I Will Remember You

Chapter 21

~ Area Code 480 ~

Scottsdale, Arizona

Brian leaned back in his seat with a tired sigh as the flight to Phoenix trailed on. He'd been going rounds with himself since the incident with Justin the night before and was mentally worn out. Brian knew that what had happened had been mostly his fault. He had been caught by surprise and lost control. Not for long, but long enough to damage whatever fledgling relationship he and Justin had been working towards.

Fuck, he hated that word, 'relationship'. Just the thought of it set his teeth on edge. But what else could you call it when you felt this way about someone? When all you wanted to do was be with that person, see them smile and know you're the reason that smile was there?

And here he was, on his way to Phoenix, to find Justin's lost friend Tee. A part of him wondered if this was really such a good idea. He wasn't really sure what kind of relationship those two had, but he knew that they were close. What if, by encouraging Tee to renew his friendship with Justin, Brian lost the blond to him? He had to accept that was a risk he was willing to take. Justin's happiness had to come first.

It was early afternoon when the plane touched down. Brian obtained his rental car and headed toward Scottsdale. Along the way, he called the Architectural School where he suspected Tee was working and found out when the young man would be getting off. His plan was to be there waiting at that time, since he didn't know where Tee lived.

Arriving about fifteen minutes early, Brian walked around the campus for a few minutes. It was a beautiful place, built by the legendary architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Noticing a few workers beginning to head towards the parking area, Brian drifted back in that direction. He saw Tee a few minutes later, walking out with a couple of other guys, talking animatedly. Brian was almost beginning to think the younger man would fail to see him, when Tee suddenly came to a dead stop, his mouth dropping open in surprise as he finally noticed his unexpected visitor.

"Brian!" Tee was delighted with the surprise and strode over the catch the older man in a chaste hug and kiss. "And what brings you to sunny Arizona? Get lost?"

Brian couldn't help but smile. Whatever had made him think there was anything underhanded about this boy? "I knew I should have taken that right at Albuquerque." Brian quipped, earning a laugh from Tee.

"I thought you might need a lift home. I heard that piece of junk you called a car was stolen." Brian smiled slightly.

Tee laughed again, "No accounting for people's taste, is there?" He looked over at the rental Brian was leaning against. "Not a jeep, but not bad." He said, climbing in the passenger side of the Jag.

Sliding into the driver's seat, Brian said. "Your town. You navigate, I'll drive."

They ended up going to Tee's apartment so he could shower and change out of his work clothes. Seeing that Brian looked rather tired, Tee suggested that they order in and just hang out.

"So, how'd you hear about the car being stolen? I can't imagine that would make the news all the way back in NY." Tee asked, walking over to the bed and flopping down on it. There wasn't much else in the apartment to recline on. Tee had been taking the 'minimalist' approach to decorating.

Pulling off his shoes, Brian stretched out on the bed, using Tee's lap as a pillow. He quickly filled Tee in on his move to the Pitts, his new business and Justin receiving the call about the car.

While Brian talked, Tee reached over to the nightstand and pulled out a bag of weed. Rolling a joint, he lit it, inhaled and passed it to Brian. "I didn't know they'd called Justin. You were with him? What did they tell him?"

Brian took a drag and passed the joint back. "We were having dinner with Mikey and his new boyfriend. He got a call on his cell that the car had been totaled. They hadn't been able to get in touch with you and wanted someone to identify the body of the driver. I drove him to Speedway, since he didn't want to wait for a flight out."

Tee looked confused. He hadn't known any of this. When he had reported it stolen and learned that it had been found totaled in Speedway, he had just dropped the matter. "Why would they ask Justin to identify the driver's body? How would he have known who stole it?"

Brian looked up at his friend as he took another drag. "We didn't know that the car had been stolen at the time. For all we knew, you were the driver."

Looking horrified at the thought, Tee exclaimed. "You thought I was dead? Brian, that's terrible! I had no idea that's what happened." Tee took another long drag, trying to regain his composure. He couldn't even imagine what that must have been like for his brother, no matter if they were in the midst of a disagreement or not. "How is Justin now?"

Brian sighed. "He misses you. Whatever problems you're having with him, I don't think they really matter anymore."

They were both silent for a long time after that as they passed another joint back and forth. Tee wasn't sure what to make of Brian's last statement. Finally, he asked. "Brian, is that why you came here? To tell me that Justin misses me?"

Pushing himself up and moving so that they were reclining side by side, Brian responded. "Mostly, yes. I think it would reassure him if he just knew that you were ok. A phone call would mean a lot to him." Brian looked straight ahead as he said this, knowing he was opening a can of worms by making the suggestion.

Tee just grunted in response. He wasn't sure if that was a good idea or not. "So what's going on with you and Justin? Are you back together? Does he know you're here?"

