Before jumping on the Brian/Nick part, I wanna with Howie's words because they summon my thoughts on the whole debate about Brian's issues: we might be frustrated, we might get angry and want things to change (or the Boys to change) but it will never ever come close to what Brian had and still feels every single day.

Anxiety sucks. Anxiety is that small voice that keeps telling you how much you sucks, how much people are going to hate you because you weren't perfect or because you screwed up.
Even today I'm still amazed that he had someway the courage to go through an album and a tour of two years and half and never back down.

Ironically, that discussion is one of my favorite scene from the movie. Because that was the breaking point that bought Brian and Nick closer. That discussion helped them to see their distance, especially Nick. I think you got him perfectly: his anger wasn't strictly against Brian but more it was his frustration to see someone he admired becoming that shell. And who knows how really bad was the place Brian had been in those months.
(And that, summoned, it's the reason why I quit all fan forums. =.=)

Thank you for the sensitivity and trying to get past the "Brian has an ego and the Boys don't know how to face him." to truly understand what lies behind a smile.

Author's Response: exactly on point. I've been looking at the forums (which were actually the reason this story was written in the first place) and I'm like... what? How can people be so insensitive and stupid? I've been trying to get a word in there, but meh... it's like six against one. 'Just cut his solos,' is what I hear most. It's like saying you want him to shrivel in whatever deep dark place he's already in. It's just the fact that we fans know literally nothing about his mindset. Or maybe just a little, as I've heard AJ confirm a couple of times that Brian needs a lot of encouragement at this point to be able to believe in himself again. Cutting solos and bashing his ego is not likely ever going to give encouragement. Anyway, that was my rant. Thank you very much for the review, I really appreciate it. I will continue this story, because I have finally figured out the direction I want to take it in. Let's just say (without trying to spoil anything) that it's going to try and deal with what it really means to be forced to handle so much stress and pressure for over three years.