Chapter 1 : Angel

****Summer 2000, @4 PM****
"Hey guys. Tonight is going to be a little bit different. Your last song at tonight's concert will be 'Music of My Heart'. Just sing it like you would with Gloria and we have a rising talent that will sing her part. Ok?" asks *NSYNC's manager over the speakerphone on the bus. They all say it's fine and hang up, then they go their separate ways. Justin heads back to the bunk, while the rest of the guys stay in the lounge to talk.
"Do you think he can hear us?" asks Joey.
"No. I'm worried about him. He is more depressed than usual." Says JC.
"I know. Well at least he keeps a good face for the fans." Says Lance.
"yeah." Says JC. "But one thing really worries me. I saw him talking to thin air yesterday."
"You did too? I thought I was seeing things." Says Joey.
"This is getting weird. Tonight after the concert I think we need to get some answers and see if this is going to effect the whole group." Says Lance. The rest agree then go about their business.
****
"Hey Salem. I miss Angel. She's my best friend. It will be six years tomorrow." Says Justin lying in his bunk fiddling with the necklace Angel gave him.
"I know you do Justin. I would too, except I never met her, or this Sabrina cat you talk about. Well, she did say she would see you again. Don't worry, by the way you talk about her, I'm sure she keeps her promises." Replies Salem from his corner of the bunk.
"Yeah. You're right."
****The concert****
"Alright guys, let's go. I want to see who this rising talent is." Says Chris. They all head on stage to begin the concert.
****
Justin runs on stage to begin the final song with the rest of *NSYNC right behind him.

You'll never know
What you've done for me
What your faith in me
Has done for my soul...

You'll never know
The gift you've given me…
I'll carry it with me (yeah...yeah...)

Through the days ahead
I think of days before
You made me hope for something better (yes you did)
And made me reach for something more*

Then a soft angelic voice starts singing with the group.

You taught me to run
You taught me to fly
Helped me to free the me inside
Help me hear the music of my heart
Help me hear the music of my heart
You've opened my eyes
You've opened the door
To something I've never known before
And your love...
(love)
Is the music of my heart... (music of my heart)*

Close to the end of the song, a red head wearing a white leather tank top, white leather pants, a white leather trench coat and holding a microphone is slowly dropped down to the stage in a swing. She continues singing with the group as she stands up.

You taught me to run
You taught me to fly
Helped me to free the me inside (me inside)
Help me hear the music of my heart (music of my heart)
Help me hear the music of my heart
You've opened my eyes
You've opened the door (opened the door)
To something I've never known before (never, never, felt before)
And your love...
Is the music of my heart...

