Song: Hate Me By: BLUE OCTOBER CHAPTER 6 'RING...RING...RING,' Click I have to block out thoughts of you, so I don't lose my head They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed Dropping little reels of tape to remind me that I'm alone Playing movies in my head that make a porno feel like home There's a burning in my pride, a nervous bleeding in my brain An ounce of peace is all I want for you. Will you never call again? And will you never say that you love me just to put it in my face? And will you never try to reach me? It is I that wanted space Hate me today Hate me tomorrow Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you CLICK, SNICK ~~~~~~~ Looking down at the caller ID, Brian sighed and scrubbed at his face. Two days ago, Brian had changed his cell phone ID song for her, to this one. He had been sifting through some songs that his phone company offered for his cell phone ID's, and this song, 'Hate Me', by 'Blue October' had just jumped out at him as a good choice. And, although he wasn't quite ready to face her just yet, still, it made just as good as any excuse to get off the phone with Blackie. Brian couldn't quite put his finger on it, but somehow, he knew that the man was responsible for Justin's never coming back home. Or even attempting contacting him. Although he HAD broken down a couple of times, and had called the dark haired man just to check on his Sunshine, Blackie had always grimly assured him, "Justin was just fine and better off without YOU, and he didn't even ask about you. EVER." And that, "He really believes that you never cared enough to show up that night, so until you are ready to be who and what HE needs, Kinney, and WE both know you're too selfish to do THAT, right?" And the pretty voice became like dry ice as Blackie told him, "So, if you really loved the boy, just do the right thing, and let him get on with his life, and you just GET OUT OF IT!" Then, there was a pregnant pause, as Blackie softly said, "Besides, he's met someone, and they are becoming very close." And when Brian could finally get his tongue to move in his suddenly dry mouth, and he had croaked, "Who?" Blackie had laughed a mean little laugh, and had mentioned a name. A girl’s name. "But wasn't Sunshine, HIS Justin, gay?" He had asked the younger man, the rhetorical question spilling like a shattered glass of milk on the floor. Too late to prevent it...No way to make it whole again, or take it back... Blackie had not disappointed him as he coolly replied, "I don't know Brian, nor do I care. But, I do know this, If YOU had been MY boyfriend, I'd gladly pitch for the other team. Besides, she's better suited for him, she's at least in his AGE bracket!" 'CLICK!' Brian had been left shaking in hurt, and rage and staring at a dead phone connection. ~~~~~~ 'So fuckin' self righteous...' Brian inwardly snarked, remembering well the deep hurt Blackie's words had caused him. And the ledge he had tumbled off of, just to forget. The depths he'd sunk to, just to forget...Anita the club pig had made a lot of money off of him for a while too... Until they, until both women had been there, to help, to pull him back from the sharpest point of the ledge of self destruction he'd been hell bent to walk upon...And then there was Gus, his lifeline, and reason for breathing. If only things could of been different, if Justin could of helped raise him, they would be a family today. And it would of been a damn sight better than the way the poor kid was being treated now...Shuffled from here, to there, and he never complained. He just would look at him with those sad little eyes. And, accept... Damn that Blackie! He'd get the guy alone and THEN get the whole story out of him, even if it meant beating the piss out of him, which, to Brian, didn't sound like a bad idea...Then another thought hit him, and hard too... Justin had mentioned that he had a 'son.' Did that mean he had finally gotten with...with Blackie, and they were parents as well as partners? OR? And Brian shuddered at this thought, 'Had Blackie been telling him the truth, and his Sunshine had become a fisherman?' 'BLECK! Straight Sunshine.' Thought Brian as he made an inner and outer facial expression. ~~~~~ Even after Blackie got off the phone with Brian Kinney, he was still shaking. His tongue felt numb from rehashing old lies. But it had been worth it, all of it. Had it not? Keeping the truth from him, never letting him know about his 'Prince Kinney.' Looking back, Blackie smiled sadly... Seeing Justin's face, as he finished High School. Watching with pride as he filled out his College forms for acceptance to NYU, and then being knocked over and hugged with in an inch of his life, when the acceptance letter came. And after her. After Rosella...Blackie slammed his eyes shut, willing those memories far, far away. He had been so jealous of the girl. And no matter how dark his thoughts had been of her, no one deserved the fate she had been dealt in the end. No one. It was such a blur to him. Vaguely his mind remembered weeks later, walking the floor, holding them, then holding him. And the rivers of tears they both had cried. For her, for them. And, somehow, with everyone pitching in, Justin had finished College. Night classes at first, and then after the settlement, things had changed and drastically too, and he had gone on to be more than even he himself could of dreamed he would be. He had even said as much at his Graduation dinner Melba and Jinks had thrown for him. 