Brian sat on the sofa and held Justin securely as he talked softly to him. “Okay, Sunshine, try to remember exactly what you saw and heard,” he encouraged. Justin blew out a shaky breath, “Okay, I’ll try.” Justin sat back on the sofa and closed his eyes. Brian cradled his head on his shoulder as he tried to remember. He wanted to be there 100 percent for Justin but he was also thrown by the fact that one of his closest friends could be involved in criminal activity. Worse than that one of his closest friends could be guilty of attempted murder. Justin blew out another shaky breath, “Okay. I remember walking down the street. I decided to take a short cut through an alley that led to the back of Daph’s apartment. I’ve taken that short cut hundreds of times so I wasn’t nervous or anything until I saw these two guys talking…arguing. I know now the taller guy that was facing me was Stockwell. The shorter guy had his back to me. He had dark hair and he was trying to act tough but you could tell he was a little scared. Stockwell was threatening to send him to jail if he didn’t keep up his payments. I was still walking toward them. I can’t tell you why I didn’t turn and walk away as soon as I spotted them.” He paused contemplating why he didn’t turn and leave when he first spotted them in the alley. He shrugged. “Anyway, Stockwell was the first to notice me. He pointed at me and then I realized how much danger I was in. I turned to run but the shorter guy grabbed my arm, but I never saw his face. The next thing I remember was pain as I was hit,” he grimaced remembering the sound of the wooden plank hitting his head, “and the last thing I remember is Stockwell saying *this is how you will end up. Another dead fag if you don’t do as I tell you.* After that it was just blackness.” By the time Justin finished telling Brian all he could remember he was visibly shaken. Brian took him and his arms and Justin wept. “Brian, I was so scared,” he wept. “That one instant I was so terrified.” Brian rubbed his hands soothingly over Justin’s back, “I know baby. You’re okay now. We know who they are so they can’t hurt you any more. I won’t allow anyone to hurt you again. I promised.” Brian held Justin for little while longer then he pulled back. “Justin I need to call Carl. I have to tell him everything you told me.” “Do you think he will believe me?” Justin asked. “Stockwell is a cop and he is your uncle’s partner.” “You have no reason to lie.” Brian walked over to the counter and picked up the cordless phone. He came back and sat next Justin. Brian dialed Carl at the office. The telephone rung four times before it was answered. “Stockwell,” the other voice on the telephone answered. Brian was surprised to hear Stockwell answering his uncle’s phone. “Why are you answering Carl’s line?” “Is this Brian? Your uncle isn’t here right now. Is there anything I can do for you?” Brian wanted to tell him *exactly* what he could do for him but that would have to wait for later. “No,” Brian answered curtly as he disconnected the call. He called Carl at home. He left a message on his answering machine. He tried his cell phone. There was no answer. He left another voice mail message that it was urgent Carl get back with him as soon as possible. Brian and Justin sat quietly for a moment both deep in thought. It occurred to Justin he’d never asked the identity of the two men that were with Emmett. “Brian who did the two other voices belong to?” “Ted and Michael,” Brian answered solemnly. “Oh…Brian, um, isn’t Michael your best friend?” “Yeah," Brian confirmed quietly, “Michael is my best friend.” Justin looked at Brian. He could see the pain in his eyes. This must be so hard for him. *Damn* Justin thought to himself. How did we go from being so happy this morning to this fucked up situation now? “Brian maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m not as sure of the voice as I thought.” “Don’t Justin,” Brian placed a finger over Justin’s lips to quiet him. “Don’t doubt yourself. You know what you heard. Your reaction was too strong for you to be uncertain.” After a short while Brian went into the kitchen to see what he and Justin could find for dinner. “We have some cold cuts here. We can have sandwiches and the lettuce is still fresh.” Brian was shouting over his shoulder while his head was stuck in the refrigerator. Justin walked up beside Brian and stuck his head in the refrigerator too. “You have enough in here to make omelets.” “My omelets don’t come out very well,” Brian admitted. “Well, lucky for you I am a whiz in the kitchen… or at least I used to be. Care to find out if I still have the touch?” “I would be honored to be your guinea pig,” Brian teased. They were happy to have a little light banter come back to lighten the oppressive mood. They both knew nothing could be done at the moment so they wanted to make the best of the situation until Carl returned Brian’s call. Luckily Justin had not lost his touch in the kitchen. After they finished dinner Brian helped Justin wash and put away the dishes. He could see that Justin was still troubled about today’s revelations. He wanted to take his mind off his worries, at least for a little while. Brian poured them both a drink. They sat on the couch and cuddled closely. Brian’s lips lazily brushed back and forth against Justin’s temple. Justin’s free hand was rubbing back and forth across Brian’s stomach. “I want to feel