Angel in Disguise Part 4 Notes: In this alternate universe - Brian becomes a 'real' super hero - and only one person knows his secret identity. This fic is written for Jude - Jayne - Kacie - Sandra - Tracy - who are sometimes bitter - but they are sane - (or so the rumor goes) – and for “J’” who makes me smile Once again a big thank you to Lois who has sent this back from Venice ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3 years later “Justin can you come over to my place after school?” Daphne sat down beside her friend. He was sketching something in the worn leather sketchbook he periodically brought out of hiding. “Sorry, I can’t, I think Brian might get home tonight. I’m going to call him later.” “I do have a telephone Justin. You can call from my place.” “He’s kind of weird about calling him. He insists that I call from a pay phone and then it has to be a different one each and every time. Never any repeats no matter how far I have to go to find a working phone.” “Geeze, Justin, you never told me he was one of those conspiracy theory nuts.” “He isn’t. It’s hard to explain. But he has his reasons. He’s bringing me something back too.” “Cool, I love getting presents. What’s he bringing you?” “I’m not sure, he’s been in Florida for the whole two weeks on business, but he said yesterday that he’d found a present that was perfect for me.” “Wow, that’s a long time to be in Florida.” “Yeah, but he was gone during the last freezing rain storm. November really sucks here.” “Didn’t he come back for Thanksgiving? I thought he always went to your Mom’s for dinner.” “He couldn’t make it back here. But he sent Mom a big bunch of flowers made from chocolate and cookies. He really tries to remember about my allergies and I think he knew that Molly and I would get to eat most of them.” “Wow, he’s better than any real ‘Uncle’ any day.” “He’s not my uncle.” “He sort of is. He’s been around forever and he brings you and Molly presents when he goes away.” “He’s waaaaay tooooo hot to be an uncle.” “No way, you can’t even think about him that way. Justin the guy is like as old as your dad. How gross.” “He’s only twenty nine. Dad is way older than that. Twelve years isn’t that bad.” “In dog years maybe” Daphne ducked when Justin tried to hit her over the head with his sketchbook. “I don’t care. I think he’s hot and I’m not the only one. I’ve seen the way you look at him.” Daphne smirked at Justin. “He’s too old for me. But he is hot.” “Well, he’s not too old for me.” “Have you ever told him how you feel?” Daphne wondered. “Like that would ever happen. He thinks I’m a little kid.” Justin laughed. “And soon he’s going to have his own kid. I think that is so cool.” “No shit. I thought you said he was gay.” “He is gay, but his friend Melanie Markus fell in love with another lady a few years ago and they asked Brian to be the father of their kid.” “So like they’re all going to live together or something?” Daphne thought about it for a moment. “Won’t that be kind of weird?” “Melanie and Lindsay have their own house. I’m pretty sure that Brian lent Melanie the down payment, but he won’t say. The baby is going to be born next month and Brian said I could go with him to watch if I want.” Justin was excited. “Even Melanie and Lindsay said I could watch. They’re having it at home with a midwife.” Daphne turned up her nose at that idea. “Sounds kind of groddy to me Justin.” “I’m going to take pictures so the little kid will always remember the day he was born.” Justin sighed “I wish they’d taken pictures when I was born. I can only remember a few things and they are all kind of mixed up.” “You’re a freak” Daphne punched him on his arm. “At least walk me home, even if you won’t come in.” “Sure, I’ll walk you home.” Justin said. “Meet me after school by my locker.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The plane landed in Pittsburgh and eventually Brian got off, as usual the last of the passengers. His latest ‘handlers’ didn’t say a word. They’d been told of his penchant for being the final one down to the tarmac. Brian walked past them, his eyes unseeing. But he did manage to toss his luggage claim tickets in their general direction. Had he been watching he would have noticed both their looks of distain and the words “fucking asshole” could be read from their lips. He walked through the airport and out the main doors heading for the car he knew would be waiting for him. He ‘pushed’ the lock open with his mind, a trick that none of them had ever been able to discover. He knew it pissed them all off that there was no lock that he couldn’t open no matter how they tried. And they all tried. He got into the back of the car and shut the door, relocking it. He leaned his head back on the seat and shut his eyes. Bobby copied his moves beside him. “What a bitch of a time eh?” Bobby said. Brian didn’t acknowledge that his companion spoke. “Brian, you can’t blame yourself. You’re only one person and the guy had dozens, even hundreds of supporters with more money than god behind them. “It was times like these he wished he could offer Brian the benefit of knowing the future. “I know there’s going to be some tough times. I mean the guy’s a sociopath. He should never be allowed to be in this kind of power. As much as I hate to admit it, money can buy most anything. I was hoping I was wrong. But apparently money can buy a whole damn country. Give it time. When enough people die to put dollars in this guy’s pocket, the people will get rid of him.” “Sorry, Bobby, I just don’t see it happening any time soon. It’s like history repeating itself. It is sort of a seventy-year déjà vu. I was so fucking close to being able to stop it. But something was interfering, some force that I’d never encountered before.” “It’s a force that is as old as time Brian. Many have tried to battle with it and none have ever succeeded in killing it. It’s almost like it’s part of life, the part that makes people become who they are when they decide to work for the dark side or stay with the light.” Brian didn’t answer him, knowing that there was truth in what his