Trouble Chapter 1

The boy’s breath came in short, harsh gaps as he raced down the deserted sidewalk. He hesitated when he approached a section where he could keep running, or could duck into an alleyway to his right and use the shadows to conceal his lean body. .

“He went this way!” a harsh male voice echoed from around the corner. The boy made a quick decision and ducked into the alleyway to his right pressing his slender body against the brick of the building, panting from his exertion.

The voices ran by his hiding place seemingly without taking any notice to the wide blue-eyed boy. Breathing a sigh of relief, the boy who was no older than 17, continued down the dark alley, thinking he was now safe. “There he is!” the same harsh male voice yelled.

The boy whirled around and saw the two men that he had been evading earlier. ‘Damn!’ he thought as he took off down the alleyway away from the two men once again.

“Get after him!” The same male voice behind him roared.

He ran quicker, pumping his toned arms. The boy looked behind him every couple of feet to ensure that the men weren’t too close. He obviously wasn’t looking where he was going because during one of his frantic glances behind him, he felt himself run into something solid.

He grunted and fell backwards onto the hard concrete. Looking up, he gasped in fear and scooted backwards from the sight in front of him.

“Hello Nicky,” The new man in front of him said coldly. The boy, “Nicky” gulped and met the cold, black eyes of the man standing before him.

“H…hello Viper,” Nicky managed to choke through his new terror.

“Why were you running Nicky?” Viper asked in the same cold tone, this time sounding a little bored, yet amused by the boy’s fear. Viper stooped down to Nick’s eye level and grinned maliciously.

Nick shied away and replied shakily, “N…no reason.”

“No? Well Nick, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you were trying to run from me!” Viper replied back pretending to sound hurt.

‘Duh,’ Nick thought to himself aloud he said, “No of course not.”

“Well then let’s get going,” Viper said standing and beginning to walk away.

“Viper, I have to go home now.” Nick said barely above a whisper. Viper turned to frown at Nick.

“But Nick, you haven’t done your mission for tonight.” Viper replied turning to walk away again.

Nick growled in frustration. “I don’t WANT to do any missions tonight Viper, I WANT to go home!” Nick yelled.

Viper’s eye twitched as he turned back to the blonde boy on the sidewalk. Nick knew immediately he was in trouble. Viper reached out and grabbed Nick by his collar before he backhanded him roughly across the face. Nick cried out in pain and fell over onto his side.

Viper wasn’t through. Viper kicked Nick sharply in the ribs causing the boy to hiss and cry out again in pain. “Boys.” He gestured to Nick who sat up and looked around frantically. Viper snapped his fingers and the men that Viper had gestured to started towards Nick. Nick swallowed and turned towards Viper.

“Wha…What’s the mission then?” he asked Viper barely above a whisper.

“Atta Boy! I do suppose you’re right Nicky, it is a school night after all. We can’t have you falling asleep in class now can we? So, your mission has been cancelled for tonight since it IS a school night…so I guess your mission is to just get home,” Viper paused before adding, “safely.” with a sickly smile. Viper then smiled and slapped Nick’s shoulder.

Nick paled in understanding nodded. “Thank you master,” he whispered backing a few steps before taking off quickly away from the men. The men started after Nick immediately, but Viper’s raised hand stopped them. “He gets a 30 second head start,” he informed them calmly. After the elapsed time had passed Viper said, “Go, and do NOT fail me.”

“Yes master,” the men murmured and took off after Nick. Viper smirked and headed the other way, disappearing into the deep shadows of the alley.




Nick emerged from the alley and onto the once again deserted sidewalk at a full sprint. He knew that he had only a short time before Viper’s men hunted him down. Nick again ran down the street, glancing behind him every few seconds.

For the second time that night, Nick ran into a solid object he knew was a body. He cried out in dismay clenching his eyes shut as he immediately began gasping and fighting against whatever it was.

“Whoa kiddo!” an unfamiliar, raspy voice boomed in his ear soothingly, grasping Nick’s flailing wrists firmly, “Calm down I ain’t gonna hurtchya...in fact perhaps I should be worrying about you hurting me.” The new voice chuckled.

Nick ceased moving, since he did not recognize the voice and glanced into the other person’s face. The man that Nick had run into was in his early twenties. He had tattoos all over his built body and his brown eyes danced in amusement and held a glint of mischievous intentions beneath light tinted sunglasses.

“That’s better. So where’s the fire?” the person laughed releasing Nick’s wrists.

Nick hesitated barely hearing the man in front of him as he glanced behind him. “H…huh?” he stammered still panting when he realized that the man in front of him was talking to him.

“Okay,” the voice laughed again, “let’s try something a little easier shall we?” Nick nodded still distracted. “What’s your name?” the man asked.

“N…Nick,” Nick stammered again making brief eye contact with the person in front of him.

“Jeepers Alex, I think you are scaring him,” another amused voice laughed. Nick turned his head slightly and noticed there were 3 other guys standing there.

One had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. He was shorter than Nick and the corner of his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

The one standing next to the blonde one was one that looked Latin. He was of average height, and had deep chocolate brown eyes that were warm and inviting.

The last one, also the one who teased the tattooed one was a little taller than the rest, had black hair and unique intense piercing green eyes that Nick had never seen anyone possess.

“Har de har har Kev,” the tattooed one said sarcastically to the one with green eyes, then added as a disgruntled afterthought, “and don’t call me Alex.”

Kevin laughed before turning to Nick. Kevin was about to speak when he noticed the look of fear on the young blonde’s face as Nick glanced behind him. Nick started trembling and looked around frantically for some place to hide. He knew that if Viper’s men saw him, there would be a great price to pay for his failure.

“YOU!” one of Viper’s men yelled as they spotted Nick. Nick groaned inwardly. He backed away from his new acquaintances and backed against the wall as Viper’s men approached Nick. The one closest to Nick grabbed him by the throat and shoved him up against the wall again. “You failed your mission boy!” he said evilly giving Nick’s neck a squeeze.

Nick gagged and coughed for air trying in vain to pry the man’s hand from around his throat. He was running out of air and felt his consciousness leaving him quickly. Slowly his hand dropped away from the man’s wrist and he started to pass out just before he heard “Alex” tap the man on the shoulder and say, “Excuse me.” The man turned in annoyance and met Alex’s fist as he punched him in the face, causing the man to drop Nick who fell to the ground coughing and gagging.

Nick was too stunned to move away or do anything. ‘What the hell happened?’ he thought dazedly to himself. “Alex” stepped to Nick and pulled him to his feet, behind himself and his friends. Nick noticed that “Alex’s” friends all wore angry expressions.

Viper’s men came at them. “BACK OFF!” “Kevin” warned Viper’s men, “Picking on a kid! Shame on you!” Viper’s men glanced around and realized they were outnumbered at the moment in both size and number. Growling, the leader turned to Nick.

“You got lucky this time BRAT,” he said viciously, “next time, don’t doubt you will fail.” Nick swallowed slowly, his face pale, and watched from behind his new acquaintances as Viper’s men stalked away.

“Th…thank you,” Nick whispered when they were out of sight. “Alex” eyed him with a sly grin.

“Hey Kev…you think he’s just nervous around us, maybe he has a speech impediment?”

“Kevin” laughed. “Impediment?” he inquired sounding mildly impressed, “why Alex, that’s a big word!”

“I Told You Not To Call Me That!” Alex whined.

Kevin laughed at Alex before turning to Nick with a warm smile. “I’m Kevin,” he said offering his hand to Nick who took it before continuing, “the short blonde one is Brian…”

“HI!” Brian greeted with a bright smile all the way to his eyes.

“This Latin one,” Kevin said turning to the one with chocolate eyes and long black hair, “is Howie D.”

“Hello Nick," Howie said softly nodding with a smile.

“…and the tattooed freak as you know is Alex.” Kevin finished pointing at the person Nick ran into.

“Ke-vin!” Alex whined again before turning to Nick. “Please, Please, PLEASE call me AJ!” he begged. Nick cracked a genuine smile and a soft laugh.

“Wow!” Brian exclaimed in mock astonishment, “He Smiles!”

“So what are ya doin out here at this time of night kid?” Howie asked gently. Nick’s smile faded and he dropped his gaze to the ground as he began to fabricate a lie.

“I…I was on my way home from…basketball practice, when they jumped me…so…I ran!” Nick lied quickly. The other men nodded and Brian looked at Nick’s cheek that Viper had backhanded earlier in the night.

“Yeouch Nick! It looks like they got you once…!” Nick nodded again before he realized how much danger he was putting them in. Viper’s men would have found their master by then and Viper would undoubtedly come looking for him. The more distance he put between himself and this group of good people, the more distance that would be put between them and the dangerous man called Viper.

