Brian was unusually quiet as he, Hunter and Nick entered the Liberty Avenue Diner. If Hunter didn't know any better he'd think Brian was sulking. However, we all know Brian Kinney doesn't sulk.

"Brian, honey, why the long face? This awful weather getting to you?" Emmett had swooped into the diner with his usual flair. He had closed up his bistro for the night, and for the next few weeks, left the running of the bistro in the capable hands of his associate, Sean. The Ironmen's season was over. As planned, Emmett and Drew were going to spend some time at their cottage. Drew was going to meet Emmett at the diner, have dinner together then head for the cottage.

"I'm fine, Emmy Lou. Just tired of the snow," Brian mumbled, taking a seat next to Emmett. Nick and Hunter sat opposite the friends. They were joined, shortly by Justin and by Drew.

Justin had finished his talk with Lacy and had made similar plans to meet Brian at the diner, have dinner then go home to Edna's Treasures. Bree was with Patrick and her uncles.

"Hey," Justin greeted his spouse with a warm smile.

"Hey," Brian said quietly as Justin slipped into the booth next to Brian. Drew sat next to Hunter.

"What's wrong?" Justin asked as he looked at Brian then at Hunter and Nick. "What's going on?"

"That's what I want to know," Emmett said loudly. Hunter and Nick looked at Brian then down at the menus in their hands which they knew by heart.

When Brian didn't say anything, Justin put his foot down. "Okay, something is definitely wrong and I want to know what it is!"

"Brian...," Hunter said in his Social Worker voice.

Brian sighed. "Igotmugged," Brian mumbled.

"What!" Justin and Emmett said in unison. That caught the attention of all present.

"I got mugged," Brian said again then shielded the arm that was grazed by the knife.

"And just when were you going to tell me? Are you hurt?" Justin said louder.

"Yeah! What he said!" Emmett cried out.

"Nothing happened, okay and I'm not hurt," Brian grumbled then took a sip of water.

"Brian!" Nick admonished the older man in his very authoritative doctor voice. Brian sighed again.

"Fuck! Does everyone have to know my business," Brian exclaimed angrily.

"No, honey, not everyone just us and we love you. Was it the guy who has been mugging all those people on Liberty? It's been in the papers. I thought maybe we're being targeted," Emmett said reasonably and calmly. He knew Brian hated talking about himself.

"I don't think this was a hate crime. He's just a kid and he said he was sorry."

"Yeah, just how sorry is he? He nearly cut you with his knife," Nick snarked, driving home the point.

Emmett gasped.

Justin didn't know whether to cry or run out to hunt down the mugger himself. "A knife! Where were the cops? These muggings have been in all the papers. Or don't they give a shit about a few fags who get robbed!" Justin was almost shrieking.

Just then Carl came in to pick up Debbie after her shift. They both heard Justin and saw the angry glares the whole diner threw their way.

"What, do I have egg on my face?" Carl asked his wife as they walked over to the boys' table.

"Sunshine," Brian began with a firm voice and for the benefit of everyone listening. "I'm fine. I wasn't hurt. The kid wanted my wallet; I refused to give it to him. I gave him the money. When he reached out to take it, the kid slipped and he grazed my arm with his knife. He was a kid. A skinny little kid, cold, sickly and wearing what looked like everything he had in his possession. Hunter heard the noise and came running."

Brian's soothing voice calmed his worried and angry spouse. Then Liberty Avenue got to witness a tender moment between the legendary Brian and Justin. Taking Justin's hand in his, Brian kissed Justin's wedding ring and then his temple. Justin began to relax.

"Son, that was a foolish thing to do. You should have just handed over your wallet," Carl said in a very fatherly, retired cop tone.

"Sweetheart, you're more important than a piece of leather," Debbie reiterated.

Brian took out his wallet, and all the family photos tumbled out including the one of Jack Kinney holding baby Gus. It was Brian's only copy. Brian always meant to make copies but never did.

"Oh honey," Emmett said as his lower lip quivered. He understood. After a minute and being sufficiently recovered, Emmett asked, "Did you notify the police?"

