Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 15:04:48 EST
From: lictor (at) aol (dot) com
Subject: NSYNC-lance-n-jc part 28

'N SYNC: LANCE 'N' JC
CHAPTER 28

----------
	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 or anyone else depicted here.
If you are under 18, or are offended by graphic depictions of
homosexual relationships, please go find something else to read.

	Story content copyright 2000 T. Kevin.

----

	The tour continued, one city blurring into another, a convoluted
trail leading towards Washington -- JC's home.
	He had been keeping to himself, trying to write songs,
sleeping, avoiding everyone. Bobbi kept turning up, apparently given
access through Chris' girlfriend Dani. JC suspected that Alex
Sommers might also have something to do with it.
	Meanwhile Lance seemed to be getting by, spending more time
with Joey or sometimes Justin. There had been some tension
between Justin and the rest of the group lately: the youngest
member of 'N Sync was becoming more withdrawn as the tour
progressed. The rest of the group knew this would happen, but poor
Terry was having a hard time not taking it personally.
	And all this time, JC and Lance hadn't talked about their
relationship -- or what was left of it. Deep down inside, JC knew he
loved Lance. But there was still the voice that told him that this
relationship was wrong and could never work -- that it was better
for them both not to try to pursue it. Every time JC saw Justin shut
down, leaving Terry to wait out his withdrawal, or every time he
watched a girl fan hug Justin while Terry stood in the shadows and
cringed, JC saw what could happen with Lance and him. Their lives
were too public, too abnormal, to even try for a real relationship.
	JC had had only one brief phone conversation with his father
since their unpleasant meeting in Florida. Roy Chasez had called his
son and asked if they could meet for lunch before the concert in DC.
As was management policy, Melinda had already sent JC's family a
block of tickets to the show, so it was assumed they would be
attending that as well.

----

	The buses had arrived in Washington at two AM, the boys
stumbled to their rooms and went through their routine in a half-
sleeping daze.
	Terry a quick shower while Justin unpacked a few things, then
lay dozing in the king-size bed, waiting for the singer to finish his
shower. It took him a minute to remember that they were actually in
his home town. It seemed sort of silly to stay in a hotel when his
own apartment was a few blocks away, but of course for him and
Justin to actually stay there would be logistically ridiculous.
	Justin... the handsome teenager was in the shower half-singing
something Terry didn't recognize. He couldn't believe how lucky he
was. Despite Justin's occasional withdrawals, the schedule, and the
fact that they had to keep their relationship secret, he still felt
very fortunate. When Terry went into one of his own funks, afraid
that Justin had lost interest in him or no longer wanted him around,
the singer would set everything possible aside to be with him and
make it clear that he was important. And each was learning to
respect the other's need to be alone every once in awhile and to try
not take it personally.
	Just then the blond came trotting out of the bathroom in his
boxers, arms clutched together across his chest. "It's soooo cold in
here!" He chattered before leaping into the bed. "Warm me up!" He
grabbed Terry and roughly pulled the brunet against him while
thrashing around spastically.
	"Hey! Your feet are freezing!" Terry gasped as Justin's size 14's
brushed his calves. They wrestled around in the bed for a minute,
giggling and tickling, before they finally collapsed.
	"Okay I'm warm now!" Justin declared.
	"And I'm hot." Terry sighed, throwing off the bedspread and
panting.
	"In your dreams." Justin snickered.

