The Headache
Part 1
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A treatment room in the emergency room of the local hospital
Justin thinking about just how he ended up here.
A headache… all of this started because of a stupid headache or more accurately because of two ibuprofens. I asked that stupid school nurse for aspirins. I distinctly said, "Could I get two aspirins?" But NOOOOO, she gives me ibuprofen and tells me their aspirin. I bet she won't do that again. I would have laughed at her running around and screaming if I wasn't so busy turning blue from not being able to breathe. Good thing Daphne was there to give me my epinephrine shot from the "epi" pen I carry in my backpack for just such emergencies or I probably would be in the morgue instead of in this ugly exam room.
The strange thing is that this kind of proves that Brian was right that the only person you can depend on is yourself. I sure as hell can't depend on my father; he wouldn't even listen to the nurse when she was trying to tell him that they were taking me to the hospital ASSHOLE, chalk another one up for Brian being right. I've been here almost 3 no make that 4 hours and no one has bothered to show up well other than Daphne. Humph, I've got to stop doing that. Taking her for granted. She is always the first one by my side whenever things happen whether they are good things or bad things and the last one to leave it. I think the first thing I'm going to do when I get out of here and we're alone is to tell her how much I love her and how important she is to me. That is if I ever get out of here.
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Three hours earlier the Taylor household
"Hello, Taylor residence."
"Molly? Is that you?"
"Yeah, Hi. Daphne. Why are you calling here? You know that Justin doesn't live here anymore" … "My mom is at the store, but my dad's here." "DADDY!! PHONE!! IT'S DAPHNE! SHE SAYS IT'S ABOUT JUSTIN!"
"Look, Daphne I'm telling you the same thing I told the school when they called I don't want to know anything about Justin. Call back when his mother is here. Goodbye!" Click.
"But Mr. Taylor…hello…hello." Brian's right about him he is an asshole. I'll call back when I think Mrs. Taylor's there.
Who do I call next? Debbie or Brian. Debbie.
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The Novatny house
"Hello, you have reached me, Debbie and me Vic. We're not here right now. You know what to do, so do it?" BEEEEEP.
"Hi, Debbie this is Daphne. Call me on my cell phone the number is 555-DAPH, it's about Justin."
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Brian's office
"Hello, Mr. Kinney's office, Cynthia speaking."
Wow, Brain has a secretary. "Umm could I speak to Mr. Kinney please?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Kinney is at a meeting away from the office." Yeah he's screwing the rep from Liberty Air in the corporate suite.
"Well this is an emergency. Could you get a message to him?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Kinney has left strict instructions that he is not to be disturbed under any circumstances."
"Well okay. Could you ask him to call Daphne? The number is 555-DAPH. Tell him it's about Justin."
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Torso
"Come on Em. I've got to get back to the office. It's tax season you know."
"Yeah Ted I know. But I can't just close up and leave the store. Where the hell is Justin? He promised to watch the store for me while I go to the airport to pick up that shipment of Prada knockoffs from customs. He should have been here over an hour ago."
"I'll bet you dollars to donuts that he's in a bed somewhere with 'you know who', any takers."
"Not on your life. Well he'll just have to get up and keep his promise."
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The agency corporate suite
"Speak…Emmett what do you want? I'm busy…No he's not with me… How am I supposed to know where he is? How many times do I have to tell you people? He is not my responsibility… What? He just didn't show up? That's not like him. Emmett call his friend Daphne-555-DAPH, she'll know where he is."
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Meanwhile at Lindsey's and Melanie's
"Lindsey, are we out of tomatoes?"
"Yeah, I didn't get to the store this afternoon like I thought I would… Justin was supposed to stay with Gus for an hour or so while I ran out, but he was a no show… I figure that he got hung up at school."
"More likely he got hung up with Brian. That's the only reason I could think that he wouldn't keep his promise he's pretty responsible except where that colossal prick is concerned."
"Come on Mel you can't blame Brian for the actions of a 17 year old. Although, you're right it's not like him to just not show up. Maybe I should call Bri to make sure he's okay?"
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The agency corporate suite
"Speak…Lindsey? Is Gus all right? … What you, too? No he's not with me… What? He just didn't show up? Okay this is getting weird he stood Emmett up, too and that's not like him. Hold on Lindsey my other line is ringing. Emmett… What? Where? Okay, I'm on my way. Call Deb… She's not home? Try to find her; she'll kill us if we don't tell her that something has happened to him… Call Michael, he'll know where she is… We might need her she has the legal right to make medical decision in place of his parents."
