When Irish Eyes are Smiling – chapter five
Author: Elsa Rose Bryant

“Is he going to be okay?” Molly whispered. Jamie, Justin and Molly were sitting around the table that held an unconscious Brian. He’d been cleaned and stitched up, but he looked like hell and no one was prepared to move him.

“Fuck if I know.” Jamie whispered back. “I’m a vet not a physician.” 

“Yet for some reason he called you.” Justin shook his head. “Is he mentally stable? I mean he calls for a vet after being half killed.”

“I can’t tell you why.” Jamie mumbled. “But I understand why and if it helps you any, it’s the first time he’s needed this much care after one of his….” He hesitated. “I don’t know, call them episodes for lack of a better word.”

“What are we going to do with him?” Justin asked. “I mean he can’t stay on the dining room table and from the look of thing around here, he has no one looking after him.”

“For now we need to get him up to his bedroom.” Jamie began.

“He needs a hospital.” Justin mumbled. “How do you suggest we get him up to his bedroom? The man weighs a ton.”

“Fuck off, I’ll walk to my room. Jamie, am I bleeding anywhere?” 

“No you’re not.” Jamie sighed. “You do know this is wrong in so many ways?” 

“We’ve had this discussion before kid, just let me recover in peace. I’ve had worse in my day. It’ll take time.” Brian tried to sit up but collapsed back on the table. “Hey Princess, are you still here? Can you help me sit up? Apparently the guys are too dumb to realize I need a bit of help here.” 

“Sure Prince Brian, I’ll help you.” Molly glared at Justin and Jamie.

“Would you just relax for a ten minutes you stubborn old man.” Jamie snorted. “You had a shock to your system and you lost a lot of blood. We’ll help you move when you’re ready.”

“How the fuck am I supposed to relax and recover while I’m on the fucking table.”

“Using the word fuck is not exactly endearing.” Justin mumbled. 

Brian turned his head to face Justin and despite the fact he could see nothing, Justin felt like he’d been impaled by a death stare. “It may not be endearing in this instance, but frankly it’s the lesser of what I’d like to say, but the Princess is here and she made me promise to clean up my language. Isn’t that right Princess?” he smiled and though it was obvious he was in pain, his smile was heartbreakingly tender. Justin wondered what the smile would look like if it could reach his eyes. 

Justin wiped a bead of sweat off of Brian’s brow with a damp cloth. “Shut up and rest.” Justin whispered. “You had a knock on the head among other things. Pissing around with your eyesight isn’t a good idea. You really do need to be checked out by someone other than a Vet. No offense Jamie.” Justin smiled a wry smile at his new friend.

“None taken. He’s a stubborn son of a bitch. I figured I’d let him stumble around in the dark for a few days. He’ll want to get his head fixed up after a couple of days of being unable to stare at himself in the mirror.”

“You know Jamie, you’re an asshole.” Brian sighed. “I’m hoping it’s just a temporary trauma. I can tell that I was hit where it might affect my sight.”

“Oh, did you somehow get your medical degree in between righting wrongs for all of gay Pittsburgh?” Jamie asked with a snort. “I must have missed that.”

“Jamie.” Brian warned, his voice telling his friend to keep quiet.

But Justin had heard Jamie’s words. He’d file them away until later when he could figure out just what they meant. Meanwhile, he stood up and began to clean up the mess that resulted from the impromptu surgery. “Molly, take a bucket and some hot soapy water downstairs, the mess has to be cleaned up.”

“Why do I have to do it?” she whined, suddenly reverting to her physical age. 

“You don’t.” Justin said, slamming things around as he prepared to clean up downstairs. “You know Molly, you might have mentioned your fairy tale Prince was just an asshole who lives in a tower and doesn’t know a broom or a mop from his ass.” He wanted to slam the door shut behind him, but he didn’t want to hurt his work or art, as he liked to think of the thick glass and wrought iron work that was Brian’s door.

