Justin and Lance were booked on several talk shows for a two-week period and were currently in California. Justin argued with Johnny and anyone else that would listen. He didn't want to go and leave JC. Johnny wouldn't budge. He told Justin that people were starting to talk. The press hadn't gotten anything new on JC or Justin in months and rumors were spreading like wildfires. There was talk that Justin and Britney had eloped and were on a top-secret honeymoon. Apparently Britney had been in hiding since Justin broke up with her. Justin was pretty sure she was hiding in Joey's bed. JC it was rumored was in some rehab program for anorexia and maybe drugs too. Justin was sure that if the fans were to see JC now they still wouldn't know what was wrong with him. They'd think the protruding stomach had something to do with his eating disorder. Justin was convinced that they had some of the most neurotic people on earth as fans.  

Justin tapped his fingers on the table impatiently and checked his watch ever two minutes. He'd only been away from JC for two days but he had a feeling that something was wrong.   

"Justin, not paying attention is just going to make this interview drag on even longer." Lance whispered, watching the lady from the teeny magazine scribbling madly in her notebook after catching Justin looking at his watch once again.  

Justin hated doing interviews in restaurants. Everything he ate and even his manners were closely watched and recorded. This woman was seriously driving him nuts. She even took note of the way he held his fork. His stomach rebelled with every bite. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.  

"I need to make a phone call. I'll be back in a minute." Justin said, standing abruptly and nearly knocking his glass of water over.  

Lance looked at the woman interviewing them and smiled apologetically. "He's been a little stressed. His younger brother's been sick and he's worried about him." He explained and hoped that the woman bought it.  

"It's really sweet that he's so worried about his brother. They must be really close." Melissa, Megan, or Melody gushed. Lance couldn't really remember her name he just knew that it started with an M.  

"Yeah, closer than you'll ever know." Lance muttered, shoveling another bite of chicken into his mouth before he said anything else.  

Justin had really been getting on Lance's nerves. They'd only been gone two days and Justin was calling JC practically every hour to check on him.   

~*~

"Come on come on pick up." Justin growled, pacing back and forth in the restroom. The phone kept ringing and ringing and Justin was becoming frantic. JC should be home. JC had told Justin just that morning that he and Bobbee were just going to stay in and watch movies all day because it was rainy and dreary.  

Justin punched the end button after yelling at their answering machine for the fourth time. "Where the hell are you JC?"  

He'd already tried JC's cell phone and all he'd gotten was the voice mail. He couldn't remember Bobbee's number. She was staying at the house with JC while Justin was gone. Justin cursed himself for not putting her cell number in his phone's memory.  

Justin stopped and dialed Lance's cell phone. He was sure Lance knew the number. Lance was anal about things like that.   

"Lance, do you have Bobbee's cell number?" Justin asked, beginning his trek across the restroom floor once again.  

"Justin, why are you calling me? Where are you?" Lance queried, smiling apologetically again at Ms. M who it turned out was actually named Melissa after all.   

Justin groaned. "I'm in the restroom. Do you have Bobbee's cell number?" He asked again in a clipped tone.  

"Why are you calling me from the restroom?" Lance inquired, annoyed that Justin was messing around in the restroom when they should be finishing the interview so that they could get out of there.  

Justin kicked the wall and then howled in pain. "Lance; please give me the number if you know it. I can't get JC on the phone. I know there's something wrong! Give me the goddamned number!" He roared.  

"Jesus Justin, calm down. I'm on my way." Lance said, jumping up from the table and rushing toward the bathroom and leaving Melissa looking confused.  

~*~

"Here Justin, it's ringing." Lance said, running into the restroom and thrusting his phone into Justin's hand.  

Justin listened to the ringing and then nearly cried in vexation when Bobbee's voice mail came on. He handed the phone back to Lance and then slumped down against the wall sitting on the restroom floor.  

"Lance I can't get JC or Bobbee. Something's wrong I know it. I can feel it." He said wrapping his arms around his middle as the sick feeling in his stomach increased.  

Lance knelt in front of Justin and pulled him into a hug. They both jumped when Lance?s phone rang in his hand.  

"Hello?" Lance said, still stroking Justin's back.  

A feeling of dread washed over Lance as he heard the frantic voice of his boyfriend. The only words he could make out were JC, Bobbee, and hospital. He pulled Justin closer as Chris babbled incoherently.  

"Chris, please calm down. I can't understand you." Lance said, rocking Justin as he began to shake.  

"JC fell down the stairs. We're at the hospital. Bobbee's in with him now but it's not looking good. JC's unconscious he has been since he fell. The doctors aren't saying much yet but they said that Justin should get here as soon as possible. I don't know what to do. I've tried to get JC's parents on the phone but they aren't home. I don't know what to do, Lance." Chris broke off crying.  

Lance's whole body went rigid as Chris spoke. The knot in his stomach grew bigger as Justin's tear filled cerulean eyes met his own.   

