Wild Child

Chapter 1

Brian grabbed the blond hair and pulled back as he thrust forward. He was almost there as he leaned over the slim body that he was pounding into. With a bite to the shoulder and a roar of release he shot his load into the condom. He jerked forward a few more times before rolling away and flopping onto his back.

"That was great!"

"Yeah," Brian replied flatly before he looked over into the eager brown eyes that looked back at him.

"For an old guy you ain't half bad."

"For a young idiot, you ain't halfway intelligent. Get out!"

"What? What the fuck?"

"You heard me. Get the fuck out," Brian barked.

"Shit! They all said you were a fucking asshole."

"You should listen to your peers," Brian snarked.

"Fuck you!" the trick reacted as he zipped his jeans and grabbed his shirt.

"Close the door behind you."

"Goddam fucking bastard!"

Brian heard the door slam and wondered if it had come off its track. He should get up and lock it, but he didn't feel like moving. He reached for a cigarette and lit it. Lying on his back and staring at the ceiling, he blew lazy smoke circles watching them rise and swirl and then disappear.

He heaved a sigh and pushed himself off the bed. He made his way naked down to the bar cart and poured himself a hefty glass of Beam. The liquor bit at his throat and then spread heat through his gut. He carried his glass over to the entrance to the loft noting that the battered metal door hadn't fallen off its track. He locked it and carried his drink over to his new white sofa and sat down wearily. Was this the fifth or sixth version of a white sofa he had had at the loft? He shook his head at the thought.

He had picked up tonight's trick at Babylon and had decided he might be a worthy fuck. He should have tried him out in the backroom first. He was mediocre at best. Again Brian shook his head. All of them were mediocre these days. Everything was mediocre.

Brian took another slug of the Beam. He glanced at the clock with a shiver. It was after two. He really should get some sleep but he didn't feel sleepy. In fact he slept very little these days. He stood and went back for a refill on his Beam. He carried it up to the bedroom where he flopped down on the bed and threw the duvet over himself. He propped some pillows behind his back and sipped at his Beam.

It was going to be another long night by the looks of it. Brian finished his Beam, closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind. Suddenly there was Justin's face clearly in front of him. Justin was smiling one of his patented sunshine smiles. Brian grinned back. He could feel himself growing hard. Why couldn't that guy he had just fucked have the same effect on him? Why did they all pale in comparison?

Brian opened his eyes and glanced over at the clock. It was a little after three. He wondered if he had been dreaming, which would have meant that he was asleep or if he had merely conjured the image with his conscious mind. He reached under the duvet and started to stroke himself remembering that look on Justin's face. It didn't take long for him to get off. Justin always had that effect on him.

Grabbing some tissues from the nightstand he cleaned himself up. He flopped back against the pillows and shook his head. It was pretty pathetic to be jerking off when you were forty-two years old. He should never have gotten this old. He should have ended it ages ago. And he would have, except that he was such a coward.

He remembered the scarfing incident, all those years ago. He should have died that night. He would have died with a smile on his face and a boner in his hand. It would have been the perfect ending for Brian fucking Kinney. Except for Mikey. Fucking Mikey had saved him, had told him he would always be young and beautiful. Why couldn't fucking Michael Novotny mind his own fucking business?

And where was Mikey tonight when he fucking needed him? He was at home with his husband in fucking Buffalo playing sweet little Stepford Wives with the other fag couples they had met up there. Ben had been offered head of gay studies at a university in Buffalo about four years ago. So Michael and Ben had packed up and left. Their main reason, aside from the promotion for Ben, was that they would be closer to Toronto and therefore, closer to Jenny Rebecca. Michael had sold the comic book store in Pittsburgh making a nice profit, and had then opened one in Buffalo. It seemed there were enough comic book geeks up there to keep him in business. How the two men endured the fucking winters there was a whole other issue.

Brian picked up the cordless phone that lay beside his bed. His thumb played with the keypad. He could call Michael. He'd like to talk to him, but it was so late. He and Ben would be asleep and Ben certainly wouldn't approve of his timing. Brian could remember the good old days when he could call Michael any time of the day or night, and he always knew for certain that Michael would be there for him. Michael would be available to talk or to come over to do whatever Brian wanted, even if he had to kidnap Michael to do it.

Brian chuckled to himself. He remembered that underwear party where he had kidnapped Michael outside his store. He had led him to believe that they were going to Debbie's when he had actually been taking his best friend to the party. He had even bought new underwear for Michael. Michael had watched as Brian had played with that guy in the skimpy bikini. The lust in his eyes was evident, but Michael had refused to play. Instead he wanted to go home to Ben. That should have been Brian's first clue about how much everything had changed.

Change! He could fucking do without it!

Brian got up and threw on some jeans and a shirt. He grabbed his keys from the counter and headed out of the loft. A few minutes later he pulled up in front of Babylon. It was almost four a.m., the time the place would close. He got out of the car and walked to the entrance.

"Mr. Kinney," the security guy said.

"Ambrose," Brian nodded at the man as he passed by.

Entering the club Brian could hear the thumpa thumpa right away. The place wasn't packed anymore, since a lot of the crowd would have left to go fuck or sleep or eat. Brian made his way up to the office on the second floor. His manager, Dane, was still there counting some money.

"Good take tonight?" Brian asked as he slid into the chair next to the man.

"Yeah," Dane said with a frown. "What are you doing here at this time of night?"

"Don't you mean this time of the morning?" Brian asked tongue in cheek.

Dane chuckled. "I stand corrected, but you didn't answer my question. Checking up on me?"

"You never know," Brian replied ambiguously. Dane gave him a look but said nothing more. Brian knew that Dane was trustworthy. He had gone through a lot of managers before he found Dane. However, it didn't hurt to keep Dane on his toes. "Anybody left in the backroom?"

"I thought I saw you leave with somebody," Dane observed.

"I did. Is there anybody left in the backroom?" Brian repeated.

Dane raised an eyebrow. "There are a few guys, some of the regulars."

Brian made a face. "Is that all?"

"Why don't you go check it out? I can look after this."

"I know you can," Brian said. He squeezed Dane's shoulder as he stood up and made his way back down to the first floor. There were still some guys dancing, a few looking pretty spacey. The drug use at Babylon would never change.

The entry to the backroom was very familiar to Brian. He passed down the narrow hallway feeling the first smells of sex and men assault his senses. He breathed deeply. At the first corner he turned and glanced over seeing a familiar body, face pressed against the wall.

"Hey Todd, how's it going?"

"Good," Todd replied as he continued to get his ass plowed by the guy behind him.

Brian moved on looking at each pairing or group of men. He had had all of them. There was nothing to draw his attention … until…

Up ahead he saw a blond head. It looked familiar. Brian moved in that direction. As he drew closer he could see that the blond head belonged to a guy in his late twenties. He was leaning against the wall watching some of the nearby activities. He perked up when he saw Brian.

Brian leaned against the wall across the room from the blond. He locked eyes with the guy for a minute. The guy smiled back at him. Brian cocked his head and the guy moved towards him.

"Hey," the blond said as he drew near.

"Hey."

"Aren't you the owner of this place?" Brian nodded. "I've heard of you."

"I'm rather well known on Liberty Avenue," Brian smirked.

"I hear you're a great fuck."

Brian smirked some more. "Want to find out?"

The guy nodded and leaned into Brian for a kiss. Brian hesitated for a fraction of a second before capturing the man's lips with his own. They battled with tongues and lips and spit until they were both breathless. Brian had to admit that was one of the better kisses he had had in a long time.

"You're a good kisser, man," the blond declared.

"Yeah, you ready to take it up the ass?"

"So much for foreplay," the blond laughed. "I'm horny as hell and you're the best looking thing I've seen all night."

"Turn around and drop your pants," Brian ordered his eyes going dark with lust.

The blond obeyed as Brian freed his stiff member from the confines of his jeans. The kiss had got him ready for this. Brian hoped this blond would be better than the evening's earlier man of the blond persuasion.

The guy was looking over his shoulder as Brian suited up his dick. He liked what he saw. With a little smile he watched Brian pull out a tube of lube and slather it on his dick. Unceremoniously he squirted some up the trick's ass.

"Hey," the guy objected. "You could warn a guy. You been keeping that stuff in the freezer?"

Brian chuckled. This blond had a sense of humor. He liked that. As a result he shoved one finger up the guy's ass eliciting a grateful grunt. He finger fucked the guy a few times and then added another finger. That produced another grunt of satisfaction.

"Think you're ready for this?" Brian asked as he held his dick ready for insertion.

The blond looked over his shoulder and nodded. Brian rubbed the tip of his cock around the twitching pucker. He found the right spot and pressed in. The blond rose up on his toes and let out a groan. Brian stopped and gave the guy a chance to breathe and get used to his size.

"God, you're big," the blond said.

"Can you take it?"

The blond nodded giving Brian permission to proceed. He thrust forward getting another few inches in. The guy rested his head on the wall and panted, moaning slightly. Brian waited until his breathing normalized and then drove the rest of the way in.

"Fucking shit!" the guy gasped.

Brian began to thrust and after a minute or two he felt the blond bend forward giving him greater access. The guy met each thrust and seemed to want more. Brian smiled to himself. This was more like it, not like that useless piece of shit he had been with earlier.

"Oh God, yes!" the guy called out. "Harder, shit, harder, right there. Oh fuck!"

Brian drove home again and again. He could feel the prickling of impending orgasm and he reached in front of the guy and jacked him off. They both came with very satisfying orgasms.

Brian realized he was leaning against the trick who was pinned to the wall. He withdrew from the guy and shed the condom.

The guy turned around and leaned back against the wall. "That was great."

"Aren't you going to add 'for an old guy'?" Brian asked sarcastically.

"Hell no! I haven't had a fuck like that from anybody of any age in a long time."

"I was just thinking the same thing," Brian smirked. "Nice fucking you." He buttoned his jeans and made to move away.

"Hey," the blond said. "If you ever want to do that again, here's my number."

Brian was about to tell him that he never did repeats when the thought struck him that he had had a helluva time finding anyone one tenth as good as this guy. He reached for the card. He might decide to use it.

"My name's Greg, by the way."

"Brian."

"I know."

Brian smirked and turned to go. "Gentlemen, the club will be closing momentarily, so hurry up and come."

He walked away amidst a chorus of protests.

+++++

By the time Brian left Babylon, the sun was starting to peek over the rooftops. He decided to go to Kinnetik and take a shower there. He always kept a spare suit in the closet of his office in case he needed to change. He knew there was no hope of sleep and he might as well get some work done since he was up.

As he stripped to get in the shower at the office Brian felt the card that he had jammed in his jeans pocket. He pulled it out and read the front of it. It indicated that his most recent trick was one Gregory Fernley, an attorney. Brian smirked as he put the card back in the pocket of his jeans. This one was definitely a cut above the average in every way. He just might give the guy a call.

When the staff of Kinnetik started to arrive some time later, they all noticed that the boss was already behind his desk working away. Ted came in just before nine. He stepped into Brian's office and handed him the financial projections that he had been working on.

"These look good, Theodore."

"Thanks to those three multi-million dollar accounts you brought in last month Kinnetik's future looks rosy."

"Thank you, Mr. Chief Financial Officer," Brian said with his tongue in cheek.

"I appreciate the promotion, Bri," Ted smiled. He had just assumed that position a few weeks ago.

"I'm sure you do. In fact, I have a new idea. What do you think of Kinnetik expanding?"

"Expanding? You mean a new branch?" Brian nodded. "Where? When?"

"I don't know yet. I thought maybe you could look into that for me. See if it's financially feasible."

"Will do."

Brian nodded and went back to what he was working on as Ted left the office. He wondered if Cynthia was in yet. He wanted to run that idea past her. As junior partner in Kinnetik, he valued her input. She would run one of the branches if they decided to go with the expansion.

Brian had some meetings scheduled in the morning and a lunch meeting with a client. By the afternoon he was really starting to drag considering that he had had no sleep the night before.

In the middle of the afternoon his phone rang. With a sigh he picked it up.

"There's some woman on line one who insists on talking to you," his secretary said.

"Did she give her name?"

"No, she sounded kind of frantic and insisted you would take her call."

"Put her on," Brian said rubbing his eyes. He wondered if it was one of his new clients having second thoughts or Debbie or his fucking sister.

When they were connected, Brian said rather impatiently, "Brian Kinney,"

"Brian?" a hesitant female voice responded.

"Who is this?" Brian frowned. The voice sounded slightly familiar.

"It's Lindsay."

"Lindsay? What the fuck? Did something happen to Gus?"

"No, not exactly."

"Then what are you calling for?"

"Something is wrong."

"Will you fucking stop talking in riddles and tell me why you're calling, after … what is it … five years?" Brian said sarcastically. He was pissed.

"Brian, I need you to come to Toronto."

"And why the fuck would I do that after you so kindly shut me out of your lives?" Brian spat at her.

"I need you," Lindsay managed to get out as she tried to stifle a sob.

"Is Melanie dead?" Brian asked thinking that must be why Lindsay was so upset.

"Jesus, Brian! No, she's not. This is about Gus."

"I thought you said he was okay." Brian ran his hand through his hair.

"He's okay physically, but he needs his father."

"After five years he suddenly needs me? You've got to be fucking kidding me."

"Brian, I don't want to do this over the phone. Can you please come here?"

"Why don't you come to Pittsburgh?"

"I … I don't have the money," Lindsay admitted. "Please, Brian, just come as soon as you can. I'm begging you."

Brian could hear the desperation in Lindsay's voice. "Okay, I'll try to get a flight tonight, but this better be important."

"It is. Here's our address," Lindsay said as Brian wrote it on a piece of paper. "Thank you for doing this."

The line went dead before Brian could say anything more. He hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair. He wondered what the fuck was going on and what would prompt Lindsay to call him after all this time. She had sounded … worried and desperate.

With a sigh Brian buzzed his secretary. "Arlene, get me a ticket on a flight to Toronto tonight."

"Yes, sir. Return?"

"One way. I'll make arrangements when I'm ready to come back."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and Arlene, see if either Ted or Cynthia are available. If they are I need to see them right away."

"I'll check on that. Anything else?"

"No, that's all."

Brian sighed again. Arlene was extremely efficient and he could never fault her work, but he missed having Cynthia as his assistant. She could always read his mind about what he wanted or needed. They had made a great team, and still did, just in a different way.

A few minutes later Ted and Cynthia stood before him.

"What's up?" Cynthia asked.

"I'm going out of town for a few days."

"Oh?"

Brian remained silent. "Care to tell your lowly staff where you're going and why?" Ted asked.

"You're hardly my lowly staff. I expect you to run things while I'm gone. Make that 'run things … efficiently'," Brian added.

"Is this a business trip?" Cynthia asked. "A new secret client that you're cultivating?"

"It's personal."

Ted gave Cynthia a look.

"No, I am not going to the White Party or on a week long fuckfest. Suffice it to say, that I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Yes, Boss," Cynthia laughed. She had years of experience with this type of thing where Brian was concerned. She knew better than to ask what it was about. If Brian wanted them to know, he'd tell them. "The company will be here when you get back."

"I'm counting on that. Now, get back to work. I'll be leaving in a few minutes."

 

Cynthia and Ted made their way out of his office. Brian knew they would be speculating about where he was going. Maybe he should have told them, but he didn't really know what the fuck he was getting himself into. How could he explain to them? With a sigh and a yawn he cleared his desk. He needed to go home and pack.

Wild Child

Chapter 2

Brian tossed his clothes into his small suitcase. He didn't figure he'd need a suit but he folded one and added it to the pile. He had changed from the suit he wore at Kinnetik into jeans, t-shirt and a soft, lightweight shirt. That would be more comfortable on the plane. He opened his briefcase which he had tossed on the bed. He pulled out his jeans that he had worn to Babylon the night before. They were his favorites and he would have liked to wear them, but they were dirty. He was about to place them in the bag of laundry he was going to drop off down the street before he left, when he remembered something. He fished in the pockets until he found the card he had placed back in there.

"Gregory Fernley," Brian said thoughtfully. He flipped the card around in his fingers. "Why not?" he said to the empty loft.

Quickly he punched in the numbers before he lost his nerve. A male voice answered.

"Greg?" Brian asked.

"That would be me."

"It's Brian Kinney."

"Well, fuck me!"

"I already have," Brian chuckled.

"I never thought I'd hear from you … and certainly not so soon."

"Miracles do sometimes occur," Brian smirked.

"So what can I do for you? Please tell me that you want to get together again."

"I … I'd like that," Brian admitted.

"Tonight?" Greg said hopefully.

"Actually I'm on my way to the airport. I'm going to be out of town for a few days."

"I see."

"I just wanted to touch base."

"So give me a call when you get back."

"I will," Brian said and he meant it. "I wanted you to know that I'm still interested."

"So am I," Greg laughed. "Thanks for the heads up and I'll look for your call when you get back."

"Later," Brian said without thinking about the significance of that word.

"Later," Greg replied before he cut the connection.

"That wasn't so hard," Brian said with a smile. Once he got this Lindsay problem fixed, he would definitely hook up again with Mr. Greg Fernley.

+++++

Brian dozed on the short flight to Toronto. It was only a little over an hour and he was thankful for any rest he might get, having had no sleep the night before. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on with Gus. He had not liked the way Lindsay sounded on the phone. Something must be terribly wrong.

Shifting in his seat, Brian thought about the last time he had seen Gus. After the Munchers had moved to Toronto, Brian had made several trips up there to see his son, especially that first year. He had been determined that his son would know his father, that he would not be forgotten. Things had gone all right at the beginning. Melanie had found a job as a paralegal and was trying to follow the process to get papers to practise in Canada. Lindsay had found a job in an art gallery in downtown Toronto. It was basically a clerking job, nothing like the position she had held at Sidney Bloom. They had rented a house which took most of their paychecks to afford. Gus had started in a public school and had been fine in kindergarten.

The year he started first grade problems really came to the fore. He was being teased by the kids who found out that he had two mothers. Nothing seemed to be able to stop the teasing, and Gus was very sensitive to it. He spent a lot of time alone and seemed to have no friends. Brian had offered to pay for a private school, but Melanie would not hear of it. She wanted her son to toughen up and face the real world.

The last time Brian had seen Gus he was not quite seven years old. He was just finishing first grade and he made it very clear that he hated school. In fact when Brian arrived for a visit, he had asked to go home with his father. He said he was never going back to that school. Brian had tried to reason with him, but he was adamant.

Melanie had been furious. She accused Brian of planting ideas in Gus' head so that he could get the boy to go live with him. She said Brian was undermining everything they were trying to teach their son. No matter how much Brian protested, Melanie refused to believe that he was blameless in what was happening with Gus. That was when she had said it would be better for all of them if Brian didn't visit his son anymore. Melanie had no idea how much that hurt Brian. He had managed to conceal the hurt from her, but he had felt it with every fiber of his being.

Lindsay had backed Melanie in this. She had asked Brian to stay away, at least for a few months. She hoped when Gus started second grade he would be with a different group of kids and things would settle down. Reluctantly Brian had agreed. He heard a few times from Lindsay saying things were better. They never let him talk to Gus. Finally as Christmas approached that year, Brian had demanded to talk to his son. He had received monosyllabic answers from Gus during the brief conversation. Gus seemed distant and angry. Brian wondered what he had been told about Brian's lack of visits. That had been the last time he had heard from Gus.

Now here he was five years later on a plane to Toronto to see his son. If Gus had been angry and resentful before, Brian could only imagine how the boy of twelve would be when they met, that is, if Gus remembered him at all. Brian wondered what the hell Lindsay thought he was going to be able to do to help the son he barely knew.

"We'll be landing in Toronto shortly…" the flight attendant announced as they began preparations for landing.

Brian rubbed his tired eyes. He was not looking forward to what awaited him at number 673 Elm St. However, he had said he would come to Toronto and he would do his best to sort out whatever mess they had created.

The taxi pulled up to the old house that the Munchers had rented. It hadn't changed much since the last time he was there. It was still in need of a coat of paint for the trim. Brian paid the cab driver and pulled his suitcase out of the trunk. The taxi took off leaving him standing on the sidewalk. It was still light out on the warm summer night. He slowly walked up to the front door.

Brian rang the bell and waited. He could feel his heart pounding as he waited for someone to answer the door. Suddenly it opened.

"Brian," Lindsay gasped and almost fell into his arms. "I'm so glad you're here." She held on so tight Brian was having trouble breathing.

"What's going on?" Brian asked trying to extricate himself from her viselike hug.

"Come in and I'll make some tea."

"I didn't come all the way from Pittsburgh for fucking tea."

"Please, please, Brian, come in and give me a chance to explain."

Brian could see the tears in her eyes and his heart softened. "All right," he said stepping across the threshold. He wondered where Melanie and Gus were but he didn't want to ask until Lindsay told him what this was all about.

"You look great," Lindsay said. "You've hardly changed at all.

Brian made a face knowing that wasn't true, although he still had the slim figure and sexy presence that had always surrounded him. He couldn't say the same about Lindsay. She looked older and worn out. So he didn't say anything.

Lindsay led the way to the kitchen. Brian dropped his bag by the front door and followed. He noted the rather threadbare looking sweater Lindsay was wearing even though it was a warm evening. She looked thin and not her usual self. He wondered if she was ill.

"Are you all right, Lindsay?" Brian asked as she indicated that he should sit down at the kitchen table.

"I've been better."

"Are you sick?"

Lindsay looked at Brian as she set the kettle on the stove. Brian actually seemed to care. How could she have been so stupid all that time ago? "I'm not sick. I just have a lot on my mind."

"Are you going to tell me why you asked me to come here?"

She nodded her head but turned away to begin fixing the tea. Brian could feel the sadness that radiated from her. When she turned back her face seemed set, more resolute about what she wanted to say. "How is everything in Pittsburgh?" she asked out of the blue.

"Lindz, I didn't come here to make small talk."

"Indulge me, please. I want to know about the old gang."

Brian heaved a sigh. "Ted is Chief Financial Officer of Kinnetik," Brian began.

"You promoted him! That's wonderful. Has he found the right guy yet?"

Brian shook his head. "He's more hopeless at love than I am," Brian said before he could stop himself.

"Do you hear from Justin?" Lindsay asked looking sadly at Brian.

"Don't … I don't want to discuss that."

"So how's Emmett?" Lindsay asked effectively changing the touchy subject to a more neutral one.

"His business is doing really well."

"With a little help from you?" Lindsay asked with the first smile he had seen since he arrived. She poured them each a cup of tea.

Brian didn't answer that question. He added sugar to his tea and took a sip. "Not bad," he said although he wasn't very fond of tea.

"I've learned the proper way to make it … since we moved here."

Lindsay reached for the milk and Brian saw a large black bruise around her wrist. It looked like someone had grabbed her and squeezed very hard. Lindsay realized what Brian was looking at and quickly withdrew her arm pulling the sleeve of her sweater over the telltale mark.

"How did that happen?" Brian asked not prepared to let her cover it up.

"I fell the other day and hit it on a chair."

"When did you get so clumsy?" Brian asked not buying that story at all.

"I don't want to talk about it … yet, just like there are some topics you don't want to discuss."

Brian nodded, understanding what she meant, but he had to ask, "Did Melanie do that to you?" Brian continued to stare at her wrist.

"God, no!"

Lindsay's reaction told him that that was the truth. "Okay, then I'll leave it for now. Where is the old battleaxe anyway?"

Lindsay snickered in spite of herself. "You shouldn't call her that. I asked her to give us some time alone. She took JR for a walk. I think they were going to stop at the library."

"How very educated of her."

"We … we don't have a lot of money for movies or shopping."

"Are things really that bad?"

"If it wasn't for the money you send every month for Gus, we'd never make it."

"I had no idea…"

"We didn't want you to know."

"Why are you telling me now?"

"It's part of the reason I called you here."

"What are you talking about?"

"I want to show you something. Come with me."

