Part 1

Revelation


“Hey guys?” Justin Timberlake said as he waltzed into his group mate Joey Fatone’s room. He let the door slam behind him as he walked in and sat down on the large brown leather sofa beside Lance Bass.

“Yeah, Jus. What do ya need,” Joey responded.

“Have any of you seen JC?”

“No man. I haven’t seen him since the show.”

“Jus, did you lose your bitch already,” Chris added.

“Shut the fuck up Chris. Man you can be such an asshole. What is your problem anyway? Jealous?”

“What ever Justin. Ego much?”

“Anyway, I was just wondering cuz it’s our last show for this tour and I thought we could all go out and celebrate.

“That’s a great idea. Did you run it by Lou, yet?” Lance asked. “You know if we do go he’ll have us take security, too.”

“So then why are you looking for JC then,” Joey said. “You know he’ll just say no. Then mope around here and complain cuz nobody wants him to go out.”

“Joey that’s not fair. He loves his music.”

“Infant, don’t try and make excuses for him. He doesn’t like to hang out with us. That’s fine but we’re not gonna bend over backwards just to make him feel better,” Chris replied. “I think we should just go without even bothering asking him.”

“No way, Chris. That’s just wrong,” Lance said looking just long enough away from the papers in front of him.

“Whatever,” Justin said and then continued, “it just seems like every time I want him to go out with us, he disappears. And every now and then it’s like hours at a time.”

“I guess we really never noticed cuz we’re out partying and he always stays in. So, I guess for me I don’t really miss him,” Joey concluded.

“What a horrible thing to say Joey?” Justin looked away, “I can’t believe you just said that?”

“Justin, your not his mother,” Lance’s deep voice replied.

“What?” Justin asked.

“I said you’re not his mother. If JC doesn’t want to go out or even spend time with us then that’s his prerogative. We can’t change that.”

“Lance is right, Jup. If JC really wanted to hang out with us then his music wouldn’t come first. We would,” Joey added.

“Nor are you his boyfriend. Or are you?” Chris said with a sly smile. Everyone in the room knew that Justin had some romantic feelings for JC but none knew to what extent. “Is there something you need to tell us Justin?” Chris asked.

“Shut up!” Justin screamed. “JC and I aren’t together we’re just kinda close. Well, as near as JC will let anyone get to him. It’s just really weird ya know. When we first met we like hit it off. We were like inseparable and then the tour began in Germany and he hasn’t been the same since.”

“Yeah, that first night after our debut concert,” Lance added. “But just because you feel that someone needs to take care of him, doesn’t mean it has to be you. We all could help.”

“Yeah, I know, but I feel like no one else seems to care; and I really like him.” Justin looked over at Chris and said, “as a person and friend, Chris so get your head outta the gutter.” Justin continued, “He needs someone. He’s like the loner and he doesn’t have to be. It’s like he thinks we don’t like him or something. Even when he does spend time with us he seems withdrawn and uncomfortable like he thinks he doesn’t belong there. ”

“Justin, JC is a loner cuz he chooses to be a loner,” Joey added. “He doesn’t even have the balls to come and tell us if he’s gonna go out with us or not. Instead he sends that fat bastard Lou to do it. What’s that all about? I mean you’d think after someone beats the shit out of you, you’d try to avoid them not use them as your escape goat.”

“That’s really odd if you ask me,” Lance said. “And I’ve been thinking about that situation for a long time now. Why indeed would you want to be near someone who hurt you and did so thoroughly?”

“I think he’s gay,” Chris simply stated. “So he hides out in the closet so that no one will figure him out and he doesn’t want to be tempted by the four of us,” Chris laughed. He seemed to be the only one who found his comment funny. “What?” Chris looked around the room, “you’ve got to be kidding me. It was a joke.”

“I don’t find you funny at all,” Justin said. “I don’t think JC is gay or bi for that matter.”

