Disclaimer: I own nothing of Queer As Folk. This is all for fun, I make no profit from it.

Okay, this is my first QAF story so please review and tell me what you think. I know the summary leaves a lot to be desired but give it a chance.

I want to thank Inconspicuousbunny for taking a chance and being my beta. Thank you for all your sage advise :}

Also want to thank Ditzbea for being a good sounding board.

Chapter 1

Violin

Justin's chest was hurting. He was pushing himself to his body's limits, and he knew it, but he couldn't stop. If he stopped running, he would catch him. Justin fought against the branches that kept getting in his way as he ran through the trees to the opening he knew would be coming up soon. He had run this path a thousand times in his youth, and he should know every pebble on the ground, every tree in front of him, every root that came up to try and stop him. But right now, he couldn't remember a thing; all he knew was that he had to run, to run as fast and as hard as he could. The sun had set an hour ago and he knew he was out of time. His lungs burned and his legs threatened to give out on him, but something was keeping him going; fear. Justin could see the clearing in the distance and knew that he would be able to see the house clearly from there. For a moment he forgot that he had been running through the woods and that nothing there could or should be taken for granted.

Just as he was beginning to believe that nothing could stop him, his foot tangled in some vines and he went tumbling head over heels onto the slanted ground. He rolled down the hill and was stopped by a tree trunk. His body throbbed from the pain of hitting it at full force, he heard his shoulder pop the instant it hit the tree and he screamed, not only in pain, but in frustration. He pulled himself up, using his good arm, while his left arm hung from his shoulder, he took a deep breath and began to limp back up the hill; towards the clearing once more. He could feel the blood flowing from his head, it was stinging his eyes, but he didn't care. Once he was in the house, he would be safe. His love would find him there and the monster that had held him captive for 2 days would not be able to get to him. Justin reached the clearing and almost miraculously the clouds that had kept the night extremely dark moved and the full moon beamed down its light right above the house. Justin laughed and cried at the same time, it was as if he was getting help from up above. Justin was holding his left arm against his body, the pain now beginning to show itself, as he limped toward the beautiful mansion he had grown up in, the home he first met his one true love. It took him longer then he had hoped to get to the house, half a mile away seemed like ten at the moment, but he would not, no could not give up now. His body was protesting with every move, his breathing becoming harder and harder to control. Now he was beginning to notice other pains that he hadn't noticed before. He could feel his left side aching, his ribs seeming to squeeze his lungs. Justin knew that he had done more damage than he had originally believed. No matter, his love would help him, he would heal him and they would be together forever. Justin had made his choice and no matter what the consequences, he would be with his love for as long as he wanted him. As he crossed the field and reached the house, he let out a sigh of relief, "I made it…" Justin reached the front door, practically running while limping. He reached the door and began to knock frantically, "hello… anybody! Please open the door. It's me, Justin! Please open up, I need hel…." Before that sentence could be finished though, the door was opening. Justin stepped back a little swaying on his feet. The door opened fully and Justin could now see the person who had opened it, and his blood ran cold. His body began to shake as he tried to step away from the nightmare in front of him, "nononono…" was all he was able to say, when a pair of hands grabbed him by his upper arms and pulled him into the house. The only thing Justin could do at that moment was scream for the one who could save him, "Bri… ia… n….."

Justin's scream echoed in his room. He sat up panting and in a cold sweat, as the remnants of the dream faded. His heart was beating so fast in his chest, he was sure that he would have a heart attack if he didn't calm down. The door to his room opened and for a moment, Justin stopped breathing, seeing the man in his nightmares standing at his door. That was until the person walked the rest of the way into his room and Justin felt foolish. He should have known that his screams would have awoken his roommate and best friend.

Daphne hurried to Justin's bed and sat down on the edge, moving slowly, knowing that when he was just waking up from one of these terrors, it sometimes took him a while to realize where he was and who was with him. Daphne looked into her best friend's eyes and could see recognition in them. She could tell that he was trying his best to smile and reassure her, but she wasn't fooled, "Justin, you can't keep going through this every night. I think it's time we took your mom's advice and sought out some professional help." She raised her hand to his face and wiped the tears from his cheeks as he looked down at the sheets he was tangled up in. Daphne knew that Justin was scared, that going to see a doctor about these nightmares would only bring back painful memories of his childhood, of being poked and prodded by Doctors who were supposed to be helping him, but instead were just keeping him so medicated that he didn't know whether he was coming or going. Justin looked up at Daphne, forcing himself to calm down and breathe; he knew she was thinking about the year that they had been apart because his father had had him committed.