you inside me,” Brian whispered huskily. “What did you just say?” Justin asked, he was taken off guard by Brian’s request “I want you inside me.” Brian repeated. “Have you ever fucked a man before?” Justin breath caught in his throat. “Ah, Ethan,” Justin managed to get out. “Want to do it again…to me?” Brian asked his warm breath stirring the fine hair lying against Justin’s forehead. “Yeah,” Justin’s voice came out as a squeak. Brian smiled. Justin’s breathing had escalated and his heart rate had increased just at the though of fucking him. Brian couldn’t wait to feel Justin’s thick length inside him. “What if I don’t do it right? What if I’m not good?” Justin’s insecurities were surfacing. “I didn’t have the best teacher?” “Well you do now.” Brian grabbed Justin’s hand and led him to the bedroom. ------------------ Justin pushed his sheathed, well lubed cock pass the first ring of muscle in Brian’s ass. “Are you okay?” He asked kissing Brian’s shoulder. Justin didn’t want to hurt Brian. He was so tight; it was obvious Brian didn’t bottom often. Brian smiled at Justin’s concern. “I’m okay, Baby. You feel so good. I want to feel all of you inside me. Give me more.” It was all the encouragement Justin needed. Brian relaxed and allowed Justin to sink his thick length completely inside him. Brian let out a breath adjusting to the thickness and length of his young lover. He felt so close and so open to him. He’d never experience this feeling before. He been fucked by other men before but the times had been far and few and he hadn’t cared about them. He cared…loved Justin. Justin couldn’t believe the indescribable feeling of being inside the man he loved. Brian was so warm and so tight. Ethan had always balked and argued when Justin wanted to top. He made it an unpleasant experience. This was different. Brian was encouraging him, guiding him. Brian had opened himself to Justin. Justin’s hand loving traced the smooth firm muscled cheek of Brian’s ass. It was beautiful. A work of art. Ethan’s ass had been hairy and flabby nothing like the smooth tone ass beneath him. "Fuck me baby," Brian growled. He pushed his ass back against Justin slapping it against Justin’s hipbone. They both moaned at the pleasurable sensation. Justin withdrew and sunk back in to Brian’s welcoming heat. Justin gripped Brian’s hips and with Brian’s help set a rhythm that brought them both the maximum of pleasure. On each stroke Justin’s cock brushed over Brian’s prostate eliciting moans of pleasure from him. This was nothing like Justin had experienced with Ethan. With Ethan he always felt that he didn’t know what he was doing. Brian made him feel as if he was an expert. Brian made him feel loved. “That’s right Baby, fuck me. Make it good,” Brian moaned. Brian’s words sent a tingle up Justin’s spine and straight to his cock. “Brian...I’m...I’m not going to be able to last much longer,” Justin admitted. Brian gripped his cock and stroked it to the rhythm of Justin’s cock in and out his ass. “Then come, Baby,” Brian coaxed as he raised his ass higher. Justin began thrusting his cock deeper and deeper. Brian met each forceful thrust. Justin grunted, his body shook and he screamed his lover’s name as he spurted his hot thick cum in its latex enclosure. Brian came with him his ass clamping down on the younger man’s thick cock helping to milk it as his cum shot from his cock coating his hand. Justin’s body went slack against Brian as he tried to get his breathing under control. He carefully withdrew from Brian. He peeled off the condom and tossed it aside. Brian rolled over on his well fucked ass and pulled Justin into his arms. Their bodies were covered in sweat and they both reeked of sex and cum. “Was I okay?” Justin asked anxiously. “You were better than okay,” Brian purred in his ear. “You were magnificent.” Justin beamed from the praise. They both lay in each other’s arms basking in the afterglow. Justin idly wondered if it would ever get boring. If it would ever be a time he didn’t want to be in Brian’s arms. Justin doubted there would ever be a time he didn’t want to be fucked by Brian. He smiled or a time he wouldn’t want to fuck Brian. “What going on it there?” Brian asked tapping Justin’s forehead with his finger. “Oh, thinking about how much I want to be with you…..forever.” Brian kissed him. A long, deep tongue kiss that left Justin sighing, “I know the feeling,” he said. “Come on blonde boy. I think we both need to take a quick shower.” The shower lasted longer than intended. Justin blew Brian and of course then begged Brian to fuck him. Their quick shower was almost an hour long. The phone rang as they were stepping out of the shower. Both men visibly tensed. This was the first time Justin had ever noticed Brian to be apprehensive. Brian looked at the caller ID on the phone before he answered. It was coming from Pittsburgh General Hospital. “Hello.” “Yes, may I speak with Brian Kinney?” “This is he.” “This is Ms. Harrison. I’m calling on behalf of Pittsburgh General Hospital. You were listed as the emergency contact person for Detective Carl Horvath.” “Carl is in the hospital?” Brian asked. Justin came over to stand next to Brian. He wrapped his arm around his waist to offer support. “We need you to come to the hospital. Your uncle has been rushed to surgery.” “Is--is he okay?” “Sir, I would rather you came down to the hospital. Please. As quickly as possible,” she