Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 00:58:18 -0500
From: Dale E Wright <bwicub@hotmail.com>
Subject: "The Lottery Winner" Chapter 46

To Hi everyone...

In order to accommodate people who are asking me about notification lists,
I've finally created an YahooGroup (Gods, Yahoo is like the Borg!)  to do
so: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dale_writings
******
As always, Gabriella is my main cheerleader.  Mark has also been great.
I've even inspired him!  Check out his story "Blind Date", it's also here
in the Boyband section.

I'm a bit nervous--so if people could please e-mail me at
bwicub@hotmail.com--I'd really appreciate it. I love e-mail!!

My story is hosted on another website.  Here's it is:
http://railwayshoes.net/hosted

It's partway down the site, just look for "Lottery Winner".  There's lots of
other great stories there so check them out.

DISCLAIMER: The names of the people are fictional (well, except for the
members of the group).  This is a fictional story that came right out of my
own mind. I have no knowledge if any member of N Sync are gay or whatever.
That being said, please enjoy the story and remember-- write me!!!
(Especially write me if you're a member of the group! GRIN)

Thanks guys and gals, Hope you like it.

Dale


--THE LOTTERY WINNER...Ch 46--


Chris looked into her son's eyes... and saw fear.  "Dale, you got sick.
The doctor told me that your memory may not work right when you woke up.
You know these guys.  You've known them for awhile now."

Dale just looked around the room.  "I don't remember.  What made me sick?
Oh god mom, what's wrong with me?"  His mom took his hand and sat down.
She began telling him about the surgery and what it had been for.  Dale
closed his eyes and started crying.  After a few minutes he tapered off and
fell asleep.  Chris brushed her hand across his brow, then sat back and
looked at the guys in the room.

"Okay, that could have gone better.  Joey, are you okay?"

Joey didn't say anything for a minute, just sat there staring at the ring
on his hand.  Finally he spoke.  "He doesn't remember any of it.  Is he
going to get the memory back?"  Joey's voice broke as he looked up and into
Dale's face.  Lance took Joey's hand in his, giving it a squeeze.

Dale's mom put on a brave face for the guys.  "Dale's a fighter, always has
been.  He'll get back what he can't remember for the moment.  The important
thing is we can't let him get depressed about it.  You guys need to make an
appearance at your hotel.  If you don't then people are going to start
questioning what's going on."  She took off her glasses and massaged her
eyes.  "When is the concert?"

Lance got a pen out and wrote some info on a piece of paper.  "Here Chris,
it's the itinerary for the next forty eight hours.  We have a final round
of interviews tomorrow then we do a final run through before the concert,
which starts at eight.  Once we finish we'll have a final night at the
hotel before we're scheduled to get back on the bus to return to Orlando."

Christine turned to look at Joey.  "Promise me something.  No matter what,
you go back on the bus."

"WHAT?  No way in hell Chris!  I'm staying here with Dale."

Dale had told him repeatedly to not piss off his mom, but Joey forgot all
about that advice.

"Goddammit listen to me you ignorant bastard.  Dale has NEVER lost sight of
the fact that he has to protect your secret from the outside world.  You
will NOT out yourself to the world by refusing to leave his side."  She sat
back down and crossed her arms.  "Have you ever given ANY thought to what
he has to go through in order to be with you?  He can never tell anyone
except those people he trusts, and he can never be too open about it... no
pictures at work, nothing that everyone else in the world gets to do."  She
stood and walked over so she was standing right in front of Joey.  "If you
really do love him, then put yourself in his shoes once in awhile."
Pulling him into a hug, she kissed his cheek.  "My son loves you, and I
know you love him.  But there's times where you have to not think with your
heart but with your head."  She brushed a tear off of his cheek.  "It's
never easy, but for love it's worth it."

Joey didn't say anything, just pulled her into a hug.  Finally, she broke
away.  "Okay, you guys go.  I'll stay here and keep an eye on him.  Mark
can keep me company."  The men of N'Sync slowly left to head back to their
hotel.  Once they were gone, Mark and Dale's mom began exchanging stories
again.  Dale woke up again around ten.

"Mom?"

"Dale.  How're you feeling?"

Dale pulled himself up a bit.  "Why does my head hurt?"

Chris began explaining again about the surgery.  Finally after a few
minutes Dale said he remembered.  Chris then asked him what the last thing
was he remembered.

Dale sat silently a few minutes, finally he almost shouted, "Mark!  I
remember talking to Mark."

