Chapter 3

The big Pride parade was coming up and Justin was genuinely looking forward to going. It would be his first one and he was excited about going. He couldn't believe Brian was actually going too. Parades seemed like something that would appear somewhere on the long list of things Brian Kinney didn't do. Justin wasn't concerned with the large crowd that would be there. His walks with Brian really helped and he didn't thing he'd have any problems. Things were going pretty well for him, one might say almost too well but he didn't dwell on that. Brian was going back to work. He already had client meetings he had to attend to.

Since Brian had a lot of work to catch up on, their morning shower was quick but still productive. They both got their morning intake of a high protein shake. Debbie expected Justin to help paint signs for the parade even thought his hand still wasn't working properly. No one dared to tell Debbie no.

On his way to work Brian dropped Justin off at the GLC center. Brian wasn't overly worried about Justin. He'd be safe at the center and all his friends would be there. Debbie and his mother would look out for him. Before he unsnapped Justin's seatbelt he wanted to make sure Justin knew he could call him.

"Look Justin, I'm going to be in meetings all day but I want you to call me if you need me for anything. It doesn't matter what. I've instructed Cynthia to put all your calls through. I'll have my cell phone with me at all times."

"I'll be fine, Brian."

Brian ran his fingers over Justin's hand. "I know you will."

Brian released the seat belt. He pulled Justin in for one last kiss. "Don't work your hand too hard."

Justin smiled, "I won't, later."

"Later."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Even though he was using a big brush to paint with it was still awkward to control. He had to brace his right wrist to control the brush, although it wasn't helping much. What he painted so far looked like a child's finger painting. He knew it didn't have to look good. It was just a sign not a work of art but it showed just how very far he had yet to go. Vic and Michael were working on their own projects next to him.

"Brian's been helping me with my hand exercises." He swirled more paint around on his sign.

Michael snorted, "Yeah I'll bet, squeeze tighter, pull harder."

Justin got him back by smearing paint on his face.

"Hey!"

Although, Justin had to admit to himself that Michael wasn't so far off. Brian believed in making his therapy fun. Brian was always coming up with new ways to exercise his hand and get off at the same time. Life with Brian was never dull.

"Big day tomorrow," Vic commented.

Justin smiled. "Yeah I can't wait, my first Pride; it's exciting."

"Your first time usually is."

Debbie and his mother made a big show of presenting the big PFLAG banner Everyone clapped and cheered. Debbie showed off her new specialty t-shirt. This one said, 'I'm proud of my gay son.' Justin turned on his mother.

"Swear to me you didn't get one too."

She patted his shoulder. "No, I wouldn't do that to you."

"Just as long as you're not advertising it on a shirt."

Debbie looked over the work he'd done on the sign. "Keep up the good work Sunshine; it's looking great!"

Justin struggled on with the painfully slow work he was doing. It took a lot of effort to even remotely be able to control the brush just a little.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Justin went with Emmett to the hospice. They were becoming good friends and Em needed a friend right now. It's awful to lose a friend. He'd let him talk; he was a good listener. Emmett shared some of his memories of Godiva with him as they packed up the belongings that were left behind.

Justin left Emmett alone with his memories. He'd go wait downstairs and let Em finish up in peace. He walked down the wooden stairs and rounded the corner. He stopped abruptly. His breath caught in his chest and a jolt of fear hit him. He must be dreaming because Chris Hobbs couldn't be standing in front of him. Flashes of the pain he felt hit him full force. Hobbs looked up from his mopping. Justin could feel the hate in Chris' gaze. Felt it stick to his skin like sludge.

Justin found his voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Having a blast, time of my life. My five hundred hours of community service. What the fuck do you think?" Chris moved closer invading Justin's space. "What about you? Got AIDS?"

"No."

Chris moved up into Justin's face. Justin was pressed into the wall. He wanted to get away but he couldn't move. He was terrified of what Chris might do.

"You will sooner or later. All you fags end up here. I bet you're a real party girl. Huh, are you?"

"Leave me alone."

Chris was so close he could feel his breath on his face but he was too crafty to actually touch Justin. It would mean more hours or worse. So he used words to hurt instead of his hands.

"Yeah, I think you are a party girl. I hope you get AIDS and die."

"Just leave me alone," Justin whispered.

He found his voice then and yelled for Emmett. The terror in his voice rang through the hallowed halls of the hospice. Emmett hurried down the stairs to find Justin huddled in the corner rocking slowly, tears stained his cheeks.

"Honey, what's wrong? What happened?"

"I saw him, he's here. I need Brian."

Emmett sat down next to Justin on the floor. "Ok sweetie, hang in there. I'll call him." Emmett dug out his cell phone. "Brian, Justin needs you. He had some kind of panic attack."

"What the fuck happened?"

"I don't know; he was fine when he left the room."

"You shouldn't have left him alone. Even I can keep him in sight at all times. I'm coming there."

"Don't bother, just meet him at the loft, I'll take him there. I think he wants to get out of here as fast as possible."

"Let me talk to him for a minute."

Emmett passed the phone over to Justin who took it in his trembling hand.

"Justin, are you all right?"

"I'm ok; I just really need you."

"Ok, I'm on my way. I'll meet you at the loft. I'll be there as fast as I can. Hang in there, baby."

When Brian got to the loft Justin was already there. He sat in the middle of the bed squeezing his bear to his chest. Justin looked like a little boy and Brian wanted to make it all better.

