After the Fall

Chapter 11

“Need a hand, Bri?” Ted asked as he came over to the grill where Brian had some steaks cooking on the barbecue.

“If I said yes, what would you do?” Brian asked his old friend, raising an eyebrow as he waited for Ted to respond.

Ted thought for a second and then started clapping his hands slowly. He couldn’t help but chuckle at his own cleverness.

“You know, Theodore. That old gag usually works best when the person upon whom it’s being perpetrated is the one who asks for a hand in the first place.”

“Oh,” Ted said sheepishly. “I really was asking if you needed some help, or if I could get you something.”

“A beer would taste absolutely fabulous at the moment.” Brian wiped the sweat from his brow. This barbecuing in the heat of August was the pits.

“Coming up right away, Boss,” Ted said as he scurried off to the kitchen to get said beer for Brian.

Brian shook his head and mouthed thank you to no one in particular.

Emmett and Drew and Ted and Allen had presented themselves at the cottage a while before. They were laden with food, and made some half-assed statement that only Brian could grill the perfect steak for them. Brian had been foolish enough to fall for their bullshit. They were all sitting in the sun porch out of the sun drinking beer with air conditioning and the fucking fan making a pleasant breeze pass over their bodies, while Brian was stuck outside in the blazing sun cooking over a fucking hot barbecue.

“Dada?” Bree said as she came up to her father.

“Stay back from the grill,” Brian warned, getting a little testy in the heat.

“I know, Dada,” Bree said with an arch of her own little eyebrow.

“What is it, Squirt?”

“Are you making hotdogs for Patrick ‘n me?”

“I’m making hamburgers for you two. You got a problem with that?”

Bree looked at her father, and assessed the situation. He was sweating and looked hot and tired and grumpy. “I love you, Dada,” she said, deciding that asking for a hotdog at that moment was not a good idea.

“I love you too, Squirt,” Brian replied, managing to muster a weak smile.

Bree skipped away to join Patrick on the porch of the Wendy house and tell him the bad news that there wouldn’t be any hotdogs for dinner.

“Here’s your beer, Bri,” Ted said reappearing with a bottle of beer in his hand.

“About fucking time,” Brian griped as he snatched the beer out of Ted’s hand and twisted off the top. He took a long swallow, allowing the cold liquid to run down his throat. He sighed with pleasure, before looking up to see Ted staring at him. “What?” he demanded.

“Thanks for barbecuing. You didn’t have to do it.”

“You think not?” Brian asked sarcastically. When Emmett Honeycutt, the big fairy, decided that something was going to happen, it happened. And apparently Emmett had decided they should have a barbecue this evening. So Brian was slaving over a hot grill and Emmett was inside slurping beer or whipping up cosmos.

“I mean that it’s really great of you to do this,” Ted managed to explain further.

“Yeah, right.”

“How many men have their boss cook supper for them?”

“You’re the only one I know of, and you should be fucking grateful.”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you,” Ted sighed, “that I’m grateful to you for doing this.”

“You bucking for a raise, Schmidt?” Brian asked raising that eyebrow again.

Ted sighed. “I just never say anything to you that comes out right.” Ted turned around and headed back to the porch.

“Theodore,” Brian said in that commanding voice he had.

Ted stopped. “Yes, Boss?”

“Sometimes you say the right thing, like what you said just now.”

Ted smiled and turned to look at Brian. “You … you were putting me on?”

“Only partially. I’m fucking hot. But thanks for the beer. Go tell the fucking fairy in the sun porch that the steaks are almost ready. You can get the kids from the Wendy house too.”

“Happy to, Bri,” Ted said cheerfully as he headed for the house.

“And Schmidt!” Ted halted. “Don’t get used to compliments.”

“Me? Never, Boss.”

Brian chuckled to himself, then took another long drink from the beer bottle, before giving the steaks a final flip and applying his special barbecue sauce.

A while later they were seated around a table in the sun porch enjoying the steaks and the huge Caesar salad that Emmett had made. Bree and Patrick were eating their hamburgers, which they found to be delicious, in spite of the fact that they had really wanted hotdogs.

“You make the best steaks,” Allen said with his mouth full of a large piece of Brian’s succulent barbecue. “I don’t know how you get them so juicy and tender.”

“Skill,” Brian said with a smirk.

“They really are delicious,” Drew contributed. “I could have these for dinner every night.”

“Don’t get any ideas,” Brian stated raising an eyebrow.

“Good, Dada,” Bree said.

“Very good,” Patrick added.

“Thank you one and all,” Brian said. “You can stop buttering me up now. I got all hot and sweaty for you, so you better fucking appreciate the food.”

“I really appreciate it,” Justin said giving Brian the look that said he still remembered their sweaty activities from earlier.

Brian felt his dick jump at Justin’s tone. He wished all the people around the table would disappear so he could rip Justin’s clothes off and fuck him on top of it.

