CHAPTER 31: AND IT CAME TO PASS

No doubt Brian was uncomfortable in the back of a police car, but he refused to show it. It had been many years, since he'd been in one. First, back when he was fifteen for breaking the local football jock's fingers, after he dunked Brian's head in a toilet. That had earned him a severe beating from his father in which three of his ribs were cracked. The second time was when Michael was pissed off, because his mom had begun dating Carl Horvath.

Michael had been speeding and had bad mouthed the cop. Instead of simply accepting the ticket, Michael had acted belligerently, throwing another of his verbal tantrums, resulting in them all being arrested, since both Ted and Brian were too inebriated to drive themselves home. So the irony that he was, once again, in back of a police car because of Michael Novotny wasn't lost on Brian. He still couldn't wrap his head around what possessed Michael to invite Ethan Gold to his house on the most important night of Brian's life. He just couldn't understand what Michael had hoped to accomplish by doing so.

Did he really think that Justin would betray him a second time with Ethan, of all people? Or that Brian would believe Justin was? In all the years they had been together, did Michael really believe Brian and Justin didn't talk? That Brian didn't know the real reason why Justin got involved with that slimeball in the first place? Or did Michael just believe that their friendship was more valuable than Brian being happy with Justin?

The thing that hurt Brian most was that Michael's actions had indeed put Brian in the position where he had to choose between his childhood friend, and the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Cynthia warned him several times that Michael was going to do something to make that happen. He didn't want to believe her, at the time. He had even forgiven Michael for his insensitivity toward Justin regarding killing off JT and Ben's characters violently in the comic book, and then releasing it on the day before the anniversary of the prom when Justin had almost lost his life twelve years prior. After Justin had a meltdown and they had talked about it, Justin had urged Brian to forgive Michael, just as he had last night.

"Forgiveness is not for the other person; it's for you. So that you don't change the person I fell in love with."

Justin's words replayed in Brian's mind. Sitting in the back of the squad car, Brian wondered if Justin still believed that. Brian wasn't sure how he was supposed to forgive Michael this last time, especially when there was no way he would ever trust him again. Thirty years of friendship- of brotherhood- had been wiped out by thoughtless acts, and drunken words uttered spitefully. It reminded Brian of one of the life lessons he'd learned from his father.

Jack, who was rarely lucid, had told Brian during their talk after they had made their peace before he died that most of the time sober words flow out of a drunken mouth. He then apologized for the ones he'd said to Brian over the years. So, if Jack was to be believed, Michael had meant every malicious word he'd spoken toward Justin the previous evening. But of course, Brian knew that he did since he'd heard Michael say the same once before. How could he stay friends with someone like that?

Even knowing all that Justin had been through, to say that Brian should have left him for dead was unspeakably cruel. It was like he was seeing a side of Michael, he had never suspected existed. Or had he seen it before, and just disregarded it out of some misguided sense of loyalty? In that moment, Brian felt guilty for disregarding Justin's concerns, for dismissing them as simple jealousy.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Honesty Hour

Arriving at the police station, Brian decided to deal with the situation at hand, as candidly as possible. He had nothing to hide, nor did he feel unjustified in his actions. Ethan Gold was told, numerous times, to stay away from Justin, primarily by Justin himself. And yes, Brian had been itching to administer a dose of what he felt was justice for a long, long time. He would do it again in a split second if it meant that Ethan Gold had finally gotten the message that Justin Taylor-Kinney was his and only his. 

He was shown into one of the interrogation rooms. Officer Prince waited with him, while Baker went to collect the statement given from the hospital bed of Ethan Gold. He didn't have to wait long.

Officer Baker sat opposite of Brian, reading the official statement before he handed it off to Officer Prince and spoke. "Although I am inclined to believe your relatives, Mr. Kinney, I would like to hear your side of the story."

"Where would you like me to begin?" Brian asked, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

"Why not start at the beginning? When did you first meet Mr. Gold?"

