Chapter 10: I, Brian, Take Thee, Stewie
"Fuck...come on, Stewie…"
Brian waited impatiently for Stewie's bedroom light to turn off that following night. Unfortunately for Brian, even if Lois put him to bed early that didn't mean the kid went to bed at that designated time. The boy was always staying up past curfew, tinkering with his inventions in his lab or making modifications to his weapons. He was constantly doing something to keep him occupied. He always told Brian that night time was his least favorite.
Brian had been curious and asked the boy why.
Stewie had simply said that his nightmares were becoming a problem again.
Though the dog would have given anything for the boy to go to bed when he was supposed to tonight. He hadn't slept a wink in his car for the last few days and his exhaustion was creeping up on him, taking a toll on his physical and mental health.
Perhaps that was why he was hidden away in his car, a few blocks from his own home...while watching and waiting for the light in Stewie's room to turn off. He had thought that maybe he should just walk into the Griffin home, but that would mean Lois would begin asking him about Rachel and if he had a good trip.
He'd rather not deal with that tonight.
So he waited.
When the light finally did turn off, Brian leapt into action. He climbed out of his car and softly shut the door. After all, the neighbors in their neighborhood were always looking out their windows, spreading rumors, and talking too much. That was another thing Brian wanted to avoid at all costs, but he was beginning to realize how ridiculous that sounded to him...now that he was tip toeing to his home, acting like an individual up to no good which he definitely was.
He felt quite giddy, actually.
A very odd feeling given the circumstances and given what he was about to do.
The dog eventually made it to the backyard and he went to the lattice Peter had installed, conveniently, that led up to Stewie's bedroom window.
He began to climb it, being careful about making too much noise. He didn't want Stewie to wake up.
He continued to climb, being ginger and slow until he made it to Stewie's window ledge where he peered inside...just to make sure the boy was in fact in his crib and simply didn't have the lights off. To his satisfaction, he could see that bundle of joy nestled in his bed, covers over him...tightly wound around his body.
Brian almost lost himself...looking at the boy from outside his window.
He smiled warmly and for a moment...thought to himself just how crazy this all was.
Here the canine was...peeking inside Stewie's bedroom and just casually watching him sleep; not a care in the world. Was he really going to go through with this plan?
Absolutely.
He was on a mission...to save Stewie from David. In the animal's mind, David was a leech and he was suffocating the boy and bleeding him dry. He needed to get that horrid man away from the kid as soon as he could.
Though he did have a plan, it was just a matter of...being able to execute that plan. Without the pictures, everything the dog had hoped to do would be ruined and he'd be back to square one.
He couldn't afford that. Especially with the fact he needed and wanted Stewie, a little more each and every day. Thoughts of the boy engulfed him, overwhelmed him, and gripped him. He was growing desperate to have the boy by him like the good old times.
He had to do this, and he would.
He gently lifted the window up from the outside, making sure to be slow since Stewie's window did make some noise when it was being opened. Good thing that there was a slight crevice that allowed Brian to open it from the outside, too. Otherwise this would have been a much harder task. Then, again, he knew this wouldn't be too difficult. Stewie always made sure to have his room easily accessible from his window.
Once the window was open just enough for the dog to slip in, he gently crawled inside, leaving the window open. Though he had thought perhaps he should close it behind him, but he figured that since it would be the best way to leave, closing it would only cause him issues.
He grinned, sighing in relief...to be inside Stewie's bedroom again.
It had been such a long time that the dog had begun to wonder if he'd ever see this space again. Such a comforting room with everything equipped to really give off the essence of relaxation and peace, but best of all, it was just the mere knowledge that this was Stewie's room that really added something there that Brian couldn't figure out.
"Oh man…"
The dog sighed...and he relaxed his tense muscles, letting himself have just that moment of blissful ignorance. He almost snickered to himself, forgetting for the briefest of moments why he was here in the dead of night and creeping into Stewie's room in the first place.
Ah...yes.
Brian turned his head to look in the general direction of Stewie's crib and the grin on his face just grew as he approached it. His paws reached for the edge of the bars once he was close enough and he just stared at the sleeping toddler. Beautiful little face...breathing just so softly while his little mouth was open just a tad; Stewie always slept this way. It was the most peaceful the dog ever saw the boy.
It rather angered him, but he dared not wake the baby up.
He leaned a little forward and just rested his cheek into the palm of his hand, his eyes never leaving the boy.
Oh...Stewie…
"I love you so much...so you have to understand why I must do this." Brian whispered gently. He motioned a kiss towards the boy before pulling himself away from that adorable distraction.
He began to think.
He looked about Stewie's room, looking at every piece of furniture that the boy had. He thought...well, the boy could have put the pictures on his bookshelf. Brian shook his head. No, that was too easy of a place for Lois to find them. The dog shuddered. Especially since the woman had no idea of all the shenanigans that Stewie got up to when the doors were closed. If only she knew just how much trouble the boy had gotten into and how many situations where the dog would need to get the boy.
Life with Stewie was always eventful, but never boring to say the least.
"Okay...maybe in his toy chest?"
Brian shook his head once more. No...too convenient as well.
Brian was growing increasingly frustrated. He just wanted to find these pictures and of course Stewie had to make it difficult. The dog couldn't help but groan a little while he tapped his chin.
He sighed and closed his eyes...tapping his foot softly on the carpet below him.
"If I were...Stewie, where would I put pictures like that?"
Brian began to pace a little, contemplating while trying to put himself in Stewie's shoes. If he were the boy, he'd want to put them in a place where no one would bother to think to look. He wouldn't have put them in his lab, either. There were far too many dangerous substances in there that would have damaged them.