There was a period of silence while everyone enjoyed their steak and salad. When they were finished eating, Drew and Emmett cleared the table. They disappeared into the kitchen.

“No dessert for me,” Brian called out to Emmett.

“Can I have yours, Dada?” Bree asked.

“How do you know you’ll like it?”

“Is it cake or cookies?” Patrick asked.

“I don’t know,” Brian admitted. “But I’m sure it’s something fattening,” Brian told him.

“Yummy,” Bree giggled.

“I’ll have you know that my dessert is not fattening, but it is delicious,” Emmett said coming back into the porch carrying a large bowl with something orange inside.

“What the fuck is that?” Brian demanded.

“Easy, Brian,” Justin said. “Remember that orange is the new blue.” Justin couldn’t help but giggle.

“Wasn’t that about five years ago?” Brian asked.

“Try fifteen,” Justin replied with another giggle.

Brian grimaced. “You would have to remind me.”

“It’s okay, big guy. I’ll always love you.”

Emmett made gagging noises to get everyone’s attention. “This is my very own mango sorbet, and it is positively luscious.”

“You made that?” Brian asked, eyeing the bowl suspiciously.

“I did, and you will enjoy it.” Emmett began dishing out bowlfuls to all assembled. “It has no fat whatsoever.”

“Is that so?” Brian said as he took a tiny spoonful. “It’s … fucking delicious!”

“Thank you muchly,” Emmett beamed.

“Do I like this, Daddy?” Bree asked with a frown on her face.

“You’ve never had it, sweetheart, but I think you’ll like it. Try a little taste.”

Bree screwed up her face and closed her eyes as Justin fed her a little bit on the end of a spoon. Her eyes opened and she smacked her lips. “Good!” she declared.

“The Princess Bree seal of approval,” Emmett grinned. “What more could I ask for?”

Patrick dug into his sorbet once Bree had indicated that it was good. Everyone else followed suit. While they were all eating Emmett’s sorbet, Brian decided to ask what he had been wanting to know all afternoon.

“Have any of you seen anything … unusual at the loft?” he asked giving a sideways glance towards Bree to indicate that they should be careful about what they said, especially if Gus’ name came up.

They all shook their heads.

“I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled,” Ted said, “but I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.”

Drew, Emmett and Allen all nodded in agreement.

Brian scowled. He was going to have to do something about Gus and this Cole character. He just wished he knew what and how.

The guys were all lounging in the sun porch when Cindy, one of Rachel’s girls, who was really a young lady now, had come through the porch door wanting to ‘borrow’ the kids. It was a very warm evening and Rachel had a small wading pool set up in her backyard. Patrick, was still sporting his cast, so going to the stream at night was out of the question. But sitting in a calm cool wading pool with his arm protected in plastic was acceptable. Justin and Bobby packed up some extra clothes and pajamas just in case. With Beau leading the way, Cindy took her little charges back to her house.

“Theodore, you hear anything more about Wertshafter’s?” Brian asked with an arch of his brow. Ted was keeping quiet about wanting to buy out his old accounting firm. Brian thought he was just stalling, too embarrassed to tell anyone that he made an offer on the place. Brian also knew that the offer was accepted.

“Teddy, what is Brian talking about?” Emmett asked his best friend. Ted made a pitiful attempt at glaring at Brian who was looking rather smug.

“Old man Wertshafter retired years ago. His son practically ruined the business and I still have contacts over there. When I heard the business was up for sale, I made a bid. Junior Wertshafter accepted my offer. By the time I go back to Pittsburgh, I’ll be the CEO of Schmidt’s Personal Accountants,” Ted said meekly but proudly.

“Oh Teddy! I’m so proud of you,” Emmett gushed as he ran to Ted’s chair to give the man a hug. “Well this deserves a special celebration. We must have a party to mark your entry into mogul-dom.” As the boys all congratulated Ted, Brian broke out a special bottle of sparkling wine and one of sparkling cider for Ted, who true to his word, remained clean and sober all these years.

“A toast to the best fucking accountant on the East coast!” Brian said with pride as he raised his glass. “And I’m grateful to call him friend,” Brian added sincerely, taking a good gulp of wine then casually walking back out to the garden ostensibly to check on the cooling grills. Ted was shocked into silence at the compliment as Emmett burst out into happy tears. Their respective partners tended them.

“Bri, that was a very nice thing to say,” Justin remarked as he wrapped his arms around Brian’s waist.

“I meant it.”

“I know you did. We all know how much you truly love and respect Teddy.” Brian grunted then slipped his arms around Justin. “You shocked the shit out of them, you know.” Justin began to softly giggle in Brian’s arms.

“I know,” Brian said as he chuckled then kissed his spouse under the soft August moonlight.

 

*****
 

“So what’s the plan?” Debbie asked out loud.

