Justin’s POV: I push Mikey away from me and look at him. “What are you doing?” I ask him before moving away. “Oh god Justin, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was doing.” He gets up and looks down at me. “I know they are talking to us about talking to someone else about all this…something about closure. But I’m fine.” “Michael, talking to someone isn’t such a bad thing. You need to.” “Why, they don’t understand. God, I want out of here.” He opens the door and goes to his bed. I leave him alone and give him some time to calm down. The next few days fly by when the doctor comes in and asks if we are ready to go home. “Yes, I believe we are ready.” I decided to stay so I could be with Daphne but it’s time to go. “Well, then let’s get you ready to go. Your partner is signing papers for the insurance and then you both are free to go.” “Can I go see, Daphne?” I ask him. “Um, Justin I don’t think she is wanting visitors. She’s had a rough day.” The doctor looks at me. Brian walks in the door “Who’s ready to go?” I look at him and back to the doctor. “What’s wrong with her?” I ask him more firmly. “Not my place to tell. If you want to see her, then it’s up to her.” I nod my head and look at Brian. “I am going to go see Daphne.” He nods his head to me. “I’ll just get Mikey ready to go.” He kisses my lips and I walk out. I walk down to Daphne’s room and I hear her crying inside. I walk in. “Daph? What is wrong?” She puts her hand out to me and I take it. “Justin.” She burst into sobs and I do the only thing I know what to do. I hug her to me. She cries for a while and pulls away. “Ok, now, want to tell your very best friend what’s wrong?” Brushing her hair out of her eyes. “They took some more tests. The bullet hit my spine and they said the damage is too much to fix. Justin, they say I may never be able to walk again.” She leans into me crying and I am in shock. I hold onto her and can’t help but feel it’s my fault somehow. “Oh god, Daphne. I’m so sorry.” “Taylor, don’t you fucking blame yourself for this. It’s not your fault. Oh god, I need my legs. How can I be without them?” She starts to cry again. We hold onto each other awhile before the doctor comes in and gives her something to help her rest. “I’ll come back tomorrow. I promise.” I whisper to her. “Thanks Justin. Please don’t blame yourself. I love you. Will you please send Brian in?” “Brian? Why?” I ask. “I need to ask him something.” “Okay. And I love you too. Get some rest.” I give her a kiss before heading out. “Ready to go now, Sunshine?” Brian puts his arm around me. “Daphne wants to talk to you.” I tell him. “Me? Why?” “I don’t know, Brian. Just go in and see before she is falls asleep.” He hugs and kisses me before walking into Daphne’s room. I look over to Michael who opens his arms and I walk into them. “Whatever it is Justin, she’s a strong woman.” I just simply nod my head. Brian’s POV: I walk into Daphne’s room wondering what she needs from me. She’s lying on the bed and looks at me and smiles. “Come here, Brian.” I walk over and take her hand. “You love Justin right?” I nod my head “Yes.” “I need you to be there for him Brian. I know him. He will blame this on himself I need you to make sure he doesn’t.” I wipe her tears away from her face. “Of course, beautiful. What’s going on?” “The bullet hit my spinal cord and I may never walk again.” She blurts outs at once and I see the tears forming again. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I know it’s going to be rough. I’m here if you need anything. Where are your folks?” I ask her. “Working. Brian, I just need you to promise me that you are going to look after Justin. He is having a rough time. Also, watch that best friend of yours. He’s in love with, Justin. I am never wrong about things like this. I can see it by the way he looks at Justin. I know you won’t believe me because he is your best friend, but is the truth. Don’t worry about Justin, he won’t leave you. He loves you, no, he worships you.” I nod my head and lean over to kiss her cheek. “You are a wonderful person, Daphne. If I was straight, I would fuck you.” That got a smile from her. “You too, Brian. But just remember you are my best friend’s lover. I wouldn’t do that to him.” I nod my head. “I understand. Shot down by a beautiful woman.” Oh shit. “I didn’t mean that in that way. I’m sorry.” “It’s