Part Four

    “James, James,” Bailey called out as she ran after him.
    James turned around at the sound of her flip flops smacking against her heels and raised a brow. “What? I have to go, Gina’s waiting.”
    “Fine, we’ll talk while we are walking,” she said as they walked towards the entrance. “Do you know where JC lives?”
    “Yeah,” he said as he opened the door for her. “He lives in Tampa.”
    “Really?” she asked as they walked outside. She took her shades that were on top of her head covered her blue eyes. “So he’s not too far.”
    James frowned when he noticed Gina was not here yet, and didn’t realize that Bailey was talking to him. “Hello? Earth to James,” Bailey said as she snapped her fingers at him.
    “What? Oh, sorry were you saying something?” he asked.
    “Well, yeah I was talking,” she said and then put her hands on her hips. “What’s with you?”
    “Nothing’s with me,” he shrugged and then sat down on the steps.
    “She late again?” she said and then sat next to her.
    “Yeah, but that’s just her,” he said.
    “Whatever,” she sighed and ignored James’ warning look. “Listen, about JC…”
    “What about him?” he asked as he draped his arms over his propped up knees. Bailey bit her lip her lip nervously as she stared at him. “Bailey,” he warned. “What are you thinking?”
    “I want…I want to try to find him and bring him back here,” she said.
    “Nope, sorry... out of the question,” he said sharply as he shook his head and got up from the steps.
    “But... but why?” she asked as she followed him quickly down the steps.
    James turned toward her and a little too quickly because she ran into his hard chest. James sighed as she grabbed her elbows for support. “Because, it’s not what they want.”
    “It’s what Pops wants,” Bailey pointed out. James turned his head away and looked at the ground. “You know I’m right.”
    “I know,” he said and then looked at her. “But it’s not what JC wants.”
    “Well, maybe if I talk to him and….”
    “Bailey, just drop it, okay?” he said forcefully while Gina finally pulled up in her car.
    Both James and Bailey were both wrapped up in the argument they didn’t notice her or the position they were still in. She was still close to him and his hands were resting comfortably on her elbows. “My, my, aren’t you two just the cutest.”
    James turned his head and his eyes widened. “Gina,” he said as he pushed Bailey away from him.
    “Hey!” she snapped as she stumbled backwards.
    James just rolled his eyes and trotted down to Gina and leaned down to kiss her. “You’re only five minutes late, baby…that’s a new record.”
    “And you have a lot of explaining to do,” Gina said as she eyed Bailey. “So get in.”
    James looked at Bailey who was now staring at them with her hands on her hips. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” he said and then walked around the car and looked at Bailey. “I’m warning you, Winters…don’t even think about it, okay?”
    “Whatever,” she said and then walked to her car. She unlocked the door and slammed it shut behind her. “I’m going to find JC with or without your help, James.”

    Bailey walked in Lance's room to see him staring out of the window. "Lance?"
    He turned his wheelchair around and his face beamed when he saw her. "Bailey...you're here."
    "Sure am," she said and surprised Lance when she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Where's James?"
    "I kicked him out," he chuckled.
    Bailey laughed. "What?"
    "I told him that I wanted it to be just us today," he said as he patted her hand. "He's just too protective of me, but he's starting to trust you now."
    "Good," she said as she sat down. "We had a bumpy start, but we are getting better."
    "I'm glad," he said and then smiled. "So, where were we last time, until we were so rudely interrupted."
    "The night of the VMA's," she said with excitement. "I was tossing and turning all night last night wandering what happened."
    He let out a laugh. "Oh, yes... the night of the VMA's, when Heather and Riley came down."
    "Riley. Who's Riley?"
    "That would be JC's wife," he said with a smile. "She grew up with the Chasez‘s, was their next door neighbor actually. They came down a few days before the VMA's, it was Heather's vacation and she wanted to visit JC."
    "Were JC and Riley dating at the time?"
    Lance laughed. "Ohh, no...JC was still dating Bobbi and Riley and JC never really got along."
    Her eyes widened. "Really?"
    "Oh, it was all harmless, really...I mean everyone saw the attraction between them two, except for them. JC would always tell me that they were very competitive towards each other as they grew up." He chuckled. "Even when they were married they were competitive."
    Bailey smiled. "So, that trip was uneventful I take it."
    "Oh yes, quite a lot happened on that trip....."