'That big pussy Kinney, he would of walked away.' Blackie thought nastily, as his mind fast forwarded to this latest situation. ~~~~ Obviously from the older mans tone, pissed didn't quite cut it, as to show just how he had felt toward Blackie and his sense of 'right and wrong'. Well, okay, perhaps back then, he HAD stretched the truth a tad bit... Burnt bridges, add water and crap, what a flood! He also suspected that seeing little Gus hadn't helped Blu, and it was that situation that probably had pushed Blu over the edge. The last time he had had an episode such as this, Blu had been hospitalized for two weeks. It had been not long right after LBJ's birth and unfortunately, Rosella's death. Blu had just turned 18 and had finished High School when he had met Rosella Smith through BCC. And it was after their first meeting, the two had become thick as thieves. Blu had told them all that Rosella reminded him a lot of Daphne, his best friend from back home. After meeting Blu, from that moment on, Rosella used BCC services for everything. From grocery shopping, to her OBGYN appointments, even to her child birthing classes. Although she was an employed independent young woman of 19, five months pregnant with an almost two year old child, it had only taken her a couple of weeks, and soon she had confided to Blu just how she had happened to be in Chelsea, with a baby, and now one on the way... Back in her tiny hometown of Brittle Creek outside of Statesville, Ohio, she had been the oldest of six children. Because she had been adopted as well as a girl, *the* 'only' girl, her parents had been pretty strict with her. Way more so than toward her 5 younger brothers. And, one night at a Senior party, (actually one she had been forbade to go to) she'd met this popular, good looking, sweet talking boy from another school... A couple of months after graduating, it was then she realized that she was now pregnant. A test done at work in the employee bathroom confirmed it. She knew she couldn't stay there and have the baby, as not only was the child out of wedlock, but it would be born bi-racial. A very big 'no-no' in her little town. She herself had been born of a light skinned young black mother and a white father of English and Scottish heritage. But, because she had looked more white than black, her adoptive parents had told everyone she just, 'tanned easily'. Her own baby's daddy had been a half light black and half white (Polish and German) fifteen year old High School football star named Kevin Carl, 'KC' Akinson, and he had been brought to the party by his sixteen year old cousin who was also a High School football star but at her School, named Kelly Paul, 'Puddin'' Rogers. Puddin' was also of mixed race, just like his cousin as their mothers had been sisters. Puddin' and Rosella had not only been neighbors but close *secret friends* growing up. And, when she had confided in him about KC, Puddin' had first offered to kick the shit out of his cousin. And at her refusal to let him do so, then he'd offered her money for her trip. He even went as far as to sell her his old car for a buck, because he was planning on joining in the armed services just as soon as he graduated High School. She gladly accepted both, and he held her tight as she cried out her grief. He, like her knew ALL too well that any baby born from such a mess would not have a very happy or safe life in their bigoted little town. So, between what he had scraped together for her added with all of her savings from working as a waitress at a local truck stop, she had just enough to survive a few months somewhere, and she had decided to get out and see the world. Question had been, where to go? Borrowing her youngest little brothers USA map and three of his darts, one red, one blue and one yellow, she had told herself that where ever the blue one had landed, that's where she would go first. It had landed on NY.NY. The kind lady trucker that she'd hitched a ride from after her car had broke down had helped her sell it for scrap, but could only take her as far as Chelsea. So, there she was, stranded with no mode of transportation, pregnant, almost 18, and all alone. But, being the trooper that she was, soon, Rosella had not only a job, but