Learning To Live Again

Learning To Live Again

"You're doing it, Justin. You're learning to live again." Brian whispered to the younger man, who lay sleeping in a hospital bed.
He hadn't strayed far from his lover since the accident. The jeep was completely totaled, but for once, Brian didn't care. He was
too worried about Justin, who had woken up once, since having been brought to the hospital. Brian was actually scared for once.
He was bleeding, but wasn't in any physical pain, which was why he refused to have a check-up. Brian pushed his brown hair out
of his eyes, and continued to watch Justin. The younger man was in bad shape, but Brian just knew that his lover would be okay.

When the nurse approached him again, he sighed, and then finally nodded. Brian watched as the nurse smiled for several moments,
and then she motioned for him to follow her. Glancing back at Justin one last time, Brian turned and followed the nurse. Justin was in
pain. It was the first thought that formed in his foggy brain. He was about to roll over, but then became aware of something keeping him
down. Justin slowly opened his eyes, and realized he was in a hospital. Again. But why? Panic came over Justin, and he feared he had
gotten bashed again. But suddenly, something like a small movie began to play in his mind. He remembered leaving Babylon with Brian.

They had been laughing and joking around, as per usual. The only difference this time, was that Brian had been
drunk, and Justin hadn't thought anything, of his lover getting behind the wheel of the jeep. Next, they had been
driving around town for a bit, not a care in the world. That's when it had happened. As Brian went to turn, as the
light turned green, a car slammed into Justin's side. A moment later, another car slammed into Brian's side of
the jeep. Neither of the people in the other vehicles were hurt. Justin licked his lips, and pushed the button to
call the nurses station. Moments later, a female voice asked if everything was okay. "Brian K-Kinney." Justin
said softly.

Justin was surprised when a nurse walked into his room a few minutes later. She had a sweet face, and smiled at him,
before saying. "Sir, you're not Brian Kinney. Your name's Justin Taylor. Do you remember that?" Justin resisted the urge
to roll his eyes. He sighed softly, and then said, "I want to see him. Brian Kinney is my... friend." Justin finished lamely.
The nurse nodded, instantly understanding it was more than that. She merely smiled, and went to find the man. After
Brian had finally let the nurse see to his injuries, he went to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. On the way back to Justin's
room, a nurse quickly walked up to him. Brian froze. "Excuse me sir, are you Brian Kinney?"

The question made Brian swallow the hot coffee without feeling it burn his throat. Moments later, he bolted for Justin's
room. A soft sigh of relief escaped him, as he watched Justin talking to the doctor. Brian set down his coffee, and then
he jumped, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see the nurse smiling. "The young man in there, he loves
you. He has been asking for you." Brian was about to reply, when the doctor walked out of Justin's room, joining them
in the hallway. The nurse smiled, and then she walked off. "I've got Justin on medication." The doctor said to Brian. "He
can go home tomorrow. I will send the prescription, so you will be able to pick it up. "

The doctor sighed. "Justin will need to continue taking the medicine, and take physical therapy again. I know Justin took physical
therapy after the bashing, but with the accident, his hand's gotten even worse." Brian stared at the doctor. "Are you using layman's
terms on me?" He growled, his eyes blazing. The doctor nodded. "Yes sir. I figured that it would be easier to understand, rather
than using medical terms." Brian rolled his eyes, and then opened the door, walking into Justin's room. The door closed behind
him with a loud BANG! He took several moments, to look at his lover. However, when Justin got uncomfortable, Brian calmed a bit,
and smiled.

He took a seat in a chair near Justin's bed. "How are you, Sunushine?" Brian asked softly, taking Justin's hands into his own.
"I want to go home." Justin said softly. When Brian shook his head no, Justin glared. When his lover didn't budge, he sighed.
"I don't want to stay here. Bring me home." It was a command, not a request, and Brian got ready for an argument. However,
trying to stay calm, he only tightened his grip on Justin's hands. He was glad when the action grabbed his lovers’ attention.
"You have to stay here for tonight. The doctor said I could take you home tomorrow. You're not going anywhere tonight, and
that's final. So don't whine."

Brian snapped angrily at his lover. When Justin looked hurt, Brian softened his tone. "You need to what the doctor says." Justin finally
nodded. He was quiet for a moment, and then said, "What about the jeep? Will you still be able to use it?" When Justin asked about
the jeep, Brian felt his chest tighten. He had loved his jeep. However, looking at his lover, Brian was glad that it was the jeep that was
completely wrecked, and not Justin. "It's totaled. But don't worry; I'm going to buy a new one, so that I can pick you up tomorrow." Justin
nodded. "Sounds great, Brian." He said, his voice tight. Brian smiled gently. Then he kissed the younger man sweetly on the lips.

When the kiss ended, Brian pulled away. "Get some sleep, Sunshine. I'll call the others, and tell them you're okay. Your mom
and Debbie will be especially relieved.” Justin smiled, and then, getting comfortable, fell asleep. Brian watched Justin sleep a
few moments, and then, smiling, he left the room. He told the nurse on duty, that he was stepping out, and to come get him,
if something happened to Justin while he was outside. 30 minutes later, Brian hung up his phone, after calling Jennifer and Deb.
He walks back into Justin's room, and made sure Justin was okay. A sigh escaped him, and, not knowing what to do, Brian left
the room once again.

He needed a cigarette, and he needed one bad. Stepping outside, Brian lit one up, and took a drag. He didn't have any E
on him, so for now, a cigarette would have to do. Moment’s later, Brian let out a breath of smoke, the cigarette between
his pointer finger, and his bird finger. Getting up, he walked around the outside of the hospital. He'd called Ted at Kinnetic,
and told him that that an emergency had happened to Justin and that, and he was taking a week off. Without waiting for
a reply, Brian had hung up immediately, not wanting to hear anything else from the other man. After finishing his cigarette,
Brian checked on Justin once more.

Early the next morning, Brian went home. He had asked a friend to bring him to pick up his new jeep. Then Brian had gone
home. He’d showered, changed, and then headed back to the hospital to pick Justin up. Pulling up at the hospital an hour
later, Brian arrived as Justin was being wheeled out to meet him. He paused when Justin froze, but then sprung into action.
Brian helped Justin into the jeep. Justin was so terrified that he was shaking. When Brian got into the jeep, he buckled up.
Then, he took one of Justin's hands into his own, and squeezed it gently, letting the younger man know that everything was
going to be okay now.

When Justin relaxed at his touch, Brian started the jeep, and then they were off. 45 minutes later, as they turn onto
the street where Brian's loft was, a car came out of nowhere, and Brian had to pull his arm away from Justin, to be
able to slam on the brakes, and steady the jeep. Justin began to freak out, when Brian pulled his arm away, as a
car nearly hit them. After he got the jeep under control, Brian took his seat belt off once more. He turned to Justin,
who had started shaking again. "Justin, are you okay, Sunshine?" When Justin nodded, Brian hugged him. "You're
okay, Sunshine." Brian said. He started the jeep again, and moments later, they were on their way to the loft once
more. Brian made sure to hold Justin's hand the whole time.

The End.