Texas Nights 6 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Can we go too Jai?” Gus asked. He was sitting cross legged on Justin’s bed and so were Molly and Brian. The bed had become the favorite gathering spot for their little family during the two weeks of Gus and Molly’s visit. “Brian, what do you think?” Justin asked. Brian had turned and was now lying with is head in Justin’s lap, not really listening to the chatter that never seemed to stop. He was content to let Justin play with his hair and give him the occasional kiss. “Think about what?” he asked lazily. “Gus and Molly want to come into town with us when I get my x-ray and with luck a walking cast.” “Why?” Brian asked. “Why do you guys want to come with us?” “Because it’s almost time to go home and we like to be with you guys.” Molly said with a ‘duh’ tone to her voice. “Of course if you let us stay two more weeks, we’d stay home and let you two go by yourselves.” “Don’t you both have friends back in the Pitts that you’re just dying to see?” Brian asked. “There is such a thing as email Brian.” Molly said. “Even Gus uses email.” Justin had picked up his sketchbook and began to sketch Molly and Gus. Gus was now imitating his father and lay with his head in Molly’s lap smiling to himself while she unconsciously let him stroke his soft auburn hair. “Brian, what do you think Melanie and Lindsay would say if you asked to keep Gus here until we go to Pittsburgh in two more weeks?” Brian had rather enjoyed having Gus with them since the wedding. He’d never had his son for so long and he’d been discovering all kinds of things about him. Molly made things just that much better because she helped keep the rambunctious six year old from doing himself in on the ranch. “I’m not sure Jai; Gus has never been away from this long before. Two more weeks is asking a lot.” “I could cry sad tears.” Gus offered. “I think the honest approach is the best Sonny Boy.” Though Brian thought Gus’ idea could work. “What about you Molly? Do you want to spend another two weeks here and go back to the Pitts with Jai and I?” “Yes, and mom said I could. She doesn’t get her new place until next week anyway. Jennifer Taylor had filed for divorce when she became aware of her husband’s machinations regarding Brian and Justin. She was now in the middle of buying a new home. Brian moved off the bed after giving Justin a quick kiss. “I’m heading for the shower kids. Why don’t the two of you go for a swim and we’ll leave Jai in peace for a few minutes.” “Okay” Molly looked at Gus, “want to have another swim Gussy?” “Yea” Gus loved to swim but he wasn’t allowed in the courtyard with the pool unless Molly or Brian was with him. He scrambled down off the bed and headed for the pool. He already had his swim suit on. Molly followed slowly, skimming off her cotton slip dress to reveal her bikini underneath. “I’m going to watch them Brian. I might be able to capture something on paper to add to my show sketches.” Justin pulled the wheel chair close to the bed and began to maneuver himself into it. “Let me help.” Brian loved the opportunity to hold Justin standing up. It wasn’t often that it happened. He was hoping that tomorrow’s doctor visit would allow Justin the freedom of a walking cast so that he could at least use crutches or maybe a cane. Splashing and laughter drifted in through the open door to the courtyard as Brian and Justin indulged in a passion filled kiss standing by the side of the bed before Brian helped his husband to get settled in the hated wheel chair. “I’ll push you outside. Do you want to sit in the shade at this end or the other end of the pool?” “This end is fine.” Justin said and he let Brian push him to his favored spot. A quick kiss and then Brian headed into the bedroom and eventually to the shower. The sun had warmed the courtyard until the heat could be felt radiating off the flagstones around the pool. The two children were laughing and Justin could feel his eyes shut and his hand droop as he succumbed to the lethargy the heat and the peace produced. He’d really only dozed off for a few minutes when an insistent rattling worked its way into his consciousness, he kept his eyes shut as he puzzled out the sound until suddenly he realized what it was, the sound of a pissed off rattlesnake. He looked around frantically for the source. Molly was swimming laps in the pool. Where was Gus? Fuck, Gus was a few feet away bent over studying a large, coiled rattler that had no business being inside the courtyard. Justin’s mouth went dry, the snake was pissed and coiled to strike, Gus was moving closer curious as he looked at the snake. Justin could see the snake move its head and upper body back to strike the young boy. There was no time to shout, instead Justin launched himself out of the wheelchair, took two agonizing steps forward, lost his balance and came crashing down across the snake as he pushed Gus out of the way. Justin’s head hit