Take Me From This Pain, Brian's story

Brian combed his hair neatly and smoothed out a knot he'd felt earlier. He and Matt were preparing for dinner with Matt's father and stepfather, and Matt had told him that they would likely go to a fancy restaurant. Brian hadn't been to so many restaurants in all his life as he had in the months since he'd moved in with Matt, and he was slowly but surely getting used to allowing Matt to treat him. In fact, Matt had subtly been treating Brian to a lot of things, he realized, especially recently. After Gary had attacked him the first time, Matt had taken him out shopping for some new clothes. Though Brian said he would only allow Matt to buy him one outfit, it turned out to be an expensive one (i.e. the suit he was now wearing), much to the small blonde boy's chagrin. Yet he'd hardly protested. Now he realized, with a small smile, how sneaky his new boyfriend could be.

New boyfriend. Brian decided he liked the sound of that and Matt had been so relieved last night when Brian accepted the idea of a relationship. He'd been more protective than ever, not letting Trent within ten feet of them. Brian laughed as he remembered the amused smirk Trent had sent him from across the bowling alley when Matt turned to get them drinks. Trent really was a nice guy, just like Kevin said, but Brian couldn't imagine anyone trying to take Matt's place. He wasn't yet sure if he loved the jock, but if he ever could love someone, it would have to be Matt.

"Hey, you're ready quick!" Matt grinned from the doorway.

Brian turned and his heart leapt for a second. Matt looked really good in the dark blue suit, he thought, and not for the first time. He remembered thinking the same thing when he saw Matt in his tuxedo before the prom and in a black suit before the graduation. He swallowed, blushed and looked back into the mirror, trying to concentrate on his task.

"Uh, you, too," he managed as he smoothed another knot.

"Your hair is like gold," Matt murmured, gliding up behind Brian and taking the comb from his hands.

Brian sighed and closed his eyes contentedly as Matt gently took over the task. He ran the palm of his hand over Brian's head as he combed the hair back.

"You know, it's long enough to go back into a ponytail," he whispered close to Brian's ear, smiling at the small shiver the small act elicited. "It's almost as long as Kevin's."

"I don't have a hair tie," Brian whispered back. He didn't want to ruin the tender moment happening between them. He shivered again when the jock placed a small kiss on his neck.

"I got you some," Matt whispered back. "I've kept them in my bag." He reached down to his shaving kit on the nightstand beside them. "Have I told you that I think long hair is sexy on you?"

Brian opened his eyes and shook his head mutely. He and Matt locked gazes in the mirror, and Brian was lost. He leaned back into Matt after the other boy deftly tied his blonde hair.

"Thank you."

Matt just smiled in response then slowly turned Brian to face him.

"I don't want to do anything to scare you," Matt said softly. "But I really want to kiss you right now."

Again, the smaller boy couldn't seem to find his voice, so he shakily nodded his head in agreement. Matt smiled and tipped Brian's chin up before carefully covering his lips with his own. The kiss was soft and gently and Matt had to use a lot of self-control to keep from deepening it too much. He'd meant what he'd said about taking things slow and he wanted Brian to be as comfortable as possible with him. He reluctantly broke the kiss and pulled his little boyfriend into a tight hug.

"Matt, that was so . . ." Brian trailed off, moved by the gentle kiss and the hug. He'd never felt so safe, at least not since his mom had died.

"What, Baby?" Matt pulled back to look down at Brian, frowning when he noticed the glistening unshed tears. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, not at all," Brian smiled. "It was just so good."

"Oh," relief flooded Matt's handsome features. "I was afraid for a minute there."

"I trust you, Matt," Brian smiled and stood on his tiptoes to kiss Matt's cheek. "Thank you."

"Stop thanking me, Precious."

"Precious?" Brian wrinkled his nose. "Sounds like a cat's name."

"Well, you do look a little like a feline with those gorgeous green eyes," Matt teased, causing Brian to blush again.

"But "˜Precious'?"

"You're precious to me," Matt said seriously, and Brian was once again lost in his eyes.

He wanted to become what Matt said he was, he really did. It was hard to believe Matt felt this way about him. Sighing softly, he let Matt help him slip on his jacket.

"Ready?"

Brian nodded and Matt took his hand to lead him downstairs.

--------------------------------------------------

The French restaurant Cody and Grant had selected was a lot fancier than Brian had ever seen. He looked around himself curiously as the others settled down with their menus. Opening his own, he found he couldn't read anything on it. He'd thought they'd at least have an English translation beneath the names of the entrées but they didn't. Matt must have noted his frown because he leaned close to him.

"Want me to order for you?"

Brian nodded and smiled gratefully up at him. He was afraid to ask the waiter what things were and dreaded the thought of being served a plate of snails or frogs' legs, or something equally stomach-turning. Matt grinned back and settled back into his chair.

Grant surreptitiously watched the exchange and slid a smirk in Cody's direction. He didn't know what happened between the boys the previous evening, but it was evident that they were dating officially now. He wondered if he should be worried about their sleeping arrangements. But he'd spoken to Virginia about it a few times and she said that Brian wouldn't sleep without Matt, and he trusted his son not to take advantage of the small blonde. After all, Matt was a lot more like his father than he realized. And Grant knew that his son had almost given up his dream of attending Boston College to stay near Brian, proving this was much more than a simple infatuation. But happily, Brian said he looked forward to living in Boston. And this would also allow Grant to see Matt more often, something he definitely looked forward to.

