I Knew I Loved You Chapter 3 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin dropped Michael off at his apartment. It was late and they both knew that they needed to recruit some help in finding Brian. “Mikey, get Emmett and Ted and meet me at this address,” he scribbled Brian’s address on a piece of paper. “Try and get there as early as you can. I don’t want to waste any time.” “Where is this?” Michael looked at the address suspiciously. “It’s Brian’s place. I’m going to spend the night and see if I can find any clue as to where they might have taken him.” “Are you sure Justin, I don’t think it’s such a good idea to stay there. You said that’s where they got him in the first place.” “They won’t be expecting me to stay there and they don’t know I have the key and the alarm code.” He patted Michael’s arm. “I’ll be safe.” He looked at Michael, “I’m telling my mom that I’m staying at your place. Don’t fuck up and tell her anything different, she doesn’t know Brian, and this isn’t the way for her to get to know him.” “Again with the bad idea Justin.” “Mikey, it’s important to me that we find him.” He sighed. “It’s like he’s a part of me that I’ve been missing all my life. It’s hard to explain, but when we’re together, I’m complete.” “Completely nuts is what you are Justin.” Michael grumbled. “I’ll bring the other guys over, but I think maybe we should just call the police.” “Father Tom may be a creep, but he’s right, Brian’s an adult, the police won’t do anything unless we could prove that he’s been taken.” “What about his suitcase and the needle?” “Like you really think that proves anything?” Justin gave a bitter laugh. “That fucking Hobbs damn near kills me and Daphne and all they did was give him a rap on the knuckles. Do you really think someone leaving their suitcase outside the door of their apartment in a secure building and a crushed hypo is going to even get their panties in a bunch? Not fucking likely.” “Maybe not Justin, but if anything else happens, at least they’ll know about it.” Michael’s chin was stuck out as he attempted to reason with his friend. “Just be there Mikey, as my friend.” Justin looked tired and discouraged and Michael knew that no matter what, he’d be there. He got out of the Jeep and stood on the sidewalk watching the taillights disappear down the street, the night mists adding an eerie feeling to the whole scene. Justin drove back toward the loft. Truthfully he was more than a little nervous about spending the night there. The loft didn’t give him a warm fuzzy feeling, even the first time, it was too cold and sterile, but he knew that if there was any chance of finding a clue as to where Brian was, that was the only place to look. He parked the Jeep outside, hating the thought of being in the dark and shadowed parking garage. He looked around and couldn’t see anyone before he opened the Jeep door and stepped out to run the few steps to the well light building entrance. As Justin unlocked the heavy doors, he found himself singing Savage Garden’s words, I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into my life I knew I loved you before I met you I’ve been waiting all my life. He realized that he’d been unconsciously singing the chorus of the song all the way from Michael’s and he wondered when he’d heard the song last as the Jeep’s radio hadn’t been turned on. Somehow the refrain gave him some comfort and he continued to sing the words all the way up in the elevator to Brian’s floor. As the elevator reached the top floor and it slowly slid into view through the wide metal mesh of the bars, Justin found himself peering anxiously through the metal before lifting the gate and stepping onto the top floor landing. He had the key to the door in his hand ready to open it and he was inside, the door shut and resetting the alarm before he realized that he’d been holding his breath. Justin leaned back against the cold metal breathing heavy as he stood and surveyed the room he’d left not that long ago. Nothing had changed and he felt confident that no one had been in the loft since he’d left it. Just in case, he found some pots and pans and piled them in front of the door. If anyone tried to get in, he’d at least be warned by the noise. The day had been long and full of stress, his hand was spasming and aching. Justin knew that he really should get some rest before he began to break Brian’s privacy. He also secretly hoped he wouldn’t have to and that the tall auburn haired love of his life would walk in through the door, everything that had happened being some kind of bad dream. Justin shook his head at his foolish thoughts. Slowly he walked across the broad expanse of hardwood to the stairs leading to the bedroom and bathroom. What had seemed mysterious and exotic, intoxicating even to his senses not that many days before when he’d first come into Brian’s home, now seemed cold and empty of any life and Justin wanted to cry. The main part of the loft was so empty looking that Justin was sure whatever clue to Brian’s whereabouts that existed - it would be found in the bedroom. He began in the closet, moving the numerous black suits to one side until he could see to the rear of the cavernous space. There wasn’t so much a loose button on the floor and Justin sighed in frustration and resigned himself to a sleepless night. He tried the drawers in the high chest next, carefully removing everything and searching the whole drawer, before putting it back and moving on to the next. The end tables at either side of the wide platform bed held