I hope you enjoy this chapter… it's not exactly what I thought it was going to be. Please Read and review. Oh and I don't own anything, except Mack…

Justin was in pain, he spent some of the time crying but most of it was spent in a heavy silence that drove Brian crazy. Justin talked all the time, it was one of the things that made Brian want to put a pillow over his head until the blonde stopped. But now as he lay in a coma, Justin was silent and Brian knew when he finally came out of this thing he would never complain about Justin talking again.

He wouldn't deny, to himself at least, that he felt guilty for being the source of his husband's pain. He knew it wasn't his fault but he knew that Justin was miserable and Brian had made it his goal to make sure that Justin was never this sad again. Justin released his hand for what may have been the first time that day and made a groaning noise that Brian recognized as the sound that Justin made when he was stretching. He knew every sound his husband made, and what it meant. He knew the difference in a pain filled moan and a pleasure moan, he knew a happy laugh and a forced one, he knew just by the way Justin said a word whether it was genuine or not. And as well as Brian knew Justin that was how well Justin knew Brian, Justin would say it was what made them, them. They could tell the differences in touches, kisses, smiles, breathing, Brian could always gauge how scared Justin was for him on a particular day by how tightly his hand was being held. His hand was taken once again and kissed lightly,

"Brian," the voice was rough with pain and soft with love, Brian would have given anything to take the pain out.

Justin. The man that had tamed Brian "Fucking" Kinney, just the name caused Brian to smile. The face caused Brian's heart to pound rapidly and his face to flush. The voice caused his knees to shake and his heart to soar. The touch caused Brian to forget anything and everything else. The kisses, those warm, passionate, searing, feral, light, loving, feather, delectable, unforgettable, perfect kisses, they made Brian feel like a complete lesbian who would never ever get enough of those lips. Then again, Justin, in general, sort of made Brian feel like a lesbian. All Justin had to do was ask and Brian would kill, steal, maim, torture, hold, hug, kiss, dance, skip, laugh, smile, breathe, stop breathing. Hmm yep, Brian was definitely a lesbian, and he was completely ok with that.

He used to think there was nothing worse than being tied down by someone, coming home to one person, who nagged that the garbage hadn't been taken out, who glared when something was said wrong. But every time Justin put his hands on his hips, his blue eyes looking at him as though he had nothing better to do that glare, Brian would sigh softly before taking the trash out. Though he always stole a kiss on the way out and always earned a sweet look in reward for his effort and then once he came back in Justin would remind him how good he had it. But Brian wasn't stupid, he knew Justin didn't use sex as a bargaining tool, Justin wanted Brian regardless of whether the trash was taken out, or if something dumb had fallen from Brian's lips. And Justin only denied Brian sex when it was something really important to him, like Mother Taylor's 50th birthday party. Or some function at the center, Brian still hated going to those damn things, Justin hadn't changed him that much.

But Justin had changed his outlook on life and love. Coming home to someone every night didn't make him whipped, or boring or even a conformist, it made him happy. Justin greeting him with a grin and pulling him into a kiss, his leg teasingly pressed against his groin before he quickly pulled away with an impish smirk, claiming "Dinner is almost ready, Dear," in a Mrs. Brady-esque manner. Then Justin would turn around and it would only be then that Brian would realize that Justin was wearing an apron, and only an apron. Brian had never been happier, often Brian found himself just staring at Justin, because he was beautiful and Brian was the luckiest man in the world to have the blond in his life. I love you Justin, his mind and heart murmured.

"I love you," Justin whispered and for a moment Brian thought maybe he had woken up and said that aloud, but Justin just sighed and was silent once more. According to the doctor, Brian had been in a coma for one month and 11 days, (and 19 hours, Justin had murmured). Brian had been awake for 15 of those days, not including moments before that when he woke up and heard talking, but there was nothing concrete for him to put together. Though he did know that Justin had nearly ripped Joan and Claire's throats out and when Justin called Joan a krone, Brian was pretty sure he would love this man longer than forever.

They were in a comfortable, sad silence for what could have been hours, when the nurse Christy stuck her head in. Brian had grown to love Christy, she brought Justin food on her break and she could make Justin smile, and Brian would be sure to buy her that new car she told them she was in love with, but couldn't afford.

"Hey, Jus, there is this guy out here, says to tell you dumb-ass is here." Justin let out something between a laugh and a sigh,

"He's fine," Justin agreed. A moment later a somehow familiar voice, though Brian couldn't place it greeted them with a,

"Hey smart ass, Jesus Christ!" the voice changed to being slightly horrified.

