Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 20:21:28 EST
From: lictor (at) aol (dot) com
Subject: NSYNC-lance-n-jc 16

'N SYNC: LANCE 'N' JC
CHAPTER 16
----------

	Usual disclaimer applies: This is a work of fiction. It is not 
meant to imply anything about the orientation, beliefs or anything 
else about the real members of 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, or 
anyone else depicted here. If you are under 18, or are offended by 
graphic depictions of homosexual relationships, please go back now.

	Story content copyright Copyright 1999 T. Kevin.

----
	Author's note:

	I've included the last dialogue from part 15 here partly cause I 
had a formatting screw-up -- the paragraphs all ran together.  :(  
That's what I get for using Word98, thanks Bill Gates, and congrats 
on that antitrust suit!
	So here it is again, a little review...

Kevin

----

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

	Terry stared at the beautiful, perfect red roses, his vision 
blurring with tears. He angrily dried his eyes, torn with indecision. 
What harm would it do to call Justin? He owed him that at least, after 
his cowardly departure without even saying good-bye. A part of him 
hoped he could just leave a message as he winced and dialed Justin's 
cell phone number from memory. It rang once, twice...

	In Orlando, Justin Timberlake was still at home, lying on his 
bed and waiting for the others to get ready so they could head off to 
practice. His cell phone rang and he snatched it up, looking at the 
Caller ID display. Cybermedia... he flipped it open.
	"Terry!" Justin's voice rang with joy. 
	 Terry winced. "Hi, Justin. Um, thank you for the flowers, 
they're beautiful."
	"Happy Valentine's Day! I'm sorry they're a day late. I hope 
you weren't embarrassed to get them at work; I couldn't get your 
home address."
	"No, not at all. People are jealous actually. Who else gets three 
dozen roses, much less from a handsome pop idol?"
	Justin felt himself smiling. "I'm glad you like them." He sat 
slowly on the edge of his bed.
	"So, um, how are you? I know you're busy." Terry fiddled 
nervously with the phone cord.
	"I've got time. And to answer your first question, I could be 
better, to tell the truth." 
	"I'm sorry."
	"Sorry don't cut it, Terry." Justin wasn't known for pulling 
punches, and it was time to cut to the chase. "I can't believe you left 
like that." 
	"I told you in my note, I didn't understand the whole Britney 
thing... I don't understand 'us'..."
	"I would have explained it to you! She's just a friend... less than 
that really. She's changed." He frowned. "I know it didn't look good 
and I went after you, but you were gone already. Britney likes to 
pretend we're dating, but we never were, and we never will be. It's 
one of those Mickey Mouse Club things. And our management 
wanted to have me seen with her, sort of like they are doing with 
Lance and Danielle now, trying to cover him being gay."
	"That's part of it too." Terry said quietly. "You guys live in a 
different world; an artificial one. Yeah, I got your message, and I 
understand about her now I guess. But she's just part of the whole 
thing. You can't be open about your life."
	"I know it's different, but it's not that bad, you'll get used to it!"
	"Justin..."
	"Listen! I'm really sorry, Terry. I appreciated all the things you 
said in your letter, and I forgive you for the comment the other 
morning. I was being too sensitive. But at the time it was a lot for me 
to take, and I was confused."
	"I was confused too, Justin. I was scared."
	The silence grew uncomfortable, then Justin blurted, "Come to 
Orlando. Please."
	"I can't Justin, I have a job here. And this is my home."
	"Don' gimme that! Home is where there's someone who loves 
you, man!" The singer leapt off the bed. "I love you!" He nearly 
shouted into the phone, holding his hand to his chest.
	"Justin, you don't know what you're saying. You don't know 
me... you don't want to." Terry was finding it hard to talk. Why was 
he doing this to himself? To Justin?
	"Why are you trying to push me away!?"
	"I... I don't even know. I just..."
	"Terry, listen to me. My mom told me the one thing she learned 
after she and dad divorced was you can't just keep things bottled up 
inside -- you gotta talk out your feelings. Why can't you talk to me? 
Don't you think I'll understand?"
	"No! It's not that at all. You... you overwhelm me." Terry said 
quietly.
	Justin couldn't hold back a bitter laugh. "You're kidding, right?"
	"You know I'm not, and you know the effect you have on 
people."
	Justin banged his fist on his dresser angrily. "Man that's just 
wrong. You know me better than that by now. You know how I 
respect you!"
	"Yeah, and that scares me more. I'm afraid I won't live up to 
your expectations."
	"It's not 'bout what I expect! I just want the 'you' I knew when 
we were together!"
	"It's not that simple."
	"Yes it is! Tell me you don't miss me!"
	"Justin, I..."
	"Tell me! Tell me you don't miss me, tell me you don't want to 
see me and I'll leave you alone!!"
	"Dammit Justin of course I miss you." Terry closed his eyes 
tiredly. "But don't you see how crazy this is? What happens if we 
have a fight, there we are living on that bus together..."
	"Jeez, you so want to look for trouble, don't you?" Justin 
stormed around the room. You don't think the five of us fight!? Oh 
my god I could tell you stories! But we're not stupid. We work it out 
and make up. There ain't no room for grudges and crap like that."
	"I don't know." Terry began to think he never should have 
called. Justin's voice, his arguments, were weakening his resolve. And 
it didn't help that he was picturing the singer, remembering being 
with him... "I need to think about it."
	"Don't think too long. You know the tour starts March 3."
	"I know. I do miss you."
	"I miss you too." Justin sighed.
	"Well, thanks again. I gotta go."
	"Bye." 
	"Good-bye Justin."
	When he heard the connection end, Justin slowly closed his 
phone and flopped on the bed.
	Terry put the receiver on the cradle. He sat staring, unseeing, 
at the computer monitor.
	"Want to talk about it?"
	The designer nearly jumped out of his chair. Leaning in the 
entry to his cubicle was Jeremy, languidly twirling the end of his 
headset cord around his finger.
	"You scared the shit out of me! Were you listening?" Terry 
glared at him.
	"Only the last bit, sorry, but you know me. So which one is it?"  
He nodded over towards the picture of 'N Sync. "Wait, let me guess..." 
He leaned in. "I don't know the boy bands like you do; give me 
Madonna any day. But I bet I can guess..." After looking at them for a 
moment, he pointed to Lance. "Him."
	Terry had to smile at Jeremy's insight. "Well, to tell you the 
truth going into it, I had kind of a crush on him. How did you know?"
	"Cause he looks like the sweet, innocent one. You always seem 
to go for the guy who at least looks like he's sensitive.  And besides, 
he looks the most gay."
	Well... I probably shouldn't tell you."
	Jeremy rolled his eyes melodramatically. "Oh god, I swear not 
to tell a living soul! Feel better?"
	"Not much, but it will have to do. Actually, Lance -- the one you 
picked -- is gay, but he's involved with this one, JC."
	"Hmm, that IS juicy!" Jeremy smirked. "JC is pretty sexy, too. 
Nice eyes. Hmm, that leaves the one with the strange hair, the jail 
bait, and the one with goatee. He's not bad, but I would have said he 
was straight."
	"He is straight." Terry said quietly.
	"Oh please! not the one with the hair from hell!"
	"No, this one, Justin."
	"Ohmygawd Terry! He's a pretty thing all right, but how old is 
he? HE sent you the flowers?"
	"He just turned 18 a month or so ago. But he's very mature!"
	"Oh, that's what they all say!"
	Terry frowned and looked away.
	"I'm kidding, sister, lighten up! If he took the initiative to send 
you flowers, he must be all right. So what happened? You have a 
fight? Looks like he wants to make up! My god, honey, want me to 
book your flight!?"
	Terry smiled and shook his head.
	"You sure? I'd run to that boy's arms in no time flat!! Or is he a 
little prima donna, or a total airhead or something?"
	"No, he's actually not at all conceited, and he's pretty damn 
smart. It's more complicated than that."
	"Oh there you go. I know you Terry McLaren, it's only more 
complicated in that computer-brain of yours. Quit over-analyzing! 
Honey, I'd give anything to wake up every morning to that vision. I 
bet he has a hot little body too."
	"You're terrible. But yeah, he... he's beautiful."
	"I knew it!" Jeremy gloated, then he turned serious again. 
"Terry, I've known you a few years now, and I think I've got a pretty 
good take on you. Let go, just a little. Open up. This guy must really 
like you, and I have a sneaking suspicion you really like him. What is 
the worst that can happen?"
	"He breaks my heart?" Terry looked up sadly. "Or worse, I 
disappoint him?"
	Trust me sweetheart, anyone who wants you bad enough to 
send you these when he didn't do anything wrong in the first place is 
not going to break your heart -- at least not on purpose. And as for 
disappointing him, apparently you haven't yet. You need to have a 
little more faith in yourself, bud. And if you don't do this, you will 
regret it for the rest of your life." He shook his finger at Terry like a 
lecturing schoolmarm.
	"Thank you, mother." Terry smirked. "But I don't know if I 
could stand touring with them on a bus for months at a time."
	"I dunno man, sounds like fun to me, touring around the 
country with a bus full of teen idols. But I'm not 27 pushing 40 like 
you are." And he bolted down the hall before Terry could smack him.

