Michael walked with Brian after Jennifer into the hospital room. He looked at Rick who was sitting on a chair. He was still covered in blood. He looked at Brian who was just staring like he was about to crumble into the floor. “I should probably go.” Rick said getting up. “Oh my god.” Jennifer sobbed on top of Justin. “Baby, my goodness.” Brian stared at her for a moment and then at Justin. He frowned and turned around to leave. He couldn’t watch them. He couldn’t see Justin laying there looking so fucking pale. He needed some air. “Brian, where are you going?” Michael asked. “I need to get out of here, Mikey.” “But…” “I just need to go.” Brian told him. “Can I have your car keys?” “Brian, can you drive in this condition?” Michael asked. Brian glared at him. Michael pulled out the keys and gave them to Brian. “The car is in the parking lot.” Michael said. “Please, watch Gus for me.” Brian told him. Michael nodded. “Be careful.” Michael called after him before he saw Brian disappear. Michael stayed in the hospital until pretty much everyone was gone. Ted gave him and Ben a ride home. Michael was worried for his friend. Brian looked like a scared kid. It reminded him of the times that Jack would beat him up. “Are you okay?” Ben asked. Michael nodded. “Where do you think he went?” Ben asked just about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Michael smirked and Ben went to open it. “Where is Gus?” Brian asked as he came inside the apartment. “My god. Brian, where were you?” Michael asked concerned. Michael looked at Brian’s appearance. He knew that his best friend had been crying. He looked at the bottle of alcohol that Brian had and the way Brian was standing. “You are drunk!” Michael yelled. “Give a s’ar ‘o Mikey.” Brian slurred. “Where is my son?” “He’s with Jessica and Daphne. They offered to take care of him when you didn’t come back.” Michael told him. “I’ll go prepare him some tea.” Ben said. Michael nodded and started to push Brian towards the spare bedroom. Once he managed to get Brian in bed he took the bottle away. He looked at his friend and his heart broke for him. Brian had gone through so much shit pretty much all of his life. “Mikey, he’s prewy.” Brian slurred. “Yeah he is really pretty.” Michael assured him imagining Brian was talking about Justin. “I like him.” “Good thing he likes you too.” Michael told him as he got Brian out of his boots. Brian grinned and nodded. “He has sweep lips.” Michael looked at his friend with a smiled as he pushed him back and got the covers on him. “Sleep, Brian.” “I wan ‘o see him.” Brian protested. “Tomorrow, I promise.” Michael said. “Now go to sleep.” Brian nodded and closed his eyes. Michael stayed there until he was sure that Brian had fallen asleep. He came out and went directly into Ben’s arms. “Shh, its okay.” Ben assured him. Michael buried his face on Ben’s chest and cried for his two friends. *** Brian looked at Michael and frowned. “What are we doing here?” Brian asked. “Mom and Jen have everyone inside. They are just talking about everything that happened and making a schedule.” Michael informed him. “A schedule for what?” Brian asked. “To stay with Justin so he won’t have to be alone.” Ben said. Brian nodded. “Then we are going to see him.” Brian said. Michael nodded. They got out of the car and went inside the house. Brian quickly took his sleeping son from Stacy and walked with him to the living room. He sat on the sofa and looked at his son for a long time before he started crying. He was trying to keep his sobs under control so that the others wouldn’t hear him. He kept rubbing circles on his son’s back as he stared at the spot where he and Justin had sat the night of his birthday. Brian closed his eyes and remembered that day. “Justin,” “What?” Justin asked opening his eyes. “What does it feel like to kiss a guy?” Brian asked. Justin shrugged. “I don’t know. Fucking amazing,” Brian nodded and leaned forward to kiss Justin. Brian cleaned his tears and was suddenly assaulted with a bunch of other memories. “Hi, I’m Justin Taylor.” “I’m Brian.” Brian told him smiling. “Are you new here?” Justin asked. Brian nodded. “Me too.” Justin chirped smiling brightly. Brian stared at Justin’s beautiful smile. Brian smiled thinking about the first time they met. “I’m going with him, Mickey.” “But you told me we were going to watch Spider Man.” Michael whined. “I need to study.” Brian said. “Could you two please stop fighting? You guys are giving me a migraine.” Justin complained. “We can study later, Brian. I don’t want to cause problems.” “What are you going to do, Brian?” Michael asked. “I’m staying with him.” Brian said. Michael shook his head and left. Brian looked at Justin’s contented eyes and he smiled. Brian bit his lower lip and rubbed his face. “Oh my god. He is so cute!” Justin shouted. “Who is?” Brian asked. “Chris Hobbs.” Justin told him. “We are going to the movies today.” “I thought we were going out?” Brian asked. “You don’t mind, do you?” Justin asked. “No.” Brian told him. Brian was upset that Justin didn’t want to spend time with him instead. Brian smirked realizing he had really been jealous at Chris. “Why are you smiling?” Brian asked sitting down ready to go to bed. “I just had sex.” Justin yelled ecstatic. Brian stood up and glared at him. “I’m sorry. I’m just so excited. I’m not a virgin anymore. I know you don’t like to talk about gay sex.” “I’m leaving.” “Where are you going?” Justin asked taken aback. “It’s late.” “I’m going to go see Lindsay.” Brian opened the door of the dorms and looked one last time at Justin before he left. Brian put his hand on his mouth and frowned. He had been pissed at Justin and he went to Lindsay that one time. That's how things had started with Lindsey. Every time he got mad at Justin he would run to her. Brian closed his eyes and shook his head. He had loved Lindsay but now he was starting to realize that he had been in love with Justin for a long time. “Hey kiddo.” Debbie said sitting down next to him. “Do you want something to eat?” “No.” Brian said. “You need to eat something.” Debbie told him. “Later.” Debbie nodded. “He’s going to be okay.” “You don’t know that.” Brian hissed. Debbie smiled sadly. “He’s a strong kid.” Debbie told him. Brian started to cry. Debbie put her arms around him making sure not to wake Gus. “I can’t lose him. I don’t want to give him up. We just found each other. It’s not fucking fair.” Brian sobbed. Michael came to the living room and just looked at his friend with sad eyes. He wished he could do something to help him. “It’s going to be okay. You’ll see. Sunshine is going to be okay.” Debbie repeated over and over trying to make it come true. Michael walked up to them and kneeled at their feet. “He’ll probably wake up and say something funny. You know how he is.” Michael told him. Brian nodded and closed his eyes. All he wanted was for Justin to wake up.