~*~
Shay got off the elevator, entering a noisy, bustling lobby. Whip was right in the center of it all, agitated that no one was taking her seriously and demanding that they do something. Shay moved closer, her eyes swiftly scanning the people surrounding Whip. She couldn't tell if any of them were suspicious or not, so she continued to walk forward, trying to catch Whip's eye. When she finally did, Whip let out another shriek and ran towards her, hugging her tightly. Shay talked to her soothingly and told her that Lance was okay and that Joey had him up in their room. Whip was crying now, shook up and scared to death. Shay wrapped her arms around Whip and led her back to the elevator. They got on and Shay pushed the button for their floor. She hoped that security was there and they wouldn't have to worry about running into David. Whip had calmed down some, but quiet mewling sounds were still coming from her and it broke Shay's heart to see her like this.
The elevator chimed and Shay looped her arm in Whip's, smiling at her. Whip tentatively smiled back and started to walk forward when the doors opened. She froze though when David's surprised face greeted her.
~*~
"Where could they be?" Lance was pacing the room. He'd been a little out of it after David had hit him, but although he was still sore, his mind was racing.
"Calm down buddy," Joey interjected, "We'll find them."
Security was still combing the floor and some of them had been sent down to the lobby to see if anyone had spotted Whip or Shay. The woman at the front desk told them that a young woman had been there earlier, complaining that they were causing a huge scene and scaring some of the other patrons. When Dre told her what was going on though, her demeanor changed completely and she was quiet and cooperative. She'd seen them get on the elevator, but that was all. Dre walked over to the other security guys and told them what she'd said. They were just going to have to start looking here, then go floor by floor till they found them.
~*~
Shay was puzzled by Whip's reaction when the doors opened. She tried to pull her forward, but Whip wouldn't budge. Looking up, she saw why. Though she'd never seen David before, she immediately knew it was him. His sneer and the hateful way he looked at Whip confirmed it. He pushed his way into the elevator and Shay called out, but the doors shut and she didn't know if she'd been heard or not. Immediately, David slapped Whip across the face, bringing blood to her lip. Shay tried to jump in between them, but David just shoved her aside as if she weighed nothing. Shay bounced off the wall in the elevator and sank to the floor, stunned. Whip pressed herself up against the opposite wall. She knew there was nowhere to run and she cringed when David turned his attention back to her. He raised his hand again and Whip ducked her head, but the punch still caught her on the side of the face. White spots of light danced before her eyes and she thought she might pass out, but David grabbed her arm, twisting it up behind her roughly. He made a pleased sound in his throat when she cried out and twisted her arm up higher. Whip felt for certain it was going to break, but David wouldn't let up.
"Now precious," he growled in her ear, "It's payback time."
With one final yank, Whip felt her arm pop and there was a distinct cracking noise. She yelped as tears sprung to her eyes. Finally, David let go of her arm, but it hung limply. Whip couldn't get it to move. She tried again to dodge his assault, but he was enraged now, hitting her again and again. Since he was swinging so wildly, most of the punches and kicks just glanced off of her, but a few connected sharply and Whip fell to the floor, immediatly curling in on herself and covering her head with her good arm.
The elevator chimed again, announcing their arrival at the lobby and suddenly, David was gone and there was just pain. Whip lay back, not caring that she was sprawled in the middle of the elevator. All she cared about was that the beating had stopped. Shay stood up slowly, shaking her head and getting her bearings. She saw David, making his way quickly through the crowded lobby and ran out of the elevator.
"STOP........someone stop him," Shay spotted Dre coming out of the lounge and she signaled him, pointing to David, "There he is, stop him!"
David saw the huge man lumbering after him and took off running. He didn't make it far though. Two more men in security jackets stopped him at the door, tackling him when he tried to break free. Dre gave Shay a thumbs up and she went to the front desk, telling the wide-eyed woman to call the police. The woman looked at her, mouth open, until Shay grabbed the front of her shirt and pulled her close.
"Listen, I'm not saying this again. Call the police now. Tell them we have a man who assaulted three people here and they need to get here as fast as possible. He attacked a member of NSYNC and two of the crew. Do it......NOW!"
Her face paling, the woman just nodded and picked up the phone, punching in the numbers with shaky hands. Satisfied, Shay turned and looked around the lobby. She gasped when she realized she'd left Whip in the elevator and ran back over to find two bellhops helping her sit up. Whip's face was bruised and there was a nasty cut on her bottom lip, but other than that it didn't look as if it was too serious, from what Shay could see. As Whip sat up though, her arm hung at an unnatural angle and she grimaced when she tried to move it. Shay sent one of the men to call for an ambulance and sat there, keeping a close eye on Whip.
