Fic:
Title: Of Flus and Flight Delays
Author: Kayla
xshadowxdodgerx
Summary: Brendon is sick and Ryan is stuck at the airport, no way of reaching his boyfriends.
Disclaimer: I don't own the boys. If I did...yeah you get the point.
Pairing: Jon/Brendon/Ryan - OT3 baby
Author's note: For the prompt table. Prompt Sick. This has been on the harddrive for awhile. I cleaned and deemed post-worthy
Warnings: Poly-relationship
The airport buzzed with activity, people rushing down the too crowded halls, attempting to reach their flights on time. Or perhaps they were already late, Ryan thought with a slightly amused smile as a frantic middle aged woman rushed past his chair so fast that it teetered with the rush, Ryan’s feet jerking to the floor to stop himself from falling.
He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. They were stuck at the airport with a two hour delay. Did they honestly think that he had time to sit in an airport listening to the melodic sounds of his best friend snoring? Jon had called him up just an hour before to let him know that Brendon was sick. Something tightened in his chest, hurting and the thought.
“Just a run of the mill flu, Ryan, calm down.”
Jon’s words from earlier played like a record in his head. When he heard them, Ryan couldn’t help smile a little. Jon was the rational one of their relationship, that was for sure. Brendon was spastic, childish, and Ryan was frantic and easily aggravated. Theirs was not a conventional relationship by any means, but it was simply one of the most comforting things in Ryan’s life, knowing he lived with two men that completed him so well. The fans always wondered why his songs had suddenly become so idealistic. Well there was the answer for you. Ryan Ross was idealistic because Ryan Ross was living the ideal life.
He replayed the telephone conversation in his memory, in a vain attempt to calm his aching nerves.
“Flu? Flu?”
“Yes Ryan, I’m sure you’re aware of the concept. Tell me, that in your twenty-one years of living you have at least once had a flu.”
“Well duh…but is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s okay. It’s a bad one, but I finally got him to bed. He really wants you. He’s been whining and crying about it for hours now.”
“Oh, poor baby…Jon, Spence and I are stuck at the airport. We just found out that there was some kind of engine trouble. We’re stuck until further notice or something.”
“Try to get home as fast as you can Ryan. It’s really bad and…gah, man, I hate to see him like this. It’s like seeing a hurt puppy or something really.”
“Tell him that I’ll be home as soon as I can. When he wakes up tell him that I love him.”
“It’s okay Ryan, it really is. I’m taking care of things.”
“I know. I just want to be home J.”
“I’ll see you soon baby, just call me if anything changes.”
“Okay, I will. I love you.”
“Love you too Ryan.”
He just wanted to go home. Ryan was starting to enter a bit of a fit, the more than he thought about it. He just wanted to be at home with Brendon and Jon. He did not want them to have to go through what in his mind felt like a crisis alone. Yes, he knew he was overreacting, but no, he didn’t care.
Spencer shifted next to him, grumbling. Ryan tried distracting himself by watching the other boy sleep. He knew Spencer’s sleeping habits like clockwork, from all of the nights they had spent together at Spencer’s house as children. He was on the verge of waking up, Ryan realized, judging by the constant shifting and the telltale yawn that always meant Spencer was coming back.
As expected, Spencer sat up, stretching his back and yawning loudly. “Hey man, did they fix the plane?” he asked Ryan, rubbing his eyes.
“Nah,” Ryan said. “Bad news. They’re giving us another two hours before they can get us going.”
“Fuck, that’s not good.” Spencer groaned and stood up, stretching his back. “You hear from Jon or Brendon yet?” Ryan was delighted to see the other man’s eyes grow with concern. Spencer always looked out for the other three, even though he was not a part of their relationship. He had once said, “Yeah, I’m not in the great tripod of holy love, but I sure as hell am gonna look after you guys.” It was a quote that Spencer would never quite live down, and one that Brendon constantly reminded him of.
“Not since J called me up before you fell asleep,” Ryan said with a sigh.
“Ryan, I’m sure he’s okay,” Spencer said, with that voice that usually assisted Ryan in calming down. Spencer was really the only one who could calm Ryan down when he was in a meltdown. Not even his lovers were capable of that. “Jon’s there. We both know how good Jon is at taking care of people. Especially Brendon, Jon’s so protective of him.”
“I know,” Ryan said, knowing well that he was being ridiculous. He stood up suddenly, needing to do something or else he was going to explode. “I’m gonna go get some coffee. Come with me?”
He pulled up his sunglasses as an overhead glass roof sent light streaming into his eyes. He was also not too crazy about having even his best friend see how worried he was over a minor issue. Sure, Spencer knew, but Ryan could at least try to believe that he was hiding it.
