7. Coming Home Part 2
Gus Peterson was a coward. Chris was helping him to find his dad but then Debbie had called for God knows what and he had went on search on his own. WE he found him, he didn't know what to do. He saw him struggling with the seatbelt and he knew the right thing to do was to help, but where was Justin? Who had put his father in this predicament? He wanted to help, but he didn't want to belittle his father. Even as he saw him panicking in his seat and practically crying, he didn't help; instead he ran. He ran like a little kid, and now he stood in his bedroom with the lights off hoping no one would find him.
"Hey you, where did you disappear to; did you find him?" Christina asked.
"Oh I found him, but he was talking and I didn't want to interrupt." Gus lied.
"Really? I didn't even know that he came in yet, I saw Justin but I didn't see him. He must've have gone upstairs or something. No harm, come on let's go and talk to him.
"I don't know, it's getting to be a lot of people here, and you know how it can be. How about you and I go and grab a burger or something and come back when it's quieter?" Gus asked hoping for once she was just go with him and not try to analyze everything.
"You have to stop running. He's home now and he's going to be living in the house with you. You will see him every day, there's no more running. Now I know if I were your dad I would be dying to see you. The two of you are so close, don't you think he wants to see you?" she asked.
"No. That's not him, okay!" Gus snapped.
"I lied. I lied to you about going to see my dad." He cried.
"What are you talking about? No one told me you went to see him, he didn't even tell me when I went to see him. He thought you were going to come in. He kept asking for you and then I had to lie and say you had Izzy, you should have seen the hurt on his face. You told me you didn't go and see him, when did you go and see him?" she asked confused.
"I went right after he had the fire in the room. Mom came back and she was upset and they said that he had set the room on fire, and I thought back to Britin burning and how upset he was after finding Sarah and so I went there. They said that he had been upset and they had finally gotten him to calm down and I could go in. I went in like a fool and he was…they had …they had tied him to the bed. His arms and his legs and he was trying to break free and he was mad. He was crazy, I went and I tried to comfort him and I told him that I was Gus and he told me that I wasn't. He didn't fucking know who I was. I called for the nurse and she told me that it was normal. That they had to give him something to calm him down and with his injury sometimes it affects the mind. He was crazy; I don't know who that man was but it was not my father."
Christina really didn't know what to say when he told her that. She realized that if it was her father and she went and saw him like that it would mess up her big time. She wouldn't be running from him though. She would be there for him to tell him that it was going to be alright. Gus had to stop being so afraid. He had been abandoned by so many people, but during all of this his father had been there for him and well it was time that he be there for his dad.
"Gus, they said that it was because of the drugs that he was acting that way. He's better now; when I went and saw him he told me all these stories about when you were a kid. He loves you so much. He only forgot who I was twice and that's understandable since it was only his second time meeting me and both times were after his injury. He told me about your trains, and he was so worried that you wouldn't want to see him that way. He was so afraid that you wouldn't want him to be your dad. He was afraid that you would think he left you and he's right. The two of you are so much alike that it hurts sometimes."
"No Christina, I thought that would be the case. That it was just a bad moment when I caught him but when I got outside he was still in the car. He couldn't get out, I think Justin had the child locks on and he just left him there to fend for himself. How the hell could he do that, just leave him in the car?" Gus asked getting upset.
"Justin doesn't know if he's coming or going at the moment. He's worried about your dad and Izzy and of course you, but through all of this he is worried about your dad because something keeps telling him that he is not going to get back the man that he loves, and he's still clinging to that. You can see that when you talk to Justin. He doesn't talk about what's going on with Brian now, all of his memories are in the past and when Brian gets back to normal. He is normal. Don't you love him Gus?" she asked quietly.
"Of course I love him, don't ask something like that, Christina; you know I love my father."
Christina knew that she had cut a chord because he was speaking to her using her whole name.
"Then get your ass down those stairs and give him the biggest hug you can give. He needs you right now, because Justin isn't enough. He needs us all."
"I know. Could you just give me a moment alone, please?"
"Gus?" she questioned.
"I'm just going to change and wash my face; I'll be down in ten minutes. If I'm not, you can come in here and get me."
"Okay, I think I am going to get a slice of your grandma's cake. I'll be timing you, mister." Then she kissed him on the cheek and left the room.
Joan Kinney watched from a distance as her son and his daughter entered the house. She could tell immediately that something had him upset. She and Brian hadn't totally forgiven each other for things said in the past but they at least were civil with each other. He had allowed her to come back to his family when she had a stroke three years ago. She still didn't approve of his lifestyle but when he took her in his home and cared for her when her own daughter refused, she got to know Justin as a person and as a person she quite liked him a lot. She couldn't understand their relationship but she treasured the friendship she had forged with Justin and little Izzy even called her grandma. She wanted to go to her son, but would he allow her to give him comfort? She was about to find out.
