(AN: Okay, here is another slash story. It involves certain Catholic terms, but I think people will know them. If you need some clarification don't be afraid to email me. Enjoy...)


I was extremely surprised when Father Williams asked me to work with the prison outreach program. After all, I had just started, and I didn't think that the father had a lot of faith in my ablities. But, he gave me the job with the message, "If you screw up, you don't graduate". I had simply nodded and left the office.

It wasn't an option to mess up. I needed to work with a convict and restore his Christianity. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to take my holy orders. And, I knew quite well that my mother would kill me if I didn't become a priest. It was bad enough that I was a disgrace to the family, she would often remind me, because I was gay, but if I screwed this up, they'd divorce me. Since I didn't have any work skills, that basically meant that I'd be as good as homeless and possibly dead. Oh, what life had in store for me!!

The first thing I noticed about the prison was that it was very ugly. The furniture was mix matched, and the place was dirty. My friends used to call this my queer instinct. I suppose they'd still call it that if I was allowed to see them. Oh well.

The warden lead me down a long hallway. Aparently I was seeing a real bad guy. The warden informed me that he was a murder on death row. I had cringed, but declined the offer to go back. I was determined to do this. This man would eventually be a wholesome Christian by the time I was done with him, even if he was a Muslim to start with.

The warden put a chair in front of the cell. He gestured for me to sit there. Then he left, telling me that he wouldn't be far away if a problem arose.

I looked to the prisoner. His name was James Lance Bass, as the warden had informed me. He looked to be in his early twenties and I pitied him. Someone so young and beautiful shouldn't be mixed up in so much trouble.

I sat down. "Hello", I greeted. "My name is Joshua Chasez. I'm here to help you".

"I was told you'd be a priest. What kind of priest clothes are those?". His voice was deep and alluring. I had to shake naughty thoughts from my mind. Priesthood was, as my mom called it, non gay training. Really, I thought the whole concept was gay but I didn't tell my mother this.

"I'm a priest in training".

"So, I'm not even good enough to get a real priest, huh?". He spoke with the accent of a hoodlum. My guess was that prison had given him that. Either that or his teenage friends. I could also detect a soft southern twange, which lead me to believe that he wasn't originally from Washington.

"No, it's not that. I'm just here for a school project of sorts".

"Ah, a science experiment". His analogy actually made sense.

"No. I just need this to take my holy orders".

"What makes you think you can help me?".

"Do you want to go to hell? If you don't repent you'll go there. With my help you might be lucky enough to go to purgatory".

"Someone has told you that before, eh? What'd you do, huh? Something bad? Are you in hiding?".

"My life is none of your business. We'll be seeing each other for a while, so we might as well be friends. What would you like me to call you?".

"Lance. You don't have a lot of friends, do ya priesty?".

"No, not anymore". I didn't want that to sound as sad as it did. I was already losing my authority. "How old are you?".

"Interested? I'm legal, ya know?". He winked at me. I couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm twenty-one. How 'bout you? You look a little young to be dragged into a lifetime of servitude".

"I'm twenty-five".

"Why do you want to be a priest?".

"That's really not any of your business".

"Why not? You want me to tell you all my juicy secrets, but I'm not allowed to know yours?".

"It's really personal".

"Alrighty then". We sat in silence for a moment.

"Where do you come from, Lance? I hear a slight country accent".

"Mississippi...what should I call you?".

"Well, you can call me Josh, I suppose".

"Okay then, Josh". I smiled slightly.

"The warden tells me that you're on death row".

"That I am".

"It's a shame that you have to die so young".

"Tell that to the judge".

"What'd you do?".

"I didn't do anything wrong".

"The warden says you killed someone".

"Well, I didn't kill no one. I was framed".

"By who?".

"Fuckin' bastards".

"That doesn't really answer my question".

"I'll tell you my secret if you tell me yours".

"Why do you even care?".

"Cuz you're cute. Come on, spill it, hot stuff". I giggled. I didn't think that I would like the kid, but I guess I was wrong. He was rough on the corners, but he seemed perceptive and smart. Besides, he said I was cute.

"I'm gay".

"Tell me something I don't know". I stared at him. "Oh come on, Josh! I could tell from a ten mile radius that you go for the guys".

"How did you--?".

"Gaydar".

"You're gay?".

"Uh huh. Finish your story".

"Well, I came out to my parents. They were far from being okay with that, so they gave me an ultimatum. I either become a priest, so that God can forgive me of my sin, or they throw me out. So, I became a priest".

"Oh".

"Who framed you?".

