A Healing Hand

by darkgirl3

With Debbie's persistance Brian goes with her to check on Justin at Ethan's. They end up taking Justin to the hospital when they get there. (I will post a chapter each week. I have it already finished so no worries on that)

6. Warm Soup

I Own Nothing

Question: Anyone out there that reads these do Jigsaw Puzzles? Sounds off the wall question I know, but next Wednesday it will be understood. Was asking in advance. I posted this in Date Night On Ice too so if see there or here don't have answer in both. Was taking a poll kind of.

AN: I don't know if back in the early 2000's they had take home nebulizers like my GMA has, but I added it here. So if not forgive that it's hard to remember what was back then. Even if was only a decade ago things have improved so much.

CN: Justin gets some warm soup in him after some more z's. He also talks with Brian about the Michael problem.

Title: A Healing Hand

Chapter Title: Warm Soup

"Soup has at least another two hours to cook before it's done, but I can make you a snack if you're hungry." Brian offered setting the orange juice down.

He got Justin comfortable again in the bed putting the covers up to his nose. He knew how cold Justin could get even before he got sick. Being touched by Justin's cold feet sometimes could make him jump. He didn't want him to be cold now or ever feel like he had before. Justin was the only thing that mattered to him right now. The outside world had to wait because he wanted to get the man he loved back to feeling better.

"I'm just going to go back to sleep dream about when I'm better and you can fuck me again. I was dreaming about you buying me a dog when he showed up." Justin said pulling the covers down some. He was a little hot even if his body was cold still. He knew that Brian could warm him up the most, but he was still fixing the soup.

"Okay, you keep dreaming about that dog. I knew you didn't love cats." Brian grinned kissing Justin's forehead. "I won't only fuck you, that's not the only thing we did." He didn't want Justin to feel like he was only his fuck toy.

He'd heard those words before in reference to who Justin was to him. Even Ian had said that was the only reason he wanted Justin back. It was a horrible realization to think that was all anyone saw them as. Before he didn't know what he would have said to it, but not no. He had told Justin that too, one of the things they talked about while he'd been in the hospital. He had needed Justin to know he didn't only want to use him for sex. There had been some things he'd done with Justin that hadn't been only sex. He'd done the movies once and there was this one secret night no one knew about. He had gone with Justin ice skating, yeah he had done that which the skates were still somewhere in the loft. He'd bought them, but they never had gone back.

"I do love cats, but love dogs too." Justin said snuggling down into the covers again. "Only thing I'll miss is the cat. Just hope doesn't freeze too." He murmured. "I know you love me, Bri. My body might be sick, but my head got better already." He sighed happily letting his self fall back asleep.

Brian kissed the top of his head that was barely showing now. Justin had pulled the covers back up again. He knew he was switching between hot and cold so he was going to leave the covers were they where. He went back to the kitchen checking on the soup before he sat at the computer again. He sighed running his hand over his face. He would pick Justin over anyone that tried to get between them. He hoped that Michael was the only one that he'd have a problem out of. He would end relations with anyone that didn't like Justin.

He had decided that right after he'd tossed Michael out the damn door. Fuck the asshole because a almost sixteen year friendship meant shit to him if he couldn't love the man he was with. The only reason he'd ever interfered with Michael's life before was that doctor David had been practically controlling Michael. Justin never controlled him so there was a huge difference, at least he thought so. He could only hope that Ben didn't come to have words with him again over this too. He liked the guy and not because they'd had sex. Ben was a great friend even if he acted like he could careless towards him at times Brian liked him. Justin got after him for the nickname he had, but Zen Ben wasn't a bad thing to be.

He would be glad when Justin was better because he hated seeing him the way he was. He didn't like seeing anyone sick. He had made like it wasn't a big deal, but when Gus had gotten sick that time; on the inside he'd been scared. Who wouldn't be if they had a heart? He had one, but Justin had to chisel it out from under the layers of wood or maybe it was ice it got under. Gus had helped on that too even Jennifer and Daphne as well because they were great to be around. Justin's sister Molly was even cool in his book.

He did make one decision though that he was buying the rights to the comic book from Michael. He knew that there was an agreement of three more after the first one if it did a certain amount of good. It had sold out in stores the first week and the money he'd spent on advertisement had already been made back. He would have to look into how that went because Justin wasn't going to have to worry about anything besides getting better. Michael was also hating on Justin still which the way he blew up finding him at the loft proved that. He would get the rights and also whatever it might cost to break the contract.

He couldn't go back to being a friend let alone a best friend to someone who wanted the man he loved dead. They had almost sixteen years as friends, some never lasted a month. Justin was who would be there for him the most. Justin was there for him even when others weren't. He never had put him down for anything or put conditions on loving him. The only thing Justin had ever asked him for was to know he was loved for loving him so fierce. He had screwed that up the first time, he wouldn't now.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

It was an hour after the soup was done before Justin woke back up. It was also time for his medication and one of the breathing treatments. Justin went with the food first since his stomach felt so empty. The pills needed food with them as well so it made sense to do that. Brian had brought the food tray to the bed not wanting Justin to have to move out of the cocoon he was warm in. Justin was using his left hand since his right was still a little shaky. He hated that being sick was messing with his hand.

