[chapter ten]

(A week later, back in Orlando)

"Pain can be controlled. You just disconnect it."

"So you feel nothing?"

"John Conner gave me a picture of you once. I didn't know why at the time. You were young, like you are now. I memorized every line, every curve. I came across time for you, Sarah."

The two girls looked at each other and started to laugh. Allison and Caitlin were crashed in Allison's office, killing time by reciting movie quotes, such as the motel scene from Terminator. The five singers they were waiting for had been holed up in the studio for the greater part of the afternoon, so the girls were amusing themselves until they wrapped things up. Allison needed some input on the latest webpage, and Caitlin was waiting to drive JC home.

After their serious relationship discussion the past weekend, Caitlin and JC had resolved to spend the rest of the weekend relaxing and de-stressing. They went furniture shopping, ordered in, rented movies, and generally avoided the civilized world. Being able to spend so much uninterrupted time together had done them both a world of good, knowing that nonstop work awaited them both when they returned to Orlando. Caitlin had spoken to Chris on the phone almost every night since they had gotten back Sunday night, and had been dividing her off time between the Love Shack and JC's house, where he crashed, exhausted, every night.

Caitlin and Allison had been catching up on the last few weeks, and generally goofing off for the last hour and a half. Caitlin had told her all about her 'serious talk' with JC, and about his apparent jealousy over her friendship with Chris, and the rest of the guys. Allison had listened sympathetically, but hadn't really given her any advice, except to let things sort themselves out.

"My god, do you think they'll ever emerge from in there?" Caitlin asked, dramatically flinging one hand over her forehead.

"Yeah, I would like to get home before the bars close, if possible." Allison joked. "Though if this stress keeps up, maybe I'll head there for a drink."

"I'll join you." Caitlin agreed. "I would love to go home and get some sleep sometime this week."

"We should become boozehounds, waiting at the bar every night for the menfolk." Allison joked.

"Hell, we don't need the menfolk! Just the drinks!" Caitlin returned with a laugh.

"Sorry, sorry. I had no idea it would take us so long." JC said, bursting into Allison's office. "Were you waiting long?"

"Long enough that Allison and I decided to run away together and become boozehounds." Caitlin said seriously.

"Can I watch? Two girls together. You know how guys get turned on by the thought of lesbian love trysts..." JC said seriously, but with a teasing glint in his eye.

"Shut up, Chasez. Where is the rest of your brood?" Allison asked. "I need to round you guys up for a few."

"Relaxing down the hall. I figured you were waiting around, so I came to get you. We're about done, but knew you needed to talk to us." JC replied, helping Caitlin to her feet and offering a hand to Allison. Moments later, they were all assembled in the conference room, and Allison was firing off questions that needed to be answered for the next segment on the webpage. After about 20 minutes, they were wrapping up and Caitlin held up her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Peck?" Allison said jokingly.

"I have an announcement. My roommates have demanded that I invite you all over for a little dinner thing this weekend. I'm thinking Friday night, lots of food, lots of booze and lots of relaxing before things get crazy again. Can I count you all in?" Caitlin asked.

"Excellent!" "I'm there!" "Sweet!" Came the replied, and Caitlin beamed. "Great, I'll see you all on Friday around 7 at the Shack?"

"With bells on." Justin said happily.

***
(Friday night, 7:13 pm)

"I'll get it!" Caitlin yelled over the din of the music and dinner preparations when she heard the doorbell ring. With a smile, she ushered in her five favorite pop singers and Allison, who had hitched a ride with Lance. "Sorry we're late. Joe decided to change clothes fifty times and make some phone calls instead of just throwing something on like the rest of us and walking out the door." Justin explained.

"Well, you all look fabulous. Even you, Joey. Though that shirt..." Caitlin teased, raising an eyebrow.

"I love this shirt." Joey defended the loud Hawaiian print shirt he was wearing.

"Well, sweetie, you're the only one." Caitlin shot back with a grin.

As everyone was chattering and smiling, Caitlin brought everyone into the family room while getting drink orders. "Ok, fire away. What does everyone want?"