Brian took a deep breath, not sure how to answer. He didn't really want to go into the details of what had been happening this past week. "We're talking. There was no reason to tell him where I was going." Brian glanced over at his young friend. "I really wasn't sure what sort of reception I would get, considering how we parted ways."

Tee realized that was probably as close to an apology as he was going to get. Not that it really mattered. Their friendship had come to mean a lot to him. He wasn't too worried about the particulars as long as they were back on track.

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Emmett was worried about the way Justin had just disappeared the night before. He had a feeling that something was going on between Brian and the blond that neither was admitting to. He decided that the only thing to do was go by and see how the boy was doing.

Justin answered the door expecting to see one of Molly's friends. He was taken by surprise to find Emmett there instead. "Hey, Em. What brings you out this way?"

Em thought that Justin looked and sounded tired, like he hadn't slept well last night. "Well, when you disappeared into the backroom last night and never returned, I got a little worried. Especially after the fireworks display between you and Brian on the dance floor." Em walked in and hugged his friend, hearing Justin sigh at his comments.

"Hey, Jus," called a voice from upstairs. "Who was at the door?" Molly had been in her room doing homework.

"It's Emmett, Mol." Justin called back. His social butterfly sister was probably expecting one of her suitors.

Molly walked down the stairs far enough to see the two men who were still standing near the front door. "Hey, Emmett. Haven't seen you around much lately."

The two exchange pleasantries then Molly headed back up to her room. Justin motioned Em into the breakfast nook and offered him a drink.

Sitting by the picture window, Em picked up where he had left off. "So, Justin, dish. What's going on with you and Brian?"

Justin took a deep breath and let it out again. What was going on? "I don't know Em. We've done some stuff together but I don't know what that means to Brian."

"Some stuff, as in…?" Em asked, wanting elaboration.

"We went to dinner with Michael and Ben, lunch with Molly. He drove me to Speedway when Tee's car was wrecked." Justin explained.

Emmett, who hadn't heard about the car wreck, had to get clarification on that. He was shocked to hear about the dead driver, but relieved that it hadn't been Tee. The young man hadn't been around for very long, but Em had liked him.

"So, did you two….?" Em tried to be delicate.

Justin sighed again; knowing Em wouldn't let up until he knew everything. Besides, it would be good to talk to someone who knew Brian better than he did. Maybe Em would have some insight that Justin lacked. "Yeah, several times."

Em's eyes lit up. "So…how was it?"

Justin had to laugh at Em's expression. "It was fantastic. And then he goes and acts like a complete asshole last night."

Em nodded, he'd guessed the last part, even though he hadn't heard the details. "And what did his big badness have to say last night?"

Justin grimaced. "He asked…no, demanded to know what the fuck I was doing dancing with those two guys. Made some rude comment about the way I was dressed. Then accused me of shirking my responsibility to Molly by even being there!" Justin started getting angry again just thinking about it. "And all the time, he's in the backroom getting his dick sucked or fucking some trick."

Em looked surprised. "Honey, I've known Brian a long time and that doesn't sound anything like the Brian Kinney I know. Well, besides the backroom part." He amended. Looking thoughtful, he added. "That sounds like someone who was overcome with jealousy on seeing his lover being manhandled by a couple of good looking men, neither of which was him."

Justin looked at Em as if he'd lost his mind. "I may not remember everything, Em, but I do know that Brian doesn't do jealousy. It's against his religion or something."

Em smiled slightly. "Honey, everyone does jealousy. Some just won't admit it, even to themselves."

Taking that comment in, Justin looked thoughtfully out the window. "You think Brian was jealous? Of me? But what about him being in the backroom? How could he be jealous of me after what he'd been doing?"

Em had to laugh at that. "Baby, I never said it had to make sense. Brian doing tricks is as natural for him as eating is for anyone else. He doesn't even think about it anymore, he just does it." Something else occurred to Em. "He knew he didn't have a leg to stand on though when you announced that you were taking someone to the backroom. You should have seen his face. He tried to hide it, but it was killing him to watch you walk back there with that hottie."

Justin looked up, surprised. "You really think so?" Maybe there was some hope for them after all. Then, looking somewhat embarrassed, he added. "You know, I didn't really do anything with that guy. I slipped out the back door as soon as you all were out of sight."

Emmett really laughed at that. "Oh, that's just wonderful. Serves Brian right for thinking he could have his cake and eat it too."

Justin smiled, feeling a little better. "Do you think that maybe there's some hope for me and Brian?"

Em smiled encouragingly. "Baby, I think the big bad has already lost the war, he just needs to signal the surrender."