The handsome and very naked red head laying in the middle of the king size bed sits up as Brian begins to hastily pull on his clothing. "Um, is something wrong?"
What is he name? Tim? Tom? Ty that's it Tyler. "Yeah, Tyler I've got to go. Family emergency." FAMILY. Where'd that come from?
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Back at the payphones in the hospital
"Mrs. Taylor!"
"Hello… Oh hi, Daphne… Molly said… WHAT?… Justin is WHERE?… Why didn't you tell his father?… He WHAT… I'm on my way."
"Craig according to Daphne you said you didn't what to know this, but I'm telling you anyway. Justin is in the hospital. He had an allergic reaction to some pills he took for a headache and had to use his "Epi" pen."
"Jen, I'll get my coat and keys."
"No, don't bother. According to Daphne the people who care about Justin are all on their way to the hospital. Your presence is NOT needed. Just keep an eye on the child you do still care about you know-Molly or has she done something to disappoint you, too."
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Meanwhile back in the treatment room in the emergency room of the local hospital
Okay I'll give it one more hour before I make a break for it. I'll tell Daphne to pull her car up outside and find my clothes and make a run for it. What can they do if I leave without a parent or guardian to take me home? I'm almost 18.
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Meanwhile in the hospital waiting room
"Excuse me. I can only answer one question at a time. Now, is his parent or guardian here?"
Two female voices answer simultaneously "Yes!"
"Um, I beg your pardon."
Jennifer speaks up. "I'm his mother and this (pointing to Debbie) is his 'other mother'."
Debbie smiles and says, "You have a problem with that?"
The doctor sensing that he is treading on thin ice looks around the room at the 12 people (Jennifer, Debbie, Brian, Daphne, Lindsey [holding Gus], Melanie, Emmett, Ted, Vic, Michael, and David) who've shown up to find out about one kid with allergies and simply says "No, none at all."
"Well," he begins "He's fine he did require epinephrine, but it did its job and all his vital signs are good. We would like to keep him here overnight for observation barring any unforeseen complications he can go home in the morning. "
"When can we see him?" No one is more surprised than the speaker-Brian to here him ask the question.
"I'm sorry. Only immediate family is allowed to see him."
Jennifer looks at the man who she knows is her son's lover and says, "He is family."
Debbie chimes in, "We all are, honey. Now, do yourself a favor and just tell us how many of us can go in at a time."
The doctor simply answers, "Two at a time. Please try to keep the visits short. No more than 10- 15 minutes each. He did go into respiratory distress and needs his rest."
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Meanwhile back in the treatment room in the emergency room of the local hospital
Speaking out loud to no one in particular. "Okay I'm out of here."
Just as he begins to sit up the door opens and in walks his mom and Debbie.
"Mom! Debbie! I was beginning to think that no one was going to come spring me from this place."
"Sorry, Sunshine you're stuck here until tomorrow morning."
"And as to no one showing up there are 10 more people out there waiting to see you so Debbie and I aren't going to stay long."
Kissing his cheek, "Honey are you okay?"
"Yes, mom I'm fine. I don't see why I can't go home now!"
Also kissing his cheek "Doctor's orders, Sunshine."
An hour later Justin has seen everyone form Lindsey and Melanie to Michael and David. David can you believe it?
Everyone that is except the one face he really wants to see-Where's Brian?
He closes his eyes thinking that Brian probably doesn't do hospitals just like he doesn't do boyfriends. Then it's there that thickening of the air that awareness and he knows without opening his eyes that Brian is there.
He opens his eyes only to close them again as Brian's lips touch his in a very long and passionate kiss that lives both of them wanting more.
Brian finally speaks, "Ibuprofen. When you get out of here I want a detailed list."
"Okay, but first could I have another kiss. PLEASE."
A half hour later 12 people are headed for their respective cars as a lone man sits in his silver sedan and offers up a silent prayer to God for keeping his son safe.
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9:00 a.m. the following morning Brian's office
"Cynthia could I see you a moment please."
Brian's back is turned to the door as Cynthia walks in and says, "So how was the Liberty rep?"
Without turning around Brian begins to speak in a voice that is all too recognizable to Cynthia as dangerous. "Cynthia if you ever fail to pass on an emergency message to me again you're fired… That'll be all for now."