I would like to thank my beta for this, Amanda. Thanks sweetie. I would also like to thank my girls for everything. Kami..thank u for everything..love ya.
Brian POV: I walk to Mikey’s room to find him reading a comic book. “Hey Mikey, how’re you feeling?” “I’m fine. Where’s Justin? I thought you were going to wait for him since you didn’t come back right away.” “Yeah, I decided to hang out for a bit. I’m glad you are okay and that Justin is okay.” I sit next to him on the lumpy hospital bed. “Brian, I’m fine. I’m glad we are all virtually unharmed and safe. It would have destroyed Justin if Daphne didn’t make it.” “It would have destroyed me if something worse had happened to you or Justin.” I reply in earnest, looking into his eyes. “Brian, can we not talk about this? I want to forget it.” He looks away from me, purposefully avoiding my gaze.
~*~
“Mikey, why did you risk your life to save Justin? Especially when you could have let that manic kill him and try to get me for yourself, again.” He just looks at me and shrugs. “Because I know that you and I will always be just friends and Justin means the world to you,” he tells me quietly. Just as I begin to ask him more, Justin wheels himself into the room, and over to his bed. “Back so soon?” Michael asks him smiling. Yea, there is something going on here. “Yup, Daphne needs to rest,“ he replies sleepily. “So do you Justin,” Michael tells him gently. Justin nods his head and lies down. I help him to get comfortable. “I love you,” he whispers to me, a sleepy smile gracing his pout lips. I smile down at him and murmur, “ I love you too”. I kiss his lips and let him go to sleep. Once Justin is asleep I look out the corner of my eye to see that Mikey has dosed off as well. I decide that this is a good time to go have a talk with the doctor. I kiss Justin one last time and look at Mikey. “I really hope everyone is wrong, and you aren’t in love with Justin,” I whisper to myself before walking out. Michael POV: I’m jarred awake by the sounds of sobbing. I look over to find Justin still sleeping, having a bad dream. I don’t see Brian anywhere so I get up and move to Justin’s bed. I climb in next to him and gently rub his back. “It’s okay Justin. It’s over. He won’t hurt you again. Shhh, Justin, everything is okay. You are safe now,” I whisper to him as I hold him in my arms. He is crying harder and clinging to me. Soon, his sobbing begins to subside, and he is relaxes in my arms again. I rub my hands up his back. “That’s it, relax. It’s all over,” I murmur, even though I’m having a hard time with it as well. I feel myself tense up but then I relax, not wanting the tension to wake Justin. I take a good look at him. He is really good looking. No wonder Brian fell for him. Hell, no wonder I did. But I can NEVER let anyone know. I would lose both Brian and Justin. I feel Justin shift in my arms and I peer at his tear streaked face. Slowly, I run my fingers down his cheek. “I love you Justin. I have to have just one taste.” I lean in and put my lips to his, softly leaving a kiss. I put my head back down on the pillow, and think to myself ‘what am I going to do?’ Once I’m assured that Justin has gone back to dreamland, I close my eyes and fall asleep as well. I awake to a slight stirring next to me. Opening my eyes, I turn to my side to make sure Justin is alright. “Want to explain why you are in my boyfriend’s bed?” I glance over to where the voice came from, and find Brian sitting in a chair, looking pissed. “Shit, Brian.” I lean back down and close my eyes. “Michael. You better start to explain.” The tone of Brian’s voice is a warning. Justin starts to stir again and he opens his eyes and looks at Brian, since he is facing that way. “Hey Bri, how long have you been there?” “Long enough to find my boyfriend and my best friend all cozy in bed together.” Brian replies snidely. “What?” Justin looks behind him and sees me. “Michael, what the fuck?” Justin looks at me oddly. “You didn’t know he was in bed with you?” Brian asks Justin. “NO I didn’t.” Justin looks at me again. “You were having a bad dream and Brian wasn’t here. I thought I would try to help by lying with you and holding you while you sobbed in your sleep. It worked. You fell back to sleep after a few minutes. I was only trying to help calm you down,” I blurt out. “Then once he was asleep why didn’t you get out of his bed,” Brian asks me, his eyes flashing angrily. “I fell asleep too, only minutes later. Look Brian, I was just trying to help Justin. I know he is having a rough time with all this and he did stop shaking and crying once I was next to him.” “Mikey, I’m going to say this once. Get out of my boyfriend’s bed.” I nod and hastily get out of Justin’s bed. Brian moves over and sits next to Justin, running his hands through his hair. “You were having bad dreams Sunshine?” “I guess so,” Justin answers, then and looks at me. “Thanks Mikey. It helped I guess. I was just shocked.” “It’s okay Justin.” I smile and go into the bathroom. Brian walks in and leans against the wall. “I know you like him,” he states, a definite edge to his voice. I look at him through the mirror above the sink, and he continues, “But Michael, I’m warning you. Back off. He is mine.” I stare at Brian apprehensively. He may be able to intimidate me, but I won’t back down. Not this time. “Brian, I care about him, and I know he is yours. However, I won’t back off if he needs me. You don’t know what