The Nature of Things

Chapter 20

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Justin was just dressing when he noticed that Brian had grown unnaturally quiet. Closing the distance, he kissed Brian's neck and stepped back to wait for him to finish his call.

Brian slammed his cell closed and turned back to Justin. "Can you excuse me for a minute, I have to return this call."

"Is something wrong?"

"Maybe."

"Care to tell me about it?"

"I can't right now. You should get inside and check on Molly, she's probably wondering where you and I ran off to."

"Sure," Justin said. Closing the door behind him, he shook his head and felt like he was no longer a part of Brian's life, even after all that had happened.

Brian hit the speed dial and waited for the private detective to answer. "What did you find?"

"Mr. Novotany is in a cheap hotel in Fredericksburg, Virginia."

"What the fuck is he doing there?"

"As far as I can tell, he's just hanging out and checking out all the historical shit."

"Something is definitely off. Keep an eye on him and let me know if he moves or meets anyone."

"Sure thing, Mr. Kinney."

"Thanks, Rick. I'll add a nice bonus in for your trouble."

Hanging up he made a mental note to have Cynthia check on flights out to Virginia. It was time he paid Michael a visit to find out what the fuck was really going on.

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Justin found his sister, mom and Cynthia sitting out in the garden. Unaware of whether Molly had told their mother about the baby, he tried to subtlely hint at it.

"You don't have to tiptoe around the issue, Justin, Molly told me."

"Good. Now what do we do?"

"We support your sister in whatever she decides and we love the baby, because it's still Molly's baby."

"So you're keeping it?" Justin turned to his sister expecting an answer.

"I don't know yet. All I can say is that I want to be part of this baby's life whether I raise her, or someone else does."

"You'd give the baby up?"

"I'd consider an open adoption."

"Well then, I guess we should celebrate. Ice cream?"

The ladies all nodded in approval and watched Justin walk away to get the dessert. Brian joined them just moments later and hugged Molly close when she told him that she'd decided to carry the baby to term.

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A week later Justin was having a drink at Woody's before heading over to see Molly when Michael sat down beside him.

"Buy you a drink, Sunshine?"

"Where the hell have you been?" Justin tried to ignore the odd feeling he got sitting next to Michael. They'd never been friends but they had formed a tense civil relationship over the last few years, thanks to Rage.

"I decided I needed a break so I took a mini vacation."

"Mini? You call a month, mini?"

"Well, Ben and I have been having problems, so I wanted to give him some space."

"You could've let someone know. Brian's been going crazy with worry about you."

"I'm sure that he didn't even notice I was gone now that your mother and sister have moved in."

"I take it you've been by to see him?"

"I stopped by Kinnetik and he filled me in on the new house and living arrangements. I'm a little surprised you aren't living there as well."

"I have my own apartment now. Teddy was nice enough to let me stay with him after they arrested Casey, but it was time for me to be on my own."

"Is that creep still in jail?"

"Last I heard the bastard's attorney was trying to get him out on bail."

"Well let's all hope he stays put for a long, long time." Michael downed his third drink and stood to leave. "See you around, Justin."

Justin watched him leave and fought back the thought that Michael frightened him just a little.

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Brian was sitting in his office going over the Eyeconics ad when Cynthia buzzed.

"Brian, Michael's here."

"Novotny?"

"One and the same."

"Send him in."

"Sure thing, boss, but I should warn you that something is slightly off with him."

"Thanks. Now send him in."

Brian stood and opened his office door slightly and then sat on the edge of his desk to wait for his best friend. Michael came in, shut the door behind him and sat down without ever looking up at Brian.

"So, how was Virginia?"

Michael's head jerked up and he stared speechless at Brian.

"I hired a private dick, and not the good kind, when you went missing. Ben has been bugging me hourly to see if I've found you." Noticing Michael's reaction he continued, "Now don't get freaked out or anything. I didn't tell him anything. I was, however, about to fly down and drag your sorry ass home myself. So want to tell me what made you haul ass and fall off the face of the fucking Earth for weeks?"

"I needed some time to think."

"You don't really believe I'm going to buy that, do you?"

"Things are different, Brian. You've moved on to this life that I never thought I'd see you living and I'm left trying to figure out where I belong."

"You belong here with your family."

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Justin woke with a start from a dream that made no sense. He'd been having these dreams for weeks now, only this one was different. Each dream started out at Casey's. In each one Justin was in bed with a man whose face he never saw. He could hear the voice as if it were hundreds of thousands of miles away. He thought he recognized it, but couldn't be sure.

Closing his eyes he tried to remember anything the man had said. Concentrating he listened to the voice in his head and thought he could hear Brian's name. But that couldn't be. It wasn't possible. His mind flashed onto a face and Justin nearly screamed at who it was that had violated him in such a horrible way. At that moment he knew that his and Brian's lives would never be the same again.

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