Sent from Above

Chapter 89

Chris walked into the kitchen and paled a little when he saw Lance sleeping with his head resting on the table. He turned around and was about to leave when suddenly the man from the night before, Nikolas, breezed into the room and hit Lance on the head with a stack of papers. Lance's head jerked up and he muttered a protest.

"Wake up, James, no resting under me, remember?"

"I could say something about that," Lance began. Nikolas raised the papers in his hand, trying to look threatening. "But I won't," Lance finished quickly, rolling his eyes. "You old guys are so quick to take offense..."

"Well you ought to know how to respect--"

"Your elders," Lance finished, rolling his eyes again. "I've heard the speech plenty of times, dear Nikolas. And there's no doubt about it, you're certainly an elder."

"Oh, shut up you."

Lance covered his mouth with his hand in mock surprise and gasped. "Uh-oh, Nikolas said a bad word..." Nikolas smacked him on the head with the stack still in his hands and Lance ducked. "Ow," he muttered.

"Serves you right. You deserved it and you know it."

Chris watched the banter between the two. They looked like old friends; despite the arguing, he could tell they were fond of each other. "Never pinned you as the abusive type, Nikolas. Abuse and bad words. What next? Sex?" Lance mock gasped. "Now that would cause quite the scandal, hmm?"

Nikolas hit him on the head again and Lance ducked, laughing. "You know you've heard worse, young one. You've said worse. So shut your mouth and eat."

"Eat what? The stuff you're making? Nikolas, you're a great angel and all, but you ain't a cook."

"You don't like what I'm making? Scram. Go back to Joshua, then. Wake him up; maybe he'll be appreciative of my efforts."

"Maybe I will," Lance said, laughing.

"Yeah, that's right, James. Out." Nikolas shook his head, muttering about unappreciative angels.

Chris tensed up, hoping Lance would go out the other door. He breathed a sigh of relief when Lance, still laughing, exited the room without any notice of him being there. He was startled out of his thoughts when Nikolas suddenly spoke. "Christopher. You won't get anywhere in life just by standing in doorways, you know."

Chris backed up in surprise. "I was just leaving--" he began.

"Nonsense, you were just coming in. Have a seat."

Chris numbly sat down in the chair next to the one Lance had vacated. "Nikolas--"

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Nikolas asked suddenly, cutting him off.

Chris shook his head, even though Nikolas had his back turned and was across the room. "I slept okay," he said.

"Then why are you shaking your head?"

"How did you--Oh. Never mind."

Nikolas chuckled. "Never mind indeed, Christopher. Now, on a more serious note..."

Chris banged his head on the table. "I know, I know," he said. "I'm sorry."

"No, no," Nikolas said, shaking his head. "I wanted to ask you about the voices you were talking about."

*****

"Lance? That you?" JC mumbled.

Lance yawned. "Sure, J," he said. "Who else would it be? I got sick of Nikolas' voice and left."

JC opened an eye and glanced at him. "Hm?"

"Okay, okay, so he kicked me out of the kitchen. Same difference." He plopped down on the bed next to JC.

"Mm hmm," JC murmured, shutting his eye and burying his head deeper into the pillow.

Lance slid under the covers and wrapped an arm around JC. "You know what Josh?" he asked, finding himself sleepy again.

"Hmmm?"

"We fit together perfect."

"Like a puzzle."

*****

Chris decided it wasn't wise to try hiding his fears from Nikolas. "And now," he finished miserably. "I'm sure Lance and JC hate me. I'd hate me. Hell, I already do..."

"Oh, nonsense--"

"You're fond of that word, aren't you?"

Nikolas ignored Chris' comment. "You know Joshua doesn't hate you. He might be a bit miffed that you hurt James, but other than that, he'll get over it. And James...well, he doesn't hate anyone. Except for maybe Benjamin..." At Chris' blank look Nikolas arched an eyebrow. "As in Benny?"

"Oh! Yeah, Joey said the same thing..."

"He can be wise. Sometimes. However, Benjamin is no longer...oh, how do I say this? A part of this life or the afterlife, I suppose. He is just Lost. Then of course, he's not too fond of Louis, but--"

"So you're saying is...usually if Lance doesn't like someone, they end up having something shitty happen to them?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that, but yes. James is a...very good judge of character."

"So Lou is gonna go down."

"Did you ever have a doubt?" Nikolas allowed a grin to cross his face. "Seriously, though, you've had an angel on your side for a few years, so..." He paused. "And now you've got me," he said smugly.

A smile flashed on Chris' face. "You angel types are all the same," he said. "Egos bigger than the whole room."

*****

Chris slowly opened the door to Lance and JC's room. A soft smile spread over his face when he saw them curled up against each other. He decided to come back later, and turned to leave, except his hand banged against the door and JC started awake. The younger man blinked his eyes a few times. "Hmmm?" he muttered. Chris tried to back out of the room. "Chris? That you?" JC asked sleepily.

"I...uh...yeah," Chris finally said. "JC...are you...do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you," JC said softly, slowly coming awake. "I jus' don't like it when people hurt him. Talk to him, then talk to me." He poked Lance in the side, and the blond twitched. "Wake up babe," he mumbled. "Visi...vist...someone's in here," he said finally. Still half asleep, he rolled out of bed and walked downstairs. "Jus' don't kiss him or nothin'," JC called behind him. "Cause then I think I'd kill ya..."

Chris shook his head with a smile. He had a feeling that if JC was fully awake, he would've either been beaten to a pulp or kicked out of the room with a warning. JC got so protective, he mused, but that wasn't always a bad thing. He walked over and lightly shook Lance's shoulder and poked him in the side.

"Josh, poke me one more time and I'll smack you so hard your momma's gonna feel it," Lance muttered.

"It ain't Josh," Chris said softly, touching Lance's side again.

Lance jerked away. "Josh, you suck," he said, opening his eyes. He rubbed them and then looked at who was standing next to the bed. "Shit," he said, unconsciously moving away. "Chris."

"Listen, Lance...I...I really need to talk to you," Chris said quietly. "Before, I said some shit that--"

Lance nodded, cutting him off. "Sit down, Chris," he said. "I need to explain some stuff to you."

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