| ++ EPILOGUE ++ |
| "Damn, how much more shit is there?" Chris dropped a large cardboard box to the ground, pausing to wipe his brow with the back of his sleeve. "My count is ten more in my truck. At least ten more in Lance's truck. And God knows what the movers are bringing." JC sighed as he gulped from his bottle of water. "I swear, all the money we make and he can't hire someone to do this!" "Now, now, boys," Lance giggled, handing Chris a soda. "Let's all be happy here. Its only the shit he wants to be sure gets handled with care." "Fuck you, Bass," JC laughed, throwing one of Justin's bandanas at his head. Lance swiped it mid air with a grin. "Don't drop that box there," he warned Chris, pointing to the box at his feet. "It's got breakables in it." Chris nodded with a sheepish smile. He waited until Lance hopped back up the front porch stairs before prying the box open to check for damages. "Well?" JC asked, peering in. "Anything broken?" "No thank God." Chris scooped the bus back up with a sigh, hauling it over to the porch steps. Lynne stepped aside, putting the watering can down. "Just put it in the dining room," she instructed him, patting his back as he walked by. Chris grunted and continued into the foyer. Diane Bass studied the box. "That can go up in Justin's room," she grinned, ruffling Chris' hair as he grunted again. He rolled his eyes and watched his feet carefully as he ascended the steps. Joey ran down past him. "No more for that in his room. It's too small." Chris groaned loudly. "Where the hell do you want this box?" he screamed out in frustration. Justin poked his head out of his new bedroom with a wide smile. "In here, Chris. Need help?" "Yes I do, thankyouverymuch!" He waited as Justin made his way down and took one side of the box. "God, thank you." Justin grinned from behind the box. "It's not that heavy." "Screw you," Chris replied with amusement. Lance bounded up the steps behind them. "Joey scratched the hell out of the banister," he complained lightly. "That's what you get when you give him something to do," Chris said through gritted teeth. Lance nodded, rubbing the scratch absently. He focused hard on the tiny marks, glad they were there. They represented life, and imperfection, friendship and a new beginning. It had been an enlightening month, a month of healing and recovery for Justin as well as the rest of them. Justin had healed physically rather quickly, his wounds deep but fixable. His mind required more work. Outpatient services were imperative to keep it out of the press. He bonded with his doctor and agreed to continue therapy for a year. His emotions were becoming under control and his depression was being combated with Prozac for the moment. He discovered that living at home was a deterrant and when Lance insisted they be roommates, no one was more overjoyed than Justin, thus the moving boxes. Lance had recovered from his shock with one night in the hospital. He too attended therapy, not as frequently. He suffered from nightmares and began to sleepwalk. Joey and his mother spent nights with him to make sure he was safe. It took Lance no time at all to understand that the friendship and love the five of them shared was a gift from God. It didn't matter that they were with one another 24/7 on tour. It made them long for one another all the more when tour was over, when the craziness stopped, that's when the solitary craziness began. He loved Joey and Justin, JC and Chris. They were his family, his blood. "Get the hell off me!" Chris yelled, running out of Justin's bedroom with Britney on his back. "Justin, get your looney girlfriend off my back." Britney let out a laugh. "Take it back then, Chris." Chris tumbled to the floor with Justin hot on his heels. "I take it back," he laughed, fending her off. Justin grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up. "You are a serious artist!" Lance chuckled as Joey and JC bounded up the steps. "What's going on?" JC asked, perspiration running down his face. "Nothing," Justin grinned, looking at all his friends. "Not a thing. Everything is right and perfect." "Thank God!" Joey sighed with a smile. THE END |