Part 14

Michael was pulled from the police car first.

"Watch your head," the detective snapped as he watched the dark haired man bump his head on the roof of the car.

"Ow!" Michael whined. "Careful Justin, don't hit your head."

Justin smiled. Despite Michael's obvious jealousy about his relationship with Brian, he was essentially a good man. This wasn't the first time that Michael had shown concern for his physical well-being. Michael had on occasion been somewhat mean, saying things that were quite hurtful, cruel even, but deep down Justin knew he didn't really mean any harm.

Carl watched from the window as two of Debbie's sons were led into the station.

"Put them in holding cell two for now," Sgt. Lewis barked. Michael and Justin disappeared from view. Horvath watched Lewis. The two men had never gotten along. They had opposing views on how to get the job done. When Lewis went to the washroom Carl went to the desk to see what Michael and Justin were being charged with.

"Child pornography? Stockwell will never make it stick," he mumbled to himself. He also noticed a small note on the left hand corner—SLOW.

Brian, Ben, and Mel came rushing into the station.

"Where are they?" Brian growled.

"They've been taken to a holding cell."

"With other prisoners?" Ben asked.

"For now. I wouldn't worry. There's probably only a couple of homeless guys in there at this point. We have to talk," Carl said, looking at Melanie.

"Okay, I'm listening. I'm pissed. There are no grounds for them to be arrested."

"Outside." Carl replied looking around.

They all went outside and across the street.

"Can we move this along? We have to get them out of there," Brian seethed.

"I don't think that's going to happen today or maybe not until Monday."

"They have no grounds to hold them," Mel cried.

"I know, but I saw SLOW noted on the arrest warrant."

"And what the fuck does that mean?" Brian snapped, losing more and more patience as the minutes went by.

"It's a note that cops … wait. This is off the record," Carl said to Mel.

"Okay, I'm just so happy that a cop is finally confirming what I've known all along," she laughed.

"Yeah, well, you didn't hear it from me."

What do you mean by SLOW?" Ben asked, starting to lose his patience.

"It's a note that cops make to each other. It's for perps that we think are guilty but we know we don't have enough on them or that we are trying to give a hard time to. S-scare the perp. L-lose the paperwork. O-open population. W-wait until the court docket is full for the day. SLOW. It's a loophole that let's us hold the suspects longer."

"FUCK!"

"They can't do that," Ben gasped.

"Unfortunately, they can and do more often than they'll ever admit."

"It can be a useful tool. I've done it. What bleeding heart liberals and defense attorneys don't want to admit is the police are often dealing with amoral people who have no respect for anything or anyone. They don't play by the rules and there's no way to catch them or win if you follow them. I'm not willing to break a law to get a perp, but I'll bend a few if I have to."

"I would totally agree with you if your fucked up system wasn't being used against Justin and Michael at the moment," sighed Brian.

"What can we do? We have to get them out of there," said Ben.

"I'll talk to the assistant district attorney. I might be able to head this off a little since I know about it," Mel answered, pulling out her phone.

"Carl, can you do anything to keep them safe? I don't like the idea of them being with other prisoners," Ben admitted.

"I'm certainly going to try and as long as they're being held here at the station, I should be able to but if they get transferred to central holding with the charge of child pornography, I'm not going to lie to you it could get really bad."

"FUCK! Michael's never been able to fight and Justin won't back down," Brian froze suddenly.

"What?"

"If Justin gets another head injury he could die. It's a miracle he survived the first one," Brian stated, solemnly.

Mel came back over to the men. "I have bad news."

"What? You couldn't get a slot on the docket?" Carl asked.

"No. The sprinkler system at the court house malfunctioned and most cases are being postponed."

"Until tomorrow?" Ben asked hopefully.

"No, until Monday."

"FUCK!"

"What are we going to do?"

"There's only one thing left to do," Carl said and then turned his focus on Melanie. "You have to go in there and make sure that you scare the shit out of the arresting officers and that you plan to sue them personally if either Justin or Michael so much as stub their toe while in custody. Explain that you are their regular attorney and not just someone they've hired today. Tell them that you have gone through everything related to the comic book and the store and that you know for a fact there are no grounds for the arrests. Don't fail to mention that you think this is all because they are discriminating against them because they are gay. Don't mention the Stockwell thing. Make sure they understand that you plan a multi-million dollar discrimination suit against the force and the city, as well as, them personally. Make a big show out of getting names and badge numbers."

