Duncan was coming out of the bathroom in Woody’s when he bumped into Justin. “Hey man.” Justin glared at him. “Whoa,” Duncan said. “What’s with you?” “He’s a fucking asshole!” Justin hissed. “Who?” Duncan asked. “Are you and Brian fighting?” “No,” Justin shook his head. “Ethan!” “Oh,” Duncan said. “Who the fuck is he?” “This guy from school,” Justin said. “He was just talking bullshit!” “Relax,” Duncan grabbed Justin by the arm and walked with him to where Michael and Brian were laughing. “Guys,” he greeted both man. Michael looked at Duncan and frowned. “What the fuck is going on?” “Justin?” Brian pulled the blond to him. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing,” Justin said but hugged Brian. Brian looked at Duncan as he ran his hand over the back of Justin’s head. “Do you want to go?” “No,” Justin pulled back. “I’m okay. I just need a drink.” Brian watched him go with Michael. He pulled Duncan towards him by the arm. “What the fuck happened?” he inquired in a deadly tone. “He came over to me complaining about some guy from school,” Duncan said. “He didn’t tell me anything else.” Brian nodded and then they walked over to the guys. Brian bought a beer for himself and watched as Justin downed a Jack Daniels. “So, one more week,” Duncan said smiling. Justin’s face turned from a frown into a smile. “I can’t believe it,” he happily expressed. “We know,” Brian, Michael and Duncan said at the same time. “Okay,” Justin said. “I get it.” Michael laughed and then looked at Brian as he said, “don’t worry, one day you will get your very own wedding.” Brian put his beer on the bar and glared at Michael. “I don’t think so,” Justin said somewhat sadly. “Brian doesn’t believe in that shit.” Michael smirked because he hadn’t either, not until he had met Duncan. “I see,” he dropped it. “Justin,” Ethan said as he came out of nowhere. “I need to talk to you.” Justin shook his head and moved back into Brian’s arms. “Fuck you!” he shouted at Ethan. “I’m sorry, okay?” Ethan told him. “I didn’t mean what I said before.” “The fuck you didn’t,” Justin hissed. “I don’t fucking care what you have to say. Just leave me the fuck alone.” Ethan looked at Brian and glared at him. He shook his head and left. “What the fuck?” Brian asked as he turned Justin around. “What the fuck happened between you two?” “I fucked him okay!” Justin yelled and then pulled away from Brian. “Is that what you want to know?” Duncan pulled Michael away from there. He didn’t want to be caught in the middle of the guys’ fight. “Its no big deal,” Justin said and then started walking away from Brian. Brian grabbed his beer and drank one last sip. He was battling a rage inside. He dearly wanted to beat the crap out of Ethan for whatever he had done to his blond. Instead, Brian paid for the drinks and went after the blond. “Justin!” Ethan called after the blond who was walking towards the car. Justin turned around. “What the fuck do you want?” “I’m really sorry,” Ethan said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” “You can’t hurt me,” Justin hissed. “You are nothing but a trick. I had you and now you can leave. Nothing you say to me matters.” “Not even if what I said it’s the truth?” Ethan asked. “You need...” “You heard him,” Brian growled. “Get the fuck away from us!” “Come on, Brian,” Justin said as he pulled the brunet with him. They walked away leaving a gawking Ethan behind. They got in the Jeep to go home. “You haven’t told me what that was all about,” Brian said. “It really doesn’t matter,” Justin replied putting his seatbelt on. “Can you not trust me with it? Is that why or are you afraid to tell me?” Brian asked him. Justin frowned and looked out the window. He thought about all the things that Ethan had told him and he got angry. “It doesn’t matter,” he repeated. Brian decided to drop it, for the moment at least. *** Justin hands shook as he threw all the paint down the drain. He started cleaning everything that was in the sink. When he was done he turned back and started to pick his things up. Suddenly he stopped and sat down in one of the chairs and he stared ahead, not moving at all. “Hey, Jus,” Michael said as he stepped inside the blond’s studio. “Told you he was here,” he said to Brian. “We were going around in circles,” Brian pointed out. “You got lucky.” “That too,” Michael