They stood up and Brian followed Lindsay up the stairs. She pointed out her and Mel's bedroom, JR's room and then she came to the last door. "You've seen how we live. This is Gus' room." She opened the door.

Brian stepped inside half expecting to see Gus there. Instead he found a room full of toys and electronic gadgets. There was a new looking TV with an X-Box hooked up to it. The stack of games beside it had to be worth close to a thousand dollars. Brian moved some of the cases noting that they were the newest and best. There was a stereo system with another large pile of CD's beside it. On another shelf were DVDs of many familiar and recent movies.

"Where the fuck did all this crap come from?" Brian asked. If they were so hard up, how could Gus have all this?

Lindsay shrugged. "I have my suspicions, but I can't prove anything."

"What the fuck is going on? Where's Gus?"

"At this moment I truly don't know. He's out with his friends."

Brian took a moment to absorb what Lindsay had said. "So he's made some friends?"

Lindsay's face screwed up and she shook her head. "Yeah, I guess you could say he has."

"What is going on?" Brian asked in exasperation.

"He … Gus is totally out of control," Lindsay said her voice breaking.

"Out of control, but he's twelve years old!"

"I know how old he is! He's my son too, but he's got in with a bad crowd and we can't handle him anymore."

"Have you tried?" Brian asked half in anger and half in disbelief at her statement.

"Of course, we've fucking tried! But no matter what we do or threaten him with or … whatever, he does what he wants. He won't listen to us anymore. He ended the school year under suspension."

"Suspension? What for?"

"He was found carrying a switchblade at school. They have zero tolerance for weapons. He can't go back there next year. I … I don't know what we're going to do with him."

"Fuck, Lindsay! How long has this been going on? You led me to believe everything was all right, so I stayed away."

"You haven't exactly had the phone ringing off the hook with enquiries about how Gus was doing!" Lindsay accused him. Tears were running down her face.

"You're right, but I thought I was doing what you wanted." The pain in Brian's voice was very evident.

"I thought it was the right thing for a long time, but it's just got so much worse over the last couple of years. The kids Gus hangs around with … they're a bad lot."

"Can't you make him stop? Christ, you're the parent!"

"I know I'm the fucking parent, but you haven't seen Gus in a long time. To you he's still a little boy."

"He's only twelve."

"Going on twenty-one."

"I don't know how you could have let things get to this stage. Why didn't you call me before?"

"I thought we could handle it, but it all fell apart when Gus got suspended. He says he's not going back to school, and we can't make him."

"Of course you can make him," Brian stated.

"I'm not so sure."

"Lindsay, this is fucking unbelievable! If you need to get him some counseling or something, I'll pay for it."

"Your answer to everything is money, just like always." Her eyes told him that money wouldn't cut it this time.

Brian winced at the criticism because some part of him knew it was true. Money could solve a lot of things, but not usually the most important ones. "What the fuck do you want me to do?"

"I want you to take him."

"Take him? What's that supposed to mean?" Brian had a flash of Jennifer Taylor telling him the same thing many years ago.

"I want you to take him back to Pittsburgh with you. Maybe he can get a new start at a school there. He's failing all his subjects here. If you want to get him counseling, that might be a good idea."

"You want me to take him? What the fuck do I know about kids?"

"You were a teenage boy once."

"I was fucking poor at it back then. I can't look after a kid."

"Even when he's your own?"

"Goddamit, Lindsay, I can't believe you're asking me to do this."

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate," Lindsay said flatly. "Mel and I don't know what else to do."

"Mel is in favor of this?" Brian could hardly believe his ears. The situation must be dire for Melanie to trust her son in the care of Brian Kinney. "If you can't make Gus do anything, how are you going to get him to come with me, that is, if I say I'll take him?"

"The knife incident at school," Lindsay began. "Gus should have been charged, but I begged the principal to give us one more chance. I promised that I would find a different school for Gus, but I can't afford any of the schools that might help him."

"If things are so bad, why didn't you just come back to the Pitts? Melanie could have started practicing law again and Sidney would have taken you back."

Lindsay's sides shook with sobs that she was trying to control. "Times change, Brian. Life moves on," she managed to get out. "But Melanie's a proud woman."

"Fuck pride! This is nuts."

"Please, Brian, you have to take Gus. I don't want him to end up involved with drugs or gangs or … dead."

Brian ran his hands through his hair. Things were beginning to fall together in his head. "All these electronics? Is Gus selling drugs?"

"I don't know, but I think there's a good possibility that he is."

"I can't believe my fucking ears! This is … impossible."

"Not so impossible. Melanie and I have been living this nightmare for the last couple of years."

Brian shook his head. "I don't have a clue about kids. What makes you think it would do Gus any good to come to Pittsburgh with me? Maybe a military school would work," Brian suggested grasping at straws.

"He doesn't need a military school, he needs his father. You remember when he wanted to go live with you back in the first grade?" Brian nodded. "He's never forgiven us or you for not letting that happen. He has so much anger and resentment inside him. He needs to know his father, to know that you didn't disown him or abandon him."

"But I did," Brian said in a whisper.

"But only because we asked you to."

"That isn't going to matter to Gus."

"You can talk to him. You can show him that you love him. If something doesn't happen soon, Brian, we're going to lose him altogether."

"I just don't see how it could ever work…"

"You asked about the bruise on my wrist," Lindsay said holding out her arm so that Brian could see the full extent of the damage. "Gus did that when I tried to stop him from going out with his friends last night."

"Fuck!" Brian said shocked at this revelation.

 

"Mom, what the fuck are you doing in my room?" Gus yelled as he came down the hall. "And what the fuck is he doing here?"

Wild Child

Chapter 3

"Mom, what the fuck are you doing in my room?" Gus yelled as he came down the hall. "And what the fuck is he doing here?"

Gus had just crossed the threshold into his room. For the first time in many years he stood face to face with his father. Brian tried to smile but the look of hatred on Gus' face made him stop short. Was this really his son?

"I asked what you were doing in my room. You know I hate it when you invade my privacy," Gus said glaring at his mother.

"Aren't you going to say hello to your father, Gus?" Lindsay said wrapping her arms around her waist in what could only be described as a defensive manner.

Brian wondered for a fleeting moment if there were other bruises that he couldn't see. Could his son be hurting his mother, more than once? The idea didn't bear thinking, but Brian couldn't help wondering.

"I have no father," Gus stated. "Get out of my room … both of you!"

Brian couldn't believe the arrogance of this twelve year old boy, his son. "Gus, I know we haven't seen each other for a long time, but…"

"I'm not listening to anything you say. You have no rights where I'm concerned. You can't tell me what to do."

"I don't want to tell you what to do," Brian said. "I want to talk to you."

"Well, I don't want to talk to you!" Gus shouted.

"Gus, be reasonable," Brian tried again.

"I want you gone … back to wherever you came from. I'll be back later and you better not be here." Gus stormed from the room.

"Please," Lindsay called. "Gus, please."

"Don't beg him, Lindsay."

"Now you see what we're dealing with. He's totally out of control. There's no way to get him to change. I should never have asked you to come here. I'm so sorry," Lindsay cried as the tears began to flow in earnest.

Brian went over and held her frail body against his own while she cried it all out. "I had no idea what you were putting up with. How could Gus have become this animal?"

Lindsay let out a halting sob. "He's grown so tall, and he's strong."

"But doesn't he understand that violence is wrong?"

"We tried to instill that in him, but obviously we failed. We failed miserably," Lindsay said almost collapsing against Brian.

"Come on; you're going to lie down for a bit. I'll make you some tea."

Brian guided Lindsay into her bedroom and laid her down on the bed. He threw an afghan from the bottom of the bed across her body and went down to the kitchen to make some fresh tea, and to think about what he had just witnessed. The sight of Gus so grown and so angry and so hurtful had left him breathless. What the fuck was he supposed to do to fix this situation?

Having made some tea following what he had seen Lindsay do earlier, he carried it up to his son's mother. As he pushed the door open he saw that she was sleeping. He decided that she could use sleep more than his fucking tea. He was carrying the mug of tea back downstairs when he saw the front door open. It was Melanie and a little girl.

"Brian!" Melanie reacted. "I thought you'd be long gone by now."

"You can't get rid of me that easily."

"JR, this is Brian. He's Gus' father," Melanie said to her daughter.

"Are you going to take Gus away?" JR asked without an instant of hesitation.

"Why would you ask that?" Brian said with a frown.

"Because I don't like him."

"And why don't you like Gus?" Brian asked dreading the answer he felt would come.

"He's mean to me."

"Does he hurt you?" Brian asked gently.

JR nodded and looked at the floor. Brian had a sinking feeling deep inside. This was his son that Jenny Rebecca was talking about, a son that he didn't know at all.

"Honey, go upstairs and put your pajamas on. It's already past your bedtime," Melanie directed her daughter.

JR started up the stairs and then turned back. "Please take Gus with you, Mr. Brian," she said before she disappeared up the stairs.

"I'll be up in a few minutes to tuck you in," Mel said. "Did you make tea?" she asked Brian, seeing the cup in his hand.

"I made it for Lindsay but she's asleep."

"That's good. She needs the rest. Let's go in the kitchen and have some of your tea."

Melanie poured them each a cup of the tea Brian had made. "When did you learn to make tea?" she asked staring at Brian.

"About an hour ago when Lindsay made some. Look, Mel, let's not pussyfoot around this. What the fuck are we going to do about Gus?"

"I thought you'd fight us all the way on this," Mel said looking at him over the edge of her mug as she sipped the tea.

"Gus found us in his room a little while ago. He was like an animal, cursing and yelling at us. He finally left, telling me I better not be here when he got back. That was when Lindsay kind of fell apart. I put her to bed. I can't believe that person is my son."

"Shit! Gus was here?" Brian nodded. "I was kind of hoping Lindsay would work this all out with you before Gus knew you were here."

"And what? I'd grab him by the scruff of the neck and hold him hostage all the way back to Pittsburgh?"

"Something like that."

"Fuck, Melanie! I don't have a magic wand. He needs big time help."

"Have you tried to talk to him?" Mel asked ignoring that statement.

"He didn't give me a chance to say anything. He sure as fuck hates me though. That came across strong and clear."

"He hates me too. He hates Lindz and JR most of the time. He hates school. He hates his life. He hates every fucking thing."

"What happened, Mel?"

"It … it's hard to explain. It kind of happened gradually. We could see that things were not right. When … when we asked you to stay away, we thought that might help. That it might settle things down. And it seemed to … for a while. But it didn't really change anything. Gus just got quieter, more secretive. If we asked about anything he was doing, school or friends, he got silent and sullen. So we stopped asking. Somehow he has turned away from everything that we ever taught him. And then he found these new friends. At first we were happy about it, glad that he had friends. But then he started staying out past the time we told him to be home. He would defy us, so we bumped the time up thinking that would get him home on time, and we wouldn't have to fight about it. He just stayed out longer."

"What about all the electronics in his room? They must cost a fucking fortune."

"We think he's selling pot. He hangs out at a park a couple of blocks down the street. We've seen the kind of things that go on there. We've never been able to catch him, but he is getting money from somewhere."

"Fuck! My son the drug dealer!"

"Brian," Melanie said sadly, feeling the same pain Brian did at those words.

Brian shook his head. "I just don't get how this could have happened."

"We didn't get it either. At least not for a long time. We were fooling ourselves for so long," Melanie said with a little hitch to her voice. Brian could tell she was upset by this too. "We didn't want what we suspected to be true, so we tried to ignore all the signs, made excuses for Gus, made excuses for ourselves. And then when he got into real trouble it was too late. It may be too late altogether," she added with a sigh of despondency.

"Don't say that! This is our son, a human being. How can you write him off like that?"

"I … I'm not writing him off, Brian. I'm just at my wit's end about what to do with him. So is Lindsay. And I think that's the first time you've ever called Gus 'our son' when you were talking to me."

"Maybe that's a big part of this problem."

"What do you mean?"

"If we could have worked together instead of sniping as Michael calls it…" Brian let his words hang in the air.

"I should have known you'd blame this all on me," Melanie said angrily.

"I'm not. I did just as much sniping as you did."

"Thank you for that … at least."

"I don't know how the fuck we're going to deal with this, but I do know we'll have to have a united front if we're going to accomplish anything."

"I couldn't agree more," Melanie said sincerely.

"Did you ever think you'd hear yourself say that?" Brian chuckled.

Melanie had to laugh too. "No, asshole," she joked but Brian could hear affection not anger in her voice. That was a relief. Gus had enough anger for all of them.

"So what are we going to do about Gus?" Brian asked.

"Didn't Lindsay tell you that we want you to take him back to Pittsburgh?"

"She told me, but what the fuck am I supposed to do with him there? I don't know anything about kids."

Melanie sighed. "He needs a strong male influence."

"And that's supposed to be me? You've got to be kidding. You've always thought that I was the worst kind of influence."

"I know what I thought, but maybe I've … re-evaluated the situation."

"Or maybe you just want to get rid of the problem."

"Brutally honest as ever, I see," Mel said but she knew there was truth in Brian's words. "I'm going to be honest too. There is certainly an element of getting Gus out of this house to what we've asked you to do. Frankly, I'm worried about the safety of JR and Lindsay."

"I got the feeling that Gus has been pushing them around."

"He's been more than pushing."

"I saw the bruise on Lindsay's wrist."

"That's not the only one," Mel whispered.

"Fuck!" Brian's worst fears were true. "Let's say I am willing to take Gus to Pittsburgh, how are we going to get him on a plane?"

"I have a trump card."

"What's that?"

"When Gus was expelled from school…"

"I thought he was suspended."

"That was a deal with the principal so we could get him into another public school. Technically he should have been expelled."

"So you've been making deals all over the place to get him out of trouble." Brian shook his head. He couldn't believe that two intelligent women could be so stupid.

"I know it was wrong … now, but at the time…"

"Okay, okay," Brian said rubbing his temples. This whole situation was making his head throb. "What's this trump card?"

"If Gus won't go with you, I'll have him arrested."

"Arrested?"

Mel nodded. "We have the switchblade incident and I'm prepared to have the police go after him for selling drugs."

"You always were a heartless bitch."

"Thanks," Melanie said although the words hurt. "I'm only doing it for the good of my son. He goes with you or he goes to juvey."

"You actually think he'll choose me?"

"I'm pretty sure he will. He's only twelve and he has seen some of his older drug friends get put away. He doesn't want the same thing to happen to him."

"You're sure about that?"

"As sure as I can be. Nothing's absolute."

"You better be right."

"Then, you're going to go along with this?" Melanie said hopefully.

Brian nodded. He didn't know what the hell he was thinking, but he had to give it a try for Gus' sake. He didn't want to see his son in juvenile detention and that seemed to be where he was headed, if something drastic didn't happen.

"I … thank you, Brian. You don't know what this means to Lindz and me."

"I'm doing it for my son," Brian stated.

"I know … and that's the way it should be. But thank you anyway."

"When do you think Gus will come back?" Brian asked looking at the time.

"There's no telling. I should go tuck JR in."

"Yeah, you should. I should find a hotel, but I would like to be here when Gus comes back. I don't want him thinking he drove me away."

"That's probably a good idea. Listen, you might find him in the park down the street … if you want to look for him."

"Is there a hotel around here?"

"Not nearby. You could sleep on the couch if you want to be here for Gus."

"Thanks. Maybe I will," Brian said thoughtfully. "I'll take a walk down the street and see if there's any sign of him."

"Here's a key to the front door," Melanie said. "I'll probably be up, but sometimes I fall asleep in JR's bed. She feels safer with me there."

Brian winced … safe from Gus no doubt. He didn't want to believe any of this was true, but the proof was right in front of him. He took the key and headed out as Melanie went upstairs.

Walking along the street in the direction Melanie had indicated, Brian had time to think. He immediately started blaming himself. He should never have stayed away. Maybe he could have nipped some of this in the bud if he had been around to see what was happening. He could only imagine how Gus was feeling. Brian may have had a shitty childhood but at least his parents had left him to his own devices. He had never resorted to the things Gus was doing. He wondered if he would ever be able to connect with his son again.

He remembered the little boy sitting in the backseat of the car that last day in Pittsburgh. That had been the day when everything important had been ripped away from him. Gus had been taken to Toronto by his parents and Justin had headed for New York to make his mark on the art world. Nothing had been the same since.

To all outward appearances Brian fucking Kinney was still the same asshole he had always been. He danced at Babylon, he did recreational drugs with the best of them, he was the consummate businessman, and he still fucked in the backrooms. But what was that old ad campaign? "Smoking more and enjoying it less." That so described his life. He did all the old stuff and none of it gave him real enjoyment.

Sucking in a deep breath, Brian put those thoughts away as he approached the park. He could see some kids hanging around the playground equipment. Now that it was dark the little kids were gone and the big kids could sit on the slide or swings and gas with each other. Or sell drugs? Brian watched as money changed hands. He had just witnessed a drug deal, he was sure of it. At least it wasn't Gus selling … this time.

Brian approached the group of teenagers. Some were not even old enough to be classified as teenagers, he noted as he got closer. He wondered if their parents knew where they were. "Do any of you know Gus Marcus-Peterson?" Brian asked the group.

A cocky looking kid with dirty blond hair demanded, "Who wants to know?" He was ensconced at the end of the slide and was the one who had taken the money from a kid who had now disappeared.

"I'm his father."

A black kid standing over at the side snorted. "He has no father. He has two mothers."

"I'm his father," Brian repeated.

"Then you must be the fag that abandoned him," the first kid said.

Brian shuddered internally. Obviously that was what Gus had told them. "I'm the fag and I'm his father and I didn't abandon him."

"What would you call it?" the black kid wanted to know. "Gus hasn't seen you in years."

"That may be true, but I did not abandon my son." Brian wondered why he was trying to defend himself to these kids. Maybe it was because he would have to make the same arguments to Gus once he found him.

"Gus isn't here, as you can clearly see," the first kid pointed out.

"Do you know where I might find him?"

"He's somewhere in the neighborhood. He won't be found unless he wants to be."

"Thanks for your help," Brian said sarcastically as he turned away.

"Gus doesn't want anything to do with you, you know," the black kid had to add.

Brian turned around to make some kind of sarcastic retort. He knew suddenly that it would be useless, so he simply walked away. Just like he had walked away from Gus all those years ago, he was thinking to himself, as he headed back towards the Munchers' house. This was not going well at all.

Brian let himself into the house using the key that Melanie had given him. He quietly made his way upstairs and checked that Lindsay was still sleeping. She was.

He saw that the door to JR's room was open a crack and he peeked inside seeing Melanie asleep curled up against her daughter on the narrow single bed.

He left the door open a crack as he had found it, and made his way across to Gus' room. He looked around the room hoping for some clue in there to jump out at him. He had to start to understand what was going on with Gus. He had to figure out how to talk to his son. Somehow he had to get through to him.

He sat down on the side of the bed and saw that the controls for the X-Box were on the nightstand. He picked them up and pushed play wondering what game Gus had been playing. It was "Grand Theft Auto". Gus had already worked his way through a lot of it. He must be pretty good at the game. Brian started to play where Gus had left off. He quickly got caught. He restarted the game and tried again. He played over and over again wondering if this game was prophetic of what the future held for Gus.

 

Some time later he fell asleep exhausted from the sleepless night he had spent in Pittsburgh, the sudden trip to Toronto and all the disturbing things he had found out about his son.

Wild Child

Chapter 4

Gus let himself into the house. It was quiet and the lights were off, so his father must have gone away. He was glad of that. He didn't want to face the man. He couldn't believe that Brian Kinney had been standing in his bedroom. How could his mothers have brought that fag here after all these years?

Quietly Gus made his way upstairs. He didn't want a fight. He was tired and wanted to go to bed. It was after midnight according to his watch. Gus saw that the door to his bedroom stood open. They were going to pay for that. He had told his mothers thousands of times that his room was off limits. They should not have been inside there. Fuck them!

As quietly as he could Gus closed his bedroom door behind him. He was about to throw himself onto the bed when he realized someone was already lying there. He looked more closely in the dim light from his TV. Fuck! His father was sleeping in his bed holding the controls to his damn X-Box.

Gus was about to raise a fuss and tell his fucking father to get the hell out of his room when he thought better of it. He knew there would be a big fight if he did that, and he didn't feel like fighting at the moment. He stood beside the bed studying his father as he slept. In spite of the negative feelings he had towards the man Gus could see the similarity in their appearances. They had the same nose and eyes, as he had seen earlier. Their hair was a similar color. He wondered if his father got the same kind of bed head that he did. He hoped so.

Carefully he lifted the controls to his X-Box out of his father's hands. He set them on the nightstand. Looking around he decided he didn't want to leave his room. He pulled the bedspread out from under his father's feet and gently spread it across the man. It was summer and covers weren't really needed but there was a breeze blowing in the window. He went to his cupboard and pulled out the winter duvet. He folded it in half and laid it on the floor beside the bed. He grabbed the extra pillow off the bed beside his father and laid down on top of the duvet. In a few minutes he was asleep. He had every intention of being up and gone before anybody else in the house woke up.

Brian turned quietly and looked over the side of the bed. He watched Gus sleeping down on the floor. In his sleep Gus reminded him of the little boy he knew and loved. Brian had been awake since Gus had entered the room. He was always a light sleeper and he wanted to see what Gus was going to do after finding his father asleep in his bed. He had been relieved that it wasn't a switchblade to the heart, because at that point it wouldn't have surprised him if that was what Gus did. Gus gently covering him up had been a pleasant surprise.

Rolling onto his back Brian stared at the ceiling. He knew if he had been awake, or rather if Gus had known he was awake, there would have been an instant fight. He wondered how he could communicate with Gus on this kindly level when one of them wasn't comatose. He wasn't sure that was possible.

Brian turned and looked down at his son again. He looked so peaceful. Brian's heart went out to him. He wanted to fix all the problems his son was dealing with, but he didn't know how the fuck to do that. He stared at Gus for a long time watching the boy sleep.

"Night, Sonny boy," Brian said as he turned away and finally fell asleep again.

+++++

Gus rolled over and felt his hand hit the hard floor. He gave a little moan followed by a yawn as he began to wake up. For a moment he wondered where the fuck he was. Then he remembered that he was sleeping on the floor and that he was going to escape before his father woke up. He turned onto his back and looked up. Hazel eyes that matched his own stared back at him.

"Did you sleep well, Sonny Boy?" Brian asked with his patented smirk.

"Don't call me that," Gus ordered.

"Why not? I used to call you that all the time when you were little."

"I haven't been little for a long time."

"True," Brian replied. "I'm surprised you managed to stay in the same room with me all night."

"Well, I can rectify that immediately."

"Rectify? Where did you find that word when you're flunking all your subjects?"

"I … I know how to read," Gus said defensively.

"I used to love to read," Brian said looking thoughtful as he remembered his own childhood. "Reading is a great escape from the world we have to live in."

"How … how do you know that?" Gus asked as Brian had just voiced his own sentiments about reading.

"I lived in a less than ideal family," Brian admitted as he swung his feet over the side of the bed and sat up to look at Gus sitting cross-legged on the duvet on the floor.

"Just like mine."

Brian snorted. "You have no idea."

Gus frowned. He wanted to know what his father meant, but he was afraid to ask. "I better get going," Gus said.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Out where?"

"It's none of your business."

"I came here to see you, Gus. Do you think you could stay and talk to me for a while?"

"No."

"Gus…"

"We have nothing to talk about. Go back where you came from."

"I'm not going anywhere without you."

"What … what does that mean?"

"Stay and I'll explain."

"No."

"I know you hate me, and you have every right…"

"You're fucking right about that!"

"But explain to me why, if you hate me so much, you took the time to cover me up last night."

"You … you were awake?"

Brian nodded. "I'm here to help you, Gus."

"I don't need your help. I don't need anybody's help."

"Your mothers seem to think you do."

"What the fuck do they know about anything?"

