Jim Bass: International Dad of Mystery
by Karen and LB
© 2002
Chapter 3: The Guy Who Loved Me
January 2001
"JC, this is our toughest challenge to date. I've already briefed Chris, but we have our greatest threat looming. You know him as Ben Stiller."
"Ben? I would never have suspected."
"Those are the ones we have to watch out for."
"Well, we've got me and Chris, and Wade is on board. Any other reinforcements? And anyone else we need to worry about?"
"There are going to be 75,000 people there, JC. You have to worry about everyone."
"You know what I meant. Any specific threats I should be aware of?"
"We don't know anything definite. Only that Stiller is working for them and may have a plan. It's up to you to find out what it is. I'd keep an eye on that stage. I'm also not happy about all that pyro, but you know how Lance is about pyro."
"I'll make sure I attend at least one of the practice runs with the stage, so I can make sure it's working all right. And I already called in our regular pyro guy to oversee things."
*****
"C'mon let me try it," Lance begged Justin, who was hogging the test arm-pyro gear.
"No way, man, you'll blow up something." Justin was merely trying to protect Lance. Better it should blow up while he was wearing it than the Cutest Boy on the Planet. Justin had his orders, and he wasn't about to face the wrath of Jim Bass.
Then there was the stage. As they neared the day of the performance, Wade suddenly had this idea to switch Lance and Britney at a certain point.
The day of the Superbowl arrived. Lance was so keyed he didn't even notice Joe Perry sneaking into the equipment room.
"Just what do you thing you're doing?" Mary J. Blige demanded, after coming up soundlessly behind Agent Perry.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I think I already asked you that question."
"None of your business. Now beat it."
Mary held the door open. "After you."
"Listen, bitch," Joe growled, backing her up against the wall. "You think you can stop us? There are more of us than you can imagine. We'll get the boy. One way or another." As he headed out the door, he called over his shoulder, "Better watch your step tonight. That stage can be . . . dangerous."
Mary slipped down to the area where the sections of the stage were kept and found a small, broken connector. Small enough not to be noticed, but in an important enough position that it could bring the whole stage down. Quickly, she slipped her mini welding kit out of her handbag and patched it.
Wade's instincts to switch Lance and Britney proved to be right on. During the live show, halfway up the ramp, Britney tripped, but managed a quick recovery. She never missed a beat, but she knew it was no accident.
JC's eyes never rested on one spot during the performance, and he was completely exhausted when it was finally over. And yet, it wasn't. It seemed like instead of getting easier, his job just kept getting harder.
"You seem really worn out," Lance said later when they returned to the hotel after numerous parties.
"Yeah. Too much partying, I guess."
"It's never been a problem before. You sure there's nothing wrong?"
"No problem. You know me. Sleepy."
But Lance didn't buy it. He hadn't thought much about his suspicions at the Angel Ball until now. "It's happening again, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Whatever was going on then--it's happening again. Something's wrong."
"Just . . . too many people to please. That's all."
"Is that all? Really? Is that really all that's going on?"
"What else could it be?" JC said wearily.
"I don't know. Some kind of . . . conspiracy."
JC wanted so badly to tell Lance everything. He knew he was going to lose Lance over this. All the lies. He wondered, not for the first time, why Lance couldn't be told the truth. Wouldn't it make it easier to protect him if Lance knew? He sighed and prepared to lie again. "But WHY? What kind of conspiracy?"
"I don't know. Maybe someone doesn't like our music."
"Lots of people don't like our music. Doesn't make it a conspiracy."
"Maybe someone doesn't like us enough to put us out of business. Permanently. "
"O-Town?"
"Oh my gosh--Jacob did say stuff about me."
"Yeah. So he's launched, like, a global campaign. Played out on the pages of Bop and Tiger Beat."
"Okay, so it's not Jacob. Maybe . . . it's someone from the record company. From a rival company."
"Uh huh. Maybe you need a backrub. To take your mind off all this."
Lance rubbed his shoulders. "Yeah, that would be good."
"That's better," JC said. "Take off your shirt and go lie down."
Lance paused, feeling strangely shy, but then complied. With his shirt off and prone on the bed, he felt vulnerable. "So I was thinking, maybe we should figure out who would want to do this."
