Chapter 20

After seeing the look on Lances' face, the full nurturing side of him kicked in. Trying to break free from the cops, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "I DIDN'T DO IT! I LOVE HIM! LET ME GO!"

Lance wanted to call back, but he knew this was for the best. So as much as it hurt him to not do, he kept silent, not calling out Joeys' name, not holding his arms for him to fill, not doing anything.

Continueing to fight against the officers, Joey wound up kicking one of them in the shins.

"Stop fighting and maybe you can plea bargin with the judge. You're already in enough hot water as it is. Don't put yourself in any hotter."

Straining his neck to look at Justin, he begged, "Justin, please, talk to him. Let me speak with him."

"Why should I let you Joey? What have you done for Lance that would warrent us letting you see him? He's already in here because of you. Get him out of here."

Turning to look at the officers, he said. "No please, you got to listen to me. I didn't do it."

"Everything is pointing to you son. We have no reason to belive that you didn't do it."

Looking at the female, he thought maybe she's listen. "You're taking the word of someone who bleeches his hair way to much over mine?"

"So you're also taking the word of someone who is high on chloroform over my own?" Joey asked, not realizing he had drugged Lance.

"Drugging your boyfriend." The cops didn't give him a chance for Joey to say anything as they dragged him out of the hosptial, kicking and screaming the whole way. Once he got into the squad car, he only stopped, tears now streaming for Lance as the blond watched from the window.

Joey stood behind the defenants' table, in his dress suit. It was now time for the sentencing. But for Joey, nothing could be as bad as seeing his ex-boyfriend now comfined to a wheelchair.

Lances' spinal cord had been severed that night in the cabin; he no longer had any use of his legs. He was slowly adjusting, but all the trial and such was slowly taking its toll on the blond.

"Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr. you are hereby found guilty but with special curcimustances of assult and battery and kidnapping. The assult of an officer and using drugs on your boyfriend have been thrown out in your plea bargin. You are sentenced to 18 months in prison where after you will be on probation for another 24 months. Within said time, you are to have NO contact whatsoever with James Lance Bass. This court is -- "

"Can Joey take something with him, something that I gave him while we were together sir. It's one of the only things that his rightfully his. I don't want to see him parted from it."

Holding up an animal carrier, Lance showed the judge what was inside. "I gave him this kitten some time ago sir. Please, I want him to have it." Holding up Jezebel, Lances' eyes started to well up as the kitten spotted Joey. Meowing for him, she squirmed out of Lances arms and ran over to Joey.

Watching the reaction between the two, the judge then asked, "Do you think the cat would like being with the big boys?"

"You're welcome Mr. Bass." The judge banged his gavle, a defining tone sounding throughout the court room. The ballif came over and escorted Joey and the kitten in his arms, towards the back of the room.

After hearing the sentencing, Joey stopped when they walked by Lance. Not touching him, he said simply, "It's been a long two months without her."

"It's been a long two months without you too Joey," Lance whispered, reaching his hand out to touch Joey, but quickly pulling it back. "I'm sorry it has to be this way."

Joey knew if he even tried to touch Lance, he'd be led away quicker. "Thank you for watching her for me. It means a lot."

"And you know no matter what I do, no matter where I go, you'll always be the object of my offection."

Smiling for him, Lance nodded, then looked away from him, his tears flowing harder. "I love you always and forever."

"You know, I love you so much and when I get out when my sentece is served, I'll look you up." Joeys' tears started to fall as well. "God Lance I love you."

Seeing the look on Lances' face, Justin replied, "Yeah man, lets go." Grasping the handles of the wheelchair, Justin pushed Lance out of the room, JC and Chris following.

Once they were outside in the sun, Lance let out a heavy sigh, the tears stopping. He wouldn't cry for Joey anymore. He wouldn't cry for the Joey that beat him. He would cry for the Joey that did love him.

Putting his hand on Lances' shoulder, Justin said, "It's over. Hopefully he'll be changed when he gets outs." Lance had been off in a different world, not hearing Justin. When he did feel Justins' hand on his shoudler, he gasped, like he was in pain. "Does it still hurt man?"

Thinking it over for a moment, Lance finally answered, "No, not anymore." Maybe Joey would get the help he needed. Maybe someday, they could be back together, maybe someday, the hurt would finally be replaced with the love that Lance knew Joey was capable of. He had seen it in his eyes, felt it in his kisses, experenced it when they made love. Maybe one day, he and Joey would have the world.


