Mayor Kinney

* 1 *

It was almost a week after the election.  The results had really shaken things up in Pittsburgh.  In truth few people had thought that Brian Kinney really had a chance to win.  The concept of an openly gay mayor in the staid, conservative and blue collar environs of Pittsburgh was a bit more than seemed humanly possible.  But Brian had won. Despite the odds against him his brand of cynical humor, unfailing honesty and personal charisma had somehow swept the day.



Because of the delay in the campaign and the new election date Christmas was fast approaching.  Brian would be sworn in as mayor after the New Year. In the meantime he had the holidays to contend with, then the prospect of setting up his office the way he wanted it and lastly he had to learn what the fuck a mayor did.



Charles had been very helpful, continuing to advise him and providing him with copies of the minutes of recent council meetings and protocols to familiarize himself with the workings of local government.  Brian was grateful. He felt he would be totally lost without this help.



Brian spent his days boning up on his new job and fucking Justin senseless at night.  He couldn't get enough of the boy. Justin began to suspect that there was more to the fucking than Brian's usual urges.  Brian had always used sex as pain management, and that thought had not escaped Justin. After one particularly strenuous session, Justin curled up against Brian while they both regained some kind of equilibrium.  He decided he had to say something.



"Brian," he said tentatively, "can we talk?"



"About what?"



"About how sore my ass is."



"Is it?" Brian asked with a smirk.



"You should know," Justin retorted.  "You're plowing into it often enough … like four or five times a day."



"I haven't heard any complaints."



"I love it when we fuck.  You know I do, but I'm beginning to think it's an excuse for avoiding something else."



Brian stared at him.  This kid could always peg him.  "You think so, do you?" Brian asked being totally non-committal.



"I do."



"So?" Brian said after a long pause.



"I want you to tell me what's going on."



"What makes you think anything's going on?"



"Will you quit answering my question with a question and tell me what's wrong?"



Brian looked like he was considering it, but then he suddenly bolted upright and stalked naked from the bedroom down to his computer desk.



"Brian," Justin called after him.  "Come back, please. Talk to me."



He rolled onto his back afraid that he had really pissed Brian off and would never find out what was bothering the man.   He closed his eyes and sighed in frustration. Suddenly he felt something hit his chest. He opened his eyes to find Brian standing in front of him and a stack of papers lying across his chest.



"What the fuck is this?"  Justin asked.



"Read them!" Brian ordered with an edge to his voice that told Justin to do as he was told and not ask any questions first.



Justin picked up the one on top.  It said: "You're a dead man, Kinney.  You will never be sworn in as mayor."



The next one said:  "Give up and resign.  You will never be mayor."



Justin grabbed another one, his heart pounding in his chest.  It said: "Quit while you have the chance. Pittsburgh will never have a gay mayor."



"Fuck!" Justin said in anger and bewilderment.  "Are they all like this?"



Brian nodded.



"How long have you been getting these?"



"They started coming the day after I was elected," Brian said slowly.  I get about two or three every day."



"Holy shit!  These are threats, Brian.  Have you called the police?"



Brian snorted.  "I'm not exactly on good terms with Pittsburgh's finest."



"Shit!  Stockwell!  But there must be something you can do," Justin said helplessly unable to think of anything they could do with Stockwell heading up the police department."



"Yeah," Brian said, "I can resign before I even take office."



"You … you're not thinking of doing that?" Justin asked, fear evident in his voice.



"The thought has crossed my mind," Brian admitted with a grimace.



"But … but … after everything we went through, Hobbs and the press and the meetings.  You can't."



"Yes, I can, but I don't give up so easy," Brian said just like a gangster from some Mafia movie.



Justin giggled in spite of himself.  He cleared his throat and said, "Have you talked to Charles about these?"



Brian shook his head.  "You're the only one who knows.  I've been trying to think of something to do, but I …"



"Horvath!" Justin said interrupting.



"I don't think Carl's going to go against his boss," Brian said.



"He helped you when that shit of a nephew of yours accused you of molesting him."



"But that was before the whole campaign fiasco.  I don't want to involve him and get him in trouble.  Deb says he can retire soon."



"Have you talked to Deb about this?"



"Not exactly.  I put out some feelers about Horvath helping me if it went against Stockwell and she said he didn't want to make waves.  He just wants to retire in peace."



"But Brian these are threats.  They're kind of scary actually.  I think you should talk to him, but don't pressure him to help.  Ask him what you can do."



"That's not a bad idea," Brian said thoughtfully.  "I'll make it clear that he can stay out of it if he wants to."  A lascivious grin passed across Brian's face. "You are so smart, and that turns me on."



Justin groaned seeing Brian's stiffening cock start to stand out from his body.  "Be gentle," he said as Brian pounced on him. He hoped he would be able to sit down for the last week of classes before Christmas.



                                                               -----



Brian and Justin sat in Horvath's office at the Pittsburgh P.D.  Brian had handed him the letters and briefly explained how many he was getting as Carl looked through them.



"Did you get some today?" Carl asked.



"The two on top were from today."

"They don't seem to be getting any more threatening, but this is definitely disturbing."



"You're telling me," Brian said sarcastically.  Horvath gave him a look and he quickly added, "I don't know what to do about them.  Any suggestions?"



"Did you save the envelopes?" Carl asked.



"They didn't include their return address," Brian said with a sneer.



Carl ignored the insult.  "If we have the envelopes we can trace where they were posted.  See if they all come from the same source."



"Oh."  Brian hadn't thought of that.  "I threw them all away, but I think I still have today's."



"Good.  Hang onto it and save any more that come in the next day or two.  Then bring them to me."



"Thanks Carl, but I don't want to get you involved.  If Stockwell finds out, he can make it miserable for you."



"This is police business, and you are the duly elected mayor.  You deserve police protection. I'd like to see my boss tell me otherwise."



Brian smiled.  Carl was a tough old nut.  He could see why Deb liked him.  "If you're sure," Brian said.



"I'm sure, and Brian, a piece of advice.  When you are sworn in, you are entitled to staff including security.  Find a couple of people who you can trust for that position. Until the inaugural get out of town."



"What do you mean – get out of town?"



"Take Justin and go someplace warm over the holidays.  Get out of harm's way."



"You think I'm in danger?" Brian asked surprised.



"Probably not, but I wouldn't suggest being careless … just in case."



"Shit!" Justin said.



"I'm not trying to scare you, but do what I suggest.  When you get back you will be sworn in. There will be lots of security there and as I said hire some reliable goons."



"Christ, that is some advice!" Brian said shaking his head.



Horvath merely shrugged his shoulders.



Brian held out his hand.  "I appreciate this, Carl."



Horvath shook his hand.  "If you do decide to head out of town, leave a key with Deb and I'll check your mail every day."



Brian nodded and he and Justin left the office.  Several policemen stopped what they were doing and watched the new mayor as he passed through.

                                                                -----



Brian and Justin disappeared over the holidays.  They told no one where they were going or why. Brian decided the holiday in Barbados was their gift to each other.  They swam and tanned and ate and drank and had hot, passionate sex indoors and out. By the time they returned New Year's Day they were both rested and relaxed and very happy.  They had barely thought of Pittsburgh the whole time they were gone.



Brian had taken some of the council minutes he was reading to bone up on his new position and Justin had sketched madly of course.  But by and large they left the reality and the worry of home behind them and had greatly enjoyed their time away.



When they arrived back at the loft there were several messages - from Justin's mother wanting to know how the holiday went, from Michael wanting to know if they were back, from Lindsay wishing them Merry Christmas and saying Gus had a present for each of them, and from Carl saying he had received several more of the letters and wanted to talk to them before Brian's swearing in ceremony.  That one brought them both back to reality with a thundering crash.



Brian dialed Carl's number at home and got an answering machine.  He left a message saying they were back and could be reached at the loft.  Justin was in the bedroom unpacking. He already had a mountain of clothes for the laundry when Brian went up to join him.



"Did you answer all the messages?" Justin asked.



"Your mother called.  I didn't answer that one," Brian said with a smirk.



"I heard.  I'll call her later."



"I don't really want to talk to anybody just yet.  I'm still on vacation."



"It was great, Brian.  I wish it didn't have to end."



"It doesn't just yet," Brian said backing Justin towards the pile of dirty clothes.



"What are you doing?"



"Just … foolin' around."



"Oh?"  Justin had intended to say something else but his mouth was currently occupied by Brian's tongue.  He felt his shirt come up and Brian released him long enough for it to disappear over his head. Immediately his mouth was recaptured and Brian began to slide his pants down over his hips.



"Ummm," he moaned.  "We need to clean up this mess."



"Later," Brian said and pushed Justin back onto the pile of laundry on the bed.  He pulled Justin's jeans off his feet and quickly got rid of his own clothes. He grabbed behind Justin's knees and pushed them up and out so that he had full access to Justin's cock, balls and hole.  "Delicious," he said, his eyes full of lust. He pulled the boy slightly toward him so that his ass was on the highest point of the pile of laundry. "Lie back," he ordered. Justin did as he was told finding his head was quite a bit lower than the rest of him.  Brian's hands slid down to his ankles again forcing them gently up and out indicating he wanted Justin to keep them there. Justin linked his hands behind his knees almost standing on his head.



"Comfy?" Brian asked with a smirk.



"Not exactly," Justin admitted.  "What are you going to do?"



Brian did not answer.  His face was buried between Justin's legs.  His tongue licked across the pucker, along the sensitive flesh leading to the boy's balls, all over the heavy sack and up and down Justin's thickening shaft.  The boy whimpered as Brian began to make his way back, ending with his tongue embedded in Justin's hole, and ripping a cry of surprise and pleasure from the boy's lips.  He repeated the same route several times, each time increasing pressure on Justin's cock and balls and delving deeper with his tongue. Justin thrashed around beneath him.



"Fuck, Brian!" Justin finally protested.  "Pick one! I can't stand it anymore!"



Brian's own cock stood out from his body ready for action.  He slid on a condom and lubed it. With one decisive stroke he imbedded his cock in Justin's ass.  The boy yelled partially in pain but more in surprise.



"Fuck, Brian!  Take it easy."



"I'm just reliving our vacation.  Remember the balcony," Brian said with a smirk.  He stayed still allowing Justin to accustom himself to the forceful penetration.



Justin giggled in spite of himself.  He remembered the chaise on the balcony and some of the things they had done on it.



"I see you know what I'm referring to.  Feel better now?"



"Much," Justin grinned bucking up against Brian.



The man took that as his signal to continue.  He pounded into the luscious ass gradually pushing Justin down the pile of clothes until his head rested on the ledge around the bed.  Just as Justin thought he might go over the edge he felt Brian grab his cock and pull in time with his stokes. In moments they were both coming and coming.



Brian kind of toppled off the pile against the suitcase still on the bed.  Justin struggled to sit up, then just gave up and lay with his legs still up in the air.  He needed to recover a bit first.



Suddenly there was pounding on the loft door.



"Shit!" Brian said wondering who even knew they were there.  He pulled on some sweat pants and headed down to the door after pulling Justin to his feet.



When he slid back the door, he exclaimed, "Carl, what the fuck are you doing here?"



"I got your message," said the police detective.  "I need to talk to you."



"Why?  What's going on?" Brian asked suddenly worried.



Justin came down from the bedroom in sweats as well.  "Hi, Carl," he said.



"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," Carl said with an embarrassed grin.



"We were done," Brian said with a smirk.  "So what's the scoop?"



"I picked up a bunch more letters while you were gone," Carl explained.  "This is the worst one." He handed a sheet of paper to Brian. Justin came to look over his shoulder.  It said: "Die Fag! I'll be happy to help you!"



"Jesus!" Justin reacted.  Brian looked paler, but said nothing.



Carl began, "After you left, the messages were pretty similar for a few days.  Then they started calling you a fag and a homo. The messages got more sinister and this is the latest, a pretty blatant threat."



"What can we do?" Justin asked.



"Have you selected any type of bodyguards yet?"



Brian said, "I spoke to a couple of fags who are built like Ben and seemed pretty interested in protecting me."



"That sounds good.  Hire them right away.  Don't go out alone. The swearing in is day after tomorrow.  Then the police can get involved too."



"What about Stockwell?" Brian asked.



"He knows.  I've shown him some of the letters.  He has to protect you."



"I bet he loves that."



"I don't give a fuck what he likes.  I told him about the letters, and that makes it his responsibility to protect you.



"Good one, Carl," Justin said.



Carl gave him a funny grin.  "Be careful and let me know if you get more of these tomorrow.  If this guy doesn't want you to be mayor he may act in the next two days.  Oh, and see if you can get the front door of this building fixed. I walked right in.  What kind of security is that?"



"Thanks, Carl," Brian said.  The detective was already out the door.  Brian pulled it closed behind him and locked it.



"It didn't take long for reality to rear its ugly head, did it?" Justin asked.



Brian shook his head in response.  "I need a drink." He went into the kitchen and poured them each a Beam.



"Can you call those bodyguard guys tonight?" Justin asked with a frown.



"I guess," Brian replied.  "Fuck! I thought winning the election was the hard part."



Brian paced behind the counter running his fingers through his hair.



"We've always known there were people who hated us," Justin said.



"Yeah, like Stockwell."



"And lots of people who think we're perverts."



"Then how did I get elected?"



"There's not that many bigots out there, but it only takes one."



"What am I going to do?" Brian asked really bewildered as to how to proceed.



"Call those guys and get them over here.  Tomorrow you call Charles. I bet he knows a thing or two about security running a multi-national company.  Right now, come to bed and I promise to make you feel oh so much better." Justin wiggled his butt suggestively as he walked up the steps to the bedroom.



Brian downed the rest of his drink and went to call his bodyguards before he followed Justin up the steps.

Mayor Kinney

* 2 *

Chuck and Phydeau sat on the white Moda couch staring at Brian and Justin.



"So," Brian said trying to sound matter of fact, "do the salary and working requirements fit what you were expecting?"



"Better than I hoped for," Chuck said.



Phydeau grunted.



"Does that mean he agrees too?" Justin asked looking warily at Phydeau who was clad in leather from head to toe, complete with the appropriate dog collar around his neck.



"Yeah," Chuck explained.  "He's just not very talkative."



"We don't need him to talk," Brian said.  "I need him to follow me around and make sure that no one gets close enough to do me injury."



"We can handle that, Brian.  And may I add that it's nice to have a gay mayor."



"Thanks," Brian replied hardly knowing how to respond.  "But first I have to live long enough to get sworn in. Do you guys have suits?"


Brian surveyed the two who were both definitely into leather.  They needed a more subtle attire to attend City Hall and accompany Brian to functions.



Chuck said, "I've done bodyguard work before, Brian, and so has Phy.  We both know how to dress and remain unobtrusive."



Justin looked at the muscle bound brute and found himself surprised that the man knew the word unobtrusive, let alone how to use it in the right context.  The idea of him being unobtrusive in any crowd seemed highly improbable. He heard Chuck chuckle.



"Don't let our appearances fool you," the man said.  "We do know what we're doing."



"You better," Justin said seriously.  "Brian has been getting threatening letters.  They say he will never be mayor. Since the swearing in ceremony is day after tomorrow, the next couple of days could be the most dangerous."



"We know the story," Chuck said.  "One of us will be outside this building anytime you are in here, Brian.  When you go out in public, both of us will be nearby."



"Here's my itinerary up to the inaugural," Brian said handing Chuck a sheet of paper.



"Got it," Chuck said scanning the paper quickly.  "Come on, Phy, we better get started. If you change anything on this schedule, or suddenly need to go out for beer, let us know.  This is my cell phone number, and Phy's is on there too." He handed a card to Brian. "Call if anything out of the ordinary happens."



The two men made their way to the door, shook hands with Brian and Justin and went down the stairs.



"Jesus, Brian, do you think Phy even knows how to talk?"



"Yeah, he talks a lot when he comes."



"Fuck!  You haven't?  You didn't?"



Brian had a silly little grin on his face as he nodded.



"Both of them?" Justin asked already knowing the answer.



"Look," Brian said seriously, "they know what they're doing.  Both of them are very good bodyguards."



"They fucking better be!" Justin retorted.



Brian closed the loft door and turned to find himself enveloped in Justin's arms.  "What?" he asked kissing the top of Justin's head.



"I'm worried, Brian."



"I am too, but we can't dwell on it to the exclusion of everything else."



"I know, but this was supposed to be the fun part, your crowning moment," Justin said.



"I'm enough of a queen.  I don't need a coronation.  I'll be sworn in and everything will go along fine after that."



"Since when did anything involving you ever go along fine?" Justin asked with a grin.



"Well … then, it will just have to go along however it turns out."



"Are you channeling Winnie the Pooh," Justin asked with a giggle.  Brian made a face. "Come on, Pooh. Let's go to bed," Justin said taking Brian's hand.



They trundled off up the steps to more private moments in the Hundred Acre Wood.



                                                                -----



Brian stepped out the front door of the loft building.  He glanced up and down the street. Everything seemed to be normal, nothing out of place.  He looked for Chuck or Phydeau but didn't see either of them. He hoped they were just being unobtrusive, and that was why he didn't spot them.  Justin came out the door behind him.



"Did you get them?" Brian asked.



Justin held up a couple more of the threatening letters that had appeared today.  They were going downtown to see Carl Horvath about them. "I got the envelopes too," Justin said.



They started across the street to the Jeep when they heard a screech of tires.  They both turned to see a black sedan streaking towards them. Before they could move or think what to do a parked car suddenly veered out in front of the oncoming black sedan.  The black car swerved to miss the other car giving Brian and Justin time to dash out of the way and reach the sidewalk and safety. They immediately grabbed each other in a hug, gasping for breath, and needing support for their shaky knees.  The black sedan sped away down the street.



"Are you guys okay?" Chuck asked running up beside them.



"Yeah, I think so," Brian said cautiously.  "Was that you in the car that pulled out?"



"Yeah.  As soon as I heard the tires squeal, I figured I better block the path to you."



"Good thinking," Brian said.  "Did you get a license plate number?"



"Yeah," Chuck said shaking his head.  "The car had plates, but my guess is it will turn out to be stolen."



"You okay, Justin?" Brian asked realizing that the trembling he could feel wasn't his own any longer.



"Christ, Brian, we both could have been killed."



"But we weren't, thanks to these guys," Brian said nodding to Chuck and Phydeau who had joined him.  "We better let Carl know about this new development."



"Yeah," Chuck said, "somebody just upped the ante.  Why don't you get in our car and we'll chauffeur you to the police station?"



"That sounds good to me," Justin said giving an attempt at a smile, and Brian nodded in agreement.



                                                               -----



Brian and Justin sat on the other side of Carl's desk.  They were waiting for him to return. They had told him about their narrow escape from the black sedan and had given him the latest letters.  He had gone to check on a few things.



"I'm thinking of quitting," Brian stated suddenly.



"No, you're not," Justin said firmly.



"But … that car could have killed you, killed both of us."



"But it didn't.  I'm a fatalist, Brian.  If we were meant to die, I'd have been dead after the bashing or the car would have hit me just now.  That didn’t happen. You're meant to be mayor, Brian. I know it."



How could anyone argue with that face and that sincerity?  Brian leaned over and brushed his lips across Justin's. His tongue licked the bottom one as it passed across.



Carl cleared his throat behind them and they jumped apart.  "Be careful, you two," Carl said seriously. "There are a lot of people who would be offended by what you were just doing."



"Christ, Carl, they know I'm gay," Brian protested.



"Knowing it intellectually and seeing it on display are two very different things."



"Do they expect me to be celibate?" Brian asked sarcastically.



"They don't care, but they don't want it out in the open."



"Fuck them, whoever 'them' is!" Brian reacted.



"I'm just trying to be sensible about this, Brian.  Tell it the way it is."



"We understand," Justin said seeing the anger rising in Brian.  "We'll be careful," and he gave Brian a warning look. "So what did you find out?"



Carl explained, "The car was reported stolen about two hours before the incident.  We haven't found it yet, but there probably won't be any prints when we do. The letters came from the same area as all the others, based on the postmark."



"What area?" Justin asked.



"Near your sister's," Carl said looking at Brian.



"Jesus Christ, you're not implying that she has something to do with this, are you?"



"No, I don't think that, but she lives in a blue collar area and she hates fags.  I'm sure many of her neighbors feel the same way."



"I don't get why anyone would go to such lengths," Justin said.



"Hate is a powerful emotion," Carl replied.  "It causes people to do crazy things. I've arranged for extra security at the swearing in.  Your bodyguards seem to be competent, based on what they did this morning."



"They'll be with me at all times," Brian said.



"Good.  Let's hope everything goes as planned, and that whoever was driving that car will realize that they have failed.



"See you at City Hall tomorrow," Brian said shaking Carl's hand.


"You're going to be a fine mayor, Brian," Carl said sincerely.



                                                               -----



Chuck and Phydeau drove Brian and Justin back to the loft.  The two bodyguards made the other two promise not to leave the loft until they were ready to go to the Inaugural the next morning.  They felt they could best protect them in their own home.



Brian and Justin rode the elevator up to the loft in silence.  When the door closed behind them, Justin knew Brian was ready to explode.  He knew he would get the brunt of it, but there was nothing he could do except listen and be sympathetic.



"What the fuck kind of screwed up place do we live in, when the new mayor is a virtual prisoner in his own fucking home?" Brian began his tirade.



"Brian, you're not a prisoner," Justin reasoned with him.



"I am so!  I can't leave here until tomorrow morning and then I have to have a couple of bears following me around.  I feel like a fucking two year old."



"Once the swearing in is over things will calm down."



"That's if I live long enough to get sworn in!"



"Don't say that.  Of course you will."



"And who says it will stop after that?  They could still come after me, or after you."



"They could, but the swearing in will be the first big hurdle.  You're breaking new ground. I'm so proud of you."



Brian's anger slipped away as he listened to Justin state his pride in what Brian had accomplished.  "You think I can do this?" he asked.



"I've told you that I know you can."



Brian took a step towards his lover and suddenly they were in each other's arms, holding on tight.  "I was so scared this morning," Brian said. "You could have been killed. I don't want to put you in danger."



"I know you don't, and I'll be fine.  I have to give Chuck and Phydeau credit.  They do seem to know what they are doing."



"But if they mess up for even a second, something really bad could happen."



"I refuse to live my life in fear, Brian.  I wasn't afraid to come out at school and I'm not going to be afraid to be seen with you … when you're mayor."  Justin stressed the word 'when' making Brian hear how sure he was that that event would happen.



"You're either the bravest person I know or the dumbest."



"Probably both," Justin joked.



"You're also the sexiest."



"You think so?"


"Um hmm."



Brian's nose was nuzzling behind Justin's ear and his tongue was licking along the tender spots on his throat.



"So, Mr. Prisoner, do you think you and your cell mate here can come up with something interesting to do for the rest of the day?" Justin asked.



"I'm already up," Brian groaned feeling the growing tightness in his pants, "and I want to come.  But I do have to polish up my speech." He stopped chewing on Justin's ear like he was thinking about new things to add to his inaugural address.



"Later," Justin stated.  He took Brian's hand and led him up the steps to the bedroom.



"Shower?" Brian asked.



"Sounds good."



They made their way to the bathroom where they quickly undressed each other.  As they stepped into the shower Brian took Justin's arm and pulled him close against him.  He ran his hand across Justin's chest stopping over his heart and feeling the sure and steady beat from within.



"We will be all right, won't we?" Brian asked softly.



"We'll be just fine."



"I couldn't do this without you," Brian admitted.



"You don't have to.  I'll be right there with you all the way."



"Good.  That's exactly what I need."



"I'd say you need something else at the moment."  Justin's hand closed around Brian's semi-erect penis and began stroking.



Brian groaned.  "You might be right."  His mouth found Justin's and the ensuing kiss left them both breathless and reeling.  "Maybe the shower wasn't such a good idea. You leave me weak in the knees. I could fall and crack my head open, be in a coma for weeks."



As soon as the words were out of his mouth Brian realized what he had said.  His face turned pale. He reached over and shut off the shower. "This was a mistake.  Everything's one big fucked up mistake." He stepped out of the shower grabbing a towel and quickly drying off.



"Brian," Justin said following him out of the shower.



Brian had already gone to the bedroom.  Justin grabbed a towel and dried off. He heard Brian rummaging around in the bedroom.  He sighed in frustration. Sometimes Brian was one bugger to live with.



Justin wrapped the towel around his hips and went into the bedroom.  Brian wasn't there. He glanced around and heard the loft door slide shut.  "Fuck!" Justin reacted. He raced across the loft and threw open the door. Brian must have taken the stairs.  "Brian," he yelled down from the landing. "Brian, come back! You're not supposed to leave without telling Chuck.  Come back, please."



He thought he heard the click of the front door far below.  He raced back into the apartment to find the card with Chuck's cell phone number.  He said a quick prayer as he punched in the numbers.



                                                                -----



Brian strode down the street seething inside.  He had no idea where he was going. He just had to get away.  How could he have been so stupid and insensitive to say that to Justin?  He shouldn't be mayor. He couldn't control anything, let alone a big city.  His life was a fucking disaster. He didn't have the wherewithal to be mayor.  He had been stupid to think that he could do this. He had got caught up in the battle, in the excitement of the contest.  He could outwit his opponents and he had. He could be smarter and craftier than any of the others and he had. He could verbally out-debate them and he had.  But what had that gotten him? He was getting threatening letters, a car tried to run him down, and he was a virtual prisoner in his own home. He didn't want to be mayor anymore.  He'd had enough of this shit. Tomorrow he would resign. Let some other poor schmo have all the fun that went with being mayor of fucking Pittsburgh.