JC walked out of the bathroom with some bath oil he'd found there. He poured a small amount into his hand and started rubbing it into the smooth skin of Lance's back. "Maybe you should just relax for a while."
The touch was so soothing. "Maybe you're right. Maybe if I relax the answers will come to me."
"Just let me make you feel good," JC crooned. He pressed his hands into Lance's muscles, waiting to feel him relax.
"Ohhh, yeah. That does. Right there. Rio. It was strange in Rio. Don't you--ohhhhhhh . . . "
JC smiled. It was working. But how much longer could he keep putting Lance off, distracting him? He decided to concentrate on what he could do, and worked hard on the tense muscles of Lance's back.
"And then there was--that feels SO good. Have you been taking lessons?"
"Yeah, every night I sneak out to take massage lessons."
There were times when JC would disappear, but maybe Lance was being paranoid after all. "It's working." Not only was Lance more relaxed, he was also starting to get hard.
"Gotta do something to hang on to the cu--the best boyfriend in the world."
"Boyfriend?"
"Oh. I shouldn't have said that. It's just, you know, we spend all this time together, and we kiss and stuff like that and we . . . sorry."
"No, that's just it. I want to be your boyfriend. I mean, I want you to be my boyfriend."
"Oh, wow," JC said, the smile evident in his voice. "Good. Yeah."
Lance hugged the pillow he had tucked under his head. "Come here."
JC slid down next to Lance, lying on his side facing him, their noses almost touching.
Lance touched JC's face, then kissed him and returned to his pillow.
JC rolled Lance onto his side, moving closer for a much longer, deeper kiss.
Lance parted his lips, taking in JC's tongue as far as it would go.
Wrapping his arms around Lance's bare back, still slippery with oil, JC crushed the younger man against him as he explored the warm cavern of Lance's mouth.
Lance rolled onto his back, pulling JC with him. He could sense that JC was equally excited.
JC kept kissing Lance while settling against him. He slid his knee between Lance's legs, parting them.
Lance took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around JC, pressing their bodies tightly together.
JC lifted his head enough to look down into Lance's eyes. "What took us so long?" he said, smiling.
"YOU'RE the one who gets the jokes last," Lance said, poking JC in the chest for emphasis.
"So you're saying you're a joke?"
"Do I make you laugh?"
JC giggled. "Yeah."
"I do, huh?" Lance asked, tickling JC's waist. He loved to hear JC laugh. He loved it even more when he could make JC laugh.
"Yeah," JC said, trying to fend Lance off. "I'm, like, too happy to smile, so I have to laugh."
"I like your laugh."
JC finally managed to pin Lance's hands. "I like your . . . you."
Lance grew quiet, swallowed, and said, "I like your you, too."
JC leaned in to kiss Lance again, the excitement of being with Lance enhanced by the feeling of holding him captive like this.
Closing his eyes, Lance became completely submissive, aroused by JC's assertiveness.
JC kissed Lance again and again, pressing his body hard against Lance's. He released Lance's hands, at the same time kissing his eyelids.
Now free to roam, Lance's hands found JC's chest, stroking it through his thin shirt. He could feel JC's erect nipples, hard peaks under soft cotton.
JC pushed away the thought that he shouldn't be doing this. He'd wanted Lance for so long and this felt so right. He dipped down to kiss Lance's neck, and shivered with pleasure at Lance's touch against his sensitive nipples.
Lance was about to remove JC's shirt when he heard a ringing coming from JC's pants.
"That happens when I get really, really excited," JC joked, hoping it would go to voice mail quickly.
The phone continued its insistent ring, even as Lance giggled.
Shit, JC thought. Jim's damned override. Jim's phone system had the ability to keep the phone ringing indefinitely, rather than going to voice mail. "I better . . . "
"Get off the Bass, Chasez. NOW," the voice at the other end of the phone line boomed in his ear.
"But . . . but . . . "
"This isn't a game. We're watching you. NOW."
JC turned away from Lance. "But, what do I tell him?" he muttered into the phone.
"Everything okay?" Lance asked.
"I, um, yeah, but . . . "
"What's wrong?"
"Um, my brother. A pipe burst in my house. I have to, you know, go right now." JC kissed Lance quickly. "I'm sorry. I really am."
