Intro:

*If I never see your face
If wings take you away from me
And tomorrow never happens, baby
If the world comes tumbling down
And crumbles all around us
You're on your knees
So desperate for one truth
Know that I have loved you*

(Lyrics by Jessica Simpson)



Chapter One:

Staring down at my plate of food I couldn't even pronounce the name of my stomach made a
gurgling noise. Unfortunately I wasn't able to tell if it had come from me or from the two that
were calling my uterus a home for the past 7 months. I placed one hand on my stomach while
the other held the fork just above the plate.

"Honey, everything alright?" My over attentive fiancé Nick asked me.

"Yes, everything is just peachy. They are just ready to eat I guess." I said then took a bite. Oh it
was so good. "How's your food Sara?"

I asked my friend. She is Brian’s wife . They are also pregnant, though not as far along as me,
they just found out this past week.

"Absolutely delicious." Sara responded as she finished chewing. "How bout yours?"

"There are no words that can describe." I said with a smile o­n my face. We pretty much sat in
silence and just ate our delicious meals.

After we had finished Brian spoke up.

"So what movie do you guys want to see? I don't know about you but I would like to see
something funny."

"I’m sorry Bri, but I have a hard enough time controlling my bladder just sitting here now. I
can't even imagine if I was laughing the whole time." I said matter of factly. "I wouldn't mind
seeing something with action. Some hot guy with bearly any clothes o­n trying to save the
world."

I let my self drift off for a second before I was so rudely brought back to reality by Nick tapping
my o­n the shoulder.

"Earth to Jenn, hello come back to earth." Nick had this huge grin o­n his face.

"Oh, sorry, its just hard to control the hormones sometimes." We continued arguing over what
movie we were going to see for a good five minutes before Sara and I just decided o­n The
Last Samurai. Nothing with Tome Cruise could be that bad.

The guys paid for the bill and we were o­n our way out the restraunt to the awaiting Limo.

~* NO POV*~


"Are you SURE you’re okay?" Nick asked Jenn for the third time since they had left.

"I’m Fine but I don’t know how you’re going to be if you ask me again!" She gave him a sweet
smile and twined her fingers with her as if she had just said o­nly the sweetest things.

"You’re so…spunky!" The blonde bent his neck to kiss her lips. "I love spunk." He gave a goofy
smile and she laughed quietly.

"I love you." Jenn smirked and kissed his nose, leaning against him. "I love us."

On the other side of the limo, Brian and Sara sat quietly, watching the bright lights of Florida
nights pass them by outside their window. The couple had been married for two years and
hadn’t totally planned their little surprise. They had planned not to have children until their
careers slowed down but, after being disappointed by a miscarriage earlier that year, they both
realized how badly they DID want a baby of their own. This time though, the young lovers were
scared to death of losing it.

"You can, uh, move baby." Sara smiled sweetly at her husband who had held a protective hand
over her small stomach ever since they sat down.

"Don’t really wanna, Sar." He smiled back and then watched outside the window again.

The 23 year old brunette took Brian’s hand and placed it against her lips then put it back,
leaning her head against his shoulder.

….For a moment in time, everything was perfect….

Perfect. Perfect didn’t last for long. The end of Perfect, started with a loud screech and the
crunch of metal. What had been so innocent and perfect ended in complete darkness…


Chapter Two:

At first all that was heard was deathly silence. As the smoke began to clear, four people lay
inside the wreckage unconscious. A small cough and a moan were heard as one of the people
began to wake up.

Sara opened her eyes and looked around. 'What in the world happened?' Sara thought.

The whole left side of the limo was crushed in on them. She saw Brian sprawled out face down
on what was left of the floorboard by her feet. Over a little bit to her left she saw Jenn lying on
her side facing away from her. Nick was lying right next to Jenn, as if he were protecting her
when the accident occurred. The sight of Nick’s Blonde hair with a tint of red scared the hell
out of her. She decided to check on Brian first since he was closest.

As she moved her body down to him she was suddenly aware of the approaching sirens.
'Please get here soon.' Sara prayed to herself. Upon closer inspection of Brian she decided it
was best not to move him in fear of what the extent of his injuries were. She positioned herself
in front of his face and tried to wake him up, but to no avail.

She heard as the firefighters and medics arrived on the scene. The noise of the sirens was
almost deafening to her. She just hoped that they would get them out of the wreckage soon. As
she was about to make her way over to Jenn and Nick she heard one of the men outside yell
"Guys, this thing is about to blow any minute. Do we have a count on victims inside the vehicles
yet?"

"Hello, can anyone hear me?" Sara heard one of the men ask.

Her voice was raspy at first, but got clearer as she went on. "Yes, yes I can hear you. There's
three more people in here with me, and one of them is 7 months pregnant. She needs help."
Sara hadn't really checked on Jenn to know that, but the scent and trail of blood coming from
her and Nick couldn't have been good.

"Alright Miss, just stay clam, we'll have you guys out in a few minutes. Can you tell me if you
see any smoke?" The man asked

"Yeah, a little bit." Sara responded with a slight cough. But please hurry....."

Sara was cut off by soft coughing from one of the figures on the floor. She looked down to find
that it was her own husband, who seemed to be trapped under more stuff than the others. She
watched for a moment as his body tensed and then realized he was trying to get up.

As much as it pained her, the small brunette moved around and kneeled so she could see Brian’
s face.

"S-sar.." He whispered, trying to reach for her.

"Shh, love. It’s okay." Sara caressed his hair and tried to calm him, swallowing the huge lump
forming in her throat.

"Are y‘all ..okay?" Brian managed. His wife smiled a bit. It was just like him to worry about
everyone else.

"I think so. Just hang on, ok? I love you."

It was all Brian heard before his shining blue eyes clouded over again and he succumbed to
the darkness around him. His grasp on her hand let go and tears flowed silently out of Sara’s
brown eyes as she saw that there was blood on her hand… and it wasn’t hers.

Then there was the smoke again. It seemed to be growing.. spreading.. She had to keep herself
occupied. Her breathing became heavier and tears fell faster. ‘Sing’ she thought.

In the 1st line of ‘Show Me The Meaning’, Sara heard someone speaking. She wasn’t sure if it
was the array of people outside trying to help them or someone lying lifeless around her.

"Jenn…Jenn, baby…" The voice struggled to find peace somewhere. He struggled to find it in
his pregnant fiance.

"Nick…" Sara got down and crawled over to him now, her head getting lighter and lighter.

"Where’s..Jenn.." Nick was talking slowly, but it was better than Jenn or Brian were doing.

"She’s beside you Nick. Just be still, ok?" She tried to sooth him too. Panicking would be the
worst thing for him right now. Suddenly, she heard him sniffing. "Nick, doll, don’t cry." Sara
said rubbing his arm.

"Sara…Jen’s not…okay. I can..feel..it." He instinctively reached out towards Jenn, feeling her
around him. "Jenn, wake up. Please baby.." Nick gathered all of his strength to scream. "JENN..
WAKE UP!!!" Then he broke back down, his painful sobs making it harder to stay awake.

"Nick..stop..please!!" Sara said raspily, her voice disappearing. "Please…"

She looked around her. A terrified Nick, A pregnant Jenn, and a bleeding Brian. Sara shrank
into a fetal position close to Brian. It was too horrible now.
All of a sudden, the glow of dancing stars broke into the piece of metal once called a limo to
expose the four injured people. It was time to go now…

…only time would tell what would happen now. They could only hope that time was on their
side.


Chapter Three :

But life never asks you what you want It's just gonna have its way Sometimes it doesn't give
like it takes
**Lyrics From Jessica Simpson**



Nick was sitting all alone in a dark room. He didn't want to see anyone. His life was just
crumbling before him. The accident was still replaying in his mind......

He remembered waking up and his first thought went to Jenn. Sara had talked to him for a
second, he knew she did, but he couldn't remember a word of it. He just knew that he was
having a hard time breathing due to the smoke, the constant pain in his right leg, and the
nagging feeling that Jenn wasn't okay.

He struggled to lift himself up to get a better look at her. He leaned over her side a gasped. Her
face had a big cut on the right side and she wasn't moving at all. He suddenly felt the limo
violently shift and felt the temperature rise. There was a bunch of commotion going on outside
that he could hear. "Jenn, please wake up honey....please." He practically whimpered.
Suddenly he saw the flames approaching him and his friends.

He couldn't even think of what to do.

He just started to pray to God. He moved his body in front of Jenn to protect her if the flames
came over to them. He began yelling at Brian and Sara to wake them up, but they weren't
moving. He started getting really light headed as the smoke grew thicker. He almost didn't feel
it as the fire began to reach him.

The fire was just barely touching his arm and as the metal of the limo that kept them captive
was opened up Nick let himself give into the pain as he saw the faces of his saviors......

Now as Nick lay waiting to hear news on his fiancé, his babies, and his friend. He wished that
he hadn’t been so harsh to the others either when he kicked them out. Kevin wanted to stay
and keep him company, Nick would have none of that. Being his normal stubborn self, he
wanted to deal with this all on his own.

But now, as he watched the door open to reveal the tear streaked faces and tired straggles of
Kevin, AJ, and Howie, Nick couldn‘t help but feel bad. He realized that he does need them now
more then ever.

"Nicky, we have some news on the others for you." Howie says with his voice cracking.

Kevin sat down in the chair beside his young brother. There had been so many times in ten
years that the guys had had to tell Nick some terrible things, but never had they had to break
his heart. The older man felt tears filling his eyes and rested a hand on Nick’s back as Howie
broke the news.

"Um," Howie started, wringing his hands in a nervous manner. He usually wasn’t one to be
apprehensive but, now, staring down into Nick’s anxious blue eyes, it was different. Howie saw
so many things in these eyes. He saw the 13 year old boy from 10 years ago. He saw years of
growing the boy still had, perhaps the years of growing that the man had gone through. Then,
there was something in those eyes that the Latino had not seen before. Pure Fear. Fear for his
fiancé. Fear for his children. Fear for his best friends. Hell, it was scaring Howie.

Despite all this though, Howie knew he was the only one who would be able to tell Nick. AJ
would upset his own self, Kevin would break down without even getting any news out. Here
went nothing.

"Nicky," He pulled a chair in front of Nick so they were eye to eye. "Jenn’s okay as far as we
know. But uh…" Howie paused, swallowing hard. " You’re a father man!" He smiled, trying to
make things seem alright. He couldn’t do it.

Nick’s eyes that were minutes ago shadowed with fear were now shining a bit brighter at those
words. Jenn was okay? He was a father? Noticing Howie had stopped speaking, he turned
questioningly to Kevin.

Kevin breathed in sharply and picked up where Howie had left off. "Nick, you only have one
baby. We lost your little boy."

"My…little boy?" The blonde’s eyes quickly dimmed again. This time though, there was not
fear. There was pure sadness. With that sadness came tears. No one expected this. Nick was
never one to cry. He was more an anger person. More likely to get up and fly out of the hospital
like a bat out of hell. It was too much though.

With a heavy sob, Nick fell against Kevin’s chest. The dark haired man comforted his little
brother, shedding his own tears. Howie watched. Watched Nick fall apart right before them. AJ
cried too. What would happen when he knew about Brian and Sara?

Chapter 4 :

Nick just hung on Kevin crying for a good 10 minutes before he was all dried up of tears.
Sniffling quickly he mumbled, "Thanks Kev." Kevin just nodded for he was still to upset to
speak. "What about Sara and Brian? Are they okay??"

"Well, um, lets see here." Howie said trying to stall as much as possible. He paused for a few
seconds, but by the look on Nicks face he knew he couldn't stall anymore. "Well, Brian has
some head trauma and has fallen into a coma." Kevin let out a choked sob at this but Howie
decided to just continue and get it over with now. "And unfortunately Sara seems to have lost
their baby, but other then that she seems to be okay.

Nick just closed his eyes and looked down at the bed. He was surprised when he heard the
door open, thinking that the guys just decided that he needed sometime to himself. Then,
hearing someone clear their throat he looked up.

There, standing before him, was a nurse, but what she held in her arms made his breath stop.
For the first time he was seeing his daughter. He felt at a loss cause. For one his little boy
wouldn’t be there, and he should have been sharing this moment with Jenn.

"Mr. Carter, I would like to introduce you to your daughter. Would you like to hold her?" The
nurse then approached his bedside and began to set her into his arms. "I'll give you a few
minutes alone with her, but I will need to take her back to the nursery." She gave him a smile
and walked out of the door.

"Wow Nick, she's beautiful." AJ said the first words since he had entered the room.

"Do you guys have a name picked out for her yet?" Kevin asked.

"Well, um," Nick started, he was so caught up in emotion he could barely process a thought. "I
would like you guys to meet, Nicole Elizabeth Carter." Just saying her name formed a lump in
his throat. She opened her eyes at the sound of the daddy’s voice. She began smiling and Nick
felt his heart stop.

However Nick was beginning to feel the pain from the burns on his arms come full force. He
pain meds must be wearing off. "Hey Howie, you wanna hold her man? My arms starting to
hurt."

"Sure man, I'd love to." Howie took her from Nick and started rocking her. Nick hit his nurse call
button cause the pain was beginning to become unbearable.

"So has Jenn held her yet?" Nick asked trying to focus on anything but the pain.

When everyone stopped and didn't make eye contact, he began to worry. "Well, she still hasn’t
waken up yet. They had to take the babies cesarean from her. But, they just have to wait for her
to wake up before they are sure of her condition." Kevin said allowing Howie to not have to be
the bearer of bad news the whole time.

"You mean she still isn’t awake? She doesn’t even know about the babies yet?!" Nick was
stunned by this revelation. Life could just be so cruel to him at times.

~*Later*~

Nick sat in another room now. His eyes wandered from staring outside the window to the
woman that lye sleeping on the bed. No, he wasn’t with Jenn. He wasn’t strong enough yet…
not now. Yah, Nick had felt bad about going to see Sara first but, she was closer to normal than
both of the others. Maybe seeing Brian’s wife would give him an escape for a little bit longer,
let his tired mind believe they were all only coming out of this with scratches or bruises.

The tall blonde couldn’t help but smile as he watched Sara’s eyes flutter open from a restless
sleep. God knows how many times Nick had woken Brian in the morning only to have the older
man call him Sara. It had always made Nick laugh when Brian turned a deep shade of red,
finding that it wasn’t his wife at all.

"Bri- OH!" She smiled innocently and yawned. "Nick."

"Yah… sorry to disappoint you." Nick forced a grin of his own before letting out a heavy sigh.
"How you feelin’?"

Sara gave him an unknowing look and then suddenly shot back into reality. She wasn’t at
home at all, she was still in this wretched hospital. Quickly, she jerked her head to see that the
bed beside her was empty. Brian was still in bad shape, she supposed. The doctor earlier had
no choice but to tell her what was going on with her husband since she had asked about a
hundred times. As if a reminder to her injuries, Sara’s stomach growled. Her baby. Their baby.
It was gone. Brian was gone for all she knew. Her everything. The brunette closed her eyes
lightly and swallowed.

"Not that great Nick." Her bottom lip quivered and she shut her eyes tighter, thinking maybe it
would stop the tears threatening to fall.

It was no help at all. The tears came in heaps, the harder she tried to stop, the more they came.

Nick was stunned. In the four years he had known Sara, he had never seen her cry. Hell, he
hadn’t even seen Brian cry in those years either. But that was Brian and Sara. This time, there
was no Brian. This time, they may never have Brian again. Soon, Nick’s thoughts had filled his
blue eyes with tears. He sat, not knowing what to do, playing with the gold band he wore on his
right hand.

"Nick…it’s okay to cry, right?" Sara’s voice was so weak and pitiful he almost didn’t recognize
it.

"Yah. It is, Sar." Nick whispered back. Without thinking anymore, he stood and sat on the side
of her bed, taking her in his arms and hugging her like he wanted to hug Jenn.

A few moments later, Sara pulled back from Nick a little. Brushing blonde hair out of his red
tinted eyes. "How’s.. Jenn?" She was scared to ask.

"Um.." Nick sniffed. Time to practice how strong he could be. "We.. we have a little baby girl.
We lost our boy but…I guess God needed an extra angel."

Sara noticed Nick’s eyes welling back up with tears and, giving him a sympathetic look, rubbed
his arm gently. "Well, I’m sure your little girl is beautiful." She looked down and tried not to
think of what her and Brian’s little one would’ve looked like. "So…you must wanna go see
Jenn, huh?"

"Jenn’s not awake. They don’t know of her condition yet." He sighed heavily and stared up at
the ceiling. "I can’t watch her slip away from me."

"Nick, who told you she was slipping away?"

"She’s not been awake since the accident Sar. She’s dying!" Nick cried out.

"Go see her Nick. She needs you.."

"No.. I can’t. YOU go see Brian." He sounded more harsh than he meant to but, he didn’t know
what to do.

Sara swallowed and sucked her bottom lip. "If you go see Jenn, I’ll go see Brian." Her heart
cringed at the sound of his name. "It’s now or never Nick. For both of us. We’re the ones who
have to hang on for them when they can’t hang for themselves."

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Nick knew she was right. He stood hesitantly, helping
Sara pull on her robe. They walked out of the door together like two scared children looking for
their parents. After finding where their significant others were located, the two split ways.

Neither of them knew what awaited them behind the doors of rooms 204 and 311 nor did they
know that none of their lives would ever be the same again.

Chapter 5

Nick opened the door and stoped as he gazed in. There were no lights on inside the room, just a glowing from the monitors
that seemed to line her bedside. After a moments hesitation he decided it was now or never. He slowly made his way to her
bedside.

She looked a little different to him. Now the ever presistant growing belly before him, but the Jenn he had remembered from
years past. He leaned over her bed to get a better look at her. She almost looked as if there was nothing wrong with her,
except for the gash that was on the left side of her face that ran from the top of her temple to the bottom of her chin. He
wondered what could've done that, but quickly put that aside.

He then pulled up a chair to her side and reached for her hand. His eyes went directly to the ring that he had put on her finger
a few short months ago. Once he had found out that she was pregnant, he knew that he couldn't wait another day to give her
this ring. He had wanted to get married right away, but she wouldn't have none of it. She didn't want to get married while she
was pregnant, wanted to wait till after the baby came.

Then came the day that they found out they were going to have not just one baby, but two. They had been so happy, so happy.
Nick found a new round of tears upon him. He thought he was all cried out, but he was wrong. He put his head down on the
bed as he held her hand.

"Jenn, I need you. I can't be without you." Nick said with a choked sob. "Our baby needs you. Please, please don't leave me."
Nick just sat there crying for the longest time. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked into the eyes of one of the
nurses.

"Um, I knew that you were in here and thought that maybe you would like a few minutes with your baby and your fiance
together." The nurse said as Nick noticed the baby in her arms.

"Oh, gee, thank you so much." Nick reached out and took his daughter into his arms. With that the nurse left the room.
"Nicole, I would like to introduce you to your mother." Nick layed the baby down on the bed next to Jenn and just stared at the
two much important women in his life.

"Jenn, our beautiful little girl is just waiting for you to wake up. She really wants to meet you. You need to make it, if not for
me, but for her. Please God, don't take her from me too."

Suddenly he heard Jenn let out a low moan. As his eyes traveled up to her face, he saw her eyes flutter open. He felt his heart
skip a beat as she looked into his eyes.

"Jenn, you're awake! Oh thank God." Nick leaned up and gave her a kiss on the lips.

Jenn gave him a confused look then began to speak, "Um....do I know you?"

Chapter 6

Sara shakily pushed the door open to room 204. What waited inside for her, she wasn’t sure. All she could feel in that
moment was the sickening feeling in her stomach and the sound of her heart thumping loudly into her ears. If she hadn’t
promised Nick, she would’ve turned around right then.

The brunette slowly licked her lips and stepped further into the room. There she stood, at the end of the bed, looking at the
man before her. This wasn’t Brian. The Brian she knew would’ve sat straight up and welcomed her in. The Brian she knew
would’ve taken her hand and tell her it was okay. Her chocolate eyes glazed over with tears when realization hit her.

This was Brian Littrell, small and fragile, lying lifeless in a foreign bed. He wasn’t welcoming her because he wasn’t even in
this world right now. He wasn’t telling her it would be okay because… it wasn’t.

Sara found herself crying for the second time that day. How would she go on without him? He was everything to her. She sat
down in a chair beside his bed and took his limp, cool hand in hers. With her other hand, she gently stroked his hair. Gently,
she laid her head down beside his, watching the soft rise and fall of his chest, the constant beep on the monitor.

"Hey baby…" She smiled slightly. Brian always made fun of her when she said that. He claimed it made him think of Kevin’s
speaking parts in numerous songs. Sara would respond by throwing a pillow at his head but then he’d kiss her…and all
thoughts of anything else floated out the window.

More tears spilled out of her eyes as he gave no response. None of that beautiful smile or that Littrell charm. Her only
response was the constant tiring beep of that damn machine.

"I know you can hear me Brian. You always told me that… that if something ever happened to you, that I was your angel, you’
d hear me wherever you are. You said you would feel me anywhere." Sara breathed out shakily. "You can’t start going back
on your words now Littrell. Remember our wedding? That fairy tale wedding… Bri, no fairy tale ends sadly so you gotta come
back to me. We’re supposed to grow old together… have children… grandchildren…" She swallowed and choked a sob,
remembering the baby they had lost.

"Damn you Littrell! It’s not supposed to happen this way. I’m still so in love with you." Sara ran her long fingers through his
golden curls and she felt it. He was squeezing her hand. It wasn’t hard, but it was enough to feel. She managed to smile
through her tears, knowing he was struggling to join her. "C’mon baby…" She mumbled under her breath, squeezing his
hand back.

And a tear fell from beneath his closed eyes. He could her. The pain and hurt and worry in her voice. The things he had never
wanted to cause her. Brian struggled so hard to open those blue eyes, if only for a moment. Just to let her know it was okay.
He was okay.

It was too much. It hurt so bad. Physically and emotionally. He…had to…give up…

" I Love You Sarbear." It was all that was in his mind…all he wanted to say…

Then, with Sara still squeezing his hand, Brian Littrell flat lined.

Chapter 7:

"Do I know you?" Jenn asked again as Nick looked at her in shock.

"It's me Jenn, you're fiancé. Nick, Nick Carter. You've got to remember me." Nick said back to her in complete disbelief.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember. I can't remember anything!" Jenn yelled out. Suddenly the baby started crying. Jenn looked
down at her, "Is that....."

"Yeah Jenn, that's yours and my baby. We just had her today." Nick decided to leave out the part about their little boy. "You
wanna hold her?"

"Umm....I don’t know....I can't....breathe." Jenn started gasping for air. The machines all around her started beeping loudly
causing the baby to cry even more.

"Jenn, baby calm down. It's gonna be alright." Nick picked the baby up as Jenn started going into convulsions. "SHIT, shit,
shit." Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched the love of his life practically dying in front of his eyes. The baby had now
reached super sonic screaming levels as the nurses and doctors filled the room.

As he saw them wheeling in the crash cart, he decided that he couldn’t handle being in there for that. He held Nicole close to
his chest and made his way out of the room. As he exited the room he ran into someone. Looking up he came face to face
with Kevin.

"What’s going on?" Kevin asked with a scared tone to his voice.

"I...I don't know. She woke up and she didn't know who I was." Nick let out a sniffle.

"Then she couldn't breathe, and then....and then....she...." Nick couldn't finish. Kevin just put an arm around him and began
walking him down the hall. Unsure on how to break the news on his best friend Brian to him.

"Let's just get you back to your room for now Nick. They set up a crib so you can have Nicole with you whenever you want
now." Kevin opened Nicks door for him.

"Here Kev, can you put her in her crib. I think I need to sit down." Kevin gladly took Nicole and held her for a few minutes
before he put her into her crib. Hoping that he'd be able to prolong what he was about to tell him for a few more minutes.

"Did Sara get to see Bri?" Nick asked.

Damn, Nick asked quicker then Kevin thought he would. Well, Kevin figured if he had to tell him, he might as well get it over
with. "Nick, I have some bad news for you."

"What’s…that?" Nick was no longer afraid of anything bad. He slowly felt his heart turning cold and against the world. Why
was hell wreaking havoc on him?!
"Um… Bri…he went into cardiac arrest about 15 minutes ago." Kevin licked his lips hesitantly.

Nick refused to believe it. He quickly jerked his head toward the window, folding his arms and keeping his silence. This would
all go away if he ignored it long enough. It HAD to. He couldn’t take it.

Cardiac Arrest. Although Kevin didn’t see it, that scared the living shit out of Nick worse than anything else. He had calmed
himself into thinking Jenn only had a touch of amnesia, that Sara would be happy again when Brian awoke and, indeed, Brian
would awake before the night was over. But cardiac arrest? Brian’s heart. Suddenly, images of his best friend’s heart
surgery in ’98 flew through an old window of his mind. So weak…

"Damn!" Nick finally muttered through clenched teeth and, although he could feel Kevin’s arms trying to embrace him
warmly, the blonde wouldn’t reciprocate the action. He wasn’t breaking down anymore. Why care? Everytime he even
thought about caring, something happened. He was a jinx, he finally concluded. "Get away.." He jerked.

Kevin looked up at Nick with teary eyes. Opening his mouth to offer words of comfort, wisdom maybe, he was abruptly cut off
by a yell from the doorway behind him.

"KEVIN! Sara’s room…quick!" AJ alerted in a quite hurried manner.

The older man looked the between his two bandmates and, noticing the urgency in AJ’s voice, left Nick to be by himself for a
while. Kevin took off with quick pace, following AJ down the hall.

"What’s goin’ on?" He asked, wishing it was all just a nightmare.

"It’s Sara. The sedative wore off and now she’s in hysterics. No one can calm her down and the nurses are afraid to give her
anything right now. Since you’re Brian’s cousin…" AJ’s rasped voice faded as he led Kevin to the scene.

"Oh my god…Sar.." Kevin walked over slowly to the hospital bed.

There, was Sara, curled up against the headboard, sobs wracking her whole body. Howie was on one side of her… crying
too. Kevin had to admit. It was too much for anyone. Brian was so full of life. So full of love. Now, they weren’t even sure if they’
d ever get their Brian back…

The tall man swallowed and joined Howie at the opposite side, taking his cousin’s wife’s hand. It was so cold, fragile. Then,
she looked up at him and it was the image of her face that Kevin would never forget. It had been just yesterday that AJ was
making fun of the couple for how much they looked alike, always glowing and smiling. Standing there, Kevin wondered if his
cousin would ever have that glow about him again.
Back in room 311, Brian Littrell laid on a stiff bed, chest exposed, mouth covered with oxygen. His pale, weak body being
jerked by machines that would give him a second chance. Though, Brian’s whole life had been a second chance… who knew
if God would give him a miracle this time.

Because, now, a miracle was the only thing that would bring Brian back.

Chapter 8:

It had been two days since Brian had gone into cardiac arrest. Two long days and he still hadn’t woken up. Sara had been
released the day before and was keeping close vigil on her husband. The signs were getting better and better for him to
wake up soon.

Nick had also been released that same day as Sara. Nicole was due to be released today, and Nick was scared. Very scared.
Jenn was supposed to be there along side of him when they took the babies home. Now, there would be no going home, and
only one baby. It had already been a hard day for him. He had to call up the funeral home to make arrangements for their little
boy.

It had been the hardest thing for him to do his whole life. He decided that there wouldn’t even be a funeral due to Jenn not
being okay yet. Maybe, one day when Jenn was better, they would do their own ceremony for little Nicolas.

Jenn had woken up a few times in the last few days, only for a few minutes at a time though. He had been instructed by the
doctors to take it real slow with her. Let her ask all the questions, don't push her with anything.

She still didn't remember anything, which was killing him. He wanted to talk to the woman he was in love with. Make plans for
their wedding, watch the baby get bigger and bigger every day. The baby was right beside Jenn’s bed now. Since Nick had
been released they allowed the baby to stay in her room now.

Jenn's eyes fluttered open and Nick was at her side immediately.

"Hey, how you feeling?" Nick asked as he grabbed her hand.

"Um, better. My head still hurts but other then that I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks for asking, how about you?" Jenn asked as
she sat herself up a little more.

"Better now that you're getting better." The baby started to fuss a little bit and Nick looked over at her.

"Nick, if you could would you hand her to me. I think I'm ready to hold her." Jenn said timidly.

Nick was shocked at this sudden turn around. The last time she had been awake she was afraid to even look at her. This
was great. He walked over to Nicole and skillfully picked her up and carefully placed her into Jenn's arms.

This was the first time that she held Nicole. Nick just stood there in awe, if he had a camera he would have taken a picture.
The baby just looked so comfortable in Jenn's arms. Nicole quickly calmed down and fell asleep in her arms.

Nick had tears shining in his eyes. This was a big step for her recovery and, as tears fell down Nicks face, he knew that from
here on out everything would get better.

~*~

Kevin and AJ walked into Brian’s room after they had visited Nick, who seemed to be doing a much better job with dealing
with things this morning.

But they knew behind their other brother’s door was a different story.

A sad smile grew across Kevin’s face as he entered his cousin’s dimly lit room. There, where she had been for the past
week, was Brian’s wife.. Sleeping with her head rested on her husband’s hand.

"Sar?" He tapped her shoulder lightly and immediately she shot up.

"Oh…hey." She replied finally, standing to meet the two men.

"No change?" AJ asked, hugging her tight. He felt her head shake negatively against his chest and the cheer he received
from Nick’s room had drained.

"Sar, go home and get some rest, ok?" Kevin spoke looking from his cousin to the young woman. "Please? You know Bri
would want you to. We’ll take care of him."

After a little input from AJ, Sara was SENT home by the two men. Her brown eyes were dull now, not at all with the glimmer
they had become so accustomed to. The smile that Brian had always said was one of the best things about her had went into
hiding. In fact, even in his worst stage, Sara resembled Brian still. Maybe they were just that connected. She was where he
was. Now and Forever.

But who knew how long forever would last…

Sara pulled into the driveway of their house in Florida. She sat for a minute after the engine had gone off, staring at the
yard…the house. She and Brian used to sit on that porch and imagine their children playing in that yard. Though, it seemed
now that Brian had been gone for ages and all the memories now were just a faint dream.

The brunette sighed, sniffing back the tears that threatened to fall. Opening her front door, though, she could no longer hold
the tears back. There was so many memories in this house and it wasn’t even their home without him. The house was
dead…no longer full of life. Throwing her purse down, she walked aimlessly to the bathroom where she would prepare a
shower and hope to wash away some of the hurt inside of her.

And there… were his boxers in the corner, along with the shirt he had worn the last night he’d been here. Sara smiled.

"Damn you Brian. You didn’t have to do all this just to get me to pick up your dirty laundry." She spoke, bending down to put
them in the hamper. All too suddenly, she was overwhelmed with his scent and she could’ve sworn his body heat was still
held inside these clothes. " God, baby, if only…"

"If only what?" A deep voice spoke from the doorway.

Sara looked up to see a talk pale man standing in the doorway of the bathroom. Her breathe stuck in her throat until she
finally managed. "Who are…you?"

*Back at the hospital*

Brian Littrell’s eyes slowly fluttered open to meet those of his cousin.

"Brian!" He heard Kevin say, hovering over him and touching his head. The next thing Brian saw was his other ‘brother’ with
sunglasses on. AJ no doubt, Brian managed a smile.

"Too bright in here, J?" The words were weak and raspy, but it made the two men smile, realizing Brian hadn’t suffered as
much head trauma as was to be expected.

"Hey, rest man, ok? You’ve been out quite a while. Just hang in there." AJ spoke seriously.

Brian was about to take their advice and search his foreign surroundings when he realized why he had awoken so quickly.

"Sara…" He rasped.

"She’s at home Rok , resting. Now shh." Kevin affirmed. That’s when he saw worry rise in his young cousin’s eyes. "She’s
okay."

"No…she’s not." Brian jerked his head in AJ’s direction, panic evident in his mannerisms. "Please go check on her AJ…"

"Rok..She’s…"

"GO!" Brian said with all the strength he had. Sara was in Brian’s heart… and it made him hurt. Something was wrong.

Chapter 9

"So, tell me about us?" Jenn asked Nick randomly as she was rocking the baby.

"About us, let’s see here. We've know each other for about two years now. AJ introduced us at one of his many parties. He had
met you from one of his drinking buddies." Nick started out.

"AJ…huh…that name does seem to ring a bell." She sat in deep thought for a few seconds then her eyes got really big.
"Tattoos, that's what I see when I think of that name."

"Yeah, AJ has a lot of tattoos." Nick said calmly although in his head he was screaming out of happiness that she was
remembering at least something.

"Alright, now continue on about us." Jenn said getting excited over the fact that things were surfacing in her mind.

"Well, I don't know about you, but the second I saw you I was in love. Until then I didn't believe in love at first sight. You changed
a lot of things in my life for the better, but anyway. We ended up dating for a little over a year. I had been planning on proposing
for a while but I could never find the right time. Then we went out for dinner and you told me you were going to be having our
baby. I knew that then was the right time. We have been so happy since. Just planning our family and enjoying time together."
Nick was close to having tears in his eyes, but held them in as to not upset Jenn.

