Eight 

Justin heard someone calling him, as if down a dark tunnel. He shook himself and pain shot through his body. His eyes flew open as he gasped for breath. “Justin, don't move. Help is on its way.” Justin felt arms holding him close as the pain centered near his left shoulder. “Just don't move. It will go in deeper.”

“Chasez?” Justin managed weakly.

“Shh,” JC said, smiling down. His hair was no longer long and straight, but short and curly. Blue eyes smiled down at him. “Don't talk.”

“But the wizard…Joey…” Justin struggled to sit up.

“I'm right here, J.” Joey put a comforting hand on Justin's arm.

“Don't fucking touch me,” Justin snapped before everything went black again. 

The next time he woke up, he was in a hospital bed. An IV was in his hand, and he felt bandages above his heart. JC was on a chair by the window, staring out at noghitng. “Jayce?” Justin said quietly.

“Hey.” JC was obviously relieved as he pulled the chair next to Justin's bed. “How are you?”

“What…” Justin licked his dry lips. JC offered him a drink of water. “What happened?”

“The quake hit, with the worst area being your neighborhood,” JC said. “We all called you and you didn't answer. Then we came over and found you on your bed. Your picture fell off the wall, and a piece of the glass stabbed you in the chest.” JC swallowed deeply. “It just missed your heart, Justin.”

“God.” Justin let his eyes flutter closed for a minute.

“What I want to know is where you got these.” JC picked up Justin's hands. Blisters covered the rough palms. Justin knew exactly where the blisters had come from: swordfighting.

“I was…” Justin was interrupted by the entrance of Chris, Joey and Lance.

“God, Justin, if you want a reunion, just ask,” Chris said, covering his worry with humor.

Justin noticed that Joey and Lance made sure to stand on opposite sides of his bed. They refused to look at one another. “You didn't call him,” Justin said accusingly to Lance. Lance stared at him. “You had a meeting and you didn't call him. About the movie, right?”

“We couldn't get a hold of him,” Lance said.

“I told you I was gonna be out with Bri. And then…” Joey stared at Justin, pausing. “Wait a minute. How did you know?”

“You were all there,” Justin said softly, feeling as if he were reliving the end of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Where, J?” JC asked gently.

“In the woods. You were an elf, and Lance was a wizard, and Chris was a dwarf.”

“Figures,” Chris snorted.

“And YOU were mad,” Justin said accusingly to Joey. Joey blushed. “Make up.”

“Why don't we go outside and make up,” Lance suggested. “You look beat, J. Glad you're okay, though.”

“Stay,” Justin said to JC, grabbing his wrist. The others left and JC sat back down. “I want to tell you something.”

“Okay,” JC said, looking worried.

“I just want you to know that, uh, I love you.”

“I know that, Justin. I love you, too,” JC said, smiling.

“No. I, well, I LOVE you. Like THAT.” Justin looked uncomfortable. “I think I always have. It took this happening to make me realize it. You always look out for me, and you're just a wonderful person. But just so you know, I would take a damn electric bullet for you, JC.”

JC ran a hand through his curls. “What brought this on?”

“I almost lost you. Someone almost hurt you. I can't…I had to tell you.” Justin worked his bottom lip between his teeth.

“How about we talk about this once you're up and around, okay?” JC said finally. “Maybe dinner? A movie?”

“A date?” Justin asked. JC shrugged, then blushed. Justin grinned. “Great. As long as it's not Lord of the Rings.”

The End

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