I Knew I Loved You Chapter 2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian felt soft lips kiss his forehead. “Hey baby, you’ve been daydreaming again.” Why don’t you sit up and look at the pictures Mikey and I picked out.” Justin brushed the soft strands of auburn silk from Brian’s forehead. “I know you’ll pick out good ones Justin.” Brian smiled. “I like to lay here and listen to you talk to your friends.” “Hey, we’re your friends too Brian.” Michael said. “That’s right honey, for better of worse, that’s what your vows said – and we we’re the better part that comes with your husband.” Emmett joked. “I thought you guys were the ‘worse’” Brian joked. “Justin, that cat is on me again.” He looked down at the heavy weight on his stomach and two brilliant blue eyes stared back at him. “Meowrrrtrt.” Said the large Siamese and she stretched out one paw to rest it on Brian’s chin. “Your cat loves you.” Justin said turning back to his job assembling the pictures. “She’s not my cat.” It was an old argument and one that Brian never won. He had an uneasy truce with Eloise, the cat. Never having owned a cat and completely at a loss in how to deal with one, Eloise had insinuated herself into every aspect of Brian’s life from the moment she had appeared in his cavernous loft with all of her paraphernalia, that just had to be purchased to keep her entertained. “I’ve told you before, if you lay on the sofa, she’s going to sit on you. You’re a warm body and she’s always cold.” Justin explained once again to Brian. “If you hadn’t insisted on carrying her everywhere in the first few months she lived here, she’d be more independent.” “She was too little and the floors are hard and cold in here.” Once again Brian tried to justify why he’d carried the small kitten around. Justin only laughed and leaned back to kiss Brian’s cheek. “I know Prof, she was little and you were protecting her.” Brian glowed under Justin’s attention. He loved having his husband touch him, keeping the connection that they had. Whenever they went out, Justin constantly touched him, even if it was a casual hip to hip contact or a firm hand on the small of his back when they walked from the car. But most of all Brian loved the look that flooded Justin’s face when Brian came upon the young blond unexpected in the garden or on the street. The look of pleasure and love that shone in Justin’s face always flooded Brian with an amazing feeling of being alive. His left hand began to stroke the burnished fur of the cat stretched out full length on him. His right hand played with the silken strands of blond hair at the back of Justin’s head and Brian once again drifted into his waking day dream as he remembered their early times together. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Justin, are you sure this is supposed to be fun?” Brian looked with wary eyes at the interesting glances that were being thrown his way. Justin had a firm hold of his hand and he led him through the crowd and up onto the catwalk to join Ted, Emmett and Michael. “Give it a chance Prof; let me buy you a drink.” Justin looked at him and laughed. “That was a figure of speech Prof; I’m not old enough to buy drinks here. You have to buy me one.” “That would be against the law Justin.” Brian flushed and turned to the bar. “Two beers please.” Justin’s look had been all that was needed to convince him to maybe, just this once, buy Justin a beer. Brian turned back from the bar and handed one of the beers to Justin. “I think you’re a brat.” And shook his head. “Of course I am, but I’m your brat tonight.” Justin stood beside Brian looking out on the dance floor. “I miss Daphne, she used to come here with me and we’d dance all night.” “Daphne came to Babylon?” Brian looked around. “I don’t see many women here.” “There’s no rule that says she can’t come. Besides, Emmett and Teddy like her and Mikey tolerates her, we all had fun and at least she was someone to dance with that didn’t want to drag me into the back room.” “The backroom?” Brian asked. “You’ll have get Justin to take you in there sometime.” Michael said. He had walked over to stand beside Justin and Brian. “It’s a ‘not to be missed’ experience here in Babylon.” “Oh I think Brian can skip the backroom tonight.” Justin pulled Brian by the hand. “Come on Prof, let’s dance.” Reluctantly Brian followed Justin down to the dance floor. “I really can’t dance Justin.” Brian tried to tell him. “That’s okay, I’ll show you.” Justin moved them out into the center of the dance floor, gyrating bodies all around them. He turned to Brian. “Put your hands on my waist.” He instructed. Brian did as he was asked; Justin put his arms up around