    "Shit," JC cursed as he threw of his headphones and ran out of the recording booth. "I have to pick up the girls at the airport."
    Lance looked at his watch. "When do they land?"
    "Twenty minutes," he said as he grabbed his keys. "I've done my leads, so you can spare me for awhile."
    "Justin just has to finish his last part," Lance pointed out. "Do you want me to drive with you, so you won't have to park?"
    "That would be great," he said. "We'll be back soon."
    "Okay," Joey said as he munched on his bag of potato chips. "Tell Riley that her lover is waiting."
    JC rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Joe...what would Renee think?"
    He grinned at the mention of his new girlfriend. "She knows it's harmless flirting...plus I wouldn't want to make YOU jealous."
    "Jealous? Whatever, I love Bobbi, or did you forget," he said with his hands on his hips.
    He chuckled. "Whatever dude...you better go or you'll be late."
    "Yeah, I don't have time to argue," he sighed and then tugged at Lance. "Let's go."
    The guys ran out of the studio and a large black hand came out of no where and grabbed JC and tugged him backwards. "Where the hell are you going without security?"
    "Jeez, Mike," JC said as he straightened his clothes. "We're going to the airport to pick up Heather and Riley."
    "Not without security," he said.
    "Fine, come on then," he said. "I'm late."

    The three of them ran to the parking lot to where JC's car was parked. "So...Riley's coming to, eh?" Mike asked from the backseat as they made their way through the traffic of New York City.
    "Yes, she is," JC sighed as he clenched the wheel.
    He chuckled. "Good, you two are so entertaining."
    "Shut up," he groaned and then looked at Lance who was trying hard not to Lance. "Have something to say, buddy?"
    "What?? Oh, no not at all," he said with a chuckle.
    "You know...you and my sister have been getting close lately," he pointed out.
    He shrugged. "We just chat online a lot," he told her. "We talk a lot about her relationship with Brad and she doesn't feel comfortable asking her brother."
    JC nodded. "What does she say?"
    He smiled. "Can't tell ya."
    "Oh, come on, Lance," he pleaded. "It's my sister we're talking about." He sighed when Lance just shook his head. "Well...at least tell me he's treating her right."
    Lance looked at her and then shrugged. "They've been having problems...he's not calling her as much as he use to."
    "Asshole," he muttered. "Well what did he..."
    "JC, I'm not saying anymore," he interrupted him.
    "Fine," he pouted as he took the airport exit. "Then I'm not gonna tell you what Heather said about you the other day."
    Lance turned to him. "What? What did she say?"
    "Nothing," he said as he kept eyes on the road. "Nothing at all."
    He groaned in frustration. "That was just all kinds of wrong, JC."

    JC and Mike made their way to the terminal, while Lance stayed in the car. JC started running through the crowd as Mike tried to keep up with him. "Dude, slow down."
    "Hurry up, Mike," JC said as he turned around but kept running, their flight just landed.
    Mike cursed softly and rolled his eyes as he quickened the pace. When they finally got to the gate, the passengers were just walking off. Mike leaned over on his knees and breathed heavily.
    "J...C, I'm about...to have...a heart attack."
    "You're really scaring me man," JC said. "I mean the fact taht you lost your breath from that little run is scary. What if you were chasing down a crazy ass stalker coming to get me, huh?"
    "Please," he sighed and then stood straight up. "I can chase a stalker, it's YOU I can't keep up with....excited to see Riley?"
    JC turned to him. "I'm excited to see my little sister, Mike...don't start."
    He chuckled and then grunted when JC whacked him in the gut. "There they are...HEATHER!"
    Heather looked around for the man who matched the familiar voice calling her name and smiled when she saw him. She laughed as she ran up to him and hugged him tightly. "Josh, you’re standing next to a big black man and you have a hat and sunglasses on...very bad disguise."
    JC just laughed. "No one's noticed yet....you look good Heather Bear...how was the flight?"
    "Good," she said and then turned to Riley. "We sat next to a guy that snored the whole way, but other than that it was good."
    JC nodded and then turned to Riley. "Hey, loser."
    "Hey dork," she said and then stuck out her tongue.
    He rolled his eyes. "Some things never change."
    "Guess not," she said with a smile.
    JC looked at Heather. "Come on, let's get your bags and head out... Lance is waiting in the car."
    "Oh, he is?" Heather asked with excitement. "Good."
    JC threw an arm around her neck as they made their way through the terminal. "You two have gotten close."
    "He's a great guy Josh, but you already know that."
    "I do," he said and then bumped his hips playfully with his. "Do you like him, like him."
    Heather rolled his eyes. "Josh, what is this middle school? Besides, I have a boyfriend."
    "Yeah, Brad right?" he asked. "I met him once I think."
    "Yeah, a year ago," she reminded him.
    "Didn't like him."
    "You don't like any of the guys I date."
    "True," he said with a nod and then just laughed. He turned around to Riley. "You dating anyone, loser?"
    "None of your business dork."
    "That usually means no," he teased with a chuckle and Riley responded by kicking him in the butt. "Ow...grow up, Shane."
    "Do me a favor, Chasez...don't talk to me for the rest of the time we are here."
    "That won't be too hard," he replied.
    "Man, will you two ever get a long?" Heather asked.
    "No," they both replied.
    "But hey, that's just us, right loser?" JC asked as Mike grabbed their bags.
    "Right, dork...nothing personal."
    He laughed. "None taken."