magazines, three condoms and a tube of lube. The mattress on the bed had nothing hidden under it. Justin couldn’t see any way of hiding something under the platform itself. The bathroom was next and yielded nothing more than neatly stacked towels and face cloths and the knowledge that Brian favored French milled soaps and exotic facial and body creams. Justin moved out into the main part of the loft and looked around. He checked the drawers in the kitchen, but everything was so tidy, he just knew that there would be nothing to offer any kind of clue. In frustration Justin kicked a low cupboard door. The resounding thud told him that the door wasn’t made from the usual material a kitchen cabinet door was made of, but rather something more heavy duty. Getting down on his knees, Justin tried the handle and wasn’t surprised to find the door locked. He examined it carefully, finally going into one of the drawers and returning with a flashlight in order to see better beneath the counter. Justin beneath the lip of the granite counter top was a concealed lock. Whatever Brian had in the cabinet, he didn’t mean for it to be easily looked at. Justin was about to try and break the lock when he remembered the key ring, finding it in his pocket, he quickly moved through the keys until he found a likely looking one and trying it, he almost laughed out loud when it turned in the lock. Justin really didn’t know what he was expecting to find. Hidden journals, a map of where Brian would likely be taken, who knew. But he was surprised to see a stack of sketch books, some of which looked very old and well used. Unlike every other part of Brian’s well ordered loft, the books had been tossed inside, one on top of another and allowed to sit in whatever order they landed in. It was almost as if Brian had hidden them there one day when he was in a hurry. The sketch books, such a personal part of an artists life, were like a diary for most other people and Justin hesitated before he touched them. Any other time, or any other place he would never have violated Brian’s privacy by looking through the books without his permission. But like a journal, the books would record places and people Brian had known through his life and maybe, somehow, there would be a clue as to where he could have been taken. Justin figured that it was unlikely these nut cases would have the imagination to think of somewhere different. They certainly wouldn’t be expecting to have anyone look for their ‘Chosen One’. Like most zealots, they had tunnel vision and couldn’t ever see outside the box they managed to squeeze themselves into. Justin pulled out a small worn book from the bottom of the pile. The date carefully written on the cover was almost twenty years ago. It must have been one of the first in the vast collection and Justin took it and two more from that layer over to the easy chair near a reading light. It was going to be a long night. By the end of the second book, he didn’t have the heart to open the third. The story told by the pictures drawn inside was heartbreaking. Justin wondered how in hell these people could equate what they did to the young Brian, with the love of God. He understood completely now why Brian had seemed so childlike and delighted over the two of them. There had been very little love, if any in Brian’s life. There had been a central theme though in the books. The rooms depicted seemed almost like pictures he’d once seen of old castles or abbeys in England and Ireland. Justin wondered if there was something similar near Pittsburgh. He’d never heard of anything like it, but maybe one of the guys would know. It was almost three and he knew he had to get at least a few hours sleep before his friends arrived. Reluctantly Justin moved into the bedroom, but first he carefully placed the sketchbooks back where he’d found them and relocked the door. The high pitched scream of the alarm and a crash from someone walking into the pots and pans Justin had piled by the door, woke him up from a sound sleep three hours later. Muttered curses and someone running down the stairs of the building, though the sounds were barely heard over the alarm. Justin ran over to the box and reset it, then picked up his noisy trap, putting them on the kitchen counter after he had relocked the loft door. Who ever had decided to break in, didn’t know Brian had a coded alarm, or if they did, figured they could turn it off, not realizing Justin had a booby trap in place. The phone rang and Justin quickly answered it. It was the alarm company to let him know that the alarm had been tripped. When they asked him the code word, Justin took a chance and said ‘queer’ knowing that Brian had probably chosen the alarm code when he’d first moved in and was asserting his independence. It was a lucky guess and the man on the other end of the phone line was satisfied. Justin assured him that it had been a false alarm and he’d be more careful the next time. He looked at the clock and he knew there was no chance he’d be able to sleep anymore; his heart still was beating a mile a minute. Justin went back to the bedroom. He made up the bed and tidied the room and then headed for the shower. He was on his third cup of coffee and had looked through four more of the sketch books. Using a fresh book, Justin made notes and sketches of his own of anything distinctive he’d noticed. He didn’t want to infringe on Brian’s privacy any more than he had to, so he didn’t want the guys to look through the private books and peer into Brian’s childhood. It was