I Will Remember You

Chapter 22

~ Runaway ~

Saturday Dec. 7

Brian returned home late Saturday morning, tired from the long flight and an all night layover. The flight had attempted to leave several times, only to sit on the runway forever and then be called back due to bad weather at their destination. It wouldn't have been so bad if they had just let them sleep on the plane, but apparently that was against some company rule. Don't let the passengers sleep in the almost bearable seats on the plane. No, make them sleep on the impossibly uncomfortable seats in the terminal.

Brian had spent the disagreeable night thinking about Justin and what he was going to do when he returned home to make amends for his behavior earlier in the week. Seemed like he was doing that a lot with Justin. Maybe that was the nature of relationships (there was that word again). Fuck up then try to straighten it out. Brian wondered how many chances he was going to get before Justin gave up on him, if he hadn't already.

Entering the condo and tossing his bags aside, Brian started stripping his clothes off, heading for a desperately needed shower. Seeing the red light flashing on the answering machine, Brian played back three days worth of messages. There wasn't much of interest until he heard Justin's voice. The young man sounded as if he was upset. He didn't say much; just that he needed someone to talk to and had hoped Brian would be home. Brian swore he heard the blonde's voice catch, as if he were trying hard not to break down on the phone.

Dressing quickly, Brian grabbed his keys and headed out. Sleep and shower could wait. His boy needed him.

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

Foggy from lack of sleep, Justin answered the door, barely registering who was there at first. Brian took one look at the exhausted young man and pulled him into his arms. Justin went willingly, needing the comfort that only Brian could give him.

It took a while to finally get the story out of Justin. He had to stop several times to get himself under control before he could continue. Justin felt like it was his fault that Molly had to stay with her father now. He showed Brian the paperwork that his father had left behind, spelling out all the reasons that Craig had felt it unsafe to leave his sixteen year old daughter in the care of his irresponsible, nineteen year old gay son.

Reading it over, Brian felt a chill. Craig had obviously hired someone to keep tabs on Justin and Molly, recording every detail of what he believed to be Justin's degenerate lifestyle. Not that there was much reality to it, but Craig managed to twist everything so that it seemed much worse than it really was. All it would take was one homophobic judge and Molly's father could have permanent custody.

Learning that Jennifer wouldn't be flying in until the morning, Brian managed to convince Justin to attempt to get some rest. They'd curled up together on Justin's bed, still dressed, and had both fallen asleep almost instantly. It was dark when Brian woke up, feeling a few hunger pangs. Knowing that if he was feeling hungry, Justin would wake up starving, Brian went downstairs and ordered some food to be delivered.

Justin woke in the dark, realizing that he was alone. He had a vague memory of Brian being there earlier and wondered if the man had left. Pulling himself together, he padded downstairs, thinking he might find something to eat. Seeing Brian talking on the phone, Justin pulled up short, surprised.

Brian heard a soft sound behind him and turned to see Justin standing at the bottom of the stairs watching him. Smiling gently, Brian finished the call, walked over to his boy and wrapped him in his arms again. "I ordered some food. It should be here soon." He murmured into the boy's hair.

Justin sighed and pulled the brunette closer, resting his head on Brian's chest. "Thank you. You take such good care of me." He whispered.

Stroking the blonde's hair, Brian kissed Justin softly. He wasn't going to let his boy down again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sunday, Dec. 8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jennifer had been stunned when Justin had called to tell her what her ex-husband had done. While Justin hadn't told her everything the complaint against them said, she had no doubt that Craig would have taken everything and twisted it into the worst possible viewpoint.

Her new husband, Conley McKensey, had insisted that he accompany her back to Pittsburgh, knowing that she would need some moral support in the days coming. While Conley had no children of his own, he knew how much Jennifer's meant to her and intended to be whatever help he could to his wife.

The couple arrived at Jennifer's condo in Pittsburgh, Sunday around noon. Brian had asked Mel to come over and read through the papers Craig had left, guessing that Jennifer would want to know her legal options as soon as possible.

Justin was rather nervous as he greeted his mother, afraid that she would believe the lies and half-truths that his father had spelled out in the complaint. He introduced everyone, then looked at the floor as he said to his mom, "The things dad says in the summons sound pretty damning, Mom." He was about to explain further, when his mother interrupted.

"Justin, look at me." Jennifer gently touched her son's chin, forcing his eyes up to meet hers. "No one here believes that you would ever do anything to hurt Molly. It's not your fault that your father is a narrow-minded bigot. I want you to be proud of who and what you are. I know that I am."

Seeing that Justin was about to lose his composure, Brian suggested that they all sit down and hear what Mel had to say. Justin had cast a grateful glance in Brian's direction and went to the kitchen to get everyone something to drink. Justin was leaning against the counter, taking some deep breaths before returning to the living room when he felt two arms encircle him from behind. With a sigh, he leaned back into his lover's embrace.

