The police, paramedics and news crews had shown up quickly at the warehouse when they had heard that an officer was down. Brian, Justin, Vic and Ted had been escorted to police headquarters to give their statements on the events that lead up to Stockwell’s death. Once at the precinct the detectives tried to split up the four. Brian wouldn’t hear of it. He knew the tactics the detectives were trying to use. They were trying to work on the premises of divide and conquer, looking for the weakest link. Brain wouldn’t budge. He firmly told the officer they would take their statements while they were all together or they would clam up until their attorney arrived. Brian also told them that he would make sure their attorney gave a statement to the press. The last thing the detectives wanted was information to be leaked to the press before they could filter it. They gave in and the four were interviewed together. For a while things had gotten heated and sticky in the interrogation room. The detectives tried the switch the facts around and paint the picture that Stockwell had been lured to the warehouse and murdered. Brian didn’t even blink at the absurd accusation. He produced the disk he retrieved from Carl’s home. Ted gave his statement of how Stockwell was blackmailing him and at least 11 others that he knew about. Brian, Vic and Ted relayed the information of what Stockwell revealed about his part in Reikert’s death. Brian also informed the detectives there were more tapes and disks and he’d make certain they were released to the press *if* he was forced in a corner. The detectives backed off once they saw the information on the disk. The detectives weren’t foolish. They had a lot of damage control to do. If the press received a copy of the disk and the tape Brian and Ted both assured the brass existed they knew Pittsburgh finest would be under a firestorm. As much as it rankled him Brian made a deal with what he called *the brass* those that headed the Pittsburg Police Department. He wouldn’t turn over the information he had to the press, would back up the PPD that Stockwell and Reikert were the only officers involved, in return for the promise the police department would not prosecute Ted. Brian did secure the Brass’s word that an investigation would be carried out. Any officer found to have knowledge, as well as, participated in Stockwell’s illegal activity, covering up the attempt on Justin’s life, on Carl’s life, Jason Kemp’s death and even Reikert’s death would be reprimanded and if warranted fired from the force. Brian knew that once Carl had recovered and was back at the job he would make sure all those that were guilty were dealt with properly. Brian had to settle for that. He had to help Ted. In the end Ted had come through for him. He had kept his promise. Ted hadn’t let Brian down, and Brian and wanted to repay him. They were finally allowed to go home in the early hours of the morning. It was still dark when they left the station. The station and was crowded with reporters. They were escorted out through a back entrance and to a secured gated area. Brian’s Jeep had been brought to the secured area of the Station. Vic climbed in the back of the Jeep and Brian helped Justin in the passenger side. As Brian walked around to the driver side he glanced briefly at Ted, as he slipped in the back seat of a police car. A policeman had been assigned to escort him home. Ted looked as if he had aged 10 years. His face was deeply lined, dark circles had formed under his eyes. To ease Ted’s mind the paramedics that arrived on the scene told him his bullet hit Stockwell in the arm, and he must have lost balance and fell. Stockwell had died from a broken neck he suffered in the fall. It had only been a few hours since he and Justin had left the loft but it seemed like an eternity. Brian slid open the door to his loft and walked in with a sleepy Justin in tow. Brian closed the loft door and locked it. He turned and pulled Justin in his arms. “Rough day, huh?” Brian tried for a teasing note and hoped he succeeded. Justin let out a shaky laugh. “You can say that again. I am so glad it’s finally over.” Justin leaned in to Brian’s embrace and rested his head against his shoulder. “I was so scared Brian, but I was angry too. When Stockwell told me you were dead…that he had killed you, I just wanted to kill him.” Brian was awed by the intensity of Justin’s love for him. “Don’t think about it. I’m okay.” Brian leaned down and pressed his lips to Justin’s forehead. He didn’t even want to begin to think about the fear he’d experienced when he learned Stockwell had taken Justin hostage. Or how his heart stopped when he saw Stockwell point the gun at the pillowcase covered head he thought was Justin. Then to find out it was Vic and not Justin. His heart dropped again as he raced through the warehouse looking for Justin. Brian never wanted a night like this again. Brian knew it would be a long time before he allowed Justin out of his sight. Brian ran a shaky hand through his hair. He pulled Justin to him and kissed him with all the pent up fear and frustration he had been feeling for the last few hours. The kiss was raw, hot sensual laced with desperation. Brian’s hands urgently roamed Justin’s slim body. He wanted him. He needed to be close to him. He deepened the kiss as his hands slipped under the t-shirt Justin wore. Reluctantly, Justin pulled back from the kiss. His lips were red and kiss swollen. “Is something wrong?” Brian asked concerned. “Yes... I mean no. I stink.” Justin sniffed his shirt. “I smell like that disgusting warehouse.