Chapter Nine

"This is... this is..." JC's words trailed off as he took in the inside of Rachel's house.

"Ugly?" Michael supplied walking in behind him carrying boxes.

"Hideous?" Lance volunteered.

"Yes," JC nodded leaning the boxes up against the wall. "And not Rachel at all."

"Just wait until you see the basement," James told the man. "How are we doing this?" He asked his son.

"Well Rachel said everything in basement and her clothes and such. The awards of course," Lance explained. When his parents and Michael came back from lunch and Lance filled them in, Michael and James were quick to jump in to help. Diane opted to stay with Rachel. Rachel's lawyer was coming to have Rachel and Diane sign a Power of Attorney that gave Diane permission to make decisions for Rachel. When that was signed and notarized, Diane would be able to get Ben's name taken off all Rachel's account and turn off the utilities.

While he had been renting a U-Haul truck, for some reason Lance asked JC if he was free to help. JC had quickly text back saying he would. Lance figured between the four of them, they should be able to pack his sister's belongings rather quickly.

"We'll take the bedroom and bathroom things to the house. Her laptop and such. The rest can go to storage." He hated putting Rachel's things in storage but there was no where else to put them. If he didn't do his radio show from the basement, he wouldn't hesitate to stack all the boxes down there. He still could if it was absolutely necessary. Sometimes there was a crowd in the basement for his radio show, having boxes there would certainly cramp them all. "Just label the boxes neatly so she doesn't have a cow tearing into them all searching for something."

"Pretty sure that would be you Lance," Michael told him.

Lance shook his head, but didn't dispute Michael's comment. "Dad and I will take the awards and the bedroom. You and JC start on the basement. Break anything; you'll answer to Rachel."

"Now this," JC said as he walked down the stairs and into the basement. "Is what I thought the house would look like. It's more personal. Upstairs is cold. I felt like a butler was going to come out and greet us; almost afraid to touch anything up there."

"Yeah," Michael agreed as he started taking pictures off the walls sitting them on the floor. "We never visit her here. She usually goes over to the house."

"I understand," JC took a box and set it up, taping the bottom. He stuffed the moving paper into the bottom of the box to give it a slight cushion before he started clearing off the entertainment center. It was hard to keep moving along when he found himself staring at pictures or checking out the knick knacks. "Should we leave some stuff out for her to put in her bedroom?"

Michael thought on JC's words as he wrapped paper around one of the frames before sticking it in the box. It sounded like a good idea. This was Rachel's domain. She'd want to decorate. Right now the spare bedroom was pretty plain. "Good idea. Just leave what to take to the house out and we'll put them in a separate box when we're done."

JC knew Lance wanted them to be as quick as possible, figuring the faster to get Ben out of Rachel's life the better. He couldn't fault Lance for that. Happy wasn't a good enough term to describe what he felt when Lance told him Rachel had decided to call it quits with Ben without even hearing what he'd done since her accident. As he wrapped a picture of Rachel's niece and nephews he turned to look at Michael who was holding a painting in his hand. "That's a nice piece. Did she have it painted?"

"No," Michael shook his head. "I painted it."

"No way, really?"

Michael nodded. "Yeah. I gave it to her for Christmas. She cried all over me."

JC smiled hearing Rachel's reaction over the painting. It sounded exactly like her; to get emotional over a simple gift such as a painting. "You should definitely take that back to the house. If she had that reaction you know that's one of her favorite things in this room."

Michael sat the painting back on the floor agreeing with JC. "If we're going by reactions, then I'd leave the Moonman out too."

At Michael's words, JC's gaze was drawn to the statue on the top shelf in the middle. He had been surprised when Lance sent him the picture. He hadn't forgotten Rachel had the award; just surprised that she still had it and displayed it out in the open. "Nah. Nothing special about him."

Michael snorted. "Yeah right. Lance told her you wanted it back and I thought she was gonna break down and cry. Trust me; the Moonman is pretty damn special to her."

"I don't know why," JC murmured reaching up to grab the Moonman. His hand encountered a frame that had fallen down, unseen by the eye. "What's this?"

"What's what?" Michael asked as he put another frame in the box. He reached for the packing tape to tape up the box. He looked up seeing JC on his tip toes. "Need a lift?" He asked walking over.

"I think... I got it..." JC's fingers finally grasped the frame and pulled it down. He turned it over eyes widening when he saw the photograph of he and Rachel.

