Stone Cold

S i x t y o n e

"Hey do you need help getting up?" Dani asked as lance was released from the hospital and waited for the Uber to take them home.

"No im okay," Lance gulped as he forced himself to his feet. His injured arm with the bullet wound shook aggressively at the force to lift his body from a wheelchair but he made it. He hissed holding his arm but got in the Uber that arrived for the four McClain's.

The car ride was quiet, the kids never left the hospital as they stayed with lance, he let the two youngest sleep with him as Dani was okay with a chair for the two nights, she didn't care. The kids were already packed and had their suit cases with Lotors girls that would take them to the jet.

Once they arrived home lance stood outside of the fence staring at his childhood home.

"Come on lance! Make rolo give me my hat back!" a ten year old blond girl ran after two boys that laughed while they were chased by her.

He inhaled deeply but saw his father walking down the street to the house with a cigarette in his hand.

"I'll meet ya inside okay?" Lance told the kids with a soft smile as he waited for John to catch up.

"Heard you got shot," John smirked at his son.

"Yea, broke inside me," lance lifted his tee shirt sleeve and showed the bandage.

"Ouch, I was lucky they fished the single bullet in my leg and kept it whole," John opened the gate for lance and the two sat on the front porch steps.

"You leaving today?" John asked offering lance his cigarette. Lance denied the nicotine.

"Yea, how'd you find out?" Lance sighed looking at his feet.

"I heard Danielle tell Rachel," John smiled and lance laughed at him.

"What are you telling your friends?" He asked as they watched some cars pass by. John noticed lance tense up a little watching the street.

"I told them the truth, that I'm moving away from this shit hole, I told allura everything though, everything everything," lance whispered nodding softly.

"So is that other gay gonna be with you?" John asked inhaling his cigarette.

"No... I don't think I'm gonna see him for a while dad," Lance gulped closing his eyes.

Suddenly a hand was on top of Lances head and John pulled him close but didn't look at his son while ruffling his hair.

"I'm sorry about that," John sighed as he pushed lance back up and away.

"I didn't really care that you were in a relationship with a man, I kinda assumed you'd be something of that sort anyways when you were little," he shrugged flicking his cigarette away.

"Also thanks for bailing me out of jail kid," he smirked softly. "You're never going to be stop being you,"

"I'm trying," lance shrugged a little again as he listened to his father.

"Don't, cause if you stop being you, your going to end up like me," John rolled his eyes.

"Why is everyone suddenly trying to be nice to me and make up for their shittiness?" Lance looked at him confused.

"I don't know, could be the fact that I almost lost one of my kids and I almost never got to see you again," John looked straight ahead.

"I think I would Damn near try every drug there is to make myself feel something again if I lost one of my children, but your something special lance, I don't think this family would be alive if you weren't here.. or if something awful like that happened again," he scoffed shaking his head.

"Are you okay with me taking the kids?" Lance asked raising a brow.

"Fuck yea, I'll miss you but get the fuck out of here," John shoved him but lance hissed at the pain his arm.

"To bad the bullet broke, would've been a cool trophy," John beamed brightly at lance as his son shared a similar smile with him. John chuckled staring at his son as he remember the sweet little kid he had follow him around

"Alright, I'm gonna say bye to the others," John slapped Lances shoulder as the boy gapped at the pain while his father stood.

"I took your advice too kid, I'm going to try being a little more sober, I heard I got a grandkid on the way," he chuckled going inside as lance stayed on the porch stairs.

He enjoyed the last of the summer breeze as he could tell fall was on its way, the temperature dropping again as they didn't have to use air conditioning as much. Who knew when the next time he'd see this street again, his friends, his other family.

Lance reached in his pocket and held the letter Lotor wrote for him and sighed staring at it, the first time he read it he sobbed into his hands in the hospital, the second time he cried again, this time he felt empty as he held the page of his lovers handwriting.

Lance, my love,
There is so much in this world I wish to share with you, for us to explore more together.
I would do anything to make you happy, and for you to truly feel free. My fear is that I couldn't be the one that would be able to achieve that for you. But if you are reading this then my fears come true...
I may not be able to hold you once more, kiss you, see you, see your smile, feel your warmth, I'm sorry for leaving you like this lance, the moment I knew you were in danger I felt my world collapse around me, I would do anything to get you back even if that meant I wouldn't be able to be with you anymore.

So these may be my last words for you, my love.

I've arranged my businesses to be sold if I am truly dead, a month after I've passed they will be sold and I've arranged that money to go straight to you, and only you, do what it you will, put it away or spend it as you like, take care of yourself, and those children you'll raise as fine adults. But my wish if for you to be happy no matter where you are, to cut the old ties that have been like split ends, to let yourself grow as the man that I know and love. You have more potential than you can possibly know lance, I know money cannot buy happiness but it can be a first step to seeing your dreams in sight now. Schooling, a career, a home, anything you could think of, I hope I endorsed enough.
My will is to you, everything I own, but that is why I'm selling my business, so that responsibility doesn't fall onto you.
I wish I could write more, I wish I could tell you in person, that i could make sure you know fully in your heart how much you mean to me, to the world, how much your strength has motivated me to be better, your kindness and selflessness, your beauty, your love... I love it all, I love you, Lance Sanchez, Lance Charles Mcclain.

I will always be with you my love, always.

Yours and only yours,
Lotor Alchemy

Lance wiped his cheek as he set the letter down. He felt the love Lotor poured into his letter, he missed him, he missed him so much. He never got to say good bye to him. It hurt so much. He was gone.