CHAPTER 15- INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW...

Connor and Brandon left the airport majorly pissed off. Justin Taylor was going to pay for that very public slight. And so was the man with him. Fucking Brian Kinney.

"I can't believe that little shit, thinking that he wasn't coming back," Connor groused.

"Well he isn't here, so there may be some truth to what he is saying," Brandon said. "The question is: what exactly can we do about it? The boy has not only lawyered up but now he has a rich and powerful friend in his own right."

"Bullshit!" Connor exclaimed. "I have more money and even more powerful friends than Brian Kinney does."

"That may be true Connor, but the truth is that we have more important things to worry about that a piece of blond boy ass."

Connor stopped in his tracks on their way to the limo waiting curbside. Looking his brother square in the eyes, he noticed something that he had never seen from Brandon before. It wasn't only anger, which Connor was accustomed to, but fear. It was unnerving to say the least. "What the fuck have you been keeping from me, Bran?"

Brandon knew there was no way to spin this with his brother looking at him so intently. Full disclosure was the only way to protect themselves now. Taking a deep breath, Brandon told Connor what he needed to know. "He has the book, Conn."

"Book? What book?" Connor asked. His eyes widening in understanding as Brandon nodded his head yes."

"The little fucker has the power to burn us in more ways than he possibly could understand. Although from his parting comments before he pushed you, I'm not so sure that he doesn't comprehend the significance of those records."

"FUCK! We have to get it back," Connor said as he turned around, prepared to march back into the airport and shake Justin to within an inch of his life.

Brandon reached out to stop his brother's progress. "No. I think I have a better idea. We need to call Taylor and Stockwell immediately. Uncle Tom should be in on this too since he has just as much to lose as we do should Justin play the trump card he holds."

"Russo was supposed to fill him in."

As Brandon was about to answer, his cell phone rang within his pocket. The one-sided conversation caused Connor's blood pressure to skyrocket. That book held all of their secrets, including the double life each of them lived out of the eyes of Hollywood. If the contents within it became public, it would not only mean their careers, but jail time, both state and federal. They needed some kind of leverage over Justin Taylor to bring him to heel and they needed it NOW.

Brandon hung up from the phone call, a stunned look on his face. "Russo has been arrested. It turns out that Justin wasn't lying when he said that he had been truthful with Kinney. Taylor and Sapperstein were ousted from Taylor Electronics two weeks ago and the company sold to Kinnetik Enterprises."

"What the fuck is that?"

"The company that Brian Kinney AND Justin Taylor OWN. But that's not even the worst part Connor. Fucking Justin Taylor has made himself invincible." At Connor's confused look, he continued. "Without the legal formality to be had in the state of California, Justin is almost as good as married to Brian Kinney. He is worth much more than we could imagine. And not only Justin, but so are Brian, Jennifer, and Molly Taylor. If ANY of them were to disappear, not only would there be a nationwide search on a local level, but federally as well. Justin has just become the second wealthiest man in America only topped by..."

"Brian fucking Kinney. How the fuck has this happened? We left Justin with the bare minimum of necessities."

Brandon went on to explain to Connor what Justin had been up to since beginning the Art Institute. Ever since their discovery of Justin's disappearance, Brandon had questions that could only be answered with a thorough background check and a private investigator. The fact that the little fucker had been so resourceful both impressed Brandon and irked him to his core. He, like Connor, had thought that they had beaten the willfulness out of the blond, but finding out that they were both wrong, rankled. Justin had managed what none of their other sex slaves had. He had managed to endure the torture while carving out a future for himself independent of Connor and Brandon James. And there wasn't a fucking thing that either one of them could do about it.

"What the fuck are we going to do now, Brandon? If word of all this gets out..."

"I know. Look, Conn, the bottom line is that we need help. There is just no way we can do this alone. The only one with more to lose than any of us is Craig Taylor."

"What good can he do? He has no reason, nor any resources left that we can use to make him do what we want. Justin and Taylor Electronics were our trump cards. Not even Jennifer and Molly can be touched. And from what you said, his wife left and took the fucking kids. So what does he have left?"