He turned a corner and gave the wall beside him a good kick.  He jumped back as a wave of pain shot up his leg. "Fuck! At least I don't think I've broken my foot," Brian snorted to himself as he took a few tentative steps.  The pain eased off after a minute.



He somehow felt better now that he had made the decision to quit trying to be mayor.  He could go back to being unemployed and pathetic. Life would be much simpler.



Having made that decision, Brian looked around realizing that he had paid no attention to where he was going.  He heard voices and footsteps nearby, and suddenly he knew he had made a big mistake.



"Kinney!" a voice called out.



Brian stopped dead in his tracks.  Slowly he turned to see three men approaching in what he could only describe as a menacing fashion.



"I told you in my letters that you would never be mayor.  Tomorrow you'll be in the hospital, not at your inaugural," one of the men said.



"Fucking fag!" one of the others added.



Brian had a fleeting sense that the Rage comic had come to life, only he was going to get the crap beat out of him, not J.T.  And there was no Rage to rescue him. He backed up against the wall and prepared to fight for his life.

Mayor Kinney

* 3 *

The fist crashed into his gut and Brian went down, all air forced out of his body.  He felt a boot connect with his ribs and flashes of his encounter with Craig Taylor ran through his mind.  He had closed his eyes in pain, but suddenly there were no more kicks to the ribs or punches to his face.



Slowly he opened his eyes and saw Chuck and Phydeau pummeling a couple of men on the sidewalk near where he lay.  One man struggled to his feet and took off. The other two were under the control of Brian's bodyguards.



As he managed to get to a sitting position, Brian heard sirens approaching and policemen emptied out of a couple of squad cars and took charge of the men his bodyguards had been holding in submission.



Chuck came over to Brian.  "Are you hurt?" he asked looking very concerned.



"Help me the fuck up," Brian ordered.



Chuck offered him a hand and Brian felt Phydeau move around behind him and help to raise his body off the sidewalk.  Brian grimaced in pain. He probably had either a broken or badly bruised set of ribs. At least they hadn't beaten his face to a pulp.



"Let's get an ambulance," Brian heard Chuck say to Phydeau.



"No!" Brian responded emphatically.  "I'm not seriously hurt and I don't want to go to any fucking hospital."



"But you should get checked out," Chuck insisted.



"He's right, Brian," Carl Horvath said as he had just gotten out of his car.



"How did you get here?"



"Somebody at the station alerted me that a 911 call had come in involving the mayor elect, so I thought I better follow up."



"Did you call them?" Brian asked Chuck.



He nodded.  "As soon as we saw what was happening we placed the call.  Justin had called to alert us that you had left the loft, but Phydeau was already trailing you.  He stayed back until he realized you were being followed by that bunch. One got away."



"We'll get him," Carl said.  "His buddies will give him up before we're through with them."



"Do you want us to take you to the hospital?" Chuck asked.



"I told you I'm not going to the hospital.  Take me home."



"Okay, if you're sure," Chuck said shaking his head at the stubborn man.



"This squad car will take you and the mayor," Carl volunteered speaking to Chuck rather than Brian.



Brian and Chuck got into the back of the car and were driven the short distance back to the loft.



"I'm sorry we didn't get there in time to prevent them from hitting you," Chuck said.



"I'm glad you got there when you did.  I shouldn't have left the loft without telling you."



"Fucking right you shouldn't have!"



Brian gave a little snort.  He wasn't going to get much sympathy from this source.  And Justin … Justin was going to kill him for running out like that.  He had thought he was in pain a few minutes earlier. Justin would have him by the balls.



They pulled up in front of the loft.  Brian gingerly got out of the car holding his arm against his tender ribs.  "Thanks," he said to the officer driving.



"Good luck tomorrow, Mr. Mayor.  You got my vote," the man behind the steering wheel replied.



Brian tried to smile in response as the car pulled away.



"You're going to stay put now, right?" Chuck asked.  "I don't want to see you again until tomorrow afternoon when we go to the swearing in ceremony."



"Deal," Brian said.



"Good," Chuck replied and turned to go position himself where he could keep an eye on the building until Phydeau came back.



Brian went inside and took the elevator up to the loft.  As soon as he pulled on the door, he felt it open and Justin had him around the waist hugging him tight.  Brian let out a strangled groan of pain. Justin immediately let go.



"You're hurt," he said.  "What happened? Do we need to go to the hospital?"



"No!" Brian stated again.  "I'm not going to the hospital.  I'm no worse off than I was after your father got through with me."



"Jesus Christ, Brian, what happened?"



"I got ambushed.  Three guys tried to kick the shit out of me.  Wanted to put me in the hospital, but Chuck and Phydeau stopped them."



"Thank God!  Did they catch them?"



"Carl arrived and two of them were taken into custody.  One got away, but Carl figures they'll catch him too."



"It wasn't anybody we know was it?" Justin asked wondering if his father or Chris Hobbs had anything to do with it.  "It wasn't somebody from Stockwell?" That thought had just occurred to him.



"I don't think Stockwell's that stupid.  Even if he had sent them, there would be no way to connect them to him.  They looked like some rednecks who got their knickers in a knot over having a gay mayor."



"I hope that's all it was," Justin said.  "I don't like to think there's a conspiracy to prevent you from being mayor."



"There probably is, but those sons of bitches aren't going to win!" Brian declared.



Justin smiled at him.



"The irony is that just before they started using me as a punching bag, I had decided to quit once and for all.  Now I'm going to make fucking sure they have a gay mayor and they're going to learn to love it!"



"That's the stubborn asshole I know and love," Justin grinned at him.



"Help me get out of these clothes and get an ice pack for my ribs."



"Christ, they worked you over pretty good.  You've got a little cut above your eye too."


Brian groaned.  "And I wanted to be a pretty face for the cameras tomorrow."



"You are a pretty face.  You have the best face in the whole world, and you're all right," Justin told him, risking a tentative hug as he helped Brian to the bedroom.



He helped Brian out of his clothes and eased him onto the bed.  A bruise was already forming on Brian's side. Justin retrieved an ice pack from the freezer, wrapped it in a towel and applied it to Brian's ribs.  He brought some antiseptic and a band aid from the bathroom to apply to Brian's temple.



As he worked on Brian's face, the man could see the emotions on Justin's face change.  He was afraid he knew what was coming.



"You know," Justin said slowly, "if you ever run out again like that I'm going to kick in the other side of your ribs."



Brian groaned.  "I'm … sorry."



"Don't be sorry.  You don't believe in sorry anyway.  Just never do that again. I was so scared when I realized you were gone."


"Phydeau was following me.  He saved my ass until Chuck arrived and then the police."



"Those guys are pretty good," Justin admitted.  "At first I didn't think they had a brain between them, but they really seem to be on the ball."



"They are.  Even Carl thinks so."



"You're not leaving the apartment until we go to the ceremony," Justin stated flatly.



"I already promised Chuck that."



"Good, now rest and maybe later I'll help relieve some of your tension," Justin promised with a grin.



Brian knew he had been forgiven for his lapse of judgment.  He would be mayor of fucking Pittsburgh. Nobody was going to stop him, and he would have Justin by his side while he did it.



                                                               -----



Brian had got some rest after Justin put him to bed.  He loaded up on Tylenol and managed to sleep for a few hours.  He woke with a throbbing pain in his side. He shifted around trying to find a comfortable position.



"Are you all right?" Justin asked sleepily from the other side of the bed.



"No."



"What's wrong?"



"I hurt."



"Want some more Tylenol?"


"Sure, but I'd rather have a large shot of morphine."



"Sorry, but they've taken away my drug privileges at the pharmacy."



"Tylenol it is then," Brian conceded.



Justin got up and went into the bathroom returning with a glass of water and some more pills.  Brian swallowed them and lay back waiting for the effect of the pills to take hold. Justin slid back into bed staying at the very edge of his side so as not to jostle Brian.



"What are you doing way over there?" Brian asked.



"Trying to keep from hurting you."



"Come here," Brian ordered gently.



Justin slid closer resting his hand on Brian's chest but not venturing any further.



"I have sore ribs.  I'm not going to break in half," Brian said annoyed that Justin felt he was too fragile to touch.



"I know, but you need your rest for tomorrow."



"I need something else more," Brian told him taking Justin's hand and placing it on the large bulge under the covers.



Justin grinned at Brian, rubbing up and down the man's already stiff cock.  "Jesus, Brian, you should be in the hospital, and here you are with a hard-on."



"So what are you going to do about it?"


"Umm, I could jerk you off," Justin suggested.



"I'd rather have you ride my cock.  I know you love to do that."



"But I might hurt you," Justin said unsure this was a good idea.



"I'll take my chances."



"Okay," Justin agreed reaching for a condom and lube.  He carefully slipped it on Brian's dick and lubed it up.  He allowed Brian to squirt lube in his hole and open him with his fingers.



When Justin positioned himself over Brian's cock, the man looked into the blue eyes and he felt the love Justin was offering him.  "You are … very special to me, Justin," Brian said feeling very vulnerable.



"Well I hope so."



"I mean it."



"I know you do," Justin admitted, but he also knew that Brian still couldn't say he loved him.  He sighed just a bit as he impaled himself on Brian's rigid dick. He did his best to make the ride pleasurable and not too painful for his man.



                                                            -----



Brian and Justin had awoken wrapped around each other.  Brian was stiff and had an ugly bruise on his side. The pain was considerably less than it had been the night before.  They decided he probably had bruised not broken ribs. They would be tender, but a lot easier to deal with than broken ones.



Justin had given Brian a blowjob to relieve his morning woody and Brian had managed to kiss Justin and jerk him off without too much pain for himself.  They had spent most of the morning in bed talking about what the rest of this day held in store for them. They had finally arisen, showered and began trying on clothes to wear to the inaugural.



They were to be picked up in a limo and driven to City Hall soon.  Brian had agonized over how he looked. Could you still see the cut on his forehead?  It had mostly closed up and Justin had gone out to buy some makeup to cover the bruising around the spot.



He had called Chuck first to make sure it was all right that he left the loft.  The whole time he was in the store, and there and back, he never saw anything of Chuck or Phydeau, yet they had promised that one of them would be nearby.  These guys could really be unobtrusive, almost invisible.



The other problem was what to wear.  Justin was sure that Brian had tried on every suit that he owned, and that hadn't been an easy task.  With his sore ribs it was a slow process putting on and taking off clothes. They did their best to keep his pain to a minimum.  Finally they had decided on the black suit only to have Brian change his mind fifteen minutes later. Ultimately they had agreed on the dark blue one with a gray shirt and tie.  Justin told Brian that he better not change his mind again or he would be going to the fucking ceremony naked.



Both of them wished that the ceremony had been in the morning.  The waiting was the worst part. Brian would be sworn in at four p.m., and then they would proceed to a downtown hotel where there was a dinner and dance to follow.



Brian got more and more testy as the day wore on.  He had been working on his speech, and Justin was pretty sure that he had made some major changes in it.  When he asked about it, Brian told him to wait and he would hear it along with everybody else. Not wanting to get into an argument Justin shut up and left Brian to work on the speech alone.



They had spent much less time on what Justin would wear.  He really only had two suits, and only his blue one was really acceptable for this occasion.  Brian had told him that he wished they could go out shopping. He wanted to get Justin the most spectacular suit to wear.



Justin was happy to hear Brian say that, but they both knew that they weren't going anywhere.



About three o'clock they showered and started getting dressed.  With all the primping and selecting of shirts and cufflinks and shoes for Brian it was well after three-thirty by the time they were ready.  They looked at each other and decided that they looked pretty damn good. Brian said if the limo didn't get there soon he was going to rip Justin's suit off and have his way with him.



Justin giggled, but was happy to hear the buzzer announcing the car had arrived.  The driver said he would be waiting out front when they came down.



Justin called Chuck's cell phone and told him they were leaving.  Chuck said he and Phy were nearby and would be following in their car.  With a last straightening of each other's tie, they got into the elevator and rode down to what fate had in store for them.



The driver was someone neither of them had seen before but the limo bore the logo of the City of Pittsburgh.  The driver held the door as they climbed in. Immediately they realized that they were not alone. Seated in the reverse corner so that he was riding backwards was Chief Stockwell.



"What the fuck are you doing in here?" Brian asked.



"I'm Chief of Police, and I'm accompanying the new mayor to his inaugural."



"I never heard anything about this," Brian said.  "Stop the car!" he ordered.



The car kept on going.



"The driver takes his orders from me," Stockwell said.  "I want to say a few things to you before this ceremony takes place."



"Like what?" Brian asked realizing they were trapped and he would have to listen.



"I can't believe that you actually got elected.  I should be mayor," Stockwell began.



"Well, you're not and I am," Brian retorted.



"I heard about the attack on you and the threatening letters.  I hope you don't think that's all over because they arrested a couple of guys."



"What do you mean?" Brian asked suddenly feeling the old fear creep back into his system.



"There are many more people who feel the way those guys do.  There will be others who will come after you. The police may not always be able to protect you," Stockwell added with a sneer.



"They haven't done such a great job of protecting me so far," Brian replied.  "And in an hour or two I'm still going to be mayor."



Stockwell grimaced at that answer.  "I have to hand it to you. You are one arrogant son of a bitch."



"Thanks," Brian said sullenly.



"You fucking fag!"  Stockwell could contain himself no longer.  "You will get yours one of these days! Do you hear me?"



"Yeah," Brian replied.  "I'm hanging on your every word."



He felt Justin spread his fingers through his as they rested on the seat of the limo.  They squeezed to show his support.



Justin could see Stockwell's blood pressure going up, but he said nothing further.  He almost hoped the man had a coronary or a stroke, anything to get him out of their lives.



They rode the rest of the way in silence.  Brian knew if looks could kill he would have been dead many times over by the end of the ride.



As they pulled up in front of City Hall, Brian said to no one in particular, "Note to self.  Get a driver who can keep vermin out of the official limousine." Then he opened the door and stepped out before Stockwell could respond.  Justin followed behind him.

Mayor Kinney

* 4 *

Brian glanced around as he stepped from the limousine.  There were some protesters off to one side. He saw a couple of placards that denounced homosexuality and others that stated that Pittsburgh did not need a gay mayor.  These were pretty tame compared to the letters he had been receiving.



As he turned to look the other way there was a small cluster of people who began to cheer.  He smiled in spite of himself. He had begun to wonder how he ever got elected when so many people seemed to hate him.  He had almost forgotten about those who liked him and had voted for him. He gave them a little wave, grabbed Justin's hand and entered City Hall.



The swearing in would take place in the main council room, a venue big enough to hold Brian and all the councilors who were being sworn in, plus their families and friends in the spectator galleries surrounding the main floor.



As Brian stepped into the Council Room he was greeted by many of the councilors and the chief of protocol, Geoffrey Cheeks.  The man ushered him as quickly as possible to his seat in the center of the new Council for the City of Pittsburgh.



Justin gave Brian's hand a squeeze and then withdrew it as he followed the chief of protocol to the seats along the side where the spouses of the councilors were seated.  Justin felt funny sitting with the spouses. He wasn't a spouse, and he frowned as he realized that he wasn't really anything, at least not in the eyes of these people around him.  He squirmed uncomfortably in his chair and glanced at a middle aged woman who sat next to him.



"It's all right, dear," the woman said.  "You'll get used to it after awhile."



"I will?" Justin asked.



"It gets easier attending these functions the more you do it," she said with a little sigh.  "My husband has been a councilor for almost twenty years. That's him over there," she said pointing to a middle aged man with a small mustache and big hands.  He was talking animatedly to someone next to him. "I'm Maria Jankowski," she said and offered Justin her hand.



He shook it, happy to have somebody to talk to.  "I'm Justin Taylor," he replied.



"I know.  You've been in the papers quite a lot lately.  You and Mr. Kinney have caused quite a stir. I hope you continue to shake things up.  This old town could use some young blood and some new ideas."



Justin smiled at her.  It was nice to have someone who looked forward to their contributions, instead of all the criticism Brian had been receiving lately.  "Thanks," Justin said sincerely, "I think Brian has some great ideas."



Justin glanced around and saw Deb and Vic up in the gallery.  He waved to them and Deb swung her hands over her head making sure that Justin and everybody else saw her.  Justin glanced at Brian who gave a wry smile. They both knew what Deb was like, and that was all right.



Justin's eyes slid down the row and he saw Emmett next to Vic.  He wondered where Michael and Ben were. Maybe they had to work, but Justin would have thought they would be there for Brian.  Charles Langdon sat next to Emmett, and Emmett seemed to be talking his ear off.



The swearing in ceremony was about to begin.  All the councilors, both newly elected and returning, were asked to stand and they repeated their oath of office, raising their right hand as they did so.  Brian had asked if he would be required to swear on a Bible and was told that they no longer did that in deference to members of council who believed in other religions.  That suited Brian just fine.



When the councilors were duly sworn in, it was Brian's turn.  He rose and walked to the podium. Justin listened to his clear sexy voice repeat the oath of office and his heart swelled with pride.  Everyone applauded once the oath was administered. Now it was Brian's turn to make his first speech as mayor. Justin felt himself tense up in anticipation.  He didn't really know what Brian was going to say, and he wanted it to be good. He wanted Brian to start off on the right foot.



"Ladies and Gentlemen and Distinguished Councilmen and Women," he began.  "Citizens of Pittsburgh who are watching this on TV, or who will see the ten second sound bite on the six o'clock news tonight."  Chuckles were heard around the council room. "I am a man of few words so this will be brief. I also believe that actions speak louder than words."  He glanced at Justin, and Justin understood the double meaning there. "I'm not going to lay out my great roadmap for the future of Pittsburgh, because quite frankly I don't have one.



"During the campaign I made education a priority and I intend to follow up on that.  I want Pittsburgh to have the best and most affordable schooling and daycare of any city in the United States.



"I want to continue the initiatives that have already been started as far as recycling and conservation go.  Over the last few years Pittsburgh has cleaned up its neighborhoods and revitalized the waterfront along the rivers.  That must continue.



"I hope to attract new business and continue to create jobs for the citizens of this city.



"I want every neighborhood to be a place of safety and pride, and I mean every neighborhood, not just those that someone decides are worthy.  Every citizen has the right to a decent place to live, free from harassment." Brian stared right at Jim Stockwell who sat in the first row on the other side from Justin.  Stockwell had to glance away after a moment.



"I can't do any of these things on my own, so I am asking Council and every citizen to do their part.  I would like to see a prosperous Pittsburgh with citizens free of prejudice and willing to accept new challenges.



"I'm sure you all know by now that I am gay."  There was an outburst of laughter. "I am extremely flattered that so many of you found it in your hearts to vote for me and put your prejudices aside.  I hoped this would be a new beginning for everyone, but I have already had threats and a physical attack on my person." There were gasps from the audience.  Jim Stockwell seemed to shrink into his seat. "I have to admit that they scared me, but not enough to get rid of me." There was a loud round of applause following that statement.  "Some arrests have been made. I am bringing this to your attention today because I want those who think this way to know that they are not going to win. They are not going to force me out.  I am the duly elected mayor of Pittsburgh and I will carry out that function to the best of my ability." That earned Brian a standing ovation and cheers that Justin was sure were largely instigated by Debbie.



"Now when I screw up, as I'm sure I will, I hope you will remember how much you were just cheering."  Many chuckles followed that statement.



"Seriously though," Brian continued, "I don't want my sexuality to be the main issue.  There are much more important things to spend my time on now that I have been sworn in.  Hopefully these attacks will diminish once the everyday running of the city continues as it always has.  Hell isn't going to freeze over because you have a gay mayor; at least I hope it won't.



"I have one more thing to say.  There were a lot of people who helped me get here today and I want to thank them all and request their further aid.  There is one person who is most important to me and who, pardon the expression, worked his ass off during the campaign.  That's my life partner, Justin Taylor. I couldn't have done any of this without him."



There was a round of applause for Justin.  Debbie leaned over to Vic and said, "They have no idea just how much Justin's ass has to do with this."



Maria Jankowski squeezed Justin's arm and he beamed back at Brian.



"So, in conclusion, I want to thank those of you who supported me and I hope to prove to those of you who didn't, that you made a big mistake.



"Thank you all very much."


Another standing ovation followed.  That ended the televised portion of the swearing in.



Brian was immediately surrounded by the members of the Council.  Most wanted to know about the attack on him, as well as to congratulate him on his speech.  After several minutes Justin was able to make his way through the crowd and get near Brian. Brian gave him a hug, deciding not to make any more of a public display at that point.



"You done good," Justin said into his ear.



"You think so?" Brian asked with a happy grin on his face.



"That was an excellent speech.  Just right," Justin stated proudly.



"Thanks," Brian said, very pleased that Justin thought so.



"There's just one thing though."



"Oh, what's that?"


"There are much more important things to spend your time on than your sexuality?  Since when?" Justin asked with a twinkle in his eye.



"Well, you know us politicians.  We do take liberties with the truth."



"I thought so," Justin said with a little smirk.  "And here I thought my ass was going to get a rest for a change."



"You know you wouldn't like that one little bit," Brian said confidently.



"No, you're right.  I wouldn't." Justin gave him a little peck on the cheek and then realized where they were.  He glanced around to see many people staring at them. He could feel the blush rising to his cheeks when Debbie came pushing through the crowd and grabbed Brian around the neck in a hug that threatened to squeeze the life out of him.



"I am so proud of you, kiddo," she gushed.



"Easy, Deb," Brian said gently lifting her arms from around him.  Thank God she had grabbed his neck and not his chest. "I'm a little tender around the middle."



"Is that from the attack?" Deb asked concern written all over her face.  "What did they do to you? Why didn't you tell us?"



"I wasn't going to tell anyone, but then I decided that they weren't going to get away with this.  I needed to call them on it."



"Good for you!  But you didn't answer me.  Are you hurt bad?"



"Not really, Deb.  I'll be all right. They just kicked in my ribs a bit.  Seems to be a trend there somewhere."


"Does Carl know?"



"Yeah, he's helping me with it."



"What about that asshole Stockwell?"



"I don't think we better talk about him right now.  I should go find the protocol officer. I have to get to the hotel to stand in the fucking reception line before people start arriving.  You and Vic are coming, aren't you?"



"Of course we are.  I'm not missing a minute of this."  She kissed him with a loud smack on the cheek and went bustling off.



"What would we ever do without her?" Justin asked.



"The mind can't comprehend a world without Debbie," Brian replied only half meaning it as a joke.



They made their way over to the protocol officer who told them that their limo was outside and that he would meet them at the hotel in fifteen minutes.



"Come on," Brian said taking Justin's hand and leading him out the door.  Instead of heading out to the limo, Brian looked around and started back into the interior of the foyer.



"Jesus, Brian, you don't want me to blow you in the fucking washroom, do you?" Justin asked.



"That's not a bad idea," Brian replied, stopping in his tracks.  "No, you twat, I'm looking for Charles."



"Oh … sorry.  He's over there," Justin said spotting the man they were looking for.



Brian let go of Justin and went over to Charles.  The man broke away from the group he was talking to and Brian began whispering in his ear.  Charles nodded and went out the front door.



"What was that all about?" Justin asked coming up beside his partner.



"Let's find a washroom."



"You're kidding, right?" Justin asked knowing that he would refuse Brian nothing, but not wanting to take such a chance.



Just then Emmett came running up to them.  "That was a great speech, Brian."


"Thanks, I'm glad you liked it."



"I hope you'll keep me in mind when you throw some spectacular parties," Emmett hinted.



"Do you want an official title?" Brian teased him.



"Sure.  How about Party Consultant to the Fag Mayors of the World?"



"There are so many things wrong with that title that I don't know where to begin," Brian replied, "but I certainly will see if I can throw some business your way."



"Fabulous!"



"Are you coming to the hotel?" Justin asked.



"Of course.  I'm going with Deb and Vic.  I think Michael and Ben are going to meet us there."



"Why weren't they here?" Justin asked him.



Emmett looked like he was trying to think up a good reason.  "I don't really know," he said slowly.



"It doesn't matter," Brian replied, but Justin thought there was a hint of hurt in his voice.



"How come Linds and Mel aren't here?" Emmett asked.



"We talked about it, but I tried to keep them and Gus out of the limelight during the campaign, and they want to continue doing that."


"We better go, Brian," Justin said.  "See you at the hotel, Emmett."



They headed out to the limousine.  Some of the people who were there when they went in were still outside and cheered Brian as he came out.  The protesters had their own chorus of welcome. Brian went over to his supporters and shook a few hands. Justin waited by the limo feeling a bit like a fifth wheel.



The driver came around the car and opened the door for Justin.  Brian rejoined his partner looking the driver up and down. "That uniform looks good on you, Chuck," Brian said.



Justin took another look at the driver.  "Chuck? What happened to the other guy?"



"Mr. Langdon came and told me to get rid of him.  I took his uniform and he's got my suit. I better get it back."



"I'll see that you do," Brian said.  "You don't mind driving, do you?"



"Actually I think we should make this a permanent arrangement as part of my duties."



"It makes sense so that you are with me more of the time," said Brian.