After all, despite the photos having been risque, the boy didn't mind them. If anything, he felt...proud of them even though the photographer had been a little more than eager to get Stewie into some interesting poses.
"Please don't show mom! He told me that's what a headshot was!"
Brian shivered as he recalled seeing those photos for the very first time. He had been under the impression the photographer had guided him during that photo shoot, telling the boy where to pose and what props to use. It was quite telling...hearing the boy mention that he had thrown in some ideas of his own.
Still...the headshot photo had been too much. Brian had been tempted to go after that man, but Stewie was persistent when he said it wasn't his fault and that he had consented. So really...what could Brian do?
I could kill him...of course.
Another time maybe.
Brian shook his head and continued to pace the bedroom until he felt his foot meet a little bit of a dip on the floor. He looked down, barely just making out a little indention there before him. His eyes lit up and he smiled.
The secret compartment!
Brian knelt down and gently fiddled with a small flap on the carpet that Stewie had made and lifted it, revealing a small keypad there.
Again...another problem presented itself.
"...Fuck…"
What was the code to open the compartment? Brian felt rattled and he rubbed the back of his neck, his frustration only growing. Stewie and his damn secrets. The dog's head fell just a little and he tightly shut his eyes. He didn't even know if those photos were in the little compartment, but he had a sneaky suspicion that this would be the most likely place Stewie would put such a personal possession.
"God...dammit...I know Stewie told me the code, too…" Brian lifted a paw to rub his aching temples and he forced himself to think. He thought back… to when Stewie had first told the dog about the compartment. He remained fixed on that memory and replayed the boy's words or what he could remember.
It had been a while back, but Brian could recall little bits of information left behind from that day.
"I made this for us, Bry. It's a compartment where you and I can put our most treasured items."
"Haha! You kept Finn's blankie? Why?"
"Because not everyone is trying to run away from their past. Besides...the overall experience of being pregnant wasn't that bad. Also...I liked Finn."
"You liked him?"
"Yeah, he was my favorite out of all of them."
"Really? How come?"
"Because he looked just like you."
Stewie grinned and giggled a little at Brian's blushing face.
"Anyway, the code is 5,2,10."
"5,2,10!" Brian quickly punched in the numbers, for a moment having a panicked thought that Stewie had changed the code, but the canine knew he'd be told if the boy had changed it.
Well...maybe.
Brian wasn't so sure now that he had treated the boy so poorly over the past many weeks.
The dog wouldn't blame him if the boy still felt vindictive and cursed the very dog's name. Still Brian punched in the last number and to his surprise, the little keypad illuminated green and a little locking sound met his ears...meaning the door to the compartment had been unlocked.
"..." Brian gently lifted the flip of the compartment and there before him were just a few various little items that Stewie must have felt were of significant value. The dog's eyes met the framed picture he had given Stewie for Christmas...the same Christmas where the kid had risked his very life just to save the miserable pooch.
He remembered that Christmas and knew he would always look back on it fondly.
It was the first time in such a long time where he truly felt the Christmas spirit.
His eyes drifted then and he looked at the other various contents.
There wasn't too many other things, but Brian wasn't too surprised. The boy wasn't as sentimental with materialistic goods. The boy always told Brian that knowledge was his most prized possession because it was there that would change everything. Knowledge was powerful and influential and no little trinkets would change that.
He chuckled and drifted his eyes further and there...before his very eyes...tucked away safely were the photos.
Still in pristine condition, glistening with promise.
Brian smirked and he reached to take them.
He gripped the photos tightly to his chest as he closed the compartment along with the little flap on the keypad. It looked as though nothing had been disturbed...quite an amazing idea, but then again...this was Stewie and the boy was always thinking ahead of the game. He was determined to keep his secrets safe from unwanted eyes.
The dog stood up to his feet, photos under his arm. He looked over at the boy...who was still sleeping.
He smiled gently and made his way back to the window, but before he climbed out...he looked over his shoulder one last time at the infant.
"I love you, baby...so I'm going to do this...I'm going to do it for you...and for us.
The animal then stepped out onto the lattice and he closed the window behind him. From there, he climbed down carefully...being gentle now that he had precious cargo. As he stepped down onto the ground, he sprinted back to his car.
He felt so alive...climbing into his vehicle and speeding off into the night.
Brian sat in his car parked in his usual spot, clutching the pictures tightly, fingers gracing over the image in front of him.
It really will be such a shame to lose these…
He frowned. A finger touching the part of the picture that showed him the boy's lips. He stroked that area repeatedly.
"It'll all be over soon, baby."
The dog took a deep breath. His body was shaking, a mixture of determination and terror gripping him. He knew he had to do this, but he also knew how dire the consequences would be should he end up getting caught. Anyone who was found with these pictures on their person… Their life would be ruined, over. It was risky.
But Stewie had always been worth the risk.
He was waiting for recess. Everyone in the building would be outside, by then, and he had attended enough meetings at this establishment to know about the back entrance that no one ever used. Slipping in once everyone was busy and doing what he needed to do should be fairly simple.
If one thing went wrong, though…
He shook off the nerves and stepped out of the car. He could see the children filing out of the door, right now. This was it, his golden opportunity.
The canine rushed across the street and around the back of the building. He made his way to the door and was not surprised to find it unlocked. With a smile on his face, he slipped into the building and quickly made his way to the classroom. The lights were off, causing an oddly eery vibe as Brian made his way through the dark room full of drawings and children's toys. Even in the dark, though, the dog had no trouble at all locating David's locker. He had seen the man go to it many times by now, and he was pretty sure he had never had such a clear goal before in his life.
