In Season

The guys settled themselves onto the floor facing the flickering flames of their fake fireplace. Neither of them was looking forward to it on this particular evening though. Both of them had things to say and they weren't sure they knew exactly how to say them.

Brian started in. "Baby," He told the kid, "I know you're disappointed that I'm going to be tied up all day this Saturday. And I know we had some special things planned but this Becker Associates thing just came up out of the blue and that's the only time we can meet with them. You know what? I'd cancel the meeting if I thought that's what you wanted but I know it isn't. You'd be angry if I did that so there's not much I can do about it except to say I'm sorry."

"No. I don't want you to cancel and I don't want you to be sorry. That's just the way life is. I'm not even all that disappointed either, Bri," Justin responded to an unconvinced Brian. "I know you'll make it all up to me. We'll do all the stuff we planned for Saturday sometime soon. I'm not a spoiled brat - or maybe I'm not just a spoiled brat - and I know you love me and that's what really counts."

"Well I told you to make plans to do something with Malcolm or Ethan or even that crazy Hix," Brian interrupted Justin's soliloquy. "I want you to have something to do besides mope around here."

"Gee whiz, Brian," Justin protested. "I'm an adult. I won't be moping around. I could find something to do. But thanks for calling Malcolm and asking him to take care of me - even though I'm sure you know I don't need taking care of - and if I did need taking care of, you would be the only one who could do it."

"You weren't supposed to know that I talked to Malcolm and I'm not going to ask you how you found out either," Brian smiled at him. "I should know by now you find everything out somehow or other. I just didn't want you to feel neglected."

"Cut it out, Kinney," Justin insisted. "I am not feeling sorry for myself. I'm glad you got an opportunity for a big new account. I'm not crazy and I'm capable of taking care of myself for a day without you - not that I wouldn't rather spend it with you."

"Sunshine," Brian told him. "There is something bothering you. I know when something is bothering you. And I have to figure it's Saturday that's bothering you. If it isn't Saturday, tell me what it is and I guarantee to fix it for you."

"Well there is something bothering me, Bri," Justin admitted, "And it has a little bit to do with Saturday but it's not that you have that big meeting. It's something else that I guess I have to tell you and I don't want to."

"Like you can't tell me anything that's bothering you, Baby?" Brian offered reassurance. "And I'm feeling just a little bit guilty too so you can probably get away with more than you usually do."

"No, not this time. You're going to give me a hard time, Mr. Kinney," Justin told him. "I know it. I know you and I know you're going to give me a hard time."

"Listen, Taylor," Brian persisted. "I promise not to give you a hard time. I promise. Unless you're going to do something dangerous and then I'm not only going to give you a hard time. I'm gonna pull rank on you too."

"Well it's not dangerous at all but you are going to give me a hard time anyhow," Justin stood his ground. "I know you and I know you're going to give me a hard time."

"Brian Kinney hereby promises not to give you a hard time - on his word of honor," Brian vowed, with an indulgent smile, "Unless you're doing something dangerous. So how about just coming out with it?"

"Well," Justin decided he had to tell, "Malcolm already had some plans for Saturday. Him and Hunter and Hix were going up to Somerset County for the day. So I guess I'm going with them."

"Sounds good to me," Brian said, "Even if that weird Hix is going to be there. Spring is nice up in the mountains. You can do a little sight-seeing and be back by the time my meeting is over. Why would I be giving you a hard time about that?"

"We're not going sight-seeing, Brian," Justin gulped. "It's fishing season. We're going fishing."

"Fishing," Brian laughed. "My little Justin Sunshine is going fishing - and I have to miss it. Damn!!!"

"I knew you'd give me a hard time too, Kinney," Justin grumbled. "You promised you wouldn't but there you are, laughing like I'm some kind of a nut or something. Lots of people go fishing - that's why there is a fishing season at all - so it's not that funny. And you promised. So just quit laughing."

"I'm trying," Brian continued laughing. "I really am trying. I just can't. I'm picturing you standing next to some stream trying to convince some poor fish to bite on your little worm."

"See what I mean, Brian," Justin complained without rancor - maybe even flashing a smile himself. "I know you better than you know yourself. You just can't control yourself when you get a chance to make fun of me. It's just your nature. I guess you can't help yourself."

"There's a lot I can't control myself about when I'm with you," Brian admitted, pulling the kid closer and planting a kiss on his forehead.

Silence fell on the loft for a while at this point. Saturday with all of its complications lost some of its importance for the guys.

"Have you ever gone fishing before?" Brian eventually asked Justin, resuming the conversation.

"Of course I have," Justin responded. "My dad wasn't much of a fisherman but he took me a couple of times. I don't think I liked it all that much. Did you ever go fishing, Bri?"

"Mikey and I used to fish some in the river," Brian said. "We caught some stuff too but we never ate any of it. Debbie didn't trust fish from the river and she was probably right. My dad used to go fishing different places with some of his friends but I never got to go. But you know what, Kiddo? You're going to need a license. I don't want to have to run up to Somerset County and bail you out of jail."

"You probably wouldn't even bother," Justin complained unseriously. "You probably wouldn't even know I wasn't here - except you'd have to pick on somebody else. But anyhow, I already got the license. Malcolm took me over and I got it yesterday. I didn't want to take a chance on you having to bail me out."

"I would though," Brian told him. "I would definitely bail you out. You know how much I love you. I would certainly bail you out."

"Only so you could laugh at me," Justin posited. "You'd only do that so that you could laugh at me."

"Geez, Baby," Brian smiled at him. "You sure are milking this for all it's worth. You know, I don't even feel so bad about having that dumb meeting on Saturday now. You're making me feel better about that already. But you know what? If you do catch anything and bring it home and cook it, I'll eat it. May as well get some fresh fish while it's in season."

"How very nice of you, Kinney," Justin grinned at him. "Really nice like you always are. If I catch the damn fish, and clean the damn fish, and cook the damn fish, you'll deign to eat it. And you'll probably laugh at me while I'm cooking it too. You know what, Kinney. Your dad was right not to take you fishing. I'm never going to take you fishing either."

"OK, I can't seem to please you at all today," Brian gave up - seemingly. "If you manage to catch anything, just throw it back and I'll take you up to Gino's Saturday night for their special fish dinner. You can even bring Malcolm and Hunter - and even crazy old Hix if you want to. It'll be your party."

"I think I might be tired of those guys by then, Brian," Justin decided. "Maybe just the two of us should go. I think I'd like that better. But do I have to get the fish dinner? I think I might rather have spaghetti. I'll probably be tired of fish too by Saturday night."

"Whatever you want, Sweetheart," Brian responded. "As always. And maybe it's lucky I have that meeting all day or you might be tired of me by Saturday night."

"Not a chance, Kinney," Justin told him, putting his head onto Brian's shoulder and grabbing the big guy's hand. "Not a chance in the world. You're always in season, Bri - and you always will be - and you know what else too - I've got the one and only license."

Brian decided that he didn't need to use any further arguing points, so the discussion was over.

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