Snow Lodge
Chapter 51
Howie re-entered the room, and quickly moved to Brian's side. He put a hand on Nick's arm, causing him to look up. Brian was wrapped tightly in Nick's arms, his head buried in Nick's chest, his breathing coming out in small gasps as his crying slowed.
Howie leant down to be closer to Brian, running a hand through his sweaty curls.
"Brian." Howie whispered. "Brian look at me. I've got some news for you."
Brian pulled back from Nick, turning his pain-filled eyes to Howie.
"Has Alex woken up?" Brian asked, hope flashing in his eyes.
"Not yet Brian, I'm sorry." Howie watched the light fade once again.
"But Jonesy has said you can go and visit him if you want."
Nick looked up in surprise, wondering how Howie had managed to pull that one off. Howie just smiled as he saw a faint glimmer of life re-appear in Brian's eyes once more.
"I..I can?" Brian asked, shocked.
"Yes, you can. You can't stay with him, because you both need your rest, but you can go and see him and tell him he has to get better, and then you can come back here and let yourself get better. Okay?"
Brian snuffled a little, looking like a lost child. "Okay."
"Good. Come on then, we can't have you wandering around the hospital looking like that. Let's go get you cleaned up a bit." Howie smiled at Brian, pleased to see him smile in return. It wasn't a real smile, but it was the first one they had seen in quite a while.
Carefully, Nick helped Brian up off of the bed. He was very weak still, a combination of exhaustion and the drugs still in his system, and so it was slow progress to get him over to the small bathroom at the far side of the room.
Howie went ahead and opened the door, running some water in the sink and wetting a washcloth ready for Brian. Nick helped Brian over to the toilet, where he closed the lid so Brian could sit on it; rather than making him stand.
Howie handed the warm washcloth to Brian, who took it and used it to wipe his face, erasing the tear tracks from his face, though not helping to hide his red-rimmed eyes.
After a few minutes of absent-minded rubbing, Nick took the cloth away from Brian and handed it back to Howie, before crouching down in front of his best friend.
"Frick?" He called softly, reaching up one hand to run through Brian's curls.
Brian shifted his focus over to the concerned gaze of his friend.
"You gonna be okay?" Nick questioned, seeing Brian's almost vacant expression.
Brian nodded quickly, not wanting to give Nick any reason to not let him go. He wanted to see AJ, more than anything in the world� but he was scared.
He couldn't have been hiding this fact very well though, because Howie knelt down beside him as well, and took one of his hands.
"Brian? Brian listen to me." Howie gently coaxed Brian's attention to him. "I know you're scared. I was too, but we will be there with you, we won't make you do this alone. Nicky, Kev 'n me, we'll be right there with you and AJ. You are not alone. You will never be alone. Okay?"
Brian stared into Howie's eyes. He could easily see the truth shining through. Howie was right, he wasn't alone. He had Howie, Nick and Kevin to help him through this, and AJ had all of them too. Whatever happened, no matter how scary everything got, the others would be there for him, to show him the way and guide him through.
Howie and Nick saw the change in Brian's eyes, as the fright faded slightly. He was still scared, but he no longer felt the same hopelessness that had held him captive before. Somewhere, on some level, Howie had got through to him, and he was now ready to go and see AJ.
