Chapter 14

“Are you two alright?”  Brian asked in the dark.

“He didn’t hurt us except for Brinn’s arms.” Gus responded.  “Brinn, can you lift your legs at all? If we can get you on my lap it will take off some of the pressure.” After some shifting around Gus managed to wiggle his legs under Brinn.  Being further off the bed of the van relieved some of the pressure on her arms and shoulders. “Is that better, Brinny?”

“Yes, thank you, Gussy, my shoulders don’t hurt near as much and I am glad I can feel you now.”

“Thanks, Gus, can you tell us what happened?”  Brian questioned.

“We were just outside the hotel and he grabbed Brinn. He held a gun to her.  She was so brave. How did he get you to come to the van?”

“He texted us.”  Brian responded.

“Do you know what he wants? Well, I guess we know some of what he wants.”  Gus commented.

“I don’t.  Sunshine, you there?”

“Yes, I don’t know what he wants besides to ….”

“If he touches you, I swear he will pay someone, even if it takes the rest of my life.”

“Baby, do not risk your life for me.  As long as you are alive I will survive whatever he does to me.”

“Daddy, what is he going to do to you?”

“Daddy can handle anything he does, Sweetheart,” Justin said to her in the dark.

Gus hoped they would be stopping soon.  Brinn was adding pressure to his legs and they were beginning to cramp up but he would deal with it if she felt better.

They had no idea how long they had been back there.  They could only guess it had been around an hour when they felt it slow down.  They stopped and then after a few minutes they started moving again. They had only gone another minute and they stopped. The back doors opened and light flooded in.  They all blinked rapidly trying to adjust.

Christopher knew who was the best control agent.  He untied Brinn from the wall and cut the tie at her ankles and yanked her to her feet.  “Ouch, please, sir, that hurts.”

“Get used to it. I don’t have time for a whiner. Just shut up and move. He pulled her out of the back of the van and disappeared into the large warehouse the van was parked in. They could all hear her crying get fainter.  

Christopher came back and took Brian next.  He jammed the gun in Brian’s side. “What are you doing, Christopher? Do you want money?  I can get that if you want money.”

“Shut up, Brian.  I want both of you but if I just have your husband I can make it work.  Brian fought a bit and Christopher added, “You know I would rather not mess up that beautiful chest with a bullet hole but if I need to I will. Now walk.”  

Brian quit fighting and walked ahead of him.  He was so glad to see Brinn. He wanted to hold her so bad but Christopher tied him to the bed while Brinn was tied to a chair.  

After Christopher left, Brian spoke softly.  “Hey, Brinny, I know you have to be scared. I’m scared myself but we will figure something out.  We are all here together, Sweetie. We will need to be strong.”

“I will try, Dad.”

“I know you will.  You are so brave. I love you, Brinny.”

“I love you, too, Dad.”

Christopher came back with Gus next, leaving Justin alone in the van.  He tied up Gus next to Brinn and after Christopher disappeared again. All three of them were waiting for him to come back with Justin but that didn’t happen.

Christopher came back and took Justin out of the van. When he led Justin into a room, Justin expected to see the rest of his family but all he saw was a bed.  He tied Justin’s hands to the headboard.

“Finally, we are alone. I have wanted this since I met you.” Christopher’s hands unbuttoned Justin’s shirt. When he had unbuttoned it he ran his hands up the naked flesh.

“Christopher, why don’t you let my family go. I will stay here with you.  We can be together.”

“That does sound like fun but that isn’t what I am planning.  It’s your paintings I need to see them. I need to experience it but that doesn’t mean I am not excited to feel this for myself.  I want to see what you taste like.” He licked down Justin’s chest. “You taste as good as you look. Do you taste good down here, too?”  He began unzipping Justin’s pants.

“Christopher, no, please don’t do that.”

“I need to see all of you. I need to touch you at least once.” Christopher’s hand went into Justin’s pants and then he felt it.  Christopher’s hot, sweaty palm wrapped itself around him.

“NO!” Justin turned his face away and he tried to roll away as best he could.

On the other side of the wall Brian, Gus, and Brinn heard Justin shout.  “Daddy!” Brinn screamed.

“I’m fine, Sweetie.  I am fine.” Justin yelled loud enough for them to hear him but he had tears rolling down his cheeks.  Very softly he said, “Just get it over with. Do what you need to do.”

“Well, you are no fun. I’ll wait until later.  I suppose you want to sleep next to your husband.”

