People Change with Time

People change with time-6

This is completely fictional and not meant to mean anything about anyone involved. If you are too young or offended by this, don't read it.

After about an hour of everyone talking and carrying, everyone left me to rest and recuperate. Everyone except Justin, who sat their starring at me.

"What?" I asked with a half grin on my face.

"Nothing, I was just thinking." He replied.

"About what?" I continued.

"You and me. What is store for us, that sort of stuff." He said sitting up.

"And what is in store for us Justin?" I asked intrigued.

"Well, have you told your dad you have a boyfriend? I haven't told my parents. You're dad mentioned about people that might come after you, what about that? What about telling the rest of the guys about us, how about that?" He asked looking at the floor and back at me.

"I haven't told Big Jim yet, I really don't intend to." I said lying their watching the heart monitor I was hooked up too. "I wouldn't worry about any further attacks on me and as for the rest of the guys, what business is it of theirs?"

"We have to tell the Chris and Joey." He interjected.

"No we don't. You want to, but you don't have to." I said as a lady came in to check me over and make sure I wasn't leaking anywhere from a hole the might have missed or whatever. After she left again, I settled back down onto my bed and got comfortable.

"Tell me about you're father." Justin said lying back in the chair.

"My real father or Big Jim?" I asked.

"What's the difference." Justin shot back without missing a beat.

"Well, my father was a drunk. He would come home plastered and beat on my mother and older brother. I remember him hitting my mom like she was a punching bag. She was a tiny woman, and he was a good-sized man. Then when he was done with her, he start on my brother Eric. He beat him senseless. Eric was only thirteen so he could defend himself. Lucky for me he would be too tired by the time he got to me. One night my dad came home drunk and started in on my mom and Eric tried getting between them; he just picked him up and through him across the apartment. He continued to beat on my mom until she died in his arms. I was only a little kid, but the second she hit the floor I knew she was dead. After that, he walked over to me brother and continued to beat on him. He threw him from one side of the apartment to the other. Then Eric gave out, dead. My dad started to walk over to me; I was so scared I didn't know what to do. He was about to put his hands on me when the front door came crashing open. In walked four big guys in suits. Then in walked a man in a white suit; he was all decked out. The guy in the white suit looked at one of his men who looked at another guy and they both walked over to my dad. I could tell this man frightened my dad. He felt threatened, I could see why. After the two guys grabbed my dad's arms, this guy motioned to a third guy. This guy walked up and started to beat on my dad. I shouldn't say it, but I was glad to see him get what he deserved. I enjoyed it, the look of fear in his eyes, the sweat dripping from his forehead. I was lying in the corner, so no one saw me at first. It wasn't until the man in the white suit started looking around that he noticed me. He motioned to the last guy and he came over and picked me up off the floor and carried me over to this guy. I tried to fight, but I couldn't. The guy in the whit suit knelt down to me and looked at me. He said his name was Big Jim McLintock and my dad owed him a lot of money. He asked me what happened tonight and why my mom was sleeping on the floor. I told him she wasn't sleeping, that he killed her and my brother too. Big Jim stood up and put his hands on my shoulder and led me in front of my Dad and told me to do what ever I wanted to him. I walked up to him and punched him as hard as I could right in the balls. He grabbed his groin and dropped to the floor, until the two guys holding him forced him back up. The Jim was handed a gun from one of his guys and he handed it to me. He put the gun in my hands and pointed it at my dad. Then he said 'pull the trigger'. I knew what would happen. I stood there ready to kill him. After everything he did, he deserved it, but I couldn't. So Jim took the gun and said that it was all right, and not to worry. Then he shot him, repeatedly." I recounted to Justin looking at the ceiling, remembering my childhood. Justin was siting back in the chair, wide eyed and his mouth open in shock.

"Damn Hun, I am so sorry," he said getting up and sitting on the bed again.

"Don't be, it's not your fault." I said looking into his eyes.

"I know, but that's not right. No one should have to go through that." He replied grabbing my hand and gently squeezing it.

"Big Jim took me under his wing and taught me just about everything I know. I went to school, and did pretty well. I grew up in big house and around different types of people. When I was sixteen, he made me sit in on meetings he would have with people, no matter what type of business they discussed. Big Jim was the father I never had; he was really good to me. He raised me by his rules," I said squeezing Justin's hand.

"He did a good job," Justin interjected.

