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)

8. Time With Mom

I Own Nothing

AN: Wanted to include a chapter with Justin and his mom so wrote this one. Thanks for reviews and hope still enjoying.

CN: Jennifer and Justin time together while Brian's at the office.

Title: A Healing Hand

Brian had woken up before the alarm clock went off even though he hadn't wanted to. Justin was asleep after a rough few hours where he'd woken up coughing. Brian knew he'd gotten hot under the cover and with them wrapped up together. Justin hadn't wanted him to let go though, but he'd had to for awhile. At least until Justin had cooled down some which had taken over an hour with the coughing too. He'd gotten him something to drink and let Justin suck on a cough drop. He'd also gotten the Vicks suave rubbing it on Justin's chest even though Justin hated the feeling of it.

It was almost three when Justin had fallen back asleep. Brian had drifted in and out for hours waking up checking on the man he loved. He had given into Justin stripping down to his briefs though. It had gotten Justin to cool off some and get back to sleep. He had put the quilt over both of them not about to let Justin kick those off like he'd wanted to do. He had ignored Justin's grumpiness knowing he was tired of the coughing spells. He was also tired of feeling miserable, though he had sounded better in Brian's opinion.

Brian got up from the comfortable bed going to the bathroom to shower. He needed to be at the office by nine to go over things before the meeting at ten. Justin was still sleeping when he came out getting dressed. He smiled not able to resist brushing a piece of Justin's hair back from his face. He loved Justin more than he could even say in words. When Justin had offered to go stay on the couch when he'd been coughing so much he had told him if he moved he would spank him. There was no way in hell the man he loved was going to the fucking couch to sleep.

When he finally pulled his self away from Justin he found that Jennifer had let herself in with the key he'd given her the day before; Michael's old key. He was glad that Justin hadn't argued over spending time with her. He should have known that Justin wouldn't since things with his mom were good. He remembered a time when it was rocky, especially between his self and Jennifer. She was a wonderful mom and a friend too, which he was always in need of since the one he'd had was lacking.

Jennifer had come out and told him that Michael was jealous of Justin. It was probably the reason he always acted like he did towards her son. He'd never thought of it that way before, but she did have a point. Michael couldn't handle he'd gotten someone even more special in his life. He remembered when he'd become friends with Lindsay in college. For a good while Michael had been cold towards her, but had warmed up. Well he didn't give a shit about Michael now because wishing Justin dead had crossed a line farther than he was going to forgive him over.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

"I won't say what you look like right now." Jennifer said seeing Brian. "You look better when you're hung over or coming down from a high. He have another coughing spell?" She asked knowing that Brian didn't even have alcohol in the loft so he wouldn't be hung over. She doubted he would if he did either though.

He'd off hand mentioned he'd offer her a drink, but he was out the day before. It had surprised her too since she knew Brian. She never thought she'd like him let alone think of him as a part of her family. Justin might have forgotten for a while, but she had known that her son would come back. The stupid bastard that lured him away was nothing but a good for nothing. He had almost let her son die because he wouldn't take him to the hospital. He'd tossed him on the damn sofa because he'd needed sleep.

She woke up some times having to think if Justin was okay. She'd thought that Justin would be safe, then he'd done what she never thought he would by leaving Brian. He was back where she knew he belonged now though. It relieved her mind so much even if some would think she was crazy. A few of those nights she had looked through photo albums of Justin and Molly growing up. She always had to resist cutting out the man she used to love. She wanted to so badly, but hoped some day that ass would pull his head out of his ass. She wasn't holding her breath and she'd never want him near Justin the way he acted now.

"I look like shit I know, but thanks." Brian smiled taking the bottle of guava juice out of the fridge. "He finally went back to sleep, but I've been awake since he woke up mostly. Got maybe an hour at most when he did go back to sleep." He said. "There is soup in the fridge still, yesterday he ate six servings altogether."

Brian wasn't sure if Justin was going to want to eat anymore of it. He had the Chicken Parmesan that Debbie had brought over if Justin wanted something different. He told Jennifer that the oven worked the same as any other one. If ran into any trouble she could ask Justin when he woke up. He did warn her he didn't have much on since he'd been hot with the clothes he'd had on.

