Without a Trace

 
The guys were late lighting their fireplace for a highly unusual reason. They had been watching television. It wasn't so much that they disliked watching television as it was that they liked other things better.

While they were settling themselves onto the floor, Justin opened the subject for the night. "Maybe we should watch more television Bri," he said. "That was a good program. I enjoyed it."

"And we should watch more television instead of what?" Brian asked him in reply, tightening his grip around the kid.

"Yeah, you're right," Justin decided, cuddling himself just a little bit closer to Brian. "We just don't have time for television, do we?"

"I'll admit that was a good program though," Brian wavered slightly. "I was surprised at how it came out."

"Me too," Justin agreed. "Malcolm says he always watches. Without a Trace is his very favorite program and I always liked it too – the couple of times I've seen it, that is. I'm glad we had to watch it tonight."

"Actually we didn't have to watch it," Brian reminded him. "I have a tape of my client's commercial at the office – but I did want to see how it fit into the program and I thought it was a good placement."

"Yeah it was," Justin told him. "And it was a good commercial too. Your guys did a good job – even if they didn't ask me to help."

"Funny, Kiddo," Brian revealed, "There was a point in the development of that commercial when we did wonder what you thought about something or other. I tried to call you but your cell phone was off – and we eventually figured out what to do without you."

"It's a wonder you didn't get on my back about having my cell phone turned off?" Justin grinned at him. "It was something you could have picked on me about."

"Nah," Brian replied. "I just figured you were probably out having fun with Hix or Rodney and you didn’t want me to disturb you."

"Cut it out, Kinney," Justin complained. "You know how sensitive I am. I might believe you and then I might feel bad and you wouldn't want that, I bet?"

"No indeed, Baby," Brian agreed. "Everybody knows that when you feel bad, you'll see that everybody feels bad. Nobody's misery likes company more than yours."

"Thanks for the insult, Honey," Justin gibed. "But maybe I do feel bad. You called me and my phone was off and you weren't even worried about me. I could have been kidnapped or something and you weren't even worried one little bit."

"Ever hear of The Ransom of Red Chief, Sweetheart?" Brian gibed back.

"Yeah I did, Mr. Know-It-All," Justin countered flippantly. "Short story. O Henry. I read it in ninth grade so I know what you're saying too. But then I guess you saw it on TV?"

"Yep." Brian confirmed. "Saw it on TV maybe 10 years ago. Bet it was better than the book. TV usually is. Quicker too. Guess I had time to watch TV before you came along. Anyhow, I thought the story was dopey and pretty far-fetched – and then I met up with you…."

"OK, BK," Justin announced. "Now you've went and done it. I'm mad at you and I'm not talking to you either."

"Does that mean I have to take my arm away from around you?" Brian asked, making no effort to remove said arm. "I guess it does."

"You know, Bri," Justin considered, "I really think I can 'not talk to you' with your arm still around me. It might be interesting to try that out to see if it works."

"Ever the scientist, JT," Brian smiled. "Sounds like a neat experiment to me."

Justin's experiment proved him right about one thing. He actually could indeed not talk to Brian with Brian still hugging him pretty tightly. But he was wrong about another thing though. He was still talking to Brian. After a very brief pause in the conversation, he picked up where they had left off.

"Hey, Brian," he wondered. "If I was to go missing, how long would it take you to get Agent Malone on the case. The sooner they get started, the better chance they have of finding the missing person."

"I don't think so, Baby," Brian countered. "The person usually goes missing right after 10 o'clock and gets found just before 11 – regardless of how soon they get notified. And anyhow, Jack Malone and those other cops work in New York so they probably wouldn't be involved in your disappearance at all. We probably have somebody in Pittsburgh who does that though."

"No," Justin decided. "I want those ones from Without a Trace. I like them all but I want Agent Fitzgerald to find me."

"I don't actually think the missing person gets to pick who finds him," Brian mused. "Never seen that happen when I've watched Without a Trace."

"Well maybe you just don't watch it enough, Bri," Justin supposed. "I think the missing person ought to get some choice in the matter. After all, he's the one being found. Anyhow, how long would you wait to call for help if I ever went missing?"

"If I called the cops every time you were missing, Baby," Brian told him. "They'd put me in jail. I have no idea how long it would take before anybody would realize you were really missing."

"OK if you don't want to be serious, Brian. I guess you're lucky though that I've never gone missing," Justin warned him. "You might never get me back. And don't you laugh either – or make some mean remark – like you're thinking of, I bet."

Brian didn't laugh but he did smile. "You know, JT," he reminded the kid. "You did go missing one time – with my credit card too."

"Now that is really mean of you to bring that up when you know how sensitive I am about what happened," Justin complained. "I was just a kid."

"Yeah, I know that episode is really something you'd like to forget," Brian did laugh. "That's why every time we go to New York we stay in the hotel where I found you – and the same room if we can get it. I'm sure that helps you to forget."

"Well, you came after me, didn't you?" Justin reminded him archly. "You threw me out of here and then you came after me. What does that prove, Brian Kinney? I think that says something."

"It might mean I wanted to get my credit card back," Brian reasoned.

"Nah," Justin told him with a slight smirk. "Is was me you wanted – not any old credit card. You were looking for Justin Taylor and you came all the way to New York to find him. You could have just called the police."

"And if I had," Brian laughed again. "Maybe Agent Fitzgerald would have found you instead of me."

"Damn," Justin laughed too. "And all the time I thought I got what I wanted. You sure try to ruin everything, don't you, Kinney? Damn."

"Sorry 'bout that," Brian apologized. "I guess you're stuck with me now though. Sorry I robbed you of your big chance with Agent Fitzgerald."

"Cut it out, Brian," Justin moved over and kissed Brian on the forehead. "I got exactly what I wanted and you know it. But I bet, since you have a commercial on the program, you could take me to New York and I could get to meet Agent Fitzgerald. Whaddaya think?"

"I think Agent Fitzgerald is fictional, Honey," Brian reminded him, "And I know the actor who plays him has been married a long time."

"Straight," Justin surmised.

"Yeah, I would think so," Brian answered. "And maybe pretty lucky too. Maybe really lucky."

Justin crawled up onto Brian's lap and put his head on Brian's shoulder. "Well at least you got your credit card back."

But, in actual fact, his credit card was not at all what Brian was thinking about just then. Not at all.



 

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