Justin was having fun.  Ronny had gone to the loft and told him he was taking him shopping.  He had to convince Brian to let him go with his cousin and at last only relented because he would go with them.  That only made the blond happier.  Justin didn’t like saying so but he felt so depressed being inside the loft all day and night.

Brian looked at the bags that Ronny had of all the things he had bought Justin and he was getting pissed.  He was tired of going around in circles in the mall and standing in a store for more than an hour just to buy something if anything at all.  But he was not going to leave his husband alone with the fucking idiot. 

“What about that?” Ronny said as he picked another shirt.

“I like that too,” Justin said smiling.

Brian rolled his eyes.

“Are you sure?” Ronny asked.  “Oh, look at this one.”

“I totally love it,” Justin told him with a big smile.

“I’ll get them for you,” Ronny replied.

“I can get it,” Brian told him as he grabbed the shirts.  “Is there anything else Justin?”

“Nah,” Justin said.  “I’m kind of hungry.”

“Let me go pay for it,” Brian said.  “And then we’ll go eat.”

“Right,” Ronny said.  “You’re gong to pay with Justin’s own money.  That’s so great of you.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ronald!” Justin said angry.  “Brian has his own money to pay for things.  So if you don’t know shit, don’t talk!”

Ronny glared at Brian.  Brian did the same.  He was tired of the stupid asshole and only wished he could punch his lights out.  But he knew he had to keep calm for Justin’s sake.  Ronny smirked at Brian.  He knew the man had to be pissed with his comment. 

“I think that’s it for today,” Brian told them.  “We’re going home.”

Justin pouted because he still didn’t want to go but he wasn’t going to argue with Brian.  He knew that his husband had to be pissed as hell.  He hated how Ronny kept treating Brian like that.  He wanted them to get along.

“I’ll be right back,” Brian said to Justin and went to pay the shirts.

Justin didn’t say anything as Ronny started moving him.  He thought that they would go to the cash register and Ronny was going to say more offensive things to the brunet.  Then he realized that they were leaving the store.

“Where are we going?” Justin asked.

“We’re leaving,” Ronny told him.  “He’s a fucking asshole, you know.  He thinks he’s so great.  You could have done so much better.”

“We can’t leave Brian, Ronny,” Justin told him.

“Oh yes we can,” Ronny said.

Justin sighed; it was in moments like those that he wished he could move.  “Just turn around, Ronny!”

But Ronny wasn’t listening.  The man took Justin out of the mall towards the parking lot.  Ronny hadn’t wanted to ride in the van because Brian was there so he had come to the mall in his own car.  He picked Justin up and put him in the back seat.  Then folded the chair and placed it on the trunk.  He drove them home telling Justin it was going to be okay.

“You know how pissed Brian is going to be?” Justin asked once they arrived.

“It will be okay,” Ronny said.  “He’ll argue for a few days and then he won’t care about you, Justin.  You will see.  He’s playing like he cares.”

“Fuck you,” Justin told him.

“I’m just trying to show you the truth,” Ronny told him.  “Come on.”

“I can’t stay here, Ronny,” Justin told him.

“Of course you can,” Ronny argued. 

Justin took a deep breath.  “I need my things.”

“I would buy you new ones,” Ronny said as he walked to the back entrance since he wasn’t going to be able to get Justin inside through the front of the house.  “I’ll leave you in my room and go get them.”

“How are you going to get me up?” Justin asked when they were at the foot of the stairs.

“I’ll carry you,” Ronny said and did.  He put the blond in his bedroom and went down the stairs to get the wheelchair.

“Brian is so going to find you and kick your ass,” Justin told him.

“Right,” Ronny said smiling as he flexed his muscles.  “Let him try.”

Justin tried to stay calm but it was hopeless.  He didn’t know how he was going to get a hold of his husband.  He just hoped that Brian would call Molly and Molly and the brunet would come get him.

“I’ll be back really quick,” Ronny assured him.

“This is not happening to me,” Justin muttered to himself. 

Just then Ben parked his car next to his brother’s car.  He got out and grabbed the gym bag from the back seat.  He jogged to the house and then ran up the steps before he went inside.  The place was quiet and he hoped it stayed like that.  He was supposed to be staying with his boyfriend for the weekend but he couldn’t get any peace with Griffin.  He had a lot of work to do and what better place than his own.   He went up the stairs and saw his brother coming out of his room.  

“Hey Ron,” Ben said.

Ronny shut the door quickly and turned around a bit scared.  “What?”