"What were we talking about Dale?"

Dale thought about it.  "I... I don't remember."  A tear ran down his
cheek.  "It's weird, I remember you but don't remember how we met."

"Oh that's easy Dale.  We both are in the same fraternity."

"Fraternity?  We went to school together?"

Mark smiled.  "No.  I'm from the Phoenix chapter of the fraternity and
you're from the Baltimore chapter."

"Oh."  Dale pondered this briefly.  "Is it one of those frats that does
nothing but womanize and drink or is it a service fraternity."

"Womanize?  Not exactly Dale.  It's a gay fraternity."

"Oh.  So you're gay?"  The way Dale said it, it was obvious that he was
putting something together.

Mark looked at Chris, and once he saw the nod he continued.  "Yeah Dale, so
are you."

"I am?"  He thought about it, then continued.  "I am.  Okay.  Do I have a
boyfriend?"  Suddenly Dale screamed and grabbed his head.

"OHMYGOD"

Mark slammed his hand onto the call button for the nurses.  Dale stopped
flopping on the bed, and lay there breathing heavily.  Nurses came in at a
run.

"What is it?  What's going on?"

Chris told them about Dale screaming and grabbing his head.  One of the
nurses pulled out a penlight and checked Dale's eyes.

"Mister Wright?  What happened?"

"Blood.  I remember blood.  All over my hands.  I remembered it when I said
boyfriend."  He looked at his mom.  "Why do I remember blood on my hands
mom?"

She patted his hand.  "It's complicated Dale.  Why don't I fill you in when
you're more rested."

"I'm fine mom.  What is it?"  The nurses made a notation into Dale's chart
then left the room.

"Not now young man.  You know that I'm just as stubborn as you.  Where do
you think you got it?  You just rest.  We'll talk later."  Dale could tell
she wouldn't budge, so he gave in and fell asleep.

Around eleven she told Mark to call it a night.  She was going to stay at a
hotel down the street, so he could go ahead and head home.  She told the
nurses at the front desk that she'd call with her number at the hotel in
case something happened during the night.

Mark offered to give her a ride to the hotel, but she said no.  "I just
need some time to myself.  I have your number, so I'll call if something
happens."

Suddenly, Mark felt very lonely.  He dialed a number on his cell phone.
"It's me."

"Come on over."

Twenty minutes later he was knocking on a door.  The door opened, and a
slightly disheveled Lance Bass was standing there.  He didn't say anything,
just pulled Mark into the room.
  Once the door was closed they hugged tightly.  Lance gently kissed Mark,
then led him over to the bed.

Once they were in the bed, Lance pulled Mark into his arms.  "It's okay
Mark.  Sleep, I won't let anything happen."  A few seconds later, Mark let
out all the frustrations of the day.
  He fell asleep after a good cry.  Lance wiped his tears and then held him
tightly.  Once he was sleeping, Lance kissed his cheek, then snuggled up
and went to sleep on his own.

Lance woke Mark up after he got out of the shower the next morning.  "Mark,
do you want to go with us or do you want to go back over to the hospital?"
Mark stretched to alleviate the stiffness in his joints.

"Well, she hasn't called yet... so I guess that's a good sign.  I'll go
ahead and go back over to the hospital.  What time do you guys have to be
at the arena?"

Lance undid his pants and tucked in the shirt.  "We have to get there at
three for final run through.  I'll tell security to put you and Chris both
on the VIP list so you can come in if you need to."

Someone knocked on the door, they came in after Lance called out it was
okay to.  The door slowly opened and Joey came in.  He looked like he
hadn't slept in days.

"We're heading out now, you ready?"

Mark couldn't believe how bad Joey looked.  "Joey, are you going to be
okay?"

"I'm fine.  You going to the hospital?"

"Yeah.  Just have to swing by my place and change."

"That's good."  Joey looked uncomfortable for a second, then gamely went
forward.  "What happened after we left last night?"

"Well..." Mark noticed that Lance was watching him too.  "Dale's mom and I
talked to him for a bit.  He remembered me, but not how we'd known each
other.  He had a flash of a memory that from what his mom said was after he
escaped from Lonnie."  Mark went and got a soda from the honor bar.  "His
memory loss doesn't really have any rhyme or reason.  He seemed to remember
that he was gay, but didn't remember that he had a boyfriend."  He noticed
Joey's face fall.  "Joey don't even start.  He'll get back the
memories... all we can do is love him and be there to support him.  Don't
lose sight of what you guys had and still have."  Mark pulled him into a
hug, Joey tried fighting away briefly then gave in.