“Well I really should be going,” Nick mumbled brushing past them “thanks again.”

Howie caught Nick’s arm firmly yet gently. “I don’t’ think you walkin' home by yourself is such a good idea amigo.” Howie said worriedly.

“Yeah,” Brian agreed, “we all heard the threat that they made and they could still be around waiting for you.”

Nick smiled reassuringly, “I’ll be okay…really!” he replied not sounding as confident as he had meant to.

“I don’t think you will Nicky,” a cold voice said from behind him. Nick yelped in pure terror and spun around.

“Viper,” he whispered in terror.

“Nick…?” Kevin inquired giving Viper an appraising glance.

“Who are these people Nick?” Viper asked much like a parent would.

Nick paled and swallowed. “They…they aren’t important master leave them alone.” Nick quickly blurted out. Viper frowned angrily and struck Nick across the face violently. Nick reeled back and hit the ground hard.

“HEY! What’s the matter with you?!” AJ yelled as Kevin and Brian helped Nick to his feet.

“It’s okay AJ,” Nick murmured holding his cheek, his eyes glued to the ground.

“Like Hell it’s okay! Is he the one who hit you earlier?!” AJ returned.

Nick didn’t reply, just kept his gaze on the ground.

“Leave,” Kevin ordered in a growl.

Viper snorted, showing he was clearly not impressed. “Or what?” He humored. Nick’s eyes shot open wider and he met Viper’s cold eyes before leaping to step next to Kevin. .

“No Kevin!” he shouted pulling Kevin back by his arm whispering in his ear, “he’s dangerous, just walk away…don’t piss him off please?” He begged.

“I’m losing my patience Nicky. Let’s go!” Viper shouted annoyed. Nick swallowed then went to follow him. Howie caught his arm again. Nick’s scared blue eyes met Howie’s concerned brown.

“You don’t have to follow him if you don’t’ want to Nick, you could come with us,” he offered, “We’ll take you home, or wherever you want to go.”

Nick paled; “No!” he yelled frantically before finishing in a whisper, “I don’t want you all to get hurt.” Nick turned and walked to Viper who started to walk away. Nick hesitated not wanting to get beat up again and Viper turned on him.

“Nicky,” he warned turning to face the young boy.

Nick swallowed and trembled. “I…I…” he stammered. Nick felt a warm hand on his shoulder and turned to see Kevin standing beside him and the rest of the guys standing there also. Nick felt safer than he had in a long time.

“He’s staying here,” Kevin stated showing there was no further discussion.

“Nicky?” Viper inquired. Nick looked at the ground. “You’re gonna regret this,” Viper growled and he disappeared and left.

Once he was gone, Nick turned to Kevin and gave him a small smile. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

“No problem kiddo, let’s get you home,” Kevin replied ruffling Nick’s blonde hair affectionately.

“I don’t want to be a bother…” Nick replied uncomfortably.

“It’s no bother, REALLY!” AJ jumped in with a grin.

“Well…” Nick hesitated.

“C’mon!” Brian said grabbing his arm and tugging him along with them.

Nick grinned. “Okay.” He said finally. They walked in comfortable silence. Finally Howie spoke up.

“Where do ya live?” He asked.

“About a 30 minute drive from here…I live in Glenview.”

Howie nodded to Kevin. “Okay I know where that is.” They walked in silence once again.

“So what were ya’ll doing out there anyways?” Nick asked quietly.

“Escapin’ Management.” A.J. muttered. The rest of them chuckled lightly.

“Management?” Nick asked confused.

“Ya,” Brian said still laughing, “we’re in a band. They’ve been kind of overbearing lately so we snuck out.”

“MY idea!” A.J. declared proudly. The rest of the boys laughed again.

“We’re just looking for another member and then we’ll be ready.” Howie finished.

“Oh.” Nick replied sounding genuinely interested. They finally reached the car. Kevin got in on the driver’s side, and Howie got in on the passenger side. AJ got on one of the sides and Brian let Nick have the other side as he sat in the middle.

The car ride was lacking in conversation making Kevin turn on the radio. Many songs went by during the car ride. Nick was slightly uncomfortable and started to hum along with the song that was currently on the radio. Brian turned to Nick in shock. He had a WONDERFUL voice!

Without really realizing, Nick began singing to the song that was playing. Brian stared in shock and leaned forward to tap Kevin on the shoulder. “What?” Kevin asked.

“Turn the radio down.” Brian said quietly.

“What? Okay…” Kevin replied looking confused. As he turned the volume down, he heard Nick sing. The rest of the boys heard it too staring at Nick. The song ended and Nick realized everyone was looking at him. His face flushed in embarrassment.

“Sorry.” He muttered clearing his throat.

A.J. laughed. “I would never be sorry if I could sing like you!” he declared in astonishment.

“Naw,” Nick laughed blushing.

“Oh ya!” Kevin laughed, “Guys we WERE looking for another member right?”

“Right.” They chorused.

“Well I’d say we found him.” Howie said with a grin, “that is if your parents approve.”

“Really?” Nick asked.

“YA!” They all replied simultaneously.

“Cool.” Nick murmured.

Kevin smiled at Nick through the rearview mirror. “So when’s a good time to talk to your parents?”

Nick shrugged. “Tonight I guess. Dad’s never home and tonight’s one of his nights off.” Kevin pulled up to Nick’s house and turned off the car.

“Alright then.” Howie said opening up his door and climbing out of the car. The rest of the boys followed suit.

With Nick in the lead, they walked up the driveway to the house. “Mom?” Nick called out opening the door. Nick walked inside the house with the others following.

Outside, in the bushes stood Viper with his beat up men. ‘You might have escaped me for now…but just you wait, no matter how long I have to wait; you’re going to regret this night. You will AND your new friends.’ Viper thought angrily to himself. “Let’s go,” he ordered curtly leading his men back into the shadows, disappearing into the night.

~*~*~*~

TROUBLE CHAPTER 2

Eighteen months later, Nick, AJ, Brian, Kevin, and Howie were preparing for their first tour. The boys’ manager had been astounded at Nick’s talent and had immediately signed him to the group. Now as he finished packing his things, Nick was excited and scared at the same time. It would be the first time he had ever been separated from his family.

"Hey Nick," Brian said walking into the boy’s room. Nick smiled at Brian.

"Hey Bri!" he replied excitedly. Brian and Nick had become fast friends after that first night. They enjoyed much of the same things, and had the same sense of humor.

"Ready to go?" Brian asked motioning towards the front door. Nick smiled and tossed his hair out of his eyes.

"Just about," Nick replied shoving the last of his belongings he would need into his suitcase. He zipped it closed and took a deep breath glancing around his room longingly. Brian looked at him in concern.

"Hey Nicky," he said softly, "you okay?"

Nicky smiled and nodded at his best friend. "Ya, I guess so." he replied, "I'm just gonna miss this whole scenario with my family ya know?" Brian nodded in understanding.

"It's always hard the first time you leave." He replied, "but you'll be okay…and you’ve always got me to talk to if you miss your family." Nick smiled.

"Thanks Bri," Nick said.

"No problem buddy, let's go." Brian said standing up. Nick stood as well, hoisting his bag onto his back. Nick walked after Brian down the stairs from his room to where his family was waiting to bid him farewell.

"Hi," Nick said softly. His mother looked at Nick with a sad smile. His siblings looked down at the ground like they would cry. His father meanwhile looked at his son proudly.

Nick walked through the line of them saying goodbye to his siblings first, leaving a special goodbye for his younger brother Aaron, who he was closest to. Nick stooped down.

"Aaron?" he said gently. Aaron looked up at Nick sadly.

"Are you really going to leave us?" he asked.

"Just for awhile," Nick said gently. "I'll be back."

"Promise?" Aaron asked, his wide blue eyes begging.

"I promise kiddo." Nick replied.

"Promise to be careful?" Aaron said seriously. Nick's smile faded a bit before he covered up his surprise at Aaron’s odd question.

"Yes," Nick promised his brother. Aaron smiled and Nick smiled back.

"Kay!" he said launching himself at Nick who laughed, hugging Aaron to him.

"See ya 'round squirt." He said lovingly planting a kiss on Aaron’s forehead. He stood up and turned toward his parents.

"Bye Momma, bye dad." he said hugging each one.

"Bye Son," his dad said ruffling Nick's hair. Nick laughed.

"Bye my little Nicky," his mom said kissing his forehead. "Be good."

"I will! Bye!" Nick said following Brian out of the house and to the car that Kevin was driving. Nick put his bag in the trunk and hopped in.

"Let's go!" he said excitedly. Kevin started the car and drove away towards their manager's building. Kevin pulled up and parked the car. The boys climbed out and walked towards the back of the building where their tour bus was supposed to be.