the flagstone ground; he was unconscious as the snake struck releasing its venom in Justin’s arm, then struck again at his shoulder for the snake had been trapped by Justin’s still body. Gus’s terror filled screams were joined by Molly’s and both Brian and Vic’s hearts almost stopped when they heard them. Brian arrived on the scene first. His blue jeans on but not buttoned, his hair still wet from the shower. He took in the scene instantly and as the snake was about to strike for the third time, Brian grabbed it and whipped it into the pool to drown, though the hazel eyes didn’t see where it went as he knelt by his husband’s still body, his agonized “No, no, no, no, God” echoing and echoing in the now silent courtyard. This was the scene Vic saw when he raced into the courtyard from the kitchen. Gus, his face paper white huddled by Justin’s wheelchair, his eyes were blank as his mind retreated from the sight. Molly, tears streaming down her face could only stare at her brother’s body, the blood from his head mixing with the water she shed. Brian cradled Justin, the venom from the snake already turning Justin’s arm a deep purple as it swelled. “Molly, call 911” Vic yelled. “I’m going to get the anti venom kit.” Vic’s shout brought Molly to life and she raced inside to the telephone beside Justin’s bed. Vic quickly located the anti venom kit and ran back to inject Justin. It was only when he administered the first injection after putting on a tourniquet that he realized Justin had been bitten twice. The second bite on his shoulder couldn’t be closed off from the rest of his body. Not caring what the venom would do to his HIV status, Vic pulled out his pocket knife preparing to open up the shoulder wound and suck out what venom he could. Brian realizing what the older man was about to do, pushed him away and with Vic instructing him, tried to suck out what he could of the lethal toxin. The next forty minutes was a blur to Brian. A helicopter had been dispatched to air lift Justin to the hospital. The ranch foreman had arrived to provide what first aid he could while they waited. Brian refused to leave Justin’s side through all of their ministrations and when he was leaving in the helicopter Brian didn’t ask, he just got inside. No one had noticed Gus. The thump thump of the helicopter’s blades fading as it moved toward the hospital made the silence around the ranch house palatable and it was only then that Vic looked around for Gus. What he saw brought tears to his eyes. The little boy was still huddled by Justin’s chair, his small blue tinged body shook so hard his teeth were chattering. He was obviously suffering from shock. Vic picked him up and brought him inside, wrapping a soft quilt around the young boy. He held him in his arms whispering nonsense words of comfort to him until finally the translucent lids fell and he dozed in Vic’s arms. Vic had little experience with children and wasn’t sure what to do. “Molly, can you get Gus’ moms on the phone?” Molly was pale from the shock of the recent events, but she was still mobile. She grabbed the phone from beside the bed and punched in the number from the list that had been taped to the phone. When Lindsay answered, Molly wordlessly handed the phone to Vic who relayed what had happened as best he knew it. No one except Justin and Gus knew exactly what had happened and neither one was talking. Lindsay told Vic that she and Melanie would be there on the first available flight. She also said she would see to it that the rest of the family, including Justin’s parents were told about the incident. Brian, his one hand on Justin at all times, tried to stay calm as the Paramedic attempted to keep Justin alive. He watched his husband struggle to breathe and found himself willing each breath to complete and move on to the next. And he prayed, he prayed using all his memories from childhood Church sessions. When the helicopter landed, Justin was whisked away from him despite his protests and he sat disconsolate in the hospital corridor. A kind nurse handed him a scrub shirt and a pair of paper slippers. It was only then that he realized he’d never finished dressing from the shower he’d taken a hundred years before. He blamed himself for suggesting that the children use the pool and for allowing Justin to be out there with them. He signed papers for Justin’s care when they were presented, not listening to the explanations, his mind far away with the man he loved. Brian sat for almost five hours alone unable to move beyond what was rudimentarily required. The hospital staff and other patients kept their distance as his pain was strong enough that they all felt it. Finally, he was approached by Justin’s doctor. “Brian, we’ve put Justin in the ICU, you can go in to him now, but first I have to tell you what’s happened. His skull fractured when he hit the flagstone, we relieved the pressure in his skull, but combined with the snake venom, he’s