Kidnapped!

" 11 "

Suddenly the door of the cabin flew open and Chester carried a small body out from the depths. The youngster kicked his feet and struggled and screamed. He did his very best to escape the grasp of Chester Blackburn, but the man had a tight hold on his precious cargo.

"Nonna, nonna," Gus wailed.

"Gus!" Brian and Lindsay both said at the same time. The little boy looked up at them, his face stained with tears and his heart seemingly broken. Lindsay stepped forward and Gus stopped crying as he studied the woman. He looked over at Brian and frowned. "No," he whimpered and turned away. "Nonna!" he called.

"Gus, it's mommy," Lindsay said softly.

"And daddy," Brian added wanting to grab the little boy and hold him tight. He could tell that Gus was frightened and didn't seem to know who they were. Had they brainwashed his son?

"Nonna," Gus cried and shoved his face into Chester's shirt so he didn't have to look at these big people anymore. Tears continued to run down his face.

"What does nonna mean?" Brian asked.

"He's calling for his grandmother," Chester said softly. "Mamma Garoni."

"Fuck," Brian breathed between clenched teeth.

"Gus," Lindsay said, "you remember me, don't you, sweetie?"

Gus looked up at his mother through his tears. He shook his head. Lindsay felt like her heart had been torn from her chest.

"We brought you Jus-Bear," Brian said holding up the little bear he had clutched in his hand ever since he got out of the car. Justin had given Gus the little bear not long after he was born. It had slept in Gus' crib from that day on. When Gus had learned to talk he had called it Jus-Bear after Justin.

Gus frowned and stared at the little stuffed animal. He seemed to be fighting an internal battle with himself. He struggled against Chester for a moment and then suddenly his demeanor changed as if a thick cover had been peeled away from his eyes. "Jus-Bear!" Gus gasped and a small smile shone through the tears. "Daddy! Mommy!"

Chester set Gus down on the dock and the little boy ran towards his parents, grabbing Jus-Bear from his father's hand and clutching it to his chest. He squeezed it so hard Brian thought the seams might pop. Then Gus looked up at his mother and father and held out his arms for them to pick him up.

Brian scooped him up and smothered his face in kisses. Gus started to giggle as Lindsay kissed his cheek and the two adults sandwiched him between them.

Lindsay breathed, "Gus, Gus, Gus," over and over again.

"I love you, Sonny Boy," Brian whispered as he held the little body tight against him.

"I love you too, sweetheart, lambskin, baby," Lindsay cooed.

Finally Brian allowed Lindsay to take the little boy from him. He watched as Lindsay tearfully kissed and stared at her son. He couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face.

After a minute he felt Chester step up beside him. "We need to get moving," he said in a matter of fact voice.

"In a minute," Brian agreed unable to take his eyes off his son. "How can I ever thank you?"

"You'll get my bill in a couple of days, and it'll be a doozey!"

"And worth every penny. Thanks, Chester," Brian said turning and shaking the man's hand.

"I know you think this is over, but we still have to get Gus back to the States. We need to go now."

Brian nodded. "Lindsay," he said softly, "we need to get going."

Lindsay turned a radiant smile to her son's father. Brian thought he had never seen her look so happy or so beautiful. "I'm ready," she said. "Let's go home."

Chester, Gus, Lindsay and Brian climbed into the car they had driven from Naples and headed for the airport in Reggio Calabria. It wasn't a long trip with Brian driving and Chester navigating. Chester was going to accompany them all the way back to Pittsburgh. He hoped to facilitate things in the airports and make the trip as easy and uneventful as possible.

The small airport at Reggio Calabria posed no problems for them. They got on a regional jet with few questions. Gus had calmed down and hugged Jus-Bear happily. He seemed to have forgotten about nonna, at least for a while. Brian wondered if his son would need some counseling down the road.

On the plane Brian sat beside Chester while Lindsay shared a double seat with Gus. The little boy fell asleep as soon as they were in the air.

Brian turned to Chester. "So how did it go?"

"Don't ask. We got Gus. That's all that's important."

"I don't much like the sound of that, Chester."

"Nobody died. The boy is safe and my men will dispose of the boat. They won't be able to trace us."

