Brian watched on attentively as Frank handed Justin the white polo shirt that concealed a precision microphone within the buttons. "Justin, are you sure you are okay with this plan?" Brian asked, his eyes taking in the apprehension in Justin's eyes.

Justin nodded, a nervous smile passing his lips. "Yes, just a little nervous is all. It will pass. I know you and Agent Farmer will be close by."

"We will be in position before the assignation point is tipped off to Mr. Gold. You will never be out of our sight or hearing," Frank assured him, tucking his earpiece behind his ear, nodding to Brian to do the same. "And Justin, please call me Frank."

Smiling slightly, Justin answered, "Okay, Frank. How much longer? I'd like to get this finished as quickly as possible."

Brian fastened his earpiece, his thoughts in total agreement with Justin, however, displeased that Justin would be taking such an active role in the resolution. Even monitored closely, so many things could go wrong. He was determined that would not be the case. "Patience, Justin. This can go smoothly and without incident provided we stick to the plan and proceed with caution."

"I know," Justin agreed. "I just want to get Gus back home to a normal life. Despite my relationship with Lindsay, he really does need his mother."

"It will be over soon, Justin. From what I have observed so far, Gus isn't suffering at all in your company. In fact, I would go even further to say he has been relishing the time spent with you," Brian told him, his gaze briefly pulling to Debbie reading to Gus on the couch.

Frank watched all of them closely, taking everything in without comment, knowing he needed to let these final moments play out, each of them finding the calm they needed to move into this final stage. He was glad this was all to come to a head here on neutral ground and away from Justin's home. Right now he didn't want any added distractions from their collective goal. He still hadn't laid his suspicions of Lindsay to rest. Frank only had his gut to rely on, but he remained convinced placing her under his microscope had been the right thing to do. For the child's sake, he hoped to be proven wrong.

"Do I have time to have a few more words with my son?" Justin asked, as he looked at both of them imploringly.

Brian nodded. "Of course, you do. Remember, you are not being forced to do this. If you want out of all of this, all you need to do is say the word."

"No, I want to finish this now. I need to look Ethan in the eye as he is brought down," Justin hissed under his breath.

Frank moved to intercede, knowing if he didn't get things moving along, Ethan could inadvertently stumble across the bungalow. Unlikely at best, but a chance he didn't wish to take. "Go do what you need to do, Justin. I will make the call. I have several men stationed across the island posing as tourists. We just have to wait for him to approach the right one with his inquiries. This should go like clockwork. Ethan should expect for someone to remember seeing you."

"I haven't really been out of the bungalow long enough for anyone to have spotted me, but I guess Ethan wouldn't know that..." Justin mused, as he buttoned all but the top button preparing to spend one more moment with his son. "Is the device working? You can hear me clearly."

Brian smiled, attempting to put him at ease, in actuality both of them. "Loud and clear, Songbird."

Justin laughed huskily. "Okay, then. I leave it all in your capable hands, Mr. Bodyguard."

Frank chuckled despite the seriousness of the mission they were about to endeavor. These two were something, he thought to himself. They were both strong, arrogant, and so suited to each other. The sexual innuendo was almost tangible between them, even during such a time. He was curious to know what the future would bring for them when this case was concluded. Frank knew Brian didn't do relationships. As he observed the concern and affection in Brian's eyes, he realized his friend's rules and entire life were evolving into change whether Brian had faced that yet or not. He looked forward to seeing how it all unfolded. However, for now, there was a case to solve. Then, they could all move toward the future.

"We'll be outside, Justin. I'm going to the location now in a secluded area. You can follow with Brian when you are finished with Gus. Ethan will expect to see Brian near you. After all, he is to be guarding you."

Justin reached out to squeeze Brian's hand tightly. Unable to resist the compulsion, Justin leaned to brush his lips slowly across Brian's. He sighed in a combination of bliss and total rightness as Brian's arms closed tightly around him to mold their bodies together. For a long moment, their mouths remained meshed together, tongues reaching out to seek their counterpart, both of them yearning for so much more. Pulling back, Justin smiled brightly, full of trust and heartfelt emotion. Softly he whispered, "With you by my side, Mr. Kinney, we can't lose."

"That is exactly where I will be. Now, go say goodbye to your son," Brian answered huskily, his eyes rolling at Frank's knowing chuckle from behind him. "I'll be outside making certain the guard for Gus and Debbie are in place."

"I'll be there soon," Justin answered. Looking toward Frank, he said, "Go ahead and make your calls. I won't be very long."

Brian watched with heavy eyes as Justin made the way toward his son. He turned to face his mentor, his face grim and determined. In between clenched teeth, Brian spat out, "This will end today, Frank. I will not have that worm jeopardizing the lives of those two any longer. Ethan Gold makes one wrong move, I will kill him myself!"

