Waiting for them outside was total chaos. The press were swarming everywhere like ants at a picnic. They were all desperate for a story with a twist or a new angle. Each wanted to be the first to tell the world that the Pittsburgh Police Department were a corrupt organization. The OUTlaws, everyone's new favourite anti-hero's had come out on top, which is exactly where leader Brian Kinney would like to be. Melanie was immediately dragged away to do an interview with several large news company but none of them were satisfied with the official line, they just kept clamouring the gang for an interview or a statement. They completely surrounded them and Justin was feeling more than a little claustrophobic as they pushed in around them.
He clung to Emmett like a limpet and the taller man could do nothing but stroke his hand soothingly but Justin didn't feel soothed. He just wanted to see Brian again. He wanted to go home … wherever the fuck that was. He wanted this all to be over. He certainly didn't want this press zoo hounding him for a statement. He turned towards Emmett, buried his head in the taller man's chest and closed his eyes. He felt like a child who plays hide and seek by closing their eyes, using the 'if I can't see you, you can't see me' principal but he didn't care how stupid or how childish he looked. He didn't want to see anymore flashing lights or anymore bright white teeth or anymore goddamn microphones.
"Go on Deb," Emmett urged, pushing her towards the camera. "This is your big moment."
Debbie looked at the other men and shook her head, "oh I couldn't." But she had a face that suggested she really could.
"No comment," Ted repeated for the millionth time as a journalist tried to push past him to get to get to Justin. "Course you can Deb. Everyone's always saying you've got a big mouth. Why not use it and tell the world what happened?"
She beamed and turned around beginning to talk to the closest camera. Justin felt himself being ushered away and opened his eyes just in time to see Deb become completely engulfed by the news crews. All he could see was her red wig bobbing above the camera and here her voice saying that justice had finally been done. Thankfully, Debbie's willingness to tell the press everything they wanted to hear meant that Ted, Emmett and Justin were being left in relative peace with only the odd journalist coming to ask Justin a question.
And that was when Justin heard his mother's wavering voice from behind him.
"Justin, honey?" She whispered.
"Mom," he gave her a watery smile. It seemed surreal. He'd never expected to be this close to his mother ever again.
"Oh my god," Jennifer suddenly gasped and pulled him close. "Justin," she whispered in his ear. "My sweet baby, I'm so glad you're alright." Justin wasn't sure if it was because he was too tired or because he was too emotional or because this day was going to either become the best or the worst of his life depending on whether Brian would come back through that door with Horvath or maybe it was just because he was being held in his mother's arms and being surrounded by her warmth and her comforting smell; but he was suddenly crying uncontrollably. He was crying all the tears he'd held back over everything that had happened in the last nine months. He was crying for what he'd lost and what he'd gained and then he was crying because he couldn't stop.
"It's okay, honey," his mother soothed him gently. "I'm here now."
Justin nodded slightly against her shoulder. He could feel the blinding lights from the cameras who were keen to catch this emotional story on film. Justin could already see the headlines; 'Justin Taylor Reunited With Mom After Four Months of Being Presumed Dead' or probably more likely; 'Gay Teen Comes Home' because newspapers can't wait to tell people the story's about 'one of those gays' but he ignored the lights and the cameras and the microphones and just sobbed in his mother's arms.
"I could hardly believe it was you when you walked in the room," she was smiling but there were tears shining in her eyes. "I just didn't want to believe. I've thought I've seen you so many times in the past months," she sniffed a little. "But now…" she hugged him tighter. "God Justin," she whispered, kissing his blonde hair. "You have no idea how good it is to see you."
Justin nodded some more. He was feeling a little calmer now so he stood up and smiled a very teary smile at his mom, before drying his cheeks on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Is d-dad not here?" he asked, still gulping in great lung-fulls of air.
"Your father doesn't…." She stopped, stroking her son's beautiful blonde hair, pushing it behind his ear. It wouldn't quite stay but she didn't stop trying. "He doesn't really…." She stopped again. God, this was harder than she'd thought it would be.