"Let's get you guys to the hotel," Chuck said.



They climbed in the limo and were soon at the hotel.  They were both glad that Stockwell was nowhere to be seen.  The reception line was long and tedious, but Brian kept his cool and Justin stood staunchly beside him.  Finally they went in to dinner. Brian had thought they could sit with Deb and Vic, but his protocol officer showed him to the head table with other dignitaries.



"This is going to be one fucking long night," Brian whispered to Justin.



"Be good," Justin admonished as he sat down beside Brian.



The meal was passable and didn't drag on for too long.  There were a few speeches between courses, mostly welcoming the new mayor and council members.  Brian made a thank you speech at the end and they were ready for the dance.



The head table was moved aside and Brian and Justin went down to join Vic, Deb, Emmett and now Michael and Ben.  After hugs and more congratulations they all sat down around the one table. The protocol officer who Justin had found out was named Geoffrey Cheeks came over to their table.  He whispered in Brian's ear and Brian made a face. Geoffrey started away but Brian grabbed his arm and whispered something to him. The man raised his eyebrows, nodded, turned abruptly and hurried away.



"What was that all about?" Justin asked.



"Mr. Cheeks is keen to maintain tradition, so I agreed," Brian said.



"What tradition?"



"It seems that the mayor always has the first dance with his wife."



"What?"  Justin had a look of horror on his face.  "No, Brian, you didn't. We can't."



"After all we've been through we've earned that dance."



"No, no … we shouldn't."



"Who knows, you might even remember this one."



The master of ceremonies had just announced the first dance.  Brian stood and held his hand out to Justin. Justin shook his head.  He knew this would make more trouble.



"Come on, Sunshine.  Don't embarrass me."



Debbie nudged Justin and he reluctantly stood up.  "Let's just leave, Brian," he begged.



Brian took his hand and led him out to the dance floor.  Justin could hear gasps from some people and rumblings from others.



"I don't have a white scarf to put around your neck but let's pretend," and he brushed his hands along Justin's lapels like he was smoothing the scarf around his neck.  The DJ began playing "Save the Last Dance" as Geoffrey had informed him.



Brian assumed dance position and Justin placed his hands accordingly.  "I … I don't think we should do this," Justin said again.



"Don't think.  Just feel the music and follow me."



Brian began to move his feet and Justin followed his lead somewhat clumsily at first.



"Look at me, Justin.  Look in my eyes. Don't think about anything else."



Justin stared into the hazel eyes and he forgot about everyone else.  He forgot about everything else. There was just he and Brian moving together, effortlessly.  They slid around the floor, Brian twirling him and dipping him, and they laughed and enjoyed themselves.  Then Brian was picking him up and they were turning and turning, spinning and smiling at each other. And then Brian was kissing him passionately and he didn't care who saw.  It felt so good and Brian was with him, holding him and showing him off. It was everything he had ever wanted.



The song ended and the kiss ended and Brian was pulling him out of the room and people were applauding and Debbie was crying and he was crying and Brian was smiling at him and his heart was so full he was sure it was going to burst from his chest.

Mayor Kinney

* 5 *

"Brian," Justin said.  He felt himself drawn along behind Brian who had a viselike grip on his wrist.  He wasn't sure why they were rushing out of the ballroom. He wanted to savor their dance.  "Brian," he said again.



They had reached the lobby of the hotel.  "We're leaving," was Brian's only response.



"Sure, but why?"



"I wonder if Chuck is out front."  Brian started towards the front door.



"Brian, wait.  What happened? That dance was wonderful.  Is that how it was at the prom?"



"No."



"No?"



"I have to get out of here," Brian said looking around like someone was going to jump out and start kicking his ribs in again.  He pulled Justin outside and glanced around for the limo. Immediately Chuck appeared. He must have been waiting somewhere just outside the front doors.



"Leaving early, aren't you, Mr. Mayor?" he asked with a grin.



"Where's the fucking car?" Brian snapped back very ungraciously.



"Did something happen in there?" Chuck asked worry written on his face.



"He wants to go home," Justin said by way of explanation.



Chuck nodded.  "I'll get the car."



"Brian …" Justin tried once again.



"Don't.  Don't say another word until we're back at the loft."



Justin nodded.  He didn't know what was wrong with Brian but he would do as the man wished.  Once they were there he was going to get an explanation of this strange behavior.



The limo pulled up.  Brian yanked the door open and shoved Justin inside before Chuck could get out to assist them.  Brian climbed in and they took off. As they drove off Justin caught a glimpse of a worried looking Debbie who had just come out of the front doors of the hotel.



The ride to the loft was completed in silence.  Justin was a little bit afraid to say anything. He had rarely heard Brian speak so harshly to him.  The man seemed to be at a breaking point, and Justin didn't want to push him past it.



As soon as the car stopped, Brian shoved the door open.  Justin saw him wince in pain. His ribs, Justin thought. Has he hurt himself?  Was I too heavy when he was lifting me during the dance?



Brian got out and Justin followed close behind.  Chuck called to them, asking if they would be staying in for the rest of the night.  Brian nodded and they disappeared into the building.



Once they were inside the loft, Brian began ripping off his clothes.  "Fucking suit!" he griped and winced as he shrugged out of the jacket.  He pulled at his tie, unsuccessfully trying to rip it off. Finally he pulled it off over his head.  He yanked his shirt out and lost several buttons as he ripped it open.



"Brian…" Justin said softly.



Brian glared at him and continued with his shoes and pants.  He stalked up to the bedroom and reappeared in jeans with the usual top button undone.  He wore nothing else.



"Brian…" Justin said with a sigh.



The man brushed past him.  He went to the bar and poured a large glass of Beam.  He took several gulps and then turned to stare at Justin.



"Are you going to talk to me now?"



"No."


"Yes, you are.  You can't fucking keep doing crap like this.  Tell me what happened."



"Nothing happened.  We had our 'first dance' and we came home."



"Don't do that.  Don't shut me out.  What is it?"



"I need my fucking head read!  I'm such a goddam idiot. I should fucking know better."



"If you'll stop flagellating yourself and tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help."



"Help?  Help? You're the problem."



"What?"  Justin looked like someone had slapped him in the face and that was exactly how he felt.



Brian glared at him silently.



"Brian, if you don't explain that comment I'm leaving."  When Justin heard nothing in response he headed for the door.



"Don't go," Brian said softly.  That was all it took to make Justin stop.  He turned around and waited, knowing if he asked for an explanation he would set the man off once again.



Brian let out a huge sigh.  "Such a drama queen," Justin thought.  Brian took another slug of the Beam and opened his mouth like he was ready to say something.  Nothing came out.



Justin waited.



"I don't know where to start," Brian finally said rather lamely.



"Well, you could start by telling me why I'm the problem.  What did I do?"



"It's not what you do; it's what you do to me."



"Explanation?"



"I go nuts when I'm around you.  You make me do stupid things."



"Like what?" Justin asked, truly mystified about what Brian was getting at.



"Like that fucking dance!"



"That was a great dance!  I couldn't believe we did all those moves and everybody watched us and applauded at the end."  Justin's face glowed as he remembered all the details of their dance. Brian winced. "Did you hurt your ribs when you were lifting me?  Is that what's wrong?"



"No.  It should never have happened.  I can't believe I did that all over again."  Brian grimaced and shook his head in disbelief.  "You didn't want to do it. You kept telling me that the dance wasn't a good idea, but I had to make the grand gesture.  That's what you do to me. You make me forget myself, all my inhibitions and controls, and then I do something stupid like that public display."



"But nothing happened.  People seemed to like it.  They clapped."



"You haven't seen the morning papers," Brian snarled.



"Oh."



"We're going to be crucified and all the ill will is going to come back at us.  Flaunting myself! Flaunting us! I can just hear everybody."



"Brian, I don't get this.  Why did you do it if you think that's what's going to happen?"



"I told you.  You make me crazy."



"So this is all my fault?"


"No … I didn't mean that," Brian said slowly.  "It's just that I know better, and then I do it anyway."



"I think that's called spontaneity," Justin said with a grin, "and it's kind of nice for a change."



"Did you like the dance?" Brian asked, his face softening as he looked at his partner.



"It was fabulous!  That's why I asked if it was like the one at the … prom."  Justin saw a cloud pass over Brian's face. "But you said no."



Brian seemed to be weighing how he would respond to that.  "It was a lot like the one at your prom. I kissed you just like that before we left."



"It was wonderful.  Why did we rush out?  Did we do that at the prom too?"



"Yes … yes, we did.  I was so … happy then.  Only this time after I kissed you I realized what I had done, and all I felt was fear.  It was so much like the prom, and we both know what happened next. I was afraid history was repeating itself.  There were protesters outside, and I had been attacked, and that car …"



"Stop it!" Justin ordered.  "Nothing happened. We're home, and safe."


Brian allowed himself to be held in Justin's gentle hug.  "For how long?" he had to ask.



"For always.  We've gotten through things like this before and we'll get through this one too.  Didn't we agree that we weren't going to hide who we are?"



"Yeah, but we also agreed to keep it low key."



"Well, maybe it did go a little farther than it should have, but …" Justin paused for effect.  "I really liked it," he admitted with his sunshine smile all over his beautiful face.



"You did?"



"Of course I did.  That was about the best moment of my life."



"And you remember it?"



"You shit!  Of course I remember it and … it will make up for the one I don't remember."



Brian looked sad again, and Justin was sorry he had mentioned the prom.



"I love you," Justin declared.  "Let's go to bed so I can fuck a full fledged mayor, not just a mayor elect."



"You seem to be into firsts these days," Brian said with a smirk.  "Are you going to fuck the new mayor after his first day of work tomorrow?"



"You bet!  And after his second day and his third and his fourth …"



The kisses along his jaw and down his throat were causing Justin to lose his train of thought.



"Will you get out of that fucking suit!" Brian said.



Justin began taking off his clothes and Brian was happy to help him.  Justin undid the buttons on Brian's jeans and slid them down. When he stepped out of them they were both naked.



"Kiss me like you did at the hotel," Justin asked.



Brian smiled at his boy and took him in his arms.  He danced him around the room, dipped him backwards and then kissed him for all he was worth.



When he finally let Justin up, the boy gasped, "Whew!  You take my breath away."



"Was that ridiculously romantic enough for you?"



Justin froze for a second.  Those words! Had he heard those words before?



"What's wrong?" Brian asked.



"I just had a … a funny feeling, like I could hear you say those words … but not here."



"You did?" Brian asked slowly.  "I said them to you by the Jeep in the … parking garage."



"Shit!  I can't quite remember it … not exactly."



"Don't try too hard," Brian suggested.  "You'll give yourself a migraine."



"But I want to remember.  I want to know what you said to me.  That night was so important to us. And then it all went wrong," Justin said sadly.



"Hobbs made it go wrong.  That's why I got so worried at the hotel tonight.  Hobbs came out of nowhere and it all happened so fast.  The same thing could have happened again."



"But it didn't.  I love you," Justin said and kissed Brian hard.



"Easy, young fellow," Brian laughed, "I think we need to retire to the boudoir before things get out of hand."



"Boudoir?"



"You know," Brian grinned.



"Come on," Justin yelled and raced up the steps.  Brian caught him at the side of the bed and they tumbled naked onto the duvet.  Justin giggled as Brian tickled him a little bit and then started a series of kisses that left him breathless.  "What do you feel like?" Justin asked. "You deserve a reward for that dance."



"I really like you riding my cock … like you did last night."



"You do?" Justin teased looking for a compliment.



"Nobody does it better."



"I think you're getting lazy, getting too used to people waiting on you."



"You think?"


Justin giggled and began stroking Brian's cock until it was fully engorged.  He slid his tongue through the slit and heard Brian groan in satisfaction. He licked over the head gathering the precum and sliding it onto the shaft.  His mouth engulfed the head of the cock and he sucked … hard. Brian arched up off the bed and screamed Justin's name.



"I think you're ready," Justin said with a self-satisfied smile.  "How be you get me prepared?" He turned so his little pink pucker was right in front of Brian's face.



Brian opened his eyes grateful that he had managed not to come when Justin had sucked him so hard.  He was immediately confronted by Justin's ass. He took a gentle nibble out of one luscious butt cheek.



"Ooohh," Justin moaned.  He could feel Brian licking the spot and easing the sting.  The tongue moved over to the crack of his ass, and starting licking up and down, passing over his pucker each time.  Justin involuntarily pushed back wanting Brian inside him. Brian grabbed the boy's hips and jabbed into the knot of muscle with his rigid tongue.  Justin moaned and looked over his shoulder at Brian.



Brian jabbed harder and deeper feeling the muscles there relax and allow him entry.  He started to use a finger on the hole, then two, then three. Justin was bucking back and forth riding his digits and begging for more.



"Hey," Brian said softly.  "Save some of that for my dick."



Justin turned around and kissed his partner reaching for the condom and lube that were always on the nightstand.  In no time flat he had Brian sheathed and lubed and was positioned over the rigid cock. Brian held it steady as Justin slowly eased himself onto the pulsing rod.



Justin threw his head back and emitted a laugh of pure joy as he came to rest on Brian's groin.  He was fully impaled and loved that feeling. Brian smiled at him. When Justin was so wanton and happy, Brian felt the same way.  It was like he could relive some of the experiences he had missed in childhood and adolescence through this wonderful boy.



They looked into each other's eyes and smiled.  Justin ran his hands over Brian's chest and gently touched the ugly bruise on his one side.



"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked.



"It's not so bad," Brian replied.  "And in a few minutes I bet I'll forget all about it."



"I'll do my best to make that happen."



Justin began a slow up and down movement that he gradually coupled with tightening and releasing the muscles of his anus.  He swiveled his hips around and then leaned in to kiss Brian. The man lay perfectly still allowing Justin to work his magic and enjoying every move the boy made.



Justin began bouncing faster and faster and Brian panted and groaned beneath him.  He could feel his orgasm building and reached for Justin's cock that bobbed in front of him.  He began to pull in time with Justin's movements and was rewarded with a litany of, "Yes … yes … yes … oh, yes … Yes!"



Justin slammed against Brian's groin, hard and then he came, shooting into Brian's fist and onto the man's chest.  He could feel his anus contract and squeeze Brian's dick mercilessly. The man exploded into the condom and they fell apart, spent and exhausted.



After a few minutes Brian turned over and rested against Justin.  "Was it good with the mayor?" he whispered.



"Very good," Justin agreed and they both drifted off to sleep.



                                                                 -----



When they awoke the next morning, all they could remember were the good parts of the previous evening.  Neither wanted to get a newspaper and probably see an attack against their conduct at the dance. They helped each other get rid of their morning wood and then got dressed.  Brian would go to City Hall and Justin was going to be allowed to go back to PIFA for the new semester. He had to go to the school and make some arrangements so he could start the next week.



Brian called Chuck who said he would be there with the limo in half an hour.  Brian thought he might be able to get used to having a car and driver at his disposal all the time.



He looked at Justin who was almost ready to leave for PIFA.  He would need two buses to get there.



"Justin," Brian said.  "I want you to use this."  He handed Justin the keys to his Corvette.  "Just be gentle with her."



"Are you kidding?  You're going to let me drive the 'Vette?" Justin shrieked.



"That's what I said.  I have Chuck and the limo, so somebody needs to drive the 'Vette."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Justin repeated kissing all over Brian's face.



"Okay, I get the point.  I'm duly thanked," Brian chuckled pleased that he had made Justin so happy.



"I'll be really careful," Justin promised.  He could hardly wait to get behind the wheel.



"Get your stuff," Brian said.  "Chuck should be here any minute.  We can walk down together."



Justin gathered up his papers and stuffed them in his backpack.  Brian picked up his empty briefcase wondering how full it would be when he came home tonight.  He still had little idea exactly what his job entailed. He hoped there were some people at City Hall who would point him in the right direction and tell him what to do.  He knew Geoffrey would be there. Maybe he would help him.



"Brian," Justin said.  "Earth to Brian!" Justin was standing in the open doorway of the loft waiting for Brian who was lost in thought.  "Let's go. I can't wait to drive my new car."



"Your new car?"



"All right, your new car," Justin conceded.



"You mean my old car."


"Oh fuck!  Come on!" Justin ordered in exasperation.



Brian grinned.  The kid was too easy sometimes.



They got downstairs just as Chuck pulled up in the limo.  Justin gave Brian a kiss and waved to Chuck as he ran around to the back of the building where the Corvette was parked.



"Morning, Mr. Mayor," Chuck said as he held the door for Brian and then closed it behind him.  He walked around and got in the front seat, putting the car in gear as soon as he was settled.



"Wait a minute," Brian said.



Chuck waited watching Brian in the rearview mirror.  The man was staring at the side of his building. He didn't have to wait long.  Justin peeled the Corvette out of the driveway and spun the tires as he headed down the street paying no attention to the limousine still sitting there.



"Little shit!" Brian said with a grin.  He had expected Justin to do exactly that.  Hell, he would have.



"Youngsters," Chuck said as he drove off.

Mayor Kinney

* 6 *

Justin looked at his cell phone.  He knew he had messages and he knew who they were from.  He just wasn't sure if he wanted to answer them. With a sigh of resignation he retrieved them.  There were five. The first was from his mother and he was sure the rest were from her to. She wanted him to call her.  She wanted to hear all about the swearing in and the dinner and dance.



Justin was pretty sure she would have gotten the lowdown from Debbie by now.  He also knew that she wasn't too pleased about not being invited to the dinner.  Justin had told her that it was for Brian, for his friends and supporters. There were limited spaces and Brian had chosen his oldest friends.  Jennifer had said she understood, but he knew she was disappointed.



The other kicker in all this would be what the morning papers said.  He and Brian had refused to look at them, and so far he was none the wiser about what they might have written about him and Brian and the dance.



Justin had finished his interview at PIFA and had received permission to attend the next semester.  It was a cold January day but he plunked himself down on the edge of a planter outside the administration building and hit his mother's number at work.



She picked up and Justin was momentarily at a loss for what to say.  "Mom," he managed to get out.



"Justin, thank God.  I've left a ton of messages for you.  Debbie told me you and Brian rushed out of the dance.  She was worried and so was I."



"I'm sorry we worried you.  I'm fine and Brian's … fine too."



"Debbie said you danced just like you did at your prom.  Is that true? Did it trigger any memories?"



"It's true, but I don't really remember any more than I did before.  But it really spooked Brian."



"Why?" Jennifer asked.



Justin wondered how much he should tell his mother.  "Um, Brian … he kind of thought that history might repeat itself."



"Oh, my God!  Debbie said he had been attacked.  Is he all right? Are you all right?  Tell me the truth."



"I told you, we're fine."



"Good, but why did he do that?  Why couldn't he let well enough alone?"



"It's a long story, but I'm glad we had that dance.  It was important to us."



"If you say so," Jennifer said not really understanding why either of them would want to relive or even remember that other night.



"Have you seen today's papers?" Justin asked hoping he wouldn't regret that question.



"Yes, why?"



"Was there anything about the inaugural and the … dance?"



"Of course."


"Well, what did they say?" Justin asked in exasperation.



"They had a picture of Brian taking the oath and the transcript of his speech."



"And the dance?"  This was like pulling teeth.



"They just said the ceremony was followed by dinner and a dance."



"That's it?"



"Yes, honey, why are you asking all these questions?"



"I just thought there might be a picture of our dance."



"Well, not in my newspaper."


"I have to go, Mom.  Bye." Justin hung up before his mother could ask any more questions.  Was it possible that no one got a picture of them dancing … and the kiss?  Could it be possible that this one time they might be all right? They might not have to suffer the consequences of their actions.



Justin smiled and went to buy all the different newspapers he could find.  He hoped none of them contained a picture of him and Brian at the dance.



                                                               -----



Chuck let Brian off in front of City Hall.  Brian looked around tentatively, but saw no protesters or supporters.  Could life possibly be returning to normal? He could use a little dose of normal along about now.



He was kind of surprised though, because he was sure the dance last night would have set them all off again.  And the kiss! That was some kiss, if he did say so himself. And now Justin knew what the prom had been like and he knew that Brian had made that gesture and he knew that Brian was telling him he loved him by his actions.  At least he hoped Justin understood that last part.



He gave a little shrug, straightened his tie and pushed open the front door of City Hall.  He knew the route to the mayor's office. One night after the election he and Charles had come here to check things out and let Brian get the feel of the place.



Several people said, "Good morning, Mr. Mayor," as he passed by.  He smiled and replied, "Good morning." He rode the elevator to the fifth floor and stepped out.  His office was to the left and he started down the hall. A young woman with brown hair and a tight face sat at a desk outside his office.



"Mr. Mayor," she said, "my name is Lucinda.  I'm from the temp pool and I've been sent up here until you choose your own people."



"Hello, Lucinda.  Could you get me some coffee?"



"Certainly, sir.  I'll bring it right in.  Mr. Cheeks is waiting for you."



"Thank you."  Brian opened the door to his office to find Geoffrey Cheeks sitting in the chair in front of Brian's desk.  "I didn't expect to see you first thing, Geoffrey. Weren't you up late last night dancing the night away?"



"I don't dance," Geoffrey said seriously.



"Of course not," Brian replied trying to keep a straight face.  "So why are you here?"



"My responsibilities include getting the new mayor settled in and helping him with staffing."



A tap on the door heralded coffee brought by Lucinda.  Brian thanked her and she quickly left. He took a sip of the black liquid only to find that it was sugarless.  "Yuck," he said. "Why didn't she ask me how I take this stuff? Lucinda, get back in here!"



Lucinda reappeared in the doorway a look of fear on her face.



"I take two sugars in my coffee.  Fix it."



Lucinda stepped forward and took the mug from Brian.  She looked like she wanted to cry. She turned and practically ran from the room, the mug clutched in her hand, trying not to spill the coffee.



"That wasn't very nice," Geoffrey observed.



Brian glared at him.  "Tell me what you're doing here … again."



"I'm here to help you staff your office."



"Then replace her."



"She's only a temp, but she can handle the job for a day or two," Geoffrey said.



"She isn't handling it so far.  What staff am I entitled to?"



"A driver, a personal assistant and me."



"Oh," Brian chuckled.  "I have a feeling that the only one I can't do without is you."



"That would be correct," Geoffrey stated.



Brian snorted.  This man had a high opinion of himself, but he also seemed to be the only fucking one who knew all the ropes around there.  "So where do we begin?"



Lucinda appeared in the doorway and knocked timidly.  She held out the coffee mug and Brian took it. He sipped and said, "Very good, Lucinda.  Just the way I like it." Lucinda beamed.



Geoffrey watched all of this.  He was beginning to see why this man commanded attention.  It was a combination of charm and fear and probably never knowing which one you were going to get at any given time.  "Is the man who drove you yesterday going to continue in that capacity?" Geoffrey asked.



"Do I get any security?" Brian asked ignoring the other question.



"That can be arranged with the police."



"I don't want the police.  I want my own people."



"There is precedent for that.  I'll look into it for you."



"Good, because I've hired two bodyguards since I was attacked and one of them is that driver.  I want to keep them on, but their salaries should come from what's allocated here at City Hall."



"I'll make the arrangements," Geoffrey said smoothly.



Brian handed him two business cards, one for Chuck and one for Phydeau whose real name he couldn't believe.  He had got them from Chuck on the drive in to City Hall. Geoffrey placed them in his pocket.



"What's next?" Brian asked.



"Personal assistant."



"I know who I want, but I don't know if I can get her," Brian said staring into space.



"Would you like me to contact her?" Geoffrey volunteered.



"I don't think that would help.  What's the salary range for this position?"



Geoffrey grabbed a pad on Brian's desk and wrote down a figure.  Never discuss money out loud seemed to be the rule around here. Brian read the amount.



"Can we find a bit more?"



"Maybe up to this much more," Geoffrey said as he wrote another number on the pad and handed it to Brian.



"That's more like it.  I'll call her and let you know if I have my personal assistant later today."



Geoffrey pointed to files on Brian's desk.  "Those need your attention today. Read them, and if you have any questions, call me.  Lucinda has the numbers for anyone you may need to get in touch with. Unless I hear from you sooner I'll be back at four p.m. to see how you made out."



"Great," Brian said.  He had to hand it to old Geoffrey.  He didn't waste any time and he was very efficient in his job.  Geoffrey stood up and quietly left the office.



Brian sat down in his new chair and savored a moment of being mayor.  He hoped he still savored it at the end of the day. With a sigh he picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.



"Vangard Advertising, good morning," a voice said.



"I'd like to speak to Cynthia Potter," Brian said.



"She no longer works here," the woman said.



"What?"



"I believe she quit a few days ago.  May I direct your call to someone else?"



"No."  Brian hung up.  Cynthia quit. He wondered what had happened to cause this turn of events.



He took out his cell phone and hit the autodial for Cynthia's home number.



"Hello," a sleepy voice answered after several rings.



"Sleeping in kind of late these days, aren't you?" Brian said.



"Brian?"



"The one and only."



"So this is your first official day as mayor.  Lonely already?"



Brian chuckled.  He loved Cynthia's wry wit.  "I tried to call you at Vangard."



"So you know that I am no longer employed there."



"They said you quit."



"I did."



"Why?"



"It wasn't the same without you," she said jokingly, but that was exactly what she meant.



"What's the real story?" Brian asked.



"I … I don't want to get into it.  It's not important."



