darker_london | Paul Bunyan (Joe, Julian)

By now, both Julian and Joe had heard about the things happening in London, but both of them were far too focused on what was happening inside the room, to spare many thoughts to the happenings outside of it. Now, however, Deirdre was missing. And Julian adored her, as he did Renee, and it hurt that his friends were hurting. And Abby said Thomas was going a little funny too and Peter was not sleeping, and it made Julian want to close the door and pretend nothing else existed. He was still afraid of the world out there beyond the hospital. It had been nearly a month now, and he hadn't left it. He didn't yet know if he could function out there. Here, he could hide...

Scooting his chair closer to his father's bed, Julian took Joe's hand into his. "Dad...are you awake?"

Joe stirred and he opened his eyes, smiling sleepily at Julian. He tried to speak again, but as always, he couldn't. Instead, he grimaced and swallowed painfully.

"Dad...there's scary shit."

Joe nodded and he squeezed Julian's hand. Then he gave Julian a questioning look. Oh god, Renton wasn't back again, was he?!"

"Just...London's going insane and Deirdre and Tamm's girlfriend are missing and you...I miss the things you say, Dad."

Not Renton then. That fuck for that. Joe reached out and he gently touched Julian's face. It was driving him mad not being able to speak either, it really was. But he did his best. He didn't want Julian to be afraid, but he knew the world was a scary place.

"And I know you don't think the whole..Renton thing was my fault, but I did bring him into our lives by fucking up and if you can't talk again and you can't get a job and we all end up homeless and starving to death, that's gonna make me feel really guilty..."

Joe chuckled silently, which hurt, but he ignore it. He gave Julian a fond look and he shook his head. Even if he couldn't talk, he'd get a job. Somehow. And if he didn't, they'd be taken care of. That's what their family did.

"I guess I could use my mad street skills and we could live off crisps..." Joe gave Julian an incredulous look because Julian's 'mad street skills' involved prostitution... "But you know...we'd only end up in worse trouble because my mad street skills are pretty...unsavvy at best. We could sell the baby!"

Joe closed his eyes because the laughter hurt, but it felt good anyway. His precious Julian had the oddest sense of humour...

"Or Mum, she's pretty."

Joe looked affronted and he pointed at himself with a quizzical look on his face.

"Oh no, dad, I reckon you wouldn't go for any higher than 3 quid. Unless someone had a lumberjack fetish. Hey, it could happen."

Joe reached out and he pocked Julian in the side. Julian jerked away, laughing because he was quite ticklish. "HEY! Yeah, that's why I suck as a whore...too ticklish." Hey, at least they could laugh about it...

Joe's laughter calmed and he patted Julian's hand reassuringly.

"I know, Dad. Everything's going to be okay. It's just...sometimes I need you to tell me that, okay?"

Joe nodded, glad that he could even if he couldn't use words. Then Joe patted his stomach and pointed to his mouth. Julian looked confused until Joe mimed chewing. "Dad! You aren't supposed to eat anything for a few days, that's what your...tubey guys are for." Julian said, pointing to the feeding tube poor Joe had stuck in him. Joe shook his head and he pointed to Julian's stomach. "Oh, me! Yeah...that's probably a good idea. After you go to sleep again. You're supposed to be resting, not poking me." Julian crawled up next to his father and he stretched out on the bed. "Close your eyes, Paul Bunyan. He was that huge lumberjack guy, right?"

Joe looked confused. He had no idea...