Reach for It

This story is entirely fictional and not intended to imply anything about the true sexuality of Lance Bass or any member of NSYNC.

Reach for it Chapter 1

It might be hard for you to imagine, but I was a lonely gay man until I my first someone special. Crazy, huh? I know, you think all gay men are these social creatures that surround themselves with beautiful women, they sleep around constantly and call each other stud.

While the above may be true for some it was not for me. I spent too much time in the closet and got myself into a profession that gay men are typically not accepted, at least in my southern corner of the woods. Though I came out to my friends and parents, mostly I kept to myself. The Internet is a godsend to the modern gay man, however. Where before we were lost and alone, now we have community wherever we are. Be it to chat, surf for porn, or buy great movies, it is there for us.

One of the greatest assets we have had is the nifty archive. I look forward to contributing something worthwhile to my community. This should be a warning to you not to read this if you are too young or it is against the law wherever you are. Take it as such if you so desire. Personally, I hope you ignore this and all such warnings (as I did). If you are reading this, you obviously either want to get off or understand what it means to be gay. I hope it provides both. I will warn you, I like to write and this will not just be a sex filled romp. I hope it is enjoyable, I enjoyed writing it.

Must always say, I don't know NSYNC. I wish I did. I don't know anything about their sex lives, or choices they make. I can only give my FICTIONAL account of them. My story make no implications about them, only my own warped imagination. Hehe! nate_eric@hotmail.com

I had sat up most of the night. As far as most call nights go this one was fairly benign. Not a single call from the ER, most unusual at a university medical center. Things change very quickly as I turned over again and my pager went off. To this day I will swear that the hideous noise takes minutes off my life.

There really is only one number that pages me so I called the number without even checking.

"Dr James, some one paged?" I mechanically responded.

"Tim, this is Todd. We just had a bunch of kids come in from an orphanage that got torched down town. Can you come help?"

"Be right there." I took off out of the room and down the hall. Let me explain, I am a medical resident at a prominent University hospital. I am in an adult medicine residence that is combined with a pediatric section. Normally I would only accept adults on my rotation, but Todd, a friend of mine who is in a surgical residency, was responsible for the trauma service that night. He needed help with the kids. He is trained in how to use a knife but children present there own challenges.

In the ER, I surveyed the damages. There were about ten kids that had been brought in. I called to see who was on the pediatric team tonight. When I heard whom it was I knew why Todd had called me. He needed help, not just to have someone come watch.

After triage of the kids it was obvious most were just afraid. There were only three that looked serious. Two were settled with sedation to allow burns to be treated and one had a significant smoke inhalation. It took about two hours to get everything settled.

"Thanks man. I don't deal with kids well. Crying and whining." Todd came over and genuinely thanked me, with his typical sly humor.

"I know, surgeons if you can't cut it aint worth saving." He smiled again at my slight against his chosen profession. I waited for his inevitable reply.

"That's right flea." Flea is a derogatory term against internists; we wear a stethoscope around our necks like a dog collar. They also say we are the last to leave a dying dog.

"You may want to stick around they are bringing in one of the firemen. He had some heat inhalation, maybe tracheal burns." Todd announced as he walked back to the trauma section.

Eek, I thought, tracheal burns are B A D. Swelling from the burn can close off your airway and depending how far down they go, may prevent your lungs from exchanging oxygen.

Five minutes later the ambulance pulled in to the entrance. They wheeled in a fireman still in a yellow rain suit. You could tell immediately they were having trouble. In the primary assessment, he appeared to have no injuries. They cut off his clothes and revealed the healthy body of a mid thirties black haired man. The only problem was his pale almost blue tinge to his skin. Paramedics were trying to assist his breathing with a bag, but with the effort they were using to compress the bag it was not working. Seeing the problem, Todd grabbed the endotracheal tube and set to intubate and put the guy on a ventilator to assist his breathing. He tried for a few seconds, but then turned to look my way. It was bad, I could tell from his eyes.

I rushed in and grabbed the tube from him. I used the laryngoscope to see down his throat. It looked like overdone pizza in his windpipe. Inhaled burning hot gasses sometime and see what it feels like.

I couldn't see anywhere to insert the tube. We tried to bag him a bit but no luck.

