Just as I thought I was gonna have to deal with my family on my own the doorbell rang. //Holy shit. Give a guy a heart attack. Who the hell could it be now?//

I spun around and open the door. //What the hell are they doing here?// “Um…Kevin? Guys? What are you…”

“Just let us in JC. I’m quite certain this isn’t something you want to discuss on your front porch.” Kevin states evenly.

I step back and allow entrance. When everyone was done filing in I shut the door and led the rather large group of people into the living room. I sit down between Mark and my mother.

“What’s going on?” Mark starts, “Why are you all here?” He looks around the room, “Who sent you? And what did they tell you?”

//God, I love this man. He’s pretty fucking quick.//

“Relax, McGrath,” Jeff states, placing a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “We’re here to protect him.” He places his other hand on my shoulder.

“We weren’t told anything other than to get here as quickly as possible and not let anyone else in or near the house,” Brian states.

“Your security team has the doors baracaded, literally.” Nick snickers, “Where on earth did you find so many large men? Man, I thought our guys were big. They ain’t go nothing on your boys.”

“Like Kaos said, your team is outside but we’re here to get you to the safe house that Oversight had set up. We can’t say more than that and you know it. Now go pack or I’ll send AJ and Lachey to do it. Only clothes, and I’m sure you know why.” Kevin takes charge, quickly ushering Mark and I up the stairs. When he gets us to our room he whispers, “you know we can’t allow your dad to come with us JC?”

“Yeah, I know. But mom and Heather are allowed to go along aren’t they?”

“Yeah, but they won’t be able to have much contact with the outside til this is over.”

“If we’re all basically disappearing for a year, what is Jive gonna tell the fans?” Mark questions.

“What else would they tell them? We’re in the studio recording.” Kevin puts his hand up to stop my question. “Let’s just say we’ll all have a great deal of writing and producing credit on the next albums and leave it at that.”

We make our way back down to the living room. My mother immediately hugs me and whispers, “I know this is for the best, just make sure I get some kind of updates on how you (she pats my stomach) are doing. I want to know the exact minute it happens.”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to get word out to you somehow.” I smile, “I love you mom.” I turn to Heather, ‘You ready sis?”

She looks at me in shock for a minute then heads for the door, “Lets get this show on the road.”

We all climb into the awaiting vans and drive off. Several hours later we pull up to a very large house out in the middle of nowhere. There were cliffs on three sides and the fourth side had more security than the White House.

“Oversite said he was gonna meet us here.” Kevin stated.

“Good, cuz I can’t wait to ask why the hell they bugged my house and when.” Mark grumbles.

“Baby,” I sigh. “They bugged it while you were in training. They bug all operatives homes. It makes it easier for them to keep us in line. They also have our busses bugged. Oh please…Don’t give me that look. You had to have had an idea that they had. I mean, how else would Oversight have gotten these guys so quickly and whisked us away?”

“They must have heard us talking yesterday.” Heather says, leaning forward in her seat. “Wow, check out that house.”

We turn our heads just as the house comes in to full view.

“Damn, for once even I’m in awe.” Mark smiles.

“I don’t care what it looks like, all I want is a bathroom. Guess he really didn’t tell them what is….What are they doing here?”

“Who’s that Josh?” Heather whispers.

“It’s 5ive or they used to be. They disbanded a while ago.”

“I thought there were five guys in that group. Where’s the other one?” Mark asks.

“I don’t know, maybe he’s in the house.” //That would explain why they disbanded so abruptly.// I give Mark a weak smile. “You think we could go inside now?”

Mark finally notices that I was getting a bit pale and panicked, “What? What’s the matter?"

“Just find out where the bathroom is and get out of the way.”

“Right. Got ya.” He jumps out the van and straight for the door.

“Mark?”

“Yeah?”

“Could you…” I glance down at my arm where his hand is encircling it. “You think you could maybe lighten the grip a bit?”

“Oh,” he gives me a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Are you….”

“I’m fine baby.”

“I won’t argue with that.” He continues his trip into the house, stopping short when he opens the doors.

“I walk into him, then look up from my arm where I’d been trying to rub some circulation back into it, “Wha…Why’d you stop?”

“Look at this place Josh. Just look.”

I sigh again, “I really don’t care right now, and I suggest you move so I can find the bathroom.” He continues to block the door staring at the entrance. “MARK, Move!!!!!!!!!!” I push him in the door and out of the way, heading for the nearest person, “Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?”

She points down a hallway, “Eighth door on the left.”

I glance down the hall, then sprint to the door she had pointed out.

“Guess he wasn’t kidding.” Heather snickers as she and Mark make their way past the mirrored entryway.

“Guess not.” He smiles.

“So where is Oversight?” I ask as I come back towards Mark. “Didn’t Kevin…”

“You finally made it. I was starting to get worried about you. Please come in. I’ll have one of my boys here give you a tour after we talk.”

“Um…Josh….that’s.” Mark trials off.

“Josh? Isn’t that….”

Looks like it but….”

“Please have a seat.”