spirit brother said, yet not wanting to admit that he’d almost crossed over himself in his quest to stop the flawed man from buying his way to the top. He stayed silent on the drive to his apartment. He longed for the peace of the Tremont loft and his meditation room, but he was tired both mentally and physically and he knew he could make a mistake in going there. He needed to be fully alert before he attempted that small journey across town. Yet he could almost feel the cool comfort of the hardwood floor beneath his feet as he sat in the back of the long black car and ignored the two ‘handlers’ in the front. He had already written his report to CK. Not that she would be surprised by any of the happenings in the various Florida cities. She probably had him doubled every step of the way. What a fucking bitch. One more year and he was free of her forever no matter how many dollars she would dangle in front of him. He had enough money in his Swiss Bank account to keep himself very comfortably as long as he needed. But he’d also garnered a reputation and many awards in the advertising world as well. He could continue with that, perhaps with his own company. But first he would take a year off. Get to know his son or daughter, maybe even find someone to love. At least spend some time on the dance floors of the Pittsburgh clubs; and maybe have a few months of being a single, eligible gay male before he was too old to enjoy it. He barely acknowledge the ‘handlers’ presence, ever since CK got rid of George and Peter, he never bothered learning their names. At least this way when snake woman fired their asses or had them transferred to Iceland each time Brian managed to elude them, he wouldn’t feel too bad, because he wouldn’t know them. He smiled to himself, Justin had argued against this. He said Brian needed to feel bad, otherwise he’d turn into someone as awful as CK. Brian wondered what CK would think if she knew that Justin Taylor, twink in training, knew everything that Brian did and had done. That he knew Brian’s most intimate moments from the time he was born. The kid had a way about him that inspired confidences and they spent hours on the telephone and the occasional dinner or lunch, always talking as if it was important that each of them know the other inside out and backwards. There had been times over the last couple of years when Brian had to actually remind himself that Justin was twelve years his junior, so astute was he in his comments and suggestions. But for now he just wanted to get through the next few hours. He opened the car door before it came to a complete stop in front of his building. He didn’t bother to wait for his luggage. They could bring it up or not, he didn’t give a fuck at the moment. He took the stairs to the eighth floor, two at a time; his breathing when he reached his floor was unchanged from when he began. He concentrated on his pulse rate and was pleased that it had barely registered the exertion he’d expended. He walked to his door and released the lock, but first he checked the ‘tell tale’ he’d left behind. A small security measure that would let him know if anyone had been in his apartment, the ‘tell tale’ that he used was a baby fine blonde hair from Justin’s head, he placed it between the top of the door and the door jamb. It was missing. Someone had been in the apartment. He’d installed a new security camera system before he’d left. It would be interesting to see who showed up. CK’s gang would be looking for their own cameras and other bugs, which Brian had managed not only to disable, but to get a great trade in allowance for the ones he used himself. He should thank his benefactor some day for these little added bonuses. It did make a difference in his ‘take home’ pay. He threw his jacket on the back of the sofa and kicked off his shoes. Damn he hated this place. It was decorated in early ‘CK’, she thought she was being so helpful. His feet longed for the cool hardwood of the loft and hated the plush pile of the grey carpet. He padded into the kitchen and removed a bottle of water. He checked the seal and scrutinized the bottle for punctures before drinking. He’d tampered with enough water bottles in his day to be cautious about his own consumption. The elevator had arrived and soon he could hear the thump of his luggage being dragged down the hall by CK’s minions. He opened the door as they approached, startling both of them. “Leave them by the door boys. You two can rush back to mommy and let her know I’ve arrived none the worse for wear.” “You’re supposed to report in Mr. Kinney.” “This is me reporting in. Take a good look.” He turned and headed for the bedroom. “I’m going to bed. Don’t forget to shut the door on your way out.” He pulled off his suit and stretched out naked on top of the bed. He left the cameras operational, knowing that they would only record movement, otherwise they stayed dormant. At least if someone broke in, he’d know who it was eventually when he watched the tape. Brian closed his eyes, he was exhausted but even in the quiet of his apartment he was having a hard time relaxing. After an hour of tossing and turning, of trying and failing at all the relaxation techniques he knew, he got out of bed. He first removed a PDA from his briefcase. It looked like the latest technology in PDA’s and it was, but it was also, in fact a way of determining if there were any bugs in his apartment. He moved from room to room disabling any surveillance and listening devices he found. He was impressed with the ingenuity of some of the locations. Brian gathered them all together and placed them in a bag in his briefcase and put the briefcase in the back of his hall closet. He scanned the rooms again, finding one more listening device, this time under his bed. He didn’t bother to put it in the briefcase; instead he flushed it down the toilet. Now that Brian was satisfied he wasn’t being watched or listened to, he moved to the bathroom. He removed the few things that were in his medicine cabinet and then pulled the cabinet from the wall. Inside, the computer system