Chapter One: Hangovers
"You know what?"
"Depends on what 'what' you're referring to."
"I'm a geek."
Lance moved his magazine away from his face and looked at Justin from upside down as he lay on his back on the bed, his head against the side of the mattress. Justin was sitting on the couch watching their latest appearance on MTV, while Lance was doing his best to ignore the tv and focus on his Disney magazine. At Justin's startling revelation, however, he rolled onto his stomach and faced Justin, holding his arms on his body to brace himself.
"No you're not," Lance objected. The other guys had gone out drinking, and Lance and Justin were forced to stay in. That was one of the major downfalls over being famous. Everyone knew how old they were.
"Yes I am." Justin sighed and clicked off the tv, looking over at Lance. "I'm just a really big geek."
Lance arched an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
"Did you see me the other day at MTV? I can't even crack a decent joke. The only reason anyone likes me is 'cause I can sing and I'm apparently good looking."
"'Apparently'?" Lance teased. "You've won more awards for your good looks than our group's won for our music!"
Justin scowled. "Don't remind me," he begged, rubbing his face with his hands. "I'm not attractive, Lance. It's the music. I swear it is."
Lance lowered his chin to the bed, resting it on his interlaced fingers. "How come you're being so pessimistic?" he asked finally. "Did you and Britney have a fight?"
Justin laughed out loud shortly. "You mean the girlfriend that I'm with because we're the perfect couple?" he tossed back sarcastically. "Oh yeah. We're totally kosher."
"Bitter, much?"
"I don't dare be bitter. If I'm bitter then I'm ungrateful and if I'm ungrateful the fans hate me."
Lance hiked up an eyebrow. "You sure sound bitter."
Justin sighed and looked around the hotel room until his eyes resettled on Lance. "Don't you hate that we're always left behind?"
Lance shrugged. "We aren't always left behind. And it's not like we're that far from the time when we'll be able to join them. So no, not really."
Justin sank down onto the couch, grumbling unhappily. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and held it between his hands, staring at it with a scowl.
"You gonna call someone or try to change its color by nothing more than the mere power of your mind?" Lance asked, rolling onto his back and resuming his previous position. All the blood had rushed to his head, but he didn't really care because it was a pretty fun position to be in. He relifted the magazine to his view and ignored Justin, though he did wait for the boys' answer.
"I was thinking of calling someone," Justin tossed back, sounding annoyed. "My mom, specifically."
Lance shrugged. "Do what you want. I don't care." The next instant his magazine, and something else, was crashing into his face and he cried out in surprise, quickly sitting up and glaring at the curly headed boy and the ground, to see what he'd thrown. A pillow, from the couch, rested harmlessly on the ground. Lance met Justin's scowl with one of his own. "Was there a reason for that?" Lance demanded, reaching down and picking up the pillow, sitting up on the bed.
"Yeah. I didn't like your tone."
Lance arched an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm so sorry to have offended you, Mr. Timberlake. Should I make offerings at your alter, now? What would you like me to do as penance?" Lance rolled his eyes at his own sarcastic comments and held the pillow in his lap, his magazine on the bed beside him.
"You could go to hell," Justin suggested conversationally, then narrowed his eyes and stood. "Forget this. I'm going to my room."
"I'll miss you," Lance tossed back, setting the pillow from his lap to the pillows already propped up at the head of the bed and resting his back against them, picking up his Disney magazine again.
Justin paused in the doorway. "I know you will. Try not to mourn my loss for too long."
"I think I'll be able to avoid it," Lance assured him blankly without ever lifting his eyes from his magazine.
"You're a bastard, Lance, you know that?"
"Yeah, and you're a conceited prick. What's your point?" Lance casually turned a page in his magazine, not really focusing on it anymore.
Justin tried another tactic. "How many 20 year olds do you know that still read Disney magazines? I don't even know little kids who read Disney magazines."
Lance glanced up at him, taking in Justin's slumped shoulders, angry and hurt demeanor, and firm grip on the edge of the wall that led from the main part of the room to the small hallway that led to the door. "That's their loss," Lance told him, shrugging. "I happen to enjoy it."
"It's directed at 8 year olds."
Lance arched an eyebrow. "So's your music."
Justin's eyes narrowed. "It's your music too, need I remind you?"
Lance shook his head, resting his magazine on his stomach. "Nope. I'm perfectly capable of looking at my paystub to figure out where my employment lies. But thanks for the prompting, just in case I forgot." He smiled fakely at Justin, then opened his magazine again, ignoring him.
"Ugh! You are impossible!" Lance glanced up to see Justin storming out of his room, throwing his hands up in the air. Lance smiled to himself and resettled himself into the bed, smugly reading through his magazine.
"Oh god. I am so hung over."
Lance couldn't resist laughing at Joey as Joey dropped his head into Lance's lap, throwing an arm over his eyes to block out the bright South Carolina sun as it came in through Lance's open window.
"I feel for ya, Joe," Lance assured him complacently, patting Joey on the chest and then ignoring him completely as the news came back on.
"Yeah. Real sympathetic, Lance," Justin tossed back sarcastically, lifting Joey's legs and dropping down onto the couch, allowing Joey's legs to rest in his lap. "How ya doin', Joe?"
"I have a headache and it sounds like you both are shouting," Joey groaned.
Lance spoke at the same time as Joey did, indignantly. "Are you calling me insensitive?" he demanded. "I didn't force Joey to drink. In fact, if you'll use those few brain cells in your head that actually work, you'll recall that I told him not to go." Lance looked down at Joey and squeezed his hand tenderly. "Joe," Lance continued gently. "You know that you can't handle alcohol very well. Why do you continue to do this to yourself?"
"Because he likes the taste. The least you could do is be a good friend and not shout," Justin snapped back.
Lance glared over at him. "Pardon? I don't remember asking you. And for your information, I'm being a very good friend. I didn't send him out on his ass, did I?"
"Okay, you two," JC sighed, perching on the arm of the couch beside Lance and resting a hand on Lance's shoulder. "Let's not do this now, alright?"
Lance shrugged and ignored Justin, looking down at Joey. "You want some Advil?" he asked softly, trying to keep his voice quiet for Joey's head's sake.
"Oh, god, anything. Please." Joey's voice was weak and exhausted and pleading.
Lance looked over at Justin. "You get it, Curls?"
Justin nodded immediately. "Sure. In your bag?"
"Yeah. You know where?"
"Absolutely." Justin was up on his feet and disappeared into Lance's bathroom while Lance lightly ran his fingers through Joey's dark brown hair and red tips in an attempt to soothe him. He told Joey not to go last night, but did Joey ever listen to him? No. Why? Because Joey wanted to be "included" in the 'older guy' category. Lance honestly didn't understand why. He was perfectly content to stay at the hotel reading or watching tv or something. He didn't like to drink.
"Lance, you got any clean glasses, man? These are gross. What did you do to them?"
