Evangeline Charles was pissed! Beyond pissed actually. All of her carefully laid plans for Brian and Justin Taylor-Kinney (she mentally spat at that) was going to shit and there seemed to be very little she could do about it. It didn't help that she couldn't get ahold of Saperstein and his idiotic nephew, and had yet to receive a report from Kevin Dixon. The phone meeting with Gardner Vance was even less productive and she hated all this incompetence. Apparently the Taylor-Kinneys were secured, guarded and protected more than fucking Fort Knox.

She crossed the luxurious hotel suite in search of another cup of coffee and some peace. As Evangeline looked over the seemingly endless view of the river, she reflected on the situation which started this all. James Kilpatrick was the love of her life- or so she thought. At 5'10 and her occupation, it was often difficult for a man to take interest in her. There was no doubt that she was attractive- it was part of her problem- but she was also intelligent and could overpower many of the men she was attracted to. Whenever she would walk into a room, James used to sing the ‘built like an Amazon' verse from Brickhouse. She snickered briefly at the memory. But easy camaraderie and companionship ended when James had confessed that he was gay.

She had been looking through bridal magazines, preparing for their nuptials only six weeks away when he'd come in.

"Hey Babe," she said cheerfully. "It looks like you and the guys lit up the nightlife but good."

They had been living in Miami and she was working on thwarting a long-term case. No one knew she was crooked and she was happy to keep it that way. Tamara was her sorority sister and had some powerful connections in the world of organized crime which would benefit her in the long run. Evangeline had never thought to be an FBI agent forever but it didn't mean that she wanted to be broke and without her own funds either. Going into business with Tamara and her brother, Fred, seemed the perfect next step. If that meant she had to falsify records of missing people, help their drug trade to bypass customs, give them a heads-up on the latest investigations and execute enemies and bury the bodies to turn up much later then she would do it. Evangeline had no qualms or conscience when it came to achieving her own ends.

"Yeah, we had a good time," James had answered her distractedly.

"So....what did you guys do? Went to a game, played a game, stayed home all night drinking?" Evangeline asked. She was a little puzzled by James' lack of response. He usually came back full of stories from his ‘Guys Night Out' escapades. She had fun listening to him and his deep voice and the sex was always amazing afterward especially if they decided to watch porn. So when he spoke next, Evangeline couldn't curb the sense of foreboding assailing her.

"Darling, we need to talk. There are some- some things you need to know."

That little stammer caught her ear immediately. She put the magazine down and crossed the room over to where he was standing overlooking the balcony. "You know you can tell me anything, sweetie. I love you."

James breathed a sigh of relief, looking for all the world like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He knew Evangeline, of all people, would understand. "I wasn't with the guys last night."

"Oh? Okay, so where were you?" That feeling in the pit of her stomach intensified. She didn't like it at all.

"I-- I went... I went to the White Party."

"For gays?"

James nodded. She knew that as far as anyone else was concerned James was straight, same as her. But like James, Evangeline was bisexual. He knew of many times that she had fucked a woman even though it was either her sorority sister Tamara or someone she was trying to entice information from for her job. "I met a couple of fags. We had a threesome and they were... they were fucking hot. Brian and Justin are from Pittsburgh- if you can believe it- but God.... Evangeline, I can still feel both of them. They were the best fucks I've ever had male or female. A pair of beautiful fuck machines, they were. They kinda reminded me of the angel/devil theory. Justin was all blond and gorgeous, Brian all tanned and beautiful. And they are completely in love with each other and yet they still allow the other to get their needs met. So I got to thinking..."

"What? What did you begin to think, James?" She was truly interested in knowing.

"I got to thinking that I want what they have."

"You have that already with me."

"No, Evangeline, I don't. Look, I love you and I know you love me, too. But you are..."

"I'm what exactly? Are you calling me your beard?" She couldn't fathom that James was fully gay. Bisexual, sure but wholeheartedly, rimming, ramming, sucking and fucking gay? NO!

"Yes. That's exactly what I am telling you. I've known for a very long time that I was."

"But you and I fuck all the time, James."

"We do. But not without me envisioning you as a man," James said and lowered his eyes. He watched as the woman he loved like a best friend crossed the room to put distance between them. He wasn't sure what he was expecting her reaction to be but that wasn't it.

"So let me get this straight. We're planning a wedding and after being with two men for the whole night fucking, you've decided that you are completely gay?"

"Not just because of last night but yeah, I'm gay. I've decided to live my life as a gay man, Evangeline. I know it's a shock considering where we are in our lives but there it is. I would rather have this conversation now than wait until we both resent each other later. Perhaps we can still--"

He never got to finish that thought. Evangeline had pulled her gun equipped with a silencer from behind the silken pillow on their couch. Well her couch now. She moved back to where James laid crumpled on the parquet floor and looked dispassionately upon his muscular form. If she felt loss at all, it was for his ten inch dick which he would never ram her with again. His announcement had killed any feelings of love she had for him. She reached into her bra and pulled out her cell phone.

"Hey Tamara. I need you to do me a huge favor." As she told her sorority sister and sometimes lover what she needed, Evangeline began to mix the solution to get the blood stains out of the floor. Donning disposable rubber gloves, Evangeline told Tamara that she wanted to know who Brian and Justin from Pittsburgh was and why she would be unable to do it from her office. "Higgins and Morrissey would be on my ass if I start to ask questions about some fags in Pittsburgh. They have nothing to do with the case we're working on. I need this to be off the record, Tamara. I will make them pay one way or another. Call your contact within the Senate and get me what the fuck I need."

From that day to this one, Evangeline had worked with Tamara to bring Brian and Justin's empires down. Originally she just wanted to see them broke but since that hadn't worked she wanted their lives. After extensive research, finding their numerous enemies and joining forces had been as easy as taking candy from a baby. People in very high places hated them with fury and passion, a few of them related to both of the men. It was the perfect revenge since she wasn't homophobic by any means; she just hated gay men. No one would suspect that she had a hand in bringing down two of the most notorious A-gays worldwide. But now it was all going to hell...FAST. Well fuck that! They would pay in the most sure way possible. Either one or both of them will lose their lives under the pretext of homophobia and the people who worked for her would pay for it. Evangeline smiled. Who the fuck could argue with that?

