Home Run

Chapter 5


Brian: 
~~~~ 

“Brian, are you still there? Brian? ……… Christ ……… Can you hear me?” 

“I hear you, Mikey,” he answered. 

Brian gripped the edge of the desk to keep from falling. His heart was pounding and he could barely take in what Michael was saying. Lindsay and Mel – dead? 

He dropped into his chair, his mouth had gone suddenly dry and he could hardly get out the words. “Gus ……. What about Gus?” 

“Gus is fine. The sitter was with him, which I why Lindz and Mel were out so late”. 

He sighed with relief. His son was safe, but had lost both his Mom’s and he, Brian, had lost one of the most important people in life. 

Aside from Michael, Lindsay was his closest friend and he’d cared about her a great deal; loved her even. They’d gone through college together and, for a short while, had even been lovers, before they both accepted they were gay. 

Much to Melanie’s dismay, when she and Lindsay decided they wanted a child and that Lindz would be the birth Mother, Lindz had insisted that Brian be the Father: A role he thought he could totally ignore other than provide the sperm required. 

Fatherhood had been a role totally unfamiliar to Brian. His own Father had been a bully who regularly beat his son until he was of an age whereby he could stand up for himself. But, once his own child was born, Brian realised that although he could never be anywhere near a full-time Dad, he loved his son; would always care about him. 

He was just managing to hold it together. “I’ll be on the first flight back I can get. I’ll call you when I know when that is” and he put down the phone. 

Brian took a deep breath. He had to get back to the Pitts as fast as he could and called the airport. The first flight he could get was the US Airlines 9.30am. from La Guardia, which would arrive in Pittsburgh at 11.06am. Just time enough for him to hurry back home, throw a few things into a suitcase and get out to the airport. 

He called Mikey to tell him what time he’d be arriving and his friend was there at the gate to meet him. 

For a moment, neither of them knew what to say and they just hugged. Michael was the only person that Brian had ever allowed himself to fall apart in front of. When his Dad died and when Justin had been so badly injured, Michael was the only one of his friends who’d ever really understood how much Brian had been hurt. But now was not the time to give in to grief. 

“I don’t understand. Why didn’t anyone call me as soon as it happened?” asked Brian, as they headed for the car rental desk. 

“The sitter fell asleep and didn’t realise they hadn’t come back until first light. She called the Police and they started to check the hospitals. I guess Gus gave my number ‘cos I’d seen them late yesterday when I dropped in some papers to Mel about the new lease on the shop. I got a call just before six”. 

Brian signed the rental agreement and they headed out to the parking lot where the car was waiting for them. 

Getting in, Brian clutched the steering wheel, his knuckles white from the fierceness of his grip. Michael put a hand on his arm. 

“I don’t think I can do this, Mikey”. “I understand that, but Gus needs you. You’re his dad. You’re his family now” and the enormity of this fact was only just beginning to sink in. 

Taking a deep breath, Brian opened the front door to the house. He could hear muffled voices from the lounge room, where he found Debbie, Emmett, Ted and Michael’s partner, Ben. 

They all stood as he and Michael entered the room and Debbie made to go and give him a hug, but Brian just stood there, unable to return the contact. 

Debbie and Michael exchanged glances. They had seen Brian’s defences go up before. That impenetrable wall he put around himself to prevent anything or anyone getting too close; causing him pain or threatening to force him to acknowledge feelings he was unwilling to admit to. 

“Honey, I’m so sorry". Debbie had obviously been crying and didn’t care who saw it. 

“Where’s Gus?” “He’s in his room. We haven’t told him anything yet, but he knows something’s wrong” she answered. 

Brian knocked lightly on the bedroom door before going in. Gus was sitting on his bed, reading a book. 

“DAD!” he exclaimed, rushing over to him. “I didn’t know you were coming. What’s going on? No one’s telling me anything, but I know something’s wrong. Where’s Mom and Mama?” 

Taking him by the shoulders, Brian gently walked Gus back to the bed and sat him down. He sat beside him and for once, he didn’t know what to say. 

Try as he might, Brian could no longer hold it in. “Dad?” Gus looked at him. 

He could see the tears in his Father’s eyes and he began to sob. Brian took him in his arms and the young boy buried his head in his Father’s chest. 

This was their time and, holding each other tightly, they cried together. 


To be continued.