slipped into a coma. We’ve managed to so far save his arm. The time delay until we could treat him didn’t help and the snake gave him the strongest blast of venom in that bite. We’ll be closely monitoring his arm, but prepare for the worst.” The doctor put his hand on Brian’s arm. “Brian I’m going to be honest here. If Justin survives the next twenty four hours, he may make it, but it isn’t looking good.” Brian didn’t trust himself to speak. He could only nod that he’d heard the doctor’s words. Like a zombie he followed the man to where Justin lay in an ordered tangle of tubes and wires that shunted off to various machines, each one vital in keeping him alive. A nurse handed Brian an envelope and whispered that it was Justin’s ring they’d removed. Brian’s hand clutched it until the envelope eventually softened and the ring pressed against his palm so hard he would wonder days later why he had a bruise there. He stood beside the hospital bed desperately wanting to feel the touch of Justin’s hand in his but unable to as one was swollen almost black and the other one was being used by god knows what as he traced a tube and clips that seemed to have some mysterious purpose. Finally moving lower, Brian settled for putting his hand on Justin’s leg, the coldness of his skin could be felt through the thin hospital blanket. Brian found another blanket in a cupboard on the other side of the room and he covered his husband with another layer of thin cotton before returning to place his hand on his leg. The nurse, seeing Brian standing by Justin’s bed, went in to the room and moved a chair for Brian to sit. He smiled a broken smile in acknowledgement. He couldn’t leave Justin, he remembered the last hospital visit and how scared Justin had been at the thought of being alone. He never wanted his love to suffer alone again so he sat patiently waiting for the blue eyes to open and look into his; only how would he know for they’d covered Justin’s eyes with gauze keeping them shut so they didn’t dry out. Time seemed to go by in jumps, blocks of it disappearing and then slowing down only to disappear again as he sat in the hospital room alone, the body of his husband being kept alive by machines, his soul who knows where. The clock on the wall was like some kind of monster(,) his eyes were drawn to it periodically as it hung there grinning insanely eating up the time he had left with Justin until Brian couldn’t stand it any longer and he stood on a chair removing the offending beast, hiding it in the nearby cupboard. Doctors and nurses came by throughout the night and the next day, each one silently prodding and poking, writing mysterious hieroglyphs on a chart they would place back in the holder at the end of the bed. If Brian caught their eye, they would offer a smile of sympathy through their ministrations but no one talked. There wasn’t any need to say that it was only Justin who could determine the outcome of this horrifying ordeal. Twenty four hours passed and Justin remained with them, his soul tenuously tethered to his body, held there by Brian’s will alone some would say later. One by one family arrived though Brian refused to leave Justin long enough to greet them. It was Michael finally who, bringing a change of clothing was able to persuade his friend to shower and change while Debbie and Jennifer sat with Justin. It was Michael who convinced all of them to keep the newspapers away from Brian with their headlines saying that Justin had sacrificed his life for that of Brian’s son. It was Michael who after five days convinced them all to go home, that nothing would be accomplished with the whole group hanging around the hospital. It was Michael who kept cups of coffee in Brian’s hand and forced him to eat. Who arranged for a cot to be brought into Justin’s room for Brian to get some much needed sleep and after the second week managed to persuade his friend to at least go out into the sunshine for a few minutes each day. Justin’s injuries slowly healed, even his arm began to regain its natural color, though it shed the cracked and discolored skin much like the snake would have had it lived. The wound on his head healed leaving a ragged scar and a slight dent that was barely noticeable. Yet Justin still hovered between both worlds for the poison from the snake combined with the anti venom had caused an allergic reaction in his system that no one had counted on. It was uncertain whether the coma was the result of the blow to his head or the toxin in his system. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Brian, have you talked with Lindsay yet about Gus?” Michael asked. It was a subject he’d been avoiding, but after talking with his mother last night he knew he couldn’t leave it any longer. “No, why, where’s Gus?” Brian felt like he was emerging from a fog. “Gus was there when Justin was hurt. Is he alright?” “No, that’s the problem. Gus saw everything, we’ve managed to piece together that he probably was near the snake, Justin tried to get him out of the way, but fell on the damn snake more than likely because he couldn’t balance with his bad ankle.” Michael looked at his best friend. “Gus has – he stopped, sighed and then started again. “Gus hasn’t spoken since the day of the accident.” “What do you mean he hasn’t spoken? He hasn’t talked about what happened? He’s back in Pittsburgh isn’t he? He’s with his mothers?” Brian fired off the questions. “He hasn’t spoken one word since the accident – nothing. Lindsay and Melanie have taken him to a number of pediatric specialists, they all have different opinions as to his treatment but they all say the same thing. The trauma of thinking he is somehow responsible for a man he thought of as one of his father’s getting hurt and dying maybe. Well he just shut down.” Michael looked hard at Brian. “Apparently you Kinneys do that when you don’t want to face something.” “Fuck, Gus isn’t responsible for some damn snake being in the courtyard. And he sure as fuck couldn’t help that Justin tried to save him.” Brian pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off the headache that was threatening. “Just take some time to call Lindsay and Mel, maybe even talk to Gus on the phone. It might help.” Michael suggested. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Pittsburgh “I’m sorry Craig, that’s the bottom line. You’ve gone through everything your father left and there just isn’t any more.” Craig Taylor sat in his lawyer’s office looking gloomily at the report in his hand. “What about Justin and Molly’s trusts?” he asked. “Justin is responsible for his own trust and Molly’s trust is now being administered by Jennifer as part of your divorce.” “But what if Justin dies? He’s barely hanging on now. What if he dies? Doesn’t the trust revert back to the family?” “It would have last year. But he’s twenty five now and married. The Taylor interests ended on his twenty fifth birthday.” “That marriage is a sham. It isn’t recognized in the States.” “Maybe not, but Justin and Brian’s lawyers both saw that they were covered for any kind of contingency and this is covered. Brian Kinney has full control over Justin’s money now while Justin is incapacitated and later should he die.” “Fuck is there any way we can fight this. I mean they’re two fags.” “Not without looking like an asshole and you’d probably lose anyway. Things are different now in the courts.” His lawyer and friend shuffled through some papers. “Do you still own the paintings on this inventory list?” He held up a list of thirty five pieces of Justin’s that Craig had been awarded when he and Jennifer had split. “Yes, they’re in storage, I only took them to piss off Jennifer, they were things Justin had painted for us over the years.” “Well, if Justin should die, you could expect the value on the paintings to increase dramatically. They are already worth more than a million according to the insurance papers; I’d say they could go at auction for upwards of ten million. That is if he’s dead and if Kinney doesn’t flood the market with anything he has possession of.” “No shit.” Craig grabbed the inventory sheet and looked it over. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian stood outside the hospital. He stared up at the window that was Justin’s as he puffed on yet another cigarette. A habit he’d gotten out of since he’d arrived in San Antonio. He had a few hard decisions to make. He was expected to return to his job in Pittsburgh, his son needed him there as well, but Justin’s condition remained unchanged. He paid no attention to the various ambulances that were coming and going at the busy hospital. He didn’t even notice the private ambulance though it stood out from the others with the lack of any brightly colored identification. Unable to reach a decision and feeling uneasy at being away from Justin for so long, Brian walked back into the hospital. He checked the clock inside the door. He’d been gone almost an hour. Taking the stairs two at a time he reached Justin’s floor and headed toward the room that had become almost a second home in the last weeks. His heart stopped as he looked inside. An aide was making up the empty bed where Justin had recently lain. The bank of machines was unplugged and shoved against the far wall. The cot he slept in was folded up as if it were being moved. “Jai” he gasped “Jai” he shouted. “Mr. Kinney, please lower your voice. I’m sorry; I thought you knew Justin’s gone.” The nurse placed her hand on Brian’s arm to comfort him. “Where is he?” Brian’s voice was dead. “Why they took him away. They had all the proper papers and authorization signed by his father.” “His fucking father has no right to say where Justin should be or not be.” Brian shouted, his eyes blazed and the nurse backed away afraid of the man in front of her. He turned and walked down the corridor to the stairs heading back outside. A group of reporters, already alerted waited for him. “Mr. Kinney, how does it feel knowing that your partner gave his life for your son?” “The name is Brian Taylor-Kinney you fuck head.” Brian snarled before punching the man in the face and then walking to the nearest taxi and climbing in. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Vic there’s a taxi outside, can you pay him? I don’t have my wallet with me.” Brian walked to the bedroom he’d shared with Justin and stepped inside. Vic had cleaned and made the bed. The room felt musty and sterile for it hadn’t been used in almost three weeks. “Brian, I’m sorry.” Vic began. “Vic, I don’t want to impose, but I’d like you to stay on and manage the ranch just like you’ve been doing. Can you pack up Jai’s art work in his studio for me and have it shipped to my place in the Pitts. I’m leaving today.” “What about Jai?” “His father took him away from me.” Brian gave a strangled laugh. “I guess he’s afraid I’ll corrupt him even in death.” Brian looked at Vic. “I don’t feel like he’s dead Vic. I feel like any moment I’ll get a phone call and it’ll be Jai wondering where I am and what’s taking me so long to get him home.” Brian wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “If I’d only stayed with him one more hour, I might have been able to keep him with me Vic. One more fucking hour.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The ambulance with its two drivers drove day and night across the borders of various states. The only time it stopped was to fuel up and that was the only time either of the men bothered to check on the man inside. They had removed him from all life support having been told that if he lived fine and if he died, well that was okay too. They didn’t care; they were being paid plenty to deliver their patient to a small private extended care home near Seattle. As instructed, they removed the first few pages of Jai’s medical file and buried it in the trash at their second stop. There was nothing with them that could identify the man lying in the back of the ambulance except the platinum ring pinned to the inside of his hospital gown. Something they weren’t aware of, for Brian pinned it inside each and every time Justin’s gown had been changed. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian arrived in Pittsburgh at midnight. He found his car still in long term parking and drove to the loft. No one knew he was coming and that’s just the way he wanted it. He couldn’t bear to see all the faces of his friends now when the one face he wanted to see wasn’t with him. He was too weary to walk up the stairs and instead climbed into the elevator where he rested his head against the wall as it clanked its way to the top floor. The heavy loft door was almost too much to pull open but he did it and managed to secure it shut before collapsing in a heap on the floor, his back pressed against the cold metal. He was home and he was once again alone in the world. For the first time since Jai’s accident, Brian cried, great gulping sobs were torn from his body until he fell asleep exhausted on the hard wooden floor. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Where’s the rest of the patient’s file?” The young admitting nurse asked the two ambulance attendants. “How are we supposed to know?” the younger one said. “We were told to bring him here. He’s probably some overdose and his rich family wants to stash him until he either recovers or dies.” “That’s cruel.” She said. Looking down at Justin on the stretcher she said “Hey sweetie, don’t you worry, Jenny will look after you.” She glared at the two men. “Bring him to room three and help me get him on the bed.” Only because they wanted their stretcher back, the two men followed the young nurse to the room she indicated. They roughly dragged Justin onto the bed and left before anymore could be said. Jenny looked at the unconscious blond. She smoothed his hair back from his forehead and then began to clean him up, for the two men had done nothing for him since removing Justin from the hospital. When she took off his dirty hospital gown she found the ring pinned to it. “I knew someone must love you.” She said and taking a hair ribbon from her pocket she threaded it through the ring and pinned it to Justin’s bed by his pillow. “There now, the love from the ring will keep you safe and protect you.” She whispered for she recognized the Irish symbol of love for she too was Irish and had faith in the power of love. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian handed his letter of resignation to Gardner Vance. “I’m sorry Gardner; I can’t do it any longer.” He’d been back for three weeks but he couldn’t work up the initiative to do even the most basic of work at the busy advertising agency. “I’m taking Cynthia with me; though she’ll give you two months notice to find someone else. I know she’s been handling most of what I used to do.” “Are you starting up on your own Brian?” Gardner asked, puzzled as to why Brian was taking Cynthia. “No, but with Jai gone, well Gardner his estate was far larger than I ever imagined. It’s a full time job in itself and Cynthia, well she knows me and she’s bright. She’ll make sure I handle things wisely.” “The door is always open here Brian, you know that.” “I know, but now isn’t the time.” Brian walked to the large windows in Gardner’s office. “I have the feeling that Jai’s alive, that he needs me and it’s eating me up inside.” “Maybe you should see someone Brian. I can give you a couple of names.” “I don’t need a shrink Gardner, I just need some time.” He looked at his business partner and friend. “My son needs me now as well. He’s had some problems since the accident.” “I’d heard rumors Brian.” Gardner said. “Yeah, well shit happens.” Brian moved to the door. “I’ll see you around Gardner.” Brian walked past his old office. He didn’t bother to go inside, he’d only see the painting Jai had done of the Texas night at the quarry and he didn’t fucking need the heartache. Cynthia would see that everything of his was packed up and sent to him. His next stop was Gus’ school. Lindsay and Melanie had agreed that even if Gus refused to talk, he needed the normalcy of school. Brian had persuaded them both to let him have Gus for a couple of hours every day in the hopes that the boy would see that Brian didn’t blame him for what had happened. “Hey Sonny Boy.” Brian greeted his son like he did everyday. His heart ached at the bruised look under the boy’s hazel eyes. Gus hadn’t been sleeping well and lately he’d been having nightmares. Brian held out his hand and a small hand slipped into his larger one. They walked down the wide sidewalk filled with laughing children, happy to be free once again. “Do you want to go to the diner for a snack or to the loft?” Brian asked though he didn’t expect an answer. “The loft it is then. I bought Oreo’s. Remember how you and Jai loved to eat the middle first?” he laughed. “I bet where ever Jai is, he’s still eats the middle first.” His reward was a fleeting glimpse of a smile as Gus remembered the good times with Jai. The two of them would lay in bed, a bag of cookies between them and Brian and Molly making faces and telling them they were messing up the bed with the crumbs. Brian opened the door of the black jeep he’d bought automatically choosing something that Jai could transport his art in. He swung Gus up and into the car though the boy glared at him, seven was too old to be picked up by his father. Brian smiled and kissed him on the top of his head. He’d decided that he’d show Gus how much he was loved by touching and hugging and kissing him when ever he got the chance no matter how frustrating it was having him refuse to talk. “How was school today?” Brian asked. “Did you go outside for recess?” he always waited to see if Gus would answer but he never did. The drive to the loft didn’t take long and the two of them rode the elevator in silence. Brian remembered the times when Gus would race him up the stairs but those times were gone. Inside the loft was chaos. Packing crates and boxes filled with Jai’s studio art had arrived two weeks before and Brian hadn’t had the heart to do anything with them. He set the cookies and a glass of milk out for Gus and walked to his answering machine to check the messages. Gus watched him with carefully and when his father was occupied he slipped off of his stool and took Brian’s cell phone from his jacket pocket concealing it from sight as he made his way to the bathroom. Once inside he did what he’d been doing since his father had begun bringing him here after school. He sat in the corner of the bathroom, opened the cell phone and hit the number one. A series of beeps sounded and then the voice he most wanted to hear. “You have reached Jai Tee and Brian. We can’t come to the phone right now, but leave a message and one of us will get back to you as soon as possible.” Gus waited for the beep and then in a small voice he began to talk. “Jai, it’s me Gus, I miss you Jai, I’m sorry I made the snake bite you. I dreamed the dream again Jai. You are still in the room and it’s raining outside. Daddy and me love you. Goodbye.” He closed the phone, flushed the toilet and slipped back out of the bathroom. Brian looked at him curious about his need to use the bathroom each and every time they arrived at the loft, but he turned away to write down a message leaving his son ample opportunity to put the cell phone back. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “You know sweetie, I was beginning to think you’d never wake up.” Jenny bustled around Justin. He’d been in and out of consciousness now for almost three days. He liked it when Jenny worked; she was always cheerful and full of life. He couldn’t believe how tired he felt; he looked outside where it was still raining. The rain never seemed to stop. “Have you decided to tell me your name yet?” Jenny reached over to fluff his pillow when the glint of the platinum band caught her attention. “Here now, didn’t I forget to give this back to you” she unpinned the ring and lifting his hand slipped it on his ring finger, instinctively turning the heart so that it faced in. “some one must love you very much to give you such a beautiful ring.” She smiled at the wonder in Justin’s blue eyes as he gazed at the ring. “Taylor Kinney” he whispered. “What a lovely name” Jenny said. “Now it’s going to be much nicer to call you Taylor instead of hey you in room three.” She grinned. “Taylor Kinney, I knew you had a touch of the Irish in you. Do you remember where you live? She asked. Justin shook his head no, though he thought he could see clear night skies in the back of his mind, skies that were filled to overflowing with the twinkle of stars. And he ached his heart ached with longing for someone. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became until sleep was the only answer for any peace. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Brian, Vic here. I’m glad to hear that Gus has regained his voice.” “Vic, Gus still isn’t talking, who said he was?” Brian had picked up the phone when he’d seen the number that was calling. “He’s phoned everyday for a couple of weeks now. He always managed to call when I’m out, but he leaves a message.” Vic paused. “He uses your cell phone, I just assumed you were letting him call, maybe using it as some kind of therapy since Jai’s voice is still on the voice mail.” “I didn’t save them all, but here are a two of them.” BEEP “Hi Jai, it’s me Gus, I’m sorry I scared the snake. I miss you so much my tummy hurts. Goodbye.” BEEP “Hi Jai, it’s me Gus, you were crying in my dream again. Please don’t cry Jai, daddy killed the snake. I miss you. Goodbye.” “Are they all like that?” Brian asked as he brushed away his tears. “Pretty much, I thought you knew. I’m sorry Brian.” “I didn’t know, but thanks for calling me Vic. It’ll give me something to go on when I see Gus later. Maybe it’s the breakthrough we need.” “Should I put a new voice message on?” “No, leave it.” Brian said. He wanted to hear Justin’s voice again too. “You have to let him go Brian.” Vic’s voice was soft. “How can I when I can feel him. I feel like he’s lost and he needs me. It’s something I can’t explain, but until that feeling goes away, I can’t move on.” Brian carefully hung up the phone. He checked the time. He had to leave soon to pick up Gus. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Hey Gus” Brian said ruffling his son’s hair as usual. He opened the door to the jeep and this time stood back waiting for Gus to climb in by himself. Gus looked at him puzzled by this change, but he got into the jeep. Brian shut the door and walked around to the other side and got in himself. He waited patiently for Gus to do up his own seat belt not saying a word. Gus looked like he was about to cry. He was used to his daddy helping him. Brian could see his son’s chin tremble but then Gus hardened his small face and looked straight ahead as they drove toward the loft. When they arrived and rode the elevator in silence Brian almost broke down and said something but he waited until they were inside. He took Gus by the hand and led him to the sofa. He sat down and then put Gus on his knee. “Don’t give me that look Sonny Boy, you may be seven, but you’re still my little boy.” Brian’s arms were around Gus and the tenseness in the young boy’s body was obvious, he rested his cheek on the top of Gus’ hair and let his hand rub up and down on his arm as he began to talk. “Gus, I know you’ve been calling our number in Texas and I know you’ve been leaving messages for Jai.” Gus stiffened even more in his arms. “I’m not mad, if I’d thought of it, I might have done the same thing. I miss him too.” Brian was silent for a moment. “Jai loved you very much Gus and when he fell on the snake, he did it because he loved you and he wanted more than anything in the world to have you safe. That’s what daddy’s do. They want their children to be safe and happy.” The irony of his words wasn’t lost on Brian as he thought of his own father and Justin’s father. But he was telling Gus the way things should be if the world was a good place. “Where ever Jai is, he knows you didn’t mean to have the snake bite him. Snakes just do that because they’re scared. Jai fell on him and the snake was scared so it bit him. It just happened and you or I can’t do anything about it.” “Jai is scared. He’s in a room all by himself and he’s scared.” The words were whispered and Brian wasn’t sure he heard everything. “What do you mean Gus?” “I see him in my dreams, he’s sitting in a big green chair and he looks out the window and he’s scared ‘cause he’s all alone.” Gus sniffed and buried his face in Brian’s chest. Brian didn’t know what to think. “You mean that you believe Jai is still alive?” he said finally. “He is daddy