Brian’s neck and began to sway with the music, pressing his body against Brian’s. “Do you feel the music through my body? Relax, touch me, touch me all over, move with me, that’s right, you feel the beat of the music.” Together they moved to the pulsating rhythm. “Now I’ll move apart from you, don’t stop what you’re doing. That’s it Prof, see you’re dancing. Of course we’ll have to refine the technique a tad, but you’ve got it.” Justin moved in closer and let his hands wander over Brian’s body as they danced. He reached up and sucked on the taller man’s earlobe, rewarded by a deep indrawn breath and a slow moan. “What are you doing now?” Brian gasped. “Turning you on I hope.” Justin joked. Brian shuddered when Justin’s tongue began to trace its way down his long neck. “We can’t stay here.” He said into the blond’s ear. “Just a couple more dances Brian, there’s no school tomorrow.” Justin looked up at him, his eyes wide and happy. “What does a night person do on the weekends anyway?” he asked. “You know everything else I do; I’m surprised the weekends slipped past you.” Brian teased getting into the swing of this dancing business and bopping to the music while never once letting go of Justin. “I have ideas about what you do, but I don’t actually ‘know’ what you do.” Justin said. “If you’re a good little boy, I just might show you.” Brian smiled happy that for once tonight he seemed to have the upper hand. “I’m thirsty, where’s my beer?” he asked looking around. “It doesn’t matter where it is Brian, you never drink from a bottle that you’ve left sitting. You don’t know what someone might have put into it.” “What is this, you’re giving me lessons on how to survive club life?” “Yes dear.” Justin pulled him by his belt, “I could use another drink.” “Not bad Brian.” Michael said. “Justin is a good teacher.” He grinned at the two of them. “We’re going to have another beer and then we’re leaving. Some of us have to work in the morning.” “Sounds good to me,” Brian said. “So Justin, when did you last see your friend Daphne?” “It’s been awhile, she’s busy at school and I am too” he looked gloomy for a moment. “It really sucks that you can have a friend from the time you’re in kindergarten and when you’re out of school, you never see each other again.” “I’m sure you see her once in awhile.” Brian began. “Sure honey, remember Daphne was just here in the summer.” Emmett began, “And I just know she’ll be here for Thanksgiving and maybe at Christmas.” He turned to Brian, “Wait until you meet her, she’s just the cutest little thing.” The five men stood against the catwalk railing and chatted back and forth, or as much as they could with the music so loud. Brian kept his arm around Justin’s shoulder, marking him as taken. Justin smirked at the few raised eyebrows that passed them by. Justin was not normally content to be with one man all evening. The five men all tumbled out of the noisy club together later that night. They were all giggling like school girls over some inane thing. The cold night air was harsh on their faces and Brian instinctively pulled Justin close to him, to help keep the younger man warm. “Kinney, I’d say that the twink has definitely got your number.” Michael laughed. “That’s Mr. Twink to you asshole.” Justin bantered. “Where are the two of you off to now?” Ted asked. “I can give you a ride home if you want Justin.” “Now Teddy, they both have that well fucked look, I’m sure they plan on making sure it’s still working.” Emmett laughed. “I’ll give Justin a ride home. I always do.” Michael said. Brian looked down at Justin, “I’d like you to come home with me.” He whispered not so quietly in Justin’s ear. “If that’s alright with you.” “I’m going with him.” Justin said and then giggled. “We’re going shopping tomorrow and buy him something that isn’t black.” “Oh, I’m working the afternoon shift at Torso, you must stop in and see me, I’m sure we have lovely things for Brian.” Emmett looked at Brian appraising his size. “I thought I’d take Justin somewhere a little more urban than Pittsburgh. He’s been missing a certain best friend.’ Brian didn’t get the rest of the words out before Justin had leapt on him squealing. “You don’t mean it do you?” He gasped. “I do. If we leave now, we’ll be in New York by morning.” He kissed Justin’s forehead. “You can sleep on the way; I don’t sleep until the very early morning anyway. I’ll crash at the hotel while you visit with Daphne and then we can shop in the afternoon.” “Pretty spur of the moment for you Prof,” teased Justin. “Are you sure you didn’t take anything in Babylon – I told you no drugs.” “Brat, you know I don’t take drugs.” Brian laughed. “So, do you want to go?” “I need to pack.” Justin said trying to be practical. “Why, I can buy you anything you need.” Brian pulled him down the street to where the Jeep was parked. The others followed. Justin turned to his friends. “Mikey, can you call mom in the morning and tell her I’ve gone with a friend to visit Daphne. I’ll be back in time for classes on Monday.” “Sure Justin.” Michael and the others stood to one side as Brian opened the door for Justin. They watched in wonder as he helped Justin get seated and then did up his seat belt for him, kissing him soundly on the nose before running around to his side and getting in. “Okay, who wants to be the one to tell his mommy that her little boy has run off to New York with a hot older man?” Michael asked the other two. “Justin asked you Michael, so I’m staying out of it.” Ted laughed at his friend. “Jennifer likes you better anyway; she’ll take it easier on you than she would me.” “Michael, it isn’t Jennifer I’d be worried about. What about your mom, she’s going to have a conniption fit.” Michael rolled his eyes, “Maybe we could just stay away from all phones and the diner for two days.” The three of them laughed as they crawled into the Ted’s car. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin lifted the long warm cat off of Brian and stretched himself on top of his husband. “You are looking far too relaxed.” He kissed Brian’s lips, then his chin and began to work his way down the smooth muscled chest. “Where are all your little friends, I mean our little friends?” Brian asked lazily as his hand rubbed Justin’s back. “Gone home, you weren’t being much fun.” “Hmmmmm, I was thinking about the first weekend I took you to New York to visit Daphne.” “I still think you just wanted to get away from Pittsburgh, so you could have me all to yourself.” Justin teased. “It would have been a valid sentiment, but no, I hadn’t thought that far ahead in our relationship.” Brian drawled lazily. “You knew that I’d never be able to leave you once you climbed into that awesome bed in the hotel.” “It was a nice bed wasn’t it?” Brian agreed, “But no, I still wasn’t sure how you felt about me. I knew that I was completely enamored of you, but I had led a rather sheltered life.” “I’m not sure if sheltered describes your life before you met me, pathetic seems more appropriate.” “Sheltered Justin, I was sheltered by the good fathers of Saint Anthony’s.” “Bunch of smelly perverts the whole lot of them.” Justin shook his head. “I’m surprised you managed to escape with your sanity.” “Who said I was sane.” Brian asked. “The first bit of sanity that came into my life was blond and eighteen and he walked into my classroom. I recognized you instantly as my savior from a life as a reclusive misanthrope.” “That weekend was amazing.” Justin said changing the subject. Brian still became depressed when faced with his childhood. “Hmmmm, yes it was amazing.” Brian agreed. “I think the part I liked the most.” He stopped and looked embarrassed. “What, what was the part you liked the most?” Justin demanded. “It was waking up in that hotel bed and you were snuggled all in and on me, wrapping me tight with your limbs. I’d never slept with anyone before. I’ve always been alone as long as I can remember. And suddenly I’m not alone anymore. There’s this wonderful blond young man, who actually likes me and who is sleeping so close it’s hard to tell which one of us is which. I knew then that if I died at that very moment, I would have died happy because someone cared about me.” Justin swallowed the lump in his throat. “When I woke up and you were holding me, and combing your fingers through my hair, I knew I well and truly loved you. It was the best moment of that weekend for me as well, though I would never have dared to tell you that I loved you.” “Why not?” Brian asked. “I might have liked to hear it?” “Not then, it was too soon, Brian. We needed to season and mellow and grow, before either of us could say the words out loud. I don’t think they would have meant the same if we’d begun saying them that weekend. But I thought them. I thought the words every minute of every day since then.” “Through all the shit that happened when we came home, you never doubted?” Brian had to ask, he’d always wondered if Justin had second thoughts. “Nothing mattered to me Brian, except you.” “But I left you, I went away.” “Did you go away in your heart?” Justin asked. Brian shook his head. “You know I didn’t Justin.” “That’s right, I knew. Just as I knew that I had to find you, and I did.” He ran the back of his hand down Brian’s face in a loving caress. “Don’t think of all that now Brian, it only makes you unhappy, and it’s over. It’s a part of your life that’s over and done with.” “Justin, I’m glad you found me. I’m glad you cared enough to even look.” “It was easy Brian; all I had to do was follow my heart.” Justin lay his head on Brian’s shoulder and let his husband hold him. He hated to remember that terror filled month when Brian was missing and the months afterward that it took to get him back from the dark side. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 5 years ago “I hate to leave you here. I want to keep you with me forever.” Brian whispered into Justin’s ear. They were parked outside of his mother’s house. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school. I think I’m going to like being ‘teacher’s pet’. Justin teased. “I have some homework I need to do before tomorrow.” He looked sad. “It was a wonderful weekend Brian. I think it was the best surprise I’ve ever had. And I’m glad we were able to take Daphne out to dinner.” “She’s very nice, your Daphne.” Brian admitted. Brian leaned in for another kiss. “This is harder than I thought it would be, saying goodbye. It makes absolutely no sense. We barely know each other.” “Maybe not in actual time, but Prof, I’d say we knew each other very well.” Justin gave him another kiss. “I’ll be at your classroom at seven tomorrow evening.” “I’ll show you how I make the light work in oils.” Brian promised. Justin reluctantly climbed out of the jeep, taking with him a small suitcase that Brian had bought him filled with new clothes the older man had insisted he have. “Later Professor.” “Later Sunshine.” Brian waited until Justin disappeared inside the door of his mother’s condo, before turning back out into the street and going home. Savage Garden’s song, ‘I Knew I Loved You’ was playing on the radio and the words made him smile. It was if they had been written just for him. Maybe it’s intuition But some things you just don’t question Like in your eyes I see my future in an instant And there it goes. I think I’ve found my best friend I know that it might sound more than a little crazy But I believe I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew I loved you before I met you I’ve been waiting all my life He contemplated stopping for some take out as he hummed along with the music, but decided he’d heat up a can of soup later if he was still hungry. Brian parked the Jeep in front of the building rather than in the parking garage and headed for the elevator still singing the words to the song. There’s just no rhyme or reason Only this sense of completion And in your eyes I see the missing pieces I’m searching for I think I’ve found my way home I know that it might sound more than a little crazy But I believe A thousand angels dance around you I am complete that now I’ve found you I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew I loved you before I met you I’ve been waiting for you all my life He could hardly wait to get to his loft; he was going to paint the song and he knew it would be his masterpiece. Brian’s head was ‘in’ his painting and he didn’t notice that there were two people standing in front of his loft door. “Brian.” The harsh grating voice that he’d darn near forgotten, it had been so long, shook Brian out of his pleasant muse. “Mother?” he looked at the tall woman who stood ramrod straight and almost the same height as he was. He looked beside her astounded to see his father as well. “What do you want?” Brian put the keys to his loft back in his pockets. There was no way he was having either of these two people in his home where he’d been content for the last five years. “Is that anyway to talk to your parents?” His father growled. “I would expect a big shot ‘school teacher’ and he sneered the words, “would know that you should honor they father and thy mother.” “My father and my mother gave up the rights to dictate to me when I was eight years old. I have no father and mother.” Brian stood resolute in front of the two people who still invaded his nightmares. “It has been reported by one of the Church Deacons, that you are a sodomite.” Jack Kinney got right to the point. “Is this true?” “I refuse to discuss my life with either of you.” Brian glared at them, “Now I would suggest you leave.” “Further more,” Jack Kinney continued as if Brian hadn’t spoken, “He also reported that you were overly affectionate and in public places with a young blond boy this weekend past in New York City.” “A den on iniquity if ever there was one,” Joan Kinney stated. “You should know better than to go there.” Brian didn’t know what to say and he paused for a moment. “What right do you or any of your Church people have in spying on me?” he was truly