Can Heaven Wait?
SS by Ing

Quarter after seven, got a phone call
Telling me to get here quick
Said your girl is in a bad situation
They don't know if she's gonna make it

Trace walked into the dressing room. "Justin, telelphone man. I told her you only had a few minutes to talk you were getting ready for the show." he said as he threw the phone down

"Who is it?"


"Brit's sister."

"Did she say what she wanted?"

"Just that she needed to talk to you right away. The kid is as big a drama queen as her sister."he said and walked out of the room.

"Hey kiddo what's shakin?" he asked even after the break up he and Jamie Lynn had stayed close. She was the closest think to a baby sister he would ever have. And no matter what happened with him and Britney she still held a special place in his heart. He watched her grow up and he inteded to continue even if it was from afar.

"Justin I'm so scared." she cried

"Hey little bits whats the matter?" But the feeling that he had in the pit of his stomach told him that it was something that he did not want to hear.

"It's Brit"....she got out. But not before the sobs overtook her. "She's in the hospital."

After that he could no longer make out what she was saying."Jamie Lynne" Justin yelled "Talk to me tell me what's going on?" he said as he walked to the door and threw it open "Trace, Mama, Johnny get in here!" he yelled into the hall. He didn't care if another act was on stage or not.

Trace was the first to get to the dressing room. "What's up? Where's the fire?"

"Where is my mom and Johnny?"

"I don't know. I saw your mom sitting in the audience awhile ago. Johnny isnt' here remember." he said laughing. "Man your losing it."

"Go get my mom?"

"What?"


"Did you hear me. GO get my mom NOW!!" he said. Trace quickly left the room not asking any questions "Hello, hello...Jamie Lynne are you still there? Dammit what's going on talk to me?" he said fear a now rising higher than he had ever felt. He grabbed Trace's cell phone which was sitting on the table and dialed Britney's cell phone number. All he got was a recording of her voice mail. But just hearing her voice calmed him to an extint.

"Hello, is anyone there?" he heard the soft voice from the other end of the telephone.

"Yeah I"m here." He said

"Oh Justin...."Lynne cried

"Lynne what is it?" he asked

"Oh honey its Britney..." she paused "She's been in an accident." she said as she too broke down in tears. The next thing he knew he heard the phone fall to the floor and her cries. "Lynne!" he yelled

"Dammit." He said "Hello, is anyone there? Anyone." he screamed into the phone hoping someone anyone would hear his voice and pick it up. Just then his mom came rushing into the room.

"Justin ,Trace said you wanted to see me right away." Lynn said as she walked in the door.

Justin looked up and Lynn noticed the look on her sons face. "Honey what is it?" she asked as she rushed over to sit next to him.

"It's Brit, she's been in an acci...." but before he could finish he was interrupted

"Justin, are you still there?"

"Yes sir I'm here. " NO matter how old he got or what had happened in the past whenever he heard Britney's dad's voice he always reverted back to a twelve year old kid.

"I guess Lynne called you too." he said matter a factly

"No sir as a matter a fact Jamie Lynne did. I've been getting bits and pieces."

"Oh, in that case." he said and paused

"But she's ok right. Nothing serious?"

"I just think you need to get here son." Jamie said adding "As soon as possible." before he hung up.

Lynn sat there and watched as the color drained out of her sons face. "Honey what is it?" He sat there just staring at the wall not saying anything. "Justin talk to me, what happened." she said as she tried to calm him by rubbing his back by this time she noticed that he was visibly shaking. "Justin." she said again taking his hand. "Talk to me please."

Very calmly he said "Cancel the show tonight."

"What?"

"You heard me,cancel the damn show and get me on the next plane for New York."




As I hurry to be by her side
I ask a thousand times, why oh why
There's no rhyme or reason in my life
With you lying here this way
It's not like he hadn't taken this flight before because he had. On hunderds of occasions. It's just tonight it seemed like the flight from Orlando to New York was endless. There had been no word from anyone about Britney's condition since he had taken off. He felt like a kid on his first flight, not really knowing what was on the other end. Finally when the plane did touch down he was afraid to move. He wanted to go, he needed to go. He was just afraid to. He slowly walked off the plane. That's when he saw him. This man had been a father, a friend, a confidanate , a mentor. Larry had played a pivital part in Britney's life and to a certain point in his as well. But right now the face of the man before him was drained of color and tear stained. He looked like he had aged at least 30 years. The words seem to stay lodged in my thoat as I walk towards him. But he speaks first.
"Glad you made it." he said as he turned away from me and started to walk off.

"Dammit you can't do this. What happened."

