Pairing: Chris and Joey
Words: tighten; pie; concussion; after-effect


Joey is pissed off.  It's not a real common thing for Joey to be
pissed off.  Mad, sure.  Angry, yeah.  But pissed off to the point
where every little thing irritates the fuck out of him and he's
going to *do* something about it.  That doesn't happen often. 
Right now, though?  Yeah.  Totally pissed off.

"What do you *mean* you didn't tighten it because you thought he
wouldn't be practicing?  When the hell do we *ever* practice
without someone?"  Joey's hands flex as he fights not to lift the
technician by the neck.  "I just have a couple questions for you. 
First, when you saw that he was with us, why didn't you say
something?  Second, are you a fucking *idiot*?"  Joey's voice is
rising steadily.  "Do you not remember what happens when someone
fucks up on the trap doors?  Do you not recall having to clean
blood off the stage?  *Are you suicidal*?"  Joey grabs the man's
shirt.  "Because I'm going to kill you," he adds in a whisper. 
"I'm going to kill you."

And he would, too, except that Lance and Justin are suddenly
pulling him away and JC is herding him over to the stage manager to
be fired.

"Dude.  You can't *do* that, Joey.  The press..."

"Fuck the press, Justin.  He got Chris hurt on *purpose* and I'm
going to kill him."

Lance takes in the situation coolly.  "No, you're not.  Someone has
to go to Chris.  And we have to do damage control, so it's you. 
Quit thinking of what you want, and get your ass to the hospital,
okay?  And once you get over yourself and remember that we care
too?  Give me a call."  He shoves Joey out the door into the
waiting car.  "Well, that went well," he says to Justin.

Justin rolls his eyes and slings an arm around Lance's neck. 
"Let's go watch C flay the dude."

****

By the time the car pulls up at the hospital, Joey's got his anger
under control.  When he gets to Chris's room, he's completely soft
and unangry and worried.  "Chris?" he whispers to the still figure
in the bed.  Hospital beds always make Chris look tiny.

"Pie," Chris replies succinctly.

Joey nods and sits gingerly on the side of Chris's bed.  "Okay.  Do
you hurt at all?"

"No pie?"

"Yeah.  Pie.  Just talk to me a little first, and I'll get it."

Chris keeps his eyes closed.  "Hospital?"

"Yeah," Joey says.  "I'm sorry.  You were just -- we couldn't wake
you up and there was blood all over."  Joey takes a deep breath. 
"You'll be glad to know you caused more people to faint at one time
than I've ever seen before.  Troublemaker."

"Hate hospitals," Chris says.

"I know."  Joey gently lifts the hand that contains Chris's IV. 
"We'll get you out of here as soon as we can, I promise."

Chris clings to Joey's hand.  "What happened?"

"Some fucking tech decided not to tighten the spring on your trap. 
It launched you straight into the bottom of the stage.  And when
you fell back down, you were caught in the wires and girders and
shit.  They were all debating about how to get you out, so Justin
and I jumped down and cut the damn wires.  That worked."  Joey
reaches up and gently brushes hair back from Chris's forehead.

"Stop it," Chris says.  "Hurts."

Joey snatches his hand back fast.  "Sorry.  Should I buzz the nurse
and get you the good drugs?"

"Don't think I get the good drugs.  They keep coming in.  Can't
fall asleep, Mr. Kirkpatrick.  No falling asleep.  Stuff like that. 
S'okay, though.  Keep having little nightmares of hanging in midair
when I doze off."

Joey closes his eyes hard for a moment.  "Okay.  I'll stay here and
talk, okay?"

"That's good.  Like that."

"I think I might get sued," Joey says after a second.

"For talking to me?  Think you're supposed to talk to people who
have concussions."

"No.  I told the tech I was going to kill him.  Then again, I meant
it, so maybe he'll be smart enough to disappear before I find him."

"Bad.  Bad Joey."

"Yeah, well.  It wasn't *my* idea to be cast as the flirt.  Fuck
that, dude.  I'm Italian.  We off the people who piss us off."

"Still alive here.  Mostly."

"I'm still going to have to have him killed," Joey says.  He shifts
his hand in Chris's, taking a firmer hold.  "Hey, Bri learned to
say 'doggy'.  Kelly says I can't buy her one, though."

Chris tries to shake his head and, wincing, stops.  "Meant you. 
Supposed to be funny."

"Chris, baby.  Everything about this will make me laugh
hysterically some time tomorrow.  For right now, I really can't
laugh.  Too pissed off.  Hey, you always said I was full of shit. 
Almost right."  Joey smiles a little, rubbing the back of Chris's
hand with his fingers.

"Oh.  Why're you here then?"

"Because someone needs to be with you and I need it to be me."

"Better than the nurses, yeah."  Chris opens his eyes and looks at
Joey.  "Thought you're supposed to forget.  With a head injury. 
Not remember."