Lance rolled his eyes as Justin's voice drifted out from the bathroom. "I haven't touched any of them, you idiot," he called back, closing his hands over Joey's ears to muffle the sound. "And if they look that bad, try being domesticated and wash one out."
Justin's head poked around the corner. "I'm not your bitch," he countered in mock-protest.
"Then be Joey's and make yourself useful," Lance returned shortly, watching as Justin ducked back inside the bathroom before looking up at JC. "Honestly. That boy is such a problem."
JC sighed and shook his head. "Your guys' relationship is one I will never understand, Lance. Half the time you hate each other, and half the time you're best friends."
"Nah," Lance admonished. "We're never best friends." With a grin he looked down at Joey and carefully removed his hands, rubbing Joey's temples. "You okay, Joe?"
"Oh god, no," he moaned. "My body aches. Damn it, Jace, why did you let me drink so much?"
JC's eyes widened. "Dude, you had a bottle of beer and a shot of wiskey! How was I to know that that was going to do you in? Normally you can handle at least two wiskey's before you're out."
Lance sighed. "JC, he can only handle a beer or the wiskey. Not both together." Lance glanced up as Justin reappeared with a glass of water and two pills, which he placed in Joey's mouth before carefully tipping the cup to allow the water to pass through Joey's lips. Joey sputtered for a minute, then managed to swallow it down. Justin set it on the coffee table and studied Joey, removing his arm.
"Oh god, the light..." Joey groaned, his face screwing up painfully. "Stop it. I beg you." He looked terrible, as though he hadn't shaved in days. His hair was completely messed up and he had large bags under his eyes, which were red and bloodshot.
Justin set Joey's arm back over his eyes and looked up at Lance and JC. "Well he looks awful," Justin sighed, slowly rubbing Joey's free arm.
"I'm sure he appreciates that," Lance told Justin condescendingly, then looked up at JC. "Where's Chris?"
"He's in his room," JC answered, as Justin spoke back to Lance.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Justin demanded at the same time. "I'm the one getting him the medicine. I didn't see you get your fat ass up off the couch."
"You need to be made useful every once in a while, Justin, otherwise why do we keep you around?" Lance countered, completely ignoring JC.
Justin's eyes narrowed. "Funny. We could ask you the same thing. What's your point in the group, Lance?"
Lance scoffed at him. "I hit those low notes that your high pitched girly-voice can't handle."
"Yeah, but which one of us is the front man?"
Lance sneered. "Which one of us has more problems with their life?"
"Stop," JC interrupted when Justin opened his mouth to respond. "Both of you, cut it out. You're giving me a headache." He sighed. "Honestly! Can't you two be together for more than five minutes without tearing at each other's throats?"
"Sure we can," Lance agreed easily. "We just choose not to."
"Exactly," Justin agreed primly. "He makes himself a target. My fault? I think no."
"Who makes whose self a target, fro boy?" Lance shot back.
"Yeah, and which one of us gets more recognition for his hair? I don't think it's you!"
"They only like your hair 'cause it's weird. Mine, on the other hand, is very in right now."
"I make my own 'in'," Justin tossed back. "I start the trends."
"Oh, right, like those stupid chaps you were wearing to the VMAs? That was just embarassing, Justin."
Justin glared at him. "Like that bright blue outfit with the sequined fire was any better?"
"You picked it out!"
"Stop!" Joey roared, sitting up and glaring at them. They all looked at him in surprise. "Both of you are driving me nuts! I have a headache and you're only making it worse!" He staggered to his feet. "Forget this. I'll go be miserable by myself."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Lance ordered quickly, his voice dropped to a lower level again as he caught Joey's hand. Joey practically fell into Lance's lap, and when his head hit, it hit a particularly tender spot and Lance cried out in pain and dropped his head to Joey's chest, gasping for air against the blinding pain.
"Want some ice?" Justin teased Lance in his ear.
Lance's eyes narrowed and he grabbed Justin by the collar of his shirt, bringing their faces only centimeters apart. "Want to be feeling the same thing I am?" Warningly he kicked his foot out, coming in contact with Justin's thigh, only inches from the painful area. Justin gasped anyway, catching Lance's foot in his hand. "Didn't think so." Lance shoved Justin back and continued to lay on Joey's chest, still trying to catch his breath and stop the pain.
"Would a Coke help?" Justin offered.
"It's a start," Lance agreed through gritted teeth. A few seconds later he heard his front door being opened and closed, and then JC's voice.
"You two are so odd," JC sighed, rubbing Lance's back. "You okay?"
"I've been better," Lance told him conversationally, then grunted painfully. "Jesus I'm going to kill you when you're better, Joe."
"I don't think I'm going to survive this," Joey moaned. "God, my head is throbbing."
Lance sighed. "Justin's getting Coke's."
"Don't give me anything to eat. I'll probably just throw it back up." Joey let out a few pained sounds. "Someone just kill me. Please. I'll will you everything I own."
"Really?" Justin asked, reappearing. "Wanna go painlessly?"
"I don't care," Joey moaned.
Lance felt a hand on his shoulder, sitting him up, and then he caught sight of Justin kneeling on the floor in front of him, holding up a Coke. "Maybe this'll help," Justin suggested.
"Thank you," Lance sighed, taking it, snapping it open, and guzzling half of it before handing it back to him. Justin, by that time, had given Joey and JC both a Coke, and when he took Lance's, he took a drink himself and then set it back on the table top.
"Is anyone going to wake Chris up?" Justin asked, frowning slightly.
"Chris is probably ten times more hung over than Joey," JC sighed, rubbing his forehead and sliding an arm behind Lance along the couch. "He drank four shots of vodka and two wiskey's."
Lance groaned. "Damn it, you guys. You're never going out drinking again." He looked up at Justin. "You want Chris or should I get him?"
Justin stood and waved him down. "You're already here. I'll go damage control Chris." He sighed. "Why me?" he moaned.
"Because you deserve it," Lance returned easily.
Justin made a face at him. "Do I also deserve a friend like you?"
"Nah. I'm way out of your league," Lance assured him, lightly rubbing Joey's arm in sympathy.
"Ha. That'll be the day."
"In your dreams."
Justin made a face at him and opened the door, turning back to look at them. "What time are we rendevousing?"
"Don't use too many big words, Justin. You'll have exhausted your supply before the day's over," Lance warned.
JC let out a sigh. "Around noon?" he suggested.
Justin was responding to Lance, however. "You're just jealous 'cause I can spell rendevous and you can't."
Lance scoffed at him. "Oh, yeah, Justin. That's the whole reason behind my misery. You can spell and I can't. Need I remind you which one of us has their own business?"
"Touche," Justin conceeded, then leaned foward tauntingly. "But which one of us has sucky talent that we're managing?" With that, he let the door fall behind him, and Lance was unable to respond.
Lance glared at the door for several minutes, tempted to go after the curly headed boy, then sighed finally and leaned back against the couch; JC's arm. "That kid is such a punk," he sighed, then looked down at Joey. "How ya doin', Joe?"
"I think I'm dying," Joey slurred. "Please kill me."