"Thank you. Anyway, I graduated high school and was thinking of what to do with my life."

"Weren't you just take over for him?" Justin interrupted.

"No, I was never forced to do anything. I was never told that I was going to be the one to take over." I said answering Justin's question "I came home from a graduation party and was told the Jim wanted to meet me in his office. I walked in and Jim was sitting at his desk. I knocked on the open doors and walked in. He greeted me and stood up to fix him a drink. He brought me a drink as well. I refused, but he wouldn't hear of it. He said "you're a man know, have a drink with your old man." I sat there with the drink and he toasted my graduation and all that stuff. Then he sat down and had a different look on his face. I first thought that something was wrong.

He looked at me and told me that because I was his son that I was going to get shot at a lot. Whether I liked it or not, so I might as well get paid for it. Then he offered me a position in his family. How could I resist Justin?" I said looking back up at the ceiling.

"You couldn't," was all Justin said; it was all he had to say.

"So for the past two years I've been working for Big Jim. I worked my way faster than anyone else did. Some said it was because I was his kid. Big Jim was harder on me than anyone else, he expected more out of me than anyone else. I worked hard to get to where I am." I said proudly to Justin.

"You mean where you were," Justin corrected me.

"Yeah," I said sadly.

"Where does the Stone guy fit in?" Justin asked.

"Some people say he's a myth. That he doesn't exist." I answered simply.

"You said you met him." Justin said perplexed.

"I've worked with people that claimed to be him." I said yawning.

"How about the federal agents at the restaurant?" Justin asked.

"You ever hear of playing both sides against the middle? That's what I do, I worked for whoever would pay me." I said without regret.

"Did you get out for me?" Justin asked bluntly.

"Don't set yourself up as being so special. I got out because I want you more than I love that job. I knew you would hang around if I stayed so I left. It's that simple." I said sitting up and hugging him.

"So you got out on account of me," Justin repeated.

"Suit yourself Justin, what ever you want." I said giving up.

"Won't you miss it?" Justin said looking at our hands interlocking.

"What's to miss, getting shot at. I won't miss that." I said lying back down.

"I probably should get going, it is getting kinda late." Justin said. "And you need to sleep."

"Justin, do me a favor. At my house, in the master bedroom there is a book on the nightstand and a pair of glasses on top of it. Bring those would you." I asked him as he hugged and kissed me.

"Glasses?" Justin said confused. "Mighty McLintock needs glasses?"

"They're reading glasses you goof," I said laughing at his remark. We kissed goodnight one more time and he was off. I laid there thinking most of the night. Thinking about Justin and what to do. I had to find a job after I got out of the hospital. I looked over all my options that I thought I had.

Justin went home and started to get ready for bed. After he climbed into bed the phone started ringing.

"Hello?" Justin said answering the phone. All Justin heard was real heavy breathing. "You fucking pervert!"

Justin slammed the phone down and went to sleep, trying not to let this event bother him. The next day Justin woke up and started his normal morning routine. He showered, shaved; he had a hearty breakfast. He thought about they chain of events that have happened to him lately. The bomb threat, this guy calling all the time. Justin wondered how the guy even got his number. Justin left to go to my house to get what I requested last night. He pulled up in front of my house and noticed another car there. He walked up to the door and tried it. You can imagine his surprise when it swung open and he stood face to face with another mans massive chest. Justin looked up at the gigantic man who was looking down at him.

"What?" He asked bluntly.

"Jason asked me to get him a few things from his bedroom," Justin said rather intimidated.

"No one is allowed in," He said. He was about to close the door, but Justin stopped the door with his hand.

"Look Jason told me to come hear and grab a book from his bedroom and that's what I intend to do." Justin said putting more force in his voice. He knew that this guy could crush him, but he was hopping the tone in his voice would at least get him in the house.

"Not gonna happen boy." He said starting to close the door.

"Who is it?" A voice asked from inside the house.

"Some kid," the big guy remarked.

"Let him in." The voice said. Justin walked in and saw Big Jim standing in the living room.

"Well, we meet again. It's Justin right?" He said extending his hand. Justin shook his hand gratefully.

"Yes, thanks for letting me in Mr. McLintock." Justin answered graciously.

"Any friend of Jason is always welcome. He doesn't have many friends so it is always good when one comes around." Jim replied still smiling. "Please sit down."

"Thank you." Justin said sitting in a chair.

