Brian couldn’t concentrate much at work. He kept thinking about all the strange things that had been happening to him – particularly what had happened last night.  Was Justin right and it was all in their heads? Or was something else really going on? He knew he hadn’t been dreaming last night. If his house was haunted, last night It had made it clear that It wanted to show him something.  He could only imagine what.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts and focus on work. He was looking over some new boards that needed his approval and would give his signature in the bottom corner.  He began signing them blindly, not really caring what they looked like.  His mind was too distracted.

Near lunch, he forced himself to get up and go out to the diner.  He sat by himself as no one else from the gang was there; he preferred this, because he didn’t need any of them asking him what was going on.  He didn’t have any answers anyways.  A new waiter was working and Brian got his order in swiftly.  Afterwards, he leaned back in the booth and wondered what the hell was going on at Britin.

Things were moving around, he was hearing voices, he was having strange dreams, and Justin…Justin was just off somehow.  He could try to explain it by their time apart, but it wasn’t only their interactions that were off.  Justin didn’t seem to enjoy any of the same things anymore.

He shook his head as he pondered what to do.  He didn’t pay much attention to the chime of the bell when a new customer walked in.  Not until they walked by his booth.  He looked up and then immediately sat straight up. 

‘Mysterious Marilyn…’  Brian wondered if he should seek her help.  He hadn’t put much stock in anything she ever said, but that was because he thought supernatural events were a bunch of bullshit.  Now, however, he was right in the middle of one.  ‘She was right about Justin when he stole my credit card.’  He added to himself, trying to convince himself that it made sense to ask for her help.

He turned, looked to see where she had sat, sighed lightly, and then stood to approach her.  He didn’t ask for permission to sit – he was Brian Kinney and did what he wanted.  Besides, if something really was wrong with Justin, he would do whatever it took to make it right.

“Can I help you, Brian?”  She asked calmly as she eyed him coolly across the table.

“I don’t know.”  He answered honestly.  “Part of me thinks I’m crazy but…”  He hesitated.  Thinking about ghosts was one thing.  Openly talking about how he thought his house might be haunted was a whole other.

“Go on.”  She urged, now paying a bit more attention.

“Something is wrong with Justin.”  He found himself blurting out.  “He’s so different now.  He doesn’t like any of the same things.  He doesn't talk about the same things.  He doesn’t cook.  He doesn’t laugh at our jokes.  He just stays locked up in his studio all day long.  I barely see him.”  Brian was a bit surprised at how swiftly he admitted to all of that, but it was too late to take it back.

“He was gone for how long?  A little over a year, right?  People change, Brian.”  She answered and waved the waiter over for a fill up on her coffee.

“I know.  I expected that, even.  I knew we were going to have to get used to each other again but this is…different.  Things are moving around by themselves.  Doors are opening and closing and…I can’t explain any of it.”  He told her, crossing his arms over his chest.

Marilyn finally seemed interested, rather than mildly curious.  She leaned over the table a bit closer to him.  “Brian, are you telling me you think your house is haunted?”  She asked and Brian paused, but then nodded.  “And what do you think that has to do with Justin?”

Brian didn’t want to answer.  He didn’t want to say the words aloud.  It seemed too unreal – too beyond the realm of possibility.  But…he had to.  “I don’t think Justin is himself.  I think something happened to him while I was gone.”

Marilyn was quiet for a moment and eyed him intently.  Brian could only wonder what she was thinking.  He doubted she thought he was crazy – she was the expert in all of this anyways.  But maybe she thought he was high, drunk, or simply overreacting to the new situation.  “You mean you think he is possessed by something?”  She decided to ask and Brian sighed and turned his head a little.

“As far as I’m concerned, possessions only happen in movies.  But…something is wrong with him.”  Brian conceded.

“Oh possession is very real, Mr. Kinney.  There are spirits that linger behind, desperate for another chance at life, and willing to do anything it takes to get it back.”  She warned and then took a long sip of the coffee.  “I’d like to visit your home.  As soon as possible.  If Justin has in fact been attacked in some way, we need to move swiftly.  The longer the spirit holds power in the physical realm, the stronger it will be.”