bad enough that he needed them to help locate wherever the auburn haired man was being held. In looking through the sketch books, Justin noticed Brian had drawn what may have been ancient treasurers in the form of chalices and other religious artifacts. Maybe this was the ‘money’ that Ted always referred to, insisting that money was the root of all things bad. Someone knocking on the heavy metal door startled Justin. “Who is it” he called out. “Open the door Justin, it’s Michael.” Justin walked over and opened the door. “How come you guys didn’t buzz me on the intercom?” he asked as they trooped in past him. “What intercom sweetie?” Emmett asked. “It looks like someone took a sledgehammer to the front door. There is glass everywhere.” “Brian lives in a pretty rough neighborhood.” Ted observed. “I didn’t think so, but someone tried to break into the loft early this morning. The alarm must have scared him off.” Justin walked to the kitchen area. It was the only spot with enough places for them all to sit. “Did you manage to find out where Brian might be?” Michael asked. “No, but I found some clues. I made a few sketches, see if any of you recognize any of these places or things.” Justin laid the pictures he’d made out on the island counter top. “These look like some of the things that were stolen from Ma’s Church when I was a kid.” Michael looked carefully at one of the pictures. “We should show her, she might have some ideas.” “I don’t know Mikey; I hate to get someone else involved with this. Those guys last night were pretty scary and your mom isn’t getting any younger.” Justin hesitated. “If this is stolen property, why is it in so many of the pictures Brian drew?” “I remember reading something about that.” Ted began. “It was like the tenth or maybe the fifteen anniversary of the theft. Nothing has ever been found and some of the stolen items were considered priceless. They disappeared about the time Rome was requesting all valuable things like these to be sent to them for safekeeping. There was a lot of unrest in the Church at the time, because the various artifacts were considered by some to be as important to the rituals as the rituals themselves. There was even rumor that one or two pieces instilled power in the individual using them. I know that a faction of one of the local Churches broke away from the Catholic Church at the same time as the investigation and it was said that they were responsible for the disappearance, though it was never proved.” Justin, Michael and Emmett were all staring at Ted. “What are you guys staring at?” he asked indignantly. It’s all public knowledge.” “Well I never heard of it.” Justin said “Me either.” Michael looked at them. “And my mom has been going to Church every Sunday since as long as I can remember.” “Well, I haven’t lived in Pittsburgh that long, and really Teddy, I never heard of this, when did you read about it?” “Well, maybe I knew about it before. I’ve been kind of looking for it. I figure, because none of the pieces have come up for sale, that whoever stole it maybe buried it or hid it. It’s been kind of a hobby, poking around old abandoned Churches and the old Abbey just outside of the Pitts.” He looked at Emmett. “You remember Em, I asked you if you wanted to come just last week?” “I thought you were joking. Like I am sooooo not walking around with head phones on and that beeping gadget sliding over the ground for hours on end.” He looked at Ted. “Besides looking like a fool, I refuse to go anywhere that I have to climb over a fence. If I was meant to go in, the fence gate would be open.” “That was only once that I took you there Em. Because you were throwing such a queeny fit, I missed one of the nicest days this fall to check out the Abby grounds.” “There is a No Trespassing sign Ted. It’s very clear.” Emmett flounced off to the fridge to see if there was anything interesting in it. “Ted, have you ever been inside this Abbey?” Justin asked. “No, only on the grounds, the doors are locked pretty solidly. I tried them once and they didn’t even wiggle when I jiggled the handles.” Ted replied. “Are you sure no one lives there?” Justin was curious. “Pretty sure, there’s never any cars or anything around and the driveway is all overgrown.” Ted looked at one of the pictures Justin had sketched. “This looks like the symbol on the front gate.” He pointed to a sketch Justin had done. It was a circle and in the center there was a pyramid with the eternity figure eight just under it. “Maybe that’s where Brian is.” Justin looked at the sketch and tried to remember the pictures that Brian had drawn near the page that this was on. “Come on guys, I want to go check this place out.” “Justin, maybe we’d better tell someone where we’re going.” Michael was trying to be the voice of reason. “I don’t like the idea of breaking in somewhere and especially not after meeting the scary guys from last night. What if there’s like dozens of them and they all attack us. No one here can do all that Kung Fu shit like the Relic Hunter and save us.” “Mikey, you’ve been watching too much TV.” Ted teased. “Stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life. If there is someone there, we can politely ask if they’ve seen Brian.” He looked at his friends. “I’m sure someone from the Church won’t lie.” Justin, Michael and Emmett rolled their eyes. “Whatever gets you through the day Ted.” Justin said. He gathered up the sketches. “We can stop by the diner and ask Deb though if she recognizes any of this. It can’t hurt and we can let her know where we’re going in case something happens.