that monitored his own surveillance cameras, was supported between the wall studs. He plugged in the PDA he held in his hand and accessed the function that would allow him to download the two weeks worth of observation into it. It should be a small file if it only showed CK’s goons installing their own spy ware. Brian replaced everything they way it had been. He decided to keep the cameras operational, for some reason he was feeling more insecure than usual. He lay back on the sofa, the one piece of furniture in the apartment he’d any say about. It was long enough to fit him comfortably; a sleek Italian designed smoked silver leather. He began to play the video of the apartment’s uninvited guests while he was gone. Sure enough, the team CK sent moved through his apartment installing their pieces of intrusion equipment. He checked the date; it was only four days after he’d left for Florida. He was about to shut off the PDA when he noticed that there was more to the file. Michael walked in his door. He watched his friend move about the apartment with familiar ease. He took water from the fridge, used the bathroom and slept in his bed. Brian moved forward. Michael was there six times in the two weeks he’d been gone. What the fuck did he think he was doing? And where did he get a key. Brian didn’t need one and only carried it on his key ring to use when someone was with him. Michael must have copied it. He went to the junk drawer and removed a screw driver and a set of lock picks. It took him less than two minutes to change the tumblers of the door lock so that they would be useless with any key that might have been used before. Brian of course could always open the door. He smiled. This could be fun fucking with all of their heads. He’d never tell any of them what he’d done. Just continue using his key and opening the door, only he would be using his mind to ‘push’ the lock open. He’d have to do something with Michael eventually. He had enough trouble with CK’s stalkers; he sure as heck didn’t need any more. He had to get to the loft. He needed to rest, but more important, he needed to spend time in his meditation room. There was something familiar about the evil force that had been in Florida. Something that he was sure he had encountered before. Maybe if he looked on the astral plain, something would show up. Something that could point him in the way of success and maybe fix the mess that was now slowly percolating into a full scale disaster for the rest of the world. Dressing from head to toe in shades of grey, Brian secured his apartment then quickly walked down the hall to the elevator. He waited until it began to move up from the lobby, someone on another floor having called it. He pushed the doors open on the elevator shaft and stepped onto the top of the elevator cage as he moved past his floor. So light was his landing that the people inside never knew he was now above them. Anyone watching from the lobby would never see the elevator stopping on his floor, but rather it continued to climb. Brian was pretty sure that they had surveillance set up in the stairways again; he hadn’t had time to disable it yet since he’d arrived home. He was pleased that the person who’d called the elevator was going to the top floor, it made his job that much easier. His leather gloves, like a second skin on his hands, protected them from the steel cables. Before the elevator began it’s decent, he started his climb, hand over hand to the roof top elevator machine room. He had no difficulty moving to the door and stepping out onto the roof. The city lights shone brightly, the natural noises covered any sounds he might make. He smeared some of the dust and grime from the roof onto his face. He didn’t need the reflection of his skin showing. Striding to the rear of the building, he retrieved the small package that was tucked inside a roof vent. He checked it carefully for any tampering, satisfied it was as he’d last seen it, Brian pulled his arms through the straps of the package then secured it on his body. He stood on the rim of the rooftop and looked down into the alley. Shit, it looked like some kind of an argument down there. It couldn’t be helped. He stepped out into the air, pulling the strap of his parachute as he fell. The tug of the parachute and the snap of the silk above him, then the slow progress of his fall, told him he was going to make it. The mottled grey silk was invisible against the night sky. Brian didn’t have much time, he was only twenty stories up, but he managed to manipulate the emergency chute enough to land on top of one of the assailants. At the same time he pulled the release to free himself from the parachute, he also managed to disarm the terrified mugger. He secured the mugger’s arms and legs with a cowboy’s quick ‘hog tie’ using the mugger’s own belt. It was a matter of minutes and he had the parachute stuffed haphazardly into its pouch. Only then did he notice the crying man by the wall. He walked over and touched his arm. “It’s ok; the bad guy is all tied up over there waiting delivery to the cops.” He pulled out his cell phone and called 911 speedily relating the problem and requesting assistance. “Sorry,” he said to the man who was still crying. “I’ve got to go,” The man lifted his head. “Brian?” he said. “Emmett?” Brian sighed, why now and why Emmett. “I can’t stay. Please don’t say anything about my part in this.” Brian kissed his friend on the forehead. “And if you don’t mind, stay out of alley’s from now on. We can’t make this a habit. I’m not always able to drop in.” Brian started down the alley, moving quickly. “Emmett,” he called his voice low. “You haven’t seen me for two weeks.” Emmett smiled a watery smile. “Honey, I keep hearing voices, but I can’t see anyone. It must be the shock.” He wasn’t sure what Brian was up to, but whatever it was, he would cover for him. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian pulled a ball cap out of his back pocket and hurried to his Tremont Avenue loft. He gave an audible sigh of relief when the door of his top floor apartment closed and he stood in the cavernous coolness of the spacious room. For all the years he’d owned the loft, he continued to keep the furniture minimal, in fact other than a black leather chaise and a standing reading lamp, there was little else. He preferred to use the hardwood floor for his tai chi when he wasn’t able to get outside. Locking the door and setting the alarm, Brian moved to the bathroom. He turned the shower on then stripped and walked in. The hot steamy water helped to cleanse his body of the past two weeks. He remained under the pulsating shower heads until the water began to cool before stepping out and drying off. He grabbed a sports drink from the fridge and gulped it down. He’d needed the electrolytes, because no matter how exhausted he was, he needed to find out some answers to questions that were plaguing him for the past few days. Before he went into the meditation room, he called Kuo Shen; it was dangerous traveling the astral plain without letting anyone know what you were doing. It was more than dangerous for Brian because of his exhaustion and because there was an evil force that had been watching and thwarting his efforts to keep the world safer than it was going to be for the next four years. Kuo Shen knew when the phone in his room rang, that Brian was in danger. “Young master.” He began, “You should reconsider your journey. You are tired and you haven’t properly prepared yourself to face this evil.” “No hello?” Brian teased “Just wade right into the lecture?” he tried to keep his voice light. “I only wish to see what I’m facing. You know that evil can’t hide its true face when in this dimension. I’m sure that I can succeed if I know exactly what I’m facing.” “You think that there is something wrong in failure, young master?” Kuo Shen began, “I assure you that everyone does not find success each time he tries to do something. Failures are success too. It is all in the lessons you learn.” “I have to do this.” “As you will, but remember to never look in his eyes. His eyes will capture you there in that dimension forever. Only someone with a pure heart filled with a true and binding love will be able to free you if you let yourself become enthralled by him.” “Then I had better be careful, because I don’t know anyone with those qualifications.” “You do know him; you just haven’t opened your eyes enough to see him.” “Right, sure.” Brian laughed. “I’ll call and let you know what happens. I will call in the morning.” “Take care young master.” Kuo Shen hung up the telephone. He knew that Brian had to deal with his quests himself. It was Brian’s karma to live the life he was living now and make the decisions he was making. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Checking the loft one last time, Brian slipped into his meditation room – this time he would do standing Zen to keep himself focused on his task and to allow his ki to be utilized fully. It was a difficult Zen to obtain and few mastered the ability. He let his mind empty of all thoughts as he focused on the swirling patterns in the large piece of jade. He let his mind trace the ribbons of smoke through the rock and in minutes he was looking down at himself. He well knew the cramps that would set in to his legs if he stayed too long, but longevity wasn’t his goal on this visit, but rather a reconnaissance mission. Brian usually enjoyed the visual pleasures he found in this dimension, he liked to linger in familiar areas and soak in the color and the ambiance of each of his favorites, but tonight he ignored the siren call and let his body float further and further away, the silver cord becoming thinner as the distance increased. He was pulled toward Texas where he had heard that the man had a home or at least connections there. He began to pick up visuals of others in the area, ones with black aura’s surrounding their bodies. At one time he thought he’d seen his father among the masses, which didn’t surprise him. Jack Kinney had been an evil man in his lifetime. The persistent pull of the iniquity of blackness tugged at his very being. He kept his mantra silently streaming through his brain, using it to keep himself focused on his mission. Not for the first time, he wished Bobby would travel with him on this plain. But he refused. Not that he couldn’t do it, but he wouldn’t do it. He said that he was too close to his human charges to risk being ‘turned’ by the dark forces. The temptations were too great. Brian had pointed out that if Bobby was aware of the problem, then there wasn’t a problem. He could fight off any temptations and it would be better for them both to be here together, safer somehow. But his ethereal friend continued to refuse and so Brian once again found himself here alone. No, he wasn’t alone, his good friend Kuo Shen wasn’t far. He looked at him and smiled his thanks for the company. He wondered why Kuo Shen was so solemn looking, almost unhappy. Brian turned back and he felt himself pulled deeper into the swirling mass of blacks and grays, the haunted faces of those who had come over to the dark and regretted it, but were trapped forever peered out from the shadows. Time shifted and Brian didn’t notice, he was lost in the maze of gloom searching for answers as to why, for the first time since he’d begun to work for CK, he had failed to complete his mission. Tantalizing glimpses of the face of the evil power monger appeared deeper in the mass, and Brian continued to follow, the silver cord that kept him connected to his earthly body, already pulled as thin as the finest silk thread, so close to breaking and stranding him on the side of darkness forever. Kuo Shen stayed watch outside of the gates of hell, waiting for Brian to return. He watched with care the silver thread of life and only when it began to lose substance and begin lessening more rapidly did he realize that Brian was in trouble and perhaps trapped inside. Kuo Shen tried to push past the closed gates, but was thrown aside by the razorback demons guarding their lord. For while he traveled here rarely, he never wanted to be disturbed when he did arrive to confer with his father and brother away from the prying eyes of the press, some of whom also clamored for entrance in this otherworldly realm. After the third attempt Kuo Shen could feel himself becoming weaker, he was too old and his purity of heart had long ago dissipated with the cynicism of age. He had no other option but to retreat to his living body and try and find the one person who could save Brian. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “He didn’t call?” Daphne asked, though she knew the answer. “He hardly ever calls, but I did and he wasn’t answering his cell. I left messages, but he never returned my calls.” Justin blinked rapidly and turned away from his friend to hide his tears and distress. He’d been awake all night, terrified that something was wrong with Brian. He could feel it deep inside and he had no idea what to do. He’d even tried to call for Bobby, but for the first time since he was born, the spirit didn’t come to his calls. This alone terrified him even more. “Maybe he’s tired after his business trip. He could be sleeping or in meetings or whatever it is he does when he comes back. I mean he’s pretty important at his job, maybe they’ve kept him busy.” Daphne tried to reason with Justin. “He’ll probably be there when you call next.” “Something’s wrong Daphne.” “You don’t know that.” “Yes I do.” Justin had looked up and he could see coming into the school, the small figure of Kuo Shen, Brian’s friend and with him was Bobby floating backwards and trying to argue some point with the ancient Shaolin priest. “It is important that I speak with you privately, young master.” Kuo Shen began when he arrived in front of Justin. “You can’t do this Kuo Shen” Bobby begged. “Brian would never allow it. Justin is too young. He hasn’t the training.” Bobby turned to Justin. “Justin, whatever he asks, don’t do it. You don’t know anything about this. It isn’t your time to face these challenges. I have it on good authority that you won’t be doing this kind of thing for at least six months to a year.” Justin ignored Bobby and bowed low to Kuo Shen, “Grandfather” he said, “it’s about Brian isn’t it?” His voice was strong and firm. There was no time for drama or fear. Brian needed him, he could tell. “Can you come with me now young master? I can explain everything in the car?” Kuo Shen didn’t wait for Justin’s answer; he’d seen what he needed to see in the depths of the sapphire blue eyes. Instead he turned and began to walk out of the school, a dejected Bobby following close, hoping to persuade him to use some other means of rescuing Brian from the clutches of evil. Justin thrust the book he was holding at Daphne. He grabbed his backpack from the bottom of his open locker and ran after Kuo Shen. “Tell the office I just remembered I had a doctor’s appointment or something. I’ll call you later.” Kuo Shen held the rear door of an unobtrusive grey car open for Justin. He could feel the presence of two others who were watching for anything unusual to happen. He wasn’t sure if they were CK’s people or whether they were in the employ of the evil doer who was already taking liberties with the power he’d stolen. Kuo Shen had no time for niceties; he asked forgiveness from the life forms that lived in the large maple that towered over the car holding the watchers, then with a wave of his hand the tree cracked and fell across the hood of the car. It’s dying screams heard only by a few. Justin and Kuo Shen both brushed tears away as their car left the area, alone, no one in pursuit. “Where are we going?” Justin asked. “To where Brian’s body is.” Kuo Shen prayed they would be on time. He was too close to Brian emotionally to always get an accurate reading on the man. Justin sat back and tried to calm his racing heart. He wanted to ask a thousand questions, but didn’t dare for fear the answers would not be what he wanted to hear. He stared sightlessly out the car window and wasn’t surprised when it finally turned into an underground parking garage. He never even commented when they all got out of the car and took the elevator the top floor of the apartment building. “Did Brian ever teach you how to use your mind to open a lock?” Kuo Shen asked conversationally. “He tried to, but I can’t do it, well not all of the time. I practice whenever I can, but I don’t think I visualize the same way Brian does and you have to be able to do that in order to manipulate the electrons.” He looked a Kuo Shen. “Brian said he’s been practicing it since he was about five.” “That’s right he has. Brian has been on a pathway that led to this point in his life, since the day he was born. That’s why Bobby was assigned to help him. The powers that be, knew that Brian would face much adversity in his life for there are those who didn’t want him to reach the age he has. Bobby kept the scales balanced as best he could. But now Brian has reached a point where Bobby is unable to help him and young master, neither am I able to help.” “Why not?” Kuo Shen sighed dramatically, “Perhaps age has slowed me or perhaps I don’t have the heart I had before. But to do battle with the forces of evil on the next dimensional plane, it requires not only strength of will, but pureness of heart and love. I’m afraid young master, I don’t qualify any longer.” Kuo Shen had unlocked the door to the loft and ushered Justin through the door. Justin stood, mesmerized by what he saw. He loved the vastness of the empty space, the clean lines of the small kitchen area and the simplicity of the chaise and lamp. He could picture the man he loved, stretched out on the black leather, reading or just laying there listening to music. “Where’s Brian?” he asked. “I thought we were going to see him.” “We are, I want you to understand that what you see won’t be easy to understand. And what I want you to do, could suspend your belief in rational reality. But if Brian is going to come out of this alive and well, it has to be done. It may already be too late. From the condition of his body he’s been gone for more that twenty four hours, and that is twenty three hours