* * *
Ten minutes later the boys were seated at a round table, Ryan drinking the worst cup of coffee he had ever tasted in his life. Spencer laughed out loud at his expression, both boys using the bad coffee as a way to relieve the tension. “Man, you look like you’re about to die.”
“That’s highly probable. I taste rat poison.” Ryan’s response was so dry that it made Spencer lean back a little, eying Ryan knowingly. Ryan was at his most bitter and cynical when he was worried.
“Oooh, funny.”
“Shut up,” Ryan snapped, slamming the cup down.
“Stop worrying then.” Spencer’s voice was unusually soft. Usually when Ryan was in what Spencer lovingly called a hissy-fit, Spencer would be equally harsh, to cope with Ryan’s dark cynicism.
“I can’t,” Ryan said and it was not a lie. He did not know why certain things consumed him, but he felt that he could not stop.
A loud obnoxious ring tone broke through his train of self-depreciating thoughts. It was a nearby cell phone, but not his. He looked across the table as Spencer reached into his back pocket and pulled out the silver device, pressing it to his ear. “Jon? Hey man, what’s up?”
Ryan shot up, slamming his fist against the table and rocking the cup. “What the hell? Why’s he calling you?” Ryan snapped.
“Yeah, Ryan’s having a bit of a spaz attack. We’re in the airport,” Spencer said, as he pressed one finger into his freed ear to block out Ryan’s sounds. Ryan fumed angrily, wanting the phone.
“Ah I see. Why’d you call me. Ah true. But he’s already freaking out now. Okay, I’ll tell him.”
Spencer extended the phone to Ryan, but purposely kept it about six inches away from the guitarist’s reach. Ryan groped angrily, and Spencer talked in a soft soothing voice. “Brendon wants to talk to you,” he said, his voice unusually even and careful. “But if you freak out Jon’s gonna snatch the phone back and smack you as soon as he sees you.”
Ryan relented. “I…I won’t.”
Spencer leaned forward and Ryan snatched up the cell phone. “Hey baby,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle compared to the panic attack which had laced his voice with anger and worry.
“RYYAAN, you gotta come home now.” Ryan drew back the phone at the overwhelming sound of Brendon’s whine. Spencer laughed, hearing it too, as it echoes even through the speakers of the cell spone.
Ryan sighed. This wasn’t going to easy. Talking to Brendon was likely to leave him more aggravated than before. “Bren, I’m stuck. I’m sorry. As soon as we land we’ll get a fast car home. The airport’s only a few miles back from the apartment.”
“But I miss you so much. My head hurts and I’m disgusting and…”
Ryan could not help notice that Brendon was the cutest thing ever, even when he was whining like a sick child. Brendon had some kind of super cute powers that just defied any logic.
“I’m so HOT Ryan.”
“That you are beautiful,” Ryan joked lightly, trying to at least bring a smile to Brendon’s face. With the small laugh he hears on the other end, he can almost see it. Then Brendon starts coughing again and the laughter turns to annoyance.
“Stop trying to ch-ch-urgh-charm me,” Brendon stated loudly, coughing as he did so. “I hate you right now.”
Ryan was surprised that the bitter and not at all serious statement really hurt. It just showed how badly he wanted to hold Brendon in his arms he supposed. “Brendon I’m trying,” he stated in an even voice.
“I know. This just sucks. I feel miserable and I need you to come home and make it better.”
Ryan’s heart hurt at that. He clutched the phone tight. “I’ll be home. Jon’s with you and I’m sure he’s giving you all you need and more.” It was true. Ryan was not just saying that for comfort’s sake. Jon was always especially caring with Brendon, who was actually his boyfriend before Ryan entered the mix.
“He is, of course, but we only work as the three of us Ryan.”
Ryan was so lucky that the two boys in love had decided that they did in fact only work as three. “I know babe, we figured that out a long time ago.”
“Hurry?” Brendon’s voice cracked, so pathetic that Ryan felt tears spring to the corners of his eyes. Since when was he so emotional? Oh yeah, since he had fallen in love with two perfect men.
“Of course. I love you.”
“Love you too. Bleh, I’m gonna throw up Ryan.”
Ryan frowned. Brendon sounded terrible, and Ryan supposed that all of his emotions came from the fact that he could not help. He felt rather helpless at the moment, as Brendon did not speak any longer. “Get me J, okay?”
Five seconds later there was a sound of commotion and Jon’s voice returned to the line. “Ryan babe I gotta go. He’s gotten sick again.”
