Brian walked down to the sandwich shop and peered in the window. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he had hoped that he would see Justin lost in conversation with one of his classmates or something having lost track of the time. It was not to be. He didn't see anyone who looked even remotely like Justin inside. He sighed and made the decision to walk back the way he figured Justin would have walked from the printers. He would look through the windows of the stores as he walked hoping against hope that at some point he would see his lover and everything would fall back into place where it belonged. Brian was just about to give up completely, when he caught a glimpse of blond hair. Brian looked up and saw Justin sitting at a bus stop just a few feet from him. The younger man had not seen Brian. He simply sat there staring into space. Brian moved over and sat down next to him. Justin turned to see Brian and flung himself into Brian's arms. "Whoa." Brian said. "Justin, Justin what's wrong?" "He followed me." Justin said not really explaining anything. "Who?" Brian asked pushing Justin back so as to look him in the face. "Brandon." Justin said suddenly looking around a look of fear crossing his features. "You remember that guy from the backroom the other night." "The little asshole that tried to get between us?" Justin nodded. "Yeah." Justin said softly. "He's been following me." "What the fuck, Justin?" Brian said his voice harsher than he'd wanted it to be. Justin flinched. Brian pulled Justin into his arms. "Why didn't you say anything, Baby?" "I didn't think anything of it." Justin said. "At first." "At first?" Brian asked angrily. "How the hell long has this been going on?" "'Bout a week." Justin said. Brian huffed and shook his head. "I didn't think anything of it 'til today." Brian held up his hands in expectation. "He just seemed to show up at the places I was, at first. Coincidence." Justin shrugged. "Then he cornered me the other day." "Cornered you?" Brian spat. "It was no big deal." Justin said sounding like he was trying to convince himself more than Brian. "Ben showed up and Brandon left." "Ben knew?" "Not really." Justin said. "He might have suspected something, but I told him it was okay and he dropped it." Brian huffed again. "It wasn’t until Brandon showed up at the gallery today that it got really creepy. He stepped really close to me and he kept calling me 'Sunshine' even though I told him not to and it kind of unnerved me, but I thought I was okay, you know?" Brian nodded. "Then he showed up outside the printers and Lindsay said she had to go back to the gallery and I called you, but then he grabbed me after I hung up and made me sit here and, he, um, just sort of scared me." "You're okay, baby." Brian said softly pulling the younger man back into his arms. "You worried the hell out of me, though." "Sorry." Justin sniffed. "Come on." Brian said nudging his lover. "Let's go home." Justin nodded and Brian led him back to Kinnetik to pick up the Corvette. -- Hunter was waiting on the front porch with the phone in his hand when Brian showed up with Justin. John came running out the door then and rushed past the other teen barreling into Justin as he climbed out of the car. "Hey." Justin said surprised. "Hunter said you were missing." John said pulling away a little. "I did not." Hunter argued. "I just said Brian called looking for you." "I'm okay, Buddy." Justin said smiling but not feeling very jovial at the moment. "Come on. Let's go inside." Once in the house, Justin headed into the kitchen. He flitted around for several moments not really doing anything then sat heavily in one of the chairs. "You okay, Justin." John asked. Justin tried to nod, but was felt like he could barely breathe. "Brian!" Hunter yelled. Brian rushed to Justin's side recognizing the beginnings of an anxiety attack. Brian took Justin's face in his hands until their eyes locked. "Breathe." Brian said soothingly. "Nice and slow. In and out. Just like this, Justin." Brian took a deep breath and let it out. Justin mimicked him as Brian repeated the actions several times. Slowly but surely Justin's breathing slowed and he began to relax. "Good, good. That's it. Nice and easy." "I'm better." Justin said finally. "You sure?" Brian asked. Justin nodded. "I think I'm going to go lie down for a little while." "Do you need your pills?" "No, no headache. Just a little tired." "Adrenaline rush." Brian stated and Justin nodded. "Wake me up in about an hour." Brian nodded. He started to follow Justin, but Justin stopped him. "I'm okay, really." He leaned in and kissed Brian lightly on the lips before turning back to head up stairs. "I called Michael like you asked me." Hunter began once Justin had disappeared up the stairs. "He said to call him back when you got home, so -." "I will.' Brian said nodding. "I have to call Lindsay, too." "What was that all about, Brian?" Hunter asked solemnly. Brian looked from Hunter to John and then sighed looking at the floor before answering. "Some fuckwad at Babylon tried to get between Justin and I last Friday night. This year's hot young stud trying to make a name for himself. Thought