Broken Dreams - 6 
Plot bunny – Judy
Dedicated to my fellow whispers


Justin lay in his large bed beside Brian watching the older man sleep. Relaxed, he looked almost childlike and Justin wondered if he’d ever see that expression on his face when he was awake. Maybe that would be a good life goal, to make Brian have a happy second childhood.

Almost instantly Brian succumbed to some much needed sleep when Justin joined him in bed. It was rather touching the way he looked into Justin’s eyes, his own hazel ones filled with trust as he closed them and fell into a deep sleep. The look captivated the artist in Justin and he knew that he’d have to paint that look someday. Immortalize Brian on canvas like he immortalized people in his films;it would be a fitting tribute.

Carefully getting out of bed, Justin pulled on a pair of jeans and headed to the sofa. He needed to get in touch with his mother and he needed to call his father at the hospital but first of all he’d call Molly and give her his new number and catch her up on everything that had been happening. She was lucky to have escaped once again. 

“Hey Molly,” Justin said when his sister answered the phone. Justin was speaking softly; he didn’t want to wake Brian. 

“Hey Justin,” Molly answered. “You must have escaped the ranch if you’re calling.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Justin said with a laugh and proceeded to fill his sister in on the events of the last twenty four hours. 

“Fuck Justin, tell me again that Brian is okay?” Molly was frantically throwing things back in her suitcase. She was heading for Vancouver as soon as she got off of the phone. 

“Brian is okay and sleeping in my bed at the apartment,” Justin sighed. “Molly, I’m not going back to the ranch. I don’t give a shit what dad wants. I really like Brian and I think maybe we could have something together if we’re given half a chance.”

“I’m glad Justin, but Brian, well he’s always been kind of footloose and fancy free if you know what I mean.” Molly didn’t want her brother to get his hopes up if he expected Brian to fall madly in love with him.

“Brian is ready to change. I know it from things he’s said and a feeling I have when I’m with him. Anyway, I don’t care; I just know that I have to try. It’s past time that I started to live my life out and proud.”

“What about dad? You know he’s going to be pissed. He’ll take it out on mom.” 

“I don’t think mom is going back to him either. I’m going to try her again at her hotel after I get off the phone with you.”

“Justin, I’m coming back to Vancouver. Before I leave, I’m going to let Brian’s people at Kinnetik know that he’s broken his arm. I won’t give out any details, and I’m sure he’ll be in touch with them in the next day or so. They’ll be expecting reports about the movie locations and if they don’t hear from someone they might call out the dogs to look,” she joked, but knew it was true. Brian’s assistant Cynthia was very close to her boss and she’d be worried.

“I’ll make you a hotel reservation at the Sands,” Justin offered. “Your usual room if I can get it.” The Sands Hotel was only half a block from Justin’s apartment building. It was on Davie Street and had a great view of English Bay not to mention it was in the heart of the gay district.

“Thanks Justin. I have your number now so I can at least get in touch with you when I get in. Call mom and tell her I’m coming back. I should be there sometime today depending on what flight I can get. I love you Justin, take care of Brian,” she hung up the phone. If Justin and Brian could have a relationship she would be thrilled. They both deserved the best. 

Justin sat back on the sofa and smiled. Molly always made him feel good and he knew that she would back him up no matter what with their father now that he was willing to make this break.

He dialed his mother’s hotel again and this time was put through to her room. “Hey Mom,” Justin began. “I’m in Vancouver.”

“Oh Justin, I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. I just couldn’t stay any longer with your father. I tried, I really and truly tried, but he’s been acting more and more strange. The last few days were the worst ever,” she paused. “Justin, I’m afraid your father did something to Brian. I know that the whiskey was drugged because he insisted I have some too but Brian is missing and so is the aluminum fishing boat.”

