Here it is, chapter 15. Number 16 will be the last part of "No Painless Way", but fear not - the "Any Path" trilogy is but 2/3 done. Yeah, like I could stop now even if I wanted to... :) As always, big thanks to David and Dennis, and to all my dear, obsessive :) readers, including Aph, Red, Wen, Colleen, Mitch, Danni and all the rest of you - thank you! I want to say something profound and/or inspirational...but it'll have to wait. Besides, you want to see the J.C./Justin reunion, right? :) The real one comes in part 16 though...you'll understand soon. DISCLAIMER: Don't own, don't imply, just doing my thing.
Ready? You sure? Okay...
~NO PAINLESS WAY~ by DaraLynn Chapter 15
"Some think to lose him
By having him confined; And some do suppose him,
Poor heart! to be blind; But if ne'er so close ye wall him,
Do the best that ye may, Blind Love, if so ye call him,
He will find out his way."
- "Love Will Find Out The Way", unknown
(11 p.m.)
Black-clad figures spiraled outward like dancers as federal agents spread out in different directions around the darkly beautiful mansion. Detectives Larsen and Murray had their guns drawn, moving forward cautiously, reflexes at maximum.
Lance and J.C. stood close behind them, flanked protectively by Randy and Lonnie. A shiver passed through J.C., and the weight on his heart wasn't from the bullet-proof vest he wore.
Lance's eyes were shut, his senses reaching outward. He pointed to the sweeping staircase ahead, and the group of six moved up to the second floor.
The blond teenager guided them through dimly-lit corridors, his face growing paler with each step they took.
He stopped abruptly before a sophisticated-looking metal door that had a computer pad built into the wall next to it.
"Justin's in there."
Murray was studying the technology, looking for a way to open the door.
"Are you sure?"
Lance nodded. "Yes."
"The opening mechanism is triggered by a key-card and a password," Murray explained, gesturing to the numbered and lettered buttons. "I can override the key-card part, but we need the password."
Lonnie slapped one fist against an open palm.
"That means we beat it outta somebody," he growled. "Fine with me."
Lance's eyes were closed again. He pointed to a wooden door at the end of the long hallway.
"Someone's in there," he murmured. The blond moved closer, his feet shuffling quickly across the thick carpet. Randy was close behind.
The detectives and Lonnie began to follow, but went back as J.C. began to beat the metal door with his fists, enraged at the wall that separated him from Justin.
Randy turned to see what the commotion was. At that moment, the door Lance reached opened, and arm roughly pulled him inside.
Randy gave a shout, and the rest of the group hurried over as the bodyguard tried to force open the now-locked door. With the strength of fury, Lonnie pushed everyone aside and kicked the door open.
Detective Larsen rushed in first, followed by Randy, and the sharp sound of a gun firing pierced the heavy air.
When J.C. finally pushed his way in, he saw Lance clasped protectively in Randy's arms. Rather than challenge the relieved security guard, J.C. touched Lance gently.
"Scoop, what happened? Are you okay?"
After a quick struggle, Lance pulled away and nodded.
"Jared pulled me in here and...started touching me. I'm okay, Josh, I just hate the sight of blood."
J.C. followed Lance's widened eyes to the still figure on the floor a few feet away. Jared Hawke's corpse was growing cold on the thick carpet, a maroon puddle spreading out from under him. J.C. hugged Lance, but the boy pulled away quickly.
"Josh, I got the password. I read it in Jared's mind when he grabbed me. Come on!"
Det. Murray led the way as the party retraced their steps to the shiny portal that blocked them from Justin. Murray pulled open a panel on the console and began to manipulate the circuits inside. After a few minutes he turned and looked expectantly at Lance.
"The password is 'Randall'. R-A-N-D-A-L-L."
J.C. moaned softly. So simple, yet so personal. Justin's middle name.
Murray input the first six letters. Turning to Lance and Randy, he spoke firmly.
"You two stay here and guard the door."