"If you're dying we don't have to," Lance returned shortly. He looked up at JC. "Go shut the curtains, would ya, Jace? And help me get Joey to the bed."
JC stood and yanked the curtains shut, Joey wincing at the loud sounds, and then rejoined Lance and Joey at the couch, slipping an arm around Joey as he and Lance both worked to carry him to the bed and lay him down. When he was situated, they flopped back on the couch together, Lance leaning his head on JC's shoulder.
"We're back at the studio in three days," JC reminded, his voice soft so as to not disturb Joey on the bed, who was still uttering pained sounds. Lance grinned and held up three fingers to display JC's words. JC laughed and nodded. "Three days. And there we're going to meet our new dance coreographer."
Lance sighed drearily. "Tell me about it. And all new dances. And all new ways for me to utterly suck."
JC laughed. "You aren't going to 'utterly suck'," he promised. "I won't let you. If you have a problem with the dance, we'll just do what we've always done and I'll work with you."
Lance smiled. "The one good thing about learning new dance moves: I get to spend more time with you."
JC grinned and hugged Lance to him. "I agree. Sometimes I really like the fact that you don't catch on to the dances quite as quickly as everyone else."
Lance laughed out loud. "Well that's putting it delicately, Jace. You could just state the obvious truth, which is that I suck."
JC shook his head. "You don't suck. You're great. You just need extra practice."
Lance snickered. "Thanks, Jace."
JC was bewildered. "I'm trying to be nice!"
"I know. Don't mind me." Lance patted JC's knee, grinning.
"You're so confusing," JC sighed. "I don't think I will ever understand you."
Lance shrugged innocently. "I'm sorry, Jace. What would you like me to do to rectify the sitch?"
JC simply smiled and shook his head. "Lance, I would have you no other way."
Lance grinned devilishly. "None?"
JC hiked up an eyebrow.
"Oh, you two!" Joey moaned from the bed. "Spare me, please.The last thing I need while I'm suffering from the worst hang over of my life is to listen to you two flirt madly. Lance, stop coming on to JC. JC, stop pretending to be clueless. And one of you get me a god damn Coke or coffee."
"How 'bout a cold shower?" Lance suggested instead, peering past JC to Joey. "That'll get your blood flowin'."
"Don't even think about it," Joey muttered warningly.
Lance looked up at JC, who grinned mischeviously and nodded. Lance smiled back brightly, and then they were both standing, Lance to the bed and JC to the bathroom. Lance sank down beside Joey on the bed, lightly running a hand over Joey's clammy forehead. Lance frowned slightly.
"You okay, Joe?" Lance asked softly, using his other hand to feel for Joey's pulse.
Joey nodded slowly, swallowing hard as Lance's fingers pressed against his throat. "Just kinda nausious," he admitted. "Don't worry about me. I'll be alright." His heart felt normal. A little faster than it should have been, but normal enough that it wasn't going to be a problem. Yet.
Lance sighed and brushed the sweat off of Joey's brow. "Joe?" he whispered quietly. "I'm going to take your clothes off, now, okay?"
Joey's eyes pulled open and he smiled slightly. "I didn't think I was your type," he teased, his voice sounding shaky.
Lance smiled back. "Well, I decided this was the only way you were ever going to get someone to undress you." He reached down and pulled up Joey's dark blue shirt without hesitation, being careful not to jar Joey's head too much. Joey still moaned something intelligible, but Lance managed to get it off without him crying out in pain. He balled the shirt up and ran it over Joey's body to try and absorb some of the sweat that covered the man's body, then tossed it aside and reached down for Joey's belt buckle, still not hesitating. Joey was in pain; Joey needed help. Both meant that Lance didn't care how bad the situation looked. He managed to undo the leather, then unbuttoned Joey's pants and unzipped them, tugging them down over Joey's hips and down his legs, pausing when he realized that Joey was wearing shoes and socks.
"Trying to make this difficult on me, aren't ya, Joe?" Lance teased gently, trying to make light of the situation.
"I never give in without a fight," Joey agreed so weakly that Lance looked up at him sharply and practically ripped at Joey's shoelaces to get them off. He tugged down Joey's pants once his shoes were off and then slipped off the socks, until Joey lay there in nothing more than his boxers. And he was still panting and sweating.
"You hot?" Lance asked softly, picking up the shirt and patting Joey down with it again.
"Damn straight I'm hot. Men and women alike can't resist me." Joey moaned and clutched his head. "Why is the room spinning?"
"Close your eyes," Lance cooed softly, looking up when he heard JC quietly clear his throat. "He's in bad shape," Lance told JC, keeping his voice low.
JC arched an eyebrow. "Not really."
Lance smiled slightly, but it was a serious moment. "Help me get him to the tub, Jace," he instructed quietly, and JC immediately crossed to the bed. Together they each got under one of Joey's arms and half carried, half dragged him to the bathroom. JC had filled the tub with tepid water, and for not the first time that day did Lance not envy Joey.
"One foot at a time, man," Lance instructed softly, carefully lowering Joey into the tub as Joey held onto the wall with one hand.
"It's freezing!" Joey yelped, then released his grip on the wall to clutch his head. Only Lance, still trying to support Joey, couldn't do it on his own, and they both went tumbling down.
Into the tub.
Lance gasped and cried out when he fell in, banging his shin against the front of the tub as he did so, and landing on Joey's lap as they bumped foreheads and their limbs became entangled in the cold water.
"Don't shout," Joey moaned, clutching his head and trying to get out of the tub at the same time. Lance, meanwhile, was trying to get out of the tub as well and yet trying to keep Joey in it, only his legs were dangling over the edge and he hit his head on the back of the wall, and the rest of him was soaked... Lance whined pitifully once they finally just settled down and sat there, looking up at JC for help.
JC was laughing so hard that he was sitting on the ground crying.
"Damn you, Jace!" Lance hissed softly, trying not to laugh himself as he rubbed his sore head. He took a large scoop of water and splashed it out over the edge at JC, who gave a loud gasp and sat up quickly as part of him was soaked, along with the whole bathroom floor, which was already wet from when Lance and Joey had fallen in.
"You little brat!" JC exclaimed, half laughing, half indignant. He reached into the tub and splashed Lance, who had anticipated such a movement and pulled on JC's arm, yanking him into the tub with them. JC cried out and they all splashed and swished around as yet another body was added to Joey's lower legs. Joey moaned, Lance laughed, and JC gasped.
They sat there laughing for a few minutes, Joey included, and then Lance began rubbing his head where he'd hit it.
"You okay?" JC asked worriedly, reaching up and brushing his fingers over what was already forming into a bump.
"Oh sure," Lance scoffed. "No problem. A mild concussion. Internal bleeding. Death by freezing. I'm fine."
JC laughed and, using Lance's chest as a brace, pushed up out of the tub, standing on the ground. Then he held a hand out to Lance, who sighed and allowed JC to pull him up before they both stood there, shivering. Lance snagged two towels and handed one to JC, taking the other for himself and starting to rub off the best he could, but his clothes were soaked and he'd have to change. But first, Joey.
