Learning to Love (3/?)

By Carol M.

See first part for details

Here's some more. Enjoy!

Six hours later, the crowd of friends were sitting in the same waiting room they had sat in over a year ago when they were waiting to hear the news of Justin after he'd been bashed. Michael was sitting in a chair between Ben and Debbie, who were both during their best to console him. Vic was absently looking through an old issue of Cosmo, while Emmett sucked down a tasteless cup of coffee and Ted tapped his foot impatiently on the floor. Lindsay and Melanie had Gus tucked between the two of them, the young child trying his best to get away from his mommies and walk around the waiting room.

They were all taken by surprise when the door suddenly burst open and Justin ran through it, looking like he had just run a marathon. "Where is he?" he said urgently to no one in particular.

" Oh Sunshine," said Debbie sympathetically. "The doctors are still looking him over. We haven't heard anything yet."

Michael stood up and pointed to the door. "You shouldn't be here. Leave."

"Michael," said Debbie.

"No ma, he has no right to be here. Not after what he did," said Michael.

"I still care about him Michael. No matter what happens, that'll never change," said Justin. He backed away and took a seat next to Lindsay and Melanie.

Debbie pulled on Michael's arm and motioned for him to sit back down. "Sit down, sweetheart."

Michael sighed and begrudgingly sat back down, his head coming to rest against Debbie's shoulder. "We should call Brian's mom."

"I already did," said Debbie.

"And?" asked Michael.

"She said to keep her informed," said Debbie grimly.

"So she's not coming?" asked Michael. "Christ, his own mother doesn't care enough to come down to the hospital and see if he's okay," he said angrily.

Debbie shrugged. "She said something about seeing enough of hospitals when Jack was sick."

Michael shook his head. "That's no excuse."

"Don't you worry sweetie, he's got us. Believe me, if he doesn't already know he's loved, then by the time this whole mess is done with, he will," said Debbie.

"If he makes it out of this mess," said Michael.

"Michael Charles Novotny. I will not let you be negative about this. Brian will be just fine I guarantee it. Don't you worry about a thing," assured Debbie.

Michael nodded. "Thanks mom."

They all looked up eagerly a second later when the doctor treating Brian entered the room. "I need to speak with the immediate family of Brian Kinney."

"We're all his immediate family, doctor," said Debbie. "How is he?"

"Well, Mr. Kinney is suffering from a severe concussion, multiple rib fractures, a dislocated shoulder, as well as a bad case of whiplash. He also sustained some deep cuts and bruises to the rest of his body. We have him in ICU right now to monitor him overnight. If he makes it through all right, then we should be moving him to a private room sometime tomorrow afternoon," said the doctor.

Justin stood up eagerly. "So he's going to be all right?"

"Barring any complications, then yes, eventually he should be all right. He's going to need quite a bit of recovery time however and might require some physical therapy," said the doctor.

"I'm sure he'll love that," said Emmett.

"Can we see him?" asked Lindsay.

"Family only," said the doctor. "

"Doctor, we're practically brothers," said Michael.

"And he's my…boy…ex-boyfriend," said Justin.

"I'm sorry, but only immediate family," said the doctor, eyeing Justin strangely.

"May I go?" asked Lindsay. "He's the father of our baby," she said as she motioned to Melanie.

"I don't know about that," said the doctor uneasily.

Debbie sighed. "Look, doctor…"

"Victor," said the doctor.

"Doctor Victor," said Debbie. "The truth is, Brian's immediate family isn't here. Now the people that are in this room right now may not be his blood, but they care just as much if not more about him than his real family. Give us a break. Let us go see him. Don't make him lie back there all alone wondering if anyone gives a shit about him."

Doctor Victor glanced around at the group of friends and then nodded his head. "Very well. But only three of you can go for five minute visits each. I'll warn you that he's still unconscious and looks pretty bad."

"I'm going," said Justin as he stood up from his chair and stepped towards the doctor.

"The fuck you are," said Michael.

"Mike, just let him go," said Ted.

"It's because of him that Brian almost died," said Michael.

"Michael, let Justin see him," said Debbie firmly. "Don't make me say it again."

Michael sat back and nodded wordlessly.

"All right, follow me young man," said Doctor Victor as he led Justin through a pair of doors. The doctor walked him passed a bustling nurses station and then led him into a large room separated into sections by large white separators. Justin could hear the beeps of various medical equipment and shuddered at the memory of his own time in the hospital.

"He's right in here," said Doctor Victor as he pulled away the curtain to reveal Brian's unconscious form. "Remember, five minutes."

Justin nodded and then slowly stepped forward, afraid to take a close look at Brian. When he finally did, he almost wished he hadn't. Brian's forehead was almost completely covered with a large bandage unsuccessfully hiding a bloody, painful looking bump. His left cheek had a harsh scrape along one side and his nose was bruised and still slightly bloody. His shoulder was secured against his chest in a sling while his neck was wrapped in a collar to aid in the whiplash. As his gaze drifted down Brian's shirtless body, he could make out the bruises from broken ribs under a sea of bandages, along with more cuts and scrapes.

All the breath left Justin's body and he had to grab a hold of the bed to keep from falling to the floor. "Jesus, Brian, you look like shit," he said, fighting off the urge to burst into tears. He stepped forward and gently took Brian's hand in his own. "I'm so sorry," he said as he pressed a delicate kiss to the soft unblemished skin of Brian's hand. Then he let go and backed away slowly, his eyes never leaving Brian's face. "Love you," he whispered as he turned around and ran out of the room. He dashed past the nurse's station and back out into the waiting room, meeting the looks of surprise from everyone in the room with trepidation. "Someone else can see him," he whispered in a shaky voice.

Debbie cleared her throat. "Justin…you okay?"

Justin collapsed in a chair, his hand over his face. "I'm fine." He stood up suddenly a few seconds later and would've fallen to the floor if Emmett hadn't have reached out to steady him. "I have to go."

"Sunshine…"

Justin gave her an awkward glance. "I have to go," he repeated. He looked at the rest of Brian's friends, feeling like he didn't belong with them anymore. "Bye," he said softly as he quickly paced out the door.

"Poor guy," said Lindsay.

"Well we wouldn't be here if boy wonder hadn't have run off with the wrong Prince Charming," said Michael. He stood up and glanced down at Debbie. "I'm gonna go see him." And with that, he disappeared through the double doors, leaving the rest of the friends to contemplate the night's events.

TBC