Michael precariously crossed the crowded Liberty Avenue. Why tonight of all nights did it seem like all of gay Pittsburgh had hit the street? Michael continued down the street, coming to a stop outside the all too familiar establishment... Babylon. He hoped that Brian was inside, but at the same time, hoped that Brian still had enough sense left not to do something stupid. But with Brian already three sheets to the wind and still in denial about his illness, anything was possible.

As Michael stepped inside, he was immediately bombarded by gyrating go-go boys and half naked, horny men. He had no problem getting through the crowd, although he did feel his ass get grabbed a few times, and making his way up the stairs about hallway so that he could see around the entire club. No sight of Brian.

"Michael!" Michael sighed at the sound of the familiar voice. Not that he was ever upset to see Ted, but right now, Michael was a man on a mission. "I thought you had plans with Ben tonight."

"Something... came up," Michael continued to look. "Have you seen Brian?"

"Brian?" Emmett said. "Honey is Brian the 'something' that 'came up'?"

"Have you guys seen him?"

"He's doing his thing as usual," Emmett said. "Just saw him heading to the backroom with some hunky..."

Michael didn't even wait for Emmett to finish before hurrying to the backroom. He walked passed dozens of men, not feeling uncomfortable, but feeling hurried, nervous, for Brian. He continued further back, finally catching a glimpse of Brian, pressed against a far wall, the trick already beginning to descend to his knees.

"What the hell are you doing?" Michael went over. "Are you out of your mind?"

"No, hopefully out of my pants if you'd give my friend some room." Brian said.

"Where's your head?!"

Brian raised his eyebrows. "If you have to ask me that, Mikey..."

Michael rolled his eyes. "The one that's supposed to be on your shoulders, jackass."

"Get up," Brian said before the trick had even begun. "I said... get up." Brian stepped away, starting out of the backroom. Michael followed behind him, not leaving any room to lose him again. "You know," Brian said. "I don't need a fucking babysitter."

"I'm not trying to be one." Michael said gently. "I just don't want you to go out and hurt yourself... or hurt someone else. Because... shit Brian, I know you don't want to accept it yet, or even think about it... but you can give this to somebody else. You can and there's no taking it back. I know you don't want that."

Brian remained silent as Michael led him out of Babylon. Still holding the keys to the jeep, Michael let Brian in, driving in the direction of the loft. Both men remained amazingly silent, Michael casting a quick glance over at each traffic light they hit. Brian went unmoved.

As they reached the loft, Michael parked the car, helping Brian out an into the elevator, beginning the ascent to the sixth floor. "Where's this put me, Mikey?" Brian said finally, keeping a forward stare.

"What do you mean?" Michael asked as the elevator came to a stop and they stepped off.

"Where's this going to leave me?" he said again. Michael opened the door to the Loft. "Swallowing a fucking pharmacy...." Michael watched Brian's eyes. He saw fear for the first time since Brian had told him about being positive. It was as if the fact was finally becoming clear in Brian's mind. "How the fuck am I going to do this, Mikey?"

"With me," Michael said without missing a beat. "You're gonna get through this with me helping you. And we're going to start now." Michael set the keys to his own apartment down beside the keys to the jeep. He walked with Brian into the bedroom, sitting him down . He pulled Brian down onto the bed with him gently, comfortingly, just as he had when they were boys, pulling his best friend's head against his own shoulder, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around him. They remained that way until Brian had fallen asleep. Michael kissed his head, keeping the position as he now slept himself. He wanted to be there for Brian when he woke up.