But before Lance could respond JC was out the door.
*****
"Jim, have you considered the possibility that this might be a good experiment?" asked Dr. Yerger.
"What are you talking about?"
"To test his Cute Quotient. If he's still cute after losing his virginity, we'll know for sure. You've been able to stop him up to this point but you can't stop nature from taking over. We've seen what a surge in hormonal development has accomplished over the past two years. He's virtually unstoppable. If he passes this test, it will prove undeniably that he is the Cutest Boy on the Planet."
"But, he's my SON. I can't watch that."
"You don't have to watch, Jim. We'll let him have his privacy. And who better than Agent Chasez? At least we know what we're dealing with. I'll check his medical records and make sure he's clean."
Jim sighed. "I'm sure he is. We've kept him too busy to get into any trouble." Another sigh, deeper. "I guess my little boy has to grow up sometime."
Later, he called JC. "After the Grammys we're sending Lance away for a while. He's always wanted to make a movie, so that's what he'll do. You can, um, go up to Toronto to visit him."
"Are you firing me?"
"No. Not this time. But I think a separation might be good for both of you."
"Oh. You know, it wasn't just . . . I mean, I love him."
"Don't. I don't want to know. But if you do love him, then you'll do what's best for him."
"I do. I will. Who's gonna, who's gonna take care of him when he's in Toronto?"
"Wendy Thorlakson. She'll be with him every minute. She's one of our best agents from the LA office."
JC nodded, then realized Jim couldn't see him. Or could he? "Jim, I need to know. Why does it have to be a secret from Lance? I mean, I could understand when he was little, but now? He could protect himself some, or at least be more careful, if he knew."
"He wouldn't understand. And if he knew . . . he wouldn't be . . . he might lose some of what makes him what he is. The Cutest Boy on the Planet. It would be a complete loss of innocence."
"I think he might surprise you. What he can handle. He's been through so much. And nothing has changed him."
"He's not your son, JC. He's mine. I know what's best for him."
"I know that. I just hope someday you'll change your mind."
March 2001
Lance had the time of his life. It was harder than he thought it would be, but he wouldn't give it up for anything. And having Joey here made it twice as fun. Every day on the set was a new laugh. Even Jerry Stiller was a blast to work with. He seemed to take a special interest in Lance, which Lance just read as grandfatherly affection.
But then there was the fire. It was in the building next door to where they were supposed to shoot, but they weren't allowed near the building. Wendy made sure to keep Lance as far from the danger as possible.
"He's all right, sir. He wasn't anywhere near the location of the fire," assured Wendy
"It was too close. I'm sure it was Stiller."
JC was on the phone to Jim before he even heard the full report on the news. "PLEASE let me go see him. Even if you don't want me on assignment."
Jim hesitated just a moment before giving in. "Okay, go. But if anything happens to him, I'm holding YOU responsible."
Dude, I wasn't there and look what happened. JC managed to keep that thought inside. Aloud, he said, "So I'm going in an official capacity?"
Again a pause. "Yes." Jim knew, without saying it, that JC wouldn't care under what capacity he was brought in. He just hoped he made the right decision in sending him there.
JC had made contingency plans for when he got permission to visit, so he only had to make a few phone calls to set up studio time and so forth. He was on a plane more quickly than he would have thought possible and soon enough he sighted the CN Tower.
Lance was more than happy to have visitors. The biggest surprise, of course, was when Harrison Ford dropped in on the set. He claimed to be there to see Al Green perform. He was really there to make sure the government's top secret project was unharmed. Then there was JC. Lance was so glad to see his boyfriend he made sure JC was in a scene.
JC had fun shooting the scene. He had a great time in the studio. But most of all, he was happy just to be with Lance. He hadn't even come close to reinitiating what had been interrupted the night of the Super Bowl, but he was willing to wait until the right moment.
He didn't have to wait long. On JC's last night in Toronto Lance threw a small party at his house. Since they had an early shoot the next day, most people left at a reasonable hour, and Wendy and Beth, knowing Lance was in good hands, retired to their rooms.
"I'm really glad you were able to come up. I missed you," Lance said to JC when they were finally alone.