Larry stopped in mid step. "Not here." he said as he continued to walk quickly through the airport.

Once they were securly in the backseat of the car Justin looked over at him again "What happene?"

"Did you mom come with you?" was all he said

"She's taking a later flight, she had to close the house up. Dammit Larry talk to me."

"Brit was on the way home from the studio. She had been there all night and most of the day. She was really pushing herself . I've never seen her so focused on anythng. Not even when she was just starting out. She wanted everything to be just right. She wanted all of the critics to say that she was over to eat their words. And she wanted to prove...."but he stopped

"Prove what?"

"Prove to you that she could go on without you,"he said as he turned his head to look out the window. "But she died a little more each day. A piece of her cracked. She put on a happy face and smiled and made everyone think everything was just fine. She started drinking...Alittle too much."

"I heard."

"And smoking and doing any and everything she could think of that she thought would help her forget. That would ease the pain. Just like you did with the women" he said and looked over for the first time. But his eyes didn't linger long before he had turned back out the window."But it didn't. It didn't help, in the morning the empitness was still there. The memories still haunted her and the tabloids still publised stories of you this place and that. But in the past few weeks I guess since the papers were signed. She turned things around. SHe was doing better. Her career was on the upswing. She was making it though this."

"Why are you talking in past tense?" Justin asked the tears clogged in his throat.

"The doctors dont think she's going to make it." Larry said as they pulled up to the hospital entrance.

"Why are you saying this? Why are you doing this?"He said as he bolted out the car and ran into the hospital.




I'd give anything just to trade places with you
So I'm begging heaven down on my knees
To help you make it through


Justin ran to the front nurses desk to ask where Britney was. But before he could get the words out he heard his name being called. "Justin." The voice was hers. But it was different. He turned aroudn to see the little girl he loved like a sister balled up in a chair. SHe looked so much smaller and younger than she had the last time had seen her a few weeks ago.
"JLynne, where's your sister?"

"What am I going to do?" was all she asked as he pulled the little girl into his arms and held her as she cried.

"JLynne, please tell me where she is. I need to see her."

"Come on" she said standing up "I was waiting for you. I got tired of sitting around and watching mama cry."

"JLynn, I'm here now everything is going to be fine." he said

"No, Justin she's not." he heard the voice behind him.

"Bryan"He said as he quickly turned around

"This is one thing that money can't change. Everything is not going to be alright, you can't just walk in this time and say a few sweet words and make it all better. WHy are you here anyway. Isn't my sister a part of your past. A past that you have so readily forgotten.''

"She may be in my past Bryan but I love her!"Justin yelled

"Fuck you and your love. If that's love than I think she may be better of. I'm going to go get some fresh air. He said "Its suddenly gotten too stuffy in here. Call me on my cell when he leaves." he said to Jamie Lynne as he kissed her forehead.

Justin stood there. He had no worsd to counter what the other man had said. "I should go, call me ok." he said to Jamie Lynne as he turned to walk out.
"FINE GO, FUCK YOU JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE" the little girl screamed "I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY SISTER EVER SAW IN YOU. YOU FUCKIN RUN FROM EVERYTHING. YOU NEVER LOVED HER SO JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE AND LET HER BE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DID."

"I loved her dammit. I loved her more than my own life.Hell I still love her." he saidi as the tears started to fall from his eyes. "Do you think its easy getting over someone you thought you would spend the rest of your life with. Do you, no of course you don't. What am I saying." he said as he slumped down on the wall. "I loved her Jamie Lynne, I love her don't ever doubt that. Ever do you hear me, don't ever doubt that I loved your sister." he said looking up at her. In that instant he saw Britney's face. The face he had walked out on all those months before. Oh god she didn't know."

Jamie Lynne shook her head." She thought that you had moved on. She cried alot, all the interviews the magazines. Each one was like a stab in the heart. Finally she just gave up and started to concentrate on her music again."she said as the tears flowed "That's what she was doing today."

"I need to see her, please."he said pleading with the young girl "not for me, for your sister."


- Tell me can heaven wait
Can heaven wait just one more night
Tell me what it's gonna take
To keep you with me in my life

"Justin."Lynne said running into the arms of the man she had always thought of as a son. "I'm so glad your here."
"Did you think I wouldn't be?"

"I don't know, with your schedule and everything..."she said pausing "i'm just glad that you found the time."

"Im sorry."he said to her "Im sorry that you doubted me. That Britney ever had a reason to."

"But your here now....."

"Yeah now.. What happened?"

"She was coming home from the studio..she had been there all night with no sleep."

"Dammit why was she drivnig then? I'm sorry go on."

