The Doctor and Mr. Taylor Plot bunny by the MM (Mysterious Misty) “Paging Doctor Kinney, paging Dr. Kinney.” “Kinney here.” Brian had picked up the phone at the nurses station on the third floor and called down to the ER. “We have a head trauma patient being brought in from downtown. He’s coded once. I think this is one for you Doctor Kinney. He’s a young one.” “My shift is over Donna.” Brian sighed. He knew there really wasn’t any point in arguing. If his head nurse said that this was going to be one of his, then that’s what would happen. “Tell me what you know.” Brian could hear the distant wail of the siren as it moved through the wet night streets of Pittsburgh. He looked at his watch. It was almost midnight and he’d been here off an on since six that morning. “Some kid was at his prom with his girlfriend and another kid hit him in the head with a baseball bat.” “So this is gang related?” Brian shook his head. “You know I fucking hate dealing with the gang punks.” “Doctor Kinney, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that and no it isn’t gang related. The patient attended Saint James Academy. That’s hardly a gang type of school.” “Then why in fuck would he be bashed in the head?” Brian wondered. “The paramedics said it was a gay bashing but you didn’t hear that from me.” The nurse hung up the phone. Everyone knew that Doctor Kinney, the hottest doctor in Pittsburgh was definitely gay. It was one of the most talked about and biggest disappointments for the female hospital staff. Brian hung up the phone slowly. A fucking gay bashing in this day and age, surely someone had made a mistake. The familiar sound of the ambulance rushing into the emergency entrance greeted Brian when he stepped off of the service elevator. He didn’t wait for the patient to be brought to him but instead was outside in a few strides of his long legs. It was Brian’s hand that opened the ambulance door. His breath caught as it did so often when he saw the destruction that could be wrought by another human being. Blond hair stiffening with blood, face bleached white, blood stained gauze, gold tinged eyelashes that lay still, all this registered as Brian’s hand reached to take the boy’s pulse as he listened to the verbal report of the paramedics. Putting the horror of what happened to the back of his mind. Brian began to assess his patient while they moved quickly from the ambulance through to the first trauma room. It became apparent immediately that he’d have to release the pressure of the fluids building on the boy’s brain. Brian quietly arranged for an operating room to be made ready and instructed the night nurse to call in his team. It meant they’d be starting their day far too early, but then his had never ended. The jolt of intimacy he’d felt from this young man mystified him, but it wasn’t something he could even think of now. Getting Justin Taylor stabilized enough for surgery was the first priority along with locating his family, consent forms needed to be signed. Brian left his staff while they looked after both of these things and headed to the roof to smoke for a moment and think. Something he didn’t do often these days but seeing the state the blond was in and listening to the police report had brought back incidents from his own childhood hood that he’d thought long forgotten and laid to rest. Before Brian had a chance to think for long, yet another ambulance turned into the hospital. This was silent, but Brian knew that only meant it wasn’t as severe a trauma as the Taylor boy. He ground the cigarette he’d lit under the heel of his shoe and headed back to the ER where he came face to face with the belligerent and indignant face of a young man who had been wheeled in to the first examining room. “What’s up?” Brian asked Donna. “It’s the kid who hit Justin Taylor. Seems Justin’s spunky little friend, the young black girl, picked up the bat and belted the guy on his knee. I’d guess the little bastard’s foot ball days are over.” She snickered. “What took him so long to get here?” Brian watched another ER doctor head to the room that held the rather noisy young man. Two police officers stationed themselves outside of the room. “Who knows?” Donna shrugged. “Do you care?” “No, I don’t give a shit one way or another. In a few minutes I’m going to be dealing with that assholes handy work.” Brian turned heading back to the room where Justin lay. Three hours later Brian checked on his patient in the recovery room once more before he headed to the waiting room that was filled to capacity with friends and family of the young man he’d just left. Brian had barely walked out of the door, that mysterious door that was shrouded in the pain of the unknown that hid the working part of the hospital from those who waited, when