"Okay, I know what to do, but sometimes that kind of thing makes the officers angry. They see it as a challenge and it could be harder on Michael and Justin."

"It's possible, but I think this whole thing is designed to make Justin pay for his role in bringing Jim down. So I'm sure the plan is for at least Justin to get roughed up while in his cell so I don't think you can make it any worse."

"Oh God!" Brian sighed.

Mel, Brian, and Ben made their way over to the station again.

"I want to see my clients Michael Novotny and Justin Taylor."

"They haven't asked for a lawyer yet," the desk sergeant said.

Just then Michael and Justin were brought into the adjacent hallway. Justin saw everyone and spoke to the officer. Both men were led through another door and out of sight. One of the officers approached the desk sergeant.

"They want to talk to their lawyer."

"Have they made any statement so far?" The desk sergeant asked.

"No, the little one would talk I think but the kid keeps telling him not to say anything."

Brian smiled. He knew Justin was smart enough not to make the situation worse.

"I would like to see my clients. NOW!" Mel said sternly.

"Sure. Bradford, take Ms. Marcus to the interrogation room please."

Mel was taken to see them. When Ben and Brian tried to follow they were told that visitors weren't allowed. They took a seat in the lobby and over the next hour they were joined by Debbie, Jennifer, Emmett, Ted, and Lindsay. Hunter decided to stay away fearing he'd make the situation worse.

Mel came out to join them.

"How are they?" Debbie asked.

"Scared but they're okay. They know they haven't done anything wrong so they just want to go home."

"Exactly. So that's what is going to happen now, right?"

"Unfortunately, no! Despite the fact that I have threatened everyone with a lawsuit, they will be staying here for the night and most likely the weekend," Mel sighed.

"FUCK!"

"That can't happen," Jennifer said, alarmed. "What can we do?"

"Nothing. The court docket is full until at least Monday morning."

"Will they at least keep them here at this station," Brian asked, desperately.

"For now. I guess it depends on how many arrests are made and how full the cells get."

"I guess that's something," Ben said. "Can we see them?"

"Since neither of them used their phone call to call me I convinced the officers to let the two of you see them briefly," Mel said, looking at Ben and Brian.

"Let's go," Brian yelled already heading for the door he saw Mel pass through earlier.

Brian and Ben had to empty their pockets before they entered the room. Once through the door both men wrapped their smaller partners tightly in their arms.

"Okay, we don't have long. We are working to get you out of here," Ben said.

"Just stay strong and stick together. Justin, if someone starts talking shit. IGNORE IT!! I don't want you getting hurt in here. You too, Mikey. Try to avoid confrontation. Stay safe." Justin nodded his head against Brian's strong shoulder. "I'm scared," he whispered.

"I know but do whatever you have to do to get through this. Even swallow your pride.

"That's enough," barked an officer then motioned for Michael and Justin to follow him.

Ben and Brian returned to the lobby and told everyone that Justin and Michael were holding up okay, so far. Not being able to do anything else at the station they adjourned to the diner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two tables were filled with gloomy faced people picking at lemon bars and drinking coffee.

"Mel, if I was going to break a law tonight but didn't want a long sentence or anything on my record what could I do?" Brian asked.

"Don't be silly," Deb said. "We have enough problems. Behave yourself."

"I don't want to do anything too serious but I wouldn't mind getting myself into the holding cell with them for the weekend."

"That's ridiculous," Lindsay said.

"Yes Brian, Justin needs us to work out here to get him out," Jennifer added.

"There's nothing I can do out here. I'm worried about what will happen to them this weekend. We all know there is no case so they will be released on Monday. I just want them to be able to walk out of there. That's all."

"So you want to get arrested yourself. What good will that do?" Emmett asked. "It sounds like you would be playing right into Stockwell's hands."

"I just want to be there so I can try and protect them. Michael's no fighter and I'm afraid that blond boy ass might be at a premium in jail," Brian explained, the disgust evident in his voice.

"OH MY! I hadn't thought of that," gasped Jennifer.

"Well, it's all I can think about," sighed Brian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael and Justin sat in a cell on metal framed bunk beds looking at all the men around them. Some of the other prisoners were leering at them, especially Justin.

