Chapter Nine Kip Thomas had arrived to take over Brian's place as head-guard, and Brian was not happy. He wasn't letting Justin out of his sight, not for one minute. He kept telling himself that he still thought of Justin as his case, and that's why he wasn't leaving. He didn't want to admit to himself that he was actually starting to have feelings for the blond. He was Brian Kinney. He didn't have feelings for other people. Not those kinds of feelings, anyway. Justin sat in his studio that was a part of his house, painting. He hadn't painted in a long time, but for some reason, he was inspired. He glanced at Brian sitting on the couch across the room and smiled. Turning back to his canvas, he saw Brian's wide hazel eyes staring back out at him, and knew the other man was his inspiration. There was a knock on his studio door and he chuckled at how quickly Brian sprang to his feet to answer it. Brian heard the knock on his door and got up off the couch, pulling open the door. He scowled when he saw Kip standing there. "What do you want?" he asked. Kip rolled his eyes. "I need to speak with Mr. Taylor," he said, crossing his arms across his body. He, unlike Brian, enjoyed wearing his officer's uniform every day. Brian preferred the less noticeable look of being casual. "You think I'd actually leave him alone with you?" Brian asked, not moving an inch. Justin got up off of the stool he was sitting on and went over to the door. "Anything you have to say to me, you can say to Brian, too, Kip," Justin said. "Please, call me Officer Thomas," Kip said. Brian rolled his eyes. "You know, the whole point of being a private bodyguard is being inconspicuous. And … wearing your uniform everyday, having Justin call you 'Officer Thomas', that's not," he said. Kip turned and looked at him. "Kinney, you have no say. You are off the job. Now, shut up," Kip turned to look at Justin. "Mr. Taylor, please come with me," he said, holding out his hand. Justin shook his head. "No. Like I said before, anything you say to me, can be said in front of Brian as well," Justin said, crossing his arms and walking back to his painting. He sat back down on his stool, grabbed his brush, and started again. Brian smirked at Kip before closing the door in his face and walking back to the couch. ----- Later that night, Brian sat on a beach chair in the backyard, reading a book while watching Justin doing his laps. Feeling water hit his legs, he glanced up and saw Justin looking at him. “What do you want, brat?” he asked, a smile crossing his face. Justin laughed. “Come on, get in. It’s nice.” “No way. I’m perfectly happy sitting on this chair, watching you freeze your ass off in that pool,” Brian smirked. Justin shook his head, pulling himself out of the pool. He grabbed a towel and dried himself off the best that he could before coming over and sitting on the edge of the beach chair. “Please come swim with me?” Justin made a puppy-dog face. Brian laughed. “Cut it out, Sunshine. That shit doesn’t work on me,” he said, closing his book and laying it down on the table next to him. Justin abandoned the puppy-dog face, and smiled instead. He threw down his towel and ran, jumping back into the pool. Brian shook his head, laughing. He turned to look inside the house, and saw Kip watching them from the kitchen. Suddenly, he felt Justin’s body on top of his. Justin’s WET body. “I got you wet!” Justin laughed, resting his head on Brian’s chest. Brian groaned. “God … you’re such a fucking brat. I have no idea why I put up with you,” he said, wrapping his arms around Justin. Justin smiled. “You think I’m gorgeous, you want to kiss me—“ Justin began, but Brian cut him off by placing one of his hands over his mouth. “Shut up,” he said, then pulled him up so that he could reach, and leaned down, kissing him. Justin laughed against his lips and pulled away. “I told you! You so care about me. You LOVE me!” he teased. Brian rolled his eyes, leaning back in the chair. “Twat,” he said. Justin just smiled, laying his head back down on Brian’s chest, snuggling in close to him. Brian wrapped his arms around him again, one hand running through the wet blond hair. They both lay there like that, content for the moment. ----- He got up from his spot in the bushes, quiet as can be. Once he was out of hearing range, he cursed. “God damnit! They’ve fucking fallen for each other. The boss isn’t gonna be happy about this,” the man said, pulling out his cell phone and dialing his boss’ number. “What?” came the answer. He bit his lip. “Boss, it’s me. I’ve just been watching them, and I have some bad news. They’re fucking in love,” he said. “In love? They can’t be. You’re slacking in your watching duties. Get back to me tomorrow,” the Boss said, then hung up. He nodded. “Denial won’t help, Boss,” he said to no one in particular, getting in his car and driving back to the hotel. ----- Brian was woken