Blackie and Babe Chapter 6 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Are you Justin Taylor?” the security guard at the hospital entrance asked. “Yes.” Justin looked around hoping to see where Brian had disappeared after seeing his new son. “I have something for you” the guard went into the room behind him and came out with a sorry looking puppy on his leash, the harness skewed to one side as the result of him trying to remove the hated harness. “The other guy said to tell you he (IS)to go home to the loft.” He shook his head, “whatever that means.” Justin took the leash and bent down to ruffle the soft black fur. “Hey baby, did you think we were going to leave you?” Worried golden eyes looked back at him. Justin looked at the guard. “Thanks for watching him.” He said and walked out the door, the limp from his accident barely noticeable. “I wonder what’s wrong with Brian that he had to take off like that.” He asked his furry companion. Justin walked out of the hospital parking lot and onto the busy Pittsburgh sidewalk. It had been so long since he’d lived there, he had to think for a moment about where he was headed. He began to walk and it wasn’t long before he realized that he was never going to make it on foot. His leg was beginning to cramp from the unforgiving cement and Gabe wasn’t used to walking on a leash and continued to stop and sit, wanting to rest or pulling away to investigate interesting smells. Justin was about to look for a phone booth and call for a taxi when he noticed the black SUV in a parking lot that led to a small park. Not sure if it was ‘their’ SUV, Justin and Gabe approached it with caution, not wanting to seem like some kind of car thief. The tinted windows all around hid the inside and Justin had to move to the front of the vehicle. What he saw inside made his heart lurch. Brian lay with his head on his crossed arms against the steering wheel. Justin could see by the shaking of his shoulders that he was crying, though he could hear nothing, so good was the soundproofing of the SUV. Justin hesitated for only a moment. He looped Gabe’s leash over his hand for security and then opened the driver’s door. Brian looked up at him and then collapsed in Justin’s arms. Justin did the only thing he could do and that was hold the man he loved while he cried, all the while murmuring words of comfort. He had no idea what the problem was. Finally Brian stopped. Justin lifted the tear-stained face and kissed away the few tears that remained. “Move over, I’m going to drive.” He said and Brian obediently moved into the passenger seat. Justin lifted Gabe into the vehicle and hand the leash to Brian. “Can you hold this?” he asked. “Aren’t you going to ask me what’s wrong?” Brian’s voice was hoarse from crying, though quiet. “No, you’ll tell me when you’re ready.” Justin put the vehicle in gear and made his way cautiously through the Pittsburgh streets to the loft. He kept looking at Brian, making sure he was okay as they drove and when he could, he placed his hand on the older man’s leg adding what comfort he could. Justin parked the SUV and moved over to Brian’s door, opening it and offering his hand. Brian smiled at him ruefully, but took the hand. Justin could tell that he had a headache, probably from crying. Even Gabe was subdued as they all walked up the stairs to the loft. When they got in, Gabe retreated to a corner with his blanket and a chew toy, keeping his eyes on the two men, but also keeping his distance. He could feel the tension and he didn’t like it much. Justin helped Brian off with his jacket and led him up to the bedroom. He barely acknowledged the pedestal bed with the blue neon lights over it as he and Brian lay down together. Instinctively Brian let Justin wrap him in his arms, taking comfort in the younger blond. Justin combed his fingers through Brian’s hair, but said nothing, just letting him relax until he was ready. “I’m sorry Babe.” Brian began. “I shouldn’t have left you and Gabe like that.” “It’s okay; we could both use the exercise.” Justin joked. “Everything, all these emotions and feelings that I thought I didn’t have or if I did(,) that I’d long ago repressed them into nothingness, they all came crashing down on me all at once. I looked at my son and I wanted to scream. All of you were so happy and proud and instantly in love with that little scrap of nothing and I wanted to scream. I have no idea how to even begin to cope with being a father. I can barely manage to cope with being myself. I don’t know how to love. What if I do all the wrong things? What if he grows up to hate me like I hate my old man? What