Justin grimaced with pain as he bent down to try and tie his shoes one handed, sitting back up he held his good hand to his side and cursing softly to himself. Gritting his teeth he bent down and tried again only to gasp out in pain and straighten up again.
�Damn it and I thought getting my shirt on was painful.� He said to himself running a hand through his developing curls and bending once more.
�Hey man are you in here?� JC asked knocking on the door and sticking his head through the open crack, surprising Justin in the process and causing the younger man to jump slightly and groan out in pain.
�Oh geez man I�m sorry.� JC said looking mortified as he quickly crossed the room kneeling down in front of where Justin was sitting so he could see the blonde�s face. �Are you ok?�
�Yeah yeah. I�m fine, I just wasn�t expecting the knock.� Justin said waving JC off and sitting up fully again. �Now you were the last person I was expecting they would send.� Justin said thoughtfully looking at the think brunette.
�What?� JC asked confused and somewhat distractedly looking down at Justin�s untied shoelaces. �Want some help with those?� He motioned to the laces.
�Nothing and please.� Justin said.
�So how are you J?� JC asked tying the first lace quickly.
�Sore. But fine. The doctor said I got off really lucky just a sprained wrist, some bruised ribs, and a slight concussion.� Justin said pointing at the small white cloth bandage on his forehead. �The doctors said Lonnie was even luckier, he got away with just some major bruises.�
JC nodded as he reached for Justin�s other shoelace and tying quickly.
�All Done.�
�Thanks man. You know its funny I learned to tie shoes when I was five and here I am at 21 and I can�t even bend down to tie my own shoes.� Justin said going faintly red in the face.
�So what happened Justin?� JC asked worriedly, sitting down on the hospital bed.
�I�m not sure I can even tell you Jace.� Justin sighed. �We were driving along coming up to that big turn about 5 minutes from the compound, Lonnie yelled out that the brakes weren�t working and the next thing I knew we were wrapped around a tree. I guess I blacked out after that because after that I woke up here without any idea how I actually got here.� Justin explained watching as JC nodded thoughtfully to himself.
�So� do you think this guy that hurt Chris is responsible?�
�I don�t know. The police were in here earlier asking questions and said the car has been taken somewhere they can look at it and determine if the brakes were messed with on purpose. But they also said that the car was in such a shape that they might not be able to tell for sure. Not everything is going to be because of this guy. There is no reason to believe that he even knows who we all are let alone where to find us.�
�Oh come on Justin. You have to admit there have been a lot of strange coincidences lately.� JC said hotly.
�No what I can admit is that there are a lot of bad things happening all at one time. There is no proof or reason to believe they are happening for the same reasons.� Justin said irritably back, causing JC to flinch at the raised tone of voice and look down at his hands.
Sighing softly at the brunette�s dejected look Justin looked down at his shoes taking a few deep breaths before speaking again.
�Look Jace. I know there is something going on in your mind that you�ve convinced yourself that this is all your fault but its not. It just happened. I know that it sucks that we have to deal with the fallout now but it isn�t any of our fault.�
Justin sighed again when the brunette made no acknowledgement of his words, but saw a single tear make its way down the older man�s face. Justin was torn between frustration with his friend�s refusal to accept the truth and wanting to cry himself. JC had always been one of the strong people in his life, ever since they met during the Mickey Mouse Club days and in just a matter of a few short minutes all that changed, and it killed him not knowing how to help his friend.
�Jace��
�Ready to get out of here? I�m sure the other guys are getting worried that we haven�t come back yet.� JC said interrupting, standing up quickly and wiping a hand over his face, before turning to help Justin stand.
�Yeah. More than ready.� Justin said, knowing that he hadn�t changed the older man�s thoughts at all but deciding to let it go for the time being.
*******************************************************
After spending ten minutes fighting with Justin over the hospital�s policy of patients having to ride out in wheelchairs, they had finally stepped off the elevators and made their way out to the front doors of the hospital, not noticing Jake�s figure as he stood just off to the side semi hidden in a little alcove of a doorway watching them make their way towards him.
�So where is everyone else?� Justin asked looking over his shoulder at JC who was pushing the wheelchair he was in.
�Hmmm? Oh. Uh�. Joey and Chris are back at the compound, we were watching a movie when they called us about the accident. Security would only let once of us come and since I picked up the phone I got to come. Your mom and Chris�s mom had gone out shopping or to get or coffee or something�. I don�t know. We tried to reach your mom before we left but she wasn�t answering her cell phone. I�d imagine she�s probably back at the compound by now.� JC said with a shrug.
