A/N: Ok, so, I'm trying to make up for way-too-long absence in updating story, and also, for the last two chapters that were mostly fluff.

The next update will have to wait until the weekend however, because I have the world's worst job to do during the week.

I hope you guys are having a good week, and, thanks a MILLION for the reviews. Truly truly, it's the reviews that are giving me reason to smile, and that pushes me to keep writing.

And, again, I would be nowhere without my beta, Xrifree.

Justin's POV

"Honestly, Brian, I really am busy."

"Busy doing what? You have no friends, and your shift is over. What, sex suddenly too boring for you?"

Justin rolled his eyes. He could see Emmett smirking in the next booth. Brian's childish petulance would have been funny, if it hadn't become an everyday routine, ever since his fight with Michael.

"You must really be missing Michael."

"Would you shut the fuck up about him?"

Justin rolled his eyes. "I only brought up his name just now. I bet you're secretly wishing that the phone would ring, and it would be him."

"Why the fuck would I want that to happen?"

"Because he's your best friend? Because you miss him? Because you should never have done what you did?" Justin could have listed even more reasons, but he chose not to.

"I said shut the fuck up! His life was just going to hang there like some shirt in a closet that you never wear."

"So, you pushed him away."

"It was the only curse of action."

"Really? Now he hates you. That's not the answer, Brian."

"It's okay. As long as Mikey's happy."

"You must be delusional, if you believe that. I'm on to you, Brian Kinney. I don't think even you believe that. Anyway, as I was saying, I have to take Soli for a walk, and bathe her as well."

Justin lowered his voice. "I also have a killer to find and an election campaign to derail. I'm really sorry Brian, but I can't come out with you tonight."

"You can bring your friend. We can have a threesome." Brian apparently hadn't heard a word Justin had just said.

"What friend? You just said I didn't have any friends."

"The one you keep speaking to in Latin, whenever you think I'm asleep."

Fuck.

Justin had never dreamt that Brian had ever heard his conversations with Daphne, Cuidi or Gwenhwyfar.

"So, I've been told that we're supposed to share friends. I think you should share your Latin friend with us. He's a priest isn't he?"

"A…huh? Brian, I don't…" Justin was completely at a loss how to explain himself.

"What, he isn't a priest? Some old, grizzled, professor then? And here I thought only Mikey went for the geriatrics."

"David isn't a geriatric. You know, you should give Michael a call…see how he is doing."

"Fuck that. He's happy playing wifey to the good doctor now. I wanna know about your priest."

"I have tables to clean and a dog to wash AND I have no idea what you're talking about."

With that, Justin made his exit. He was truly running out of excuses.

Brian's POV

Playing at Babylon was no fun alone. And Ted and Emmett could get pretty boring, pretty quick. Scrabble with Melanie and Lindsay had already become incredibly dull.

That's how Brian found himself stalking…no….following?…no, 'keeping an eye on' Justin.

It was infuriating, the amount of time Justin thought necessary to spend with that dog. The better part the evening was spent walking with Soli, feeding Soli, washing Soli (that was actually a relief) and, again, walking with Soli.

Stranger still was the time Justin spent babbling to Soli. Of course, Brian kept a healthy distance, so he couldn't hear much of the monologue, but he heard enough to determine that Justin was talking to the dog in Latin. Because that was such a normal thing to do.

Things then got decidedly weirder. After washing Soli, Justin and she commenced their second walk. That followed the same pattern as earlier. Then, Brian found himself following them into a park, quite under the cover of darkness at this point. Justin sat on a swing, and stopped his yammering long enough for Soli to whimper a little, and then she too became quiet, and rolled on her back instead.

Then Justin started speaking again, but this time, it was clearly a conversation. Justin would speak, then pause, wait, as if for an answer, and then speak again. It was so obviously a conversation with another person.

But, as far as Brian could see, there wasn't another soul at the park. It was just Justin, Soli and Brian himself. So who the fuck was Justin talking to?

Maybe he was on his cell phone?

To be certain, Brian called Justin. Only to hear Justin's phone ring, have Justin actually pull his phone out of his pocket to look at it, and ignore it.

So.

What the fuck was going on?