Brandon smiled evilly at his brother. "The only thing any of us have at this moment, Conn. He has a thirst for revenge. I think we owe it to him, to give him a call and find a way to make all of this right. After all, if it wasn't for him, we would never have known the best slave we've ever had and WILL have again. We just have to find the right angle to make it so."

And with that, Brandon and Connor began to plan as well as make the call to the loathsome creature who was Justin's father.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

.... "Justin, I want you to marry me."     

Justin stood shock-still as he tried to process the words which had flown between Brian's lips... in Brian's voice... with Brian's intense gaze reflecting back at him.  The words and intent repeated in Justin's brain as if a shot had been fired which kept ricocheting off of every single available surface without an end to the turmoil in sight. "Marry me... marry me...Justin, I want you to marry me." Words that he would never have thought he would hear in a million years, let alone in the few weeks of knowing Brian Aiden Kinney.  Justin could feel the heat, the sweat that such words and thoughts produced but...

"No." Justin said the single word before he could take it back and moved passed the angry and shocked expression of his business partner and friend.

"What do you mean ‘no?'" Brian yelled, not giving a thought to the curious gazes being launched his way. His sole focus was on the blond man who had literally thrown his proposal-- one that had even surprised him no matter how much he meant it-- back in his face.

"Just what I said, Brian. I won't marry you," Justin turned to face him, his face a mixture of hurt and anger that Brian couldn't understand.

"What the fuck? Justin, look, if it's about..."

"It's not," Justin answered hurriedly, trying to reassure Brian that it had nothing to do with his past even if it affected the situation. This was more about why Brian was asking, not the need or wanting to be with each other. "I won't allow you to make that kind of sacrifice to fix MY problem Brian. It's enough that you offered but that isn't the answer to dealing with Connor and Brandon James."

Before Brian could answer, Ted broke through his own astonishment to ask, "What the hell is going on, Brian? Justin, what is this about a marriage proposal?"

Justin removed his eyes from the hazel orbs glaring daggers at him in order to answer Ted. He found that even in his amazement, Ted still had some of the warmest and understanding brown eyes he had ever seen. He was also smart and undoubtedly looked out for Brian's best interests. "Yes, Ted. Brian asked me to marry him. But I said no."

Ted nodded. "That much I gathered but may I ask why?"

"I don't want him sacrificing himself to fix something that ultimately isn't his problem."

As Brian started to retort, Ted held up his hand for his silence. The meaningful look which passed between him and Brian was not lost of the rest of the company, especially Justin who then folded his arms in defiance. Ted almost laughed at the strong stance and mutinous expression etched across the young blond's face, but he realized that this was no laughing matter. He also understood Justin's reluctance to even consider such a move. "Justin, let me tell you a little story. I met Brian Kinney a long time ago. At first, I was jealous because I wasn't him. He was a man who could and did have everything and everyone that he wanted. It wasn't until a few years ago, that I really understood the private price he paid to be able to have it all. All I saw was the success but never the personal failures or the pressure that he was put under to help everyone around him. It was just easier to turn a blind eye and make assumptions based on what he presented to the world.

"It wasn't until he moved to New York that I really began to see Brian Kinney the man, not the myth. Believe it or not, I was a crystal meth addict for a little more than a year. How that came to be is another story but I always tell people that I was a late bloomer. What I didn't know is that while I was either too strung out to notice or care, when I was in rehab trying to get some semblance of order back into my life, Brian was the one taking care of me even though no one except maybe Emmett and Donovan knew. Brian made sure that my mortgage payments reached my lender on time and then when my insurance wouldn't pay for my stint in rehab, Brian took care of that. Not even Lindsay and Michael know but they always question my loyalty to him. When I couldn't find a decent job- I was working as a singing waiter... HEY Brian, stop laughing, I was very good..." Ted couldn't help but snicker himself as he remembered Brian teasing him about it. Clearing his throat, he looked back to Justin with a slight smirk still on his face. "Anyway, it was time for me to pay Brian back. He had landed his first major account under his own company and the old Accounting firm I used to work for had fucked up big time. He yanked me out of my AA meeting, dragged me back to his office and asked in the way only Brian could..."

"Oh, you mean he demanded," Justin interjected.

"All a matter of perspective, young lad," Ted said as he patted Justin on the shoulder. "Brian said something very important to me before I began to try to fix his problem and it has stuck with me ever since."

