Thanks again to my wonderful beta on this story, Carly. Also thanks to the girls and a special thanks to Sid for all her help on this story. And for helping me with getting through it. You are the best Sid. Love ya. Thanks to my 'fans' as well. Feedback welcome.Enjoy.<HR>



Brian POV:

I take hold of Justin’s hand and I feel him shaking. He pulls away from me to open the door. 

“Em?” Justin says again as he slowly rushes in. He is still in pain from the massive beaten he took from his father. I don’t know what is going on in the apartment so I grab his arm and pull him behind me.

“I don’t need you hurt anymore Sunshine,” I whisper to him, he simply nods. 

“Emmett,” he whispers again.

We open the door the rest of the way and slowly walk in. Once inside we see Emmett standing over Craig’s body. 

“Oops,” Is all Emmett had to said

Justin runs into Emmett’s arms. “I was scared you were hurt.” 

“I’m fine, Baby,” Em tells Justin holding him. Justin then moves away and looks at his father’s lifeless body. I look from Craig to Emmett to Justin and he seems to be in shock now.

“Justin.” I walk up behind him and put my arms around his waist. He slumps into them.

“Em?” I look at Emmett and he sees Justin’s state and is by his side in an instant. He takes Justin into his own arms and rubs his back, kissing his head.

“I told you I would handle it and that he would never hurt you again,” he tells Justin.

“But you killed him. You told me not to.” Justin puts his head onto Em even more visibly shaken.

“Yes. I had to. Baby, I didn’t want his blood on your hands or on your conscious, but I don’t care if it’s on mine. I can handle it and you do you know why?” Justin shakes his head and Emmett continues. “Because I love you and I am always going to look out for you.” He kisses Justin on the forehead again.

“You were supposed to call the cops Em,” I let out, both of them jump from my voice.

“Oh ya.” Em looks at Justin’s face. “Are you okay? You aren’t mad at me? The last thing I want to do is hurt you more Justin.” Justin looks straight at him and shakes his head.

“No, I would have done it. I hated him. I hate seeing dead bodies though. After Molly, and my mom. I just don’t think I can handle it anymore.”  He walks into the bedroom. I look at Emmett.

“They had an open casket for his sister because Craig wanted Justin to see what he did to his sister, even though it wasn’t his fault. At the time Justin believed it all. And he is the one who found his mother’s lifeless body. Both destroyed Justin. Brian, I couldn’t let him go to jail and get out and come back to hurt him again. I love Justin way too much to let that happen.” He looks down at the floor. “I can deal with jail knowing Justin is safe now. That he has you to take care of him.”

“Holy Shit. You are in love with Justin?” I can see it now.

“Brian, Justin’s a great guy. So yes, always was and always will be, but he is in love with you and I would never do anything to come between you two. He deserves to be happy and you make him happy. Justin and I have a history together. He IS my best friend, and no we never had sex. The reason is that sex isn’t the foundation of our relationship, friendship. Just take care of him.”

I nod my head knowing he was telling me the truth. There is a silent promise made between us. He picks up the phone and dial a number.

“Hi this is Emmett Honeycutt at 126 Jones Drive, apartment 306. I just shot an asshole who was raping my friend and came at me.” He looks at me and shrugs.

After a few more quick answers he hangs up and we go to check on Justin. He is sitting on the bed. As he lifts his head we can see the tears running down his blood-dried hands. We rush to him, sitting on either side of him. We both put an arm around him. He leans into Emmett. I would normally be jealous but I know the ‘foundation’ of their relationship, friendship. 

“I can’t believe it’s finally over,” he cries into Emmett’s shoulder while I rub his back.

Once he calms himself down we both look to Emmett to get answers on what happened when there is a knock on the door. “Saved by the bell,” Emmett lets out. “Here, take him, I’ll get the door.” Justin then slides into my arms 

“Don’t leave me, please,” Justin whispers to me. 

“I won’t baby, ever.” I whisper to him.

Once the cops have been let in they have the paramedics look over Justin, as much as he would let them. He doesn’t want anyone to touch him but Em and me. He won’t let go of one or both of our hands. 

The officer questions Justin, but stops as Justin starts to have a breakdown. 