She picked up her phone again and dialed the familiar number. "Mark, get your ass over here now." Not waiting for a response, she disconnected the call. She dialed another number; the same one who she'd disconnected only minutes before her reflections. She tapped her foot impatiently until the cultured voice answered the call. "Gardner, find out what you can about where their son is and arrange for a little visit. No apologies or excuses will do if you fuck this up; simply put I'll kill you. Get on it NOW!" She couldn't help the little bubble of maniacal laughter which escaped from her. Today would mark the end of Brian and Justin.

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

Gus had the most awkward feeling as he stepped into his new home. He couldn't explain the weird feeling of tension assailing his senses as he made his way toward the kitchen from the front door. Admittedly, things had been strained since Mama came to live with him and his mom. It was great being with Jenny again and although everything seemed to be going okay between his two moms, it was clear that something happened to change that. He'd noticed the attention Colby had been giving his mother since he arrived in Pittsburgh. Initially Gus was wary of the big Irishman but as he'd come to know Colby, he appreciated his presence and friendship. Being a bisexual male was tricky and although the talks with both of his fathers helped tremendously, it wasn't exactly the same. It was still difficult facing his budding sexuality as someone attracted to both men and women but talking to Colby made it easier to understand. And it didn't seem like such a bad thing to Gus that Colby and his mom were growing closer. She seemed happier and as long as she remained so Gus wouldn't have a problem.

He grabbed a cup from the cupboard making a beeline for the coffee. In all the drama he'd witness at Britin that morning, there never seemed to be enough time. Gus had spent most of the morning working with John to piece information about the organization. Peter was there as well doing research on the money behind it and their Pittsburgh connections. At first John and Peter were concerned about getting Gus involved but ultimately decided that with his WASPy knowledge of the Pittsburgh elite and the boy's innate intelligence, the extra help was appreciated. Gus remembered the stories he'd heard over the years about them and relayed the information to John, Peter and the others. What he was unable to fill in, Emmett, Tucker and Julienne were able to. The list of people who had a vendetta-- real or imagined-- against Brian and Justin was astounding. To Gus, it made no sense since his fathers were definitely not interested in furthering any political agenda. They just wanted to live their lives in peace, with their money and those they considered family. But these people would always consider the men a threat because they knew how to organize and the money to back up the action.

Gus was so focused on his thoughts and fixing his coffee that he didn't immediately realize the soft-speaking but firm voices escalating from the sunroom. When he did, he immediately recognized his mama's voice which sounded angry and pleading all at the same time. The second voice was just as angry but was what too sultry to be his mom's. He neared the partially opened doorway listening to the accusations flying.

"What was the purpose in coming here, Marianne? I told you that I would contact you when I figured out what I was doing," Melanie said. There was no doubt that she was pissed about how all of this was coming out. She was going to tell Lindsay but in her own time. She hated being backed into a corner.

Marianne shrugged. "You were taking too long and I needed to come to back to Pittsburgh anyway. When are you returning to Toronto?"

Gus heard Melanie sigh deeply before answering the woman. "I'm not," she said simply. Gus couldn't help but rejoice at those two simple words. Sure he knew the whole situation regarding custody but it was still wonderful to hear from his mama's mouth.

"What the fuck do you mean ‘I'm not?' Melanie, we have a life already established there. The agreement was that you would make Lindsay come back so that you could have the full access to JR while still being with me. What the fuck changed?" There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Marianne was pissed off at the latest developments. She never cared about anyone the way she did Melanie Marcus. She was brilliant, smart, funny and a fucking sex machine. It didn't hurt that she was well off either. Marianne made a decent salary but she could always use a little extra help to reach the next level in her semi-extravagant lifestyle.

"Look, Marianne, what changed doesn't matter. What does is that moving back to Pittsburgh is what's best for my children and for myself."

"You mean it's what's best for Lindsay and you. Gus isn't even your fucking kid."

Melanie raised her voice then. "Not my fucking kid? Are you serious? I have been there with him since the night he was born; before that even. I have been his mother from the time he was conceived. Just because we don't share DNA doesn't mean we're any less family. I love him more now than I did then and every fucking minute my love for him grows. I may not show it to him as often as Lindsay does or even Brian for that matter but it doesn't change the fucking facts. HE'S MY SON and I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago. I'm putting my children's needs and wants before my own. If you can't or won't be a part of that, then fuck you."

Gus was surprised at the venom and words spewing forth from Melanie. There were many times over the years that she displayed a cold indifference toward him; had said things against his father that Gus had found offensive and made him want to leave her. In some ways he could understand that Melanie lived her life in fear that Gus wouldn't love her as much as his biological parents. He got that now that he was on the outside looking into their dynamic. But he loved her just as much as he did his parents. She was the one who taught him to ride a bike, talked Lindsay into letting him take driver's ed so that he could be independent and first gave him the encouragement to begin carving his own life the way he wanted to live it. It was what his father always preached to him and whereas Lindsay had a hard time letting Gus do that, Melanie had encouraged that philosophy. That was when Gus began to realize just how much alike his dad and mama were and it made the hostility in their relationship more understandable. Now this bitch, whomever she was, was trying to destroy his family.

Gus straightened himself up to his full height before he stepped into the door of the dining room. "I think it's time that you leave, whoever-the-fuck you are."

Both Marianne and Melanie stood in shock for a moment before his mama recovered. "Gus, language."

He smiled at her briefly before turning his attention back to the matter at hand. "I could hear you two arguing in the kitchen. Mama. I don't like the insinuations this... woman- and I use the term loosely-- was making. Biological or not, you are one of my moms. If she doesn't like it, she can fuck off. In fact, I highly recommend it since she's standing in MY house insulting me and my family."

Marianne recovered her voice then. She narrowed her eyes menacingly at the teenager. "Look you little shit..."

"No you look," Melanie interrupted. "You don't call my son that. Yes, that's right...MY SON, Marianne. You may not understand the dynamics or the reasoning behind my decision; you may not like them at all which you clearly don't. But you will respect them especially since you cannot, will not change them. You owe Gus an apology and then I suggest you find yourself a hotel room to stay in. You are most certainly not welcomed in Lindsay and Gus' house. And right now, I don't blame them." Melanie crossed over to Gus and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. With all the family was going through at the moment, this situation was the last thing he needed. He needed to be a kid. "What are your plans for the day?"