puzzled. “I’ve been away from both the Rectory and the Church for five years now, what I do is none of their business and it hasn’t been your business for a good deal longer.” “God’s business is our business, and you represent the Church and its good works – for it’s the Church that raised you. How you deport yourself reflects on all of us. We have prayed for your soul and realize that we made a mistake in allowing you this time before entering the seminary. Your time is up. Your place awaits you.” “I told Father Tom long ago that I wasn’t going into the seminary. I have no intention of becoming one of those long suffering fools.” Brian felt a sting of something on the back of his neck, by the time his hand reached back to hit it away, his knees were already buckling, he never felt his body hit the dusty floor of the landing they stood on. Jack Kinney grabbed Brian’s arms and a man dressed in black, who had stepped out of the stairwell grabbed his feet. Together they placed him in the elevator. “Should we take his suitcase?” Joan Kinney asked. “There will be nothing but things of perversion in it as he has only just returned from his weekend of sin.” Jack declared. “I’ll move it out of the way.” Joan shoved the heavy case away from the elevator before she stepped into it. Her cold eyes never flinched off of the heavy suitcase, watching it until it disappeared from view as they descended to the basement. Even with this malevolent glare, Brian’s keys that had fallen out of his pocket onto the floor, went unnoticed by her and the other two men. Brian was dragged across the basement parking garage floor and unceremoniously dumped into the back of the cargo van parked in a dark corner. In less than two minutes from the time they left the elevator, they were moving out onto the streets of Pittsburgh. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Prof, are you there?” Justin pushed open the door of the classroom. It was ten minutes after seven and there were no lights on. He flicked the switch and looked around. He’d waited outside the door for almost half an hour, Justin had arrived early, eager to see the man he’d been dreaming about every minute of the day since he’d left him the night before. “Prof” Justin’s voice echoed in the empty and dusty studio. It was apparent that no one was there. “What are you doing kid?” asked a burly janitor. “I’m looking for Professor Kinney; I have a class with him tonight.” Justin continued to peer into the shadowed room. “That Professor Kinney didn’t show up for any of his classes today. I heard the kids talking, he never showed up for one class and no phone calls either.” The old man shook his head. “He’s an artist and you know how those guys are, fliiiiiiighty, that’s how. Not a thought in their head whenever they decide to pick up a paint brush. Believe me young man I know, I’ve seen them coming and going here for twenty five years. He’ll show up in a day or so. Just you go on home and enjoy your little holiday.” “Brian isn’t like that.” Justin said stubbornly. “They’re all like that son. Get used to it. It’ll save you a lot of grief in the long run.” He held the door open, “Now you get on out of here, I’m going to lock up.” Justin left the studio, his insides churning with worry. Maybe Brian was sick. He shouldered his portfolio and headed for the bus stop. The bus let Justin out half a block from Brian’s loft. It seemed like five miles as he walked to the corner, his eyes glued to the black jeep that was parked in front of the building, a parking ticket fluttering in the wind where it was pinned under the windshield wiper. Justin hand shook; he plucked the ticket off of the jeep and looked at the time. The ticket was issued early in the morning. Justin headed inside the building, pleased when a woman leaving held the door open for him. He took the elevator to the top floor, Brian’s floor and his eyes riveted on the large black suitcase that sat beside the heavy loft door. Slowly Justin stepped off of the elevator and walked to the suitcase, afraid of what he’d see, but there was nothing there. He knocked on the loft door, once, twice, not really expecting an answer. He picked up Brian’s case, he couldn’t leave it, and when he did his foot kicked the small key ring. Brian’s keys, reluctantly Justin picked them up off of the floor. Something had happened to Brian. There was no way he would leave his suitcase and his new clothes outside of his apartment, and what about the keys, why were they on the floor. Justin found the key for the loft and unlocked the door, pulling it back on it’s heavy rollers, the scrunch of crushed glass caught his attention and he looked at the