Ryan almost cried then, but fought the tears back as he was accustomed to doing. He had been doing that for so long that it came as second impulse. He did however stammer as he tried to get out the words that he was trying for. They came out choked, almost sickly. “Jon I…”
“I know babe. Just stay calm and come home as soon as possible. It’s just a flu. You…and I both…are just overreacting.” Jon’s voice was worn and heavy with the same ‘almost’ tears. Ryan realized that it hurt him even more to see his boyfriend acting irrationally because Jon was the calm one. He was laid back, and casual, and Ryan had never seen him strung out and scared before. It was really unnerving but it did prove to Ryan just how much Jon loved Brendon, and how capable Jon was of taking care of the singer in his absence.
“I gotta go, love you Ry.”
Ryan hung up the phone as it clicked in his ear, and moved to hand it back to Spencer. The drummer however, was not sitting in front of him as he had been only moments before. Ryan twisted his head to the side only to find the drummer leaning over an attendant’s desk and ‘talking nicely’ as Spencer was apt to call his outbursts. Ryan was far enough that he only caught bursts of it, a couple expletives, some shouting. He could see Spencer thrashing his arms madly as the woman stood up in her chair and tried to explain.
Ryan burst into a fit of laughter, which he tried to conceal when Spencer returned, looking defeated. “Well Ryan, shouting screaming and exploiting fame didn’t work. We must not be in America anymore.”
“We’re in California,” Ryan pointed out.
“Oh…well this is weird.” Spencer smiled at Ryan, and sat back down. “So what’s up with the boys? Is he…”
“He’s getting sick, freaking Jon out and declaring his hatred for me,” Ryan said with a tiny laugh. It was a miserable laugh and he looked at his best friend, amazed that a single phone call could be so exhausting.
.
Spencer reached around and pulled his best friend into the most charitable hug he could manage. “It’ll be okay dude. The weather’s clearing and it should be easier to work on the plane, right?”
* * *
In the hours that followed, Ryan had fallen asleep from the exhaustion and worry he was feeling. Two hours following the phone call and he finally felt a light nudging at his shoulder.
“Umph, can’t go home…unrgh…no.”
There was a whisper against his ear. “You can if you wake up. Flight 320 to Nevada departs in twenty minutes, man.” Ryan’s eyes shot open to find Spencer looking down on him, grinning like a total idiot. He had rarely seen the other boy so happy and expressive. “We’re going home.”
“Jesus, thank you.”
Ryan breathed the words and jumped up out of his seat.
The flight was extremely long. Okay, it was only a two hour flight, but it seemed like an eternity to Ryan, whose patience had been tested far beyond it’s limits. After that eternity had ended, the plane having descended and landed at the Las Vegas airport, Ryan was almost ready to cry. He rushed down the stairs, grabbed his bag and was outside where the label’s car was waiting for them in two seconds flat. He had left Spencer following him with wide eyes and shallow breaths.
Twenty minutes later they were pulling up to the apartment. He turned back to Spencer as he jumped out of the car. The drummer shook his head hard. “Ryan Ross you rushed us here and you’re not going to stop now. Hayley’s back at my place and I want to get home too. Call me later, let me know how he’s doing.”
“Will do. See ya.” He called the words back as he bounded up the stairs, far too impatient to wait for an elevator.
When he flung open the door, he was met with Jon’s voice, soft and relieved. “Ryan,” he whispered, before yelling from the other room. “Baby get your ass in here right now.” Ryan almost smiled at the annoyance before rushing into the bedroom.
The sight tore into his heart and left him staggering against the doorframe. The boys he loved so much were situated in the large bed which lie in the center of their bedroom. Brendon was asleep, head against Jon’s chest and eyes shut tight. Jon had his arms wrapped around Brendon holding him tight, in a manner that could only be described as protective. It was like he was trying to keep the illness away from his now almost fragile looking lover. Jon’s eyes rose from the top of Brendon’s head the moment Ryan entered, his expression one of relief and exhaustion.
“Hey there.”
Ryan was too choked up by the scene in front of him to say much in reply. He had never seen anything so picture perfect. Ryan was a writer who relied on saying things in many words, but it felt like he could write volumes just to describe this scene. “H-hey…”
“Well what are you standing there for?”
It was such a Jon thing to say that it melted the boy who had missed his boyfriends so.
Ryan stepped quietly to Jon’s side of the bed and leaned down (gently as not to wake Brendon up). Taking special care to be gentle, Ryan cupped long fingers around Jon’s cheek and pulled him into a slow, long kiss. He smiled as he felt Jon smile into the kiss. It made him proud to make Jon happy.
Ryan backed down when Brendon started shuffling. He looked far too weak and far too precious to wake up. Jon shifted a little and pressed his hand into Brendon’s arm, pulling him over lightly. Brendon grunted but as suspected, he did not wake up. Jon gestured for Ryan to head to the other side of the bed. “I have never seen anyone need anyone else, as badly as he needs you.”
“Looks like you did a good enough job yourself.”
Ryan sat down on Brendon’s other side, handing running down the sick boy’s arm. Poor baby. He really was a heartbreaking sight like this.