"Yes, it is.  Tell me."



Cynthia sighed.  "They assigned me to Henderson.  You know what an asshole he is. He always hated you, and he did his best to take it out on me.  My job became that of a glorified gofer. Anytime I suggested an idea he shot me down. I just couldn't stand it anymore."



"So what are you going to do now, other than sleep the day away?"


"Fuck you!"



Brian chuckled.  "That's not likely to happen."


Cynthia snorted.  "I'm looking around.  I'll find something," she said ignoring his bad joke.



"How would you like to work for me again?" Brian ventured.



"What do you mean?  You're the mayor. You're not in advertising anymore."



"True, but I still need a personal assistant, and this gig is only for two years.  Then I might open my own ad agency."



"Planning ahead?"



"Of course.  You know I always do."



"Yeah," she admitted.



"So would you be interested?"  Brian held his breath. He really wanted her and needed her.



"Can't live without me?"



"Something like that," he conceded.



"I don't know anything about politics."



"Neither do I."



"Well, we'll make a fine pair running the city," she laughed.



"You bet your ass, we will."



"When do you want me to start?"



"When can you get that ass of yours out of bed and down here?"



"Give me a couple of hours."



"Cynthia," he said quietly.



"Yes."



"I … appreciate this."



"Anytime, Boss."



"See you soon."



Brian cut the connection and smiled.  It was going to be a good day.



                                                               -----



Chuck dropped Brian off at the loft just before six o'clock.  Brian felt like his eyes were going to fall out of his head and his mind was reeling.  He had read a million reports and had met thousands of people who kept dropping by his office introducing themselves and wanting favors.



The only bright spot in the day was Cynthia.  Things got much better after she took over. She grilled those who wanted to see him, took down their names and positions and what they wanted.  She filled Brian in on them before she allowed them entrance. She was damn good at her job.



Even Geoffrey had been impressed with her when he came for their four o'clock meeting.  Cynthia had given him the third degree too. It had taken all of his expertise to convince her that he should be allowed to speak to Brian.  Finally she had agreed to ask and Brian had vouched for him.



The man had seemed pleased overall with what Brian had accomplished, even though Brian couldn't point to one concrete thing he had done all day long.



Now Brian needed Justin.  He better be home, Brian thought as he rode up in the elevator.  He had wanted to call him all day, but he had been so busy and those damn reports.  He heaved a great sigh as he opened the door to the loft.



Justin sat on the floor by the couch.  He had newspapers everywhere all over the carpet.



"What are you doing?" Brian asked.



"I've checked every newspaper and there's no mention of our dance or the kiss.  Isn't that great?"



"Great.  Geoffrey told me that the press was banned from the dinner and dance.  They had their chance at City Hall."



"Oh," Justin said deflated.



"So maybe we don't have to worry.  How did it go at PIFA?"



"I'm all set."



"Good."



"How was your day, Mr. Mayor?"



"Long and boring, but I got Cynthia hired as my personal assistant."



"Wow, that's great.  I'm surprised she'd leave Vangard though."



"She had already quit."



"What happened?"



"I'll tell you later," Brian said.  "Come here."



Justin could tell by the husky tone of Brian's voice that he was horny as hell.  He got up and moved over to Brian. "Does the new mayor need to relieve some tension?"



"Big time," Brian responded and he groaned as he felt Justin's hand squeeze his growing erection.



"Let's get you out of that bad old suit," Justin pouted at him.



"Oooh, baby," Brian reacted and captured Justin's pout in a long languorous kiss.



Justin began removing clothes and then proceeded to give Brian one of his best blowjobs.  When they were finished Justin snuggled against Brian's chest as the man leaned against the couch.



"Do you feel better now?" Justin asked.



"Much."



"Anytime you need me," Justin offered.



"Could we make a standing lunch date?  I thought I was going to explode around one o'clock."



"Date?  Did you say date?"



"Um, by the way, how's the Corvette?"



"Smashing."



Brian winced.  "Couldn't you have chosen another word?"


Justin knew that word would cause Brian a momentary pang.  "It's fine and I loved driving it."



"You certainly peeled out of here this morning."



Justin giggled.  "I know. I saw you sitting there watching me, so I put on a little show."



"You little shit!"



"But I'm your little shit."



Brian chuckled and held his lovely boy a little longer.

Mayor Kinney

* 7 *

Brian spent the next two weeks learning the ropes of being mayor.  He was a quick study so things went relatively smoothly. With Cynthia's help he was able to control who got access to his office.  He quickly identified the people who had their own agendas and were best kept out. He also found those who supported causes that he thought were important.  He tried to give them help and encouragement wherever he could.



The biggest problem he had was all the paperwork he had to get through.  He relied a lot on Geoffrey to sort through the mountain of proposals and reports and requests and doctrines that came across his desk.  There was no way he could read everything that came in for him to peruse. He began to understand why public officials were often seemingly in the dark about new innovations or ideas.  Unless they had a staff that could sort out the worthwhile topics, they never heard or saw many of the ideas that came to them from various sources.



Cynthia began to be more and more capable of making decisions about information that was e-mailed or snail-mailed to him.  He trusted her judgment, and as she gained some experience she became as good at filtering what he needed to look at as Geoffrey was.



One of the things she brought to his attention was a request from a group of mothers who had very young children and had come up with a proposal to start co-op nursery schools.  They had set up one for themselves that had worked extremely well. Now they wanted to franchise the idea and act as supervisors for any new nursery schools that followed their plan.  They had laid out parameters for selecting a site, choosing the staff and stocking the facility.



When Cynthia had brought the proposal to Brian he had been very excited.  It fit perfectly with the education and daycare theme that had been a cornerstone of his campaign.  Geoffrey had not been in favor of this idea when Brian ran it by him. He felt the mayor should stay out of such things, let them go through the usual channels.  He also felt it was too risky dealing with inexperienced people. With all the problems of child abuse and molestation turning children's welfare over to such a group would be asking for trouble, as far as Geoffrey was concerned.



"They're mothers, for Christ sake!" Brian responded.



"Fine, you're the mayor.  Do what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you."



"And if I followed your model nothing would ever change."


Geoffrey sat stony faced in front of him.  Brian immediately regretted his words.



"Look, Geoffrey, this fits exactly what I want to do for the city – affordable, dependable, competent daycare.  I want to help them. I have to give it a shot."



"Suit yourself."



Brian wanted to smack the self-righteous bastard, but he knew he needed him, and for the most part he did respect Geoffrey's opinions.  The man was usually right. But sometimes Brian felt the need to do things for himself, take some initiative that hadn't been filtered through Geoffrey's myopic view of the world.



"This is one time I'm going to have to follow my own path, Geoffrey, so let's just agree to disagree."



Geoffrey had nodded knowing that Brian was the mayor and the decision was his to make.



One of the things that Brian hated about being mayor was the constant stream of visits by dignitaries and VIP's who came to Pittsburgh and ended up with a photo op at City Hall with the mayor.  Brian occasionally wondered if maybe it was Geoffrey who organized these things with a view to making his life miserable. What Brian did like about these visits was that every now and then he got to meet someone that he was truly interested in.



One such occasion was when Bruce Springsteen came to Pittsburgh for two concerts.  He performed the first night and was brought to City Hall the afternoon of the next day for a presentation ceremony.  He supported some local charities and their representatives were there to present 'The Boss' with tokens of their appreciation.



As the official representative of the city Brian was required to attend.  This was one instance that he didn't mind doing so at all. He had long been a fan of the singer from New Jersey.  He owned all his albums and he had even modeled himself after Springsteen when he and Mikey had their band for a while.



When Brian had seen the name on his itinerary for the next day, he could hardly believe his eyes.  He couldn't wait to tell Justin as soon as he got home.



When Brian entered the loft that evening he had shouted Justin's name only to find the boy was still out.  That wasn't the way it was supposed to be.



By the time Justin, tired from a long shift at the diner, arrived at the loft over an hour later Brian's good mood had evaporated.



"Hey," Justin said as he came in.



"Hey," Brian responded with little enthusiasm.



"You're home in good time tonight."



"Fat fucking lot of good that did me!"



"What?"



"You heard me."



"Yeah, I did.  But what the fuck are you talking about?"



"I had some good news that I wanted to share with you, but you weren't here."



"Well, I'm sorry, but I guess I missed your telepathic messages telling me that I needed to rush right home to hear your news."  Justin made his voice as sarcastic as he could. This pissy attitude was uncalled for and he was sick of being treated like dirt.



"Fuck you!" Brian responded.



"So what is this wonderful news that you could hardly wait a fucking minute to tell me?"



"Fucking forget it!"



Brian got up from the couch, grabbed his jacket and left.  Justin stood stunned by the loft door. He couldn't believe that Brian had just walked out on him.  What the fuck had they been fighting about?



Brian took the stairs two at a time and arrived at the street in no time flat.  He stopped on the doorstep wondering where the fuck he thought he was going to go.  He wasn't supposed to be out wandering around on his own. Look where that had got him the last time he tried it.  He sure as fuck wasn't going back upstairs to the sarcastic little twat he had left there. He couldn't even take the Corvette because he had given the keys to Justin.



As he stood undecided about what he wanted to do, Brian saw a taxi pull up across the street and drop someone off.  Brian ran over and gave the driver an address to take him to. He slumped into the back seat regretting, a little bit, the first fight he and Justin had had in quite a while.



Brian paid the taxi driver and got out of the car.  He went up the steps wondering if he was doing the right thing.  A knock on the door brought him face to face with Ben.



"Hey," Brian said.



"Brian?" Ben said obviously questioning what had brought Brian to their apartment.



"That's Mayor Kinney to you," Brian tried to joke, but it didn't sound very funny.



"Brian!" Michael said enthusiastically from inside the apartment.



Ben stepped back so that Brian could enter.  Michael was seated at the dinner table. It seemed that they were mostly finished eating.



"Hey, Mikey," Brian said.



"What are you doing here?  Have you eaten?"



Like all the Novotnys food was always high on the list of priorities.



"I'm fine," Brian replied.  He sat down in an empty chair at the table.  "I came to see if you could take a couple of hours off from the store tomorrow afternoon."



"Is there an early underwear party that you want to drag him to?" Ben asked.



Brian ignored that comment.  "How would you like to meet Bruce Springsteen?"



"What kind of fucked up joke is this?" Michael asked.



"It's no joke, Mikey.  He's coming to City Hall to receive an award from some charitable institutions and of course, I have to shake his hand.  I wondered if you wanted to come too. But … if you're busy or you think I'm kidding it's no skin off my nose."



Brian made a move as if tostand up like he was ready to leave.



"Brian," Michael whined.  "Don't fuck with me. Are you serious?  Bruce Springsteen!"



Brian grinned at him and nodded.



"Oh… My… God…!"



"So do you want to come?"



"Of course I do.  Let me call Uncle Vic and see if he'll cover for me at the store.  I'll call him right now."



Michael went over to the phone and Brian began to squirm under Ben's continued stare.



"I promise to return him in pristine condition right after the ceremony," Brian said sarcastically.



"I'm trying to figure out why you are here inviting Michael when I would have thought you would be taking Justin," Ben mused out loud.  "Umm, let me see … a fight perhaps?"

Brian scowled and Ben knew he had hit the nail on the head.  "You can't keep stringing Michael along like this."



"What the fuck are you talking about?"



"Come on, Brian.  Every time you have problems with Justin you come running back to Michael and make him feel special and important.  Then as soon as you fix things with Justin, you forget that Michael exists."



Brian looked stunned and a little sheepish, but quickly the old mask slipped into place.  "You're full of shit," Brian said too softly. "Mikey and I have been friends for a long time and Springsteen was one of our heroes.  That's why I'm inviting him."



"If you say so," Ben said slowly and Brian knew he didn't believe a word of it.



"Uncle Vic will look after the store," Michael said with a big grin as he came back to the table.  He wants me to get him Bruce's autograph if I get the chance."



"Try not to gush too much," Brian admonished.  "I have to maintain a certain sense of decorum.  I am the mayor."



Ben snorted.  "And loving every minute of it."



"You're such a fraud," Michael said to Brian.  "You're as excited as I am about meeting Springsteen."



"True," Brian admitted with a little grin.



Ben watched the two of them.  They really did have so much common history.  It was hard for anyone else, him included, to break into that realm.



"So be at City Hall a little before two," Brian said standing and pulling his coat back on.



"I'll be there."



"Check in at the front desk.  I'll put your name on the guest list."

Michael nodded happily.



"Oh, I almost forgot.  Can you call me a cab?"



"Sure, but where's the 'Vette?"



"Just call."



Michael went to the phone and Brian again found himself under the intense scrutiny of the good professor.  Brian decided he could learn to hate Ben if he didn't stop doing that.



"About five minutes," Michael said coming back to the table.



They all sat down again and looked uncomfortably at each other.



"So where's your car?" Ben asked.



"Justin has it."



"Why?" Michael wanted to know.



"I have a car and driver.  It comes with being mayor so I gave the 'Vette to Justin."



"Gave?"  Michael looked shocked.



"Well, not exactly gave.  He's using it for transportation to school and to run errands."



"You trust him with it?"



"Of course I do, Mikey, or I wouldn't have given it to him in the first place."



Michael scowled and there was an awkward silence.  Brian realized how much he did trust Justin. The boy could have anything he wanted.  Brian knew it would be safe with him. Michael thought about how Brian had never loaned him the Corvette and resented Justin a little more.  Ben watched the emotions play out on the faces of the other two and shook his head in resignation. No matter how much Michael loved him, and he knew that he did, he would never hold the same place in his life that Brian commanded.



A honk from the street heralded the arrival of the taxi and mercifully the end of Ben's scrutiny.  Brian got up, gave Michael a quick kiss and left without further ado. Inside the taxi Brian hesitated about where to have the taxi take him and then gave the driver the address of the loft.



                                                             -----



Brian waited in his office.  They would call him down to meet Bruce Springsteen in a few minutes.  Michael should be there anytime now. He thought back to the events of last night.  What the fuck had he and Justin fought about? And worse still, what were they still fighting about?



When Brian had arrived back at the loft Justin was engrossed in some school work and never even let on that he knew Brian had returned.  Brian read some reports and worked a bit on the computer. He composed a few words to say at the presentation to Bruce Springsteen.



He kept glancing over at Justin, but the boy never let on that he noticed, if in fact he did.  They never said anything to each other all night. Brian finally went to bed sometime before midnight and Justin was still sketching.



When they had awoken this morning each was clinging to his side of the bed fearful of touching the other.  Justin stayed in bed while Brian got ready to leave. Justin was awake. Brian always knew when he was awake, but he pretended sleep and Brian let him.  Somehow that seemed easier than trying to settle what had happened and then explain to him why Michael was coming to meet Bruce Springsteen instead of him.  So Justin still didn't know what was happening at City Hall this day. Brian assumed he had gone off to PIFA without any inkling.



Cynthia called him over the intercom and he stepped out of his office to find an excited Michael armed with his camera and autograph book waiting for him.  They made their way down to the council chambers where the presentation would be made.



The councilors and Brian took their seats, and Michael went to the visitors' gallery.  Shortly the Springsteen entourage arrived. Hands were quickly shaken and seats found for all who accompanied the 'Boss'.  Several people from various charities spoke about contributions made by Mr. Springsteen. Geoffrey handed Brian the award plaque and the key to the city.  Brian moved to the microphone.



"Mr. Springsteen, may I officially welcome you to Pittsburgh.  I am very pleased and honored to be here today to present you, first with the key to the city."  Bruce rose and accepted the key shaking Brian's hand. There were lots of pictures taken, including by Michael who thought he got several good ones for his scrapbook.  Bruce sat back down.



"I also have a second presentation, but before I get to that, I would like to admit publicly that I have been a fan of yours for many years.  In fact I invited a longtime friend here today because we had a band that was largely fashioned after yours, although the caliber of the talent was perhaps somewhat less."  There was general laughter. "I hope after this ceremony that you might take a minute to meet this friend. It would mean a lot to him. Now, back to the agenda. If the representatives of the various charities will come back up we would all like to present you with this plaque as a token of our appreciation for all the community service work you do."



When the photo op was over and refreshments were being served, Michael made his way back to Brian.



"Do you think he will speak to me?" Michael asked glancing hesitantly at Bruce.



"There's only one way to find out," Brian said and ushered Michael through the crowd of people to where the musician was surrounded by admirers.  They made way for the mayor.



"Is this the friend who wanted to meet me?" Bruce asked.



Brian nodded and Bruce held out his hand to Michael.  Michael shook it enthusiastically.



"This is so great.  I … I'm such a fan! I'm so pleased to meet you."


Bruce grinned and Brian felt the necessity to say, "Bruce, this is Michael Novotny."


"Could I get your autograph, Mr. Springsteen?" Michael asked.



"Um … sure."  Bruce took the autograph book and signed it to Vic as Michael told him.  When he was done he turned to Brian. "I was hoping I'd get the chance to tell you that I think it's great that you got elected."



"You do?  Why?" Brian asked.



"I think we need a more tolerant world, and your election is a good step towards that."



"I'm glad you think so, but I'm not so sure that's what's happening."  Bruce looked confused by Brian's statement. "It's not something I can explain quickly, but thanks for the compliment."



Bruce nodded and then he was whisked away to God knows what next.  That was the end of the presentation and Springsteen and entourage were gone.  Michael looked at Brian.



"That was great!  Thanks for introducing me to him, or I probably wouldn't have even got near him.  Uncle Vic is going to be so stoked about the autograph."


"You're welcome, Mikey," Brian replied.  "I should get back to my office. See ya!"



Brian walked out to the elevators and caught one.  All the way to his office two thoughts kept rolling through his head.  Bruce Springsteen thought he was making a difference and Justin should have been there.

Mayor Kinney

* 8 *

Justin had been tired when he came home and wasn't in the mood to placate Brian about whatever the fuck news he wanted to tell him.  The momentary lapse had caused Brian to get angry and leave to go who knew where. Justin had been so stunned when Brian walked out over seemingly nothing that he had momentarily been at a loss of what to do.  He had started to follow Brian out onto the landing. The man disappeared from view almost immediately and Justin realized that it was unlikely that he would be able to catch him. He went back inside and called Chuck.



They had relaxed their surveillance quite a bit since the arrests of the men who beat up Brian and had sent those threatening letters.  Chuck or Phydeau were no longer stationed outside the loft all of the time, but Brian was not supposed to venture out after dark unescorted.



Chuck didn't seem overly concerned that Brian had gone out alone but said he or Phydeau would come over immediately.  Justin had waited in agitation until Phydeau arrived. He had been hoping it would be Chuck who always seemed much easier to deal with.  Justin was a bit afraid of the leather clad Phydeau.



When the front door buzzer finally rang Justin answered immediately.



"Yes?" he said.



"Phydeau here," a strange voice replied.



Justin realized that was the first time he had actually heard Phydeau's voice.  "Come on up," Justin replied and pushed the release for the front door. He opened the loft door and waited for the elevator.  As it came into view he could see Phydeau dressed in his leathers behind the grating. He wondered just what he had called Phydeau away from.  "Hi," Justin said not knowing how else to begin.



Phydeau nodded and entered the loft.  Justin closed the door behind them.



"How long has he been gone?" Phydeau asked.



"About thirty minutes.  I called as soon as I realized he wasn't coming back."



"What happened?"



"We had a … fight, I guess."



"You guess?  Don't you know?"



"It happened so fast I hardly know what went on.  I just know that Brian shouldn't be out wandering around by himself, especially after what happened to him the last time."



"He didn't take his car?"



"No, I have the keys."



"Would he take a cab?"



"Maybe, but he didn't call one.  He would have to catch it by accident on the street."



"Any idea where he might go?"



"Not really."



"Friends?  Family?"



"Yeah, some of each, but I didn't want to worry them by calling."



"If he doesn't come back soon, you better call."



Justin nodded.  "Is there anything else we can do in the meantime?"



"Chuck's checking Woody's and Babylon and some of his other hangouts."



"I don't really think he'd go there.  Since he got elected he's been trying to keep a clean image.  What about the diner?"



"He'll look there too."



"Is there anything we can do?" Justin asked frustrated by being left behind with nothing to do to help.



"As soon as we hear from Chuck, we'll know how to proceed.  Either he will have found him or you start calling all the people he might have gone to visit."



Justin studied Phydeau.  He didn't seem so menacing now that he was talking.  "Want to sit down?" he asked indicating the couch.



Phydeau walked around and sat down.  Justin took one of the chairs. They stared awkwardly at each other.  Justin realized if he wanted to break the uncomfortable silence, he was the one who would have to do it.



"So…," Justin began, "how long have you been into leather?"



"Long time."


This wasn't going to be easy.  "Um … would you like a drink?"



Phydeau shook his head and they sat in silence for a little longer.



"Um … where'd you get the name Phydeau?" Justin finally asked.  He had always wondered about that. Phydeau made a face. "Sorry, it's none of my business if you don't want to talk about it."  Justin didn't want to piss him off.



"It's okay.  It's not my real name."



"No shit!"  Justin was immediately sorry he had said that.  He really didn't want to make him mad.



"No shit," Phydeau repeated and grinned at him.  "I never liked telling people my real name. Since I got into leather I have always worn this spiked dog collar."  He touched the studded piece of leather around his neck. "Somebody called me Fido one night."



"That's how it started?"



"Yeah, I just changed the spelling from the dog version.  I suppose it's better than Rover or Poochie."



Justin chuckled.  "Yeah, I never thought about the other possibilities."



"I have, believe me.  I suppose now you want to know what my real name is?"



"Only if you want you tell me."



"Well, to be happy being called Phydeau, you have to know the real name is something … strange."



Justin nodded not knowing what else to do.  "I won't spread it around if you want to tell me what it is."



"I should hope you won't."  Justin could hear the implied threat.  "My real name's … Atticus Phipps."



"Really?"  Justin was very surprised.  That was probably the last name he would ever have thought of.  It was probably the last name anyone would come up with. He wondered at the mother who had saddled her son with that handle.



"Pretty bad, huh?"



"No, um … I mean … I guess you were named after Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird".



"You know that story?"



"It's one of my favorites."



"No shit!  I hardly tell anybody my name, but when I do, it's rare that they know where it came from.  They just think it's weird."



Justin could imagine that many of the folks on Liberty Avenue might not have a clue about Atticus Finch, especially in the leather bars.  "I like stories about the underdog and somebody who stands up for human rights, and isn't afraid to take on the powers that be."



"Me too," Phydeau replied, still a man of few words when given the chance.  "I guess that's what I like about Mr. Kinney."



Maybe they did have one or two things in common, Justin thought.  The silence fell around them once more. Justin looked at his watch.  It had only been about five minutes, but it seemed much longer since Phydeau had arrived.



"Do you think I should start calling people?" Justin asked wanting to do something concrete.



"Not yet.  Wait for Chuck to call."



Justin sighed.  He needed to do something.  His sketchbook sat on the coffee table so he picked it up, flipped to a blank page and began sketching Phydeau.  He didn't know how long he had been sketching when the phone rang. He jumped as it broke his concentration and rang to answer it.  It was Chuck.



"Haven't found him," Chuck said.  "Start trying his friends and family."



"Okay…," Justin said.  "Do you think something has happened to him?" he asked fearfully.



"Probably not, but we need to find him.  I'm going to try a few other places, but they're not very likely, so start calling."



"I will," Justin said and hung up.  Phydeau looked at him waiting for an explanation.  "He hasn't found him, but he's going to try a few other places.  He wants me to start calling." Phydeau nodded in agreement. "I guess I'll start with Lindsay."



That proved fruitless.  She hadn't seen or heard from Brian in days, and she told Justin to make sure that Brian called her … soon.  He then tried Michael who informed him that Brian had just left and should be back at the loft in a few minutes.



"Shit!" Justin said when he got off the phone.



"What?" Phydeau wanted to know.  He had been looking through Justin's sketchbook, very impressed with the drawing of himself and all the other sketches that he found inside.



"He was at Michael's and should be on his way home right now."



"I'll let Chuck know."  Phydeau pulled out his cell phone and filled Chuck in on what they now knew.  He stood up when he was finished. "I'll get out of here before he gets back. He doesn't need to know that we were looking for him."



Justin nodded, realizing that Phydeau understood how Brian liked his privacy and would hate the idea that others knew about the fight and him walking out.  "Thanks for coming over."



Phydeau started towards the door, then stopped and turned around.  "Those are very good," he said indicating the open sketchbook that lay on the coffee table.



"Thanks," Justin said with a smile.



"I … I paint," Phydeau said looking very unsure of himself.



"You do?"  Justin was surprised.



"Yeah."



"I'd like to see your work sometime."



"That … that would be nice," Phydeau said rather shyly.  "I'd better get out of here before the mayor comes back."



He rushed down the stairs like he was embarrassed to have told Justin about his art.  Justin made a mental note to be sure to ask to see the man's work. It had to be interesting if it was half as intriguing as the man who painted it.



Justin pulled the loft door closed and locked it.  He wasn't going to make it easy for Brian. He didn't appreciate being treated the way Brian had acted before he left.  He was prepared to take a stand on that. He picked up his sketchbook and pencil and began to work on the sketch of Phydeau.  He had the basics done, but there was still a lot more to do to it before it was finished.