“Mom, Brian is okay. He’s not completely broken, but dad did try,” Justin tried for levity wanting to ease some of his mother’s distress. “We got back from the hospital a little while ago. It’s lucky I had Daphne with me, I’m sure she saved Brian’s life. We had to medi-vac out of the rain forest,” he paused not sure how to say the next part. “Mom, dad said you shot him. Daphne took the bullet out of his leg and he’s all right, or as all right as he ever is. He’s pissed though, real pissed and he’s threatening to go to the police.”

“Where is he?” she asked evading the unspoken questions. 

“He’s at Vancouver General, but he’ll probably be released today. Dad made everyone mad that’s why I think they kept him in, even though he didn’t want to stay; he’s flipped out big time.”

“Justin, I did shoot him and if I had to, I’d do it again. He’s a nasty little man and I just couldn’t take it any more. Please don’t go back to the ranch. Let him have it if he wants to stay there. I’m sure he moved me there because the place is so isolated. It was much easier to control me when there was no one around. I lived for the few weeks a year we were able to get into Vancouver.”

“Shit Mom, I was hoping he’d shot himself,” Justin sighed. “This is going to be a bitch.”

“I’m sorry Justin, but it happened,” she paused. “Justin, I’ve already been questioned by the police. I have a lawyer and she suggests I leave but I don’t want to, not until I have the chance to get everything cleared up. I haven’t told them I shot your father. I was caught throwing the gun in the harbor when I flew in, such a stupid mistake. There is no hiding anything now. They’ll talk to your father and know everything.”

“Well, it’s better to get it over with. I’m sure that your lawyer will be able to show that you didn’t intend to kill him, but you just wanted to escape. We’ll deal with it when we have to. Molly is coming back and I’m going to book her into the Sands, maybe you should move there too; it’s closer.”

“No Justin, I’m more comfortable here where things are familiar. I’ll call my lawyer and let her know where your father is. Give me your number and have Molly call me when she arrives.”

Justin and his mother talked for a few more minutes before they hung up. He sat quietly and then call and made Molly’s reservation. Checking his watch, Justin saw that he had a couple more hours before he could expect to see Daphne and her doctor friend. He thought about calling the hospital to talk to his father and then changed his mind. Maybe he’d call later, for now he’d rest beside Brian.

Crawling back under the covers with the sleeping Brian, Justin smiled when the brunet moved in his sleep to be closer to him. He uttered an almost silent groan of pleasure and smiled slightly. Justin wondered what he was dreaming about, as he lay his head on the pillow with Brian and shut his eyes; he was exhausted. He knew he should phone about his father, but sometimes avoidance was necessary.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jennifer wanted to fall back on the hotel bed and sleep forever, but she needed to get some clothes to wear and get out of the only things she’d left the ranch in. Her hotel was on Robson Street which is the heart of the downtown shopping district in Vancouver. In less than two hours she had enough bought to keep going for a few days. After completing her shopping, she’d visited the bank where she opened a new account to separate her money from her husbands. Only then was Jennifer able to take a deep breath and make the decision to contact her husband in the hospital. 

Sitting in her hotel room, Jennifer’s hand shook as she dialed the number for the hospital. She could barely get the words out when she asked to be connected to the nursing station on Craig Taylor’s floor. 

“3rd Floor,” a man’s voice said when the phone rang.

“This is Jennifer Taylor, I’m calling to speak to my husband Craig Taylor.” 

“Mrs. Taylor, one moment please, the head nurse would like to speak with you.” 

Jennifer waited for almost three minutes while a radio station played music on the phone. Finally she heard, “Mrs. Taylor?”

“Yes, this is Jennifer Taylor. I’d like to talk to Craig if I could please.” 

“I’m sorry Mrs. Taylor, but your husband passed away earlier today. He unexpectedly suffered a heart attack.We’ve been trying to get a hold of you or your son, but we didn’t have any way of contacting you.” 

“Craig is dead?” Jennifer repeated, not sure she’d heard right.

“Yes, he is,” the woman’s voice was kind. “Do you have someone we could call to be with you? Are you alone?”