"Novotny, Taylor," yelled the large guard. "You're wanted for more questioning."

Justin and Michael cautiously went into another room to find a woman detective.

"Come on in and relax. Carl is a friend of mine and told me the crap Stockwell is pulling. Not all cops are corrupt and those of us who aren't are sickened by his abuse of power. I want you guys to let me know about what he's done because I plan to help the inquisition that is likely to happen soon."

Michael and Justin took their seats and visibly relaxed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carl joined the others at the diner.

"Any change?"

"No, but I am having my friends pull them in for interrogation periodically."

"What the fuck for?" Debbie glared. "They're innocent."

"I know but it will reduce the amount of time they spend in the cell."

"Thanks Carl," Jennifer said. "We really appreciate your help."

"I'm doing all I can to keep them safe."

"Let's just hope it's enough," sighed Brian. "I can't help but think that Stockwell has something else up his sleeve."

As if on cue, Carl's cell phone rang. "Horvath." His face soon paled. "Okay, I'll be right there."

"Is it Michael or Justin?" Ben asked.

"No, but there's been a small riot at a demonstration downtown. Several people are being arrested."

"So?" Deb snarked.

"So, the cells are going to fill up and Michael and Justin could be sent to central holding."

"FUCK!" Brian mumbled.

"I'm going to go back and see what I can do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Justin and Michael were picking at the sandwiches they had been given for dinner. The guard came in and started pointing to people. "You. You. You and you, come with me."

"Where are we going?" Another prisoner asked.

"To central holding. These cells are about to get filled up real fast."

"Shit," Michael said, looking at Justin.

They were put in handcuffs and shackles and led out to a van. Once in the van they realized that the prisoners that had been making them uncomfortable in the cell had been chosen to be taken to the new detention centre.

"Justin, stay close to me. I don't like how these guys are looking at you."

"I know," whispered Justin.

Michael looked over at him hearing something strange in his voice. "Are you okay?"

"For now, but all this stress is giving me a headache. I just pray it doesn't turn into a migraine."

"Me too," said Michael. He knew how bad they were for Justin. He had come to the loft to drop off some story ideas for Rage and found it in darkness. He had assumed that no one was home and left them on the counter. In the dark he had knocked over some mail. Trying to pick it all up he had turned on a light. Brian had run down and turned it off startling him. He then explained to Michael that Justin needed dark and quiet when he was having a migraine. Michael looked around the van. I'm pretty sure it won't be dark or quiet tonight, he thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brian was pacing nervously around the diner as the others watched him.

"This must be so hard for him," Lindsay said.

"He's not the one we have to worry about tonight," Mel said.

"I know that," Lindsay snapped. "All I meant was that two of the three people Brian would fight to the death for are possibly in danger and he's powerless to help them."

"I know. It's eating him up. It's hard to watch," Ted said.

"Carl's back," Brian said from the window.

"So?" Brian asked as Carl walked through the door.

"They're already at central holding."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Going into the new cell, Justin's first instinct was to go to the back. He could tell a migraine was starting and all he wanted to do was crawl in a hole. Michael stopped him.

"I think we should stay as close to the guards as we can," he explained.

"Okay," Justin replied quietly. Michael led him to a bed and Justin laid down.

One prisoner in particular noticed them come in. He moved away not wanting to be recognized.

"What have we got here?" A big guy with a beard asked. "Looks like fresh meat."

"Yeah, these two could be just what you are looking for," the guard laughed. "They're queer."

"Really? Expert cocksuckers huh? I kind of like that idea," another prisoner said.

"Not only that, they're here on child pornography charges," the guard continued in disgust.

"Maybe they need to be taught a lesson," said yet another prisoner.

"I have a feeling the guards aren't going to be much help," sighed Justin.

`Yeah," Michael agreed looking around.

Two of the large men moved toward them, then three more.

"What are we going to do?"

"Maybe we can help you occupy some of your time. Anyone that takes advantage of children needs to be taught a lesson. That's wrong and there should be consequences."

"We didn't do anything like that. The cops are framing us. Leave us alone," Michael pleaded.

"He even sounds like a bitch. We know the story. You're innocent and there's been an awful mistake. Right?"

"Right." Michael agreed.

