Part 9

Revealed


The young brunette boy landed ungracefully onto the hotel bed and quickly rolled onto his side shielding his face fleetingly. He clawed desperately at the bed coverings trying to get away from his manager but to no avail. The bigger man roughly grabbed the struggling brunette’s naked hips and forced him on his stomach. The manager than pulled the blue eyed boy’s hips toward him, successfully lifting them from the mattress. The heavy set man licked his lips in anticipation of ravaging the singer's body.

“How many fucking times do I gotta tell you?” the man said as he brought a fist down into the middle of the struggling boy’s back. The brunette did not answer him. “How many fucking times, JC?” again his fist rained down. “You deserve this, so stop fighting it.” JC’s back arched away from the blow, pushing his hips up and back toward Lou. The boy suffered the feel of the overbearing man line his hard cock with his anus. When he felt the manager move forward he bit his bottom lip bloody stifling a scream and moaned softly as his manger roughly entered him, slightly tearing his aperture. The young singer’s eyes widened and then pinched closed at the pain radiating throughout his body, yet he did not scream. His long slender fingers clutched the white cotton sheets bracing his self for the coming torture.

The large man leaned over JC’s bruised back and forced the singer’s face into the pillow. The manager gripped a hip unmercifully and pounded into the brunette’s beaten body, groping the boy’s unwanted hard on and sneering words of hate into his ear. The smaller willowy built boy found himself at his manager’s mercy once again and could do nothing about it. His once expression filled eyes flooded with tears and his mouth opened wide in agony as his assailant increased the force of his cruel thrusts. He turned his face into the pillow muffling any grunts or moans of pain.

JC couldn’t remember how many times his manager has struck him, or how many times he has told him how worthless he is; how much he deserved this insufferable treatment. He couldn’t remember how many tears he has cried or how many times he had wished Justin or anyone would come and rescue him from his tormentor. The brunette couldn’t count the times this unspeakable act had been done to him, or even remember why. What he did know, however, was to stop fighting the inevitable anymore, the beatings would be worse if he did. The young brunette just let it happen, with little resistance. He had too.

Sadly, JC came to the conclusion that Lou was right. Even though he went through this torture, nobody noticed. Nobody cared. Nobody cared that some days he couldn’t complete a dance move without pain when working on routines or during a concert. Nobody cared that he couldn’t sleep at night without the fear of Lou visiting him, beating him. Nobody cared that Lou raped him nearly every single week.

He had thought they did, once, at least Justin. The first time Lou tried something with him Justin had been looking for him, checking on him. JC had heard his voice, heard his salvation. When Justin walked into their shared hotel room the curly blond did notice the bruises and pain. He instantly comforted the battered brunette promising him that Lou would never touch him again. Justin confronted Lou the next day; hit him even, but only that one time. Why only the one time? Why did Justin break his promise?

JC tightened his eyelids, trickles of saline ran down his nose and unto the material beneath him, and bit into the pillow when his manager became erratic in his movements. He nearly retched when he felt his tormentor thankfully withdraw and splash his sticky liquid on his battered body, shoving him away. JC immediately curled his slender form into the fetal position and waited for Lou's departure. His body shuddered and screamed for relief, but he wouldn’t do so until his manager left. He cried softly into the plush pillow when Lou finally vacated the room and shamefully climaxed onto the cotton sheets. JC squeezed his eyes closed, mouthing the now tear soaked pillow. Nobody cared, he thought. If nobody cared then why should he?

**

JC gasped and slowly fluttered his long matted lashes, tears spilling from their corners. A nightmare, he thought while struggling against the prevailing sedative. The young man finally conquered the drug and opened his bloodshot eyes, moaning faintly as the muted light of his hospital suite assailed his vision. His sweat covered body rested uncomfortably upon the unyielding hospital bed and his dampened head on a flat pillow. He blinked his eyes a few times hoping the action would alleviate the tears and the pain stemming from the light above. When he determined the simple action of blinking wasn’t going to rid him of either he became discouraged.

