Thanks Lois for the beta...you're the greatest!
Author's Note: The next four chapters all take place in the same afternoon. "Interruptions" was written as a single chapter...it was subdivided so that you might still have a life while reading it. I will continue to post frequently so you can hopefully get a sense of the timing. I hope you enjoy these chapters. As always, your comments are always welcome.
Chapter 15 – Interruptions, Part 1 of 4 A few hours later…(Day 13) This creative sparring match was interrupted when Brian cell phone rang, and he noted the Toronto caller ID. He answered the phone immediately. “Lindsay?” he asked, as he answered the phone. Brian held his breath and waited. “No Brian, it’s me,” came the disembodied voice on the other end of the line. And Brian knew to prepare for the worst. “Is Gus ok? Is Lindsay ok?” Brian asked, trying not to panic. “Of course, they’re fine, Asshole. I need to talk to you.” “Why are you calling me, Melanie? I’m really quite busy, so make it quick.” “First of all, where have you hidden Justin?” she demanded. “Melanie, why would you assume that I’ve done anything with Justin.” “Because no one can reach him on his cell phone.” “So? What’s so unusual about that? Melanie, you know he forgets to carry the damn thing most of the time. I hope you have better evidence than that! Cause if you don’t, I think I’m beginning to see why you lose all those cases.” “Look Brian, nobody cares about you. But Justin is another matter. We’re all just concerned about him. Now tell us where he is?” “Melanie, why are you and Lindsay suddenly so interested in Justin?” Brian asked. Then he wasn’t sure he was ready for the answer. “Well Michael and Ben are here visiting Jenny Rebecca. And …” she tried to explain before she was interrupted. “Melanie, don’t tell me Michael’s still talking about his painting?” “Well I was talking about the one I received. Then he started talking about the painting he received. So we just started talking,” Melanie explained, trying to understand Brian’s reaction. “What’s the problem?” “You tell me Melanie?” “Michael’s concerned. He doesn’t think that you care about Justin anymore. And…” “Well isn’t that what Michael has always wanted?” “That may be true. But Michael and Ben are worried about Justin. They think he’s lost in New York City. They’re determined to see him to make sure he’s all right. They’re planning on camping out on his apartment steps if they have to until he comes home.” “Melanie, Justin is fine. I’ve talked to him. I know for a fact that he’s fine.” “Brian, this is just the kind of stunt you would pull to keep Justin all to yourself.” “Melanie, you wound me,” Brian said mockingly. “Of course Melanie, if I didn’t care about Justin any more, why would I want to keep him all to myself? Melanie this is crazy even for you. You’re not even making sense.” “Michael and Lindsay were talking about the painting he got from Justin. Then he started with his theory that Justin is lost, and we all need to go to New York and rescue him. Michael’s really concerned Brian. Lindsay said that she’s never seen him like this. You have to do something!” “Me? Why me?” “ Because YOUR SON …” “All right, Melanie. What’s Gus done now? It must be pretty awful, because that’s the only time he becomes my son.” “Gus overheard Michael and Lindsay talking. Now he’s mad at Lindsay and me because we won’t go to New York with Michael and Ben to find Justin. In his six year-old mind, we’re mean and cruel and willing to leave HIS Justin all lost and alone in New York, rather than find him and take him home to YOU. Gus is talking about Justin being hungry and all alone. He’s even worried that he’ll never see Justin again unless we all do something fast.” Brian burst out laughing, while thinking at the same time that he was going to kill Michael. “This isn’t funny, Asshole. I’m dealing with a very upset six year old. Your son won’t talk to me. Gus won’t even talk to Lindsay. What are YOU going to do about this?” “Melanie, let me talk to Gus.” “Don’t you mean let you talk to Michael? He’s the problem!” “Michael is Ben’s problem. You let me talk to my son.” There were muffled voices on the other end of the line. He could hear Melanie and Lindsay in the background. He could also hear Michael and Ben. Brian waited patiently, while envisioning an episode of the three stooges. Finally Gus came to the phone. “Gus?” “Dad?” “I understand that you’re worried about Justin.” “He’s lost and hungry and alone. We have to find him. They won’t do anything, Dad. You have to do something.” “Gus, Justin is fine.” “No he isn’t!” “Yes he is, Gus. Honest. Trust me on this.” “How do you know?” “I always know how Justin is. You remember?” “Because you love him?” “Right.” “But Dad, Uncle Michael said he’s lost?” “No Gus. He’s not