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust, “I want to wash the stink from that warehouse off me.” Brian smiled down at him, “Well, that’s easily remedied.” Brian took Justin by the hand and led him in the bathroom. Brian started the shower. He carefully removed Justin from his offending clothing. Justin had a few bruises but nothing major. Brian undressed himself and pulled Justin into the shower stall. They stood under the warm water and let it gently wash away all the filth and dirtiness of today. Brian picked up his bar of soap. He soaped up his hands and slowly ran his hands over Justin’s porcelain and pink skin. Justin leaned against the shower wall his dick hard and standing at attention pressed against the cool wet glass. Brian’s dick was equally as hard rubbing against Justin’s ass. They didn’t speak. Words weren’t necessary. What was necessary now was the primal need to touch…to feel. It wasn’t the wild, hard ride of their previous times fucking. Tonight they made love to each other. Their hands glided across each other’s wet slick skin. They worshipped each other with their hands, with their tongues, with their soft mutterings. Brian’s longs fingers soaped Justin’s thick pink dick. His stokes were long, slow and measured. Justin leaned his back against Brian’s chest and let out a soft moan of surrender. Brian leaned down and gently bit his shoulder before tracing his tongue along the side of Justin’s jaw and trailing the tip up to Justin’s ear. “I want to touch you, Justin,” he moaned in his ear. Justin’s only response was to press his ass back into Brian’s dick and grind against him. Brian let out a seductive chuckle. It was awkward but Brian captured Justin’s full lips in a hot sensuous kiss. He nipped and nibbled at Justin’s lips. Tonight he wanted to show Justin how much he cared. Tonight wasn’t about fucking. Brian leaned close and turned Justin’s head so he could look in his eyes. “I want you to always remember this. Fucking is great, but there is a time for making love. Tonight is that time.” Brian reached in the cubbyhole and got a condom and lube. He quickly covered his dick. He lubed it generously. He bent Justin, adjusted his height, and slowly eased in his lover until the hot moist recess of Justin’s ass completely encased his dick. It was so tight, so warm, so welcoming. Brian savored the feel until Justin wiggled his ass. Justin looked over his shoulder to see why his lover wasn’t moving. The look in Brian’s eyes made his breath catch. If Brian never said it, at this moment...the expression on Brian’s face said it all. He cared…he loved him. Justin believed it now. Justin thrust back against Brian. His wet ass hitting Brian’s wet hips made a clapping sound. It served its purpose. Brian reached around and stroked Justin’s dick as he gently thrusted into Justin’s clenching hole over and over again. Bringing Justin to the brink and backing off several times before finally letting Justin fall over the precipice of intense pleasure. Justin’s cum shot all over the glass. His ass spasming around Brian’s dick eliciting a yell as Brian’s cum filled his condom. They didn’t move. Their breathing was labored. Justin leaned heavily on Brian and Brian cradled him against his body. “Justin I don’t ever want to lose you,” Brian breathed. “You won’t,” Justin promised. He turned around and hugged Brian laying his head on Brian’s chest. “You won’t,” Justin repeated. Brian let out a soft sigh and pulled Justin tighter. He had every intention of making sure Justin kept his word. ---------------- Brian and Justin stayed in the loft or not far from it for the entire week. Neither one wanted to see or talk to anyone but each other. They only allowed four people to interrupt there seclusion. Jennifer, Molly, Daphne and Carl. The hospital called a couple days later to inform Brian that Carl woke from his comma and was able to receive visitors. They told him what had happened and his part in bringing Stockwell down. Carl was relieved that his nephew and Justin were safe. Justin saw his mother, Molly and Daphne only for a few minutes. They met at a public library. Brian’s idea. He didn’t think the media would follow them inside and make a nuisance. He was right. Brian knew they would worry once they saw the events on the news. He told them that once everything settled down they could see Justin again in few days, right now they needed to keep a low profile and avoid the media. Brian called Michael and Lindsay as well to fill them in so they wouldn’t worry if he wasn’t around for a while. Deb was not that easily put off. She called daily, Brian had to promise to come to Sunday dinner in order for her to stop. It had been almost two weeks since Stockwell’s death. The Saturday two weeks after Stockwell’s death Brian went to see Michael. He wanted to tell him about Justin before Sunday dinner. Brian was dreading the encounter but he knew it had to be done. As Brian had expected the news didn’t go over well with Michael. It took a lot of time to convince Michael that Justin wasn’t just a one nightstand or casual fuck. but an important part of Brian’s life. Sunday arrived the boys unwillingly headed over to Deb’s. When they arrived everyone was there including Justin’s mother and sister. And so were Vic and Daphne. Brian introduced Justin to Lindsay, Mel and Gus. Justin beamed with pleasure when Brian introduced him as his boyfriend. Gus took an instant liking to Justin and the two were inseparable all through dinner. There was a knock on the door. Vic got up to open it. Ted stood on the other side looking nervous and anxious. He wasn’t sure how the others would greet him. Vic solved his dilemma. “Come in Ted,” he said effusively. “Here’s the hero of the hour. The man that saved my life. You were almost late for the family dinner.” That was it. There were a few awkward pauses and moments but they all managed to work through them. Brian looked around at his make shift family. He realized that he’d finally gotten everything he ever wanted in his life. A family that accepted him for who he was and a man that loved him. Gus was sitting in Justin’s lap. Brian loved the sight of his son and his lover together. He leaned over and kissed Justin on the forehead. The kiss didn’t go unnoticed by those around them. It was the first time they had ever seen Brian show affection to a man he was fucking. That one act alone told them how important Justin was to Brian. Justin beamed at Brian. He thought about how they had met. That someone trying to take his life had brought the man he wanted to share his life with to him. The irony of it didn’t escape him. Justin returned Brian’s kiss. From this day forward he and Brian would be guarding each other’s body. He leaned over and whispered to Brian, “I love you.” Brian gave him a seductive smile, “After dinner put those words into action.” Justin returned the seductive smile, “You got a deal.”