“Christopher, that would be very kind of you.” Justin tried to compliment him hoping that might make him stay calm.

He untied him from the headboard and led him next door where the rest of the family was. Since Justin’s shirt was already loose he untied Justin’s hands. “Take off your shirt and pants.  Don’t try anything,” he pointed the gun at Brian’s crotch, “or your husband is going to be missing something.”

Once Justin was stripped to his briefs he laid down on the bed and was tied to the headboard again. He then untied Brian and had him do the same thing.  Soon Brian was laying next to Justin, actually tied to each other in a spooning position with their ankles tied to each other instead of just to themselves. Neither of them could see their children. Gus and Brinn were still tied to chairs.

Gus spoke up, “Christopher, I don’t care if I have to sit up all night but please, let my sister down.” Grudgingly, he untied first Gus and then Brinn and tied them up on the floor and then tied them to the bed their dads were on which meant they couldn’t see each other at all. The room went completely dark as Christopher left the room and they heard the door lock.

Justin’s voice was a little shaky when he asked, “Brinn, are you there?”

“I am, Daddy, but I am cold. I’m very cold.”

“Hey, Brinny, let’s see if you and I can move close together so I can warm you up.”  Both Brinn and Gus were able to move a little bit and Gus managed to get up behind Brinn.  “I’m sorry, Brinny. I wish I could wrap my arms around you but are you a little warmer now, Sweetheart.”

“Yes, Gussy, that is a little better. Thank you.”

Brian kissed Justin’s neck. Justin was so quiet since Christopher brought him in.  What had he done to him? When he was fairly sure the kids were asleep Brian softly said, “DId he hurt you, Sunshine?”

Justin shivered, “He touched me. I was sure he was going to, god, Brian, what are we going to do? If I understand him right he wants us to have sex in front of him. He talked about seeing both of us.  So what is he going to do once we have done what he asks? I don’t think he realized what he is doing is really wrong. He is obviously not thinking right. It is all my fault. I was the one who got mad at him and told him to leave our family alone.”

“You did nothing, Darling.  We will figure something out but until then we will do what he asks.  We will not risk anyone or anything.” He pressed his body tightly against Justin. “We will get through this.  I love you.”

“I love you, too, Baby.”

No one slept much except maybe Brinn. She woke up in the morning and started crying. “What is it, Brinny?”  Gus asked his sister.

“I have to go potty really bad.”

“Christopher, if you can hear me we need to use the bathroom.  Please take us to the bathroom.”

Somewhere in the depths of the warehouse they heard footsteps and then a key in the door.  Christopher walked in and untied Brinn and Gus. Go with her. Out the door to the right. I will be right outside the door.

Gus turned his back when Brinn went to the bathroom and then made her turn while he went to the bathroom, too.  He had her wash her face, hoping it might make her feel a little better. He did the same thing. Gus spoke very softly, “We will make it through this, Brinny.  Here give me a big hug.” Gus started the hug for her sake but realized how much he needed it, too.

“Hurry, up you two.  I am sure your dads could use the bathroom too.” Gus carried Brinn into the room and Christopher tied them each to their seat again.  He walked over to the bed and drug his hand down the length of Brian’s back. “I’ll take you one at a time to the bathroom and then I will get some breakfast before we start the fun and games.  I must say I am looking forward to seeing the show you two put on. I bet your kids will enjoy it, too.” Brian shivered at the man’s touch. Brian and then Justin used the bathroom.

“I’ll bring you breakfast in a few minutes. I’m going to leave you untied right now.  If you behave I might let you untied a little more. The door will still be locked of course.”

As they heard the door lock the four of them all met in the middle of the room with hugs and kisses.  The men discussed what they saw on the way to the bathroom. They were obviously in a big warehouse, maybe one owned by the gallery, but they had no way of knowing where it was located.  They were most worried about Brinn. Although she slept alright she shivered all night and this morning she was still cold.

“We will see if he will give you a blanket but for now, Sweetheart, slip on our shirts. They aren’t thick but they add a little extra covering.  Brinn slipped on her dads shirts’ with Justin’s help and then he took her in his arms. He didn’t say anything. He just held on to her kissing her.  Brian and Gus joined them and when Christopher walked in they were all on the bed.

“Oh, now this is something I never thought about. And I was just thinking the two of you would demonstrate for me.”

“Even you can’t be that sick, Christopher.  He is our son.” Brian blurted out.

“Well, he is your son, Brian.  He isn’t related to Justin.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong,” Justin replied.  “I was there the night he was born. He has been my son since that night 19 years ago.”