"What was it?" Justin was enthralled by this glimpse into Ted's life. He would have never figured the older gentleman for a Crystal Queen. From first meeting Ted Schmidt, Justin had pegged him as a reasonable, steady, self-assured man. It was humbling to find out that Ted was as human as he was.

Ted smiled, the action lighting his eyes. "He told me to live in the solution and NOT the problem. Up until that point, I had not realized that living inside of what I always thought was wrong with me was what led to my addiction. I didn't see value in myself- at least not the way Brian and Emmett did. To say that I was painfully shy and woefully uncomfortable in my own skin and abilities would be a vast understatement. Because of that simple statement which has become my mantra and my personal talisman against the ‘I Can't' syndrome, and because of Brian's faith in me, I have blossomed into the person that I really could have been years ago, had I really looked at life differently. It's why Brian is such a success and why he has overcome so much to be so."

"I just don't want him to feel obligated to save me Ted. This is my problem and although I'm grateful for all of your friendship, I can't accept an offer made with this kind of string attached and all for the sake of keeping me out of the clutches of Connor and Brandon."

"Justin you're not asking Brian to do something he doesn't want to do," Leda said from her place by the window. "I guess you can say that I have a unique perspective of all this since I know Brian personally and I know what it is that you have endured- again personally. I've heard the stories, Justin. And I've seen the bruises although you've hid them well. I saw the sheer panic in your eyes when you saw them and when they produced that fucked up piece of paper. Know this Justin, Brian Kinney never does anything he doesn't want to do and he never says anything he doesn't mean. Now, I can't tell you what to do; wouldn't dream of it even if I could. But honestly, if Brian is offering, what could it hurt?"

"If it helps your decision any, I will tell you both that you aren't that far away from a Domestic Partnership already," Donovan interjected. "You've already combined your business assets into Kinnetik Corporation."

"Yeah but this takes it further, Donovan...Much MUCH further. We wouldn't be able to get rid of each other EVER."

Brian laughed. "Do you want to get rid of me already?"

"That's not the point and you know it," Justin sighed, exasperated.

"I  know it isn't, but would it really be so bad?" Brian asked low, moving closer to stand directly in front of Justin. Even from his vantage point, he could not only see the pulse at his jugular kick up a notch but he could see the fine sheen of sweat cover Justin's skin. He watched avidly as Justin's nostrils flared as he inhaled and smiled knowing that his nearness was affecting the young man in a most delicious way. Justin's refusal had nothing to do with him not being desired. It was something else entirely.

"I just...." Justin began but let the sentence cease even though his thought kept going within his own head. I don't want you to feel trapped.

It was as if he spoke the words aloud as Brian moved even closer to him, invading his personal space. Before he registered what would happen next, Justin felt Brian's hands cupping the sides of his face. He couldn't help but close his eyes at the soft contact nor the hitch in his breath when Brian's lips connected with his own. Justin's lips parted of their own volition, allowing Brian entry and full control, which Brian took full advantage of. The sensual action began slow and steady, Brian's tongue drawing and tasting every nook and cranny within the heated orifice. As it continued, Justin found himself anchored to Brian as the strong arms of the brunet wrapped around him. Wanting more, Justin leaned into the kiss even further. He wanted nothing more than to climb inside of the man holding him and stay there. Every thought beyond that was being wiped away with every swipe of Brian's tongue against his own. Justin trembled with his rising desire just as Brian snatched his mouth away.

"Marry me Justin and we'll work out everything else later."

"Brian..."

"Just say yes Justin," Brian's rasp voice said as he took Justin's lips in a deep but quick kiss.

When Brian released Justin's lips, the younger man couldn't help but stare into the earnest hazel eyes. What Brian was... demanding was more than Justin had ever thought he wanted. But... "I want some things put in writing," Justin said, still a little breathless from that quick but satisfying kiss. "And I want them non-negotiable Brian."

"What are they?" Donovan asked.

Justin pushed back out of Brian's arms. He couldn't think straight when he was within them and he needed his brain fully functional at this critical moment. "The first is that this.... agreement stays between those of us in this room. The only exceptions are Emmett and Daphne. My mother and sister will have to know but as for anyone else, it will just give them cause to squawk."