"I'd say they know quite a bit," Brian said. Gus glared at him. Brian decided it was time to get it all out in the open. "Your mothers have asked me to take you back to Pittsburgh with me."

"Fuck them! I'm not going anywhere."

"I think you might decide otherwise."

"Why would I do that?"

"There's something about a switchblade and an expulsion and possible police charges."

Gus snorted. Brian almost laughed out loud. The kid sounded so much like him. But Brian knew false bravado when he heard it. It was time to call Gus on it. "You think that's a bluff? Melanie tells me that she has been in contact with the principal and the police. They are willing to press charges if you make them."

Brian saw the color drain from Gus' face. "They … they wouldn't," he stammered.

"I believe they will."

Gus stood up. "You all hate me and I hate you." He started towards the door. Brian was just as quick and blocked his way.

"We need to sort things out, Gus," Brian said gently. "You need to stay and talk. I think you'll see the wisdom of coming to Pittsburgh."

"Fuck you! Fuck all of you!" Gus screamed. He drew his arm back and aimed a punch at Brian's stomach. Brian caught Gus' arm before the blow could connect. He grabbed the arm and twisted it behind Gus' back. "None of that, Sonny Boy," Brian whispered in Gus' ear.

"Let me go. You're hurting me." Gus struggled to no avail. Brian had a viselike grip on his wrist.

"If you stop struggling it won't hurt as much."

"I'll report you for child abuse."

"Go right ahead. I've been down that road before."

"You have?"

"I have. Ask your cousin."

"What cousin?"

"See, there's lots of things in Pittsburgh that you don't know about." However, Gus' demon cousins weren't one of the things that Brian really wanted Gus to get acquainted with. Gus had calmed down a bit. Brian let go of Gus' arm but grabbed the boy from behind wrapping his long arms around his son. The hold effectively pinned Gus against him and prevented the boy from using his arms to hit. "Can we talk sensibly without this violence?" Brian felt Gus go limp and he relaxed his hold thinking maybe he was getting somewhere with the boy.

"I … I guess we could talk," Gus said meekly.

Brian began to relax his hold when he felt Gus push at his hands and break free. Gus made it as far as the door to the bedroom. He grabbed the knob and turned it yanking it open, or so he had thought. He felt the door hit something and looked down to see Brian's boot clad foot braced against the bottom of the door.

"Fuck!" Gus reacted. He should have removed Brian's boots when he had covered him up last night.

"Is everything all right in there?" Lindsay's worried voice asked.

"Go make some breakfast," Brian ordered. "We'll be down soon."

"Mom, he won't let me out," Gus wailed. "Mom, please, make him let me go."

"Gus…" Lindsay said uncertainly.

"Go downstairs, Lindsay, and let me handle this."

"Mom!" Gus called, but both he and Brian could hear her footsteps going down the stairs.

"It looks like it's just you and me."

"Why did you come here? What do you want?" Gus asked his voice breaking slightly.

"I came here because I love you and you need help. I told you what we're going to do."

"I don't want to go with you. I want to stay here."

"You gave up the right to stay here when you started abusing your mother and your sister."

"I … I didn't…"

"Don't fucking lie to me!" Brian shouted. "I've seen the proof."

"Dad," Gus said softly, deciding to use another ploy. "I can understand why my moms might have called you, but I promise to clean up my act. I'll behave better. Just give me another chance." He looked up at Brian from under eyelids wet with tears.

"Oh, you're good," Brian grinned. "If I didn't know what a pile of horse manure that was, I might believe you."

"I mean it. I promise," Gus tried again.

"It's too late for promises. How many times have you told your mothers the same thing you're telling me now? Don't bother answering that because it would be another lie. They've lost count how many times you've promised to be good."

"But I mean it this time," Gus tried to convince his father. "Really I do."

"I'd like to believe you, Sonny Boy, but I guess I must be from Missouri. You'll have to show me."

"Leave me here and I'll show you," Gus said hopefully.

Brian shook his head. "You really think all adults are idiots, don't you?"

"They are! You are!" Gus shouted.

"Now there's the truth. Much better, Sonny Boy."

"Stop calling me that. Fuck you! I'm not going anywhere." Gus crossed his arms on his chest and glared at Brian. He looked like a petulant Mikey.

"Good. Stay here and start packing. I'm going down for breakfast. And don't try to sneak out. I'll be watching."

"Fuck off!" Gus muttered as Brian stepped out of the room and closed the door. Gus threw himself onto the bed and beat the mattress with his fists. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he wasn't going to go to fucking Pittsburgh with his fucking father.

Brian shut the door to the bedroom behind him and then leaned back against it. His hand on the doorknob was shaking and his knees felt weak. He took a deep breath. He had come very close to punching his own son when the kid had swung at him. He hated physical violence but the boy seemed to know how to bring that out in people. He started down the stairs hoping there was some coffee to help calm his nerves. He could have used a large shot of Beam but he didn't think he'd be having that any time soon.

"So how did that go?" Melanie asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Coffee," Brian ordered and Lindsay handed him the mug she had just filled. He scooped in some sugar and stirred. "I'm sure you heard most of it."

"We did," Lindsay admitted.

"We knew it wouldn't be easy," Melanie added.

"Are you taking Gus away, Mr. Brian?" JR asked as she munched on a piece of toast.

"Looks that way, little lady."

"Good."

Brian looked at Lindsay who merely shrugged. Brian couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the little girl without the presence of her brother.

"I need to stay near the bottom of the stairs so that Gus doesn't escape," Brian said.

"Go sit on the couch. I'll bring you some toast," Lindsay said.

Brian sat wearily on the couch in the living room nursing his coffee. The layout of this house was a lot like the one the Munchers had had in Pittsburgh. The confrontation with Gus had taken a lot out of Brian, but he couldn't let Gus know that. He looked at the stairs and saw a shadow. "You packed yet?" he demanded. The shadow disappeared.

"Here's your toast," Lindsay said handing him a slice on a plate. There was very little butter on it. "I hope it's all right."

"Toast is the least of my worries," Brian said taking a bite of the warm bread.

"Do you think you can handle him?"

"I don't fucking know, Lindsay, but I'm going to try."

"I know you'll do your best."

"Maybe we should get him down here and explain exactly what's going to happen," Brian suggested. "You and Melanie have to back me on whatever I say."

"Okay," Lindsay said slowly.

"I mean it. Don't give in to him."

"I won't."

"Can Mel send Jenny to the neighbor's or something? I don't think she should hear what's coming."

"You're right. I'll see what we can arrange."

"Oh, and Lindsay, I may need some papers giving me the right to take Gus back to the States."

"Melanie has already drawn those up … just in case you said you would take him."

"That's good," Brian said wearily. He sipped his coffee as Lindsay disappeared into the kitchen.

After a few minutes Lindsay reappeared and said JR had gone next door. Melanie was making some toast for Gus. Brian called the boy downstairs. After a long pause, Gus appeared. He looked at the front door and Brian knew he was going to bolt.

"Don't even think about it," Brian warned. "My legs are still longer than yours."

"Not for much longer," Gus stated as he sank into a chair opposite Brian.

Melanie came in from the kitchen carrying a glass of orange juice and a plate of toast. She handed them to Gus who accepted them without comment. He started eating the toast and downed about half the glass of juice.

"Gus," Brian said, "I'm going to call the airline and get us tickets on an afternoon flight to Pittsburgh. Are you packed?"

"No."

"I told you to start packing."

"I'm not going with you."

"Melanie, have you got the number of your police contact?"

"Yes, it's right here," Melanie replied fishing a piece of paper out of her pocket.

"You won't use it," Gus said confidently, or at least trying to exude a feeling of confidence.

"Use it," Brian ordered.

Without a word Melanie went to the phone, picked it up and dialed. She asked for Sergeant Hickox. Gus watched. They all listened to her side of the conversation. "So you can send a squad car over at your earliest convenience. We'll have him ready for you," she said.

"No," Gus called out. "I'll go to Pittsburgh. Don't send me to the police."

"Gus says he'll go with his father," Melanie said into the phone. "Yes, if he starts to refuse I'll call you back. Thank you, Sergeant." She hung up the phone. "Go get packed, Gus. Brian, you can call the airline now."

Brian pulled out his cell phone and hit the number for Liberty Air. Melanie stared at Gus willing him to go upstairs. Lindsay remained silent holding her stomach.

"Mom?" Gus said looking pleadingly at Lindsay.

"Go and pack, Gus," Lindsay repeated. It took every ounce of strength she had to say those words. All she wanted to do was take him in her arms and keep him safe. But the time for doing that had long passed so she remained silent and still.

"Mom?" Gus repeated in a strangled voice. When Lindsay did not respond he ran up the stairs to his room.

"It's for the best, Lindz," Melanie said rubbing Lindsay's arm.

"I know, but that doesn't make it hurt any less."

"You're lucky this Sergeant Hickox is so available," Brian observed.

"Actually she's a friend," Melanie said keeping her voice low. "I met her through some paralegal work. She told me we could use her name to get Gus to cooperate. She was even prepared to arrive in a squad car if we needed her to do that."

Brian snorted. "Ever the tricky one, Mel."

"I do what I have to do."

"I guess I better go see if Gus is packing," Brian said standing up and stretching his back. He started up the stairs. He could hear some things being thrown around in Gus' room. He yanked open the door. Gus was throwing clothes and CD's and shoes all over the place. "I see you're making very careful selections," Brian smirked.

"I don't want any of this shit," Gus yelled.

"Good, then we won't have to worry about a suitcase for you."

"What does that mean?"

"If you don't want any of your things, that's fine. You can do without."

"There are some things I want," Gus said rethinking his position.

"You get one suitcase. And none of this shit," Brian said pointing to the X-Box and games.

"But that's what I want."

"Tough shit! I'd suggest you pack some clothes and a few CD's. That should suffice."

"Suffice! Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"I know I'm your father and from this moment on, I'm your guardian. Now get ready. We have a flight at two. We'll need to leave here at eleven-thirty."

Gus glared at his father but said nothing. He watched Brian walk out of his room. Brian went downstairs. Melanie and Lindsay were still in the living room.

"I want to take a shower if that's all right," Brian said.

"Sure," Mel said. Lindsay just looked shell-shocked.

"Can you two manage Gus if he comes downstairs while I'm in the shower?"

Melanie nodded. Brian picked up his suitcase and carried it up the stairs.

"Use our room," Mel told him.

When Brian came down the stairs about twenty minutes later, he felt refreshed and somewhat better having showered and changed his clothes. He felt better until he saw what was going on on the couch. Gus was curled up in Lindsay's arms. He appeared to be crying and so was she. He stopped on the stairs and listened.

"I'm sorry, Mommy," Gus was saying. "I don't want to leave you."

"I don't want you to go either."

"Then tell him to go away. Tell him I'm staying here. I promise to be good."

"You are a good boy, Gus, deep down inside."

"But I'll be good every day. I'm sorry I hurt your wrist."

"It's all right, Gus," Lindsay sighed.

"No," Brian said refusing to listen to any more. "It's not all right, Gus. You should apologize to your mother, but that apology should be because you truly are sorry, not so you can try to get her on your side."

"Please, Mommy, don't make me go with him."

"I'm sorry too, Gus, but you have to go with your father." Lindsay held her son tight but she did not give in to him. Brian breathed a sigh of relief. If Lindsay had caved all would have been lost. "Go have a shower and get your things together."

Gus stood up and glared down at his mother. Then he turned his glare on Brian. "I may have to go with you, but you're all going to be sorry. I'm going to make you all so sorry for doing this to me." Gus ran up the stairs.

"Well, that was special," Brian said shuddering at how much that had sounded like his nephew before Brian had been charged with child molestation. "What is it with twelve year olds?"

"Don't make jokes," Lindsay said wiping at her tears.

"I know this is hard. I'm just getting through it the best way I know how."

"And so am I," Lindsay replied as she brushed past Brian and disappeared into the kitchen.

Some time later, Brian had his suitcase repacked and Gus had his loaded to the gills. The two cases sat beside the front door as the family waited for the cab they had ordered to take Brian and his son to the airport. Brian had spent quite a bit of time on his cell phone in the living room while Lindsay and Melanie were in the kitchen. From time to time, Brian could hear their raised voices. He knew that Melanie was encouraging Lindsay to stick with the plan and he hoped she would.

Finally the cab arrived and Brian carried the two suitcases out while Gus said goodbye to his mothers. JR was still at the neighbor's. Melanie thought that was the best place for her.

Brian came back to the house. "Let's go, Gus."

"We'll miss you," Lindsay said.

"Then don't send me away," Gus cried.

Lindsay merely shook her head and held onto Melanie's arm. Gus gave them a tearful last look and ran down to get into the cab. For a second, Brian thought his son might run away down the street, but the boy got into the cab instead.

"I suggest you both seriously consider moving back to Pittsburgh. I think Gus will need all of us … eventually. I'll keep you posted."

 

Brian turned and walked out to the cab. He got in and the cab pulled away. All their lives were about to change.

Wild Child

Chapter 5

Brian and Gus sat in the first class cabin of the jet. They had just taken off from Toronto. Brian was relieved that Gus had not made a major scene at the airport. Brian had not wanted to have the authorities questioning his right to take Gus out of the country, even if he did have the papers to prove that he was allowed to do that. Gus was silent and withdrawn. Brian felt like the boy was plotting something while the flight went on.

After a few minutes Brian decided to try to initiate a conversation. "How did things get so bad, Gus?"

"Bad?"

"Yes, bad."

"Things were fine until you came along," Gus stated.

"I know that's not true and so do you. You were flunking every subject in school."

"So?"

"How do you flunk Phys. Ed.?"

"Skipping class helps," Gus said with a wry smile.

"I see. Is that what happened in your other subjects too?"

"Didn't they tell you that I'm stupid? I can't fucking do anything right."

"No son of mine is stupid," Brian declared as he locked eyes with Gus. For a split second, he felt a connection with the boy, his son. It was like they both understood the truth of Brian's statement, but then the moment passed.

"I guess you'll find out that that's not true," Gus said defiantly.

"I know it's true. Can't you use this opportunity as a fresh start? Maybe together we can make things better."

Gus gave the Kinney snort once again. "Nothing's going to be different. I'll still be…" Gus hesitated. He didn't want to reveal too much. He didn't want to show weakness to his father.

"You'll still be … what?"

"I'll still be the stupid fucking son of two lesbians and a fag," Gus said cruelly.

"Is that what you blame your problems on?"

"I told you I don't have any problems. It's you and my fucking mothers that have the problem. I was doing fine."

"I didn't realize you were so delusional," Brian sighed. He was getting nowhere fast.

"I'm not delusional," Gus declared. "If anybody is delusional, it's you, thinking you can fix me."

"Yeah, Heaven forbid I should want my son to be happy and have a good life," Brian half mumbled to himself.

Gus looked at his father. "Is that really what you want?"

Brian was startled by the question. "Of course, every parent wants that for their child. Well, almost all parents anyway," Brian added thinking of his own mother.

"Yeah, except for my mothers," Gus said thinking his father had finally got a clue.

"I didn't mean your mothers when I said that. They want the best for you."

The Kinney snort told Brian that Gus didn't believe any of that. "Sure, that's why they took me away from the place I liked, away from you, and then you stopped coming to see me at all."

The pain in Gus' voice was very clear to Brian. He was about to say that Gus' mothers had asked him to stay away, when he realized that such an admission would alienate Gus even more from the two women. "I'm sorry that you didn't like your life in Canada. They never intended for it to turn out that way."

"But it did. And I survived anyway."

"Yes, and now we can start over," Brian said reaching down and squeezing Gus' leg. He half expected Gus to knock his hand away but the boy merely looked down at where Brian was touching him and didn't say or do anything. Brian rubbed Gus' leg and then drew his hand back.

"I could have you charged with molesting me for doing that, you know," Gus said after a minute.

"Yeah, I suppose you could, but you might have trouble proving it when that stewardess has been watching us the whole time."

Gus looked up and saw one of the stewardesses staring at Brian. She winked at Brian and Gus. "She fucking wants you … and you're a fag!"

Brian chuckled. "It's a gift and a curse," he laughed.

"But if you're gay, why is she interested?" Gus asked puzzled.

"She doesn't know I'm gay."

"Why not?"

"I don't think I give off a gay vibe."

Gus studied his father for a moment. "You're right," he said with a frown. "You know when you came to the park last night; I was hiding behind a tree not far away."

"I suspected you were around somewhere."

"You did?" Gus asked surprised, but beginning to realize that his father was no dummy. "After you left, the guys were sort of impressed by you. They said they would have never guessed you were a fag, and they were surprised that you admitted it so quickly."

"I've never seen the value in hiding what I am. People either accept me or they can fuck off."

"And mostly they accept you?" It was a question.

"Yeah."

"I wish people accepted me like that," Gus said before he realized how weak that made him sound.

"Maybe they don't accept you readily because you're not honest about who you are. Are you ashamed of having a fag and a lesbian for parents?"

"Yes, no, sometimes I am. I don't like getting teased."

"None of us like being teased," Brian said. "I find if I call people on their bullshit, they back right down."

"Maybe for you…"

"I bet they would for you too."

"You don't know what it was like," Gus said sadly.

"Why don't you tell me?"

"I…" Gus hesitated. He had already revealed too much, but it felt kind of good to talk about it. "It's none of your business," Gus replied deciding there were some things he'd just keep to himself.

Brian sighed. He had almost got somewhere with his son, and then Gus had shut down. They rode the rest of the flight in silence.

The cab dropped them off at the loft. Gus looked at the building as they went up the steps. "I sort of remember this place," he said slowly.

"You visited me here quite a few times," Brian replied. "It's not really made for two but the other arrangements won't be ready until tomorrow."

"Other arrangements?"

"I'll show you when the time is right."

They lugged their suitcases over to the elevator. Brian let Gus struggle with his own much bigger one thinking that a little effort was good for the boy. When the elevator stopped at the top floor Brian got out and unlocked the loft door. He pulled the door back and punched in the code for the alarm system. Gus followed him in looking around while lugging his suitcase.

"Where should I put this?" Gus asked.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to sleep on the sofa," Brian said gently.

"You mean I don't even get a fucking room?"

"You can see that there is only one bedroom."

"You brought me all the way here and I don't even get a fucking bed?"

"It's just temporary," Brian tried to explain.

"Fuck you!" Gus said dropping his suitcase and flopping down on the sofa.

"I'm making arrangements for us to live somewhere else, but the place isn't ready yet."

"Will I get my own room?" Gus asked.

Brian nodded and he saw Gus relax a little bit. "However, I reserve the right to come into your room. None of this 'out of bounds' shit."

"Don't I get any privacy?"

"When you show me that you've earned that right, by staying out of trouble."

Gus scowled but he didn't argue.

"If you put your suitcase over there, we'll get you set up. You know," Brian said thoughtfully, "instead of the sofa you might like the futon."

"I don't see a futon."

"Come with me."

Gus followed his father out onto the landing and past the elevator. There was a door there and Brian took out a key.

"This is my storage unit," Brian explained. He opened the door and Gus followed his father into the small room. There were lots of boxes stacked neatly.

"You're such a neat freak," Gus said.

"I guess I am rather anal, but I like things in their place."

"So do I," Gus admitted.

Brian remembered Gus' room which was cluttered but had all his games and CD's neatly arranged in piles and on shelves. "That's another thing we have in common."

"What else do we have in common?" Gus asked.

"You mean besides reading and our eyes and this schnozz," Brian chuckled.

"Yeah," Gus laughed. "I wondered if you had bad bed head like I get."

"Wait till tomorrow morning," Brian laughed. "You'll have your answer." It was good to hear Gus laugh, even if it was at him. "Ah, here it is." Brian pulled out the old futon that he and Justin had used so many times. He had had it cleaned after … Justin went away. And then he couldn't stand to look at it anymore. "Grab the end," he told Gus.

The two of them carried the futon cushion back to the loft and spread it out in the area in front of the plasma TV."

"Great," Gus said. "At least I'll be able to watch TV all night."

"The TV goes off when you go to bed."

"And what time would that be?" Gus asked.

"What time was your curfew in Toronto?"

"I didn't have one."

"You did, but you never kept it."

"So?"

"That's not happening here."

"What … are you going to make me go to bed at eight o'clock like Jenny Rebecca?"

"What time do you think is reasonable?"

"One a.m."

"I don't think so, Sonny Boy." Brian watched Gus wince as he used that name for his son. He would have to find out why Gus reacted that way.

"Then how about midnight?"

"Eleven … since it's summer."

"Okay," Gus said. "I guess I can do that, but you'll have to do the same."

"What do you mean?" Brian asked.

"This place is so open. If I go to bed, you will have to too," Gus grinned.

"Fuck!" Brian reacted. He hadn't thought of that. "You got me there, Sonny Boy."

This time Gus didn't wince at the name. Instead he laughed. "Want to make it midnight?"

"I might have to give in on that one," Brian laughed ruffling Gus' hair.

Gus froze at Brian's touch. He looked up at his father not knowing how to react. Brian felt suddenly uncomfortable under his son's gaze.

"Come up here and we'll get you some sheets," he said going up the steps to the bedroom.

Gus followed him slowly. "I … I sort of remember sitting on the floor out there with you and watching TV," Gus said softly. "I remember this bed too."

"You do?"

"I thought it was pretty cool … up on a pedestal like that."

"I used to think it was pretty cool too," Brian admitted.

"But you don't anymore?"

"Let's just say that it's lost some of its luster."

Brian pulled out some sheets and a pillow case. He grabbed one of the pillows off his bed and they carried the linen down to the futon. Together they made up Gus' makeshift bed.

"Bring your suitcase over and we'll get out whatever you need," Brian said.

"I'm not going to bed at five-thirty in the afternoon," Gus protested.

Brian laughed. "I'm not asking you to. I just thought we'd get everything ready and organized. You know."

"Yeah, anal," Gus said shaking his head.

"That's me," Brian chuckled and that earned him a small smile from his son. Gus' stomach took that moment to rumble. Brian hadn't heard that sound in a very long time. He looked up at Gus with a grin. "Now that, we don't have in common," he observed.

"Aren't you hungry?" Gus asked. "Breakfast was a long time ago and those pretzel things on the plane weren't much."

"Would you like a pizza?"

"Yeah," Gus said without hesitation.

"There's a takeout menu in the kitchen drawer," Brian said heading in that direction. He pulled out the pizza one which he hadn't used in a long time. He hoped the place was still in business. "Choose what you want and I'll order it."

It turned out that Gus wanted all kinds of things off the menu and he let his son choose whatever he wanted, placing the order without comment. Brian thought there had been enough restrictions on Gus that day. Food didn't have to be another one.

"Do you think that will tide you over until morning?" Brian asked with a chuckle as he hung up from placing the order. "It'll be here in half an hour."

"Have you got any soda?" Gus asked yanking open the fridge door.

"I don't think so."

"Can I have a beer?"

"No."

"What's this?" Gus asked lifting a bottle of poppers out of the door of the fridge.

"Um … medicine," Brian said hastily grabbing the bottle and stuffing it back in the fridge.

"Are you sick?" Gus asked.

"It's not that kind of medicine."

"What kind is it?" Gus demanded. He liked having his father on the defensive.

"Never mind," Brian mumbled.

"So much for truth and honesty and all that crap," Gus said with satisfaction. All adults were hypocrites. They never meant what they said.

"You really want to know?" Gus nodded. "I use them sometimes when I'm having sex. They intensify the orgasm."

"Eww," Gus reacted.

"See why you don't need to know everything?"

"Maybe."

"How about some hot chocolate? I think there's some in the cupboard up there."

"It's the middle of the summer," Gus said looking at his father like he was crazy. "Are you nuts?"

"Probably," Brian laughed. "They say Earth is the insane asylum for the universe."

"Who says that?"

"I don't know. I read it on a bumper sticker," Brian admitted.

"You're weird."

"I know."

Gus opened the cupboard turning away from his father so that he didn't laugh again. "Hey," he said. "There's a bottle of Mountain Dew in here. Can I open it?"