Brian nodded. "Hunter called them," Brian confirmed.

"Who answered the call?" Carl inquired.

"Sergeant McGinty and Officer Rodgers," Hunter replied.

"I remember McGinty when he was a rookie; he's a good man," Carl noted. "I'll call him and see what he has. Brian, are you sure you weren't hurt? You may need a doctor."

"I saw a doctor. Doctor Nick looked at my boo-boo and kissed it to make it all better," Brian said glibly. Just then all eyes turned to Nick. Swallowing a mouthful of his burger, Nick gave the family the run down.

"I guess HIPAA means nothing to this family," Nick murmured then went on with his explanation. "The knife just grazed the surface of his skin. It raised a nice welt but did not cut Brian. I cleaned the area, applied an antibiotic ointment then placed a dressing over it to keep it clean and so that the ointment doesn't get all over everything. I also gave him a tetanus shot."

"Ooo, did you get to see Brian's ass?" Emmett asked with a smile, lightening up the mood. Several patrons laughed.

"If Brian was going to drop his pants, then I would have given him the shot. He got it in his arm," Hunter said with disappointment. Debbie gave him a cuff to the back of his head. More laughter was heard.

"Carl, take your wife home," Brian commanded, quickly changing the subject.

"Good idea, looks like it's going to snow again. Brian, if I hear anything I'll call you. Let's go home, honey." Carl helped Debbie with her coat.

"You behave yourself," Debbie said in her worried mother voice as she pointed her finger at Brian. Then she gave Justin a kiss.

"I'm trusting you to take care of him," Debbie reprimanded Justin. Justin nodded as he leaned into Brian.

The gang finished their dinners then went their separate ways to home.
 

>>>>>>>>>
 

"Raph, the front's all locked up. You ready to hit the road?" Hector asked his partner in life and in business.

"Yeah, I am ready to go. Which vet tech is staying overnight?" Raphael, the vet, asked his partner and assistant.

"Samantha."

"Will she be okay on her own?"

"Security cameras and alarms are all activated. The fridge is stocked and there's plenty of coffee. And she's not alone," Hector explained.

"Oh?"

"Stop it; her older brother is hanging out with her. He's a cop, off duty, and he brought his own cot. So stop worrying or assuming," Hector smirked.

"Yes, mother. Let's go home."

Raph and Hector bid goodnight to Samantha and her brother then exited the clinic via the service entrance. A small envelope fell from the door jamb.

"Another donation?" Hector asked.

"I'm afraid so," Raph answered.

"Babe, we have to go to the police."

"I agree. I can't keep putting this off. I'll call Carl Horvath in the morning; he'll know what to do."

"Good idea. Let's go home."

"Best idea I've heard all day."

Raphael and Hector went home.

 

>>>>>>>>>
 

Justin waited until they were in the car heading for Edna's Treasures. Then he let fly.

"How could you not call me when you got mugged?" he demanded.

"I wasn't hurt, so I didn't want to worry you."

"He fucking had a knife, Brian! You've got to be more careful."

Brian sighed. "I'm not a baby."

"And you're not Rage," Justin reminded him.

"I thought I was," Brian smirked.

"You're my Rage, but your superpowers do not include deflecting knives." Then Justin added, "Your superpowers are better suited to the bedroom." Justin's voice had become husky.

Brian gave Justin that look and stepped down hard on the accelerator.

 

>>>>>>>>>
 

Debbie walked into her house carrying a couple of bags of groceries. She dropped them on the kitchen table. Carl followed her carrying several more.

"Where does all this food go?" Carl asked as he placed his bags next to the ones she had carried in.

"We eat it," Debbie replied as she unzipped her coat and threw it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs.

"We can't possibly eat all this," Carl contradicted her.

"Well, we eat some, and then there's the things I make for Michael and Hunter and JR, and Lacy eats some of it, and…"

"Did I hear my name?" Lacy asked coming down the stairs. She smiled at the sight of all the food, and Carl and Debbie working together to put it away.

