Almost a whole week had passed since Justin awoke in the hospital. He honestly hadn't meant to stay around for so long, but the first couple of days passed without him even realizing it. The bed was so warm and he liked having meals prepared for him. Plus, he liked Vic's company. The man didn't talk about much, but when he did you listened because it was something important. Michael had even been stopping by to check on Justin, and sometimes he brought Ben with him. He liked Ben for the most part except when he would hound Justin about school and if he was going. He was a professor after all. The problem was he was beginning to feel too comfortable.

"Justin?"

"Hmm…?" He looked up and saw Deb and Vic staring at him.

"You looked a thousand miles a way," Vic said.

"Just thinking," He replied and then began to pick at the food on his plate. Not really eating it, but leafing through it like he was trying to find something that wasn't there. It wasn't long before he let his mind wander again.

"You have any plans today?" Vic asked after the table was clear.

"Of course he does," Deb answered for him. "He's going to stay here and rest."

"The fuck?" Justin asked. "I actually thought I'd get out and get some fresh air."

He looked at Deb and saw she was about to start in on one of her tirades on how he should be resting and taking care of himself, but then he saw Vic giving her the eye and she closed her mouth. Justin huffed and then pushed himself away from the table. He walked up the stairs to Michael's room -yes, Michael's-and began to repack his bag. He wasn't going to wait any longer. He'd stayed here long enough.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That night after Deb had left for the late night shift at the diner, Justin snuck downstairs, past a sleeping Vic, and towards the door. He jumped when he heard the faint creak come from the ancient wood, but seeing that Vic didn't stir he opened it a little wider and snuck outside. The cold air hit him like a thousand knives. Even though he was wearing one of Michael's old jackets instead of his pullover, it still didn't stop the wind very well. Back on the streets Justin was again faced with the same predicament. Where did he go from here?

'I could go back inside,' he told himself but then quickly pushed that idea out of his head. Instead he walked towards Liberty Avenue, making sure to stay a particularly good distance away from the diner. Debbie seemed nice, but Justin was never sure when he would see the pit bull side of her that Michael had so many times warned him about. It wasn't long before he found himself in a rather dodgy end of town. The streetlights kept flickering and at one point Justin feared he would find himself in total darkness. He walked alongside a building, his hand gliding along the rough brick. He reached the front of the building and felt his hand slide across a sheet of metal. Stopping he looked up and saw that it was an old factory. Grabbing the icy handle on the door Justin yanked until it sprang open. He was immediately overtaken by the stale air and coughed hardily.

Inside of the condemned building it was only a little warmer than the night air, but at least there were four walls and a roof over his head. He waited until his eyes adjusted to the darkness and then surveyed his surroundings. There wasn't much to the place only a small bathroom that was locked. The rest was wide-open space with a few remnants of cardboard and steel beams that stuck out of the concrete floor. Justin yawned and then slid down the wall landing with a thud on the floor. He pulled his legs towards his chest and thought about where he'd go next. He'd been everywhere that he'd always dreamed of and some that he hadn't.

"Maybe I'll go back to Los Angeles." Justin said aloud his quiet voice echoing off the walls. He didn't know why but he preferred to talk to himself when he was alone. Los Angeles was a possibility; he had made some pretty good connections while he was there, and maybe he could even find the last place he squatted.

"No, not L.A." Justin decided after a flash of memory. He could still feel the queasiness in his stomach. "Maybe the mid-east this time. Fuck, I'll think about it tomorrow," He whispered as he laid his head on his pack and curled his body against the cold cement.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Where the hell could he have gone?" Deb asked a few days later. It had been a couple of nights since Justin had snuck out of the house. Deb was at the diner finishing her shift when Vic had come in and told her about their missing tenant. She figured he was a teenager and would eventually come back, but now she was really worried.

"Ma, settle down. You didn't think that he'd stick around forever, did you?"

"Well," she hesitated.

"He wasn't a lost puppy." Vic told her as he rubbed her arm. "He was going to leave as soon as he was better anyways."

"But that's the thing. He's not better and he's out there all alone."

They couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She had grown quite attached to Justin over the few days that he had stayed with her. The trio was in such deep thought over the situation, they didn't notice when Brian joined them at the table.

"Coffee, please."

"I'm not working." Deb replied gruffly. "Kiki, get some coffee for Mr. Wonderful."

"Touchy, touchy," Brian countered as he took off his gray floor length coat and slid in next to Michael. "What's your problem?"

"Justin's missing." Michael answered for his mother.

"So, the little foundling has disappeared. Sorry for your loss, Deb." Brian replied sarcastically.

"You can be such an asshole." Deb remarked as she stood up. "I'm going home. Maybe Sunshine will be back when I get there."

"I wouldn't count on it." Michael told her, "He's probably hitched a ride out of here by now."