stressed. “Tell me if he is okay. What happened to him?” Brian shouted into the phone quickly losing patience with the woman on the other line. “Sir, we do not give details over the phone. It is against hospital policy.” “Tell me something now… please,” Brian requested urgently. She responded to the urgency in his voice, “I am sorry sir, but your uncle was in a car accident. He is in critical condition as this time. He arrived unconscious and didn’t regain consciousness before being wheeled to surgery. He’s in O.R. I’m really sorry. Sir, you need to get here stat.” “I’m on my way.” Brian hung up the phone. “We need to get to the hospital. Carl’s in surgery.” Brian thought of all the times Carl had been there for him when he was a teenager. How many times he’d tried to make up for the shitty childhood Brian had. All Brian could think about was how Carl needed him now. How he had to be there for him. “Oh, Brian, I am so sorry.” “Justin, please don’t…I can’t right now. We have to go to the hospital.” They both rushed around the bedroom pulling on their clothing. Brian grabbed the keys for the jeep. Justin silently took them from his hand. “I’ll drive.” Brian didn’t protest. The two men ran down to the car and Brian climb in the passenger seat while Justin drove them in silence to the hospital. Brian went up to the nurses desk and was directed to the OR waiting area. There were a few uniformed officers there. Brian asked them what they knew. “It looked like his car was tampered with. The break line was cut,” one of the officers answered. “We have our team going over the car. It was a miracle that he survived.” “Are there any suspects?” Brian asked. At that moment Stockwell walked into Brian's line of vision. He answered the question. “No, Brian, no suspects. I am so sorry about your Uncle. He was a good man,” Stockwell said as he extended his hand out to Brian. Brian ignored it. “He *is* a good man, Jim. He’s not dead yet.” “The doctors say his chances are slim.” Justin stepped in front of Brian, “They said the same thing about me too, Jim,” Justin said his name derisively. “I’m still here,” his eyes bored into Stockwell's. He wasn’t afraid anymore. He wanted Stockwell to see he didn’t fear him. Brian pulled Justin protectively against his body. “You were his partner,” he addressed Stockwell, “Who do you think would do this?” Brian stared directly in his eyes. “Honestly, I don’t know. Your uncle did consults on P.I work on the side. He was probably following around some deranged individual,” Stockwell just shrugged as if it was an everyday occurrence for his partner’s car to be tampered with and his partner to be in the hospital with life threatening injuries. “I know all the P.I cases my uncle consults on. He wasn’t working on anything. He hasn’t consulted on a case in almost three months.” Brian stepped in Stockwell’s personal space and lowered his voice. “I’m going to find out what happened to Carl and who is responsible. Let me assure you the responsible party is going to pay…my way,” he let the threat hang in the air. Brian gave Stockwell one last look before he grabbed Justin’s hand and walked back into the family waiting area. They had been in the waiting area for hours. Justin had asked if Brian wanted him to call anyone but he had declined. “I just need you Sunshine,” Brian had told him. “You have me,” Justin assured him wrapping his arms around his waist. “I’m here for you.” Justin wasn’t sure how long they had been waiting. They had drunk numerous cups of coffee. A few officers had stopped by to offer Brian support. As the night drew long Justin and Brian tried to get comfortable on the vinyl waiting room chairs. Justin finally dozed on Brian’s shoulder. Brian finished the last lukewarm sip of the sweet bitter coffee Justin had brought him. He pulled Justin closer to his body. Justin had dozed a few moments ago. Brian looked down in his face. He looked so young and innocent. He looked too young and too innocent to be dealing with all that he’d gone through in the last few years. Brian noticed the door open and the doctor in green scrubs walking towards him. Brian lightly shook Justin awake. They both stood as the doctor approached them. “How is?” Brian asked holding his breath. The doctor looked tired, “It was a long surgery but he’s stable. He had a punctured lung, a couple of broken ribs, a broken foot and dislocated shoulder. We were able to stop the internal bleeding. Unfortunately we weren’t able to save his left eye. He’s going to be totally blind in it. Brian knew how that news would affect Carl. But he wasn’t worried about the lost of sight in his eye. He was more concerned that his uncle live. “So, he’s going to be okay.” “Minus any major complications from surgery he should recover. Although, Mr. Horvath will have to make a lot of changes in his life.” Brian let out a sigh of relief. He knew his uncle would balk about making changes but he’d make sure he did everything the doctors ordered. “When can I see him?” “He’s in recovery right now. He will be moved to the intensive care unit in a few hours. It will probably be a few more hours before he regains consciousness.” “I just need to see that he is okay.” The doctor relented. “Come this way. I’ll let you see him for a few minutes….no more than that,” the doctor stressed. Brian gripped Justin’s hand tightly as they followed the doctor. ------------------ Brian was exhausted. The long