David's locker…
He approached it, and he could feel his heart starting to beat rapidly.
...This really was just too easy.
The locker was tall, just too tall for the dog to reach the slots up at the top. He growled and took a glance around the room before locating a chair. He quickly grabbed the chair and set it in front of the locker before climbing up onto it.
His paws started to shake as he pushed one of the photos into the locker. It fell away into the slot, and just like that, it was gone.
The dog gulped.
That was it. That was all there was to it. If anyone found just that one photo in David's locker, the man was done. Brian thought about this for a moment. He couldn't help but snicker.
Just imagine how everyone will react when they see five more just like it.
He slid another picture in.
Then another.
Then another.
As he did this, though, he found it more and more difficult to give these photos up. They really were some hot shots, and he deeply wished that he could keep them.
The dog sighed.
"They're serving a greater purpose this way."
Still, he hesitated as he went to put in another picture.
It was at that moment that he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hall.
The dog froze, eyes going wide as he listened carefully.
The footsteps were growing closer and closer.
Oh god… Please don't come in here!
HIs options for hiding were nonexistent. The room was essentially one big open space. If someone were to walk in, they would immediately find him.
Brian waited, waited to see what would happen as the sound of footsteps drew nearer and nearer.
His heart stopped when he heard them right outside the door.
He took a breath, fully expecting to get caught…
...Then, the footsteps continued on down the hall.
A sense of relief washed over the canine as he basked in this one moment of good fortune he had been presented. He couldn't waste anymore time, though.
As soon as he knew he was safe, he hurriedly shoved the final two pictures into the locker before bolting out of the room and all the way out of the building.
He made a beeline for his car, heart racing as he reveled in the fact that he was going to get away with this crazy scheme of his.
Under different circumstances, he was sure that Stewie would be very proud of him.
He hopped back into the car and grabbed his binoculars. He was going to wait for everyone to get back inside before he set his full plan into motion.
...Plus, he figured he could give David just ONE last opportunity to spend time with Stewie.
It was going to be his last, after all. It was the least he could do for the poor fool.
So, Brian sat there, looking through his binoculars with the biggest shit eating grin on his face as he watched Stewie. The boy was sitting next to David. It looked like they were sharing a snack, a sight that would normally cause his stomach to turn but not today. Before long, he'd never have to see that man spending time with his Stewie ever again.
Recess did seem to go on a little long, which was annoying, but eventually, David began to usher the children back into the building. Once they and all the adults were back inside the classroom, Brian sprung into action.
The canine grabbed his phone and dialed the office number of the preschool.
The phone only rang twice before someone with a female sounding voice answered.
"Hello, this i-"
The dog cut the woman off in his excitement.
"Yes, hello… Is this the local preschool located in Quahog?"
There was a brief pause before the lady replied.
"Yes… It is. Do you have a child here, sir?"
Brian completely bypassed the question.
"Actually, I would prefer to keep details like that to myself."
He let a beat of silence sit for dramatic effect before continuing.
"But, you see, I have an issue to report. Does a man named David work there?"
The tone in the woman's voice changed, indicating that he now had her complete attention.
"David? Why, yes, we have a David volunteering here currently. Why? What's going on with him?"
No hesitation for the canine.
"I have reason to believe that David may be in possession of an illegal firearm that he is keeping on your premises."
"What!?"
Brian had to hold in his laughter. He was feeling so giddy, and the woman's reaction was even better than he could have expected.
"How do you know this, sir?"
The canine composed himself, still trying to sound serious.
"I'm afraid I'd rather not say, ma'am. Just...check his locker. I know something is in there."
He contemplated hanging up on that note. He didn't, though. He had to make sure that this woman was going to take his tip seriously.
"We will most certainly look into this matter. Thank you for calling, sir."
Checkmate.
"No. Thank you, ma'am."
He hung up and leaned his seat back, preparing to take in the fruits of his labors.
It all happened so fast, that...I can't even remember the events leading up to that moment. I just remember my teacher and the few other volunteers approaching David who had been tending to another little girl; much to my disapproval.
Then I heard the teacher...say something about...David needing to open his locker because she had just received a startling suggestion that he had a weapon inside.
"You know guns are not allowed on the premises."
I found myself confused, unable to comprehend what was being said. Only that...I couldn't believe David of all people would be capable of owning a gun. He began to fidget, I remember that very clearly and he tried to tell the teacher that he didn't have such a thing.
"I don't even own a gun! Let alone a permit to carry one!"
"David, just open your locker."
My eyes followed him and I watched him go to his locker. He was obviously confident...and ready to prove his innocence as he used the little lock to put in his combination. He even swung the locker door open, about to present his relatively modest space. That was when it happened.
Suddenly, something spilled out of his locker and it all came to the floor...the contents of whatever had been there much like confetti. I looked down at whatever had fallen from his locker and my eyes went wide in realization.
"..." I looked in horror at the familiar photos on the ground and I felt my heart shatter when the teacher reached to pick up one of the photos. I almost made a grab for it...because I knew then that this would not end well...would not end well for David.
He would get in trouble for having such photos...and he'd be printed as a child molester, a child predator.
Though what really came to my mind was how these pictures got into his locker in the first place.
"David?!"
The teacher quickly grabbed the rest, her eyes growing wide in such disbelief.
Alarm bells went off in my head and I wanted to intervene, but I was so stunned...so shocked...and just so confused, that I hardly had a moment to breathe.