Lance knelt down beside Joey, who was still laying there holding his head, and placed a hand on Joey's bare shoulder. "Hey man," Lance cooed softly. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm not so hot anymore. Thanks."
"I'm going to go change and get some towels. I'll be right back," JC told them softly, placing a comforting hand on Lance's shoulder.
Lance nodded at him and then turned his attention back to Joey as JC left. He gently scooped up some of the water from the tub and placed the makeshift cup on top of Joey's head, slowly letting the water cascade down. Joey smiled weakly at him and then leaned the back of his head against the wall, closing his eyes. Lance continued to drizzle water down Joey's head until Joey started shivering.
"Cold?" Lance asked softly, frowning. He held on to Joey's shoulder and felt how cool his friends' skin had become.
Joey opened his eyes and smiled weakly at him. "Thank you for cooling me down."
Lance smiled at him gently. "Anytime, Joe. Want out of the tub, now?"
"Yes, please."
Lance carefully wrapped one of Joey's arms around his shoulders and pulled, Joey using the wall as a support again, and then, when both of Joey's feet were on the inch-high water logged linolium floor, Lance had Joey sit down on the toilet seat, which he spread out small towels over to keep Joey from freezing. That done, he grabbed the last body towel and wrapped it around Joey's shoulders, arms and all, and knelt in front of his friend, gently rubbing his arms through the towel. He ignored the water that was further soaking up his pant legs and instead focused on Joey, who was shivering and looked pale and tired.
"Here," JC said, breezing into the bathroom wearing clean, dry clothes, and holding an armful of towels.
"Thanks, Jace," Lance said, smiling up at him and taking one, wrapping it around Joey's legs. He rubbed his legs for a moment, and then took another towel and placed it over Joey's dripping wet hair, lightly squeezing the moisture out as he stood and hugged Joey's head to his stomach. He looked over at JC, who was crouching on the ground trying to mop up the water. "I assume you got some of those from Chris and Justin's rooms?"
JC looked up briefly and nodded, squeezing the soaked towel out in the tub before using it again. "Yeah. Chris is in bad shape. Justin's got his hands tied."
Lance frowned, but it was Joey who spoke. "Chris is sick?" Joey asked worriedly. "How sick?"
JC hesitated, as though he didn't want to upset Joey further, but he reluctantly told the truth. "He's laying sprawled out on his bathroom floor throwing up."
"Oh god," Joey breathed, starting to stand.
"Woah, tiga," Lance ordered gently, placing his hands on Joey to try and stop him. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To Chris. He needs us."
Lance sighed, but he couldn't help but smile. "Joe, you're practically naked. The only good you're going to do Chris right now is give him a hard on."
Joey chuckled quietly. "Well get me my clothes and then I'll do him some good."
"You can't kiss his stomach heaves away," Lance reminded, lightly stroking Joey's wet hair as he used his other hand to rub Joey's body through the towels. "I hate to disappoint you, but that's the truth."
Joey sighed. "We should be together through this. I'm sick, Chris is sick... If the three of you guys work together then it'll be a lot easier on all of us."
Lance hugged Joey gently. "We're fine, Joe. You and Chris are fine. We're all fine."
"I can't believe they have to ride on the bus like this," JC muttered from the floor, ringing out yet another soaked towel.
Lance groaned quietly. "Well it's not going to be fun, that's for sure."
"Lance, understatement-of-the-century award goes to you," JC teased, and Lance smiled.
"I'd like to thank the academy. Understatements aren't just something you learn. It's something you're born with."
"Like your amazingly sarcastic wit?" Joey tossed out there, still hugging Lance's waist.
Lance smiled. "Jealous?"
"Not really." Joey sighed and shivered. "Cold."
Lance reached back and grabbed another towel from the counter, wrapping it around Joey's body. "Sorry, Joe," he apologized softly. "I wish I could make you feel better."
Joey sighed. "It's not your fault. I did this to myself. You warned me."
Lance hugged him tightly for a moment, then relaxed his grip. "Don't bother playing the blame game, Joey. It's not worth it. You could do a million stupid things and I'd still be right here, drying your hair, and JC would still be on the ground, cleaning up big puddles of water."
JC glared up at Lance, and Lance smiled and made a kissing motion at JC, who grinned and went back to work. Lance smiled down at him.
"You guys are such good friends," Joey sighed. "Thank you."
"Anytime," Lance promised, lightly stroking Joey's still wet hair.
"I think that next time Lance should have to clean up the 'big puddle of water,'" JC announced, making a disgusted face as it seemed like he was only pushing the water from one side of the bathroom floor to the other.
"But Jace," Lance objected teasingly. "You've got such a cute backside, and I can see it all from here."
JC slowly looked over his shoulder at Lance, who grinned mischeviously at him. JC shook his head and went back to work, but there was a hint of a pleased smile turning up his adorable lips.
"Oh you two," Joey groaned, then looked up at Lance. "I think you're cute. Why don't you flirt with me?"
"'Cause you don't get embarassed and Jace does," Lance told him, nodding at JC, who was carefully avoiding eyecontact.
Joey sighed and resituated himself against Lance's stomach. "I'll get embarassed," he offered.
Lance laughed and leaned down and hugged Joey, who was now grinning playfully at his own jokes. "I like you just the way you are, Joe," Lance assured him. "Don't ever change for anyone."
Joey grinned. "Like I'd change for your skinny ass." To emphasize his point, he grabbed Lance's butt, which made Lance jump and almost yelp, but he managed to curb the outcry for Joey's sake. He looked down mock-unhappily at Joey, who was laughing, and then saw JC down on the ground laughing hysterically. "Would you like to grab this during sex, Jace?" Joey asked, appealing to the one on the ground.
JC had been looking at the ground, but slowly his eyes swept up Lance's body, taking in the wet feet and soaked pant legs, still dripping with water and obviously making him cold, wet shirt, strong arms wrapped protectively around Joey, boyish grin, beautiful green eyes, and wet hair. When his eyes met Lance's, Lance was already cocking an eyebrow at JC's careful inspection, and JC smiled teasingly. "Well I wouldn't mind," he told Joey easily, meeting Lance's eyes playfully before going back to his work.
"Uhh... Jace, getting my hopes up is just cruel," Lance groaned. "Why do you tease me so?"
JC grinned. "'Cause I can."
Lance made a face at him and then laughed, rubbing Joey's body again when Joey started to shiver. "And how long do you think I'll put up with your abuse for?"
JC paused to think about it, looking up at him. "Considering how long you and Justin have been going at it? Quite some time, I think."
Lance shrugged. "Justin's a punk ass and impossible not to like."
"Wouldn't know it to listen to you two," JC countered. "You guys go at it like you hate each other. And then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, you guys will act like friends for a few seconds and then be mean again. I'll never understand."