"We could only be so lucky." Brian laughed.

Michael looked at Brian and then turned towards his mother, "If it'll make you feel better Brian and I will look for Justin tonight."

"No can do, Mikey; it's Pecks of Death night at Babylon." Brian grabbed the Styrofoam cup sitting in front of him and headed out the door with Michael following.

"You could show a little sympathy." he called.

"For who?"

"For Justin."

"Listen, Mikey," Brian stated turning around, "I've got a lot of things on my mind and none of them have or will have anything to do with that kid. If you want to search parts unknown for him then go right ahead, but I will be living it up at Babylon."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Babylon was Hollywood in a box, and Brian was the star. There wasn't a soul that didn't quiver with pleasure at the mere mention of Brian Kinney. That night was no different. He entered Babylon the same way he always did with his head held high and his ego even higher. He was Brian 'Fucking' Kinney and you were lucky to be near him let alone have him. The lights flashed and the confetti rang down and everyone knew he was there. His first stop was the bar for a beer, then the dance floor to find his perfect trick. Finally, he would go to the backroom where every queen, twink, stud, and bear would drop to their knees for him.

"Anybody got any E?" Brian called after finishing with his latest trick. A dozen hands sprang out around him each holding a small bag. Brian grabbed one and devoured its contents before he made his way back to the bar for another beer. He wasn't surprised when Mikey strode up to him.

"Cut the search party short?"

"Didn't really start." Mikey answered ordering a beer.

"Good. Don't waste your evening."

"Actually, I was thinking that you and I could look together because…"

"I already told you," Brian interrupted, "I'm not looking for him, okay."

Michael smirked, "I guess he won't have to pay you back then."

"Pay me back? Shit, you're right." Brian realized. He had forgotten about the hospital bill already.

"So, like I was saying, Ma heard from some hustlers that there's a young kid holed up in an old building not far from here."

"Fine," Brian caved, "We'll fetch the stray and then we'll come back here so I can fuck my brains out."

He set his beer on the bar and followed Mikey out the door. By now he was fully feeling the effects of the E he'd taken earlier so he let Mikey drive the jeep. He followed the road away from Babylon and almost fifteen minutes later slowly pulled over and shut off the engine.

"Where the fuck are we?" Brian questioned.

"Hell if I know."

Brian stumbled out of the car to the pavement and teetered over to Mikey, "Let's find the kid now, shall we?"

Michael put his arm around Brian and they walked together down the darkened alley trying to find any building that looked accessible. The streetlights were dim giving the street an eerie feeling and Michael didn't like it. He hoped they'd find the kid soon so they could get back to Babylon. Brian was beginning to lose his pleasant demeanor and wanted badly to go back to Babylon, but Mikey was having none of it. He had promised his mom that he'd look for Justin and he wasn't going to back out of that promise.

"What's this, Mikey?" Brian asked staring up at a tall building. Michael surveyed the area and remembered when it was once the thriving steel industry. Leaving Brian he crept towards the building and wasn't surprised when he found a metal door left slightly ajar. Motioning to Brian he snuck inside and was appalled at the smell inside.

"He in there?" Brian asked from outside.

"I don't know." Michael opened the door wider to let his friend inside and waited until their eyes had adjusted before he looked around. They didn't need to look far before they heard a raspy voice from the corner of the vacant room.

"Who are you?"

"Sunshine, that you?" Brian slurred.

Justin coughed and rolled over looking to see who was there. Only one person called him Sunshine, but he knew that wasn't who was standing over him.

"Brian?" Justin asked upon recognition of the face.

"Jesus," Michael gasped astonished at what he saw before him. Justin was beyond pale; he was almost transparent. It was obvious he hadn't eaten in awhile or taken care of himself at all. And Michael guessed he was tweaked, but he couldn't be sure. Looking down he saw that Justin had his backpack clutched tightly in his shaking hand, but the coat Michael had given him was nowhere in sight.

"You look like shit." Justin laughed which turned into a long wheeze.

"I could say the same about you." Brian came back with. "Trying to get out of paying me back?"

"I was going to send money to Deb's," Justin answered truthfully. "Listen, I don't know why you're here, but I can take care of myself."

"You've done a bang up job so far." Michael murmured. "You can't even stand." He knelt beside the boy and attempted to help him up, but was brushed off.

"I don't need your help," Justin sighed before propping himself on one elbow. By now the whole situation had sobered Brian and he was beginning to see the full extent of the boy's needs. Quietly, he went over and took Justin's arm and pulled him up. Wrapping his arm around the young man, Brian led him out to the jeep. Justin was too tired to fight with the man besides the fact that he wouldn't win anyway. He let Brian lift him into the jeep and buckle him safely. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep were the piercing hazels eyes that stared into his.

Return to So Much Left to Learn