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laniew1The gangs all here…
TITLE: The Guardians – JC/Justin – JC/AJ
Author: Melanie
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing at all, least of all those contained within.
Chapter 8
Damian’s car was in the driveway in Megan’s usual spot when they pulled in. A frown crossed AJ’s face as he studied the car then turned to look at the house.
All the lights were on. Which wasn’t unusual since Justin was spending the day with JC but…
Damian’s presence on this particular day was unusual though and AJ couldn’t help the prickle of unease that ran down his spine.
“Damian’s here,” Nick’s voice was quiet beside him and AJ could hear his own unease echoed in Nick’s voice. Nice to know that he wasn’t alone in the feeling the strangeness.
“No Megan,” AJ commented before he opened the door and exited the car. He could see the curtains in the living room sway and knew that either Damian or JC had been looking outside. Watching… waiting for their arrival.
He was scared to enter his own home. Part of him wanted to order Nick back into the car and flee, hide at Brian’s or Kevin’s or Howie’s until things felt right and comfortable again.
“Maybe something happened?” Nick questioned quietly keeping stride with AJ as the older man walked with purposeful steps to the house.
“I think they would have called or come to the studio.”
“You know JC, purity of the sound or something… he wouldn’t come to the studio. Not unless he had no other choice.”
AJ let his hand hover over the doorknob, hesitating as he drew a deep breath. He could feel Nick right behind him. A solid, worried presence at his back.
Megan had left the studio with errands to run, her car wasn’t here. He hoped for Nick’s sake that nothing had happened to her.
JC had been alone with Justin, it looked as if Justin was no longer here, the car he normally drove not being parked in the driveway, maybe something had happened between the two of them?
But why would JC have called Damian and not AJ?
The door opened before AJ had a chance to make any move, before he could quiet the thoughts that were running rampant. He felt fear and he hated it.
He hadn’t felt it since JC and he had come out.
Damian stood in the doorway and the grin that was on his face looked more like a grimace being forced into a smile than anything else.
“Something wrong?” AJ asked quietly as they moved into the house, Damian shook his head closing the door behind Nick. AJ couldn’t help but notice that Damian scanned the driveway as if he was looking for someone.
Megan was obviously expected… but from the look on Damian’s face she had been expected back sooner and had not arrived. Maybe JC being the slight worry wart that he was had called Damian for moral support.
“I guess it depends on what you term as being wrong,” Damian’s voice was quiet as the three walked toward the living room. AJ coming to an immediate halt when he caught sight of JC.
Face pale, arms wrapped around himself in a manner that AJ remembered from when they had first starting ‘seeing’ each other.
JC was folding in on himself, protecting himself from whatever was to come. AJ knew from past experience in dealing with JC like this that if he moved closer JC would skitter away from him. He hated being touched when he was like this; normally he locked himself away in a room and barred everyone from entering.
Damian must have arrived before this had started.
AJ glared at the Guardian that was moving around the room, then his eyes narrowed in surprise and slight anger when JC allowed the hand that Damian placed on his shoulder to remain.
Normally he would have shrugged it off.
“Jace?” AJ moved forward quickly, Nick right beside him. If JC was allowing Damian’s touch than he could damn well allow his. He was proud that his hand didn’t shake when he reached forward to touch JC’s cheek. Praying desperately for JC to accept him… he stroked his cheek softly with his thumb as he stared into his lovers eyes.
“We…” JC’s voice faltered and he glanced over at Damian, clearing his throat at Damian’s nod. “We should wait…” his voice was barely a whisper. AJ’s eyes flickered between the two men. If JC got any paler he would fade away into nothing, and suddenly AJ realized that the hand on JC’s shoulder was giving him strength. Damian was being strong for both of them, even though AJ could see fear in his eyes.
“Did something happen with Justin? Did he hurt you?” he asked quietly. Beside him he could hear Nick’s quickly indrawn breath. Then could feel the palpable relief when JC shook his head no. “Megan?” Another indrawn breath, this one laced with fear.
“She’ll be back soon…” Damian said softly. We hope was unspoken.
“Where is she?” Nick asked finally joining the conversation at the mention of his girlfriend.
“They’ll be back soon,” Damian said again.
