TTMABchapter7

He's waiting for the right kind of pilot to come

Jc went straight to Chris� office. Ever since he�d started the job here last year, Chris had been a good friend to him. And he needed someone to talk to now, someone to take his frustrations out on.

Chris was on the phone when Jc entered the office. He looked up and signaled to Jc that he�d be off in a minute. When he hung up, he said, �hey Josh, what�s up?�

�I just wanted to say goodbye,� Jc told him.

�What? Goodbye?� Chris asked, confused.

�Yeah, I�m not doing any good here. I�m going to quit tomorrow,� Jc explained, his heart hurting. Why did he feel so horrible?

�Are you crazy? How can you say that Josh? You talk about Lance all the time and how much progress you�ve made. You can�t be serious,� Chris replied, annoyed because Jc didn�t realize how good he was for Lance.

�I haven�t made any progress at all Chris, every time he starts to tell me about the reason he�s here or the dreams he has, I say something stupid and he clams up again. I can�t help him,� Jc said, very close to tears.

�Josh, I�ve been doing this for years. Most patients close up many times before opening up to a doctor. You can�t just give up. Lance has had so many doctors give up on him. He needs you. And you can help him, I can feel it,� Chris responded, hoping that Jc would listen to him. Because if he didn�t and he left, Lance would surely be very hurt. He�d never opened up so much to anyone.

�But � � Jc began.

�No. No buts. Don�t insult yourself again. I just might have to kick some sense into that little ass of yours. Now go back and show Lance that you can and will help him!� Chris ordered.

�Yes sir,� Jc joked, in a much better mood. He could always count on Chris. �Am I allowed to eat lunch first? I�m starving.�

�Oh, get out you big dork,� Chris said, glad that he�d been about to change Jc�s mind. �I�ve got to go meet Justin so if you don�t mind leaving�� he said, smiling.

�All I ever hear anymore is Justin, Justin, Justin. I think someone has a little crush,� Jc teased, knowing it would bug Chris.

�Oh, don�t you even - � Chris responded.

�Thanks Chris,� Jc interrupted, �I really needed some encouragement.�

�Don�t change the subject!� Chris yelled as Jc walked out the door, waving his goodbye.

****

Chris waited for Justin in the yard, near a huge weeping willow tree. He�d brought some food from home as he�d promised. When he saw Justin crossing the yard, he smiled.

Justin was such a good patient. He may have been a little nervous at first, but he�d gotten over that quickly. He would make a good friend, Chris decided.

Justin smiled a gorgeous smile that almost made Chris� heart stop as he neared. He sat down next to Chris.

�Hey,� Justin said.

�Hi. I brought you some food from home,� Chris replied, handing a paper bag to Justin.

�Cool, thanks,� Justin said, reaching into the bag and pulling out half a sandwich and a cookie.

�Those sandwiches are pure heaven, trust me. They are what made me love food again. Maybe a little too much,� Chris joked as he patted his stomach.

Justin�s laughter filled the air. It was the first time Chris had heard it. And it was the most beautiful sound he�d ever heard.

****

Jc paused outside Lance�s room, praying for the patience and strength he needed to get through to Lance. When he felt a little better, he entered the room. Lance was by the window again, looking out at something.

�Whatcha looking at?� Jc asked, walking over next to Lance.

Lance jumped, but didn�t look away. Jc looked out the window and saw Chris and Justin sitting under the tree, talking and laughing. And Justin was eating.

Lance wanted so badly for someone to understand him.

�Chris has helped Justin so much,� Lance said, wishing he�d been able to help Justin more than he had.

�Yes, he certainly has,� Jc agreed, smiling as he saw Chris ruffle Justin�s hair.

�I want you to be able to help me. It�s just so hard to trust you,� Lance admitted, hanging his head.

�Why, Lance?� Jc asked.

�I haven�t trusted anyone � besides Justin � in years. I don�t know if I know how to anymore,� Lance told Jc, �can you be the one to help me?�

Jc looked into Lance�s eyes and saw how vulnerable he looked. He knew he�d never be able to say no to Lance.

�Yes, Lance. I can help you. And I will,� Jc answered. They sat for the rest of the �session� in silence, Jc thinking about how proud he was of Lance for trying, and Lance wondering if Jc could really fix him. He hoped Jc didn�t lie like most of the people he�d associated with before. But he knew he had to take a chance and to give Jc a chance too.