The morning light didn't hit JC until he rolled over...and fell right off his bed. Groggy, he lifted the lids of his eyes to the hay light that intruded through the window and now flooded his senses. Faintly, he remembered last night. Some words had come to an unfinished tune. He began to pick himself up, not knowing what time it was. He had forgotten to set his alarm clock. Stupid, stupid, stupid. God, he hoped it was still early enough. But as he turned to find the clock's face something stopped him, one sitting on his bed and the other on a nearby chair, two platinum heads occupied the room. Ok, that wasn't so strange, but it was the fact that they were both staring intently at him. "Wha...?" he asked, looking around in confusion.

"Morning, Daddy," smiled Lance.

Justin, meanwhile, was munching away at his cereal. He raised his spoon to JC because his mouth was full.

JC looking inquiring at the sight in his hotel room. "What's up, guys?" he asked, his eyebrows knitting together, wondering what had called this on, or rather, why they were here.

Lance cleared his throat and looked at Justin as if giving him free reigns to explain. Justin merely nodded his head at him and carefully laid his bowl of cereal down on the table, turning to JC. Gone was the smile he usually had, instead it was replaced by a look of seriousness. Just from this, JC was disturbed. If he had been in the mood, he would have joked, who are you and where is Justin? But now he kept his lips sealed, waiting for them.

"Look, I really need to..." Justin began.

"We," coughed Lance, correcting him.

"We.." continued Justin. "Really need to speak to you."

"So speak," JC answered nonchalantly.

"Well, it's about yesterday..."

"Halle..." Lance interrupted for a second time.

"Alright, it's about Halle and yesterday..."

"The kiss and all..." said Lance.

Justin quickly turned his head to Lance and threw him a venomous glare. "Who's telling the story here? You or me?"

Lance held up his hands in mock surrender. "You."

"That's better..."

"The young ones can be so feisty," he told JC as if Justin wasn't in the room.

"I'll pretend I did not hear that, Lansten," said Justin loudly over Lance's low voice, casting him a glance.

Lance chuckled at him. "Oh, no, I didn't say anything, o adored one..."

"You better believe it!" retorted Justin. "Who's da baby?" he asked loudly, imitating the baby on the old sitcom, "Dinosaurs".

Lance now laughed fully at him and made a phone with his fingers. "Hello, Life calling Justin Timberlake. Get one!"

They both dissolved in a fit of laughter and JC was once again reminded of just who he had left in a huff last night. He allowed a small smile to touch his lips and wondered briefly why he couldn't be like them. It might be so much easier. JC sighed and good-naturedly rolled his eyes at them. He glanced at the clock, just now able to pry himself away. "Oh, shoot, guys, I'm going to be late if I don't hurry and take a shower and get ready. It's already 6:30!"

"But," they both protested, having just finished laughing.

"No buts. I'll be out in ten. Talk to me then." And, just as quickly as he had said that, he ducked into the bathroom.

As JC massaged the shampoo into his hair, he thought of what today would be like. He just didn't know what to expect, Halle wasn't predictable. She worked a regular job, but she was no regular person. She was so...different...from anyone he had ever met, just the way she handled things and treated people. What was the word... confidence ...that's what Justin always said he looked for in a woman. Well, he did too. Halle exuded confidence. She had confidence in herself, JC liked that, but there was something that troubled him too. She thought she could do everything and anything and indeed she could, he'd give her that, but why did she insist on doing it herself?

His thoughts were still with him as he stepped out of the bathroom, now refreshed. "So Daddy, can we talk now?" They were still there.

"Sure," JC said casually, drying his hair with a towel. "But I have to fly in a bit."

"No, can't be late to Halle's," said Justin sarcastically. He was tired of this. Ever since JC had met Halle it had been nothing but frowns. Justin was worried.

"Don't be an jerk," JC said, trying to stay even-tempered. He was not in the mood for this right now. All he wanted to do was see Halle.

It didn't take long to end Justin's minute tirade. "I'm sorry," he quickly said. "I shouldn't have said that, but JC, what do you see in her? You've been so edgy these past few days."

"What I see in her is none of your business, Justin," he answered firmly, fastening his watch and not looking at him.

The room flared, Justin flared. "What am I to you, JC? Someone you sing with every night? Good for a laugh every now and then, nothing more?" he bit out, his eyes a dark, maddening blue.

JC sighed. "Look, you wouldn't understand, Justin. You need a little experience," he answered lamely.