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian sat on the narrow cot, his back to the wall and his legs crossed tailor fashion while he stared into the darkness willing the day light to appear. He knew that by now Justin would have either begun to look for him or written him off as a bad choice of (A)man to fall for. Reliving each moment they had spent together was the only thing keeping Brian from regressing back to where he’d been mentally before he’d gathered himself together and found the strength to escape the clutches of Father Tom and his faithful followers. Twice someone had looked in on him through the covered pane of glass in the door of this cell like room. Twice Brian had refused to look away, instead letting his eyes show the contempt he had for his captors. Brian was troubled by the fact the keys to his loft were missing. He was afraid the Church group would break in and remove his possessions. He hoped he’d be able to break away before it came to that. He especially didn’t want them to find his sketch books, the one thing that had kept him mentally grounded when his life was a living hell. Maybe he wasn’t meant to be happy. Maybe the past few days were meant to show him that he was different. Maybe they were right, there is no such thing as love for anyone other than the Lord. But it didn’t seem possible. There was Justin. Sunshine in his shadowed world. Sunshine determined to shine just for him, for Brian Kinney. He did have these past few days. He had made love to Justin, over and over and Justin had made love to him. They did laugh together, sleep together. They had been happy. It can’t have been for nothing. 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 found my way home The door to the cell slammed open. “Brian, precious, have you fallen so far away from your learning that you live with your child whore now?” the simpering fakeness that was the voice of his mother pierced the darkness of the room. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Brian tried to keep his voice calm. He knew what kind of rage she could fly into when angered. As a child it had terrified him as an adult he was no less terrified. “Why, the acolytes went back to your den of iniquity to retrieve some of your clothing earlier and you can imagine how surprised they were to find that your whore had removed your suitcase and that he was inside.” Justin must have found his keys Brian thought and he breathed a sigh of relief while keeping his usual mask on - one that he’d perfected from a very early age. He stared in the direction of the woman who called herself his mother. She stood in the shadows of the doorway. He would have rushed past her but he knew from experience she would have some of the Church bullies hidden in the hallway. Instead he did what he knew would drive her crazy not caring now that he knew Justin was looking for him. He smiled at her. He smiled the quiet smile that never quite reached his eyes, but still infuriated the woman. In three strides she was beside the cot - within striking distance. He refused to stop smiling. Like the rapid strike of a diamond back rattler, her hand went out to slap his face. How he used to fear and hate that hand, so quick to punish. This time, his own hand went up and he grabbed her wrist before she made contact. “Careful mother, you could hurt yourself.” He said and he threw her arm to one side twisting it viciously as he did, pleased to see her flinch in pain. Rubbing her wrist with her other hand, Joan Kinney backed toward the door. “You’ll pay for that Brian my son.” She hissed like the snake she was. Brian only smiled as he recited the words of his love song in his mind. “I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life. He pictured Justin alone in his loft and he wondered if the young blond would find his locked cupboard where the few clues to his past lay hidden. And would Justin be able to read the sketch books and see that they were a cry for help, and not who or what he is. There had been so little time to get to really know each other. Certainly they were very compatible in bed; the sex was beyond anything that he’d ever thought possible. No where before had he ever felt so much in tune with another person. The two of them fit perfectly together and he knew now what was meant when the words ‘as one’ were uttered. It was how he and Justin were, ‘as one’. But all this shit now with his parents reappearing, with the nut cases that he thought for sure he’d left behind more than six years ago, it was all too much too soon. Justin would probably run for the hills and he wouldn’t blame him one damn bit. A Thousand angels dance around you I am complete now that I found you Brian wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, tears springing to his eyes at the thought of never seeing Justin again. He vowed to get out of this mess he was in and if he had to search the world he’d find Justin. The chanting that had never really stopped all night became louder. Brian sighed, he knew that they would be coming to get him sooner rather than later. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Sunshine, it was a long time ago.” Debbie hesitated; she was torn between wanting to help her son’s friend and protecting the Church. While she was a sporadic attendee, Debbie had been raised in an Italian Catholic family. Her gay brother and son had split the family when she sided with the two of them, but she couldn’t shake the majority of what she had been raised with, no matter what. “Deb, I’m not asking you to spit on the cross or anything. I just need to know what happened and if you have any ideas about why Brian might have been taken and where. Justin didn’t bother to hide the desperation in his voice. Debbie sighed -“It was almost twenty years ago. You have to understand Sunshine, things were more repressed then. But at the same time Rome was attempting changes to bring it more up to date. Now I’m going to repeat some far fetched gossip that at the time seemed like someone had maybe dropped some bad acid. For a few years there had been talk of a Chosen One - someone who had been touched with the hand of God and who a certain faction of the Church was raising in the hopes that this person would lead the Church back to its former glory.” “Deb, I don’t mean to be disrespectful or anything, but isn’t that kind of being full of themselves?” Justin shook his head at the thought. “Let’s face it Justin, these guys are a few cards short of a deck.” Michael chimed in. “The guys who were after our asses last night had a serious problem with hygiene, and did you see their eyes - can you say Sunnydale?” “Sunnydale?” Ted looked puzzled. Emmett snorted coke through his nose and both Justin and Debbie rolled their eyes at Ted and Emmett. “Now that you mention Sunnydale” Deb began looking thoughtful. “If you’re thinking of checking out the old Abbey, there is a storm drain that runs right under their property.” The boys stared at her. “What, I was young once, it was a good way to get into the place, the whole gang used to go in there and” she looked embarrassed, “Lets just say we’d smoke a bit and party.” “Geeze ma, that’s more than I wanted to know.” Michael complained. “Did you think you got here by immaculate conception?” she laughed. “If I recall, your conception was - she was interrupted by a chorus of. “Eeeewwwwws’.” “How do we find the storm drain?” Justin asked. “I’m sure Teddy will know.” Debbie looked at Ted who was attempting to retreat into the corner of the booth. “Teddy!” Emmett exclaimed. “Why honey child I’m shocked.” He looked at the others and giggled. “Who would have thought our Teddy once had a life?” “I’ll have you know there is quite a reward for the return of the artifacts. In fact the last I heard the reward was ten percent of their value.” Ted spat the words out. “I fully intend to continue to look for them. I could use a nice bundle of cash.” “Couldn’t we all, but really I think Brian is the most important thing here. If we stumble on your trinkets Ted, than by all means you take them back to their rightful owner.” Justin looked at Debbie. “You’ve been down there, is there any place special he might be.” “I’m not saying he’s even there Sunshine, but if he was anywhere, it would probably be in the main sanctuary. Now this place is built into the side of a hill, it doesn’t look that big on the outside, but it is a rabbit warren of corridors and rooms. The Abbey at one time was one of the larger ones in this part of the world. When we started going there, the order of monks who had been there for almost a hundred years had just left. They had been recalled to France. Oh there have been one or two other groups there, but they don’t stay long. It’s been rumored the place is haunted.” “Wonderful,” Justin sighed. “I was wondering what would cap our day off. Now we have to deal with fucking ghosts.” “This isn’t Scooby Do, there’s no such thing as ghosts.” Michael said. “Ma, you told me there was no such thing as ghosts.” “Michael, you were fourteen, I just wanted you to go to sleep.” “But Ma” he looked at her. “It was a movie Michael, just a movie.” Debbie reasoned with him. She looked at Justin and the others. “We stayed up watching a few horror flics and Michael thought he saw a ghost.” She tried to explain. “Works for me.” Justin said. He stood up and began to leave. “I’m going to find Brian, if you guys want to come with that would be great. But no matter what - I’m going.” “We need to stop by the Big Q and get some heavy duty flashlights.” Michael said and he stood up. “Yeah, and some heavy duty ghost busting repellent.” Teased Emmett. “You guys didn’t see these weirdoes” Michael said, “I’m going to have nightmares for a week.” As they all trooped out of the diner, Michael began to regale Emmett and Ted with an embellished version of last evening’s adventure. Justin tuned him out as so much white noise. All he could think of was Brian and what he must be going through. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Like Christ who suffered on the Cross for our sins, so you must suffer for the sins you have committed. It pains me greatly to inflict this punishment on you my son, but to cleanse your soul, it must be done.” Father Tom raised his hand and once again brought the scourge down on Brian’s naked and bleeding back. His hands and feet were firmly bound to the center pole in the large cold and dark room. The pain was intense, but not more than he could bear, having had this done to him on occasion before. Brian’s teen years had earned him this punishment on a regular basis and he had the scars to prove it, both inside and out. Stubborn Irish genes made sure he gave nothing of what he was feeling away and his face remained impassive. This time, this time he had a sparkle of hope imbedded in his mind. A bit of Sunshine to hold on to and he silently mouthed the words. I see the missing pieces I’m searching for I think I found my way home I know that it might sound more than A little bit crazy but I