“Do you plan on telling me what the fuck just happened?” Brian asks as he closes the door of their hotel room. Molly shrugs, and then turns to Justin, “I’m going to take a shower before we go.” They were going shopping. Justin was determined to get his sister outside, and he knew shopping was the way to go. Brian watches her exit, closing the door behind her. Turning back to Justin, he asks, “What the fuck?” Sighing, Justin shakes his head, “I don’t want to talk about it, Brian.” “Well fuck that, Justin. We are going to talk about it, so sit your ass down and talk.” “Since when do you want to talk?” Justin snarls. Frustrated, Brian throws his hands up in the air, “Christ, Justin, enough with this shit!” Justin scowls, turning away from Brian. “Just fuck off.” Resisting the urge to leave the room, Brian takes a step forward, reaching for Justin. “Justin,” he extends his hand out to him. Slowly turning around, Justin looks down at Brian hand before taking it with a sigh. “My mom didn’t do anything wrong.” Brian remains quiet, though his mind is reeling with questions. “My cousins did nothing wrong. My grandmother did nothing wrong… they died because they loved a Taylor. That’s why they’re dead! My mother fell in love with my father and now she’s dead! My grandmother was married to my grandfather and she’s dead too. My cousins loved their father, and now they have bullets in their heads too!!! And to be honest, no matter what my grandfather did: no one deserves to be shot in the head! No one deserves to die like that!” He pushes Brian away, “And Carl wants to know why Molly and I are alive?! He believes it: we’re supposed to be dead! We should be dead.” “No,” Brian pulls Justin against him, “No, Justin. Neither one of you should be dead. You’re right, no one fuckin’ deserves to die like that… none of them deserved to die at all.” “I don’t want you to die too,” Justin cries into his chest. He hated feeling this way. He was supposed to be tough, detached… but with Brian he couldn’t do it. “Justin,” Brian sighs, kissing his lover’s head, “We already talked about this: after the shower this morning, remember? I’m not going to die just because I love you, Sunshine.” “You don’t know that!” Justin insists, trying to push against Brian’s chest, but Brian only tightens his embrace. “Trust me then, Justin. Just trust me.” He kisses him again, wishing he could give him more hope that this. “I can’t lose you too, Brian. I can’t…” Justin repeats, shaking his head. Loosening his grip, Brian tilts Justin’s chin up, “You’re not going to. I’m right here. I’m staying right here,” he says, wiping the tears off Justin’s face. Justin shakes his head, “Your life is in Pittsburgh. You have a job, you have your friends…fuck, what about Gus? You can’t stay… but if you go….Brian, they might kill you!” Brian holds Justin’s face in his hands, “Baby, no one is going to kill me. Yes, I’m going to have to go back to Pittsburgh eventually, but I’ll come back. I’ll be coming back to you, I promise.” “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep, Brian…” Justin moans, more tears falling. “Have I ever lied to you?” Brian asks; his voice serious. Justin shakes his head. “Then why the fuck would I start now?” Justin bites his lower lip. “You don’t know when you’re going to die…it just happens.” Sighing, Brian kisses Justin’s salty lips, “You’re right, Justin. Death happens. But I’m not dead, nor am I planning to die anytime soon. When I return to Pittsburgh, I will be careful, okay? I promise you that.” Justin shakes his head again, falling against Brian’s chest. Brian could say as many words as he could, but none of it mattered. Nothing could erase Justin’s fear. “I love you,” Brian sighs, kissing him softly. “I know,” Justin answers numbly, “that’s what scares me.”