up by loud knocking on Justin’s bedroom door. He had taken to sleeping in Justin’s room with him, because he hated leaving the man unattended. Groaning, he got up and removed the lock that he had installed, opening the door. He was startled totally awake to see his police chief standing on the other side. “Beckett? What the fuck are you doing here?” he asked. Beckett just shook his head. “I really hate to do this, Brian, but you have to leave. I told you that you couldn’t mess around with Thomas’ investigation, and he tells me that you’ve got Mr. Taylor not listening to him,” he said. Brian turned to look at the still sleeping Justin, before returning his gaze to his ex-police chief. “Thomas is being a complete moron! He’s walking around in his officer uniform, and having Justin call him Officer Thomas … how obvious is that to this stalker that there’s police in the house?!” Brian argued. Beckett shook his head. “That doesn’t matter. I’ve talked with him, he understands. You’ve interfered, and now you have to go. Don’t make me get the handcuffs, Brian,” Beckett pleaded. Brian shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. “Fine. I’ll be out in a few minutes, let me get my stuff together,” he said, then slammed the door shut. He turned to Justin and bit his lip. Kneeling down on the bed beside him, he shook him slightly. “Justin … Jus, wake up,” he called. Justin rolled over and pulled the covers over his head. “Too early, Bri … you can fuck me in an hour,” he mumbled. Brian couldn’t help but smile. He pulled the blanket off Justin’s head. “Sunshine … I have to leave,” he said. Justin yawned and stretched, opening his eyes. “Where are you going?” he asked. Brian shook his head. “Thomas told the police chief that I’m interfering with his investigation, so they’re making me go. I can either leave myself, or they can take me out in handcuffs,” he said, rolling his lips into his mouth. Justin sat up in the bed. “What? You’re leaving, leaving?” he asked. Brian nodded. “Brian, you can’t leave!” he cried out, fear in his eyes. Brian put his hands on Justin’s shoulders to calm him down some. “Justin … relax. I’m going to fight this. I just have to leave now, so I won’t get arrested. Once I get back in Pittsburgh, I’ll go to the Lieutenant … I’ll do whatever I have to do to get back here, okay?” he said. Justin calmed himself down, nodding. “Okay … okay,” he said, nodding his head. Brian sat down next to him, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. “I don’t want you to become a hermit to your bedroom—“ he started. “Fuck that, I’m gonna be in here all the time. There’s a lock on it,” Justin interrupted. Brian smiled. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said. Justin wrapped his arms around Brian’s neck and hugged him tight. “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, and it could very well be desperation talking,” Justin started in a whisper, “but I love you,” he finished. Brian closed his eyes, hugging the man back. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he repeated, standing up and pulling jeans on over his boxer briefs. He grabbed his bag and gave the blond a smile. “Don’t do anything stupid, Sunshine. If you don’t want to leave your room, then don’t leave your room,” he said. Justin nodded. Brian opened the door and walked out into the living room. Michael was sitting on the couch, arguing with Beckett about sending Brian away. Brian placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. “It’s okay, Mikey. I’m gonna get it sorted out,” he said, nodding. Michael folded his arms across his chest, scowling at Kip. “I’ll make sure to keep an eye on Justin for you,” Michael offered. Brian smiled. “Thanks, Mikey,” he said, dropping his bag by the door. He gave Mikey a quick kiss goodbye, and turned to pick up his bag. “Wait!” Justin called, coming out of his bedroom. Brian let go of his bag and turned around, smiling, his arms full of blond boy. “I wondered how long it’d take you to try and stop this from happening,” Brian said. “Well, I know that I can’t stop it. Just make sure you’re back here soon,” Justin said. Brian nodded, and Justin leaned up, pressing his lips to Brian’s. Brian kissed him back, one hand on Justin’s waist, the other on his cheek. Justin has both his arms around Brian’s neck, trying to get as close as possible. When they finally pulled apart, Brian leaned his forehead against Justin’s. “I promise. I will find a way to get back here,” he whispered. Justin nodded, giving him a final quick kiss, letting go of him. Brian smiled, grabbing his bag and going outside, throwing it into his jeep. He got into the driver’s seat and glanced back at the house, seeing Justin in the window. He sighed, starting his car and backing out of the driveway. He was determined. He would find a way to get back to that house and keep Justin safe. End Chapter Nine 08-26-05