The mean looking guy with tattoos instead of sleeves turned to the other prisoners. "Raise your hand if you've ever said, `I'm innocent.  There's been some sort of mistake."

All the prisoners in the cell raised their hands.

"Shit!" Michael mumbled. "We're in trouble."

"No kidding," Justin said.

Two of them grabbed Michael and pulled him away from the bed. When Justin sat up to help him one of the guys punched him so hard that he fell back against the metal bed frame.

"Let's see. I bet the blond's ass is as good as a cunt," the bearded man said pulling at Justin to sit up.

"No," Justin said.

Michael saw blood running down Justin's face. "Leave him alone,"  Michael said before he doubled over having been punched in the stomach. He had the wind knocked out of him and couldn't talk.

Many hands pulled at Justin as he squirmed to get away. His head was throbbing and he could feel a panic attack coming on.

"Leave them be," someone with a harsh voice said.

"Mind your own business. If you don't want a piece fine, but stay out of our way."

The prisoner who was trying to help went to the guards who had purposefully turned their backs to what was going on. "I'm a witness and I will testify if you don't help them."

"Like we are scared of a drunken fuck like you," one of them laughed.

"My father is one of the best lawyers in town. He'd love to get a cut form a multi-million dollar settlement from the city."

"If your father's such a big lawyer, what the hell are you doing here?"

"He's on vacation and is pretty pissed at how I've ruined my life, but I can assure you that money would definitely get his ass down here."

Justin continued trying to break free and Michael struggled as well.  A kick to Justin's ribs caused him to cry out.

"Make your decisions guys. Do you want to be sued or not?" The helpful prisoner asked.

"Why do you care so much?" The guard asked.

"It's not very often people are given the chance to make up for what they've done wrong. This is a way I can help someone that I've wronged very badly." With that he moved to the mob of people surrounding Justin and Michael and started to make his way to the center of the circle.

The guards watched and with a quick look to each other opened the cell door.

"Call for back up, we have to break this up."

"The chief isn't going to like that," the other one answered.

"I'm not getting my ass sued for a man that's not going to be police chief much longer. I'm always willing to teach some perverts a lesson but not at the expense of my job. I have kids to support." They sounded the alarm and several more officers joined them to break up the situation.

After a few minutes everything had settled down. "Take these five to the infirmary."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn broke and the gang was still at the diner. Brian's mood had gotten worse through the night. Everyone was pretty much just leaving him alone.

Carl's phone rang.

"Horvath."

"Okay…Yes…What happened?... Where are they now?... Are they okay?...They what?…That son of a bitch!… Have you documented all of this for the inquiry? We'll be right there." He turned to the group.

"What?" Deb asked.

"The charges have been dropped," Carl said seriously.

"That's great," sighed Jennifer. "Let's go get them."

Brian was watching Carl closely. "What haven't you told us?"

"There was an altercation in the cell. Three prisoners were taken to the hospital. Justin and Michael included."

"Oh No!" Jennifer gasped. "Is he okay? Are they okay?"

"I really don't know. Let's go and find out," he said, holding the door open for everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael stood in the hallway of the emergency department waiting to hear what was going on with Justin.

"Michael," Deb screeched. "Are you okay?" She said grabbing him into a hug.

"Yeah, only some bruises," Michael said. "Which hurt more when you're squeezing me like this."

"Oh, sorry."

"Where's Justin?" Jennifer asked.

"He hit his head on a bed frame so they took him down for a CAT scan."

"Was he unconscious?" Brian asked.

"No. He was having a migraine before any of this started so he's hurting quite bad. It might be just the migraine. At least, that's what I'm hoping."

"Does Justin have any other injuries?" Jennifer asked.

"He cut his head when he hit the frame so he might need some stitches. A black eye, fat lip, and maybe some hurt ribs. They wouldn't let me go in with him so I'm not sure what the doctors found. He's pretty freaked out, though."

"I'm so glad you're okay," Ben said giving his partner a gentle hug.

"What happened?" Carl asked.

"When they put us in the big cell they made sure the others knew we were gay and brought in on child porn charges," Michael began.

"Fuck!" Brian hissed.

"Yeah, so they started to move in taunting us. Justin's migraine had started. He wanted to go toward the back of the cell, but I wanted to stay closer to the guards. I naively thought it would be safer."