"It's okay mom," Justin sniffed a little. "I get it." His father didn't want to see his little queer son. It was okay. He hadn't expected anything more.
"He's okay thought, isn't he?" Justin asked. "You're happy?"
"I'm very happy," his mother confirmed. "How could I not be? I've got my son back in my life," she gave him another tight squeeze, before letting him go and giving him a small smile. "But," she said no louder than a whisper, "I have something to tell you about your father and I." She looked at the sky and then at the journalists who were listening in carefully. Suddenly, her lips pursing together and she looked like she was trying very hard not to cry all over again.
"Mom," Justin frowned with worry. "Mom, what is it?"
"Your father and I," she repeated, blinking furiously in a desperate attempt to dispel the tears, "we're divorced." She said it quick, like ripping off a Band-Aid, hoping the sting would be over quicker like that a small gasp from the media. And Justin imagined the new headlines; 'Justin Taylor Returned to a Broken Home.'
Jen wasn't sure what reaction she'd been expecting from her son. Maybe some reaction would have been nice but what he actually said was, "oh," as though she'd just told him a semi-interesting fact about beans and turned to the people he'd called his family during his turn on the stand. "I have some people I want you to meet."
Justin felt bad for not reacting more but what could he say. He couldn't tell her he was sorry. He wasn't. In fact, he'd felt it had added to his happiness no end. His mother was free of the crazy-ass shit with a bad temper he had the misfortune of calling a 'dad'; that was definitely a good thing. He introduced his mother to Debbie then Ted and lastly Emmett. He was just glad the press were staying a decent-ish distance away now, they were just trying to film and document every action.
"Pleasure to meet you Mrs Taylor," the two men said almost in unison. Debbie of course had immediately started calling her Jen as though they were old friends.
Jennifer had to admit she felt more than a little weird making small talk with criminals. Especially the criminals that had robbed her house and stolen her son from her but she actually found she had some things in common with Debbie and that Emmett and Ted seemed nice enough too and they were doing an excellent job repeating the words 'no comment' to any happy-go-lucky journalist trying to get a conversation with one of the Taylor's. In fact, Jen was finding it hard to imagine any of this group breaking the law. She also, however, couldn't help feel they weren't really paying attention to her. All of them, including Justin, had their attention constantly flicking to the door of the courthouse and she knew why. They were waiting for him.
Brian Kinney. The man who'd shot her ex-husband in the hand. The man who'd taken her son from her. The man who'd fucked her son. The man who'd introduced him into this world of criminals and debauchery. The man her son had fallen completely and passionately in love with. It was obvious the way he kept staring at the door, fidgeting about and rocking on his toes and it was obvious because she was his mother and she just knew. Her son was in love with completely the wrong guy and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.
"You should be so proud," Debbie was saying honestly. "You've raised an amazing boy. He's brave and he's dealt so well with so much and he's…" but the rest of her sentence was completely drowned out by the stampede that had suddenly attacked the courthouse door. Cameras were clicking, lights were illuminating and journalists were shouting and that could only mean the arrival of one person; Brian Kinney.
Brian stood on the top step of the courthouse looking around semi-frantically. It was hard to see anything with all the flashes going off in his eyes but he squinted and peered around until he spotted Justin. He grinned and pushed roughly through the crowd of reporters, not caring if they dropped their equipment or if he accidentally stood on their toes or any of the other things they were currently complaining about.
"Fuck off," he said as he virtually threw a camera man out of his way and kept marching until he was stood right in front of Justin.
"Hey," he smiled and the smile was genuine and full of love.
"Hey," Justin smiled back. They just looked at each other for a second. Brian almost didn't want to move, afraid that something would break if he touched Justin. He'd resided himself to the fact he'd never see this man again and now this felt like the most beautiful of surreal dreams. Except for the fact they were totally surrounded by cameras on all sides. The hush surrounding them was eerie for so many people but Brian felt like he could hardly see them anyway; all he could see was Justin, all he could smell was Justin, all he could feel was … OW!
Because it was at that moment that Justin had chosen to slap Brian hard across the face.
