Chapter 18

45 minutes after leaving Britin, Brian walked into the diner. One quick glance through the half-empty diner immediately showed Michael sitting in one of the booths at the back. Brian slowly went over to him and sat down across from Michael who was looking at him from big, slightly surprised eyes.

“Michael,” Brian greeted curtly.

“Brian? You really came?”

“Obviously, or I wouldn't be here, would I?”

“How are you? It has been like forever since I've last seen you,” Michael started and Brian could only think to himself that there was only one person to blame for that and that one person was Michael. Not that Brian said so. Saying so would only have started another argument and sometimes it was just better to swallow your own words for the sake of making up.

“Good. Busy, but well, that was to be expected, I guess.” Brian's voice wasn't overly friendly, but it wasn't as cold as it had been during previous meetings either. He knew that he needed to make an effort if he wanted to save some of their friendship. If only for the children's sake.

“So Kinnetik is doing well? And Babylon as well?”

“Yeah, I can't complain. Though I don't really have much to do with either. Cynthia and Ted are mostly taking care of the every day runnings of my businesses.”

“But, you said you were busy,” Michael pointed out with a confused look on his face.

“Well, raising a newborn is a 24/7 job, that's keeping me busy nowadays.”

“I can't believe that you really kept the baby,” Michael muttered darkly, looking at Brian from uncomprehending eyes.

“The baby is called Luke and is my son, of course I kept him.” Brian felt anger rise inside of him once more and was about ready to wring Michael's neck for that comment alone, but then thought better of it when Kiki arrived at their table and asked for their orders.

“But you were never father material. You never wanted a child. This baby is destroying your whole life. What about your reputation?”

“What about it?” Brian asked angrily.

“You are the stud of Liberty Avenue. You have a reputation to uphold. The ultimate top and all and now you had a baby...”

Brian wondered for a second if Michael was for real or not. As much as he tried to reign in his emotions, his anger slowly took over and he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't wring that whiny neck in front of him.

“Look, I think there was a misunderstanding here. I came here because Lindsay said we should talk and we should try to save our friendship. If only for Gus and JR's sake. If you only want to go on spouting the same shit you've been spouting for a year now, this conversation is over. I was willing to give you a second chance here, but if you only want to talk shit about things you don't know anything about, be my guest. I won't listen to that.”

As Brian slid out of the booth and went over to the counter to tell Kiki to make his order to go, Michael followed him.

“Brian, Lindsay and I are only looking out for you. We're your friends and we only want what's best for you.”

“Reporting me to Child Protective Services was good for me how?” Brian glared at the man next to him, begging him to give him a reason to lash out.

“If they had taken the baby away like we had planned, you would have been able to go back to the life you always wanted. You could have gone back to Liberty Avenue and could have gone back to reclaim your throne as the undisputed king of Liberty Avenue. You could have shown that pretentious shit Brandon who's the real king around here.”

Brian's eyes had widened, not really able to believe what his supposed best friend was saying. “Let me get this straight, you and Lindsay wanted my child taken away from me so I could go back to drinking, fucking and sucking?”

When Michael nodded eagerly, Brian felt something inside him snap.

“Yes, that is your life. You are Peter Pan, you never grow up. You drink, suck and fuck your way into an early grave. It's what you always wanted.”

“What happened to: 'You have to grow up, Brian? You can't be an over the hill club boy all your life?'” Brian mimicked Michael's whiny voice and did a surprisingly good impersonation of the smaller man. “You were the one who told me for months that I had to grow up, that Justin deserved more than what he was getting from me, that I was an embarrassment to gays everywhere. Shouldn't you of all people be glad that I grew up and settled down?”

“Brian,” Michael started in a voice that reminded Brian so much of Lindsay's haughty voice that he couldn't help but wonder if Lindsay had given Michael speaking points that he could use in his conversation with Brian. Which didn't make a lot of sense to Brian, seeing how she was the one who had urged him to go see Michael, but still. “Justin isn't here anymore. You made sure of that, so there was really no reason for you to change for him, was there? With Justin out of the picture you could go back to your true self. The you you always wanted to be.”

“The me I wanted to be,” Brian snorted. “Funny, shouldn't I know the person I want to be? How come that you think you know better than me what kind of person I want to be?”

“I am your best friend, Brian and have been for 20 years. I know you better than you know yourself,” Michael proudly announced and Brian felt like he couldn't bear more of the shit he was hearing.