Music of my heart
Music of my heart
Is the music of my heart...*

After the song, they bow. Then smoke surrounds the girl and when it clears she is gone, leaving *NSYNC to run off the stage.
****
"Who was that?" asks Joey as they get on the bus.
"Don't know. She seemed familiar." Says Justin as they go back to the back of the bus, skipping the kitchen, couch in the front of the bus, and the bunks.
"I should." Comes a familiar voice from the front of the bus. "I mean, how can you forget an old friend?" Justin rushes to the front of the bus with the rest of the group close behind. They reach the front to find the girl from the show lying on the couch, licking a blowpop. "Hey Justin." She says throwing the blowpop in the trash from the couch. She looks up at him and notices him wearing the necklace. "I see you found it. I missed you."
"Angel?" asks a shocked Justin.
"Yup. I keep my promises. Someday, right?"
"Yeah. I missed you too."
"Give a girl a hug." She says getting up. He gives her a hug.
"So where have you been these past six years?"
"Boarding school. Didn't have any friends there, but I did have Sabrina with me. By the way where is Salem?" He begins to answer, but JC clears his throat.
"Um, ya mind introducing us? And who are Salem and Sabrina? Justin you don't know a Salem."
"Uh, yes I do. Guys this is Angel McFree, my best friend from six years ago. Angel, these are the guys. Joshua Chasez or JC, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise." Says the group in unison.
"How cute. I'm sure Sabrina would love that. She loves you guys." Says Angel with her attention turned towards Justin.
"Really. Salem hates us. Where is Sabrina by the way?"
"Before you answer that mind telling us what's going on." Asks Lance.
"You mean they don't know?" says Angel.
"Know what?" asks Chris.
"Nothing. Guys could you leave us alone for a few."
"Sure, but we want answers." Says JC. They head towards the back and close the door behind them, leaving Justin and Angel alone.
"So back to our original conversation, Sabrina forgot her collar back in my dressing room. You didn't tell them?" asks Angel.
"Didn't know how. I mean it is pretty weird and I don't know how to go about saying anything." Says Justin.
"No you just chickened out is what." Comes a voice from Justin's bunk.
"Ha, ha. Hey Salem, get down here. There is someone I want you to meet." An invisible Salem jumps down, goes to Justin and Justin makes him visible again. "Salem, meet Angel. Angel meet Salem."
"Pleased to make you acquaintance." Says Salem.
"Like wise. Nice to know you have manners. You outta meet Sabrina…"
"Angel?" comes a voice from the front.
"…speaking of which. Sabrina, come here."
"Yes?" says a snow white, short haired cat coming from the front. "Sabrina. Meet Justin and the cat is Salem. Justin, Salem. This is Sabrina."
"Charmed." Says Sabrina.
"Like wise."
"Here's some milk. Me and Justin need to finish our conversation." The cats start drinking the milk and talking, while Justin and Angel finish their conversation.
"So how did you get past security?"
"Easy. I talked your manager into letting me sing with you guys. The rest was easy."
"I guess I should have thought of that. So did you pass the course?"
"Yep. It was easy and I really didn't need to take the course, but they had to be sure. And look." She holds up a necklace with a triangular shaped diamond on it. "I'm officially on-call."
"That's great."
"Yeah. Well, I know your friends want answers so I need to talk to the council and see if it is okay. Can you watch Sabrina for me? I'll meet you at the hotel."
"Sure. See ya in a bit."
"Yep. And I will be back. I promise." With that, she orbs (AN: On the TV show Charmed, picture the way Leo disappears when he leaves) out of the bus, leaving Justin, Salem, and Sabrina alone.
"Don't worry Justin. She'll be back. She always keeps her promises." Says Sabrina trying to comfort Justin.
"I know. I know."
****
"Ok guys you can come out. We're at the hotel." Yells Justin as the bus pulls up to the back of the hotel. His friends come out from the back.
"So we want some answers Justin. We're worried about you. By the way, where's Angel?" Says JC as they wait for security to secure the area so they can come out.
"I know you do and when she comes back, she'll give you the answers you want. As for where she is, I honestly don't know." Justin answers the question; then the bodyguards come and take them to their rooms where they unpack before meeting Justin in his room.
****Justin's Room****
"So where is Angel?" asks Lance as him and the rest of the guys sit down.
"Don't know she should be here soon." Replies Justin as he sits down. As he sits down, Salem and Sabrina wake up from their positions under the bed and run out. They hiss at Justin who quickly apologizes. "Sorry cats. Forgot."
"Who are they?" asks JC pointing to the solid black and solid white shorthaired cats.
"The white cat is Sabrina and the black cat is Salem."
"Who's are they?" asks Joey.
"Sabrina is Angel's and Salem is…well…mine." Answers Justin then Salem hisses at him. "Oh sorry. They aren't property." Says Justin then Salem 'meow's in approval.
"That's weird. It's like they can understand us." Says Chris.
