Listen to Your Heart

Part 13

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Justin sat in the ER waiting room trying to process everything that had happened in the last few hours. Brian had been taken to X-ray to check the extent of his injuries, Justin had filled out all the proper hospital forms then spoke with the police, giving them his statement and the evidence he had tossed into the back of the Lexus. Now that there was nothing left to do but wait he was feeling scared, exhausted and very much alone.

He jumped slightly as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see one of the nurses with a kind smile on her face and a clipboard in her hand which she handed to him to read; <is there anyone I can call for you Mr. Taylor?>

Justin nodded and wrote Jennifer’s name and number down for the nurse; “that’s my mom.” He said, “can you please make sure to tell her that I’m OK though. She’ll be freaked out enough when she hears about Brian.”

The nurse nodded and squeezed his shoulder gently in reply.

“Thanks,” Justin said quietly.

The nurse smiled again and left to make the call. Justin slumped in his chair wishing with everything he had that he could talk with his mom right now just so he could hear her soothing voice.

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Jennifer stepped into the Liberty Diner and scanned the patrons. She sighed in relief to see that true to form the gang was all there for breakfast, including Debbie behind the counter and her boyfriend Carl the police detective. This was going to save her a lot of time and phone calls.

The only people missing were Lindsay and Gus and Jennifer thought that considering the news she was about to deliver it was probably best that Lindsay be kept in the dark right now. At least until more could be found out about Brian’s condition.

“Jennifer!” Emmett called out with his usual exuberance, “what a surprise. Come sit with us!”

Jennifer approached the table gratefully taking the seat next to Emmett that Ted vacated for her, “hi guys“.

Debbie came to the table, “hey Jen, what brings you here this morning? Can I get you some coffee?” Debbie paused a moment as she noticed the tense set of Jennifer’s posture and the look on her face; “oh shit, what’s wrong?” Debbie pulled Michael out of his seat across from Jennifer and slid in next to Ben.

“Ma!” Michael protested.

“Shut up,” Debbie admonished her son never taking her eyes from Jennifer’s face; “Jen what happened?” She asked gently as she leaned across the table taking her friend‘s hands.

Jennifer looked down at their hands, then back up to the expectant faces of her son’s surrogate family; “I got a call from a hospital in Missouri early this morning,” she took a deep breath as she went on; “Brian and Justin were attacked last night.”

Gasps of horror were followed by questions being thrown at Jennifer from everyone all at the same time.

“What happened?”

“Are they all right?”

“Who attacked them?”

Finally Ben took pity on Justin’s mother as he raised his voice, “everyone calm down. Let’s let Jennifer tell us what she knows OK?”

Jennifer smiled at Ben in gratitude then spoke again; “well from what the nurse told me Brian and Justin driving to their hotel after spending the evening at a bar and were run off the road by three men. They held a gun on Justin;” Jennifer pulled her hands away from Debbie in search of something to staunch the tears that had started to fall. Emmet handed her a tissue and she continued as she dabbed at her eyes; “one of them held a gun on Justin while the other two beat up Brian. I guess somehow Justin was able to get the gun away from them and get he and Brian out of there and that’s all I know.”

“What about Brian? How is Brian?” Michael’s voice held a slightly hysterical edge.

“The nurse told me he was in X-ray when she called and they were assessing the damage. I’m sorry I don’t know more.” She turned back to Debbie; “Justin couldn’t talk with me on the phone so I don’t know how he is. He must be scared to death.”

“I know honey,” Debbie reached out and patted her hands again, “well, we’ll just get you on the first flight out of here so you can go to him. What city are they in?”

Jennifer shifted in her seat looking even more miserable than they thought possible, “that’s the other thing,” she sniffed, “I can’t go. Right before I got the call from the hospital I got another call. My mother fell and broke her hip and I need to be with her. My brother and sister can’t come so she just has me. Molly‘s still with her father so I don‘t have to worry about her, but I can‘t go to Justin right now.”

Jennifer began to cry in earnest and Debbie moved from her seat and pulled the woman into a hug; “it‘s going to be OK honey,” she consoled, “we‘ll make sure Justin and Brian are taken care of.”

“I know,” Jennifer replied mournfully; “it’s just that he’s my baby and I want to be there for him.”

“He knows you do sweetheart, but he’ll understand that you need to be there for his grandma.”

“I’ll go,” said Michael earnestly, “I have someone I trust to run the shop now so I can take the time.”

Jennifer smiled at him gratefully, “thank you Michael, I know Justin will be glad to see a friendly face.”

Ben scooted out of the booth wrapping his arms around Michael’s shoulders; “I’ll come with you.”

Michael turned to smile up at his husband, “are you sure?”

“I’m not teaching any summer classes so why not? It sounds like an extra hand may come in handy.”

“What do we do with Hunter?” Michael asked, referring to their foster son.

“He can stay with Carl, Emmett and I,” replied Debbie; “it’s about time I did some bonding with my new grandson.”

“Thanks Ma,” Michael replied, kissing Debbie on the cheek.

Carl stood from his place at the counter and approached Jennifer, “ma’am, I’d be happy to contact the police department where the boys were attacked to see if I can get any more information.”

“Oh thank you Carl. I would really appreciate that.”

“Well we better go home and get packed,” Ben nudged Michael.

Jennifer dug in her purse and pulled out one of her cards; “here is my cell phone number,” she took a pen and wrote another number on the back, “and here is the name of the town they are in and the hospital they’re at. I think it is fairly close to St. Louis. I also wrote the number at my mother’s house. Please call me as soon as you see them.”

Michael took the card; “we will, I promise.”

Jennifer hugged him and then Ben; “take good care of my son and son-in-law,” she looked at her watch, “oh, I have to go. Thanks again!” She rushed from the diner.

Michael stared after her; “son-in-law?”

Debbie smiled at him and placed one finger under his chin, using it to gently push his mouth closed; “well, I guess miracles do happen don‘t they?”

“Huh,” was all Michael could think of to say.

Ben smiled affectionately; “come on, let’s go.”

Ted copied the hospital information from Michael so he could let Cynthia and the rest of the Kinnetic crew in on the news and Emmett went back to the house offering to ready Michael’s old bedroom for Hunter.

Carl pulled Debbie into his arms; “Brian is a tough cookie sweetheart. I’m sure he’s going to be fine.”

“I’m sure he will be,” she agreed, “I just worry about my boys.”

“It’s one of the things I love most about you,” Carl replied, kissing Debbie soundly on the lips. “I’m going to get to work and see what I can find out. I’ll call you.”

Debbie stood and watched him leave lost in her own thoughts. “Order’s up Deb!” The cooked called.

“I’m coming! Keep your fucking shirt on!” She yelled as she moved to grab the order and make sure the rest of her ‘boys’ got fed.

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