It had been an energizing night at Babylon and Brian, Justin, Ted, Emmett, and Michael without David were heading out. 

"My dad wants to send me to a Military Academy.  I'd rather not go," complained Justin, remembering the last time he’d said those words.

"I think your dad might be right about military school.  It's for your own good," Brian said piously.  Justin wrinkled his nose.

"I always wanted to go to a military school.  You know those sleek uniforms, well-cut," Emmett exclaimed.

Ted took up where Emmett left off.  "Taking orders, getting punished when you're naughty."

"Yes, sir.  Sorry, sir."  Emmett bent over, giving everyone a chance to smack him in the butt.  "Ow!"

"And don't forget showering with all those cadets," Michael added.

Brian stopped and held up one finger and not the middle one.   He spread out his arms at a plain sedan.  Everyone said "Oh!"

"Oh, my.  Whoever thought we'd see the day?  Brian Kinney driving an economy compact."  Emmett teased.

"Subcompact," Ted and Justin corrected.

"And I have to get a new car this week," Brian complained sounding put out.

"Another fuck-mobile?"  Michael asked and Justin wanted to smack him.

"Please, at his age, he needs all the help he can get to attract those hot, young things," Emmett said snidely as he wrapped his arms around Justin and kissed his neck.  Arms that Brian immediately pulled away.

"I thought after what happened, you might consider something a little more practical," Ted suggested.

Brian pulled Justin to him.  "What, like something an accountant might drive?"

"You don't want any more weirdos ramming into you."  Michael brought up.

"Never heard him complain about that before," Emmett quipped.

Finished with inspecting Brian's new rental Michael decided it was time for him to leave.  "See you later."

"Later," Emmett chimed in as he followed Michael.  The gang hadn't seemed too impressed with Brian's car.  Ted hurried to catch up with them, but Justin didn't care.  Brian was being affectionate, and he was looking forward to getting to the loft.

"You're excited about it though, aren't you?"

Just as Brian was getting his car door open, Justin's dad showed up.  He immediately began bashing Brian and once Brian was down kicking him.  Justin had been expecting this but not so soon.  He remembered some moves from his days with the Pink Posse and managed to pull his dad off Brian.

"That's it, Justin.  That's it.  You come home with me now or you never come home again."

The gang had returned, and Michael picked Brian off the ground.   Brian was ready to take on Craig, but Emmett stopped him.  "It's his father.  Stop it."

Justin stood between his dad and Brian and looked his father in the eye.  "And what?  Come home to deny who and what I am?  Just so you'll love me.  That's not love, that's hate."

Then he turned his back on his dad and helped Brian into his car.  Brian drove them back to the loft and let Justin fuss over him.

"You don't have to worry about where you'll stay," Brian told him.  "Tomorrow, if you want, we'll go get your things.  I'll clear out some room in my closet."

Justin held his breath.  Had Brian just told him that he could move into the loft?

The next day while Craig was at work Justin and Brian stopped at Justin's home.  Jennifer did her best to talk Justin out of moving out, telling him his dad didn't mean it.

"Mom, he did mean it.  He told me I could never come home again and if he knew I was here now he'd probably call the cops."

Jennifer looked away guiltily.

"Mom, tell me you didn't call him?"

Just then a squad car pulled up into the driveway.

Justin just shook his head, asked Brian to put his things into the car, and went out to talk to the cops.  He told them that the previous night his father had attacked his friend and tossed him out of the house.  That he was just there to pick up his things and go.

The policeman asked if he had any witnesses to the attack and if he wanted to bring charges and Justin looked at Brian silently pleading for him to let it go.

"Justin, please?"  Jennifer begged.

Brian's cell phone went off, when he got off the phone, he thanked the police but refused to press charges.

They drove away until Justin realized they were driving to Debbie's house.  Now Justin wasn't supposed to know where Debbie lived so he didn't say anything. 

"I got a call that Deb collapsed last night.  They took her to the hospital and she's now at home.  I thought we'd stop in," Brian explained.

Justin was nervous.  He wasn't sure how to act.

He followed Brian into the house he remembered so well to hear Emmett's voice coaxing, "How about I make you some toast."

"And tea," Ted added.

"I don't want any toast and I don't want any tea.  What I want is that you stop making such a fuss about me and go home.  You all have work to do tomorrow and so do I."

"I already told you, you're not goin' into work.  You stay here and take it easy."  Michael insisted.

"I can't afford to take it easy," Deb complained.

Brian moved near and talked down to her as she reclined on her sofa.  "It's not gonna kill you to stay home for a day for two, Deb."

Justin resisted the urge to repeat his PSA about bed rest being an important part of every recovery.

Michael pulled Brian to one side.  "What's he doing here?"

"Where I go, he goes, Michael."

Justin couldn't help smiling.  That put Mikey in his place.  Then he noticed Vic storm out to the front porch and decided to follow.

"Hi, we haven't met.  I'm Justin."

"Vic Grassi, Deb's brother."

"Younger brother, right? Is everything alright?"

Vic shook his head.  "They said it was exhaustion. Do you know how tired you have to be to fall over?  That's how tired Deb was.  And it's all because of me."

Justin frowned.  "Why do you think it's because of you?"

