The Nature of Things

Chapter 52

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Brian sat in the holding cell smoking a cigarette. His lawyer was late and he was getting pissed. Carl was busy pulling strings trying to get him an arraignment immediately in order for him to get back to the hospital to be with Maya.

Things were starting to look bleak and Brian was losing hope.

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Justin's hope for Maya's recovery was quickly diminishing as was his belief that Brian would return soon. The doctors continued to hold out hope that the "child" in the emergency room would be a match for transplant.

Justin on the other hand struggled with his hope that she'd survive, knowing that if that happened Maya may die.

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Lindsay kept vigil at JR's bedside, praying that her daughter would live. Word had finally come that Melanie's remains had been found in the burnt out shell of the car and Lindsay's pain was only kept in check by her mounting concern for her child.

Jenny Rebecca was all that remained of Mel, and Lindsay was desperate to hold on to her.

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Debbie and Ben sat outside of the ICU watching the clock and hoping that Michael would survive the night. They'd been there for hours and both were exhausted. Debbie went down to get them something besides the thick coffee that was supplied for family, and Ben was pacing the floor when the nurse found him.

"Mr. Bruckner, Michael's awake and asking for you."

Ben raced down the corridor and burst into his partner's room. Stopping to catch his breath, he pressed a kiss to his forehead and sank into a chair.

"Ben," Michael gasped.

"Shhh, baby, don't talk."

"What happened?"

"You were in an accident. "

"The brakes," Michael choked out.

"Were cut," Ben finished for him. "They've arrested someone. But that isn't important right now."

"The other car?"

Ben debated on keeping the information from Michael but knew that he had to know. "The driver didn't make it and the baby is in the ER."

"A baby?"

"JR."

Michael stared at his partner, not fully understanding what he meant.

"You hit Melanie and JR." Ben let this sink in for a few moments before continuing. "Melanie died at the scene. Jenny Rebecca is still in the Emergency Room. She suffered severe head injuries and is on life support."

"My JR?"

"Yes, baby, I'm so sorry. Lindsay's with her, so she isn't alone. But, Michael, they aren't sure she is going to live."

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Lindsay had just stepped out of the room for a cup of coffee when she was met by Maya's doctors.

"Ms. Marcus?"

"Peterson. Ms. Marcus was my partner and JR's biological mother."

"Oh, I see. Do you happen to know where the child's father is?"

"The child has a name; it's Jenny Rebecca. Her father is upstairs in Intensive Care recovering from surgery. Why?"

"Well we need to speak to one of Jenny's parents."

"I'm one of her parents."

"I meant a legal parent."

"I am a legal parent, Doctor. I have the adoption papers to prove it. Now what can I help you with?"

"Forgive me, Ms. Peterson, I don't mean to be insensitive but I needed to be sure that it was legal before I proceeded. I've looked over your daughter's test results and chart. It shows little to no brain activity and well to be frank we have a young patient upstairs in desperate need of a heart transplant. To be honest we were hoping that your daughter could save this little girl's life."

"How? By giving her her heart? You want me to let my daughter die, so some child I don't even know can live?"

"I know it's a hard time to hear this, Ms. Peterson, but there is little hope of your daughter ever waking up. She's brain dead. She has the chance to give a shot at a normal life to a little girl who is desperately fighting to live right now."

"I'm sorry, but no."

"Maybe if you saw the child, or spoke to her parents."

"No."

"Would it help to know that she comes from a same sex parent family as well?"

"No."

"Please think about it, Ms. Peterson, Maya won't hold out much longer without a new heart."

"Maya? Maya Taylor-Kinney?"

"I can't really answer that."

"Tell me, is it Brian's Maya?"

"Yes."

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Brian stood before the judge listening to the prosecutor ramble on about all the evidence that linked him to the murders and bit back laughter.

The judge listened intently and then turned to Brian.

"Mr. Kinney, do you have any witnesses that can prove you were nowhere near the murders?"

"No."

"So how do you explain the evidence against you?"

"I can't. Except that I know I didn't do it. Why would I be running around committing murders when my daughter is fighting for her life?"

"Where were you when Mr. Novotny's brake lines were cut?"

"The Baths."

"The Baths?"

Brian's attorney spoke up quickly, "The Baths are a homosexual establishment where men go to meet other men for a little recreation, your Honor."

"So, Mr. Kinney, while your young daughter was fighting for her life, you were out getting your dick sucked?"

"I guess so, your Honor."

"I see. Well taking into consideration that you have no prior record and all the evidence is circumstantial at best, I'm going to agree to give you bail. However in light of the seriousness of the offenses I'm setting bail at ten million dollars."

TBC........

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