"Fuck, this is not going to work" I sighed, wiping the sweat from my brow. I looked up at the expectant looks around me. This guy was going to die and there was nothing that any of us could do. I looked back down and gave it one more shot. The laryngoscope's silver blade went into his mouth and held up his tongue and I looked back the swollen slightly scorched tunnel that had been this guy's airway until an hour ago. I saw a few bubbles come through the gunk and hopped for the best as I more pushed the tube where I hoped would be his airway. When it had gone in about what I hoped would be far enough without being able to see anything I called for the bag and attached it to the tube. The respiratory therapist gave a few breaths on the bag as we all stopped to watch the CO2 sensor on the tube, if it was in the right place it would change from purple to gold. As I saw the shade fade to sun yellow a whop erupted in the room.

"God damn boy!" Todd yelled as the fireman's chest started to rise with each breath. I was king of the world for a second. The rushes that every physician feels in his heart of hearts at least once when he knows he pulled someone back from the edge.

That feeling of elation lasted about fifteen seconds until the therapist announce that it was very hard to force air into the guys lungs. Defeat crushed me as I realized I had forgotten what I had only moments ago been thinking. He had burns on the inside of his lungs and they were filling with fluid. The therapist started suctioning out the tube in his lungs and the frothy pick mucous that was coming out.

"Dude, his O2 saturation is dropping in the dirt. We had it to ninety." Todd had fallen back to his native surfer dialect.

"Shit!" I screamed. Of course that is when I decided to look up and see the group of firemen what were crowding the hall. This guy was completely healthy only with lungs that would kill him. I could see the fear in his friends' eyes.

"Sats down in the seventies." Jill, one of the ER nurses announced looking at the monitor. In a few minutes we would have to start CPR as his heart started to shut down, but no amount of drugs would help if he were not getting oxygen.

"Jill, call the ICU and tell them I need a fluorocarbon emulsion and the AR 350." I smiled as I said it, bringing many looks of inquiry to me. "NOW!" she ran to the phone.

"Dude, what are you up to?" Todd looked at me through his blue eyes, rising to his full 6'4", something he did when he got nervous.

"If his lungs are filling with fluid anyway, I am going to help him by filling them more." I smiled and went to adjust the ventilator that the therapist had already connected the patient to.

"They are one the way!" Jill looked inquisitively at me.

"Look, his lungs are shot to hell, so I have to help him oxygenate under duress. Ideally I would go for ECMO, a lung bypass, unfortunately the machine takes time to set up, time we don't have. But I can use a liquid ventilator to flush his lungs, like in the movie The Abyss!"

Silence rang clear. Listen we have had an experimental set up for the last two years but patients are few and far between, why the hell not? This guy is toast if I don't do something."

Meredith one of the ICU nurses rounded the corner with a machine that was smaller than the ventilator the guy was hooked up to now. She took one look at me and he face flashed surprise and resignation, without slowing down mind you.

"I though Darren would be the only one to pull this shit, I stand corrected." She spoke in her gruff smokers voice. It had always reminded me of Kathleen Turner.

"Jill, give him another five milligrams of the paralytic." I took one of the small bags from the cart that Merry brought and opened it. Inside was a small catheter, which I quickly inserted down the endotracheal tube that was in the guy's lungs. I reconnected the ventilator to it once in place.

"Start filling, should need about 1.5 liters." I told Meredith who had set the machine up. In less than five minutes the poor guys lungs were partially filled with fluids and his oxygen say was back to 100%. I was hopeful, though I am sure my ass would be chewed in the am. No consent, no one notified, and I probably wasted twenty grand in materials. Fuck it, he would be all right I hoped.

The ICU team came down and took the patient upstairs a few minutes later and I went outside to talk to the family. This was the roughest part of the whole job.

"Way to go. Tim you pulled my ass out of the fire. He'd be on the slab now if you had not been here. I swear I would suck your cock, if I were into that." Todd smiled.

"Promises, Todd promises. You're full of shit. Don't flash those pearly whites at me I am immune." I have heard of trademarked smiles, but this guy was the genuine article.

"You had your chance." He laughed, memories.

"You were drunk! Besides, I think I was the one offering to suck you, dipshit" I waved him off as I went to the waiting room.

"My loss I suppose." He yelled down the hall. If half of the staff did not already know he was as straight as the proverbial arrow, and that we were best friends they might have wondered. Shit, they probably wondered anyway.