he could waltz between Brian Kinney and his twink." Brian snorted a laugh completely devoid of humor. "I told him to fuck off and I guess he refused to take that for an answer." "So, what happened?" John asked. "Apparently, he decided to stalk Justin." The two teens looked at each other shocked then back to Brian. "And, it's been going on for about the last week." "Why didn't Justin say something?" John asked. "Because he thought he'd handle it himself." Brian said shaking his head in disgust. "He tries to do everything damn thing himself, so as not to look weak or scared in front of other people." "What are you going to do about it?" Hunter asked. "I'm not sure." Brian said. "Go do your homework or something. I need to make some calls." -- After making his phone calls Brian glanced at the clock. It had been about half an hour since Justin had gone to lie down. Making a decision, Brian checked on John and Hunter who were playing some video game or another, then headed upstairs to check on Justin. He found the younger man curled up in a ball in the middle of their bed. Justin's eyes were closed, but Brian knew that he wasn't asleep. The normal, slow rise and fall of Justin's breathing was missing and his brow was deeply furrowed. Brian kicked off his shoes and slid in behind Justin. Justin immediately pressed back against Brian's chest. He opened his eyes but said nothing. Brian simply lay there holding Justin waiting for the blond to be the first to speak. "You know, I have to wonder sometimes what it is exactly that I did to deserve all this bullshit." Justin began his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean why did I have to be gay? Why did I have to be bashed? Why do I attract assholes?" Brian snorted a laugh. Justin turned in his arms. "I don't mean you." Justin said with a smile and kissed the tip of Brian's nose. "Justin." Brian began lacing his hand with Justin's. "You are gay because God made you that way. Regardless of what those crack-pot Christians preach. You got bashed because Chris Hobbs is a deeply disturbed individual who should have been locked up for the rest of his life for trying to kill you." Justin shook his head and his eyes dropped to Brian's chest. "And, I may be an asshole, but I'm all yours." Brian said lifting Justin's chin so that they looked eye to eye again. "You didn't do a damn thing. You are not at fault." "I just wonder sometimes, that's all." "Well, knock it off." Brian said teasingly. Justin smiled. "Hungry?" "Famished." Justin said. "No lunch." Brian nodded. "Well, how about we go heat up that beef stew from a couple nights ago." Brian offered. "That was pretty damned good there, Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee." "Okay." Justin said lifting himself up off the bed then turning to offer Brian a hand. "Come on, Old Man." Brian took Justin's hand and swatted him on the ass as he lifted up. "I'll give you an old man in a minute, Junior." Brian said as Justin scampered out the door toward the stairs with Brian in hot pursuit. Their problems forgotten for the moment. -- A few days later, Justin stood in front of the mirror staring at himself. He had do idea why he'd told Brian he would go out tonight. He didn't really feel like going out and in the back of his mind he knew he'd probably run into Brandon again which he just didn't want to deal with. Brian had told him to look hot, so Justin had opted for his black jeans that were worn in all the right places and a dark blue shirt Brian had given him for his birthday. The jeans were Brian favorites. He had often said that they literally cupped Justin's ample bottom and usually spent most of his time cupping Justin's ample bottom himself when Justin wore them. "Hey Sunshine." Brian said slipping in behind Justin and wrapping his arms around the smaller man. Justin jumped. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you." "That's okay." Justin said with a less than convincing smile on his face. "How do I look?" "Sizzling." Brian said smiling his reflection looking like the cat that ate the canary. "So, what's the big occasion?" Justin asked. "Why did you want me to look so hot tonight?" "Two reasons." Brian said. "First, Gus' birthday is tomorrow." Brian waited for Justin's reaction. Justin frowned at first then smiled brightly as he realized that Brian was commemorating their first night together. "And, second, I want everyone to see just how amazing you are and deny them even the remotest of idea that you would ever be with anyone but me." "Staking your claim?" Justin said turning in Brian's arms. "Oh, that happened a long time ago. I'm just reinforcing it." Brian smiled and leaned in to capture Justin's lips. The gentle loving kiss turned hotter and deeper and Brian thought about blowing the evening off and blowing his young lover until all hours of the morning, but stopped. He wanted to show Justin off and that was exactly what he was going to do. "Come on." Brian said stepping out of Justin's arms and grabbing his hand. -- When they stepped into Woodys, Justin heard what sounded like Emmett singing. Justin laughed as he looked up on the stage and realized that it was karaoke night