Brian silently slid out of bed just as dawn was beginning to slowly peel across the Tahitian horizon. He turned to give Justin one long furtive glance, in more than a fond remembrance of the previous night, or more accurately, of just a few short hours ago. The boy was addictive, an aspect that was much of an unknown quantity to Brian. For one, he never fucked a man more than once, and yet all he wanted to do was continuously immerse himself within this blond beauty. The most alarming part was - he didn't envision that changing anytime soon. Then, there was the fact of his professionalism. He never fucked a client, at least not while still on the case. It threatened objectivity. Slipping into his jeans and padding soundlessly to the door, he looked back at the smiling and sleeping blond - his thoughts very clear: never had a client so tested him. Any grasp on his normal objectivity had been thrown out the window from their initial meeting.

Moving quietly into the small kitchenette, Brian started the coffee, pulling out his cell phone as he waited. He frowned to find it wasn't on vibrate, but was turned off entirely. Shaking his head in disbelief that he'd done that, he scowled hoping nothing important had been happening back in Pittsburgh while he had been enjoying mind-numbing bliss with Justin. Flipping it open, he noticed immediately all the voicemails, and text messages. He ignored the ones that didn't matter as his eyes widened in alarm at the various ones from Frank. Each one became more boisterous. Demanding and filled with panic. The last one filled him with dread.

Brian, at the airport now. Fuck! Check your voicemail. Where is your focus? Everything is wrapped up here except one thing - the fucking stalker is on the way, and ahead of me. Be on the lookout for Ethan Gold. He's your man. I will call as soon as I land. Fuck, Brian. I hope you get this. Stay in the house. Keep Justin Taylor out of the public eye. That's the only way Gold will be able to find his location. Hang on, buddy. I'll be there soon.

"Pool boy," Brian said with a sneer as he dialed into his voicemail knowing at the end of the line he would be receiving a verbal ass reaming by his friend and mentor. Grimacing, he realized he deserved it, and then some. Where the fuck had his head been for the last few days, weeks even? He didn't need an answer to that question. His standard professionalism had been tossed to the wayside all on account of blond boy ass. Granted, it was the hottest piece of ass it had been his pleasure to touch in longer than he could remember - if ever. Eating and fucking it had brought him the most sublime bliss he had ever known. A bliss he wanted to repeat, over and over again. That was a sobering thought. How bad he still wanted him; if he was being honest with himself - it was more of a need than a want, and it was a need that he intended to see satiated once this nightmare was over. Then, he would be able to return to a normal life - all of them would. That was what he wanted, wasn't it?

Brian held the phone away from his ear as Frank's messages intensified in fervor. He was concerned by the message context, but not overly so. Ethan Gold was small potatoes in comparison to some of the career criminals he had been forced to bring down in his illustrious career. He was a weasel and a sniveling one at that. Undoubtedly, he was psychotic and had slipped under the radar for longer than anyone realized. What had made Ethan snap, he wondered? Was it the slow realization that Justin would never be to him what he idolized him as being, or was he still living in a fool's paradise dreaming that he could make that dream a reality? In either event, Brian decided they would know very soon.

Looking at his watch, he realized Ethan Gold should have landed. It was a large island, a land filled with tourists. When he heard the bustling sounds of an exuberant Gus moving about, Brian realized his work would be cut out for him keeping the Taylor men safe and sound inside the bungalow. No matter what it took, he knew he needed to do just that. When Debbie stepped into the kitchen, Brian poured her a cup of coffee before placing it on the table and advising her to take a seat. "We need to talk, Deb."

Sitting down, she looked at him warily, her eyes filled with alarm. "What is it, Brian?"

"Plans have changed," he clipped out shortly.

"In what way?"

"Agent Farmer has been trying to reach me. I've been a bit distracted it seems," Brian mumbled almost sheepishly.

"A bit?" Deb guffawed. "Well, at least you got your head out of your ass now, or should I say Justin's?"

Brian rolled his eyes. "Funny. Remind me why I brought you on this little excursion?"

"You know why, asshole," she stormed back. "I'm the only one you can trust to look after that precious child."

Nodding, Brian sat down across from her. He smirked at her slightly, before running a ragged hand through his hair. "You got me dead to rights there, Deb."

"What happens next?"