too long.” “Just take me to him. I don’t care what I have to do. I want Brian to live.” Justin’s chin went out in a young boy’s effort to show determination. Kuo Shen wondered if it would be enough. Kuo Shen took Justin to the brick wall at the end of the loft. He pressed the sequenced code in the bricks making sure that Justin could see what he did. He wouldn’t always be around, but it looked like Justin might be. The door slid open and rather than wait for it to open all the way, Justin slid through the crack only to come to an abrupt halt when he saw Brian. Instinctively he knew not to be loud or even touch him. Justin looked at Kuo Shen, “Shit, look at him.” Brian stood ramrod straight, his hands palm up and his arms held out in front of him. His color was bad and his breathing so shallow, that if he’d had any weight on him at all, you would never have been able to tell that he was breathing. As it was Justin could see the small movement his chest made on each breath. The muscles in Brian’s legs and arms were cramping then releasing in waves that must have been excruciating had he been conscious. Kuo Shen put his hand on Justin’s arm. “I know, it’s bad.” “Can’t we lay him down?” “No, he cannot be disturbed. That would be the worst thing we could do to him.” “What can I do?” “I want you to sit on the floor beside Brian. I am going to put you in a hypnotic state. I’m sorry Justin, but there just isn’t time to teach you about astral travel. This is the fastest way I know how.” He sat in front of Justin, who still couldn’t take his eyes off of Brian. “When you are under, I am going to give you instructions on how to find Brian. But I must caution you now and I will caution you again. Do only as I tell you. Brian’s life depends on this and so does yours.” “I understand. Do it.” Justin pulled his eyes away from Brian reluctantly and looked into Kuo Shen’s eyes. “Do it now.” And so Kuo Shen began the ritual he’d used for decades. Justin felt his eyes close as the steady voice of the old Chinese man droned on in his ears. Suddenly he felt himself floating and he opened his eyes with surprise. He was floating near the ceiling a fat silver cord tethering him to his body that sat down on the floor. He looked to Brian and was surprised to see a black shadow surround his body, with the occasional flashes of electric blue shooting through it. The cord that trailed away from Brian’s body was barely visible; in fact Justin was sure he could almost see through it in places. He realized that once the cord was broken, Brian would be lost to him and to everyone forever. Remembering Kuo Shen’s words Justin let himself follow the silvery thread of Brian’s life force. Concentrating on Brian, he began to move swiftly through the shadowy realm, his own thick silver cord paralleling Brian’s, he willed it to bond to the small thread, offering what strength that he had to help Brian. He saw the gates of hell and the razor back guardians, but oddly enough he passed by them and they never even saw him. He looked back. The two of them continued to look forward and Justin did his best to reach toward Brian with his mind. The shadows darkened but Justin could feel the beat of music, the vibrations moved through his body, there was a light ahead and he was surprised to see Brian, surrounded by the naked bodies of beautiful men. None of them paid any attention to Justin. They were too busy worshiping Brian with their mouths on every part of him. Justin felt a sharp pain in his heart, he felt betrayed. He turned to leave the way he’d come when he caught a glimpse of the hazel eyes through heavy lids. It was only a flash of what might someday be – but it was enough for Justin. He wished he could shout and scream and pull the muscle bound bodies off of the man he loved. But he knew he couldn’t and for all that Brian was supposed to appear that he was having the time of his life, Justin could see from his life cord that the very essence of Brian was rapidly disappearing. He strode over to the man who lay on the cushioned bed and he held out his hand. He let his heart and his soul speak without words, until one by one the mouths dropped away from Brian. He watched them all warily; making sure none of them harmed the auburn haired man, who was after all, only a man like any other. Brian had to want to do this. It had to be Brian’s choice to follow his heart, to accept the goodness that was Justin and forsake the hedonistic pleasures that the evil one had offered, free of charge, no money exchanged, just Brian’s very soul if he stayed. Hazel eyes opened wide and found themselves drowning in pools of blue as deep as the sea. Brian’s pain wracked body felt the comfort of two strong arms as they wrapped themselves tightly around the thin frame of the older man. The moment Justin’s lips touched Brian’s, the very moment that they connected, the two of them returned to the meditation room. Brian sank into his body gratefully, his ki strengthened by Justin’s presence. Justin barely had returned to consciousness when Brian’s pain filled scream echoed in the small room. “Quickly Justin, we have to get him to his bed.” Kuo Shen had his arm around Brian’s waist. Justin jumped up from the floor and with strength he wasn’t aware that he had he half carried and half dragged Brian from the room. Instinctively he knew the direction of the bedroom. He actually lifted Brian up the few steps and deposited the taller man on the bed. He could see the muscles in Brian’s legs rippling with contractions but after the initial scream when he returned to this world, the older man hadn’t uttered another sound. Justin began to massage Brian’s legs, all the while murmuring soothing words of comfort. Kuo Shen handed Justin a bottle of room temperature water and Justin supported Brian’s head while he drank. He was surprised at the restraint Brian used, until he remembered that two much water would only cramp the man’s belly. He lay the auburn head back on the pillow and began once again to massage his legs, alternating with each arm, completely ignoring the fact that Brian was