In the waiting room, there was about fifty firefighters, some covered in soot, others in shirts and ties. I walked out and it was like one of those movies. Again, everyone fell silent. I will always be amazed at this phenomenon. I know doctors, they are not all that. Hell, I realized that I didn't know what the guys name was!

"Is there any immediate family?" I directed my comment to a fireman in uniform that looked like he was in charge.

"I am sorry doc. Aaron does not have any close family...except those you see here. How is he?" There was a wash of concern in this room.

"Well, I am not going to pull any punches. Aaron has extensive burns inside his lungs; it will be tough to come back for it. He is in the ICU now; the next twenty-four hours will be the most important. I can't give you odds, I am not God. I have done everything that medicine has to offer him for now. His lungs are shot now, but they may come back and if he doesn't get any serious infections he should be ok." Personally, I thought he would do fine, he had responded excellently to the liquid vent, but I am not about to tell them that. I have been burned a few times like that. "Any questions?"

"The other doctor told us that you saved his life. That he would be in the morgue cold if you hadn't bent the rules and gone out of your way to save his life." One of the men walked forward from behind one of the others. He was a young guy, early twenties, looked like a kid dressed up playing fireman. Inwardly I laughed at this thought, hell I was not much older than him I thought.

"I did my job. I wasn't going to let him die if there was anything I could have done to help him. Really, anyone here would have done the same thing." I tried to pass it off.

"That's not what the other guy said." Another older fireman came forward, his southern, or rather country accent, as we would call it came thought thick. "We don't mean nothin' by it just we keep an eye out for our friends. Any you sure showed us you are one of our friends tonight."

Grumbled assents came though the mass. I answered a few technical questions about the liquid vent, breaking it down in semi-layman's terms, then excused myself. I went upstairs to the ICU the check on Aaron. When I made it up to the floor, flashed my proximity card and entered the Unit. I immediately saw Juan, the ICU fellow. He looked at me and just shook his head, at least he was smiling.

"You little shit. Make me get up in the middle of the night and not even to have fun. You could have at least called." His Spanish accent made me smile, even when he yelled at you it still made you laugh.

"Hello to you too!" I mocked his tone. "I am so sorry, you had to leave. If only you worked all the time like a resident, you might be here for the action." I looked in the room and saw the ICU resident putting in a couple of large IV's. "Whatcha think?"

"About him? He's fine; the funk in his lungs is coming out nicely. Not to bad, I started steroids to decrease the inflammation. You did good, I don't know any other resident who would have had the balls to pull that shit."

"What is Dr. Gradeichi going to say though?" Darren Gradeichi was the head of the ICU and it was his toy I had used on the guy.

"Ask him yourself." He pointed to the nurse's station.

"This just gets better and better doesn't it." I sneered and walked over for the reaming.

Gradechi was a nice enough guy, most would describe him as a pompous ass, but he was an ass who knew his shit. I had barely walked around the corner when he looked up and smiled, it was not a nice smile, not at all.

"Doctor, how nice of you to come check on your handy work." Condescending, the first stage. "You know, I think you did a great job, perfect case to use the liquivent." Now he is shaking me up. "But, 4am I should be asleep." I could feel it coming, I cringed. "Not getting calls from hospital administration and the mayor" say what?

"I have gotten four calls from various levels of local government and one from a representative about the extreme measures we go to save a life. How our hospital is a model for the state, how our hospital is everything they could have hoped for, how our hospital, and our department in particular will be remembered in the news tomorrow and in the budget meetings in the capital."

"Sir?" I was dumbfounded.

"I know you were expecting to come and get your ass chewed, as it SHOULD be. But with these developments I will call it even." He dismissed me simply by turning around.

I quickly walked to the patient's room. He was so peaceful lying there, cleaned up in a hospital gown, marred only with wires from the monitor and the whine of the vent as it cycled fluid in and out of his lungs. He was a very cute guy. I am so lame; I have lude thoughts about guy on a ventilator. I need to get laid.

I left the unit, saying goodbye to Juan as I passed. My beeper went off then as I left. I grabbed a phone. It was and admission request. Back to work! I got off at eight in the morning and wandered over to the CAT scanner in the ER on my way out of the building.

Jason, the tech at the console waved me through as I walked in. He sat in a leather chair at the controls running the machine as a patient was being scanned. He turned off the intercom.

