SNOWSHINE

Chapter 9

       Justin looked out the window of the diner and shivered before turning the final blinds closed in satisfaction.  He was warm, he was sheltered and best of all, he was hidden. At least for tonight. Outside, the snow was falling thick and fast and slanting down at a 45 degree angle.

       Earlier, he had kept a keen eye out for a hiding place as he ate. He knew the bathroom was too obvious and he realized that if he could hear the others, the others would definitely be able to hear him. And so, after he had made his declaration to need to use the washroom, he had gone inside, watched through a crack as Kiki had disappeared into the kitchen. Even before the door had finished swinging, he had zipped out, crawled across the floor, and pulled and popped out the board that revealed the cavity underneath the squooshy, orange booth.

       He knew he'd only have a few seconds more to pull the rest of this off.

       Quickly he went to the door, found a floor wedge, and tied a string to it that he'd had in his pocket. He held onto the bell and opened the door carefully and wedged it open. Then he ran to his hidey hole, taking the other end of the string and scurried halfway in. He yanked the string and pulled string and wedge to him and into his hiding place with him. He was popping the sockets back into each other just as the door closed, ringing the bell. He pulled and adjusted a bit more and then huddled up and set down to wait.

       He had been just in time. A few seconds after the bell, he'd heard Kiki call out: "Coast is clear!"

       He knew by staying here he was placing himself in terrible danger. It was clear that this "Whiny" character was completely unstable. He was packing heat. And he'd heard all their plans. They hated Stockwell and undoubtedly all cops as well.

       But Justin was no ordinary cop. He was not only a VERY good cop, he was wanted for a crime he didn't commit. His partner had been ruthlessly murdered. Justin thought for a moment in a sad way to Cody and figured...maybe both his partners had been murdered. That anonymous tip that had blown their cover had to have come from somewhere. Why not Stockwell? The more Justin thought about it, the more it made sense. If all had gone according to plan, that bigoted homophobe would have been rid of the two fags on the force...at the time.

       But things had not gone according to plan. Justin had survived. And Stockwell had been trying to discredit/fire him on a regular basis ever since.

       Sighing, Justin gave up this depressing thread of thought. He couldn't prove any of it.

       After washing the grime of the underbelly of the booth off of him, he went over to the unfinished paperwork. He read Proposition 14 in the light of the bathroom and felt nauseous afterward. They had all been right. It was monstrous and basically a written hate crime. But if you were the one making the laws, was anything therefore illegal?

       Justin looked up after reading it with wet cheeks. Had Brian really had anything to do with this? It was true enough that Justin didn't know anything about Brian. They had simply met, gone out and fell into each other with a fierce and feral intensity that Justin couldn't have resisted if he had tried. And he hadn't resisted. But he also had seen no trace of this "asshole", "selfish", "bastard", man whore-ish "Stud" who wanted to work his way through the great Babylon twice, if he'd wanted to. Brian had only been kind, gentle, understanding about his hair. Granted he had been a voracious lover. But that was the only thing that had been left of the "Stud" of Liberty Avenue. Perhaps he had changed in more ways than they could imagine. No, Justin couldn't see Brian doing this to his own, his queer peers. But he would have to be confronted for confirmation.

       He dared not turn on any lights and so he propped the bathroom door open with the wedge and worked in that dim light. Carefully, he correlated and stuffed the rest of the envelopes, folding them closed instead of sealing them in case the others wanted to check his work or add something else. He felt sure they would want to do the former and wasn't sure about the latter but decided to err on the side of caution.

       It was painstaking work and in the dim light, he worked slowly and carefully. It took him a long time. But Justin didn't mind. After all, what else did he have now except time?

       At last he was done. The last envelope was stuffed and stacked in its neat pile. Justin yawned and stretched. He was terribly sleepy. He went to the bathroom, washed his face, swished his mouth vigorously with water (oh, how he wished he had some toothpaste!) and then turned out the bathroom light. He shuffled sleepily over to the booth farthest away from the door and lay down on the slick but soft surface. He curled into the fetal postion and faced the back of the booth.