"Not there" Jim said as Justin sat. Justin started to get up looking at Jim like he'd done something wrong. "Just kidding, you're fine where you are."

Justin smiled and felt surprisingly comfortable around this head of a crime family.

"You where looking for a book of some sort?" Jim inquired.

"Yeah, it's on Jason's nightstand. He asked me to get it for him." Justin said taking in the surroundings.

"Jack, go up to the master bedroom and grab that thick book on the night stand, you'd better grab the glasses on top of the book too." Big Jim said to the big guy at the door. He acknowledged the request and headed up the stairs. "So how much are you and Jason Friends?"

"Well, we are really close friends. We talk a lot and get along great." Justin said remembering that Big Jim didn't know about and Justin.

"Really, that's great. Jason had never had a friend he could count on. It seems that whenever he bestows trust in someone, they double cross him. He never really opens up to anyone. Him and I talk, but I won't be around forever. It does my heart good to see that he's found a person he trusts." Jim said looking at the coffee table. Justin was stunned by the way that he was talking. Big Jim noticed this and looked at Justin. "What, a crime boss can't talk like he loves his son. You weren't expecting anything like this, were you."

"No sir, I really wasn't." Justin replied still a little shocked. Jack came thundering back down the steps and handed the book to Big Jim.

"You know, one day your gonna break the stairs the way you come crashing down them." Jim said to his associate. He handed the book to Justin along with the glasses. "Here you are."

"Thanks again," Justin said shaking his hand again and leaving. He limbed into his car and headed for the hospital. It took him about a half-hour to get to the hospital. Justin walked into my room with the book in his hand and my glasses in his pocket. I was lying there talking with the doctor when we came into the room.

"Hey Justin, how are you?" I asked smiling at him. The doctor also welcomed Justin and noticed the large book in his hands.

"Hi Jason. What's up?" He answered handing me the book and setting in the chair next to the bed. The doctor finished his test and left. The second he left, Justin got up and sat on the bed, bent down and we kissed. "I'm so glad to see you."

"I guessed. I am glad you're here, I was waiting for my book." I said patting the book with my hand.

"What about me?" Justin asked sarcastically.

"Well it's good to see you too, I guess. Where are my glasses?" I asked looking around.

"Right here." Justin pulled out my reading glasses and stood up about four feet from the bed. "Now, you care to revise your statement."

"I was really happy to see you stopped by, I missed you so much." I said to Justin reaching for my glasses.

"Close enough." He said walking over and handing me my glasses. "So what are you reading?"

"A classic by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." I replied opening in up to my bookmark. Justin and I talked for a good hour or so before it was time for lunch. I noticed something on Justin's mind as I choked down the hospital food. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing really. I got a phone call last night before I went to bed." He said looking at the floor.

"That guy again," I said finishing the food.

"Yeah, he's starting to get on my nerves." He answered.

"Have you told anyone else?" He asked.

"No, I should tell the management." He said pulling out his cell phone.

"Justin, you can't use that in the hospital. Use the phone on the table." I said pointing to the table next to the bed. Justin picked it up and called his management to apprise them of the past events. He was talking to them trying to calm them down so I guess they were worried. They asked him were he was and he told them the hospital, they went ape shit thinking something had happened to him. He assured him that he was ok and just visiting a friend. "Jeez, they are pretty up tight about it."

"They have reason, there meal ticket is being stalked." I said. They second I said that the look on Justin's face changed completely.

"Stalked," he whispered so low that I hardly heard it. He looked at me with a slight fear in his eyes. "Jason, I all the sudden don't like what's going on here."

"Justin, don't worry. Do you really think that I would let anything happen to you." I said rubbing him arm as he sat on the bed.

"You can't protect me outside, not when your that bed." He remarked. I could notice the fear in his voice. "They could kidnap me or whatever they want out there."

"I would find you, no matter what. I wouldn't rest until you were safe, that's a promise." I said to him looking him straight in the eyes. I could see Justin whole body relax after I said that. We just sat there looking each other in the eyes for awhile, taking in the others presence. After awhile there was a knock on the door and Justin stood up and turned around.

"Excuse me, Mr. Timberlake?" He asked.

"Yes, and who are you?" He asked.

"My name is Chip Sulivan. I am a professional bodyguard. You management called me to protect you from a stalker." He said showing his id and extending his hand. He wasn't all the bad looking, quite sexy actually.

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary. My friend here is gonna protect me." Justin said motioning to the bed I was lying in.