He heard the loft door open some minutes later.  He was really engrossed in his drawing. The likeness of Phydeau was excellent and he really wanted to finish it while it was clear in his memory.  He also wasn't ready to talk to Brian, and he certainly wasn't ready to forgive him. He kept sketching, paying no attention to Brian as he came in and went up to the bedroom.  Neither of them spoke.



Justin decided he could outlast his lover.  If he wanted to play the silent treatment game then he would get a dose of his own medicine.  He worked away adding touches to the likeness of Phydeau and ignoring Brian moving around the loft.  He half noticed that he worked at the computer for awhile, but he was enjoying the sketch he was doing.  It looked real enough to open its mouth and speak to him from the page.



Finally it was done and Justin took a last survey of his work, smiled in satisfaction and closed the pad.  He massaged his right hand which still got tight and knotted if he worked for too long a stretch like he had just done.  He looked around. Brian was nowhere to be seen. He had forgotten about him when he got so engrossed in the drawing. They still hadn't spoken to each other.



He stood up and stretched.  He could see a lump in the bed up the steps.  Brian must have given up and gone to bed. Justin got a drink of water and went up to the bathroom.  There was no sound from the man as he went by, so he must be asleep. When Justin finally climbed into bed next to Brian, the shallow breathing told him that he really was asleep.  Justin rolled to the edge of the bed and tried to sleep himself.



The next morning Justin woke when he heard Brian get up.  He still didn't want to be the one to initiate talking so he stayed on his side of the bed and pretended he was still asleep.  He hoped Brian would wake him and say he was sorry. He hated it when they fought. Suddenly he heard the loft door slide open and then shut.  He knew Brian had left.



"Shit!" he said out loud.  "The bastard didn't even have the decency to explain his actions and apologize."  Justin continued to mutter to himself as he got dressed and ready to go to school.  They would have this out tonight. Enough pussy footing around.



                                                               -----



When Justin arrived home from school there was no sign of Brian.  He decided he would cook dinner for the two of them. Maybe that would break the ice and get Brian to talk to him.



He checked what he had to work with and decided on pasta with chicken and mushrooms.  He knew Brian would think it was fattening, but tough luck, that's what he had supplies for and that's what he felt like making.  He had most of it ready when Brian finally arrived home.



"Hey," Brian said as he came through the door and smelled the food cooking.



Justin smiled.  Brian had spoken first.  "Hey," he responded.



"That smells good."



"Thanks.  Are you hungry?"



"I could eat."



"It'll be ready in about ten minutes."



Brian went up to change his clothes.  He was relieved that Justin had answered when he had greeted him.  He didn't think he could take another night of silence. It was much too hetero to suit him.  Anyone would think they were a fucking married couple.



When he reappeared Justin was finishing setting the table and he handed Brian a bottle of wine to open.  Brian did his duty and they sat down to a delicious meal. He could feel Justin's eyes on him, but he didn't say anything.  Neither was willing to give in.



"Fuck this!" Brian finally said.



"Fuck what?"



"This silence."



"Oh, you don't like some quiet time?"



"Don't be a fucking smartass.  When are you going to get over it?"



"Me?  When am I going to get over it?  In case you don't remember I didn't do anything.  You expected me to read your mind. You expected me to magically appear when you wanted me.  You're the one who walked out."



Brian studied his young lover for a minute.  He had a smart retort all ready, but the look on Justin's face told him he better be careful.  This wasn't the old Justin who put up with his shit without any complaints. "Yeah, I guess I was," Brian said slowly.



"So what do you have to say for yourself?"



"I … I shouldn't have left like that."



"No, you fucking shouldn't have!"



"But I did, and it's over.  Can we just get on with things?"



"I don't know, Brian.  Can we? I'm not prepared to have you walk out whenever you feel like it.  Do you have any idea how worried I was? Do you remember what happened to you the last time you pulled something like this?"



Brian looked a little sheepish.  "I only went to see Michael."



"And just how was I supposed to know that's what you were doing?"



"I … I guess you couldn't know that."



"So?"



"So … what?" Brian asked bewildered.



"So what are you going to do about it?"



"Sometimes I … I just need to be alone.  When things don't go the way I want, I … I want to escape."



"So that's what you were doing … escaping?"



"Yeah."



"Escaping from what?  Me? Our life together?"



"All of the above."



"Well, thanks a fucking lot!"  Justin threw down his napkin and stomped up to the bedroom, his appetite completely gone.  He sat down on the side of the bed and leaned his forehead into his hands, his elbows resting on his knees.  He wondered if he had made a huge mistake. Brian would never change. He would never really let him into his life no matter what he said.  Brian was the one with all the power and decision making prerogative. He was fooling himself if he thought that Brian would really alter that fact or make any real concessions to include him in his life.



"Justin," Brian said tentatively still at the bottom of the steps to the bedroom.



Justin sighed and remained silent.



"Justin," Brian tried again.



Justin decided to listen to whatever pathetic excuse Brian was going to make.  "What?" he finally said. He heard Brian come up the steps.



"I just needed to be by myself for a little while.  I didn't want to cause all this trouble."



That was probably as close to an apology as he was going to get.  "Well, you make me feel like shit when you walk out like that. It's like you have no consideration for me at all.  If I can't read your whims or moods fast enough, then you ignore me or walk out. I suppose Michael's better at it than I am."



"Michael's pretty obtuse sometimes," Brian said with a grin.



Justin had to giggle at that.  "He is?"



Brian nodded.  "He thinks he knows me so well, but you're really the only one who does."  Brian hesitated. "And then sometimes you don't like me very much … like now."



"You're right."  He turned to look at Brian.  He could tell that his last words had really hit home.  "I want us to work on things together. I just want you to include me."



"I'll try," Brian said simply.  All he wanted was to hold Justin in his arms and kiss that sad look off his face.



"You mean it?" Justin asked giving in.



Brian nodded.  He took a couple of steps towards his partner and found Justin standing waiting for him.  He took the young man into his arms and kissed him tenderly. He really wanted to make this work.  He didn't intend to hurt Justin. He really would try. They made love long into the night.



                                                             -----



As they slept, the latest editions of the local newspapers were being cranked out.  Neither would be prepared for what they held.

Mayor Kinney

* 9 *

The ringing of the telephone woke Brian and Justin at quarter to seven the next morning.  They had fucked until after three and didn't appreciate the interruption of their sleep when they still had fifteen minutes before the alarm went off.



"What?" Brian said picking up the portable phone next to the bed.



"Brian, it's Lindsay.  Did I wake you?"



"Yes, you woke me!  What the fuck do you want at this time of the night?"



"Have you seen the morning newspaper yet?"



"How the fuck could I have seen the morning paper when I was sleeping, until you so rudely woke me?" Brian asked in his most sarcastic voice.



"You should get a copy."



"Why?"  The line went dead.  "Lindsay? Lindsay? Fuck!"  Brian slammed down the receiver.



"What was that all about?" Justin asked trying to pry his eyes open.



"There must be something in the fucking newspaper that Lindsay thinks is important enough to wake us in the middle of the fucking night."



"Brian, it's almost seven," Justin said reasonably.



"Well, it doesn't feel like morning.  I needed those extra minutes," Brian griped.



"What's in the paper?" Justin asked finally getting his eyes to stay open.



"How the fuck should I know?  She hung up before she told me."



"I'll go get a paper," Justin said trying to launch himself out of bed.



"Stay put.  I'll go."



Justin collapsed back against his pillow happy to stay put and let Brian do the dirty work for once.  Brian got up and threw on some sweats and his jacket. He ran down the stairs to the newspaper boxes on the corner.  He bought one of each and without looking at them ran back to the loft. He arrived shivering at the bed a couple of minutes later.



"What do they say?" Justin asked sitting up.



"I didn't look.  I just grabbed them and ran back before I froze my fucking balls off."



Justin giggled and picked up a paper.  There was nothing too strange on the front page, just the usual problems in Iraq, a few more dead soldiers to bring back to their parents and loved ones.  Justin flipped the page over and gasped. There on the top of page three as big as life and twice as bold was a picture of him and Brian kissing. It had to be from the inaugural dance.



"Oh… My… God…!"



"What the fuck is it?" Brian asked.  "You look like you saw a ghost."



"I did."  He handed the paper to Brian who groaned as soon as he saw the picture.  "Where do you think they got it?" Justin asked.



"How in Christ should I know?  And why now? That was two weeks ago."



"Somebody who was a guest must have had a camera and has just realized what they had on their film," Justin mused.



"You're probably right."



"What's going to happen now?" Justin asked rather fearfully.



"Fuck if I know!"



Justin stared at Brian for a moment.  He could tell that he was just as worried.  Their life had barely returned to some semblance of normal the last week or so, and now this.  Justin sighed. Nothing was ever easy. He began to scan through the other papers to see if the picture was in all of them.  It was nowhere else and for some reason that made Justin feel a little better. Brian was reading the article with the picture in the first paper.



"It's not in any of the other papers," Justin said, "at least not that I can find."



"It says here that they got the picture from an invited guest at the party," Brian said, "who wishes to remain anonymous.  Are we surprised?"



"No," Justin admitted as he began gathering up the papers that were spread all over the bed.  "But I bet they showed it to someone whose initials are JS and he knew just what to do with it."



Brian snorted thinking of how gleefully Stockwell would have accepted that photo.  Justin shuffled some more papers around. Suddenly he froze. There on the bed in a different section of one of the newspapers was another picture of Brian.  He grabbed it and looked more closely. Brian was standing next to Bruce Springsteen, smiling, and there on the other side of Bruce was Michael.



Justin stared in disbelief.  Then he read the caption to the photo about Springsteen receiving an award of appreciation at City Hall.  The mayor had brought a friend to meet the 'Boss" saying that they were both big fans and had fashioned their own teenaged band after Springsteen's.



"What the fuck is this?" Justin asked.



"What?"



"This!" Justin said with gritted teeth and shoved the paper in Brian's face.



"Oh, that," Brian said softly seeing immediately that he was in more trouble than ever.



Justin stared at him waiting for an explanation.  His arms were clasped across his chest in that kind of pose that said 'please don't hurt me, but I'm ready because I know you're going to'.  He knew his teeth were clenched so hard it was almost painful.



"I invited Michael when we … when we had the fight."



"Trust you to run right back to good old Mikey."



"Justin, Michael and I were very huge Springsteen fans.  I knew Michael would love to meet him. I … I didn't mean to hurt you.  I was going to invite you."



"But you didn't.  You picked a fight with me instead and then invited Michael."



"I didn't pick a fight.  It just happened. It … seemed like a good idea at the time," Brian said weakly.



"I just bet it did."



Brian was at a loss to what more he could say.  He looked at the two pictures lying side by side on the bed.  Each of them should have been a happy moment of history captured to look back on years later.  Instead each of them spelled disaster. Brian wondered why nothing ever worked out quite the way he wanted it to.



With a sigh he got up off the bed and shucked off his sweats.  He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. A look in the mirror while he waited for the water to heat up revealed the face of someone who wasn't very happy.



"Right back to where I started from," he mumbled.



"What did you say?" Justin asked.  The boy stood in the doorway studying him.



"Nothing," Brian muttered.  "Nothing."



He started to open the shower door when he felt Justin's hand grab his arm.  "Don't do it again. Don't shut me out."



Brian stared into the blue eyes that looked just about as sad and hurt as his own.  He decided to tell Justin what he was feeling. "I said that I was right back where I started from."



"What does that mean?" Justin asked when Brian didn't explain right away.



"It means that I'm a major fuck up.  Everything I do always turns out for shit."



Justin was stunned.  "No it doesn't," he said trying to make Brian feel better.



"How can you even say that with a straight face?  Look at the list of my fine achievements when I try to do something that I think is for the best.  There's Mikey's birthday party. That got me a punch in the face. There's your prom, and I don't even want to think about the consequences of that.  Now there's the dance and kiss at the inaugural. That ought to be good for some major fallout. And now my inviting Michael to meet Springsteen." Brian shook his head, sloughed off Justin's hand and walked into the shower closing the door behind him.



Justin watched him through the glass.  Brian was right about some of what he had said.  Things did have a way of turning out pretty crappy for him.  But sometimes they turned out good. He opened the shower door and stepped in.



"What do you want?" Brian asked in a most ungracious tone.  "Leave me alone."



"You forgot all the good things you have done for people, ones that have turned out well."



"Such as?"



"Such as Mel and Lindsay's wedding."  Brian turned to look at him then.



"Go on."



Justin thought he had Brian's attention now.  "Such as Gus."



"Yeah, he's a pretty good one, isn't he?"



Justin smiled in agreement.  "I bet there's lots of things that you have done that I don't even know about."



Brian had to admit to himself that there were a few things.  He had helped Ted stay out of jail, although some of the other consequences of that weren't so great.  He had helped Michael sell the Captain Astro comic and buy his store. He had done good occasionally.



"Is this why I keep you around?" Brian asked suddenly.



"What?"



"To cheer me up when I feel like shit."



"It's just one of the many perks of the job," Justin stated with a grin.



"But there are other better perks."



"Like what?"



"Like this."  Brian's hand closed around Justin's cock and tugged.  He felt it rise and swell in his hand. The kid was so easy.



"Umm," Justin moaned.  "That's definitely a good perk."  He licked his lips through the falling water.



Brian had to kiss those lips.  He leaned in and claimed them for his own.  "Am I forgiven?" Brian asked.



"You could have asked Michael right from the outset if you had just told me that was what you wanted to do."



"But I didn't want to invite him.  I wanted to invite you."



"I'm confused.  Then why didn't you?"



"Because I'm a fucking stupid ass!"



"That's a given, but what's the real reason?" Justin asked with a smirk.



"I came home all excited to tell you about Springsteen, and you weren't here."



"That's it?"



"No, that's not all.  Then you came home and you were tired and a bit testy and you pissed me off."



"Well, pardon me!"



"I know.  It was stupid.  I'll try not to do it again."



"Good."  Brian waited expectantly.  Justin sighed, "I'll try to be home whenever you have a big announcement to make."



"That's the least you can do," Brian said with a grin.  "Come here."



Justin stepped forward and Brian dropped to his knees.  He took Justin's semi-erect cock into his mouth and tongued all around it.  He released it and using his hand to hold it up he sucked the shaft, tugging each time on the bulbous head.  Justin moaned his appreciation. Brian swept this tongue through the slit and Justin cried out.



Brian gently pushed him back against the wall out of the direct line of spray.  It gave the boy something to steady himself against. Then he attacked anew. His tongue and lips worked the throbbing shaft while Justin moaned and pushed into Brian's mouth.  With a final thrust and swallow from Brian, Justin came in his mouth. His shout of release was partially drowned out by the water, but he continued to moan as Brian sucked him dry.



When Brian released the softening cock he stood and kissed his lovely boy.  Justin leaned against him thoroughly spent and satisfied.



"God, that was great!" he managed to get out.



Brian smiled at him and held him against his chest for another minute or two.  As he felt Justin's thumping heart begin to slow down he took Justin by the shoulders and held him away from his body so that he could look into his eyes.



"Are we all right?"


"Yes, but promise that you won't shut me out or walk away when we fight.  I need you to tell me what's wrong. Then we can fix it."



"I'll try."



"That's all I'm asking."



They kissed again and they both could feel their cocks harden between them as they deepened the kiss.



"Do we have time?" Justin asked.



"One of the perks of my job," Brian said.  "I can be a few minutes late."



"Good," Justin said and turned his back to Brian displaying his lily white ass in all its glory.



"Hard and fast," Brian declared.



Justin nodded.  "Just like us," Justin stated.  Brian gave him that funny look that meant he understood that statement on all levels.  Also that was exactly the right way to do it given the way they felt.



Brian donned the ever present condom and quickly entered Justin.  It hurt more than a little but not in a really bad way. Soon they rocketed their way toward release and came within seconds of each other.  They leaned against the glass gasping and trying not to slip to the floor of the shower. Once their legs regained some strength they kissed and stepped out.



"Ready to take on the world, little boy?" Brian asked.



"A little exercise first thing really sets you up for the day."



Brian snorted.  "They should have some shots of us in the shower in the morning paper.  That would get everybody going first thing in the morning."



"Don't even say that as a joke.  That's the last thing we need."



They finished toweling off and went to get dressed.  Justin started the coffee and popped some bread in the toaster.  They quickly downed their breakfast such as it was. Brian went to look out the window to find the limo parked in the street.



"I wonder why Chuck didn't buzz?" he said.



"Maybe he did while we were in the shower."



"I guess I better get down there.  I wonder if he has seen the paper."



"He may want you to be more careful for the next while."



"Yeah," Brian said, gave Justin a quick kiss and headed down to the limo.



Chuck hopped out when he saw Brian.  He immediately opened the door of the car for Brian to get in.  He glanced around nervously the whole time.



"I guess you saw the picture?"



"I did.  How did they get that?"



"Somebody's out to get me," Brian said ruefully.



"They may have succeeded.  We need to be really careful the next few days.  I'm going to start surveillance on the loft again.  Don't go anywhere without us knowing."



"Okay," Brian agreed.  "This really sucks."



"Yeah, just when I thought things had quieted down."



"I should have told you and Phydeau when I hired you.  There probably never will be a quiet time."



"That's okay.  Keeps things interesting."



Brian got in the limo and Chuck pulled away.  The drive to City Hall was mostly in silence.



Brian was lost in his own thoughts.  He still felt that he had a black cloud hanging over him and everything he did.  At least he had Justin. That was the one positive thing. They were okay in spite of everything.  He needed that boy more and more. He wondered what would be waiting for him when he got to his office and the fallout from the picture began.  He didn't have long to wait to find out.



The limo pulled up to the main entrance and Brian could see a small cluster of protesters with placards.  He groaned.



"Want me to take you around to the parking garage and you can go up in the elevator from there?" Chuck asked.



"No," Brian decided.  "I'll have to face this sooner or later, so it may as well be sooner.



Brian stepped out of the car to chants of, "Resign, resign.  We don't want a fag for mayor."



Brian was about to sweep past them like they weren't even there, but he stopped and turned towards them.  Chuck had gotten out of the limo to make sure Brian got inside safely.



"Mr. Mayor," he said with a worried tone to his voice, "I think you should go right in.  Ignore them."



"No," Brian replied and walked towards the group.  Justin said he walked away and shut people out when things got difficult.  He'd try facing them this time. It had worked during the campaign. "You want me to resign?" he asked the group.



"Yes," they chorused.



"So the…what…ten of you who are here today get to decide who the mayor of Pittsburgh should be?"



The group looked at each other not really knowing how to answer that.



"We don't care who the mayor is, as long as it isn't you," one man said bluntly.



"Or another fag?" Brian asked.



"Yeah," some of them agreed.



"I was elected like every other mayor … almost.  I intend to serve my term and do as good a job as I can.  What does my personal life have to do with that?"



"You're setting a bad moral tone."



"Why?  Because I love my partner and show some public affection.  Some of you should be so lucky."



A few of the protesters looked a little chastened at that comment.



"If any of you would like to actually talk to me instead of shouting insults, I'll tell my secretary to make you an appointment.  Now I need to get to work."



Brian turned and marched into the building.  If he had looked over at Chuck he would have seen a big grin on the man's face.  That was one of the things Chuck liked about Mayor Kinney. He had balls.

Mayor Kinney

* 10 *

"Brian," Cynthia said over the intercom.



"Yes," Brian responded.



"There's a lady here to see you.  She says she was one of the protesters from outside.  You said if any of them wanted to speak to you, they should be put through."



Brian was surprised.  He never figured any of the small crowd who had heckled him this morning would actually take him up on his invitation to talk.  "Send her in."



A woman in her mid sixties or thereabouts entered his office.  Cynthia closed the door as she stepped out, leaving them alone.  The woman looked around uneasily and glanced at Brian furtively. Then her eyes locked on a spot on the floor and stayed there.



"You wanted to speak to me?" Brian asked standing behind his desk.



"I … I don't know what I'm doing here.  I should go. I've made a mistake." She turned as if to leave.



"Wait, please," Brian said softly.  "Obviously you had something you wanted to say to me."



She turned slowly and looked at him really for the first time.  He could feel the depth of her stare. She seemed to be searching for something deep inside him.



"Why did you kiss him in public?  Why do you flaunt yourself?"



Brian sighed.  Again with the flaunting; he was sick to death of that word.  "It's a long story."



"I'll go.  I don't want to waste your time."



"Do you really want to know the answer?" Brian asked suddenly feeling that it was important to make her understand.  If he could explain it to her then maybe he could explain it to everyone else as well.



She hesitated as if weighing his words.  "I came here because I wanted to understand," she said.  "I have time if you do."



Brian chuckled.  "Sit down, please."  She took a chair by his desk.  "Would you like something to drink?"



"Water, please.  This is harder than I thought.  I feel kind of parched."



Brian poured her a glass of water from the carafe on the sideboard.  She took a few sips, and then ventured another look at him. Brian sat down in the chair next to her not wanting to have the desk between them.



"I feel like there's something you want to tell me," Brian said.



"I have wondered about you since you first announced you were going to run for mayor."



"Wondered what?"



"Why you would do that?  What kind of man you are?  A whole lot of things."



"Wouldn't you wonder that about any candidate?"



"Oh," she said as if surprised.  "Yes … yes, I guess I would." This wasn't going the way she had expected.



"So what did you want to know about the kind of man I am?" Brian asked.



"My church says that you are an abomination."



Brian gritted his teeth making himself refrain from striking out at that statement.  It sounded way too much like his mother. He gritted his teeth and kept his voice level as he said to her, "Do I look or sound like an abomination?"



She shook her head.  "You sound like a very reasonable and nice young man."



"Thank you."



"So why do you do … that?"



"I do … 'that' because that's what I am.  It's my nature."



"You don't have a choice?"



"Despite what some people would have you think, I don't.  I'm not sick and I can't be cured. I'm just what I am."



She seemed to be digesting that.  "I see," she said slowly. "So why did you kiss him in public?"



"'Him' is my partner, Justin, and I guess the simple answer is I kissed him because I love him."  Brian amazed himself that those words had come so easily out of his mouth. Justin would have loved to hear this.



She smiled just a little.  "My husband would never have shown affection like that in public."



"But you would have liked him to?"



"Yes … yes, I suppose I would have, but he's dead now."



"I'm sorry to hear that."



"He's been gone a long time."  She looked thoughtful. "So you love Justin, and … he loves you?"



"Yes."



"You said that was the simple answer.  Is there more to the story?"



"Yes."



"Would you tell me?"



"It's not easy for me to talk about it."



"It's bad?"



"Part of it."



"Oh, then you don't have to tell me."



"I think I do want to tell you … um … I don't know your name."



"Louise."



"So, Louise, you may have noticed that Justin is a little … younger than I am."



"Yes, I did."



Brian grimaced.  "When we met he was still in high school.  I'm twelve years older than him."



"My husband was nine years older than me," Louise said encouraging Brian to continue.



"He invited me to his prom."



"He did?  Did you go?"  She looked slightly horrified.



"At first I told him no, but then some things happened.  He went with his best friend, Daphne, and I showed up near the end of the prom.  He was so surprised and we danced in front of his whole class … all by ourselves with everybody watching."  Brian got a wistful look in his eye like he was reliving the whole thing. "I kissed him when the song ended."



"That sounds like a good thing so far," Louise said.  "What's the bad part?"



"It's coming.  I whisked him out to my car and he said this was the best night of his life.  I kissed him again and he went to go back inside to take Daphne home. He was going to meet me later."



Brian's eyes revealed the pain of what was to come.  "You can stop if it's too hard," Louise told him.



Brian shook his head.  He had started this and he would finish the story for the first time since it had happened.  He had never been able to get the whole thing out before, never wanted to.



"I got in the Jeep and I could see him in the side mirror walking away and looking back over his shoulder to smile at me.  He turned away and there was this kid from the prom with a baseball bat and he raised it and swung at Justin's head. And I couldn't move fast enough.  I screamed his name but it was too late." A single tear rolled down Brian's cheek. He quickly wiped it away.



"What happened to Justin?"



"He was in a coma for three days and then weeks of rehab.  He's an artist and he almost lost his ability to draw."



"That's awful.  Is he all right now?"



"Yes, almost good as new."



"Why would somebody do that?"



"The same reason you were out there this morning.  We're fags and people hate us for that very fact."



"I … I don't hate you."



"I know that, or you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me.  You would never have come to my office."



"Nobody else would come with me to see you.  They are all part of my church, but they didn't want to talk to you.  They just want you to go away."



"That's what the kid wanted who bashed Justin.  He almost made him go away … forever."



Brian saw her shiver.  In a minute she seemed to recover a little bit.



"So what does that have to do with the kiss in the paper?" she asked in a slightly shaky voice.



"After Justin was bashed he had some lingering problems.  He still has trouble with his right hand sometimes and nightmares.  He can't remember that night. He couldn't remember the dance or the kiss at his prom.  I thought I could give him a new memory at the inaugural. It was almost the same," Brian said with a little catch in his throat.  "But I probably shouldn't have done it."



"Oh, yes, you should have.  That was a very lovely gesture," Louise stated.



Brian looked at her and smiled slightly.  "May I ask why you came with your church group.  I can tell you don't really want to follow that path."



He could see her blush.  "I … do you have time for this?  I know you must be busy."



"I told you my secrets.  I'd like to know yours," he said with a twinkle in his eye.