floor, a hypodermic needle had rolled beneath the door, catching there until it the door opened. Justin punched in the code for the alarm, hoping he was remembering the right one, he’d only watched Brian the once. The beeping stopped and he relaxed for a moment before dragging in the heavy case and then carefully picking up the smashed needle with a piece of paper towel. He looked around the empty loft; the only activity was the rapid flashing of the red light on the answering machine. Not sure if he should check it or not, Justin hesitated before hitting the button to listen. There were five hang ups and two messages from a Father Tom, urging Brian to call him as soon as he returned, and one message from Lindsay also asking for Brian to call her. Now he was even more worried. As Justin looked around the loft, it became very obvious that the man had never entered it since he’d left on the Friday night with Justin. The suit he wore to PIFA will still at the end of the messed up bed. In fact the whole messed up bed showed Brian hadn’t returned. The man was completely anal about tidiness and he’d only left the apartment in the state of disarray because Justin had insisted they would be back and he’d help him clean it up. Instead they had headed off to New York. Justin wasn’t sure what the next step was, but one thing he did know. Brian didn’t leave of his own accord. He jumped when the phone rang. Hesitating only for a moment, Justin picked it up. “Hello” “Who is this?” a male voice asked. “Is this Brian Kinney’s number?” “Yes it is.” Justin said with more confidence in his voice. He recognized the voice as that of Father Tom, from the answering machine. “Brian isn’t here right now.” He said. “If you don’t mind my asking, who are you and why are you answering Brian’s telephone?” “I’m a friend of Brian’s” Justin paused. “Why, who are you?” “I’m, I’m Brian’s guardian, Tom McIlwain.” “Oh, Father Tom, well I think that at his age, Brian is a bit old to have a guardian. It’s not as if he’s mentally challenged or anything.” “Brian has been with me since he was a child, it’s hard to remember he’s all grown up.” The other man said in a rueful tone of voice. “Yeah, well he is all grown up.” Justin didn’t want to get into anything with this man over the phone but he knew he had to say something. “Look, Father Tom, something strange has happened here at Brian’s place. Can I come and talk to you about it?” “Strange?” Father Tom asked with foreboding. “Perhaps you should come over here.” “Give me the address and I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Justin said. He wrote down the address and then hung up the phone. Justin was about to leave, when he thought maybe he should have some backup with him and he called Michael’s cell. “Mikey, I have a problem, where are you?” “I’m at the diner, where else would I be?” Michael laughed. “It’s dinner time.” “I’m coming there to get you, I need some help.” “I’m not moving anything Justin. The last time you needed help my back wasn’t the same for weeks.” “It’s not that kind of help. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Justin looked around the loft and realizing that Brian probably wouldn’t mind – or at least he hoped he wouldn’t mind. Justin grabbed the keys; he’d use Brian’s jeep. It would be a lot faster getting around and Michael relied on Debbie’s car, which was a piece of junk, not that he’d tell her that. Justin borrowed on occasion as well. Justin kept going over the scene at the apartment building and nothing made any sense. Why would anyone want to drug Brian and take him away? Michael was waiting outside when Justin arrived. He looked speculative at the Jeep but said nothing as he got in. “Don’t ask Mikey.” Justin said heading him off. “Brian is missing.” “Justin, he probably realized that a twink for a boyfriend, not to mention the teacher/student thing, was probably a bad idea.” Michael looked at Justin. “Did you steal his car?” “Asshole, no I didn’t steal his car, I’m borrowing it.” Justin began. “I’m serious, Brian’s missing. He wasn’t at the school today and I went to his place. He hadn’t even been inside his apartment since we got back from New York. Which by the way, was a impossibly wonderful weekend.” “Pittsburgh is a bit big for us to be driving around shouting for Brian and hoping he’s going to answer.” Michael grinned. “How are you planning on tracking him down?” “I don’t know, but someone has to know what’s going on. I mean he’s a grown man, he can’t just disappear off the face of the earth.” “It happens all the time Justin. I’ve read about it in the tabloids.” Michael looked smug. “The tabloids suck and they make stuff up Mikey, you