Justin closed his cell phone and headed to get his coat in the backroom of the diner. Debbie watched him go and frowned. “And, just where do you think you’re going?” She asked. “I have to go, Deb.” Justin stated flatly. “I can’t answer a bunch of questions right now. I have to go.” Deb eyed Justin for a second or two. “Okay, go.” She said jerking her thumb toward the door. “But, I will expect some answers when you get back.” Justin nodded as he pulled on his coat and headed out the door. Justin ran out to the curb and flagged down a taxi. He would have asked for a ride from someone, but neither he nor Brian had told anyone about their reunion yet. They had silently agreed that they wanted to establish themselves again before they allowed their friends to tromp in with attitudes and opinions neither really wanted to hear. When the cab reached the school, Justin paid the cabby and quickly ran into the building. He found Brian in the office with the principal. Justin saw the look on Brian’s face and recognized it as the same look he’d had when he’d been robbed because Justin hadn’t set the alarm the first time they’d lived together. Which in a nutshell meant the man was incensed. “So,” Brian was saying, “you just let anyone march into the this school and sign a child out no questions asked?” Brian asked just barely noticing that Justin had entered the room. “Mr. Kinney,” the principal said trying to keep Brian calm, “I assure you that this type of thing has never happened before.” Brian nodded slowly then produced his cell phone from his pocket and dialed only three numbers. Justin knew in a heartbeat that Brian had just called 911. The principal knew it too and was beside himself. Justin knew that the short heavyset man was envisioning lawsuits against him, the school and the school board if not more. He cringed as Brian told the police what was happening and then hung up the phone. “The police are on their way.” Brian said far more calmly than he felt as he folded his cell phone and gingerly placed it back in his suit pocket. “Now, I need to know what class John had before he was signed out, what classes he missed and the names of those teachers, and I need to know if you have a picture of him on file.” “I have the class information right here. I’ll contact the teachers at once.” Blondie said as she hurried to the phone. “I don’t know about the picture, though. We may have a picture from last year.” Brian pulled his cell out again and punched in another number. Justin couldn’t imagine who he was calling. “Yeah, Cynthia, listen, I need you to do me a favor.” Brian explained. “Yeah, yeah. I know. But this is important.” Brian paused. “Look, John is missing from school and I need you to go to my loft and get his most recent school picture.” Brian paused again listening. “I know exactly where it is. It’s in a box next to my desk at home. It has ‘School Stuff’ written on it in marker.” Justin looked at Brian in awe. And they said he’d never amount to anything as a parent. Justin thought then shook his head. Clueless assholes. “Yeah, It’ll be in an envelope with the photography studio’s name on it. The pictures are dated, so get the most recent. It should be from this year Claire had a new picture in her wallet. You are a life saver.” “Mr. Kinney?” The principal said as he approached Brian. “I know that you are upset and I can understand how you feel -.” “No, you can’t.” Brian snapped turning on the man. “That boy has been through hell and I got to go right along with him. He lost his mother, my sister, his brother, my nephew, and his grandmother, my mother, all at the same time. He’s had to deal with living with me as his guardian because his father is a total fuck up and doesn’t want him. So don’t you dare stand there and tell me you know how I feel.” The principal paled and said nothing else. Brian ran his hand through his hair and then scrubbed his face. It was then that he turned in Justin direction. Justin saw the pleading look in the older man’s eyes and immediately wrapped his arms around Brian and hugged him tightly. Brian pulled Justin to him just as tightly. He buried his face in the teen’s hair and was calmed by the familiar scent, as he had been the day of the accident. “It’s going to be okay, Bri.” Justin whispered. “I just know it’ll be all right.” Brian nodded and kissed the top of Justin’s head. “From you mouth to God’s ear, Sunshine.” Brian said softly and closed his eyes. -- After talking to the police, and then watching them interrogate the school staff and faculty, Brian was instructed to go home and see if the boy came home on his own or wait for a possible call from a kidnapper. Brian nodded and thanked the officers who in turn assured him that an Amber Alert was already in affect and that the report of John’s disappearance would be on the national feed. Brian nodded, put his arm around Justin, and headed out to the ‘Vette. The ride home was solemn. Brian refused to talk despite Justin’s attempts