“Yeah but we don’t work, unless…”
“Unless it’s all of us. I know.”
Brendon moaned loudly, turning his body a little, just enough to where he could throw his arm over Ryan’s chest. Ryan’s heart melted just a little more as he grabbed Brendon’s hand gently. “Baby I’m here now…” the words were quiet, just a gentle comfort, all they could be. Brendon was still asleep yet he seemed to take real comfort in Ryan being there.
The relief flooded him. It really did, washing over him, a wave of sudden warmth. He knew it was all okay now.
Jon was watching Brendon with an intensity that was really not like him. “He’s doing better,” Jon murmured, and Ryan wasn’t entirely sure if those words were for him, or meant for Jon’s own comfort. “He’s not as hot as he was. He was burning up so bad about an hour ago, I wasn’t sure what to do.”
Ryan looked over the top of Brendon’s head and was met with the most worn, worried eyes he had ever seen. He was caught off guard by Jon falling out of his normal position in their lives and in their love. “J, baby, it’s okay. You did fine. He’s fine. We’re fine.”
Brendon started grumbling again, pulling at Ryan’s shirt. Dark hazy eyes flashed open. “Ryan?” he croaked quietly, voice raw with illness.
Ryan couldn’t help smile. He was home and with the men he loved. Nothing in the world could be better than how he felt when he was there with them. This was heaven, where he was meant to be, his home, his life. How on earth did he survive without this for so long? This was bliss and comfort, everything a person needed to live happily and thrive. This was home.
“Hey. How you feeling beautiful?”
“Bad,” Brendon whispered, his voice faint and stuffy. “But better. Now that you’re home.”
“I’m so sorry we got delayed.” Ryan patted down Brendon’s hair as the singer closed his eyes and leaned back against Jon so that he could look up at Ryan. “Forgive me?”
“This time Ross. This time.”
Brendon sniffled and pulled Ryan closer, a dazed but happy smile on his face. Ryan didn’t care that his boyfriend was still quite ill. The closeness was just needed at this point. “You been taken care of good?” he asked quietly, eyes flashing up to Jon, who gave him a sleepy smile.
“Of course.” Brendon looked back at Jon and smiled weakly with the effort of twisting his head to the side. “What other boyfriend would take care of you when you’re all sick and nasty and throwing up all over the house? Only Jon Walker…”
Jon’s exhausted face looked proud.
“Go to sleep stupid,” Brendon said as he glanced up at Jon. The statement however, was intended with love, as the singer was smiling faintly. “You’ve been up all night.”
Jon just nodded.
“He’s right babe, you look exhausted.”
“Okay, okay, gang up on me why don’t you?”
There was faint laughter that filled the room. They couldn’t stop laughing for a good moment, that was, until Brendon coughed several times. “Owww,” he mumbled and hugged himself tight against Ryan. Ryan wrapped his arms around the vulnerable form just as Jon finally started to close his eyes. Ryan had never felt more home in his life. Home was where love lived, he decided. This was home because it was the only place he ever wanted to be.
* * *
Brendon was well again in three days. He bounced around the apartment as normal and all was well in the world again. Ryan sat in the corner of writing. He looked up to find Jon, infuriated about a washing machine of all things. Ryan winced when it hit his art-muddled brain that the machine he’d ordered was no good.
“How could you not tell that it was a bad idea?” Jon asked Ryan, an annoyed tone to his voice, even though his eyes were wide and he was smiling. “I mean come on, the thing looked like a wreck when you ordered it.”
“Hey!”
Ryan looked up from the scratches on the paper to see that Brendon had pounced on top of Jon and was in the process of tackling him to the floor. “Don’t insult my boyfriend’s undeniable skills. He picked out that washing machine with looove.” Ryan watched the exchange with a soft smile, as the bouncy singer pushed Jon off of the couch and onto the floor. The two managed to roll around for a good two minutes before they sent Ryan off into a fit of laughter. Ryan had never been one to be vocal with emotions, but the boys were so cute.
“Actually Bren, I had no idea what I was doing. And J, you’re more than free to send in for a better one.”
“Hey, you’re not helping me win my---”
Brendon was shut up by Jon flipping him around and straddling his waist.
“I will Ryan,” Jon said from on top of Brendon, not even glancing upward.
“EVIL OPPRESSER OF MY RIGHTS TO PROTECT MY---”
Jon cut Brendon off by pressing his lips to the singer’s, earning a loud squeaking sounds as he did so. Ryan grinned and threw down the notebook before jumping off the couch and sitting next to them, watching them kiss with a sort of awe. They were so beautiful, so perfect, and they were both all his.
He had everything any man could ever want or need. He had completion.
“Don’t either of you two need to breathe?” Ryan asked with soft incredulity.