Gus smiled at his mama. That was the first time in as many years as he could remember her asking him something so mundane. It meant the world to him. "Actually, I was going to ask you if Jenny and I could hang out for the day. I made plans with Carmela and her mom to see a movie and I thought she could use a break from the Parentals today too."

Melanie laughed. "The Parentals, eh? Well since Michael seems to be M.I.A. and I need to meet Myrna and Quinn regarding the move and other financial issues, I think it would do you both some good. I'll talk to Lindz about it but I'm sure she won't have a problem."

Gus hugged her tight. "Thanks, Mama. I'll make sure Jenny eats on time and REAL food, not that junk she's attracted to at the concession stand."

"You sounded just like your father just then, Gus. Perish the thought that you too are about to become a health and fitness fanatic."

The boy shook his head. "Not likely since I'm more like Justin in that regard. But Jenny takes junk food to a whole other level and we can't have her with hips like Grandma Deb. Her frame is too small to carry all that."

Before either of them could say anything else, Marianne interrupted. "Don't think this is over, Melanie. I have waited years to be with you, listening to your promises of how things were going to be different. I can't imagine why or what is so important that you would give up a new partnership at the law firm only to downgrade yourself and career for the old stomping ground."

"Didn't you hear a word I said, Marianne? This isn't about me and my career for once. This is about my family. I am still the same caliber of attorney if not better than before I left. If anything having dual citizenship will increase my business but even if it doesn't, no sacrifice is too great and nothing more important than giving Gus and JR the time they need to grow into well-adjusted, well-rounded adults. We both know what happens to people who don't, which apparently is the reason that we're still talking about this."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Marianne asked, her hackles on full display.

"It means that if you can't think selflessly for one fucking minute about what I want, what I NEED, then there is nothing left of this relationship to fight for. Right now you're acting like a spoiled child being denied a trip on the merry-go-round because you just got off the rollercoaster. You're acting like a jealous housewife who just happens to be jealous of her own fucking kids."

"Oh you mean how you were acting when you met me the first time?" Marianne threw back. Melanie's barbs were hurting her more than she would ever admit.

Melanie closed her eyes and thought back to their first affair. She was feeling vulnerable and left out, wallowing in self-pity because of the attention Gus was receiving from Lindsay. She was drowning in work having taken on extra cases so that Lindsay could stay home and care for their son. She'd always thought that meeting Marianne at that baby shower was her sanity saver but right then she wasn't so sure. "Yeah, Marianne, exactly like that. And admittedly, I was behaving like an asshole just like you are now. I think Gus is absolutely right. It's time for you to leave."

Gus took his cue from his mama and raced to the front door. Opening the door he watched as the other brunette gathered her belongings and moved sedately through the door. When she turned back, he couldn't help but feel a little compassion for her and even a little disappointed in Mel for beginning the affair in the first place. But he put that to the side. They were ‘adult' issues and would be dealt with between the grown-ups in his life. Sometimes they made things so fucking complicated and all the drama could've been avoided a long time ago if everyone had just been honest with themselves and each other.

"This isn't over," Marianne said.

"No it isn't," Melanie agreed. "But there was no reason for you to come and piss on your territory which is exactly what you were trying to do, Marianne. Lindsay has moved on with her life; I'm doing the same with mine. You need to think about whether you want to be a part of that or not. I'll be in touch."

With those parting words, Melanie took the door handle from Gus and gently closed the door. She leaned her forehead against it, closing her eyes to regain her equilibrium. The morning had been a fucking nightmare come to life and she wasn't sure how to process it all. She felt Gus' hand on her shoulder. In her reflection, she had forgotten that he was there.

"You hungry?" he asked.

She turned to see his smiling face. Sometimes it still rankled how much he looked like Brian but it was in moments like this that she saw the kindness she very rarely ever saw in Brian's. She smiled back. "I could always eat."

He looked at her critically encased in her bathrobe. "Yeah, you could stand to gain a few pounds. You look like the stick figures I used to draw when I was five."

Melanie playfully smacked him on the back of the head. "Smart ass. Well you're cooking so get to work."

Mama and son moved off toward the kitchen just as Lindsay and Colby alighted from the stairs, freshly-showered and fully-dressed. Each of them froze for a moment, lost in their memories before Gus had arrived home. Lindsay broke the silence first. "How about you go get changed and then we'll talk."

Melanie smiled at Lindsay's attempt to extend the olive branch. Melanie knew that there was a lot to say but Lindsay was willing to be civil even after the pain and shock. "Sure. Gus is cooking breakfast."

Colby laughed. "If Gussie is cooking, I sure as hell won't go hungry. I missed my run this morning but something tells me that will be a good thing. I'll have more to work off later."

"Blame Justin, Colby. It's because of him that Gus can't do without the works first thing in the morning," Lindsay said laughing. "I remember the first time when Gus was just learning to cook that I walked into the loft after Gus stayed the night with Brian and Justin. There was enough to feed all the queers on Liberty Avenue. Brian and I just groaned but couldn't deny that the food not only smelled delicious but the mess they made was beyond anything you could imagine. It was decided that if they were cooking, Brian and I would do the clean-up. It was a fucking disaster area."

"Hey I've gotten better and so has Jus," Gus defended.

"Yeah Son, you have. I'll go wake JR and change," Melanie agreed moving off toward the stairs after touching his face gently. She felt a peace in her decision to move back to Pittsburgh that had alluded her until that moment. Sure things were still a bit raw between her and Lindz but the hope of a solid friendship was being renewed. And Melanie couldn't be happier about that.

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

Justin woke up first. His natural inclination was to panic, not knowing where he was or how he got there. The soft white walls in the medium sized room screamed psychiatric hospital. If he was honest with himself, he wouldn't have been surprised that he'd ended up there. As he laid there staring at the blue sky visible through the blinds, his memory of where he was began to surface.