"I've been seeing this man from our church.  It's the first time I've had … companionship since my husband died.  It was nice. He wanted to come this morning. In fact he was one of the organizers.  He's a bit of a bigot as I found out today. He wouldn't listen to me about talking to you.  I finally told him I was coming up here whether he liked it or not."



"I take it he didn't like it."



"No, they left without me.  He told me to get in the car, but I refused.  I came up here instead."



"So where does that leave you?"


"I won't be seeing him anymore, and I doubt I'll go back to that church.  There are other ones in my neighborhood that might have a better policy about such things as …"



"Homosexuality."



"Yes."


"I think you've been very brave, Louise."



"I don't know about that.  It took me almost an hour to get up enough gumption to come up here.  I sat in the lobby so long that a guard came over to ask what I was doing.  I think they thought I might be a terrorist."



They both chuckled at that.  Brian looked at her thinking that this could have been his own mother.  She was about the right age and she had many of the same values. Why could he talk to her and make her understand when he couldn't do that with his own mother.  Maybe it was because she had a good heart and his own mother didn't seem to have a heart at all. Brian made a quick decision.



"Louise, would you come for a cup of coffee with me.  There's a little café down on the first floor."



"Oh, I couldn't do that.  I've taken up enough of your time."



"I can make the time and I'd like to talk to you some more."



"Really?  Then certainly, Mr. Mayor," she said with a smile.



"Call me Brian."



"Thank you, Brian.  I'd be pleased to have coffee with you."



Brian told Cynthia where they were going and asked her to hold the fort until they returned.  Cynthia smiled as she watched them get on the elevator. Her boss could charm the pants off anyone.



Louise and Brian talked over coffee for almost an hour.  He found out more about her husband and family. They never had any children much to their regret.  Brian told her a bit about his own mother and their strained relationship as he chose to call it. Louise was very sympathetic, but recommended that Brian talk to his mother every chance he got.  She was sure someone as kind and eloquent as Brian could convince his mother to change her attitude eventually. Brian said he would try, but he knew that was very unlikely.



Finally Louise said she better let him get back to work.  She would have to take several buses to get back to her home.  They stood up to leave. Brian walked her out to the lobby. He asked her to wait for a minute while he went to make a call.  She looked around nervously as the guard seemed to be eyeing her with some concern.



When Brian returned he walked her out to the covered entranceway.



"I'm glad I came up to speak to you," she said.



"I'm glad you did too."



"I … learned a lot.  You are a fine man and I'm sure you'll be a great mayor."



Brian smiled.  "It's a little early for that prediction.  I'm barely keeping my head above water at this point.  There's so much to learn."



"You can do it.  I have faith in you."



"Thank you, Louise."  For some reason her faith in him meant a lot.



"You'll do fine," she said and suddenly she was hugging him and giving him a little peck on the cheek.  "I hope you don't mind," she said blushing a little. "I just felt I had to do that."



"I didn't mind a bit."  He wished his own mother…  Brian immediately squelched that idea.  He wasn't going to go there.



Just then a limousine pulled up in the driveway.



"This must be somebody important.  Do you have to greet them?" she asked Brian.



"I already have."  Chuck got out of the car and held the door open.  "This is Chuck, my driver. If you tell him where you live, he'll see that you get home safely," Brian told her.



"Oh my, I couldn't."



"Yes, you can.  My treat."



"Oh, thank you so much."  She walked over to the car and slid in.



"Ma'am," Chuck said as he closed the door.  He gave Brian a wink and got into the driver's seat.  The car pulled away. Brian gave a little wave and turned to go back into the building.  Things were looking up.



                                                              -----



Justin had dinner ready when Brian arrived home around 6:30.



"You didn't have to cook," Brian said after they had greeted each other.



"I know, but I thought it might be nice.  Did you have a good day?"



"Yes and no."



"What does that mean?"



"I'm going to change and then I'll tell you while we eat."



"Okay," Justin said watching Brian go up to the bedroom.  He wondered what had happened and he wanted to tell Brian about his own day.  He hoped the man asked.



Once they had taken a few bites of the chicken and roasted vegetables, Brian said, "You really are a good cook."



Justin beamed at him.  He loved it when Brian complimented him.  "Thanks. So, are you going to tell me what happened today?"



"I arrived at City Hall to about ten protesters," Brian began.



"Didn't take them long."


"No, it didn't.  I was going to walk right past them like they weren't even there, but something told me to confront them."



"You didn't, did you?  You have to be careful."



"I know, but Chuck was right there, and sometimes I just get sick of being careful."



"That's an understatement."  Brian gave him a look. "So what happened?"


"They backed off like all bullies once I called them on it.  I told them that if they wanted to talk to me to come on up to the office.  One of them did."



"Really?  I'm surprised.  What did he say?"



"I was surprised too, but it wasn't a 'he'.  It was Louise who turned out to be this really nice middle aged woman who sort of got dragged along to the protest by her bigot boyfriend."



"Jesus, they do find you, don't they?"



Brian snorted.  "We had a long chat and came to sort of an understanding."



"An understanding?  About what?"



"She wanted to know why we were flaunting ourselves in public by kissing like that.  I could learn to detest that fucking word!"



"Somebody said that to me today too."



"Who?"



"Some of the guys at school had seen the picture and started in on me about making my personal life public and being a celebrity, 'married' to the mayor."



Brian grimaced at the choice of words.  "Did they give you a hard time?"



"Not really.  I go to a fine arts school, remember.  A lot of them are gay too. I think they were jealous."  Justin was rather pleased in fact that his classmates had been jealous.  He knew how lucky he was to have a hot partner, a great lover and a wonderful man.



"Louise said she wished her husband had shown public affection like that.  I … I ended up telling her about the prom and why we danced and kissed at the inaugural."



"You did?  You never talk about the prom."



"I think it was good for me to get it out.  It was the first time I ever told the whole story to anyone."



"Do you think you could tell me more about that night?" Justin asked in a small voice.



"I think maybe I can now," Brian admitted.  It would be easier now that he had talked about it with Louise.



"I still want to know a few things about what happened."



"You do?  You never said anything."



"Every time I brought up the prom you got this look on your face.  I couldn't ask you when I knew how much it hurt you."



Brian looked knowingly at his partner.  "You're right. I probably would have bitten your head off or walked out," he admitted.



"You think?" Justin giggled.



Brian made a face at him, but then smiled.  "After we finish this, let's have another glass of wine and I'll try to answer whatever you want to know."



"I'd like that," Justin said softly.  "Now that was the good stuff. What was the bad?"



"Tomorrow I get to chair my first council meeting."

Mayor Kinney

* 11 *

Brian paced in his office.  He had an hour before he went down to the council room to chair his first meeting.  He had a feeling it wasn't going to be easy. Pacing helped to relieve some of the tension.  He was about as ready for this meeting as he was going to get. Geoffrey had gone over the agenda with him.  They had limited it to simple topics as much as possible, no hot button items. Brian had studied all the positions on each topic and had decided where he stood.  He thought he was ready to defend his choices.



Then why did he feel so uneasy?  He shook his head. Maybe it had something to do with the group of protesters who had greeted him as he arrived at City Hall.  They had set the tone for the day. Unlike yesterday's small group this was a much bigger and more vocal one. They were better organized and chanted relentlessly at him.  He had been tempted to speak to them as he had with the other group, but he quickly realized they would not listen. They had no intention of paying him any such courtesy. They wanted him to know how much they hated him.  He could feel it, palpable in the air.



He had quickly gone inside and made his way to his office.  He hated all this negativity that surrounded everything he did.  He was used to getting satisfaction from his job. Now all he got was criticism and protests, and they weren't even about his job.  They were about his personal life. Why he had ever agreed to run for mayor seemed to loom as a larger and larger question mark.



Cynthia buzzed.



"Yeah?" Brian responded.



"Councilman Jankowski is here.  He would like to talk to you," she said.



"Send him in," Brian said with a sigh.  He had met Jankowski like all the rest of the councilors, but he had no real idea where he stood on any issues or in relation to him.  Brian wondered what shit he was going to lay on him now.



"Frank Jankowski," the man said holding out his hand.  Brian shook it. It was firm and even supportive in some sort of strange way.  Brian had always been able to get a read on men from their handshake. Weak ones meant weak personalities and sometimes backstabbers.  Wet ones meant the person was nervous and had some kind of undercover agenda. Firm ones meant the person was secure and knew what they wanted.  As he continued to run down the list, Jankowski's "Mr. Mayor" drew Brian back to the present situation.



"Sorry," Brian said, "I'm a little distracted this morning."



"I saw the protesters outside," Jankowski said.



"Yeah.  It just gets better and better."



Jankowski gave a little laugh.  Brian felt there was nothing threatening about this man.  He seemed quite jovial and straightforward. Brian wondered what he wanted.



"I guess you're wondering why I'm here," Jankowski said.



"That's true."



"Something has come to my attention that I thought you should know about."



"What's that?" Brian had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.



"It started a couple of days ago.  I got a call from one of the other councilors asking me if I supported you."



"Supported me?"



"Yeah, the implication being that there were those who didn't."



"I don't need any of your support," Brian said testily.  "I'm the elected mayor."



"Take it easy, son," Jankowski said with a little laugh.  "The truth is you do need our support. Any program you want to push has to be voted on in council.  If you don't get a majority, nothing proceeds."



"Fuck!" Brian reacted.



Jankowski seemed to be sizing him up.  The pause was excruciating.



"I guess I shouldn't have said that," Brian conceded.  He felt like shit more than ever.



"I understand the sentiment," Jankowski responded.



"So why are you telling me this?"



"Forewarned is forearmed."



"So they say," Brian said with a grimace.



"My wife sat beside your … Justin at the swearing in ceremony.  She really took a shine to him."



"Most people do."  Brian couldn't help but smile.



"When I told her there was some backroom scheming going on against you she told me I better help you."



Brian wished the backroom stuff had to do with Babylon not the kind this man was talking about.  That he would have been able to handle. "So are you telling me that there is some sort of … conspiracy to defeat anything I want to do?"



"You got it."



"So what can I do about it, and why are you warning me?"



"I told you, my wife liked Justin and by proxy you.  I always trust her judgment."



"What can we do about this?"



"I have done a few things already.  I spoke to the more liberal councilors and told them that I was going to support you, give you a chance."



"You did?  Thanks, Mr. Jankowski."



"It's Frank, and don't be thanking me too quickly.  I can always change my mind if you let me down."



"I'll try not to," Brian said sincerely.  He liked this man.



"So, there are several of us who are prepared to give you a chance, but there is a group out to get you that is about equal in size.  There are a few councilors who are waffling and I don't know which way they'll go. They're the ones you need to sway to your camp."



"And how do you propose that I do that?" Brian asked trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.  He suddenly felt defeated.



"I think you should make a little speech at the beginning of the session.  Tell them that you know what's been going on and that you hope you can count on their fairness if not their support.  Tell them that all you want is a chance to prove yourself."



"Will that do any good?"



"Well, you're the mayor.  Use some of your campaign eloquence and get them to give you a chance.  That's all you need. After that it will be up to you to defend your positions and make it difficult for them to vote against you."



Brian thought about this.  He could come up with a plea that might sway some of them.  He had done so with the protesters. He had done it with Louise.  This wouldn't be that much different. And according to Frank he did have some supporters.



"Thanks, Frank.  I'll give it a shot."



"Good," said Frank.  "I better get out of your way and let you prepare yourself.  See you in the meeting, Mr. Mayor."



"I appreciate your support, and call me Brian."



"Good luck, Brian," Frank said as he went out the door.



Brian went to his computer.  He had a speech to write, maybe the most important one so far.



                                                               -----



Brian walked into the council chambers a few minutes before two.  He knew this was going to be difficult, but he kept telling himself it wasn't so different from convincing a new client that Vangard had the best ideas to market their product.  All he had to do was market himself.



He glanced at Frank Jankowski who was absorbed in conversation with another councilor.  He wondered if Frank was trying to earn him another convert. He hoped so. Geoffrey had briefed Brian on the protocol of the meetings.  At precisely two o'clock Brian would place himself at the head of the council and rap the gavel to call the meeting to order. Jeannette Benoit was the secretary who would take attendance.  Once that was done the mayor had the prerogative of saying a few words. He had written the best speech he could in the short time that he had to do it. He hoped it would be enough.



He looked at the clock at the back of the chamber and walked over to his seat.  He rapped his gavel forcefully enough to get everyone's attention.



"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "please take your seats.  We are ready to begin."



The group began moving towards their seats.  Many glanced at each other and at Brian. He tried to get a read on what they were thinking, but nothing came through clearly.  This was going to be tough.



Jeannette began the roll call.  Brian watched each person respond and did his best to memorize the names and faces.  He hoped he could remember most of them. Jeannette finished up and looked at Brian, effectively turning the meeting over to him.



Brian cleared his throat.  All of the councilors looked at him expectantly.  Some of them seemed rather smug, like they knew he was going to fail.  That egged Brian on. He loved to do the unexpected, best them at their own game.



"I understand that the mayor has the floor for the first few minutes of these meetings.  He can set the tone for what is to follow," Brian stated.



He saw some of them look knowingly at each other.  They thought he couldn't handle this. They thought they had him by the short and fuzzies.  However, as much as they thought they knew what was going to happen, Brian was sure they didn't know him at all, didn't know what he was capable of.



"It has come to my attention that there is a small, and I emphasize that word 'small', group of you who think you can sabotage this meeting and hijack any agenda that I might have in mind for this council."



He saw the looks pass between some of the people seated in front of him.  He could now start to discern who was against him and who was for him.



"You are right; you can sabotage me."  He paused to let his words sink in. He saw Frank Jankowski give him a concerned look.  Others sat back smugly. They thought he was giving in. "But," he raised his voice," that can only happen if those of you who are really fair and decent people decide to go along with those who are not.  I've heard about some of the backroom maneuvering that has been going on. I understand that some of you don't like me.



"I would say fine to that if you even knew me in the first place.  Those of you who have been plotting against me haven't even talked to me or bothered to find out what I might stand for.  You don't care because it must be something bad or evil. I am a fag, you know."



There was a gasp from several people.  That word still got a rise, especially from bigots.



"I am asking those of you with open minds and, dare I say open hearts, to think about what you are going to do here today.  Do you want to be the one or two or three votes that makes this council incapable of governing? If you force a stalemate, then nothing will be accomplished.  You won't be doing your job and I won't be doing mine, because you'll be effectively blocking me.



"Is that what you were elected to do?  Is that what your constituents would expect of you?  I thought we were all elected to run this city to the best of our ability.  That's sure as shit, pardon my French, what I came here to do.



"So I'm going to make a proposal to those of you who care to listen.  I want you to give me a chance to show you what I stand for. Give me time to bring forward the agenda I have decided on.  If you don't like it, debate it with me. I like to hear good ideas, and if you have better ones than I do, that's great. All I ask is for you to listen, speak your mind and make an informed choice.  Vote the way that will make Pittsburgh the best place in which to live. You might be pleasantly surprised at what we can accomplish."



Brian sat down.  He glanced at Frank who had a big grin on his face.  Several other councilors looked rather uncomfortable.  A few stared at him curiously.



A woman stood up.  "The chair recognizes Theresa Abela," Brian said.  He hoped he had gotten her name right. She smiled at the effort he had made to pronounce her name correctly.



"Mr. Mayor, I have to admit that I am one of those people who has not bothered to meet you halfway, to talk to you and to find out what you are all about.  I thank you for the reminder of what we are here to do. I for one plan to honor what you have just requested."



As she sat down several people said, "Here, here!"



Brian smiled to himself.  That was a good sign. Bigots never wanted to reveal themselves if they were in the minority.  They were only strong when they thought they had the majority. He hoped he had just taken that away from them.



"Then let's get to work, and see what we can accomplish this fine afternoon.  The first item on the agenda is…"



                                                               -----



Brian walked into his office and collapsed on the sofa.  He sighed and laid his head against the armrest. That fucking meeting had taken every ounce of strength he possessed, but he had done it.



The first item on the agenda about public transit had been close.  He had supported an extra three million dollar addition to the transit budget to buy new buses and set up some new routes.  He had defended the increase, basing a lot of what he had said on Justin's experiences riding the bus. Most of the people he had figured were in the group opposed to him had spoken against the increase, but they had few convincing arguments.  Brian had been much more eloquent, thanks to Geoffrey for figures and Justin for heart.



Brian smiled.  He'd have to thank Justin properly tonight.  He felt his pants tighten slightly and groaned at the effect just thinking about the young man had on his dick.



He tried to focus back on the council meeting.  The vote on the transit increase had been close – seventeen to fifteen in his favor.  He never got to vote. The mayor was the tiebreaker and only voted if the others were deadlocked.  He didn't have to do that this time. He had won enough of them over to get that item through.



Things had gone better from there.  The rest of the items had not been quite as close.  Brian began to feel that the councilors were actually voting their conscience, basing their choices on what was best for the city.  That was exactly what he had asked them to do. He couldn't have hoped for more.



One item had been defeated.  It was about creating a park in memory of some councilor who had died the previous year.  Surprisingly it had been defeated even though Brian had favored it because he felt that the poor bastard should have some kind of recognition.  Others had spoken about setting a precedent that they might not want to follow in the future. Did every councilman who died deserve a park? What about those in the past who had died and had not received the same tribute?  Finally and mercifully it was defeated. Brian was almost glad. That kind of stupid political correctness drove him nuts.



Overall it had been a successful meeting.  He was proud of himself. He had managed to get past the trap they had set for him.  It had to get easier from here on out.



The buzz of the intercom pulled him from his replay of the meeting.  Wearily he dragged himself up from the couch and went to his desk.



"Yeah," he said.



"Mr. Jankowski is here to see you," Cynthia told him.



"Send him in."  Brian straightened his tie and smoothed his pant legs creased from lying on the couch.



Frank opened the door and entered the office.  "You did very well down there today," Frank said holding out his hand to Brian.  Brian shook it warmly. "You did yourself proud."


"Thanks," Brian said.  He felt a bit like a kid whose father just praised him for getting a hit in the baseball game.  That wasn't something he had any experience with, but this must be how the kid would feel. "I owe it all to you.  I could never have gotten through that unscathed without your warning and your help behind the scenes."



"It was my pleasure.  You did an excellent job chairing the meeting.  I think we got a lot accomplished today."



"We did."



"Well, I'll get out of your hair and go home to my lovely wife.  I think I deserve a big reward. She'll be so pleased with the way things went today."



"Speaking of your wife … do you think she and yourself of course would like to come to dinner on Friday night?  I'd like to properly thank both of you for helping me."



"I'll have to ask her.  I learned a long time ago to never make arrangements without consulting her first.  Personally I'd love to come."



"I guess I should check with Justin too."



"My advice, do that before you ask.  It'll save you a lot of trouble in the long run."



Brian smiled at that.  "You've got that right.  Why don't we both check and make the arrangements tomorrow when we have permission from our … partners?"



"Much safer," Frank agreed and they both laughed.  Brian liked this man more and more.



                                                              -----



"Hey, Sunshine," Brian called as he entered the loft.



"Hey," Justin responded from the alcove where his desk was located.



"I'm glad you're home.  I have something to tell you."



"You must have had a good day by the look on your face."



"I did," Brian grinned.



"The council meeting went well?"



Brian nodded.  "I almost got sabotaged before it ever started though."



"Explain," Justin said with a worried look on his face.



Brian went to grab a beer and motioned to Justin to see if he wanted one.  Justin nodded and they took them over to the sofa.



"Do you remember Mrs. Jankowski from the swearing in ceremony?"



Justin looked thoughtful for a moment, then he said, "Oh, Maria."



"Yes, I guess that's her name.  Anyway you made a great impression on her that day."



"I did?  She was a nice lady.  Made me feel comfortable there with all the other 'spouses'."



Brian let that pass without comment.  "Her husband Frank's a nice man too. He came to my office this morning and warned me that there was a group of councilors out to hijack the agenda of the meeting and make it impossible for me to get anything done."



"No!"



"Yes.  He said Maria liked you and therefore had told him he better help me.  So he spoke to some of the councilors and got them on my side and came and warned me."



"So what did you do?"



"I invited them to dinner."



"I meant in the meeting," Justin giggled.



"I made a speech to the councilors about doing their job and being fair.  I told them I was always open to good ideas, but they needed to listen to mine too and judge accordingly."



"And they did?"



"Yep, got through the whole meeting without any trouble.  The first vote was a little dicey, but after that it went well."



"That's great, now what was this about a dinner?"



"I invited Frank and Maria to dinner on Friday, but he told me he never accepts invitations without consulting his wife.  He said I should do the same. So what do you think?"



Justin stared at him.  He wondered if Brian fully realized what he had just called him.  He was making Justin his spouse in deeds if not in words. Justin's blistering smile lit up his face.



"What?" Brian asked.



Justin knew better than to pursue what he was thinking.  He'd just bask in the knowledge for awhile. "I think having them for dinner would be great," he said.



"Good.  I have a reward for you too."



"You do?"



"I used some of your experiences on the buses of Pittsburgh to convince the council to pass the first agenda item which was about more money for public transit."



"Good for you!  We need better buses."



"So I have a reward for you.  Come here."



Justin slid closer and Brian wrapped his arms around him and kissed him in a way that almost blew his socks off.  Brian was a great kisser, but sometimes he outdid himself and this was one of those times.



"Whew!" Justin responded when Brian broke the kiss.  Both their cocks had hardened as they pressed against each other.  "Is that all I get?" Justin asked with a sly grin.



"No, Sunshine, there's much more."  Brian began removing articles of clothing.



Being a help to his partner, being consulted like a true spouse, being treated as an important part of the equation, did life get any better?  Brian's hand closed around his cock and he knew it did.

Mayor Kinney

* 12 *

Justin fussed around the apartment.  He was driving Brian crazy. You would think this was the first time they had ever invited people to the loft for a dinner.  Well, it was, but he needed to calm down.



"Justin, come here," Brian said.  He had gotten home from work about an hour ago and had tried to stay out of Justin's way as much as possible.  The boy apparently didn't want his help.



"In a minute.  I want to be sure everything's perfect."  He continued to line up the knives with the sides of the plates.



"Come here!" Brian said more forcefully.



Justin knew that tone of voice.  He gave a last miniscule move to a spoon and walked over to Brian who sat on the couch.



"Sit down," Brian ordered.  Justin sat. "You're going to drive me and our fucking guests insane unless you stop obsessing over every little detail.  Relax."



"I can't.  This is our first dinner party and I want to make a good impression for you … and for myself."



"You'll make a good impression.  Stop worrying. Maria already thinks you're the next best thing to sliced bread, and Frank will like you too."


Justin looked about ready to cry.  "I … I'm sorry. I'm being stupid. But I want this to go well."



"It will if you fucking relax."



Brian pulled him close and kissed him gently.  Justin leaned his head on Brian's chest. For half a second Brian thought he had made some progress with the nervous boy.



"Did you set out all the drink stuff?  What if they ask for something we don't have?  Did you open the wine to let it breathe?"


"Shut up," Brian said before he captured Justin's mouth in another kiss.  "I'm going to take you up to the bedroom and plant my dick so far up your ass you won't be able to breathe."



Justin got this look of terror on his face.  "Brian, you can't. They'll be here any minute."



"I can and I will if you don't stop fussing."



A buzzing sound announced that their guests had arrived.  Brian said hello and released the door.



"Do I look all right?" Justin asked smoothing his clothes from where Brian had mussed them.



"You look fine.  Take my hand."



Gratefully Justin placed his hand in Brian's and the older man squeezed gently telling him everything would be all right.  Justin smiled as best he could. Brian pulled back the loft door as the elevator came into view.



"Evening, Frank," Brian said extending his hand.



"Brian," Frank responded.  "This is my wife Maria. I don't think you two have been formally introduced."



Brian took her hand too and shook it gently.  He was tempted to kiss it but thought that might be a little over the top even for a fag like him.  "Maria, I think I owe you a debt of gratitude. I hear it was you who convinced this fine gentleman to come to my rescue before the first council meeting."



Justin could see Maria blush.  Brian did have charm to the nth degree when he wanted to lay it on.



"I only told him to see that you got a fair chance.  Hello, Justin," she said.



Justin beamed at her.  "Hi, Maria, it's good to see you again."



"Frank, this is my…Justin as you called him the other day."



"You did?" Justin asked.



"I wasn't quite sure exactly how to define your relationship, so I said that," Frank replied shaking Justin's hand and giving a little chuckle.



Justin could see why Brian liked this man.  "Funny," Justin said, "you're not the only one who has trouble defining our relationship."  Justin looked at Brian and grinned.



"Come on in," Brian said hoping to redirect the conversation to something more to his liking.



They stepped inside and Justin closed the door behind them.



"Oh my," he heard Maria say.



"Is something wrong?" he asked her, afraid that he had done something wrong already or made some kind of unwitting faux pas.



"This is a beautiful space," she said looking around, "not at all what I expected."



"Thanks," said Justin pleased that she liked the place.  "But most of it is Brian's choice."



"Then he has good taste and you have good taste for choosing him," Maria stated.



Justin was somehow gratified by her approval of their lives and living space.  He liked her and her husband and felt they would probably never be critical of him, at least not openly.  But her enthusiastic approval pleased him no end.



"Would you care for a drink?" Brian asked them.



"Do you make a martini?" Maria asked.



"I certainly do," Justin said knowing people had liked his drinks at Michael's party.