and that Emmett was singing and dancing on stage to Aretha Franklin's 'Respect. Justin laughed out loud. When the music stopped, Emmett headed off the stage to loud clapping and wolf whistling. He bowed once more then climbed down the steps and skipped over to the table where the rest of the gang stood. "Hey, Baby." Emmett said and kissed Justin on the cheek. He looked Justin over once and whistled. "Good night. You look good enough to eat." Justin smiled and his cheeks colored slightly at his friend's comment. "You look pretty amazing yourself." Justin chuckled. Emmett was wearing a skintight scarlet t-shirt and skintight red leather pants. "Decided to paint the town red." Emmett said. Ted walked up to their table then carrying a round of drinks. "Hey Theodore." Brian singsonged. "How did you know?" "Saw you walk in and thought a drink would be in order." "That was very thoughtful." Brian said with smirk. "Thank you." "Hey guys." A voice from behind them called. Justin turned to see Michael and Ben heading over to their table, too. "Hey Boy Wonder." Michael said smiling acting as if nothing in the world was wrong. "Hey Michael." Justin said politely then looked to Brian. When he saw no adverse reaction in his lover he shrugged. "What's up?" "Not much." He smiled. "Ben and I are celebrating. It's been 9 months since we got married." "Shouldn't you wait for you anniversary?" Justin asked. "Why?" Ben said. "Everyday is worth celebrating when you're with the man you love." "That is the most cloyingly sentimental statement I have ever heard." Michael said then moved in closer to Ben. "I'd throw up if I didn't love it so much." Michael kissed Ben soundly and passionately. "Get a room." Brian teased. Ben stuck his tongue out at him making Michael laugh. "Very mature, Professor." Justin was actually having a good time. He was laughing and talking with everyone else all thoughts of Brandon forgotten. After about an hour or so, Justin excused himself to go to the men's room. "I'll be right back." He whispered to Brian. "Need any help?" Brian asked seductively. Justin laughed and shook his head. "I think I got it." Justin said and walked away from the table. Brian chuckled as he watched Justin head in the direction of the bathrooms. Brandon had been watching Justin and Brian from the other side of the bar. He'd waited patiently for an opportunity. When Justin slid away from the table and headed for the restroom, he smiled. He downed what was left of his drink and headed toward the restroom himself. He hadn't intended to be seen by Emmett as he headed toward the restroom a few seconds after Justin. Emmett frowned and went back to the table. "Brian." He said when he got there. "Come on." "You want me to go the bathroom with you?" Brian said incredulously. "Even you're not that gay." "No, come on." Emmett said trying to pull Brian to his feet. "That guy, the one that's been bothering, Justin. He just headed toward the bathroom." "Fuck." Brian said pushing past the other man. "Maybe we better go, too." Michael offered. "Why?" Ted asked. "To keep Brian out of jail." Michael countered. Ted nodded his understanding and the four of them headed toward the bathroom. "Keep your fucking hands to yourself!" Justin was shouting as the small group of friends rounded the corner. Brandon was lying on the floor, Justin was shaking his hand and Brian was standing open-mouthed staring at Justin as if they'd never met. "What the fuck?" Brandon shouted his hand moving up to touch the cut on his bottom lip. "You little shit!" He stood up quickly and moved toward Justin. Brian stood between them. "I don't think so, Little Man." Brian smirked. "Why don't you just turn and walk right on out of here." "Whatever." Brandon said tonguing the cut on his bottom lip. "He's not even worth it." He added angrily and tried to move past Brian only to have to the other man stop him. "Oh, but he is." Brian said pressing his cheek to other man's so that his lips brushed Brandon's face. "Shame you'll never know what you're missing." Brandon shoved Brian off of him and pushed through the small crowd that had come to see what all the commotion was about. He stalked across the dance floor and on out the door. "Guess he'll think twice about bothering you again, huh, Slugger?" Brian said turning toward Justin. Justin grinned then flinched when he moved his hand. "Let me see." Brian moved over and took Justin hand in his own. "It's okay." Justin said as Brian started examining Justin's hand. "Uh-huh." Brian said bending the hand causing Justin to flinch again. "We'd better get it checked out." "I'm fine." Justin said snatching his hand away from Brian. Not to be deterred, Brian took Justin's hand once again. "We'll ice it tonight, but if it still hurts in the morning you're going to see Mark tomorrow. No arguments." Justin smiled a little and allowed Brian to gently massage his hand. "You still want to go to Babylon?" Brian shook his head. "I thought we could go home. Relive old times." Brian arched his eyebrow and Justin smiled his mega watt smile. "Sounds like a plan." "See you guys tomorrow." Brian said leaving their somewhat bewildered friends behind. The End.