Blended
Chapter 5
Author's Note: My beta went to live it up in LA for a few days. So, all mistakes are my own.
********
Justin sat on the sofa and Junior was standing in front of him. He was combing her hair, trying to get it to at least look halfway done. Brian emerged from the bedroom and walked over to the door. "Dad is ready to go," Justin said as he put the brush down on the coffee table.
Junior walked over to Brian and he picked her up. He looked down at the dress she was wearing and back over at Justin. "What?" Justin asked as he grabbed his phone off the counter. Justin knew how much Brian hated her in dresses.
"Does she have to wear a dress?" Brian asked. Justin let out a puff of air, grabbed her bag and disappeared out the door.
Junior looked up at Brian and smiled. "Daddy," she said as she pointed out the door. Brian set the alarm, walked out the door and slid it closed.
The drive over was uneventful. Brian stopped to buy a pack of cigarettes and they made it to Debbie's late, just like they always did. Having a daughter couldn't change that.
"Where in the fuck have you two been? My dinner was starting to get cold," Debbie said as Brian opened the door. Justin came in behind him and shut the door.
"Hello to you too, Deb," Brian said as he put Junior down on the floor. Brian walked over and sat down next to Emmett on the couch, pinching the other man in the side.
"Hey there, beautiful," Debbie said as Junior walked over to her. She kissed the small girl on the cheek and smiled. "My God guys, she looks more and more like both of you every time I see her," Debbie said. "Looks like she got most of her height from Justin though," she finished with a loud laugh.
Everyone looked over at the little girl and laughed.
"Thanks Deb I think," Justin said as he looked at his daughter. She was extremely short. Junior made her way over to Ted and reached up, indicating that she wanted to be picked up. Ted leaned forward in the chair and pulled the small girl onto his lap.
"Out of all the people she could like, it's you," Brian said. Ted looked over at him and smiled.
"She simply appreciates my natural charm," Ted said.
Brian laughed. "Yeah, or it could be that you give her candy every time you see her." Ted frowned and gave his attention to Junior. Michael and Ben came through the door five minutes later. They were both carrying bags of ice.
"What took you two so long?" Debbie asked. Michael gave his bag of ice to Ben and the professor went to put the bags in the freezer.
"We had to go to three places. No one had ice," Michael said. Michael gave her a kiss and sat down on the sofa next to Brian and Emmett. "What's up guys?" he said, addressing both Brian and Justin. Everyone else had been there when they had gone to get the ice.
Junior got down off of Ted's lap and walked over to Michael, the highest ranking of her official 'uncles.' Michael bent down to pick her up and she planted an extremely wet kiss on his lips. "Daddy," she said.
"Fuck, Brian, you didn't tell me she was talking," Michael said, never taking his eyes off of her. Junior was leaning her head against Michael's chest, playing with the ring on his finger.
"Fuck," Junior said. She clapped her hands and looked over at Brian. "Fuck, fuck FUCK!" she screamed out. Justin glared at Michael.
"Wow Mikey that's great," Brian said with a smirk. Michael looked around the room at everyone, his eyes lingering on Justin.
"Sorry," Michael said. Ben came out of the kitchen where he was helping Debbie. He stopped and stood behind Michael on the couch. He looked down at Junior, contently sitting in his husbands arms. The small girl looked up and smiled at Ben.
Debbie came out of the kitchen just as Junior was being passed to Ben. "Let's eat," Debbie said. Everyone got up and made their way to the table.
The plates were passed around the table. Junior was sitting on Ben's lap, happily being fed spaghetti. "Ben, do you want me to take her?" Justin asked. Brian sat next to Justin, talking to Michael.
"No, she's fine," Ben said with a smile as he placed more food into Junior's mouth. He had always loved kids and he loved to spend time with the baby of the family.
"Tell me if you want me to take her, okay," Justin said. Ben was too busy talking to the little ball of giggles to answer. Melanie was busy talking to Ted about a new investment she wanted to make.
The whole family was enjoying their time together.
"Justin, your show is getting rave reviews already and it's not even open to the public yet," Lindsay said. Justin swallowed the wine that was in his mouth and nodded.
"Yeah," Melanie added.
