Chapter 33 – Recovering

Justin grinned as he entered the side entrance at Allegheny General, moving from the bright morning sunlight into the cold, dry interior on his way to the intensive care unit. The day was off to a great start. Neither the bodyguard with the rather worrisome name of Axe who was trailing him, nor the antiseptic aroma that spoke of extended hospital stays could dampen his mood, made excellent by the news of Brian's expected speedy recovery. He had even avoided the press vans at the hospital's main entrance, based on Axe's advice. Best of all, he had told everyone in the family to stay away until after the move to a regular room from intensive care. As a result, Justin would have Brian to himself this morning – a situation he knew would end as soon as everyone else was allowed into the room. Justin found himself whistling, rather badly, as he walked down the corridor.

Eight o'clock in the morning was early for visitors, but he knew that unless the drugs had kept Brian out all night the nurses would be ready to be rescued. Justin glanced back at his bodyguard. The tall, muscled Latino man held himself with an awareness that was compelling. He gave the impression of being perpetually on alert. Justin knew he'd have to draw him soon, to try to capture that stillness coupled with the edge of potential violence.

Nodding a greeting to a passing nurse, Justin rounded the corner to Brian's room. He stopped in shock at the sight of a tall, much older man obviously in a great deal of pain. Turning, Justin grabbed the bodyguard by the arm. "He's gone." Justin almost ran to the nurses' station. "Brian Kinney. He's not in his room. Where is he?"

The nurse held up a hand signaling Justin to wait, as he she continued her conversation on the phone. He felt the bodyguard's hand on his shoulder just before he heard the deep voice murmur. "Relax, she's calm."

Justin vibrated in place, weight shifting restlessly from one foot to the other as he tried to keep from throttling the woman. He nearly collapsed with relief when as she hung up the phone and stated, "He's been moved into a regular room. We ran out of space last night and he was in the best shape, so he got shifted." There was a slight pause as she typed a query into the computer. "Room 218." She blinked at the intensity of the smile she received in thanks. As Justin walked away, the nurse leaned forward slightly, watching him move before shaking her head slightly and turning back to work. Axe gave her a slightly knowing grin then pulled out his cell phone as he trailed Justin to the second floor. "Kinney's been moved. We'll need Tank here as soon as possible."

As Justin entered the corridor on the second floor, he knew he was in the right place. The raised voices coming from Room 218 echoed down the hall. Rather than interrupt, Justin signaled Axe to wait and leaned against the door, a slight smile on his face as he watched the Brian Kinney show.

"Listen, Ratched. You are not coming anywhere near me with that," Brian exclaimed from the bed, right hand protectively covering his chin while glaring at the razor in the nurse's hand.

The exasperated nurse, an amazon almost six feet in height, sighed. "Mr. Kinney. I'm not planning to slit your throat, tempting though it might be. I just thought you'd like a shave this morning."

Justin grinned, waiting for the eruption.

"You've obviously never shaved with a fucking two-blade Walmart special. You'll cut my throat whether you plan to or not, especially with that no-name shaving cream. That shit smells like a hairy bear's armpit in July."

Justin burst out laughing. "How exactly would you know that aroma? I thought bears weren't your type."

Looking over at Justin as he stood leaning against the door, Brian gave a condescending little smirk. "You've got to try everything once, and aromas carry, especially in the baths." He gave the nurse a glare before saying in a voice reminiscent of Gus at his worst. "You've got to save me, Sunshine. Nurse Ratched here is out to get me."

"I can't imagine why she'd think slitting your throat would be a good idea." Justin gave the nurse a winsome smile, thanking her for her patience and humor without saying a word. He held up a small bag and shook it. "I can take care of him this morning, if you'd like. I have his label queen personal hygiene products right here."

She shook her head, smiling. "I can tell he's going to be an interesting patient. He's all yours, but don't let him move around too much. The stitches might re-open."

"Don't worry. I'll tie him down if I have to."

Brian leaned more comfortably against the pillow. "Promises, promises." As the nurse left the room, the smirk faded from his face to be replaced with a grimace as he let his guard down.

Justin walked to the side of the bed and sat next to Brian's uninjured side. "How are you feeling?"

Brian gave a small laugh, grimacing slightly as he did so. "Like I've been shot. It hurts like a motherfucker. Of course – they've got fucking amazing drugs."

"Try not to piss off the nurses too much. They might take away your drugs."

"I'm not worried."

"Brian, irritating the living hell out of the nurses is a very bad idea."

"They love me." Brian smirked ruefully. "Apparently I'm a tragic, romantic hero or some shit like that."

"What?" Justin's incredulous tone echoed through the room. "I can buy the hero part, but tragic and romantic? It's just so not you."

Brian's face took on a facetious, wide-eyed innocence. "You don't know me as well you think you do, Justin." Brian's face shifted into more serious lines before continuing. "The story of your hospital stay and my nights here has made the nursing staff rounds. Add in the bombing and the shooting and they all think we're a fucking fairy-tale that just hasn't gotten to the happy ending yet."

"Well, aren't we?" Justin asked quietly. At Brian's look of total disgust, Justin chuckled before saying solemnly. "Have I said thank you yet for saving my life?"

"Not unless you said it when I was too out of it to remember."

Justin smiled. "Thank you for my life. Try not to get shot next time – okay?" He leaned in to kiss Brian, building a slow, steady fire between them. When he started breathing again, Justin glanced down at the tenting in the bedsheets. "Are you sure you're up to it?"

