15:

Everything had passed in a blur. JC was admitted to the hospital after flat-lining twice on the way there. He was rushed into ER and placed in intensive care as soon as he was stable. Lance was on another floor. He had suffered a concussion and was being held for observation. He was allowed no visitors until the police finished questioning him, which so far had been all day. The accident had occurred a little after two. Justin was called at almost four. JC was discovered a little after four. By six, Heather and Gina had managed to bundle the babies up and coerced Steve into driving them to the hospital after he picked up Nicholas from daycare. JC’s and Lance’s parent’s arrived as soon as they could.

At 8:30, they were still waiting for some word on either young man’s condition. All they had coaxed from the hospital staff so far was "Stable." Marcus squirmed and uttered a sharp, angry cry before settling back to sleep against his mother’s chest. Alan was gurgling in Heather’s arms and Alex had spit up on Justin’s shirt. He handled it well though, quickly handing her to Chris and making a disgusted face. Once in her father’s arms, Alex promptly spit up on his shoulder.

A little after nine, a doctor stepped into the waiting room. He was looking for someone else.

Tensions were running high and by 9:15 Gina and Heather were beyond exhausted. The babies were fussy and no matter how worried they were about Lance and JC, both women knew they needed to get their children home. Joey, having driven the only vehicle with enough seat belts, was appointed to drive them. Justin and Chris promised to call him as soon as any information came to them. Chris kissed his wife and children and Joey took Marcus in his carrier while Heather and Gina took the twins out in their carriers. They dropped Heather off, Joey helping her get both babies inside while Gina waited in the car with Marcus, and then they headed home in silence.

Joey pulled into the driveway and sighed. He was starting to think they were all doomed. He opened the garage door and parked, lost in thought. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Gina was calmly staring at him, Marcus out of his carseat and settled comfortably in her lap. "We’ve been sitting here for five minutes," she whispered. "We should go in. We all need some rest." He nodded weakly and opened his door, stepping out and opening her door. She handed him the diaper bag which he slung over his shoulder before placing his hands on her waist to balance her as she stepped out with the baby. Unlike any exchange between them in the last few . . . well, months, it seemed perfectly natural. There was no resistance on either of their parts and neither was sure what had caused it, or how they felt about this change. And so, they pretended not to notice, each hoping the other would not bring it up . . . at least not right away.

Heather fed and diapered the twins before rocking them to sleep. She needed to sleep herself, but she couldn’t. Something was bothering Chris, and it wasn’t Lance or JC or even Joey or Justin. It wasn’t that he was acting strangely . . . well, strangely for Chris anyway. It was just a feeling, woman’s intuition perhaps. Now with everything going on, that feeling only grew worse. She was scared that JC and Lance . . . well, that they wouldn’t be all right. She always worried about her children, just like every other mother she knew. Now, on top of it all, was an uneasy feeling about Chris. He was keeping something from her, and she wasn’t so sure she wanted to know what it was. She looked down on the innocent, sleeping faces of her children. What did the future hold for them, and could she protect them from it?

 

Justin shifted uncomfortably in his sleep. Of course, discomfort was to be expected. He had refused to leave the hospital, afraid he wouldn’t be there when Lance or JC woke up. He was still in the waiting room, his wheelchair backed into a corner. Sugar slept fitfully beside him, squished into two bright orange plastic chairs. Chris watched in silence, thankful that someone was getting some sleep. His mind was too busy for sleep. He was worried about JC. He was worried about Lance. He was worried about his wife and his children, and about everyone else he loved. On top of it all, he felt so guilty . . . he shouldn’t though, should he? After all, it was just a business trip. Just an innocent business trip . . . people took innocent business trips all the time. Of course, most of them weren’t planning on meeting a former lover behind their spouse’s back.

 

Sugar was having a nightmare. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that, but the knowledge didn’t change anything. JC was standing there, pointing and laughing. She cried, she begged and pleaded, but nothing helped. Justin yelled at her and the look on his face . . . there was so much hurt and anger and betrayal that she felt a part of her wither up and die. He just kept saying, over and over, "How could you do this to me? I loved you!" Then Britney just showed up and kissed him and he left with her. After Justin was gone, all her friends turned and walked away from her and she was alone.

It wasn’t the first time she’d had the nightmare, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last. She could have kissed Chris when he shook her gently. "Sugar, come on, wake up. It’s just a dream."

"A dream . . ." she whispered.

"You okay, now?"

"Yeah, I’m fine Chris, thanks." He gave her an odd look and nodded, returning to his chair. Yeah, fine, she thought. Just peachy . . . . She looked at Justin and sighed, refusing to cry. She knew she should tell him, really tell him, but . . . well, she couldn’t lose him. Justin was everything to her, everything she had to live for. She made up her mind then and there. Justin could never, ever know the truth. She would let him believe she was joking and that would be the end of it.

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