"I wasn't expecting her to be so understanding." Justin said softly.

Brian rubbed his cheek against the blonde's hair. "She's trying." Brian didn't agree with the way Jennifer had handled things in the past, including her telling him to leave Justin alone. But he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Mel was updating Jennifer and her husband on the details of the complaint when Justin and Brian returned to the living room with the drinks. "Craig brings up several issues which we'll have to defend. The first is that Jennifer was negligent in leaving her sixteen-year-old daughter with a nineteen-year-old gay man without even consulting him about the issue. He mentions a pornographic gay publication, which Justin is illustrating and distributing. He lists numerous times that Justin has taken Molly to known gay establishments. There's also the fact that Justin disappeared for several days at Thanksgiving, leaving Molly with two gay men, one of which is HIV positive. He also suggested that Justin is known to frequent gay bars and pick up men for one night stands and that Justin has had gay men in the house when Molly was present."

Brian slipped an arm around Justin as the younger man leaned into him. Despite his mother's earlier assurances, Justin still worried that she would believe at least some of what was said.

It was Conley that spoke up. "We'll need to set the record straight on the accusations, which I'm sure Justin can do. I also understand that there are some allegations of our own that we can counter with."

Justin looked up, startled. He barely knew his mother's new husband and was surprised at his acceptance. His mother was smiling at her husband, knowing he would stand behind her and her children.

Mel nodded at Conley's assessment. "There's also the fact that Molly is sixteen. Her opinion on who she wants to live with will weigh heavily in the judge's decision as long as there's no evidence that the choice she makes is dangerous for her." Mel didn't want them to think that it was going to be a piece of cake however. "The biggest problem is that the courts don't move quickly on these things. The court date isn't until January and there isn't much hope of getting it moved up without showing that Molly is in danger."

Despite what had happened just before the wedding, Jennifer didn't believe that Craig would harm his own daughter. However, Craig wasn't allowing them any access to the teen which was disturbing Jennifer greatly. "Isn't there some way we can force him to let us at least see her? I just want her to know that we're working on getting her home."

Shaking her head, Mel responded. "That's probably the last thing he wants right now. However, I can start working through Social Services for visitation, although I don't promise anything. The case worker assigned to this is a homophobic bitch."

Justin spoke up. "I don't have to be around when Molly is, if that would help. I could even move out if that would make things easier." As much as that pained him, Justin just wanted to know his sister was all right.

Jennifer started to say that wouldn't be necessary, but Mel interrupted and stated that it might make things easier if Justin at least promised to be absent anytime Molly was in the house. At least until after the permanent hearing. Justin felt Brian's arm tighten around him and took comfort from the man's closeness.

Mel, Jennifer and Conley discussed how they would proceed from here, then Mel left with a promise to contact them tomorrow after she was able to put things in motion. Conley walked Mel out and Justin collected the glasses to take to the kitchen, leaving Jennifer and Brain alone in the living room.

"Brian." Jennifer began, feeling she needed to set things straight with the man. "Molly told me that you and Justin had started seeing each other again."

Cautiously, Brian nodded. "I care about them both."

Jennifer took a deep breath. "I'm glad he has someone who does." She faced Brian squarely. "A mother does what she has to, to protect her children. That doesn't mean she's always right though." With that said, she rose to finish clearing the dishes from the room.

Brian smiled slightly to himself as Jennifer left the room. He had the feeling he had just received an apology.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Monday, Dec 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing Brian noticed upon walking into his office at Kinnetic Monday morning was the boards set up for his upcoming meetings. Setting his briefcase and latte on the desk, he looked the boards over, puzzled.

"Cynthia!" He yelled through the open office door.

With a smile, knowing what had captured her boss's attention, Cynthia sauntered into Brian's office. "Yes, boss?" She asked innocently

"What the fuck is this?" Brian asked. "Don't tell me that incompetent Mixon did these."

Cynthia pretended to look over the boards, as if never having seen them before. "Hmmm, these aren't the boards Mixon brought up…. Shoemaker elves, perhaps?"

Brian shot his assistant a dirty look. Nothing went on in this office without Cynthia's knowledge. "Perhaps you would care to describe the elf that did these?" He asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, if I remember correctly, he was about a head shorter than you, which is actually tall for an elf. Blond hair, blue eyes, quite polite about using the computer." Cynthia loved knowing something that Brian didn't.

Brian looked over the boards again. The kid never ceased to amaze him. "Why don't you give our little elf a call and tell him to get his ass over here?" Brian said, then turned to take his seat behind his desk.

With a smug smile, Cynthia left the office to call Justin and see if he could drop by.