"From what we can piece together from everyone who saw her before she left. She said she just wanted to be alone. She did that alot when she wanted to think or when...."

"Or when what."

"Or when the thoughts or memories of you got to much to handle."

"Oh."

"She had just called all excited about a new deal with the NFL, she was doing a kickoff concert with Nelly and all of a sudden her mood changed. I asked if she was ok but she just blew it off. She did that alot. But then this time she made mention of it being almost like the halftime show and then said she had to go. That she was going for a drive. But she hadn't slept, hadn't ate. SHe was running on pure adrinalin. She was almost at home, just when she went to turn the corner a drunk driver hit the drivers side in the back. The car swerved and then was hit again head on by another car. The car was totally crushed. It look like someone had taken a soda can and just bent it. When the EMT's got there..." she paused "they couldn't find a pulse."

"MY God"

"They worked on her at the scene for about an hour before she was even moved. They say she has sever internal injuries, a broken neck and colar bone. A broken leg and her wrist is spraited. She never came to. Not once since the accident." she said as the tears freely flowed down her face

"Was she alone?"

"Yes in the car she was alone."

"NO when they brought her in, was she alone." Justin said his voice cracking "you know how much she hates hospitals."

"I wasn't here. I was in Kentwood with Jamie Lynne getting ready for school and Bryan was on his way back from L.A. where he had been on business. But Larry was here and....."

"I was here." Joey said "When Lynne called me and asked me to come wait at the hospital for them to bring her in I rused right over."

Just in all at once felt dizzy and nauseous "you were here when they brought her in." he said looking at the mans blood stained cloths.

"I had a friend on the P.D who told me where the accident was at. I went there first, I didn't want her to be alone." Joey said "I think this is yours?" he said as he held out his hand to his friend

"I can't believe she held on to this." Justin said as he palmed the pinky ring he held in his hand

"She never wore it, but she kept it with her at all times."Lynne said

"I have to see her." Justin said

"She's this way. I'll tell the doctors to let you back." Lynne said as she walked off. Justin started to follow her but Joey held him back.

"Just be warned, that's not Brit in there. I mean it is but it isn't." Justin shook his head in understanding

"And one more thing. She was holding the ring when the EMT's got there. You were the last thing on her mind."




Giving up the shame of my other life
Now I'm seeing things in a whole new light
Lord, I vow to change if you just make it right
Can heaven wait one night
The doctor was walking out of Britney's room when Justin and Lynne approached it. "Dr. Morten, this is my.....this is Justin Timberlake. He'd like to see Britney."

"Mr. Spears, you know we are only allowed to let family in."

"Justin is family."

"I'm sorry rules are rules. And family only."

"I am family."

"Your her ex-boyfriend Mr. Timberlake."

"I'm her ex-husband Dr. Morten.."

"Justin!" Lynne gasped

"I'm sorry Mr. Timberlake I had no idea the two of you had gotten married."

"No one did it was very quiet. And over before it was able announced. Now do I go get my lawyers are, am I going to be allowed in?"

"Right this way."he said as he opened the door and Justin walked in. "I assume Mrs Spears has informed you of Britney's injuries?"

"Yes she has." Justin said watching the lifeless body on the bed.

"It really doesn't look good. The severatiy of the injuries are such that...."

"Will you excuse of Dr.?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. Will you be needing anything?"

"No just time alone." he said as he walked to the bed. He looked down at the woman who was the love of his life. She was battered and brusied. BUt to him she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Brit come on now. I know you're a drama queen but don't you think this is a little much. All you had to do if you want to see me was call. I wouldn't have hung up."





Thinking back on times that I've wasted
I should have cherished every day
All the different flavors that I tasted
Can't compare to you, no way

"Justin"
"Mama." Justin said turning around quickly from where he had fallen asleep in the chair "When did you get in?"

"Not long. I've been talking to Lynne and then I came in here and sat for awhile." she said as she rested her hand on his from the chair next to his. "have the doctors said anything new?"

"It doen't look good. The next thirty-site to fourty-hours hours should tell.?" he said "Did Trace fly down with you?"

"Yes, yes he did." She said and paused "I couldn't stop her Justin. I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about mama?"

"She insisted on coming."

"I don't understand, what do you mean she insisted on coming. Doesn't she have a brain cell left in her head to know this is not the time nor the place for her to be. I'm calling security and having her removed, its bad enough they have press surrounding the place can you imagine what they will do if they see her here. That's the last thing this family needs."

"I know, I told her to stay at the hotel and you would be in touch with her."