“The only person who knew me better than I know myself was Justin. Justin! Not you, not Lindsay. You both have no idea of who I really am and who I want to be. You want me to be someone that was only an image, but never the real me. Actually, I am wondering if you guys ever knew the real me.”

When Kiki came and gave Brian his order, he paid her, gave her a generous tip and then made to leave the diner. Before he left however, he gave one parting shot to his former best friend.

“This was a mistake, Michael. You don't know me at all and you don't seem interested in getting to know me as long as I don't fit your idea of what I should be. Obviously we're not on the same page here and this was one big waste of time. Have a good life!”

With that Brian was out of the diner and headed for his car.

“Wait, Brian!” Michael yelled after him and followed him. “Wait!”

“There is nothing more to say, Michael,” Brian muttered as he got into the car and closed the door. While he was fastening his seat belt, he could have sworn he heard Michael yell “You're not supposed to leave yet”, but not being able to make sense of that statement, he told himself that he had to have misheard. What was that supposed to mean anyway? Why was he not supposed to leave? Shaking his head, Brian muttered angrily about the waste of time his trip to Pittsburgh had been and got back on his way to Britin.

***

Pulling into the drive of Britin, Brian frowned when he saw Lindsay with Luke in her arms, heading for her rental.

As he pulled up to her side, he saw her hurriedly putting the baby in a car seat and for a second frowned why she would have a car seat for babies in her rental. Then he noticed the bags next to Luke's car seat and frowned even more. He suddenly got a very bad feeling about this whole day.

“Lindsay, what are you doing?” Brian asked as he got out of the car and walked over to her rental.

“What we should have done from the beginning,” she muttered and got into the car. Brian only just about managed to pull the door open before she was able to start the car.

“What the fuck? Get out of the car, now!” Brian yelled at her, for a second feeling bad when his yelling made Luke start to cry. But then he saw the smug expression on Lindsay's face and the bad feeling in his stomach only got worse. “Let me get Luke out of the car.”

“I am taking him home, Brian,” Lindsay said calmly, once more trying to close the door of the vehicle.

“He is home, Linds. What the fuck? Get out of the car and let me take my son!” Brian was yelling even louder now, feeling a fear take hold of him that he had only felt once before. When he had seen Chris Hobbs walk towards Justin with a baseball bat. Just as he had known then that he was about to lose the most important person in his life, he couldn't help but get the same bad feeling again. Lindsay had to have lost her mind.

“He is coming home with me, Brian. To his family. To Gus and me, where he belongs. He will grow up in a loving, nurturing family with his brother, just as he deserves.”

“He will not leave this house, Lindsay! He will stay here!”

“You can't give him what he needs Brian, we can. This will be the best for him,” Lindsay said haughtily and surprised Brian when she angrily slammed the door shut and started the car, not giving Brian a chance to open the door once more. He could still hear the cries of his baby and they tore at his heartstrings as he watched her car pull away quickly.

Acting on instinct, Brian ran back to his car and followed her. What the fuck was wrong with her? Where was she getting off taking away his son? He felt anger take over, replacing the fear he had felt before and screamed at his steering wheel several times, letting out that anger. When he followed her onto the interstate, he wondered where she wanted to go. After ten minutes he got a feeling that she was heading in the direction of the airport. Not quite sure what to do, Brian picked up his cell phone and dialled Ted's number. When Ted didn't pick up immediately, Brian started to curse and yell at the phone by his side.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

“It's always a pleasure to talk to you as well, Brian,” Ted chuckled when he finally picked up, not knowing what was going on and thinking that Brian might have butt-dialed him by accident.

“Cut the crap, Schmidt. Find out if Carl is working or at home.”

“Carl? Why would you need to know...,” but Ted never got any further when he heard Brian's frustrated scream.

“Now, Schmidt! Fucking now!”

“Brian, is everything okay?” Ted had picked up on the anger in Brian's voice, but he felt like he was hearing something else as well. Something that sounded as if Brian was scared.

“Lindsay took Luke. I think she's heading for the airport. I need to speak to Carl, NOW!”

As Brian explained what was going on, he finally felt the whole power of what was happening hit him and felt tears sting his eyes.

“She what?” Ted asked in obvious disbelief.

“Ted, I don't have time. She's heading for the airport. Find me Carl and get him on the line, please!” By now Brian's voice had lost a lot of its anger and was almost pleading. “Please, Ted!”

“Alright. On it, boss.”

Ted hung up and shook his head, not quite able to wrap his head around what Brian was telling him. That couldn't be true. Surely there had to be a misunderstanding.