“I can call my son; my daughter is coming in from New York tonight,” Jennifer spoke in a daze. “I... I thought his gunshot wound wasn’t serious.” 

“It wasn’t serious. He was recovering nicely from his accident. Even the wounds the bear inflicted weren’t that bad but I’m afraid his heart gave out. He did have rheumatic fever as a child which led to his arthritis and also weakened the heart. I’ll give you the name of Mr. Taylor’s doctor who admitted him. You can speak to him.” 

“Thank you,” Jennifer said. She wrote down the information all the while unable to think of what was happening. After she hung up the phone, Jennifer sat at the small desk and tried to make her mind absorb what she’d been told. She checked the time and thought about calling Justin. He’d said he was going to sleep. She could call him later it wasn’t like Craig was going anywhere. She giggled at the thought and then sobered up when she decided to call her lawyer. There could be ramifications after this afternoon with the police.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Justin lay in the darkened room enjoying the soft touch of Brian’s hand caressing his face, moving through is hair and touching his lips. “Mmmmmm,” he murmured feeling contented as Missy cat must feel when he spent a long time stroking her. 

“You remind me of your cats,” Brian said amused. “Was that a purr I heard?” 

“Definitely a purr,” Justin grinned. “I feel like we’ve had sex and it was aaammmmaaaaazzzing.” 

“You are too easy blond boy,” Brian teased. “But I promise you this, we will have sex, no scratch that, we will make love as soon as I can without fainting.” 

“If you were a manly man you’d suck up the pain and do me,” Justin joked. He sighed heavily as if considerably put out.

“If you were a nice little blond boy, you’d take pity on my condition and get down there and blow me.” 

“Oh, I can do that,” Justin said. He hated to move away from Brian’s touch, but he relished the chance of pleasuring the man with his mouth. As Justin’s lips enveloped the swollen head of Brian’s cock, his fingers found Justin’s hair and he held on tightly while Justin’s tongue began a steady assault on the sensitive glans just under the mushroom head. A slow and steady in and out worshiping at the altar that was Brian Kinney began to take place. All thoughts of the pain and horror of the last forty-eight hours disappeared as the younger man’s talented mouth and fingers worked their magic. 

“Justin, Justin, Justin,” Brian whispered to the shadows as he gave himself up to the pleasures of his blond lover’s tongue; Justin’s name a mantra of love. 

“For cripes sake, the man has a broken arm, cracked ribs and gawd knows how many bruises he has,” Daphne stood in the doorway of Justin’s bedroom and laughed. She turned to her doctor friend, “I’d say that Brian is doing okay. There may be some expelling of bodily fluids, but other than that, I think he’s doing fine.”

“Daphne get the fuck out of here,” Justin yelled when he was able to register her words. 

“Uh, Daphne, I may never get hard again,” Brian observed. “Hey Doc,” he called to Jason. 

“Hey Brian,” Jason laughed. “Sorry about interrupting you guys.” 

“Thanks, I’m sorry you did too.” 

“You’re lucky I didn’t bite it off,” Justin grumbled and scrambled for his discarded blue jeans.

“I brought the groceries in. They were sitting in the hallway,” Daphne said. “I thought maybe we could order out. The Spaghetti Grill will deliver if we wave enough money around.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll leave it up to you.” Justin was going to head to the bathroom and then turned to Brian. “Do you want some help to the bathroom?” he asked. 

“Help standing up might be nice.” Brian couldn’t believe how much a cracked rib would hurt. “But I think I can pee on my own this time.” 

Justin giggled but went over to help him up. “That was strangely kind of fun,” he said referring to the incident in the forest. His cell phone rang and it took Justin a moment to realize what it was before he answered, “Hey.” 

“Justin, this is your mother. I need to see you,” Jennifer’s heart beat quickly. “I need to see you tonight.”

