Brian was engrossed in watching the sleepy blonde on his bed. After finding Justin, he had taken Mikey back to Babylon and then preceded home from there. He didn't know why he hadn't taken him straight to Deb's. There was just something about the way he looked. It hadn't felt right to drop him off like yesterday's garbage. He was a beauty, though, tweaked out or not. He had these pouty lips that would make any man swoon and a pair of piercing blue eyes. Brian hadn't been quite sure why Deb called him Sunshine at first, but now he knew it was because --even sleeping-- he could light up a room.

Justin stirred and whimpered interrupting Brian's thoughts. He looked down at the still sleeping kid and gently placed a hand on his arm. He quieted and Brian swore he saw a hint of a smile on Justin's face. After making sure that Justin was covered with the duvet, Brian went to the living room and looked out the picture window. It was morning now, but the sun hadn't even begun to rise, and Brian hadn't slept at all. Hearing Justin thrashing in the bed again he immediately went over and placed his hand on the boy's forehead. The poor kid was burning up so, Brian went into the bathroom and wrung out a washcloth before placing it on Justin's brow. Realizing how tired he really was, Brian quietly slipped underneath the duvet and slowly drifted off.

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

"Shit." Justin whispered sitting up in bed. He looked around and saw that he was in a very well decorated loft, he assumed Brian's loft. After slipping out from underneath the navy blue sheets, he ambled into the bathroom. He gripped onto the sides of the porcelain sink and stared into the mirror. His head was ringing, but he looked much worse than he felt.

"Morning, Sunshine."

Justin turned sharply and winced from the pain. He saw Brian standing in the doorway one arm propped against the door jam. Justin gasped at the sight of the man; he hadn't expected him to be home, but he also didn't know what time it was.

"I should leave." Justin murmured as he staggered towards the bedroom clutching his side.

"You should get back to bed." Brian ordered. He walked over to Justin and helped the boy get into bed making sure to stay away from his bruised ribs. "You have a problem with people wanting to help you, don't you?"

"I'm not used to it, that's all."

"Well, start getting used to it because you've got a lot of people worried about you."

Justin stared at Brian trying to read his expression. He couldn't tell if Brian was talking about himself or the Novotny family.

"Why don't you tell me what happened out there?"

Justin cringed remembering the past couple of nights. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"You will." Brian said before leaving the kid alone.

"Brian," Justin called from the bedroom. "What time is it?"

"It's late, Sunshine. Go to sleep." Brian loosened the tie around his neck and opened the refrigerator door. Brian couldn't get it out of his head that it was nearly seven at night and Justin had been sleeping this whole time. Maybe he should have stayed at the hospital to get better, but he was here now and Brian was going to make sure that he got well. Hearing a rap on the loft door, Brian grabbed a bottle of water, went over to the entrance and opened it after the third knock.

"What?"

"How's Justin?" Michael asked.

"He's sleeping. I think he's doing just fine." Brian assured his friend. He offered Mikey a bottled water and led him into the loft.

"You taking him back to Ma's?"

"No," Brian grunted.

"No?"

"That's what I said."

"Then what are you going to do with him?"

Brian glanced towards his bedroom at the blonde head lying softly on the pillow. "He's staying right here."

"What?"

"I want to keep an eye on him. I don't want him running off again before he pays me back."

Michael watched his best friend and wasn't sure if he was lying or not. "I think you like Justin."

"Sunshine? He's just a punk kid besides I'm no chicken hawk."

Michael laughed knowing that wasn't true. "Why don't I believe you?"

"I don't know, Mikey. You'll have to figure that one out for yourself." Brian turned and opened the loft door. "Sorry Mikey, but I've got lots of work to get to. You understand, don't you?"

"I'm the only one that could." Michael laughed and walked out the door hearing the loud slam as Brian shut it behind him.

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

"What the fuck?" Brian yelled sitting up in bed. He looked next to him and saw that Justin wasn't there. "Little fucker." He crawled out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. It was still dark outside; Brian guessed it couldn't be any later than three. He reached for his jacket on the chair when he heard a noise like a slight rustle.

"I didn't mean to wake you." Justin murmured from the couch.

"You didn't." Brian reassured the young kid. "It's late, what are you doing up?"

"I've been sleeping all day." Justin smiled. Brian smiled back; he couldn't help it.

"Wanna tell me what happened?" Brian motioned to where Justin was gingerly clutching his side.

"Some guys didn't like the fact that I had a coat." Justin answered uneasily.

"Plural."

"Huh?" Justin asked perplexed.

"You said guys as in more than one."

"Oh," he hadn't realized. "Three."

"How are three guys going to share one coat?" Brian joked.

"Got me."

"I'll get you a new one tomorrow," Brian sighed, "But until then come back to bed where it's warm."

"Do you always do your best talking in bed?"

"If you only knew." Brian whispered as he made his way back to the room. "If you only knew."

Justin followed him back to the bed and crawled underneath the warm blankets. He could easily get used to this. Sighing, he turned over and found those deep hazel eyes staring into his.

"So, tell me where are you running from?"

"Who says I'm running?"

"Well, the way you easily gave up a nice stay at Deb's to live in a cold, dank, warehouse would suggest you're running."

"Well," Justin yawned. He might as well tell that part at least, "There really isn't one place, but if you must know, New York."

Brian laughed. "Nobody runs from New York, kid. Especially not from New York to the Pitts."

Justin's voice got distant and weary. "You would if you'd seen what I had."

The memories -or what he assumed were memories-flashed in his head, and he blinked trying to get rid of them. It worked this time, but they were always there hiding just over the horizon for the next time he was caught off guard. 'It's funny,' Justin thought before falling asleep, 'when I started out on this quest I was trying to get rid of my nightmares. I didn't realize that I'd only add to them.'

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