“Michael,” Emmett whispered as tears fell. “Michael, please.” Drew rubbed his boyfriend’s back. Emmett cleaned his tears and embraced Drew. “Why did this have to happen to him?” “I don’t know,” Drew told him. “Do you need anything?” Emmett shook his head. “My god. He looks so bad.” Drew sighed not knowing what he could do to make Emmett stop crying. “Stop,” Michael muttered. “Please.” “Michael!” Emmett yelled. “Oh my god. Michael.” Michael opened the only eye he could. “I…I can’t move.” “You shouldn’t,” Emmett assured him. “Oh my god. You’re up.” “What happened?” Michael asked. “You don’t remember?” Drew asked him. Michael thought for a second and then he did. “Griffin.” Emmett’s eyes opened wide. “He did this to you?” the man asked shocked. He had been called to the hospital and when they had arrived the cops were there. They had told him that Michael had been attacked but he hadn’t been robbed so it looked like a hate crime. It didn’t even go through by Emmett’s brain that Griffin would do such a thing. “I deserved it,” Michael whispered as he started crying. “No, you didn’t,” Emmett said crying and he wished he could hug his friend but Michael was hurt. The doctor told them that he had four ribs broken and he was lucky enough that none of the major organs were pierced. His face looked like hamburger meat and he had a dislocated shoulder. The rest of Michael’s body was covered with black and blues. “I can’t believe this,” Emmett said. “Michael.” “What?” Michael asked opening his left eye. “Do you want me to call your mom?” Emmett asked. “The cops were here,” Drew said. “They want to know what happened but you were sleeping. They said they’ll come back.” “No,” Michael whispered. “Please. Don’t tell anyone. Please.” Emmett covered his face and ran out of there. He just wanted to yell at his friend that he couldn’t keep quiet about what had happened. Griffin could have killed him and Michael wouldn’t say anything because he didn’t want anyone finding out that he’d been cheating. “Hey, it’s okay,” Drew said. “But…really Michael I think is best if the police…” “No,” Michael said. “I’m done with this. I can’t…I won’t cause problems for Ben. I’ll stay away.” Drew sighed and watched as the man fell asleep. Then he went in search of Emmett. “Hey,” Drew said. Emmett looked up and then went back to staring at the floor. “Maybe he’s scared and ashamed and…” “Emmett,” Drew said. “I think he’s….I don’t know. He said he’s done.” Emmett frowned. “What do you mean?” “I think he means it’s over,” Drew said. “He was babbling about not wanting to cause problems for Ben and that he was going to keep away.” Emmett grabbed Drew’s hand. “I want to fucking beat the crap out of that idiot.” Drew kissed him and pulled him closer. “It will be okay.” Emmett shook his head knowing it wouldn’t be. *** “You’re an ass,” Evan said to Adam. Adam only smirked. Justin rolled his eyes. “Jesus, kill me now.” Brian smirked at the blond. “You two will shut up and behave,” Ian said. “This is important for Molly and if you screwed it up I will hang you from the ceiling.” Evan sighed. “He started it.” Adam pouted. “Shut up tattletale.” “Molly!” Evan complained. “Ignore him,” Brian said. “Please.” Justin laughed as he took the glass of wine. If that was what the rehearsal was like he didn’t want to see the real thing. “Hold on,” Brian said excusing himself. “You know that damn thing better be off the day of my wedding,” Molly shouted after Brian. Justin laughed and excused himself as well. With his trusty sidekick, the cane, he followed his husband. “Fuck!” Brian hissed. “What? Shit!” “Brian,” Justin said as he walked over to his husband. “Are you okay?” “No!” Brian told him and hung up the phone. “That was Cynthia.” “What happened?” Justin asked worried. Brian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Brown is mad that there was some bad news about Drew.” “They found out?” Justin asked. “No way.” “It’s not that,” Brian told him. “Apparently he got into a fight with some guy. They were taking down to the station.” “Oh shit,” Justin said. “We have to call Emmett.” “I have to go see what the fuck happened,” Brian said. “I’ll go with you,” Justin told him. “You don’t have to,” Brian assured him. “Do not leave me with them,” Justin hissed. “It will be very bad for you.” Brian smirked. “Okay. I’ll go excuse ourselves.” Justin waited for him and when Brian came back they walked out of the hotel and their car was brought to them. When they got to the police station there were reporters around waiting to see if they got a peak of Drew. There was no other explanation. Once inside they found out that Drew had been the guy to go up to the guy and just beat the shit out of him. “We’ll pay for it if we have to,” Brian said as he looked at Justin. The blond nodded right away. “I’m going to call Emmett,” Justin said. Brian walked away with the officer to go talk with Drew. The blond was about to dial Emmett’s number when he saw Griffin. He frowned and followed the man and saw that his brother was there too. “Hey