Safe House

The guys were seated in front of their fake fireplace. Brian had half a grin on his face while Justin's wore three-fourths of a scowl. They had just had a visit from a distressed Hunter. And they had promised to help if they could but Justin wasn't all that pleased with Brian's contribution.

"Go ahead," Brian widened his grin, "Yell."

"Brian Kinney," Justin responded without yelling, "You were at best exasperating and at worst infuriating. You know damn well you are going to do everything you can to help Hunter and Malcolm, and what you mostly did was laugh."

"I am going to do everything I can to help," Brian agreed, "But this situation has a funny aspect too. You have to see it. Are you telling me there's nothing at all funny here?"

Justin relented just a little. "Yeah, there is," he admitted, "But I don't think we should laugh until it's over."

"It is not really that serious, Baby," Brian insisted, "We'll make sure things are OK."

"That is so like you, Brian," Justin went on, "You've always been around to help anybody who needed you, but not till after you made fun of their problem and pretended you were planning to be no help at all. And I thought you'd changed."

"I have changed, Honey," Brian pointed out, "In the old days I would have told Hunter it was not my problem before I tried to help them, but today I actually told him I'd help. Your good work has not been in vain."

"I don't know why I love you so much, Honey," Justin told Brian as he snuggled up closer to him, "Especially when you are being so infuriating."

"Cause I'm cute, I guess," Brian surmised, and Justin had to laugh in response. Then came one of those quiet times in their discussions.

The problem that Hunter had brought to them was only his at a secondary level. The problem was primarily Malcolm's.

When Malcolm had been in Florence studying, he had ended up stalking his thirtyish teacher, Carlo. It was Carlo's rejection that had sent Malcolm back to Pittsburgh and then into Hunter's arms where he seemed to be quite happy. Carlo was now in New York City on vacation and had contacted Malcolm. Carlo said he wanted to visit Pittsburgh to see the steel mills. When Malcolm told him that there were very few steel mills left, Carlo gave him the impression that it was Malcolm he really wanted to see. Carlo refused to be convinced not to come and had told Malcolm that he wanted to talk to him about their relationship. As good as Malcolm was at getting into trouble, he was very poor at dealing with it when it came. Hunter didn't want to take a chance on any rekindling of Malcolm's feelings for Carlo so they were both in a state of distress. Ben and Michael had not satisfied Hunter with their suggestions so Mikey had, with a bit of irritation, advised him to seek help from Justin and Brian. Our heroes had told him they would help. They had a few days to devise a plan.

"Wouldn't you think that with all his stalking experience," Brian offered, "That Malcolm would know just how to handle this situation himself?"

"Stalking is a specific skill, Brian," Justin informed him, "Warding off stalkers is a separate skill. I don't think Malcolm has had much experience doing that."

"Guess not," Brian agreed, "I guess you haven't either."

"And I can't testify that you're much of an expert in that regard, Sweetheart - or even any good at it at all," Justin laughed at him, "But since I'm not the one who needs the help you can quit picking on me."

"OK," Brian surrendered, "Let's solve Malcolm's problem if that will shut you up."

"Well, what do we do?" Justin restarted the conversation.

"I think that we need to make sure that Carlo doesn't get to see Malcolm alone," Brian suggested, "That's probably the most important thing. Somebody should be with Malcolm all the time Carlo is in town, if he comes at all. He might not, you know."

"That's good, Bri," Justin agreed, "Now why didn't you tell poor Hunter that instead of saying that you'd lend Michael the keys to your car and let him flee with Malcolm to where nobody could find them?"

"I'm Brian Kinney, remember," he answered, "I never say the right thing."

"Yes you do, Sweetheart," Justin replied, "And you can quit playing for sympathy too. How do you suppose we can make sure Malcolm always has one of us around?"

"We can let him stay here with us at night," Brian thought, "He can sleep on the couch for a few nights. Then we'll just have to worry about the day time."

"I don't think I like that idea very much," Justin groused.

"So the great do-gooder is not so helpful when it inconveniences him," Brian accused.

"You don't want Malcolm around here at night any more than I do, Kinney," Justin insisted, "I could probably stand it better than you could."

"I'm not sure about that, Baby," Brian laughed, "But I was only trying to get a rise out of you. What I really thought is that we could put Malcolm into Michael's old room - your old room too - at Debbie's. She and Vic would be there at night. Carlo would never get past them."

"That's good, Bri," Justin enthused, "It will be a kind of safe house. If Carlo runs afoul of Debbie, he might get back to Italy without using Alitalia."

"You and the guys at school will have to see that Malcolm has company during the daytime," Brian stated, "I guess you can do that."

"Yeah," Justin replied, "That should be no problem. Mikey and Ben will help, and I expect Hunter will be there as much as he can. It could be that Hunter is really more worried about this than Malcolm is."

"I knew that from the beginning," Brian explained, "And I'm proud that you figured it out too. But Malcolm is only comfortable in crazy situations if he creates them - which he usually does."

"I think we've got a plan in place, Bri," Justin decided, "You are great when you need to be.'

"Hunter told us the name of Carlo's hotel in New York," Brian concluded, "I think I might just make a phone call tomorrow to see if I can convince Carlo that a trip to Pittsburgh won't do him any good. That would be the best solution of all."

"I am so glad I always have you around to protect me, not that I'd ever get into the trouble Malcolm does." Justin whispered to the boy-friend.

"Yeah, you are," Brian responded, "And I'm also in charge of protecting the piranhas at the Aquarium. They need about as much protection as you do"

"I'm ignoring you," Justin warned him, flashing a sunshine smile which told Brian he was not being ignored at all.

And a period of contented silence ensued.

It was Brian who eventually resumed the conversation, "What would a successful thirty year old professional guy want with some crazy teen-ager anyhow, I wonder?" Brian stated, "I can't figure it out."

"If you're confused about that, Honey," Justin smiled at him, "I think I can help you to understand it."

"I'd really appreciate that if you would," Brian leered back at the twink.

"My pleasure," Justin told him.

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