Author: Elizabeth
Category: JC/Lance, Joey/Justin but totally later in the story.
Summary: This is AU but they become a band later. Lance�s home caught on fire when he was 12 and his family died. He packed up what little he had left and ran away before social services could get him. On the streets, he meets 10 year old Justin, then 20 year old Chris, 14 year old Joey and 15 year old JC. Soon, these five guys depend on each other and later discover love and a bond that will last forever.
AN: For the person who askedJ Yes, Lance and Justin are Preteens. Justin is 10 and Lance is 12. Joey and JC are teens and Chris is an adult. And it�ll be slash when Lance is 19 and Justin is 17 because they�ll be wondering about their sexuality.
~*~
Lance and Joey looked at each other, eyes wide with fear. Chris ran down, jacket and car keys in hand.
�Get your jackets. We�re going to that crash site and getting our boys back.�
�But�we don�t know�if they are alive.�
�Shut up Joey! They�re alive. They have to be alive!� Lance sobbed.
Chris wrapped an arm around Lance. �Sh, come on. We have to go.�
�I�m scared. Don�t let him leave me.�
�He won�t die.�
Joey got up and grabbed their coats. They got into the car and Chris drove out of the parking space.
�Chris, we don�t even know which way Mississippi is from here.�
�Lance, when you�re worried about your best friends, you don�t give a damn if you get lost or not unless you end up in New Mexico!�
Lance jumped and flinched away.
�Chris don�t yell at us�we just want them back.� Joey said softly.
Chris looked at them with sad eyes. �Oh God, I�m sorry. Lance, I�m sorry.�
Lance nodded. �Just get me to Josh.� He looked out the window.
Chris nodded and drove as quick as he could without getting a ticket.
Joey sighed and shrank in his seat, closing his eyes, Justin�s smile in his mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Justin struggled to keep his eyes opened. He felt like his body was fighting to give up�but Justin�s heart kept pumping out the beat of Joey�s name�telling to hold on.
�Justin�Justin, look at me, Justin. Open your eyes.�
Justin opened his eyes the best he could and cried out.
�Sh, it�s okay. The paramedics are just moving you.�
�It hurts�so much.�
�I know. Hold on, buddy, just hold on.�
�JC...where�s JC?�
�I don�t know.�
Justin�s face was streaked with tears. �Trace?�
�Hmm?�
�Thanks.�
�No problem. You have to go into the ambulance now?�
Justin opened his eyes as a gloved hand put a mask over his face and oxygen pumped into his body. Justin turned his head slightly and saw his friend smiling, a cut across his cheek. He smiled before closing his eyes and dreaming of Joey�s big strong arms wrapped around him and taking him away from the danger.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After the decision was answered, JC watched sadly as Michael held his dying girlfriend. The baby started crying and JC shushed her gently.
�It�s okay�you�re all right.� JC turned hearing voices. He gently placed the baby back in her carrier. He got up and cringed. He crawled out of the mangled wreck and got up the best he could.
�Help us! Please!� He called. A paramedic ran over and led JC to an ambulance. JC told him about the couple and the baby inside and he said he�d get them out quickly.
A woman walked over and dabbed at his wound.
�You�ll be okay.�
�Is Justin okay?�
She looked up and smiled. �You�ll find out soon enough.�
JC looked down then back up.
He got to the hospital and was checked out. The doctor came in and told him that a Michael Jansen wanted to see him.
�Okay.� JC got into a wheelchair and a nurse took him to see Michael. Michael turned seeing JC.
�Hey man.�
�Hey. How are you?�
�Not so good. I�m not going to make it man.�
�No�don�t say that.�
�I talked to my lawyer�he said he�d get everything set up with you.�
JC�s mouth dropped. He suddenly became scared. �Mike�what if I fail you and Janet?�
�You won�t. I�ve seen you on television with Justin and everyone�you�ll be great.�
JC looked away. �I�ll do the best I can. What do I tell Justin? Lance?�
�Tell them you�re an angel.�
JC started to say something but changed his mind. Michael closed his eyes and JC tried to keep from crying. The heart monitor made a long beep. JC turned away and a nurse came in to whisk him away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
JC was lying in the hospital bed when a man walked in. JC turned to him.
�Josh Chasez?�
He nodded.
