Sticks and Stones- Part 6/10

[guavejuice]

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Author:guavejuice
Pairing:Brian/Justin
Other Characters:The rest of QaF characters.
Summary:
An intention to help at the LGBT Youth Center has life-altering ramifications for Justin and Daphne when tragedy strikes and new relationships are forged. Based on an actual, RL event.
Beta:The amazing Kim predec2. thank you so much for everything!!
Click here to read previous episodes.
This is NOT a WIP. I'll be updating regularly.
Disclaimer:I own nothing but this story.
Comments are love.


Part 6

"What?"A gravelly voice barks into the receiver a few minutes later.

"Detective Kinney? S..Sorry to call you so late. It's me, Justin Taylor. C… can I talk to you? Please?" Justin's voice trembles.

"Is everything okay?" Brian replies in concern, sounding like he is getting out of bed. As enticing as that image is, however, Justin is too distracted to think about that at the moment.

"Not really, but I can't talk much right now." he replies honestly.

"Well… stay right there..." Brian orders as he asks Justin to give him his home address.

"Okay," Justin complies and continues to sit on the sofa in the dark.

_ _ _ _ _

"Sorry I had to drag you out of bed," Justin greets Brian apologetically as the older man enters his apartment dressed in a pair of well-worn, 501 Levi's jeans and a white, short-sleeved, V-neck T shirt. His detective badge loosely hangs around his neck with a metal chain. Justin can't help but observe Detective Kinney's messy but still sexy, 3 a.m., bedhead hair. He also notices the man's golden skin tone that seems to glow under the muted lighting in his living room. He is surprised that Brian is accompanied by a casual but elegant-looking, blonde female this time, instead of Detective Boyd.

"Don't mention it," Brian says tersely, bringing Justin back into the harsh reality he's forced to deal with. "This is my partner, Lindsay Peterson, by the way." Brian gestures towards the tall women dressed in dark blue jeans and a gray T shirt. Her blond hair is tied into a simple pony tail.

The blond woman reaches out to shake Justin's hand. "I worked at the Special Victim's Unit in New York and was just transferred here. Detective Boyd has been transferred to another division," she informs Justin, anticipating his question.

"SVU?" Justin asks. No shit. That was the subject of Daphne's and his most favorite TV show.

"Okay, so what is this all about?" Brian cuts them off. "Why are we here?"

Justin's typical sense of self-confidence eludes him at that very moment. He feels as if the blood runs out of his face and his knees shake uncontrollably. A stray thought crosses his mind for a split second before he quashes it down.
Because you're about to get rid of the blond chick, whip your magnificent cock out of your pants and fuck me senseless right here right now?

Instead, though, he slowly regains his composure as he admits, "I guess I do have something to tell you, Detective. I… I did see something the night of the murders." He slowly forms his words into a sentence.

"What did you see?" Brian prods.

"The perpetrator," Justin reveals, his voice flat and dry.

Brian eyes him skeptically from his seat. "Are you absolutely sure?" Brian asks.

"It was dark and I was obviously blown away by everything that happened, but I definitely recognized the guy. He went to high school with me. Daphne knew him as well. He...umm, always had a thing for me because..." Justin stops in mid-sentence, not sure if it's the right time for him to tell such a personal story.

"Because what?" Detective Peterson presses nonetheless.

Justin takes a deep breath. "Because I'm gay," he finally discloses.

Detective Kinney gazes at him but doesn't say a word.

"So… this guy is gay as well?" he finally asks.

Justin slowly shakes his head.

"Chris Hobbs isn't gay," he informs him. "I don't know why he was there that night, but he was. And… he called me about an hour ago. He threatened me. He said he knows I was there and that I shouldn't mess up with him. He… also said I shouldn't get too comfy with the cops." Justin's voice is barely audible.

"So you're saying we've been chasing our ass on a wild goose chase for the past four years while this sleaze ball gets away with another fucking hate crime?" Brian raises his voice. Justin doesn't answer. He wraps his hands across his knees, tucks his head between them and closes his eyes.

"Get your stuff," the detective tells him abruptly. "We need to get you outta here and find you a safe place until we can figure this whole thing out," He explains.

"I can't leave; I have school and… stuff." Justin sounds desperate.

"Well, you can't stay here, either, especially when the perp obviously knows you and was able to track you down. It's too dangerous. Come on, move." Brian continues after a short rather tense pause.

Justin picks up his worn-out duffel bag and throws a few clothes and underwear inside. He packs his toothbrush and a few of his most frequently-used art supplies. Just before they're about to leave, Justin reaches out to grab his laptop and push it inside his back pack.

"We'll take care of you," Detective Peterson assures him as she places her hand on Justin's shoulder.

"We'll keep you safe," Detective Kinney interjects, gently putting his hand on the small of Justin's back as they all leave his apartment.

TBC...