Ben arched a brow and stopped walking towards his room.  “I’m just saying hi.”

“Oh,” Ronny whispered.

Ben knew something was up.

“Right,” Ronny told him.  “Hi.”

“What are you up to?” Ben asked.

“Oh,” Ronny said shrugging.  “I have to go.  I’m going to the gym.  Do you want to go?” he asked knowing that by Ben’s appearance he had come from the gym.

“I just came from the gym,” Ben said.  “I have a lot of work to do.”

“Right,” Ronny said rolling his eyes.  “Because sitting all day in front of a computer is work.”

“Better than doing nothing like you,” Ben shot back.

Ronny laughed and stared at Ben.  He kept his hand on the knob waiting for his brother to move.

“Okay then,” Ben said and went to his room.  

Ronny sighed and went down the stairs.  “Damn it,” he said under his breath because his brother wasn’t supposed to be there.  He had to be really quick to get back to Justin.

Ben waited a few minutes and then got out of his room.  He knew his brother was hiding something or had done something and he was going to see what.  He headed for his brother’s room.  When he tried to step inside it was locked.  Ben smiled because Ronny didn’t know he had a copy of the key.  He used it and stepped inside.

“Ronny, I’m going to fucking kill you,” Justin said when he heard the doors opening.  “Please stop this nonsense and take me home.  I really don’t want to be here.  Brian must be going crazy by now.”

“Justin?” Ben asked shocked as he saw his cousin facing the window.

“Ben?” Justin asked.  “Oh my god.  Come here please.”

Ben walked to the wheelchair wondering what the fuck was going on.

“You have to get me out of here,” Justin told him.  “Your brother is insane.”

Ben sighed not sure what was going on.  He had heard about Justin’s accident but he didn’t have any clue as to why the blond was in their house.  Not that he minded at all but it was just odd.

“You’re brother and Brian had a fight and then when Brian went to pay for my stuff Ronny fucking took off with me!” Justin yelled.  Then he started crying.  “Brian must be going out of his mind, Ben!”

“Okay, okay,” Ben said rubbing Justin’s arms.  “Try to relax, please.”

Ben always knew that Ronny had a thing for Justin.  When he was fourteen years old Ronny had been adopted.  The boy had been eleven and Justin had been eight, but ever since then Ronny always followed his cousin like a lost puppy.  Justin was just happy that he had someone older that wanted to play with him.  Now years after, Ronny still had a thing for the younger blond.  

“Did he do anything to you?” Ben asked.

“What?” Justin asked taken aback.  “Why are you asking me that?  Ronny…oh my god.”

“Yeah,” Ben said turning the chair around.  “I’ll take you home I guess or I can call Molly.”

“Thank you,” Justin told him.  “Thank you so much.”

Ben nodded and bent down to kiss Justin’s forehead.  He was so sad that Justin was back in a wheelchair.  He knew how hard it had been for him and Molly going through it all.  He had visited the blond as many times as he could but Justin was never in a good mood.

“I want you to call Brian,” Justin said.  

“Okay,” Ben agreed as he pushed the chair out of Ronny’s room.  

Justin was so pissed with his other cousin and he knew Brian must be fuming.  He didn’t know how he had kept so calm when he had been freaking out.

***

“Molly I’m not kidding!” Brian hissed.  “I’m going to find that creep and kill him!  I am!”

“You have to relax,” Molly told him.  “Are you sure they didn’t move to another store?”

“Justin would have said something,” Brian pointed out.  “He wouldn’t have left like that, Molly.”

Molly sighed.  “Do you still have the van?”

“Yes,” Brian told her.  “I came out to see if they were here but they’re not.  So I went back to that forsaken place and looked everywhere.  I’m…god, Molly.  Where the fuck are they?” Brian asked scared out of his mind.  “Fuck, Molly,” the brunet screamed as he walked to where he’d seen Ronny parked his car.  “His car is gone!”

“Oh man,” Molly said. 

“The stupid idiot!” Brian growled.

“You’ve said that like twenty times already.  It’s been established,” Molly told him smiling.  She was sure that Justin was fine.  She knew Ronny was a little annoying sometimes but he would never hurt Justin.  

“He’s stupid and he’s an idiot and that makes him a stupid idiot,” Brian told her.  “And I can say it as many times I want.”

Molly rolled her eyes and suppressed her laughter.  “Did you try calling Ronny?”

“I don’t have his number,” Brian hissed.

“Okay, okay,” Molly said.  “Let me do it.  I’ll call you back.”

