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+ Twelve +

Justin paced back and forth across the gallery. The opening would begin in less than half an hour. Brian had promised to come. Justin had made sure that there was a parking space nearby for the van. He had explained that there was an elevator near the parking spot that would bring him up to the gallery which was above the street level shops in the building housing it.

Brian had said he would come, but Justin hadn't missed the hesitancy and the touch of fear that was evident in Brian's voice. He hoped Brian wouldn't change his mind. He wanted him there and he wanted Brian to reclaim this part of his life. He should be able to go to public functions, and he should be able to do it without fear or worry. They should be able to go out together.

Justin glanced at his watch again. Fifteen minutes until the doors opened. He wanted Brian to be there before the crowds, at least he hoped there'd be crowds, filled the space. That way Brian would have a better chance of acclimatizing to the increasing numbers of people. He had made sure that Lindsay and Mel had received invitations. He wanted Brian to have some familiar faces present to support him. They had promised to come early and they were bringing a friend.

Suddenly the elevator door opened. Brian wheeled out looking good enough to eat. He was wearing a black cashmere sweater and pants. Justin beamed at him. Brian started towards Justin. Justin could see the apprehension on his face.

"Hey," Justin said softly.

"Hey."

"I was getting worried that you had changed your mind."

"I would have liked to," Brian said with a grimace, "but if I promise something I carry through."

Justin squeezed his hand. "Would you like to meet the owner of the gallery before the doors open?"

"Sure," Brian said glancing towards the front doors of the gallery. Justin wondered if he was expecting to see hordes of people poised to rush him once the doors opened.

Justin led the way over to the office. He had explained Brian's problem to the owner who had been very supportive of trying to help Brian through this night. Justin hoped he didn't mention anything about what they had discussed. That would really freak Brian.

"Alan," Justin said. A middle aged man very nicely dressed turned to see who was speaking to him. "Alan, this is my friend, Brian Kinney. Brian, this is Alan Garrett."

Brian extended his hand. Alan shook it. Brian detected no bad vibes from the man. So far, so good.

"Nice to meet you, Brian," Alan said. "I'm going to have to run. I need to check the food and open the doors."

"Sure," Brian replied.

"Oh, and Brian," Alan added turning back towards them, "if you get sick of the artsy-fartsy crowd, this office is a good, safe haven. But you may have to fight me for the comfortable chair."

Alan disappeared out the door. Brian looked up at Justin. "Didn't he notice that I have my own chair?"

"Apparently not," Justin said with a grin.

"Can you believe that he called his clientele the artsy-fartsy crowd?"

"And what do you call your clients?" Justin asked.

Brian looked sheepish. "Point taken."

Justin grinned. Alan had handled that very well, better than he could have hoped for. He wanted Brian to know that he had an escape route if things got too much for him, but he didn't want Brian to know that he had laid out the contingency plan if things didn't go well. Alan had managed to pass on the information without alerting Brian.

"It looks like your first admirers have arrived," Brian said nodding towards people they could see through the glass door of the office.

"Coming?" Justin asked.

Brian took a deep breath. "Right behind you," Brian said.

They went out into the gallery. Justin pointed out the area where his artwork was hanging. Brian said he would go take a look while Justin schmoozed potential buyers. Justin smiled as Brian wheeled away to the other section of the gallery. Things were going well so far.

Brian had been looking at Justin's work admiring the color and composition and emotion that the young man was able to capture when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hi," Lindsay said with a smile. She leaned down and gave Brian a kiss on the cheek. "He's very good," Lindsay added nodding towards Justin's paintings.

"I was just thinking the same thing."

"His work is so forceful and emotional for someone so young," Lindsay said studying the closest canvas.

"I was thinking much the same thing," Brian said with a little smile.

"We'll make an art connoisseur out of you yet."

"I don't think that's terribly likely but I can feel the power of his work."

"That's an amazing compliment, Brian. Make sure you tell Justin that."

Brian looked up at her and nodded. "Where's the other half?" he asked.

"She's around somewhere. We brought a friend with us."

"Who's that?" Brian asked.

"There they are," Lindsay said pointing to Mel and a woman in a wheelchair.