            A wave of homesickness, home being Brian`s loft, Brian`s bed, Brian`s arms, passed through him so strong, so painful that he sucked in a breath and swallowed the tears.

            Unknown to him, across town, a dark masculine figure stood at his large windows looking out at the storm and at a flower truck that hadn`t moved in 48 hrs. Unbidden, his hand twitched. Clack! Clack!

       In a few minutes Justin was fast asleep.

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       "Hey Ma, I think I found our elf!"

       Such were the strange words that Justin was rudely and unpleasantly awoken to the next morning. The waking might have been strange but not so rude or so unpleasant, if the speaker had not had such an angry and derisive tone.

       "Well, let's have a look at him!" said the strident voice from last night, yet which sounded more curious than anything else right now.

       Even as Justin was turning over, waking up, Michael kicked him in the leg unkindly. "Get up!" he said harshly.

       "Ow!" Justin protested as he sat up, still feeling groggy and blinking blearily.

       "Michael! Was that necessary!?" his mother said.

       "Yes! He's a dangerous freeloading thief who broke in! I'm not going to waste time saying how do you do! What would you suggest? Making him coffee!?"

       "Oh, that's a good idea! I think we could all use a cup and settle down! How do you do? I'm Deb but you can call me Red if you want to," said Deb before bustling over to the coffeemaker.

       "I'm Justin. How do you do?" said Justin.

       Michael turned red and fumed.

       "Hey, I know you...You're the old timer from last night," said Kiki, who had also come in. "But you're voice...it sounds different. You're not really old, are you?"

       "No, I'm not. But I needed you to think I was because I wanted to stay in here out of the storm. I'm sorry for deceiving you but I was desperate. I was so cold and I knew if I was outside again last night, I'd have been dead before morning."

       "That's not our problem!" Michael snarled.

       What's all this about an elf?" Justin asked, ignoring Michael.

       "When we came in, we were expecting a mound of tedious office work to clear away. But instead it was already done and we all felt as if we were having a Shoemaker and the Elves moment. But then Michael found you and...here we are!" Deb said, bringing over cups of hot coffee to the table. "Did you do all this!?"

       "Yes, I did." Justin sipped the bitter brew and relished its warmth.

       "But why?" asked Deb.

       Justin opened his mouth open to speak but before he could get a word out, the bell over the door rang and there was body after body tumbling in out of the sunny snow and the cold.

       "We're hee-eeerrrrreeee!!!!" trilled Emmett, "Bright-eyed and bushy tailed and first thing in the morning, just as we promised! Where are those envelopes? We'll have them done in no time! We'll - "

       "Come on in, Em, and relax! They're already done and I have coffee on! Come in everybody and meet a new friend!"

       "MA!" Michael was scandalized. "DO NOT call this trespasser and squatter our friend! He is nothing of the kind! I was just about to call the police."

       "Well, anybody who gets me out of doing work is a friend of mine!" Emmett exclaimed, pushing his way over. He was followed closely by Ted, Blake, Lindsay and Gus who was adorably decked out in a blue snowsuit with a white fur fringe on his hood and red mittens.

       Gus climbed up on the booth across from Justin and pulled down his hood. He stared at Justin curiously. They ALL stared at him curiously as if he was an ancient Chinese artifact that had suddenly dropped out of the sky and into their laps.

       "Who are you?" asked Gus.

       "My name is Justin Taylor. I've been on the streets for a few days now and I was too far from a shelter to get there before the storm hit. I was desperate. So when I saw your lights and your flags...both your flags, I decided to make this my shelter...however I could. I AM sorry I had to hide and deceive you all. I was going to ask, really I was. But there was so little time and then...well, I heard you all in the kitchen and it was too late to back out of it then. So I hid. After you left, I came out and sat a bit and read over that terrible Proposition 14. And...then I stuffed the rest of the envelopes. I left them open in case I did it wrong but I don't think I did. And then I went to sleep. That's all."

       "But where?" asked Michael in spite of himself, "I checked the bathroom and there's no-where else!"

       "Besides...we all heard the door bell ring," added Lindsay.