Brian hung up and looked around at the people walking in every direction.  He ran his fingers through his hair and walked back towards the van.  His eyes watered and he swallowed hard.  He closed his eyes briefly trying to stay calm but it wasn’t working.  He was going crazy thinking that something had happened to Justin.  His phone rang and he picked it up quickly.

“Did he tell you anything?” Brian asked.

“What?” Ben asked.  “Excuse me, my name is Ben Bruckner.”

Brian bit his lower lip.  “Do you know Ronny?”

“Yes,” Ben told him.  “He’s my brother.”

“Where the fuck is that asshole?” Brian asked angrily.  “He’s with my husband and I want to know where he is.”

“Relax,” Ben told him.

“You fucking relax,” Brian yelled. He was tired of everyone telling him to relax.

“I’m relaxed,” Ben pointed out with a smirk.  “Justin is here,” Ben told him.  “He’s okay.”

Brian sighed with relief to know that Justin was okay.  “Where is here?”

Ben gave him the address and Brian hung up and got in the van.  He was so nervous that something could have happened to Justin.  Ronny could have injured his cousin and all because he had a stupid fit.  When Brian got to the house he parked the car and quickly got out.  He ran to the house and knocked hard and fast.  A tall guy even more built up than Ronny answered the door. 

“You must be Brian,” Ben said.  “I’m Ben.  Come on in.”

Brian did and looked around the house.  It pretty much looked like Molly’s house, but it was a bit bigger.

“Justin is at the pool,” Ben said.

“He’s what?” Brian asked his voice rose with concern.

“Not in it,” Ben told him.

Brian bit his lower lip and followed the man.  When he saw the blond he ran to him and kneeled in front of his husband.  “I’m going to kill that little bastard!”

Ben laughed seeing Brian’s expression.

“It’s okay,” Justin told him.  “I’m fine.”

“I was going out of my fucking mind,” Brian told him and sighed. “God, Justin.  I was so scared.”

Brian interlaced his hand with Justin’s and felt the blond gripping him.  He smiled and bent down to kiss Justin’s fingers.  

“Do you guys want anything to drink?” Ben asked.

“No,” Brian said standing up.  “I’m taking Justin home.”

Ben nodded.  “Okay,” he told them.  “I’m sorry for my brother.”

“Don’t even talk about that idiot,” Brian hissed.

“Brian,” Justin said sternly.  “Stop it.”

Brian sighed and caressed Justin’s face.  “You could have gotten hurt, Justin.”

“I know,” Justin said.  “But I didn’t.  I’m okay.”

“God, I could kill him,” Brian said.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m okay, Brian,” Justin repeated yet again.  

“I’m sorry,” Ben said realizing just then that Ronny could have hurt Justin.  “God, what an idiot!”

Brian turned to look at Ben.  “Thank you for calling me.”

“No problem,” Ben assured him.  “Look, I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay Ben,” Justin told him.  “Brian, I’m starving.”

Brian nodded as he started pushing the blond.

“Let me take you guys to eat,” Ben said.

“We’re just going home,” Brian replied.

“I could buy something and then take it to your house,” Ben pointed out. 

“I would like that, Brian,” Justin told him.  “Please.”

Brian looked at Ben.  “Just as long as you promise me you won’t kidnap my husband, you’re welcome in our home.”

Ben laughed.  “I swear,” the man said.

Justin sighed happily to know that at least Ben and Brian didn’t seem to have a problem getting along.  He knew now Ronny’s reasons for not liking Brian.  He was going to have a long talk with the man; that was if Brian didn’t kill his cousin first.

***

Brian gave Ben directions and then drove home with Justin safely beside him.  As he drove his hand extended towards Justin’s and he didn’t let go until they reached their building.  He got Justin up and then gave him a shower.

“I was so worried,” Brian said as he caressed the blond’s chest. 

“I was so scared, Brian,” Justin told him and sighed.  “I can’t believe he did that.”

“I’m telling you something is wrong with that fucking asshole,” Brian hissed.

“He’s not…he’s adopted,” Justin told him.

“So you’re saying he’s an idiot because he’s not part of your family,” Brian said smirking.  “I can live with that.”

Justin sighed.  “No…I’m saying…he’s that way with you because…” Justin was explaining but the brunet finished for him.

“Because he hates that I’m the one that you married and not him,” Brian said and looked into Justin’s eyes.  “I knew it.  I fucking knew it.  I just didn’t think anything because he was your cousin but I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” the brunet said getting up.