if I turn out like my old man?” “You mean the Brian Kinney that I know and fell in love with is all of a sudden going to go freaky on me?” Justin asked. “Because the man I know knows more about loving and caring than any ten other people. I can’t imagine you changing.” Brian was silent. “Do you really think that about me?” “If I didn’t think it, I wouldn’t have said it.” Justin kissed the top of Brian’s head. “You know Brian; you are the biggest damn drama queen I’ve ever met.” “I guess I did kind of ‘queen’ out.” Brian admitted. “I’m sorry Babe.” “Sorry is bullshit.” Justin said with a smile. “Now why don’t we have a nap? And when we wake up, we’ll start over again in our very own loft.” “I did promise you that you would have a lot of firsts here.” Brian smiled and he made no move to leave the protective embrace. Instead the taller man snuggled in closer if that was even possible. But Justin didn’t mind. He reached over and pulled up the velvet duvet and covered them both and in only a few minutes they both fell into a deep sleep. Gabe waited until he heard the quiet snores before inching his way into the darkened bedroom and up onto the end of the bed, where he turned around three times before curling up into a ball and falling asleep with his strange pack. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin and Brian woke up with wolf breath in their faces and a pink tongue doing its best to wash them both all accompanied by a gentle whine. “I think Gabe wants out.” Brian groaned. “We need to make him a bathroom here like his father’s in New York.” “I’ll get right on that Brian.” Justin mumbled into the pillow where he’d buried his head to avoid the wet tongue. “Get up Babe, if I have to walk in the park so do you. We have joint custody.” Brian slapped Justin on the ass and Gabe growled. “Oops, seems Gabe feels you are his property that means I get to sleep while you take him for a walk.” Brian lay back down. A few more pathetic whines from Gabe convinced Justin to get out of bed. “Brian you know I can’t go for walks in the park with my leg. I’m not strong enough, you have to come to.” “Okay, that’s it you guys. One walk in the park and when we get home, I’m calling my contractor friend to put in a roof accesses for the hound.” “Hardly a hound Brian.” Justin laughed at the comical look on Gabe’s face as he watched the back and forth the banter between the two men. Reluctantly both men got up and pulled on sweats. “I was sure we’d never have to wear this shit ever again.” Brian said and he looked at himself in the mirror and shook his head. “Brian, of course we’ll be wearing sweats again – you’re just choked that you couldn’t find black ones.” Justin handed him the leash. “Can you put this on Gabe’s harness, I can’t find my other shoe.” “I’m thinking that the pieces of shredded Nike all over the hardwood is the missing shoe.” Brian smirked “Well, now what, I can’t go outside with one shoe.” Justin glared at Gabe who looked chagrined. “Just a minute, I have an old pair of runners you can wear.” Brian rummaged in a closet, found what he was looking for and tossed them to Justin. “We’ll get you new ones later, maybe this will teach you to put your stuff away.” He grinned. “We should stop at the pet store and get Gabe something more to chew on.” Justin put on Brian’s shoes. “These are like clown shoes.” He complained. “The other option is one shoe and one bare foot, stop complaining, not everyone has dainty little boy feet.” “They are not little boy feet.” Justin held out one foot and wiggled the toes that were at least an inch and half away from the end of the shoe. “Gabe is doing a dance here Babe, let’s go.” Brian opened the loft door and both Justin and Gabe bounded out. He shook his head in mock annoyance, but couldn’t help smiling as the two of them disappeared down the stairs. Justin still limped and obviously favored the one leg, but he was doing pretty good. Brian didn’t like to admit it, but his own injuries wouldn’t permit him to quickly head down the stairs, so instead he took the elevator and resolved to step up his physical therapy. He needed to get back into shape if he was going to continue his extra curricular activities, not that he wanted to mention that to Justin. As the elevator moved down to where Gabe and Justin were impatiently waiting, Brian thought about the renovations he was going to have to make to the building. Zack hadn’t needed anything special when they were in Pittsburgh; he was an adult and as such could work his outdoor schedule around Brian’s. And of course Brian limited his nocturnal activities when he was in the