----

	Later that night Terry woke to find himself alone in the bed. He
forced down a momentary panic and sat up to look around the dark
room. There was a light under the bathroom door. He sighed and lay
back down.
	A minute later Justin emerged, slipped back into bed and
curled up in a fetal position facing away.
	"Are you okay?" Terry whispered.
	"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Justin's voice seemed
strained.
	"What's the matter?"
	"I wanted a drink of water."
	"Justin..."
	"It's nuthin. Bad dream."
	"Baby..." Terry tentatively reached out and touched the singer's
shoulder. Justin was trembling. "You want to talk about it?"
	But instead of replying, Justin rolled over and pulled them
together, burying his head in Terry's shoulder. He was crying.
	The brunet held Justin tenderly, caressing his hair. He was
worried about this little breakdown -- not the first -- but he also
felt a little guilty, actually enjoying the fact that Justin would let
his guard down and literally cry on his shoulder. "It's okay, let it
out." He whispered.
	"I'm, sorry man, I'm a big baby." Justin choked out.
	"No you're not a baby. You're under terrible pressure every day.
It would get to anyone. And I don't mind. I like being here for yah." He
felt Justin's arms slip around him and pull him into a powerful hug.
	"Thanks. Sometimes I see those crowds of girls screaming my
name, thinking they want me, but they don't even know me. It makes
me scared, feel so lonely, I dunno why." Justin sniffled. "I'm glad
you're here wit' me."
	"I'm glad you're here with me too."
	"You know there aren't many people I trust. My parents, the
other guys, Lonnie... and you.

----

	Around 11 AM, JC's phone rang.
	"JC? Chris."
	"Yah." JC mumbled, awakened from an unpleasant dream:
another strange 'Star Wars' thing involving Lance.
	"Dani and Bobbi are here in town, man. Want to have lunch?
Bobbi wants to see you."
	JC sighed. He tried to like Bobbi. She was certainly an
attractive woman. But for some reason her voice on the phone
always made him grit his teeth. When they were together and she
held his hand, he felt uncomfortable. Her soft, feminine skin against
his seemed... wrong somehow. And she kept pushing him to have sex
with her.
	"I'm meeting my parents for lunch dude, can't make it." JC was
relieved for the excuse, even though meeting the 'rents was bound to
be even more unpleasant than lunch with the tittering Bobbi.
	"Okay, good luck."
	"Uh, thanks. Do you know if the other guys are up yet?"
	"Yeah, Justin and Terry are down at the gym; Joey and Lance
said they were gonna go shopping and scope out places to go after
the show, since we're here overnight."
	"Okay, thanks. See yah at sound check." JC hung up the phone
and flopped onto his back. Lance and Joey had been hanging around
together more and more. JC wasn't sure he liked that; Joey was such
a party-boy. At least Steve wasn't with them today: he had
responsibilities setting up for the show. JC had found himself
developing a dislike for Steve Fatone.
	He stared at the ceiling, wishing he could just go back to
sleep... forever.