----
	
	In Orlando, the guys settled into a daily routine. Lance stayed 
with JC at Justin's house, while Joey moved back in with his older 
brother Steve. Steve was going on the tour with them, running one of 
the cameras that fed to the big monitor at the back of the stage. The 
plan was that he would ride on the same bus with his brother and 
the other guys, so one of the first things Joey did when he got back 
was to explain the new 'living situation' to his brother. They were in 
Steve's living room, watching basketball and having a few beers 
when he broke the news.
	Steve was a little surprised, to say the least. "JC is a fag? And 
Justin? I mean, I figured Lance was, but as long as he didn't like, hit 
on me, I was cool with it. But all three of them?"
	Joey shrugged. Yeah, well, I had my suspicions. And don't call 
them 'fags'. It's insulting."
	Steve rolled his eyes. "C'mon man, doesn't it bother you, just a 
little? I mean, JC and Lance, butt-buddies! It's unnatural! Gives me 
the heebie-jeebies just to think about it." He made an exaggerated 
shuddering motion.
	Joey frowned. "Hey, man they are my best friends; I don't care 
what they do in bed. And don't get all high-and-righteous! I'm sure 
you've done some unnatural acts in your time."
	"Yeah, but only with chicks!" Steve countered with a laugh. 
"So... who's the girl? Lance? Isn't one of them always the girl?"
	"No! Man, that is another one of those preconceptions. And I 
thought you didn't want to know what they did?!"
	"I don't! So, are they gonna, like, do it on the bus? Am I gonna 
have to watch them kiss and make out and shit?"
	"Well, it's a secret of course, so they don't do anything in public. 
But they do stuff any other couple does when it's just us."
	"Gross!"
	"Get used to it buddy, or you can ride in the other bus." Joey 
looked away, disappointed in his brother.
	"That's an option." Steve sulked. "Hey, what about Justin?"
	"What about him?"
	"How did you find out he is a fag -- I mean, uh, gay? He always 
seemed like a cool guy to me."
	"Jeez man he is still a cool guy! As for how he came out, that's a 
long story. But he hooked up with a guy who was doing some 
internet stuff for us. He was gonna roll with us on the tour too, but 
that's kind of up in the air right now."
	"God! So there might be two pairs of 'em kissing and stuff? I 
dunno, man..." Steve shook his head.
	"Well, you can always find yourself another job, bro."
	Steve looked over at Joey in surprise. "You telling me I'm 
fired?" He asked coldly.
	"No, I'm tellin' you that you need to learn to be more tolerant."
	"Shit." Steve took a swig of his beer.