Justin moved his chair back as Junior was passed around the table. He took her from Debbie and sat her in his lap while she drank her juice. "Yeah, we are expecting big crowds, and you are all invited," he said.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Melanie said and everyone else agreed.
********
"Thanks for the food Debbie," Justin said as he kissed her cheek and headed out of the door, Junior barely awake in his arms. Brian kissed her cheek and followed Justin out the door.
Dinner had come and gone without a hitch.
Brian lit a cigarette as he walked to the car. Justin was leaning over strapping Junior into her car seat. Brian walked up behind him as he was closing the door. Brian pinned Justin up against the car and pressed their lips and cocks together. "You're hard," Brian said as he let his tongue slip into Justin's mouth.
"So are you," Justin said. A sleepy cry and whimper erupted from the back of the SUV and Justin dropped his head onto Brian's chest. Brian lifted Justin's chin up and brought their lips together one last time before walking around the car to get in the driver's seat.
********
Justin slid the door closed, locked it and sat the alarm. Justin tossed her diaper bag on the counter and walked over to check their messages. Brian looked at his daughter and then over at Justin. "Are you going to put her in the bed?" Brian asked.
"I got her dressed this morning," Justin said without turning around. Brian huffed and walked away from the blond.
********
"Did you leave her socks on? You know she gets cold," Justin said as he straddled Brian's legs. Brian let his hands travel up Justin's thighs before resting them on Justin's ass.
"Yeah, I left them on," Brian said as he leaned forward and snaked his tongue into Justin's mouth. Justin wrapped his arms around Brian's neck and pressed deeper into the kiss. Brian reached over to the nightstand and pulled a condom out of the bowl.
Justin was grinding his hard cock into Brian's stomach, his erection painful. He needed release.
Brian opened the condom and slid it on his dick. Justin wasted no time. He lifted himself up and Brian held his cock in place while Justin impaled himself on the hard member. He sat down quickly, taking all of Brian in, in one swift movement.
Justin stopped moving as he sat on Brian's lap, letting himself adjust to the fullness. Brian trailed kisses up and down Justin's neck while his right hand lazily stroked Justin's dick, very slowly. Justin moaned and thrust forward.
Brian took that as his cue to move. He held onto Justin and thrust into the blond. They were both covered in sweat as Brian flipped them over, laying Justin down on his back. Justin opened his legs wider as Brian thrust into him, pounding mercilessly.
"Fuck," Brian said as he got closer to the edge. Justin was past words. He was floating somewhere in the room. Brian repositioned himself and thrust into Justin again, grazing the smaller man's prostate. Justin arched off the bed and dug his heels and his nails into Brian's back and ass.
"Oh God oh God, Ugh," Justin said as Brian pounded into him. They fucked for hours, using up more condoms than they could count in the heated session.
Justin lay next to Brian. They were both exhausted. Brian was lazily tracing circles on Justin's back as the blond fell asleep. Brian fell asleep with Justin tangled in the sheets next to him and the smell of sex in the air.
********
The beeping of the alarm clock let them know that it was time to start the day. Brian reached over and turned it off. Justin never moved. Brian got up out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. He was showered, shaved and walking out of the door before Justin even gave moving a thought. "Justin, I'm leaving," Brian said.
Justin threw a hand out of the sheets and waved at Brian. He slept for another hour before he heard Junior screaming for him. "Daddy," she yelled. "Daddy."
"Daddy's not here," Justin said loudly as he covered his head with a pillow and buried his face in the sheets. Justin lay in the bed for three more minutes before he heard a knock at the loft door. "Fuck," Justin said as he got out of bed, grabbed a pair of sweats and went to answer the door.
Justin pulled the door back and looked into Daphne's face. His best friend marched into the house, pulling her three year old son behind her. "He called this morning," she said as she flopped herself down on one of the stools.
"Hello to you too," Justin said as he shut the door.
"Sorry, Hey," Daphne said. Damien ran up to Justin and hit him in the stomach.
"Mister Justin," the small boy said. Justin bent down and looked at Damien. "Where's J?" Justin stood back up and smiled.
"She is in her room, want to come with me and we can get her?" Justin asked taking the little boys hand. "Give me a minute," Justin said as he walked past his best friend. Daphne nodded and went to fix herself a cup of coffee.