The drugged man tried moving his arm over his head to protect his inflicted eyes, but the arm wouldn’t respond. He nearly screamed out in frustration at his lack of ability, his weaken state. Then he remembered, eyes widening upon the realization, that he could easily avoid the rays from the artificial light by simply turning his head. At that moment, JC became aware of the lack of wiring on the side of his face and took a deep breath and turned his head. The absences of the hindering item meant the injury was healing properly and it would only be a matter of time before he would be out of the hospital.

The brunette shuddered at the thought. Although he wanted nothing more than to leave the hospital, it would mean he would lose the security of it as well. JC wasn’t sure he could give that up, wasn’t sure he wanted the healing process to continue. He knew that when he healed, he would be back in the clutches of Lou and his cruel friends. A fresh tear developed in the corner of his uninjured eye near the bridge of his nose and settled there. The exhausted man blinked the one eye profusely, coaxing the tear from its position and forcing it out. He didn’t want to become Lou’s victim anymore; all he wanted was to be safe.

JC heard a soft unsettling noise emanate from his right and his body immediately tensed. His door had been opened. Someone had entered the room; someone was there with him. The young singer’s throat tightened and his breathing became strained. His heart raced with horrific anticipation of the approaching noise. Maybe he wasn’t as safe as he had first thought. Maybe Lou would be able to get him in here too. Please don’t let it be Lou, please God. The young brunette’s body began trembling and the noises from the machines blared loudly in his ears. The beeps of the heart monitor sounded more often, hurried, in cadence to the footsteps that were fast approaching. Sweat developed over the young man’s lip and hairline, running down his face and stinging the abrasions left there. He clutched his fists as best he could and arched his body against the unseen restraints of the pain easing drugs. JC tried desperately to calm down but he couldn’t. His body began convulsing, his soul aching. He was a sitting duck.

The person who entered the room stared wildly in the direction of JC, as the door effortlessly closed behind him. The individual watched JC become rigid and then tremble erratically. He observed the machines blinking lights, warning him of JC's quickening heart rate. Quickly, the person moved across the room seemingly in time with the briskness of the monitor. The intruder slowed down while nearing the terrified patient and approached more carefully. Upon reaching the bed, the unsuspected person placed a soothing hand on JC’s forearm and whispered, “It’s all right C, it just me. It’s Chris.”

JC’s body continued shaking, his head turned away. “P…please…please don’t… don’t touch me,” he managed to mumble with a quaking voice.

“Of…of course. Sorry.” Chris swiftly removed his hand from JC’s body and settled his self on the edge of the bed facing the tormented man. The older man barely recognized his friend’s voice. He reached forward and with the back of one finger gently wiped a straggling tear from the side of his friend’s battered but strangely beautiful face. His heart wrenched when JC cringed, pushing his face deeper into the pillow. “Hey… hey…” Chris cooed. “It’s all right. It’s okay…” his throat tightened, “I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He winced slightly when he realized that indeed he would be hurting the younger man, just not physically.

JC turned his head heavily toward Chris’s voice, still unable to judge his movements due to the drugs. His steel blues fixed on Chris’s auburn eyes as tears continued escaping. “I’m…I’m sorry,” he managed through thick and dry lips. The young brunette again looked away from Chris, throat aflame from speaking “I… I… thought you…you were…”

“Shhh… it’s okay…. Shhhh.” The older brunette continued stroking the side of JC’s face. “Were you sleeping?” JC shuddered. “I’m sorry if I woke you, sweetie. I didn’t mean to.” Chris ran his fingers through the younger brunette’s hair, “You need your sleep.”