Brian couldn't believe the comfort that his little girl was providing for him. She shouldn't be the one providing comfort; it should be the other way around, but here he was sitting in their favorite spot while she went on and on about everything just like it was a typical night. They were guests all around at a party he guesses for him but he was glad no one seemed to bother or even care that he was there.
"So do you want me to go and get the cake now daddy?" Izzy asked.
"Yea, why don't you go ahead and tell grandma to give us both a slice. Get yourself a big one but a small one for me."
"Did I hear someone say something about my cake?" Joan asked as she approached them both with a slice of her cake.
"Thanks mom." Brian stated as he took the fork in his hand. Sometimes his hands would shake when he was upset and he tried not to seem upset because Izzy was there and she still thought he was the same, but when he took the fork his hand shook.
"Izzy, do you want to do you think you can be a good girl and do your grandma a favor?" Joan asked.
"Oh yea, I sure can I can do you a favor." She answered excited about what she could be doing.
"Well you just can't have chocolate cake without milk and on the counter in the kitchen are two glasses of milk I fixed for you and your daddy; why don't you go on in there and get them and then you can have your cake."
"I can do that. I'll be right back daddy; you can go ahead and eat if you like. It looks so good." Then she ran from the living room leaving them alone.
Brian once again reached for the fork and tried again to complete the simple task of eating his cake but once again his hand shook. He was upset, he had all the right to be; his partner left him a car to rot, it was his party but no one was talking to him. His son hated him, Justin too. The only person who wanted to carry on a conversation with him was a 4 year old. He wasn't that far gone, was he? If he was, he truly was pathetic.
"I remember when I had just had my stroke." Joan started as she took the fork from her son and fed him a forkful of his favorite cake. "My emotions were everywhere, I would be so upset one minute, and insanely happy the next. I didn't know what was the matter with me; they told me that after the brain suffers a shock of some kind that it can take a while for everything to find a balance. You remember me then, I could barely move. I didn't want anyone doing a thing for me, and I couldn't even walk. Your baby was barely walking but you got me here and you took care of me, Brian. That's when I got to know Justin as more than just your boy. You were there for me Brian and I was a horrible person to you."
"Mom." Brian said, trying to make her stop.
"Let me finish, I was a horrible person. The things that I turned away from while your father…I partially wonder if all those times that I let him hit you is that why you ended up like this. I'm not saying that you are different because you aren't. Not where it matters, I think that now you're just turning into that sweet little boy that I knew. I'm here for you Brian; if it gets too much, or if you need someone to scream at you can use me. I know that Debbie is your mom, but I'm still your mother." Then she wiped his mouth and waited for that to sink in.
"Don't fall for it you idiot!" Brian thought. She can't be trusted. She'll just pull you in and then when you think that she loves you, she'll run away. She can't handle you, she doesn't appreciate you. You took her in, when her own daughter wouldn't and what did you get in the end? Nothing. Now she's even got Izzy on her side; don't do it." Brian told himself.
"I'm so scared." He said and he let his mom take him in her arms. He cried. He knew that he was being the biggest fag around but so what. He had brain damage and the person that he thought would love him forever is already turning against him or something like that. He has no one. He has her and she wants to be there for him. So be it. For now she was supplying what he needed..
All he needed was this cigarette and then everything would be okay. Brian didn't like him smoking and he could understand that coming from a guy who had cancer but he needed this to calm his nerves and then be able to take the rest of the day. He looked at his watch and it was after five. Why were they still there? That had seen Brian and he was… "Oh shit!" Justin said to himself and he ran around the front of the house to where he left the car. It was empty of course. He took a sigh of relief when he saw that Brian was out.
"So what are your plans?" Emmett asked Brian as he took a seat across from him on the sofa.
"Plans?" Brian asked confused.
"Well yea sweetie, they did say that you could go back to work right. I mean, I thought it was just a memory thing. I knew they said that you probably wouldn't remember some things that happened a few months right before it happened which is good because we had a superhero night at Babylon honey, and well let's just say that a certain someone wanted you and him to Cosplay his creation and spandex is not your friend. So what are your plans are you going back to work?"
"They won't want me there."
"Honey it's not about what they want; that's your pride and joy. You put on your best suit and Monday morning you walk in there and you show them who exactly Brian Fucking Kenny is."
"You're right, I've been feeling down and crying and I need to remember that. I need to take back what I want. Thanks Em, I knew there was a reason I kept you around."
