Learning to Love (4/?)
By Carol M.
See first part for details.
Sorry this took so long to get updated, but my modem got fried. Damn all the lightning! Enjoy!
As the late night turned to early morning, the group of friends slowly wandered out of the waiting room, eager to get at least a few hours of sleep before work. Ted and Emmett said their goodbyes and promised to visit that evening. Lindsay and Melanie left sometime after with Gus, Lindsay assuring that she would be back the next day to be with Brian. After that, Vic and Ben both left to give Michael some much needed alone time with his mother and best friend. That left Michael and Debbie sitting silently in the waiting room, both still stunned from their five minute visits with Brian.
They sat through the night until the sunshine peaked through the cheap curtains of the typical hospital waiting room as morning dawned in Pittsburgh. Another few hours passed and they were both sound asleep in their chairs, which is the way Dr. Victor found them when he entered the room to give them updated news on Brian's condition. He cleared his throat loudly, which immediately startled Debbie awake. "Doctor?" she said anxiously, wiping at her sleep-filled eyes and trying to look presentable.
"We moved Mr. Kinney to a private room about an hour ago. It looks like he's going to be fine," said Dr. Victor.
"Oh doctor," said Debbie as she stood up and embraced the man. "Thank you."
"What's going on?" interrupted Michael in a sleepy voice.
Debbie let go of the doctor and flashed her son a huge smile. "Brian's going to be okay, sweetheart. Isn't that wonderful news?"
Michael smiled and nodded, a look of relief washing over his face.
Dr. Victor checked his watch and glanced at Debbie and Michael. "Visiting hours start in about an hour. I recommend going home for a few hours of rest and coming back this afternoon. He's still pretty out of it right now. Mr. Kinney has a long road of recovery ahead of him."
Debbie snorted. "Oh don't you worry about Mr. Kinney. He'll do just fine."
The doctor nodded. "Well I have to get back to my other patients. Let one of the nurses know if you need anything."
"Thank you, doctor," said Debbie and Michael simultaneously. As the doctor left the room, Debbie stepped to Michael and gave him a tight embrace. "What did I tell ya, kid? Is Brian Kinney a stubborn bastard or what? The little shit never ceases to amaze me."
Michael laughed. "Me neither," he said, wiping at his tired eyes as he and his mother parted from the hug.
"Honey, why don't you go home and get some sleep. I'll stay here with Brian," said Debbie.
"Ma, I wanna be here with him. He's going to need me," said Michael.
Debbie took Michael's face between her hands. "Of course he will. But not before you get a few hours of sleep in a real bed."
"Ma…"
"Mother's orders. Now get your ass home. I don't want to see you back here until those lines are gone from underneath your eyes," said Debbie firmly. "On your way back here, you can stop at Brian's loft and bring him anything he might need."
Michael nodded. "I'll call his mom and tell her he's going to be okay."
Debbie sighed and shook her head in disgust. "What kind of mother doesn't come to the hospital when her own son's been hurt?"
"Brian's mother, that's who," said Michael.
Debbie frowned and pointed towards the double doors leading into the patient care area. "If that would have been you in there, I would have been with you all night. Not even a blow torch would have been able to pry my hands away from your bedside."
Michael nodded. "I know. Me too."
Debbie smiled with a few tears sparkling in her eyes. "You're a good boy, Michael."
"And you're a good mom… to all of us. Brian's lucky to have you here," said Michael.
"You too, sweetheart," said Debbie. "Now get on home. I'll keep Brian company until everyone comes back."
"Mom can you tell him that…"
"You love him and you're glad he's okay," finished Debbie.
"Yeah," said Michael.
"Be glad to, honey," said Debbie.
"Thanks." And with that, Michael slowly walked out of the waiting room, his shoulders hunched over in exhaustion.
**
As Brian's eyes slowly fluttered open, he nearly started in painful surprise when he saw the concerned face of Debbie staring down at him. He swallowed and furrowed his brow in confusion, trying to determine where he was, who he was and what exactly had happened. "Please tell me we didn't fuck," he crackled out, the vibration of his voice feeling like glass cutting through his throat.
Debbie smirked. "You should be so lucky, kid," she said as she lowered herself to a sitting position on his bed. "You were in an accident. You've got some broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a touch of whiplash and a hell of a whack on the head, but the doctor says you're going to be fine." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Brian as gently as she could, not wanting to hurt him.
"Deb," whispered Brian awkwardly.