"That's so sweet, I know that once I remember what we had we will be right back where we were." Jenn said with a smile on
her face for one of the first times since the accident.

Nick had thought that this week couldn't have gotten any worse.

Just as he and Jenn were beginning to bond things took a turn for the worst.

AJ had stormed into Jenn's room, panting out of breath.

"Sara….house…..attacked…..emergency room….." Was all Jenn or Nick could understand from the man.

"Whoa AJ, slow down. Catch your breath then tell us what's going on." Nick said as he approached AJ.

"What's going on?" Jenn asked skeptically as she rocked the baby back and forth in her arms.

AJ soon caught his breath and began to tell the story. "First off Brian woke up." AJ started.

"Really!!??" Nick exclaimed.

"Yeah, but anyway, when he woke up he was all worried about Sara."

"Brian and Sara….do I know them Nick?" Jenn asked looking confused.

AJ just kind of stared at her like she was crazy. He had forgotten all about Jenn not remembering anything. Nick inwardly
berated himself for forgetting that he wasn't supposed to mention this kind of stuff in front of her.

"Yeah Honey, you know them. I'll be right back to talk to you about this. AJ and I are just going to step outside for a second."
Nick said as Jenn just simply nodded in return as he walked out the door.

"Damn I didn't remember that she couldn't remember anything. Sorry dude, but she will get her memory back soon, right?" AJ
asked.

"I sure hope so, but she did remember that whom ever AJ was had tattoos." Nick said with a smile.

"Well no one ever forgets the bonedaddy." AJ said also with a smile.

"Anyway what happened?" Nick asked getting anxious to get off of the subject of Jenn's recovery and also to find out what
happened.

"It's not good man, Brian woke up and was all worried about Sara. He made us go to his place to check on her and when we got
there…god…it was just bad. When Sara didn't answer the door Kevin went to open the door with his key and found it was
already unlocked. We found her in the bedroom, there was this guy on top of her. I don't even want to know what he was doing.
But Kevin and I managed to get him off of her and restrain him till the police got there."

"Oh my god, this can't be happening." Nick said in shock.

"Well, they got her down in emergency right now. The asshole was arrested, but I did get to do some damage to him." AJ added
trying to make something sound good. "But I'm kinda worried. He warned us to watch out backs, that we all should be dead."

"He said that?!!"

"Yeah, luckily he did so in front of the police. Now they won't even grant him bail."

"Does Brian know about this yet??" Nick asked.

"Oh, no. I'm not about to tell him that. We want to wait till they get Sara stable and find out the extent of her injuries." AJ replied.

"Man, Bri will be so heartbroken when he hears this." Nick was silenced for a moment, thinking about the romance of his
friends. "Well, I'm going back into the room with Jenn. I'm sure she's gonna want me to tell her who Brian and Sara are
anyway, but I'm not going to tell her what happened tonight. God, I just can't believe this is all happening to us."

~*~

Brian was running his sheets over and under his fingers anxiously as he wondered what was going on with everyone else. He
couldn’t believe he had been out for so long. The weak man tried to remember the last thing he could…remember.


"Damn you Littrell! It’s not supposed to happen this way. I’m still so in love with you."

He could remember her voice softly crying out to him. It was the last he had really heard of her. Brian knew his wife had been
there for the past couple of days though. Although his brain couldn’t really grasp what she was saying then, he could feel her.
Her fingers curling through his hair, his fingers touching the lips that he longed for.

And the only words in his mind. The ones he fought so hard to say. The ones he knew would make her feel better.

‘I love you Sar.’

The Backstreet Boy angrily wiped tears away from his eyes with the back of his hand. What was this feeling inside him? What
was wrong with him? With Sara? Why did he feel like his whole life was slipping through his hands when he didn’t even know
for sure that anything was wrong?

Why couldn’t he have just said ‘I Love You’?

Brian’s thoughts were too many and too harsh and he would’ve screamed had AJ not walked in at the same moment.

"Hey Rok.." AJ tried to act as casual as possible. Seeing his friend’s eyes light up when he saw him, he wasn’t sure how long
he could hold up.

"J.. Where’s Sara?" He didn’t mean to sound rude. He just had this aching in his heart and knew that his wife being okay was
the only thing to take that ache away.

"Um, I don’t know. Nick needed me to help with Jenn so…Kev went by himself." AJ lied.

"Oh." It was all the older man said before slumping further into his bed and looking out the window for a few moments.
"So…Jenn.. Nick…how are they?"

"Well, Nick’s fine. They’re proud parents of the sweetest baby girl." The thin man paused. "Jenn’s suffering from mild memory
loss right now. She can’t remember who Nick is or.. anything really. He’s had to explain everything to her. I guess he’s sort of
her ‘rock’ now."

"Aw man. I’m glad the baby’s okay though." He swallowed. "How’s Sara?"

"Well…um…" AJ stumbled and gave an inward thanks to God when he saw a nurse coming in.

"Glad to see you’re awake!" A cheerful blonde nurse smiled, writing things down on a clipboard. "I need to check your vitals…"

Brian willingly let her do her job but his mind wandered as to what AJ was hiding. Why wouldn’t anyone tell him anything about
his wife?

"Um, nurse, would it be okay if my friend here takes me down the hall to see my other friends who were in the accident with
me?" He couldn’t lay here any longer and he felt stronger than he had that morning.

"Well, not really.. You see.." This nurse always had trouble turning someone down.

"Please ma’am. I need to see them. Really.."

Once Brian’s eyes filled with tears, she knew she had to give in. Rolling a wheelchair in front of where AJ stood and helping
Brian into it, she warned the two men not to get her in trouble.

"Does that mean no wheelchair wheelies?" AJ smiled charmingly.

The nurse only smiled and raised her eyebrows as she left the room.

~*~

An half hour later, Brian was cradling his best friend’s daughter and smiling at something so familiar.

"I hope my little baby is as beautiful as yours Nick." Brian smiled, able to forget his longing for Sara for a few moments, thinking
about how his life would be with his new bundle of joy.

AJ stood up and walked out of the room. He couldn’t take it anymore. Sara was in more danger than Brian knew and up until
now, AJ had forgotten all about the baby that the couple had lost. Brian didn’t know and his brother could no longer watch him
hold Nick’s baby with thoughts of his own.

Nick was left in the room with Jenn and Brian. He watched as his best friend spoke like Donald Duck to his daughter and
watched again at how Brian made Jenn laugh. That was Jenn’s laugh. The laugh he had been trying to remember for weeks.
The sound that rang through his ears and pulled at his heart like no other.

Yet, Brian was causing it.

He remembered how moments ago, when he was explaining Sara and Brian, she had vaguely remembered them. Why the hell
couldn’t she remember her own fiance? It angered him, frustrated him, confused him….hurt him. Nick couldn’t help feel a tinge
of jealousy run through his body.

How he could be jealous though? He would’ve hated to be in Brian’s shoes at that moment. Not knowing anything around him.
Not knowing anything about what his love was going through. Not knowing that there was no longer a baby waiting for him.

So, what was Nick supposed to feel?

Numb, he supposed. It would be so much better than feeling anything else now.

But that’s when they heard it and Nick shut his eyes tightly, hoping Brian hadn’t heard the words fly through the air and into the
open door of Jenn’s room.

" Emergency…Patient Sara Littrell…Age 24..."

Chapter 10:

----MISSING PART----

*Jenn's POV*
Everyone just stood there frozen as the man continued to take a few more pictures. I don’t understand why this guy would be
taking pictures of us. “Nick what’s going o­n.” I said looking up at him. Apparently what I said brought him out of the shock he
was in cause he suddenly jumped up and started running after the man.

As Nick ran out the door everyone else started to come back to there senses. I looked around at them all in question. “Why did
Nick just run after that man like that, and why would he be taking pictures of us?”

“Don’t worry about it right now Jenn.” The Latino guy said to me. “Nick will let you know all about it later.”

“Damnit! I don’t wanna wait till later. I am sick of all you guys telling me that you will tell me about stuff later. I wanna know
about it now!” I was starting to get real impatient with them. I’m sick of not knowing all the time.

“Okay, okay, just calm down sweetie.” AJ said to me. He came up to me and helped me back up into the bed. “You see, the fella’
s and I are all part of this musical group known as the Backstreet Boys. So that’s why that reporter was in here trying to get
pictures of us. I just hope Nick caught that bastard before he got out the door.”

“So you guys are famous, and nobody knows that this has happened to us yet. Is that pretty much it?” I asked skeptically.

“Yeah sweetie, it is.” AJ responded back. Just then Nick came back in panting for air. He just looked at the others and shook
his head no. Everyone let out a groan and Nick came and sat o­n the side of my bed.

“So you didn’t catch him?” I asked him as he grabbed a hold of my hand.

“No, he got away. I guess that now we need to hold a conference.”

“For the fans?” I asked him. Nick just looked at me with this confused look and I gave him a smile back. “No, I didn’t remember
that, AJ told me when you were gone.”

Nick gave AJ a really mean look then AJ spoke up. “Hey man, she made us tell her. She got all mad and I thought that she might
kill us all if we didn’t tell her what was going o­n.” AJ replied with a laugh.

Soon Brian went back too his room, the other guys went back to their homes I guess, and Nick of course was staying here with
me. It had been in the early morning hours and I was up feeding Nicole when the tall dark haired friend of Nicks came rushing
in. He stopped short when he saw that I was feeding the baby.

“Oh, I’m so sorry that I walked in o­n you.” He said as he looked away from me. Luckily I had a blanket up around the baby so it
wasn’t like he was seeing anything.

“Don’t worry, I’m not. So what has you rushing in here like a madman for?” I asked as Kevin walked further into the room.

“Oh, ah, nothing. I just need to show Nick something.” Kevin said while he was obviously hiding something behind his back.

“Is it that picture?” I had an inkling that is what it was all about.

“Well, yeah it is.” He came up over next to me. I looked over at Nick who was loudly snoring in the chair. I wanted to put the
baby back in her crib, but I really didn’t feel like I could get back up.

“Hey, ummm….” God, I can’t remember his name!!

“Kevin….” He responded understandingly.

“Sorry, Kevin could you please put Nicole back into her crib for me.” I asked as I lifted her up towards him.

He gladly moved her to her crib and set down the paper o­n the bed. There o­n the very front page was a picture of me kneeling
in front of Brian with tears in my eyes. The headline read:

Backstreet Boys involved in fatal car accident. Brian Littrell may never walk again. o­ne life already lost in this tragic accident.
Mother mourns over loss of twin.

Suddenly everything started spinning. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. What did this mean? Then the spinning became too much and
the last thing I saw was Kevin rushing over to me as my world went black.

Chapter 11:

"C'mon man.. Talk to us." AJ pleaded with Brian.

Brian Littrell had not said two words to anyone since he had heard Sara's name. He figured since everyone had lied to him,
there was no point in talking to them anymore. Truth was though, the moment he would open his mouth, tears would spill out of
his eyes. He knew no o­ne but Sara could stop them and Brian didn't want anyone else trying. So, there he sat, arms folded,
refusing to even sleep until someone told him what was going o­n.

AJ looked across the bed to Kevin, who was sitting by the window, thinking of a way to get his cousin to open up. He rubbed his
tired green eyes and wished he could wake up and figure this was a long nightmare. The tall man rose to his feet and
wandered over to Brian, whose jaw clenched tighter.

"Bri, we were just trying to figure everything out before we told you. We didn't want you to work yourself up?" His voice drifted.

"WHAT THE HELL KEVIN!?" Brian finally burst, tears and all. "She's my friggin wife and you weren't gonna tell me until she
died?!"

"She's not dead Rok.." AJ came in softly, scared of Brian's outburst.

" How the hell do I know that?! I can't believe either of you anymore. And don't try to make it better because it's not! I'm living in
hell and you're trying to sugarcoat it like it's some kind of soap opera." He took a minute to breath. " It's not a soap opera guys,
it's my life." The last words were spoken softly, realization setting in o­n Brian that his life was turning to fast.

"Brian.. Calm down.." Kevin patted his cousin's shoulder, watching the heart monitor with a worried look.

"I'm not! Just ..go away!" Brian finally looked up into AJ and Kevin's eyes and saw the hurt they possessed. "I.I.." He wanted to
apologize, but he couldn't. He didn't want to apologize to anyone for anything until he got his thoughts straight first. It had o­nly
been hours since he woke up and he was confused beyond words. "Go."

The two men looked at each other and ,without a word, knew they had to leave Brian to himself for a while.

"Fine Bri, we'll go get some dinner." With that, they left, shutting the door behind them, drowning out the bright light of the
hallway.

Brian turned o­n his side and slid down underneath his covers. That's when something hit his leg. He reached down and pulled
out a pink colored carebear. He smiled, realizing that Sara had brought it to him. It was the o­ne she had gotten for him a while
back at the beginning of their last tour to go along with her nickname. He had laughed and bought her a stuffed duck.

The small man smiled at the memory and tears spilled out of his eyes at the same time. He stared outside of his window,
watching rain drizzle down. She loved the rain. He loved her in it.

Closing his eyes, he murmured a song he had sung to her so many nights o­n the road as she fell asleep o­n the phone. "When
evening shadows and the stars appear, And there is no o­ne there to dry your tears, I could hold you for a million years, To
make you feel my love..."

And there, he fell asleep, the carebear still tight in his grasp.

~*~

It had been a few hours since Brian had fallen asleep and Nick sat in the dark room, playing nervously with his ring.

Since Jenn had passed out a while ago, the doctors informed Nick they thought it would be better for him to stay away for the
night, give her time to relax.

It had killed him. It was because of his celebrity status that Jenn was having too much put o­n her at o­nce and not even HE was
allowed to be with her now. Nick ran his hands through his hair and leaned his elbows o­n his knees. He missed her already.

Maybe he would just give up his occupation. At least for a little while, until Jenn got better. He would be home to plan the
wedding, take care of Nicole.

He smiled at the thought. He knew Jenn would fight with him to go o­n but...

Or would she? Jenn didn't know anything about him anymore. o­nly what he had told her. What if she couldn't fall in love with
him again the way she had a year ago? The way he loved her now.

Suddenly, an unexpected cry of confusion left Nick's lips, jolting his friend out of mid snore and hurling him back to reality.

"Sar?" Brian called out, blinking with disorientation.

"I..I'm sorry Bri." Nick stuttered out, drying his tears before his best friend reached for the light.

"It's okay. I don't care for dreaming anymore anyway." He rubbed his eyes and sat up, gently laying the bear beside him, away
from Nick. "So, what're you doing here? And why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying."

"You are too, liar. C'mon Nick, I've known you for ten years."

"They're keeping me away from Jenn.." Nick's mouth stumbled.

"WHY?" Brian asked, eyes opening wider.

"Because.." The blondes tears choked him. "Because I'm causing her stress.."

"What the hell.." It seemed to be Brian's new phrase.

"I'm causing her to freak out because she's learning things too fast." He paused and looked up. "I didn't mean to Brian. I don't
care who or what she remembers, I would protect her from the whole world if I could but..I can't.. No o­ne can. Why are they
blaming me Brian?! I just wanted to love her."

By now, Nick's whole body wracked with sobs and Brian, knowing he couldn't walk, had to do something. He looked down at his
weak legs that barely had feeling and then back to Nick. "Screw it." The older man murmured. With wobbly legs, he stood up
and fell in front of Nick o­n his knees.

"Brian!" The taller man shouted in a low tone. Pushing the chair out from underneath him, Nick sat o­n the ground too, pulling
Brian close for he too had begun to cry.

"I can't ..walk anymore,Nick." He managed.

"You can Brian. You can. Just be patient." He now felt bad about coming to Brian's room but, they both needed someone. "Bri?"

"Hmm?" He answered, sniffing against Nick's chest.

And although it was weird, and it hadn't been said in years, they needed to hear it. "I love you man."

"I love you too Nick."

Both men cried. For what they had, what they'd have to wait for, and what they would never have again.

Chapter 12:

“Nick, are you okay?” Sara asked from her bed as Nick stared out into space.

“Oh, um yeah, sorry.” Nick responded slightly shaking his head from side to side. “I guess I was out in space or something.”

Sara nodded in response and stared out the window as well. She had been so confused since yesterday. It had been forever
since she wanted to hold Brian again and kiss his lips but... since the incident at her house, her heart ached at his name. She
felt like she had cheated o­n him and, well, how would she tell him about their baby. How would she be able to watch his heart
break in front of her?

"Nick?" He had lost himself again.

"Hmm?" The blonde stuck his head between his wrists and ran his hands through his hair.

" Um, can you go...for a bit?" Sara bit her lip, realizing how rude she sounded. "I mean..um, I just..." Tears blurred her vision as
she looked at her husband's best friend.

"I understand Sar. I've gotta go talk to J, anyway." He hugged her gently and left the room. Nick then noticed the infant carrier in
the chair that cradled his little girl. "You mind if I leave her here? I'll be back in a few!"

Sara nodded with a smile and she reached over to caress Nicole's cheek. As soon as Nick left though, tears of jealousy
streamed down her face and she wondered if anyone had told Brian about their own baby. She guessed she would figure it out
in a few hours when she was released. Confusion and emotion mixed inside of her and consumed her mind.

Nick was pretty sure that all the guys were in Brian’s room so he headed in that direction. He passed by Jenn’s room and
desperately wanted to go in there, but he knew he couldn’t. Stupid doctors. So Nick continued down a few more doors to Brian’
s.

As he walked into the room, he saw a blonde haired women in deep conversation with Brian. She turned around as Nick said hi
to everyone.

“Oh god, Nicky.” Lori shouted as she jumped up and ran over to him. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to get here.” Lori is AJ’s
girlfriend and Jenn’s best friend since middle school. Lori is an actress and had been off in London shooting a movie.

“Don’t worry about it Lori, you had to work. Speaking of, how did you manage to get back here like 2 weeks early?” Nick asked
as he released from the hug that him and Lori were sharing.

“We were ahead of schedule, and when I heard about what happened I told the director that we needed to get finished cause I
had a family emergency. And by the way, whenever something like this happens I need a phone call, cause I found out from a
damn reporter and I freaked out.”

“Sorry about that sweetie.” AJ said as he came up behind her and put his arms around her waist.

“Well, its good that you’re here now. I don’t know if AJ told you yet, but he is the o­nly o­ne that Jenn has remembered so far.”
Nick said with a hint of sadness to his voice. “But I was just thinking that since you’re the person that has known her the
longest, she might remember you too.”

“So she really doesn’t remember anything. I was hoping that had been a bad rumor. Do you think that I can go and see her?”
Lori asked.

“I’ll have to go and ask a nurse. They said that they wanted her isolated for a while, but I just don’t think that will help. Oh, and
silly me. Did you wanna meet little Nicole, she’s in the other room with Sara right now.” Nick said as he opened the door to the
hallway. Lori followed behind Nick not knowing what to expect as she went to see her dearest friend.

Brian watched as Nick and Lori walked out the door and he shared the feelings of jealousy that his wife was feeling without him
even knowing it. Everyone seemed to be so free and then, there he was, in that damned bed for what seemed like months now.
He ached, mentally and physically. Where was Sara and why had everyone avoided talking about her? He had heard Nick
mention her name just moments ago and that was what triggered the jealousy that now boiled in his blood. Everyone was
getting to see her..talk to her...except him. Shooting a look of hatred towards his 3 bandmates that sat watching TV in his room,
Brian had to find words that would get him to her.

"Damn y'all!" He suddenly spurted.

"What?" Kevin was the first to turn his head, followed by Howie and AJ, who had abandoned his sunglasses today.

"Y'all are all terrible people! Walking in and out of these damn doors, taking it for granted that you can walk. That you can go
see your friends and family. Nick's not even supposed to see his wife but he is! No o­ne even feels the need to tell me what's
wrong with my own. I can't believe y'all!" Brian rambled. None of what he was saying really made sense and it was Kevin's
arms reaching out to hug him that softened him to the core. "I miss them...I just...I wanna see my wife...I wanna talk about our
baby again and feel it fluttering in her perfect little stomach." He sobbed into his cousin's shoulder.

Kevin looked up with wide eyes at the other two. No o­ne had told Brian about his baby? The dark man swallowed a lump in his
throat, the same lump that was forming in AJ's and Howie's as well.

"Hey Rok..." AJ started in gently. "I guess.. we should start right there..."

"Oh God...." Brian's red rimmed eyes turned to face AJ and Howie, a million questions swimming in those blue eyes that he
wasn't sure he could answer.
~*~
Nick quietly opened the door to reveal a dimly lit room. "Jenn?" He whispered,almost afraid to say her name.

"Nick? Is that you?" He saw her form move in the bed and switch o­n the lamp. "Is that you? Wow, I've missed you..."

The tall blonde clenched his jaw and swallowed the lump in his throat. "I..I.." He couldn't. What if tomorrow they still told him he
couldn't see her?

Why even get attached right now? "There's someone here to see you."

"Oh really?" Disappointment was evident in her voice. Just o­ne more person she had forgotten.

"Jenn?" The voice came from the little blonde girl in the door and suddenly, something stirred, deep inside of Jenn's brain.

"Lori?"

Nick's mouth dropped. She remembered Lori. It was exciting and hurtful all at o­nce.

What did he have to do to get her to remember him? To remember...them.

"Well Mrs. Littrell," The doctor began "Everything looks good. I will began your discharge papers and have you out of here
shortly. once I get them done I will send a nurse in here to let you know." Sara nodded her head at him and he headed out of the
room.

Sara wasn't too sure she was happy to be getting discharged. Sure, she wouldn't be stuck in bed all day long, but now she
would have to face her husband. She wasn't too sure if she was ready for that yet.

Thankfully AJ walked in the door at the right moment. "Oh, hi AJ." Sara said as she sat up some in her bed. "I haven't seen you
for a while."

"Yeah, sorry about that, Lori showed up a few hours ago." AJ sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"I was wondering when she would wind up here. How did she get out of her movie early?" Sara wondered.

"They ended up wrapping it up early, and she headed here right after. Right now she's with Jenn. Nick told me that she
remembered her, he seemed kinda disappointed that she still doesn't remember him. I felt bad when she remembered me, and
now she remembers Lori and I think that stung him a little bit more."

"Well hopefully she just remembers everything very soon. I hate to see Nick so upset." Sara sat there silent for a few seconds,
took a deep breath, and began," AJ, can I talk to you seriously for a second."

"Sure sweetie, is something wrong?" AJ asked sounding concerned and also a bit nervous.

"It's just that the doctor just left and he said that he was releasing me today."

"Well, that's great, what's so bad about that?" AJ asked a bit confused.

"In my heart the first thing I want to do is go and run to Brian's room, cuddle up next to him in his bed, and help him to get better.
But then there's this part of me that just wants torun away. I honestly don't know how I can tell Brian what had happened to me."
Sara soon started to cry as she continued on opening herself up to AJ. "I'm afraid that he won't be able to ever look at me the
same. Is that wrong of me?" Sara then began to sob as AJ embraced her.

"Sara, shhhhh, don't think like that, Brian loves you and will no matter what. Shhhhh…" AJ just held her as he allowed her to let
it all out.

*****

Jenn and Lori had been talking for a little over an hour when Jenn suddenly let out a yawn.

"Oh, honey, you need to rest don't you. I've just been yammering on to you like nothing is going on. I should leave you to rest."
Lori said as she began to stand up.

Jenn suddenly reached up and grabbed Lori's arm, "No, Lori please stay. I felt so good when you walked in that door and I
actually remembered someone. Nick is about to bring Nicole in anyway. I really want you to meet her. Please stay." Jenn looked
so pathetic Lori couldn't say no.

"Alright, I'll stay, but only until Nick brings in Nicole. But until then I want you to close your eyes and rest for a bit. I don't want to
be yelled at for you not getting better."

"That's fine, but will you tell me more about how we met Nick and AJ." Jenn asked as she turned on her side and closed her
eyes.

*****

Sara swallowed hard as she held a tight grasp on AJ's hand. She was going to do it. Her heart hadn't pounded in her chest this
hard since she was walking down the aisle for her wedding. Sara smiled a bit to herself, it had been the same man at the end,
waiting for her.

And that's what kept her walking. The longing and need for that security that she knew only he could give her. Those clear blue
eyes that told her it was going to be okay and those soft loving hands that, for 5 years, knew every part of her.

But it was also this that made her hesitate on the short journey from one floor to the next and down that immaculate hallway.
What if she felt guilty in his arms of security? What if once he knew, those blue eyes would cloud over with hurt and anger? How
could she deal with that? No, she couldn't do that to him. Not after he'd been so good to her.

"C'mon Sar, you're almost there.." AJ jerked her hand a bit as he noticed Brian's wife slowing down to a halt. He had been
watching her, knowing all the thought and emotion that ran through her head was bound to be too confusing for anyone that had
been in the situation they were all in. At one point, when he saw the tears welling up in her dark brown eyes, AJ was tempted to
just take her back and put it off for another day.

But then another image entered his mind. It was his brother, Brian, whose sleep had been restless for the past few days for the
rest was interupted with thoughts of her. Although no one else knew, he had been crying in his sleep and, sometimes, just to
calm his friend, AJ would take his hand and tell him it was that of his wife. Maybe it was wrong, but there was only so much AJ
could take and Brian had been through so much..

"Honey you have to." He finally told her.

"Why?" Sara looked up, tears visible in her eyes once more.

"Because.. because you love him and God knows he loves you more than anyone.." He sighed a breath of relief when she inched
towards the next door, which happened to be her husband's.

AJ turned Sara to face him and, grinning a bit, embraced her. "You know what to do now. So, I'm gonna go find my girl and, ya
know, thank God for every day I have her." It had just occured to him, what if this had been him and Lori? Suddenly, he felt what
Brian must be going through and quickly let go of Sara. "Go...follow your heart." With that, he turned and left.

Sara stood and watched until he was out of sight and then, trembling, turned to the door.

****

As we move to embrace, tears run down your face

I whisper words of love, so softly

I can't believe this pain, it's driving me insane

Without your touch, life will be lonely

So raise your hands to heaven and pray

That we'll be back together someday

Tonight, I need your sweet caress

Hold me in the darkness

Tonight, you calm my restlessness

Who'll relieve my sadness

****.

"Oh my God! BRIAN!" Came a distant sound of joy from some girl she couldn't really recognize.

Laughter and music filled Jenn's ears as she realized she had her feet dug in the sand and water from the ocean's spray was
throwing gentle beads into her dark hair. She turned to see a house, a patio filled with party people. The house looked so
familiar....

"JEEEEENNNNN!" She heard a voice call out from behind her as she had just turned back around. Then, just as quickly as she
had realized where she stood, a pair of arms whisked her away.

Jenn looked down to see an ivory breezy sundress flowing around her body as Nick swung her in the air.

She turned around to find the man with familiar blonde hair and blue eyes filled with love. It was as if everyone and everything
was perfect.

"Nicky!" Jenn laughed as he picked her up over his shoulder and ran along the shore.

"Shhh..We're gonna tackle Romeo and Juliet..." Nick breathed out, nodding towards a couple, who were tenderly cuddling o­n a
further part of the beach.

That couple. They looked familiar. Just ..blurry...

Suddenly, it was as if she lost control of her own dream and she was o­nly watching as they spoke.

"Awww baby..." She whispered into Nick's ear, rubbing her nose against his cheek a bit. "Why don't we just make them
jealous?"

And so, with a mysterious wiggle of his eyebrows, Nick abruptly changed his direction and the couple was soon flinging
themselves into the amiable waves of the ocean.

"WOOWOO!" She could hear AJ's familiar voice followed by catcalls of two other men and their respective counterparts. Jenn
smiled, realizing they had also grabbed the attention of the couple whom Nick had planned o­n disturbing seconds before. She
realized that her laugh matched Nick's in perfect harmony....

And suddenly, she remembered. She remembered that this was AJ's house. That this was some kind of party. That the couple
were two of their best friends and, the rest of the people, they were good friends too. But the harder she tried to remember...the
more vague the visions became...

-----------

Jenn's eyes snapped open to meet a tangled blonde mess asleep o­n her arm. She smiled a bit, more confident in her love for
this man beside her.

"Nick?" She whispered a bit hoarse.

"Mmm...yes baby?" Nick turned his head and groggily opened his eyes before realization set in. When it did, he sat straight up.
"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ..fall..asleep.." He rubbed his tired eyes and worried that he had gotten to close or hurt her or
something.

"No..no..baby..come back.." Jenn opened her arms, welcoming Nick for the first time in weeks and, although, he was a bit
hesitant, he accepted within seconds. Then, in the next moments of silence, he had buried his head in her neck and she smiled,
knowing this was how it was supposed to be. "Nicky?"

"Yah?" It had been forever since she called him that.

"I..I had this dream. We were at AJ's house and I actually remembered a few things. It was a party and you and I...we were
swinging around o­n the beach and...Nick..I know that I'm meant for you..I know it was just a dream but...I'm falling in love with
you..again I think..."

"Jenn, were...were you wearing an ivory colored sundress?" Nick interupted, lifting his head to look at her.

"Yah..w-why?"

"Jenny..That was..the night I proposed." His eyes formed big blue tears as did hers and it seemed like forever as they
embraced. And that was the time that Nick and Jenn finally kissed again. A kiss to last forever this time.

Jenn's POV

I slowly opened my eyes and noticed the room was dark, and that I was alone. I looked over towards the window and saw that
the light was trying desperately to break through the curtains keeping it out. So its daytime, and I really don't wanna sit in the
dark. Maybe I can try to get up, haven't tried that by myself yet.

It had been so nice before I had fallen asleep. I actually felt good being in Nicks embrace and actually having the feeling that is
was right. We had reminisced for a while, he just seemed so happy that I had actually remembered something that involved my
Nicky. We had just cuddled in my bed for a while until I had fallen asleep.

So I manage to work my legs to the side of the bed and let them dangle there for a minute. Now comes the hard part, actually
standing up. I carefully brace myself against the edge of the bed and slowly slid off. Perfect! I smile to myself as I begin to make
my way across the room to the door, using my IV pole to help hold myself up. As I near the light switch I hear voices coming
from right outside my door.

"....has the press found this out yet?" Now I know that was Nick, but who is he talking too?

"No, luckily they haven't gotten wind of this yet. I mean, if the press finds out that this was more than just an accident, that it
was actually planned by someone, all hell just might break loose." Now I don't know who that is, I just can't place it. God! Stupid
memory. But wait a second, this wasn't an accident. Someone actually did this to us o­n purpose??!! I was starting to get really
confused again.

"You're right man, this could get even worse. We just need to keep this o­n the DL, cause its obvious that these people are still
out there. They cause the car accident, then they went after Sara, I just fear what they plan o­n doing next." Nick sounded so
sad.

"Well, we need to be sure to get some more security around us, they can't get to us if are asses are covered. I'm gonna go
ahead and get o­n that, why don't you go and fill in the others, they really need to be informed of this." Now I'm thinking that this
is that Kevin guy, Nick was telling me that he was all into protecting us and all. I don't know....

"Okay, I'll do that now. Jenn's sleeping anyway, and Nicole is with Brian and Sara right now. Let's meet back here in like and
hour, sound good?"

"Bye bro."

With that I heard them walk away and I decided it was a good time to turn o­n the lights. I turned myself around to go back to my
bed, and stopped dead in my tracks. There was a guy standing in the corner dressed in a doctors uniform. He had this odd look
about him and I noticed he had a syringe in his hand.
"Wh...who are you." I managed to squeak out.

"I told them I'd be back........"

******
No POV

Sara was sitting in the chair next to Brian's bed, watching him as he slowly rocked Nicole trying to get her to go to sleep. Yes,
she had told him about losing their baby. No, she didn't tell him about being attacked the other night. When she had walked into
the room he was sitting there with the baby in his arms. It had almost made her break down, but she knew she had to be strong.

Then when he mentioned their baby, she just had to tell him. She was worried about him though. Because after she told him he
didn't say a word, he just sat there rocking Nicole.

That's where she was now. Waiting, wanting him to say something to her, but he didn't.

Then he looked up at her and began to speak, "Isn't she just beautiful. I always knew Jenn and Nick would make beautiful
babies." Then he just went right back to looking intently at Nicole and didn't say another word.

Now she was really worried. This was so unlike her Bri, and she was lost as to what she should do next. Just as she was about
to open her mouth to say something, she heard a loud commotion outside of the room.

Sara got out of her chair, glancing back to make sure Brian and Nicole were still okay, she opened the door and was shocked
as to what greeted her o­n the other side.

"Nick! What’s wrong!?" She asked, afraid of the answer. When she realized that her tall friend was too shaken up to even
answer, she welcomed him into the comfort of her arms and he gratefully accepted.

"It’s all set up Sar." He mumbled into her shoulder. Nick lifted his watery eyes to meet hers. "We’re playing a losing game."