a wonderful home as well for herself and her baby to be. ~~~~ Annabelle Gates and Charlie, her husband of 4 years were desperate! They had been searching for a Nanny now for over a year, and had yet to find just that right person to trust to their little brood. Because between the two of them, they had six children. Annabelle and Charlie had been widowed young, as both had lost their spouses in the armed service, due to over seas duty. They had met at a local Parents Without partners picnic, exchanged pictures and phone numbers and email addys, and within one month were an item. Three belonged to her, Eric, 12, Jacob, 10, and Chad, 8. And two belonged to him, Sam 13, and Joe, 9. And then they had one together, Will, 4. Charlie had adopted Annabelle's children, so that no one would feel left out and they would all share the same last name, and feel more like a real family. ~~~~ Rosella had been staying at a nearby shelter and pouring coffee at a local fast food joint. But, the day she accidentally poured coffee on Annabelle Gates had been a turning point for both young women. Annabelle had bought her a loaded omelette and a tall strawberry and orange juice smoothie, *two of the things she herself had craved when pregnant* and Rosella had promptly burst into tears at the kind gesture of a stranger. Annabelle being the sweet soul that she was, soon got the younger woman to open up. It hadn't taken long for Annabelle to see Rosella Smith as the god send she was and would become. After calling Charlie and getting his okay, *the poor thing was up to his arm pits in Mr. Bubble bubbles and baby wipes.* He was also now out of 'Wild Roses Affair' air freshener, because he had used a whole can of the stuff to mask the burnt Spaghetti O's scent that now clung to the house like a Texas burr. The bubbling pan of bright orange food had been scorched beyond any human consumption due to the fact that Will's screaming had brought him running, forgetting completely about the children’s lunch. And then the smoke was billowing, and the smoke detector began screeching, even louder than Will was, so he stumbled back down the stairs and tore out the annoying things batteries, making himself a mental note as he was doing so, to put them back in before 'she' got home... An evil chuckle broke through his thoughts as his youngest started giggling... 'Hmm, not good...' He thought as he turned off the stove, sat the mess in the sink and ran some water over it, then headed for the stairs at a dead run...forgetting all about the water cascading happily over the pan, and spilling onto the white tiled floor below. It was at that moment, that Chad, *then 8 years old*, ran inside to get a drink, slipped and fell, howling for his mommy as he lay there, and cradled his hand. Skidding to a stop literally due to the fact that Will had tried to get his older brothers back for a mean prank they had played on him earlier that morning by super gluing his coveralled bottom to the swing, when he had refused to share...And now there was slick bubbly water every where, as well as the bloodcurdling noises coming from downstairs, Charlie felt himself doing a cartoon struggle as he scrappled for purchase, and failed...Flailing arms and all. Will just giggled..."Funny daddy! AGAIN! DANCE AGAIN!" Will had dumped the soap into their toilets, flushing them repeatedly and had wrote on the walls with his fat primary crayons their names, hoping to get ALL of his meanie head big brothers in BIG trouble. When Charlie saw his masterpiece, he had been torn between praising his youngest son on his cunning as well as his spelling and penmanship, but, somehow, he just knew if he had praised the boy, it would become his fault, which would mean time on the couch for him! No nookie! So of course, after hearing about her sibling status, and perking up at her stacked experience, he was all for the younger girl and her baby moving in with them! YEA! Hell, at that point, Charlie would of agreed to Godzilla watching their children! Things had been thaaat bad... Slowly he crawled toward the hallway telephone. Grasping it, he hit # 3, waited a bit then breathed, "Hello, Pizza House?" In the background Will cheered, "YEA DADDY! Pitzza!" And from downstairs his oldest, Sam thundered, "Dad! Come quick! I think Chad's broke! It's his hand daddy! Piped up 9 year old Joe. Boy, is momma gonna be pissed pops!" Snarked 12 year old Eric, the resident smart ass. And 10 year old Jacob just stood there, eyes wide. Whimpering and mumbling to himself, Charlie hit #2, waited a bit, then softly said, "Hello, this is Charlie Gates, um..." But the big titted blonde, impatiently snapped her gum as she rudely interrupted him saying, "Hiya Mr. Gates, which one of the boys is it THIS time, hmmmm?" After disconnecting that call, he pushed in # 3 and changed their order to dine in, and asked for a later time.