Author: Kayla
xshadowxdodgerx
Summary: Brendon is sick and Ryan is stuck at the airport, no way of reaching his boyfriends.
Disclaimer: I don't own the boys. If I did...yeah you get the point.
Pairing: Jon/Brendon/Ryan - OT3 baby
Author's note: For the prompt table. Prompt Sick. This has been on the harddrive for awhile. I cleaned and deemed post-worthy
Warnings: Poly-relationship
The airport buzzed with activity, people rushing down the too crowded halls, attempting to reach their flights on time. Or perhaps they were already late, Ryan thought with a slightly amused smile as a frantic middle aged woman rushed past his chair so fast that it teetered with the rush, Ryan’s feet jerking to the floor to stop himself from falling.
He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. They were stuck at the airport with a two hour delay. Did they honestly think that he had time to sit in an airport listening to the melodic sounds of his best friend snoring? Jon had called him up just an hour before to let him know that Brendon was sick. Something tightened in his chest, hurting and the thought.
“Just a run of the mill flu, Ryan, calm down.”
Jon’s words from earlier played like a record in his head. When he heard them, Ryan couldn’t help smile a little. Jon was the rational one of their relationship, that was for sure. Brendon was spastic, childish, and Ryan was frantic and easily aggravated. Theirs was not a conventional relationship by any means, but it was simply one of the most comforting things in Ryan’s life, knowing he lived with two men that completed him so well. The fans always wondered why his songs had suddenly become so idealistic. Well there was the answer for you. Ryan Ross was idealistic because Ryan Ross was living the ideal life.
He replayed the telephone conversation in his memory, in a vain attempt to calm his aching nerves.
“Flu? Flu?”
“Yes Ryan, I’m sure you’re aware of the concept. Tell me, that in your twenty-one years of living you have at least once had a flu.”
“Well duh…but is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s okay. It’s a bad one, but I finally got him to bed. He really wants you. He’s been whining and crying about it for hours now.”
“Oh, poor baby…Jon, Spence and I are stuck at the airport. We just found out that there was some kind of engine trouble. We’re stuck until further notice or something.”
“Try to get home as fast as you can Ryan. It’s really bad and…gah, man, I hate to see him like this. It’s like seeing a hurt puppy or something really.”
“Tell him that I’ll be home as soon as I can. When he wakes up tell him that I love him.”
“It’s okay Ryan, it really is. I’m taking care of things.”
“I know. I just want to be home J.”
“I’ll see you soon baby, just call me if anything changes.”
“Okay, I will. I love you.”
“Love you too Ryan.”
He just wanted to go home. Ryan was starting to enter a bit of a fit, the more than he thought about it. He just wanted to be at home with Brendon and Jon. He did not want them to have to go through what in his mind felt like a crisis alone. Yes, he knew he was overreacting, but no, he didn’t care.
Spencer shifted next to him, grumbling. Ryan tried distracting himself by watching the other boy sleep. He knew Spencer’s sleeping habits like clockwork, from all of the nights they had spent together at Spencer’s house as children. He was on the verge of waking up, Ryan realized, judging by the constant shifting and the telltale yawn that always meant Spencer was coming back.
As expected, Spencer sat up, stretching his back and yawning loudly. “Hey man, did they fix the plane?” he asked Ryan, rubbing his eyes.
“Nah,” Ryan said. “Bad news. They’re giving us another two hours before they can get us going.”
“Fuck, that’s not good.” Spencer groaned and stood up, stretching his back. “You hear from Jon or Brendon yet?” Ryan was delighted to see the other man’s eyes grow with concern. Spencer always looked out for the other three, even though he was not a part of their relationship. He had once said, “Yeah, I’m not in the great tripod of holy love, but I sure as hell am gonna look after you guys.” It was a quote that Spencer would never quite live down, and one that Brendon constantly reminded him of.
“Not since J called me up before you fell asleep,” Ryan said with a sigh.
“Ryan, I’m sure he’s okay,” Spencer said, with that voice that usually assisted Ryan in calming down. Spencer was really the only one who could calm Ryan down when he was in a meltdown. Not even his lovers were capable of that. “Jon’s there. We both know how good Jon is at taking care of people. Especially Brendon, Jon’s so protective of him.”
“I know,” Ryan said, knowing well that he was being ridiculous. He stood up suddenly, needing to do something or else he was going to explode. “I’m gonna go get some coffee. Come with me?”
He pulled up his sunglasses as an overhead glass roof sent light streaming into his eyes. He was also not too crazy about having even his best friend see how worried he was over a minor issue. Sure, Spencer knew, but Ryan could at least try to believe that he was hiding it.
