Part 23

~I'll keep on holding you, my arms so tight; I'll never let you slip away~

"Hey Lance!" Justin called, as they entered Lance's hospital room. "Looking good!"

"Be nice, you guys," Britney admonished, before turning her attention to Lance.

"Hi Lance," she said, bending down to kiss his cheek. "You do look good,

"That's exactly what I said," Justin complained.

"I didn't appreciate the tone of your voice," she said, glaring at him. Lance, behind her head, smiled at Justin and stuck his tongue out.

"Justin," Britney said. "You know you really look so much cuter when you're not pouting." That brought a smile to Justin's face. "See?" she continued. "That is so much better."

Lance watched them, curiously. There was a new dynamic to Justin and Britney's relationship, and while he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, he was pleased to see it. He smiled. "Where's Chris?" he asked.

"He'll be here later," Joey answered. "You know, we're not all supposed to be here at once. Question is, where's JC?"

"He went home to pick some stuff up. He's allowed to spend the nights with me."

"Yeah, Lance," Justin smirked. "But are you really up to that yet?"

Justin grinned. "Brain isn't quite working perfect yet, is it?"

The four had been talking for a while when Joey asked, "So, how are you feelin' Lance? Really?"

"I'm ok, I guess. I'm still really tired, and my head hurts. Other than that, I'm ok though."

"I don't know. Six weeks from then, what is that?"

Joey and Justin looked at each other, both calculating in their heads. "That'll be about...June 12?" Joey said.

"So, we should be able to start touring pretty soon after that," Lance said, hopefully.

Justin and Joey glanced at each other, doubtfully. "I don't know, man," Joey said.

"Yeah, we'll have to wait and see how you're feeling then."

"Lance, we'll see, ok?" Justin said. "It's no big deal. We don't even have to tour this summer. We can start in September if we need to."

Lance was about to reply when JC came in, carrying a large bag and a bouquet of flowers. He was smiling broadly. He set the flowers at Lance's bedside, before leaning down and kissing him, tenderly. "Hey baby," he said, practically beaming.

"Hey," Lance replied, returning the smile. The two of them continued to just look at each other, until they heard a throat being cleared. Looking up, they saw the other three looking slightly uncomfortable.

"I feel like we're intruding on a private moment," Justin said.

"No," Lance said, diplomatically, "of course not."

"Yeah," JC said, "actually you are. If you guys don't mind..."

"Josh!" Lance said, looking at the others apologetically.

"Sorry guys," JC said, though he didn't look sorry at all. "But it's been a few days since we've had any time alone together."

"Yeah, we understand," Britney said, smiling and taking Justin's hand, and glancing at Joey. "We'll see you guys later," she said, leading the way out the door.

"Josh," Lance said, looking at JC disapprovingly. "That was terrible."

JC did not even have the good grace to look guilty. "Yeah, I guess I'm just a bad person." He smiled. "Forgive me?"

Lance laughed. "Like I have a choice." He glanced over at the flowers JC had brought. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

"You're welcome," JC said, kissing Lance again. When they parted, Lance looked at him critically.

Lance looked doubtful. "I know you haven't been sleeping well, Josh. I worry about you."

JC laughed at that. Here was Lance, who had just had major surgery, and he was worried about JC not sleeping well.

"Come here, get in bed. I want you to take a nap with me."

JC smiled and nodded, taking off his shoes, and climbing in bed beside his lover. He wrapped his arms around Lance, and kissed his neck, softly. "I love you so much," he said.

"I love you too," Lance said, sighing contentedly. "This is so much better," he murmured.

"Yeah," JC agreed, happily. This was just about perfect.


