Behind His Smile---JC Chasez Fanfiction

Eleven

Joey Fatone knitted his eyebrows together as he came to another stop in the midst of several other vehicles.  He let out a deep sigh for the fiftieth time. 

Damn!! What was it with the early morning London traffic? It was already almost ten in the morning, and he'd promised JC he'd pick him up at 9.  I should've started sooner.

Joey sighed in relief as everyone started to move again, despite blaring horns and dirty looks from some folks.  He navigated as quickly and carefully as he could, determination in his eyes. Hopefully JC wouldn't be too mad about him being late. 

In another five minutes, Joey turned onto the parking lot of the hospital and parked.  

At the front desk, he signed a visitor's form and then went through the double doors to find room 103.  When he got there, the door was open and at first he didn't see anyone inside.

"JC?" he pushed the door a little more and peered around. Weird. Where would he have gone?

"I thought you forgot the time," a voice said.

Joey looked behind the door where there was a chair.  JC sat there, his bag in his hands, looking at the floor.  His hair was messy, and his pajamas rumpled.

"Sorry, I tried, I got stuck in traffic..."Joey explained.  "Uh, aren't you gonna change?"

JC stood slowly.  "No, I'm just going to the hotel anyway.  No one will care."  His distant, monotone voice had Joey a little worried.  Maybe that's what three days in the hospital did to you.

He grabbed another bag of JC's and then led the way out.  He made sure the nurses knew they were leaving. 

"So--give me an estimate--" Joey began once they were on the road. "How many days til you feel well enough to do another gig? Everyone's wondering."

JC's gaze was out the window.  He didn't move.  "I don't know."

Joey shook his head slightly. "Soon, I hope. We've already called off three more gigs."

That information didn't seem to phase JC at all.  Joey peered at him as they came to a stop sign. He noticed a long scratch on JC's left arm.  It looked as if a cat had swiped him.  The more Joey looked, the more scratches became visible.  There were a few on his jaw, his neck.  

"There's no cars, you can go," JC said.  He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "Don't worry about me." he said as if he knew Joey's thoughts. "Nothing's wrong."

Joey decided not to say anything.  After several minutes of silence, they arrived at the hotel.  Security stood ready to escort them inside. Joey gathered a few things, then looked at JC.

"Don't tell me nothing's wrong.  I know something's going on, and if you don't want to tell me, I'm  just going to figure things out myself.  People don't get scratches on their arms for no reason."

JC kept silent, but his eyes met Joey's and they had a stare-down for a few long seconds.  He jerked the door open and then slammed it, his lips in a firm line.  One of the guards grabbed his arm and began to lead the way to the hotel entrance, but JC winced and jerked away.  

"I can find my own way--" he blurted.  

"But..the fans..." the guard began.  JC ignored him and marched to the entrance.  All he could see was his feet on the sidewalk, taking him nearer and nearer to the door. Lance met him there.

"JC! I'm glad you're back man.  Your girlfriend came over two times wondering where you were." Lance exclaimed. "We told her to come back today and you'd be back."

"Why didn't you just tell her  I was in the hospital," JC snapped.  "She's allowed to know."

Lance scratched his head.  "No offense, man, but she has a big mouth.  She'd probably somehow let it slip out on social media, and then we'd have the fans crowding the hospital."

JC made his way to the escalator and punched a few buttons.  Joey followed them.  "Pearlman thinks if we let JC rest today, we'll be able to start up again with rehearsals tomorrow." He said.

JC's eyes wondered to the escalator floor as it carried the three of them upwards seven stories. Pearlman. The very name made his blood run cold.  His heart beat weakly and hard at the same time and his knees were shaky.  

"Dude are you alright?" Lance inquired, touching JC's arm.  "You look like you're about to faint."

JC swallowed past a hard lump in his throat. "Yeah I'm good. I just need to sleep." Joey and Lance helped him off and led the way to room 780.  

Once inside, JC crashed onto the bed, not even caring that he was on top of the covers. Lance and Joey arranged a few things, then started to make their way out.

"We're going downstairs for brunch, okay?" Joey said.  "We'll be back in awhile."

JC raised his head weakly.  "Can you just make sure the door is locked?"

"Yeah, it will be," Joey assured him. "Rest well, JC."