�I�m David Harris, Michael Jansen�s lawyer.�
�Nice to meet you.�
�Have you been in contact with family?�
�I�m too dazed to even call my fianc�e.�
�I understand.�
�No you don�t. A couple I barely know passed away and they want me to care for their baby. I�m freaked out.�
�Well we need to discuss some things. Is that all right?�
JC nodded. �Yeah.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joey was having a dream. It was the first time he had sang to Justin. He was only ten and Joey held him as he sang the song. Tears streamed down his face. He remembered how Justin would beg to go somewhere with him. He opened his eyes at the memory of Justin gently cupping his cheeks and kissing him for the first time.
�Justin�God Justin.� He covered his face as he shook with sobs. Chris looked at him sadly. Lance was sleeping beside him.
Chris pulled over and got Joey out of the car.
�Come here.� Chris hugged him tightly.
They stayed in the embrace for a few moments before Joey sighed. �Hey, you need to sleep. I�ll drive the rest of the way.�
�Are you sure?�
�Yeah.�
Chris nodded and got in the backseat while Joey got in the car to start driving. It was 1:34 in the morning. The accident was just hours ago.
Joey turned on the radio and heard a song that spoke his mind.
I had to escape
The city was sticky and cruel
Maybe I should have called you first
But I was dying to get to you
I was dreaming while I drove
The long straight road ahead, uh, huh
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
What in this world
Keeps us from tearing apart
No matter where I go I hear
The beating of our one heart
I think about you
When the night is cold and dark
No one can move me
The way that you do
Nothing erases the feeling between me and you
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Is that alright
I drove all night
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
Joey figured someone was reading his mind.
Next to him, Lance was turning a bit.
�Josh�no�Josh.� He said crying.
Joey rubbed his shoulder then went back to driving.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
JC hung up the phone and sighed. �They�re not home.� He looked at the nurse. �Thanks.�
�You�re welcome.� She smiled.
�Can I see Justin now?�
�Of course. He�s doing fine by the way.�
JC nodded. After he had signed the papers for legal guardianship of the baby, the nurse came in and told him Justin was in surgery to get his rib out of his lungs but he was all right. JC was freaked out, of course, but he knew Justin would make it. He had to wait a while before he could see his best friend so for half of the morning, JC was learning how to be a father was practicing what to say to his fianc�e and three best friends.
The nurse wheeled him into Justin�s bedroom and JC sighed sadly.
Justin turned his head and smiled widely. �JC!�
�Hey.� JC got out of the wheelchair and carefully hugged Justin. Justin hugged him close.
�I was so scared. I thought�I thought you�d died.�
�Me too. I thought for sure you were gone. I called you but you never answered.�
Justin looked down and smiled. �I never thought I�d be so happy to see you!�
�Yeah. I tried calling the guys but they aren�t answering.�
�You think they know?�
�I don�t know.�
�I miss Joey. I need Joey.�
�I know.�
Justin opened his arms and JC hugged him.
�I need to tell you something.�
�What is it?�
JC pulled away and sighed. �I met this couple. They had a baby. They died. The mom died in the plane and the dad died yesterday night. Before they passed�they asked me to take care of the baby.�
Justin�s eyes widened. �Wha�what did you decide? Are you going to take it?�
�Her. Her name�s Jocelyn and yes, I�m going to take care of her. Because the moment they asked, you and Lance ran through my mind and I had the most horrible thought that you�d both hate me.�
�What about the grandparents?�
�They were going to harm her.�
�JC�I can�t believe this. I just�thank you.�
�For what?�
�Keeping a heart from being broken.�
JC smiled. Justin smiled back.
�When do I get to see my new niece?�
JC chuckled. �In a bit, I have to feed her soon.�
A nurse walked in and JC turned.
�JC, someone wants to see you.�
JC turned to Justin. �I�m getting used to it.� He took the baby and fed her the bottle.
�Wow, she�s beautiful. How old is she?�
�Four weeks.�
�Wow.�
�Yeah. What am I gonna tell Lance?�
�The truth.� Justin groaned.
�J, are you okay?�
�Yeah. Just my ribs. Guess I bent over too far to see this little beauty.�
JC smiled.
�Hey Jace?�
�Yeah?�
�Forgive me but�is she biracial?�
JC raised an eyebrow. �Not that it matters but yeah. Why?�
�Just wanted to know, don�t hurt me.�
JC shook his head. �Yeah well, I�ll have to deal with it when she�s older.� He smiled as Jocelyn squirmed and kicked in his arms.
After a while, Johnny arrived.