“Your brother is kind of pissed.” Jamie observed.

“He has a thing about a clean environment.” Molly shrugged. “It isn’t that bad around here. I mean we could always get a cleaning crew in or something. Brian’s been busy. Just because my brother is OCD doesn’t mean the rest of the world has to be.”

“No, Justin is right. The place is a mess.” Brian admitted. “I kept thinking that maybe Sara and Fred would come back. I guess it isn’t going to happen.”

“It might if you apologize.” Jamie said with a snort. 

“No, they’ve officially retired. I had a card from Sara the other day.” Brian sighed as he struggled once again to sit up. “Help me to my room, will you Jamie.” 
His friend didn’t argue this time. There was no point.

Justin didn’t care what was going on upstairs. He was too busy scrubbing up the blood from the attack on Brian. Finally satisfied that the floor was gleaming, he followed the blood trail out to the underground parking, eventually finding a door that was concealed behind a support pillar and disguised to look like part of the wall. It was apparent from the mess, that Brian had entered the Rosewood Building from behind the door. Sighing heavily, Justin gathered his equipment and cleaned every bit of evidence from the bloody handprints on the concealed door, to the drops of blood on the cement floor. Then not sure why, he found a broom and swept across the expanse of floor until it all blended with the untouched areas. 

He stood on the step leading inside the building and surveyed his efforts. To his artist’s eye, he could perceive some differences in the coloration of the cement floor, but he knew that no one else was likely to notice any difference. 

Unable to resist, he walked back to the hidden door, but no obvious opening or door latch could be found, no matter how much he searched. He’d have to try again when he wasn’t so tired.

Heading for the elevator, he continued to clean. He couldn’t even begin to count the number of times he’d emptied his bucket for fresh water. All he knew was that his arms were aching and his fingertips were shriveled from the abuse they’d taken. 

“Justin?” Jamie called from the bottom of the stairs. “Are you still down here?” 

“I’m finishing up.” Justin called back, standing up straight and stretching. “I might have been carried away cleaning.” He grinned. “It’s a way of relieving stress for me.”

“You could do worse.” Jamie shrugged and sat down on the bottom stair. “I have to go but I need to ask a favor of you.”

Justin joined him. “I don’t want to be Kinney’s caretaker.” He began. “The man needs to find out about his sight, it makes me nervous.”

“I’ve known Brian since I was fourteen years old.” Jamie sighed. “I was, well let’s say, I was on the street and leave it at that. Brian took me in, kind of, he made sure I had a place to live, not with him, three meals a day and clean clothes. All he wanted in return was my promise to finish school. Attend a college or university, graduate, and never look back. He paid my way.”

“That’s it?” Justin asked. 

“Oh, that’s the short version. The long version is full of a lot of angst and tears but through it all, Brian was always there supporting me emotionally as well as financially. He never once asked for anything other than I complete my schooling. Well, until recently when he needed me to look at the mother cat he rescued with her kittens.” Jamie looked off into the distance seeing something Justin couldn’t and maybe never would. “Brian, Brian he’s been through a lot in his life. Oh, not that he’d ever tell me, but I keep my eyes and ears open and I still have street connections.” He looked at Justin. “He’s an enigma that you may never know. But I think he’s worth it. He’s never let anyone get close to him. NEVER. He’s never let anyone really see him. You and your sister, I don’t know what’s different about the two of you. But he’s softer somehow. I hope that he hasn’t become too soft. I hope that’s not why he was hurt.”

“Why was he hurt?” Justin asked. “As far as I knew, he never left the building. Or at least as good as never.”

“That is something you’ll have to discover on your own.” Jamie stood up. “I wrote my contact information down. Call me if he begins a fever or if his wound looks infected. I’ve left instructions on caring for him. You really can’t leave him on his own, no matter what he says or does to make you think otherwise. The man is blind. I suspect it’s only temporary. I’m going to consult a friend who is a real human doctor.” Jamie huffed a laugh. 