	Inner Reflection \| home back to When Love Hurts Chapter 20 After seeing the look on Lances' face, the full nurturing side of him kicked in. Trying to break free from the cops, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "I DIDN'T DO IT! I LOVE HIM! LET ME GO!" Lance wanted to call back, but he knew this was for the best. So as much as it hurt him to not do, he kept silent, not calling out Joeys' name, not holding his arms for him to fill, not doing anything. Continueing to fight against the officers, Joey wound up kicking one of them in the shins. "We can add assulting an officer to the list." "I don't care. I didn't do it. Just let me go!" "Stop fighting and maybe you can plea bargin with the judge. You're already in enough hot water as it is. Don't put yourself in any hotter." "Can I at least say goodbye to him first then?" "He said he didn't want to see you." "Too bad, I want to see him." "Not going to happen. Now stop fight us or more sevier charges will be added." Straining his neck to look at Justin, he begged, "Justin, please, talk to him. Let me speak with him." "Why should I let you Joey? What have you done for Lance that would warrent us letting you see him? He's already in here because of you. Get him out of here." Struggling more at Justins' words, Joey begged, "Justin, please, no." "Get him out of here already!" Turning to look at the officers, he said. "No please, you got to listen to me. I didn't do it." "Everything is pointing to you son. We have no reason to belive that you didn't do it." Looking at the female, he thought maybe she's listen. "You're taking the word of someone who bleeches his hair way to much over mine?" "No, we're also taking the word of your boyfriend." "So you're also taking the word of someone who is high on chloroform over my own?" Joey asked, not realizing he had drugged Lance. "And there's another charge we can add." "What?" "Drugging your boyfriend." The cops didn't give him a chance for Joey to say anything as they dragged him out of the hosptial, kicking and screaming the whole way. Once he got into the squad car, he only stopped, tears now streaming for Lance as the blond watched from the window. ----- 2 months later ----- Joey stood behind the defenants' table, in his dress suit. It was now time for the sentencing. But for Joey, nothing could be as bad as seeing his ex-boyfriend now comfined to a wheelchair. Lances' spinal cord had been severed that night in the cabin; he no longer had any use of his legs. He was slowly adjusting, but all the trial and such was slowly taking its toll on the blond. "Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr. you are hereby found guilty but with special curcimustances of assult and battery and kidnapping. The assult of an officer and using drugs on your boyfriend have been thrown out in your plea bargin. You are sentenced to 18 months in prison where after you will be on probation for another 24 months. Within said time, you are to have NO contact whatsoever with James Lance Bass. This court is -- " "Your honor," Lance called before the gavle hit. "I have one favor to ask." "Yes Mr. Bass," the judge asked. "What is it?" "Can Joey take something with him, something that I gave him while we were together sir. It's one of the only things that his rightfully his. I don't want to see him parted from it." "What is it Mr. Bass?" the judge again asked, looking down from the bench. Holding up an animal carrier, Lance showed the judge what was inside. "I gave him this kitten some time ago sir. Please, I want him to have it." Holding up Jezebel, Lances' eyes started to well up as the kitten spotted Joey. Meowing for him, she squirmed out of Lances arms and ran over to Joey. Watching the reaction between the two, the judge then asked, "Do you think the cat would like being with the big boys?" "Joey will protect her sir. I know he will. He loves her so much." "Yes, I suppose he can take the kitten," the judge allowed. "Thank you so much," Lance cried, the tears finally coming. "Is that it Mr. Bass?" "Yes sir, thank you." "You're welcome Mr. Bass." The judge banged his gavle, a defining tone sounding throughout the court room. The ballif came over and escorted Joey and the kitten in his arms, towards the back of the room. After hearing the sentencing, Joey stopped when they walked by Lance. Not touching him, he said simply, "It's been a long two months without her." "It's been a long two months without you too Joey," Lance whispered, reaching his hand out to touch Joey, but quickly pulling it back. "I'm sorry it has to be this way." Joey knew if he even tried to touch Lance, he'd be led away quicker. "Thank you for watching her for me. It means a lot." "Anytime baby." Smiling slightly at the words, he teased, "See, you still love me." "I always have, and always will." "And you know no matter what I do, no matter where I go, you'll always be the object of my offection." Smiling for him, Lance nodded, then looked away from him, his tears flowing harder. "I love you always and forever." "You know, I love you so much and when I get out when my sentece is served, I'll look you up." Joeys' tears started to fall as well. "God Lance I love you." Not saying a word, Lance turned to Justin. "Can we go please?" Seeing the look on Lances' face, Justin replied, "Yeah man, lets go." Grasping the handles of the wheelchair, Justin pushed Lance out of the room, JC and Chris following. Once they were outside in the sun, Lance let out a heavy sigh, the tears stopping. He wouldn't cry for Joey anymore. He wouldn't cry for the Joey that beat him. He would cry for the Joey that did love him. Putting his hand on Lances' shoulder, Justin said, "It's over. Hopefully he'll be changed when he gets outs." Lance had been off in a different world, not hearing Justin. When he did feel Justins' hand on his shoudler, he gasped, like he was in pain. "Does it still hurt man?" Thinking it over for a moment, Lance finally answered, "No, not anymore." Maybe Joey would get the help he needed. Maybe someday, they could be back together, maybe someday, the hurt would finally be replaced with the love that Lance knew Joey was capable of. He had seen it in his eyes, felt it in his kisses, experenced it when they made love. Maybe one day, he and Joey would have the world. ----- The End