"Is that what it is?" Justin asked quickly, a little peeved. "My age? Well, Mr. Chasez, you may be five years older than me, but I'm sure not the one acting testy and being an ass to their best friends. Oh wait, do I still qualify? Excuse me for caring!" With that, he stalked off the door, still visibly upset.

JC groaned and ran his head through his hair. All the way Lance had been sitting quietly on his bed. Now he was looking quietly at his hands. "Do you have anything to say?" asked JC angrily. He felt so lost now, he didn't know what to do.

"I cannot believe he cursed," said Lance. He looked up to JC then. "Do I have anything to say? Other than that I think you should have gone after him? He didn't lie to you." Then Lance just got up from the bed, walking calmly to the door without a glance backward.

JC was alone and feeling like crap. He had to leave, right now he didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to forget. Instinctively, he turned and began to walk to wherever Halle and Josh were. That meant her apartment today. Solace.

-*-*-*-

Halle wasn't as groggy in the morning as she thought she would be. In fact her mind was very clear, too clear for her liking. The clearer it was made it harder for her to ignore things. The thoughts in her mind just wouldn't go away. JC just wouldn't go away. Had she been viewing her own mind she might have committed herself, but she was saved that as the doorbell rang. It was JC, announcing his arrival.

She slowly walked to the door, as if to her death. In a way, she would be killing herself, the self she had made herself into. Just great, she thought, as she tried to hurl him out of her mind. But despite herself, her lips curled upwards. She was losing the battle and falling into a pool, an intense blue. She had opened the door and was staring straight into his eyes. She broke her first promise in a long, long time. She did so as she smiled and blushed. She had lost. Now she just wanted him and it was devastating. She had always wondered how people could say things were both bad and good. She wondered no more.

"Good morning," she said, smiling and ushering him in to the apartment. "You're," she said, looking at her watch. "Ten minutes late."

"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. It's just the guys had to talk to me this morning. On top of that, I woke up late." He was trying his hardest to look happy and refreshed, though he wasn't feeling that way. Justin and Lance were still on his mind.

She laughed at him. "Josh, it's no problem, it was only ten minutes. Feel for some breakfast?"

"Sure I haven't had anything to eat this morning," he answered easily. He was a bit hungry. They walked into the kitchen.

Without question, Halle went straight for the Apple Jacks. She looked back at JC, "You don't mind do you?"

"Nah, it's tradition," he smiled, remembering the mornings before. "I'll get the milk."

"Thanks," Halle smiled gratefully.

There was something familiar about this morning, yet so brand new. It made her comfortable, yet inside, she felt floated on a cloud. JC was quiet as her poured the milk into the two bowls he set down. She looked at him pointedly as he stared into his bowl for a minute. "Is your cereal that fascinating?"

"What?" he asked as he quickly looked up. "No," he blushed. "I was just thinking."

"What about?" she asked him.

"Umm, nothing important...just some stuff this morning." He was surprised that she could tell. "You noticed?"

She blushed. "Hey, it's none of my business, you just don't smile as often as you usually do..."

JC face was a vision of surprise. Now he forgot about this morning and he remembered Halle. But he sensed her discomfort and that was the last thing he wanted. He wanted her to feel comfortable around him. Half-tactfully, he changed the subject. "Did you have a good time last night?" he asked her.

Halle herself had been praying he would ask her something else, but inwardly, she groaned. This subject wasn't much better. "Did you?" she asked him.

"Hey, no fair!" he pouted. "I asked first!"

Halle laughed at him. "Fine, be a brat." She steadied herself, she didn't exactly know what to say at first. It was as if the words were stuck in her throat. She couldn't bear to think anymore, so she took the only option left: to tell him the truth. She sighed. "Yes, I did, very much, JC. Now how about you?"

He was smiling at her. "I had a great time with you last night. I'm...I'm really glad you asked me." Way to go Chasez. That was lame, he scolded himself. But she just smiled.

"I'm glad I invited you too," she confided. She glanced up at the clock. Their breakfasts were almost done. "I need to go soon, can't be late." It was almost seven-twenty five.

JC nodded and gulped down the rest of his cereal after he saw her go to the sink and place her bowl in. "I'm just going to check on Josh before I leave, okay?" she asked JC.

He nodded and quickly took one last bite of his Apple Jacks before walking to the sink to put the bowl in the sink. But just as he settled the bowl down he heard a scream, followed by Josh's name. "Halle?!" he called, walking quickly to Josh's room to see what was the matter. As he reached to door, he looked in and saw Halle frantically searching around. "Halle?" he asked, looking down at her.

