A/N: Okay, just a brief note to explain this new story. Warnings are in place: Possessive, Jealous, Territorial! Brendan. There will be a few canon moments/lines. Brendan's lines have just been too incredible lately to omit those. This story will begin just before Joel attacks Ste, and Brendan retaliates. In this story Joel is Brendan's partner, but Brendan isn't focusing on turning him into a mini-me. He is offering him some guidance at times, but always ready to use him should the need arise. Again, this starts out with a bit of canon, but will move into AU. I have no way of knowing how things are going to go OS, most especially with all the curves thrown in recent days. I hope you enjoy this new story. Please bear with me on the updates. R/L is more than horrid these days. Comments are greatly appreciated!

Chapter 1

Brendan pushed his breakfast around on his plate, eating... yet, not fully appreciating the flavor. That in itself had Cheryl and Joel looking at each other in a combination of confusion and concern. Anyone that knew Brendan understood how he always enjoyed his food. When he didn't seem to be doing so – alarms were raised.

Cheryl reached across the table, touching Brendan's arm lightly with her hand. "Bren? Is everything okay?"

Slanting his eyes towards her, Brendan dead-panned. "Isn't it always?"

Joel arched a brow. "I admit I haven't known you that long... but, it's safe to say something's off when Brendan Brady is barely eating."

"Think you got me all figured out, little Foxy." Brendan's gaze remained emotionless. "That's a big mistake, boy. I don't recommend you making many."

"I'll keep that in mind," Joel replied cockily, as always confident in his abilities of self-preservation, having found it to be a very useful commodity when dealing with Brendan.

Cheryl fixed an inquisitive look on her brother, realization immediately dawning on her. "I know that look, Brendan. It's been how long now?"

"Look?" Brendan replied in a bored tone. "Don't know what you're going on about, Chez. As it is, I need to go. Errands to sort out before I go to the club." He took a bite of his toast, downing his coffee in one swallow. He looked back and forth between them. "Later."

"See you at the club, Brendan," Joel called out, his eyes pulling towards Cheryl for answers to his unspoken questions; seeing none to be forthcoming, he quickly realized he needed to be more direct. "So, what gives with Brendan?"

Cheryl smiled almost sadly. "I don't know for sure. Brendan's so hard to read sometimes... but, he's my brother. I know him. I would say he was having a Ste moment."

"That little runt?" Joel muttered in disgust. He still couldn't understand how a man like Brendan Brady could get hung up on such a nobody kid like Ste Hay. "I thought that was over and done."

"Ste is not a little runt," Cheryl told him, reproof showing in her face. "They may have went their separate ways... but, mark my words, it will never be over. Not for Ste... and most especially not for Brendan."

"That hung up on the bloke, eh?" Joel asked, always looking to get a deeper mental fix on the paradox that was Brendan Brady.

Cheryl stood up, eyeing him sharply for a moment... hoping she hadn't said too much, thinking much of what she'd said to be of common knowledge - with Joel never certain of where his head resided. "That's Brendan's story to tell. I wouldn't count on him opening up, though. I don't have to tell you – that's not his way."

Joel nodded, watching as Cheryl went upstairs, pocketing his keys in one swoop thinking he'd head out early and maybe see what the Master of all he surveyed was up to this morning. Studying Brendan was becoming an addiction to him. The man was so utterly complex, making him even more interesting. Moving in the same circles as Brendan, he knew it was never a bad idea to have one up on the uncivilized beast. For all intense purposes it seemed that Brendan Brady had no weaknesses, or so he had foolishly thought. Joel was beginning to wonder if that conclusion had been blatantly false.

Could Brendan be vulnerable after all? And, could it all be found in the slight form of Ste Hay? Joel decided he'd stick even closer to the partner that didn't want to be in a partnership, and learn everything he needed to know. He didn't doubt that the time would come that such information could become extremely useful.


Brendan walked briskly ahead, ignoring all the bodies on the street – mostly female – as his eyes drilled into the back of Stephen; surprisingly looking despondent... much the opposite of his demeanor with Douglas earlier. Nonchalantly, Brendan made the comment about business not faring so well for the young lad... not so much to antagonize him – this time; but, more of a fishing expedition – wanting to know precisely what was going on with Stephen. They had led separate lives for so long now. No matter how many months had passed, Brendan still wanted to be a part of young Stephen's life.

Stephen barely looked at him, when he answered, "Yeah. You'd love that, wouldn't you?"

"Now, why would you think something like that?" Brendan looked away for a brief moment, looking back just as quickly. "I'll tell you what. When the pizza thing goes belly-up and you need a shoulder to cry on. I'm your man. How about that?" Brendan asked, staring Stephen head-on.