----

	Every day the guys met at the converted airplane hangar that 
was the Trans Continental offices and studios and practiced their 
hearts out. On their choreography, they worked with Darren and of 
course Fatima, and a new guy Bobby who helped them with some 
more retro moves for the 70's and 80's dances. And of course they 
had singing rehearsals, and fittings for costumes and photo shoots 
and interviews...  by the time they got home every night and cleaned 
up, they were usually too tired to do much more than lie about and 
watch TV.
	But one Sunday afternoon, while they were all lounging around 
Justin's living room, JC decided he wanted to go out. "Hey guys, who 
wants to see this new sci-fi movie, the 'Matrix'?" He gestured to the 
ad on the TV, which no one else had been paying much attention to.
	Lance was sprawled on the couch reading a paperback thriller 
and using JC's lap as a pillow. He raised his head to peer at the 
trailer. "That's the one with Keanu Reeves. I know why you want to 
see it." He frowned.
	JC playfully smacked him on the back of the head. "You are so 
jealous! Actually, Keanu does look mighty hot in that long black coat 
and those sunglasses..."
	Yeah, you know, he looks kinda like Terry, all in black, with 
that short hair kinda spiky in front..." His voice trailed off and he 
looked away. It wasn't the first person in the last couple of weeks 
that had reminded Justin of Terry.
	With some more pushing, JC managed to get them motivated to 
go, more or less.
	Justin elbowed Joey as they milled around towards the door. 
"Hey man, you wanna see if Steve wants to go? I haven't seen him 
since we got back from LA."
	"Nah, he's doing stuff today." Joey said kind of quickly.
	"Whatever."
	They all donned their unoriginal -- if usually effective -- 
disguises: caps and sunglasses. Instead of the usual baseball cap, 
Justin was sporting a ratty fisherman's hat he got at Abercrombie & 
Fitch.
	"Hey Curly, I think they sold you a used hat! It's all frayed at 
the edges." Chris observed.
	"It's supposed to be that way! Broken in!" Justin said defiantly.
	"I think you got ripped off!" Chris teased.
	The guys made it in and got to their seats without being 
recognized. They had all learned long ago that it was usually better 
to go to guys rather than girls at ticket counters and places like that 
because guys were less likely to realize who they were (or care much 
if they did). 
	To JC's delight, they showed a preview of the new Star Wars 
movie before 'Matrix'. Lance could feel JC tense in excitement next to 
him as the music started. Nobody was a bigger Star Wars fan than JC 
Chasez, though at least he didn't dress up as Luke Skywalker or 
anything over-the-top like that.
	
----
	
	Driving back home afterwards, they all agreed that 'Matrix' was 
pretty good.
	"Damn, that chick in the plastic outfit was hot!" Chris said 
breathlessly.
	"I though Keanu was pretty hot." Lance said with a sidelong 
smile at JC. He got a smack on the thigh in response.
	"Keep that up and you'll be sleeping on the sofa." JC snapped, 
then he let a little smirk show on his face. "Keanu did look good. 
What did you think, Curly?" He looked up towards Justin in the 
driver's seat.
	"Huh? Oh, yeah he was cool." He sounded distracted, like he did 
so often recently.
	
