"Learning," replied JC as he smiled back at Lance.
"What is it today?" asked Lance. It had been two weeks since JC had started living with Lance and daily he would spend hours at one of the various computers scattered around the home as he learned the history, culture and technology of the Shepherds.
"The history of Bass Enterprises," replied JC with a smirk. "You never told me you were the son of a wealthy business man. And that you, yourself own multiple businesses in various industries, following in your father's footsteps. All at the age of eighteen. I'm impressed."
"Being born a Bass had had it's advantages," sighed Lance. "and disadvantages. When I was growing up the other kids treated me differently, sucked up to me. As a kid our next door neighbor Joey was the only person to treat me normally. A few years ago I met Chris who was only the second person to treat me like a normal person. The third was you."
"I'm sorry," whispered JC sadly. "I didn't know."
"That's okay," replied Lance giving him a small smile. "You didn't know. Let's just not talk about it anymore. We have other things to talk about."
"Like what?" asked JC, confused as Lance took JC's hands in his and pulled him gently to his feet.
"Follow me," smiled Lance, not letting go of JC's hand as he led JC down the hall to one of the spare rooms that were rarely used.
"What?" asked JC again as Lance gave him a secret smile as he pressed the button to open the door. As the door slid open, JC was speechless when he saw the sight before him.
One half of the room was an painting board and paints as well as other various art supplies. The other half was devoted to music, with a keyboard and a computer that was filled with music programs.
"I figured it was boring for you here alone all day with Geek as your only company," explained Lance wit ha smile. "Do you like it?"
"I love it!" cried JC hugging Lance tightly before bouncing into the room. The room was was large with the objects spaced out so that there were a lot of room for JC to do whatever he wanted.
"I'm glad," laughed Lance following JC into the room. He liked seeing JC happy. He liked it a lot in fact. He wanted to walk up behind JC, wrap his arms around the slim waist and kiss the back of his neck. But he didn't do that . All he did was watch happily as JC ran his fingers over the keys of the keyboard.
"I don't know how I could ever thank you enough," beamed JC, turning around to look at Lance before walking over and hugging him again.
"I just want you to be happy here," replied Lance softly.
"I am happy," reassured JC with a smile. Over the past two weeks JC had become more and more comfortable with Lance and finally he was starting to trust the Shepherd. He started to see the Shepherd as a friend and not as a master out to break him.
True he still missed his friends and family but every day that he spent with Lance eased the pain.
"I'm glad," smiled Lance as JC wandered back over to the keyboard. "I think I'll head off to bed now. Remember to try and get some sleep tonight."
"Should I sleep in my own room then?" asked JC alarmed. After the second night JC would start out trying to sleep in his own room. But each night he was woken himself and Lance up by a nightmare and ended up sleeping the rest of the night in Lance's room. After about three nights repeatedly of this happening JC had started going to bed with Lance in his room. Since he had started doing that the nightmares had not returned. "I don't want to disturb you by coming in so late."
"It's alright," reassured Lance walking over and hugging the scared Lamb. "My bed is your bed. You are welcomed in it anytime."
"Thank you," whispered JC before turning back to the keyboard once more.
*~*~*
Late that night, the door to the bedroom slid open and JC quietly slipped into the big bed next to Lance. Lance, still asleep, rolled towards the warm body, snuggling up against JC's lean body.
"JC," whimpered Lance in his sleep, resting his head on JC's chest. "I love you."
JC froze at those words. Lance loved him? That could be possible, could it?
Confusion ran through JC's mid as he thought back throughout the past two weeks. The way Lance always looked at him, the special touches, always wanting to make him happy. Thinking of those things made JC also think about the way which he had also been acting towards Lance. He liked the moments they spent together, the closeness they shared.
"I love you too," whispered JC softly before dropping off to sleep.
*~*~*
Morning came all to soon for the pair in the form of a ringing phone call early in the day.
"Lansten!" cried a cheerful voice. "Lucky you! You have a houseguest arriving today! The place is bing renovated starting today and I was suppose to stay with Joe and Kel but they're fighting again so I figured staying with you seemed safer."
"Chris shut up!" moaned Lance. "When are you arriving here?"
"After work," informed Chris. "So have Geek break out the red carpet."
"Fine," grumbled Lance before hanging up the phone and snuggling back down next to JC.
"Who was that?" asked JC sleepily.
"Chris," mumbled Lance, missing the fearful look in JC's eyes. Chris nor Joey had been around in the past two weeks making JC feel safe and he wasn't looking forward to seeing either of them any time soon.
*~*~*
Later that afternoon JC was in the kitchen getting a snack when movement in the other room informed him that he was not alone in the home anymore.
"Lance!" he cried happily rushing into the other room. "I need to show you what I did--" However he cut off, seeing it wasn't Lance in the room but instead it was Chris who was sitting in the living room.
"Hey Slave Boy!" called Chris. "Get me a drink!"
"What are you doing here?" whispered JC forcing himself not to shake. Lance. He needed Lance. But Lance wasn't there. IT was just himself, Chris and Geek. No one to protect him.
"I don't have you tell you that slave!" laughed Chris. "You're a Lamb, I'm a Shepherd. Shepherds are the masters of Lambs."
"Leave me alone," whispered JC backing slowly towards the door. He needed out of the room. He needed to escape to his safety zone, escape to his studio and wait for Lance to rescue him.
"You know Lamb," sneered Chris. "I think Lance has been going easy on you, being his first slave and all. Perhaps I should give him some tips while I'm here."
"Please just leave me alone!" whimpered JC as Chris stood from the couch he was sitting on.
As he started advancing towards JC, JC bolted racing towards his music room. As the door slid shut behind him, JC quickly locked it before curling up in the far corner, crying softly while waiting for Lance to return.
*~*~*
"JC?" called Lance an hour later walking into the house. To his surprise Chris came wandering out of the living room. "Chris?" asked Lance confused. "You're early!"
"Really? I hadn't noticed!" replied Chris with a grin on his face.
"Where's JC?" asked Lance worried about the Lamb.
"He locked himself in one of the rooms I think," shrugged Chris. "That slave of yours is nuts! He's out of control!"
"JC?" called Lance in a panic voice rushing down the hallway figuring the room that he had locked himself in was his studio or the bedroom.
"JC?" he asked unlocking the door to the studio. Stepping inside he sighed in relief when he saw JC in the corner of the room. But his heart broke when he saw how upset the Lamb was.
"JC?" spoke Lance softly, sitting down next to him on the floor. "Josh?"
"Lance?" whispered JC staring at him before falling into the Shepherds arms, sobbing onto his shoulder.
"It's okay," reassured Lance gently. "I'm not going to let Chris or anyone else hurt you."
From the doorway Chris watched as his friend comforted the Lamb. Oddly Chris felt bad for scaring the Balm so much, especially since he Lamb didn't belong to him.
"Promise?" Chris heard the Lamb ask Lance.
"Yes," whispered Lance. "This I promise you: You will not be harmed in any way under this roof."
"Thank you," whispered JC into Lance's neck.
Across the room, Chris met Lance's eyes. The warning came through loud and clear to Chris as he read Lance's eyes. The Lamb was not to be harmed in any way or else he would have to answer to Lance and that was a very bad thing since nobody messed with the Bass'.