Griffin. Hi George.” “Justin,” George said. “Hi.” “What’s going on?” Justin asked putting the phone back in his pocket. Griffin sighed. “What are you doing here Justin?” “I’m with Brian,” Justin informed him as he leaned on his cane. “What the fuck happened to you? You look like a fucking truck ran you over.” “Same different,” Griffin said. “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to be okay.” Justin frowned. “We’re not sure what happened?” George asked. “We were at the gym and suddenly…get this, Drew Boyd came up to us and then he beat the shit out of Griffin.” “Yeah, thanks for helping by the way,” Griffin said. “What?” George asked. “I was stunned and he was with two of his buddies. And boy they were big.” Griffin rolled his eyes. Justin frowned. “I don’t…why?” Griffin shrugged. “I don’t know.” “He was yelling something about…” George said and stopped as he thought about it. “Not so brave when it’s someone your size?” “Shut up,” Griffin told him. “Let’s just get out of here. I’ll see you, Justin.” Justin nodded and went to find the brunet to tell him who he’d seen and what he’d found out. “Weird,” Brian said once Justin told him. “Why would they be fighting?” Justin shrugged. “He came onto Emmett?” Brian laughed and got serious when Justin pinched him on the arm. “Hey, no need for that.” The blond smirked. “So, the guy…I mean Griffin is not pressing charges,” Brian said and shrugged. Justin thought that was a good thing. He so wanted to know what was going on. “Brian?” Drew asked. “Hey, you really didn’t have to come down here.” “Yeah,” Brian said and used his tongue in cheek expression. “Are you going to tell me what happened?” “Leave it alone,” Drew told them. Justin sighed wondering what the fuck was going on. *** Justin tried to get out of Drew what was going on. He called Emmett to tell him what was going on and Emmett was acting like he didn’t care. After that Brian dropped him home while he went to take Drew home and then try and find Leo to see if he could save Drew’s contract. The blond sat for a long time trying to figure out what was going on. When he finally did he got up grabbed his keys and phone and left the loft. When he arrived at the apartment he knocked on the door and waited. “What?” Michael asked as he opened the door just a crack. “Can I come in?” Justin asked. “Now is really not a good time Justin,” Michael whispered. “I’m not going anywhere,” Justin told him. “It’s important.” “Is Brian okay?” Michael asked. “It’s not him,” the blond said. “Please, Justin,” Michael said brokenly. “Just go away.” “I’m going to keep banging and banging until you let me in,” Justin said. Michael closed the door took the chain off and opened the door. He stepped to the side to let the blond come in. Justin did and looked around the place. It was pretty much bathed in darkness. “What is it?” Michael asked. Justin turned to look at the man. He opened his eyes wide when he saw Michael. “What the fuck happened to you?!” “Yeah, why don’t you point and laugh now?” Michael asked. “I bet you would love that.” Justin shook his head. “What happened to you?” Michael shrugged. “I got mugged.” The blond nodded slowly and then everything made sense; really made sense to him. “So, the cops know?” “I didn’t see much,” Michael whispered. “What did they take?” Justin asked. “What?” Michael asked. Justin shook his head. “Never mind. Can we sit down?” “Sure,” Michael said and they walked to the living room to sit down on the old couch. “So I was thinking,” Justin said. Michael sighed not sure what Justin was doing there. “Why in the hell would Drew be beating the shit out of Griffin,” Justin said. “What?” Michael asked. “Oh you didn’t know?” Justin asked. “Yes, Drew went after Griffin and beat the crap out of him. You should see him, not a pretty view. Well, he looks kind of like you.” “Jesus Christ,” Michael said not believing it. “It didn’t make sense at all,” Justin said. “So I just…I kept thinking about it you know. If Drew did it maybe Griffin made a pass at Emmett at the party Brian threw for me. I mean that’s the only place that they were together at, but then again Drew and Emmett left as soon as Griffin got there.” Michael swallowed. “So it’s like fucking crazy,” Justin said and laughed. “And then I remembered they left with you. I was thinking that you were mad that Brian was throwing a party for me but Bri assured me that you were okay with us. So I kept thinking and I remembered something else that happened that night. Ben asked me something.” The older man kept quiet. Suddenly he felt very cold. “He asked me why you and Emmett had left so quickly if the party had just started,” Justin told him. “Right,” Michael said very lowly. A part of him was happy that Ben had been asking about him. “And he used your name,” the blond said leaning closer. Michael stared at the blond. “But you two don’t know each other,” Justin said. Michael opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. “Or do you Michael?” Justin asked. The other man kept quiet not