"Hey are you excited?" He never looked at me, just kept maneuvering over the controls.

Jason was a gay man's dream. He had brown hair, a decent tan, gloriously deep gray eyes, even, god will I say it, swimmers build. (I hate that, every man in every story has a swimmers build) I had a huge crush on him, tempered by the fact that I knew he was involved. He was one of my first gay friends when I came out. He and Ronnie his lover were great and took me under their wing to instruct me about how to be gay, really how to just be yourself. I realized that I was not a stereotyped cardboard cutout of a lisping queen, but I had hidden myself under a few straightisms. I felt free when I could learn to truly be myself.

"Yes, I am excited. I would be more excited if I were well rested." I collapsed in the chair to his right. The weight of the night was piling up.

"Go home and crash. I heard about last night, be glad you are not working days. You would have to hear all the distorted stories that are already floating around." He turned to me with those strong steel eyes. Chill, control yourself.

"Ronnie has the tickets and will drop them off at the house, I will swing past your house at, say five-ish." He turned back to the controls to key the next sequence of scans.

Jason and I were going to an NSync concert tonight. Yes, I was indulging in a very gay male passion, the boy band. I had been a fan of Nsync since they were thrust onto the stage. Now they were coming here and I could go and worship at the altar of Pop. Don't get me wrong, those guys are talented, they are singers with great voices and spectacular dancers, but better than that they are fantastic entertainers. I won't deny they are good looking as well, damn I dare use the gay mans highest praise, the f-word. Fabulous!

Best of all about this particular concert in our own neck of the woods, one of the babe-a- licious quintet was coming home, a hometown boy made good and one that I had the hots for. Lance Bass!

Let me stop one second and explain, I am not some weird stalker, nor do I pray on celebrity or look for money. I am a doctor, not rich by any means, but I am comfortable. I first saw Lance in an interview with the guys from Nsync and he hooked me with the eyes. His eyes are amazing and I am an eye person. I like not just the color but dept that I see behind them. He had both, and as I listened I felt like we had a lot in common, similar likes and dislikes, the importance of family and God in our lives. I mean there is no way he is gay, but a guy can dream can't he?

"You're so pathetic. You've got that look in your eyes again." Jason was laughing at me. Damn.

"What's wrong I am sleepy. I was thinking about last night." I lied. It would not work, not with Jason.

"Whatever! You were thinking about him. Aren't you afraid that if you ever met him it would not be the dream your dream?" Jason shook his head.

"Listen, if you don't reach for the stars, you'll never touch heaven. We all have ideals, they should not be hard and fast, they change with life. I wouldn't be afraid of meeting him. What's the worst that could happen? Is the best that could happen worth it? I think so." I was trying to convince myself.

"I know you keep your ideal 'hard', but I wish I could help you out man. I just think the star you reach for is out of your grasp." He finished the scan and stood up to get the patient.

"Anyway, see you tonight."

"See ya Jace." I left and walked out to my car. The whole way I wondered if reaching for a star I would get burned, or I would touch heaven.

It was damn hot at the concert, or rather should I saw it was damn hot outside the concert. We for some unknown reason showed up like an hour before they would even let us in the gate. It was fun to say the least looking at all the people and the crazy things everyone would do out there. I saw the girls form Nsyncfanbus.com they were pretty damn cool. What a neat thing it would be to get off for a few months and just travel around meeting people. Needless to say I did feel a little out of place, with the average age being 12 years and female, but I did not really mind. I loved the music and the time that was to be had. I could hear the band warming up, setting the sound system.

"Man, I wish we were in there." I sighed. I hated to wait.

"Soon my good man, soon." Jason looked over the crow and at this funny looking helicopter that was circling around. "Hey" he pointed behind a large cyclone fence, "Which of those busses do you think is theirs?"

I looked to the buses. Only one we could see had some ones name on it. Christina Millian? Didn't recognize the name, hope she would be good. "I think it is probably the largest one, without anything written on it. I mean there are like five guys on it. You would not want it saying they were on it no less" About this time a golf card pulled out and started handing out CD's. I thought we would be mobbed for a moment. It took about five minutes before people realized it was not Nsync CD's. Some guy named LJ, never heard of him, either. Then again that was the best thing about concerts was seen new bands.

"You want one of those virgin daiquiri's." Jason looked over at a booth to the right of us.

