Days of Wine and Roses Part 9 Special thanks to OG Walton and to all of those who hounded me until I wrote this specially Jude. I'm glad I did. And of course to Lois for being such a terrific beta ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For some reason the morning sun was shining in on Brian. He could feel the heat and see the light through his closed eyelids. He could smell something funny, almost hospital like. He moved his arm to try and feel for Justin, but instead hit a metal rail. "Fuck" he opened one eye, but could barely focus. He moved his other hand and realized that it was held fast. He raised his head slightly and looked down. Justin was sitting on a chair beside his bed, his head on Brian's hand, fast asleep. "Hey, Sunshine, wakey, wakey," Brian tried to move his hand again. Justin was never the easiest person to wake up. Justin moved, and then sat up abruptly, "Irish, you're awake" he said unnecessarily. "Apparently" "How are you feeling?" "Mystified. You mind telling me what the fuck is going on?" Brian looked around him. "I seem to be in the hospital, isn't that your job in this relationship, being the guy always rushed to the hospital?" "Yeah, but I wanted to share the pleasure. How's your head?" Brian brought his hand up to touch his head, which, now that he thought of it, wasn't feeling all that great. "Ooow" he gently moved his fingers over a large padded bandage. "It hurts like hell, what did you do to it?" "Me - you are such a twat Irish, don't you remember?" "Would I be asking you, if I'd remembered?" Brian was getting testy. He was mentally taking a survey of his body and discovered that there wasn't much that didn't ache. "We were at the Club and you decided you wanted the grand tour and insisted on driving one of the golf carts. I tried to tell you to stay off the fairway, but oh no, you had to go and drive it on the fairway and get hit on the head with a golf ball and if that wasn't enough, you ended up hitting it again on the concrete steps when you were knocked unconscious and the cart drove down them, which is why you may be a bit stiff. You were banged up pretty good." "Oh, is that all." Brian smirked at him "I thought you'd finally snapped and kung fooed me in here." "As much as I've been tempted to use Tae Kwon Do on occasion and beat your Irish ass into the ground, no I didn't snap this time." Justin leaned over the bed and kissed Brian on the nose. "You made me cry Irish, I was so worried about you." He whispered. Brian caressed the soft cheek of his lover with the back of his hand. "Hey, Sunshine, it'd take more than a country club golf ball to do me in." He smiled up at the watery blue eyes. "Now get me the fuck out of here." "You have to wait and see the Doctor, they couldn't wake you up all night, they have a few tests to do." "Tough, I was probably too tired to wake up. I've been working sixteen-hour days the last two weeks. Did they x-ray the old head?" "Well, they checked it out, I'm not sure exactly what they did, I wasn't allowed in." "I'm sure that I'm fine, it's just a bump and few bruises." He started to sit up, painfully aware of each and every bruise. "I need to piss, let me at least do that and I'll wait for the Doctor if he doesn't take too long." "JUSTIN" Brian's voice was touched in panic. His eyes wild, he looked at Justin for reassurance "My legs, I can't move them." Justin's heart was in his throat. He looked at the man he loved and saw panic in his eyes; Brian began to throw himself around in the bed as if to force some movement. "Brian, stop right now, calm down." Justin smoothed the sweaty strands of hair back from Brian's brow. Brian looked into loving blue eyes and relaxed into the pillow, his hand clenching Justin's. The blonde, his movements calm, reached over and pushed the call button for the nurse. The next couple of hours went by in a blur for Brian as he was poked and prodded, asked a thousand questions and wheeled from mysterious room to mysterious room as various hospital employees and doctors determined what was wrong. For Justin the time was agonizingly slow, each second a minute, each minute an hour. Finally Brian was returned to his room. Justin took Brian's hand in his and held it fast, even though Brian tried to take it away. One look at Brian's face told the blonde that what ever it was, it wasn't good. The man he loved refused to look at him, but kept his head turned away and his eyes shut. It wasn't long before the Doctor walked in. She looked at Justin and held out her hand to shake his "Susan Haddad, I'm Brian's doctor, you must be Justin." Justin, his hand shaking, shook her cool steady one. "What's wrong with Brian?" he said getting right to the point. "The sharp blow to his head has not only fractured his skull, but has caused swelling of the brain tissue in an area that affects certain motor skills. In this case it's affecting his legs." She looked directly at Brian, who continued to keep his eyes shut, retreating and shutting out the world. "Brian we've given you some meds to help reduce the swelling and I don't expect there will be any permanent damage, only time will tell us that. So until the swelling goes down, I want you to take it easy, relax; think of this, as a much-needed rest. You're obviously exhausted." "Fuck off and leave me alone, this isn't the Club Med." Brian snarled his eyes still shut. "Brian!" Justin reproached. He looked at the Doctor apologizing with his eyes. She smiled and said. "I've heard worse, and I expect I'll hear a lot more from Mr. Kinney before we're through. Chin up, it could be worse. I'll be back this evening." She turned and left the room. Brian still wouldn't look at Justin. He didn't want to be touched, to be pitied, yet he took comfort from the fact that Justin refused to release his hand. The two of them sat in silence each lost in their own thoughts. "Justin, go home, you heard what the good Doctor said, I need my fucking rest." Brian's voice was bitter. "Well, Irish, how long have you known me?" Brian didn't answer. Justin gently placed Brian's hand on his belly and moved to the door. Brian's breath caught in his throat, Justin was leaving. Instead Justin closed the door and walked back to his lover. He slipped off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. "Move your ass Irish, there's nothing wrong with your hips." Reluctantly Brian moved slightly to one side. Justin snuggled close; he put his arm around Brian so the tender head was resting on his chest. His hand began to smooth Brian's hair, caress his cheek. "Relax Brian" he whispered Brian's name sending a rush through the man in his arms. "I've got you. What ever happens, we'll face it together." Brian shuddered once and then gave himself up to the feelings he'd been holding inside. Tears began to spill on Justin's chest, soft lips pressed to Brian's forehead gave him comfort and he shut his eyes knowing he was safe. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "I'm not fucking doing it Justin." Brian looked at the blonde, his face set in a pout that looked remarkably like that of his young son. "Get your ass in the gawd damn chair Irish, or so help me gawd I'm going to put you in it myself and strap you in." "You can't force me to do this." Brian said stubbornly. He was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. "How much do you want to bet on that Irish?" Justin once again rolled the chair up to where Brian was sitting. He locked the brake. "I'm taking you home today even if I have to drug you senseless and drag your ass down the hall." He cupped the stubborn chin in his hand. "Listen close, you are going home with me. You are going home with me now. The Doctor says you are doing fine. You can't hide out in the hospital forever." He kissed Brian's nose. "Stop being a bull headed Irishman and get your ass in the chair." With considerable reluctance and deep sighs of annoyance Brian lowered himself into the chair Justin provided. "Why did you get a red chair? Everyone will notice it." He griped. "Like the black ones are invisible." Justin replied, "If you have to use a chair, why not make it an interesting one." "But red Justin, do I look like someone who wants a gawd damn red chair?" "I bought it to piss you off, what can I say." Justin gathered up Brian's things and began walking out of the room, he turned and looked at Brian. "You look hot in red" "Hey Sunshine, didn't you forget something" Brian asked. Justin looked around knowing darn well what Brian meant. "No, I think I have everything." He looked down at his hands, "your suitcase, your toiletry bag, the plant from Deb, yep, every things here." Once again he started out the door. "What about me?" Brian said sounding forlorn. "What about you Irish? Your arms work fine, and you're reasonably intelligent, shouldn't take you too long to figure out how to propel your chariot to the elevator." He looked at Brian's astonished face. "I'll wait for you." And he walked out of the room heading to the elevator only to encounter Michael stepping out of it. "Why've you got Brian's things?" Michael demanded. "Gee I don't know, maybe I'm stealing them, or maybe he's coming home today." "Brian doesn't want to go home, he told me so on the phone this morning. He said he wasn't ready." "Unfortunately Brian doesn't get a vote. He's coming home and he's coming home today." Justin smirked at him. "Brian!" Michael said his voice shocked. "Let me help you." He turned to Justin and glared at him. "You touch that fucking chair Mickey and you'll be sorry." Justin said quietly. Michael pulled his hands back from the chair he remembered only too well what Justin could and would do to him. He looked at Brian for assistance. "Brian - he began in the familiar whine that made the hairs on the back of Justin's neck stand up. "Hey Mikey, change of plans, Sunshine is taking me home." Brian inexpertly rolled the chair up to the elevator. "He can't tell you what to do." Michael began. "Actually, I can Mickey, the guy who has to potty train him gets all the votes." He bent down and kissed Brian's embarrassed cheek. "That would be me." "What's he talking about Brian?" "Just let your mind wander for a moment Mikey, I can't fucking move my legs" "Oh" Michael said in a small voice. "Maybe you should stay in the hospital until everything works again." "And maybe Mickey, you should go home and read your comic books." Justin stepped into the waiting elevator; he held the door open for Brian, who eventually managed to maneuver the chair into the small enclosure. The three of them rode the elevator down to the main floor in silence. Justin held the door back for Brian. Michael jiggled impatiently behind Brian waiting for the door to clear, but stopped and was still when he caught the glare in Justin's eye. "I'll meet you back at the loft Brian," Michael said. "Whatever" Brian said as he tried to concentrate on following Justin toward the parking lot. His arms were getting tired, but there was no way he was going to admit it to the blonde tyrant walking in front of him. Justin unlocked the door of an unfamiliar red sports car and then put the things he was carrying into the trunk. He turned around and Brian was almost caught up to him, he could see the fatigue in his face and he wanted nothing more than to help him, but he knew that for Brian's sake he couldn't. "Lets go Irish, I'm starving. Justin walked around to the driver's side. "Where's my jeep?" "In the parking garage at home. Now open the door and get in. I bought this car because the front seat is the exact same height as the chair. You should have no problem transferring in or out. Plus the space between the two front seats is plenty wide enough for you to put the chair in the back seat once you fold it up." Justin almost groaned when he remember how many car lots and how many cars he'd transferred himself in and out of sitting in Brian's chair to find the perfect car. "Couldn't you at least open the door for me?" "I could, but then you'd never learn how to do it." Justin had heard the defeat in Brian's voice and couldn't stand it any more. He walked back and opened the car door. He bent and kissed Brian, slipping him some tongue, reveling in the feel of the man he loved. "There you big baby, I opened the door. Now get in like you practiced in physio." Brian smirked and worked his way into the car. He was still not very good at the moves, but it was the best transfer he'd ever made. He realized it had a lot to do with the car seat in ratio to his chair. He looked over at Justin who was