A/N: Here's the next part – sorry it's not longer, but I thought this was a good place to stop it for this chapter. Thanks as always for the feedback and support – it's greatly appreciated. I hope to get more up very shortly!
As Justin held the loft entrance door open for Brian, he flipped on the overhead light and shuffled slowly into the foyer, glancing at his partner who was following along closely behind him. He noticed the brunet's tousled hair, mussed clothes, and tired face, no doubt an exact duplicate of his own; he was sure Brian must be feeling as emotionally and physically exhausted as he was by now. Reaching up a hand to softly caress his partner's cheek briefly, he was rewarded with a small, lopsided smile. "I'm okay," Brian reassured him simply, taking the other's slender, pale hand in his own. "Come on, Sunshine," he answered softly, pulling his partner along gently. He noticed Justin's eyes fluttering closed as he tried unsuccessfully to stay awake. "You're dead on your feet," he observed pointedly, concerned, hazel eyes scrutinizing the blond. As Justin suddenly swayed and struggled to stay upright, Brian didn't hesitate. Bending down to grasp his partner under the knees, he easily scooped the slender man up in his arms, Justin's arms automatically reaching up to wrap themselves around the other's neck. He carried his partner up the steps and into the bedroom; as Justin burrowed his face into his lover's chest, Brian placed a small kiss on top of the soft, blond head.
Gently disentangling himself now from the younger man, Brian slowly set Justin down on top of the king-sized bed, noticing how the slight body fell back as if it were spineless. As soon as Brian's arms let go of him, however, the blue eyes instantly opened. "Brian?" Justin asked, almost frantically searching for a second to make sure the man he loved was nearby.
"I'm right here," Brian assured him quickly, reaching down to brush an errant strand of blond hair from his partner's forehead as the sapphire eyes honed in on his hazel ones. Kneeling on the bed over Justin, he pulled off the other's shoes and pants to make him more comfortable, Justin following his every movement under heavily lidded eyes, struggling to stay awake now. "Go to sleep, Sunshine," Brian chided him softly. He chuckled slightly as he heard Justin mumble just before he turned on his side and fell into a deep slumber, "no fucking into the mattress for YOU tonight." Quickly shedding his own clothes, Brian reached down to pull the duvet over both of them as he spooned his long, lean body against the slender one and his arm wrapped itself around the blond's waist, Justin's own pale hand instantly placing itself over his. Placing a soft kiss below Justin's left earlobe where he was always so sensitive, both men were fast asleep within minutes.
*******************
The cacophonous bleating of the alarm clock startled Brian awake at precisely 8:00 a.m.; reaching over Justin, who in the middle of the night had turned over to face Brian on his side, he quickly hit the snooze button, hoping to grant his partner a few more precious minutes of shuteye. To his chagrin, however, he saw long eyelashes fluttering before the blue eyes slowly opened.
"Hey," the brunet greeted his partner softly, stroking the pale face tenderly with the back of his hand.
"Hey." Justin responded by reaching up to grasp the other man's hand and bringing it to his lips for a tender kiss on the palm, eliciting an involuntary shiver from his partner. Before he could move closer to impart an even more passionate kiss on the raspberry-colored lips, however, Brian pulled back. "As much as I'd like for us to continue this properly," he murmured regretfully, "we have to be at the courthouse in an hour. Come on, sleepy head," he coaxed, receiving a groan in reply. "Let's go take a shower. At least we can provide each us with a little entertainment in there," he added as an incentive.
Groaning again as Brian pulled the cover back, exposing him to the relatively cold air, he reluctantly allowed the brunet to pull him up from the bed. "I still need just a little nourishment to get my juices flowing," Justin purred, pulling the other man flush against him.
Kissing the other man soundly, Brian said, smiling, "I think your juices are flowing just fine, thank you." I am so glad to see you in a light-hearted mood, at least for a little while, Brian thought. Smacking Justin on the butt and creating a small yelp of indignation from the other man, he tugged him into the bathroom to get ready for another day of drama.