       Justin explained about the space underneath the booths. When he was done, Gus looked impressed, Deb and Lindsay looked shocked and grossed out, and Kiki Ted, Emmett, and Blake all showed varying degrees of surprise and amusement. Michael was apoplectic with rage.

       "You...sonofabitch sneak! You're a sneak and a trespasser and a thief! And...and a sneaking little...sneak!" he repeated unable to think of anything more in his anger. "That's it! A confession right from your lying lips! I'm calling the cops!" He reached for his phone.

       "One, if I was lying, then my "confession" would be completely untrue which would mean I never confessed at all. Two, I've stolen nothing. And three, there's no need to call the cops...You see, I am a cop...or I was." And he produced his badge.

       They all looked at it and then at him in a new light and more than a few of them looked a little worried. They had spent the evening trashing the Chief of all cops and now here was one sitting here, one who had heard all their jibes and subversive plans against him and his evil Bill.

       Michael was now simply incoherent with rage.

       "You!! You're one...of ...of...them!?" he finished venomously, unable to come up with a fitting epithet, he was so disgusted. And besides, Gus was there. "You sneaking spying...That's it! Don't you see, everyone! He came to spy on us and then report into HIM! Oh, how I hate cops! How I utterly loathe and disgust cops! You're all just...like...him!" He drew his gun and put in to Justin's temple.

       Everyone sucked in a terrified breath but Justin was unconcerned. He yawned. It really was very early in the morning for such dramatics.

       With one hand he picked up his coffee and took a sip and with the other he made a sort of karate chop to Michael's arm in a rather offhand way. The idea was to create a kind of reflex jerk in Michael's hand. This is what happened. The gun flipped out of Michael`s hand and Justin's hand flashed out and caught it before it started to come down.

       Justin pointed the gun at Michael's face. "Pop! Pop! You're dead! Are you happy now!? Are you satisfied!? Now...will you SHUT UP and calm down even if it's to figure out why you're so angry with me? Which is it? Freeloader...or helper? (He gestured to the envelopes) Thief...or cop? Liar...or confessor? Make up your mind! Control yourself! And until you do get yourself under control, I'll be keeping this, thank you very much!" He made sure the safety was on and then put the gun in one of his pockets.

       Angry and now humiliated, Michael's face grew redder than it already was but he nevertheless backed down. He stalked over to another booth where he sat down facing away from them. He began to look out the window and pretend he was the only one there.

       Meanwhile, Justin was surrounded by clapping and cheers and pats on the shoulder, and even a rough thump on the back by the man in leather.

       "Yippee!"cried Emmett.

       "That was SOOO cool!" said Kiki.

       "I've been wanting to do something like that for ages!" said Lindsay gratefully.

       "Serves the little asshole right," whispered Deb, "He's been waving that thing around like it was nothing for forever! About time someone showed him up. Here...have a lemon bar!"

       "Uh...thanks!" said Justin awkwardly. But he didn't really want it. Not for this. He didn't want to be idolized....for that.

       Too late. Gus had slid his little self down and underneath the table and when he had re-emerged he was on Justin's side of the booth. He snuggled into the surprised man's side and looked up at him with emerald green eyes. "Will you teach me how to do that Jus'n?" he asked winsomely, giving Justin a powerful dose of puppy dog eyes.

       Uh! Oh! How was one to answer that? Justin thought fast.

       "Not right now Gus. Ask me in a few years. And if I ever do teach you....it'll be so that you never have to use it. Deal?"

       "Deal!"

       "Gus, honey, that's enough. Come away and stop bothering Justin now."

       "Naw - awwww! I wanna sit with Jus'n!"

       "It's quite all right. I don't mind. He's adorable!" Justin re-assured Lindsay and then offered her the seat across from him so she could be near him. She gratefully accepted.

       Once things had calmed down somewhat, Justin tried to move things along and explain things further.

       "As I said, I am a cop...but I also hate Stockwell just as much as you all. More, if that were possible. You see..."

       Justin outlined his frame job and being warned away from the station by Ethan just before his murder. There were questions and interruptions and interjections and the whole thing took twice as long as it should have.

       Meanwhile, Lindsay got to work sealing the envelopes using a water pen. She checked a few of the envelopes to check Justin's work but was quickly satisfied and got to work sealing them. She made short work of them and by the time Justin was done, they were ready for the post office.

