In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 9

Melanie's POV:

She got home late from that asshole's apartment. God only knows what they were doing. Shit, why am I always jealous over some fag? I wish he'd just crawl away and die. Fuck! I should not think things like that, very bad karma. I should know better.

Anyway, Lindsay mentioned some family meeting at the loft later tonight. I guess then, I'll find out what the hell is going on. At least she's still talking to me and we slept together. That has to count for something.

Lindsay's POV:

I really don't feel like talking to her, but Brian wants a family meeting and what Brian wants he usually gets. Between me and Emmett, the family has been called and I'll see them all after work. I wonder why Justin isn't here. He probably needed to be at the cottage. I wonder if we're still going to do Christmas?

Christmas! The year is almost over, Gus is sixteen, he's almost a man and JR is becoming a woman. Poor Gus, surrounded by three hormonal women, no wonder he's gay.

I love Melanie but sometimes...maybe it'll get better when we finally go on our vacation. If we go on our vacation.

Michael and Ben:

"I wonder what that's all about," Michael asks Ben.

"What's what all about, Babe?"

"I got a strange call from Emmett. He said that Brian called a family meeting tonight at the loft."

"The loft? I thought they all went back to the cottage Sunday afternoon."

"Me too. Do you think I should go over there?"

"Michael, if Brian wanted you to go over to the loft, he would have called and asked you over. Now, I'll drive you to the store. I have some last minute shopping to do. I'll pick you up later and we'll go together." Ben is very emphatic regarding the day's itinerary. Michael understands, under no circumstances is he to go to the loft unannounced. Michael doesn't like it but apparently he has no choice.

"Fine. Let's go. The Rage Christmas issue is selling like hot cakes. I don't want Danny to be alone for too long."

Ben gently kisses his spouse. While Michael hasn't yet acknowledged Danny as his father, they do work together almost daily. Michael has learned to respect Danny and to care about him.

Debbie and Carl:

"Sweetheart, who was that on the phone?" Carl asks as he yawns widely. He worked last night at Babylon and he should still be asleep. The sound of the phone ringing woke him.

"I'm sorry, honey. I didn't realize the ringer was so loud. That was Lindsay. She says Brian called a family meeting for tonight. I guess he has something to tell us.

"Babe, we'll find out soon enough," Carl says as he wraps his arms around Debbie. She sighs and he feels her relax into his embrace.

"I just hope it isn't bad news."

Hunter and Nick:

"So do we go tonight?" Nick asks Hunter as they lock up the loft. Nick is on his way to the hospital; Hunter is heading for the clinic. Holiday time is the most difficult for street kids. Hunter needs to make sure there are plenty of cots and blankets at the clinic, just in case.

"Yeah, even though we know what it probably is, I want him to know we're there for him. He's done a lot for me."

Nick silently nods. Nick is no longer jealous of the relationship between his partner and Brian. Brian is Hunter's best friend. They both owe a lot to Brian.

"Then I'll meet you here later and we'll go up together."

Hunter smiles brilliantly at Nick. "I love you, Dr. Nick," Hunter says before they part ways for the day.

"I love you too," Nick says as he kisses his spouse.

*****

Brian wants to hide in the bathroom, lock the fucking door and let John explain everything to his fucking "family". However, he knows he can't do that to his brother. John has been great through all of this. He can't just throw him to the wolves.

Brian towels off and heads to the bedroom to get dressed for the family meeting. God, he hates that term. It always sounds ominous, and tonight is no exception. They are all likely thinking that he is going to give them bad news. If it was bad news, he probably wouldn't be able to go through with this. He would run away somewhere, although Ibiza doesn't hold the lure it once did. He really should take Justin there someday.

"Aren't you dressed yet?" John calls up to his brother. "They'll be here any minute."

"So?" Brian asks sticking his tongue in his cheek. "They'd all like to get a look at a naked Kinney."

"You are so bad! Get dressed. Now!" John orders.

With a chuckle, Brian puts on what would have been his clubbing outfit if he was still the Brian Kinney of old. Now it is just an outfit that makes him look young and sexy and fabulous. He smiles to himself.

There is a tap at the loft door at that point. And so it begins, Brian thinks to himself.

The first to arrive is Emmett. He drags Drew in behind him. "So, what's the story? What have you found out?"

"We don't know anything for sure yet, Emmett," John says calmly. "This meeting is to try to allay any fears."