Brian hoped the shudder he felt at the mention of the soda wasn't too obvious. "That's really old. It's probably no good." He had bought it for Justin the last time he had come to the loft.

"I'll open it and see," Gus said. "Tastes fine."

"Then knock yourself out."

By the time the pizza arrived Gus had set up a little nest under the TV and had polished off the Mountain Dew. Brian was glad they had ordered so much food including more soda. He had forgotten how much an almost teenage boy could eat and drink.

They turned on the TV, sat on the floor leaning against the sofa and ate their pizza. Brian ate two whole slices, more than he normally ever would have considered eating. Then he sat back and watched Gus inhale pizza, garlic bread, wings and soda. When Gus finally let out a large belch and said he was full, Brian had to laugh.

"You certainly have a good appetite."

"I know. The Moms were always saying I ate so much. I don't think they liked having to buy groceries for me," Gus admitted.

"Was money that tight?" Gus nodded slowly. "Well, we won't have pizza every night, but maybe now and then," Brian said softly.

"It was good. Thanks."

"Let's clean up this mess and put the leftovers in the fridge," Brian suggested as he got up and began gathering the boxes and containers.

Gus watched for a minute and then gathered up his fair share and they carried everything to the kitchen. "Why don't you have any food in the fridge?" Gus asked as he put the rest of the pizza in the refrigerator.

"I eat out a lot."

"Or you just don't eat."

"That too. I have to keep my girlish figure," Brian joked.

"Daaaaaaad!" Gus said like the word had fifteen syllables.

"What? It's the truth."

"TMI, Dad, TMI," Gus said.

Brian finished putting things away while Gus wandered around the loft looking at things and trying to figure out this father that he hardly knew. In the bedroom he stopped in front of the dresser and looked at the pictures there. The first one he noticed was Brian and his mother, both so much younger. There was one of his father also looking younger holding a baby. "Hey Dad, is that me you're holding in this picture?"

"If you're a baby in the picture, then it is. Mikey took it the night you were born."

"Michael's kind of goofy."

"Why do you say that?"

"He and Uncle Ben come to visit Jenny Rebecca. Uncle Michael always brings me a comic book."

"That's nice of him," Brian said thinking that Michael had probably spent more time with his son than he had.

"Who's this guy with the blond hair sitting with you and me?"

"Um … that's Justin."

"Justin?" Gus thought for a minute. "I remember Justin. Where is he? Wasn't he your partner?"

"Sort of."

"Where is he?"

"Europe."

"Really? What's he doing there?"

"It's a long story."

"When's he coming back?"

"I have no idea," Brian said honestly.

"But…"

"Gus, most things I'm willing to talk about, but not Justin, not tonight."

Gus heard something unfamiliar in his father's voice. Something told him to let it go. "Want to watch a movie?" Gus asked looking through the DVDs that Brian had lined up under the TV.

 

"That sounds like a good idea," Brian replied with relief. Maybe by the time the movie was over it would be bed time and he wouldn't have to talk about Justin anymore. He would actually survive the first day of life with his son.

Wild Child

Chapter 6

Gus woke and started upright. He rubbed his eyes and looked around trying to remember where he was. Light flooded into the loft through the curtains. He was in Pittsburgh with his father. Gus dropped back onto the futon and stared up into the rafters of the loft. He had slept really well. He wondered how his father had made out. He had heard Brian tossing and turning until finally Gus had fallen asleep. He didn't think his father was accustomed to going to bed before midnight, at least not to sleep. Gus shuddered at the thought.

Thinking back on the previous evening, Gus hadn't minded it nearly as much as he had thought he would. His father was kind of cool, in a really weird way. He didn't particularly like sleeping in the living room on the futon, but it was reasonably comfortable. He felt safe and he hadn't gotten angry hardly at all. It took a lot out of him to be angry all the time, but that was how he had survived in Toronto. However, this was Pittsburgh. Maybe he didn't have to do that anymore.

Gus sat up. He needed to pee. Quietly he slid out from beneath the sheet and made his way up to the bedroom. Brian looked like he was still asleep. Gus crossed at the foot of the bed and went into the bathroom gently pulling the door closed behind him. He relieved himself and turned on the tap to wash his hands. He looked in the mirror above the sink and let out a mighty groan. That fucking futon had really done a number on his hair.

"You all right, Sonny Boy?" Brian called out.

"Yeah."

"Can I come in?"

"Why? You taking urine samples now?" Gus asked sarcastically.

"I hope that's not necessary," Brian replied as he pulled the door back. "I just thought I'd show you the answer to your question last night."

Gus looked over at his father and burst out laughing. Brian laughed too, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom for support. They both sported the same cowlicks sticking out at rude angles from their heads.

"Yours is worse than mine," Gus laughed pointing at his father.

"Wait till tomorrow," Brian warned his son. "Yours will be worse. We have to take turns."

"God, I hope not. Why couldn't I inherit some decent hair from Mom?"

Brian shrugged. "Take a shower. It's the best way to fix the problem. I'm going to make some coffee."

When Gus reappeared some time later, his hair was neatly combed into place. Brian smiled to himself. Maybe he and Gus shared the same "looking good" gene. He wanted to find anything they had in common. He still needed to really connect with his son, and bed head didn't quite do it.

Gus was throwing on some clothes as Brian sipped his coffee.

"I'm going to take a quick shower and then we'll go to the diner for breakfast."

"The diner?"

"You might remember it. Debbie, Michael's mother works there. She'll be happy to see you."

"Isn't she like too old to work?" Gus asked with a frown.

"She likes working, but she has cut way back on her shifts. Oh, and she still has red hair," Brian said in warning.

"I remember the red hair."

"Yeah, it's hard to forget," Brian said as he went into the bathroom.

Gus finished dressing and looked in the fridge for something to eat. He found a slice of the pizza from the night before and gobbled it down. That would tide him over until breakfast. He poured himself some coffee and added several spoonsful of sugar. There was no milk, so he sipped it black. He couldn't say that he liked it very much. He could never understand how adults drank coffee black. He dumped the rest of the coffee down the drain.

Going to the loft door, Gus unlocked it and pulled the door back. He heard the alarm beep a few times and he realized he had triggered it. He hit several buttons to no avail as the alarm kicked into full force. He started to panic knowing his father would be mad. The urge to just run was upon him, when suddenly a hand reached over his shoulder and hit the right buttons. The alarm stopped immediately and the phone rang. Brian picked it up and explained to the alarm company that it was a mistake. He gave his required password to prove who he was.

"What were you doing?" Brian asked after he had accomplished all that.

"I wasn't trying to run away," Gus said defensively.

Brian studied his son. He wanted to believe him. Some little internal voice told Brian to trust Gus on this one. "Then, I guess I should show you the codes for the alarm. You heard the password."

"You're going to tell me that?" Gus asked surprised. He thought he was going to be in big trouble for setting off the alarm.

"The alarm is to keep burglars out, not to keep my son in."

Gus felt strange emotions well up inside him. He couldn't believe he wasn't going to be yelled at or grounded. "Thanks," was all he could manage to say.

"Thanks for what?" Brian frowned.

"For trusting me."

"I hope I can always trust you, Gus, and that you will trust me too.

Gus nodded, still fighting the urge to cry. It had been a long time since anyone in his family had trusted him. Brian showed him how to work the alarm and what combination of numbers needed to be punched in. Gus grasped it quickly.

"Let's go," Brian said gathering up his keys and wallet.

When they got down to the street, Gus wondered what kind of car his father would drive. He hoped it was cool. Brian started down the street, Gus following him.

"Where's your car?" Gus asked after they had been walking for a few minutes.

"Back at the loft. I thought we'd walk to the diner. I need to work off all that pizza I ate last night."

"Oh," Gus laughed. "I almost forgot about your girlish figure."

Brian ignored that remark, but it did make him smile slightly. Gus obviously listened to everything that was said. That was a trait that Brian had long cultivated, especially if he could make people think he wasn't listening at all. It was amazing what you could learn that way. This seemed to be another thing he and Gus had in common. "You wanted to check out what I'm driving these days, did you?" Brian asked filing the other information away. Gus nodded. "I'll show you later. It might surprise you."

Gus wondered what that meant, but he didn't pursue it.

Brian pushed open the door of the diner and walked in, followed by Gus. He saw an empty booth near the back and headed for it. Suddenly he saw Debbie emerge from the back. She took a look at him and then at Gus. A big smile spread across her face.

"Is that Gus?" she bellowed. Brian nodded. "I'd know your son anywhere. He looks so much like you, and he's grown so big."

Gus felt himself pulled into a hug that took his breath away. He struggled a bit but decided it was useless and let Debbie hold onto him, hoping she'd let go before he suffocated.

"What the fuck are you doing here, young man?" she demanded. "Are your mothers here, and my granddaughter?"

"No," Gus said.

"Haven't you seen Gus lately, Deb? You were up in Buffalo a few months ago," Brian asked.

"I haven't seen Gus for more than what, three years. He was never home when I visited his mothers, and he never came to Buffalo with them when they brought JR down to see me."

"Why weren't you around, Gus?" Brian asked.

Gus shrugged. "Guess I was busy doing something else."

Brian frowned. He had never asked Debbie about seeing Gus but he thought she would have reported how he was doing, especially if anything had been wrong. That explained why she had never said anything about his son for a long time.

"Grab that booth and I'll be right over for your orders," Deb told them. She went to deliver some plates that the cook had just put up.

"What did you do when your mothers went to Buffalo?" Brian had to ask as he and Gus sat down. He couldn't believe they would leave Gus on his own.

"Usually I went to Jamal's house."

"Who's Jamal?"

"The black kid you saw at the playground."

"And they just let you stay home."

Gus looked down at his hands and thought about how to answer that. "I … I just told them that I wasn't going with them."

'And punctuated it with anger and physical violence,' Brian thought to himself. He couldn't believe that he had been so blind to what was going on. He really was a shitty father or he would have asked more questions, would have known that something was wrong. He was going to have a lot to make up for.

Debbie returned and took their orders. Thankfully the diner was pretty busy, so she didn't have a lot of time to interrogate them. Brian ate his eggs and nibbled at his toast while Gus inhaled the "big breakfast".

While Gus was finishing up his breakfast, Brian pulled out his cell phone and went outside to make a call. Gus watched him wondering what was going on. Maybe his father was going to send him away. He pushed his plate away, suddenly losing his appetite.

When Brian returned, he didn't look happy. "I have to go over to Kinnetik for a few minutes. Something's come up."

"What's Kinnetik?" Gus asked.

"It's my advertising company. You can come and see where I work."

"Yeah, like I have any other choice," Gus said petulantly.

"You can go back to the loft. You know the codes and I'll give you a key."

"You will?" Brian nodded. Gus felt good that Brian would trust him. "I'd like to see where you work," he decided.

"Let's go," Brian said as they got up to leave. Debbie waved goodbye as Brian threw down a twenty and they left the diner.

They walked over to Kinnetik. Gus was impressed with the modern interior and the spacious feel. It looked like his father was very successful. He had thought that was the case. Brian introduced Gus to Arlene, his secretary, and then disappeared into the art department to deal with whatever problem had arisen.

Arlene showed Gus into his father's office and he sat on the sofa waiting for Brian to return. All of a sudden the office door opened and a man carrying some file folders came in. He looked slightly familiar to Gus, but he couldn't place him. He set the folders on the desk and turned around.

"Fuck!" he said grabbing his chest. "You scared the crap out of me. Who are you and what are you doing sitting there? This isn't a daycare."

"I'm waiting for my father," Gus said trying not to laugh at the reaction.

"Who's your father?"

"Brian Kinney."

"Brian, but he's in… Then you must be…" Ted stammered.

"I'm Gus."

"I'm Ted Schmidt. I'm a friend of your father's and now I work for him." He held his hand out to Gus.

Gus stood and shook it just as his father came into the office.

"I see you two have met," Brian said with a chuckle.

"You didn't say you were bringing Gus back with you," Ted pointed out.

"Since when do I tell you all my business?"

"Since I manage your business," Ted explained.

Gus held his breath wondering how much his father would tell Ted. He didn't want everyone knowing he was a stupid screw-up whose mothers had sent him away.

"Gus is going to be staying with me for a while," Brian said staring at Ted and daring him to ask more.

"Well," Ted said deciding discretion might be the better part of valor. "I'm sure you'll both have a lovely visit."

"Ted," Brian said as Ted turned to leave. "Pretend I'm still in Toronto. I won't be in for the rest of the week."

Ted glanced from Brian to Gus and back to Brian. Something was going on, but he knew better than to ask. "Sure, Bri," Ted said as he walked out.

"Ready to go?" Brian asked his son.

"Sure, are you done already?"

"Yep. They could have figured it out themselves," Brian said shaking his head. "Maybe I better hire some competent people."

Gus laughed. "I bet they don't like to hear that."

"Then we won't tell them," Brian grinned as they made their way out. Arlene waved at them as they left the building.

"Where are we going now?"

"Is there somewhere you'd like to go?"

"Could … could…" Gus couldn't make himself say it.

"What is it, Gus? We can do whatever you want."

"I … I, never mind."

"Come on, tell me."

Gus stared at the ground as they walked along. Finally sucking in a deep breath he blurted it out. "Could we go to the old house?"

Brian knew immediately that Gus meant the house where the Munchers had lived, where Gus had spent the first years of his life.

"Sure, we can do that, but you know that someone else lives there now. We wouldn't be able to go inside."

"I know," Gus said feeling stupid for asking to go there. He should have kept his mouth shut.

"Then let's go back to the loft and get the car."

"You mean it?" Gus said catching up with his father and looking him in the face.

"I mean it."

They walked along quickly, Gus having now found a reason for moving at a faster pace. They went around the corner from the loft building and Brian inserted a key in a large black Mercedes.

"This is yours?"

"Yeah," Brian smirked. "Why?"

"I guess I expected a sports car."

"You remember the Corvette?"

"Is that what it was? I kind of remember it."

"It's almost the same age I am," Brian said rolling his lips into his mouth.

"No shit!" Gus said as they climbed into the car.

"I still have it," Brian revealed. "I'll show it to you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Does it still run?"

"You bet. I take it out for a run every now and then. It's a classic."

"Will you take me for a ride?" Gus asked. "Not that I don't like this car." He was running his hands over the smooth leather as Brian pulled away from the curb.

"I think we can arrange a ride."

Gus smiled over at him and then they rode in silence the few blocks to the old house once owned by the Munchers. Brian pulled the car to a stop across the street from the house. Gus stared out the window seemingly lost in time.

"Do you want to get closer?" Brian asked.

Gus shook his head. "I just wanted to see it. I wanted it still to be there."

"And it is," Brian said gently. "Did you like living there?"

Gus nodded and swallowed the lump in his throat. "But that was a long time ago."

"Yeah, it was. Ready to go?"

"I guess," Gus said with a backward glance at the house as Brian pulled away.

"We should probably stop at the supermarket and get some groceries."

"Or we could order another pizza," Gus suggested.

Brian laughed. "Would you eat pizza every day if you had the option?"

"It has all the food groups."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, grains in the crust, dairy from the cheese, protein in the pepperoni and vegetables from whatever ones you order on it."

Brian laughed. This was like a public service announcement, just like someone else used to make. The smile faded from Brian's face. He cleared his throat. "I guess we could have pizza again tonight, but we need to get some bread and milk and maybe something for breakfast."

"Do you cook?"

"Not so's you'd notice," Brian admitted.

"Then we could go to the diner again for breakfast."

"I think I can handle eggs. Besides we're going to have a long day tomorrow."

"We are?"

"Yeah, we are."

"What are we doing?"

Brian liked hearing the "we" in Gus' question. "It's going to be a surprise."

"I like surprises … if they're good ones," Gus admitted.

"I think you'll find this is a good one."

 

Gus settled back in his seat wondering what tomorrow would hold. This was the first time in a long time that he had looked forward to a day with hope and without fear.

Wild Child

Chapter 7

When Gus awoke the next morning, he could hear Brian making coffee in the kitchen. Rubbing his eyes, he called out, "No fair if you have already showered."

"I've been waiting for you to wake up," Brian said walking over to Gus' futon.

Gus looked up. His father had a case of bed head, but not nearly as bad as the day before.

"You win today," Brian laughed. "Yours is much worse than mine."

"How do I know you haven't been up for hours taming yours?" Gus asked with a smirk.

"You think your poor old Dad would waste his valuable time doing that?"

"Yeah, I think you would."

"Hm," Brian said. "Dueling bed heads. All's fair in love and, you know… You could be right about me taming my hair, but I promise I didn't do it this time."

Gus looked quizzically up at his father. "You always keep your promises, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, at least I do my very best to do that. Why do you ask?"

"Um … no reason."

"People respect you if you keep your promises."

"I keep mine," Gus said defensively, "when I want to."

"I don't think that's the same as always keeping your promises," Brian said feeling this was a lesson that Gus needed to learn.

Gus merely shrugged.

"I'm going to take a shower and then I'll make breakfast."

"I can hardly wait to see you cook," Gus laughed, some of his equanimity seeming to return.

"You'll eat it and you'll like it," Brian stated as he went upstairs and into the bathroom.

In the shower Brian had time to think about yesterday and how he had gotten along with Gus. Things had been going pretty well so far. Brian and Gus had managed to get through the day. They had made sandwiches for lunch and went to see a matinee movie. Brian tried to keep things light. He knew the serious stuff was yet to come.

Brian had made several phone calls during the day, always going out onto the landing before talking so that Gus wouldn't hear. He was making arrangements for where they were going to live. He hoped Gus would like it, but he imagined that Gus must be having some misgivings about what his father was cooking up.

At one point Brian had placed a call to Greg Fernley explaining the situation he now found himself in. Brian didn't want to leave Gus alone, but he really needed to see Greg … and soon. They had agreed to meet as soon as Brian could find an appropriate time. Brian had been happy that Greg seemed as eager to see him as Brian was to see Greg. They were both looking forward to their next encounter.

Brian turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He toweled off, deciding how he was going to explain things to Gus. He knew it wouldn't be easy for him, but he knew his son was entitled to a satisfactory explanation.

"Ready for breakfast?" Brian asked as he came out of the bathroom.

"Can I shower first?"

"Sure, I'll get dressed and start the eggs. Don't be too long."

Gus disappeared into the bathroom and Brian threw on his well worn jeans that he had retrieved from the laundry the day before. He loved the feel of them, loved the way they cradled his cock. He could hardly wait until Greg freed his dick and he could sink it into that willing ass.

"Stop it, Kinney," he muttered to himself as he went down to the kitchen.

He whipped up some eggs ready to scramble them as soon as Gus came out of the bathroom. In another fry pan he put about half of the pound of bacon they had bought at the supermarket. He started it cooking. He set four slices of bread in the toaster ready to be toasted. He poured himself a mug of coffee and stood by the counter thinking.

Brian knew that he had not solved all of Gus' problems by any stretch of the imagination. They needed to talk and that was going to be when the tough stuff would start. Gus had been caught up with exploring new things … and old memories on his trip back to Pittsburgh, but pretty soon, they would have to face the reality that Gus was staying there. School would be starting in a few weeks. He'd have to look into appropriate schools. How did someone select a good one? There was so much he had to learn.

As he flipped the bacon, he heard Gus come out of the bathroom. He turned the eggs on and pushed down the button on the toaster. After a minute Gus appeared at the counter.

"The toast is going to pop, butter it for me."

"Sure," Gus said joining his father on the other side of the counter. Brian lifted the bacon out of the pan and laid it on a paper towel to drain. Gus buttered the toast. Brian stirred the eggs making sure they weren't too sloppy. Then he dished everything up. He set the plates on the counter poured some more coffee for himself and set the jug of orange juice out for Gus.

"This looks good," Gus said climbing onto one of the stools.

"Don't sound so surprised. And you haven't tasted it yet."

"It is good," Gus said with his mouth full.

"I'm a man of many talents," Brian joked.

"I'm beginning to realize that," Gus said with a frown.

"Gus, can we make a pact?"

"What kind of pact?"

"I'm going to do everything to help you be happy and successful at school … and in life. Can you promise to try your best in return?"

"I … I guess so."

"That's not a very ringing commitment."

"I'll try," Gus agreed. He did want a new start. Maybe things would be different here.

"Then we have a deal." Brian held out his hand and they shook.

"I … I hope I can do it."

"I know you can," Brian replied trying to instill confidence in his son.

"I hope you're right," Gus said guardedly.

Brian didn't like the sound of that. He knew that Gus would have to suck it up and really work if he wanted to catch up to where he should be in school, that was, if he could get Gus into a good school. "You done?" Brian asked seeing the empty plate in front of his son.

Gus nodded taking the last gulp of his orange juice. "You're not a bad cook."

Brian smiled. He was good at a lot of things, but cooking wasn't one of them. "Then we're going for a ride."

"We are?"

"You'll see when we get there," Brian said as he loaded the dishwasher. He was glad to see Gus hand him the dishes and then throw the paper napkins in the waste can. He wanted Gus to start taking some responsibility for chores, for his behavior, for himself.

A little over an hour later Brian pulled his Mercedes into the driveway that led up to the mansion he had bought for Justin as a wedding present, only there had been no wedding.

"What's this place?" Gus asked looking around.

"This is where we're going to live."

"You own this place?" Gus asked in awe as they came to a stop. "It's huge."

"Yeah," was all Brian could think to say.

When they climbed out of the car, the front door of the house opened. A middle aged lady came out. She smiled at Brian and looked Gus up and down.

"Mrs. Hadley," Brian said, "I'd like you to meet my son, Gus."

"Hello, Gus," the woman said with a warm smile.

"Is everything ready?" Brian asked.

Gus was looking from his father to this woman wondering who she was and what was going to happen. Was his father going to leave him here with this woman that he didn't know?

Mrs. Hadley made a funny noise and said, "It's as ready as you requested."

"Come on in, Gus," Brian said striding up to the door. "Grab your suitcase from the back."

Brian had told Gus to load up his suitcase with everything he had brought from Toronto, and they had stowed the futon away in the storage unit before they had left the loft. Gus lugged the heavy suitcase into the house. He set it down once they were inside the door. Mrs. Hadley closed the door behind them.

"Gus, Mrs. Hadley is the housekeeper here. She lives in her quarters on that side of the house. Bring your suitcase and I'll show you your room." Brian started up the stairs.

Hauling the heavy suitcase, Gus made his way up the stairs after his father. He noticed how empty the hallway was and the front foyer had been too. He frowned wondering what kind of place this was. Maybe his father was going to torture him or lock him up out here in the middle of nowhere.

"This is your room," Brian said opening one of many doors.

Gus and his suitcase went inside. He noted that the room was much bigger than his one in Toronto had been but it was very bare. There was a double bed all made up and a dresser and nightstand, but nothing else.

"I ordered the furniture before we left Toronto. That's why we had to stay at the loft until it was delivered. We can go pick out some more things to decorate the room later."

"Okay," Gus said slowly. "Where's your room?" He had gotten used to sleeping so close to his father. It made him feel safe. "You're not going back to the loft and leaving me here, are you?" Gus asked suddenly feeling like he was being abandoned.

"It's across the hall," Brian said calmly.

"Can I see?"

Brian sighed, but nodded. He walked across the hall and opened the door. He stood back allowing Gus to enter. Gus looked around noting a room that was much the same size as his. There was a large bed with a leather headboard and a sleek dresser and chest of drawers. They looked like Brian. There were a few pictures on the dresser and nightstand. Gus recognized himself from a few years ago. There was also one of Brian and Justin together. Against one wall was a desk with a computer on top. This room looked like someone actually lived there … his father.

"Do you stay here often?" Gus asked.

"When the mood hits me."

"Are … are we going to live here all the time now?" Gus asked uncertainly.

"Most of the time. I work in Pittsburgh so I may have to stay over at the loft occasionally."

Gus looked at his father. He suspected he knew why his father would stay in town. "Okay," was all he said.