----   
	
	After dinner, JC and Lance went up to JC's room early.
	JC laid back on his bed, his fingers laced behind his head as he 
relaxed and watched Lance sorting his clean clothes. "It was really 
nice of you to help Lynn with the laundry. I know she appreciates it"
	"Well, I'd rather do this than the dishes, which you seem to 
enjoy so much." Lance carefully folded a t-shirt.
	"It's not bad, though they never seem to end, especially with 
Justin around. That guy eats constantly!"
	"You know, Lynn has been really cool about us." Lance said 
thoughtfully as he tried to sort through a mound of socks.
	"You mean about you and me being together? I knew she 
would be. She seems to have taken Justin's coming out really well, 
too. It's gotta be hard for a parent to learn that their son is gay... that 
he's never gonna get married, have kids..." JC stopped as Lance 
looked up and their eyes met. "I know, we are going to have to tell 
our parents too. It's been on my mind a lot." JC pressed his lips 
together.
	"How do you think yours will take it?" Lance went back to his 
socks, but he wasn't accomplishing much more than moving them 
around.
	"Dad will be okay, I think. He won't be thrilled, but he'll deal. 
I'm more worried about mom. What about yours?"
	"Dad will be angry; he won't accept it. That's the way he deals 
with things he doesn't like. And mom... I'm afraid this is going to 
break her heart." His voice trailed off.
	JC sat up and leaned over, placing his hand on Lance's. "They 
love you, James. They might have trouble with it at first, but they'll 
come around."
	"I hope so, Josh. It would kill me if they... turned away from 
me. You know how religious they are; we're Southern Baptists, not 
known for being very accepting of gays. I know I need to tell them, 
but I don't know when, or even how to say it. They might want me to 
go into one of those programs where they try turn you straight." 
There was a faint tremor in Lance's voice.
	"You and I know that's ridiculous; you can't be 'turned' straight 
any more than you can be turned gay!"
	"You and I know that." Lance looked up at him with a rueful 
smile. "But a lot of other people believe otherwise. And in these 
'meetings', I think they brainwash you or something. They keep 
telling you how evil homosexuality is."
	JC got a look -- something between fear and anger -- on his 
face, and he squeezed Lance's hand so tight it hurt. "I would never 
let them put you in something like that!"
	"And they couldn't drag me into something where they say that 
what you and I have together is wrong. Fortunately they can't very 
well try to keep us apart either." He smiled. "And it's sweet of you to 
hold my hand, JC, but maybe a little less death-grip."
	"Oh, sorry man." JC relaxed his hold. "The thought of them 
messing with your head or trying to separate us just scared me so 
much."
	"Don't worry, you're stuck with me."
	"Cool." JC grinned back. "Now do you want some help with those 
socks? I don't want to wait all night to go to bed."
	In answer, Lance grabbed a handful and threw them in his 
unsuspecting lover's face.
	
----
	
	Back in LA, the Backstreet Boys had finished filming their 
video for "I want it That Way" and were in their hotel rooms. Nick 
was in Kevin's room, both guys wearing sweatpants and t-shirts, 
lying on the bed together watching TV. Kevin had his arm wrapped 
protectively around Nick. When the movie -- which neither one of 
them had really been paying attention to --  ended, Kevin turned off 
the TV with the remote.
	"Nicky..." Kevin stared at the blond's eyes, and Nick felt like the 
tall brunet was looking right into his damaged soul. "Nick, I know 
about you and Brian. I've known for a long time." He said in his flat 
monotone that still managed to convey his pain... and maybe 
forgiveness.
	Nick couldn't breathe. He felt his heart hammering in his chest. 
"Kev, I... I..." He tried to talk but couldn't manage another word 
before he broke down in sobs. 
	Kevin took the boy into his arms and pressed Nick's head to his 
chest. "It's okay Nicky, it's okay. I forgive you."
	"I'm so sorry!" Nick finally choked out. "I didn't want to hurt 
you but I couldn't stop!"
	"Brian can have that effect on people." Kevin said with a raised 
eyebrow. "But now, Nick, I want that to change. Look at me." He 
pulled the blond back and lifted his chin.
	Nick blinked back tears, sniveled loudly, and managed a half-
smile. "Hey." He said shyly, meeting Kevin's hypnotic gaze.
	"Nicholas Carter, I love you. I want you to stop messing with 
Brian and be with me. I want us to be a couple." Then Kevin cracked 
one of his rare and precious smiles. "Now tell me what you want."
	"Man... I want that too. But, are you sure? We're always fightin, 
and you know I'm bad news."
	"No, you're not bad news, Nick." Kevin said sternly "We fight 
because we care about things. And... the best thing about fighting 
with you is we always make up afterwards." He ran his hands over 
Nick's chest and shoulders and the blond looked away in 
embarrassment. "Do you want some time to think about it?" Kevin 
asked softly.
	"Naw." Nick shook his head; his hair falling across his eyes. 
"Even I know a good thing when it comes up and hugs me. But I'm 
scared to tell Brian."
	"He'll live. He doesn't love you like I do, Nicky, you know that 
deep down."
	"Yah, I do."
	"I don't think he has meant to be cruel, but he needs to face the 
truth about himself, and what he's doing to you isn't helping either of 
you."
	Nick nodded, staring out the window at the lights of LA.
	"There's something else you're not telling me, isn't there?" 
Kevin said finally.
	"Yah." Nick said very quietly.
	"Something to do with Brian?"
	Nick shook his head, his hair flopping back and forth.
	"Tell me, Nicky."
	"Lou... Lou has been doing stuff with me..."
	"Lou!" Kevin bellowed. "Doing what 'stuff!?"
	"Messin' with me. Almost since the beginning." Nick's voice was 
barely audible.
	"Oh my God, Nick! You mean like, touching you?"
	"Yeah, you know. And he calls me and says things..."
	"Oh man. Why didn't you tell me?"
	"'Cause he said that he would take away our contract if I didn't 
do what he wanted. He made me feel like I made him do it."
	"I can't believe this!" Kevin moaned, tears welling in his eyes. 
'That pig hurt Nicky, molested him all these years and I never knew!' 
He pulled Nick against him. "Soon we'll be far away from him and 
he'll never hurt you again, I promise! I won't let him." Kevin's jaw 
tensed at the thought of what Lou had gotten away with. He wanted 
to kill him.
	But Nick just snuggled closer to Kevin. "I love you." He 
whispered.