Lindsay paced back and forth in her bedroom, irate with nerves that were frazzled to the edge. Why hadn't she heard from that insipid little weasel yet? Gritting her teeth in anger, knowing that she shouldn't be taking the risk of being overheard, she picked up the phone to call the prepaid phone she had given to Ethan, hoping her partner wouldn't finish her work early and catch her. Dialing the number, her eyes narrowed in intolerable anger as it went directly to voicemail. Stupid little twit, she thought. Why isn't he answering? What the fuck is going on in Tahiti?

"Ethan," she hissed into the phone. "I thought I had been more than clear with you. I need regular updates. You do know what regular means, right? I did not pay out a small fortune to have you take Justin far away to have you fuck it all up. I will have my son back!"

Lindsay was so lost in her fury she didn't hear the footsteps quickly closing in behind her. She continued on in an almost crazed frenzy. "I expect to hear from you soon, Ethan. Do not fuck up this plan, or I will make certain it is the last thing you ever do."

Closing the phone she whirled around when the door closed behind her harshly. Her eyes widened in fear as she watched Melanie moving angrily forward. Smiling sweetly, Lindsay said, "Mel, baby, it isn't what it sounded like."

"Oh? Really, Linds? Sounds like you are working neck in neck with Justin's stalker." Melanie shook her head in a combination of disappointment and disgust. "How could I have been so wrong about you? God. I am so stupid. You have played me all along, using me as a tool to get a legal hold on Gus, while plotting to totally eliminate Justin from Gus' life."

"No. It's not like that. Yes, I wanted custody of Gus, but I love you. Mel, you have to know that..." Lindsay rattled on, almost desperately.

Melanie's lips curled into a sneer. "What I know is that we are done. Justin has been a good father to Gus. I let you manipulate me into thinking differently, that he'd be better off with you. I don't even think you love him. You just want to hurt Justin because he committed the unpardonable sin of not loving you. Well, it ends, here and now."

"What are you going to do?" Lindsay demanded, staring her down hatefully, not even attempting to deny her accusations.

"Nothing, my darling. I am going to watch you hang yourself," Melanie answered with a cold laugh.

"I have done nothing illegal. I gave Ethan money to make certain that he could take Justin away, so they could have the chance to reconnect. In return, Justin's bodyguard would have no choice but to return Gus home, where he belongs - with me!" Lindsay continued on raggedly.

Melanie eyed her coldly, a brief look of compassion entering her eyes. "You are so delusional and so utterly foolish. Don't you get that the Feds are watching the house? The phone lines are undoubtedly bugged. You are in league with a stalker. I heard one talking as Farmer was leaving. He attacked Daphne. You are in far more trouble than you realize, and I won't be there to get you out of it."

"You won't let them take me, Mel. I know you love me, and for certain, I know you still want me..." Lindsay purred, moving closer. She reached out to touch the side of Melanie's face, her eyes forming shards of ice when Melanie flinched backwards.

"They can lock you up and throw away the key for all I care. Love you? I'll get over it, and as for wanting you - no, I'm done with that." Walking toward the door, Melanie turned to give Lindsay a last withering glance. "I would run if I were you, Lindsay. I don't think it will take them long to come for you."

Lindsay's face contorted in rage. "That's it? You're just going to leave me to face it?"

"No. I'm not leaving, dear Lindsay. This is my home, and I want to watch them take you away. Also, I want to be here when Justin returns home. Somehow, I will find a way to make amends to him. You've lost everything, Lindsay. Face it, and deal with the consequences," Melanie snapped, as she pulled open the door to run directly into the chests of two federal agents. She smiled as she gestured them into the room. "I believe you have company, Lindsay."

The stone-faced men walked forward as they viewed Lindsay in cold deliberation. "Lindsay Peterson?" the taller man asked.

"Yes," she snapped.

"You are under arrest," the agent announced as he proceeded to read her the required rights.

"Melanie???" she sputtered in fear. "You have to help me. Tell them it's all a mistake."

"I believe they already heard everything, Lindsay. The only mistake has been me believing any of your lies." Looking toward the agents, Melanie told them, "I am no longer Miss Peterson's legal counsel. You need to direct that call elsewhere."

"Very well, Miss Marcus. We will probably be in touch with further questions, once Agent Farmer returns..." she was advised in the tone that spoke - don't leave town.

She nodded in understanding. "I will be right here. This is my home." Melanie watched as they pulled a defeated Lindsay from the room, marveling at how quickly they had arrived, deciding they must have been monitoring from on the premises. In any event, it's over now, at least for her ex-lover. Now, she only hoped for Justin and Gus to return safely. That was all that mattered now.