Nick gasped upon seeing the bus. The bus was huge. "I…is that ours?" he stammered. Kevin laughed.

"Yes Nick that's ours." He replied.

Slowly, Nick's mouth turned up into a grin. "Cool!" he exclaimed.

The boys boarded the bus and walked to the back of it. In the back, there were 6 bunks. One for each of them, and another extra one. The bunks were spacious enough for Nick to stretch out, and had a window for each with curtains if they wanted to sleep. Walking around the bus, they saw a kitchen area, and a living area with a TV, and video game console.

Nick in complete awe. “This is the coolest bus ever.” He murmured. Kevin laughed and sat on the chair in the living area.

“It is pretty nice,” he agreed.

“I concur. This is very nice.” Howie replied.

The boys were supposed to wait on the bus or inside the building until the evening, after their manager had finished up some last minute paperwork, and they would depart. Nick sat down and he and Brian both played video games for the next couple of hours. Finally Brian stood up and stretched. “I’m bored,” he announced. Kevin looked up from the book he was reading.

“Oh?” he asked rather uninterested.

“Ya…” Brian whined flopping flat onto the floor with a sigh.

“Let’s go play basketball then Brian!” Nick suggested

“Can we Kev?” Brian asked. Kevin nodded as he looked at his watch “It’s only 10am right now so you have plenty of time. Just be back around noon”

“Let’s go Nick!” Brian said excitedly exiting the bus with his best friend with his basketball.

Halfway through their basketball games, Nick looked at Brian and grinned impishly. “Hey Briiiian,” Nick said singsong like.

“Uh oh,” Brian laughed knowing the look, “what are you thinking Nick?”

Nick grinned again. “Well…it’s been awhile since we’ve pranked our good friend Kevvy has it not?”

“I couldn’t agree with you more Nick,” Brian replied grinning. “Got anything in mind?”

“But of course!” Nick said sounding insulted that Brian would even ask.

“Lead on buddy!” Brian said excitedly. Nick laughed with Brian and they went back to the tour bus.

They climbed up inside of the bus and they found Kevin asleep in the bunk area. Nick stopped and giggled. “Forget my original plan Bri,” Nick whispered, “I’ve got a better idea.”

Brian’s eyes narrowed with curiosity and he followed Nick out of the bunk area into the kitchen area. Once Brian saw what Nick intended, his eyes lit up and he laughed.

“OHHH!” he laughed following Nick back to the bunks.


Twenty minutes later, Brian and Nick left the bunk area snickering and went into the T.V. room in the bus to resume their play of video games. Howie was sitting in a chair in that room reading, and AJ was looking through a magazine. Both of them looked up and smiled at the sight of the two friends.

“What’s so funny?” AJ asked suspiciously, the curiosity finally getting the best of him.

“Noooothing,” Nick said feigning innocence. Brian started laughing hysterically.

Howie looked up as well. “Uh oh…” he said knowing what this usually meant, “who’d you prank? Was it management or should one of us be watching where we’re going?” He asked.

“Prank? How childish do you think I am? Who on Earth would we prank Brian?” Nick asked.

“No one! Pranking is mean spirited and not worth our time…and if we would prank someone, it SURE wouldn’t be Kevin!” Brian laughed.

The pair shared a laugh, while Howie and AJ sighed.

“You’re in for it kids,” Howie told the boys. Nick nodded and laughed even more. Both Brian and Nick’s laughs were cut short when they heard Kevin yell. “BRIAN!!!!! NICK!!!!!” Kevin’s voice boomed angrily.

“Uh oh! See ya!” Nick said grabbing onto Brian before they flew from the room snickering as they disappeared behind the curtain that separated the front of the bus from their living area. Howie and A.J. went back to what they had been doing previously, pretending they had never been disturbed.

Kevin stormed into the room right after the two left. “WHERE ARE THEY?!” Kevin roared annoyed.

“Who?” Howie said not daring to look up from his book, lest he burst into laughter and aggravate Kevin even more.

“YOU KNOW WHO!” Kevin yelled. Howie spared a look up right then and lost control as he laughed loudly. This caused AJ to look up and to the same direction. AJ laughed twice as hard as Howie.

Finally, A.J. pulled himself together to ask, “What the hell happened to you?!”

“I’ll tell ya what happened,” Kevin grumbled, “good ol’ Frick and Frack our favorite evil twins decided it had been a while since they pranked their ‘good friend’ Kevin.”


A.J. and Howie roared with laughter again as Kevin proceeded to look for Nick and Brian. Kevin heard a snicker come from Brian and Nick’s hiding spot and with a growl stormed over to the curtain, pushed through it and then gave a surprised yelp.

Howie and AJ looked at each other curiously until Nick and Brian came dashing from the curtains, laughing like crazy, and clutching silly string canisters. Kevin came from the curtain a couple of seconds later, now donning not only the whipped cream, cherry, and chocolate syrup, but also nice strings of neon green and pink.

Brian and Nick snickered and shared congratulations together. “HA. HA. HA!” Kevin yelled sarcastically, “Well I’m sure glad you enjoyed that Brian and Nick, because I sure ain’t laughin!”

Howie’s eyes twinkled. “Brian and Nick?” he asked feigning innocence, “now what happened to Frick and Frack?” Nick looked confused.

“Frick and Frack?” he questioned. Brian scowled playfully and stuck his tongue out at Kevin.

“Yes Nick you heard right…and NO that’s not a good thing,” Brian said answering Nick’s question before he could ask it.

“OH!” Nick exclaimed putting on his best angry scowl and directing it at Kevin. Nick then turned to Brian when that got boring. “I’m bored FRICK,” he said putting emphasis on the name, “What do you wanna do now?”

Brian grinned impishly. “I don’t know FRACK. Perhaps Kevvy can provide us with some more entertainment.”

“NO!” Kevin exclaimed, “Stay out of my way for awhile! Since you wasted all of the snacks on me, you get to go to the store and buy some more. But be back in an hour because we’re going to leave.”

“Okay Kevvy!” Brian said, “We’ll go. C’mon Frack.”

“Right behind you Frick!” Nick said grinning. Kevin sighed exasperated.

The remaining three groaned. “Why did we call them that?” Howie asked. AJ shrugged.

“It was Kevvy’s fault.” He replied nonchalantly returning to his magazine.

“WHAT?!”



Brian and Nick drove their small navy blue sports car down the deserted highway. Nick and Brian were laughing and listening to their music loudly. They were laughing currently about a story that Nick was telling Brian about a girl he had met at one of their public events.

“No, but seriously Bri, this girl! You should have seen the way sh-.”


*****THUD*****

Nick and Brian were lurched forward as a large, gray SUV hit them from behind, its lights flashing. It sped up for another hit.

“BRIAN!” Nick Gasped.

“HANG ON NICK!” Brian shouted back.

The SUV made its hit on the back of their sports car once again, launching both boys forward in their seats. Brian sped up attempting to evade the car behind them. The SUV sped up as well. Both of the cars raced down the deserted highway, Brian trying to dodge the SUV’s hits, and the SUV trying to run Brian out of the road.

“WHAT THE HELL!!” Nick exclaimed angrily and fearfully, looking behind them as the SUV rammed their car once again. Brian watched the road frustrated, every once in awhile glancing in the rearview mirror when he felt the SUV was too close.

But the SUV hitting his car wasn’t Brian’s only worry anymore. Gunshots were heard, and bullets went through the back window. Nick yelped and ducked, covering his head. Brian gasped in fear, and glanced wide eyed in his rearview mirror.

Brian made a quick decision for Nick’s safety, and undid Nick’s seatbelt, pulling the other blonde from his seat. Nick looked at him with quizzical eyes, just before another gunshot came through the back window. “GET DOWN NICK! COVER YOUR HEAD AND CLOSE YOUR EYES!” Brian ordered as more gunshots were heard.

Nick didn’t have to be told twice, and obeyed, cowering on the floor of the car. Brian ducked his head as he drove, and lurched forward when the car was hit again. Nick emitted a loud whimper as he clenched his eyes shut in fear. “BRIAN!” he screamed in fear.

As the SUV went to hit their bumper again, Brian turned sharply to Nick. “GRAB ONTO SOMETHING NICKY!” Brian screamed once again. Nick obeyed and Brian whipped the car onto the side of the road, the tires squealing loudly. The SUV went roaring by honking and flashing its lights.

Brian lay back in his seat panting in terror before turning off the car. “Jerk,” he muttered. Brian then remembered Nick, and turned quickly to Nick who was trembling on the floor of the car, whimpering with his face covered. Brian reached over worriedly and pulled Nick’s hands away. “You okay Nick,” Brian asked frantically, “You aren’t hurt are you?” Brian’s eyes roved over Nick’s body with concern attempting to see any type of serious injury caused by their half crash.