“They?” AJ’s eyes narrowed as JC closed his eyes.
“She went to bring Justin back.”
“Justin? Did you guys have a fight?” AJ finally stopped fighting the urge to pull JC into his arms and did so. JC unresisting as he laid his head on AJ’s shoulder.
“There’s some… things we need to tell you,” Damian’s hand stayed on JC’s shoulder even as JC’s arms wound around AJ tightly.
“Things? What kind of things?” AJ asked in alarm. Several things sprang to mind… the constant pain that JC had been in the last few weeks, the distance that he’d felt as Justin had been making his play for JC… but Nick wouldn’t need to be there for that.
Maybe something with Megan… the distance that always seemed to pop up between Nick and Meggie.
The frisson of fear was back again.
“I’m not sick,” JC’s breath puffed against his neck a slight smile forming against his skin.
“Good,” a sigh of relief as AJ pulled back. Not sick, good. They could deal with anything else. He could deal with anything else.
JC being sick and AJ not being able to help him would have been more than he could bear.
“So can we sit then? Or do you want to do this standing up?” he forced a small grin, which grew wider when JC returned it weakly then leaned forward to kiss him gently.
Just a hint of tongue against his lips and an “I love you” before JC pulled back, but it was enough. It was a reaffirmation of their feelings for each other. Of JC’s feelings for him. AJ was momentarily shamed at how desperately he’d needed that reaffirmation.
Something was obviously going on. JC was scared, Damian was scared, Megan was missing but returning with Justin of all people.
JC dropped his arms, taking one of AJ’s hands in his own. Gripping it tightly as he led the way to the couch, sitting, releasing AJ’s hand he linked them together in his lap and stared at them.
Damian and Nick moved things around and sat on the coffee table facing them.
AJ laid an arm across JC’s stiff shoulders his eyes meeting Nick’s. Aware that the questions he could see in his were the same as in his own.
“So…”
“We should really wait for Meggie and Justin,” Damian stated, JC’s sharp nod indicating his agreement. “That way we only have to do this once.”
“Don’t want to do this at all,” JC muttered under his breath.
“Jace…”
“This is stupid Damian,” JC hissed practically jumping to his feet. “They don’t need to know this, any of this.”
“Yes they do…” Damian’s voice was perfectly calm, understanding laced in it. AJ got the impression that they’d had this conversation more than once while they’d been waiting for everyone to arrive. “They deserve to know.”
“It’s going to go badly,” JC warned dragging a shaking hand through his hair. Wrapping his arms around himself once again as he folded into himself. “It always does…”
“JC…”
“Does someone want to tell us what’s going on? You know since both of you obviously are in the know and…” Nick’s voice was agitated and AJ knew that it was because Megan wasn’t here, that she’d gone after Justin of all people.
“We’re waiting for…”
“We’re here,” Megan’s voice was quiet at the doorway and as everyone turned AJ wondered how they’d missed her car pulling into the driveway. How they’d missed her coming into the house. Justin was silent beside her although he seemed to be vibrating with energy.
And happiness?
So hopefully whatever was going on here wasn’t going to be bad news per se. Or maybe just bad for him and good for Justin?
But no JC had allowed him to touch him, to kiss him, had told him that he loved him.
There was something else going on here.
“Okay,” AJ slowly rose to his feet moving to JC’s side, Damian and Nick following suit as Megan and Justin entered the room. “The gangs all here… someone mind telling us what’s going on now?”
“Where’s Sarah?” Megan asked eyes focusing on Damian.
“She was… checking in. Some stuff going on the others couldn’t take care of.”
“She can’t talk,” Megan’s voice was a quiet reminder of something that everyone knew already.
“She won’t need to. If something happens they’ll let us know.”
Megan nodded as she moved into the room, AJ could tell from the expression on her face that she wanted to go to Nick, that she wanted the same support that JC had garnered from his brief moment with AJ (although that had seemed to dissipate quickly) but that she was scared to do so.
“Have you told them?” she wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms as if cold. Positioned in the room so that she could see everyone. Her eyes flitted to Nick, then AJ, then Justin.