lost. Do you want to talk to him?” “You found him. Is he all right? Can I talk to him?” Gus asked excitedly. Justin had been patiently listening to Brian’s half of the conversation. Brian could tell from the expression on Justin’s face, that he would eventually have a lot of explaining to do. But Brian knew that for now, all that would be put aside as Gus talked to Justin. Brian handed the phone to Justin. “Gus?” “Jus? Are you ok? I was so worried.” “Gus. Yes, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. Your Dad is taking good care of me.” “Really? Are you sure you’re all right?” “Absolutely. I’m fine Gus. There’s no need to worry.” “Ok. Bye Jus.” “Bye, Gus. Here’s your Dad.” “Gus, are you ok now?” Brian asked reassuringly. “Ah huh. Dad, I want to see Justin,” Gus demanded. “OK Gus, we’ll work something out.” “Promise? “Yes, Gus. I promise. Now, let me speak to your mother again.” “You promise Dad? Right? Bye Dad! Here’s mama.” “Now what do you want, Asshole?” “Is Gus ok?” Brian asked still being a bit concerned. “Yes, he’s smiling. What did you say to him?” “That doesn’t matter. He wants to see Justin.” “We can arrange it, just as soon as we can FIND Justin.” “Melanie, no one needs to look for Justin. I know exactly where he is. Justin is fine.” “Where is he, Brian?” “He’s where he’s suppose to be, Melanie.” And then Brian whispered, “ He’s home”. There was a pause and Brian finally said, “ Look, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.” Brian hung up the phone. He could feel Justin’s glare on the back of his neck. Brian turned around and came face to face with a puzzled Justin, standing there with his arms folded across his chest. Brian knew this discussion was not going to be pretty, yet he couldn’t see any way to weasel out of it. “So are you going to tell me what that’s all about?” Justin demanded. “Do I have to?” Brian asked, still trying to figure out a way to avoid this discussion. “Only if you ever want fuck me again?” Justin said with a sinister smile. Brian recognized the stance and the tone of voice and decided it was time to come clean. “Fuck! All right, I’ll tell you. No wonder my son’s a drama princess. He’s spent so much time with you growing up, he really had no choice.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Justin asked. “Never mind.” Brian said with a smile. “I’m waiting Brian!” “All right. You know the painting you sent to Michael. He loves the painting. He has spend hours just sitting and looking at it, every spare minute that he’s had, in fact. He even put it on display in the store, so all of Liberty Avenue could see your painting. He’s so proud to have it. It means a lot to him that you sent it to him.” “I thought he might enjoy the painting. That was the general idea. So, what’s the problem?” “Well according to Mikey, you would never paint Rage and Zephyr in a painting without JT. So since JT was not in the painting, according to Michael, JT is lost and the superheroes need to mount a campaign to find you… sorry JT…and bring you…sorry him back to Gayopolis…or this case Pittsburgh.” “You’re kidding? Right?” “No, I’ve never been more serious.” “Wow! Brian, I knew that Michael was some writer by the stories he created for the comic, but he has truly surpassed himself with this one.” “The problem is that Emmett and Ben agree with him. It’s scary I know, but somehow they understand his logic. Ben threatened to pack you up and bring you back to Pittsburgh.” “So that’s why you had me come home so suddenly.” “That was only part of the reason. I really did need you for this project. I didn’t want Mikey or the Professor interfering with your life. I thought this would have blown over by now. I should have told you. I’m sorry.” “Brian, you know Michael pretty well. What do you think is really going on?” “Strange as it may sound, I think this is about Michael. I think he misses you. I also think he’s living with a lot of guilt. And, I think his little mind can’t cope. After all the lengths he’s gone to just to rid you from my life, I think these feelings must be too much for him, and he just snapped.” “So what do we do now?” “Well when he and the Professor get back, maybe I’ll let them see you. They’ve probably talked to Gus by now. It will take them a while to figure out he’s telling them the truth when he said he talked to you. So I figure Michael and Ben will show up here on the way back from the airport. Michael will use his key, of course. He’ll see it as legit this time, because he’ll see this as an emergency. Just thought I’d warn you.” “So you think Michael misses me? Well, we did start to get close just before I left for New York. But I agree with you that would be too weird. Let’s just wait and see. Maybe there’s another explanation.” Justin said in amazement. Then he just laughed.