Chapter Thirteen


    Heather anxiously stared out the window, while fidgeting her right leg and biting her nails. A nasty habit she had learned from JC, and the habit stuck with her. Last night, after Lance had comforted her, she felt a whole lot better. She didn’t want to go back in her room alone, so she grabbed a pillow and blanket and squeezed between Lance and Justin.
    Justin had peeked an eye open as she got herself comfortable. “Well, hey Heather, I knew you liked me and all but I didn’t know you liked me THAT much,” he teased as he tried to pull her close.
    She had laughed and slapped his hand. “Hands off, JuJu,” she teased.
    He just chuckled and patted her leg. “Good to hear you laugh, girl.”
    She smiled. “Night, Justin. Night Lance.”
    They both mumbled their good nights and all three of them fell right to sleep. And the next morning they woke up to the wonderful news. Her brother and best friend were found. A smile crept on her face as she kept her eyes out on the front lawn and then nervously checked her watch. “They should be here by now,” she mumbled.
    And just as she said it she saw the police car pull up to curb. “They're here!” she yelled through out the household. She flung open the door and ran down the sidewalk. She saw JC crawl out of the car and when he saw her sister run towards him, he grinned.
    She flung her arms around him as the tears started to fall. “You’re okay,” she cried. “Thank God, you’re okay.”
    He held on tight. “I’m fine,” he said softly and then smiled when the whole crew came running out.
    “Where’s Angie?” she asked quickly before the rest got here.
    “At the hospital, to see her dad,” he said. “I’ll explain to everyone later.”
    She nodded her head. “Oh, and one more thing.”
    “Yeah?” She popped him on the back of his head. “Ow!! Heather!!”
    “Don’ you EVER scare me like that again, Joshua Scott!”
    “Dayum,” he said as he rubbed his head.
    “Serves you right,” she said and then just grinned and kissed him on the cheek before stepping aside so everyone could take their turn.
    His mom and dad both hugged him at the same time, both of them crying in pure happiness that God had answered their prayers. He gave a brotherly hug to his brother.
    “Thank God you’re all right,” Tyler said as he leaned back. “If you had left me all alone with Heather I don’t know what I would do.” Heather smacked the back of his head. “Ow! I was just teasing.”
    JC just laughed and then turned to the guys. “You gave us a scare man,” Justin said as he went up to hug him first.
    “I know,” he said and then went around and gave each of them hugs.
    “I love you, man!!” Chris said dramatically and hugged him so tight that JC stumbled backwards.
    “Woah,” JC said and then awkwardly put a hand on his back. “Um Chris?”
    “Hmm?” he said as he held on tight.
    “JC can’t breathe, dude.”
    “Oh,” he said as he backed away and cleared his throat. “Sorry.”