naked. Kuo Shen appeared with a mug of steaming tea. “Try and get him to drink as much of this as he can, young Justin. It will relax his muscles enough for him to sleep. He should have it again when he wakes, then some food. I see that there is plenty of food for you to choose from in his kitchen.” “My mother, I can’t stay here,“ Justin began. “It is a Friday evening; will your mother accept you staying at a friend’s home for the weekend?” Kuo Shen asked. “I don’t know, I’ve never asked to stay for a whole weekend before.” “Perhaps if you ask for this evening and tomorrow being another day, you could ask then. Often little bites are easier to swallow, than the whole bird.” “That might work. I’ll call her. But first I have to talk to Daphne, I’ll need her to cover for me.” Soon it was all arranged and Justin was prepared to stay and watch over Brian until late Saturday afternoon and with luck the next day as well. Justin held Brian, while he drank the herbal tea mixture that Kuo Shen had brewed. Justin wasn’t sure that Brian realized that it was him helping; he hadn’t said a word to Justin. When he finished the tea, he curled up on the bed. Justin reached down and pulled up a luxurious sheet, the cotton as fine as silk and the tucked the down filled duvet around Brian’s shoulders before heading out of the bedroom to talk to the old Chinese man. Kuo Shen was about to leave. “I must go. You will have your hands full with Brian; it isn’t only that he almost lost the battle today where you found him. It is also the battle that he has been fighting all of his life, a battle to find someone to love him for whom he is. The dark forces knew that when Brian discovered the release of sex, that it also was a good substitute for love, though a temporary one. Until now, Brian hadn’t had that experience.” “But he’s twenty nine; of course he’s had sex.” Justin stated. “The obvious answer to a question isn’t always the right one young master.” He sighed. “You must remember Brian’s fears of rejection that have been with him since he and Bobby discovered one another. His relationship with his spirit brother was a chaste one, but it was a loving one. The fear of losing that relationship, that closeness would alone have kept him celibate.” He grinned a cheeky grin at Justin. “Or perhaps he was waiting for the right man to come along.” He laughed out loud at the crimson flush that spread upward from Justin’s neck to the roots of his hair. Still chuckling he went out the door, pulling it closed behind him. Justin locked it carefully, the old fashioned way, then set the alarm, thankful that the code was an easy one to remember. It was his birthday. It was only as he turned out the lights and made his way to the bedroom, did he think of the oddity of that, Brian using Justin’s birthday for the alarm code. It must be a coincidence, Justin thought. He looked at the man bathed in blue light from the ambient lighting at the back of the bed and smiled to himself, tonight he would be able to fulfill a secret dream of his to spend the night in Brian Kinney’s bed. Other circumstances would have been better, but he’d take what he could get at the moment. He washed up for bed and brushed his teeth. Then a little nervously padded back to the large bed, with a soft sigh of contentment, he climbed in, then pulled the duvet up. He turned and looked at Brian; he looked so sad and alone even in his sleep. Justin snuggled into his pillow then carefully gathered the older man in his arms, offering his body as a pillow. He fell asleep listening to the regular breathing and the steady beat of Brian’s heart, while he traced circles of possessive comfort on Brian’s arms and back. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian was dreaming that he was a child being held in the loving arms of his older brother. He could feel pain in his legs and arms, his father must have taken the strap to him again. But the pain didn’t matter as long as Justin held him. Justin? He lay there for a moment. Justin was holding him? How could that be? Justin could feel Brian waking up, “Hey, Brian, glad to see you back.” He whispered. Justin bent slightly to kiss the top of Brian’s head as it lay on his chest. “I’m too heavy” Brian muttered and started to pull away only to have Justin’s arms hold him tighter. “You will never be too heavy for me Brian. I kind of like having you in my arms.” “Why?” “Because I can do things like this” Justin kissed him again, this time smoothing the ruffled chestnut hair away from Brian’s forehead before letting his lips caress the smooth skin. “And this,” Justin soothed circles of comfort with is strong artist fingers. “Justin, this isn’t right.” “Holding you next to my heart isn’t right? Loving you with all my heart isn’t right? Following you into hell to rescue you isn’t right?” Justin gave a half laugh. “Which one isn’t right Brian, because I pretty much did all three in the last twelve hours.” “That was you.” Brian stated as the memories came flooding back and the shame that Justin had seen him allowing himself to be brought to the dark side. Justin knew what Brian was thinking; he could only imagine the guilt and the shame. “Hey Brian, don’t even go there for one minute.” “But” “The only thing that you have to be sad about is the fact that you decided to go there when you were tired and at low ebb in your self esteem.” Justin rolled his eyes, though Brian couldn’t see him do it, he could tell that Justin probably was doing just that. “I mean, for someone who is supposed to be relatively bright, that was pretty dumb.” “Try and make me feel worse why don’t you.” Brian muttered. “I feel bad enough.” “You’ll feel worse once I get through with you. I’m letting you off lightly because I’m happy to have you still alive. I have plans for your body and they wouldn’t do me any good if we had to plant you like some damn daisy.” “Explain the ‘love’ part Justin.” “Oh, you heard that did you?” “You know I did.” “You’re a big boy, you know what it means.” “You don’t know love, you can’t, you’re only seventeen.” “I didn’t know there was some