“Oh, is that touching.  You were a child yourself and you became a father. Now eat and I will be back in thirty minutes.” He looked at Brinn with the shirts on, “Is this a new look?”

“She is cold.  She’s a little girl.  Please bring her a blanket at least so she can warm up.” He left locking the door behind him.

None of them were very hungry but they all ate something and the men each had a cup of coffee.

When Christopher came back to the room he had a blanket and what looked like a poster. He had tacks with him and put the poster up on the wall. It was a copy of one of Justin’s paintings. It showed both of their backs and Justin’s tongue was traveling down Brian’s back as Brian arched toward Justin’s mouth.  Christopher tied the kids each to a chair but at least they were able to move a bit. Brinn could actually sit on Gus’ lap or on her own chair and Gus made sure a blanket was wrapped around her.

“Christopher, you can’t be serious.  You want us to act out a sex act in front of our children?”

“Glad you finally have caught on. So get rid of the briefs and simulate what you would do before and after this amazing painting you created and it better be as good as I imagined it to be. And don’t forget I still have a gun on your children.”  Christopher made it sound like a movie set except for the threat on the kids. “And go.”

Gus immediately pulled Brinn onto her lap and made her face the wall behind them. He wrapped his arms around her but he needed to keep an eye on Christopher.  Brian took Justin in his arms. “We need to do this, Sunshine. I don’t think he will let us get by without…” Brian slowly pulled down Justin’s briefs and then lost his own. They angled themselves so neither Gus or Christopher could see them fully.  Brian pulled him close and kissed him deeply. Justin laid Brian down and straddled him. He tried to block out the fact that they were being held captive and that their children were in the room. Justin’s tongue traveled down Brian’s back lower than in the picture.

“I love you, Baby,” Justin’s tongue traveled through the valley between Brian’s cheeks and as Justin’s tongue found Brian’s center, he climaxed.  Christopher applauded, as if it was the end of a play.

And he left the room.  

Shelby had tried to get Gus all night and now all morning but he wasn’t answering.  She thought it was odd. “JR, have you heard from your brother at all. He hasn’t contacted me.”

Jennie rolled her eyes at Shelby, “Why would he have to check in with you?”

“JR, I am not trying to pick a fight with you.  Gus was going to call me to see how you were doing.  He is more worried about you now that he knows you are having twins.  I know you don’t like me or don’t trust me but I want only what is best for your brother.  I am not saying I am the person for him. In fact, I am fairly sure we are just a passing thing but I would never hurt him.  I promise. He is too great a guy and right now he is missing.”

“I did text him last night and he never got back to me.  I just figured he was too busy with the family he has always wanted to be with.”

“Oh, JR, you know he loves you, don’t you?  I mean he has bent over backwards for you…”

“I know. I’m sorry, Shelby.  You haven’t done anything to me.  I just…”

“You have a lot going on, JR, I understand that.  Just know I am here for you if I can do anything or if you just need to talk to a girl.”

“Thanks, Shelby. Now what can we do to find Gus and the family.”

They made a plan.  Shelby looked up the gallery phone number and called. She was told that Justin didn’t show up tonight and they hadn’t been able to reach him either.  She finally called the San Francisco police. She told them they had been missing since last night and told them about Christopher. They said they would check into it.  

The next two days were repeats of the first day.  Each day’s ‘demonstration’ was a little more explicit.  Each day Gus held Brinn and watched Christopher as he watched Brian and Justin.  Brinn was beginning to get weepy and whiny. By the fourth day, Brinn just cried. Gus was embarrassed for his dads and Brian and Justin felt like failures unable to figure out how to get their family out of this situation.  

Christopher was also deteriorating.  He obviously hadn’t been sleeping. After the first day they realized he had a camera taping each of these.  They just hoped he hadn’t started putting them on the internet although if he did, maybe someone would find them. They hoped someone had reported them missing.

The next poster he put up was one that they had hoped would never come up.  There was no way Brian couldn’t penetrate Justin. It also insinuated spanking as Justin’s cheeks were red.   This was something so private between them, they didn’t want to demonstrate it. Christopher was anticipating it.  Brinn was distracting him. “Shut up, kid. You are distracting me.” She started crying even harder.