The dazed man lulled his head and licked his lips. He sighed oppressively and stared at Chris, not knowing exactly what he should say. JC had only seen and talked to Justin since that night. He wasn't even aware that the rest of the group were at the hospital. “Chriss…”

“Are you thirsty,” Chris asked noticing the signs of parched speech. JC dipped his chin minutely and the older man got up off the bed. He entered the bathroom and picked up one of the glasses and filled it half full with luke-warm water. The older brunette carried it back and settled once more next to his newly awakened group member. He leaned down and moved his free hand under JC’s head, again barely stomaching JC’s reaction towards his touch. Chris tenderly lifted the younger man’s head up and placed the glass against parched lips. JC greedily accepted the offered water. "Hey, slow down there. Not so much, so fast, okay." While the young singer drank from the glass, Chris caressed his thumb under the still swollen eye. The older brunette’s thoughts raced through his mind, part of him wanted to feel bad for JC, while the other thought it was JC’s own damn fault he was laid up in the hospital. He shook his head, confused about how he should feel.

JC stopped drinking and looked up into his friend’s face. Chris’s eyes were fixed on him accusingly, and he became terrified at what the facial expression meant. The young brunette panicked. JC jerked himself free and away from the older man’s touch, knocking the glass of water out of Chris's hand and wrenching his pelvis. The younger man's hoarse voice rang through the air as he screamed of in pain.

“Stop JC. I’m not gonna hurt you, okay.” Chris lifted his hands above his head and stared at his friend. He calmly returned one hand onto the bed near his hip and the other he reached toward JC. The older singer carefully ran his hand up JC’s sheet covered arm and then up the side of the patient’s neck, cupping it. “I just want to talk to you, is that all right?” he said while stroking the back of JC’s neck. “Are you up to talking?” Chris didn’t hear the door open again; his attention was focused solely on calming JC down.

JC nodded his head curtly, eyes clenched.

“Okay, good. Is this…” he moved closer toward JC, “Is touching you still out of the question?”

The injured man turned his face away, ashamed of how he acted. He sniffed, calming his nerves. “It’s… it’s okay,” he whispered hoarsely.

“That’s good. That’s good.” Chris turned and maneuvered his body next to JC and laid down beside him; his chest level with JC’s oily sweat laden head. He slid one arm under JC’s head and gently moved the drowsy man closer. The older singer pressed the younger man’s face gently into his chest, carefully avoiding painful movements. They laid together in that position for awhile, affording JC the opportunity to relax and accept Chris’s touches. The older man unconsciously rubbed his hand up and down JC’s body, comforting his friend. “This okay.” He felt JC’s head move, nodding in agreement.

Chris observed a subtle movement in the room near the couch and tilted his head in its direction. He inhaled deeply when he recognized the mysterious guest. He shuddered within himself and pressed JC uncomfortably closer.

“So…” the other occupant of the room finally spoke. Chris felt JC’s body tense. “Is our little patient ready? Is he awake enough to tell him what he needs to know?”

“Johnny…. I don’t…”

“I really don’t care what you think right now Chris. We’ve all ready discussed what needs to be done. There is no room for cold feet. Now, I suggest that we get to it.” Johnny casually stood up and sauntered over in their direction as Chris unconsciously wrapped his arms tighter around JC’s shivering form.

“Whoo…who is it?” JC stammered meekly in a hushed voice, careful not to draw attention to his self.

“Johnny,” Chris answered into the top of JC’s head. When he gazed back at the approaching black man he noticed Johnny leaning against the bed. The older brunette swallowed hard, “Do we gotta do it now?” He didn’t want to tell JC, but they had in deed discussed doing just that. During their conversation, the two of them had decided that it would be Chris that should inform their group mate of the plan and convince JC to buy into.

However, Johnny never said anything about him being there when he did, and it made Chris even more nervous knowing that he was there. The group’s road manager had given him strict orders not to tell JC everything. Johnny wanted only bits and pieces of the idea laid out for JC, so he wouldn’t be able to react negatively, forcing the injured man’s hands. He closed his eyes tight thinking silently how he would accomplish this impossible feat. Chris’s heart, fighting against his mind, kept telling him to be honest and tell JC exactly what Johnny had in mind.