“We were waiting for you,” Damian reminded her softly. “Did you…” his eyes focused on Justin but AJ could tell just by looking at him that whatever information he and Nick were being forced to wait on Justin had already been told.
“Yes,” Megan stared at JC whose eyes refused to raise to meet hers.
“And?” JC’s voice was a quiet whisper. So soft that for a moment AJ didn’t even realize that it had been him that had spoken.
“It’s okay C,” Justin’s voice was strong, confident and AJ’s eyes flew to him. He’d never heard Justin sound like that.
Ever.
He always sounded like some petulant teen that had been told that he couldn’t have what he’d always wanted.
But now… he sounded different.
“I understand now,” Justin’s voice was still strong and now he was moving forward, stopping directly in front of JC.
“Do you?” JC still stared at the ground, although AJ knew that he was staring at the toes of Justin’s shoes now.
“Yes.”
“Well since you understand does someone want to explain it to us,” Nick’s voice was laced with annoyance. Everyone seemed to be talking in code and no one wanted to say what was really going on. “Because AJ and I are still in the dark here.”
Megan and Damian both looked at JC who still refused to look up, Justin touched his arm and AJ bit back a snarl.
“Megan said it wouldn’t be easy,” Justin said softly and AJ knew that his words weren’t meant for them, they were meant for JC alone. “I’m going to make this up to you, make this right… put things back the way they were supposed to be.”
“Justin,” Megan stepped forward and by the tone of her voice AJ could tell that she and Justin had already had a conversation on this topic.
“What do you have to make up for?” JC’s eyes finally rose from where they’d been studying the carpet, staring into Justin’s eyes intently. “I’m the one that did this, I made this, you were upset and so was I, but I still took your words at value, still looked at your heart as if you weren’t.”
“JC?” AJ moved closer, his hand touching JC’s other arm. He had a feeling that JC and Justin knew exactly what the other was saying, even as he and Nick were in the dark. “What’s…”
“I made a wish,” Justin turned to him, and AJ was frozen in place by the expression on his face. Apology and understanding. Two looks that he’d never seen on Justin before.
JC’s voice barely a whisper broke through the fog that was surrounding him. “And I granted it.”
******************************************************************************
TITLE: The Guardians – JC/Justin – JC/AJ
Author: Melanie
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing at all, least of all those contained within.
Chapter 8
Damian’s car was in the driveway in Megan’s usual spot when they pulled in. A frown crossed AJ’s face as he studied the car then turned to look at the house.
All the lights were on. Which wasn’t unusual since Justin was spending the day with JC but…
Damian’s presence on this particular day was unusual though and AJ couldn’t help the prickle of unease that ran down his spine.
“Damian’s here,” Nick’s voice was quiet beside him and AJ could hear his own unease echoed in Nick’s voice. Nice to know that he wasn’t alone in the feeling the strangeness.
“No Megan,” AJ commented before he opened the door and exited the car. He could see the curtains in the living room sway and knew that either Damian or JC had been looking outside. Watching… waiting for their arrival.
He was scared to enter his own home. Part of him wanted to order Nick back into the car and flee, hide at Brian’s or Kevin’s or Howie’s until things felt right and comfortable again.
“Maybe something happened?” Nick questioned quietly keeping stride with AJ as the older man walked with purposeful steps to the house.
“I think they would have called or come to the studio.”
“You know JC, purity of the sound or something… he wouldn’t come to the studio. Not unless he had no other choice.”
AJ let his hand hover over the doorknob, hesitating as he drew a deep breath. He could feel Nick right behind him. A solid, worried presence at his back.
Megan had left the studio with errands to run, her car wasn’t here. He hoped for Nick’s sake that nothing had happened to her.
JC had been alone with Justin, it looked as if Justin was no longer here, the car he normally drove not being parked in the driveway, maybe something had happened between the two of them?
But why would JC have called Damian and not AJ?
The door opened before AJ had a chance to make any move, before he could quiet the thoughts that were running rampant. He felt fear and he hated it.
He hadn’t felt it since JC and he had come out.
Damian stood in the doorway and the grin that was on his face looked more like a grimace being forced into a smile than anything else.
“Something wrong?” AJ asked quietly as they moved into the house, Damian shook his head closing the door behind Nick. AJ couldn’t help but notice that Damian scanned the driveway as if he was looking for someone.
