I wake up the next morning with one hell of a headache. (What the hell? I didn't drink that much) I turn and look at the clock. (Oh, God. The guys are gonna be ready to kill me.) I sit up and stretch.

"Good morning," Glen says.

I jump out of the bed, "Who the hell...Oh shit. Guess it wasn't just a bad dream."

"Afraid not." He frowns.

"How's he doing?" I ask getting out of bed and walking over to the bed JC was in.

"His breathing is fine and heartrate is good. I wouldn't be suprised..."

"Wha....Oh shit..." JC mumbles. He opens his eyes and looks at me, "What you doing here man?"

"Um..." I stammer, "Your in my hotel room."

"What? Where's Lance? Justin??? Shit what have they done now. I need to talk to Lance." He turns those beautiful blue eyes on me, "Please? I really need to talk to him. It's very important."

"I've been told not to let Lance know where you are." I state. (God, don't look at me like that.)

"You can't do this to me. Please, I have to talk to him. He'll...." JC trails off and breaks into sobs.

I lean down next to him and pull him into an akward hug, "Shhhh. It'll be ok. He won't find you here. Your guard is right outside the door and he's taking turns with my security. Nobody is getting to you without my consent."

He looks up at me, "You can't keep him away. He'll find me. Next time he's gonna kill me."

"Not if I can help it."

"If you get in his way, he'll kill you too. He's already threatened the others." He whispers.

"What? When? Do they know?"

"No, that's why I never fought back. As long as he had me to use as his punching bag, he wouldn't hurt the rest of them. Please, I gotta get back."

Glen had been sitting on the couch listening quietly, "He's not gonna hurt the others. He wouldn't dare. You know they'd kick his little ass."

"You don't know Lance. He's very violent. He'll get them in their sleep or whatever. He won't care."

"Well..." I stated, "I'm not taking you back. I don't care what kind of danger the others are in. They have your security team and their health. You're staying right here until you are well enought to move around."

"You can't make me stay," He states as he tries to get up. "Shit..."

"I don't have to make you stay. You couldn't go anywhere right now even if you want. Now lay that scrawny ass back down and get some rest." I smile.

"Scrawny ass?" He looks me up and down, "Man, have you looked in a mirror lately? You ain't that big yourself."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't think you can get away with shit just cuz your hurt. I'll make you pay dearly when you get well, you keep that shit up."

"Ooooh, I'm soooooo scarred. What could you possibly do to me?" He jokes, then gets a faraway look in his eyes.

I walk into the bathroom and start getting ready for the day.

"Hey Mark?" Glen hollers. "Could you give me a hand here?"

I come out of the bathroom to see him hunched over JC's form sitting on the floor, "What the hell are you trying to do?"

"Um..." Glen stammers, "He's gotta use the bathroom and tried to get up and do it himself and collapsed."

"Shit. JC?" I reach down and lift his chin up, his eyes meet mine, "You can't do that. You want me to help you?"

He blushes, "I guess. I didn't realize how bad off I am."

"Yeah, well...we tried to tell you before, but somebody didn't want to listen, did he?" I tease.

JC laughs a little, then grabs his side, "Man, don't make me laugh. It hurts too much."

"Sorry," I heft him up off the floor.

"Damn man. Take it easy, that shit hurts."

"Sorry."

"It's cool, just don't be so rough." He lifts up his shirt and looks at his ribs. "Shit...Glen, looks like at least one is broken."

"Yeah," Glen agrees. "I know. I've already told Justin to pick up some wraps on the way over."

"Cool. You think of everthing, don't you man?" JC states as we make our way to the bathroom.

"I try. It would be a lot easier if..."

"If what, Glen?" JC growls.

"If you'd stop letting him do this to you."

"I've already told you, if I don't he'll go after one of the others. They can't handle it like I can. It would kill them."

"Well..." I start, "I hate to break it to you, but it almost killed you last night."