"Sometimes.  Sometimes it's all you can remember."  Joey reaches
out, almost touching Chris's face, then draws his hand back.  "You
remember, then?"

"'s long as I stay awake.  Fall asleep again, then it's all weird
and I forget where I am."

"Once they let you sleep, you'll probably forget then.  It's just
one of those weird after-effects."  Joey doesn't know what to do
with his hands.  He wishes for once that he wasn't so big.  Maybe
then he could lay down and hold Chris like he wants to.  "But, hey,
be glad I'm here.  I'm the only one who will smuggle you pie."

"Pie?"

"Yep.  I'll go down to the cafeteria and get you some."

"No.  Why pie?"

"Because you were talking about it when I came in," Joey says,
frowning a little.

"Was not."

"Were too."

"Wasn't.  Would remember that."

"Were too.  But I'll humor you."

"Fine."  Chris' eyes flutter shut again.  "Tired.  Tell the guys I
love them.  Miss them.  If they send somebody, it should be Justin
or Joey.  They'll wanna see me most.  Don't want JC."  

Joey bites his lip hard.  "Chris, you have to wake up."  He reaches
out and presses a fingertip to Chris's cheek.  "Wake up."

"Don't wanna."

"You have to, Chris.  You have a concussion.  If you fall asleep
bad things could happen.  And I can't let any other bad things
happen to you."

Chris' eyelids flutter.  "Mean."

"Yeah.  I'm really, really mean.  Tell me about it."  He pokes
Chris again, as softly as he can.

"Just wanna sleep.  My head hurts."

"I know, but you can't.  You have to stay awake until the doctor
says you can sleep."  Joey bites his lip.  Chris is slowing down,
drifting off, and Joey doesn't know what to do.  He pushes the call
button for the nurse, but no one is coming.

"Hate you."

Joey's heart aches.  "I know, Chris."

"Lemme sleep."

"No."  It's time for desperate measures.  Joey rises up and kisses
Chris on the forehead.  It'll hurt, but it's the softest kind of
touch Joey knows how to give.  His hands are big and clumsy.  But
he knows how to love softly.

Chris opens his eyes when he feels lips touch his forehead.  His
eyebrows knit, and that hurts, so he lets them go.  "Who?  Why?"

"Please don't fall asleep, Chris.  Please don't.  It's Joey and I'm
afraid.  Don't fall asleep, Chris."

"Joe?  What for are you kissing me for?"

"Please don't fall asleep, Chris.  You have to stay awake," Joey
says desperately.  "You have to stay awake here with me, okay?  I
don't want to lose you, Chris."

"I'm awake," Chris says irritably.  "See?  Eyes open.  Awake." 
They flutter shut again and stay that way for a few long moments
before they open.

Joey meets Chris's eyes.  He doesn't know what makes him kiss Chris
for real, but he does.  Chris's lips are soft.

Chris makes a startled noise in the back of his throat and his eyes
open wide.

Joey pulls back to look down at Chris for a moment.  Then he kisses
him again.  "You scared me."

"What'd I do?"

"You got hurt.  It's not your fault."

"It hurt.  There was this waiting and then it hurt a lot and then
I fell forever."

"You're not falling any more," Joey whispers.  "We've got you now. 
You're safe now.  I won't let you fall again, I promise.  Not ever
again."

"Hate that song.  Dunno why I wrote it.  Stupid."

"It's not stupid," Joey argues.  "It's really fucking good song,
Chris.  Besides.  That's the okay kind of falling."

"Just as bad.  Falling and then you hit, only I hit and then I
fell.  All backwards."

"Yeah, kinda.  But I'll still catch you next time.  I won't let you
get hurt again, if you'll just stay awake for me."

Chris makes a scoffing sound.  "'m awake.  Too awake.  You won't
catch me."

"Well, then, I'll break your fall at least," Joey says, smiling a
little.  "I'll keep on trying."

"Did I fall?  Boom, then falling, but I can't remember another
boom."

"You fell.  You fell and now you're in the hospital."  Joey's about
to explain further when the doctor comes in.  For a while
everything is medical jargon and tests.  So many syllables to say
that Chris will be okay and the stitches will come out in a week or
so.  After the doctor leaves, Joey holds Chris's hand again.

"Can I sleep now?"

Joey nods.  "Yeah, for a few minutes.  I'll wake you up."

"Oh.  Good.  Thank you.  Wanna sleep.  Love you, Joe."

"I love you, too, Chris," Joey replies.  After Chris's eyes close,
a nurse comes in with, like, heavy duty Excedrin, adding it to
Chris's IV.

"It won't make him drowsy.  Do you want to wake him up, or have us
do it?" she asks.

"I'll do it," Joey promises.  She nods and leaves.  As soon as
she's gone, Joey leans over and kisses Chris again.  "I'll do my
best," he promises, even through Chris isn't listening. 
Concussion.  Joey bets that Kevin Richardson knows a hit man. 
He'll have to call when they kick him out.