Josh didn't know where he and Lance were headed. They had just gotten in his small two door and started driving west. No plans. No map to guide them. Just each other. At first, Lance had been quiet and to himself, but by the second day of their trip he began to talk and laugh just a little. By the end of the third day, a smile never left Lance's face. Josh could tell that Lance was happier. Things were by no means all the way healed for Lance. Josh doubted that they never would be.

That night they drove until they both were tired. Lance was asleep leaning his head against the window when Josh saw a motel up ahead. He pulled in, and stopped the car. Not bothering to wake up Lance, he went into the lobby and got them a room. When he came out, he found Lance standing next ot the car half asleep. "I got us a room. I figured it would be okay this far away."

Lance nodded his head slowly still out of it. They had been sleeping in the car the last two nights trying to get as far away from Joe as possible. Josh wonder if Lance would ever think they were far enough. Josh walked over and grabbed Lance walking him over to the room he had rented them for the night. He opened the room and turned on the light. Sighing, he walked Lance over to the bed and watched as he immediately laid down.

Josh looked towards the bathroom and decided to take a shower. When he came out, he looked towards the bed while towel drying his hair, but didn't see Lance where he had left him. He put the towel around his shoulders, and looked towards the window to find Lance peeking out from the side of the drape into the night. "Lance, get some rest. We'll be fine here."

Lance let the drape fall as he sighed. He walked towards the bed and lay down with his legs hanging off. "Josh, you just don't know Joe like I do. He can find us. It doesn't matter how far we go. Sooner or later, he WILL find us."

Josh sat on the edge of the bed next to Lance silent for a few moments. "I'm sorry, Lance. You don't deserve to live this kind of life. You deserve so much more. I wish I had met you before you met Joe."

"Me, too."

Josh leaned back on his elbows and looked over at Lance. "I'm happy we met though. It doesn't matter how we met or where. It just matters that you're here with me now."

Lance sat up leaning on one elbow. "Yeah, it is nice being with you. It is certainly different than it was with Joe." He looked down and picked nervously at the blanket. Sighing, he looked up. He stared at Josh for a second before his hand reached out and touched the pendent Josh wore around his neck. "I never noticed this before. What is it?"

Josh looked down briefly at Lance's hand before answering. "It is my for my birth sign. I wear it all the time, but it is mostly hidden by my shirts."

"You never take it off?" Lance asked as he let his hand fall back down to the bedspread.

Josh shook his head. "I am not going to take it off until I give it to someone."

"Oh." Lance fell silent. he wanted to ask who Josh would give the necklace to, but he didn't at the same time. He lay back on the bed looking up at the ceiling. "Who are you going to give it to?"

Josh moved so that he leaning over Lance. "I am going to give this to the person I love. That will be the day this will come off my neck." Josh moved his head lower and touched his lips to Lance's. He hadn't kissed Lance since that brief kiss in his apartment. He hadn't want to push Lance into something new before he was ready, but tonight it just seemed like the right thing to do.  He raised his head and licked his lips still tasting Lance there. He looked down at Lance who had closed his eyes.

Suddenly Josh sit up. Looking down at his hands, he sighed. He knew he wanted Lance. He was pretty sure that Lance wanted him, but he wasn't sure if Lance was ready for that. He had just left a very bad relationship. He reached up and started to play with his pendant. He jumped when he felt Lance wrap his arms around his waist.  "Lance, I..."

Lance reached up and turned Josh's head so that he could face him. "It's okay, Josh. I'm okay."

Shaking his head, Josh stood up. Grabbing a t-shirt,  he walked over to the room door. Opening it, he left the room without a word to Lance.



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