"I-...I've never seen these pictures before!" David tried to rectify the situation. Though he knew it was all over...there was no way he could try and explain that he'd never seen these pictures before, that he had no idea how or why they got into his locker. He could only say that he was being framed.
The teacher shook her head and I watched her rush to the phone. She began to tell the other volunteers that they needed to call my mother.
She was going to call the police.
Yet I still didn't move...I couldn't comprehend anything, rationalize anything. Something just wasn't adding up. How did these photos get into his locker? I had never told David or gave any indication about these photos existing...or even about my lab, my weapons room.
David was supposed to be the person I'd go to for normalcy. I didn't want everyone to be aware of my inventions, I just wanted to have something that didn't revolve around all these things that I had done.
And I could feel it all coming to an abrupt end.
The sanity...everything that I desperately wanted was being robbed from me. The same way that Brian had robbed me.
The nausea was coming back, the aches were coming back, the headaches were coming back...and I was panicking. I knew what would happen, yet I couldn't stop myself.
I began to scream, I began to cry.
I did everything I could to keep the teacher from contacting the police even though she was already on the phone. I tugged on her pant leg, I yanked the ends of her sweater...I tried desperately to get her attention. Yet she was so focused on the pictures, looking at them all...disgust just written on her face.
David was growing hysterical...I could hear him plead with the teacher to listen to him, but she wasn't listening. She was so focused, so angered...I could feel it...it was so palpable, so tangible.
It was bitter.
That was when I felt someone reach for me and lift me from the ground.
For a moment, I had no clue who it was.
And I turned to look, now noticing the red locks of hair. It was Lois. How had she gotten there so fast?
Then the police were coming into the room, handcuffs in hand while my teacher spoke to one...showing the photos to him. My heart began to race and I struggled.
"No! NO!"
I screamed as loud as I could, but no one was paying attention to me. No one was trying to listen. To them, it must have sounded like any infant would sound in a chaotic situation...loud wailing and annoying sobs that pierced your eardrums. It was so frustrating...it was so difficult to watch the police handcuff David where I could see it.
I felt so pathetic.
"You have to believe me! I would never hurt Stewie!"
David's pleas were making my anxiety just grow more excruciating. I could hardly think, I could hardly handle it all. Everything was happening so fast...
"NO! HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
He was being framed! He didn't take those pictures of me! Why is this happening?!
David was looking at me...I could see it in his eyes. He looked so distraught, he looked so defeated. My eyes must have said the same thing. He just looked on towards me while the police kept him from talking.
"LET HIM TALK!"
I continued to struggle in Lois' arms. I couldn't stand this...I had to do something. I couldn't let this happen to him.
"ANYONE?! LOIS?!"
No one was listening to me!
Everyone was pretending I wasn't screaming, that I wasn't making a fuss. It was aggravating and it was making me feel so useless. Lois refused to acknowledge me...she was just staring at David with the most vexing look on her face. I had never seen that before…
She cupped the back of my head, obviously trying to soothe me, but it made me infuriated. I quickly began to struggle again, squirming helplessly.
She was trying to keep me quiet. She was holding me so tight.
"NO! FOR ONCE, I NEED YOU TO LISTEN TO ME! HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! PLEASE!"
I was still struggling in Lois' arms while crying and wailing. My arms outstretched towards David as he's being taken from me. Panic erodes and I can barely breathe.
"DAVID! HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!"
Though...I was crying and whimpering, it was going all unnoticed. Lois was squeezing me, she was suffocating me. It made my anxiety just grow worse.
Still...nothing could have prepared me for this. Suddenly...I heard that familiar voice.
"Lois!? What's going on here!?"
How could I mistake it? I slowly turned my head...and my eyes met Brian.
"Brian...?"
Lois spinned on her heels and she looked relieved to see the dog. "Oh, Brian! It's so...horrible! I can't believe this!" The woman was gripping me, her nails digging into my sides...she was so engulfed with anger and grief over this whole issue...a circumstance that should have never taken place.
Brian just looked shocked and scared as he asked again, yet I witnessed him drawing closer to me.
"What's horrible!? What happened!? I-Is Stewie ok?"
Lois was too mortified to coherently reply to Brian. She just...rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. "I'll have to explain everything to you when I'm home. Though for now, can you please take Stewie?"
No, I had to get David! I was thrashing so wildly that I was certain I would give myself a headache, but there was so much desperation to be heard and given the chance to talk, that I was unconsciously thinking that if I continued to act out, someone would finally take notice that I was in distress. Then again...anyone who had had children probably would confuse this as a method a misbehaved child used to get attention. In that moment...that was probably what everyone assumed I was.
A misbehaving infant.
I was then handed to Brian who I hadn't seen in so long. Lois obviously couldn't handle my rapid movements any longer. Though being near him, seeing him...it was so strange. Yet my mind was so preoccupied.
My brain was in overdrive.
I had no way of knowing who had planted those photos, but I knew that someone had.
I felt Brian take me from my mother. Came to rest in his arms.
"Of course, I can. You know I'll always be here for Stewie."
He held me so...tightly, protectively...
"You want me to get him out of here? When will you tell me what happened?"
It was a reflex...it was an unconscious act when I buried my face into Brian's shoulder, it was an unconscious act when I began clinging so desperately to the dog. His arms reminding me how much I had missed him. Familiar feelings of love swelled within my stomach.
Surreal.
I held tightly onto Brian, my sobs becoming almost deafening. How could no one...see this?
Lois nodded. She obviously wanted me to get out of the situation, thinking such a scene wasn't good for her son to witness.
Such a careless woman she was.
