The day before�.

�What the fuck do you mean you don�t think it�s a good idea if I keep working here?� Justin shouted, not caring about the customers in the diner.

�What I mean is that, considering what that asshole is trying to do to my grandbaby�s mother, and the fact that you seem to be supporting him in that decision, I think it would be better if you stayed away from the diner until the fucker comes to his senses,� Debbie replied, her voice harsh.

�That�s such bullshit,� the blond spat. �You can�t fire me because you don�t like what Brian is doing.�

�I can fucking do anything I damn well please,� Debbie shot back.

�So you�re basically saying that if I want to keep my job here I have to break up with Brian and support Mel and Lindsay, even if I don�t think they�re the best parents for Gus? That�s seriously fucked.� Justin was furious. He knew there would be repercussions for his choice of supporting Brian, but he couldn�t believe that Debbie was basically firing him because of something that had nothing to do with work. Especially after the discussion he and Brian had had with Vic. The older man had come over earlier that day to find out what was going on, and had told them both that he thought that there was a very good chance that Debbie would calm down after he had talked to his sister the night before. Justin was now finding out that was anything but the case.

�Well you know where the door is, I suggest you use it then.� Justin just looked at Debbie for a minute and then shook his head.

�You know what, fuck this. This place isn�t worth the bullshit,� Justin finally said. �I just have one thing to say first. Deb, you�ve been like a second mom to me. You took me in when I had no place to go. You supported me in ways that my own family couldn�t, or simply wouldn�t. You helped my mom accept my lifestyle and I don�t think I can ever truly tell you how much that has meant to me. I always thought you were a great lady who was willing to go out of her way to support her family, both by blood and by love. I�m just sorry I was wrong, because it was all a lie.�

�What the fuck are you talking about now?�

�What I�m talking about is this. If Annie wasn�t Michael�s daughter, would you be so willing to see Brian as the bad guy here, even though he is only doing what he thinks best for Gus?� Justin tiredly replied. �You just don�t want to think that the mother of your grandchild could be ignoring her other child, Brian�s child, in favor of Annie. Or does it have nothing to do with Michael? Is it because that Gus is Brian�s son that makes it okay for everyone to push Gus aside, because we all know that Brian is always the root of all things evil that happens in the world. Michael quits the Big Q, blame Brian. Michael refuses to move in with David, must be Brian�s fault. Melanie and Lindsay break up, damn that Brian. Ted gets arrested; it�s all Brian�s fault. Noticing a little trend here?�

�Brian�s an asshole, Sunshine, and you need to learn that,� Debbie said, refusing to back down.

�I already know Brian can be an asshole, Debbie,� he told her. �I�ve known that. I have first hand knowledge of that fact, so you aren�t telling me anything new. But, while I will admit that he�s an asshole, sometimes of epic proportions, I also know that he is one of the most caring and generous people that I have had the privilege of meeting. I�ve seen him agonize over his decision to sign over his parental rights to Gus. I was here when Ted came in to thank him for helping keep him out of jail. I was the one who tried to get your precious baby boy to forgive Brian for doing exactly what YOU asked him to do. So yes, I know that Brian is an asshole, but unlike you, I�m not going to forget that he is also willing to do anything for those he loves, no matter how many times they hurt him.� Justin turned away from the red-wigged waitress and walked towards the door, turning at the last second.

�And, by the way Debbie, thanks for firing me, and giving me the reason for doing it in front of all of these witnesses,� Justin said. �I�m sure that our lawyer will find it very interesting, especially the legal aspects of it.�

�What the fuck are you talking about?�

�What I�m talking about is the fact that you�ve just given me one hell of a good case for filing a wrongful termination lawsuit.� And with those final words, Justin turned his back on the woman who had always supported him and walked out of the diner. Debbie just stared at his back wondering what the hell she was going to do now, especially if Justin followed through on his threat. She turned to face the stunned crowd that had watched the fight.

�What the fuck are you all staring at?� She yelled, unable to gain her composure. She took one look at the customers and, upon seeing the shock on all of their faces, hoped she hadn�t just made a big mistake. Debbie was pretty sure that Justin wouldn�t follow through on threat to sue for wrongful termination, or whatever the fuck it was he called it, but she also knew that with Brian pushing his button, she had no clue what could happen. She hadn�t meant to snap at Justin. In fact, after talking to her brother she had actually calmed down some, but after her talk with Melanie before work, and hearing how upset the other woman still was, and then seeing Justin walk into the diner looking as if he didn�t have a care in the world, she snapped. She knew she shouldn�t have done it, but she couldn�t help herself. She just hoped that she didn�t just fuck up Melanie and Lindsay�s chances at keeping Gus.