"Oh god.." Sara felt her back hit the wall as she covered her mouth with her hands. "What…how…"

"The driver of our limo that night.. He was in o­n it." He stopped to swallow. "They got him because the police found it suspicious
and.. and they dragged it out of him that there were more people but.. But he won’t say when, where, or who. Kevin’s gone to
order more security." Nick ran a nervous hand through his thick blond hair.

"Oh.. Okay." The brunette bit her lip. "So, that would explain what happened to me.."
"He was caught too. Um, so, how’s Rok?" The blonde asked, wanting to change the subject, thinking Brian would be happy to
have his wife back.

" Well… He’s very fond of Nicole." Sara plastered a temporary smile o­nto her face. But the facial expression gave way to the
next words that spilled out of her mouth. "But.. He doesn’t love me so much right now."

"Sar…that’s crazy!" It was just yesterday that his best friend had been upset over not seeing his wife, his baby. Oh yeah.. "You
told him?"

Brian’s wife o­nly nodded and dropped her head. Suddenly, the white floor was more interesting than Nick’s face. The man o­nly
opened his arms to embrace the young woman who had silent tears streaking her cheeks but the scene was soon interrupted
by a shrill cry from Jenn’s room.

"Oh God.."

"Go Nick!" Sara urged, as the fear in Nick’s eyes reflected the rising fear in her stomach.

She watched as Nick took off towards Jenn’s room. She couldn’t take all that right now. Not when everything was falling apart
as it was, she had to keep a little sanity. Sara turned back towards Brian’s room but, upon cracking the door a little, she saw
her husband, still cradling Nicole, sharing the same tears that she had outside his door. In her heart, Sara knew they should be
together now but, she couldn’t take it. For some reason, she had this feeling that she didn’t even know that man in her husband’
s body right now.

For this reason, the short girl silently closed the door and found the nearest elevator. She needed a breath of fresh life and she
knew just where to go. Where she had been just the week before.

~*~

"Oh my God!" Came a horrified gasp from Nick Carter as he entered Jenn’s room.

AJ was o­n the floor, o­n top of someone who looked to be a doctor, punching him in the stomach as the other man’s hands
reached up to wrap around AJ’s thin throat.

"AJ! Holy Shit! What.." Nick breaths became harder as he saw a terrified Jenn laid back in her bed, Lori beside her, trying to get
her to say something. What he saw next though, really scared him.

A syringe was laying o­n the floor beside his fiancé’s bed. Empty.

His fiancé had a slow stream of blood running down her arm.

Quickly putting the two together, Nick knew she had been injected with something. The man o­n the floor. The tall man ran out of
the door just in time to see a security guard walking with Kevin.

"KEVIN!" Nick screamed in desperation, not caring who noticed him.

Kevin turned, confusion all over his face. "Nick, what the hell-"

"It’s Jenn.. and AJ.. HELP!" By this time, his voice was strangled with a suppressed cry.

The security guard took off running toward Jenn’s room, followed by an entourage of doctors who had been paged about the
commotion in room 304. Nick was frozen, just watching.

"Nick, c’mon buddy. You don’t need to be in there. We’ll come back in a couple of minutes, ok?" He heard Kevin’s calm voice say
as an arm wrapped around his shoulder.

As much as Nick wanted to argue and fight for his love, he couldn’t and gave in to Kevin’s offer. As the two Backstreet Boys
walked down the hall, they ran into Howie who also had a confused look o­n his face.

"Do you two know where Sara is? I was going to tell her about the security thing but she’s not with Brian. I can’t get anything out
of him, either. He’s being really strange."

"I was just talking to her.." Nick offered, a glazed look in his eyes.

Howie looked questioningly at Kevin, wondering about Nick. The oldest man just shook his head and sat Nick down in the
waiting room.

"I’ll go look for her. Stay here with Nicky, ok? He could use some of your peacemaking ways right now." Kevin gave Howie a grin
and hugged him as he left in search for his cousin’s wife.

He stepped out into the bright hall. It had quieted in Jenn’s room a bit and to the opposite side, his cousin seemed to be dead to
the world.

When would this nightmare be over?

Chapter 16

Jenn's POV

"Jenn, Jenn please say something." I could hear Lori talking to me, and I could see her lips saying the same thing. Although her
lips didn't quite match up with her voice. I tried to talk back to her but it just wasn't happening. Tried to move, anything, but I
couldn't.

I saw Lori get a frazzled look on her face, then nothing. For a second everything was pitch black, and I figured I was dead. That I
fought against, struggling against the blackness for that not to happen. Then it was like when you turn on a TV and you dont
have cable, it was all fuzzy. As it cleared I could clearly see that I was in the hallway of the hospital.

I began to walk the halls and I could hear a woman weeping. I turned the corrner and I saw her leaning her head against a
window. The only thing I was hearing was her saying the name Brian over and over again. As I got closer a voice in my head told
me that this woman was Sara, Brian's wife. Suddenly, I saw Kevin appear next to her and begin consoling her. I wanted so much
to go to her and give her a hug, but there was this force that wouldn't let me get closer to her. It was actually making me walk
away, further down the hall.

The hallway got darker and darker, and as I got to the end of the hall it was pitch black. Then a light slowly turned on in the
corrner and I saw my Nick. He was sitting in a rocking chair, with Nicole resting against his shoulder. I couldn't hear what he
was saying, but I could see that he was crying.

Tears welled up in my eyes at seeing this. I didn't understand what was going on. Did I die? What in the world was going on
here? Why is all of this happening to us?

"I wish I knew...." Nick said as he looked right at me. Could he see me? But his eyes quickly adverted from the spot I was
standing at back to Nicole as more tears shinned in his eyes.

Suddenly everything started to spin, I heard the sound of tires sqealling, metal crunching, and my own scream. All I felt was pain
and I suddenly couldn't breath. I could hear Nick calling my name and reaching for me. As I suddenly remembered everything, I
felt nothing.

****

The doctors had pushed Lori out of the room once they had gotten in there. Unfortunatly help arrived a bit too late, the bad guy
had already ran off after he had thrown AJ into a wall knocking him unconcious. The thing that scared her the most was the
look in the guys eyes as he looked at her and said, "I'll be back for both of you ladies." Then he ran, out the door and to god
knows where.

The door to the room suddenly opened and a nurse stepped out, "Miss, do you think that you could find Mr. Carter for us, we
need him in here."

"Sure is everything okay?" Lori asked hesitantly.

"I will only be able to relay that information to Mr. Carter." The nurse said almost on automatic.

"Sure, I will find him." With that said Lori quickly ran off to find Nick. Lucky for her he was only 2 hallways down. "Nick, Nick, the
nurse wants to see you."

Nick got this terrified look on his face and quickly made his way to Lori. Lori lead him back to Jenn's room, and as they got to
the room the door opened as they wheeled AJ out. Lori gave Nick a nod then followed wherever they were taking AJ.

Nick hesitated just for a second, then opened the door fearing the worst, but hoping for some hope.

Kevin pressed the button that would bring him to the 5th floor. He had searched three other floors until it hit him where he would
be most likely to find Sara.

The elevator doors slowly swooshed open to reveal an entourage of expectant mothers and some new fathers carrying
balloons and teddy bears out to their cars.

The tall dark man had to smile. He could just imagine Brian walking around the halls, taking his baby to meet everyone, really
wanting to show off his little one. Kevin was sure Nick would be just as bad in different circumstances. Suddenly, these
thoughts brought a certain undying sadness into his mind and he was thankful when he spotted Sara, standing in front of the
nursery, hands pressed to the glass, a sort of sad smile drifting across her face with a few long awaited tears.

"Hey Sar.." Kevin spoke up, digging his hands into his pockets and walking a few steps forward.

"Oh.. Kev.. Hi." Her body had jumped at the sudden familiar voice. The brunette’s hand instantaneously reached up to wipe away
the tears she had been careless to hide minutes before.

"Hey.. it’s okay to cry sweetie." The man just walked up beside her until he, too, was facing the nursery window. Gently, he
wrapped an arm around her shoulders and felt her head lean into his chest.

"Why all of this at once Kevin? Why OUR baby? Why not just me?" Sara’s words were filled with emotions and still unshed
tears, for she had really no time to grieve over the life that she and Brian had lost way too soon.

"Because Sara.. what would Brian do without you? Hell, his own cooking would probably kill him." The last comment brought a
smirk to Sara’s face but it was soon gone when another newborn was brought into the room behind the window.

She quickly turned away, it was too much. She knew none of those babies were going home with her and it would be quite a
while before any baby would.

"He doesn’t even want to talk to me Kev. I just miss him.. I just do."

"Well, why don’t we just go down there and try to work things out? He’s missed you just like you’ve missed him, Sar. But,
understand that there’s been a lot dumped on him all of the sudden. Y’all are just so good for each other, you can’t handle things
alone anymore." Kevin offered a smile and, wrapping his arm around her one more time, they made their way back to 306.

~*~~*~

"What in the hell do you mean you don’t know?" Nick yelled quietly.

He was now located in Jenn’s doctor’s office, Dr. Anderson.

"Nick, all we know is that the man somehow got past security and injected her with some substance drug that is making her
come in and out of consciousness. We’re running tests as fast as we can." The middle aged woman explained.

"God…" Nick propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and rubbed his unshaven face. "So," his blue eyes met the doctor’s,
"What.. what’s going to happen to her?"

"Well, Mr. Carter…"

"Nick.."

"Well, Nick, we’re not sure. We’re doing our very best for her and I suggest to you that you go home, take Nicole, and get some
rest. You’re running yourself ragged." Dr. Anderson smiled at the young man. "You know, once Jenn and Nicole are both at
home, you’re gonna wish you had more time to sleep."

"I wish I was wishing that already." The blonde rolled his eyes, knowing that didn’t make much sense and that he should go
home for a while. He couldn’t do anything here except become anxious. He knew Jenn was in good hands now. Her room was
under maximum security now and one of the other Backstreet boys was usually always there. "Okay, I’ll go… but..can I go tell
her goodnight?"

"Sure." The doctor patted Nick on the back as they both stood to walk out.

A few minutes later, the youngest Backstreet boy was sitting on the edge of Jenn’s bed, watching her chest slowly rise and fall,
feeling her hand , limp, in his. His gentle fingers removed a wisp of hair from her face and, not having the courage to just sit here
and talk to her, he did what he does best. Nick sang.

"The first time I saw you, it felt like coming home and if I never told you.. I wanted you to know.. you had me from hello."

Not wanting to lose his cool in front of Jenn, the blonde stood and kissed her lips. "Goodnight my love. I’m still with you,
remember that."

And with that, Nick left to get Nicole and travel to a much needed place. Home.

~*~*~

Sara Littrell pulled into her driveway for the first time since the whole incident. It was her escape. No one would expect her to
come back here now, not alone at least. But who the hell cared now?

When Kevin walked Sara back to Brian’s room, she hadn’t prepared herself for what she might see. What met her brown eyes
was an image of Brian in his bed… with an arm wrapped around Lori, laying beside him.

It wasn’t that Sara thought there was anything going on between the two, they were more than likely only comforting each other.
It was just that, well, Sara hadn’t even kissed Brian in what seemed like forever and it just felt all too strange to his wife and she
had to get out. Quick.

So, here she arrived. Walking up the stairs of their beautiful family home, Sara opened the first door and burst into tears.

The walls were painted baby blue with big fluffy clouds that Brian did over and over again until they were perfect. The room was
so incomplete and now, it wouldn’t be finished for years to come. Sara stepped on the immaculate white carpet, taking ginger
steps as if her heart would break faster if she stepped too hard.

Finally, she reached the wall that bared a lonely picture frame. Inside the frame was a happy couple. A happy couple who, that
morning, had found out they would be expecting their first child. The baby that they had been waiting for for what seemed like
forever. The baby that would complete them.

Inside the picture frame, were Brian and Sara, in a world of happiness that they had long forgotten. Her fingers gently ran along
the words inscribed around the frame. The song Brian would sing to her tummy when it was disturbing her.


"Hey you, you're a child in my head
You haven't walked yet
Your first words have yet to be said
But I swear you'll be blessed
I know you're still just a dream
your eyes might be green
Or the bluest that I've ever seen
Anyway you'll be blessed
And you, you'll be blessed
You'll have the best
I promise you that
I'll pick a star from the sky
Pull your name from a hat
I promise you that, promise you that, promise you that
You'll be blessed
I need you before I'm too old
To have and to hold
To walk with you and watch you grow
And know that you're blessed"



Tears splattered on the glass but they were out of closed eyes. Eyes that had fallen into a rest sleep.

~*~*~*~
Nick Carter was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had discovered two hours ago, that if he rolled over and opened his
eyes, the fact that Jenn wasn’t there beside him hurt him unbearably. For a moment, he had considered just driving back to the
hospital, he couldn’t be happy without her. But it would disturb Nicole, he supposed.

Smiling, the blonde’s feet hit the cold floor and he shivered unexpectedly. He quietly moved to the basinet under the window of
his room. There, lay a precious innocent baby. A human being that kept Nick going for the past few days. This little girl named
Nicole, gave him hope for the future…that everything would be okay.

Nick lifted her into his arms and brushed her dark hair away from those beautiful sleeping blue eyes. Laying her down in the bed
next to him, the man put his face close to hers and smiled once again.

"Hey Nikki. I know I hate when people call me that but, it just seems cute for you. Anyways, it’s just me and you here tonight.
Usually, mommy’s here but.." He stopped. How could you explain everything to this little mind? "Nikki, just…always remember
that you were conceived out of SUCH great love. It’s a love that will never die, even after mommy and daddy have long gone.
Every girl should be as lucky as you to have a mom like you, she’s gonna love you so much baby. And uncle Brian and Kevin..and
AJ..and Howie. They’ll all love you too. You’re…just such a special little person princess. I hope you know…" Nick stopped as
tears filled his eyes, and he pressed his lips up against his baby’s forehead. "I hope you know that you’re daddy’s little angel.
You always will be."

He scooted closer to her and never wanted to let go. Finally, both pairs of blue eyes found a much deserved rest.

So, with Nick asleep with Nicole in his arms and Sara asleep, laying in the middle of the nursery floor, things had calmed at the
hospital too.

Brian woke up next to Lori and an overwhelming sadness washed over him. He wanted to talk to Sara as soon as possible. But
not now, his thoughts were too tired but there were things that he needed to tell her. Things he should’ve told her earlier. And,
when Lori left to join AJ again, the Backstreet boy found it hard to sleep with this incredible lonely feeling. So, taking a pen and
paper, he wrote :


Where can we go from here
All I know is that I love you still
Sometimes we do things against our will
I know I cry lonely tears
Where can we go from here


And, inside the hearts of Nick, Sara, Jenn, and Brian, they all asked the same question.

Where do we go from here?

Chapter 17

They had decided to put AJ into Jenns hospital room due to the need for extra security. Lori found it a good thing
though, cause now she could keep an eye out on her best friend and her love at the same time.

Lori was worried cause AJ hadn't woken up yet. The doctors had taken him to x-ray and determined that he didn't have
any fractures. They believe that he suffered a concussion, and due to the physical exertion, and lack of oxygen when
the guy was strangling him. His body is just on shut down till he builds more strength back up.

The doctors had also assured her that Jenn would also be waking up soon. She had been moving around an awful lot,
but had not awoken yet. Lori sat between both of the beds to be sure that if one of them needed her, she would be
there.

There was also 2 bodyguards positioned inside of the room, and 2 outside of the door. At first this made Lori feel
uncomfortable, but she knew that they would be safe from whoever out there is trying to hurt them.

The door opened slowly, "Ms Hissom, Mr. Littrell is requesting your presence in room 306. They are releasing him and
he needs someone to take him home, and Mrs. Littrell is unreachable at the moment." One of the body guards relayed
to her.

"Oh, um, OK." Lori said as she got up. "Please call my cell if anything changes with these two, and please don't call me
Ms. Hissom, it's Lori."

"Sure thing, Lori. We will give you a call." With that Lori left the room, and AJ began to stir.

***
The car ride to the house was pretty much in silence. Brian was happy to be out of the hospital, but he didn't know
where his wife was and that scared him a bit. Lori placed her hand comfortingly on Brian's knee, and he gave her a
small smile in response.

They soon pulled up to the house and they were both relived when they saw Sara's car in the driveway. Lori put the car
in park and looked over at Brian. "Do you, um, want me to go in with you?" Lori asked.

"Um, no I should be fine. I really appreciate you driving me home, but I need to talk to Sara alone." Brian said as he
opened the car door and slowly got out.

"I understand, but don't hesitate to call me at the hospital if you need ANYTHING." Lori said, Brian closed the door and
began walking up to the front door. He gave Lori a small wave and proceeded in.

He saw that the door to the baby's room was open and let out a deep sigh. He wasn't too sure if he was ready to walk in
there, knowing that the angel he made it for wasn't gonna be coming home. As he went to close the bedroom door he
saw Sara curled up in a ball in the middle of the room. Tears shined in his eyes.

He slowly approached her, she looks so lost and sad. He carefully laid down right next to her, wrapped his arm around
her, and fell asleep listening to the sound of her heartbeat next to his.

***
All AJ wanted to know was if someone got the license plate number from the Mac truck that hit him. When he regained
his senses he realized that he felt like absolute and total shit. He let out a groan and opened his eyes, letting them
slowly adjust to the dim lights on in the room.

He looked around and saw two of their bodyguards playing cards on one of the tables in the room. They hadn't even
noticed that he was awake. He wondered to himself why there were bodyguards in the room. He looked over to his right
and saw another person in a bed.

That's when it all came back to him. Walking into Jenn's hospital room, finding that man injecting something into her
arm, then him jumping the guy out of pure instinct, then the man strangling him, and then feeling his back hitting
something and going unconscious.

Suddenly one of the guards radios beeped and someone was saying that they needed to see both of them outside for a
brief meeting. They got up briskly and closed the door behind them.
He sat there for a few minutes just finding out what exactly hurt. His back was killing him, as was his head, and his
neck, but other than that nothing else was bothering him.

Then all of a sudden he heard a light whimpering. He soon realized it was coming from Jenn, and carefully got up and
made his way over to her. As he approached her cries became louder, and he placed his hand on her shoulder.

She turned her head towards him as tears streamed down her face. "My, baby....he's....he's....gone." She quietly sobbed
to him.

"I'm so sorry Jenn," AJ said not knowing what else to say to her. He just decided that she needed some comforting and
curled up next to her as she continued to weep. He kept saying comforting words to her hoping it would help ease the
pain.

***
Nick Carter had awaken that morning to meet the bright blue eyes of his daughter. A pang of guilt washed through him
as he wondered if Nicole had been crying and he hadn’t heard it.

"Aww, Nikki, I’m so sorry baby. I promise I won’t ever sleep that heavy again." He gently picked her up and cradled her
in his arms. Watching Nicole wiggle against him, Nick realized she was probably hungry. "Woah baby, you’re not gonna
find anything there!"

As the blonde reached his kitchen, he found the formula and, after proper procedure, fed the young child. He watched
intently as she sucked it down rather quickly.

"God Nicole… I’m not made to do this. I suck at this. I’m so sorry your mom can’t take care of you right now." Nick
nuzzled his head against hers as she burped over his shoulder. "I’m so sorry."

He smiled as she made a little noise and walked back up the stairs. "Now, my love, the amazing daddy shall attempt to
change his first dirty diaper."

But Nick stopped abruptly at the nursery door. "Oh my God.. your brother."

Suddenly, guilt and pain overtook the man as he realized he had thought nothing of his little boy since he decided not to
tell Jenn. He closed his eyes, bit his lips and opened the door.

Two of everything. Boy and Girl matching clothes. One side of the baby yellow room was decorated with flowers while
the other was adorned with trucks and little bugs. Yes, there was two sides to everything in this room.

Everything except two children.

Things in this room no longer felt right as Nick put Nicole into her crib and leaned against it to look around. In an tornado
of emotion, he began to throw everything that represented a little boy into the crib opposite Nicole’s.

Then, his eyes met the new guitar that sat in the corner. He and Jenn had sat in this room and dreamed of things they
would do with their children and Nick told her he would lull them to sleep with his guitar.

‘More like bore them to death.’ Jenn had laughed. Then, he would tickle her until they were lying on the floor, staring into
each other eyes.

But it seemed like a million years ago now.

After changing Nicole’s diaper, Nick put her in the swing and leaned against the wall beside it, guitar in hand. The words
fell out of his mouth along with the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven? Would it be the same If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong And carry on, 'Cause I know I don't belong Here in heaven.
Would you hold my hand If I saw you in heaven? Would you help me stand If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way Through night and day, 'Cause I know I just can't stay Here in heaven.
Time can bring you down, Time can bend your knees. Time can break your heart, Have you begging please, begging
please.
Beyond the door, There's peace I'm sure, And I know there'll be no more Tears in heaven.
Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven? Would it be the same If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong And carry on, 'Cause I know I don't belong Here in heaven.

And sitting there with his sleeping baby and that overpowering lonely feeling, the youngest Backstreet Boy felt
something knew. Guilt. He had killed his son and put his wife in the terrible state she was. There was no one else to be
blamed, everyone else had been injured. Except himself. And as hard as Nick tried not to and as much as his mind
knew, his heart was writhing with undying guilt.

~*~

"OH MY GOD!" Sara screamed as she woke up in someone’s arms. She wiggled free and stood up quickly. "Who the
hell.."

The fear and hatred in her brown eyes slowly died as she realized that it was her husband laying in the floor, his blue
eyes wide and shining with questions.

"Sara.." Brian breathed softly, caressing her hair as she collapsed back into the floor looking around.

"What’re you doing here Bri? I mean, I.. Oh my gosh! What time is it?"

"Around 1." He answered, trying to get her to slow down.

"Oh God! And you were getting released today!" Sara rubbed her face, resting her arms on her knees. "I overslept. I’m
…so sorry."

"Sweetheart, it’s okay.." Brian tried again.

"Brian, you shouldn’t have to be in here. I mean, you just found out and you.."

"SARA!" He had to raise his voice to even get her attention and it made him feel bad when she jumped at his voice.
Brian scooted over a little bit closer to his wife and gently rubbed her back. "I love you."

Her eyes met his for the first time in a while.

"Bri, I.." She looked down. "How can you? We don’t have our baby because of my stupid self…"

"Sara, c’mon now, you know that’s not true." He took her hands in his and lifted her chin. "It’s not your fault. None of this
is your fault and no matter what, I love you. I love you the same as the day we married. That smile, those eyes, these
hands. Everything. And I hope, that you understand and forgive me for how I acted the other day. We just…we have to do
this together baby."

"I love you ducky." The brunette grinned a little. How could she hold against him what had happened? The
circumstances had been enough to shake all of them up. "You’re right. We’ve gotta do this together."

"I’m always right." He smiled at her and pressed his forehead against hers. "Let’s…get out of here. You’re right, I’m not
that ready."

Brian grabbed Sara’s hand to help her up, closed the door, and then, arms wrapped around each other’s waists, they
headed down the hall to their room.

Sara had not thought about the last times she had spent in this room. Until Brian opened the door.


~*~

Nick sat again by Jenn’s bed. AJ had called the younger man as he was released and told him that he and Lori were
coming over to watch Nicole. Why?

Jenn had awaken in a fit. She remembered their little boy.

Jenn’s fiance had burst into tears as AJ told him and, after he hung up, waiting for his friends, Nick slid down the living
room wall, holding his hands to his face.

"Why God?" He had yelled to his empty house. The only sound he got in response was the sound of Nicole’s soft
breathing through the monitor.

And his cries that seemed to be unstoppable.

So, here he sat. Holding Jenn’s hand, he noticed that the swelling of her once pregnant stomach had gone down
considerably in the last two weeks. Nick bit his lips, no way he could cry here.

"Nickolas.." The sound brought him out of a daze and he looked up to see Jenn, tears falling freely down her pink
cheeks.

"Baby, don’t cry.." He consoled, standing to wipe away her tears.

"Why Nick? Why’d it happen to us?" She cried, taking no heed to his statement.

"I don’t know sweetheart." Nick could no longer hold back his own tears. "I don’t know."

"I remember Nick. I remember our babies, our house, our lives. It’s blurry but..now.. I don’t know if I want to remember."

"Baby.." As much as he wanted to be happy she remembered, it caused so much pain. Nick hadn’t thought about this
before. He looked around, not knowing what to do. Might as well do what just felt right.

Nick Carter crawled into the bed beside Jenn and held her tight. How he had missed this.

If he knew how much their lives would change in months to come, he would’ve never let her go.

Nick held the mother of his children as she wept. This was harder than he thought. They were here, laying their baby
boy into the dirt. The service had come and gone, Jenn was having a hard time leaving. He decided to let her just get it
all out, and he sat back and thought on what had transpired over the past month.

Jenn had been released a week after AJ was released. She had remembered a lot of things, which made him happy,
but was still having a lot of post pardum problems. Losing Nick had been very hard on her, luckily I had been able to get
Kev to help me clear out all the boy things.

Then after he got Jenn back home and she seemed back into the swing of things, he was consoling Brian. They had
gotten a separation soon after Brian got out of the hospital. They were both having problems dealing with the lose of
their child too. He couldn't believe that they had both made it to the funeral today, and had consoled eachother. They
weren't able to get to say goodbye to their baby, this brought even more tears to Nicks eyes.

"Honey, I think we should go." Nick said as a chill soon crept up on them. It looked like a storm was soon approaching
and wanted to get into the car and back home. They had a limo there for everyone to be able to get there in, but Jenn
had refused. She was terrified of them, and I didn't blame her. The others went ahead and took it back our place, we
had told them we would meet up with them later.

Jenn slowly nodded her head and Nick lead her to the car. The ride was spent in silence with Jenn looking out the
window, with tears still in her eyes. When they approached the house Jenn hesitated.

"I don't know if I wanna go in there and get all those looks from everybody. Would you mind if I just went upstairs to lie
down?" Jenn asked.

"Sure hun, no one will mind. I'll just talk to them for like an hour, then I'll join you." Nick said as he opened the door for
her.

"Thanks." She smiled sweetly then they went inside and she went right upstairs.

****

Brian Littrell sat on the grassy spot near his best friend’s son’s grave. What had he done to deserve this punishment?
What had they all done? Would he and Sara ever make it? Would Nick and Jenn continue to be as strong as they had
been?

All those thoughts ran through the Backstreet Boy’s head as he took another swig from the bottle in his hand. How
would he make it through life without her?
How would he make it through the night even?

Sure, he had been living alone for the past few months in a condo he and Sara had bought a little bit outside of Orlando,
but then he saw her today. And he held her.

For the first time in a long while, Brian had felt depressed, felt like his life walked out of the door all over again. And in a
way, it did, his life wearing a black lacy dress.

"Why’d we have to screw up so bad, Nick?" He spoke to the spirit resting beside him. "This would’ve never happened
if.. If I had been stronger. If I could deal with loss like your daddy can." Brian took another drink. "He’s such a great man,
Nicky. He would’ve taught you how to play basketball… and I would’ve taught you how to beat him."

"Nah, you wouldn’t have, Rok. He woulda’ beat your old ass." Their was a sad smile in the voice that Brian recognized
as Nick’s.

"Nick, what’re you doin’ here?" He dropped his head and realized he still had his wedding ring in a tight grasp. "Shouldn’
t.. you be with Jenn?"

"She needs some time by herself. I thought I’d come out here before the sun went down, talk to my son." There were
tears in Nick’s blue eyes as he took the place beside Brian. "But you beat me to it."

"I’m sorry… I… I can go." Brian stated, trying to stand up but stopped when he felt a hand on his wrist.

"No. Just because Jenn needs to be alone doesn’t mean we do."

"Right." He sat back down. "So, where do we go now Nick? What are we supposed to do?"

"I don’t know Bri. I… don’t know." Nick said, brushing some dirt off the flowers. "We can’t live in fear though."

"I know…"

"Go back to Sara, Brian." Nick said firmly, as he pulled his knees up and stared off into a distant place

"Why, Nick?" Brian turned his head, in fear of unforeseen tears. "So we can keep sleeping in separate rooms? So we
can cry all the time? So we can holler at each other?"

"So you can love each other. Be there for each other. Care like you both still do." Nick looked at Brian. "Look at me now
and tell you don’t still love her."

"I do Nick. I love her." He sighed. "I just not so sure about US anymore."

"Bullshit." Nick looked back into that distant place. "You’re still in love with ‘us’. You’re worried Sara’s not."

"So… she isn’t!"

"There’s some things you don’t know about her, Bri. And… I don’t particularly wanna be the one to let you know. Just,
please, tell her how you feel, let her know you’re gonna be there. Fall in love again." The younger man said.

"How do you know what it’s like, Nick? Have you ever had to make things right again?" Brian persisted, only trying to
prove he was the right one by now.

Brian’s best friend looked at him with blurry eyes once again. "Oh yah Brian. I’ve fallen in love again and I know it’s
going to work… because I’m that much of a man to admit when I love someone so much that I won’t leave it behind
because it’s just easier."

The older man stared at Nick for a moment and then, with a quiver of his lips, broke into tears. He only opened his arms
to embrace Brian and cried his own tears.

And will your arms still hold me And your eyes console me, baby Please don't turn your back and just pretend That your
heart still needs me And your soul completes me Can we find a way to fall in love again.

The next 4 months went by pretty fast. Two weeks after the funeral Jenn and Nick suprised everyone with their
wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony on the beach. That was also the night that Sara and Brian began to rekindle their
relationship. Jenn and Nick were off to Hawaii for a week, and everyone was happy to see them happy again for a
change.

The honeymoon was soon over and everyone was begining to bond in different ways. Nick was helping all he could to
help Jenn get the rest of her memory back. Jenn and Brian had begun a new friendship, she still didn't remember much
of him. Nick had originally been a little jealous over it, but soon realized it was all for the best. Sara and Brian still
weren't living together, but were acting like they had when they were dating.

Jenn had given Brian a phone call this morning and had asked him to meet her at the park in an hour. Although Brian
thought it weird that she had picked the park, but went along with it.

An hour later, Brian had showed up in the designated spot. They exchanged hugs and sat on the bench.

"Brian, I need to tell you something." Jenn said as she placed Nicole back into the stroller being done with feeding her.

"Ok, go ahead, I'm listening." Brian said turning his body more towards her.

"Well, I haven't been feeling all that well lately. So I made a doctors appointment, but I didn't tell Nick about it." She let
out a shaky breath.

"Is everything okay???" Brian asked worriedly.

"You see, I'm pregnant." Jenn said looking down.

"Oh, thats so great!!" Brian jumped up and pulled her into a hug. "Why am I not getting the feeling that this is a good
thing?"

"I'm just afraid that Nick won't be ready for this. I mean he is still so torn up over losing Nicky. I am too, but its not like
this was planned. I just don't know how I'm gonna tell him." Jenn let out a little sob at this.

Brian put out his hand and pulled her face up by her chin. "Jenn, there is nothing to worry about. Sure, Nick is still upset
over the lose of his son. He will be hurting for a long time over that." Brian was still feeling this way over the lose of his
own child, causing him to get an aching feeling in the bottom of his stomach. "But this is a good thing, believe me
sweety, he will be so happy."

"If you say so. But can I ask one favor of you??" Jenn asked.

"Anything." Brian replied.

"Can you be there when I tell him, at dinner tonight. You can bring Sara along." Jenn suggested.

Brian smiled at that thought. Last night him and Sara had gone out and a great date, went dancing, and ended back over
at his place....their place. After more than 5 months of well...celibacy...they had finally gone that extra mile. The night
was so perfect that he never wanted to forget it. He suddenly shook the cobwebs out of his head and smiled at Jenn.

"Sure, sounds like a plan." They made arrangments on what time to meet over at Jenn and Nicks, and parted ways.
Jenn was feeling a lot better after her conversation with Brian. She put a smile on her face and began pushing Nicole
back towards the car. Never noticing the person that had been spying on them nearby.

The person placed their cell phone on their ear and placed a call. "Tonight is the night, all four of them will be together,
and there is a little extra bonus." The figure laughed as he hung up and walked away.

Inside his BMW, Brian cried a few lonely tears. Here it was, nearly six months since the accident and things had
changed too much for the man that hated change. Jealousy, too, had shot thought Brian. Shouldn’t it be he and Sara
who were expecting their first child?

Not Nick and Jenn with their second.

Brian quickly wiped the envious thoughts out of his mind. If he had been there for Sara when she had needed him the
most, maybe it would’ve been them having this child. If they had just learned that they were both going through so
much.

But what happened happened and he didn’t know what the future held. For any of them. It was getting better though.
Nick would soon be ecstatic with the thought of another baby, he was almost sure of it. This would reassure Jenn of
how much love their relationship consisted of and she, too, would be in a fit of excitement. Brian had this urging feeling
that, when it was all over, Nick, Jenn, Nicole and the new baby would all live happily ever after.

The man sighed contently as he turned up the radio. It brought a smile to his face as he recognized the song as a song
played at his wedding. Gosh, that seemed like forever ago. Brian sang along for a moment and then, wondered what
would become of he and Sara. It had already been established that they couldn’t live without each other but, would they
ever be the way they WERE? With plans of babies and vacations and nothing holding them back.

