The Nature of Things

Chapter 47

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Molly woke and looked about the hotel room for him and couldn't find him. Instead she found a note that he'd gone out for breakfast and to call home so no one would worry. He also promised to call Jennifer to let her know that Molly was okay.

She had just stepped out of the shower when she heard him come in. Wrapping the towel around her she opened the bathroom door to find him holding out a cup of coffee and the morning paper.

The headline screamed about last night's murder and how there appeared to be a serial killer loose in the city. Both of them laughed, knowing that barring anything further there would be no more murders.

She hugged her new friend close and thanked him once more before sipping the coffee slowly and going back to get dressed.

An hour later Molly got out of the car a block from home and walked the rest of the way. She was shocked to find Carl and Debbie waiting for her instead of Brian and Justin.

Debbie pulled her close and held on tight. "Molly we've been worried sick. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Deb. Where are Brian and Justin?"

"We'll worry about that later. We've been out looking for you all night. Your mother is worried to death. Why didn't you call her and let her know you would be out all night? The poor woman thought something had happened to you again."

"I said I'm fine, now leave me the fuck alone and let me in the house."

Molly brushed past Debbie and pushed into the kitchen to start a fresh pot of coffee. She tried to clear her mind enough to come up with a plausible explanation about where she'd been all night without giving away the real reason. She could sense that Carl was watching her closely and she couldn't afford to screw up now.

Plastering a smile to her face she poured a cup of coffee and went back to the living room to face the inquisition.

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Brian woke to a crick in his neck and Justin crossed the room to rub it for him. After a good morning kiss, Brian stood and went to check on his daughter.

Maya was sleeping peacefully in her steel crib, completely unaware of the tubes and wires that were keeping her alive at the moment. She smiled in her sleep and cooed making Brian's heart painfully aware that she may not make it through the week.

Justin wrapped his arms around his husband and held him tight as they both silently begged God to spare the life of their daughter.

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Emmett had spent the night trying to get a hold of everyone to let them know about Maya. He was still trying to reach people when Teddy came strolling in looking like he'd been through the wringer.

"Teddy, where have you been?"

"I couldn't sleep so I just drove around for a few hours."

"A few hours? You've been gone all night. Are you all right?" Emmett studied his friend, not quite able to put his finger on what was different about him.

"Just tired."

"Well there is no time for sleeping. Justin called; Maya is in the hospital."

"I just don't have the energy at the moment Em. I'm going to grab a quick nap and then I'll head over."

"Don't you even want to know what's wrong with your best friend's child?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry. What's wrong with Justin's daughter?"

"She may need a heart transplant. You know, nothing that should stop you from a nap. I'm sure that Justin and Brian will forgive you if something happens."

"No need to be a cunt about it. I'm just tired. Besides there is nothing I can do. My heart's too big for her."

"Fuck you, Teddy."

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Debbie felt bad for not telling Jennifer about Maya first thing, but with Molly missing she felt it would be best to hold that information until Molly returned. Now that she was home, Debbie wrestled with her decision.

"Jenn, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure, Deb, what's wrong?"

"Brian called last night. Maya's in the hospital."

"What's wrong?"

"Her heart."

"Why didn't you tell me, Debbie?"

"I didn't want to worry you too much until we knew that Molly was safe."

"Fuck."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, you were just trying to be a good friend. But if you'll excuse me, I better get over there right away. Justin must be frantic."

"He's actually the calm one; it's Brian who could use a Mommy at the moment."

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Molly was startled to find the living room empty when she came back with her coffee. She'd expected the full interrogation and was pleased to find that obviously they all had better things to do than question where she'd been all night.

She thought about the events of the night before and found it very calming to know that no one would hurt her again. He'd seen to that and she owed him her sanity.

She found that he kept her calm and she helped him with the demons that threatened to consume him. Life was finally starting to make sense. Collapsing on the bed she laughed out loud at the look on his face when he'd seen her standing there watching.

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Maya's doctors had spent the best part of the day going over test results and not letting anyone know what the hell was going on. Brian's patience was quickly dissipating and Justin was finding it hard to keep him from hurting the next person who ignored him.

Luckily Jennifer and crew had shown up late in the morning to help with their nerves and offer reassurance.

After being filled in about Molly's disappearance and Carl's suspicion that she may have something to do with the murders, they all sat back to await word on the health of the smallest member of the family.

Another hour passed without seeing a doctor and there was no controlling Brian. He stormed from the room and demanded that someone get the doctor there that instant or he'd close the fucking hospital down.

Within ten minutes Maya's main cardiologist joined them at her bedside.

"Mr. Kinney, I understand your lack of patience, but you must understand that we are doing our best to read the results correctly. The most I can tell you at this moment is that it's not looking promising. I've ordered a few more tests for tomorrow morning and I should be able to give you something definite then. Right now I would consider putting Maya on the donor list for a new heart. Unfortunately there is no guarantee she will get one. First and foremost there has to be a donor young enough to be compatible with her size and then there needs to be a blood match to keep her from rejecting the organ. I can't guarantee that in a few years from now that she won't have problems, but that is the only option I can see at this time."

"Are you saying she may die?"

"Mom," Justin cautioned as he watched the fear flood Brian's eyes as the doctor's words sank in.

"I'm sorry, but yes, without a donor heart Maya will only survive a few more weeks at most. We'll do everything in our power to keep her comfortable, but she will not being going home any time soon."

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Two hours later Brian was still nowhere to be found and Justin was starting to worry that Maya's illness may be the one thing to send him over the edge. They'd faced so much together and he had to believe that they'd face this together but he was terrified that Brian wouldn't survive Maya's death.

He tried Brian's cell again and it went straight to voice mail. Justin was about to go in search of him when Carl turned the corner.

"There's been another murder."

"And you're telling me this why?"

"You know why. Brian's a suspect and it's a little convenient that it happens when no one knows where he is."

"Well, Mr. Detective, he was here with me all night last night when someone killed Casey."

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Carl sped to the scene and was shocked to find the body lying in the middle of Kinnetik's boardroom. He was even more shocked to see Cynthia's face when he pulled back the sheet that covered her face.

She'd been beaten and her face was bruised and bloodied. A uniform handed him the security tape and he settled in to watch it. Just before the tape went blank Brian Kinney stood in the middle of the room and looked directly at the camera. Seconds later there was only static.

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