He was in Troy's office. How he got there he still wasn't sure but he knew why he was in the one place he'd always tried to stay away from. Allegheny General Hospital- the most hated place of his existence. The place where he had recuperated from a crime of passion and hate that was ultimately termed a simple assault. The place where Ben stayed when his HIV meds stopped working and he was in a coma. The halls he'd walked with Brian 18 times for his chemotherapy and radiation treatments when he suffered from testicular cancer. And where Michael was brought when some lunatics decided to set off a bomb to stop a piece of legislature to grant people like him the right to a prosperous life, whatever-the-fuck that meant for them.

Conversely one of the best nights of his life was when he had run the halls with Brian and Michael going to meet Gus for the very first time. Justin sighed deeply. Nothing could ever compare to the feeling of watching Brian hold Gus close; few things did. He shifted a little as he felt the familiar arm of the man he loved above all others tighten about his waist in an effort to stave off the inevitable. Justin closed his eyes again trying to absorb the peace and safety he'd always felt within Brian's arms. It was what he needed more than anything else in that quiet moment.

When Julienne and Daphne had arrived at his door that morning, nothing could have prepared Justin for what he would be facing, the decisions he would have to make or the revelations he would have to endure; the truths he would have to accept. Walking through the Emergency Room doors, Justin had felt the urgency and foreboding in from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. He listened as both Daphne and Troy were brought up to speed on the medical conditions of their patients. Despite everything, it was not easy to hear the extent of the injuries from the car accident that forced part of I-79 to close indefinitely.

Justin held onto his mom and Molly as they made their way down the long corridor leading to Craig's room. Justin had given up a long time ago on having a father which made the fact that Craig had called him his son bittersweet. He sent the two women ahead of him so that he could make the necessary decisions regarding Ethan Gold's care.

Ethan. Even in this, he was the biggest mistake of Justin's life. No doubt that Ethan was there for Justin at a time when he was unsure of himself, unsure of Brian, unsure about wanting to even continue to live. Ethan provided a safe haven for Justin-- a place to get away from the turmoil that had become his and Brian's relationship. He boosted Justin's self-esteem by telling the blond all the things he needed to hear from Brian but wouldn't until years later. It was with Ethan that Justin had learned what love was and what it wasn't.

Daphne had followed him into the room automatically sensing that Justin would need her support. He couldn't have been more grateful to have an astute best friend as he was in that moment. Ethan was writhing on the bed in pain but like Craig, he refused to go into surgery without first seeing Justin. When Justin had crossed the room to stare down at Ethan, he felt pity for the once vibrant brunet. Ethan was a gifted musician for all his lack of career and the way his arm was bent and burned, it was evident that he would never play again. Justin remembered the feeling of lost hope when the doctors told him that there was a 85% chance that he would never draw again. Before Brian and Adrienne had finally gotten through to him, that figure had loomed in Justin's mind. He couldn't concentrate past the feeling of doom to absorb that he still had 15% chance to work with. Instead he'd indulged himself in his own brand of pain management. Booze and insatiable sex with at least five men per night was his currency during that self-destructive time. Brian had waited patiently and sometimes not-so-patiently for Justin to decide whether he wanted to give up or regain his life. A few days after Brian had given him the computer and after his talk with Adrienne, Justin had made the decision to fight for his life- to recapture some of what Chris Hobbs took from him. Ethan would not be so fortunate. Between the burns, the grotesque breaking of his limbs and his ribs, it would take a long time before Ethan could even think about playing again.

"Jus!" Ethan smiled and then cringed. Part of his face was badly burned from the release of the airbag while the rest of his body was burned from the car fire. He tried to shift which caused him to moan. "I knew you still loved me."

Justin refrained from rolling his eyes at the man. There he was lying on a hospital bed about to be wheeled into surgery and all he could think about was some twisted fantasy. Justin shook his head. "I'm here out of obligation, Ethan. Love has nothing to do with it."

"Be that... as it may... Brian will be pissed.... and dump you when..." Ethan gasped in obvious pain before he continued. "...he finds out... that you... rushed to my bedside.     

Justin closed his eyes. This was not the conversation he would have considered having before sending the man off of surgery and he told him so. "Ethan, your first priority should be to yourself. I told them to do whatever they can to save you. It's going to have to be enough."

"Tell me you love me," Ethan demanded.

"I can't do that."

"Tell me or just let me die right now, Justin. I can't live my life without you."

"If you don't let Daphne take you into surgery right now, you won't have a fucking life left to live." Justin nodded to Daphne and the surgical staff to prepare the man. He didn't want this on his conscious but he refused to lie and give Ethan false hope. "We'll talk about it after you're done."

"Promise?" Ethan insisted. Justin could see the small smirk which graced Ethan's swollen lips.

"Yeah. Fine," Justin answered out of patience. Turning to Daphne he said, "Let me know when it's done. I have to go see Craig."

Daphne nodded as he left the room in search of the man he used to call dad. When he got down the hall, it was to find Molly standing outside of the door crying. He knew that the two of them hadn't been close for years and Justin felt responsible for that in many ways. Because of his decision to live his life as he chose, Molly and his mom were forced many times to pick sides. After Molly had graduated high school, she decided to have as little to do with Craig as possible due to his disparaging comments about Brian and Justin. When her father threatened to cut her off, Molly dared him to stating that she would sue him for every dime he had and had yet to make since the money for her education was supposed to be in a trust-protected account. When Brian had hired a lawyer to investigate, it was discovered that Craig had been embezzling the funds for years to support his new wife and kids. He had already run through all of the money put away for Justin's college fund- money left to them by their grandfather. It was part of the reason Craig had demanded that Justin go to Dartmouth. The tuition would have been discounted to the Alumni rate and would have covered Craig's crime. It wasn't about legacy the way people thought; it was about saving Craig's ass both literally and figuratively.

Justin approached Molly, hugging her close. "Is he...?" he asked hesitantly.

"No, not yet. But if they don't get him to the OR soon he might. Did you take care of Ethan?"

"As much as I could Mollusk. The asshole had the nerve to make dire predictions of the fate of me and Brian. Him keeping me as his POA was a ploy to show everyone how much I ‘love' him."

Molly's blue eyes grew stormy at Justin's announcement. "That idiot asshole. I swear he needs a lobotomy since he's already a brainless bastard."

Justin chuckled. Molly was always a human stick of dynamite and was never one to not say what she thought. It was a much needed and appreciated comfort to him. "Yeah well. I did my best to disabuse him of that notion. I don't know how well it worked though. He's a lot like Michael in that respect."