Long sleeve shirt with short sleeve over top of it and his hoodie. He didn't have anything but his briefs on below the waist now. He'd tried to get Justin to keep his sweat pants on, but he'd given into Justin's pout face. The one that reminded him so much of Gus' that he wondered if in a strange way they didn't have some blood shared somewhere. He hadn't been able to resist a gentle kiss when he'd seen that pout though. It was the reason the coughing had taken long to get under control also. Justin had gone on a rant about being punished not getting many kisses. Brian had tried to appease him by kissing other areas on him. Justin had finally kissed him in the mouth wanting a real kiss. When Justin had started coughing again Brian had felt guilty. He wanted to make Justin happen, but he'd made him cough again.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

Brian had already put the pills Justin had to take in one of the pill containers beside the bed. The nurse at the hospital had showed both Jennifer and him how to work the breathing machine so he didn't have to explain that. He showed her were the movies where if Justin wanted to watch something. He knew that Jennifer would take care of him, but he wasn't ready to go even if it was for three hours tops. He'd hated doing it the day before too, but he'd been quick then. He wasn't sure how long this would take.

He also wanted to get those papers his lawyer had drawn up about the comic book. It would be one less thing Justin had to deal with if he handled everything. He had ran through his mind what all Michael would probably say when he did deliver them. He wasn't taking his crap anymore. He had gone over so many things in the past while he'd held Justin once he had gotten back to sleep. He hadn't been able to sleep much because of guilt, worry, and wanting to strangle more than one person. Justin needing him there was the only thing that still kept him from going back and beating the hell out of Ian.

"Go before you're late. I got Justin and he'll probably sleep for another couple of hours." Jennifer said seeing Brian's hesitation. "He isn't going to disappear if you go." She could tell that Brian regretted letting Justin go the first time.

"If he needs anything call my cell or leave a message with Cynthia. If it's really important she will get the message to me right away." Brian said before writing the number down for his direct line and Cynthia's. "Even if all he wants to do is say hi he knows he can call." He added knowing that Justin had done that a few times in the past. He went and kissed Justin's forehead before he got his bag leaving the loft wishing he could stay.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

Justin slept for the first hour while Brian was gone, but the urge to use the bathroom woke him up. He felt a little dizzy, but he made it to the bathroom without falling thankfully. It was also the first day he could stand instead of sitting down to pee. That he really was grateful for because it meant he was getting better. He knew it was not only the medicine, but Brian. He did feel bad that he'd been a pain during the night. He'd kept complaining, but Brian hadn't said a negative word to him. He smiled hoping he could make it up to Brian today for being a bad patient. When he got done he walked out into the living room looking to see where Brian was at.

He'd forgotten about him having to go into the office until Justin spotted his mom sitting on the couch. He grabbed his clothes feeling chili before he joined her wrapping the quilt Emmett gave around his self. He loved being snuggled up especially when he was sick, even though it hadn't liked him earlier that morning. He had gotten so hot he'd thrown up which he was sure hadn't helped Brian's worries. He'd promised him if he could just sleep with little on under the covers against him he'd be fine. He was also going to have to thank Emmett again for the beautiful quilt that he now loved the most. Brian had threatened to hide the thing when he'd said he loved it the most in the world. He'd added besides Brian of course after that when he'd seen the pout on Brian's face.

"Feeling any better sweetie?" Jennifer asked closing the folder she'd been looking through. "You do look a lot better."

"I can get to the bathroom on my own without feeling out of breath. If I could just get rid of this cough I'd be feeling even better." Justin answered.

He had talked to his mom some at the hospital and when she'd been there before. He'd been mostly drowsy though, but he hadn't taken his pills yet. He wasn't in the mood for soup and didn't feel like cooking anything. He was craving something his mom used to make him all the time when he would get sick. He knew she'd make it without hesitation if he asked, but he was also nervous. There was the conversation she'd said they were going to have about him letting his self get so sick. He knew he'd scared all of them, but he hadn't meant to do it. He started biting on his bottom lip worrying the cracked skin there.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

"Out with it, you always bit on your lip when you want to say something. You'll end up bleeding and Brian will get me for whatever is wrong if he comes back and there is blood." Jennifer said giving her son a look. She had seen him do it so many times when he was nervous about something.

"I just wanted one of your grilled cheese sandwiches, but figured you might be upset with me still about what happened." Justin said looking down. "I just got so sick so fast, I thought I could wait til the next day. I finally fell asleep and I don't know because I only remember seeing Brian. I didn't even know it was evening I'd slept all day for once." Justin explained the best he could.

