Episode 7
Brian snuggled up to the pillow and clutched it to his chest opening his eyes the bed was empty. He blinked rapidly from the sun coming through the blinds, he stretched and sat up.
Looking at the clock on the bedside table he pushed the sheet away from his body and stood stretching again reaching up with his arms. Brian licked his dry lips. He switched the shower on as he walked back into the bedroom and looked through his wardrobe to pick his suit from the rack.
Brian scratched his nose. He was dressed for the day once he came out of the shower. His phone rung and he walked over to answer it. "Hello"
"Daddy"
Brian sat on his bed "Gus shouldn't you be going to school now?"
"Yeah" Gus said quietly "Daddy um when will I get to see you?" he asked.
Brian smiled "I don't know yet Gus but soon" he said his alarm went off he leaned and switched it off. It was silent on the other end "Gus you still there" he asked he took the phone away from his ear and looked at the screen. Biting his bottom lip he put the phone back and sighed.
Dialling Lindsey's number Brain put it on loud speaker he buttoned up his shirt as it rang nobody picked it up.
Once he was dressed he picked his jacket and coat up and left the bedroom to get a quick drink of water. Brian sighed as shut the door of his car leaning back in his seat he drove out of the driveway and went to work.
Brian finished work for the day and walked a few blocks to Justin's studio he opened the door and walked into the mess.
Justin stood in front of the far wall by the window he didn't turn around but he kept staring out the window. He sighed and licked his lips.
Brian walked over behind him and hugged him from behind.
Justin looked up "hey" he said leaning back in Brian's arms "what you doing here?" He asked.
Brian kissed Justin's neck "I finished work already" he said leaning his head on his shoulder "I got another call from Gus this morning after you left it was rather cryptic" he said licking his lip "he hung up"
Justin frowned "why is he calling all the time?"
"I don't know he always seem to hang up after a few minutes" Brian explained "maybe he's trying to tell us something? But I don't know what it is. Lindsey isn't picking up her phone either it's like they are trying to avoid me"
"Do you think I shouldn't really say it" he said putting his hand on Brian's forearm "I have a few days I can spare to go up there" he looked at Brian sideward "I'm kind of worried for him" he said looking back out the window.
Brian breathed out "I'll get Cynthia to block my days" he said moving his hips forward "what you doing staring out the window. The scenery isn't going to change" he added.
Justin laughed "I'm just thinking" he said tapping Brian's arm and moving from his arms.
-QAF-
Emmett walked up the long path up to the old house of his childhood; he held his phone and PDA in his hand. Standing in front of the yellow door he gave a big sigh before lifting his hand to the doorbell. A noise in the street made him flinch, he looked over his shoulder but found no other movements or noises, he turned back to the door.
Raising an eyebrow he pushed the door gently "hello" he called he took a deep breath before stepping inside the house dodging the first floor board as it always used to creak when he was young and continued to walk down the hall "winner" he said calling his dad's name.
Emmett stood in the doorway of the kitchen as a old man sat at the table licking his lips as crossed his arms and walked into the kitchen "Sir"
The man looked up and not saying a word Emmett turned around "if you're not going to talk then there was no point in me catching a flight out of here. I have a business to run" he said walking back down the hall.
"Wait" a croaky voice said.
Emmett stopped and waited for the man to continue.
The croaky voice coughed "I called for a reason" he said Emmett turned round and looked aping his old man "my prospective has changed"
Emmet licked his lips "your absent for 25 years of my life why has it changed now?" he asked.
The man took a deep breath "I'm dying"
Emmet sighed "oh" he said walking towards the table "how long have you got?" he asked pulling the chair out from under the table and sat down.
The man looked up "a year max" he said taking a sip of scotch from the table "but if I keep going on like this I might even die in a few months" he explained "I've been looking through stuff and I need to set everything right before I go"
Emmet leaned on the table "like what"
"Just mementos. I think its time i should make peace with my chrildren"
-QAF-
Ben walked out of the bedroom as he was all dressed and ready to work. Grabbing his jacket from banister he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a fruit juice from the fridge. Standing in the doorway of the living room he took a sip of juice before putting his shoes on and grabbed everything he needed for work.
