Chapter 3
Justin
Justin sat in the brown leather chair in the gray-walled visiting area. He looked forward to his weekly visit with Toby. He hoped his brother was having a good day.
Justin felt the buzz in the wards as the door opened. The mind healer jumped up when his younger brother walked into the room. Toby greeted him with a tired smile. There were dark purple circles under his eyes.
“Hey J.” Justin pulled him into a hug. He felt his brother tense before his body sagged in his arms.
“Hey, Tobes.” He kissed his brother's temple before he walked him over to the couch. The smaller man sat cross crossed on one cushion facing him.
“You look good.” Justin turned to face him. “Heard you are starting music therapy. I’m proud of you for trying something new.” Toby rolled his eyes but looked down at his hands.
“Healer Grant thought it would be a significant change. I don’t think it will help, but.” His brother shrugged. “Y... You still going to art therapy?”
Justin smiled. His brother didn’t like to talk about himself much, but as long as he was talking, he didn’t mind.
“I am. It’s going well, actually.” Justin’s mind went to blue-gray eyes, light blond hair, and a plump bottom lip.
“Must be going well, seeing as you are blushing. I can guess why you are smiling like you are. You look like Nurse Jackson when he sees Healer Grant. Don’t tell me you like the Healer at your art therapy?” Toby leaned forward, his tired brown eyes sparkled.
Justin chuckled and shook his head. “No, it’s not a healer, it's actually someone in the group.” His brother's face changed quickly. The sparkle was gone. It was replaced by worry.
“Justin, you can’t fix everyone.” Toby crossed his arms. “Not saying that is what you are trying to do. Maybe you really do like this person, but make sure that they won’t become a project for you to fix since you can’t fix me.”
“Of course I like Draco. Toby, he is gorgeous, smart, and so talented.” Justin rushed out. He felt his cheeks burn. Then it clicked what his brother said. “I don’t need to fix you, Toby. You are not broken. You were never broken.” Toby’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Justin was about to ask what was wrong when his brother spoke.
“Draco! You… You’ve seen Draco?! They won’t let him come visit yet. I’ve asked, and he has owled me every week. They won’t let him come yet. They said he needs to be away for a little longer before he comes to visit. I miss him. How is he doing? I’m glad he is still doing art! He is talented! I have a picture he painted me for Christmas.” His brother rambled on. Justin just sat in shock. Draco was in here, with his brother. Do Toby and Draco know each other? Why was Draco in here?
Justin must have taken too long to answer him. “Justin…. Please don’t be weird around him now. He isn’t like me. He has only been here once. It was only for a couple of weeks.”
Justin shook his head and smiled at his little brother. “No, of course not! I was just shocked that you know each other. I’m guessing you know how gorgeous he is then. You… you don’t?” Justin’s heart would be broken if he couldn’t pursue Draco, but he wouldn’t do that to his brother.
Toby barked out a laugh. “Of course not! Draco was just a close friend. So he is doing okay?”
Justin nodded and reached over and grasped his brother's hand. “Yes, he is doing okay, or from what I can tell. His art is beautiful. I can’t believe you are lucky enough to have something he made.” Toby smirked at him. “He has a brand new nephew. He is actually friends with Charlie and his family. I was shocked when I saw him at family dinners.” Justin hated to talk about family dinners. He wished Toby had the support system. He knew if he told them about his brother, Barnaby would bring family dinner to him.
“Oh, that’s good. I’m glad he has the support system.” Toby bit his bottom lip, and Justin squeezed his hand again.
“You will meet Barnaby and his crazy family. I promise. I want you to talk to Healer Grant before, though. I want to make sure that it’s a good idea to have everyone here.” Toby pulled his hand away from his brother and huffed.
“Fine, sure I’ll ask him. Are you sure you are worried about them being hurt and not about me? Can’t trust me around them?” Justin shook his head. That isn’t what he meant.
“Of course, I can trust you around them! Toby, you know you mean the world to me. You are my best friend. My brother. I just don’t want any setbacks”
Toby’s face fell, and he leaned forward into Justin’s arms. The mind healer held onto his brother.
“I love you, Toby.” Justin rubbed his little brother’s back.
“I love you too J.”
Time with Toby was never long enough. He stayed as long as he could, but when Nurse Jackson came in with a fixed smile, that always meant time was up and Justin couldn’t see his brother for another week.
Draco
“Dwaco! I color yous a picture!” Silas held up a coloring page of flowers. Every inch of the page had a colorful scribble. Draco was on the floor with Nash propped up on his knees.
*Thank you* Draco signed, and Silas signed back welcome. Draco, with the help of Severus, was teaching his nephew more and more words.
“I color one for Tad now!” Draco smiled at the little boy and gave him a thumbs up. Severus and Neville are gathering potion ingredients that are not safe around children. Draco jumped at the chance to spend time with the boys.
It was nice to have a distraction before group art therapy. Justin was on his mind even more since the family dinner. Draco looked down at Nash, whose eyes were open. He still had deep, newborn blue eyes. Maybe he could let Justin take him on a date. How would he ever have this if he didn’t give him a chance?
“Daddy! Tad!” Silas’s voice made him look up, and he saw the two adults walk into the room. “I colorin'!”
“I see that. It is beautiful, Silas. Did you and Uncle Draco have a good time?” Severus asked as he picked up his toddler. Draco assumed they put the ingredients in his home lab before they came in.