“Oh, for fucks sake Justin, get a fucking clue. He’s got flamer written all over him. No one can look that fucking pretty and not be at least bisexual.” Chris looked at Justin pointedly and said, “Besides in the beginning you two were all over each other and still are just not as much. You two are always touching and whispering to each other. How can you not see the way he looks at you? It’s almost disgusting if you ask me, and I for one don’t need some queer hanging around me, it would total ruin my vibe.”

“Are you a homophobe, Chris?” Justin asked with concern.

“No. Look, I like JC. I just don’t like how he acts around us. I guess I’m just lashing out because he doesn’t seem to want to spend quality time with us.”

“Okay, I think I can except that; but come on guys don't you see how he’s slowly withdrawn from us; from me. I just want him to feel apart of the group again. So give me a break. JC needs physical affection. He needs to be touched. I’m willing to give him that cuz I think he equates that with belonging, ya know.”

“Yeah,” Lance said. “I think we should ask him personally.” Lance continued to work on his laptop when an idea struck. He vaguely heard Justin’s next comment.

Justin added, “He can’t possible hate us that much that he wouldn’t consider going out with us tonight. I mean it is one of our last chances.”

Lance suddenly looked away from his laptop and stared at Justin as if he was going to add to Justin’s statement, but then went back to his typing. Justin noticed the sudden change in Lance and drew attention to it. “Lance? Were you gonna say something? Why did you look at me like that?”

“Well… I was going to ask you a question?”

“What?”

“Well, Joey brought up earlier how Lou always comes down to tell us JC’s excuse as to why he wouldn’t be joining us to go clubbing.”

“Yeah, I said that,” Joey replied.

“I was just thinking that we never questioned JC about it. Never. We always took Lou’s word for it. Like Lou’s word meant everything. We believed him and determined that JC doesn’t like to hang out with us, but what if that wasn’t the case. I mean we never asked JC.”

“Okay, Lance I’m not following you,” Justin was confused. He thought for a minute to try and sort out what Lance had just said. “So what you’re suggesting is that Lou lied to us. That JC really would’ve gone with us clubbing if we asked him personally. You think that Lou never told JC that we were going out.”

“In a nutshell, yes.”

Justin paused again. “What do you two think about this?”

“So you think Lou lied about JC not wanting to go with us Lance, that JC never knew we were going. Well, then what about the times we asked him to go with us personally?” Joey said.

“Yeah, Joey. I think I can count them on one hand because after the first month or so we stopped asking,” Lance answered.

“That’s right,” Joey said. “We just figured he’d find an excuse not to go, so we stopped asking him.”

“Justin, we never asked JC about any of the times he couldn’t go. We just thought he was making excuses and staying in his room to write or whatever. But think of it this way Justin, what if JC never knew we were going out, or what if Lou didn’t want JC to go out with us.”

“So you’re saying that Lou wouldn’t let him go with us. Why wouldn’t Lou let JC do anything with us? What could he possibly get from that?”

“I’m saying, what if JC had no choice?”

“What if… I think you guys are reading to much into this,” Chris said. He walked over to Lance and put his hand on his shoulder. “I mean it’s all good. I think JC just likes to be by himself. There’s really nothing we can do about it.”

“Stop being so negative. Besides Chris don’t you remember the first time we tried to seek out on Lou? He wouldn’t let JC go with us; he said he needed to work on his part.”

“Yeah, but we put an end to that the next day.”

“Did we? Then how come every time JC disappears; Lou has too?”

“What did you say?” Chris said suddenly serious.

“Lou is always missing when JC is.”

“Holy shit,” Chris whispered. His palms began to sweat as he nervously paced the room. No, this can’t be happening, tell me it isn’t so. I should’ve checked up on him, I should’ve asked him. Instead of hiding my suspicions I should’ve acted on them. Please, god, he ran his fingers through his hair, let him be all right.

“Chris, are you okay?” Joey asked.

Chris stopped suddenly and addressed the rest of the group, “Guys we have to find JC.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to say,” Justin said.