He hated when she was disappointed in him. When he had come out he'd said he hadn't cared what she thought, but he had. Her opinion had mattered the most to him and when she had told he'd felt hurt. He'd forgiven her though because he loved her and she had accepted him for who he was. He had known she hadn't liked Ian even though she'd never met him.

"Justin, I'm not upset with you. The cold apartment and we both know how quick things can get worse with your allergies. I lived through the first time you had pneumonia too." Jennifer said moving closer fixing a piece of his hair that was in his eyes. "You are my son and I love you. I was upset with myself for not making you come to the house. I was upset with that... for not taking better care of you." She said stopping herself from saying something about Ian.

"Asshole, bastard, no good for nothing, low life, or Ian? It's what Brian calls him even though he knows his name." Justin said with a sigh. "Mom, I don't know what I was thinking. I don't know why I couldn't see that Brian loved me or that Ian used me. He knew I was with Brian yet he still went after me. Debbie said he was going to end up breaking my heart one way or another worse than Brian ever could. It was better that I'd found out like this than something worse." He still felt so much guilt from what he'd done, what he had given up for fucking words and it had been all hollow. "I never felt loved, he said it, but I never felt it like I do with Brian or before Brian said the words."

"Some times we can't see what's right in front of us or we don't want to see it. It doesn't matter who tells us we're messing up our lives. We see only what we want to. I believe that maybe you needed to see what was out there to know that what you have with Brian is the real deal. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Sometimes you are on the other side of it already, you just need to figure it out." Jennifer said putting her arm around her son.

"He keeps telling me he loves me." Justin said before pulling out a piece of paper with the words 'I love you, my prince' written on it. "He left that on the pillow for when I woke up. I love him so much for what he's doing. I know he's gotta go back to work, but I wish I could just stay forever in our little world." He said leaning his head against his mom's. "Thank you for asking him to take me back last year." He added. "I'm sorry I was such a horrible son to you for what you did. You just wanted to protect me and it took me a long time to see that."

"You were hurt and scared Justin. I knew it wasn't the real you doing that. I wanted my son back and I got you back even if I had to put my trust in someone I at the time detested and blamed." Jennifer said. "I can tell he loves you, honey and that you love him." She replied. "I'm going to go make that food for you so you can take your meds. We can watch a movie if you want afterwards." She offered.

"Can you stay for another minute or two?" Justin asked before she could get up.

"I always got a few minutes for my baby boy." Jennifer said kissing the top of his head.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

Justin had forced his self to stay awake as long as he could fighting the sleep the meds caused once he'd taken them. He made it through most of a movie after they'd eaten not only grilled cheese sandwiches, but mac and cheese. Justin had been craving that as well, but he'd called in an order from the diner. Brian didn't even have a box in the cabinets and he didn't want his mom to have to go get any. Vic had brought it over to him and the three of them had eaten together. Vic had stayed for a little after lunch, but when Justin had started getting where he was nodding off he'd said his goodbyes leaving.

While he had been there Vic had let Justin know that he didn't blame him for anything regarding what happened with Michael. His nephew had gotten away with one too many things over the years in his opinion. He loved him, but lately he hadn't liked him or his behavior. In his mind Justin was the best thing that could have walked into Brian's life. It had helped him grow up and see that there was another way of life besides coasting through.

Besides Gus and Emmett, Vic was Justin's favorite after Brian in his extended family. They'd had many conversations while he'd lived with Debbie and him. The one thing that had surprised Justin was that Vic said he should terminate Michael's counter part in the comic. Though Justin had secretly been thinking about it after all he'd wanted him dead so why not do to him what he'd wanted done to him? He had been too exhausted, tired, and ugh to think about working on it yet though.

Brian had called letting Jennifer know that he was stuck at the office for at least another two hours. If she had to go he'd get Emmett to stay with Justin. The art department had screwed another campaign up that he'd given them the week before. He had to redo the stuff before the client saw the boards. He was glad to hear that Justin was sleeping and that his appetite had gotten better enough to try food from the diner. He'd told Jennifer to tell Justin he'd be home as soon as he could the next time he woke up.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

It wasn't until Brian walked into the loft at five that Justin was starting to wake up again. Brian's boss wanted him to go to some thing the next night, but he didn't want to. Justin told him he needed to go if his boss said. It wouldn't do any good if he got fired taking care of him because then he couldn't do that. Jennifer left after it was settled letting Brian know she had put the Chicken Parmesan in the oven to bake. She'd set the timer as well given it half an hour to get the cheese bubbly. She wasn't going to be able to stay the next night, but Justin said he'd call Daphne. She had been wanting to see him so it would work out.