Megan was obviously expected… but from the look on Damian’s face she had been expected back sooner and had not arrived. Maybe JC being the slight worry wart that he was had called Damian for moral support.
“I guess it depends on what you term as being wrong,” Damian’s voice was quiet as the three walked toward the living room. AJ coming to an immediate halt when he caught sight of JC.
Face pale, arms wrapped around himself in a manner that AJ remembered from when they had first starting ‘seeing’ each other.
JC was folding in on himself, protecting himself from whatever was to come. AJ knew from past experience in dealing with JC like this that if he moved closer JC would skitter away from him. He hated being touched when he was like this; normally he locked himself away in a room and barred everyone from entering.
Damian must have arrived before this had started.
AJ glared at the Guardian that was moving around the room, then his eyes narrowed in surprise and slight anger when JC allowed the hand that Damian placed on his shoulder to remain.
Normally he would have shrugged it off.
“Jace?” AJ moved forward quickly, Nick right beside him. If JC was allowing Damian’s touch than he could damn well allow his. He was proud that his hand didn’t shake when he reached forward to touch JC’s cheek. Praying desperately for JC to accept him… he stroked his cheek softly with his thumb as he stared into his lovers eyes.
“We…” JC’s voice faltered and he glanced over at Damian, clearing his throat at Damian’s nod. “We should wait…” his voice was barely a whisper. AJ’s eyes flickered between the two men. If JC got any paler he would fade away into nothing, and suddenly AJ realized that the hand on JC’s shoulder was giving him strength. Damian was being strong for both of them, even though AJ could see fear in his eyes.
“Did something happen with Justin? Did he hurt you?” he asked quietly. Beside him he could hear Nick’s quickly indrawn breath. Then could feel the palpable relief when JC shook his head no. “Megan?” Another indrawn breath, this one laced with fear.
“She’ll be back soon…” Damian said softly. We hope was unspoken.
“Where is she?” Nick asked finally joining the conversation at the mention of his girlfriend.
“They’ll be back soon,” Damian said again.
“They?” AJ’s eyes narrowed as JC closed his eyes.
“She went to bring Justin back.”
“Justin? Did you guys have a fight?” AJ finally stopped fighting the urge to pull JC into his arms and did so. JC unresisting as he laid his head on AJ’s shoulder.
“There’s some… things we need to tell you,” Damian’s hand stayed on JC’s shoulder even as JC’s arms wound around AJ tightly.
“Things? What kind of things?” AJ asked in alarm. Several things sprang to mind… the constant pain that JC had been in the last few weeks, the distance that he’d felt as Justin had been making his play for JC… but Nick wouldn’t need to be there for that.
Maybe something with Megan… the distance that always seemed to pop up between Nick and Meggie.
The frisson of fear was back again.
“I’m not sick,” JC’s breath puffed against his neck a slight smile forming against his skin.
“Good,” a sigh of relief as AJ pulled back. Not sick, good. They could deal with anything else. He could deal with anything else.
JC being sick and AJ not being able to help him would have been more than he could bear.
“So can we sit then? Or do you want to do this standing up?” he forced a small grin, which grew wider when JC returned it weakly then leaned forward to kiss him gently.
Just a hint of tongue against his lips and an “I love you” before JC pulled back, but it was enough. It was a reaffirmation of their feelings for each other. Of JC’s feelings for him. AJ was momentarily shamed at how desperately he’d needed that reaffirmation.
Something was obviously going on. JC was scared, Damian was scared, Megan was missing but returning with Justin of all people.
JC dropped his arms, taking one of AJ’s hands in his own. Gripping it tightly as he led the way to the couch, sitting, releasing AJ’s hand he linked them together in his lap and stared at them.
Damian and Nick moved things around and sat on the coffee table facing them.
AJ laid an arm across JC’s stiff shoulders his eyes meeting Nick’s. Aware that the questions he could see in his were the same as in his own.
“So…”
“We should really wait for Meggie and Justin,” Damian stated, JC’s sharp nod indicating his agreement. “That way we only have to do this once.”
“Don’t want to do this at all,” JC muttered under his breath.