He called Deb's house and was relieved when Carl picked up and not Debbie. He didn't look forward to explaining to Debbie what was going on.

“Yes?”

“Carl? It's me, Ted. Brian just called me and...,” Ted took a deep breath, not quite sure how to go on explaining what he couldn't wrap his head around. “And... apparently Lindsay tried to kidnap Luke.”

“She what?”

“I don't have all the details, but Brian called me a minute ago, he was totally frantic and he said Lindsay was heading for the airport with Luke and he needed to know if you were working or not. He needed to speak with you.”

“Where is he now?”

“He is following her in his own car as far as I can tell. I didn't really get a chance to talk to him for long, but... he was totally frantic and beyond angry, Carl. I... I am not sure what he's going to do to her if this is true,” Ted said almost fearfully.

“Is there any way to reach him?”

“He has his cell with him. He'll be waiting for your call.”

“Okay, I'll call him right away. Lets hope this is all just a misunderstanding.”

“That's what I am hoping as well, but... Carl, Brian didn't sound like it was a misunderstanding...”

“Ted, do you have access to Brian's personal files?”

“Some of them, yes. Why?” Ted frowned when Carl's voice turned all business-like.

“Do you have Luke's birth certificate? Or the hospital bill of when Brian gave birth to him.”

“I can get those, yes. Why?”

“Get them and head for the airport. Give me a call when you get there.”

“What? Carl, why?”

“If Lindsay is really doing what Brian says she's doing, the shit is about to hit the fan, Ted and Brian will need everything he has to prove that Luke is his child.”

“But... we all know he is.”

“We do, but the authorities don't. Get the papers and let me know when you get to the airport,” Carl muttered darkly as he hung up and then headed to his own car. For the first time that day he was glad that Debbie had agreed to work the dinner shift at the diner on short notice because one of the other waiters had called in sick. He had no idea how to explain to her what was going on, he wasn't even quite sure he understood himself.

Carl dialled Brian's cell as he started the car and wasn't surprised when a harried sounding Brian picked up on the first ring.

“Where are you now, Brian?”

“About three exits from the airport. I think she's heading for the airport.”

“What happened exactly. I need all the details.”

Brian gave Carl a short summary of the events of the day and ended with his description of how Lindsay had taken off with his baby.

“Brian, most of all you need to stay calm,” Carl urged the man, knowing that with how hotheaded Brian was that was almost an impossible wish.

“She took my son. How do you expect me to be calm?” Brian only snapped at the officer which didn't surprise Carl one bit.

“Son, whatever happens, stay calm. Don't provoke her. We don't know what her intentions are and we don't want to pressure her into doing something stupid.”

“More stupid than kidnapping my son?” Brian snarked and then hit the steering wheel in frustration.

“Brian, stay calm. Where are you?”

“She is heading towards the main Terminal Building. She is stopping the car and she is getting out,” Brian informed the police officer as he pulled up behind her.

“Brian, don't pressure her,” Carl urged and started cursing when he heard the call being ended by Brian. “Fuck!”

He hit the gas on his car and sped along the interstate in the direction of the airport, hoping against hope that he would arrive in time to prevent a disaster.

***

“Where the fuck do you think you're going with my son?” Brian yelled at Lindsay as he followed her into the terminal building. Lindsay didn't turn around to even look at him or acknowledge his presence in any way and headed straight for Departures.

Brian caught up with her and grabbed her by the arm, turning her around angrily. “Give me my son!”

“Let go of me, Brian. I am only doing what's best for everyone involved. You never wanted to be a father and now you don't have to be. I am just making sure that Luke can have the best life possible and that you can go back to your old life.”

“You're crazy, you have lost your goddamn mind.” Brian yelled at her, grabbing for the baby in her arms that was by now crying hysterically. “Hand him over, Linds!”

“I will do no such thing. Let go of me, Brian!” Lindsay yelled back and somehow managed to pull herself free of Brian's grasp. She continued heading towards Departures with Brian hot on her heels the whole time yelling at her to hand over his son.

They caused quite the commotion and got a lot of attention from onlookers and when Lindsay reached the first TSA checkpoint, the TSA agent already eyed her warily.

“What is going on here?” He eyed her and the baby in her arms and then threw a dirty look at the yelling man behind her.

“My husband and I are having an argument and he is harrassing me and my son. He won't allow us to leave,” Lindsay lied with tears in her eyes and the TSA agent immediately threw Brian a dirty look.

“You lying bitch,” Brian yelled, once more grabbing for her arm.