sure what to say. “And all those times that Griffin would call the loft asking for Ben came to mind,” Justin said. “I mean it did cross my mind that Ben was cheating but then again Ben would never do something like that.” Michael wanted to disappear from the face of earth. He felt so horrible. “I came here thinking that I was nuts but by your silence I guess I’m not,” the blond said. “So what do you want?” Michael asked. “Are you here to tell me to stay the fuck away from him? Tell me to stop breaking a happy home.” Justin gripped his cane and shook his head. For a moment Michael thought he was going to have to run but then the blond put his feet on his coffee table and stared at his cane. “Justin?” Michael asked. “What?” Justin asked as he turned to look at Michael. “Say something,” Michael told him. The younger man arched a brow. “What do you want me to say? I’m still processing. I mean I had all this in my head and now that I find out that it’s true is kind of…wow. I was going on a hunch.” The older man took a deep breath. He got up and went to get his pills and a glass of water. He turned the kitchen light on and went and sat with Justin again. “What are those?” Justin asked. “Demerol,” Michael said. “Can I have one?” Justin asked. “My legs are killing me.” “Should you?” Michael asked and gave the bottle to the blond. Justin shrugged and took a pill. Michael shared the water with him. They were quiet for a few minutes. “Shouldn’t you be screaming at me?” Michael asked. “I don’t know,” Justin said. “It’s none of my business.” “Then why are you here?” Michael asked. “Because I understand,” Justin told him his voice was soft. “I know what it’s like.” Michael leaned back in the couch and looked away. “I know you hate me,” Justin said. “But still…god, I really don’t know what I’m doing here.” “You know…I…yeah, I did,” Michael said and looked back at the blond. “I really did. I had horrible thoughts about a sledge hammer and other tools and you were the target.” Justin smirked. “I don’t doubt it.” “And I wished you dead more than once,” Michael admitted. Justin frowned but kept quiet. “It’s not that I hate you, I mean I did. It’s just that I was so angry with everything that happened,” Michael said as his eyes filled with unshed tears. “I thought it was all a bad dream, you know. A fucking big joke.” Justin nodded slowly. “Don’t take it personal,” Michael said and cleaned a tear away when it fell. “If it had been anyone else I would have wished the same things.” Justin nodded at that. “I never thought there would be someone that could come and get in between me and Brian,” Michael said. “It didn’t matter how many guys he fucked. I was the one that knew him. I was the one that was there when he needed me. I did the best I could and still it wasn’t enough.” “Michael,” Justin muttered. “No,” Michael said. “It’s okay. I get it now. I wasn’t the one he needed, not really.” “Michael,” Justin said. “I never really meant for it to happen. It just did. I knew I should have kept away when I found out that he had a boyfriend. And then when you kept coming around talking to me I felt so horrible. I kept thinking I was going to end up in hell.” Michael knew that feeling. Justin cleaned his own tears. “And you know what’s really fucked up. I knew that if it wasn’t for me he would have never left you.” Michael shook his head. “He would have still been the same Brian Kinney I always knew.” Justin swallowed. “He’s different now,” Michael said. “I know that. By the things I hear or don’t hear.” The blond didn’t know what to say. “Yeah,” Michael said. “If it wasn’t for you we would have still been together. Brian…he was…I don’t know how to explain it. He had this sense of loyalty. He told me he never meant to hurt me. I know he would never do it on purpose but when you’re angry you really don’t think about those things.” Justin looked at the man and wondered if things could have been different. “He loved me and I loved him and no matter what he would still come to me,” Michael said. “But now I know that what we had wasn’t enough.” Justin sighed. “I mean…with me it was all those years we spend together. Me being there for his worst nightmares and helping him through it all,” Michael said. “Of course we would love each other.” Justin bit his lower lip. “With you it wasn’t like that,” Michael said. “With you it was…falling in love.” The blond threw his head back. “Can you forgive me?” Justin asked. Michael stared at the blond. “God, Justin. Why do you have to ask me that?” The blond sighed. “I…I don’t blame you anymore,” Michael said. “Since…since I met Ben my world changed you know. I think I know what it was like for you. I’m in that spot now.” The blond listened to that. “I…when I found out that he was with someone and had been lying to me I was crushed,” Michael said. “Then he came looking for me and I couldn’t say no.” Justin knew that feeling. “I tried so hard,” Michael said and laughed. “But I am in love with him and…I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to say