a wild haired red head and a sedate blond rushed up to him, both of them obviously very worried. “Hi, I’m Doctor Kinney.” Brian addressed his words to the blonde woman, who he assumed must be Mr. Taylor’s mother. “I’m Jennifer Taylor Doctor Kinney. How is my son?” she clasped her hands together in front of her, attempting to hold them still though they still visibly shook. Her blues were rimmed in red swollen flesh. She’d been crying and her voice trembled. “Mrs. Taylor,” Brian put his hand on her shoulder. He planned on steering her toward the private waiting area but she stubbornly resisted. “Doctor Kinney, my friends are here to support me. You can talk in front of them.” Her voice was low and dignified with no hint of the fear she was feeling though her eyes betrayed her. Brian looked around the room at the motley crew who were all staring at him intently. He recognized a few of them from Liberty Avenue, the red head included. “So your son, he’s gay?” he asked in his quiet voice, his head nodding toward those who were waiting. “I suppose he is, though I never had thought about it before. He is Justin, my son. I didn’t question or ask about his sexuality and I didn’t ask or question the sexuality of his friends or those he spent time with.” Jennifer stared into Brian’s eyes. “What has Justin’s sexuality go to do with the situation he’s in now?” “I’m sorry if I was out of line Mrs. Taylor, I recognized some of you’r son’s friends from the clubs on Liberty Avenue. As for his sexuality, I’d say it has a great deal to do with why Justin is now lying in the recovery room. But that’s for the police to discover.” He paused and the looked deep into her eyes. “Your son has suffered a severe head trauma. The surgery to relieve the pressure went well, but he’s slipped into a coma.” Jennifer Taylor and the rest gasped. “Don’t write him off yet. Sometimes a coma after what he’s been through is his body’s way of allowing him time to heal. When he returns to consciousness, he will probably have some motor problems with his right hand and arm that can be helped with therapy.” These words elicited an ever bigger gasp from those waiting and Brian looked at them puzzled. “Justin is an artist. He has won admission into PIFA.” The words were said quietly. “No son of mine is going to that fag school.” The words were harsh and cruel. All eyes turned to the man who was striding across the floor from the elevator. “It’s all over the radio, that my son is gay and was hit in the head by some kid at his school.” He turned to Jennifer. “Is this true Jennifer?” “Justin has been injured, yes.” She began. Craig Taylor put his hand on her shoulder to roughly turn her to face him. Brian stepped between the two of them. “Mr. Taylor I presume. In case you’re interested, you son made it through the surgery, though he is presently in a coma.” “Get out of my way whoever you are. I expect some explanations from my wife.” “I’m sure you do, and like any bully, you look for those you think are weaker.” Brian’s grip on the man’s arm was like an iron band. He nodded toward the security man who was approaching. “Escort Mr. Taylor from the hospital would you please Ralph, and see to it that a notice is posted that he’s not to be allowed back in.” Brian looked at Craig Taylor. “You of course may call the desk in the ICU for reports on your son’s progress. I’ll leave word that you are to be kept informed, but please don’t bother to come back to my hospital. I really don’t have any patience for bullies.” “Jennifer, you’ll have some explaining to do when you get home.” The threat was evident in the tone of the man’s voice. Brian felt the blonde woman quiver beside him. “Ralph, perhaps I should go with you. I think Mr. Taylor and I need to have a little heart to heart chat while we ride the elevator to the exit.” He turned to Jennifer. “Your son will be in his room in half an hour. You may sit there with him, but he really won’t know you. I’d suggest you assure yourself of the fact that’s he’s alive and then go home and get some rest. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need to. I’ve left instructions with the nurse to find me if you should call.” “Thank you Doctor Kinney, thank you for everything.” She lifted herself up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek before turning toward her friends to relay what had been said. Brian’s hand touched his cheek; his eyes were soft with wonder, before they hardened when he turned to go with Craig Taylor and Ralph to the elevator. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Brian, the nurse told me you spend your nights here.” Jennifer placed her hand on Brian’s shoulder, they were long past the formal Doctor Kinney and Mrs. Taylor. Brian had been sitting in an easy chair beside the bed of the comatose blond reading aloud from the latest Janet Evonovich mystery. It had been six days since the night of the prom. Brian looked up and smiled at the woman who had come into her son’s room early and caught him reading to the boy. “I only spend nights where I want to be. I want to be here. I like to read mysteries for relaxation. I might as well share them with your son.” His voice was light and Jennifer watched as he gently smoothed some errant blond hair off of Justin’s forehead. “Do you always take such an interest in your patients?” she asked as she took her seat on the other side of the bed. “Only the good looking blonds” Brian joked. “I think he’s coming out of his long sleep. There’s been some eye movement and he’s been restless for the past few hours.” “If he is, it’s all because of you. You put so much of yourself out there “ Jennifer settled in for her morning stay with her son. “Now go have a few minutes to yourself. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.” “Yes Mom” he joked. Brian stood up and stretched. “I’ll check back around noon. The nurses know where to find me if he needs me.” Walking over to Jennifer, Brian leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Take care of him Jennifer.” He whispered. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Good morning Mr. Taylor.” Brian said cheerfully as he entered Justin’s room. It was a week after the boy had come out of the coma. Justin turned his head to look at the handsome doctor and grinned. “Hey Doctor Brian.” He beamed. “I picked up a whole glass of marbles today.” “I heard, you’re doing great.” Brian had reached the chair where Justin sat. He took the blond’s hand to take his pulse. Not because he needed to, but rather because it gave him an excuse to touch Justin’s soft skin. More and more often Brian found himself looking for excuses to touch the young man that for some reason intrigued him more than any other man had ever done. “Earth to Dr. Brian” Justin grinned as he waved his other hand in front of Brian’s face. “Sorry Mr. Taylor, my mind was concentrating on your pulse. It seems to be a bit fast.” “Call me Justin.” “Mr. Taylor, we’ve had this discussion before. You’re my patient and as long as you are my patient, I’m afraid I have to remain with the formal form of address.” He smiled at Justin to let him know that he regretted this. “How are you feeling today?” “Not bad.” Justin looked at his hand ruefully. “Of course my gimp hand isn’t a whole lot better.” “It’ll take time Mr. Taylor. Like everything, it just takes time and of course practice and therapy. It won’t be long until you’ll be almost as good as new.” “I want to be just like I was before that fucking Hobbes took a bat to my head.” Tears welled in Justin’s eyes. “My father says I have to go to Dartmouth or he won’t pay for my tuition at PIFA. Do you know that winning a seat at PIFA was pretty special? Now of course they wouldn’t touch me with a ten foot pole, tuition or not. I guess I’ll just have to learn to be a business major and like it.” A tear escaped a blue eye and rolled down his cheek. Justin angrily brushed it away. “Enough shit about me. How did it go with your son? Did you take him to the zoo like I suggested?” The day before Brian had admitted to Justin that he had a son and that he was taking him for the day. The boy was only two and the Doctor didn’t have any idea what to do to keep him occupied for the afternoon. “Yes, thanks for the suggestion.” “I love the zoo. I go there all the time. It’s a great place to people watch and I’ve done some cool sketches there.” “So you were saying.” Brian reluctantly let Justin’s wrist go. “I’m going to check your eyes.” Justin leaned back for what was becoming a routine examination. He wondered how much of it was necessary and how much Doctor Kinney was doing to be close to him. He’d felt the attraction between the two of them almost immediately upon waking up. What was great as well, was that his mother liked the Doctor. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Justin, your mom said that you were getting out of here soon.” Daphne sat on the end of Justin’s bed, her legs crossed tailor fashioned. “Yeah, and thank gawd for that. It’s been six weeks of hell.” Justin stared down at his hand. It had improved, but it still wasn’t the best. “Hey mom said that she got a letter from PIFA, it seems I qualified for a scholarship and I won it. I can go there if I want instead of Dartmouth. I told Dr. Brian and he was really pleased.” “How can you tell he’s pleased, he always looks the same.” Daphne was impressed with the good doctor’s looks, but not with his demeanor. “He gives this kind of lopsided smile and his eyes sparkle.” Justin looked dreamy. “The dean even