“No, Jup. I’m serious. We’ve got to find him and fast.”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Chris walked over to the youngest member of the group and rested his trembling hands on the youth’s shoulders. He looked into his eyes and said, “Justin, you remember that first night that Lou made JC stay in, don’t you?”

“Geez, Chris that was a long time ago.”

“Yeah, but you do remember it right?”

“Yeah, we were in Germany, I was so pissed at that fat fucker. That was the night Lou told JC that he could be replaced. That he was good for nothing.”

“And…”

“He wouldn’t let JC go with us. Lou said he needed to stop riding on our coat tails, to carry his own weight.”

“That’s right.”

“Shit, that was the night that Lou nearly broke JC’s nose when he threw JC into the wall right in fucking front of us. Lou was so mean to JC. JC was so scared.”

“Yes he was.”

Justin’s eyes became wide when he remembered the rest of the night. How he had found JC in their room.

“Do you remember the one word I used to describe JC when you wanted to leave the club that night only after an hour to head back to the hotel. You were so worried about JC because you didn’t trust Lou there with JC alone. You called Lou a monster… a monster. So we went back as fast as we could.” Chris shook Justin’s shoulders to force the young blonde’s attention. “Do you remember how I described JC, the one word I used.”

“Yeah, you said he was… vulnerable.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, shit. Lou wouldn’t try shit with JC again. Would he? Not after that night. We made it clear that he wasn’t to touch him anymore. Lou told us he wouldn’t, promised he wouldn’t.” Justin began to panic. “What if he hurt JC again? He hurt him that night. He hurt him cuz he wouldn’t do his part correctly.”

“Vulnerable, Justin, vulnerable.”

“Oh, god. We’ve got to find him Chris. He could be hurting him right now. We’ve got to do something. We need to find him.”

Chris moved Justin in for a hug and as he rubbed his hand down the youngest member’s back. He thought about the real reason Lou had told JC he couldn’t go out with them. He remembered that night all to clearly, the choice he made. Chris only hoped that they would find JC in time to stop whatever Lou had planned, and Chris knew exactly what that was. A wave of guilt cascaded through his body and he shivered. He only hoped that Lou hadn’t been hurting JC since that night. God, please let him be all right, Chris silently prayed.

“Let’s go,” Joey said. “I swear to God if that mother fucker has hurt JC again I’ll personally make his life a living hell.”

“Lance. Joey. Go find Lonnie, Tiny and the rest of the security team we may need them,” Chris instructed. Lance quickly got up from his chair as Joey vacated the sofa and they both went to the door. As he opened it to leave he looked over his shoulder toward Chris as Chris held onto a now sobbing Justin. Lance silently made a vow, that no matter what Lou would pay. Lance had the connections and he would use every one of them to fry the fucker. Lance stared for a few more seconds before making his leave. I promise Justin. We’ll get our revenge. The door clicked shut as the bass singer and tenor left the room.

Justin was glad for the comfort Chris was giving to him. So he leaned closer to him. He felt secure there and remembered how he felt when JC embraced him. The two feelings were completely different but each was equally gratifying. He finally spoke, “What are we gonna do, Chris?”

Chris whispered in to Justin’s ear, “We’ll find him and we’ll get him away from Lou. Cuz you know wherever we find JC we’ll find our manager.”

“How could we let this happen, Chris?”

“We’ll make it right, Justin. I promise.”

***

Lance and Joey quickly found Lonnie and Lance briefly explained the situation to him.

“Okay, so let me get this straight. You want a shake down of the entire hotel because you can’t find JC. Why don’t you guys just calm down a little bit and tell me everything. Then maybe we can get something done,” the bodyguard said.

“Look, Lonnie we really don’t have time for this shit. We don’t need to explain everything to you just except what we’ve told you and do your fucking job,” Joey shouted. “There shouldn’t be any hesitation it your actions. We told you JC is missing and it’s your fucking job to find him. Now do it.”