----

	After working out, Terry and Justin went back to the room and
showered -- an activity which this time involved both of them and
entailed far more than just getting clean. Justin was in a playful
mood, a pleasant change after the last few days of being mostly
quiet and sad. After their shower, Terry was in the bathroom shaving
and Justin was flopped on the bed wearing only a pair of boxer-
briefs, when there was a knock at the door. The singer hopped up and,
figuring that it was one of the other guys since their whole floor
was closed off, flung it open. "Hey --"
	Standing in the doorway flashing her signature smile, was
Britney Spears. "Hi baby!" She giggled.
	When she didn't get an immediate response from Justin (he
stood there staring at her, his jaw slack), she threw her arms around
him, pushing him backwards into the room.
	"I missed you so much!" She squealed.
	"Uhh, hi Brit, what a surprise!" He finally blurted out.
	Just then, Terry, who hadn't heard any of this, came out of the
bathroom wearing only a towel around his waist. "Hey Jus, have you
seen my --" Then he stopped when he saw the couple at the door.
	"Terry, I don't know if you've met Britney." The singer gingerly
removed her arms from around his neck.
	"What the hell ah you doin' in Justin's bathroom?" Britney
screeched, her eyes wide. Her southern twang got stronger when she
was angry.
	Terry swallowed. "Nice to meet you too." He finally said
quietly, feeling very exposed -- in more ways than one.
	Britney's eyes widened further as she scanned the room. Two
suitcases, two carry-ons, a computer, clothes draped on a chair that
didn't look like they belonged to her boyfriend...
	"Britney, I tried to explain this to you back in L.A..." Justin
began.
	"Oh my gawd!" She gasped, stepping away from him and putting
her hand over her mouth. "Oh my GAWD! You ARE gay! And with this
OLDER guy! Justin how COULD you!?"
	"Brit, you have to understand --" Justin reached out to her.
	But Britney flinched away. "Don't come near me, you... queer!"
She seethed. Then before he could say or do anything else, she was
out the door. They could hear her wailing as she ran down the hall
before the door mercifully closed itself.
	"That could have gone... better." Terry sighed.
	"Jeez I didn't think she'd freak like that, but I never guessed it
was her at the door." Justin slumped into a chair. "Guess it was kind
of a shock. She called me a 'queer'!" He shook his head in amazement.
	"Well at least she didn't call you an 'old guy.'" Terry shrugged
ruefully.
	"But man, I'm sure half of her dancers are gay, and she knows it
and is cool with it. I didn't think it would upset her so much." Justin
seemed genuinely hurt and amazed.
	"Well..." Terry knelt in front of him and put his hands on
Justin's knees. "You have been friends since you were kids, right?"
	"Yah." Justin looked at his hands in his lap.
	"And she seemed to think that at least there was a chance you
guys would be better than friends." Then he added hesitantly, "Or
maybe you have been?"
	Justin shrugged. "Not really. I mean, we've kissed a couple
times, when we were younger and kind of experimenting, but that
was it. Back in L.A., at the studio, when you... left... I told her that we
were not dating and weren't ever gonna date. I was really clear about
it, you can ask any of the guys!" The singer put his hand on Terry's
and squeezed for emphasis.
	"I believe you, it's okay. But sometimes people don't hear
things they don't want to hear. And at the very least, as your close
friend, she might be hurt that you didn't feel you could share this
with her."
	"I didn't tell her cause I thought it WOULD hurt her feelings!"
	"I didn't say it was logical." Terry smiled sadly.
	"So what do I do now?"
	"Well, I'm going to get dressed. You do what you want."
	"I guess I'll go try to talk to her." Justin sighed.
	"Probably a good idea. But first, maybe you should get dressed
too." Terry suggested as Justin started towards the door.

----

	Lance and Joey, baseball hats pulled low, wandered through the
mall. There weren't any good malls in downtown DC, so they'd taken a
cab out to a place across the river in Virginia called Pentagon City.
	"I wonder if the real Pentagon is nearby." Lance looked around
as they got out of the cab in front of the Macy's
	"Don't ask, don't tell!" Joey teased.
	"I wasn't planning on enlisting!" Lance rolled his eyes and
smiled.
	"Probably a lot of hot young military guys around though." Joey
winked conspiratorially.
	"I'm sure that would go over real big with our management.
'Singer Lance Bass caught in dressing room tryst with Army
Private.'" The blond said as he pulled open the door.
	"What's a 'tryst', anyway?"
	"I'm sure you've had a few... just never mind. Ooooh, look there's
a sale on Tommy Hilfiger!" Lance gasped.
	"Oh, god help us! " Joey laughed. "Just remember we have to be
back by three." But he was glad to see Lance distracted by anything.
	After a couple hours of shopping, the two staggered out of
Abercrombie & Fitch, now laden with several bags each.
	"Ready to get something to eat, Scoop?" Joey looked over the
railing down towards the food court.  "Scoop?" He turned around, and
saw Lance slumped on a bench. He hurried over and sat down. "You
okay man? You look more pale than usual."
	"Just tired I guess." Lance closed his eyes for a minute. He
waited for the dizziness to pass. The spells had been coming more
frequently.
	"You can't fool me, Lance. You look like you almost passed out,
and it's not the first time. You really should see a doctor."
	"I'm sure it's nothing. Low blood pressure."
	"You don't know that." Joey scolded.
	"Yes, mother." Lance managed a half-smile. "I feel fine, really."
	Joey narrowed his eyes for a moment. Lance still didn't look
too good. "Promise me you'll go to a doctor when we are back in
Florida tomorrow."
	"I promise." Lance raised his hand as if to swear.
	"And if you don't go on your own, I will personally drag you!"
	"Okay!" Lance laughed.
	"Now let's eat, I'm starving."
	"Already?" Lance frowned. "I'm not. Actually my stomach
doesn't feel too good."
	"Probably just hungry. No wonder you almost fainted, not
enough food!" Joey grinned, patting his belly.

