

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"Justin?" Brian said softly, as he opened the loft's big metal door.  Brian walked towards the bedroom as everyone made their way into the loft.

"Justin? I'm back. Were you alright while I was gone?"

"Brian?" said Justin, weakly.

"I'm here. I hope I wasn't gone too long," answered Brian. Then he crouched by the side of the bed. When he touched Justin's cheek, he was startled by the heat. He put his hand on Justin's forehead.

"Jesus, you are burning up again," he said, reaching for the cloth that had fallen to the bed. It was neither cold nor damp anymore, so he got up and went into the bathroom.

Justin, his eyes still closed, said, "I forgot you left."

"He must be sick if he lost track of Brian," said Michael.

They all laughed a little but stopped when Justin's glossy eyes flew open.

"Brian, I'm having another one of those weird dreams," Justin tried to yell, but couldn't.

"Take it easy. What are you talking about?" Brian answered. He placed the cloth on Justin's forehead.

Justin pulled it off, "that's freezing!"

Brian replaced it and held it down. He used his thumb to rub the top of Justin's head. "Leave it; it will help your fever. What dream?"

"When I opened my eyes, it looked like everyone was standing here, right in your bedroom."

"They are standing here in our bedroom," answered Brian.

"Why?"

"We just wanted to make sure you are okay, Sunshine," said Debbie as she approached the bed.

"I'm okay. I just want to sleep," he moaned.

"We brought you some soup," Lindsay said with a smile.

"Not hungry," he sighed.

"You have to eat something, now sit up," ordered Brian pulling down the duvet.

"Stop it! I'm cold," groaned Justin as he grabbed the duvet out of Brian's hands.

Brian grabbed it back. "Look, you either eat something or we are going to the hospital."

"You can't make me and I'm not going," replied Justin.

"Oh, I can't huh! I might have to carry you but I can make you, if I have to, you little Brat!" Brian said, smiling as he pulled Justin into a sitting position.

Justin swayed dizzy from the sudden movement.

Debbie sat down beside him and opened the Styrofoam container.

"I can't," said Justin, his stomach rolled from the smell.

"Just a little, Sunshine, you have to try or you will end up in the hospital. You look like you've lost twenty pounds," encouraged Debbie.

"I'll puke again!" Justin warned.

Brian moved a bucket closer. "Try to hit the can this time."

"We'll start with one spoonful," said Debbie as she held it up to his mouth.

Justin closed his eyes and opened his mouth. Debbie spooned it in and he swallowed. He held his breath a little then opened his eyes relieved.

"Now can I go to sleep?" He asked.

"If you eat at least half of the soup and drink some juice. I'll leave you alone," replied Brian.

Justin looked at Brian wearily. He started to argue but decided he didn't have the strength. He also knew he wouldn't win.

"I'll do it myself," he groaned to Debbie.

She placed the container in Justin's shaking hands. He glanced up at everyone.

They got the hint and started towards the kitchen. Brian joined them but his eyes were on Justin. He watched as his hand brought the spoon to his mouth. Justin almost spilled it on himself, he was so unsteady. Brian was relieved when he swallowed. He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of apple juice.

"Maybe the worst is over," he said.

Debbie and Lindsay started to straighten the loft.

"I've never seen the place in such a mess," stated Emmett.

"Yeah, not even after one of your famous nights of handstands and juggling," continued Mikey, looking around.

"What?!" Ben asked.

"Some pharmaceuticals have an interesting effect on Brian," offered Ted.

"I haven't had time to clean. Between cleaning up when he pukes and trying to work from here…" Brian explained.

"You stayed home from work?" Mel questioned.

"I couldn't leave him alone because he was hallucinating from the fever."  Brian started toward the bedroom with the juice.

"Uhh," Justin groaned, throwing the soup container in the bucket. "I told you," he said, then stumbled past Brian into the bathroom.

"Damn," whispered Brian.

Everyone looked sympathetic as they heard Justin vomit loudly.

Brian leaned against the door, waiting until he couldn't hear anything. Then he went inside. Justin was sitting next to the toilet, his head rested on his arm. He looks so small and pale, like a child thought Brian. He remembered the nights at the hospital when he watched Justin in the coma. Justin shifted his weight a little and Brian saw it.