"You are gonna let a small time hood like Jason McLintock try and protect you. He can't keep from getting himself shot, how is he gonna protect you." The man said almost laughing. Justin didn't think this was funny at all.

"LISTEN HERE, YOU WILL NOT MAKE FUN OF MY FRIENDS UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO CALL THE RECORD COMPANY. I DO THAT AND YOU ARE GONNA HAVE A HELL OF A TIME GETTING A JOB ANYWHERE. YOU GOT THAT CHIP!" Justin yelled at the top of his lungs. People where looking in the door to see what all the commotion was about.

"Justin, calm down." I said to him. "It's obvious that Chip here doesn't know what you know."

"What does that mean?" Chip asked sarcastically.

"Jason know The Stone personally." Justin said proudly.

"The Stone. He's a myth." Chip said starting to laugh again. Justin turned to me; I could see the steam coming from his ears. Hell have no fury like Justin when he's pissed. He grabbed the guy by the collar and punched him right in the nose. He grabbed his nose with both hands as the blood started to pour down his nice clean suit. Justin rang for the nurses station so they could take care of him.

"Shit. Remind me never to piss you off, please." I said holding up both hands in a sign of surrender. Justin smiled and laughed it all off. He sat back on the bed and kissed me on the forehead. "You missed."

"No I didn't," Justin said still smiling. "Can you believe that guy calling you a small time hood."

"Technically, I am just a small time hood. I haven't been around long enough to amount to a whole lot. Only those that know me personally know what I'm like." I said grabbing his hand again. Shortly after Justin left to get something to eat, he hadn't had anything to eat all day so he was understandable hungry. He wished me luck and good night before he left. I just picked up my book and read the rest of the night.

Justin was walking to his car when he heard something. He got the feeling he was being watched, but he continued to his car. Justin heard a noise and immediately turned around. When he turned around he saw Chip right behind him.

"Go away you asshole. I don't want or need you around." Justin said walking to his car. Justin climbed into his car and drove off. Chip of course followed him to his house.

"Justin, look I'm sorry. I was out of line and I apologize." Chip said sincerely.

"Fine, if you must stay around keep out of my life and don't make fun of any of my friends especially Jason." Justin said in a scolding tone. Ship agreed and grabbed his gear to stay with Justin. Chip picked a bedroom close to Justin's and took a quick look around the house. Justin called Dale and JC for supper. They agreed and said they were heading over. Justin went into the kitchen to start making supper. He wasn't all that great at cooking, but he tried hard. By the time JC and Dale were there, supper was all ready.

"What's this Justin, you call us over to have hamburgers ad French fries; and what's with bodyguard?" Dale asked.

"I told management about the guy stalking me and they hired Barney Fife there to watch over me." He said eating his fries. "I just didn't want to be alone with him, ya know."

"What's Jason say about this?" JC asked.

"Nothing really. This guy showed up at the hospital and made fun of Jason. Called him a small time hood, then laughed about the stone being a myth." Said Justin.

"Don't him get to you. When Jason gets out and finds this guy that stalking you, the bodyguard will leave." Dale said just before attempting to bite into his burger. The three close friends finished the supper in silence until the phone rang. Justin got up to answer it when the bodyguard stopped him and answered it himself.

"Hello" He said.

"Put Justin on the phone," a voice said.

"Who is this," He asked.

"The small time hood you idiot, put Justin on." I demanded. Chip handed the phone to Justin.

"It's for you Mr. Timberlake." He said.

"No shit," Justin said in a sarcastic tone. "This is my house, I don't know who else they'd want to talk to."

Justin grabbed the phone and put it up to his ear. He was about to answer when he realized that Chip hadn't left. Justin motioned with his hand to beat it.

"Yeah," He answered half pissed.

"How's it going?" I asked,

"Ok, the bodyguard is really testing my patience." Justin remarked.

"Well, I've got good news. The doctor just left, he said that I could get out of here tomorrow morning. You gonna be here to pick me up?" I asked as if I didn't already know.

"That's a stupid question, of course." He said happy as could be.

"Good see you tomorrow," I said as I yawned goodnight.

"Night babe. See you tomorrow." Justin said before hanging up. Justin went into the next room and announced the good news and was greeted with hugs from both his friends. Justin went to bed happy that night. He kept thinking about going to the hospital and bringing me back to his house. He wasn't thinking about anything sexual, like getting me upstairs and going straight for the sex. Justin had decided that I would stay at his house until I was better. After awhile Justin finally went to sleep.