believe 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. “Father Tom, see, he prays for forgiveness.” One of the acolytes had seen Brian’s lips moving as he recited the word to the song that had become his mantra that was keeping him sane. “Then I shall stop, though I am only part way through the penance the Chosen One must suffer.” The old man looked closely at Brian. “Do you confess your sins of sodomy with that child?” he asked his yellowed smile close to Brian’s face. “There is no sin in loving another the way I love Justin.” Brian panted. “The Lord, if he were here, would tell you this as well, for he taught love and compassion, not this bastardized version of his beliefs that you and your followers insist on.” He glared into the malevolent eyes. “I confess my love for Sunshine. I confess the sin of hatred for what you and your group of flunkies profess to do in the name of the Lord.” Brian knew what would follow when these words sunk into the small brain of the man who had raised him thanks to his mother’s machinations. He didn’t have to wait long for the sting of the lash to fall again on his skin. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Carl, it’s Debbie.” Deb looked around, not wanting to be overheard; she turned back to the phone on the wall. “I have a problem and I was wondering if maybe you and couple of your boys in blue might be able to help me.” “Sure Deb.” Carl Horvath laughed, “if it’s not illegal.” “It isn’t, it’s about the boys.” Debbie sighed. “It’s kind of hard to tell you over the phone, can you come to the diner?” “You’re serious aren’t you?” Carl Horvath asked. “I could come over now.” He was already getting up out of his office chair. Deb never asked him for anything, so he figured it must be serious. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “How far is this place?” Justin asked. They had been walking in the dark tunnel for almost half an hour. “I don’t know, maybe a mile or two.” Ted said. “I told you we could just go in the front door.” “I’m sure we’d get a straight answer from anybody.” Michael spoke up. “These guys are really creepy Ted.” He looked around. “Of course this stupid tunnel is really creepy too.” “At least we don’t have to worry about gouls and vampires jumping out at us.” Emmett said. “Pittsburgh isn’t Sunnydale - though there have been times it certainly has seemed like a hell mouth.” The words were no sooner out of Emmett’s mouth when out of a side passage came three men dressed in black, all cadaverously thin and all of them pissed at finding the four strangers in what they appeared to think was their storm drain. “This is private property, get out of here.” One of them growled. “Oh I don’t think so sweetie.” Emmett gushed. “A beautiful day like this, why I spend days like this down storm sewers all the time. In fact it was in just such a place that I learned this.” To everyone’s surprise, Emmett kicked the feet out from under the first two men, who fell into the third man. The surprise, combined with the long and heavy black robes they wore, had the three in a heap on the wet floor of the drain. “If you boys would give me a hand here, I think we should tie the three stooges up.” “Sure Em, whatever you say.” Ted stammered. “How did you do that?” “I survived Mississippi didn’t I? Well let me tell you honey, it wasn’t without one or two scars.” Emmett efficiently ripped a piece of one of the long robes and used it to bind the hands and feet of one of the men. “Come on boys, don’t just stand there.” Michael sat on one man while he and Ted fumbled around trying to tie up the other one. Justin couldn’t stop giggling and finally in exasperation Emmett competently secured all three of the men including putting gags in their mouths using their socks. No one wanted to even touch the socks but Emmett went about his task efficiently. “There,” Emmett stood up and dusted his hands off. “We just have to remember to tell someone to come along and let them go.” “Do we have to?” Michael asked. “I trust you’re joking Mikey.” Justin said. “We don’t want to be as bad the nut cases.” The small success they had, bolstered their courage and the four continued to where the three men in black had appeared from a side drain. “Do you think we should go this way?” Justin asked Ted. “I don’t know, I’ve always followed the main pipe. It goes right under the main foyer of the old building. I’ve never even seen the lower levels of the place.” “Maybe, the reason why it always looks deserted is because they don’t use the upper levels, only the lower ones.” Justin reasoned. “I think we should go down this way, there has to be a reason why these guys were using it.” “They probably were blowing each other.” Michael muttered. “Ewwwe, don’t even go there.” Ted said. “That’s too gross even for me. I swear that one guy had water rings on his wrists.” “Shhhhhh” Justin said. “I hear something.” They were part way down the side pipe of the storm sewer. “It sounds like chanting and something else.” “Justin, that sounds like the crack of a Dom’s whip.” Ted kind of winced when he said the words and everyone looked at him. “Research, I was doing research for something.” He tried to explain. Justin began to run toward the sound stopping when he came to a ladder on the wall the led up to an opening. He was almost to the top when the rest of the gang caught up with him. “Justin, wait, you can’t go in there alone.” Emmett stage whispered. Justin looked down at this friend and didn’t answer, instead, chin out in defiance he continued to climb quickly