Brian did not manage to intercept Shawn. When Brian was still a few feet away, Shawn sidled up to Justin and smiled. He drawled, "Hey."

Justin smiled nervously and replied, "Uh hi." Emmett looked back and forth between the two young men uncomfortably. The interloper appeared to know Justin, but, of course, Justin did not recognize him. This couldn't be good. A moment later, Brian was behind Justin, his arm slung around his shoulders. Brian was smirking in typical king of Liberty Avenue fashion, but Emmett could tell that he was hardly himself; Brian held his body rigidly.

Shawn frowned. He hissed, "You."

Justin looked between Brian and the stranger in confusion.

Brian and Shawn were staring at each other, disgust and anger on their faces. Still holding Shawn's gaze, Brian snapped, "Fuck off!"

Justin complained, "Brian! No need to be rude."

Brian ignored Justin. Still staring daggers at Shawn, he added, "He's with me. Fuck off."

"Brian!" Justin tried to sound stern, but he was too happy that Brian was laying claim to him, and so dramatically.

Shawn moved to leave, but he brushed up against Justin as he passed, paused, and whispered, "You have a great cock. I wouldn't mind seeing it again some time." He looked up into Justin's eyes, held them for a few heart beats, smiled, and then started walking again. Justin furrowed his brow and, with his eyes, followed him to the other side of the club. Then he dropped his head. His eyes lost focus as he probed his memory, trying to remember where he had met this person…and what, if anything, they'd done. The guy's words intimated that they'd had a sexual relationship, but that couldn't be right. Justin had been dating Brian all last year, and he wasn't the cheating type. Justin licked his lips. Then like a blow to the head, it hit him…they hit him. Images. Him dressed like a cowboy in an alley…and…and… Justin thought, "Oh God." He suddenly felt nauseous. He glanced over at Brian. Brian was looking at him intently, but his expression was unreadable. Justin's chest felt hollow. Justin looked around at Ted, Emmett, and Michael. Ted and Emmett appeared confused. Clearly, they didn't recognize the guy, but Michael, his eyes accused Justin. That look contained hatred and disgust.

Justin swallowed hard. Tears sprung to his eyes. He didn't understand how he could have done it, how he could have justified it, but, clearly, he had betrayed Brian. He'd cheated on him. He felt dizzy. He shook his head. One word resounded over and over in his mind, in his heart. Why? Brian was beautiful…so much more attractive than that other guy, and Justin loved Brian. He felt sure he had loved Brian since their first encounter, their real first encounter.

Like a zombie, Justin started walking. He had no idea where he was going. He just needed…out. To escape the heavy bass of the music, the artificial fog and the lights, the half-naked bodies covered in glitter, the sickly sweet smell of pink and tangerine drinks…he'd probably been in a place very similar to this one when he'd picked the guy up. Justin glanced back at Brian, a look of horror on his (Justin's) face. Justin had been in a place very similar to this when he'd picked the guy up Then he'd taken him into an alley and…With that thought, Justin turned and ran. He ran out of the club and kept running. As though he could escape what he'd done. If he left the club and Michael's angry glare and Brian's cold expressionless face, his silence…maybe he could put the memory back into the abyss, the oblivion, that was most of his memory of the last year…maybe he could erase his betrayal. Justin ran and ran until his chest was heaving so much that he could barely breathe. He stopped near a lamppost then, holding onto it as he tried to catch his breath. When he had, he covered his eyes with his hands. A few moments later, he pulled them away, wiping away tears as he did so. Then he yelled, "Fuck!" and kicked the lamppost.

Back at Boitoi, Emmett was staring at Brian incredulously. He prodded, "What are you waiting for? Go after him!"

Brian just stared at the door. He had watched Justin run out and continued to stare in the same direction, as though he could still see Justin.

Emmett yelled, "Brian! Go after him!"

Mikey interjected smugly, "If he doesn't want to, don't push him."

Emmett frowned. Brian blinked slowly. Then he cleared his throat and stated softly, in a slightly tremulous voice, "He left. If he wanted me with him…if he wanted me…" He trailed off at the end and then headed for the bar. In a matter of seconds, he'd bolted down two shots.

Emmett sighed heavily.

Justin dialed Daphne's number with shaky hands. It rang and rang. Finally, a sleepy Daphne answered, "Lo…"

Justin wiped away more tears and cried, "Daph…I…I did something bad. Something terrible. I don't understand…"

"Justin? What's wrong? What did you do?"

"I…" Justin swallowed hard. Seeing the images in his head was bad enough. Saying the words out loud was so much worse. He sniffed.

"Justin…"

"I…" Justin sighed. "I fucked someone else. I cheated on Brian."

"What? Tonight?"

Justin shook his head frantically. "No, no. Before. I can't remember when. Last year some time."

Daphne sighed. "You didn't cheat on Brian…"

Justin cut her off, his voice a near wail, "Daph, I know it's hard to believe, I can't even believe it, but I…I did. I remember doing it."

Daphne sighed again. "Where are you?"

Justin looked around. "On Liberty Avenue. By a lamppost."

"Outside of Babylon?"

"Ummm…." Justin looked around again, trying to see through tears. "Oh yeah."

"Ok, stay there. Don't move, ok?"

"Are you coming to get me?"

"Just stay there, ok?"

"Ok."

Daphne hung up and immediately dialed Brian's cell number.

Brian was on his fourth shot when he felt his cell phone vibrating against his thigh. He ignored it and ordered another shot. But whoever it was was persistent. After the vibrating stopped for a moment, it started again. Brian dug in his pocket for the phone. He growled, "What."

"Justin's by the lamppost."

Brian immediately recognized Daphne's voice. "What?"

"He called me. He's a wreck. He told me that he cheated on you."

"What?" Brian walked outside so he could hear her better.

"Justin just called me. He's a wreck. He told me that he cheated on you."

Brian muttered, "Fuck."

"He's by the lamppost outside of Babylon. I told him to stay there. He thinks I'm coming to get him."

"Ok. Thanks."

"Whatever…"

Brian's voice dropped to a husky whisper. "No, I mean it. Thanks."

Daphne flushed with happiness. "Oh…no…no problem, Brian."

Then Brian shoved his phone back into his pocket and started walking. He was relieved, so relieved, but filled with dread, too. Justin had not seen Brian, seen his hideously disfigured self. Not this time. But he might as well have. Brian was going to have to tell Justin. Everything. Brian couldn't allow Justin to feel guilty for fucking that kid. He couldn't let Justin believe that he'd betrayed Brian, but that meant admitting his own betrayals. And betrayals they were. Whatever Brian had told himself and everyone else, he and Justin had always shared a connection, and every time he had led Justin to believe that that connection did not exist, every time he had chosen someone else in front of him, he had betrayed Justin. Brian knew that. He had always known that. And fuck, he'd gotten off on it a little. It had made him feel powerful, in control. How the fuck was he going to explain that without sounding like a monster? Brian would free Justin of his guilt, but, in doing so, admit his own. And Justin would look at him in horror again, run away again, maybe for good. Brian sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, and quickened his pace. No need to put off the inevitable.