Gone but Not Forgotten

Part One 

It had been three years since he had gone out on his own, well three years since he had no other choice but to brave the world outside. Three years almost to the day that his parents and sister had made their way from their new home in Pittsburgh to attend one of Justin’s school art shows. He remembered the pride he felt at being the only sophomore who had stuff in the show, the pride that his parents seemed to have shown him. He remembered how he couldn’t wait for them to get there, how he hoped that his father had decided to take the family jet and not tried to brave the harsh winter weather by driving.

He remembered the police showing up after hours of waiting for them to show. He remembered the cold feeling that had surrounded him, chilling him to the bone, down to his very soul. His parents and sister were dead.

Justin didn’t care for the money he had received after the accident. He hadn’t cared about the settlement the logging company had provided him either. All he cared about was getting out of that school, out of New York, and back to his family land in British Columbia. He wanted to go home, feel them around him. He had no one left to attend his graduation, no one left to help him on his path of becoming an artist, no one to talk to about anything.

Justin didn’t have any friends; the mess he went through in high school took care of that. He was just the kid who got his ‘ass’ kicked, who got his brains smashed in when the hockey team decided they didn’t like fags. His years of martial arts training did nothing for him when he was outnumbered, and his parents had sent him away. So having friends only meant to Justin that it was just another person who could betray you. 

Although, everyone thought that his life growing up was perfect, he knew that he had everyone fooled. The only one in his family that he had really cared about the night he was told about the accident had been his little sister. Oh his parents loved him, but he was alone… always alone. They cared more about money than their own son. He hardly knew his parents.

“Thanks, Eric.” Justin stated as he got into the car. He knew that with the amount of money that he was worth, he had to ‘keep appearances’. If for nothing else his safety. He knew that people were coming at him for his money, and wanting to get it one way or another. So until he could make it back to the safety of the manor, buried deep in the mountains, Justin would keep the appearances up. If he could throw all the money away, he knew he would be much happier. Well almost all of it, he knew that he would still need some to keep his art supplies filled.

Justin looked out the window at the passing scenery, watching as the people lived the life that Justin wished he could live. He wished that he could find someone who could make him happy; who could love him for who he was, not how much money was in his bank account. Of course, he figured if he could just get that damn Bellwether off of his back, he’d be happy. 

The car turned down a dark alley, and Justin immediately went on alert. “Eric… Why aren’t we headed to the airport? What the fuck is going on?” Suddenly the car stopped and three men entered the vehicle. “What the hell is going on here?” Justin began to say as he suddenly felt a thick cloth placed over his mouth. He tried to struggle, but he was held down by the other two men.

The last thing he heard as the darkness started to overtake him was Eric apologizing.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Justin slowly started to feel himself coming out of the haze, and immediately sat up. “Fuck!” he cried out as the world started to spin on its axis. “Okay, Taylor… rule number one, don’t get up fast.” Opening his eyes, Justin saw that he was in a huge room. It looked like it was an apartment, with a kitchen, bathroom, small living room. Everything that a person could ask for with the exception of a computer and a telephone. “Hey! Hey! If its money you want, you can have it.” Justin yelled out into the air. He didn’t know if anyone could hear him, but he figured that it was worth a try. 

As he stood up from the bed, he noticed began to notice other things were missing from this ‘apartment’. “Namely my clothes.” He mumbled to himself. “Great. So I’m stuck in some godforsaken place with no clothes, no phone… nothing. Great. Just fucking great. What did you get yourself into this time, Taylor?”

For the next two days, Justin decided that he was going to try and find a way out of this hell hole. He had done some dabbling into the world of theft while he was living in New York, and during his ‘rebellious’ years. But nothing was working. So he decided to sit back and start to make a list of everything he could think of that he had seen. 

One the cameras all over the room. They were hidden well, but anyone with any sort of high class security system could find them. Two, food was always delivered while he was ‘sleeping’. He never saw anyone, nor did he hear from anyone. He was truly alone in that room.

Despite the lack of clothes, Justin was grateful for the towels that were in frequent supply in the bathroom. It at least allowed him some privacy. Justin knew that he would go out of his mind if he didn’t have anyone to talk to for god knows how long before the people who were holding him realized that there was no one to answer a ransom note, and either killed him or set him free. 

As he pulled out a piece of paper from the drawer in the table, Justin began to draw. He began to draw his childhood home, paying special attention to the lush trees, and lake near their manor. He barely paid any attention to the door opening, deciding it wasn’t worth his attention… he was supposed to be asleep. It wasn’t until he looked up, did he know that his world had definitely stopped. Before him was the most beautiful man he had ever seen. Tall, muscular – not overly muscular either – auburn hair, and eyes that seemed to change from green to gold. The man before him was absolutely beautiful. Justin took in the rest of the body, noticing that the entire package he could live with. “Well at least they stuck me with someone good-looking.” Justin stated with a smile as he plopped his feet up on the table. “My names Justin, and since we’re stuck here… welcome to my hell.”