“Mom, I can’t go out. Brian’s in pretty rough shape and I’m not leaving him alone. What can be so important that you have to see me now?” 

“Your father is dead Justin. He died in the hospital this afternoon.” Jennifer didn’t know any other way of breaking the news to her son. She tried to put some feeling into her voice, but she just couldn’t. Craig had taken all the feeling from her body years ago. 

“What the fuck!” Justin sat down abruptly. “How did he die?”

“The doctor says it was a heart attack.” 

“You mean he actually did have a bad heart?” Justin shook his head. His father had told them for years he had a bad heart. It was his excuse for doing hardly anything physical around the ranch and the reason that the Greyfeathers were hired in the first place.

“Apparently,” Jennifer sighed. “I’m not sure what to do now.” 

Justin hated to let his mother know where his apartment was, though he supposed his days of hiding out were over. “Come over to my apartment and we’ll talk about what to do. Molly will be here soon, she’ll be coming right from the airport.” He gave his mother the address and then turned to face Daphne, Brian and Jason, “My father is dead.” He looked shell shocked; it was the last thing he’d expected.

“No shit,” Brian said. He put his hand on Justin’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. 

“Oh my gawd,” Daphne looked at Jason. “Can you call and find out what happened, I mean the real deal, not what the hospital would tell us.”

“Sure.” Jason pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. Soon he was talking and asking questions. It wouldn’t take long before Justin would know just how his father died.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

All thoughts of a decent dinner had flown out the window with the news of Craig Taylor’s death. Daphne ordered in a variety of Chinese food, figuring that it could be eaten cold or hot, it wouldn’t matter. Jason headed to the liquor store and stocked up on drinks. Justin put away the groceries he’d bought and made Brian a cup of peppermint tea which he drank while at the same time he grouched about it .

Jennifer arrived minutes before Molly. The reunion was a tearful one once things were explained. Jason was able to let them know that Craig’s heart had definitely given out. Now it was time to piece together their lives.

Jennifer had stopped at her bank and picked up a copy of Craig’s will. She knew that she’d have to begin rebuilding her life and this was going to be the beginning. They had standard wills and everything was left to the other with no specific bequests unless they both died. Jennifer knew this, but she also knew that she was going to make some changes. Craig wasn’t going to dictate from the grave how she or the children lived their lives. She’d also made a phone call to her lawyer to discuss what she could and couldn’t do. Everything was set in her mind when she arrived at Justin’s apartment building.

Justin had never planned on having as many people in his apartment at one time as he did now. There was no place for everyone to sit but Brian got the place of honor on the sofa(,) because of his injuries. Jennifer refused to sit and took over as hostess and made sure that everyone was fed before she began to speak. 

“Is everyone ready?” Jennifer asked. 

“Mom, I thought we were going to talk about what’s going to happen,” Justin said, from his position on the floor sitting in between Brian’s legs. 

“We are Dear, but I don’t want you and Molly to think that you have to continue to look after me. Frankly, I’m damn tired of having to live my life the way someone else wants me to live it. So this is what’s going to happen,” she looked at all of them and smiled to take the sting out of her words. 

“Daphne and Dr. Jason, you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. This is just going to be boring family business. But mind you Daphne, you are part of the family, you both are welcome to stay.”

“I’ll stay,” Daphne said.

“I’m staying with Daphne,” Jason replied. He put his arm around her waist, keeping her close. Justin watched his friend blush and then melt into Jason’s side. 

“Fine,” Jennifer smiled. “Brian, I have a feeling that you’ll be part of the family soon so you might as well listen.” She looked at all of them, “First of all, your father’s will basically says that everything he owns goes to me. There, that’s it in a nutshell. Now what you don’t know is that your father had bugger all. The money we had was from my side of the family. He liked to play with it, but it still was mine. So it’s rather ironic that he is letting me have it all back,” she chuckled. 

Justin snickered, Molly hit him on the head and so did Brian, though not as hard as he would have liked too. He did temper it with a smoothing of Justin’s blond hair. 