"There's a pool out back," Brian said. "We could go for a swim." It was a hot summer day.

"Okay."

"Go unpack your things. Have you got a swimsuit?" Gus shook his head. "You can wear a pair of shorts until we get you one."

Gus went to his room to unpack and Brian changed into swimming trunks and slipped on some shorts over them. He needed to talk to Mrs. Hadley before Gus came downstairs. Brian found Mrs. Hadley in the kitchen.

"Mr. Kinney, would you like some lunch out by the pool?"

"That would be nice," Brian replied. "I wanted to talk to you for a minute."

"Certainly, sir."

"Gus is going to be living here permanently, and I will be here much more often."

"Does that mean we'll be getting some more furniture?"

"Perhaps," Brian said with a smirk. That had been a long standing bone of contention between them. "I … I have to go out later tonight, likely after Gus is asleep, but you'll keep an eye on him for me, won't you?"

"Of course I will, but do you think it's wise to leave him alone the first night?"

"He's a big boy."

"Yes, he is, but still a boy."

"You think he'll be … afraid?"

"I think he'd feel much better if you were here. He doesn't know me at all."

"Okay, maybe I can put this off until tomorrow night."

"I think that would be better."

With a sigh Brian went out to sit by the pool and soak up the sunshine of the middle of summer. Before long Gus joined him.

"Is your room okay?"

"There's a few things I need."

"Like what?"

"A lamp by the bed."

Brian smacked his forehead. "Never even thought of that."

"Could I get some kind of CD player?"

"I think that could be arranged. We'll go into town after lunch."

Gus turned and dove into the pool. Brian watched him swim up and down a couple of times.

"Where did you learn to swim?"

"The Moms had me in swimming classes before I could walk. I haven't swum in a long time."

"You can swim every day here."

"Until winter."

"Until winter," Brian agreed before he executed a perfect dive into the pool.

They had fun horsing around in the pool. Gus wanted Brian to cup his hands so Gus could put his foot in them and have his father throw him backwards into the pool. They did that over and over and over again. Brian knew he was going to pay for that the next day. Mrs. Hadley brought them lunch and they dined on chicken salad with fresh vegetables and hot bread. Gus' opinion of Mrs. Hadley went up several degrees after the delicious lunch.

Brian drove them into Colchester which was the closest town and Gus got all the things that would help to make his room his own. Brian forked over for a compact stereo system, a lamp, several posters and some new clothes including a swimsuit.

When they got back to the house, Gus wanted Brian to show him around. Somewhat reluctantly Brian agreed. Going through the first floor of the house Gus quickly discovered that all the rooms were unfurnished except for Mrs. Hadley's apartment and one room downstairs. That room was off the front foyer and had a large fireplace. It had a leather sofa and chair and one end table. They were oriented towards the fireplace or the plasma TV on the wall next to the fireplace. There was a sideboard with an extensive liquor supply. The whole room was dominated by a large dynamic painting over the fireplace.

Gus was immediately drawn to the painting. It was powerful with bold strokes and colors. "Wow!" he said. "What's it supposed to be?"

Brian shrugged his shoulders. He knew what it was supposed to represent but he wasn't about to share that with his son.

Gus walked over to the painting and read the name scrawled at the bottom. "J. Taylor," he read aloud. "I never heard of him."

"Yes you have." Gus looked at his father. "It's Justin's work."

"Wow!" Gus repeated.

"His work does have power."

"Did he give this to you?"

"Yes."

"Dad, what happened with you and Justin?"

Brian hesitated, not sure that he could actually talk about it. Finally he mustered his voice and said, "He had to go away to pursue his art."

"Is he coming back?"

"I … I don't know. I don't think so."

"But why?" Gus asked puzzled. "If he gave you something like this…?" Gus made a gesture towards the painting.

"I have something else to show you," Brian said not wanting to answer that question. He led the way out a side door. They went outside to the building that was obviously a garage with doors to accommodate four cars. Brian shoved up the nearest door revealing the old green Corvette. "I told you I kept it."

"Can we go for a ride?" Gus smiled. He liked the look of the car even if it was old.

Brian grabbed the keys off a hook and they climbed in. Brian took them for a drive around the neighborhood helping Gus get oriented to his new surroundings. They passed the local high school where Gus could be enrolled in a few weeks if Brian could get him in. Brian pulled into the parking lot.

"Do you like the look of this school?" Brian asked.

"Why?"

"It's one of the choices for you to go to."

"Do I have to?"

"Of course, you have to go to school."

"Couldn't I study at home?"

"I don't really think that's an option."

"Why not?"

"I have to work, Gus. I can't be here every day to oversee your studies."

"Couldn't Mrs. Hadley do that?"

"That was never part of her job description."

Gus' face fell. "You said this was one of the choices. What are the others?"

"There's a private school the other way from the house."

"Can we see it?"

Brian drove them to the school that he had researched on the internet while Gus had watched a movie the other night. They drove through the gate and stopped near the front of the school. It had the appearance of an Ivy League college even though it was a prep school.

"How do you like it?" Brian asked thinking of St. James and how Justin had fared there.

"I … I don't know. Looks kind of snooty."

"Yeah, I guess it does. They have an open house in a couple of weeks. I thought we could come by and tour the place, talk to the teachers."

"I guess," Gus agreed uncertainly. He didn't think this was the right kind of place for him, but neither was the public high school. He didn't want to go to school. That was where all his troubles had begun.

"Gus, you didn't actually pass last year from what your mothers told me. We may have trouble getting you into either of these schools. You don't want to go back to elementary school, do you?"

"God, no," Gus reacted.

"Then you're going to have to work with me." Brian thought he saw the shiny texture of tears in Gus' eyes but he didn't say anything about them. He started the car and they drove away.

When they got home, Brian put the Corvette back in the garage. Gus said he wanted to have another swim. Brian said he had some phone calls to make and went up to his bedroom. Gus heard him talking as he came out of his room after changing into his swim trunks.

"Maybe tomorrow. I should be in Pittsburgh during the day, so maybe we can hook up after work," Brian was saying.

Gus wondered who his father was talking to, but he headed out for his swim. Mrs. Hadley made them a delicious dinner which they ate in the breakfast nook off the kitchen. Brian had never invested in any kind of dining room furniture. Maybe he would have to do that now.

After dinner Gus wanted to swim again. Brian wondered if he could get Gus on a school swim team. That would give him a positive interest and something to use up teenage energy. Brian called Ted and told him he was planning on being at Kinnetik tomorrow afternoon. Ted would arrange to have anything that needed his attention ready. Brian and Gus watched a bit of TV and then Gus said he was going up to his room. He'd listen to some music and then go to bed. Brian stayed put in the large chair facing the fireplace.

Gus got ready for bed and listened to his favorite CD for a while. He was tired from all the swimming he had done that day and finally fell asleep. Some time later he awoke with a start wondering where he was. Finally it all came back to him. Switching on his new lamp, he looked at his watch. It was 3:35. He wondered if his father was asleep. It felt kind of creepy being in this big empty house.

Gus slid out of bed and went across the hall. Brian's bedroom was empty. He looked out the window of his father's bedroom and saw that the Mercedes was parked out front. His father must still be there unless he took the Corvette. Quietly Gus made his way down the stairs. He could see flickering light coming from the furnished room off the foyer. Gus wasn't sure what he should call it. He crept up to the door and saw Brian sitting in front of a burning fire. It was the middle of summer and Gus wondered why his father would have started a fire in the fireplace. Brian seemed to be lost in thought staring at the painting that hung above the mantle. Instinctively Gus knew he should not interrupt. He went quietly back to his room.

 

Brian stared at Justin's painting reflected in the firelight. He was seeing himself and Justin in the abstract painting and on the floor in front of the fire … making love. That was what he always saw when he sat in front of a fire in here. His heart ached with a longing that didn't seem to ever stop. He took a long drink from his glass of Beam. He didn't think he'd be getting much sleep that night.

Wild Child

Chapter 8

The next afternoon Brian headed off into Pittsburgh leaving Gus with Mrs. Hadley. Mrs. Hadley watched the boy swimming in the pool after his father left. She wondered what the real story was in regards to this child and his sudden appearance at Britin. She knew there had to be something pretty drastic that had caused the elusive Mr. Kinney to bring his son to this house. She intended to find out.

"Gus," Mrs. Hadley called. "I made you a snack. Come in out of the sun for a while."

Gus hauled himself out of the pool and toweled off. He walked into the kitchen with the towel wrapped around his waist.

"Sit down on the stool and then you won't get anything wet," she advised him.

Gus sat on the stool at the counter and Mrs. Hadley set cookies and milk in front of him. The cookies were still warm. Gus took a big bite.

"Yum," he reacted. "These are the best cookies."

"An old family recipe," Mrs. Hadley replied. "I thought you might like them."

"Thanks."

"Gus, do you mind telling me why you're here."

"I … why do you want to know?"

"Your father's never brought anyone here before."

"He hasn't? No one?"

"Nope."

"Not even Justin?"

"Who's Justin?"

"The blond guy in all the pictures."

"Oh, I see. I never knew his name," Mrs. Hadley admitted. "Your father's a very private person."

"So you're pumping me for information instead?" Gus challenged her.

"I asked you why you were here, not about your father."

"True. Well, I guess you'll find out eventually so I might as well give you my side of the story."

Mrs. Hadley nodded and waited as Gus took another bite of cookie.

"I lived in Toronto with my two Moms," Gus said waiting to see if Mrs. Hadley would react to that statement. When nothing happened, he continued. "I guess I was kind of hard to handle. They … they thought I needed a change. I guess they thought Dad could sort me out."

"Do you need sorting out?"

"Um … maybe."

"Were you having trouble at school?"

Gus nodded. He didn't like to think about that. "Dad took me to look at a couple of schools around here yesterday. I guess I'll have to go to one of them."

"Don't you like school?"

Gus shook his head. "I hate it."

"Is it too hard for you?"

"No, it's not too hard. It's the other kids. They never like me unless…" Gus stopped not wanting to tell Mrs. Hadley what he had had to do to make friends.

"I can't understand why they wouldn't like you. You seem like a nice young man."

Gus snorted. "Yeah, well, you're old. You don't know what it's like."

"I'm not that old," Mrs. Hadley chuckled. "But you're probably right. I don't know what it's like. Could you tell me?"

"It's none of your business," Gus retorted.

"Gus!" Mrs. Hadley was taken aback at the vehemence in the boy's tone.

Gus immediately felt bad that he had yelled at this woman who had been nothing but nice to him. "Um … Sorry, but I don't want to talk about it."

"That's all you had to say, and I'll stop pestering you. I think we're going to be spending quite a bit of time together, so I hope we can get along."

"I hope so too. I think I'll go back in the pool."

Mrs. Hadley was about to say something about staying out of the water after eating, but she thought better of it. Instinctively she knew that Gus would not appreciate her advice. She'd have to build on his trust before she could do that. In the meantime she'd keep a close eye on him swimming in case he had a cramp or something.

+++++

Brian walked out of Kinnetik having conferred with Cynthia and Ted. They were set for the next few days. Brian had a campaign that he was working on tucked away in his briefcase. He'd work at home tomorrow.

But right now he was heading to the loft and Greg was going to meet him there. He needed that. Brian threw his briefcase onto the front seat of the Mercedes. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed a number and waited.

"Hello."

"Mrs. Hadley, how is everything going?"

"Not bad. Gus has spent most of the day in the pool."

"I hope he's not getting a burn."

"I've been encouraging him to use the sunscreen."

"Thank you."

"Will you be home soon?"

Brian rubbed his brow. "No, it will probably be late before I get there. Tell Gus to go to bed by eleven."

"Would you like to speak to him?"

"No, tell him I'll be late but I will be home."

"Of course, Mr. Kinney."

The line went dead.

Brian put his cell back in his pocket and headed towards the loft. As he pulled into a parking space he could see Greg leaning against the building smoking a cigarette.

"Hey," Greg smiled as Brian got out of his car.

"Let's go," Brian said as he unlocked the front door.

They barely got through the loft door when Brian was all over the willing young man. They never made it to the bedroom for the first round. Brian took what he wanted against one of the metal supports in the loft. Greg seemed to enjoy that so much that they did round two with Greg bent over the back of the sofa. Round three finally took place in the bed.

"Man, you're insatiable," Greg yawned ready for a nap.

"Thanks."

"I don't know how you do it."

"You mean, at my age?" Brian asked feeling annoyed at the implication.

"Hell no! I don't think I could have done that three times in such a short span of time if I was topping."

Brian snorted. "And you're ten years younger than me."

"You're fucking incredible."

Brian looked into Greg's eyes. They weren't blue but he saw the same kind of look there that he used to see from someone else. "You were okay yourself."

"Thanks," Greg chuckled. "Do you think I could have a little nap before we go again?"

"Speaking of going, I have to leave in less than an hour."

"You do? How come?"

"I have a son waiting for me."

"You have a kid?"

"I have a kid. Does that bother you?"

"No, not really. I just never pegged you for someone who would go all hetero and have a kid."

"I didn't go all hetero as you call it, but that's a story for another time."

"Do you really have to leave? I was kind of hoping we could spend the night together."

"Maybe next time."

"Really?" Greg said with a hopeful smile. That sounded promising.

"I'm good for one more before I leave. Do you think you can stay awake that long?"

"I'll do my best. Once your dick is up my ass, I'm sure I won't have any trouble."

Brian leaned in and kissed Greg using his patented techniques. They were both hard by the time he was finished.

+++++

Mrs. Hadley shooed Gus upstairs to shower and change. Dinner was almost ready and she wanted the boy presentable if he was going to eat with her. She set the table in the breakfast nook wondering if Mr. Kinney would get a decent table and chairs to eat on. They had a perfectly good dining room which stood empty next door.

Before Gus came down, she set out the salad bowl and dressing. Gus slid into the seat that he had used for breakfast with his father. Mrs. Hadley sat down across from him.

"I hope you don't mind eating with me," she said. "I like the company."

Gus smiled. "It's better than eating alone, I guess. Did Dad say when he would be back?"

"He called a while ago and just said that he would be late." Mrs. Hadley held the salad out to Gus who scooped out a huge portion. He added some dressing and dug in. "You certainly have a good appetite, young man."

"Swimming makes me hungry."

"It's good exercise."

Gus nodded in agreement his mouth full of salad. When he had cleaned his plate, Mrs. Hadley removed the salad and set out a plate of pasta with salmon and various vegetables and a creamy sauce. It smelled wonderful.

"You're a really good cook," Gus said as he tasted the first bite.

"Thank you," she replied tasting her own meal. "What are you going to do after dinner?"

"I don't know. Watch TV."

"I have some books you might like."

"What kind of books?"

"Have you read any of the Harry Potter books?"

"I tried to get them from the library but they were always out or on reserve."

"I have the whole set if you'd like to borrow them."

"Maybe I will," Gus said looking over at the kindly face. He was surprised that she would have the books, but he would like to read them.

Mrs. Hadley smiled to herself. At least Gus seemed interested in reading. She always took that as a good sign. So many children these days never read anything except designer labels. They were usually the ones in trouble. The kids who read didn't seem to get into trouble. She wondered why Gus didn't seem to fit the usual troubled kid mold.

Gus finished off his pasta. He waited patiently as Mrs. Hadley calmly ate her meal.

"Would you like some advice about meals, Gus?"

"Advice?" Gus asked with a frown.

"In polite company it is customary to eat more slowly and try to have everyone present finish eating at the same time."

"Oh! Um … why would I need to know that?"

"When you go out to a nice restaurant or have dinner with your friends and their family, it's always a good idea to show your best manners."

"Like I have any friends," Gus scoffed.

"But you'll make some as soon as you get out in the community." Gus shook his head, but Mrs. Hadley sensed that Gus didn't want her to pursue that line of thought. "When you have friends you can remember what I told you."

"Okay," Gus said not sure that he would ever have any real friends if past experience was any indication.

"Would you like some ice cream for dessert?"

Gus nodded vigorously and Mrs. Hadley went to dish some up. She set a bowl down in front of Gus. He picked up his spoon and was about to dig in when he saw that she was getting a bowl for herself, but with a much smaller portion. He decided he could wait.

Mrs. Hadley put the ice cream container back in the freezer and carried her bowl back to the table. She noted with a smile that Gus was waiting for her. When she took the first bite of her ice cream, Gus dug into his. He made sure to pace himself so that they finished their desserts at almost the same time.

"Excellent," Mrs. Hadley said with a warm smile.

"Yes, excellent," Gus said wiping his mouth with his napkin.

"Why don't you go check out the TV programs? If you decide you want "Harry Potter", you can have the whole set to take up to your room."

"Gee, thanks," Gus said as he got up from the table. As an afterthought he carried his bowl over to the counter so Mrs. Hadley could load the dishwasher. Her smile of approval sent him back to clear the rest of the dishes.

"Thank you, Gus. That was very nice of you."

"No problem," Gus said as he went off to check out what was on TV.

Gus watched a couple of shows. After some time and a lot of fruitless channel surfing he switched off the TV. Not finding any decent programs and needing to use the bathroom, Gus went up to his room. He sat in the bathroom wondering when his father would be home. He kind of missed him when he wasn't there.

When Gus came out of the bathroom, he went and looked in his father's room just to be sure that he hadn't already come home. The room was empty. Coming back into the hall he decided to explore the other rooms on the upper level even though they were empty. Maybe he'd find a good place to read or a place to hide if he wanted to be alone.

He opened three doors finding empty bedrooms with closets that had some potential as hiding places. There was only one door left, the one at the end of the hall. He carefully opened the door and to his surprise he found a partially furnished room. There was a large four poster bed all made up with rich looking covers. The room was large and on one wall was another painting that had to have been done by Justin. There was no mistaking the look of it. That was all that was in the room.

Gus noted that there were two large walk-in closets, both empty. A door led to a huge bathroom with walk-through shower and double vanities. Another door led to a good sized room that could be a study or an office. Gus liked the room and thought it might be a good place to read in the daytime. One window was bowed out and had a seat built under it. That would make a great place to read Harry Potter. Walking back into the main bedroom Gus decided that this must be the master suite. He wondered why his father didn't sleep in this room.

Gus made his way down to the kitchen and found Mrs. Hadley working on some material in her lap.

"What are you making?" Gus asked.

"I'm embroidering this little dress for my granddaughter. She'll be two years old in a few weeks."

"It's pretty."

"Thank you."

"Um … I'd like the Harry Potter books if that's okay."

"It's more than okay," Mrs. Hadley said setting aside her needlework and going into her apartment off the kitchen. Gus looked at what she had been making while he waited for her to return.

"The stitches are so tiny," he told her when she came back with the pile of seven books.

"Yes, the smaller the better."

"Wow! You really do have all the books."

"I hear she may write another one. There were only supposed to be seven."

Gus took the pile of books and set them down on the table in the breakfast nook. He sat down too, watching Mrs. Hadley as she resumed her embroidery.

"You're good at that."

"I like to think so."

"Um … could I ask you something?"

"Certainly, Gus."

"That big room at the end of the hall upstairs…"

"Yes, the master bedroom."

"Why doesn't Dad sleep there?"

"I don't know, Gus. You'd have to ask your father."

"But he has a bed and one of Justin's paintings in there."

"Those were there when I first came to work for your father. The rest of the house was totally empty. I never see him go into that room. He seems to like the other room that he had furnished as his bedroom."

Gus frowned. That didn't make much sense, but Mrs. Hadley didn't seem to know any more than that.

"Thanks for the books," Gus said gathering them up. "Night."

"Are you going to bed?"

"I thought I'd read now that I have something interesting," Gus grinned.

"Good night, Gus. Don't stay up too late reading."

Gus made his way upstairs, threw on his pajamas, brushed his teeth and curled up in bed with the first volume of Harry Potter.

+++++

Brian turned into the driveway leading up to his house. Most of the house was in darkness since it was almost midnight. He was feeling … better. Being with Greg had definitely taken the edge off. He might have liked to spend the rest of the night with the man but he wanted to be home when Gus got up in the morning. Ah, the joys of parenthood and being a fucking adult.

Brian parked the Mercedes in the driveway and pulled his briefcase out. He walked up to the front door and let himself in. The kitchen was dark, so he figured Mrs. Hadley had retired to her apartment for the night and was probably asleep. He thought maybe he could sleep too. Greg had worn him out but not as much as he had worn Greg out. He smiled at the memory.

Going into the kitchen Brian opened the refrigerator and by its light drew out a bottle of water. He opened it and drank about half of it. It was cold and refreshing. Brian debated going for a swim, but he didn't want to wake anybody so he decided he'd go up to his bedroom. Maybe he could get a good night's sleep. He also wanted to check on Gus.

Brian gently opened the door to Gus' room. His light was still on and he was partly propped up in bed with a book lying on his chest. Gus was sound asleep. Brian had to smile. He quietly made his way over to the bed and lifted the book from Gus' hands. He noted that it was the first Harry Potter book. He knew immediately that Mrs. Hadley had been responsible for Gus having it. At least it was an interesting series. Brian had read them all and then had given them to Mrs. Hadley who seemed to enjoy them too. Now they had made their way back to Gus. He was glad that his son was reading again.

Brian set the book on the nightstand turning it over so that Gus wouldn't lose his place. Carefully Brian adjusted the sheet covering Gus and leaned down to give his son a gentle kiss on the forehead. So far they had been doing all right. He hoped that would continue.

 

Brian left Gus' room making sure that the click of the door didn't wake the boy. He stopped for a moment and looked down the hall at the master suite. He couldn't seem to break the habit of looking at that door every night before he went to bed. With a shake of his head he went into his room.

Wild Child

Chapter 9

Over the next number of days, Brian spent more and more time away from the mansion. He went into Pittsburgh every day and did some work at Kinnetik. The rest of the time he spent in bed with Greg. Brian even stayed overnight in Pittsburgh several times. He called the house to tell Gus that he had been working late and was going to crash at the loft. Gus hadn't put up a fight so Brian thought he was all right with it.

Gus, on the other hand, was getting more and more upset about his father's absences. He thought he must have done something to drive him away. He withdrew more into himself, spending most of the day reading "Harry Potter". He was already on the third book, and he found if he read in the study off the master bedroom, Mrs. Hadley never found him.

Mrs. Hadley saw the subtle change in Gus. It started when he didn't want to swim even though the weather was hot and bright and ideal for swimming. Then Gus would disappear for hours on end. Mrs. Hadley wasn't about to go searching the house, but she was pretty sure she knew where he was. She started worrying that Gus might be heading for some kind of trouble.

When Brian called one night to say he would be home late, but that he was coming home, Mrs. Hadley decided to wait up for him. Mr. Kinney needed to know what was going on with his son.

Brian let himself into the dark house around midnight. He could see a light in the kitchen. He headed in there to get his usual bottle of water. He had reached the refrigerator when Mrs. Hadley spoke from the breakfast nook.

"Shit! You' scared the crap out of me."

Mrs. Hadley gave him a disapproving look in light of the language. "I waited up to speak to you about your son."

"About Gus? Is something wrong?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Why? What's happened?"

"Over the last couple of weeks Gus has started disappearing for large parts of the day. He hardly swims at all anymore, even though the weather has been very hot."

"What do you think he's doing?" Brian asked with a frown. He took a bottle of water from the fridge and opened it taking a long drink. He sat down at the table with Mrs. Hadley.

"I don't know for sure."

"But you have an idea," Brian stated looking at the woman who had worked for him for several years and had never asked him a personal question in all that time. She must be very concerned about Gus to be doing this.

"I don't think he leaves the house. I think he's found a hidden spot to read."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Brian said wondering why that would be a source of concern.

"He needs friends, not books. I'm very happy he is reading, don't get me wrong. However, there is more to life than books. I think he should be swimming and playing with his friends and riding a bike and doing all kinds of other things."

"You're right, but it's hard for him to meet other kids living out here."

"That's true, but he could join a club or a swim team or something."