might as well read it in Captain Astro’s next edition, it would be just as accurate.” “Fuck you Justin.” Michael began. “I don’t know why you’re dragging me into this anyway. It’s not like you even know the guy that well. I mean really, he’s only a fuck, isn’t that what you always say?” “No he isn’t ‘only a fuck’. Brian is someone special in my life. I feel like we’ve known each other forever and I’m worried about him.” Justin pulled into a parking place in front of a large old house. “This place creeps me out.” Michael looked at the Gothic architecture. “It looks like something out of a Stephen King book.” “It’s a retirement home for old Priests and Nuns.” Justin peered out the windshield of the Jeep, “but you’re right, it is creepy.” Justin and Michael both got out of the jeep and walked cautiously up to the front door. The door opened before Justin’s hand connected with the weathered paint on the heavy old door. “Justin Taylor” asked a Priest in his early sixties. He looked past Justin at Michael and seemed surprised that someone was with Justin. “Oh, you brought a friend. You didn’t say anything about bringing a friend.” “This is Michael; he’s a friend of mine and Brian’s.” Justin and Michael moved into the house. “Aren’t you kind of young to be living in a retirement home?” “Oh, this isn’t exactly a retirement home. It’s more a home for those of us who still believe in the old ways of the Church. I’m Father Tom by the way.” “I figured you were.” Justin said. Michael clutched at his arm, his eyes wide at what he was seeing. Every available surface was covered with religious statues and paintings. All of them featuring graphically depicted bleeding hearts and anguished looks on any that showed Jesus. Justin tried to shake Michael off of him unobtrusively. Finally realizing that his friend was more than a little terrified, he then chose to ignore him. “I want to know where Brian is. Something tells me you know.” “About Brian, you have to understand that Brian, well Brian is special. We all realized that when he was very young. He was first brought to my attention by the good Sisters at St. Marks and his training was begun then.” “What training?” Justin asked. “Why his training to be the one to lead the Church in the true manner.” “Fruit Loops Justin” Michael whispered in Justin’s ear. “I don’t suppose you asked Brian about this?” Justin said as he tried again to loosen Michael’s death grip on his arm. “As the chosen one, Brian of course knew what his roll was to be.” “If I remember from the little Brian has told me. He was barely four when he began school. Even a genius as he is, was still a little kid at four. You assholes had no business fucking with his mind.” “Language, young man.” The Priest chided him. “I only agreed to let you come here so that I could tell you in person that Brian has gone on retreat. He feels that he must repent his wicked ways. He deeply regrets allowing the sins of Satan to infiltrate his mind and body.” “You had no idea where he was. I heard the phone messages. Why the sudden change?” Justin demanded. “That was before I realized that Brian had chosen the day to leave for his retreat. I thought it would be next week.” The lie was apparent to both Justin and the man voicing it. “I don’t believe you.” Justin declared. “If you don’t produce Brian now, I’m going to the police.” “Brian is of age dear boy, he has to report to no one. The police will do nothing.” The Priest glared at Justin. His hand had remained in his pocket the whole while they spoke. “I would suggest you and your friend leave now. I’m sure that when Brian is back from his retreat, he will contact you. After all he will want to apologize for his behavior in New York City.” “What do you know about New York?” Justin demanded. He looked carefully. “You had Brian followed you asshole.” “It has been necessary for us to watch out for the Chosen One, yes. It was felt by all of us here, that he be allowed some freedom, before the arduous task of unifying the Church began.” The Priest looked uncomfortable. “We were unaware, that the sins of a sodomy were being practiced. But I’m sure that with prayer and penance, Brian will repent his sins and fully recover, once again becoming the young man we trained so well.” “You guys are sick fucks.” The first words out loud that Michael had uttered. “I can’t believe you guys. Wait until I tell Ma this shit.” “Once again perversions have been done in the name of religion. Do you guys actually read your Bible?” Justin said his voice sad. “There is no way that Christ would condone what you did to Brian. I can’t even make my mind think about his childhood.” Justin was speaking and