"Melanie?" Melanie turned in her seat to see Daphne Chanders standing just a few feet away. "Daphne." Melanie called smiling. "I didn't know you were in town." "I just got in last night." Daphne explained as she sat down across from Melanie. "I was window shopping when I saw you." "Have you been by Justin's yet?" "Nope." Daphne replied. "I was getting ready to give him a call." Daphne leaned down to get her phone from her bag. When she sat back up, she glanced outside. "Oh My God." She said. "What?" Melanie said trying to follow Daphne's line of vision. "Chris Hobbs." Daphne said then pointed toward the corner of the street. "At the cross walks. That's Chris Hobbs." "Are you sure?" Melanie asked. "Positive." Daphne said. "I could never forget that face." She added gravely. Melanie finally saw the blonde young man that Daphne had pointed out. "Fuck me." Melanie whispered. "It is him. What the fuck?" She turned back to Daphne. "I need to call Justin." Daphne nodded as Melanie dialed the loft. When she got the answering machine, she swore to herself and dialed his cell phone. "What is he doing out?" Daphne asked as Mel waited for Justin to answer. "I don't know, but I fully intend to find out." Melanie said through clenched teeth. -- Justin sat in a booth next to Brian as they waited for Delilah to take their order. Brian had been in a playful mood all day and was currently blowing in the younger man's ear causing Justin to laugh and nudge him away. "You two playing footsie again?" Delilah asked as she walked up to the table. Justin blushed as he looked up at the 6' 1" transvestite. "Um, what's good today, D?" He asked as Brian's hand slid into Justin's lap and began to take inventory of the younger man's 'assets'. Delilah just shook her head. "Well, Mitch is trying a new bacon mushroom burger that goes really well with a side of onion rings." "That sounds good. Let me have a vanilla milk shake with that." Justin said as he pulled Brian's hand out of his lap and placed it on the tabletop. "And, what do you want for lunch, Stud-boy?" "I'll have the cream of sum-yung-guy." Brian said smiling. Justin rolled his eyes. "I don't think that particular item is on the menu here, Sweetie." Delilah said with a smirk. "Well, that's your loss." Brian said nuzzling up to Justin's neck and proceeding to nip lightly at Justin's ear lobe. "He'll have a turkey sandwich, no mayo, and unsweetened iced tea." Justin said trying but failing to pull away from Brian's exploring mouth. Delilah walked away chuckling at the couple as she went. Justin was about to pull away from Brian again when his cell phone rang. He made one last attempt to get away from Brian before flipping the phone open. "Hello?" Justin said. "Justin?" Melanie said. "Where are you?" "The diner, why?" "Are you with Brian?" "Yeah." "Good." She sounded extremely relieved. "Stay put. I'm on my way there. I need to talk to you." "Is something wrong?" "I'll explain when I get there." Melanie said. "Just stay with Brian, okay?" "Okay." Justin said. Melanie hung up before he could ask anything else. "What was that about?" Brian asked as he noticed Justin's change in attitude. "I don't know." Justin said staring at his phone. "Mel said she had something to tell me and that I should stay put until she gets here." "She didn't say why?" Justin shook his head no. "I don't think I like that." "Me either." Justin said then laid his head on Brian's shoulder. Brian pulled the younger man closer to him and frowned as they waited impatiently for Mel to arrive. -- Melanie made it to the diner in record time. She parked and all but sprinted inside with Daphne close behind. Justin looked up when Mel came in the door. He looked at her anxiously then frowned when he saw Daphne with her. "Mel? Daph?" Justin said. "What's wrong?" "There is no real easy way to say this Justin," Melanie began, "but, we saw Chris Hobbs on the street." "That is not funny." Justin said a sudden feeling of dread coming over him. "I wish it was a joke." Melanie said. "What the fuck? He was sentenced to 12 years for aggravated assault." Brian said. "How the hell is he out of prison by now?" "I have no idea." Melanie said. "Did you receive a notice of a parole hearing at all?" "No.” Justin said. “Some of my mail still goes to my mom's house, but I'm sure she would have called me if something official had come for me." "Well, until I know what the hell is going on, I think you should go back to the loft and wait for me to call you." Melanie instructed. "I agree." Brian said and motioned for Justin to get up. "D, can we get our order to go, please?" He called. "Wait." Justin turned to Daphne. "Daph, are you positive it was him?" "Justin it was Chris. I know it was." "I promise you that I will find out what this is all about, Justin." Melanie said. "I'll either call you or come to the loft later, okay?" Justin nodded. "Okay." -- Justin was quiet the entire ride home. Brian hated this shit. It had been over four years. Justin was his old self again and was finally feeling safe and secure, and now. Fuck. He thought and put his hand on the younger man's leg. Justin looked up and smiled weakly. "It's going to be all right, Baby." Brian assured. "I won't let him hurt you again." Justin laced his hand with Brian's and nodded, but he did not look convinced. Once at the loft, the two hurried up the stairs. Brian had made a quick sweep of the street with his eyes and had seen nothing out of the ordinary. He, however, did not feel safe himself until he and Justin were locked into the loft. Brian pulled the heavy door shut and locked it. He turned around and suddenly had an armful of trembling Justin. Brian held Justin tightly trying to let the boy know that he was okay and that nothing was going to hurt him. After several minutes, Brian guided Justin to the couch where Justin climbed into his lap. "Oh, Baby." Brian said as he gently stroked Justin's back. "You're okay. I'm here. That asshole will never hurt you again." "I know." Justin said. "It's just. . . It's like I just started to feel really safe again, you know." He felt Brian nod against his cheek. "I don't think I can do this again, Brian. I don't want to be scared all the time." "Listen to me Justin." Brian said