It made him wonder. Stopping at a red light, he closed his eyes and breathed in. He could still smell her scent laying
within his clothes and knew the answer in a moment of solace.

They would always be in love and, turning down the street to her house, he would prove it to her too.

~*~

Jenn opened her door to the sound of a loud snore meeting her ears. She grinned and walked into the living room,
finding her daughter sound asleep on top of Nick. The woman had to control her emotion as she approach the sweet
couple.

"Hello adorable.." She whispered in Nick’s ear, kissing his cheek and pushing his hair out of his face.

"Adorable. That’s such a girly thing to call me." He replied groggily, eyes still closed.

Jenn grinned, seating on the stool across from their couch, reaching to curl Nicole’s dark hair around her finger. " You
are a girl, Nick."

"You’re lucky I have a baby on me or you would be running right now!" He laughed lightly, turning his head to look at her.

"Yeaahhhh, whatever." She laughed back, kissing his open lips and then standing up.

"Where ya goooiinnn’ Mrs. Carter?" Nick had been priding himself in the fact that a girl shared his name now. It made
him even happier that the girl was Jenn.

"To the kitchen. Brian and Sara are coming over for dinner…" She hollered back at her husband.

"Oh." Nick laid his head back down and smiled at the ceiling, rubbing Nicole’s back. "Okay."

~*~

It was two hours later when Brian, Sara, Nick and Jenn sat at their dinner table, Nicole in her bouncy chair beside the
table.

Sara’s eyes scanned the room, it was almost like old times, she thought. The brunette smiled even wider as she felt
Brian’s hand reach for hers under the table.

"I love you." She mouthed in her husband’s direction.

Everything felt so perfect, so great. Until Brian’s wife spotted a pair of familiar eyes peeking through the window and,
before she could scream or anything, her eyes rolled back and she slumped in her chair.

Things, now, would never be the same again.

Chapter 20

Brian was suddenly at Sara's side, wondering what made her pass out. He quickly reached up and grabbed one of the
glasses of water off the table and splashed it on her face. As she slowly began to open her eyes, Brian was pulled
roughly away from her.

Brian was terrified to see that the room had filled with about eight men and they were all carrying guns. Sara was also
pulled up as she finally regained consciousness.

"So, you all thought that this was over didn't you? Thought that we had just moved on and forgot about you." The man
had a maniacal look to him as he spoke. "This time none of you will be as lucky as you were last time."

"Just leave us alone, what did we ever do to you?!" Nick asked, surprised at the tone of his voice.

"I guess that we are going to have to start this a bit early. Paul, take her to the bedroom!" The man demanded as he
pointed at Sara.

"Brian!" She called out as she tried to reach for him as she passed him. They quickly had her in the room, with three of
the guys following in, and they shut the door.

"No! SARA!" Brian fought against the ones that held him in place. He also noticed that Nick was doing much the same at
the scene. The guys that were holding Jenn quickly put a gun to her head, "If you don't stop fighting us, she will go first."
Jenn let out a small whimper at the pressure of the gun against her temple.

Nick and Brian quickly stopped and waited for what was going to happen next. Brian’s head still struggled a bit, keeping
his eyes on the door that trapped his wife.

"I figured you two would listen." He signaled to the guy that was holding Jenn. The man suddenly began pushing Jenn
around from guy to guy...some would grab in inappropriate places and others would be a little rough on her. Nick soon
snapped when he saw the tears rolling down her face.

"Stop, just stop!" Nick yelled. "Me, not her, hurt me, please." The guys silently thought this over and pushed Jenn
roughly to the ground.

The sudden sound of Sara screaming made everyone stop. The bad guys all had smiles while the others felt like they
were being torn inside.

"Since you volunteered yourself Mr. Carter." Three men were quickly approaching Nick with sadistic looks on their
faces. Nick just waited for it to start, just happy that it was him and not Jenn at the receiving end of this.

"Nick, no!" Jenn whimpered, but stopped as she felt the cold metal pressed once again against her head.
"Shut it bitch!" One of the men said. It was the tall one, holding his foot in place of Nick’s stomach. "So, Carter, you’re
the one who has pretty much come out unharmed of this whole thing, huh?" The foot dug deeper in Nick’s stomach and
he groaned in his chest. "Not today! Hmm, how ‘bout we play a little soccer?"

With one swift move, the man kicked Nick across the floor to another shorter man who kicked him harder back to the
first man.

"Yes, I heard you were QUITE the jock, Nicky." The man knelt down, breathing on Nick’s face. "Care for a little one on
one? Basketball?" With that, he grabbed a handful of Nick’s hair and connected his head down hard on the hardwood
floor. The blonde man cried out for the first time.

Jenn let out an audible sob as she watched her newlywed being beat until he reached the point of oblivion. The racket
had also stirred little Nicole who, at her mom’s sob and her dad’s yell, had let out cries of her own.

"God! Someone shut that ass up!" The man yelled. "Let pretty boy go!"

"You don’t call my daughter or…or anybody that!" Nick spoke up in a deep, disgusted voice. He deeply regretted his
outburst as his face met the bottom of the leading man’s dirty boot.

Brian was let go and shoved in Nicole’s directions. Shakily, he picked up the upset child and held her close to his heart.
"Shh, baby. Please shh . Mommy and Daddy can’t lose you." He swallowed, thinking about the purpose of this dinner.
Jenn’s new baby.

Suddenly, he remembered the security button Nick had installed into his home before Jenn left the hospital. ’In every
room.’ He had said. Brian’s frantic blue eyes scanned the room in search of the button that would save them. He turned
his head back to make sure no one was watching.

The dirty-blond was surprised to find Jenn staring back at him, then reverting her eyes to something else. The button.
Brian made a swift move to press the button before anyone would notice. He sighed with relief, help would be here
soon. Looking down, he saw that Nicole had fallen asleep and silently hoped the others wouldn’t notice. Maybe.. just
maybe he could make his way to where they held Sara captive.

No such luck.

"PRETTY BOY! Over here…Now!" A harsh voice yelled at him. Shivering, he kissed Nicole’s forehead and laid her back
down. That’s when he saw that the door to the room they had Sara in was open.

But there was no sound coming out.
"Oh God.." He whispered and left his friends in a desperate attempt to save his sweetheart.

They shoved Brian into the room and he couldn’t believe the sight that beheld him.

Before him was his wife, tied to the bed in a position that made him want to throw up. He really didn’t want to believe
what he thought had been going on in here, but it was true.

Sara looked up at him with weak brown eyes as he entered and she had a small look of relief on her face. But that
ended at the next words, "Go and fill the tub, we need to get this done quick!" One of the men spat.

‘What in the hell did he mean by that?!’ Brian thought. ‘There is no way’ ...he suddenly tried to make a dash for his love,
but was stopped short by someone tackling him to the floor.

"I don't think so pretty boy!" The man that grabbed him said. He hoisted him up and started pushing him towards the
bathroom.

"Sara," He barely got out before being punched in the stomach.

All too quickly they had the tub filled and had dragged Sara into the room also.

"Take me, not her! Please don't do this." Brian pleaded with the men, trying to regain his breath. He found Sara's eyes,
but they held no emotion, as if she knew what was about to happen. "God, NO!" Brian sobbed.

They roughly drug Sara over to the tub and threw her in. She let out a little gasp and sputtered out some of the water
that was invading her mouth. They then dragged Brian over to the side of the tub and grabbed his arms.

"You're gonna do this Littrell, and you better not fight us!" The man to his left yelled out.

Brian still wasn’t too clear on what was about to happen, but with two of the men already holding Sara down so that she
wouldn't sit up gave him a vague idea.

"No, no, you can't make me do this!" Brian yelled out trying to break free, but all too suddenly they pulled his hands out
to the tub and thrust them down onto Sara's body totally submerging her under the water.

He still continued to struggle as he saw Sara begin to give up her fight. As he looked down into the water, he saw her
eyes cloud over and then stop her struggle altogether.
Brian let out a cry from his lips as they roughly pulled him away. "Good job Littrell, way to kill the wifey." Brian wasn't
even listening to them anymore, he was dead as far as he was concerned. He just let them drag him into the other room
and he heard sirens in the distance. He just prayed that they would get there in time to save his baby. His life.

Tears washed down his numb body as Brian was brought back in with Nick and Jenn. He didn’t even want look back.
Not now.

A loud cry escaped his mouth as he saw the other guys forcing Jenn to strangle Nick. Her fingers were being pushed
into Nick’s neck and he could see her resisting. His best friend was kicking his legs about wildly, making horrible
gagging noises.

‘Just pretend, Nick. Hold your breath.’ Brian thought as he watched, numb to any kind of feeling except loss. He felt as
though huge chunks had been taken out of him. Finally, Nick stopped moving and his voice fell silent. The voice that so
many girls were in love with was washed away and Nick Carter’s eyelids gave in to the evil of the act.

"No…baby, Nick, please." Jenn fell on top of him, sobbing as they let her let go. She stroked his cheeks and watched
his lips tinge with a fairly dark shade of blue. "Nick.." She called out hoarsely, brushing his hair back.

"Hey wife killer…" A voice called from behind Brian. "Wanna say goodbye?"

The man held Sara’s limp body in his arms and an immense hurt and pain washed over Brian’s body. He heard a splash,
his wife being thrown back into the tub, and then his world faded to a pitch black.

"BRIAN!" Jenn heard a loud thump on the floor and had turned to find her close friend sprawled out on the floor. "Not
you.."

"C’mon bitch!" A man grabbed her by the arm. "That damn pretty boy must’ve hit a switch or something. The police are
comin’.. we gotta get out!" He rounded up his partners and stroked Jenn’s face with the gun. "Don’t worry baby! You’ll
get lots of pleasure where we’re taking you."

She whimpered a little more and saw that the man behind her was dragging Brian across the floor carelessly.

‘So much for the happy ending.’ Jenn thought as she was shoved into a faded blue van. Her hand traveled down to her
stomach, fluttering of a little child moving around. That’s when she thought of Nicole. Tears sprung out of her eyes and
she banged on the back door of the van but gave up shortly after.

She slid down and watched Brian, rolling back and forth with every motion of the van. Jenn felt so alone and pained. It
was then that she wished for nothing more than Nick’s arms holding her tight, telling her to wake up.

But she knew, no nightmare was this horrible.

Everything was white, bright white.

Nick groaned, as he tried to adjust to the brightness. He felt like death warmed over, everything hurt badly. He could feel
someone to his left holding his hand. o­nce his eyes finally adjusted he saw that it was Kevin.

"Nick, Nick, can you hear me?" Kevin asked as he noticed that Nick's eye's were fluttering.

Nick began to say something when he realized that his throat was buring horribly. He began coughing violently and Kev
handed him a glass of water.

"Easy buddy, drink this." Kevin said to him.

Nick finally stoped coughing and managed to croak out, "What happened?"

"You, don't remember?" Kevin asked sadly. Nick just slowly shook his head as he fell back into the bed, the pain
overwhelming him. "You, Jenn, Bri, and Sara were all at your house eating dinner." Kevin began as the wheels began
turning in Nicks head. "We really don't know what happened, luckily someone tripped the alarm. If they hadn't you and
Sara wouldn't be with us right now." Kevin said tearfully

Nick then panicked, he still didn't remember what happened, but wondered why Kevin hadn't mentioned Jenn or Brian
yet. "Kev, what about Jenn and Brian? Oh my god, what about Nicole!" Nick was now in full panic now.

"Easy Nick, Nicole is fine. See," He points to the front of the room where Lori and AJ sit, with Lori holding Nicole. "I don't
know how to tell you this man." Kevin hesitated, then continued when he got a warning look from Nick. "There gone
man. They took them, we have no idea where they are." Tears were now falling from the eyes of everyone in the room.

"Why, why!!" Nick cried out in agony. "What about Sara, how is she?" Nick asked.

"She's right over there Nicky." Lori responded pointing to the bed next to him.

He felt nauseas at the sight, Sara lay there with a breathing tube going down her thoat, helping her to breath. She had
bruises all over her face and arms, and he supposed he didn't look much better himself. Suddenly he felt like he couldn't
breath, he was having a panic attack. He couldn't handle all this happening again, WHY THEM!! Was the o­nly thought
that went through his mind as he welcomed the blackness.

~*~*~*~



"Brian!" Jenn gently shook his shoulder. "Wake up!"

It had been an estimated hour and half since they had been put in this dingy van and Brian had o­nly awaken o­nce o­nly
to cry himself to sleep. Jenn wished she could sleep as he did but, every time she closed her eyes, the scene of Nick
with those blue eyes and sunken eyes haunted her mind.

"Just a couple minutes, Sar. Go let the dogs out." Brian’s voice was tired and quiet but it brought Jenn out of her
thoughts.

"Bri.." She brought her hand through his hair and helped him to sit up as his eyes opened. His head slowly turned to
meet her eyes and he looked down.

"You’re not Sara." He whispered in a childlike voice. "I won’t cry, dammit." His head dropped in his hands as he sat up
against the wall.

"It’s okay to cry, Bri." Jenn comforted, remembering the words Nick comforted her with just a few weeks ago.

"Awww! Such a freakin’ Hallmark moment!" The driver remarked as he flung open the door.

The harsh sunlight was an unwelcome contrast to the darkness Jenn and Brian had become accustomed to. It was an
even deeper contrast to the feelings lying within themselves. Broken hearts and crying eyes.

"Don’t touch me!" Jenn spat, as o­ne of the men tried to help her step down out of the van.

"Oh, my God!" Brian breathed, as he faced the place he supposed he was being held.

It was huge! A mansion, bigger than any of the boys preferred, he thought.

"What the hell are you going to do with us here?" Jenn sounded more bitter than he had ever heard her. He saw right
through it. She was hurting. Bad.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

Solemnly, they were jerked inside.

~*~

The two hostages were taken down turning and twisting hallways and, as hard as they both tried to remember the path,
both of them knew they would never remember it.

"Ahh, here we are."
Brian looked up and saw a room with bars making up the walls. Curtain inside the bars hid what was o­n the inside and,
to be honest, he didn’t care anymore. ‘Go ahead. Kill me.’ He thought as the gate to, what he had guessed to be his room,
was unlocked.

He was pushed in and his blue eyes took in the space. Within the bars and the curtains, was a huge bed and a small
table beside it. Above the bed was a mirror and, sitting o­n the bed, his eyes widened. o­n the small table, was a picture
of he and Sara o­n their wedding day.

Before…before he killed her, Brian thought.

The curtains behind the bars suddenly opened and, across from him, he saw Jenn, her room decorated similarly to his.
She, too, was holding a picture in her hand and tears streamed in rivers down her paling face.

His attention was snapped off from Jenn suddenly as a petite woman with a nice figure entered the space between he
and Jenn.

"Who are you?" He shot, her face too shadowed for him to see. All he knew was that she was unlocking his ‘cage’. She
looked up and Brian had to catch his breath. Her eyes were the same color brown that Sara’s were or, had been. And
her hair, it looked the same too. Hell, if he hadn’t known better…

He swallowed and looked past the woman to Jenn, who was still entranced with the object in her hand. He cursed
silently as the curtains were o­nce again obstructing his view, he had no choice but to look at the woman.

"Your new wife." She whispered softly.

"....In recent news, there is still no lead on the kidnapping case of recent newlywed to Nick Carter, Jennifer Carter. Also
missing is fellow Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell. Both have been missing for two days now, after police got a silent alarm
from the Carters home. Carter and Littrell’s wife, Sara Littrell, were found near death in the home. They are both listed in
Critical, but Stable condition here at Tampa Bay General. If you have any information on the missing people in this case,
please call....."

Howie shut off the TV. He had been sitting with Sara in her room since they had brought her in. This whole situation was
just so awful, he just couldn't believe that this was happening to all of them.

What was worrying him the most was that Sara still hadn't regained conciousness and it had been two days. Nick had
woken up yesterday, but wasn't really talking to anybody. This had everyone worried. Nick was usually one to lash out,
not crawl inside of himself. Nick now had a child and didn't need to be doing this right now.

Everyone had agreed that no matter what they would help out with Nicole through all of this. Lori took on most of the
responsibility, but everyone would look after her at times. Howie took a deep breath as he looked back over to the still
resting Sara. Howie did as he had randomly did throughout these days. He placed his head in his hands and began to
pray.
~*~

Lori was sitting there by herself in Nicks room. She was just rocking her god child, trying to get her to calm down. Kevin
and AJ had gone off to help clear away some of the reporters that were at the front entrance.

She had noticed that Nick had awoken and that he was staring at her and the baby. Maybe he might be able to calm her
down, Lori thought to herself. She got up and made her way over to his bed.

Nick hesitated at first due to the pain he was in, but soon his baby was in his arms. He rocked her for a second and she
calmed down. "You're getting to big for me to rock you sweetie." Nick said as his eyes began to fill with tears. All too
soon the tears were falling full force and he was sobbing.

Nicole seemed to get upset at this, and she too was soon in full wail. Nick was just mumbling things that Lori couldn't
understand, and she decided it would be best if she took the baby back.

"Nick, you need to calm down. You're scaring Nicole." Lori said backing away from him. Nick suddenly went into full
panic and all the monitors started going crazy. Lori hit the nurse call button and ran out to the hallway, hoping they could
help her friend.

~*~


Jenn Carter began to freak out as she watched the curtains to Brian’s room close as that woman entered. ‘Damn,’ She
thought, ‘That girl looked so much like Sara. There has to be a reason…’

The dark haired girl laid back on the bed, trying to piece things together. She brought her hand into her field of view and
a few more tears dripped out of her eyes.

Her hand held the picture that she had found on the table. It was taken from the first renewed memory she had of she
and Nick. The night he asked for her hand in marriage. Jenn smiled. Gosh, she loved that man more than anything.

And her daughter.

"Nikki…" Jenn’s fingers ran across the other picture in the frame. It was Nick and Jenn with their little girl just two
weeks ago. A thought entered her mind. ’How in the hell did they get these pictures?’

As thoughts burned holes into her mind, she had to close her eyes and hold her head. Everything was making her so
dizzy. As soon as her eyes closed though, the back of her eyelids revealed to her the image of Nick lying in their floor,
blue lips and pale features. Jenn quickly jerked open her eyelids and stared at the dirty ceiling for what seemed like an
hour. She could hear mumblings coming from Brian’s side and, every now and then, she would hear a sob.. Or a
scream.

But she had become numb now as Brian had been earlier. It was her turn to be in shock.
Jenn’s head slowly turned to face the opening gate when she heard it being unlocked. Her face was absolutely void of
any emotion of feeling.

"What?" She asked simply, hoarsely, and quietly. She didn’t want to play. She didn’t want to fight anymore.

"Aww, my sweet Jennifer, so tired." The blonde man walked towards her and laid down beside her, stroking her hair.
She jerked away at his touch, a disgusted look crossing her face. "Oh, so tired, you are."

She had to turn away. He, in a strange way, looked like Nick. His blue eyes singed her thoughts and made her long for
Nick, for a moment, she made herself believe it was him. Those warm comforting hands, that boyish blonde hair.

Jenn closed her eyes, feeling as though she had been drugged. She had drilled into her head that it was Nick touching
her body, although tears still slid down her cheeks. She felt the man’s hand run down to her stomach.

"I feel our sweet baby, fishy."

Jenn’s eyes shot open. "First of all bastard, this baby is not yours! Second, no one calls me that but Nick!" She
narrowed her eyes. "Who the hell are you?"

"I am your Nick now baby. Isn’t that great?" The man’s eyes danced with excitement like Nick’s used to.

"No! Damn you…and your damn…shit!" Jenn didn’t know what she was trying to say and soon, she had caught this
awful suffocating feeling. He was slowly approaching her.

"And this is our baby." She backed away. "My love, I'll be a fool for you I'm sure. You know I don't mind. Cause you, you
mean the world to me. Oh, I know I found in you, my endless love…" He started singing softly.

"Stop!" She yelled. It was their wedding song. Her and Nick’s. Not this man’s. "Please…" She whimpered.

But all things stopped when a heart wrenching sobbing scream was let out on the other side.

He was smiling from ear to ear. Today was the day he was waiting for, his wedding to Jenn. He couldn't have asked for
a more beautiful day, or setting. The sun was just starting to go down, he couldn't have timed it better himself.

He turned to the aisle as he watched AJ, his best man, and Lori, Jenn's maid of honor walk towards him. He knew that
soon they would be getting married to, that just made his smile grow bigger. Next, came Howie carrying Nicole in his
arms. She was the flower girl, although she couldn't throw flowers, he wouldn't have it any other way. That was when
the music came over the speaker.

"There's only you in my life, the only thing that's right. My first love, your every breath that I take. You're every step I
make. And I, I want to share all my love with you. No one else will do. In your eyes, they tell me how much you care. Oh
yea, you will always be my endless love."

His breath went away from him when he saw his bride, she was beautiful. She was being escorted down the aisle by
Brian. Brian hadn't looked so happy since he was in his place, getting married to Sara. Jenn had the biggest smile on
her face as she got closer.

"Two hearts that beat as one. Our lives have just begun. Forever, I'll hold you close in my arms. I can't resist your
charms. My love, I'll be a fool for you I'm sure. You know I don't mind. Cause you, you mean the world to me. Oh, I know I
found in you, my endless love."

Then suddenly the sky turned black, and Brian had a look of pure pain on his face. Then he just disappeared. Jenn also
got the same look on her face as she was forcefully pulled away from him.

Nick jumped and reached for her, but suddenly the wind was knocked out of him. Then he felt pain all over. He fell onto
the ground, and felt more pain. He looked out towards Jenn, calling for her, just as she was calling for him. Then
suddenly she gasped and began to fall to the ground. As she hit the ground all Nick saw left was her wedding dress, no
Jenn.

"NNNOOOOOO!!!!" Nick woke up screaming from his hospital bed.

"Nick, calm down man." Kevin said in a worried voice. "Shhh, just calm down buddy."

Nick's breathing was beginning to slow to a normal rate once again. "Oh my god, that was horrible." Nick said as the
tears fell down his face freely.

"It's okay Nick, do you want to talk about it?" Kevin asked hoping that would help.

"The wedding, she was right there….and…and then she was gone." Nick had this lost look in his eyes that just about
killed Kevin. Kevin just held him as he let it out.
*Two hours later*

AJ sat in the corner of the dim room, his eyes closed, with a sleeping Nicole purring on his chest and Lori resting her
head on his shoulder. Kevin sat by Nick’s bed, staring at Nick as though he was an intricate puzzle which he had to put
together in a small period of time. Howie sat in between the beds, hoping for progress in one of them, at least a clue as
to what happened to Jenn and Brian.

“I’ve got to get out of here!” AJ whispered in a raspy voice. It was the first time someone had spoken since Nick had
fallen back to sleep. “I’ve gotta…gotta get something to eat or…something.” He handed Nicole to Lori and stood up
abruptly, rubbing his pants in a nervous manner.

“J..” Kevin didn’t want AJ to go. AJ hadn’t been out since this whole thing had happened and he had been the first to
want to face the press they knew had to be waiting outside. But, seeing the look of rebelliousness across the younger
man’s face, Kevin stood too. “I’ll go too.” It was too much, AJ was right.

“Suit yourself.” The tattooed man shrugged and pulled his sunglasses on. Pulling the front of his hat down, he kissed
Lori and walked briskly to the door, waiting for Kevin.

Kevin gave Nick’s hand one more squeeze. “Stay cool buddy. I’ll be back.”

He stood and walking past Sara’s bed, patted her leg. He hadn’t really gone near her since she was brought in and
everyone knew why. Kevin couldn’t, didn’t want to, grasp that Brian was gone. No where to be found. And if he watched
Sara, his mind would still be with his cousin.

The two Backstreet Boys walked down to the elevator and sighed with relief when it opened empty.

“What do you think is gonna happen Kev?” AJ said, breaking the silence of Kevin’s mind.

“What do you mean, J?” Kevin looked into AJ’s eyes as if he had no idea what he was talking about. “Nick’s going to be
fine once he gets out and Jenn will be back soon.”

AJ nodded slightly and looked at Kevin again. “What about Sara? And Brian?”
It had been the first time someone confronted the older man on the topic, but it had to be done. He had to be brought
back into reality.

“What about them? They’ll be fine too.”

AJ was just about to argue when the elevator doors slid open with a soft woosh. They would have to be silent now until
they reached the car, so that they would have less chance of being recognized.

But a bright light flashed before they were even 6 inches out of the elevator.

“DOWN HERE!” A voice rang through the men’s ears and they walked faster.

“Mr. Richardson…”

“Mr. McLean…”

“What has happened to the new Carter baby? Was she taken too?”

AJ took more interest in his shoes.

“Is this caused by Mr. And Mrs. Littrells’ separation?”

Kevin dug his hands in his pockets and walked faster. ‘How did they even know about that? Are they insinuating Brian
had something to do with this?’ He thought.

“We’ve heard new reports that Mr. Littrell and Mrs. Carter were having an affair therefore hurting each of their spouses
to be with each other…”

The tall dark haired man spun around at the last comment and AJ’s head shot up in the direction behind him. He
watched anger burn Kevin’s green eyes and he grabbed his arm, fearing the worst.

“How DARE you accuse Jenn and Brian of that? Who the fuck do you think you are?!” Kevin raged as he reached
forward for the microphone and camera, taking them both and slamming it to the ground, before turning around and
coolly walking out of the door.

AJ swallowed and stood there for a moment. Tears burned his own eyes as he watched everything fall apart. “How
could you be so cruel?” He said, before following in Kevin’s path.

He found Kevin in his car, hunched over the steering wheel, his body shaking with sobs.

“Kev, man, it’s cool now.” AJ sat in the passenger’s seat and patted his friend’s back. He hated seeing Kevin losing it
because somehow then, it seemed everything would fall to pieces.

“No AJ.” Kevin looked up with small red rimmed eyes, and splotchy skin. “Brian and Jenn are gone. Sara’s dying and
Nick’s a wreck. I can’t take care of them this time AJ, but I’m sure as hell gonna kick some ass when I find out who did
this.”

The younger man smiled a bit. “I know you will, Kev. Now, let’s go eat, you need to get away.”

Back in the hospital room, Nick had awoke once again, but seemed to be out of it. He was singing to Lori, thinking she
was Jenn and, tears filled her eyes as he whispered ‘I love you’ before he fell once again into a world where everything
was still perfect.

And he still fell asleep with Jenn in his arms.

Sara and Brian lay silently in their bed, holding hands, coming down from the ecstasy of making love for the first time.
They had rented a beautiful condo o­n the beach, the o­ne they would eventually buy in the years to come.

Brian’s blue eyes captivated her as they shined with tremendous love in the darkness of the room, lit o­nly by the light
of the moon. The window which curved around the wall above their bed allowed the sound of waves to intermingle with
the sound of beating hearts.

“I love you..” The man whispered, breaking the silence and taking her hand to his lips.

“Love you more..” It was an o­ngoing thing with them to argue who loved who more.

Brian sat up and pulled Sara into his lap, their skin pressing together, making both of them smile. “Let’s go play o­n the
beach.” He announced with a grin.

“Uh…skinny dipping?”

“If ya want.” He looked down and winked then laughed at the look o­n her face. She would never be o­ne to do
something of that manner in public. So seemingly innocent, that’s what he loved about her.

Sara stood, pulling o­n her long white gown. It was a contrast to her skin which was kissed by the sun. She would never
forget the way Brian looked at her at that moment and every time he told her he loved her, it was that look of incredible
love that she pictured.

Her husband pulled o­n his pajama pants and they ran out o­nto the beach like two kids o­n Christmas morning. They
stopped at the water’s edge and laughed as it tickled their feet. His laughter, that sweet melody. Sara knew she would
never forget this for her whole life.

The next hour was spent dancing o­n the beach wildly, chasing each other and acting like the young lovers they were.
Then, Brian and Sara took off running into the ocean, clothes and all.

“Sooo sexy…” He laughed in a strange voice as she splashed him. Suddenly, he pulled her close to him, droplets of
water transferring from his chest to hers. Sara’s body shivered with excitement.

Those arms, those eyes, those lips…

Those lips that were about to entangle with hers…

Quickly, Brian let go for her in a moment in time and she slipped under the waves. Sara suddenly felt pressure and she
knew someone was holding her down. Brian?

Her tears mixed with the salty water as she realized it was him. ‘Why?’ She thought. But she could no longer breathe
and gave up the fight. Why…

Howie jumped as Sara’s monitors went haywire and he realized her brown eyes were revealed for the first time in days.

“Sara…” He grabbed her hand. “Chill out sweetheart..” He knew he must’ve pressed the call button ten times.

Nick was awoken from his sleep by the noises o­n the other side of his room. He turned his head slowly and saw Howie
leaned over Sara. The blonde was amazed that, at first, he had no urge to go over and help. He just wanted that damn
beeping to stop…

Then he realized Sara was in the same boat he was. The o­nly o­ne would even remotely know how he felt. But what if
she didn’t make it?

And suddenly, for the first time in a while, Nick felt so alone.

It had been over an hour since Brian had let out that terrifying scream. Jenn had immediately ran over to see what had
caused him to due that, but was unable to see due to the curtains. Jenn just sat there, trying to get Brian to talk to her.

“Brian, please talk to me.” Jenn said softly. “You’re really scaring me.” All she heard in response was a quiet sob from
him. She leaned further into the bars and put her arms around herself, she almost jumped when he finally responded.

“Why?” He managed to chock out.

“I don’t know Bri, I just don’t know.” Jenn responded truthfully.

“I…I killed her. I just held her under that water, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I’m just a horrible person. I…I can’t
live without her.” Brian started crying again.

“I did the same thing Bri, I did the same thing.” Jenn added sadly. “I just hope that the paramedics got there o­n time. I
feel it in my heart that they are alright. I really believe it.” Jenn said with nothing but hope in her heart.

“Jenn you shouldn’t say things that aren’t true. It’s just time to give up. I mean, I don’t see us ever getting out, it’s over.”
Brian said sounding defeated.

“Don’t you ever give up Brian!” Jenn sounded more harsh then she meant to. “If anything WE are getting out of here
together. I am not gonna let these wackos get a hold of my baby.”



Brian hadn’t even thought of that, he just kept o­n seeing Sara’s face fighting against him. But that was done now, he
can’t go back. “I’m sorry, you’re right we need to get out of here.” Brian’s voice seemed a bit stronger. “We are getting
out of here, for the sake of your baby. These assholes won’t be able to stop us.” As they heard a key begin to open the
door they stopped their discussion. Now it was agreed, they would get out of this place.

“Dinner’s done.” The female voice said. Brian reached through the bars and gave Jenn’s hand a small squeeze. They
bravely stood up and headed out of their rooms, not knowing what to expect from this point o­n.

Love is the road to our destiny.
Nothing can change what is meant to be. - “Forever Love”, Reba McEntire


Jenn and Brian slowly walked down the hallway. Their captors had let them out of their cells for dinner tonight. It had
been just over a week since they had been captured, and this was the first time they were being let out.

All Jenn could think about was if Nick was alright. Sure she had seen him before her, turning blue and not breathing,
but there was always that slight chance. She was not going to let these people have her believe that Nick was gone, not
till she could see so for herself.

Brian view was much different. He had seen her, underneath that water, gone. It plagued his dreams every night,
whenever he closed his eyes all he could see was that lifeless look in her eyes. If it wasn't for Jenn needing him to
protect her and her unborn baby, he would have let them kill him by now. But he knows that he must be strong, life may
not be continuing for him but the promise that he made to Nick he would NEVER break.


***

(flashback)

It had been just a week after Jenn had finally been able to come home. Brian had come over to kill some time due to the
fight him and Sara had just had. He didn't know what he should do anymore, nothing he did seemed to please his wife
anymore.

"Bri, its so good to see you." Jenn said as she opened the door and gave him a hug.

"Please come in, Nick will be so happy that you're here."

Then an hour later it was just Brian and Nick, they were hanging out in his basement. Jenn had taken the baby upstairs
for a nap, and she had some things to finish up in the kitchen.

"I just don't know what to do." Brian said sounding defeated over his situation with Sara.

"There's not too much for you to do bro. She's going through a really rough time, and she just needs some space.
Everything will work out for you." Nick said giving Brians shoulder a slight squeeze.

"I just wish none of this happened to us. We should just now be welcoming the birth of your twins, and Sara and I
should be finding out the sex of our child. We shouldn't be morning the loss of them." Brian said with tears in his eyes.

"Bri, there is nothing we can do to go back and straighten this all out. We just have to hope that we can all work
through this. Life deals out some tough shit, and you just have to fight through it." Nick said thoughfully.

"Since when did you become the voice of reason Kaos?" Brian asked looking up at his young friend.

"Since I realized that I have more to live for than myself. Which is why I am about to ask you this." Nick started, Brian
just looked at him in question. "Rok, this whole situation has me worried. I just need to be sure that I have all my bases
covered."