Vic looked like he didn't want to answer.  "I don't know how much they've told you but I'm HIV positive.  I'm the reason she's pushing herself so hard, working double shifts to pay off my debts."  Looking as if he could cry, he went back inside.

Justin followed.  There had to be an answer to this.  Deb was still arguing with Michael. 

"How about I work your shifts for you.  That way you don't lose any money."  Justin suggested.

"But won't you need the money now that your dad's ... thrown you out?"  Emmett started out asking but slowed down when he realized how that sounded.

Brian on the other hand seemed proud.  He wrapped his arms around Justin.  "That's a great idea.  Now that you're staying with me you don't have to worry about paying for room and board."

Michael squealed like a pig.  "He's going to be living with you?"

"Yep and working with me too.  You got the job, Sunshine."

Justin's smile was so big and bright.  "See, Deb.  I'll work your shifts for you, and you stay home and get better.  I'm sure that Vic will be more than willing to take care of you." Then he muttered under his breath.  "He'll probably even wipe your ass."  He remembered all the times she'd mention doing that for Vic and how embarrassing it must have been for him.

The next morning Brian took Justin to work at the diner.  They had talked about Justin starting at Ryders after he finished working his hours for Debbie.  Justin had taken the day off of school and they'd talked to the manager of the diner and made the arrangements working around Justin's school schedule where he could work enough hours to cover for Deb.  Kiki also volunteered to help out.

Justin was busy pouring coffees when Michael walked in.  Brian was looking at brochures on new cars.  Justin didn't know why he bothered since he knew Brian would get another jeep. 

But Michael wasn't paying him any attention even though he had to have known he was there.  When Brian asked Mikey's opinion on what car he thought Brian should get, he raged.

"What do I think?  It's obvious you don't care what I think about your Boy Wonder, what difference does it make how I feel about your Batmobile.  Why don't you get the jeep for Monday, the Audi for Tuesday, and the Boxster for Wednesday?

Justin froze mid pour.  That was the second time Michael had called him Boy Wonder. 

"Hey," Brian said, shocked at Mikey's viciousness.

"Well, like, you're sitting here, trying to decide what hot new car to buy, and my mom might lose her fuckin' house!  I gotta get to work."

Michael threw down his napkin ready to walk away. 

"Michael... if you need money...," Brian offered.  Justin decided to stay hidden at the back and couldn't help wondering why, since Michael had known Vic was sick and that his mother often worked double shifts, he was suddenly all concerned. 

"No!"  Michael snapped.

"Look, I had an amazing year..."  Brian tried again.

"That's great but thanks anyway."

"I'm offering you a fucking gift..."

"For Christ's sake, I know!  I just can't."

"Why?" 

That was something Justin wanted to know.  Brian had always been generous, and Michael didn't usually have a problem with it.

"Because you're always there for me, takin' care of things.  Fighting off the bullies at school and giving me the answers to tests and taking me to the hospital the first time I got gonorrhea."

Justin had to duck down and smother his laughter.

"And... this is my mom...and ...this is something I have to do for her, by myself."  Michael kissed Brian and walked away.  Justin couldn't help but wonder why he'd never tried to help her before now.

While Brian went with Lindsay to pick out his new vehicle, Justin worked before going back to the loft and calling Daphne to find out what homework he needed to study.  He was busy working on it when Brian came home telling him about the new jeep he'd gotten and how he'd driven it into the showroom window.

Brian suggested they go out to Woody’s, but Justin needed to catch up.   Brian shrugged and Justin pulled out his binder.  In one of the sections, he'd tried to remember the things that had happened so he could do his best to avoid them.  Just the other day he'd been thinking about what had happened before and he'd remembered that his mom had brought his stuff to Brian's office.  Boy was he glad that they'd avoided it this time around.  Brian had been pissed.  Then there was Hotlanta.  Justin had left and ended up at the lesbians', something he did not want to repeat.  Justin promised himself that if Brian did revert to the old Brian he wouldn't object and act like a brat.  He might even ask to join in.

"Tell you what.  Why don't you go to Woody’s?  Maybe bring home an out-of-town guest?"

Brian was surprised, to say the least.  "You sure you wouldn't mind?"

Justin was just tickled pink that Brian asked.  "Tell you what when you get back, I'll see about having some jambalaya ready.  I know no carbs after seven, but I'll have plenty of salad to go with."

Brian agreed and sure enough, he came home with a trick.  True to his word Justin had a meal ready and afterward the three of them enjoyed the night. 

Unfortunately, the next day as Justin was leaving school, some of the jocks decided to harass him.  Somehow, they'd heard about his leaving home and why.  This time he knew it wasn't Daphne who'd told.  He gave them a deadly smile, remembering his moves from his pink posse days and was ready to mop them up.  Only Brian showed up in his jeep.  He got out and came to the fence.  "Hey, who's your little friends?"

The bullies backed off fast.

"Let's go home," Brian said as Justin climbed into the jeep.    They went to the loft and Brian said he had to go to the diner.  "Mikey got a promotion and everyone is celebrating." 

"That's okay.  I was going to heat the jambalaya.  My mom always said it was better the second day."

Brian thought about it and decided.  "You do that. I'll congratulate him and come right home."

So that's what happened and while they ate, they talked about the problems Justin was having at school and possible ways of dealing with it.