Brian had barely got out a "what the fuck was that for?" when Debbie slapped him hard across the other cheek. His face was stinging and felt totally misshapen his eyes watering but he wasn't blind enough to get fooled a third time and as the next hand came in to connect with his face he grabbed it immediately around the wrist and glared at its' owner, only to find he didn't even know who the fuck the owner was. She was a woman in her late-forties/ early-fifties, with blonde hair and a furious expression.
"Who the fuck are you?" He demanded.
"Justin's mother," she answered sharply and Brian had to concede if he deserved a slap of anyone it was probably her.
"Fair enough," he sighed releasing her hand and bracing himself for the final slap, which left his face burning from the impact.
"Anyone else?" He asked, looking around the group of his so called friends. Emmett made to lift his hand but Ted stopped him and shook his head slightly. "Good," Brian snapped. And then he looked a little sheepish, touching a hand to his stinging cheek he said slowly, "though I guess I probably deserved that."
"You're damn straight you did," Debbie yelled. "How could you do it to us? Make us think you were leaving forever."
"I was leaving forever," Brian confirmed. Then he looked at Justin, "I didn't want to come back."
"So why did you?" Justin whispered.
"Ignacio came out with some more of his famous Mexican sayings," Brian explained smiling a little. "He told me that a life without love is not a life at all."
Justin blinked a little, his eyes misting over because … no, he wasn't going to cry like some silly faggot or worse like some silly breeder girl in rom-com.
"And then he and Marv started making out and it made me sort of nauseous, but," he sighed, took a deep breath and tentatively raised his hand to cup Justin's cheek, "I couldn't do it, I couldn't just leave … not without you, mi amor."
Justin beamed at him and practically threw himself into the older man's arms.
"Christ," Brian chuckled against the younger man's lips, "one Spanish word and you literally throw yourself at me."
"Mm," Justin replied between kissing. "I'm still not easy."
Brian laughed a little more and they continued to kiss. The cameras closed in around them but Brian began to push them away with one hand, the other firmly around Justin. Christ, the media were going to have a fucking field day with stories from this courtroom but Brian really didn't care. He didn't care about any of it. He had Justin in his arms and that was all that mattered.
Eventually they pulled apart and the excited chatting began again. Emmett and Debbie immediately began to gossip.
"Did he just basically tell Justin he came back for love?" Emmett was giggling. "Oh it really is a Jackie Collin's novel."
"I can't get over it," Deb was whispering. "Brian Kinney, doing what's right because he wanted to prove himself to someone else."
"I knew he'd come back," Ted said smugly. "I just didn't know he'd bring Hunter." They all looked up at the boy. He was currently locked in an embrace with Ben, who was telling him over and over how well he'd done and how brave he was.
"How do you suppose he found him?" Emmett asked.
"I went to the place all people go when they want to feel safe," Brian interrupted their conversation, his arm still firmly around Justin's shoulders.
"And where's that, Detective Kinney?" Emmett mocked.
"His home?"
They all looked confused. "But we checked there."
"Not his home now, his childhood home. I found out where he used to live and found him camped out in an old tree house in the garden."
"How did you persuade him to testify?" Justin asked curiously.
"I told him about another young man who had to stand up in court and testify, many, many years ago."
"You?" Justin asked in surprise. "You told him about you?"
Brian just shrugged and Justin hugged him just a little tighter. He wasn't sure it would ever be possible to love this man more. He was still gazing up at him when he heard Ted clear his throat a little uncomfortably and Emmett say "uh-oh," in a sing song voice. Justin watched them take a few steps back and wasn't sure why until he heard his mother say, "So this is him? This is Brian Kinney?"
Brian actually looked nervous as he scratched the back of his neck and said, "er, hello Mrs Taylor."
"I really," she laughed bitterly, "don't know what to make of you."
"Few do," Brian responded immediately and Jen just nodded her head.
"Yes, well…." She trailed off for a second before looking right at him and saying, "you're a criminal. You're a liar and a thief. You shot my husband, you kidnapped my child. You introduced him into," she looked around her, "all this."