* When Annabelle arrived home with Rosella, she was impressed and thrilled at the younger woman's organizational skills. The mess was arrested, and after a quick side trip to the hospital to see to Chad's wrist, soon the little boy was in a sling. He had been sad, until Rosella, who had slipped out and downstairs to the Gift Shoppe returned, and then handed him a little blue bag. Tied to it was a small balloon that read, "Get Well Soon, Chad, Hugs, Rosella, your new Nanny." Chad squealed and then grinned giggling as he thumped it over, and with his good hand, pulled out the present. "YEA!" Annabelle winked at Charlie as she mouthed, "Oh yeah, she's good. Can we keep her?" As the young girl proved just what a good choice she was for them. Lucky for Chad, it had just been a sprain, and not a break. Although they were happy he was going to be okay, his brothers had been SO disappointed. They had never known anyone in a cast, and it would of been fun to mark on his, IF he had got one. This little argument ensued until Charlie wheeled the Hummer up to the front of the old building that housed the woman's shelter where Rosella lived. All six of the little boy’s eyes had widen in shock when they had seen the run down building where Rosella had been living. They had NEVER seen a homeless person, and much to their parents acute embarrassment, had asked her many questions. But, Rosella had seen the inquiries as just what they were, honest childish curiosity, and had patiently answered every one of them. Even little Will's quandary about, "Where a homeless person goes to the potty at, and how do the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause find them, if they have no house?" Even at the Pizza House, where a tamer version of questions were gently asked during their pizza feast, Rosella continued to surprise and delight the older as well as the younger Gates. She was so beautiful, and all of the boys were simply smitten with her, as they watched her pretty white smile, laughing eyes, and only little Will had been brave enough to touch her silky long black hair. A fact that made his parents snort, and Rosella snicker and kiss his little button nose, when he bragged about it, rubbing it into his big brothers faces, the fact that SHE had given him a kiss too. Even Chad had been impressed with the 4 year olds gutsy attitude. When they arrived home, the entire Gates household pitched in, and within a few hours, Annabelle had Rosella settling in her own room. Rosella's pretty eyes had filled with tears as she shared with Annabelle that the peach walls reminded her of her own room, back home, in Ohio. Charlie brought Will's old baby bassinette and crib and furniture down from the attic, and all of the boys helped to dust and polish the beautiful oak wood. When they were finished, Charlie herded his crew out of the room. The door had barely shut before the two women were giggling like old High School chums, eagerly pouring over baby magazines and going through piles of baby clothes, as Annabelle delighted and shocked Rosella with tales of motherhood, impending, and the 'afters'. ~~~~~ Less than 4 months later, 9lbs. 01oz. Kelly Paul Smith came screaming into the world, chubby and healthy. Rosella promptly named and nicknamed the little boy Puddin' after his uncle, who had been her best friend. For a while, things went well for Rosella and her child. Puddin' was a happy baby, and all of the Gates family loved him. He even became the honorary baby brother, much to Will's dismay and happiness. Dismay because Puddin' was soooo cute, but happiness, because now someone else could get picked on by the stair steps. *Will's nickname for all of his mean ole older brothers* And with Puddin' around, he too had someone to pick on. Besides, Puddin' was getting quite a vocabulary for one so young. But when, Rosella met an older man who swept her off of her feet, she had been afraid to tell him about her baby, and they had dated until she had accidentally gotten pregnant. It wasn't until then that she found out that the man was married, and had no intentions of leaving his wealthy wife for her or anyone. After giving her a large sum of money, he had even threatened her life if she didn't get rid of it. If only they would of taken him seriously... If it hadn't been for the Gates, Rosella would of been lost in a sea of depression and self-hate for being so foolish once again. Using the same Doctor that had not only delivered Will and Puddin' both Annabelle and Charlie did their best to help young Rosella put that rat bastard Damian behind her and get on with her life. Together, they had made so many plans for her’s and the boy's futures. She had even decided after LBJ's birth, she would attend College on-line until he was old enough for daycare, then she even planned to attend a College campus and become a Peds