"I was waiting till he started school to suggest that."

"You realize he's terrified of school."

"Terrified?"

"He says he hates it. To a teenager I think that means he's terrified, especially when he is smart like Gus and should have no problem doing the work."

"I think he's worried that no one will like him. He had some bad experiences at school in Toronto."

"He kind of hinted at that," Mrs. Hadley said thoughtfully. "But the other thing that worries me, and you're not going to like this…" She waited to see what her employer would say to that.

"Go ahead. I can take it," Brian said already steeling himself for what he knew was coming.

"Ever since you have started being away all day and sometimes all night, Gus has got more and more silent. He talked to me a bit when he first came here. Now I can hardly pry a yes or no out of him."

"Shit!" Brian reacted. "I can't be with him all day every day."

"I wasn't suggesting that. He just needs a little more of you than you're giving him right now. Once school starts he will be there all day."

"I need to sort out the school situation."

"Doesn't the private school west of here have an open house coming up?" she asked pointedly.

"Yes, I should make an appointment with the head of the school. I'm not sure they will accept Gus."

"Why ever not?"

"He … he didn't exactly pass last year. He was flunking every subject."

"But he's such a knowledgeable boy?" Mrs. Hadley said bewildered.

"Yeah, he is," Brian smiled. "Thank you for saying that."

"I said it because it's the truth."

That was one of the things Brian had always liked and respected about Mrs. Hadley. She told it like it was. "I guess I have some things to sort out," Brian said thoughtfully.

"I'd say so."

"Thank you for the heads up. I thought everything was fine."

"Kids can be tricky and teenagers keep a lot to themselves."

"He's not even a teenager … yet."

"Just think what you have to look forward to," Mrs. Hadley smiled as she stood up. "Good night, Mr. Kinney, and good luck." She walked away to go to her quarters.

"Thanks," Brian said to her retreating back. "I'm going to need it."

Brian took the rest of his bottle of water and headed upstairs. He opened Gus' door and saw the boy asleep with the fourth Harry Potter book lying on his chest. This sight had pleased him before, now it worried him. He went inside and removed the book kissing Gus' forehead once again. He would have to do something about what Mrs. Hadley had told him. He wished he knew what the fuck that was going to be.

Quietly he left the room closing the door behind him. He looked at the door to the room at the end of the hall wishing that Justin was there to give him guidance. With a sigh he went back downstairs and lit a fire in the fireplace. It would be another long night.

+++++

Gus walked out of his room. It was late morning but he had stayed up for a long time reading "Harry Potter", so he had slept in to make up for it. He hoped Mrs. Hadley had something good for breakfast, but if he had missed it, he could always have cereal. He crossed the hall and looked into his father's room. The bed was made and there was no sign of the man. He must have stayed in Pittsburgh again last night.

Gus let out a long sigh. He didn't understand what he had done. When he had first come there with his father, Brian had spent all day every day with him. They had had fun; at least Gus had thought they had. He had actually believed that maybe his life could be different, that maybe he could have a new start with his father. He should have known better. There must be something really wrong with him, something that made everyone turn away from him, made it impossible for him to be happy for more than a fleeting moment. He was such a screw-up.

Now everything in his life had changed again, and his father never seemed to be around, never seemed to have time for Gus anymore. He never even came home most nights. His father must really hate him. Gus let out a shuddering breath. He would have to admit to himself that he was unlovable. Nobody wanted him. Maybe he should run away, go back to Toronto. At least Jamal and some of the other guys liked him, as long as he helped them get their drugs. He wiped away the tear that had suddenly appeared.

He'd have to think about going back to Toronto. If his father didn't want him, he didn't know where else he could go. He sucked in a breath and decided to have breakfast before he tried to figure out what he was going to do.

As he walked down the big staircase to the front foyer, he could hear a voice. It sounded like his father was talking to someone on the phone. He stopped part way down the stairs and listened. His father must have spent the night in the library again. He wondered why Brian did that. Even so, his father was home and that was something.

Gus took a few more steps down and stopped when he heard his name.

"But I'd like you to meet my son, Gus … He's twelve … You could come out here and stay for the night … I can't be at the loft tonight … I think you'd like Gus … Greg, please … I need to see you … all right … in a few days then."

Gus had only heard one side of the conversation but it sounded like this Greg had been invited to the house to meet him. It also seemed that Greg didn't like that idea very much. Gus gave an involuntary shudder. This would be another person who couldn't stand to be around him. It sounded like his father wanted this Greg to be his boyfriend or something. Gus could only imagine what that might mean for his life. He quickly went down the rest of the steps and turned to go to the kitchen.

He stopped for a moment wondering if his father might like to talk to him. Brian hadn't seen him for a couple of days. "Get real," Gus muttered to himself. Nobody wanted to see him. Nobody cared what happened to him. He continued on to the kitchen.

While he ate the French toast that Mrs. Hadley made for him, Gus waited to see if his father would appear and at least speak to him. However, there was no sign of Brian during breakfast. Gus remained silent as he ate not saying any more to Mrs. Hadley than he had to.

She was reading the newspaper and Gus started reading the opposite page that faced him. Most of what he read was pretty boring. He realized she was reading the entertainment section and he kept waiting for her to turn the page so he could get to see what movies were on. That was, until he realized that nobody was going to be taking him to any fucking movie.

Finally she turned the page folding the paper back and starting to read a new part. Gus looked at the print that now faced him. It wasn't the movie listings unfortunately. It was the art scene. He glanced quickly at it as he finished his French toast. Then something caught his eye. It said there was an opening in two weeks at the Sidney Bloom Gallery in Pittsburgh and the artist was Justin Taylor.

Gus almost gasped when he read the name. It had to be their Justin, the blond guy in all the pictures with him and his dad, the guy who had painted the big canvas in the library where his father was right now. He wondered if his father knew that Justin was having this show. Brian had told him that Justin was in Europe, so he probably didn't know. Gus wondered if he should tell his father. He really didn't know what he should do about this.

Gus carried his empty plate over to the counter and then left the kitchen. Mrs. Hadley watched him go. He had been as silent as ever this morning. She didn't think that Mr. Kinney had talked to his son yet, but he needed to do something fast. She didn't like this silent Gus at all.

As Gus headed for the stairs to go up to his room, he heard his father's voice coming from the library once again. He stopped and listened.

"I could bring Gus there later this morning … I think you'll find he's a bright boy … I don't have all that information but I could get it faxed to you … I'll try to have that done before I arrive with Gus, but it is the summer holidays … Thank you for seeing us … I hope we can work something out."

Gus headed upstairs wondering where his father was planning to take him. Maybe he was through with his son and was planning to take Gus to an orphanage. But his father had said he was a bright boy. Gus liked hearing that. He didn't think you had to be bright to be accepted at an orphanage.

Gus grabbed his Harry Potter book and headed for the master bedroom. He quietly closed the door behind him and passed through the room. He wondered if his father and Justin had ever spent any time in there. He walked into the room off the master suite and made himself comfortable in the bay window. He looked out onto the pool at the back of the house. He thought maybe he'd have a swim later today, since he might not get many more opportunities if he was going to be sent away.

Gus opened his book and prepared to lose himself in the adventures of Harry and Ron and Hermione. That would be the best he could hope for, living vicariously through the characters in this book.

Gus had been reading for quite a while. His bookmark told him that he had read five chapters when he heard his name being called.

"Gus! Gus! Where are you?" his father's voice boomed down the hall.

Gus cringed. He wasn't supposed to be in here and now he was likely to be caught. He didn't know whether to go hide in a closet or just admit where he was. Suddenly he could hear muffled voices in the hallway. They seemed to be coming closer. Gus sat frozen in the window seat.

"Gus," Brian's voice said from the doorway.

Gus looked up and mumbled, "Sorry."

"What are you sorry about?" Brian asked.

Gus looked at his father. He didn't seem to be mad. Mrs. Hadley hovered behind her father.

"I know I shouldn't be in here, but I was just reading," Gus explained holding up his book.

"Who said you can't be in here?" Brian asked.

"You never come in here," Gus said.

"Just because I don't doesn't mean that you can't," Brian said gently.

"You mean it?" Gus said with relief.

Brian nodded. "But I need you to come with me to the private school down the road. We have an appointment with the principal in half an hour. You need to clean up."

Gus frowned. He wasn't sure he wanted to go to this meeting, but at least it wasn't an appointment with an orphanage. "What should I wear?" Gus asked.

"Mrs. Hadley will help you pick something. I have to make a few more phone calls."

Brian abruptly left the room and Gus could hear his father's bare feet slapping against the hardwood as he quickly crossed the bedroom.

Mrs. Hadley smiled reassuringly at Gus. "Come along, Gus. I'm sure we can find something nice for you to wear."

"I don't have a suit," Gus said softly. This meeting sounded important.

Mrs. Hadley chuckled. "It's summer, Gus. Nobody wears suits. We just need a shirt and some long pants."

"That's bad enough," Gus groused.

Not long after, Gus was seated beside his father in the big Mercedes. They were on their way to the appointment with the principal. Gus remained silent wondering what was going to happen. Brian glanced at his son and frowned. He wished Gus would talk to him about what he was feeling, about his fears and about what had happened at school in Toronto.

Brian half snorted. No one would believe that the infamous, cold hearted, Brian Kinney would actually be wishing to talk about feelings. But this was his son, and he'd talk about anything that would help the young man.

Brian pulled the Mercedes into an empty spot in the parking lot. There were quite a few cars already parked there. Brian could see some people wandering around the grounds, each of them ushering at least one child along with them. The open house was in full swing.

Gus got out of the car slowly. Brian watched him not liking the reaction he was seeing.

"Give it a chance," Brian said gently.

Gus tried to smile but it came out more like a grimace. "I'll try."

Brian could feel the fear in Gus' voice. "This is just a preliminary meeting. We don't have to decide anything today. Okay?"

Gus nodded and Brian squeezed his shoulder. They made their way inside the school. Brian followed the signs towards the office. As they reached the door to the main office, it opened and a boy with dark skin about Gus' age came out with his parents.

"What do you think, Ravi?" the man asked his son.

"It seems like a nice enough place," Ravi said non-committally.

Gus watched them pass by and he gave Ravi a little smile of sympathy. The two boys exchanged a look knowing that they were both in the same boat.

"Let's go look at the grounds," Ravi's father said giving his son a little push towards the front doors.

Gus watched them till they disappeared from sight. Brian had gone into the office and was talking with a secretary. "Gus," he called after a minute. "The principal is ready for us."

Gus released the door that he had been holding open as he watched Ravi and his parents disappear out the front door of the building. He walked into the office and followed his father to a wooden door that opened. A middle age man introduced himself as Mr. Jennings. He asked the two to come in and indicated chairs on one side of his desk. He sat in the big chair behind the desk and picked up a file which he quickly perused while Brian and Gus waited. Gus had a sinking feeling about this. He had been in the principal's office many times in his other school. It always worked the same. He'd be in trouble here too.

"So, Gus, how do you like our fine school so far?" Mr. Jennings asked.

"It's okay."

"Would you like to attend school here?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Well, I see that you've had some problems at your previous school. The kind of trouble you got into there won't be tolerated here. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, sir," Gus replied. He knew how to play this game. He knew the right answers to give. That didn't mean any of it was true.

"That's a step in the right direction," Mr. Jennings said. "Gus, would you like to go look around the school while I talk to your father for a moment?"

Gus looked at his father who nodded. Slowly Gus stood up. He thought he'd lay it on thick. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jennings. I'll meet you by the car, father," Gus said formally.

Brian tried not to snort and he did manage to refrain from doing so. He gave Gus a wink before the boy disappeared out the door.

"He seems like a nice boy, but I am very concerned about his grades. He really shouldn't be starting high school with these marks." Mr. Jennings was holding a transcript that Brian had managed to get sent from Toronto with a little help from Melanie.

"I know he wasn't doing well, but he's trying to turn over a new leaf. If you look back a few years, you'll see he was top of his class. He has had some social problems that affected his grades."

"I understand that," Mr. Jennings said. "I'm willing to give him a probationary spot in first year, but he will have to pull up his socks. I'm going to give you some work that needs to be completed before the first week of school. I will expect you to supervise Gus' studies. If he can successfully complete this work, he can start school with the rest of the first years on September 8th."

Brian groaned inwardly, but he nodded to Mr. Jennings who proceeded to go over the requirements that Gus would have to fulfill to gain entry. Brian thought Gus should have been there to hear all this, but Gus had been sent away so Brian would have to try to remember it all.

Meanwhile Gus was wandering the halls of Bramley Hall. They had some interesting science labs with a lot more equipment laid out than he had had in his public school in Toronto. That might be good. Each classroom had an older student inside who would answer questions about that subject. Gus wondered where the teachers were, but maybe they were still on vacation. He'd like to be on vacation forever.

"Any questions?" the student helper asked Gus as he wandered into a lab with pickled frogs and other gross things lined up along a counter.

"Do we get to dissect those?" Gus asked.

"Not first year, but later."

"Gross."

"It's not so bad. If you're interested in medicine."

"I'm not," Gus said not liking the way this guy looked lovingly at the pickled animals.

"Too bad."

"Can you tell me where the art room is?" Gus asked.

"You one of those sissy artist types?"

Gus blanched. "No, I'm not. I just want to see it."

The aide smirked at him. "Out the door and to the left. End of the hall."

"Thanks," Gus said as he beat a hasty retreat. That guy reminded him of some of the older boys who had given him problems in the past. He was mean like they were, but he hid it better under his school uniform.

Gus never did get to the art room. As he exited the science lab, he saw his father come out of the office. He ran down the hall to Brian.

"You ready to go?" Brian asked.

"I've seen enough," Gus replied, and he had.

"Then let's go."

"What's all that stuff?" Gus asked seeing the sheaf of papers that Brian had in his hand.

 

"I'll show you when we get home," Brian said. He hoped Gus wouldn't blow up when he saw what the principal wanted from him.

Wild Child

Chapter 10

Gus worked on the pages that Brian had brought home from Bramley Hall. He was sitting at the kitchen table and Mrs. Hadley was in the process of making them lunch.

"You should ask your father for a proper desk where you can do your work," she said thoughtfully while she buttered bread for sandwiches.

Gus chuckled ruefully. 'Like he was going to be there long enough to need one,' he thought to himself. "Yeah, I'll be sure to ask," he said aloud.

Gus had debated refusing to do the assignments his father had given him, but then he decided that he really didn't want to antagonize Brian. He hadn't been sent away yet, and it looked like his father was prepared to keep him there if he could get into this school. So, instead of sabotaging his chances of getting into Bramley Hall, Gus was actually working very hard to do the assignments carefully and correctly. He figured he owed his father, and himself, that much.

"Lunch is almost ready," Mrs. Hadley said. "Clear off your papers and go find your father."

"He's in the library," Gus said as he gathered up his work. "Do you know he sleeps in there some nights?"

"Yes, I know. A few times I've found him sleeping there in the morning."

"At least he gets some sleep then."

Gus went to find his father. He heard him on the phone in the library.

"Greg, please reconsider. I need to be here for Gus. Just think about coming out here tonight … or I could come and get you … You'd like Gus, I know you would … Call me back when you decide."

Then all was silence. Brian must have hung up the phone. Gus stepped through the doorway. "Why don't you go to Pittsburgh if he's that important to you?" Gus demanded. "Lunch is ready, but I'm not hungry."

Gus turned around and ran up to his room.

"Fuck!" Brian reacted. He got up and followed his son upstairs. When he opened the door to Gus' room he saw Gus lying on the bed with his face buried in his pillow. He hadn't meant for Gus to hear that phone call. It was just that he hadn't seen Greg for a couple of days and he really needed the man. Brian hesitated not sure what to say to his son.

"Gus?"

"Go away!"

Brian looked around trying to find inspiration about what to say to his son. He noticed the pile of papers that had been thrown against the wall apparently when Gus had entered his room. Brian knew these were the assignments for Bramley Hall. He started picking up the papers realizing that Gus had already made a good start on getting them completed. He started to read one page. It was an essay about why he wanted to go to Bramley Hall.

"I want to make my father proud of me," was the first sentence. Brian blinked hard. He didn't want to cry, but those words really hit his heart.

"Gus, please talk to me," Brian said softly.

"No!" Gus' face remained hidden in his pillow.

"Gus, tell me what's wrong."

"No."

"Please!"

Gus raised his head and looked at his father. He couldn't remember ever hearing his father beg like that. Brian's face was full of pain. "I heard you talking to him. He's more important to you than I am, so go away. Be with him." Gus stuck his face back in his pillow to hide his tears.

"Gus, nobody is more important to me than you," Brian stated.

"Liar! You never come home anymore. You're always in Pittsburgh and I know you're with him."

Brian felt like he had been kicked in the gut. Gus was telling him exactly what he didn't want to hear, but it was also the truth. "I have been spending a lot of time with Greg," Brian admitted, "but that doesn't mean I don't love you."

"That's why I haven't seen you for days, right?" Gus asked sarcastically his words muffled by the pillow.

"Gus, let me explain. I … haven't found anybody since… I haven't been able… I just found Greg and I really like him. He likes me too." Brian stopped not knowing how to explain this any better to a twelve almost thirteen year old.

"What about Justin?" Gus' voice asked from the depths of the pillow.

"What about him?"

"I … I thought you loved Justin. You still have all those pictures of him … and the paintings."

"Justin is gone. I … I'm trying to make something with Greg."

"But what if Justin came back?"

"Enough about Justin! He's not coming back."

"But…"

"Gus, I love you. I truly do. I want you to get a good education and have a good life. I can see how much you've already done on these assignments. I'm … proud of you."

"No, you're not!" Gus said tears returning to his eyes. "I'm a screw-up. I ruin everything and this won't be any different."

"It can be different if we work together," Brian said venturing the few steps to Gus' bed and sitting on the edge next to his son. "I'm willing to give it a shot if you are."

"But what about Greg?"

"I'd like you to meet him. He's come to mean … something to me."

"I heard you on the phone. He doesn't want to meet me, does he?"

"He doesn't know you, Gus. The whole family thing is a little overwhelming for him."

"How young is he?"

"Younger than me."

"As young as Justin?"

"Um … probably. Why?"

"No reason."

"If I can get him to come here, will you give him a chance?"

Gus hesitated. Everything he had heard about this guy didn't make him want to meet him. However, Gus knew his father was giving him a chance so maybe he should do the same thing for this Greg. "Okay."

Brian smiled. "Thank you, Gus. Let's go get some lunch, and maybe I can talk Greg into coming out for a swim later today."

Gus was about to say something rude, but he bit his tongue. "Okay."

Brian put his arm around Gus' shoulders and pulled him into a hug. He felt the rigidity of Gus' body but he held on anyway. Gus finally relaxed into the hug.

"It's you and me against the world," Brian whispered.

'And Greg,' Gus thought to himself.

Lunch was pretty silent but they managed to get through it. Gus went up to his room afterwards to work on his assignments. Brian was waiting for Greg to arrive. The man had promised to come as soon as he could get away. Brian wanted him to like the house and most of all to like Gus.

Late in the afternoon a Mazda Miata pulled into the drive at Britin. Brian was out the door immediately to meet Greg. He pulled the man into a long, burning kiss.

Gus watched from one of the bedrooms upstairs. He had been sitting in there working on his assignments. He would have preferred to be in the study off the master bedroom with its comfortable window seat. But Gus wanted to get a look at this Greg before he had to meet him. He figured if he stayed in the bedroom next to his father's he could work on the floor and he would hear any car that pulled in.

Gus watched the kiss and saw the smile on Brian's face when he finally released this man. The kiss didn't bother Gus as much as the look on Greg's face. He seemed to be very impressed with the mansion. He was looking around and taking it all in while he pretended to listen to Brian. Gus frowned. He had seen kids at school do the same thing. It usually meant they wanted whatever they were looking at. Sometimes they beat up the person who had what they wanted, and then they took the treasure. Gus shuddered as he wondered what Greg would do to get what he wanted.

Suddenly Gus heard his father calling his name. He gathered up his papers and called out, "Coming." He dropped his work off in his room before heading downstairs.

"Gus, I want you to meet Greg Fernley," Brian said as Gus came down the stairs.

"Hello, Gus," Greg said, but he didn't hold out his hand for Gus to shake.

"Hi," Gus replied as he watched Greg carefully.

Greg seemed to understand what Gus was doing and he raised an eyebrow. Gus had no doubt that they understood each other. Greg didn't seem to like that fact very much.

"I thought we could go for a swim before dinner," Brian said not seeming to pick up on the tense vibes passing between his son and his lover. "Did you bring your suit?"

"I was hoping I might not need one, but I brought it anyway," Greg laughed.

Brian frowned. That was hardly an appropriate thing to say in front of Gus. "But you do have one?" Brian asked again. Greg nodded.

"I don't have to swim," Gus said. "I could work on my assignments."

"I want you two to get to know each other," Brian said. "Let's all get changed." He gave Gus a look saying that he didn't want any argument.

Gus walked back upstairs and went into his room. As he closed his door, he saw his father push Greg into the bedroom across the hall. Gus wondered how long he'd have to wait for them to come out. He shook his head not wanting to think about what they might be doing. He changed into his swimsuit and ran downstairs diving into the pool as quickly as he could. Maybe he could tire himself out and be able to go back upstairs when the two men came down. He swam laps back and forth, back and forth, for a long time before Brian and Greg put in an appearance.

They both looked very satisfied with themselves as they walked out onto the deck of the pool with their skimpy bathing suits. Gus noticed that his father had a hand on Greg's back in a very familiar manner. His dislike for Greg grew even larger. He didn't think this guy really appreciated his father.

"Hey, Gus, wasn't it?" Greg asked as he sat down on the side of the pool.

Gus looked up and nodded. How dense was this guy! Gus had heard his name used at least five times. Greg had heard the same. Couldn't the guy even remember it for a few minutes? It only told Gus that Greg didn't want to know his name, didn't want anything to do with him, wished he wasn't there.

Brian dove into the pool. He swam up behind Gus and dunked him under the water.

"Hey," Gus sputtered as he came up for air. He skimmed his hand across the water and drenched his father.

"You're going to pay for that, Sonny Boy," Brian laughed as he made a grab for Gus.

Gus backed away and grabbed for the side of the pool. As he did, he caught Greg's foot and pulled it down with him. Greg tumbled unceremoniously into the water. He came up coughing and cursing.

"Fuck!" was the first word out of Greg's mouth. "I didn't come here to be drowned. I'm really not much of a swimmer," he said as he hauled himself out of the water. He wasn't even actually in the deep end.

"Are you all right?" Brian asked getting out and following Greg away from the pool.

"I could have hit my head and been knocked unconscious," Greg griped as he grabbed a towel and wiped himself off.

Gus snorted to himself from the deep end of the pool where he was treading water and watching what was happening between his father and this man.

"I'm sorry, Greg," Brian was saying. "It was an accident."

"I don't think your kid likes me. He deliberately pulled me in."

"I'm sure that's not the case. Gus, apologize," Brian said, turning back to Gus.

"I didn't mean to do it," Gus said grudgingly. He almost wished he had thrown Greg in deliberately.

"That's not a very good apology," Brian stated.

"I … I'm sorry." Gus could see Greg's smirk behind his father's back. At that moment Gus truly hated this new man in his father's life.

"That's better," Brian said as he turned back to Greg to console him some more.

Gus watched the smirk disappear and a look of hurt take its place. The guy was playing his father.

Dinner was rather silent. Gus, Brian and Greg ate barbecue out by the pool. Mrs. Hadley had made them a humungous salad to go with the steaks Brian barbecued. Gus had gone upstairs after the 'Greg in the pool' incident. He couldn't stand seeing his father being so solicitous of someone who obviously didn't deserve it. When he came down for dinner the two men were dressed and had that same satisfied look they'd had before they started swimming. Gus wrinkled his nose at the thought. He wished that was all Greg wanted with his father, but he knew the man wanted more, and Gus didn't like what he was sure Greg wanted.