Lance laughed. "I told you. He bugs me, but that doesn't mean we're not friends." He shrugged. "He's one of my best friends. Just 'cause we fight doesn't mean we're not there for each other."
JC snickered. "Yeah. I can just see you nursing Justin back to health from a hangover. You'd probably come in with a fog horn and set it off three inches from his ear."
Lance smiled devilishly. "That's a good idea, Jace. Wanna cross over to my side?"
JC sighed and shook his head. "No thank you. The one time I helped you pull a prank on Justin he refused to speak to me for a week."
"You guys filled his bed with fake, real looking spiders, and you know how much he hates spiders," Joey objected. "What did you expect him to do?"
"Well he spoke to Lance an hour later!"
"He expects it from Lance," Joey reminded. "He put white paint all over Lance's sheet where Lance couldn't see it, and when Lance got in bed, Lance was even whiter than normal. Recall?"
JC made a face. "Yeah, that's what ignited this response."
Lance grinned devilishly. "It was pretty fun, wasn't it?" His voice took on a dreamy tone. "Justin hopping around all over the floor screaming like a little girl. Oh, it was priceless. And the pictures..." He sighed happily and shook himself from the memory. "What a great day that was."
"See, that's what I'm talking about," JC pointed out, abandoning the soaked towel in the tub and reaching for one of the ones on Joey. Lance replaced it with a clean towel, and JC continued mopping up the floor and speaking. "You act like you're out for his blood."
Lance shrugged. "Not his blood. Just his girlish screaming."
JC sighed and shook his head. "I give up. Justin is a mute point with you."
"Nah," Lance objected. "I just like to hear Justin scream."
Joey looked up at him. "There's more pleasurable ways to hear him scream."
Lance's eyes widened, and then he shuddered in disgust. "Joey, don't ever say that again. Don't suggest that, don't think that, don't even hint at that. That's just gross."
Joey grinned devilishly and looked over at JC, who was snickering. His eyes met Lance's again. "'Me thinks he doth protest too much,'" Joey quoted mischeviously.
"Joe, just remember who's taking care of you right now," Lance warned. He paused and pulled away, patting down the towels. "Speaking of, how about we go get you redressed and in bed?"
"Do I have to get redressed?" Joey groaned pitifully. "Can't I just stay like this?"
"Your soaking wet boxers in my nice, warm, dry bed? No." Lance smiled gently and looked down at JC. "Jace? Clothes? Please? There's some in my bag. I should have something either of Joey's or that will fit him."
JC sighed as he got up. "Lance, you better pay me back for being your bitch."
Lance grinned. "I kinda like you this way."
JC shook his head and went into the main room, opening up Lance's bag and riffling through it. There was a perfect view from Lance to JC and back, so their conversation continued. "I think that only you would enjoy seeing me run around doing whatever you tell me."
"Nah," Lance admonished. "Millions of girls would love the same thing. I just happen to be good looking enough to keep you."
JC grinned. "I'll second that." He pulled out one of Joey's old, worn sweatshirts and a pair of Lance's large track pants. "These'll work, yeah?"
Lance nodded. "Perfect, Jace, as usual. Now go get him clean boxers."
JC sighed. "This is my life," he told the empty hotel room, tossing the clothes onto Lance's open suitcase and disappearing out the door.
"You okay, Joe?" Lance asked softly, peering down at him.
Joey sighed. "I'm better. Not so hot anymore, thank you."
"Anytime, guy," Lance promised, smiling gently. "C'mon now... Do you really think that we're just going to let you suffer and ail alone? That's the whole point behind this group. More than the music, we stick together."
Joey smiled. "That sounds nice."
"It's true. If all of us work together as one force, we can accomplish anything. I truly believe that."
Joey leaned completely against Lance. "Me too."
Lance smiled down at him and lightly stroked his hair. They stayed that way until JC reappeared, snatching up the clothes off of Lance's bag in the process and reentering the bathroom, setting them down on the counter.
"Think you can make it alone?" Lance asked nervously, eyeing Joey.
"'Course," Joey scoffed, sitting up straight on his own and promptly falling back against Lance. He groaned and held his head while Lance wrapped his arms around him.
"Okay," Lance sighed. "This is how we're going to do this. Joe, you and I are going to go into the other room and you're going to change your boxers while I turn my back. And then JC and I are going to redress you and you're going to climb in bed and sleep until it's time to go. Okay?"
Joey looked up from Lance to JC, and back to Lance. "Okay," he sighed drearily.
Lance laughed. "You know, there's a lot of people who would love the idea of JC and myself undressing them."
Joey grinned even as Lance and JC each slipped under one of his arms. "Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the idea myself. Only I think I'd enjoy it more if I weren't hung over."
Lance laughed softly, and together he and JC brought Joey to the bed, JC setting the clothes down onto it while Joey remained standing, a clean towel at the top of the pile of clothes. JC and Lance dutifully turned their backs, listening closely to make sure that Joey hadn't hurt himself. A few minutes later, Lance was biting his lip nervously, but Joey was still talking and mumbling outloud, so they assumed he was okay. Finally he announced that they could look, only to watch him fall onto his back on the bed with a loud, exhausted flop.
Lance pursed his lips to withhold his laugh and glanced up at JC, who was grinning at the sight as well. JC's eyes met Lance's, and they both sputtered with laughter that they tried to control, wrapping their arms around each other and then picking up Joey's clothes to try and redress him.
"You know what just occured to me?" JC asked as they tugged the pants up Joey's legs.
"Nope. What?" Lance made a face as he pulled and the pants wouldn't go up.
"I was in Joey's room. I could have got him his own clothes." JC sighed. "We're not talented enough to think of that, Lansten."
Lance flashed him a dazzling grin. "Well, you are, just a few minutes too late."
"How p.c.," JC teased, shaking his head. "Joe, man, help us out. Lift your legs a little."
Joey's legs came up into triangles, resting his feet flat on the bed.
"It's a start," Lance breathed, tugging the pants over Joey's knees and then down his thighs, settling them on his waist. With a happy sigh he and JC exchanged relieved looks, and then looked between the shirt and Joey for a minute. "You want a shirt, Joe?" Lance asked him critically.
Joey shook his head, then moaned. "Just sleep," he begged.
Lance smiled gently and nodded. "Alright, Joe. Whatever you want." He gently pulled back the covers and he and JC straightened Joey out until he was in the bed comfortably, and then they went and dropped onto the couch, Lance under JC's arm and leaning his head against JC's shoulder.
"How come you don't get hangovers?" Lance asked, looking up at JC, who shrugged.
"I don't know. I guess I hold my alcohol well." JC's fingers were lightly running through the back of Lance's hair, and Lance couldn't help but smile at the sensation.
"How much did you drink last night?" Lance couldn't resist asking.
"Two bottles of beer and a shot of wiskey."
Lance cringed. "Jace..."
"I know, I know. You hate it when I drink. Sorry." He hugged Lance tightly against him. "We were celebrating."
"Celebrating what? 101 ways to kill yourselves?" Lance frowned and tucked his forehead into JC's neck. "I worry about you, Jace. You know that."
