Disclaimer – I own nothing. I am Showtime's whore.

Title – Seraphim

Rating – PG-13 (language and light slash)

Summary – Set a few months after 220, Justin receives a phone call that changes his life and soon finds himself turning to Brian and fighting against familiar emotions.

Seraphim

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memory seeps from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

in the arms of an angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort there

~ Sarah McLachlan, "Angel"

With a loud groan Justin slapped the alarm clock off and opened his eyes to the slight sunlight streaming through the blinds. Early morning classes were the worst, but at least his evenings were free. Not that he normally took advantage of that. He found himself going out less and less lately, he felt like a stranger in the vibrant, rainbow colored streets, like an outcast. Pushing those thoughts out of his mind he crawled out from underneath the warm covers and padded to his bathroom. As strange as it was living all alone it was nice to feel so independent. After things had ended with Ethan he felt too liberated to return to his mother or Debbie. Brian was out of the question. Fortunately he had been able to find a small, one-room apartment that he could afford with his share of the money he and Michael were generating from "Rage". What he was going to do when the book ceased to be lucrative was beyond him and he didn't like to think about it. He and Michael had been eventually able to resolve their differences in order to continue the book and the second issue was finally due out next month.

Justin now acted solely as the artist however as he no longer had any desire to contribute to the story based on his failed relationship with Brian. The young man still found himself thinking about his former lover more than he would have liked to. That was inevitably the reason he parted ways with Ethan. He wasn't being fair to either one of them by remaining in a relationship with Brian, even if it was unconscious and even unwanted. Ethan had understood and despite Justin's intent feelings that it wouldn't work out, the two students had managed to remain friends. As the blond bent to turn on the shower he heard the ringing of his phone and moved to answer it.

"Hello? . . . hey mom . . . fine . . . why? . . . mom, what's wrong? . . ."

Every muscle in Justin's face relaxed as his entire complexion paled.

"Yeah, I just . . . . are you okay? . . . no, I'm all right, I just-I just need a minute . . . okay, I'm gonna come over . . . yeah, I love you too, bye."

As soon as Justin placed the phone back in the cradle his legs gave out from under him and he fell to the floor. With trembling hands he covered his face and wept with sobs that shook his entire frame. His father was dead. Killed in a head-on collision going home from work last night. The doctors didn't think he'd hold on as long as he did. His father was dead, gone forever, and Justin sobbed as he imagined him going to his grave hating him for who he was. He hadn't spoken to his father since he'd moved out and the last thing he'd heard from him was that he was no longer going to pay for his schooling. Nothing since then, not one word between them, not even when he was in the hospital, and now he was gone. When his body ceased to convulse Justin managed to climb to his feet and into the shower, letting his tears wash away with the warm water.

"Oh my God, Jennifer I'm so sorry," Debbie said sympathetically into the phone. "Look, if you need anything at all just left me know . . . of course, yes, I'll keep an eye on him . . . all right, take care sweetheart."

With a loud sigh Debbie hung the phone up.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked looking up from his breakfast at the diner counter

"Craig Taylor died this morning," she confessed sadly.

"Justin's dad?" Michael responded unable to think of anything else.

"Yeah," she confirmed. "Poor kid."

Michael waited for a moment as he pondered and then spoke up.

"Well, it's not as if the guy was ever nice to him or anything," Michael commented. "He did throw him out of the house and never accepted him for who he is."

"I know," she said. "That's why I think Sunshine's going to take it so hard."

The sound of the diner door opening made her look upwards as Brian walked towards them and upon getting no greeting took a seat next to Michael at the counter.

"Jesus, who died?"

With an annoyed glance, Debbie looked him square in the eyes but before she could scold him Michael spoke.

"Justin's dad."

Despite what he may have desired, Brian's heart missed a beat and his features slackened.

"When?"

"This morning," Debbie informed him.

After a long moment of silence, she spoke up again.

"You know, you can ask about him, it doesn't make you weak," she added in angry tone before she took the coffeepot and moved to re-fill some patron's mugs.

"Have you heard from him? Brian softly questioned to Michael.

"I just found out five seconds before you did," his friend answered. "Why don't you call him?"

As relieved as he was that the two men had eventually parted ways he felt that if anyone could get Justin's true feelings out it was Brian. Besides, Brian and Justin sadly shared similar relationships with their fathers and the boy was no doubt feeling what Brian did when Jack died.

"It's not my business," Brian defended. "If he wants to talk, he knows where to find me."

"Yeah, well maybe it should be your business," Michael said as he moved to leave. "Christ, Brian, his dad died. I would have thought you of all people would have understood what he may be going through."

Watching his best friend leave the hazel-eyed man suddenly recalled Justin arguing with him over two years ago about giving away his parental rights. Trying to convince him that no matter what his own father said or did to him he must have loved him. It was very clear that Justin had strong feeling about a son's relationship with his father. Now, his was gone and unless things had changed and he had not been informed, things probably had not ended well between them. Picking up his briefcase, Brian left without ordering anything and moved to the door.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Taylor?"

"Yes?"

"It's Brian."

On the other end of the line the man held his breath nervously.

"Yes, hello Brian."

"Um, I just wanted to see if you both were all right, if Justin's okay?"

Jennifer sighed as she listened to him. Despite the fact that she still was still uncomfortable with the relationship that the older man had once had with her son, she was happy that he had called. It helped convince her that Justin had meant something to him, that he harbored genuine feelings even though their turbulent relationship had ended months ago.

"We're fine, thank you," she answered.

"Is he there?" Brian asked after a pause.

"He is Brian, but . . . I don't think now is the best time."

Brian pushed it no further.

"It's okay, will you just tell him I called and, if he needs to talk . . ."

"I will, thank you," Jennifer said quickly before she wished him "good-bye" and hung the phone up.

"Was that him?"

The woman turned to find her son standing behind her in the doorway. Despite his reddened eyes he still gave off a natural radiance that she had never before seen in another human being.

"I just wanna know if he called," Justin added when his mother hesitated in answering.

"Yes," she answered. "That was him."

"What did he say?"

Jennifer moved closer to her son and held his hand tightly in comfort.

"He wanted to know if you were all right, how you were doing."

Justin lowered his eyes for a moment.

"Sweetheart, how are you doing?" she asked.

It seemed that everything had happened so quickly that they had only had time to cry and embrace, not to truly ask how the other was dealing with the sudden tragedy.

"I don't know," Justin began. "I still can't believe it."

Justin let him mother embrace him gently and when they pulled away the young man had tears in his eyes again.

"Mom, I'm gonna go for a walk."

Jennifer looked at him closely.

"All right, just be careful Justin."

Her son mumbled an affirmative response and after kissing her on the cheek moved to the door. As he vanished, his mother had a feeling she knew exactly where her son was going to end up.

To be continued.