I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

IN PITTSBURGH

"You can do it Nathan"

Nathan was pulling himself along the bar-rail. They were in the physio care department at the medical center. And Josh was praising the blonds efforts to walk again.

For Nathan it had been 6 weeks of sheer frustration, tears and pain. But with Josh a constant source of encouragement, all thoughts of giving up went to the very back of his mind.

As Nathan reached the end of the rail, the physio specialist came over and helped him into the wheel chair, "You did real great...you got those legs moving a whole lot more than yesterday", the specialist enthused.

Josh came forward, "See...I told you on Monday that by Friday you'd get to the other end of the rail...and you did"

Nathan shook his head as he was wheeled out into the corridor, "Yeah right...just like a walk in the park, huh?"

Josh smirked, "yeah...I think given time, you'll be doing that again real soon..."

And even Nathan smirked at that, but he looked up at him as they approached his room, "just as long as you're be at my side...?"

Josh nodded, their eyes holding a little, "yeah...I'd like that"

Inside the room the physio specialist left them, and Nathan sat in his wheelchair looking out the window, summer was over and the leaves were blowing up against the glass.

"I saw Brian yesterday...him and Justin are moving to LA"

Josh came forward, "how do you feel about that?"

Nathan shrugged, "I wish he wasn't...Brian always gives you the impression that everything will be alright..."

Josh laughed, "Everything WILL be alright"

Nathan sighed, "I hope so...then there's dad...he and Rhona just keep arguing...", he looked at Josh, "...did I tell you that she's got Uncle Brad working at the garage again?"

Josh was angry, "that piece of crap! Why would she even do that"

"Because she is so shit scared that the business will fold-up, and that SHE will be out of a home, she don't care what dad thinks"

Josh sat on the bed, "So...what do you think is gonna happen?"

Nathan looked back at him in the chair, "I'm gonna make sure that he sells it...get every dollar he can...pay HER off and get rid of her"

Xxxxx

IN LOS ANGELES

Justin was on the beach strolling arm and arm with his mother. The wind was quite strong for the time of year, but it was refreshing and it felt nice on his face as he looked out to the water, "I can't wait to do this every day...you and Cole are so lucky"

Jennifer laughed, as she scraped her hair out of her face, "You and Brian will be doing this too soon...Cole has got some real good property for you two to look at...one has an upstairs lounge room that faces the ocean"

"Sounds divine"

Jennifer stopped and looked at him, "I must admit, I was surprised when you announced you and Brian were moving out here...isn't it all of a sudden?...NOT that I don't want you out here!"

Justin's open shirt flapped about in the breeze, "Now we've got Gus with us, things have to change...we can't stay in Pittsburgh, if we are gonna be a family, then that's not where we wanna spent it...Brian's right, the atmosphere there is toxic, with their backward views and conservatism...", he opened his arms to embrace the air around him, "...but here...it's different, anything can happen...I remember the last time I was here when we were making Rage, there's just no comparison"

Jennifer looked serious at him, "but it's not all going to be about parties and fun. You and Brian will have a child to bring up"

Justin rolled her eyes at her, "Yes I do know that! I'm just saying...I can't wait"

Jennifer took his arm and lead him across the sand to an ice-cream seller, "come on, I'll buy you an ice-cream. Chocolate-chip still your favorite?"

Xxxxx

PITTSBURGH

"I STILL don't know why you have to fly all the way to LA and be happy...you can be just as happy here", moaned Michael as he looked around Brian's loft apartment. It was a scene of dismay in his eyes. Two distinct piles. One pile packed and to be kept, the other pile trash to be sold or dumped.

Brian lit up a cigarette and exhaled looking at him with a questioning frown , "What? And see your happy smiley face everyday...Sorry Mikey, but I just can't take the excitement no more and need to go to LA to simmer off"

Michael glared at him, "You don't have to be sarcastic over it"

Brian laughed, "me being sarcastic? Now there is a thing"

Michael sat on the couch that looked quite solitary on it's own, "and what about your business? You are just gonna move that too?"

Brian smiled at him like he should already know, "that was all signed off last week, haven't you been paying attention? Fuck me Mikey, you usually know about my movements before I do"

Michael glared at him, "Ah...sarcasm again"

Brian ignored him and pointed to the pile of items to be sold or dumped, "hey, why don't you go through that lot and see what you can salvage...who knows...you might find something in there what will give that pad of yours a little class"

Micheal frowned at him, "I don't know whether to be offended by that or not? Ben says we have good taste"

Brian pulled a face.