kind of age requirement.” “Well there is, you have to be older, to have lived longer, to have discovered all the things guys discover when they’re at school.” “Is there some kind of rule book? Because if there is, I missed getting a copy.” Justin kissed his head again. “It doesn’t matter, because I love you, and right now I have you in my arms and there is no way you can walk away from me, because your legs won’t let you.” Brian thought about this for a few minutes. He tentatively tried to move his legs only to be rewarded with pain shooting through them. “I told you. Today is going to suck. But Kuo Shen said I had to get you out of bed and showered and you had to do the first five tai chi no matter how much it hurt. I’m supposed to catch you when you fall.” “I won’t fall.” “Good attitude, but I think I’ll stick around to make sure.” Brian reluctantly left Justin’s embrace and moved into a sitting position on the bed. “I was out too long wasn’t I?” he asked. “Yes you asshole, you damn near died.” “Language Justin.” “Fuck you Brian. You scared me. I thought I’d lost you before I’d even had a chance to love you properly.” “Forget the ‘L’ word, what you feel is only teenage lust.” “Yea, that too, I mean who wouldn’t, you’re pretty hot. But I also feel LOVE Brian, the kind of feeling that you have deep inside you twenty four seven. The feeling doesn’t go away when the man you love stinks because he’s been standing in a hot room for too damn long, the kind of love that lets know when you are in trouble, because what you feel, I feel.” Justin stopped talking, not sure if he was getting through to Brian. “I have to piss” Brian replied, ignoring Justin’s words, though he had heard and agreed with each one, but there was no way he was going to tell Justin that. “Wait two minutes; I’m supposed to let you drink some herb stuff that Kuo Shen made before you start walking.” “You’d better be quick then.” “I thought guys who were into Shaolin stuff were patient.” Justin said under his breath as he headed for the kitchen. Brian smiled to himself, he’d heard Justin. Having the teen here was more than he could ever have hoped for. He would never admit it to Justin, but he loved the blonde with an all consuming fire. He just wanted to wait until Justin was older to let him know how he felt. Justin was back quickly. He held the drink out to Brian. “You have to drink it all and wait at least sixty seconds before I help you to bathroom.” “I don’t need any help.” Brian said. He drank the bitter tasting drink. “Isn’t this supposed to be warm?” “Well, I didn’t think you'd wait, so think of it as ice tea.” “Why aren’t you at home?” “I’m at Daphne’s.” Brian looked around, “Really?” “Brian, I couldn’t leave you all alone. I’m staying until I think you can make it on your own.” “Justin, I’m a big boy. I’ve been alone all my life.” “No you haven’t, you’ve had Bobby, and now you have me.” Brian pinched the bridge of his nose while he counted to ten. “Justin.” He began “Shut up, it won’t work,” Justin couldn’t resist, he bent down and kissed Brian’s lips gently and then smiled his megawatt smile at the astonished look in the hazel eyes. “Lean on me, let’s go to the bathroom.” At first Brian wanted to refuse, but the deadness in his legs that alternated with sharp pains, told him not to be stupid. Resigned he held out his hands and Justin pulled him to his feet. Together they slowly made their way to the bathroom. While Brian used the toilet, Justin adjusted the water in the shower. He hated hot showers, but he suspected that Brian loved them. “Come on big boy, you stink.” Justin, his arm around Brian’s waist led him into the shower. “I’m going to shower too; this is strictly to get you clean and to make sure you’re safe. Kuo Shen said your legs will give out on you off and on all day today, but should be better tomorrow.” Never had Brian experienced anything like having Justin’s hands roam over his body as he soaped every inch of him. Turning around Justin allowed Brian the pleasure of doing the same. Neither one would be able to tell you when the shower turned from something hygienic to something erotic, But the boundaries were crossed early. Brian’s cock was so hard it ached, he could see that Justin was having the same reaction. Justin, unable to stop himself sank to his knees and began to lick and kiss the leaking cock that bobbed in front of his face. “Fuck, Justin, what are you doing?” Brian tried to use all of his training and will power to move away, but the blonde’s mouth was magic. “I’m teaching you a lesson Brian.” Was all Justin said, He continued to suck the mushroom end, letting his tongue probe Brian’s piss hole. He could tell that Brian was close to coming, even though he’d barely begun. So he swallowed him, releasing the muscles as the back of his throat. It was the older man’s undoing and he came so hard and for so long, his knees began to give way and he sunk to the tiled floor until Justin was in his arms. Justin’s full lips found his and the kiss they exchanged heralded an era of the romance between the two men that would continue until long after they both left this world. When Brian could talk he had to ask. “What lessen did you teach me and where did you learn to do that?” Justin giggled like the seventeen year old he was. “I’m not a dumb blonde Brian. I know how to read and ask questions.” He kissed Brian’s lips again, this time losing himself completely in the kiss that spoke of promises. “The lesson you received today, Mr. Kinney, was that you can have a million blow jobs from a million different guys and you will feel only temporary, if even that, relief from tension. Or you can come home to me, and get a blowjob that will keep your balls throbbing for more and have all the tension of your day released, and it won’t be temporary.” Brian shut his eyes and rested his forehead against Justin’s, the water cascaded around the two of them and he thought about what Justin said. “You make an excellent teacher Justin Taylor.” He said as he rubbed his face against Justin’s. “For an older student, you catch on pretty quick.”