Seeing
by K. Huntsman
released 4th October, 2002


	It was something they talked around, but never about.  But Joey knew, as soon as he'd 
had time to process the news of Lance's intent, that the bass singer would be going into outer 
space.
	After all, JC had already written about it.

	Chris knew the first time they met Lance.  The first time they'd ever laid eyes on the 
M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-P-P-I kid, JC had acted 
like he'd known him already.  And Chris had remembered that when Jason had quit, JC hadn't 
fussed about it in the least.
	"Just wait until you see who we're going to get instead," he'd said, grinning like a 
kid at Christmas.

	Justin remembered the time when he'd come across JC crying in an empty room back at the 
studios for MMC.
	"Jayce," he'd asked, "what's wrong?"
	"Everything," the older performer had answered, never looking up.  "MMC's going to end 
and that bastard is going to hurt us, and she's going to break your heart and I can't do 
anything about any of it!"
	The bleak tone in JC's voice made Justin shiver even remembering it.  He tried not to.

	It hadn't been easy, at first, figuring out the others.  But after a while, Lance 
thought he'd gotten them.  Justin, eager younger brother.  Joey, protective older brother.  
Chris, Uncle Fester.  JC, alien.
	Because JC marched to his own beat and except when all of their feet were moving in 
choreographed rhythm, Lance tended to wonder if he really was "n sync" with anything.
	Then JC had been there when he realized things about himself, and talked to him when 
Lance needed someone who wasn't family or Justin or Joey or Chris, and Lance came to realize 
that the reason why JC wasn't in contact with reality was because he'd already been there.
	"Are you even here at all?" he asked after the first time he ever made love to 
someone.  "Are you here with me?"
	JC turned blissful eyes to Lance, and curled his naked body around Lance's.  "You're 
the reason I'm here at all," he answered.  "I could've spent my whole life lost, except for 
you."