Murphy's Law states that everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Until that brisk morning, Brian had never much believed in it. But when he got into his car it wouldn't start, it was the first thought to cross his mind.

Chilton came out after a moment. "It sounded urgent. I can drive you where you need to be."

The thought completely panicked Brian. Heading to a crime scene and work in Chilton's shirt, in Chilton's car? It was too much. "Just let me see if I can…" He cranked the ignition again and heard nothing. "It's just the cold…"

But it wasn't, and he knew that deep down. With all that had been going on at work he'd neglected not only his personal life, but his car as well. Chilton leaned through the window and turned the keys back. "Let me take you."

Brian grudgingly agreed, although the idea seemed worse and worse to him. He sunk down in the seat so low that he couldn't see the scenery and was only aware that they'd arrived when Chilton stopped his car.

The two looked at each other for a moment. Chilton looked grave. He leaned forward and for one horrified second Brian thought he was trying for a goodbye kiss. The doctor was only reaching over to turn the heater up, however, and Brian scrambled out of the car quickly.

Jack was briefing the rest of Team Science outside of the house. There was no sign of Will or Doctor Lecter.

"We need to get him out of there…"

"You can't really think he'd do something like this, would you Jack?" Beverly crossed her arms. "Will Graham is our friend and colleague…"

"I don't know who or what he is anymore, Beverly." Jack snapped, then he sighed. He'd been regretting a lot of things he'd said lately. "I don't think he knows, either."

All those long hours and sleepless nights of hating Will Graham, Brian found he couldn't look at him. Perhaps that was normal…neither Beverly nor Jimmy could either, but they'd been his friends. With Brian it was different…the ache that should have faded pleasantly but was beginning to ramp up might have been part of it. Next time, Brian was going to have to talk to Chilton about a bed and lube…

Next time?!

Brian wasn't sure how he felt about a next time. The sex had been hot as hell, yes, though he had a suspicion that Chilton didn't have a clue about half the toys in his basement. Watching someone play with a blowtorch when they have no idea how to use it can be amusing…but also deadly.

There was also the matter of whether or not Brian had feelings for Chilton other than lust and a strong new friendship. Frankly, for where he stood now, their relationship was too fucked up to continue. Not love….not yet…but it could be. And loving a man so widely ridiculed and despised…!

Will gave Brian a long look as he walked by.

Inside Will's house, however, there was no peace for Brian's tortured mind. While Jimmy fingerprinted the area around Will's sink, he shot a glance at Brian.

"I notice you got a ride from that Doctor-what's-his-name today. A bit odd-looking, isn't he? With bugged-out eyes. Grabby hands." Jimmy snorted at some thought that flitted through his head. "He looks like the sort of therapist that psychoANALyzeshis patients—!" he laughed louder.

Brian didn't even realize he'd snapped until Jimmy stumbled back, hand over his nose. "Jesus Christ, Brian—!"

"Hey!" Bev stepped between them quickly. "Now is not the time. We need to work together to prove that Will is innocent." She turned to glare at Jimmy. "This is not the time for jokes."

So, for now, no one suspected a thing. Not even Jimmy, who stared at Brian somewhat sulkily as he recorded the contents of Will's pockets. For now, Brian could be alone with his thoughts.

But not for long. Because if Will was guilty—which he certainly was, hadn't Doctor Chilton seen it coming?—that would mean a one-way ticket to the asylum where Doctor Chilton worked and that would mean that Brian would have an excuse to see his friend and lover again.

And, of course, there was the matter of his car sitting in Chilton's driveway.

Fuck, Brian thought.

He could go see Chilton after work…maybe even call him to get picked up…but no. He'd have his car towed. Give himself a little extra time to think things over.

His thoughts wouldn't leave him alone that day, and neither would Will's eyes… even through the one-way mirror they seemed to follow. After a period of time Brian became sure that it wasn't his imagination, and he wondered if it was the slight limp with which he walked now…if Will was feeling what he was feeling. He flushed at the though. God, he hoped not…Brian Zeller was comfortably operating in the closet, and for now that's where he wanted to stay. No trip to a basement could change his mind… Chilton would need a whole different tactic if he wanted to get Brian to go public with his sexuality, let alone their relationship.

WAS it even a relationship?

Fuck, Brian thought, and rested his face against his hands.