“But.” Justin began.

“I can’t talk now. I really do have to go.” In seconds Jamie was out the door, leaving Justin speechless and worried. 

“FUCK, FUCK, FUCK.” Justin shouted up the stairwell before rubbing off a few fingerprints on a piece of brass molding and trudging back up to the top floors, wiping spots real and imaginary as he went. When he’d been growing up, his family used to laugh at his never ending cleaning of his space and any space he walked into. He couldn’t make them understand that it was his way of relaxing while he controlled the area around him. He wasn’t germ phobic; he just liked things clean, neat and tidy.

“Justin?” Molly’s voice wobbled. “I’m scared about Prince Brian.”

“He’s no damn Prince, he’s just plain old Brian Kinney.” Justin mumbled under his breath, not caring if Molly heard him or not. 

“He’s sleeping, but he’s kind of making noises and stuff. I’m afraid he’s going to tear open the stitches in his back.”

“Oh, for heaven sake. You put this stuff away, and make sure you rinse out the bucket and rags. I’ll go up and see what I can do.” Justin headed up the stairs, two at a time, he could hear Brian’s voice as he got closer to the man’s bedroom. 

“NO, STOP, DON’T DO IT. I’LL BE GOOD, HONEST, I’LL BE GOOD.” Brian thrashed around in his bed, his hands up as if warding off blows. 

Not hesitating, Justin moved quickly to the bed, pulling Brian into his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay, nothing is going to hurt you.” His voice soft, but firm. “I promise.” He could feel heat coming from Brian’s body, he was warmer than he should be, but not alarmingly so. Blood seeped through the bandages on the man’s back. Justin knew he was going to have to check to soon to see if the stitches had torn. But meanwhile, he stroked thick auburn hair from Brian’s forehead and whispered words of comforting nonsense. Until finally, he relaxed enough to fall into a peaceful sleep, long arms wrapped around Justin’s body as if around a life raft.

Justin half sat, half laid down as he held Brian, who in turn held onto him. Sitting like he was, gave him time to look around the man’s bedroom. Something he really hadn’t done before.  He was surprised and rather embarrassed to see that Brian owned one of his paintings. It was one he’d done for a show at the GLC two years before. He was embarrassed at how amateurish it looked compared to what he could do now. But sitting where he was, he could see how it might have attracted the man in bed with him. In that it showed the outline of a man standing alone silhouetted against a sunset, looking at families and other people playing in what must have been a park or beach. It was like the man in the tower, always alone and always looking in on other lives. 

Justin absently stroked Brian’s hair, rubbed his arm, his shoulder, all the while crooning comfort words, not realizing what he was doing. All he knew was that the man clinging to him needed him for whatever reason and Justin was going to be there for him. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Molly kept checking on Justin and her Prince, until finally she left them alone and curled up on the sofa to sleep. She could have gone to Justin’s place, but she needed to know that things were all right, so she stayed. 

Waking in the morning, she checked first on Brian and Justin, but they didn’t look like they’d even moved. Not sure what she was going to do, she made coffee and looked for something in Brian’s fridge to make breakfast with. But what was there was only fit to be thrown out. She couldn’t leave her brother and her friend without food, but she needed to go home before her mother came looking for her. Something told the girl to keep quiet about Brian. 

Brian woke first, he opened his eyes to blackness, nothing had changed. His back felt like it was being stabbed by a hot poker and his head didn’t feel much better. But what was strange, was the fact that he was clutching a body to him. He hoped it wasn’t Molly. He didn’t need the grief of a man his age having a thirteen-year-old girl in his bed. 

“You’re awake.” Justin stated when he felt Brian stirring. “How are you feeling?” 

“Are you asking because you give a shit or is this just some kind of way to start the day’s conversation?” Brian groaned as he struggled to sit up. “Fuck, I can’t believe I let myself fall for that son of a bitch’s line of bullshit.” The words were more mumbled to himself than meant for Justin’s ears. “You can leave now.”