The waiter came to take their orders for drinks and appetizers. When he returned with their drink order, they placed their dinner orders and gave him their menus. After the waiter left the table, Matt looked to his father expectantly.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about Cody sooner," Grant sighed. "I know you probably feel like I've shut you out."

"No," Matt smiled. "I never gave you any indication I would be receptive. I'm not angry, dad."

"That's good to know," Cody smiled. "I was so worried before you two got here. I didn't want to cause any trouble between you and your father."

"You couldn't cause me trouble," Grant grinned at the redhead.

"Please, I've caused you enough already," Cody shook his head.

"What did happen, if you don't mind my asking," Matt turned to him.

"We don't mind if you don't mind," Grant countered. He then turned a meaningful gaze back to Brian who stared back at him wide-eyed.

"Only if Brian's comfortable," Cody interjected before Matt could protest.

"So, he told you?" Matt asked.

"He only told me bits and pieces," Cody replied. "But I don't want him to feel as if he has to tell us anything he isn't ready to."

"Of course," Grant nodded and turned back to Brian. "That okay with you?"

Brian nodded mutely and looked down at his soda with sudden interest. Matt moved his chair a little closer to him and placed his hand on the small blonde boy's thigh. Though Brian didn't look up, he acknowledged the gesture by covering Matt's hand with his own.

"Okay," Cody said. "When I met your father, I was dating another lawyer at his firm. Not where he is now, but the firm he worked in before." He took a breath as if to steady his nerves. "The man I was seeing wasn't kind at all. I'm not proud of that relationship. It lasted a hell of a lot longer than it should have."

"It sure did," Grant interjected. "Edison, that was his name, took advantage of Cody."

"Well, not really. I was old enough."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it," Grant said quietly.

Matt could hear the steel in his father's voice. He was still furious with this Edison guy. Matt didn't interrupt, but sat back, squeezed Brian's hand and watched the waiter approach with a tray. He knew the two would tell them the story when the waiter finished serving them their salads and appetizers. As soon as the waiter left, he wasn't disappointed.

"Anyway," Cody went on. "I met him just after I officially "˜came out'. My parents weren't pleased with me at all, so I'd moved in with a high school friend for a while. I met Edison at a club one night and we hit it off. After a while though, after I'd moved in with him, it was evident that he wasn't the person I thought he was. He started to get into fights with me over stupid things." Cody began to sweat and Grant rubbed his back to comfort him. "He liked to . . . hurt me. He and his friends thought it was fun. Well, one day when I went to the office to meet him, he was still in a meeting and I waited for him in the reception area. Your father was leaving and he noticed me while he was putting on his coat."

"I couldn't believe the welts on your face," Grant growled. "Should have taken you away right then and there."

"You tried, remember?" Cody smiled ruefully. "I wouldn't go."

"Why not?" Brian asked in a small voice.

Matt turned to look at his little boyfriend surprised he'd spoken. He pulled Brian's chair a little closer and laced their fingers together.

"Edison said if I told anyone he would beat me worse and give me to Ricky," Cody said sadly. "Ricky was the one friend he'd let . . . do things to me while the others only got to watch. And Ricky liked to hurt me worse than Edison. I was so scared of him. I'd led a sheltered life up until I left my parents' house. I didn't know how to get away from these men. And Edison said no matter where I went, he would get to me."

"Sick son of a bitch," Grant muttered taking a swig of his whiskey. "I should have killed him, you know."

"No, you would have been taken from me then," Cody soothed him. "Anyway, your father kept following me after that. I would tell him to leave me alone, yell at him, no matter what I did, he followed. And one night, they got careless and began beating me before we got home. Your father saw everything."

"And wanted to kill them," Grant interjected.

"I don't blame you," Matt growled.

Brian tensed and he and Cody looked between the two then back at each other. The older man gave him a reassuring smile and Brian relaxed again.

"Long story short," Grant continued for them, "I phoned in an anonymous tip to the cops that Edison was helping one of his clients, a noted mob figure, launder money. The feds swooped right in when they figured out that some of it was in Edison's apartment. When the raid was over and Cody was safely in the hospital, I tendered my resignation, along with half my litigation team. That's why I changed firms."

"But even after that, I didn't give him a chance," Cody picked up the thread. "He would visit me in the hospital and I would refuse to see him. He would send me gifts and notes and I would send them back."

"So how did you finally get together," Matt asked.

"I went to his apartment one night," Grant said. "He was too embarrassed to go back to his friend and couldn't afford anything in a decent area. I took one look at the place and forced him into my car."

"You're lucky I didn't have you arrested for kidnapping," Cody grinned.

"You never stood a chance once I brought you home," Grant retorted. "Mrs. Abbott would have thrown a fit." He turned back to his son. "This was when I lived in the condo. She lived next door. She literally nursed him back to health during the day while I worked."

"And he took care of me at night," Cody finished. "How could I not fall in love with him?"

"Well, you sure gave it your best shot," Grant grumbled, finally digging into his salad. "The rest is simple, really. I told him he could stay with me as long as he wanted, even if he never returned my feelings. Almost three years later, I finally convinced him."

"Uh, we may not have been married for all of those years, but we sure as hell were together," Cody lifted an eyebrow in amusement.

"Whatever happened to Edison," Brian asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Oh, he got life in prison," Grant grinned. "He was helping his client with more than money laundering and he wasn't careful to hide the evidence."

"Did he have help in not being careful," Matt smirked.

"Maybe," Grant smirked back. "Hopefully he's become someone else's bitch by now."

Brian settled back in his seat to eat his salad. Suddenly he could see that Matt and Grant didn't just merely look alike on the outside. And he found that thought warmed him.