Wedding Bell Blues

Chapter 11

June 4, 2007

Brian drove Justin to PIFA for his last final then went home to finish packing. Twelve more days to go and Brian prayed that all of the crises were now over. That is if the rings were ready as promised. Their tuxes would be ready for them up at the farm and the final fitting would be later this week, he hoped.

Brian packed the bags they would need for their vacation. He really wanted to surprise Justin with the trip to Acapulco but he had to tell Justin something about it. All he said was that they would be taking their own little 'honeymoon' after the wedding as a well deserved rest. Justin left it at that not pressing for any further details, trusting in Brian's plans.

Brian loaded up the Cherokee with their bags and the painting Justin did as a gift then he called into Kinnetik to bark out his last orders. Cynthia allowed him to roar and promised that all would be well while the master was out. She knew he would be available by phone or by any other electronic device if necessary. Cynthia would see him on the 16th.

With that all done, Brian visited with Gus. Gus was busy rehearsing his role as ring bearer. Then Brian was off to collect Justin and the wedding rings.

Justin met Brian out by the gates to PIFA as he was saying goodbye to some of his classmates for the summer. Brian watched for a few moments as his sweet little boy was chatting with his mates, and smiled. There were times when Brian truly knew that he was blessed. He pulled up next to Justin and rolled down the window.

"Hey, little boy! You busy tonight?"

"No," Justin laughed as they parodied their old lines.

"I could change all that." Brian beamed back.

"You already did." Justin said his final farewells and jumped into the Cherokee. Giving his man a discreet kiss, Justin swept a stray lock of Brian's hair out of his eyes and gave Brian one of his sunniest smiles. Brian buckled the boy in and they were off to Kressler's in hopes of finding the rings.

"Brian, I think you should let me do the talking."

"You, why?" Brian was used to dealing with incompetent businessmen.

"Sometimes you come on a bit too strong. I think this may call for subtlety."

"Subtlety! I can be subtle."

"Yeah, sure, subtle as a machine gun. Brian, just stand there and look menacing and let me do all the talking." Brian got Justin's meaning and leered with a Grinch-like grin.

"Yeah, just like that. We'll have those rings in 2 seconds." Tall, dark and menacing strolled into Kressler's jewelers with not so tall, light and very devious.

"Excuse me," Justin addressed the man behind the counter. "I'm Justin Taylor and this is Brian Kinney." Justin emphasized the Brian Kinney. As the man's eyes grew wide, Justin continued. "We're here to pick up our order for the platinum wedding rings." Justin took out the receipt and showed it to the jeweler.

As agreed, Brian stood behind Justin quiet but with a sinister leer.

"Mr. Taylor, Mr. Kinney, I have your order right here. Let me give them one last polish then you may inspect them. I think you'll be pleased." The jeweler scurried away and returned with the rings gleaming in their velvet lined box. Justin gushed over them then offered them to Brian for his final approval. Brian snapped his fingers for a loop to inspect them closer. Holding them up for inspection, he nodded his approval and then handed them back to Justin who handed them back to a very relieved jeweler. The jeweler wrapped them in a pretty bag and handed them over to Justin who smiled one of his sweet ones, then Brian and Justin left the building.

Laughing their asses off as Brian opened the door of the Cherokee for his partner, Brian heaped his praises on Justin.

"Justin, you are a genius, a devious little genius but a genius nonetheless. I thought that guy was going to shit his pants."

"Me too, but it did the trick."

"Yes, it did. Makes me wonder what else you have cooking in that little blond brain of yours."

"Watch yourself, Kinney, you never know." Brian nodded, having no doubts about his blond. All settled and buckled in, it was time to head for the Andersons.

"Let's get this show on the road, Sunshine." Justin nodded as Brian drove off.

They were almost to the Andersons, expected by four. Justin was listening to his favorite music on his new Ipod as Brian concentrated on the road. They had called John while at a rest stop and he knew they were on schedule and with the rings. John couldn't wait to see his brother, Justin and the rings. John had described what he wanted but was unable to find a jeweler to do it justice. Justin made a sketch for him and John fell in love with the intricately carved design. Justin had given the sketch to Brian who found the right jeweler or so he thought. But the gods were shining down upon them and the rings turned out to be perfect.

They were on the Interstate following a big 18-wheeler when the truck lost a tire, its tread tearing off and flying toward the Cherokee's windshield. Brian swerved to avoid getting hit but wound up in a ditch off the shoulder of the highway. The impact wasn't strong enough to deploy the air bags but Brian hit his head against the steering wheel and Justin was slammed hard against the door, his right hand and arm pinned for several minutes. Brian didn't lose consciousness but he was very woozy and Justin's arm was about to spasm. Someone was banging on the window as Brian tried to clear his head.

"Hey, you guys okay in there! Hey! Don't move I called for an ambulance and the cops will be here soon. Hey, can you hear me?"

