Finally

Chapter 4

Daphne pulled the duvet over her sleeping friend, stood up and sighed.  She would never in a million years understand the fucked-up-ness that was Brian and Justin’s relationship. 

Justin was freaking out because his lover was going to survive a near fatal accident, wanted Justin to stay with him and help him recover, and the worst part of all?  Was being nice to him!  Christ, she would kill to have that problem.  Give her fucking boyfriend that type of brain damage any time.

But to Justin it was the end of the fucking world.  Idiot.  Yeah, she knew Brian’s supposed personality change, and she was waiting to see for herself on that one, fucked with their vibe, but the hell with their stupid image.  The dumb asses should seriously be getting ready to celebrate their one year anniversary by now, and living in that huge ass mansion Brian bought for Justin.

She had picked up her distraught friend at the hospital and brought him back to the loft where they had ordered food and engaged in one of their time honored traditions of the best friend in trouble pig out.  They had eventually ended up in a laughing heap on Brian’s bed, but Justin’s all-nighter in a plastic chair and jet lag quickly caught up with him and he had soon drifted off into a sound sleep.

She gathered up her things, wrote Justin a note and let herself out.

**********************************************

“Hey, Mikey.”  Brian smiled at his best friend.

“Hey.  I hear they’re talking about moving you to a regular room tomorrow.  That’s great.”

“That’s the rumor.”

“Where’s Justin?”  Michael looked around.  “Tell me you didn’t fucking send him away again.  Brian, you are so fucking…”

Brian held up his good hand.  “Calm the fuck down, Mikey.  Jesus!  He stayed here all fucking night, and I told him this morning to go get some sleep.  He was gone when I woke up so hopefully that’s where he is now.  He looked like shit.”

“Well, he got on the first flight out of Italy and he refused to sleep until he saw you.  He really fucking loves you, Brian.  I hope you’re not planning on pushing him away again.”

“I’m not, Mikey.  I can’t.  I want him with me.  I’m not letting him go again.”

Michael leaned down to peer into his friend's eyes.  “Brian?” he asked, real concern tinged his voice.

Brian reached up and pushed his friend away.  “What?  I love him?  What the fuck is the big deal?”  Brian winced and pushed his morphine button again.  “Fuck I’m going to miss this thing.”

Michael was still staring at his friend.

“What?” Brian asked exasperated.

“I’ve never once heard you admit out loud that you love Justin.  Not once in the last six, fuck, almost seven years, that you‘ve know him.”

“Well, I do.  And we all know I always tell the truth.  Now shut the fuck up about it and tell me what I’ve been missing while I’ve been fucking out of it.”

Michael shook off his concern over his best friend‘s odd behavior, and soon was engrossed in telling Brian all the latest gossip from Liberty Avenue.  It wasn’t long before Brian drifted off to sleep again.

**********************************************

Michael met Justin and Ben out in the corridor just as he was leaving Brian's room.  "Hey, good timing, dear," he teased Ben as he kissed his husband in greeting.  He turned to Justin.  "So, time to change the guard, huh?  Did you get some rest?"

Justin smiled at his friend.  "Yeah, I did, Michael.  Thanks.  How's he doing?"

"He's getting better every minute.”  Michael frowned a little.  "Mostly.  They're moving him to a regular room tomorrow.  All the nurses are amazed at how fast he's recovering.  I told them he has a hard head."

Ben and Michael shared a small chuckle, but Justin simply nodded distractedly.  "Yeah, great."

Michael stepped closer to his friend.  "Hey, Jus, what's wrong?  I thought you'd be ecstatic that he's doing so well."

Justin looked at Michael.  "Have you noticed...?"

"Oh my God, yes!"  Michael burst out before Justin could even finish his sentence.

"What?"  Ben looked puzzled.  "He's seemed fine to me."

"He told me he loves Justin," Michael told Ben.  "Just blurted it out."

"Fuck, he did?"  Justin's head dropped to his hands.  "Yesterday he told me he needs me."

"Shit,” Michael replied.

"Um, guys?"  Ben was obviously confused.  "I'm failing to see this as an awful thing."

"Ben, have you met Brian?" Michael scoffed as if his lover was insane.  "This isn't him talking.  He's obviously got some sort of brain damage.  Justin, I think you should talk with the doctor about it."

Justin nodded in agreement.  "I'm sure he's gone for the day today, but I'll try to catch him tomorrow."  His voice broke a little.

Michael pulled his young friend into a hug.  "Don't worry Justin.  I'm sure it will be all right.  Remember how you had trouble controlling your temper when you first got out of the hospital after the bashing?  I'm sure it's just something like that and it will pass."  Justin nodded into Michael's shoulder.

Ben rolled his eyes and secretly thought the two were overreacting, but then again, look who he was talking about.  When it came to Brian these two were the biggest drama queens on the planet.  He gently pried Michael away from Justin and led his husband into the elevators so they could go home.