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

Justin found himself curious as to why Cynthia had called him. Having had to work this morning, it was close to six before he made it by Kinnetic. Brian was working in his office when Justin walked in.

"Hey." Justin greeted. "Cynthia said you wanted to see me?"

Brian looked up from the papers he'd been reviewing. Walking around the desk, he motioned toward the boards that were still set up along the wall. "Recognize these?" He asked, nonchalantly.

Stunned, Justin looked over the boards that he had changed. How had this happened? He hadn't printed any of these out. "Brian… I didn't do this… I mean, I did do this, but I didn't change the boards… I mean, I didn't print them out. I don't know who did these."

Brian was having a hard time following what Justin was saying. Taking the young man by the shoulders, he turned Justin until they were face to face. "Justin, did you do these layouts?"

Thinking he was in trouble for messing up someone else's work, Justin could only nod.

Realizing what Justin was thinking by the look in his eyes, Brian tried to reassure him. "Justin, these are excellent. You've put that incompetent Mixon to shame, and he's supposed to be one of the best."

Realizing that, not only was he not in trouble, but that Brian actually liked what he'd done, Justin beamed. "I was just playing around."

Brian smiled slightly, "If that's playing around, I'd like to see what you can do when you're serious." Justin flushed at the praise. "How would you like to come to work here?"

Justin looked up, stunned. "Work here? With you?"

Brian smiled, "If you think I'd be too hard a task master, I'll understand."

"Oh, no… it's not that." Justin hastened to explain. "What about school? I don't have a degree and I was supposed to start back next fall."

Brian snorted. "That fool Mixon has a degree and look what good it does him." Stepping back, Brian became serious. "We can work something out so you can go to school as planned. Your education is too important to miss out on." Reaching out, Brian ran one finger down the side of Justin's face softly, not even realizing he was doing it. Speaking gently, almost afraid of the answer, he asked, "What do you think? Art director of a small, up and coming ad agency sound appealing?"

Justin looked puzzled. "Art director? What about Mixon?" He had thought at the most, he'd be working under the man.

"I'll give him a good reference. He should be able to find another job without too much trouble. That should insure one of my competitors will be less competitive." Brian smirked.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Justin suddenly had a sly thought. "Does the Art Director get to kiss the Senior Partner?"

Brian tried to keep a straight face as he felt his cock react to those words. Grabbing the front of the blonde's shirt, he pulled him closer. "I'll have that put in your contract." He said huskily just before his lips found their mark.

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

Molly had spent her first weekend at her father's shut up in her room, coming out only for meals. He'd made it clear that she was not to leave the house and the only phone she was allowed to use was the one in his office with him standing nearby. She'd had no intention of spending any more time with the man than she absolutely had too, so chose exile instead.

After picking Molly up from school on Monday, Craig took her to see a family counselor. At first, Molly had merely been irritated by the idea that she was being forced to see a shrink. She quickly became infuriated at the questions being asked and refused to even speak for the entire hour that she was forced to endure.

The so-called counselor was less interested in helping Molly than in convincing her that her brother's gay lifestyle was abhorrent and then trying to get Molly to confess to any 'questionable' activities that may have gone on in her presence.

No fool, Molly realized what was going on and said nothing. Returning 'home', she went immediately upstairs and started her homework, refusing to come down even for dinner. Molly decided it was up to her to extradite herself from this prison, before that counselor made her so angry that she said something they could twist to use against her brother.

Her next appointment was on Wednesday after school. She had until then to make her plans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tuesday, Dec 10~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although Justin wasn't officially starting work until Monday, he stopped by after work at the museum on Tuesday to help with some layouts that Brian needed for a meeting the next day.

Since Brian was going to be out most of the afternoon, Justin worked in his office. He was just about to start on the last layout when an IM popped up on the screen.

"Hey, B. Busy?"

Wondering who would be talking to Brian at work in the middle of the day, Justin decided to answer. The username was Angel480, which meant nothing to him.

"Have a few… what's up?"

"Just eating lunch and thought I'd chat a minute. Haven't talked since you left Friday."

Justin's breath caught. Brian had been out of town on Friday. Who was this person and why had Brian gone to see them last week? It certainly didn't sound like business.

"Flight was delayed. Didn't get home until Saturday morning." Justin knew that much from talking to Brian. "How'd your weekend go? Miss me?" Justin threw the last bit in, fishing.

"LOL… of course, love, always. <serious> Did you tell J where you were last week?"

Justin's eyes widened. Was he the 'J' in question? "No… why should I?"

"<humph> He's already pissed at me as it is. Do we really have to make it worse?"

Justin began to get a sick feeling. Looking back at the username, he suddenly knew who he was talking to. "What he doesn't know can't hurt us… " But just to be sure. "Replaced that car yet?"