"Oh poo, I thought you had heard from the doctor."

"Not yet, but we'll know by Thursday."

Drew carries Emmett's huge tray of blue cheese and pear canapés over to the counter and removes the cover.

"All for me?" Brian asks as he comes down the steps.

"Someone's looking rather fabulous," Emmett gushes as he runs over and gives Brian a preemptive hug, before the man can stop him.

Brian smiles in spite of himself. "How could you bring those things here? You know I ate at least…"

"Three?" Emmett laughs, remembering how many Brian had packed away at the wedding reception. Emmett had taken that as a huge compliment. That's why he spent a good part of the day making more … especially for Brian.

Brian picks up one of the canapés and takes a bite. "Mmm," he says. They truly are delicious. "So, where's the rest of the motley crew?"

"They should be here any minute," Drew says. The buzzer goes off at that moment.

John pushes the button to release the lock on the front door and soon everyone is assembled. They arrive with hugs for Brian and John and sad, worried looks in their eyes. Brian wonders that even Melanie seems to be worried. Surely she would rejoice if he really was going to die.

Brian and John make sure everyone has a drink of some sort, while they are enjoying the goodies that Emmett brought. Both men refuse to answer any questions until everyone is settled.

"Okay," John says. "Some of you know that Brian has had a scare," he begins.

"Scare?" Michael bellows. "Scare? Why didn't somebody tell me?"

"That's what we're doing right now, Mikey," Brian tells him.

"But I should have known. I'm your best friend. Why didn't anybody tell me something was wrong? How many of you knew about this?" He looks around the room glaring at everyone. Most just shrug their shoulders or look away. "Am I the only fucking one who didn't know something was wrong?" he demands.

"I couldn't have lived through one of your queen outs," Brian states. "In fact I'm having trouble with it right now." He stands up like he's ready to leave the loft.

"Michael," Ben says laying a hand on his husband's arm. "Calm down and let Brian and John explain."

"Okay, but I'm royally pissed off," Michael says with a glower on his face. He crosses his arms on his chest and prepares to listen to what everyone else apparently already knows.

"After Molly's reception, I …" Brian stops unable to mouth the words that will explain what frightened him so much then, and still does now.

"Brian found a lump. We went to the doctor yesterday for tests," John supplies.

"A lump?" Michael moans. "Oh, God, no. It's bad, isn't it? Has the cancer come back?"

Brian stares at his longtime friend. Michael can be a pain in the ass, but he is truly upset. "I don't know for sure what it is … yet," Brian says evenly.

"But you went to the doctor," Michael throws in. "What did he say?"

Brian looks at John. John takes up the gauntlet. "That's why we invited you here tonight. We didn't want a lot of misinformation floating around."

"Oh, it's bad," Michael moans. "I knew it was going to be bad."

"Michael, for fuck's sake!" Emmett says. "Let them speak"

"The doctor says he thinks it was an ingrown hair that had abscessed," Brian states. "He took a sample for biopsy. We get the results on Thursday."

"Biopsy, oh no!" Michael continues.

"Michael!" Debbie's sharp voice cuts through the moans. "Didn't you hear what Brian said? The doctor doesn't think it was cancer. Brian is going to be fine."

"We can't say that for sure," John adds cautiously. "But it sounds promising."

"You'll be fine, Brian. I know you will," Michael declares, standing up and going over to Brian to give him a warm hug.

"I hope so, Mikey. I hope so."

Several people wipe their eyes and look lovingly at Brian.

Melanie watches the demonstration that Michael is making. "So, we really don't know any more than we did before we came here." She was hoping this would be all over with. Now they will have to wait till Thursday for the test results.

"But it sounds hopeful," Lindsay says cheerily.

"Gus will be relieved anyway," Melanie says.

"We're not telling him until we know for sure," Lindsay states adamantly. Gus is home staying with JR. She doesn't want him upset if he doesn't need to be.

"We love you, kiddo," Debbie tells Brian, as she tries to squeeze the life out of him with one of her rib shattering bear hugs.

"Thanks, Maw," Brian drawls.

"You're a good man, Brian Kinney," Debbie says as she wipes the lipstick off his cheek.

"We'll be praying for the right results from those tests, Brian," Carl says as he shakes Brian's hand.

"You're going to be fine, Boss. I just know it," Ted declares as he gives Brian an awkward hug.

"I have to be. Who else is going to keep you on the straight and narrow?" Brian says tongue in cheek.