The next day Justin woke up early and got around like he normally did. The only difference was he had to step around his new bodyguard. Justin made a mental note to talk to him about staying at his own home at night. Justin and his new friend went to the hospital after first stopping at my house for a change for clothes. Then detouring to pick up JC and Dale. They walked into my room and noticed the a few nurses unhooking me from all the shit they had me on. The doctor was going on about the drugs he was prescribing and when to take them. Justin handed me my clothes as I stood up after three days of lying down. Justin and one of the nurses had to balance me for a few minutes, as my legs were kind of numb. I walk around for a minute then asked everyone to leave as I changed. Everyone left and closed the door, all except Justin.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked him.

"Yeah, let me help you change your clothes." Justin said in a jokingly tone as he put his arms on my shoulder and kissed me on the lips. Our tongues danced as if they hadn't met in days. They hadn't, we never had the opportunity. After the kiss Justin smiled and walked out of the room so I could change. After about five minutes of so, I opened the door. It felt good to be in my own clothes again, clean shaven and all. I saw the doctor standing next to his nurse, who had a wheel chair. I figured the chair was for me so I climbed in. Justin took over the controls and started to push me out of the hospital.

"Justin, hold up." I said as I turned to look at the doctor. I extended my hand and shook his hand gratefully "Thanks for the time warden."

The doctor smiled as Justin continued to push me to his car. I looked around at the city and smiled.

"Good friends, somewhat clean air. What else do I need I life?" I said out loud. "I know one thing I really miss."

"You were only in the hospital for three days," Justin said as we continued across the parking light.

"That's all, seems like a lot longer than that. I really miss my cuda." I said as we approached Justin's car. "I love that car."

Everyone laughed and we climbed in to go home. I thought we were going to my house so you can imagine my surprise when we pulled up to Justin's house.

"What's this?" I asked. "Why aren't we at my house?"

"I thought it best for you to stay at my house for a few days." Justin said as we all climbed out of the car.

"I think I can take care of myself at my own home." I protested.

"Jason, I don't care where you go. Your house or mine, either way I am gonna be there to take care of you." Justin declared standing at his front door. I gave up and walked into his house and set my stuff down. "Chip take his things up and put them in my room. He staying in there."

"With you?" Chip asked.

"No, I will be staying in another room." Justin said to Chip. I don't think he likes him too much. Chip took my bags and went upstairs with them.

"I'm gonna take a nice hot bath." I said walking towards the stairs.

"Need help getting up the stair?" Justin asked.

"No I think I can manage." I said as I started up the stairs. I was flattered that Justin was so worried, but I was getting a bite annoyed with it all. I decided to bit my tongue and not worry about it. As I topped the steps Chip was coming out of his room and stared at me.

"Sup," I said as I walked by him. He stopped me by grabbing my arm and swinging me around.

"Let's get something straight. I don't like you; I despise you. I don't want you around at all. You're bad news." He said squeezing my arm. I didn't get mad, I just thought about what he said.

"Are you finished? Because if you are I think you should remove your hand from my arm unless you want it shoved down your throat. I didn't ask to stay here, Justin wants me here. You don't like it take it up with your boss. That's if you got the nerve after he decked you this afternoon." I said that last part laughing. He let go of my arm and turned around to leave, so I turned around. I started for the bathroom and that's when I struck me from behind. He hit me right in the kidney, I dropped like a rock. I hit with and "ugh" and a thump that was heard all over the house. Justin, JC, and Dale all came running up the steps to see me lying there.

"Jason, What happened?" he asked.

"Nothing, I got dizzy and feel down." I replied using him to help me up. I thanked him and continued to the bathroom.

"What really happened?" Justin asked Chip. "If you hit him so help me I'll."

"I didn't do anything. I heard the thud and came running like you." Chip said in an innocent voice. Once I closed the door I started the hot tub and tried to relax. Everyone but Justin went downstairs. Justin walked up to the bathroom door and knock lightly.

"Come in." I yelled. Justin came into see me sitting on the side of the tub shirtless. "Yeah."

"Chip hit you didn't he." Justin said bluntly.

"Justin let it go." I remarked.

"No, I won't. He has to be dealt with." Justin said standing there.

"He will be, trust me." I said with a half smile.