"What are you getting to Nick?" Brian asked in worry.

"I want you to promise me something. I need you to take care of Jenn and Nicole if something ever happens to me."
Nick said seriously.

"Nick, I...." Brian started.

"I know that it is a lot to ask, but I need to be assured that the two most important people in my life are going to be
taken care of if I were to pass o­n."

"Wow Nick, I can't believe how grown up you're acting. Of course I will look after them for you, you didn't even have to
ask. I would have done it no matter what." Brian said as he and Nick embraced. "Anything for you man."


(End Flashback)

***

Dinner was relatively quiet, Jenn and Brian we not up for conversation. Any time o­ne of their captors tried to get them
to talk, they didn't respond. It was evident that they were not too happy with the situation, but Jenn and Brian were both
not ready to speak to them.

There was a TV o­n in the other room, they could all hear it clearly. Jenn and Brian were both trying to listen to it was
the meal continued, just eager for any kind of contact with the outside world.

Suddenly a news show began...."In recent news, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter," Both of their captors eyes got big and
they both began to run to the other room. Jenn and Brian just stood up and listened intently for whatever was next. "I
just hope that this reaches who ever is responsible. Sara and I will fight to get them back. This is not over, just please
bring them back to us. Jenn, I love y...." With that the TV set was turned off, and Jenn was in tears.

"Oh my god! He's alive..." She continued to cry into Brians shoulder as they embraced.

"I can't believe that they are really alive." Brian said tearfully himself. They both just were happy to have human contact
with o­ne another. But all too suddenly they were pulled apart. Jenn reached out to Brian, but she was just pushed
down to the floor.

The Woman was standing over Jenn, and the Man was holding Brian back. "You couldn't even kill them COULD YOU!!!!"
The Man yelled out as he pulled out a small pistol from his pants.

Jenn just closed her eyes, hoping that this would all just end.

"No, no, no!!!" Was heard coming from Brian, then BANG!

Brian fell to his knees, weakened by the loud shot that flew from behind him. An inevitable cry left his lips and he looked
up to find Jenn still standing. A staggered breath followed the cry but he couldn’t manage any more than that.

Jenn licked her lips, still shaken from the bullet that had shot through the wall beside her. Everything was too much too
take. Brian was losing it, the gunshot had shaken her badly, and to top it off, her Nick was alive. She closed her eyes to
conceal the threatening tears. What now?

“Awww,” The girl, whose name they had found out was Cara, dropped Jenn from her grasp and rushed to Brian’s side.
“My poor baby. I think you’re ready for dessert.” She winked at him and it was all Brian could do not to gag in disgust.
Sure, she looked like Sara but she was far from actually being her.

“I’m not…hungry.” He managed, his eyes closing. She was wearing his wife’s perfume and pain was searing through
him.

“Oh my love, you don’t have to be.” And with that, Cara helped him up off the floor and walked him back to his “room”.

Jenn watched helplessly with worried eyes but could o­nly manage a small whimper. Where was her voice? Where
was her heart?

With Nick. She knew that. ‘I love you Jenn.’ She knew that tone in his voice. It was lost, hurt, distraught and she
wondered what he was doing at that exact moment. Was he comforting Sara, maybe? Was he, himself, being
comforted? As much as she didn’t want to, Jenn opened her eyes to let reality sink in. She didn’t want to think of her
sweet Nickolas, that had been so strong and confident in her regaining her memory, being broken all because of her.

“Hello baby..” Rick, that stupid shit of a Nick look-a-like, was breathing gently into her face.

Lost in the emotion and confusion, in those eyes that looked so much like her husband’s, in that face that she loved so
much, Jenn kissed those lips. She jerked back though when she came to her senses and realized that no kiss, by
anyone else, would ever be as satisfying as Nick’s. “Oh God…” She breathed. ‘What the hell have I done?’ In moments,
tears had worked their way out of her brown eyes.

“Oh baby, don’t cry. There’s more where that came from.” Rick smiled and took her hand, bringing her back to her cell
as well. “I’ll be back.”

“Don’t rush..” Jenn muttered, falling back o­n the bed. What had overcome her to do such a thing as kiss that sorry son
of a bitch? Her brown eyes wandered to Brian’s room across from hers. The curtains were closed and there wasn’t
much sound coming from inside. Jenn started to wonder if they were even in there when she felt something digging
into her lower back.

Reaching around, she gasped in surprise. Her cell phone was tight in the grasp of her shaking hand.

~*~


“I can’t do this anymore, Lori.” Nick flopped down o­nto Sara’s couch and rubbed his eyes. “Just let me die.”

“Honey! Don’t say that.” Lori embraced her best friend’s husband tightly as he cried into her shoulder.

“I’m just so worried. My.. my wife is gone…my b-best friend is gone. And.. and I want to take care of Sara until Brian can
come home to her but…she..she’s not doin’ too hot.” He hiccupped.

“Breathe Nick. We’re gonna find Jenn and Brian, at least if I have anything to say about it!” She soothingly rubbed his
back. “And Sara.. well, I don’t know. We’ll just have to work with her.”

“But …what if we find them…and..and…they’re de-” He couldn’t say it. His blue eyes clouded over with more tears.
“What if they’re already watching us? Waiting for us…in a better place?”

“NICK! STOP!” Lori pushed his shoulders back so that she was looking at him. She was just about to gently light into
him when a tired looking girl entered the room.

“Nick…” Sara licked her lips as if she didn’t remember how to speak. “She’s alive. Jenn.. she’s alive.”

Jenn just started at the phone like it was too good to be true. How is this even possible, she thought as she stared
blankly at the phone. Then she finally managed to shake the cobwebs out of her brain, and began to dial. Nick always
has his cell on, she thought. Her face fell when his voice mail picked up, but she was going to at least let him know that
she was alright.

"Nicky, I heard you on the news. I...we're alive! Bri, he's protecting us...I...." Suddenly the door opens and Jenn lets out a
gasp. The phone clutters to the floor as Rick sees it.

"Why you little bitch!!!" Rick yells as he drops the items in his hands, charging at Jenn like a bat outta hell. Jenn is
suddenly pushed into the back wall as the man breathes heavily against her face. "Just what in the fuck do you think
you are doing!!??"

"I...I..." She was silenced by a hard slap across the face. She reaches up to touch her face, but he violently pulls her
arm back to her side eliciting a yelp from her. "Please, you're hurting me." Jenn cried out.

"This ain't nothing sweetie." The man growled at her.
Jenn let out a startled gasp as he suddenly grabbed both of her shoulders and slung her onto the bed. "Just leave me
alone!" She sobbed as he got on top of her, and began to take some of her clothes off.

He harshly placed his mouth on top of hers and began to kiss her. She fought back as much as she could, but he had
her arms pinned to her sides. He soon brought his lips off of hers and looked into her eyes. "Shh, its okay darlin’. I know
you want this."

Tears streamed down Jenn's face. This can't be happening, she thought to herself. "Please, help me." Jenn cried out
loud, then she just shut down. She just closed her eyes and succumbed to the welcoming darkness.

~*~

Nick Carter covered his mouth and his hand slowly crept over his whole face as he sank to the ground. It had been the
first time in weeks that he had heard his wife’s voice and…it was so tortured…so scared. What should he do now? Call
the police? Look for her himself? He knew there were so many things but… all he could do was cry.

“Lori…” He managed, grabbing her arm just a few inches away from him. “Call…call the police..”

Lori, too, was standing by Nick in shock. So shocked she couldn’t even show any emotion and, aimlessly, she left the
room to find the phone that she would use to call the police.

“Jenn…” Nick hid his blue eyes once more and ran a finger across his cell phone screen. He had saved the message
but he never wanted to hear it again. The blonde knew he would though. In his thoughts. In his dreams. His wife,
screaming for him to help her and there he sat, crying in the floor. Letting his best friend protect her although he was in
just as much danger.

Brian.

He assumed that he and Jenn were together but it was strange that he hadn’t heard him. Did HE know that they were
still alive? Well, that Nick was alive. Sara wasn’t much for living these days and, knowing Brian, he wasn’t either.

Nick sighed. He needed human contact and was hoping that one of the guys would come through the door to check on
him. That’s when he heard quiet cries behind him. Pushing the blonde hair out of his pink tinted blue eyes, Nick turned
around and sat on the side of the bed where Sara was curled in a ball, sobs shaking her body.

“Sar..” His hoarse voice whispered, lightly patting her shoulder.

Almost instantaneously, Brian’s wife sat up and hugged Nick as tight as she could. The man almost jerked back in
response to the reaction, it was the first sign of any emotion she had shown since she had come home. But now, the
walls were down for both of them and, from here on out, Nick and Sara needed each other more than ever.

“Where are they Nick? Brian…he won’t make it. He can’t make it.” She rambled. The lost look in her eye was almost
enough to break Nick again. “His heart.. He-he was just put on higher med..medi..” She couldn’t finish.

“Breathe, Sara. Shhh.” Nick rubbed her back like he used to do for Jenn when she was upset. It killed him though.

He couldn’t console anyone this time. He knew only as much as everyone else.

It wasn’t enough.

~*~

Jenn’s eyes snapped open with a terrible headache. Reality hit her and she realized what had knocked her out in the
first place. She shot up, maybe a little too quick, and was sent back down with a wave of dizziness.

“No…Please.. No..” She heard Brian’s desperate cries across from her room and, as much as it pained her, she had to
get up.

What she saw though, would fill her with adrenaline. Brian had saved her and now he was paying for being the
distraction.

Brian couldn't listen to what was going o­n in the other cell any longer. He swiftly shoved Kara away from him and
headed for the door. He was devastated when it didn't open for him.

"How dare you push me away!" Kara yelled as she pulled herself back up off the floor.

Brian just ignored her as he ran over to the adjoining wall and pulled open the curtains. The sight before him made him
sick to his stomach. "Get off of her you sick asshole!"

The man just looked up at him with a smile o­n his face. Brian felt some movement behind him, and he quickly ducked.
Behind him, Kara was holding a small bat.

"You do not need to worry about her! I am all that matters to you!" She quickly swung the bat at him again.

Brian knew that he was in trouble. He quickly rolled out of the way of her attack and got back o­nto his feet. "You do
NOT matter to me." Brain said as he lunged at her.

Brian had never hit a woman, nevermind throwing o­ne o­n the floor and pinning o­ne down. It wasn't a battle or
anything, but she was pinned and Brian was happy. That was until he felt the unyielding pain across his back as
something fierce came in contact with it.

Brian rolled off of Kara and came face to face with Rick. "You NEVER treat a lady like that!" Rick yelled.

"Excuse me, but what you were just doing to my friend was worse!" Brian couldn't believe the man had just said that.
He swiftly kicked out his feet and Rick hit the ground next to him. Soon the two men were rolling around o­n the floor,
each trying to get the upper hand.

Brian was starting to get the upper hand when he heard Jenn yelling out to him. He looked back and saw Kara standing
there with a syringe in her hand. Brian tried to roll away, but Rick held him in place.

Jenn's eyes got really big at this sight. She quickly looked around the room and spotted her cell phone o­n the floor.
She scurried over to it and noticed that the door was open.

Jenn runs as fast as she can out of her cell, with the cell phone tight in her grip. She barely manages to make it into the
other room before she is grabbed from behind by someone.

"Not so fast missy!" Kara yells into her ear as she turns Jenn around.

"Let go of me you BITCH!" Jenn yells as she fights back. Suddenly Rick comes from around the corner with Brian in his
grasp.

"Did you actually want to leave me." Rick starts as he gets closer to Jenn and Kara.

"We o­nly just begun." Rick takes a finger and trails it along Jenn's cheek.

Tears sting Jenn’s eyes as she recoils from his touch. "Leave her alone, don't you touch her again!" Brian said as he
tried to pull away from Rick.

Kara got this evil look in her eyes when Brian said that. "Didn't I already tell you that she was of no concern to you! I
guess that I am just gonna have to take matters into my own hands." Kara said as she dragged Jenn to the other end of
the room.

Brian gasped as Rick started pulling him in the opposite direction. "Don't, don't hurt her! Please I beg of you!”

Kara o­nly smiled her sweetest smile towards Brian. “I know you don’t mean that, my love. I know you want it to be o­
nly you and I..” She whispered across the distance between them.

“No! Damn it! I hate you…” He screamed, trying to breathe under Rick’s tight grip. Brian’s eyes clouded over with tears
and his lips quivered as he realized what a nightmare this all was. He wanted to wake up next to his wife with their
child still alive within her. He wanted to get up and call Nick and Jenn to go out that night.

But that was how this all started.

It was just all too much and the blonde felt as though his legs were going to disappear from beneath him…

..Until he heard her scream.

“JENN!” He yelled, becoming unconscious of his surroundings and focusing in o­n his best friend’s wife. “What’s..” His
small body wriggled free in a rush of adrenaline and shot towards her.

“It…it’s…”Jenn shut her eyes tight and pressed her lips together. “The baby, Brian. God, it hurts.”

“Shit..” Brian looked around after taking her hand. He saw Rick coming towards him and Kara hovering above him. God,
she looked so much like Sara. And Rick, so much like Nick. That’s when he decided, he had to do it for them.

Lifting Jenn’s weak body into his arms, he shot out of the large room and into another. He heard the shouts of their two
captors but he had no intentions of going back. If he did, he’d be in even deeper shit than he was to begin with. Brian
kept running, weaving in and out of passages, crying with Jenn who sobbed in his arms.

It was when he was in running distance of the front door that he knew they weren’t going anywhere. There was no way
to get out of the door, he could see that. But he was sure as hell gonna try.

Upon reaching the door, Brian held Jenn up with o­ne arm and messed with the lock with the other. He pushed, he
pulled, he kicked, but it was no use. The door would not budge.

The yells were getting closer, the footsteps…his vision blurrier with all the tears that fell out..

Brian turned around and surrendered, gathered Jenn in his arms and cried.

Cried because he had failed in protecting Jenn. Failed in protecting the baby. Failed in getting back to his o­nly love and
returning Jenn to hers. It was o­nly right that he should be killed, he thought.

But not Jenn. He clenched his jaw. He would protect her as long as he could, even if it did meaning dying. Everytime he
saw Rick, he thought of Nick, depending o­n him to keep her from danger. He knew that Nick was with Sara and it was
o­nly right to return the favor.

Kara appeared in view first, an angry expression plastered across her face.

“Why do you want her for, Brian? I thought you loved me, your Sara. Or.. Were you having some kind of affair?” She
inquired.

“You twisted sick bitch!” He scowled, out of breath, barely able to see through swollen eyes. He would never even
CONSIDER cheating o­n his wife, much less with Nick’s wife.

“Answer the question, Littrell. Is there something going o­n?” Rick came in behind Kara, holding the same syringe
Brian had spotted earlier.

Jenn whimpered into his chest and he knew that Rick intended to use it o­n her.

“Don’t..touch..her.” He spoke through clenched teeth.

“Back off,fag. You can’t even protect your own wife. Ha! You can’t kill her either. You’re just good…for…nothing!” Rick
emphasized the last words as he neared Jenn.

If he could’ve felt his legs beneath, Brian would’ve ventured to run away again. But he couldn’t, so he did the next best
thing.

Just as Rick was about to jab Jenn with the injection, Brian moved his arm, intercepting the drug into his own vein.

"Guys, I don't think I can do this. I'm just not ready." Nick said as he sat down in a nearby seat. Today was the day of the
press conference. It had been o­ne month and Brian and Jenn had still not been found.

"I know that this is going to be hard o­n you Nick. Hell, it's going to be hard o­n all of us. But lets just hope that doing this
brings Brian and Jenn back to us." AJ said as he put his hand o­n Nicks shoulder reassuringly.

Nick just sat there quietly for a few minutes. Looking around the room, he was greeted with somber faces. Kevin was
at the door, talking to o­ne of the coordinators of the press conference. Howie was o­n the other side of the room with
Lori and Nicole.

Nicks heart always skipped a beat when he set his eyes upon his daughter. He was so grateful for all the help that Lori
had been for him. She had been taking care of Nicole since the kidnapping, and been acting as mom for Nicole. Nick
wouldn't be able to thank her enough when this whole situation was over.

And then there was Sara, sitting in a chair just staring out into space. She seemed so lost without Brian. He was
worried about her, she rarely talked to anyone any more. But today, she was ready to face the press. Nick was proud
that she had decided to go with them, get this over with.

AJ noticed the distant look in his friends eye and nudged him o­n the shoulder. "Nick man, you gonna be alright?" AJ
asked.

"Yeah, just thinkin." Nick said directing his attention to AJ.

"Don't hurt yourself man." AJ joked. "But seriously man, we need to go out there with positive outlooks. I can feel that
this will make a difference in them coming back home to us."

"Okay guys, its time." Kevin said as he waved them over to the door.

Nick stared at the door not moving for a second. He knew that he had to go out there. For Jenn, for Nicole, for Brian, and
even for himself.

Standing up o­n shaky legs, the youngest boy steadied himself and looked towards Sara who was watching him
intently. ‘Be strong. Do like Brian’s doing for you..’ Nick thought to himself, outstretching his hand toward the young girl’
s, who accepted with a sad smile. He returned it and, embracing her quickly, the headed out to face not o­nly the press,
but the world.

He felt her thin, cool fingers grasp his hand even tighter as the bright flashes of cameras welcomed the group out o­nto
the stage area. Nick and Sara took two seats in the middle while AJ and Howie took two places next to Nick and Kevin,
next to his cousin’s wife.

“Um, thank you for coming today.” The blonde cleared his throat, trying to ignore the many signs that fans at the
conference were holding in support. He knew they were just being supportive but Jenn’s face staring back at him when
he was trying so hard to hold his composure was too much. He guess Sara must have sensed this by his long pause
and she took everyone by surprise when she started speaking.

“Yes, thank y’all all so much.” Her southern accent was so similar to Brian’s that Kevin had to smile and close his eyes
for a second, remembering his cousin for a moment. “ We appreciate all the love and support that y’all have given us
through the past months. It’s been such a terrible..” She took a breath, her voice wavering, “..horrible time for us all.”

Her hand rested o­n Nick’s back. Without looking at him, she knew he was upset and it was her turn to help him. “So,
any questions?”

“Mr. Carter, how is your daughter doing?” A short woman in the back called out.

A small grin crossed his face. “She’s doing very well. She keeps me going..”

“Mrs. Littrell, you and Mr. Littrell were having a hard time after the accident earlier this year. Was that resolved or..”

“We’re very much in love. We always were and…Brian and I would never stay mad at each other for too long. We just
couldn‘t.” Wow, she couldn’t take much more of this. She had forgotten all about their arguments, all she remembered
is that last night together. Making love for the first time in months…

A deep breath to her right made her lose her train of thought and she caught Nick’s face just in time to see it contort in
pain and sadness.

“Nick…” AJ patted his back. But it was no use. He was in a panic, a sudden sadness tingling through him. “Hey
buddy…” By this time, Kevin and Howie both had decided to try and help Nick off the stage. He wasn’t ready for this, but
no o­ne had expected him, they thought Sara would be the o­ne to break down.

Sara’s brown eyes watched as Nick’s body became heavy and paralyzed against his will. She could see the struggle
within himself reflecting in his eyes and she knew that reality had just hit him.

She knew that look because it was the same look she faced most days when she looked into the mirror. The men
trying to help Nick, as helpful as they had been, would never understand that feeling and she hoped they never would
have to.

“Nick,” The brunette finally took action as she realized that she too had froze to take everything in and the media was
starting to eat it up. Flashes were going off everywhere and reporters stood quietly talking with the sad scene of a
Backstreet Boy falling apart in the background. “Nick, look at me.” She put a gentle finger under his chin, lifting his face
level with hers. “Sweetheart.. We’re gonna get you out. You’re not ready and neither am I.”

“I have to do this. I have to…” He mumbled. He wanted to be strong, he wanted to take o­ne for the team. He wanted to
help Jenn and Brian.

“You don’t have to Nick. You’ve been so strong… so strong. And, right now,” Sara stroked his blond hair for a moment.
“You just need to let go. It’s hard, I understand, and…we just need to go home.” The more she thought about it, the
more she felt herself starting to break down too. If she didn’t get out soon, they were both screwed.

Everyone o­n the stage breathed a sigh of relief as Nick took Sara’s hand and, together, they walked off, leaving Kevin,
Howie, and AJ to answer a few more questions.

“There. Better?” The woman offered him a gentle smile as he sat back down o­n the couch where he had been sitting
just 30 minutes prior.

“Yah.” Nick offered a sad, weak smile. Damn, why’d he give up so easy? “I think I suck.”

“Niccckkk, c’mon now. If you sucked, that beautiful baby girl over there would not be calling you daddy.” Sara grinned,
pointing to the small girl sleeping in Lori’s lap.

“I guess.” He rubbed his hair down and eyed the girl beside him. “When’d you get so talkative?”

Sara sighed. “Oh..I have a feeling it won’t be for long. I can o­nly last so long before that certain depression sets in
again. I just…haven’t been feeling well, you know?”

The blonde nodded and stared down at the floor a little longer. “How do you get rid of that feeling Sar? How do you..”

“I don’t know Nick. I just think… that somewhere out there, Brian can hear me and I know he’s as much with me as I
am with him.” She squeezed his hand a bit.

Before Nick could respond, he heard a muffled noise come from Sara and she darted out of the room. Lori’s head shot
up from where she was trying not to distract Nick and Sara but the sudden movement was cause for concern.

“Hey Nick, do you think you’ll be cool with Nicole for a sec while I go check o­n Sara?” Lori asked him, her eyes still
pasted o­n the doorway that Brian’s wife had ran out of.

“Yes. I need to hold her.” He responded, longing for some kind of innocence and his o­nly daughter was the perfect
solution. The tiny blond girl was placed in his arms, she felt so perfect. He was holding a part of Jenn in his arms.

“Hey, where are you going?” Kevin inquired as Lori dashed out of the room and down the hallway to the bathrooms.

“I think something’s wrong with Sara.”

“Oh,” A look of concern washed over his face and, waving for the others to join Nick, Kevin followed Lori down the hall.
They both stopped in their tracks when they heard the horrible noises from inside.

Jenn just stared o­n in shock as she watched the needle enter Brian's skin. It felt like her heart had stopped as she saw the
contents being emptied into him.

Brian's face immediately paled, but he had known that he did the right thing. Everything was beginning to blur as his body
tingled.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Kara yelled out. "Why did you inject him?!" She pushed Rick into the wall. "You did it o­n purpose, we
had a plan!"

"No, honestly. The dumbass sacrificed himself." Rick said as Kara pulled away from him.

They continued talking as Brian really began to feel the effects.

Brian slowly began to sink to the floor, with Jenn easing him down. "Brian...why...how..." Jenn tried to ask.

Brian took in a ragged breath as he began, "I...had...to...for you...for Nick...and for..." Brian just reached out and rubbed her
stomach.

"Oh Brian...." Jenn said placing her hand o­n top of his with tears shining in her eyes.

"I'm gonna...keep...you safe..." He said with tears flowing.

Jenn was about to say some thing back when she was roughly pulled to her feet. She let out a gasp, "Let go of me!!" She
yelled as she tried to fight Kara off of her.

"Shut up you little bitch! This is all your fault!" Kara hissed into her ear.

Jenn couldn't believe that she had said that, "I didn't, wouldn't ever do something like that. Your insane friend did it." She
spat back. She noticed that Rick was hoisting Brian's limp body roughly over his shoulder. She went to reach for him, but
was yanked back by Kara.

"If I had it my way, you would be in Brian's place. Consider yourself lucky for now, but not for long." Kara said as she led Jenn
back to her cell.

~*~*~*~*~


Jenn sat alone in her cell, holding the picture of Nick and Nicole in her hands.

“Oh, sweet Nickolas, if o­nly I could hold you again. I promise to remember everything…” She sniffed again, a habit she was
becoming accustomed to. Even if she escaped, she wasn’t familiar with these parts. She had o­nly been to Brian’s house o­
nce or twice since she had lost her memory, no way in hell she’d remember where that o­ne was.

And her house. Nick’s house. She didn’t even want to think about it. Everytime she did, there was that horrible image of a
blue lipped Nick sprawled out in the dining room floor or the horrible sounds she heard coming from the bathroom.

“J-Jenn..” She heard a hoarse, barely audible whisper and it saddened her to know that it was coming from Brian. Jenn
looked over to find his head peeking out of the curtains. Kara had closed them earlier, saying that Brian was too weak and it
would probably make him puke to see the girl who was ruining his life.

“Brian… sweetheart…” She swallowed a lump in her throat. “You should be lying down. You’re so weak. I- I don’t know what
they’ve done to you.”

“No…” He stopped as if he had to catch his breath. “Can you…come.. over here?”

“Bri, I think our doors are loc-” Jenn had now made her way over to the door and jiggled it to show him. Surprisingly though,
it came right open and before she could think of anything else to say. “Okay, so I was wrong.”

The dark haired woman crossed the small pathway between their rooms and walked into Brian’s, where he had lost his
gathered strength and sat crumpled o­n the floor.

“Bri!” Jenn placed her arms under his, helping him to stand and walk over to the bed that was possibly less comfortable
than her own.

“I’m sorry Jenn. I was o­nly…only…” He stopped as if trying to think what he was going to say. “I’m sorry.”

She watched as life drained in and out of his eyes. Her heart was sinking further and further and the tightness in her
stomach increasing rapidly. “Shh honey. It’s alright. You.. you saved my life.” The words made Jenn think. This man lay
before her eyes, o­ne of her best friends, dying because she was alive.

At least he seemed to be dying. Maybe not physically, but mentally, Brian Littrell was losing it.

And now, Jenn would have to return the favor. And it scared the hell out of her.

She laid down beside Brian, who had now closed his eyes, and stroked his hair which had dampened itself with sweat.

“No Brian, I’m sorry…” Jenn whispered before falling asleep curled up next to him.

Big Mistake.

The next month was a slow and brutal one for everyone. After the press conference Lori had forced Sara to go to the doctor.
The news that the doctor returned with was totally unexpected.

"You're pregnant!" The doctor had said happily. He was shocked when he realized that Sara was not crying tears of joy, but
instead tears of grief.

When she returned to Nick's house, with Lori at her side, she told everyone. They were all happy, but shocked. Sara's shock
had worn off a bit, as she began to realize that this is a good thing.

Nick was beginning to become very stressed. The police were beginning to slow down their search, and Nick was not too
happy over that. He hadn't been getting much sleep due to his constant search. Everyone was worried about him. AJ's house
was now nicknamed 'base camp' due to all of Nick’s collection of useless evidence and this being the place that Sara and
Nick were both staying now. After Sara found out about her pregnancy, she found it too hard to walk around her own house,
knowing Brian should be with her. It hadn’t hit her before then.

"Nick, I know you don't wanna listen to us, but you need to. It's been two months, and we have nothing." Kevin said, sitting
down in the den, trying to talk to his young friend.

"I have..." Nick began but was quickly cut off.

"Nothing, Nick. Don't say that you have something cause you don't!" Kevin kind of snapped at Nick, then calmed down a bit.
"My cousin is missing too, and I ..we, are all worried about your health. You need to take care of yourself, and be taking care
of your daughter. Lori shouldn't be the one taking care of your child."

"Kev, I really don't mind...." Lori began, but was also cut off by Kevin.

"It doesn’t matter if you don't mind. Nick should be taking care of her, and that is a fact." Kevin said sounding really
frustrated. Everyone could tell that Kevin was trying to do what was right, but it was just blowing right through Nick.

"Kevin, right now I don't need this from you. I am trying to find my wife and my best friend." Nicks face was beginning to turn
red. "Lori understands what’s going on and wants to help me. It seems as though everyone has stopped looking for them.
Brian needs to know that he is going to have a child, and I need to reunite my daughter with her mother. Don't you understand
this Kevin?" Nick said with tears streaking down his face.

"Nick, I fully understand, but I'm just looking out for your best interests. You need to grow up and face the world." Kevin said
sternly.


Suddenly a shadowy figure appeared from the other room. "Leave him alone Kevin!" Sara said. “I..I need Brian. And Nick
needs Jenn to feel complete with Nicole. Can’t you see that? It hurts him to see his little girl. That little girl that was
conceived out of love between him and his wife. It hurts him just as much…” Her eyes watered and her delicate hand fell
upon her small stomach. “..just as much as when this baby flutters around and…and…”

Sara’s eyes shut tight and she bit her bottom lip. Nick jumped up from his chair and across to the doorway where Brian’s
wife stood crying. She felt his warm hands rubbing her back and imagined her own husband’s touch.

“I understand it Sar. I do.” The blonde whispered through his own tears.

“I know Nicky. I know.” She sniffed. “Please, let’s find them.”

~*~*~

Jenn was disgusted and saddened by the happiness displayed across Brian’s face. Disgusted by the way Kara was messing
with his broken mind. Saddened because this wasn’t Brian at all. The Brian she knew wouldn’t be giving in to Kara, he would
be fighting to get out, fighting for his life and hers as well. Maybe hers even more.

But the drugs were slowly killing his intelligence of what was going on and it only further depressed Jenn when he would
gain his mind for a few days, only to lose it again. Those days that he was her Brian though, it made her want Nick even
more. She couldn’t win.

Rick and Kara, she supposed, had made a joint decision not to feed her too much until she gave in to their little game. Like
hell that was happening! So, while Brian got his regular meals (which weren’t a lot in itself), Jenn grew weaker and weaker
and, occasionally, feeling the need to give in. If not for herself, for the baby.

And these were the times, that Brian would still show that heart of gold no one could take away. Usually, if he could
remember, he would take half of his meals and pass them through the bars to Jenn.

“Jenn, please take this.” He would say as his thin hands would push it towards her.

At first she would resist, hoping that nourishment would gain Brian back the piece of mind he was slowing losing. But, it was
no use and, for the health of her baby, she would sadly place the food inside her mouth and force it down, hoping it would
stay there.

She hated Rick more and more everyday. He forced her to agree that he was her husband before he would give her the small
portion of food that she was allowed. Then, he would escort her every time she had to use to the bathroom or take a shower,
which was really the only place she went since she had been caught sleeping beside Brian a few weeks back.

Or was it months?

Jenn hated even more the way that Rick copied Nick. Everything she loved about her husband, Rick did and it scared Jenn. It
scared her that she and Nick would never be the same…IF they did see each other again. God, it hurt so bad.

Today, the brunette sat against the wall on her bed, watching Brian move slowly about his room. He was humming some
tune she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Yep, he was gone again. These were the times Jenn hated the most. When she was
alone.

Her hand traveled down and fell upon the growth of her stomach. It was this that kept her going. The last time Brian had been
in his right state of mind, they had a light discussion about the sex of the baby. Sometimes, she thought it kept Brian going
too. He still hadn’t been completely convinced that he hadn’t killed his wife and most of time, he would tell Jenn that he only
stayed alive to protect her and her baby. Then he would finish by saying ‘because he couldn’t protect his own.’

Tears slid down Jenn’s closed eyes as a pain stung her heart for her only friend here. The fact that he believed he was a
murderer sure wasn’t helping his sanity.

The woman must’ve fallen asleep because she awoke to the sound of Brian’s voice. But it was not something she wanted to
hear.

“Oh.. Sara..” Brian moaned, his nose nuzzling Kara’s ear in the room across from her own.

“Brian.. no..” Jenn spoke under her breath and sitting up on her knees, shocked that this was happening. “You can’t do this!”

Damn it, why couldn’t she speak any louder? In shock, maybe?

Then she heard him sing. For the first time in months, but she have rather not have heard it at all.

“Oh, you’re more than lover, there will never be another, to make me feel the way you do..” He started.

“BRIAN! STOP IT! That’s the song that you sing to Sara.. just.. stop dammit!” Jenn’s face contorted in sadness as fresh tears
burst out of her eyes. He couldn’t be doing this. She couldn’t be losing him.

“Oh…God..” Brian’s eyes locked with Jenn’s and it seemed that he was snapping in and out of it. Or was he? It was hard to
tell what he was thinking these days.
“Stay out of our business, Jennifer. My husband loves me. I don’t understand why you don’t love yours..” She shot an evil grin
at Jenn before standing to pull Brian’s curtains closed.

“NO!” Jenn rushed to the front of her cell with the bars in the grip. “Brian! Don’t give in to her, baby!” She turned around and
slid to floor, it was no use. She was no longer in control.

“Hello sweetheart, how are we feeling today? Maybe ready for a few… love bites?”

The voice was Rick’s and Jenn shivered at the sound. Even the baby jumped.

“Go ahead. Take me.”

It was the middle of the night, and Jenn couldn’t sleep. It felt like the baby was doing cartwheels in her ever growing
stomach. So she just laid there, thinking about Nick, and worrying about Brian. She had never envisioned that they would be
held captive for this long. It was closing in on three months and she was beginning to lose hope.

The lack of food was starting to effect her more and more each day. Brian had done so much to protect her, and she would
be forever grateful. She knew that their luck would be running out soon, and she didn’t want to wait around for that. She
looked over at his cell and was saddened. He looked so weak. Even two months after they injected him with whatever it was,
it was still adversely affecting him.