       BWOP! BWOP!

       Justin winced. "So...there you have it...I am a cop but a disgraced and wanted one at that. You hear that? I bet if you think back that you've been hearing that siren sound a lot lately."

       Debbie mused. You know...You're right. Those cars have been going past a lot lately."

       "Yes, I know. They hound me, I have to backtrack and crisscross my path constantly. You see...they're looking for me."

       All were aghast.

       "Last night was the last straw. It was getting stormy...And I couldn't stand hiding anymore. And when I saw your flags...especially the Rainbow flag...I thought I might find some sympathy...some help...and at least one night's respite. As I said, I couldn't make it back to a shelter...I can't go home. I couldn't go back to Brian...to my boyfriend's. And so...I stayed...here. I'm sorry. If you want me to, I'll go now. But I really wish I didn't have to. If you would help me...did help me...I could help you out in return. I could help you with this Stop Prop 14 movement. I know Stockwell's movements and habits to help in your protests. I could stay here in the Diner...at least during the day...off the streets, away from those..."

       BWOP! BWOP!

       Justin winced. "Away from those! If I stayed I could help you clean up the tables and keep the Diner tidy."

       Debbie smirked "You mean...be a busboy?"

       "I guess that's the term. And I could serve the food and wash the dishes and...whatever you like. Oh what's the term...?"

       "You mean... be a waiter and a dishwasher," Debbie supplied helpfully.

       "Oh...yes, I guess so," Justin said sheepishly. "So...how bout it?"

       There was a silence as they all considered it. Well, all but...

       "You guys aren't seriously considering this!" griped Michael, "I've never heard such bullshit in my entire life! This is an obvious con!"

       "Oh Whiny, will you stop living up to your name and Shut Up!" yelled Debbie, "We're all trying to think!"

       "Here Whi - Mikey, why don't you take the mail to the post office," Lindsay said in a conciliatory tone. It'll give you a chance for some space and time alone to calm down."

       "Suits me!" Michael said, angrily helping her to cram the envelopes in a large plastic bag, "I can't stand the sight of all of you right now! Especially you!" He targeted his mother with an angry index finger. He hefted the plastic bag over his shoulder and strode out, slamming the door as he went, a figure in black like an angry and vengeful Santa Claus.

       "Well, I think we should help him," said a serious voice Justin didn't recognise. With a shock, he realized it came from right beside him. He turned incredulous eyes onto Gus.

       "I've been examining his badge for the last while. If it's a forgery, it's a fantastic one. I think it's real. Which means the rest of his story must be true as well. He didn't steal from us when he could have. He knows all about our Stop Prop 14 plans. He might as well join us. As for where he is to hide out...well I don't know. We can't have him sleeping on booths...but can't we do something? Can't we, Mommy?" His voice reverted back to it's intelligent, charming and six year old voice again.

       "Don't worry honey! We'll think of something. You've got my vote," said Lindsay.

       At Justin's questioning gaze, she added, "Gus is a genius. He's smarter than all of us put together."

       "Wow!" marvelled Justin, "And why did you call Michael, Whiny?"

       "This isn't our first...project," Debbie explained, "We all adopted code names in case we ever needed to go incognito. As you can see, my son has enough issues to fill a phone book. So we dubbed him Whiny. My code name is Red. Cause of my hair," she explained unnecessarily.

       "Mine's the Accountant," said Ted, "I'm kinda a whiz with numbers."

       "Before I met Ted, I had a bad problem with drugs," Blake admitted shamefacedly, "But he got me into rehab eventually and after I got clean, I took a course in electronics. Turns out, I'm a whiz with those and it's my primary job to sweep the place and people we come in contact with for bugs. I'm the Exterminator."

       "Vixen," Lindsay said shortly, "And Gus is Double G. His name's a long story. I'll explain later."

       "Swish Stick," Emmett said indignantly, "After a most disagreeable run in with another cop. Oh, kind of a morose, wooden faced captain...nothing like you, sweetie!" he went on to reassure Justin, "But alas, the name stuck. Most unfair! I mean really! Do I remind you anything like a swish stick? He huffed and vamped his long thin body swishily and reminded Justin very much like a Nellie swish stick. However, he hid his smile and denied it.

