The scene at the hospital was nearly as chaotic as in front of the club. Debbie paced as Ben sat quietly eyes closed looking as if he were praying. Brian walked over and put a comforting hand on Ben's shoulder. "Deb, why don't you sit down?" Ben said obviously tired of watching her pace. "Tried that already." She said on the verge of tears. "Didn't work." She fiddled with her necklace for a second. "What if something happens to him? What am I going to do if I lose him?" "You're not going to lose him and this isn't about you, so sit down." Ben said harshly his own emotions getting the better of him. "I know." Debbie said sitting down next to Ben. "I'm sorry, Sweetie." "Ben." Hunter called racing into the ER waiting room with Justin and John hot on his heels. "How is he? Is Michael going be okay?" "I don't know." Ben said his voice thick with emotion. "They haven't really told us anything." Hunter pulled the man who he still thought of as his father into an embrace. "Uncle Bri?" John said barreling into his Uncle. "I was so scared." "It's okay, Buddy." Brian said pulling the boy into his arms. "I'm okay." Looking up Brian saw Justin and pulled him to him as well. "I'm okay, Sunshine. We all are." "What the fuck happened?" Hunter asked when he finally pulled away from Ben. "I don't know." Brian said. "I haven't had time to talk to Carl yet." As a doctor emerged from the one of the ER exam rooms, Brian extricated himself from Justin and John and moved with Ben to intercept him. He looked at the two men, but didn't say anything. "Well?" Brian asked. "He's lost a lot of blood." The doctor said. "And, we believe that his spleen has ruptured. We'll have to repair it or possibly remove it." "So, what the fuck are you waiting for?" Brian asked angrily. "As I said, he's lost a lot of blood." The doctor explained. "He needs a transfusion and we're low on AB negative blood. We're calling other hospitals right now." Brian looked to Debbie who shook her head no. "Look, I'm O negative. That's the universal donor, right?" "Yeah, are you gay?" "What's that got to do with it?" "They can't take your blood because of HIV." Ben said gravely. "I don't have HIV." Brian countered. "I'm sorry, but it's an FDA regulation." The doctor continued. "Gays are at too high a risk." "What about all the straight studs and bitches that fuck around and don't use protection?" Brian snapped. "You'd take their blood, right?" "Brian." Justin said trying to pull his lover away from the doctor. "Take my blood, Mother-fucker." Brian shouted as Ben stepped between him and the doctor. "Brian." Ben said. "They couldn't take your blood even if you were straight. You had cancer." Brian hadn't thought about that. He pulled away from Ben angrily and stalked over to a chair near the door where he sat down heavily. Justin walked over to sit next to him. After a few minutes Brian took hold of Justin's hand running his other hand through his hair. "Aw shit." Melanie said looking at the clock on the wall. "We have to get home. The sitter -." "That's okay." Ben said. "Go. I'll call you if anything happens." A few minutes after Melanie and Lindsay left, Carl walked into the waiting room. Debbie saw him first. "Carl?" Debbie said causing everyone else to look up. "What the fuck happened? Do you know?" "It was bomb." Carl said flatly. "Somebody planted a bomb." "Holy shit." Debbie said startled. "What kind of sick fuck does something like that?" "The kind that went to Matthew Shepherd's funeral with signs that said, your son is burning in hell." Justin said quietly. "The kind who were shouting their hate slogans out of car windows as they drove down Liberty Avenue. The kind who support Proposition 14." He sighed heavily. "The kind of people like my own fucking father." "How many?" Brian asked. "Four dead, sixty-seven injured, eleven critically." "Fuck." Brian said. "I'll need statements from all of you. But, that can wait." Carl said when Debbie looked as if she'd say something. "Have you heard anything about Michael?" "He needs surgery, but they're low on his blood type." Debbie said. "They have to find a donor." "What's his blood type?" Carl asked intrigued. "AB negative." Debbie said looking as if she'd start to cry again at any moment. "Son of a bitch." Carl snorted. "What?" "I'm AB negative." Carl said. "Carl?" Debbie said hopefully. "Flag down his doctor." Carl said already rolling up his sleeves. -- As the time past without any word about Michael's condition, Debbie began a steady trek around the waiting room and the hallway. Brian watched her, but couldn't bring himself to try and comfort her. He could barely comfort himself. When she went out in the hallway once again, but didn't come back right away, Brian decided to go look for her. He found her a few minutes later in the hospital chapel. Debbie looked up and smiled at him when he sat down next to her. "I came in here because I needed to talk to Him, you know?" Debbie said pointing toward the ceiling. Brian nodded. "I thought at first that I would just ask nicely, you know. Please help my son." She shook her head. "But, this time, I'm not asking I'm telling Him that He'd better make sure Michael gets through this." Brian took her hand in his own then looked toward the front of the chapel. "You wanna say a prayer?" "No." Brian said smiling. "I just want Him to know that if He knows what's good for Him, He'd better listen to you." "Maybe we'd better get back." Debbie said. "I want to be there when the doctor come back." -- While Debbie resumed her path around the waiting area and hallway, Brian went back to sit with Justin and John. John was extremely quiet making Brian worry about the boy. "Hey, Buddy." Brian said to John