^^^^^^^

Brian looked at the blond with his feet on the table and to his mortification, felt the room going black. It was the last he remembered as he passed out on the floor. Somewhere swirling in the nightmares that were his dreams, Brian remembered reading something; maybe it was in the paper last week, about the disappearance of a well known painter. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

2 weeks previous

Brian lounged in him rightful place in Babylon’s busy club. He sipped his glass of Beam and watched the dancers lazily. He’d had some good Canadian weed earlier and was riding the high longer than usual. 

It was his birthday, he was thirty tonight, not that anyone had remembered. For all his bullshit about birthday’s not being acknowledged and celebrating achievements and not the day you were born, Brian still harbored a niggling feeling in the back of his brain, that it would be nice to have someone in his life who would remember his birthday. Maybe the two of them would have a quiet celebration in their home. It would be a large and grand home. Something that he definitely deserved. He’d want his partner of course to worship him, well love him at least. Naturally the other man would adore Gus and they would help to raise him in the style he’d never get at the munchers.

He sighed; this fucking pot combined with the Beam was making him maudlin. He damn well didn’t need that. He stood up, all one flowing motion like the panther like creature he was. He put his now empty glass down on a nearby table and stalked from the room, ignoring anyone who called out to him. He didn’t need this shit tonight. He was thirty fucking years old. He owned his own loft, two cars, a motorbike. He dressed only in designer clothing. Had his own company and thirty three employees. He should be on top of the world. Yet he was lonely. Something he tried not to think of except on nights like this when the reality of his life came crashing in like some damn bad movie.

Two hot guys stood on the corner near Brian’s car. He contemplated taking them home and fucking himself into oblivion and sated bliss, if that was even possible in the mood he was in. Brian felt like someone was watching him. He turned around. No one was there. Maybe he should head to the diner. He hadn’t eaten dinner, maybe the pot and the Beam on an empty stomach was giving him the creepy crawlies.

At the diner, the lights harsh after the dark shadows of the streets, Brian slumped in his usual booth. He’d grabbed the paper off of the end of the counter and began to leaf through it. The first thing that caught his eye was a picture of a rather good looking blond. The headlines shouted out at him. 

<i>Artist J. Taylor missing.

Foul play or artistic temperament. Artist Justin Taylor, heir to the Taylor fortune and a successful artist in his own right, disappeared on his way to the airport to take the family jet to the family estate in Canada. Mr. Taylor was scheduled to appear on Opera and was reported missing when he didn’t show for the taping.

Acquaintances of Mr. Taylor’s suggest he has been despondent and moody lately. None of them feel that he is in any danger, but rather has probably gone somewhere to paint. Something that he has been known to do.</i>

Brian looked into the eyes of the photo and had to agree that the kid looked miserable, that is if the eyes truly are a window to the soul. He reminded Brian of himself on his bad days. Days when he would give anything for someone in his life that loved him for himself and not who he was or what he could buy them.

He shook himself and stood up. He was going home. If he was going to feel sorry for himself, it might as well be in a place that didn’t smell of badly cooked food.

Sliding into the seat of his car, Brian once again could feel someone watching him. And once again he shrugged off the feeling as he started his car and headed home.

Walking into his loft, Brian tossed his leather jacket over the end of the sofa. He headed for the kitchen to get a bottle of water. He couldn’t get the idea of the missing blond out of his mind and he wondered if he disappeared, who if any of his friends and family, would begin a search for him.

He looked at the calendar on his desk as he sat down. It had been a month since his last treatment. The doctors had pronounced him free of cancer, but told him he needed to be checked frequently. If he’d died, who would have given a shit. Gus was too young to really know him and he would be well looked after had Brian died. Mikey had the professor and his adopted son, not to mention the fact that Melanie was large with his child. He needed a fucking vacation away from the Pitts. Maybe he’d meet some hot guy who would satisfy his need for a week or two down south on a sandy beach.

Brian began to search the web for likely vacation spots.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Present time

Justin shook his head in disbelief and let out a deep breath. Standing, he slowly made his way over to the man and lifted him up. Slinging one of the mystery man’s arms over his shoulder, Justin practically carried him to the bed and dropped him on it. “Great, just great. Thanks a fucking lot.” He called out into the air. Even though he knew no one would answer it made him feel better knowing that SOMEONE was there, even if it was just in his imagination. He could say whatever he wanted; it wasn’t like they were going to answer back.

Justin came out of the bathroom with a cool cloth. Placing it on the other man’s forehead, Justin took in his features. The man was beautiful… even more up close and person, so to speak, than he had when he first stepped through that door. Justin was absolutely mesmerized. Shaking his head in hopes to clear his thoughts, Justin went about trying to wake the man up. “Hey… you okay?” He asked as he saw the eyes move behind the closed eyelids. “It’s not going to get any better if you stay out of it. We’re kinda stuck here. So you might as well wake up.” Justin knew that it would most likely take a while for the man to wake, so he went to the kitchen and began to prepare a light snack. 

