Thanks to muffin_donat2007 for the banners, thanks to my beta Judy, and thanks to all the readers. Justin’s POV The pain in my ribs is taking a back seat to everything else that’s going on. Even though it hurts every time I breathe, I try not to let Emmett know how much pain I’m in. I watch as several other students from PIFA hold onto Shane so that he can’t get free, and I watch as Emmett calls Brian to tell him what’s going on. When the police show up a little while later, they question everyone, and I refuse to answer any questions. I want my lawyers present before I do anything. Officer Breaux tells me that they will need to talk to me at the station, and I tell them that I’ll go to the station later, when I have my lawyers with me. I’m not going to be there without any representation. That would be completely stupid, and I for one, am not an idiot. I just want to pass out from the pain, but I keep my thoughts to myself, and just ask Emmett to bring me to the loft. Emmett tells me that he thinks it would be a good idea to go to the hospital and get my ribs checked out, but I really don’t want to go to one. I haven’t been to one since I got checked out a few weeks ago, and I don’t want to go back. But when I look into Emmett’s eyes, I can see that he’s not going to take no for an answer, so I just nod, and we go back to the diner. Emmett helps me up, and I let out a soft moan of pain, because of my ribs. We walk back to the diner, (well, he walks and I stagger) and then we get into his car. Emmett drives me to the hospital, even though I’m terrified of going back to it. I get checked out, and the doctor tells me that I’ll have to stay here for six to eight weeks as my ribs heal. I ask if there is any way that I can go home, but the doctor tells me that it would be better for me to stay here. I sigh, but then nod, letting the doctor know that I’m going to fight staying here. So he motions for one of the aides and they wheel me into the room that they think I’m going to be staying in for the next six to eight weeks. As everything gets set up, I ask Emmett to call Brian and tell him that we’re at Allegheny General, and to come here after he gets off of work. I know that Brian will want to skip work to be here right when Emmett calls him, but he’s needed more at work. Emmett nods and I thank him for being my friend, and for helping me when Shane showed up. Before he leaves to call Brian, I ask him not to tell anyone else what Shane said. I also tell Emmett that I plan to start getting some help soon, to deal with everything. Emmett nods, kisses my cheek, and even though I flinch at the contact, he just takes it in stride. Emmett gives me a smile, before leaving my room to go and call Brian. Sighing softly, I wince at the pain, and then I lie back in the bed, trying to get comfortable. I don’t know how long Emmett was gone, or how long I dozed off for. But when I open my eyes again, I find Brian sitting next to me, along with Emmett and Debbie too. I blink a few times, letting my eyes adjust to the light, before I force a smile on my face. I can tell that Brian sees through it, but I know that he won’t say anything, at least not right now. Debbie squeals when she notices that I’m awake. She tries to hug me, but I shrink away from her touch. I can’t help it. I really don’t want her touching me. I talk to her for a few moments, before turning my attention to Brian. “How are you feeling? Are you and the baby okay?” Brian lets out a huff of disbelief. “After all this crap, you’re still asking me how I’m feeling? I’m not the one who could have gotten killed today.” I pause for a moment, listening to his words as he continues. “Justin, you need to stop worrying about me all the time, and worry about yourself as well.” I just shrug, because I don’t like thinking about the things that have happened. I only want to worry about Brian, and our family and friends. I’m not worried about myself. I’m worried about him. When I get out of the hospital three weeks later, the doctor tells me to take it easy at home, and I will. I still have five more weeks until my ribs are fully healed, so trust me; I’m not going to fuck it up. I filed a restraining order against Shane, for the whole family and all of our friends. I don’t know anything about break outs from jail, but I’m not taking any chances. Shane has been sentenced to 5 years for rape, 3 years for assault and battery, and 1 year for vehicular manslaughter, which killed Jamie. Brian and I are planning on getting our own house soon. I hope that we can find one soon, because things will be so much easier when we find one. I won’t have to keep going back to my apartment early in the morning to get my clothes and shower for the day. I’ll be able to have all my things in our home, and I won’t have to leave Brian and Gus alone. We are in the process of working things out with the girls. It’s hard trying to talk to them, because of the outcome of the case, but we’re trying. Our baby is doing well, and I’m glad. I make sure that Brian eats something every day, and not just a sandwich. I make sure that he eats a full meal, or I bug the crap out of him until he does. Emmett has been great through everything. He’s such a good friend to Brian and me. He hasn’t told anyone else about what Shane said and did, and I’m grateful to him. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if anyone else knew. As I sit here on the couch in the loft, writing in my journal, I wonder what’s going to happen next for us. As I sit here writing this, I know that the things that have happened have come about because of the choices Brian and I have made. So now we are going to be careful about the choices we make in the future. We have our new baby coming in a few months, and Gus to think about. We can’t just do what we want anymore. Brian and I have to really think about our choices through now, because they affect our children, and we don’t want anything to happen to them. I finish writing down my thoughts in my journal, and as I close my journal and set it and my pencil down on the table, Brian takes a seat next to me. I smile at him, and then we turn on the TV to see what’s playing tonight. The end.