"Getting Better" - Part 6
Brian tries the new treatment.
This is a "Nowhere Man" Flashforward -- "Getting Better
-- Part 6."
Features Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Ron Rosenblum,
Emmett Honeycutt.
Rated R and contains no warnings or spoilers.
Summary: "The Panda Treatment." Pittsburgh, February
2004.
Disclaimer: This is for fun, not profit. Watch "Queer As
Folk" on Showtime, buy the DVDs, videos, and CDs. Read
the stories and enjoy.
By Gaedhal
"Oops!" said Em, sitting up quickly and taking his hand
away from Ron's fly.
Ron blinked and tried to get his bearings. The bong tipped
and Emmett deftly caught it before the water spilled all
over the futons.
"Huh?" said Ron, in confusion.
Brian shook his head and looked at Justin wearily.
"THIS is my big medical breakthrough? You want me
to join the 'love-in' with Emmy and Ronnie, the World's
Gayest Deadheads?"
"Just try it, Brian," Justin pleaded. "Please? If it
helps...." Justin led Brian down the steps and over to
the futons.
"Sorry, honey," Em apologized. He stood up and backed
away in embarrassment. "Ronnie and I were just getting
the ball rolling."
"I can see that," snapped Brian.
"Brian," said Ron, scrambling to his feet. "Nothing
happened! We were getting the bong going and then you
didn't come down... I mean... Nothing fucking happened!"
Brian sighed. "Ron, I don't give a shit what did or didn't
happen, but if we're going to do this...." Brian stopped.
"Just forget it! This is stupid, Justin. I'm going back to
bed. And if you guys want to party, then party your
fucking brains out!"
Justin grabbed Brian's arm firmly. "No, Brian, you
aren't going back to bed! I asked Emmett to bring the
dope here because I thought it might help you. And
you're going to try it! Right now!" Justin pointed to
the largest futon. "Emmett, will you please straighten
that out and get the bong fired up again. And try to
remember why we're doing this, okay?"
Em immediately began tidying up the messy pile of
futons. He'd almost been caught with his hand down
Brian's ex's pants. Talk about an awkward situation!
"Brian, I'm sorry, but...." Ron began.
"Not now!" Justin cut him off. "Could you get Brian
some water or ginger ale, please?"
"Sure," said Ron, still flustered. "Of course." Ron
hurried over to the refrigerator, almost tripping as
he went. His legs were unsteady. Ron didn't drink much
and he rarely used drugs, so he wasn't used to it. Dorian
liked a glass of wine in the evening and Ron often joined
him, and occasionally they got high, but compared what
was usual in Hollywood and the film industry, Ron was
practically a monk!
So it figured that Brian would walk in while Ron was
smoking dope and that horny queen was feeling him up.
Shit!
Ron watched while Justin settled Brian down on the
futons and lit the weed in the bong. Justin took a
practiced toke and them handed it to Brian, who also
took a toke. He coughed softly and then took another.
Then the two of them leaned back on the pillows,
Brian breathing in the smoke and Justin rubbing
his shoulders.
Emmett put on his coat. "I have to be going now, boys!"
"Okay, Em," said Justin. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"As soon as you need a refill, Princess," said Em.
"I hope it works."
"I certainly hope so," Ron commented under his breath.
Emmett was twining his long scarf around his neck before
venturing out into the Pittsburgh cold. "I'll see YOU, too,
Ronnie." Then Em moved closer and whispered, "Give me
a call. Anytime. My cellphone number is on the bulletin
board next to the fridge."
"You must be out of your fucking mind!" Ron replied.
But Emmett flashed Ron a little smile. "Maybe. But I'll
see ya!"
Ron sat at the dining table while Justin plied Brian with
Emmett's dope between sips of water to sooth his burning
throat. And Brian seemed to be relaxing. That was good sign.
Ron turned on the television and surfed around the cable
for a while. He could hear Brian and Justin whispering to
each other softly from the futons, but he couldn't hear
their conversation. He felt like a fucking outsider! And
now Brian was probably pissed at him. Ron knew how
jealous Brian was. That's why Brian had left him in the
first place -- jealousy. And all over some stupid student
whose name Ron could barely recall.
"Ron," Justin called out after a while. "Do you think you
could heat up some of that white rice? And the Beef with
Snow Peapods? Brian is feeling a little hungry."
Ron jumped up. "Yes! Of course I will!"
Ron made up a small plate of the food and put it in the
microwave. Then he brought it over to the futon with a
can of ginger ale. "Try to eat slowly, Brian."
"Believe me, I will." Brian tasted the food. Then he ate
a little more.