JC interlaced their fingers with his free hand, the union resting on his stomach. "I know. And I love you for it. But really, I'm alright. I just like the taste. And it's really not so much, just more than normal."
"Yeah, by a whole beer and wiskey shot," Lance grumbled unhappily, the fingers that were joined with JC's lightly poking at his stomach.
JC laughed softly. "Well I'm not hung over, am I?"
"That doesn't mean anything. You said so yourself, you take the alcohol well. But your kidney's, on the other hand..."
"Lance, no lectures," Joey moaned from the bed. "Please. Save it for tomorrow. Or for when I'm not around."
Lance laughed quietly. "Sorry, Joe," he apologized. "It's not directed at you."
"I know. But I'm trying to spare JC from hearing it. We get the same speech every time. It never works. When are you going to learn?"
Lance sighed. "Hopefully when y'all stop."
"But that's not going to happen," JC objected calmly. "We like to drink and party. I'm sorry you and Justin can't come with us."
Lance scowled. "Leave Justin out of this. He's just a boy. He doesn't need to be drinking."
JC arched an eyebrow. "Since when is Justin Timberlake just a boy?"
Lance frowned up at him. "Since I said so, Jace. I mean it. Don't ever offer to include him in your little drinking games."
"He's only 19," JC reminded. "I don't plan on him drinking anything for quite some time."
Lance hesitated, then slowly slumped back against JC. "Good," he mumbled. He sighed and looked up, meeting JC's blue eyes. "So did you guys have fun at least while you were getting smashed?"
JC flashed that boyish grin. "Yeah, we did."
"Well tell me what you did."
"What did you and Justin do?"
Lance laughed. "We got into a fight and he stormed out, of course."
JC sighed. "You guys are going to have to settle your differences one of these days, otherwise you're going to take the whole group down with you."
"Doubtful. But anyway, don't avoid the question."
JC laughed. "I wasn't avoiding anything."
"You're doing it again. What did you guys do?" Lance nodded in Joey's direction. "Want me to ask him?"
"He flirted with like, four different chicks," Joey offered, and Lance looked over at JC with a smirk. "And like, five guys."
"Says the man who was so drunk he couldn't count his fingers," JC scoffed. He leaned down and spoke in Lance's ear. "It was two chicks and one guy. Joey was just seeing double. And triple."
Lance laughed. "Any of 'em worth bringin' in?"
"Do you see me with anyone?"
"Good call," Lance agreed, settling against JC again. "Besides. If you had someone with you then you couldn't sit with me like this and you'd cry."
JC nodded. "I would," he teased, mock-seriously.
Lance laughed and shook his head. "And Joey? Chris?"
"Joey was in such a drunken stupor that he didn't care who he was flirting with. He has no idea how many people think he's bi. Chris just sat at the table all night and drank."
Lance snickered. "Poor Joe. And Chris."
JC shrugged and then nodded at the tv. "Anything good on?"
Lance closed his eyes. "Yup. I can see right into the tv and at the preview channel."
JC bopped him lightly on the head. "You're so sarcastic sometimes, I wonder how I can get along with you."
"Me too," Lance commented in mock interest. "Imagine that." Lance burst out laughing when JC tickled him, quickly trying to curb his giggles as JC's fingers found every sensitively ticklish part on his body until Lance was rolling around on the ground, crying from hysterics and trying to keep them repressed for Joey's sake. JC, on the other hand, was ruthless, and wouldn't give up until Lance let out a loud laugh. Finally, when JC tickled his leg, he got it, and Lance laughed loudly, still trying to push JC's hands away. JC was laughing as well, and they rolled around on the ground together, laughing. Eventually Lance was able to push himself up and cross JC's body perpendicularly, resting on him stomach to stomach and turning on his side to look at JC, grinning. JC was still laughing, which made it hard for him to get up.
"Ugh. You guys make too much noise," Joey muttered from the bed. "Please, shoot me now. I beg you."
Lance caught JC's hand playfully and clasped it in his own, looking up at Joey. "You want an ice pack, Joe?" Lance asked. "Maybe a cold towel on your forehead?"
Joey groaned. "Please, please kill me. I'm begging you to just put a bullet in my head."
"We don't have guns," JC reminded. "But I could go ask one of the body guards for one. Let's see... Phil doesn't really like you."
Joey moaned.
Lance jabbed JC in the stomach, earning himself a pained hiss, and then looked up at Joey. "Joe, don't listen to him. Are you hot? Cold?"
"My head's pounding," Joey whined, clutching his head in agony. "It's thud, thud, thud."
"Don't think about it," Lance ordered, pushing up off of JC and going to the bed, resting beside Joey and taking his hand, holding it to his chest. Joey was in bad shape and he looked it. Lance couldn't help but feel sorry for him and wish desperately that he knew what to do in situations like this. Unfortunately, he hated alcohol and so he had little to no experience on how to make hang-overs go away... Though with as many as the guys got, he should be an expert.
"I'm dying," Joey whimpered, and to Lance's horror, tears were springing up in Joey's eyes. "I am. I know I am. Please, just make it end quickly."
Lance leaned down and gently pressed his lips against Joey's forehead. "Joe," he soothed softly. "You're not dying, honey. We're not going to let you die. You just got yourself a rather nasty headache. But it's okay. JC and I will take care of you." Lance looked up at JC, who was standing there with a horrified look on his face. "Jace, get him a cold towel." JC cleared his throat quietly and then disappeared into the bathroom while Lance returned his attention to Joey.
"This is my fault," Joey moaned. "I did this to myself. I should have listened to you, Lance. I shouldn't have been so dumb. I know I can't take alcohol and I did it anyway."
Lance smiled gently. "Yeah, well, I tend to be right a lot, Joe, and no one ever listens to me. I don't take it personally."
Joey smiled painfully. "Well, next time I will. From now on you'll be making all of my decisions."
"Careful, Joe, he may abusive the priviledge," JC warned teasingly, reappearing at Lance's side and carefully setting the folded up towel on Joey's forehead. Joey shuddered under the coolness, but he simply held Lance's hand tightly. The left half of JC's front was pressing into Lance's back, but he didn't flinch; hardly even noticed. Lance was gazing intently on Joey, trying to figure out what to do.
"I'm going to go check the drugstore downstairs," Lance told JC, standing and releasing Joey's hand. "I'll see if there's anything there that we can use."
JC took Lance's spot, even picking up Joey's hand. "Alright. We'll be here."
Lance patted Joey's shoulder, gave JC's arm a squeeze, then retreated out of the room, rubbing his forehead as he walked down the hallway, taking in the dark red and gold carpet with the matching wallpaper and cheesy pictures they had hanging. They were close to the elevators, so it was only a few doorways that Lance had to walk down before he reached the opening. There were four body guards stationed out there, and they all hiked their eyebrows when they saw Lance.
"Going downstairs," Lance told them firmly. "Gotta get something for hang overs."