Jenn struggled out of her bed and walked over to the adjoining bars of hers and Brian’s room. She began to softly sing to
him, trying to soothe his troubled sleep. Soon he fell into a sound sleep and Jenn retracted her hand.

She stood back up and went to the door to her cell to look out into the hallway. When she reached the door, she was
shocked to find it swung open. Suddenly she knew what she had to do, get out.

Jenn swiftly moved over to Brian’s door, but found it was locked. She really didn’t want to leave without him, but she knew
that this might be their only chance. So she took one last look at him, and then turned to her left.

She began weaving her way through the hallways in the dark, hoping that she was going the right way. Suddenly the door
was right in front of her, and she ran right at it. She grabbed the handle and pulled on it, but it wouldn’t budge. “Damnit!” She
cursed to herself.

She began looking around the rest of the room and she spotted a window in the corner. Although she knew it would be a
tough fit due to the baby, she had to try. As soon as she pulled the window open an alarm went off, and put her in a panic.
Jenn quickly kicked the screen out and squeezed her way out of the window.

The outside air was cold, and it caused Jenn to shiver. Looking around she noticed the house was surrounded by trees.
From the house she saw lights turning on, and could hear Rick and Kara yelling. She ran straight ahead of her, and didn’t look
back.

Her bare feet ached as she stepped on god knows what, and the baby was moving around like crazy, causing her to stop.
“Hush little one, this is a good thing, I promise.” Jenn said as she placed a hand on her stomach. It seemed to calm the little
one enough for her to keep moving.

She heard the bad guys getting closer to her. She was beginning to doubt her idea to run. If they caught her then what would
happen to her. She pushed those ideas out of her mind as she pushed forward.

“There you are you little bitch!” She heard Rick yell out from behind her.

“Oh god, no!” Jenn yelled as she was pushed to the ground. She rolled onto her side so that she didn’t land on her stomach,
and braced herself for what was about to come.

“You stupid bitch, what did you think you were doing. Don’t you realize how much I love you. Why would you want to get away
from your husband?” Rick asked with his teeth gritted as he held her to the ground.

“You are not my husband!” Jenn spat back, after she said that she received a smack across the face.

“Yes I am!” He yelled at her as he smacked her again. “You WILL love me, and you will NEVER leave that house again!”

“There you are.” Kara said running up to them. “And just what did you think you were doing?”

“I don’t have to answer to either of you.” Jenn said struggling to get out of Ricks grasp.

“Oh, well we think differently.” Kara said as she kneeled down next to her face. She soothingly brushed the hair out of Jenn’
s eyes. The next thing Jenn saw was Kara’s fist coming at her face before she gave into the darkness.

~*~

Brian awoke feeling quite groggy with tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead. That terrible nightmare again. He felt a
gentle fingertip running along his ear. His blue eyes blinked twice and met the seemingly nice brown ones that rested upon
him.

“Hi..” He whispered. He knew she wasn’t Sara. Sara was dead. He had killed her and sometimes, when he was alone, he
would cry out apologies to her. Somewhere, she was an angel.

But right now, Kara looked and sounded so much like his angel that he had a hard differentiating, remembering that his Sara
was gone. He even scolded himself for this too, that is, when could remember that she was gone and he was given the ability
to think straight.

Some days he hated Kara with every bone in his body. Those were his good days, Jenn had told him. Then there were days
when Sara came back to him. He had yet to figure out how that was happening, but she visited him more often these days.

Just like today.

“Hello my love…” She kissed his nose and he welcomed the scent of her hair into his nostrils. “How did you sleep?”

“Not.. Very well..” Brian responded, wrapping his fingers in the curls of her hair. It always curled up when she didn’t blow dry
it. Just like his.

“Aww, poor baby.” The woman pushed his hair away from his forehead and kissed his face gently.

FLASH!

“What the hell Sar..” Brian moved his head to see Rick at the foot of the bed with a camera in hand.

“Go on. I know two people who’re gonna love this!” Rick smirked evilly as Kara greedily climbed on top of Brian, straddling
him.

“No…no…” He found it harder for him to breathe.

“Oh come on baby…um, you’ll have them to look at when we’re old and gray together.” Kara lied. They had other plans for
these pictures.

“But…Damn it! GET OFF ME!” It hit Brian faster than it usually did. This wasn’t his wife. This was that woman that manipulated
his mind and his heart every time she had the chance. He ran off his bed and to the door of his cell, reaching his hands
towards Jenn’s.

“Jenn…” She was curled up in the corner, crying as hard as she could, shaking with fright. “Sweetheart, what happened?”

Jenn’s head slowly raised. If anyone could help her, Brian would. Or, he would at least try.

Brian let out an audible gasp with the vision of his friend. Her face was black and blue with bruises, scratches and other
imperfections that he knew the two people behind him had caused. “Oh my god…baby..”

The pregnant girl made her way over as close as she could to Brian, taking his outstretched hand. “They took pictures of me
like this Bri. I think.. I think they’re gonna… do something bad with them.” Her head was pounding and she couldn’t really
remember what that ‘bad thing’ was.

“Oh Jenn..” He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb to comfort her, but in an instant, she jerked it away.

“Why couldn’t you have come back to me earlier, Brian? Why?” A sudden pang of anger shot through her and she didn’t
know where it had come from but she was pretty sure it wasn’t meant to be directed at Brian.

“I- I’m sorry Jenn. I…” His head dropped, but not before she could see the disappointment etched in his face. Disappointment
in himself. He failed at everything. There was only one last thing that he had to protect and that was his best friend’s wife.

“I’m sorry Brian. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“No Jenn…” He spoke quietly. “I’m sorry.” He took her open hand once again but never again would he have that feeling that
he was doing what he was supposed to. The weird thing was though, he felt he couldn’t control it anyway.

“Go ahead. Is this what you want?” Brian turned to face Rick and Kara who were immersed in their own argument. He
unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his thiness and the bones poking out. He began to cry. “IS IT?!”

Jenn couldn’t let him do this. Jiggling the lock of her cell, it came loose and she broke free. “Stop it..”

Before she could grab Brian though, his small body shook and he fell to the floor before her.

“Damn..”

Sara was sitting in Nicole’s nursery, just rocking the sweet angel. Lori had needed to run out to the store, and Sara had
offered to keep and eye o­n her.

Sara was so nervous about the arrival of her own. She just prayed that Brian would be back when that time came. She had
been debating about it for a while, but soon realized that Brian would be extremely happy.

'Oh Brian, I hope that you're safe.' She said to herself. Nicole started fussing a bit and Sara began to rock her softly. The door
to the nursery opened and in walked Nick.

"Hey Sar," He said as he approached her. "How's my angel doing?" Nick asked as he rubbed Nicole’s back. Ever since Kevin
had that talk with him, he had been spending most of his time with his daughter. Sure he was still looking for Jenn and Brian,
but he needed to put his daughter first.

"She's just a little cranky. But I'm sure a little bit of daddy love would make her happy." Sara said as she got out of the
rocking chair and placed Nicole in Nicks arms. "See, much better." Nicole had stopped fussing.

"The Carter charm works everytime." Nick said with a slight smile. It still hurt to look into his daughters eyes, for everytime
he saw Jenn in them. "You don't have to stay in here with her, I can sit in here with her for a while." Nick said to Sara who
was just standing against the wall.

"I kinda like it in here. The innocence helps me forget the pain we've been through." Sara wiped a solitary tear from her
cheek.

"Don't cry sweetie." Nick said as he put a now slumbering Nicole into her crib. He walked over to Sara and embraced her. "I
will bring him back for you, I promise. I know that he is taking care of Jenn for me, as I am taking care of you. It won't be long.
I will make sure that he is here for the birth of your baby, that I promise." Nick said as he pulled her away from him and
looked into her eyes.

"I know you will Nick, I know." Sara said as she leaned back into him. The front door opening separated them, and they
quietly made their way out of the nursery.

Lori and AJ walked in with plenty of shopping bags in hand. Sara quickly ran forward into the kitchen to help put up the food,
and Nick went and grabbed the mail from the mail box and closed the front door.

As he was riffling through the mail he spotted o­ne letter for him, and o­ne for Sara. "Hey Sara, you got mail!" He yelled to her.
He set it down o­n the front table as he grabbed his letter and headed to the other room with it.

The fact that there was no return address struck him as funny, but he went ahead to open it.

"Thanks Nick!" Sara then yelled back to him as she grabbed her letter.

As Nick pulled the contents out his face turned white. Inside held pictures of his beloved. They were o­nly pictures of her
face, her bruised and bloodied face. Nick quickly dropped the pictures o­n the floor and ran to the bathroom.

He quickly emptied the contents of his stomach and tightly grasped the sides of the toilet bowl. The room was spinning and
he knew he was about to pass out.

As his body began to sink to the cold tile floor, his thoughts went to Sara. And as he began to succumb to the darkness, he
heard Sara’s terrified scream fill the house.

~*~


“Holy shit!” AJ yelled as he watched Sara hit the floor. He had run in front of Lori after he heard the scream, afraid someone
was attacking Brian’s wife. He arrived in the room just in time to see her skin turn a shade pasty white that he had never
even seen and to hear the thud o­n the floor. “Sara!”

Lori followed him over to the spot where their friend lay and watched as her boyfriend took her limp hand in his.

“W-what h-happened, do you t-think?” He asked, nervously.

Lori looked around for clues. They were scattered all around her and, taking the pictures in her hands, she almost joined
Nick in the bathroom. “Oh God…” She gasped, the feeling almost numbing.

“Fuck..” AJ mumbled as he saw the things Lori held in her shaking hands. Tears slid out of his brown eyes as he saw his
brother, so fragile, so lifeless looking. With another woman. He said nothing as he lifted Sara off of the floor and held her, not
even worrying enough to wake her up.

“You don’t think…” AJ’s girlfriend stopped and swallowed mid-sentence as she took off towards Nick’s room. “NICK!” She
called out.

That’s when Lori heard the sounds of sobs coming from his bathroom. “Damn, you too?” She mumbled under her breath as
she saw Nick, curled up in a ball in the corner, sobbing so hard that you could almost feel the floor shaking.

“Nicky…oh my god…I’m so sorry.” She walked over and sat with him o­n the floor, taking his head in her lap and pushing
blonde hair out of his eyes. “I’m so sorry you have to go through this. That you had to see it.”

“She..she…I…” He couldn’t speak. All he could do was breath out as more tears trickled down his face. If his wife looked like
she did, he could o­nly imagine Brian.

But he didn’t want to imagine either.

Lori closed her eyes as a few tears fell down her cheeks as well. She avoided the pictures of Jenn. She knew she wouldn’t
be able to take that o­ne.

“Hey..” She opened her eyes to find Kevin leaning against the doorframe, pictures of his cousin in hand. She took in his
appearance, noting that his eyes were rimmed with the brightest red, his face pale, and his lip stuck between his teeth. No
doubt he had seen Brian. Lori watched as he bent to pick up the pictures of Jenn. God, he had to be the strongest man she
knew.

Kevin bent down in front of Nick. “Hey man..” He whispered, rubbing Nick’s shoulder. The older man lost it as he saw the look
o­n Nick’s face and suddenly, a thousand images of Nick as a young boy flew in through an open window in his mind. “I’m so
sorry Nick.”

The two men embraced and Lori stood, thinking she should leave them alone. But it wasn’t long before a fragile looking Sara
and AJ came to join the rest of them. Sara and Nick flew towards each other like magnets and it was the first time that
everyone realized how real this was and how much it was tearing them up inside.

But this was the last straw and, after calling the police. o­ne by o­ne, Lori, Kevin and AJ joined Nick and Sara in the sad
embrace. They were all involved now.

And together, they would find a way to get Brian and Jenn back where they belonged. In the arms of the people that loved
them the most. All of them.

Jenn stopped in shock at the sight before her. Brian was having a seizure, and that scared her to death.
She quickly snapped out of her shock and made her way into his cell. She held him down with all her
might, praying that it would soon stop.

“We’ve got what we wanted. We will let you stay in here with him for now, just to make sure that he’s
still alive.” Rick said as him and Kara made their way out of the cell.
Jenn didn’t even acknowledge then as she kept praying that Brian’s seizure would stop.

Finally after about two of the longest minutes ever his body stopped shaking. Jenn leaned down to
make sure he was still breathing. After checking the rest of his body she slowly got up and grabbed the
pillow and blanket off of his bed. She put the pillow under his head and laid down next to him as she
put the blanket over both of them.

For about two hours she just laid there next to him. Although her head was killing her, she couldn’t bear
the thought of losing him. Finally after what seemed like an eternity Brian’s eyes fluttered open.

“Wh…what happened?” He asked weakly, while trying to sit up.

“Now Brian, don’t get up. You need to stay laying down. I think that you had a seizure.” Jenn said as
she eased him back to the ground. Brian didn’t respond to that, but Jenn could see the fear in his eyes.
“About earlier, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Hormones, ya know!” Jenn said feeling deeply sorry that
what could have been their last conversation had hurt him so deeply.

“I just feel like I failed. I…I let them get to you.” A few tears ran down Brian’s face.

“Honestly Bri, I was the one that tried to escape. I know that I didn’t really deserve what happened to
me, all that mattered was that they thought that I did. I don’t remember it all anyway. I am just…..” Jenn
stopped in mid sentence as she reached for her stomach..

“Oh no, what’s wrong?” Brian asked in panic.

“The baby, it…it kicked.” Jenn quickly reached for Brian’s hand and held it up to her stomach.

“That, that’s so beautiful.” Brian said with awe. And for a moment they both felt hope.
~~~~
Nick was starting to grow weary of the police men asking the same questions over and over again. Sure,
he had been used to that from interviews, but this was different. They kept on making him look at the
pictures, made him go through both sets twice. He had enough, “I’m not going to look through those
again! And don’t even ask Sara too. I already told you, she can’t handle seeing that again.”

Sara had barely said two words since the police had arrived a little over an hour ago. She had a blanket
tightly wrapped around her, and was still quite noticeably shaking. “Yeah, I really don’t wanna see
those.” She said with a sniffle.

“Well, we understand that Miss, but if you wanna help us find them, I’m sure you want us to find the
father of your child….” The detective said but was interrupted.

“DAMNIT!!! Can’t you guys see that this is hurting us! We have told you all that we know.” As Nick started
yelling at the men, Sara jumped up and ran off to her room. “Mr. Richardson will show you to the door.”
Nick said sternly. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” He quickly headed off in the direction of where Sara had
run off too.

Sara was sitting on her bed, rocking back in forth as she sobbed openly. Those pictures of Brian with
that woman, which looked oddly enough like her, tore her apart. She hadn’t been able to look at
anymore before she had hit the ground. ‘Maybe he had giving up on her, maybe he knew about her
pregnancy.’ She thought to herself. ‘What if he knew that I wasn’t too sure that it was…’ Her thoughts
were interrupted by a knocking on the door.

“Sara, are you okay? Can I come in?” She heard Nick say from outside of her door.

“Sure, come on in.” Sara said not even bothering to wipe the tears off of her face.

“I’m sorry about those men. They are just inconsiderate.” Nick soothingly brushed her hair out of her
face. “Just forget about it okay.”

“I can’t forget about it though….” Sara began. “Those pictures, I…I can’t get them out of my mind.”

“Neither can I Sar, neither can I….” Nick said as he pulled her into an embrace.

“It’s not just the pictures Nick, there’s something else.” Sara looked up into his bright eyes.

“What is it Sara, you know you can tell me anything.” Nick said with worry etched into his face.

“It’s about the baby. How…how do I know that it’s Brian’s? I mean we made love the night before
the…incident. Then I was….raped. How do I know?” Sara had tears shining in her eyes.

Nick pulled her away from him and placed his hand over her chest. “Tell me what it says to you in
there.”

“I just don’t know. I guess it’s telling me Brian, but how can I know for sure.” The tears were now falling
freely down her face.

“What your heart tells you is the truth sweetie. Don’t listen to anything else.”

Sara leaned back into Nick and he began to stroke her back. “Thank you Nick.” She said as she reached
up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She closed her eyes and then reached to kiss him again. This time
meeting his lips, it was purely by accident.

Suddenly as she was about to pull away from him, she felt him pull her to him as their kiss deepened.
When they both pulled away they looked into each others eyes. As the clouds dissipated from them, they
looked at each other in shock.

They were both ashamed for the kiss, neither of them had meant it as a romantic thing.

They didn’t share any words as Nick got up off of the bed and headed for the door.

“Sar….I’m sor…..” Nick started but she cut him off.

“No Nick, I’m sorry. Let’s just pretend this didn’t happen.” Sara said with hope that he would pretend.

“I think that would be best.” Nick said as he left the room. Leaving them both in shock over it all, but in
understanding that it was just for comfort.

***

“Mrs. Littrell..” The voice had become familiar over the past months and so far, Sara hadn’t been too
fond of it.

“Yes?” She answered sleepily.

“We’ve found Jennifer Carter…” He paused. “And Mr. Littrell.”

“Holy Shit!” Sara whispered in an elated, nervous, and emotional response. “Where..?”

“We’ll discuss that when you get here. I suggest that you and Mr. Carter should come to the police
station as soon as possible.”

The brunette hung up the phone as soon as the words left the man’s mouth. She ran into her bathroom,
grabbing her pants from yesterday and a sweater, which she pulled over her swollen stomach. Now 8
months pregnant, she wore that motherly glow everyday and had been getting closer and closer to
Nicole, fearing she would have to raise her own by herself just as Nick had been doing.

“SARA!” A blonde mess came flying into her room and she was almost sure it was Nick. She could only
smile as tears formed in her eyes and he stopped, a new gleam in his blue eyes. Suddenly, he was
hugging her close and crying too. Sara felt her feet lift off the ground and a new emotion emitted from
her body. One she had forgotten.

Laughter.

As they separated, Nick and Sara turned to face the doorway where Kevin, AJ, Lori, Nicole, and Howie
stood.

“Kev, warm up your car. They’re coming home…soon.”

“Oh my god..” Lori was the first one to join them, followed by the others. It was just like day several
months ago when those horrible pictures had been delivered. Nick bent to lift Nicole in his arms from
where she crawled to him on the floor.

“Mommy’s coming home, baby.” He whispered.

Sara gave them a sad smile. Mommy, she wasn’t sure if Nicole knew that word but soon, soon she
would. A hand traveled and landed on her own stomach. For the first time, her own baby would know
the voice that belonged to this ‘daddy’ that Sara told it about the past months.

“Let’s go y’all!” Kevin broke the reverie with his thick southern drawl. She smiled, he always sounded
like Brian when he was emotional. Like a true cowboy.

~*~
The travel to the police station seemed to take forever. Or maybe it was just that Kevin was a ‘careful’
driver, as he called it. Either way, the anxiousness in both Sara and Nick was enough to fill a whole
room. They sat in the backseat, holding each other’s hand tightly, seeming as though they were afraid to
let go.

Howie and Kevin chattering in the front seat. AJ and Lori honking playfully behind them whenever
Kevin would slow down. Suddenly, everything seemed so normal again and that Brian and Jenn had
just ran to the store. Sara sighed, if only it were that easy.

“Alright guys..” Howie said, poking his head around as they pulled into a parking spot at the hospital.
The police had called Nick a minute ago and told them it would be easier to meet there instead of the
station.

Everyone silently evacuated their cars and suddenly, there was a nervous tension mounting in the air.
So thick it could be cut with a knife.

But what was to be nervous about? What could possibly go wrong now?

~*~

After spending an hour and a half talking things over with the police, who had suddenly become nicer
than Sara had ever remembered before, they found out which room that Jenn and Brian were sharing. It
was an anonymous decision that Sara and Nick would be allowed to go visit first for the obvious
reasons. Reluctantly, Nick left Nicole with Lori and walked slowly with Sara to the room.

The room that would make or break the rest of their lives.

It was dark in the room. Only an overhead light over each bed which illuminated each of their frail
looking loved ones. Sara almost turned back when Nick caught her in his arms.

“Be brave Sara. You’ve been waiting for this moment for what seems like forever. I know, because I
have too.” And with an encouraging smile from the tall blonde, she moved forward a bit.

“Brian..” Her hand brushed his only a bit and almost immediately, his blue eyes fluttered open. Those
eyes she had missed so much.

“Sara?” His eyebrows came closer together as creases formed on his forehead.

Tears formed in her brown eyes as she sucked in her bottom lip. “Yeah. Gah, I missed you baby.” Her
gentle hand swept back his curling hair and with that gesture, he knew it was his Sara.

“Mmm, I.. Missed you.” His voice was hoarse, but it was her Brian.
“Bri…sweetheart, I want you to feel something.” Taking his hand in hers, she brought it to lay on top of
her stomach. She grinned as the baby kicked at the touch of his hand.

“Oh my God..” His eyes widened to meet hers. “A baby?”

“Our baby.”

Sara noticed Brian shifting uncomfortably and his hand becoming more tense in hers. “Brian?” She
asked nervously, all of her worst fears coming into play.

“Sar, I’m sorry. I.. don’t know if I want..” He stopped and looked at her. “How do we know it’s mine?”

She had feared those words but, him actually saying it was totally different. It hurt so much more than
she would imagine. Actually, although it was a fear, she hadn’t imagined him actually saying it.

“Bri..”

“Can’t we…put it up for adoption?” His thumb was caressing the back of her hand but suddenly, her
breath was catching in her throat.

There was a beautiful human being growing inside of her. It had been keeping her company on the
nights when she couldn’t sleep. And inside her heart, she wanted it so badly to be Brian’s, she knew he
would to.

But things hadn’t happened that way and now she was devastated. Her eyes wandered over to Nick. She
watched as Nick climbed in the bed beside Jenn and kissed her into oblivion. Tears blurred her vision
until all she could see were those piercing blue eyes, staring at her, pleading with her to give this baby
up.

“I can’t Brian..” She cried.

~*~

“Sar..” Nick shook her gently. “SARA?”

Her brown eyes shot open and Nick had never seen so many emotions swirling around one’s eyes at
once. “Calm down sweetheart..” He nurtured as she sat up and he pressed her body close to his.

“Nick.. you know…you know that thing you said about Brian and… being in my heart as the father?”

“Yeah..”

“Well, you’re wrong. And I’m scared Nick.” She sniffed. “So damn scared.”

***

“Today there has been a break in the case with the missing Backstreet Boy, Brian Littrell and his best
friends wife, Jennifer Carter. Two weeks ago they received disturbing pictures of Littrell and Carter. The
photos show an extremely thin Littrell, and a badly beaten Carter.”

Kara and Rick were both in shock over the fact that there was a lead in the case. Rick turned up the
volume on the television set to hear the rest of the broadcast.

“It seems that the photos that were sent were tracked down to a small town just outside of Tampa.
Police are sure that this is nearing an end. If you have any information please call…..” The TV was
suddenly turned off and Rick threw the remote at the screen.

“Damnit, I thought we were careful! Now what are we going to do? We can’t let them find us.” Rick said
jumping up and pacing in the living room now.

“We planned for this, remember?” Kara said awfully calm. “I know that neither of us want to do this, but
for our safety, we have to.”

Rick slowly put his head down and closed his eyes, “You’re right.” He made his way over to one of the
cabinets. He opened one of the doors and pulled out what he was looking for.

~~~~~

Brian had been more like his normal self since the seizure. Sure there where some instances, mostly
when he was just waking up, where he would think that Sara was there.

But he would snap out of it rather quickly.

At this moment him and Jenn were in there separate cells. They were both talking about what they
thought the sex of the baby was. Brian was reaching his hand through and rubbing her stomach.

“I really hope that it’s a boy. I know that no baby will replace the one that Nick and I lost, but I think I
would like to have one of each.” Jenn said as she leaned against the cold bars.

“I think Nick would like that too. I just hope that someday Sara and I have a little one of our own. I think
I wanna have a girl first. Then maybe if this one is a boy, Sara and I can have a little girl and they can
get married.” Brian said with a smile, just happy to be thinking of having a baby with Sara. At that
comment the baby kicked causing Brain to jump back a little.

“I think the baby agrees.” Jenn said with a laugh. They both laughed together, for the first time in
almost 4 months.

“Brian,” Jenn started. “I really don’t think that I could have made it through this without you. Every time
I began to feel like it was time to give in, I thought of you. Fighting to protect me, and my baby. I knew
that I couldn’t give up, cause you needed me as much as I need you.” Tears were showing in her eyes.

“Oh Jenn,” Brian put his hand on her face. “You’re right, I did need you. I would have given up on that
first day if you hadn’t been here with me.” Brian said truthfully.

Suddenly they heard running coming from the hallway. They both looked at each other quizzically
wondering what the commotion was about. Then Kara and Rick made their presence in front of their
cells. Jenn let out an audible gasp when she saw that Rick was holding a gun in his hand.

“That’s right, you should be scared. Seems as though you’re saviors have actually found us.” Kara said
as she began to unlock Brian’s cell.

Jenn was seriously worried about Brian. She already knew that Rick didn’t like Brian, and with him
having a gun scared her a lot. “Please, don’t hurt him.” She cried out.

“Oh, we’re not going to hurt him….yet.” Kara said with an evil glint in her eyes.
Brian knew that this couldn’t be good. He knew that for some reason this Kara girl felt like she was his
Sara, but she was gone. Brian had to keep the tears back cause he knew that this was the time to be
strong. And if she had plans to hurt him, he just feared what they had planned for Jenn.

Kara was now at Brian’s bed side and he pushed himself as far away from her as he could. Brian felt
fear as he saw her reach into her pocket. To his relief it was only a cell phone that she had pulled out.
Then he thought to himself, ‘why would she be pulling that out?’

Then he heard Jenn screaming at Rick as he dragged her into Brian’s cell. He harshly pulled her up and
Brian’s bed and pointed the gun at both of them. Jenn let out a small whine at the weapon being
brandished as she rubbed her shoulder.

“Now, you can’t say that we aren’t nice. Because we are actually going to let you say good-bye to Nick
and Sara.” Kara began. “After that, we WILL kill you. I think that first we will make Brian watch Jenn
slowly die, then well, we have special plans for Brian.”

At this Jenn began to cry, and Brian held her tight in his embrace. Kara handed Brian the phone and he
began to dial Nick’s cell phone number.

Tears filled his eyes as he listened to the long rings of Nick’s cell phone, praying to God someone picked
up.

“Hello?” A tired voice answered but that tired voice was so welcome in Brian’s ears, it hurt him even
worse. Closing his eyes, he handed the phone to Jenn, who swallowed before speaking.

“Nicky?” She whispered, just enough so that he could hear her.

“You sicko! Stop trying to sound like my wife!” She could hear his tears breaking through his voice but
something had forced him not to hang up.

“Nick, listen to me. It’s Jenn..” She searched anxiously for something that would make him believe her.
“Your.. your fishy, your endless love.”

“Oh my God…” He spoke slower now and with less strength. “Sweetheart, where are you?”

“I don’t know Nick.” She couldn’t say anymore before tears burst out of her eyes. “I love you darling. I
love everything about you. Your lips, your hair, your face, the way…the way..” Jenn found she couldn’t
breathe and closed her eyes as Brian reached over to take her hand.

“Jenn…Jenny…I love you too sweetheart. Just tell me where you are, I’ll come get you..” Nick tried to
speak through sobs harder than he had ever imagined. She sounded so hopeless, so lifeless, not like his
Jenn at all.

“I can’t Nickolas! I DON’T KNOW!” She sniffed, trying to regain her composure. “Nick, baby, listen, ok? I
don’t have long but…” Jenn stopped. What do you say to the one you love that you’re going to die
soon? That you’ll never kiss his lips again and all the love you made together will have to be enough to
last forever? You can’t, she decided.

“Honey, tell Nicole, that her mommy loves her so much and thinks about her everyday. That she should
always keep laughing and never grow old, just like her daddy. Tell Lori and AJ that…that they should be
together forever, ‘cos they’re perfect and to always hold on to that young love they possess.” She licked
her lips, carefully choosing her words.

“Tell Kevin and Howie to watch out for you, like they always have and, that I’m so grateful for the
way…the way they’re such…good hearted men. Tell Sara that…that there has never been a more
perfect couple than her and Brian and that she’s been a good friend. And…to you, my dearest love, I
don’t know what to say. There’s so much.. so much commotion inside my head, and I can’t tell you what
I really feel. It’s impossible. Just know, Nick, that in my whole life, everything good came from our love.
I can’t…don’t even want to, remember life without you. My life has been fulfilled because I have loved
YOU and only you Nickolas. Don’t ever let me go, ok?”

Jenn could no longer speak and, closing her eyes, hot tears slid down her eyelashes and soaked her
already stained cheeks. Kissing the receiver, she decided that ‘I love you’ were the last words she
wanted to hear from Nick. It was enough and in those words, she had found everything she needed.

Brian, taking a deep breath, retrieved the phone from Jenn’s hand and stroked her hair as she fell over,
crying, into his lap. “N-Nick?”

“Oh my God.. Brian…” On the other end, more tears spilled out of Nick’s dying blue eyes at the sound of
his brother. The one he had called his hero when he was younger. He supposed he still did.

“Nick, listen buddy, I don’t have that much time. At all. They’re planning on killing us soon, they know y’
all have a lead to these woods. We.. we just got a chance to say…to say goodbye.” It was Brian’s turn to
choke on tears now. “But I don’t wanna say it, Nick. Please don’t make me have to.”

“Rok… don’t. Y’all are gonna make it. We’re gonna get y’all out, I promise.” Nick’s speech quickened
now, realizing the urgency of this moments.

“It’s too late Nick. I love you bro. And all of you. J, and Bone, and Kev. God, tell Kevin I’m sorry for
letting him down.” All his life, Brian had tried to please his cousin. Maybe it was a thanks back to all
those years Kevin had protected Brian. Suddenly, the feeling of failure was coming back. He should go.
“I..I should go Nick. I..I’m really sorry for everything.. I love you.”

“Brian, no! Wait..” The blonde licked his lips and reverted his eyes to Sara, who had been watching him
the whole time, a pale look on her face, tears emotionlessly washing her expression. “There’s someone
you need to talk to.” Nick thrust his hand out towards Sara, he knew she would regret it if she didn’t.

“H-hello?”

The fright and sadness in her voice broke his heart. “Sara?” ‘Shit,’ Brian thought, ‘I didn’t kill her at all.’
Suddenly, his heart pounded so loudly in his chest, he was sure she could hear it.

“Oh my God…Brian.. ducky...” She called out so listlessly that he was sure his heart was crumbled in
the pits of his stomach now.

“Shh sweetheart. Just listen. I..” He paused. “I don’t know how long I’ll still be here but, I’ll love you
every minute Sar. I always have and, I always will. No doubt. You are my everything. Everything that
has made me want to live. Close your eyes baby, you see me? I’m right there with you as you are with
me. And I want you to remember me like that, my love, happy as I was with you. Every time you play
our song, think of me okay? Think of me holding you.. in my arms..” A lump in his throat forced him to
stop but he had to go on. “Remember the way it felt, every time we made love and, all those silly
conversations we had when the nights didn’t make much sense. And… keep laughing sweetheart, ‘cos it’
s my favorite melody that I could never write. Every precious moment in my life was because I have
loved you and that, is what completed me.”

“I love you, Brian. Please don’t go. Please.. We..” Her voice was filled with desperation and Brian was
listening harder than he ever had before.

But the phone was taken away from him too quickly and he never got to hear the last words that his wife
had to say to him. All he kept hearing was ‘ I love you. Please Don’t Go.’ How would she ever
understand that he had no choice? He supposed he wouldn’t have to explain.

Both hearts broke as Rick closed the phone and they both knew it was the end. Although the goodbyes
were never said, that was it and there was nothing more to wait for.

“I’m sorry Jenn.”

“Brian, stop…”

“No, Jenn.” His blue eyes stared straight ahead as he rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry I never said I love you
enough.”

The girl closed her eyes, curling up beside Brian. “Me too.”

When all our tears have reached the sea
Part of you will live in me
Way down deep inside my heart
The days keep coming without fail
A new wind is gonna find your sail
That's where your journey starts

You'll find better love
Strong as it ever was
Deep as the river runs
Warm as the morning sun
Please remember me

Just like the waves down by the shore
We're gonna keep on coming back for more
Cause we don't ever wanna stop
Out in this brave new world you seek
Oh, the valleys and the peaks
And I can see you on the top

You'll find better love
Strong as it ever was
Deep as the river runs
Warm as the morning sun
Please remember me

Remember me when you're out walkin'
When the snow falls high outside your door
Late at night when you're not sleepin' And light falls across your floor
When I can't hurt you anymore

Please Remember Me



***

Jenn and Brian were just left there, in Brian’s cell, sobbing into each others arms. The phone calls had
been heartbreaking, and both of them were now in total fear for each others lives. Kara and Rick had
left soon after the calls took place, informing them to be saying their last rights.

“I’m not going to let them hurt you Jenn. I’ll do whatever I have to do to stop this.” Brian said coming to
the conclusion that this couldn’t happen to them.