"Did you get some of your assignments finished?" Brian asked his son.

"A few. I'm getting there."

"If you can finish them by next weekend, we can take them to the principal for the Monday before school starts. Then he can make the decision about you going there."

"I'll try to get them done," Gus said.

"That would make life a lot simpler if you did. I'd like to read them before you give them to Mr. Jennings."

"Um, what are you two talking about?" Greg asked. "Sounds like you have to do schoolwork over the summer."

"I do."

"That sucks," Greg smirked.

"It doesn't suck," Brian corrected his lover. "Gus has some catching up to do."

"Not so great in the brains department, eh kid?" Greg continued with a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Greg," Brian interrupted trying to stop Greg from saying something that would totally turn Gus off doing his assignments.

"Oh, I'm a real dumbass, but I have enough brains to know about you," Gus retorted. He stood up, flung down his napkin and ran up to his room.

"He really seems to have taken a shine to me," Greg grinned. "Don't ya think?"

"That was uncalled for," Brian said standing up.

"Don't go after him," Greg said. "Kids just want everything their own way. He's jealous that I have some of your time now."

"You think that's it?" Brian asked. He hoped that was all there was to Gus' tantrum, but he suspected there was more to it than that.

"I'm sure, like I know anything about kids," Greg laughed. "If I was Gus, I'd be jealous of me," Greg said with some kind of convoluted logic.

Brian sat back down. "Maybe I'll let him cool off a bit before I speak to him," Brian said with a sigh.

"Good idea, and meanwhile I'll keep you entertained," Greg whispered as he leaned across the table for a kiss.

Mrs. Hadley watched from the kitchen. She had always known Mr. Kinney was gay, but she had never seen him with another man. She wondered what was so special about this Greg person. She didn't find him anywhere near in Mr. Kinney's class. She supposed the sex had to be very good, because the man didn't have much of a brain in his head. Although he had had enough smarts to start driving a wedge between Gus and his father. She wondered if there was anything she could do about that.

Gus sat on the bed in his bedroom. He was trying to read "Harry Potter", but he was also trying to block out Greg Fernley and everything he represented. He wondered why he could remember Greg's name so easily when Greg couldn't remember his. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help his father. The problem was his father didn't want help getting rid of Greg. He would be much happier to be rid of Gus.

Brian cleaned off the table and carried the dishes into the kitchen to Mrs. Hadley. He wished Greg would get off his ass and help out a bit, but the man was a guest so that couldn't really be expected. He wondered if there was any way he could make Greg and Gus get along. They seemed to dislike each other right from the first meeting. There probably wasn't anything that could be done.

Greg lounged back in his chair. He had asked Brian for some brandy to finish off dinner. Brian had brought the bottle along with two snifters. It was quality booze and Greg was enjoying it. He could really get used to living in this place especially if Brian decided that Greg didn't need to work. He would be perfectly happy to be Brian's boy toy. He didn't really like the law very much anyway, and he wasn't really very good at it. He wondered if there was anything he could do about that kid of Kinney's. He was a brat, and Greg would like this place a whole lot more if whatsisname wasn't there.

"Mr. Kinney," Mrs. Hadley began. "Will your friend be staying the night?"

"I … I don't know yet," Brian replied. He knew he wanted Greg to stay but things had not quite gone the way he had hoped. "Why?" Brian wondered if Mrs. Hadley was going to get all uptight now that he had brought someone to the house.

"I wondered how many to expect for breakfast."

"Plan on three of us."

"Certainly."

"Thank you."

"I … I don't want to intrude but perhaps you should have a word with Gus."

"Why?"

"He seemed upset."

"I thought I'd let him calm down."

"He may interpret that as you not caring."

"I suppose," Brian said with a sigh. It was so much easier when he didn't have to worry about anybody but himself. He looked out at the patio where Greg lounged in the setting sun. He felt his dick grow bigger at the sight. He still wanted the man in spite of all the problems. "I'll talk to Gus in the morning," Brian said as he went out to Greg.

Mrs. Hadley watched him go and shook her head. Mr. Kinney seemed besotted with this man, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Greg," Brian said, "let's go upstairs."

"I thought you'd never ask," Greg smiled. He grabbed the brandy bottle and stood somewhat unsteadily on his feet. "I could use a strong shoulder to lean against," he laughed suggestively.

Brian moved to him and put his arm around Greg's waist. They started to walk into the house. Mrs. Hadley went quickly to her quarters. She didn't enjoy seeing her boss make a fool of himself, and potentially be making the biggest mistake of his life.

Brian helped Greg up the stairs and they were kissing by the time they reached the top. They were both hard as Brian opened the door to his bedroom.

"I thought you'd have a bigger bedroom," Greg muttered before the door closed.

Across the hall Gus heard them and frowned. He hated this Greg more and more. He knew what Greg was getting at. He wanted the master bedroom and he would probably get it. He wanted his father and he would probably get him too if the noises emanating from Brian's bedroom meant anything. Greg wanted Gus gone, and he would probably get that too.

Greg shoved his ass up in the air and Brian drove into him. "Ah, that's what I've been waiting for," Greg purred.

Brian smiled. "Happy to oblige."

"Too bad we had to waste all that time with dinner and swimming and your kid."

Brian thrust hard and frowned. "I didn't think we were wasting time," he gasped as his orgasm built.

"You know what I mean," Greg panted. He was almost there. "Oh yeah, right there. Harder."

 

Brian rammed in again and again, and then he was cumming. As he rolled away, he had a fleeting thought that he did know what Greg had meant and he wasn't sure he liked it.

Wild Child

Chapter 11

They were well into the third day since Greg Fernley had arrived and he was now firmly ensconced at Britin. He slept in Brian's room, ate Brian's food, drank Brian's liquor and generally made himself to home. Gus did his best to avoid the man but he was forced to eat meals with Greg and his father. They were talking about going furniture shopping so they could have a proper dining room suite. Mrs. Hadley should have been happy about that, but she saw it as the beginning of the end.

"I want another cup of coffee," Greg said as he flipped through the newspaper. Gus looked at Mrs. Hadley who looked at Brian. Brian got up and brought the coffee pot to the table. He filled Greg's cup and added a bit to his own. Gus wondered if he did that so it didn't look too much like he was waiting on Greg.

"Don't you have to go to work or something?" Gus asked.

Greg raised an eyebrow. "Surely you know it's Sunday, little boy."

"I know, and I'm not a little boy," Gus said, "but tomorrow's Monday. Are you going then?"

Brian was carrying the coffee pot back to the coffee machine. Greg mouthed, "You wish," at Gus. Gus scowled in return.

"Do you have to go to work tomorrow, Greg?" Brian asked as he sat down again.

"I could take some time off if you want," Greg said with a big smile. He'd already told the law firm he worked for that he was taking next week off.

"I'd like that," Brian said looking into Greg's eyes.

Gus wanted to puke. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but somehow he had to make this man go away, had to get him out of his father's life. Gus got up from the table and almost made it out of the kitchen before his father noticed.

"Gus," Brian said stopping the boy in his tracks. "Would you like to come furniture shopping with Greg and me this afternoon?"

"No thanks," Gus said and then almost changed his mind when he saw the look of triumph on Greg's face. If it didn't mean that he'd have to spend more time with the man, he would go with them just to piss Greg off.

Brian shrugged. He would have liked Gus to come with them. But maybe this would be better. He and Greg could have some time alone, and Brian could try to convince his lover to be nicer to his son. He wanted Gus and Greg to get along.

"May I be excused?" Gus asked.

Brian nodded and Gus quickly left the room.

"I'd like another cup of coffee," Greg said picking up his empty cup and waggling it at Mrs. Hadley.

She frowned but brought the pot over and poured him another cup. "Will that be all?" she asked Brian.

"Yes, thanks," Brian said somewhat sheepishly. He wished Greg wouldn't treat Mrs. Hadley like that. "Breakfast was delicious," Brian added. "Wasn't it, Greg?"

"Oh, yeah." Greg just didn't seem to get the concept of being nice to people.

"Thank you … both," Mrs. Hadley replied pointedly. "Would you mind if I took Gus with me this afternoon? I want to visit my daughter for an hour or two."

"No, that would be fine, but you better check if he is willing to go. He can be stubborn and I really don't want him left on his own."

"I'll speak to him now," Mrs. Hadley said as she replaced the coffee pot and headed upstairs.

"I hope Gus goes with her. We could fuck the afternoon away with no interruptions," Greg smiled his best at Brian.

"I thought you wanted furniture."

"We can get that tomorrow … since I'm staying."

"Okay," Brian said smiling at some things he wanted to try with Greg. The man seemed up for anything, and he did mean anything.

+++++

"Is this where your daughter lives?" Gus asked as Mrs. Hadley brought her car to a stop in front of a small brick house in a town about half an hour from Britin.

"Yes, it is. Come along, Gus."

They walked up the little walkway and Mrs. Hadley knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a pleasant looking young woman holding a baby about two years old.

"Mum," The woman said and reached out to hug her mother. The little girl giggled and gave her grandmother a kiss.

"And how's Emma today?" Mrs. Hadley asked.

"Good," the child grinned at her grandmother.

"Emma and Susan, I'd like you to meet Gus. He's Mr. Kinney's son."

"Hello, Gus," Susan said. "Come on in."

They all went inside where they spent a couple of hours talking and laughing. Gus mostly watched, but they did draw him into the conversation a couple of times. Once was when Mrs. Hadley asked about her son-in-law who was off somewhere playing in a baseball game. Gus thought he might like to play baseball or some other sport, but had never really had the chance to get interested in one. Mrs. Hadley filed that away for future use.

As they finished their tea and cookies, Mrs. Hadley reached into her big purse and pulled out a neatly wrapped package with a big bow. "This is one of your birthday presents, Emma," Mrs. Hadley said as she handed the package to her granddaughter. "I thought you might like it now so that you could use it for your birthday."

Susan helped Emma open the package which contained the little embroidered dress that Gus had seen Mrs. Hadley working on in the kitchen. It was beautiful now that it was finished. All of them oohed and aahed over the dress before Susan took Emma and the empty cookie plate to the kitchen. They reappeared after a couple of minutes with Emma wearing the new dress.

"You look beautiful," Gus said.

Emma blushed and hid behind her mother's leg.

"It really is lovely, Mum. Emma will wear it for her party."

Mrs. Hadley smiled as she got up and gave Emma a kiss and hug. They made their way to the door and then back to the car.

"Thanks for bringing me today, Mrs. Hadley," Gus said.

"You're very welcome, Gus. I hope it wasn't too boring."

Gus shook his head. "You really made her a great dress."

Mrs. Hadley smiled as they pulled away. "Would you like to stop for ice cream? There's a little shop in town."

"Yeah, thanks."

Over ice cream sundaes, Mrs. Hadley broached a subject she knew she shouldn't. "Gus, I'd like to ask you something."

"Okay."

"You don't like your father's new … friend, do you?"

"No." The answer was firm and direct and Mrs. Hadley knew how much Gus meant it. It was just as she had suspected.

"May I ask why?" she inquired.

"He can't even remember my fucking name!" Gus blurted out.

"Gus!" Mrs. Hadley said somewhat shocked at the vehemence more so than the actual word.

"Sorry, but I can't stand Greg Fernley, and I can remember his name without any fucking trouble at all."

"Why do you feel so strongly about him?" Gus frowned and hesitated to answer. He wasn't sure how much he should reveal, but Mrs. Hadley had always been kind and fair with him. "It won't go any farther than my ears," Mrs. Hadley promised.

"You mean that?" She nodded. "When I was in grade five, I got a Walkman for Christmas. We didn't have a lot of money and I had begged for one for weeks, even asked Santa for it. Anyway, I got it for Christmas and I was so happy. I took it to school to show everybody. This kid started watching me and looking at the Walkman. He had the same look on his face that Greg has when he looks at the mansion and at Dad's liquor and at … Dad."

"I see," Mrs. Hadley said clearing her throat. She thought she knew what came next but she wanted Gus to get it all out. "So what happened to your Walkman?"

"This kid caught me after school one day. He punched me and knocked me down. He took the Walkman and said if I ever told anyone he'd really beat the crap out of me."

"And you never told?"

"Not till now."

"So you think Greg is like that kid?"

"He wants me gone. I can see it in everything he does. And the way Dad is where this guy is concerned, I'll probably get kicked out." Gus shook his head sadly and pushed the rest of his sundae away. He had suddenly lost all appetite for it. The prospect of his father abandoning him too was almost more than he could stand.

"I don't think your father would send you away," Mrs. Hadley said gently patting Gus' hand.

"You don't see what I've seen."

"What do you mean?"

"He knows that I know what he's after. He taunts me, and he uses every opportunity to poison Dad against me."

"Oh Gus, I'm sure that's not…"

"Don't tell me I'm wrong because I know I'm not."

"Well then," Mrs. Hadley said straightening up. "Perhaps it's time we did something about Mr. Fernley."

"Huh?" Gus stared at her in disbelief.

"Maybe if we work together we can get this man out of your father's life."

"You mean it?" Gus grinned. "You don't like him either, do you?"

"No, I don't. I know it's not my place to be involved in this, but I will not allow this man to hurt you and your father and drive you apart."

"But what can we do?"

"I have no idea," Mrs. Hadley said. "I was hoping you did."

Gus laughed. "You're going to take advice from me?"

"You know your father and some of his history, probably better than I do. Is there anyone who might talk some sense into him?"

Gus frowned and thought hard. "There's Grandma Debbie, but she…"

"What?"

"She tends to be a little harsh with Dad. I don't know if he always listens to her."

"Hm…anyone else?"

Then the thought hit Gus. "I was reading the back of your newspaper the other day and it said that there was going to be an art gallery opening for Justin Taylor. He might be able to help us."

"Who is Justin Taylor?"

Gus smiled. "Have you noticed all the pictures around the house with Dad and a blond man?"

"Yes."

"That's Justin. They were together when I was a little kid. I don't remember Justin too well, but I think they really loved each other."

"Oh my, bringing an old love back into this might not be such a good idea."

"But if I got a chance to speak to Justin, and find out if he still has any feelings for my father…"

"Maybe your dad still has feelings for him too."

"I think he does, but Dad would never admit it. He bought Britin for Justin."

"Oh!" Now it all suddenly made sense to Mrs. Hadley. "And he's kept it all these years … waiting." Gus nodded. "I think we should try to find this Justin Taylor."

"Let's go home and look it up in the paper. Maybe Justin is already in Pittsburgh getting ready for his show," Gus said.

They quickly left the ice cream shop and headed for home. Mrs. Hadley checked several newspapers until she found the one about the opening. It would be next weekend, so this Justin Taylor might already be in town.

"Gus, how would you feel about a trip into Pittsburgh tomorrow?" Mrs. Hadley smiled.

"Sounds good to me. Would we be stopping at an art gallery by any chance?" Gus grinned.

"I think we just might."

"Do … do we need some sort of excuse about why we're going?" Gus asked.

"How would you like to see the last of the Harry Potter movies? It's out right now."

"Wow! Could we?"

"That was supposed to be our excuse," Mrs. Hadley laughed. "But I suppose we could see the movie too."

"That would be great."

Suddenly they heard noise from the dining room. Brian and Greg came through the door locked in a heated kiss as they stumbled towards the fridge.

"Ahem," Mrs. Hadley cleared her throat.

Brian jumped and pulled back. Greg turned to Gus and the housekeeper and grinned. It was almost like he was gloating, almost like he knew they were there.

"Fuck! You scared me," Brian said wiping his lips and straightening his shirt. At least he had thrown some clothes on before they came down to get some beer and snacks.

"I'm sorry we interrupted," Mrs. Hadley said stiffly. "Did you get some furniture?"

"Um … no," Brian stumbled. "We didn't go out. We'll do that tomorrow."

"I see."

Greg grinned and looked triumphantly at the kid and the housekeeper. This was better than he could have wished. Now they had both got an eyeful of him and Brian together. The kid would be furious and he could use that against him. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the housekeeper. He'd have to play that one carefully.

"We went back to bed for a while," Greg smirked. "Now we need some beer and something to eat." Greg looked at Mrs. Hadley pointedly.

"I'll be making dinner shortly," she said abruptly.

"Um … why don't we wait for dinner?" Brian said. "Grab us each a beer."

Greg looked annoyed but moved to the fridge.

"Dad, if you're going out tomorrow, Mrs. Hadley says she will take me to Pittsburgh to see the last Harry Potter movie. Can I go?"

"Um … sure … yeah. I don't see why not." Brian looked at Mrs. Hadley asking silently what was going on.

"We got to talking in the car," Mrs. Hadley said. "I know how much Gus likes Harry Potter and it is the last of the movies. I want to see it too."

"I'm sure that will be fine," Brian agreed as Greg handed him a beer. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Brian asked Gus.

"No, I really want to see this movie," Gus said choosing his words carefully. He wanted to scream at his father that he didn't want to go anywhere with his fucking boyfriend. He'd rather be dead than in the same car with Greg Fernley.

"Then, a movie it is. Don't be too late getting back."

"I won't."

"You still have the rest of your assignments to get done for next Friday."

"I know."

"Good boy," Brian said squeezing Gus' shoulder. "Have fun at the movie."

"We will," Gus said giving Greg a smirk that matched the one Greg had been sporting earlier. Greg frowned wondering what had brought this on. Gus knew the man was far too dense to figure anything out, but he didn't want him trying to figure this out either. Gus wiped the smirk off his face and tried to look neutral.

"Let's go back upstairs," Greg said to Brian.

"You go ahead," Brian replied handing him his beer bottle. "I'll be up in a moment."

Greg reluctantly left the kitchen.

"Gus, sit down for a minute," Brian said.

Mrs. Hadley started bringing out food from the fridge and preparing to start dinner. She was really listening intently to what Brian was about to say. Gus reluctantly sat down. He hoped he wasn't going to get another lecture about how he should try to like Greg and get along with him. Brian sat across from Gus and collected his thoughts.

"I see that you don't like Greg very much," Brian said bluntly.

"Dad?"

"Don't interrupt. I wanted you to like Greg when I invited him out here. I hoped he would like you too. That doesn't seem to be happening. However, I want you to understand something, Gus. Are you listening?"

"Yes."

"Greg is … becoming very important to me. He is staying here next week … and maybe longer if things go well. If you don't like it, please try to keep that to yourself. I've already asked you to give him a chance. If you can't do that, then try to stay away from him, because Greg's here and that's a fact of life."

Gus stared into his father's eyes and he knew there was no point in arguing. "Okay," Gus said.

Brian stood and looked down at his son. "Good." And then he left to go find his lover.

"Fuck!" Gus breathed out. "It's worse than we thought. He's got Dad wrapped around his little finger."

"Gus, you need to be careful about what you say," Mrs. Hadley advised.

"I hate this! I hate that Greg gets whatever he wants. He's going to ruin everything. He's going to hurt Dad."

"You may be right about that but you need to be careful for now. After we see Justin Taylor, we can decide more fully what to do."

"Yeah, I hope Justin will help us."

"Don't build your hopes on Justin's help. He might not want anything to do with this situation," Mrs. Hadley said feeling the need to warn Gus that things might not go the way he hoped.

"Justin was nice. He always played with me … from what I can remember."

"That's nice, Gus."

"I think he wanted Dad to be happy. Greg can't do that for my father. I know it."

"But right now he does make your father happy. I think finding someone, anyone, has been very difficult for your father. It doesn't happen easily, and he will have trouble letting it go."

"I'm not sure I follow all that, but I know Justin will help us."

Mrs. Hadley sighed. The faith of the young was not easy to contradict. "Go wash up for dinner. It will be ready in a while."

"Okay," Gus said standing up. "Thanks for taking me to meet your daughter and granddaughter."

Mrs. Hadley smiled. "You're welcome, Gus."

"That really was a beautiful dress you made for Emma."

"Maybe you can come to her birthday party," Mrs. Hadley suggested.

"I don't know, maybe," Gus said. He wondered if he's still be there in a couple of weeks.

"We'll see as the time gets closer."

"Thanks for inviting me anyway. It's nice to be included. I can hardly wait till tomorrow."

Mrs. Hadley shook her head as Gus bounced out of the room. She knew he was banking everything on this Justin Taylor, but she had no idea how the man might react when asked to help his old lover.

Wild Child

Chapter 12

Mrs. Hadley pulled her car into a parking space near the Sidney Bloom Gallery. She and Gus sat staring at the front door of the building wondering how best to proceed.

"My mom used to work here," Gus said suddenly. "Her boss was Mr. Bloom. She often said she wished she could get a job like she had here, and have a boss like Mr. Bloom."

"Really?" Mrs. Hadley said with interest. "Maybe we should ask for Mr. Bloom and see what we can find out."

"Okay," Gus said ready to get the show on the road.

They made their way inside and were met by someone who asked if he could be of help.

"Is Mr. Bloom available?" Mrs. Hadley asked.

"Who might I say is asking?"

"I'm Muriel Hadley."

"And I'm Gus Marcus-Peterson," Gus said confidently. "Mr. Bloom used to know my mom."

"Oh," the man said. "Please wait here and I'll inform Mr. Bloom."

Mrs. Hadley looked at Gus and nodded. Maybe the connection with Gus' mother would get them what they wanted. After a couple of minutes while they looked at some paintings, Sidney Bloom appeared.

"Gus?" he said looking at the boy.

"Yes," Gus replied.

"Well, my goodness, it's been a long time since I saw you. You were just a toddler the last time."

"I've grown up a bit since then," Gus said proudly. He saw Mrs. Hadley smile.

"Are you here with your mother?" Sidney asked. "I'd love to see her." He looked around like Lindsay might be hiding behind a post or something.

"I'm living with my father now."

"Oh."

"Um … we saw the ad about Justin having a show here. We wanted to get in touch with him. Is he in Pittsburgh?"

"No, he's still in Europe," Sidney said.

Gus felt his determination melt away. Justin wasn't here and he wasn't going to help them.

"That's too bad," Mrs. Hadley said speaking for the first time. "I'm Mr. Kinney's housekeeper. We were hoping to have a word with Mr. Taylor, but if he's not here…"

"He arrives on Wednesday," Sidney said seeing how much they wanted to get in touch with Justin. "He's going to be awfully busy, but I promise to tell him you were here and you were looking for him. Do you have a number where you can be reached?"

Mrs. Hadley took out a pad and pen from her purse. She seemed to have everything in that purse, but oddly, she could find whatever was needed immediately. She wrote the number of her private line at the mansion on the pad. "This is my number, but I would see that Gus got the message," she said.

"I'll give this to Justin. If you're talking to your mother, please remember me to her."

"Yes, sir," Gus said as they turned to leave. "Um … do you have any of Justin's work up yet?" Gus asked.

"Actually we're working our way from the back with the pieces for Justin's show. Would you like a sneak preview? It's very good."

"Could we?" Gus asked.

Sidney nodded and walked them towards the back of the gallery.

"Wow!" Gus gasped as he saw the first piece. "That's really great!"

"I think so too," Sidney laughed.

Gus walked around looking at the other six or eight pieces that had been hung. They were large and powerful, except for one that hung by itself. It was much more subdued and held a human form. Gus could almost believe that it was his father surrounded by clouds of sadness, at least that's what it seemed like to him. He turned away not wanting to look at it anymore. If Justin felt like that about his father, he probably wouldn't want to talk to them.

"I think we better go," Gus said to Mrs. Hadley. "We wouldn't want to miss the movie."

She gave him a look, but they started towards the front door.

"Gus, it was good to see you," Sidney called. "And you too, Mrs. Hadley."

She nodded as they went out the door.

"It's hopeless," Gus said when they got in the car. "Justin must hate my father. That piece was so sad."

"I saw the sadness too, but I don't think it was tinged with hate," Mrs. Hadley said with a faint smile.

"You don't?"

"I think it was tinged with love."

Gus studied the side of Mrs. Hadley's face as she started the car and drove away.