Stephen looked on his former lover in disgust. "I won't ever, ever need anything off of you."

Brendan watched as Stephen walked away in a huff, his eyes trailing up and down the young lad's retreating body. "You reckon?"

Momentarily oblivious to Joel's approach, Brendan quickly walked away from an inquisitive and far too obvious Joel. He had glared at him briefly when young Foxy's tone had gone insulting as he mockingly spoke of Stephen. He had to walk away in that moment or land a solid punch to his smirking face. Brendan didn't know why, but his instincts told him something bad would come from that incident... little did he know his instinctive feelings would be realized shortly.

It was only a short while later he had glanced over inside of the shop – it all happened. Over as quickly as it had begun. His eyes darkened in an unspoken rage as he watched Joel's hand strike out, hurling Stephen to the floor, broken bottle of wine around him. His eyes quickly narrowed, assessing the situation in one glance; seeing that Stephen was none the worse for wear... and realizing Joel would be wise enough to back away – Brendan headed back for the club, knowing what he would do next. His eyes wild, he thought to himself: It's time you learned your place, little Foxy.

Brendan didn't have to wait for long. He had calmed down only on the surface. Inside, the rage was still simmering; in fact it was boiling over – soon to be fully released. He heard Joel's approach, barely glancing at his all too cocky gait; knowing soon he would explode... and Warren's spawn would learn a valuable lesson. One that he hoped the kid took to heart. A repeat incident would not be forgiven. Not ever.

Joel made his way to the top of the steps, closer to the bar and Brendan; smiling cockily as he approached him, oblivious to the reality of how his mood was about to change. He was still celebrating setting Ste down earlier. In his mind, he had avenged the young runt's disrespect to Brendan. He knew Brendan was fond of the wee lad... but, in time he would thank him for watching his back. Joel was sure of that. "Not one smashed bottle," Joel told him, full of his own self worth.

"Apart from Stephen's..." Brendan returned without missing a beat.

Joel laughed, immediately liking where this was going. Finally, he was making progress in gaining Brendan's approval. A trend that he intended to see continue.

Not waiting for an answer, Brendan continued on... staying on task, despite the calm in his tone – feeling anything but that. "You owned him, eh?"

Joel agreed without saying a word, his pleased demeanor about to be changed.

"How about a toast?" Brendan asked, shaking a bottle of wine as he turned towards Joel, his rage now unhidden.

"What are you doing?" Joel protested, trying to block the spraying liquid from his eyes as Brendan took a grasp on his arm... pushing him backwards as the wine continued to shoot like a waterfall into his face. Before Joel knew what had happened, he was maneuvered over the railing; Brendan's tight and painful grasp holding him firmly in place. He couldn't move, he could barely breathe through the painful pressure Brendan was exerting; while he did all he could to maintain his control and not show Brendan his weakness.

His hand tightly squeezing the back of Joel's neck until the sounds of pain escaped, Brendan told him emphatically, "If you ever touch a hair on Stephen's head again, I'll be toasting at your funeral. You got that, kid?" When Joel didn't immediately answer, Brendan bent backwards, arching the kid's back painfully... uncaring of how much he hurt him – the end result the only thing that mattered. Protecting Stephen. Always his Stephen. "Did you hear me?" he snarled, his rage anything but abated.

"Yes," Joel shouted out, a combination of anger and pain laced in his tone.

Brendan straightened Joel's jacket, patting him on the cheek... his eyes still wild with rage, knowing he had to get away now – warning given or not, unable to lose the vision of Joel hurting Stephen. He needed to be alone, to fully unleash his fury. Once done they could move past this, provided that Joel was smart enough to learn his lesson. He walked away, barely hearing Joel's pained words... until the last ones permeated his senses.

"Ste can't even stand you. When are you gonna realize that?"

Storming into his office, Brendan slammed the door shut, his fists pounding against the door. He fell quickly into his chair, Joel's words reverberating in his head like a mocking chant – Ste can't even stand you, Ste can't even stand you, Ste can't even stand you...

Brendan tilted his head to the side, realizing what he'd known for longer than he cared to admit. He needed Stephen. More to the point... he loved the lad. In that moment a tentative plan was born. The means hadn't fallen into his lap yet... but, it would. Brendan Brady always won. He always found a way to get what he wanted. What he wanted most was Stephen back in his bed and his life. He wouldn't stop until he achieved that goal.

Eyes glowing with intensity he stared unseeingly at the door. "You're wrong, little Foxy. Stephen isn't over me. It will never be over. I will get him back." Brendan's voice dropped, low and purposeful. "You're still mine, Stephen. I will make you see that again. This time, I'll keep what's mine."

TBC