“We have to catch them in the act and make sure Gus is not implicated. I wish Brian had installed security cameras when he upgraded the alarm system,” Hunter commented.

“Um, Brian did, but since only family lives in the building, he didn’t have the cameras activated,” John informed them all.

“John, can you have the cameras turned on? If we get enough footage of these hooligans, that and Gene’s statement will be enough to have them arrested,” Carl asked.

“Wait a minute, I haven’t seen any cameras,” Lacy stated.

“Brian had them installed as part of the emergency lights so they wouldn’t be obvious. He saw no reason to have them turned on. He didn’t want to be accused of invading anyone’s privacy. It took a lot of convincing on my part to just get him to let me install them. He trusts the people in the building.”

“And now I’ve broken that trust,” Gus murmured sadly.

“Gus, you will eventually have to face your father but right now we have to focus on getting enough evidence to bury these guys. I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t tried this scam on other kids,” Hunter said with authority.

“I don’t understand. What scam?” Lindsay asked.

“Gus met Cole at the GLC during one of their supervised dances. Cole looks young so he blends in, hits on kids that may have money, ingratiates himself and then before you know it, he rips off the kid’s family. When this is over we should contact the New York police, but for now, John, can you have the cameras activated?”

“No problem, Hunter.”

“Carl, I think Officer Rodgers and Sergeant McGinty should be in on this.”

“I’ll call them in the morning.”

“Honey, someone should check on the loft, maybe take pictures,” Debbie suggested.

“I’ll do that when we get home. It seems like they only enter the building when they think everyone is gone for the day,” Hunter replied.

“If I may,” Gene began,” it looks like Cole is the brains between the two of them. If he’s occupied, I don’t think the other one will go into the building.”

“John, do you need to physically get into the building to activate the security system?” Carl asked.

“Yes, but I only need five minutes then the system will be completely automated and adjusted via computer.”

“Cole told me his cousin works as a stockroom clerk at the Big Q, the afternoon shift. I can keep Cole occupied and away from the apartment for most of the day. Even if Cole does see Uncle John, he looks so much like my dad that he’ll just think dad came into the city for the day. That’ll guarantee that Cole will stay away.”

“Gus, sweetie, I don’t want you hanging around that boy anymore,” Lindsay begged.

“Mom, I have to do this. I have to make it up to my Pop. I knew he didn’t like Cole, hell, even Bree knew something wasn’t right with Cole and I just didn’t listen. I have to help.”

“All right, lambskin, but don’t be alone with him.”

“I can bring him to the gallery, show him Justin’s paintings.”

“That’ll fit. He’ll think you’re just proud of Justin and he’ll probably get a bug up his ass to get back into the loft to rip off a Justin Taylor original,” Hunter stated.

“Honey, I’m just glad you’re on our side!” Debbie exclaimed and Carl nodded in agreement. Hunter’s time on the street and his work with the less than savory elements of Pittsburgh had educated Hunter in the ways of the wayward.

“Do you think we should call Emmett and the guys?” Katerina quietly asked.

“No!” Nick and Hunter said at the same time. Debbie scowled and Melanie snorted.

“Why not?” Katerina asked in all innocence. She loved Emmett and Drew as well as Ted and Allen. She felt safe and loved with them around.

“Kat, honey, there’s a reason why Liberty Avenue has a gay grapevine and his name is Emmett Honeycutt. I love Emmett with all my heart but he can’t keep a secret. If he knows then Brian will surely find out.”

“Right, Ma. And if Teddy knows, he’ll spill his guts the minute Brian gives him one of those looks,” Michael added.

“What look?” Katerina asked. John glared then arched his eyebrow a la Brian Kinney.

“That look!” Debbie pointed at John and laughed.

“People, focus!” Hunter redirected the family back to the plan. “It’s getting late. John, do you have time now to do whatever you need to do?”

“No, I don’t have the equipment with me. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“And if you’re dressed like Brian, no one will get suspicious,” Carl suggested. John nodded.

“John, do you think you can get Drew to come back with you? I’d feel safer if he were in the building,” Ben asked. Drew was still in tip top physical condition and Ben was worried for the girls as well as his son and Nick.

“Oh, Paw!” Hunter whined.

“Hunter, you may run the whole clinic but you’re still my son.” Ben couldn’t hide his concern as he hugged the young man.

“Our son,” Michael added with his own hug.

“Not a problem, I’ll call Drew on my way home and fill him in. He can come back with me tomorrow. I hope we can get this all wrapped up in a few days. Any more people involved and the whole of Pittsburgh will know our plan.” The family murmured in agreement.

“We should meet back here in the morning to finalize our plans. Gus, you okay with everything?” Hunter asked. He knew Gus was scared although he hid it well behind the cool Kinney persona.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Gus replied bravely.

The family bid each other goodnight then went their separate ways.
 

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