as he sat down. "How you doing?" "Not to good." John said honestly. "What's wrong?" "It was a bomb." John said softly. "That's what's wrong." He cleared his throat then continued. "What kinda of lunatic sets a bomb off? The bible has some pretty specific things to say about killing, so this just doesn't make any sense." He looked over at Justin who was now listening to him as well. "If you don't agree with something, you try to change it, you don't blow up the opposition. That's just stupid and terrorism always elicits the exact opposite result. Making the bombers into provocateurs and their opponents into victims. It changes the whole attitude toward whatever issue the bombers were supporting. They become extremists and nothing shuts down support faster than extremism." "You've thought about this a lot, huh?" Brian said impressed by John's insights. "We've been studying it in Social Studies." John said with a slight nod. "But, that was about the Middle East and all. Who'd have ever thought that good old Pittsburgh would become a battleground?" "Yeah." Brian said unable to think of anything else to add. "How do you stop crap like that?" John asked frowning. "How do you make people see reality? That is doesn't matter what color you are or what religion you are or anything like that. When you get down to it, we all bleed red, don't we." "Yes, we do." Brian offered. "And, I don't know how to stop it, John, all we can do is keep fighting and hoping." "And, dying." John said his voice cracking. Brian shrugged completely at a loss as to what to say. He looked to Justin who shrugged back also at a loss. "Dr. Ryan." Brian heard Ben and turned to see Michael's doctor enter the waiting area. "I'm going to go see about Michael." Brian said. "But, we will discuss this further, okay?" John nodded then stared at the floor lost in thought. "How is he?" Ben said as Brian walked up beside him. "We had to remove his spleen, but he came though the surgery with flying colors." They all gave a collective sign of relief. "I'm cautiously optimistic." He smiled slightly. "He should be just fine." "I told Him He'd better look out for Michael if He knew what was good for Him." Debbie said pointing up. "Can we see Michael?" Ben asked smiling at Brian as if Christmas had come early. "He'll be sleeping most of the day." Dr. Ryan said. "Why don't you all go home? Get some rest." He nodded then headed back toward the door. "Why don't we all go home and get some rest, then?" Justin said already gathering up their jackets. "I think I'll just stay for a little longer." Debbie said. "Debbie." Ben countered. "You heard the doctor. Michael's going to be sleeping most of the day. And, I for one could use a shower." "And a nap." Brian said knowing that he must reek of smoke and feeling like he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for hours now. "Maybe for a little while." Debbie said. "We'll meet back here before lunch." Ben said smiling. "I'll buy you a cup of soup." Debbie smiled back and acquiesced. "You guys need a ride?" Justin said. "Yeah, Sunshine." Debbie said. "Thanks, Sweetie." -- Justin was already in the shower by the time Brian got through talking with John. Brian watched the younger man for a second. Justin was just standing under the spray. He hadn't even touched the soap. He jumped with Brian open the shower door. "You okay?" Brian asked. Justin shook his head no. "That was a stupid question. How could you possibly be okay?" "It knocked me down." Justin said. "I was standing with my back to the bar and the concussion of the explosion knocked me against the table and then to the floor." Brian leaned into Justin wrapping his arms around the other man's waist. "I couldn’t see. I couldn't find anyone. I didn't know what to do." "When I heard what happened, I parked the car and I ran." Brian admitted. "I had to get there. I had - I had to find you." Justin turned and looked up at Brian. "I was so fucking scared. All I kept thinking was don't let anything happen to 'him'." "I just kept thinking that I might not see you again." Justin said his emotions getting the better of him. "I just wanted to tell you -." "I love you, Justin." Brian said. "I have loved you since the second I laid eyes on you. And, I knew that if I didn't find you and tell you, I'd never be able to live with myself." He pressed his lips together. "I know that you know that I love you. But, I don't tell you nearly enough." He pulled Justin to him and pressed his lips to Justin's ear. "I love you." "I know." Justin said burying his face in Brian should as the water sluiced over their bodies. -- As planned they all met up at the hospital just before noon. The atmosphere was tense and silent. Even Debbie stayed uncharacteristically quiet. "This soup is actually pretty good." Hunter said after a few minutes. "It's not yours or anything Deb, but it's not bad." "Nothing compares to Debbie's food." Justin said taking a bite from his grilled cheese sandwich. "How do you fuck up grilled cheese?" Justin said staring at the tasteless sandwich in his hand. "The same way you fuck up a turkey sandwich." Brian said tossing the half of the sandwich he'd taken a bite out of back onto his plate. "I said no mayo, so they slathered it with mustard." "Ick." Hunter said wrinkling his nose. "I say fuck lunch." Brian offered. "Let's go up and check on sleeping beauty." "Sounds like a plan." Ben said hastily. He had decided against eating when they first go there and was probably the smartest of them all. -- Michael lay very still on the hospital bed. There were several tubes and wires hooked up to him and his face and neck were bandaged. His face had been cleaned so he didn't look quiet as