"Do you think the marijuana is really helping?" Justin
asked his lover.
"If nothing else my stomach is a lot calmer," Brian
admitted. He sipped the ginger ale and took another bite
of the rice. "I don't feel like I'm going to heave -- and
that's good! That's the first time in over a week!"
"Then it's better than good!" Ron exclaimed. He felt so
fucking relieved! If this was something that helped Brian
the way it had helped his friend Harvey, then Brian could
surely get through the next few weeks of treatment. Even
if it only worked part of the time it would still be worth
it! Even worth dealing with that idiotic Emmett to get
the dope.
Brian finished the plate of Chinese food and even ate one
of the lemon squares Debbie had sent over form the diner.
Justin was so delighted he wanted to jump up and cheer.
But he kept things low-key. Don't make a big fuss about
it. Let Brian do this at his own speed. Don't push, thought
Justin. Don't push it.
"I'm tired," said Brian. Justin helped Brian stand up and
Ron took the plate and the empty can of ginger ale back
to the kitchen.
"'Night, Ron," said Brian. Then he sighed heavily. "Another
treatment tomorrow."
"I'll drive you, Bab... Brian," Ron replied. "Don't worry
about it. Get a good night's sleep."
Justin helped Brian undress and got him into bed. Then
Justin laid down next to him and pulled the duvet high
around them.
"What's that you've got there?" Justin picked up something
that had been sitting on Brian's pillow.
"Nothing," said Brian, flushing.
"Isn't this the bear we gave Gus for Christmas?" Justin
looked at the little stuffed panda. Part of his ear was
already missing.
"Yeah," said Brian, taking it back and holding it on his
chest. "When Ron and I were over at Lindsay's house
I... I got sick again."
"I know," said Justin. "Ron told me."
"When I came down from hanging over the toilet almost
the entire time we were there I sat on the floor in the
living room, I was that exhausted. And Gus came over and
handed me the bear." Brian blinked a few times. "He said,
'Bear help Dada.' He insisted that I take it, but I didn't
want to because I know that Gus sleeps with it every night.
But Lindsay said that's probably why he wanted me to have
it. So I could sleep."
Justin blinked a few times, too. "Pretty smart kid."
"I know," Brian murmured as he closed his eyes. "Who
would have thought I had it in me?"
"I did," whispered Justin. "I always knew. And I always will."
This is a "Nowhere Man" Flashforward -- "Getting Better
-- Part 6."
Features Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Ron Rosenblum,
Emmett Honeycutt.
Rated R and contains no warnings or spoilers.
Summary: "The Panda Treatment." Pittsburgh, February
2004.
Disclaimer: This is for fun, not profit. Watch "Queer As
Folk" on Showtime, buy the DVDs, videos, and CDs. Read
the stories and enjoy.
By Gaedhal
"Oops!" said Em, sitting up quickly and taking his hand
away from Ron's fly.
Ron blinked and tried to get his bearings. The bong tipped
and Emmett deftly caught it before the water spilled all
over the futons.
"Huh?" said Ron, in confusion.
Brian shook his head and looked at Justin wearily.
"THIS is my big medical breakthrough? You want me
to join the 'love-in' with Emmy and Ronnie, the World's
Gayest Deadheads?"
"Just try it, Brian," Justin pleaded. "Please? If it
helps...." Justin led Brian down the steps and over to
the futons.
"Sorry, honey," Em apologized. He stood up and backed
away in embarrassment. "Ronnie and I were just getting
the ball rolling."
"I can see that," snapped Brian.
"Brian," said Ron, scrambling to his feet. "Nothing
happened! We were getting the bong going and then you
didn't come down... I mean... Nothing fucking happened!"
Brian sighed. "Ron, I don't give a shit what did or didn't
happen, but if we're going to do this...." Brian stopped.
"Just forget it! This is stupid, Justin. I'm going back to
bed. And if you guys want to party, then party your
fucking brains out!"
Justin grabbed Brian's arm firmly. "No, Brian, you
aren't going back to bed! I asked Emmett to bring the
dope here because I thought it might help you. And
you're going to try it! Right now!" Justin pointed to
the largest futon. "Emmett, will you please straighten
that out and get the bong fired up again. And try to
remember why we're doing this, okay?"
Em immediately began tidying up the messy pile of
futons. He'd almost been caught with his hand down
Brian's ex's pants. Talk about an awkward situation!
"Brian, I'm sorry, but...." Ron began.
"Not now!" Justin cut him off. "Could you get Brian
some water or ginger ale, please?"