Nick’s pale face stared back at him. Swallowing slowly, Nick shook his head to show he wasn’t hurt. Brian lay back against the seat, regaining some control before he gathered himself together and attempted to start the car. It stalled.

` ‘Of course,’ Brian inwardly groaned. On the outside he sighed and turned to smile at Nick. “Hey Nick? Stay put for a minute while I fix the car okay?”

Nick nodded again. “Want some help?” he asked shakily.

Brian smiled. “Sure!” he replied. The two friends climbed out of the car and lifted the hood. Brian frowned, as he looked it over. After about ten minutes, Brian and Nick fixed the car. Brian slammed down the hood and started the car. This time the engine roared to life.

Brian grinned. “C’mon Nick let’s go,” he chirped. Nick snickered standing on the opposite side of the car.

“You won’t get very far with that flat you’ve got there,” Nick remarked dryly.

Brian groaned. “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!” he exclaimed and went to Nick’s side of the car to investigate. The right, front tire was flat. Sighing, Brian looked to Nick, “I don’t’ suppose you know how to fix a flat?” he asked him. Nick grinned.

“But of course!” he replied. “In the trunk of the car are a spare and the jack. Could you bring me the Jack?” Nick asked.

“Sure,” Brian answered and disappeared around the back of the car. Nick, stooped down to examine the tire, waited a moment and heard a rustling, a gasp, and then…silence…Nick’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Bri?” Nick inquired. Silence. “Brian?” Nick tried again. Again no answer. “BRIAN.” Nick tried more insistently. His heart started pounding faster and faster. He stood up from his position on the ground, and gasped. Apparently the SUV from earlier had returned and parked several yards away on the opposite side of the road. .

Nick gulped and took a deep breath approaching the trunk. Praying he’d be wrong, Nick reached out and closed the trunk. The sight before him caused him to gasp.

“You!” Nick snarled.

TROUBLE CH. 3

Nick, stooped down to examine the tire, waited a moment and heard a rustling, a gasp, and then…silence…Nick’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Bri?” Nick inquired. Silence. “Brian?” Nick tried again. Again no answer. “BRIAN.” Nick tried more insistently. His heart started pounding faster and faster. He stood up from his position on the ground, and gasped. Apparently the SUV from earlier had returned and parked several yards away on the opposite side of the road. .

Nick gulped and took a deep breath approaching the trunk. Praying he’d be wrong, Nick reached out and closed the trunk. The sight before him caused him to gasp.

“You!” Nick snarled.

Brian stood restrained by two stronger men who looked strikingly familiar, a bright silver knife poised at his pale throat with an arm draped across his neck, and the other clapped firmly over his mouth. Another two men stood to the side smirking at Nick who paled at the sight of his best friend. Nick recognized one of them immediately, causing his blood to run cold.

‘Shit,’ Nick cursed to himself. “Ace…” Nick growled out loud.

“Hullo Nicky!” he mocked, “You didn’t think we’d forget about you this easily did you?”

Nick growled at him and turned to check on Brian again. Brian had wide eyes filled with terror. Nick could hear his frantic breathing through his nose, and saw his chest heaving with fear. Nick tried to smile reassuringly.

“Bri, did they hurt you?” Nick whispered. Brian trembled, and shook his head carefully as he sobbed quietly.

“It’s alright Bri, it’s alright, just sit tight I’ll deal with this okay?” he soothed. Brian swallowed noticeably and closed his eyes managing a nod.

Nick then turned to the burly man known as Ace. “Ace, let him go,”

Ace pretended to think about it. “Hmmm…I think not. I think my little Brizey Wizey here is coming with me,” Ace said maliciously, grabbing Brian’s right arm with his own right arm, and twisting it behind his back. Brian, who had been looking at Ace, shot his gaze over to Nick with a pleading look, and gasped in pain. Nick ground his teeth, seething.

“Don’t do this,” Nick hissed. Ace laughed.

“I never said you couldn’t come along, it’s up to you…” turning to his other men, he motioned towards his SUV. “C’mon boys.” He turned Brian’s body, and his own towards the SUV and walked towards the vehicle on the other side of the road.

Nick, balling his hands into fists, followed the guards, Ace, and Brian to the back of the SUV. Ace turned around and saw Nick standing there and smiled in satisfaction. Brian shook his head, his mouth finally free and looked at Nick in horror. “Nicky…” he whimpered, “don’t…”

Ace tightened his hold on Brian’s twisted arm. “YOU,” he addressed Brian, “be quiet, understood?” He shoved the knife closer to Brian’s throat, and Brian closed his eyes, nodding carefully so he wouldn’t be cut.

“As for you,” Ace snarled at Nick motioning to the now open doors of the SUV, “Get in.”

Nick looked inside the dark interior of the SUV and hesitated. All the seats were out in the very back of the SUV, leaving a large area, for both him and Brian. ‘Think Carter,’ Nick screamed at himself silently, ‘there must be another way to get Brian safely away…’

Ace noticed his hesitation and grinned evilly. He jerked up quickly on Brian’s twisted arm eliciting a pain filled yelp. Any thought for escape at this moment was quickly forgotten, as Nick heard his best friend’s cry of pain. He jumped towards the SUV, starting to climb in as he heard Ace say, “Knock him out.”

Nick whirled around in time to see one of Ace’s men holding a syringe close to Brian’s neck. Brotherly instincts kicked in for Nick as he dove out the back out of the SUV at the man holding the syringe.

“NO!!” Nick screamed hurling himself at Ace’s guard with the syringe. He managed to make contact with the guard as Brian struggled, terror written on the smaller blonde’s face. Another of Ace’s guards caught Nick across the face with his fist, knocking him to the ground. Nick groaned and looked up in time to see the syringe prick the skin of Brian’s neck.

Brian cried out when the needle pierced his skin.

“NO, BRIAN!” Nick screamed again trying to stand up.

Brian made brief eye contact with Nick, his eyelids drooping. “Ni…cky…” Brian forced out before his world became vertiginous, and he lost consciousness with a moan. Nick looked at his best friend in horror.

“Brian?!” Nick called to his best friend. He got no response from him.

“Load them in,” Ace ordered. One of the guards lifted Nick easily by his shirt and tossed him into the back of the SUV. He grunted as he connected with the floor then spun around and watched as Brian was put into the SUV as well. Ace’s guards slammed the SUV’s door shut and started the car.

Nick crawled over quickly to his unconscious friend whose face was etched in pain as he began to sweat all over the floor. Yet, Brian seemed to be cold and his teeth chattered as he shivered violently.

Quickly, Nick removed his jacket, and covered Brian with it murmuring soothing words to him in an effort to calm his friend. He took a shuddering breath. “Brian?” he spoke gently, “you need to wake up Brian, I need to see you’re okay,” he murmured his voice choking at the end.

The car ride seemed to take forever and Nick looked on helplessly as Brian tossed and turned, moaning painfully in his sleep. Sighing to himself, Nick spent most of the time running his palm over Brian’s forehead soothingly, pressing the damp curls from his forehead, while humming to him to pass the time.

Slowly, Brian seemed to calm. He whimpered loudly and slowly his eyes opened. “N…Nicky?” he whispered. Then he realized the pounding in his head and hissed in pain, closing his eyes again.

Nick hunched down by Brian and rested his palm on Brian’s forehead. “Ya I’m here.” He murmured.

“Where are we?” Brian whispered again through his pain.

“You know me Frick,” Nick said through the lump in his throat, “I’m terrible with locations and directions.” The joke was lost to Brian.

“Mmm…” Brian replied, “Nicky?” he asked after awhile.

“Yes?” Nick replied.

“When Kev comes in to wake me up, tell him I’m sick and that I need to sleep okay?” Brian said deliriously. Nick gasped in shock. He didn’t remember anything of where they were.

“Ya, Bri,” Nick choked, “sure thing…hang in there okay?”

Brian had fallen asleep again. Nick went back to running his palm over his friend’s forehead. He had to make Brian as comfortable as possible until the poison those men had given Brian wore off.

For several more hours, Nick sat still at Brian’s head in the back of the SUV, with Brain’s head pillowed in his lap. Finally, Brian stopped tossing and turning, and seemed to not sweat as much as Nick looked distractedly out of the window. Brian also seemed to gain more of his natural coloring back. Nick smiled in relief.

Finally, Brian groaned quietly and opened his eyes. “Nicky?” he asked his eyes frantically searching for his best friend. Nick snapped his attention from the surroundings to Brian.

