Justin rushed into the emergency room of the same hospital where he had spent so much time after the bashing.  He saw Chuck immediately and hurried over to him.

 

"Where is he?  Is he all right?  How bad is it?" he demanded.

 

"Easy, Justin," Chuck said.  "I don't know.  They have him inside and I guess they're working on him.  Nobody's come out to tell me anything."

 

"Fuck!  How bad did it look?"

 

"He was unconscious when I found him, but he came around before the paramedics arrived.  He was pretty groggy and in quite a bit of pain, but I think he'll be all right."

 

"Where were you when this happened?" Justin demanded.  He saw Chuck wince at the implication that he hadn't been doing his job.  "Aren't you supposed to protect him?"

"I am, but he sent me for coffee.  He went to visit his mother.  Told me to come back in an hour."

"So what was he doing out on the street alone?"

"I don't know.  He called me on the cell and asked me to come get him.  He'd only been with his mother a few minutes.  By the time I got there it was all over."

"Fuck his goddamned mother!  I bet she kicked him out."

 

"Kicked him out?"

 

"It's a long story, but she is the bitch from hell.  Did she even come out to see what happened to him?"

"I don't think so.  There were a few people who gathered around but nobody said anything about being his mother."

 

"I'm going to go ask if I can see him," Justin said.

 

He went over to the desk and waited as patiently as he could while the receptionist finished up with the person who was already there.

 

"I need to know about Brian Kinney," Justin said to her when she looked up at him.

 

"Are you family?"

"I'm Justin Taylor, his partner," Justin stated staring into her eyes and daring her to question him.

 

"I think he's still being looked at."

"Could you find out for me?  I'm really worried," Justin said giving his best pleading look.

 

"I'll see what I can find out," she said with a little grin.

 

He smiled at her gratefully and went back to sit with Chuck.  Just then Carl Horvath came bustling in.  He glanced around and immediately went over to Justin.

 

"Do you know anything?" he asked with a worried look on his face.

 

"Not yet," Justin replied.  "I've asked them to find out for me.  How did you find out about this?"

"It's a hit and run, so the police were involved right away.  When they realized it was the mayor, they let me know.  They know I'm a … friend."

"Do they know what happened?" Justin asked.

 

"Justin Taylor?" a man in a white lab coat called.

 

Justin stood up and moved over to the man.

 

"I'm Dr. Gupta," the man said.  "You wanted to know about Mr. Kinney?"

"Yes, is he all right?"

"All things considered, he's remarkably well.  He has a concussion.  I think his head must have hit the windshield.  He has lots of bruises especially on his one thigh.  It's a wonder the car didn't break his legs.  There's a few cuts and scrapes too.  The rest of him is going to be very sore for awhile, but he has no broken bones or internal injuries according to the x-rays."

 

"Can I see him?" Justin asked.

 

"We're almost finished with him.  He'll be moved up to a room in a few minutes.  I'll let you know when that happens."

 

"You're keeping him here?"

"He's had a concussion before and they get progressively worse with each new one, so we want to keep him under observation tonight.  He can probably go home tomorrow."

"Thanks, doctor," Justin said.

 

"That sounds like good news, Justin," Carl said.

 

"Good?  He could have been killed!"

"That's what I mean.  He's going to be fine."

Justin glared at Carl.  There was no reason to be angry at him, but Justin wanted to blame someone.  How many times were people going to come after Brian and get away with it?  The man had been through enough.

 

"Do you want a statement from me?" Chuck asked wanting to break the tension between the two men.

 

"Didn't the responding officers question you?" Carl asked.

 

"Not really."

"But you were the first one on the scene, weren't you?" Carl asked.

 

"Yeah, I stayed with the mayor after I called 911.  They knew it was me who called."

 

"And they didn't question you?"

Chuck shook his head.  "I said I was going to follow the ambulance with the limo, and they just told me to go ahead."

 

"Are they here?"

"I don't think so."

"There's something wrong about this," Carl said.  "Tell me what you know about the accident."

"I was on the way back to pick up the mayor.  I had let him off at his mother's and he told me to come back for him in an hour.  A few minutes later he called and told me he wanted me immediately, said he would meet me at the corner of her street.  When I turned the corner, this car backed down off the curb and squealed away.  I wondered what was going on but didn't think too much about it until I saw the body on the snow bank."

"Did you get a license number?"

"No, I didn't think I needed one until it was too late."

"The car was up on the curb when you first saw it?"

"Yeah."