Justin came back into the kitchen, with Damien and Junior walking hand in hand behind him. They were destined to be the best of friends. The two small children sat on the floor playing and laughing. Justin looked at the clock; he had to be at work soon. "Now," Justin said. "Who called?"
Daphne frowned and threw her hands into the air. How could he not know who 'he' was? "Cedric," she whispered as she stole a glance at her son. She didn't want him to hear anything. She got up off her stool and walked around to where Justin was standing. "He called me this morning. He said he wants to see Damien today, after he gets out of school."
"That's a good thing, right?" Justin asked. Daphne frowned and thought about Justin's question. What was she so afraid off? Cedric was a dick to be in a relationship with, but he was a great guy.
"I don't know," she said honestly.
Justin smiled and kissed her cheek. "Well, while you think about it I am going to get myself and Junior dressed," Justin said as he walked over and picked his daughter up off the floor. He headed up the stairs to get dressed while Daphne sat thinking.
A little over an hour later Junior emerged from upstairs. She had on a pair of yellow Keds, some overalls, a white shirt and her hair was pulled into two ponytails. Justin walked down after her, casually dressed in black slacks and an equally as jet black collared shirt.
"Wow, you look nice. Is something extra special happening today?" Daphne asked. Justin grabbed his portfolio and zipped it up before going to make sure that both her cups were in her bag.
"Yeah, I have a meeting today with Vanessa Hallorson."
Daphne stood up and moved toward the door. "No, fucking way," she said. Justin nodded and smiled. "She is one of the most popular artists around."
"Yeah, she wrote me back and personally requested a meeting with me. I'm hoping she'll agree to let us host her Pittsburgh show. If not were up shits creek," Justin said.
"Well, you could always convince them to let you host one of your shows there. Your stuff is as good as anyone's better even," Daphne said.
"Ha! Yeah right," Justin replied. "Okay," Justin said as he lifted the strap of his portfolio folder over his head. "I think we are ready to go." Junior was already at the door, trying with all her might to slide it open. They all walked out to the car together.
********
"All I'm saying," Justin said as they walked out of the front door of the building, each of them holding onto their kids hands. "Is that I think you should at least give it a try. You never know, he might be really different now," he told Daphne as they stood next to her car.
"Yeah," Daphne said as she reached over and strapped Damien into his booster seat. "Oh man, well, I gotta go to work. See ya later," Daphne said. She kissed Justin on the lips and Junior on the cheek before getting in her car and driving off.
Justin turned to his car and pressed the button to turn off the alarm and automatically open the door.
********
"Brian, Jenkins called this morning. He wants to know if he can re-schedule his five o'clock meeting to four. Darryl Henn wants to meet with you to go over the final boards for the Sony campaign," Cynthia said as she followed Brian into his office.
"Yeah, he'll probably want us to change the color again for the thousandth time," Brian said as he walked around his desk and turned his computer on. Cynthia laughed as she walked to the edge of Brian's desk.
"The boards for Tellen Inc. and the initial cost sheets for a full page spread in Luminous magazine are all on your desk. Oh, and Jake Madsen called," Cynthia finished. She sat Brian's coffee and his messages on his desk.
"Thanks Cynthia," Brian said. Cynthia nodded and turned to leave the office. Brian sat down in his chair and wondered what Jake wanted. The other man owned the competing advertising agency in the area.
********
Justin pulled the door of the preschool open and Junior ran inside. "Stop running. J, stop running," Justin said, even though she was more or less just walking faster. Running was a skill she had not yet mastered. Junior stopped and looked at her daddy. Justin got to her classroom and pulled the door open.
"Hello Junior," Mrs. Remmy said to the small girl. "Hello Mr. Taylor," she said as she addressed Justin.
"Hey," Justin said with a smile, he really liked her. Junior ran over to her friends and started to play. "How has she been doing?" Justin asked.
"She is doing very well, and she is really smart," Mrs. Remmy said.
"But " Justin said. He could tell there was more and she was trying to be nice.
"But, she fights the other children and she likes to she likes to bite," Mrs. Remmy said. Justin stood there looking at the teacher. He had never seen her bite anyone.