"Did they…? Carl asked, unable to finish the question, yet everyone knew what he was asking.

"They were trying to but nothing happened. It would have if one of the other prisoners hadn't helped us."

"That's good," sighed Brian.

A nurse went by and Jennifer stopped her. "Where is my son?"

"Who's your son?"

"Justin Taylor."

"They're bringing him up right now. I am about to get a room ready for him."

"Is he being admitted?" Brian wanted to know.

"Apparently. He should be up here in a minute. I just got off the phone with them."

"Thank you," Jennifer said. Her nerves were starting to ease. They spiked higher than ever before and she screamed, then grabbed the wall for support as her knees started to buckle. The color drained from her face as she stared down the hall.

Everyone turned to see what she was looking at. A gurney was being pushed down the hall with a sheet pulled up over the person's face.

"Nonononono," Brian yelled, running toward the gurney in an all too reminiscent manner. He pulled the sheet back and was relieved to hear Justin gasp.

"What the fuck? How could you scare us like that?" Brian glared at the porter.

"It's not his fault. I did it. My migraine is really bad and all the overhead lights were making me sick to my stomach."

"Okay, you're forgiven but only because I'm so relieved you're alive," Brian said. "You scared your mother half to death."

Justin looked over at his mother and seeing her pale painted expression he felt awful. "Sorry."

"It's okay honey. It's just like one of my worst nightmares. Are you okay?" She asked as she bent over to kiss him.

"Yeah. It's just the migraine. It started before the fight and it's just so much worse now."

She tried to smooth the hair down on his forehead, but he flinched.

"I need to get to a dark quiet place or I'm going to be sick."

"Where's his room?" Brian asked the porter.

"Right there on the left."

"Okay. Take him in," Brian said, standing at the door. He followed them in. He removed the flannel blanket from on top of Justin and rearranged the sheet. He knew that being overheated made things worse. Then he tried to take the clock off the wall but it was screwed in place. He turned the lights off and whispered as quietly as possible.

"I'll be right back with a cold cloth."

Leaving the room and entering the hall. He almost ran into a nurse. He saw the group waiting around for more information on how Justin was doing.

"I thought Mr. Taylor had been brought back up," the nurse asked, confused.

"He's in there. I need to know where to find…."

"I'm sorry but the lights have to remain on in the trauma rooms."

"He has a migraine, so that's not possible. I need cold facecloths, a screwdriver, and a flashlight."

"The light MUST remain on. I can get you the facecloths but not the other items."

"I need to speak with a doctor immediately," Brian said blocking her way into the room."

"I will let him know you want to speak with him when he has a chance. I will also have to ask you to move or I'll call security to remove you."

"I'd like to see them try. This hospital is owned by the city right?"

"Well, yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Justin's injuries are the result of the city not having control of one of their institutions. I have no doubt a lawsuit will be filed. We could add this hospital to the list for inadequate care."

"Listen, you're talking to the wrong nurse if you think threats will work here. I've been here too many years and have come across a lot more intimidating people than you, so you can save your breath, honey."

Brian sensed that he wasn't going to get anywhere with her and decided to change tactics. "I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm just so concerned about Justin. His migraines get quite bad. He really needs the lights off."

"I can understand that, but there are fundamental safety issues. I'll see if I can get a dim lamp or something. Why do you need a screwdriver and a flashlight?"

"To take the clock out. The ticking is going to be painful."

"I don't know what I can do about that but maybe maintenance can help."

"Thank you."

Mel shook her head at how Brian's charm tends to get him whatever he wants.

"They're keeping him down here in trauma and not a room upstairs so this is probably just for the tonight. Don't worry too much."

"Okay thanks."

"I'm looking for Justin Taylor's family," said a middle aged man in a white coat.

"You found us," Jennifer said. "I'm his mother."

"Good, may I speak with you privately?"

"No, these people are all like family to my son and this is his…" Jennifer stopped unsure of what to call Brian.

"Partner," Brian finished for her.

"Alright. Justin has received two more substantial blows to the head. Nothing like last time but he does have a concussion. We will monitor him closely because of his history. He requires some stitches on his forehead but considering how uncomfortable he is due to the migraine I am inclined to use the skin glue. He sprained his ankle and wrist on the right side. These will be wrapped. He also has some cracked and bruised ribs. There is nothing we can do for those."