scorched as he had when Brian saw him the previous night, but his face was bruised and there were several scratches marring Michael's features. "Good God." Debbie breathed as she sat down in the chair beside Michael's bed. "You okay, Deb?" Ben asked. "Yeah, Sweetie." Debbie said. "I was just remembering the last time Michael was in the hospital." She smiled at the memory. "He was 8-years-old. Had to have his tonsils out. He was scared fucking shitless." Ben smiled taking a deep breath before taking Michael's hand. "I bought him one of those little flashlights on the end of a key ring. We turned it on just as he was being wheeled into the OR. I told him it would keep him safe." "And, he believed that?" Brian asked doubtfully. "Hell no." Debbie said smiling. "But, it took his mind off things, you know?" Brian smiled knowing that Michael had kept that key ring. He'd see it a basket on the top of the fridge in Michael's old apartment. "So, where's my flashlight?" Michael's horse voice asked. "Hey, baby." Ben said looking down into Michael's half opened eyes. "Christ." Debbie said. "You scared the shit out of us, you know that." Brian let out a breath of relief that brought Michael's attention to him. Brian smiled at Michael and Michael tried to smile back. "What happened?" Michael asked. "Some lunatic planted a fucking bomb." Debbie said loudly. "Let's not talk about that right now." Ben said shaking his head at Debbie. "You just work on getting better." "I'll be right back." Hunter said and rushed out the door. Justin followed him. Justin found Hunter sitting on the floor near the elevators breathing hard, his face pale. Justin realized that Hinter was on the verge of hyperventilating. He gently guided Hunter to lean forward. "Put your hands over you nose and mouth and breath slowly." Justin instructed. "I don't have a paper bag, so it'll have to do." Hunter did as he was told and soon regained control of his breathing. He also got his color back and soon sat up and looked at Justin. "He almost died." Hunter said softly. Justin nodded. "He's probably going to need someone to take care of him once he gets out of the hospital, too, huh?" "Probably." Justin agreed. "He'll have to take it easy I'm sure." "Do you think that, um, would you and Brian be upset if I wanted to move back home with Michael and Ben?" Hunter asked his eyes trained on the door to Michael's room. "I don't know about Brian, but, as far as I'm concerned," Justin said, "I'd miss having you around, but if that's what you want, then that's what you should do." "I probably shouldn't have left in the first place." Hunter said. "I was just so pissed off at everyone, you know?" Justin nodded. "But, Michael and Ben are, well, more than just my foster parents. They're 'my two dads'." Hunter smiled and Justin smiled back. "Just tell Brian what you told me." Justin offered. "He'll understand. He'll also probably tell 'your two dads' that if they fuck up again, he'll kick their respective asses, but he'll understand." Hunter nodded. "Ready to go back in?" "Yeah." Hunter said. Justin offered the teen his hand and helped him to his feet. "There's a candle-light vigil tonight over in front of the club." Debbie was saying when Justin and Hunter walked back in. "I expect all of you to be there." She gave Brian a look and smiled. "Yes, mother." Brian said mockingly. "They're going to get Drew Boyd to speak." She continued. "What is the deal with him?" Justin asked. "He just came out." She said smiling. "And, he and Emmett are all over each other. I thought Carl and I were bad." "Ma!" Michael said shocked. "Please. The last thing I want to hear about right now is your sex life." "I'm thankful just to have one." Debbie said as Michael cringed. "Excuse me." A nurse said from the doorway. "It's time for Mr. Novotny's medication and he needs to rest." "Oh, um, sure." Ben said. He leaned in to kiss Michael before turning to put on his coat. "Love you." Michael nodded. They all filed out of the room together. After telling each other they'd see them at the vigil, Brian, Justin and Hunter headed toward the SUV. "Um, Brian?" Hunter began once they were in the car and headed back to the house. "I wanted to ask you something." "Shoot." "Well, I know that once Michael gets out of the hospital, he's going to need take it easy." Brian nodded. "And, I think I should move back home so I can help him." "Is that the only reason?" Brian asked. "So you can help Michael?" "No." Hunter admitted. "I don't want you to think that I don't appreciate everything that you and Justin have done for me, but I think I want to move back permanently." "Okay." Brian said nodding slowly. "It's your call, Hunter. I'll support your decision." Hunter nodded relieved. "But, if they ever do anything like letting you leave that way again, I'm going to personally rip them an asshole big enough to take a cannon up their respective asses." Hunter smiled and nodded. "What's so funny?" "Justin said you'd say that." Hunter explained. "He did, did he?" Brian said giving his partner a sideways glance. Hunter nodded chuckling. "Well, he does know me a lot better than most, so I'm not surprised." Justin smiled a mega-watt smile at Brian. "But, you'll have to discuss it with Michael and Ben, too. Although I doubt they'll turn you down." "So, are you and Michael cool now?" Hunter asked. "I don't know." Brian said pursing his lips. "I doubt if we'll ever be as close as we once were, but I do believe we're friends again and that's step in the right direction." "Yeah." Hunter said. "You were both acting like assholes." "Well, you are what you eat." "Yuck!" Hunter said with a groan. Justin blushed and Brian laughed out loud. End chapter 4.