The front door opened, Michael walked into the kitchen. Ben looked up of walked straight past him not bothering to say anything and left the house
Michael frowned as he heard the front door slam shut. He walked up the stairs to change his clothes standing in the doorway of his and Ben's room it was still the same layout but the feelings were different. He sighed and went to the bathroom to have a shower.
Ben walked into the diner to stand in front of the counter, Debbie walked over "the usual?" she asked he nodded "hey Ben darling any news from Michael?" she asked first before putting his order in.
Ben nodded "he arrived early this morning I have not talked to him" he stated placing his suitcase on the counter before taking a seat. The other waiter handed him a coffee cup and poured "thanks Francis" he said.
-QAF-
Michael stood in front of the bathroom mirror on the shelf sat various pots of pills the light shone on Michael tired expression.
The doorbell rang Michael stayed silent as he opened a pot and took one, swallowing It without water. Michael blinked looking down at the floor before opening another pot and doing the same.
After a few more seconds the person on the other side started to knock "Michael you open this damn door now I just saw Ben"
Debbie's voice called. After a few more minutes Debbie sighed and started to walk away she looked briefly up at the window. Deb stood standing where she was, the door opened and she walked back up the path.
Michael opened the wider for her walk in, she shuffled in "baby" she said putting her hands on either side of his face.
Michael pulled away from her "I don't deserve it" he stated licking his lip
"I slept around Ma" he said putting his face in his hands "it's my fault" he cried.
Debbie frowned as she let him cry into her shoulder.
"Why don't you tell me from the start when it all started" Debbie said later on once Michael had calmed down. They both were sat on the sofa beside each other.
Michael explained "it kind of started a few months after Mel and Lindsey left" he said.
QAF-BK-JT-QA
Brian stood in front of the bathroom mirror the shower was running beside him after checking into the hotel him and Justin crashed to the bed for some sleep as they got off the flight at night time. They both woke up around 6. Justin went back to sleep. Brian sighed as he let his sleep pants fall to the floor. He stepped into the shower and closed the door.
Letting the water cascade down his body he glanced out of the bathroom door and saw the light in the bedroom turn on before the sound of Justin moving around. Leaning his head back he washed his body with his own shower gel that he brung in his carry-on bag as they were only staying for at least a few days at the most.
Brian turned the water off and got out of the shower grabbing at the towel on the rack. He tied the towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom.
Justin popped his head in the door "Hey" he said. His hair was a blonde mess from sleeping for 12 hours. He had a piece of pineapple in his mouth.
Brian looked over his shoulder "we'll leave for Lindsey later on before she goes and picks up Gus" he said
Justin nodded and disappeared back out of the bedroom.
Brian sighed as he dried himself he shook his hair and licked his lips before standing and letting the towel fall to the floor. Walking over to the standing mirror in the corner of the room. Putting some boxers on, he bit his bottom lip and straightened the wet strands of hair.
Brian stood on the doorstep ringing the bell again.
Justin had his hands shoved in his jacket pocket as a chill ran over his body. Justin blew into his hands to keep them warm "maybe Lindsey already left" he stated putting his hands back in his pockets. Biting the inside of his cheek Justin took his phone out and speed dialled Lindsey "she's not answering"
Brian licked his lip "Let's just go to Gus school" he said. They walked back to the rental car and headed to Gus school just ten minutes away from the house.
Brian stopped the car next to the cab across from the school. Justin readjusted himself in the chair before Brian looked at the time to make sure they were on time for the kids to come out of the school. They could hear the school bell muffled in the background as Justin rolled down the window.
Brian got out of the car and walked round to the passenger side door "I don't see Lindsey" he stated.
Justin shrugged "Maybe she just walked" he said.
Brian leaned back against the door and glanced at the clock on the dashboard "see you in a minute" he said walking across the road.
Justin slumped down and watched him leave "bye hot stuff" he whistled.
Brian looked over his shoulder and smirked.
Justin grinned.
Brian put his hands in his pockets as he walked round the school building into the large space of concrete. There was several parents gathered round; most were sitting on the benches.
The classroom door opened a teacher walked out of the class and kids followed her wearing their matching outfits.
