Back to the Dream Page
"Oh God no."
Lance couldn't believe his ears. Something was wrong. He couldn't have just been drafted. Others maybe, but not him. Oh please, not him. It was all too surreal. He had heard strangers' names. He had heard it when they announced Joey's name, as well as Chris's and Justin's. AJ of the group Backstreet Boys had been called as well. But him?
And all he had to do was feel the woman in his arms crying her heart out and know in his heart that he had heard correctly.
He gathered his wife close in his arms and started rocking her. "Shh, shh, Jamie," he murmured softly as he closed his eyes and held on to the woman. "It'll all be all right. You'll see."
"No it won't," she sobbed. "How can you say that? You're going off to war! I don't want you to go!"
"I know sweetie. I don't want to go either, but it's my duty," he sighed, wishing it were only that simple.
She only cried harder.
"Hey Lance. Hi Jamie."
He opened his eyes and found himself looking at a familiar face. Smiling a little, Lance broke away from his wife long enough to clap Justin on the back and give him a hug. "Hey Sprout. Long time, no see man," he said. "Hi Katie," he greeted Justin's girlfriend. "How are you?"
"I could definitely be a lot better. God Lance. Who would have thought that you guys would be going to fight in the war?"
Again, he felt Jamie give a shudder and he hugged her tight, offering what comfort he could.
"Obviously, none of us," Joey answered as he, Chris, and JC joined the two youngest members of *NSYNC.
The guys greeted each other with warm but saddened embraces as they met up all together for the first time in a long while. "I don't know. Do you guys get a bad feeling about this?" Chris asked.
Lance nodded. "This isn't right at all. I never thought we'd be brought together again in this kind of situation."
"Man JC. You're so lucky you're not going."
"I can't lie and say that I'm not a little relieved. At the same time though, you guys don't know how bad and guilty I feel for being the one left behind here. It's not fair to you guys at all that you 'have' to go. I couldn't get you guys to do anything, why should the government be able to?" His friends all smiled weakly at his attempt at a joke. He sighed. "You guys are my brothers. I don't want to lose any of you," he said, emotion thick in his voice as he turned away so no one could meet his eyes.
"Hey guys." They all turned and saw AJ approaching with most of the members of the Backstreet Boy and their loved ones. "I think I'm holding a little get together at my place. For old times sake, you know? Wanna join us?"
With nothing better to do, the group agreed and waited for Brian to join them. One look at his face and the tears slipping down Anne's face told everyone that there was another among them going off to war.
'And that makes seven of us total,' Lance thought to himself. 'Chris, Joey, Justin, and I, Brian, Howie, and AJ. Who among us will make it back home after this war is done and over?' He shook his head, trying to clear it as he concentrated on following Justin's car to AJ's, his left hand on the wheel and his right clutching Jamie's hand tightly for support.
"You'll be all right," Jamie said out loud, as if she were reading his mind. "And so will the rest of the guys." But they both knew how flat and hopeless sounding her voice was even as she spoke.
Lance drew her hand to his lips. "Let's hope you're right," he replied, giving her a quick kiss.
"The mail's here," Jamie called.
"Anything good?" Lance asked as he locked the door behind them once they were inside. The gathering at AJ's had been anything but fun. With more than half the guys going off to war, it was difficult to find any sort of relief in the air.
"Well, there's something from the hospital," she said, frowning a little bit.
"What is it?" he asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her softly on the neck before resting his head on her shoulder so they could both read its contents.
Dear Dr. Jamie Bass,
We write this letter to inform you that you have been chosen to help in this third world war by offering your services in the medical field. Many have recognized your talents and abilities to help out those individuals in need of medical attention in times of stress. We also remember the time you spent actively working to make this world a better place through your efforts with the service corps in times past. In short, we believe that you will best be able to help serve your country by using your experience and expertise in this war. This is a dark and troublesome time for all of us, and we understand how difficult this must be for you, but please understand that we need dedicated individuals such as yourself to help out in any way you can.
Attached to this letter are instructions directing you to the closest base. Please report there in two days' time. There, you will be given further instructions as to…
Lance felt icy hands clutch his heart as Jamie gave a whispered, "Oh God." The paper fell from her hands and slowly fluttered to the ground. Neither remembered her turning around but the next thing they knew, they were both crying, holding tightly onto each other as they let their tears mingle. "This wasn't supposed to happen," she sobbed. "Life can't be so cruel!"
He could only keep crying.