She nodded. "Only sees and hears what he wants to see and hear but never the truth. Jesus Justin, I think you need new friends."

Jennifer came out of the room before he had a chance to answer. She looked at both of her children and Justin saw everything that she would not give voice to. They had spent much of their lives together; there was history there. It was expected that she would make her peace with the father of her children before he was wheeled away. She cleared her throat. "Justin, no matter what he says, don't let it get to you. Your father-- Craig-- is..."

"I know, Mom. There is no rhyme or reason to the inner workings of Craig Taylor. I've given up a long time ago and I can't say that I'm sorry I did. Whatever he asks I will try my best to honor. Not because he's my sperm donor but because I'm an honorable man regardless of what he thinks."

Jennifer placed a kiss on his cheek and whispered. "I'm proud of you Justin."

"I'm proud of you too, Mom." He smiled at her remembering that long ago day of his first PRIDE when they had uttered those same words to each other.

Taking one final deep breath, Justin pushed through the door where Craig Taylor was waiting for him. He took a moment to look at the crumpled and burned form lying on the bed. He tried to dredge up the pity he should feel in that moment, tried to recall the good moments of their existence as father and son so that he could display sympathy for the man he'd once respected; the man he once loved. Craig had killed that with his hate and fury at not being able to control Justin. As a result, all Justin felt was indifference. It was a scary place for someone like Justin to be. "You wanted to see me?"

Craig turned his head from the window to look dispassionately at his oldest son. He recalled all the high hopes he'd had for him and how those dreams had been shattered the moment Justin announced that he was a homosexual and ‘in love' with Brian Kinney. That fucking name was the bane of Craig's life even as he laid on what was possibly his deathbed. But it was time to clear his conscious...or what was left of it. "You know I had such high hopes for you. I wanted to tell you that you've disappointed me."

Justin laughed. "What else is new? Yet you were coming to ask said ‘disappointment' for help with saving your sorry ass, Craig. Even now as you lie there you can't utter the words of apology for misjudging me and underestimating me; can't bring yourself to regret ruining what we once shared with your hatred and bigotry."

"No I can't!" Craig coughed. The hacking sounds coming from his chest due to smoke inhalation and according to Daphne, a possible collapsed lung. When he finally managed to get his breath back, Justin wasn't prepared for what he said next. "You should have died, Justin. First the bat that damaged your fucked-up brain then the blast at Babylon that I arranged but no. You just couldn't, wouldn't fucking die. You and that twisted perverted animal you call your partner. I've been waiting for you to, you know. I'd even taken out a four-million dollar insurance policy the day you turned eighteen but you just wouldn't fucking die, Justin. Ever the disappointment!"

"So what do you fucking expect me to do now?"

"DIE!!! You should be the one lying on this fucking bed with your sinful deviant ways, NOT me. You're a freak of nature, a product of degenerate sperm from when I fucked your naive mother while tripping on acid. To die in my place is the least you can do but never mind. They're coming for you and there's nothing you or anyone else can do to stop them." Craig's cold laughter chilled Justin to the bone. "Whether I survive this surgery or not, you will be meeting your maker by tonight. Even now, Kevin is on his way to your house to take care of it and Mark.... he's a bomb expert, you know? He's going to make sure that the fucking palace you call home blows the fuck up. That miscreant you call a son will be an orphan by nightfall; he's just as disgusting as the rest of you considering he has a dirty fag for a father and cunt-licking lesbian for a mother. There's no way anyone will let him perpetuate the filth running through his veins. Blood will always tell."

Justin stood stock still hearing the venom spewing from Craig Taylor's mouth. Before where he only felt cold indifference, he now felt rage. Burning, all-consuming rage. He wanted nothing more than to kill Craig Taylor and be locked under the fucking jail to do his time. He couldn't believe that he was conceived with sperm from the most hateful bastard ever to walk the face of the earth who was still speaking as if lost in his own fantasies. He had to get out of there before he had Craig's blood on his hands. He could justify it and say he had done the world a favor by ridding it of the sadistic cretin. But Justin had a conscious- one that tormented him mercilessly- and he just couldn't do it. But the desire to shook him to his core, made him afraid of himself. He had to get out now....Had to!

Justin could hear Molly and his mother calling for him as he raced past them. After all the times he'd walked the halls of that hospital, he should have known his way out through muscle memory alone. Instead he felt like a rat in a maze, entering corridor after corridor, dead end after dead end. By the time Daphne found him an hour later, Justin was huddled in a corner within the Therapy ward, mumbling and rambling the conversation he'd had with Craig. It was on automatic loop within his head. The word ‘DIE' repeating itself as if it was the only word in the english language he was able to pronounce.

Daphne had found him. Daphne. Daphne. The only person who knew the things he would never tell under the threat of torture. When he felt her inject him with he did not know what, all he could do was cry and thank her; to beg her to make his father's wish come true. He was so tired of his life, so tired of the threats of annihilation hanging over him and Brian. The only way Brian could live was if Justin was no more. They- whoever ‘they' were- would leave Brian and Gus alone. The two most important people in his life could have peace. He was nothing but trouble; it was all he'd ever brought to Brian. From their first meeting and all throughout the years, Justin had brought nothing but misery.

He remembered being carried into the room where he now laid. He didn't remember Brian's arrival but remembered feeling it. Brian. How was he supposed to tell him all of this? Hadn't he endured enough because of him? Justin made to rise out of the bed, detaching Brian's arm as gently as he could so he could get some much needed rest. He looked out over the landscape which faced the back of the hospital. The sun dappling the man-made lake nestled within the bank of Evergreens. He sighed heavily as he thought over the last few months leading to that stitch in time; peace they could never regain and moments they could never get back. It wasn't lost on Justin just how little Brian had been able to let himself slumber, afraid that Justin would either run and disappear or something else that he dared not voice aloud. He jumped a little when he heard the sleep-sexy voice come from behind him.

"Hey," Brian whispered as he hugged Justin from behind.

"How did you sleep?"

"Okay I think. When I came in you were knocked out. You okay?"

"No. Yes...I don't know," Justin answered, nestling further into Brian's arms. He wanted nothing more than to crawl inside his body and stay there.