“It’s okay Mr. Taylor. The wounds speak for themselves and with Mr. Kinney’s and Mr. Honeycutt’s statements, we should have plenty.” Em and I nod our silent thanks to the officer who looks at Justin and back to us, nodding as well. I hold Justin close to me, glad that he is letting me near him, but still won’t let Emmett out of sight or too far away from him.

“Okay, Mr. Honeycutt, would you please tell us what happened, in your own words.” The officer tells him.

“Sure thing cutie.” Emmett looks at Justin and me.

 
Emmett POV:

I start to fill them in from when Brian and I walked in. I get to the point about Justin and the gun, due to fact that they will figure out Justin’s prints are on it as well.

“So Mr. Taylor had hold of the gun first?”

“Yes sir.” He nods and I go on. I as reach the point when I had Brian take Justin out, they both look up at me, waiting for the rest of what happened behind closed doors.

“Once they were out the door I walked over to Craig and told him to be a man and try something with me.” <I>

I walk over to Craig, grabbing his balls by my hand.

“Not so fucking big. So why don’t you try something with me you piece of shit. I am not afraid of you, and I will NOT let you hurt him anymore. Come on try something so I can rip your fucking balls off and put them on my wall as a souvenir.” I sneer at him

“FUCK!” Craig pants out.

“What you did to Justin, Jennifer and poor Molly was wrong. I am going to make you pay for it and make sure you never fucking touch him again. I love him way too much. More then you ever did.” 

“I’m going to fucking kill you and then that little slut,” Craig snaps out.

I laugh at him and when he goes to swing at me, I twist his balls tighter and put the gun to his stomach.

“Wrong fucking answer asshole.” </I>


Back in the present I look at the cop. “And that’s when you shot him?” I nod my head

“Yes sir, that’s when I shot him.” I look to Justin who is holding my hand.

“Mr. Taylor, do you or Mr. Kinney have anything more to add?” The officer asks them.

“No,” they both say in unison.

Justin leans into me and I kiss his head as I stand up. “I love you Baby,” I whisper to him as I hand him off to Brian. As I see Brian take him in his arms and Justin lean into him, I know he will take care of my Baby.

“Okay, that’s all we need for now. We will call you if we need more. Mr. Taylor, I advice you to get checked out. You could have some internal bleeding.” The officer looks to Brian and me. “Take care of him.” And Brian nods.

“I’m not going to jail?” I ask the cop.

“No, you were protecting your lover and yourself.” he tells me with a smile.

“No, I was protecting my best friend and his lover as well as myself.” I look at Brian smiling who smiles back at me.


We take Justin to the hospital where he insisted we go with him and went crazy when they said only one of us could go back. But seeing Justin’s state they made an exception and we both went back with him.

Justin had tearing, symptoms of shock, internal damage to the anal cavity, some scratches and a fractured rib or two from the kicking some really bad bruises not to mention his face is going to be heavily bruised. They put him on some medicine and we take him back to the loft, since it is his new home and my place needs to be cleaned up. Brian told me I could stay here until it is cleaned.

A few nights pass by and each night, Justin would be lying on the floor next to me each morning. One morning I wake to find Justin in the middle of a nightmare. He’s screaming and thrashing. 

Brian comes running out of his room. He has been so good about all this with Justin. I move over, touching his face. “Justin baby, wake up. It’s only a dream.” He bolts straight up and into my arms.

I run my hand through his hair. “It’s okay baby. You are okay. I got you. It was just a dream.” I look at Brian as I point to the kitchen. He nods and goes and gets Justin some water.

“Here Sunshine, drink this.” Brian tells him.

“Thanks,” Justin whispers, taking a sip and his pill with shaky hands.

He leans back into me and closes his eyes. He falls back to sleep and I pick him up and take him to Brian’s bed. I lean over and kiss his head. “It’s going to be ok, I promise.” I leave him to sleep as the pill he took takes effect.

I walk back out into the living room where Brian is sitting on the couch. “How is he?” He asks me.

“Brian, he’s having a really bad time with this. I have always been the one he ran to. It’s a natural thing for him.” I begin to tell him. He simply nods. 

“I understand Emmett. I am just worried about him. I want to see him smile again and not be so afraid of me.” 