"What? Are you serious? I have never seen her bite anyone before," Justin said as his head whipped around to look over at his daughter. She was fiercely trying to take a toy from another boy. In one swift movement she leaned over and sank her seven teeth into the arm of the boy. "Shit," Justin said as they rushed over.
The little boy was crying and Junior was sitting on the floor holding the toy that she had so triumphantly won. Mrs. Remmy came over and picked up the small boy. She took him over to the sink and cleaned up his arm. There was no real harm done, the only damage was seven little teeth marks pressed into the boy's skin.
Justin took the toy from his daughter and held it in his hand. "J, NO, you DON'T BITE!" Justin said louder than he intended to. He just could not believe that his daughter was a bully. Junior took one look at Justin and burst into tears.
Mrs. Remmy came over, bent down in front of Justin and Junior, and sat the small boy on the floor in front of her. "Junior, we don't bite, when you bite it makes Henry sad and you don't want Henry to be sad. Give Henry a hug." Junior leaned over and gave Henry a hug. They sat back down on the rug and played like nothing had happened before.
"I cannot believe that she bit him," Justin said as he walked with Mrs. Remmy back over to the door, never taking his eyes off his daughter.
"Mr. Taylor," Mrs. Remmy started. "You do know that if Junior continues to bite the school will remove her."
Justin nodded his head. "Yeah," he said as he walked out the door without another word.
********
"Jake, my assistant said that you called," Brian said as he held the phone to his ear. Jake Madsen leaned back in his chair and smirked at the cockiness of his only local competition.
"Yeah, I did," Jake answered. Brian sat quietly, waiting for Jake to continue.
"Well?" Brian asked. Jake cleared his throat and licked his lips.
"I have a business proposition for you," Jake said. Brian tapped his pen on his desk and leaned forward. "I want to merge Madsen Advertising and Kinnetik Incorporated for the Converse proposal I am giving in three weeks," Jake said.
A smirk passed over Brian's face and he suppressed a laugh. Brian knew that he had the better of the two agencies, and one of those reasons was his art department. They were all handpicked by Justin.
"I see, and what exactly did you have in mind?" Brian asked. Jake stood up and walked over to his window, a smile spread across his face. Brian Kinney was going to agree.
"I was hoping that my executives and your art department could come up with something. We'd split the profits 20/80." Brian almost choked.
"You expect me to lend you my art department, who, by the way are far, far more superior than yours, to your agency. They are supposed to come up with the whole concept, let your executives pitch it and then in return they don't get commissions or bonuses, but Kinnetik gets 20% of the profits. Fuck that shit," Brian said.
"Brian, this is a big account."
"I know, and if I was you, I'd try to sign them fast," Brian said. Jake thought about what Brian was saying.
"Surely you aren't thinking about pitching to them," Jake said as his secretary tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see what she needed. He took the papers from her and focused his attention back on Brian. "Well, are you?" Jake asked after Brian's long pause.
"All's fair in money and business," Brian said to Jake. "Bye." Brian hung up the phone just as Cynthia came to tell him that his noon meeting was waiting in the conference room.
********
"Ms. Hallorson, it is so good to finally meet you," Justin said as the tall red-haired woman walked into his office. She was a classic beauty, with extremely soft but powerful features. She shook Justin's offered hand and smiled.
"Oh please, call me Vanessa. Only asshole critics call me Ms. Hallorson," she said as she sat down. Justin walked around his desk and sat down. "I have to say Mr. Taylor ."
"Justin," he said correcting her.
"Of course, Justin, I have to say I was very intrigued by your letter. I have never had someone connect so intimately with my work," she said as she pulled her hair out of the tight bun and let it fall down her back. "I got the impression that you were an artist, and then my assistant told me that you were not only Justin Taylor but the Justin Taylor. I just had to come and meet you."
"You've seen my work?" Justin asked. Vanessa moved her chair closer and nodded her head. "Oh my God, that is great. I mean, I am not as good as you," Justin said.
"Oh please, you are amazing," Vanessa said. Justin smiled and accepted the compliment.
"Thank you," Justin said. "Is it too much to hope that I can use the power of your love for me to let us host your Pittsburgh show?"