Emmett watched his friend bounce up the stairs with some pep in his step. He had seen the exchange between Brian and his mother and how folks didn't seem to know what to say to him. He found it heartbreaking; this was supposed to be his welcome home party and the whole time he spent with his daughter and his mother. They had to stop this and they had to stop it now. Brian would never recover if people focused on what he couldn't do instead what he still could.
Justin walked into their bedroom once again wishing that they would just leave. He had to put Brian to bed; he was tired by now. He needed to rest; didn't they realize that. He turned around and was startled when Brian was there.
"Hi. I didn't know you were up here. I've been trying to get them to leave, Brian. I know you need your rest."
"I don't need rest. I'm not tired, and yea I finally made it up here after you left me in the car with the safety locks on!" Brian said angrily.
"Oh Brian, I'm so sorry, are you alright." Justin asked as he came and sat beside him taking his hand checking his pulse.
"That's what I'm talking about right there, I'm not an invalid. They said I could come home but I don't think you want me here at all."
"That's not true; of course I want you to come home. It's been crazy without you here. I'm so glad you're home." Justin said and he gently kissed him on the cheek.
Brian took this as a chance to take back what he missed the most. He kissed Justin deeply on the mouth. He wanted to savor it; take a few moments just to feel the inside of his mouth. It felt like ages since they kissed like this. He loved how Justin just turned to mush and melted for him. He slid his hand under his shirt and was relieved to find him aroused. He undid his zipper and couldn't help the smile when he was practically coming by his touch.
"Justin." He moaned as he lowered his lover to the bed. He climbed on top of him and undid his fly. He had missed this so; he wanted to be buried deep inside his lover this was going to be so….
"What did you say?" Brian asked confused.
"I said don't." Justin replied.
"What? Why are you telling me to stop; I can tell that you want this, the body doesn't lie." Brian said unbelieving what was going on.
"You've only just gotten home; it's been a long day. Let's get you to bed and then we can have this time for us tomorrow."
"Really? So you are going to pencil me in for a fuck then?" Brian stated getting upset.
"Don't get upset, you know what the therapist said." Justin stated backing towards the door.
"What the fuck is the matter with you? Why did you even bring me home? It's so clear to me that you don't want me here? You should have just left me in that place. I'm not like that, I'm fine. Why don't you love me anymore?" Brian was upset but he wouldn't cry damn it. Brian Fucking Kinney didn't cry; he fucking got what he wanted.
He walked toward Justin on a mission. He was going to show him who he was. They had done lots of things in the bedroom and he knew that his partner liked it rough. He walked toward Justin and grabbed him forcefully and threw him on the bed. He couldn't really tell what look was on Justin's face, if it was shock, or fear, or excitement. He didn't care. It was time that Justin realized that he was still the same man. He kissed Justin, pulling and his hair and the man gasped in his mouth. He knew it, Justin loved him. Justin still wanted this. When he stopped for a breath to look at his lover to make sure he hadn't crossed the line he was happy to find his lover smiling back at him.
"I love you so much." Justin said.
"I know." He said with a smirk and begsn to kiss him. Justin let him remove his pants this time and stood up to turn back the bed.
"Come on let's go to bed." Justin invited him.
"What about the guests?" Brian asked.
"When they hear what we're doing they'll get the hint and go home." Justin stated.
Brian was ashamed of what he was about to say but he hoped his lover would understand.
"I need to go to the bathroom first." He stated looking embarrassed.
"Oh that's fine, go right ahead I'll just get under the covers.
"Okay." Brian stated cheerfully and went to the bathroom. Justin was glad that he closed the door. He quickly went to the things that they had brought home and he found the vial he was looking for. He got out a syringe and filled it with the prescribed amount. He was sorry for doing this, really he was; but it had been a long day and he really was not up to making love with Brian right now. He needed his rest to get better. He quickly climbed into bed, and put the syringe in his left hand where Brian wouldn't see.
"Sorry." He stated as he climbed into bed.
"Now where were we?"
"Right here." Justin stated and he leaned into his lover and gave him a long kiss. He really missed this, tasting the taste of Brian's mouth wash on his tongue. "I'm so sorry." Then he plunged the needle into his shoulder.
"For what?" Brian asked surprised and then the look utter betrayal came over his face and it hurt Justin. He didn't know what to make of it.
"Why?" was all he managed as his head fell upon Justin chest, he was out cold.
"Welcome home sweetheart, I really have missed you." He stated and he pulled him up in the bed and covered him. He would sleep for a good eight hours, and he wouldn't be alone. He fixed his clothes and decided it was time to get rid of his guests, and then he'd return to Brian.