told mom that they would make allowances for my hand. I can work on other forms of artistry until I have full control of this gimp. He even said that a computer with an awesome graphics program is part of my scholarship. It’s been delivered to mom’s place so that I can get used to the software before the semester starts.” “Wow a scholarship and a computer, that’s unbelievable.” “Yeah, the only crappy part is Mom and Dad are getting a divorce. Dad isn’t about to live with his ‘gay’ son. He was pretty pissed about the scholarship thing. He figured he had me over a barrel with the tuition thing. “Hey Daphne, Mr. Taylor.” Brian walked into the room. He had a white lab coat on though it was opened and the two teens could see that he was wearing worn blue jeans and a black wife beater underneath. “You’re here pretty late.” He said to Daphne. “I know. I snuck in. Don’t tell the nurses. I’m going away with my parents tomorrow and I wanted to say goodbye to Justin.” She grinned her appreciation for his outfit. Brian looked down and realized that his lab coat was unbuttoned; he hastily did a few of them up closing off the view. “Doctor Brian, you look hot tonight. Are you taking me to one of the clubs?” Justin joked. “You’re too young to be going to clubs Mr. Taylor.” “I’m eighteen.” “That’s too young.” “I’m old enough to vote, get married and join the army.” “Not all on the same night I hope Mr. Taylor.” Brian said with a tongue in cheek smirk. Daphne caught it and melted on the spot. Doctor Brian did have a ‘thing’ for her friend, she was sure of it now. “If you aren’t taking me to a club, what are you doing here, it’s almost ten?” Justin batted his eyes at the man he had fallen in love with, not that he had a hope in hell of getting the doctor to reciprocate. “I have a few minutes before I meet my friends. I know what a problem you’ve been having dealing with crowds. I thought maybe you and I could go for a walk around the block. It’s a nice night and we shouldn’t meet many people, but enough for you to begin getting used to strangers.” “Really, you want to go for a walk with me?” Justin jumped off of the bed. “Cool, I’ll change my clothes.” “You look fine the way you are Mr. Taylor.” “I’ve got to go.” Daphne leaned in to kiss Justin’s cheek. She pretended to not notice when he flinched. It made her sad that her open and trusting friend had been reduced to flinching when she came close. Maybe this Doctor Kinney could bring her friend back to the way he used to be. Justin walked side by side with the doctor. As they left the block where the hospital was, more and more people were out walking. Justin instinctively moved closer to the protection of the man he was walking beside. Normally, when they were alone in his room or in the Doctor’s lounge where Doctor Kinney occasionally brought him, they would talk about their lives, making casual conversation. But now, the intensity of what Justin was feeling left him uncharacteristically silent as they moved through the summer crowds on the street. “Mr. Taylor, I think we should turn around and head back. I’d forgotten that there was a concert tonight and the streets would be full of people.” “Okay” Justin hated that his voice shook. He turned around to head back to the safe haven of his hospital room. “I understand that you have a scholarship to PIFA.” Brian began, hoping to distract the blond. “I do, it’s really cool. I didn’t know what I was going to do. And I have this really great computer to help me with my drawing.” “Your fairy god father must have come through.” Brian smirked. “That’s what I told my mom. She just laughed and said it was about time something good happened to me.” Justin shrugged. “I’m not sure why it happened or even how, but it’s going to change my life. I mean really, do I look like I’d be happy as a business major?” “I don’t know, what does a business major look like?” Brian joked. “Not like me that’s for sure.” Justin leaned into the other man, trying to get another whiff of the wonderful cologne he was wearing. He accidentally bumped Brian’s arm. Brian jumped as if he’d received an electrical shock. Justin smiled to himself. Doctor Kinney wasn’t immune to his touch. It was his goal to get the older man to make love to him before he left for home. “Doctor Brian, do you have a boyfriend?” Justin asked. “Mr. Taylor, that’s a personal question.” He paused unsure whether to answer the question. “No I don’t have a boyfriend.” “Why not?” “Another personal question Mr. Taylor?” “You ask me personal stuff all the time.” “But that’s my job.” “I was just wondering if you have a boyfriend.” “I don’t believe in boyfriends, so no I don’t have a boyfriend.” “What about someone important in your life, like a lover or a fuck buddy?” “Mr. Taylor, my personal