The nausea was getting worse and my arms tightened on Brian. Yet I knew that...the dog...of all people would be able to understand me. He'd do something about this. "B-Bri-...an! No! D-Dav-id...he didn't do anything! Please stop them!" My pleas to be heard were growing louder. Brian had to listen...he had to understand that none of this made sense.
I felt his heart starting to race against me.
Brian would hear me. He always did.
He looked down at me in sympathy.
That look, though…
Such a sickening look in his eyes while his lips slightly gave off the impression that he was utmost satisfied by the turn of events. Brian's eyes were always telling me the truth.
He was...happy to see David being hauled off...
"What happened here, Stewie? Did he..."
He gulped.
"Did that bastard hurt you...?"
Shock.
"..."
No...Brian.
My heart must have stopped. I looked at Brian, my facial expression saying nothing but complete disbelief that...even he wasn't hearing me. My world came to a crashing halt. Like it had when Brian...when Brian had told me about his love interest...Rachel...for the very first time. I wasn't being heard.
I shook my head, my arms loosening from around the canine's neck. At...some point, I had made a point to look over my shoulder. I could still see the police car...and I could see David in the backseat. He looked like he was crying...his life was over and...it had been my fault, somehow.
If only I hadn't of gotten mixed up with him. None of this would have happened. Why had I insisted on getting so close?
I turned back to Brian.
He was sighing and looking at me sadly.
"You don't have to tell me what he did right now, if you're not comfortable."
The dog then turned and he carried me to his car. His paw reaching up to gently grip the back of my head while his fingers had rubbed soothing little gestures.
"Come on. Let me buy you some ice cream. It'll make you feel better. Always does."
"No!" I quickly started struggling once more, refusing to let this happen to a man who hadn't done anything wrong. Why was no one listening to me? Why was Brian acting like this? "Brian! Please! He didn't do anything! Brian! Can you hear me?! Please!"
He stopped after crossing the street and looked down at me again. My own eyes looking right into Brian's...I needed him to listen to me since no one else was. I could always rely on Brian to hear me, but he was distant from me. He actually seemed annoyed...by the way his lips were curling; as though he were going to growl.
"Stewie..."
The entire area was flooded with my screams and my cries. The further Brian and I got, the worse I felt. I knew that something wasn't adding up and yet I had no way of stopping it. Brian was the only person who would listen to me and he wasn't. He was continuing forth...ignoring me and assuming...like everyone else was.
In my last attempt, I reached for Brian's collar and I tugged helplessly.
"HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! BRIAN, PLEASE DO SOMETHING!"
The canine froze, an odd expression on his face as he witnessed the turmoil I was in. He must have felt entirely clueless on how to handle this situation since I had never persisted in such a way. It droze me absolutely crazy...Brian who was still looking towards his vehicle as though it were the answer to get me to calm myself, but most of all...to get away from this hectic environment.
"I…"
He closed his eyes, expression still inscrutable
"What are they saying he did, Stewie?"
A glimmer of hope.
I must have looked so happy...to see Brian asking me this. I immediately began to fidget, pointing in the direction where the police car had been. It was most likely long gone by now. "They...they said he took...pictures of me...but...but those pictures were...they..." I hiccuped, tears coming down my cheeks...irritating, stinging...
"...they...they think he took them...! Brian! Please...!"
Brian continued to look at me, features ever more inscrutable before finally replying. His words resembled something that I would correlate with as a very sharp object...not a knife, so to speak. Something so quick, something so poisonous. His words were venom and it drove into the deepest pits of my stomach, billowing inside and eating away.
"Why would they listen to me?"
Nothing else could have made me feel what I had felt...in that moment. It was as though something inside of me had...perished. I could always rely on Brian, but he wasn't taking this horrendous situation the way I wanted him to. I looked to him with such hurt, my body quivering while he held me.
He didn't believe me.
He looked at me with such a questioning look, I fell silent.
How could…?
"You...you don't...believe me?" I couldn't fathom the pain I felt. It was so difficult to put a label on it. Brian was acting so standoffish.
The canine shrugged.
"I don't know what to believe, Stewie because...frankly...if he had taken pictures of you, I know damn well that you would have been game for it. You'd be defending him regardless of what happened. So...no...I'm not sure I do believe you..."
My eyes went wide.
"What…?"
Everything in me froze. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could Brian insinuate such a thing? I frowned, unable to hide my quivering lip. Brian...didn't believe me. God, how much that notion hurt. How hard it was to hear such words.
Everything was being taken from me.
I covered my face into my palms, my shoulders trembling. This couldn't be happening. "B-ri...please…! He didn't do it...those photos were from my Jolly Farm audition...he didn't...take them of me...he wasn't supposed to be anything like that...Brian, please…"
Why was he...making this so much worse…?
The dog began to speak again, his voice still laced with that toxicity. Such a different voice...compared to what my Brian usually sounded like; this wasn't Brian at all.
"Oh, really? You expect me to believe that? I saw you pawing all over him at dinner, Stewie. Don't lie to me."
My trembling grew worse. I felt my own anger boil. I felt...the old feelings of jealousy come hither and hit me hard. I could barely keep myself together, then. I couldn't stop the tears, I couldn't stop my shaking fingers while I braced my face into my palms.
I felt angry, I was livid...I was hurt. I was so many things in that moment and Brian was making it so horribly worse for me.
He did so little to make me feel comforted and did so much more to make feel as though this had been my doing and without thinking...without caring, I found myself blurting out my frustration...my pain.
"I DID IT BECAUSE YOU FUCKING HURT ME, BRIAN!"
The canine's eyes went wide before he simply gasped and proceeded further towards his car.
"Ice cream will make you feel better..."