Pitts. But this time was different. He was going to be here for an extended period of time. Justin had to attend school and he knew that the boy was going to want to continue through the summer in order to make up the lost time. This was going to mean a complete relocate for at least a year or two or maybe the entire time Justin attended PIFA. He would have to give it a lot of thought, because if Justin was going to grow – he needed the room to spread his wings and with Brian always underfoot, he wouldn’t have that room. “Hey Brian, what’s taking you so long?” Justin’s voice cut into his thoughts. Brian smiled at the two waiting for him as he opened the heavy door to the outside street. “We’ll go to the park down the block. It isn’t the best for running a young wolf, but it’ll do until we get into more of a routine. And I’m definitely calling the contractor. Gabe needs his own space and the roof of this building will work just as nicely as the New York one did for his father.” “Won’t the building owner be kind of pissed if you have Gabe up there all the time?” Justin asked. They had crossed the street and the green of the park was in sight. “The building owner is me and no I won’t be pissed.” “Wow, you own this building too?” Justin looked impressed. “Rory never said.” “Imagine - something you didn’t know about me.” Brian smirked. “Oh, there’s lots of stuff I don’t know about you. But I figure I have tons of time to find out.” Justin grinned and he reached up and gave Brian a quick kiss on the cheek. “Brat” but Brian said it with a smile. He walked slowly while Justin and Babe investigated every tree and bush along the pathway. The sun was warm considering it was late fall and it was too early for anyone to be out and about in the small park. Or at least that’s what Brian thought. He watched as a man dressed in an electric blue track suit along with a young girl, half his age, dressed in a matching suit, jogged along the path, getting closer and closer. He wasn’t paying much attention to them, after all, you see joggers all the time in New York,(.) Brian didn’t figure Pittsburgh would be much different, until he looked at Justin who stood rooted by a tree, Gabe at his feet whining. Justin’s face was as white as fresh snow, his blue eyes were firmly fixed on the two joggers. Brian was still a few feet away when the joggers, seeing Justin, swerved over to him. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you to get out of the city and out of my life. Can’t you do anything right you little faggot?” The man raised his hand to hit Justin, from that point things happened quickly. Gabe, as young as he was latched onto the man’s thigh, his sharp puppy teeth clenched. Justin backed up too quickly and fell to the ground. Both the man and the young women began to scream. Brian arrived, furious that who ever this was had dared to attempt to hit Justin. He had to hit Gabe sharply on the snout to make him release his hold, blood spatters were on the man’s blue jogging suit. “Shut the fuck up you stupid asshole.” Brian growled over Gabe’s growls and the whimpering of the man and the sobbing of his companion. Brian went over to Justin and helped him to his feet. “What in hell is all this about?” he asked. Justin buried his face in Brian’s chest, his body quaking. He wasn’t crying, but he was terrified of the man who was now examining his leg. “I’ll sue you for having a vicious dog. I’ll see to it that it’s put down.” The man shouted. “Look asshole, I’d shut the fuck up if I were you, or I’ll kick your ass.” Brian moved so that he was inches from the red faced man. “My dog was defending his master. You were threatening him. You deserve what you got, which is nothing compared to what you would have received had I gotten to you first.” “He’s my son; I can do what I want to him. He has no business in this city. He was told to either give up the perverted life he’d taken to, or to leave.” “Justin, is this true?” Brian asked. “Is this man your father?” he looked at the woman with him who couldn’t be a lot older than Justin. “This can’t be your mother.” “She’s his secretary. Apparently it’s okay to fuck around on your wife, but it isn’t okay to be gay.” Justin put his arm around Brian’s waist. “You leave my dog alone, I’ll tell them you were kicking him, it’s the kind of thing you’d do anyway, they’ll believe me.” Justin turned to Brian. “Let’s go Brian, we need to take Gabe to a vet, gawd only knows what he could have caught from this jerk.” “Just a damn minute here, I told you to leave.” Craig Taylor spluttered. “I’m not having you show up around here, a disgrace to the