"Alright, but I don't like it." He said leaving. He continued downstairs and into the living room with everyone else. "Chip, go home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I am not going anywhere." He said. Dale got up and grabbed him by the arm.

Chip shrugged him off and swung at him. Dale ducked it and nailed chip right in the liver. Chip doubled over and Dale led him out. Ounce he was gone. They all went into the living room and relaxed.

"I got to get Jason's prescriptions." Justin said getting off the couch.

"No you stay here, I'll get them." Dale said standing up and grabbing the prescriptions. After a while I came downstairs and sat on the couch next to Justin. We spent the rest of the day watching TV and goofing off. By the time JC and Dale went home it was really late. Justin insisted on helping me up the steps and into bed.

"You know I am not a cripple, I can take care of myself." I said.

"Did you take your pills?" Justin asked ignoring my remark.

"Yes I did." I said giving up.

"Good, I will see you in the morning." Justin said kissing me and tucking me in. I went to sleep almost immediately. I didn't sleep for very long before I woke up yelling and hollering I wasn't yelling any names or anything. I just sat straight up in an ice-cold sweet and started hollering.

Justin came running in to the room in his boxers and sat next to me on the bed. Justin hugged me and whispered then it was ok. After a few minutes I calmed back down and dozed off to sleep. Events like this happen frequently. Justin would wake me up in the morning give me my pills, then we would spend the day together with him watching over me like a mother hen.

Then at night he gave me my pills again before he made me go to bed. The drugs I was on had a kind of a negative affect on me. I was getting really depressed; it was a side effect. After Justin's vacation and he went to work, he would call almost hourly to make sure I was ok. It got to the point that I was too depressed to care. Then when the started another tour, he asked Dale to look in on me before he went to work and after he came home. After about a month of being babied, I'd had enough. Dale came in one night and I was gone.

I didn't run away, I just went to my house. I called Justin and he racked me right over the coals.

"Jason what the hell are you thinking. Dale went in to see you and you were gone. I was really worried." Justin said into his cell phone. He wasn't too happy.

"Justin. I am not a fucking baby ok. I can take care of myself; maybe you've forgotten that. Don't think I don't appreciate what you're doing for me, but I can only take so much. I have to go back to Malibu anyway. I haven't been there for a month. I need to go back." I said responding to Justin out burst.

"I know you can take care of yourself. I just worry you know. I almost lost you, I wanted to make sure nothing happened to you." Justin said in a sincere tone. "What are you gonna do in Malibu?"

"Jim wants to see me, and I have to get me cuda. Then I am gonna sell the house, I don't want it anymore." I said to him.

"Call me when you get there." Justin said asking more than demanding.

"I will try," was all I said hanging up the phone. Don't get me wrong, I care about Justin. I was just the way I was being treated really pissed me off. I went to the airport to get on my plane for Malibu. When I got their Jim was waiting. He greeted me and we went to his house.

"Jason, I have a proposition for you. I am almost finished with the commission. Tomorrow we are going to Chicago and meet with the commission in person. I need you their to back me up. Just name your price." Jim said as we drove to his house.

"I tell you what. Let's swing by my house, I've a few personal items I need to pick up. Then let's go to your house and discuss business." I said pouring a scotch from the mini bar.

"No problem." Jim said. He directed the driver to my house and I grabbed and case for the top self of my closet. I hired I moving company to move everything to me house in Orlando. Big Jim and I continued to his mansion and discussed details. After a few hours of bargaining we had reached an agreement. I would back Big Jim tomorrow and he would grant me immunity from the organization along with one million dollars to be deposited into a Swiss bank account. I was about to go to sleep in my old room I had before I moved out when I remembered to call Justin. It wasn't that late were I was so I didn't think it would matter to call him. I dialed his cell phone and waited for him to answer.

"Hello," he said.

"Hey," I said greeting him.

"Hey yourself. What's up?" he asked.

"Not much. Listen I am gonna be out of town for a few days. Jim needs my help." I said.

"Jason you are not going back to that life style." Justin said with force.

"Let's get something straight. This is my life and I will be damned if you're going to tell me what to do. Do you understand? Jim's offered me good money and I am not turning it down. I just called to let you know that I arrived ok." I said half-pissed. Justin was kind surprised that I said this to him.

"Jason, I never meant to run your life. I just don't want you to get hurt, I don't think I could stand it again." Justin said hoping I understand.