Brian glared at Lindsay wondering what the fuck was going on. Lindsay didn't know anyone in a wheelchair except him. If they had set him up, he was going to wring somebody's neck.

Mel and the woman approached.

"Brian," Lindsay said. "This is Adrienne Bennett. She's an artist too. Adrienne, this is Brian Kinney. He's Gus' father."

"Nice to meet you, Brian," Adrienne said. "You've got one sweet little boy there."

"Yeah," Brian agreed softening a little to the woman who seemed impressed with Gus.

"So what do you do, Brian?" Adrienne asked.

Brian watched Mel and Lindsay quickly glide away. He knew they had put him together with this woman for some reason, probably a pep talk about being in a wheelchair.

"You mean other than sit in this fucking contraption?" Brian asked with all the sarcasm he could muster.

"Precisely," Adrienne replied seemingly unfazed by the venom in Brian's tone.

"I'm in advertising," Brian spat out. He wanted to escape.

"Oh, so you're one of the assholes that convinced me to get a Thighmaster."

"What the fuck?" Brian asked staring at this seemingly insane woman.

"It's a joke, sweetie."

"You could have fooled me," Brian retorted although he did see the self-deprecating humor in it.

"I don't think you're anybody's fool."

"Then why are you still talking to me? You're not going to convince me that sitting in this fucking wheelchair for the rest of my life is something to look forward to."

"That's the last thing I would try to do. Being in this contraption is the fucking pits, but it's also not the end of the world."

"Says who?"

"Says me, asshole. Pardon my French. I think I better go look at the rest of the art." She turned away to leave.

"Lindsay said you were an artist," Brian said. He wanted to know why Justin and Lindsay thought he should talk to this woman.

"Are you finished being rude?" Adrienne asked.

"Probably not. I always say it's my most endearing trait."

"And they let you get away with it?"

Brian knew he was blushing. "They don't like to tick me off."

"So you milk it for all it's worth. They're afraid to upset the poor cripple?"

"Fuck you!"

"I wish, sweetie, but I understand I'm the wrong sex. The truth hurts, doesn't it?"

Brian stared at her. She was doing exactly what he used to do with his friends - be bluntly, almost cruelly, honest to make them realize what they were doing. "You're a lot like I used to be," Brian said thoughtfully.

"How so? The chair?"

"That's almost incidental," Brian admitted. "It's the size of your balls I'm referring to." Adrienne laughed, a true, clear laugh. Brian smiled. He liked to make people laugh. "There's an office over there that we could use." Brian pointed towards Alan's office.

"Why, sir, are you propositioning me?"

"Maybe," Brian replied with that wicked grin. "Let's go."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hours later Brian and Justin lay in the bed in the loft. They had fucked and then made love. Justin lay curled against Brian's body tracing circles around the man's nipple.

"I'm really glad you came to my show," Justin said softly.

"I am too," Brian admitted. "You are a wonderful artist. I couldn't get over the power of your pieces."

"Wow," Justin said sitting up a bit to look into Brian's eyes. "That's quite a compliment."

"I mean it."

"So where did you go for most of the evening? Alan's office?"

Brian nodded. "And I had company."

"Oh, who?" Justin asked.

"The woman you and Lindsay sent to straighten me out."

"Did she?" Justin asked holding his breath. Brian didn't seem mad about their plan.

"I'm still gay, if that's what you're asking."

"I didn't think that was ever in doubt."

"She's an interesting woman," Brian said seriously. "I like her"

Justin grinned into Brian's chest. He was so glad Brian wasn't mad at what he and Lindsay had cooked up. In fact Brian seemed to like what they had done.

"So what did she say to you?" Justin asked.

"She said I should stop hiding behind my chair."

"What?" Justin sat up staring at Brian. He couldn't imagine anyone saying that to Brian.

"That's what she said."

"And she's still alive … right?"

Brian snorted. "Yeah, alive and grabbing the world by the balls as we speak."

"Wow!"

"I have been hiding, you know. I realize that now. I had panic attacks because I didn't want people to see that I couldn't do what I used to be able to do when I could walk. Adrienne told me to be proud of what I can do from my chair. She said that very few people she knew were as successful and funny … and gallant as I am, legs or no legs."

