Dinner arrives and we eat in silence. Once we're both done I gather everything and throw it back in the hall, "Ok man...Think you've stalled long enough. What the hell is going on?"

JC smiles and leans back against the pillows, "You want the long drawn out version or the abridged version?"

"Just give me the story. I'm confused enough right now."

"Well...It all started about 2 months ago I guess..." He closes his eyes, then sits up abruptly, wincing in pain, "You gotta promise not to tell anyone, not even the guys, what I'm about to tell you."

"Scarface himself couldn't get me to talk," I smile.

"This isn't a joke Mark. This is serious...very serious."

"Ok, I'm sorry....I won't tell anyone." I sit next to him, "What is going on with you guys?"

He leans back again, "Ok, like I said...It all started about 2 months ago."

***Flashback***

"Jayce...." Lance pounded on the door, "Jayce, please open the door. I know you're in there."

JC gets up and answers the door, "Wha...Lance? What's wrong?"

With tears streaming down Lance's face he collapses into JC's room. JC catches him just before he hits the floor. "They took her Jayce...She's gone..."

"Who? Who's gone?" JC backs up until he feels the bed then turns and sits Lance on the bed, "What are you talking about Lance?"

"My mom....Jayce...They've got my mom."

JC heart clinches in his chest, "Your mom? Who has your mom and why?"

"THEY have her Jayce. Grampa's goons."

JC sits on the bed next to Lance. He looks at Lance with confusion clearly written on his face, "I think you better start at the beginning Lance, cuz you're not making a damn bit of sense."

***End Flashback***

JC looks up at me, "You with me so far?"

I smile at him, "Yeah...You haven't lost me yet. Please keep going."

"Well...He began to tell me all about his grandfather...."

***Flashback***

"Grandpa is part of the mob Jayce. My great grandfather was and so was his father. I'm not sure how many generations it goes back but I do know that it's a lot."

"Your grandfather is part of the mob?" JC asks raising an eyebrow in disbelief, "I know I've never met the man, but you don't look Italian Lance."

"Not the Italian mob Jayce. These guys make those guys look like whimps."

"So if he's not part of the Italian Mofia...what mob is he in?" Confusion resuming the look of choice on JC's face.

"He's....Shit...You know what? I can't tell you...I should never have come here. They're gonna know I've talked...They're gonna kill her."

"Lance," JC sighs. "You can't just start something like this and then leave me hanging. I can't help you figure out what is going on if you don't tell me what you know."

"Ok....but...Once I tell you...you'll be in danger too."

"I can handle it...Just tell me already."

"Ok...He's part of the Russian mob...Now before you say anything about us not being Russian let me explain."

JC closes his mouth and looks at Lance.

"Good...Now...from what I know of my family history I'm 'not' Russian but back several generations one of the men in my family was taken in by a Russian boss as a favor to one of his dying friends. That sealed my family's fate. Since then my family has been a member of the bigest 'Family's' in the world."

"So...I don't get it...Why are they kidnapping your mom then?"

Lance continues as if JC hadn't said anything, "When my dad turned 15 he ran away...Just picked up and left that life behind. He met my mom, they got married, had me and Stacy and then I blew it all by becoming famous..." Lance begins crying again.

"Whoa...you mean your dad just picked up and left that kind of life behind? How? I thought once you were in, you were in...There is no way to get out except through death."

"That is the only way out....and I guess they weren't all that sure he was dead...He didn't really think the whole thing through very well when he left...He didn't leave a body in the car...Just ran it over a cliff...They would never have known if I hadn't gotten in this group and become famous."

"What do you mean? How did you getting famous have anything to do with this?"

"Well...I don't know if you've ever really taken a look at my dad...But we kinda look alike...Grandpa's goons saw us on MTV or something and next thing I know I'm getting a call that if I don't do what they want mom will be dead."

***End Flashback***

I looked at JC, "Well...that's...wow...So Lance's grandfather is still alive?"

JC opens his eyes and looks at me, "Yeah, I guess....I never asked...I just assumed....Shit, that's fucked up."

"What? What are you thinking?"

"Well...If it's Lance's grandfather that's doing this..." He takes a deep breath, "Well...then he's the one that's causing Lance to act the way he is."

"How do you figure? What does all of this have to do with why Lance has been beating you anyway?"

"I'm getting to that..." JC looks at me and smiles, "You really are interested in all this aren't you?"

"Yes...I want to know what would cause a man to start beating a person he claims is like a brother to him for no apparent reason. He didn't have a violent childhood did he?"

"No...his parents aren't anything like the rest of their family. That's why Jim wanted out so badly. He couldn't handle the violence."

