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Adjusting	By : Bia Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Eminem/Marshall Mathers Views: 7351 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know Eminem (Marshall Mathers). I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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"I've fucking had it with him," snapped Lance, deep voice booming across the phone line.

Joey sighed on the other end. He'd known leaving Lance behind when he'd gone to see Kelly had been a bad idea. "What has he done now?"

"He's been hounding me since Monday," snarled the normally calm Mississippian. "Bitch. Bitch. Bitch about JC."

"He's worried about him," Joey explained for what felt like the hundredth time. "Like we all are. This isn't like JC."

Lance ignored the cell phone vibrating beside him. It wouldn't be anybody but Justin. Again. "Yeah, well if Justin's like this even half the time I can see why JC split. Look he's really beginning to piss me off. Can you get Chris to do something about him," Lance wheedled.

"I wonder if other boy bander's have a Don," Joey laughed, and the blond felt it low in his body. Once again Lance resolved to break it off with Jesse. It wasn't really fair to hold onto him when he felt so strongly about someone else. No matter if nothing was ever to come of it.

Lance's deep bass chuckle joined Joey's for a moment before he spoke again. "Hey! In my defense, Chris was scary back then. Hell the elf is scary now."

Joey snorted. That wasn't exactly a news flash. Chris had grown up hard, and stayed that way. He hid it behind the class clown behavior but there was darkness in him that had never faded. You got Chris's back up at your own risk. "All right, I'll talk to him when I get in tonight."

"Cool. Lay one on Kel for me," Lance said meaning it. If he couldn't be with Joey he couldn't think of anyone better. The voice that answered wasn't Joey's.

"He's already done that," came Kelly's bubbly voice. "Now all he has to do is kiss you for me."

Lance forced a laugh at her comment. He'd probably spontaneously combust. "Much as he loves you, Kel. I don't think he'd go for that."

There was a long silence then a giggle. "I wouldn't be too sure of that," she finally murmured. "We'll talk later."

