Brian stepped backward, hands held up in a placating gesture, as Michael walked into the loft. Brian took a chance and looked away from Michael, for a second, when he felt Justin come up beside him. He gave Justin a reassuring look, then turned back to Michael.
"Michael... what ae you doing here? Deb's fantic."
Michael shrugged, his eyes bightly gleaming. The manic look in Michael's eyes was seriously unnerving for Brian and Justin. 'I hope Molly stays asleep,' Brian thought.
"I left the police station, then came here. I waited until somebody came out, then I came up the stairs. I wanted to surpise you, you know."
"Why do you have a gun, Michael?" Brian asked, using the calmest voice he could.
"I thought I might need it. I bet those stupid fucks at the station haven't even realized that I took one of their guns." Michael's shrill laugh sent shivers up and down Justin's and Brian's spines.
"Michael, you need to calm down and hand me the gun."
"NO! I'll calm down when blondie is gone! How can you let him control you like this?!"
"Justin's not controling me, Michael. He's my lover. My partner."
"See? That's just it! Where's the real Brian Kinney? The Brian Kinney that would fuck and suck everything in sight? The Brian Kinney that loved going to Babylon and getting high? The Brian Kinney that was my best friend?!"
Brian was growing more and more nervous with every word out of Michael's mouth, because his hand kept tightening on the gun's handle. Michael was holding the gun so tight that his knuckles were white.
"I grew up, Michael. I realized what's really important in life. In fact, I haven't had a trick in a couple of months."
Michael's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "You're... monagamous?" MIchael asked, the word monagamous spit out like a curse.
Brian didn't answer for a couple of seconds. Then, nodding, he said, "Yes."
Michael shook his head. "No. This isn't right! You're supposed to be with me. Not getting serious with him! I've known you since we were fourteen! You'e supposed to love ME!" With that, Michael swung the gun until it was pointing at Justin.
"Michael, don't do anything stupid. I'm sory if I've given you any false hope, but I've always considered you a brother. I've never considered you in... that... way."
Michael shook his head, as he looked into Justin's fear-filled blue eyes. "No. Once he's gone, you'll come to your senses." With that said, Michael calmly pulled the trigger.
Brian felt the burn of the bullet as he tackled Justin to the floor. Brian biefly glanced at his arm, seeing a bloody gash. Then, he looked at Justin. He saw a jagged gash on his arm, also. Brian's fury took over.
"Brian? Justin? What's going on?" Molly timidly asked as she slowly walked into the living room. Molly's sudden appearence gave Brian the diversion he needed.
Brian tackled Michael around the waist, taking them both to the floor. He grabbed the gun, wrestling Michael over possession of it. Knowing, he needed to get the gun before it went off, he punched Michael in the face. Michael's grip on the gun loosened enough for Brian to grab it out of his hands. After quickly flipping on the safety, Brian hit Michael in the side of the head with the butt of the gun. Michael's body went limp as he was knocked out.
"FREEZE! POLICE!" yelled a man's voice.
Brian laid the gun onto the floor and looked up to see two armed policemen, pointing their guns at him. Raising his hands, he slowly got onto his feet. "He," Brian started as he nodded towards Michael, "came into my home with a gun. He fired it. See?" He showed them his arm, then pointed at Justin's arm. "He was firing at Justin. He said that he got one of the guns from the station."
The older policeman nodded. "That's why we're here. We realized that he got one before he left and have been searching for him. Then, one of your neighbors let us in and we heard the gunshot. We'll take you to the hospital to be checked out, then to the police station to give statements." Brian just nodded as he avoided looking at Michael's limp body. He knew that if he looked at him, his rage would surface again and he would do some serious damage to his one-time best friend.
Brian and Justin had had their arms looked at. Both needed four stitches each, then they had given their statments at the police station. Michael had also been looked over and it had been determined that he had a concussion. They were keeping him for observation for fourty-eight hours, then he was going to be transported to the local jail until his arraignment.
Michael had woken up when he was being examined, and claimed that he had no memory of what he had done. The last thing he remembered was being sent home from the police station. Everything after that was a blank. Debbie had been called and had rushed to the hospital. She didn't like seeing her son hurt, but she had understood that Brian had been defending himself and Justin.
After Brian and Justin had given their statements, they had returned back to the hospital with Molly. They figured they'd just wait around until Jennifer was released.
Three hours later, all four of them were back at the loft. After getting comfortable, and Molly had laid down in Brian's bed for a nap, Brian decided to approach his idea about Craig.
Using both sign language and vocal, he started. "Justin, Jennifer, I have something to discuss with both of you. Craig is still on the loose and none of know if he'll try anything else, again, or not. But, I know a person who can find him and make sure that he's caught. In what condition is up to you."
"Do you mean, this person you know will hurt him?" asked Jennifer.
Brian nodded, "If you want."
Justin raised an eyebrow. He and Jennifer exchanged looks, then nods. It was Jennifer that answered. "Make the call, Brian. Tell him, whatever means necessary. But, I want Craig caught. I want us all to feel safe, again."
Brian nodded and pulled out his cell phone.