"That doesn't sound like an accident," Carl said.

 

"That's what I thought."

"Having to go up over the curb may have actually prevented Brian from being hurt worse.  It would take some of the momentum away," Carl explained.

 

"I thought so too, and then Brian landed in a snow bank which is softer than the street or the sidewalk," Chuck added.

 

"I'm going to go see what else I can find out about this," Carl said and took his leave.

"Mr. Taylor," the doctor said reappearing.  "I'll take you to Mr. Kinney now."

 

Justin turned to Chuck.  "Why don't you go home, Chuck?  I'll call you after I've seen Brian."

Chuck nodded and Justin followed the doctor.  In the elevator Justin asked, "Is there anything I should know before I see him?"

 

"Try to keep him calm.  He gets a bit overwrought."

 

"You noticed?" Justin said with a grin.

 

The doctor nodded.  "Good luck," he said.  "He's in room 234."

 

Justin hesitantly pushed open the door to room 234.  He could see Brian lying on the bed his head turned towards the window.

 

"Brian," he said softly.

 

Brian turned slowly and Justin could see the pain in his eyes.  The right side of his head was bandaged and his eye was swollen almost shut and rapidly turning black.

 

"Hey," he managed to whisper.

 

"How are you?"

 

"Peachy."

"So I see," Justin said with a little smile of encouragement.  Brian grimaced in pain.  "Have they given you something?"

 

"Yeah, I should be flying soon.  I can feel it starting to kick in."

"Good.  You need to sleep."

"I went to see her," Brian said suddenly.

 

"I know.  Chuck told me, but we can talk about it later.  Just rest now."

 

Brian nodded and his eyes closed.  Justin brushed the hair from his forehead and kissed his cheek.  When Brian didn't open his eyes, Justin realized he had fallen asleep.  He went out into the hall to call Chuck.

 

He informed the man that Brian seemed to be all right and made arrangements for Chuck to pick him up tomorrow as soon as Brian was released.  He had just finished his call when he heard Debbie's voice down the hall at the nurse's station.  Justin sighed and walked down there.  Debbie rushed over as soon as she saw him.

 

"Where is he?  Is he all right?"

 

"He just fell asleep.  They say he'll be okay, mostly bruises and scrapes," Justin told her.

 

"Thank God.  When Carl told me he had been in a hit and run, I thought the worst.  Can I see him?"

 

"Shh," Justin whispered putting his finger to his lips.  He took her arm and led her down to Brian's room.  "Try not to wake him," he said softly as he opened the door for her.  He let her go in alone.  He went to the restroom to throw some water on his face.

 

Debbie edged her way towards the bed.  She could see Brian's chest rise and fall as he slept.  "You'll be fine, kiddo," she whispered as she reached the bed.  She smoothed his unruly hair off his forehead much as Justin had done.  Her hand covered Brian's and squeezed gently giving him strength in the only way she could.  "You're a strong, brave man and we all love you.  You'll be fine.  You have to be."

Justin heard the end of her words as he returned from the restroom.  He knew Debbie loved Brian like a son.  Something Brian's own fucking mother had never been able to do.  He signaled to Deb and she came out into the hall. 

"I'm going to stay here with him tonight," he told her.  "Will you let everyone know what's happened, but keep them away.  The doctor thinks he'll be able to go home tomorrow."

 

"I'll do that, but try to get some sleep yourself."

 

"Thanks Deb, I will."

                                                             -----

 

A little after one in the morning Justin heard Brian groan.  Justin had fallen asleep sitting beside Brian's bed and resting his head on the side of it.  He sat up and stretched trying to loosen the knot in his neck.  Brian groaned again and opened his eyes.

 

"Hurts?" Justin asked.

 

Brian nodded almost imperceptibly.  "Thirsty," he croaked.  Justin held the straw for him and Brian drank some water from the glass.  "You should go home, Sunshine, and get a decent night's sleep," he said in something closer to his own voice.

 

"Who'd hold the straw for you if I did?"

 

Brian tried to chuckle but Justin could see the pain it caused.  "I'm all right.  I … need another shot."

 

"I'll get the nurse," Justin said brushing his fingers over Brian's cheek.

 

The nurse came in and gave Brian the once over.  She seemed satisfied and administered another shot.  "You should go home," she said to Justin.  "He'll sleep the night away now."

"I'm staying," Justin said flatly.

 

"Come get a blanket and pillow then," she said gently.

 

When Justin woke he could feel Brian's eyes on him and Brian's hand clasping his as it laid on the edge of the bed.