“Chris. We don’t have much time,” Johnny sneered.

“Fine… fine, but do you need to be here?”

“Yes, of course,” he smiled wickedly, “for moral support of course.”

“Of course,” Chris sneered back. “I’m not fucking stupid. I know why you’re here.”

“Well then if you know why I’m here, maybe you should get to it.”

“Why do you have to be an ass all the time, Johnny? Do you know how hard it’s gonna be for you to earn back their trust?” He brushed his cheek against JC's oily hair, "Justin will hate you for a very long time."

“They’ll come back when the money starts rolling in. Then the boys will see that removing JC before the press finds out what happened was the right thing to do.”

JC gently turned his head and looked at Chris with drooping pale blue eyes. Chris’s heart skipped as he stared back at his hurt friend. The older man carefully rubbed his hand up and down JC’s arm. “Chris…” JC murmured. “Wha…what’s going on?”

“JC,” Chris whimpered.

“Jesus Chris. Had I known this was gonna be a problem, I’d done it myself.”

“Do it yourself then?”

“We agreed that you’d tell him.”

JC slowly tilted his head sideways on Chris’s chest and stared at Johnny. He pinched his lips together seeking moisture before speaking and preparing his vocal cords. “Johnny?”

The black man flinched when he observed the pain and sadness in his singer’s eyes. He glanced away from JC’s gaze, fearing he wouldn’t be able to hold his guard against those anguished and tormented eyes. Instead, he concentrated on the hospital sheet covering the bed and the fraile boy's body. Johnny fidgeted with the material avoiding JC.

“JC…” Chris began, “we can’t stay here.” The older singer felt JC’s body go rigid. “You know that right.” He placed his hand under the younger man’s chin and gently coaxed it toward him. “You know that we can’t. That it’s too dangerous for us to stay here.”

JC stared at him, confused. He sporadically shook his head no, while deciphering Chris’s mumbled words. “I… don’t…”

Chris gripped him tighter, finishing JC’s sentence within his own, “You’ve gotta understand.” The older brunette leaned closer and whispered into JC’s ear. “You know that it’s not safe here.” He closed his eyes damning his self as he spoke his next words. “You know it’s not safe here for the others, for Justin.”

“But…but it is Chris…” JC replied softly, licking his lips. “Safe for…for me.”

“Stop thinking about yourself, JC,” Johnny nearly screamed.

“Johnny!”

JC flinched, closing his eyes and lulled his head away from Chris. “For me…” he mumbled throat burning with the effort.

Their one-sided conversation halted when Nurse Jennings entered the dimly lit room. “Excuse me gentlemen but it’s time for JC’s Lortab, Valium and Heparin injections. He won’t be able to speak with you much longer after he receives the medications.” She continued toward the bed and reached for the line she would administer the drugs into.

“Wait,” Johnny said. “How much time do we have before he goes under again?”

“They’re pretty heavy doses this time. I’d say five minutes max.”

“How long would he be sleeping?”

Nurse Jennings stared at Johnny for a brief second before eyeing the syringes. “The rest of the night for sure, but I don’t know how long into the next day.”

“That’s not good.”

“Excuse me.”

Johnny looked at Chris, his watch and then slowly turned toward Nurse Jennings. “We’ve got a group meeting in here at 7 and I want to give JC a heads up on what we’ll be discussing. I can’t have him doped up or unconscious. He needs to be fully awake.” He stared hard at the nurse, “So in other words, I don’t want you to give that to him until after 8:00.”

“What that’s crazy?” She reached for the IV line and began prepping it for the injection.

Johnny caught her wrist in his large hand and sneered, “I said not until after 8.”

“I don’t care what you said. He needs his medications now, not when you deem it necessary.” Nurse Jennings glanced over at JC and observed the pained expression on her patient’s face. Shaking her head she again addressed Johnny. “He needs them now, can’t you see he’s in pain?” She pulled her wrist from the large man’s hand, “I’m sorry if you’ve got a problem with that.”

