xie_xie_xie (xie_xie_xie) wrote in qaf_challenges, @ 2009-03-07 10:38:00 |
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Entry tags: | small things made large, small things phase 2 |
14. Dream Away the Place (Drabble 10)
Title: Dream Away the Place
Author: noteverything
Drabble: #10 by testdog65
Notes: First, thank you to the unknown author of this lovely drabble...it's beautiful and I can't wait to find out who you are! Next, *huge* hugs and thank you to jule1122, you are the best beta ever. Anyone who can put up with my fretting over something so short deserves HIGH praise. Also, thanks to notreallyme and happier_bunny for all your help. You both rock. &hearts
The headlights projected a thin, sharp line into the rainy night. Justin turned to look out the passenger window, seeing nothing but inky blackness beyond the edge of the road.
The radio played quietly, a song that Justin didn't recognize. He glanced over at Brian, his profile hazy within the darkened interior of the car.
"Almost there." Brian's voice was low and rough, the perfect complement to the surrounding shadows. Justin shifted in his seat and almost smiled. When he looked down, he saw Brian's hand lying against his jeans, palm facing up. Justin reached over, letting their fingers intertwine.
Just getting out of the loft helped Justin begin to relax. The steady beat of the windshield wipers, combined with the soft melody of the song on the radio and the warmth of Brian's hand made it hard for Justin to stay awake. He drifted off.
Brian glanced over when he heard Justin’s even breathing, glad to see that he’d finally given in and fallen asleep. He held on to his hand for a few moments longer, then pulled away to rub his own tired eyes. It was the third night this week that they’d been out in the middle of the night, driving and driving, trying to lull Justin back to calmness after yet another nightmare.
Tonight, Justin had insisted that they go back to the parking garage, despite Brian’s protests. “I need to go, Brian,” Justin said. “Please. I’m so tired. I want these fucking nightmares to stop." His voice trailed off and he looked away, afraid to let Brian see how upset he was.
“What good will it do?” Brian’s voice was angry, frustrated. “You can’t remember anything. What makes you think going there tonight will change that?” Justin ran his hands through his hair, willing himself not to cry. He’d been on the verge of tears since he’d woken with Brian’s voice repeating “you’re ok” over and over as he pulled Justin to him.
“I don’t know.” When Justin finally answered, his voice was almost a whisper. “I just need to get out of here, and I want to go. Maybe something will be different tonight.”
Brian stared at Justin for a long time, finally nodding his head slightly.
Now, with Justin finally sleeping beside him, Brian was tempted to keep driving and let him rest. But he’d told Justin they’d go and having to deal with a tired and angry Justin the next day at Gus’s birthday party wasn’t going to help either of them. So he drove to the garage and parked the Jeep just inside.
When he killed the engine, Justin stirred just a bit, tucking a hand next to his cheek and turning slightly in his seat. He smiled just a little, apparently lost in a happy dream for a change. Brian reached a hand out to wake him, but stopped short and lightly touched his hair instead. He’d just let him sleep a while.
He got out of the car and walked around to lean against the bumper of the Jeep, watching the rain fall, trying not to remember that warm spring night or that radiant smile he hadn’t seen since. He tried not to remember the crack of the bat or the feel of blood pooling under his feet and under Justin’s head. And the harder he tried to forget, the more the memories flooded him. He scrubbed his face with his hands, wondering if he would ever forget.