(A/N - I'm jumping back just a little for this first part. Back to present at the break in scenes *~*~*)
Chris hadn't been able to sleep, his brain just wouldn't shut down enough for him to be able to. So an hour after they had all been told that they wouldn't hear anything until morning and should go try and get some sleep he was up again. After quickly checking on the 3 remaining members of the group he had quietly snuck downstairs and out onto the back porch watching as the sky turn from dark to light, lost in the thoughts in his head.
Sure he was known for his never ending energy, driving anyone and everyone up the wall pretty much several times daily, but he could be one of the most serious people you've met when someone he cares about is hurt, sick or in trouble. The four men that he spent his life with, Spent practically 24 hours a day with over the last 6 or 7 years were part of his family. Granted not by blood but to anyone who asked he wouldn't hesitate to call them his brothers. And right now one of them was missing and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.
That thought terrified him to no end.
Around 5am so lost in his thoughts Chris failed to notice a figure silently make his way over to the older man. It wasn't until the person sat down beside him did Chris jump from his thoughts and focus on the man beside him.
Chris ran an appraising eye over Lance's form. He looked haggard. His eye red and a little puffy from lack of sleep and possibly tears, his clothes were slightly rumpled and his hair messy from what little sleep he had managed to get but there was a stone expression on his face as he faced forward watching the Sun rise, not even acknowledging Chris's gaze.
"Hey Lance. What are you doing up? You look like you could use some more sleep why don't you go back to bed for a little while?" Chris said trying to keep his voice soft but cheerful.
"I can't� I� I just can't. How long have you been up?" Lance said eyes never straying from the sunrise.
"I never really got to bed."
"Oh."
They sat in silence for some time like that, both just watching the sunrise. Chris could tell his friend had something on his mind that he wanted to ask or talk about but Lance sat stubbornly silent and under the circumstances Chris felt it was best not to push the younger man into anything.
"Do you think he is alright Chris? Justin was dreaming last night� talking in his sleep I could hear him through the walls� he� I can tell they were about Jace� and they weren't good." Lance's voice cracking with emotion cut through the silence sometime later.
"I'd wouldn't be honest with you Lance if I said I wasn't worried. But I think he is all right. They are better off keeping him alive if they are going to ask for something�"
"But we haven't heard anything yet. Nothing. Don't you think we would have by now?"
"You heard the police last night Lance. Whoever has him took him late at night and probably wants us to be worried� thinking the more worried we are the more cooperative we will be. Lets not go down that bridge until we absolutely have to ok?"
Watching Lance nod he turned back to the sun raise, the distinct feeling that wasn't all Lance had on his mind. Silence set in over the pair once again and it wasn't until a good several minutes later that Lance broke it again.
"Chris? Who do you think kidnapped him?"
"I really don't know Lance, I wish I did though."
"What if it was someone we know. If someone really close to us played a part in all of this?"
Chris's head snapped towards his friend, the question ringing in his ears. It didn't sound like a hypothetical type of question; he never even considered it himself. He watched silently for a few seconds as Lance looked down into his lap, his hands playing nervously with the hem of the t-shirt he was wearing.
"Do you have something you want to share with me Lance? Do you know or suspect something?" Chris asked very seriously and slowly hoping that the younger man would continue on.
"I� well� It's just that�"
Before he could get any further the glass sliding door to the house opened and an officer poked his head out side.
"They are calling, come on we need one of you to take the call."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They all sat gathered around the dining room table, minutes previously they had received a call from JC's kidnappers and all had not gone as well as they hoped.
"I want to warn you all before we play the tape that it is probably going to be difficult to listen to. Mr. Kirkpatrick who took the call was asked by us not to agree to anything until we had JC on the phone and confirmation that he was still alive and ok. To say the least he kidnappers didn't appreciated it much. But we don't think there is any extreme cause for alarm just yet�" the officer in charge rambled on
"Officer why don't you play the tape for them and then explain� as it is I think you are upsetting them more than you are helping." One of the many bodyguards in the room suggested.
"Right. Ok. If at any time it is to much just let us know and we will turn it off or leave the room, whatever it best for you."
A few moments later Chris recorded voice filled the room.
"Hello?"
"Who is this I am speaking to?"
"Chris Kirkpatrick."
"You are a friend of JC Chasez?"
"Yes I am where is he?"
"He is with us and safe for now. But to get him back you will have to do as we say."
"Nothing is happening until I can talk to him."
"I'm afraid that isn't possible right now�"
"How am I suppose to believe that you even have him then?" Chris interrupted, his fear and anger getting the better of him.
"Its called trust Mr. Kirkpatrick."
"Trust? How can I trust you? You've claimed to have kidnapped one of my best friends and now you won't even let me talk to him. For all I know he is already DEAD!"
"Very well Mr. Kirkpatrick you want proof? Watch for a package sometime today, we will be in touch later on tonight."
The sound of a dial tone filled the air and the officer leaned forward to turn off the tape player.
"What does that mean? Look in the mail? What does that mean? They wouldn't hurt him would they?" Justin's frantic voice cut through the silence.
"No Mr. Timberlake we don't believe�" the officer started
"You don't believe?! That isn't an answer Officer!"
"Mr. Timberlake please calm down. We have to certain JC is still alive and alright we didn't know they would react like that but it is a risk that we have to take in order to�"
"Have to take?! You just put our friends life in MORE danger!"
"Its my fault. I shouldn't have agreed to it. I should have just dropped it when they said I couldn't talk to him." Chris voice broke through the yelling but only reaching Joey's ears who was sitting next to the older man.
"It isn't your fault Chris. Don't even think that it is. We don't know anything right now and they never said they would hurt him." Joey said patting the smaller man on the back.
"Yes it is� I might have just killed him and it is all my fault." Chris said pushing his chair back from the table and heading back outside.
Joey sighed to himself. Justin was still yelling at the officer and Lance was now trying to calm the baby of the group down. Chris was blaming himself and everyone else seemed to be occupied with one thing or another� this was going well so far. He looked towards the door hearing the doorbell chime. Glancing back at the room it was obvious that no one had actually heard the bell over the commotion. Shrugging to himself he got up and went to answer the door. Accepting the packing as it was place in his hand. Closing the door again he walked back into the family room where everyone was still arguing, absentmindedly opening the package and taking the contents out� eyes widening at the item in his hand.
"Oh my god." He said to no one in particular but everyone turning his way to see what he held.
"What is it Joe?" Lance asked from across the room.
"It's JC's Necklace."