Justin's POV

"Who knew that Brian could feel bad? I feel sorry for him. He really seems to miss Michael."

Daphne smiled. "That's actually kind of cute. What about Michael? Does he miss Brian as well?"

"Hmmm…I'm not sure." Justin paused to think. "Michael's sure been a lot nicer to me; I'm not sure if that's because he's got Brian out of his system or if it's David's influence or what. I think he must miss Brian. I mean, they've been friends for so long…I feel bad for Michael too. Can you imagine how awful he must be feeling?"

"In a way. But humans ask to be treated in a certain way, often, by their own behaviour. I don't know how many signs we're supposed to give to them that they don't exist in a vacuum. Back to your life – I have an idea."

"About Rikert?"

Daphne wrinkled her nose. "I thought we were discussing Michael and Brian! Oli, you're such a nut. I have an idea about Michael and Brian. Why don't you get them back together? That way, amongst other things, Brian will be off your back long enough for you to actually concentrate on Rikert."

"Me? How can I patch things up between Michael and Brian?"

"You're sleeping with Brian, and you live with Michael's mother. You have access to both of them. Tell them both that they're being idiots."

"Humans are very strange, Daphne. They don't seem to accept anything that is told to them, no matter how correct it is. Especially Brian. I already tried to speak to him…he will not admit that he misses Michael, and he is too proud to do anything."

"Well, this Brian sounds strange in more ways than one…why don't you just speak to Michael, who seems to be the one who is more emotionally mature?"

Justin smiled. "That's a great idea; I think I know exactly how I'm going to do that. And with Brian occupied, I will have time to work on Rikert. And listen, I designed some more leaflets that we…you guys…can drop, as soon as I'm able to go and get the copies made…I have to travel further this time, because the last one made it to the news in all kinds of places!"

"I was thinking about that too…and I have an idea that will make things easier. Cuidi's powers are stronger than mine; he can get you into City Hall after it is closed by opening it from the inside. You can make the copies there! It is kind of spending public funds for your personal cause, but ultimately, it's for the good of everyone in this city."

"Daphne, you're awesome!"

The next day, at the diner

Justin grabbed a soda, and the printed drawing story that Brian had bought Michael for his birthday, deciding that the time was perfect for a break. And for implementing secret plans. He went to Emmett, Ted and Michael, who were seated in one of the booths.

"…for eternal forgiveness?" Emmett was saying. He scooted over to make space for Justin.

"Brian doesn't do apologies." Michael chewed on the end of his straw, before turning his attention to a french fry.

Emmett frowned. "Well, he should after what he did."

"It's too late. He pushed too hard, and now the game is over. But it's ok. I'm ok. I'm happy."

"But wouldn't you be happier if Brian was in your life?"

Michael glared at Justin. "No."

"And, you forgot this at the party…" Justin slid the gift across the table towards Michael.

"I told him already I don't want his crummy present."

"You know, he misses you. He's miserable without you."

"I can vouch for that." Emmett piped.

Michael huffed. "Good, he deserves to be."

"He loves you. He'll never admit it, but he does."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Oh please. Brian doesn't love anyone. He doesn't believe in love, remember?"

"You don't believe that, do you? Honestly? He loves you. And Lindsay and Gus. That's why he hurt you, so you'd go back with David. He knew if he didn't, you'd be waiting for him forever.

"That's bullshit."

"Is it? This was his way of saying goodbye. Anyway, I gotta go. I think my break is over."

Later that evening, at Babylon

Brian's POV

Brian watched the crowd dance. Ted was drooling in some corner, trying his luck on a man Brian had rejected.

Brian narrowed his eyes. Was that Michael?

Just in case he wasn't hallucinating, Brian turned his back on the image of Michael, and tried to concentrate on the row of bottles in front of him. Until there was a tap on his back. He reluctantly turned around. It was Michael.

"What are you doing here? You're married now."

"I guess I still look."

"Yeah, well, what's the good of looking if you can't touch? Want a beer?"

Michael shrugged. "Sure." He cleared his throat. "I never thanked you for my gift..."

Brian frowned. "Your gift?"

"Your blonde boy wonder insisted it that I take it."

"Yeah, well, I'll have to punish him severely for that".