    JC ducked his head under the hot spray, enjoying the feel of it one last time before he turned it off. He pulled back the shower curtain and ran his fingers through his wet before he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. That was probably the longest shower he had ever taken, and he would of stayed longer but his fingers were getting all wrinkled.
    He wiped the steam on his mirror away with one swipe of his hand and stared at himself in the mirror. His eyes were hallow from lack of sleep, and he frowned at the dark circles under his eyes. He ran his hand over his stubble and sighed. He needed to shave, but he didn’t feel like it right now, he was too tired.
    He wanted to get dressed, spend time with his family and friends and then go to the hospital to see Angie. He didn’t know how her father was doing, but he just knew that he was still alive and waiting for Angie’s return.
    After the helicopter landed, they offered them a place to stay for the night so they could rest and shower, but they both wanted to get home. They got on the first flight out leaving Vancouver and they held hands the whole way there. JC caught her looking bleak a couple of times when there was turbulence, but she would be fine after he lifted their joint hands to his lips. She would give him a shaky smile and then rest her head comfortably on his shoulder.
    They got in the squad car and Angie told them to take them straight to St. Mary’s Hospital, and when they got there he asked if she wanted him to come. “No,” she had said. “You’re family is waiting for you. Give your sister a hug for me.”
    He leaned over and kissed her softly. “I’ll come by as soon as I can.”
    She nodded. “Okay,” she said and then slipped out of the car.
    His thoughts were interrupted when his stereo from his room came on. Confused he opened the door and sighed when he saw his sister sprawled out his bed. “May I help you?”
    “Hey,” she said and then grabbed the clicker and turned on the TV.
    “Girl, ever hear of knocking?”
    She laughed. “In this household? Are ya kiddin?”
    He rolled his eyes and then put his knee on his bed and reached over and grabbed the remote. “You mind leaving so I can change?” he asked as he turned off the TV.
    She grinned. “Damn, it’s good to have you back.”
    “And it’s good to be back,” he said as he grabbed her arm and tried to yank her off his bed.
    “Okay, I’m going, I’m going,” she said as she stood up next to him. “But one question.”
    “Yes?” he asked with his brows raised.
    “How did you two survive all alone out there?”
    He let out a chuckle. “We managed just fine, thank you.”
    Heather eyed her brother. “The way you said that Josh, was very…um….interesting. Care to share?”
    He grinned. “Let’s just say we got a long very well,” he said as he pushed her out the door.
    “But…but…”
    When his sister was out he gave her a little wave. “Bye, tell mom I’ll be down shortly.”
    She flinched when the door shut in her face. She pouted as she put his hands oh her hips, but couldn’t help but grin. Something happened between those two, she thought with a devilish grin. And he better fess up.

    Thirty minutes later, JC opened his bedroom door as he slipped on his orange turtleneck. He fiddled with the flap and ran his fingers through his hair as he trotted down the stairs. He heard the commotion in the kitchen before he swung the door open. He stood in the doorway and just grinned when he took everything in. They hadn’t notice him standing there yet.
    His mom was running around and pulling out a fresh batch of cookies. He chuckled lightly as she slapped Joey’s hand away with her spatula. Joey flinched and shook his hand in pain, but just laughed when she gave her a stern look.
    His eyes shifted to the table where the rest were sitting. Lance and Heather were laughing as Chris and Justin were throwing pieces of their cookies at each other from across the table. “Boys, if you keep doing that you’re gonna have to sweep up all the crumbs,” his dad said without looking up from the paper.
    They both paused, looked at his father, then back at each other, shrugged and continued. JC rolled his eyes as he finally entered. “Will you guys ever grow up,” he teased as he sat between his dad and Chris.
    “He started it,” Chris said.
    “Yeah right,” he said as he threw another crumble.
    “Are you sure you’re almost thirty.”
    “Oh, you did not go there, curlyboy,” he said and was about to dive across the table, but Mrs. Chasez’s sharp tongue froze Chris in his tracks.
    “Don’t you even think about it,” she said as she put a new plate of cookies on the table. “I will not tolerate one of your wrestling matches in my kitchen, ya hear.”
    Chris winced and then sat back down; he glared at Justin. “Just you wait, JuJu.”
    “Ohhh, I’m shaking,” he said and then threw another crumb.
    JC threw his head back with a laugh. “Damn, it’s good to be home.”
    “It’s good to have you back,” Justin said and threw a crumb at him.
    JC flinched. “Don’t start that crap with me,” he laughed as he brushed the crumb off of his shirt.
    “So JC,” Heather said as she propped her elbows on the table. “Are you gonna tell us what happened with you and Angie?”
    “What ever do you mean, Heather?” he asked innocently and took a bite of a cookie.
    “You know what I mean,” she said.
    He rolled his eyes. “We managed to survive, Heather. That’s what matters. How did the media take it?” he asked quickly to change the subject.
    “It was crazy,” Lance said. “The phone was nonstop ringing over here.”
    “We did get a lot of sweet letters from the fans, though,” his mom told him as she sat down at the table.
    JC smiled warmly. “I’d love to read them sometime.”
    She nodded. “There in a box up in my room.”
    He nodded. “Well, if it’s okay with everyone I’d like to get to the hospital.”
    Her mom smiled up at him as he stood up. “We understand. I told them everything when you were upstairs.”
    He nodded. “Thanks guys,” he said and then turned to leave, but then stopped and turned around. “And to answer your question Heather?”
    “Yeah?” she asked with a grin.
    “We fell in love. See ya,” he said and then left the seven of them sitting their speechless.
    “Did I…um…did I just hear what I thought I heard?” Heather asked.
    Her mom chuckled. “You sure did. And all I have to say is…it’s about time.”

