Melanie had just hung up from talking to Carl when the doorbell rang. Lindsay started to answer it, but Melanie stopped her. “Let me.” Melanie said softly. Lindsay nodded. “Hey.” Ben said as Melanie let him in. “Would someone like to explain what this is all about?” “Sit down, Ben.” Lindsay offered. “There’s something you need to know.” Between the three of them the story was laid out for Ben who sat staring at the others as if they were insane. “You have got to be kidding me?” Ben said. “Michael would never do such a thing. Would he?” “Why would Gus lie, Ben?” Lindsay asked. Ben shrugged running his hand over his face. “You didn’t see him. This is destroying him. It breaks my heart. And, that we didn’t see it. Christ.” “How do you think I feel?” Ben asked. “This is the man I love. The man I’ve been sleeping with. And he’s been, -.” Ben trailed off at a loss for words. “My God.” He shook his head. “Where is Gus?” “He’s at the loft with Justin.” Brian explained. “I sent Kevin with them. I can’t even imagine how this is going to affect him.” “I never even thought about that.” Melanie said. “Jesus, Kevin and Michael are so close. Fuck.” “Why exactly am I here?” Ben asked suddenly. “Michael’s on his way over.” Brian said. “I need you here in case I can’t control my temper.” Ben nodded. “Okay. But, just so you know, I’ll be protecting you not him.” “Thanks.” The doorbell rang again. Brian took a deep breath as Melanie went to answer it once again. “Hey.” Michael said cheerily. “So, where’s the munchkin. You said we needed to discuss his grades, so I -.” He stopped when he saw Brian and Ben standing in the living room with Lindsay. “Ben? Brian? What are you two doing here?” “Come on in, Mikey.” Brian said the menacing tone in his voice once again. “We need to have a little talk.” “About what?” Michael asked seemingly bewildered. “Linds and I got a letter from Gus’ swim coach.” Melanie began. “He was worried because of some bruises he’d seen on Gus’ back and legs.” “And?” Michael said with a shrug. “When we asked Gus where the bruises came from he ran away.” Lindsay said far more calmly than she felt. “Oh, God.” Michael said. “Is he okay? Did you find him?” “Justin found him. Brought him home.” Brian said. “We had a very interesting conversation with Gus.” “Really?” “About you.” “Me?” Michael knitted his brow. “What about me?” “About how ‘special’ Gus is to you.” “Wha -?” “How you told him he was beautiful.” Brian said arching one of his eyebrows. “How he was just as beautiful as his father.” “What are you getting at?” Michael asked hotly. “How you wanted to hug him and kiss him and touch him.” When Brian moved closer to Michael, Michael stepped back a look of fear in his eyes. “I’m going to ask you this one time, Mikey. One time. So don’t lie to me because believe me I’ll know if you do.” Brian stepped closer to Michael as he retreated once again. “Did you fuck my son?” “Oh come on, Brian.” Michael said almost laughing. “He told you that?” Brian continued to advance on Michael who continued to back away until he was backed into a wall with no where else to go. “You don’t honestly believe that, do you?” Michael looked to Lindsay and Melanie for help, but they turned away. He then turned to Ben who stared at Michael as if they had never met. “He said you threatened to hurt him if he said anything to us. Threatened to hurt us, too.” Brian said. “You gonna hurt me, Mikey.” Brian asked as he slammed Michael into the wall. “What the fuck were you thinking? He’s a little boy. And, news flash, he’s not me.” Michael looked up sharply. “That’s what this is all about, right?” Michael shook his head no. “Sure it is. Gus said you started all this shit after he turned fourteen.” He bounced Michael’s head off the wall. “We were fourteen when we met, right? We had that interrupted tryst in your room. Then you spent all those years slobbering after me. Following me like some lost puppy.” Michael winced. “I saw it, hell, I even liked it. Then, along came Justin. We got together and you hated that. We broke up and you acted like a complete ass. Then we got back together and, thank God, we’re still together. But, then you realized, you couldn’t have me.” Michael just stared at the floor. “But, then there was my son. Gus started growing up and looking more and more like me.” Tears welled in Brian’s eyes. “You took something so sweet; so innocent. The best thing I ever did in my whole fucking life and you -.” Brian slammed him against the wall again and again and again. “You scared him and you scarred him. And, then you have the balls to call him a liar.” Brian shouted. “Brian.” Ben said grabbing Brian and pulling him away from Michael. “He’s not worth it.” Brian fought with Ben for a moment then just stopped dropped his hands to his sides and broke down leaning against the other man for