Debbie didn't seem to hear him and continued to smother him.
"Deb," he whispered again. When he realized the Deb had no intention of letting him go, he smiled slightly and carefully brought his good arm around to rest on her back. They stayed in that position for several long seconds before Debbie slowly let go of Brian.
"You stupid little bastard," she said as she brought her hand up and smacked him hard in the chin.
"Ow," yelped Brian. "What the fuck Deb?"
"That's for nearly getting yourself killed. You were lucky…damned lucky that you didn't die or hurt somebody else in that crash," said Debbie with a pointed finger. "Doctor said you had enough drugs in you to kill most people."
Brian smirked. "Well I'm not most people, remember?"
"That you're not. You're the luckiest fag in all of Pittsburgh, that's who you are," answered Debbie.
"What can I say? It's great to be me," he said sarcastically as he brought a hand up to his face, feeling the coarseness of bandages and the swollen tight skin of bruises. "How do I look?"
Debbie snorted. "You nearly die in a fucking car crash and all you care about is how you look?"
A serious expression flashed over Brian's face. "Am I still beautiful?" he asked in a soft voice.
Debbie glanced at him and then quickly began sorting through her purse, pulling out a small compact mirror. "See for yourself," she said as she handed him the mirror.
Brian grabbed the mirror and held it up to his face, gasping at his reflection. "Christ, I look like a bottom that got nailed by every beefy top on the Steelers." He handed the mirror back to Debbie and sighed dramatically. "I guess I'm no longer young and beautiful."
"Hey," said Debbie in a pissed off tone. "Looks aren't everything, Kinney. I wouldn't care of you looked like Freddy Krueger. I'm just grateful you're still alive and breathing."
"Well unfortunately, your opinion isn't shared by the rest of the homosexual population of greater Pittsburgh," said Brian.
"They're just cuts and bruises for Christ sakes. They heal and so will you," said Debbie.
"If you say so, Deb," said Brian.
"I do," she said firmly.
Brian shifted slightly and grimaced. "So where's old Joan?" he asked in a pain-filled voice. "She out in the hallway trying to land herself some rich, do gooding doctor?"
Debbie avoided Brian's gaze for a moment, her eyes shifting to the tile of the floor. "Honey, she's not here…but she sends her love," she said, finally looking Brian in the eyes.
For a moment, a look of hurt flashed across his face, which just as quickly dissolved into a look of blankness. "I guess dear old mom just couldn't handle the sight of her beloved queer son laid up in the hospital."
Debbie grabbed a hold of Brian's hand. "Sweetie…"
Brian shook off the concern he could feel radiating off of her. "It's okay, Deb, you've got enough mother in you to go around," said Brian.
Debbie nodded. "That I do," she said proudly. "I told Michael to pick up some things from your apartment. Christ what a mess he was. He was here all night until I forced him to home and get some sleep."
"And now I want you to do the same thing," said Brian as he squeezed Debbie's hand tightly and then let it go. "You look like shit."
"You really know how to sweet talk a girl, don't you?" said Debbie sarcastically.
"Hey, I deal in cock, not pussy," said Brian as his good arm came around to brace against his aching ribs. "Oh and before you go, can you tell my doc to up my pain meds? My ribs are fucking killing me."
"What do you expect, honey? Your body's like a chemistry experiment. Two hospital strength Tylenol ain't gonna cut it," said Debbie.
Brian gave her a fake smile and then settled back against his pillows, closing his eyes.
"He was here you know," said Debbie.
Brian opened one eye and looked up at her curiously. "Who?"
"Justin," said Debbie softly.
Brian closed his eye and sighed. "Justin who?"
Debbie shook her head. "Cute, very cute. Considering that you're lying in this bed because of him."
Brian's eyes shot open. "I'm lying in this bed because my dealer gave me a fucked up mix of drugs, nothing more."
Debbie swallowed a laugh. "Just keep telling yourself that, kid." She stood up from the bed. "Don't think you can sweet talk your way out of dealing with him. This conversation isn't over, not by a long shot."
"My dick's getting hard just thinking about it," mumbled Brian sarcastically.
"I'll let you be in peace…for now. Michael and the others will be by later tonight." She leaned down and gave Brian a peck on the forehead. "Feel better, sweetie," she as she ruffled his hair.
Brian nodded slightly and let his eyes drift shut, trying to block out not only the aches coming from his entire body, but also the sharp pain coming straight from his heart. "Fuck it," he whispered to himself as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
TBC