and he’s all by himself.” “So that’s why you aren’t sleeping?” Brian asked and Gus nodded. Brian went over his conversation with the nurse the day he found Justin’s room empty. She never had said that he’d died; only that he was gone. He’d just assumed he was dead. Brian pulled out his cell phone and called Vic. “Vic, it’s Brian. Do me a favor and find out who signed Jai’s death certificate and just exactly where he was taken. Yes, go now. I’ll wait for your call. His next call was to Melanie. “Hey Mel, about Jai’s estate, how is probate going?” “I’ll have to check Brian, it’s being handled by someone else in the firm.” She paused. “Did you hear that his father has put all of Jai’s paintings and sketches that he owns up for auction at Christies in New York?” she waited while Brian digested that piece of information. “It seems he should bring in several million dollars with their sale now that Jai’s gone.” “We’ll see about that Mel.” Brian hung up the phone. Gus looked at him curious. “Are we going to find Jai daddy?” he asked. “Yes we are Gus.” Brian said. “I promise you that we are going to find him.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Mr. Taylor, Dr. Black calling.” “I told you never to call me here.” Craig Taylor hissed. He looked around to see if anyone could hear him. “I thought you’d like to know. Your son is now conscious.” “What in hell are you talking about? You told me he would never regain consciousness.” “The body and mind heal in mysterious ways Mr. Taylor. Justin is recovering. There is one problem though. He doesn’t know who he is. It could be just temporary, something that with time he’ll get over. But for now he is unable to recall who he is and why he’s in a hospital.” “You better make sure he never knows. I’m paying you well enough. Keep him from ever finding out his past and you will be a wealthy man Dr. Black.” Craig Taylor slammed down the phone in a fit of temper and never noticed his daughter who had been about to enter the living room. She was standing white faced having heard the conversation. Molly turned and walked quickly into the kitchen where she picked up the phone there and dialed star 69 her efforts were rewarded when the operator relayed the last number that had called her father’s home. Writing it down hastily she hung up the phone when she heard her father’s footsteps approaching the kitchen. “Molly, what are you doing in here?” Craig asked. “I was thirsty.” Molly said, “But there’s nothing in the fridge that I like. I’m going to go to the corner store. Do you want anything while I’m there?” “No,” Craig seemed distracted. “Don’t be long, your mother is coming over and wants to discuss something with you about school.” “I won’t be long.” Molly said. She raced out the door. Though she drove carefully, Molly didn’t remember anything of the drive to Brian’s loft. She was relieved to see his black jeep as she hadn’t thought far enough ahead as to what she’d do if he’d been out. “Brian let me in.” she called into the intercom when Brian answered. He buzzed her into the building waiting with his loft door open. Molly thrust a torn piece of paper into his hand as she ran into the loft. “Hey Gus,” she said. “Boy am I glad you’re here.” “What’s going on Molly?” Brian asked. “What’s this phone number all about?” “I heard dad talking to someone on the phone, I think it was about Justin, I think he’s alive.” Molly recited what she’d heard of the conversation. “I’m afraid that something is going to happen to him.” “I told you daddy.” Gus said. Brian dialed the number Molly had given him. “Blacks Clinic, how may I direct your call?” “I’m sorry, to bother you, but I’ve mislaid your address. I’m sending the clinic some trial samples.” Brian said. “Oh, that’s fine sir. We are at 657 Briar Road in Evansburgh, just outside of Seattle. I can fax you the directions.” “No that’s fine, I appreciate your help.” Brian hung up the phone. He called Cynthia next. “Cynthia, get me the first flight out to Seattle.” He paused. “Thanks I’ll wait for your call.” “Okay Molly, I want you to go back to your father’s and make sure he doesn’t find out that I’m going to get Jai. If you can, answer all the phone calls and don’t put anyone through to your old man.” “Okay Brian.” Molly kissed Gus and then Brian before heading back out the door. “Gus, I’m going to take you to your moms now. Don’t tell anyone what I’m doing. I don’t want the wrong person to get wind of it.” “That’s easy daddy, I don’t talk anymore, remember?” Gus said with satisfaction. “Well, you’re talking now Sonny Boy, keep silent for another few hours. He gave Gus Jai’s old cell phone. “Keep this in your back pack. “I’ll call you when I get Jai.” He smiled. “For heaven sake don’t let your moms see it.” “It’s a secret just me and you and Jai.” Gus looked happier than he had in weeks. Brian’s heart gladdened. He just hoped he wasn’t going on a wild goose chase. Something about it though felt right.