Vanessa laughed. "Well, that depends," she said. Justin looked into her eyes as he waited for her to say something. "Tell me why you like my art. Most people don't."
Justin didn't need to think about his answer. He got up from his desk and walked over to sit across from her. He turned the chair so that it was pointed at hers and leaned forward. "The first time I saw your work, I stopped breathing. It was amazing, almost like you were telling the story of every part of my life without telling all of my secrets. I felt exposed and wrapped in a secret all at once, and the work was not even mine," Justin said.
Vanessa sat there as Justin talked more and more about her pieces and how he would arrange them and what each one meant to him. After five minutes he could not contain himself. He got up from the chair and was soon moving across the office as he talked. "It's just, it's just great," Justin said finally as he sat back down behind his desk.
Vanessa smiled at him and laughed a little. "I am impressed. I love your passion. You are not just another curator, you have passion. I like that," she said. "I would be happy for your gallery to host my Pittsburgh show," she said as she stood up and shook his hand.
"Really, you have no idea what this means to me," Justin said as he let her hand go.
"It'll be a pleasure to do business with you. My assistant will call to schedule times and dates so that we can get together and go over the details," Vanessa said as Justin walked her to the door. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"You too," Justin said as she disappeared out the door and into a limousine.
********
Junior stood in the corner of the room when she started screaming bloody murder. Mrs. Remmy's assistant ran over to see what was wrong with the little girl. Jessica, a college student working off some practicum hours, knelt down in front of the screaming girl. She was digging frantically in her nose. "Let me see," Jessica said as she pulled Junior's hands down.
Jessica didn't see anything. She looked over at Mrs. Remmy and shrugged. "I don't see anything," Jessica said. Junior was still screaming. Mrs. Remmy got up and walked over. She leaned down and looked at the small girl. Junior's hands flew up to her nose again. She stuck her finger up there and screamed.
"Is there something in your nose?" Mrs. Remmy asked as she tried to stay calm. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. She leaned the small girl back and looked up her nose. She saw the problem; a very small and very purple bead was shoved all the way up the girl's nose. "Oh my God," Mrs. Remmy said as she picked up Junior and walked toward the classroom door. "Watch the children," she said to Jessica as she ran toward the nurse's office.
********
Children's World Daycare Center placed several calls to Justin's phone before giving up and calling Brian. Jody, Brian's secretary, picked up the call on the third ring. "Kinnetik, how may I help you?" She asked sweetly.
"Yes, hello, this is Mrs. Thomas from Children's World. I need to speak with Mr. Brian Kinney," She said.
"Mr. Kinney is in a meeting, he is not to be disturbed," Jody said. She knew that Brian did not like to be disturbed.
"It's an emergency. His daughter is at the hospital," Mrs. Thomas said firmly. Jody stopped moving. Her brain was momentarily stunned.
"Oh my God," Jody said as she stood up. "Hold please," she said as she took off toward the conference room. She reached the door and pulled the handle open. Brian saw her and looked pissed as he cut a look at Cynthia who got up and walked over to Jodi immediately.
"What's the problem? Brian does not want to be ."
"Junior is in the hospital," Jodi interrupted. Cynthia went pale as she listened to what Jodi was telling her. She closed the door and walked over to Brian. He stopped talking and leaned over to listen to Cynthia.
"Fuck, what happened?" Brian asked.
"They didn't say," Cynthia said. Brian turned to the men in the room.
"I'm sorry, something's come up. My assistant is more than prepared to finish the rest of the presentation," Brian said as he apologized again and left the conference room. He could hear Cynthia as she picked right up where he had left off.
Brian walked up to his secretary's desk and grabbed the phone. "This is Brian Kinney," he said. His heart was pounding as he listened to what the woman on the other line told him. The thumping in his chest began to slow as she told him what she knew. Assuring him that there was no blood involved.
Brian hung up the phone and went to his office. He grabbed his jacket, keys and phone and headed out of the building. He got in his car and pointed it in the direction of Pittsburgh General Hospital.
Brian grabbed his phone as he waited for the light to change. He pressed the number that would automatically dial Justin's phone. The phone immediately clicked over to voicemail and Brian ended the call. "Why don't you have your phone on?" Brian asked out loud as he pulled into the hospital parking lot.