Brian laughed in remembrance. "I officially met him some fourteen years ago. You see Justin and I were having some... difficulties that I wasn't fully aware of. The company I worked for at the time was being taken over, so my main focus was divided. My best friend... Well as of last night, former best friend, Michael Novotny, knew that Justin was feeling neglected, and unsure of himself and of me. He had been bashed because he was gay by a former classmate, and whereas we were together, we still had an open-relationship."

"Is it still open?"

He smiled. "As far as I'm concerned it isn't, but that's a question you'll have to ask Justin." Brian folded his lips inward, thinking of what Justin's response would be, and the surprise that Brian was actually serious when he said he didn't need or want anyone else anymore. "Anyway, Michael had told me that Justin was seeing someone else. But then, we were always seeing someone else. We had rules, though. No names. No numbers exchanged. No fucking a trick more than once. No kissing anyone else on the mouth, and we had a curfew. Home by three."

"Why the rules? I mean, wasn't there trust between you?" Officer Baker asked.

Brian understood the confusion. Having an open relationship wasn't for the weak of heart or weakminded. "Having that kind of arrangement really is all about trust, Officer. But for me and Justin, it was more than that, and a way for him to feel a little bit more secure about his place in my life at the time. In retrospect, it seems pretty stupid. But that was our agreement, plus Justin was nineteen and I didn't think it fair to limit his opportunities to explore other men. No one else knew about it, so when Michael brought it to me, I disregarded it. I mean, Justin wouldn't cheat on me, right? At least, that was my thinking."

"But that wasn't his way of thinking about it?"

"That's a little difficult to answer, and something you should probably ask Justin about regarding his state of mind at the time. We were committed to each other in our own way, even though we weren't locked into anything neither of us couldn't walk away from. So imagine my surprise when I found out firsthand that Justin had broken the rules. Two of them to be exact. No kissing and no fucking the guy more than once."

"How did you find out that this... Michael Novotny was telling the truth about Justin?" Officer Baker asked, and Brian could tell that he was really interested in the answer.

"Did you know that saliva carries a scent, as well as the body? I knew Ethan's, although I didn't know whose it was at the time. That came later." Brian paused, lost in his memories for a few moments. "What was funny was that everyone thought it would be me to break them, even if they didn't know what the actual agreement between me and Justin was. I was kind of notorious that way. But once I gave my word, I stuck to it. I still do. To understand why it happened in the first place, you have to understand who Justin is at his core. He is a romantic at heart, always was since the moment I met him. And he wanted me and only me. To him, commitment was monogamy and a host of other societal heterosexual norms and conventions. Well, I did everything I could over the first two years to disabuse him of the notion. But once I did, I wanted romantic, idealistic Justin back. Ethan provided that for him in words, what I showed him in actions."

"And what was your response to that?"

"I thought that forcing Justin to go his own way was the right thing to do at the time. You have to understand. Our whole relationship was based on free will. No official label or title meant that we got to choose what we wanted, whether that was each other or someone else. In this case, Justin had to learn the difference between what I showed him, and what Ethan told him. But he had to do it for himself, it wasn't something I could teach him. It took me letting him go his own way, for a time, to do so. Ethan Gold was what I'd termed a necessary evil in our lives. I had to learn to not take Justin's presence in my life for granted, and he had to learn the value of actions over words. I never knew what broke them up. Justin wouldn't talk about it, but I knew he was bitter about it for a time. I knew he would be back when he found whatever it was he was looking for, and that was all that mattered to me."

Officer Prince asked, "So when did this new problem surface?"