+++++

When Gus and Mrs. Hadley returned late that afternoon, they discovered that Brian's car and the Miata were both parked next to the house.

Gus made a face that was not lost on Mrs. Hadley. "They may have taken the Corvette," she said.

"Most likely they never went at all. They're upstairs fucking." Gus scowled and shook his head.

"Gus!"

"Sorry, but I hate that guy."

"We have to be patient. Maybe Justin will call on Wednesday."

"Yeah, right! This'll go the same way everything else in my life has gone … down the toilet."

Once inside the house, Mrs. Hadley began making some dinner not having been instructed otherwise. Gus sat at the kitchen table working on his assignments. Some time later Brian appeared looking slightly tired but well satisfied at the same time.

"I didn't hear you two come in," he said as he grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the fridge.

"I wonder why," Gus muttered.

"What?"

"I thought you and … Greg were going out."

"We changed our minds. There's always tomorrow."

"Sure," Gus said with a shrug.

"Is something wrong?" Brian asked with a frown.

"No, everything's just peachy," Gus snarked using one of his father's favorite expressions.

"Gus!" Brian reacted. Mrs. Hadley shook her head at him. "Did you two enjoy the movie?"

"It was awesome," Gus replying with genuine emotion for the first time.

"I never really got the whole fascination with wizards," Brian said.

"Mr. Kinney," Mrs. Hadley admonished with a smile. "Remember where I got those books in the first place."

"Oh right," Brian said. She had got them from him.

"I think it would be neat to be a wizard," Gus explained.

Brian opened his bottle of water, took a drink and sat down at the table with Gus. "What would be neat about it?" Brian smiled wanting to hear what Gus would say.

"It would be great to have an owl like Hedwig and send messages that way."

"That is pretty cool," Brian agreed.

"And then I'd know how to make potions and cast spells," Gus continued. Brian smiled at his son's enthusiasm.

"Brian!" a whiny voice said from the doorway. It was Greg, of course. "I thought you were coming right back."

"Um … I was talking to Gus."

"Come on," Greg whined.

Brian stood and picked up his water and the one he had got for Greg. "Maybe we can finish this at dinner."

"Sure," Gus scowled as his father walked away to join Greg. "And maybe I can cast a spell to make him disappear," Gus said staring at the unwanted guest's back as he and his father left the kitchen.

"Dinner in an hour," Mrs. Hadley called.

The next day went by with much the same results. Gus worked on his assignments and swam a little and worried a lot about whether Justin would call. Brian and Greg stayed in the bedroom most of the day and did not go furniture shopping that day either. Just after dinner was finished, the mansion phone rang.

Mrs. Hadley waited for Mr. Kinney to answer. When he didn't, she finally picked up the kitchen extension. "Kinney residence," she said formally.

"Oh, um, yes, is Brian available?" a female voice enquired.

"Mr. Kinney is not available at the moment," Mrs. Hadley replied assuming that her employer would not enjoy being interrupted. "May I take a message?"

"Um … could I speak to Gus?"

"Who … who is this?"

"I'm Gus' mother."

"Oh, one moment, please." Mrs. Hadley put her hand over the mouthpiece and turned to Gus who was once again working on the projects for Bramley Hall at her kitchen table. "Gus," she said softly. "It's a woman saying she is your mother."

"Mom?" he asked as he ran to get the phone. "Mom? Mom? Is that really you?"

"Gus, oh Gus! How are you, sweetheart?" Lindsay asked breathlessly.

"I … I'm okay. Why haven't you called before?"

"We … we thought it would be best to let you get settled in with your father. You are settled in, aren't you?"

"I guess so," Gus admitted although he could have given her a much longer answer.

"Are you okay, Gus?"

"I'm all right."

"It's good to hear your voice."

"Yours too, Mom."

"Would you like to speak to Melanie?"

"Okay."

"Gus?"

"Hi, Momma."

"Gus, how are things going?"

"Dad's trying to get me into a private school. I've had a ton of makeup work to do."

"Are you trying hard?" Melanie asked.

"I'm doing my best."

"When will you know?"

"We have to hand all the work in this Friday and then I should know by next week."

"Just in time for the beginning of the school year."

"Yeah."

"JR wants to say hello," Melanie said as her daughter tugged on her pant leg.

"She does?" Gus asked in surprise.

"Hi, Gus," Jenny's little voice said.

"Hi, JR."

"I miss you."

"You do?"

"Sometimes."

Gus laughed. At least she was telling the truth. "I miss you too … sometimes."

"Gus," Lindsay's voice interrupted. "We have to go. Will you tell your father that we called? I'd like to talk to him."

"Okay."

"Bye, honey."

"Bye, Mom."

Gus stood looking at the phone for a few seconds after Lindsay cut the connection. He wasn't sure how he felt about talking to his family. They had given him away to his father, but they still seemed interested in how he was doing. Except! No one had said they loved him. No one ever said that anymore. He knew he was unlovable. It hadn't taken long for his father to find that out, and choose Greg over him.

"Gus, hang up the phone, dear," Mrs. Hadley said.

Gus did as he was told, but his head was still reeling with what the call meant. At least they had called. That was the first time he had heard from them since he left Toronto.

"Are you all right, Gus?" Mrs. Hadley asked gently.

"I … I don't know."

"Do you want me to get your father?"

"He won't come."

"Yes, he will."

Gus shook his head. "It doesn't matter."

"It most certainly does." Mrs. Hadley picked up the phone and hit some numbers. Gus could hear it ringing again and again.

Finally it stopped and Brian's breathless voice came on the line. "This better be important."

"Have I ever used this line before?" Mrs. Hadley asked pointedly.

"No."

"Your son needs you."

"What … what happened?"

"He's here in the kitchen. Come down and see."

"Brian, don't go. We were just at a good part," Greg's whiny voice said in the background.

"Mr. Kinney," Mrs. Hadley interrupted. "If you don't come down here right now, I'm bringing Gus up there. What will it be?"

"I'll be right down," Brian said hastily.

"And don't bring that man with you," she added before Brian could hang up.

"Is he coming?" Gus asked. She nodded. "Thanks, for that last part too."

"You need your father. I'll be in my quarters." Mrs. Hadley quietly left the kitchen and went into her quarters. She didn't quite close the door, however.

"Gus? Gus, what's wrong?" Brian asked as he rushed into the kitchen, thankfully alone.

"I … I had a phone call from Mom," Gus said tears in his eyes.

"Fuck! They weren't supposed to call," Brian said his hand on his hip.

"I think they were trying to reach you but when you didn't answer, Mrs. Hadley picked up. Mom asked for me."

"What did you tell her?"

"That I'm … all right?"

"Did she sound worried?"

"No, why should she? She doesn't care anymore about me than you do."

"Gus…"

"Fuck off, Dad!" All Gus' worry and upset began to pour out. "Nobody cares about me! You don't pay any attention to me anymore. You just want to be with Greg. It took Mom weeks to call here and see how I am. They don't care. Nobody wants me!"

Gus put his head down on his arms on the table and sobbed. Brian felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest.

"Gus, please, don't," Brian begged as he took a couple of steps towards his son. Gus just kept sobbing. Brian reached the table wondering what the hell to do with his son. He could handle defiance and manipulation and bad attitude, but what was he supposed to do with tears? "Gus," he said gently placing his hand on Gus' shoulder and squeezing.

"Dad … I," Gus looked up and then Brian found Gus' arms wrapped around his waist. The boy held on with a viselike grip, like his life depended on never letting go.

Instinctively Brian held Gus, arms around the smaller shoulders as Gus continued to sob. "Tell me what's wrong, Gus. What can I do?"

"Don't send me away. Don't make me go to an orphanage. Please, Dad," Gus begged.

"What are you talking about? Where did you get those ideas? I'm not going to send you away," Brian promised with tears in his own eyes. Had he so neglected his son that Gus thought he was about to be put out of the house?

"You mean it? I can stay?" Gus looked up at his father, eyes full of tears and cheeks red and streaked from crying.

"Of course, you're staying. You're my son."

"What about Greg?"

"What about him?"

"He doesn't want me here."

"That's not true."

"You know it is. He doesn't like me."

"We'll work something out," Brian promised.

"And I don't have to leave."

"Absolutely not."

"I … I got scared. When I talked to Mom and she sounded kind of cold, I thought I'd have nowhere to go."

"You'll always have a place with me."

"I … I guess I feel better now," Gus said wiping at his eyes.

"Mrs. Hadley keeps Kleenex someplace around here," Brian said looking around the kitchen.

"By the phone," Gus said, "but don't leave me."

"You're not wiping your nose on my jeans, are you?" Brian tried to joke.

"Not yet," Gus laughed through his tears.

"Let me get that Kleenex. I'll come right back."

Gus nodded and Brian quickly brought him the box of tissues. Gus wiped his face and blew his nose.

"Are you okay now?" Brian asked. Gus nodded. "Do you want me to stay with you for a while?" Gus nodded again. "Let's go in the library and sit on the sofa."

Together they walked out of the kitchen, Brian's arm around Gus' shoulders.

 

With a smile Mrs. Hadley closed the door to her quarters and picked up the book she had been pretending to read. Now she might actually get through a chapter or two.

Wild Child

Chapter 13

Gus awoke Wednesday morning full of expectation. Justin would call today. Gus was sure he would. He had to.

Gus lay on his bed staring at the ceiling and thinking for a few minutes. Yesterday had been such a weird day. When Mrs. Hadley had first answered the phone, Gus had been holding his breath. He had prayed it might be Justin even if it was a day earlier than expected. It was rare to get calls on the mansion phone. Most of the time his father used his cell phone to communicate with the outside world. Neither he nor his father seemed to have any friends that called them at home. Gus emitted a long sigh as he realized that.

But then to be called to the phone and actually get to talk to his mom had been … strange. He had been so excited to hear Lindsay's voice. He had thought at first that they might have called to ask him to come home. Maybe they were missing him as much as he was missing them. But that hadn't been the case.

They didn't even really seem that thrilled to talk to him. He had been painfully aware of the reserve in their voices and the carefully worded questions. What the fuck was wrong with him? Why didn't anyone really care about him?

And then there had been that chat with his father. He'd have to thank Mrs. Hadley for making his father come down and talk to him. She had actually threatened Brian Kinney and she had not only got away with it, but she had made him do what she wanted. She had even made Brian come down without Greg. Wow! That had been something.

Brian had taken Gus into the library and they had talked a bit. Brian tried to reassure Gus that he wasn't going to send him away. Gus had tried to get his father to see how Greg was pushing them apart, but Brian was having none of that. At first Brian had tried to change the subject and then he simply told Gus that discussing Greg was off limits. Even though nothing had been settled, Gus felt a little safer about his status in the house. It didn't seem likely that he was going to be sent away any time soon, but Greg was still there standing firmly between him and his father.

Gus threw off his sheet and headed for the shower. He was hungry. He hoped Greg wouldn't be up yet, but if that was the case, his father wouldn't be up either.

Gus had breakfast with Mrs. Hadley. They quietly discussed when Justin might call. Mrs. Hadley tried to keep Gus from getting his hopes up too much. She said if Justin was arriving all the way from Europe he might get there late at night or might be too tired to call. Gus was adamant that Justin would call on Wednesday.

After breakfast, with no sign of Brian or Greg, Gus decided to work on the last of his assignments for Bramley Hall. He thought they had turned out pretty well, but he wanted his father to look them over before they had to be turned in on Friday. There was only a little over a week until school started.

Gus went into the master bedroom and through to the study where he curled up in the bay window that he had learned to love. He had to write an essay on the importance of mathematics in everyday life. What a stupid topic! That's why he had left it as one of his last assignments. He tried to think of ways that you needed math to get things done every day. He was lost in thought when he heard a noise from the bedroom.

Gus jumped. He always felt guilty when he was in there. His father had found him that one time and he hadn't been exactly mad at him, but he hadn't been pleased either. Gus held his breath as he heard someone moving around in the main bedroom. Suddenly a figure filled the doorway to the study and Gus looked up to see Greg glaring at him.

"So this is where you hide out all the time," Greg said with a sneer. "You'll have to find a new place to disappear." The intent that Gus should disappear altogether was very clear in Greg's words and voice.

"I like it here," Gus countered.

"Too bad. Your father and I need more room and this will do very nicely." Greg waved his hand around in what appeared to be a grand manner. "Looks like you'll have to find somewhere else to play."

"I wasn't playing. I was working," Gus said indignantly.

"Oh right," Greg laughed. "You flunked the last grade and you're trying to make it up in time for the new school year. Like that's about to happen!"

Gus felt tears of anger and frustration well up inside of him. He was about to scream something foul at this idiot, but he remembered that Justin was going to call. He had to stay calm until he could tell Justin what was going on, and then Justin would help him fix it.

Grabbing up his books and papers, Gus quickly got up and headed for his room. Fuck Greg Fernley! Fuck him to Hell!

"Gus?" Brian said as he came out of his bedroom and saw Gus stomping down the hall.

Gus swept past his father and went into his room. He slammed the door hard enough to make the wood shiver and then immediately locked it.

"Gus?" Brian's voice came through the door. "Gus, what's wrong? Gus, talk to me!"

Silently Gus sat on his bed staring at the door. He heard Brian try the handle and then all was quiet outside. Gus threw himself down on the bed and the tears came. He couldn't have anything of his own, even that one little place in the bay window. Greg was taking everything away from him including his father.

Brian saw the open door to the master suite. When Gus refused to answer, he walked down the hall and looked inside. The room was empty. He stepped in always reluctant to enter without the person for whom the room was intended. Brian gave himself a shake and said, "Greg."

Greg came out of the bathroom with a big smile on his face. "Oh Brian," he gushed, "this room is wonderful. What the fuck are we doing in that dinky room of yours when we could spread out in here?"

"This room is … off limits," Brian said haltingly. He didn't want to have to explain why he could never sleep in this room, especially with Greg.

"What the hell for?"

"I don't have to explain to you … or to anybody. It just is."

"But we're so cramped in your bedroom. We need more space."

"I haven't heard you complaining before," Brian sighed.

"I didn't realize we had this option."

"What … what happened with Gus?" Brian asked remembering why he had come there in the first place, and also hoping to change the subject.

"Oh, he was playing some game, sitting in the bay window in there."

"And…?"

"And I told him he better go to his room."

"That's all?"

"Yeah, he gave me some real attitude."

Brian frowned. He knew Gus could do attitude with the best of them, but he hadn't seen much of that until Greg had come into the picture. "Did you tell him you were taking over this room?" Brian asked the light beginning to dawn.

"Not in so many words," Greg said.

"Don't order Gus around," Brian warned. "He's had a hard time and he needs to be handled gently."

Greg almost snorted, but he caught himself in time. "He seems to enjoy ordering me around," Greg said petulantly.

"He doesn't have the right to do that either."

"Maybe you should make that clear to him."

"I will, but I don't want you and him fighting."

"Sometimes it's bloody hard not to."

"Look," Brian began running his hand through his bed hair. "We've been going to go look at furniture. Why don't we do that today? Let's go get ready."

"Sure, sweetness," Greg said advancing on Brian and rubbing himself against Brian's groin. He could feel the desired result almost immediately. "Why don't we take a shower? The shower in here is huge. Come on." Greg took Brian's hand and tried to pull him towards the bathroom.

"No," Brian said pulling his hand away. "I'm going back to my own shower."

"This is your shower," Greg said looking at Brian like he had two heads.

"No, no, it's not." Brian turned away and had almost reached the hall when he felt Greg's arms come around him.

"Let's not fight," Greg said with a bat of his eyelashes. "I want you."

"I … I want you too."

"Then let's go get that shower," Greg said tugging Brian along behind him down the hall. Greg took one look back at Brian's none too happy face and then at the open door to the master suite which he knew would be his before long. He also knew that in a few minutes he would make Brian very happy. Brian would forget all about his bitchy son. Then they would shop for dining furniture, and maybe some things for the master bedroom. Greg yanked Brian inside their temporary bedroom and slammed the door behind them. Brian let out a long moan as Greg's hand found his cock and his lips welded onto his lover.

"Fuck!" Gus muttered as he heard the door across the hall slam shut. He had a pretty good idea of what Greg Fernley was doing to his father. He shuddered at the thought, but he knew enough about human nature to know that Greg had his father under his spell. Gus really needed Justin to call … and soon.

Deciding it was safe to come out of his room for a while, since his father and Greg would be otherwise occupied, Gus made his way down to the kitchen. He looked hopefully at Mrs. Hadley as he entered. She shook her head with a sad smile. Justin hadn't called yet.

"Did you get your assignments finished?" she asked.

Gus shook his head. "HE interrupted me."

There was no question as to who the HE might be. Mrs. Hadley tried to keep her face neutral. She knew she was already overstepping the bounds by helping Gus contact Justin Taylor. She knew, however, that she loathed Greg Fernley as much as the boy did.

"Shouldn't you try to get your work finished in case we hear something?"

"I guess so, but I think Dad and him are going out later. That is, if he lets Dad out of the bedroom."

"Gus," Mrs. Hadley admonished gently.

"He wants to move into the master bedroom," Gus said with a sigh. "He kicked me out of there."

"Did you tell your father?"

"No, what good would it do? He'll make it sound like I was wrong to be in there."

"Why don't you go for a walk or a swim, and then you can get back to work when you're done?"

"Maybe I will," Gus said.

"Take this with you," Mrs. Hadley said tossing him an apple.

Gus smiled as he caught it. He went out the patio door not sure where he would walk to but he needed some time alone away from you know who. Maybe Justin would have called by the time he came back.

Gus walked around the house looking at the plants in the gardens. There must be some gardener who came and looked after them. He had never seen anyone though, but he was sure his father or Mrs. Hadley didn't do it. He watched a butterfly flit from flower to flower, and marveled that he was there. He remembered his life in Toronto and felt a pang of guilt. His mothers and JR were still there. He did miss them, and he knew a lot of his anger towards them had gone. He'd really like to see them again, but he also knew he didn't want to go back to Toronto. He was glad to be out of that life.

Coming around the corner of the house, Gus saw the garage and went over to it. He opened the door the way he had seen his father do it when they had gone for the ride in the Corvette. The door swung up revealing the classic car inside. Gus approached the 'Vette and opened the driver's door. He saw the key hanging on the wall. It would be fun to take the car for a ride. He was sure he could drive it. He had watched his father carefully. Gus walked over to the key and reached for it. Something told him it would be a big mistake. If he did anything to the car, he knew his father would be furious with him. And he wasn't exactly on the best of terms with Brian at the moment. Gus left the key hanging there and went back to the car. He climbed into the driver's seat and imagined himself whizzing along the open highway, free as a bird and not a care in the world.

While Gus was dreaming in the Corvette, Brian and Greg finally appeared grabbing some fruit and toast before going on their shopping spree. They set off on their jaunt deciding to take the Mercedes.

Some time later Gus reappeared looking for lunch. Mrs. Hadley's face told him that Justin had not called. They ate together with Mrs. Hadley trying once again to keep Gus from getting his hopes too high. Gus spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and completing his assignments for Bramley. He was beginning to fear that Justin wouldn't call when they had heard nothing from him by dinner time.

After dinner Gus went up to his room and read Harry Potter. His assignments were done and he needed to show them to his father. They were supposed to take them to Bramley on Friday and he knew Brian wanted to check them first. He wondered when Greg would let his father come home.

As Mrs. Hadley was getting ready for bed, her personal phone rang. She looked at it with some trepidation. It was after eleven at night. Mr. Kinney wasn't home yet, and she never got calls this late at night. Carefully she picked it up praying that it wasn't something bad about her daughter or granddaughter.

"Hello?"

"Um, is this Mrs. Hadley?"

"Yes, who's this?" she asked with a frown. It couldn't be anything good.

"This is Justin Taylor. I had a message saying that Gus Marcus-Peterson was trying to get in touch with me. This number was on the note."

"Yes, Mr. Taylor," Mrs. Hadley said with a sigh of relief. "Gus does want to meet with you."

"I'd love to see Gus again. How old is he now?"

"He's twelve, almost thirteen."

"Wow, that last time I saw him he was four," Justin said shaking his head. He couldn't believe that much time had passed. "I know it's late, but could I speak to Gus?"

"I'm afraid he's asleep already. I just checked on him."

"Um, may I ask who you are? Are you his nanny?"

Mrs. Hadley chuckled. Justin liked the sound of it. "Goodness no," she said. "Gus is a little old for a nanny. I'm Mr. Kinney's housekeeper."

"Housekeeper?"

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"No, but I'm a little confused."

"I thought Gus lived with his mothers and when did Brian get a housekeeper?"

"I've been his housekeeper for several years now."

"And Gus lives with you?"

"Yes, but that is a recent development."

"Oh?" Justin was confused by this whole scenario, but he decided it was time to get to the crunch. "I'd love to see Gus again," Justin repeated. "But do you know why he is calling me now?"

"I … I really shouldn't comment," Mrs. Hadley said thinking that she should stay out of this as much as possible.

"I need to know if this is something about Brian," Justin said honestly. "Please tell me."

"Yes, it is," Mrs. Hadley admitted. She could hear the pain in the man's voice.

"I was afraid of that. Maybe Gus and I shouldn't meet."

"Oh, he will be so disappointed," Mrs. Hadley said. She really did want Gus to enlist Mr. Taylor's help in getting rid of Mr. Fernley.

"I know, and I'll be disappointed not to see Gus, but maybe that would be for the best."

"Mr. Kinney has a new boyfriend that Gus hates, and he seems to hate Gus," Mrs. Hadley blurted out. She had to do something to help both Gus and her employer. Greg Fernley was not the answer they needed in their lives. Mr. Taylor sounded like he might be.

There was a long pause. Mrs. Hadley was about to ask if Justin was still there when she heard his voice again. "Brian has a boyfriend?"

"Yes, he does, and he's not a very nice man," she sighed. She shouldn't be saying any of this, but her philosophy had always been 'in for a penny, in for a pound'. And she was now all the way in.

"I'm sorry to hear that … that he's not a very nice man," Justin added quickly. "But I don't see what any of this has to do with me. I haven't seen Brian … in years."

"I realize that, but Gus saw the write-up for your show in the paper and thought you might be able to help him."

"Is Brian there?" Justin asked. He really didn't want to talk to the man but maybe they could settle something if he did.

"Mr. Kinney isn't home at the moment."

"Oh."

"I'm not sure when he'll be in."

"Out with his boyfriend," Justin muttered and Mrs. Hadley thought she heard a tinge of something in his voice. Was it jealousy or regret?

"I really can't say," she replied.

"Oh, yeah, that's okay. Look, I think it's best if I stay out of this whole mess."

"I see."

"I don't think anything I could do or say would make any difference."

"As you wish, Mr. Taylor." Mrs. Hadley knew how disappointed Gus was going to be.

"Can you explain it to Gus for me?"

"I can try."

"Thanks."

"It was interesting talking to you, Mr. Taylor. It's too bad that you can't help Gus."

Justin wondered what he was hearing in her voice. It was almost like she was pleading with him to do something. "I'm sorry to disappoint him, but try to explain why. Brian wouldn't want to see me again, and he certainly wouldn't want me interfering in his love life."

"I understand."

"Try to make Gus understand too. Um, if things get too much for him, here's my cell phone number." Mrs. Hadley wrote it down as Justin dictated the numbers. "Maybe it would be best if you didn't give him that right away. Just use it if there's an emergency or something."

"Okay."

"Again, I'm sorry I can't help."

"Thanks for calling," Mrs. Hadley said and the line went dead. She replaced the receiver and glanced at the number she had written on the pad by the bed. There would be no help from that quarter.

 

It was a long time before Mrs. Hadley could get to sleep. Somewhere in that interval, she heard voices in the kitchen and knew that Mr. Kinney had returned. That man must have come back with him. With a deep sigh, Mrs. Hadley tried to find sleep amid thoughts of how she was going to break the bad news to Gus that there would be no help from Justin Taylor.