***Back with Mark and the guys***

"Well...To be honest..." Justin looks around the room nervously and finally settles his eyes on JC. "I'm not all that sure."

"Not sure about what? Come on. You've got to know why Lance has been beating the shit out of him." I state.

"No, actually I don't. I haven't been able to figure it out. I do know that it is something recent. In fact I think when we walked in on them the last time...I'm prettysure that was the first time it happened."

"What makes you think that?" DJ asks.

"Well, he didn't have any old bruises or breaks except one that he got way back during our MMC days."

"And how do you know that?" Rodney questions.

"We took him to a doctor, that time. Had them do X-Rays and everything. We needed to make sure that he was actually ok."

"And?" I raise an eyebrow, "What exactly did they find then?"

"Nothing, just a couple of broken ribs and several recent bruises."

"That's it?" DJ says. "Why is he talking like Lance has been scarring or threatening him for a while then?"

"What do you mean?" Justin furrows his eyebrows. "He doesn't act scarred of him around us."

"Well, he just told us that Lance has threatened all of you and that's why he lets Lance beat him up." I state, crossing my arms over my chest."

Justin begins to laugh, "Lance threatened us? That's good. He wouldn't dare raise a hand to any of us. The only reason he even tried it with Jayce is because he knew Jayce would never raise a hand to him."

"Why is that?" Murphy asks.

"Because JC made a promise to Lance that he would never hurt him. Look. I know you guys don't know JC very well and that may seem a bit strange to you but JC never breaks a promise. Never has."

"Not even when someone is pounding the life out of him?" I exclaim.

JC opens his eyes, "Not even then."

I jump and spin around, "Hey, when'd you wake up?"

"I never went to sleep. Just been laying here listening to you badger my best friend about something he has no clue about." He looks at Justin, "You need to get me back to Lance. You know he'll...."

"I'm not taking you back to him so he can finish what he started Jayce. I can't do that."

"J...If you don't you're next. Please? You have to."

"Jayce, you know I can take Lance, and I don't have any qualms about hitting back."

"You don't understand. He doesn't want to hurt me. He has to. Please J?"

Justin glares at JC, "You can beg all you want Jayce. I'm not taking you back to him. He's not gonna hurt you anymore."

JC tries to get out of bed, I reach over and help him sit, "Man, if you won't take me back. I'll go on my own. You can't make me stay. You know I'll do it too."

I look from JC to Justin and then back, "Look. How about you stay here a couple days and rest up, then I'll take you back over myself?"

Justin glances at me with ice in his eyes, "What? No way."

I look at Justin, "It's either that or his way. I'm pretty sure you'd rather know when he was returning than that he turned up dead because he's too stubborn and did it himself, and Lance getting a hold of him and killing him before the rest of you knew he was even back."

JC watched us talking about him like he wasn't there, "Hold up. I didn't agree to your idea."

I meet JC's eyes and gesture to the guys sitting around the room, "You feel like taking on me and them you go right on ahead and try to leave." I raise an eyebrow in challenge.

He looks around the room, "Ok, I'll stay for a couple days but then I'm on my way. I have to get back."

"Agreed?" I look at Justin.

"Agreed." Justin sighs.

***Outside the door***

"So, now I know where you are my pretty boy. You better enjoy your time away from your friends, cuz when you get back, I'm gonna have to make sure you pay for your traitorous ways. Lance will have to make sure of that."