    JC strolled in the hospital and the smell of it made him stick to his stomach. “Damn hospitals,” he mumbled as he tore off his sunglasses and walked to the front desk. “Excuse me?”
    The woman at the desk looked up and smiled. “May I help you?”
    “Yes, can you tell me which room David Morgan is in please.”
    She typed something on the computer and looked at the screen. “Yes, sir he was moved to the second floor. Room 202.”
    “Woah, moved. Is that good?”
    She smiled. “Yes, that’s good.”
    He smiled brightly. “Thank you,” he said and trotted toward the elevator, then decided to take the stairs since it was only one floor. He opened the door and flinched when he almost ran into a nurse holding an needle. “Woah,” he said shakily. “Watch where you’re pointing that, please.”
    “Sorry,” she said breathlessly and then continued her way down the hall.
    “Damn that was a big one,” he shuddered.
    He walked down the hall and stopped when he heard someone call his name. He turned to see Angie’s mom walking toward him with a smile on her face. “Mrs. Morgan,” he said as he hugged her.
    “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you bringing my daughter back safely,” she said as she hugged her tight.
    “She helped me right back, Mrs. Morgan,” he said as he pulled back. “She’s a tough one.”
    She laughed. “She sure is. She gets it from his father.”
    “How’s he doing?”
    She smiled. “It didn’t look good at all, but as soon as Angie got here it was a miracle how much stronger he got.” She gripped his hands and smiled. “He’s gonna be fine.”
    “I’m so glad,” he said. “Is…Is Angie here?”
    “Yes, she’s in there with her dad. Go on in.”
    He stuffed his hands in his pocket. “I don’t want to intrude.”
    “It’s okay, I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
    “Has she gotten a chance to go home at all?”
    “Yes, I made her. I practically had to drag her out of here, but she eventually left. But only to take a shower and change so she just got back.
    He nodded. “Okay, I’ll just…go and…say hi real quick.”
    She smiled. “You do that. I’m gonna run down to the cafeteria. Would you like something?”
    “No thanks,” he said as he patted his belly. “Still full from my mom’s cookies.”
    She laughed. “It’s good to see you, JC,” she said and then hugged him one more time before she left.
    JC watched her until she disappeared around the corner and then opened the door slowly. She was sitting on the edge of the bed and his father was sitting up while they played cards. She looked beautiful, he thought as he leaned on the frame. And the smile on her face made her made her sparkle.
    “Girl, if you win one more time,” her dad said as he threw his deck down. He crossed his arm and pouted.
    “Don’t worry, Mr. Morgan,” JC said as he pushed himself away. “I couldn’t beat her either.”
    Morgan smiled even more when she turned to see JC standing there. He looked so wonderful she wanted to cry. “JC,” she said with a laugh and ran up to hug him. “I didn’t think you were coming by today.”
    “I told you I would,” he said as rested his cheek on the top of her head.
    David smiled at his daughter and the man she couldn’t stop talking about for the past hour. He chuckled. They were quite a pair. “JC,” he finally said. “Good to see you.”
    He smiled as he pulled away from Angie, but still had her at his side. “Good to see you’re doing well,” he said.
    “Thanks to you,” he said with a warm smile. “You brought me my daughter back, and that’s what saved me.”
    He smiled at him and then looked down at Angie. “Well, I promised her that I would make sure she saw you again.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “And I never break my promises.”



The End!