~*~
"Lance, get back here," Joey ran after him, trying to get him to return to the room, "You don't know if it's safe yet."
"I don't care Joe, I've gotta find her."
"Well dammit, then I'm goin with you."
"You don't have to....."
"I know, but hell, I figure since I've butt my way into this already, I might as well stay in it. Besides, I would like to find Shay. She's starting to worry me a little."
Joey winked at Lance and Lance tried to smile back at his friend. Yeah, he owed Joey big on this one. Tiny wouldn't let them leave alone so the convinced him to accompany them to the lobby to search for Whip and Shay. Tiny left instructions with the other men to keep a close eye on JC, Justin, and Chris and they got on the elevator. Joey could see that Lance was overcome with fear that something had happened to her.
"She's gonna be fine man, I just know it."
"I sure hope you're right."
So do I, Joey thought to himself.
The elevator chimed and they stepped off, uncertain of where to start looking. Tiny saw Dre and the others talking to a couple of policemen and he went to investigate. Lance and Joey stood where they were, searching the lobby. They couldn't see anyone resembling Whip or Shay.
"Joey?"
Joey and Lance looked at each other and slowly turned around. Shay was still sitting on the floor of the other elevator car, her arms around Whip. Joey and Lance rushed over to them, dropping to their knees as soon as they got close. Joey pulled Shay in his arms, hugging her tightly. She hung onto him, kissing his neck and assuring him that she was okay.
"Whip....baby?"
Whip looked up and the concern in Lance's face brought tears to her eyes again. He put his hand on the back of her neck and leaned his forehead against hers.
"Oh God baby," he whispered, his voice cracking, "I thought I'd lost you."
They stayed like that until the ambulance arrived and the medical technicians had them move so they could examine Whip. Lance rode with Whip to the hospital, making sure Joey promised to let Dre and Tiny know where he was. Joey had hugged him quickly, assuring him he would and that they'd be there as soon as they could.
"Joseph Fatone?"
"That's me," Joey turned to see the officer approaching him.
"I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind."
"Well, actually, I do mind at the moment."
Tiny looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. He started to speak and Joey raised his hand, silencing him.
"I'll answer any questions you have at the hospital. My best friend is there right now and I need to be there. He's been through a lot the past few days and frankly, he's more important right now."
The officer consulted with his partner and Tiny before agreeing to follow them to the hospital. They'd already been assured that charges were going to be filed against David, so he was already in custody and wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. Shay and Joey hurried outside to a waiting vehicle and they took off for the hospital.
~*~
Lance had been treated for just minor bruises and was sitting in the waiting area when Joey and Shay came running in. He told them he hadn't heard anything and they wouldn't let him in to see Whip yet. Joey and Shay sat with him and they all looked up when the two officers entered the room. Lance talked to them for quite some time, explaining what he knew. They said they still needed to talk to Whip, but they'd wait until they heard what the doctor said. Two hours later, they finally got to see the doctor.
"Mr. Bass?"
"Here," Lance rose quickly, concern etched on his tired face, "How is she?"
"She's going to be just fine. Her arm was dislocated so we reset it. She'll have to wear a sling for awhile, but other than a lot of bruising and a cut on her lip, that was the worst of it. We're going to keep her overnight, just for observation, but she'll be able to leave in the morning." Lance heaved a sigh of relief and Joey and Shay put their arms around his waist, helping support him.
"Can I see her?"
"Sure. She's sleeping right now, but you can go in and see her. I don't see a problem with that as long as you're quiet and let her rest."
Lance nodded and followed the doctor to her room. She looked so small, lying in that bed. Lance wanted nothing more than to go over and crawl in with her, holding her in his arms. Instead, he settled for pulling a chair up to the side of the bed and holding her hand, gently so he wouldn't wake her. All night he stayed like that. He refused to leave her side and eventually the nurses gave up trying to get him to leave. Joey and Shay stopped in to let him know they were returning to the hotel, but they'd be back in the morning. The officer said he'd be back in the morning also to ask her some questions. He did inform Lance that David was being held without bail so there was no chance of him getting out and disappearing. At this point though, nothing mattered to Lance except for the still form laying on the bed in front of him. God, he loved her. It had almost killed him when he thought something had happened to her. Lance sat there, running his thumb over the back of her hand and watching her chest rise and fall with each breath until the night started to give way to a new day.