Chapter 8: I Think You're Worth It
Justin stayed by Bryan's side for three days only leaving to use the bathroom. Each day Wade and Heath would bring him lunch and sit with him for an hour before they had to leave and run errands. Justin had preferred to be alone with Bryan anyway.
Justin was almost asleep when he heard a pained groan come from the hospital bed. Justin woke with a start and stood up. He took a couple of steps to Bryan's bed and took his hand, "Bry?"
Blue eyes met brown and Justin felt his breathing hitch. The fear in Bryan's eyes was very hard to overlook. Bryan stared at Justin for a minute before he squeezed the older man's hand, "Justin."
Justin smiled small and placed a kiss to Bryan's forehead, "Your memory's intact; that's good."
"Where am I?"
"You're in a hospital, baby. I found you lying in a closet, bleeding." Justin stroked along Bryan's healing cheek gently, "I thought I was going to lose you."
Bryan's eyes shimmered with tears, "Oh Justin. It was horrible."
"What happened, Bry?" Justin sat down on the bed beside the smaller man. Bryan quietly explained to Justin what David had done to him. When he started to cry, Justin pulled him into his arms and held him close whispering words of safety. Bryan clung to Justin tears staining the South African's blue t-shirt.
Bryan finally calmed down but didn't let go of Justin, "How long have I been here?"
"Three days. I haven't left your side. Wade and Heath came in a couple of times to check on you and bring me something to eat." Justin rubbed Bryan's back and smiled into his sandy hair.
Bryan looked up at him, "Have you even taken a shower?"
Justin laughed softly, "Yeah, I used the small one in your bathroom. Heath brought me a change of clothes so I wouldn't reek."
Bryan smiled, and it didn't look as broken as Justin thought it would. Justin pressed a fleeting kiss to Bryan's lips and watched as a light blush covered his cheeks. Bryan leaned his head against Justin's chest, "Thank you."
"For what?" Justin asked softly.
"For being here for me." Bryan traced nonexistent patterns on the sleeve of Justin's shirt.
"I wouldn't have done this for anyone else, Bryan. You mean a lot to me." Justin placed another kiss to the top of Bryan's head, "You always have. I just didn't notice how much until it was almost too late. I'm sorry, Bryan."
"That's in the past. Let's not worry about it anymore." Bryan pulled back and looked up at Justin again, "Let's just start over."
Justin nodded, "I think that is a really good idea."
"Can we lie down? My lower back's kind of hurting."
"Of course." Justin kicked off his shoes and moved onto the bed beside Bryan. He wrapped his arms around the smaller man and leaned his head on top of Bryan's.
Bryan snuggled his head into Justin's chest, "When was the last time you'd gotten some sleep?"
"Good sleep? I don't even remember." Justin yawned.
"Then let's both get some good sleep, sound alright?"
"Mmm, sounds real…" Justin trailed off, falling asleep easily.
Bryan pressed a kiss to Justin's chest and fell asleep soon after.