Ethan arrived on the far side of the island his eyes fixing on the line of bungalows in the distance. Finally, he had found a tourist who recognized Justin's photograph. It amazed him that it had taken so long, but Ethan surmised that Brian had been keeping him in seclusion. He gritted his teeth in jealous anger thinking precisely how Kinney had been keeping his beautiful star occupied. Proceeding forward slowly, Ethan spat out, "You won't suffer that much longer, my darling. I am here to take you away from everything that distracts you from me. Soon, I will be everything that you want and need." Stroking the gun that was in his pocket, he whispered hollowly, "Don't disappoint me, Justin. I would hate to see your beauty forever eradicated from existence."

Moving ahead and around a long expanse of trees, Ethan found what his eyes had been long hungering for. Standing at the edge of the water with his back to him, was his beloved superstar looking out into the distance. His eyes moved around looking for the presence of Brian, the long stretches of nothing but sand showing him no other was present. That surprised him, but it wasn't something he chose to dwell on now.

Ethan smiled. They were truly alone. As much as he wouldn't have minded wounding or killing the obtrusive bodyguard, this was just perfect. He moved closer until he was directly behind him. Ethan reached out to trail a finger down Justin's back, longing for the moment they were safely away and he could explore his perfect body endlessly.

Ethan's jaw ticked as Justin's body recoiled from his touch, forcing himself to remain calm knowing that Justin didn't realize it was him - yet. Moving closer, Ethan placed his lips next to Justin's ear. "Relax, my darling. It's only me. I am here to rescue you."

"Rescue me?" Justin whispered, forcing himself not to lash out at Ethan, and play the game just a bit longer.

"Yes. Turn around and face me, darling. I have missed you so much, needed you so desperately," Ethan whined as he shifted behind him nervously.

Justin slowly turned around, knowing that Brian was nearby, yet, forcing himself to stick to Frank's plan. He quirked a brow as he looked at Ethan in assessment. "Is this a new look for you, Ethan?"

Ethan laughed, in obvious pleasure with himself. "Only temporary, unless you like it. I had to move about undetected."

"It doesn't matter to me what you look like," Justin returned coldly, deciding the quicker he pushed Ethan's buttons, the sooner this could be resolved.

Ethan's eyes narrowed sharply. "I don't think I like your tone, Justin. I went through a great deal of time and expense to reach you. You really should be more grateful."

"Grateful?" Justin snapped. "Please explain your reasoning behind that."

"Justin, don't be like this. You love me. I know you do. Other people didn't understand that, either. Daphne understands that much better now," Ethan answered hollowly.

Justin's eyes flared in fear and anger. "Daphne? What did you do to her?"

"Oh? You haven't heard about that yet?" Ethan cackled in delight. "I guess your bodyguard doesn't know that yet, or he's keeping secrets from you."

"This has nothing to do with Brian. Now, tell me, what the fuck did you do to Daphne?!" Justin nearly yelled in demand.

"I was in a rush so I didn't get to finish the job. I just incapacitated her, rather painfully I might add." Ethan looked around nervously, feeling they had been out here in the open for too long. "Enough about that, little twit. You are coming with me - now."

Justin was poised to speak his refusal when his eyes focused on Brian and Frank moving forward, weapons in place. "I don't think so, Ethan."

Ethan shook his head as he realized his plight, and what he must do now, not only for his own survival, but to keep what mattered most - Justin. "You sadden me greatly, my love. I would have given you everything. Now it appears you have succumbed to the wiles of another that you don't see me anymore. I really can't have that."

Frank aimed his gun directly at Ethan as he spoke, "Step away from him, Mr. Gold. You can't win this."

"That's where you're wrong," Ethan hissed as his hand pulled his gun out of his pocket, and his arm snagged tightly around Justin's neck to yank him forcefully against him. He placed the gun against Justin's temple, spitting out, "This is how it will be, I am walking out of here with Justin, or he's dead - here and now."

Brian maintained a calm, impassive look on his face knowing at this moment it was what he had to do. Never had he been more challenged in such a moment. No assignment had ever been Justin. "Let him go," Brian hissed as he continued to move forward, his eyes attempting to reach out to Justin; speaking without words that everything would be okay, that he would never let Ethan harm him. Not now or ever.

Ethan's eyes went wild as they looked at Brian. He could see the emotion that blazed in the bodyguard's eyes for Justin. Killing him now would be the ultimate pleasure. Justin would be devastated, and Brian would never trouble him again. He had to think, but he couldn't with them swarming around him. "Stop right now! Lay your guns down, or I will kill him."

TBC