Ok, wow this turned out to be a lot longer than I thought it was going to be! Please review! Oh and I don't own anything, wouldn't be writing on this website if I did.

Justin stared at the curtain that they had used to hide him from other patients. He knew that he wouldn't be able to see Brian even if he was completely healthy, so he just stared in the direction they had taken Brian and waited for someone to tell him he could go be with him. This was one of Justin's worst nightmares, his husband, the love of his life, fighting for his very breath, leaving Justin alone, no matter how unintentional. Justin didn't even realize that he was crying until the nurse inhaled softly,

"Oh I'm sorry hon, I'll come back." The concern in her voice was real and unforced, this woman was clearly meant to be a nurse, she truly wanted to help people.

"No, it's fine," Justin claimed, wiping his face, ignoring the pain of the bruises.

"I'm going to take your temperature and see if we can't help your ribs feel better." She reported, checking the chart in her hand.

"My side doesn't really hurt that bad, it's just sore, almost like I slept on it wrong." Justin replied honestly, though whether it was because he just wasn't in pain or if everything else that had happened dulled it, he wasn't sure. Maybe he was just in shock.

"Good, but we'll still put a wrap on it and some Advil, something stronger if you need later." Justin knew she had his allergy list so he merely nodded,

"Have you heard anything about my husband?" He asked as she stuck the thermometer in his ear,

"No, but I can find out for you," she offered. Justin smiled weakly in thanks and nodded. The woman suddenly grabbed his hand, he looked down at it, caught off guard.

"You are both going to be fine. You're young and healthy and strong and you two are going to pull through," she said determinedly. Justin smiled softly at her,

"Someone has to be the dreamer." He said sadly, looking away from her face, which had crumpled heartbreak.

"Do you need to call anyone, love?" she asked, maneuvering him into standing so she could get to his side. "Shirt off," she ordered and Justin obeyed,

"Yeah, there are several people I need to call." He admitted, thinking of Daphne, Michael, Emmett, Ted, Debbie Cynthia, Ben, Lindsay, and Gus. His stomach almost emptied itself all over the nice nurse, but Justin managed to push it back down. Gus, a ten year old kid, who shouldn't know there was such a thing as cruelty in the world, would have to find out that his father was brutally and mercilessly beaten. Why? Because he had kissed his husband, because they loved each other, no, it wasn't that, it was because they made some people uncomfortable. Because they were different than what was thought to be 'right'. And for that, they were hurt, discriminated against, talked down upon and physically assaulted. Justin gritted his teeth angrily, and turned to the nurse, "Have the police been notified?" Justin growled, the nurse looked surprised at the sudden change in the blonde's demeanor.

"Yes, they are waiting for us to say you are fixed up," she told him. Justin nodded determinedly, those bastards would not get away with this, they had scared those homophobic bigots and that was not a good enough reason in Justin's book to have to watch your husband suffer. The thought of Micah's threat entered Justin's mind but he quickly pushed it away, Daphne would be safe, her boyfriend was a cop, a good man who was close with he and Brian, which was why he was ok with Daphne carrying their baby. John would never let anything happen to her, or Justin and Brian's daughter. And if he had to he would keep Daphne by his side at all time, even if it was against her will. Daphne meant more to him than most people knew. Yes they had been best friends since kindergarten, and had been through every major milestone in their lives together. But it was that she had been the first person he'd ever told he was gay, her response had been,

"You don't think I haven't noticed you staring at Chris Hobbs' ass since jr. high." It was then that Justin knew that Daphne would always be an important part of his life. That is why she was the first and most obvious choice to be the baby's mother. Of course they had to ask her first. The four of them, John included, had sat down and Justin had asked as though being interviewed, if she would be willing to be their baby mama. Daphne had paused for just a second, long enough to soak in what her best friend had just asked her, before screaming in excitement and throwing her arms around their necks. John had grinned happily, hugging both men and joking,

"Can I send her to your house when she gets hormonal?"

"Justin will have to deal with her," Brian had teased, "After all, he's the drama queen," both John and Brian had received playful smacks from their respected partners, neither of whom could stop smiling and laughing.

Justin shook his head clear of the memory, hardly believing that that was only 6 months ago, now Daphne was 4 months pregnant, showing a small, bump that looked adorable on the petite girl.

"Here you go, Honey," the nurse offered, holding out a phone that she had pulled from the next curtain over.