Jenn sniffled before she began, “You, you’re going to have to get out of here. It’s the only way.” She
pushed her self out of Brian’s hold and wiped the tears from her face. “I have an idea.”

“I’m not going to leave you here alone.” Brian stated.

“If you don’t get away to bring help, both of us are as good as dead.” Jenn said truthfully.
“There’s a window…by the front door. If you can get out that window, you’ll just have to run straight
ahead. I saw a road right before Rick grabbed me.”

“How would I get the chance to get to the window?” Brian asked, allowing this plan to run through his
head.

“I heard Kara saying that when they go to….to…kill us…they are going to take us out behind the house.”
Jenn had to pause to gather her composure for a second. The thought of someone wanting to kill them
just broke her heart. Brian reached around her to rub her back. To continue this conversation, Jenn
lowered her voice. “When they bring us into the hallway, I’m gonna act like I’m going into labor. That
should give you plenty of time to make your way out the window and to the road.”

“But, I don’t want to leave you here.” Brian really didn’t want to leave her. He just couldn’t imagine
what could happen to her if she was left alone.

“Brian, this is going to be our last chance. You HAVE to do this for you, me, and the baby.” Jenn
reached for Brian’s hand and placed it on her protruding stomach. “I know that you want to get back
home to your wife, as much as I want to get back to my husband and my daughter. You’re our last
hope.” Jenn once again had tears shinning in her eyes.

“As much as I don’t want to leave you, I’ll do it.” Brian said as he drew her in for a long hug.

“Isn’t this touching.” Kara said with venom dripping from her voice.

Jenn and Brian shared one last knowing look that this was it. Soon Kara and Rick had entered the cell,
with Rick grabbing Jenn and Kara grabbing Brian. They were roughly pulled up and were escorted out
of the cell.

When they were about halfway down the hallway Jenn suddenly stopped. There was no turning back
now. Jenn dropped to her knees and grabbed her stomach. “Oh god! I…I think I’m having contractions.”
Jenn cried out, her voice filled with pain.

If Brian hadn’t known about the plan to begin with, he would have really believed her cries of pain. It
was almost too hard for him to turn the other way and find his way out.

Just as planned once Jenn hit the ground, both Rick and Kara had rushed to her side. Neither of them
noticed as Brian quickly made his way to his freedom.

“Kara, what should we do?!” Rick cried out.

“Um….” Kara seemed to be deep in thought. “We should wait till this baby comes, then we can have
the baby as our own. We’ll just put Brian back in his cell, and once the baby comes then we will get rid
of them.” Kara was about to turn around to make Brian go back to his cell.

“AHHHHH!!!” Jenn screamed out forcing Kara to keep her attention on her. She just needed a few more
minutes for them to be occupied to feel that Brian was far enough away. “Please, take me to a hospital,
I need a doctor!”

“Well that won’t be necessary, I’ve been taking mid-wife classes for just this situation.” Kara said with
an evil smile on her face.

That scared Jenn even more, that this women had planned on delivering her baby this whole time.
“I…I….I need medicine. You can’t think that you can do this?!”

“We were supposed to be one big happy family, but it seems as though our plans have now changed.
But at least now, I will still get to raise our baby.” Rick said with a sinister smile.

“IT IS NOT YOUR BABY!!!!” Jenn screamed out. Rick just got this mad look on his face than he looked
over to where Brian should have been.

“Holy shit! Where in the hell did that little shit go?!” Rick jumped up and started running around the
house.

Kara stayed there and looked Jenn in the eyes, “You little bitch! You had this planned this whole time,
didn’t you.” Jenn decided that it would be best if she just stayed quite and not respond to her question.
Kara quickly pulled Jenn up from off the floor and started dragging her back down the hallway.

Jenn was confused when they kept on walking past her normal cell. “Where are you taking me?” She
was worried that this plan just may have backfired on her.

“If I were you, I’d keep my damn mouth shut!” Kara suddenly came to a stop in front of a big opening. It
actually looked like a hospital room, everything was white. Kara quickly pushed Jenn towards the bed
that was placed in the center of the room.

“Let go of me, what are you planning to do?” Jenn asked as she was pushed onto the bed. Kara was
starting to strap Jenn down to the bed. Jenn was trying with all her might to keep her from restricting
her, but her weakening body just couldn’t put up the fight. Soon she was totally strapped down to the
bed, arms and feet. Jenn felt totally helpless.

“You just stay here!” Kara said as she headed out of the room in search of Rick and Brian.

Jenn laid there for only a second before she looked up, closed her eyes, and began to pray for Brian’s
safety.

~*~

“Sara?” Nick squeaked out, breaking the silence for the first time since Brian had hung on the phone.
After crying until he felt empty, Nick noticed that he hadn’t heard a sound from Sara. “Where are you?”

Looking Up, he realized that she was no where to be found in the room. Nick stood up from the bed,
gathered his balance and then looked for her in the other bedroom.

After the police had located about where the pictures had originated and been sent from, Nick and Sara
made a plan to leave in the middle of the night without anyone knowing it until it was too late to turn
back. Kevin had been pretty upset with Nick for leaving Nicole and it was almost enough to make him
turn back. Nicole shouldn’t be an orphan. However, a call to Lori soon after would tell Sara and Nick
that Kevin was just worried and had been fighting tears all day. It seemed as though he had failed to
protect Nick and Sara. He failed to protect everyone, in his mind, but everyone around him knew better.
He just had to learn to let go sometimes.

Just inside of the small town near Tampa, Nick looked over at Sara and realized how tired she looked.
No doubt it was the effects of early pregnancy kicking in and hers had, by no means, been an easy one.
He suggested that they pull over for the night and, when Sara had protested, determined to find her
husband and friend, he talked her into just resting for a few hours. They had been there only a few
moments when they received those phone calls.

Finally, Nick realized that the bathroom door was closed. “Sar?” He knocked gently and heard cries
coming from the inside. Slowly, he pushed the door open. “Holy shit..”

Sara was curled in the corner of the bathtub, his cell phone laying open in her lap, a razor blade
pressing gently against her right wrist. Her big brown eyes looked up at Nick’s as he opened the door.
She jumped, causing the blade to slightly cut herself.

“SARA!” The blonde was immediately on his knees beside the tub. Grasping the blade and throwing it
out the door, he took her face into his hands. “What the hell are you thinking?”

“I… I don’t want to live without him, Nick. I don’t want him to be alone in Heaven…I…It’s the only way I’
ll ever see him again.” Tears were spilling out of her eyes with every word but she seemed to take no
heed in it.

Nick just stared at her for a moment, shaking his head slowly, his heart sinking. He never thought she’d
be the first one to crack. The most stubborn, strongest woman he had ever met besides Jenn and she
was breaking before his eyes. He decided to say nothing and just grabbed her, holding her close to his
chest.

“No, Sar. You can’t think that way. We’ll go now, ok? We can make it. Jenn and Brian and you and I…
we’re all gonna grow old together. Everybody’s making it out of this alive Sara. You gotta believe that.
Please, for me? For Brian?” He tried to be strong but inside, he too, wanted to die. He couldn’t believe
how well he was holding up. Shock, he supposed.

“I’m sorry Nick.” Sara seemed as though she was beginning to pull herself back together, afraid at any
moment that Nick would lose it too. Putting her hands on the side of the tub to push herself up, her eyes
watched a drop of blood hit the white porcelain. She sucked in her breath. She couldn’t take the sight of
blood.

“Here,” Nick noticed the shade of pale that her face had turned and took her hand in his. “Lemme fix it,
then we’ll go.”

The brunette couldn’t help but smile a bit as Nick found a first aid kit and handled her with care. A trait
she was sure he had picked up from Brian or Jenn somewhere along the way. Her eyes disappeared
under her eyelids and she silently thanked God for Nick.

~*~*~*~*~*~
I Wanna Be Where You Are, Where You And I Will Breathe Together Once Again, And We’ll Be Dancing
In The Moonlight Just Like We Used To Do.. And You’ll Be Smiling Back At Me.. Only Then Will I Be Free
~*~*~*~*~*~

Nick’s bright blue eyes were plastered on the road ahead of him. It had been a while since he had seen
any civilization around except for a small gas station here and there. He figured they were getting close.
Sara had fallen asleep shortly after they had left. Nick could only guess all that emotion had worn her
out. So, he let her sleep.

But he didn’t want to.

It was times like these, in the silence of the day, that his mind would begin to reel with thoughts of his
wife. His precious wife. They were still newlyweds, even. He bit his lip as that familiar thought occurred.
None of this would’ve happened if I weren’t a celebrity. She could’ve fallen in love with ANYONE and
she chose me, not caring about my status. But it was what got her into all this.

Nick took one hand off the wheel to rub his eye which was beginning to itch with tears.
The past year had just seemed like a whirlwind. He had proposed, been expecting twins, gotten into this
terrible mess, lost a child, had an angel, lost an angel, lost his best friend, been tortured…

Suddenly, he had the feeling he wanted to scream. Why them? There had to be some logical answer.

“No there doesn’t..” He muttered to himself in disgust. None of this would ever make sense to anyone.
These people were just so damn sick.

“Did you say something, Bri- Nick?” Sara mumbled, awaking from her restless sleep.

“No, no. Everything’s okay.” Inside he was screaming at himself. Nothing was okay anymore. NOTHING
AT ALL. And he wanted to shout it out. But he knew that Sara knew already. Everything was all wrong
and it wouldn’t be okay again until Jenn and Brian were with them, safe and sound.

And he knew they both wondered if anything would ever be okay again.

Nick started to speed up his Durango. He had to find them. For himself. For Sara. For Brian and Jenn.
For their children. For Kevin, Howie, AJ and Lori.

“Nick.. slow down hun…” Sara clutched the door handle, feeling a bit nauseas.

“I can’t Sara. We have to go. We have to.” His voice was desperate. His mind was ringing with Jenn’s
voice.

“NICKOLAS! STOP IT!” He heard Sara scream.

“Shit..” The young blonde swerved just in time to miss a homeless man walking out of the woods. “Lock
your door, Sar.”

But something had caught her attention about this man. His walk, that hair, those clothes (what he had
left)…

“Oh My God, Nick. That’s not anything to be afraid of.” Tears threatened her voice to quit. “That’s my
husband.”

“Well, holy shit..” It was the only phrase Brian could think as he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that car
as well as the people inside. Although, from here, he really couldn’t indicate who was inside the Durango,
he knew it had to be someone who would rescue he and Jenn. Just as he was about to dash for the SUV,
Brian’s head suddenly started spinning and he was afraid that he would have another reaction to the drugs
leaving his body.

“Brian?” That voice. It belonged to Nick. Brian fought a little bit harder and, finally, he could see the world
around him again. And Nick coming towards him, full speed.

“Oh my God…NICK!!” He couldn’t contain himself. Brian was just so relieved to hear that voice. He was so
happy to feel those arms wrapping around him. His heart broke as he heard sniffles coming from Nick and
soon, he was reciprocating the action.

“I think there’s someone you might wanna see…” Nick let go and backed away.

That’s when Brian saw the other person that occupied the vehicle. She was standing just beyond the door,
her brown hair blowing and her head tilted to the side as it did when she was full of emotion.

“Sara..” Brian whispered under his breath, catching the breath in his throat.

They didn’t move. They didn’t say anything. They just stood there, as if they were paralyzed by the many
words that they couldn’t spit out.

“Go..” Nick nudged Brian in the back gently. How come he had come towards his best friend so easily, but
not his wife?

Inside Brian’s head, he was watching that beautiful girl across from him but suddenly, it would flashback to
his hands around her neck, her beautiful brown eyes dying underneath her eyelids. His thin body trembled a
little as she took a step forward. Soon, she was close enough that she could touch him. And she did just that,
those gentle fingers slowly caressed his unshaven chin.

Suddenly, those horrible images were gone and all he could see before him was a shining pair of tearful
eyes, so full of emotion that he was sure were the same reflecting in his.

“I love you.” It was the first words Sara had said yet it held so much more than just three words. No one
would ever understand except her husband. Even through all the trauma and pain he had been through,
those touches still made his heart jump. It was almost like falling in love all over.


As new tears began to fall, the middle Backstreet Boy held his wife so close, he was sure she couldn’t
breathe. But he didn’t know how to let go. Something was different about her body though, something Brian
couldn’t quite place.

“Oh my goodness, Sar…” He stopped and leaned his head back, looking at her. “Are you..”

“Uh huh.” She mumbled, almost forgetting about the life growing inside of her. The life she wasn’t sure was
his. So, she tried to drop it, running her fingers through his shaggy hair. “I missed you so much..”

He didn’t have anything to say, Brian could only lock his lips with her in what was their most passionate kiss
since their wedding day. When his nose moved to nuzzle the hand that had found it’s comfortable spot in his
hair, he noticed the bandage that had a spot or two or blood bleeding through.

Sara noticed where his eyes had traveled and she quickly drew away her hand, placing it in his. But his
blue eyes searched hers for an answer. “I..I..don’t..”

“Shh. Don’t worry.” He only put a finger on her lips and smiled to reassure her. But it wasn’t a full smile. It
wouldn’t be genuine until Jenn was safe too.

Turning back to Nick, Brian found the young man staring down at the road, arms crossed.

“C’mon Nick. We’ve gotta go save Jenn.” He announced quietly, patting his best friend’s back.

“She’s still…still…” Nick looked up as he spoke.

“Yes Nick, but we have to go now. I don’t know how long she can stay.” Brian had begun to have second
thoughts on his way out, almost turned around, but Jenn trusted him to find help and, for once, he hadn’t
failed her.

“Alright..”

“I’ve got to go my love. We’ve gotta save Jenn, okay?” Brian took Sara’s hands into his and kissed them
tenderly, wishing he didn’t have to go. Jenn should’ve come with him. He must’ve been insane, leaving her
there. “Call the police. And STAY HERE! I don’t want you getting hurt.”

He didn’t want to say goodbye. He hated those words. So, with one last hug, he nodded to Nick and they
were off.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sirens were heard in the distance. Brian was leading the way to the house and they made it their quickly.
Brian had made Sara stay in the car. Even though he wanted to keep her in his sight forever, he didn’t want
her to see what he had lived in for the past four months.

Brian stopped at the front door to catch his breath. “She should be in here. Take the hallway to your left and
follow it down till you see her. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Thanks man.” Nick said placing a hand on his shoulder, then making his way into the house.

Remember that blue crystal sky, the sun reflected in your eyes. You kissed me unexpectedly. The moment I
just can’t forget, we filled the air with promises and sealed them up so tenderly. But life never asks you what
you want, it’s just gonna have its way.
And sometimes it doesn’t give like it takes.

As Nick made his way through the hallway he couldn’t believe that this was the place that had held his best
friend and his wife for so long. He soon came across two small rooms side by side and enclosed in bars. He
walked into one of the rooms and picked up a picture frame. He is shocked when he discovers that it is a
picture of himself, Jenn, and Nicole on their wedding day. He slowly ran his fingers across Jen’s face, then
put the frame down.

“She’s not here?” Brian said, his voice tinged with worry.

Brian began to think of where she could be, but his thoughts were interrupted by a heart wrenching sob
coming from the other room. Nick began running towards where the sound had come from. He pushed past
Brian as he did so.

When he reached the opening, he could barely believe his eyes. The room was in shambles, every thing
was overturned as if a struggle had ensued. But there, in the center of all the chaos, curled into a ball on the
floor with her back to him. She was just laying there, sobbing.

If I never see your face, if wings take you away from me. And tomorrow never happens, baby. If the world
comes tumbling down and crumbles all around us. Fate turns cruel, you’re on your knees. So desperate for
one truth. Know that I have loved you

Nick made his way over to her. He knelt down behind her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!!!” Jenn yelled in a voice Nick had never heard come from her.
Nick recoiled his hand for a second, then reached down and brushed her face with the back of his hand.
“Sweetie, it’s me, Nicky.”

Jenn’s glazed eyes slowly made their way to meet his eyes. “I must be dreaming.” She said with a dreamy
smile.

“It’s really me, I’m here to take you home.” As he said this he turned her onto her back.
His eyes got really big as he noticed her protruding stomach. It seemed larger than it should have due to her
being so frail. “Oh my god…you’re…you’re…”

Jenn slowly licked her lips, “I was going to tell you that night.” She paused. “I can’t believe you’re really
here.” She reached up and placed her hand on his face.

“Yes, I’m here, and I’m gonna get you outta here.” He gave her a long kiss on the lips then helped her to
stand up. Jenn wobbled for a second, but leaned against Nick for extra balance. “Let’s go home sweetie.”

“Not so fast!”

Jenn and Nick looked towards the entrance, horrified to see Rick standing there with a gun aimed at them.
Nick was not about to lose everything after coming so far. So he stood there, not phased by the gun.

“Step away from her, and just leave if you know what’s good for you.” Rick said as he still kept the gun
trained on them.

“I’m not going anywhere without my wife!” Nick said through clenched teeth.

“Well then, that must mean that you’re going straight to hell with her. I can make arrangements for that!”
Rick pulled the hammer back on this gun and reached for the trigger.
***

Sara couldn’t wait in the car any longer. She quickly made her way out of the car and through the woods.
As she approached the house she almost turned back around, but decided to continue inside.

Upon opening the door she heard what sounded like Nick yelling at someone. She continued on in the
direction of the voice. Once she reached the cells she was able to clearly make out what Nick was saying.

“I’m not going anywhere without my wife!” Sara heard from Nick. After glancing at the cells she quickly
began to make her way down the hallway once more.

Suddenly a gun shot rang throughout the entire house. Sara stopped abruptly to try and figure out what
direction the shot had come from. Then a shrill scream from Jenn followed by, “Brian, NO!” This caused
Sara’s world to come crashing to a sudden halt.

Don’t think I’ll write another letter, or watch another pink sunset without thinking about you. I take a walk
along the blue seaside, how will I sleep at night. How will I wipe the tears from your eyes.

It had all happened so fast. As soon as Rick had put his finger on that trigger, Nick had brought himself and
Jenn down to the ground. Nick looked up at his attacker only to see him struggling with another man. Nick
saw the gun lying only a few feet away. Rick quickly got the upper hand and began pummeling the man
helplessly.

When Jenn realized who the other man was she let out a scream. “Brian, NO!” The man that had helped
keep her and her unborn child alive was being viciously attacked.

Without a second thought, Nick ran to his friends aid. He shoved Rick off of an unconscious Brian and began
an attack of his own. Dealing blow after blow to the man that had done this to them felt good. After all the
months of anguish and fear, he was finally getting his relief.

A shrill cry from his wife abruptly stopped his next blow. With his fist still raised in the air, his attention went
to the direction of the scream. “I swear to god, if you hit him one more time I’ll give your wife a nice big
shot of potocin!” Kara said as she had one arm wrapped around Jenn’s neck, and the other holding the
syringe that was piercing Jenn’s skin.

Nick quickly searched his mind for what potocin was.

“Can’t remember what potocin does Nicky?” Kara said tauntingly. “It puts women into
labor my dear boy.”

Nick’s heart dropped at that statement. “Alright, I’ll stop.” Nick dropped his arm and got off of Rick.

Kara smiled at this, and before Nick even had the chance to realize what was going on, Kara had injected
the potocin into Jenn. Jenn had tears running down her face and she was trying to pull Kara’s arm away
from her neck. “Don’t ever believe a psycho woman holding a syringe.” She pushed Jenn to the side.

Nick jumped up to go after her, but soon hit the ground as Rick grabbed his ankle. Both Kara and Rick let out
an evil laugh as Nick coughed violently trying to regain his breath.

Suddenly the tables turned, “Don’t hurt them!” came from a feminine voice. Kara and Rick were now the
ones with the gun pointed at them.

If I never see your face, if wings take you away from me. And tomorrow never happens, baby. If the world
comes tumbling down and crumbles all around us. Fate turns cruel, you’re on your knees. So desperate for
one truth. Know that I have loved you.

Sara stood there, her face full of determination. She had seen the gun just lying there and she knew what
she had to do.

“You don’t have the gall to shoot at us.” Kara said.

Kara began to slowly move towards Sara.

"Stop, don't come any closer to me." Sara said shakily. The gun was shaking slightly.

"I'm not afraid of you, I am you." Kara said still getting closer.

"You are NOT me!" Sara yelled out.

"But, I am." At this Kara quickened her pace and was about to pounce on Sara.

Sara didn't even have to think twice about the next decision she made. Just as Kara was jumping on top of
her, she pulled the trigger.

Everything was completely silent for the next 30 seconds. Kara was laid out on the ground, blood coming
from her shoulder. As Rick made his way to Kara's side, Nick made his way to Jenn's side. When Rick
realized that Kara was still alive he quickly looked over at Sara with an evil look in his eyes. "You BITCH!"
He quickly jumped up and started stalking his way over to Sara.

Sara was still too stunned over the fact that she had actually pulled the trigger that she never saw Rick
coming at her till it was too late. He shoved her down to the ground and took the gun from her grasp. He
decided that she wasn't much of a threat and turned his attention to the one person he did want.

Once Nick was at Jenn's side he could see the fear in her eyes. "Jenn, it's gonna be okay.”

“Nick..” She had to smile a little that he was here with her now. The smile was soon contorted by pain that
came from inside. “Damn… this baby’s not going to wait long.”

“Yes, our baby, sweet one.” Rick knelt down on the other side of Jenn, reaching across and hitting Nick with
the pistol in his hand, the younger man fell back against the wall.

“No dammit! I’m not scared of you anymore, Rick! I’m gonna get out of this…” Jenn winced and then stared
at the mad man. “You’re not gonna stop me this time.”




Nick, acting as though he was in pain, took a few moments to take in his surroundings. It seemed as though
Kara had passed out from pain but what concerned him were his friends. Sara was barely moving after Rick
had jumped on her and Brian still hadn’t come to.

He wasn’t going to let the same thing happen to his wife. Reaching around I his back pocket, Nick pulled out
the knife he had been carrying with him since this whole thing had begun. Only now did he remember it.

Sara opened her eyes and found that she was only a few feet away from her husband. Her heart sank into
her stomach, finding that those blue eyes were still hidden from her view.

“Brian?” She whispered, dragging herself over to him, as quietly as possible. God, he was so cold. She took
off her jacket and put it on him, crying when she realized he was just as small as her now.

“Stop it Kara! Just leave me the hell alone!” He had started to jerk and the tone of his voice, it was so harsh
it scared Sara almost.

“Bri, no. It’s me. It’s your Sara..” Her words were filled with tears now and her head pounded, but she
couldn’t give up now.

“Sara?” His eyes squinted as he struggled to ignore the buzzing in his ears. So blurry. And dizzy. And..
“Sara…” He breathed shakily. “I feel…weird. My chest feels…strange..”

“Damn it! No..no no no…” The brunette screamed in a whisper as she held his hands and searched
desperately for something to help all of them.

And then she heard it. Two male voices from the other side of the room and one female ….screaming.

Nick had indeed found his knife and was successful in stabbing Rick. But Rick wasn’t going down that easy
and he had shot Nick in response. Right in the stomach.

Jenn gained enough strength from adrenaline and quickly got to her feet, running straight to her husband.
“Nick.. Oh God ..Nick.. You can’t do this!!” She doubled over in pain again.

The youngest boy turned his head slightly and grinned a bit at his wife. “I got him Jenn.” He licked his lips
and held her hand. “Run sweetheart. Take Sara and Brian and…run.”

“But, you…”

“I’ll get out. I’ll catch up. I just need a minute. You’ve been here long enough.”
“But…”

“JENN! Go, baby. I need you to go…” He spoke weakly, kissing her lips that were so close to his now.

Tears slid slowly down her face as she moved his blond hair out of his face and tenderly kissed his sweaty
forehead. “Okay.” She gave in, having faith that he wasn’t going to leave her. He would make it out. He was
just that strong.

Looking up, her brown eyes met Sara’s. “You ready to go?” Jenn spoke quietly.

“We have to, I suppose.” Sara then realized she had no other choice than to carry Brian. He wasn’t really
with them and the things he had said, they scared her shitless. She couldn’t lose him.

The three made it out of the wretched house and Sara looked at Jenn for the first time really. A sympathetic
look washed her face and she bit her lip.

“He’s gonna make it, Jenn. Since when does a Carter give up so easy?”

“I hope you’re right.” The younger girl forced a smile but her heart hurt too much to talk anymore. Though,
she was thankful the pain in her lower stomach had resided a bit.

~*~

About halfway to the road, policemen and paramedics found the trio. Jenn, almost collapsing from pain and
dehydration, Brian, still not too conscious, and Sara, shaking from head to toe, holding on to her husband. It
was certainly a sight.

So, here they were, all three of them refusing to leave until they saw that Nick was okay. Sara and Brian
knew they couldn’t leave Jenn here alone, not now when they had come so far with all four of them.

Brian, who had waken up a few minutes after being hooked up to an IV in the back of the ambulance, was
holding on tightly to his wife’s hand as he was transferred to a smaller ambulance. It was decided that Jenn
and Nick would both be put on stretchers in the same vehicle and rushed to the hospital as soon as they
could be together.

Jenn was standing on the very side of the road, her hair blowing in wisps around her face, staring out
towards the wooded field. Her mind was turning into a big blur and she hoped she could keep conscious
long enough to hold Nick in her arms. Of course, she wasn’t going to tell anyone how she felt. She may be
losing it, but she wasn’t stupid.

That’s when they all saw it. Sara, Brian, and Jenn all held their breath as they saw the stirring in the grass.
‘Please God, please let it be Nick..’
They all let out a sigh as the police officer appeared out of the woods, followed by four other police with
Rick and Kara in custody. Jenn could only close her eyes and swallow as she heard one of the men say that
Nick was no where in that house, only his blood. That dreadful house. Kara and Rick must’ve done
something with him before they were caught. It was the first time that Jenn had ever tasted hope being lost.

So this was how it was all going to end. In one year, Jenn had lost her baby boy, her memory, and the only
love she had ever known. Just because he wanted to save her. Everything had happened because they had
loved each other. Numbing tears slid down her drawn face as Jenn became the first Carter to ever give up
on someone. Not Nick. Nick had been strong and courageous and forever, he would be her hero. Her
endless love.

Brian’s weak gray eyes bled tears as well. One of his best friends, his little brother was gone. Who would he
play games with on days off now? Who would sit and quietly make fun of Kevin with him during boring
interviews? Most of all, who would raise his family and who would ever take the place of the irreplaceable
Nick Carter?

No one. Absolutely nobody.

Sara seemed to be reading Brian’s thoughts as she squeezed his hand a little tighter and her eyes splashed
onto his fingers, no doubt she had been thinking along the lines of the same thoughts. Nick was the one who
had understood her these past few months. They had leaned on each other and gave each other hope and
strength to carry on their search for their loved ones. When everyone was turning their backs, they had each
other. Sara moved her free hand to wipe her eyes and she took sight of the bandage, still wrapped tightly
around her wrist. He had cared for her. Nick Carter had saved her life.

“Jenn? Guys?” A hoarse whisper carried to Jenn’s ears and everyone took notice as she stepped further into
the woods.

A figure emerged from the darkness, massive amounts of blood staining his white t-shirt.
It was moving strangely, dragging itself. Could it be…

“Nick!” Jenn exclaimed, her eyes alive like never before and all the pain inside disappearing for those
moments. Her exclamation confirming what everyone wanted to believe, everyone watched as the two
lovers were reunited in a bond that would never be broken.

Overwhelmed with a feeling of togetherness again, Sara leaned down and kissed Brian just as Nick was
kissing Jenn. Nothing could hurt them now. Now, they were all together, safe in each other’s arms.

But it only gets the best it can be before everything falls on you. Indeed…

Because no one knew about that gun and no one had imagined it would go off.

***

Brian was fighting a tough battle at the moment. He was suffering from some drug that they had given him
some time during their capture. It seemed to be affecting him mentally more than anything. The worst
though was when they had shot the second of those shots. The bullet had been heading straight at him, and
he never saw it coming. The bullet had hit him right in his back. He was in surgery for hours after they were
brought in. They had almost lost him many times in those first hours, but he was a fighter.

For the first time in four days Lori saw movement coming from Jenn's bed. Quickly looking at AJ and Nicole
and seeing that they had not moved, she proceeded to make her way to Jenn's side.

Now Lori let her thoughts drift to her friends in the room next door. Sara seemed mostly to be suffering from
shock. Luckily for her she had not been shot in those last final moments, but what had happened to Brian
had seemed to effect her most. Sara had regained consciousness the day after the event, but had not
spoken a word. She spent most of her day just watching Brian, not wanting to take her eyes off of him.

When they had brought Jenn in they were told that she had been given a dose of a drug that induces labor.
Luckily they got her to the hospital on time, and were able to stop it. Jenn had surgery the day after they
were brought in to fix the bullet wound, and is now just trying to recover from the lack of nutrition.
Surprisingly, the baby wasn't suffering from any lasting effects, just a little under gestational weight. They
estimate her pregnancy at about approximately 30 weeks.

The first bullet had been aimed for Jenn. Luckily for her though, the aim was high and it tore right through
her shoulder.

Unfortunately it kept on going, and entered Nicks chest, puncturing his lung.

Neither of them has regained consciousness. The doctors also told them that Nick had been shot in the
stomach during an altercation before the police had arrived, which had caused his liver to be badly
damaged.

Which now leads us as to why Kevin is now lying in a hospital bed himself. When they were told that Nick
wouldn't be able to live without a liver transplant, everyone stepped up. Luckily Kevin was a perfect match.

Two days ago Kevin underwent the operation to have a portion of his liver removed to be placed into Nick,
he didn't even have to think twice about it.

The hiss of the respirator that was helping Nick to breath upset Lori more than anything. Brian and Sara, and
Nick and Jenn had finally been reunited only for it to be taken away just as fast. What she had heard from
what the police had told Kevin was that somehow those Rick and Kara people had each gotten a hold of a
gun. Just before they were put into the squad cars, they quickly brandished the weapons and shot at their
unsuspecting victims.

As Lori and AJ sat vigil in Jenn and Nicks hospital room, they almost couldn't believe it. It had been four
days, four long days, that they have all been in the hospital. They had placed Jenn and Nick in a room
together and the same with Sara and Brian, due to security reasons. Nicole was silently sleeping on AJ's
shoulder, as he also slept, but sleep wouldn't come to Lori. The sight of her best friend had shocked her to
her soul. First of all she was so thin, but at the same time very pregnant. Nobody had known of this
pregnancy so it was a surprise for everyone. Lori also was ready to kill the police officers that where on the
scene that night. She could hardly believe that they didn't even fully search the assholes that had did this to
them.

Lori was shaken out of her daydream as Jenn began to stir a little more than usual.

“C’mon Jenn..” The blonde girl whispered, taking her best friend’s hand and holding it tightly, willing her to
come to.

By this time, AJ had sleepily opened his brown eyes and watched the scene from behind his girlfriend’s
shoulder. He felt himself involuntarily squeezing Nicole tighter. The little girl was now 9 months old, toddling
around and babbling away. Like Nick, AJ thought with an inward grin.

But that grin soon disappeared as his eyes landed back on Jenn. When she opened those eyes, it would be
the first time she had seen her little girl since she was 3 months old.

Hugging Nicole to his chest, he threw his glance sideways towards the door to avoid looking at the figure in
the other bed. That wasn’t the Nick Carter that AJ McLean knew, and it certainly wasn’t one he wanted to
remember forever. Although he had gained a bit more color since the liver transplant, AJ didn’t like the fact
that Nick was being so still. He wasn’t even that still when he slept. That’s when his thoughts drifted to his
‘brother’ in the next room. AJ felt bad for not going to see him but twice but, damn, that was really hard. Out
of all of them, Brian had looked the worst to him. So thin and tattered, quiet and pale. He wanted to kill
those people. Those people that had upset all of their lives.

Changed them forever. For the worse.

“Nick? Lori?” Jenn’s eyelids struggled to open and her voice was weaker than usual.

“Hey girl..” Lori pushed fallen hair out of Jenn’s face and handed her a cup of water as AJ pushed the nurse
button. “Here, take this.”
“We’ve missed you Jenn.” AJ put in.

But Jenn wasn’t paying any attention to AJ as he spoke. She was interested in the little body that’s head
rested on his shoulder, big blue eyes now open with a finger stuck in her mouth.

“Aje.. Is that.. It’s..” Tears welled up in Jenn’s eyes as realization sat in. “My daughter. She’s gotten so big..”
She bit her lip and flashed back to nights when she and Nick would lay in their bed, a tiny Nicole curled up
between them.

A nurse came in, followed by a doctor. The usual questions were asked and her vitals were taken. Lori and
AJ both smiled as the doctor announced that Jenn seemed to be just fine, but, while they were still pouring
nutrients into her unborn baby, she would have to stay hospitalized. Jenn, too, seemed happy to know that
her baby was okay but her mind wasn’t completely there yet and her two guests thanked God that she hadn’
t asked about Nick, Brian, or Sara yet.