watching him anxiously and he smiled. "Not bad Sunshine" he said. It didn't take him long to collapse the red chair beside him and slip it behind his seat. Justin let out his breath; he hadn't realized he was holding it while he watched the man he loved struggle to get settled. He reached over Brian and pulled the seat belt across him snapping it in place and taking the opportunity for another kiss. "Now you're helping me Sunshine?" Brian said patting the seat belt. "No, that was for me. You turn me on Irish, I needed a kiss, thought this was a good way to sneak one." Justin beamed at him. Brian rested his head on Justin's shoulder for a moment. "I love you Sunshine, I'm sorry I'm such a bitch." "Sorry is bullshit Brian, but I love you too even when you're a bitch." "I don't know why, I really don't know why." He looked hard a Justin. "You don't have to do this; we can afford to pay someone else to clean up after me." "Irish, you know the part of the marriage ceremony that says 'For better or worse, in sickness or in health'?" Brian nodded. "Well, I figure we just might make it to the altar someday. If I crap out now, then why put in anymore time. I love you and there is no way on earth that I'm going to let anyone else deal with what we have to deal with. It's between you and me." He kissed Brian tenderly. "Hey Irish, someday we'll laugh about this, you wait and see." "You sound pretty confident" Brian said. He sat back in the comfortable seat and relaxed. Justin had been right; he needed to get out of the hospital, needed to get his life back. "Irish, I'm confident in you. You are amazing and a minor little glitch like this only makes life more interesting." Justin eased the car out into traffic. They drove in silence for a while. "You missed the turn to the loft." Brian said conversationally. "So I did, luckily we aren't going to the loft." Justin looked at him and grinned. "Mikey said he'd meet us there" "And I'm sure your 'very bestest friend' will do just that eventually, but not today." "Justin, where are we going?" Brian was trying to remain calm. He was in no mood or condition to be viewed by strangers. "We're going to a friend's place for the weekend. He's out of the country and said we could use it. And conveniently it's not too far from the head office of Cows R Us. You were scheduled to do a pitch for them Monday. I never cancelled it. This is a big account for our company Irish; it'll mean a lot this quarter if we get it." "Justin, I worked on that stuff with you this week because I figured you'd do it or maybe Jeff or even Cynthia, sure as fuck not me." He looked down at his legs. "Hello - cripple sitting here." "Hello - asshole sitting there - it's your legs that aren't working not your damn brain. And not your Kinney charisma - you'll have them eating out of your hand." Brian looked out the window of the car, his face set in mutiny. Very slowly and clearly he said "I-am-not-doing-it." "Coward" "What the fuck did you call me?" "You heard me" "Fuck you" "I'd like that, but we'll have to wait until your therapy progresses to that point, but a blow job would be nice." "In your dreams Sunshine, in your dreams" Brian's lip was out once again. Visions of Gus ran through Justin's head and he almost laughed, but managed to control it at the last minute. "You're always in my dreams, Brian." His name said like a caress, and once again Brian felt a rush of pleasure shoot through his body. "Don't do that Sunshine." "Don't do what?" "You know damn well what. You know what it does to me when you say my name like that." "Makes it harder for you to sulk?" Justin asked with a smile. Brian turned to the front and stared out the window, trying to control his smile. Shit he wanted to stay pissed with Justin, but the damn blonde knew all his buttons and didn't mind pushing them when he wanted to get his own way. He watched the city disappear and countryside appear and still they drove. "I thought you were hungry?" he asked finally. "I am, I was waiting for you to say something. You know how I always like to please you." Justin grinned. He actually had a destination in mind. A place his parents used to take him and Molly when they were younger. It was on the way to John's house. He recognized the turn up ahead and slowed down enough to comfortably make it. "We're almost there." He drove down a narrow grass covered roadway that obviously hadn't been traveled in a long time. The trees were lush and full and draped over the car as it passed through. Justin maneuvered the car to the entrance to a large meadow full of bright white daisies. He carefully parked the car so that the passenger door opened up facing the meadow. Brian sat still, listening to the engine cooling. Justin had rolled down the windows and he could smell the clean air, hear the buzz of insects. It was completely blocked from the busy highway, the trees acting as a sound barrier. He looked at Justin and smiled. "It's like being in some kind of time warp. With no one on earth except you and I." "I was hoping you'd like it. The last week has been hell" Justin's eyes darkened with the pain of remembering. "The next few aren't going to be much better. Your therapy starts tomorrow." He leaned over and kissed Brian's cheek. "It's back to nature time for a couple of hours and lunch." Brian watched him unsure of what he meant. Justin got out of the car and went to the trunk. He pulled out a blanket and spread it on the ground beside the car on Brian's side. He added a pillow and an insulated basket. He took out a bottle of wine, grapes, cheese and two sandwiches. He put this on a small linen cloth he'd placed at one end of the blanket. Then from another insulated cooler he removed a large piece of chocolate cake. Brian watched all this with interest. Finally Justin was satisfied with his arrangement. He opened Brian's door, leaned in and turned on the car CD player, soft music began to play. He unsnapped Brian's seat belt. "Swing around Irish, put your legs out of the car." Dutifully Brian did as he was told with no argument. He ignored the twinges of pain from his unused leg muscles and soon his feet were on the ground. The warmth of the sun that filtered through the tree leaves was on his face and he breathed deeply clearing away the hospital