“It’s okay Bri, I’m here buddy.” Nick said gently. Brian looked up into Nick’s face frantically.

“Are you okay? They didn’t hurt you did they?” Brian asked all in a jumble attempting to sit up. Nick pushed him back down.

“BRIAN!” he whispered sternly, “Calm down.” Brian stopped moving. Nick smiled. “That’s better. They didn’t hurt me only hit me once. Worry about yourself.” He said with a small laugh.

“Sorry,” Brian mumbled.

“It’s okay…speaking of you, how do ya feel?” Nick asked concerned. Brian smiled, touched at the concern in his best friend’s voice.

“Weak,” he replied honestly. Nick was about to respond when the SUV stopped abruptly and the engine shut off. “Nick.” Brian whispered uncertainly, full of fear.

“Shh…we’ve stopped Brian.” Nick replied.

The back of the SUV opened suddenly and bright light filled the back of the SUV. Brian whimpered as the sudden intrusion of light hurt his head. Nick squinted and raised a hand to shield his eyes. As Nick’s eyes adjusted to the light, Nick glanced just beyond Ace and his men and saw his former master. “Viper,” Nick snarled. Behind Viper were many armed guards. Nick glanced back to Viper who was looking irritated.

“Don’t like the tone boy, change it.” He ordered, “be good, and the blonde one doesn’t get hurt.” Viper motioned to Brian’s weak form.

Nick glanced to Brian and nodded seeing that in his friend’s weakened state that he couldn’t take a beating or punishment of any kind. “Let’s go,” Viper said turning to walk away. He climbed into another car that was there, along with Ace, and drove away.

Nick realized they were expected to walk wherever they were going. Growling, Nick moved to climb out of the SUV when he felt Brian’s hand on his leg. Nick turned and smiled at Brian who looked more uncertain and a little ashamed.

“Nick I…well I can’t exactly…” Brian stammered. Nick understood and smiled as he looped Brian’s arm about his shoulders, pulling Brian to his knees. Then Nick looped his arm around Brian’s waist and pulled him to his feet. Brian swayed for a minute before the world stopped spinning and he put most of his weight on Nick.

“Let’s go,” Nick said gently. Slowly, Nick and Brian jumped down from the SUV. “Uf!” Nick grunted as they hit the ground and stumbled. He laughed trying to lighten the mood. “Jeeze Bri, you may be small, but perhaps you should be watching what you’re eating.”

Brian laughed weakly and Viper’s guards prodded them forward. They walked for a good part of an hour. Brian began to get weak. Nick glanced worriedly at Brian’s pale features before turning to one of Viper’s guards. “Hey!” Nick ventured forcefully to one of the guards who grunted an acknowledgement, “are we almost there?”

“Another ten minutes,” the guard snapped. Nick sighed and readjusted Brian on his shoulder. He was getting sore as he was mostly carrying Brian. He glanced at his best friend’s face and noticed it several shades paler than usual. Brian was breathing heavily and looked as if he may pass out at any moment.

“Brian,” Nick whispered. Brian glanced tiredly into Nick’s eyes and Nick could see a slightly glazed over look to them. “Stay awake for me okay?”

Brian swallowed and nodded slowly. “I’m so tired Nick…” he whispered.

“I know Bri hang in there. We’re almost there.” Nick replied compassionately. Brian nodded again weaker, and swallowed.

“I’m sorry Nick,” Brian said as he lost his footing, nearly falling.

Nick pulled him up with a soft grunt. “For what?” nick asked.

“That you’re pretty much having to carry me,” Brain replied.

Nick snorted. “Oh, that? Hey Frick don’t worry about it. Whatever they drugged you with is bound to have some side affects…” a thought dawned on Nick right then. “BRIAN YOUR HEART!” he cried out.

“It’s okay Nick, it hasn’t affected it as far as I can tell.” Brian whispered reassuringly. Clearly he had thought of the effects already. Nick felt guilty that he hadn’t thought of that before.

“Okay good, now you just need to stay awake for me and we’ll call it even.” Nick said gently. Brian chuckled softly and tried to walk a little more upright.

Moments later, he lost all of his energy and his body couldn’t take anymore. Brian collapsed to the ground pulling Nick with him.

“BRIAN!!” Nick yelled frantically crawling to Brian’s limp body. Brian moaned in obvious pain. His eyes opened and were very glassy and dazed.

“Nick? I…I’m sorry…I think…I’m gonna h…have to owe you this one.” Brian panted. Nick squeezed his hand reassuringly.

“It’s okay Frick. Just rest okay?” Nick soothed as Brian nodded very weakly. Nick then stood and bent over to pull Brian’s limp body up and then spun around so that Brian’s arms were around his neck and Nick lifted Brian onto his back. Brian groaned again and looped his arms around Nick’s neck.

The guards continued on, and finally after another five minutes or so, Nick and Brian could see a large complex in the distance. “See Brian?” Nick said reassuringly as Brian lifted his weak head from Nick’s shoulder, “we just have to go there then you can rest.” He could feel Brian nod slowly.

‘But who knows what else waits there for us Nick…’ Brian thought to himself resting his head back on Nick’s shoulder. .

The guard led them up the walkway and into the building. The guards led Nick and Brian through the main doors and down a long, narrow hallway. The hallways were brightly lit with high ceilings all in white. Along the hallway were several blue doors every twenty feet. Each door had a one-way mirror at the top.

Nick carried Brian down the hallway, looking around. The guards finally stopped Nick and Brian, opening one of the blue doors. He motioned for Nick and Brian to go through. “Here’s where you’ll be residing for awhile,” the guard spoke grinning evilly, a few of his teeth missing. Nick cringed at his terrible hygiene. “Have a nice stay,” the guard joked laughing, a terrible sound and slammed the door, leaving Nick and Brian alone in the cell.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 4

Nick glared at the retreating guard’s back as the door slammed, then turned back to inwardly search the cell. As Nick glanced around he noticed there were six cots, which he found odd, all pushed up against the wall on one side, three metal and plastic chairs were spread throughout the cell, and electric manacles were attached to the walls. There were no windows to the outside, and along the other wall, there was a sink, and a toilet.

A pain filled moan from Brian shook Nick from his daze. Nick carried Brian to one of the cots, carefully laying him down on one. Nick situated Brian so he was as comfortable as possible, Nick once again laying his own jacket on his best friend to keep Brian warm. Nick finished tucking the material around Brian, and started to walk away. Brian caught his arm in a death grip. Nick gasped in pain and turned to look his best friend in the eyes.

Brian’s eyes had a slight glaze over them probably from a fever, yet Nick could tell they held much fear. Nick grasped Brian’s hand in his own, pulling it from his arm. “N…Nick? Stay close to me please…please don’t leave me alone! I’m scared.” Nick smiled reassuringly hearing the desperation in Brian’s voice.

Nick sat down, in one of the chairs grasping Brian’s sweaty hand in his own, and smiled gently. “Sure thing Bri. Just sleep,” Nick said squeezing his best friend’s hand, “…and no,” he added seeing Brian open his mouth to speak, “I won’t leave you.” Nick finished. Satisfied, Brian nodded, yawned, and closed his eyes. With a final yawn, Brian gave into his weary condition, submitting himself to unconsciousness.

Nick sighed shakily, feeling bored already. Lazily, Nick glanced around the room, glancing across the room from the sink and toilet, to the foreboding manacles on the far wall, to the five other unoccupied cots...

Nick tensed suddenly. ‘Five?…why are there six cots…there are only two of us!’ Nick panicked. Taking a deep breath, Nick scolded himself. ‘Get a grip Carter,’ he berated himself, ‘this is how all the cells are probably.’ Satisfied with his own conclusion at the moment, Nick turned back to Brian and frowned.

Brian was sweating again and moaning in his sleep. His brow was furrowed in pain and he tossed in turned in his sleep fitfully. Nick sighed and reached out to smooth away the sweat soaked curls from Brian’s forehead. Brian groaned in discomfort and Nick continued to try and sooth Brian by running his hand across Brian’s forehead. “Shhh…” Nick soothed, hoping his voice would calm Brian down, “take it easy Brian…relax will ya? You’re okay.”

Brian whimpered again, and this time, tears leaked from the corners of Brian’s eyes. “Aww Bri,” Nick soothed. Brian seemed to sense Nick’s presence and recognize his touch, and he stopped tossing as violently.

Countless hours passed, and Nick sat bored by Brian’s side, Brian’s hand clasped tightly in his own. Brian was still sweating and was feverish. He also seemed to be having nightmares that Nick did his best to soothe away with comforting words and a squeeze of his hand.

