Justin Comes Home

Chapter 9

POV Justin

I wake up in a hospital bed but Brian's nowhere to be seen- in fact, this isn't even his room. I panic and try to get up- and suddenly wince from the dizzying pain in my head. "Brian!" I cry out. "Brian!" I try to stand, ripping the IV tube from my arm.

A nurse rushes in and calls for assistance as I struggle against her efforts to still me, to keep me from standing-"No! Where's Brian?" I don't know why the fuck I'm in my own room but it's obvious something's terribly wrong. There's blood coursing down my arm from where I yanked out the IV to get away. I have to get to Brian. I need him SAFE. "BRIAN!"

"Mr. Taylor! Mr. Taylor! Calm down! Let me tell you what's happened!" A male voice says from the door. I look up and Dr. Flanders is there.

I try to calm and I lay back, knowing I won't get answers otherwise. But I'm crying so hard. I raise my hand to my head which is throbbing for some reason. I vaguely notice the nurse taking my bleeding arm and tending the wound. "What's going on? Where the FUCK is Brian? Why am I here?" I sob, my breaths coming in deep panicked heaves- because I know it's bad. Something's very wrong. But Ethan's in a coma- at least it's not because of that maniac.

"Mr. Taylor… Justin…" Dr. Flanders ventures, coming to sit by me on the bed, "take a few deep breaths and slow down, okay? I don't want you to hyperventilate."

I'm bawling now.

"And I'll tell you what's happened." He says calmly.

I try to do as he says- again, so I hopefully can learn what's going on. I look up at him beside me. "What is it? What has happened to Brian? I know something has!" And I do- I know something happened to him. The doctor keeps saying 'happened'. In the back of my mind, I hope it's something that happened to me and not Brian. Like, did I faint maybe? But in my gut, in my heart- I know something's happened to the love of my life. And somehow, it's my fault.

"Justin," the doctor pauses, putting a hand on my shoulder to focus me and calm me down. He's also obviously trying to think of how to put whatever it is he has to say. "Ethan woke up three days ago and somehow managed to get past the guards at his hospital room door."

I raise my hand to my mouth in horror, despite the nurses attempt to keep that arm in her grip while she tends the IV wound. "Oh… oh God… No…" I feel like I'm going to throw up and the doctor seems to sense that- he quickly hands me a small container and I immediately vomit into it.

Dr. Flanders keeps his hand on my shoulder to steady me.

"Go on." I manage to whisper after I'm done retching for the moment. "Tell me everything- don't sugarcoat shit."

"Justin, Ethan apparently came up from behind and knocked you out while you were with Mr. Kinney -"

"Brian. It's Brian. Oh God, oh God, oh God." I rasp.

"Your attention was diverted by looking after Brian. From what I understand, even in his drugged state, Brian tried to help you, given the blood that was left on his sheets. I suspect he noticed Ethan was behind you too late, having just woken up and being sedated by all his meds."

I feel all the blood drain from my face and I fight to keep from passing out. Blood on the sheets - where is Brian?

"Do you want me to go on, or take a break?" Dr. Flanders asks gently.

"Go. On." At least he's not sugarcoating it, but I know I'm going to be sick again.

"Okay. As I said, Gold knocked you out with a bed pan."

I snort an utterly humorless ironic laugh at that. A bed pan. I find I'm full on crying and hadn't even realized it, determined to but not sure I want to hear the rest of this story. "What happened to Brian?" I whisper.

The doctor looks at me sympathetically. The nurse, finished with her task of mending my arm, leaves quickly and quietly.

"Please! Go on, Doctor!" I insist.

"Justin, Ethan Gold then injected Brian with Pentobarbital, a strong sedative. We know this because our inventory was short of several vials of the drug. Pentobarbital is a fast acting sedative and I imagine Brian in his state had no time to react effectively."

I choke. "Fuck. Fuck!" My first thought is about Brian's safety. "Is it safe for Brian to have that in his system in his condition?" I sputter.

"Justin, let me finish, okay? And Yes, I doubt Brian suffered Ischemia or other problems that would be complicated by the sedative. Given the other meds he was on, there are some possibilities for contraindications but only under certain circumstances of Brian's health. However, there's a problem in that Ethan doesn't know proper dosage, so there is a concern about overdose. I'm sorry, Justin- you didn't want any beating around the bush. Are you alright?"

He looks at me to gauge my reaction to all he's told me. All I'm doing is crying in desperation, frustration and anger. I manage to nod.

He continues. "Gold then apparently wheeled Brian out of the hospital and took a cab to Brian's… loft, is it?"

