If you‘re goin‘ to talk about the night Liam died, I guess that pretty much leaves me out," said Justin tossing a throw pillow in Chris’ direction.
"It’s like we told you before Lance," said Chris, catching the pillow, "We’d been clubbin’."
"Liam was in a pretty good mood, considering we’d just found out Mercedes had the miscarriage," said J.C.
"This isn’t the time to sugar coat anything, J.C.," Joey looked right at Lance when he continued, "Liam was in a GREAT mood."
Chris nodded with a sarcastic "Yeah. You’d think he would’ve tried to hide his obvious delight."
"I don’t remember where you were that night Lance," Justin asked.
Lance was silent. Joey answered for him, "Lance was at the hospital with Mercedes."
"S h i t." Justin said slowly with effect.
"She was sleeping. You just sat with her in case she woke up during the night. You held her hand. You kissed her forehead. You didn’t want her to be alone."
"When I collapsed after that concert in Florida, Mercedes was there for me and for my family. Of course I wanted to be there for her when she needed someone. But, who told you that I stayed at the hospital all night with Mercedes?"
"One of the nurses told me," said Joey. "Small world. I actually went out with her sister once," Joey smiled.
"We let Liam leave the club even though we knew he had been celebrating a bit too much that night," J.C. said, thoughtfully, "And I guess we really didn’t care."
"That’s a bit harsh, J.C.," Johnny volunteered.
"I didn’t care," Chris stated. "I certainly didn’t think he was going to crash his car that night, but at the same time, when he left...I didn’t care enough to think ‘whoa, this guy shouldn’t be driving.’"
"He had been hittin’ on chicks left and right...I got the impression he had made a ‘date’ to meet someone after he left us, and I said to myself, ’why are we hangin’ with him anyway?’" said Joey.
"Well, you guys were in the middle of that lawsuit. If it weren’t for Mercedes, you wouldn’t have been in contact with him," offered Johnny.
To the amazement of everyone there, Lance told them, "I saw Liam after he left you guys at Bar 407."
"No way, that nurse told her sister you were at the hospital all night."
"The shift changed at midnight, Joey. Mercedes’ sister Victoria came in from Boston. She’d tell you, I left at 2:30. I received a phone call from Liam. He told me he wanted to see me that night."
"And you went?" asked Chris.
"He told me that it was business he wanted to discuss. That struck me funny, I said ‘you and I don’t have any business between us any more.’ Liam laughed and said, ‘I think you’ll find that what I have to discuss with you personally might very well affect your professional life and that of your friends.’ Lance fumbled with a piece of wallpaper that was beginning to peel away from the wall.
"Lance, the coroner said that the crash occurred between 4 and 5 am." Johnny said. "Where did you see Liam and what time was it when you left?"
"What are you the fucking police?" Joey said defensively.
"Joey, calm down," J.C. said reaching for his friend.
"It’s alright, Joey. Liam and I were at his office until somewhere around 4 or 4:15. That probably makes me the last person to ever see Liam Burns alive."
"Jesus Lance, why didn’t you ever say anything?" asked Chris.
"Lance, did you two have a physical fight?" asked Johnny.
Lance stared at the guys," I really didn’t go in there looking to start a fight. Maybe I wanted to finish one, though."
"You aren‘t really answering my question," stated Johnny.
"Yes, we did have a fight," said Lance quietly.
"When I arrived at Liam’s office he was already sitting behind his desk like he owned the place. He had brought out a bottle of Johnny Walker Red and was pouring two glasses. One for him and the other for me, he said, to help him celebrate! I could see he had already drank too much that night. I told him he should be ashamed of himself for acting so satisfied,"
Lance choked up with emotion, "When...when Mercedes was devastated." Lance fought back the tears, "Liam told me, ‘you see, Lance...I always get what I want. I had this planned since you guys voted to leave Lou. This is sweet revenge. Mercedes never should have taken *N SYNC’s side against the company.’ I didn’t understand. What was it he had planned ? And I was so angry. I was white hot. I threw the glass he poured for me and smashed it against the wall. ’Wait a minute, man,’ Liam said, ’I haven’t even told you the best part yet! You boys think you’re leaving this record label and you go through with that...I’ll tell you just what I’m going to do to that lily-white, god-fearing image of yours. I’ve got FRIENDS in that hospital, Lance. Friends that owe me favors. You better think twice about messing with me. You boys are staying right where you are.’"