“I know, but Brian, whatever you do, don’t fucking give up on him. He needs you as much as he needs me. He is stubborn, but I know you, you are just as stubborn, if not more so. Brian, he is going to pull towards me because it’s his natural way after a tragic incident.”

“Em, I’m fine with it. I know what he went through. It fucking sticks in my mind seeing him covered in blood and tears and scared for his life. I know it’s rough on him. I wish I could have taken his place. I know he is going to be clinging to you right now more then me. I understand the beating and running to your best friend for support. I just want him to know that I am here for him as well.” 

“I know Brian, just give him a little time. I will not leave him and neither will you. I won’t let you leave him. He loves you but right now, he needs to be reassured of everything, every feeling in him is okay to have. His father took a lot from him. He isn’t sure of anything at the moment. But we can’t let him pull away from us. You can’t let him do it to you. In order to beat this fear, he needs us to help him through it. If you give up on him now Kinney I will fucking kill you for hurting him like that. I already killed one man for hurting him. Ok, I wouldn’t kill you but I would hurt you. I mean it Brian, within the next few months, Justin isn’t going to be himself but we have to help him get that back.”

Brian nods his head. “I won’t desert him Em. I do love him.”

I sit next to him and hug him to me. “I know. He will be your Sunshine again someday. I promise.” And for the first time, Brian squeezes me tighter to him in a hug.

We are sitting on the couch when Justin comes out of the room and comes over and sits down next to me, leans his head on me and closes his eyes. “Thanks E.” 

“Hey baby, no need to thank me. You know there isn’t anything in this word I would do for you.” 

“I know.”

I look over to Brian who smiles at me.

Brian POV:

As I watch Justin leans on Emmett’s shoulder and thanks him and I remember a lot of moments like that with Mikey and me. I should be jealous, but how can I be when he saved Justin’s life so many times. 

I can’t wait to have my sunshine back though, and if Em is what Justin needs to get him back, then I’m all for it. I know right now, Emmett seems to be the only one Justin is totally comfortable with. 

“Brian?” I hear Justin say my name. 

“Ya Sunshine?” I look at him.

“I’m sorry.” he tells me.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for. If Emmett is what you need, then I can wait. Just know that I am here for you, for anything. I love you Justin.” 

He looks down and I lean over to lift his chin with my finger and he backs away. “I mean it Justin, I love you more then you know.” He nods his head and leans back on Emmett. 

Emmett smiles at me and nods his approval of what I did.


A week has past and Justin still has a rough time letting me touch him. He has cold sweats and nightmares and Emmett seems to be the one he turns to. At first it didn’t bother me, and it still doesn’t, but I just wish he would let me hold him like he lets Emmett.

Emmett keeps telling me to give it time, and I agreed. I won’t give up on my Sunshine but it’s tearing me apart that he won’t let me help him the way he does with Emmett.

Justin is still having nightmares and when I try to wake him he screams and jumps and Emmett comes running in to calm him, or Justin will end up waking himself up and going out to lay with Emmett.

I still go into work and come home to find Justin next to Emmett and then he sees me and he is better. It’s like he’s scared of who will come through the door. 

“It’s just me Sunshine.” I lean over to kiss him and to my amazement he doesn’t pull away. 

“I know.” He tells me, in a sarcastic way. I look at Emmett who smiles.

“Glad to amuse you.” I walk past him to put my stuff down. 

“Justin is cooking dinner.” Emmett tells me as Justin disappears into the kitchen.

“He cooks when he’s in this shit. It takes his mind off it.” I nod at him. I walk into the kitchen to see Justin standing at the stove and stirring something in the pot. 

“What are you cooking?” I ask coming up behind him. He turns quickly and leans into the stove.

“Sorry Jus, didn’t mean to scare you.” 

“Uh it’s ok. We are having stew.” He gives a slight half smile and turns around to stir the soup.

“Smells great.” He nods 

“Thanks.”

An hour later we finish eating and Justin starts cleaning up. I start to help him and he smiles when I start washing the dishes. Ya I’m domestic.  

“Don’t want you to get dish pan hands Sunshine.” He smiles a little bigger, maybe things are looking up some. 

After the dishes were done I go to take a shower and return to hearing Justin and Emmett talking.