----

	Late in the evening in JC's bed, Lance laid his head on his 
lover's lean chest. "Thank you." He whispered in his deep voice, then 
lightly kissed JC's nipple.
	"Thank you, handsome." JC tenderly ran his fingers through 
Lance's thick hair and sighed contentedly. "Every minute with you is 
special. Sometimes I feel like, when we make love, I feel so close to 
you." He shrugged. "I'm not expressing it very well, sorry."
	"I understand, Josh. I think I feel it too. I can finally let down 
all my barriers and trust you. And I look in your eyes and..." His 
voice caught.
	JC hugged him close. "Yes! It's corny maybe, but it's like our 
souls... touch."
	"It's not corny." Lance smiled and kissed his chest again.
	They lay together in comfortable silence for a while longer, 
then Lance said, "I'm a little worried about Justin."
	"Me too. The last few days he's been down again. I think he 
was really hoping Terry was going to come back to him."
	"I actually thought Terry might too. I believe he cares for 
Justin."
	"This is how he shows it? By hurting him?" A tinge of anger 
crept into JC's voice.
	"I think he sincerely believes that leaving was the best thing 
for Justin, that he's not right for him."
	"Well, I'd be tempted to agree with him."
	"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have mixed feelings about them, 
true. But look at Justin!" He was so happy back in LA, and when 
Terry was gone he fell apart. Then for a few days after just talking to 
him on the phone he was his old self."
	"And now he's sliding down into a depression again? Sounds 
like a crush or co-dependence or something to me." JC frowned.
	"It's just possible that he's in love." Lance said quietly. "You're 
familiar with that emotion I think."
	JC furrowed his brows. "But we've known each other for years! 
They just met! I think Curly just needs to have some time and he'll 
get over this guy."
	"And I think that's something Justin is old enough to decide for 
himself." Lance hesitated, then added, "Maybe Chris isn't the only one 
who missed his friend and is glad that Terry is no longer taking up 
all his time." 
	JC's body tensed. "Lance, I... do you think I'm being selfish?!"
	The blond cringed. "Maybe that wasn't fair, I'm sorry."
	JC's expression softened. "I'm sorry babe, but that hurts, you 
know?"
	Lance shrugged and closed his eyes. "Maybe I am the jealous 
one, I don't know."
	"James!" JC said softly, pulling Lance against him again. "God, 
man you have got to know that you don't need to ever worry. And 
after what we were just talking about!"
	Lance scooted up a little and rested his head in the crook of JC's 
neck. "I know I shouldn't be, but I guess I'm insecure sometimes."
	JC softly kissed his temple. "James Lance Bass, I love you so 
much. Sure I care about Justin, but he's like my little brother, you 
know that. I never laid in my bunk on the bus at night and dreamed 
of being with him."
	Lance smiled a little. "And you dreamed of me? Don't tease 
me."
	"I did, James. I'm surprised you never heard me."
	"Heard you?" Lance turned his head to look up at JC.
	"It's kind of embarrassing. Did you ever feel... lonely... on that 
bus? At night in that little bunk all by yourself?"
	"Sometimes, yeah, I guess so."
	"Well, I would lie in there late at night and think of you so near 
but so far away and I would..." JC's voice cracked, "I would hug a 
pillow and wish it was you, and I would cry sometimes."
	"Oh, Josh..." Lance whispered. "Why couldn't you tell me?"
	"You know why, the same reason you were scared to tell me 
you loved me! The thought of losing your friendship was so 
terrifying. I thought you would hate me or be disgusted. Back then I 
would have been so happy just to sleep with you and not even do 
anything sexual. I never dared hope that we would actually be 
together like this, where I could kiss you and touch you and not 
worry..." He nuzzled against the top of Lance's head, enjoying the 
faint aroma of his shampoo. "I love you so much. Don't ever doubt 
that."
	"Thank you. I love you too." Lance smiled against JC's neck.
	JC drifted off to sleep, His arm around Lance and their bodies 
tangled together....
	
----

	He was walking down a shadowy, deserted corridor... skulking 
was actually more like it. He pulled his long robe closer to his body 
and glanced over his shoulder. He was reassured to see another 
hooded figure close behind him. They arrived at the doorway and he 
made a small gesture. His companion swept past him to crouch at the 
other side of the sealed door. Another look around and Joshua stood, 
examining the access panel. "Keep an eye out for patrols." He 
whispered.
	"Yes, master." His companion pulled his deep hood back onto 
his shoulders, revealing a shock of short blond hair which spiked up, 
undeterred by the hood. In the usual style of a Padewan apprentice, 
he also wore a little braid which trailed down over his shoulder.
	Confident that his apprentice could handle any interference, 
Joshua was able to turn his full attention to the panel. Within a few 
seconds he had defeated the simple locking mechanisms, but as he 
was about to open the door, he sensed a disturbance... 
	"Lansten!" He shouted. As one they drew their lightsabres. 
Joshua's burned blue while his apprentice's weapon glowed with a 
cool green light. Not a moment too soon: the door slid open with a 
hiss, and a squad of battle droids swarmed into the hall.
	Lansten spun, his robe swirling around him. He sliced two 
droids in half while parrying back the blaster shots of three others. 
"It would appear that we were expected, Master Joshua!" He said 
matter-of-factly, even as he extended a hand and summoned the 
Force, causing another pair of droids to tumble backwards in a heap 
of parts
	"Indeed." The Jedi Knight disabled two other droids but most of 
his attention was on analyzing how they had miscalculated. Then he 
sensed something... a tremor in the Force. What was it?
	Lansten felt it as well: he glanced at Joshua questioningly, still 
holding off incoming droid fighters.
	Joshua looked into the hall beyond the threshold and saw his 
answer. Two figures, clad in black robes, stood in another doorway. 
One was heavy-set, the other tall and athletic. "Sith Lords." He 
whispered.
	"Kill them, Darth Maul." The heavy one ordered, his voice 
carrying into Joshua's mind. The tall one strode forward, drawing his 
lightsabre and pulling his hood back. His face was covered in angular 
black and red tattoos, giving him a particularly fierce visage. It also 
made his features difficult to make out, but he looked familiar 
somehow. And instead of a ring of horns on a bald head that Joshua 
had somehow expected, he had thick, short black hair which rose up 
in a forest of spikes.
	As he neared them, Darth Maul activated his weapon and a 
crimson blade sprang from either end of the hilt: a dual lightsabre; a 
rare and particularly dangerous device. It took a skilled -- and 
brazen -- warrior of the force to master such a weapon.
	"What is it, master?" Whispered Lansten. There was a hint of 
fear in his voice as he stared at their approaching foe.
	"Something we had best avoid... at least for now." The Jedi 
muttered. He slashed at the control panel and the heavy blast doors 
slid shut, separating them from the approaching visage. "Come, 
Lansten, we need to get to the planet." They started down the hall, 
but seemed to be moving in slow motion. Meanwhile, Joshua glanced 
back to see a red glow on the doors, followed by a ruby blade 
penetrating the alloy. Their enemy was cutting through. They would 
not evade him after all. Joshua worried about Lansten. Was he ready 
to face a Sith Lord? Were the two of them together even strong 
enough to defeat this menace? He felt a growing dread... and fear for 
his young apprentice...