"Gallant?" Justin asked.

"I held the door to the office for her and got her a drink. I do have social graces if I choose to use them."

"You'll have to demonstrate those to me sometime," Justin giggled.

Brian gave him a swat and said, "Twat."

"You're not mad at Lindsay and me for setting you up with Adrienne?" Justin's head was back on Brian's chest. He couldn't look at the man when he asked that question.

"I was thoroughly pissed when I realized what you two had plotted."

"But you're not mad now?"

"No, twat, I'm not mad. I thought I showed you as much several times since we got back."

"Yeah," Justin giggled, "but I just wanted to make sure."

"Well, don't pull anything like that in the future."

"I won't … unless you need it."

"Justin knows best," Brian snorted.

"You could say that. I've been told that I'm very perceptive and bright."

"Maybe I'll start calling you Bright Bottom. You know, BB."

"That makes me sound like a Hobbit."

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?"

"Not funny. I like Blond Bombshell better."

"Or Bubble Butt."

"Or Bossy Bottom."

"I haven't heard that one before. But I should have known that from the first day I met you."

Justin tweaked Brian's nipple at that comment. Brian let out a little howl and then captured Justin's lips in a sweet kiss.

"What's the other meaning of PP?" Justin asked as the kiss ended.

"You haven't figured it out?" Brian asked. "I thought you were so bright and perceptive."

Justin frowned, thinking of possible meanings. "Tell me," he said giving up.

"Paraplegic," Brian whispered.

"I don't like that at all," Justin stated.

"I don't like it much either. It's actually what PP stood for when I first started using it. When someone wanted to know what it meant I couldn't put it into words, so it became Perfect Pecker instead."

"You do have a perfect pecker."

"Yours ain't half bad either," Brian chuckled. He couldn't believe that he was having this conversation and enjoying it. He could learn to love this smart little fucker, maybe he already did.

"We could put it to use," Justin whispered in his ear. Brian felt his cock swell at the soft breath on his skin and the promise of infinite pleasure.

"What did you have in mind?" Brian asked.

"I want to fuck you," Justin whispered.

"I … I don't know," Brian replied. He had never been much of a bottom and not once since he had been in the chair. He wasn't even sure how they could do it.

"I'll be gentle," Justin promised.

"But I'm not sure how …"

"Roll onto your stomach," Justin said.

"But I can't get up on my knees."

"Sh," Justin whispered rolling Brian over.

Brian felt Justin's tongue immediately attack his pucker. It poked and prodded until it broke through the ring of muscle. Brian cried out at the sensation. It had been so long since someone had done this to him. He felt Justin's tongue delving and licking. He let out a long moan.

"Feel good?" Justin asked.

"Oh, God!" Brian groaned holding on to the sheet for dear life.

Justin continued to work his magic for awhile longer. He had Brian moaning and panting and begging. He sat up, grabbed a condom and donning it lubed himself generously.

"Roll onto your back," Justin ordered. He squirted more lube on his fingers and gently lifted Brian's legs onto his shoulders. They were dead weight but he could bear it. They'd both forget about that if all went well.

"Justin," Brian said. Justin could hear his worry.

"It's all right," he assured the man. "In fact it's going to be great."

His lubed fingers probed and stretched Brian's pucker. Justin watched his lover's face pass from worry to bliss as he continued to open him up.

"Ready?" he asked as he positioned his cock. Brian nodded.

Slowly Justin breached the muscle and slid in. Brian groaned and clenched his jaw. It had been so long since he had experienced this. He remembered the pain but also the enjoyment. Justin slid in farther. He wanted to make this good for Brian. He held onto Brian's knees knowing the man had no control of his legs to keep them on Justin's shoulders.

"Fuck!" Brian gasped.

"Are you okay?" Justin asked. He looked down at the face of this man who was becoming so important to him.

Brian nodded. "I'd almost forgotten," he whispered.

Justin smiled and began to pump. He could feel his orgasm building almost immediately. He wanted to prolong their connection but he knew this was going to be over soon. So much emotion was involved that it was hard to control himself. He pushed in again and again increasing the speed. He could feel the telltale tingles running up and down his spine. His balls rose up and he saw Brian reach for his cock and give it tugs in time with Justin's thrusts.