It was the middle of the night or so he assumed, and Justin knew he wasn’t tired. He put his glass of milk and the plate of cookies on the table. Sitting down, Justin looked over at the man on the bed. He most likely wouldn’t wake up until morning, and until then Justin decided that – whoever he was – was perfect for a couple of sketches. Hell, if he ever got out of there, he knew that this man would frequent his paintings often. Justin ate a cookie and drank some milk and then began to sketch. He assumed it was night even though there were no windows in this lame ass apartment, he’d been trying to keep track of things like that. Though who knew how long he’d been out when they had brought him to this place.

“Fuck me,” Justin heard coming from the bed waking him from a light slumber. “What the fuck was in that shit?”

“Welcome to my world.” Justin stated as he stood and stretched, working the kinks from sitting for the last two hours in the chair out of his body. “Guess we’re in the same damn boat.”

Brian slowly sat up in the bed, holding his hand over his eyes as he allowed them to adjust to the light in the room. He turned his attention to the other man in the room, and felt everything stop. “You’re J. Taylor. Heir to the Taylor fortune.”

“That’s me, but now I’m just captive number… whatthefuckever. I can say that this is the first time that I have ever had someone pass out cold at the sight of me.” Justin walked over to the kitchen, with a smile on his face and started some coffee. “At least they are kind enough to supply us with some food and coffee.”

Brian slowly started to get out of bed, feeling like he had been drug for miles behind a truck. “Clothes?” He asked the man, getting a negative response. “Radio?” Another negative response. “What the fuck do we have here?”

“Well we have food, coffee, some alcohol. Mainly wine and shit though. Toiletries, towels, an apron so we don’t get our dicks burnt when we cook.” Justin started to list off the items they had available, and caught the look of disbelief on the other man’s face. “You don’t cook do you?”

“Why would I? I guess take-out is out of the question huh?” Brian stretched and began to move toward the kitchen table. Sitting down he placed his head in his arms on the table. “Fuck. Who would have ever thought that this shit would be happening?”

Justin placed a hot cup in front of the other man as he sat down across from him, closing his sketch book. “I know I didn’t, but then again maybe I should have. So… what’s your name? I mean, since we’re both stuck here for who knows how long, I’d rather call you something besides hey you.”

“Brian… Brian Kinney.” Brian answered as he reached out and took the cup in his hand. 

“With Kinnetics right? I’ve heard of you… well your business anyway. Guess these guys are for money… or at least prestige.” Justin surmised.

“Any idea?” Brian asked inclining his head to the side. He knew that Justin had been here longer than he himself had, so he hoped that the younger man would have some answers.

Justin shrugged as he leaned back in the chair, holding his cup in his hand. “Well, I don’t think its money they want. I mean I told them that they could have it all, but no one answers.” Justin could see the disbelief in Brian’s eyes. “There are cameras everywhere, no clothes, no radio, phone, computer…” Justin shook his head slightly. “They drop off food late at night, but I’m almost positive that it’s drugged in some way. I can say that we’re heavily supplied for a fucking orgy with one exception.”

Brian looked up at Justin then glanced around the room. “What? That it’s just us?”

Justin shook his head and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “Condoms. We have no condoms.”

“No condoms?” Brian asked like he was hearing the words for the first time and couldn’t quite grasp their significance. “What about lube?” 

“Who gives a fuck about lube? It never entered my mind. I only top. I guess I could use spit.” Justin looked puzzled at the question. “It doesn’t really matter; I’m not fucking you anyway. God only knows where your dick has been. I’ve heard about you, the stud of Liberty Avenue. Yes even in my rarified atmosphere of the well to do and utterly useless, your name has come up along with stories of your prowess.”

Justin drank his coffee down and stalked over to the bed. “I’m taking the next shift. Sitting in the chair for hours has made me stiff and cranky and not in a good way.” He stretched out on the bed, fluffed the pillow and closed his eyes. “Knock yourself out Stud, have a shower, or play solitaire or write your memoirs or something, but let me have a couple of hours sleep.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Brian sat there speechless; the little shit was actually going to go to sleep without telling him what was happening. He stalked over to the bed and kicked the side of it.

Justin didn’t move. Brian kicked it again, regretting that he didn’t have his Prada boots on. He leaned over to shake Justin’s shoulder when. “If you touch me Stud, I’ll break your fucking arm.” Justin didn’t open his eyes and Brian wondered how he knew that he was there.

“Talk to me.”

“Shut up, I’m sleeping.”

“You aren’t sleeping. I want to know what the fuck is going on.”

“That would make two of us. Go away, I’m sleeping.” Justin still didn’t open his eyes, but rolled over putting his back to Brian. “Keep your hands to yourself Stud; this would be a good time for you to have a shower. Cleanliness is next to godliness and I’d say you had a bit of an accident somewhere between there and here. You reek.”

Brian looked down at himself and sniffed. He did smell rather vile. He must have puked up what ever it was that they had put in his drink. He wanted to shake the blond, but the muscles that clearly showed on the pale torso told Brian that Justin could very well carry through with his threat of breaking his arm. Dejected, Brian turned to find the bathroom. A shower couldn’t hurt.