He reached over and brought Daphne into an embrace, telling her without words that he appreciated all she did for him, and that he was sorry. Daphne, being Daphne, pulled away, looking straight into those beautiful blue eyes, "Don't you dare think about saying you're sorry. Do you hear me Justin Taylor? I've told you time and time again, that you have nothing to be sorry for. What's happening to you is not your fault, and I won't let you blame yourself." She stood up from the bed and reached out to him, "So come on, enough of the pity party, let's get out the gallon of chocolate ice cream, and eat ourselves into a sugar coma." Justin couldn't help but laugh; his friend knew how to make him laugh, even when he didn't think he could ever do it again. He took her hand and let her help him out of bed. They left the room, and while Daphne went to the kitchen to get the ice cream, Justin went and sat down on the very lumpy sofa. It was almost dawn so there was some light coming into the windows but the room was still too dark for Justin's liking. Being the friend that she was, Daphne knew that Justin didn't like to sit in the dark. She went to turn on the lights only to find that they weren't working. 'This apartment is more trouble than it is worth,' was all Daphne could think. They were always blowing a fuse. She looked through the kitchen drawers and found a candle and some matches. Daphne lit the candle and went to the fridge to grab the ice cream; she grabbed some spoons from the dish washer then made her way towards Justin on the sofa. She sat down on the lumpy sofa next to Justin, handing him a spoon, and they began to eat directly from the carton.

"So…" Justin knew it wouldn't be long before Daphne had to ask him her questions, "I'm assuming this one wasn't the good one, right? No sexy man and passionate hot man on man sex tonight?" Justin choked on the ice cream he had just put in his mouth, trying not to laugh, for fear of spitting out the ice cream all over himself and the sofa. She always knew how to make him blush, and right now Justin's head felt so hot, he was sure it would self-combust. He knew Daphne was working her magic and helping him forget about the nightmares that had plagued him for most of his life. He loved her so much for that, but he couldn't forget them, no matter how hard he tried. "Daph, I really appreciate what you're trying to do, but I can't get that dream out of my head. I keep hearing violin music, even now when I'm awake." He shivered at the thought of it, of what that music meant.

Justin looked away from her and for the first time noticed the candle on the coffee table. He stared at it and gasped as the flame seemed to blaze into a huge flame. As he stared at the flame, he heard it; violin music. As the flame danced in front of his eyes Justin began to see something else. He looked up as he heard the music become louder.

Daphne looked at her friend, watching as he stared off into space, almost as if he was listening to something only he could hear. She put her hand on his shoulder and tried to shake him out of this state he so often got into, "Justin…Justin, please look at me." Daphne was beginning to worry more now, usually she could snap him out of this, but he seemed to be in some kind of trance. Daphne watched as tears began to flow from his eyes and down his face, though it seemed as if Justin didn't even realize he was crying, his eyes were unblinking and unfocused. Daphne moved off the sofa and kneeled in front of him. She reached out and touched his face, her voice breaking as she softly spoke to him, "Justin, please, please just…look at me." The tears now starting to flow freely from her eyes, as she watched the person she loved, her brother, if not by blood, then by fate, slowly disappear.

What Daphne couldn't see was that Justin wasn't just staring off into nothing, but he was seeing a room, a room full of candles, all lit up around him with a bed in the middle of the room. Justin looked over at the bed and saw himself lying on it, naked and trembling. His body was bruised and battered and his hair was wet and his body clean, as if someone had just given him a bath. Justin forced himself to look away from the shaking figure on the bed and looked over to the corner, where a man stood with his back to the trembling figure, playing the violin. Justin closed his eyes, hoping that he would wake up from this nightmare; only he knew he wasn't asleep. He could hear the violin music and he knew that he had no strength left to fight it. Just as the man began to turn, Justin felt something cold against his hand. He forced himself to look away from the figure with the violin and the image of himself on the bed and looked down at his left hand. For a moment there was confusion on his face as he saw that somehow his hand was immersed in a large container of ice water. He began to shiver and his hand began to throb, and that was when he heard her and felt the sting to his face.