�Ugh. She is going to be fun to deal with. She�s probably been driving everyone crazy.� Justin said chuckling. �She�s not going to let me do anything for myself.�
�She�s your mom. She�s allowed to worry. Plus I�m sure your just going to hate being waited on hand and foot.� JC said sarcastically.
JC quickly ducked behind the bodyguard that had been walking beside them; breaking out into laughter as Justin half hearted took a swing at him from the wheelchair.
***
Jake watched from the shadows with a disgusted look on his face as the two boys continued to tease and taunt each other in good spirit before the trio slowly started to make their way towards him.
�Can�t they just be good little boys and die like they are suppose to.� Jake muttered to himself.
�Well�� Jake thought as looked around the open lobby of the hospital debating his options. �I could just shoot them here and now but I�d never be able to get out of the hospital and get away� a lot of good that would do anyway, we�re in a hospital they�d probably just manage to save the brats before they died anyway. If that bodyguard wasn�t with them I could grab one, and use him as a shield to get out of here and kill him later�maybe even use him to get the other two� but I�d never get anywhere near them probably��
He stood glaring at the young men willing for an opportunity to present itself, cursing as the trio made their way past them and almost to the door.
�Excuse me Sirs!� A one of the nurses from behind the reception desk called just as he was about to move from his hiding spot ready to follow them outside so he could hop into his car to follow them back to wherever they were staying. �Sirs! You forgot your personal effects!� The Nurse said causing the group to look back and the curly haired one in the wheelchair to blush.
�Umm� oops?� The young man said with a guilty look, causing the bodyguard to sigh.
�You two stay right here where I can see you. Don�t move a muscle.� The bodyguard said sternly.
Jake watched hardly believing his good luck as the bodyguard stomped back off toward the reception desk and the two young men starting talking adamantly to each other again not taking any note of anything around them. He watched for a few more moments before looking around to make sure he wasn�t being watched and stepping from the shadows.
Walking quickly but not enough to draw to much attention Jake closed the gap between him and the two Nsync-ers. Nearing them he reached in his pocket ready to take out his gun and grab the nearest boy to him before hightailing it out of there. When he was only about ten feet from the two boys he looked back to find where the bodyguard was before continuing forward with more speed this time.
Five feet from the young men and just about to pull his gun out into plain sight steel blue eyes looked up and right at him, the puzzlement clear in the eyes. The movement stopped Jake in his place momentarily surprised by the action having expected to be grabbing the young man without his approach being noticed. The momentary pause was just enough to ruining his opportunity as a small group of young girls came running up to the two singers surrounding them, their excitement drawing the gaze of the brunette away from him and to the smiling faces of the young girls.
No longer having the opportunity to grab the young man with ease Jake had no other choice but to keep walking right by them and out the hospital front doors. Cursing himself for stopping he didn�t feel the gaze of the young man watching as he left.
***
JC looked up from the young girl watching with curiosity as the man left the hospital. He had seemed strangely familiar and he could have sworn the man was coming right at them for something. A small tug on his shirt returned his attention to the young girl and he crouched down to her level with a smile, taking the piece of paper and pen she held in her hand to sign an autograph for her.
�Are you ok?� One of the girls asked Justin.
�Oh yes. I�m fine.� Justin said with a smile reaching to sign an autograph for her.
�Then why are you in the hospital?� The girl asked.
�We were just leaving actually. I just had a little accident.� He said looking at her with a small smile.
�Why are you here?� She asked moving her attention to JC.
�I just came to pick him up and make sure he is ok.� JC said.
�Oh.� The young girl said with a pause, and then with a bright gap toothed smile said �I�m Susie!�
�That�s a very pretty name Susie.� JC said smiling.
The bodyguard returned to their side just as they finished signing the last autograph and saying goodbye to the girls.
�Ready to go?� The bodyguard said moving forward to open the doors so JC could push Justin through.
�Hey J?� JC asked quietly bending down so only Justin could hear him.
�Yeah?� Justin said turning his head slightly.
�Did you see that guy that was coming over to us� right before the girls showed up?�
�What guy?� Justin asked confused looking around.
�Never mind. Its not important.� JC said with a sigh and one last glance to where the man had disappeared an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.