Josh sat up quickly reaching down with a hand to shake Lance's shoulder. He kept his eyes locked on the man sitting next to the bed. When Lance did not respond to his shaking, he spoke, "Lance, wake up." Mumbling something, Lance reached up and ran his hand through his hair. He opened his eyes and yawned before turning to look up at JC smiling. The smile fell from his face when he followed Josh's gaze and saw Joe sitting there. "Hello, lover. Miss me?" Lance sat up in bed not wanting to move away from Josh, but as soon as he was up Joe made a motion with his hand, and Lance was pulled off the bed. He looked behind him to find Justin. Justin handed him his shirt, and Lance put it on leaving it unbuttoned. Josh turned to look at Lance, and couldn't catch his gaze cause Lance had lowered his head. Justin made small movement with his head towards Joe, and Josh turned back around. He wanted to shudder at the way that Joe was looking at him, but he stayed still. He would not show him any fear. Joe would use that. He noticed his shirt lying on the bed next to him, and put it on quickly. "So you thought you could run from me, Lance?" Joe stood up and walked around the bed. He ran a finger across Lance's cheek and down to his chin lifting it. The fear was plain in his eyes, but he did not respond. Josh moved off the bed, and stood next to the chair Joe had just been sitting in. He watched as Joe stood in front of Lance silently. Suddenly, he motioned to Justin, and Justin began to pull Lance towards the room door. It was then that Lance finally spoke. "Joe, don't. I'll go back with you. Just don't hurt him." Justin finally was able to drag Lance out of the motel room. It was just Joe and Josh. The two men eyed each other from across the room. "I knew you would be trouble, Chasez." "Yeah, I get that a lot." Josh watched as Joe moved closer. He stopped right in front of Josh. "You thought you could take what was mine, Chasez. Lance is mine. Always will be. Not very smart of you to take someone else's property." "He isn't property. He's a person. You don't own him, Joe." "That is where you are wong. He is mine. You made a mistake. Should have sticked to playing the piano cause now you will pay." Josh looked down. He knew what would happen. He knew it that night he took Lance from his apartment. He was just hoping it wouldn't be so soon. He didn't even feel the first blow from Joe's fist coming. Before he knew it, he was on the floor holding his jaw. He looked up, and watched as Joe walked away. He listened as Joe called for Justin before leaving the room with one final look. Josh scrambled so by the time Justin walked into the room, he was leaning against the wall. Justin closed the door, and walked over to Josh. Josh glanced at his hand and saw the gun. He swallowed as Justin stopped in front of him. He lowered his head, and closed his eyes saying a silent prayer. "Josh, man, open your eyes." Josh looked up and stared at Justin. "You know why Joe sent me in here, right?" Josh nodded his head. "Well, I am not going to do it. I can't." Josh looked at Justin confused, but didn't speak. "Listen closely cause I don't have much time. I have known Lance for awhile. It is my fault Joe found him. We were friends long before Joe." Justin stopped and looked at the gun in his hand lifting it. "I loved him long before Joe came and fucked everything up. Now I see you, and know you can make him happy, but not with Joe around." He opened the barrel and pulled out a bullet throwing it at Josh. "It's too late for me. I'm in to this fucking thing too deep, but he can get out someday. Maybe that day you two can be happy." Justin turned to leave the room, but Josh reached out stopping him. Justin turned and knelt down. "Give this to him if that day ever comes." He took off his necklace and placed it in Justin's hand. "He'll know what it means." Justin nodded. "I would lay low for awhile." He turned and walked out the door without a second look. Josh breathed a sigh of relief looking down at the bullet in his hand. Hearing the start of a car, he looked up. Lance was gone. continue menu