"Can't afford one :-( … I'll just have to settle for the bus…. Looks like lunch break is over, gotta run. See ya"

"Later," Justin signed off and deleted the IM. Glancing at the clock, he did some quick mental math. It'd be lunchtime in Arizona right now.

Staring at the layout in front of him, but not really seeing it, Justin's thoughts were in turmoil. Brian had been to see Tee last week. How long had he known where Tee was? Why hadn't he said anything about it? Other than the call Molly had gotten…

Justin's thoughts came to a dead stop. Molly had gotten a call last week from Tee. Brian would have been there. Had Brian prompted Tee to make that call? Molly had said that Tee didn't want to talk to him. Had that been because Brian was there?

Justin decided that he was tired of Brian's casual attitude concerning their relationship. He wanted some answers and Brian had better be prepared to give them. Forcing his thoughts back to the layout in front of him, Justin was determined to confront Brian as soon as possible.

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

Molly convinced her dad that she needed to use the computer to do some research for a project at school. After watching the girl work for a while and not seeing anything out of the ordinary, Craig left the office with a warning that Molly was not to use the computer to IM any of her friends. Her privileges would be returned to her once the counselor said she was ready for them, not before.

Acting the part of the obedient daughter, Molly waited until her father had left the room. Quickly, she pulled up an Internet listing of the bus lines in Pittsburgh. Picking the closest one, she checked out schedules. It would take two and a half days to get to where she wanted to go. With a sigh, she noted the time the bus would be leaving in the morning. If she left first thing, everyone would assume she was at school. She'd have a whole day's head start before anyone noticed that she was gone.

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

Walking into his office later that afternoon, Brian was immediately aware that something was wrong with Justin. The boy was sitting in one of the client chairs; arms crossed and scowl on his face. Proceeding with caution, Brian offered a greeting. "How'd the layouts go?" Maybe it was just a work problem.

Justin motioned to the desk where he'd left the layouts. Brian glanced at them and seeing they all looked fine, determined that something else was bothering the young man. "Are we going to play twenty questions, or are you just going to tell me what's bothering you?" Might as well get this over with.

"How long have you known where Tee was?" Justin asked, trying to keep his temper under control.

Brian paused, wondering what had happened in the few hours he'd been gone. "A little over a week." It'd be best to keep it short and sweet until he had a better idea of where he stood.

"Why didn't you tell me you'd gone to see him?" Justin swallowed, not sure he wanted to know. Wondering if Brian would tell him the truth.

Realizing that somehow Justin had found out about the trip, Brian silently cursed himself. Tee had been right. He should have told Justin the truth from the beginning.

Taking a deep breath, Brian walked over and sat in the chair next to the young blond. He told him about seeing the photo Tee had taken in the book from the backpack. He hadn't told Justin then because he didn't want to get the younger man's hopes up in case he was wrong. He explained how he'd found Tee and convinced him to call and let them know he was all right. He'd also tried to talk Tee into coming back to the Pitts, but he had declined.

Justin shook his head. "But why didn't you tell me when you got back? Why keep it a secret?"

Brian sighed heavily. "I'd accomplished the main objective. You knew Tee was safe. But when I got back, you were having to deal with this problem with your father. It just didn't seem to be important that I'd been out there."

Closing his eyes momentarily, Justin steeled himself for his next question. He leaned forward, his blue eyes catching and holding Brian's hazel ones. "Tell me what's going on between you and Tee. What is he to you?"

Brian realized Tee had been right about this as well. Justin was jealous. Leaning forward also, Brian caught Justin's hands in his, willing him to believe. "He's just a friend. That's all he's ever been."

Justin wanted to believe. He couldn't see any deceit in Brian's eyes. Letting Brian pull him forward into an embrace, Justin tried to squash the nagging doubts he felt. There was still one question left unasked. The one he was too afraid to ask even now. What was he, Justin, to Brian?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Wednesday, Dec. 11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Molly had slipped downstairs during the night and taken some money out of her father's desk drawer. Apparently, he'd forgotten that Molly knew where the keys were. The next morning, she walked up to the school as usual, then walked out the back door and headed towards the service station on the corner. Changing out of her school uniform, she put on a nice outfit and makeup designed to make her look a bit older.

Shouldering her backpack that held her clothes, no books, Molly headed toward the bus station. There she purchased a ticket to Columbus, Ohio. Once there, she would buy a ticket heading south, then she'd head west. She had decided that there would be less chance of anyone finding her if she didn't buy the final destination's ticket until later.

Climbing on the bus, Molly stuffed her bag under the seat. Pulling out a piece of paper, she looked down at the phone number she'd copied only a week ago. Putting it back in her pocket, she leaned back in her seat with a heavy sigh. She just hoped Tee wouldn't be too upset with her when she called and asked him to pick her up in Phoenix.

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