"He got out again. I don't know how he does it, but he always manages to get out of his crib. I checked on him just before you arrived. That boy is going to give me a heart attack!"

"Calm down, Halle. We'll find him. You know how three years olds are."

"Yeah? Well he isn't into here," Halle proclaimed anxiously. "I get so worried every time he does this!"

"Look, Halle, panicking isn't going to help."

"I know," she said absentmindedly as she rushed past him. Unconsciously, she squeezed his hand quickly. He wasn't sure whether it was a gesture of thanks or proof that she was warming to him, but he didn't care. He'd take it for all it was worth. Just as soon he was racing out the door after her.

He was racing down the hallway to the corner where the balcony doors opened and then to the living room. But something caught his eye, the door wasn't fully closed. Halle must have overlooked it in her mad rush. And then he saw the dark blue figure out there, standing by the barred ledge. Too soon he realized it was Josh out there and he was dangerously close to the edge. He was small enough to fit through the black iron wrought bars... "Oh my God, Josh!" he exclaimed and dashed out to the balcony, too quick to even think. His only thought as he pulled him into the apartment was for Josh.

Halle was rushing to JC as she heard Josh's name called, but as soon as she saw the sight, the open balcony doors, Josh in JC's arms, she covered her mouth and her eyes got wide, as if not knowing what to do. The truth was, she couldn't decide whether to scold Josh or hold him forever. So she did both.

She flung herself at the little boy in JC's arms, taking the child from him. "Josh, don't you ever ever ever do that to Mommy again, do you hear me?! You scared the living daylights out of her. Mommy loves you too much. She couldn't bear to lose you." Halle was crying all the while she was hugging him tightly, almost crushing him against her.

All Josh could do was stare at her in bewildered silence and stroke her hair. "It's alright, Mommy. I love you too."

"Josh, you put yourself in so much danger! Haven't I told you never to go out there? If it hadn't been for JC..." Oh my, she couldn't forget about JC. She turned to JC, Josh in her arms. "Thank you. I always told him not to go out there. You... Oh my God, do you know what you did?"

"What?" he asked, just as confused as Josh had been a moment ago.

"You said you'd never go out there..."

Only now did it really hit JC, what he had done. He couldn't believe... But he quickly recovered. "Yeah, but Josh was there. I mean, I couldn't leave him out there. You don't need to thank me."

"Yes, I do. I'll make it up to you, I promise," she said with determination.

"No, you don't need to," he declined.

"Stop saying that I don't need to JC, I do."

Almost without thinking, he replied, "When you smile, you make it up to me. Every time."

She almost collapsed, her legs felt elastic and her knees threatened to buckle under her. God, why did this man have to be so... wonderful? She couldn't resist, yet she knew she had to think of something else to regain her composure. Quickly, her head darted toward the clock. "I'm late." The words were soft, as if she couldn't get anything else out lest she choke. She swallowed and returned to herself. It took her a second to crack a smile. "So much for 7:30," she said with enthusiasm she didn't feel. Right now, she didn't know what she wanted. She wanted to stay, yet she didn't. She wanted to leave, yet she didn't.

Her head was hurting her. The room started to cave in on her.

But she knew she needed to go today. Her practical side overpowered her, she had a big meeting today, if she was late she might lose a bit of her top standing. She had to go. That's what she told herself as she slowly walked to JC, putting Josh in his arms. "You be a good boy, ok?" she told Josh and kissed him on the forehead.

JC felt it too, she was trying to pull away from him. He didn't want her to go, but at the same time, he couldn't stop her. She slowly walked to the door, trying to walk away from JC, but he followed her. She opened the door, aware of every step, aware because she knew he was following her. Please, JC, just go away. It's hard enough to walk away as it is.

"Halle..." he said as she was halfway out of the door.

She couldn't bear to keep on walking, not when he had called her. She swallowed and turned back. "Yes?" she asked him, staring straight at him.

For a moment or two, he didn't say anything, just stared back at her unsure eyes. "This..." he said softly, before bending forward and kissing her on the lips. Such an innocent little kiss told of much more... much more than she wanted to handle right now. Yet she found it hard to pull away, she wanted to stay.

Finally, she broke it off. "I'm going to be late, JC," she mumbled throatily, looking at him for one last time before she turned away. Now she found it hard to walk away.