said. “Justin,” Brian said. “Justin!” Justin looked up startled and frowned. He got up and walked over to them. “When did you guys get here?” “Just now,” Michael said. “Oh,” Justin sighed with confusion, scratching one of his eyelids to clear some of the haze he suddenly felt. “Are you okay?” Brian asked. “You are looking a little pale.” “I’m just so hungry. I’ve been working nonstop,” Justin told him. “I need to pick up my stuff.” Brian watched as Justin slowly put his things in the art case. He wanted to rip the blond’s clothes and take him right there. Michael was watching them with an amused smile. “What?” Brian asked. “I didn’t say anything,” Michael told him pretty sure of what Brian had been thinking. “So, what are you guys doing here?” Justin asked putting his brushes in their case. “Duncan wanted to look around,” Michael said. “He’s writing a character that is a musician,” Brain told him. “He wanted to see the music department and try to do some research. We got here like an hour ago.” “Is he still over there?” Justin asked him. Michael and Brian nodded. “Can we go eat later?” Justin asked as he closed his art case. “I was on my way out.” “I can go get him,” Michael said. “We could go eat and then come back,” he looked at his watch. “It’s twelve.” “That would be great,” Justin said. “I’m starving.” “I could give you something to tie you up for a while,” Brian said as he stood behind Justin, pushing his hard on against the blond’s butt. “Brian,” Justin gasped and his eyes closed automatically. Michael rolled his eyes and didn’t bother to announce that he was leaving. He made sure to close the door when he got out of the studio. He walked to the stairs and then went up to the third floor where Duncan was. Once he was in the hallway he started looking inside the rooms. The place was practically deserted. He was about to turn and go in the other direction when one of the doors burst open and a guy came out. Michael was about to ask him if he had seen Duncan by describing him but he never had a chance. “Help me,” he gasped out. “Oh fuck,” Michael said running up to him. “What the hell happened?” he kneeled when the guy just dropped to the floor. “Help me,” he said grabbing on to Michael. “Jesus,” Michael couldn’t believe it. It was Justin’s friend, Ethan. “Help!!” Ethan closed his eyes briefly. He was breathing funny and he was covered in blood. “Hey,” a guy that had been in his study came out when he heard Michael’s scream for assistance. “Call an ambulance, now!!” Michael yelled. “Go!” The guy took off running to find a phone. Gradually more people started to come out to the hallway. “Michael,” Duncan ran up to him and kneeled beside Ethan and Michael. “What the fuck happened?” “I found him like this,” Michael said. Ethan could barely move. He was fighting so hard to keep his eyes open but the pain he was feeling made him shut them closed. “Michael,” Duncan whispered. “I...where is he bleeding from? Why is there so much blood?” “I don’t know,” Michael said. “Grgh,” Ethan was trying to talk. “Oh fuck!” Michael shook his head. Ethan pulled himself up through Michael’s shirt to say something. “Relax,” Michael said. “Don’t talk. Save your strength.” Duncan got up and backed away. He had never seen someone dying. He was so fucking scared at that moment. “You are going to be okay,” Michael said and pushed Ethan back down. “I think you should save your strength.” “What did he say?” Duncan asked his breathing was shallow and erratic. “I couldn’t understand him,” Michael told him. “Where is that ambulance?” Ethan started convulsing and blood came out of his mouth. Then he was perfectly still. “I know CPR,” some guy said. “No,” Michael said shaking his head. “He’s dead and plus there is so much blood. We don’t know if he…well, you know.” “Right,” the guy that had offered replied. Michael got up and walked over to Duncan. The two of them hugged. “I’m going to go get Brian.” Duncan nodded and went with him. When they reached the studio they heard Brian and Justin giggling. “Guys!” Michael shouted. Brian sat up. “Don’t you guys know how to knock?” he got up naked and a bit angry that he was interrupted. He wanted to be left alone with the blond so he could fuck him senseless. “Here,” Justin said giving Brian his pants. “Jesus,” Duncan said and sat in one of the