“Listen here, if you want to continue caring for JC then you will do as I say. I don’t have time for a mouthy no-it-all nurse. If I say he isn’t getting the meds until after we’re finished, then he isn’t getting them. Is that understood?

“Hmmm, you can’t tell me to stop treatment.”

“Well, as his legal guardian I can. What do you say to that?”

“Evidently you don’t know as much as you think you do. If JC is capable of making his own decisions, and he is, then you cannot. The only time you can do so is if he is incapacitated or if he has signed legal documentation stating that he’s waived that right.”

“Guess what? He signed and so did his parents. So I guess you won’t be administering that now will you?”

“Sir, this man, this so called friend of yours, is in a great deal of pain.” She placed the syringe on the small metallic table near the side of the bed. “Refusing him treatment is only gonna make his pain worse, to nearly unbearable.” Nurse Jennings scowled at Johnny, “How can you call yourself his friend?”

“Right now, I’m his manager and guardian. I need to consider what’s best for the entire group not just one individual.”

“Johnny?” Chris finally spoke up. “He needs it.”

“Chris!”

“I’m serious, here. I’m not trying to get out of anything.” He placed a small kiss on JC’s perspiring forehead. “I can feel it.”

“I think we should hold off.” Johnny crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. “I think he should be awake when we have our meeting, otherwise we don’t need to have it.”

“Johnny,” Chris began in a sympathetic voice, “I don’t think that’s wise.” While the nurse and Johnny argued, Chris observed a change in his younger friend. JC moaned quietly into Chris’s ear and sweat beaded on the exposed pale skin just under fading rope burns. Chris watched as the injured brunette closed his eyes and worried his bottom lip, fighting against the pain rippling through him. “If you want to get him out of here by next Monday, than he’s gonna need rest and his meds.” The older singer felt JC shiver at the mention of removing him from the sanctuary of the hospital and comforted him as best he could. “Let him have some comfort Johnny. He’s had enough pain and suffering from Lou, let’s not add us to the list.” Again, JC’s form tensed and recoiled upon hearing Chris bring up Lou’s name. “It’s okay, JC,” he whispered.

“Fine. Give him the fucking meds.” He glared angrily at Chris, “he better know what’s going on before we pull him out of here, do you understand me, Chris.” The black man spun around and stormed out of the room.

“Don’t worry, Johnny,” Chris mumbled at his manager’s back. “He already knows.”

Nurse Jennings administered the injection and double checked JC’s charts for any other scheduled medications. “Thank you,” the nurse said to Chris as she placed an ice pack underneath the thin hospital sheet. “You’ve made a wise choice.”

Chris held JC while his medication soothed his pain and carried him into unconsciousness. He peered toward the nurse whom still milled around the room and whispered, “I made the only choice.” Chris gently rested JC back down onto his pillow and tucked the sleeping man in. He brushed his hand over the younger brunette’s forehead removing the stray strands of hair. Chris placed a hand on JC’s chest and carefully leaned down, resting his lips on the dampened forehead. “I’m sorry JC,” he started in a small voice, “I’m sorry I didn’t choose you.” He turned away from the sedated form and quickly left the room.

**

“Justin?” Dr. Thompson question while he finished casting the young boys wrist.

“Yes, Doc,” Justin peered at him through tousled curls.

The doctor reached for the last strip of plaster. “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” Justin replied shrugging his shoulders.

Dr. Thompson looked around the room eyeing Lance and Lonnie, “Can I ask you in private?”

“Umm…doc…I’d tell them anyway.”

The doctor smiled, “Of course you would.” He wrapped the final piece into place and stood up, removing his gloves. The older man scratched his head while figuring out how he would address his young patient. “Well, first of all, why did you hit the wall?”

The curly haired boy nonchalantly dipped his shoulders and looked away, ashamed. “I…I got upset.”

“Upset. Upset about what?”