Lance, still shaken from his assault, frowned but nodded. He and Randy moved back a little, watching both directions.
Det. Murray jabbed the 'L' button once more. The thick door slid open with a soft 'whoosh', and the four men stepped in. The moment the door automatically shut behind them, three large, white-uniformed men leaped out from the shadows and attacked. Lonnie was matched against the biggest one, about his size, and the detectives fought valiantly, trying to reach their holstered guns.
J.C., obviously not considered too much of a threat, was left unhindered, so he dodged the flying fists and objects and moved up to the door his eyes had fallen on. He entered the bedroom, and immediately froze in place, his blood cold.
His angel was tied down on a large bed, naked save for a thin sheet tossed over him. Justin was apparently awake, but save for blinking he did not move at all.
A black-clad man stood next to the bed, his left hand holding a handgun aimed directly at his captive's motionless head. Colorless, empty eyes stared at J.C. They seemed not malicious or even angry...more sad, and resigned.
"I know who you are," a low voice murmured. "And I know what you've come for. You can't have it."
Inside J.C., rage ran neck-and-neck with fear as he fought to keep his voice steady.
"What did you do to him?!"
"What you wanted to!" the man hissed.
Hot tears blurred J.C.'s vision.
"Why?" he asked, as if it really mattered. Somehow, then, it did.
"Because I need him! Because if I can win his love I will be healed! I will...be whole."
//God, where's Lance when you need him?!//
J.C. trembled uncontrollably where he stood, searching for the words.
"He'll never give you that. You can't have his heart."
The simple truth struck Elwood like a fist, and he understood another truth that J.C. didn't need to say...Justin could not hand to him what he had given, long ago, to another. To...this young man.
Elwood looked mournfully at the silent teenager, and a thought rose up that stung his hardened heart.
//He's no more mine now than he was before I brought him here. He's...he's gone beyond me. My salvation lies right there, and yet out of my reach. He's left everything behind, just to get away from me.//
A faint click was heard as the man disengaged the gun's safety.
//No, not out of my reach. If I can't have him here then I'll take him with me.//
J.C. was frozen, his heart pounding like a hammer. His eyes locked on Justin.
//I'm not losing you again. In life or death, you belong to me and I to you. Where you go, I will follow. I promise.//
Elwood looked at his sobbing rival with a pain that J.C. would have pitied in another time and place.
"He...he called for you. When I touched him."
The words echoed in the space between them, which seemed to grow wider with each passing second.
"And so," Elwood whispered, "the Grail eludes the wounded king again. And there is no help, no cure."
He smiled mirthlessly. "No. There is one balm. Only...one."
With one swift movement, the beaten man shoved the gun barrel into his mouth, and fired.
J.C. reached Justin before the body hit the floor. As his fumbling fingers worked on untying the ropes, he was vaguely aware of his exhausted colleagues stumbling tiredly into the room. Det. Murray remained in the living room, watching the one living (and handcuffed) prisoner, but Lonnie and Det. Larsen gasped with horror at the scene before them.
Lonnie raced to Justin's side, to help J.C. untie him. Larsen quickly examined Elwood before joining them.
"He's dead," he informed them.
Justin's protectors didn't care. Once the boy was free, J.C. carefully pulled his angel into his arms. The dull blue eyes petrified him, but J.C. tried to stay focused.
"Just? Baby, it's Josh. You're safe now, I'm here..."
The half-spoken, half-sobbed words didn't seem to reach the teenager. J.C. rocked him gently, and looked up at Det. Larsen, his face pleading for an explanation.
Even with the villain dead below him, the police officer seemed defeated.
"Let's get him out of here."
J.C. gathered his soul-mate into his strong arms. He didn't feel the weight of the slim body. It seemed much lighter with the eyes empty.
~to be continued~
Yes, you may all sing "Ding-dong, the dicks are dead!" :) I don't think this part was very good, but I really tried, honest. Last one ahead...wow. Comments (no flames) welcome at DaraLynn_writings@hotmail.com