Brian said nothing, he just ran his hands through his hair. He really had nothing to say, it wasn't as though any of it wasn't true.
"He was nearly killed with a baseball bat by some friend of yours." Brian winced at that and she softened suddenly, lifting her hand to stroke her son's cheek gently and when she continued, her voice was low and sweet, "but he loves you." She said looking straight at Brian. "And I believe, god help me," she whispered, "that you love him too."
Brian nodded a little and Justin pressed himself closer to the older man. He knew this couldn't be easy for him. He hated romance, he hated the notion of love and now it was all anyone was talking about.
Jennifer suddenly looked to her son and gave him a watery smile and he beamed back at her. "You make him happy," she continued to Brian but still looking at her son. "I haven't seen him smile like this since he was a little boy." Then she turned sternly and looked at the older man with all the anger and protectiveness a mother could have. "Be good to him," she warned.
"I will," Brian promised.
Justin didn't know what would have happened then. Maybe they'd have shaken hands or stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, but thankfully it was then that Horvath called.
"Kinney, a word." Brian looked up to see the cop looking incredibly stern. "All of you better come inside too," he added and with that they followed the cop back into the courthouse. Justin was clinging to Brian's wrist. It seemed like he couldn't let him go now, not even for a second.
As soon as they were in the courthouse corridor, everything seemed immediately calmer. Brian had to detach himself from Justin to go and speak to Horvath privately a few feet away. Justin watched as Brian walked over, understandably a little anxious. Cops, after all, were still the enemy.
"Kinney," Horvath said as the man got close, "I want to say thank you for bringing in that kid, without him. Well… Thanks." He held out his hand. Brian looked at his for a moment or two and then smirked a little.
"Sorry Horvath," he smiled. "I don't generally shake hands with cops."
"No," the cop nodded, a slight grin on his face at the other man's stubbornness. "Well, I wanted to tell you that there's another way out of the courthouse and that your friends are there waiting for you."
"Thanks," Brian said firmly.
"Least I could do," Horvath said honestly. "But just so you know Kinney, this little," he pointed between the two of them, "truce is only for 24 hours. After that, you're mine."
Brian laughed a little though his nose "That long huh?" The older man just shrugged and as he began to walk away Brian called, "what about Michael?"
The whole gang heard him ask the question and they all took a step forward to hear what Horvath had to say.
"I offered him the same deal as you," he said calmly. "Offered to ignore the charges for a while but he insisted he wanted to do his time. Says he's trying to impress some new man. Tom or Brad or…"
"Ben?" Justin asked quickly, coming to Brian's side.
"Something like that, yeah," Horvath nodded. "Anyway, I reduced the crime from aggravated assault to simple assault but he's still looking at another six months to a year." He shrugged. He turned and began to walk off but just before he entered a room, Brian called
"Hey, Horvath" and held out his hand.
Horvath looked at it pointedly and said. "Sorry Kinney. I don't generally shake hands with crooks." Brian grinned and the cop just smiled back. "Don't forget, 24 hours Kinney and you're mine."
"24 hours Horvath and you'll never see me again."
"I sincerely hope not," Horvath agreed and shut the door quickly behind him.
"24 hours? What does all that mean?" Justin asked. Brian just smiled down at him.
"It means," he smirked, turning back to the group and slinging his arm around Justin's shoulder's, "let's get the fuck out of here before I become a permanent resident at cinderblock falls."
"Woo hoo," Emmett cried, bouncing a little before chanting, "road trip, road trip, road trip."
Justin started laughing immediately but Brian just shook his head in anger before snapping, "will you stop chanting about it and get a fucking move on?"
He grabbed Emmett by the arm and virtually threw him towards the back exit to the building. Ted smiled and began to follow them too.
"You have a good trip boys," Deb called after them.
"Wait," Justin frowned. "You're not coming with us?"
"Michael's still here," she shrugged. "Besides," she smiled, pulling a small scrap of paper from her bra, "a certain detective has told me to give him a call."
"No fucking way," Emmett gasped. "Oh my god Deb, that's wonderful."