* * *
Ten minutes later the boys were seated at a round table, Ryan drinking the worst cup of coffee he had ever tasted in his life. Spencer laughed out loud at his expression, both boys using the bad coffee as a way to relieve the tension. “Man, you look like you’re about to die.”
“That’s highly probable. I taste rat poison.” Ryan’s response was so dry that it made Spencer lean back a little, eying Ryan knowingly. Ryan was at his most bitter and cynical when he was worried.
“Oooh, funny.”
“Shut up,” Ryan snapped, slamming the cup down.
“Stop worrying then.” Spencer’s voice was unusually soft. Usually when Ryan was in what Spencer lovingly called a hissy-fit, Spencer would be equally harsh, to cope with Ryan’s dark cynicism.
“I can’t,” Ryan said and it was not a lie. He did not know why certain things consumed him, but he felt that he could not stop.
A loud obnoxious ring tone broke through his train of self-depreciating thoughts. It was a nearby cell phone, but not his. He looked across the table as Spencer reached into his back pocket and pulled out the silver device, pressing it to his ear. “Jon? Hey man, what’s up?”
Ryan shot up, slamming his fist against the table and rocking the cup. “What the hell? Why’s he calling you?” Ryan snapped.
“Yeah, Ryan’s having a bit of a spaz attack. We’re in the airport,” Spencer said, as he pressed one finger into his freed ear to block out Ryan’s sounds. Ryan fumed angrily, wanting the phone.
“Ah I see. Why’d you call me. Ah true. But he’s already freaking out now. Okay, I’ll tell him.”
Spencer extended the phone to Ryan, but purposely kept it about six inches away from the guitarist’s reach. Ryan groped angrily, and Spencer talked in a soft soothing voice. “Brendon wants to talk to you,” he said, his voice unusually even and careful. “But if you freak out Jon’s gonna snatch the phone back and smack you as soon as he sees you.”
Ryan relented. “I…I won’t.”
Spencer leaned forward and Ryan snatched up the cell phone. “Hey baby,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle compared to the panic attack which had laced his voice with anger and worry.
“RYYAAN, you gotta come home now.” Ryan drew back the phone at the overwhelming sound of Brendon’s whine. Spencer laughed, hearing it too, as it echoes even through the speakers of the cell spone.
Ryan sighed. This wasn’t going to easy. Talking to Brendon was likely to leave him more aggravated than before. “Bren, I’m stuck. I’m sorry. As soon as we land we’ll get a fast car home. The airport’s only a few miles back from the apartment.”
“But I miss you so much. My head hurts and I’m disgusting and…”
Ryan could not help notice that Brendon was the cutest thing ever, even when he was whining like a sick child. Brendon had some kind of super cute powers that just defied any logic.
“I’m so HOT Ryan.”
“That you are beautiful,” Ryan joked lightly, trying to at least bring a smile to Brendon’s face. With the small laugh he hears on the other end, he can almost see it. Then Brendon starts coughing again and the laughter turns to annoyance.
“Stop trying to ch-ch-urgh-charm me,” Brendon stated loudly, coughing as he did so. “I hate you right now.”
Ryan was surprised that the bitter and not at all serious statement really hurt. It just showed how badly he wanted to hold Brendon in his arms he supposed. “Brendon I’m trying,” he stated in an even voice.
“I know. This just sucks. I feel miserable and I need you to come home and make it better.”
Ryan’s heart hurt at that. He clutched the phone tight. “I’ll be home. Jon’s with you and I’m sure he’s giving you all you need and more.” It was true. Ryan was not just saying that for comfort’s sake. Jon was always especially caring with Brendon, who was actually his boyfriend before Ryan entered the mix.
“He is, of course, but we only work as the three of us Ryan.”
Ryan was so lucky that the two boys in love had decided that they did in fact only work as three. “I know babe, we figured that out a long time ago.”
“Hurry?” Brendon’s voice cracked, so pathetic that Ryan felt tears spring to the corners of his eyes. Since when was he so emotional? Oh yeah, since he had fallen in love with two perfect men.
“Of course. I love you.”
“Love you too. Bleh, I’m gonna throw up Ryan.”
Ryan frowned. Brendon sounded terrible, and Ryan supposed that all of his emotions came from the fact that he could not help. He felt rather helpless at the moment, as Brendon did not speak any longer. “Get me J, okay?”
Five seconds later there was a sound of commotion and Jon’s voice returned to the line. “Ryan babe I gotta go. He’s gotten sick again.”
Ryan almost cried then, but fought the tears back as he was accustomed to doing. He had been doing that for so long that it came as second impulse. He did however stammer as he tried to get out the words that he was trying for. They came out choked, almost sickly. “Jon I…”
“I know babe. Just stay calm and come home as soon as possible. It’s just a flu. You…and I both…are just overreacting.” Jon’s voice was worn and heavy with the same ‘almost’ tears. Ryan realized that it hurt him even more to see his boyfriend acting irrationally because Jon was the calm one. He was laid back, and casual, and Ryan had never seen him strung out and scared before. It was really unnerving but it did prove to Ryan just how much Jon loved Brendon, and how capable Jon was of taking care of the singer in his absence.