support. When the doorbell rang again, Melanie hurried to let Carl in. The older man walked in on a scene he didn’t expect. Michael had slid down the wall and was crying his with his head in his hands. Ben was holding Brian away from Michael as tears slid down Brian’s face as well. “What the hell?” “Carl,” Lindsay began, “you need to arrest Michael.” “Arrest him?” Carl asked confused. “He’s been sexually abusing Gus.” Lindsay said as she started to cry again. “Holy shit.” Carl breathed. “Is this true, Michael.” But, Michael said nothing. “Gus told us.” Melanie said flatly. “He’s at Brian’s loft with Justin. Kevin’s there, too.” Carl nodded and walked over to Michael. “Can you stand up on your own, Son?” Michael nodded. Carl offered him his hand but Michael refused. “Turn around.” He instructed once Michael was on his feet. “You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Carl recited as he cuffed Michael’s hands. “You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to you free of charge.” Michael stood staring into space. “Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?” Michael nodded. “Okay, then. Michael Novotny you are under arrest for the sexual assault of a minor.” He then led Michael out to his car. After putting Michael in the back of the car, Carl walked back to where the others had followed them outside. “I’ll be in touch with you so as to set up a time for Gus’ statement.” “Thanks, Carl.” Ben said seemingly the only one capable of speech at the moment. Carl nodded to them as he drove away. “Debbie’s gonna fucking kill me.” Brian said then sighed. Regardless of Michael’s guilt, Brian knew that Debbie would turn this all around so that the blame rested on Brian. -- The lights were low in the loft when Brian returned. Gus and Kevin were sitting on the couch watching some action flick on the TV. Justin was sitting at the computer pretending to work. Brian knew he was pretending because as soon as the door opened the blond walked to meet him. “How’d it go?” Justin whispered. “Later.” Brian said shaking his head. “Hey, Uncle Bri.” Kevin called. “This movie rocks. Wanna watch?” “Maybe later, Kev.” “Pop?” Gus had made his way over to where Brian and Justin stood. “Hey, Sonny-Boy.” Brian tried to sound better than he felt. “It’s okay. It isn’t over, yet, but it’s okay. He’s gone and he’s never going to touch you again.” Gus nodded then turned and headed back toward the couch. “I need a shower. I reek.” Brian disappeared into the bedroom, and Justin almost went back to the movie with the boys, but something stopped him. Instead he followed his lover into the bedroom. He found Brian standing by the bed staring at a picture of his younger self holding an infant Gus. The picture was one of Brian’s favorites. It had been taken not too long after Gus was born. “I love that picture.” Justin said as he wound his arms around Brian’s waist. “Hard to believe he was ever that small, huh?” Brian nodded. “I know you aren’t trying to make this your fault, right?” Brian shrugged. “Because it isn’t. We all missed it, Brian. Hell, Gus lives with Lindsay and Melanie and they didn’t even see what was going on. They see him every day.” “I just can’t believe he had to deal with this alone for so long.” Brian’s voice broke. “And, the thing is, I know how he felt.” Justin couldn’t see the tears, but he felt them as the odd one landed on his hands. “When my Dad would hit me, I felt so alone. Mom didn’t care. Claire didn’t care. I had to weather that all by myself.” He sniffed. “Then there was Mikey. And Deb and then Vic. I finally had a place to go. Shelter from my shit storm of a life.” His breath hitched. “Mikey was my lifeline. I don’t know if I would have survived without him.” Brian turned to face Justin and he could see the anguish in the older man’s eyes. “But, this. Justin, he hurt my baby boy. He hurt him in a way that I can’t fix.” Justin nodded. “Mother fucker.” “I wish I could make it all better. I would in heartbeat, you know that.” Justin said his hand cupping Brian’s face. Brian nodded. “You know, you may not be able to fix this Brian, but you can be there for Gus. Help him be strong. It’s going to take all of us to see him through this.” Brian nodded. “And, you know I’ll be there for you.” “Always have been.” Brian whispered as he rested his forehead on Justin’s. “Always will be.” Justin asserted. “I love you.” Brian said pulling Justin into his arms. He brushed a quick kiss to Justin’s lips then pulled away. “I still reek.” Justin smiled. “Well, hurry up and shower.” Justin urged. “Kevin dragged out your copy of ‘Dirty Dancing’ and we’re watching it next.” Brian snorted a laugh as he headed on toward the bathroom. Justin stared after him for a moment or two until he heard the water come on. He then walked back down to join the boys. End chapter three.