Brian drove up to the church, a route he only knew because Lois and Peter forced him to go. In a way he was like a little kid when it came to going, he didn't want to but once he was there, everything was just fine. Brian didn't necessarily consider himself a believer, mostly because it didn't feel like it was right, a God who put his creation in a world that was full of so many horrible things didn't make a lot of sense. But he had begun to think a little differently.
He entered the church like a stranger who had just come into town. His eyes were darting left and right as he scanned the room, feeling like all eyes in the current congregation were watching him. The pastor was talking about redemption of the soul and how only those who are truly saved can go into heaven. As Brian sat down, trying not to disrupt the sermon, all eyes immediately went towards him.
Herbert the Pervert, a local creep with no real evidence against him, stood up and looked at Brian. He pointed his bony finger at the dog and coughed just as the pastor asked for anyone who would step up and be saved. Herbert continued pointing at Brian, who only slinked back in his seat, quite ashamed that he had come there in the first place.
The pastor followed Herbert's finger and landed on Brian. He stared at him for a long time, not saying anything just looking and smiling. Brian felt that he was looking into his soul, searching for all the flaws that he had, every failure and every mishap he had ever done was somehow coming forth, and still the pastor smiled. The pastor, after waiting for several minutes spoke, "Come here son." Brian, knowing that he was exposed could do nothing but walk forward in front of the congregation and hope for the best.
He felt naked in front of everyone, even if he wasn't wearing any clothes to speak of. The pastor knelt down to where he could look into Brian's eyes, he saw that they were worn and full of pain. Taking his hands and placing them on Brian's eyes, the pastor began speaking as if he were reenacting Jesus healing the blind man, "Do you believe in the Lord our God?" Brian gave the straightest answer anyone could ever give, "Yes."
The congregation was more than surprised, for they had all known Brian to be a diehard atheist. But even atheism is believing in something, that something being absolutely nothing but nothing is also something and that's where the situation becomes a paradox of itself. Their mouths were gaping wide open as they replayed Brian's answer in their minds, too shocked to form anything in the way of words.
Brian walked down the aisle, his head held high. The congregation applauded, it was the loudest applause that Brian had ever received. It was the first time that he felt that the world wasn't so bad, that he was a success- a true success.
Brian knew that it was close to dinner time. He also knew that Stewie would be starving so he decided to head for home. As soon as he pulled up, he noticed that Lois had returned. He was in for a scolding he knew, but he didn't really care. For the first time in his life, he was happy and he wanted to keep it that way.
Coming in through the kitchen, Brian hoped that he would remain unnoticed; it didn't work for Lois was sitting at the table with Peter, who was still recovering from his hangover. She was dressed in a long red dress, and even though she was in her forties, she never looked more beautiful. Brian had long repressed any feelings for Lois much preferring girls like Jillian, just like everyone else he tried to get romantically involved with, she left him for no apparent reason.
Lois looked at him, her eyes blaring with anger, "Where the hell have you been Brian!" she said making sure to yell as loud as possible to get the message across. Brian's ears began to hurt, he could no longer take loud noises, and was just getting used to the fact that he was aging. "What's your problem?" he asked as he held his ears together trying to getting his tinnitus under control, the constant ringing was beginning to get on his nerves. "What's wrong?" Lois continued as she picked up a pot ready to swing it at him, "You left Stewie here alone while Peter was drunk out of his freaking mind!"
Brian looked at her as pain rose in his chest. "Lois, listen to me. I know what I did was stupid, very stupid, actually. But I think I've found religion." Lois put the pot down, she had longed hoped that Brian would find something to believe in. "What? Brian the atheist finding religion?" she said half in shock that he had said it. Peter looked at him, "This is great Brian. We should have a party or something!" Brian laughed at the notion. Having a party was the last thing on his mind; all he wanted to do was sit down and enjoy the moment.
"If any kind of party is going to happen" Brian thought to himself, "It's going to be a farewell party." Before anyone could protest Peter was already on the phone telling everyone on Spooner Street to come to the house. Lois looked at Brian, her face bearing a sorry expression. Before she could speak Brian spoke for her, "You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry." All Lois could do was nod and start getting the house ready.
Within the next few hours almost everyone in town was at the Griffin's. Joe, Bonnie and Quagmire were the first to arrive, next came Doctor Hartman and then Mayor West followed by Jasper, Meg and Chris.
Everyone was soon socializing in their own little groups, Chris and Meg were talking with Mayor West about the immigration reform bill that he was passing, Quagmire was talking up Lois-again, and Peter was drinking with Joe. Everybody seemed to be having a good time.
Brian sat on the couch, not really talking to anyone or wanting to do anything. He just wanted a little bit of peace. Jasper came over; he recently had a falling out with Ricardo, his boyfriend and needed someone to talk to. "I just thought it was time to move on" he said to Brian who was now fully listening, "You know what they say Jasper" Brian replied, "Love always finds a way in." Jasper smiled, it had always been that he knew exactly what to say for Brian, but for the first time in a long time, it was Brian who knew exactly what to say to him.
Jasper looked at his cousin, tears were forming in his eyes, "You'll find that someone Brian...It may be years down the road, but somewhere there's someone who will make the world beautiful for you." Brian embraced Jasper as tightly as he could, something that he hadn't done in a long time. Jasper was the only one who ever really believed that he still had a chance at finding happiness; he was the only one who believed that he could do anything that he set his mind to. Brian couldn't thank Jasper enough for everything that he had given him, the best he could do was give him a hug, and that was all that he needed to do in Jasper's eyes.