Brian smiled again. "I'm not sure how much my family told you about the events leading up to yesterday, but here's the shorter version. Justin was ready to call things off, after nearly ten years of being in a long-distance relationship. Very few of our family knew that we were still heavily involved with each other, even though he was based in New York. At Justin's request, we kept it secret and it worked for a time. The reason Justin moved back to Pennsylvania was originally as a trial and error period. We decided to give what we termed our non-relationship a real try at this new stage in our lives, meaning that we would be together without sacrificing all we've worked to build. A few weeks after he'd come back, we were having dinner at Liberty Diner in Pittsburgh. As we were leaving, we ran into Ethan and a former associate of Justin's. Ethan took immediate issue with the fact that Justin and I were back together. That's when the harassment started. For some reason, Ethan thought that he and Justin were a much better fit than Justin and I and he began pursuing him, leaving text messages, emails or showing up in places Justin was. Basically stalking him."

They were interrupted by another officer, advising that Mr. Kinney's attorneys and husband were there. Because of the small space of the interrogation room, Officer Baker ushered Brian into the precinct's conference room. Both Melanie and Myrna asked to see Ethan Gold's statement, which Officer Prince handed to them. Meanwhile, Officer Baker silently observed Brian and Justin's interaction based on what he was constantly learning about the couple.

"Everything is taken care of at home, Brian," Justin said, bringing his and Brian's foreheads together.

"I know, Sunshine. I still wish I was there to oversee everything."

Justin smiled. "Of course, you do. You're a certified control freak."

Brian laughed. "You're one to talk."

"I'm spoiled and used to getting my way, because I'm a blue-eyed blond with a great ass. That's not the same thing." Justin bit Brian's chin before laughing.

Officer Baker smiled in spite of himself. Words he'd heard from the family to describe Justin Taylor-Kinney was intelligent, determined, adorable even at his age, slightly sardonic, and enchanting. He suddenly understood what about the younger man attracted, and held a man like Brian Kinney all these years. And it had nothing to do with looks.

There was a steel spine underneath all that blondness, and a rapier wit. Nothing about Justin Taylor-Kinney screamed victim. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Even if Officer Baker had never met the man, he would have known that Justin was a survivor. He had overcome much, just from the information he gleaned in Mr. Gold's statements about Justin alone.

"This is complete and utter horseshit," Melanie proclaimed, causing the whole room to look at her.

"What, Mel?" Justin looked at her with concern.

"Brian, have you read this?" When he shook his head, she proceeded to read a small section from it.

‘The only reason Justin is with Brian is because he's rich and has, once again, been brainwashed by one Brian Kinney. Throughout their former relationship, Brian cheated on Justin several times. Not only that, but he abused him physically, mentally and emotionally. It's clear to me that Justin suffers from Stockholm syndrome, which won't allow him to leave Brian Kinney and seek out, nor re-establish mine and his loving relationship. I tried to bring it all back to him last night, since we met while I was playing that very song. Tried to get him to see what a mistake he was making...again. I meant no harm by showing up to the party I was invited to. It's clear that Mr. Kinney is an abusive man and emotionally unstable, who should be locked up instead of left loose to prey on unsuspecting people like Justin and myself.'

Then it went on to say that he had sustained several injuries including cracked ribs at Brian's hands, and that his ultimate concern was for Justin's safety, being left with a violent offender of the law.

"What the actual FUCK?! Does he really believe that shit he stated?" Justin was fuming. "I'm ready to give my statement, NOW!"

"Wow. It sounds like someone's been reading Psychology Today. I'll give him points for originality, at least. I've been accused of many things, but never fostering Stockholm Syndrome." Brian rolled his eyes heavenward, before tightening his hold on his still-ranting partner. "Calm down, Sunshine. It's just words," Brian said, soothingly.

"Those are NOT just words, Brian. Those are outright lies and slanderous accusations. I have half a mind to sue the fucker, but he doesn't have anything I want. He never did. Nothing of substance, at any rate."

"Brian's right, Justin," Myrna said. She listened to it in disbelief. She had witnessed plenty of scenes between Brian and Justin, and the last thing she would say was that Brian was in any way violent towards Justin. If the latter had a bruise or five on him, she knew it was from rough sex, which Justin alluded to more than once.