"Long story, but they can." The guys give Justin a weird look. Justin, I talked to the officers. They said if your friends could be trusted, we can tell them. So can they? Asks Angel's voice in Justin's head. I can trust them. Says Justin. Okay, give me a sec and I'll orb in, although I would tell them not to yell. That usually happens when people are wide-awake. Says Angel. Okay then. You can hear me. Orb in right after. Says Justin. Got it. See ya. "Guys, I hear Angel, when she comes in promise me you won't freak. I know it's a weird request, but just promise me."
"Weird is right, but we promise. Right, guys?" says JC.
"Right" say the rest in unison.
"Okay. Just remember you promised." Says Justin right before Angel orbs into the room, leaving the guys as white as ghosts. "Uh, guys? You there?"
"Uh, yeah. What are you?" stammers Lance as he comes out of being shocked.
"Well…I know my name is Angel, but I am also…well…an angel."
"An angel? Like for us?" asks Joey coming out of being shocked.
"No, I am a Calling Angel." Angel says laughing. "There are three types of angels. One are Guardian Angels which guide you and watch over you, but only one person. Another are angels, who just hang around in the sky creating weather, playing cupid, stuff like that. The last are Calling Angels. We live normal lives, it's just that if we are needed to help someone we are called. When this thing glows, it means we are called." She says showing them her necklace.
"Oh."
"Hey Justin, I think they are still in shock. May I have some fun to snap them out of it?" asks Angel with a mischievous grin on her face.
"I guess. Don't hurt them."
"Thanks." She smiles before giving her wrist a quick flip.
"Hey Angel, why are you upside down?" asks JC.
"Look again Sherlock. I'm not." JC and the other guys excluding Justin find themselves upside down and quickly fall back to the floor. "So are you out of the initial shock?"
"Now we are." Says Chris. "So how did you do that?"
"Magic. Normally when you are chosen and after certification, you get powers to aide you in calling. But I was a special case, long story, but I was born with mine." Replies Angel. Then they hear a crash followed by hissing from the bed. They turn to see the cats in one huge heap on the floor. "What happened?" Angel asks the cats.
"Don't know." Says Chris.
"I was talking to the cats." Says Angel in the nicest voice possible. She turns back to the cats. "Well?…"
"She started it!" accuses Salem.
"No he's lying. He started it." Accuses Sabrina back.
"Jeez, what do you think Justin?" asks Angel.
"Don't know. Since this is the first time, how about we let them off with a warning?"
"Sounds good." She turns to the cats. "You're off with a warning. I suggest you behave. Got it?"
"Crystal." The cats reply in unison.
"They talk?" asks Lance.
"Yeah. Sometimes I can't get Sabrina to stop. Don't worry, it's amazing how fast you get used to it."
"Alright, enough excitement for today. Let's go to sleep. We have tomorrow off and the next day off by the way." Says Justin.
"We could use the break. I can't believe it. No concerts, photo shoots, etc…Tomorrow and the next day will be heaven."
"Well, mind if I hang with you guys. When I talked to the council they told me to take 48 hours off. So starting midnight, I'm off-call. First time in five years. And I can make dinner tomorrow as a thanks."
"That's sounds great. I'm sure the guys won't mind; I mean you are offering food. Why don't you stay on the extra bed in JC's room? I don't think he'll mind. JC, do you?"
"No, she can have the extra. Just no funny stuff. Promise?" says JC.
"Promise. Let's go to bed. I'm sleepy." Says Angel yawning.
"Me too."
"Me three."
"Me four."
"Me five."
"Well then. Good night Justin, guys, cats" Says Angel. "JC which room is yours?"
"Follow me. Night guys." Says JC.
"Night JC, Angel." Says the group and the cats. JC takes Angel to his room and heads straight towards the bathroom to change. When he comes out he finds Angel sleeping on the other bed. He goes over to her and wakes her up.
"Angel? Wake up." Her eyes flutter open. "You're not going to sleep in that are you?"
"I guess I could take the jacket off, but why not this?" She asks as he sits down on the bed and she gets up and sits.
"Isn't it kind of hot?"
"Well to tell you the truth, I can't tell hot from cold."
"Huh?"
"Because of my special circumstances and I don't mean the whole angel thing, two things happened: one, I don't know emotion mainly because two, I can't feel."
"What do you mean?"
"Give me your hand." He does so and she puts her and his hand palm to palm. "When I do this, what do you feel?"
"You're very cold."
"I know. When I do this I feel nothing. It is almost as though your hand isn't there. The only way I know it is there is that I can see it and feel its pressure."
"So how did you wake up when I shook you."
"You answered your own question. You shook me. I can feel a touch, but it has nothing to it."
"Wow. So you have lived your entire life like this?"
"Yeah. I can't wait till it ends. I hate not having emotion, well I have emotion, but it's non-identifiable and not being able to feel."
"What do you mean when it ends?"
"Long story. Someday I may tell you. But for now lets go to sleep."
"Got it. Night Angel." Says JC as he slips into his bed.
"Night JC." Says Angel as they both fall asleep.

*"Music of My Heart" as sung by 'NSYNC and Gloria Estefan*

Chapter 2: A Story
1