"I know you're right Mark... it's just hard."  Joey smiled softly at him.
"You realize of course that it's going to be impossible to be productive
today."  He let out a snort.  "I'm not even in the mood to sing tonight.
ME!"

"Maybe that'll mean the fans pay attention to the rest of us instead of
you."  Lance threw a pillow at Joey, catching him in the stomach.  Lance
smiled so Joey knew he was just teasing.

"Yeah whatever blondie.  The girls all drool over you and you know it."

"Girls?  Ew.  No thank you."

The two band mates said goodbye to Mark as he left to change.  Mark
promised to call once he knew what was going on...

An hour later, after a shower and a change of clothes Mark felt much more
charitable towards the world.  He was actually whistling as he walked in
the front door of the hospital.

Chris wasn't in Dale's room when he walked in, but Dale was sitting up
watching TV.

"Hi.  Mark, right?"

Mark smiled and nodded.  "Where's your mom?"

"She went somewhere with the doc to talk about something."  Dale took a sip
of water and went back to watching TV.  It was some local news show, and
they were talking about the upcoming concert that the guys were putting on.

Partway through footage from the video of the guys singing "Bye Bye Bye"
Dale flipped the channel away.

"Why'd you change the channel Dale?"

"It's just some stupid concert.  I mean please... a concert for charity?
All the money will probably go to line the pockets of the artist and the
charities who need the money like YGS won't get hardly any money."

Mark did a double take.  "YGS?  Dale, how did you know that YGS was one of
the charities, the news cast didn't say that!  Oh my god... did you
remember that?"

Dale's mom had walked in partway through the statement, as soon as she
heard the phrase 'remember that' she smiled.  "Dale remembered something?"

"Yeah, I think he remembered organizing the concert."

"I did what?"  Mark and Dale's mom stopped talking and looked at Dale.

Mark sat in the chair and looked at Chris.  After seeing her slow nod, he
cleared his throat and looked at his friend.  "Dale, there's some things
that we have to remind you about."

Mark noticed a look cross Dale's face.  It looked like fear.  "Okay, I
think."

Mark told him just about everything.  About how Dale had won the lottery,
and had arranged with the management company to get N'Sync to do a charity
concert.

"Why on earth did I choose these guys?  I mean, look at them.  They're like
the New Kids for Generation Y!"

Mark smiled at that.  "Well, you're a pretty big fan."

"You're joking.  I am?  What else do I listen to?"

The two men sat and talked for a couple of hours.  Dale's mom left to get
some lunch, asking if they wanted anything.  When she was gone Dale took
hold of Mark's hand.

"Mark.  Were we a couple?  I keep getting this feeling that there's
someone...  is it you?"

Mark laughed.  Dale's face fell at that.

"Well shit Mark.  That was rude.  You could have just said no."  Dale
pulled his hand away.

"Oh Dale, that's not it.  You have a boyfriend, but it's not me.  You have
someone who thinks the world of you, and wants to spend the rest of his
life with you."

"Really?  Who is it?"

"I can't tell you that yet."

"WHAT?  Why in the fuck not?"

"It's complicated.  Now trust me, it'll all make sense soon.  Now, put your
TV on MTV and let's chat."  Dale adjusted the TV so they could watch
videos, and then started talking.

Mark told him some more about the past few months, being careful to not
mention anything about Joey or the guys in the group other than Dale had
met them when arranging the charity concert.  Mark got excited when
reminding Dale about his new job in Orlando.

In the middle of the talk Dale interjected about how Mark can live in his
new house he bought.  "Oh my god Mark, I remember buying that!  I met with
the decorator just before I flew out to... to... fuck, where...  PHOENIX!"

The two friends hugged, and Dale was laughing.  Suddenly, he stopped
laughing.

"Lonnie."

Mark knew what was coming now.  He tried sounding nonchalant though.  "What
about Lonnie?"

Dale suddenly looked unsure.  "We dated, didn't we?  Lonnie and I."

Mark nodded.

Dale lapsed silent for a bit... suddenly his face drained of all color.
"Oh fuck."  His eyes closed, and he started crying.

"What have I done... oh god, Mark."

Dale started crying again.  He curled up in a fetal position on the bed
facing away from Mark.  The two friends were in the same positions when
Dale's mom came back.

