Part 8 Joey glanced quickly at Lance, worried about him. Since they had left, the young man hadn't said a word. All he had done was look outside the window like a lost child. It was as if someone had took the life in the green eyes. The Italian man sighed and tried to concentrate on the road ahead of him. But every once in a while he would glance at his friend again.

" I don't believe this guy." Lance said quietly, not moving, not blinking. " I'll go back again."

" What did you say?" The older man asked, not sure if his friend had talked. He slowed down the car and looked at his friend again.
" Nothing." Lance replied, determined to go back.

He knew Joey would try to talk him against it. And he just knew Justin wouldn't be much help in this case. They all thought he was too weak in front of JC. But he would surprise them and brink JC back. He would go alone, without anyone telling him when he should go back and what he should do. He was almost sure he had heard his love scream earlier. And from the corner of his eye he had seen someone behind the fence. At first he hadn't thought anything about that. But now that his mind had registered all the details, he knew he would go back, alone.

~*~

JC looked up at Serge with fear. The man he had learned to trust was now his biggest fear. The anger in the older man's eyes, the disgust he saw in them was more than he could bear. Under the intensity of the other's gaze, JC glanced away.

" I won't let you ruin our hard work Scott. You're a part of the plan. If someone his missing than we'll have to cancel everything and I won't let it happens. If you really want to leave, we'll have to find someone to take your place. I already have someone in mind. If you leave, I'll take him with us, with or without his contentment. It doesn't matters anymore if he believes or not. Do you want me to take him with us? Do you want me to find your little lover and bring him with us in our trip?"

JC's eyes widened as the words sank in. The last thing he wanted was Lance hurt.

" I'm sorry. I won't leave. Please don't hurt Lance." The brunet said. He wasn't sure he was the one talking. He hadn't recognised his own voice. But he wasn't recognising himself either.

"We're gonna test you. I have to be sure." Serge said, almost evilly. He turned back to the two other men. " You know what you have to do?" Gotting the answer he was looking for, Serge walked back to the building without a second glance to the man on the ground.

~*~

Back at the hotel, Lance wasted no time to go back to his room. He did met Justin and Chris in the hall but ignored them. Answering their question was the last thing he wanted. He had to get ready and find a way to sneak out without being caught. He ignored the banging on the door and his friends talking on the other side of the same door.

Sitting on the bed, he called a car rental company and took all the information he needed. After it was all done, he packed a couple of things, ready to sleep in the car if needed to. The next time he would come back from there would be with JC.

After a few minutes, Justin and Chris stopped their attempt to talk with Lance turned to Joey who had stayed on the side, knowing perfectly well it was useless to try to talk with Lance.

" So what happened?" Justin inquired, moving in front of his older friend, followed closely by the eldest man.
" Basically, nothing. We talked to this guy, still have to find his name, and he told us to leave. Lance didn't argue when I told we should do like we had been told. But I think he's up for something. He was way too concentrate on the way back. I can't blame him. The only thing I want is JC out of there."
" But you haven't talk with JC?" Chris asked with exasperation in his voice. The Italian man shook his head and looked at Lance's door.
" Do we leave him alone? I really don't like the idea of him alone right now. He could easily do something stupid." Joey asked but didn't get answers from his two other friends.

~*~

Lance drove silently. The car did make noise, the only sound heard. His eyes never left the road, quickly observing every detail he could at the same time. Something inside was telling him to be aware of everything. The sun was down but he could still see perfectly outside. He knew he was almost there when he stopped the car abruptly. He climbed off the car and immediately shivered at the cold air. He ran to the form on the side of the road. The form of his love lying on the ground.

" Oh my gosh Josh…are you okay? Oh my god…" Lance sobbed at the sight.

JC's eyes were closed, his breathing was slow and Lance could easily see the beginning of bruises on the older man's arms.

" Lance…" JC said weakly, slowly awakening. When he opened his eyes he jumped back and pushed his blond friend away. " Don't stay here. Leave me alone. You can't stay here."
" Like hell I'm gonna leave you. You're coming back with me." Lance said firmly, not leaving any place for an argument.

He helped JC up and brought him to the car. Gently, he put his hurt friend in the passenger seat and carefully bucked the security belt. When Lance was sure everything was safe, he took his place in the driver seat and started driving away.
" What happened?" Lance asked after a few minutes, not able to take the silence. His eyes didn't leave the road.
" Take me back there Lance." JC pleaded weakly " If you care for your life, you have to take me back there."
" What are you talking about?" Lance glanced at his friend and regretfully saw him sleeping. He knew he wouldn't get an answer.

The young man woke up the older man once they were arrived to the hotel. Even awake, JC didn't talk and didn't make any sound. He was lost in his thoughts, trying to find a way to go back, for Lance's sake. He knew they would try something on him when they'd find out he wasn't there anymore.

Inside, the worried faces of their friends pacing in front of the elevator welcomed them.

" Where were you? You should have told us you were leaving. We were worried." Justin angrily asked, his face showing his anger. His expression softened when he realised JC was with holding on Lance. " What happened to him?"

Lance shrugged and continued to walk toward his room, now with the help of Chris, Joey and Justin. Soon enough JC was on the bed, sleeping soundly under the eyes of his four friends.

" We'll talk tomorrow okay? All I want is go to bed and watch Josh, be sure he's fine." Lance said looking tiredly at his friends.
" All right Scoop." Chris replied quietly pushing Justin and Joey out of the room, leaving the two lovers alone.

Lance sat on the bed and ran his hand through the brunet's hair. He sighed deeply and found a comfortable spot beside the older man. He kissed the back of JC's neck and threw the blankets over them.

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