What a hero Brian was, or so Justin would have everyone believe when he
detailed his father’s attack on Brian in the alley outside of Babylon.
Justin swore he would never go home again but Debbie, trying to see
both sides of the coin, tried to explain to Sunshine that his parents
still see him as a little boy and aren’t ready to see him as a man yet,
let alone one who “takes it up the — and sucks —-,” to quote her.
She lost her trend of thought and collapsed. Being overworked and
overtired will do that. How many of our mother’s have done the same
thing to insure the welfare of their families? It’s even harder on a
single mother who needs to be father, mother, and provider as well.
When Michael found out that she had been pulling so many extra shifts
to help pay for Uncle Vic’s medical expenses, being the dutiful son
that he is, he realized he had to do something to help.

There’s a promotion going at the Big Q and so he decided to stick
himself in the pool for the job. The manager was surprised, but pleased
that he stepped up and invited him to an office party and to bring his…
lady. His lady? I’m sure he thought how weird is that? How hetero.
Waiting in the wings was Tracy and so Michael asked her to go with him.
She was excited and kissed him on the lips. Despite David’s disapproval
of Michael using Tracy, he’s doing the only thing he can at this point
without sacrificing his current job and only means of support and his
only way of helping his mom. It’s okay for David to criticize because
he’s a successful doctor with his own practice and doesn’t rely on the
straight business world for his paycheck or worry about making ends
meet, or worry for being found out. Again we see just how far apart the
worlds are that these two men come from.

And now there is a rumor going around the store about Michael, or so
one of the other candidates for the promotion made him believe. Knowing
how other suspected gay people have fared in that business made him
even more determined to keep his sexuality private and the charade up.
That is something a lot of us can relate to. It is inevitable in a
world where people who are different become marginalized by strangers,
friends, and even family, that it would hit you in the workplace as
well and the level to which you can aspire in certain
professions.

Fortunately for Brian, he doesn’t have those concerns or make a secret
of who he is and still racks up the conquests, business and otherwise!
But when Michael does get the promotion and feels guilty about living a
lie, Brian reaffirms, “It’s not lying if they make you lie.” Brian
isn’t beyond pulling off an odd straight charade himself from time to
time. It seems as though he needed “family” in tow to get a deal on a
car and so drug Lindz and Gus along to pose as the perfect happy
family. He honed right in on the one he wanted but the dealer tried to
dissuade him from it saying that, “Fags are drawn to it and you really
want something else.” Brian stood his ground though and asked to take
it for a test drive – a test drive right through the display window
after which he promptly said, “We’ll take it.”

Jennifer unexpectedly showed up at Brian’s office and despoted Justin’s
belongings on Brian’s desk and gave him instructions on Justin’s care
and money for his upkeep, which he refused. Brian took the gear home
only to find Justin had already completely invaded his space. Having
enough of it, Brian drug Justin back to the Taylor house and tried to
mend fences. But Craig put many conditions on his son’s return home,
conditions of intolerance and bigotry. When Brian realized that in
order for Justin to live at home he would have to deny who and what he
is, he declared to Mr. Taylor, “That isn’t love. That’s hate,” and
asked Justin if he was coming as he walked out.

Perhaps Brian’s I don’t do relationships mantra he says to himself is wearing out and he is realizing just how much he’s starting to care for and need Justin, just as much as Justin cares for and needs him. When we hear Angel Moon’s ‘He’s All I Want’ playing, Brian comes home from work to find Justin had set the table and made dinner… for two, just like they were a real couple. Brian tried to conceal just how nice it may have been to come from work for once and find the person you love waiting for you to have dinner with him, and to share the highs and lows of the day. But wise Justin saw right through that facade Brian projects to the world and smiled to himself as they ate.