It had scared him more than he'd let Brian believe. It had also seized up a lot more than he'd let on too. He thought it might be from him being cold. There was also the fact he was probably worrying more about it that was making him feel even worse. He knew that Brian was there so his mind should be at ease. It was only his brain working too hard at trying to clear it maybe. Michael earlier hadn't helped his mood either.

After what he'd heard it was like a kick to the gut again. There was no way he was going to keep working on the comic with him. He hadn't said anything to Brian, but Michael had been in his face more than once over it. He'd also thrown in his face the contract and what Brian had spent to put it out there. Everything had caught up to him and the pneumonia on top of that had him wanting to hide away. Being told he was nothing but a gold digger who cared about nothing but his self was awful to hear.

Saying he was taking away from what Gus should have had made him feel even worse. Two of the things Michael had used against him, the Gus one had hurt more than the first. He hated the day that Michael had found out about Brian loaning him the money for college. The fucking ass had been in Brian's apartment looking at the mail. Brian had set it aside going to the bathroom, but Michael had picked it up reading it. He screwed up Michael brought the damn loan back up.

Justin was being a little bit stubborn wanting to fed his self. It went back to trying to do for his self since for a while he'd felt like he had no one after he walked out. He was here now and safe, but he needed his brain to remember that. It was the first time he could eat with a spoon he'd been on liquids so he wanted to do it. Brian let Justin not wanting him to feel helpless. He had secured a towel around Justin just in case he dropped something. It wouldn't get on his clothes or the covers.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

Justin smiled knowing what Brian was doing as he took small spoonfuls. He was happy that it was an unspoken understanding between them. Brian had made the soup into almost mush so he didn't have to chew it really. He didn't understand how when you were sick why your mouth hurt too. His ears had been stopped up as well, but they didn't hurt like they had when he'd first gotten sick. The pills had cleared that up, but he had been given stuff to wash them out once a day. They weren't popping every time he had to blow his nose or cough either.

Brian had already eaten a bowl full while Justin had been sleeping. He had to make sure took care of his self too or Justin would worry which would be bad. He had his arm around Justin now letting him lean his head against his shoulder between bites. He kept moving his hand over Justin's side while he ate. He hadn't put a lot into Justin's bowl knowing he wouldn't be able to eat a lot of the soup yet. He'd blended it up but didn't make it like the hospital had. He knew that Justin had hated drinking the food.

He was glad that Justin's throat wasn't hurting like it had the first two days at the hospital. There was something in the throat spray that Justin was allergic to so he hadn't been able to have that. It hadn't made him feel better, but Ted had given him some cough drops which had helped. His lips weren't as cracked like they had been either. He would put the Vaseline back on them after Justin breathed later. He placed kisses on other area's of Justin's face for now. He'd also placed a kiss or two over Justin's heart when he'd been changing him. He loved him and never wanted Justin to think he didn't anymore.

While Justin had been sleeping he'd watched him at for a little. He'd also let his self have a moment he had needed to let his fears out. Though before Justin had woken up he made sure that he couldn't see that he'd been crying. The fear of Justin dying were still haunting him. It wasn't only now though because it went back to the bashing. Also there might have been a horrible nightmare of Michael doing it. He hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch after the soup had been done, but he had. That had made him never want to sleep again.

Once Justin had finished the soup, cleaning the bowl, Brian and he sat there for a little. He knew he needed to take the pills and breathe, but he was sleepy with the food in his stomach. He had no energy at all and when he'd had to go to the bathroom earlier he'd almost wanted to cry. He'd wanted to walk there his self, which Brian had let him do. Though he'd been leaning against Brian a lot.

It would have been easier if he'd let Brian take him there. He'd wanted to feel like he could do something as simple as go to the bathroom. Though he had given in sitting down on the toilet to pee. He couldn't stand up and aim with how dizzy he felt. He had also let Brian take him back to the bed without putting up a fight. He'd felt a little bit of that freedom going there, but he'd felt like every bit of his energy had drained with the simple task. It had been nice leaning his head against Brian though feeling his arms around him.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

Brian let him sleep for a little bit just holding him close for half an hour so the food could settle some. Justin took the medicine and Brian let him drift for a few minutes. He didn't want Justin to get sick if the meds in the machine didn't mix with the ones he was taking. Justin had thrown up in the hospital once because something hadn't agreed with him after he'd eaten and breathed. He wasn't about to cause Justin to feel that way again if he could help it.