Brian smiled. "You mean Michael and Lindsay?"

"Yeah, among others. It's okay if we tell people we are officially Domestic Partners but the details are too salacious for them not to use to hurt us. Also I think Mel will need to know to some extent."

"Why?" Brian asked. "She will only tell Lindsay and that would be counterproductive to the goal."

"Not exactly. I don't know what we walked in on a few weeks ago between her and your best friends, but I think that since she defended you, she at least needs to be in on the particulars of this. If for no other reason, she is Gus's other mom and should be given the courtesy. As for Lindsay..." Justin inhaled deeply before finishing his statement. "I don't trust her not to betray our trust. If you have to, hire Melanie under attorney-client privilege which would make her liable  for anything discussed. You don't have that kind of leverage with Lindsay."

Brian nodded, again in respect for what Justin was saying. He really was a brilliant strategist but then Justin would have had to be, even if he was young. Brian was still reeling from the fact that he'd asked Justin to marry him but he couldn't regret it. If he were honest with himself, though the thought entering his head and the words leaving his lips were even a surprise to himself, he felt that he had never spoken words that were so fucking right. It was boggling his mind but he was enjoying the sensation more than he had ever enjoyed anything else. One thing he was sure of was that life with Justin Taylor- Kinney would NEVER be boring.

"The second thing is that if at any time you want this...partnership dissolved, the same rules apply. But within the scope of the ‘marriage' for lack of a better term, we each leave with what we came in with. Anything we make outside of that will be split down the middle. You can still buy me out at any time since Kinnetik is your baby."

"I don't foresee that happening Justin," Brian argued.

"But nevertheless, I want it to be there."

Brian shook his head. "Okay. How about we compromise on it. If, let's say that we are still together after three years, this contract about assets will become null and void."

"But Brian..."

"No buts Justin. I am not looking at this the same way you are but I'm willing to compromise if it means that you become comfortable with the arrangement. I know that it is a lot to relinquish total control over this but you have to trust me."

"I do trust you but..."

"You have a butt, I have a butt, everyone else has a butt but there are NO buts to be had in this situation, Justin," Brian said smiling that he had finally gotten a slight snicker out of his partner.

"And the third thing is..."

"To be discussed at home," Brian said, nabbing the young man around the waist. "Look Justin, I know that you are worried. Stop it! We will be fine. This is between us and anyone who has a problem with it, the problem is theirs."

"You won't get any objections out of any of us," Cynthia assured him. "And I doubt that Jennifer and Molly will have any. Your mom and sister are learning to trust us. Aren't you?"

Justin looked at each of the faces gathered, leaving Brian's for last. He thought about all that they had gone through within the few short weeks since he had come to Pittsburgh. Without these people, Justin knew that he had even less of a chance at succeeding in keeping his freedom. He nodded while looking into Brian's eyes. "Yeah, I have and do, Cyn."

"Good then there shouldn't be any further objections," she stated. "Donovan can you have those papers drawn up by the morning?"

"Sure can. I just have to add these few stipulations into the current contract and change the wording a bit but it's nothing that can't be handled fast. Will there be a ceremony?"

Before Brian had a chance to answer, Justin did. "No. The element of surprise is all we have going for us right now and I don't want to lose it. I have a feeling that Connor and Brandon will try, if they haven't already, to get the bogus papers registered with or without Judge Russo."

"Besides if there is one, I will feel obligated to invite the ‘family.' Deb and Vic will understand but Lindsay and Michael won't," Brian stated while everyone else nodded in agreement.

"In fact, the two of them would make it a point to object and make spectacles of themselves, even if it is just a formality." Cynthia couldn't keep the growing contempt from her voice.

As far as she was concerned, Justin couldn't have picked a better time to show up in their lives. Brian's ‘best friends' had gotten away with far too much for far too long, no matter that Brian had been living in New York for the past five years. They always expected for him to drop whatever he was doing for whatever they deemed important and when he didn't there was always hell to pay. The silent treatment was an effective weapon, especially where Lindsay was concerned since she was the primary caregiver for Gus. It was the reason that Brian had started speaking with Melanie more than he had in previous years, which if you asked her, Cynthia would have said that it was about fucking time.