Lance went into the kitchen and poured a glass of water from the tap. Joey and Chris followed him with their eyes, "What did he mean, Lance?"
"What could Liam threaten you with?" asked J.C.
"Nothing. Liam had nothing to blackmail me into voting against leaving the label. Which means he’d have to fabricate it."
Lance sat back down next to Justin. "I told him no matter what he thought he could do, my vote alone wouldn’t keep us from leaving Transcon. Liam said he knew how close we all were. That the rest of you wouldn’t want to leave if it meant that he would spread a rumor that Mercedes had an abortion. That it was my baby and I wanted her to..." Lance put his hand through his hair and tears welled up in his eyes. "Get rid of it." Lance took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.
Justin pounded the couch, "HE COULDN’T DO THAT!"
"Just maybe he could have. Things like that sometimes don’t have to have any basis in fact to ruin someone. The rumor alone would’ve been real bad," Johnny said.
"Trouble is, that was only the half of it. Mercedes didn‘t have a natural miscarriage." There were tears running down his cheeks as he continued.
"Liam told me he picked up some sort of pills on his last trip to Europe. It caused Mercedes to have a spontaneous abortion. He killed his own child." Lance took a deep breath. "And at that stage of her pregnancy, he could‘ve killed Mercedes, too."
"I knew he was an asshole, but I didn’t know he was capable of so much evil. Just plain evil," said Chris.
"How could he do that to his own wife, Lance? His child? I cannot believe it, I mean I believe you, but I just can’t fathom that," said J.C.
"I take it his so-called ‘friends’ in the hospital would’ve falsified some tests or documents that what? Showed you were the father or something?" asked Joey.
Lance nodded his head. "Liam didn’t care who he hurt, he probably figured the threat alone would make me willing to try and talk you all into staying with Transcon. He got this scary smile on his face, like he ‘got’ me. He managed to take care of two problems at the same time. Mercedes’ baby and *N SYNC. I said, ‘how are you going to fake some test. I haven’t given any samples of blood for any paternity test.’ Then I realized that she was at the same hospital I was in when I was sick. I had all sorts of blood work done then. He had me. He had me cold and he knew it. It didn’t even matter that the two of us had never even...I would’ve been hung and taken you all with me."
Lance pulled his hands through his hair. He placed his hands on his face, covered his eyes and exhaled.
"He could’ve done some major damage to the group that’s probably true. What did you say to him?" asked Johnny.
Justin looked like he was about to cry, his bottom lip trembled. His heart was breaking for his friend, but he felt a betrayal. "You were going through all this and NOT ONCE did you say anything to us. NOT ONCE. Didn’t you think we’d want to help? How many times have I turned to you? We’ve been practically living on top of each other for four years traveling and I thought you felt, like I do...like we were almost brothers. You NEVER even said anything!"
Lance answered softly, "I’m sorry J, it was stupid." He put his hand up on Justin’s shoulder, but Justin moved away.
"I can’t even look at you right now, Lance. I’m feeling bad for you but, I’m angry with you at the same time."
"I understand."
After a pause, Lance spoke again continuing to tell them about that night. "At this point in Liam’s office, it got heated. I couldn’t see straight. The thought of Liam having no regard for Mercedes’ life or the life of his own child...taking that baby away from Mercedes when she had so much love waiting for it...that cruelty alone drove me close to the edge. So, I shoved him as he sat in his chair with that grin on his face, shoved him and the chair up against the windowpane behind the desk. He knew I would never let him hurt Mercedes any more. I couldn’t. I prayed that you all would understand. He seemed so smug over the whole deal. I just wanted him to get up and hit me. Give me a pop. I was itching to get into it with him. Even though he was pretty drunk, I still figured he could whip me. It didn’t matter. There was so much pain on the inside, I couldn’t hurt any more than I did already. At that point, I figured that the only thing that was stopping him was the knowledge that he had me either way. I was afraid that Liam wasn’t going to even give me the satisfaction of having it out with him. He didn’t want to mess up one of those pretty faces that made so much money for him. Instead he caught me off guard and let me have it right where I wasn’t about to forget what he had in store for me.
