Josh sat on his balcony. Actually it was no more than a fire escape, but it was big enough for him to sit comfortably. He looked down at the cigarette he held between his fingers. He quit smoking months ago, but tonight on the way home he had bought a pack. He flicked the cigarette to the ground below, and leaned against the wall. His thoughts had been of Lance all night. He hadn't wanted to leave the club. He had seen Joe's face, and knew Lance was in for it. Why didn't he stay and help Lance? Pull him away, and run out of the club. It had been what he had wanted to do. Why didn't he? He hit the wall with his fist as he muttered, "Damn." He knew the reason why he hadn't stayed. Joe was the big leagues. He was one of those people you didn't go up against unless you wanted to end up six feet under. Letting his eyes close, he let out a sad sigh. If only this was another time and place, maybe he and Lance could have been something. Feeling a few rain drops hit his face he stood up and made his way back inside his small apartment. Playing piano didn't pay much, and now he had to go find something new. He looked around the small one room that made up his apartment, and sighed again. He could almost picture he and Lance here together. He wondered how Lance was before Joe. Had he been the frightened man he had seen all these weeks, or had he been different? He wondered if Lance laughed and smiled happily or had he always looked so sad. He made his way towards his bed, and lay down. Not bothering to undress. Kicking off his shoes, he pulled the blankets over him letting sleep overcome him. In his slumber, he allowed his dreams take him where he couldn't go while he was awake. To a place where he and Lance were together, happy and in love. Where everything was good, and Lance was not the way he was now. He allowed himself to do the things he could only do with Lance in this dream world. To touch, to taste, and to feel. To kiss those soft lips as Lance moaned beneath him. Josh woke up suddenly when a loud crash of thunder sounded above close enough to shake the walls of tiny apartment. His dreams fading to the back of his mind as he made his way back over to the window overlooking the fire escape. He watched as the rain fell down in sheets. As a streak of lightning crossed the sky, he closed his eyes and counted. It was an old trick his father had taught him when there was a bad storm. Before he could reach three, there was a loud crash of thunder. Shivering, he made his was back to his bed, and grabbed his blanket. Wrapping it around himself, he went back once again to the window. There would be no sleep for him tonight. He wondered where Lance was this very moment. Was he asleep in his own bed with Joe? He knew that Joe had done something to Lance. He could kill the man for making Lance what he was. Josh watched as the rain continued to fall. When the storm began to let up, he went back to his bed. As he began to close his eyes, there was a loud punding on his door. "What the hell?" He got back out of bed taking his blanket with him. "Who is it?" When there was no answer, he asked again, but there was still no response. He wished there was peek hole in his door. Damn, cheap apartment. He reached out to open the door, but stopped himself. What if it was one of Joe's men here to beat him up for even daring to talk to Lance. He let his hand drop. "It's 3am in the freaking morning, and I am not opening this door til you tell me who you are, so you better talk." "Josh, open up. It's Lance." At the sound of Lance's soft whisper, Josh felt his heart fall. Was he still dreaming? Was he in fact asleep in his bed right now? Shaking his head, he lifted his hand again, and opened the door gasping at the site before him. continue menu