He finally hooked up the machine letting him breathe after another half an hour. He knew Justin hated the stuff, but it was helping since the stronger medicine made him sick. He'd teased Justin that it was like having a baby you needed to breathe in deep. Justin had rolled his eyes at him mumbling to bite him. He had been glad to see a little smile on Justin's face instead of nothing there.

"When you're well I'll gladly bite you anywhere you want me to." Brian said kissing Justin's temple. "I love you, Sunshine. I hate that you're this sick, but maybe it was our way back. I was standing at that door trying to knock for days." He admitted he had mentioned it once, but he hadn't known if Justin remembered. He had only woken up when he'd told him.

"What?" Justin asked his voice sounding off from being sick and the mask over his face. He thought he had been dreaming those words or remembered wrong.

"You're not the only stubborn one. I missed two days because of work or I would have noticed the cold and knocked. I'd rather not talk about it though. Just want to sit here with you and get you better. Want to be able to sleep too cause it's been a while since I haven't knocked myself out with JD to fall sleep." Brian confessed.

"We're both idiots, we can talk about other stuff now." Justin agreed not wanting to keep dwelling on how badly they both screwed up. "I just have one question, why'd you punch Michael?" It had been eating at him since he saw it happen.

"He was an ass, if we hadn't found you he would have got what he said should have done to start with. Leave you there to die." Brian sighed hearing Justin take in a deeper breath than he had been. "So I want to know something. Do you want me to buy his half of the comic out or tell him you don't want to do it anymore? I'd rather you have it because if you think about it he's using our lives to write the thing." He asked wanting Justin's opinion on it.

Justin knew that Brian wouldn't have hit Michael over nothing unless it was that bad. He thought about what Brian was asking him. He'd thought of going with having nothing to do with it ever. There was only so much fun it could be when you were told constantly stuff was wrong. However, the idea of having it to his self sounded better. He loved the comic book his self, but knowing that it was all about his life with Brian made it feel more personal. He didn't think Michael should get to write it out, but back then he had let it go.

Now he liked Brian's option because he wanted nothing to do with Michael. The man had said to leave him on the ground bleeding out. What kind of person would say that, not one he wanted in his life. He wanted to go over there and punch the crap out of Michael his self. Though he couldn't get to the bathroom without help so he'd have to wait. He would get his thoughts out though that was going to be for sure.

"Yes, we could write it out together. I know you know about comic books. I've seen the secret stash you have of Green Arrow. It's safe with me like I know I am with you. You can use the money I made off of Rage to do it." Justin said. It sounded distorted because of the mask, but Brian understood what he said.

"No, that's your money. The only thing you're using that for is to get what you want. Also investing some might be good. I'll take care of getting all of the rights to the comic book. I'm certain I can use the fact he is using our lives to write it as proof enough that its plagiarism on his part." Brian said.

He wasn't about to take money from Justin. Even though he'd agreed for Justin to pay him back for college he had put a clause in it that Justin hadn't seen. He had to wait until Justin was two hundred before he could give him a dime back on that loan. He wanted only Justin's love in return. He knew people didn't' live to be that rip old age so he would be safe in knowing he spent the money well without Justin worrying about paying him back. He would call his lawyer after Justin went back to sleep so he would have that taken care of. Justin wouldn't have to deal with Michael at all with this taking place. He also was going to have to look into getting the locks changed. He figured as bad as Michael was about losing keys he'd have more than one made. So lawyer and locksmith were two people he needed to get a hold of.

"Okay." Justin said deciding he would finish out the stuff in silence. His throat was scratchy and he didn't feel like talking anymore.

He kept taking breaths until the medicine ran out. Brian had given him the long one since with the time he couldn't do two unless he gave him another one at two in the morning. He'd do it though if it meant Justin got well faster. Brian took it off before taking it to wash it out for the one he'd have to do next time. He had to use white vinegar and Dawn on it. Dawn was one of the dish soaps Justin wasn't allergic to thankfully. After he put up the food he got back in the bed with Justin.

Brian knew it would be another week or so before they could have their favorite sleeping position. However, his other favorite was Justin the way he was now with Justin's head resting on his chest. He breathed in the scent that was a mix of Justin and the soap. It was also him mixed in as well since Justin had been surrounded in his scent most of the day. More than once at the hospital Justin had wanted him in the bed with him. It had been the only time Justin had really gotten any sleep. He hadn't even woken up for a while.

He laid there listening to Justin breathing like he had at the hospital every night. It had gotten better with each passing one. He knew that it would finally clear up altogether. The doctor had said it could take up to six months for all of the problems to go away though; especially his breathing. He closed his eyes tight not wanting to think of what he'd seen all week in his restless sleep. He felt Justin snuggle in close and it didn't even bother him that he'd thought it was snuggling. He wasn't going to let there be a third time that Justin could have died.

~TBC~

Thank you to all my readers for your brilliant ideas and comments on the last chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy this and I have edited this to go with the answers I got. I also came up with an entire new chapter so that is why this became a 13 chapter story instead of 12.