Nurse. ~~~~~ Charlie and Annabelle had been very proud of her decisions. They'd even helped her apply for the numerous grants and scholarships it would take. The forms had sat on her bedside dresser, next to a silver framed photograph of herself holding a giggling plump Puddin' right next to the large Gates family photo that they also were in. The forms had been neatly stacked, signed, just not dated. And, they never would be... It was at that time in her life, she had met Blu, and a fast friendship was formed. Both were hurting from being jilted, and both needed a friend. And, the night it happened, if not for Blu, Puddin' as well as LBJ would not have made it. Blu had been running late for the childbirth class due to some extra and last minute passengers. As he came tearing up the alley way toward the class, his heart froze in his throat. Standing in the rain, clutching her hands to her very pregnant belly was Rosella. Puddin' was in his little rainbow care bear toddler carrier, *a gift from Blu* sitting by the door, kicking his little blue Nike booted feet and screaming his head off, saying, "NO! BAD! MEAN MAN! GO'WAY! MOMMY! HELPS! BOO! HELPS US PWEESE!" It was obvious, Damian had surprised her just before she had gone to her class. And Damian, Damian was holding a gun, pointing it first at her belly, then at her chest, then over at the doorway, down toward a terrified and screaming Puddin'. Quickly Blu parked his cab, praying that Damian had not seen him, and even if Puddin' had, that he wouldn't give him away. Exiting his car, he slowly crept upon the bizarre eeny meeny miney mo that the deranged older man was playing with his hysterical friend as Damian was now pacing and shouting over the hysterical little boy, "What Rose, you don't WANT to play anymore? WHAT IN THE FUCK DID YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH BY TELLING CELLE ABOUT THIS FUCKIN' BABY?! I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY ROSIE, BECAUSE NOW, THANKS TO YOU, SHE'S DIVORCING ME! SO, EXCUSE ME IF I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY! SO, Well, ya coulda fooled me BITCH! Now, CHOOSE! OUR BASTARD SON, YOUR WORTHLESS LIFE, OR YOUR LITTLE HALF-BREED BASTARD SON! CHOOSE YOU CUNT! NOW! CHOOSE!" He was ranting like a madman on crack. "NO!" She had screamed, as the wind and the thunder whipped around her long dark hair and drown out some of her words. "FUCK ... DAMIAN! I WON'T, I ...T! JUST... AWAY! LEAVE US ALONE, PLEASE! ... BEG YOU!" Blu bit his lip until he tasted blood as he watched the butt of the gun swiftly being raised and struck against the side of his friends mouth. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see, her jaw was now broken. With shaking hands he pulled out his cell and dialed 911. Smiling an evil smile, Damian pushed back a long lock of his jet black hair out of his dark blue eyes and spat, "OH, YOU'RE GONNA BEG ME ALL RIGHT BITCH! BEG ME TO KILL YOU! NOW MY DEAR CUNT, FUCK YOU!! FUCK US BOTH!" Then, before Blu could shout out a warning, or do anything, the sadistic bastard levelled the gun from where he was now standing, to her chest and pulled the trigger. ~~~~~ Puddin' screamed and held out his small hands as if to grasp his mother as he saw her fall. Blu was already at a dead run when he realized the evil intent as Damian grinned and raised the gun again, pointing it this time over at the helpless baby. ~~~ Slamming his small body against Damian had barely moved him. In fact? he'd just bounced off of the man and onto the hard wet ground. But, when the older and larger man had tripped and fell face first, the gun went off. ~~~~ Blood. So much blood. Everywhere. Puddles of blood, became puddles of red and pink rain. He could hear the Ambulance in the far distance as he rolled away from Damian’s rain and blood soaked still body. Crawling over to her on his hands and knees, Blu quickly, despite the raging elements, tore off his shirt and attempted to staunch the blood from the wound in Rosella's bleeding chest. Both of them were covered in flecks of skull bone and the marbled whitish grey matter of Damian’s brains and the thick red of his blood, as the idiot had tripped and fallen on his gun, accidentally pulling the trigger, sending the bullet up through the roof of his mouth, and out the top of his head. But, as the rain beat steadily down, the dark became light until it was just a dirty pink tinge. At the Hospital, after first seeing to Puddin' then, refusing to let the baby go while he was being cleaned up and treated, then released, Blu had been a whirlwind of anger. He couldn't get a hold of the Gates because they had been out of town that weekend, that explained why Puddin' had been with her. And when Rosella had silently passed away from her fatal injuries due to the hard cold fact that she had no proof of or personal insurance of her own on her