"Thank you," Justin said, looking down, suddenly scared of the phone. How was he going to tell their family that they had once again been violated, when Justin was bashed they were able to disconnect better, because he was just Brian's twink, but now, this was Brian, the guy they'd known at least 20 years, more in Lindsay and Michael's case. Who was first? He looked down at the numbers and slowly dialed Michael's.

"Hello," Michael's familiar soft voice answered, it was as though the dam broke all over again and he began to sob, "Justin?" Michael asked worried, knowing Justin didn't call him when he needed to cry, he called Daphne, so this had to do with… "What happened?" he asked, fear clear in his voice.

"We were in the park," Justin choked out, "Five guys attacked us, they hurt him really badly, he's in the trauma room now and I don't know if he's going to be ok." The sobs got heavier with each word and if Michael hadn't known the man so well he would have, have no idea what he'd just said. There was a moment of nothing but Justin's cries, until finally Michael found his voice again,

"Are you all right?" he asked so quietly that Justin barely heard him.

"Fine, just some bruises and cracked ribs, they just wanted me to watch, I think if I hadn't screamed so much they wouldn't have hurt me at all." Justin admitted, slowly gathering himself.

"Have the doctors said anything?" Michael's voice cracking with thoughts of losing Brian.

"No, they're still working on him, and I'm almost done being checked out, then I have to talk to the police."

"Can you identify them?"

"Yes, they didn't care about hiding who they were, they threatened Daphne if I told, but they can fuck themselves if they think I'm some pussy that's going to curl up and hide. I'll take care of Daphne, those bastards are going to jail for the rest of their lives if I have anything to say about it." Michael let out a soft laugh,

"Nice to know you're still a proud, fighting homo," he said. Justin smirked softly,

"Yeah well, no one messes with my family and gets away with it." He nearly growled,

"I think you've been spending too much time with my mother," Michael stated, Justin then heard a car start.

"Are you on your way?" Justin asked,

"Yeah, I'll be there in 15 minutes, is there anyone you want me to tell?" Michael asked, his voice tightening.

"Can you call everyone else, I have to call Daphne."

"What about Gus?" Michael asked and Justin knew he flinched, as did Justin.

"I'll call them after I know something." Justin croaked, trying to fight back more tears.

"Okay, I'll see you in a few minutes." Justin nodded even though Michael couldn't see him and hung up. The nurse had been listening just outside the curtain and entered when he was finished,

"Here are your discharge papers, you can go talk to the police after you sign these." Justin nodded again, taking the clip board that she offered, surprised to look down and find his side wrapped in structured bandages. When had she done that? Had his mind really been on Brian that much, well that was a dumb question, of course it had. He sighed whatever was marked to sign before handing it back to her.

"Thank you, you're free to go whenever you get ready." Justin nodded gratefully at her,

"Wait, what's your name?"

"Teresa," the nurse responded, smiling softly.

"As in Mother Teresa?" he asked slightly teasing. She chuckled,

"As in Teresa Hardgrove from Compton." She responded pulling a chuckle out of him. She paused, "You can stay in here and use that phone as long as you need," Justin nodded again, almost smiling at the nurse who didn't hate him either.

He once again found himself alone and looking at the phone like it may bite him. He had to call, he had to do it so he could go out and talk to the police, so he could get their attackers behind bars. He knew they wouldn't all get charged with a hate crime, after all Micah and Brian's holder had only held them, they hadn't actually delivered the blow, but Jeff, Allen and the other man sure as hell would.

Justin picked up the phone and called Daphne,

"Hello?" came a bright, happy voice after 2 rings. Justin swallowed back his tears that seemed to be constantly in his eyes lately, before opening his mouth,
"Hey, Daph," he greeted her, his voice strained. Daphne instantly recognized the voice and its tone,

"Oh god, are you ok," her voice shaking, she'd already dealt with almost losing her best friend once, she couldn't do it now, especially not when carrying his child.

"I'm fine, calm down," he demanded, knowing it wasn't healthy for her to get worked up. Daphne took in several breaths,

"So, what's going on?" she asked, her voice still not as stable as it normally would have been, but she knew something was wrong, Justin didn't sound like that unless it was something really serious.

"Promise you're going to stay calm, we don't you need you in the hospital too." He slipped the word before he had the chance to correct it, Daphne disobeyed and screamed,

"WHO'S IN THE HOSPITAL!"

"Daphne, calm the FUCK down." Justin growled, not willing to lose his daughter and his husband in the same day. He heard her take in another set of shaky breaths, trying to regulate her lungs, knowing that the baby was still very young and vunerable.