“Can you see?” Justin asked, making himself more comfortable. He stretched and stuck out his tongue at the man who blindly glared at him. “I didn’t think so.”

“I’ve lived here a long time. I don’t need to see to get around.” Brian stood up, swaying slightly. “I’ve got to take a piss.”

“Thanks for sharing that interesting bit of information, but I don’t think you’ll find a bathroom in that direction. I’d step to the left about two feet. Of course, you may be able to walk through walls, hell if I know or even care.” Justin snuggled into the bedding, he was exhausted. 

“I know where the bathroom is.” Brian moved forward, but did slide over a couple of feet, feeling his way carefully. “Be gone by the time I get out.” He shut the door with a bang.

“Don’t forget to flush and wash your hands.” Justin called out. “And stay out of the shower, you can’t get the dressing wet. It needs to be changed this morning.”

Brian could here Justin’s voice, but he didn’t want to listen. He stood inside his bathroom, his back to the door. He’d automatically switched on the lights, yet he could see nothing. Slowly, not caring that his back pressed against the door, his wound screaming with pain, Brian sank to the floor. Alone for the first time in days. No Molly, no blond Justin, no Jamie and no cats. Alone, the way he’d been for years until a certain blond had insisted on haunting the street outside his building. 

Alone meant peace and quiet, no questions, no demands, no arms holding on when your night was filled with dreams of the past. He was scared for the first time in a long time. Even when the bastard had thrown his knife at him last night, he hadn’t been frightened. But now, alone in the darkness that was his life for now, he was fucking terrified. 

Justin was almost asleep when he realized that Brian hadn’t come out of the bathroom. He checked the clock, almost an hour had gone by. “Brian, are you okay?” he asked

Getting no answer, he hit the door a couple of times. “Brian, answer me.” 

Still no answer, he did tried opening the door, but it was locked. He sighed and looked at the hinges. He’d have to do something he’d hated his father for doing years before. He’d have to take the hinges off the door. No doubt Brian would be just as pleased as he’d been.

Brian had forgotten the time. He’d allowed himself to succumb to a period of self-pity, something he never did. There’d been no tears. He’d any tears knocked out of him before he’d reached the age of six. Holding things inside him had been his way of surviving. He’d learned to make his face emotionless, let his body absorb any stray bit of inner feeling.  Suddenly the door he’d been leaning against disappeared and he fell backwards into the bedroom. “WHAT THE FUCK?” he said as he leapt to his feet with an agility that spoke of years of training, his back injury forgotten in the rush of adrenaline. 

“Oops, sorry about that Brian. But you weren’t coming out. I need to replace the dressing on your shoulder. I promised Jamie I’d do it.” Justin stood as far away from the agitated and pissed off blind man as he could. He wasn’t taking any chances. “Believe me, I would just as soon let you handle this shit on your own, but a promise is a promise.”

“Where’s Molly?” Brian asked, ignoring Justin. He turned and walked directly to the toilet where he pissed with amazing accuracy. 

“She went out to find food. Your fridge was filled with garbage.”

“Did she have money?” Brian was washing his hands and pretending to look at himself in the mirror, hoping to fool Justin into leaving him alone.

“No, she was going to shop lift it. You know five-finger discount and all that. Of course she had money, she isn’t a moron.” Justin was behind Brian now. “Stand still, I want to look at this wound.”

“Later.” Brain moved away. “I need a shower.”

“That’s something I agree on, you stink, but sadly you’ll have to have help. You can’t let your stitches get wet. I’m afraid that you have two choices. The first one is wash at the sink as best you can, the second one, I shower with you and make sure your back is protected.”

“I’ll wash at the sink.” Brian growled. 