Finally, a good 14 hours later, Brian’s eyes opened slowly with a groan emitted from Brian’s tired body. Nick closed his eyes for a second then opened them and smiled in relief. “Good morning sunshine!” Nick joked gently. Brian smiled a genuine smile, though it was very weak, and stretched the best he could.

“I hate mornings,” he replied in a mumble, rubbing his eyes. Nick smiled again and laughed softly.

“How do you feel?” he asked concerned.

“Tired,” he whispered shakily. ‘Scared senseless,’ Brian added to himself. Nick seemed to sense his thoughts.

“Me too Brian, Don’t worry though you’re gonna be fine.” Nick replied. “How’s your heart?”

“It’s fine Nicky,” Brian reassured him once again.

“Okay good,” Nick said with a nod.

The door to their cell was opened and Nick stood quickly. But the only thing that came through the door was a small tray, before the heavy door shut once again. Nick released the breath he didn’t even realize he was holding in, gave Brian a reassuring smile, and retrieved the tray.

On the tray was a small bowl of soup, which was more water than broth, two pieces of stale bread, and two glasses of water. Nick lifted the bowl and turned to Brian. “Can you sit up?” Nick asked Brian. Brian nodded slowly, and pulled his weak body into a sitting position, leaning heavily on the wall.

Nick grabbed the spoon from the tray, and spooned some of the liquid into the spoon presenting it to Brian. Brian ate weakly until half the bowl was gone. “I don’t want any more Nick.” Brian complained. Nick smiled.

“C’mon you’re almost done. Just have a little more…” Nick coached. Then he donned an impish grin and made airplane noises. “C’mon Bwi Bwi! In comes the airpwane! Vwwrrrooommmm.” Brian laughed and ate the spoonful, then another, and another, until another quarter of the soup was gone.

“Nickkkk…” he whined. Nick sighed and nodded knowingly.

“I’ll leave you alone if you drink all this water,” Nick said handing the glass to Brian who glared at Nick and drank it. Brian yawned and Nick smiled and laughed softly as Brian tried to force his eyes open.

“Go ahead and rest again Brian,” Nick said gently.

Brian laid down and was asleep instantly. Nick watched him sleep for many more hours. Nick yawned and his eyes began to close, but he always forced them back open, afraid that something would happen to Brian if he closed them to give into his weary state. He stretched and yawned once again, and tried to find ways of entertaining himself. He could find none. He got up and paced around the cell awhile, then sat back down and watched Brian sleep once again.

Another few hours passed. Nick was going insane with boredom. He watched Brian sleep for a while, and was currently counting all the dots in the ceiling. ‘400, 401, 402, 403…” The door opened suddenly and Nick was once again on his feet standing protectively in front of Brian’s sleeping form.

A guard stuck his head into the room and grabbed the tray, then left just as quickly. Nick sighed with relief then sat again. ‘Where was I? I was on…I can’t remember…’ Nick thought frustrated. “DAMNIT!” he yelled.


Many more hours passed, and Nick heard shouting, and something being thrown against the wall outside the cell. Nick got swiftly to his feet, and stood in front of Brian again. Minutes later, the door opened.

In, was thrown a black haired figure who caught himself on his hands and knees and glanced up angrily at the guard who slammed the door and left him there.

Nick squinted his eyes, and then his eyes lit up in recognition. “Howie?!” he inquired anxiously. The figure stiffened and spun around quickly. The figure was indeed Howie. A thin trail of blood leaked down the side of his face from a cut above his right eye. Nick waved, “Hey D,” he said softly.

“Nick!” Howie cried rushing Nick and nearly knocking him down as he pulled the younger boy into a tight embrace.

“Uf!” Nick grunted then laughed at Howie’s concern. “I’m alright Howie! Honestly!” Nick reassured his older friend. Before Howie could call him out on what was obviously a lie, Nick cut him off. “Are you alone?” he asked grimly.

Howie swallowed, closed his eyes and shook his head sadly. He choked as he said, “Kevin and AJ are here too…Kev’s in a bad way, and AJ has a lot of bruises.”

Nick sighed then looked at Howie more closely and noticed the cut. “And your eye?” he inquired.

Howie reached to touch the cut looking at the blood in obvious surprise. “Just a scratch,” Howie said, “Probably from being shoved against the wall outside.” Nick paled.

‘My fault…my fault…all my fault,’ Nick thought guiltily.

“Wh…Where…??” Nick left the question hanging. Howie understood.

“AJ and Kevin are together. Kevin couldn’t walk alone, and AJ fought to stay with him…since only one of us were allowed to stay, I let AJ since…” Howie stopped and sighed. “It’s a long story Nicky.” He said sitting down on one of the unoccupied chairs.

Nick nodded. “Okay,” he said softly. Howie then came to his senses and stood up walking back over to Nick, and grabbed the young blonde’s face in his hands. “What?” Nick asked almost annoyed.

“They hurt you?” Howie asked. Nick shook his head.

“No not at all,” he replied, “they mostly hurt…” but he was cut off as the door opened again. Nick instinctively pulled Howie behind him, which Howie found ironic that the youngest was protecting him.

Slowly, two other figures of Nick’s friends stumbled in. AJ was supporting Kevin who was limping rather noticeably, his horribly bruised face terribly pale. AJ had a split lip, and the beginnings of a black eye, and red welts all over his arms. He also had a quarter sized bruise above his left eye. Kevin had many bruises all over his face, his lip was split open, and he was holding his ribs, wincing painfully.

Nick gasped in horror, with a slight cry, and the two looked up. When they saw their youngest band mate, they crossed as quickly as possible to Nick and caught him in a hug. Nick clung to his friends and took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry ya’ll…I’m sooooo sorry.” He whimpered feeling tears sting his eyes.

“Shush, Nicky take it easy…” Kevin soothed, hugging his youngest band mate, who he had come to love as both a son and a brother, “I don’t know why you’re sorry but don’t be…”

“Where’s Brian?” AJ asked. Nick sighed, and pointed to the cot where Brian lay covered in Nick’s jacket. Howie gasped.

“He’s so pale…is he okay?” Howie asked.

“He’s just resting…he’s alright, I don’t’ know what they drugged him with, but it didn’t seem to hurt this heart as far as I can tell.”

Kevin nodded and approached the cot before sitting with a wince next to his baby cousin. Gently he felt Brian’s forehead and then shook his body. “Bri…Cuz ya gotta wake up now kay?” Kevin said gently.

Brian moaned and opened his eyes slowly squinting. Recognition flooded his gaze as he noticed Kevin in front of him. “Kev?” he croaked weakly. Kevin smiled with a relieved nod.

“Ya Bri, I’m here.” Kevin replied.

Brian leapt at him and held onto his cousin. Kevin winced slightly at the contact to his injured ribs, but it went unnoticed by the rest of the boys. Brian suddenly panicked. ”NICK!” he cried in worry attempting to sit up. Brian knew that Nick would never leave him alone, and if Kevin was with him, where could the other blonde have gone?

Nick jumped up and trotted to the cot. “Still here Bri,” Nick said soothingly.

Brian looked around wildly until he saw Nick, then looked up at his cousin relieved. If Kevin was here, then everything would be alright. Kevin would think of something. That’s when he noticed Kevin’s battered condition. Brian looked Kevin up and down before swallowing weakly. “You look like shit Kev…what the hell happened to you?” Brian croaked.

Nick, Howie, and AJ laughed. “Jerk,” Kevin chuckled playfully. Brian looked over Kevin’s shoulder and saw AJ, and Howie.

“Oh…hey ya’ll,” Brian said confusedly.

Nick looked up at Kevin, bringing back up the topic that Brian had started out on. “Ya Kevvy, what did happen to you?”

AJ sighed shakily and Nick spun to see Howie comforting A.J. “Jay?” Nick asked confused.

“I’m sorry…so sorry Kevin.” AJ murmured miserably.

“We talked about this,” Howie said sternly, “now stop it.”

“Ya AJ, I told you it wasn’t your fault, I swear it’s okay,” Kevin said with a reassuring smile.

AJ nodded and sighed closing his eyes. Nick stared blankly at the trio then narrowed his eyes irritated. “Well for those of us who DON’T know what happened…could you tell the story for our benefit?” Nick snapped.

Kevin heaved a sigh. “It’s a long story,” he mumbled.

“we’ve got plenty of time,” Nick urged insistently.

“Well…” Kevin started, then saw Brian’s eyes close tiredly, then snap back open. He laughed. “okay after Brian’s slept a bit.”

“I’m not,” Brian said interrupting himself in the middle of his sentence with a long yawn, “Sleepy,” he finished.

“Ya right,” AJ laughed. “Sleep Bri just for an hour then we’ll talk.”

Brian yawned again and nodded. “Kay,” he mumbled and fell asleep.

