Brian wandered over, wondering what all the commotion was about. Christ. A dead body, no ID. He glanced at the boy lying there on the stretcher. Kid looked young, just about Justin's age. He looped an arm around Sunshine's shoulders, feeling him alive and warm in his grasp.
He tried to ignore the feeling in his stomach. Jesus, this could have been Justin. Just a few months ago, this could have happened to Justin while Brian just stood there blankly, eyes unfocused, frightened, sickened white noise filling his brain and blocking out everything but the words Justin and no. But he didn't want to think about what could have happened, what might've happened if the bat had hit just a little bit this way, or this way, so he hid his trepidation in a smart-ass remark and headed inside the diner, turning away just before they closed up the body bag. He heard the long zipper close and flinched, pulling Justin a fraction closer before letting go and opening the door.