"Justin….damnit, snap the fuck out of it, NOW!" The last word was followed by another sting to his face, and only then did he realize that he was being slapped. Justin blinked a few times then finally focused his eyes on Daphne, noticing that her eyes were red and full of tears. It took him a moment to realize too that his hand was throbbing and very cold. He watched as Daphne removed his hand from the ice water and wrapped it in a warm towel. As things began to clear, Justin let out a long breath and collapsed onto his best friend. She held him tight as he cried, "Daphne, what's wrong with me? God, am I going crazy?" Daphne made soothing noises while she held her friend, worried that maybe this time she wouldn't be able to help him. Daphne helped Justin sit back on the sofa and sat down next to him. She laid his head on her lap, and ran her hands through his hair; trying to comfort him, like her mom would whenever she had a nightmare as a child. "Justin, I'm so sorry I hit you. I just couldn't get you to snap out of it. You know I love you and I'd never hurt you on purpose, right?" She could feel Justin nod his head even though he didn't actually speak. She knew that after episodes like this, Justin became reserved and closed off. She decided right there and then that she would not let him do that again, she would get him to be happy again, if it was the last thing she did. "Okay, we are not going to wallow in sadness here. Do you hear me Justin Taylor, we are going to get up, since it is morning finally, and we are going to get dressed and go out for breakfast." She could feel Justin tense, but she was determined to get him up and out of the apartment, even if she had to handcuff him to herself and drag him out.

Daphne bent over a little so she could look down at Justin's face and he could look at her from his position on her lap, "Don't even think of saying no to me, mister. You know I have my ways. Plus, remember, I just bitch-slapped you, so you know I will do it again." This caused Justin to smile, "Bitch-slapped me? Really? You call that wimpy hit a slap? I'm surprised you didn't do more damage to your own skinny hand." They laughed as the sun began to shine through the windows and Justin could feel his fear fading, it was as if the sunshine gave him protection. Against what, though, he wasn't sure.

Daphne knew that as soon as the sun hit the windows and began to stream into the apartment that Justin's demeanor would change, and he would become the Justin she'd known and loved her whole life. The windows were the main reason they even rented this apartment. They had looked at least 20 different apartments, and Justin had turned down each and every one. It was always the same. He would walk in, go straight to the living room area, and look out the windows. If they weren't big enough or if the apartment faced away from the sunrise, he would turn around and leave. It wasn't until they came to this run down building on Liberty Avenue and climbed what seemed like a thousand steps, that Justin decided that it was perfect for them. They walked in and the first thing he saw were the huge bay windows that faced east, so as soon as the sun rose it would illuminate their apartment. Daphne knew that this was important to Justin and conceded.

Justin sat up and looked at his friend. He was so grateful for her and he often wondered if maybe he was a burden. Daphne could see the look of worry in Justin's eyes, and knew what he was thinking, "Shut up Taylor. What have I told you about thinking you're a burden?" She couldn't help but smile at his surprised look. "I've known you my whole life, Justin, I think by now I can practically read your mind." They both laughed, and it seemed that the higher the sun climbed and exposed them to its rays, the happier and calmer Justin became. Daphne noticed though that Justin still seemed very tired, "Why don't you get some more rest, we can go out for brunch or lunch instead?" Justin nodded, but didn't move, and Daphne knew that he would not go back to his dark room. So she stood up from the sofa and went to get him a pillow and blanket. "Thanks, Daph. Are you sure you don't want to go get breakfast?" He mumbled to her as he stifled a yawn and then laid down on the sofa. Daphne smiled and reached down to cover Justin with the quilt she had brought out to him. She was so worried about her friend, but she knew that he would not go back to see the doctors after what happened to him last time. So she had to help him the best way she knew how, by just being there for him.

Well, tell me what you think. Please review, it would mean the world to me to know what you think. Remember, first time QAF writer, please be kind.