----

	When JC came out of the shower he noticed that the message
light was blinking on his phone. When he called, there was only a
recording that there was something for him at the front desk. He
dressed in a mental fog, uncertain of what he was going to do or say
when he saw his parents. He stopped by the hotel desk and the clerk
handed him an envelope, addressed to him in Lance's handwriting. He
was trembling as he tore it open.


	'Josh,

	I hope things go okay with your parents. Please don't do
anything on my account to jeopardize your relationship; I know how
important they are to you.

	Love, James.'


	A lump in his throat, JC folded the note and carefully put it in
his pocket.
	He met his parents in the hotel restaurant. They both hugged
him, but his' mother's embrace was perfunctory at best. His father,
on the other hand, seemed to make an extra effort to embrace his son
warmly.
	They were seated and ordered their meal over pleasantries. A
few giggling girls shuffled up and asked for autographs, which he
gave with a slightly pained smile.
	"I hear you're seeing a young lady." Karen Chasez said suddenly
after the girls had left.
	JC's head snapped up. He noticed his father also watching
intently.
	"Her name's Bobbi. I'm not exactly 'seeing' her. She's a friend of
Chris' girlfriend Dani."
	"Well, hopefully she can help you put those other ideas out of
your head." Karen nodded.
	"What ideas, mom?" JC deliberately baited her.
	"You know what I mean, what you said to us in Florida." Karen
nervously arranged her napkin on her lap.
	"Oh, you mean about being gay." JC said, then sat back, pressing
his lips together. His gaze moved back and forth between his parents.
His mother wouldn't look him in the eye. His father just seemed...
tired.
	"Yes, that. I hope that's all over with." Karen took a drink of
water.
	"No, mother, it's not." JC said very slowly and evenly. "And I've
thought about it a lot over the last few weeks." Even he wasn't sure
where he was going; it was as if the words were forming on their
own. "I understand you have strong feelings about this... but I think
you're wrong."
	"How can you know that!?" His mother put the glass down hard;
some water sloshed over the rim and soaked into the white
tablecloth.
	JC stared at the spreading moisture with an odd, detached
fascination as he spoke again. "Because I'm in love with another
man."
	Karen recoiled, clutching her hands together. "You can't be
serious!" She hissed.
	"Totally serious. I've never felt like this before. Ever since we
talked, I've been trying to fight my feelings for him and it's done
nothing but make us both miserable. I won't put us through any more
pain because of your intolerance." JC looked up then and fixed his
gaze on his mother.
	She couldn't meet his stare for more than a moment before
looking away. "You're young, Joshua, young and foolish." She fidgeted
with her fork on the table. "I can only pray you will see the terrible
mistake you are making."
	"Pray all you want, mother." JC pushed back from the table.
	"Where are you going?" His father asked.
	"To see someone." He threw his napkin down and stood up.
"Enjoy the show tonight. Call me when you're ready to accept me for
who I am."
	As JC left the restaurant, his mother shook her head. "Josh is
sick... he doesn't know what he's doing. This is sinful, it's wrong."
	"Karen, he's still our son." Roy couldn't bring himself to look at
his wife.

----

	But Lance wasn't in his room when JC knocked. Feeling the
adrenaline of his encounter with the parents draining away to be
replaced by an overwhelming tiredness, he went back to his own
room and laid down. In moments he was asleep.