I gasp. Why would Ethan go there? "No one fucking saw him leave? What the fuck! Didn't the security know Ethan had escaped his room for shit's sake?"

"The guards are being reprimanded and suspended. One had gone to the restroom and while gone, the other must have fallen asleep."

I can't believe my ears. "Fuck reprimanded! They should be shot in front of a firing squad!" I seethe.

He ignores me. "Ethan apparently put on scrubs he must have found when he got the drugs. He didn't raise suspicions I'm afraid, as he exited the hospital." Dr. Flanders pauses. "The guards didn't look in Ethan's room, apparently, after he'd left- until after it was too late."

Fuck! After all this, I'm fucking suing this place! Then the rest of what the doctor had said seeps in past my rage. "You said Ethan had the cab take them to the *loft*? Wh- why? Ethan has no key… there's no reason to go there…" I'm fucking scared. Frightened for Brian. I grab that container and throw up again. Fuck!

"We believe it was a mark of spite- it appears Brian's Jeep was taken. Of course when the police got to the loft once they traced the cab's destination, neither were there- but they did check the vehicles in the garage by the loft against Brian's registration - and his Jeep wasn't there. Since Brian was brought here in an ambulance and you accompanied him, obviously someone else had taken it. Gold must have hotwired it.

"Brian would still have been knocked out by the sedative, so there were no signs of struggle- even without the sedative, Brian was and is in no shape to defend himself. The police are combing the city for the Jeep, but they suspect it's been sold by now to a chop shop." Dr. Flanders keeps a steady eye on me, knowing I still want to know the whole story even though the contents of my stomach are gone and now bile is retching out of me- and rage and absolute fear strum through every cell in my body. The doctor waits patiently to continue until I finish throwing up.

I gasp and try hard to keep my brain focused. "When did this happen? How long have I been here?" I manage, gesturing to the bed, putting the disgusting vomit container on the nightstand once again.

"It happened three days ago, in the afternoon. Due to your previous head injury, you were unconscious for longer than would be expected."

THREE DAYS? Fuck! I curse Hobbs and take the disgusting container from the nightstand and begin retching again. FUCK! He hands me a clean container when my heaving subsides. Dr. Flanders pauses patiently. "Justin, listen: this is very important: do you know where Ethan might have taken Brian after they left the loft?"

I think, wracking my muddled, frightened brain, desperate to save Brian. "Ethan's."

The doctor sighs. "Of course we thought of that. But there is no listing for an Ethan Gold in any of the databases."

"That's because he's subletting his former lover's place… his *dump*… on Pit Street."

A flicker of excitement comes across the doctor's face. In the back of my mind, I appreciate that at least it seems the doctor really cares about finding Brian and getting him safe. "Justin, how are you feeling?"

Huh? "Besides my headache and this feeling of dread and pain in my gut? Fine, just fine." I say sarcastically, still crying.

Dr. Flanders ignores my sarcasm. "Well, the police seem to think that Ethan's trying to lure you to him-"

"Where the fuck *are* the police anyway?" I demand. I mean, why am I talking to the doctor?

"Um. Justin, I'm both a doctor and a detective. That's something I'd like to keep just between us if you don't mind. I'm undercover." He pauses, looking at me.

I'm gawking. "No shit." I say stupidly.

"Justin," the doctor says in a serious tone, "we think that Gold's motive for kidnapping Brian is to lure you back to him either to get you back… or to get revenge- we're hoping the former scenario is his motive." He eyes me. "Ethan was your lover once, right?"

I gag. "No way! He was- is- a maniacal mistake personified. Brian's been my lover from day one."

Dr. Flanders barely suppresses an eye roll at my picking at semantics.

"But yeah, I can see that Ethan might do something drastic to get my attention- he's obsessed, insane and an abusive, deranged monster. One of his favorite manipulative tools of torture and control is to threaten me that he's going to kill Brian in a gruesome way as I watch. Then he'd kill me. He's sick- and I'm terrified of what he's done, what he's doing to Brian." I say, my voice shaking with fear and anger. I *hate* that fucker.

"Well, Justin, given Ethan's obsession with you, let me tell you what we think might help to get Brian back to safety."

I listen intently. "Anything. ANYthing." I aver, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

"Assuming the two are indeed at Ethan's, we think if you go to there -with police backup of course- and act friendly with him- you know, like he's got hope for you two being a couple again-

"You want me to SLEEP with Ethan?" I shudder at the thought. But actually, I'd do anything to get Brian home, safe and alive. Fuck.