arduous wait had really wrecked havoc with him. Seeing his uncle pale, severely bruised, hooked up to machines and tubes was almost more than he could bear. He and Justin had only stayed for a few minutes. He’d squeezed his uncle’s fingers and told him he was there. He left after about 5 minutes assuring that a policeman had been placed to protect Carl. Brian knew the policeman protecting Carl. The policeman was a good friend of Carl’s. Brian felt confidant in leaving Carl’s safety in his care for a few hours. He told the nursing staff he’d be back in a few hours and gave them his cellular telephone number. Brian didn’t know how he would have survived the long hours of waiting if not for Justin’s support. He looked down at the young man walking beside him. In his time of need Justin had stood by him. Held his hand and offered comfort. This was the man he loved. Now he understood what loving a man was all about. It wasn’t just the great sex, which they certainly had. It wasn’t feeling protective of another person, which he certainly felt for Justin. It was knowing that in hard times, times of grief and stress that person would be there to offer support and comfort. He pulled Justin to him. Justin looked up and smiled and wrapped his arms around Brian’s waist. Brian led Justin to the jeep and before they got in Brian checked under the hood and the undercarriage to make sure nothing was tampered with. “Give me the keys and get in,” Brian ordered. Justin climbed into the passenger side of the car. Brian took out his cell phone, dialed a number and waited for the person to pick up. “Are you alone?” “Yes,” the person replied. “I’m coming over. I need a favor.” “I’ll be waiting.” Brian had started the car and pulled out of the parking garage before curiosity got the better of Justin, “Brian where are we going?” “To put an end to this.” ----------------------------- Brian drove to a part of town that Justin had never been to before. It was a quiet residential neighborhood of older homes. Brian turned into a driveway of a little brown house that was set back from the street. Justin followed closely as Brian walked to the side door and knocked. An older man answered right away and ushered the two inside the house. Brian hugged the older man and pulled back quickly. “Carl’s in intensive care and I need your help.” Brian said quietly. “What happened?” “I’m not sure of all the details. Suffice to say he was on to something that made someone nervous.” Brian turned to Justin and grabbed his hand and pulled him to his side. “Justin this is Vic. He and I worked on few cases together before he retired a few years back. Other than Carl he is one of the few people who knows everything about my work and me. I trust him with my life and there is no one else I would trust with yours. I’m going to leave you with…” “Leave? Brian what do you mean?” Justin asked anxiously gripping Brian’s hand tighter. “Justin, I need to find out who Stockwell is involved with and get evidence that he was involved with your attack and Carl’s accident. I can’t do that and look after you. I need you to stay here with Vic.” “Brian! No, I want to go with you! What if you get hurt? You need me.” Brian gripped Justin’s shoulders, “Justin, I-want-you-safe. I want you around for a long time. I won’t be able to concentrate if you are with me. That’s dangerous for you and for me. Please, stay with Vic, I’ll be back.” “Promise me.” Justin asked softly with tears threatening to fall. “I promise, I promise.” Brian held Justin face in his hands and kissed him softly on the lips before enfolding him in a loving embrace. “I don’t want you to go, Brian.” “I have to do this, Sunshine.” Both men were oblivious to the other man standing in the room with them until he cleared his throat. “Justin, everything will be okay. Brian knows how to take care of himself,” Vic said trying to assure the tearful young man. Justin nodded in response to Vic. He couldn’t trust his voice at that moment. “Listen why don’t you make yourself at home. I’ll walk Brian out to his car, then I’ll come back and we can get better acquainted,” Vic suggested. Justin kissed Brian again quickly on the lips before stepping back from him. Justin was afraid if he stood next to Brian any longer he would be a sobbing mess. Vic walked with Brian back out to the jeep. Justin watched from the window as Brian pulled on his gun holster he’d stripped off before they walked in the hospital. He secured the dual shoulder holster in place and shrugged back into his leather jacket. Vic watched as Brain methodically checked his gun and straighten his jacket, “Son, are you okay?” “Don’t ask me that. I can’t think about me right know.” “I understand. Don’t worry about Justin. I’ll look after him. He seems very sweet.” “He is.” The first smile Vic had seen since Brian arrived crossed is features. That small smile alone told Vic just how much Brian cared for the young man he’d placed in his care. Brian squeezed Vic shoulder affectionately. “I’ll be back for him.” Vic returned the gesture, “See that you are.” Brian climbed into his jeep and backed out the driveway. His mind was going in several different directions and he knew he had to focus. Carl’s accident was a big blow to him, but he couldn’t dwell on it right now. For now he needed to find out which one of his friends was trying to kill his lover, and make Stockwell pay for his involvement with all of it.