The acrid smell of smoke wafted through the house, carefully crawling it's way into Joey's nostrils, rousing him as he was about to waken anyway to use the bathroom. Panic washed over him as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Fuck!" he screamed, frozen to the couch in horror as thick, black smoke floated along the ceiling, drifting down the stairs. "Lance!" he cried, forcing his feet to move. The smoke was heavy, like a curtain, and he dropped to the floor, crawling on his hands and knees, trying to find his way up the steps to Lance, Lance who slept like a rock, and always had a difficult time waking. "Lance!" he called, the air thick with poison, choking him. It was dark, and too hard to get up the steps. "Lance?" He was forced back down to the living room. Fleeing out the front door, he set the alarm off and ran to his car. "Keys, keys," he chanted, digging in his pockets, his hands shaking. Joey fumbled with the key, finally getting the door open and dialing 911 quickly.

He stared up at Lance's window, a rock of dread weighing him down as he caught a glimpse of fiery reddish orange flames licking at the wall, peeking out at him. His eyes grew wide, his heart hammering inside of him. "God, no," he whispered, begging the operator to pick up.

"911, what is your emergency?"

Joey's voice became lost in his throat, and he cleared it several times before managing to get any words out. "Fire, at 40 Jasper Street. Fire. My friend is stuck inside." The rest of the conversation was a blur at best, and Joey felt helplessness settle over him as he watched the flames rise higher and higher, silently praying to God to wake Lance and help him find a way out.

Lance felt warm, and tossed in his slumber. He was disorientated at best, and kicked the covers off him, his mind swimming with images of JC on the beach, swimming, making love, holding one another. Suddenly, he was choking, unable to breathe. He waved his hand over his nose and coughed, trying to go back to sleep. From the distance, he swore he heard a voice calling him. His bladder ached with the urge to pee, and he scratched at his stomach. Still, his eyes stayed closed, unable to shake the fog from his head. The coughing continued until his chest tightened, and his eyes flew open.

The room was dark, darker than he imagined, and filled with smoke. The smell curled his toes, and the heat rose quickly, licking the walls of his doorway. Lance laughed, incapable of comprehending the situation. He pulled his feet back into the bed and sat, like a child, watching the flames, facinated. The poisonous gasses had played with him, toying with his brain, leading him to a false sense of security. It was a giant fireplace, the biggest he'd ever seen. Calm took over his body, and he snuggled back to watch. His eyes were heavy, and he thought it was such a shame JC wasn't there to watch too. It was so beautiful, so vibrant, so alive. The heat built and Lance tossed the covers off him once more, wishing the smell would go away, leave, and let him be with the gorgeous fireplace.

His body slumped slightly, and Lance saw his family, there with him, his mother crying, his dad carrying his sister in his arms, his grandparents sobbing into kleenex. It was so confusing. And JC, his beautiful boy, smiling brightly, blue eyes twinkling, Justin by his side, holding him tightly.

Lance snapped his head up as part of the ceiling fell, crashing down around him loudly. Reality snuck in a bit, and he widened his gaze at the flames, approaching his bed with venom in it's eyes. Suddenly, he was afraid, scared to death. Using his hand, he covered his nose and stumbled to the window. Joey was out there, and red lights. No, this was wrong, what was happening?

The firemen scurried about, axes in hand, and Lance waved from his window, trying to push it open. Fire. Not a fireplace, but a fire. The flames crept closer, consuming his ceiling and wall, making their way toward him. He couldn't speak anymore, the smoke invaded his throat paralizing his chords. Looking around, he grabbed his American Music Award from it's shelf and hurled it into the window, shattering it. The smoke fanned out, and with it, let oxygen in, feeding the flames.

His vision blurred, and tears rolled down his cheeks. JC was on his mind, and for him he needed to escape. Spying Joey beneath him, he waved again.

Joey saw the hand flailing about. "My God! There he is!" Pushing the fireman aside, he pointed. "Someone help him!"

The firemen erected their laddar, but before it was completely up, the figure jumped, diving head first toward the ground. "Nooo!" Joey shouted, leaping foward.

Lance felt the hard ground connect with his body, and delayed pain ripping through his body. He looked up into the sky, and saw JC's face, glistening among the stars. He was calm again, and imagined JC's body next to his. Closing his eyes, he felt peace.

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