"You think it's that simple?"

"It just might be," Chester said. He stared off into space. "The senior Garoni was most pissed with his wife when she spearheaded the kidnapping of your son. He likes to stay out of the spotlight, and this directed a lot of attention to things he wanted to keep hidden. That's why he banished his wife to Sicily. I doubt she'll ever be back, and the old man certainly won't come after Gus."

"What about Gianni?"

"He's in his father's bad books too, so he shouldn't cause you any problems."

Brian let out a long breath. This was the first time he had allowed himself to think beyond getting Gus back. Maybe they could actually get their lives back. "I sure as fuck hope you're right," Brian said with a sigh. He was ready to be home with Justin. Jus-Bear didn't quite make the cut, although he had had the little bear with him all the way to Naples and Reggio Calabria.

"We're descending to land in Naples," Chester said as the 'fasten seat belt' sign came on. "Once we get through here, we're home free."

The switch of planes in Naples went uneventfully, as did Paris. They all tried to sleep on the trans-Atlantic flight, but it was fitful at best. Gus was the only one who seemed to rest without any worries. The youthful brain was a true marvel, especially after everything Gus had been through.

As they landed in New York, they all held their breath. Customs and immigration would be the last hurdle to them getting safely back to Pittsburgh. Chester had told them to come up with some feasible story about why they would have flown to Naples for a weekend. Brian, being the true ad man he was, had come up with a good one. They let him do the talking for the group.

Chester went into a different line at customs thinking it was best they not be associated with each other. He had been away on business in Italy as he would tell the agent.

"Yes, officer," Brian said sweetly. "It was a lovely wedding. My brother is now married to a sweet Italian girl and all is right with the world."

The agent stamped Brian's passport, glanced at Lindsay's and Gus' page and stamped theirs too. They quickly exited the area and went to find the gate for their flight to Pittsburgh.

"You were so sickeningly sweet about that wedding," Lindsay said as Brian carried Gus and she toted the carry-on. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"It's amazing what I would do for this little guy." Brian leaned down and kissed the top of Gus' head. The little boy smiled at his father, seemingly happy to be going home. He still clutched Jus-Bear in his arms.

"Not so amazing," Lindsay said softly, understanding how much Brian loved his son even when he didn't openly show it most of the time.

A couple of hours later they landed in Pittsburgh. Brian and Lindsay each drew a deep breath as they exited the security area. They knew Melanie and Justin would be waiting for them. They had asked everyone else to stay away, not wanting to frighten Gus with too many almost strangers at once.

"Brian," Justin called with a huge smile on his face.

Brian was carrying Gus and he gave Justin the thumbs up sign and a big grin as he came out from behind the barrier.

Justin flung his arms around Brian and Gus both. "Gus, I'm so happy you're home."

Gus held up Jus-Bear and smiled. "Justin," he said softly.

"Did Jus-Bear help you come home safely?" Justin asked. "We missed you so much."

Justin turned and gave Lindsay a big hug. Melanie had been hanging back.

"Gus?" she finally said holding out her arms. Gus turned away and buried his face against his father's shoulder. "Gus?" she said again. Gus whimpered audibly.

Melanie looked thunderstruck, then angry.

"He has to get used to people all over again," Lindsay said to soften the blow of Gus turning away from his other mother. "He didn't know us at first either."

"But he does now," Melanie said with a definite edge to her voice. "And he knows Justin."

"Seems so," Brian smirked finding it impossible not to enjoy just a bit of Melanie's distress.

"What the fuck have you told him about me?" Melanie demanded.

"Mel," Lindsay began with a sigh. "We haven't told him anything. He has been through a lot. Don't push it. Don't make a scene. Don't upset him."

"Fuck you!" Melanie said through clenched teeth. "He's my son too."

"Not for long, if I have anything to do with it," Brian stated. "I'm going to petition to get my parental rights back."

"Fuck you!"

"Let's get a cab into town," Brian said. "Melanie can find her own way home."

With a backward glance with only the merest tinge of regret, Lindsay joined Brian and Justin as they headed for the cab line. Her relationship with Melanie was effectively over. She would make sure Brian got his parental rights back. He deserved them.

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