Chapter 22 – Emmett

Justin grinned conspiratorially at Emmett as he watched Brian's cab leave for the airport. "Thanks for getting rid of everyone earlier." The two men started walking, pulling Emmett's bags behind them towards Justin's home.

"No problem." Emmett gave a delicate sigh. "It was obvious you two needed some together time." He gave Justin a quick, concerned look. "How'd his highness take the thought of you as a spokesperson for gay rights?"

"He hates the idea. He'd never say anything, but I know him. He thinks I'm painting a target on my back for the homophobes."

"You are." Emmett shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it."

Justin looked at Emmett for a moment before changing the subject. "When last we spoke, you were coming at the end of the month. And yet, here you are – weeks early."

"I couldn't resist." Emmett looked a little shamefaced. "Brian was worrying about you. I told him not to but he made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

"Shit. He didn't think I could handle it, did he?"

"That wasn't it." At Justin's protesting look, Emmett clarified. "It wasn't. He just didn't want you to have to handle it alone. If he stayed, you'd be upset because you knew he had clients lined up all week in Pittsburgh, so he asked me to come. I told him he was being silly, but he insisted."

"That's a bit better," Justin responded, slightly mollified. "What was the offer you couldn't refuse?"

"He had Cynthia set the whole thing up; the flight and moving all my things. Do you know how tedious it is to pack everything and drive for six hours?" Emmett positively sparkled. "Now, it'll all be taken care of and I got here first class."

Justin laughed at Emmett's delight. "There's only one problem. I haven't moved out yet."

"There's enough room for my things in the basement, right?" At Justin's nod, Emmett carried on. "I'll just sleep on the couch until you find a new place."

"It could be a while. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a location that suits both Brian and Lindsay? I've got a new realtor. She's got some places to look at tomorrow morning."

"I'll be busy tomorrow, too." Emmett twisted his face with a grimace. "I called the studio and told them I'd be in New York early and they asked me to drop by to sign papers. Then there's all the stuff that comes when you move. I've got a ton of forms to fill out, bank accounts to open etcetera, etcetera." Emmett gave a little wave of his hand.

Justin grinned at the gesture. "I'm really glad you're here. New York is okay, but I've been a bit lonely."

"It's fantabulous to be here." Emmett gave Justin a quick hug. "Do I get to meet my new roommates now?"

"Not Ari. I know she's translating at the United Nations this afternoon. It's her part time job while she studies journalism. Eric volunteered to set up my new computer system, the one I got for teleconferencing with Michael, so he's probably home. He's working on his master's degree in engineering."

"Is he cute?"

Justin laughed. "Cute but confused. I think he's bisexual, but he's just getting used to the idea. Don't flirt too much if you want to stay. Ari's a bit protective of him and I don't think she'd like it if he's uncomfortable. Of course if he's concentrating, he won't notice anything. I've never seen anybody who can focus in the way he can."

"I love a man who pays attention. If he's not there, we can head to the gallery. I want to see your show." Emmett paused, frowning, "Jared asked me to pass you a message. He wants the press conference to be tomorrow afternoon at the gallery. An interview here on Friday followed by one in Pittsburgh on Sunday. He said if the press finds you before that it's No comment."

"Why?"

"He doesn't want the jerks who hunt you down to get the jump on the respectable journalists who will wait for tomorrow."

"Not that, I get the no comment part. Why does he want me to go to Pittsburgh?"

"He's arranged for you to have a small showing at the Bloom Gallery, just a half dozen paintings, starting next week. He's arranging shipping from the gallery here. The interview will peak interest."

"The Bloom Gallery? My God, he works fast."

"In more ways than one," Emmett said with a small smirk. His eyes lit up at the thought of Jared.

"Why, Emmett Honeycutt, you've made a new friend already?" Justin stopped in his tracks with a wide smile. "He is hot, isn't he?"

"Gorgeous. I just love that forceful attitude of his. He wants to take me out to show me a few night spots in Chelsea."

"And you said?" Justin prodded with a raised brow.

"What do you think? I barely stopped myself from jumping him. I gave him my cell number. We'll see what happens." Emmett gave a little hop of delight as they resumed walking.

Emmett turned serious for a moment. "Justin, when the detective was interviewing you, you remembered things from before the bashing. How much? Did you remember the dance?"

"No - just Hobbs pushing me around and then asking Daphne to go." Justin shook his head sadly. "Shit, I want to remember that dance. I still can't believe Brian came."

"He always does," Emmett joked. "I wonder why you're remembering now. Has something changed?"

"I don't think so." Justin changed the subject, away from the remembered pain. "When do you want to check out the Wild Rover?"

"Tomorrow night?" Emmett smiled at Justin's nod. "Do you think Brian really has long, lost relatives here?"

"I hope so. It'd be nice if he had at least one relative who wasn't a homophobic moron."

"Well, we'll check it out and see if they're okay first. If they're anything like his parents, I vote we just never go to the pub."

"I like that plan." Justin agreed, pleased that Emmett also saw the need to protect Brian. "Any new gossip?"

Emmett laughed, "Did you hear the latest about Cyndi Lauper?"

Justin shook his head with a smile and relaxed, enjoying Emmett's rambling discussion of movies and friends. As they entered the house, Eric could be heard talking in the background.

After dropping off their coats, Justin and Emmett entered the living room. In front of Eric were two large monitors, both linked to a single computer. On one of the screens was the face of a middle-aged oriental man in a dress shirt and tie. The other screen contained a three-dimensional cylinder filled with little bouncing balls glowing light blue.