"Interesting," Michael grinned. "When was that?"

"I'm not..." JC trailed off. He took in their appearance, mainly his seeing the longer curls on his head. When he looked up at the Moonman, it clicked. "The VMAs," he said.

"Care to fill in the guy who was still in primary education when NSYNC was big."

"Just how young are you?" JC asked staring at Michael.

"Twenty-six," Michael told him tapping his finger on the glass of the frame. "Photo."

"Was taken on the red carpet at the VMA Awards," JC told Michael staring down at the picture. He was wearing a grey blazer with black accents and a white button-up shit underneath paired with destroyed dark-wash jeans. Fashion left a lot to be desired back then. They wore what they were told and usually matched in some shape or form. Rachel had worn a strapless dark purple dress that fell just above her knees. When other women would have worn just the dress, Rachel added a crop black jacket. Her blonde hair was left down; the blonde tresses a flowing mass of curls. Completing the look was a simple necklace and bracelet; worth considerably less than the jewelry other celebrities were wearing.

"She looks pretty happy," Michael commented watching JC's reaction as he stared at the picture. He wondered if the crush was on the other foot now.

"She was," JC said remembering that night. The smile had never left her face that night. "Out of all the awards shows we attended it was the first one she attended in that capacity. She never sat with us before. By that time award shows were pretty boring for us but it was new and exciting to her. So it was refreshing to see it through her eyes. Of course, now she's at the point where awards shows are pretty boring to her."

Michael shook his head a small smile on his face as he moved away from JC. He picked up the black sharpie and wrote on the box he just finished off before setting up another box. "Like I said, leave the Moonman out. A heads up," he said as he wrapped paper around photograph of Rachel with Reba McEntire. "Diane might be playing matchmaker."

"With who?" JC asked as he wrapped a small porcelain Teddy Bear figurine.

"You and Rachel."

JC laughed. "Are you serious?" He shook his head. He couldn't believe this. "I haven't talked to Rachel in months before her accident. Now I have everyone telling me what a 'cute couple' we'd make and how we should date."

Michael's eyes drifted toward the photo JC had left out sitting next to the Moonman. From that photo, he couldn't dispute the fact. They did make a cute couple then. Even though JC's curls were long gone he thought they would still make one. "Better than the one she just got rid of."

"Somehow I don't think that's much of a compliment," JC said. It was unbelievable the amount of times he's gotten that he should date Rachel. So much so that it was on his mind a lot. He and Rachel talked a lot in the past two days. Last night was the latest he'd stayed up in a long time; texting Rachel until her phone had died.

Michael and JC settled in to work, moving along. Michael finished packing the items on the wall then moved to help JC finish packing up the entertainment center. When JC got to the bottom shelves, he sat cross legged on the floor pulling photo albums out one by one. He wrapped them carefully placing them in the box.

"What are you doing?"

Michael whirled around at the voice seeing Ben thundering down the stairs. Ben's expression was murderous. "Packing up Rachel's things." He noticed JC stand up next to him; he'd been hidden from Ben's view sitting on the floor.

"You," Ben seethed turning his gaze to the older man. He flew down the steps seeing red. His hands curled into JC's t-shirt pushing him back against the entertainment center. "Fucking bastard! This is your fault!" He drew back his fist and swung at JC.

"Hey!" Michael yelled gripping Ben's shirt pulling him from JC. He whirled Ben around slamming him into the wall. "You wanna blame someone for Rachel finally leaving your punk ass? Take a nice long look in the mirror asshole." Footsteps thundered above them as Lance and James rushed toward the basement hearing the commotion.

"What's going on?" Lance asked as he came running down the steps. He saw Michael holding Ben against the wall and JC gingerly touching his face; the area around his left eye already swollen and discolored. His face twisted in fury. "What the fuck happened?"

"Like you don't know?" Ben chuckled mirthlessly. "It didn't take you fucking little faggots long to turn Rachel against me." He glared at Michael. "Will you take your damn hands off me?"

Michael's eyes darkened with anger as he stared at Ben. His fist still gripped Ben's shirt tightly. "Joke's on you, you fucking pussy. We had nothing to do with Rachel dumping your ass. She figured out you were a slime ball all on her own."

"Apparently she didn't like you spending her money," Lance spoke as he walked closer to Ben and Michael. God help Ben, if he laid a hand on Michael. "Then there was the fact that you were cheating on her. News flash, asshole, women don't take too kindly to that."