"Frank said to keep the two of them isolated. Any exposure Justin would have to any tourists could be catastrophic. If he is recognized or identified, it could lead the stalker directly to him. Once Frank has arrived, we can take care of business," Brian said, confident in the final outcome.

"I take it Farmer knows who's looking for Justin, and I'm further assuming they are headed this way?" Deb asked shrewdly, her voice filled with trepidation.

Brian sighed, before nodding and answering, "Yes. The big guns have been apprehended. However, it appears Justin has had a stalker throughout. A man that is obsessed with having him. Coincidentally, one that was under his roof the entire time, and he is headed here with a bit of a jump on Frank."

"I see. So, the plan is to keep them inside and hope that Farmer gets to us first..." she prompted, saying in her tone that much was being left to chance.

"I don't play the passive role very well, as you know, but with Justin's position so prominent in the public eye - this is really our only option. Frank knows exactly how to find us, whereas the stalker does not. He only knows that Justin is on the island. With a bit of luck and ingenuity, we will keep them safe, as well as nail this psychotic fucker to the wall..." Brian snarled ferociously.

Deb inhaled deeply, before looking Brian directly into his weary eyes. "When this is over, you need to get some rest, Brian. You look like a wreck. Have you even slept since we left your house and came here?"

"I've slept enough. I'll be fine, Mother Hen," Brian quipped with an arched brow.

"Smartass." Frowning thoughtfully, she asked, "What do you need me to do?"

"I'm going to go wake Justin and fill him in. My concern right now is keeping Gus inside. I need you to entertain him in whatever means necessary to achieve that. The last thing we need is for Ethan Gold to fortuitously be wandering down the right beach and run head-on into Gus," Brian grumbled, his hands more than itching to get around Ethan's throat.

Deb nodded in understanding, standing from the table in one quick motion. "I'll go check on him now. You do what you need to do, Brian. I'll make sure Gus stays inside the house."

Brian looked at her in heartfelt gratitude. Curling his lips downward, he evaded her eyes as he surprised them both with the words that followed, "Thank you, Debbie. I couldn't have done this without you."

"Damned right, you couldn't," she snickered. Becoming instantly serious, she told him, "I care about them, Brian. A lot. I know you do, too. This isn't just a job for you. I don't think it ever was. I only hope that in time you can admit to both yourself and to Justin how important he is to you."

Brian walked toward the door that would lead him out of the kitchenette and toward the bedroom. Unwilling to respond or answer, he simply stated, "I have a feeling it will be over soon. We just have to hang on a bit longer, then, we can all get back to our own lives."

Debbie shook her head in amusement as she watched Brian walk away. Chuckling as she made her way to Gus' room, she mumbled, "Delusional fucker. Won't admit the truth right in front of his face. Whatever you're doing, Sunshine, you just keep on doing it. The race is all but won now.

Ethan had been walking the beaches for the past hour. He knew it was early yet, but he'd hoped Gus would have Justin out and about. Having taken care of Gus for so long, he knew the child exceptionally well. The boy was exuberant with the minimum of downtime. If Gus was not out exploring, it had to be due to being hindered from it. Gritting his teeth in anger, he decided that it all had to be the fault of Justin's interfering bodyguard.

Ethan had known from the moment of Brian Kinney's arrival, that the man was trouble with a capital T. Justin's eyes had filled with instant and unabashed lust. He remembered watching the bodyguard's reaction to Justin as well. It had been much the same, in fact - equally so. He never doubted for one moment that Justin would have that man. Justin was beautiful. He was a star in every sense of the word. Justin always got everything he wanted. He seethed in fury as he remembered how Justin had drooled and chased after Brian. He was almost relieved when they left, fearing he would prematurely reveal himself if he had to watch Justin's disgusting overtures much longer. His relief became non-existent when they did not return.

He knew it could have stemmed from the danger Justin was in, but he knew it was more. His eyes alive with jealous anger, he determined that the bodyguard had used the opportunity to take Justin away from him. His rage was now directed in two different directions. Primarily, it was toward Justin. His mind kept returning to all the flirtations Justin had explored under his nose. How could he do that to him? Ethan bemoaned to himself. Justin was his everything. Why couldn't he be enough for him? Patting the rope and gun he had secured by nefarious ways once he had arrived on the island, Ethan silently warned Justin not to disappoint him again, or it would be the last time.