"I don't have time for that. Britney is my number one priority." he said "look I'll call her myself. make sure she's out. Will you sit with Britney? I don't want to have to tell Lynne where I"m going."

"Ofcourse.'' she said. She picked up the lifeless hand in hers and held it to her face. "Oh honey our Justin has come back, please. You come back too." she said as a tear rolled down her cheek and onto Britney's hand



As I reminisce by your side
Tears of guilt are streaming from my eyes
All the things I did that weren't right
Wish I could apologize

The phone rang in the hotel suite and she ran to pick it up. There was only one person who knew she was there "hey baby.'she said sweetly.
"What the hell do you think your doing?"

"I came for moral support."

"What the fuck kind of shit is that. You know damn well the last think I want is to have you parading around in front of BRitney's family."

"Why, they aren't your family anymore. You and BRitney are divorced now remember. Or did that fact suddenly slip your mind."

"No It hasn't slipped my mind. I'm constantly reminded on a daily basis, I screwed up once and I am not going to do it again. NOt here.Not now. SO I am giving you an hour to get packed and get the hell out of here I don't care where you go."

"I Know your emotions are really high right now and you are stressed, we can talk about this when you get back to the hotel."

"Did I stutter. I said get the hell out of here. GO back to L.A. go somewhere. just not here." he said as he hung up the phone and walked back towards Britney's room.


I'd give anything if I could trade places with you
So I'm beggin' heaven down on my knees
To help you make it through

"Honey you need to eat." Lynne said as she sat in the chair next to Justin. Neither of them leaving Britney's bedside for more than a quick bathroom break."Courtney is coming to bring me some food, come join us. Please."
"No thank you I don't want anything. I don't need to eat"Justin said as he kept his vigil it had been over a day and he had not moved. The guys had all called and they were flying in that night. The rest of Britney's family had arrived as well as Justin's father and step-mother.

"Your going to make yourself sick."

"And?" he said as he sat there massaging Britney's hand "You know when we were together I thought we had the world. That we were untouchable. Nothing bad was ever going to happen to us." he said as he got chocked up. "She was my life. I loved her so much until it hurt."

"She knew. And she felt the same pain, she was never the same. You were never the same. The funny thing is that the both of you saw it as growth the people around you saw it as covering the pain..you both were on all the timee. Never letting the smile slip or the tear show. But don't forget I have known you since you were twelve and I have kept in touch with your mother. It hurt us as much as it hurt the two of you to watch what you were putting yourselves and each other though." she said as she squeezed his shoulder . "She never stopped you know.....no matter what she never stopped loving you."She said as she turned and walked out the room.

"I'm sorry." he said as the tears fell "for every word that hurt you. FOr every image that caused you pain. Every tear you cried. I love you, I have always loved you. I will always love you. DOn't you know that. God I love you Britney, please come back to me."

"Justin"the voice was faint but it as there. He didn't imagine it.




[Repeat 1]

I'm gonna stop the world, reverse the time
Do whatever it takes to keep you alive
Heaven has to wait one more day

"Brit.baby I'm right here." he said holding on to her hand as if it were a life line and he was pulling her through..
"Your here? What happened?"

"Sssshhhh, don't talk." he said as he reached for the call button.

"No, I have to say this." She said fighting for every breath she took "I love you Justin, don't ever doubt that I have always loved you and there is not a day a minute an hour that I have regreted."

"Britney baby save your strength." he said

"No, you have to know. You have to do this for me."

"What, anything."

"Forgive me, for everything. For not loving you enough to stick it through and fight. For leaving you. I love you Justin, always. Be happy." were her last words.



Baby, take my breath so you can breathe
I need you here so don't you leave
Heaven has to wait

The young man walked up the the grave site. It was as if he couldn't bear to be here but he had to. He knew it in his heart it was the right thing to do. He pulled the paper from his jacket paper and began to read. He felt like he had just heard the words,
Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way.
"There once was a boy who loved a girl beyond measure of space and time. They fought yet they loved. They gave new meanting to the phrase a thin line between love and hate.But in the end that love won out. He once said that she was his breath. No one really paid much attention to him until she was gone. That's why were here today to say good bye to a friend who taught us all that love knows no bounds. Finally in death may they will be where they always belonged. Together eternally. You loved her beyone measure. Good bye my friend." Trace said as he walked back and took his seat next to Lynn.

"They are finally together." she said as the tears fell from her eyes. "Forever."



***Poem Peace my heart...
by ~Rabindranath Tagore
Taken from--- http://www.allspirit.co.uk/dying.html#holy
Sorry about the spelling errors its late and I'm not going through spell check again for the third time

prequel