“Look doctor, I really don’t think it’s any of your business why Justin hit the wall,” Lance interceded. “All you need to worry about is taking care of the injury.”

Dr. Thompson glared at Lance, “Really?”

“Really.”

“I tell you what young man,” the doctor scolded, pointing a finger at the elder blond. “Either you change your attitude right now or I’m not going with you guys.”

Justin’s head snapped up when he heard the doctor’s words. “You’re going with us,” Justin smiled his infectious smile. “That’s wonderful. I can’t believe you’d go with us.” He rubbed his hand up and down his thigh, wiping the clamminess from it. “That means JC will be taken care of. That makes me so happy. I… I can’t believe this.” Justin looked at Lance, “Why didn’t you tell me the doc was coming with us?”

“I didn’t think that it mattered. It’s not like we couldn’t find another.”

“Lance!” Justin exclaimed. “Knock it off.” He sighed, “I don’t want anyone else near JC.” The youngest member glared at his friend and snapped, “Nobody.”

“Justin,” the doctor began, “calm down. You know what happens when you get worked up.”

“Yeah, sorry doctor.” Justin stood up and walked toward Lance wrapping both arms around the startled boy, “Thank you, Lance. Thank you for everything you’ve done for JC and I. Don’t worry about the doctor,” he whispered, “he’ll be good for us.”

The stunned blond hugged Justin back just as fiercely, “Okay, Justin. Whatever you want, I’ll back whatever you want.”

Justin pulled away and smiled. He rubbed his good hand down Lance’s arm before turning around and addressing Dr. Thompson. “I was frustrated that Lonnie and I couldn’t find Johnny and Chris. I wanted to talk to them about how they were handling JC.” The blond clenched his good fist, “I was just so frustrated, so I hit the wall. I’m not normally a violent person, doctor. I just couldn’t help it.”

“Well, in your defense, this isn’t really a normal circumstance for you.” The old doctor moved across the room and opened a draw, removing a prescription tablet. “Besides, I don’t think you’re a violent person, Justin. I was just concerned is all.”

“Yeah… um… doctor do you think JC will be ready to leave the hospital Monday. I don’t understand why they want to move him out of here before he’s ready," the blond rambled. "I mean, I’m not doctor, but I know he won’t be ready, physically or mentally. They just ain’t being fair.”

“I don’t know for certain, Justin," the doctor inturrupted. "JC seems to be responding well to the medications and treatments we’ve set up for him. Only time will tell if he’ll be ready to move.” Dr. Thompson sat down on the stool again and wrote out Justin’s new prescription. His face lit up when he realized that he hadn’t informed his young patient about his friend. Forgetting momentarily his other questions the doctor remarked, “Hey, speaking of JC, I almost forgot… JC’s wiring and the removal was a success.”

Justin smiled, “Can we see him? I haven’t seen him in a while. Are we done here, cuz I want to go back upstairs and visit with him?” the blond said excitedly. “Can we?”

The doctor laughed, “Yes, of course you guys can go back. I need to check on him anyway, so why don’t we all go up there.” The older man stood up again, “I don’t know if he’ll be up or not, he’s was due for another dose of Lortab about twenty minutes ago and I needed to up the dosage.”

“Lance, did you here what the doctor said?” Justin nearly shouted ignoring the doctor’s last comment. “Let’s go.” He grabbed Lance’s hand and hauled him out the door followed quickly by Lonnie.

“Okay, okay,” Lance giggled loudly, “I’m right behind you.”

“Hey you two not so fast. We don’t need anymore of you getting hurt….”

Lonnie’s voice trailed off as Dr. Thompson folded the neglected piece of paper and lazily walked out of the room. He smiled to himself and looked down the hallway watching the two young men and their bodyguard amble their way to the private elevator, knowing now that he had made the right decision.