"Ok, I'm ok, sorry," she paused, "Now, what's going on?" Justin could still tell there was an edge to her voice as she worked to keep control.

"Brian's here," his voice cracked on the second word, shutting his eyes so he didn't have to see the tears blurring his vision. "We were walking in the park and five guys…" he couldn't finish when he heard Daphne gasp, "Are you busy?" He really needed his best friend.

"I'm on my way, right now." Daphne went directly into friend mode, forgetting her own fear and concern to concentrate on Justin. Justin sighed softly in relief,

"Thank you, I'll be in the waiting room." He stated, looking toward where he knew the room was.

"All right, I'll be there soon." Justin exhaled before exiting his curtain and walking up to the desk.

"Can I get my personal effects?" he asked, knowing he sounded tired. The nurse at the desk looked up at him, scowling slightly before asking,

"Name?"

"Taylor-Kinney," Justin said looking around to see if the police where in there.

"Here you go," she set his phone, and jacket on the counter," the police are waiting for you in the waiting room, just through those doors." She pointed, "I hope they get those bastards," she murmured. Justin smiled softly,

"If I have to hunt them down myself," he promised. "You don't know anything about Brian Kinney, do you?" he figured if he asked everyone he came into contact with, someone would tell him something.

"No, I'm sorry, he's still with the doctors. I promise someone will come into the waiting room and update you as soon as we know something." Justin nodded heavily, fighting back the tears of still not knowing either or not his husband would live.

He headed into the waiting room and was immediately approached by a police officer,

"Mr. Taylor-Kinney?" he asked, looking down a notepad he had in his hand.

"Yes, Sir," Justin nodded, glancing around to see 2 other officers off to the side.

"I know this is difficult, but I need for you to tell us what happened," the officer claimed, Justin paused, how many times would he have to relive and retell this memory, how many times would he have to describe watching his partner, the love of his life, getting beaten over and over again. Hot tears fell down his cheeks but he quickly wiped them away, not letting his fear and sadness keep him from getting the justice Brian deserved. "We can wait until you have someone here with you." The officer offered kindly, though Justin could hear the impatience in his voice.

"No, that's fine, I'll tell you now." Justin stated, absentmindedly holding his side.

"Here, why don't we go into a private room," the officer, an officer Henton, Justin discovered looking at the name on his jacket, suggested. Justin nodded, looking at the other people in the waiting room. There were only two other people there, one was a weary looking woman, her dark hair pulled up into a loose pony tail, she looked with a look that said her mind was millions of miles away. The other was a man who looked a little younger than Justin, his eyes locked on the officers and Justin. Justin caught his eyes and the man looked at him questioningly. He said nothing and Justin turned away waiting for a direction from Officer Henton.

"Ok, Mr Taylor-Kinney," he began but Justin quickly interrupted,

"Call me—"

"Justin!" Michael's familiar voice pierced the room, and Justin turned quickly to see the man who had become his friend as much as he was Brian's.

"Michael!" Justin cried forgetting his broken ribs and throwing his arms around the older man. He gasped in pain and was instantly released from the hug Michael had put him in. Justin groaned softly, but looked up at Michael, "I'm fine," he stated when Michael touched his bruised cheek worriedly. Michael took in the officers and quickly looked back at Justin, "I was just about to go with them into a private room to tell the officers what happened," Michael nodded,

"Want me to come with you?" Justin nodded gratefully and they sat back down turning to the officer, who led the way into a "family room" and Justin and Michael sat too, Michael turning towards his friend. Justin slowly opened his mouth, gathering his thoughts, closing his eyes when the images of his lover in pain appeared in his head. He let out a shaky breath before speaking,

"We were walking in the park, we go off to this place where no one usually is so we could be alone. I had gone to the doctor with my friend who is carrying our baby, and when Brian got off we went to talk about it. I didn't even notice them until Brian tensed up…" Justin told the officers what happened, he put in as much detail as he could remember until he got to the part about what Brian had said to him. He knew Michael would hug him and tell him it was bullshit, but Justin couldn't do it, he couldn't repeat what Brian had said in front of him.