 

"You're awake," Justin said.  "What time is it?"

 

"A little after six.  The nurse woke me for one last check."

 

"How do you feel?"

"Not as bad as last night, but not as good as I'd like to.  No more shots."

"They're weaning you off, are they?"

Brian nodded.  His thumb caressed Justin's fingers as he kept hold of the young man's hand.  "I've decided.  I'm quitting."

"Quitting what?" Justin asked afraid that he already knew.

 

"Mayor.  This is too much," Brian whispered.

 

"Okay.  I understand."

"You do?  I thought you'd argue with me."

"It's your life, Brian.  If it's too much for you, then you should quit."

"I will.  I don't want to do this anymore."

 

Justin wanted to ask Brian to wait and not make such a major decision while he was in bad shape, but he said nothing.  Brian could do whatever he wanted.  He'd support him no matter what.

 

The door opened and breakfast arrived.  The nurse must have ordered one for Justin because two trays were left.
 

"Looks like your appetite is world renowned, Sunshine," Brian said with a slight smile.

 

"I'm glad you can joke even if it is about my eating habits."

Justin dug into his breakfast and Brian played with his, eating very little.  A little while later the doctor came in and looked in Brian's eyes and checked over his bruises. 

 

"I think you can go home this morning if you want to," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

 

"I'm ready," Brian declared.

 

"I want you to take the rest of the week off work.  Sleep as much as you can and don't try to do anything strenuous."

 

Brian snorted and Justin blushed.  "What about sex?" Brian asked bluntly.

 

"If you can stand the pain, it probably won't hurt you."  The doctor made his way to the door.  "Just take it easy."

 

"I'll call Chuck to come and get us," Justin said.

 

"Maybe we should take a taxi or do you have the 'Vette here?"

 

"I do now that you mention it.  I forgot.  But you don't want to have to get down so low.  I'll never get you out of it."

"Get a taxi then."

"Chuck's expecting me to call," Justin said wondering why Brian didn't want Chuck.  Maybe Brian was mad that Chuck hadn't prevented the car from hitting him.

 

"When I quit, he'll have to find another job," Brian said.  "He might as well get started today."

"He'll think you're mad that he didn't prevent the accident."

Brian made a face.  "All right, call him one last time."

                                                              -----

 

Brian sat in the wheelchair as they rode down in the elevator.  Justin was worried.  Brian was too quiet.  He never even made a fuss about having to ride in a wheelchair.  He just sat down and let Justin push him.

 

Justin had said little about Brian's decision to quit being mayor, but he knew deep down that this was not good.  Brian was not a quitter.  He might give it up if he thought it would hurt Gus or him, but not because it might hurt himself.  He would have to talk to him about this later, but first he needed to get him home.

 

He pushed open the front door to be hit with a barrage of flashbulbs going off.  Someone had alerted the press that the mayor was in the hospital.  Justin had not even thought about this.  He looked around bewildered.  Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm and Chuck directed him to the limo which was only steps away, the door standing open guarded by Phydeau.

 

Brian put his arm up to block out the flashbulbs and also to cover the damage to his face.  Reporters yelled at him for a comment.  He sat stony-faced in the wheelchair.

 

As they neared the limo Brian took his arm down.  Justin knew the photographers would get some good pictures of Brian's black and blue face.  Brian used his hands to lever himself painfully from the chair.  He hesitated as he went to get into the car. 

 

Some reporter yelled, "How long will you be off work, Mr. Mayor?"

 

Brian turned and glared at him.  "Permanently," he said.  "Now fuck off!"  With that he slid into the seat groaning from the effort and the contortions his body had been forced to make.

 

Justin closed the door behind him, aware that a stunned silence had taken over the throng of people.  Trust Brian to get their attention.  Justin and Phydeau pushed their way through the crowd refusing to make any comment.  Justin was very glad to have the bodyguard with him.  He wasn't sure he would have ever been able to get to the Corvette without him.

 

                                                               -----

 

Justin parked the Corvette and he and Phydeau came back to the limo to help Brian.  Chuck held the door for the man and offered his arm to help him out.

 

"You better start looking for another job like I told you," Brian said as he gingerly made his way to the front door.

 

Chuck merely nodded and got back in the car.  It pulled away taking him and Phydeau with it.

 

"Hold on to me," Justin said and pushed open the front door. 

 

They rode up to the loft in silence.  Justin didn't know what was next for them but he didn't think it was going to be good.

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