Brian raised his eyebrows, shocked at how swiftly she had believed him.  Suddenly the whole situation seemed far more serious than he thought.  He nodded slowly and watched Marilyn cancel both of their orders and stood.  Brian jerkily followed suit and then led her to his car.  He shot off a quick text to Ted letting him know he wouldn’t be coming back in, and then drove away to Britin.

Marilyn seemed a bit in awe as they walked up to the house from the drive.  She glanced to Brian with a knowing smile.  “I’d heard rumors about the manor you bought him; I think everyone has.  But I didn’t expect it to be this grand.”  She teased and Brian rolled his eyes a bit.

“Let’s focus here.”  He reminded and then moved to open the front door.

“Wait.” Marilyn grabbed his hand to stop him from opening it.  “If a spirit has taken Justin’s body, I want a few moments where we can talk without It hearing us.”  Brian turned to her and lowered his arm.  “You said you had some strange dreams?  Can you describe them for me?”

“I am watching Justin upstairs in the attic.  He’s being attacked but I can’t see by what.  I can’t move or talk…I’m just forced to watch it happen.”  Brian described swiftly, clenching at the dream.  He hated feeling so helpless – it reminded him too much of the bashing.

“Hmmm…”  She murmured as she looked more intently at some of the vines crawling up the front of the manor.  “Have you gone up to the attic yourself?”  She asked and Brian nodded.

“Yeah it was the first thing I did.”

“What did you find?”  She finally turned back to him.

“Nothing.”  He answered with a shrug.

“Nothing at all?  It was empty?”  She seemed doubtful.

“Well no.  I mean, I started looking around, but then Justin came and it was late so we went back to bed.”  Brian explained simply.

“Interesting…”  She murmured and then looked up to the outside of the attic.

“What do you mean?”  He asked with a hint of frustration.

“Justin prevented you from exploring the attic.”  Marilyn explained and Brian went to contradict her, but stopped himself.

He had been directed to something behind the boxes, he remembered.  But as soon as he was going to go see what, Justin had appeared and redirected him downstairs.  Not only that, but he had almost insisted Brian not go back up there. 

‘…Don’t worry about that.  I can take care of everything up there.  You just relax.’

Those were Justin’s exact words.  They had seemed innocent and logical at the time, but it was likely Justin was trying to stop him from seeing something in the attic.

“Yes. He did.”  He agreed and Marilyn nodded a few times.

“That is where I will start, then.”  Marilyn assured and then strode confidently into the manor with Brian following a step behind.  “Make sure Justin doesn’t interrupt me.  Keep him distracted.  I suspect he’ll know as soon as someone is up in the attic.  Stop him.”  She gave him a hard look and then started up the stairs.

Brian remained behind and looked down towards the studio.  He could hear movement inside and knew Justin, or whatever he was, was inside there.  He didn’t move back there, instead, he took off his coat and sat at the base of the stairs.  He placed his elbows on his knees and sighed heavily.  ‘She better be able to fix this.’  He thought determinedly.

The manor was quiet and still, nothing seemed to move and Brian felt that time might have stopped.  It was eerie and strange – he did not like it.  This was not the reunion he had in mind when Justin returned from New York.  They were supposed to spend every free minute fucking each other’s brains out – but they’d only had sex a handful of times since he got back from his business trip.

Suddenly the door to the studio slammed open and Justin came running out, down the hallway, and to the stairs.  Brian stood and stopped him from running up them.  “What’s going on?”  He asked, even though he knew.  Justin, or It, had felt Marilyn upstairs in the attic.

“I want to clean up.”  Justin said swiftly, almost twitching with nerves.  Brian grabbed his shoulders to stop him from going upstairs.

“I want to talk to you.” He said and tried to direct Justin into the nearby living room, but the blond wouldn’t budge.  “I came home from work because I thought you were right this morning.  We could both use a break.  We should relax.  Come on.”  He added and tried again, but still It wouldn’t move.

“Who is upstairs?”  It asked, glaring with a ferocity Brian had never seen in Justin before.  Its eyes were focused on the staircase.

“What do you mean?”  He asked innocently.

“I hear someone.”  It said and tried to go up the stairs again, but Brian kept his hold firm.

“I don’t hear anyone.”  He insisted and Justin struggled to break free of his grasp.

