Little Boy Lost
 

Part Four

"This is all your fault!" Melanie all but screeched. Brian was sitting on the couch in the living room of Lindsay and Melanie's home. Lindsay was sitting in one of the armchairs and Justin was beside Brian on the couch. Justin glared at Melanie.

"How is this his fault?"

"He should have been keeping a better eye on Gus." Melanie answered.

"He's four years old, he runs off."

"He never runs away from me." She retorted.

"Maybe because he's afraid of what you might do to him if he did." Brian finally spoke up in his own defense.

"Excuse me?" Melanie asked.

"I said, Gus is afraid of you." Brian glared at her. For the first time in all the time that Brian had known the woman, she was actually rendered speechless.

"Fighting isn't going to get Gus back." Lindsay finally spoke. Melanie moved over and sat on the arm of the chair she was in, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"She's right." Justin admitted.

"Why would he do this?" Lindsay questioned.

"I only wish we knew." Brian said with a sigh.

 

*****

It had been two days and there had been no word about Gus. The police were doing everything they could but they couldn't find him. Brian was sitting on the couch in the loft looking at one of the many pictures of him and Gus. At least once a year the two of them had a picture taken together. He'd even endured a professional photographer the last couple of times. Justin came over and took a seat beside him, rubbing circles on his back. They both jumped when the phone rang. Brian practically ran to the phone, hoping it was the police with news about Gus.

"Hello?"

"Kinney." Hobbs smug voice came over the line.

"Where the fuck is my son?!" Brian almost yelled into the phone. Justin came over and looked at him. Brian mouthed "Hobbs" and Justin nodded, though his whole body tensed.

"We'll get to that." Hobbs said.

"What do you want?"

"I want what you took from me."

"And what was that?"

"My scholarship. When you hit me in the knee, they said I couldn't play football anymore. So here's the deal. I've been accepted to Brown. You give me the money to pay my tuition for the next four years and I'll give you your son back."

"That's it? That's all I have to do? Pay your tuition?"

"No, you have to give me the tuition money all up front. I'm not taking any chances on you backing out of it once you get the kid back. And no checks. Checks can be stopped. I want cash." Hobbs demanded. Brian sighed and closed his eyes. He didn't want any problems, he just wanted Gus back.

"Just tell me how much and it's yours." Brian felt Justin grip his arm but he didn't open his eyes, knowing the blond was shaking his head.

"I'll let you know." Hobbs said.

"How do I know that Gus is okay?" Brian questioned. He heard the phone change hands for a minute.

"Daddy?" Gus asked.

"Gus.......are you okay? He isn't hurting you, is he?"

"Daddy, I'm scared." He sniffled.

"I know, sonny boy. I'm doing what I can to get you home, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you."

"I..... " the phone changed hands again.

"Now you know he's okay. I'll call you again with the information." Then he hung up. Brian hung up the phone and sighed heavily, barely making it to the couch before his knees collapsed. Justin came over and pulled Brian into his arms. Brian's shoulders started shaking and soon Justin felt his shirt getting soaked.

"He's gonna be okay, Brian." Justin said soothingly. Brian looked up at the younger man, tears still streaking down his cheeks.

"It really is my fault." He said before resting his head on Justin's shoulder again. Justin was so shocked at Brian's words that he didn't know what to say. He didn't think there was anything he could say that would make Brian understand that this wasn't his fault. When Brian's mind was made up about something, no amount of reasoning could change it. Rather than start an argument he simply held the older man, rubbing his back.
 

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