"What happened with Ethan?" Brian asked. He knew some of what happened. Daphne had filled him in on what she'd heard although Justin didn't know the rest. Regardless, Brian knew that the conversation affected Justin deeply.

"Well you know Ethan, Bri. He's never one to give up without a fight. He reveled and prophesied that the fact that I rushed to his bedside proved that I loved him and that you were going to drop me after you found out."

Brian chuckled lightly. "Delusional as ever. You know nothing could make that happen, don't you?"

The uncertainty in Brian's voice caught Justin a little off guard. Sure the two of them had had their ups and downs- their power struggles- over the years. There was fault on both sides, some of which caused Justin to leave or to try to stay away. But they were drawn together, for better or worse; Justin knew that now. Even though he wanted nothing more than to keep Brian and Gus safe from him and the hardships that kept befalling him, he was finding out that he was also selfish enough to keep fighting for them. "I know, Brian."

Brian nodded with having the assurance that Justin wasn't going anywhere willingly. They were in it for the long haul and together. "Now that we have that clear, what happened with Craig?" He felt Justin stiffen in his arms and traced his hands up and down the smooth skin in an effort to soothe Justin. "I know that you had a panic attack and that it was bad. What I don't know is why."

Justin swiped his tongue across his lips partially in an effort to stall the answer and the other because his mouth had suddenly become dry. He didn't want to tell Brian all of it... hell, he didn't want to tell Brian ANY of it. But Justin knew he had to and that broke his heart. He never wanted to hurt Brian and this would certainly hurt him. To know that Gus was in imminent danger because of their success and the hatred of others was going to damage Brian.

Brian watched Justin mentally categorize what should be said and what wouldn't. He knew Justin's means of operation inside and out. He turned the blond away from the window to face him. Brian was determined that Justin would not find an escape from answering his question honestly and openly. "Full disclosure, Justin," he whispered and watched as realization and resignation entered the worry-filled blue eyes.

As Justin began to relay the conversation with Craig, Brian found himself shocked and then angrier than he'd ever been in his life. Those sick fucks were going after an innocent boy simply because he was the son of the men they hated. Brian wanted to break something-- someone-- in that moment. He picked up his cell phone, dialing Horvath's number figuring Sarah was still with him. When she picked up, he hurriedly explained everything that Justin had told him, issuing threats of his own. When she told him that under no circumstances were he and Justin to leave the room they were in, he freaked.

"What the fuck do you mean we can't leave?! Did you not hear me? Gus.... They're going after Gus."

Justin listened in on the phone call and Sarah's response. In all the years they had known each other, Justin had never heard Brian sound so broken, so scared, so...NOT Brian. Brian was strength, arrogance and assurance personified. He was a man of action and when thwarted.... Justin sighed. He knew he had to do something to calm Brian down but what? He knew what Brian needed. In all honesty, he needed it too. It was the one thing they both had right here and now that would let them relieve the frustration they felt, the impotence of not being able to help those they loved; the one thing that would keep the rage at bay for the interim. To most it would seem that they always had sex on the brain but to he and Brian it was almost never about the act and always about meaning behind the actions. It was the one way they ‘said' all that couldn't be voiced.

As soon as Brian threw down his phone after disconnecting the call, Justin attacked him. He kissed Brian with all the pent up fury battering his soul. He needed to feel useful, he needed to feel like he was accomplishing something. This wasn't sex for sex sake; it wasn't even going to be a vigorous bout of lovemaking. It was an exorcism brought forth by fucking-- pure, simple, dirty and selfish. Maximum pleasure, minimum bullshit. With trembling hands, Justin began to undress Brian even as he continued his onslaught.

At first, Brian was stunned but then just as fast as Justin had latched onto him, Brian responded. He could read Justin almost as well as the blond could read him. This was about control. But whose? Brian picked Justin up, depositing him none-too-gently on the bed. He would have laughed if not for the feral look in Justin's eyes just then. Brian knew what Justin needed. Hard and fast-- almost violent and he was going to give it to him.

Brian reached into his pants pocket for the requisite items before discarding them altogether. "No lube," Justin demanded. Brian's eyes widened at the command but let Justin have his way.

He went back to kissing Justin hissing as their teeth clashed and tongues tangled. Brian grunted as he felt the sharp sting of Justin's fingernails mark his back. He forcefully grabbed the younger man's hands and pinned them atop the bed even as they continued kissing. Justin's lithe body writhed wildly beneath Brian when the brunet shifted his focus to Justin's neck. Sucking hard on the pulsepoint, Brian marked Justin. "Mine, Justin," Brian growled. "Every fucking part of you is MINE."

Justin hissed at Brian's declaration and the bite he felt immediately afterward. He raised his legs and locked his ankles, bringing Brian's cock in direct contact with his own erection. They both groaned loudly at the contact. "Fucking more, Brian," Justin moaned.

"No. In my time, not yours," Brian said causing the aura of frustration around Justin to magnify. He knew what he was doing; knew that giving Justin what he wanted just then wouldn't allow Justin's mind to clear. Brian looked into the dilated blue eyes. He could see the shadows of Craig still lurking in them. The man was fucking slime to do that to Justin. Brian could see the hurt, anger and anguish the older Taylor had caused and he was determined to erase that memory.

Brian captured the plush pink lips again, forcing his tongue through and subduing Justin's. His lips then dragged down to Justin's nipples. The pink flat discs puckered under Brian's ministrations. He released one hand to pinch and caress one nipple as he licked, sucked and bit the other. Justin's gasps of pleasure told Brian that it was what Justin needed. He watched as the blond closed his eyes allowing himself to feel every flick of his tongue. Justin's brow was furrowed in concentration, the moans falling easily from his lips. Brian groaned when he saw Justin's teeth catch his plush bottom lip. He hurriedly moved back up Justin's body so that he could take over.

Brian grabbed Justin's legs roughly, struggling a bit to unlock them from around his hips. Placing them on his shoulders, he froze. "Look at me," Brian rasped out. When Justin refused to open his eyes, Brian smoothed his hand up Justin's body to pinch a nipple...hard. "I'm not going to say it again, Justin. I'm not going to fuck you until you look at me."