"You." JC whispered, giving her a quick kiss. "I'll help you get drinks." He said at a more normal tone.

Caitlin grinned at his whispered response while she headed to the kitchen, JC in tow to round up beers, glasses of wine and a Long Island iced tea for Allison. There, they were greeted by Alex, Scout and Jon in heated debate. And smoke.

"Uh guys?" Caitlin said. "I leave you alone for three minutes so I can change clothes and..."

"Alex burnt his buns." Scout explained, waving at the smoke, to which JC started laughing.

"You turned the oven up, moron!" Alex defended.

"I needed to put the casserole in there!" Scout retorted.

"Guys! Move! I'm trying to get these veggies done." Jon shouted. "And where the hell is my beer?"

"We have veggies?" Alex asked.

Caitlin immediately put her fingers in her mouth and gave a piercing whistle. "Mary! Rhoda! Alice! Shut up! Move, I'll do damage control if you can get everyone drinks with the help of my trusty slave, JC." Caitlin demanded.

All four guys merely looked at her, then deciding she knew best, quickly cleared out and headed for the bar on the opposite side of the room.

Twenty minutes later, everyone, armed with drinks, came to the table where Caitlin had swiftly revamped the meal and thrown out the disasters. "This smells great, Caitlin." Allison affirmed as they all sat down. "Much better than burnt buns." She glanced at Alex and smiled, then blushed when Alex returned the smile with a wink.

"Thanks, Al. Hope it tastes good after all the guys tried to do to ruin it." Caitlin teased. Conversation throughout dinner was relaxed and easy, drifting from topic to topic. They discussed current events in the news, the upcoming basketball playoffs, and their families. As everyone pushed away their plates from their second and third helpings, everyone's glasses full, conversation inevitably turned to the upcoming tour.

"So what's the story this time? Last time I think you guys outdid yourselves. Any big surprises this time?" Jon asked, sipping his beer.

"Well, we're starting to put stuff on paper." Lance said. "If we get everything we want, this thing is going to be huge. I mean, huge. The 'world's biggest stage' huge."

"Really?" Alex asked. "Doesn't that cost a lot?"

"Well, yeah. But we seem to turn a pretty good profit on these concerts." Lance said seriously. "And this time we are going to focus on stadiums, so we want everything to be bigger."

"I can't imagine singing in a stadium." Scout added. "Do you guys EVER get stage fright?"

"Not anymore, though we get a bit nervous sometimes. Super Bowl, World Series, stuff like that." Chris said. "Or when we go on Rosie...she always puts the pressure on."

Everyone laughed, as Caitlin piped up. "I just can't believe what you guys go through. What is it? 68 shows in 50 cities, or something crazy?"

"Something like that." JC said. "It's a wonder we're sane half the time. The worst is not being able to leave the hotel half the time because of all the crowds of fans."

"Though it is amazing to see all the faces of the fans who stood outside all night just to see us for a minute." Joey said. "Pretty gratifying."

"It's always easier when we have people there to keep it normal. That's why I liked traveling with Dani, or when my mom is at the concert. Makes me feel a little more human." Chris said.

"Agreed. I love having family there. Although sometimes they get hassled as well." Lance said. "And I hate that."

"Poor Steve gets attacked as much as I do these days!" Joey added.

"You coming on tour with us, Caitlin? See firsthand what it's all about?" Justin asked with a smile.

"Oh you don't want me around...I'd be making fun of your outfits all the time." Caitlin teased.

"Like you don't do that now. We've gotten used to it though." Justin replied with a grin. "I'd be fun to have another girl on tour to harass."

"Oh yeah. That's the way to convince me." Caitlin said. "Based on that answer, I'm gonna have to say...I'll get back to ya." Justin laughed, and everyone joined in. Joey then steered conversation to a wacky dream he'd had a few nights previously about tour mishaps, and the discussion of Caitlin on tour was forgotten. Silently, Caitlin breathed a sigh of relief for having dodged the question again. She still wasn't firm in her decision, but when she was, she wanted JC to be the first to know.