"You sure did," Debbie replied. "Come give us a hand and we'll be done in a fucking jiffy."

When they had everything safely stowed in the cupboards or the fridge, Debbie put on the kettle for a cup of tea.

"Care to join me?" she asked Lacy.

"Yeah, I'd like to." She looked at Carl wishing he would go do some manly thing so that she could talk to Debbie privately.

Debbie saw the look. "Don't you need to get ready for work?" she asked Carl.

"Nah, not yet."

"I thought you wanted to take a shower," Debbie said forcefully and jerked her head to indicate that Carl should amscray.

"Oh, yeah, right," Carl said. "I'll go up and do that right now." He quickly headed for the stairs.

Lacy chuckled. "I hope he doesn't prune up too much."

Debbie giggled. "Me too."

"I really wanted to talk to you about something, Debbie. I respect your opinion."

"Jeez, it must be something major if you start off with a compliment like that."

Lacy laughed. "I meant it."

"Okay, kiddo, what's up?" she asked as she made two mugs of tea.

Lacy sat down at the table and waited for Debbie to join her. She was wondering just how much she should tell Debbie. After all, Michael was her son. When Debbie finished making the tea, she set one mug in front of Lacy and then sat down in the chair opposite her.

Lacy cleared her throat. She knew there was no point beating around the bush where Debbie was concerned. "Justin stopped by earlier," she started.

"Did he now?"

"Yeah, he wanted to make me an offer."

"One that you can't refuse?" Debbie asked. She took a careful sip of her hot tea.

"Do you know what he was doing here?" Lacy asked with a frown. Debbie sounded like she was aware of what Justin had told her.

"No, but I met him at the diner. I guess he came in after he'd been here. By the way, Brian got mugged."

"Mugged? Really?" Debbie nodded. "Holy shit! Is he all right?"

"Yeah, just some kid with a knife."

"A knife? Wow! That makes what, about four muggings on Liberty lately?"

"You be careful out there," Debbie admonished. "Anyway, Brian's all right. He gave the kid some money and then called the cops."

"Is Carl involved?"

"He's going to check it out."

"I'm glad Brian wasn't hurt."

"We all are, Lacy, we all are. Now tell me what's up with you and Justin and this irresistible offer."

"He wants me to draw Rage. He's too busy with his own art to keep doing it," Lacy blurted out.

"What? Does Michael know? He'll be so upset."

"Well, thanks a lot," Lacy retorted. She felt like Debbie had just stabbed her through the heart.

"I meant that he doesn't handle change easily. It will be hard for him to work with someone knew," Debbie said, trying to smooth over the harshness of her previous words.

"From what I hear, he's pretty hard to work with anyway," Lacy said icily.

"He is not," Debbie assured her. "He's a sweet man. Really, he is, Lacy. I just know that he'll have trouble with this at first."

"Justin said he had discussed backing out of the comic with Michael," Lacy informed the older woman.

"And Michael was okay with the idea?"

"Justin said he was willing to give it a try," Lacy said slowly.

"Then what's the problem?" Debbie asked sipping more of her tea.

"I … I'm not sure I can do it." Lacy looked like she wanted to cry.

"Justin must think you can do it or he wouldn't have asked you. I think you'll like working with Michael once you get started. You have nothing to worry about." Debbie reached across the table and squeezed Lacy's hand.

Lacy gave her a weak smile. "I guess you know Michael better than I do. I hope you're right."

"I know I'm right," Debbie said confidently.

 

>>>>>>>>>
 

Brian and Justin were into it hot and heavy. Brian was plowing the sweet ass that he claimed as his and his alone. Justin was moaning in ecstasy beneath him. Everything was perfect … almost.

If he shut his eyes, Brian could still the scared face of his mugger. He could still feel the force of the obviously dull blade rake across his hand. He could hear the cries of, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

"Brian, focus," Justin said from far away.

Brian opened his eyes and looked down at Justin who was on all fours and craning his neck to look at Brian's face over his shoulder. "Shit," Brian whispered.