“Fine with me.” Justin shrugged and Brian was sure he could hear the shrug in Justin’s voice. “But I’m taking a shower, Molly brought me some fresh clothes and I’m not leaving you alone until I change your fucking dressing.” He moved over to the shower and turned it on. “Hot naked blond man, wet and slippery, coming up.” His voice was cheeky as he stepped under the water.

Brian bit back a smile at the blond’s audacity. He could smell the scent of his shampoo filling the now steamy room. What the hell he thought, as he slipped out of the little bit of clothing he had on and stepped into the shower. 

“I can wash myself.” Brian said as he felt the touch of Justin’s soap lathered hands. 

“I’m sure you can, but isn’t this more fun.” Justin began to wash Brian while shielding him from the direct spray of the shower. “Lean forward, I’m going to wash your hair.”

The next fifteen minutes flew by as Justin carefully cleaned his landlord. Not much in the way of words were spoken, the silence on the other hand screamed. Both men ignored the fact that they sported hard cocks, preferring the cat approach to life, if you couldn’t see it, it wasn’t there.

Justin turned Brian around. “I’m going to take the dressing off. I figure I might as well clean up the dried blood and get rid of that yellow shit that Jamie poured over everything. For heaven sake, don’t move.” 

Brian didn’t flinch when the tape was peeled back, despite the pain. But he did brace himself on the shower wall. Being blind was upsetting his balance. 

“Shit Brian, it doesn’t look good.” Justin used a clean cloth to gently wipe the area around the stitches. “Let’s get out of here so I can put on some more antibiotic powder and redress this mess. You know, for someone who never seems to go anywhere, you sure managed to get yourself into a mess.”

“The part I like about living alone, is that there is no incessant babbling.” Brian’s words were said through gritted teeth. He felt for a towel and began to dry his hair and the front of his body. “I need some fucking pain meds. I don’t suppose Jamie left anything.”

“Molly was getting the prescription. And before you ask, yes, she has money. I have enough to cover your needs, I gave Molly my bank card.”

“I can pay my own way.” Brian grumbled. Justin pushed him toward the door. 

“Shut up and lay on your belly, I need to put the new dressing on.” He giggled. “Somehow I can’t see you taking this position often.”

“Never.” But that wasn’t true. He’d been in this position more than he cared to remember in his early teens. Anything for survival. He’d promised himself then that hell would freeze over before he’d let anyone top him again. And in more than fifteen years, no one had. What had happened through circumstance, either wanted or unwanted was over now. It might surface occasionally in his books, demons don’t always stay hidden, but it would never happen in his personal life. He’d never give that much of himself up to anyone ever again. 

“Well, never isn’t as long as it was before. I can’t do this without you on your belly. And no, I can’t do it with you sitting up. So bite the bullet and lie on your belly. I promise not to touch you below the waist.” He eyed up Brian’s well-toned ass, he’d love to sink into it, but not until the man was ready. Already Justin was feeling the inkling of a challenge when he’d heard the word <i>never</i> issued with a harsh intake of breath. 
Brian didn’t answer, merely laid himself face down on the bed after first finding it with his leg.  

Justin quickly pulled on a pair of sweat pants and gathered up what he was going to need. First he made a call to Jamie. “Hey, he’s awake and bitchy.” Justin began. “His stab wound looks kind of infected, but I’m not sure.”

“I’ll come by later today.”

“He still can’t see.” Justin whispered.

“I’m blind not deaf.” Brian mumbled. “Get on with this, I have things to do.”

“He’s starting to think he <i> is</i> a Prince, I have to go.” Justin sighed and hung up. “Jamie will be by later to look at his handiwork. I don’t suppose you plan on calling the police.” He was busy applying the antiseptic and then the dressing. The wound itself looked sore and tender, red and bruised. “I mean the knifing is one thing, but you’ve got a hell of a head banging as well.” He finished up by pulling the duvet up over Brian. “Stay there and get some rest. I’ll fix you something to eat. Do you want coffee or tea?” 

