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laniew1TITLE: The Guardians – JC/Justin – JC/AJ
Author: Melanie
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing at all, least of all those contained within.
Chapter 14
Justin had never been backstage at a show that he wasn’t performing at. Watching The Guardians, JC included go through pre-concert rituals that didn’t include him, didn’t include the guys in any way, shape or form would probably take some getting used to.
As would seeing him in what was the standard uniform for The Guardians. There was no individuality at all. There was no JC in colorful garb complaining about rough lace rubbing in questionable areas, no Chris hanging off Joey or Lance’s back screeching at the top of his lungs, no hacky sack, no making out with JC in the quiet room minutes before they had to meet everyone.
He and AJ had been to see JC in the dressing room that Jace and Damian shared, they’d each kissed him quietly, both smiling at the low hum of energy rebounding from JC to Damian and back again. JC fed off the pre-concert energy that Damian provided in much the same way that he’d fed off the same energy when it had been Justin providing it.
He wouldn’t have left JC alone in that dressing room until minutes before show time but he’d had not say in the matter. After kisses from both AJ and Justin JC’s bodyguards had ushered them out, ignoring the scowl on Justin’s face.
“Relax,” AJ muttered under his breath as he to ignored the scowling face.
“He just…” Justin waved his hands in the air, “just kicked us out.”
“Look I don’t know what kind of pre-show rituals you all engaged in, but I have a feeling they’re not the same as the ones that JC engages in now.”
“It’s just not fair,” Justin pouted dramatically, “I’m normally up on that stage with him, singing with him, dancing… and now…”
“And now you’re nothing,” AJ finished for him. “This is the world you wanted Timberlake, the one you created. Deal with it,” with an arched brow AJ turned and walked a few feet away, beginning a quiet conversation with Kevin.
“This wasn’t quite the world I had in mind,” Justin muttered under his breath.
“So AJ called off the hounds,” the low voice chuckled beside him. Frown firmly in place he turned to the man standing to his side, he didn’t want to deal with any more people who knew that the kid he’d been before had been a jack ass and a half.
The frown faded when he saw Drew Lachey standing there a bemused smile on his face.
“Don’t worry Justin,” Drew patted his arm carefully. “You’ll just have to remember that you and AJ both have volatile tempers and that here he’s not going to put up with Prima Donna behavior, especially since you have no reason to exhibit it.”
“Wha…?” Justin managed to stutter out as he gaped. Because how the hell did Drew Lachey know anything about him and AJ and JC… unless…
“You’re a bright boy,” Drew patted him again and turned when he heard his voice being called.
Megan standing, hands on her hips mock-glaring at him at the entrance to the hallway to the dressing rooms.
“You were supposed to be here yesterday,” she scowled, a smile biting at the edge of her mouth as she walked over. A small smile for Justin before she hugged Drew tightly. Justin glanced over at Nick expecting to see him radiating jealousy and instead saw happiness.
“Had to delay,” Drew shrugged as Megan released him. “Where is everyone?”
“Getting ready,” Megan glanced around, a young security guard obviously having been waiting for her to notice him handed a pass to her and Drew hung it around his neck. “So why the delay?”
“Nick and Jeff wanted to come, Jessie’s off prepping some new movie and Nick was feeling at loose ends so… How’s Sarah?” Drew changed the subject. Obviously not wanting to discuss the reason behind Nick and Jeff’s presence at his side.
“She sounds like a frog,” Megan grinned. “Damian thinks we should have her croak on stage, maybe do a fairy tale theme or something.”
“You all are cruel, I’m glad I’m not in your bad,” Drew shook his head and Megan smirked.
“We wouldn’t actually do it,” she laughed. “At least Damian wouldn’t, I think she’s got something really embarrassing on him or something. He caved so fast.”
Megan laughed again, blowing a kiss at Nick as she grabbed Drew’s hand and dragged him back to the dressing rooms.
“So Drew’s…” Justin made a flapping motion with his hands and Nick arched a brow at it before shrugging.
“I’m assuming yeah… somehow I don’t think we’re going to know who every one of them is…” Nick turned to look at the corridor that Drew and Megan had disappeared down. “Somehow I don’t think I want to know.”
“Hmm,” Justin murmured. “I think it might be safer for us if we don’t know.”
Megan laughed, bouncing on the couch next to Nick. Next to her Drew was engaged in a quiet conversation with Brian.
Across the room JC was all smiles, his whole body vibrating with his after-concert high as he talked with Damian, AJ and Justin standing just off to the side of him. In about twenty minutes he would disappear with AJ and Justin in tow and wouldn’t be seen again for at least a day. At least she assumed he would disappear with both of them, he’d done it with AJ so…
She sincerely hoped that all three of them were getting what they needed from the relationship. She loved AJ and JC, and adored Justin… she didn’t want to see any of them get hurt.