    Lance stepped out of the car as soon as he saw them walk out the sliding doors of the airport. He quickly walked to the back of the car and opened up the trunk.
    "Hey my internet buddy," Heather said cheerfully as she trotted up to him.
    He let out a deep chuckled when she flung her arms around him. "Well, hey there," he said and gave her a friendly squeeze. "Glad you could come."
    "Going to the VMA's with one of the most hottest pop stars at my arm? I wouldn't miss it for the world. I mean, why else would I come?"
    "How bout to see your favorite brother," JC asked as he put Heather's bag in the truck.
    "Don't be stupid," Riley said before Heater could talk. "Tyler is in Orlando."
    "Shut up, Shane," he mumbled then tried to help her with his bag but she stepped back. "Relax, I'm just going to..."
    "Quite capable of doing it myself," she sad as she held up her chin.
    "Fine," he said with a sigh. "Excuse me for being nice." He then turned on his heels and angrily got in the drivers seat.
    Heather and Lance looked at each other and rolled their eyes as they walked to the car and slid in the backseat. Mike leaned towards Riley and took her bag too fast for her to object. "He was just trying to help, Ri," he said softly and then stuffed them in the trunk.
    She sighed and nodded at him and Mike gave her a encouraging smile, before getting in the backseat. She groaned when she noticed that they left the passenger seat for her. "Haven't got all day, Shane," JC said to her through the open window.
    She opened the door, got in, clicked on her seatbelt and gave him a cheesy smile. "Ready."
    "Oh, goodie," he mumbled and started the car and headed towards the airport exit.