"Justin! Oh god, Justin! Baby, talk to me!" Brian wiped something off his face and unbuckled his seat belt. Then he gently unbuckled Justin trying to jostle him as little as possible.

"Brian? What happened?"

"God, Justin, are you okay? Anything hurt? Did you bang your head?"

"No, no, just a little dizzy. My arm! Brian, my arm, I can't move it! Brian help me!"

Brian pushed himself out of the car and ran to the other side to open the door. The truck driver was startled at how fast Brian was moving and tried to help.

"Get out of my way," Brian screamed as he wrenched open Justin's door catching his boy as he tilted, threatening to fall out. Brian laid Justin down on the grass. Cradling the boy in his arms.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Brian cried out as all he could think about was that night in the parking garage.

"Brian?" Justin opened his eyes to see the pain and anguish on Brian's face. Justin swiped away the blood that was trickling from the gash on Brian's head. "Brian, I'm okay, I'm okay."

"God, Justin!" Brian held Justin to his chest and cried.

"Shh, I'm okay, I swear Brian. I just hurt my arm," Justin mumbled into Brian's shirt.

"Are you sure? Where's the damn ambulance?" Brian shrieked.

"Brian, I'm not going to a hospital. I'm fine but you need to get that cut looked at."

"What cut? What are you talking about?"

"Brian, you're bleeding."

"I am? I don't feel anything."

"Maybe not now but you will later. I hear the sirens; the ambulance is coming. Let them check you out, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Are you sure you're all right?" Brian asked Justin, not loosening his grip on the boy.

"I'm okay; I just want to get to the farm. I think I need to pee," Justin said to try to lighten the moment. It worked a little as Justin saw Brian's lips curl into a smirk.

"Okay, give me a minute to clear my head and we'll see about the Jeep."

"Do you think it's okay?"

"I have no idea." Brian and Justin waited for the police, the ambulance and the tow truck to arrive. They gave their statements to the cops. Nothing criminal happened; it was a freak accident. So the cops hung around to direct traffic. The paramedics checked everyone out. They didn't think Brian had a concussion but they got his promise to follow up with a doctor. Justin was fine except for the spasms in his arm and there was nothing to do about them except to wait until it was over. Except for one bad case of the frights, the truck driver was fine.

The Cherokee made it through as well. The tow truck pulled it out of the ditch and the engine turned over immediately. The mechanic gave it a quick once over and declared it was fit to get them to the farm but he recommended that they take it in for a good overhaul. It was well past seven when Brian and Justin limped into the Andersons' yard.  The Anderson household rushed out into the yard to greet the weary travelers as they saw the always pristine Cherokee muddied, drive into the yard and Brian and Justin slowly climbing out.

"Oh good gracious, what happened?" Claire exclaimed.

"A little accident," Brian started as John and Hunter grabbed Brian about his waist to lead him into the house. Bobby and Claire tended to Justin. They got the boys in the house and settled into the living room. Claire put the kettle on and Bobby went to call his father to ask him to come over and check the guys out. Hunter fetched the first aid kit just in case. John made Brian and Justin comfortable on the couch and listened to the story about the accident.

"Thank God you're both all right," John said while handing a cup of tea to Justin. Brian wanted something stronger than tea but John shook his head no. Not until the doctor confirmed it wouldn't be detrimental. Brian huffed but accepted the tea. Pulling a neatly wrapped bag from his pocket, Brian handed the small parcel to John. John looked with curiosity at Brian then opened the bag. There, safe and sound were the wedding rings.

"They're beautiful!" John cried out.

"What is?" Bobby asked.

"Look." John held out the box to Bobby who smiled as tears started to well in his eyes.

"Perfect." The family gathered around taking turns gazing upon the perfect rings in their box. Claire sat next to the very stressed out Brian.

"You did good, Brian," she whispered. Brian smiled then leaned a little against the woman who he would have wanted as a mother and closed his eyes.

About an hour later Dr. Morrison arrived with his bag and gave Brian and Justin as thorough an examination as he could outside his office. Justin was indeed fine but for the spasm and he had his medication with him if he needed it. His arm didn't need a sling but Dr. Morrison recommended he use it as little as possible for a few days.

Brian fortunately did not have a concussion. The doctor cleaned out the wound and used a few steri strips to close it. He put some antibiotic ointment on it and instructed Claire how to care for it. Brian would have a headache and he was allowed one shot of Beam, for medicinal purposes only. Brian would be fine with little or no scar to show for it. Brian was very pleased with that. The doctor recommended rest and no heavy work for a couple of days. By mid week they would be ready to get back to work. The family breathed a collective sigh of relief and Bobby thanked his father for coming over. Claire began a late but light dinner. Brian prayed that the crises were finally over.