life is off limits.” “You told me about Gus.” “Yes I did and I’m still not sure why.” “Maybe because you like me more than just a patient.” Justin stopped walking and smiled up into the hazel eyes that were looking down on him. The eyes were soft and full of something that almost seemed like love to Justin. He wasn’t sure, but it looked so good. Brian let his hand trace the contour of Justin’s face; his thumb ran over Justin’s full lips, before he shook himself and turned away. “We’re back at the hospital Mr. Taylor, I’ll walk you to your room.” “I wish I could go out with you tonight.” “That wouldn’t be appropriate Mr. Taylor even if you were the right age. You’re my patient and there are laws about becoming personally involved with one’s patients.” “You can’t tell me that doctors don’t ever become involved with their patients.” Justin huffed. His whole body ached with the need for this man to at least hold him close. He wondered what Brian’s lips would feel like on his and what his hands would feel like on his body. “I’m not responsible for what others do. I am responsible for myself however.” Brian’s voice was full of regret. He hoped Justin didn’t notice. “But when I’m all better and out of this place, then you won’t be my doctor any longer.” “No, I don’t usually see patients outside of the hospital.” “Then you could take me out on a date.” “I’m not some lesbian, I don’t date.” “I can tell you’re all man Doctor Brian. Don’t give me that bull shit about how you don’t do dates. You could if you wanted to. Don’t you think that at your age you should try and get a life?” “I have a life Mr. Taylor.” “Not with me you don’t. I think I’d be good for you.” “Oh” Brian smirked. “I’d keep you young and you could have your way with me.” Brian snorted a laugh. “Here’s your room Mr. Taylor, I’ll see you in your dreams.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Mom, can you pick me up at eleven, Doctor Brian said I can finally get out of this place.” Justin lay on his hospital bed, his right hand squeezing a ball while he talked to his mother. When his mother walked in later that morning she was surprised to see her son so unhappy. “I thought you’d be overjoyed at the thought of getting out of here Justin.” “I would, except it’ll mean I won’t see the guy I kind of really like a whole lot.” “Oh, I haven’t noticed any boys hanging around here.” “He’s not a boy, he’s a man.” “Honey, everyone your age has crushes. Believe me you’ll forget all about him once you’re at home.” “I don’t think so. I want to get to know him like a boyfriend.” Justin sighed deeply. His mother smothered a laugh. “Who is this older man you’re pining after?” “You’ll laugh.” “Tell me about him, I won’t laugh.” “He’s handsome, smart and kind. He has a laugh that sends shivers and makes me want to smile. He’s got the most amazing eyes, someday I’m going to paint them in every shade they turn, my favorite one being when they are smiling green with flecks of gold.” “That sounds like Doctor Kinney.” She looked at her son and realized that he was in love with his doctor. “Justin, what you feel for him, well it isn’t real. Patients often fall for their doctors.” “I know that there’s a chance it’s not real mom, but I’d like to find out.” A nurse walked into the room. “Doctor Kinney has signed your release form.” She said with a smile. “Does that mean he’s not my doctor anymore?” Justin asked. “That’s right, Doctor Kinney takes on very few private patients.” “Cool” Justin beamed. He turned to his mother. “There’s only twelve years difference in our age. I know it seems like a lot, but is it okay if we date?” “You’re a grown boy; I would expect that you’d do what you wanted anyway. I just don’t want to see you hurt.” Jennifer sighed, she could see Brian Kinney waiting out in the hall. He was a lovely man; Justin could do worse for a first boyfriend. She picked up Justin’s bag and placed it on his lap. He was obediently sitting in the wheel chair to be taken downstairs. Closing her eyes for a moment and sending a silent prayer that both Justin and the man he’d chosen would be happy, she pushed him out into the hallway. Justin’s eyes found Brian’s immediately. He grinned up at the man standing there by the nurses station. “Hey” Justin said. “What are you doing tonight?” “I thought I’d take my date out for a quiet dinner and then maybe one drink, a soft drink, at Woody’s.” Brian answered. “Pick me up at seven; I don’t want to wait longer than that.” Justin couldn’t have smiled any wider had he tried. “You presume a lot, my young friend.” Brian smirked. Justin beamed. “Later Brian.” “Later Justin.” The unfamiliar sound of his name on Brian’s tongue sent a shiver of pleasure through Justin’s body. It was a great beginning. Completed August 16th, 2004