Nick let out a shuddering breath and ran his hands through his wild blonde hair, allowing his fingers to interlace and rest on the back of his head. “I’m glad and not glad you’re here…I’m happy I’m not alone anymore, but you shouldn’t be here” Nick said softly. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he allowed his hands to fall from his head and he looked at his friend who was there.

“No problem Nicky boy! I’d gladly get beat up just to spend the day with you.” AJ joked. Nick laughed for the first time in what he would learn later had been days. “and you shouldn’t be here either.” A.J. continued seriously. That’s when Kevin studied Nick as well.

“You hurt Nick?” he inquired. Nick smiled and shook his head.

“No not at all,” he replied, “everything happened to Brian…not me.”

“From what I’ve been told, you’ve been protecting Brian adamantly…” Kevin said softly, “thank you…and also, you have a story to tell as well when Brian wakes up you know,” Kevin said sternly.

“Ya I know,” Nick sighed running his hands over his face tiredly. Kevin studied him more, then noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Nick yawned and fluttered his eyes to keep them open, staring at the ground.

Kevin smiled. “You should sleep too Nicky…you’ve been through a lot these last couple of days.” Kevin said forcing Nick to one of the cots.

Nick nodded. “Maybe a few minutes won’t do me bad…” he murmured before laying down and closing his eyes. He then felt warm material covering his body.

Nick’s eyes opened to see Howie standing there with a smile. “Since Brian has your jacket, I noticed, you can have mine,” Howie said, “I’m wearing a long sleeved shirt, and you’re not so I will be plenty warm without it,” Howie continued cutting off Nick’s protest.

Nick grinned then closed his eyes. “Thanks D,” he whispered before Nick finally drifted off to sleep and got the rest he had been craving but deprived himself of for many days.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 5

Kevin took a deep breath watching his youngest fall asleep quickly, and his baby cousin sleep fitfully. Concerned, Kevin looked at his cousin closer. He mumbled incoherently, and tossed fitfully shivering against false cold underneath Nick’s own jacket. Kevin furrowed his brow in concern, and reached out a hand to calm Brian. He placed his larger hand on Brian’s forehead feeling the heat radiate from his younger cousin. He gasped in obvious shock.

“What?” Howie asked worriedly looking up from where he was laying his own jacket on Nick’s sleeping form.

“Nothing, Brian has a really high temperature is all.” Kevin said. AJ looked up and noticed Brian’s flushed face, and quickly pulled off his sweatshirt. Then AJ gripped one of the sleeves to his black t-shirt and ripped it off.

“What are you doing Aje?” Howie asked. AJ walked to the sink and turned on the faucet.

“Helpin’ with his fever,” AJ mumbled. He rinsed the sleeve in the cool water that came from the tap. He wrung out the sleeve, and put it over Brian’s forehead. The coolness of the makeshift rag seemed to soothe Brian a bit and he stopped tossing so much.

Kevin sighed in relief. “I don’t know what they drugged him with…but it sure is screwin him up,” he said angrily.

The three sat in silence for a moment. Then Kevin yawned wincing at the pain it caused his jaw and rubbed at his eyes.

“Kev…maybe you should lie down,” AJ suggested timidly.

“A.J.’s right Kev,” Howie agreed quickly, “I’ll watch over Brian. You lay down.”

Kevin smiled at AJ and Howie before standing up, stretching then wincing. He patted AJ on the shoulder.

“You’re right…I think I will lie down…I’m pretty sore,” Kevin said gripping his midsection before gingerly making his way over to another cot to lay down. “Wake me up if Brian gets worse,” he murmured sleepily. Kevin closed his eyes in pain but didn’t try and fall asleep. ‘Gosh my ribs hurt,’ he thought to himself taking deep breaths.

AJ and Howie started talking about nothing to each other to pass the time. Finally, an hour later, they heard a moan of discomfort come from Brian’s cot. Howie and AJ looked at each other before AJ went to Brian’s cot and Howie went to get Kevin.

“Brian?” AJ asked gently.

“Ungh…” Brian whined weakly opening his eyes, then wincing and throwing his arm over his eyes again. AJ smiled.

“Well I guess you’re awake…how do you feel?” AJ asked.

“Like a semi hit me,” Brian said softly, and it was muffled by his arm over his eyes. AJ chuckled again.

“But other than that?” AJ joked.

Brian gave him a thumbs up with the arm that wasn’t over his face. “Peachy,” Brian replied sarcastically. AJ laughed. Kevin approached.

“How you doin’ Brian?” he asked.

“Better,” Brian answered, pulling his arm away from his eyes, “my head hurts a bit though.”

“That’s okay just rest some more,” Kevin replied. He started to limp back over to his own cot when he heard his cousin’s small voice ask,

“Where’s Nick?”

Kevin turned and smiled at Brian’s concern. “He’s in the cot next to you sleeping. He was really worn out.”

“Hey no kidding he’s tired,” Brian said softly, “I don’t think he slept once since we’ve been here…”

“What?!” Kevin exclaimed in shock, “but you both were gone for more than 3 days!” Brian nodded.

“I know…but he spent all the time with me making sure I was okay. I-I was very frightened when we were first here and delirious…I made him promise to stay with me, so he did…he’s so selfless sometimes…” Brian said softly. Kevin looked at the young blonde dozing peacefully and smiled.

“Ya, Nick is selfless…and I know for a fact, he would do it for any one of us in a heartbeat.”

Nick snored softly, his breathing even. He rested comfortably on the cot that he had been instructed to lie upon.

Around four hours later, AJ and Howie were amusing themselves telling stories and jokes. Just trying to pass the time. “…Ya so then she was like, No Howie, I-” Howie’s story was cut short as the door to their cell clanged open and Ace stepped inside. Nick’s eyes shot open and he leapt to his feet quickly standing in front of his friends, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

Ace smirked. “Hello BOY,” he growled. Nick narrowed his eyes and gave Ace a cold glare. “Having a pleasant stay?” Ace asked mockingly.

Nick growled and started towards Ace before Howie and AJ grabbed onto his arm and restrained Nick. Nick struggled. “You asshole,” Nick growled angrily. Ace laughed amusedly. “Viper wishes your presence right now.” He ordered. Three loud gasps were heard as the name of the man from Nick’s past was mentioned.

“Hell no!” AJ growled, “he ain’t goin no where.” Howie nodded in agreement. They were ready to fight until they heard a soft voice from behind say,

“Alright then I will go with you.” AJ turned around and shot a horrified look to the voice which belonged to Nick.

“NO WAY!” AJ yelled. Nick smiled reassuringly.

“I’ll be fine! I assure you I’ll be back in no time.” Nick stated confidently walking past his friends and to Ace.

“Good boy,” Ace patronized ruffling Nick’s hair. Nick snarled at the man before Ace opened the door to the cell and gesturing Nick through it. “Come along,” Ace ordered. Nick hesitated, then turned and shooting a tired, but reassuring smile at his friends, followed Ace out the door, leaving the boys to be worried.

~*~*


Nick and Ace walked along the corridor with all the different doors on it, Ace gripping Nick’s arm painfully. They walked in silence, Nick staring at the ground, and Ace looking straight ahead. Nick heaved a sigh. “So what’s the deal?” he asked finally.

Ace smiled cruelly. “You shall see Nicky boy you shall see,” he said cheerfully. Nick stopped walking, causing Ace to stumble. Ace turned and growled at Nick.

“Let the others go…they have nothing to do with this,” Nick commanded firmly. Ace smiled cruelly once again.

“Well that’s up to Viper isn’t it?” Ace replied, “But I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one.”

Nick sighed frustrated and continued on his way with Ace knowing better than to oppose their forces. Finally, Ace led Nick to a large oak double door. Ace stopped and knocked before a gruff “Come in,” was heard.

Ace opened the door, and grabbed Nick by the arm dragging him inside throwing the younger one into the room. Nick stumbled to catch himself and rubbed his arm where Ace had grabbed him roughly.

Nick looked around the room he was in. It was furnished with a large desk in the middle of the room, and a really large comfortable looking chair in the corner of the room. The curtains, which were drawn closed, were scarlet in color and the floors were plain wood. It was a simple room, but quaint at the same time.

“Hello Nicky,” Viper said almost kindly. Nick’s eyes narrowed.

“I would appreciate it if you would NOT call me Nicky.” Nick growled. Viper frowned.

“Very well Nick…are you ready to know why you’re here?”

“Yes.”

“It’s time for a mission Nick,”

“I Don’t do missions anymore,” Nick growled clenching his fists.

“Oh? Well I guess I’ll have Ace tell that to your friends when he kills them since you didn’t protect them.” Viper snapped irritably.