The body guards all exchanged looks and arched their eyebrows, but no one made any motion to get up.
Lance faced them, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'll go by myself," he told them easily. "I have no problem being alone for a few minutes."
Cole, Lance's main body guard, sighed. "I've got ya covered," he assured Lance, standing. "Let's go."
Lance smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Cole. I knew you were my favorite for a reason."
Cole snorted derisively as Lance pushed the down arrow button. "Yeah. I keep the girls from tearing your skin off."
Lance shuddered at the thought and smiled weakly. "And you have no idea how much I appreciate that," he promised, looking up as the elevator doors dinged and slowly creaked their way open. Lance shivered at the sound and reluctantly stepped on, grumbling unhappily as he pushed the 'L' button for the Lobby. "You'd think that in nice hotels like this the elevators wouldn't creak," he grumbled.
Cole sighed. "Shut up, Lance. I was in the middle of a really good part of my book. The detective was just about to point out the killer and you got the urge to play nursemaid hero. I'm not in the mood to sympathize with you."
Lance stuck his tongue out at his favorite body guard. "You're not very nice to me, you know," he objected. "I should request a transfer."
"A transfer? Ha! No one else would be dumb enough to put up with you. Are you aware that the other guys don't have to go out half as much as I do?"
Lance shrugged innocently. "I'm popular, what can I say?"
Cole scoffed at him. "You mean you're meddlesome."
Lance's jaw fell and he turned on him. "What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded. "I mind my own business."
"Oh? Compared to who?"
Lance frowned. "Nevermind," he muttered, then glanced up at Cole through his eyelashes with a small grin. Cole was grinning too, and then their eyes met and they both burst out laughing.
The elevator doors swung open, and with a relieved sigh Lance got out of it as quickly as possible. He looked to his left and saw a resturaunt. He looked ahead of him and saw the lounge and check in counters. He looked to his ride and found a beauty salon.
"I need a drug store," Lance reminded, scowling at the hair supplies. "I seriously doubt that Joey would enjoy drinking perm settler."
"Setter."
Lance looked up at Cole, caught off guard. "Pardon?"
Cole's eyes were laughing. "It's not perm 'settler', it's perm setter. You set the perm, not settle it."
Lance arched an eyebrow up at him. "How do you know that, Cole?"
"I grew up with my mother and two sister," Cole returned evenly. "Wanna ask again?"
"Nope," Lance agreed clippedly, almost sing-songingly. He stepped towards the beauty store and found that the hallway extended, and he could see what looked like a drug store. He grinned happily. "Found it. Let's move."
"Ten four," Cole tossed back sarcastically.
Lance sighed and shook his head as they walked down the hallway. "How it is that I got stuck with you, I'll never know."
"I thought we discussed this. I'm the only one that will put up with you."
Lance flashed a devilish grin at him. "Yeah. Aren't you lucky?"
Cole snorted. "Not exactly what I'd call my big break."
Lance stuck his tongue out at Cole, then grinned as they continued down the hallway, to what was looking more and more like a drug store. Happily, they discovered that it was, and went inside, searching through entire rows of medicines.
"How about good old fashioned asprin?" Cole suggested, holding up the white bottle.
Lance frowned at it. "We've already got that. We need something else."
Cole sighed in exasperation. "We've been here for a half an hour, Lance. Can't you just find a bottle and get it over with?"
Lance grumbled unhappily at him. "I don't recall asking you to come," he reminded, picking up another bottle and scowling at it before putting it back on the shelf and picking up a new one.
"Like I had a choice in the matter. If I refused, and you ended up dead, I'd be without a job," Cole tossed back sarcastically.
Lance sighed. "Well if you're so eager to get out of here, help me find something to make Joey and Chris feel better."
"Oh my god, it's Lance Bass!"
Lance and Cole's heads both snapped up as they heard the loud, shrill screech. The girl was pointing and staring and screaming. There was loud calls from all over the hotel as girls came running, and Lance's eyes widened in horror and fear as they all came charging at him. Security was there in an instant, but not before one of the girls reached out for Lance. Cole was trying to hold them back, but he was only one man, and the girl's nails raked across Lance's arm brutally, leaving four large welts and leaving him hissing in pain.
"Let's go!" Cole ordered, grabbing Lance roughly by the back of the shirt and taking off running for the elevators as the security guards held the quickly growing mob of girls behind. The elevators were crowded and Cole shoved Lance into one just as it was closing, leaving Cole still on the ground floor.
"Sorry," Lance apologized weakly, pushing the button to his floor and rubbing his forehead as the occupants--two elderly couples and one middle age couple with a small 8 year old boy--stared at him in annoyance and confusion. "I'm Lance Bass of Nsync, and those loud screams were all girls trying to get at me. My body guard was trying to get me out of there as quickly as possible without anyone getting hurt. Sorry for crashing in here like that."
"My granddaughter listens to your music," one of the old women piped up, smiling gently at Lance. She had an old, shaky but sweet voice and spoke slowly, the kind of voice expected of a sweet old lady. "She says that you and... the curly headed one...?"
"Justin?" Lance supplied gently, smiling tenderly at her.
She smiled back. "Yes, that's it. You two are her favorites. She has her entire room papered with your pictures and for her birthday we bought her your dolls."
Lance blushed and grinned. "Would you like an autograph to give her?" he offered, reaching inside his wallet and patting his shirt pocket for a pen. Thankfully he had it for his check book, and quickly pulled out the picture. "What is her name, ma'am?"
"Melanie. Thank you, child!"
Lance smiled as he wrote, "To Melanie. Thank you for being such a wonderful fan. We love you. Love, Lance Bass." He handed it to the woman, who took it like it was a prized position. "Thank you, ma'am. The guys and I appreciate all of the support the fans give us, and it really means a lot to us to hear that you guys like what we're doing."
The elevator doors dinged and came to a stop, and Lance glanced up, smiling at them. "Well, this is my floor. Thank you all, and again, I apologize for my rude entrance." He nodded at them as the doors slid open, then stepped off, running smack into a hard body. The elevator doors closed as Lance looked up.
"Oh thank god," Ramond sighed, patting Lance's shoulder. "Cole called in for backup. Are you alright?"
Lance nodded and looked down at his arm. The other guards were gathered around him, looking him over carefully, which would have disconcerted him in any other situation, but they were just doing their job. He displayed the red welts, inflammed and painful to the touch, for them to see. "That's all that I got. Cole got me out of there pretty fast." He frowned and turned to look at the elevators. "He threw me into one of the elevators as the doors were closing. He's still down there."
As if on cue, the elevator doors slid open, and Lance waited expectantly for Cole to show. What he got instead was a group of screaming girls shoved into one elevator. Lance's eyes widened in horror, and he was already being pushed behind the blockade of body guards as he was taking off running for his room. The girls were screaming, people on the floor were throwing open their doors to see what was going on, and Lance was scrambling to get to his room and away from all the chaos.
"Lance!"