Justin relaxed as soon as he heard the sound of the shower. His initial thought of having someone to share his misery, was quickly leaving, as he realized that this apartment. If it could be called an apartment, didn’t allow for a whole lot of privacy. And there was only one bed and not a large one at that.

Apparently he wasn’t going to be able to sleep, no matter how tired he was. His mind was whirling with a thousand questions to ask Brian. Maybe how he was kidnapped would put some kind of clue about why they were here into focus.

He walked into the bathroom and found a towel. He watched Brian through the shower doors. The man had an interesting body, his ass was a bit small for Justin’s taste, and he was a little tall for Justin to top him comfortably, but all in all La Kinney, wouldn’t be too bad of a diversion. That is if he could keep the famous stud for queening out. Brian Kinney had a very well known reputation for his lack of temper control.

Brian stepped out of the shower. Justin handed him a towel. Brian screamed in fright and then focused on Justin who was grinning broadly. “I promise, no knives, just a towel. I thought you could use one.”

Brian glared at him and wrapped the towel around his waist. 

“Uh, stud, don’t leave the towel on like that. I did it the first day I was here and then had to spend the next four days with no towels. Apparently we are the eye candy for the giant in the sky to view.” Justin nodded his head in the direction of a camera the red eye following their movements.

“Well they can just fuck themselves. I need to dry off.” Brian glared in the direction of the camera. “What about bedding, why isn’t there any blankets?”

“Sorry, but I kind of wrapped up in them the other night for longer than I should have. I can only assume that once I’m suitably chastised the blankets will appear again.”

“Well I didn’t. I want a blanket and some sheets. I’m not sleeping on a god damn bare mattress like some kind of skank.” 

“Nice Stud. Justin patted Brian’s arm. “Calm down or the big bad men in the sky will shoot you full of some kind of tranquilizer. Now that would be good for me. After all as an artist, I could put you in some interesting poses. But it might be a pain in the ass for you, literally as well as figuratively.” Justin grinned.

“Fuck you Taylor.” Brian whipped his towel off and threw it on the floor. He headed back to the kitchen and began to search the cupboards. “Fuck do they only have this piss poor wine here? Don’t these assholes have any class at all?”
Brian held up a bottle of California wine. It wasn’t even a bad brand, just not up to the Kinney standards.

“Don’t you wish you could Stud.” Justin smirked. “And the wine isn’t that bad, don’t get your panties in twist. Oh that’s right, you don’t have any panties on.” He giggled.

Brian looked at him. “What have you been drinking?” he asked.

“Coffee,” Justin looked at him innocent blue eyes shining. “Why do you ask?”

“Are you always this much of an idiot?” Brian drank straight from the bottle of wine he managed to open.

“Pretty much, after all I’ve only had myself to entertain for the last four years or so. No one really gives a shit one way or the other how I act.” Justin headed back for the bed and threw himself down. “I really am tired. Now that you are showered and not stinking the place up, I think I’ll go to sleep.”

“Move over Taylor, I’m going to lay down too.”

“The fuck you are, wait your turn.”

“Suck it up Taylor. I am soooo not into scrawny blonds with big butts. There’s enough room for both of us on the damn bed.”

“I am not scrawny.” Justin protested. His voice trailed off and he was instantly asleep. 


Brian sat and watched as Justin’s breathing began to even out, letting him know that the younger man was asleep. Standing he decided to have a look around, hoping he could find some answers that evidentially Justin hadn’t been able to. After an hour, Brian realized that his search was futile; the only thing he found was the lube. At least he’d had something to help ease the tension he knew he’d get.

Sitting at the small desk in the corner of the room, Brian looked through the drawers, and pulled out a small note pad. Maybe the answers were from his ‘capture’. Closing his eyes, Brian began to think back to the day… or hours before. Hell, he wasn’t even sure when it was anymore. He wasn’t even sure what time of the day it was.

Brian remembered feeling like someone was watching him since his birthday. He remembered the feeling as if someone’s eyes were boring into his back, waiting for the right moment. He had pushed it aside, and gone on like nothing was wrong. Looking back on it now, he realized his mistake. He should have been more attentive, more alert. 

For days… weeks he had that feeling, always deciding that it wasn’t worth the hassle, Brian went on as only he could. At Babylon, he would feel the eyes everywhere, and not in a good way either. At Woodys’ he would always feel like someone was walking behind him, stalking him. The only place where he didn’t get that feeling was in the safety of his loft. Even work wasn’t safe from that feeling.

He remembered the events leading up to… well this. At least partly. Picking up the pencil, he began to jot down some notes, he figured he would try and compare stories with Justin when the man woke. Maybe they could figure out who was behind this mess.

Brian thought back, as his hand effortlessly glided across the page. He had stayed late at work, trying to get all of his accounts in order. He figured he wanted to be on the top of things before he went on his much needed vacation. If surviving cancer didn’t constitute a huge celebration, Brian didn’t know what did. He had left some final instructions with Cynthia, and informed her he would stop in before he left the next day, and then his two weeks officially started. He always made sure that Cynthia had his complete itinerary, and hotel information, so he hoped that she would check on those when he didn’t show back up the next day. It was the only way that he knew anyone would realize he was missing… at least until his time to come back to work came.