"That's perverse," Brian countered. "The Debbie Novotny I used to know, the Midnight Mistress, would never fuck a cop."
"Well, the Brian Kinney I used to know would never risk his ass for love." She smiled at Justin.
"I guess a lot of things used to be," Brian sighed. Then he strolled right up to her, pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek and whispered, "I'm happy for you, Deb."
"You too … asshole," she smiled fondly at him. He just shrugged and went back to join his friends as they began to take off down the corridor.
"Wait!" Another voice called.
"Christ!" Brian snapped. "Now what?" They all turned around to see Jennifer looking meek with tears shining in her eyes.
"Justin," she whispered. "What's going on?"
"Brian's got to leave mom," Justin explained. "They'll arrest him if he stays. He'll go to prison." She stared numbly. She knew what was coming. "And I have to go too. You know that, don't you?" She nodded. She knew it but she didn't understand it. "I love you, mom," he whispered, hugging her tightly. "And I'll call you all the time."
"You can come visit … whenever you want, " Brian piped up suddenly and both Taylor's turned to look at him.
"Really?" The younger Taylor asked and Brian just nodded. Justin turned back to his mom. "Then you have to visit," he said. "soon. Bring Molly. It'll be amazing."
She just nodded, tears filling her eyes. "I will," she whispered and then she just stood and watched as her son ran back to man he loved. And they all disappeared out of the back door, skipping and jumping and running like children on a playground.
"He'll be alright," Debbie said in her ear, placing a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Brian won't let anything happen to him."
"You're sure?" Jen asked.
"I've known Brian a long time," Debbie said slowly. "Too long," she muttered. "He hasn't changed much," she smiled. "But one thing he does do, one thing he's always done, is make sure the people he cares about are looked after. And he sure as hell cares about your son."
Jen nodded numbly. "I'm sure you're right," she gave the woman a watery smile.
"Hey," Deb said, "why don't we mothers go to a café and grab a cup of coffee. We can just … talk. About anything you like."
"I'd like that," Jen smiled. "I could sure use a friend right now."
"Me too."
::
Emmett rushed out into the parking lot first and just stared at the RV, with the two men standing next to it.
"Finally," the rounder, balder of the two sighed. "Ted," he grinned as the man came out the door.
"Marv?" Ted smiled walking over and shaking his hand. "It's been … years," he gasped.
"Can you boys get boners about the past later?" Brian scowled. "We're sort of in hurry."
"Ah, Rayito de luz," Ignacio smiled on spotting the younger man. "Nice to see you again."
"Igualmente," Justin replied immediately. Ignacio looked mildly impressed and looked to Brian.
"His Spanish is so good."
"He had a good teacher," Brian shrugged, "you should hear the dirty phrases he can come out with." and Justin just laughed, turning to Brian and saying;
"Quiero que me folles durante horas"
"Mm," the skinny man replied, raising an eyebrow, "you have taught him all the important stuff," he smirked. "You hurry up now. We are already late. Hurry, hurry. Apúrate!"
They all piled into the back of the RV and began to sit on various sofas except Brian who was dragging Justin into the RV's master bedroom.
"So," Brian asked Justin, pushing him onto the bed and stripping him quickly, "where would you like to go?"
"I've always like Madagascar," Justin smirked, pulling Brian's jacket off his shoulder
"Ah," Brian smiled, dipping to nuzzle Justin's neck, "an excellent choice."
Erm … wow! So yeah, it's over! Thanks so much to EVERYONE who's read, reviewed, faved and alerted this story. Everyone of you make me happy. And thanks to any silent readers too … everyone who's stuck this story out to the end is a legend in my mind.
Just a final thank you to my beta Boriqua522 for giving me the confidence to post chapters and for preventing these chapters from being uploaded as error-filled, non-Americanised mess'.
Also a huge thank you (or should that be Gracias?) to Albiku for fixing my VERY questionable Spanish and for just helping me through a few of the chapters!
Finally thank you to YOU for reading. I hope you'll take the time to leave a little review (I will actually try to reply to these ones) but thanks anyway.
InconspicuousBunny…xx