Through the Rain

Chapter 6

Author's Note: Thanks to my girls for bugging me for a new chapter, and thanks to Kami for helping me work out the kinks.

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"You want me to what?" Justin asked in disbelief. This man wanted him to move into his home with him and his son. He would love to stay with Gus, and he would love to become friends with this man, but he didn't know if he could move in. It could be so awkward.

"Move in with us, at least until you get all better and get back on your feet." Brian was very adamant about it. It didn't look like he was going to take no for an answer.

"I don't know. I would be such an inconvenience."

"Listen to me, Justin." The younger man raised his eyes to meet stunning hazel ones. Brian took the smaller hand in both of his own and squeezed it. "You saved my son's life, and for that I'll be eternally grateful. If you were invited into the homes of my family and were accepted by them, you're good enough for me. I'm sure we'll get along fine, and I know it would be good for Gus if you were there while he was adapting. And god knows I'll need some help with him. So what do you say?"

"I say yes." Justin smiled as Brian sighed with relief.

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Michael was stroking Gus's head soothingly as he slept in his lap. He was watching the sunlight creep it's way into the empty waiting room. He felt Gus's body tense up and he clutched him just a little bit tighter until he relaxed again. He looked down, making sure the boy was still asleep. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he fished it out, seeing his home number on the display. He glanced around to make sure there was no hospital staff around and took a deep breath before answering.

"Hi Ben."

"Hey Michael. Where are you?" Michael could hear the worry in his voice.

"Um, I'm at the hospital."

"Why? What happened?" Now his voice was urgent. Michael let out a shuddering sigh as his eyes brimmed with tears again.

"Brian called me late last night. There was an accident. Mel, Linds, and Gus took Justin out for his birthday and on the way home there was an accident." He paused and wiped his eyes. "They died. Melanie and Lindsay died."

"Oh my god."

"My thoughts exactly. Brian called and I came. Gus is physically ok. He's sleeping on my lap right now. I guess Justin got really messed up. He just woke up and Brian is in there with him.

"They've never even met before have they?"

"No. But Justin saved Gus's life, so Brian feels really protective over him I guess. I can't believe they're gone." Michael let out another sob and Ben sighed. He knew he would have to be strong.

"Do you want me to come there?"

"Yes please."

"Allegheny?"

"Yes."

"I'll be right there."

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An elderly male doctor entered the hospital room. Brian kept his grasp on Justin's hand as they both looked up. The doctor smiled warmly at them before looking down at the chart in his hand.

"Hello Mr. Taylor. How are you feeling?"

"Ow," Justin replied. The doctor chuckled slightly. "No, I'm alright. I'm just in a lot of pain from my waist up."

"Well, with your injuries that's to be expected. But I think you should be able to have a shot for the pain now. I'll have a nurse come administer that for you."

"Thank you," Justin replied weakly, letting his head rest back on the pillow. "Can you just tell Brian here anything you need to tell me. I'm falling asleep and I can trust him to relay the information to me when I wake up."

"Sure thing, Mr. Taylor." Justin smiled at Brian before he let his eyelids slip closed. Brian stood up and released his hand. He smoothed the blond hair back away from his forehead before looking up at the doctor.

"Can I speak to you outside for a moment, Doctor?" The man nodded and he and Brian stepped outside of the room as Justin fell asleep. Once the door clicked shut, Brian looked at the doctor with a serious expression, the softness of his features were now chiseled.

"What can I do for you, Mr.?"

"Kinney. I just wanted to know the full extent of Justin's injuries." The doctor noticed the worried expression on the man's face and nodded. He looked down at the chart and read it carefully.

"Well it seems that Mr. Taylor received many serious lacerations to his abdomen and right shoulder. The muscles came severely close to being torn, but luckily they weren't that deep. His right arm will be really weak for a while, but it should heal 100%. He hit his head, but there was no major head injury. He will make a full recovery as long as he takes it easy for awhile."

"And how long will he have to be here?"

"He can actually be released in a few hours, granted he has someone to keep an eye on him. He needs to be released into someone's care. He needs to stay in bed for a few days. His stitches will be removed in two weeks, and he should be as good as new within the month. I assume he'll be released to you?" Brian nodded.

"Will he scar?"

"There will most likely be minimal scarring. Despite the way the wounds were received, they weren't all that jagged. I'm sure he'll heal just fine. Well, he should be able to be released sometime around noon."

"Thank you for your help, doctor." Brian shook the man's hand and then peeked through the window of Justin's room, making sure he was asleep. He watched his chest rise and fall gently for a few minutes before turning to walk back to the waiting room.

Brian entered the waiting room and was surprised to see Ben sitting next to Michael with one arm around him. He walked up to the pair and gave them a weak smile. Ben stood up and gave Brian a quick hug.

"How is he?" Michael asked.

"He'll be fine." Michael and Ben let out a sigh of relief.

