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Chapter 4

"So what do you all want to include in this?"

The guys, along with Sara and Jenn, were all sitting around a table in a meeting room that
seemed to confining for the fear and loss of control that they all felt within. The group half
listened as management made plans for the press release concerning the fire at the arena
two days ago.

"Do we really have to say anything? We're all fine." Kevin stated, tiredly rubbing his drawn
face.

"Kev…" Howie spoke softly.

"Well, damn it! We ARE fine! All of us…just fine! They don't care to hear the truth anyway!"
Kevin pushed himself away from the table and stood as his voice grew louder. "Why the hell
does everyone have to be in OUR business?"

"Mr. Richardson, it was just a fire.." One of the business women spoke up. Who was she
anyways? He had certainly never seen her before.

A sneer appeared on his face. She had no idea. No one had any idea except the seven of
them. He couldn't take anymore. Pushing his chair even further back, Kevin walked briskly
towards the door and slammed it on his way out. AJ almost immediately stood up to follow
him.

Brian's head shot up for the first time during the meeting. Although Kevin's outbursts of
emotion weren't uncommon during the past days, it still scared Brian that his cousin was
weakening. Everyone knew that Kevin acted this way because he couldn't be the 'protector'
anymore and it frustrated him. It hurt him. It seemed as though he just didn't know what to
do with himself anymore. There were several occasions when Brian or Jenn woke up from a
nap to find Kevin just sitting there, watching them. Sure, it could freak you out a bit, but they
understood in the end.

Brian swallowed and looked back towards Sara, who sat beside him, taking care of things
for him. She felt his eyes settle upon her and turned her head to offer him a smile of
comfort. Turning her attention back to the droning voice at the head of the table, Sara took
hold of his hand that rested nervously in his lap under the table. After a tight grasp and a
few gentle caresses, he felt her open his hand and begin to spell into his palm.

He couldn't help but grin inwardly as she spelled out the words that defined their love. The
words that were inscribed on the inside of their wedding bands.

'Forever and Always.'

It seemed like an eternity since they had spoken those words to one another. Brian had
never felt as guilty as when he didn't reciprocate her action. Something inside him wouldn't
let him complete the task. Why, Why, Why? His mind whirled but to no avail. For the first
time, Brian Littrell began to wonder if he was even worthy of the woman next to him.

Jenn's eyes had been glued to the door ever since Kevin had slammed it shut. She now
watched the window beside the door as AJ moved in to hug Kevin. That's when she saw the
tears that fell down the older man's face.

Kevin was crying.

That frightened Jenn a bit. In her five years of knowing him, she had only seen Kevin cry
maybe twice. Now, he was breaking down with the rest of them. Who was going to be their
leader? Who were they going to count on?

Her eyes slowly wandered across the table to find Brian and Sara, huddled close, and then,
Howie, acting attentively in Kevin's place.

When had their world become so crazy? Where had this all started? With that one small car
wreck? It seemed so strange to think about it all now.

It seemed almost crazy to WANT to think about it all.

Jenn looked up towards management as a sentence caught her attention. Nick noticed this
and wrapped his arm around her, gently rubbing her shoulder and pulling her towards him.

"This fire was an accident, right? The firefighters think it started with a faulty electrical
outlet."

She wanted to protest so much but she knew she couldn't let their secret out. It would put
them in more danger. As soon as they were gone though…

"God, Nick! I know…I know I saw Rick… I would never forget those eyes. That… that figure…
IT WAS HIM! He started all of this!" Jenn began to shout and upset herself.

Nick turned his chair and pulled her into his lap. "Sweetheart, we don't doubt you but, how
could you see clearly? Maybe it was a hallucination before you passed out…"

The other five watched as Jenn curled herself up into Nick's lap and let out a quiet sob into
his chest. "I'm so scared. I know…"

"I think she may be right, Nick." Kevin spoke for the first time from where he stood against
the wall.

"What?" Brian looked at his cousin quizzically.

"I…I think I saw him too."

Everyone looked at Kevin like he had grown a new head or something. Nick was the first
one to speak up, “What do you mean Kev?”

“During the fire, I had lost you guys for a second.” Kevin’s eyes looked like he was
replaying the event as he spoke about it. The tears that followed proved that. “I was
actually scared, I didn’t see you guys. But then I saw a figure running towards me, and I
thought it was Nicky. Then AJ called out for me, and the figure just disappeared. It had to
have been him you guys.”

“See, I’m not crazy. He was there.” Jenn’s quiet voice broke the silence that followed
Kevin’s statement.

“Honey,” Nick said grabbing her chin so she was looking at him. “No one ever said you
were crazy.”

“Well you thought it. Hell even I was beginning to think it.” Jenn let out a sigh.

“Just relax, we will get this figured out.” Nick leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the
lips.