family. What if my friends find out about you.” “Sucks to be you Craig,” Justin said and he tried to turn Brian away. “In a minute Babe,” Brian kissed the top of Justin’s head. “You and Gabe start heading home; I want to say a few things to this man.” Justin nodded and started to walk back to the loft. Gabe continued to growl deep in his throat until they were well on their way when he once again reverted to a playful pup. Brian turned, the smile still on his face from when he watched Justin and Gabe. His hands moved so fast Craig Taylor was caught unaware. Brian gripped the front of the electric blue jogging suit knotting the material in his hand until it began to choke the other man as he stood on his tip toes to relieve the pressure on his throat. All pretense of niceness was gone and in its place was the stone cold face of the Blackie who had lived on the streets of New York. “You are an asshole of the highest degree. Justin will be living here while he attends PIFA and maybe longer if that’s what he wants. You will not ever and I mean ever attempt to come even within five feet of him. And, asshole, if you ever touch him again, you’ll lose your arm. That’s a fucking promise, and I NEVER break my promises.” Brian released the hold he had on the now shaking man. He wiped his hands on his track pants and turned to join Justin who was almost at the park gate and waiting for him. He turned back “Oh and you and your skanky wench, find another park to jog in. This one is ours and we aren’t moving.” “Who are you?” Craig Taylor asked, trying to recover his bravado. “Brian Kinney, ask around, anyone who knows me will tell you I look after what’s mine and Justin’s mine.” Brian walked as quickly as he could to join Justin andGabe. “Hey Babe, not the most pleasant way to start our day,” he said. “We’ll have to see what we can do to improve it.” “What did you say to him?” Justin asked. “Not much, I think he understands where I’m coming from though.” Brian kissed Justin’s cheek. “I’m starving; do you and the pup want to walk over to the Liberty diner for breakfast?” “We can’t take Gabe in there.” Justin said. “Sure we can, he’s our Seeing Eye pup.” Brian quipped. “Actually, I’ll have Deb put him in the staff room; he’ll be okay there until we’re done. She used to keep his dad in there. Maybe Gabe will smell him through the usual grease smell.” “Wolves have an amazing sense of smell.” Justin’s mind was easily deflected when it came to the subject of food and his pup. He spent the remainder of the walk telling Brian various facts he’d read on the internet about wolves. Brian walked along; his hand resting easily on Justin’s shoulder, nodding occasionally to the chatter and making soft interjections every now and then. At the same time he was going over the renovations he was going to have to make to the loft and as well he was thinking of how he was going to look up Craig Taylor and family and find out a bit more about his favorite blond. The two of them opened the diner door to shouts of “Brian’s back and he’s brought Justin.” They were both enveloped with hugs from Debbie, Michael, and Emmett. Gabe waited patiently at their feet for someone to notice him. “Where’s Zack?” Debbie asked finally. “This little one looks just like him.” “Zack has a few family obligations Deb; he left us Gabe here to live with us for awhile.” Brian laughed when Gabe perked up at his name. “Can you put him in the back.” “Sure I can honey, and I have Zack’s water and food bowls, I’ll get ©cookie to fill them both for this adorable boy.” She took the leash. “Babe’s going to eat with me at the table.” Brian smirked. “Ow –“ he said when Debbie smacked him. “What was that for?” “For being a smart mouth.” She said. “How come you don’t bite her?” Brian asked of Gabe. “She hit me.” Gabe looked at him and wagged his tail. He knew when a mother chastised her pups it was for their own good and his big pack mate was the pup of the loud female one. He could sense it. In the wolf pack, it was the females who ruled the pack, not the males. It was within any of the pack to defend against a male, even if that male was sire to one of the pups. The quiet pack member had required his assistance earlier to defend himself against the more aggressive male. Gabe knew that the older male had meant harm. “He wouldn’t bite me.” Deb grinned at him. “I’m going to give him some of that nice hamburger we have in the back for the staff, it’s that fatty shit we serve you guys.” “Maaaaa.” Michael said outraged. “You said these burgers were extra lean.” “So I lied.” Deb laughed as she disappeared with Gabe through the rear