“Coffee.” Brian mumbled, feeling suddenly tired. His eyes closed, and in seconds he was asleep. Justin watched him for a few minutes before leaving. He’d get Molly to make them all some kind of breakfast.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Debbie sat at the counter in the diner, her boyfriend, fiancé, hubby to be maybe, Carl Horvath stood behind the counter, an apron tied around his waist. He was busy pouring coffee for all of the patrons. Debbie had been devastated when she’d heard his news. 

“I can’t believe there was another attack. I thought we were through with all of this.”

“The boys and girls around here have become lax in keeping their eyes and ears open for trouble.” Carl said with a shrug. “That’s what happens when things are going okay.”

“Raymond and Matt going to be alright?” she asked. “Maybe I should get some of their friends together and we could do something for them.”

“They’ll be fine. Apparently there was some kind of vigilante out there last night who took the guy down. Raymond said it was almost as if the two of them knew each other. We found a bloody knife, but no one has turned up at the hospital with a knife wound.”

“I wonder….” Debbie paused. “Wasn’t there some kind of rumor of a super hero kind of guy?” 

“I think that was Michael’s imagination working overtime.” Carl patted her shoulder as he went past her to refill cups.

“But I’m sure it wasn’t just Michael who saw the man.” Debbie shook the memory out of her head. “I hope that if it was someone helping Ray, that he wasn’t hurt.”

“Or she,” Carl laughed. “We have to give the ladies equal credit.” His partner was a woman and he knew that Helen wouldn’t want to be left out. 

“Hey Ma.” Michael appeared, he bent down to kiss his mother’s cheek. “Did you hear about last night? Maybe Justin’s comic book hero is real.” 

“What are you talking about?” Debbie asked, getting up to wait on her son. “Justin doesn’t read comic books.”

“No, but he draws them. Well, he could if he wanted to. We were talking a while back about super heroes. He drew me a couple of great ones.” He grabbed his coffee mug with both hands.

“This isn’t a joke Michael, someone actually had the balls to help Ray when he was being taken advantage of. Carl said they found a knife with blood on it. Maybe it was a big knife, he didn’t say. Last night’s hero might be hurt.”

“Deb, don’t worry about it. If anyone was hurt, they’ll end up at the hospital and we’ll find out about it. Emergency services has to report bullet wounds and knife wounds.” Carl was slipping of his apron. “I’m going to head back to the station and my real job.”

“Thanks honey for taking over for me. I didn’t mean to just stop working like that.” Debbie patted his cheek. He was such a wonderful man for her. She watched him go out the door. “Michael, maybe you should go over to Justin’s and warn him about going out at night. You know how he likes to wander the city with his sketchbook. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

“Ma, Justin pays no attention to anything I tell him. Besides he never lets me in when I ring for him. I’m not sure he’s even there half the time. I don’t understand him. He wanted into that damn building so bad he could taste it. And now that he’s living there, he spends all his time at school.”

“Well, call him and tell him I want him to come to supper on Sunday. I’ll call too. Between the two of us, he just might come. I’ll tell him if he doesn’t, I’m going to sic his mother on him.” Debbie and Michael laughed. It would be the last thing Justin would want. 

“What’s the last thing I’d want? Justin asked. He needed a nice thick bacon burger before another round of dealing with Brian. 

“I want you to come to dinner.” Debbie smiled and gave him a kiss on his cheek. 
“Too much work makes Justin a dull boy.”

“Or gives him great grades and makes him lots of money.” Justin said as he wiped the lipstick off of his cheek. “Can I get a bacon burger and fries to go, oh and a vanilla milkshake and a couple of lemon squares.”

“You can eat here.” Debbie got up to put the order in. 

“Sorry Deb, no can do. I have to get back to my apartment. I’m in the middle of something, but was craving grease and carbs.” He looked at Michael. “So how’s your love life these days, I heard you’re dating someone hot.”