	Inner Reflection \| home back to But Faith Part 23 ~I'll keep on holding you, my arms so tight; I'll never let you slip away~ "Hey Lance!" Justin called, as they entered Lance's hospital room. "Looking good!" "Yeah man," Joey agreed, "Nice bandage." "Be nice, you guys," Britney admonished, before turning her attention to Lance. "Hey Brit," he said, smiling. "Thanks." "Hi Lance," she said, bending down to kiss his cheek. "You do look good, sweetie," "That's exactly what I said," Justin complained. "I didn't appreciate the tone of your voice," she said, glaring at him. Lance, behind her head, smiled at Justin and stuck his tongue out. "Yeah, real cute, Bass," Justin said, scowling. "Justin," Britney said. "You know you really look so much cuter when you're not pouting." That brought a smile to Justin's face. "See?" she continued. "That is so much better." Lance watched them, curiously. There was a new dynamic to Justin and Britney's relationship, and while he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, he was pleased to see it. He smiled. "Where's Chris?" he asked. "He'll be here later," Joey answered. "You know, we're not all supposed to be here at once. Question is, where's JC?" "He went home to pick some stuff up. He's allowed to spend the nights with me." "That's great, Lance," Britney said. "Yeah, Lance," Justin smirked. "But are you really up to that yet?" Lance just looked at him. "What?" Justin grinned. "Brain isn't quite working perfect yet, is it?" Britney rolled her eyes. "Justin." "Sorry," he said, though his grin did not fade. The four had been talking for a while when Joey asked, "So, how are you feelin' Lance? Really?" "I'm ok, I guess. I'm still really tired, and my head hurts. Other than that, I'm ok though." "What about the radiation?" Justin asked. "I start on the first of May." "When'll you be done?" "I don't know. Six weeks from then, what is that?" Joey and Justin looked at each other, both calculating in their heads. "That'll be about...June 12?" Joey said. "Yeah, I think so," Justin agreed. "So, we should be able to start touring pretty soon after that," Lance said, hopefully. Justin and Joey glanced at each other, doubtfully. "I don't know, man," Joey said. "Yeah, we'll have to wait and see how you're feeling then." Lance frowned. "I'm sure I'll be ok." "Lance, we'll see, ok?" Justin said. "It's no big deal. We don't even have to tour this summer. We can start in September if we need to." Lance was about to reply when JC came in, carrying a large bag and a bouquet of flowers. He was smiling broadly. He set the flowers at Lance's bedside, before leaning down and kissing him, tenderly. "Hey baby," he said, practically beaming. "Hey," Lance replied, returning the smile. The two of them continued to just look at each other, until they heard a throat being cleared. Looking up, they saw the other three looking slightly uncomfortable. "I feel like we're intruding on a private moment," Justin said. "No," Lance said, diplomatically, "of course not." "Yeah," JC said, "actually you are. If you guys don't mind..." "Josh!" Lance said, looking at the others apologetically. "Sorry guys," JC said, though he didn't look sorry at all. "But it's been a few days since we've had any time alone together." "Yeah, we understand," Britney said, smiling and taking Justin's hand, and glancing at Joey. "We'll see you guys later," she said, leading the way out the door. "Josh," Lance said, looking at JC disapprovingly. "That was terrible." JC did not even have the good grace to look guilty. "Yeah, I guess I'm just a bad person." He smiled. "Forgive me?" Lance laughed. "Like I have a choice." He glanced over at the flowers JC had brought. "They're beautiful. Thank you." "You're welcome," JC said, kissing Lance again. When they parted, Lance looked at him critically. "You look really tired," he said. "No, I'm fine," JC insisted. Lance looked doubtful. "I know you haven't been sleeping well, Josh. I worry about you." JC laughed at that. Here was Lance, who had just had major surgery, and he was worried about JC not sleeping well. Lance raised an eyebrow. "What's funny?" "Nothing, baby," JC said, taking Lance's hand. "I'm tired, you know," Lance said. "Come here." "What?" JC asked. "Come here, get in bed. I want you to take a nap with me." JC smiled and nodded, taking off his shoes, and climbing in bed beside his lover. He wrapped his arms around Lance, and kissed his neck, softly. "I love you so much," he said. "I love you too," Lance said, sighing contentedly. "This is so much better," he murmured. "Yeah," JC agreed, happily. This was just about perfect.