Witness

Part 6

Brian and Justin flew to New York the next day. Ben tried to argue that Brian didn't need to go, but one glare from the detective told him the topic was not up for discussion. Ben knew something had changed after Justin got hurt and he honestly hoped the two men would have a chance. Brian deserved to be happy and god knows that Justin deserves some happiness.

The problem was Ben had been in this business a long time. Even if they got a conviction against Craig Taylor, it wouldn't end there. The man had contacts and henchmen all over the country, if not the world. If Justin didn't go back into Witness Protection, Craig would have him killed as soon as he could pull it off. Brian probably knew this and that was what set him off a couple nights ago.

The two men checked into the penthouse suite of the Plaza Hotel. They had been met at the airport by Logan and Briscoe and escorted to the hotel. They would have a police guard the entire time. Ben had notified Jack McCoy about the attempt on Justin's life so it was safe to assume Craig would be gunning for him. Jack arranged for the police escort at the airport as well as the twenty-four hour police protection.

Brian was a bit resistant. He felt he could protect Justin. Ben reminded him that New York was not in his jurisdiction and Brian wouldn't do anyone any good if he got himself arrested.

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Justin looked around the room. It was quite luxurious. He was nervous around the New York detectives. The older one, Briscoe, was quite sarcastic and Logan didn't seem very happy about his current assignment.

Logan did a perusal of the room. The penthouse was only accessible to guests staying on the floor and hotel staff, it should be fairly simple to guard. He barely registered when Justin began to speak.

"Thank you detectives. I'm sure babysitting a witness is the last thing that you want to do, but I do appreciate it."

Brian chuckled at his baby's manners, once a country club brat, always a country club brat. It must have worked because Briscoe's expression softened. "You got a pretty raw deal kid. I worked that crime scene, got there just as you were being taken away. It never occurred to me that you survived, but I'm glad you did. I've been wanting to nail that bastard for ten years and I'm glad the chance has finally come."

Logan heard the blonde's apprehensive voice and softened too, "We'll keep you safe so that you can put him away. Lennie and I will be with you the majority of the time. We're a little short staffed right now."

Brian, being a homicide detective, knew exactly what they were talking about. "I'm sorry that you have to babysit us, I told Ben that I could handle it, but he knows me too well and didn't want me overstepping my bounds outside of my jurisdiction. Hopefully, this trip will be pretty uneventful."

Lennie spoke up, "I hope so too, but Taylor still has a lot of clout in this town and since he knows that his son is alive and is the star witness, he'll probably try something. So Mike and I are on your detail until we put you guys back on a plane to Pittsburgh."

Justin went to the two detectives and shook their hands, "I'm sure we're in good hands."

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The next morning, Brian and Justin were at the DA's office for their meeting with Jack McCoy. The two men were led into Jack's office. Jack rose up to greet the two men.

"I'm Jack McCoy. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Taylor. This is Serena Southerlyn, she will be sitting second chair."

The blonde woman rose to greet the two men. She reminded Brian of Lindsay, with the blonde good looks and WASPy air. "It's nice to meet you gentleman."

The meeting quickly turned to business. "First, I want to just get an informal recount of the facts. From what I understand, it's pretty black and white. I'm going to question you very simply on the facts. I'll let the defense tangle themselves with more information if they want it. I am not going to give them an inch. They are going to have to fight for any extra inch they want."

"Ok, just tell me what you want me to do."

"Let's get started. Detective Kinney, you can wait in the reception area." Jack was already wondering about the silent, hazel eyed man who seemed to be standing guard over his witness.

"If it's alright with you Mr. McCoy I would like him to stay."

"Well, that's not really appropriate; we can't risk charges of witness tampering."

Justin panicked slightly about Brian being sent away. "Detective Kinney has nothing to do with this case; surely, there can't be any risk of impropriety."

Jack noticed the fear in the young man before him. Brian Kinney was not listed as a part of this case, so he decided to relent. He wondered about the connection between the two men. "Ok. Detective you can stay."

Justin breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you."

The four people took their seats and Jack got started. "Mr. Taylor …"

"Please call me Justin."

"Ok … Justin … I would like you to tell me your recollection of the night of March twenty-second, nineteen ninety five."

Justin took a deep breath before beginning. "It was a Wednesday night. I was in my room doing my homework. My sister Molly was also in her room. My mother was in her room getting ready to go out. She had a board meeting for the Arts Department at Lincoln Center. I heard our front door slam and heard my father storming up the stairs to their bedroom. He started yelling at my mother. He screamed 'What the hell do you think you are doing? Did you really think you would get away with this?' My sister must have gone to their room because I heard her yell, 'Daddy, what are you doing?' I ran to their room and saw my father pointing a gun at my mother's head. He pulled the trigger and Molly screamed, 'Daddy no!' He turned and fired at her. The bullet hit her head and she fell to the floor. Then he turned and fired at me. That's the last thing I remember."

Justin was trembling now. Brian wanted to go and comfort his lover, but he knew that he couldn't.

Jack noticed the silent interaction between the two men. "What's the next thing you remember?"