“Easy there kid.”

“Lonnie call the rest of the security team,” Lance said calmly, “especially whoever is suppose to be watching JC.”

“All right. Let me get Wes on the phone.”

The three stood in the hallway waiting for Wes to pick up his cell. It only took a few rings and Lonnie heard the voice of JC’s bodyguard.

“Hello.”

“Yeah, Wes. This is Lonnie.”

“What can I do for ya?”

“Well, I’ve got two of the kids here. Their saying JC’s gone missing. Where is he?”

“Oh. Well, he isn’t missing. He’s with Lou.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he said for me to take a walk cuz JC needed to work on something with him. Sos I was like okay.”

“Shit.” Lonnie looked at the worried faces of Lance and Joey. He didn’t want to tell them that JC was with Lou. Especially after what Lance had told him about the night in Germany.

“Well? Lonnie what is it?”

“Wes, do you know where they went.”

“No. I started to follow them but Lou got pissed and pretty much threaten me with my job security.”

“Wes. Get up here as soon as yesterday. We’ve got a problem.”

“All right boss, I’ll be right up.”

Lonnie hung up and took a deep breath. “Lou has him.”

“What?” Joey yelled. “Where the hell was Wes?”

“He said that Lou threatened him, so he backed off.”

“Damn it,” Lance said. Lance grabbed Joey’s shirt and spun him around to face him. “We’ve got to find him and fast, Joey.”

“I know. We will.”

Lance turned to face Lonnie, “I want every room in this hotel checked and I want it done now.”

“But…”

“Don’t question me, just do it.”

“All right boss, I’ll see to it.” Lonnie leaned into Lance and whispered, “We’ll find him, I promise.”

Lance shook his head to acknowledge that he understood and then grabbed Lonnie’s forearm and sneered, “you’d better.” Lonnie left the two singers in the middle of the hallway as he went to gather his team. Once Lonnie was out of sight Lance fell to the floor and finally let out all of his emotions. He began to cry. Instantly, Joey was at his side and holding him. Joey didn’t speak. He just held on to Lance giving him the silent support that his young friend needed.

***

Chris and Justin had just completed their search of the floor they were staying and were exiting Lou’s room when a red eyed Lance and Joey came into view.

“What’s wrong, Lance?” Justin said as he rushed to Lance’s side.

Joey answered, “We found Lonnie and briefly explained the situation. He called Wes.” Joey paused to gather himself, “Wes said that Lou has him and that he doesn’t know where because when he started to follow Lou got pissed and threatened him.”

“What?” Chris yelled, “He should be more worried about us firing him than Lou.”

“Chris, in Wes’s defense. He doesn’t know what’s going on,” Lance said.

“So now what?” Joey asked.

“We wait.” Chris answered.

They all piled into Chris, Joey and Lance’s room and waited for Lonnie.

Two hours later Chris had a lap full of a sleeping Justin, when Lonnie called Lance’s cell.

“Hello, Lonnie…we’re in Chris’s room.” Lance hung up his phone and looked over to Chris and shook his head, no. Chris could feel the first of his tears travel down his cheek. Seconds later, Lonnie entered the room. Chris woke Justin.

“No luck. We searched everywhere. We found nothing.”

Justin looked at Lonnie and the big black man could see the tears the young pop star was shedding. It hurt the bodyguard to see his charge like that. Justin quietly spoke, “Did you check the basement.”

“No?”

“Why not? That should’ve been like the first place to look and you fucking call yourselfs security.”

“Calm down Justin.”

“Calm down! JC’s out there somewhere with that fat son of a bitch and you don’t even look in the most obvious place for them to be hiding him, and you want me to calm down.”

“Look Justin. Management said that the only thing down there was the laundry room. Nothing else.” Lonnie noticed the room stir as the four remaining group members rushed out of the room. “Shit, guys wait up.”