Christopher grabbed Brinn and pulled her off Gus’ lap.  Brinn’s hand was still attached to the back of the chair and as Christopher pulled her Brinn screamed as Gus heard the arm snap.  “Oh my god, Brinn!” Gus screamed. “Cut her loose. Cut her loose, NOW!” Christopher cut her loose as Brian and Justin rushed over to Brinn.  Christopher didn’t stop them but he held the gun on all of them.

Brian stood there glaring at Christopher as Gus and Justin held Brinn. “Get the hell out of this room.  Now.”

“I’ll be back and you will complete our activity.  I have been waiting for this one.” He stepped out and locked the door.

Brinn was in severe pain.  Her arm sat at an odd angle and she was void of all color.  Brian pulled on his briefs and brought Justin’s over to him. As Justin stood to pull up his briefs Brinn passed out on Gus’ lap.  

“Christopher, she needs to go to the doctor.  Please, she has passed out.”

“Not going to happen,” he said through the door.  Minutes later he passed some ibuprofen through the door. “Just give her a couple of these.”

“Is he serious? Does he really think this will help an arm that is…”  Justin stood and carried Brinn to the bed being extremely careful of the arm.  The angle the arm laid at was so painful to look at. “Brian, we need to do something.”  Look at her.

Brinn moaned as she woke up again.  Gus was looking around the room trying to figure out how to stabilize the arm.  “Christopher, please, we need a big towel and four zip ties. Please, I need to do something with his arm.” A few minutes later  the door opened again and there was a towel and zip ties.

Brian picked it up and brought it over.  “What are you planning, Gus?”

“Obviously we can’t set it but if we wrap it in the towel and then zip tie it in place.  At least it will be a little protected. We have to get her out of here.”

By now the whole family knew about their missing members.  They talked to the police regularly and there was an all points bulletin out for Christopher but he hadn’t been seen for the first four days but on the fifth day a grocery store clerk called the police letting them know that the man in the news had just got some groceries.  The police saw the vehicle he got into and then tracked it through traffic cameras. They had finally narrowed it down and after doing surveillance they were fairly sure they knew where the family was being held. They let the family know that for several reasons they were going to wait until just before sunrise to raid the place.

While the whole family was holding their breath,  Brian, Justin, and Gus were just worried about Brinn.  The poor little girl was going in and out of consciousness because of the pain.  They made sure she sipped some water and they did give her the pain reliever and finally she seemed to be sleeping rather than being out.

“Gus, try to catch a nap.  We will need to take turns.  We need to try to convince him to get her to the doctor.” Justin started crying, “He is never going to let us go.  Why would he?”

Brian took him into his arms.  “We will figure something out. You know our family and the gallery has people looking for us.  They will find us.”

Justin didn’t say anything.  Brian was worried about Justin’s mental state.  He had been shaky all along but now that Brinn was injured he could see Justin shutting down.  “Justin, why don’t you rest, too. I will stay awake and watch Brinn. Just lay down next to her.”  Brian paced the room, trying to think of something to do. Brian also kept thinking about what Christopher had said.  He had said they would still be required to complete the reenactment of the painting. He couldn’t do something like that to Justin.  Not now.

After some time Gus and Justin joined Brian pacing. Brinn seemed to be shivering more again.  Brian was fairly sure she had a fever now. Her body was in such shock from the pain it wasn’t regulating itself correctly. They took turns lying next to her helping her warm up but none of them could just lay there for long.

A couple hours later the men were all awake when Christopher came in.  He set a tray of food on the table. Justin instantly started pleading with him. “Oh, please, Christopher, if you have any feelings for me, my daughter needs to go to the doctor.  She isn’t well.”

“I have told you, you aren’t leaving until you complete all your scenes. But with her in your bed….” Christopher got an eerie look on his family. “I may have an answer to this after all.”  He waved the gun at Justin and said, “Go to the door. As for the rest of you, I won’t tie you up so you can take care of the whiner but remember, I have the gun and I have the artist. I never thought I would get the pleasure to finish the scenes myself but now it looks like this will be the perfect ending of our time together.”

“No, Christopher, take me instead.  You can do whatever you want to me or I will do whatever you want me to do to you.  Just, don’t take him he…”

“Shut up, Kinney. You’re just worried he’s going to know what it’s like being with a real man.  He’s been with you since he was a baby. Just remember I can see you and I have the gun on him.”

Once the door shut, Gus walked over to Brian and put his arms around him.  “Dad isn’t doing well, is he?”

“No, he blames himself for all of this and with Brinny...I am worried about him. Of course, let’s be honest, the outcome is still all up in the air.”  Brinn’s moan brought their attention back to the little girl.

