The Loft...

Once again Brian made sure that Debbie was comfortable on the couch before moving away. "I'm going to go pay Mikey a visit. Will you be okay here while I'm gone?"

Worried, Debbie grabbed the hand closest to her. "Brian, please don't do anything stupid."

Looking at her with all sorts of emotions flashing in his eyes, he gave her a wicked grin. "I'll handle it, don't worry. Now will you be okay until I get back? Are you sure that you don't want me to call Carl for you?"

Waving him off, Debbie shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. Just, please, don't do anything that you will regret."

Just before leaving, he turned around to peer over at her with grim determination on his face. "You know me, Debbie. I can take care of myself. It WILL be handled."

As the loft door slid shut with a bang, Debbie cursed, knowing just that and praying that Brian wouldn't actually kill her son.

In the 'Vette...

Driving to Michael's shop, thoughts of what Brian would do to him once he saw him ran through his head.

Red Cape Comics...

Michael smiled as he stood in his empty shop and gazed around, unaware of what was about to happen. The workmen had just left after giving him a price quote for the new shelving and customer counter, and visions of what the revamped store would look like floated through his head.

Looking up when the bell rang over the shop door, he was delighted to see that it was his best friend, Brian, coming in. His smile quickly changed, however, as he noticed the look of pure anger on his face.

Before he had a chance to utter a word, Brian punched him square on the jaw, knocking him to the ground as he landed on his backside.

Lying there stunned, Michael rubbed his sore jaw as he yelled at him, "Hey, what was that for? That fucking hurt, and I think you loosened some teeth!"

Standing over him, Brian's rage spilled out. "THAT was for your mother! How could you do that to her? Have you any idea what you have done? Do you? Do you even care?"

Shaking his head as he sat on the hard floor, Michael whined, "What did I do? I would never do anything to maw!"

Hands balled into fists, Brian's face went even redder with fury. "Oh, is that right? How about getting her to re-mortgage her house, and not pay a cent to help out? And how about flaunting all that cash around Babylon? How about the fact that she collapsed in the diner today! Thank God that I was there to catch her before she hit the ground," Brian declared, holding up a hand to stop Michael from talking when he opened his mouth. "She had to be taken to the hospital, Michael! The doctor said she was suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, and needed a week's bed-rest and had to slow down, because she was working overtime and double shifts to pay for YOUR debts!"

Pacing the store with his hands still balled up in fury, Brian continued his rant. "I can't believe that you are that selfish! There's no excuse for putting Debbie's health at risk! Luckily I paid her mortgage off, but don't you EVER do anything like this again! If you ask her for even so much as a dollar, I'll fucking kill you!"

Still sitting on the floor and rubbing his jaw, Michael complained, "Why didn't anyone call me when it happened? I had a right to know! She is MY mother!"

Brian turned to face him, his eyes wide with astonishment. "You don't get it, do you? I can't believe that you are whining over that! She didn't even want to go the hospital, and it was YOU that put her there! Michael, I have never been more fucking disappointed in you."

Finally rising stiffly from the floor, Michael braced his hands on the counter as he maintained, "I didn't mean to! I love my mother; you know that!"

Throwing him a death stare, Brian growled curtly, "Then treat her like that!"

Michael watched as Brian left the shop, slamming the door and rattling the glass as he did. The words 'disappointed in you' hurt more then the punch did. He wondered how on earth he was going to make it up to his mother after this - and regain his best friend's respect as well.

The Loft...

When Brian made it back to the loft, he was glad to see that Debbie was sound asleep and resting well. Sitting on a chair, Brian closed his eyes and prayed that Justin would be home soon. He really needed the comfort of his arms.

Just then his phone vibrated in his pocket; moving to the other side of the loft so he wouldn't wake Debbie he peered at the caller I.D., happy to hear the sweet voice of his lover.

"Hey."

"Hi, Sunshine," Brian replied, letting out a deep breath. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear your voice right now."

Worried, Justin asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Brian sighed. "You have no idea, but between Michael being an idiot and Debbie collapsing at the diner earlier today, it's been a very rough few hours."

Justin gasped. "Debbie collapsed? Is she alright?"

Nodding into the phone, Brian told him everything, trying not to cry while he did do, because it was not the Brian Kinney thing to do.

Shocked, Justin cursed in anger. "Fuck, Michael is a real moron! Thank God you were there, Brian." He paused for a moment before adding, "I swear. I love you more and more every day."

Smiling upon hearing that, Brian sighed a happy sigh. "Love you, too, Sunshine. Please come home soon; I need the kind of hug only YOU can give me."

Grinning into the phone, Justin replied, "I'll be home within the hour, and I'll bring us all some Chinese food. Does that sound good?"

Closing his eyes, Brian smiled. "Sounds perfect."