A glanced around the room showed everyone smiling and energetic, a sudden frown appeared when she realized that Sarah wasn’t with the rest of the group. Leaning over she kissed Nick’s cheek, patting Drew’s hand.
“I’m going to find Sarah,” she said softly at his querying look. He nodded and she left quickly. Sarah had been down for most of the night, not being able to be on stage and sing her songs. Listening to Jess sing songs in a voice almost as strong and clear as hers had been hard on her. Megan wouldn’t blame her if she had found some out of the way corner to sulk in.
She probably would have done that. Of course she would have taken Nick with her so they could make out but Sarah didn’t have a Nick so she was probably alone sulking.
A prickle of unease caused her to stop in her tracks. A frown on her face as she scanned the area, the corridors were fairly well lit but she could swear that she felt darkness creeping in on her.
Drawing a deep breath she centered herself and reached out, trying to feel for Sarah through the bonds that bound them together as Guardians. They were all connected, some of them deeper than others but if they concentrated they could follow each line to one of their counterparts. It was the easiest way to make sure that everyone was hale and hearty.
Her frown deepened when she felt a wall where Sarah should have been. None of them erected barricades to keep the others out, Sarah must be more upset than she’d thought.
Continuing down the hall she glanced in each room, finding them all open, all empty. The adjoining hallway was darker, a few lights out and shut doors. Soft taps on each one as she walked past them garnered no response.
She was wondering if she should go fetch one of the guys, the prickly of unease had returned and was now a full blown tremor. She hadn’t felt this scared since…
A whimper from behind the last door caught her attention finally. “Sarah?” she knocked again, silence this time and she ignored the part of her that told her to run far and fast. Sarah was one of her closest friends and if she was hurting then she would know that she at the very least always had Megan to count on.
“Sarah are you okay?” she turned the knob to the door and pushed it open slowly. Sarah was standing in the back of the room in the shadows and Megan breathed a sigh of relief.
Until she felt the door slam shut behind her and she whirled hand to her chest. Behind her she could feel Sarah moving and a glance over her shoulder had her backing up, hitting the shut door, hand reflexively moving for the knob that she knew wouldn’t work.
It hadn’t last time, she bit back the cry, the tears, the screams that threatened to escape.
Sarah’s eyes were already filled with tears, mouthing her apologies even as she was shoved forward further. A knife biting into the skin of her throat.
“Did you miss me?” the smile chilled her to the bones and she prayed for the others. Prayed like she’d never prayed before. His name a whisper on her lips.
“Sam.”
Justin knew that something horrible had happened the minute that he could figure out who every Guardian in the room was.
All their conversations stopped, Justin and AJ exchanging confused looks as JC halted in his very steps toward the door. Eyes closed, noses lifted to the air as if they were trying to scent something and the growls that escaped their throats indicated that they’d been successful.
Then there was a flurry of movement, JC, Damian, Drew and some others heading towards the hallway that Megan and Sarah had both disappeared down earlier. The others making their way to exits. All movements synchronized without a word being spoken.
And Justin once more wondered about the telepathy thing. Because they were linked, however they wanted to term it.
“AJ call 911,” Damian shouted as he ran to keep up with JC who was quite literally flying down the hallway. Drew on his heels, Justin, AJ, Brian, the set of Nicks, Jeff… everyone that wasn’t still sitting stunned at the flurry of movement in the lounge.
“What’s going on?” Jeff managed to get out as they ran, Justin shrugged, behind him he could hear AJ frantically talking on the phone with the 911 operator. Not able to tell her anything because he didn’t know why he was calling. Just knew that they needed an ambulance, rattling off directions for the stadium.
He heard JC’s yell, Drew’s growl before he rounded the corner. Laying in the corner, crumpled, blood pooling around her still body was Sarah. Justin’s hand came up to his mouth as he gagged on the thick coppery scent of blood.
Was that what The Guardians had been scenting? Had they smelled the blood of their fallen teammate and knew or had it been something else?
Something more primal and deep. Something that joined JC with these people that Justin would never know.
JC was pulling Sarah into her arms, halting her frantic movements, holding her hands as Damian ripped part of his shirt to use as a makeshift bandage.
It was only after one glance around the room, at the noticeable fury on JC’s face, the worry that seemed to emanate from him that Justin realized that there was no sign of Megan.
She was gone.
But Sarah had seen, Sarah knew and the circle of people around her waited, their anger growing by seconds.
Her lips moved but no sound came and all eyes focused on her.
Waiting for the name.
Waiting to see who would need to be punished for this transgression.
When it came it was one syllable, three letters and the room was totally silent. Not a sound was a heard, not even the name.
Sam.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-22 07:02 am (UTC)Love the behavior of the Guardians.
*hugs*