Doctor Hartman motioned for Brian to come over, "Brian, I have news" he said as he pulled out a small folder, "It's not good I'm afraid. You might want to sit down." Brian did as he was told and sat down, waiting to hear the worst "Brian-" Hartman began, "I'm sorry. There's nothing more I can do. It's too far gone, you're going to die." Brian nodded, he knew that this was going to be the case ever since he first went to the hospital for a regular heart exam and the doctors found out about the disease.
"How long do I have?" Brian asked, not really wanting to hear the answer. Doctor Hartman put his hand on Brian's shoulder, "At the rate things are going- six months." Hartman answered, "But it could move faster than expected so, worst case scenario...three weeks." Brian couldn't believe it; he knew that it was going to happen just not so intimate. He knew that he had to tell the family, and it had to be now.
Brian looked around, with Hartman standing next to him Brian felt somewhat confident. Brian then addressed the room, "Everyone can I have your attention please?" All eyes turned towards him, he had the floor all he had to do was speak. "First I'd like to thank you for coming; this hasn't been exactly the easiest thing for me to accept." Quagmire raised his glass, as did Peter and Joe, edging Brian to continue, "But there's something you need to know. I have a rare case of heart disease. Doctor Hartman said that they can't do anything more for me."
Peter stood on a chair, "What are you saying Brian?" his face looked confused as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Brian stared at him, his eyes full of tears, rendering him speechless. Doctor Hartman seeing this, looked at Brian and then at Peter, "Mr. Griffin, this isn't easy for him to say. Brian is going to die." Dead silence filled the room, if you dropped in a pin in that room, it would echo around the room for several minutes, causing your eyes to ring.
"At best he has six months to a year" Hartman continued "If his condition worsens even in the slightest degree, three weeks. I'm sorry." There was nothing more to be said. Peter just looked at Hartman as if he were the devil himself and walked out. "How could you?" Lois said pointing a finger at Brian and crying, "How could you just leave us like this?" Brian shook his head, he was not about to get blamed for something that he couldn't control, "It's not like I have a choice Lois!" Brian barked, "Do you think I want to die like this? No." He stopped, he didn't want to give the wrong impression.
Jasper looked at his cousin in disbelief; he had wanted so much for Brian. He wanted him to be happy, to finally find that one person that made the world special for him, but now it seemed as if that was impossible. Jasper felt like Brian had too much to offer the world to go this way. He got down on the floor and looked at Hartman, "Please take my heart! I don't need it- it's caused me too much pain..." Jasper was desperate; he turned to Brian, "Please Brian. Take my heart!" he was crying now, "You have too much to offer. Take it!"
Brian smiled and knelt down so he could face Jasper in the eyes. Jasper saw contempt as he looked into Brian's, but he couldn't imagine why. "Jasper" Brian spoke, "I can't ask you to do that." grabbing Jasper's hands and pulling himself up Brian looked around the room, everyone was completely silent. All of them had their eyes turned towards Hartman and Jasper, begging them to talk some sense into Brian, which they wouldn't or couldn't do.
Jasper cried, he cried harder than he had in his entire life, harder than when Ricardo left him, harder than when he realized he was gay and harder than when Brian and him were separated as kids, each going their own way. Brian let Jasper rest his head on his shoulder, the warm tears hitting the floor as they rolled down his back.
"Please Brian" Jasper whispered in his ear, "I'm tired, so very tired." Brian knew that Jasper would be the first one in the room to offer himself as a donor; he also knew that no one else would donate their heart for him. Knowing this, Brian still refused. He didn't want Jasper's heart, no matter how great the gesture, even though he knew that it would be his only chance.
Hartman looked at them, "Have you made your decision?" turning towards Brian and extending a hand. Brian turned towards Jasper, "I knew that you would be the first to do it." Jasper nodded, the tears never ceased, "I just want you to be happy." Brian nodded in return, "Okay then. I'll do it for you." Turning towards Hartman Brain grabbed the outstretched hand, "I made my decision. I've found a donor."
Hartman nodded and walked over to the door and left, saying that the operation would begin the next morning. Brian was going to live, and no one was happier than the family. After most everyone left, Jasper turned towards Brian for what would be the final time and smiled. "Just promise me you'll take better care of it than I did" Brian laughed, "I promise Jasper. I'll treat it as if it were my own."
Brian and Jasper lay on the operation beds, not saying anything and both of them hoping for a positive outcome. Hartman came in dressed in his full scrubs and began the surgery. Halfway into cutting into Brian, Hartman saw a problem. The heart was so sick that continuing the operation would be impossible. There was no way to do the transplant; the heart was barely holding on, the new heart wouldn't be accepted in time, even with morphine and other drugs. It was pointless.
Hartman sewed Brian back up and waited for the sedations to wear off. He took them into the back room separately and told them what happened. He took Brian in first; all the dog could do was stare blankly at the wall and take it in. Jasper's reaction was much more dramatic. He started shaking uncontrollably as the tears ran down his cheeks. When Jasper managed to compose himself enough, they all sat in the operating room deciding on how best to bring up the subject to the family. Brian and Jasper ultimately decided that Hartman would initially break the news. Once that was settled, the three of them headed for the waiting room, hand in hand, hoping that it would go over smoothly.