Now JC was just as lost as she was, but he wasn't trying to run away. He wasn't sure what he had done, or rather, what she had done. What did it all mean? Why did she walk away like that, without any word, any smile? God, Chasez, couldn't you keep your lips to yourself? And he wondered if it was all his fault.

-*-*-*-

Halle was feeling her best as the meeting ended and she trudged to her office. She felt slow and sluggish, her pace that of a snail. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, she was drained. It didn't even matter whether she sat or stood. She just wanted escape. Her thoughts were like bombs bombarding her. Leave me alone! She would have sworn she was going insane. "I drive myself crazy, drive myself crazy... thinking of you."

"Where in the name of Go..." She stopped as a radio appeared in her doorway followed by Mike.

He smiled at her weary face. "I brought some music to relax by. You look like you could use it," he said, glancing over here. "The meeting was long, huh?"

"Yeah..." she answered, but she wasn't listening to him. Instead, she was craning her ear toward the small radio he had placed at the edge of her desk. It was JC's part. "Why didn't I know how much I loved you baby? Why didn't I show it? When I had the chance... Oh, I had the chance....uhhuuuhhhh lalalalalalalala I drive myself crazy!"

With a vengeance, Halle leapt at radio quickly, gritting her teeth, and switched it off before another word could be uttered. Mike gaped at her and stepped back. "Ok, there's something wrong here... I think I'm afraid. Should I be afraid?"

In response, Halle dropped her head onto her desk, fatigued and overdone. "Alright," Mike said. "Let's take inventory. For once your office is neat, the papers are stacked neatly, the phone is in the right place. You look a bit dead, not the peppy Halle, ready-for-anything Halle I know. And there are no coffee cups on your desk. Wait. Why are there no coffee cups on your desk?" he asked, alarmed. He quickly strode over to her garbage. "And there are none in your garbage. Ok, there is something definitely wrong. Why are there no coffee cups?"

Finally, she picked up her head off the desk. "Because I had no coffee Mike, therefore, I have no cups."

"Ok, what is this, caffeine withdrawal?"

She sighed. She wished it was. Maybe if it was someone else she would have told them she was fine, and not to worry, but she knew Mike and Mike knew her. She was calm, cool and collected. But not today. "No, Mike, it's not caffeine withdrawal, it's just..." It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him what was wrong, but she held it. "The meeting was just long," she said weakly.

"Ummmhmmm. It's not the meeting."

She looked up at him, the fire he had noticed she had when she furiously switched off the radio had returned. "What do you mean it's not the meeting? I just said it was!" Her tone was a bit angry.

"Stop giving me that crap. It's not me you're angry with."

"It's not?" she replied saucily.

"No, Ms. Lin."

She feel back to a heap on her desk, her muscles already numb. She couldn't stand it. "Ok, I'm not mad at you."

"That's better," he said and she heard him seating himself on the couch. "Now. Who are you mad at?"

"No one important," she replied.

"Halle, we both know if it was 'no one important' then you wouldn't be acting like this." His voice was soothing and patient.

She groaned. "Wait..." he said.

"What?" she asked.

"Is this about Mr. J? The 'secret'?"

"No," she said quickly, a little too quickly.

"Ok, so we're finally getting this. It's about Mr. J 'Secret'. Now what about him?" he went on, knowing how stubborn she could be.

She groaned again. "Halle, you need to stop groaning."

Just to spite him, she groaned loudly once more. He chuckled at her childishness.

"Mike?" she asked.

"Yessum?" he answered.

"I'm so confused."

He grinned. "And I'm ready to listen..."

-*-*-*-

She was late and JC was pacing. "Where could she be?" he wondered aloud. He had been wondering about her all day. It wasn't like her to be late. He imagined all the horrible possibilities: accident, theft, death. But also there was the possibility that it was him she was avoiding. He paled at that, the thought that he was the one that kept her late. I give her till six. Six it was.

-*-*-*-

"So what are you saying? You're afraid?"

"Mike," Halle answered. "If I knew, would I be talking to you?"

"Hey, I can help you through it, but you're the one that's gotta make things happen. This is why we're doing this, so you can sort through your feelings and understand." They were still in her office. She was leaning back against her chair while he leaned forward on the couch.

"What's with you people anyway?" she asked.

"What?" asked Mike.

"First Kel and now you. Shrinks, all of you!"

"I knew I was doing the wrong thing for a living. And I personally prefer counselor to shrink."

She had to laugh at him. "Alright, settle on friend and it's agreed."