----

	"Josh! Josh, wake up!"
	JC fought his way back to consciousness, his sleep-filled eyes 
meeting Lance's concerned gaze.
	"You were having a bad dream! And talking in your sleep; it 
was kind of scary."
	Propping himself up, JC realized that he was sweating and 
trembling. It had been a terrible dream. He still felt a strange sense 
of dread. Without thinking, he hugged Lance tight.
	"What's that for?" Lance laughed, returning the hug.
	"Just because. Because you feel nice, and because I need a hug." 
JC let out a shuddering sigh. "I feel a little better now." He released 
Lance and leaned back on his elbows.
	"You want to talk about it?"
	"Hm. Not right now, maybe in the morning. But... would you 
mind just holding me though?" He looked up at Lance plaintively.
	"Of course not!" Lance grinned and pulled him close again. "I'll 
hold you forever, Josh."
	'Forever is a long time,' JC thought sadly. 'I hope we have that 
together.'
	
----
	
	Another week of grueling practices flew by. They had Sunday 
off, then final rehearsals before their opening night on Wednesday, 
March third in Clearwater, Florida.
	Fatima let them out early Saturday, and JC announced that they 
needed to go out and celebrate. "Where shall we go?" He asked the 
group as they rode back to Justin's.
	"I know, we haven't been to Pleasure Island in ages!" Joey 
suggested.
	"And we have free passes!" Chris added.
	"Sounds cool to me." Lance shrugged. "What about you, Jus?"
	"Doesn't matter. I'm kinda tired, maybe I'll just stay in."
	"No you won't!" Everyone shouted more or less in unison.
	"Okay." Justin managed a smile in the rear-view mirror. "I 
wouldn't mind dancing to something besides our stuff for a change, 
and we haven't gone to Mannequin's in a while."
	
----

	After the usual agonizing over what to wear, followed by 
primping and preening, they piled into Justin's M-Class and took off 
for Disney World. 
	Pleasure Island was the nightspot of the Disney complex, with 
several different types of clubs and an outdoor stage. The favorite 
club for younger types was Mannequin, which had a huge revolving 
dance floor with two levels overlooking it, and an incredible light and 
sound system. The DJs usually played fairly recent club music.
	Once inside they fanned out, knowing that staying together 
meant getting recognized all that much sooner. No one wanted to 
hang with poor Joey because his flaming red hair was like a beacon, 
but he didn't mind the recognition.
	Justin went to the bar and got a drink, figuring he'd scope 
things out for awhile first.
	"Well, look who's here."
	Justin spun around in surprise, almost spilling his Coke. Right 
behind him at the bar was... Nick Carter. "Uh, hey Nick, I didn't know 
you guys were back from L.A."
	"Yeah we got in yesterday. Putting finishing touches on the new 
album then a little vay-kay." Nick accepted his drink from the 
bartender and paid him, then turned back to Justin. "Hey, I wanted 
to thank you for putting up with my shit back there. I talked to 
Kevin and I'm gonna try to get my act together, just with him."
	"That's great news, Man!" Justin gave him a friendly punch in 
the shoulder.
	Nick smiled, sniffled a little and looked away shyly. "Hey!" He 
said, looking up, "I love this song, it's Cher's new one."
	"Oh yeah..." Justin listened as the extended remix intro pounded 
on...

	"...After love... after love... after love..."

	"Hey, wanna dance?" Nick winked at him.
	Justin smirked. "With you? Where's Kevin?"
	"You know what I mean, man! There will be plenty of girls on 
the floor who will be happy to dance with us when we get out there. 
And Kevin said he wanted to hang with Howie and AJ for awhile."
	"Okay, let's go!" Justin drained his glass and slammed it down 
on the bar. 
	Nick did the same, grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. 
	It was true: they were quickly mobbed by eager young women 
on the floor. The fans had so many guys to choose from tonight, so 
they were somewhat spread out. It also helped that no one under 
eighteen was allowed in this club so there were no teenies. Justin 
spotted Lance and JC more-or-less dancing together a little ways off, 
and there were Howie and AJ and Kevin all together on the second 
level, overlooking the floor. Joey was dancing rather close with a 
pretty young woman who he'd met earlier, and Chris stood at the 
edge of the floor, bobbing his head to the music and watching 
everything.
	