"Where is he going to stay? Surely he can't stay at the house," Ben asked.

"Yeah, he's going to stay with me." Both men looked up at him like he had gone insane. Brian shrugged. "At least until he's fully healed and back on his feet. He'll help me with Gus, too."

"I suppose that's a good idea," Michael replied.

"Speaking of Gus, I need to go to Mel and Lindsay's and get his stuff. And Justin's." Brian patted his pockets, feeling his keys in the pocket of his jeans. "Fuck!"

"What is it?"

"My car is still at the scene. I rode here in the ambulance. Fuck, they've probably towed it by now. Ben, can you take me to see if it's still there?"

"Sure." Brian smiled gratefully at the larger man. Ben leaned over and gave Michael a loving kiss. "You'll be alright with him for awhile, right?"

"Of course," Michael replied as he shifted Gus in his lap.

"Thank you," Brian whispered. He hadn't used that phrase so much in years. Brian and Ben walked in silence to his car and Brian slipped into the passenger seat. He sunk back in it and closed his eyes.

"Where is it?" Ben asked as he started the engine. Brian's head snapped up and he looked confused, as if he had forgotten. He shook his head and sunk back into the seat.

"Bell Road. Do you know how to get there?" Ben nodded and pulled out of the parking lot. As Ben rounded the corner Brian sat up and felt his body tense up. He shut his eyes tight. "Is the car still there?"

Ben scanned the road until he spotted Brian's Jeep up ahead. "Yeah, the Jeep is here." Brian shook his head, obviously in fear. Ben's eyes widened. He had never seen Brian so afraid.

"No. The other car. Mel's car." Ben scanned the road again.

"No, it isn't here." It was only then that Brian opened his eyes. Ben parked behind the Jeep and walked Brian up to it. He opened the door and turned back to Ben.

"Thank you. Um, could you go back to the hospital and wait with Mikey and Gus for just a little bit. I have to go get him a car seat." Brian sighed and stared at a spot a little up the road, his face twisting up in pain. Ben put a comforting arm on his shoulder.

"Of course, Brian." He embraced the other man for a long time and Ben's heart broke a little as he felt Brian shaking against him. Brian pulled away. It felt awkward to cry on his best friend's partner's shoulder, and he didn't want to feel awkward right now. He gave Ben a weak smile and then shut the door to the Jeep.

The smooth rumbling of the engine smoothed him. He felt the gentle vibrations underneath his thighs, against his back. The steering wheel shook in his already shaky fingers and he rested his forehead against it, wanting to feel the vibrations against every inch of his skin. That's all he wanted to feel, that and nothing more.

Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

With a long, heavy sigh he pulled away from the car. At least it was still there, and he didn't have to deal with going to the impound lot to retrieve it. He traveled down the road at a steady pace on autopilot until he found himself in front of the store Lindsay had always dragged him to for things for Gus.

He parked the Jeep and walked inside, keeping his head down as he walked to the back. So many memories came flooding back as he walked down the aisles, being smothered with pastel pink and blue.

"He needs a crib Brian," Lindsay told him as she pulled him into the door.

"Just put him in a drawer. He'll be fine." He gave Lindsay a smirk and then he ran his hand over her huge belly. Lindsay smiled at the light in his eyes.

"Excited?" She asked.

"You have no idea."

Brian wiped a stray tear from his eyes and picked out the safest, sturdiest, most expensive car seat he could find. As he was carrying it to the front, he saw a tall blonde woman with a very large stomach reaching for something up on a high shelf. Brian set the car seat down and went over to help her. The woman thanked him, big brown eyes sparkling. Brian swallowed the lump in his throat as she walked away.

"Brian help me. I can't reach this."

"What the fuck are you trying to reach?" Brian asked, walking over to his waddling friend.

"That play mat up there." Lindsay pointed, her protruding stomach pushing the items on the shelf back. Brian laughed and pushed her aside, pulling down the item. He looked over at the basket she was carrying, full of bright, ugly baby clothes.

"They better have baby Armani," Brian lamented while shaking his head. "I can't believe you're going to dress our son in that shit."

"Our son will look absolutely adorable," Lindsay admonished.

"Yes, he will." He smiled softly and gave her a loving kiss on the lips. "Promise me you won't let Mel butch him up too badly."

"I promise," Lindsay laughed."

Brian couldn't stand to be in that store for one more second. He wiped his face as well as he could and rushed up to the counter. The young woman gave him a sympathetic smile and he gave her a glare. She quickly rang up his purchase and he got out of that store as quickly as possible.

Once he was back out to the car, he tore the box open and pulled the car seat out of it. He got it all settled in the back of the Jeep, angry tears staining his cheeks. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He wasn't supposed to raise Gus on his own. Lindsay wasn't supposed to die. He wasn't supposed to be alone.

