Justin arrived about midmorning the next day to find Chris half asleep and on the phone with Lance, trying to convince their blonde friend that everything was alright and that he should stay where he is. He stood in the doorway for a few minutes watching the brunette try to argue over the phone.
�No man really I�m ok�. No Lance� Lance I wouldn�t be talking to you right now if I was about to die, geez Bass over re-act much? What? Why do I sound like what? Well maybe that is because I am tired.� Chris said rolling his eyes looking over noticing Justin in the doorway.
He waved his youngest band mate over a little to enthusiastically and winced as the movement pulled his shoulder slightly before realising he was still on the phone.
�Lance I mean it. Stay where you are. Don�t make me come kick your butt for giving everything up. I�m expecting to be going to a space launch in a few months. Hey do you think they will let me push a couple buttons in the control room?� Chris asked before moving the phone away from his ear, high pitched screaming coming through the other end.
�Who would have thought Lance�s voice could go that high.� Chris said with a grin to Justin, causing the younger man to chuckle.
�Ok Lance. No really I�m fine. How many times do I have to tell you that? Lance? Go back to work. Yeah I�ll talk to you soon. Bye.�
Chris went to put the phone back into its cradle but wound up reaching to far over and almost falling from the bed, gasping at the pain in his shoulder and dropping the phone in the process. Quickly Justin was over at the side of the bed helping Chris sit back into a comfortable position before picking up the phone and resting it in its cradle. When finished he stood back looking at his friend, taking in the pale and tired features.
�Hey Old Man you look like crap.� Justin said with a small sad smile.
�Make a guy feel nice why don�t you. You are supposed to be nice to your elders sonny.� Chris joked with a small smile, the smile quickly fading as Justin continued regard him seriously.
�How are you really doing Chris?�
�Well it hurts like hell Just. The drugs that they have me on help but keep me pretty much in and out of it. All things considered however I�m doing pretty good.�
�Where is everyone?� Justin asked looking around the room and noticing for the first time that JC was curled up into himself asleep on a chair across the room.
�I�m told everyone has been here all night. My mom got here around 2am, she just went to take her stuff to my house and should be back any minute��
�Oh already is. I was suppose to tell you but we ran into her in the hall��
�We?�
�Oh my mom insisted on coming with me.� Justin said going slightly pink. �Anyway she grabbed your mom and they went down to the canteen to cup a cup of coffee or something. They�ll be back in a while.�
�Oh.� Chris said grinning at Justin�s embarrassment. �Good. I tried to get her to promise she would go home and get some sleep but she wouldn�t hear of it. It was all I could do to convince her to go drop her stuff off and have a shower.�
�Hmm� and Joey?� Justin asked, although he was studying JC.
�Um� the same. I think he was maybe going to catch a couple hours of sleep so he should be back in a little while.�
�Uh huh� and you do know JC is curled into a ball snoring over there right?�
�Yup!�
�I see� you know that can�t be comfortable.� Justin mused thoughtfully looking at the slim brunette.
�No. Probably not. He has been there all night long. At least for the parts I was awake for. He won�t leave and go get some rest in an actual bed. I think he is feeling a little guilty actually.�
�Guilty?�
�The guy was aiming for him� I just pushed him out of the way.� Chris said shrugging and then wincing once more as the movement cause pain in his shoulder. �I have to remember to stop doing that��
�Oh. Dude�� Justin start but Chris cut him off.
�Don�t start Justin, its no big deal.� Chris said yawning widely.
�Hmm� Whatever you say man.� Justin said watching Chris yawn again, obviously not convinced. �Why don�t you get some more rest man, your about to pass out any second here.�
�Yeah I�m sorry Justin. Its not you it�s the meds�� Chris said yawning again.
�You must be tired, usually you wouldn�t waste the opportunity to tell me it was me.� Justin said smiling.
�Hey well I would except I think this medication is playing with my quick wit.� Chris joked trying to smile but ended up yawning again.
�I know man its alright. Get some sleep. We�ll talk again later.�
****
It was about twenty minutes later that the door opened and Joey came in carrying a tray of coffees stopping short as he saw Justin sitting in the chair beside the bed.
�Hey J. I didn�t realize you were here already.� Joey said putting down the coffees and hugging his younger friend.
�Yeah I got in with my mom about 2 hours ago I guess.� Justin said watching as Joey nodded. �So how are you doing?�
�Me? I�m fine. Well� certainly better then these two.� Joey said nodding his head towards Chris and JC. �Have you talked to either of them yet?�
�Mmhmm. Chris was awake on the phone with Lance when I got here. All things considered he seems to be doing alright.�
�Yeah he was lucky.�
�JC from what I hear is a bit of a problem though.� Justin said raising his eyebrow.
�He is really only just coming around from shock now. You should have seen him man. I think he was paler then Chris.�
�Hmmm�� Justin said looking at his friend of many years.
�So what do we do about it?� Joey asked.
�I wish I knew.