**

Joey left the hospital after conversing with Chris and Johnny. He knew he’d have his work cut out for him trying to convince Lance that the plan would benefit JC and not hurt him. The brunette had reservations about the idea his self, but knew in the long run it was for the best. Chris convinced him that they weren’t out to hurt JC but the opposite; it made sense to him. They needed to protect the group first before dealing directly with the issue. Now he had to tell Lance that and hopefully talk him into believing it.

The young tenor walked through the main hotel door and unknowingly walked into a hornet’s nest. Evidently word had been leaked out that the group switched hotels and a throng of reporters were in the lobby asking nearly everyone they came across, why.

“Hey, there’s one of them now.” The swarm of reporters surged toward the unprotected singer.

Joey ducked into one of the elevators before they could reach him and pressed a false number. When the elevator pinged the floor, he quickly got off and climbed the stairs the rest of the way. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, dialing Lance’s number. The lone member waited patiently for his friend to pick up. ‘Hi…’ “Lance you’ll never…” ‘Can’t answer the phone right now, but if you leave your name and number I’ll call you back’. “Shit, he at the fucking hospital. He can’t answer his phone.”

Joey reached their floor and opened the stairwell door. He entered the empty hallway and approached his room. The brunette reached into his pocked and pulled his room card out, placing it into the mechanism. When the light blinked green, Joey slowly pushed open the door.

“You fucker,” a voice behind him screamed and Joey found himself falling toward the carpeted floor.

“What the…”

“You all are gonna pay for this.” The assailant planted his Oxford covered foot into Joey’s side, knocking the wind from him.

Joey recognized the evil voice. “You mother fucker, I’m gonna kill you Lou.” The large brunette quickly rolled away and onto his feet, instantly ready to make his move. Joey charged the one time manager. “I’m gonna kill you.”

“Holy shit.” Lou screamed as he exited the room and running down the hall. He looked over his shoulder and watched as the Italian rammed into him, knocking them both through the door. “Arghh….”

Joey wrenched his fist back and slammed it forward glancing off of Lou’s large chin. “I fucking hate you.”

“Get the fuck off me.” Lou struggled and used his weight to throw Joey off of him. He regained his footing and grabbed the phone. “If you come near me, I’ll call the police and have you arrested.”

“I swear to God Lou, I’m gonna hurt you.”

“And I swear I’ll call the police or better yet, maybe I’ll have a little fun with Lance. What do you think about that?” Lou said as he rubbed his chin. “You’ll definitely pay for that one.”

“Why you…”

“Hey, what’s going on in here?”

“Tiny, where the hell were you?”

“I was in Chris’s room,” Tiny explained. Lou watched the two exchange statements as he set the phone down.

“Gee, I wonder how he’s doing. Chris that is.”

“Shut the fuck up, you fat mother fucker.” He turned toward the bodyguard, “Shouldn’t you be with Chris?”

“Our contract states that only three of us needs to be with the group.”

“Hmmm…” he interrupted. “I wonder who set up that clause.”

“Fuck your contract.” Joey ignored Lou’s comment and stormed out of the room with Tiny close behind. The brunette wasn’t so sure about Johnny’s plan anymore.

When the two entered Joey’s room the singer bent down and picked up his phone. He quickly found the hospital’s number and dialed, praying he wasn’t to late. When his phone call was directed to JC’s room, Joey finally breathed.

**

Justin raced into JC’s suite pulling Lance along with him. The blondes stopped moving when they noticed their friend’s marred frame lying completely naked on top of the hospital bedding. Justin skirted his eyes over JC’s body observing secretly its beauty. He recognized Nurse Jennings. She was sitting with a basin at the edge of the bed, washing JC’s pale feet. The younger blond dropped Lance’s hand and moved toward the bed, unaware of Lonnie and Dr. Thompson entering the room.

“Hi, Nurse Jennings,” he whispered.

“Hello, yourself.”

“Um…” he fidgeted.

The nurse whispered, “Do you want to do this?”

The young boy shyly looked away and shook his head. “Na…no.”

“Why not?” she asked, a puzzled expression heavy on her face.