"First, I have to ask Mr. Taylor-Kinney, how did you sustain bruises on your wrists. They look fresh," Officer Prince asked.

He looked at them when he took his seat, and smiled at his partner. "They are from this morning, actually. Brian and I make it no secret that our sex life can get a little more... physical than most are comfortable with."

"Physical as in violent?" Officer Prince asked.

Justin shook his head. "Not in the sense of causing harm. Brian and I have a penchant for Bdsm, which we indulge on occasion. Usually when one of us feels out of control. If you look at his wrists, you'll see similar evidence of it. He doesn't do anything I don't explicitly ask for, or don't like. I have a safe word which he respects, and vice versa. If we tend to get a bit rough, that's our business." Justin narrowed his eyes, driving his point home.

"How did you and Ethan Gold meet?"

"I went to a recital at the Pittsburgh Institute of Fine Arts, which I attended as an Art student at the time. Because my then boyfriend- now husband, Brian, didn't believe in celebrating birthdays, Melanie and her then-partner, Lindsey took me as a gift. It was never my intention to become anything more to Ethan."

"When did that happen?"

"First, let me say that Ethan was the biggest mistake of my life that should never have been. I had been bashed by a classmate the night of my prom and although, with Brian's help and support, I had made huge strides in getting my mobility back, it wasn't one-hundred percent. Neither were the other things that made me who I am, or was. You have to understand what it was like to be the Boytoy- or in my actual case the Notorious Twink- belonging to Stud of Liberty Avenue. Brian was everything."

"Was?" Brian asked, incredulously.

Justin laughed. "You still are, Stud. Anyway, being by his side was what everyone wanted- still is, in fact- and I was. So my position was enviable to say the least. Every trick he'd had, from the time he and I became a hot topic, had always somehow taken it into their heads that they could replace me. They became especially vicious after the incident. There were snide comments thrown at me, not only by them, but by Brian's best friend. So, my self-esteem suffered tremendously. I wasn't perfect anymore and to me, I needed the reassurance that I was still valuable in the only eyes that ever mattered to me. But I couldn't ask for it. My pride wouldn't allow that. Although Brian showed me he loved me everyday, I needed to hear it. And that was something Brian couldn't do at the time.

"So then I became unsure of him. The constant parade of tricks, and the demands of his job didn't help any. I didn't feel like I was enough, or could ever be enough for him anymore. So along comes Ethan, who was as adept at turning a beautiful phrase as he was at playing his instrument. He told me all the things that I needed to hear from my partner, and because I was in my stupid phase, and feeling desperate for some sort of validation, I believed him. The fucked up thing is that I had all I could have wanted, all I actually wanted, but I was too blinded by my own foolishness and insecurities to see it. Self-loathing will do that to you. The night the affair began, I had asked Brian to stay home with me. Ben, Michael's husband, was in the hospital, although I didn't know it at the time. And Brian was in a sensitive way because Ben was on critical. Long story short, Brian went to Babylon; I went to Ethan's."

"Why didn't you go with Brian to Babylon?" Officer Prince asked.

"I needed quiet, and knew I couldn't be alone. It was just an awful day all around. My professor had told me that I should give up school because my hand continued to act up."

"You never told me that, Sunshine," Brian interjected.

"I was going to that night. I was on the verge of a panic attack, and was trying to tamp it down. During that time, I was getting very good at pretending that I was okay. I wasn't. But I knew I couldn't trust myself that night, so I went to Ethan's. At first, it was just to find some comfort through a romantic song, and strictly as a friend. I didn't have any intention of fucking him. Somewhere during those moments, the loneliness began to crush me and I just needed to feel something. Beautiful? Desired, maybe? I don't know. Just something different than the constant state of self-directed hate I was fighting through. And so began my folly. After Brian found out, I had ended the affair. My choice was always Brian, but then the love of my life did something stupid, and I left the Rage party with Ethan. I stayed with Ethan for about nine months. But the morning after I had gone to get my things from Brian's loft, I knew I had made a mistake. I felt it, and suppressed it ruthlessly. Admitting that I had was out of the question then, especially because I needed a break from it all. I was on this constant see-saw, but the scariest thing was feeling too much for Brian, and nothing good about myself. Consequently, I still would have stayed and tried to make the best out of my very wrong decision with Ethan had he not lied and cheated on me."

