Justin contemplated the phone.  He stared at it wondering what he should do.  He looked at the letter of resignation that sat beside it on the desk.  Brian had told him what to write and he had typed it up on the computer.  Brian had approved it and signed it earlier in the day.  He refused to talk about what had happened, about the hit and run, about his mother, about why he was so determined to quit as mayor.  Justin didn't like the way things were going one little bit.

 

Brian had mostly stayed in bed since he had come home from the hospital.  He refused to see anyone, making Justin promise to keep them all away.  Justin had managed to do as Brian requested, although he was sure that Debbie was ready to kill him.  The rest of the gang had understood even though they didn't like it.  Lindsay was angry.  She had told Justin to make sure that Brian knew that Gus wanted to see him.  It made no difference.  Charles Langdon who had convinced Brian to run for mayor in the first place had sent his best wishes and wanted to come see Brian.  Brian had refused him too.

 

Justin could feel Brian retreating into himself.  He was building walls like he had before, shutting out the world he didn't want to deal with, shutting out the pain, and shutting out Justin.  His refusal to talk about anything was putting a huge strain on their relationship.

 

Justin looked up into the bedroom.  Brian was sleeping … again.  For a man who never seemed to need sleep, Justin couldn't believe how much Brian had slept the last few days.  He was sure he was using it as an escape from the situation he found himself in.

 

He picked up the phone and punched in the number he had looked up earlier.  He carried the portable out onto the landing and slid the loft door part way shut.  He didn't want Brian to hear this.

 

"Maria?" Justin said when he heard the voice on the line.

 

"I'm fine.  He's doing … okay.  Is Frank there?  I need to speak to him."

He waited not really knowing what he was going to say.  Suddenly he heard Frank's reassuring voice.

 

"Justin?" the councilman said softly.  "What can I do for you?"

"I don't know.  I just needed to talk to somebody.  I'm scared for Brian.  He's going to resign as mayor."

"I read that in the papers.  They seemed to think the mayor was overreacting to what had happened.  Is he really quitting?"

"I typed up his letter of resignation this morning.  He's already signed it."

 

"That's … not good.  What can we do about it?"

 

That was what he liked about Frank.  The man understood things immediately and accepted a role in dealing with them.  "I don't know.  I wondered if you might have any ideas.  He … he's withdrawing into himself.  I can see him retreating from everything … from me," Justin said with a catch in his voice.  "It gets worse every day."

"He's not used to having things go against him, is he?"

 

"No, he usually bends the world to his will."

"So he would see this as the ultimate failure."

"Probably.  I know he thinks everybody's out to get him.  He thinks he can't do the job as mayor, that nobody wants him there."

 

"Justin, let me work on something and I'll get back to you.  Hold on to that letter of resignation.  Don't let him send it."

"What are you going to do?" Justin asked daring to allow himself a sliver of hope for the first time since the accident.

 

"I don't know yet, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

"Thanks, Frank.  Thanks for talking to me."

"Anytime, Justin.  Tell the mayor I'm thinking about him."

Justin ended the call and went back inside.  He hoped Frank might be able to do something but he really didn't know what that might be.  It was Saturday and Brian should go back to work on Monday, that is if he could be convinced to go back.  Justin decided to get some lunch ready for them, even though he knew Brian probably wouldn't eat anything.  By the time the sandwiches were ready, he heard Brian in the bathroom.

 

"Come get some lunch," Justin called.

 

"Not hungry." 

 

Justin could see him lie down on the bed again.  He took a deep breath.  "Brian, get the fuck up!  I'm sick of this shit."

"What did you say to me?"

"You heard me.  Get down here and eat with me.  I don't care if you're hungry or not."

 

Justin half expected to be told to fuck off, but he heard Brian moving around and the man came down the steps to join him at the bar.  He put the sandwich in front of Brian and came around to sit on the chair next to him.  Brian gingerly lifted his butt onto the barstool.  Any kind of stretch was still somewhat painful for his bruised body, but otherwise he was much improved.  They had removed the bandage on his head where he had hit the windshield.  His eye was mostly open now but still black, blue, purple and a weird color of orange.

 

"I'm glad you decided to join me," Justin said taking a bite from his sandwich.

