Thanks for the beta Lois...you're the greatest! Chapter 10 – Visitor Unexpected The Next Day, early afternoon (Day 11) “Brian, Ben Bruckner is here to see you.” Cynthia said, while standing in Brian’s office. “Send him in.” Brian instructed, realizing that something must be up, because Ben rarely visited him at the office. “Professor, what brings you here? Is Mikey ok?” “Michael is fine,” Ben reassured him. “Then to what do I owe this visit?” Brian asked, still really surprised by his visitor. Brian contained his curiosity and motioned for Ben to take one of the more comfortable chairs. “So, how’s Justin?” Ben asked, trying to start things out on a lighter tone. “Things seem to be going well for him in New York. He has been getting a few exhibits at the smaller galleries. His paintings are selling. Justin was fine when I saw him a couple of weeks ago. He was fine when I last talked to him.” “How about you Brian, are you ok?” Ben asked with genuine concern. “Yes Professor, I’m fine. I’ve just been really busy,” Brian said with some amusement. “That’s good!” Then there was a long silence. Brian waited patiently without interrupting. He knew that Ben was a thoughtful man, who did not take any action lightly. The fact that Ben ventured into Brian’s office meant that Ben thought that THIS was IMPORTANT. And therefore, in this case, so did Brian. “Let me get right to the point,” Ben finally said. “You know the painting that Justin sent to Michael?” “All of Liberty Avenue knows about that painting at this point,” Brian said with a smile. “Well Michael really loves the painting! Justin created the perfect painting to give to Michael as a gift. That was really thoughtful of him. But Brian, in spite of the fact that Michael loves the painting, he has nevertheless been disturbed by it, even obsessed by it, ever since it arrived. It seems that Justin left JT out of the painting, but he included Rage and Zephyr with the superheroes. Michael has got it in his head that Justin is somehow lost in New York, and it’s time you bring him home. I know the argument that Michael should be happy to have finally gotten a universe without Justin in it, especially knowing how he feels about Justin. But for some reason, this is all making Michael more and more miserable.” “Professor, please tell me you’re not buying this bullshit about Justin being lost in New York, and it’s time for us to go rescue him, to bring him back to Pittsburgh? Tell me that’s not why you’re here in the middle of the day visiting me?” “Brian, my reaction was the same as yours. I roll my eyes each time Michael starts with the ‘JT is missing from the picture’. But, he won’t let this go. I know Michael has done some pretty awful things in the past, in the name of you being his best friend. And it may be that Michael is finally starting to feel guilty about a lot of things that he’s done. He definitely has a lot of reasons to feel guilty about how he’s treated Justin. But Brian, he’s worked with Justin for five years on the comic book, so if Michael says that Justin would never paint Rage and Zephyr without JT… as ridiculous as it sounds, I think we have to listen him.” “Ben, I was just in New York less than two weeks ago. And except for Justin’s annoying qualities of not carrying his cell phone and his unique ability to take an otherwise peaceful day and turn into complete chaos for me, I would say that Justin seemed fine. I just don’t think there’s anything to worry about.” “How can you say that?” Ben asked. “Justin has this annoying tendency to paint and sketch from some link with the cosmic universe. Justin believes he merely presents a story that he wants to tell. The interpretation of his art is in the eyes of the beholder. Justin painted a simple piece. Michael thinks Justin is lost. It may simply be that Michael in some way, is lost without Justin, as strange as that may sound.” “Brian is it possible that Justin is hiding the truth from you? Could he hate New York and want to return to Pittsburgh, but he can’t tell you because he doesn’t want to let you down? He doesn’t want to disappoint you. So he stays in New York, when he wants to be here with you.” “Ben trust me, Justin would tell me.” “Would he Brian? Maybe he thinks you’re happy with the way things are. Look Brian, I’m not trying to pry. I don’t know why you two decided not to get married. I don’t know why the two of you made the decision that Justin should move to New York. These are things between you and Justin. But Brian, just because he moved to New York, there was no reason on earth for him to do this starving artist bullshit, and there was no reason for the two of you to be in two different cities. We live in the age of the Internet, so I just don’t believe it was really necessary. I believe someone had a lifelong fantasy, and maybe some ulterior motives, and they had Justin go to New York to live out their dreams. The problem is, I don’t believe this particular dream belongs to either you or Justin.” “Well Professor, you don’t talk often, but when you speak you say a mouthful don’t you.” “Look Brian, Michael’s worried about Justin. I know you were just there in New York. But for some reason, right now Michael is channeling Debbie when it comes to Justin. It probably won’t last…but right now he won’t let this go. And Brian, just so you know, it’s really hard making love to someone channeling Debbie,” Ben said with a laugh. Brian joined him in that laugh and said, “Professor, it wasn’t necessary to share that image?” “So you get my point. If we don’t resolve this, Debbie and Jennifer will get involved. Oh! And let’s not forget Daphne.” “Ok Professor, I’ve got the picture.” “I want to get Michael back! And he’s not going to rest until he sees Justin and talks to him. So we’re thinking of going to New York, maybe this weekend, and while we’re there we’ll see Justin. And hopefully that will put everything to rest. But Brian, I just want you to know that I can’t live with Michael when he has this level of worry about Justin. So if Michael is right, that Justin is lost, and he’s just not telling you, then Michael and I will pack up Justin and bring him home. He can stay with us until you think you’re ready to deal with him.” “Hold it Professor! The last time Justin stayed with you and Mikey, I had to buy a fucking mansion to get him back. No, No. No. No. You and your husband just keep your paws off Justin.” Brian said laughing. “I’m glad that you care about Justin. I really am touched. I’m just not sure I can afford it.” “Well you’re at least smart enough to know Justin’s worth every penny, so I guess there’s hope for you yet,” Ben teased. “Professor, if you and Mikey want to go New York for a weekend that’s fine. Enjoy yourselves. I don’t want Justin caught up in the middle of Michael’s obsession. Justin has a lot going on in New York. I don’t want him disturbed, not with this nonsense, anyway. You need to take care of Michael on this. Leave Justin and his happiness to me,” Brian demanded. “See I knew talking to you was a good idea,” Ben suggested with a smile. “As I’ve said before, Professor, we should do this more often,” Brian smirked. Ben nodded as he stood up to leave the office. Brian moved back to his desk, indicating the meeting was over and that he was about to pretend to resume work. Ben suddenly stopped and said, “You know, Brian, you’ve really changed.” “Oh!” Brian remarked, looking up quite surprised. “Yes, I just want you to know that I noticed.” Ben said with a smile. And with that Ben was gone. As Brian leaned back in his chair and pondered for a moment, “Fuck!” was all he could finally utter, as he reached for his cell phone.