Back to Josh's POV - for a little bit

I listened to Chris ranting at Justin, watched Lance get up and walk out. I wanted to go to him so bad but wasn't all that sure he wanted me even in the same house, let alone same room. I watched as Justin got up and went after my boyfriend, that's when I realized that I'd just lost the best thing to ever happen to me. I got up and went up the stairs to pack. I wasn't sure where I was gonna go but I couldn't stay in this house with the two of them being together. I quickly packed a bag of clothes and made a call to AJ to see if I could stay with him for a couple of days. When I came back down the stairs I saw Lance and Justin come back in the house from the back porch. Lance had a hand around Justin's shoulder and they were smiling and whispering to each other.

"I'm glad you could forget about me so soon Lance. I hope you two will be happy together." I walked out the door with tears streaming down my face. I should have known that something more was going on with the two of them. Why else would Lance willing spend all those nights in Justin's bed instead of coming to bed with me. I may be slow, but I'm not stupid.

I get in my car and drive to AJ's place, I'm not quite sure how I made it but I finally did. I get out of the car and knock on the door. When he answers I just stand there.

"JC? What the hell? Come on." He puts his hand on my shoulder and pulls me into the house. He takes my bag and leads me up to a room at the top of the stairs.

I curl up on the bed and continue to cry.

"JC? What happened?" AJ asks.

"Just...Can I be alone for a while?" I ask.

"Sure, I'll bring you some tea. It'll help you sleep."

"Thanks AJ."

****Back at the House (Author's POV)****

Lance and Justin stand in the hallway and watch JC leave. Lance collapses as JC's words sink in. Justin reaches down to reassure Lance but his hand is brushed away.

"Don't Justin. Just leave me alone." Lance gets up and heads back up the stairs to his room.

Joey, Chris and Nick all watch on in horror as the strongest couple they'd ever seen came crumbling down at their feet.

Chris looks to Joey, "I'll take JC. You get Lance this time."

"But we don't know where JC went this time. I'm sure he didn't go back to the studio. That bag was too big for just a couple hours at the studio. He's not coming back." Joey states.

"Yeah, I know." Chris glares at Justin. "I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid, seeing as how he thinks the love of his life is perfectly happy with Justin now."

"Chris," Joey puts a hand on his shoulder. "Now isn't the time for blaming anyone. We gotta get them back together and the only way that is gonna happen is if we can get them in the same place at the same time."

As Joey finishes that statement the phone rings.

"Hello," Nick answers.

"Nick? What are you doing there?"

"AJ? What are you calling here for?"

"Look. I don't have time for pleasantries. Why do I have a depressed and dejected JC Chasez crying his eyes out in my guest bedroom?"

"Hang on AJ." Nick covers the receiver, "Hey guys! I know where JC is."

All other conversation in the room stops at that statement. Joey approaches Nick, "Where? Give me that." Joey grabs the phone, "Who is this?"

"Joey? What the hell is going on over there?"

"AJ? What are you calling here for?"

"JC just showed up at my place. He's up in my guest room crying his eyes out. Won't say what happened."

"Great. No, I don't mean great he's crying. I mean great that he's at your place and we know where he is. Chris will be over in a bit. Don't let him leave, whatever you do. Chris will explain when he gets there." He hangs up the phone. "Chris go get JC from AJ's house. That's all we need is to get them involved. If Kevin finds out..."

"Yeah...I know. I'm on my way. Carter you come with me." Chris looks at Justin, "You stay the hell away from Lance. You've done enough damage."

"Chris!" Joey exclaims.

"What? He has. He's ruined their relationship. I know he didn't do it intentionally but it still happened."

"You know what Chris? You are right." Justin states. "I did want them to break up, because I wanted Lance for myself."

A small gasp from the stairs once again ends all conversation. "How could you Justin?" Lance asks.

Justin spins around, "I wasn't done with my sentence Lance. At first I wanted you for myself, true. But the closer you and Josh let me get to your relationship the more I realized that I could never find that kind of love with you. I'd have to look elsewhere." Justin looks to Chris, "I would never intentionally break them up, you have to believe me. I love them both too much."

"Whatever." Chris flips. "I'm going to get Jayce. Hopefully he'll come back with me."

"Can I go with you?" Lance asks from his spot on the stairs.