"Daddy"
Brian smiled as Gus ran towards him he wore a large grin on his face and his backpack was jumping up and down as he launched himself into his arms. Gus wrapped his arms round Brian's neck "hey Sonny Boy" he said.
Gus hugged him tighter "what you doing here Daddy?" he asked.
"What does it look like I'm here to see my favourite boy"
Gus looked over his shoulder and waved at the teacher goodbye "Bye Miss Hathaway this is my daddy" he called as Brian started walking back round the building. Gus leaned forward and Kissed Brian's cheek "but Mama will be mad if I don't wait for Mummy" he stated.
"Why do you say that?" He asked walking towards the car.
Brian licked his lips as Gus shrugged and turned his head away from Brian's prying eyes.
Brian walked across the road "you can tell me anything you know Sonny Boy?"
Gus shrugged again "I know" he said glancing side to side. He placed his hand on the back of his neck, his sleeved fell revealing a yellow bruise on his wrist. "Justin" Gus said gleefully as he spotted Justin from the passenger seat.
Justin smiled as Gus waved at him "Hey"
Brian opened the back seat car door and placed him on the seat.
Gus strapped himself in after he frowned up at his father "I do it" he said.
Brian put his hands up and stepped back from the door and closed it behind him. Getting in the driver's seat Justin and Gus had already started a conversation. Gus was telling Justin what he did at school today and all about his art class.
Brian didn't put his seatbelt on as he listened to Gus and Justin yammering on, glancing at the time it has only been a few minutes "Hey Sonny Boy where's Mummy?"
Gus shrugged and he went silent.
"Gus doesn't mummy come pick you up?" Brian asked.
Gus bit his lip "Not really" he replied looking down at his lap "Mama said if I'm a big boy then I should act like one and walk home by myself" he explained fiddling with his thumbs and going silent again.
Justin frowned and looked over at Brian but he had already pulled away from the curb and drove back to Lindsey house, he showed no emotion on his face as he drove but the journey was silent.
Brian and Justin stood in lighted up hallway as they stood near the front door "Gus go pack some stuff" he demanded as he was slightly angry. Gus looked up from his place as he was squished in between Justin and Brian's leg he ran up the stairs as fast as he could and Justin followed to help him.
Lindsey was holding JR in her arms "what you doing?" she asked.
Brian had his arms crossed over his chest "what does it look like Lindsey" he said.
"He has School he can't miss out" Lindsey countered.
"I'm taking him back with me" Brian said raising his voice.
"You can't do that" Mel said from behind them she had just come home from work as she was still wearing her coat on and holding her bag over her shoulder "you have no parental rights too"
Brian uncrossed his arms "I'm his father" he said glancing up at Gus and Justin as stood on the top of the stairs "I saw the bruises on his wrists Melanie so don't you dare slap out the parental rights act that I gave permission for"
Brian was almost shouting as he glanced down at Gus as he changed out of his uniform and into a short sleeved t shirt that showed several bruises and cuts on his forearm and wrists.
Justin picked Gus up and he immediately hugged onto Justin as they descended the stairs.
"I gave permission for you to take my son here and I can take everything I gave back and that includes my Parental rights"
Melanie laughed as she walked round him "nobody would give you rights to look after a child" she sneered "you're not fit to look after yourself let alone somebody else"
Brian shrugged walking to the bottom of the stairs "you're so lucky that I'm not going to report your ass to social services" he said taking the bag from Justin "take him to the car" he said.
Justin nodded and walked out of the front door as he was holding Gus to him.
Brian glanced over at Lindsey "I expected more from you Linds I trusted in the both of you to look after him and you hitting him"
Lindsey bit her lip "Gus is just a clumsy child. Kids just fall all the time"
Brian shook his head "No my 10 year old son dosn't just fall Lindz" he stated "I may not be here for him all the time but i know my son. He didn't get those bruises and cuts all by himself" he said "I get a call from Gus every few days with or without you and every time he has to talk quietly and sometimes he never speaks at all" he explains "don't bother to call anyone or this little secret won't be private for very long"
Lindsey starts to cry "you can't take him away from me" she said stepping forward.
Brian walked to the front door "I didn't want to do this" he said over his shoulder "you will be getting a court order in the next 14 days" he added as he left slamming the door behind him.
Lindsey had crumbled to the floor still holding JR.