"It was the coolest thing I ever had." Michael said, smiling.

"I thought so."

"You wanna dance? It's weird not talking to you."

Brian shrugged nonchalantly. "I never thought about that."

Michael raised his eyebrow. "I heard you were freaking out."

"Yeah, who told you that?"

"Everybody - Lindsay, Justin..."

Well, they're all pathological liars, I wouldn't trust them." Apparently, Brian's friends were smarter than he gave them credit for.

Michael laughed, grabbing Brian's wrist and dragging him onto the dance floor. "You are so busted!"

Even later that evening

He saw Justin only by accident. Brian had dropped Michael off at David's, and was driving back home. Not his usual route. That was when he saw Soli sitting patiently outside a building. Brian parked the jeep, and stepped outside. He immediately recognised the building – City Hall. Except this was the back entrance, marked "For Deliveries Only".

He scanned the area, and saw Justin standing next to a metal door. "Authorised Personnel Only" the sign on the door read. Suddenly, without the aid of a key, Justin tugged on the door, which opened, and he crept inside, taking Soli inside with him.

Brian had to sprint across to the door, but it was closed solid by the time he got there.

What was Justin doing?

It was over two hours before Justin exited the building, Soli in tow. Not just Soli, but also with two huge garbage bags, which he placed outside with Soli.

And then, the incredible happened. The door opened on its own, with no assistance from Justin. Justin then held the door open, as several more bags, including a familiar rucksack, magically moved from inside the building to across the road. Just floating, in midair.

Brian watched in amazement.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Before he knew it, Justin and Soli were across the road, next to the heap of bags.

What were they waiting for?

Brian watched, mouth agape.

His question was answered in about twenty minutes. They were, apparently, waiting for Vic, who was driving Debbie's car, into which the bags were loaded.

What the hell was going on?

The next day

There was no way Brian could not be grouchy, even if he and Michael were back to being friends.

First, there was the bizarre incident involving Justin the previous night. Brian had finally come to the conclusion that he must have consumed a lot more alcohol than he had given himself credit for, because there was no other way to explain what he saw. Objects did not just float midair. They certainly could not float from one place to another.

Nevertheless, it did not change the fact that Justin had been breaking and entering into City Hall in the middle of the night, with the knowledge and apparent consent of Vic, and leaving with a lot more that he went in with.

There was something just not right with Justin. Brian could no longer pretend it didn't matter. It was far more than just working against his campaign for Stockwell. There was too much about Justin that wasn't adding up.

He spoke Latin, in this day and age.

He openly acknowledged lying about having amnesia.

He knew Jason Kemp. And Jason Kemp's killer, even though police investigations had come up with zilch.

He organised leaflet drops from midair and broke into state buildings.

He knew about Jack having cancer.

It wasn't just the lies; it was the fact that there were no plausible explanations for any of it.

"You know, I never knew that my family is actually Nordic…I just…I don't know what I thought, actually."

Brian looked up from his cup of coffee long enough to scowl at Lindsay.

Add to the hallucinations of last night, the 'mysterious' anti-Stockwell campaign had struck again. Dozens of neighbourhoods had been targeted. Each house had received a personalized letter, detailing their family history, with names and dates of immigrants in their ancestry.

Lindsay had received a personalized letter detailing how she would not even be in existence had Stockwell been mayor when her great great grandfather had arrived in Pittsburgh because of one or another proposed policy of his.

Each house had received a different letter, a different story, a different outcome. The common thread running through the stories was everyone's lives and families would be considerably worse off had a mayor like Stockwell existed sometime in the history of their families.

Cynthia had called early in the morning to tell Brian that she found out that her great grandfather had been a petty criminal, and she pointedly remarked that he would have probably died behind bars had Stockwell been police chief at that time.

Some people were sharing their personal stories on breakfast shows on TV and radio; others were saying that it was too personal to be discussed. Others were saying their neighbourhoods had not received anything, and they were waiting for their stories.

Everyone was talking about it.

"More coffee?"

Brian looked up at Justin, who clearly had not had a wink of sleep. There were dark circles under his sunken eyes, and he looked exhausted. Also, happy. The damned infernal blonde was beaming.

"I think you should have some yourself; doesn't look like you've had much sleep. Or rather, any sleep."

