The smell of burnt pancakes woke Brian up the next morning.
He could hear the happy chattering of Emmett a few feet away.
He was going on about some guy he'd met in Torso. Brian didn't care.
All he cared about was the blinding pain that was shooting through
his head./p

iFuck. What the Hell did I have to drink last night?/i he thought,
forcing himself to sit up. The pain increased, and was
accompanied by a stab across his abdomen, and Brian remembered.
He could hear Michael shushing everyone at the counter in
the kitchen, and his quickly ascending footsteps across
the hardwood floor. /p

p"Brian!" his friend cried, a little too loudly. Brian grabbed
the sides of his head, wincing in pain. "Oh, sorry Brian." He
was barely above a whisper now. "How are you feeling? Would you
like some breakfast? I'd offer you pancakes, but they're not really
fit to eat."/p

pEmmett hmphed loudly from his perch on the stool, making
it obvious that he was the one who had cooked them. Ted patted
him lightly on the arm, "It's okay, hun." /p

p"I don't want anything to eat. I just want to kick that guys ass.
What time is it? I'm going to be late for work." He tried to stand but
his legs were too weak, and he flopped back down on the couch. /p

p"I told you Brian, I called your job and put in for your vacation.
Now stop moving before you do anymore damage. What do you want to eat?"/p

pBrian couldn't help but smile at his friend. He could always depend
on Mikey for anything. That's why he liked him so much, whenever Brian
needed him, he was there. Brian knew that was selfish, but he had to have
someone in his life to take care of him. His parents certainly wouldn't,
and ihe/i obviously couldn't take care of himself. This was one of
those times that proved that. Mikey was his constent, his post. The one
thing in which he could lean. His shoulder to cry on. And of course,
Brian would always be there for Mikey. Even if he didn't always show it,
he loved Michael. He'd been his best friend for fourteen years.
Why shouldn't they help each other out?/p

p "Just one of my shakes is fine.
Really. I don't think I could hold anything down. 'Kay Ma?"/p

pMichael didn't argue, just gave him a small smile and got up to make
the drink. Ted walked over and sat next to Brian. He couldn't help but
feel sorry for him. Nobody deserved to be treated the way he was.
It was wrong, and the guy who did it should be punished for it.
But Ted couldn't help but feel a small hint of glee, either. /p

pAll of those times he'd ragged on him; for being old, for being without
a man. For the pain he causes Michael everyday. He was almost happy
that Brian got the shit knocked out of him. Almost./p

p"So. How do you feel?" Ted asked, looking at the bruises and Brian's swollen
lip. /p

p"Like it must be for people over 30. How do you live like this?"/p

piNot so much almost, anymore,/i Ted thought as he got up to get his
coat. "Well I better get to work. I only have a few more years to get in
enough money for my retirement. I don't want to be some old fucker depending
on my best friend for the rest of my life. God. I'd be Brian. How could
I live like that?"/p

pIf Brian could have moved he probably would have thrown something at him then.
But he couldn't, and he cursed himself for it. Instead, Ted got a shrill hiss
from Michael to be quiet. /p

pEmmett stifled a giggle and kissed Brian on the cheek, "I better get to work,
too. We all know how Teddy likes his porn, and one of these days he might get
fired." Ted stuck out his tongue and walked out of the loft, with Emmett following
close behind. "Feel better sweety. Bye Mikey!" He waved goodbye to them both
and closed the door./p

Brian groaned, annoyed, and in much more pain than he would ever admit, on the couch.
/pp
Michael, thinking something was wrong and being the persistent yet caring person he is, ran over to see what was wrong.
/pp
"I'm fine! Just back off," Brian barked.
/pp
Stung from the harsh tone of his best friend, Michael backed away. A sadness crept into his dark brown eyes, but Brian didn't see it.
/pp
"I'm only trying to help, Brian. I know you're in pain," Michael chose his words carefully, not wanting to upset his friend any more.
/pp
"Yeah, well don't, okay? I don't need you to baby me. I'm capable of taking care of myself. Leave me the fuck alone. Go back to being the doc's little housewife, 'cause I don't need one."
/pp
Fighting back tears, Michael picked up hisjacket and walked out of Brian's loft without a word.
/pp
Instantly feeling guilty, Brian called out for Michael, but it was too late, he could hear the elevator making it's decent. He tried to get off the couch but the pain was too much for him. He fell back onto his sofa holding his side, "Shit!"
/pp

/pp
It had been three weeks since the attack on Brian Kinney. To anyone it would seem like he was fully recovered. But to Michael, who wasn't just anybody, he was his best friend of 15 years, things weren't exactly as they seemed. He had always known when something was bothering Brian, it was a result of being so close for so long, and it was his intuition that brought Michael to Brian's loft.
/pp
Knowing he wouldn't be home, he waited outside his door, hoping Brian was okay and safely on his way home.
/pp

/pp
Brian made his way home from Liberty Avenue. He had decided to walk for a little exercise, now winded and cursing himself for his decision.
/pp
He hadn't really wanted to go out anyway, but with Justin gone on some pre-college retreat, and the rest of his friends not knowing when to let up, he finally conceeded and went along with the boys.
/pp
He knew he probably looked a wreck, and he was probably the talk of Babylon. People wondering if perhaps Brian Kinney had finally lost his sex drive - or worse - he was now taken, having turned down every man that so much as glanced in his general direction. But he didn't care. He just wanted to go home.
/pp
It was only when Brian had seen the guy who had attacked him did he finally decide to leave. He casually said good night to his friends, hoping his voice didn't give away the panic that was coursing through him.
/pp
Now walking home he couldn't help but wonder if the guy had seen him leave. And if he had, would he follow?
/pp
"Get a hold of yourself, Kinney." He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked faster. "You're fucking 6 month old is more of a man than you're being."
/pp
Two blocks away from his apartment is when he started to hear the footsteps. Not wanting to take any chances, he started to run. Not hearing the familiar voice of his teenage lover calling him from behind.
/pp

/pp
Reaching into his pocket he took out a piece of paper and pen from work, Michael wrote a note for Brian to call him as soon as he got in. It was late, and Michael had to get up early.
/pp
"He's probably out fucking somebody anyway. I don't want to be around when he comes in with that smug, superior look on his face he always has after a night out."
/pp
Michael sighed at himself and climbed into the elevator.
/pp
Leaving the apartment building and turning the corner he saw a figure approach, running quickly. It only took a few seconds for him to realize it was Brian.
/pp
-/pp

Rounding the corner, Brian looking behind him, slammed into somebody. Not being able to see in the darkness of the night, he blindly threw a punch and knocked Michael to the ground. Brian crouched down and grabbed him by the collar, ready to hit him again./pp

"Brian!" Michael screamed his name, blood trickling from his nose. Realization dawned in Brian's eyes and he let go of his friend./pp

"Mikey I.. I'm sorry." He crumbled to the ground broken and beaten./pp

Michael took him into his arms and stroked his hair. Whispering that everything would be okay, he could feel the shuddering of Brian's body as he sobbed./pp

"I'm scared, Michael," Brian managed to choke out the words. They took Michael by complete surprise. Never had Brian admitted such weakness. Not in all the 15 years he'd known him./pp

"It's okay Brian. It'll be okay from now on. I'm here. I won't let anything hurt you. I'm right beside you."