 

"Did I have a choice?"

 

Justin ignored the question.  "Are you feeling a little better?"

"I'm … okay."

This was an opening.  Justin determined to jump in with both feet.  "Brian, I want you to tell me what happened with your mother."  That was as good a place to start as any.

 

"What difference does it make?" Brian asked with a sigh.

 

"It makes a difference, so just tell me … now!"

 

Brian sighed again.  "The usual."

"Tell me the fuck what that means or I'm … leaving … permanently," Justin demanded and stood up.

 

"Don't … don't leave me," Brian begged. 

 

Justin could hear the plea for help in his voice.  He knew what that must have taken for Brian to beg.  He sat back down.  "I won't leave you.  I don't want to leave you, but you're driving me away.  Tell me what happened."

 

Brian stared into the blue eyes.  "I thought I could talk to her.  I did it with Louise.  I made her understand."

 

"But not your mother?"

Brian shook his head and Justin saw a tear roll down his cheek.  Brian didn't bother to brush it away.  "She wasn't glad to see me.  She'd been drinking and didn't want to be interrupted."  Justin made a face.  "I finally talked her into letting me in."

 

"You had to talk her into it?"

Brian nodded and another tear escaped.  "She wanted to know why I was there.  I told her she was my mother … and that I wanted to thank her for staying out of the campaign."

"What else?" Justin asked seeing that Brian didn't seem to want to continue.

"I … I told her that I wanted her to be proud of me."

 

"You did?  God, that took some guts."

Brian looked at him his eyes filled with tears.  "She asked why she should be proud of someone who didn't care about their family, who never did anything for them.  Then she told me to get out."

"And you just left?"

 

"I had to get away from her.  I would have killed her if I had stayed there.  I decided to walk to the corner and meet Chuck there.  I heard tires squeal and that's all I remember."

Justin reached over and pulled Brian into his embrace.  He could feel the sobs that were silent to the ear but wrenching to the heart.  He wondered how a mother could treat her son like that.  He wondered how any woman could not see the kind, gentle man that he saw all the time.  He wondered how Brian had prevented himself from breaking into a million pieces.

 

Justin felt Brian stiffen and pull away.  He released him gently.  "I'm going back to bed," Brian said and walked slowly up the steps.  Justin watched in dread.  This had taken all the spirit out of the man.  Maybe he had finally broken into those million pieces.

 

                                                               -----

 

"I don't understand why you're making me do this," Brian griped.

 

"Frank told me that there is no real precedent for a mayor resigning like this."

"Can't they just pretend that I died?"

"No, they cannot.  You have to go there and explain yourself."

 

"This is fucking stupid.  Take me home."

"No, now sit still.  We'll be there in a minute or two, and then it will all be over with."

Brian and Justin were sitting in the back of the limousine.  Chuck was taking them to City Hall, probably for the last time.  Frank had told Justin that Brian couldn't just resign.  He had to answer to council about that.  He needed to come to Monday's council meeting and explain.  Justin suspected that Frank had something arranged but the man wouldn't tell him what, and he thought it best that he didn't know.  Then he could be as genuinely surprised as Brian.

 

It had taken all of Justin's resourcefulness and cunning to get Brian out of the house and into the limo.  He told him they could pick up Brian's things at his office while they were there.  He told him it would be cathartic to tell the council off.  He told him he could say goodbye to Cynthia.  He owed her that much.  He told him he could tell the world to fuck off and it would be on the evening news.  That may have been the one that turned the tide in his favor.

 

Anyway they were in the back of the limo and almost at City Hall.  Brian looked pretty good.  He wanted them to know that he still had pride in his appearance and demeanor.  He had dressed carefully and impeccably as always.  The only obvious evidence of the accident was the remains of the black eye.

 

Justin held on to his hand – for support, but also because he was slightly afraid Brian might open the door at any minute and jump out.  The limo slowed and then stopped.  Justin straightened Brian's tie and Chuck opened the door for them.  Brian slid out.

 

A round of cheers greeted him.  The entrance area of City Hall was packed with people.  Many carried placards saying "Welcome Back, Mr. Mayor" or "Glad You're Back."  Brian stared at them in amazement.