"That's because Vic was sick last night. Food poisoning. I don't know how I slept through it all, but I did. Sunshine here took care of Vic all night. I didn't know a damn thing until I walked into the kitchen this morning and found the two of them there." Debbie, materializing from nowhere, hugged Justin.

Justin smiled ever-so-sweetly at Brian, over Debbie's shoulder.

"I'm late for work."

"Wait, Brian, can't you drop Justin home? Sweetie, go home, get some rest, we can manage without you here for today, ok? You deserve it."

"Aw, Deb, thanks! Brian, I'll just go get Soli and meet you out front ok?"

Brian frowned at Debbie. "I really will be late, Deb."

"Please…it's not like you have punch cards. So be a few minutes late."

"C'mon Justin, what gives?"

"Huh?"

"Who are you, really? How are you pulling off shit like this? Leaflets from the sky, personalized letters to hundreds of people…we both know that you're getting help, and I don't mean Vic. There's no conceivable way, unless…"

"Unless what?" Justin looked at Brian soberly.

"Unless…I don't know. I can't come up with a single idea. You babble in Latin, you have this vast wealth of historical information inside you, but you have no idea who Snoopy is, you know…you claim to know who murdered Jason Kemp, you have the unwavering support of Vic and Ted, two people who are usually a lot more cautious when it comes to strangers…who are you?"

"I can't tell you."

"So you admit that there is something…" Brian didn't even know how to phrase the statement.

"Brian, I'm sorry. I just can't answer your questions. I…I just can't."

Brian stared straight ahead. He had reached his limit.

"Then, I suggest you don't drop by the loft until you can."

At the diner

It had been a week since his unplanned ultimatum to Justin. The two of them had barely spoken since then, except at the diner, if and when Brian ordered something from him.

Justin had obviously been working on the campaign, because those who hadn't received personalized letters the first time round got them a few days ago. What else the blonde had been doing, it was difficult to say. He had not been to Babylon or Woody's.

Several times, Brian had been tempted to swing by Robbie'sin the evening, to see if Justin was there, playing his hustler role. But Brian hadn't gone through with it. He was too angry with Justin to do that.

The more Brian thought about it, the more furious he became.

Justin clearly had a completely different life beneath the façade he was showing everyone. He would also blatantly lie about that to Brian.

To add insult to injury, Justin didn't reciprocate what Brian gave him. Brian had allowed Justin into his life. He had, in spite of his better judgement, heard what Justin was saying, allowed Justin to see how he feel; he had shown Justin that he cared about him.

And Justin?

Who the fuck knew about Justin.

How could Brian even begin to imagine that Justin cared? Cared how? By lying through his teeth? By not trusting Brian enough to come clean with him?

Justin could trust Vic, he could trust Ted, but he couldn't trust Brian enough to tell him the truth.

After all that it had taken Brian to open up to someone other than Mikey, this is how he was repaid. By being treated like some chew toy.

Just thinking about it made Brian so angry that he could easily have punched a wall through sheer frustration. Instead, however, he chose to walk into the diner, trying to purposefully look nonchalant.

There was no Justin to be seen.

"Hey."

Brian turned at the voice, and saw that Michael had walked in behind him.

"Woody's after this?"

"Sure, why not?" Michael responded, and scooted in beside a sombre looking Emmett. "Where's Ted?"

"He's out back, with Justin." Emmett said.

Brian rolled his eyes.

"What's with you? I thought you and Boy Wonder had a thing. Now the two of you are barely talking to each other…does he want to move in with you?" Michael chuckled at his own joke, but frowned when Emmett just stared at him, and Brian glowered.

"I don't have, and never had, a 'thing' with anyone, as you so put it. I fucked him. That's all."

"Right." Michael raised his eyebrows, but Brian chose not to even acknowledge it.

"How is he?" Emmett was looking at Ted, who had materialized next to their table.

"How is who?" Michael asked.

"Justin."

"He's awful. I have no idea what to say or do…I think I'm going to call Vic."

Brian willed Michael to ask the obvious, which he did.

"What is going on? What's wrong with Justin? Is he sick?"

Emmett frowned. "You haven't heard?"

"Heard what? From whom?"