"I'm always up."

Justin flashed Brian a quick smile as he walked over to the room door. Giving Axe a small, mischievous grin, he murmured softly. "Call out if anyone wants in." Axe responded with a raised brow, followed by a knowing smile and a quick nod.

Closing the door behind him, Justin walked back to Brian. "Promise me you'll tell me if I hurt you."

"Don't worry, Sunshine. You can only make me feel so much better."

"Brian."

"Fine." Brian gave a small moue of disgust. "I'll tell you if my boo-boo hurts."

Justin's smile lit up the room. "In that case, I'll be happy to say thank you properly." Justin turned serious for a moment. "Don't move. Just let me do all the work." Justin leaned in, determined to give Brian the best head known to man.

Brian had just started to enjoy himself when a growing argument could be heard from the corridor. Michael's frustrated voice carried clearly through the closed door. Axe's murmured responses were softer, more befitting a hospital ward.

"Look, I've got every right to see Brian. I'm his best friend and he just got fucking shot. So would you please move out of my way?"

After a moment where Justin couldn't quite make out the response, Michael continued "I don't give a shit what your orders are; I am going to see Brian." His voice growing in both pitch and volume, Michael yelled. "Brian! Tell your goon to let me through."

Justin lifted his head as Brian obviously lost both his good mood and his erection. "I know he's your best friend, but I swear he has an almost psychic ability for lousy timing."

Michael's voice carried in again. "Justin! I know you're in there. He just got shot for you. Can't you leave your dick in your pants until he's had at least twenty-four hours to recover?"

Brian started to chuckle ruefully. "You might as well let him in. He won't go anywhere until he's seen that I'm okay. If he can't report back to his mommy, he's going to end up with a concussion from her whacking him on the head - repeatedly."

Justin stood, straightening up Brian's bedding. "And right after she hits him, she'll come after us. Don't take this the wrong way because I'm glad you're better – but it might've been easier if you were still in the ICU. They couldn't get to you there." Justin grinned. "As it is, they'll all be here to see you today."

Brian groaned, picturing the day to come. "You'll save me, won't you?"

"From Debbie and my mother? Are you kidding?" Justin smirked as he headed to the door. "Not to mention your own mother. She dropped by yesterday."

"Shit, Justin. Why don't you just hit me when I'm down? I took a bullet for you – I would have thought you'd protect me."

Justin paused before opening the door. "From deranged, homophobic, mass murderers – absolutely. When it comes to our assorted mothers – you're on your own. I've already gotten hit in the head once – I can't handle Debbie's methods of tough love."

Justin opened the door, glancing at the bodyguard. "Its okay, Axe. Let him in." Glaring at Michael, Justin gestured toward the bed. "There he is, stuck with his morning wood for the rest of the day, thanks to you." Justin shook his head in disgust at the look on Michael's face, "and before you ask – No, I don't want you to take care of it for him."

"Geez, Justin," Michael groaned. "He's my friend. Why would you think I'd want to?"

Justin rolled his eyes in Brian's direction behind Michael's back as the man walked to the bed and sat down on the edge.

"Brian, how are you feeling?"

"Not as good as I was a couple of minutes ago, but I think I'll get back to that happy place soon." Brian leered at Justin happily.

Justin choked off a laugh at the exasperated look on Michael's face.

Michael continued gamely. "I meant how well are you recovering from being shot – not how you're feeling about your interrupted blow job."

Brian's face softened slightly as he looked at his oldest friend. "Not bad, Mikey. The doc says I'll recover quickly – probably due to all my clean living."

Michael snorted softly in response. "I should warn you – my mother knows you're out of intensive care. She's cooking for you."

Brian groaned. "God help me. I'm trapped and she's going to force lasagna down my throat. My ass will be as big as Justin's before I get out of here."

"Hey! You love my ass."

"On you – absolutely, but it wouldn't suit me at all."

Conversation stopped in the hospital room as an unexpected voice was heard out in the hallway.

"You better let me see my daddy, mister." Gus' anger was readily apparent to the men inside the room. "He needs me to kiss it better."

"How did he get here?" Brian nodded to the door urgently. "Justin – let them in."

A moment later, Gus was on the bed on Brian's good side, giving his father a kiss on the cheek. "I saw you on the news, Daddy. They said you got shot."

"Yeah, I did. But I'm going to be just fine, so don't worry."

Lindsay smiled at the scene in front of her with obvious relief. "I'm sorry to come rushing in this morning, Brian. But neither Gus nor I could relax until we saw you were all right." She walked over and gave Brian a careful hug.

"It's okay. I'm happy to see you guys. How did you get here so fast?"

"Emmett called Cynthia and they took care of everything."

Brian glanced over at Emmett where he stood in the doorway. He glared at Emmett for a moment, before relenting, obviously uncomfortable. "Thanks, Em."

"No problemo. Look at you - I should've known getting shot wouldn't keep Brian Kinney down for long." Emmett leaned against the door jamb, enjoying the break after the anxious flight. He listened to Gus tell his Daddy all about the flight and how he had made his mommy bring him. As he was standing there, however, he was distracted by the murmur of voices just outside the door. He didn't mean to listen to the bodyguard's conversation, but a good queen knows how to take gossip where he finds it and the news outside of the room was quite interesting.