I whimpered loudly. It was so gut wrenching. I felt myself cringe...and almost...the undying urge to purge out the contents in my stomach; thinking that I could vomit these feelings away so I could go to a place where I was so numb and unchanging. I could go there...and just let days pass by without a care in the world.
"No...stop it, Stewart."
I had to be focused. I had to think so I could help David.
I...I could barely keep my stomach from settling and before I even realized it, Brian had already placed me into his car and he fastened me in into my car seat. The restraints so tight...so unbearably tight. I shook there...and didn't bother giving Brian any indication of my presence when the dog got into his car as well...and he began to drive off.
It wasn't until we were on the road that I felt as though I were going to throw up.
I quickly rolled down my window...and tried to sit up so I could vomit outside, but I had no way of moving.
"Mm!" My hands quickly went to cover my mouth, my eyes tightly shut...the bitter taste of bile seeping through my teeth and lips...and in between my fingers.
Brian's gaze was fixed on the road in front of him.
It was such a gruesome sight, and it was also so dreadfully upsetting. Here I was...vomit creeping from my fingers and dripping down my arms...and I just kept going. I felt so suffocated, an anxiety coming over me that made me grip my throat and squeeze to alleviate the pressure there.
All the while, Brian wasn't looking at me. I could tell he was angry. I could feel his anger and it was so unfair.
He had no idea.
Brian had one destination in mind and he must have been so focused on that destination that the rest of the trip to the ice cream parlor went by in a blur. We were there already. He quickly parked and laughed.
I knew I'd never quite forget that laugh. Joyous and uproaring laughter.
"We're here! See? Just like old times? So many memories. This place always cheered you up..."
I shook my head.
I didn't want to get out of the car...I was such a mess. My clothes were covered in my vomit. All I could think about was David...I couldn't think about anything else other than him. I could see his face in my head, how terrified he must have been.
And yet...Brian was acting as though nothing had taken place. Here I was shaking violently in his car, my...my very body itself uncontrollably moving and the dog was more focused on getting to this place. Why? I didn't get it. He was making this so hard for me.
"I don't...want it…"
I watched Brian begin to shake.
"That's ok...I'll just run inside and grab us some cones to go."
He laughed again, the laughter piercing my eardrums. I didn't want to hear it...he sounded so thrilled.
"Just promise me you won't make a mess, ok?"
It was so terrible. The way Brian was acting, it made me feel so vulnerable...and I hated feeling this way. The dog was being so nonchalant while I was mentally breaking down for him to see and yet this animal was acting as though he were blind to my pain.
It was happening all over again…
I had been in this situation before.
It happened the same way...when I was in the kitchen and Brian was texting on his phone. He had acted as though I weren't there, much like he was acting as though I hadn't gotten sick and had bile all over me. He was making this so horrible, he was making me feel so unloved.
The dog gulped, offered me one last smile, and hopped out of the car. He rushed into the ice cream parlor to retrieve some sweet treats that in no way sounded appetizing, and I watched him run with a heavy heart. The strong stench of vomit wafting through the air which made me feel worse. The last thing I truly wanted to do was put something on my stomach that was hurting and twisting.
The moment Brian left me alone in his car, I took a moment to look down at my fingers that were covered in my vomit. Fingers shaking, unbelieving. It hadn't hit me until that moment I was alone...stranded in the dog's car that I was always going to be alone. It didn't matter...everyone was going to be snatched from me at some point. Whether by unseen intervention or by people at home.
Brian...had Rachel...and now David-...wait. Rachel. My eyes went wide and for a moment, clarity came through. Where was Rachel? Actually...why hadn't Brian brought her up? Perhaps he was just trying to be a good friend and be there solely for me?
Unlikely. Not with the way he was acting.
Brian never gave up a chance to talk about her.
So...why the silence now?
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to contemplate the matter when Brian came back, still smiling as he casually tossed my cone towards my direction. He gripped his own cone while his fingers had fiddled with his car keys. He was having a hard time starting the car back up. I heard him silently curse to himself, but he was laughing nervously while he jammed his keys over and over until his car had turned on. At that moment, he drove out of the parking lot...way too fast and we were now on the road...the canine speeding past oncoming cars.
"Ah…!" I inevitably hadn't had time to catch the ice cream. Before I knew it, the cone had dropped onto my trousers before making its designated place on the floor. I watched it with slight satisfaction though. I hadn't been hungry in the first place and I wasn't going to lie...I was angry at Brian.
So really...a mess in his car was what he deserved for treating me so poorly.
Brian didn't even notice. He just kept driving, refusing to look at me as he lapped away at his ice cream while speaking, no care...no sense of remorse for letting me remain in the state I was in.
"So...how have you been, kid?"
How dare you…
It happened, then. The tears came back. The slight euphoria of making a mess of Brian's car was over and done with and now all that was left was the pain that continued to stab my gut and my chest.
My wails came back full force.
My screams shaking the walls of the car. Surely Brian couldn't ignore them now that we were in such an enclosed space. Though I didn't care. I had to let it out. I had to share my grief and let it be known I was not okay, that Brian had hurt me all over again...and David was gone and I'd never see him again.
I hiccuped and I continued to cry out.
Brian began shaking again. His paw continued to shake more and more until he finally dropped his own ice cream. He was trying to ignore me, but he...couldn't. That damn dog knew bloody well that he couldn't!
Dear god...
He pulled over on the side of the road. We were already on the outskirts of the town now. When had we gotten all the way out here? He parked the car and turned to me, eyes pleading. I could tell from my peripheral that he wanted me to stop crying, to stop screaming. I could tell by the way he was shaking...the way he looked at me.