"I'm ba... what happened?"  Mark got up, telling Dale that he'd be back,
and had Chris follow him out.

"I think Dale's remembered what happened with Lonnie.  You know, the
kidnapping and what happened afterward.  He mentioned Lonnie's name, then
lost it."

"Oh."  Chris went to her son's side and held his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me?"  Dale sounded accusatory as he asked the
question.
  He pulled his hand away from his mother.

"About Lonnie?  Well, I figured that if you remembered him you'd remember
the background also.  Now, what do you remember about him?"

It took Dale about twenty minutes to stammer out what he remembered.  When
it became clear that he wasn't remembering the entire history Chris decided
to fill her son in on his ex, and all the hell that he'd inflicted on Dale.

Dale seemed to settle down after she finished telling him about Lonnie to
fill in the gaps in his memory.  Finally he asked the question that Chris
had been dreading.

"So, why did I move from Baltimore to Orlando?  LOKI!  Oh my god mom, who's
taking care of Loki?"

"Calm down Dale, Loki's fine.  You put him up at a kennel before you left.
Do you remember?"

"Oh yeah."  Dale took a drink of water.  "So, why did I move?  Since I
apparently won the lottery I'm guessing it wasn't for a new job."

"Well Dale, you moved down there to start a new phase of your life."  Chris
smiled to Mark as she said it.

Dale snorted.  "Yeah, that tells me squat.  What gives?  Why won't you tell
me anything about this boyfriend?"

He lapsed silent briefly.  "Mom.  Why do I remember waking up and seeing
those guys I saw on TV today?"

Mark's phone started ringing.  "Hello?"

"Hey Mark, it's Lance.  How's it going?"

Mark smiled at Dale and his mom before answering.  "Surprisingly well, all
things considered.  How about with you guys?"

"Not hundred percent, but okay.  Joey wants to swing by and see Dale and
Chris before we go to the arena.  What do you think?  Good or bad idea?"

Mark excused himself and went to the bathroom for privacy.  "Well, Dale's
memory has started slowly coming back.  He still doesn't remember about him
and a certain opinionated and stubborn Italian.  It should be okay, just
make sure that no one says anything.  We'll get him back to normal
eventually hon...  don't worry about it.  So, about half hour?"

"More like forty-five minutes.  We can't stay long since we have to gear up
for tonight."

"Okay.  See you shortly."  He hung up and went back to Dale's room.  Dale
and his mom were talking about family stuff.

"Wait, let me see if I remember right.  I'm gay... you're gay.  I have one
brother who has an ex-wife and a kid.  Your side of the family lives out in
California but I don't talk to them."

"Yep.  Do you remember the last time you traveled?"

"Oh sure mom.  I flew up to Baltimore with a group of people for a special
dinner.  It was really special."

She fidgeted a bit in her seat.  "Do you remember, um, who you flew up
with?"

He sat silently for a bit, and finally Dale relented.  "No.  My head's
starting to hurt a bit though.  Is it okay if I nap for a bit?"

"Not too long!"

Chris turned to look at Mark.  He blushed and began stammering.  "That is,
try and get a little sleep.  We may have visitors shortly."  She nodded in
understanding.

"Get some sleep Dale."


"Dale?"

"Dale, wake up.  You have guests."

Dale slowly came awake, and saw a bunch of guys around his bed.

"Ungh.  Water."  Mark handed Dale a glass of water.  After a couple of
swallows, Dale scooted himself up on the bed and looked around.

"Um.  Hi."

None of the guys said anything for a second.  Finally Joey broke the
silence.  "Hi Dale.  How're you feeling?"

"Okay I think.  So, you guys are N'Sync aren't you?  I'm Dale.  Well, I
guess you already knew that."

Dale and the guys talked for a few more minutes.  Lance mentioned the
concert, and asked Dale what he remembered about it.

"See the reason I ask Dale is we were going to introduce you on stage."

"Oh god, don't do that!"

Justin and Chris from the group started laughing.  "Geez Dale.  Love you
too."

"It's not that.  I just don't feel like trying to recover what is
apparently still missing from my life and deal with questions from people I
don't even know about the concert.  It seems like it'd be easier to just
not even talk about it.  So, since I apparently have met you guys before
could you refresh my memory who's who?"

Dale noticed the blonde one grab the big Italian looking guy's shoulder and
squeeze it.  He thought the Italian was kind of cute, but didn't want to
say anything in case they were straight or had issues with him being gay.
After the round of introductions Dale said their names again to himself so
he'd remember.