Michael stood and picked up a school book, "so where is Gus? I hope you stop over before you piss off and let him say goodbye to JR"

Brian rolled his sleeves up and started to pack up some books, "Gus is at his grandparents for a few days...I thought I'd give the Peterson's a chance to say a proper goodbye...tragic as it sounds, but once we hit LA, we won't be coming back to this dump again"

"You grew up here...you'll miss it"

Brian laughed, "miss what? The stifling hot summer? The freezing cold winters? The choking fumes of the city? The gay scene that I've entirely exhausted? Or just the happy spirited population that are so gay friendly, it's sickening?", he shook his head, "...sorry Mikey...I rest my case"

"LA's not all glitz and glamour"

Brian heaved up the box of books and threw it to the selling and dumping pile, "maybe not...but it sure as hell is, better than here"

Xxxxxx

Josh got out the taxi-cab and headed up to Maloney auto-repairs. HE was there. Brad was working on one of the automobiles. Josh went straight to the small cluttered office where Patrick was going through the accounts.

"How could you sanction this? How can you let HIM work here?"

Patrick stood up and removed his specs, "I have no choice...Rhona has me under a barrel...if this business goes down the toilet, then she'll leave me"

Josh was gobsmacked, "and what about Nathan? Do you even care about how he feels about all of this?"

Patrick was firm, "COURSE I CARE! But if Rhona leaves, she will take the baby with her"

"So you just let the man who fucked over your son go Scot free, huh? Good old Brad out there thinks he's won"

Patrick stood up, "This isn't about winning and losing boy. Do you know how much money I owe Brian? He is paying for Nathan's treatment and if this business WAS to fold, how on God's earth am I gonna pay him back? With social security checks? I don't think so"

Josh looked at Brad working on the car, Rhona was handing him a mug of coffee and they were all smiles and jokes.

"Your wife seems to like him"

Patrick nodded, "She seems to think that Brad is not all bad and that Nathan probably encouraged him...and before you jump down my throat, I know that isn't true...but for now at least, I'm gonna have to suck it up and get on with it..."

Josh nodded. What a fucking position to be in...he just hoped Nathan can sort it out when he finally gets well.

Xxxxxx

At the medical center, Brian tied the scarf around Nathan's neck, "there...it's kinda cold out there today"

"You are all caring"

Brian stood and looked down at him, "you still disappointed that I'm fucking off to LA?"

Nathan looked up at him, "You know I am"

Brian smirked, "and you are gonna miss me...fuck...I always make an impression on people"

"you did me"

Brian cupped Nathan's face with his hand, "Nathan...I don't know what it is about you...and why I feel like I feel...and that's not love by the way...I don't love you...not like that...but...possibly...and I MEAN possibly...in another life you and me probably would have got it on"

Nathan laughed, "you would have fucked me?"

"Oh yeah...I'd of fucked you in the park in my jeep in my bed, even over the fucking coffee table...but as I've said"

"in another life"

"Justin knows that to be true too...that's why he's pleased he met me first...just kidding"

Nathan was choked, "I love you..."

Brian nodded, "I know...but you will get over me...fuck, I've never admitted this to nobody, but when I was your age, I fell in love with this guy...I adored him and he treated me like shit...I guess that's why I turned out the way I did...guys just fuck...that and my up-bringing...but I think me putting some much needed space between us will help you to no end...AND MAYBE...you might actually notice what's been staring at you in the face"

Nathan nodded, "Josh"

"You must know...it reeks of it"

"Justin said it too..."

Brian smirked, "Well if Justin's said it then it MUST be true...look, just give him a chance...you see, when I look at Josh...I see me at his age...you know what I'm saying?"

And Nathan smiled.

Xxxxxx

LOS ANGELES

Justin sat back on the bed at his mothers house on his cell-phone, "...and Cole has got some great places we can look at when you and Gus get here"

"Can't wait...I fucking miss you...this cold bare apartment is taking longer to sale than I thought it would...and it's lonely here"

Justin moved on the bed, "I hope that doesn't mean you are gonna invite someone around...some random"

"Justin? Really?"

"I know...you've changed...I hope so...because it's gonna be life changing out here in LA and...I just want it to work out"

"It will...I promise you it will...look, it's getting kinda late here, I'll speak to you tomorrow"

Justin shook his head, "yeah"

"Justin...I love you"

"I love you too"

XXXXXXXX