He shoved the box into the backseat and got into the driver's seat, slamming the door after him. He felt a whole new wave of tears spill from his aching eyes. He beat on the steering wheel, crying for his friend in broad daylight. Brian Kinney, crying for the world to see.

"You weren't supposed to leave me Linds," he whispered into thin air.

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Gus shifted on Michael's lap and opened his sleepy eyes. He looked up, surprised to see Michael's face instead of his father's. He reached up and touched Michael's cheek. He jumped at the sudden touch. He looked down and mustered a smile.

"Hey little man," Michael whispered as he ruffled his hair.

"Where's my daddy?" Gus asked, sitting up straight. He craned his neck to look all around the room, tears welling up in his eyes when he realized Brian was nowhere in sight. "Uncle Mikey?"

"Your dad went to go get his car so he could take you out of here. Don't you want to leave?"

"No, because my mommies are somewheres, and I want to see them." Michael winced at the little boy's words. He couldn't do this. He couldn't tell Gus he'd never see them again. Ben noticed Michael's eyes spill over with tears and he reached his arms out to the small boy.

"Come here Gus," Ben said softly. Gus hesitantly climbed into the man's lap.

"Gus, you can't see them," Ben said weakly, tears shining in his eyes.

"Why not?"

"Because they're gone, sweetheart."

"No." Gus shook his little head, tears slipping down his cheeks. "I want my daddy!"

"I'm right here sonny boy," Brian said calmly as he entered the room. His actions betrayed his words because he was practically running towards the little boy. Once he reached him, Gus immediately launched himself into his father's arms. He buried his face into Brian's neck and the man felt himself start to lose it all over again.

"Are they really, really gone daddy?" Brian kissed his temple and nodded.

"I'm afraid so, sonny boy." Gus looked up at him with wide, confused eyes.

"But why?"

"I was wondering that myself."

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Justin stared out the window, studying the shapes of the clouds against a bright blue sky. His body felt numb, and so did his mind. A single tear slipped down his cheek.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Justin cried, wiping his cheeks. Lindsay and Melanie exchanged a look and nodded.

"You can stay here, Justin." He looked up at the blonde and smiled.

"Really?"

"As long as you like," Melanie added. "You can pay the rent in babysitting." Justin nodded happily and launched himself into their arms, hugging them tight.

Justin heard the door to his room creak open and he quickly wiped his eyes with his left hand and looked over at the door. He was pleased to see Brian's head pop in.

"I've got someone that wants to see you," Brian smiled.

"Is that so?" Justin asked. Gus's head poked in the door as well, a few feet below Brian's. Justin laughed at the floating heads, one so much like the other.

"Jus'n?" Gus asked softly. Justin sat up a little.

"Come here baby boy." As soon as the words left his mouth, Gus tore across the room and attempted to climb into the hospital bed. Justin tried to help, inwardly cursing his useless arms. Brian sensed his predicament and lifted Gus up onto the bed.

"Be careful. Justin hurts," Brian warned.

"I thought the doctor people fixed Jus'n?"

"They did, but he's still sore. Don't touch his tummy, or that shoulder, ok?" Brian asked, pointing to Justin's injured areas. Gus nodded and cuddled up under Justin's left arm. The blond kissed the little head as Gus retreated back inside himself, closing himself off to the world.

"How do you feel?" Brian asked as he took the seat next to Justin's bed.

"Sore, numb, woozy," Justin replied. Brian sighed and ran his fingers through Justin's hair, a temptation he found almost impossible to resist. "And I want a shower."

"I don't think you'll be getting a regular shower for awhile," Brian replied. Justin sighed.

"These stitches are so ugly. I'm going to scar up."

"Actually, I talked to the doctor and he doesn't seem to think to think they'll be that bad."

"Oh? That's good." He sighed. "I don't really give a shit about the scarring. I just don't want to deal with the problem at hand, you know?"

"Oh, I know. It fucking sucks. But we'll make it through. I know you don't know me very well, but I want you to know I'm here for you." The blond smiled at him and Brian returned it.

"Thank you. Did the doc happen to say when I could get out of here?" Brian's smiled again.

"Actually, I just have to go to Mel and Linds's and get some stuff, and I can come back to get you around noon."

"That's great. I really, really hate hospitals." His eyes grew sadder then, and he shook his head, as if clearing away a bad memory. "Who have you told?"

"I called Michael, and he called Ben. They were both here but I sent them home. Michael said he's going to tell Debbie, Vic, Emmett, and Ted. That leaves me to call both sets of parents." Brian sighed, obviously dreading the task. Justin reached out and took his hand. Brian squeezed it, trying to draw strength.

"It's going to be a busy day," he muttered, leaning down to rest his forehead against the back of the younger man's hand. Justin smiled sadly and cupped Brian's cheek, rubbing his cheekbone with the pad of his thumb.

It was the most relaxed Brian had felt all morning.

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