PROMISES Title: Promises Written By:pinkfriction Timeline: Beginning of S2 Rating: PG-13 for some language Summary: Brian makes a bargain and a promise Author's Notes: Thanks to my wonderful beta - she knows who she is! This story would never have been written without her Theme: Second Chance
Brian sat at the foot of the bed, head tilted, eyes drooping. He was thinking about what had happened. “What if …” What if he hadn’t gone to Babylon that night? What if he had never decided to go to the stupid fucking Prom? What if he hadn’t... No, he wouldn’t say that. “Brian,” the duty nurse slid into the room. “Brian, I think you’d better go now, his Mom’s on the way up”. Brian shifted uneasily off the bed. His face impassive, he pushed by the nurse to get to the door. “What does she think I’m gonna do, fuck him whilst he’s unconscious?” He walked out of the room and down the corridor, narrowly missing being seen by Jennifer as she came out of the elevator. ...
Night time. Babylon. All he wanted, all he needed. Brian leaned against a wall in the back room, a nameless, faceless trick sucking away at him. He tried to focus on the rhythm, the sensation coursing through his cock, but he couldn’t. A sense of disquiet had fallen over him ever since that night. It unnerved him, he couldn’t put his finger on what was happening, and that was not the Brian Kinney way. Brian roughly pushed the trick’s head away from him. “Hey...” Before he could say anymore, Brian had pulled up his trousers and strode off into the pulsating club. ...
Brian slept fitfully for a few hours the next morning. He knew he had things to do. Clients to see, copy to write. The thought of going into work filled him with dread. Come on, he thought, you’re Brian Kinney, you don’t feel like this. It wasn’t enough though, he stood up and walked over to the counter and poured himself a drink. The phone started ringing. Mikey, again. The stupid fuck didn't give up. Brian slammed his glass down on the counter, grabbed his coat and headed out. ...
He walked for miles, but ended up right back at the diner. He looked inside, could see Deb bustling about waiting on about a dozen tables at one go. How could she do that, just pretend things were normal, that everything hadn't changed? His cell rang, the caller-ID showed it was Mikey, again. He answered with a curt “What.” “Brian, where are you, I've been worried sick...” “Yeah, when you haven't been too busy trying to smooth things over with the chiropractor.” “That's not fair, besides I thought you wanted me to be happy.” “Life isn't fair Mikey,,,” Brian ended the call and turned away from the diner. It was late, he knew where he needed to be. ...
Brian arrived at the hospital just after midnight. The nurse on duty smiled wanly at him as she buzzed open the door. “How is he?” “No change I'm afraid Mr Kinney. You know he really is a lucky young man, all the people fighting for him to pull through.” Brian felt sick to his stomach. He turned away from the nurse and walked over to the room where Justin lay. He rested his head against the glass and closed his eyes. He felt like slamming his fists against the window, but he knew that wouldn't help. Just like fucking strangers didn't help. He started to laugh at that thought. Him, Brian Kinney, no longer satiated by picking up hot young men who wanted to blow him. The nurse looked over at him in puzzlement. “Are you alright Mr Kinney?” Stifling another laugh Brian told her he was fine. But he didn't feel fine. He went in the room and sat in his usual position at the end of the bed. He thought again about that night. If he ever got his hands on the bastard who...No, that wasn't what he should be thinking about either. Brian looked down at Justin. He looked so peaceful, so beautiful... He didn't believe that anyone or anything was listening, but at that moment he didn't really care. He would make a bargain with God, with the devil, with himself even. He put his finger up to his collar and felt the unnatural bulge beneath his shirt. “If he wakes up I swear that I'll never forget. I won't let anything make me forget how I feel right now. Just make him be OK...”
...
Justin woke up. He looked around and couldn’t see anything familiar. “Where am I?” His Mother’s face came hazily into view. “Sweetheart, you had an accident. It’s okay, you’re in the hospital.” “Where’s...” Justin struggled to get the words out, “...where’s Brian?” The look of disapproval that flashed across his Mother’s face was well hidden, but Justin saw it well enough. “I have no idea,” Jennifer said. “I haven’t seen him since..., well, since your accident.” Justin still wasn’t clear about what this mysterious accident was, but at this moment he didn’t really care. He just wanted to see Brian. He contemplated asking his Mom to call him, but quickly dismissed that idea. “Hey Mom,” he whispered, “how long have I been here?”
“A couple of weeks.” Lindsay’s voice came back at him. He moved his head gingerly round to the left, and there she was. “Hey, Justin, you decided to join us again.” Lindsay stroked her hand down his cheek, smiling whilst tears coursed down her face. “We missed you...” ...
Brian felt like someone was hammering into his brain with a pickaxe. He gingerly opened his eyes and realized that it was the loft door that someone was bashing with a pickaxe. Or that's what it sounded like. He hadn't heard anybody come up. “Alright, alright...” Wrapping a sheet around himself, he went over and answered the door. “Justin's awake!” Lindsay stood there at the door, her eyes filled with tears but a big smile on her face. “Huh?” “Justin, he woke up! I thought that you should know...” Brian spun around and walked over to the bedroom, unwrapping himself from the sheet as he went. “Jesus Brian, this place is a complete mess.” “I know that it's here somewhere, ...” “What are you looking for?” “I had it, I had it last night, I must have taken it off...” All Lindsay could see was Brian's naked ass, things flying around him like a whirlwind. “Brian, stop, please” “Ah, there, there it is.” Brian turned around and lifted a bloodstained scarf around his neck. “I knew it, I knew I'd get a second chance.” Lindsay looked at Brian with confusion, but he didn’t notice. He was wrapping the scarf around himself and whispering something, “Justin, I can’t promise never to let you down but I will never let anyone else hurt you. I will never forget how I felt when I looked at you lying there in the hospital bed, never.” She turned and left, leaving Brian standing naked in the middle of the room, absorbed in his memories.