"Nope, just little Justin Taylor- Kinney," Justin replied and Brian filled with pride at his husbands mouth.

"Justin, you look terrible," the guest said, concern over powering the playfulness in his voice.

"Thanks, I try," Justin replied and Brian knew exactly why the guy called him smart ass.

"Seriously man, when was the last time you ate?" Dumb-ass asked, pulling up a chair next to the bed.

"Yesterday, I had a salad," Brian mentally rolled his eyes and apparently the guy did it physically as Justin snapped, "I don't have much of an appetite, lately, Dumb-ass." Though Dumb-ass had called Justin, smart ass in an affectionate tone, Justin had practically hit the man with "dumb-ass", but he wasn't fazed.

"You were skinny to begin with, now you just look fucking starved." He did? No one else had mentioned Justin losing weight, though that made sense. Justin didn't weigh 135 soaking wet, so if he wasn't eating enough for an entire football team like he usually did, then of course he had gotten skinny and damn it, Brian couldn't do a thing about it. "And when was the last time you showered?" Brian hadn't noticed a difference in Justin's scent when he would lean down to kiss or hug him, he had noticed that he hair was getting longer.

"Wednesday," Justin said softly, followed by Dumb ass letting out an exasperated moan,

"Justin, it's Sunday, if you keep this up, you are going to be the one dead when this is over with." The words hit Brian like a ton of bricks, why hadn't he noticed how little Justin left the hospital room. How had he not felt the difference in the weight of the body pressing against him? How had he not sensed that Justin was wasting away?

"I don't want him to wake up alone," Justin almost whispered, but it was a hospital room so they heard him plenty loud.

"Think how he's going to feel when he wakes up and you are a skeleton. He loves you more than anyone else in the world and it would break his heart to see you like this." Who was this man and how did he know them so well? "Who can run and get you some clothes?"

"Mack," Justin sighed and suddenly Brian felt stupid for not recognizing Justin's manager's voice, he'd met the man a handful of times, he really liked Mack, he had taken good care of Justin when Justin was in New York and had understood when Justin had to come back to Pittsburg. He and Justin had become close friends and Mack had even been at their wedding.

"No, Justin, who can get your clothes? I will sit here next to him, while you just right in there and take a shower, one that last more than 3 minutes," Mack insisted. "I'm not asking you to go home and take a shower, though I don't think that would kill you." Justin had clearly just glared at him with that glare that even Brian knew not to mess with. "I said I'm NOT asking you to!" Mack pretty much squeaked, "I just want you to take care of yourself too. And Brian would agree with me." Damn right I do, Sunshine, Brian mentally growled. Justin sighed, giving in, which in of itself told Brian and Mack just how run down Justin was. The Justin they knew would have fought Mack until he was blue in the face, or until he won, whichever came first. But he had gone down with one punch.

"Emmett's off today, I could ask him, though I hate to, he's done so much for me." Justin said and Brian could hear the guilt in Justin's voice,

"He's your friend, he doesn't mind, I promise." Mack said, and apparently held out a phone and Justin sighed once again and the next minute Brian could hear Emmett's voice muffled through the phone.

"Baby? Is he ok?" Was that fear in Emmy Lou's voice? Brian shouldn't have been surprised, being in this coma had helped him come to realize just who loved him and how much.

"Same," Justin said softly, "But I need to you do me a really big favor." Brian sighed internally, Justin made it sound like he was about to ask Emmett for a kidney.

"Anything," Emmett stated and Brian loved Emmett even more.

"Could you stop by the loft and get me a change of clothes?" There was pause and for a minute Brian thought he just couldn't hear Emmett but then he spoke again.

"You've wore out your supply at the loft, do you have a spare key somewhere at Britin I can run over there."

"No, that's too far." Justin claimed, but Emmett instantly interrupted him.

"Justin, where is the key, I'm going and if I have to break in I will and I don't think you want to tell Brian that he's going to have to replace a window, tell me where a spare is."

"There is a trick brick on the sidewalk leading up to the front door. It's the third from the left in the row closest to the door." Justin revealed and Brian could hear the small smile on his face.

"Ok baby, I'll be there in…an hour, is that all right?"

"You are the best, Em. Though if you broke into Britin there would be an alarm, you'd be in jail before I could tell Bri about the window."

"That's what you think, Mr. Kinney," Brian loved nothing more than to hear someone call Justin, Mr. Kinney. It made him feel even more like Justin was his, and he never planned on sharing him again. Justin chuckled, and Brian was glad to hear it was real.