“Justin, you need to talk to him. You need to share how you are feeling. He loves you more then anything, and I know you love him. You have to stop being afraid to let him touch you. You did great tonight. I am proud of you baby.” Emmett tells Justin.

“I am trying E, but it’s just, I don’t know why I am so nervous with him. I know he would never hurt me.” Justin answers him.

“No he won’t hurt you. Justin I understand that after everytime your father would do something to you that you would clam up and only trust me. You still can and I am always going to be here for you, but don’t totally shut him out. He is having trouble with this too. It hurts him to see you hurting.”

“I know E. I do, but I just, I don’t know.” 

“Justin you need to talk about this to someone. I am always here and so is Brian. He isn’t going to desert you.” 

“I know, but, I was never one to talk about it. I have a hard time with words, you know that.” 

“I know baby, but he can never harm you again.” I see them hug and Justin moves away when he sees me and walks into the bathroom.

“Thanks Emmett.” I tell him.

“For what?”

“Reminding him that I am here for him. That I won’t desert him.”

“He knows, but he still needs to be reminded.”

Justin comes out of the bathroom and sits down next to me and slowly puts his head on my shoulder. “Can I put my arm around you?” I ask him. He nods and I slowly put it around him. 

Emmett smiles at us before going to take a shower. 

“Brian, I know you care about me, but I really need to take this slow.” He looks at me. I smile at him and nod.

“As slow as you like.” He leans his head back down on me.

“Em told me to talk to you about my feelings. Brian. I know I’m not letting you get to close to me, but it’s not because I don’t love or trust you, I’m just scared and ashamed.” 

“I know baby. I am ok with you and Emmett.” I start to tell him and he stops me.

“Brian, when my dad would do this I would run right to E and he would hold me and make me feel safe. It was the safest place to me. I know I am safe with you, but my system goes on autopilot and heads right to him. I need to do that, for me. It’s nothing against you.”

“It’s okay Sunshine. I will still be here when it’s all over and I will never let anything happen to you again. I understand about you and Em. I am the same way with Mikey. When my father beat me, I would run to Mikey. Not to the full extinct of you and Emmett but it’s ok. I love you and am willing to wait for you to be the old you, the take charge guy.”

“Thanks Bri.” he said yawning.

“Am I interrupting?” Emmett comes out and sees us, smiling.

“Nope, I think I was just about to take my Sunshine to bed.” I get up and take his hand. He hesitates for a minute before standing up with me. He hugs Emmett and kisses him good night as we make our way to the bedroom.

He undresses but leaves his briefs on and lies down on the bed. I lay next to him and he slowly moves over onto me, He kisses my lips and puts his head down again on my chest. I hug him tighter and he sighs.

“Brian, if I end up out with Emmett again, please don’t get mad.” he whispers to me.

“I could never get mad at you for needing your friend Justin. I am here though, when you are comfortable enough to talk to me.” 

“Thanks Brian.” 

“Anything for you Sunshine.” As his breathing labors and the pills take effect, he falls into a sleep. I say a silent prayer to whoever is up there to look out for my Sunshine. I kiss his head one more time “I love you Justin,” I say as I fall into a sleep. 

I wake up to Justin jumping and he slowly gets up. “I’m sorry Brian.” he tells me through tears.

“It’s ok Sunshine, go to your friend.” 

“Come with me.” 

“You don’t need or want me to. I told you I wouldn’t be mad at you.” 

“No please come with me.” He goes to take my hand but pulls back. I get up and take his hand and walk him out to Emmett who sits up as we walk into the room. 

“Brian? Justin?” Em says with sleepy eyes.

I take Justin over to Emmett and move his hand toward Emmett. Emmett looks at me and I nod as Emmett takes Justin’s hand from mine and immediately he falls into Em’s arms.

We all lay down and Justin is lying in Emmett’s arms, crying. 

“Shhh, it’s ok baby, I’m here.” He rubs Justin’s back and neck and up through his hair and back down. “It’s ok. You are safe. I’m here.” 

Soon Justin is sleeping and I look at Emmett, who is looking at me. 

“It’s okay Emmett. He wanted me out here to. Which is a step in the right direction.” He nods his head at me. I just hope it keeps going in the right direction. But I won’t lose my boyfriend, who is now lying asleep in Emmett’s arms.