Chapter 6: I Love You
Brian sat at the side of Justin's hospital bed and held his lover's hand. The doctors had stabilized him, but they refused to give any false hopes. All he could do was wait and see if Justin would pull out of this. He wiped his free hand across his face trying to get rid of the tears that wouldn't seem to stop falling. The last expression he'd seen on Justin's face was desolation. The man he professed to love looked like he'd lost his entire world and it was all his fault for making Justin feel that way. He was yelling the most absurd and cruel things.
Brian leaned down and kissed the back of Justin's hand. "I'll make this right. You don't have anything to worry about."
The door opened and a young doctor walked in. "Mr. Kinney?"
Brian nodded and looked up at the man. "Yes, how is he?" Brian tilted his head in Justin's direction.
"It doesn't look good. His vitals are stable but it's his brain activity that we're worried about at this point."
"What do you mean?" Brian sat forward in his chair.
"We've been monitoring him constantly and his brain wave activity has slowly been diminishing. If something doesn't happen soon, he'll be considered brain dead." The doctor looked at the raw emotion on the older man's face. "I'm so sorry." He turned and left the room. This was the hardest part of his job and he hated delivering bad news to family members.
Brian stood and leaned down kissing Justin's lips. "You'll be just fine. I love you." He reached up and fingered the delicate chain around Justin's neck for a moment before gripping it firmly and yanking. As soon as the chain broke, Brian felt an intense pain pierce his chest. His eyes started clouding over and the last thing he saw before falling to the floor was Justin's face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~The Powers' Chamber~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Brian opened his eyes and found himself in a very dark, cold room. He couldn't contain the shiver that traveled the length of his tall frame. He swallowed hard and tried to look around but he couldn't see his hand in front of his face in this place. Suddenly he heard the loud crack of thunder and a bright light filled the room.
"Well lookie what we have here boys. If it isn't the chosen one himself come to pay us a visit." Darkness strutted around the room.
Brian ignored Darkness' taunts and looked toward Light. "Will Justin be okay now?"
Light nodded his head sadly. "I'm truly sorry things turned out this way, Brian."
Brian released a sigh of relief. Justin was going to be okay. That's all that mattered to him. He didn't have a life without Justin anyway, so this was the best solution. Besides, Justin had a much brighter future. "It's fine. As long as Justin is okay, I'm great."
Darkness walked up and stood in front of Brian. "As the chosen one, we will grant you one final wish, with the exception of sending you back…that you can't ask for."
"I want Justin to be happy and healthy." Brian answered quickly with very little thought.
Darkness smiled evilly. "How can he be happy? He'll always remember the last words you spoke to him. Hell, he might even blame himself for your death. I doubt very seriously if he can ever be happy again."
Brian closed his eyes and relieved the last few moments before Justin passed out. Darkness was right. Justin couldn't be happy under those circumstances.
"You could ask us to wipe his memory," suggested Darkness.
Brian looked at Light. "Can you do that? Can you wipe his memories of me so that he has a chance to live a happy life?"
Light approached slowly. "Yes we can, but I remember offering you that very same alternative and you refused."
Brian thought back to the day his Justin had left and how devastated he was by it. He also remembered how comforted he was by his memories of their happy times together. Could he do that to Justin? Could he take away the happy times just to cover up the bad? Was that a fair choice for him to make. He brought his hands up and covered his face. It wasn't fair for him to have to make this decision without hearing what Justin thought. He took a deep breath and something popped into his mind. He looked over and saw Truth standing there silently watching him. What was it that Truth had whispered in his ear that day he'd asked for help? Brian thought for a moment and then smiled brightly. He had the answer. He looked at Truth and repeated the words that had been whispered to him. "It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all."
Truth smiled and nodded at the chosen one.
"I don't want you to wipe Justin's memory. He doesn't deserve to have you interfere with him anymore. I want him to keep all his memories." Brian spoke clearly and with conviction.
Truth stepped forward. "So be it. Justin will retain all his memories." Truth clapped his hands.
Brian smiled and nodded. "So what happens to me?"
Truth smiled. "I'd say in a few minutes you'll be reunited with Justin."
Darkness growled, "What the hell do you mean?"
