Justin was in the kitchen when he heard the door open. He looked up and started to smile, but the smile faded as soon as he saw the look of anger on Ethan’s face. Before he could react, Ethan shoved Justin against the wall next to the refrigerator. The air left Justin’s lungs on impact and his head bounced off the wall causing the room to spin. Ethan held Justin against the wall using the weight of his body his forearm pressed against Justin’s throat. Justin was pretty sure that he would lose consciousness soon due to the lack of oxygen. “You fucking little whore.” Ethan growled. “What the fuck were you doing with HIM?” “Who?” Justin gasped fighting for air. “Don’t play the innocent little faggot with me, Justin.” Ethan spat. “What were you doing in HIS Jeep?” Justin’s eyes widened. “I saw you. I got home early and I saw you.” Justin truly didn’t know what to say. He knew that if he continued to deny it, Ethan would simply beat the truth out of him. Then again, even if Justin told Ethan the truth, the other man would *still* beat the truth out of him. “Ethan, please.” Justin pleaded. “Let me explain.” “Explain? You want to explain.” Ethan mocked. “Fuck that. I don’t want to hear your explanations or your excuses, or your lies. It’s bullshit, Justin.” Justin gasped for air as Ethan increased the pressure on his throat. “I always knew that eventually, one day, I would have to punish you for something like this. You see, Justin, you are mine. No one else is even allowed to touch you.” Ethan pulled Justin’s hair back until he was looking directly into Ethan’s eyes. “And, Brian Kinney isn’t allowed to even look at you.” Justin could see the look in Ethan’s eyes and knew that his luck had finally run out. The barrage of punches, kicks and slaps became a blur to Justin. Ethan was completely out of control. The whole time he assaulted Justin he kept repeating ‘You’re mine. You’re mine.’ By the time Ethan stopped, Justin was only semi-conscious. When Ethan stepped away from Justin, he slumped to a heap on the floor. Justin could taste blood in his mouth and it hurt to breathe. He tried to take a deep breath and coughed until he spat blood all over the floor. The last thing Justin saw was Ethan storming out the door before everything went black. -- Brian was nearly to his loft when he remembered he was supposed to tuck Gus in and tell him a story. He swore to himself and was about to turn the Jeep toward the muncher’s house when his cell phone rang. He had to fumble around for a moment to find the damned thing. It had fallen out of his jacket and lay on the floorboard on the passenger side. He finally snagged it. “What?” Brian barked. When he didn’t hear anything on the other end, Brian frowned. “Hello?” He tried again. A soft moan could be heard on the other end. “An obscene phone call? Very funny. Good night Mikey.” Brian snapped. He was about to disconnect when he heard something. “Hello?” “Bri-an.” “Justin?!” Brian said. “Justin is that you? What’s wrong? Justin, God damn it, answer me.” “Hu-rt.” Justin managed. “Where are you?” Brian asked as he tried to stay calm. “Home.” Brian could barely hear Justin. He whipped a U-turn and headed back in the direction he’s just come from. “I’m coming, Justin. Baby? Can you hear me?” Brian listened for any response, then the line clicked and all he heard was the dial tone. “Fuck!” Brian careened through the streets of Pittsburgh. All he could think of was that Justin was hurt. All he could hear was Justin whispered cry for help. Brian managed to run three red lights and a couple stop signs without being pulled over before stopping in front of Justin’s building. Brian dialed 911 as he ascended the steps two at a time. “911 Operator. Please state the nature of your emergency.” “I need an ambulance!” Brian shouted into the receiver nearly missing the operator’s request for an address. He quickly rattled it off. “Top floor. Hurry.” Brian broke the connection and began pounding on the door to the apartment. Justin didn’t answer and Brian tried the doorknob. Finding it unlocked, Brian slammed the door open and charged into the apartment. “Justin!” Brian called at first not seeing the teen. “Justin! Where are you, Baby?” He then walked around the kitchen counter and was assaulted with the vision of Justin lying on the floor motionless. “Fuck!” Brian shouted in frustration. A million memories flooded Brian’s mind of another time that he had cradled Justin as the boy lay in a pool of his own blood. Brian shook his head to clear it then crossed to Justin. “Justin, baby, can you hear me?” “Bri-.” Justin breathed. “Yes, baby, it’s Brian.” Brian was flooded with relief that Justin was still alive. “I’m going to get you out of here. The ambulance is on the way.” “But, Eth-.” Justin tried to speak but then started to cry. “Justin, did Ethan do this to you, baby?” Justin nodded and clung to Brian as drowning man would cling to a life raft. “Don’t you worry, baby. Ethan’s gone. And, I’ll make sure that he never comes back.” Justin lost consciousness as Brian held him. Brian had heard the approach of sirens and could hear the paramedics on the stairs. “You’re going to be all right, baby.” Brian repeated over and over again trying harder to convince himself than Justin.