"I can see what you're saying, but Justin I have to know if I can still do this. I don't really expect you to understand completely." I said in a softer tone.

"Ok, I will talk to you later hun. Good night." Justin said ending our conversation.

"Night babe." I said in return. Justin sat in his room thinking about what I was talking about, still being able to do what I do. Justin didn't worry about it and went to bed.

The next day Justin did the usual thing they all did when touring. They had a few promotional appointments and a few interviews. Then they would have the afternoon for shopping and then go out to supper in a fancy restaurant before continuing with the tour. I one the other hand had flown with Jim to Chicago early in the morning and was getting everything ready for our "appointment" a teamster headquarters, where the commission was located. We prepared ourselves in the plane before we landed. Jim wanted all of us to look business like. There were about seven of us, Jim tops guys you might say. Each of us had a "talent" that Jim saw and knew he could use to his advantage. Some people think that to make any headway in crime, you have to use force. The force never hurts, but using your head and devising a plan is much easier, and doesn't get so many people killed and that is always a major point.

We all climbed off the plane in sharp, neat, professional business suits. We were all packing heat and ready to fight if need be. I was what you might call the point man. Jim stuck me right up front. So I was wearing guns in about every spot I could think of. Being out front, I didn't figure on having time to reload a gun if I had to, so by wearing multiple guns I erased the problem. I had my colts under my arms. I had backup pistols fastened to my back and guns attached to my hips. In all I was wearing six separate pistols. On top of that, I was going to be carrying a riot shotgun, which holds six shells at least. I was ready to rip some shit up. This was my last job in the business, more importantly with Big Jim. We walked right into the lobby with guns drawn and me right up front. We didn't have a whole lot of problem getting around those that resisted us. I think the fact that we were walking right in and taking over surprised the hell out of them. As we reached the boardroom where the commission met I tried the door and it was locked. I cocked the shotgun and blasted the lock off the door. I kicked open the door and walked right in on the commission.

"Well, look at this. What's with the door gentlemen?" I asked standing in front of the commission. I propped a foot up on the table with shotgun in hand.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" The man at the head of the table asked.

"I am the guy with the gun, who are you?" I asked sarcastically. He was about to answer when I cut him off. "You are the former head of the commission."

"I am not a former head, I am the head." He protested

"Gentlemen the new head of the commission. Mr. Big Jim McLintock." I said stepping aside and letting them all get a good look as Jim walked in. One of the men on the left side of the table stood up and went for his gun, so I put a hole in with the shotgun. "Anyone else care to resist."

"Gentlemen, I am taking over. Does anyone here care to protest, if you do please say so." Jim said standing in front of the commission.

"You can't take over, I run this board. I will be damned if you are gonna over run me!" he yelled. Jim looked at him and looked at me.

"As head of the commission I will not allow it. Ten million dollars to the man that stops these people" he yelled. Then the rest of the board started standing up and grabbing guns. I used the rest of the shell in my shotgun and dropped it going for my pistols. I had almost forgot how enjoyable it was to pull the trigger; it is so relaxing. Within seconds, the entire council was lying on the floor in bloody heaps. Jim walked around the table looking at the bodies. He looked up and me and started laughing.

"Hot damn Jason, you haven't lost your touch." He said laughing. Jim walked up to the head chairman and looked him right in the eyes and continued laughing. I walked over to him as well and put my pistols away and took out a knife I had. I put the blade on his temple and slide it down the side of his face. I was cutting into him; it was just rubbing against his shin. After I reached his chest I slide it down the center of his chest until I was pointing it at his stomach. I looked over at Jim and he just nodded at me. I took this as an indication and stuck the knife right in his stomach and pulled up on the knife and pulled it out of him. He slid down the wall and laid on the floor and bleed to death. Jim just walked over to the head of the table and sat down in the executor's chair. After he sat down in the executors chair at the head of the table a bunch of men ran into the room.

"What's this?" a man asked.

"That is you new boss." I chimed in from the side. "Respect him."

"You're Big Jim McLintock. Who are you gonna name for the rest of the vacant seats on the board?" He asked.

"You were on of my ideal candidates. The top five families are finished, I've seen to that. Now the smaller families have a chance to step forward and run things. I am the head, but I am looking to the heads of some of the smaller families to fill seats on our new board." Jim said lighting a cigar.

TBC I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I worked hard on it. If you have any comments, email me at roczilla@hotmail.com