The 37 Days of Gusmas Title: Rage the Kitten Grows Up, parts 24-28 Author: Rebel Prompts: Home for the holidays; Yes, Gus, there is a Santa Claus; Solstice; Air travel graphic; All wrapped up Note: Part 1 is here, and the rest are linked as you go along
24.
Brian stared into Rage's eyes; Rage stared back. After a minute, he heard a sound, very low, then louder.
Rage purred, his paws digging into the duvet, his eyes still fixed on Brian's.
"He's not coming home." Brian's hand was curled around Rage's head, not quite petting him. "He's in the hospital and he won't wake up."
"Mrooow." Rage's claws flexed briefly.
"They’re saying he's a hero. Have you ever heard such fucking bullshit?" Brian's hand moved down Rage's spine. "He stops to help some stupid bitch who lost control her of her car. And he ends up…" Brian stopped.
25.
Gus stared hard at Justin's face. "Is he sleeping?"
Lindsay touched his hair. "It's a little more than sleeping, Gus."
He frowned. "Like… a coma?"
Lindsay couldn't answer, so Mel did. "That's right."
"Will he wake up?" he said, so quietly they almost didn't hear.
Lindsay knelt down and wrapped her arms around him. "We hope so."
Gus looked from Lindsay to Melanie, then firmly said, "I'm going to ask Santa to take back all my toys and wake Justin up instead."
"That's a good idea," Melanie told him.
Lindsay buried her face in the little boy's hair, and cried.
26.
"No change?" Debbie came in the door, snow dusting her bright red parka. "Hi there, baby." She kissed Gus, then rubbed lipstick off his forehead while he tried to wriggle away from her.
Melanie shook her head. "Daphne's getting something to eat, and Brian finally went to the loft to get some sleep."
Deb stared at Justin. Not even his eyes moved under the closed lids. "What a fucking mess."
Lindsay looked out the window. "It's dark already."
"It's the Solstice," Mel said. "The longest night."
Debbie let her hand touch Justin's hair. "No shit," she said. "No fucking shit."
27.
"Is this Justin Taylor's room?"
Everyone turned. "Who wants to know?" Debbie said.
"I'm Grant Hammond." He swallowed. "Is Brian Kinney here?"
"He's home sleeping," Lindsay said. "He's been here for four days."
He nodded. "He does some work for my firm. I'm CEO of Liberty Air." He hesitated. "It was my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law Mr. Taylor saved."
They all stared.
"My son was killed this summer in Iraq," he went on. "That baby is all I have of him. I wanted…" he stopped. "Well, just tell Brian… I'm so sorry, but…"
"Yes," Melanie said. "We'll let him know."
28.
Brian woke up, showered, dressed, and went to get his coat to go back to the hospital. But Rage was sitting on it, staring, and refused to budge.