Something seems so familiar.  Dale looked at Lance, and felt himself blush.
Lance looked at Dale and saw him blushing.  Lance decided to fish for info.

"So, Dale.  Have they told you when you'll be going home?"

"No one's said anything to me... but then again I'm just the one with a
hole in my head."

Lance didn't laugh.

"Hello... hole in the head.  Geez, tough room."  Dale glared at him, then
stuck out his tongue.  "Don't make me dye your hair or something Scoop."

Several heads snapped around.  "You remembered Lance's nickname?"

The five guys all started talking excitedly.  Finally Dale let out a roar
"SHUT UP!"  As soon as he did it he grabbed the sides of his head and
groaned.

"Dale!"  Joey rushed over and grabbed Dale.  "Are you okay?"

Dale stiffened in his grasp.  After a second he pulled away from Joey.
"I'm... um, I'm fine.  It just hurt when I yelled."

Dale's mom sensed tension building, so tried breaking it.  "Dale, do you
want me to see if the doctor will okay you going to the show?"

"What?  Mom get real.  They wouldn't let me go anywhere this soon.
Besides, I'm in no condition to go anywhere with my memory all fucked up"

"I don't know about that Dale.  Yeah the procedure was intense, but it
wasn't THAT bad.  They'll probably okay you for release in the next day or
two.  Besides... you're remembering a lot of stuff, so that means you'll
get the rest of your memory back I'm sure.  I'm going to be asking the
doctor if we can get released from here so you can go home and I can get
back to Debbie."

Joey didn't seem too happy about that.  "Who's going to keep an eye on Dale
and make sure that things are going okay."

Dale spoke up.  "Are you offering to play nursemaid?"  He smiled as he said
it.  "Thanks for caring Joey but I have a big new house that Mark can come
stay in when he first gets to Orlando for his new job."

"You, uh, bought a new house Dale?"

Joey tried sounding nonchalant when asking the question, but it was obvious
to everyone in the room that there was a reason why he was looking upset.
Dale began telling him about buying the house and meeting with decorators
just before flying out to visit Mark.

"So, do you remember what motivated you to buy it and move out of your
other place?"

Dale was taken aback by the question.  "You mean my place in Baltimore?"

"No, your place in Orlando."  Lance abruptly pulled Joey from the room,
excusing himself to everyone.  Dale turned to his mom for an explanation,
but she had none.

A few minutes later, Joey and Lance came back in.  Joey was looking upset
about something.  He stood in the corner and glared at everyone.

Conversation continued for a while longer, but nothing major was brought
up.
  Finally the guys said they had to leave to get ready for the concert.
Lance stretched, and asked Mark if he was coming with.

"Sure.  Hey Dale, is it okay if I come by after the show?  Dale?"

Dale had fallen asleep in bed.  The guys all tiptoed out of the room;
Dale's mom came out behind them and closed the door.  Mark shook her hand,
and told her she can call his cell if anything happened in the next few
hours.

"Sounds good Mark, I'm going to head out to get a bite to eat then go get
some sleep.  I'm tired."  As soon as Chris was out of earshot the guys
began pulling Mark towards their car.

"Why didn't you tell me you were moving to Orlando Mark?"  Lance looked
hurt.

"I don't know... just didn't think about it.  I mean, the whole thing with
Dale coming into town then acting strange and then this happened.  I felt
it was inappropriate to think about my new job and the move to get there."
Mark looked over at Lance.  "You mad?"

Lance sighed as they headed to the Ford Expedition they were using for
transportation.  "No, I'm not mad.  I just wish we all knew what was going
on with Dale.  Hey, did you know before today that he had bought a house in
Orlando?"

"Yeah, he told me the day he got here when we talked about my moving there
for the job."  Mark turned to look at Joey.  "I take it this was news to
you?"

"Yeah it was Mark."  Joey put his seatbelt on and looked out the window.
"Yeah it was."  Chris got behind the wheel and the group headed to the
concert.


At a little after ten at night, Mark was feeling tired.  He'd spent the
past few hours jumping up and down and screaming during the concert.  Chris
and JC had thanked the crowd for coming out, and pointed out that they had
raised a great deal of money for charity, and it was the privilege of the
group to take part in the great cause.

As the crowd dispersed, Mark worked his way backstage.  Holding up his VIP
pass, he meandered back to where the guys were showering and changing back
into normal clothes.