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

The phone rang in the Taylor household and Molly, sitting with an extension right next to her on the bed, picked it up first. "Hello?"

There was silence for a moment, then a soft voice finally responded. "Hey, Mol. How's it going?"

Molly was stunned. It couldn't be. "Tee? Is that you? Where the hell are you? Why haven't you called? We've been worried sick about you. Well, are you going to say anything?"

Tee started laughing on the other end of the phone. "Maybe I'll answer when you stop to take a breath and I can get a word in edgewise." Molly hmped at that. "Let's see… yes, it's me… someplace safe… sorry, I should have. Any more questions?"

Molly smiled slightly, too glad to be finally hearing from her lost brother to stay angry with him. "Yes, just one. When are you coming back?"

Tee sighed. He didn't know how to answer that question. "I don't know, love. I don't think this is a good time." Deciding a change of subject would be a good idea, Tee continued. "Hey, why don't you tell me what you've been up to? Any new boyfriends in the picture?"

Knowing the subject was closed for the moment, Molly caught Tee up on her life for the past few months. Tee mentioned his job, his apartment and lack of furnishing and his friends without ever saying where he was or why he'd left. Declining to talk to Justin, Tee talked for a while longer then hung up with a promise that he wouldn't wait so long to call again.

After hanging up, a thought occurred to Molly. Picking up the phone, she began scrolling back the numbers of who called. The last one was an area code that she was unfamiliar with. Going over to the computer, she looked it up. It was for the area around Phoenix, Arizona. She copied the number down with a smile, just in case.

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Brian was getting used to Tee's tiny apartment, although he was glad he was past the days of living in such cramped conditions. At least it was clean, if sparsely furnished. Tee seemed to have a revolving door when it came to people coming and going at all hours of the night and day. It was like the backroom of Babylon 24/7 here.

There was a time when Brian would have gotten off on the party-like atmosphere. Now all he could think about was a certain blond back home that may or may not be speaking to him any longer.

His suggestion that Tee return to the Pitts with him seemed to fall on deaf ears. The boy didn't seem inclined to discuss the subject, so Brian let it drop and just enjoyed the time they spent together.

A part of Brian wished he could discuss Justin with Tee. He missed the talks that they'd had on the cruise and on the phone after they had returned home. He felt that he could confide in the younger man, something he didn't even feel comfortable doing with Mikey any more. But not being sure of Tee's relationship with the blond, Brian was reluctant to say something that might hurt the younger man.

For his part, Tee sensed that there was something that Brian wasn't saying about his relationship with Justin, but knew better than to press. Brian would talk when he was ready. He knew that if Brian and Justin were to have any chance of working things out between them, it would be best if he wasn't in the picture. Justin had not believed that he and Brian were only friends and Tee wasn't going to be the cause of any ill will between the two men.

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It had been a couple of days since Justin had seen Brian and he was beginning to think the brunette was avoiding him. He decided to stop by Kinnetic on the pretense of making some changes to the Rage layouts just to see what was going on.

Cynthia greeting the young blond cheerfully, letting him know that he was more than welcome to use the computer in Brian's office all day if he wanted. Upon inquiring if Brian would be in later, Cynthia informed him that Brian had taken a flight out Wednesday morning and wouldn't be returning until Saturday.

Well, at least that explained why Justin hadn't heard from the man. He was going to fake a few changes to Rage when he saw some new boards set out along the wall, waiting for Brian's approval when he returned. Justin nearly gagged at the art director's use of color and imagery. He could see why Brian was so frustrated with the man.

Deciding to see what kind of improvements he could make to the boards instead, he found the files, made copies and went to work.

Later that day, Cynthia went in to check what the blond had done and smiled when she saw the new layouts he'd worked on. Thinking of the shoemaker's elves, she laughed to herself and printed out the much-improved layouts. She and Brian were going to have to have a talk when he returned. This boy was too good to let slip through their fingers.

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It was Friday afternoon and Justin was returning home from work at the museum. He didn't give much thought to the two strange vehicles parked on the street as he pulled up, assuming they were some of Molly's friends.

As he walked in the front door, he was immediately assaulted by a distraught Molly, demanding that he *do* something. Looking around in confusion, he saw his father and a woman he didn't know standing in the living room.

The woman walked over and introduced herself as Teresa Upton with Social Services. She handed Justin a legal looking piece of paper and explained that the courts had awarded custody of Molly to her father on the grounds that she had been abandoned by her custodial parent for the past three months. When Justin tried to protest, Craig interrupted and said no daughter of his was going to be corrupted by living with some deviant fag.

Justin looked over the papers, then looked up at Molly's tearful face. She could see by his distressed expression that there was nothing he could do.

Triumphantly, Craig turned to Molly. "Go pack your things, girl. You're coming home with me."

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