no.” “Yeah, it pretty much goes that way,” Justin said. Michael smirked and the silence reigned again. “He shouldn’t have hit you Michael,” Justin said. “It’s not right.” “Who knows if I would have beaten the shit out of you if not for…” Michael said and stopped talking. “I could so have taken you,” Justin told him smirking. “Yeah right,” Michael said and chuckled. “Do you want anything to drink?” “Something cold,” Justin told him. Michael got up while groaning and came back with two glasses of apple juice. They sat in silence for a while and then Michael laughed. “What?” Justin asked. “If they could only see us now,” Michael said. Justin laughed at that. *** “What?” Emmett asked talking to the person on the phone as he looked at Drew. Drew raised both of his hand asking what without saying a word. Emmett shook his head and got up from the bed. “Could you relax a minute,” he said and put the phone down as he grabbed his jeans. When he picked the cell phone again Brian was going a mile per minute. “Oh my god! Shut up, Brian!” Drew sighed and started getting dressed too. Emmett shook his head. “Look, give me a few minutes,” Emmett said. “I will get there and we’ll look for Justin.” “What’s going on?” Drew asked when Emmett hung up. “Brian got home and Justin is nowhere to be found and when he calls him it goes directly to voice mail,” Emmett said. “I have to go see what’s going on.” “I’ll take you,” Drew told him. “You don’t have to,” Emmett assured him. “I’ll wait for you in the car,” Drew said. Emmett nodded and they finished getting dressed before they left. By the time that he got to the loft Brian had called everyone and no one knew where Justin was. “You have to calm down,” Emmett told him. “I don’t know where the fuck he is!” Brian shouted. “How can I calm down?” “He’s not a baby,” Emmett hissed. Brian glared at his friend and sighed. “Fine! But why doesn’t he answer his phone, Emmett?” Emmett rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know.” “I’m going to go out and see if I see him,” Brian said walking away to get his keys. “I’ll do the same,” Emmett said. Emmett went back to the car where Drew was waiting for him and told him what happened. They looked for an about an hour when Emmett told him to go to Michael since they were close. He wanted to check on his friend before he kept looking for Justin. By the time that Emmett got into his old apartment Justin and Michael had fallen asleep. “Holy crap,” Emmett said when he saw the two men on the couch. “Holy shit!” Justin was asleep with his head thrown back and a hand resting on Michael shoulder while the other man had his head on the blond’s lap. Emmett laughed as he called Brian and told him to come to Michael’s. He called Drew and told him what was happening but no one could make sense of it. *** “What are you doing here?” Brian asked as he saw Ben. He just arrived at the building a few seconds before. “Nothing,” Ben said. “What are you doing here?” Brian arched a brow. “I came to see a friend,” Ben told him. “Whatever,” Brian said as he went up the stairs to Michael’s apartment. The brunet knocked on the door and waited. Ben frowned as he followed the brunet. “What are you doing here, Brian? You and Michael are over.” Brian opened his mouth wide and stared at Ben like he was from another planet. He was about to answer when Emmett opened the door. “Brian,” Emmett said. “Ben?” “What’s going on?” Ben asked. Brian pushed his way inside the apartment. All of them walked to the couch and stared at Michael and Justin. “Well, fuck me!” Brian hissed. “Brain,” Emmett said. “Calm down.” Brian crossed his arms and covered his mouth. His heart was going a mile per minute. He was happy that he had found his husband but he couldn’t be more confused as to why Justin was there. “Can you explain to me why the fuck your boyfriend beat the shit out of Griffin?” Ben asked Emmett. “He told me what happened.” “If you’re asking me,” Emmett hissed. “He didn’t tell you everything.” “Shut the fuck up!” Brian hissed. Emmett crossed his arm and pouted. Ben glared at Emmett. He would find out what was going on one way or another. “Justin!” Brian yelled. “Brian,” Emmett complained. The brunet shook the blond and the younger man grunted. “Jus,” Brian whispered and caressed Justin’s face. The blond gasped and opened his eyes. He stared at the three men in front of him. “Oh shit! I fell asleep,” he looked down and Michael was resting his head on his lap. “This is not what you guys think.” Michael and him had talked for a long time and after a while the older man had started crying. Justin had told him that things were going to be okay and then he guessed that they had fallen asleep. “Michael,” Emmett said shaking the man slightly. Michael groaned. “You are in so much trouble,” Brian said looking at Justin. “Get out!” Michael said and slowly sat up. “You get the fuck out of my house!” “Michael?” Ben asked confused because the man was looking at him. “What are you…what the fuck happened to you?” he asked when he saw Michael’s face