person, as it was part of the Gates insurance. Upon find this out, Blu had become an enraged inferno, an avenging blond angel with the devil in his blue eyes. Especially when told the newly born baby might not make it. ~~~~~ The young mother had lost a lot of blood. Within moments, he had them taking his blood to save the tiny infant. After digging through the baby's care bear diaper bag and finding a bottle and some baby food jars soon he was feeding Puddin' a bottle, with shaking hands Blu had called Blackie, who had in turn called Mr. Corby Hum, who in turn made that Hospital wish ONCE AGAIN, they had handled the whole thing a lot differently. And, when Blackie had arrived, Blu all but collapsed in his arms, and was soon hospitalized. He even unknowingly missed Rosella's funeral. It had been a quiet funeral, and when her will had been read, what was contained in the sealed envelope had shocked not only the Gates, but Blu too. ~~~ Annabelle and Charlie had always just assumed that the kids would go to them. After all, they had been the girls only *known* family, as Rosella had made mention that she didn't want to burden her real family with her shame... But, Rosella Ariel Smith had left everything of worth in her young life to her new best friend, Blu, aka, Justin Craig Taylor. And that was her two children. ~~~~ After his release from the Hospital, in the following months as LBJ struggled for his young life, Blu did his best to father Puddin' as well as take care of his tiny son in the NICU side of the Hospital. Along with College, and work, Blu was a very busy boy. But, Annabelle and Charlie had made it clear to Blu from the get go, that those boys were family, and now so was he, and they would help him in any way they could. It was a bit after that that Annabelle announced her decision to stay at home and raise their kids herself. Things just wouldn't be the same after Rosella's death, and the young girl’s passing had shown everyone just how precious life truly was. Also, Annabelle had missed out on so much of her boys lives due to chasing the all-mighty buck, that she and Charlie had decided she would now stay at home and raise the boys. After his settlement from the Hospital, It had been a wonderful day for Blu, when he had not only bought off their old home's mortgage, but, had started building the Gates a new house, this one even bigger. With Blu's help, Charlie was now the proud owner of his own home business, and he too got to spend just as much time with his boys as Annabelle did. All's Blu asked for in return was that to keep Puddin' and LBJ's little lives at an even keel, for the Gates to watch his boys for him while he worked. He didn't need to work, he just wanted to. It helped him deal with his losses, and he loved helping other runaways too...Kids like himself, like Rosella. ~~~~ At first Blackie had thought Puddin' and LBJ were in the blond’s life to fill the huge missing pieces that the loss of Gus and Brian and all of the others from his former life had once done. But, as Blackie had seen Justin with the newborn and the baby, he was soon convinced of the boy’s deep love for the children, and deeply ashamed of himself for his former doubts. Even more because of Rosella's passing. Once it had finally set in Justin's mind that now the two boys were truly his and his responsibility alone, you'd never had met such a devoted young father. And, in his opinion, those little boys were two of the luckiest little guys alive. Justin even re-named the boys to make them even more his own. Kelly Paul Smith became Jaren Agustus Taylor, and he kept the boys nickname of Puddin'. Likewise, Kelsen William Smith, became Jordan Adian Taylor, and his nickname of LBJ stayed as well. Justin had nicknamed the unborn baby LBJ, or 'Little Black Jack,' due to the fact that his then pregnant mother would complain that he was so wiggly in there, he must be dealing blackjack, and winning! He also loved seeing her blush when he teased her about her 'pirate fetish', due to a certain handsome actor with dark hair. It was too bad she'd not live to see the sequel... ~~~~~ Blackie closed his eyes and rubbed at the back of his neck. After he called Annabelle, and gave her a brief explanation, *ie due to the bad weather, they had had a last minute caller and the client and his small son had needed to be taken outside of the normal range, and himself and Blu would be working a bit more late than had been expected, etc.. * And, after asking her if the boys could stay over with her and her brood, she had been more than happy to help. After all, to her, and Charlie and their crew, the boys and Blu were family. ~~~~~ Tears blurred Blackie’s eyes as he wheeled his dark blue Jeep Wrangler out of the parking garage and into the inky night. Not very long ago, on the night Rosella had died, it had been a night like this. On the way to