“Sir, please let get of the woman. I must ask you to step away from the woman and the child.”

“She is kidnapping my baby. She is not my wife and she is not the baby's mother. She is kidnapping my child.”

“He is lying. Here, I have our papers.” Lindsay rummaged in her bag and then handed the TSA agent two passports.

The agent looked at both passports and then handed them back to Lindsay with a nod.

“Thank you, Mrs. Peterson.” He then turned to Brian with an angry glare. “And you are?”

“Brian Kinney, I am the child's father.”

“Luke Peterson-Kinney?” The agent asked, nodding at the baby in Lindsay's arm.

“What? No!” Brian's eyes were about to pop out. “His name is Luke Victor Kinney-Taylor.”

“That's not what his passport says,” the agent pointed out.

“That passport is not real. It's not his. My son doesn't have a passport yet. He is only six months old and hasn't flown yet,” Brian explained to the agent, trying to stay as calm as he could which wasn't really calm at all under the circumstances.

“He is lying. He is lying because he doesn't want us to leave. He has been a violent husband and he has been abusive to me and the baby,” Lindsay said tearfully, hugging the baby closer as she sniffed for good measure.

“You lying bitch! She is not my wife. I am gay! For god's sake, I had him six months ago. My fiance got me pregnant. She is no relation to this child and she is taking him away against my will,” Brian explained to the agent, his panic once more taking over. What if the agent didn't believe him but believed Lindsay.

The agent looked from Lindsay to Brian and back and it was clear that he wasn't quite sure what to do. In the end he called for airport security and waited for them to assist him. Airport security showed up only a few seconds later and Brian felt relief flood over him. At least Lindsay wouldn't be getting away with Luke. At least he would get a chance to prove that he was Luke's father.

The TSA agent quickly explained the situation to the two officers and they led Brian and Lindsay away. Lindsay was fuming, complaining that the authorities were not protecting her from her violent husband, but Brian was thanking them profusely for having stopped her from getting away.

They were both led to a quiet part of the airport with many offices and were put in separate offices. Brian nearly had another meltdown when Luke stayed with Lindsay and wasn't handed to him.

“He's my son! For fuck's sake. She kidnapped my son. Just let me calm him down,” Brian begged the officers when he could still hear Luke cry hysterically through the door of the office they had put him in.

“The baby will stay with his mother for now,” one of the officers explained to Brian and then sat down opposite him, starting to ask him for his personal details.

“She is not his mother! She has no fucking relation to him. He is my baby with my fiance and she is kidnapping him. Please, officer. Just let me calm him down, please,” Brian begged once more, but the officer pretty much ignored him and went on collecting his personal details. The whole time Brian could hear his son cry bitterly and his heart broke with every high-pitched cry.

After what felt like an eternity, the door was opened and another officer asked the officer in the room with Brian to come outside for a second. Brian saw the officer leave and could hear them talk quietly outside the door. Unfortunately, he couldn't make out the words they were speaking.

A minute later the officer returned to the room he was in and looked at Brian seriously. “An officer Horvath from Pittsburgh PD just arrived and he corroborated your version of the story.”

Brian felt relief wash through him and felt a long sigh escape him. “Thank fuck!” Brian had never felt so relieved and glad to know that Carl was in the same place as he was.

“Mr Kinney, can you give us your version of the events please?” The officer asked, suddenly a lot nicer than before.

“Can I see my son, please? Just to make sure that he is alright, please?” Brian pleaded with the officer and his relief evaporated when the officer shook his head.

“Unfortunately, not yet, Mr Kinney. We first need to figure out what's going on here.”

“Please, just let me calm him down. He must be so scared and confused. Please!” Brian had never been one for begging, but now he didn't care. He just wanted to see Luke and wanted to make sure that he was alright.

“Mr Kinney, I can't let you see the baby. Not now.”

Brian angrily stood up from his chair and headed for the door. “The fuck! That's my baby you're talking about!” Brian pulled the door open and headed towards where he could still hear his son cry, even if he seemed to have calmed down some.

“Mr Kinney! Stay where you are,” the officer yelled after Brian, causing quite the commotion. Suddenly several officers appeared in Brian's way and made it impossible to get towards his son.

“Let me see my son, for fucks sake!” Brian yelled, ready to hit every single one of them.

“Brian, calm down!” A voice suddenly broke through to Brian and Brian frowned when he recognised Carl's voice. Brian frantically looked around and finally his eyes settled on Debbie's boyfriend.

“Carl,” Brian breathed, feeling all fight leave him at seeing Carl.