"Honeycutt, will you just explain to us what the fuck is going on?" Waiting for Michael to extract information was like waiting for Godot.

"Oh, it was horrible! Absolutely AWFUL. Just…absolutely awful."

It was useless. Brian would just have to wait until Emmett went through his histrionics. "What was?"

Emmett continued. "I mean, poor, poor Sunshine. He was sitting right here, on his break, and we were chatting about this evening, and he was saying that he was going to go meet Mel after his shift was done…I can't really remember. And then Kiki came – I tell you, that woman has no tact whatsoever. She just walked over here, looking like a ghost, and she blurts out 'Soli's dead' and then – "

"What?!" Michael practically screamed.

"Soli, you know, Justin's pet dog?"

"We KNOW who Soli is…" Brian ground.

"Well, Soli's dead. Some stupid prick on a motorbike ran her over this morning. Justin has been inconsolable ever since. He ran outside, and just fell to the ground and his whole body was shaking and he was just…oh, it was too horrible. None of us could get him to move at all. Finally, I called Teddy, and he came and spoke to Justin, and Kiki managed to move Soli to the back alley. And then Justin freaked out when he saw that Soli was missing and then Teddy took him to the back and…he's just been there ever since."

Brian felt a chill go down his body.

"Maybe we should get him a new puppy…maybe that'll help."

Michael shook his head. "Soli was his friend, Em. Not a pet. You can't replace that. No one can."

"But then what can we do…"

Michael stood up. "I don't know. But I'm going to go talk to him."

Brian had not followed Michael into the alley initially. In the best of times, Brian was ill-equipped to deal with the miseries of others; when the person in question was Justin and the situation was Soli dying, he was certain that there was nothing he could say or do to make things better. Also, it was most unlikely that he was the person Justin wanted to see.

However, he wasn't allowed to sit inside and wait for too long, because Emmett started shrieking at him like a banshee for being there, and Brian found himself quickly following in Michael's footsteps.

When he got outside, he found Michael squatting on the ground, and Justin was hugging him, crying his heart out.

It wasn't quiet sobs of the sort Brian had seen when most adults cried, trained to maintain their composure even in the face of sadness. Justin was crying with abandon, with deep, heaving sobs, the way children did. His whole body was shaking, and it was clearly with great difficultly that Michael was maintaining balance so that both of them didn't fall over.

There was a small mound before the two men, covered in a table cloth from the diner. Brian rubbed his eyes. That must be Soli's body. The effect was overpowering. He felt sick. He felt utterly paralyzed, unable to go to Michael and Justin. Brian just stood there, rooted to the spot.

Eventually, Ted and Debbie came outside, and Debbie addressed Michael quietly.

"Michael, bring Sunshine inside. Crying out there all this time isn't good for him."

Michael refused with a slight shake of his head. He spoke softly, over Justin's still crying body. "Let him be. When he's too exhausted to cry, then I'll take him home. Just let him be for now."

So that's what they all did. Debbie eventually had to go inside, but Ted waited outside with Brian for what seemed like hours. Finally, Justin quietened. Still, Michael waited for what seemed like an eternity before helping Justin stand up. Both Ted and Brian walked over.

"C'mon Justin, let's just go home and sleep for a bit, ok?"

Justin stared blankly for a moment. "Soli. I have to…I'm not leaving her…"

"I'll bring her." Ted volunteered.

"No. I…she's…" It was clear that in another three seconds, Justin would breakdown again.

Brian was ashamed that he was completely unable to handle the situation appropriately, or figure out what had to be done.

Luckily for him, Ted was not in shock. Ted bent down quickly, and, wrapping the shrouded figure tighter, carried it gently.

"Here, we'll carry her home, ok? Brian, can you bring…no, we'll walk to your jeep and you can drive to Deb's. Ok? Brian?"

"Huh? Yeah…yeah…I'll get the jeep."

Michael held Justin, and Ted carried Soli's body, though he let Justin hold part of it, at least giving the illusion that Justin was carrying her weight.

Given an actual task to do, Brian was able to function considerably better. He quickly went to the jeep and brought it round the back before Ted, Michael and Justin had had to walk too far. They travelled in silence to Debbie's place.