Brian and Justin waited anxiously outside the side courtroom door. Greg had phoned them just before they left the loft to advise he would be meeting with Judge Mason and Sinclair at 8:30 a.m. in connection with his emergency request for a temporary restraining order against Prescott.
Sitting side by side on the floor, Brian glanced over at his partner, who was nervously fidgeting, hands silently drumming on his knees. Reaching over to touch the blond's thigh lightly, he noticed the blue eyes once again clouded over with worry. "Hey," he said, reaching over to grasp Justin's chin to turn his face toward his. "It's going to be okay, Justin," he soothed, his fingers tenderly caressing the smooth skin. "We've come this far already – we can see this through to the end. There's no fucking way they're going to let him come anywhere near you now – not after what he pulled yesterday." Brian had to shudder a little inside at the thought of just what that creature could have done had he not confronted him in the restroom when he did.
Justin grasped the other man's hand against his face and gave it a little squeeze before releasing it. "I hope you're right, Brian, he said fretfully. "I can't feel safe anymore if I know I can run into him anytime, anywhere."
"I know," Brian responded softly. "But I won't let that happen EVER again," he promised. I shouldn't have let it happen yesterday, he thought to himself. Never again, Prescott.
Startled, Justin's heart started hammering rapidly inside his chest as he heard the nearby door opening suddenly as Greg appeared, searching for his client. "There you are," he acknowledged both men as they anxiously stood up to hear the results.
Greg didn't leave them waiting long. Smiling in approval, he advised them, "The judge denied the protective restraining order."
"WHAT!" Brian protested loudly, absolutely stunned. "Are you fucking kidding me? Why are you so HAPPY about that? I'm going to speak with the judge MYSELF!" he shouted, as Justin covered his hands in total dismay.
"Wait!" Greg implored urgently, grabbing Brian's arm. "Hear me out, guys. What I'm TRYING to say is that the emergency order wasn't needed, because the judge revoked his bail outright. The fucker's ass is going to jail, pending the outcome of the trial verdict," he announced smugly.
Brian released a loud, audible sigh of satisfaction, nodding in approval, as the blond's shoulders sagged in relief. He growled, "That's where that monster should have been from the start," as he placed a supportive arm around Justin's shoulders.
"That's great news, Greg," Justin answered, a slight smile on his face. At least he knew he could rest easy outside of the courtroom now, at least until the verdict is reached, that is. He didn't even want to think what might happen then.
"I've got some other news, by the way," Greg continued, as he noticed Justin tensing up. "I've just been told by Sinclair that his client has decided to testify after all. Apparently they don't feel the expert witness was a reliable enough advocate on which to rest their temporary insanity defense on. As soon as the trial reconvenes shortly, Prescott will be the last person called to the stand," he informed them.
Justin took a shaky breath and let it out. "What do you think, Greg? Is this a bad or a good move on their part?" he asked.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I think it's all going to come down to how he projects himself on the stand and if he trips himself up," he advised them. "Prescott may be totally off the wall and downright obsessed when it comes to you, Justin, but he's definitely NOT stupid. You can bet all your marbles that the two of them have rehearsed everything Sinclair's going to ask and everything Prescott is going to answer to slant his testimony exactly the way they want it to. They're obviously placing all their faith on this – he's going to make or break their case in the long run, because I feel he's looking at a guilty verdict so far based on the testimony you both gave." Looking at the two directly in the eye, he added, "But I'm not going to kid you. Prescott is slick, and he's got a top attorney who knows just the right kind of dog and pony show to give the jury."
Greg admitted, "This is not open and shut by any means. But as I told you before – by agreeing to testify, Prescott's also opening himself up to potentially damaging cross-examination. And you can sure as hell bet I will be going after him big time. Trust me, Justin. I will do my best to get that bastard nailed," he pledged firmly.
Justin sighed again, trying to release the butterflies once more fluttering in his stomach. "I know, Greg. I just hope it will enough," he replied tentatively, as Brian gave his shoulders another comforting squeeze.
The side door opened once again as the bailiff announced the impending resumption of the trial. "Let's get this freak show back on the road, gentlemen," Greg announced, as the two partners followed along behind him.