***

I deserve this. I deserve this. JC kept repeating to himself. His body was numb from the pain that had scorched its way through it. He barely registered the thrashing his back and shoulders were receiving while the man pounded into him. He was scarcely holding onto consciousness when one of his assailants pressed a smelling salt into his nose. It burned his nostrils and succeeded in keeping him awake. He felt the man who was behind him pull out and ejaculate over his back, just like the rest of them had done. He counted six. Six times he was violated and his body wanted to quit. When the last of the moans of the sixth man ended, JC thought his torture was over. He was wrong. The man who started the whole thing evidently decided he wanted another shot at him and violently forced himself inside of JC. The tightness around his neck that he felt before intensified with each thrust of the man. His eyes began to water when his rapist began to change his pace and rock harder and harder into him, like he couldn’t get enough of JC’s body. The man had never been this rough with him, before. JC knew he couldn’t take much more of this, but he deserved it.

I deserve this, his mind kept telling him. No one cares that this is happening to you. If they did they’ve stopped it by now. Then he heard them, voices. Until now only the grunts and groans of the rapists could be heard, but now he heard other voices. They were getting closer. They were coming for him, to save him. He wasn’t sure if he wanted them to.

***

“In here. They’ve got to be in here.”

“Lance, help Joey with the door,” Chris offered.

Joey and Lance finally forced the blocked door open and the four of them rushed in, followed closely by their security team. When their momentum stopped they looked at their surroundings. The view they witnessed was a scene that would be etched in their minds for years to come. In the middle of the sunless room was a small square table. On top of the table tied down stomach flush against it was JC.

It seemed like time froze while Justin took in the sight before him. His best friend’s had each arm draped over the sides of the table. Justin’s gazed traveled down one of those arms until it came into contact with the brunette’s wrist. It was securely stabilized to the leg of the table with a length of thick rope. The young blonde could easily make out the difference in color of the rope. Where the rope had made contact with the bloodied and bruised wrist it was a much darker hue. Justin figured JC’s wrists and hands were bloody due to the friction caused by the harsh short movements against the bindings. Justin followed the path of the blood as it trailed down JC’s thin wrist and intertwined itself among the slender fingers. The blood then dripped from the fingers onto the floor. Justin looked away quickly and squeezed his eyes shut.

He didn’t want to look anymore, but he’s mind told him too. He needed to determine if his friend was all right. He took a step closer and opened his eyes again; this time noticing JC’s thighs, knees and ankles. All three areas were bound to the table with the same type of rope that was around his wrist. Again he saw the same discoloration patterns on the rope as he did before. The way in which JC was tied forced his legs open and spread apart. A piece of rope was also lassoed around JC’s neck. It was secured to the table legs that were positioned under his beat-up hips so that whenever his body was pushed forward it would constrict around his neck.

The rest of his body wasn’t spared from the assault as Justin took in the welts and bruises that covered the majority of JC’s back and shoulders. JC had been battered and beaten and appeared to be having difficulty breathing caused by the rope around his neck. All Justin could hear were small grunts and groans coming from the partly opened bloodied mouth. JC’s head was turned in their direction giving the new arrivals full view of the damage done to his face. The left eye was swollen closed and swirling around it were hues of black, blue and yellow. The other eye was sealed on its own. Above the closed eye was a deep gash that was pouring blood down his bruised cheek and into the uninjured eye. He looked to be unconscious as he lay there.

The worst part, however, dealt with the other occupants within the small dingy room. The others stood around JC, naked and armed with a switch striking the horizontal form. Small mewls were made with each contact. However, one of the six was busy doing something else more horrifying. A man was positioned between the prone thighs pressed tightly against the brunette’s buttocks. He was moving back and forth pounding into JC forcing the rope around the young singer’s neck to tighten. It appeared the small group had interrupted a gang rape of one of their brothers and best friend.