Officer Baker was confused. "How was what Mr. Kinney did any different than Mr. Gold's infidelity?"

"The difference was that Brian never promised me anything, not even monogamy. It's not cheating if your partner knows about it ahead of time, and especially if you engage in tricking together. Besides, what I did was cheating. Not because of the physical act, but because of the emotions involved. As for what made Ethan the cheater, he promised that he wouldn't sleep with anyone else or lie and he did both. Brian may have his faults and they are plenty- "

"Hey watch it, Asshole," Brian defended himself, causing those assembled to chuckle.

"But one thing he has never been is a liar," Justin finished, squeezing Brian's hand. "I could trust him with everything I have, and know that he won't abuse it. As far as me having Stockholm Syndrome, no fucking way. Brian isn't abusive. In fact, he would rather leave me, which he has done or tried to do, than harm me. That's just his way. The first year and a half I was in New York, Brian and I had maybe ten conversations because I wanted to come home, and he felt that I needed to be where I was. After awhile he stopped answering my calls and emails, and missed my first exhibit, which is something he would never have done without good reason. But he did, because he felt I needed to concentrate on what my purpose there was. Emmett, my mom and my best friend, Daphne, told me that he checked on me frequently, but that was years later. There were two other relationships, which didn't last because I knew where and to whom I belonged.

"So if anything, Brian pushed me to become the man I am today. I don't feel debt or gratitude toward him. But I do feel love, both his for me and mine for him. Always have, and it hasn't changed since that first night. Nothing, not Ethan Gold or anyone else can replace that, nor stop it. Not even Brian himself."

Office Baker said, "As I've told your husband, Mr. Taylor-Kinney, I was inclined to believe your family's account of the previous evening's events. Hearing yours and Mr. Kinney's account gives both me and Officer Prince, a more accurate insight into the relationship that you both have. But one question that has been bugging me, and it doesn't have anything to do with this investigation per se. Why the hell did it take you two so long to get your shit together?"

Both Brian and Justin laughed, but it was Justin who answered. "Pride and stupidity in equal measure on my part. It never mattered to Brian what I wanted to do with my life and career, or how much I had or not so long as I was happy and safe. But he knew that it was important to me to be on equal footing with him financially, and so he gave me the room I needed to become the man I am now."

"And are you on equal footing now?" he was genuinely curious. It was amazing enough that the relationship seemed healthy and calm, despite their noted misadventures and twelve year age difference. They seemed well-suited.

"Not completely, no. But I'm close enough that if it ever came down to me having to choose between Brian and my career, I can safely make the choice I've always wanted. It was important to Brian for me to have options. And I worked my ass off, so that I could. I don't regret any of it, even the harder times because they shaped Brian and I in ways that would have broken other people."

"If you have time later, you both can stop by, and speak to some of our guests as a follow-up if you need to," Brian said. "As you can see, we have nothing to hide, and it will be an accurate depiction of the way we choose to live our lives. The choice is yours."

"We may just do that, Mr. Kinney. But we need to get to the hospital to speak with Mr. Gold again."

"Are we free to go then?" Justin asked.

"Yes, but although I know you both have business interests which will keep you relatively close, I do have to advise you not to travel outside of the state, until we have this resolved."

"That may be a problem for me, since the core of my business is based in New York, and I have a few other projects going. But I will leave all of my contact information for the file as well as try to rearrange my schedule if necessary."

"That's all we can ask Mr. Taylor-Kinney."

