Ours (JuAri)

Remembering Desperation

End of chapter gets a little gruesome! Read with caution!

Ariana gasped. She went next to Darren, looking down at Julian as he finished his long inhale of the medication.

Justin rushed over and lifted Julian into his arms. He had one arm propped under the boy and he took his free hand to brush Julian's bangs from his face.

"Julian, are you okay?" Justin asked urgently, looking into the 5 year old's eyes. Julian nodded.

Ariana, stunned for a moment, turned to Darren, "What happened? Is Julian okay? Thank you so much!" She hadn't been there to protect her little boy. What kind of mother was she?

The teen looked down at the inhaler and back up at Ariana, "Julian had an asthma attack. He had a hard time breathing, that's all. I don't know the cause or trigger though."

Ariana's eyes watered, "There wasn't any. He just... got an attack." And look at that. Another sign. This was getting more dangerous. Julian would have to be hospitalized as soon as possible.

Julian frowned, stretching his neck to see his mother's face, "Mommy, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Justin held Julian tighter in his arms. Ariana was so weak. And Julian, he didn't know a thing. 

It was true. Ariana was so bright in Julian's eyes. He hardly ever saw her upset. And he was pretty troubled.

Ariana smiled at her son's concerned face, wiping her watery eyes with her forearm, "It's nothing, honey. Don't even worry." She stroked his cheek lovingly. This was real. And this little boy, he knew nothing. He wasn't even worried about his attack. He was worried about her.

Darren cleared his throat, putting the inhaler to the side, on a granite counter. "Well, uh, I'll call my dad over now."

He left the room and Ariana smiled at Julian, as if in a daze. 

"Ariana," Justin whispered, "are you okay?"

She took a deep breath, "Yes, yes. Let's all three sit down." She motioned to the chairs behind Justin and he took a seat, Julian in his lap. Ariana took the inhaler off the counter and came and sat next to him, willing her tears to stay in her eyes.

~

Darren hurried down 3 halls and finally found his dad. Dr. Jenson seemed pretty irked and upset, grumbling over the phone. He was pacing terribly fast and his eyes focused on the ground.

"Dad," Darren said, "Bieber is waiting for you."

He couldn't have imagined what came next. His dad looked at him with glossy eyes.

Darren's stern, doctor, always-perfect dad was crying.

But he wiped away the image with the sleeve of his dress shirt. Dr. Jenson said into the phone, "Just make sure she's okay, I got to go."

Darren knew what that must've been about. Mom. 

When Mom dies, is dad going to cry? How much? Because if he does-

"Darren," Dr. Jenson addressed, "what did you say?"

"The Biebers, Dad," Darren repeated, "they're waiting for you... and Julian just got an asthma attack so they're pretty shaken... just be careful." His dad was so fragile, could he take the innocent eyes of another doomed to a death that they never deserved? And other family wrecked by it?

Dr. Jenson nodded, "Yes, of course. Thank you, Darren. You can go upstairs now. Thanks a lot... really." His eyes locked with Darren's, daring to show weakness.

The teenager, turned around, his fear too unbearable, and walked towards the stairs quickly.

~

Dr. Jenson walked by the results lab and pulled the papers out of the printer. 

Julian's rays were all fine looking. He was a fairly healthy boy. But that heart... there was something... off.

The doctorput aside the picture and checked the computer for the footage. He zoomed in on the heart and noticed the erratic beating. The squeezing. It was like nothing he's ever seen before.

And it looked painful. Julian had put up with this pain for a long time now. And Dr. Jenson felt his heart tear more. 

It looked like the pain... it might not be... solvable. Dr. Jenson, in all his years, had never seen something like this... well, except for that once...

But he knew Justin would be devastated to hear it.

Dr. Jenson came into the room and saw a heart wrenching scene. Justin with one arm around Ariana and Julian across both their laps. Ariana was gripping the inhaler, very tightly. She was scared. 

And she had every right to be, her child was in danger.

"Doctor," Ariana smiled, looking up at him. The tears threatened to appear again- in both her and the doctor.

Jenson nodded, "Miss Grande. I have the results."

He took a seat on his swivelly chair and smiled best he could at the doomed family. They were so hopeful. When would they learn that he was good, but it would take a miracle for this?

Would they learn when they finally see Julian in that white bed? Bawling? The pain too unbearable? Because Dr. Jenson knew that would happen. The pattern at which Julian's heart was, it was too much like-

"Jenson," Justin said, "I'd really appreciate it if we could just..."

He nodded, "Of course. Well, I looked over the picture and the video and Julian is strong, but... I see this irregular pump in his chest."

"From surgeries," Ariana confirmed, "years ago."

Dr. Jenson continued, "Yes, but that wasn't the problem. This was different. And I've only seen this case..."

Ariana sniffled and Julian looked over at her asking, "What's wrong? Will someone tell me? Because the doctor said I was strong and that's good." His innocent mind wandered if he had missed something.

Ariana kissed his cheek, "Oh, baby. I know. I love you. You are the strongest." She smiled at him sweetly and he smiled too.

Justin's chest felt heavier. And not because Julian was laying on it too, it was a deeping fear."Where did you see it?" he asked quietly, holding Julian and feeling ownership. 

"Justin," sighed Dr. Jenson, "Do you remember your grandmother? When she died..."

Justin loved his grandmother so much. She was his companion for so long and an avid supporter throughout the years. But she got older, and near the end of her days, Pattie just wouldn't let Justin see her. And he got so confused, but he was too scared to believe the worst.

Justin shook his head, "That's impossible. Mom said it was from old age. She died peacefully."

"She died when her heart..." Dr. Jenson daren't finish his statement. The late grandmother of Justin died... her heart bursted from a rare form of myocardial rupture. And now Julian... his heart beat like that. And brought the memories of desperation back.

♥

*IT'D BE AWESOME IF YOU COULD JUST CLICKITYCLACK THAT VOTE BUTTON :) AND COMMENT <3 

Sorry the update took so long!

I hope Justin's grandmother is doing fine in real life! I really don't know... does anyone know how she's doing?