"Stewie...it's ok. I'm here. I've always been here..."
Liar.
It must have been such a sight. Oh...caring Brian...dutiful Brian. Finally coming to notice just how distraught I was. How unbelieving I was that he was so unwilling to help me and even accuse me of letting David take photos of myself.
Nothing could have prepared me for this kind of feeling.
This betrayal I felt.
There was no other way of describing it...Brian had betrayed me in he coldest way possible.
...And he was actually trying to save face.
I was just staring at him. It was enough to drive him insane. Brian's eyes were telling me that I shouldn't be worked up over someone like David. He looked at me with so much confusion. He must have been aggravated with me. Dammit! He reached out and stroked my cheek affectionately, his warm...fingers ebbing my heart strings...tugging them ruthlessly.
Oh, Brian...don't ever let me go again.
My heart had yearned for the dog, to be in close proximity...where we were alone and we'd be in the company of passionate love...foggy windows, heavy breathing...ecstasy coming from our mouths. Every essence of my being was crying out for more of this. I drastically tossed those thoughts out of my head, going back to what really needed to be analyzed...the culprit who had committed such an unforgiving...heinous crime.
Yet Brian was leaning more, speaking softly...in that baritone voice that had sent my heart ablaze so many times.
"We...we don't need anyone else..."
Silence.
Olivia…? Did she do it? No. She's clever, but she's far too average to pull a stunt like this.
My wails didn't stop. Even with Brian touching me with cherishment, I actually quivered away...because I didn't want it. I didn't want him to touch me. Not right now. I shook my head and I reached out an arm to push Brian away from me. I didn't want him near me.
It hurt far too much.
Penelope…? She'd have the definite means to do so, but...no...not her, either. She didn't know about those photos.
"Stewie...baby, look at me…"
It was just all so confusing. Why was Brian saying this? What was going on? Despite my overall mental state, I was thinking about the possible people who had framed David...
I had to save that man...my friend...
I had pulled away, and to my surprise, moisture appeared in Brian's eyes as he leaned forward desperately, trying to reach for me.
Bertram is the most likely person. Though...no...that can't be. He died. I made sure he was dead.
"Stewie...please...I love you..."
Stop. Stop it. STOP IT!
I went to block Brian. I covered my ears...I couldn't listen to this. My head was running with so many thoughts and the dog wasn't helping me at all. I could tell by his voice he was also hysterical...but I was in no shape to provide comfort to him. Not while I was in such a state myself.
If anyone needed to be consoled, it was me. Brian had had his chances and he threw them away without even batting an eye.
I felt no sympathy towards him.
Tears began to fall from his eyes as Brian leaned in closer.
"I can fix this. I can make it better. You just have to give me a chance."
He drew his lips inches away from mine. He was so close to me...I could practically taste his lips that were daring to move forward towards me.
W-What…?
No, I had to think!
"Please...give me a chance..."
SHUT UP!
I shook my head. It was too much...my head was starting to pound and I could feel my heart beat faster. Brian was drawing closer...his lips so dangerously close...and my heart...as much as I hated it, leapt in joy. This had been all I wanted, but...not like this.
I couldn't grasp the reality of this situation and how quickly Brian had come hithering to me.
What happened...between him and Rachel? Had they gotten into a fight? Had they broken up?
Something must have happened...because Brian was drawing closer to me...and he was doing exactly what he had done to me on that fateful night in my bedroom. He was going to kiss me and everything in me wanted it. I wanted him...I wanted him so badly...but who was to say what would take place after we had sex in his car?
He'd drop me...he'd find someone else and this time...I wouldn't have David.
I trembled.
I had nothing.
Brian closed the gap then, eagerly claiming my lips as his own, ignoring the taste of bile as he tried to woo me with his lips, teeth, and tongue.
Brian…
Soft…
Time stopped. My thoughts...all but erased from my memory.
I didn't stop Brian...at first. If anything, I found myself returning his kiss. We sat in his car, kissing one another with passion. My little fingers even went to stroke over his cheek and I pressed my own lips so firmly...on Brian's that I could feel him shifting from his seat...as though he were going to crawl into the back and bring with him.
And I followed. I willingly followed.
We went into his backseat and Brian kissed me again, feverishly touching me while I touched him.
It felt so dirty. I felt so dirty...I was kissing Brian while David was probably already in his cell, doomed to rot away...or worse...
My mind was screaming at me to stop this before it got out of hand, but the way Brian was pushing my body into the cushions in the backseat...I was getting aroused by just the dog alone hovering over me, touching me over my clothes.
Yet...even then, I hadn't stopped thinking.
Maybe I was trying to buy some time, I wasn't too sure. I kept kissing Brian. I even pushed the dog a little to grind on me...I needed it...I wanted it. Whatever...I just had to have him.
Brian seemed to catch on because he was beginning to use his groin to grind onto mine. He briefly broke our kiss, but his lips remained just grazing over mine...his breath quickening as I felt him grind on me...slow...steady...amazing...electrifying.
"Stewie...oh, baby…yeah..."
And then something...happened. Something clicked in my head.
The only person who knew about those photos was...Brian. He was the only person who knew where I had put them...
He was the only person who knew the code to get into my compartment. I didn't...want to believe that Brian was capable of something so vile, but there was no other explanation. The puzzle pieces were coming together, then. Why Brian had shown up at just the opportune time...and why Brian was so unwilling to help clear David...and why...Brian was acting as though Rachel had never existed.
My eyes snapped open and before long, I was shoving the animal away and I stared at him...a new fire bore in my eyes.