“I gotta go, love you Ry.”
Ryan hung up the phone as it clicked in his ear, and moved to hand it back to Spencer. The drummer however, was not sitting in front of him as he had been only moments before. Ryan twisted his head to the side only to find the drummer leaning over an attendant’s desk and ‘talking nicely’ as Spencer was apt to call his outbursts. Ryan was far enough that he only caught bursts of it, a couple expletives, some shouting. He could see Spencer thrashing his arms madly as the woman stood up in her chair and tried to explain.
Ryan burst into a fit of laughter, which he tried to conceal when Spencer returned, looking defeated. “Well Ryan, shouting screaming and exploiting fame didn’t work. We must not be in America anymore.”
“We’re in California,” Ryan pointed out.
“Oh…well this is weird.” Spencer smiled at Ryan, and sat back down. “So what’s up with the boys? Is he…”
“He’s getting sick, freaking Jon out and declaring his hatred for me,” Ryan said with a tiny laugh. It was a miserable laugh and he looked at his best friend, amazed that a single phone call could be so exhausting.
.
Spencer reached around and pulled his best friend into the most charitable hug he could manage. “It’ll be okay dude. The weather’s clearing and it should be easier to work on the plane, right?”
* * *
In the hours that followed, Ryan had fallen asleep from the exhaustion and worry he was feeling. Two hours following the phone call and he finally felt a light nudging at his shoulder.
“Umph, can’t go home…unrgh…no.”
There was a whisper against his ear. “You can if you wake up. Flight 320 to Nevada departs in twenty minutes, man.” Ryan’s eyes shot open to find Spencer looking down on him, grinning like a total idiot. He had rarely seen the other boy so happy and expressive. “We’re going home.”
“Jesus, thank you.”
Ryan breathed the words and jumped up out of his seat.
The flight was extremely long. Okay, it was only a two hour flight, but it seemed like an eternity to Ryan, whose patience had been tested far beyond it’s limits. After that eternity had ended, the plane having descended and landed at the Las Vegas airport, Ryan was almost ready to cry. He rushed down the stairs, grabbed his bag and was outside where the label’s car was waiting for them in two seconds flat. He had left Spencer following him with wide eyes and shallow breaths.
Twenty minutes later they were pulling up to the apartment. He turned back to Spencer as he jumped out of the car. The drummer shook his head hard. “Ryan Ross you rushed us here and you’re not going to stop now. Hayley’s back at my place and I want to get home too. Call me later, let me know how he’s doing.”
“Will do. See ya.” He called the words back as he bounded up the stairs, far too impatient to wait for an elevator.
When he flung open the door, he was met with Jon’s voice, soft and relieved. “Ryan,” he whispered, before yelling from the other room. “Baby get your ass in here right now.” Ryan almost smiled at the annoyance before rushing into the bedroom.
The sight tore into his heart and left him staggering against the doorframe. The boys he loved so much were situated in the large bed which lie in the center of their bedroom. Brendon was asleep, head against Jon’s chest and eyes shut tight. Jon had his arms wrapped around Brendon holding him tight, in a manner that could only be described as protective. It was like he was trying to keep the illness away from his now almost fragile looking lover. Jon’s eyes rose from the top of Brendon’s head the moment Ryan entered, his expression one of relief and exhaustion.
“Hey there.”
Ryan was too choked up by the scene in front of him to say much in reply. He had never seen anything so picture perfect. Ryan was a writer who relied on saying things in many words, but it felt like he could write volumes just to describe this scene. “H-hey…”
“Well what are you standing there for?”
It was such a Jon thing to say that it melted the boy who had missed his boyfriends so.
Ryan stepped quietly to Jon’s side of the bed and leaned down (gently as not to wake Brendon up). Taking special care to be gentle, Ryan cupped long fingers around Jon’s cheek and pulled him into a slow, long kiss. He smiled as he felt Jon smile into the kiss. It made him proud to make Jon happy.
Ryan backed down when Brendon started shuffling. He looked far too weak and far too precious to wake up. Jon shifted a little and pressed his hand into Brendon’s arm, pulling him over lightly. Brendon grunted but as suspected, he did not wake up. Jon gestured for Ryan to head to the other side of the bed. “I have never seen anyone need anyone else, as badly as he needs you.”
“Looks like you did a good enough job yourself.”
Ryan sat down on Brendon’s other side, handing running down the sick boy’s arm. Poor baby. He really was a heartbreaking sight like this.