********
Junior was sitting in the small hospital crib, screaming her head off. She was bright red and old tears and fresh tears plagued her face. Brian walked up to the children's ward and asked for his daughter. "Oh yes, the doctor was waiting for you. Let me go and get him," the nurse said as she hurried to get Dr. Kiln.
Brian sat down in one of the plastic chairs and waited. "Mr. Kinney?" Dr. Kiln said as he approached the tall man. Brian stood up and shook the doctor's hand.
"Brian, yeah, that's me. What's wrong with my daughter?" Brian asked. Dr. Kiln motioned toward the chairs and they both sat down.
"She has a bead up her nose," he told Brian with a small smile. Brian let his brain digest what he had just said. "She has managed to get it pretty far up there. I'll need to sedate her so that we can retract it.
"Fuck," Brian said. "Where is she, can I see her?" Dr. Kiln led him back to his daughter. Junior saw her dad and started to cry harder. Brian walked over and picked her up out of the metal hospital crib. He held her close as she cried.
"I'll need to go in as soon as possible and get the bead out," Dr. Kiln said. Brian kissed the top of her head and lifted her up into the air He could just barely see the purple bead that was shoved way up there. "I just need you to sign the release form."
"How long will it take to get it out?" Brian asked. The doctor assured him that it would only take about an hour for him to get it out and then she'd probably just be drowsy. "Okay," Brian said after the doctor finished talking. Dr. Kiln walked out of the room to file the paperwork and get the things he needed.
Brian rocked his daughter from side to side as she cried, big tears dropping onto his shirt. He looked around the room for a sign that indicated that he could not use his cell phone. He didn't see one and deduced that it would be okay. He pulled the small silver phone from his pocket and dialed Justin, again.
********
"I think the frame is too big. It makes the picture look too heavy," Justin said to his assistant.
"Well, what do you want to do? The show is tonight and this is an important piece," his assistant replied.
Justin thought for a minute. "Do you have your phone on you?" He asked. Mike pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Justin. He dialed the familiar number and waited.
"Preston Framers," Billy said into the phone.
"Billy, this is Justin."
"Like I could ever forget the voice of the only man to ever turn me down," Billy said. Justin could see the smile on his face, even over the phone.
"Twice," Justin reminded him.
"Oh yeah, twice," Billy laughed. "So, what's up?"
"I was hoping you could re-frame a painting for me," Justin said.
"Sure man," Billy said.
"The thing is," Justin said and hesitated. "I need it back by nine tonight."
"Fuck, Justin, shit," Billy shouted and cursed into the phone. Justin bit his lip. That was just the response he was expecting.
"Please, please, please," Justin begged.
"What do you need done?" Billy asked.
Justin smiled at Mike. "I just need you to take the frame off and replace it with an invisible border and a glass panel, with invisible mounts in the back." Justin held his breath as Billy absorbed everything he said.
"Fuck Justin, you want custom mounting and glass by nine, tonight? You're pushing it. You do know its four o'clock right now, don't you?" Billy asked.
"I know, and I completely trust you. You can do it," Justin told him.
Billy sighed and licked his lips. "Fine, you're gonna be the death of me, you do know that, right?" Billy asked. "I'll do my best. Have them bring it on over."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I owe you big time ," Justin said.
"Yeah, I know," Billy said with a laugh as he hung up. Justin flipped the phone closed and handed it back to Mike.
"He's gonna do it," Justin said. "Have Steve and Dan come and take it down and then get it over to Billy's as fast as you can," Justin said.
"Okay," Mike said and went to get the guys.
Justin walked toward his office, stopping to make sure that a few of the new paintings were being hung properly.
Justin loved his job as curator of the art gallery. No matter how stressful it was.
Justin was almost to his office when Lindsay spotted him. "Justin, hey," she said.
"Hey Lindsay," Justin said. She was the new gallery director. She had accepted the position after Sidney decided to retire. He was still the owner of The Sidney Bloom gallery, but he left most, if not all, of the decisions up to Lindsay.
"I saw the guys taking the painting for the Jet Simmons exhibit down," she said. Justin nodded.