disappearing through the hole. “I guess we’d better go after him.” Michael said resigned. “But I have a bad feeling about this.” “I had a bad feeling about this before we left the diner.” Ted said. “I think that we’re jumping the gun here. Brian is probably at home by now from where he’s been. We’ll look like a bunch of idiots when he finds out about this adventure.” “LEAVE HIM ALONE” they all heard Justin scream. It was all they needed to begin climbing up the rusted rungs of the old ladder. Justin ran into the shadowed room, not caring who else was in it. All he could see was Brian tied to a large beam, blood streaming down his back. “Sunshine” Brian whispered to himself when he heard Justin’s voice. “Sunshine, go, they’ll hurt you.” His voice was a little stronger now, but Justin had reached his side. “I’m never leaving you Brian.” Justin said through his tears. He could hear Michael, Ted and Emmett as they pushed through the heavy doors. “I’m taking you home.” He looked at Michael. “Mikey, pull that table over here and climb on it to, you’ll be able to reach the knots on the ropes better. Emmett, come here and help me support Brian but first can you get the ropes off of his legs.” Justin gave out the orders all the while his fingers were smoothing away the tears on Brian’s face. He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around Brian careful of his injured back. Brian’s arms fell to his side when Michael finally released them. The pain of the blood returning to them was enough to make him cry out and he buried his face in Justin’s shoulder, shuddering until it passed. “Infidels, blasphemers, remove yourselves.” Father Tom stood looking at the two men holding Brian up. Ted, had been staring the whole while at the bejeweled golden challises and servers that lay on a pristine white linen alter cloth at the front of the room. He began to walk toward them slowly, mesmerized by the beauty and the realization that those were what he’d been searching for years for. Justin looked at the older man and on the advancing troop of twenty or more heavily robed acolytes and he began easing Brian toward a doorway that he hoped led to the outside. He was pretty sure Brian wouldn’t be able to climb down to the storm sewer, let alone walk the two miles through it. “Leave him” bellowed Father Tom and he raised the many tailed scourge to strike. Justin placed himself in front of Brian and looked at Father Tom, hatred in his blue eyes. “I wouldn’t if I were you.” He said quietly. Father Tom struck out at Justin anyway, but Justin was faster and his hand grabbed the thick leather tails of the scourge and yanked the thing out of Father Tom’s hand. “If I wasn’t in a hurry to get Brian medical attention, I’d shove this up your ass so far, it would be choking you.” All of a sudden, Father Tom’s attention was taken up with a noise from the front of the Church. He realized that Ted was attempting to take all of their golden objects. “Don’t touch. They are Holy artifacts and as such are to be touched only by those blessed by the Church.” “They’re stolen artifacts.” Ted said. “I’m going to return them and collect the reward.” “I don’t think so.” Father Tom’s voice was deadly quiet, a hush fell over the crowd of acolytes who had been dividing up, part heading for Brian and part heading for Ted. Father Tom reached into a pocket of his robe and pulled out a gun. Ted didn’t notice what he was doing and continued to pack the heavy gold items in a box he’d found behind the alter. “Stop.” Father Tom said again, this time he punctuated his command with one shot from his gun. The silence in the room was deafening. “I said stop. Now put everything back where you found it and come and join your friends.” He motioned to three of the robed men. “Take the Chosen One to his room.” His voice was steady. “And remove these vermin to one of the lesser cells. We’ll decide what to do with them later.” “I’m not leaving Brian.” Justin said stubbornly. “You can shoot me, but I’m not fucking leaving him with you assholes.” “Sunshine, don’t, they won’t hurt me any more than they have now. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.” Brian summoned the strength to kiss Justin’s forehead and stand unsteadily by himself. He began to slowly walk to the two men who were to take him back to his room. “Brian” Justin’s voice was full of anguish He looked toward Father Tom. “You can’t let him just go, he needs medical attention for his back.” “The Lord will heal him.” Father Tom said and he nodded his head to the men - “Take the Chosen One to his room” he repeated his order. What happened next was a blur to all who were in the room. Father Tom continued to hold his gun on Justin, Ted and Emmett, while Michael had gone unnoticed, for he’d dropped behind the table by the large post, when Brian’s wrists had been untied. While Father Tom had been dealing with Justin and Brian, and then Ted, Michael had been moving through the pews of the makeshift Church. He used all the strength he could muster and flipped up the pew he was crouched behind, the domino effect began on all of the pews and one by one they moved in a wave toward Father Tom, the last one catching him just behind his knees, throwing him to the ground. The gun slipped from his hand and Emmett bent down and grabbed it while Justin ran over to Brian, who gratefully allowed the smaller man to help support his injured body. The door at the end of the room burst open and a large search light shone inside like a piece of the sun. “Police.” Two men in