“Yeah but we don’t work, unless…”
“Unless it’s all of us. I know.”
Brendon moaned loudly, turning his body a little, just enough to where he could throw his arm over Ryan’s chest. Ryan’s heart melted just a little more as he grabbed Brendon’s hand gently. “Baby I’m here now…” the words were quiet, just a gentle comfort, all they could be. Brendon was still asleep yet he seemed to take real comfort in Ryan being there.
The relief flooded him. It really did, washing over him, a wave of sudden warmth. He knew it was all okay now.
Jon was watching Brendon with an intensity that was really not like him. “He’s doing better,” Jon murmured, and Ryan wasn’t entirely sure if those words were for him, or meant for Jon’s own comfort. “He’s not as hot as he was. He was burning up so bad about an hour ago, I wasn’t sure what to do.”
Ryan looked over the top of Brendon’s head and was met with the most worn, worried eyes he had ever seen. He was caught off guard by Jon falling out of his normal position in their lives and in their love. “J, baby, it’s okay. You did fine. He’s fine. We’re fine.”
Brendon started grumbling again, pulling at Ryan’s shirt. Dark hazy eyes flashed open. “Ryan?” he croaked quietly, voice raw with illness.
Ryan couldn’t help smile. He was home and with the men he loved. Nothing in the world could be better than how he felt when he was there with them. This was heaven, where he was meant to be, his home, his life. How on earth did he survive without this for so long? This was bliss and comfort, everything a person needed to live happily and thrive. This was home.
“Hey. How you feeling beautiful?”
“Bad,” Brendon whispered, his voice faint and stuffy. “But better. Now that you’re home.”
“I’m so sorry we got delayed.” Ryan patted down Brendon’s hair as the singer closed his eyes and leaned back against Jon so that he could look up at Ryan. “Forgive me?”
“This time Ross. This time.”
Brendon sniffled and pulled Ryan closer, a dazed but happy smile on his face. Ryan didn’t care that his boyfriend was still quite ill. The closeness was just needed at this point. “You been taken care of good?” he asked quietly, eyes flashing up to Jon, who gave him a sleepy smile.
“Of course.” Brendon looked back at Jon and smiled weakly with the effort of twisting his head to the side. “What other boyfriend would take care of you when you’re all sick and nasty and throwing up all over the house? Only Jon Walker…”
Jon’s exhausted face looked proud.
“Go to sleep stupid,” Brendon said as he glanced up at Jon. The statement however, was intended with love, as the singer was smiling faintly. “You’ve been up all night.”
Jon just nodded.
“He’s right babe, you look exhausted.”
“Okay, okay, gang up on me why don’t you?”
There was faint laughter that filled the room. They couldn’t stop laughing for a good moment, that was, until Brendon coughed several times. “Owww,” he mumbled and hugged himself tight against Ryan. Ryan wrapped his arms around the vulnerable form just as Jon finally started to close his eyes. Ryan had never felt more home in his life. Home was where love lived, he decided. This was home because it was the only place he ever wanted to be.
* * *
Brendon was well again in three days. He bounced around the apartment as normal and all was well in the world again. Ryan sat in the corner of writing. He looked up to find Jon, infuriated about a washing machine of all things. Ryan winced when it hit his art-muddled brain that the machine he’d ordered was no good.
“How could you not tell that it was a bad idea?” Jon asked Ryan, an annoyed tone to his voice, even though his eyes were wide and he was smiling. “I mean come on, the thing looked like a wreck when you ordered it.”
“Hey!”
Ryan looked up from the scratches on the paper to see that Brendon had pounced on top of Jon and was in the process of tackling him to the floor. “Don’t insult my boyfriend’s undeniable skills. He picked out that washing machine with looove.” Ryan watched the exchange with a soft smile, as the bouncy singer pushed Jon off of the couch and onto the floor. The two managed to roll around for a good two minutes before they sent Ryan off into a fit of laughter. Ryan had never been one to be vocal with emotions, but the boys were so cute.
“Actually Bren, I had no idea what I was doing. And J, you’re more than free to send in for a better one.”
“Hey, you’re not helping me win my---”
Brendon was shut up by Jon flipping him around and straddling his waist.
“I will Ryan,” Jon said from on top of Brendon, not even glancing upward.
“EVIL OPPRESSER OF MY RIGHTS TO PROTECT MY---”
Jon cut Brendon off by pressing his lips to the singer’s, earning a loud squeaking sounds as he did so. Ryan grinned and threw down the notebook before jumping off the couch and sitting next to them, watching them kiss with a sort of awe. They were so beautiful, so perfect, and they were both all his.
He had everything any man could ever want or need. He had completion.
“Don’t either of you two need to breathe?” Ryan asked with soft incredulity.