The meal was very quiet and everyone kept glancing at Brian and Justin checking if they were all right. Brian ate sparingly, even more than usual. By the end of dinner he didn't look too great, kind of pale and a thin sheen of sweat covered his face. As he stood up from dinner he grabbed at Justin who threw his good arm around Brian's waist and supported his lover's weight.

"Brian?" he whispered his voice full of worry.

"I'm just feeling a little woozy," Brian said slowly. "Maybe we should go to the cottage."

"Brian, I don't think you should go anywhere," Claire said quickly. "Hunter would you mind sleeping on the couch and let Brian and Justin have your room for the night."

"Sure," Hunter said. "Want me to carry you upstairs?" he asked giving Brian one of his patented leers.

"No thanks kid, but I think I'd like your bed." Brian and Justin made their way to the stairs.

"I'll bring up a pot of tea and some aspirin," Claire called after them.

"Shit!" Bobby reacted. "I hope Brian's all right."

"And Justin's arm is really bothering him. Did you notice how he cradled it all through dinner?" John asked.

"They just need some rest," Hunter volunteered.

"Thanks for the diagnosis, Dr. Montgomery," Bobby replied.

"Well, I've been battered like that," Hunter stated. "Rest helps a lot."

Upstairs Brian collapsed onto the bed. He allowed Justin to tug his clothes off helping whenever he could. He felt so tired and just wanted to sleep. Justin finally got him under the covers.

"How's your arm?" Brian mumbled.

"I'll be fine."

"Don't try to help me so much. You have to take care of yourself."

Justin ignored the statement and held up two fingers. "How many fingers do you see?"

"Twelve."

"Brian, how many?"

"Too many."

"Will you just fucking answer my question?"

"Two."

"Good."

"Now can I sleep?"

"Only for an hour."

Brian groaned and then his eyes closed and he was asleep. Justin noted the time and decided to go downstairs and have some of Claire's tea while Brian slept for an hour. He flexed his arm and found that it moved but it felt so stiff and strange, like it wasn't even his arm anymore.

When he entered the kitchen he looked at Bobby. "Was your Dad sure that Brian doesn't have a concussion?"

"I think so, why?"

"I wonder if Brian told him he has had a concussion before."

"Shit! Has he? I'll call Dad and see."

When Justin sat down Claire poured him a cup of tea. John moved around to sit beside Justin. He picked up the boy's hand and asked, "May I?"

Justin looked at him and nodded. John began massaging Justin's hand and wrist like he had seen Brian do so many times. Justin didn't think too much of John's technique, but he hadn't had the years of practice that his brother had. However, after some tentative squeezes John got better at feeling the knots and working at them till they disappeared. Justin drank a bit of his tea and then sighed contentedly as his hand began to feel better.

Bobby returned from making his phone call. "Dad says that Brian is probably experiencing some of these symptoms because of the previous concussion. He says you should wake him every hour just to be on the safe side. He'll come over in the morning, and we should call if Brian has any other symptoms, especially vomiting."

"So how did Brian get the first concussion?" Hunter asked.

"My fucking father," Justin replied.

"What?"

"When my father found out that I was seeing Brian he tracked him down and rammed his car … several times. Brian hit his head on the steering wheel and had a concussion as a result."

"Fuck!" Hunter reacted. "You two have sure had a history."

"That's the understatement of the year," Claire replied as she poured Justin another cup of tea.

John continued his massage until Justin finished his second cup of tea. "Thanks John, that feels a lot better," Justin said flexing his fingers. "I think I should go check on Brian."

"If you need anything just holler," Bobby said as Justin went up the stairs.

"Brian, Brian," Justin said softly, gently shaking Brian's shoulder.

"Um … um … what? What is it?"

"How are you feeling?"

"I was enjoying my sleep until you woke me."

"Why didn't you tell Dr. Morrison about the other concussion?"

"I … I don't like to think about it."

Justin sighed. Neither did he. "If you start to feel sick to your stomach, tell me immediately."

"Okay," Brian sighed. "How's your hand?"

"Better. John massaged it for me while I was downstairs."

"Hey, that's my job," Brian tried to joke. Justin appreciated the effort. "Did he do it right?"

"Not bad, but not nearly as good as you." Brian smiled. "How many fingers?" Justin asked.

"Eight hundred and thirteen."

"You're so bad."

"Come sleep with me."

Justin shucked off his clothes and crawled under the covers. He snuggled against Brian's chest and felt Brian's hand run up and down his injured arm. He sighed contentedly and fell quickly asleep.

A few minutes later there was a gentle tap at the door. Neither man was able to answer. Hunter quietly opened the door wanting to get the book he was reading. He grabbed it from the nightstand glancing briefly at the two men sleeping peacefully wrapped in each other's arms. The sight made him stop in his tracks. They were so beautiful together, light and dark, youth and maturity, innocence and experience. He sucked in a breath wondering if he would ever have something like that in his life.