"It was you…"
The canine whimpered, unable to hide the frustration he was feeling as I pushed him away. He was so focused on his damn pleasure that he hadn't heard my accusation. He just looked at me with sad eyes...crocodile eyes...dangerous and deranged eyes.
"Don't push me away..."
Brian's utmost...foolish demeanour just raised my suspicions. I didn't need to hear anymore. "It was you! You did this! You…! You stole those photos and you put them in David's locker!"
The dog's eyes widened in realization as panic began to set in. I watched him lick his lips as though he were trying to remain calm as he sputtered out a response.
"St-St-Stewie...I-I-I..."
I cut him off immediately.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!"
I was just in so much shock...how dare I even think about letting this animal touch me while he had stolen a man of his life! Even when...IF David were to get out...he'd be labelled a child predator. That would be his title for the rest of his life and it was because of Brian...Brian who was so selfish, so insecure...that he had to ruin everything that he touched.
The dog hung his head, breathing becoming sporadic. He looked horrified and scared and...angry...so very angry. He punched the seat hard before lunging forward, pouncing over me as he stared me down, a raging inferno in his eyes.
There it was...the animal in Brian. He'd finally come out to show his face to me.
"I did it for us! Dammit, Stewie! Why can't you see that!? David was keeping you away from me! Just like Rachel was keeping me away from you! Can't you see how stupid we were both being!? We don't need them! We don't need anyone! I'm...so...tired of fighting this. I need you!"
I didn't dare look away. I looked on...at this beast before me. I never cowarded away before Brian, though. I kept...a steady glare.
"You're unbelievable."
I didn't have it in me to fight him anymore, to scream...to yell. I lied underneath Brian, looking up at him with so much hate...I never thought I could feel such hatred towards him. This was the person I was so hopelessly in love with...and even in that moment, my heart went for the dog...but I hated him...completely and honestly hated him.
"Why didn't you just fucking come to me?! Why did you have to put me through hell?!"
It was a question that seemed to give him pause. He just stayed there, pinning me down before finally simply shrugging. He chuckled sadly.
"Doesn't matter...it's in the past..."
He leaned down and pecked my cheek.
"..."
I didn't budge. I didn't dare to breath. Whatever had gripped me...had taken me this far to let Brian seduce me was far gone. Now all I wanted to do was leave this car. I began to struggle underneath him, my teeth clenching.
"Get away from me."
"No!"
Dammit! Why was I trying to get away!? I was never supposed to leave!
Why was I humoring this...this...monster!?
Even if I wanted to stay of my own accord, though, it was no longer my decision. The dog applied more pressure as he tightened his grip.
"No!"
He leaned down and began kissing me desperately, trying to make me feel the things he was feeling.
"I can't! Lose! You! I can't!
That was when I began to really struggle and squirm. Brian was growing dangerous and he was giving me no choice but to react this way. What had he expected? Feeling the miserable dog kiss me so profusely...so desperately, it was far too late to try and gain my forgiveness and I could tell that Brian wanted it so badly, but...he had made too many mistakes for me to give him that luxury.
And here he was now...trying to kiss me, trying to get me to succumb.
No.
That wasn't going to happen.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
I heard him, then. A foreign sound. He growled and bit down on my shoulder, an instinctual retaliation, surely, but…it hurt...
It was something a predator would do to paralyze its prey. I felt his sharp teeth digging and tearing flesh open.
And I stopped...stunned…
...Terrified...
"Nn!" I froze almost immediately. No...why…? All I could feel was the pain from Brian's teeth. This hadn't been the first time...that something like this had happened, but this was different. Brian was trying to hurt me at that moment.
I trembled underneath him, then. I tightly shut my eyes. I curled into a ball...I was scared. For the very first time...I was scared of Brian.
His teeth bore deep, eating away...he was going to devour me.
Then...the teeth retreated.
I looked back at the animal.
Clarity.
Brian's eyes softened as he realized what he had just done. He lifted his head slowly, mechanical like...his eyes wide like...he couldn't quite believe what he had just done.
"No!"
The dog pushed himself up and away from me, guilt all over his face as he sat down and took in the sight of me...trembling, terrified.
We were both terrified.
"I...I'm sorry..."
Even with my shaking form, I forced myself to sit up on my side of the backseat. I gripped my shoulder, the throbbing pain only increasing the more I thought about it. Removing my hand, I took notice to the blood.
I stared blankly at my hand.
I then directed my eyes to Brian...who still had that crazed look on his face as if he were going to let animalistic instincts take over at any moment, once more.
I took my opportunity.
I quickly opened the door...and I left the car as fast as I could. I ran as far as I could. Without any kind of direction, I aimlessly ran...it was better than being near him. As tragic...as that was.
Brian jumped forward, only succeeding in tumbling out of the car as I made my escape. He hit the ground hard, but the pain of the impact didn't seem to faze him as he watched me run away. I heard him. He began crying hysterically, calling after me.
If he had...managed to grab me just in time...I was uncertain about what might have happened.
What would he have done to me…?
"I'M SORRY! STEEEEEEEEWIE! I'M SORRY! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!"
I didn't stop. I forced myself to keep going. Even though Brian's cries for me...hurt me, I kept going forward. Though my heart cried for Brian, my body ached for Brian...I couldn't stop. It didn't come clear until I was so far off...that the dog's voice was becoming so distant...and I finally had to stop...collapsing onto the ground below me.
The cold earth meeting my worn out limbs.
If I died here...that would be okay with me.
"Brian…please…"
I had nothing.
It was gone…
...all of it.
I was alone.