AN: Sorry for the wait, fighting a bit of a writer's block so, forgive the roughness of 
this chapter.

Feedback is always appreciated: inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com
  


********************** Blindsided: Chapter Thirteen *************************



So JC had some firm words with Johnny, man to man, invoking his rights as one of *NSYNC's 
most willing members.  Aside from Lance, he was definitely one of the most laid back, 
easy natured of the five, and he endured the public scrutiny and spotlight with grace and 
ease their manager could only hope the other four would copy.  

Not that Justin didn't do well in the spotlight because he thrived in it, but, Justin also 
had censoring issues.  He very rarely kept his private life private because the press and 
he, on the whole, were such good friends.  JC had no such censoring issues and told Johnny, 
on no uncertain terms, that he and Laura were off limits, to the public, to their publicist, 
to the press, and to Johnny himself.

Whatever they were.

Johnny was far from thrilled and JC didn't care.  Johnny Wright wasn't the one in love 
with Laura Danon.  The tour continued its trek across America and JC continued to wine 
and dine Laura.  They went to dinner, dancing, movies, plays, whenever they could squeeze 
activities in during his few off hours.  

JC had never been so relaxed on tour.  All he needed was Laura's smile and his entire day 
brightened.  So, he sought her out, in the morning, afternoon, and night, for coffee and 
talks and teasing and hugs that meant more to him than anything else in the world.  He 
monopolized her and her time with a possessive streak he didn't know he had and wasn't 
unhappy to find. 

He was tired of not truly being with Laura though.  He wanted her to love him.  More 
importantly, he wanted to let her know that he loved her, beyond reason or voice.  He 
sang his song he wrote for her all the time, a mantra of comforting words that made him 
ache with longing.  

He was an incredibly patient man but that well of patience was running out.  JC wanted 
to kiss Laura Danon with his soul on his lips.  Wanted to sing to her with his heart.  
Wanted to stand before the world and proclaim how lost we was to the beauty of *NSYNC's 
wonderfully shy, gifted, petite, gorgeous assistant.  He didn't want to have to restrain 
himself from touching her hair or stroking her cheek.  He wanted to know what it felt like 
to make love to someone he adored with ever fiber of his being.  He wanted to be moved and 
met by Laura's answering love.  

He wanted Chris to talk to him again.  Interviews were nearly impossible, even if Joey 
thought it was the funniest thing ever.

*********************************************************************************

"Laura help me, tell me what to do..."  

She smiled at Justin who was very firmly attached to her side as he clung to her in the 
limo, looking very much the boy he tried so hard to be older than.  It was so very easy 
for most of the world to forget how young he really was.  Laura, who was on the receiving 
end of most of his remaining childishness, rarely forgot.  Chris grinned at her from across 
the limo's aisle and she shot him a dirty look before turning her attention to back to 
Justin.  

"Well, why is she mad at you?"  

She watched as Justin's features tightened in unhappiness.  "The Britney thing...  We're 
just friends Laura, I mean its not a big deal.  Jess just went off on me about it.  She 
won't take my calls or anything and, I don't see what the big deal it.  If I didn't like 
her so damn much I would have walked before this."  

"Poor conceited baby," Laura teased gently as she petted his buzzed hair with a familiarity 
she would have never dared not three months past.  This tour had done wonders for her.  
"Did you ever think that maybe Jess is jealous?" she asked as she thought about Justin's 
current girlfriend, a young undergraduate of Chicago University who was studying to get a 
degree in education.  

Laura had only met the girl once but she had liked her when Justin had flown her out 
several weeks ago.  She hadn't been around to meet a lot of his less unsavory girlfriends 
but she knew how the music industry was run.  It was refreshing to spend a couple of days 
with such a down to earth, wonderfully sensitive person, let alone woman.  Jess was perfect 
for Justin.  

"Of course she's jealous," Justin grumbled as he submitted to having his head scratched 
with the boneless dignity of a lapdog.  "But she has nothing to be jealous of!  Me and 
Britney are SO over, like, years ago.  Everyone, even the press, knows that."  

Feeling eyes on her Laura looked up and found JC watching her, a look of deep abiding 
affection warming the sapphire of his eyes.  She rolled her eyes a bit towards Justin and 
smiled softly at him.  Jayce looked startled for a moment but the answering brilliance of 
his smile stole her breath away.  Neither one saw Lance kicking Joey who elbowed Chris in 
silent triumph.  Laura turned her attention back to the morose 'Baby'.  

"And I bet Jess knows it too.  She's not jealous so much as insecure.  You dated Britney 
Spears, that's a lot to live up to.  Jess knows you care about her but it doesn't mean 
she doesn't still have doubts and that's perfectly natural, especially for a woman..."  

Justin cracked a small grin.  

"Now, if she's not answering your calls its probably because she's embarrassed.  The 
first couple of times she didn't answer it was because she was angry but now she doesn't 
know how to explain things without making a fool of herself.  She wants to talk to you 
Justin, I'd bet money on it, she just doesn't know how."  

He brightened noticeably.  "That makes a lot of sense Laura.  How'd you get to know her 
so well?  She was only out here for a few days..."  

"Laura's good at reading people," JC said softly.  

She flushed with the sincere compliment and turned her attention back to Justin carefully.  
"Send her roses, a dozen, with a note."  

"Really."  

"How about two dozen?"  

Laura shook her head and cuffed Justin gently.  "A dozen, keep it simple, not 
overwhelming."  

"Okay kids, if we're finished analyzing Justin's love life or suspicious lack there of, 
can we go do this thing?  We're only the guest hosts of TRL today with our first single 
at number one," Joey broke in sardonically as he tapped the window of the stopped limousine.  
Apparently, they were there.  "And Chris, JC, play nice, please."  

JC shrugged as he opened his door and got out, followed by Chris and Joey.  Laura, Justin 
and Lance followed them.  Justin hugged her tightly as they made a dash for the studio.  
"Thanks for helping out."  

She smiled, both at Justin's happiness and the noticeable lack of butterflies in her 
stomach at his nearness.  Thank goodness for dead crushes.  Laura really hoped that he 
and Jess worked out, and really hoped that today went well.  

The boys were all nervous and she didn't really blame them.  There was something a little 
intimidating about MTV and TRL, no matter how many times you've done it.  Laura's smile 
faded as she entered the studio behind the boys.  They were met by a host of MTV staff 
and she watched as the boys, her boys, were ushered away to relax and prepare.  

Laura was handed a head set and introduced to a dozen staff members of her own, a smile 
plastered to her face.  She was Johnny Wright's assistant.  She was *NSYNC's, and 
intimidated or not, she had a job to do.  Today's show would run smoothly, had to.  

It was her job.