"What did they teach you in Mississippi?" Justin joked, Brian heard Emmett laugh,

"More than you will ever know, Sunshine." This time Mack and Justin both laughed and damn if it didn't sound great to hear that sound again. Brian missed the end of the conversation and the next thing Brian knew Justin and Mack were talking art and Brian would have smiled if he could have. Justin was talking without taking many breaths, explaining something that made zero sense to Brian but Mack clearly knew as he was talking in just the same knowledgeable way. Brian loved this. He always had, and he knew he always would, the blonde drove him crazy sometimes but he wouldn't have him any other way. Now how could he wake up so he could get Justin taking care of himself again.

That night Brian lay awake, trying to wake up, trying so hard to open his eyes, to wiggle his fingers, anything to let Justin know he was there. Justin was sitting in the chair, laying forward, his head resting on Brian's arm, their hands linked, as always. His hair had grown so much it was nearly down to his shoulders, it had been fairly long in the park, like before he had joined the Pink Posse. Mack had been right, Justin had lost a lot of weight, nearly 20 pounds if Brian had to guess. Wait how the fuck…Brian blinked, and this time his eyes reopened. He was awake, he had to be, this couldn't be a dream, Justin was too real, to life like, and he had never seen Justin look this thin, or like he hadn't slept in six weeks, so it couldn't be a memory. This had to be real, Brian didn't think he could bear if it wasn't. He opened his mouth,

"…." Nothing came out. Fuck. Ok, let's try this again, he looked down at his and Justin's links hands and glared at them until his closed on Justin's. As though someone had screamed, Justin sat up, sharply, looking down at their hands. Then he looked back up at Brian's face, Brian smiled softly, God his husband was beautiful. Even way too skinny and pale, Justin was the most beautiful man he'd ever seen. "I love you, Sunshine," Brian's voice worked this time though it sounded like it had nearly forgotten how to.

"Brian," Justin whispered so softly, like he was terrified speaking too loudly would shatter Brian.

"If you don't kiss me, I may go back into my coma," Brian rasped. Justin didn't need to be told twice, he collided their lips together, and Brian's responded, eager to taste their mate for the first time since the park. But then Brian realized that Justin was sobbing, and it didn't take him long before he had to pull away, gulping air. "I know I'm rusty, but was it that bad?" Brian asked. Justin, buried his face the crease of Brian's neck,

"No," Justin hiccupped, "You are amazing, I just never thought I' d be kissed by you again." Brian wrapped his arms around his crying partner, which caused him to cry harder.

"I know, babe, but I'm ok, and I plan on kissing you and hugging you and holding you, and eventually once we are both back to our full strength I plan on fucking you, for the rest of our lives. Which is going to be a long time." Justin nodded against him, and Brian's hands found their way to Justin's sides, Brian flinched violently when he felt the bones of his ribs far more obvious than they normally would. "Fuck, Justin," Brian gasped, "What have you done to yourself?" Justin pulled back and met Brian's eyes, they were bright with relief, but there was a dull ache in the back of them.

"Food didn't seem that important." Brian pulled him down and kissed him lightly,

"You, are always important. And I am not thrilled with how you've treated yourself." He paused, he was scolding him, for being there for him, for loving him, he sighed, "Pull your shirt up." Justin paused, he was aware of how bad it would look, he looked close to being anorexic, however mild. Justin slowly lifted his shirt, closing his eyes when Brian's eyes widened in horror. "Shit," Brian muttered, staring at the ribs and breast bone that stuck out to the point it looked painful. "Come here," he demanded, Justin obeyed, letting his shirt fall and leaned closer to Brian. "I love you, and I missed you so much. And you are still the most beautiful man I've ever seen. But tomorrow, you are going out with Daphne or Mack and you are eating 4 cheese burgers. Well maybe just one until you get used to it, then you're eating four." Justin smiled softly,

"What makes you think that just because you are awake that I am going to leave your side?" Brian pulled him down, so that their faces were inches apart.

"Because Mr. Taylor- Kinney, I will get Debbie Novotny involved if I have to."

"Ouch, a bit below the belt there Mr. Kinney," Justin replied, but they were both smiling and for the first time in a month and 12 days, Justin felt whole.

I think the next chapter is going to be rated M, so if you like this story and want to read more, you're gonna have to story alert it. I hope you liked it and please review! Much love to all of you who have made it this far 3