"Sure." Chris smiles.

*****In the Car (Lance's POV)****

Chris and I get in the car and start the drive over to AJ's house. //What did I do? I didn't want him to leave again.//

"Chris?"

"Hmmm?"

"What did you see when Justin and I came back in the house?"

"What? Why?"

"Because. Josh made a comment when he saw us before he left."

"And what was that?"

"He said, 'I'm glad you could forget about me so soon Lance. I hope you two will be happy together.' I don't understand why he'd say that." Tears were trailing down my cheeks.

"Lance. Have you even noticed what you and Justin look like to the outside world? Are you really that naive?"

"What?" I sniffle, "What do you mean?"

"Look. Let me spell it out for you. Could you tell me 'who' your boyfriend is?"

"What? Josh. What kind of question is that?"

"Well...A few weeks ago I wouldn't even have questioned it but lately, well, it's been kinda hard to tell."

"Why?"

"Because for the last, God, I don't even remember how long anymore. You've been spending every night with Justin. And I 'mean' every night. When was the last time you told Josh you loved him?"

"Ummmm. I don't know." Lance puzzles.

"Exactly. And can you remember the last time Josh told you he loved you?"

"Yeah, right before he left." Lance deadpans.

"Right. Maybe, he's wondering if you really do love Justin and just haven't realized it yet. He's not as dumb as everyone would have you believe Lance. I think when you forgave Justin for asking you to spend one night with him, but couldn't forgive Josh for leaving to give you time to think....Well I think maybe that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back."

"You really think that? You think that Josh thinks I love Justin?"

"If I were as confused and emotional as Josh is...Yeah. I probably would see it that way."

"Shit...No wonder he said that. God...Drive faster man."

Chris smiles at me, "Now that's more like it."

****At AJ's House (AJ's POV) ****

I bring JC a cup of camomile tea and debate whether I should call Kevin or not. //I better not. Not until they explain what's going on. If he finds out that he's here, all hell will break out.//

"JC." I reach down and gently brush his shoulder. He looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks. "I brought you a cup of tea." He sits up and I sit next to him on the bed, "You wanna talk about it now?"

"I don't know man." He smiles weakly. "It's a kinda long and drawn out story."

"Why don't you just tell me the part that landed you on my front doorstep, in tears?" I smile reassuringly.

"Right. Well...I'll have to go back into a bit of why it all started but I'll give you the Reader's Digest version."

"K. I'm all ears."

"Well...It all started a while back when Justin got sick...Lance didn't believe me that Justin was sick and accused me of cheating on him with Justin so I drug him into Justin's room and showed him just how bad off Justin really was. After that, I couldn't get Lance to leave Justin for more than a couple hours at a time, which was fine with me until a couple weeks ago when it looked like things were beginning to change between them."

"How do you mean, change?"

"Well...If Lance could get away from Justin for a few minutes, he'd go out for a walk, instead of spending time with me, like he did before. Then a yesterday, Justin did something I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forgive him for. And Lance actually considered it...That's what got me to thinking that maybe, Lance would prefer to be with Justin than me. So I left to think. I went to the studio, of course. /I nod and smile./ Joey came after me and told me we needed to have a group meeting. We returned to the house and I went up to see Lance, only to find our room looking like a cyclone had gone through it and he wouldn't talk to me except to say 'You left me.' He didn't let me explain or anything. Then Joey came in to gather us for our 'group' meeting. Chris laid into Justin about how he'd pushed just a bit too far, Nick defended Justin, of course, and Lance left the room. Justin followed him out of the room and I went up to our room, thinking that Justin had Lance and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. I packed, called you and headed back down the stairs. That's when my suspcions were confirmed. Lance and Justin came back in. Lance had an arm around Justin's shoulder and they were smiling and whispering to each other like they were lovers. So I left and came here. When I called you, my only intention was to stay until I could figure out a way to make it up to Lance. Now...I need to stay here because I can't live in a house with the two of them. It'll hurt too much."

"Wow, that's fucked up." I smile. "You're welcome here for as long as you need a place to crash. I should tell you though that Chris is on his way over to get you."

"No...I can't talk to any of them right now. Please. Just keep them away for a while."

"I'll try, but him and Joey are really worried about you."

"I don't care. Without Lance, my life is over..."