Escape
Chapter 14
When Melanie arrived home Lindsay was already there.
"Where have you been?" Lindsay asked taking Gus and snuggling the little boy who giggled at her actions.
"I paid the resident asshole of Pittsburgh a visit."
"Brian?" Lindsay asked a sudden feeling of dread sweeping over her. "Why?"
"I wanted to get him to keep his agreement about signing over his parental rights to Gus."
"Oh," Lindsay said relief making her smile slightly. "Did he do it?" She set Gus down and he toddled over to the pile of toys in the corner.
"He was in no mood to sign anything."
"Oh, why?" Lindsay asked feeling the fear return.
"He just escaped from Greenhills, and he seems to think that he was railroaded into a hell hole."
"Really?"
"Don't play innocent with me," Melanie scowled at her partner. "We all know you and Michael put him in there. And if even half of what they say about that place is true, then you and Michael are in one shitload of trouble."
"What .. what do you mean?"
"He's going to fucking rip you a new one! That is, if he doesn't decide to press charges … or sue."
"He … he wouldn't do that, would he?" Lindsay asked fearing the answer.
"You had him committed against his will. They drugged him and kept him in a padded room. You and fucking Greenhills are both liable. He would have every right."
"Fuck!" Lindsay reacted. "What can I do?"
"If you're asking for legal advice, I'd say you don't have a leg to stand on. If you want common sense advice, I'd say go talk to him, take all the shit he's going to heap on you, and beg for forgiveness."
"You can't be serious."
"I've never been more serious."
Lindsay looked stunned as Melanie went to get Gus a snack.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Brian and Justin were in the middle of a heated necking session when the buzzer indicated someone wanted in.
"We could pretend we're not here," Justin suggested.
"I know, but maybe it's Daphne. We did invite her over," Brian said gently shoving his continually horny partner off of him. He made his way to the intercom. "Yeah," he said.
"Brian."
"Fuck! It's Lindsay."
"Isn't she the one who..?"
"Yeah." Brian took a deep breath and released the door.
"What are you going to do?"
"I wish I fucking knew," Brian said yanking the loft door back. Justin was sure it was going to come off its track, but it held on...barely.
The elevator came to a stop and Lindsay exited. She looked ashen even though her skin was always on the pale side. She tried to smile but it didn't come across as a smile. It was more like some contorted grimace.
"She's afraid," Brian thought. "Good! She should be." He stepped aside to let her into the loft. "And how the fuck are you this lovely day," he asked taunting her.
"Brian…"
"I'm listening."
"I … I don't know what to say. I thought I was doing the right thing." She had decided there would be no point in skirting the issue.
"Is that right?" Brian asked with a smirk.
"Michael and I … we … we just wanted to help you. We wanted a normal life for you," she pleaded.
"But only if my actions fit your description of normal!" Brian spat back at her.
"Brian, please, I thought it was for the best."
Brian glared at her. Justin stepped in beside his husband and gently rubbed the man's arm.
"I'm Justin Taylor," he said, "Brian's partner. I won't offer my hand to you because if you extended yours, I'm not sure I could resist the temptation to rip it off your arm."
"Excuuse me," Lindsay said taken aback.
"Justin likes to protect me, unlike my so called friends," Brian smirked and gave the top of Justin's head a kiss.
"I'm sorry if you had a bad time in Greenhills. I honestly thought it would help you," she said standing up for herself.
"Help me! Help me?" Brian yelled. "Don't you think maybe you should have checked out that fucking place before you committed me? It was the worst hell hole imaginable! I will not accept that you thought you were helping me. That place almost killed me. But maybe that's what you were going for!"
"Brian…" Lindsay started.
"Excuse me," a voice said. "Is Justin Taylor here?"
"Daphne," Justin said rushing over to her and giving her a big hug. "I'm so glad to see you."
"Time for you to leave, Lindsay. And don't come back." Brian took her arm and directed her out the door.
"But Brian, I'm sorry. Really, really sorry."
"Not half as sorry as you're going to be," Brian said as he slammed the loft door shut in her face. "Are you going to introduce me to your hot friend?" Brian said smiling as he turned back to the two teenagers.
Daphne grinned and held out her hand. "Daphne Chanders," she said. "You must be Brian."
"That's me," Brian said taking her hand and raising it to his lips.
"Oh Justin, this one's a keeper," Daphne gushed.
Justin watched fascinated by how quickly Brian could turn his emotions on and off. He knew he had a lot to learn about his new husband but he was unprepared for so many things Brian did.
"Let's order something to eat. It's time I started making some new friends.
"Sure," Justin agreed wondering what the hell he had got himself into.