The Rush (The scene opens with the camera fading in and quickly circling around a busy, loud diner. It slows and pauses on the door way as the jingling of the bells on the door are barely heard over the restaurants ruckus. A tall, gorgeous auburn haired man enters and looks around the crowded establishment. His gaze rests on the line of booths against the windows to the right and he walks down the cramped isle, stopping and sitting in a booth’s empty seat across from a short black haired man.) “Hey Mikey.” “That seat is reserved.” “Ha! For who? Do you have a dinner date?” “No. It’s reserved for a friend.” “Hmm… Well, I am your best friend so I think that qualifies.” “Yeah, if you were Brian Kinney.” “What the fuck are you talking about?” “I don’t even know who you are anymore Brian.” “What is your malfunction Mikey? Do I need to get out my driver’s license and show you I.D. or what?” “I told you I don’t…” “You don’t even know who I am anymore.” “This isn’t funny.” “No, you’re right. It’s not. It’s pathetic.” “Briiiaann!” (A red haired older woman, pops up at the end of their booth. She smiles at the boys and pops her gum as she holds a pad of paper and pen in her hands.) “What can I get my boys?” “A clue.” “We don’t serve that on the menu Brian. Though, there are times I wish we did. What’s going on between you two? I could smell the tension over the pink plate special.” “Ma! This isn’t funny.” “What isn’t darling?” “Deb, your son here seems to think I’m not Brian Kinney.” “Oh, baby are you sick.” “Get your hands off my forehead. I don’t have a fever. I’m not sick.” “Temporary blindness maybe? Cause I’m pretty sure that boy across from you is Brian Kinney.” “He is but he isn’t. I don’t want to discuss this with you. It’s between Brian and me.” “Right. So, Brian who isn’t Brian Kinney, are you going to order dinner?” “Turkey on whole wheat, hold the mayo, and…” “A cup of coffee. I’m not sure why I asked.” “Are you calling me predictable Debbie?” “Well if the…” “Ma, I’ll have a ham salad sandwich, chips and a Dr. Pepper.” “There better be a please at the end of that I missed?” “Please mother?” “Now, that’s my good boy. It’ll be out in a jiff.” (The waitress turns and leaves them. Hustling out of the camera’s sight as it turns back onto the two men.) “Stop snickering Brian.” “I can’t help it. It doesn’t matter how many times I see it Mikey.” “Shut up Brian.” “You’re such a petulant child. But I love you.” “Right.” “Quit pouting and tell me why you’re so pissed off. I really don’t think I’ve actually done anything that…” “I don’t expect you to apologize for not meeting me at Babylon last night. I’m sure something came up.” “What are you talking about? I never told you I’d be there.” “Of course not. No commitments right?” “Mikey I told you that I might not be able to make it out. You saw how freaked Justin was last night at Gus’ party.” “Don’t. Okay? Just don’t. It’s like I said. I don’t even know you. Ever since I came back from Portland you’ve been a completely different person.” “What did you think was going to happen? I have responsibilities.” “Hmpf. You have responsibilities?” “You’re damn right he does.” (Suddenly the red haired woman is back, this time she’s slid herself in beside Brian. Her face is tight knit and she glares across the table at her son.) “Ma, I thought I told you this is between me and Brian. Aren’t you working.” “Don’t take that tone with me young man. I’m allowed to take a break until your orders up.” “Fine.” “Don’t pout Michael. It’ll give you jowls. Now back to you and Brian. What’s this about you not thinking he has responsibilities.” “I know he has responsibilities Ma. One of those responsibilities is being my best friend.” “So now I’m your best friend am I?” “Brian, of course you are. I just don’t like the way you’ve been acting lately. It’s scaring me.” “What? Because I haven’t been out every night partying? Like I said. Justin was really freaked after remembering the attack. I couldn’t leave him alone at the loft.” “He isn’t you’re responsibility.” “Sunshine is his responsibility Michael. Not only that, but Justin is who Brian’s number one priority is. Isn’t that right Brian?” “Put the evil eye away Deb. I’m not arguing with you. We’re in complete agreement for once. Mikey is going to have to get over the fact that he doesn’t come first in my life.” “What? Brian how could you say that?” “Michael. You were the first one to get to the hospital that night. How could you think that it’d be anyone but him right now?” “Brian Kinney, I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of you than I am right now. Mwwah!” “Thanks Deb.” “Brian, I get that you were messed up by it. I do. But that doesn’t mean that you have to baby sit him 24/7. He’s an adult and can take care of him self! He