“Jace…”
“This is stupid Damian,” JC hissed practically jumping to his feet. “They don’t need to know this, any of this.”
“Yes they do…” Damian’s voice was perfectly calm, understanding laced in it. AJ got the impression that they’d had this conversation more than once while they’d been waiting for everyone to arrive. “They deserve to know.”
“It’s going to go badly,” JC warned dragging a shaking hand through his hair. Wrapping his arms around himself once again as he folded into himself. “It always does…”
“JC…”
“Does someone want to tell us what’s going on? You know since both of you obviously are in the know and…” Nick’s voice was agitated and AJ knew that it was because Megan wasn’t here, that she’d gone after Justin of all people.
“We’re waiting for…”
“We’re here,” Megan’s voice was quiet at the doorway and as everyone turned AJ wondered how they’d missed her car pulling into the driveway. How they’d missed her coming into the house. Justin was silent beside her although he seemed to be vibrating with energy.
And happiness?
So hopefully whatever was going on here wasn’t going to be bad news per se. Or maybe just bad for him and good for Justin?
But no JC had allowed him to touch him, to kiss him, had told him that he loved him.
There was something else going on here.
“Okay,” AJ slowly rose to his feet moving to JC’s side, Damian and Nick following suit as Megan and Justin entered the room. “The gangs all here… someone mind telling us what’s going on now?”
“Where’s Sarah?” Megan asked eyes focusing on Damian.
“She was… checking in. Some stuff going on the others couldn’t take care of.”
“She can’t talk,” Megan’s voice was a quiet reminder of something that everyone knew already.
“She won’t need to. If something happens they’ll let us know.”
Megan nodded as she moved into the room, AJ could tell from the expression on her face that she wanted to go to Nick, that she wanted the same support that JC had garnered from his brief moment with AJ (although that had seemed to dissipate quickly) but that she was scared to do so.
“Have you told them?” she wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms as if cold. Positioned in the room so that she could see everyone. Her eyes flitted to Nick, then AJ, then Justin.
“We were waiting for you,” Damian reminded her softly. “Did you…” his eyes focused on Justin but AJ could tell just by looking at him that whatever information he and Nick were being forced to wait on Justin had already been told.
“Yes,” Megan stared at JC whose eyes refused to raise to meet hers.
“And?” JC’s voice was a quiet whisper. So soft that for a moment AJ didn’t even realize that it had been him that had spoken.
“It’s okay C,” Justin’s voice was strong, confident and AJ’s eyes flew to him. He’d never heard Justin sound like that.
Ever.
He always sounded like some petulant teen that had been told that he couldn’t have what he’d always wanted.
But now… he sounded different.
“I understand now,” Justin’s voice was still strong and now he was moving forward, stopping directly in front of JC.
“Do you?” JC still stared at the ground, although AJ knew that he was staring at the toes of Justin’s shoes now.
“Yes.”
“Well since you understand does someone want to explain it to us,” Nick’s voice was laced with annoyance. Everyone seemed to be talking in code and no one wanted to say what was really going on. “Because AJ and I are still in the dark here.”
Megan and Damian both looked at JC who still refused to look up, Justin touched his arm and AJ bit back a snarl.
“Megan said it wouldn’t be easy,” Justin said softly and AJ knew that his words weren’t meant for them, they were meant for JC alone. “I’m going to make this up to you, make this right… put things back the way they were supposed to be.”
“Justin,” Megan stepped forward and by the tone of her voice AJ could tell that she and Justin had already had a conversation on this topic.
“What do you have to make up for?” JC’s eyes finally rose from where they’d been studying the carpet, staring into Justin’s eyes intently. “I’m the one that did this, I made this, you were upset and so was I, but I still took your words at value, still looked at your heart as if you weren’t.”
“JC?” AJ moved closer, his hand touching JC’s other arm. He had a feeling that JC and Justin knew exactly what the other was saying, even as he and Nick were in the dark. “What’s…”
“I made a wish,” Justin turned to him, and AJ was frozen in place by the expression on his face. Apology and understanding. Two looks that he’d never seen on Justin before.
JC’s voice barely a whisper broke through the fog that was surrounding him. “And I granted it.”