door. Brian and Justin walked over to the back booth. “Shove over boys, we are starving” “I can’t believe you came out in public dressed in sweats.” Emmett looked at Brian. “My, my how things have changed.” “These are not just any sweats, they are Pierre Cardin, and I was out with my partner and my pup getting some fresh air.” He looked at Emmett and Michael, “What brings the two of you out so early, it’s not even eight in the morning?” “We were hungry, and we haven’t been to bed yet. You missed an awesome night at Babylon.” Emmett began to move in his seat. “I could have danced all night.” He sang, arms up in his ‘praise Jesus’ move. Justin laughed. “Brian said he’d take me there, to Babylon.” He smiled at Brian. “I can hardly wait to dance with him.” Michael and Emmett burst out laughing. “Well, you know that joke about the guy who broke his arm and he asks the doctor if he’ll ever be able to play the violin? And the doctor says sure. And the guys say’s good, because I couldn’t before I broke my arm.” He giggled. “Well, Brian couldn’t dance before he cracked his skull, sooooooo.” “I don’t get the joke.” Justin said serious. “Brian dances great. In fact he’s probably the best dancer I’ve ever danced with.” “Thanks Babe.” Brian said and kissed him. “You guys don’t dance; where in heck you would you dance?” Michael asked. “At our apartment.” Justin said looking at Michael puzzled. “It has this huge empty hardwood floor, we danced all the time. What did you think we did with all that space?” “I don’t know, but I sure didn’t think you danced.” Michael mumbled. “Not only is it a great form of both cardiovascular and muscular exercise, dancing increases your coordination.” Justin was in info mercial mode and Brian laughed when he saw the looks on the other two faces. “Babe and I managed to have a bit of fun before all hell broke loose in our lives. With a bit of luck we’ll have more. I did promise him a trip to Babylon, but until we both get off of our various meds, I’d rather stay home.” Brian let the back of his hand caress Justin’s face. Debbie arrived back at their table with a coffee pot and her arms laden with food. “I ordered you both up a decent breakfast, you both are thin as rails.” “Geeze Deb, look at all this food.” Brian looked in horror at his plate piled high with eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns and two pancakes with a large patty of butter melting in the middle of them. “Are you trying to kill me?” “Hey, this is great.” Justin said and he began to eat. “Can I get a glass of milk too please?” Brian looked at him and shook his head. He broke off a piece of toast and half heartedly dipped it in his egg yolk, then added sugar to his coffee and drank deeply. Justin meanwhile was enjoying his breakfast. He reached over and cut a piece of sausage on Brian’s plate, dipped it in maple syrup he’d poured on Brian’s pancakes and put it in the older man’s mouth. Brian ate it and continued to talk to Emmett and Michael. Justin ate his breakfast while one bite at a time he fed Brian. Emmett and Michael watched all this in amusement as they caught up all the news with their friend. Debbie would periodically come over and refill Brian’s coffee cup. She couldn’t stop grinning at the amount of food Justin managed to get Brian to eat. He’d finished off his eggs, the bacon and sausage and most of the pancakes before he noticed what Justin was doing. “Babe, you did it again.” Brian looked down at his plate that was almost empty. “Please tell me you didn’t feed me all that shit.” “I’m not telling you anything.” Justin said with a grin. He speared a piece of Brian’s pancake and ate it himself. “They make super pancakes here.” He said. “Could we come here for lunch? I want to try a burger.” “Not twice in one day. I’ll have a heart attack for sure. You can come back here on your own if you want though.” “No, I’ll go with you today Brian. I don’t really like being on the streets here on my own.” “No one is going to hurt you honey.” Emmett said. “It’s perfectly fine here in the Pitts, this isn’t New York City you know.” “New York is bad.” Justin said. “You just have to be careful and know where to go. The thing is, I don’t feel comfortable here in the Pitts, it’s kind of personal.” “I come here for lunch most days. Give me a call if you want to come, Brian has the number.” Michael offered. “Thanks Michael, I might do that.” Justin looked at Brian’s friend and smiled. “Now that you’re full and you’ve made new friends, I think it’s time we headed back to the loft. We both stink and much as I love the ‘look’ I would prefer to wear something else.” Brian’s