and pulled the teen up so he could look him in the face. "We are going to find out what's going on and when we do, we are going to make sure he doesn't get within 10 miles of you. You are safe. You will always be safe. I promise." When Justin nodded, Brian pulled him back into his arms and that's where they stayed until Melanie arrived at the loft an hour later. -- Brian answered the buzzer when Melanie arrived. She did not look happy when she came into the loft. Brian stared at her for several moments. "Well?" Brian asked. "I spoke to the DA and she states that Justin's notification of the parole hearing must have been lost in the mail, but I was assured that it had been sent out." Melanie explained. "That is so fucked." Brian said "Unfortunately," Melanie began, "if Hobbs is out on parole, there is little we can do about it, unless he messes up and it gets revoked." "Son of a bitch." Brian swore. "What do we do now? Wait until he walks up to Justin on the street and tries to finish what he started four years ago." Justin gasped. "Oh, baby, I'm sorry." Brian said when he saw all the color drain from his young lover's face. "It's okay." Justin said. "I'll be okay." "Are you sure?" Brian asked as he crossed to the young man. "Yeah, I'm okay. Really." Justin assured. "What can we do, Mel?" "I'll put a restraining order on him." Melanie said. "I'll make sure it includes your Mom's house, Deb's place and Brian's loft, too." "And if he walks right through that flimsy piece of paper?" Brian asked. "If you see him anywhere near you, Justin, call the police immediately then call me." Melanie explained. "I'm waiting for a call from Hobbs' lawyer as well. I left him a voice mail. Hopefully he'll get back to me." Melanie then turned toward the door. "I guess, I'd better get home." "Wait." Justin said. "Why don't you call Lindsay and have her bring Gus over for some pizza?" Justin looked to Brian who nodded. "I'll call Emmett and Ted. Michael, too." Justin walked to the phone. "I feel the need to be around all my friends right now." "That sounds like a plan and it gets Lindsay out of the kitchen tonight." -- By the time everyone got there, music was blaring, people were dancing and the pizza was on the way. Brian watched Justin closely. He seemed okay but one of the things that Justin had had to overcome was near crippling anxiety attacks that had plagued him for months after the attack. At one time it was not uncommon for Justin to push everyone away when one of these attacks would present itself. Brian feared that the discovery of Chris Hobbs' release would resurrect the attacks once more. The buzzer rang then and Justin went to answer it. He couldn't hear what the person at the door said and told them to wait a minute. He motioned for Brian to follow him so as to help him carry the pizzas they had ordered. Justin made it down the stairs faster than Brian. When he stopped suddenly, Brian nearly ran over Justin. "Justin?" Brian said and then fell silent as well. There at the door to the building was none other than Chris Hobbs. Justin stood as if planted for a moment before finding his feet and walking to the door. He opened the wooden door, but left the security door in place. "Taylor." Hobbs greeted Justin. "Hobbs." Justin replied. "What are you doing here?" "I wanted to talk to you." Hobbs said. "First of all, I think my lawyer pulled a fast one on you. He told me he sent the parole hearing notice to you, but I found out that it wasn't sent out until the day of the hearing. It's probably in your mail box right now for what good it'll do." "What do you want?" Justin asked. Brian stayed close behind him. His closeness made Justin feel safe. "I wanted to let you know that you don't have to worry about me." Hobbs began. "I'm not going to bother you. I got involved with a really good program in prison. It matched up lifers with guys like me, you know, on the verge of fucking up their lives for good." He paused and smiled. "My sponsor was a guy named Riley. Louis Riley. He taught me what would happen to me if I continued on the path I was on. He was a school bully, too. Now he's in for life." Chris looked down at his feet for a minute. Justin thought he looked sincere, but refused to open the security gate just yet. "I know you don't have any reason to believe me." Hobbs continued. "But, I promise you that I have no intention of hurting you. In my last month in prison, I met a counselor who turned into a really good friend and since I've been out, he and I are. . . well, we're together, you know." Justin nodded. "He thought me coming here was a good idea. I hope he was right. I'm an idiot Taylor. I never should have taken my insecurities out on you. I was wrong and I hope you can forgive me someday." Another man walked close to Hobbs. Hobbs turned and smiled at the man before turning back to Justin. "This is Robert. Robert Myers this is Justin Taylor." Robert nodded in Justin's direction. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Taylor." Robert said. "Anyway, Taylor," Chris continued, "you won't have to worry about me. One of my conditions of parole is to keep checking in with Louis Riley. And, I'm moving to Cleveland with Robert. My family immediately disowned me when they heard about us, so, I'm going somewhere to start over." Justin moved to unlock the security gate and Brian grabbed his wrist. Justin looked into the eyes of his nervous lover and put his hand on Brian's arm. "It's okay, Brian." Justin said and unlocked the gate. He walked up to Chris Hobbs and extended his hand. "Good luck in your new life, Chris." Hobbs stared at Justin for a few seconds before taking his proffered hand. "Thanks, Justin." They stood there shaking hands for several seconds before Justin pulled away. He looked up to see the pizza guy walking toward them. "Pizza's here, Babe." Justin called to Brian who was already walking over to the young man to pay him. "Take it easy, Taylor." Hobbs said and turned back to Robert. Justin watched as Hobbs hugged the other man then leaned in to kiss him. As he walked to the passenger side of a nearby car, he looked toward Justin and nodded a goodbye before climbing in and disappearing from Justin and Brian's life forever. The End.