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Special Thanks: Thanks to Jooles for the wonderful plot bunny. Thanks to the actors who give us viewers characters we care about and for giving us writers a basis for inspiration. There would be no QAF if it wasn’t for the actors who were daring enough to take part in this project. So thanks to all of you!
It was beginning to snow as Justin hurriedly made his way towards Brian’s loft. The smile on his face spread from ear to ear and even still threatened to grow wider. What a surprise Brian would be in for, Justin thought. He was back in Pittsburgh three days earlier than he had originally planned, anxious to see Brian and watch the look on his face. The look that said ‘what the fuck do I care that you’re back early’, but at the same time said ‘I’m so glad to see you’.
Justin rode the elevator up to the sixth floor, bag still cast over his shoulder as he stepped off, walking up to the door. "Brian?" he called, knocking loudly on the metal frame. "Brian!" Justin could hear movement inside the loft, letting out a soft chuckle at what he could be walking in on. He smirked, pausing a moment before deciding to let himself in. He slid the door open. "Brian!" The smile on his face suddenly faded, the light in his eyes dimmed.
The apartment was practically bare. Brian couldn’t have been robbed, Justin thought. Not again. It wasn’t until he looked to his left and saw the uniformed men in the kitchen area that he began to read more into things. "Brian?" Justin called again.
Brian Kinney stepped out of the bedroom, bare chested, just hanging up the telephone and tossing it aside. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Brian said. "What happened to beautiful sunny fucking Miami?"
"I wrapped up early," Justin said, still clueless, wondering. "As much as it was fantastic, I wanted to come home."
Brian laughed. "That’s fucking stupid." he said. "You had another three days, you should have taken it."
Justin could feel Brian’s words cut into him. He looked around again. "What are you renovating?" he asked. "Getting new stuff?" Justin smiled. "Did you get a new job or something?"
"As a matter of fact," Brian said. "I did. I’ve got a firm crawling on their hands and knees and I’ve got everything that I ever wanted."
"That’s great, Brian," Justin smiled. "You can finally get all your stuff back. Move it all back in..."
"More like move it all out," Brian said, checking out one of the moving men as he passed. "The job is in New York."
"So we finally get to get the fuck out of the Pitts," Justin said.
"No. I finally get to get the fuck out of the Pitts." Brian said. "Not we. My job, my future, my life. I’m going. Not you."
"Why not?" Justin said. "Brian, I want to go with you."
Brian walked over to the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water, taking a long sip. "Well you can’t. You’ve got to stay here... finish school. That I’m paying for by the way."
"I could transfer." Justin said. "It’s not that hard..."
"We’re not some married couple, Sunshine," Brian said. "Everywhere I go you don’t have to follow. Or haven’t I taught you anything? We’re not fucking life partners and you’re not coming to New York."
>>>>>>
"This sucks," Hunter said. "He gets to go to fucking Florida and I have to wait tables."
Michael laughed, sitting at the counter in Liberty Diner, speaking with Hunter. "Just think," he rationalized. "Once Christmas rolls around, you’ll have plenty of money to buy all the gifts in the world."
"Why couldn’t I just help you out at the store or something?" Hunter complained.
"Because you’re helping me" Debbie said, handing Michael over his breakfast. "And doesn’t that make you feel so much better."
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Oh tons," he said sarcastically.
"Hey. You watch your tone you little... Sunshine!" Debbie exclaimed suddenly, looking over at the door and Justin who had entered. "Sweetheart, come here. How was your trip?"
"Fine," Justin said, plainly, monotone.
"Gee," Michael said. "Sounds like it. I thought you still had a few days before your flight back."
"I did" Justin said again, still emotionless.
"Wait till Brian hears," Debbie said, bringing Justin something to eat.
Justin sat beside Michael. "He knows," Justin said. "I was just over there."
"Christ," Hunter said. "Don’t sound so fucking excited." Michael shot Hunter a look.
Justin waited a minute. "Well isn’t anyone going to tell me?" he said "I’m gone for a week and Brian gets a new job..."
"Hey," Michael smiled. "Brian got a job. That’s great."
Justin looked at him. "You mean you don’t know?" he said. Michael invited the information. "Brian got a job at a firm in New York. His apartment is empty and he has a flight for Friday night."
"Tomorrow?" Michael said in shock. "He never said anything.... to any of us."
"He was just going to fucking leave... without telling any of us. He was going to leave before I even got back..."
Debbie shook her head. "Fucking Brian," she said. "Oh Sunshine."
Michael’s jaw was dropped as he shook his head in disbelief. This couldn’t be. There was no way that Brian would just leave without saying anything. He stood from his seat.
"Honey?" Debbie said as Michael put his coat on. "Michael, where are you going?"
"To get to the bottom of things." Michael said. "I have to figure out what the fuck is going on."