"My parents". I could tell that I looked shocked. Sure, my parents were less than supportive, but I couldn't believe that someones parents could frame their own son. "Look, I came out to them and they freaked. After a while, they calmed down. I think it was to keep up appearances. Looking like the model family. Some shit like that. Anyway, they started to spread rumors about me. Then when I'd get beaten up, they'd support me. Suddenly, one day, this guy who was abusing me was murdered. All signs pointed to me. The murder weapon was found in my room and I had a motive. All other evidence was overlooked because I was gay and my lawyer helped out the prosecution. Another fuckin' homophobe".

"What other evidence?".

"They found fingerprints all over the body. And hair samples. Neither of the things matched me. But since we were in Mississippi, they were overlooked cuz of my sexuality".

"What ever happened to this evidence?".

"I'm sure it's in my case file. They probably have it here in good 'ole Washington DC. But nobody gives a damn about some snot nosed, queer, Mississippi boy, who supposedly murdered a kid". I sighed. Then I stood abruptly.

"I'm gonna help you out. They can't just kill you without giving you a fair trial". I started to walk away, but Lance's voice stopped me.

"Don't try to save the world, Josh. Nobody has ever really cared for me and I don't expect you to start".

"I'm gonna save you. There's a lot more to this priest in training then good looks, Lance. You'll see".

I left the prison and went to the local police station. I was able to talk to a sergeant and convince him that it was imperative for me to see Lance's records. The cop eventually let me back there. I looked through the file and saw the evidence that Lance had talked about. The file even showed that the fingerprints found on the body and the murder weapon were of a James Bass Sr, and a Diane Bass. The hairs found on the body belonged to both parties also. I couldn't figure out why a judge would ever convict somebody when evidence such as this was present.

I talked to the sergeant and he helped me form an appeal for Lance's sentencing. We also talked to a lawyer and had a court date set. I was going to save Lance, like a promised.

The next week, I went to see Lance again. I told him the good news. He didn't look too happy.

"Why did you do this, Josh?".

"I wanted to save you. I couldn't bear to know that you would die senselessly. Especially when I could do something about it".

"I don't want to get my parents in trouble".

"Lance, they did this. Justice will have to be served. Hurting your parents is not the issue".

"If they let me go, where will I live, what will I do?".

"I'll help you. You can live with me".

"You're becoming a priest, Josh. I'm pretty sure they won't allow that".

"Then I'll quit. I never wanted to be a priest anyway. Now I have a reason not to. I reason to live outside of my parents. Don't you want to do this, Lance? Don't throw your life away".

"When's the court date?".

"I knew you'd feel this way. It's in three weeks".

"Alright".

The three weeks until court went relatively quickly. I spent each and everyday with Lance. We just talked about different things in general. We got to know each other and I started to form a bit of a crush. I wasn't about to admit this to Lance, however. I didn't want to scare him off. The last thing in the world I wanted was for him to decide not to go through with the trial and instead let himself die. I knew that if he died I died too.

I spent the morning of the trial with Lance. He was dressed in a simple blue suit and he greased his hair back. He looked better then I had ever seen him look before. I held his hand between the bars.

"It's gonna be okay, you know. You're gonna make it through this trial, and you're not gonna have to be in jail anymore".

"I don't really want to get my hopes up, Josh". Lance sighed, which made me sigh also. I kissed his hand.

"You don't need to get your hopes up. I think my hopes are up so much it's enough for the both of us".

"Did you know your initials are JC?".

"Yeah, I've only had them all my life".

"You know who else had those initials? Jesus Christ. I believe that you're my savior, Josh. Even if the judge decides that I'm guilty, I want you to know that you made my last weeks of life special. For the first time, I've truely felt loved and cared for. You've made more of a difference in my life then any other person ever could. Thank you".

"You don't need to thank me, Lance. You're company has meant more to me then any thanks could. I love you". Lance smiled.

"I love you, too".

The warden came into the hallway. "It's time".

I stood from my chair and walked to the other side of the hall. The warden let Lance out of his cell and the two walked ahead of me. Lance looked back at me and I gave him a reassuring smile. Things were going to be alright. They just had to be.

It was weeks later when the jury came out of their room with a decision. The judge addressed the jury and asked them if they made a decision. Juror number one stood up to address the court. He told the judge that they had indeed reached a decision. I don't think I had ever been that nervous before in my life.

"We the jury, find the defendent, James Lance Bass, not guilty on account of new evidence". Lance stood up and hugged his lawyer. Then he turned around and hugged me. 

He whispered softly in my ear, "Thank you, JC". I smiled. He called me JC. He turned around and again faced the judge.

"Mr. Bass is to be released from prison immediately. Court is adjourned".

Lance and I walked away from the courtroom that day and started a new life. I dropped out of my priesthood schooling and basically told my parents off. Lance and I lived together. We eventually found jobs and I think that both of us were truely happy for the first time and for the rest of our lives.

THE END