“He’s great.” Michael sat up straighter and entertained Justin for a few minutes with tales of his beau Ben. 

“I’d like to meet him.” Justin said as he stood up to take the bag of food from Debbie. “Maybe on Sunday at your Mom’s.” he paid for his food and then gathering the bag, wiggled his fingers at Debbie and Michael. “Oh, and don’t bother dragging my mother into any of your schemes or you’ll both be soooooo dead.” Laughing, he headed for the door. 

Catching a cab just outside the diner, Justin was back at the Rosewood Building less than thirty minutes after he’d left. Molly met him at the door. “I’m going home.” She said with as much drama as she could muster. “Prince Brian is a tad grouchy. I hope he get his eyesight back soon. I wish he’d go to a doctor.”

“No problem, I have that covered.” Justin laughed. He watched his sister take his cab and then made sure the door to the building was secure. 

In Brian’s kitchen he placed the oversized burger on a plate and cut it into four pieces. He added the fries and coleslaw that Debbie must have included, poured the milkshake into 2 crystal goblets. The lemon squares he placed on a small plate. Gathering napkins, ketchup and salt, he headed for Brian’s bedroom.

“Get that shit out of here.” Brian growled from the side of his bed. He was sitting with his feet on the ground looking lost. 

“Hello to you too. Did you miss me while I was gone?” Justin touched Brian’s shoulder. “Sit back and relax. It’s dinner time.”

“I don’t eat whatever it is you have. Not to mention the fact that you are in my house uninvited.” 

Justin would have laughed out loud at the petulant three-year-old look Brian had on his face if the man didn’t look so heartbreakingly sad. “We’re having a bacon cheeseburger, fries, vanilla shake, with lemon squares for dessert.”

“I told you I don’t eat that kind of thing.” But Brian’s nose was twitching, much like the cats’ noses. All the cat family was on the bed with Brian, though out of reach.

“Too bad, it’s supper for tonight.” Justin took Brian’s hand and put a quarter of the burger in it. “I decided that neither of us needed to eat a whole one, so I divided it up. Enjoy it, it’s from the Liberty Avenue Diner.”

Brian had recognized the smell, he’d eaten enough of these burgers when he was in his early teens. The diner had equated safety and love, not to mention food that wasn’t served with fear and trepidation. He put the food to his mouth and before he knew it, the piece was gone. Damn, it was as good as he’d remembered. 

“The fries are on the plate. I salted them but didn’t know if you liked ketchup or not. The glass of milkshake is just above the plate of fries.”

There was some fumbling on Brian’s part, but the two of them managed to finish off the dinner in companionable silence.

When they were finished, Justin took the tray away and handed Brian a warm damp washcloth. “You might want to get rid of the milkshake ‘stache.” He suggested with a giggle.

Brian glared and wiped his mouth. He hated not being in control. If ever there was a time to want to indulge in alcohol, this was it. 

“Now that the beast has been fed, I’m going to explain a few facts of reality to you Mr. Kinney. Jamie has a friend who is a radiologist at the hospital. We’re going to sneak you in and have your head viewed by whatever it is that can look inside. Jamie wants to know about the skull thing and how it’s affecting your eyesight. He’s doing Jamie an awesome, could get his ass canned, favor. I’d suggest you don’t bother giving any of us a hard time about it. If he thinks he can handle your treatment, he will. But if he doesn’t, we have another friend who’s kind of a doctor in training, he’s going to ask one of his professors.”

“No.”

“You don’t have a choice. Be nice and come quietly or Jamie comes, gives you a shot of something that’ll knock you out, and we get it done that way.” Justin stood up. “I’m going to clean up around here while you think about it. This place is a pig’s stye.”

Brian heard Justin leave his room. He stood up and walked carefully to the bathroom, hoping that with the stronger light in there, he’d be able to see something beside utter blackness. No such luck. He pissed, washed his hands and face and headed back to the bed and with any luck, oblivion.