"Me too. A lot." JC agreed. "I'm glad you're getting to do the movie and all, but I miss you being like five minutes away."
"I'll be home soon. But in the meantime, I think we have some unfinished business."
"We do? What would that be?"
"This." Lance pulled JC close and kissed him.
JC felt a moment's hesitancy. Was someone watching? But the feeling of Lance in his arms again, the taste of his mouth, dispelled all such thoughts and he returned kiss for kiss.
"You want to, um, take this upstairs?"
"I'll take this anywhere you want."
Lance took JC by the hand and led him upstairs to his large and comfortable bedroom. They sat on the bed and Lance kissed JC again, taking his time, letting his tongue trace the fullness of JC's lips.
JC wrapped his arms around Lance and parted his lips in response to Lance's questing tongue. His whole body responded to the nearness of Lance--his heart and breathing grown more rapid, and he could feel the excitement traveling up and down his spine.
Lance leaned back pulling them both down to the mattress. He caressed JC's cheek and ran his fingers through JC's long, wavy hair.
JC pulled back to smile at Lance, then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He turned it off and dropped it onto the carpeted floor. "No more interruptions," he said, quietly but fervently. "Just you and me."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"I'm all yours."
"Then why don't you stay over and I'll drive you to the airport tomorrow?"
"I'd like that." JC pulled Lance in for another kiss.
Thrilled that JC was sleeping over, Lance smiled into the kiss, but it soon changed from playful to passionate. They were lying side by side, and slowly Lance's hand reached down to lift JC's shirt.
JC shifted to let Lance reach under his shirt, at the same time sliding his own hand down Lance's back to cup his round ass.
Lance stroked the smooth skin of JC's chest until his fingers brushed against JC's puckered nipples. He pinched them lightly, rolling the small buds between his fingers, wondering how they would taste.
JC slipped one hand up under Lance's shirt and stroked his back as his other hand continued to squeeze Lance's butt. Finally, he whispered, "Can we take these off?" tugging at the shirts.
"On three. One . . . two . . . three," and before JC could respond Lance had his shirt up over his head.
JC scrambled to remove his own shirt, looking admiringly at Lance's toned chest. He'd been training pretty seriously to look good for the movie, and it showed.
To stop JC from staring, Lance moved in for another kiss.
JC met him halfway, smiling into the kiss. "Get used to being admired, beautiful," he murmured against Lance's soft lips.
"Shut up and kiss me."
"So demanding," JC whispered, proceeding to do exactly as directed. He pulled Lance close again, enjoying the sensation of their bare chests pressed together.
Lance shifted, rolling on top of JC, using his arms to support his weight as he kissed his way down JC's neck.
JC ran his hands over Lance's chest, learning its curves, its musculature. When he finally reached Lance's nipples, they were taut with desire, and he alternately squeezed and caressed them.
Lance began moving against JC, fully aroused by JC's confident touch. His breath came in heavy moans against JC's throat as he ground his hips against the older boy.
Just hearing the sounds Lance made, sounds evoked by JC, was almost enough to make JC come then and there. He pulled in a few deep breaths, struggling for control, unable to remember a time when he had been this excited.
Lance let his instincts take over as he traveled lower down JC's body, kissing his way down, licking the crook of JC's neck, using tongue and mouth until at last he reached one tight, pink nipple. With eyes closed, he captured the nipple in his mouth, tasting slightly salty skin and JC's own particular flavor.
JC writhed in pleasure, amazed and gratified at Lance's innate sensuality.
Lance took his time, concentrating on the texture and taste of each nipple, alternating until he felt the other had been neglected.
For the first time in almost two years, JC felt like he was truly alone with Lance. He moistened his fingers in his mouth and reached to touch Lance's nipple, imitating with his fingers what Lance was doing with his mouth .
Lance shivered, giggling against JC's chest. He moved lower, his tongue leaving a wet trail down to JC's navel.
JC squirmed again under the ticklish touch and brushed a hand through the temporarily dark hair. "Hey you," he said, smiling sweetly, foolishly.
Lifting his chin, eyes brightened with desire, Lance flashed his trademark smile. "Hey." Then he kissed JC's stomach and lifted his head again.
JC reached down to touch that face, that hair again.
Lance's eyes shifted from JC's face to his crotch, as he busily worked open the button on JC's jeans.
