Seeds of Jealousy

Brian



We’re gathering together the stuff we’ll need for our trip to the water park: towels, sunblock, water shoes…



“I think we’ve got everything, Daddy,” Brianna say, breaking me out of my mental rundown.



“Okay, here are the keys; take some of this stuff down and I’ll get the cooler.” She takes them from me and heads out the door.



“Justin, there is still time for you to change your mind and come with us,” Dee tries to tell Justin.



“You guys go ahead. I’m just going to work on some things,” he pretty much whispers, not once raising his head.



“She’s right, Justin, Come with us.” I pull him into my chest, kissing his forehead.



“Brian,” he whispers, more of a plea.



“Sunshine, just think of what we can actually do in that ‘lazy river’ together.”



I can feel him smile into my chest. But as he looks over at Dee and Brianna in the loft door, he shakes his head. “We can do that some other time.”



I shake my head and let him go, once again becoming annoyed with what he is pulling. What’s worse is not knowing why he’s pulling it.



“Well, we will see you later, Sunshine” I kiss him once more, moving away from him. Walking out the loft door I turn to shut it as I see Justin lean down on the couch, covering his face.



“Fuck!” he screams as I shut it all the way, wishing he would shine again in my eyes.



Justin



“Fuck!” I yell out more in frustration than anything.



I can’t let her do this to me. I am sure there must be something I can do. First I need to find that letter, make a copy of it for my own records.



Walking into Dee’s room I stop and think for a moment before spying her purse on the night stand. Brian told her it would be safer here, and I can’t help but smile at the irony as I pick it up and open it.



Finding the note where she stashed it, I take it into the living room and over to the copy machine. After making a few copies, I put the original back where I found it.



Sitting on the couch, I re-read the letter a few times. I don’t hear the loft door open, so I’m surprised when I feel someone grab the letter from my hand.



“What’s this?” Mikey asks, standing there looking at me.



“Nothing, give it back.” I reach for it but Mikey moves away from me.



“Justin?” He looks at the letter, reading it out loud.



Brian,



I know this is going to be hard on you but I can’t continue to subject our daughter to the attitude Justin is giving us. She really loves him and it hurts when he won’t do things with her. So instead of her dealing with it, I decided to leave. Brianna will be upset but at least she’s not getting the cold shoulder from your lover. I came here because I wanted her to meet you, not to be disowned by your lover. I’m sorry. I will forever love you and I will call you soon. Love always, Dee and Brianna.



Looking away from him, he finishes it.



“Justin, is this what she is doing? I told you what she’s like. Why didn’t you tell someone?”



“Because, Mikey, I don’t want him to lose Brianna.” I look away from him.



I see him pick up the phone, dial a number and wait for an answer. “I’m at Brian’s get your ass here. Need your help.” Hanging up he looks at me. I raise an eyebrow.



“Justin, I called the one person who knows more about this stuff. I knew Dee would try something. But to use her daughter, that’s just wrong.” I nod in agreement when the door opens and in walks Mel.



“Ok, Michael, what is the problem?”



He hands her the letter and she reads it before turning to look at me. “Shit, Justin, how long has this been going on?” she asks me.



“Ever since she moved in here. Mel, I don’t want to bring you in the middle of this,” I tell her.



“Well, either way, I am going to help. Now, what all was said?”



I proceed to tell her some of the talks we had about how she wants me to back off or she would give him that letter, leaving and taking Brianna with her.



“Okay, so we need to figure out a way to prove this to Brian,” she tells us.



“No, I don’t want him losing his daughter,” I reiterate.



“He doesn’t have to if we can prove this,” Mikey points out.



“I don’t want Brianna to suffer,” I whisper.



“How can you have such compassion?” Mel asks.



“She doesn’t deserve to lose her father. Besides, Dee loved, no she loves Brian as well,” I respond.



“You are nicer then me,” She tells me.



“Brianna’s a good kid and I don’t want to upset her, but I don’t want to lose Brian either.” There is a knock on the door. I open it to find Emmett.



“Hey Shug. I was worried about you so I wanted to swing in and check on you.” He hugs me, seeing the others here as well. “What’s going on?” he asks.



After Mikey fills him in, Em moves over to me, hugging me close.



The rest of the day, we discussed our options. None of them appealed to me as they had the potential to hurt Brianna and Brian both.



“Justin, we might not have a choice, Sweetie.” Emmett looks to Mel.



“He’s right Justin.” Just then, the door opens and in walks Dee.



“What’s going on?” She looks at us all.



“You don’t fucking change, do you, Dee?” Mikey states, matter of factly.



“What are you talking about Michael?” She looks to me, then to Mikey.



“This, you stupid bitch.” Mikey shows her the letter, and her eyes focus on me.



“You went through my stuff?”



“I made copies of it. I’m not going down without a fucking fight,” I reply.



“What are you talking about?” she demands.



“We know what you have been doing, Dee. We want it to stop or we will tell Brian,” Mel informs her cooly.



“Fuck you all. I wrote that the other day because of how he’s been acting.” She points to me.



“Why would you do this to a man you say you love?” I ask her.



“Why would you lie about me like this?” she says, trying to deflect the blame from her.



“I have known you a fucking long time, Dee, and you have always done things your way to get what you want. Don’t go blaming Justin for this,” Michael spits out.



“Michael, butt out, this has nothing to do with you,” she warns him.



“What will you do, Dee? You can’t blackmail me for anything.”



**

Brian



I am standing outside my loft door after taking Brianna to stay the night with Grandma Deb. The door is cracked as I listen to the arguing inside. They are all yelling at Dee for something.



“I won’t blackmail you, Michael. I don’t have to.” Dee screams at him.



“You know what Dee? You may not know this but I am a lawyer and I believe Justin. We will prove you are blackmailing Justin.”



I’m about to walk in when she continues.



“I won’t let some hussy come here and destroy what they have. I am not a big fucking fan of Brian Fucking Kinney, but I do know one thing. He doesn’t deserve this. He is a fine father and would do anything for anyone, even though he would never admit it. But he loves his family. He loves his son, he loves his daughter and he loves Justin. I will not allow you to come in here and blackmail Justin and hurt Brian by making him think Justin doesn’t care about Brianna. Justin loves her. He’s a kind man. Brian may be an asshole, but he deserves it. Like I said, I’m not a big fan, but when it comes to doing what you are doing, and if he needs a lawyer, I am on his side. FREE,” Mel shouts out.



Knowing that if Mel is taking my side something is wrong, I walk in.



“Well if the daughter of evil is offering her assistance to me, I know something is wrong..” They all turn to see me, mouths hanging out.



“Well someone better start to tell me what’s going on.” I look to each one, waiting for someone to respond.



“Well, Brian…” Mel begins.



Fuck. I know if she is starting, then this is something really bad.