smells. "It looks like a Disney movie set Sunshine, Bambi and Thumper and the rest of the gang are probably waiting to stomp us for messing up their territory." Ignoring Brian's comments Justin said. "Now, I'm going to help you move down to the blanket, so cooperate Irish." It wasn't long before Justin had Brian sitting on the blanket, his back leaning against the car door. Brian was amazed at the strength the smaller man had in his body. For some reason when Justin had him in his arms he was never afraid of being hurt. He knew Justin would never drop him. He sighed looking around him at the peaceful countryside. Justin stood up and to Brian's astonishment began to remove his clothing. "Have you completely gone around the bend Sunshine?" Brian asked. There was something faintly decadent about a pale naked man, his cock slightly aroused bathed in the afternoon sun. "Told you Irish, back to nature." Justin knelt down and began to remove Brian's shoes, then his socks. He massaged each foot, reveling in the feel of them. The fact that Brian was unable to move his legs only added to the erotic moment. Justin bent and kissed each toe. Brian watched strangely aroused. His lover then moved up to his pants and unbuttoned his jeans. Brian thought for a moment about not helping him but couldn't resist the allure of being completely naked outside in the summer sun. He lifted his hips, taking the weight of his body on his arms and let Justin slip his jeans down and off. The warm summer breeze blew across his body. Justin looked at him and grinned. "Feels kind of neat doesn't it?" and Brian had to agree. "So Irish, you want to fool around now or wait until after lunch?" Brian kept his eyes on Justin's as he unbuttoned his shirt. He leaned forward and slipped it off his shoulders, tossing it to one side. "Does that answer your question Sunshine?" Justin moved up and straddled Brian's legs, he leaned in pressing his body close to Brian's "I love being naked outside with you." He whispered into Brian's neck. "I love feeling your body against mine, with the wind blowing on us." "You just like my cock knocking on your back door." Brian laughed. Two lips pressing urgently against his silenced him. Their tongues met and Brian gave himself up to the passion that was spreading like wildfire throughout his body. "Baby, I don't know if I can do this," he said. His voice caught, he thought of his useless legs. Justin moved off of him exposing the purple head of Brian's dripping hard cock aimed up at his belly. "Brian, your legs might not be able to do anything right now, but your cock has a different agenda." He let his fingertips barely brush the surface, catching the dew of precum on one finger raising it up watching the strands twist in the wind. He looked into the hazel eyes in front of him and licked his finger. "Think of this as the start of your physical therapy, a more unorthodox approach than most I'll admit, but it will definitely be physical." "Suck it Sunshine, suck my cock, and let me watch every move." Justin's own cock jumped at the words. He looked at Brian, love in his eyes, "Do you want to lie down?" "No I want to watch." Justin positioned himself on his knees so that Brian would be treated to his favorite view of Justin's butt, and then let his tongue trace small circles on the sensitive head. Brian gasped. His hand went to the white cheeks so close and began to knead them with each move of the pink tongue. He began to moan when Justin licked the underside of the mushroom head the warm summer breeze following each lick adding additional sensation. The hot mouth covered the end, softly sucking, creating a vacuum. Brian drank in the sensations, savoring each one like a fine wine as the mouth moved back and forth. Firm fingers circled his balls, gently tugging, and he ached with the need to stretch out, to put Justin on the blanket and fuck him hard and fast. He watched through half closed eyes, his lashes filtering the light as the man he loved worshiped his cock. He could feel the orgasm building and he wanted to scream his frustration to the sky that he couldn't do as he wanted but rather had to sit and watch, unable to fully participate while his body betrayed him and released a orgasm deep from within. He watched as if he wasn't part of the act as his cock shuddered with spasm after spasm and Justin swallowed him deeply, licking the sensitive end clean. He gathered his lover in his arms and brought him to completion with a firm grip on his thick organ while kissing him deeply and he wanted to cry because it felt so good and perfect yet was flawed because of some stupidity on his part. He held onto Justin, crushing him to his chest, knowing that he needed him more than ever and wishing he didn't, resenting the need and coveting the easy way Justin had in giving himself to him. He felt the shudders rip through his body and once again he gave into his feelings knowing that he was safe as long as Justin was with him. And now he allowed himself to be gathered close, he heard Justin whispering words of comfort, nonsense words of love and he thought his heart would explode from loving too much the man who held him. Sturdy hands, tracing circles on his arms grounded him, calmed him and he silently thanked God for bringing them together. His strength, his joy, his reason for living was holding him close and that's all that mattered. Justin sat up and kissed away the last of the tears on Brian's cheeks. "I love you Brian Kinney, don't you ever forget that." He said his voice was husky with emotion. "I know you do Sunshine, and that's what gets me through days like this, the only thing that does." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian was exhausted by the time Justin turned into the driveway of his friend's house. They had stayed for another hour at the secluded meadow clearing, had eaten lunch, with only the occasional awkward silence to fill, neither one mentioned the emotions that were so close to the surface ready to bubble over at the slightest provocation. Getting back into the car had been more of a struggle than he would have liked but Justin was strong and Brian was determined and he was soon settled in the leather seat. He kept his hand on Justin's leg as they finished their trip taking comfort in the muscular strength. Justin pulled the car up to the front of what looked to Brian like a large red painted barn. Two horses eyed them up from a fenced in field close by. An oversized orange cat sat on top of the fence that joined the building. It looked at the two of them sitting in the car, stood up and deliberately turned its back on them sitting back down but looking the other way, only its ears that were turned to hear the two in the car gave any indication that the cat knew they were still around. "Where's your friend's house?" Brian asked. "Right here." "Your friend lives in a barn?" Brian was incredulous. "It used to be a barn, now it's a house." "Looks like a barn Sunshine." "Looks are deceiving, you know that Mr. Advertising Guy." "I'm not staying in a barn. I'm tired and I want to go home." "We'll go in, I'll make you a nice bath and tuck you into your bed nice and early." "You need your hearing checked. I'm not staying in a barn. Take me home." "We'll be going home Monday after the presentation. Lars will be there Monday evening to start your therapy." He reached over and kissed Brian, unsnapping Brian's seat belt then his own and got out of the car. He went to the trunk and lifted out a suitcase. On his way past Brian's door he opened it. "Irish, when you finally get your ass out of the car, grab something from the trunk and help me unload." "Cripple here Justin and I'm not staying in a barn." "Once again Irish, your arms work just fine and you are staying in the barn or the front seat of the car. You pick." "I have a headache" "You ARE a headache, the faster you get in the house, the faster I can find something for your head." "Barn" Justin blew him a kiss and walked to the double doors that were flanked by two tubs of overflowing with cosmos in rainbow colors. He unlocked the doors and disappeared inside. Brian stared after him, his eyes were mutinous. He waited for almost fifteen minutes and Justin never returned. He could feel the first twinges of the ache in his legs that would blow into full fledged painful spasms if he didn't get them out of this position soon. He knew he was over due for the leg massage and series of exercises that Justin did frequently throughout the day and he had to piss. Hating the fact that he had to give in, he reached behind him and managed to manhandle the chair out of the backseat. He leaned out the door and unfolded it. This time it was a lot easier. He figured it was the motivation of having to get to a bathroom that was inspiring him. He set the brake and swung into the seat. He was pleased that he was able to make his legs move slightly on their own. Not that they were cooperating, but still it was a slight movement. It gave him renewed hope that Dr. Haddad was right and the undamaged side of his brain could be trained to make his legs work. He shut the car door and made his way to the trunk of the car that Justin had left open. He put the picnic hamper on his lap and draped the suit bag over it, anchoring it to his legs. He worked his way back around the car and started toward the door. It was only when he was almost there did he realize that the area he was traveling over was perfectly smooth. In fact, the doors into the barn were larger than usual and swung open with barely a touch. The threshold also provided easy access inside. He stopped inside the door and looked around. This was no barn on the inside. Gleaming hardwood covered the floor. Comfortable looking chairs and a sofa made a grouping in the middle. At one end was a series of exercise bars and mats. A round hot tub sat nearby raised up from the floor. He moved in further and headed to a door and looked in. The bedroom held a king size platform bed, a plasma screen television on the opposite wall and a well appointed bathroom could be seen through an open door near the window. He turned and saw Justin standing in the kitchen concern on his face instantly gone when he noticed Brian looking at him. "I see you made in Irish." Was all he said. Justin went to the car and brought the rest of the things in. He'd made his point. He found Brian in the bathroom contemplating the logistics of making the move to the toilet and getting his pants down at the same time. "Hey Irish, lets just do it like we did in the hospital." "I hate this part Justin." "Yeah, it sucks, but that's life. We'll deal." Brian lifted himself with his arms and Justin wrapped his strong ones around him, lifting as well until Brian was standing. Brian undid his pants and let them drop while Justin supported him. Using a black chrome grab bars that were bolted to the floor on either side of the toilet, Brian lowered himself down with Justin taking some of the weight. Justin kissed his nose and said "Kind of kinky, I could get to like this." As he was going out the door "Just give me a shout when you're done." Brian looked around as he sat there and realized that the bathroom had been designed for the use of someone in a chair. He also was thankful that Justin's matter of fact attitude negated any embarrassment from the help he was forced to ask for. It was a good life lesson. He finished in the bathroom and managed to get himself into the chair. He didn't bother with putting his pants back on. He knew he had to have the massage and exercise routine soon; the twinges were becoming more painful. He wheeled over and washed his hands. He wasn't surprised to find Justin waiting for him by the bed a folded sheet on one side to protect the bed cover from the oil Justin used when he massaged his legs. "Do you always know what I'm thinking Justin?" he asked as he made his way to the bed. "Pretty much Irish, but in this case I knew you were overdue and you'd been sitting in one position for a long time. Hop on, it's time to rock and roll." Brian was soon laying full length on the bed, his head on a pillow watching Justin concentrate on the massage and exercise routine he'd learned from the physical therapist at the hospital. Justin kept up a steady stream of banter as he kneaded and prodded and moved the legs. Brian half listened but mostly he watched, trying to ignore the pain signals that managed to work their way to his brain. He watched Justin slowly working up a sweat as he worked and it was only then that he realized how much effort the small blonde was using to lift and stretch his legs. "Hey, Irish, the hot tub is ready and waiting. Lets try it out; it'll help your legs too." Justin had finished. He wiped the oil off of Brian, and tidied up around the bed. He leaned down and offered his arm to his lover to use as a lever to sit himself up in the bed. Instead Brian pulled him down on top of him. He held Justin close and spoke, his voice was low and Justin strained to hear him. "I've managed to get myself into this mess because I wouldn't listen to you. You put up with my bitching, look after me and you never complain. I want you to know that I love you and appreciate all of what you do." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "I'm not doing it one more time Justin. This is ridiculous. A few months of therapy and I'm out of this chair anyway." Brian had his arms folded across his chest in a show of mutiny. "I've explained to you five thousand times now, that we are at John's house because it's fully equipped for someone in your predicament and it has an excellent training course for the chair." He stood in front of Brian, leaning down with his hands on either side of the stubborn man. "You are going to do this presentation on Monday and you are going to get the account and you are doing it in the fucking chair that you will wheel around at the front of the conference table with considerable skill and fucking like it." "You're a damn partner, with two good legs, not too bad looking, you do the presentation." Brian tried to turn the chair away from Justin but the blonde held fast. "Read my lips Irish - N - fucking - O." Justin's face was red from dealing with Brian for the last hour and his temper tantrums when the chair wouldn't do what he wanted it to do. "You are the one they expect to see, you are the one they have been dealing with, you are the one they damn well are going to see, in your Armani suit, and your red chair that I bought to match the shirt you are going to wear." "How gawd damn gay is that, my shirt matching the piece of shit chair. I would never wear a red shirt with that suit anyway. You better have packed something else, like the charcoal gray silk one." Brian stopped when he realized what he'd just said. He looked hard at Justin who was biting the inside of his mouth trying not to laugh. He knew Brian wouldn't be able to handle him picking out a red shirt to match the chair. "You little shit" he said when he realized that Justin's eyes were dancing with laughter. Justin turned and sat on his lap. "Take me for a ride Brian, I deserve one after putting up with you all day." Brian wrapped his arms tightly around his lover and nuzzled his neck. "I'm not pushing this thing around with you on it too, so don't ask again." "Please, please, please" "Only a few feet" Brian wheeled the length of the long room. "Again" He did it again; soon the two of them were back and forth, Justin taking over the pushing when Brian's arms got tired. Justin had Brian move him through the obstacle course that John had set up and together they laughed and joked their way through it over and over again until they were both exhausted. On the final run toward the bedroom Brian steered the chair up to the bed and unceremoniously pushed Justin off his lap onto the bed. Justin lay on his back sweaty and grinning from ear to ear. Brian looked at him long and hard and began to laugh. In fact he laughed so hard he could barely breathe. "You little shit, you manipulating little shit." Brian managed to spit out. "I can't believe I fell for it." He pulled himself up with his arms and used the last of their strength to launch himself at Justin on the bed. Justin managed to move just in time to avoid being squashed by Brian. Brian managed to work his way the length of the bed until his head reached the pillow; he pulled it over top of him and lay there exhausted. He could feel Justin crawling up along side of him then a hand slipped beneath his tee shirt and began to rub his back. He wiggled his butt as best he could at the blonde looking down on him. "Go away, you're a brat who always has to get his own way." "I love you Irish" Justin said, his mouth close to the pillow Brian held tightly over his head. "You want to look your best in front of that hot CEO of Cows R Us. You want to show them that the little joke the fates have played on you didn't affect the Kinney mystic one damn bit. You've still got it. You're still amazing. Still brilliant, still handsome ----" Brian turned over and smiled at him. "I get it already Sunshine." "Well it's about time, you stubborn pig headed Irishman. Good thing I don't give up easy." Justin laid himself down on top of Brian and began to kiss his face all over - earning him a swat on the ass. "Enough with the irritating kisses - give me one good one and make it count." "It's a lot more fun annoying the hell out you, but if you insist" Justin lowered his lips onto Brian's, his tongue slipping between the raspberry lips. Several minutes later they were both breathless and eager to remove their binding clothing. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The receptionist in the lobby of the Cows R Us headquarters made a quick call to her friend, the private secretary to the CEO. "Wait until you see what's coming off the elevator - make that boss of ours give this guy the account just so we can look at him much more often - talk about sex appeal - you don't even look at the chair he's in - you just know he could do amazing things with his tongue." A few minutes later the CEO's secretary phoned down to the receptionist "OH MY GAWD, he is incredible and that suit, it has to be Armani. Did you see the way that gorgeous blonde he was with made sure he was alright? It was so cute the way he's so protective. I wonder if they are reeeeeeaaaalllly together." Brian entered the boardroom the way he always had in previous presentations. He entered like he owned the place. He moved the chair in smoothly and introduced himself and Justin. "I'm Brian Kinney and this is my partner Justin Taylor of Kinney Taylor Advertising." He held out his hand and was quickly introduced to the group of men and women sitting at the oval table. Two hours later Brian and Justin were on their way back