Chapter Text
It took another day, but eventually they had to discharge Brian. Though Freddie would’ve preferred to keep Brian in the hospital until after his sickness was gone.
“Are you sure he’s ok to be discharged like this? I mean he drowned for God’s sake! And a fever!” Freddie said holding Brian to himself.
The Doctor sighed.
“Mr Mercury, Mr May, is going to be just fine. We see no reason to keep him here, you and your friends just have to make sure he gets enough fluids and make sure he eats. We will prescribe him an antibiotic but all in all he will be fine” The Doctor said.
Freddie a bit calmer now, sighed and strokes Brian’s hair.
Roger and John were getting the car ready to transport Brian back to the place they were staying at. So it gave Freddie time to rouse Brian up as best as he could.
“Brimi darling...come on we are leaving this dreadful place” Freddie cooed as he tapped Brian’s cheek and shook him a little.
For a split second he found himself back at that awful pond. Brian cold in their arms and....
“Ughhh” Brian groans opening his eyes, they’re still a little glazed but a little more focused.
“Fred..?” He asked voice a little hoarse.
Freddie sighed in relief relaxing a little. He wasn’t at that pond and Brian was CERTAINLY alive and well.
“Hi darling, come on, Roger and Deaky are getting the car ready can you sit up for me?” Freddie asked gently.
Brian nodded and he got up albeit a little shaky.
“Feel..feels like I’ve been run over” Brian sighed closing his eyes slowly.
“Hey no no, eyes open dear. Just at least we get to the car! Then you can sleep all you want” Freddie said getting a jacket for Brian and putting his arms through it. John, the smart lad, had slippers by the bed for Brian to simply slip his feet in which Brian did with no trouble.
Roger soon came in with the discharge papers.
“Ok Bri, you’re good to go. Come on, John’s in the car waiting.” Roger said as he helped Brian up, Brian might have towered over him but he was going to help him stand anyways.
“Thanks Rog, owe you one” Brian smiles softly down at him. It makes Roger smile instantly. Until Brian grimaced.
“What is it?” Roger asked.
Freddie looked at Brian in alarm ready to get a doctor.
“Shit..chest and ribs are sore...” Brian sighs.
“Ah...well...you can blame Roger for that one darling” Freddie said.
Brian looked at Roger.
“Roger what did you do?”
It was then that Freddie and Roger realized that they didn’t tell Brian exactly what happened.
“Uh...look we will tell you when we get back to our place” Roger said.
Brian followed along and soon enough they were back at the place they were staying. John had been awfully quiet. Although Brian couldn’t blame him. They hadn’t really have been the best of friends lately.
Brian lays on the couch with a mug of tea in his hands and he sighs softly. His body is aching. He knows he should be sleeping at least but his mind still races.
What did happen....
“There you are dear” Freddie cooed as he, Roger and Deaky come into the common area to join Brian. They sit with him h the others chairs and Roger chooses to sit on the floor by his side.
“Hey...” Brian sighs softly. His nose being a little stuffed he can’t seem to breathe properly.
“So...what happened..?” Brian asked.
“What do you remember?” Roger countered.
Brian’s eyebrows knit together in thought.
“We...were in the studio...I..I left and then....”
Flashes of light go off in his mind.
“We don’t need you!”
Walking. Cold. Kids.
The kids.
“The Kids!! Are they ok??” Brian asked his eyes widened.
Freddie goes to him shushing him.
“Yes dear they’re fine you saved the girl. And got them to safety” Freddie reassured and kissing his forehead.
“But you drowned” John deadpanned.
Freddie whipped his head around.
“John!” He exclaimed.
John saw Roger glaring at him and he knew if looks could kill he wouldn’t be alive to see Brian’s reaction.
Brian just looked down and concentrated. He remembered being so cold. He thought he himself was frozen.
He was sinking. He felt the burning sensation of the water flowing into his lungs weighing him down. His head feeling light and heavy at the same time.
“Right...John’s right...I did...” Brian said looking up to face his bandmates.
Freddie tried to stop the tears but couldn’t help tearing up.
“We..we didn’t get any stuff done.. not got stuff at that. Not without you. Mack kicked us out and we went looking....by chance those kids ran into us saying a man was drowning...they described you. We ran. Brian...we were so scared” Freddie explained.
Brian looked at saw the tears unshed in his eyes.
“You got me out..” Brian said.
Roger nodded.
“We did. I pulled you out, we did a human chain basically Freddie had John, John had me and I had you” Roger said looked up at Brian wrapping his arms around his legs curling up. He didn’t even want to think about it.
“Oh dear it...shocked us all really...oh but Roger did most of the work. The reason why your chest hurts is because Roger was doing chest compressions on you. Kept your heart beating. He saved you love” Freddie said smiling at Roger.
Roger looked away a bit embarrassed.
“John and Freddie helped you too...they helped breathe for you. It was just me..” Roger said trailing off.
Brian looked at his friends one by one. They didn’t leave him. They loved him.
He smiled.
“Roger..” he said getting up to sit and reached out his hand for Roger to take.
Roger looked at him and took his hand. To which Brian got him onto the couch and hugged him as tight as he could with his ribs and all.
“Thank you” Brian whispered in his ear cuddling close.
Roger whimpered softly and hugged back gently. He felt the tears come on but he didn’t want to cry in front of Brian.
“You better not do that again Brian. I’m not fishing you out again” Roger said clearing his throat.
“If I see a child in danger there’s no promises” Brian says softly.
“Oh for gods sakes Brian” Roger says shaking his head.
And Brian cuddles up to him and Roger positions Brian on his chest. And Brian smiles out to Freddie and takes his hand.
“Thank you Freddie” he says.
Freddie doesn’t hide his emotion and tears up cooing and lays himself over Brian still mindful of his injuries and sickness.
“Oh Brimi! I’m so happy you’re alive” Freddie said kissing his cheek.
Brian stroked Freddie’s hair smiling softly.
He looked over to John next and finally. The bassist had a blank face. Though they may have fought and John had said those hurtful words...Brian wouldn’t have been there without his help either.
“Thank you John” Brian said.
John just gives him a small smile and nods.
That night, Freddie tucks Brian in and coos softly.
“If you need anything, anything at all do not hesitate to call one of us” Freddie said stroking Brians curls.
“I got it Fred.” He coos softly.
Roger was the one who gave him his medicines and more tea and he patted his shoulder.
“You just sleep now ok?” Roger asks.
Brian nods with a smile. But the smile falters when he sees John isn’t there. Their youngest member had turned in early for the night saying he was exhausted. But no one missed the haunted look in his eyes.
“John will be fine Bri, he is an adult” Roger said.
“I know...I...I was just thinking about what he said to me before...” Brian says resting his head on the pillows.
“Oh don’t worry about that. The tosser didn’t mean it. And if you want I’ll talk to him” Roger scoffed.
Freddie puts a hand on Roger’s shoulder.
“Roger no. He will come around on his own time. For now we focus on Brian” Freddie said giving Brian a gentle smile.
That smile Brian knew, meant that he was going to be basically coddled by Freddie.
There were worse things still.
They soon left him on his own. He sighed as he look out his windows.
The last thing he saw was his beloved stars before he fell into a dreamless sleep.