Justin asked as he drove back into JC’s drive.
"Ok I guess The pain killers are kicking in at last." He lifted the huge white caste that reached from his fingertips to his elbow. "It itches like hell."
"I’ll sort it out for you when we get inside I still got that scratcher thingy that you bought me in Germany when I broke my thumb."
JC giggled , then his smile slipped as he hit his fingers as he tried to open the car door. "Owww, fuck. What am I going to do Justin? I’m losing my hand, what if I never get it back to how it was, I can’t write, I can’t play the piano or the guitar. It hurts so fucking much all the time, even before I fell." He covered his face with his good hand "Why Justin? Why did they do this to me? they didn’t have to hurt me, I was good, I did what they told me to. Why did they hurt me?"
"Because they could angel, they were thugs, bullies, baby it will get better, I’ll help you. I promise." Justin got out the car and walked round opening JC’s door and helping him out. He cupped his lovers face kissing him gently. "I love you Josh."
The house door was thrown open and Joey came running out chased by Chris and Lance. They stopped dead seeing the two lovers, Lance’s eyes focusing on the new caste. "Oh honey, what did they say?" Chris hung off his neck as the five of them went back inside. JC sat down .
"I bust a couple of the bones again when fell, they said that I won’t get ever get full mobility back." He waited for his friends to absorb the fact he himself was having difficulty with. "It could have been worse, I’m beginning to realise how lucky I was. I didn’t tell you before I was too scared but now I think I should cus I’m going to tell my lawyer. "
His friends sat round waiting for him to collect himself.
"After they got the money, they discussed what they were going to do with me." He paused steadying his voice. "I was tied up, gagged and blindfolded. They were going to kill me. I couldn’t ... do anything ... all I could do was listen to them planning to kill me."
"Shit"
"The ... the leader he ... he asked Garrett how he was going to kill me. They were going to put me back in the box and burn me." He tried not to cry as he carried "They were going to do it, but Ryan talked them out of it, he saved me. He offered to dump me. He was the only one that talked to me, treated me like I was human. I ..... thought he was going to ... you know like Garrett did. I knew he was interested in me, he’d ... he’d touch me sometimes, But he wasn’t a rapist and he wasn’t a killer. I have to tell them that."
A collective outlet of breaths filled the air. Lance lent forward and patted JC’s knee. "Honey, you don’t owe anyone of them anything."
"I do Lance, He treated me good, well better anyway. He gave me food, water. One day he even gave me some codeine for my hand. The others, they were going to kill me, He stopped them. I have to tell the police that."
Justin shook his head "NO, NO you don’t."
"Yes Justin he does." The blond looked at Chris as if he had just grown a second head. "He has to tell them because he’s not like them, because he’s a good person and its the right thing to do. And if you think about it you know its the right thing to do too. It probably won’t make any difference but he’ll know he did the right thing."
Joey slumped back in his easy chair and picked lint off his pants. "I always knew that fucking psychology degree would fuck us up one day."
****
Lance and Chris moved out the next day, a week later Joey moved in with Kelly and Brianna. The trail was coming up fast and JC had began to have nightmares again. Justin spent most nights holding him, cradling him in his arms. Sex became an issue once more as D day crept closer. JC’s lawyers promised they would shield him as much as they could even asking for special consideration, so that he could give evidence from another room via a video link. Also agreeing that he would only be put on the stand if things started to go wrong.
The day finally arrived and JC was like a cat on a hot tin roof. He had cried most of the night, spending the rest of it vomiting the small amount of food Justin had encouraged him to eat back down the toilet. He arrived at court dressed in the same black suit he had worn when they had broken away from Lou Pearlman. He looked pale and drawn, his arm still encased in plaster. He shied away from the bright flashes of light as the paparazzi jostled to photograph him, The rest of the group closed ranks shielding him from the hungry press, ushering him as quickly as they could to the small room where he was to give his evidence from. Justin and Joey stayed with him but Lance and Chris had to give evidence .
The court was filled with hisses and cat calls as the Buckfield family were led in.
One by one they were asked for their names and one by one they pleaded guilty. The middle aged man sitting with Josh smiled and said "Congratulations son."
The three members of Nsync stared at him confused. "They pleaded guilty to all charges. There will be no trail, just a sentencing."
For the first time in six months JC smiled a genuine smile.
****
"Josh"
"Yeah."
"I can’t believe it’s finally over." the blond turned over in the black silken sheets draping his arm over his lovers waist.
"I know, I think finally I might be able to sleep at night."
"I hope so."
"Did you check the windows and the doors?" JC sat up suddenly studying his bedroom door checking the bolt was drawn."
"Its ok sweetie everything is secure. Lay down." They snuggled up together Justin spooning up behind his lover, he could do that now, JC trusted him enough. "I love you Josh. I know its been a while but can we ... you know if you want to .. I won’t make you if you don’t want to..... Josh make love to me ..... please."
JC rolled over so he was facing the younger man he looked deep into the stormy blue depths seeing the need and want hiding there. He rubbed his nose against Justin’s.
"No"
"Oh ...... Ok baby. Can I hold you then?"
"No."
Justin looked away hurt, but not wanting to push the issue. "I won’t make love to you Justin, but you can make love to me."
Their mouths met in a rush of passion, tongues entwining bodies rubbing and sliding over each other in a frenzied mating dance. JC moaned long and loud as his lover slipped inside him, filling his cavity, sending blinding lights of love through his brain. It was over all too quickly neither man able to control the raging fires deep inside their bellies.
JC lay with his lover curled round him sleeping safely. His doors were locked, the alarm was set, the windows bared. His house was once more secured.
The End