Justin came back to reality and turned his head quickly and whispered “Holy Shit.” He closed his eyes and placed his hand over his gaping mouth. The image of his friend the man he loved fastened to the table and being raped was an image his mind would never let him forget. “Dear God. NO!” he screamed and threw up behind a shell shocked Chris. The assailants turned their heads toward the front door of the small room upon hearing Justin’s scream.

“What the holy fuck?” Lonnie boomed pushing his way further into the room brushing past the pale young blonde. “What the hell are you mother fuckers doing? Get the fuck off of him.”

The naked men took in the group that had entered, seemingly sizing them up. The men looked toward the person who was currently enjoying JC’s body for a sign as to what they should do. The man continued his assault on JC, nodded his head and grunted between thrusts, “What are you waiting for? Get them.” The other five turned on the young group and their bodyguards charging towards them with their switches in their hands. Lonnie, Will, Tiny, Carl and Wes grabbed the men as they approached defending their unarmed charges. The scuffle lasted forever in Justin’s mind, but lasted only mere minutes as the naked men fell in a heap as the bodyguards made quick work of the assailants.

When Justin regained his composure he glanced back in JC’s direction. The man who was still using JC was seemingly oblivious to what had gone on around him. Justin quickly ran to his friend and grabbed the man’s shoulder and turning the assailant to face him. Justin’s faced paled noticeably when he recognized who was raping JC right in front of him. “Lou,” he whispered. Then aggressively removed Lou from inside JC and violently threw him onto the floor. “What the fuck, Lou? I’m gonna kill you. I’m gonna kill you! I’m gonna fuckin bleed you dry.” Justin’s face was now a deep red, red with anger. “What the fuck do you think you are doing? How could you?” He looked over at the table and then toward Lou. “I told you to leave him alone a long time ago. Now I swear to God you will pay.” Justin lunged at Lou intending to inflict bodily harm, but was grabbed around the waist and pulled back close to somebody’s chest.

“Justin, hang on. Let us handle this. Please, kid. We don’t need your hands getting dirty in this. That’s what we’re here for.” The words whispered by Wes into Justin’s ear did little to calm him down. He continued to struggle in the big man’s arms. “Justin calm down.”

“How could he do that to him? My God, Wes, what did they do to him?”

“Let us deal with this. Why don’t you see to JC, J?” Wes released his hold on Justin when he determined that Lonnie and Carl had secured Lou. This was something Wes didn’t want to miss. He was JC’s bodyguard and his charge was pulled right out from under him. No, he wasn’t going to miss his revenge. He heard Justin answer him finally and headed for the door.

“Yes,” Justin had said numbly. “JC.” He walked over to the table and collapsed beside it. Staring at the once flawless face and becoming transfixed by the moans coming from its lips. Upon hearing a voice, Justin was released from JC’s hold and looked up. The blonde pop star surveyed the room in order to establish were the voice was coming from. He quickly found what he was looking for. It was Lance. He was on his cell phone.

Justin could only register part of Lance’s conversation.

“Yeah, I think he’s hurt pretty bad …raped…yes…no…just him… okay… at the Hyatt Regency in the basement…don’t move him? Okay.” What? Justin thought, I am not gonna leave him like that. He doesn’t deserve any more humiliation. “Okay…bye.” Lance looked over at Justin next to JC. “Justin, don’t move him.”

“What?” Justin said. “That doesn’t make any sense.” He turned to his friend and reached for the rope that was around his neck.

“Justin. Don’t!!” Lance screamed.

Justin felt warm hands engulf his wrists and he looked over his shoulder. Joey was behind him holding his wrists away from JC. “Baby J? We need to leave him. We don’t know if he’s got any other injuries that we can’t see. It may make it worse for him.” Joey let go of Justin’s wrists when he felt the strain leave his youngest friends body. He knelt down beside Justin.

“Joey? Why?” Justin looked away from JC and turned his gaze toward the door.

“I don’t know Justin. But it’s finished. The only thing we can do for him now is be there for him when he needs us.” Joey reached toward JC placing his free hand on his still friend’s wet hair. When he made contact he felt JC shudder. “I think he’s awake.” Unshed tears finally escaped from Joey’s eyes when he realized that JC was spared nothing.