----

	Joey convinced Lance to eat a sandwich, but he could tell his
bandmate wasn't feeling well. They got a cab back to the hotel, and
in the elevator Lance started hyperventilating.
	"Are you okay Scoop?" Joey peered at him.
	Lance was even paler than before. "I think that cab ride did me
in."
	He pulled the blond's hat off and gasped. Lance's hair was
soaked with sweat. "Man, what is it?"
	Lance smiled weakly. "I think I'm gonna puke."
	Just then the door opened. Wes was on guard and stood as they
bolted out of the elevator, Joey half supporting Lance.
	Wes! Grab our bags will yah and put em in Lance's room!" Joey
hollered as he pulled his buddy down the hall to his own room, the
closest one.
	"Hurry, man." Lance whispered.
	Joey fumbled with the key-card but finally got the door open.
Lance clapped his hand over his mouth and pushed past, running for
the bathroom. A moment later Joe heard the unmistakable sound of
his friend getting very ill.
	A few  minutes later Lance emerged, looking white as a sheet.
He slumped into a chair.
	"You need to get to a doctor right away." Joey said firmly.
	"No, I'm okay now." Lance was unconvincing.
	Joe stalked to the bathroom, and emerged a moment later with
a washcloth soaked in cool water. "Here, this will help." He pressed
it to Lance's forehead, then sat down again when Lance took the
cloth.
	"Thanks, bud. That feels good. I'm really better already, just
upset stomach."
	Joey shook his head. "You look like hell. There's no way you
should perform tonight."
	Lance leaned back and closed his eyes. "C'mon Joey, we've all
performed sick before; I'll just take it easy, not jump around too
much."
	"I dunno, this isn't just a cold, man."
	"I'll be fine! You have to promise not to tell the other guys I
threw up, okay? I don't want Josh -- the guys I mean -- to worry."
	Joey frowned. "I think this is a bad idea. I'll only keep quiet if
you PROMISE to take it easy. No going out after the show."
	"Oh darn and I was planning on partying all night!" Lance tilted
his head back against the chair and shot Joey a little smile, peering
at him from under the edge of his washcloth.
	Joey frowned. He didn't like keeping secrets. For one thing, he
wasn't very good at it.

----

	JC was awakened by the phone: Melinda calling to let him know
that they were meeting in Chris' room before heading to the venue
for sound checks. He stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, feeling
groggy and disoriented. What would he tell Lance? Would Lance still
want him now, after all this time and the way JC had treated him?
He didn't expect that things would go right back to the way they
were.
	Now that JC had burned his bridges with his parents and some
time had passed, he felt oddly nervous about seeing Lance. When he
got to Chris' room, the others were already there. Chris and Joey
were on a couch, Lance was in a chair, and Terry was laying on the
bed, propped up on one elbow.
	Justin had everyone's attention, mincing around the room and
flailing his arms over his head, obviously imitating someone... "THEN
she yelled at me..." The blond switched to a screeching falsetto... "'Oh
my gawd you're gay, with that OLD MAN!'"
	Joey and Chris burst out laughing, Lance smiled, and Terry
looked embarrassed.
	"What did I miss?" JC asked quietly.
	Everyone turned to look at him. Justin put his hands down.
	"Justin was reenacting Terry's meeting with Britney." Joey
said with a snicker.
	Justin flopped on the bed next to Terry. "I think she's jealous."
He rolled his eyes. "How's that arthritis, old guy?" He poked Terry in
the stomach.
	"That's not funny!" Terry scowled.
	"I'm sorry, baby, you know I don't think you're old." Justin
rolled on top of Terry and started grinding his hips against the
brunet's.
	"Hey!" Chris shouted, "I don't need to see you guys doin' the
nasty right here in front of everyone!
	"Oooh, Terry, you make me so hot I can't take my hands off you!"
Justin said sexily while trying not to giggle. He caressed Terry all
over, obviously now just trying to antagonize Chris.
	"Justin... stop it..." Terry mumbled anxiously, trying to hold
Justin's hands still.
	"STOP IT!" Chris shrieked, slinging a pillow at the back of
Justin's head.
	"You're just jealous that he's MY man and not yours!" Justin
grinned evilly. Terry was blushing bright red now.
	Then there was a knock at the door. Justin rolled off his lover
as JC opened the door to let Melinda and the security guys in.
	Melinda noticed Justin and Terry sitting on the bed adjusting
their clothes, but didn't comment. Instead she consulted her
clipboard. "Are we ready to go?" She was met by a chorus of
reluctant affirmatives as they gathered their things.
	As they filed out, Lance timidly approached JC. "How did lunch
go?"
	"About the way I expected." JC shrugged. "Thanks for the note
though. Are you feeling okay? You look kind of pale."
	"I'm fine, lunch didn't agree with me is all." Lance answered
shortly, a chill suddenly in his voice.
	JC flinched, assuming that Lance was keeping him at a
distance. 'I don't blame him, after the way I've treated him." JC
thought sadly.
	All the rest of the day it seemed to JC that Lance was avoiding
him even more than usual. During the show Lance seemed tired or
distracted, and afterwards he went straight to his room. Joey --
who seemed more protective of Lance than usual -- told them that
the bass singer wasn't going out, that he was tired.
	"Maybe I'll go check on him." JC volunteered, hoping to have a
minute to talk to Lance alone.
	But Joey moved to block his way "He said he was going straight
to bed. I don't think he wants to see anyone."
	"Ohh-kay." JC said slowly. Joey sure was acting strange.