“Brian, don’t get upset,” the blond told him.

“I don’t want him here anymore,” Brian said.  “I don’t care if he’s family or not.”

“Okay,” Justin said.

Brian finished showering the blond and then took him to the bedroom.  Justin asked for a pair of sweats and a wife beater.  So Brian dressed him like that. 

“I’m really hungry,” Justin said frowning.

Just then the buzzer rang.  

“Thank god,” Brian said.  “I felt my life was in danger.”

Justin laughed.  “Right, what could I have done?”

“Waited for me to get close and taken a bite,” the brunet said and smiled at Justin who was giggling.

The brunet went and buzzed Justin’s cousin in.  Then when Ben got to the loft Brian helped him set the food on plates. 

“That’s smells fucking great!” Justin yelled from the bedroom.

Brian smirked and went to get Justin.  

“I brought steak and chicken, which one do you want?” Ben asked.

Brian saw the name of the place Ben had gone and he liked the man even more.  It was an expensive restaurant that Brian loved.  He got the salad to the table and then came for the plates.

“I want a steak,” Justin told him.  “Medium rare.”

“Of course,” Ben told him.

Brian put Justin’s wheelchair next to him.  Then he started to cut Justin’s steak in little pieces so it would be easier for the blond to chew.

“Your phone, Brian,” Justin said to the brunet. 

“Not mine,” Brian replied.

Ben checked his cell phone and sighed.  “That’s Ron,” he said and hit the button so it went to vibrate.

“I want you to talk to him,” Brian said.  “I don’t want him here anymore.”

Ben nodded slowly as he served himself some of the salad.  He looked at Brian and could see that the man really cared about his cousin.  He knew that if Brian wanted he could have someone else taking care of Justin and he could do his stuff.  The brunet was young and hot and could be fucking anyone he wanted, but instead he was with the blond, going out of his mind because of what Ronny had done.  

“It won’t be pretty if he shows up,” Brian said as he looked at Ben.  

“Right,” Justin muttered after he had swallowed.

“I’ll kick his ass,” Brian said pulling the salad towards him.  

“Don’t, Brian,” Justin told him.  “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I can take him,” Brian pointed out.

“No, you can’t,” Ben and Justin said at the same time.

Brian licked his lips.  “Whatever.”

Justin smiled widely.  

Ben laughed.  “I like your attitude.”

Brian looked at Ben and shrugged.  “How come you weren’t at the wedding?” he asked the older blond.

“I was away on business,” Ben told him.  “I was with my publisher.”

“You write?” Brian asked.

Ben nodded. “Fiction,” he said smiling.  “It’s what I love.”

Brian nodded and ate some of his salad while Justin chewed on his meal.  Then he stopped and fed Justin again. 

“Can you give me more of your roasted potato?” Justin asked.

“There are more over there,” Ben said.  “I could bring them.”

“That’s okay,” Justin said with a little smile.  “Brian won’t eat it all.”

Brian smirked.  “I have to watch my figure for the hubby.”

Ben laughed at that.  He looked at them and knew Justin was really happy.  He hoped that things got better for them.  He was going to have a long talk with his brother so he would leave Brian and Justin alone.

***

Justin lifted his left arm and swatted Brian on the stomach.  

“Stop it,” Brian told him.

Justin smiled at him.  Isaac only laughed.  The blond hit the brunet once again.  

Brian pouted.  “Stop it,” he said again but the corners of his lips were twitching.

The blond bit his lower lip as he gripped the brunet’s shirt and pull on it.  Brian let himself lean closer and kissed the blond.

“Guys,” Isaac protested and stretched the blond’s right leg.  “Do you have to do that while I’m present?”

“Close your eyes,” Justin murmured.

Brian laughed. 

There was a knock on the door.  Brian groaned and got up to see who it was.  When he slid the door open Cynthia was staring at him with a big smile.  She was holding a few folders under her arm and a coffee in her hand.

“For you,” Cynthia told him.

Brian grabbed it and let her in.  “What are you doing here?” He asked before he closed the door.

“I need to have some papers signed,” she explained. 

“Right,” Brian told her.  “You’re not here to spy are you?”

“How could you say such thing?” Cynthia asked and smiled.  She was going to walk to where Isaac and Justin where but the brunet stopped her and made her walk to the desk he and Justin shared.

“Hey,” she protested.  “Was that him?  He’s hot.”

“Give me the papers,” Brian said taking them away from her.

“How are things?” Cynthia asked.

“Good,” Brian informed him.