tongue in cheek smirk was out in full force. “You just want to phone the contractor.” Justin said. “I’m sooooo on to you.” “What contractor?” Michael asked. “I’m going to have a few renovations done to the building. I expect Justin and I will be there for a few years, so I need to make it livable.” “What about the New York place?” Michael looked from one to another. “Are you going to sell it?” “No, I don’t think so. We’ll need it when we go there to shop or I have to see my publisher.” He pulled Justin close and kissed his cheek. “Or when Babe here becomes a famous artist and we attend his New York shows.” Justin rolled his eyes. “Like that’s going to happen any time soon.” He looked at the others in the booth. “He just wants a place to stay when he shops. Apparently they sell only the ‘best’ black clothing in New York.” “You know honey; you could spread your fashion wings and perhaps wear something that isn’t black.” Emmett said to Brian. “Now why would I do that?” Brian asked. “Deb, can you get the hound, we’re leaving.” He stood up and put a few bills on the table. “I’m buying breakfast today boys.” Justin joined him. “Thanks Deb, it was nice to see all of you again.” “I expect you and Brian over for dinner on Sunday; I’ll make something special to celebrate the fact that we’ll be seeing more of you.” “Oh by the way Deb, I’m a father. Lindsay had a baby boy last night.” Brian grinned at her as he and Justin along with Gabe left the diner. Deb stood in the middle of the floor speechless for once. Michael and Emmett looked at each other “Brian’s a father?” they mouthed at once. “That was kind of mean telling them about Gus and then leaving. Deb is not going to be happy.” Justin chastised. “Well, it saves me having to answer too many questions, most of which I don’t really have the answer for anyway.” He paused. “Now tell me again why you thought this father thing was a good idea.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Brian I can’t stand this any more.” Justin paced up and down the living area of the loft. “There’s dust everywhere, my allergies are killing me. Gabe refuses to use his entrance to the roof. It’s almost time to start my first semester and I haven’t had time to do even half of what’s been assigned to catch up with the class and you keep disappearing every night. I know you do. I wake up and you’re gone.” He sniffed and turned toward the window. He didn’t want Brian to think he was crying, though he was. “You promised me we would sleep together every night.” His voice was low and he was trying not to sound like some kind of spoiled brat. Brian walked up behind Justin and wrapped his arms around him, resting his chin on the top of Justin’s head. “Babe, don’t be like this. The construction is almost over. You know that. I told you to use one of the other apartments if you want to be alone to work.” He kissed Justin’s ear. “What’s really bothering you?” “You, you’re gone every night. Why can’t you stay home in our bed?” Justin asked. “Don’t you want me anymore; do you need something that I can’t give you?” Brian continued to hold Justin, though Justin could feel him stiffen at his words. The silence hung heavy between them and even Gabe, lying on the floor by the metal loft door tensed and issued a barely heard whine. “Babe,” Brian began, not sure how to say the words without hurting the man he loved. “I need to be out in the dark. I crave the night shadows and so does Gabe. You, you are sunlight and blue skies. Gabe and I – we’re night skies and moonlight. I’m not looking for anyone other than you. I’m not tricking – I’m walking – I’m training Gabe like I trained his father – it isn’t something that you and I can do together. You have your schooling, your art to keep you busy during the day – I can’t ask you to give up your nights as well.” “But Brian” Justin began. Brian interrupted him. “It’s who I am, who Gabe is. Just like your art is part of you and who you are. I love you Babe, more than I’ve ever loved anyone – you have to let me be me.” His kiss when he turned Justin to face him was a sweet and gentle kiss. “Will you trust me to always come home to you?” Brian asked. “I worry about you.” Justin started again. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I know Big Sal isn’t going to stop just because Rory told him too.” “Big Sal is in New York – and he’s been taken care of.” Brian said and his voice was low and hard. “If not Big Sal, than it could be anyone.” “Babe I can’t stay holed up in the loft here in Pittsburgh or the apartment in New York. We can’t hide in a place like Cool Springs or a cabin in the mountains for the rest of our lives. We have to live. You have to live.” Justin sighed, he knew Brian was right but it didn’t mean he had to like it. He had to ask. “What you did in New York – you know the Robin Hood thing, are you doing it here in Pittsburgh?” “Why do you ask?” “I want to know – I don’t want you hurt and I don’t want you caught and put in jail.” Brian laughed his laugh deep and full. “I wouldn’t get caught and I certainly wouldn’t be put in jail if I was caught.” “No you’d just have a bunch of thugs come after me or you like before.” Justin’s voice was bitter. “Babe, it was one thing to be Robin Hood in New York, it’s a big city. Pittsburgh is a small village compared to New York – you don’t shit in your own nest – trust me about that.” “How are you training Gabe then if you aren’t breaking into places?” “Well, I never said I wasn’t breaking into places. I said I wasn’t doing what I did in New York – no more Robin Hood.” “Why do I think I’m not going to like this?” Justin said more to himself than to Brian. “Would you be upset if I told you I was just doing research for my next book?” “Yes.” “You worry too much Babe.” Brian began to unbutton Justin’s shirt, and nibble his way down the smooth breast bone causing Justin to shiver with anticipation. “You’re doing it again, using sex to shut me up.” Justin panted. “It’s not working yet, I’ll have to try something else.” Brian joked and he began his assault on Justin’s neck paying special attention to the pulse spot just below his ear that always made his lover moan in pleasure. “It’s working,” Justin gasped as he sank to the floor, followed immediately by Brian. Gabe put his paws over his eyes and groaned. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian looked down at his sleeping lover. He leaned over the bed and pulled the down filled duvet up higher, tucking it around Justin before kissing him gently, a mere brush of his lips, on the smooth forehead. They had had made sweet gentle love and then had wild sex until they had both fallen exhausted in a heap of sweat and cum, neither one having the energy to clean up other than grabbing a fallen tee shirt from the floor for a quick swipe to take the worst of the moisture before sleep. And as usual, that sleep only lasted less than an hour for Brian. He could feel the tug of the night air, the gentle pull of the full moon. He didn’t need to look at Gabe who stood ears up, eyes fixed on the window to know that his nocturnal companion was waiting for him. Like a black panther when dressed, Brian with Gabe at his side moved through the loft. They by passed the heavy metal door that would have given away their location had they used it. Instead the two of them headed to the wall furthest from the bedroom. Brian pressed gently on a brick that was more than seven feet from the floor and watched as the wall parted enough for him and Gabe to slip through before it silently closed concealing their passage down a narrow staircase to the basement of the building. With uncanny speed the two moved through the dark passageways, their quiet passing noticed by none of the buildings inhabitants, man nor beast until they reached doorway set low in the basement wall. The old wood giving providence to the age of the door being from Pittsburgh’s distant past. The well oiled hinges made no sound and the two disappeared through the door and into dank tunnel. The darkness was absolute in the absence of any form of light. Like a blind man knows his own home, so Brian and Gabe knew the contours of the tunnel and they both broke into a fast jog, almost a run, moving beneath the city. Brian knew that he’d promised Justin he wouldn’t lead the life he’d led in New York. And what he and Gabe were up to wasn’t actually the same kind of life – though he suspected Justin wouldn’t see it that way. Gabe made a soft yip to alert Brian that they had almost arrived at their destination. It was one they’d been to numerous times in the last week or so. The thumpa thumpa of the bass sounded through the tunnel for they were below Babylon. Brian grinned as he usually did in the dark when he thought of what was happening several floors above their heads and then he lost his grin when he thought of what was going on not far from where they were. Tonight was the night he was going to turn the tables on Saperstein the depraved manager of the popular night club and reveal to the entire club what he was up to down in the dungeons of the old building. For the past few nights he and Gabe had arrived and while Gabe kept watch, Brian had wired the rooms above them with both audio and video making sure