It suddenly turned to him and punched him square in the jaw.  Brian huffed and was thrown slightly, enough to break his hold on It. “Fuck!”  He cursed and lunged out to grab Its ankles as it darted up the stairs.  He managed to get a good enough hold to trip It and It tumbled back down a few.

He wrapped his arms around Its body and dragged him away from the staircase.  With a strength he knew Justin didn’t have, It spun in his hold and then twisted them both until Brian lost his balance and fell to the floor.  It grabbed his head and slammed it once on the hardwood before making another break for the staircase.

Brian was dizzy and everything seemed to be spinning.  He tried to get back up to his feet but had to use the wall for support.  He placed a hand on his head and took a few steps to the staircase before falling over again.  “Shit…”  He cursed lowly and then tried to crawl up the stairs on his hands and knees.

“Brian…”

He paused and looked behind him, where he had heard the whisper coming from.  There was nothing there, of course, but he stopped his ascent and moved back down the stairs.  His head was getting clearer and it became easier to walk.  He knew he should go upstairs and help Marilyn, but he couldn’t tear himself away from finding the source of the voice.  Slowly, the door to the studio creaked open.  Brian walked down the long hallway until he reached it. 

When he stepped into the door he gasped and felt his heart break.  All of Justin’s paintings were destroyed.  Some were ripped to shreds, others had paint splattered on them, and one word written on them over and over.

‘MINE.’

“Holy shit…”  He murmured and then felt a breath on the back of his neck.  He turned slowly and stared at the empty hallway.  “Justin.”  He spoke with confidence.  He could feel something cold against his cheek and closed his eyes.  “I’ll fix this.”  He vowed and then looked up at the ceiling towards the attic.

Brian ran back down the hallway and up the stairs, taking them three at a time.  He made it to the attic stairs and paused.  He looked up into the darkness and then purposefully moved up them.  When he reached the top he turned on the light and withheld a gasp.  In the middle of the cleared area Marilyn lay unconscious.  He wondered if she was dead, but he couldn’t check.  Justin came first.

He looked to the stack of boxes that blocked the view of the rest of the attic, and pushed them aside.  He knew It was up here somewhere.  But many parts of the attic were still dark as the light wasn’t bright enough to illuminate it.

When the boxes were clear he saw a large, antique mirror – identical to the one he’d seen in his dream.  He approached it slowly and with trepidation.  Whatever was going on, he knew this was the cause of it.  As he got closer he could see his reflection begin to morph and change.  He drew his brows together and watched as he got shorter and paler…until Justin stood before him.

“Justin.”  He murmured softly and went to reach out and touch the glass.  However, Justin’s eyes widened and he shook his head swiftly.

“No, don’t!”  He shouted at him and Brian drew his hand back.  “I don’t know what’s going on really, but I know that touching the glass was what started all of this.”

“Are you okay?”  Brian asked and Justin nodded slowly.

“Yes…I’m fine.  It’s strange here but I’m not hurt or anything.  But Brian…I want to come home…”  He murmured and Brian wished he could simply reach in and drag him out.  He looked into Justin’s eyes and felt his heart begin to ache. 

He knew this was his Sunshine by the way Justin looked at him in the mirror.  Even through his sadness he could see the same love and adoration that had been there since that very first night. 

Suddenly Justin frowned and pointed.  “Behind you!”

Brian ducked just in time.  He heard a whoosh of something pass over his head and quickly spun and tackled It to the floor.  He wrestled with it and managed to knock whatever It was holding away.

Hands were at his throat and he found himself on his back with It straddling him.  He struggled to breathe as those hands clung tighter and tighter.  He felt his face getting red from the struggle and his vision began to narrow as oxygen was cut off. 

Refusing to let it end like this, he hooked a leg around Its waist and rolled them over so he was on top.  He pulled back, away from the hands, and managed to get up to his feet.  He fought the urge to try to catch his breath as he knew he wouldn’t have the time.  Instead, he acted immediately.  He latched onto Its middle, pinning Its arms by Its sides before it could attack him again.  He knew he couldn’t really hurt It – Justin was going to need his body - but he’d have to think of something to immobilize it long enough to figure out how to reverse everything that had happened.