He smiled warmly at her. "Agreed. Now okay, lemme do a run-down. Last night, you went to a restaurant with JC. You had a great time. This morning, he kissed you. You almost stayed home. What's the problem?"

"You forgot that he rescued Josh too," she reminded him.

"Ahh, yes, the famous balcony scene, like Romeo and Juliet. No. Ok, so Josh got out of his crib this morning and walked out to the balcony that you told him specifically on numerous occasions before not to go out on. Then, JC, who is afraid of heights and has said that he would never ever go out there, did, putting aside his fear, so that he could rescue Josh."

"Right," she answered, her head resting on her desk as it had been through the majority of their conversation. "So what do I do?"

"Get a lock for the balcony doors?" he chuckled.

She looked up at him menacingly. "Don't you dare make light of this."

"Ok, ok, geez. I'm sorry. You're right." He cleared his throat of all laughter. "Halle, what are you confused about? He likes you and you obviously like him from everything you've told me."

"Yeah but..."

"Ahh, I know. You don't want to get hurt right?" She dumbly nodded. "How do you know he's going to hurt you?"

"Mike, you know what he does for a living. He's going to be gone the majority of the year. What's the use?"

"What's the use? I'll tell you what's the use. If you love him and he loves you. 'Love will find a way.' My Momma always told me that and she was a wise woman."

"But I don't love him! I only like him...a lot."

"That's your call not mine. Halle, I know you cherish your independence..."

"And what about it? You know I can do it," she countered, feeling that maybe he was trying to tell her that she could do it all by herself.

"Halle, I'm not questioning your capabilities. I know you are very capable. Maybe the most capable woman I have ever met. But part of your competence up here," he pointed to his temple. "May be making you incapable."

"What?" she exclaimed. "Where?!" she practically screeched.

He got up quietly and walked to the side of her desk, swiveling her chair around to him. He took hold of her hand. "Here," he said, placing her hand on her heart.

She was speechless. "Halle," he pleaded with her. "Let it go."

"Let what go?" she asked breathlessly, not looking at him, but at her own chest.

"You know what I mean. The pain, the hurt. Don't you realize you're the one keeping yourself back?"

"I'm not keeping myself back from anything," she insisted stubbornly.

"Yes," he sighed. "Yes you are, Hal, and you know it. The only questions left are, What's worth more? Him or your independence? Can you handle it? Those were the only questions there ever were."

Suddenly, she smiled at him, a wide, beautiful smile. "You sound like a movie," she said in a little girl voice.

He shook his head sadly, knowing he hadn't gotten through to her, at least not fully. She was ignoring the negative now. "Maybe another time will be better. You sound like my daughter," he told her with a weak smile.

"Yea, and what would your daughter say?"

"Seeing that JC is part of 'N Sync? I think she'd scream."

-*-*-*-

"Hello?" JC said anxiously as the phone rang in the Halle's apartment. He did not even bother with the 'Lin residence', he just wanted to know if she was okay. Six had come and past. It was almost six-thirty now. He had a recording session at seven, but that was not what he was worried about. He had been jumpy all day about Halle. Well, nothing could compare to how he was now. Apparently, he had been expecting either Halle or the hospital to call. He was sadly disappointed.

"Hey, JC?" came Kel's voice through the phone. "Is Halle around?"

"Hi Kel," he said quickly. "She isn't. I thought you might know where she was. Did she go to see you?" His hope was that Halle had gone there after work and was taking the cab home now or at least walking.

"She's not home? No, she didn't stop by to see me. I wanted to talk to her before the show today started. That's in five minutes. She's not home yet?"

"No, I told you. Oh God..."

"What?" Kel asked.

"This is all my fault."

"Why?" she asked.

He exhaled. "I was having a bad morning..."

"Cut to the chase. Why were you having a bad morning? Does it relate to Halle?"

"Umm, I had a fight with my best friend, but uhh, no, sorry it doesn't relate to her really."

"So what happened?"

"I sorta...ummm, kissed her this morning."

"So?"

"Ahhh. I shouldn't be telling you," he said.

"Why not?" she flared over the phone. "I'm her best friend. I'd find out anyway."

"No, Kel, sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean it that way. I just meant she should be telling you this herself."

Kel chuckled as her misconception. "Sorry I jumped down your throat. I shoulda let you explain first. Josh is with you, right?" she asked, concerned.

"Yes," he answered.

"Ok, good. I don't what's keeping Halle. It's not like her to be late."

"I know, I'm worried. I thought she was avoiding me, but that can't be it. She'd just come home faster to get rid of me, right?"