As soon as I was able to get up, I went for him. He gave me the opening I was dying for. It’s not something I’m proud of, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good at the time. True to form, Liam didn’t leave any noticeable bruises. ‘It’s the investment, Lance’ he said. Sorry to say, Liam didn’t look quite as bad as I felt when he left his office. As I laid on his carpet trying to breathe, Liam gave me this grin and said, ’Later!’ on his way out the door. Ironic, huh? I was actually in the emergency room getting x-rays when I heard about the car accident later that morning...I can’t explain how I felt. I didn’t feel good, but I didn’t feel bad either. The threat died with Liam. So, that part, I have to say, that part I felt good about. I guess, at this point, I’m the one getting exactly what they deserve."
Lance finished what he was saying, and then started towards the guest bedrooms," I’m gonna try and get some sleep, guys. But, thanks for being here tonight."
"Wait a minute, Lance..." Justin yelled after him. Lance stopped and turned to look at Justin. Lance’s face revealed just how important it was to him right now that Justin forgive him.
"Shit, I really don’t want to be mad at you. But, how could you hide all that from us? You went through so much, man, and you never even let on. What the hell, Scoop, you had been in the emergency room and we didn‘t even know THAT?"
"How would I have explained it?" Lance said quietly.
"I guess I really don’t know what I would’ve done in your place." Justin went over and hugged him. "I don’t want to be mad at you. You’re a brother to me."
Lance held onto Justin for a while, "Thank-you, J. I’m really sorry I didn’t say anything sooner." Lance patted Justin’s back and stepped away. He was walking out of the living room towards the bedroom wing.
"Man, now I feel bad," Chris said to the guys in the living room. "Cause I’m just not as quick to forgive and forget like Justin is."
"God damn it Lance," Chris got up and his voice got progressively louder. "You know, I’m not sure we’re through talking."
Lance turned around and said, "I’m sorry Chris, I just can’t talk about this any more tonight."
"Well, now I need to get something off my chest."
Lance walked over into the living room and sat back down, "Okay Chris. Go ahead."
"Hey, Einstein, where have you been for the past six months? We have all tried to talk with you. And you’ve had this wall up keeping us away. You’ve had your head so far up your ass that you didn’t even exist anymore. You weren’t with us, you removed yourself from us. Like some albino ghost."
Chris took a deep breath and after a long pause sat down on the couch next to Lance. "I feel just the same way Justin did. All this time you were going through this and you shut us out. Oh, you might have thought you were protecting us, or some other such heroic bull shit but are we friends, or are we just in this business together?"
"I get what you’re saying. It just snowballed on me. It got to the point that I didn’t know how to unload it all," said Lance.
"You guys are all like family to me, so I’m going to treat you like a brother and kick your ass. I know things are looking pretty bad right now, and I’ll be damned how you managed to keep things as together as you did, but I promise you one thing."
"What’s that?" Lance asked, tilting his head to one side to take a good look at Chris.
"If you ever keep things to yourself again and not let us in...things will get worse. ‘Cause I’m going to see to it that your butt’s in a sling next time."
"Oh, thanks Chris. That’s so reassuring," Lance managed to smile.
"You’re welcome," Chris put his arm around Lance’s shoulder. "And Lance, I don’t believe you’re getting what you deserve. It’s a rough spot right now, but I believe you’re going to come out of this alright. Because I know that you truly deserve to be happy. This shouldn’t have happened to you, and it shouldn’t have happened to Mercedes. I have to believe that some day things will even out. Fate or Karma or whatever will swing back in your favor."
"Thanks Chris."
"Now, do you really want to get some sleep tonight?"
"Actually, I do. But, I wouldn‘t mind a game of pool first."
"You’re on, just don’t expect me to show any mercy."