       He looked at Kiki. "I'm Kiki, s/he said simply, "We figured that's enough of an odd name already and anyways I only work here part time and I'm not here enough to make much of a difference."

       "Oh, that's not true honey!" exclaimed Emmett. Everyone else made encouraging and comforting noises.

       "Well, thank you all! I'd love to join your group! And of course, I'll work here in the Diner while I'm here. But Gus is right. I can't continue to stay here at night. What am I gonna do?"

       "Don't worry sweetie! Like I said, this isn't our first operation. There's a kind of...place...we'll show you later. It's very secret, mind you! You mustn't breathe a word! Promise now!" admonished Red.

       "I promise," said Justin. Then he froze and his eyes widened. "Wait a minute!" he exclaimed. His active mind had been going over everything and suddenly their names had shuffled and sorted and dealt themselves out in perfect order like a pack of cards in a Bridge game.

       "So...in no particular order...your names are:

       Double G.

       Whiny.

       the Accountant.

       Red.

       Vixen.

       the Exterminator

       And Swish Stick." He listed out. "Oh, and Kiki...of course." He added.

       "That's right!" Red exclaimed and he was enfolded in a big squooshy hug. "My, you're so smart!"

       "Well, yes, but....don't you get it!!?" Justin asked, desperately fighting back a serious case of the giggles.

       They all looked at him blankly. "Uhh...Get what, sweetheart?" Lindsay asked.

       Justin looked around with wide, blue eyes. Oh, Wow! Oh my! Oh dear! They didn't get it! None of them! None of them got it! And they were being so kind and sympathetic and they were going to help him when they could have just as easily thrown him back into the cold and the snow and the wolves. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't do it.

       "Oh....nothing! Just...nothing! Sometimes my mind comes up with some silly ideas. But this was just...well, I guess I was feeling a little giddy. Thank you! Thank you all for helping me! I know you didn't have to! Uhhh...Kiki...why don't you show me the ropes around here!"

       "Wait a minute!" cried Swish Stick, "We must think of a name for you! We should call you it all the time. If anyone were to come sniffing around here and heard there was a Justin working here...Well that just simply wouldn't do!"

       "Well, that's no problem," answered Justin, "I already have a name."

       "What is it?!" they all cried.

       "My name is Snowshine," said Justin.

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       "And that was the beginning of it," finished Justin, "After a few days of Diner work and Stop Prop meetings, they realized I had excellent leadership qualities and gave me more and more responsibilities. We worked well with the GLC and organized a number of successful rallies and after a while our organization grew. The secret area we are in had to be expanded and one of the rooms is my own so, I rarely need to go out, if at all. I grew out my beard as part of my disguise so I could finally go out and contact you at last. I missed you every day. Every minute. And once I did contact you I had the hair and beard barbered into what you see before you to get it ready for you. Do you like it? Really?"

       "Yes. I really do. I love it. I love you. I missed and worried about you every day. But the others...they certainly don't love me. What on earth happened to everybody? Especially Mikey??" asked Brian.

       "Well, I wisely kept you close to my heart until it was time to contact you. When...and if I needed to speak of you, I always referred to you as my boyfriend. I only revealed your name to them last night. It was quite a bombshell. For one reason or another they're either uncaring or downright hostile towards you. Even Mikey, who I managed to win over eventually (somewhat) remains very temperamental and volatile. Be careful of him."

       "I will," said Brian, "And they...none of them...figured out the thing about their names?"

       "NO! And you mustn't tell them or mention it at all! They'd be terribly hurt! Promise!"

       "All right! I promise!" said Brian.

       And at that moment, there was a knock on the door.

       "Snowshine!?" trilled Deb`s voice, "It's time for the meeting! We're all here! Is it OK to come in!"

       "Yes, Red," Justin called, "Everything's all right now! I've explained everything. Please come in."

       And so, the door opened and the 7 D.W.A.R.V.E.S. entered and took their seats.

TBC