"Like you know anything about women," he looked back at Michael, his eyes narrowing. "Remove your fucking queer hands from me."

It was hard for Michael to control his angry but he pushed Ben against the wall one more time before releasing him. His hands fell to his sides, clenched into fists; willing Ben to say one more thing.

"Good," Ben smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt and pushed from the wall. "Now, get out of my house."

JC laughed drawing attention to him. He could feel the puffiness but didn't feel any blood so he considered himself good. Even thought his eye hurt like a son of a bitch.

"What the fuck are you laughing at?" Ben glared JC. "I don't even know what you're doing here. Waiting to move in on my territory? Like she'd waste her time with a fucking nobody like you."

"She did with you, didn't she?" JC shot. He drew his fist when Ben started to rush him, only to be grabbed by both Lance and Michael.

"I'll blacken your other fucking eye," Ben growled struggling against the men that held him.

"Try it," JC spoke softly, his tone sharp and edgy. "That was just a lucky strike. Next time you won't be so lucky."

"Get your fucking hands off me!" Ben seethed. "And get out of my house."

JC laughed again. "It's funny how he still thinks this is his house, considering he doesn't have a job. Tell me Lance, how someone - with no job - can afford a place like this that definitely has a four figure a month rent."

"Oh easily four figures," Lance nodded looking at Ben then at JC. "Funny thing about this place. My sister's name is on the lease not yours. So technically this is her place." He grinned seeing Ben's mouth tighten.

"Another funny thing Lance," Michael spoke up, his mouth widening in a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Not having a job means a lot of things aren't in his name."

"That's right," Lance nodded. "As you stand here, Rachel's terminating the lease, turning off the utilities, turning off your cell phone and," his grin became predatory. "Taking your name off her bank accounts."

Ben smirked. "And how do you suppose she's doing that Lance? She can't talk. Are they gonna play charades to guess what she wants?"

"I guess you failed to notice there is a person missing here," he watched as Ben's eyes scanned the room. "As we speak my mother is being driven around by Megan who is taking her to all those lovely companies that Rachel does business with."

"Big deal, your mother can't do anything. They need Rachel."

"Did I fail to mention that this morning Rachel gave our mother power of attorney?" Lance smiled, seeing Ben pale. "Yeah. It's a lovely thing having a lot of money. You can have papers drawn up instantly, signed and notarized. Their first stop was the bank where you would be removed from all of Rachel's accounts."

"You fucking bastard!"

"No you're a fucking bastard," Lance yelled stepping forward, into Ben's space. "You're the one that played my sister; cheating on her every chance you got, spending her money. You're only pissed off because your little game is up and now you have to find someone else to milk off of."

"I don't need your sister anyway," Ben stated, taking a step away from Lance. "She was starting to bore me anyway. Never wanting to go out instead choosing to sit down here in this damn room. There are plenty of women who are waiting to have me to themselves. Better looking ones. All of them better in bed," he smirked seeing three pairs of hands clench. "The best thing about these fine ladies is they all can hear. And they can talk normally. They don't sound like they're retarded when they open their mouth. When Rachel spoke to me after the accident, oh I couldn't stop laughing. If she tried to sing," he broke off chuckling. "Only thing I regret is that she couldn't hear me laugh--" He never saw it coming though he felt the pain as it radiated across his face. The force of the punch sent him tumbling to ground. He grabbed his nose, moaning in pain. "You broke my fucking nose, you fucking faggot!"

"Get back up and I'll do more damage," Lance seethed, his fist raised ready.

Michael leaned over Ben, grabbing his shirt. "This is your only warning and you're lucky I'm giving you this and not doing the same thing as Lance. Do yourself a favor and get your ass out of here before we mess up your face even more."

"You guys are all fucking crazy," Ben scooted away from Michael's grasp before standing up. Blood gushed down his face, dripping on his shirt and onto the floor. Taking a look at the four men in front of him he decided to leave.

"Fucking prick," Lance said as they heard the front door slam. He shook his hand, moving his fingers around. He was pretty sure nothing was broken but damn did it hurt. Looking at JC he grimaced. "Damn C. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," JC pressed his fingers against the puffiness again. "Does it look bad?"

"No," Lance shook his head.

"Not at all." Michael echoed.

"Liars," JC dropped his hand. "Did you have to hit him?"

