| Great Outdoors [one] by destiny WEG's offices were buzzing with activity. Faxes were coming in at an alarming pace and the secretary was scrambling to organize the reports before Johnny arrived. One thing she was sure of, he was going to blow his stack. The members of N Sync were causing a ruckus and he was not going to like what these faxes said. Johnny swept in at ten, not a moment later, with a smile and cup of coffee for his secretary. "What?" he asked as her face contorted miserably. "You're going to flip," she said pushing her glasses up on her head. She thrust the papers at him and took a long sip of her coffee. "Thanks for the java." He nodded absently and glanced at the papers. His face flushed immediately as he read through the various items. "Goddamnit!" he yelled slamming his fist on the counter. His secretary sighed with a nod of her head. "Where are they?" he growled. "Get them all here on the next planes available and if none are, send the jet to get them. Fucking pricks." He stormed into his office and slammed the door rattling the pictures on the office walls. His secretary stood up and fixed the gold record for No Strings Attached. All was not well. Johnny collapsed in his leather chair and rubbed his nose. Justin wanted out for a solo career? A neat little contract had been faxed over by his personal manager demanding he be let out of his obligations with N Sync. "Fuck that," Johnny whispered, tossing it aside. And Joey. An anonymous fax from a wedding chapel had revealed his marriage to Kelly. Married with a kid on the way! "Little shithead!" Johnny spat, knowing it would be leaked and a media nightmare would ensue. Onto Lance. He gazed at the doctor's report. Ulcers, high blood pressure, heart murmurs....and drugs? Drugs found in his system. "Wonderful. The goody goody of the group is a druggie. Fucking peachy!" JC was MIA, apparently. His phone was disconnected and a short fax explaining he'd be out of touch for a bit. "What's a bit?" Johnny hissed, standing up. The final was a request from Chris for a large advance to save his clothing line. He either got the advance or walked. "Blackmail. Nice!" Johnny stared at the photo taken in the studio during the recording of No Strings Attached. Five young men smiling broadly with arms around one another. Behind their smiles, Johnny recalled the apprehension they held inside. They feared the fans wouldn't want them anymore. They were frightened that the press would think they were washed up and not provide the publicity they so desperatley needed. The five innocent young men who traveled the world and back in 2000 and enjoyed a success they were unprepared for. A success that turned them into mean and petty strangers. A knock interrupted him. "Yes?" "Another fax." his secretary said striding over to him. "Britney is suing Justin for physical assault." Johnny's face fell. What was wrong with these kids?'' ****************************************************************************************************************** Justin's cell phone rang for a full two minutes before he could be bothered to pick it up. He was cruising Rodeo drive after being alerted to Britney's impending charges. He figured a nice piece of jewelry would calm her down. "What?" he spat into the phone as he pulled his car into a spot. "Justin, it's Jennifer from WEG. You are being picked up at seven pm this evening for a meeting with Johnny in Orlando. It is mandatory and you will be docked if you're not here. Tickets will await you at the airport. Is this understood?" Justin laughed at the way Jennifer spoke to him. He was amused by her efficient tone and wondered if she realized her paycheck was paid by him, by his sweat and tears. Still, he felt he owed Johnny and a meeting worthy of being docked had to be big. Maybe it was his release from N Sync. "Fine," he said crisply. "I'll be there." He clicked his phone off and jumped over the top of his door, heading into a jewelry store before he could be spotted. ****************************************************************************************************************** Lance groaned as his stomach retched. Spittle hung from his lips and he felt like shit. "Want me to call the doc?" his co-star asked. "No," he snapped. "I'm fine." He knew the doctor had found illegal drugs in his blood and no amount of swearing up and down that it was 'just one time' could convince the man to withhold the info from management. "Bass, you got a message!" the set coordinator yelled, hurrying over with the pink paper. Lance wiped his mouth and stared down at it. A mandatory meeting at WEG is being called. Airline tickets await you and a limo will pick you up at seven this evening. You are both to be there or be docked for each hour you are late. "You gotta be fucking kidding me," Lance whispered, staring up at Joey across the lot who held a similar paper. Joey shrugged and twisted the gold band on his left hand nervously. After Kelly wrath he'd put it on to assure himself being married was the right thing. It made him feel no better. ****************************************************************************************************************** The hum of the fax machine woke Chris from his Halcion induced sleep. A small pool of drool gathered on his desk where he'd fallen asleep. "Aha!" he grinned, rubbing his eyes. "About damn time." He hadn't wanted to threaten Johnny like that, but damn, he needed an advance, a huge one to save the company. Spinning his chair around he was met with the same message Lance and Joey had been given. "I guess he wants to do it in person." Chris sprang to his feet and stretched. He had a few hours to get ready and debated calling Dani. She would just yell at him for stooping so low. She would just remind him blackmail was illegal. Then she might quit and he'd never see her again. Jumping in his car, he sped home to pack. ****************************************************************************************************************** JC rode along the stretch of highway before him. The west coast was so different from the east coast and he maneuvered around the windy roads with caution. His eyes stung from crying and he hated the fact he was so weak. Thankfully he'd shut his cell off so no one could find him. Impotent. He, JC Chasez, a sexual addict just about, could not get it up for his woman anymore. "Fuck her!" he screamed angrily. A small tinkly ring surprised him. He looked around and pulled over. It was coming from under the passenger seat. Bobbie's cell! He didn't want to answer it. He knew it was most likely her but his fingers moved faster than his brain could process and he clicked on. "What?" "Oh, Josh, thank God. You're needed at WEG." Bobbie's voice was small and relieved she'd been able to relay the message. "Where are you? You're phone is off and..." "Shut up already okay?" JC hissed. "What about WEG?" He heard Bobbie sniffle a bit and his heart fell slightly. Then he remembered the pictures. He'd never done that. He'd never had his dick sucked for the camera. He'd never let a girl do such things to him on film. He grew stony again. "Well?" "Umm, they said you need to be home by seven and a limo will take you to the airport and tickets will be there and...." "Fine," JC said. He revved the engine and tossed her phone out the window letting it crash to the pavement below. ****************************************************************************************************************** At five pm, Johnny left his office. Jennifer hurried over. "They're on their way. Lance and Joey will be here later than the other three but in the morning they'll all be here." Johnny nodded silently and walked to his car. He was heading home for a stiff drink and some planning. These boys were going to get it together or die trying. |