okay Brian. That was funny. I need my rest, now go take care of Justin. I love you.” “Me too, beautiful.” I walk out of the room to find Justin in Michael’s arms crying. “Justin.” He turns around and walks to my arms. I pull him as close to me as possible. “Is okay, Sunshine. She’s the strongest and the most stubborn woman I know.” “She may never walk again.” “I know. She told me. She also told me to keep reminding you that it isn’t your fault. Let’s get you home.” He turns around and looks at Mikey. “Coming, Mikey?” I ask walking past him with Justin. “Yeah, I’m coming.” I hear him saying as we make our way out to the jeep. Michael’s POV: Two days have pass and things seem to be calming down. I’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on with my emotions. All these people keep sending me flowers telling me thank you for what I did and they wish us a speedy recover. They send us cards saying they care about us. Everyone keeps saying that they are hoping the best for us two. That hope will make Daphne walk again. That hope will take these nightmares away that I know I have and know that Justin has. There was no excuse on what Ethan did. But we have to have hope in everything. Bull-fucking-shit. I need to talk to Justin. I get in my car and head to the loft. Once I get there I knock on the door. Brian opens the door and lets me in. “Mikey, how are you?” “I need to talk to Justin. Where is he?” I look around and see Justin come in from the kitchen. I run to him and hug him. “Shit Mikey, you fucking scared me.” Justin laughs. “I need to talk to you. I need to know something.” “Okay, what is it?” “I was faced with a situation and I dealt with it and Ethan being shot was the luck of the draw.” I look at his face and I can tell it bothers him. “Justin, I don’t know if it was him or me that actually pulled the trigger. I could have been the one to shoot him." I feel Justin pull me into him and hold me. “Mikey, either way I would rather it been him getting shot than you. Either way, I don’t blame you. You fucking saved my life. I owe you my life. I will never be able to thank you enough.” I hold him tighter as I try to calm my crying. “Mikey, listen to me, are you listening?” I look at Justin. “Fuck, you sound like Brian now.” I tell him. And they both laugh at me, which brings me to laughing with them. “Mikey, I will never blame you for what happened. Never.” I hug him and look into his face. “Justin, I am sorry for how I treated you all this time. You didn’t deserve it. I am sorry for everything.” “Mikey, at first you were horrible but then you turned into a good friend. All that stuff before is ancient history. ” I nod my head at him. “Mikey, Justin is right, you are a great friend. Who has been staying with you through all this?” “My mother.” We all laugh. “Why don’t you stay here, that way you and Justin have each other to talk to.” I look from Justin to Brian and nod my head. “Okay, I would like that.” The next day Justin comes out of the room and sees me crying on the couch. “Mikey, you okay?” “Yeah, just a lot on my mind.” “Listen, I know it isn’t up to me but I have to go to Ethan’s funeral. I was friends with his family. Why don’t you come to?” “Hell no, Justin I shot and killed their son.” I look at Justin. “They don’t see it like that.” Justin says. “Mikey, I talked to his mom and she doesn’t blame any of us. Trust me, I don’t want to go but I need to, for closure.” “Ok, if you want me there, I will be.” I tell him and he nods his head “I do.” “That fucking better not be a marriage ‘I do’, Sunshine.” Brian says coming out of the bedroom. “Oh, it’s not. You know I’m saving that for you.” Justin tells him. “You okay?” He asks Justin. I see Justin close his eyes. Damn he is having a rough time. “I’m holding my own.” Brian pulls Justin into a hug and kisses him. Justin’s POV: After Ethan’s funeral we came back home. Ethan’s family was glad to see us all and even told us all that they don’t blame us for what happened. They told Brian to look out for me and told me to just be happy. They even told Mikey that they didn’t blame him for what happened. They knew he probably saved more kids from getting hurt. I think it helped us all. If that is so, then why the fuck can’t I get over it? I don’t understand it. Mikey walks in and sits down beside me as I look out the window. “Justin, can I ask you something?” “Yeah, what is it?” I ask him. I look over to him and he is looking straight at me. Damn, what is he thinking? “Well, how come it seems like you’re doing better than I am? Why is it that it isn’t bothering you?” I look at him. “Mikey, it bothers me more then you know. I just can’t show it well, right now. I messed up big time with Ethan. He was in love with me and I hurt him bad. Then he shoots my best friend and was going to shoot me. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t think I would be here right now.” I look at him and he smiles. Michael’s POV: I see him smile and it reminds me of the first time I saw him smile. He really does have a bright smile. It was at the diner when I first started to notice him. I mean really notice him. He is a talented young man and if it weren’t for Brian, I would be with him. I have had a crush on him since the moment I saw him. I call him Boy Wonder, but not for the reason people think I do. I call him that because he is wonderful boy. A wonderful young man, but I met him through Brian. Knowing my best friend doesn’t give his heart to just anyone, I had to step back. But when I was standing between Ethan and Justin, I asked myself if Justin was worth dying for. My answer is yes, he is. I would give everything up for him. But no one knows it but me, and maybe Justin now. I am pulled out of my thoughts by Justin’s voice. “Michael, what do you want to tell me?” He looks at me. I know I can’t tell him this. I am not willing to lose the friendship. “Ah, I wanted to tell you that if you need to talk about anything I am here. That’s what friends are for.” “Well, same here. I owe you.” I shake my head at him. “No, you don’t.” He just nods and looks back out the window. “Justin, about those kisses.” I start to say but he stops me. “No, don’t worry about them. I know it’s because you are happy to be alive and the whole thing we went through together.” “It just was a lot to handle. Justin, I know that it hurts you a lot on what happened, but the important thing is, no matter how we got here, we are both alive.” “Yeah, but my best friend may never walk again.” Justin wipes his eyes and looks down at his hands. “She’s alive, Justin. She may never walk again but she is alive and happy to be.” I rub his neck and he leans into my hand. “I know, and I know she doesn’t blame me, but I still feel like I should have handled everything different.” He wipes another tear and I reach over and wipe the other away with the tip of my finger. I lift his chin up to look at me. “Justin, no one blames you for what Ethan did. Not even his family. You are a smart, talented young man and I know that you feel bound to the guilt, but it’s not right. What he did, it was his own doing. YOU didn’t put a gun to his head and tell him to do it.” He looks into my eyes and nods. “I know but I can’t help it. I even told Brian this and he said the same thing you have.” “Justin, I was there with you. I saw the look in your eyes. I see it every time I close my eyes. But Jus, it worked out.” “I know.” He nods his head and I move around him and rub his neck. He leans into my touch. “That feels good Mikey, but you don’t have to do that.” “Just enjoy it Justin. I want to help you relax.” As he closes his eyes my mind goes back to the day I walked into their room not so long ago and saw Justin lying naked in Brian’s bed. He looked so fucking hot. I can feel my cock twitch at the thought of touching him. Once he was relaxed I looked down to see him almost asleep. I moved around and looked at him. He looked like an angel. I moved my hand down and rubbed his cock. He moaned and I went to pull it away, but he grabbed it and put it back on his dick. Before I could stop myself I lean over and kiss him and he pulls me into him and kisses me back. I am shocked but at this point I don’t care. I just know that kissing him is heaven and as long as he seems to start this, I was for it. I just can’t believe I am kissing my dream man, and he was kissing me back. Justin’s POV: I can feel myself floating in another world as I feel the soft kiss. I reach out to grab his hand from moving away and put it back against my growing hard on. I feel him kissing and touching me and my body is so over wrecked with emotions I just give right into them, as I kiss him my body reacts and I can’t wait for Brian to fuck me.