"Yeah," she said, following his logic. He heard someone call her name in the background. It sounded like Alex. "Oh, sorry. JC, I gotta go! Show time!"

How many times have I heard that one? he thought to himself. "Bye, Kel."

"Bye JC, and I want you to know something about friends."

"What is that?" he asked quickly.

Kel didn't mince words as she told him quickly. "Hold on tight, because you're richer than sin."

-*-*-*-

Halle was jogging out of the office. Props to the radio announcer that had told her it was already 6:45. I'm late!, her mind screamed at her. She hoped JC wouldn't mind too much. She thought of her conversation with Mike. It hadn't gone too well and she knew it. His words bothered her, she hadn't wanted to go that far into it. It turned out that there was no escape, at least none that she was seeking. If anything, she felt more trapped than ever. It was like a cage and worse than the one she locked herself in. Is this what I get for opening up? She hugged her arms closer to her body and wished she was a child again, when everything was so easy. The sky is falling. Halle was crumbling.

To herself she silently prayed. What for? An answer. But it was not the answer she needed, for her heart knew. She seeked the question. God, could what Mike have said been true? That was one question out of the many. Perhaps she was still as confused as this morning. Her soul felt like a leaden brick and she wondered why she didn't just fall. Yes, fall, and worry no more, think no more. But peace was not to be hers as her mind and her heart fought a duel. Which would win? She hurried home.

-*-*-*-

He heard the key slide into the lock and it quietly clicked. At this point, he was sitting in the kitchen with Josh, getting worried and staying worried. Josh had thrice complained of hunger and JC didn't know what to do. He saw take-out advertisements stuck on her fridge, but hesitated to call them. In the fridge, he had found an apple and gave that to the child to calm him down. In reality, it was more to calm JC than Josh down, just so he didn't have one more thing to worry about than was necessary. JC was worried about both and was starting to think of dire consequences. God, he had to leave soon, or he was supposed, but he couldn't leave Josh like this.

JC ran to the door as soon as he heard it and left Josh in the kitchen munching away at the apple. The door opened to reveal Halle. "Hello?" she called before seeing JC's face.

Something half scared her about his face. His usually well-combed hair was out of place and a little wild, His eyes seemed immense to her at the moment and his lips slightly pursed. But her words had brought out Josh too and he scampered out. "Mommy!" he yelled as he saw her. He ran to her as she held out her arms to him. "Where were you?" Josh asked in his own small voice.

She was about to smile but behind him a voice echoed, "Yes, where were you?" The voice was anxious and made Halle hesitate.

She looked up half at JC, half at Josh as if she couldn't decide which to speak to. JC remained close behind Josh, but his exterior made her edgy, a half-crazed look. "Oh, I didn't mean to be late," she started. "I just go a little distracted. My co-worker and I talked a bit about..." Her voice trailed off as she froze. She couldn't very well tell JC what they'd been talking about when she knew very well that it was him himself!

"About," prodded JC as she remained silent.

"Umm, nothing. Just...life," she said quickly, almost groaning to herself on the spot about how lame her answer had been. She tried to recover with a quick laugh. "Yeah, man has pondered it forever. Mike said..."

"Mike, a guy?" he asked. She watched as his face hardened and an unrecognizable glint flooded the corner of his eyes.

"Yes, JC," she said sarcastically, not knowing how to handle it. She resorted blindly to this. "Occasionally males work too." She inserted a bit of humor to lighten his mood.

But JC didn't laugh or flash the smile she had intended to receive. Instead, he burst. "So you were an hour and a half late while your son was waiting and I was worried out of my mind because you wanted to talk to this guy 'Mike'? It couldn't wait?" He stalked away and grabbed his leather coat off the rack. "I don't believe this." His voice was strung and angry, she knew it full out, it couldn't be mistaken for anything else.

"JC, where are you going?" she asked quickly, jumping up as he made a beeline for the door. She didn't want him to go away angry.

His features were unweilding as he turned his fiery blue eyes on her. "I, for one, do not have my priorities screwed. I have rehearsal at seven. Now if you'll kindly excuse me, I'm late." And with that he slammed the door behind him, causing her to jump back, although more in surprise than anything else.

She just simply did not understand, why had JC gotten so angry over that? She lamented the fact that he had not let her explain. But moreover, she was frozen inside, chilled through to the bone. He should not have said what he did. Whose priorities were screwed? The sky had just gotten darker.

-*-*-*-