    Bailey got in her car and sighed as she started the engine with a twist of her key. The nurse interrupted him just when it was getting good. "I'm gonna have to gag that nurse," she mumbled with a laugh and then picked up her cell phone.
    She dialed the number Lance had given her and waited for James to answer. “Hello?"
    She rolled her eyes when Gina's voice filled her ear. "Um...is James there?"
    There was a pause. "Who is this?"
    "Um....this is Bailey, Gina, is he around?"
    "Yes he is," she said shortly.
    She waited for her to hand over the phone but she never did. "Um..can I speak to him?"
    "What the hell do you want from him?"
    Gina, who are you talking to?" James said as he walked inside from the backyard, with his black lab at his heels.
    Bailey heard James in the background. "Gina, put him on."
    "Leave him alone, Bailey. He doesn't want to..."
    James grabbed the phone away from Gina. "I'll decide who and who I don't want to talk to, okay hun?"
    "But James, she is trying to..."
    "Go outside and cool off," he said. "You're not my favorite person right now, so just leave and let me see what Bailey wants."
    She sniffed as she crossed her arms. "Fine," she said and turned to walk to the backdoor. She stopped up short when Abby growled softly at her. "James, call her off of me."
    “Abby, come here, girl," he sighed. For some reason she never liked Gina and he was beginning to understand why.
    The dog trotted by her, but eyed her and then sat next to his master as they both watched her pounce out the backdoor. "Bailey?" he finally said. "Sorry bout that."
    "You're girlfriend needs to chill," she said angrily.
    "She just gets jealous easily," he told her.
    "Doesn't she like...trust you??"
    "Yeah, but she doesn't trust YOU."
    "Whatever," she sighed. "I didn't call you to talk about Gina."
    "Okaaay, what's up?"
    "I want to talk to you about JC."
    He sighed. "Bailey.."
    "James, please," she begged. " I need to see him."
    "I told you to let it go," he said. "Lance would..."
    "I need to see him because of my grandmother," she interrupted.
    "You're grandmother? Bai, what kind of drugs are you taking?"
    "James, I'm serious," she said as she drove through an intersection. "My grandmother told me that she met him one night in New York and I need to know what."
    "Bai, I'm sure your grandmother was just another fan to him."
    "I don't think that's the case," she said when she remembered the look on her face when she mentioned his name. "But if it is, at least I'll know."
    "Why not just ask your grandmother?"
    "She won't tell me. See, if it was just another fan meeting, Grams would have told me."
    He sighed. "I'll admit...it's weird."
    “So will you? Please?"
    "Alright... fine," he said giving in. "But I have to go with you, JC probably won't let a stranger in his house."
    "That's fine," she said with no hesitation.
    "When do we leave?"
    "This weekend, after my visit with Pops."
    James grinned. "So he's your Pops now, huh?"
    She laughed. "He's definitely growing on me."
    "He tends to do that," he said. "So, we'll leave around four on Friday."
    "Sounds good," she said as she pulled in her driveway. "And thanks again for doing this."
    "You're welcome," he said softly. "Well....see ya."
    "Bye."
    James clicked off the portable and stared at it, before finally putting the phone on the charger. "Just where ARE you going with her?"
    He turned around to see and angry Gina glaring at him. 'Aw hell,' he thought. 'This is gonna get ugly.'
    "Gina, I'm just going with her to...."
    "You are NOT going anywhere with her," she said as she walked up to him and jabbed her index finger with his chest. "I will not allow it."
    His eyebrows frowned with fury. "Excuse me?" he repeated not quite sure if he heard her right. But he knew he did. "You will not allow it??"
    "No, I won't," she said and jabbed him again.
    "Don't fucking poke me," he said angrily as he grabbed her wrist. "And you do not control my life, okay? Things go on in my life other than what goes on the bedroom."
    "Don't talk to me like I'm some slut," she cried as she pushed him. "We are talking about Bailey here, she's the slut!"
    "Says who?" he asked. "You don't even know her!"
    "I don't have to I know her kind."
    "What kind? The sweet and innocent kind?"
    "Oh God," she said in disgust as she studied him.
    "What?"
    "You're....You're falling for her."
    Her words flew over him and the fact that it could almost be true scared the hell out of him. "Don't be stupid, I am not."
    She shook her head. "Yes, you are....Dammit, James what is it about her that has you so damn preoccupied."
    "What the hell are you talking about?" he asked her angrily. "I've been with you this whole time, I was never unfaithful with you."
    "But you've thought about it, haven't you?" she asked him as she walked closer to him. "You've thought about kissing her.....thought about being with her. I see it in your eyes."
    He swallowed the lump in his throat as he backed away from her. "Gina, get out."
    "I'm not going anywhere until you admit it," she said calmly.
    "Admit what??" he said with a frustrating groan. "What the hell do you want from me? I have tried my best to treat you right and it was never enough for you, was it?"
    "I was happy," she told him. "Until she came a long."
    "I barely know her," he said between his clenched teeth. "She spends more time with Pops than me."
    "Admit it," she said. "Have you thought about her while your making love to me?"
    He shook his head in disbelief. "Gina, get out. You can pick up your stuff tomorrow, but right now I can't...."
    "Have you?"
    "Gina, I swear you better leave, or I'll drag your ass out by myself."
    "HAVE YOU??"
    "YES DAMMIT I HAVE!" he finally yelled in her stun face. His nostrils flared as he stared down at her. "Now...get OUT!"
    "Damn you, James," she said angrily. "I was the best you ever have and you are leaving me for Miss. Suzy Homemaker."
    "For the last FUCKING time.....get out!"
    She flipped her hair and then grabbed her purse and walked out of the house. James winced when she slammed the door. He sighed as he collapsed on the couch and bent over and rested his head in his hands. "Damn bitch," he mumbled.
    Abby jumped on the couch and wagged her tale as she buried her head in his lap, begging for his attention. "Hey girl," he said softly as he scratched her ears. "I bet your a happy now that she's gone, huh?" She replied by leaning up and licking the tip of his chin. He chuckled. "That makes two of us, girl."

Part Five