the hospital he couldn't help but gawk at the strange sights awaiting him. The storm had been ruthless. He wanted to hang his head in shame. Justin could of been hurt. And still Blackie had sent him out alone in this mess. Quickly he swerved to miss a big up rooted tree that was partially blocking the road. Minutes later, he was pulling up to his own personal parking spot at Taylor General. Swiftly he exited the car and tossed the keys to the valet. ~~~~~ It had been Justin's idea. Valet parking, and at a Hospital. Well, it looked like those Business classes had really paid off, because while most of the board of trustees had thought him barking mad, the others had enjoyed seeing them eat crow mere months later as the former defunct Hospital cranked out black instead of it's usual red in tape, translating to profits out of the ass, instead of mile long lawsuits and billowing debt. Blackie walked into Taylor General as if he owned it, which, in truth, he sort of did, as he and Corn and Mello were not only the Godparents of Puddin' and LBJ, but board members and shareholders in the Hospital as well. And, with the blond at the helm, the Hospital now had a much needed face lift. A very efficient and sexy male Nurse had replaced Big Tit's and her Needle nosed mother years ago. Blackie smiled as he asked the man of Justin's where a bouts, knowing he should have already known. Room 208 was Justin's private own personal room. "Mr. Storm, Mr. Taylor is in Room 208." Thanking the man, Blackie jumped when Kilen grabbed his arm and asked, pointedly looking over at the first waiting room, "What should I tell him? He's NOT family that I know of, but he keeps insisting he knows Mr. Taylor." Kilen threw his arms up and shrugged, then pouted prettily as he whined, "He's being a stubborn prick and won't even tell me his name, so I can check the list! Who does he think he is? Cute kid though." He added as he wiggled his fingers at the frowning little boy who ignored him and cuddled closer to his daddy. Blackie just smirked and took the list from the younger man. Pointing to one name, incidentally ALWAYS the very first name on the list, he then smirked as he watched the red head’s sandy strawberry blond brows hit his hairline. Looking over again at the gorgeous older man waiting very impatiently in waiting room one, he then looked up at Blackie and mouthed, 'OH MY GOD! THAT'S WHAT 'HE' LOOKS LIKE? THAT'S 'HIM'?!" Blackie grinned and nodded, then batting his long dark eyelashes he pretended to swoon as he anxiously fake fanned himself. Kilen narrowed his light green eyes and punched Blackie in the arm, hard. ~~~~ "Daddy, why is that man with red hair like Nana Deb's staring over here again?" Then a beat and Gus piped up, "Daddy! He's waving at me, and he's a STRANGER!" Gus quivered and tried to fit himself into his daddy's jacket. "Just ignore him Gus." "But daddy, it's creeping me out." "I know son, but then again, I'm used to it." "Why?" Brian smirked as he grabbed his son and lightly tickled his tummy causing the little boy to giggle and arch his back, his light chestnut hair hanging in his eyes as his daddy snarked in a silly deep Scottish accent, "Because I'm dead sexy! That's why!" "Put me down!" Gus weezed as his laughing daddy finally sat him gently on his feet. ~~~~ Blackie blinked as he watched the older man's playful antics toward his son. The years had been kind to Kinney, giving him a sexy chiselled honing, and obviously the man took care of himself, as he was neither overweight, or flabby. In fact, in the last five years, not much had changed about Brian Kinney. Not much that is, except his eyes. Those beautiful honey-hazel eyes looked...Different, somehow more mature. As if Kinney had once held the world in his hands, and then lost it all, and he'd had to fight and claw his way to the top again to get it all back. And then those incredible eyes looked right at him and narrowed. Blackie felt his heart race as it looked like Brian was indeed on his way over toward them. ~~~~~ Kilen was almost bouncing in his chair at the mere idea. Blackie rolled his eyes, and braced himself for a storm of a different style. And then the man's cell phone rang. ~~~~ I'm sober now for three whole months it's one accomplishment that you helped me with The one thing that always tore us apart is the one thing I won't touch again In a sick way I want to thank you for holding my head up late at night While I was busy waging wars on myself, you were trying to stop the fight You never doubted my warped opinions on things like suicidal hate You made me compliment myself when it was way to hard to take So I'll drive so fucking far away that I never cross your mind And do whatever it takes in your heart to leave me behind Hate me today Yeah, hate me tomorrow Hate me for all the things I didn't do for you Hate me in ways Yeah ways hard to swallow Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you "CLICK' BEEP' RING RING...RING Brian sighed as he recognized the second caller as his cell phone signalled the over the top cheery ring tone of "I Can Fly!" 