----

	They went out to a club -- a big place called 'Velvet Nation' --
and had a good time, though JC couldn't stop thinking about Lance. A
couple of times he noticed Terry and Justin pretty much dancing
together. He thought maybe he should say something, but he couldn't
bring himself to discourage them... the pair looked so happy, and no
one had seemed to recognize them yet. There did seem to be quite a
few gay men there, and every time he saw them it depressed him a
little more.
	Back at the hotel, Lance lay on his bed, shivering with chills.
He couldn't keep anything down. His whole body ached and every time
he got up he felt so weak and dizzy that he had to hold on to
something. 'Maybe Joey's right, I should see a doctor...'

----

	The next afternoon they flew back to Orlando. Lance still felt
awful, and he didn't eat anything. He kept his hat pulled down low,
trying to hide his sunken eyes and pasty skin. At least he didn't get
airsick, he thought, grateful for small favors.
	They had that evening to rest, and the next day they would do
the Disney show and film a few skits, then back on tour. At the
airport, Lance, Joey and Steve left immediately for Joey's house.
Justin's mom was there to pick up the other three 'N Sync guys and
Terry.
	"Is Lance okay?" JC asked no one in particular as they rode
away from the airport.
	"Why didn't you ask him?" Chris answered with unusual
coldness.
	"I think he's got a cold or something." Justin volunteered. "I
know he's been sleeping a lot."
	JC didn't speak again for the rest of the ride home.

----

	They next morning the five guys (Terry elected to stay behind
and work) were picked up in a large van and brought to one of the
secret back entrances to Disney World. As they got out, JC managed
to get next to Lance. "Are you feeling okay, Scoop?"
	"Just a little run down." Lance put on his dark sunglasses. "How
are you doing?"
	"Worried about you."
	"Well, if it makes you feel better, Joey made me promise to
see a doctor while we're in Orlando."
	"You and Joey have been spending a lot of time together..."
	"Don't tell me you're jealous." Lance smiled crookedly.
	"I guess I am." JC sighed. "I... miss you."
	"I haven't gone anywhere."
	"I know, you've been really patient. Could we talk, sit down
someplace quiet and really talk about us?"
	"Of course, Josh. How about after this taping?"
	"That would be great, thanks." JC smiled. He gave Lance's
shoulder a little squeeze.

