Alpha and Omega

It’s been a day since the news. Matt never left Brian’s side in Brian’s hospital room. Brian slept the entire time. Matt never slept a wink. The others slept but only about an hour before waking up again. All but Brian began to have dark bags develop under their eyes. Finally, at noon, Brian slowly woke up and sees Matt sitting by his bedside.
“Hey Baby,” Brian says weakly.
Matt’s bottom lip began to quiver, “Hey Brian.”
“Mattie?” Brian asks as his face shows concern, “Mattie what’s wrong?”
“T-They didn’t tell you?” Matt asks as his voice begins to break.
“Tell me what?” Brian says as he begins to grow scared, “Matt what is going on?”
Tears start to roll down Matt’s cheeks as his bottom lips quivers more spazzingly.
Matt inhales sharply from a sob, “Brian… you have a week.”
“A week until what?” Brian asks but after a moment he knew, his face changes to dead serious, “I only have a week to live?”
Matt nods as he continues to sob, “The damage was too much. The doctors did what they could.”
“Oh Mattie,” Brian says as he takes in Matt’s hand that is laying on his bedside.
Brian pulls Matt in and hugs him, “We shouldn’t shed tears. If I have a week, then let’s make it a good week.”
Matt lifts his head to look at Brian in the eyes, and looks at Brian for a moment before nodding.
“You deserve to be happy,” said Matt, his voice still somewhat breaking, “even on your last week… I’ll make sure you’re happy.”
Brian has a crooked smile on his face and his eyes water a little.
“One wish I want to make right now is,” said Brian, “is that you have kids.”
Matt blinks a couple times, “W-What?”
“Remember?” Brian asks, “We agreed on children.”
Matt slowly shakes his head, “I don’t know if I could without you.”
“Please? For me?” Brian asks as he holds on Matt’s hand, “I’ll believe in that you’ll be the greatest father ever.”
Matt looks down, his bottom lip slightly quivering, then looks back up at Brian, “Okay… okay Brian I will. For you. Because I love you.”
“I love you Mattie,” Brian replies.
“I’ll go talk to a doctor about adoption later,” said Matt.
“Sounds good,” Brian says with a crooked smile.
“Are you hungry?” Matt asks, “Thirsty? Tired? Need your pillow fluffed?”
Brian chuckles, “I’m fine Mattie. For the most part I’m fine.”
“Okay,” Matt says as he brushes a piece of hair out of Brian’s face.
“Although,” said Brian, “I would love if you cuddle with me. I miss that.”
Matt stands up and takes off his shoes. Brian scoots over on the bed as Matt climbs in. Matt wraps his arm around his husband’s waist.
“How’s this Bri?” Matt asks.
“Perfect,” Brian answers as he places his head on Matt’s chest, “Now please sleep. Those bags on your eyes worry me.”
“I’m scared to,” Matt replies, “Not to sound creepy, but I don’t want to miss your last breath.”
“I have days,” said Brian, “I’m asking for hours.”
Matt wraps his arms slightly tight around Brian and kisses Brian on top of Brian’s head, “Okay. I’ll do it for you Brian. I love you very much.”
“I love you very much too Mattie,” Brian says as he places a hand on Matt’s chest and rubs his thumb across it. Still weak, Brian couldn’t fight when his eyelids began to drop.

---x---

Brian wakes up and checks the clock on the wall, he’s been sleeping for three hours. Brian smiles a little seeing Matt sleeping… and snoring. Just then a curvy African American nurse comes in.
“Your visitor can’t be in the bed with you,” she said as she walks to Brian’s monitor to check his vitals.
“Please,” Brian pleas, “Can you let it slide just this once? He’s my husband and I don’t have much time.”
She presses her lips to a thin line then slightly nods, “Okay. I can understand for this situation.”
Brian smiles a little, “Thank you miss.”
“Sure thing Sugar,” said the nurse, “Open your mouth please.”
Brian does as he’s told as the nurse puts in the thermometer.
“How do you put up with that snoring?” the nurse asks as she writes down Brian’s temperature on her clipboard.
“I know it’s not a pleasant sound,” said Brian, “but I’m glad he’s finally sleeping.”
The nurse smiles, “I’m all done here until the next check up.”
“Okay,” Brian replies, “Thank you.”
The nurse nods and leaves. Then, Matt lets out a loud snore right by Brian’s ear. Loud enough to wake himself up. Matt subconsciously tightens his grip on Brian.
“You’re still awake?” Matt asks with a groggy voice and eyes half open.
“I slept for a few hours,” Brian answers, “You only woke up about a half an hour after I did. You’re still quite the snorer.” Brian said then chuckles.
“Why didn’t you elbow me like usual?” Matt asks, his thumb rubbing across Brian’s hip.
“I wanted you to get your sleep,” Brian answers.
Then, Matt’s belly grumbles.
Brian chuckles a little, “And now I want you to go get yourself something to eat.”
Matt nods then kisses Brian’s forehead, “Okay. You know I’m doing this all for you, right?”
Brian nods, “Yeah.”

“Because you know I would do anything for you, right?”

“Yes I do.”

“Because you know I love you with all my heart and soul, right?”

“Very much so. I love you with all my heart and soul too Mattie… I will even after the day I die.”