“I’ll lay with her for a while.” Gus kissed his Pops and went to lay on the bed holding his sister gently.

Justin was led back into the room he had been in the first night.  “Since everyone in that room was so focused on the kid, you and I can try out some of this for ourselves. Justin stood in the middle of the room while Christopher ran his hand over Justin’s bare skin.  He made sure Justin also felt the metal of the gun. “Let’s lie down. Lose the briefs first. I want to see you in all your glory.”

Robotically, Justin dropped his underwear on the floor and got in the bed.  That was when he saw that the TV was on with the live feed coming from the room.  Justin saw Gus getting in bed with his sister trying to warm her up. Justin could see her shivering, causing him to start begging.  “I will do anything. What do you want me to do? I will do anything if you let her go to the doctor. “Do you want me to blow you? I will do that.  Here, let me help you.” Justin unzipped Christopher’s pants and while the gun was trained on Justin’s chest his hand went down the front of Christopher’s pants and he began stroking his flaccid dick. “Tell me what it will take for you to let her go?”

“This is a good start.” He unzipped the front of his pants giving Justin better access. “Now I don’t think you are giving this all you can give. I am sure by now you would have your hands and lips all over your husband’s chest.  I suggest you try a bit harder.” Justin felt the gun in his side.

Justin began unbuttoning Christopher’s shirt and as he brought his lips to the damp, clammy skin of his capter’s chest he closed his eyes tight and prayed his family was all right. He forced himself to be as thorough as he could.  He wanted to gag as his tongue swirled around Christopher’s nipple but from the cock in his hand he could feel it was having the effect he had hoped. As his tongue traveled down Christopher’s body Justin kept repeating in his head, ‘I am doing this for Brinn. I am doing this for Brinn. Brian forgive me.’  Justin tugged on Christopher’s pants. Justin closed his eyes as he lowered his mouth.’

When Justin had finished he curled up on the other side of the bed.  Christopher got up, redressed, and left the room locking Justin inside.  After he had left, Justin stared at the big screen and sobbed as he watched Brian comforting Brinn while Gus investigated every inch of the room looking for a way to escape. He wasn’t sure if anyone could hear him and he didn’t want to disturb Brinn but Justin said, “I love you,all.”  Over the video he could see Brian relax a bit and saw Gus slam his fist into the wall. Justin finally fell into a fitful sleep.

Brinn woke crying in pain. By now no one knew what time it was. They weren’t sure if it was day or night.  Justin needed to get back with his family. If he stayed here he wasn’t sure he could do what Christopher would make him do next and what if Christopher had just left?  What if he didn’t come back? He was their only connection with the outside world. Justin could swear he heard something. He realized it sounded like a garage door. He looked at the screen to see if Brian and Gus heard it.

“Pops what is that?”

“Sounds like a small motor running.” Brian got off the bed

They all heard shouts and then feet running.

“Help.  We’re here! Help us!” It was Gus.  He was also pounding on the door. “My sister needs help.  Please help us.”

“San Francisco Police!  We are coming. Keep calling.”

Justin kept hearing Gus’ voice until he heard them breaking down the door and with that, Justin pulled himself into the fetal position and checked out of reality.  

As Gus followed the paramedics with Brinn, Brian called out, “Justin, Sunshine where are you?” Nothing. Finally, they broke into the last room and found Justin, naked, and unresponsive. Brian wrapped him up in a blanket from the bed and held him as they waited for the gurney and paramedic. “Oh, Sunshine, you can’t be hurt.  We need you. Darling, I love you. Our kids need you.” As Brian kissed Justin’s temple and then his lips, Justin pulled away from him with no expression at all.

At 10:30 am Peter and John were together at the Inn along with Becca, Tony, and Claire when the phone rang. “John Kinney.” John put it on speaker.

“Mr. Kinney, we have rescued all four of your family member.”

“How are they? Are they hurt?”

“We don’t have details yet,” the police officer.  “We know the little girl has a badly broken arm. She will be going into surgery soon.”

“How about the men? Are they alright?” Peter asked.

“They have all been brought in for observation. They are all a bit dehydrated.”

“We will be boarding a plane in the next hour,” Peter said as John kissed Tony in relief.  “What hospital are they at?” Becca put the information into her phone. Peter said goodbye and everyone began to move.  

John and Tony talked it over and Tony and Claire would stay back and take care of the kids and the inn and  John, Becca, and Peter would take care of family. Becca texted Shelby’s phone and just said they had found them and family was on its way.