stools. “There is something that we need to tell you.” “What?” Justin asked reaching for his clothes. “That you want to have as much fun as we do?” “Look at me,” Michael said. Brian and Justin both looked over at Michael. They frowned and looked at each other before looking back at Michael. “Is that...is that paint?” Justin asked. “What happened to you?” “It’s blood,” Michael said. “Ethan’s blood.” “What?” Justin asked getting up. “Where is he?” “He’s dead,” Michael spat out. “I’m fucking leaving.” Justin looked at Brian and then at the floor. His hands started to shake and his eyes watered. “Are you going to cry?” Brian asked. “He’s my friend,” Justin told him. “Mmm,” Brian grunted as he got dressed quickly. “What the fuck did you do Mikey?” “I didn’t do anything, Brian!” Michael shouted. “He just came out of nowhere. He was just...bleeding everywhere.” When Justin finished dressing he took off to see what the fuck was going on. “Justin!” Brian grabbed him by the arm. “Let me go!” Justin hissed. “I want to see what’s going on. He has to be okay!” Brian let him go and then turned back to Michael and Duncan. “This can’t be happening again,” he ran his fingers through his hair. He was so confused. “Well, it looks like it,” Michael hissed as he made it out of the studio when someone started shouting that the cops had arrived. Brian and Duncan looked each other. “A twist for your book,” Brian drawled and then went to look for Justin. Duncan rubbed his face and groaned. He looked around and realized that he was all alone and at that precise time, he didn’t wanted to be. *** Terrance looked up when he felt someone walking his way. “Hey, you are late,” he said to his partner. Clay came smiling over to Terrance. “What is with you?” Terrance asked. “Did you get lucky last night?” “I always get lucky. Ever since Ashley moved in with me,” Clay said sitting on his chair. “Ah, love,” Terrance muttered. “How does he ever put up with you?” “He’s an angel,” Clay smiled thinking about his partner for a few seconds. “Anyway, that’s not why I am smiling. “Why is it then?” Terrance asked. “We caught one of the killers,” Clay said. “Tony over at vice made the connection.” “No shit,” Terrance said. Clay nodded absently. “He was in the force. Reikert,” Clay told him. “Jesus fuck,” Terrance said. He had been longer on the force than anyone he knew. “He was Stockwell’s partner.” “Go figure,” Clay was searching for something in his desk. “He was the one that killed Jason Kempt.” “Poor bastard,” Terrance shook his head. “What the heck are you looking for?” “I had an address here,” Clay told him. “It was one of Justin’s siblings another aunt or something.” “What do you want it for?” Terrance frowned. “Well, I have an idea,” Clay told him. “We are going to find if anyone had an accident or died before the Taylor’s did.” “Wait,” Terrance looked at his partner. “You still think its Justin?” “Yeah,” Clay told him. “Don’t you see it?” Terrance asked. “It had to be someone else. Justin couldn’t have gotten there. No way in hell.” Clay sighed and thought about it. “Justin was with Brian,” Terrance said. “In his studio.” “Yeah,” Clay nodded. “But I don’t know. Maybe somehow.” “Ethan was in the Music department, third floor,” Terrance said. “Where Michael found him,” Clay muttered. “He said he was looking for his fiancé,” Terrance leaned back in his chair. “Could be true.” “Maybe Michael did it,” Clay said. Terrance sighed. “He never did cooperate with us but I don’t think so, no motive.” “How about he’s just crazy?” Clay asked. Terrance laughed at that. “He came to visit and someone winds up dead,” Clay pointed out. “And every time I talked to him it was so fucking hard. He always was hiding some...thing.” “What?” Terrance asked seeing how Clay fell deep in thought. Clay frowned. “I have to go check something.” “What?” Terrance asked. “Don’t worry about it,” Clay grabbed his keys. “It’s just a hunch.” “Okay,” his partner nodded. “Just be careful and don’t get in any trouble.” “I won’t,” Clay assured him. “If I need you, I’ll call you.” Terrance nodded and watched him go. He didn’t know what the hell Clay had thought of but he would find out soon enough. He got up and grabbed his things. He had his own haunch to work on. *** “What the fuck am I doing here?” Brian asked himself. “Having a good