“Oh get a room.” AJ said as he smiled at the couple.

****

Two weeks had now gone by, free of any threats. Everyone was starting to get comfortable
with everything again. Jenn had come down with something, she was always tired and not
feeling all that well. AJ had joked that she was knocked up once again, but Jenn quickly
tested that possibility and thankfully it came up negative.

Not like Jenn didn’t want another baby, but with all that had happened over the past few
weeks, she didn’t feel it was the time. Both couples were terribly missing their kids. Just
the sight of a family always brought a frown to their faces. Luckily this tour would be over in
just over a month, they couldn’t wait.

Nick and Sara were feeling a bit bad though, they had been slipping sleeping pills to their
significant others in hopes of them sleeping the whole night through. Most nights it
worked. Uninterrupted sleep was hard to come by, but now for three nights straight, it had
happened.

This morning though, Jenn was feeling not so good. “Nick…” Her weak voice called out.

Nick quickly came into the room, he had been in the kitchen of the bus, looking what to
make for breakfast. “Good Morning!” Nick happily called out, but then his face turned down
as he saw the pale look to his wife. “What’s wrong honey?” He sat down beside of her on
the bed.

Jenn frowned, “I don’t feel too good today. I just wish I knew what was wrong with me.”
Jenn said sadly.

Nick pushed the hair out of her face and felt her forehead. “It feels like you’ve got a bit of a
fever. Let me go find the thermometer just to make sure, but first let me get you your pills.”
Jenn just nodded to him as he stood up.

Jenn had been on some antibiotics since the fire, her leg had gotten a nasty infection and
these were helping her to fight it off. The doctor had said that it might make her sick, but to
keep an eye on her. He returned to the room with a glass of water and her pills which she
took with no resistance.

Nick searched their end of the bus for the thermometer but couldn’t find it. As much as he
didn’t want to disturb Brian and Sara, he knew that he had too. He knocked on the door and
waited to be asked in. When he was he quickly stepped in.

Sara had a finger to her mouth, shushing Nick. Nick looked over and saw that Brian was still
sleeping soundly, and couldn’t help the smile that crossed over his face. He decided to just
ask the question, “Sar, do you know where the thermometer is. I need to take Jenn’s temp
and I can’t find it.”

Sara quietly reached down and grabbed a bag, she pulled out the thermometer and handed
it to Nick. “Jenn still not feeling any better?” She asked quietly.

“No, she’s not. If she’s still feeling like this in a few days I’m calling the doctor. There is no
reason for her to be this sick.” Nick said as he headed back to the door. “But I’ll let you
guys get your rest, thanks.” Nick acknowledged Sara’s smile as he closed the door and
made his way back to his bed.

Nick was trying to remember what city they were on their way to, but came up blank.
Shaking his head he decided that next time he was gonna pay attention, yeah right. As he
approached the bed he saw that Jenn had already fallen back asleep. With a sad sigh he
placed the thermometer down on the table and sat back down next to her.

He pulled the blankets up over her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m never
gonna leave your side, you don’t ever need to worry about that again.” Nick felt a tear run
down his face and quickly wiped it away. He decided to forget about the food for now, and
just lie here next to his wife for the time being.

***

Once Nick had closed the door Sara decided to start getting ready for the day. With one last
glance at Brian she scooted out of bed. She began to look for something to wear for the
day, as she did she began straitening up the room. Brian had gotten really messy as of late,
just throwing his stuff all over. Not like she really cared, but she was sure management
would care if his clothes were wrinkled.

Sara let herself wonder why that thought came to her mind. They had psycho’s after them,
and she was worried about management. That caused her to laugh out load, and she
covered her mouth with her hand. She shook the thought out of her head and continued on
her mission.

Once she finally found her clothes for the day she made her way to the bathroom and
proceeded to get dressed. Once she had done her morning ritual she made her way back
out to her room to find Brian awake.

“Mornin Sweetie.” She said happily.

Brian looked and her and gave her a small grin, “Back at ya.” He stretched and let out a big
yawn. “I see you picked up a bit.”

“Yeah, had nothing better to do. Figured I might as well do it when I had the chance. We
are arriving in LA today, and we will be there for like 4 days.” Sara said as she sat down
next to him on the bed.

“Oh yeah, that’s right. AJ said something about us meeting up with Lori. She’s shooting for
that new movie there. I’m sure AJ’s annoying the hell out of Kev and D right now going on
and on about seeing Lori.” Brian said with a laugh.

“See it’s not so bad not having to share a bus with all the other guys.” Sara said.

“Ain’t that the truth.” Brian replied with a nod. “Well I guess I had better be getting ready
for the day. Once we stop I’m sure AJ will move on to buggin us.” With that he got off of the
bed and started gathering some clothes.