 

Somebody broke into a chorus of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" and everyone joined in.

 

"What the fuck is this?" Brian whispered to Justin who held on tightly to his hand.

 

"I don't know, but they seem glad to see you," Justin said cheerily.

 

Brian glowered at him.  "They must have heard that I'm resigning and they're here to celebrate."

"It seems like they're just happy you're here."

Brian snorted in disbelief.  "They just want to have me here to kick around.  Let's go inside."  He pushed Justin towards the entrance. 

 

Someone called out, "Mayor Kinney, Mayor Kinney!"  Brian turned to see what they wanted.  "Please say a few words.  We all want to know you're all right."

 

Brian couldn't believe his ears.  These people cared that he was still alive?  Not possible.  Everybody hated him, wanted him gone, wanted him dead.  He turned away ready to go inside without a further word.

 

"Mayor Kinney, Mayor Kinney, Mayor Kinney," the chant began and continued as he once again turned to face them.

 

"You should speak to them, Brian," Justin said into his ear.

 

"No."  He ushered Justin toward the doors.  The chant grew louder.

 

"Brian, please, talk to them," Justin begged.

 

"I'm not saying anything.  They're just here to gloat.  This is all some sick game.  Come on."  Brian grabbed Justin's hand and hauled him through the front doors of City Hall before he could protest.

 

A few people in the lobby said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor."  Brian never let on he heard them.  He marched to the bank of elevators and pushed the button impatiently.  Finally an elevator arrived and he pulled Justin inside.

 

Luckily or unluckily they were alone.  "Why did you make me come here?" he demanded of Justin.  "This is worse than I fucking thought it would be."

 

"Worse?  Everyone's been glad to see you," Justin said trying to make Brian see that people were on his side.

 

"You're not stupid enough to think that was sincere, are you?"

 

"What … what do you mean?"

"They all hate me.  They want me gone.  They probably wish the fucking car had killed me."

 

"Brian, I don't think…"

 

The elevator doors opened and Justin didn't have a chance to finish his statement.  Geoffrey Cheeks was waiting for them as they stepped out.  Brian brusquely said hello to him and asked if the council was ready to see him.

 

"Let's get this over with," Brian said and headed to the council chamber, Justin and Geoffrey trailing behind.

 

"He's going to be floored," Geoffrey whispered to Justin.

 

"What did you say?" Brian asked looking back at the man.

 

"I said it's the next door."

 

Brian gave him a look and pushed open the council chamber door.  The room was packed and suddenly they were all standing.  They burst into applause as Brian entered.  He looked around in bewilderment.

 

Justin thought Brian was going to explode.  Brian glanced at Geoffrey and then Justin, and Justin knew he had to do something before it was too late.  He stepped forward and took Brian's hand.  He squeezed gently.  He saw Brian take a breath.

 

"Mr. Mayor," Theresa Abela said, "please have a seat at the front of the council."  Brian glared at her.  Justin knew he was ready to bolt so he held on tight to the hand and edged them towards the chairs the woman had indicated.  Once they were safely seated, Justin released some of the pressure on Brian's hand, but still held on to it. 

 

"Brian, try to relax," Justin whispered to him.

 

"What the fuck do you know about all this?" Brian asked through gritted teeth.

 

"Nothing," Justin whispered back, and he really did know nothing, but he was sure Frank did.

 

"Mr. Mayor," Theresa began again, "may I say how happy we are to see you alive and well.  Although that shiner makes you look rather dangerous."

 

The council and guests laughed politely.  Justin thought about the fact that they little knew how dangerous Brian really could be.  They were walking a fine line here.

 

"The council wants to express their outrage at what happened to you.  We hope the culprits will be apprehended very soon.  We have been told that you came here today to resign, and I for one am asking you not to do that.  You know that I wasn't a great supporter of yours, but I have come to respect the way you run the council meetings, the way you defend the programs you want implemented and the way you listen to ideas other than your own.  I think it would be a great loss to the city of Pittsburgh if you quit now.  You've barely got started."

 

This was followed by another standing ovation.  Brian looked stunned.  He saw Frank who was clapping as loudly as everyone else and smiling encouragingly at Brian.