“Uh-huh! Tad! Dwaco wooks sad. I color him a picture too!” Draco shook his head and handed Nash to Neville.
*I wasn’t sad, I just had a lot on my mind.* Draco signed and Neville winked at him.
“It wouldn’t be a certain mind healer that you had on your mind, was it?” Neville teased as he went to feed Nash.
Draco ignored the other blond wizard and looked at Severus. *I have therapy and I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.* Draco kissed Silas on the cheek.
*I love you* Silas’s chubby hand signed it perfectly.
Draco kissed the little boy's cheek again and signed back. *I love you*
When Draco walked into the art room, he saw Justin was already there and it looked like he saved two spots next to each other. The only two spots left. He fought the urge to roll his eyes.
Justin looked over at him when he sat down on the stool.
*Hey Draco! I was lucky enough to get here in time to save us our seats!* The curly-haired man signed with a dimpled smile. Draco felt a smile as it tried to break free.
*Yes, lucky me.* He signed with a deadpan look.
The therapist told the group that they were going to start finger painting today. Draco was skeptical. He was an adult. Why would he want to finger paint? This is something he let Silas and Topher do. That changed when he started with the first finger stroke.
*I’m glad that we got to sit next to each other.* Justin said as he signed, his hands messy from the paint. Draco just nodded as he used his middle finger to dot leaves on a tree he was working on. He tried not to notice how happy Justin looked. He couldn’t see that happiness all the time. Even though the mind healer looked happy most of the time, there was sadness in his eyes.
*Oh Toby wanted me to tell you he said hello.* Draco felt his heart sink into his stomach. His head snapped over to the mind healer.
*Yeah, I didn’t know that you guys knew each other. I was talking about how there is this cute guy in my group art therapy. When I told him your name, he was really excited. He wanted to know how you were doing. He can’t wait for you to come visit.* Justin rambled on while Draco felt his chest tighten. That is not the way he wanted to tell the man. He didn’t even know he would have wanted to tell Justin.
Draco jumped when he felt a hand on his cheek. The same cheek where the hideous scar was. Brown eyes looked into his eyes.
“Breath Draco. Can you breathe with me, Draco?” Justin's voice was calm, but it had the opposite effect on Draco. He was touching his scar, and he knew. Draco pulled away from the touch; he couldn't deal with this. He had to get away.
The blond ran out of the room until he found the nearest toilet and apparated away.
Draco popped into the kitchen he thought of. The older wizard was at the hob, turned around and a wooden spoon pointed at him.
“Oh Draco, what a surprise.” Barnaby smiled. Draco still couldn’t take a deep breath. He was lightheaded. He felt pinpricks on the roof of his mouth, lips, and fingertips. Barnaby noticed and ran over to him.
“It’s okay, precious. Take a deep breath with Pops, okay?” Barnaby’s hands were on his shoulders and Draco looked deep into his eyes and nodded.
The potion master copied Barnaby’s breathing. His breath hitched a few times before he felt the rhythm of his chest matching Barnaby’s. Draco sagged into the older wizard's arms. He hasn’t been held like this since he was a child.
“Good job, Draco,” Barnaby cooed as he rocked them back and forth. “Thank you for coming to me when you needed me. It makes me happy to think that my home is a safe place for you.”
Draco felt lips on his forehead. Tears fell without permission. Barnaby just held him as he cried.
“You are just in time for dinner,” Barnaby said as he pulled away from Draco. The older wizard held him for hours, or what Draco felt like hours. “You need to eat. I’m sure Ruby would be happy to see you.”
Draco nodded and signed, *Thank you*
Barnaby kissed his forehead. “You don’t have to say thank you. It’s what family does.”
Neville
Neville rubbed lotion into his hands as he walked into his bedroom. Severus sat on their bed shirtless. He took in the sight of his fiance. That is when he noticed the frown on the older man’s face.
“What’s wrong?” Neville asked as he pulled the covers back on his side of the bed. Severus looked up at him. Those onyx eyes were tired.
“Barnaby floo’d while you were in the shower. Draco popped by literally tonight when he was supposed to be at art therapy. He didn’t tell Barnaby what was wrong if he did. He didn't share it with me. All he said was Draco apparated in and was having a panic attack.”
Neville gasped when he got into bed. “Oh gods, is he okay?”
Severus nodded. “Yes, Barnaby fed him and he is asleep in the guest room. Barnaby thinks Charlie should talk with Draco. I agree with him.” Neville raised his eyebrow. Charlie? The grumpy bear?
“I don’t know if that would be a good idea, Severus. I know Charlie is better since he got with Harry, but he is still..” Neville moved his head back and forth as he tried to find the right word. “Well, he is just Charlie.”
Severus wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into his arms. “I had Charlie in class before his accident. He was a quiet, kind, and headstrong kid. He looked out for his classmates. Charlie will help.”
Neville nodded as he snuggled into the potion master. “Okay. I’ll keep both boys tomorrow. Just in case Draco needs to talk to you.”
Severus cupped his cheek and kissed him slowly. “I love you, Neville.” He said as their noses rubbed together.
“I love you too, Severus. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“A little more than a month, My Pet. Now let's get some sleep before Nash wakes us up for his 2 am feeding.” Severus pulled them down and spooned behind him. Neville felt a few kisses on his neck before he fell peacefully asleep.