"I wish there was some water but I suppose that would do. Ask somebody where the backyard burger stand is. I saw a couple of the cups around." I walked over to a grassy knoll next to the stadium and sat down. I was wearing an Abercrombie Tee and a pair of cargo shorts, but the sun was still killing me. I hoped that the tickets we had were at least on the shade side. I saw people lining up to get in and moved over to the side nearest. I looked for Jason in his tie- dyed shirt and waved him on as he moved over. It was time to go in, hurrah! I smiled inwardly at the giddy feeing I felt, I felt like one of the youthful faces around me.

"Your going to love this, it is like ninety percent sugar and some strawberry juice to hold it together." He smiled at I sipped the icy drink.

"Whoa, I could become diabetic just drinking this! At least its cold!" I sipped at the drink for a while. They soon let us into the stadium, metal detectors scanning everyone as we walked through. I thought it was a little weird but what the hell, it half of the females within a hundred miles were here I might be concerned enough to frisk everyone. Hormones are evil baby. As we walked over to the side of the stadium where our seats were, I looked over at Jason. I thought that Ronnie was one lucky dude. Jason was fun, attractive, and smart. The kind of guy you would want to take home to meet your parents, if you were taking a guy home to meet the parents.

Jace looked at me and saw the smile on my face. He cocked a grin himself. "What's going on in that little brain?"

"Ask me later...besides the brain may be small, but I got a big head." I tried a quick play on words.

"Jackass! Trust me your head is bigger than even you think." He made a feint motion, like a swordsman. We let it drop after that and made our way to the seats. I was happy to see they were out of the sun, set down right where the middle of the stage was. Perfect view!!! We watched as videos flew past on the giant TV screens, laughing at the funny ones and getting tired of seeing about ads for cookies after a while. I was very humorous seeing every time they would throw something with the band up there, a general screen would come out of the audience. I loved being here 'cause everyone was excited. It was a real positive atmosphere, and it was infectious.

The "pregame" show was good, I must say. We saw Gotti13, cool ass band. I thought they had good choreography for a punk band; they could leap around the stage and sing some cool stuff. The came LJ/Lil' Johnnie, one word SUCKED. I mean really? He had two dancers that danced to other people's music. Then there was Christina Millian, she was pretty nice. I admit I was unprepared for Deborah Gibson. I realize I must be old, I mean I am 26(barely) but I remember her from when I was young. I would have killed to see a concert then, but I never did. Now she was opening for N Sync. Turn of the wheel. But I will be the first to say; she really could work the crowd!

"God, She is as old as me!" Jason said, incredulously. "I remember going to see her in Houston in a mall when I was 15."

"Has you social security check come yet?" I got belted in the arm for that one.

"Looks a bit like Madonna in those T-shirts!" Jason critiqued.

"Don't compare her to royalty!" I faked anger. "Still has it! I can't believe she didn't do better. Her voice is great."

When Deborah (still Debbie to me!) finished there was a pause then, Meredith Edwards.

Understand something about me; I don't like country music much. I grew up in the rural south, but very little of it really appeals. This was different. Her voice, he songs, her demeanor, this girl had class and feeling. I could tell she was from Mississippi; only a southern girl could have done what she did. I was spell bound until she finished, then I clapped. I wanted to yell Bravo...Bravisisimo. (Sorry my Italian is not that good)

We were waiting then, everyone was on the edge of the seat. The largest TV went black, and then it said there was a thirty-minute intermission. Damn!

I looked to Jason, "I gotta go the bathroom." I turned to walk out, I am way to impatient.

"Hey, get me some cotton candy." I looked back at him. "Please!" He smiled and batted his eyelashes.

"Sure." I walked up the stairs, through the throngs of people. Up fifty stairs and down the ramp. It was very crowded, but the bathroom was not. It was huge, but lets admit, the female restrooms I am sure had a line, like a mile long. There were four people in this bathroom. I had seen less guys in a restroom at a major concert once before. Melissa Etheridge in New Orleans, go figure.

As I finished my business, I left the restroom and went across to the concession stand and waited for some cotton candy. I looked over my shoulder and saw a little kid, about six, break away from her mother and run up to a rack of flashing wands. She grabbed the rack and like slow motion pulled it wan tit started to fall, on her! No one moved, frozen in space as the rack fell over and pinned the girl beneath it. It really was not lack of interest, but rather the paralysis of surprise.