"Brian," Justin breathed.

"Justin," Brian gasped in response.

And then they were both coming and it was magnificent. Heat burst from Justin's cock, from every pore in his body, from every fiber of his being. He jerked uncontrollably and slumped down on top of Brian. Brian felt the world tip on its axis and then explode in heat and light and wonder. He felt Justin slide down on top of him and he grasped the young man holding him against his chest as some wayward tears escaped his eyes.

"I love you," Brian whispered.

"I love you too," Justin whispered as he smiled against Brian's chest. "Are you okay?" he asked rolling off Brian and making sure Brian's legs weren't in some impossible position.

"Never better," Brian said huskily staring over at Justin. "I didn't think I'd ever experience anything like that again. It was better than great."

"Thank you, kind sir," Justin teased snuggling up against his man. "It was pretty great from my side too."

"I think you need to change your net name from BB to TT."

"What's TT?" Justin asked looking up at Brian.

"Guess."

"Total twat?"

"Never."

"I'm glad you said that. What does it stand for?"

"Terrific Top."

Justin giggled and then hit Brian with one of his wondrous smiles. Brian could feel the warmth of the smile flow through him. He could see how happy he had just made Justin. He wanted to do that over and over again for the rest of his life.

"I like that," Justin said. "I'll go change that right now." He pretended to get up so he could go to his computer.

"Not now, twat," Brian said with a chuckle holding on to Justin's wrist.

"I don't want to go anywhere," Justin said snuggling back into what was fast becoming his favorite position, curled up against Brian with his head on Brian's chest. He could feel Brian's fingers sift through his hair. He sighed in contentment. "I think you should change the meaning of PP," he whispered.

"You don't think my pecker's perfect anymore?" Brian asked.

Justin giggled. "Of course it's perfect, none better."

"Then why do you want me to change it?"

"I was referring to the other meaning."

"So what do you want it to mean?"

"I was thinking maybe … Potential Partner?" Justin whispered not looking at Brian.

Brian tensed up and then took a deep breath. This was the best thing he had ever heard in his pathetic life since the accident. He wanted Justin on a physical level like he had never wanted another man. He wanted him on an emotional level too. Justin understood him in a way that he hardly understood himself. He thought back over the last few days and all the things Justin had done for him. He felt so safe and loved and … whole. He never thought he'd feel like that again. He knew that he needed Justin deep in his soul. The man had touched something inside him that went beyond emotion. It had to do with his very existence. Justin made existence worthwhile.

But… He hesitated. How could he ask this man to saddle himself with a cripple? How could he expect Justin to put up with his limitations day after day after day? He knew he couldn't do that.

"I don't think I'd make much of a partner," Brian said quietly. "You could do a lot better … and you should."

"Are you turning me down? Because if that's what you're saying, then you are a whole fucking lot stupider than I thought."

"I don't want to hold you back. I don't want to be a burden. It'll wear thin before too long."

"What was it that Adrienne told you - don't hide behind the chair. I want you, Brian," Justin stated staring into the hazel eyes. "I want you, and it has nothing to do with the chair. It has to do with who you are, the man I see when I look at you."

"You don't see the chair, do you?"

"No, I don't. And you shouldn't either. Adrienne is right. You are successful and funny. The gallant part is still up for grabs." Brian gave him a playful swat. "You're also smart and honest and I love being with you. You're what I want."

Brian was silent. He seemed to be thinking. Justin waited. He knew Brian was trying to do the right thing. He understood why he was pushing him away. He hoped he'd made it clear that he knew what he was getting into and it was exactly what he wanted.

"How about Permanent Partner?" Brian said.

"I like the sound of that. Shall we consummate our partnership?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Brian leaned down to kiss this man who in the course of a few short days had changed his life for the better. Justin lived nearby and yet they might never have gotten together. How many times had he barely missed meeting him? He didn't know what kind of a future they could have together, but he knew he wanted that future whatever it turned out to be. He was glad he had taken some chances. Justin was worth it. He was glad Justin had been close to home. Now he was home. His arms went around the slender body and pulled his future close.

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