**********************************************

Three days later Justin had fallen into a routine of staying with Brian until visiting hours were over and then going back to the loft to sleep, eat, shower and then return to the hospital the next morning.   He was later than usual this morning, having spent a few hours buying himself a car, since Brian no longer had one he could drive.  He was sick of calling cabs and relying on friends.  He clasped the folder that had a picture of his new hybrid SUV, which would be perfect for hauling his paintings and supplies around, so he could show Brian.

As he approached Brian's room he heard his lover yelling.  "These are for shit, Ted!!  Do they think that they can get away with shoddy work just because I'm not there?  I hope to fuck you and Cynthia didn't approve this crap."

Justin heard a murmur of another voice, whom he assumed was Ted, but he couldn't understand what he was saying.  Justin knocked on the door and opened it slowly.  "Hey, can I come in?"

Ted and Brian both looked up.  "Hey, Justin how are you?" Ted asked.

"I'm good,” Justin replied.  He looked at the art boards on Brian's lap.  "What's up?"

"Brian insisted that I bring over the boards for this new account we're working on."  Ted was a little sheepish figuring Justin probably wouldn't approve of Brian working so soon after his injury, but Justin just smiled at him, knowing how Brian was when he wanted something.

"Thank fucking God you did bring them."  Brian gestured to Justin.  "Look at these!  They absolutely suck ass!" 

Justin stepped closer and looked.  "They could use some work."

"Some work?  Try shredding them!  That's what they need!" Brian ranted.

Justin smiled to himself, excited to hear Brian sounding like his old self."

"Well, as I was trying to tell the boss here,” Ted interjected.  "These are just the preliminary boards that were done from the last notes you left before your accident.  I just wanted to get more notes from you so they can be re-worked.  Just for the record Cyn and I know that they suck, Brian, but this account is your baby, so I figured you'd want to be the one to do this."

"Well, all right then!  Why the fuck didn’t you just say so?"  Brian picked up his pen again and began scribbling notes all over the board, mumbling about incompetent artists the whole time.

Justin and Ted shared some small talk while Brian worked; both of them trying not to laugh at Brian's barely contained ranting. 

When Brian was done he shoved it all toward Ted, who started packing them into a portfolio, and looked up at Justin.  "Hi," he smiled.

Justin snorted.  "Hi."  He leaned down and kissed Brian on the lips.

"Sorry I didn't greet you properly when you came in.”  Brian waved an arm toward Ted.  "I just have to keep cracking the whip so they don't get soft at the office."

Justin's heart sank a little.  Did Brian seriously just throw off a flippant apology?  So much for the old Brian being back.  "No problem," he smiled weakly.  "Kinnetik comes first."

"No, it really doesn't," Brian commented quietly.  "Or it shouldn't anyway."

Justin speechlessly stared at him and even Ted looked up at that one, studying his boss curiously a moment before gathering all of his things.  "Well, I better get back to the office."

"You think?" Brian asked acerbically.

"Bye, Justin, Boss." 

"Good-bye, Theodore,” Brian called out as Ted left the room.

"What's that?"  Brian ignored Justin's silence and grabbed the auto brochure out of his hand.

Justin took a deep breath and made himself smile.  "This is my new car.  That's why I'm so late this morning."

Brian peered at the picture. "Which color?"

"This one,” Justin pointed to the celery green panel.  "With the sun roof and navigation system."

"Very nice, Sunshine.  I'm impressed."  He flashed his open smile that made Justin's stomach flutter with excitement and tighten with fear at the same time.  "It will be great to use when Gus comes to visit.  Lots of room for kid stuff.  Saves me from having to buy something practical when I get out of here."

"Gus?"  Justin seemed confused.  Brian was acting like he knew Justin was home to stay.  And that he was absolutely okay with that fact.  What the fuck?

"Gus,” Brian replied.  "You do remember my son, right?  I mean we don't have to use your car.  I can always get something..."

"No, no, it's great,” Justin broke in.  God, please don't let this be some sort of cruel joke fate was playing on him.  "Of course we can haul Gus around in my car."  He leaned down and spoke softly in Brian's ear.  "That way you can get something sexy to drive for you."  He flicked his tongue out, teasing Brian's lobe.

Brian took Justin's face in his good hand and pulled him in for a sordid kiss.  "Watch it, Sunshine," he breathed out when he pulled away.  "Let's not start anything we can't finish here."

"God,” Justin breathed out as he rested his forehead against Brian's.  "I missed you so much," he let slip out without thinking.  He sucked in a breath and pulled away from Brian, standing up.

"Hey, I missed you too,” Brian replied.  "And I'm so glad you're finally home for good, and that we're finally ready to start our life together at Britin."

"What the fuck?"  Justin exclaimed loudly.  "You fucking still have the house?"

"Well I couldn't sell it without you.  It's in your name too."

"Huh?  My na...what?"  Justin was floored.

Before Brian could answer he was doubled over by a shooting pain that sliced through his head.  "Fuck!" he gasped out and promptly threw up all over himself and Justin.

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