“If you’re finished Justin,” Jennifer said. 

Justin almost snickered again thinking his mother reminded him of a teacher, forgetting that he was well over the age of majority.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought. It’s actually been a favorite fantasy of mine for the last few years.” Jennifer paced in front of them, “I’m deeding the property to the Greyfeathers to say thanks for their services over the last twenty years. I’d like you both to remove any personal items that you might want. Justin, I know that you’ve already taken most of your paintings. There are a few that you’ve done that I wouldn’t mind taking with me. It’s your decision,” she smiled with her eyes for the first time since entering Justin’s apartment. 

“Now Justin you have three cats and a wolf who thinks he’s a dog not to mention a raven who thinks he’s a cat to deal with. What do you want me to do with this menagerie?”

“Mom, how do I know? I mean you just hit me with all of this. I can’t leave them with the Greyfeathers it wouldn’t be fair to Boomer and Bang and Misty. But Charlie and George, they can’t live in the city,” Justin sounded slightly panicky. 

“Calm down Sunshine, we’ll talk about your groupies later,” Brian said softly.

“Geeze Justin, they’re just animals,” Molly sniffed. “I told you not to get attached.”

“I can take Missy cat,” Daphne said. “I was thinking of getting a cat anyway.” She looked at Jason, “How do you feel about cats?” 

“I like them okay,” Jason replied. “I had one when I was a kid.”

“I’m glad, you’ll like Missy, she’s cute,” Daphne smiled up at him. This guy was a keeper.

“Well that’s settled,” Jennifer smiled. “I’ll have Mrs. Greyfeathers put Missy in her carrier and sent out on the next mail plane.”

“So Baby, I guess that leaves me with Boomer, Bang, Charlie and George,” Justin laughed. “I think this condo building has a no pets clause.” 

“Stop with the baby,” Brian muttered. “Have you ever considered relocating back to the States?” 

“Of course I have,” Justin replied. “The question is, where.”

“I’m going back to Pittsburgh,” Jennifer said. “I want to go home. I own a couple of places there and if they aren’t suitable, I’ll buy myself something else. I may even go back to school and study real estate or something.”

“That would be cool Mom,” Molly gave her mother a hug. “I have a small apartment in Pittsburgh maybe we could find a place big enough for the both of us.” 

“You can take the animals then,” Justin said.

“No Dear, they’re your responsibility. I’m afraid that once I’m away from here I have no intention of having any more responsibilities as far as animals are concerned.”

“Justin would you shut up about the fucking animals. We’ll take them with us. I have a house in the country. They’ll live there and you can use it as a place to paint; we’ll all live there,” Brian all but shouted. 

Everyone stopped talking and stared at Brian. “Holy shit Brian, are you nuts?” it was Molly. “I mean you never let anyone go to your country house.”

“My country house is where I can be myself. I’ve never had anyone there because it’s private. It’s my sanctuary and now it’s Justin’s sanctuary. He needs a place to paint and it would be perfect.” 

“Baby are you proposing?” Justin asked with a snicker.

“Stop with the baby and no I’m not proposing anything more than…. “ Brian stopped. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m delirious, I have a fever, and my arm is broken.” 

Everyone laughed. Justin looked up at Brian from his place on the floor. “We’ll talk about it later Baby,” he said, but he beamed at all of the others his joy apparent and ignoring the scowl that the ‘Baby’ had won him.

“I knew you’d become part of the family the minute I saw you Brian,” Jennifer said. She walked over to where he was sitting and kissed his forehead. “You are such a wonderful man and perfect for Justin.” 