As for Michael, he had been prone to show up at the New York office, making an ass of himself and whining to the top of his lungs until Brian had no choice but to see him if he wanted to keep Kinnetik afloat. She was never happier than when they moved to the new building equipped with mean-ass security men who wouldn't- and didn't- hesitate to throw Michael out on his ass. But the real shock came when Debbie Novotny had called to speak with Brian. Ordinarily, Debbie would have reamed Brian out for treating her ‘baby' so callously, but Vic must have gotten into her ear. When she said that she would deal with Michael and for Brian to keep doing what he was doing; that it was time for Michael to grow up and live his own life, that had been the real shock for Cynthia. And she hoped that it would continue, now that Brian and Justin were to become partners in every sense of the word.

Leda had crossed over to her at that moment whispering in her ear. "Thank you," she said simply.

Cynthia shrugged it off. "I care about him too, you know? If not for Brian Kinney, I could have been him." When Leda looked at her strangely, Cynthia went on to explain what Stockwell and Gardner Vance were trying to do. "So you see, Justin and I have led very similar lives, but also were saved by the same man."

Leda nodded, understanding more than Cynthia could possibly know. "I've wanted to do something about Justin's situation for a long time. Now I understand why he wouldn't let me."

Cynthia laughed. "Yeah, I'm learning just how independent Justin is. I think that I'll just sit back and watch the fireworks happen between the happy couple. There are bound to be plenty since they're both control freaks."

"Clash of the Titans?"

"Worse. Clash of the Taylor-Kinneys." And Ted and Donovan who had joined them, laughed right along with Cynthia and Leda.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For the first time in a very long time, Emmett felt like banging his head against the bar table. He would never know or understand what had possessed him to accept an invitation to Woody's from Michael, but he would never do it again without another member of the ‘gang.' All Michael seemed able to talk about was Brian. And Justin's interference in Brian's life. And how an intervention was needed so that Brian could reclaim his ‘Stud' status.

"I mean...since Justin is the ‘hired' help, it should allow for Brian to have more time to spend time with HIS friends. I mean if Justin was doing his JOB, there would have been no need for Brian to take off to Aruba," Michael whined yet again.

"Michael, if you spent half as much time worrying about your own business, the comic store wouldn't be on the brink of foreclosure," Emmett said, his voice tinged with annoyance at the shorter brunet.

Michael waved his comment away. "My store will be fine as soon as Brian gets back. I asked Ted for the money but he said that he wasn't going to authorize it without Brian's approval. HA! And here I was thinking that Ted was so fucking important to Brian's business."

"He is, Michael," Emmett had lost patience at that point. It was one thing to sit through all of Michael's complaints regarding Brian's supposed neglect of his friends but it was another thing to tear down the person who had been helping Michael pay his fucking rent. "For the record, Ted is the CFO of Kinnetik Corp. Do you know what that means, Michael? Of course you don't! It means that Ted could have signed a check over to you at any fucking time he wanted. The fact that he didn't was NOT because he had to wait for Brian's approval. It was because YOU are a bad credit risk. You do absolutely NOTHING with that store. Every single suggestion that Brian, Ted and I have made for you to grow your business, you have disregarded as if we don't know what we are talking about. Meanwhile the rest of us are successful, have doubled our initial investments and own a few other businesses in addition to the main one with our names attached to it. You, on the other hand, expect people to keep bailing you out. Both Ted AND Brian agreed that they wouldn't do it again after the last time. You spend your money on your fucking toys rather than paying your damn bills. Why should anyone want to help you out? So that you can get a new one? No! My advice is get your shit OUT of the store before you're left with NOTHING- no toys, no classic comics, zip. All you will be left with if you're lucky will be the clothes on your back and the Jockeys covering your ass. And you know what Michael, you'll deserve it. And before you go asking Deb and Vic for money that they don't have, they're not going to give you any either. Because of you, Brian had to bail them out too, although they had a legitimate reason. If they weren't so busy trying to save your ass, they could have saved their own."

Michael eyes welled up in that puppy-dog look that would have ordinarily had Emmett apologizing. But not tonight. "Why are you being so mean, Em? I haven't done anything to you."

