Joey sat in the quiet waiting room holding his head in his hands trying desperately to keep his tears at bay. They had arrived at the hospital about 30 minutes earlier when Chris�s still lax form was whisked away from them while he and JC were lead off to a secluded waiting room for someone to come in and speak to them. The fact that nobody had yet was starting to worry him, his mind running wild with all the images of the night�s events and what could be happening playing on his emotions.
He had called Johnny Wright, Nsync�s long time manager as soon as they arrived at the hospital and with a shaky voice told him what had happened. Doing his best to calm the young man Johnny had promised he would call Chris�s mom and the other guys as well as Joey�s and JC�s parents then would be right over to wait with them for any news on Chris�s condition. Hating himself for it but emotionally unable to take the task upon himself Joey had agreed gratefully.
Sighing softly to himself Joey leaned back in his chair head back against the wall and eyes closed, immediately feeling the weight of his band mate pressed against his side. He could feel the smaller brunette literally shaking and opened his eyes to look at him. Noting that JC still had the far off look he had had for the past hour and was visibly trembling Joey slung his arm around the older mans shoulder and pulled him closer.
�Hey Jace, don�t worry. Those paramedics said Chris would be just fine. I�m sure someone will be in here any minute to talk to us.� Joey said frowning at the lack of little more then a small noise as a response.
Opening his mouth to address his friend again Joey stopped his actions as the door to the waiting room opened and a smiling, kindly looking bi-spectacle women walked into the room. She was dressed in pink hospital scrubs and a wearing a blue knitted sweater and Joey could only assume was the nurse coming to tell them something about Chris as he quickly stood up and looked at her expectantly, JC seemingly taking no notice of her.
�Hello young men. My name is Faye, I work here at the hospital.� She smiled. �Your friend has been taken into surgery to get out the bullet so the doctor won�t be out for a little while yet to talk to you. Rest assured though he is going to be just fine. In the meantime I�ve just come to check and make sure you two are ok. Well as ok as can be expected I suppose.� She said smile faltering as she took in Joey�s appearance.
�Goodness young man, are you hurt too? Why didn�t you tell anybody?� She asked quickly going over to Joey and trying to check him over for injuries.
�What?� Joey asked confused weakly pushing her hands away.
�You have blood all over you.� She said trying again.
Joey for the first time that night looked down and took a look at his appearance. His clothes were dishevelled and covered in dried blood, as were his hands. Chris�s blood. He thought absent-mindedly.
�Oh.� He said sadly tears springing to his eyes again and threatening to escape. �It�s not mine� that is it is Chris�s. My friend. I was trying to stop the bleeding. I�m sorry I didn�t know that��
�Ssssh. It�s alright dear. I was just worried you were hurt too. I�ll get you some hospital scrubs in a few minutes and you can shower in the nurse�s change room ok?� She said pulling him into a hug and patting his back.
�Thank you.� Joey said nodding and stepping back from her.
�OK.� She said with a small smile. Her hand still resting on his arm, as she looked backed to where JC sat seemingly in the same position, as he had been when she walked in. �You alright honey?�
Frowning as she addressed the obviously distressed man and he didn�t respond. Smiling reassuringly at Joey who was looking at JC with concern clear in his eyes, she walked over to where the young man sat and stood in front of him.
�Look at me young man, are you alright?� She tried again
When he failed to acknowledge her once more she gently but firmly grasped his chin and raised his face so that he was looking at her in the eyes. From this vantage point she could she the glassy looking watery eyes. Sighing she sat down in the seat beside him and pulled his head to rest on her shoulder.
�I know you�ve had a pretty scary night dear but I need to know if you are hurt or not.� She said stroking his hair lightly as a mother would do with a scared child.
�What?� JC said blinking heavily as though just realising where he was.
�Are you alright?� She asked again patiently. Smiling softly to reassure him.
�Yeah. I think so. Chris. He pushed me. The bullet� the bullet was meant for me and Chris pushed me.� JC said trying to get across what he meant.
�Oh I see.� She said nodding slightly, thinking quickly. �I think you and I should go have a cup of tea or something in the mess while your friend here has a shower and gets changed, I was about to go on break.� She decided quickly.
�What? No, Chris�� JC tried to protest but not really resisting as she pulled on his arm to get him to stand.
�Chris will be in surgery for at least another hour and it will be at least another 30 minutes after that before you can see him.� She said dismissing his argument linking her arms with each boy and leading them to the door. �I�ll take you to the nurses station and someone will give you a change of clothes and show you where the shower is. Once you finish why don�t you come down and join us for a little while.� She said to Joey.
�Someone is suppose to be coming here�� Joey started.