	
	"No matter how hard I try
	You keep pushing me aside
	And I can't break through
	There's no talking to you
	It's so sad that you're leavin'
	It takes time to believe it
	But after all is said and done
	You're gonna be the lonely one..."
	
	
	The crush of people got heavier, and Justin decided that he 
needed more space. Seeing an opening, he dashed across the floor 
and onto a recently vacated dance platform. Four feet above the mob 
he was free to move at last.
	
	
	"Do you believe in life after love?
	I can feel something inside me say
	I really don't think you're strong enough now
	Do you believe in life after love?
	I can feel something inside me say
	I really don't think you're strong enough now"
	
	
	Justin whirled like a dervish, eyes half closed and hips rotating 
as he threw himself into his dancing. The singer ran his fingers 
through his sweaty blond curls and rolled his head back as if basking 
in the thousand strobing suns above. The throbbing beat and the 
flashing lights seemed to send him into a delirium as he danced in a 
hyperactive frenzy. Crashing against his lean frame in wave after 
wave, Cher's lyrics were a message that finally began to register on 
his conscious mind...
	
	
	"Well I know that I'll get through this
	'Cos I know that I am strong
	I don't need you anymore
	No I don't need you anymore
	I don't need you anymore..."
	
	
	Then song blended seamlessly into Marky Mark's hit from a 
few years earlier "Good Vibrations" and the blond boy eased his 
frenetic pace somewhat. A moment later he was joined on the 
platform by Nick, followed soon by Joey and his friend.
	"Hey man! You put on quite a performance!" Joey smacked him 
on the shoulder. "You know, half the club was watching you."
	"Oh great!" Justin grinned sheepishly. "Who's your friend?" He 
smiled at the young lady, trying to change the subject.
	"This Is Gray. She's down here on vacation -- and she's gonna 
see our opening show in Jacksonville! Gray meet Justin. And this is 
Nick Carter. He's in some other group, I fergit the name." He smiled at 
Nick.
	Gray shook their hands, showing remarkable composure. "Nice 
to meet you both!" She smiled. "Don't worry, Nick, I know what group 
you're in, though I know Joey would prefer I didn't." She winked at 
the crimson-haired singer.
	"Enough talkin!" Nick shouted. "Let's DANCE!" He threw his 
hands over his head.
	The platform was a little more crowded with four people but 
there was still room to maneuver. Justin spun around and started a 
sexy hip-thrust maneuver with every beat. Suddenly a pair of hands 
clamped on his waist from behind and he felt someone grinding 
against him.
	"Uhhh, Nick!" 
	"Yeah buddy?"
	"Ain't this a little bit steamy for Disney World?"
	People all over the dance floor were beginning to stare at them. 
Joey looked over and raised his eyebrows as if to say 'What the hell 
are you guys doing?'
	'Good Vibrations' segued into 2Unlimited's 'Tribal Dance', and 
Nick's moves got even more provocative.
	"Wassa matter, don'tcha think I'm sexy?" Nick slid his hands up 
over Justin's flat stomach and roamed across his chest. He roughly 
pulled the slender boy back against him. "I think you're verrry sexy." 
Nick sniffled again.
	Justin wrinkled his nose; Nick's breath reeked of alcohol. "Man, 
you gotta ease off here." He tried to pull away but Nick just tightened 
his grasp. 
	The Backstreet Boy began to grind against Justin even more 
forcibly and the lanky 'N Sync member could feel Nick's hardness 
against his butt. "Justin, man, you are turning me on!" Nick slid a 
hand down and partway into Justin's pants.
	