Emmett shook his head, mumbling under his breath, And they call Brian Peter Pan? "Look Sweetie," Em softened his tone. "Sometimes a little tough love is needed and in your case, it was needed years ago. You have to learn that Brian's life doesn't revolve around your wants, needs and wishes."

"No, it revolves around Kinnetik and that fucking Justin Taylor," Michael exclaimed.

"Whether it does or not, is Brian's business NOT yours Michael. You need to get your own life." And with that, Emmett left, leaving Michael to absorb his words.

Michael dried the tears that he had been pressing out of his eyes hoping to get a different reaction from Emmett. Nothing was going as he planned. He had spoken to Debbie and Vic about Brian's defection and had been told the same thing- that he needed to find a life of his own and quit worrying about Brian. But how was that possible? His entire existence ran parallel to Brian's and had since they were fourteen years old. Brian was supposed to settle down with him when they were aging Queens living in Palm Springs. But that couldn't happen if Justin was allowed to get close to Brian and from the looks of it, that's exactly what the blond was doing.

"Buy you another drink?" the stranger who had been staring at Michael from across the room asked.

"Yeah. Sure,"As he waved the bartender over, Michael took a better look at the guy. He was attractive enough, although not as attractive as Brian. The man had glittering blue eyes which reminded him of a hero in one of his comic books. The wavy blond hair was shoulder-length which the guy wore in a ponytail at the back of his head. The tight-fitting t-shirt accentuated the muscles in his arms and hugged the man in all the places Michael eyes stuck to. He could also tell from the way the jeans sat, that the man was well-hung. He seemed familiar to Michael although he couldn't place where he had seen him. "You're not from around here, are you?"

The stranger laughed, the sound almost musical and deep. It sent a delicious shiver through Michael, one he hadn't felt since Brian had jerked him off many years ago. Michael smiled as he answered. "No, I'm not. Just taking care of a little business here in good old Pittsburgh. But I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with your friend."

Michael's smile faded in its intensity. "Oh that....well that's just Emmett for you."

The guy nodded in response. "Well it looked like you could use a friend. A real one."

"Em's a real friend but we're having a disagreement."

"You want to talk about it?"

Michael hesitated a little. He wasn't used to men being soliciting of him especially when Brian wasn't around. That was another thing. He always felt safe when the tall brunet was there. If there was someone that hit on Michael, Brian was always the first to whisper in his ear and tell him if the guy was okay. Although it hadn't happened with David, and Ben was in and out of Michael's life although he wanted to be more, Michael couldn't help but be pulled in by the strange man who was acting sort of like a therapist. And honestly, the attentive blue eyes were like a balm to Michael's wounded heart right now.

So without thought or filter, Michael began to unburden himself. He spoke of his history with Brian Kinney, the man's reputation and how he had somehow ended up living vicariously through him. The stranger ate up every single word, asking key questions about Michael's best friend which Michael answered as if he couldn't help himself. Michael talked about Brian's relationship with the entire family, including his son Gus who seemed to have grown to love Brian even if he was an absentee father. And then Michael spoke about the new addition to the Kinnetik staff and how he was jealous that the blond seemed to be taking up all of Brian's time and attention. It was too much for Michael to sit idly by and watch but what other choice did he have, since Brian wouldn't fire the boy. Even when Michael complained about the boy's mistreatment of him when Justin had hit him with a broomstick, Brian didn't defend Michael and fire the little shit.

When Michael had finally paused in his tale of woe, the stranger asked if there was anything he could do. Michael said, "No. I just have to remind Brian of WHO he is but I can't do that if Justin keeps hanging around him."

"Maybe I can help with that," the stranger offered, smiling. Extending his hand, Michael immediately shook it.

"I doubt it. But anyway, you've been nice listening to me go on and on. I didn't even ask you your name."

The stranger continued to smile, realizing that he may just have the ally he'd been looking for. "My name is Brandon James. You wanna get out of here? Maybe talk some more?" Connor had his way of dealing with Justin Taylor but listening to Michael Novotny may have afforded them another way entirely. He was definitely interested in hearing about Kinney's son. Although Connor was averse to using children as leverage, Brandon had no such compunction. It may be the only way to bring Justin under subjugation, and get him back where he belonged which was beneath him and Connor again.

"Sure," Michael said, smiling as if he was the only winner of the lottery.