"What?" Lance's eyes widened in surprised. That wasn't what he was expecting JC to say. "You didn't want me to hit him?"

"No; I wanted to."

Lance laughed. "Sorry. Gotta be quicker on your feet. Let's finish up so we can get the hell out of here."

"Just tell me, did it feel good?" JC asked as Lance and James made their way up the steps.

"Felt fucking fantastic."

~*~

"Visiting hours were over at nine," the nurse raised her head seeing the man walk down the hallway carrying flowers.

"I know," JC smiled at the night shift nurse.

"My God, what happened to your face?" Anna exclaimed seeing the discoloration. She reached over the nurse's station lightly touching the skin around JC's eye. "Did you get that looked at?"

JC shook his head, moving his head away from Anna's probing fingers. He'd been popping Advil like candy all afternoon. It only dulled the pain for an hour or two which was why he was at the hospital at one in the morning. He couldn't sleep.

"Well I'll tell you what," Anna's gaze dropped to the flowers JC carried then back to his face. She tried not to blanch. It had to be painful. "You let me check you out make sure there's nothing broken and I'll let you sneak in to Rachel's room."

"That's blackmail."

Anna shrugged. "Yeah. What will it be?"

Fifteen minutes later, armed with heavy painkillers and the knowledge that nothing was broken, JC quietly pushed opened the door to Rachel's room. The room was dark; the curtains pulled. There were few added items from the first time he visited. His flowers were in a vase on the table. They were the only flowers in the room. Turning to look at the figure sleeping in bed, he smiled. The Teddy Bear was nestled at her side.

He shuffled around the bed carrying the newly purchased flowers. The flowers cost him a lot; only because he begged and pleaded Dawn to open her shop up for him. It was a huge favor to him and she collected, overcharging him nicely. He didn't mind. He still remembered her words as she shooed him out the door. 'Remember me when you need flowers for your wedding.'

A grin formed on his lips and his shook his head. Everyone, it seemed, had jumped on the bandwagon of a relationship between he and Rachel. Matt had harped on him again earlier after finding out Rachel had sent Ben packing. He still wasn't quite sure what to make of Diane being in favor of him dating her daughter. He figured he was going crazy when he found himself wondering what Lance thought of the subject.

He moved his older flowers over to make room for the new arrangement. This time he remembered a vase. He was proud of himself. The vase was nothing spectacular, very simple, but it was placed inside a bucket. Colorful pebbles filled the space between the vase itself and the side of the bucket. The bucket was decorated a pale pink. The selling point had been the painting of a smiling Teddy Bear sitting on a tuff of green grass. Flowers sprinkled around. The bear had its paw raised as a butterfly passed by. It had been an amazing find.

After fingering the flowers one final time JC turned and walked toward the bed. He stared down at Rachel; the injuries still hadn't faded. If they had, it was so slight he couldn't tell. Of course the darkness wasn't helping. 'Neither is the right hook,' he thought. Unable to stop himself he reached out and brushed a strand of blonde hair away from Rachel's face. His fingers lightly caressed her skin. He cursed himself when Rachel moved. He didn't mean to wake her up. He only wanted to drop the flowers off, see if she was okay then leave. It was a hard decision to make if he should quickly sneak from her room or stay. The decision was made when Rachel's eyes opened.

"JC?"

JC's eyes widened hearing the whisper. He stared at her unbelieving.

Rachel couldn't believe she said his name. Opening her eyes she'd been shocked to see him standing next to her bed. The name had just slipped out. She watched him staring at her not saying anything. Her heart was lodge in her chest waiting for him to start laughing.

JC opened his mouth before shutting it. He looked around the room frantically searching for the dry erase board he knew was close by. Finally locating the board, he wrote as he moved back to the bed. 'Please talk.' He underlined the word talk. Rachel stared at the board for a long time JC wondered if she could read it in the dark.

"Wh..what," Rachel licked her lips. She saw JC lean closer and she took a deep breath before raising her voice. "What happened to your face?"

JC grinned proudly, hearing the question. He reached for Rachel's hand, holding it in his as he sat down on the bed. The marker flew across the board as he wrote quickly. 'That is the best thing I've heard all day! Don't hide your voice.

Rachel stared at JC after reading the words. The smile still displayed on his face; her hand still wrapped tightly in his. "It's okay..." she swallowed roughly thinking of the next words and how much it would hurt if it happened. "To laugh."