to get him to open up. “You know you can talk to me.” Justin said. “I know this is hard and I want to help.” “I know, Sunshine.” Brian said softly. “I’m – I’m glad you’re here.” Justin smiled and took Brian’s hand. Brian laced their fingers together and held on tightly. As Brian pulled to the curb in front of his building, he frowned then jumped out of the car before Justin could determine what was going on. Justin looked up to see John Burke, Sr. standing at the door of the building John, Jr. standing next to him. Brian was descending on his former brother-in-law and Justin jumped out of the car quickly knowing what Brian might do. “What the fuck are you doing?” Brian yelled as he grasped John, Sr.’s coat and shoved him against the brick wall. The bewildered man stared at Brian as if he were a stranger. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?” “Uncle Bri.” John said. “Stop. Please.” Brian turned to the boy and seemed to break out of a trance. He let go of John, Sr. and turned his attention to John. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” John said. “Dad told me you knew about him coming to get me. But, then he wouldn’t let me call you and I realized he was heading out of Pittsburgh and I got a little scared.” “Where he hell were you going?” Brian asked turning on John, Sr. “Answer me!” “I was going to try and take him away from you.” John, Sr. said staring at the ground. “But, then he started telling me that he didn’t want to leave. He said you’re really good at the parent thing. Imagine that. A fag that’s a better father to him than his real father.” “Don’t call him that!” John yelled. “Just quit it, all right!” “I’m sorry.” John Sr. said and tried to touch John but the boy pulled away. “I thought I – aw hell, I don’t know what I was thinking.” He said as he turned back to Brian. “That’s pretty fucking obvious.” Brian said finally getting a handle on his temper. “Justin, can you take John upstairs. I need to talk to his dad for a second.” “Don’t hit him, Uncle Bri.” John pleaded. “I won’t hit him, John.” Brian said cupping the boy’s face. “I promise. Now, go on up with Justin. Turn on cartoons and we’ll order take out when I get up there.” “Okay.” John said. He turned and walked in the door as Justin held it open. “I’ll be right up.” Brian said to Justin. He pulled the blond to him and pressed his lips to Justin’s. Justin nodded, gave John, Sr. a reproachful look then turned to follow John. “You two are like a couple?” John, Sr. asked. “Not ‘like’, we are a couple.” Brian said. “Justin’s my partner.” “I am really sorry, Brian.” John said sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than Brian. “I believe you are.” Brian conceded. “But, if you ever try something stupid like this again,” Brian moved to within a few inches from John, Sr.’s face “you had better hope the police find you before I do. John has been through enough, don’t you think?” John, Sr. nodded. “If you want to see him, call. Take my card.” Brian pulled one of his business cards from his wallet. “That’s my office number. Call my assistant, Cynthia. She’ll make sure I get the message. I’ll make sure you get to see your son. Deal?” “Deal.” John, Sr. agreed. “You gonna call the police?” “Yeah.” Brian said. “I’m going to tell them that John’s father decided to take John for a surprise visit and I didn’t get the message ‘til late.” John let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks.” John, Sr. said. “This is a freebie, Burke.” Brian said. “Next time, well, let’s just say there had better not be a next time.” John, Sr. nodded. Brian watched the man walk to his car then look up at the loft window and wave. Brian looked up to see John in the window waving at his father. Burke looked back to Brian then got in his car and drove away. Brian ran a hand through his hair before heading up to the loft himself. “Is he okay, Uncle Bri?” John asked when Brian entered the loft door. “He’ll be fine.” Brian said smiling. “Maybe we can call him and have him over for dinner one night this weekend.” “That’d be great.” John said his face lighting up. Brian smiled. “Now, what are we ordering for dinner?” Brian asked. “Sub sandwiches from Genero’s.” John said. “I want a big meatball sub with extra sauce and fries. Justin’s going to get one, too. What about you?” “A heart attack in a bag? No, thank you.” Brian said as John rolled his eyes. “Do we need sodas?” “I’ll check.” John said running to the fridge. “Nope, we got sodas.” “Okay, I’ll call.” Brian said. “Go turn on the Cartoon Network, I know you’re dying to.” John smiled then rushed over to the TV. Soon sounds of ‘Ed, Edd, and Eddy’ could be heard throughout the loft. Brian shook his head then picked up the phone. He caught Justin’s eye as he dialed the phone. “What?” “Nothing.” Justin said as he wrapped his arms around Brian’s waist. “I just forgot how much I love you.” Brian leaned down and kissed Justin softly on the lips. “Me, too.” Brian said smirking. End chapter 10