JC got excited over the most ridiculous things. He'd get an idea in his head or someone would tell him something intriguing, and sudden his eyes would go from that faroff look that told you he wasn't even really there to bright and energized.

Justin had gotten used to JC's moods over the years, watching his friend grow from the skinny dork, to albeit, an older skinny dork, but one who loved what he did more than anyone that Justin had ever met in his decade in the "biz".

Most called Justin the "consummate performer", the "supreme talent of Nsync" who was meant to dance and sing or die. Justin always thought that praise all belonged to JC. Because an onstage energized JC was a thing of pure beauty.

When JC came bounding into their hotel lounge on their second day in Atlantis with a ridiculously wide grin, giggling in that way that they all used to find annoying but now just accepted as part of the package, Justin knew they were in for some sort of crazy musical experience.

JC declared he'd been told of an aquarium near by which had a tunnel surrounded by a glass wall. "The reverb guys! It'll be so cool. We absolutely have to go sing there this afternoon to check out the sound. We gotta go do our thing. It'll sound amazing, I bet."

Chris groaned. "Jayce. It's our only afternoon off here. C'mon, man, just give us a break."

"I have a conference call scheduled this afternoon," added Lance.

"And I promised Kel I'd take Brianna to the beach."

Justin watched JC's grin fall, obviously crestfallen but trying to act as if it was no big deal.

"Okay, then. I didn't know you guys were all busy."

"Guys c'mon," said Justin. "JC is right, it'll sound amazing. It could be good for the special too. We bring a camera in there, go sing through something once or twice, and we'll be done. Won't cut into too much of your precious free time."

JC brightened instantly and shot Justin a grateful look.

"I dunno, J. We're already got stuff for the special, and I really wanted to--" "We're doing it, Kirkpatrick," Justin cut in, giving Chris and the others a don't-fuck-with-me look.

"Fucking child," muttered Chris, but finally nodded along with the others.

Watching JC sing his heart out throughout "This I Promise You," Justin decided he'd risk even the wrath of Chris to be able to sit back and watch JC in his element. When they were on stage, on tour, even rehearsing for tour, it seemed that they all got so caught up in their own stuff that they rarely sat back and just watched each other, unless it was to help out or to critique. Justin figured being able to stand back and watch JC was well worth losing an hour or so of their rare free time.

It was even more worth it when JC was pressed up against him afterwards, kissing his cheek and murmuring "thank you" in Justin's ear.

~end~