"Mikey, could you go into the waiting room and see if Daphne's gotten here yet, I told her I'd be in there." Michael knew that Justin just didn't want him to know whatever he was about to say, but he couldn't deny the man privacy, so he nodded, giving his shoulders a gentle squeeze and kissed his forehead before standing and exiting the room quietly. Justin inhaled deeply, and continued, "Jeff grabbed his hair and said something, and I don't know exactly what he said, but, um then Brian told him to go to hell and Jeff said, 'Him first' talking about me and he kicked me in the stomach…" Justin retold what Brian said, though by the end of it he was crying nearly as hard as he had been when Brian had said it, though he still knew it wasn't true, this day's events had left Justin with no wall, with nothing to keep him stoic. A few seconds later he was about to start telling more of what happened when a soft knock came on the door and a doctor peeked his head in. Justin stopped breathing as he stared at the man,

"Mr Taylor-Kinney," the doctor murmured, "I have news about your husband." Justin felt the blood rush to his head and for a moment he was glad he was sitting down. But he stood up as the doctor entered, the door shut behind him just in time for Justin to remember that Michael and Daphne had probably seen the doctor come in.

"Is he-," Justin really didn't know what to ask, he couldn't ask if he was alive, of course Brian wasn't ok and so Justin just waited.

"Mr. Kinney is stable, no permanent damage," Justin shut his eyes in relief; this wasn't the end of his world. "But…" there always had to be a but, Justin though bitterly. "There was some swelling of his brain and he is in a coma, as well as the broken wrist and ribs, and due to the severity of the breaking of his jaw, we had to wire his jaw shut." As quickly as their lives had been rebuilt in his head, that's how quickly it fell back down.

"Coma," he exhaled the word softly, "When do you think he'll come out?" his voice trembled, terrified.

"To be frank, we aren't sure." Justin sat back in the chair, covering his eyes with the heel of his hands and his heart broke into a thousand more pieces. "He could wake up tomorrow, or it could be longer." Justin looked up at him, barely uncovering his eyes,

"How much longer?"

"My guess is around a month, I believe his body has just shut down to repair itself and when it's done he will wake up. If the coma last more than 2 months, we may have to discuss further options, but until that time arrives, there is no indication that he won't come out of this in a few weeks." Justin moaned and scrubbed his face with his hands, and the doctor continued, "He isn't brain dead or unresponsive, he just basically asleep."

"Yeah, he just can't wake up," Justin bit harsher than he meant to, but this was all a lot to take in. It's like the universe just liked to fuck with them, make them as happy as it could only to destroy it. Prom, cancer, the bombing, though they hadn't been particularly happy then, life just seemed to enjoy kicking them in the balls.

"We are going to move him to a private room, I'll come get you when you can join him. I'll have them put a cot in there as well." Justin looked up at the doctor who was looking down at him sympathetically,

"Thank you." He nodded gratefully, before reburying his face in his hands, not realized the doctor had exited until he reopened his eyes and found himself alone with the officers. Brian wasn't dead, he wasn't going to die, but those men would still not get away with it.

"This was a hate crime, and if you or anyone else tries to pass it off as some mother FUCKING assault you will be introduced to the wrath that is the Kinney's. I'll have you know that the man that is now lying in a coma single handedly built police chief Stockwell's campaign until he was the leader by a margin of 30%. He would have won had the same man not single handedly destroyed his campaign just before the election. So you tell me something gentlemen, if you are willing to face one pissed off partner that will find a way to make sure that no only you but your entire department is unemployed and never works in this town again, you go right ahead but just know who you are fucking with." Justin growled so furiously that the officers just stared at him, mouths gaping open.

"Sir it was going to be charged as a hard crime the second you told us, Jeff said 'It's time to teach these queers a lesson," one of the officers explained. Justin blinked slowly and pressed his lips together at his mistake,

"Oh, good," he nodded and shifted and continued to tell them the rest of what happened. Stopping a few times to control his tears, but eventually got it all out and the officers led him out of the family room where he was promptly attacked by a head of red hair on one side and black hair on the other.

"I just had my ribs broken," he moaned as both women hugged him tightly. Daphne back away first,

"I'm sorry," she flinched but Debbie just held on,

"I can't break them more." She claimed, but Justin moaned as her grip tightened and she begrudgingly let him go, studying him from head to toe as though not believing what her eyes were telling her.

"I'm ok, Deb, Brian's the one we need to worry about," he said softly, and immeadiately the group, who included Emmett, Drew, Ted, Blake, Ben, Hunter, Daphne, Debbie and of course Michael, all fell silent. "He's in a coma. There is some swelling in his brain, but he could wake up tomorrow or in a month, the doctor said if it last more than 2 months we'd have to discuss further options, I have no idea what that means. His mind has basically shut down so that his body can heal. But he's stable and there won't be any permanent damage,"

"Thank God for that," Debbie muttered.

