Calling All Boys (Queen)

The Freddie Experience.

Brian's P.O.V.

"Brian?" I heard a small voice coming from down the corridor, a tired, shallow voice.

I looked and saw a small frame of a man waiting at an instant coffee machine. His arms limp by his sides, looking utterly exhausted and dishevelled.

A nurse had shown us to the room where Freddie was laying in his hospital bed. A more private, exclusive room, probably given to him because of his stardom status and to keep as much privacy in and as many paparazzi out, as possible. A police man stood outside, guarding him, almost.

We had not been let into the room yet, a nurse was speaking to Jim beforehand, I was so nervous to see the frontman I had gotten jittery and uninterested in what anyone had to say, completely zoning out.

I just wanted to see Freddie.

"Matthew...?" I whispered back in response.
I started walking towards him, the reality really hitting me now as my eyes started to get watery, before I knew it, myself and Matthew were united in a tight hug. We had never really spoken or given each other the time of day before any of this, but it came as a slight relief to see him here, despite his appearance.
And no doubt it was a huge relief for him to finally see some slightly familiar faces, given the fact that he and Freddie had hardly known each other for two minutes, and now the poor soul has been dragged into whatever disaster had happened here.

"Oh my god, am I glad to see you guys..." he croaked as he looked up at me desperately.

"Matthew, oh god, are you okay?" I asked with my hands on his shoulders and my voice hushed.

He opened his mouth to answer but no words formed, he shrugged his shoulders defeated and shook his head a little.

I nodded in understanding, this situation was hard for me to get my head around, so must be ten times worse for him, having not had much of The Freddie Experience before.

We had started to walk together slowly back to where Jim and the nurse were still stood outside.

I had so many questions I needed to ask, but one in particular was burning inside of me and needed to come out.

I turned to Matthew as we still walked, glancing at him, licking my lips awkwardly and pushing my hair out of my face, "He's...he's alive...isn't he...?" I asked quietly, bracing myself for the answer.

My dream on the plane had made me dread the answer even more.

Matthew took a sip of his coffee and we stood outside the room behind Jim still waiting to be let in. Matthew stood with his back against the wall and his head tipped back, his eyes closed momentarily before drifting back open again, "Yes...he's alive. Just."

A shaky, relieved and heavy gasp left my body as my knees slightly buckled under my weight.

My Freddie was alive.

"But he's not awake...he's not the Freddie you're used to, Brian." Matthew said, very quietly as he continued to sip on his coffee, the poor guy almost looked dead and hollow behind the eyes as he stared into the nothingness.

I swallowed hard, "I've seen Freddie in many different lights, ways...circumstances. I'm sure I can handle it." I nodded, trying to reassure myself...but actually not knowing if I could handle it. Feeling like I would burst into tears at the first glance I got of him.

"I have no doubts...but you've never seen him in a coma." Matthews big, watery eyes stared up at me and in that split second I felt so very sorry for him.

I felt guilty for leaving him in Freddie's company, for not warning or preparing him for how rebellious and unpredictable the frontman could be. For just...leaving...and then leaving Matthew to pick up the pieces of the shattered Freddie when he hardly knew him. And now this.

You have to get used to being in Freddie's presence, to get used to the kind of person he is, before you can really know him. Before you can really begin to get a feel for who he is inside.

A lot of people think he's some kind of pompous prick when they first meet him, seeing his over the top attitude and demanding demeanour. But that was just an act, how he was around people, his way of dealing with his shyness.

And then you soon realise when you've truly gotten to know him, the soft, sweet, generous and oh, so very sensitive and delicate man he is. His heart was never his own, he always gave it to other people and revelled in the pleasure of being able to spoil everyone around him as if they were his children.

But when Freddie breaks, he really breaks. And even for me, Roger or John who have known him for countless years now, struggle with knowing how to deal with a broken Freddie.

He changes, a shadow of his former self. A defeatist when it comes to himself and he flies off the rails, turning to the drink, the drugs, the wrong crowds...

So to leave a broken Freddie with an innocent and unknowing Matthew...we shouldn't have done it.

And maybe...if we had stayed here, if I had stayed here with Freddie...he wouldn't be close to death, in a coma.

Jim was still busy talking to a nurse and now a doctor about Freddie, still unable to go into the room and see him, every moment going by making me more and more anxious about what I was going to walk into the room and see.

Would it look like he's just sleeping? Will he look ill?

"Do you think he did it?" A strained whisper asked me.

I looked down at Matthew, "Did what?"

He looked down and shrugged sadly, "Overdose..."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Absolutely not. Not for one second do I think he did this to himself. He's a stupid motherfucker...but he's not that stupid. He's done drugs for as long as I can remember, he's never overdosed before, why would he do it now...?"

"Because you left him."

Ouch. I physically winced at his words, "That's complicated. And let's not jump to conclusions, shall we." I mumbled.

"Sorry..." Matthew replied, clearing his throat, "But I believe you. I don't think he did this to himself."

I looked at him again, my heart already beginning to beat in anger, "You think someone else did this to him?"

He shrugged, "The part of town he was in has a reputation for people going around and popping pills and drugs into people's drinks while they're not looking, spiking them and stealing their valuables to sell on. And obviously, he's recognisable, he's Freddie Fucking Mercury for gods sake. His personal items are going to fetch a delightful dollar to someone."

I had to keep composed and swallow down my rage, I knew it.

Matthews theory fitted perfectly and if I did find out that someone had tried to take advantage of him, I'd want to kill them.

"Brian?" Jim finally looked back at me and nodded towards the door going into Freddie's room, "We can go in and see him now."

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A/N - OOFT who am I? What is this? AN UPDATE?! After another lifetime of disappearing? THE AUDACITY!!
Hehe hi though, sorry again, just as I thought I was going to be able to update regularly life throws more shit storms my way HAHA I actually started writing this part like two months ago and only just got around to finishing it.
Anyway, hope you enjoy and I'll probs see you next year. (You'll definitely get another update from me before next year I'm joking ouch)