I get JC into the bathroom and hold him while he does his business, "You wanna try and shave or just wanna let it go for today?"

He grimaces, "I think it's gonna have to wait for a bit. Good thing I don't have a show or rehearsals today. I don't think I'd be able to do it."

"So what were you guys up to today?"

He frowns, "I have no idea, and I'm sure Justin didn't leave the schedule with you did he?"

"Nope, sure didn't. Although he did leave his, Chris and Joey's cell numbers."

"Good, could you call one of them and just make sure I'm not gonna be missing anything if I stay in bed today?" He flashes me a smile, "Please?"

"Well, when you put it so nicely, I guess I could do that for you."

I dial Justin's cell first, "Hello?"

"Hello?"

"Who is this?"

"Is Justin there?"

"This is Justin, who is this?"

"You alone?"

"What the hell, you call me and don't know who answers, then you want to know...."

"God, Timberlake, shut up. It's Mark."

"Oh. Sorry. Yeah, I'm alone. What's up?"

"Look....JC wants to know what ya'll schedule is for today."

"So...he's awake? That's good. I'm on my way over. I have the schedule with me. We can go over the next couple of day together. You gonna be there for a while?"

"Yeah, I can hang out for a bit." There is a knock at my door, "Hang on, I gotta get the door." I put my hand over the receiver, "Hey guys, come on in. Don't ask, just come in and I'll explain when I get off the phone." I take my hand off the receiver again, "Sorry man, the guys just got here. I'll talk to you when you get here."

"Sure thing man. See ya in a few. I'm bringing the coffee too."

"Good, I think we're gonna need it."

"No kidding. See ya." He hangs up.

I hang up the phone and look around the room, "Suppose you guys wanna know what the hell is going on huh?"

DJ looks at me, "You could say that. Seeing as the last time I saw you, you said you hadn't even talked to him and now here he is asleep in your bed."

"He's not in 'my' bed. And if you remember our conversation last night, you'll remember that I told you I heard someone hit someone?"

"Yeah."

"Well....He was the one on the receiving end."

JC tries to sit up, "Man, I don't need your friends getting involved. I thought...."

I walk over to the bed, "Look, I'm not gonna lie to them. If Lance is as bad as you say, what's to stop him from trying to go after these guys to get me to leave you alone or to give you up. I'm sure it won't take him long to figure out that you are hanging with me."

"I know. I just don't really want everyone to know about this. The more who know, the madder he'll be." A tear slides down his cheek.

I reach up and wipe the tear away, "He's not gonna hurt you if I can help it. These guys won't let him near you either. You gotta understand that we support you here. You shouldn't have to go through that."

"But..."

I put a finger over his lips, "No buts. I'm not gonna let him do this anymore."

JC shakes his head, "You can't stop him. Nobody can."

"Why do you say that?"

"He's... he's got contacts everywhere. He'll find me and then he'll come for me. If you or your friends get in his way, he'll kill you." He turns pale and looks at the guys, "All of you."

"How the hell would he do that?" Murphy asks. "He can't just kill someone and not pay. He's not some overlord or crime boss. He's Lance Bass, bass singer for a boyband."

JC's eyes get huge when Murphy said crimeboss, "You don't know shit man. Trust me, you don't want to mess with him. He's dangerous."

I slide my hand down JC's arm, "If he's that dangerous, why is he still a member of the group?"

"We're his cov....I can't tell you. I've already said way too much." JC lays down, rolls away from us and closes his eyes.

Rodney looks at me, "Do you believe him?"

"I don't know. Justin'll be here soon. We'll see what he knows."

"This is just too farfetched to believe. I might believe him if this were Joey, but...Man the guy's from what Mississippi? Missouri? They don't have crime family's there. This is crazy." DJ states.

"Let's not be too hasty in our judgement. He could be hallucinating or he could be telling the truth according to what Lance has told him, or it could all be the truth. I'm not making any decisions until I can prove it one way or another. Either way, Lance has been taking advantage of JC and I for one will not put up with anyone abusing anyone. I don't care what kind of problems they have."

"Man..." Murphy starts. "You don't even know him. What do you care?"

"He doesn't deserve to be beaten nearly to death. Nobody does. It doesn't matter that I barely know him. I'd do something for a complete stranger if I saw them in the condition that he was in when they brought him over here last night."

"Ok man," DJ puts a hand on my shoulder. He looks at JC, "How bad off is he?"

"Well...He's got at least one broken rib that I know of. I don't know about anything else. Just what you can see. Guess the good thing is, Lance doesn't seem to want others to know, he didn't hit his face or arms."

"You've got my support man. Just let me know what you need." Rodney states.

"I'm with you on the whole abuse thing. I'll do what I can. I'm not all that sure I believe his story, but the fact that he believes it scares me. You can count me in, if you need anything." Murphy says.

I look at DJ, "What about you man?"

"You know you don't even have to ask. I'm there for you, what ever you or he needs. Just give me a yell." He smiles, "Now can we eat something? I'm a bit starved."

"Shit," I state. "Forgot all about that. Hang on and I'll get something sent up." I grab the phone and order our breakfast. As soon as I hang up the phone there is a knock on the door. I open it to find Justin standing there with several cups of coffee and another very large black man. "Hey man. You bring a new one with you everywhere you go?"

"Huh? Oh, you mean Tiny? Naw, he's here to replace House. Lance will notice if House is missing right away. Tiny is Chris' guard, Lance could care less whether he's around or not."

"So...Who does House usually guard?"

"JC. So what's up?"

"Well...we have a few questions and breakfast is on it's way up." I take some of the coffee from him, "Thanks for the coffee man. I think we're all in need of some."

"It's not a problem, after what you've just becomed involved in." He smiles nervously.

"So....What exactly have we become involved in? Care to explain, since we're all here and JC's asleep?"