"Come on; we're almost there," Justin goaded. He tightened his anal muscles around Brian's cock, and the older man groaned from somewhere deep inside.

"Fuck!" Brian cried.

"That's what I'm trying to get you to do," Justin stated as he pushed back taking all of Brian's dick that he could force into himself.

That seemed to do the trick. Brian drove home again and again bringing them both to the edge. With a tug on Justin's cock and a call of his lover's name, Brian plunged them off the cliff and they fell into the delicious whirlwind of their orgasms.

Some minutes later when they could breathe again, Justin rolled over and laid his head on Brian's chest. "What happened?" he asked.

Brian knew immediately what Justin was referring to. "I was thinking about the kid who mugged me."

"Maybe you should talk to someone about it," Justin suggested gently.

"I'm fine," Brian assured him. "I just can't get his scared face out of my head. He must be desperate to have mugged me. He kept saying he was sorry."

"That's really weird."

"I know. It was like he didn't have any other choice."

"Maybe he doesn't," Justin said thoughtfully. "I wonder why he doesn't go to the clinic or something."

"He might be too young," Brian replied.

"Too young? What do you mean?"

"He looked about fourteen, certainly no more than fifteen. At that age they'll put him into care."

"You mean like a foster home?"

"Yeah."

"Wouldn't that be better?" Justin asked.

"Depends on the foster home. Some of them are horrible beyond belief."

"But … they're supposed to protect kids, aren't they?" Justin asked with a frown.

"Supposed to, being the operative word. Many of them are fine, but I know there are some very bad foster situations."

Justin sighed. "Sometimes the world is a shitty place."

"You got that right."

"But at least you're okay. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you," Justin said softly as he kissed along Brian's collarbone and across his chest, giving special attention to Brian's nipples.

"God, you have the best mouth," Brian groaned.

"I know," Justin whispered. "I'm going to make you forget all about the mugging."

"And I know you can do it too," Brian smiled, as he gave himself over to Justin's many talents.

 

>>>>>>>>>

 

Curtis hurried down the alley behind the diner. He knew there were often cardboard boxes thrown out from supplies that had been delivered. He hoped there were some tonight. The wind was bitterly cold and his feet and hands felt like they were blocks of ice. He needed something to protect him from the wind or he surely wouldn't survive the night.

At the end of the alley he saw a large cardboard box. He smiled; that would work very nicely. He pulled it against the side of the dumpster. Then he noticed there were a couple of smaller boxes nearby. He grabbed those and tore them apart, flattening them out and fitting them into the larger box. He now had three layers of cardboard that he could sleep on. That would protect him somewhat from the cold asphalt that was under the box.

Curtis surveyed the alley. The space between the dumpster and the building at the back was just about big enough to pull the cardboard box into. He crawled in and pulled the box after him. He managed to get it wedged into the space then he crawled inside it. It felt so much warmer than being out in the wind.

He let out a soft sigh. At least he might survive the night. He pulled out from his pocket half a donut that he had retrieved from a trash can where he had seen some guy throw it. He wished he had something hot to drink with it, but at least it was food. He started nibbling on the sweet pastry. It wasn't bad.

His mind wandered to his cat. He hoped Alfred, as he had named the cat in his head, was doing all right at the vet's. Curtis missed him so much, but he was sure the cat was better off where he was now than he would be if he stayed with Curtis. He sighed again. In a day or two he would have to try to get some more money, so that the vet wouldn't put his cat down. He prayed that by leaving the packets of money, the vet would take care of Alfred and see that nothing bad happened to him.

Curtis hated having to rob people to get the money, but what else could he do? He'd have to be more careful though. The guy he robbed today … he had been so stupid, refusing to give up his wallet. At least he had got the money off the guy, but he almost cut him. He didn't want to hurt anybody. He just had to protect Alfred, exactly the way that he wished someone would protect him.

Curtis finished his piece of donut and curled up in his cardboard box. He needed to sleep. The morning would come soon enough, and he'd have to find someone else to mug.