time,” Justin suggested. “I don’t think so,” Brian said. He got up and pulled out his cigarettes. “You can’t smoke here,” Justin protested. “We are outside,” Brian pointed out. “Just go all the way over there,” Justin told him. Brian was glad. When he was at the end of the patio he looked back at Justin’s family. He must have been drunk when he decided to come to the family cookout. “Who wants to play charades?” Alex asked yelling. “Do you want to play Brian?” He had definitely been high as well. “No,” Brian told him. Alex frowned and then run to his mother to tell her that Brian didn’t want to play with him. “Rachel will play with you,” Wanda said to her son. “I want to play with Brian!” Alex shouted. “Tone it down young man,” Lenny told his son. Shay rolled her eyes at them and then walked over to Brian. “Hey.” Brian looked at her and then kept on smoking. “So, you and Justin are really serious, huh?” Shay asked. Brian ignored her. “Hey,” Shay said and got in front of Brian. Brian just arched a brow. “Do you talk?” Shay asked him. “Or were you made just to look pretty?” Brian laughed. “I talk.” “Are you bored?” Shay asked. “Shay,” Justin said. “Don’t bother Brian.” “I’m not doing anything,” Shay protested. “I’m just talking to him.” “Its okay, Sunshine,” Brian told him. “Nice,” Shay giggled at the nickname and then left. “The food is ready,” Justin told him. “Come eat with us, please.” Brian threw the cigarette on the ground and then started walking to the table. They sat down and said a prayer. “So, Brian, how have you been?” Lenny asked. “Working hard,” Brian told him. “Justin told us that you are working to get a promotion,” Wanda said. “We hope you get it.” Brian nodded. “What would you get?” Molly asked. Brian arched a brow. “If you get the promotion,” Molly told him. “They would give you more money, right?” “It’s not about that,” Brian told her. He still hadn’t tasted his food. “I want to become partner.” “Aren’t you kind of young?” Lenny asked. “He’s really good,” Justin said. “And he deserves it. He works harder than anyone in that company.” Wanda smiled at them. She really liked Brian and she could see how much love Justin had for the man. “Well,” Lenny said. “Good luck.” Brian nodded. “Brian do you want my broccoli,” Alex asked. “I don’t like it.” Brian shook his head. Alex stuck his tongue out and tasted it. “Here,” he offered it to Brian once again. “You taste it.” “Alex,” Wanda chastised. “Stop that.” Brian looked at the boy and then at Justin. “And you want to have kids.” Justin just smirked. *** Terrance got out of his car and walked over to the house. He knocked on the door and waited. “Can I help you?” She asked. “My name is Terrance Perry,” he showed her his badge. “I came to ask you a few questions.” She frowned. “Me? Why me?” “Are you Joan Kinney?” Terrance asked. Joan nodded. “Could I come in?” Terrance asked. Joan looked at the man from head to toe and let him inside. They sat in the sofa at the same time. “Do you want anything to drink?” Joan asked. “No,” Terrance told her as he fixed his tie. “I’m okay.” “What is it that you want?” Joan asked. “I’m here to talk about your husband,” Terrance told her. “He’s dead,” Joan told him coldly. Terrance nodded. “How was it that Jack died?” he asked. Joan frowned. “What do you want to know that for?” “Can’t you answer me?” Terrance asked. “You are a cop why don’t you go investigate and find out,” Joan said. “Besides, that happened a long time ago. I’m sure the official report is written someplace.” “It was an accident,” Terrance told her suddenly. “The breaks didn’t work.” Joan just nodded. “If you knew already then why are you harassing me and asking me all these questions?” “I read the report,” Terrance told her. “I wasn’t really convinced.” “That’s not my problem,” Joan told him getting up. “I have things to do, so if you don’t have anything else to ask I recommend you leave.” “How old was Brian,” Terrance asked when he got up, “when his father died in the accident?” he grilled. Joan raised a brow. “He was sixteen.” “I see,” Terrance nodded. “Well, thank you for your help.” Joan walked with him to the door. She watched him go and then closed the door. She stood there for a few minutes trying to compose herself. Then she went in search for her purse and her keys. She needed to go talk with Brian.