we went through in there. So you back off of me. I need him right now. He understands what happened. He was in there with me. I would love to talk to you about it, but you weren’t in there when I woke up to feel that warm liquid on me. At first I thought I had pissed myself. But then I figured it out, it was Ethan’s blood all over me. Everywhere — on my clothes, in my hair. FUCK!” I scream and walk out and go to my bed. Brian walks out of the bathroom. “Mikey, I’m sorry.” “Brian, please, just leave it alone.” “Michael, what’s wrong?” Justin asks me. I get up and go to him, pulling him into a hug. Justin POV: As Mikey was hugging me, I look over to Brian wondering what the hell happened in there. “I’m so sorry Justin. I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. We should have run.” “Michael, if we had run, he would have shot us in the back. You saved my life,” I reply softly, hugging him to me. “You keep saying that, but I am also the one who helped pull the trigger that killed Ethan.” “Oh my god, I get it now. Michael, you aren’t to blame. It was either him or us,” I say gently, patting his back, and looking at Brian for help. “Mikey, he’s right. It was either him or you two. I am grateful that it was Ethan. I am grateful that you and Justin are alive and Daphne too. I might not know what you and Justin went through but I do want to understand. I want you and Justin to be able to talk to me about it. But there are limits,” Brian tells him. “I know,” is all Michael says before burying his head into my shoulder. I look at Brian who simply shrugs, rubbing Michael’s back. “I will go get some water.” Brian looks at me before walking out. “Mikey, I know that this is odd and difficult, but I’m here for you. I’m happy neither of us is going through this alone." “Justin, it’s just that when the gun went off, the last thing I thought of was you, and if I got shot, who would keep him from getting to you.” “I know, he pointed the gun right at me. But Michael, he didn’t kill anyone but himself. What you did was brave.” “What I did was help him kill himself, and give you nightmares again,” he whispers somberly. “No, Ethan gave me nightmares, not you.” I cup his face in my hands. “You didn’t give me nightmares Mikey. I’m lucky to even be alive to have nightmares, and I have you to thank for that.” He smiles at me, blushing slightly. “You mean that?” “Yes I do. Michael, I know that we are all lucky to be here. After my bashing, I learned not to take everything for granted. Including life, friends, family and loved ones.” “Thanks Justin.” I begin to remove my hands from his face, but he grabs them, holding them tightly. “Justin, if I had to go through it all over again, I would want it to be with you.” With that said, he kisses me again. What is with all this kissing? He pulls away and smiles. “Thanks Justin. I needed that talk. I am going to go wash my face.” As he gets up and walks into the bathroom, I run my fingers over my lips. Could what Daphne said be true? Could Mikey be more into me than I thought? Brian comes back in and sees me smiling at him. “What you smiling about Sunshine?” He asks coming up to me. “I’m just happy to be here, with you,” I answer, and lean up to kiss him. “Where’s my competition?” “What?” I look at him, questioning what he means by that. Brian crawls into bed beside me, pulling the covers over us. “Mikey?” I roll my eyes. “He isn’t your competition. But he is in the restroom washing up.” “Ah, ok. Justin you know I love you, right?” “Yes, and I love you too.” He leans me back against him and I snuggle under his arm — my favorite place to be. “Brian, you do believe me when I say you don’t have any competition, right?” I need to be reassured that he knows he doesn’t. “Yes Sunshine. I know. But it doesn’t change the fact that my best friend, the one who used to be in love with me, is now in love with my partner.” “He just needs me right now because I was there with him when it all happened. He could have died.” “I know, and I am glad he didn’t.” Brian says, sighting. “Justin, could you come here a moment?” Michael asks from the restroom. “I’m going to go call your mom while you take care of Mikey.” I look at him and he smiles. ” No worries, Sunshine. I know that you are mine. Always was, and always will be.” Brian kisses me lightly on the lips, and walks out. Shrugging, I slowly get up and make my way to the bathroom. “I’m not holding it for you, you’re a big boy,” I laugh as I go in. “What is it Mikey?” I ask, stopping when I see him sitting on the floor shaking. “I can’t do this,” he cries. “Do what?” I ask leaning down by him. “I can’t act like it’s not bothering me. I can’t look in the mirror and see this,” he points to his bandaged arm. “Mikey, you want to know what I see when I look at you?” I ask him, sitting next to him. “What?” he looks at me, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I see a giving man. One who put his life on the line for me. I see a man who has a passion for life, and saved mine. I see a friend who I am totally grateful for, because without him I wouldn’t be here right now.” I turn his face towards me. “I see a man who is hurting over what happened and sharing it with someone who went through it with him. I see a brave man. Mikey, I see you.” Giving me a watery smile, he asks “Really?” “Yes, Mikey, you are my super hero.” We both laugh, and before I knew it, I’m being kissed by my partner’s best friend. Again.