down in the elevator, a signed contract in the briefcase that Justin held in his hand. Justin barely had time to lean down and give Brian a passionate kiss before the high speed elevator had reached the bottom and opened its doors. They were momentarily taken aback by seven women standing by the reception desk, all of them staring at the two of them as they got off the elevator. Brian smiled at the women causing a few blushes and Justin couldn't help flashing his Sunshine smile at the antics of his man and all the women. The reached the car and for once Justin opened the door for Brian. "Irish, you are sooooo bad doing a wheelie for those women. It would have served you right if you'd fallen on your back." "After the practice we did yesterday, not a chance Sunshine." Brian smirked. With a confident flourish, Brian transferred to the leather seat. "How long until we can get home?" he asked. "We need to pick up the luggage at John's and then we're off. Lars is coming by at seven to start the therapy so I want to make sure I have time to do the massage and stretching before he gets there." He looked at Brian and grinned. "Hey Irish, do you think your 'very best friend' is still waiting for us to get home from the hospital?" "Justin don't even go there, I swear to gawd sometimes you seem at least twelve years younger than you are." Brian said shaking his head. His laughing blonde lover leaned over and did the he seat belt up taking the opportunity to kiss the pouty lips that were trying not to smile. "I can't help it Irish, he's so easy to tease." Brian cupped the blonde head with his hand pulling him close, enjoying the taste of his lover. With his other hand he began to roam Justin's body. It was only the giggles from a group of secretaries who were heading for their cars that stopped the two of them from proceeding any further. Brian smirked at them and waved his fingers as Justin pulled out of the parking lot, his face almost as red as Brian's chair. The drive back to John's was completed quickly, both of them discussing the presentation and the contract and what it was going to mean to the company. Justin pulled in behind a low slung sports car. "Hey John's here Brian. You have to meet him he's the most amazing artist. The things he can bring out of a piece of jade are something you can hardly believe." "Baby Boy" could be heard roared from the small paddock. Brian looked astonished as a man in his sixties slid off the horse onto a platform that was obviously made just for that reason and hopped down to a wheel chair that looked like it was barely put together, it appeared so fragile. He wheeled over and Justin met him half way jumping on his lap, facing him and kissing him soundly. "Hey John, thanks for the use of your house. Come and meet Brian, he's the best thing that's ever happened to me and he's mine all mine so keep your hands off of him." Justin teased. John lifted Justin up with powerful arms and turned him around then began to roll swiftly to the car. "Brian, this is John, John this is 'my' Brian. You have to admit he's the handsomest man ever." Justin squirmed around "Except you John." He kissed him again. Brian held out his hand for John to shake and was surprised at the size and hardness of the man's hand, if he'd had legs he would have been one of the biggest men Brian had ever met. "My partner has a tendency to exaggerate as you probably know John." Brian said. John laughed, a deep resonating laugh, "Baby Boy has been stretching things since the first day I set eyes on him." He looked at Justin "And that would be - fifteen minutes after he was born." They both said together in a well rehearsed duet. John looked at Brian and could see he didn't understand their connection. "Justin's grandfather is my older brother" he said "Much older brother." "Baby Boy?" Brian had to ask. "That's what it said on the bassinette at the hospital - 'Baby Boy Taylor' - I guess the name just kind of stuck." He kissed the side of Justin's cheek "Get off my legs now brat, you're heavy" "What legs old man? I don't see any legs" Justin joked, but he stood up. Brian could this was all part of their routine. "They may be invisible, but they are the finest legs this side of the Mississippi. And you have most definitely put on a pound or two since I saw you last." Justin bent down and kissed his cheek. "I love you bunches John. It was nice to have your place for Brian's practice sessions." "You know me; have to get to New York every now and then. Visit a few clubs, have a good meal, stop in at the gallery. It was nice having someone around the place while I was gone." "Where's Artie?" Justin asked "I noticed the animals were looked after, but I never saw him." He looked at Brian and said. "Artie is John's partner." "That Artie is up at the house, we're having a time out again. He comes down and looks after the animals, but he's still not talking to me yet." He looked away up toward a hill, and Brian noticed a house almost hidden by some trees. "You were tricking again, weren't you John." Justin shook his head. "You know Artie hates that." "Don't worry about it Baby, he'll come around, he always does." John smiled at the two of them. "Glad to have finally met you Brian. Artie and I were in Europe for a couple of years and just got back a few months ago. I'd heard about Justin's hot looking partner. It's nice to put a face to a name." He rolled over and looked in the back. "I see Baby has you all tricked out with a red chair. I'm not surprised. He's such a brat. Bring it on by when you're done with it; I could use some bright color around here." "Don't know when that'll be" Brian said. "I haven't been able to do much yet. It seems sometimes impossible to think that this other part of the brain thing will actually work." "Only works if you want it to and if you devote the time to the therapy. Justin said he has Lars working with you. You're very lucky he could get him. Lars is famous for his results. You'll hate him before you love him, but you'll walk again." He looked up at Justin then patted his arm. "You have Baby as well; I know I wouldn't have done as nearly as good as I have if Artie hadn't been there for me when only part of me returned from Nam. You lean on this young man, he's stronger than he looks. He'll get you through the next few months." Brian took Justin's hand in his. "He's been my strength from the first day I met him John. I only hope he can survive this without too many battle scars." Justin laughed. "I have my ways of getting even, don't worry." He kissed John again. "We have to go now. It's a long drive home and Irish has to get ready for his first session with Lars. Let me know when Artie is speaking to you again. We'll come for a visit. You and Irish can tell stories about how cute I am. And Artie and I can commiserate with each other about living with such bratty partners." Laughing John moved back for Justin to pick up the bags he'd already brought out of the house. He helped him put them in the trunk of the car and waved to them as the drove down the long driveway. "Seems like a nice guy" Brian said as he watched the country side go by. "He is a great guy. He's helped me a lot over the years." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin pulled the car up in front of the apartment building. He checked his watch, he had more than enough time to get Brian upstairs, showered, fed and put through his massage stretch routine before Lars arrived. "Hey Irish, wakey, wakey," He said to his lover. "I wasn't sleeping." Brian stated then yawned. "Well, I might have dozed off for a minute." Justin leaned across and kissed him, first wiping the side of Brian's mouth to remove the sleep drool. He grinned at him. "You were leaking." Brian laughed but pulled Justin closer for a deeper kiss. "A good partner would blow me right now." "Would you prefer Mickey in the backseat when I do, or should I just let him stand by the window and watch." Justin asked tongue in cheek. Brian turned his head and sure enough Mikey was standing beside the car. He opened the door. "Been waiting long Mikey?" he asked. He pulled the chair out from behind the seat and snapped it open, set the brakes and transferred over to it. "Where were you guys? I thought you were right behind me at the hospital and then you disappeared. I called everybody and nobody knew where you were." His voice got progressively whinier as he went on. "You didn't call me. I knew where we were." Justin said as he opened the trunk and pulled out the cases. "Here make yourself useful" he said and handed Michael two large suitcases. He put the hamper on Brian's lap and draped the suit bag over it and started to walk toward the front entrance. He had the heavy door opened and Brian's chair bumped up the one step and in the lobby before either Brian or Michael realized what was happening. "Come on boys, we don't have all day." He called from the elevator. Brian looked at Michael, "Better hurry Mikey, he can get mean when he's bossy like this." He looked at Justin and grinned. "You let him tell you what to do?" Michael said his voice high pitched with incredibility. "Pretty much Mikey, you have to remember, he can kick my ass in a fight. Look at all the training he's had." Brian was being very serious. "And now, with my legs not working all that well, it's even worse." Michael's eyes were big at the thought. Justin looked at Brian and mouthed 'asshole' and shook his head. Brian grinned up at him. "You were pretty tough this weekend Sunshine." He looked at Michael. "He made me push this chair until I had blisters, and he wouldn't let me watch TV this morning until I ate all my breakfast." It was then that Michael realized that Brian was just kidding. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Come on Irish, you can do it. Just concentrate." Justin stood on one side of Brian and Lars on the other as he supported himself between two bars and tried to move his leg. Sweat was beading down the exhausted face and Justin wasn't sure that tears weren't also mixed in. This was the end of the first week of working with Lars. Justin had been with Brian every moment during the sessions. If willing someone to move had worked Brian would be jumping by now, Justin had never wanted anything more in his life. It was breaking his heart to see the man he loved trying with all he had and getting no results. Finally out of desperation he moved in between the bars and faced Brian. He was only a foot away. He looked at him hard and Brian looked up from his head down position. "Irish, when we make that commitment before our family and friends this Christmas, it would be nice if you were walking down the aisle with me." "But you said --- Brian began. "I said yes Their eyes were locked. Blue eyes searing into Brian's very soul demanding the impossible, hazel eyes, exhausted, wanting to give the impossible to the man who loved him unconditionally. Suddenly Lars let out a shout of triumph. "You did Brian, you did it. You moved your foot almost an inch, oh my gawd, the other foot, an inch at least." He looked up at the two men facing each other, his mouth widened in a grin. "I'll just go now boys. I'll see you tomorrow." He moved Brian's chair up behind him and then left the two of them together. Justin moved closer and held out his arms. Brian put one hand and then the other on each shoulder. Until Justin was supporting his full weight, "I'm too heavy for you Sunshine." "I could say something corny, but you are heavy, damn heavy, for a guy who hardly eats" Justin grinned at him. "But you know what, I like it. I like being there for you. I like holding you in my arms and supporting you. I even like the potty training part - how kinky is that?" He kissed Brian's lips, "I guess I just down right like you Brian Kinney." "You do, you like me?" Brian was pleased. "I like you too Sunshine." Justin helped him sit back into the chair that Lars had placed behind him. "Tonight I'll be the driver. You sit back and relax and we'll have a long hot bath in my bathroom. And then I'll fuck you senseless." Brian laughed at him as Justin pushed the chair through the doors of the dojo, turning out the lights on the way. "Not a chance Sonny Boy." "What if I give you my famous massage?" Justin bargained. "Not going to happen." "Please, please, please." "You can't always get your own way." "Pretty please, please, please" could be heard as the elevator moved up to Justin's floor. If you listened carefully, you could hear Brian say resigned "Just once." Before the door closed.