Before Lance could speak the dial tone was ringing in his ear. He blinked and stared down at the phone in his hand. He couldn't have heard her right. She probably hadn't meant what she was implying. Kidding around as usual. He shook his head, hanging up.

~~~*~~~

"I was thirteen when I was first discovered," JC said suddenly, into the comfortable silence, looking up from his book. He'd moved onto the third book of the Hitchhiker's series a week ago.

Marshall held down one end of the couch with Hailie's head in his lap as he scribbled away on a yellow legal pad. Sometime during his time with father and daughter JC had migrated to the couch as well. It was a familiar scene. Especially the day after a session.

Marshall didn't startle. He was growing used to Joshua's non sequitur. It was a large part of what he liked about the younger man. Josh wasn't like everybody else. He wasn't so much spacey as non-linear. A result of spending so much time in his own head. Something Marshall was intimately familiar with. He snorted softly at least he had plenty of company. He'd found the best thing to do was let Josh ramble on. Eventually, he'd get to the point. And if not... well it was always an interesting trip through Josh's thoughts.

Marshall set the notes on Devil's Night aside, hand dropping to Hailie's head. The little girl having long since passed out on the sofa between them. "I thought you were a mouse first."

"No," JC said shaking his head. "Commercials. Believe it or not. I was at the beach when this guy asked if he could take pictures of my feet. Said they were beautiful."

Marshall nearly choked. "Huh? What kinda perv?" growled Em.

JC waved away Marshall's protests. "That's what my parents thought at first. But they checked him out. Six ways from Sunday. It was legit. He only wanted my feet," snickered JC.

"Feet," muttered Marshall.

JC smirked sticking out his leg and wiggling his toes. Hailie grumbled at the unexpected movement but didn't wake. Instead burying her little toes back underneath JC's thigh. "What? You don't think my pop star feet are perfect?"

Marshall pretended to studiously examine Josh's feet. Only to find himself seriously looking. They were long, slender and pale for a Florida boy. They could almost be mistaken for a woman's with the manicured toenails, except for the size. Marshall tipped his head they were strangely attractive for feet. Forgetting his pretense Em said so. "They a'ight."

"Three grand. All I had to do was sit there," continued JC pulling his feet back under him. Careful not to squish the sleeping child's toes as he did. He laughed at the incredulous look on Marshall's face. "Yeah, I know. It was like I hit the lotto."

"People will pay for some weird ass shit," muttered Marshall.

JC looked amused. "For the first time I realized I could trade off my looks. I mean I was no great looker but I was decent enough. And some small part knew it was a foot," he laughed softly at his own pun. "In the door. Still, I hadn't really intended to really get into it. But my mom it just seemed to push a button in her. So when she asked if I wanted to do it: the auditions, tryouts," he shrugged. "I could see how much she wanted me to say yes."

JC fell silent gaze drifting around the room, before coming to rest on Hailie. Then moving up to Marshall whose gaze shifted between him and Hailie as he waited for him to continue. "And the part of me that remembers my birthmother--"

"Birthmother," Marshall cut in.

Josh gave a slow blink then a rueful laugh. "I forget sometimes -you know so much- that you don't know the little details. I'm adopted."

"Do you know your real mother," asked Marshall curiously. Not even stopping to consider if it were a delicate subject. If Josh minded he wouldn't have brought it up he figured.

"Birth mother," corrected JC automatically as far as he was concerned Karen was his real mother. She'd held him when he was sick. She'd spent her time and love on him. That made her his mom. "Not really. I remember... dank rooms, scary shelters crammed with dirty people. I remember her turning to me one day and asking if I wanted to stay with Ray and Karen. I remember," Josh's voice trailed off a pensive look settling on his face.

Marshall felt the sudden urge to cuddle him. Like he would Hailie after she'd scrapped her knee. To soothe away whatever was causing that look. He shook it off with a mutter of disgust. Josh was an adult. He didn't need to be babied.

"Be good," said JC finally.

Marshall's gaze returned to him.

JC nodded once to himself. "Be good. There was a wild sort of light in her eyes. Her fingers wrapped tight around my arms." He unconsciously mimicked the remembered hold, hugging himself tightly.

Em stomped on the urge to hold him like he would have Kim once upon a time. Instead lifting the hand that had been combing through Hailie's curls and letting it fall on one slender shoulder.

JC took a deep breath and seemed to shake himself out of the morose mood. He shot Marshall a grateful look.

Em nudged him with his fist before he went back to stroking Hailie's hair.

"'Be good, she said. So they'll keep you.' Be good," he murmured again quietly. "I know in my head that my parents would never have given me up for anything. But there's always been a tiny voice inside whispering be good. So when Karen wanted me to try show business I did," JC glanced over at Marshall a half-smile on his face. "Don't get me wrong. I loved it and when I got the part on MMC I was beyond thrilled." He fell silent again.

"Debbie couldn't be bothered to give a damn about what I was or wasn't doing," Marshall offered into the silence. "I'm pretty sure that if something like that had happened she'd have gladly sold me off," grunted Marshall. "Not that Mama H would have let her."

JC focused back on Marshall. It wasn't often he talked about Mama H or Mrs. Holton. From the times he had JC knew that Em had immense respect and affection for the woman. "She'd have objected?"

Marshall gave a bark of laughter. "Objected. Nah, Mama H wasn't so calm as all that. She'da beat Debbie's ass. Then took me home." Marshall sighed. "Man if the world wasn't so fucked up I'da been living with Proof and a lot of this shit would be different."

JC knew it was trite but he asked anyway. "If you could change it, would you?"

Marshall shook his head, toying with Hailie's hair again. The long blond curls coiling around his fingers. Trapping them. "No. Not if it meant I lost Hailie. She's worth it all." Marshall looked up meeting the dark blue gaze. "What about you?"

JC dropped his had back against the sofa. Would he change things? Maybe never have met the guys. Or his parents. To possibly have never been JC Chasez of N'sync. "Maybe. I don't know. There's always gonna be some bad."

Marshall nodded in agreement.

Outside the immense bay windows, the dark gave way to the light as they talked long into the night.

~~~*~~~

Chris teased Dani with the last bite of croissant. Holding it just out of reach as she snapped at it with sharp white teeth. Teeth that had never gone without dental work was the errant thought. He glanced up in surprise as Joey and Lance entered the dining room. Joe had gotten in late yesterday, and he hadn't expected to see the two of them for hours yet. The only reason he was up so earlier on a Friday off was to spend some quality time with Dani.

Dani gave an aggrieved groan when she spotted his fellow band mates. "God, can't you be away from each other more than five minutes," she growled.

Chris sighed he didn't feel like getting into this with her again. They were never going to see eye to eye on the matter. As far as Chris was concerned family was always welcome. Anytime, anywhere. Still.... "I doubt they'll want to hang with us for long Dani."

Dani snorted, standing. "I need a cigarette. I'll be back."

Chris didn't protest. He wasn't a hypocrite. He watched her walk away as Joey snagged a chair giving a cheery wave to Dani's disappearing figure. He reached out snagging a piece of orange from Chris's breakfast plate. "What's her deal?" he asked popping the segment into his mouth.