Justin whimpered at the action and the command. Tears which he refused to let fall pressed behind his closed eyelids. He willed himself to keep them at bay but they were too insistent, demanding release despite his efforts. Justin struggled with himself, knowing what it was Brian wanted to see; knowing what Brian would see. All the self-doubt, self-loathing and shame at his father's hatred and words still assaulting his mind and the self-proclaimed curse Justin was forced to endure was there. He didn't want Brian to know-- to see-- what he thought of himself right then but if he opened his eyes Brian would. Brian would know it all.

"Full disclosure, Justin."

Brian's words replayed in his mind. If there was only one person on earth who wouldn't judge him, it was Brian. That had been proven over and over again for the past fifteen years. It wasn't likely to change. Squeezing his eyes tighter for a moment, Justin began to force his eyes open. The tears spilled down the from his eyes trailing their way up his temple to rest in his hairline. The saltiness left in their wake stung his eyes but he couldn't look away from Brian. Acceptance was there in the hazel orbs he'd come to know and love so well. Love was there and a peace even Justin himself didn't fully understand.

Brian breached him then and stilled his movements. Justin cried out in both pain and relief. The sting and burn of entry raced throughout his entire body making Justin tremble just beneath his skin. Brian moved another inch in intensifying the sensation. Justin was becoming a quivering mass under Brian's attentive eyes. He needed more. Locking his ankles behind Brian's neck, Justin sheathed Brian's cock fully within his body. A sharp gasp of pain left his mouth even as he relished the fullness inside him.

Brian held still, his eyes never leaving those of his lover. He pressed his forehead to Justin's, willing his thoughts into the man beneath him. "You are valuable to me and to Gus, Justin. Don't let the bitter utterances of a raving lunatic negate all that you mean to me. You're not going anywhere. You're mine. The lock is on the fucking door, got it?" Brian moved his hips into Justin forcefully punctuating his question with the action. He didn't wait for an answer; he didn't need one.

He began to rock smoothly into Justin, taking care not to injure the man who insisted on no lube. Brian tangled his fingers in the silky blond locks, pulling them harshly compounding the action with those of his dick. He rammed into Justin, loving the sound it brought forth. He did it again and again, until he could see passion instead of self-doubt; pleasure where there was once pain. Brian increased his pace, angling his hips to caress Justin's sweet spot on every pass.

"Fuck! Brian..." Justin moaned.

"That's right, Sunshine. Call me," Brian taunted even as he increased his rhythm once again. He was pounding into Justin then. "Whatever-the-fuck you were thinking when I woke up- whatever the fuck you were thinking when you refused to look at me- Don't. Fucking. Think. It. Again. Promise me."

"I... I..." Justin stuttered unable to catch his breath. He loved and hated that Brian knew him so fucking well.

"Promise me or I'll stop," Brian demanded putting actions to his words.

"NO! No.... fuck... okay... I promise, Brian. I promise. Now fuck me like you mean it," Justin issued his own command which spurred Brian to action.

Grabbing Justin's ankles, he extended the blond's legs before pressing them back, exposing Justin fully. Using his weight as leverage, Brian drove further and harder into Justin eliciting a near scream from the younger man. Brian pounded into Justin, determined that he would never forget what Brian was saying to him with his body. He loved Justin with his whole heart. It pained him beyond words to see the man he loved hurting and not have been able to prevent it. But maybe he could heal it. That's what Brian intended to do and as he was ministering to Justin's needs, he was taking back what was his. Justin's heart, mind, body and soul belonged to him, not the creeps intent on destroying them. They couldn't have the precious jewel of a man who had seen Brian through some of the worst times of his life; through his joys and failures; through near-poverty and the reclaiming of success. They couldn't have HIS Sunshine mentally, emotionally or physically- Brian wouldn't let them. He'd always protected what was his and he played for fucking keeps. Justin Cole Taylor-Kinney was his to keep and Brian would do just fucking that.

Justin's near-incoherent begging for release brought Brian out of his reverie. Redoubling his efforts and launching himself forward, Brian captured Justin's lips while nailing his prostate repeatedly. He swallowed the gasps emitting from the younger man. Their bodies slick with sweat, both Brian and Justin moved in perfect synchronicity, each playing off the movement of the other. Brian felt the wetness of Justin's release coat their abdomens even as he kept pace. Even though Justin had cum hard, Brian could tell that Justin wasn't done. He kept driving into him, kept kissing him tangling his tongue with the blond. There was no one on earth like Justin and he was HIS. Every possessive tendency Brian ever had was centered on Justin causing him to fuck and buck wildly. He felt Justin's ass clamping down around his cock again; saw the panic in the man's eyes.

Brian whispered soothing words to Justin. "Breathe through it Justin. You're going to feel like you want to release again. There'll be a little bit of pain but mostly a euphoric feeling. You're about to cum for me again."  Brian himself felt the telltale sizzle in the pit of his abdomen signaling his own advent into the blissful state he'd ever only achieved with Justin. The ripples assailing Justin triggered Brian's own ejaculation. Brian continued to drive them through it until the orgasmic crests broke and began to recede, leaving both men spent and heaving sighs of euphoric relief.

"Of all the times we've fucked, that has got to be my favorite," Justin said smiling.

"It was alright." Brian smiled in response.

"Thank you, Brian," Justin said softly, sobering for a moment.

Brian reached out gathering Justin into his arms. He kissed the top of the blond mass of hair once Justin settled into his usual spot. No words were needed between them as was so often the case. They understood each other. Brian pulled Justin even closer once he'd heard the soft snores of the man in his arms.

They would survive it all; Brian had no doubt about it but they wouldn't be unscathed by the experience. He closed his own eyes but he didn't sleep. He was tempted to call and harangue Sarah about the progress of the case and if they had found Evangeline yet, but he refrained. Right now he had to concentrate on keeping Justin calm since they were bound to be stuck under lock and key for the foreseeable future.  

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

When Janice Kelly agreed to take her daughter Carmela out along with her new friends Gus and Jenny, the last thing she expected was to have fun with them all. The movie they saw was action-packed- something she never would have picked out for herself to watch. It gave her absolute joy to watch the three youngsters just be teenagers, full of life and carefree. After the traumatizing events at the Taylor-Kinney house during the weekend, poor Gus and Jenny certainly needed it.