"Only you, Brian, only you."

"We'll be hoping for the best, Brian," Allen says shaking Brian's hand.

"That makes two of us," Brian replies.

Ben grabs Brian and pulls him into a hug. "You'll be fine. I know it."

"Thanks, Ben," Brian says. "Take care of Mikey for me."

"I always take care of Michael, and you'll be around for a long time to do your part too."

"He does need a lot of taking care of," Brian says sticking his tongue in his cheek.

Ben smiles and nods before moving over to Michael who is still looking very annoyed that he didn't know about Brian's situation.

Drew comes over to shake Brian's hand and wish him well. The two men know that hugging and a show of emotion is not what either wants. Emmett, on the other hand, grabs Brian in a hug and holds him for several minutes, or maybe that is hours.

"You're going to be just great," Emmett says wiping at his eyes when he finally releases Brian. "You'll be bad as ever."

"Count on it, Honeycutt," Brian smirks.

"I will, and don't call me Honeycutt."

They both smile at each other.

"Eat up those canapés, everyone," Emmett calls as he turns away.

"Hey, not all of them," Brian protests.

"I have another smaller tray of them for you and John," Emmett whispers. "I'll bring it up when everybody's gone."

"Good man," Brian replies squeezing Emmett's shoulder.

"That makes two of us." Emmett gives Brian a happy smile as he bustles off to make sure everyone has their fill of his canapés.

Hunter and Nick are the last to come over.

"From what I've heard, it seems like you're going to be okay," Nick says, trying to present a positive spin to Brian's predicament.

"Is that your best medical opinion?" Brian smirks.

"I only give my best educated guess," Nick says hugging Brian.

"Thanks, Doc."

"And I know you're going to be fine!" Hunter exclaims. "The dick of Liberty Avenue couldn't be anything but." He smiles and winks at Brian.

"My dick is fine, legendary even. It's my one remaining ball that I'm worried about."

"I'd be happy to take care of it for you," Hunter volunteers.

"I thought your days of hustling men were over."

"I only hustle you," Hunter smirks, doing a rather good imitation of Brian Kinney.

"You haven't lost you touch," Brian assures him.

Nick elbows Hunter in the ribs and shrugs at Brian.

"We can't help it," both Brian and Hunter say almost at the same time.

They all laugh.

The family doesn't stay too long, knowing that Brian isn't himself just yet. They take their opportunities to say goodbye, each indicating that they want to know the biopsy results as soon as they are revealed. John promises to do that, as he gradually ushers them all out the door. Emmett runs back up with his tray of canapés for Brian.

"Do you really like those that much?" John asks as he shuts the loft door behind Emmett. "Or are you just humoring him?"

"I really like them that much," Brian says, popping another one into his mouth.

"You should call Justin. I'm going to have a shower."

"As soon as I finish chewing, I'll call," Brian promises.

John disappears into the bathroom, leaving Brian sitting on one of the stools at the kitchen counter. He finishes his canapé and then picks up the phone.

"Hey," Justin says gently. He isn't sure how much the family meeting has taken out of Brian.

"Hey."

"You okay?"

"I'll be better after Thursday. At least, I hope I'll be better." Brian frowns into the phone.

"You'll be better," Justin whispers, almost like a prayer.

"Emmett brought me some of those canapés that I liked so much at the reception."

"Save a couple for me," Justin requests. He thinks the canapés might have cheered Brian up a little. Emmett is good at that kind of thing.

"Maybe," Brian teases.

"How many have you eaten?"

"A dozen or two," Brian chuckles as he munches on another one.

"Brian Kinney!"

"What? You won't love me if I get fat and ugly?"

"I'll always love you. And it would be impossible for you to get fat and ugly."

"Only in your eyes, Sunshine."

"Isn't that all that matters?"

"Yeah, it is," Brian whispers.

"I'm glad the family meeting is over. Did Michael give you a hard time?"

"How'd you know?"

"He always gives you a hard time. You're the only one who doesn't recognize it," Justin says.

"He's not that bad."

Justin sighs. "No, he's not that bad."

"I love you."

"I love you right back."

"Is Briana asleep?"

"Yeah, I didn't tell her you were going to call, or she would have insisted on staying up."

"Give her a whopper kiss from me in the morning."

"I will," Justin promises. "She misses you. I miss you."

"I miss you both so much."

"Two more days."

"Yeah, two more days."

"Later."

"Later."

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