"So...Why is Lance doing what he's doing then? I just don't get why? I understand they have his mother but that doesn't explain why they want him to beat the shit out of you."

"Well...Once Lance's grandfather found out that Lance was who he is, he called Lance and told him he'd find a way to get him back into the family. There was no way they were gonna allow one of their family be in a 'pansy assed boyband.'" JC stated.

"What is so wrong with being in a group like yours? You guys are really good. I know I find myself enjoying your performances during those award shows." I smile.

JC blushes, "Thanks. Anyway, back to the story...They found Lance's family and nabbed his mom. I don't know how much you know about our group but..."

"I know Lance is the momma's boy of the group. You're all pretty close to your family's but he always seems to have one of them around all the time. You know now that you think about it, it's kinda strange it took them this long to figure out who Lance is."

"You know...I was thinking the same thing...but then again, his dad didn't seem to want to be on tv. He fought it big time, but his mom was always willing to come and be with him when ever. It didn't make any difference to her at all. Then when the lawsuit started..."

I reach over and put a hand on his shoulder, "It's ok...I understand all about that shit, believe me."

"Yeah, that's a story for another day." He places his hand on mine and takes it off his shoulder, holding it in his hand. "After Lance told me all this shit he fell asleep crying. I didn't have the heart to wake him and it wasn't like we hadn't slept in the same bed before."

I raise an eyebrow, "Really?"

"Yeah, really. When we were in Europe, and Lou was our manager, we had to share one room...All five of us. You get used to sleeping in a room with people after a while. At first we all fought but once we got used to each other's different moods and quirks, we got over it and just dealt with it."

"Did they know?"

He looks at me, "What? Did they know what?"

"That you're gay?"

"I'm not..." He looks at me to see my reaction.

"Oh...but what about..." I look towards the bathroom. "Man...I'm just one confused individual."

JC smiles at me and brings my hand to his lips, "I'm bi...And no they didn't know."

I snap my head up to meet his eyes, "Really?"

"Mmmhmmm." He quirks an eyebrow.

"Man...You gotta quit playing me like that."

"But you look cute with that confused look on your face."

I blush three different shades of red, "Thanks, I think."

"Well...anyway, back to the story...Lance ended up spending the night in my bed and I forgot to get a wake up call. The next morning the other three found us curled up in each others arms. I'm assuming that is why they think Lance and I are together."

"If you're not together, then why'd you get so upset the other day when one of them slipped and said something?"

"Because, they all know better than to say anything in public. We didn't know you guys, but as passing strangers, and he's just blurting something like that out. I was so embarrassed I couldn't have gone with you guys if I wanted to."

"Why not?"

"Cuz...I'm not a very outgoing person, not until I get to know people. Once I get to know you...well...then it's cool that you know all my secrets but man...I'm not big on just blurting things out like that. But mostly I just couldn't believe that he said that. It could have caused a lot of problems for the group."

"Yeah...I can understand that. I'm assuming that's why you have that gal around all the time then?"

"Bobbie?"

"Yeah, I guess...Is that her name?"

"Yeah...We're just really good friends, she knows I'm not interested in her romantically. She covers for me, keeps the press quiet, but some of the fans are starting to figure out that we're not really together. Rumors have been getting out that Lance and I have been spending more and more time together..."

"So. You and Lance have just been playing along with the guys on this thing? You aren't really together?"

"No...I told you before that we aren't together. Never have been, but sometimes with the guys, it's easier to just go with what they assume than tell them the truth. This is one of those times. It keeps them safe and they don't pester us while we're trying to figure out what the hell is our next move."

"Well. Now you two have me to help, so what's our first move?"

"You can't...If they find out you know...you'll be the next target. I can't let this happen to you too..." He states while looking down at himself."

"So, what is the deal with this? You still haven't explained why he's beating you."

"He does it because they tell him to. If he doesn't, they'll kill his mom."

"But, why you?"

"Because I'm the closest one to him...It hurts him more."

"Are you sure? It looks like he's getting pretty good at it."

"Trust me...he wouldn't be doing any of this shit if we could figure out how they know he came to me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the next morning after he told me all this shit about his grandfather...That was the first time. He got a phone call during breakfast. He looked up at me and I knew who it was before he pulled me off to the side and told me. But before he hung up the phone he just walked over to me and slapped me across the face. At first I couldn't figure out what the hell he did it for but when his eyes got big at whatever the other person said I figured it out."

"So...It's only you that they tell him to hurt?"

"Yes, so far...I assumed it was because I knew. I hope that is why. That will keep the rest of the guys safe, but it now endangers you."

"How so? How are they going to know you told me?" I raise an eyebrow. "They don't even know where you're at."

"I wouldn't be suprised if they know exactly where I am. I would..." He trails off.