Then as if to confirm Joey’s prediction a small breathy voice was heard. “Help, me.”

Joey looked down at the prone body and leaned in and whispered. “JC, baby. We can’t move you. We’ve got to leave you as you are.” Joey choked back the sob that was precariously hanging in the back of his throat, but was unable to hold it when JC responded.

“Please,” he whispered. “It hurts.”

Joey placed his other hand in the youngest member’s curls. “Curly, I don’t think they will noticed if we loosen the ropes. Do you?” Justin appeared not to register the words Joey had spoken. “Justin. Did you hear me?”

“What?” he softly answered.

Joey pulled Justin into his embrace rocking him slowly comforting him. When he felt that he finally had Justin’s attention he repeated his statement. “I don’t think they’ll notice if we loosen the ropes. What do you think?”

“Joey? Will it hurt him? Will it hurt him more if we do that? Cuz, cuz, I don’t want to hurt him anymore.” Justin reached a shaky hand toward JC’s head and gently laid it in his sweat-laden hair. He closed his eyes and began drawing his hands through his friend’s hair. “I can’t hurt him, Joey.” He continued barely audible, “I… I couldn’t bear hurting him. I… I love him.”

“I know, Justin.” Joey pulled Justin closer. “I know.”

Justin continued to gently run his fingers through JC’s hair and was rewarded for his actions. JC slowly opened his eye. “Josh?”

It was difficult for JC to focus on anything in the room, however, Justin was like a beacon of light and he was drawn to it. The pain became less noticeable when JC realized that Justin was there for him; to help him; to save him. “Jus…. t…in. Mmmm, r…o…pes.”

Justin’s heartbeat increased when he heard his name spoken. He removed his hand from its pervious endeavor and placed it on the table near JC’s face. He leaned down and whispered into JC’s ear. “Josh, baby. We can’t take them off.” He sobbed. “But we’re gonna loosen them for you. How does that sound baby?”

JC gave a slow nod signaling Joey and Justin he was ready and closed his eye once more. The two men began loosen the ropes that were cruelly biting into JC’s flesh. As Justin was working on JC’s right wrist he heard Chris yell, “Hey, what the fuck are you doing?”

“We’re just untying them a little bit. Sos they don’t hurt him so much.” Joey answered.

“Didn’t you fuckers hear what Lance said?” Chris’ eyes were filled with fury, “We can’t move him, you idiots. You might make it worse.”

Justin bit his lower lip as Chris continued to yell at the two boys. “We’re just trying to help,” he said softly. Tears slowly began falling once again down the young blonde’s cheeks.

“Help! Help! That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. What the hell can you two do to help him? Just let him lie there.” Chris demanded.

“Fuck you.” Justin screamed. “Just fuck you Chris.” Justin looked down at the wrist and the rope he was untying, his tears splashed against them. JC felt the cool contrast on his skin and again opened his eye.

“Don’t… cry. Baby J.” JC stuttered.

Justin looked up when he heard his nickname. “Josh. Don’t leave me.”

Josh lifted his unleashed hand to Justin’s face and painstakingly wiped at a tear. Justin gently grabbed the offered hand and placed it on his cheek leaning into it. “Please, don’t leave me.”

“I… won’t.” The amount of effort it took for JC to continue lifting his hand and speaking were becoming too much for the drained body. But he had heard the words Justin had spoken to Joey. He had to let Justin know that he felt the same way. That he would never leave Justin and when Justin spoke those three words it had given JC a reason for hold on. A reason for coming back to the cruel world he has lived in for so long. JC then decided he would give Justin hope and spoke the words he has been longing to say, “I… love…you…too.” He again closed his eye satisfied with what he revealed. He then began whispering to himself the promise he made to Justin; I won’t leave you Baby J as unconsciousness finally overtook him.



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