	At the far end of the huge room on the second level balcony, 
Kevin was standing at the bar with Howie when he had a strange 
feeling. The oldest Backstreet Boy often had 'feelings' when 
something was about to happen, almost like a premonition. But this 
time he knew that there was something going down right now that 
shouldn't be. He glanced at Howie and moved along the railing, 
peering through the smoke and flashing lights. There, on one of the 
platforms, two guys were dancing, very obviously together: front to 
back, with the back one holding tight to the front one. It wasn't 
unheard-of in Mannequins, the wildest dance club on Pleasure 
Island, but these guys were really flaunting it. Then as the smoke 
swirled around he saw them more clearly. The front one, with his 
head thrown back, arms waving in the air and narrow hips gyrating 
sexily... was Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync! The guy with him... god he 
was groping Justin's body so flagrantly... He was bigger-boned than 
the other boy and had a mop of blond hair that hid his face as he 
seemed to rest his head on Justin's shoulder.  Kevin recognized the 
moves even before the dancer raised his head. "Oh, Nicky."  He 
whispered.
	Howie followed his gaze. "Jeez! Look at those two gay guys go at 
it man! What a show! That beefy one sure has the hots..." He trailed 
off. "Oh my god!"
	Just then AJ appeared next to Kevin on the other side. "Woah 
lookit our little Nicky work it!" He grinned foolishly up at the tallest 
Backstreet Boy.
	Kevin returned his look with a glare. "Did you get him drunk 
again?" He shouted.
	"Well.." AJ smirked. He's had a few, and I gave him some candy 
too." AJ wrinkled his nose up and snorted emphatically with one 
nostril.
	"God I can't believe you! Look at him, he's a mess!" Kevin 
gestured angrily across the writhing sea of people to the young men 
spotlighted on the platform.
	"Looks like he's taken a shine to a young 'N Stinker to me!" AJ 
said with a laugh. "Chill out, Kev! The contract with Jive is signed; 
we're free of Lou and everything is cool. Let Nick blow off some 
steam." AJ took a swig of his drink.
	"But our image is going down the tubes. People are taking 
pictures! This will be all over the internet by tomorrow!"
	"You are so paranoid! We dance together all the time."
	"Not like that!" Kevin pointed again.
	AJ peered over his granny glasses in time to see Nick slide one 
hand inside the front of Justin's pants while groping his chest with 
the other. "Ohh, that is pretty graphic, huh? It's kinda turning me 
on..." He rubbed against Kevin suggestively.
	"Get off!" Kevin shouted and jumped back.
	"God I was just teasing man, you ARE tense!" AJ sulked.
	"Well somebody better go get him before he starts tearing 
Justin's clothes off or kisses him or something..." Howie ventured.
	It was a strange, erotic spectacle indeed. Nick Carter and Justin 
Timberlake, blond heartthrobs of the two most famous boy-groups in 
the world, were dirty dancing together in the heart of Disney World. 
Nick roughly caressed Justin's muscled abs and chest, pulling up his 
shirt, while thrusting his hips against the slender boy's ass. Justin 
seemed oblivious, smiling to himself and dancing in his own world... 
but certainly he wasn't resisting Nick's more-than-friendly embrace. 
	Justin hesitated as Nick's fingers eased under his belt, allowing 
himself one more moment to enjoy the fact that a hot young man 
was attracted to him. Then he came to his senses and tore himself 
away from Nick. "What the hell are you doin' man? Hittin' on me in 
front of half of Orlando, not to mention Kevin!"
	Nick staggered back against the railing, caught off-balance 
when Justin pulled away. His expression turned to one of shock and 
embarrassment as he realized just how shameless he had been. "Oh 
god! I'm sorry!" He looked around in panic and saw how many people 
below had been watching them. Then, as he looked higher up, his 
fearful gaze connected with Kevin's hurt and angry stare. He leapt off 
the pedestal, pushing through the crowd.
	Gray watched him go. "Wow, he's got issues." She shook her 
head sadly. 
	"Yeah." Joey shrugged. "Nick is a troubled soul. You okay, 
Curly?" He stepped over to Justin, but still had to shout over the 
music.
	"Yeah, I guess so." Justin frowned. "I guess we kind of put on a 
show, huh?"
	"You're gonna have to MARRY Britney to get out of that one, 
man! It looked like you and Nick were about to do the nasty right 
here!"
	"Yeah, whatever! Turned you on at least!" Justin yelled back 
with a smirk, hoping to God that Joey was just joking with him. "Hey, 
I'm about ready to go, what about you?"
	Joey looked at Gray, who just raised her eyebrows. "I think 
we'll hang a while longer. If you want to head out, though, I bet you 
could get Lance to go; he said he was gettin sleepy a while ago."
	"Okey!" He nodded to Gray, slapped Joey on the shoulder and 
jumped down. He made his way through the mob -- many of whom 
stared at him with knowing smiles -- over to Lance and JC, who were 
surrounded by women. When the females saw Justin coming they 
parted like the Red Sea, only to close in again around him. He 
reached out and managed to catch Lance's arm and pull them 
together. "Hey man!" He hollered, "I'm over this! Wanna roll?"
	Lance looked over at JC, who was flailing about like a 
marionette on crack. JC called it 'dancing'. After waving several 
times, he got JC's attention and signaled that he was leaving with 
Justin. Josh mouthed 'See you later!' and waved, then spun around.
	It took them a few minutes, but finally Lance and Justin made 
it outside onto the main street of Pleasure Island.
	"Finally, fresh air!" Lance took a deep breath.
	"Yah, kinda hot in there." Justin agreed. "You don't mind 
leavin?"
	"No, man I'm exhausted! I'm glad you wanted to go. JC will be 
in there for hours."

	They made it back to Justin's Mercedes without incident and 
were soon speeding home. "What have you got in the CD deck? Lance 
asked, fiddling with the controls.
	"After that club, just silence would be nice if yah don' mind." 
Justin glanced at him with a smile.
	"Fine with me." Lance settled into the leather seat. "You feeling 
all right?" He asked after a few minutes.
	"Yah. You're not gonna school me about that biz with Nick?"
	"Nope. Though it will be interesting to hear what those people 
who keep saying 'N Sync and backstreet Boys hate each other make 
out of that. And... if since you brought it up, can I ask you a 
question?"
	"Shoot."
	"Do you like Nick? I mean, you know, 'like' him?"
	Justn worked his mouth around like he was swishing 
mouthwash for a few seconds before answering. "I like Nick okay, 
though certainly not 'that way', and I'm not sure I'd even really trust 
him as a tight friend. He's got a lot of issues. I feel kinda sorry for 
him I guess. And that dancing scam, well, I guess I let him cause I 
was feelin in need of some 'fection, and it got crazy. But he's got 
issues, man; he needs to work his life out."
	"Okay, just wondering." Lance smiled in relief. 
	Then, after a pause, Justin said quietly "I've made a decision 
about something else though."
	"What's that?" Lance looked over at his friend.
	Justin's face was expressionless as the glow of the passing 
streetlights flowed over it's youthful contours. "I'm through with 
sitting around waiting for Terry."


To be continued...

----

End of Part SIXTEEN

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