----

	Alex Sommers, Melinda, the wardrobe assistants and several
Disney people were waiting for them in the backstage area. The band
was getting set up.
	"Morning everyone!" Melinda said cheerily. "Help yourselves to
some breakfast. Then we'll have a run-through, then they will let the
audience in and we'll do the concert. And here are your scripts for
the skits we'll be filming later." She passed out photocopies of their
lines.
	There was a buffet laid out for them, and everyone chowed
down...  everyone except Lance. He took a few things but only picked
at his food while he studied his lines.
	"Are you sure you're okay?" JC asked as they headed to the
changing room.
	"Just not hungry." Lance shrugged. He took a bottle of water
with him.
	"God, who wrote these skits!? They are so lame!" Chris
exclaimed. "We get a summer job as ice cream salesmen!?"
	"No one asked your opinion." Alex glared at him.
	"Someone should have." Chris snapped back.
	Joey grabbed Alex by the arm as they were leaving. "Lance is
sick, he's got the flu I think."
	"So, give him some Pepto and get him on the stage!" Alex
answered coldly. "Now let go of my arm."
	"I mean he's really sick, he can barely stand up. He's in no shape
to perform."
	"That's not my problem. Your contract binds you to every event
we schedule, and this is big time. You know how much your last
Disney concert did for your careers."
	"But --"
	"Maybe if you all didn't party so much he wouldn't BE sick. Get
him on the stage or you're all in big trouble." Alex jerked his arm
free and walked away.
	"Bastard." Joey seethed.

----

	The run-through went okay; Lance was obviously not well. He
just stepped through his dance moves, and he sat down at every
opportunity. The others all noticed but no one dared say anything.
	When everything was set, the guys went backstage while they
let the audience in, and someone from Disney gave them instructions
on how to behave since they were filming this for a special.
	Lance had his eyes closed and was trying not to faint when he
heard a familiar voice.
	"Lance you look like shit!"
	"Thanks, Danielle, nice to see you too." He opened his eyes and
smiled weakly. Danielle Fishel was standing in front of him, hands
on hips. But the expression on her face was one of genuine concern.
	"You look like you just rode Space Mountain fifteen times."
	Lance grimaced. "Don't even TALK about roller-coasters!" He
whined.
	"Well, good luck. And you better get some rest after this show."
She said gently, touching his arm.
	"I will, thanks."

----

	Lance managed to make it through the show with hardly a
mistake, though towards the end he could feel like he was on his last
bit of energy. Finally the performance ended and they took their
bows amid clouds of confetti.
	JC went to one side of the stage to grab a bottle of water and a
towel. He was wiping his face when...
	"Oh my god! Lance!"
	JC spun around when he heard Justin cry out -- and froze in
horror at what he saw: Lance was collapsing; it looked like he was
fainting. And he was at the other end of the stage -- right at the
edge. As JC watched, he realized on horror that Lance was going to
fall off the edge onto the concrete below. He rushed towards his
love, but seemed to be moving in slow motion. He was too far away!
He couldn't save him!!
	Lance tumbled out of JC's line of sight.
	He heard himself scream...
	Then he was there. He was terrified to look over the edge, but
he did.
	There on the ground below stood Joey... with Lance draped in
his arms. The blond's body hung limply as Joey struggled to hold him.
Somewhere in JC's mind it reminded him of a pieta: one of those
sculptures of Christ in Mary's arms. But Christ was dead in those
sculptures.
	And Joey was sure not Mary, and Lance... Lance couldn't be dead.
Joey was staring at JC, his expression as close to hatred as Josh had
ever seen it. He was clearly thinking 'You did this to Lance.'
	While JC stood paralyzed, Justin and Chris climbed down and
rushed to Joey's side.
	"What happened?" Justin wailed. "Is he okay!?"
	"He collapsed!" Joey grunted. "Obviously he's NOT okay, call
911!"
	Chris helped Joey ease Lance down onto the ground. Lance was
white as a sheet.
	 Melinda, a couple of band members and Alex ran up.
	"Call 911!" Joey yelled again.
	"Is that a good idea? He probably just fainted The publicity..."
Alex started.
	"Call the fucking ambulance!!!" Joey screamed, holding Lance to
him and staring directly at Alex.

----


End of Part 28!

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