"As you can see, Dr. Lee, the change in material allows you to achieve criticality with a smaller reactor core. More in line with your production model targets. More importantly, the new shell will remain intact at higher temperatures and won't absorb strontium."

"Thank you, Eric. Brilliant as usual." Dr. Lee made some notes on a pad in front of him. "I don't know how you do it."

"Do you have everything you need?" Eric smiled at the confirming nod. "Great. Dr. Edwards asked for some help with the design of his new brake system."

"No!" screamed Dr. Lee. "Eric, do not call Martin until after you write two papers. One on the material solution and the second on the tuning to the reactor model you did." Dr. Lee's apparent agitation caused Justin and Emmett to exchange a quick glance.

"Little high strung, isn't he?" Emmett murmured to Justin. Justin shrugged in response.

Eric stared at Dr. Lee, puzzled. "You understand the proposed solution, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

Eric tilted his head to the side and rubbed his hand through his hair, causing it to stand on end. "Then why do I need to write it down, it's a waste of time."

"Eric," Dr. Lee continued, forcibly calming himself. "Dr. Lankin spoke to you about the need to finish your thesis, didn't he?"

"Yes, but…" Eric started.

"No buts." Dr. Lee stated firmly. "The advisory team will take anything, but you need to write it. Think of this as a homework assignment. Just write the papers. They can be short. A few pages, we don't care."

"Why does it matter?" Eric demanded. "Writing up solutions to problems when the person with the problem understands it is tedious, non-value added work. A complete and utter waste of my time."

"One paper will get you your master's degree. Two gets you your doctorate."

"Why do you care? I'm doing fine."

Dr. Lee looked up, praying to the heavens for patience. "You two; standing at the back. Come closer."

Emmett and Justin walked in closer to the camera. "You wanted us?" Justin asked.

"You're friends of Eric's, right?" Dr. Lee demanded.

"Yes," Justin replied.

"I certainly plan to be," from Emmett.

"Good. He needs to get his doctorate. The only things stopping him are the written theses. He completed the course work over a year ago. You understand?"

"Not really," responded Emmett.

"I do," laughed Justin. "Eric, why haven't you finished the papers?"

"It's non-value added." Eric's emphatic statement caused Dr. Lee to throw his hands up in disgust. "I solve problems for people."

"And you do it very well," Dr. Lee answered. "But it's becoming embarrassing for the university. We have one of the most brilliant graduate student's in the country and we can't get him to matriculate. Do you know what his IQ is?" Dr. Lee yelled.

Both Justin and Emmett shook their heads no.

"It's not relevant," Eric stated firmly. "They don't need to know."

"196 - they estimate Einstein at 170," Dr. Lee continued heatedly, ignoring Eric.

"You're smarter than Einstein?" Emmett squeaked disbelievingly.

Eric glared at Emmett in response. "I agree with Hawking. People who cite IQ's are losers." His intense frustration showed as he responded to Dr. Lee. "I wish I hadn't taken the damn test and I really wish you'd stop announcing it."

"And I really wish you'd finish your work and graduate." Dr. Lee shook his head. "Eric, no one at the university is going to discuss problems with you until you write the papers. Consider this an order from the dean of engineering. Do not even show up at the school until you've finished." Dr. Lee looked to Emmett and Justin. "Make him finish the papers. And buy him a suit. When he does his thesis defense, he has to be presentable."

As Dr. Lee signed off, Justin glanced at Eric. "He was pretty emphatic."

Eric's shoulders dropped, "Yeah, he was. They must be really annoyed if they don't want me to help anymore." Eric dropped onto the couch and leaned back, closing his eyes, the picture of defeat.

Emmett exchanged a glance with Justin then walked over and sat down beside Eric and put a sympathetic arm around him. "Just tell Auntie Em all about it. Maybe I can help."

Eric's amber eyes opened and he smiled at Emmett. "You want to write two papers?"

"I was actually thinking about helping with the suit. I was lousy at math." Emmett rolled his eyes. "Thank God. Can you imagine me in a lab?"

Eric's eyes widened as he took in Emmett's outfit, the way the red shirt clung to every muscle. "Not really, no. You're Emmett, right?"

Emmett gave Eric a quick hug. "Emmett Honeycutt of the Hazelhurst Honeycutts' at your service."

Justin dropped onto the couch on the other side of Eric. "Why don't you want to finish your theses? You could knock it off in a day or two. I don't think they really care what you write, as long as you write something."

"I don't know. I never seem to find the time." Eric gave a light, defensive shrug as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Emmett tilted his head thoughtfully. "What happens after you graduate?"

"I either become a professor or find a job. I never really thought about it."

Emmett raised an eyebrow at Justin before turning back to Eric. "Maybe you should." Emmett got up, grabbed Eric by the arm and pulled him off the couch. "In the meantime, go throw on some decent clothes, the tighter the better." At Eric's puzzled look, Emmett explained gently. "We're going to go buy you a suit, honey."

As Eric went upstairs to change, Emmett spoke softly to Justin. "Poor guy. He's terrified of what happens after he graduates."

"How do you figure that?" Justin asked quietly.

"He hasn't thought about it. How many university students do you know that haven't at least thought about the future?"

"None."

"Exactly my point," Emmett said meaningfully. "Bunch of egghead scientists can't see he's frightened. That's why he's stalling."

"You're probably right," Justin agreed. "Got any ideas?"

"We need to get him thinking about the future." Emmett looked thoughtful. "I think I'll drop by the university tomorrow after I sign the papers for Startime. My bank forms can wait. See if I can get his idiot advisor to give some useful advice for a change."