�Boys! Thank God!�
�Johnny!� JC hugged him. �Where�s Chris? Lance?�
�Relax, they�re coming to see you. I took a jet and apparently they are in Alabama. I think their phones are off though so I couldn�t reach them.�
�Johnny�I�m scared.� Justin said.
�You�ll be fine.�
�Oh and I have something to tell you.�
�What�s up Jace?�
�I�m adopting a baby girl and before you say anything let me explain!�
Johnny nodded and after JC told him everything, he sighed.
�I understand your reasoning�s, JC. And we will figure out a way for the baby to come with you on the road.�
�Yeah.�
�Now, I want to speak with both you and Justin and find out the extent of your injuries. Oh and I requested you two room together.�
�Thanks man. I knew you were too good to be true when we met.� Justin smiled.
Johnny chuckled. The nurse walked in fifteen minutes later with Jocelyn and Johnny met the tiny girl.
�She�s a beauty.�
�Yeah. I�m so scared. I�m afraid I�ll be bad.�
�You won�t be.�
�I need Lance.�
�He�ll be here.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lance drove into Clinton, Mississippi and his heart caught in his throat. He looked in the back at his sleeping friends and he drove to the cemetery. He got out and ran to the graves.
�Oh Lord. Mama, please, please mama, tell me he�s alive! Give me a sign he�s up and walking and that he�s alive please!� He got down on his knees and put his hands up in prayer fashion.
All of a sudden, a light breeze blew and the sun shone brightly down onto Lance�s face. He looked up and a sob caught in his throat.
�Mama? Please say yes�please.� He closed his eyes as the clouds parted and all was left was the sun and a bright, clear sky. �Thank you mama.� He got up and ran back to the car. He raced down the road till he found the hospital.
�Joey! Joey! Chris, we�re here!�
Joey shot awake and Chris took off his seat belt.
All three of the guys ran out of the car and into the hospital. They ran to the receptionist�s desk.
�JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake please!�
�Are you related?�
�JC�s my fianc�e, Justin�s his boyfriend.� Lance said tears streaming down his face. Joey didn�t care he was outed.
�Room 219.�
Lance and Joey headed for the elevator and Chris ran after them. They got inside and pressed the button. As soon as the doors opened, they ran out and down the long hallway. They stopped suddenly as the hallway stopped into two sides.
�Oh God�where are they?� Joey asked.
Lance shook his head, breathing heavily.
�Lance!�
Lance turned to the right and saw JC standing there in a hospital gown.
�Josh!�
�Lance!�
Lance broke out into a run and JC ran as best as he could with a busted ankle. Lance threw his arms around JC and hugged him tightly, sobbing.
�I thought I lost you! I was so scared! So scared!�
�It�s okay, I�m here now baby, I�m here.�
Lance held onto JC and buried his face in his neck.
�Lance? I have to tell you something.�
�What is it?� Lance looked at him.
Joey and Chris walked over and hugged JC.
�Justin�s in there, he�s okay. He�s with someone you guys have to meet.� He sighed. �After the plane crashed�Justin and I were separated. Justin was in the bathroom and I was in my seat. I heard a baby crying and I went to calm her down. I saw her parents with her so I took her to them. They weren�t able to feed her a bottle so I did. Guys, the parents died, the mom in the plane and the dad, Michael, at the hospital. But before that�they asked me to take care of their baby if they died because their grandparents would kill her.�
�Oh my God.� Lance gasped as he held JC�s hands tightly.
�I decided what to do. I�m going to take care of her. Lance, I want you to be her father also.�
�Oh Josh�this is so much to take in.�
�Can we meet her?� Chris asked.
JC nodded and they went inside the hospital room. Joey rushed over to Justin and they hugged each other tightly.
�Joey�I love you so much.�
�I love you too. It�s okay, I�m here now.�
JC picked up the baby and walked over to Lance. �Well this is her.�
�She�s beautiful.�
JC looked down. �Don�t be ashamed of my decision.�
Lance looked at him in alarm. �No�baby no. I was just thinking�what if you had said no? She�d be put in a foster home. Or an orphanage like Justin. You did the right thing and I would be honored to be her father also.�
JC smiled and kissed Lance. Lance took the baby and cooed at her.
�Hi beautiful girl. Hi.�
Justin smiled. �Hey you two. Get over here so we can see our new niece.�
They turned and smiled. Joey was carefully holding Justin and Chris was standing beside them both. Lance walked over and sat beside Justin with JC on the other side.
Johnny stood to the side, smiling.