"I woke up in a hospital room. I was in a hospital wing at Quantico, but I didn't know that at the time. I met Agent Grassi and Agent Bruckner. They told me I was going to be put in Witness Protection. That's the last time they ever discussed the case with me until Agent Bruckner came to me a few months ago."

"There's absolutely no doubt in your mind that Craig Taylor was the man who pulled the trigger?"

"No doubt at all sir."

"Ok, and your recollections of that night are entirely from your memory? Nothing was suggested by Agent Grassi or Agent Bruckner?"

Brian was getting annoyed, "He just told you his recollection of that night!"

"Brian …" Justin's soft voice immediately calmed the detective. Jack wondered again about the relationship between the two men. Brian slumped quietly back into his seat.

"My memories of that night have not been influenced by anyone. I am the only person, still alive, that was there."

"Ok. Here is the direction I think the defense is going to go. They are going to try and discredit your memories. They may use the fact that it has been so long. Jim Stockwell is a smart man. I think they are going to question you about your relationship with your father. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to get you to admit that it's possible it may have been someone else and that you are being influenced by the feds."

Justin steeled himself and set his shoulders, "Until that night, I would have never thought my father could possibly do something like this. He worked a lot, but he was a good father. At least as good as he could be considering he was always so busy. When I first woke up in the hospital, I couldn't believe that my father had done this. That being said, there is no doubt in my mind that he killed my mother, killed my sister and tried to kill me."

Jack nodded. "I think we will be fine. I won't lie, Stockwell is going to be tough, but you just stick to the truth and everything will be ok."

Justin and Brian traipsed back into their hotel suite. Logan had taken them to the DA's office and delivered them back to the Plaza. He realized the two men needed to be alone. Mike didn't have a lot of experience with gay couples, but the love between these two men was so clear, he had no reason to judge.

Justin collapsed into a ball on the bed. Brian stretched out on the bed and curled himself around his younger lover. Justin melted into his embrace. Brian softly stroked Justin's hair and peppered his face with soft kisses.

"You did great today baby."

"Thanks Brian, I didn't know it was going to be so hard. Reliving everything."

"You're tough. Look at how much you've already survived. It's like you said, this is your closure."

"Thank you for being here."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be baby. I mean that."

"I know that."

Brian held Justin until he fell asleep, then he made his way to the living room. He wanted to call Gus. The little boy must be so confused by all this. He found Logan sitting on the couch.

"We should be fine, you don't need to stay."

"I have no choice."

Brian heard the bitterness in the detective's voice, "I'm sorry about that."

Logan simply shrugged his shoulders. "You're the first one's I've known."

"The first what? Fags? Well, I'm sorry that you are stuck with us."

"It's not that. I've worked cases that have showed me the seedy side of gay life. I've never known a committed couple before."

"Yeah, well you and me both."

"You seem so … normal."

"We are. We love each other, we take care of each other, and when this is over, we'll get back to our lives."

"I'm sorry if I seem like an ignorant idiot."

"It's ok, just try not to put anything on him, he has enough going on."

"No problem."

The two detectives looked at each other and reached an understanding.

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Jim went to visit Craig at Rykers Island. He was extremely nervous about telling his boss that the plan to eliminate Jack McCoy's star witness had not gone according to plan.

"Hey Jim."

"Craig."

"So when do I get out of here?"

"Depends on the trial."

"What? There wasn't supposed to be a trial."

Stockwell took a deep breath, "Your son is the state's star witness."

Craig was not expecting this. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Jim hesitated, but continued, "Your son survived the shooting. He has been in Witness Protection for ten years. He was brought out for this trial."

"Justin is alive?"

"Yes he is, and he is Jack McCoy's star witness. We haven't moved into pre-trial discovery yet, so I don't have any details about what he will be testifying to." Jim was very careful with his words. He knew the conference room at Rykers could be bugged, "As soon as I know anything I will let you know."

Craig slumped down in his chair, "Please see that you do."

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Jack McCoy was working at his desk when there was a knock at his door. He looked up to find Ben standing in the doorway.

"Agent Bruckner! I wasn't expecting you."

"I thought I would see how your meeting with Justin went."

"Good. He will make an excellent witness. There doesn't seem to be any wavering in his recollection. He swears all his memories are his own. Unless something comes out to change that I think our chances at a conviction are rock solid."

Ben smirked, "Well, that sounds like good news."

"Yeah, I guess it is, but I have a few questions for you."

"Sure, go ahead."

Jack wasn't sure how to question his thoughts about his witness and the detective. Ben sensed his hesitation. "You want to ask about Brian?"

Jack heaved a sigh of relief. "Yes. The only thing I want to know is will he be an issue at my trial?"

"No."

"What's going on Ben?"

"They are together … they are lovers. Brian is very protective of Justin. They will not be an issue to your case. Brian has nothing to do with it."

"But there is something."

"He is connected to the Pittsburgh case, but that shouldn't be an issue here."

"It's not, but I like to have all the facts."

"The mother of Brian's child is the victim in the Pittsburgh case. That's why I included him in this case. His relationship with Justin has no bearing on the murder of Justin's mother and sister … he is here to keep Justin sane."

Jack studied Ben deeply, "Alright … if you say there is no problem, then I have no problem."

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