A Day in the Life

Resolution

Later that night, Brian and Justin were lying in bed next to each other. They were both awake but they were not talking. Enough had been said earlier. Brian was behind Justin with both arms around the kid and Justin had clasped both of Brian's hands is his. Justin was trying to go to sleep. It had been a very difficult day for him - the exhilaration of having his father accept him coupled with the thought that he might soon lose his newly found dad. Brian had been the greatest help for him all day, and it was Brian's arms around him that convinced him he could get through whatever was to come. He was thinking of his dad but he was also thinking of Brian and how much of a difference that great guy had made in his life. Brian, on the other hand, was trying to stay awake. He did not want to be asleep if Justin should need him. He was wondering about the future too. He wanted to do the best he could for that lovable kid next to him, who for some wonderful and unknown reason seemed to need him. Brian thought his job would be harder if Craig were to survive, but he was determined to forge some kind of acceptable relationship with Justin's father because that was what Justin wanted - and what Justin wanted was very important to Brian. He wanted what Justin wanted. In the middle of some complicated thinking, Brian noticed Justin's breathing get deeper. He was convinced that Justin had fallen asleep. Shortly thereafter, Brian was asleep too.

They had no idea what time it was when they were both startled into consciousness by the ringing of the phone. It was still dark outside. Brian could feel Justin's body trembling next to him. "I'll get that, unless you want to," he told Justin.

"No, you do it, please," Justin asked him. So it was Brian who heard Jennifer's voice on the other end of the line.

"The hospital just called," she told him, "Craig's vital signs are failing. They don't think there is anything they can do. He's awake off and on. I'm heading over there now."

"I'll bring Justin over as soon as we can get there," Brian assured her. Justin didn't say anything when Brian turned to him but tears were running down his face. Brian moved over to the bed and embraced him. "We have to go to the hospital, Babe, Your dad's worse," Brian told him.

"This is it, isn't it?" Justin said.

"Probably," Brian answered, "It looks like it."

"Help me, Brian," Justin pleaded.

"I will," Brian told him.

Dawn was just breaking as they reached Mercy Hospital and headed toward the Intensive Care Unit. Jennifer arrived there simultaneously. Molly was not with her. "Molly is sick," Jennifer explained, "Her friend, Melissa, stayed with us last night and she is going to stay with Molly till I get back."

The head nurse greeted them at the entrance of the ICU. "Mr. Taylor is sinking. He does not want us to use life support systems if there is no chance of a real recovery and we don't think there is. He knows he is dying. He was awake a few minutes ago when I was back there. You can all go back if you wish," she told them.

"You two go back," Brian said to Jennifer and Justin, "I'll be here if you need me."

Craig was not awake when they got to his bedside. He looked better to them than he had on the previous day but they knew not to take any hope from that. It was less than a minute though till he opened his eyes and recognized them. "Jen, Justin," He said in a weak voice, "Thanks for coming. I'm glad to get to see you one more time."

"Dad," Justin told him, "You're going to pull through this. You'll see."

"Not this time," Craig responded, "I'm letting you down again. I'm not going to be able to make that Steeler playoff game with you. Dave from the office will see that you get my tickets. That's already arranged. I want you and Brian to go."

"No," Justin insisted, "We're all going." Craig ignored him.

"Where is Brian?" Craig asked, "From what I hear about him, he'd never let you come here - go through all this - yourself."

"He's in the waiting room, Dad," Justin answered.

"Bring him in," Craig continued, "I guess he's part of the family too."

Justin was crying when he got to the waiting room. Brian put his arm around him. "It's OK, Sunshine," Brian told him.

"It's not OK," Justin responded, "I need to be strong for my dad - and my mom. You wouldn't be crying."

"It's OK, Sunshine. It's OK to cry," Brian repeated and then he added, "You're right though: I didn't cry when my dad was dying. Maybe I wish I could have."

"My dad wants to see you, Brian," Justin told him, "He wants you to come in now. He said you are one of the family."

The invitation made Brian a little nervous. "What will I say to him?" he asked Justin.

"You'll know what to say," Justin answered, "You always know what to say." Brian took Justin's hand as they headed to Cubicle #6. He didn't think it was a good idea to go in to see Craig hand in hand with Justin so he tried to release his hand but Justin would not let go.

"Hi, Mr. Taylor," Brian said as he got to the bedside.

"Would you call me Craig, Brian? We don't have a lot of time to get on a first name basis," Craig said to Brian, "I want to thank you for taking such good care of Justin when I wouldn't. I don't know what got into me. If you hadn't taken over my responsibility to protect him, something really awful could have happened. I let him down when he needed me most. And I have to apologize to you too for the things I did to you. I don't know what came over me. I think I'm a better man than I showed then."

"Don't we all make mistakes, Craig? I know I do," Brian responded, "Justin has told me about a lot of the things you did together. You were always there for him, so I know you were a really good father to him. He could not have grown into the tough, brave young man he is without you. You and Jen had to be great parents to have such a great kid. He really loves you both."

"But I made such a big mistake about you and Justin," Craig said.

"You were certainly wrong about Justin, but I don't guess you were wrong about me," Brian replied, "I was just using Justin at the beginning. I wouldn't have called it that then but that's what it was. It is not that now. I love him, Craig. I always will. I've told him that and now I'm telling you. You've made Justin very happy by accepting him, and me. Anything that makes Justin happy makes me happy, and I'm glad we can be friends."

"I'm going to let him down again, Brian," Craig said, "I don't think I'll be here to help him next time he needs me. You filled in for me before, will you do it again?"

"I'll always be there if he needs me. You can be sure of that. But you'll always be there too. You've taught him well and he's a good learner. He'll make his own decisions and they'll be based on what he's learned from you, so you'll always be there." Jennifer reached over and grasped Brian's hand, the one Justin was not squeezing numb.

Craig turned to Justin and told him: "You have a prize here Justin. I'm so proud of you. Now don't foul things up. You'll never find another Brian."

"I'm never going to look, Dad. I'll never have to. And we'll take care of mom and Molly too."

"I thank you all," Craig replied. "I wish …." Craig's eyes closed. The attending physician arrived at that point to check on Craig but it was too late. Craig was gone.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Taylor," He said to Jennifer. Turning to Justin, he said, "I'm sorry you've lost your father, Mr. Taylor. Please feel free to stay here for a few minutes if you wish."

When the doctor had left to make whatever arrangements were required, Justin kissed his mother and then threw his arms around Brian's neck. "Thank you for everything," he said, "The doctor is wrong. I haven't lost my father. A few days ago I had lost my father. Now I will have him always."

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