JC's eyes widened and he shook his head firmly. 'I would never laugh! Ever! You sound like you always do.'

"Don't lie to me, JC."

JC swiped his hand across the board, erasing his previous words. 'I would NEVER lie to you!' He stared at her unwavering. Rachel must have seen something in his eyes because she nodded before breaking the stare.

Rachel gasped seeing the new flowers sitting on the table. She looked back at JC, questioning. "Did you bring those?"

'Depends. Do you like them?'

"I love them! They're beautiful," Rachel smiled at him. She squeezed his hand tightly. As she stared at him she couldn't help but stare at the bruise noticeable in the dark. She fingered it lightly, knowing it must hurt. "Helluva shiner, C."

It was crazy. Rachel was touching his face the same way Anna had, but Rachel's ministrations hurt a lot less. He allowed his eyes to drift shut for a few seconds until he heard Rachel's question. 'Lance didn't tell you?'

"No." Rachel eyed him. "What happened? I knew he was hiding something. That jerk. Wait until I see him tomorrow."

JC grinned. 'I'd pay to be here to see his face when you give him an ear full when he walks in.'

Rachel waved her free hand in the air. "The story JC..."

'Pushy,' he winked and erased the board. 'I was helping pack up your things...'

"You didn't steal the Moonman did you?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

JC laughed shaking his head. 'No the Moonman is still in your possession. I'm waiting for the Grammy next week. Already got a spot cleared off for it at the house."

"If I win..."

'Like you wouldn't,' JC rolled his eyes. He cleared the board again starting his story over. 'Ben took exception to me helping pack your things.'

"Ben did this to you!" Rachel gasped.

'Pretty pissed about it too. It happened so damn fast Michael had him against the wall before I knew what was going on. I didn't even get to return the favor. Lance beat me to it. Then I couldn't very well hit him while he was bleeding everywhere.'

Rachel was shocked. Ben had hit JC. She reached up lightly touching his face again. Lance had hit Ben hard enough to cause Ben to bleed. Lance had certainly grazed over a few things in the story. "I'm so sorry JC. Does it hurt?"

JC shrugged. 'Like hell, but in exchange for being allowed to sneak in your room tonight, Anna used her Nurse Nightingale charm and deduced that I was fine. She also got me something stronger than what I'd been taking. He didn't do anything to you when you broke it off did he?'

Rachel shook her head. "No. He was pissed. Yelled. A lot. Not being able to hear came in handy. Carrie called security and he was escorted out." She shrugged. "Not only is he off my accounts but the numbers have been changed in case he memorized them. Which sucks for me because now I have to change a lot of things. I had to eat a few months rent on the house; not as much as I thought, they were pretty nice considering what happened. But he'll have until the first to get out. All my things were gathered right?"

JC was mesmerized by her voice. It was the longest she'd talked the whole night. Her voice sounded as it always did. She spoke softer now, as if she was afraid she was talking too loud. In the back of his mind he wondered if she could sing. He brushed the thought off. Right now that wasn't important.

'We got everything. All your clothes went to Lance's house, along with some of the stuff in the basement. Everything else went to the storage unit Lance got. The basement looked like the Grinch had swept through when we were done.'

Rachel fought off a yawn. She held tight to his hand when he shifted on the bed. "How long were you allowed staying?"

'Not sure; Nurse Rachet didn't say.' JC grinned at Rachel's giggle. 'But you need to rest.'

"Stay a little longer," Rachel said quickly staring at him, her eyes pleading.

'Alright,' JC relented. Truth be told, he didn't want to leave.

"When did we last talk?"

'Yesterday.'

"No you moron," Rachel rolled her eyes at his answer. "When did we last see each other? Over the summer? July maybe?"

'I don't know,' JC shrugged. He had been trying to figure that out the night of Rachel's accident. He didn't remember the last time he'd see Rachel. 'It's been awhile.'

"Well let's say July," Rachel told him. "Start from there and tell me what you've been up to. What you've been doing. And don't leave anything out."

'That's eight months of news! I'm liable to get carpel tunnel!'

"I'll allow you to decimate the English language using that annoying short hand teenagers use to text with today. Oh God," Rachel groaned seeing the words on the board shortened into acronyms she couldn't understand. "Stop stop stop! I changed my mind; write it out like a good little boy."

'Good,' JC wrote after clearing the board. 'I had no idea what I was writing.' As Rachel chuckled he took his mind back to July and started filling her in.