Present Time

Mark Cavanaugh was sitting outside of the courtroom of Judge Patricia Fox waiting for his clients to show up. He was looking through the papers that had arrived in his office as soon as he arrived at work, at the same time going through the information that his assistants had been able to come up with in such short time. It made him proud of his people that they had been able to find out what they had in only the ninety minutes they had before he had to go to the courthouse. It made him relax a bit about what was about to happen. The only thing he was truly worried about was that his client wouldn�t be able to make it there on such short notice. A worry that disappeared within the next five minutes when both Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor were spotted at the end of the hallway, a full fifteen minutes before they had to go before the judge.

�Brian, Justin, glad you could make it. I wasn�t sure f you would be able to rearrange your schedules at the last minute like this,� Mark said in greeting, rising to shake both men�s hands. �Especially you Brian. I was afraid you might have a meeting with a client or something that you couldn�t get out of.�

�I did have a meeting scheduled but luckily Cynthia was able to take it over for me,� Brian replied. �She knows what she�s doing so it shouldn�t be a problem. And she knows to only call me if it�s an emergency.�

�What about you Justin? I have to admit, I am surprised to see you here, especially with the short notice.�

�I already had one class today and my only other one is later tonight so it wasn�t a problem,� Justin explained. �Especially since I don�t exactly have a job anymore.� At a look from Brian, Justin continued. �At least not at the diner that is.� Mark looked between Brian and Justin and knew instantly that there was a story behind Justin no longer working at the diner, a job that Justin had enjoyed or so Mark had been told. He also knew that now was not the time to find out what that story was.

�I can assume that I will find out why you are no longer at the diner later, correct?� Justin nodded his head at Mark, having already talked to Brian about what had happened. Brian had not been happy when he had been told that Debbie had fired Justin because the young man was sticking by his lover�s side. Brian hated being the reason that anything bad happened to Justin and he had wanted to go and confront the waitress by Justin stopped Brian from doing, or saying, anything that he would regret in the future. Brian understood that Justin was still hoping that the others would eventually come around and see that Brian was only doing what he thought was best for Gus. Brian, on the other hand, knew that nothing would remain the same and that there was a very good chance that the family that had accepted Justin into their ranks was broken.

�So Mark,� Brian began, steering the conversation away from Justin�s sudden lack of employment, �what exactly can we expect today? What exactly are Mel and Linds up to?�

�From the paperwork that I received earlier, it appears as if they are going to try and overturn the judge�s earlier ruling to annul your parental rights, in essence making your bid for custody moot because you wouldn�t have any rights to Gus at all,� Mark explained. �And if the judge doesn�t find in their favor, they are asking that you only be allowed strictly supervised visitation with Gus, that is, if they can�t convince the judge that you shouldn�t be allowed to see him at all.�

�Wait a minute,� Justin interrupted, �are you saying that they can take Gus away from Brian completely? That he wouldn�t even be allowed to see his son? That�s completely fucked.�

�I agree, although I won�t exactly be using that wording when telling the Judge Fox out position,� Mark said. �To be honest here, I really don�t think this is anything to be worried about. In fact, I want to try and use this hearing to our advantage by getting the judge to grant Brian visitation, including having a schedule set up, that way the girls can�t keep Brian and Gus apart. That�s also why I wanted you to do everything you could to get here. You�re dropping everything in order to be come to court at the last minute shows your commitment and desire to do everything possible to make Gus happy.�

�So you don�t think this is anything we should worry about?� Brian asked, just wanting to make sure that he wouldn�t be forced to give up Gus. He might never have wanted to be a father, but that had definitely changed in the four years that Gus has been in his life. Now Brian couldn�t even imagine not being able to be involved with his son�s life.

�Honestly, no I don�t think this is anything to worry about,� Mark assured both men. �This is just Melanie and Lindsay trying to find a quick fix to a bigger problem. And it�s a quick fix that they aren�t going to get.�

�Mr. Cavanaugh, the judge is ready for you,� a court bailiff said, coming up behind the men.

�Thank you,� the lawyer replied, turning back to his clients. �Ready?� At twin nods, he started towards the court room. �Then let�s go.