"Thank you, doctor." Jennifer said. "How long will he have to stay here?"

"We'll see how the head injury is in the morning. If there's no change, I will release him then."

"Can you help me convince the nurse to do what needs to be done to make him as comfortable as possible?" Brian asked bluntly.

"What do you mean? Justin has refused pain medication."

"The room has to be dark, quiet, and cool."

"Quiet can be accomplished by closing the door…"

"The clock has to come out," Brian interrupted.

"Okay. I'll call maintenance. As far as darkness, it isn't completely possible here. For his safety and staff's safety some lighting must be on but I'll have a nurse bring a dim lamp."

After about fifteen minutes, the nurse and the maintenance person left Justin's room. Five minutes after that Brian joined the others.

"He's asleep. He probably won't wake up for six to ten hours."

"Good, he needs his rest," Jennifer said.

"Brian, there's something else I haven't had the chance to tell you," Michael said.

"Are you okay Mikey? I just assumed because of what you said to Deb earlier?"

"I'm fine. It's not about me. It's about the prisoner that helped us."

"Was he the other one brought over here? Because I would like to thank him."

"I'm not sure you'll want to do that. He is here…"

"I thought you said that he helped you guys."

"He did."

"Then I want to thank him."

"We know him."

"Oh, who is it?"

"Well, we don't know him that much but Justin does."

"Was it Ethan? Did he get picked up for panhandling or something?"

"No. It wasn't Ethan. I don't think Justin would be this freaked out if it was."

"He doesn't seem that freaked to me. Who was it?"

"He was earlier. It was Chris Hobbs that helped us."

"What?" Jennifer gasped.

"Are you sure he was helping? I would have thought that he would have started the fight."

"I'm sure. He not only helped but he got the guards to break it up."

"That's so weird," Emmett said deep in thought.

Everyone was silent as they thought about the turn of events.

"Where is he?" Brian asked.

"I'm not sure. They brought him in a different ambulance."

"Okay. I'm going to go see if I can find him. Would someone sit with Justin in case he wakes up?" Brian stated more then asked before walking down the hall.

"Shit! He's going to get arrested tonight after all," sighed Deb.

"We'll follow him and make sure he doesn't cross the line," Ben offered.

"Good idea," Ted agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hobbs."

Chris turned his head toward the opening of the cubicle. "What are you doing here?"

"I understand you had another encounter with Justin."

"I don't know what he told you but I was trying to help."

"He didn't tell me anything. He's too busy dealing with a major migraine. That's one of the after effects that he suffers from since you bashed him in the head with a fucking baseball bat."

Chris nodded. "I don't know what you want from me?"

"An explanation," Brian snapped.

"I can't explain what happened at the prom. You guys danced and everyone was teasing me about Justin and my girlfriend was upset by it. I'd been drinking. I just don't know…."

"I meant an explanation about tonight."

"It's not very often that a person is given a chance to try and make up for what they've done wrong. I know I can never do that but it's the one thing I wish more than anything that I could take back."

"Do you really expect me to believe that you have guilt about what you did?"

"I don't care what you believe."

"So you thought helping him tonight would mean you're forgiven for trying to kill him?'

"No, but I couldn't sit there and watch him be gang raped either. I AM sorry for what I did years ago and wish him no harm."

Brian eyed him wearily.

"What do you care? Wasn't that his new boyfriend in there with him?"

Brian laughed. "No, but they'll find it funny you thought so. What were you doing there anyway? How do I know this wasn't a set up?"

"You're paranoid. I was there because I got arrested for drunk driving." Chris said rattling the cuffs that secured him to the bedrail. "My life hasn't been perfect since the prom either. I can't play so I couldn't get into college."

Brian smiled.

"My Dad was pissed that I dragged his name through the press in such a politically incorrect way. Life isn't easy for me."

"Good! I want to make something clear. I don't want you to go near Justin. If he wants to thank you for helping him tonight he will find you. I wouldn't hold my breath, though."

"I won't and he doesn't owe me any thanks."

"Agreed. I guess we both got rid a regret tonight," Brian stated.

"What was yours?'

"Since you were a help to him tonight I can stop regretting that I didn't kill your sorry ass when I had the chance." Brian said and then turned and left the room.

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