***

After everyone had digested dinner, a late-night game of pickup basketball had been suggested, and the gang headed outside to shoot some hoops and chat. Allison and Alex sat talking on one side of the lawn, Chris and Caitlin on the front porch, watching. The remaining six quickly selected teams, and the game was underway.

"You didn't feel like playing?" Caitlin asked Chris when he sat down beside her.

"Nah. I'm too old for that these days." Chris said, half-joking.

"You are not, you dork." Caitlin said, punching him lightly in the arm. "I bet you could school all of them out there. Well, maybe not Justin." She amended.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Chris joked.

"Did you and Dani talk yesterday?" Caitlin asked, referring to her latest phone conversation with Chris, when they agreed that he should give her a call to try and smooth things over between them.

"No." He answered sheepishly. "I decided maybe we both need some space and time. And, I just want to get my mind off of her and onto someone, or something else."

"Okay." Caitlin said. "Maybe a cooling off point might do you good."

"Maybe." Chris agreed. "Couldn't help but notice you hedging on the 'Is Caitlin going on tour' question during dinner. Have you made up your mind?"

"Well, I think you gave the most sound advice. I think I'm going to avoid the tour life, at least for the first part. I think what you said was right." Caitlin said.

"Really?" Chris said. "JC's going to be really upset. Have you told him yet?"

"Not yet. I'll tell him later this week. I haven't wanted to distract him from all the recording you guys are doing." Caitlin replied.

"Yeah, I think we're doing enough distracting for ourselves." Chris said. "We can only concentrate so long before we have to have a Nerf basketball game or make a run for cokes or something. We've got a lot done, but we aren't exactly great in the 'buckle down and work' department."

Caitlin laughed. "Gee, you guys? I can't imagine!"

"Hard to believe I know, but it's true." Chris said with a grin. "How's work going for you?"

"Okay. Pretty slow time right now, so we're working on lots of little projects, and I'm trying to design some new courses for patrons to take on computer literacy. Should be good if I can get it off the ground." Caitlin answered.

"I hope you aren't too busy...I need a favor." Chris asked.

"Of course." Caitlin replied. "What do you need?"

"Can you go on a little field trip with me sometime next week?" Chris asked.

"Sure. Where are we going?" Caitlin asked.

"Car shopping." Chris said, seriously. "I'm thinking of trading in the Cruiser."

"Why? I thought you loved that car? It certainly took you long enough to even buy one." Caitlin teased.

"I do, but I feel like test driving some new stuff. And I think you know more about cars than any of us. Are you in?" Chris asked excitedly.

"Give me a call. I'd love to." Caitlin replied, smiling. "Want me to do some research on anything in particular?"

"Nah, we'll wing it." Chris said, grinning. "Thanks, Cait."

"Not a problem." Caitlin replied. "I always wing my way around when I'm randomly shopping for cars."

"Are you mocking me?" Chris asked.

"No. Never. Maybe when we're done with car shopping, we can pick up a house for you." Caitlin replied.

"Ooooh. I get it. How was sunny California?" Chris asked, reminded of Caitlin and JC's trip last weekend.

"Great. I'm still in shock that he bought a house without telling me, but it was a hell of a surprise!" Caitlin said.

"Did you like it?" Chris asked. "He was pretty excited about itand about sharing it with you."

"See, I don't get that. Was he asking me to move in with him, or what?" Caitlin asked. "I mean, I love him and all, but that's a big step. Especially when he's gone all the time."

"Beats me. I don't know what is going on in JC's head half the time. Hell, most of the time." Chris replied. "I think he's just putting down roots as much as he can, because he's afraid of not having any when we start touring. Or maybe he just dug the house. Or thought you would. I dunno." Chris rambled.

"You're..." Caitlin began, then looked at Chris. "...no help at all sometimes." She finished.

Chris began to laugh. "I'm here for comic relief, not relationship analysis. You should know that by now."

"You're right. I should. Alright, think of a light, fluffy topic instead of all this heavy relationship stuff." Caitlin demanded, leaning against Chris' shoulder as the basketball game continued in front of them.

"You know, at McDonald's, on the coffee they have to put 'Caution-HOT' all over it? Why don't they ever put 'Caution-COLD on the ice cream?"

chapter eleven