Justin Taylor was for him, and him alone. No other reality could Ethan accept. Anyone who stood in his way would pay the price. If that person turned out to be Justin himself, Ethan would be forced to kill his love. When that was finished, his rage would be carried out on the one who had provoked it all, the interfering and immoral Brian Kinney. Scanning the beach, Ethan pulled a photo out of his pocket, determined to find Justin in the quickest manner possible. Surely one of these locals or tourists had to have seen Justin. He was no fool. There was no doubt that the feds were on to him. He had to find Justin quickly. Then he would secure him and go into hiding for a time. When it was safe, they could begin a life together.

Smiling benignly at the tourists that denied having seen Justin, he whispered coldly under his breath, "Soon, my darling. Very soon. Please don't disappoint me, my love. I would hate to eradicate your exquisite beauty from existence, but I will if necessary, Justin. Oh yes, I will."

Brian carried a steaming mug of coffee into the bedroom, smiling as he watched the blond beauty squirming about in near wakefulness. How much he would love to crawl back under the sheet and explore every delicious inch of him. Sadly, now was not the time. First, they had business to resolve. Then finally, this nightmare would be over for Justin. Brian didn't want to think what that meant regarding him, but he knew there would come a time very soon that he was forced to do so. The end of a job meant moving on. It signified the time for goodbyes. He wasn't sure he was ready for that. In a moment of being most honest with himself, Brian wondered if he would ever be prepared for such an eventuality.

Setting the mug down on the nightstand, Brian sat down on the bed, gazing at Justin for a long, silent moment. He smiled in greeting as Justin's beautiful blue eyes slowly flickered open, his eyes still holding a somewhat dreamy sleep-induced state. "Good morning, Mr. Taylor. I brought you some coffee..."

Justin stretched languorously beneath the sheet, not missing how Brian's eyes lingered upon the covers that pulled along his skin. "Mmm, smells wonderful, however, I must say I can think of a much better way to start the day."

"I could as well, little fucker. I'm afraid that's not on the agenda this morning," Brian said as he looked at his watch, hoping to hear the phone ringing to signal Frank's arrival. The sooner this business was resolved, the better. Neither succumbing to Justin's flirtation nor showing any visible reaction to it, Brian stonily clipped out, "I need you to get dressed, Justin."

Sitting up, Justin looked at Brian with a frown quickly piercing his brow. "What is it, Brian? Gus? Debbie?"

"They are fine, Justin. Apparently, Frank has been trying to reach me quite frantically. He's en route to Tahiti now and should be here very soon. Your stalker is on a flight ahead of him. Frank wants us to stay out of sight until he arrives."

"Stalker?" Justin asked tremulously. "I thought it was all tied up to Stockwell and Ben."

"That's what we thought. The bulk of the threat was from Stockwell, however, the letters you received were from a stalker. One that was obsessed with you," Brian answered as he watched Justin closely, wondering how the blond would react to the knowledge this particular threat had always been from not only an ex-lover, but a trusted member of his staff - along with residing in his home.

Justin sighed deeply. "A crazed fan? I've been down this road before, Brian. Usually, it turns out to be nothing. That this one has followed me to Tahiti is alarming, but I can't believe it's life-threatening. Unless there's more?"

"Yes, this is a bit different. I don't have all the specifics yet, but Frank has evidence to support the identity of your stalker. The man is a trusted member of your home and staff. For the safety of not only you, but your son as well, we need to handle this quickly and effectively," Brian told him sternly.

"A male member of my staff? That leaves Ethan. Surely you're not saying it's him?" Justin asked, his jaw dropping in shock. "Ethan is totally devoted to me, perhaps too much at times, but he would never hurt me."

"Think back to your past with him, Justin. He is obsessed and will do anything to have you to himself. Most likely he is on the island now. I need your cooperation now more than ever. Promise me that you will follow my exact instructions," Brian demanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Justin nodded. "Of course, Brian. I'll do what you want. The only thing that matters is stopping this, once and for all. My safety means Gus will be safe. That's all that really matters."

"Good boy." Brian looked down at the fear openly displayed on Justin's face, and the deep trust within his eyes. He stroked the side of his face, before making a solemn vow, both to himself and the blond he would protect with his very life. "I will make the both of you safe, Justin. This nightmare ends for you today. I will protect you and kill anyone that seeks to harm you. This I swear to you."

TBC