“Brian, you need to work with the officers. You need to calm down and let them do their jobs.”

“I just want to see Luke, please, Carl!”

“I know you do, son,” Carl said quietly, squeezing Brian's shoulder in support. “For now you can't. He's taken care of and he's alright, but you can't see him until all of this is resolved.”

“What? What the fuck?” Brian was ready to fight once more, but Carl held his head between his hands and looked at Brian intently.

“Brian, this is normal procedure. Right now it's your word against Lindsay's. Neither of you can see Luke for the moment until it's proven without a doubt that you are his father and she kidnapped him.”

“Carl, you know I am his father.”

“Yes, I do. But my word doesn't count much here, Brian. This will be an FBI investigation within the hour.”

“FBI?” Brian frowned, looking at Carl from big eyes.

“Kidnapping a minor and taking him across state borders is a federal crime. The FBI will be here within the hour. There is nothing I can do.”

“Carl, I just need to make sure that he's okay, please!”

“I'll take care of him. Don't you worry. You just work with the officers and stay calm, Brian. That's the best you can do for Luke right now. Give them what they want and need, you hear me, son?”

Knowing that Carl was probably right and knew best what to do in a situation like this, Brian finally nodded, if reluctantly, clearly not happy that he couldn't see his son.

“He will be alright, Brian. I promise!”

Brian nodded once more and then followed the officer back into the office where he had previously been.

He gave the officer his version of the story and was relieved when he was informed that the CFO of his company had arrived with his son's birth certificate and the hospital bill of Brian giving birth. Thinking that clearly that had to be enough to prove that he was Luke's father, Brian hoped that he could see his son soon.

When two hours later he was still sitting inside that office without having seen Luke, Brian was once more ready to go crazy.

“Brian, how are you holding up, son?” Carl asked quietly when he entered the office and handed Brian a cup of coffee.

“What is taking so long? They have all the paperwork, right? When can I see Luke?”

“Unfortunately, it's still your word against Lindsay's and she claimed that your paperwork is forged.”

“What?” Brian exclaimed incredulously.

“She stands by her story that Luke is her son and that you are a violent husband.”

“That fucking bitch! I am going to kill her!”

“Brian, you need to stay calm.”

“She tried to kidnap my baby. How do you expect me to stay calm?”

“I know, son, but... the calmer you stay, the more the FBI will trust you.”

Brian ran his hand through his hair, feeling beyond exhausted and frustrated. “What is happening next?”

“They will probably have to take a DNA test to prove once and for all who Luke's parent is, if Lindsay doesn't back from her story.”

“DNA test?”

“Just a quick swab of saliva should do it.”

“How long is that going to take?”

“Three to five days,” Carl said quietly, readying himself for the explosion that was sure to come.

“WHAT?!”

“Brian, stay calm.”

“And the whole time I am not allowed to see Luke? No, Carl. No!”

“Brian... Luke will be taken into state custody and he'll be taken care of.”

“What? What does that mean?”

“He'll probably be given to a foster family for the duration of the investigation.”

“No, no, no... No, I won't allow someone else to take him. No, Carl! He's my son!”

“Brian, stay calm. We're working on it. Trust us, okay?”

“I... I don't want him to have to stay in a foster family that doesn't even know him. Please, Carl. NO!” Brian sank down in the chair and buried his head in his hands, sobs wracking his body as he thought about his precious, innocent baby in a foster home.

“Brian, look at me. Look at me, Brian,” Carl demanded and in the end forced Brian to look at him when Brian didn't do so himself.

“Ted and Blake are working on taking him home. You know they'll take good care of him.”

“Ted and Blake?” Brian asked through his tears, looking at Carl in confusion.

“Blake is a registered foster parent. Due to his work at the rehab center he got himself registered in case there were underage patients that needed his help. He's got a foster license and right now Ted and him are doing their damnest to get them to hand Luke into their custody.”

“Please, Carl. You need to help them. Please!”

“I will, Brian. You just stay strong and hold on, okay?” Carl squeezed Brian's shoulder once more and then left the broken man to himself so he could help Ted and Blake get custody of Luke for the time Brian was still detained at the airport.

Brian waited for another two hours before an FBI agent came to take his DNA sample for the DNA test to prove that he was Luke's father. Apparently his birth certificate and the bill of Brian's hospital stay weren't enough under the circumstances of Lindsay sticking by her story that Luke was her son and the documents were forgeries. Brian was ready to kill her really slowly and painfully by the time Carl entered the room where he was waiting once more shortly after the FBI agent had left.