Justin and Brian showered together with Justin waiting on the food to be done. He had been able to stand up on his own without sitting in the chair. He had leaned against Brian however. Once that was done they ate and Brian told Justin about the crappy day he'd had. He told Justin about the stupid thing he had to attend the next night even though he didn't want to. After the meds and breathing treatment they laid in the bed talking for a while. Justin told Brian how to make one of the ads better, which Brian had liked more than the art department had done.

Justin got bored after a bit of only laying and he wasn't dizzy at the moment. So he pulled out one of the coloring books Brian had given him. He had done a little while his mom had been cooking earlier in the day too. He was making the dragon an array of colors instead of one solid one. Brian sat beside him watching Justin as he did it he told Justin how good it was even if he was only filling in the colors. He knew how excellent Justin's drawing was so he could easily make his own.

When Justin's hand started cramping up he put the book up letting Brian massage it. It lead to Brian giving him a full body massage which felt really good. He rubbed Justin down with the lotion glad his skin wasn't as dry as it had been. Even Justin's fingers weren't as badly cracked. Brian spent extra time on Justin's lower back and shoulders which he said were aching the most. Justin offered to return the favor, but Brian said he'd take a rain check on it. He could tell that Justin was getting sleepy. He was yawning so much and water was coming from his eyes he was fighting sleep so much already.

~BJ JB BJ JB~

Brian laid back on the bed letting Justin snuggle up beside him. It wasn't long after that Justin fell asleep resting his head against Brian's chest. They'd both gone with sleeping under the quilt without anything else on. Justin had wanted the contact and this time Brian didn't object to it for warmth or a relapse. He hoped it would be comfortable enough for Justin to sleep through the night. It wasn't going to take much longer he hoped for Justin to feel better. The doctor had said in a week he'd gain more strength within two he'd look more like his old self. The first of the week Justin had a follow up at the doctor's office which was only five more days away.

He had some things to do in that weeks time which one of them he'd gotten done that evening. He'd gone to the comic book store delivering the papers to Michael. The man had thought he was coming there to make up. Michael had come running to him almost kissing him before he'd backed up. He had told Michael that there wasn't going to be any making up unless it was Justin and him. The second he could make love to the man he loved he was going to. He had told Michael that any chance of ever making up was ruined when he came into their home shouting off at the mouth about Justin.

Brian had decided not to say anything to Justin when he'd gotten home. He'd wanted to enjoy the company which he had. Michael had given him almost a headache with his shouting when he'd read the papers. He claimed he couldn't take the comic book from him. He'd find another artist instead and kill JT off instead. The problem was there was also a bit in the contract that Brian hadn't known Justin had written in that not even Michael had seen.

If Justin was unhappy with anything he could reserve the right to do one of two things. The first was terminate the deal without suffering consequences since he was the one doing the most. The second was offer to take over the whole thing his self if Michael did anything like his usual ways. Michael had only one choice though since Brian had also told him it was sell his half out or face legal actions since he wasn't letting anyone near Rage to end JT which was Justin.

It had taken everything in him not to punch Michael's lights out when he'd said he only wanted Justin at the loft for sex. He wanted Justin to spread his legs so he could fuck him as often as he liked. He'd only given Justin a few kisses on the mouth since he'd been there worried it would cause problems with his breathing. So why Michael thought he'd even consider fucking Justin right now was beyond him. He had told Michael that the only thing he was over Justin was a jealous man who never had a claim to him in the first place.

He had also told Michael he'd plagiarized too since he'd taken his life and Justin's without putting much of a twist on it. Michael tried coming up with some excuse about Justin liking it, but Justin had already told him that he hadn't even seen the finished words before they'd been made up. It was why he'd had no way of objecting to everything that Michael had written. He'd wanted different things and Justin had imagined so many things different when he'd been drawing the pages.

When Michael had said he could strangle Justin for the shit he was pulling Brian lost it. He'd left his former friend lying there in shock on the floor after he'd hauled off punching him. When he'd left promising him that he would beat his ass down if he ever got near Justin again. He also said he'd be picking up the papers the next day, signed. If they weren't then legal action would be taken. He wasn't going to drag this out or put up with Michael's crap. His former best friend had shown his true colors when he'd gone off at the mouth about the man he loved.

~TBC~

~TBC~