I ran over to where she had fallen, a throng had already formed. I pushed myself through until saw the child lying on the floor. Blood was dripping from her head; her mother was grabbing her and shaking her, trying to get her to talk.

"Missy, Missy, talk to me!" She was screaming.

Shit, I said those fateful words. "Stand back, I'm a doctor!" I yelled them out as I was breaking through.

Now don't get me wrong, I want to help and I am damn proud of making it were I am. But facts are facts. I am not miracle worker, hell, without drugs and equipment I can't don much more than anyone else.

"Miss, don't move her around." I pushed her mom away from her. I looked over the child; she had a short gash on her head. She was stunned for the moment. I stabilized her neck, basically holding it in place. I grabbed a T-shirt that had fallen on the floor and pressed it gently to the gash. I lightly ran my hand around her skull feeling for fractures, when I could not feel any; I pressed the shirt harder on the wound. I think the pain then made her snap out of it and start crying.

As quick as it started it was over, paramedics came and relieved me. I gave them a quick blow by blow of the fall, he mom thanked me, and a guy from the stadium security came to me and got me to sign a witness form for the accident. I made it back to my seat just in time for the last of the intermission.

"Dude, where is my Cotton Candy?" Jason looked at me stupidly.

"Long story." I heard the opening music start as the Big Screen flared to life.

(Insert AWSOME CONCERT here!!!)

We made it home about 12:30 that night, our ears still ringing. I said bye to Jason and went up stairs to my loft apartment. I remembered back on the concert and the great fun that the band seemed to have. If they weren't having fun, they sure could fake it. I remembered they way they were sweating like pigs in the heat and being on stage. I wonder what they do after a concert? I sure did enjoy Lance. I thought about it as I went to sleep.

"Damn, I wish you were here now. I bet there has to be someone special for you, if not pick me!" I giggled like a little kid as I went to sleep. Unfortunately the only one sharing my bed was my dog, Grinch. The husky curled next to me, his snout on my chest.

The next day I went into work and the day progressed without event. I went to a lunch conference and sat in the back. The take was on Arkansas Tick Fevers; I took the opportunity to start to catch up on sleep I had missed from the night before.

"Tim, wake up sleepy head." I heard a soft feminine voice nudge me from my slumber. Then I felt a slap on my shoulder making me sit bolt upright.

"Stupid, talks over." I saw Amy, one of my fellow residents standing next to me. Not only was the conference over, but also the lights were on and everyone was leaving. Leaving it painfully obvious that I had fallen asleep that its!

"Oh man, I did not mean to sleep like that." I stood up and started clearing the Turkey sandwich I was eating away.

"Well I think only four...out of five people saw you." She smiled, "Dr. Sams is looking for you. That's why I slapped you in the first place."

"Thanks Dawg." I used my nickname for her. She was the most unassuming looking girl, but sure knew how to party with the "big dawgs".

I moved to the front of the hall where I had just seen Dr. Sams. The head of our department was a young guy, only in his early thirties. I think that is why he tolerated me (joking!) He was fit and trim, dressed in a suit for some reason today, normally he bucks the system and wears street clothes. He is mainly for administration and works in his lab some.

"Sir, you were looking for me?" I walked up to him. He smiled a devious smile.

"What did you do last night?"

He caught me like an eighteen wheel broad siding me. I mean, while I do enjoy Nsync's music, and I think they are HOT. I do have some lingering shame in going to their concert. I admit most people know them as "teenie boppers". I looked at him, knowing I was four shades of red, (I cannot hide my emotions).

"I went to see a concert." I mumbled out.

"So I heard." He continued his disconcerting smile.

"From Whom?" I squeaked out again.

"From a newspaper reported who called this morning to talk to you?" He continued to smile.

"What?" I was incredulous. "I mean about what?"

"Some little girl whose life you saved." He started laughing.

"What?" I repeated. "I did not." I stammered out. "I mean, I put a t-shirt on her head."

"Anyway, the story he quoted was that local medical resident, came to the aid of a five year old victim who was bleeding to death. He wants to come and talk to you about it, and the band from the concert wants to come for press pictures."

"What...Wha...wh...What?" I hit me. Nsync wanted to come for pictures with me. I was terrified. I would get to meet Nsync. I was elated. Lance Bass was coming here. I was going to be sick.