Truth looked at his brother. "Brian asked for Justin to retain all his memories, since he's the chosen one; we have to grant his last wish."
"Yeah, so what?" asked Darkness.
"Well when Justin wakes up, he will not only retain the memories of his present life, but those of his past life as well. He'll know all he has to do is demand we return Brian to his side." Truth smiled at Light.
Light clapped his hands. "Oh that's fantastic! You are by far more clever than either of us!"
Truth nodded his head and winked at his brother. "I told you not to fret."
Darkness jerked Truth around and yelled, "That isn't possible! I cursed that choker and that curse requires a life! You can't circumvent that!"
Truth patted Darkness on the shoulder. "I haven't. We sent Justin back to co-inhabit a body. That soul was forfeit to your curse. Now all that remains is the original Justin."
Darkness threw his head back and emitted a very loud and demonic sounding growl. "I won't stop till I win." He stormed out of the chamber mumbling under his breath.
Light looked at Brian. "I wish you all the best, Brian. Make the most of every second you're given."
"Don't worry. I've learned my lesson."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Justin's Hospital Room~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Justin sucked air into his lungs and sat up in a panic. He felt as if he'd been suffocating and was just now allowed to breathe. He blinked his eyes and looked around figuring out he was in a hospital. His memories came crashing into him like an avalanche. He finally breathed a sigh of relief as his mind seemed to catch up with all the past events. He looked around wondering where Brian was when he saw his lover lying on the floor. He yanked all the wires off his head and slid off the bed to kneel next to the still body.
Justin put his hand over Brian's heart and knew he was dead. He closed his eyes and thought as hard as he could about the powers before looking toward the ceiling and yelling as loudly as he could. "You give him back to me NOW!"
Brian opened his eyes and coughed a few times. He saw Justin leaning over him and smiled. "I'm baaaaaack."
Justin laughed, leaned down and kissed Brian with every ounce of passion and love he possessed. "You didn't think I'd let you get away from me that easily, did you?"
Brian shook his head and pulled Justin down for another kiss. He broke the kiss and whispered, "It's really you."
Justin nodded and bit his lip. "Yeah, it's really me."
The door burst open and two doctors ran in. "What's going on here?"
Justin looked up and asked, "You've never seen two men kissing before?"
"We need to check you out Mr. Taylor. Please get back into bed."
Justin stood and helped Brian to his feet before looking at the doctors. "I'm fine. We're fine. Today's Valentine's Day and I'm not spending another second in this hospital, so you can either discharge me or I'll sign myself out."
The doctors shook their heads and left the room.
Brian helped Justin dress. Since they were both wearing bloodied clothes, he said, "We need to buy something to wear."
Justin hugged Brian tightly. "Or, we could just go home and get something."
Brian drove them back to his loft where they showered, made love and then showered again. "Are you sure you want to go out tonight?"
Justin smiled brightly. "You went to all the trouble to book me a romantic dinner and you think I'm going to pass that up?"
Brian shook his head and finished dressing. He certainly hoped that Justin enjoyed tonight.
On the drive to the restaurant, Justin teased Brian. "I can't believe you bought me a basket of dildos."
Brian not to be outdone replied, "Well you sent me a huge teddy bear and a singing telegram…the fucking Barney song no less."
Justin threw his head back and laughed. "I think it was perfect."
Brian thought for a second then nodded. "It was perfect."
They entered the restaurant and were shown to their private balcony table. Brian was impressed. Anthony had clearly gone all out to provide a romantic atmosphere. The only lighting was candles and everything was decorated in red and white.
Justin's eyes widened and he looked at Brian with such devotion. "Oh my God! I love it! Thank you so much!" He flung himself into Brian's arms kissing him on the neck and cheek repeatedly.
They sat down and Brian took Justin's hands and held them tightly. He looked into the clear blue eyes he'd come to love more than life itself. "I love you."
Justin leaned across the table and kissed his lover. "I love you too, Brian."
Brian's face lit up and he smiled. He was happier than he could ever remember being. He leaned his head back and said in a loud, clear voice, "Happy Valentine's Day World."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~The Power's Chamber~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Light laughed happily as he watched the chosen one and his mate. "They look so happy."
Truth nodded. "They are happy."
Darkness looked at his brothers and shrugged. "They are for now."