and the bruises. “Griffin happened to him!” Justin yelled as he pointed his cane at Ben. “Mikey,” Brian said kneeling in front of his friend. “That fucking asshole. I’m going to kill him.” “Did you call Justin?” Emmett asked looking at Michael. “No,” Michael replied. Brian rubbed his face and tried to make sense of what was going on. “Justin what are you doing here?” Emmett asked. “How did you get here?” “I took the bus,” Justin said. “And a taxi because the first time I got lost and then…” “Whatever,” Brian hissed. “Let’s go now,” he said getting up. He walked over to Ben. “You better watch out for that Neanderthal of yours.” “You don’t have to threaten me,” Ben pointed out. Justin sighed and got up. “Oh boy, you and I have to talk,” he said to his cousin before he followed Brian. “I’ll call you Michael,” he shouted. Brian was super pissed. He had been thinking the worst. “Are you mad at me?” Justin asked when they got in the car. “Because I came to talk to Michael?” “No!” Brian said. “I’m mad at you because you wouldn’t pick the fucking phone and I thought…goddamn it!” Justin reached out of Brian and the brunet relaxed visibly as Justin stroked his lover head so Brian would relax. “I’m sorry. It was one of those intense conversations that needed no interruptions. He really needed someone to talk to.” “Why the fuck do you care?” Brian asked angry. He had been so worried about the blond. “You know all the bullshit he talked about you.” “Oh, so what was he supposed to say Brian?” Justin asked. “Well, Justin we’re still friends don’t worry. I hope you and Brian live happily ever after? No don’t worry that you just ripped my heart out and smashed it to pieces. You go and be happy with the man I love. Something like that?” Brian sighed as he gripped the steering wheel. “And yes I got angry at the things he said!” Justin hissed. “But I can’t blame him for hating me.” “Justin…” Brian tried. “No,” Justin said. “I don’t want to hear it.” Brian drove them home in silence and tried to calm down but he still was angry. “Stop it,” the blond muttered. The brunet sighed as they got in the elevator. “So what the fuck make you go see him?” Brain asked as the got to the top floor. “Well, when I found out what was going on I had to talk to him and see if my suspicions were true,” Justin told him. Brian shook his head as they got out of the elevator and walked to the door. “I knew how he was feeling,” Justin told the brunet. “I used to be him, remember?” And Brian’s anger left him just like that. He turned to look at the blond and couldn’t believe Justin could look past so many things and go give Michael his support. “So,” Brian said rubbing his lips. “Ben and Michael.” Justin smirked and shook his head. “Crazy huh?” “If I catch that fucking asshole,” Brian hissed as he talked about Griffin. “I’ll lend you my cane,” Justin said smirking. “Or I’ll buy you a bat.” Brian smirked as he hugged his husband, happy that his blond was safe. *** “I’m not going to hurt him,” Ben hissed. Emmett crossed his arms. “He doesn’t want you here.” “Can everyone stop shouting?” Drew asked. He had come up after he had seen Brian and Justin leaving but Emmett was nowhere to be seen. He’d called his boyfriend but Emmett wasn’t answering so he came up to see what was going on. “Guys,” Michael said. “I’m really tired.” Emmett went to him and helped him to the bed. Ben followed them and so did Drew. “I’ll talk with all of you in the morning,” Michael promised. Ben sat on the bed. “Please,” he said caressing Michael’s face. “I’m not leaving you alone.” Emmett took a step forward and Drew pulled him to him. “I think we should leave,” Drew whispered. “But…” Emmett tried. “No,” Drew said. “Come on.” Emmett sighed and nodded. “I’ll call you Michael.” Michael nodded slowly. “How are you?” Ben asked when he heard the door closing. Michael chuckled. “That’s a stupid question.” Ben nodded slowly. “God, Michael. Why didn’t you call me?” “What was I supposed to say?” Michael asked. “Hey, Ben, your boyfriend just beat the crap out of me.” Ben closed his eyes briefly. He couldn’t believe Griffin had done such a thing. He got up and slowly started to strip. When he was naked he got in the bed with Michael. “What are you doing here?” Michael asked. “I wanted to see you,” Ben told him getting the covers over them. Michael whimpered. “I look like a fucking monster, don’t I?” “No baby,” Ben whispered. “Don’t cry.” “I don’t think we should see each other anymore,” Michael said. Ben sighed. “Don’t say that.” “What do you want from me?” Michael asked. “I’m going to have to buy a gun to protect myself from him.” “He won’t ever put a hand on you,” Ben told him. “I promise.” Michael had so many questions. He wondered if that meant that Ben would pick him and leave Griffin. Or if he was just going to tell his boyfriend to back away and he would still be the other man. He never asked. He closed his eyes and fell asleep in Ben’s arms. What he didn’t know was that Ben had gone to see him to tell him he wanted to be with him and him only.