 

"We hope you will reconsider.  You may now have the floor, Mr. Mayor."  Theresa took her seat, everybody else sat back down, and Brian stood.  The silence was deafening as they all waited for him to speak.

 

"I don't see that this makes one particle of difference.  I'm still resigning."

 

Justin groaned audibly and so did several others.  Brian turned as if to leave.

 

"Brian," Frank's voice sounded loud and clear.  Brian stopped and looked at him.  "I know you've been through a lot the last few days, probably more than most of us are aware.  Justin has told me that you feel that everyone is against you, that no one wants you to be mayor, but I do."  This was followed be a chorus of "I do too" and "Me too".  "The people who are outside the front doors of City Hall are people who want you to be mayor.  They're the ones who elected you.  The gallery here is filled with people who support you."  A cheer rose up from the gallery.  "There are some people who want you out of the mayor's seat, but there are many, many, many more who want you in it."

 

Brian looked uncertainly at Justin.  Justin could feel some of the gloom fade from the man.  This was having an impact.

 

"I don't know what to say," Brian said overwhelmed by what was happening.  He had his mind all made up.  He didn't think he could back down now.

 

"Say you'll stay," someone called out.  "Yes, stay," several others added.

 

"I can't believe this is happening.  All I've ever had is sh… grief since I assumed this position," Brian said shaking his head.

 

"We realize now how it must have seemed to you, that none of us supported you, but we do.  You are the duly elected mayor of Pittsburgh.  Don't let some homophobic malcontents drive you out," Theresa told him.

 

"My head is spinning," Brian said.  "I came here prepared to tell you all to fuck off and I would have too."  People chuckled nervously at Brian's choice of language.  "I don't see how I can stay."

"Just say you will and that will be the end of it," Frank said simply.

 

Brian continued to shake his head.  Justin knew how hard it was for him to change his mind once he had committed to something.  Everyone waited for Brian's decision.

 

"All right," he said finally.  "I'll give it one more try if you all promise to vote on my side of every proposal."  He looked around expectantly.  The chamber remained silent.

 

"No such guarantee, Mr. Mayor," Frank said bluntly, "but we promise to listen and weigh each proposal fairly."

"What more could I ask for?" Brian replied and just like that he was mayor all over again.

 

Justin sat watching Brian.  He knew he couldn't interfere in this decision.  It was too huge and Brian had to want to do it.  Once Brian indicated he would stay on, he was surrounded by council members who clapped him on the back and shook his hand.  Frank had a big hug for him.  Justin heard him say, "You made the right decision, son."  Brian merely smiled.  Justin waited.  He knew Brian would find him eventually.  He saw Brian speak to Geoffrey briefly, and then Brian was standing in front of him.

 

"Come on, we're going home," he said.

 

"Aren't you going to your office?"

 

"I told Geoffrey I'd start tomorrow."

 

"Why?" Justin asked puzzled.

 

"Just come with me," Brian stated.  He pulled Justin from his seat and they escaped into the hall.  They ran to the elevators and went down to the lobby.

 

"I'm staying," Brian said to the guards and receptionist who worked there.  They smiled their approval.

 

Brian pushed the front door open and Justin followed him out.  "I'm staying," he yelled to the crowd.  They erupted in cheers.  Brian smiled at them.  Chuck pulled the limo up and Brian and Justin got in. 

 

"I'm staying," Brian said to Chuck as they drove away.  Chuck told him he was glad to hear that.  "Close the panel or close your eyes," Brian said.

 

"Since I'm driving I'll close the partition," Chuck said with a grin.

 

"And take your time getting us home," Brian added before the partition reached the top.

 

As soon as it did Brian pinned Justin to the seat with his kisses and yanked the boy's clothes off.  His own weren't far behind.  They fucked their way through most of Pittsburgh while Chuck kept driving knowing they would tell him when they were through.

 

When they finally pulled up at the loft on Brian's instruction, both men had their clothes back on and only looked and smelled slightly of sex.  Chuck opened the door of the limo.

 

"Enjoy the tour of the city, Mr. Mayor?" he asked with a grin.

 

"It was spectacular!  See you in the morning as usual."  Brian and Justin disappeared into their building to continue their own tour of familiar places.

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