He recalled pulling up to the front of his building, and the feeling of someone watching him became stronger. Brian had looked around the street, not noticing anything that was out of the ordinary. Yes, it was late and everyone was coming in from a night of partying, but nothing seemed unusual for that time of night. He shrugged off the odd feeling and opened the door, deciding to take the steps instead of waiting for the elevator.

The last thing Brian remembered was placing his key in the lock, and something being placed over his mouth.

“Yeah, this will really help.” Brian stated as he threw the pencil down on the table. He knew nothing that could help them with this situation. All he knew at that moment was that he was stuck god knows where with a hot looking blond, and no relief in site. And Brian knew that if they didn’t find clothes, the blond would most definitely know just how turned on Brian is by his smooth, pale skin, the blond hair, and blue eyes… ohhh and that ass….

”Not not, Kinney.” Brian stated shaking off those thoughts. Standing Brian went to the bathroom and turned on the cold water. He knew he would be taking a lot of those in the coming days, especially since this was his second one already since his arrival. Briefly he began to wonder if anyone back at home was missing him… if they would even bother to see if he had made it to South Beach or not?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Two weeks later

Cynthia slowly opened the door and looked around the small, quaint diner. Immediately she spotted the man who had always claimed to be Brian’s best friend, and made her way over to the booth. “Michael?” She stated in greeting, getting the man’s attention on her instead of down the man beside him throat. “I don’t know if you remember me…”

”Cynthia? Yeah… I remember you.” Michael stated as he turned in the booth to look at the woman. “Ben this is Cynthia, Brian’s secretary.”

Cynthia tried not to cringe at being called a secretary, but she figured that the man wouldn’t know what she did any more than the idiots that she and Brian used to work for. Smiling at Ben in greeting, Cynthia looked at the man who had tormented her for years with phone calls. “Have you heard from Brian? He was supposed to be back two days ago, and when I checked they said he never made it on the plane… not here and not there. He never checked into his hotel either.”

Michael just shrugged as he leaned back into his lover’s arms. “I’m sure he’s fine. Most likely he decided that he really wanted to get away from things and just didn’t want to be bothered. He did have that little scare a couple of months ago, and he’s been wanting to get away. When Brian’s ready, he’ll come back.”

Cynthia just sat there and stared at Brian’s so called best friend. “Are you worried about him? He’s missing. His cell phone has been disconnected.”

“As I said. I’m sure he’s fine. This is Brian we’re talking about.” Michael told her with another shrug of his shoulders.

“What did Brian do now?” Deb stated as she came up beside the booth. 

“Brian’s running from life again. He didn’t show up where he was supposed to be, and Cynthia’s worried that something happened to him.” Michael looked up at his mother and watched as she rolled her eyes.

Deb turned her attention back to the woman standing beside her. “Hun, I know you are worried, but this isn’t the first time Brian’s pulled something like this. He’ll be back when he’s good and ready to.”

Cynthia just looked at the ‘gang’ in disbelief. Shaking her head, she left the diner. “Guess I’m it, boss.” Walking toward her car, she had a new conviction. She would go to the police, report Brian missing and she was going to find him. One way or another. To hell with his so called family. If they didn’t give a damn, she wouldn’t tell them shit.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Cynthia came out of the police station incensed she was beyond pissed, she was so angry. Apparently because Brian had disappeared once before six years ago, the police were not inclined to do a damn thing about his disappearance now.

She headed back to Kinnetic. The first thing she was going to need to do was to enforce the power of attorney that Brian had set up for her. It had been done as a precaution when he was ill and she’d thought he was foolish for doing it. But now she was glad. None of his so called friends and family were going to get their grubby hands on a cent of Brian’s money while he was missing. She would see to that. Between her and Ted and the team that Brian had put together, they would run Kinnetic as if Brian was still at the helm. 

The next thing she was going to do was find a damn good detective to start searching. It was then that she remembered another prominent gay man who had disappeared from Pittsburgh and not all that long ago. 

Cynthia had reached the Kinnetic offices. She headed for Brian’s office and to the astonishment of the other’s working, she shut herself inside. It was time to get to business.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A black limousine pulled up in front of the warehouse. The door opened and two laughing men climbed out. “Pick us up in three hours.” The taller of the two men says to the driver. Arm in arm they walk to the main door in the warehouse. It looks like a good strong wind would blow the thing in, but it’s reinforced steel cleverly disguised. 

The door opens as if automatically, but in reality the video camera told the body guard inside that it was alright to open the door. The two men didn’t even break stride. They had been coming to this place for a year now. It was full of kink and rather fun. They liked to think what they were viewing was harmless. After all the men who were enclosed in the small apartments had everything they could possibly want. Well almost everything. The two snickered at the thought of what they were about to see. “Anything on the new guys Sap?” asked the taller of the men.

“No, these two are stubborn buggers. I told Bellwether that we should stick to guys who weren’t so independent. But he wouldn’t listen as usual. The two on camera A should give you some great entertainment. They were bored this week so we added some toys to their rooms. Now they are experimenting.” 