doesn’t need you. I do!” “Michael you need to watch your mouth.” “No Ma. I won’t.” “Deb, do me a favor and put my sandwich in a box when it comes up. I’ll meet you at the register.” “Brian…” “It’s fine Deb. And, wrap up a couple of lemon bars too.” “Sure.” (The waitress gets up and once again leaves the two men alone facing one another intently.) “What do you think you need me for Michael?” “You’re my best friend Brian.” “You don’t seem to think I’m acting like one. Hell, you seem to think that means something totally different than what I do. And, actually it’s you Mikey who isn’t acting like one, not at all.” “Don’t go.” “Listen Mikey. You seem to think you need me and you are wrong. You survived this whole time in Portland with the Doc with out me and you’re still alive. I survived with out you too.” “We’ll always need each other Brian it’s what…” “Mikey, you don’t get it do you?” “No, I don’t. Why are acting like this. I don’t get why you won’t just spend a little time with me. Justin’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.” “No. He can’t.” “Of course he can. That little shit’s been…” “The little shit’s has brain damage Michael. Brian Damage! He wasn’t dropped on his head as a baby, like you apparently were…” “Brian!” “He was beaten in the head with a baseball bat. He’s scared of everyone. He gets panic attacks from just about anything okay? And it isn’t his fault. We can be sitting on the couch watching television together, like, like before….and in a split second he’ll be having an attack, screaming and crying and blind to the world around him. He gets so consumed by fear that he can’t breath, and sometimes he throws up or passes out. Those are the good panic attacks. The ones I’ve learned to deal with, at least as much as I can..” “Brian, I…” “Don’t. You let me finish!” “Okay.” “In the middle of the night he has nightmares. I’m not talking ghosts and goblins here Mikey. If I’m not already awake from the one previous ones, watching over him, he usually ends up hitting me awake with one of his flailing limbs. You see, sometimes I can’t wake him up from the nightmares. Sometimes I just have to move him to the middle of the bed so he doesn’t roll off and hurt himself. I sit there, helpless, waiting. I just watch as his body jolts around and hope for it to stop. When it does at some point, long enough for his mind to calm down so he wakes on his own he usually has a panic attack. He won’t let me touch him but he begs for me not to leave him. He cries and yells and looks at me, wanting to be in my arms. I cry too, cause I want him in them. I want to hold him and make him better. I want to be strong for him. I want to touch him. But he won’t let me. Until last night. After he remembered the attack we finally made love for the first time.” “Brian!” “Shocked are you? I know. I said made love Mikey. Amazing isn’t it? But that’s what it was. It wasn’t fucking and it didn’t have a damn thing to really do with sex. It was all about him finally be free enough to allow me touch him and for him to let me be really with him. It was such a rush.” “I can’t believe your telling me this Brian.” “But you won’t tell anyone. Will you Mikey? You’re my best friend, and best friends keep secrets right?” “Yes, yes Brian. Of course.” “So then because you are my best friend, you have to understand why it is that Justin is my priority. You see then why I stay with him. It isn’t only because I’m the only person he trusts right now. That is true, but it’s more than that Mikey.” “Yeah.” “You understand why I chose to stay in with him and make love to him last night, instead of going out clubbing with you. Not to mention the fact that it pains Justin that he isn’t ready to go yet. But you understand don’t you Mikey? He needs me. And I need him to need me. More than anyone else.” “Yes. Brian I do.” (The camera pans back and the two men stand and embrace in a quick hug.) “Thanks Mikey.” “No problem, that’s what friends are for.” (The camera moves to follow the gorgeous man as he walks up to the counter behind the register where the waitress is standing, smiling at him. She hands over a paper bag.) “Twenty cover it Deb?” “Of course. I went ahead and put in a cheeseburger and fries for Sunshine.” “Thanks.” “You gonna tell me what you and my son were whispering about over there.” “Nope.” “Didn’t think so. Tell Sunshine we miss him around here.” “I will. Bye Debbie.” “See you later you little asshole.” (The camera follows Brian as he walks over to the door and opens it. The scene ends and the camera fades to the jingling of the bells on the door.) AN: Thanks to Alicia for helping me write this one. She really did help out with this soooo much. I love her. And also thanks to France and remember about the NaNoWriMo tomorrow at the LJ!