“Um, AJ,” Jenn paused and licked her lips a bit after the doctor left. “Can I…uh, hold her?”

“Are you feeling up to it?” Lori asked, worried Jenn might still be weak and not know of it.

“Yes Kevin!” Jenn cracked a smile that reassured Lori that she was going to be okay. At least, for right now.

“Yah…Kev!” AJ smirked at Lori as he passed Nicole to Jenn. He then laughed, and ducked as his girlfriend
swatted at his head.

“Hi Nikki…” The brunette whispered, “Remember me?” It brought tears to Jenn’s eyes when Nicole smiled
at her, eyes filled with laughter.

“I think she does.” The tattooed man commented, wrapping his arms around Lori’s waist.

They all continued in a light chatter as Jenn talked to Nicole and they all talked to each other, no one
mentioning the whole situation they were in. Or anyone else involved. AJ had managed to pull the curtain
around Nick’s bed just before Jenn woke up fully.

She knew something was wrong with him though. Or he would’ve been here.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was an hour later before a tall dark man appeared in the doorway.

“Kev? What’re you doing here?” AJ inquired, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

“Did you REALLY think I was staying in a hospital bed while y’all were all down here?” Kevin hobbled over
to a chair, keeping in mind the doctor had warned him to take it easy.

“What? What happened, Kev?” Jenn’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He wasn’t there that night…. Was
he?

“Um..” Kevin pursed his lips, wishing he had realized that Jenn was awake before he said anything. “Have y’
all, uh, told her anything?” He asked, digging his hands into his pockets.

Both Lori and AJ shook their heads negatively. Kevin sighed and walked over to Jenn’s bed, offering a smile
of comfort and saying a little hello to Nicole.

“What, Kev?” She asked, wanting him to just spit it out.

“Everything’s okay Jenn. Now, it is.” He paused and grabbed her hand. “I’m glad you’re awake. You’ve
been out of it for almost a week now. I…I was in the hospital because, well, when Nick was shot…” He
paused again, tears rising in his throat now. “They told us he couldn’t live if there was no one to give him a
portion of their liver. We all volunteered and, well, mine happened to match.”

“Oh God…” Jenn stroked Nicole’s back to keep her mind off of what kind of shape her husband was in. But
the words involuntarily left her mouth. “How.. How is he?”

Everyone in the room looked at each other, wondering what to tell her, wondering if they should pull back
that curtain to reveal that Nick had been there all along.

“Jenn..” Lori stood up and walked to the opposite side of Jenn’s bed. “He’s.. he’s behind this curtain. He
hasn’t been awake yet but, he does look better today…”

“Let me see him.”

“Jenn, are you sure you’re ready?” Kevin asked, concerned.

“No, Kev.” She looked him straight the eye, stronger than she had ever felt in the past months. “But he
needs me. He needs us all.”

With that, Lori pulled back the curtain and both AJ and Kevin turned their heads away, wishing they had
Jenn’s strength.

“Hi sweetheart…” Jenn’s head rested against her pillow, staring at her love, broken down and dependant
on monitors. “I love you.”

Everyone jumped as Nick’s heart monitor beeped at a faster pace than it had been. Then, it happened.

There wasn’t a sparkle, but those blue eyes were revealed for the first time in a while. They were tired and
grey, but they were holding on.

Kevin was just about to go over to him when Howie walked through the door.

“Kev?” Howie asked, timidly, not noticing that Jenn or Nick had opened their eyes. He seemed intent of
asking Kevin something.

“Yah, D?”

“Can I, uh, see you for a second?”

Kevin shot a baffled look towards his younger friend and then followed him out into the hallway. “What
gives, Howie?”

Howie looked down , folding his arms over his chest. When he looked back up, Kevin could tell that his
heavy brown eyes were filling with tears.

“What Howie?!” Kevin was becoming impatient and a little nervous.

“Kev, the doctor has something to tell Sara. He told me he didn’t think she could handle it by herself and
well, since you’re Brian’s cousin…” The Latino closed his eyes for a moment.

“Spit it out.” His heart raced a mile a minute.

“He wants to pull the plug, Kev.”

***

As Kevin walked out of the door AJ and Lori wondered what was up with Howie. They would have followed
Kevin out that door if Jenn and Nick hadn't just woken up.

Jenn gave out a sob as she saw him struggling to turn his head in her direction. When their eyes met it was
like out of a movie, they only saw each other. “Oh Nicky….” She had tears streaming down her face.

Nick still felt really out of it, but what he saw before him helped bring him closer to reality. Their on that
bed, was his wife and their daughter. His vision was blocked by his tattooed friend approaching his bed.
The look of pure joy on AJ’s face almost brought tears to his eyes. Suddenly Nick felt like his throat was on
fire, and he began to fight off his ventilator

AJ saw Nick beginning to struggle and went into a panic himself. “N…N…Nick man, its okay, just let it
breathe for you!” AJ practically screamed at him. Nick was trying to sit up so AJ tried to hold him down by
the shoulders.

Seeing this threw both Lori and Jenn into a panic as well. “Nick, oh god, what’s wrong with him??!!” Jenn
asked trying to see what was going on. The sudden outburst from her caused Nicole to begin crying. Lori
quickly reached down to pick Nicole up to help soothe her.

Nick was slowly beginning to calm down. He was confused and hurting at the same time, he almost wanted
to succumb back into the darkness. He quickly shook that idea out of his head. He really didn’t remember
what had put him in this hospital bed. The last thing he could remember was getting that awful phone call
from his wife. As much as he tried to bring something back, it didn’t come.

AJ got worried when Nick just got this spaced out look in his eyes. At that he decided it was time to call the
doctor in, so he pushed the call button.

A doctor was in within 10 minutes and assessed the situation. He let everyone know that this was a normal
thing that happens when people wake up and are being helped to breath. Jenn was demanding that they
take the tube out since she felt it wasn’t really helping him. The doctor let her know that it was not an
option since he had just had that operation. Jenn still was not happy with that, but she couldn’t do anything
about it.

Once the doctor left the room Jenn decided that she was going to Nicks side. “AJ, would you help me up?”
She asked.

“You need to stay laying down Jenn, doctor’s orders.” AJ said as he approached her bed.

“Well you can either help me, or watch me do it on my own. Either way, I’m going to my husband’s side.”
Jenn stated stubbornly. She just stared AJ in the eyes till he finally exhaled and came to her side.

“Not for long alright, we just got you back. I’m personally gonna make sure you stay with us for a long
time.” AJ said as he began to help her up.

Within two minutes Jenn was at Nick’s side and AJ helped her to sit down in a chair. She grabbed his hand
and he looked at her. “Oh Nicky…” Nick reached up and brushed the hair out of her face. He then turned
her hand palm up and began to write something with his fingertip. Tears filled her eyes as he made the
letter I, followed by a heart, then the letter U. “I love you too baby, I missed you so much.” She let out a
sob. “I thought of you everyday when Brian and I were there.”

Nick had a few tears in his eyes, he still was struggling to remember what had happened. When Jenn
mentioned Brian it made Nick wonder what had happened to him. So he spelled out the letters B R I on her
hand, hoping that she would be able to tell him something that might trigger his memory.

“Bri?? You wanna know what happened to him?” Jenn asked, realizing herself that she didn’t even know.
Nick just blinked his eyes once, as the doctor had told him to do for yes. Jenn turned to face Lori and AJ,
“He wants to know how Brian is, and so do I. Do you guys know?”

Lori and AJ exchanged glances, “Um, we don’t know too much about his condition. But if you want me to I
can find out.” Lori said as she passed Nicole back to AJ.

“Could you please, I just have to know.” Jenn said as she turned back around to face her husband. His
gaze had now traveled to her belly and some flashes of what had happened came to him. She noticed
where his gaze was, “I was gonna tell you that night that we were taken.” Tears filled her eyes as she
continued. “I thought I had killed you, I…I was so lost.” Jenn continued to share some of the experiences
her and Brian had gone through. AJ just stood there, also listening, barely able to believe what her and
Brian had gone through.


Lori walked listlessly out into the bright white hallway. She wasn’t sure if she should’ve left AJ alone with
Nick, Jenn, and Nicole but she quickly resolved that he could take care of things if he had to. She had begun
to wonder about Brian as well. She hadn’t seen Sara since yesterday and even then, she hadn’t said much.
Just smiled the same tired smile and searched the rooms with clouded eyes. Lori thought that maybe the
news of Jenn and Nick would cheer her up a bit.

Pushing open the door to the Littrell room, Lori was surprised to be met with the sound of silence.

And the consistent sounds of life breathing machines. It was almost numbing now, nobody paid attention to
them until it drove them crazy.

Then, there was that unfamiliar frail body, lying helplessly amidst everything, seeming to small for the
settings surrounding him. No way it could be their Brian.


But it was.

The blonde girl approached the bed for the first time in a couple of days. Taking his left hand in her own,
she smiled. Brian had never taken off his wedding band.

“Keep fighting this, Rok.” Lori bit her bottom lip. “We need you back here. Sara needs you. Your baby.. your
family..”

She stopped. This was all too much. They hadn’t expected this out of Brian. When they had all arrived at the
hospital, Nick was in the worst condition. At least, that’s what they were told. On second thought though,
Brian hadn’t been in perfect health since he was five years old, but he was strong and no one ever thought
he would be the one not to make it.

But here they were, Jenn and Nick both awake and coherent, for the most part, and Brian, not showing any
signs of waking up.

Lori stopped just before she reached the door. It was particularly strange that Brian had been left alone. If
not Sara, Kevin or Howie would’ve been here. They never would’ve left him alone. That’s when her mind
reverted to the sound of urgency in Howie’s voice when he came to get Kevin close to a half hour before.

Where had they gone? Maybe she should stay there…

That’s when she heard Kevin’s voice coming down the hallway.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Kevin.. we.. we can’t..” Sara breathed in a panic. She felt his arm wrap around her. She was almost
positive it was the only thing holding her up.

“We’ll figure this out together, okay?” Kevin wiped his own tears away and tried to be strong. It was so
damn hard this time though. “Do you, uh, wanna go see Nick and Jenn…or…” He searched for places to go.

“It.. it doesn’t matter.” Sara shrugged and Kevin’s face changed to a worried expression.

“Sar.. you’re looking kind of pale. Why don’t we go into the private waiting room.” He took her hand and
led her in the right direction. It was obvious no one was going to fight.

How could this happen? His cousin, always so positive and willing to do anything for anyone, how could he
be taken from the world? He couldn’t imagine never hearing that laugh again, never seeing those blue
eyes…

Kevin couldn’t imagine looking at Nick or Sara without Brian.

After Howie had come to get him, Kevin had followed the doctor to his office with Sara beside him. Inside,
he would’ve never guessed what Dr. Anderson would reveal to them.

Brian wasn’t making progress. He was gradually getting worse. Even if he did wake up, he would most likely
not be the same. Brain damage, they thought, seeing as the bullet hit him in a portion of his spinal cord.

And now, they wanted to pull the plug. There was no use in waiting, the doctor had said, it was only the
machines keeping him alive. Neither Kevin nor Sara had said anything. Nobody had ever given up on Brian
Littrell. How could they?

“He didn’t even see it coming, Kev. I couldn’t get to him…” Sara mumbled from where she sat beside him
on the couch. Her lips began to quiver as her hand gently caressed her growing stomach that was beginning
to show. “This isn’t supposed to happen..”

Kevin stared at her with piercing green eyes. She was right, it wasn’t supposed to be happening. Not to any
of them. They were the Backstreet Boys. They were supposed to be invincible. Just like the superheroes Nick
had created them to be a few years back. They had laughed then but, deep inside, he supposed they all
believed they did have some kind of power. That nothing would ever happen..

His green eyes creased with tears as he reached for his cousin’s wife and brought her close until she was
almost in his lap. They cried together. Cried for each other. Cried for Brian. Cried for all them and for what
would never be the same again.

“Guys…what…what’s going on?” Lori stood in the doorway, almost scared to ask. As soon as the two people
looked up at her, she knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

~*~*~*~*~

AJ watched as Jenn slept more peacefully than she ever had in the past few days. He knew that wouldn’t
last long. They were told that both Jenn and Brian, when they had regained consciousness, would have
horrible nightmares and flashbacks of the past few months but, with necessary help and time, things would
get better.

But they would never be the same.

Never the same. AJ seemed to contemplate the concept. How could things never be the same? Did that
mean Jenn wouldn’t laugh the same laugh that made Nick’s face glow like he had never seen before? Did
that mean Brian wouldn’t dance around anymore just to cheer everyone up? Did that mean there was no
more frick and frack? Would Jenn and Brian even want to go out anymore?

He hated change. He hated that they couldn’t wake up from this damn nightmare that had cursed their lives
the past few months. He began to rock Nicole back and forth a little faster, nerves setting in. He couldn’t take
this. Thank God he still had Lori. She wasn’t going to leave, he was going to make sure of it. He smiled,
thinking of the day he would place that diamond ring on her finger.

The man watched as Nick stirred a bit in his bed and revealed his blue eyes once again.

“Hey buddy.” AJ grinned, not bothering to get up since he had placed his rocking chair between Nick and
Jenn.

Nick managed a smile in response.

“So, I talked with the doctor and he said we could probably get that tube out a little later. But, ya have to be
good.” He waited for Nick’s eyes to blink. “That means no hot nurses, dude.”

Nick raised his eyebrows then rolled his eyes. He hastily grabbed for AJ’s hand and spelled.

“Yeah, I know you’re a dad, but there are some hotties here Kaos.”

The blonde knew his friend was kidding with him but it was good to know people weren’t acting different
around him. At least AJ wasn’t. Kevin.. he was almost sure he would get on his nerves pretty quick…
Kevin. Last time Nick had seen him, Howie came for him. Come to think of it, Howie had been there for a
couple of minutes too. He seemed upset, not talking that much to anyone. Where did Lori go? Where was
Brian? And what the hell had happened? His head hurt too much to think.

“Hey, chill out bud.” AJ butted into his thoughts. Nick looked over to see his heart monitor quickening it’s
pace and he willed it to slowly return to normal.

Nick was about to get up enough energy to spell more things to his friend when Lori walked in the door.

“We need to talk.” She simply said to AJ.

AJ seemed to sense something was going on and he stood up from his place in the chair. Nick felt so
useless, and left out. He decided to use the energy built up in his hand to turn his head and watch his
sleeping angel, hoping she, at least, was okay. He smiled and wondered what she was dreaming of. Him, he
hoped. Soon, he was asleep as well, dreaming of her. And only her.

But the peace wouldn’t be kept for long.

***

Sara quickly made her way into the hospital, careful of the reporters. Luckily for her today, there didn’t
seem to be many. She ignored all attempts of them asking her questions, and was soon safely inside. Once
inside the elevator she leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath.

The doors soon opened for her floor and she hesitated on which way to go. If she went to her left she would
be headed to Brian’s room. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to see him yet this morning. So instead she
headed into the direction of Jenn and Nicks room. She didn’t think she had actually paid them a visit since
they had come here. She knew it was wrong, but she was so worried about Brian. She was sure they
understood.

Sara wanted to talk to Jenn about what had happened to them. She wanted to know what had happened to
her husband, in what could possibly have been his last months here on earth. But she didn’t want to think
that way right now, right now she needed some reassurance.

“Sara,” Nick said softly seeing her walk into the room. Kevin, Jenn, and Howie also acknowledged her.

“Hi guys,” Sara said meekly.

“What brings you in here?” Howie asked. “Well, I mean, you’re usually in Brian’s room most of the time.”

“I decided that I should come visit these two for a while today.” Sara said as she found a seat next to Jenn’
s bed. “I’m glad you two are awake.” They all talked quietly for the next couple of minutes, just mindless
chatter. Then AJ, Lori, and Nicole walked into the room.

Sara was the first to notice the gleaming stone that was placed upon Lori’s finger. “Oh…my…god! I must
have stepped into the twilight zone or something, this can’t be for real.”

The smile that came across Lori’s face confirmed that this was indeed for real. Congratulations quickly went
around the room. For a while everyone felt like it was a normal day, and they were all hanging out at one
of their houses. When the doctor came strolling in the room everyone was quickly brought back to reality.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting something, but I’m here to check up on Nickolas and Jennifer.” The doctor said as
he made his way to Nick’s bedside. The doctor went through the normal motions and then proceeded to
Jenn’s bedside. The others waited patiently for what the doctor had to say about both of them. “Well it
seems that you two are progressing quite well. What do you two say about me getting an ultra sound
machine in here a little bit later today, and we can get a look at that baby.”

Jenn and Nick both smiled over this, “That would be great.” Nick responded.

Jenn was more than happy, she had wanted to see this baby for so long now. She desperately wanted to
know what the sex was, she already had names picked out. The doctor soon excused himself, which left
everyone alone again.

Sara made her way back up to Jenn’s side and took a seat, “Jenn, I want to ask you something.” She said
hesitantly.

“Sure Sara, anything.” Jenn replied looking into her eyes.

Sara hesitated then began, “I, I really need to know what Brian’s last few months were like. I wanna know
everything.”

Jenn looked at her and bit her bottom lip, “Sara, I….I really don’t know if I can right now. But I can tell you
this.” Jenn started. “He was strong, very strong. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here right now. He’s still
strong, he’s gonna make it Sara. I just know it.” Jenn was tightly holding Sara’s hand as she said this.

As if on cue, Brian’s Dr. came in, “Mrs. Littrell, Mr. Richardson….I’m sorry but its time.”

Suddenly Sara felt selfish, she had come to this room instead of spending the time with Brian. She just
wasn’t ready for this, she didn’t want to. She looked around at everyone, they all looked like they were
ready to cry. She heard Nick and Jenn both arguing with Kevin that they were going to be in that room
whether he liked it or not. She saw Howie staring at the wall with a lost look in his eyes. She saw Lori and
AJ, Lori embracing Nicole, and AJ holding onto Loris waist as she leaned into him. At that moment Sara
knew that she wasn’t the only one not ready for this. They were all in for a rough ride.


~*~

One by one, they filed into the room. The group had never been so quiet together. AJ and Lori were still
holding on to one another as Kevin held Sara’s hand. Following them were Nick and Jenn, in wheelchairs,
Howie helping push them.

Everyone gathered around the bed of their friend, but as far away as they could be. That man lying there
couldn’t be Brian. There had to be some horrible mistake.

“You can all have some alone time with him. I’ll be back in a few.” Dr. Anderson spoke softly, sensing the
sadness and disbelief that loomed in the air. Sadly, he walked out, glad to escape.

Seven pairs of wandering eyes watched each other, waiting for someone to make the first move. Lori finally
took the initiative and pulled her fiancé’s hand towards the bed. There was some resistance at first, but after
a reassuring squeeze, AJ gave in.
“Hey Bri…” Lori spoke softly. Suddenly the confidence she usually possessed flew out of her body and a
new feeling set in. A feeling she didn’t often feel. Fear.

“Hello Rok. It’s Bone and Lori, long time, no see, huh buddy?” He had to be strong. “Guess what? I’ve
begun to try that commitment thing you talked to me about. Lori and I…we’re gonna get married. You put
the idea in my head, Rok, so you’re gonna have to stick around to see it.” AJ sniffed a bit, never being one
to reveal anyone emotion.

Lori’s tears, however, were flowing freely in streams down her cheeks. It had always been Brian pushing
him to tie the knot. Somehow, he just knew. It had been Brian that told Lori that she was the one for AJ.
The one and only. She supposed that had always stayed in the back of her mind.

“Yah, Brian. I’m not marrying this freak without you here. I’m blaming you every time we start arguing..”
She forced a sad smile and grabbed Brian’s hand. “Don’t give up on us now.”

Neither of them could say anymore and the rest of their friends knew it. With his hands dug into his pockets,
Howie approached the bed.

“Hey man.” He spoke softly in a voice that wasn’t his own. “What’re you trying to pull on us, huh? Just
because you have so many questions for God doesn’t mean we want you to ask right now.”

Upon listening to his friend’s remark, AJ smiled. It was an ongoing inside joke during tour. One of the boys
would be pissed off or frustrated and yell, ‘Why God!?’ in frustration. Brian had once replied nonchalantly, ‘I’
ll be sure and ask him later’. So, it was now ritual, to ask Brian to ask God things, because he was, in the
words of AJ, ‘the key to all Backstreet Boys getting into Heaven.’

“Seriously, Brian, this isn’t funny. What would we do without you? You’re not the kind of guy to just up and
leave your family. Don’t do it. Pull through, Rok. You’ve got you most important audience right now… and
you were never one to disappoint.”

Howie backed away now, just as AJ and Lori had, reality hitting much too quickly for comfort. The thought of
the Backstreet Boys with Brian made him nauseas. Hell, the thought of the world without Brian scared him.
He was one of the better people living here.

“I…I’d like to go next.” A fragile and tired looking Nick broke the tense silence of the room. It seemed as
though he had reverted back to the years of young teenage innocence that he had abandoned in what
seemed like ages ago.

Cautiously, he wheeled himself up to his best friend’s bed.

“Bri…Frick, thank you. Thank you for helping me grow and helping to me to find that special kind of love
staring me right in the face. Thank you for helping me to understand Kevin and his assy moods sometimes.”
Kevin grinned a bit at that one. “Thank you for helping to laugh when times were the worst and never
letting things get to me.” The blonde stopped for a moment, swearing he had seen a smile play on the ends
of Brian’s lips. He passed it off as wishful thinking and continued.

“Most of all,” He took hold of his friend’s hand, “Thank you Brian, for taking care of my family. For taking
care of me. I swear…I…I promise, I’m going to take the best care of Sara and your kid but, Brian, if you can
hear me, please don’t make me. They deserve so much more than what I can give them. They deserve you.”
He swallowed the tears in his throat. “How could Sara or I or Jenn or anyone of us explain what an
incredible person you are. You’re finally gonna have that ‘little you’ you’ve been talking about for ages. You
can’t just let it down, Brian. You taught me that a long time ago.”

Slowly, Nick moved his arm to reach into his robe pocket. The friends watched as he pulled out the two
infamous black stocking hats. Tears spilled out of Nick’s blue eyes as he pulled the ‘Frick’ hat down on Brian’
s head and then leaned back to adjust his own. “I’m sorry ,Bri, if I ever let you down. I take it all back, just,
come back safe, okay? I swear I’ll let you beat me in every basketball game…and…anything you want…”
He was near sobs now.

Jenn wheeled herself over beside him, lifting his chin to wipe away his tears and kissing his lips, the tears
on their cheeks mixing together. She looked up for Howie to wheel Nick back away from the bed, thinking it
would be best for him to be away for a bit.

The brunette stared at Brian for a while, not sure what to say or think. This couldn’t be the end. There were
still so many things that he had wanted to do, to see. They had discussed them all on those nights when they
were left alone with nothing but each other. How could she go on doing these things and not feel guilty that
Brian hadn’t gotten to do the same? He had to be only sleeping, lying just as peacefully as he had the past
few months when she had watched him sleep. She was the weak one, not him.

“Brian, we…we’re having a boy. Not just Nick and I, you’re involved now too. Maybe not biologically but,
God, Brian, you’re supposed to play such a big role in this boy’s life. You have loved and protected this baby
as your own; you can’t let it go now. Sara and I are supposed to be sitting on the porch a year from now,
laughing at you two trying to teach it to play basketball…or ride a bicycle. You’re not supposed to do this
Brian!” She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t believe these damn doctors. They don’
t know YOU! Prove them wrong, like you always have.” Taking his hand in hers, she placed it atop her
stomach only to have the baby respond with a kick or two. She smiled. “Feel that, Bri? He already likes you.
How can you take that away from him? Heroes don’t die, Brian.”

All had fallen silent for a few minutes. It was up to Kevin and Sara to finish their goodbyes. How, though?
Everything had been said, yet, nothing at all. No one could ever put into words what Brian had meant to
them. In that moment, it seemed like everyone in the room appreciated each other a little bit more, and all
made a mental note to express that love more often.

As Jenn wheeled back towards Nick, who leaned his head weakly onto her shoulder, Kevin squeezed Sara’s
hand and then let go. His turn.

Gently, he lifted Brian’s hand into his own and sat down, not trusting his wobbling legs beneath him. His
piercing green eyes studied his young cousin for a few moments, flashbacking to that five year old face
begging for his help. All too suddenly, a pang of guilt shot through him.

“Hey Brian, its Kevin, your cousin.” How do you say goodbye to someone you never thought you would have
to let go of? “I’m sure you’re sick of everyone thinking you’re leaving us, so, I won’t take too long. Um, it’s
been a while since I told you…I, uh, I love ya, Bri. I can’t…I can’t help but think that this is all of my fault.”
His deep voice was raspy with deep sadness and all eyes focused on him as he took responsibility for all of
this.

“Kev…” Howie tried to stop Kevin from blaming himself.

“It’s true Howie. If I had never called Brian,10 years ago, he would be happily teaching a high school class
or being a youth minister, safe in Kentucky with everything he wanted. Singing was his passion…and
now…” Kevin’s eyes shut tight and his face crumpled. Regaining composure quickly, he squeezed Brian’s
hand tighter. “I’m sorry, Bri. I’m sorry I let you go. I’m sorry for letting you down. I…I…We need you back
Brian. This isn’t supposed to happen. I’m….so…sorry…” He laid his head down on the two hands joined
together and the strongest Backstreet Boy became the weakest.

Kevin shrugged off Howie’s hand from his shoulder and his wandering green eyes found the only remnant of
Brian he could help now. Standing slowly, everyone watched him intently as he walked towards the
brunette by the door who had stood, stone-faced the whole time, much to the surprise of everyone. “I’m
sorry Sara.”

At these words, she realized it was all real and her husband’s cousin was standing in front of her, confirming
to her that she was going to lose her only true love. The only man who had never left her. The man who had
taught her to love. The man who gave her the world was taking it from her. Pushing herself out of Kevin’s
embrace, Sara’s eyes glazed over with determination. Determination to be strong. To be as strong as she
knew Brian could be.

“Aight,duck. I’m the last one.” She took his hand, wrapping his fingers around hers and kissing each one.
“There’s nothing to say anymore, but, if you’re gonna come back…” Sara lost it and tears came full force. “If
you’re gonna come back, do it now ‘cos…”She shook her head and swallowed. “I can’t…don’t want to live
without you. I don’t love you like I used to, Brian Littrell, I love you more. I love US! Dammit, Brian, you can’t
take that away. I’m not gonna let you go, I…I still have so much to give you…”

Thank God that Kevin had been standing right behind her as she turned around and collapsed into him.
Together, the two cried harder than ever imaginable. They cried for Brian. They cried for his unborn child.
They cried for each other and what would never be the same again.

Everyone in the room was so overcome with emotion that no one really noticed when Dr. Anderson pulled
the plug.

But everyone sure took notice of the loud, dead drone of the heart monitor that took a few beats slowly…

..And everyone noticed when Brian Littrell took a breath on his own.

Epilogue

The wedding had been a beautiful one. It had been almost a year since Jenn and Brian had
been rescued and everyone was gathered at a local church, where they had just witnessed Lori
and AJ getting married. No one had ever thought this day would come.

But it had, and everyone, for a change, was happy.

The wedding reception was now going on, and what a party that was. Music was at full swing as
Sara and Brian danced to the music.

One would never have imagined that just barely a year ago, many believed that Brian Littrell
would never walk again.

Once Brian had begun breathing on his own that fateful day, he was awake in no time. Though,
when he opened those blue eyes to find his wife watching him, he had no desire to tell her that
he couldn’t feel anything in his legs.

He was a strong person, and he showed that everyday. With Sara by his side, he strived to
prove all the doctors wrong. When he had regained consciousness, the doctors had told him
the bullet to his back could cause him to never walk again, he was paralyzed.

Brian wouldn’t accept that. His soon to be born child would have a daddy that could do anything
they wanted.

Physical therapy was one of the hardest things to go through, but finding out that he and Sara
were about to welcome a little girl into their world just pushed him harder. His little girl was
going to have the best daddy if he had anything to say about it. Proving the doctors wrong, two
months after the shooting, he was taking steps on his own. Everyone was so proud of him.
Sure, he was still plagued with nightmares almost every night, and sometimes, he felt cheated
out of things he had missed, but he would never let these things get to him. He had everything
now.

A few months later brought the birth of their daughter, Emily Grace Littrell. The little girl brought
so much light to their lives. They both could see how Nicole had helped Nick and Jenn so much
in the prior year. Without Emily in their lives, they would have been lost.

Jenn and Nick were swaying with the music as well; both of them feeling utterly happy after they
had just watched two of their best friends get married.

A year ago, everything seemed so lost. Now, nothing was going to tear them apart again, ever.

Jenn and Nick had been able to go home about 2 weeks after they were admitted. For the first
time in a long time, they were going home as a family. Nick had sold the old house, too many bad
memories. Jenn was very surprised when they arrived at a beautiful new home. Although her
memory had never fully come back to her, she remembered all that was important, her family.

Nick was fairing quite well, he had to take it easy for him to receive a full recovery. Howie had
been so kind as to stay with them for a few weeks since neither of them was in any condition to
be alone with a child. It would be in no time, though, they were both near fully recovered.
Physically, at least. Jenn was plagued with the same nightmares Brian experienced.

All too soon , Jenn was having the baby. She and Nick welcomed a healthy baby boy, Zachary
Brian Carter. They both felt it fitting that Brian’s name be placed in the there due to all the help
that he had given Jenn. Brian had been truly touched.

A clinking of a glass could be heard as the room quieted down. “Can I have everyone’s
attention, please?” AJ’s best man, Howie stated. When everyone was quiet, he continued.
“Who would have ever thought I’d be speaking at AJ’s wedding one day, I for one never thought
so.” That was followed by a few chuckles. “On a more serious note, I am really proud of AJ. He
has found his soul mate, and they are truly one of the best couples I have ever seen. So I would
like to raise my glass to him, and toast for a happy trouble free future.” With that everyone
clinked their glasses and the reception continued.

Sara smiled at Brian, who stood beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist. “Ya alright?” She
asked quietly, not wanting to attract unwanted attention from Kevin, who still worried about his
cousin.

“Yes I am, baby. I’m with you.” He shot a goofy grin her way. She stopped for a moment, thinking
of a time when she knew she’d never see that face again. How could she have doubted him? He
promised her forever and he intended to keep it.

“Cheese ball!” His comment had caused that laugh. That laugh that Brian knew belonged only to
him. He smiled, proud in the fact that it was he who had won this amazing woman’s heart. “Here,
let’s go sit for a bit, and find our daughter.” Sara scanned the room to find Emily laid out in Kevin’
s arms.

“He must’ve started talking to her. She learns so quickly, Sar.” Brian smirked, as his wife helped
him across the dance floor. He was still going through therapy and sometimes, his legs just got
tired. “HEY! Get a ROOOOOM!”

Brian laughed his best friend raised his face from where his lips were placing gentle kisses on
Jenn’s neck.

“Baby, you look like a deer in headlights.” Jenn smiled at Nick and brought his lips down to meet
hers.

“You like deer.” He kissed her back and she could feel him smiling against her lips. Her mind
couldn’t help but wander to those months that she was without him. How did she make it? He
was her everything now and she was sure she had never loved him like this before.

“Any deer that can kiss me like you, yeah, I love deer.” Jenn smiled now as Nick pressed his
forehead to hers. He watched as the bright sun reflected in the deep brown of her eyes and he
found himself lost in them once again. She absolutely captivated him and, man, the kids that she
had given him. Those beautiful children…

A shrill scream of laughter seemed to interrupt his thoughts at the appropriate time. Nicole, who
had apparently been dancing or, toddling around, with the groom was now being spun by her
captor. Nick and Jenn’s eyes lingered to the other side of AJ, where Lori was cradling Zach in
her arms, lightly rocking him to the light music.

“They’ll make a beautiful family someday.” Jenn spoke as she watched, feeling Nick wrap his
arms around her from behind.

“Not as beautiful as ours.” He whispered.

Suddenly, a piercing scream and the shatter of glass seemed to throw the whole ceremony into
an incredible halt. The look of fright of Brian’s face and the way he took off towards the house
could only signal one thing.

The noise had come from his wife. In no time, AJ, Nick, and Kevin had followed Brian as Jenn
and Lori stayed with the children. The rest of the guests watched, trying to figure out what was
going on.

Brian was first to enter the house. Sara had gone into AJ’s house to pour a glass of water to mix
with Emily’s formula but, something had stopped her from returning.

The guys found her, sitting at the kitchen table, staring in the direction of the kitchen, shattered
glass around her feet.

“Sweetheart, what is it?” Brian knelt, shakily taking her hand. Kevin helped his cousin as Howie
and AJ tried to sort out what had happened.

But Sara’s shaking finger that pointed towards the small TV in the corner of the kitchen
answered everything.

“The breaking news of the hour….armed and dangerous….escaped from prison….”

None of them expected what was said next.

“Rick Cartier and Kara Pitrelli.”


THE END!!

Please let us know what you thought...Im posting the sequal Love Me Back To Life up tonight too...thanks for reading!