“Wonderful, and the three living in F, how are they this week?”

“Now those three have been surprisingly inventive. We have the tapes from the week with all the best parts spliced for your viewing. Will you want the blue room tonight?” Saperstein was referring to the private rooms that only the elite of their customers used. They were completely private and had video viewing for all of the room should they require it. 

“I believe Paul and I will take the lounge tonight. We feel like company and we really only have a few hours to spare. Perhaps another night for the blue room when we have more time.”

“As you wish. I’ll send someone to get your drinks.” Saperstein walked the two men to the lushly decorated lounge. Large screen televisions flickered on each wall giving the men there views into the lives of the various captives.

Paul settled down on a plush sofa dragging his partner for the evening down with him. “Enjoy yourself darling, this is the best kind of reality television.” The lights were dim in the room, and the sounds the other men were making rumbled out of the shadows. The two settled in for an evening’s entertainment at the expense of those poor hapless souls who had fallen into the clutches of Bellwether and Saperstein.

Saperstein walked out of the room. Another satisfied client. Bellwether’s plan of making use of this defunct warehouse had been one of his better plans. No one on the outside would know that inside the warehouse there were five apartments holding captives that the two, Bellwether and Saperstein could control like puppets for the entertainment of their well paying guests.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bellweather

“So how long do you think it will be before they decide they don’t want us anymore?” Justin asked as he began to deal the cards.

Brian shrugged, reaching across to pick up his hand. Looking at them, he was beginning to wonder if the young man was trying to pull a fast one on him, by dealing from the bottom of the deck. “I have no idea… but I guess if we can figure out what the hell they want, then we can figure out how to get the hell out of here.” Brian once again looked at his cards, placing two on the table in front of him. When he got a good look at the cards he was dealt, he shook his head. “You’re cheating.”

Justin’s head popped up from looking at his cards, and gave Brian a look of complete shock. “Me? How the hell would I do that?”

“Ohh I know you country-club types. I bet you learned how to cheat at poker in school. Isn’t that on the curriculum?” Brian asked glancing up at Justin.

”I’ll have you know that I didn’t learn it in school. That damn school wouldn’t know shit if it landed in its lap.” Justin stated, not realizing what he had said.

Brian laughed as he threw down his cards. Shaking his head he went to the small cupboard, and pulled out a glass. “So who’d you learn it from? And don’t’ try to play coy with me… you already gave yourself up. You just want me to cook.”

Justin leaned back in the chair with a small smile playing across his lips. “You caught me.” Justin sped his arms out to his sides allowing Brian a good view of his body. Not that Brian needed anymore of a look; he had seen Justin naked every second of every day since his arrival in that damn place. “My grandfather taught me before he died. He used to say that every good Taylor had to know how to cheat once in a while. As long as no one got hurt, and it wasn’t for business… you only cheat in fun.” Justin thought back to the days he would spend at his grandfathers, remember the only person who in his whole life gave a damn about him.

Brian moved back to his chair, placing two glasses down on the table along with the bottle of wine. “What about your family? Do you think that they will be looking for you?”

Justin turned his glaze toward the table top and he reached for the bottle of wine. “Didn’t you hear? I’m the last of the line. The last Taylor… the fucking heir to the entire estate.” Justin’s bitter voice came out quietly. 

“I’m sorry. What about friends?” Brian could hear the hurt and pain in the younger man’s voice and he instantly wished that he had kept his mouth shut. But now that he had opened the door, and it seemed that Justin was for once willing to share, Brian wanted to know everything he could about his fellow captive. 

Justin took a large gulp from the wine, and ran his hand through his hair. “None. I told you before… I pretty much had only myself to entertain.” Justin closed his eyes, not wanting to let Brian see the pain that he felt every time he thought about his shithole life. “The only friend I can honestly say I had in my life, betrayed me. He was a part of the hockey team… he told his buddies that I was gay. Guess they didn’t like that fact.” Justin shook his head, clearing his thoughts of what happened years ago. “Anyway, with the last name and whatnot, I have found that people are only interested in what I can do for them. My money is what they want, not my friendship.”

Justin felt Brian’s hands on his shoulders, and for once in his life he felt cared for. He felt like someone might actually care about him, and not his money. Leaning his head against the back of the chair, he glanced up at the man above him, and once again he was in awe by Brian’s beauty. Reaching up, Justin began to pull Brian’s lips down toward his own. He just wanted the connection, the simple light connection. Opening his mouth, he allowed Brian’s tongue to slip inside, inviting him, welcoming him. 

The kiss ended entirely too soon for Justin’s likes, and Brian’s as well. Pulling away, Brian took a step back and closed his eyes. In just the few short weeks he had been there, he had craved Justin, wanted to taste Justin. Turning he headed toward the shower. Yet another cold shower to add to his list. This had to be a record for him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Justin had been sitting at the desk for hours now, trying to come up with anything that could help them. Although they had been over the lists a million times already, he knew that they had to be missing something. There had to be some answers somewhere. “We know that they don’t want money, and they like to watch. We figure that they are drugging us… not that we can’t help but take it since they are most likely putting it in our food, or drinks… whatever. I just can’t figure out what they could want.”