"Sorry I had to call you away from work."

Brian kicked off his shoes and joined Justin on the bed, pulling him into his arms.

"You're what's important right now. What happened?"

"I saw Chris Hobbs; he was at the hospice."

"What the fuck was he doing there?"

"That's where they assigned him his community service."

Brian rubbed his temples fighting off a headache. "Did he do anything?"

"He said that he hopes I get AIDS and die."

Justin buried his face in Brian's shirt taking comfort in the smell of his lover. Brian held him tighter as the sobs wracked Justin's small frame.

"I hate that he makes me so scared. I was fucking terrified, Brian. He ruined my life I'll never be the same again. He took a part of me and smashed it. It's broken beyond repair."

"Just forget him. He's not worth it; he's scum. You need to get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow."

"I'm not going."

"And miss you first Pride?"

"What am I suppose to be proud of? That I got bashed and didn't die."

Brian held him by the shoulders looking him in the eye. "Justin, don't let him do this to you, don't let him win. You're giving him the power to hurt you over and over. You have to stop being afraid and live your life. If you live in fear he wins, don't let him."

"It's easy for you to say."

"Hey, who said it was going to be easy? You're not alone though. I'll be with you every step of the way."

That night Justin fell into a restless sleep. He tossed and turned struggling with the sheets. He dreamed of Chris Hobbs beating him to death. He woke up screaming. The sheets tangled around him and damp with sweat. Brian did his best to calm him down.

They were both grumpy the next day from lack of sleep and the high stress factor. Brian insisted that they go to the parade. Justin grudgingly went along. Brian was always resourceful at getting Justin to do whatever he wanted. The noise and the garish colors assaulted Justin's senses. He didn't know what to expect at the parade but nothing could prepare him for the sights he saw. He sat beside Brian in a brooding mood.

"Brian. I don't want to be here."

"Well you're here and you're queer, so enjoy it." He patted his leg.

"It's just a big freak show."

"Well what did you expect, that you would find pride at the parade?"

"So what the fuck are we doing here?"

"Were just making sure Chris Hobbs doesn't win. Now you should go march with your Mommy."

Justin noticed that the PFLAF group was making its way toward him. He got up and joined his mother. He held her hand and actually smiled. When he looked over at Brian he noticed he had Gus. They were both cheering him on. Justin smiled to himself. Brian must be so pissed that Lindsay stuck him with watching Gus. Now he was sure not to get laid.

"I had no idea there were so many," Jennifer commented.

"Queers."

"People, I'm proud of you, Justin."

"I'm proud of you too, mom."

Justin relaxed and started to actually enjoy the parade. He thought about all that had happened in the last year. It hadn't been easy but he'd made it here to this moment. He felt he was a better person for it. He had new friends and Brian. His mother accepted him for who he was. His life had changed drastically once he set foot on Liberty Ave.

Justin almost fell to the pavement laughing when he saw Michael in drag walking with Debbie. He hoped someone had a camera. He definitely wanted pictures. He'd have something to hold over Michael's head when he got out of line, which was every other day. Between Debbie and his mother they kept him busy most of the day. He didn't get to see Brian until much later at Woody's.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Brian and Justin sat at the bar. The place was packed wall to wall with hot guys. Brian had bought Justin a drink.

"I'll be glad when Pride is over so we can all go back to being ashamed."

Justin laughed. "You're just grumpy because you had to look after Gus all day and no one hit on you."

Brian gave him a disgusted look. "Plenty of people hit on me; unfortunately they all happened to be lesbians wanting my sperm."

Justin noticed the guy cruising Brian. "Here's your chance; it's not too late."

Brian checked out the guy. Justin placed a kiss on his shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

Justin started to walk away. "I'm leaving you to your wicked ways. Go find a stud and ask him to dance."

As Justin left Woody's Brian made a quick decision and left to find Justin. So as not to startle Justin he lightly tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey stud, you wanna dance?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

Brian looked at him with a boyish gleam in his eyes. "I promise you won't forget this one."

Brian took him by the hand and led him out into the street where it has been blocked off for dancing. They wrapped their arms around each other and moved to the music of ABBA. They made a beautiful couple smiling and kissing. Lust was in the air. They danced several more dances when things started to heat up. Justin had been hard for a while and Brian was more than ready too. Brian took his hand and they ran to the Jeep.

Once inside Brian kissed Justin deeply. He moved his seat back as far as it would go. Since the Jeep was parked near an alley it was somewhat secluded. Justin wiggled out of his pants and climbed over the gearshift to sit on Brian's lap. He opened up Brian's pants and started to stroke him. Brian spread his legs to give Justin more room. Justin placed his hands on Brian's shoulders and ground his hips against Brian's groin.

"I'm so fucking hard right now."

"Fuck me, Brian, right here right now."

Brian reached over and opened the glove compartment and grabbed lube and a condom. While Justin put the condom on Brian, he lubed his finger letting it find Justin's hole. Justin gasped as the finger invaded him. When he was open and ready he lifted up a little bit while Brian placed his cock at his entrance. He slowly sat down impaling himself. His movement was restricted but he had just enough leverage that had them both gasping in pleasure. When they came their moans were covered up by the loud music and celebrations.

They straightened their clothes as best they could. Brian broke the speed limit getting back to the loft where they spent the rest of the night fucking like rabbits on speed.