"Nothing," said Chris with a shrug. "Question is why are you two not making hay while the sun shines?"

Lance choked on the sip of juice he'd just taken. Chris couldn't possibly know! Hell, he hadn't known till last night! "We. I. What-" Lance stuttered for a few long minutes. Trying to find away to deny Chris's assumption without actually lying to him. After a moment he gave it up, and slumped down in his chair. Joey could just deal with it.

"Lance has a problem," explained Joey pausing in his fruit search.

Chris cocked one eyebrow. "I hear they make a pill for that now."

Lance flushed a brilliant red. Chris cracked up. Joey snickered too before growing serious. "Actually it's about Justin. He's been hounding Lance ever since he learned about JC's sabbatical. Always asking if JC's called or trying to take his cell. Justin's working his last nerve."

Chris glanced over at Lance who was slowly losing his flush as he calmed down. Lance fought the urge to squirm beneath the steady gaze. He was no longer sixteen.

"Tell 'im to fuck off," Chris said finally.

Lance sighed. Like he hadn't tried that. "Not working. He's like this close," grumbled Lance holding his fingers not even a hairsbreadth apart. "Whenever I'm on a call. Please, do something."

Chris tried not to frown. Things with Justin were getting out of hand. "Fine," muttered Chris. "Joe go get him. We'll meet in my room in fifteen. There's something I need to talk to you guys about anyway."

~~~*~~~

Justin glared at Lance who sat smugly lounging against Joey's side as Chris paced the same ten feet again. He knew he was in for a lecture. Damn. This shit bored him to tears. "I just wanted to know about Jayce," he muttered sullenly.

Chris came to a halt. "Well you're annoying the fuck outta Lance. So as of right now knock that shit off. I hear about you bothering him about JC again and I'ma hurt you," growled the older man. The dark eyes flashed giving weight to threat.

Justin rolled his eyes.

Chris crossed the room in a flash. He was in Justin's face before the others knew he'd moved. "You got something to say to me infant?" barked the dark-eyed man, poised in absolute stillness as he stared down at Justin. The genial personality vanished like the facade it was.

Justin shifted uneasily. He knew despite his size he was no match for Chris in an all out fight. He'd seen the smaller man get into bar fights with men three times his size and come out on top. Bloody but unbowed.

"No," he muttered dropping his gaze. "I was just worried about Jayce."

Chris held still a moment longer. Something about Justin's submission ringing false but after another long moment he backed up.

Joey let go the breath he'd been holding, and Lance sighed in relief. Both a little leery of Chris's attitude toward Justin. Yeah, Justin had been a pain in the ass of late but Chris had looked ready to commit violence. Joey and Lance shared a speaking look. But this was why they assiduously avoided pricking Chris's temper. The older man had a dark side that was nasty when it was roused.

"I wanted to talk to you guys about that," Chris said turning away from Justin. He went back to his pacing. "When JC gets back I don't want any of you bothering him. Not till I've had a chance to talk to him. I get first crack at him. Understood?" he asked pausing to meet each and hold each of their gazes until he'd gotten a nod of agreement.

He held Justin's gaze the longest. Finally, Justin looked away. Chris frowned at the mutinous look but decided now was not the time. He needed to talk to JC first. "That's it," he said.

The others stood understanding that they'd effectively been dismissed. Justin shoved past Joey and Lance in his hurry to get out of the room.

"Lance," Chris called out just as the blond made it to the door.

Lance muttered a curse beneath his breath but stopped and turned around. He unconsciously wrung his hands as he tried not to reach for Joey. He just knew Chris was going to blame him for this thing that was growing between him and Joey. It was new, strange. Joey was straight. There was Kelly to consider as well.

"The next time JC calls you give me the phone ASAP," he said.

Lance breathed a silent sigh of relief. Maybe Chris didn't know. The earlier comments had probably just been Chris kidding around.

"Oh, Joey," began Chris voice disgustingly cheery.

"What," asked the big Italian somewhat hesitantly. Chris amused was sometimes a dangerous thing.

"Diane's gonna have your head -both of them- if you don't do right by her baby boy." Chris's tone suddenly went solemn. "And I'll help her."

Joey straightened slipping an arm around Lance's waist. "I wouldn’t hurt Lance," he said quietly.

"Good," said Chris nodding once. "Now go and do many things I have no wish to know about."

Lance fought not to turn three shades of red. "Thanks Chris," he mumbled before practically fleeing the room. Joey following him.

Chris shook his head. There must be something in the California water he thought. Then went in search of Dani. He had a bottle of Dom and a jar of chocolate sauce waiting to be put to good use.
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