“Actually, I’m perfect for Brian. He apparently needs someone to look after him; he’s a mess. He has issues with pet names and he’s grouchy without his coffee in the morning. Not to mention that with my winning personality, I can help him in his movie business.” Justin rested his head on Brian’s knee, ignoring the not so gentle tugging on his hair.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One Year Later

Justin sat in the shade of an oak tree, his sketchbook on his lap but his pencil idle as he watched his new family. Brian’s former fortress of solitude now was alive with laughter and other sounds almost constantly. His hand went to down to scratch behind Charlie’s ears, the wolf/dog groaned in contentment. Boomer and Bang both sat at the very end of the diving board with their ends tucked in watching every move that Brian, Molly, Daphne, Jason and Gus were making while they played in the pool. George sat on the back of Ted’s chair meowing in his ear and making a distinctive laughing sound every time the man jumped. Ted was terrified of George the raven. Emmett dressed in his finest wrap around skirt was discussing recipes with Jennifer by the barbeque.

Justin sighed with contentment. The past year had been a good one. His mother had been given a stern lecture and a fine for throwing the gun away. His father had been cremated and his ashes scattered at the ranch. The Greyfeathers had been able to take over the guiding territory rights and were making a success of the ranch with the help of their families and many of their friends.

Brian’s film had been made using a location not far from the Spirit Bear’s territory but not in it, so that the great bears could live in peace. The film was up for an award at the Sundance festival.

Daphne and Jason had become a couple, though they weren’t married yet, preferring to remain single as they worked out the logistics of being doctors and a couple despite their schedules. 

Justin had sold his condo in Vancouver and moved back to the US with Brian. They registered Charlie as a dog and George as an exotic northern parrot, and were able to bring them home with only a few odd glances when they cleared customs. Boomer and Bang had no problem settling in, after all field mice in New York state tasted much the same as they did in British Columbia and here they had a Koi pond to entertain themselves with during the long summer days.

Jennifer Taylor had passed her real estate exams and was embarking on a new career in Pittsburgh. Molly and she had purchased the top floor of a downtown building and were having fun with the renovations. Molly had decided to return to school and give up modeling. There was a good chance she’d be giving Justin a run for his money as an artist as she showed the same kind of talent that her brother did.

“Hey,” Justin looked up at his dripping wet husband. He snapped his sketchbook closed to save it from the water. 

“Hey yourself Baby,” he said with a smile. The endearment had become a kind of teasing ‘I love you’ between them and now instead of bristling when he heard it, Brian smiled and accepted the meaning behind the words. 

“Gus wants to know if Charlie will come swimming with him.” Brian looked down at the old wolf/dog, “He looks kind of out of it.” 

“He’s an old wolf. He likes to watch these days.” Justin patted the ground beside him, “Sit with me.” 

“Hmmm, I can do that.” Brian sat down and pulled Justin so that he could wrap his wet and cold body around the blond. “You’re nice and warm,” he whispered in Justin’s ear.

“Not for long,” Justin laughed. He didn’t mind the water especially when it came with a powerful set of arms holding him.

“We should go and free Ted,” Brian observed. As long as George sat by Ted’s head the man would never move. 

“Then George wouldn’t have anyone to play with,” Justin said with a laugh. 

“Mikey’s coming,” Brian laughed. “He hates George even worse than Ted.” 

“And he hates Boomer and Bang,” Justin laughed. “Okay, when Mikey comes, I’ll spring Ted. I’m sure that Boomer and Bang not to mention George can find some entertainment value in your friend.

“Deal, meanwhile I have the need for a few private minutes in the bedroom.” 

“Oh, am I invited?” Justin joked. 

“You are a necessity,” Brian stood up and pulled Justin to his feet. “I believe it was part of our wedding vows.” 

“Oh, the ‘be ready for your husband’s desires at all times’ part. I remember that one,” Justin laughed and began to run pulling Brian with him. “Hurry up before Mikey gets here.” 

“He can wait,” Brian said with a laugh as they disappeared through the French doors and into their bedroom.

Justin raced ahead of him his mind full of Brian and what they would be doing. His life was no longer filled with broken dreams, but of dreams fulfilled.

May 16, 2005