�Tell the nurse at the desk, she�ll look out for them and send them in our direction, not to worry. Now off with you.�
�Yes ma�am.�
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It was about an hour after that when Johnny finally showed up at the hospital a frantic look on his face until he finally saw Joey and JC sitting huddled in a corner back in the small waiting room. Faye having dropped them back there 20 minutes prior with the instructions of calling her if they needed anything and promising to be back to check on them in a little while.
�JOEY! JC! Are you boys alright?� Johnny said startling the pair out of their thoughts.
�We�re fine Johnny.� Joey said.
�Good.� The manager said eyeing them carefully. �Heard anything about Chris?�
�Yeah the doctor was out here about 10 minutes ago. Chris has been out of surgery for a little while now and is going to be just fine. Liable to be in pain for a few days and a sling for at least 3 weeks. The bullet didn�t hit anything major though, but he is still looking at a few weeks of physiotherapy. He is still not out of recovery but they are going to let us see him as soon as he is settled into a room. How is his mom?�
�She is good as can be expected considering she was told her only son has been shot.� Johnny sighed sadly sitting down. �She is catching the red eye out here, should be here in a few hours. Both your parents want you guys to call them and will catch a flight out tomorrow morning.�
�Ok.� Joey and JC chorused nodding their heads. �Justin and Lance?�
�Justin is going to call in a little bit, he wants to talk to you guys too. He is making calls to postpone everything for now and head out here. Lance is trying to postpone his training for a few days so he can come back but they are giving him trouble, saying that if he leaves then he can�t go into space in October.�
�We should call him and tell him to stay where he is. The last thing Chris would want is for him to jeopardize his chances at achieving his dream.�
�Yeah.�
The three men sat there is silence for several minutes none knowing what to say to make the situation better. When Faye entered the room again a full three hours after they first arrived she was nearly trampled by the three men as they listed off question after question.
�Well if you all don�t hush up I can�t tell you anything.� Smiling slightly as the room went immediately quiet. �Now your friend is all settled into a private room and is even awake although rather groggy so if you boys would like to see him I�ll take you down there, just remember to take it easy on him ok?�
�You guys go ahead I�m going to call Beverly again before she gets on her flight and let her know what is happening.� Johnny said watching as the boys nodded and followed the nurse out the door.
�Does he look to bad?� JC asked nervously as they approached Chris�s room
�Well I won�t lie to you dear� he is just out a surgery and he does have wires and everything hooked up to him but it looks worse then it really is, I promise.� She said patting his arm.
�Alright here we are.� She said pushing the pair lightly towards the door. �You can go on in. If you need anything just push the call button and someone will be right there.�
The two watched as the elderly nurse made her way back down the hall towards the nurse�s station before turning back to look at the door in front of them.
�You go on in Joey, I�m not sure I can just yet.� JC said taking a step backwards.
�Sure you can. Come on we�ll go in together.� Joey said grabbing a hold of JC�s arm and dragging him inside before the slighter man could protest.
Once in the room they both stopped in the doorway to take in their friend�s appearance. Chris was lying on the bed with his eyes closed and possibly asleep. A soft beeping of the heart monitor filled the room and an IV was set up beside him feeding him antibiotics. The bright white bandage plain and clear on Chris�s shoulder covered the wound from site. He was pale but steadily breathing and certainly in better colour then he had been in the ally.
�Hey Chris, are you awake?� Joey whispered so as not to wake him if he was.
�Yeah man, sort of.� Chris said drowsily without opening his eyes.
�Good.� Joey said coming up to the side of the bed and sitting down in one of the chairs, JC hovering nervously in the background. �How are you doing?�
�Alright I guess. Sore. Tired. Are you two ok?� Chris asked finally opening his eyes and looking at two of the men he considered his brothers.
�Yeah we�re alright.�
�You know Joshie you can come a little closer� I promise I don�t bite.� Chris said with a small smile looking to JC lingering at the back of the room. Watching concerned as JC made his way to the bedside and sat down in the other chair. �Are you ok man?�
�Hmm� oh yeah fine�� JC said getting up to leave again but was stopped as Chris quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve, hissing at the pain in his shoulder the sudden movement cause.
�Hey man, talk to me.� Chris said seriously.
�Oh god, I�m so sorry Chris� this is all my fault.� JC said breaking down into tears and sitting down in the other chair and putting his head down on the hospital bed beside Chris�s leg.
�Hey, don�t even start with that crap. It is not your fault.�
�But you pushed me out of the way!� JC exclaimed looking at Chris.
�Yes I did. And you know as well as I know, and Joey knows and anyone knows that I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would for any of you guys.� Chris stated.