Cynthia smiled and sat at the edge of the desk.  She missed having the brunet around.  It had been five months already and she didn’t know when he was going to be back.  “Is that good I’m coming to work soon or just good?”

Brian sighed.  “Not yet, Cynthia.”

“Okay,” the blonde said.  

“Is he making any progress?” Cynthia asked biting her lower lip.

“He can lift his arm now,” Brian said smiling.  “But that only causes more problems than you can imagine.”

“Why is that?” Cynthia asked as she shifted a bit in her improvised seat.  

“He thinks he can do everything by himself now,” Brian said.

“Aww,” Cynthia said smiling.  “You just don’t like the fact that pretty soon he won’t need you.”

Brian pouted.  “It’s not that.  I don’t want him injuring himself or overdoing it.”

Cynthia stared at him with a smile.  “You have turned into such a softy.”

“I have not!” He hissed as he looked up at her to give her one of his best glares.  “I’m still the same mean fuck.  Don’t you forget that!”

“Of course, sir,” she said and saluted him.  “I didn’t know what I was thinking.”

“I do expect everyone to be on their toes as always when I do come back,” Brian told her as he inspected the papers.  “I don’t want them relaxing.”

“Of course not,” Cynthia assured him.  “The employees are clear that this is still the soul afflicting agency it’s always been.”

Brian started signing the papers quickly.  He had a little smirk in place. She stared at him for a few seconds and decided while a big smile spread across her face that Justin Taylor was the best thing that could ever have happened to her boss.

“Can I go say hi?” Cynthia asked.  She had to meet the man that tamed Brian Kinney even if he didn’t want to admit it.

“No,” Brian told her.

“Don’t be like that,” Cynthia told him.  “Please.”

Brian kept quiet as he finished signing the papers.  Then he got up and she followed him knowing she was going to get her wish.

“Justin, Isaac,” Brian said. “This is my assistant and second in command at Kinnetik,” he said.  “Cynthia these are the boys.”

Cynthia smiled at them.  “It’s a pleasure.”

Isaac nodded towards her.  Justin smiled.  “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Brian, he’s adorable,” Cynthia said.  “How does he put up with you?”

“Cynthia!” Brian yelled.

Isaac and Justin laughed. 

“I like her,” Justin stated.  

“Time to go,” Brian said pressing the files to her and then making her turn around.

“You see what I mean,” she said.  “Such rudeness.”

Isaac and Justin laughed again.

“She’s nice,” Isaac pointed out.

“Yeah,” Justin whispered.  “Hey, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that?” Isaac asked as he put the blue, rubber ball under Justin’s right hand.

Justin tried to move his fingers but he could tell he wasn’t making much progress.

“Justin,” the therapist said.

“Right, umm,” Justin muttered.  “Do you know when my cock is going to work?” Justin asked.

Isaac was taken aback.  “Excuse me?”

Justin sighed. 

“What do you…what if it…” Isaac tried to say.  “You’re in no condition to be thinking about sex.”

Justin pouted.  “I could have Brian suck me off,” he pointed out with a grin.

“Jesus,” Isaac said.  

“Plus it would be good work for my hand,” Justin said waving his left hand at his therapist.  “You know it would make me relax too.”

Isaac laughed.  “That is something you have to talk with Daphne about.”

“She’s nice,” Justin pointed out.

“Yeah,” Isaac said somewhat dreamy.

“Oh my god,” Justin said.  “You like her.”

“I do not,” the man said. “Hey, there you go.”

Justin smiled when he realized that his thumb pressed against the blue ball.  “I felt it.”

“Good,” Isaac said.

When Brian closed the door he was going back to Justin but the phone rang.  “Hello,” he said looking towards Isaac and Justin wondering what they were talking about so avidly. 

“Is Justin there?” Ronny asked.

“What the fuck do you want?” Brian asked.

Ronny rolled his eyes.  “Don’t be such an ass and let me speak with him.”

“You…you’re an idiot,” Brian told him.  “You’re a stupid idiot and I don’t want you calling Justin.  I don’t’ want you thinking about Justin.  Leave us the fuck alone,” the brunet hissed and hung up.

“Who was that?” Justin asked when Brian kneeled to his side again.

“No one,” Brian answered. 

Justin smiled at the brunet and swatted the brunet in the arm.  The brunet leaned closer and started pushing the blond locks back.  The blond caressed Brian’s face and gave him his sunshine smile.

Isaac rolled his eyes at the two man flirted with one another.  He felt like he was back in high school with his two best friends after cupid had struck.