"Oh My God! Justin!?!"

Justin turned his head. Blood was running down his chin.

"Don't move. I'll be right back," Brian ordered.

"What's wrong?" Debbie asked.

Brian was too busy rummaging around the bedroom. He pulled some clothes out of the drawers and grabbed Justin's shoes from under the bed. He carried them into the bathroom.

"Justin, Justin stay awake, okay? I'm going to help you get dressed in a minute. Just don't move too much," said Brian.

"Okay," sighed Justin.

Brian looked through the medicine cabinet and grabbed some pill bottles and headed out to the kitchen.

"Ted, can you pull the jeep up to the front of the building?" Asked Brian.

"Sure," Ted said, grabbing the keys off the counter.

"Brian?"

Brian walked to the living room and took Justin's backpack. He looked into the pockets, frustrated he emptied the contents onto the floor. Finally, he found a small notebook. He took it to the counter and placed it in a plastic bag with the bottles of pills.

"Brian, what are you doing?' Debbie demanded.

"I have to take him to the hospital," answered Brian.

Brian walked to the closet and grabbed a washcloth and towel.

"What happened in there? What's wrong?" Emmett asked.

"He's throwing up blood," explained Brian.

"If he's had the dry heaves for awhile, it's not uncommon for there to be a little blood," offered Ben.

"It's a lot," Brian said, as he went back into the bathroom.

"Justin?" Brian asked, concerned.

Justin tried to look at him, but when he moved, an excruciating pain ripped through his abdomen causing him to vomit again but it was just blood.

"God!" yelled Brian, rushing to his side.

Justin crumpled to the floor and wrapped himself into a ball as he held his stomach. "It hurts!" he exhaled.

"I know, we are going to get help," said Brian, rubbing the boy's back. He got up and went to the sink to wet the washcloth. He washed Justin the best he could and then dried him.

"LINDSAY," he yelled, as he grabbed the clothes.

Lindsay appeared in the doorway.

"Help me get him dressed," Brian urged.

Lindsay entered the room. She looked over and seeing the blood stopped. "Brian?" She squealed.

"I know, just help me!" Brian pleaded.

They worked together to get him dressed. They put a bright red shirt over very pale skin. He groaned as they moved him, but tried to help despite the pain in his gut.

"Can you stand?" Brian asked, as he tied the last shoe.

"I think so," Justin said.

"Okay. Let's give it a try," Lindsay encouraged. "One, two, three." It took some effort, but Justin stood. He winced and held his stomach.

"Let's go," Brian said, holding him to steady him.

They slowly made their way to the kitchen. Debbie was returning from the bedroom with the bucket.

"I'll clean up," she said. She was stunned to see Justin so pale and wobbly.

"Sunshine," she said worriedly.

"Ugh!" He replied and grabbed the bucket from her. He fell to his knees and threw up. Again, it was just blood. He cried out in pain. Brian was still holding him around the waist and could feel his stomach as it clenched.

Lindsay handed Brian another towel and when Justin was through, he wiped his face and put the reddened towel on the floor. Emmett took one look and fainted. Ben caught him and lowered him to the couch.

"Is he alright?" Justin whispered.

"He'll be fine. He's a little squeamish at the sight of blood. Don't worry," Michael reassured him.

"I'm sorry!" Replied Justin.

"We're leaving," snapped Brian.

Justin turned to his lover and apologized.

"For what?" Brian scowled.

"For being a pain in the ass," Justin continued weakly.

"You are not and I'm not mad at you. I'm worried. Now let's go to the hospital."

"I don't want to. I hate it there."

"I'll stay with you, so please stop whining."

Ted opened the door and his eyes widened when he saw Justin. He noticed spots of blood on his shirt. Brian grabbed the plastic bag and then noticed that Justin was shivering.

"Can someone get a blanket from the closet?"

Mel handed him a navy thermal knit one and he wrapped it around the boy.

Debbie handed the cleaned out bucket to Brian. "Just in case."

"Thanks."

"Hope you feel better soon, Justin," Emmett said sitting up.

"You too," offered Justin, weakly.

With that, Brian guided his lover out to the elevator.

"Call me!" Debbie hollered after them.

"I will." Brian answered.

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