'CLICK SNICK' GOD! Sometimes he just wanted to pitch his cell over a bridge! As SHE called him yet once again. And with a sad heart I say bye to you and wave Kicking shadows on the street for every mistake that I had made And like a baby boy I never was a man Until I saw your blue eyes crying and I held your face in my hand And then I fell down yelling, "make it go away!" Just make a smile come back and shine just like it used to be And then she whispered "How can you do this to me?" Hate me today Hate me tomorrow Hate me for all...the things...I didn't...do for you Yeah Hate me in ways Yeah ways hard to...swallow Hate me...so you...can finally...see what's good...for you... "CLICK," You've reached me, you know what to do, later..." Was the last sound it made, as it went into sleep mode and he shut it off for now. He would call them both back later, and explain about the delay that really wasn't because of the severe weather, and then find himself and Gus a place to bunk down for the night. Because THIS TIME, he wasn't leaving until he knew Justin would be alright. ~~~ He really didn't feel like hashing through tonight’s drama load with either woman right now. Especially...HER. And, as attached to the blond as she was, Brian knew better than to lie to her about 'him.' And, he had learned that lesson the hard way, a long time ago... ~~~~ 5 years ago, after he had returned, Brian had gone straight to look for the little jerk, found him at her house, hiding behind his mommy's skirts. It had been comical as he'd watched those shit-brown eyes almost pop when he'd snatched him from behind her, and laid him out with one solid punch. Afterward, when Brian had explained to her about his loft, and his personal loss, she had coldly told her son to "Leave, and don't come back until you've made yourself a better person." On purpose, He had left out the parts about Justin. How could he tell her just how tiny and frail he had looked in that hospital bed amongst a sea of tubes and machines? He also had left out the fact that it was Mikey's fault, her fault, the kid's family's fault, and mostly, Brian's own fault. ~~~ How many nights had she seen him strung out from the damage he'd tried to do to himself with drug and drink? And all because of the guilt that ate away at him. Brian had tried to put the little blond behind him, as he also did his best not to kill his X best friend. But, when she had found him one night curled up in Mikey's old room and sobbing his heart out, she fixed them both hot chocolate and threatened to lock him up inside her house until he told her what was *really* going on. But, knowing Brian as well as she did, he knew he'd have to tell her, because there was just no way to hide from it. To hide 'Sunshine' from her. And so, he did. To say she had been upset would of been an understatement. ~~~~ Now, five years after the fact, he felt the awe that just glimpsing and hearing the boy, no, man had brought to him, would probably stroke her out! Heaving a sigh that he felt down to his toes, he quickly looked over to where Gus was patiently waiting his turn for a toy, and then flipped open his cell, connecting his call. ~~~~ Smiling at his son, he motioned his permission for Gus to play with a bunch of different toys across the room that beckoned him. He snickered softly as he watched his little boy practically skip away. Ten minutes later, the asshole in the cowboy hat and the cute red headed Nurse were hearing a nose of a different kind coming from his throat as his most efficient secretary Cynthia, regrettably let him know, there was just no room at the inn. Due to the freak storm, an after math of a huge tropical hurricane down the coastline, most of the area where he would like to be in NY. NY. had been blacked out, and anything close to the hospital, was booked solid. ~~~ He loudly growled again, and Blackie could of sworn the dark hairs on his arms rose a fraction or two. Looking over at the red head, he noticed Mr. Kinney's verbal emissions had caused something else, of a different nature, to...rise. Smirking at the younger man he whispered, "Don't even think it. That man has eyes for just one person, and I don't mean his kid, get it?" Blushing a bright pink, the younger man quickly nodded, adjusted his scrubs and busied himself with paper work. Ten minutes later, both men jumped when they heard, "Nurse, I'm asking you nicely, then, I promise you I will not be as nice. Tell me Mr. Taylor's, JUSTIN Taylor's room number,...NOW. Ohh, and, "Blackie, a word please?" "Shit," was the ONE word running through both men's minds as they watched the handsome man loom, and his face darken.