"He has several broken ribs and a broken wrist and a shattered jaw, that's been wired shut." Justin sniffed quietly, "Considering what I thought was going to happen…" he didn't finish that sentence, nor did he to, their family filled in the rest. He blinked slowly, turning toward where he knew the doctors were, looking for the man that would say he could see his husband again, just to see for himself that he was alive.

Nearly thirty nearly quiet minutes passed, people only speaking to wonder what time it was and when they would be able to see Brian. Justin sat completely silent, wiping tears if they fell. One hand was being held tightly by Daphne, who had tears of her own to wipe occasionally, and the other hand being held by Debbie who was fidgeting and changed position ever couple of seconds. Emmett was pacing, behind where Justin was sitting and every few rounds he would paused, lean Justin's head back and kiss his face. And every time, Justin would smile softly, relishing the comfort that such a small unaware gesture brought him. He wasn't alone, he and Brian wouldn't have to go through any of this alone, even if they had each other, Justin had the feeling the PTSD would be intense for both of them.

"Kinney?" a nurse entered the waiting room, looking around.

"Here," everyone answered, jumping to their feet. The nurse looked confused and looked back down at her chart,

"Um, Justin Kinney?"

"I'm Justin," Justin stepped forward tensely, pulling out of the women's hold.

"He's in his room and you can see him now, but um…" she looked back at the other nine people, "Only two more at a time," she stated. "And visiting hours end at 8, except for you of course," she nodded at Justin. Justin paused, he knew they all wanted to see him, but he needed a few minutes.

"Guys, do you mind if I go in alone at first, um just for a few minutes, I need to be with him." Everyone nodded understandingly, though Justin could see the slight hurried look in their eyes. But he ignored it and turned to follow the nurse who walked at a measured pace, knowing that every step jarred the blondes ribs and ached. She stopped just short of a door and pointed inside,

"I've already set up a cot for you, and please feel free to buzz us if you need anything. It's what we're here for." Justin nodded gratefully and braced himself as he stepped inside.

Brian didn't look asleep, that was the first thing Justin noticed. Both eyes were black and his cheek bruised and cut, his lip was fat and had a nick in it and his nose was slightly discolored. No, he didn't look asleep, he looked like he had gotten the shit kicked out of him and now he was in a coma. He was pale on the small area of his face that wasn't black and blue, a fact that wasn't helped by the white hospital gown that Justin knew he would be revolted by if he were conscious, that washed him out. His hair was spackled with dried blood and had an unwashed look. Justin sat down next to him, grabbing his hand and kissing it softly, holding his lips there for several seconds just to remind them that Brian was still warm, still breathing, that one day in the unknown future, this would all just be a memory, something that had happened, but didn't define them. He wasn't the kid that got his head smashed with a baseball bat and Brian wouldn't be the man who got bashed while his husband watched.

Justin couldn't take it anymore and he crawled into the small hospital bed, being cautious of the wires, murmuring,

"Scoot over," almost smirking at his pathetic joke. The bed was so small that he had to stay on his side to fit, and while it was uncomfortable, especially for his ribs, he didn't care, he needed this. To feel Brian's body heat, to lay a hand on his chest and feel the rhythmic exhaling and inhaling, to have his lips so close to Brian's neck that he could almost taste him in the air. "Oh Bri," he whimpered, carefully draping his arm over Brian's chest, tucking his other arm, under his body, as he got his body as close as he could to Brian's. "I love you," he whispered, closing his eyes and inhaling the familiar scent of his partner, that in the close proximity overpowered the hospital smell. Before he realized it, he had fallen asleep. The nurse came in to check on them and upon seeing the sight, lost the heart to wake Justin and tell him he wasn't supposed to do that. So instead she went out into the waiting room to tell the other nine people anxiously awaiting seeing Brian, that they would just have to come back tomorrow. She thought the red-headed woman was going to hit her, but someone stopped her and they left, grumbling.

She looked back in on the couple and if she didn't know any better, she would have said that Brian's body had shifted towards Justin's. She had seen several coma patients, some who came out and others who never did, but as she looked at the 2 men lying in the cramped bed she decided that if there ever was something to come out of a coma for, this was it.

I hope you enjoyed it. Angsty I know, but I liked writing Justin broken and yet tough. Hehe. I don't know how much into the actual trial against the bashers you will get to see, if any at all. But you will find out the ruling, just not in the next chapter, which will be up soon! Please review and let me know what you thought! Oh next chapter is Sonny boy. Tear jerker let me tell you.