After the movie, with their hearts still racing, the quartet went in search of something to eat. Although she wanted to go to the salad bar, the other three wanted pizza. A compromise was in order so Janice decided on taking them to Vittorio's Restaurant and Pizzeria. That way they could all have what they wanted as well as a decent dessert. She was obsessed with their cheese cake and thought being with the teens gave her the perfect excuse to indulge.

Conversation jumped from subject to subject. She especially liked that all three of the kids took their studies very serious and was impressed with the fact that Gus was being offered to skip a grade again. She could see why Carmela, who was older than Gus, was interested. Gus Petersen-Marcus Taylor-Kinney was extremely intelligent while at the same time down-to-earth and easy going. He could be intense but also had the ability to laugh at himself and simply find the joy in life. He loved his family and was especially close to his little sister although Janice was surprised to find out they weren't blood related. Gus called Jenny his sister-one-lesbian-removed. It was a unique perspective on what could have been a difficult situation to comprehend.

Janice was pleasantly surprised to find herself drawn to Jenny Rebecca the way she was. If she were able to have another child, Janice would want her to be like the teenage brunette. Despite everything that she had learned about the young girl's mother and father, Jenny seemed to be very well-mannered, independent and had a huge heart. But she was not a fool. She was the one person Gus was unable to evade questions from as he was wont to do. If Janice wanted an answer and Gus wasn't being forthcoming, she would ask Jenny who in turn would ask Gus. There was no doubt that once she discovered ‘herself,' Jenny Rebecca would be a force to be reckoned with, no matter what she chose to do in life.

During the afternoon, Janice's respect for Brian and Justin also grew. She'd learned from the siblings the long and varied history of both men, even some facts that their family and friends knew nothing about which Gus and Jenny knew. They told of how the men would visit them in Canada or, if there was an emergency, how the two men would drop everything to rush to their sides. Jenny grew a little sad that her father didn't do that and that her mother was too into her career at times, but she was grateful that no matter what, she had Brian and Justin to rely on. It was a revelation to Janice who wasn't a stranger to gay causes or the haters who preached against gay parenting. The two children-- the young adults-- before her were more well-adjusted than some adults of her acquaintance. It was a true testament that it wasn't the sexuality of a person but the caliber that made a difference in how a child was raised.

Suddenly, as they were leaving the restaurant and filing into the car, they were accosted by three gunmen. Gus was ordered to come with them or the three ladies would be shot. Although all three had masks on, one of them was bold and indifferent enough not to give a shit that he was identifiable. Gus even called the fucker by name and asked that he not do it, to think long and hard about the time he would get in prison for being mixed up with those people.

The man simply responded, "It's not really you we want. You're the bargaining chip, but if you don't get into the fucking van right now, you and your friends here will die. Your choice Junior Kinney."

The voice was a raspy tenor but the words themselves chilled Janice to the bone. Gus looked back at all of them, assuring them that he would be alright. He looked at Jenny who was crying silently beside her, telling her not to worry; that he would see her soon.

The man followed Gus' line of sight, obvious in his confusion as to why the teen would pay such attention to the non-descript looking female with the dark brown hair and freckles. There was something familiar about her but he couldn't place what it was. He could take her with them but his orders were for the youngest Kinney only. His boss wouldn't be too happy with an additional hostage anyway. "Tell the Taylor-Kinneys we'll be in touch and if they're smart, call off the fucking FBI. Then maybe this little fucker here will live."

"Don't you hurt him! Don't you fucking hurt Gus!" Jenny screamed, moving forward even as Janice struggled to pull her back.

The loud bang caught everyone off guard, the gun still smoking from the man's hand. For a moment, Gus crumpled next to the girl asking her to please be okay. His hand came away bloodied from the bullet wound that began seeping from the middle of her arm. Janice watched helplessly as Gus was yanked up by his hair and thrown bodily into the van.

"Get the little bitch to the hospital. She's lucky I only shot her in the arm but it's near her brachial artery. You don't have much time," the mystery man said laughing maniacally.

"Carmela, start wrapping that arm, don't forget to keep it above the level of her heart and let's get Jenny to the hospital. We have.... we have...." Janice broke down even as she watched Carmela spring into action.

The young girl who hoped someday to be a surgeon or a genetic scientist began working on JR. Janice hopped into the car starting the engine. She knew that they didn't have much time but the fact that it was cold out helped some. Together she and Carmela got Jenny into the car, Janice climbing into the backseat with the teen. Carmela got into the driver's seat and floored the gas pedal. This was the one time her mother would not tell her to watch her speed. Carmela wasted no time getting out into traffic on her way to Allegheny General which was the nearest hospital. Janice put in a call to 911 detailing the events and to request police escort for their vehicle on the way to the hospital. There was already a cop with his lights flashing for Carmela to pull over. The teenager was steadfastly ignoring the siren behind her and the voice over the loudspeaker ordering her to stop the vehicle. Janice was too nervous and shocked to feel the horror of watching Carmela zip in and out of traffic, or watching as she literally drove on the mercifully-empty sidewalk in an effort to cut across the lawn of the park directly across from the hospital. Carmela drove like she was a stuntwoman reenacting a scene from the latest action movie even while Janice kept talking to Jenny, trying to keep her conscious.

When they finally arrived at the hospital, both ladies were thankful to see two familiar faces there waiting.

"Oh my God! Jenny?" Daphne screamed. "What the fuck happened?"

"No time, Doctor Chanders. Help her! Please..." Janice pleaded.

Carmela gave Troy the medical details of the incident and told him where the bullet entry was. If there was time, Troy would have been impressed with the young woman's detailed synopsis of the entry and exit wound of the bullet. He and Daphne rushed off to get Jenny prepped for surgery.

The officer who was originally going to arrest Janice and Carmela, instead congratulated them on remaining calm during the crisis, stating that it was genius to call 911 and explain the situation and that he needed to ask them what happened. It was then that Janice broke down. Carmela gave the officer all of the necessary information, asking that he call in the kidnapping, but noting that the officer was moving a little slow for her liking. As she watched the officer exit the Emergency room, the young girl reached into her pocket and pulled out her own cell phone.

"Hey... Emmett, look, I need.... listen, we have a problem. Gus has been kidnapped, Jenny's been shot and... and... Emmett, PLEASE call Brian and Justin."