"Hey guys, GREAT SHOW!"  Suddenly an arm snaked out of a shower and pulled
him in.  "FUCK, water!! Hello!!"  He was now drenched.  Lance was standing
in front of him, laughing and totally naked.  Mark had to admit... he
looked good.

"Sorry Mark, couldn't resist."  Lance then leaned in and gave him a quick
kiss, which rapidly turned intense.  Mark broke away as he heard someone
clearing their throat just outside the shower they were in.

"Hello?"

"MARK?  What in the hell are you doing in there?"  Mark then heard
footsteps as Chris walked away.

"Shit Lance.  I think he wanted to talk to you about stuff.  I'm sorry."

"I'm not."  Lance practically growled it as he pounced on Mark.  For a few
seconds Mark let himself get pawed by Lance... but he finally pulled
himself away.

"Dammit Lance think about what you're doing."

"What do you think I'm doing?"

"You're using me to make Chris jealous and I don't like it."  Mark grabbed
a towel off the rack and left, drying himself off.  He threw the towel on
the back of a couch and plopped down.

"Hey Mark, how'd we do?"  Mark looked up and saw Justin standing there.

"You guys always put on a great show.  Noticed you grandstanding to the
crowd though."  Mark giggled as he said it, so Justin knew he was just
teasing.  Mark saw Chris walk around the corner.  "Hey Chris."

"Fuck off Mark."  Chris stormed out of the room without looking back.  A
few seconds later Justin's cell phone started ringing.

"Hello?  What's up with you?  Oh.  Okay.  I guess I'll see you later."
Justin hung up the phone and threw himself onto the couch opposite Mark.
"Okay, what'd you do to Chris?"

"Huh?"

"Think about it Mark.  He storms out of here telling you to fuck off.  Then
calls me from the goddamn hallway to tell me he'll meet us back at the
hotel.  So, what'd you do?"

Justin finally realized that Mark's clothes were wet.  "Why in the hell are
your clothes wet?"

Almost as soon as the sentence left his mouth, Lance got out of the shower
and padded across the room to change.  Wrapped only in a towel, Mark
couldn't help but notice him.  Once Lance had walked through the door to
his changing area, Justin laid in to Mark.

"That explains that.  Mark what were you thinking?  Has Lance bothered to
tell you about the whole thing with him and Chris?"

Mark shook his head no.

"Okay, come on.  We're going to the hospital.  We can talk on the way.
LANCE, JOEY!!!"  The two friends poked their heads out of their respective
changing rooms.  "I'm going for a drive with Mark over towards the
hospital.  You guys all head back to the hotel and I'll see you there in a
few hours."

Joey protested that he wanted to go see Dale, but Mark overruled him.
"Joey, don't worry.  I'll call you if anything major happens.  If I talk to
Dale tonight and it looks like he's going to remember you I'll start the
ball rolling.  Don't worry, I won't tell him anything bad."  He cracked a
grin as he said it.

"Fine Mark.  But remember, soon you're gonna be living in the same town, so
if you upset me I'll know where you live.  I'm Italian.  You don't want to
upset Italian families."

Mark laughed as Justin led him out the back of the arena.  "Hey Mark, what
section did you park in?"  Mark told him and then they were driven over by
security.  As Mark got behind the wheel of his Jeep Justin told him to
drive slow.

"There's a lot to cover."

An hour later Mark slowly got out of the Jeep after parking in the lot at
the hospital.  "Jesus Justin, I don't know if I should feel guilty for
being attracted or if I should smack Chris for walking all over Lance's
emotions."

"I know Mark.  JC and I have talked about it and we're totally convinced
that Chris will eventually decide to come out of the closet... but we just
don't know when."

"Justin you can't expect me to not take an interest in Lance because
there's an off chance that Chris will pull his head out of his ass and see
that there's a man right there who he can be happy with."

"They're both my friends Mark.  I don't want to see either of them get
hurt.
  Be good to Lance."

The two of them lapsed into silence as they walked through the hospital
entrance.  The security guard tried stopping them, but relented after
seeing Justin.  About twenty autographs later they were at Dale's room.

"Wow.  Dale's still awake."  The two of them went in, and said hi to Dale.

"Oh, hi.  Justin right?  Mark, how was the concert?"

"Awesome like always.  The guys put on a great show."

"That's cool.  Well, mom talked to the doctor."

Mark sat down.  "About what?"

"I'm transferring to Orlando for outpatient care.  I'm going home."