"Yeah, it was too heavy looking. I sent it back to Billy's. He promises that he'll do his best to have it ready by the time the show starts," Justin told her. Lindsay just smiled and laughed.
"Leave it to you to find something wrong, five hours before the show." Justin smiled and opened his office door. Lindsay followed him in and closed the door before she flopped down on his couch. "God, I am so ready to go home," Lindsay said, letting her professional manner drop in the safety of his office.
"Yeah," Justin said as he noticed that his phone was off. He reached over and grabbed it. He pressed the button to turn it on and held the phone to his ear, checking his messages. "Oh, Vanessa Hallorson agreed to let us host her next show," Justin told Lindsay happily.
Lindsay sat up straight and stared at him. "Are you serious?" She said. Justin didn't answer her; he was too busy listening to the messages on his phone. Three were from the school and the rest were from Brian. The messages ended and Justin stood up quickly.
"Shit, I have to go," he said as he grabbed his keys. Lindsay stood up and followed him out the office. "What's wrong, Justin?"
"Junior is at the hospital. The last couple of messages were from Brian, he's been calling me for the past hour or so. Fuck," Justin said as he left out of the gallery. Lindsay walked behind him.
"Call me and let me know what's going on, okay?" She asked. Justin nodded as he got in his car, started the engine and pulled away from the curb.
********
Brian kissed his daughter and watched as they wheeled her away. Dr. Kiln had explained that because she was being put to sleep they would have to treat it as a surgery and perform the abstraction in the surgery room.
She kicked and fought to get to her dad and had to be held down to keep her from getting off of the gurney. Brian stood there watching, feeling helpless.
Ten minutes later Brian was still standing in the hallway, pacing back and forth. He looked up and his eyes locked with Justin's as he got off the elevator. Justin walked over and Brian wrapped his arms around him. Justin hugged him back and moved them toward the plastic chairs.
"I got your messages," Justin said as they sat down. "I had my phone off, sorry. What happened?"
Brian ran a hand over his face and looked at Justin. "She stuck a bead up her nose," he said. Justin sat looking at him.
"What? Why?" Justin asked.
Brian frowned. "How the fuck should I know? I was at work." Brian told Justin everything that he'd been told. "The doctor, Dr. Kiln, said that it should be less that an hour."
"Did the center say what happened?" Justin asked.
"She was playing and the next thing they knew she was screaming. I mean they are little kids, they move fast," Brian reasoned. They sat together silently. After the first twenty minutes Justin leaned over and rested his head on Brian's shoulder. Brian unconsciously grabbed Justin's hand, worrying the smaller man's fingers.
Justin felt his eyes closing and in no time he was asleep. Brian shook him gently and woke him up. Justin looked at his watch and saw that about fifteen minutes had passed. "Mr. Taylor, Mr. Kinney," Dr. Kiln said and they both stood up.
"Is she okay?" Justin asked.
"She's fine, we got the bead out. Everything went perfectly," Dr. Kiln told them. They both let out a breath of relief.
"Can we see her?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, she is just being moved into a room. Once she starts to wake up and we make sure that there are no complications from the anesthesia, we'll send her home." Justin and Brian both nodded.
"How long do you think that'll be?" Brian asked.
"I'd give it about an hour and a half," Dr. Kiln said. He answered a few more of their questions before walking off down the hall and back through the double doors.
********
Justin stood on one side of the bed and Brian stood on the other. "I can't believe she stuck a bead up her nose," Justin said.
"Why not," Brian said as he lowered his voice. "You take them up your ass." Justin looked at him and raised his eyebrow. "What, did I say it wasn't hot?"
"Shut up," Justin said with a smile. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Brian sat down in the chair next to the bed and sighed. "I can't believe that she's as wild as she is," Justin said.
"Yeah well, just think, she's not even running with coordination yet. When she figures out how to really take off, we'll really be fucked," Brian said.
Justin looked down at his sweet little girl. Brian was right; they were in for a lot more than beads.
Justin watched as her eyes started to open. Brian got up and smoothed his hand over her hair. Brian looked over at Justin who was still thinking of all the possible things she could do as she got older. "Don't zone out yet, sunshine, she's waking up," Brian said with a small laugh.
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