"Then I'll have one of those."



"How about you, Frank," Brian asked.



"A beer would suit me just fine."



"Me too," said Brian and he got two beers out of the fridge.



"Brian, would you give me a tour of your loft while Justin makes my martini?" Maria said.



"Sure," Brian agreed thinking to himself how many times he had told tricks that there were tours every hour when they had been impressed with his digs.  But they weren't digs anymore and he didn't have to play the big man with tricks. Justin had changed all that. This was his home now, their home. "Let's start with the bedroom."


While Brian ushered Maria up to the bedroom Justin began making the martini.  Frank watched him. When Justin picked up the vermouth, Frank waggled his finger.



"Just pass it over the glass," he warned Justin.  "She really wants straight gin with an olive stuck in it."



Justin grinned at him and did as Frank indicated.  "Maria, your martini is ready," Justin called.



"Be there in a minute."



"What are you going to have to drink?" Frank asked Justin.



"I think I'll stick to water and have wine with dinner."



"Not much of a drinker?"



"I like a drink but to tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous about this dinner party."



"You are?  Why?"



"This is really the first dinner party like this that Brian has asked me to give.  We haven't been together all that long."



"But I read about the bashing in the papers."  He saw Justin wince. "I'm sorry. I should watch what I say.  But I thought you and Brian had been together for a couple of years."



"We were together … sort of, but not as a couple back then.  We broke up for awhile and we haven't been back together too long."



"I see.  My daughter has been together with this man for five years … on and off.  They keep breaking up and getting back together. Drives us all crazy. Is that how it is with you two?"



"Not really.  I was young when we first met and I needed some experience before I committed to this kind of relationship."



"It sounds like there's more of a story there, but maybe another time."



Justin nodded gratefully as Maria and Brian returned.  Maria took a sip of her martini and pronounced it perfect.  Justin smiled at Frank.



They moved over to the living room and Justin offered them some salmon mousse as an hors d'oeuvre.  Maria loved it and Frank had several pieces. They chatted about living in Pittsburgh and how long Frank had been a councilor.  They had a son about the same age as Brian as well as their daughter.



Maria was very interested that Brian had a son.  That always took a little explaining. Of course she wanted to see some pictures, so they dragged out all the ones they had.  Brian told her that Justin had done some sketches of Gus that were excellent. She wanted to see those too, but Justin insisted they eat first or his dinner would be ruined.



They enjoyed the rest of the evening finding many interests in common.  Considering the age difference they were all surprised that they thought and felt so much alike. Justin shared some of his sketches and basked in the praise from their guests and also from Brian.



A little after ten the Jankowskis took their leave.  They thanked Justin for a wonderful dinner and Brian for inviting them.  He thanked them for their support and they all promised to do this again soon.



When Brian slid the door shut he found Justin's arms draped around his neck and one of his legs wrapped around his hips.  The young man kissed him for all he was worth, and with Justin that was saying something. Finally Justin broke the kiss with a smack.



Brian looked at him as Justin continued to cling all over him.  "What was that for?" Brian asked with a smirk.



"That was for having faith in me to host this dinner party, and for inviting such nice people."



"They are nice, aren't they?" Brian said a touch sadly.



"What's wrong?" Justin asked studying his face.  He could tell that something was bothering Brian.



Brian shook his head.



"Tell me," Justin said.



"All right," Brian replied slowly, "but let's clean up while I do."



They went to the kitchen and began loading the dishwasher and clearing the table.



"So tell me," Justin finally said, when Brian remained quiet.



"I had a chat with Maria when I was showing her the bedroom," Brian began.



"I figured you would.  What did she say?"



"She thought I must have a mother who was into interior design, who had trained me to make such stunning choices for my décor, as she put it."



"Oh," said Justin knowing that a comment about Brian learning anything from his mother would normally set him off.  He tried so hard to be totally unlike her or his father. "What did you say?"



"I guess I wasn't very gracious when I told her my mother had nothing to do with it.  She probed a little further and I told her we didn't get along."



"So, what did she say to that?"



"The same thing Louise told me, not to cut her off, keep talking."



"They don't know your mother, Brian.  I know how difficult she makes things for you."



"Yeah … but twice in one week women about my mother's age have told me to try to talk to her.  Maybe I should."



Justin was surprised.  Brian never cut his mother any slack and he couldn't say that he blamed him about that.  "She did agree to stay out of the election," Justin said trying to put a positive spin on what Brian was saying.



Brian stared at him.  Justin could see the wheels turning.  "You know, I can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if my mother was Maria or Louise."



"Very different, I'm sure," Justin said.  "But then you probably wouldn't have me," he added with a little laugh.  "Hell, you probably wouldn't even be gay."



"You think?"



"I'm just kidding.  You would have totally different DNA though, so who knows."



"Do you think I should try talking to my mother … again?" Brian asked seriously.



"You know me.  I'm a talker." Brian stuck his tongue in his cheek at that statement, and rolled his eyes.  "I always think you should try to talk things out, but your mother is a hard case. Would you be prepared for the letdown if she doesn't budge?"



"You mean when she tells me I'm going to Hell and to get the fuck out?"



"Yeah."



"I'm not sure I can ever get used to that."



"Who could?"



"Let's go to bed.  I want to fuck the hostess with the mostest," Brian teased.



"You have such impeccable manners.  How could I refuse an invitation like that?"  He snaked his arm around Brian's waist and they made a hasty retreat to the bedroom.



                                                             -----



Brian stood on the front porch of his mother's house.  He had told Chuck to go get a coffee somewhere and come back in an hour.  He slowly raised his hand and pushed the doorbell button. After a minute or two he pushed it again.  It was four in the afternoon. He thought she should be home. What the fuck was he going to do if she wasn't?



He had called Chuck to come get him early only partly thinking about visiting his mother.  Now he was stuck here if she wasn't around. He looked around to see a mostly empty neighborhood.  He could call Chuck back or walk to the nearest cross street and hope for a cab. As he was about to leave, he heard the lock being turned and the door slowly opened.



"Brian?" she said slowly only slurring the word a little bit.



"Great!" he thought.  "She's already three sheets to the fucking wind."



"Come in," she said stepping back.



"Maybe only two sheets to the wind," he thought as he entered.  "This ought to be fun either way."



"What are you doing here?"



"You are my mother," he said pointedly.



"And you're the mayor, a big shot.  I never expected to have you come here."



"Well, wonder of wonders, here I am."



"Would … would you like a drink?  I … I think I'll have another."


"Mom, can we just sit down and talk for a minute.  I don't want a drink."



"Well I do."  She started towards the kitchen.



"Wait … please."



She hesitated and turned to face him.  He almost never said please to her. "Let's sit in the living room," she said going there instead.  "What can I do for you?" she asked when they were seated.



"That's a loaded question," Brian thought.  "Act like a mother, be glad to see me, love me," all ran through his head.  Out loud he said, "I haven't seen you since the election. I wanted to thank you again for staying out of it."



"I never thought you'd win, you know," she said.  "My friends were pleased for me."



"I'm so happy for you," he said sarcastically.  She seemed to miss the sarcasm. "They do say alcohol dulls your senses," Brian thought.  Her friends were happy for her, but was she happy for him? She never said so.


"Why did you come here?"



"Aren't you happy to see me?  You can tell your friends you had a visit from the mayor."



"Don't be supercilious," she warned.



He was about to say something to the effect that he was amazed she could get out such a big word after all she'd had to drink, but he stopped himself.  He hadn't come here to fight.


"I …I'm not sure why I came," he said slowly.  "Sometimes I just want us to get along. I hate all the fighting."



"What brought about this change of heart?" she asked, her voice full of acrimony.



He sighed.  She never gave an inch.  "Mom, I want you to be proud of me," he finally managed to get out.



"Since when?  You've never given a fig what I think."



"I have, believe it or not."  He could feel his anger rising and did his best to push it down.



"Well, I don't believe it.  You never do anything that doesn't benefit you.  You don't care what happens to me, what I might be feeling."



Brian took a deep breath, but he knew it was too late.  "Right the fuck back at ya, Mom! When do you ever think about any fucking thing I might be feeling?  I always thought that was a mother's job, but not in this fucking family!"



Brian stood and walked towards the door.



"That's right!  Walk out like you always do.  You don't care about your own family, just that blond boy!"



"You're right, Mom, but at least he cares back which is more than I can fucking say for you."



"Take your foul mouth and get out!"



"Don't worry.  I can't get out of here fast enough.  In fact I'm fucking sorry I ever came."



"Goodbye, darling," she called sarcastically as he slammed the door behind him.



"Fuck!  Fuck! Fuck!" he cursed as he stomped down the sidewalk to the road.  He looked around hoping that Chuck might have parked down the street somewhere.  No such luck.



He pulled out his cell phone and hit Chuck's number.  He told the man to come pick him up immediately at the corner of his mother's street.  Chuck said he would be there in five minutes.



Brian had to get away from this house.  He began walking towards the corner. He could feel the tears burning his eyes and he fought to keep them back.  Louise and Maria were fucking idiots for making him think he could talk to that bitch. He should have known better, should never have gone there.



Brian felt the cold seep through the soles of his shoes.  He should have boots on to be out walking in the snow and ice.  Who knew? He hadn't planned for things to go like this. He had lasted what – five fucking minutes in his mother's presence before they were fighting.  Jesus Christ, he was stupid! Stupid to think he could reason with her, stupid to think she cared even one tiny particle about him.



Tears blurred his vision but he pushed on down the street trying to keep his dress shoes from upending him on the ice.  He cursed himself, his mother, Justin, Louise and Maria. Nobody knew the depths of his need for a mother, nobody knew how much he wanted to have someone love him and take care of him, and nobody knew how great his hate had just become.  He would never go to that house again. It was finished.



He stomped to the corner looking for the limo.  It wasn't there yet. Fuck! This day just got better and better.  He heard a car squeal its tires and suddenly he felt himself rise into the air and then hit something hard.  He felt the air rush from his body, felt excruciating pain, and then blackness.

Mayor Kinney

* 13 *

Justin rushed into the emergency room of the same hospital where he had spent so much time after the bashing.  He saw Chuck immediately and hurried over to him.



"Where is he?  Is he all right?  How bad is it?" he demanded.



"Easy, Justin," Chuck said.  "I don't know. They have him inside and I guess they're working on him.  Nobody's come out to tell me anything."



"Fuck!  How bad did it look?"



"He was unconscious when I found him, but he came around before the paramedics arrived.  He was pretty groggy and in quite a bit of pain, but I think he'll be all right."



"Where were you when this happened?" Justin demanded.  He saw Chuck wince at the implication that he hadn't been doing his job.  "Aren't you supposed to protect him?"



"I am, but he sent me for coffee.  He went to visit his mother. Told me to come back in an hour."



"So what was he doing out on the street alone?"



"I don't know.  He called me on the cell and asked me to come get him.  He'd only been with his mother a few minutes. By the time I got there it was all over."



"Fuck his goddamned mother!  I bet she kicked him out."



"Kicked him out?"



"It's a long story, but she is the bitch from hell.  Did she even come out to see what happened to him?"



"I don't think so.  There were a few people who gathered around but nobody said anything about being his mother."



"I'm going to go ask if I can see him," Justin said.



He went over to the desk and waited as patiently as he could while the receptionist finished up with the person who was already there.



"I need to know about Brian Kinney," Justin said to her when she looked up at him.



"Are you family?"



"I'm Justin Taylor, his partner," Justin stated staring into her eyes and daring her to question him.



"I think he's still being looked at."



"Could you find out for me?  I'm really worried," Justin said giving his best pleading look.



"I'll see what I can find out," she said with a little grin.



He smiled at her gratefully and went back to sit with Chuck.  Just then Carl Horvath came bustling in. He glanced around and immediately went over to Justin.



"Do you know anything?" he asked with a worried look on his face.



"Not yet," Justin replied.  "I've asked them to find out for me.  How did you find out about this?"



"It's a hit and run, so the police were involved right away.  When they realized it was the mayor, they let me know. They know I'm a … friend."



"Do they know what happened?" Justin asked.



"Justin Taylor?" a man in a white lab coat called.



Justin stood up and moved over to the man.



"I'm Dr. Gupta," the man said.  "You wanted to know about Mr. Kinney?"



"Yes, is he all right?"



"All things considered, he's remarkably well.  He has a concussion. I think his head must have hit the windshield.  He has lots of bruises especially on his one thigh. It's a wonder the car didn't break his legs.  There's a few cuts and scrapes too. The rest of him is going to be very sore for awhile, but he has no broken bones or internal injuries according to the x-rays."



"Can I see him?" Justin asked.



"We're almost finished with him.  He'll be moved up to a room in a few minutes.  I'll let you know when that happens."



"You're keeping him here?"



"He's had a concussion before and they get progressively worse with each new one, so we want to keep him under observation tonight.  He can probably go home tomorrow."



"Thanks, doctor," Justin said.



"That sounds like good news, Justin," Carl said.



"Good?  He could have been killed!"


"That's what I mean.  He's going to be fine."



Justin glared at Carl.  There was no reason to be angry at him, but Justin wanted to blame someone.  How many times were people going to come after Brian and get away with it? The man had been through enough.



"Do you want a statement from me?" Chuck asked wanting to break the tension between the two men.



"Didn't the responding officers question you?" Carl asked.



"Not really."



"But you were the first one on the scene, weren't you?" Carl asked.



"Yeah, I stayed with the mayor after I called 911.  They knew it was me who called."



"And they didn't question you?"



Chuck shook his head.  "I said I was going to follow the ambulance with the limo, and they just told me to go ahead."



"Are they here?"



"I don't think so."



"There's something wrong about this," Carl said.  "Tell me what you know about the accident."



"I was on the way back to pick up the mayor.  I had let him off at his mother's and he told me to come back for him in an hour.  A few minutes later he called and told me he wanted me immediately, said he would meet me at the corner of her street.  When I turned the corner, this car backed down off the curb and squealed away. I wondered what was going on but didn't think too much about it until I saw the body on the snow bank."



"Did you get a license number?"


"No, I didn't think I needed one until it was too late."


"The car was up on the curb when you first saw it?"



"Yeah."



"That doesn't sound like an accident," Carl said.



"That's what I thought."



"Having to go up over the curb may have actually prevented Brian from being hurt worse.  It would take some of the momentum away," Carl explained.



"I thought so too, and then Brian landed in a snow bank which is softer than the street or the sidewalk," Chuck added.



"I'm going to go see what else I can find out about this," Carl said and took his leave.

"Mr. Taylor," the doctor said reappearing.  "I'll take you to Mr. Kinney now."



Justin turned to Chuck.  "Why don't you go home, Chuck?  I'll call you after I've seen Brian."



Chuck nodded and Justin followed the doctor.  In the elevator Justin asked, "Is there anything I should know before I see him?"



"Try to keep him calm.  He gets a bit overwrought."



"You noticed?" Justin said with a grin.



The doctor nodded.  "Good luck," he said.  "He's in room 234."



Justin hesitantly pushed open the door to room 234.  He could see Brian lying on the bed his head turned towards the window.



"Brian," he said softly.



Brian turned slowly and Justin could see the pain in his eyes.  The right side of his head was bandaged and his eye was swollen almost shut and rapidly turning black.



"Hey," he managed to whisper.



"How are you?"



"Peachy."



"So I see," Justin said with a little smile of encouragement.  Brian grimaced in pain. "Have they given you something?"



"Yeah, I should be flying soon.  I can feel it starting to kick in."



"Good.  You need to sleep."



"I went to see her," Brian said suddenly.



"I know.  Chuck told me, but we can talk about it later.  Just rest now."



Brian nodded and his eyes closed.  Justin brushed the hair from his forehead and kissed his cheek.  When Brian didn't open his eyes, Justin realized he had fallen asleep.  He went out into the hall to call Chuck.



He informed the man that Brian seemed to be all right and made arrangements for Chuck to pick him up tomorrow as soon as Brian was released.  He had just finished his call when he heard Debbie's voice down the hall at the nurse's station. Justin sighed and walked down there. Debbie rushed over as soon as she saw him.



"Where is he?  Is he all right?"



"He just fell asleep.  They say he'll be okay, mostly bruises and scrapes," Justin told her.



"Thank God.  When Carl told me he had been in a hit and run, I thought the worst.  Can I see him?"



"Shh," Justin whispered putting his finger to his lips.  He took her arm and led her down to Brian's room. "Try not to wake him," he said softly as he opened the door for her.  He let her go in alone. He went to the restroom to throw some water on his face.



Debbie edged her way towards the bed.  She could see Brian's chest rise and fall as he slept.  "You'll be fine, kiddo," she whispered as she reached the bed.  She smoothed his unruly hair off his forehead much as Justin had done.  Her hand covered Brian's and squeezed gently giving him strength in the only way she could.  "You're a strong, brave man and we all love you. You'll be fine. You have to be."



Justin heard the end of her words as he returned from the restroom.  He knew Debbie loved Brian like a son. Something Brian's own fucking mother had never been able to do.  He signaled to Deb and she came out into the hall.


"I'm going to stay here with him tonight," he told her.  "Will you let everyone know what's happened, but keep them away.  The doctor thinks he'll be able to go home tomorrow."



"I'll do that, but try to get some sleep yourself."



"Thanks Deb, I will."

                                                            -----



A little after one in the morning Justin heard Brian groan.  Justin had fallen asleep sitting beside Brian's bed and resting his head on the side of it.  He sat up and stretched trying to loosen the knot in his neck. Brian groaned again and opened his eyes.



"Hurts?" Justin asked.



Brian nodded almost imperceptibly.  "Thirsty," he croaked. Justin held the straw for him and Brian drank some water from the glass.  "You should go home, Sunshine, and get a decent night's sleep," he said in something closer to his own voice.



"Who'd hold the straw for you if I did?"



Brian tried to chuckle but Justin could see the pain it caused.  "I'm all right. I … need another shot."



"I'll get the nurse," Justin said brushing his fingers over Brian's cheek.



The nurse came in and gave Brian the once over.  She seemed satisfied and administered another shot.  "You should go home," she said to Justin. "He'll sleep the night away now."



"I'm staying," Justin said flatly.



"Come get a blanket and pillow then," she said gently.



When Justin woke he could feel Brian's eyes on him and Brian's hand clasping his as it laid on the edge of the bed.



"You're awake," Justin said.  "What time is it?"



"A little after six.  The nurse woke me for one last check."



"How do you feel?"



"Not as bad as last night, but not as good as I'd like to.  No more shots."



"They're weaning you off, are they?"



Brian nodded.  His thumb caressed Justin's fingers as he kept hold of the young man's hand.  "I've decided. I'm quitting."



"Quitting what?" Justin asked afraid that he already knew.



"Mayor.  This is too much," Brian whispered.



"Okay.  I understand."



"You do?  I thought you'd argue with me."


"It's your life, Brian.  If it's too much for you, then you should quit."



"I will.  I don't want to do this anymore."



Justin wanted to ask Brian to wait and not make such a major decision while he was in bad shape, but he said nothing.  Brian could do whatever he wanted. He'd support him no matter what.



The door opened and breakfast arrived.  The nurse must have ordered one for Justin because two trays were left.


"Looks like your appetite is world renowned, Sunshine," Brian said with a slight smile.



"I'm glad you can joke even if it is about my eating habits."



Justin dug into his breakfast and Brian played with his, eating very little.  A little while later the doctor came in and looked in Brian's eyes and checked over his bruises.



"I think you can go home this morning if you want to," he said with a twinkle in his eye.



"I'm ready," Brian declared.



"I want you to take the rest of the week off work.  Sleep as much as you can and don't try to do anything strenuous."



Brian snorted and Justin blushed.  "What about sex?" Brian asked bluntly.



"If you can stand the pain, it probably won't hurt you."  The doctor made his way to the door. "Just take it easy."



"I'll call Chuck to come and get us," Justin said.



"Maybe we should take a taxi or do you have the 'Vette here?"



"I do now that you mention it.  I forgot. But you don't want to have to get down so low.  I'll never get you out of it."



"Get a taxi then."



"Chuck's expecting me to call," Justin said wondering why Brian didn't want Chuck.  Maybe Brian was mad that Chuck hadn't prevented the car from hitting him.



"When I quit, he'll have to find another job," Brian said.  "He might as well get started today."



"He'll think you're mad that he didn't prevent the accident."



Brian made a face.  "All right, call him one last time."



                                                             -----



Brian sat in the wheelchair as they rode down in the elevator.  Justin was worried. Brian was too quiet. He never even made a fuss about having to ride in a wheelchair.  He just sat down and let Justin push him.



Justin had said little about Brian's decision to quit being mayor, but he knew deep down that this was not good.  Brian was not a quitter. He might give it up if he thought it would hurt Gus or him, but not because it might hurt himself.  He would have to talk to him about this later, but first he needed to get him home.



He pushed open the front door to be hit with a barrage of flashbulbs going off.  Someone had alerted the press that the mayor was in the hospital. Justin had not even thought about this.  He looked around bewildered. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm and Chuck directed him to the limo which was only steps away, the door standing open guarded by Phydeau.



Brian put his arm up to block out the flashbulbs and also to cover the damage to his face.  Reporters yelled at him for a comment. He sat stony-faced in the wheelchair.



As they neared the limo Brian took his arm down.  Justin knew the photographers would get some good pictures of Brian's black and blue face.  Brian used his hands to lever himself painfully from the chair. He hesitated as he went to get into the car.



Some reporter yelled, "How long will you be off work, Mr. Mayor?"



Brian turned and glared at him.  "Permanently," he said. "Now fuck off!"  With that he slid into the seat groaning from the effort and the contortions his body had been forced to make.



Justin closed the door behind him, aware that a stunned silence had taken over the throng of people.  Trust Brian to get their attention. Justin and Phydeau pushed their way through the crowd refusing to make any comment.  Justin was very glad to have the bodyguard with him. He wasn't sure he would have ever been able to get to the Corvette without him.



                                                              -----



Justin parked the Corvette and he and Phydeau came back to the limo to help Brian.  Chuck held the door for the man and offered his arm to help him out.



"You better start looking for another job like I told you," Brian said as he gingerly made his way to the front door.



Chuck merely nodded and got back in the car.  It pulled away taking him and Phydeau with it.



"Hold on to me," Justin said and pushed open the front door.



They rode up to the loft in silence.  Justin didn't know what was next for them but he didn't think it was going to be good.

Mayor Kinney

* 14 *

Justin contemplated the phone.  He stared at it wondering what he should do.  He looked at the letter of resignation that sat beside it on the desk.  Brian had told him what to write and he had typed it up on the computer.  Brian had approved it and signed it earlier in the day. He refused to talk about what had happened, about the hit and run, about his mother, about why he was so determined to quit as mayor.  Justin didn't like the way things were going one little bit.



Brian had mostly stayed in bed since he had come home from the hospital.  He refused to see anyone, making Justin promise to keep them all away. Justin had managed to do as Brian requested, although he was sure that Debbie was ready to kill him.  The rest of the gang had understood even though they didn't like it. Lindsay was angry. She had told Justin to make sure that Brian knew that Gus wanted to see him. It made no difference.  Charles Langdon who had convinced Brian to run for mayor in the first place had sent his best wishes and wanted to come see Brian. Brian had refused him too.



Justin could feel Brian retreating into himself.  He was building walls like he had before, shutting out the world he didn't want to deal with, shutting out the pain, and shutting out Justin.  His refusal to talk about anything was putting a huge strain on their relationship.



Justin looked up into the bedroom.  Brian was sleeping … again. For a man who never seemed to need sleep, Justin couldn't believe how much Brian had slept the last few days.  He was sure he was using it as an escape from the situation he found himself in.



He picked up the phone and punched in the number he had looked up earlier.  He carried the portable out onto the landing and slid the loft door part way shut.  He didn't want Brian to hear this.



"Maria?" Justin said when he heard the voice on the line.



"I'm fine.  He's doing … okay.  Is Frank there? I need to speak to him."



He waited not really knowing what he was going to say.  Suddenly he heard Frank's reassuring voice.



"Justin?" the councilman said softly.  "What can I do for you?"



"I don't know.  I just needed to talk to somebody.  I'm scared for Brian. He's going to resign as mayor."



"I read that in the papers.  They seemed to think the mayor was overreacting to what had happened.  Is he really quitting?"



"I typed up his letter of resignation this morning.  He's already signed it."



"That's … not good.  What can we do about it?"



That was what he liked about Frank.  The man understood things immediately and accepted a role in dealing with them.  "I don't know. I wondered if you might have any ideas. He … he's withdrawing into himself.  I can see him retreating from everything … from me," Justin said with a catch in his voice. "It gets worse every day."



"He's not used to having things go against him, is he?"



"No, he usually bends the world to his will."



"So he would see this as the ultimate failure."



"Probably.  I know he thinks everybody's out to get him.  He thinks he can't do the job as mayor, that nobody wants him there."



"Justin, let me work on something and I'll get back to you.  Hold on to that letter of resignation. Don't let him send it."



"What are you going to do?" Justin asked daring to allow himself a sliver of hope for the first time since the accident.



"I don't know yet, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can."



"Thanks, Frank.  Thanks for talking to me."



"Anytime, Justin.  Tell the mayor I'm thinking about him."



