Snow Lodge
Chapter 14
Brian fumbled around desperately, trying to find a pulse or any sign that AJ was still alive. The blood seemed like it was everywhere, covering AJ's face and matting down his hair. Finally Brian felt a very faint throbbing beneath his fingers and almost cried in relief. AJ was alive, barely. Brian looked around him, back up at the steep path. AJ must've been looking for him and fallen down the slope. That was where the blood on the rock had come from. Brian paled at the thought. The rock was over 300 yards up the path from where AJ lay. He must've fallen all that way. Brian ran his hands down AJ's arms, torso and legs, trying to feel for broken bones. He couldn't feel any, but that didn't mean anything. He bit his lip as he realised that AJ could've damaged his spine and moving him was dangerous. But as the wind whipped the snow up around him he realised that it was just as dangerous to leave him out here.
"AJ... AJ... can you hear me?" Brian called desperately, shaking him lightly.
"Damnit Alex, don't do this to me... please." Brian pleaded. But AJ didn't even stir. Brian felt the tears fall from his eyes and freeze on his cheeks, but he didn't care, he had to get them back to the cabin.
He stood up and looked around for something, anything to help him carry AJ, but he found nothing. He knew that it was going to be almost impossible to carry AJ back to the cabin. It was at least a mile from where they were, and there was the steep slope to climb, and carrying AJ as dead weight would be almost impossible for somebody of Brian's size and strength.
For the first time in his life, Brian wished he was as tall and strong as Kevin and Nick, at least then it would be a slightly easier task to get them to safety. However he knew that wishful thinking wasn't going to help him now, and so he reached back down to lift AJ by the shoulders, praying all the while that he was not aggravating any injuries and making things worse.
He started off slowly, half carrying and half dragging AJ up the steep slope. It was impossible for him to stand, so he would slide himself up a few feet, before putting his hands under AJ's shoulders and pulling him up as well, repeating this over and over again until he could no longer feel his arms, and his strength began to fail him as the coldness took it's toll.
After almost 45 minutes of this, Brian had finally made it to the top of the steep section. He turned and pulled AJ up beside him, setting him down gently. His strength had all but gone, sapped by the climb and the cold, and he wanted nothing more than too curl up and sleep for a little while. He huddled closer, to AJ, trying to conserve what little body heat they had left, deciding that he would rest- just for a few minutes.
He rested his head on AJ's chest, feeling the soft rise and fall of his breathing. He closed his eyes and let his mind drifted to the memories of laying in AJ's arms like this all those years ago. It was his favourite position. He would do it all the time; when they were sleeping; sitting on the tourbus; hanging around in venues and hotel rooms.
Whenever it was just the five of them, the only other people who knew, he could curl up around AJ and lay his head on his chest, and AJ would bring his hand up and rub his back softly, or run his fingers through his hair.
He was so lost in this memory that he swore he could almost feel AJ's hand in his hair now. Brian felt his eyelids drooping, having no more energy to fight the unconsciousness that was creeping up on him. He knew that he should fight it and stay awake, but he really didn't know if he could, or even if he really wanted to. After all, what did he have left to live for?
As if answering Brian's silent question he felt AJ's chest rumble as he let out a deep groan. Brian slowly raised his head, and realised that AJ's hand really had been in his hair as he saw it fall limply to his side.
Brian felt a sudden surge of energy as he saw AJ begin to stir. AJ groaned again, louder this time, his face twisting into a grimace as the pain assaulted him.
Brian reached down and grabbed AJ's frozen hand with his own, squeezing it as tightly as he could.
"AJ. Alex? Come on, wake up... please."
Brian watched as AJ's eyelids flickered for a few moments before finally opening to show his soulful brown eyes. AJ blinked a few times, trying to make everything stop spinning before finally managing to focus on the figure hovering above him. He opened his mouth to try to speak, only managing to form one word.
"Brian?"
