When I get back to the hospital, Lindsay is still there with Justin, just like she�d promised. She smiles at me and I notice she looks at her watch. I�d been gone too long obviously.

�Did you sleep well?� She asks as she notices for the first time that I�m hauling in tons of junk.

I yawn and shake my head as I put the portable CD player and a stack of CD�s that I�m carrying on the table beside Justin�s bed. I remove the bag that�s slung over my shoulder and set it on the floor near the table. Gus walks in behind me and he�s got all of the rest of our stimulation project.

�Where should we start?� He asks.

I look around and point to the wall just in front of Justin�s bed.

�Probably over there, we�ll tilt the bed some when his eyes are open.�

Lindsay doesn�t say a word as she watches Gus begin to tape up our various paintings.

�How�s he been?� I look over at Justin who appears to be grimacing in his sleep. His sleep has been peaceful for the past two weeks that I�ve been staying here.

�He�s been having some nightmares I think.�

I put my hand on his and sit down in the chair next to him.

�What is all of this?� Lindsay finally asks looking around at the paintings, then nosing into the bag shuffling things around.

Gus begins to explain things to her as I watch Justin�s face closely. His eyes slowly begin to open and he stares blankly ahead just as he has for the past two weeks. I press the controls on the bed and it raises his head slightly, just enough so that everything Gus has hung up is within his line of vision.

I release a breath that I didn�t realize I�d been holding as I see Justin�s eyes scanning the shapes and colors in front of him. It�s not the biggest change in the world, but it�s something.

Even Lindsay noticed the change in his eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears as she kissed and hugged Gus and I before she left.

�I think you guys are on to something here.�

I just gestured to Gus. This was all his doing and I couldn�t take credit for it.

�Yeah, well I�ve always said that thanks to my genes our son is a genius.� I smirked a little.

After she left Gus and I sat in silence for awhile.

�So Dad�� Gus was looking right at me as I watched Justin.

�Yeah?� I asked absently.

�Do you think you could write me some kind of excuse for skipping my afternoon classes?� He smiled innocently.

I sort of laughed as I turned my attention to him.

�Don�t tell me you�re suddenly afraid of detention?� I smile and he knows I�m going to write the excuse.

�Never afraid of detention, I just want to be here tomorrow when we add the CD�s.�

The next afternoon as soon as Gus got to the hospital he put a CD in the player and we added sound stimulation for Justin. I know talking is good, but I can only find my voice around him when he�s asleep.

He seems to be a little more aware of things today, than he was yesterday, or maybe I�m just imagining it, wanting it so badly that I think its happening. That this is helping. He has been conscious longer today than he�s been before. Of course that�s how it�s been everyday, he�s awake a little longer and sleeps a little less.

Gus started talking to me and I realized I�d been zoning out just watching Justin. I smiled and looked up at him.

�What?�

�I said. You really should get some sleep.�

�I�ve been sleeping off and on.� I yawn. �I�m fine sonny boy.�

�I know. You�re fine, you�re always fine.� He�s giving me a bit of a disappointed look.

�Gus�� I say it softly, as if I can explain myself. I�m not sure what I want to say.

�Dad�� He says it in the same tone as mine. Okay so now he�s mocking me.

�Gus�� I say a little louder, with just the slightest hint of aggravation bordering on anger.

�Dad�� He�s back to mocking me, talking to me in my own voice.

�Stop that.� I shoot him a dirty look, and then look over at Justin.

�Stop what?� The innocent act, I laugh and roll my eyes.

�You�re being a brat.� I smile at him and shake my head.

�I know. I just worry about you. You don�t have anybody else to look out for you. It�s kind of my job.� He says it smiling, but he�s totally serious.

�Then you should understand. Justin doesn�t have anybody else either.� I whisper, not wanting Justin to hear me.

�What about his mom? His dad? His sister?� Now we�re both whispering.

I shake my head and shrug.

�I tried to call his mother. Her office said she was on an extended vacation in Europe. They wouldn�t give me anymore information. All I could do was leave a message. I�m sure I�m not high on her list of people that she wants to call back right away.�

�Does his dad know?� I shake my head.

�I don�t know Gus. I�m sure someone has called him.� I remember back to the day in my office, if he knew then he sure as hell didn�t seem to care.

�But Molly��

�I don�t have her number Gus. I don�t even know what city she lives in, or if she�s married, she wouldn�t have the same last name. There�s nothing else I can do to let them know.�

�Don�t get defensive.� He comes over and hugs me.

�I�m not defensive. I�m tired.� I say hugging him back.

�Which is why you need some sleep� He whispers in my ear. �but I�m not going to push it.�

I almost believe him, until I remember who I�m talking to. He�ll keep pushing; he�s a lot like his mother that way. He always seems to get his way. I stand up and walk toward the door.

�Where are you going?� Gus asks.

�Home. Can you handle four hours?� I look back at Justin and feel guilty. His eyes are closed again.

�Yeah.� He smiles and knows he�s won.

�I�ll be back by 7:30.�

�We�ll be fine. I�ve got homework to do, so take your time.�

I felt good leaving Gus with Justin. Hell if he can handle looking out for me, I figure Justin should be a breeze. As soon as I got to the loft I set my alarm clock and fell asleep within seconds after I dropped down on the bed.

To be continued.