During that week he was
gone, Lance missed Josh like crazy. He had actually already made his decision.
He would return to Josh, but he didn't want to rush it. This decision would
change his whole life. He had waited. Justin had promised him he would keep an
eye on Josh until he was ready to return. He just hoped Josh would understand
why he was gone for so long.
"Lance."
Lance looked up to
see Justin coming towards him. He sighed as he stood up. "Justin, what's
up?"
"You need to go
back, Lance. Josh he needs you."
Lance stood silent.
He looked down at his hands. He knew he had to go back to him. If he could
never see Josh again, he would never be truly happy.
"You had decided
to go back to him, right?"
Lance nodded.
"It's just that I am losing so much here. I will miss it all, but I know I
will be happy with Josh."
Justin sighed.
"He really needs you right now, Lance. He was calling out for you. Saying
he needed to talk to you."
Lance grabbed his
coat, and slipped it on. He started to walk away, but turned back. "I'll
miss you, Justin. You take care."
"Hey, you know
you ain't getting rid of me that easy. I'll visit you from time to time
Lance."
Lance walked through
Josh's house. The rooms were dark and silent, but he knew Josh was there. He
walked into the bedroom, and found Josh on the floor next to the bed. He took
off his coat, and lay it on the chair. Kneeling down next to Josh, he reached
up his hand and ran his fingers through Josh's hair.When he began to stir,
Lance moved back and sat down next to him.
Lance watched as Josh
opened his eyes. He smiled at him, but his smiled faded when he saw the tear
stains on his cheeks. "Josh, I'm here," he said as he pulled Josh to
him. "You needed to talk to me?"
Josh nodded against
Lance's chest. "I thought you were never coming back."
"No. I had to
come back, and I'm back for good."
Josh raised his head.
"You can stay?"
"Forever."
Josh kissed him
briefly. "I like that. You can keep the nightmares away."
Lance sighed.
"Want to talk about those nightmares, Josh?"
Josh moved back from
Lance to lean against the bed again. "I let somebody die. It was my fault
she killed herself."
Lance turned Josh's
face back towards him. "Josh, it is not your fault. That girl would have
done it if not then some other time. You cannot blame yourself for something
you cannot control."
"But if I hadn't
put her in the quiet room maybe she wouldn't have tried. Maybe I could have
talked her down from it."
"If's and
maybe's now aren't going to help you, Josh. I know you care for your kids at
the shelter, but you need to move on."
Josh sighed, as he
leaned his head on Lance's shoulder. "Will you help me do that,
Lance?"
Lance smiled.
"Of course I will. I love you, Josh. I'll always be here for you."
"I love you too,
Lance."
Months passed, and
Josh slowly got better. He no longer had nightmares, and he tried to stop
blaming himself for that night. He still worked at the shelter, and Lance has
joined him there. Chris and Joey got along great with Lance, and were always
asking Josh where he had found him, but he never told. Lance's past was there
little secret. He had his own personal angel to keep him safe.
As for Lance, he was happy. It was weird at first, but with Josh at his
side, he learned all he needed to. Justin kept his word and visited from time
to time. Then he saw Chris, and as you know even angels fall in love.