"No! Of course not! Just act like his threats and efforts to frighten you back to him have worked- hopefully he'll be amenable to what you tell him. Do *not* sleep with him. Once you're in his good graces, in his apartment- where Brian hopefully is- you can then get Ethan to go out for coffee or something. When you two leave, the police will go in and get Brian out of Ethan's apartment safely; and Ethan will be arrested and you'll be fine. You both will.

"It's not ideal, but it's a plan- the only scenario we see as the best for getting Brian out alive. The other scenario of how this plan will play out is much more risky; that is of course that Ethan will not buy it, and all he wants is sheer revenge. You have to be aware of that danger. The police will still be there of course."

"Whatever will get Brian safe!" I exclaim. Although inwardly, I'm sure it's the latter, more dangerous scenario- but I don't say anything - I'm positive Ethan wants to hurt me and Brian. I also shudder to think what Ethan's done to Brian. "Let's go NOW!" I insist, desperate to get Brian out of that terrifying place and home NOW, no matter the cost to my safety.

"The operating officers will be here shortly. They'll escort you and give you further instructions. Again, you'll have backup the entire time. They may have you wear a wire, I don't know."

"Doctor- Detective, whatever- please have paramedics there as well. Ethan's a sick fuck and I'm sure he's hurt Brian. And Ethan uses handcuffs in his sick little games- have them bring good metal cutters." I shudder as I think again what Brian's gone through the last three days. My only hope is that he's still alive, since Ethan wanted me to see him killed. But even if Bri *is* still alive, I shudder as I think of whether he'll live through whatever torture Ethan's inflicted on him in his condition. Even though Brian's the strongest man I know, I'm frightened out of my mind.

"Of course. That was part of the plan, as well- I'll be sure there's plenty of medical personnel on hand in case they're needed- everyone involved in this operation will be in unmarked vehicles, including the medical personal carrying emergency equipment. I will tell the chief of police to be sure to bring wire cutters- we didn't anticipate that."

I quickly put on my sweats and a tee shirt and sneakers so I'm ready when the police arrive. The nurse didn't put the IV back, thankfully. I rip off the bandage on my head, not wanting to upset Ethan by it.

"Easy, Justin…" Dr. Flanders admonishes. I ignore him.

At that moment, I see two officers approach, their images blurry through my tears. They look at me sympathetically, which I disregard- I just want to get to Brian as quickly as possible. "Please, let's go- I'll give you directions where I think Ethan has Brian!" I jump up out of bed, forcing myself to ignore my sudden dizziness and I start to run towards the front of the hospital; as I run down the hall, I vaguely hear the doctor talking to the cops about wire cutters and I hear the running footsteps of the two policemen following me. We exit the doors and I look at them desperately, not seeing a car.

"This way, Mr. Taylor. We're taking two unmarked cars. I'm Officer Pound by the way." They direct me to the first and I get in the back; two policemen are already in there and we speed off, the other car to follow with the cops who were in the hospital just now. The officers introduce themselves on the way as Officer Baylor and Officer Pendy. I barely listen, so driven to get there.

I give them directions and they keep the dash police light on until about a block from the crummy building, turning it off in case Ethan sees the light and gets suspicious.

As soon as we park I jump out of the car and start to run for the front door but one of the cops jumps out and holds me back. "Hold on there, Mr. Taylor. You have to be very careful, and we need to have men stationed right at the front door to his apartment to break in at the first sign of trouble. As you can see, Officer Pendy and I are in plain clothes in case you and Mr. Gold leave on good terms and we will follow you down. Plains clothed paramedics will then enter the apartment and rescue your partner. I understand you said there are a lot of stairs- the paramedics will have to have a gurney they can get to immediately. Any idea where they can put it that's discreet?"

"There's a corner where the stairway turns left just above Ethan's landing." I say impatiently, desperate to get to Brian.

"Good we are going up first- both the paramedics and the police."

"Do you have the wirecutters?" I ask, somewhat amazed I have any presence of mind at the moment.

"We do. And sensitive listening devices so you don't have to wear a wire- depending on Mr. Gold's state of mind, he may be in a highly paranoid state and if he were to search you for a wire, it would be a dead giveaway it's a setup.

"You stay here until Officer Benson lets you know we're situated- we'll be radioing him to let him know. He is in the passenger side of the car that followed us."

I look over and he waves indicating who he is.

I stamp my foot impatiently. "Please- please hurry. Ethan's a cruel, terrible man and we have to get to Brian as soon as possible- now! He's been in that torture chamber three days!" I beg.

He nods. "I know this is hard, but remain as calm as you can. We don't want him to be suspicious of your intentions."

Lord. Be calm? "Anything for Brian." I take deep breaths.

Then Officer Baylor and Pendy enter the building, followed by two men in jeans and tee-shirts carrying a gurney.

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