As they prepared to depart the station, both Brian and Justin's cell phones chimed. Melanie knew instantly, who was ringing Brian's phone and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her at the pained expressions on both Brian and Justin's faces. Yeah they have definitely been around each other too long.

"You may as well answer it now, and get it over with, Brian," Justin said.

"You know every time you tell me that, I regret doing so."

"What happened to having no regrets? Besides, it's not like you can turn your cell phone off today. So it's either answer the damn phone, or suffer the consequences of hearing it play I Will Survive until you do. Your choice," Justin finished sweetly, while putting his head down to look at the messages from his own pain in the ass.

New Message: Ethan.

By now, Kinney should have been arrested for assault and battery. I'm all alone in this hospital room. Why don't you come and keep me company? I'll be waiting. Love You, Justin. You're my muse always.

New Message: Ethan

Why haven't you answered me? Don't tell me you're sitting there, pining over Brian! Ditch that BITCH! Come on Justin; we were always so good together. With your business and my career back on track, we could really have an amazing life. Why would you settle for a player, who will fuck anyone and anything? Look, I'm sorry for the way things went down between us. I just needed to fuck someone, and since fucking you was out of the question, you can't fault me for needing to pound an ass, since you never let me into yours. Come on, let Brian reap what he's sown and come back to me...the only man who will ever love you the way you want- the way you need to be loved. I'll be waiting.

"You should show your phone to the officers, along with the other messages. It may save me from having to defend my virtue in prison," Brian said.

"You're not going to prison, Idiot," Justin said, before lowering his voice. "Besides, I have my own plans for your ass. Any guy named Big Bubba will just have to wait his turn."

Brian laughed. He couldn't help it. "In that case, you really should show those and the other messages to them. Take Mel and Myrna with you."

Justin nodded in agreement. "Are you going to call Michael back now?"

Brian sighed, deeply. "Yeah, I think I better before we get back to the house. The last thing we want there today is another scene."

"Just remember what I said Brian."

"You are unbelievable, Justin. I mean, for fuck's sake we are standing in the middle of a police station because of him. Yet, you want me to forgive him? How can you ask me to do that?"

"I believe I already explained my reasons, Brian. I don't give a fuck about Michael, but I love you. I don't want this eating and chipping away at you. Somehow, you forget that I know you, just as well as you know me. And the guilt you feel about all of it, get over that shit real quick. None of this was your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is me for giving Michael the ammunition to do this, through a mistake I made long ago."

"It's not your fault, Justin. I should have listened, in the first place."

"We can stand here playing the blame game all we'd like. But the fact still remains that you need to speak with him, and I need to go talk to the cops." Justin brought his hand up to caress the side of Brian's face. "Call him back or better yet, answer your phone when he calls back. Say what needs to be said, and then be finished with it, Brian. Move on. Deal?"

Brian grabbed him around the waist, bring in Justin up on his toes to bury his nose briefly in his partner's neck. "Okay, Justin. You've made your point."

"Good," Justin said, as he pulled back to look in the hazel eyes he loved so much. "Let's take care of this, and then we get to go home to celebrate with the people we love and who love us. Then we can have a proper wedding night."

"Last night wasn't half bad," Brian teased, enjoying the sudden blush on Justin's cheeks.

"Last night was damned good. But I seem to remember a promise you made a little while ago."

"Well then you'd better hurry up, so we can get this day over with." Brian pressed his lips to Justin's, allowing them cling at the end of the kiss. There was no question Brian was the Master of Suggestion, evident by the semi-dazed look in his partner's eyes. "I'll be outside."

Justin nodded, and moved off from him. Myrna and Mel had patiently waited for him and Brian to have their talk about these two problems. Between the people trying to break them up, and the people trying to crumble the Taylor-Kinney Empire, Brian was just about at the end of his patience. It was bad enough that people were trying to destroy them just for being successful, rich and queer. But when the attack was from someone who he knew and trusted, who he considered a brother and best friend, it made the situation worse. Much, much worse.