Justin ended the call and went back inside.  He hoped Frank might be able to do something but he really didn't know what that might be.  It was Saturday and Brian should go back to work on Monday, that is if he could be convinced to go back.  Justin decided to get some lunch ready for them, even though he knew Brian probably wouldn't eat anything.  By the time the sandwiches were ready, he heard Brian in the bathroom.



"Come get some lunch," Justin called.



"Not hungry."



Justin could see him lie down on the bed again.  He took a deep breath. "Brian, get the fuck up! I'm sick of this shit."



"What did you say to me?"



"You heard me.  Get down here and eat with me.  I don't care if you're hungry or not."



Justin half expected to be told to fuck off, but he heard Brian moving around and the man came down the steps to join him at the bar.  He put the sandwich in front of Brian and came around to sit on the chair next to him. Brian gingerly lifted his butt onto the barstool.  Any kind of stretch was still somewhat painful for his bruised body, but otherwise he was much improved. They had removed the bandage on his head where he had hit the windshield.  His eye was mostly open now but still black, blue, purple and a weird color of orange.



"I'm glad you decided to join me," Justin said taking a bite from his sandwich.



"Did I have a choice?"



Justin ignored the question.  "Are you feeling a little better?"



"I'm … okay."



This was an opening.  Justin determined to jump in with both feet.  "Brian, I want you to tell me what happened with your mother."  That was as good a place to start as any.



"What difference does it make?" Brian asked with a sigh.



"It makes a difference, so just tell me … now!"



Brian sighed again.  "The usual."



"Tell me the fuck what that means or I'm … leaving … permanently," Justin demanded and stood up.



"Don't … don't leave me," Brian begged.



Justin could hear the plea for help in his voice.  He knew what that must have taken for Brian to beg.  He sat back down. "I won't leave you. I don't want to leave you, but you're driving me away.  Tell me what happened."



Brian stared into the blue eyes.  "I thought I could talk to her. I did it with Louise.  I made her understand."



"But not your mother?"



Brian shook his head and Justin saw a tear roll down his cheek.  Brian didn't bother to brush it away. "She wasn't glad to see me.  She'd been drinking and didn't want to be interrupted." Justin made a face.  "I finally talked her into letting me in."



"You had to talk her into it?"



Brian nodded and another tear escaped.  "She wanted to know why I was there. I told her she was my mother … and that I wanted to thank her for staying out of the campaign."



"What else?" Justin asked seeing that Brian didn't seem to want to continue.


"I … I told her that I wanted her to be proud of me."



"You did?  God, that took some guts."



Brian looked at him his eyes filled with tears.  "She asked why she should be proud of someone who didn't care about their family, who never did anything for them.  Then she told me to get out."


"And you just left?"



"I had to get away from her.  I would have killed her if I had stayed there.  I decided to walk to the corner and meet Chuck there.  I heard tires squeal and that's all I remember."



Justin reached over and pulled Brian into his embrace.  He could feel the sobs that were silent to the ear but wrenching to the heart.  He wondered how a mother could treat her son like that. He wondered how any woman could not see the kind, gentle man that he saw all the time.  He wondered how Brian had prevented himself from breaking into a million pieces.



Justin felt Brian stiffen and pull away.  He released him gently. "I'm going back to bed," Brian said and walked slowly up the steps.  Justin watched in dread. This had taken all the spirit out of the man. Maybe he had finally broken into those million pieces.



                                                              -----



"I don't understand why you're making me do this," Brian griped.



"Frank told me that there is no real precedent for a mayor resigning like this."



"Can't they just pretend that I died?"



"No, they cannot.  You have to go there and explain yourself."



"This is fucking stupid.  Take me home."



"No, now sit still.  We'll be there in a minute or two, and then it will all be over with."



Brian and Justin were sitting in the back of the limousine.  Chuck was taking them to City Hall, probably for the last time.  Frank had told Justin that Brian couldn't just resign. He had to answer to council about that.  He needed to come to Monday's council meeting and explain. Justin suspected that Frank had something arranged but the man wouldn't tell him what, and he thought it best that he didn't know.  Then he could be as genuinely surprised as Brian.



It had taken all of Justin's resourcefulness and cunning to get Brian out of the house and into the limo.  He told him they could pick up Brian's things at his office while they were there. He told him it would be cathartic to tell the council off.  He told him he could say goodbye to Cynthia. He owed her that much. He told him he could tell the world to fuck off and it would be on the evening news.  That may have been the one that turned the tide in his favor.



Anyway they were in the back of the limo and almost at City Hall.  Brian looked pretty good. He wanted them to know that he still had pride in his appearance and demeanor.  He had dressed carefully and impeccably as always. The only obvious evidence of the accident was the remains of the black eye.



Justin held on to his hand – for support, but also because he was slightly afraid Brian might open the door at any minute and jump out.  The limo slowed and then stopped. Justin straightened Brian's tie and Chuck opened the door for them. Brian slid out.



A round of cheers greeted him.  The entrance area of City Hall was packed with people.  Many carried placards saying "Welcome Back, Mr. Mayor" or "Glad You're Back."  Brian stared at them in amazement.



Somebody broke into a chorus of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" and everyone joined in.



"What the fuck is this?" Brian whispered to Justin who held on tightly to his hand.



"I don't know, but they seem glad to see you," Justin said cheerily.



Brian glowered at him.  "They must have heard that I'm resigning and they're here to celebrate."


"It seems like they're just happy you're here."



Brian snorted in disbelief.  "They just want to have me here to kick around.  Let's go inside." He pushed Justin towards the entrance.



Someone called out, "Mayor Kinney, Mayor Kinney!"  Brian turned to see what they wanted. "Please say a few words.  We all want to know you're all right."



Brian couldn't believe his ears.  These people cared that he was still alive?  Not possible. Everybody hated him, wanted him gone, wanted him dead.  He turned away ready to go inside without a further word.



"Mayor Kinney, Mayor Kinney, Mayor Kinney," the chant began and continued as he once again turned to face them.



"You should speak to them, Brian," Justin said into his ear.



"No."  He ushered Justin toward the doors.  The chant grew louder.



"Brian, please, talk to them," Justin begged.



"I'm not saying anything.  They're just here to gloat.  This is all some sick game. Come on."  Brian grabbed Justin's hand and hauled him through the front doors of City Hall before he could protest.



A few people in the lobby said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor."  Brian never let on he heard them. He marched to the bank of elevators and pushed the button impatiently.  Finally an elevator arrived and he pulled Justin inside.



Luckily or unluckily they were alone.  "Why did you make me come here?" he demanded of Justin.  "This is worse than I fucking thought it would be."



"Worse?  Everyone's been glad to see you," Justin said trying to make Brian see that people were on his side.



"You're not stupid enough to think that was sincere, are you?"



"What … what do you mean?"



"They all hate me.  They want me gone. They probably wish the fucking car had killed me."



"Brian, I don't think…"



The elevator doors opened and Justin didn't have a chance to finish his statement.  Geoffrey Cheeks was waiting for them as they stepped out. Brian brusquely said hello to him and asked if the council was ready to see him.



"Let's get this over with," Brian said and headed to the council chamber, Justin and Geoffrey trailing behind.



"He's going to be floored," Geoffrey whispered to Justin.



"What did you say?" Brian asked looking back at the man.



"I said it's the next door."



Brian gave him a look and pushed open the council chamber door.  The room was packed and suddenly they were all standing. They burst into applause as Brian entered.  He looked around in bewilderment.



Justin thought Brian was going to explode.  Brian glanced at Geoffrey and then Justin, and Justin knew he had to do something before it was too late.  He stepped forward and took Brian's hand. He squeezed gently. He saw Brian take a breath.



"Mr. Mayor," Theresa Abela said, "please have a seat at the front of the council."  Brian glared at her. Justin knew he was ready to bolt so he held on tight to the hand and edged them towards the chairs the woman had indicated.  Once they were safely seated, Justin released some of the pressure on Brian's hand, but still held on to it.



"Brian, try to relax," Justin whispered to him.



"What the fuck do you know about all this?" Brian asked through gritted teeth.



"Nothing," Justin whispered back, and he really did know nothing, but he was sure Frank did.



"Mr. Mayor," Theresa began again, "may I say how happy we are to see you alive and well.  Although that shiner makes you look rather dangerous."



The council and guests laughed politely.  Justin thought about the fact that they little knew how dangerous Brian really could be.  They were walking a fine line here.



"The council wants to express their outrage at what happened to you.  We hope the culprits will be apprehended very soon. We have been told that you came here today to resign, and I for one am asking you not to do that.  You know that I wasn't a great supporter of yours, but I have come to respect the way you run the council meetings, the way you defend the programs you want implemented and the way you listen to ideas other than your own.  I think it would be a great loss to the city of Pittsburgh if you quit now. You've barely got started."



This was followed by another standing ovation.  Brian looked stunned. He saw Frank who was clapping as loudly as everyone else and smiling encouragingly at Brian.



"We hope you will reconsider.  You may now have the floor, Mr. Mayor."  Theresa took her seat, everybody else sat back down, and Brian stood.  The silence was deafening as they all waited for him to speak.



"I don't see that this makes one particle of difference.  I'm still resigning."



Justin groaned audibly and so did several others.  Brian turned as if to leave.



"Brian," Frank's voice sounded loud and clear.  Brian stopped and looked at him. "I know you've been through a lot the last few days, probably more than most of us are aware.  Justin has told me that you feel that everyone is against you, that no one wants you to be mayor, but I do." This was followed be a chorus of "I do too" and "Me too".  "The people who are outside the front doors of City Hall are people who want you to be mayor. They're the ones who elected you. The gallery here is filled with people who support you."  A cheer rose up from the gallery. "There are some people who want you out of the mayor's seat, but there are many, many, many more who want you in it."



Brian looked uncertainly at Justin.  Justin could feel some of the gloom fade from the man.  This was having an impact.



"I don't know what to say," Brian said overwhelmed by what was happening.  He had his mind all made up. He didn't think he could back down now.



"Say you'll stay," someone called out.  "Yes, stay," several others added.



"I can't believe this is happening.  All I've ever had is sh… grief since I assumed this position," Brian said shaking his head.



"We realize now how it must have seemed to you, that none of us supported you, but we do.  You are the duly elected mayor of Pittsburgh. Don't let some homophobic malcontents drive you out," Theresa told him.



"My head is spinning," Brian said.  "I came here prepared to tell you all to fuck off and I would have too."  People chuckled nervously at Brian's choice of language. "I don't see how I can stay."



"Just say you will and that will be the end of it," Frank said simply.



Brian continued to shake his head.  Justin knew how hard it was for him to change his mind once he had committed to something.  Everyone waited for Brian's decision.



"All right," he said finally.  "I'll give it one more try if you all promise to vote on my side of every proposal."  He looked around expectantly. The chamber remained silent.



"No such guarantee, Mr. Mayor," Frank said bluntly, "but we promise to listen and weigh each proposal fairly."



"What more could I ask for?" Brian replied and just like that he was mayor all over again.



Justin sat watching Brian.  He knew he couldn't interfere in this decision.  It was too huge and Brian had to want to do it. Once Brian indicated he would stay on, he was surrounded by council members who clapped him on the back and shook his hand.  Frank had a big hug for him. Justin heard him say, "You made the right decision, son." Brian merely smiled. Justin waited. He knew Brian would find him eventually. He saw Brian speak to Geoffrey briefly, and then Brian was standing in front of him.



"Come on, we're going home," he said.



"Aren't you going to your office?"



"I told Geoffrey I'd start tomorrow."



"Why?" Justin asked puzzled.



"Just come with me," Brian stated.  He pulled Justin from his seat and they escaped into the hall.  They ran to the elevators and went down to the lobby.



"I'm staying," Brian said to the guards and receptionist who worked there.  They smiled their approval.



Brian pushed the front door open and Justin followed him out.  "I'm staying," he yelled to the crowd. They erupted in cheers.  Brian smiled at them. Chuck pulled the limo up and Brian and Justin got in.



"I'm staying," Brian said to Chuck as they drove away.  Chuck told him he was glad to hear that. "Close the panel or close your eyes," Brian said.



"Since I'm driving I'll close the partition," Chuck said with a grin.



"And take your time getting us home," Brian added before the partition reached the top.



As soon as it did Brian pinned Justin to the seat with his kisses and yanked the boy's clothes off.  His own weren't far behind. They fucked their way through most of Pittsburgh while Chuck kept driving knowing they would tell him when they were through.



When they finally pulled up at the loft on Brian's instruction, both men had their clothes back on and only looked and smelled slightly of sex.  Chuck opened the door of the limo.



"Enjoy the tour of the city, Mr. Mayor?" he asked with a grin.



"It was spectacular!  See you in the morning as usual."  Brian and Justin disappeared into their building to continue their own tour of familiar places.

Mayor Kinney

* 15 *

Justin groaned as he felt Brian jerking him off.  His lover's cock was buried deep in his ass and his senses were on overload.  He wanted to tell Brian to hurry but he couldn't get his tongue to work. All he was capable of were incoherent moans and groans.  As if reading his mind, Brian sped up his thrusts and timed his strokes of Justin's cock to match.



"Oh, oh, ah, ah, ahhhhhhhh," Justin cried and came in a shattering explosion.  Brian was close behind him.



They collapsed onto the bed still wrapped around each other, Brian's dick still partially up his ass.



Justin groaned again.  He was going to be so sore.  This was at least the sixth time he had come since they had left City Hall.  Brian hadn't fucked him in days since he had been released from the hospital.  The man had seemed incapable of doing anything but sleeping. Once it had been resolved that Brian was staying on as mayor, Brian's libido had kicked in big time.  They had fucked twice in the limo before Chuck brought them home and now this made about the sixth time.



Brian rolled off him and disposed of the condom.  "Are you okay?" Brian asked.



"I think so, but I'm not sure I can stand up, let alone sit down," Justin said his eyes still closed.  He wanted to rest. He felt Brian's hand slide up his thigh and reach for his balls. He groaned. "Haven't you had enough for awhile?" Justin asked.



"Never enough," Brian said with his patented smirk.



"Remind me never to let you go longer than a day without fucking," Justin cautioned.  "Aren't you the least bit tired?"



"Not really.  I had all that sleep the last few days."



"But I didn't," Justin said.  "I was awake worrying about you."



"I didn't mean to worry you.  I don't know what was wrong with me."



"You were depressed," Justin stated looking into Brian's eyes.



"I don't do depressed."



"You had all the symptoms.  You were depressed … and who could blame you?"



Brian stared at him.  Justin could tell he was thinking about it, weighing the truth of his words.  "Maybe you're right," Brian admitted. "I don't know when I've felt so hopeless since I've been an adult."



"I think it had more to do with your mother than with the accident," Justin told him.



Brian made a face.  "Why do you say that?"



"I … Are you sure you want to talk about this?"  He didn't want to set Brian off when he finally seemed to be getting back to normal.



"I want to hear what you have to say, Dr. Taylor, shrink extraordinaire," Brian said rubbing his hand along Justin's thigh.



The boy made a face at him and then sighed contentedly.  He loved how safe and warm any contact with Brian made him feel.  He hoped the contact would stay merely that. He didn't think he could take another fuck right now.



"When you told me you had asked her to be proud of you, I knew how hard that must have been.  I know how much you want her approval." Brian opened his mouth to deny it. "Don't say anything," Justin told him.  "Let me finish. We all want our parents to be proud of us, to love us. That's how I still feel about my asshole of a father.  But I at least have a loving mother. You never got that from either parent. Maria and Louise gave you hope that maybe you could make it right … finally."



Brian nodded.  "I believed what they told me, that talking could make her come around."



"But it never did before."



"No, it didn't, not that I tried very hard.  She'd piss me off in five seconds and that would be the end of it."



"But this time you risked telling her that you wanted her to be proud of you, and then she refused as always, and not in a polite way, I would imagine."



"She was fucking … cruel … as usual."



"Frank said something that made me realize what you were going through.  He said that you were used to having things go your way, bending the world to your will.  I know you hate to fail. You invested a lot in that session with your mother and then she kicked you out.  That was the ultimate failure."



Brian continued to stare into Justin's blue eyes.  He nodded slightly.



"Then you go outside and get hit with a car that may or may not have been a deliberate attempt to hurt you."



"To kill me."



"Maybe," Justin had to admit.  "Put those two things together and anyone would want to pack it in.  You had been dealt too big a pile of crap for anyone to handle."



"You know," Brian said slowly, "you are one smart little fucker."



"Are you just figuring that out now?" Justin asked with his most innocent smile.



Brian snorted.  "I do have a question for you though."



"Oh?  What?"



"What were you and Frank doing talking about me?"



Justin blushed.  Brian didn't miss a thing.  He had mentioned Frank's analysis of what was wrong with Brian.  Shit! Now he would have to explain.



"I … I called Frank when you were sleeping so much.  I was scared for you. You were giving up on everything."



"So did the two of you orchestrate that fiasco at City Hall?"  Brian's eyes bored into him demanding the truth and showing the first hints of anger.



"Brian, I swear I didn't know anything about what happened there.  Frank said he was going to look into some things, but even he couldn't have gathered all those people unless they wanted to be there."



Brian studied him.  "Maybe," he conceded.



"You know, a wise man once told me that a man has to know when to ask for help."  Brian grimaced hearing his own words parroted back at him. "And also when to accept help."



"Maybe."



Brian began playing with Justin's balls rolling them around in his fingers and squeezing gently.  Justin groaned and could feel his cock begin to stiffen.



"Not again," he grinned helplessly.



"Maybe," Brian said once more grinning at him.



"Seven's the charm?" Justin asked.



"Maybe."



That could mean that seven would finally result in a rest or that seven would be followed by eight or that seven could be followed by eight, nine, ten.  Who knew? And who cared as Brian's mouth captured his and kissed him in that sweet, mind-blowing, sensual way that only Brian could.



                                                             -----



Justin pushed the buzzer and heard a voice ask who was there.  "Justin Taylor," he replied.



"Come on up.  It's 708."



The buzzer indicated the door had been released.  Justin pulled it open and made his way to the elevators.  This was a pretty nice building, nicer than he had expected.  When he stepped off the elevator he saw Phydeau down the hall waiting for him.  He walked towards the man wondering what he would find inside the apartment.



"Hi," Justin said.



"Hi, glad you decided to come look at my work … I think.  C'mon in."



Justin stepped inside the open door.  The apartment was warm and inviting, lots of overstuffed furniture and dark wood.  There were fresh flowers arranged on the coffee table and unusual artwork on the walls.  That must be what Phydeau did. Justin had never seen anything quite like it.



"This is amazing," Justin had to say.



"Thanks."



"Your home is lovely."


"Chuck and I have spent a long time decorating it and getting it just the way we want it."



"I had no idea being a bodyguard was so lucrative," Justin observed.



"It's not, but we like doing it."



"So how do you pay for all this, if you don't mind me asking?"


"We have some investments.  We own Meathook. Have you ever been there?"



"Um … no, but I have heard of it."  It was Liberty Avenue's leather bar.



"Most of the time we work there, tending bar and running things, but then if we get a gig as bodyguards we have a guy who holds the fort for us."



"That sounds like a good arrangement," Justin observed.  There was so much more to this man than he had first thought.  He could hardly believe he had thought Chuck and Phydeau were just a couple of bears who didn't know their asses from a hole in the ground.  Now to find out they were businessmen, owners, artists, at least one of them.



"Is this some of your work?" Justin asked pointing to some pieces on the wall.



"Yeah," Phydeau said shyly.  "What do you think?"



Justin could tell that he wanted him to like them.  He walked over to one piece and studied it. It was a combination of paint and leather and stuck on pieces.  Overall it was quite striking.



"I call that one 'Pastel Nights'."



"Kind of like Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'?" Justin asked.



"Geez, you see the similarity?" Phydeau asked in amazement.



"I sure do."  Justin studied the piece.  There were large swirls of paint in pastel colors.  Van Gogh's had the same type of swirls but in darker, bolder colors.  Into the thick paint was embedded a piece of what looked like one of Phydeau's dog collars, the leather and spikes clearly visible.  There were also some pieces of mirror and glass and a few nails sprinkled throughout. It gave the piece a strange combination of gentleness and ferocity, of calm and force.  Justin was impressed.



He and Phydeau walked around looking at the rest of his mounted pieces.  Justin told him his thoughts about them and seemed to make a comment that pleased Phydeau each time.  Phydeau was very proud of his work, and he should be Justin told him. They went into the second bedroom which acted as Phydeau's studio.  He had several pieces in progress all following the same combination of paint, leather and found objects.



On a large table was a sculpture in clay.  It was kind of an abstract bust, very intriguing.



"Is this yours too?" Justin asked.



"No, that's Chuck's.  He's the sculptor."



"So you're both artists?" Justin asked hardly believing what he was finding out.



"I think 'artists' is too grand a word for what we do, but we have sold a few pieces."



"I can see why.  You're both very good."



"Thanks," Phydeau said with a genuine smile covering his face.  "Would you like a soda or some coffee?"



"Sure," Justin agreed.



They sat down in the living room and Phydeau told Justin how he and Chuck had met at an art gallery.  Phydeau had got Chuck interested in the leather scene. Gradually their relationship had progressed. They had been living together for about five years.  Justin told Phydeau about how he and Brian had met, but he was reluctant to reveal too much. He knew how Brian felt about his privacy.



"Can I ask you something, Justin?" Phydeau asked.



"Sure," Justin replied, but he hoped it wasn't anything too personal.



"Does Brian have any enemies?"


Justin was surprised.  He had expected the question to be about their relationship.  "Stockwell," Justin replied.



"Yeah, he's the obvious one, but I don't think the chief of police is going to openly try to kill the mayor."



"You're talking about the accident.  Do you know that it was deliberate?"



"I don't for sure, but I think it likely was.  Could Stockwell be working with someone else who's out to get the mayor?"



Justin thought about it.  "Jesus," he said suddenly.  "My father tried to kill Brian with his car once.  But it couldn't be him, could it?"



"Your father?"



"Right after Brian and I first got together, but he … he doesn't care what happens to me now.  It couldn't be him." Justin sure hoped that was the case.



"Anybody else?"



"Brian's family, his mother and sister are less than supportive, but I can't see them being involved in anything like that."



"So none of those seem likely," Phydeau said thoughtfully.  "Think about it, and see if you can come up with anybody else."



"I will."

                                                              -----



Brian sat in his office at City Hall.  He had been royally welcomed back when he arrived that morning.  Everyone he saw had made a point of speaking to him and saying how glad they were that he had decided not to resign.



Geoffrey had met him at the elevator and even he had been effusive, as effusive as the man could get, about Brian's return.  Cynthia had actually hugged him, right out in front of everybody. It was the first time she had seen him since the accident.  If Brian didn't know better he would say that there were tears in her eyes. They were both kind of embarrassed afterwards.



"Happy you'll have a job for a while longer?" Brian had said to ease the emotion that neither of them liked to show.



She had swatted him and said, "You don't look so bad.  Are you sure you were really run over?"



He knew she meant it to be funny and to get a crack in as he answered, "Yeah, I'm sure.  I've got the bruises to prove it." He saw her eyes fill up with tears and knew she thought he had taken her comment the wrong way.  "Want to see them?" he said with a lascivious grin and they both laughed. Everything was fine after that.



Brian had been reading files and trying to get caught up.  A week off for whatever reason had put him way behind. He rubbed his eyes and tried to concentrate.



Cynthia buzzed.  "There's a Carl Horvath here to see you.  He doesn't have an appointment, but he says it's important.  He's a cop," she whispered at the end.



Brian chuckled.  He wondered what Cynthia thought he might have done to bring a cop to his office.  "Send him in," he said.



Brian stood and greeted Carl.  Carl told him he was looking pretty good, not too much the worse for wear.  Brian's eye was still a little purple and orange, but it was fading and the rest of his injuries weren't visible.  They didn't hurt too much anymore.



"You were damn lucky," Carl stated.



"I know.  I probably should be dead."



"I think that was the intention."



"What do you mean?"



"I've been checking into what happened," Carl said.



"That's not your area of expertise, is it?"



"No, but Chuck, your driver, told me that the responding officers never even questioned him at the accident scene.  I've been keeping an eye on the case ever since."



"They didn't question him?" Brian asked.  That surprised even him.



"You might be interested to know that they responded to the fight you were in just after you got elected.  And they were on duty when that car tried to run you down before. I don't know exactly where they were, but I bet they would have responded if you had been hit."



"Jesus Christ!" Brian responded shaking his head in disbelief.



"I think they've known what's going to happen before it happens."



"Then it is a conspiracy."



"It certainly looks like that."



"Stockwell?"



"That would be my guess, but I don't think he's working alone."



"Those guys that beat me up?"



"They're small potatoes, but definitely involved.  We couldn't get them to rat on anybody else."



"Have you found the car that hit me yet?" Brian asked.



"That's why I'm here.  It turned up this morning in an alley downtown.  Stolen of course."



"Has it been there all along?"



"The guy who called it in said it wasn't there yesterday, so somebody must have dumped it last night."



"Which means it's been stored somewhere all this time."



"Right.  I checked who owned the car and reported it stolen," Carl said.



"Anybody we know?"



"No, but the owner lives within a block of where the other car was stolen."



"Shit!" Brian responded.



"So somebody from around there must be stealing them.  Also we got a print from a pop can that had rolled under the seat of the car."



"You did?"



"Does the name Kip Thomas mean anything to you?"