Brian leaned back on the bed, with his hands behind his head. “Well we know that they want to see our hot bods,” Brian attempted to joke. He knew it had fallen short, because even he was sick and tired of always being watched. “Christ, you can’t even take a fucking piss without them watching!”

“Brian?” Justin warned his roommate. It was only yesterday when Brian had thrown a fit, and the men had come in to restrain him. Brian had been drugged so heavily, that Justin had to almost tie Brian to the bed to keep him from raping him, or hurting himself. He didn’t want a repeat of that. “So you think that all they want is some sex show or something? How fucking sick is that? I mean, hello! We’re not doing anything!” Justin called out.

“That’s what all the drugs are for. Look at last night.” Brian added from his spot on the bed. All day he had been afraid to get close to Justin, ashamed at what he almost did… ashamed that he had almost crossed the line. “They don’t want money, and we’re here on constant display. It’s the only explanation.”

Justin turned in his chair to look at Brian. “So what… we fuck and then we can leave?”

Brian laughed and shook his head. “I don’t think it works that way, but it’s a nice thought. Granted there are problems with that whole idea.”

Justin nodded and lightly banged his head against the desk-top. “No condoms, and we’re both tops. Fuck!”

“Bingo, give the man a prize.” Brian lay down on the bed, and closed his eyes. “Maybe we should take shifts like you were thinking. One of is awake at all times of the day. Maybe then we can figure out their schedule and a way out of this mess.”

Justin looked up from the desk and glanced at Brian stretched out on the bed. His craving for the other man had grown in the three weeks they had been trapped in that room. ‘Granted the damn kiss didn’t make it any easier.’ Justin chastised himself. “And hopefully keep them from drugging us anymore. Why don’t I take the first shift, you look beat.” The last thing Justin wanted was any more of the ‘sex-drugs’ pumped into his system. There were too many dangers involved, and with his attraction for the other man building every day, Justin knew it wouldn’t take much.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Pittsburgh – 2 months after Brian has disappeared

“Cynthia, I can’t get into Brian’s apartment.” Michael stood in front of Cynthia’s desk, his hands on his hips.

“Oh, is there something you wanted?” she was all innocence.

“I was going to borrow his stereo, he isn’t using it.”

“I’m sorry Michael, but I can’t let you have anything in Brian’s apartment without his permission.” 

“Why isn’t my key working?” Michael asked ignoring the obvious

“Because I had the locks changed when I discovered his liquor cabinet had been emptied.” She shook her head. “I had to refill it for when Brian returns. I don’t have time to keep doing things like that. So I had the locks changed.”

“I’m Brian’s best friend; he would expect me to have a key. I’ve always had a key to his place.”

“Oh and does Brian have a key to your place?” Cynthia asked.

“No, but that’s because Ben and Hunter live there too.”

“Well I’m sure Brian would love to give you a key to his place. I’ll make one up for you when he sends me the memo.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Cynthia, I need to talk to Brian NOW.” Lindsay voice was slightly hysterical. “I tried his apartment, but he’s changed the locks.”

“Maybe I can help you Lindsay.” Cynthia’s voice was calm and she spoke in a low tone of voice hoping to quiet the other woman down. People were beginning to stare at them.

“No of course you can’t. I need Brian to pay for Gus’ preschool fees.”

“Oh, is that part of his parental agreement?” Cynthia asked.

“Brian doesn’t have any parental rights. He signed them over to Melanie years ago.”

“Well then I’d suggest you get Gus’ school fees from the parent that does have the rights. That would be Melanie.”

“Brian would want to see that Gus gets into the best preschool.” Lindsay’s voice had raised an octave. 

“Brian has left me instructions to see that Gus has all the necessities of life. What I interpret that as, is that he is clothed and fed and has a roof over his head. Are you and Melanie destitute?”

“Of course we aren’t I have a good job at Sydney’s Gallery and Melanie is a lawyer with a very good law firm.”

“Then I really don’t see why two women in professional jobs, need to supplement their income with hand outs from Brian. Especially when he rarely gets to even see his son and he certainly doesn’t get a say in how the boy is raised. Not to mention the fact that Brian has been gone for two months and this is the first bit of concern I’ve seen for him. And that is only because you want money. Well I’m sorry Ms. Peterson. Your little sob story doesn’t cut it for me. I’d suggest you and Melanie start raising Gus on your own. It isn’t that big of a stretch you know. Lots of women do it.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“I’m sorry Miss Morgan, but we lost their trail. Whoever this is knows what they are doing. We’ve talked with all of the men who were missing before, but none of them have any idea where the missing year has gone from their lives. 

One of them committed suicide and the others are trying to block out that it ever happened. “ the old detective shook his head. “I don’t know where to go from here.”

“I understand.” Cynthia’s voice was sad. “I’d really like you to keep on trying. I know you can’t devote all of your time to this, but could you at least keep looking and keep your feelers out?” 