Matt tries to hold back tears and kisses Brian’s forehead again, “I’m going to get some food. Am I allowed to get you something?”
“Just the hospital food,” Brian answers, “Can you surprise me?”
“Sure thing Baby,” Matt says, brushing a lock of hair out of Brian’s face.
Matt gets up and walks to the cafeteria. He sees Jimmy, who has Pinkly in his arms.
“Is Brian awake?” Jimmy asks.
“Yeah,” Matt answers, “I’m going to get us something to eat. You want something?”
“Pudding,” Jimmy says with a small smile, “I thought Brian would like to see Pinkly, ya know?”
“Yeah,” said Matt, “I know he’ll like that. How’s Bella?”
“She’s doing great,” Jimmy answers.
“Thanks for taking care of the dogs,” said Matt.
“Anytime Matt,” Jimmy replies, “You can repay with pudding. Chocolate of course.”
Matt chuckles, “Of course.”

---x---

Matt comes back with a tray of food, he couldn’t help but smile. Seeing Brian snuggling with Pinkly, Matt thought that there wasn’t anything in the world more adorable.
Matt enters the room, “I bring goodies. Jimmy here’s the pudding.”
Jimmy takes the pudding cup and plastic spoon, “Thanks bud. I’ll take Pinkly home.”
Jimmy scoops up Pinkly in one arm.
“Thanks for letting me see her one last time Jimmy,” said Brian.
Jimmy nods, trying to hold all his emotions in, “Not a problem Bri.”
Matt’s phone begins to ring.
“It’s my mom,” Matt mutters as he looks at the screen of the cell phone.
“Go talk to her,” said Brian, “She’s probably worried about you.”
“Okay,” Matt leaves the room and answers his phone.
Brian grabs the bowl of chicken stir fry from the tray that sits on the hospital table. He had a smile on his face, because he loved that Matt remember that Brian loves chicken stir fry.

“I’m scared Mama,” Matt says with his voice slightly breaking, “I don’t know what I’m going to do when he’s gone.”
“It’s okay to be scared,” said Mrs. Sanders, “I would be worried if you weren’t. Losing someone is always hard. I’ll always be here for you Honey, you’re my baby boy.”
Matt’s bottom lip begins to quiver, “Thanks Mom.”

Then, machines in Brian’s begin to beep loudly. Matt turns rapidly to see Brian coughing up blood.
“Mom I got to go,” Matt says, “Brian’s in trouble. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Mrs. Sanders replies, “Go help Brian.”
Matt hangs up the phone and runs to Brian.

“Brian!”

Multiple nurses came into Brian’s room. One pushes Matt away.
“I’m sorry but you need to stay out here,” she said.
“But that’s my husband,” Matt retorts with fear in his voice.
“We’re going to do everything we can,” she says to comfort Matt.
“But I can’t leave him,” Matt says, trying to get Brian.

Matt began to panic. It took 10 staff members to stop Matt before a nurse gave Matt a shot to put him to sleep for a few hours. Matt still tried to fight, but his body wouldn’t listen. All he could think about was Brian.

Matt slowly opens his eyelids and sees he’s still in the hospital. He shot his eyes open and rapidly sits up. He looks to his right and sees Brian sleeping. The heart monitor beeping at a normal pace. Matt gets out the bed and rushes to Brian’s side. Matt grabs Brian’s hand onto holds it within his own two hands.
“I sincerely apologize about the scare.”
Matt looks to see the doctor.
“The surgeon told he has a week,” said the doctor, “I was never told about eating.”

“It’s common sense Maurice.”
Then the so-called surgeon appears.
“His stomach was damaged,” said the surgeon, “He can’t eat or his stomach acid would eat away at the stitches.”
Matt releases Brian’s hand and walks to the practitioners.
“What going on with Brian?” Matt asks.
“I said he would live for about a week but he can’t eat,” said the surgeon, “He can only have water.”
“He might starve,” Matt retorts.
“I’m only human Mister Sanders,” said the surgeon, “Not a miracle worker.”
“You see Mister Sanders,” said the doctor, Maurice, “The knife that struck your husband hit the bottom of his stomach and his intestines.”
“It’s only so little time before his stomach acid eats away at the new stitches and eats away at his insides,” said the surgeon.
“So you sewed up my husband like he’s a fucken teddy bear?” Matt spat, his focus is on the surgeon.
“I did it so you could at least have your last good byes,” the surgeon spats back.
“But he’s suffering,” said Matt.
“Then we can have him be put down,” said the surgeon.
The doctor steps back as he feels the anger from Matt.
Matt’s face is medium pink, “He is NOT a teddy bear to stuff back together! He is NOT a sick dog to ‘put down’! He’s a human being! He’s a BROTHER! He’s a SON! He’s a FRIEND! He’s- …He’s my husband.”
Tears spills from Matt’s eyes.
“Maybe he can have a feed tube and painkillers Todd,” said Dr. Maurice.
“His stomach would still have to digest what’s being fed to him,” Dr. Todd replies, “Painkillers will help him not feel anything and he’ll randomly die.”
Dr. Todd looks at Matt, “Either he suffers a few more days or inject him to sleep… your choice.”

Notes