“Ted and Blake took Luke home to Britin and will stay with him for the time being,” Carl said and was immediately engulfed by a heap of crying Brian.

“Thank you!”

“Don't thank me, Brian. Ted got your lawyer on the line and he threatened them with a lawsuit so big and scary they immediately scurried and handed over custody to Ted and Blake.”

Brian couldn't help but chuckle through his tears and wondered when Ted had become such a shark. Ted had really become too much like him that was for sure, but Brian had never before been as grateful for that as he was now. At least Luke was back home and would be able to sleep in his familiar surroundings.

“What happens next?” Brian asked quietly as he wiped away his tears, cursing himself for having lost it like that.

“They will most likely let you go within the hour if you adhere to their demands.”

“What demands?”

“You can't leave the state, you need to stay at Britin and you need to be available for further questioning.”

“Okay, I can do that. And then I can go home?”

Carl nodded, but Brian had the feeling that there was more the cop wasn't telling him.

“Carl?”

“Not now, Brian.”

“There's something else, isn't there? Tell me!” Brian urged when he saw the uncomfortable look on the older man's face.

“A witness showed up corroborating Lindsay's story that she is Luke's mother.”

“WHAT?”

Carl only nodded and then shifted uncomfortably. “Brian, you won't like this.”

“Whoever it is, is obviously lying!” Brian exclaimed, slamming his fist onto the desk in front of him in pure anger and frustration.

“I know, but... Brian... it's Michael,” Carl sighed deeply.

“Michael?”

When Carl only nodded in silence, Brian jumped up from his chair.

“That fucking bastard! I am going to kill him and Lindsay. That fucking, whiny little bastard. How could he? How could he fucking do this?”

“I don't know, Brian. I really don't... I... I didn't get to talk to him when he showed up earlier, he refused to speak to me, but... his statement completely supports Lindsay's story. He is the reason for the DNA test. Otherwise the paperwork would have probably been enough, but with a witness on her side, they needed to investigate further.”

“Jesus Christ!” Brian yelled, now slamming his fist into the wall. When he calmed down a few minutes later, he turned to Carl and asked in a voice hardly above a whisper. “Does Debbie know?”

“Not yet. She thinks I've been called in by the PD and am working on an emergency. She's still at the diner.”

“That fucking good for nothing bastard!”

“Brian, I get that you're angry, but...”

“Angry doesn't even begin to cover it, Carl. If I get him between my fingers, he'll regret the day he was born.”

“Brian, they will let you go within the hour and you need to promise me that you won't go after Michael. I need your word!”

When Brian didn't say anything, Carl walked over to him and looked at him imploringly. “Brian, I have heard you make threats against Michael and Lindsay. I am a police officer and I need to call them in. If I do, they won't let you go and you won't get to see Luke before the DNA test results come in in three to five days. I need you to promise me that you won't go after him or you won't get to see Luke. Do you understand?”

Brian looked at Carl for the longest time, but in the end nodded. “Fine,” he muttered angrily.

“Good,” Carl nodded and then sat down in another chair and together they waited until the FBI agent came back 45 minutes later and handed Brian some paperwork to sign which had him promise that he would be available for further FBI questioning and wouldn't leave the state as long as the DNA test results were still pending.

Once all that was done, Brian was free to go and Carl led him out of the airport to the car park where their cars were parked. “Will you be okay to go home on your own or do you want me to give you a ride?”

“I'll be fine,” Brian muttered, opening the door to his vehicle.

“Brian, are you sure?”

“I just want to go home and hold Luke and make sure that he's alright,” Brian said quietly.

“I'll let Debbie know what happened and if I know her, she'll be at your doorstep before dawn,” Carl chuckled, looking at Brian from still worried eyes. He could only imagine how the man had to feel after being betrayed by two of his closest friends like that.

“Great,” Brian muttered sarcastically.

“She cares for you a lot, Brian. She will be beyond herself with worry once she hears what happened.”

Brian only nodded and then started his car. “Thanks for everything, Carl. I really appreciate it.”

“Don't mention it, son. You be careful and take care of Luke, you hear me?”

Brian nodded once more and Carl watched him drive off, hoping against hope that Brian would keep his word and wouldn't go after Michael. Between Debbie and Brian Carl almost started to feel sorry for Michael, knowing that he had brought people against him that he shouldn't have.

Shaking his head in disbelief at the day's events, he followed Brian out of the airport car park a minute later and hoped that Debbie hadn't heard what had happened from anyone else yet.