Don't ask me how I made it through the next two hours. I was walking in a daze. He had the photo op in the pediatric ward. I heard the PR for the University already talking about how the guy who saves firemen and children comes from right here, hometown boy. It did not seem to matter I was not from here. The small town I was from was right off the Mississippi in Louisiana. Oh, well. My fellow residents went from congratulations to mouthing Bye, Bye, Bye when I walked past.

I made it to the ward right on time. I was looking back at the twist of fate my laundry had provided me with. I wore a tie today because all of my normal scrubs were dirty, so at least I looked the part. I continued to wear my white coat as well; it covered the sweat under my arms.

The nurses had gotten all the kids, about 22 of the in the playroom and were waiting with about five photographers and two anchorwomen from the local stations. The elevator dinged and we all looked to it.

No time to waste out popped Lance and Justin, followed by JC and Joey, Chris came out last talking to two of the younger hospital female administrators. They were dressed in some designer clothes, as in they looked like street clothes but seemed a little to trendy for this town. Flashes went off from the cameras and several of the children screamed, I felt like screaming too. I am not sure I breathed for several minutes. It took about five to get the formalities out of the way. I was introduced to all of them.

"Hi there! You must be Jim." J.C. was the first to come up. He looked calm and cool, the polar opposite to how I felt.

"Yes, how did you know?" I felt stupid, like I had my brain sucked out.

"Well, partially from your grin and partially from the name on your coat. I am J.C., but I imagine you already know that too." His affable manner was rubbing off on me. I calmed down significantly. He seemed like such a normal person, except for the hair.

"Well J.C., up until now I don't think I had the pleasure of meeting you, and I think I was about 300 feet from you last night." I was sure I sounded like a stalker.

"I am not sure anyone gets much closer than that these days. Hi, I am Justin." I was taken by surprise at the public jokes between them. Justin seemed like the Kid next door, he was laughing and waving t the kids while he talked.

"Now, Now boys. Play nice." Chris Kirkpatrick walked up next. He had on some gold glasses that made him look like Elvis. He took my hand. "Chris, nice to meet you Jim. We have you to thank saving one of our other fans."

"I really didn't do.." I was cut off when Lance came up next. I suppose it was obvious in retrospect that he took away my voice. I took my outstretched hand and shook it. His eyes swallowed me whole. The green of them seemed like molten Jade.

"I think he might need his hand back now." A deeper voice with a New York accent came through. I immediately jerked my hand back, but it occurred to me that Joey was looking at Lance when he said it.

"Sorry" We said together. The rest of the group laughed. I snickered a moment later as did Lance.

"Lance Bass, Jim?" He said in his wonderfully deep voice.

"Yeah, It is short for James." I told him. I felt like a girl on her first date.

"We have something in common then." He looked at me. I don't think he had stopped. I could almost feel the connection between us. Maybe I was imagining it.

"What?" I asked stupidly, again.

"James? James Lance Bass" Joey bent forward. He interposed himself between us.

"Oh, right!" I felt like a dork. "Your real name."

"Not his comic book persona no, the one the only James Lance Bass." Joey made cheering noises. I looked over to our comedian.

"Joey Fatone I presume?" I had to smile at him. He was throwing his arms around lance and I and smacked us together. I felt very unnerved at that moment.

"Lets see some Kids. We will deal with the other smart ass later." Joey whispered to us. I looked stunned. Lance just smiled and turned to the kids that had gathered, and some of the student workers as well.

All in all they chatted and played, yes played! For about thirty minutes before their road manager announced they had to leave to hit a radio station. Almost as quick as they came it was over. The cameras stopped and then they were leaving.

I was called to the elevators for one last photo. When I posed, Chris leaned over to me and whispered in my ear.

"Man, we can't let you go without really thanking you. Here is a card with my cell phone on it. We are here for the night before we leave in the morning. Call us about six and we'll get together." He pressed a card into my hand as we smiled for the cameras. (I still have a copy of that picture on my wall, everyone tells me it looks like I was getting felt up form the shine in my face.)

And they were gone.

I waited till six to call. I told no one. I could feel each second pass until I dialed the number.

"Hello?" was the voice at the other end. I could tell it was Lance right away.

Damn!

************************************************************* Not Juicy stuff just yet. Just setting the mood for twists and cheap thrills to come. Comments Always welcome. nate_eric@hotmail.com