“How did you know?!”  It shouted at him in a voice that was definitely not his husband’s.

Brian didn’t answer.  It didn’t matter and he wasn’t going to waste energy on it.  “Why didn’t you just destroy it after you got his body?”  He demanded, realizing that there must have been a significance behind not destroying the mirror.

It didn’t answer him, but Brian didn’t really expect it to.

They continued to struggle and Brian was rammed against the wall, and something sharp in quick succession.  He got the air knocked out of him and he struggled to maintain his hold on It.  He did, though, and moved his gaze over to the mirror.  Justin still stood in the reflection, watching with fear and worry etched on his face. 

Brian wasn’t going to let him down.  Not again.

He grunted as he pressed one foot back against the wall and then lunged forward, pushing It towards the mirror.  It stumbled slightly and tried to catch Its balance.  Brian didn’t let it.  “You didn’t destroy It because you can’t touch it, can you?”  He asked with a smirk.  It tried to move out of the way, but Brian shouldered It right into the mirror.

He watched in shock as It flew backwards into the mirror.  As soon as it touched the glass he could see Justin also falling out of it in the opposite direction.  Justin landed on the floor with a huff and Brian reached for whatever It had swung at him. 

He flinched slightly when he realized it was an old and weathered bat.  He looked to the mirror.  He swung as hard as he could and the glass shattered, falling onto the floor of the attic.  He hit it again for good measure and then bent over and panted, finally letting his body get the air it needed.

Suddenly Justin was in his arms, holding him tightly and placing kisses all over his face.

Brian let the bat fall onto the ground and wrapped his arms around his husband tightly.  It felt right again.

He found Justin’s lips with his own and kissed him deeply.  He ran his hands through his hair and pressed their bodies close together.  When they needed air, they broke apart and smiled at each other.

“Hey.”  Justin whispered and Brian let out a soft laugh.

“Hey.”  He answered as he pressed their foreheads together.

“You’re dense you know that?”  Justin teased and Brian laughed a little bit more.  “I’m serious.  The movie, the files on the floor, the dreams…What does a guy have to do to get through to you?”

“Shut up, Sunshine.”  Brian demanded as he gave him another deep kiss.

“Well this is the most exhilarating experience I’ve ever had.”  Marilyn said with a hint of excitement as she allowed Justin to apply a bandage onto her head from their first-aid kit.

“I’m still not even sure what happened.”  Justin said, shifted back once it was applied to lean against Brian.  They’d been inseparable ever since he was freed from the mirror.

“I suspect the mirror acts as a portal between this realm and the next.  You were dead, Justin.  For all intents and purposes.”  Marilyn explained, causing Brian and Justin to exchange sad glances.  “Your spirit had moved into the realm of the dead through the mirror.  And with your body vacant, the evil spirit took your place.  You touched the mirror, didn’t you?”  She asked knowingly  and Justin nodded slowly.

“Not willingly.  I almost did but then I decided against it and tried to back away.  It fought with me, though, and forced me to touch it after it knocked me out.”  He explained as he leaned back against Brian’s side.  Brian’s arms moved to wrap around him tightly.

“Does that mean the spirit is still here?”  Brian asked with a frown.

“Probably, but it won’t be able to do anything to you without the mirror.  Though, to be safe, I will cleanse the house.  Without the mirror to anchor It, It won’t remain for long.”  She stated confidently and both men were put at ease.  She glanced at them and smiled a little.

“I’ll get started.”  She gave them a wink and then stood and moved out of the living room, leaving them alone.

Brian tightened his hold on Justin but turned his head to the fireplace where the shards of the mirror were melting.  “Sorry it took me so long to realize something was wrong.”  He said softly, his mouth near Justin’s ear.

“You’re a stubborn man, Brian Kinney.  But that’s why I love you.”  Justin turned and pressed a kiss against the side of his mouth.  Justin shifted a bit more and they both looked at the fireplace.

Brian laid his head on top of Justin’s and closed his eyes contently.  “I love you too, Sunshine.”

Brian turned his gaze to the side of the fireplace where the bat leaned against the bricks.  Brian didn’t know what had compelled him to bring it downstairs, but Justin didn’t seem bothered by it.  He thought it should stay there, where they could see it.  It had saved their lives, after all.