JC's head fell back and his eyes closed as he moaned in pleasure. Lance was completely in charge of this moment, and that was just fine with JC.
Lance slid down between JC's legs as he freed JC's erection. He licked his lips, then opened his mouth and took in the hot organ.
JC gasped, digging his fingers into the bedclothes, feeling like his brain just melted. He freed one hand to touch Lance's head, tenderly, encouragingly.
Having no idea what he was doing, Lance moved his mouth over JC's substantial length, hoping he was doing this right.
"Oh, yeah," JC breathed. "So good."
Encouraged by JC's words, Lance quickened his pace, but then stopped. He sat back on his heels and gazed up at JC. "JC? Would you, um . . . ?"
"What, baby?"
Lance stretched out beside JC. "Would you make love to me?"
JC slipped an arm around Lance. "Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure. I've waited a long time for this. The timing just seems right."
"It's perfect." JC brought his mouth to Lance's again for a lingering kiss. "We need . . . stuff. Um. I think I might have a condom in my wallet."
Lance put a hand on JC's arm. "I, um, have some stuff." He retrieved a bag from his dresser and dumped the contents on the bed.
"You really thought about this, didn't you?"
"Every sixty seconds."
JC giggled, pulling Lance close again. "Good thing one of us is organized."
"This is one thing I didn't have Beth do for me."
"Goof."
"It was kind of embarrassing--I wore a hat and sunglasses."
"I love that you did that for us."
"I'd do it again. It's worth it."
"I hope you still think so after we're, um, done."
"It's sex with you. How bad could it be?"
JC shrugged. "I don't know. I've never had sex with me."
"But you've done it before. With other guys."
"A couple. It's not like I've been Slut Boy. And not since I realized how I felt about you."
"When was that?"
"When you were sick."
"Wow. You felt this way since then? Why didn't you say something?"
"I was afraid you'd hate me."
"HATE you? For liking me?" Lance put his hand on JC's forehead. "JC, do you have a fever or something?"
"I didn't know then if you were, if you liked guys . . . "
"You couldn't tell?"
JC shook his head. "I, like, HOPED and all, but I didn't, you know, know how to ask."
"I wouldn't either. I'm glad that we're together now. It's the right time."
"So right." JC tilted Lance's face up and kissed him.
Lance pulled JC close and returned the kiss as he began to unzip his own jeans.
Pushing Lance's hands away, JC finished the job himself, reaching into the open pants to rub Lance's erection.
Lance took a deep breath and closed his eyes as JC took over. He knew he was in good hands the second he invited JC to his room.
JC started to lower Lance's pants, then stopped and crawled down to remove Lance's shoes, and his own. He pulled off their remaining clothing, then slithered up Lance's body.
With his hands on JC's hips, Lance looked down between their bodies at their twin erections and kissed JC again. For the first time in months, he felt they were completely alone, without anyone watching them.
JC deepened the kiss, grinding his hips lightly against Lance's, feeling both erections stiffen even more. With one hand, he cupped Lance's face, angling their mouths perfectly together.
Emboldened by JC's encouragement, Lance slipped his hands around JC's back and squeezed his perfect, tight ass.
Lance's warm hands made JC squirm happily. He snaked a hand down between their bodies and encircled Lance's erection, stroking it to even greater hardness.
If Lance thought he had been aroused before he was wrong. JC seemed to know exactly what excited him.
JC kissed his way over to Lance's ear which he licked and nipped while his hand pulled ever more insistently at Lance's erection.
Perspiration trickled down Lance's face as he squirmed under JC. He moved against JC's hand, finding the rhythm and breathing deeply to maintain control.
Moving off Lance slightly to the side, JC reached for the lubricant Lance had dropped on the bed. He slicked some over his fingers and slid his hand between Lance's legs, still kissing and whispering into Lance's ear.
Lance heard the words but the only thing he could concentrate on was the hand touching him, touching him in a place he'd never been touched before. Not like this.
As JC felt Lance relax, his hand moved deeper, teasing at the small, puckered opening before slipping a single finger inside.
Lance arched his back and his eyes flew open, then he took a deep breath and relaxed, gazing over JC's shoulder at the ceiling and concentrating on the pleasure of the probing digit.