“I’ll do that ma’m I know what it’s like to have someone you love disappear. This Kinney fellow is a lucky man to have you. Do you know that there isn’t one damn person looking for Mr. Taylor?” And we only are because he and Kinney disappeared around the same time.”

“I’m sure there’s a connection.” Cynthia said.

“I am too. Taylor’s chauffer left for Florida the day after Taylor disappeared. He completely pulled up stakes and headed south. I think if I can find him, I maybe can have a clue as to what happened.”

“Then can you look for him?”

“I am ma’m, I am. But the trail is cold and this man doesn’t want to be found. I’m not saying that he won’t be found, but he’s not making it easy.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The warehouse apartment

Brian lay with his head on the pillow at the foot of the bed. Justin lay with his head on a pillow at the head of the bed. This was their favorite relaxing position, they were close to each other, and that was something that was becoming more and more important each day. 

“You know Stud,” Justin said. He liked to call Brian ‘Stud’ mostly because it kind of made the other man smile. He had the most delicious half smile, Justin ached to kiss it off of his face each time he saw it. “I thought that I’d get sick of having to put up with your drama every damn day, but the other day when you were out of it for the whole day. Well, I kind of missed you.”

“I’m sorry about that Sunshine.” 

“Speaking of sunshine, I wonder if we’ll ever see sunshine again, or the night sky or the moon or the ocean…..” Justin’s voice trailed off. He hated when he showed his vulnerability.

“Of course we will” Brian spoke with conviction, but he really didn’t have much hope. Though realistically they couldn’t keep them here forever.

“You know what I’m going to do when I get out of here?” it was a game that they played at least once a day. 

“You are going to go to your family home in British Columbia and jump in that damn cold lake you were telling me about.”

“And….” Like a favorite bed time story Justin expected Brian to repeat what he’d been told.

“And you are going to paint all day and most of the night and you are going to live under the stars and never ever, ever sleep in a closed room again.” Brian recited.

“I won’t be lonely.” Justin was always trying to convince himself.

“Yes you will.” 

“I won’t” Justin sighed. “I’ll have the housekeeper and the grounds keeper there.”

“But unless they are handsome young men, you are going to need a teddy bear at least.”

“I know.” Justin sighed.

“I could come and visit.” Brian offered like he did every time they had this conversation.

“But you don’t like to sleep under the stars.” Justin answered.

“I could try it once.”

Justin had begun to massage Brian’s feet. “Did I tell you that you have the most amazingly sensual feet?”

“About a million times. Who knew that Justin Taylor, poor little rich boy, had a foot fetish.” Brian teased. He loved it when Justin massaged his feet.

“I want to draw them.”

“You all ready have. I mean really Justin, just how many feet pictures do you need?”

Justin moved so that he was lying beside Brian and staring into the other man’s eyes. It was dangerous territory, but he loved to look into the hazel eyes and watch them darken with lust. The flecks of gold would flash in the light from the lamps.

“Stop that Taylor.” Brian murmured, he barely had enough breath to get those three words out. His cock betrayed him and stood fully erect.

“Stop what Stud?” Justin asked, his voice husky with unspent passion.

“Looking at me. You know how I feel about you.”

“No I don’t, you have never told me how you feel.” But Justin knew. He knew the night terrors that Brian faced. He’d heard the whispered words about a lonely brutal childhood. He knew that Brian was growing to love him. And he knew that he loved Brian with all of his heart and soul.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bellweather stood in front of his monitors lining one side of his office, just looking at his ‘guests.’ In the past two months he had watched the two men in room B. He had been hopeful when they had been brought in… two studs who couldn’t keep their dicks in their pants long enough to even blink. He couldn’t believe that they had done nothing. He would have thought that after the first day they would have been going at it like rabbits in heat.

“Sap.” He called out, pressing the button on the internal intercom. He stood there waiting for his accomplice to come in. “I want you to increase the dosage on the men in B. I’m losing money with each second that they are dormant. Put the drug in the water if you have to, so it soaks into their skin. I don’t care what you do, but I want them fucking by the end of the week.”

Sap nodded as he headed out of the room. He had tried to warn Bellweather, but as usual his fears had been blown off. He had even gone so far as to suggest placing them with two other men. All of his efforts to sway his partner were refuted. “Just drug them more, he says… have them fucking, he says…” Sap shook his head, and rolled his eyes. 

He had already increased the dosage four times since they had arrived, and he wasn’t sure that increasing it anymore would do any good. The two men were stubborn to say the least. Good-looking, but stubborn as hell. Sap went to some of their workers and told them what needed to be done, and to start on it immediately. Something had to be done, they had a deadline. 

Sap knew that with each passing month that they didn’t do anything their time there increased. Their year wouldn’t start until they did, and he knew that the more time that they spent in that building past the allotted time, could be dangerous for their operation. “If I have to put one dick inside the other, I will get them to start.”

With a plan in mind, Sap walked out of the room to greet their customers, a huge smile across his face. He would get the men together, if for no other reason then his own enjoyment. He wanted to see them both in action… he practically craved it. Oh yes… he would get them moving in the right direction, and by the end of the week… he would have his wish.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^