Both Justin and Brinn were rushed into the emergency.  They hooked up IVs to both of them to push fluids and an orthopedist was called down to look at the x-rays.  Justin was another case. He didn’t seem to have any injuries but he was totally unresponsive. Brian gave up trying to get him to respond. Everytime he tried Justin pulled away.  Finally, he walked to the next room where Brinn was.

“Gus, he won’t say anything to me.  The only response I get is him pulling away from me.  What did that bastard do to him? Please, Gus, see if he will talk to you.” Gus hugged Brian.  “I will. Brinn has been sedated and they will be bringing her up for surgery soon. I will find you soon.”

“Have you talked to the family?” Brian asked.

“The police called them.  Sounded like some of them were on their way here,” Gus hugged Brian again. “I’ll go check on Dad.  I am so glad we are out of there.”

Gus walked into Justin’s room.  He leaned over Justin and kissed his cheek. “Dad, please talk to me. We are all safe.  They have the bastard in custody. He’s crazy. Pops is really scared. He needs you more than any of us.”

Justin’s eyes shifted to Gus, “Brinn!  Where is she?” His tone was flat.

“She is on her way to surgery.  Some of the family is on their way here.  Daddy, what happened to you?”

With that question, Justin’s face again went blank and unresponsive.

Gus went back and forth between Brian and Justin.  Justin asked how Brinn was each time he came in the room but he would not talk about anything else.  About 2:30 pm Gus was with Brian when the surgeon came out.

“Gentlemen, sorry that took so long.  I wanted to make sure I did the best job I could repairing that arm.  I went in from the interior of the arm so the scar wasn’t as visible. I needed to do some nerve repair.  She has a road ahead of her to get full use of it back but I feel confident in six months she will be back to normal.”

Brian and Gus hugged.  “I give her three months, Pops.  How about you?” Gus looked over at the doctor.  “Can we see her?”

“The nurse will let you know her room number as soon as you can go see her.  It will probably be nearly an hour.” The doctor walked off after pointing the men out to the nurse.

“I’m going to tell your dad that Brinn made it.  Has he said anything to you.”

“Sorry, Pops.  He will only talk about Brinn. I’m going to call JR and Shelby. Let me know if you need me or I will just stay here and wait to see Brinn.”

“Gus,” Brian looked deep into Gus’ eyes. “I couldn’t have done this without you.” Brian hung on to him drawing strength in his arms.

Gus called JR.  “GUS! How are you? Is everyone alright?  We heard Brinn was hurt.” There was a pause, “I’m putting you on speaker.  Shelby is here, too.”

“Brinn just got out of surgery.  I haven’t seen her yet. She had a badly broken arm but the doctor said she will get full use back eventually.  Pops and I are drinking lots of water but we are fine.”

“And Justin?” Shelby asked.

“JR, I love you but I need to talk to Shelby alone. Please.”

“I love you, Gus.  Do you know when you will be back?”

“I’m not exactly sure but I would guess tomorrow or the next day.”

There was a pause and then Gus heard Shelby’s voice. “Hey, Gus, so how is Justin?”

“God, I wish I knew.  We were all together up until the last day.  Then he took Justin. Justin won’t talk to Pops at all and with me he will talk about Brinn but he won’t tell me what happened. “Shelly, he seems broken on the inside.  What if he…. It will kill Pops if Dad.... And Brinn is going to need him. I could sure use a hug right now.”

Gus turned when he heard some noise coming from the elevator.  Gus turned and saw John, Peter, and Becca. “My hug just arrived. Talk to you later.”  Gus rushed into the arms of his family.

Brian walked into Justin’s room.  “Sunshine?” Justin turned his back to Brian.  “Justin, Brinn is out of surgery.”

Justin quickly turned over to face him. “How is she? How is her arm?”

“Sunshine, what happened to you?  Why won’t you talk to me? You know nothing matters except the fact that we are all out and safe.”

“Brinn is fine then?” Justin asked.

“She will be, when she can talk to her daddy.”

“I can’t talk to her.  She’s out of surgery?”

“The surgery went well.  The doctor said it will be a while before she has full use of it but she will get there. But she needs her….”

“Right now I can’t deal with anything.”

“Sunshine, you know I love you.  It doesn’t matter what happened. I will always love you.”

“I just can’t.  Not yet.” Brian tried to take Justin in his arms but he pulled away. “Please, Baby.  I just can’t. I just need to be alone.”