The ringer on his phone is set low, nonetheless, JC can hear the tone through the fabric of Lonnie's pants. They're in the SUV headed to JC's house, and JC only wants to sleep. It's one of the happiest days of his life, but his ass has been methodically kicked by a severe cold for a couple of weeks now and he's ready for tea with honey, chicken noodle soup and his bed, in that order.

Lonnie murmurs into the phone and JC's lids lower again, thanking God that he's got Lonnie to look after him. He gets comfortable in the seat when he hears Lonnie say, "Sure thing, J," and JC's eyes open.

"No," JC says, and stretches his hand over the front seat and wiggles his fingers. "I'll take it."

"Thought you were asleep," Lonnie says before he says into the phone, "Hang on J, your dawg's here." He hands JC the phone and JC ignores the tiny smile playing around Lonnie's mouth.

"Hey, J," JC says, and he's wearing a smile of his own. He leans against the window, tucks the phone against his ear. "Just catching a few." Justin sounds good. Even through the phone the tone of his voice is warm and even through the phone JC can hear the concern.

"Looks like there might be more than two Grammys in the family," Justin teases, and it makes JC blush. "You've seen that review, right?"

JC starts to answer, but has to pause to sneeze. Something flutters in front of his face, and he looks up to see Lonnie waving a handful of tissues. He takes one, sneezes again, and wipes his nose. "Sorry," he says to Justin, and sniffles a little.

"Please tell me you're through with promo for the day," Justin says. "You've done Seacrest, and the party's postponed --"

JC's heart twists a little at these words, but another sneeze just then reminds him that the CD's been released and there's plenty of time to celebrate.

"-- so you should be done," Justin continues.

"Yeah," JC says, sniffling again. "I'm done." He picks at his jeans and tries not to think about the release party that's been postponed. He had one a few days ago and he'll have another next week. If he had one tonight he knows in his heart that he'd be ready for bed about ten minutes into the thing.

"Good," Justin sounds pleased, "then you're on the way home, right? Or do I have to get Lonnie to club you over the head to get you there?"

"No," JC says, and laughs, covering his mouth when the laughter turns into a cough. "Sorry," he apologizes. "No, no clubbing necessary," he says. "I'll have Lonnie hit the drugstore and then home."

"No need," Justin says. Lonnie clears his throat. JC looks up. Lonnie is pointing at the window. JC turns to find a familiar sleek BMW in the next lane and he laughs again, full out, and has another coughing fit.

"Man!" Justin says, and JC can see him now because Justin's powered down the tinted window. JC grins and does the same, and they look at each other through the open windows as they roll along the highway. JC's heart is beating fast, and only partly because Justin is glancing back and forth from the road in front of them to JC's smiling face.

"Watch the road!" JC laughs into the phone, and he smiles when Justin, glancing quickly at the road and back, holds up an insulated lunch bag and jiggles it.

"Chicken soup from Mama Lynn, baby," Justin says, and JC smiles and thinks, I love you so much. "I stopped at the drug store too, so get your ass home and in bed. I'll meet you there. Love you, Jace."

"I love you, too," JC says, and Justin turns and for a second their eyes lock.

"I bought something else," Justin says, glancing quickly to the road ahead before he holds up a copy of Schizophrenic. "If I sleep with this guy will he autograph my CD?" he asks coyly.

"I'll see what I can do," JC says, smiling. "Now roll up the window like a good boy, hang up the phone, and drive." Justin laughs, but he breaks the connection. He looks over at JC one last time and winks as the window slides smoothly up.

JC settles back in the seat and watches the BMW pull ahead. It's been a good day. He doesn't think he'll miss the party at all.