Lance was caught around the waist as he went flying by his bedroom, being spun around a few times and then set on the ground once his inertia was completely run out. Lance turned around quickly, his eyes still wide and frightened, and looked up at JC. He sighed in relief and threw his arms around JC's neck. "Inside!" Lance ordered frantically, pulling away and pushing JC back into his bedroom. Once they were in, Lance sagged back against the wall, panting for air.
"That was scary," Lance breathed, slowly opening his eyes. He looked up to see JC's concerned eyes burning into his. "They saw me, downstairs, while I was trying to find something for Joey and Chris. Pandemonium broke out and I got thrown into an elevator. Cole's still down there and when the elevators opened, we thought it was Cole only it was a group of girls that followed me up and they caught sight of me. The guys are holdin' 'em off now." He pushed off the wall with his shoulder blades and fell into JC's waiting arms with relief.
"God, what hap--Lance?!"
Hands pulled at Lance, removing JC's grip from him and spinning him. Lance looked up into terrified, wide blue eyes and smiled weakly.
"What happened?" Justin demanded, reaching out and hugging Lance tightly, wrapping one arm possessively around his back and the other cradling Lance's head against his chest. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
Lance sighed softly, lightly running his fingers up and down Justin's spine. "I'm fine, Justin. One of the girls scraped me, but it's nothing big. I got lucky. Cole threw me into the elevator before they reached me, and then when they came up here the guys threw me behind them before they got a hold of me."
"Oh Jesus, man," Justin breathed, his voice wavering slightly. "What the hell were you doing downstairs, anyway? You know that it's dangerous as hell the day we leave."
Lance frowned and pulled away from Justin's tender embrace. "Of course I know," he stated fiercely, his eyes narrowing into a glare. "I'm not an idiot. I was trying to get something for Joey and Chris to help them feel better."
Justin's own eyes narrowed. "Don't get pissed at me 'cause I was worried and I'm trying to look out for you," Justin warned.
Lance rolled his eyes. "I don't need you to worry about me, Justin, but thanks for the thought."
Justin gave an exasperated sigh, reaching out and yanking on the doorhandle, ripping the door open before turning back. "You sure you're alright?"
Lance smiled at him. "Yeah. I'm okay. Thanks. Go watch out for Chris."
Justin groaned and disappeared.
Lance reached a hand out to JC, interlacing their fingers as they made their way over to the bed. Lance sank down on it and released JC's hand, taking Joey's instead. "You okay, Joe?" he asked tenderly.
"Yeah," Joey sighed, shaking his head. "I'll be okay. I just want to rest."
Lance nodded understandingly, then looked up sharply when there was a knock on the door. He and JC exchanged a look, and JC went to the door and pulled it open to reveal Johnny.
"Let's go," Johnny instructed urgently, looking nervous. "They're pouring in and we can't keep them at bay for long. We're leaving. Now."
JC and Lance exchanged concerned looks, and wordlessly they gathered their bags, Lance turning back to Joey. "Joe? We're going to be right back for you, alright? You just lay there and we'll be right back."
Joey nodded weakly, rubbing his forehead, and Lance and JC followed Johnny down the stairs to the floor below, where they caught the elevator and ran out as quickly as they could. The entire place was swarming with security and body guards, and Lance cringed as he thought about how they were going to get two hung over members out of the hotel without anyone noticing.
JC and Lance deposited their baggage on the bus, then ran back inside to collect the others. They passed Justin on the way, who had a supportive arm around a baseball capped and sunglass baring Chris. Justin offered Lance and JC a weak smile, trying to get to the bus as quickly as possible.
"Damn you boys and getting drunk," Johnny muttered, pushing the elevator button. "No more drinking for you boys. Ever!"
Lance sighed. "As much as I'd love to agree with you on that fabulous point, Johnny, I don't think that's going to happen with the way these guys love their liquor."
Johnny groaned.
The elevator doors slid open and they hurried on, ignoring the blinding flashing lights everywhere. The poor hotel was going to kill them for this. They were really going to kill them.
They stopped on the floor below again, and like the underground railroad ran through the bottom floor to the stairwell and tried to get to Joey as quickly and painlessly as possible. The hallway was swarming with people pushing and shoving and screaming girls trying to get even a glimpse of their favorite singers. Lance threw his bedroom door open and immediately went for Joey, pulling him up off the bed and completely disreguarding Joey's moans or whimpers of pain.
"Sorry Joe," Lance apologized, JC taking Joey's other arm. "We got to get you outta here, quick. Those girls are going to come past security any second and then we're screwed."
"It's okay," Joey whispered weakly, trying to be brave. Lance shot him a sympethetic look, but there was nothing they could do except try to get to the bus as quickly as possible. They hurried along the bottom floor to the elevators, ducking inside of them as quickly as they could. Once inside, Joey leaned heavily against Lance, and when the doors dinged open Lance was forced to make Joey stand on his own, just wrapping a "casual" arm around his waist while trying to keep Joey from falling over at the same time.
Lance had never been happier to get on that bus in his entire life.
With a relieved sigh, he dropped Joey onto his bunk and sat down on his own, nearly collappsing with relief. Chris was making pained sounds from his bunk above Joey's, and Justin was gone. Lance slowly opened his eyes when someone sat beside him, and smiled up at JC, who was lightly stroking his forehead.
"You okay, Joe?" Lance called past JC quietly.
"Oh god..."
"Chris?" Lance asked.
"Kill me..."
"They're alright," Lance sighed to JC, smiling weakly. He peered past JC's smiling face again to the bunks opposite him. "Chris? Where's Justin?"
"Aw, Lance, don't tell me you were worried about me," Justin's mocking voice came from the beginning of the bedroom area. Lance rolled his eyes and rested his cheek on JC's leg, looking up at Justin, who was not only carrying his bags but Chris' as well. He looked tired, scared, and a little worn.
"I wasn't. I just want to go," Lance assured him.
Justin made a face at him and gently sat beside Joey, taking his hand. "You alright, Joe?" he asked tenderly.
"Uhhh..."
Justin winced and reached up to touch Chris' hand as it dangled precariously over the edge of the bed. "Chris?"
"God, the screams..."
Justin sighed and turned to JC and Lance. "They're going to be hung over for a week," he muttered. "I'll go tell the driver to get moving." He stood and disappeared, and Lance looked back up at JC.
"I'm going to take a nap," Lance told JC calmly. "Want to join me?"
JC arched an eyebrow and smiled. "No thanks. Maybe next time."
"I'll join you," Chris offered, his voice sounding pained but playful.
"You're hardly up for fun, Chris," Lance tossed back easily. "You probably couldn't move if I paid you."
"Lance, you're a dead man when I'm better," Chris warned.
Lance sighed and looked up at JC through his eyelashes. "Sleep, okay?" he pleaded.
JC smiled and nodded, lightly brushing back Lance's short hair. "Okay," he agreed quietly, and Lance slowly closed his eyes and tried to block out the loud screaming surrounding the bus.
~~~~End Part One~~~~
Main page
Write me
Iris index
Next part