backing himself and Michael toward the door. “Grab them” shouted Father Tom and he pulled out a hypodermic out of his pocket, obviously intent on injecting one or the other of them. Michael, using his one main skill, which he learned from his mother, that of slapping someone upside the head, grabbed a thick book off of a table, knocking over a gory bleeding heart in ceramic, and using all of his strength hit the Priest upside the head, dropping him to the floor. His back swing accidentally took out the bat like creature dressed in black who had moved in from the rear. “Justin, run.” He shouted. They turned and ran for the door, slamming it behind them. The heavy thump on the door told them the bat guy or one of his friends had hit the door. Never had two gay boys moved so fast. The both were in the Jeep and driving down the street in seconds, neither one remembering actually opening the doors, let alone starting the Jeep. When Justin figured they were far enough away, he pulled over. He was shaking so hard he could hardly shift the gears. “Seat belt, do your seat belt up.” He gasped to Michael. “You’re worried about my fucking seat belt when something from a damn crypt was about to kill us.” Michael was referring to ‘bat’ guy. “I think he was just old and dressed in black, you know some old Priest or something.” Justin said when he could breathe. “Fuck no wonder the Prof is a bit on the naïve side.” “I’m surprised Brian escaped those loons with his mental facilities even partially intact.” Michael shook his head. “I mean I was messed up enough going through puberty and knowing I was gay and I lived with an old fag hag as a mother. Can you just imagine what Brian must have had to endure?” “No I can’t imagine, but I do know one thing, we’re going to find him and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to him.” Justin took a deep breath and started the Jeep again. “The first thing we have to do is find Teddy. He always says, look for the money and you’ll find out the truth, now’s the time for him to prove it.” “Emmett can help too.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian slowly regained consciousness. His head hurt and he felt he might throw up at any moment. He lay still doing his best to control the spinning of the room and the nausea it caused. It was a familiar feeling and he knew that once again, one of the Priests had managed to drug him. He’d thought he was all done with that shit when he left the Rectory more than five years ago. He’d made it more than clear he wasn’t going to go along with any of their plans. That he had his own life to live and he planned to do it. None of them had counted on his paintings selling as well as they did. Brian was comfortably well off and there was nothing his so called guardian could do about it. At twenty one he was well over the age of majority, they had no choice then to let him go. And in the following five years, as he earned his PHD and became part of PIFA’s teaching staff, he heard and saw very little of the strange men and women who had figured so prominently in his upbringing, preferring to put them into the back of his mind and hopefully forget the years of hell on earth he’d endured. The sound of chanting filtered into the room and Brian realized that they must have him at the old Abbey in one of the lower rooms. He strained to see if there was a window for him to look out, but the room was filled with darkness and no light filtered through the small window in the doorway other than the faintest sliver of light around where the closed portal was. ‘I knew I loved you before I met you, I have been waiting all my life’ the words from the chorus of Savage Garden’s song moved through his head over and over calming him. He focused on the words ‘A thousand angels dance around you – I am complete now that I found you, repeating them like a mantra that would keep him sane as he visualized Justin’s body laying naked before him, the perfect muse for his painting. Justin, would Justin look for him? Would he care? Would he think that Brian just didn’t want to see him again when he didn’t show up for their class? Would he come to the loft and see the Jeep? Brian tried again to calm his mind. He prayed Justin would stay away, lest these zealots find him and hurt him in the name of their Lord. A Lord that they all had conveniently forgotten taught love and compassion, not this never ending hate for all things that didn’t conform to their way of thinking. ‘A thousand angels dance around you I am complete now that I found you I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew I loved you before I met you I have been waiting all my life. Tbc.