uniform, guns drawn stepped into the room. Carl Horvath and his partner strolled in behind the uniformed men. “Justin is that you over there?” he asked. “Hi Carl,” Justin began to move Brian toward the police. “Brian’s been hurt, I want to get him home, can you get someone to drive us, the guys will tell you everything.” “Sure Justin,” Carl could see that Brian wasn’t in great shape. “I’ll get Jimmy here to take you and Brian home. I’ll come by later for your statement.” “Can you make it tomorrow after lunch?” Justin asked. “Sunshine, you’re always pushing.” Brian mumbled, though he smiled. “After lunch it is Justin.” Carl smiled at his young friend. “Take care of your man.” “I will.” Justin’s voice was full of promise - or at least that’s what Brian heard. All Brian knew was that the man he loved had rescued him from his past. Brian leaned heavily against Justin on the ride home. His back was too sore to sit comfortably. “I have some stuff at the loft for my back Justin” Brian’s voice was low. “It’s happened before.” “Well it won’t happen again.” Justin promised. “We haven’t seen the last of them Justin, you have to know this.” Brian felt tears prick behind his eyes. “I’ve been dealing with them all my life, they won’t give up.” “You have me now Brian, you aren’t alone in this fight.” Justin smoothed the auburn hair from Brian’s sweaty brow. “I’m not leaving you to deal with them on your own.” “It isn’t your fight Justin.” Brian’s voice was discouraged. “It’s my fault; I tried and tried to be what they wanted. As far back as I can remember I tried, but I failed. I did everything but somehow, it just wasn’t enough. Then a few years ago, I convinced them that I needed time away, time to get some of my ‘wild’ ideas settled in my mind. I” Brian hesitated. “I was going to run, run to Europe or China, the South Seas, I don’t know, but I knew that my time on my own was up.” “Why didn’t you?” Justin asked as the police car pulled up in front of Brian’s building. “I heard this song the night I met you - and it said everything I was feeling.” Brian hesitated “I thought that even a little time with you would be better than nothing.” “You thought wrong Brian, because you’ll have me forever.” Justin waited for the policeman to open the door. “Come on, I’m taking you home.” Justin helped Brian get out of the back seat of the car. He smiled his thanks to the young policeman who had driven them home. Slowly and carefully Brian and Justin moved inside the old building. Being so close to his home helped give Brian the needed energy to make it to the top floor loft, though the elevator seemed to take forever. Justin opened the door and keyed the alarm code. He helped Brian in to the bedroom and then returned to the door to carefully lock them both inside. “Brian, I’m going to call a locksmith tomorrow and have the lock changed. Someone tried to get in last night and they had a key to this door.” Brian nodded agreement. He let Justin’s jacket slides off of his shoulders, wincing where the lining material had stuck to his back and pulled away. Justin retrieved his essential oil packet from his backpack before filling the large Jacuzzi tub with warm water. He added some tea tree oil to the warm water. The pungent aroma filled the room and then he helped Brian take off his clothing. “Let the water take the worst of the stiffness from the mess on your back. The tea tree oil will help.” Brian sank gratefully beneath the warm water, wincing when the water first hit his back, but quickly relaxing into it as the healing properties of the oil and warm water pulled the sting out of his flesh. While Brian relaxed in his bath, Justin had a quick shower, he would have loved to share Brian’s bath, but this wasn’t the time. Brian managed to get out of the tub on his own, but Justin lovingly patted him dry. They didn’t speak; both of them were too emotionally worn to verbalize. Brian shivered as Justin sprayed his tender back with an antiseptic spray, before leading him to the bed. Justin got in first and Brian moved in beside him, grateful to be in his own bed and to have Justin by his side. Brian lay on his side, his head resting on Justin’s chest and Justin let his fingers comb through Brian’s freshly washed hair. “Justin, thank you.” Brian was exhausted, but he needed to say this. “No one has ever cared enough to do what you did for me today. I,” he hesitated. “I feel things for you that I’ve never felt before. I wasn’t even sure I could feel like this. Do you think this is too early?” he paused again. “I don’t want you to think.’ “Prof, I love you. You love me. We knew it the moment we set eyes on one another.” Justin kissed the top of Brian’s head. “Is that what you wanted to say?” Brian sighed, and he smiled in the dark. “I do love you Justin. I’m not really sure about this love stuff, but I feel complete with you.” “Prof, you’re analyzing, there will be no written exam.” Justin giggled “But I could be giving you oral exams frequently throughout the rest of our lives.” He kissed Brian again. “Now Prof, let me hold you and protect you and love you through this night, while you get some sleep.” His hand rubbed circles on Brian’s arm. “I may give you a test in the morning, oh, don’t worry, it’ll be an oral one.” Brian let himself relax in the embrace of his blond protector, he fell asleep listening to the steady beat of Justin’s heart and the comforting feel of his love’s arm and he sent a silent prayer of thanks to the Powers That Be, for sending Justin to him at just the perfect time in his life. tbc