JC added another finger, carefully stretching Lance's entrance in preparation for what was to come. "It's gonna be so good," he whispered.
"It already is," groaned Lance, biting his lip.
JC pulled away enough to look down at Lance. He grabbed a condom, opened the package, and fumbled it on, then reached again for the lube and spread some on his throbbing organ. He lifted Lance's legs and eased himself on top. "Stop me if I hurt you," he said softly.
"You won't."
"I don't want to, but I could."
"It's okay. I can handle it. It'll be worth it."
JC kissed Lance again, hard and passionate. At the same time, he reached down to stroke Lance's erection, bringing him back to the level of arousal they had achieved before the interruption. Finally, when Lance was already flushed and moaning with pleasure, he pressed in as carefully as he could.
Lance winced. It hurt more than he anticipated but he wasn't going to let JC stop now. He focused instead on the intimacy they were sharing right then, closer than they'd ever been.
JC stopped and looked down into Lance's eyes. "You okay?"
"Yeah. It . . . hurts . . . but don't stop."
JC eased in a little further, divided between the compelling pleasure of being inside Lance's hot tightness and worrying about hurting him. Lance gasped as JC began to fill him, his heart pounding more from the intensity in JC's eyes than from any physical discomfort. He knew the pain would pass but the pleasure would last for days.
"You feel amazing," JC said, his voice husky with need and the effort of holding back.
Lance bunched his fists on the bedclothes and tilted his hips upward to take JC in deeper. With JC's attentive hand on his hardness, the sensations alternated between flashes of pain and waves of pleasure. Instead of pushing in further, JC started moving slowly in Lance, hoping to increase Lance's pleasure. He dropped his head to kiss Lance again, dropping light kisses all over his face.
Lance sought out JC's lips in an effort to reassure him that he was enjoying this as much as he hoped JC was.
As soon as their lips met, JC's fears dissolved. The kiss was sweet and passionate, the kiss of someone who was enjoying what was happening.
Lance breathed heavily against JC's face, his climax building with every passing second.
JC stroked Lance's erection a little harder, a little faster, feeling, hearing, how close to orgasm Lance was. He lifted his head to watch Lance's expression as he came.
With eyes closed and lips parted, a deep moan escaped Lance's mouth as he found his release, bucking under JC's weight.
JC watched in gratified amazement, as Lance's face flushed, tightened then released into an almost blank, sated expression. He thought that he had never seen anyone look more beautiful. Then he wasn't thinking at all as his own climax overtook him.
Lance's body convulsed again as JC came inside him and collapsed. He held JC tightly, stroking the long, damp hair.
"You okay?" JC asked as soon as he could speak.
"I'm . . . great. That was great. YOU'RE great."
"I wanted it to be so good for you."
"It wasn't what I expected. I guess I don't know what I expected."
"But you're not disappointed?"
"No way." He rubbed JC's back and kissed his cheek. "Not at all. It's only gonna get better."
JC eased out of Lance and removed and discarded the condom. "I wish I didn't have to leave tomorrow."
"Me too. But I'll see you real soon. We're almost done here, then a week in Chicago. And I'm flying down for the Nickelodeon thing."
"That helps." JC got up and walked to the bathroom, where he cleaned himself, then brought a washcloth and towel and did the same for Lance.
JC always was very nurturing. Lance remembered how attentive JC was when he was in the hospital. How attentive he's always been. How he's always been there for Lance. If he didn't know better . . . but it was a fleeting thought and it disappeared as quickly as it came.
Crawling under the covers, JC gathered Lance into his arms. "I love you. I've loved you for a very long time."
Lance turned to face JC, stunned. "I . . . love you too. I can't believe this. I can't believe how I feel."
"I know. It's . . . perfect." Maybe too perfect.
*****
"Jim, you're not going to believe this: the numbers are through the roof!"
"Dr. Yerger, what are you talking about?"
"Not only did sexual intercourse with Agent Chasez NOT have a negative effect on the subj--I mean, your son--but his Cuteness Quotient has INCREASED. The experiment is a success!"
"This is my son you're talking about."
"Oh, of course. Sorry, Jim. But this is an exciting new development. It proves that there's NOTHING that can stop him."