Justin rocked nervously side-to-side and peered over his shoulder. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Nurse Jennings.

“To intimate with an audience.” She covered the newly washed feet and legs and watched as Justin nodded his head. “I understand. Maybe when there isn’t so many people, huh.”

“I’d like that,” he said in a soft voice.

“You know,” the older nurse leered, “You’d be kinda cute if you weren’t so obnoxious at times.”

Justin smirked, eyes never leaving JC, “Whatever.” He rested his body against the bed and watched the nurse carefully.

“Where’s other shorter brunette?”

“What?”

“Here was in here not more than thirty minutes ago, so was that rude black man.”

“Chris was here,” Justin exclaimed.

“Short, kind of freaking looking,” the nurse described.

“Yeah, sounds like him. What was he doing in here?”

“When I came in here to give JC his medications and ice, him and that manager of yours were in here talking with JC.”

“Did you hear any of the conversation?”

“You mean did I eavesdrop.” Justin looked away guiltily. “Of course,” the older woman smiled. “They were arguing about telling your friend something. I didn’t hear what it was, but the black guy was pushing Chris.”

“Lance,” Justin called. The other blond boy walked up to his side. “Chris was here.”

“Here?”

“Nurse Jennings said that they were arguing, but she couldn’t hear what, though.”

“They were probably debating on letting JC know what’s going on.”

“You think so…”

Nurse Jennings covered JC’s midsection and turned her head toward Dr. Thompson. “I was a little late with giving JC his dose of Lortab and Valium.”

“What? Why?”

“I ran into their manager. He didn’t want me to give him his painkillers or sedative. He mentioned something about having a meeting at 7 and I was to wait until 8 to give him his meds.”

“That’s ridiculous that’s nearly two hours passed our time table. How late were you?”

“Only about fifteen minutes. Chris talked him into allowing me to administer it.”

“Go Chris,” Lance muttered.

“I can’t believe Johnny was going to keep JC’s medicines from him so that he would be awake for this stupid meeting,” Justin snarled. “That guy is getting on my last nerve.”

“Well, just be thankful that your friend talked him into it,” Dr. Thompson answered. “Although, I doubt JC would’ve been to coherent during your meeting without them.”

As the doctor approached JC's bed the phone in the large suite rang. “I’ll get that,” Lonnie said as he picked up the receiver. “Hello.”

“Lonnie, its Joey.”

“Hey, kid. What’s up?”

“For starters, I had a run in with about a million reporters who some how figured out where we were staying. They’re, I guess, asking all kinds of questions. I think it’ll only be a matter of time before they figure out where JC is.”

“Shit, that’s not good.”

“No kidding. Then you’ve gotta throw in the fact that Lou attacked me as I tried entering my room.”

“Jesus.”

Justin turned his attention toward Lonnie. “What is it, Lonnie?” The large black man waved Justin’s question away. Then seeing the disappointed look trip across his young charge's face; he held up a finger.

“I swear…” the bodyguard stopped himself. “What are you up to now?”

“Tiny and I are heading there now for the stupid worthless meeting of Johnny’s. Is everyone all ready there?”

“No. The blondes are here and Dr. Thompson.”

“Is he supposed to be there?”

“I don’t see why not, he is going with you all. I would figure that he’d be included. But who knows, Joey.”

“Okay, tell the guys about the reporters but don’t mention anything about Lou, all right.”

“Joey? Do you think that’s wise?”

“It is for now, Lonnie. I don’t want to scare them anymore than they all ready are.”

“I understand. I’ll let them know.”

“Thanks big guy.”

“See ya.”

“Yeah, bye.”

Lonnie hung the phone back up and looked at the two singers. “That was Joey. He said that the reporters have figured out where were staying and they are asking questions. He thinks it won’t be long before they figure out JC’s here.”

“Damn it,” Justin shouted. “That means Johnny’s gonna want to move JC sooner. We can’t tell him.”

“Justin,” Lance soothed, “I’m guessing he already knows.”



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