the feeds led to the screens and speakers in the dance club above them as well as the computer system in the precinct house two blocks away. Brian and Gabe listened carefully. He touched his watch and the green glow showed that they were right on time. Sounds of a struggle could be heard above them and then shouts and Brian knew that Sap had managed to kidnap yet another young twink victim. Two more had been missing since yesterday and Brian knew that they would be incarcerated in the rooms above him. He had to use all his self control not to move through the hidden door and rescue the poor bastards that were being mistreated – he could do that but it wouldn’t stop Sap, it would only be a matter of time before he was at it once again. Instead Brian pushed the switch on the made the cameras and the microphones live – he waited and soon the thumpa, thumpa came to a halt. He knew that all the screens would be showing what Sap and his gang of perverts were doing and on one of the screens was a detailed map of how to locate where they were. This was being fed to the cops as well and Brian and Gabe waited for the results of his work to be noticed. Brian could feel the quiver of anticipation in the wolf beside him. He could hear more shouts and more screams and the pounding of feet on the stairs leading down to where Sap was holding his depraved party. And then faintly through the thick walls, Brian and Gabe could hear sirens. His job was done. They both deserved a reward and rather than heading back to the building on Tremont, Brian and Gabe glided through the darkness to where the tunnel branched to the right and soon the emerged from behind the thick branches of a leafless bush near the banks of the river. Both of the looked at the full moon and Gabe sat back and howled his triumph, Brian watched him in envy as he too wanted to howl. Their statement made, the two moved to the jogging track and like other sleepless athletes in the Pitts, they joined their ranks and ran the perimeter of the park once before taking to the cold damp streets and heading for home. Justin had awaked as soon as Brian and Gabe had left the building. He hadn’t told his lover because he was afraid he’d sound too weird, but he always knew when Brian was gone. It was a kind of connection, a feeling of completeness that was missing as soon they were apart. He lay in bed watching the patterns the shadows made as the clouds moved across the face of the full moon. Time seemed to pass slowly. He listened to the sounds of the city as they drifted in to him, smiling when he heard a cry of passion and then sitting up abruptly when the distant sounds of many police cars were heard. Instinctively he knew that Brian was responsible for the arrival of the police somewhere but his heart didn’t feel like Brian was in trouble, so the sounds were interesting, but not scary. Instead he sat on the bed and patiently waited for the Brian and Gabe to return. The warm feeling deep inside him told Justin when Brian had entered the building. He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he heard the click of Gabe’s nails as he crossed the hardwood floor and then the slurping splash as the almost full grown wolf appeased his thirst from his water dish. He lay back down and listened as Brian opened the fridge and removed a bottle of water. He could see him in his mind’s eye as the handsome man drank until the bottle was empty. The rustle of clothing being removed help him track Brian’s progress through the loft. The hiss as he pissed, the flush of the toilet, the splash of the water in the basin as he washed his hands were like the sound of music in Justin’s ears because it meant his man was home and safe once again. Brian approached the bed and Justin pulled the warm covers back for his man to sink onto the mattress beside him. No words were spoken as Justin pulled them back up and over the cool body. Instead he sighed, happy to have Brian home and he sleepily wrapped himself around the lanky body, listening to the steady beat of Brian’s heart, the soft wheeze of his breath. He felt the comforting touch of Brian’s lips on his forehead and once again Justin was asleep, content knowing that tomorrow he could listen on the news or read the paper and discover what Brian had been up to. Or if he was patient, wait to read about it in the next book when it was published. Life with Blackie was going to be one amazing and long series of waiting and patience of worry and loving. But the feel of Brian’s arms when he held him, the touch of his body, and the whispered ‘I love you’ made the adventure worth while. THE END