"Lance, please tell me that JC's ok. Please Lance, tell me he's ok." Justin begged, tears spilling over as Lance bit his lip and pulled Justin closer.  

Lance hugged Justin tightly and then pulled back slightly. "Justin, we need to go. We have to fly home now. JC fell and he's in the hospital. Bobbee's with him now but he needs you."   

"How bad? How bad is it, Lance?" Justin whispered, swallowing frantically as a knot formed in his throat and threatened to choke him.  

"It's bad. They want you there as soon as possible. We need to get to the airport now." Lance said, watching in despair as Justin pulled out of his grasp and barely made it to the toilet before losing what little he'd eaten.  

~*~

Justin couldn't remember getting to the airport or even boarding a plane. He remembered one minute he was heaving over a toilet and the next he was screaming at a nurse in the emergency room to tell him where JC was.  

JC still hadn't woken up by the time they'd arrived at the hospital. They found Chris and Bobbee huddled together on a sofa in a surgery waiting room. Bobbee was crying quietly into Chris' shoulder. Chris looked pale and frightened.  

"What happened?" Justin asked, stopping in front of the sofa clenching his fists.  

Bobbee gasped and turned quickly to face Justin. Justin blanched when beneath the tears rolling over Bobbee's cheeks he saw bruises.   

"Justin, I'm so sorry. I tried to stop him but he hit me. I screamed at JC to hide but he wouldn't listen. He tried to help me. I'm so sorry." Bobbee sobbed, burying her face in her hands.  

Justin swallowed the lump in his throat and stepped a little closer to Bobbee. "Who? Who hit you? What happened?"   

"Joey. He wanted to talk to JC. I told him to leave but JC said to let him in. He said that Joey wouldn't hurt him. But he did, Justin. They went upstairs to JC's studio. They argued. Joey wanted JC to come home with him. He said that they'd forget everything that's happened and he'd even let JC keep the baby if he'd go home with him. JC said no. He told Joey that he loves you. Joey slapped him. I was outside the door. I didn't trust Joey. I ran in and tried to stop him from hitting JC. He hit me. I ran from the room and said that I was calling the cops. I wanted him to follow me and get away from JC. He caught me though and hit me again. JC came to help me. We were at the top of the stairs. Joey turned on JC when he tried to stop him from hitting me. JC pushed Joey away from me. Joey told JC that he'd get rid of the little bastard in his stomach and then you wouldn't want him around anymore. I tried to grab Joey but he hit me and knocked me into the wall. Next thing I know he's got JC by the shoulders and he threw him down the stairs. He ran to the bottom of the steps and knelt beside JC for a minute and whispered something to him and then left the house. I called 911 and then sat with JC until they got there. There was so much blood. His hair was covered in it and his head was lying in a puddle of it." Bobbee said, crying harder as she looked down and fingered a bloodstain on her sweater.  

Justin dropped to his knees as dry heaves hit him. Lance wrapped his arms around him from behind rocking him and whispering soothingly as tears traced his own cheeks.  

~*~

Justin was lying on the sofa with his head cradled in Lance's lap. Bobbee sat on the floor in front of him rubbing his back in a calming manner. Chris slept fitfully in a chair with traces of tears drying on his face. They all stood quickly when the doctor walked in.  

The doctor cleared his throat and looked grimly at the hopeful faces. "I'm sorry. We did all that we could... "   

Justin drowned out the doctor's words as he dropped to his knees. "NO!!! JC!!!" He screamed voice filled with anguish as his friends looked on helplessly.  

~*~

"Justin, wake up. Justin baby, wake up. It's just a dream." JC whispered soothingly, stroking Justin's sweat soaked hair.  

"NO!!! JC!!!" Justin shouted, thrashing wildly in the bed.  

JC grasped Justin's flailing hands in his own. "Justin, come on baby. Wake up, I'm right here. It's just a dream, wake up."  

Justin sat straight up in bed gasping for air. He turned almost hesitantly to his side and then nearly crawled on top of JC as his arms engulfed him.  

"Scared, I was so fucking scared. I thought I'd lost you. Don't ever leave me, JC. God, I wanted to die. Don't ever leave me." Justin whispered hoarsely, his arms nearly squeezing the breath out of JC as he began to sob into JC's neck.  

JC wiggled until he got one arm free and brought his hand up to stroke Justin's hair. "Shh, it's ok Justin. It was just a dream. I'm right here. I didn't go anywhere and I don't plan to."   

Justin pulled back slightly and grabbed JC?s face in both hands. "Don't ever leave me, JC. It hurt so much. I felt my heart being ripped from my chest."  

"Justin, I'm not leaving. Not now or ever." JC whispered, kissing Justin's lips lightly.  

"I love you." Justin whispered, his hand caressing JC's cheek softly.  

JC smiled and captured Justin's hand placing a kiss in the palm. "I love you too."  

"So fucking much. I love you so fucking much." Justin rasped before lowering JC to the bed. His lips took gentle possession of JC's.