"Sure," said Ron, still flustered. "Of course." Ron
hurried over to the refrigerator, almost tripping as
he went. His legs were unsteady. Ron didn't drink much
and he rarely used drugs, so he wasn't used to it. Dorian
liked a glass of wine in the evening and Ron often joined
him, and occasionally they got high, but compared what
was usual in Hollywood and the film industry, Ron was
practically a monk!
So it figured that Brian would walk in while Ron was
smoking dope and that horny queen was feeling him up.
Shit!
Ron watched while Justin settled Brian down on the
futons and lit the weed in the bong. Justin took a
practiced toke and them handed it to Brian, who also
took a toke. He coughed softly and then took another.
Then the two of them leaned back on the pillows,
Brian breathing in the smoke and Justin rubbing
his shoulders.
Emmett put on his coat. "I have to be going now, boys!"
"Okay, Em," said Justin. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"As soon as you need a refill, Princess," said Em.
"I hope it works."
"I certainly hope so," Ron commented under his breath.
Emmett was twining his long scarf around his neck before
venturing out into the Pittsburgh cold. "I'll see YOU, too,
Ronnie." Then Em moved closer and whispered, "Give me
a call. Anytime. My cellphone number is on the bulletin
board next to the fridge."
"You must be out of your fucking mind!" Ron replied.
But Emmett flashed Ron a little smile. "Maybe. But I'll
see ya!"
Ron sat at the dining table while Justin plied Brian with
Emmett's dope between sips of water to sooth his burning
throat. And Brian seemed to be relaxing. That was good sign.
Ron turned on the television and surfed around the cable
for a while. He could hear Brian and Justin whispering to
each other softly from the futons, but he couldn't hear
their conversation. He felt like a fucking outsider! And
now Brian was probably pissed at him. Ron knew how
jealous Brian was. That's why Brian had left him in the
first place -- jealousy. And all over some stupid student
whose name Ron could barely recall.
"Ron," Justin called out after a while. "Do you think you
could heat up some of that white rice? And the Beef with
Snow Peapods? Brian is feeling a little hungry."
Ron jumped up. "Yes! Of course I will!"
Ron made up a small plate of the food and put it in the
microwave. Then he brought it over to the futon with a
can of ginger ale. "Try to eat slowly, Brian."
"Believe me, I will." Brian tasted the food. Then he ate
a little more.
"Do you think the marijuana is really helping?" Justin
asked his lover.
"If nothing else my stomach is a lot calmer," Brian
admitted. He sipped the ginger ale and took another bite
of the rice. "I don't feel like I'm going to heave -- and
that's good! That's the first time in over a week!"
"Then it's better than good!" Ron exclaimed. He felt so
fucking relieved! If this was something that helped Brian
the way it had helped his friend Harvey, then Brian could
surely get through the next few weeks of treatment. Even
if it only worked part of the time it would still be worth
it! Even worth dealing with that idiotic Emmett to get
the dope.
Brian finished the plate of Chinese food and even ate one
of the lemon squares Debbie had sent over form the diner.
Justin was so delighted he wanted to jump up and cheer.
But he kept things low-key. Don't make a big fuss about
it. Let Brian do this at his own speed. Don't push, thought
Justin. Don't push it.
"I'm tired," said Brian. Justin helped Brian stand up and
Ron took the plate and the empty can of ginger ale back
to the kitchen.
"'Night, Ron," said Brian. Then he sighed heavily. "Another
treatment tomorrow."
"I'll drive you, Bab... Brian," Ron replied. "Don't worry
about it. Get a good night's sleep."
Justin helped Brian undress and got him into bed. Then
Justin laid down next to him and pulled the duvet high
around them.
"What's that you've got there?" Justin picked up something
that had been sitting on Brian's pillow.
"Nothing," said Brian, flushing.
"Isn't this the bear we gave Gus for Christmas?" Justin
looked at the little stuffed panda. Part of his ear was
already missing.
"Yeah," said Brian, taking it back and holding it on his
chest. "When Ron and I were over at Lindsay's house
I... I got sick again."
"I know," said Justin. "Ron told me."
"When I came down from hanging over the toilet almost
the entire time we were there I sat on the floor in the
living room, I was that exhausted. And Gus came over and
handed me the bear." Brian blinked a few times. "He said,
'Bear help Dada.' He insisted that I take it, but I didn't
want to because I know that Gus sleeps with it every night.
But Lindsay said that's probably why he wanted me to have
it. So I could sleep."
Justin blinked a few times, too. "Pretty smart kid."
"I know," Brian murmured as he closed his eyes. "Who
would have thought I had it in me?"
"I did," whispered Justin. "I always knew. And I always will."