Nick paled. “Leave them alone,” he whispered, “I’ll do what you want.” Nick silently seethed as he added a ‘For now anyways,’ to himself.

“GOOD!” Viper said cheerfully. “Let’s go and find out your mission today!” Viper got up to leave the room, with Nick following closely behind his head hanging in defeat.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 6

Nick followed Viper unwillingly down the corridor. Nick walked slowly, and was thinking quickly of something he could do to get out of this. Finally, seeing no way out, Nick spoke. “What’s it to be Viper? Physical or mental mission?”

Viper didn’t turn to look at Nick at all as he responded coldly, “Physical, and we’ve finally reached our destination.” Viper turned to a white door at the end of the hallway, it’s outline barely visible on the white walls. “Here we are Nicky, please step inside,” Viper said pleasantly. Nick glared at Viper.

Nick stepped inside the room and into what appeared to be a bright white arena. The combination of the bright lights and pure white surroundings, was too much for Nick’s eyes and he stood in the doorway for a couple of seconds before Viper pushed Nick inside roughly. Then Viper turned and left the arena, slamming the door behind him.

Nick turned from glaring at Viper to taking a closer look at the arena. It was a circular shape, and had lines of doorways in front and to the side of where he stood. Looking up, Nick saw a ledge from which there were more doorways, seats, and a…camera? Nick looked over the arena one more waiting patiently before one of the doors on the top opened. In walked Ace, Viper and two other guards. Nick glared up at them.

“What’s the mission?” he asked impatiently. Viper smiled down at him.

“So to the point Nickolas…you really should be more diplomatic,” Viper teased. At Nick’s annoyed glare, Viper sighed, “Mission one: defeat all three of my gang members in a fight and you win.”

“That’s too easy for you Viper, what’s the catch?” Nick snapped.

“You were always the smart one Nicky boy,” Viper said grinning, “the challenge is you have to fight them,” he continued as the doors around Nick opened, revealing three men, “all at once and they have weapons...you don’t.”

Nick backed away from the gang members, appraising them, and observed their weapons. The first member wasn’t too tall…around 5’10”, yet muscular. He had a long pink scar underneath his right eye and his teeth were yellow and crooked. His weapon was a large chain that he swung around menacingly.

The second member was taller than the first. He was around 6’4”, with little to no muscle in his legs, but plenty on his arms. His hair was black and spiked, while his blue eyes would have made his face handsome, had they not held that deathly gleam in them. His weapon of choice was a large lead pipe, that he beat into the opposite hand while grinning sadistically.

The third member, was just about Nick’s size and build. His face looked as if it hadn’t been clean shaved for a few days, and his eyes were hidden by dark sunglasses on his face. This member’s weapon of choice was a large wooden switch, that he held in his crossed arms.

Nick ground his teeth in frustration and mild apprehension, before composing himself and looking up at Viper. “Wh…who?” he asked.

“Who what?” Viper asked innocently.

“Who am I fighting for,” Nick growled.

“Oh, the tattooed one,” Viper replied waving his hand in dismissal.

“He’s got a name,” Nick snapped, “it’s A.J. and what’s the camera for?”

“I set up a T.V. in your cell so the boys could watch this,” Viper replied, a hint of a smile on his face.

“Liar,” Nick replied glancing nervously at the gang members as Viper laughed.

“Ya, and? It’s none of your business why I want the camera okay?” Viper snapped.

“Fine then,” Nick said with a curt nod. Nick didn’t have time to revel on the meaning behind the camera before the gang members launched themselves at Nick, the first catching Nick in the side of the head with his chain, the second hitting Nick in the ribs with his lead pipe, and the third hitting nick across the back with his switch.

Nick screamed out in pain before hauling himself up and wiping the blood from his face. Nick looked at the back of his hand, smeared in blood, his blood, and took a shaky breath. ‘Well here goes nothing,’ Nick thought glaring at the other members before eliciting a loud war-like cry, and launching himself at the other members…

~*~*
Back in the boy’s cell they were startled when six guards entered moments after Nick was taken away. The boys tensed as the men approached the cot that they boys were hovering around. “Good afternoon boys,” one of the guards addressed looking pleased with himself. None of the boys answered and the guard continued. “I have orders from my master Viper that you are to be put into those manacles on the wall.” The boys all tensed at this news but still said and did nothing. “So we can do this the easy way, and you can voluntarily walk to the manacles and allow us to fasten them, or you can be difficult and we’ll force you anyway. It’s your decision. Make it quickly.”

The boys looked at each other for many moments, uncertainty playing across all of their faces. Surprisingly, it was A.J. who stood first walking over to the manacles, allowing them to close. Howie walked over a second later and stood next to A.J., offering a reassuring smile. Kevin looked up at the guards. “Must Brian be moved?” he pleaded softly, “he can’t even stand on his own.”

The guard snorted. “Neither could you earlier,” the guard returned earning a glare from Kevin, “and he wont’ be standing on his own, the manacles will hold him up.” The guard laughed cruelly as Kevin growled and made to protest.

“Kev!” Brian hissed, “Don’t. Just help me stand and get over there. It’ll be fine. I’m going one way or another and I’d rather you not get hurt again.”

Kevin sighed and helped his cousin sit up and gather himself to his feet. Brian suppressed a groan and winced wearily before Kevin helped him to the wall. Brain raised his hands as Kevin steadied him, and allowed the manacles to click in place. Brian smiled at his cousin in assurance. Kevin managed to smile back and patted the side of Brian’s face affectionately before allowing himself to be chained in as well. Without Kevin’s support, Brian sagged in the manacles, feeling the metal cut his skin.

“Glad you were so sensible,” the guard taunted the boys also patting the side of Brian’s face. Brian recoiled and glared at the guard as Kevin made an angry noise of protest. The guard then retreated from the cell leaving the boys alone. They all shifted uncomfortably as time passed.

“I hope Nick’s okay,” Brian mumbled finally voicing all the rest of the boys’ thoughts as he sagged in his manacles. Silent nods answered in agreement.

Suddenly, the door to their cell was thrown open and a blonde figure was tossed carelessly in. The figure stumbled from the force a few steps before spinning around and faced the guard who shoved him, raising his blood spattered fists into the air. “NICK!” the other boys cried out in horror. Nick seemed to ignore them.

The guard who had tossed Nick inside laughed at his weakened, shaking stance. “You know you’re in no condition to fight me right now,” he challenged, “but if you fancy a fight, we can fight right now.”

Nick wiped the blood from his bruised lips, and replied just as coldly, “Me ‘fancying a fight’ all depends on if you’re leaving them alone,” he said gesturing to the rest of his friends behind him.

“Enough,” A cold voice commanded from the doorway. The guard stiffened then backed away submissively. Viper entered the cell looking around. Nick’s muscles tensed even more as Viper stopped when he was almost chest to chest with Nick. “Well done Nicky,” Viper congratulated Nick reaching out to put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. Nick tensed and recoiled. Viper frowned. “is that any way to show respect to your master Nickolas?”

“You. Are. Not. My. Master,” Nick growled through his clenched teeth.

“Respect is the law of the land and expedient to your survival young Nicky. And your friend’s survival. Bear that in mind when you speak to me thus in the future.”

Nick’s jaw clenched at Viepr’s threat and his eyes followed the man’s move to the back wall. Nick choked seeing his friends in their positions. “Don’t you like my wall decorations Nicky?” Viper asked with a smile.

Nick’s eyes were blazing as he glared into Viper’s eyes. “Are you guys okay?” he asked quietly, maintaining eye contact with Viper and ignoring the sadistic man’s question.

“We’re fine for now,” Kevin replied just as quietly.

Nick nodded in their direction before taking a weak shaking step forward. “Release them Viper,” Nick demanded.

“Now, now Nick, I thought that perhaps they were curious as to why they’re here,” Viper drawled smiling when Nick’s face bore a panicked expression, “I know that they remember me from your first meeting…but my guess is that you have not told them why you were with me that night.”

Nick stared blankly at Viper. “Is THAT what this is all about?” Nick whispered incredulously.

“Nick, what is he talking about?” Brian inquired softly.

Viper grinned back at Brian. “Just as I thought. You never told them did you?”

Nick looked at his feet, the silence deafening him. He could feel the intense stares of his friends boring holes into him. “No,” Nick agreed.

“Well then why don’t I tell them Nick?” Viper declared turning to face the boys. “Nick here knew me…he knew me very well. He was afraid of me because I gave just cause. I was his master…and he was my apprentice.”

The boys had been watching Viper as he spoke with curiosity, but at this new revelation their eyes snapped back to Nick’s face noting how miserable he looked. “THAT, was a long time ago,” Nick whispered.

Viper approached nick, circling him slowly. “Yes, but you belong to me Nick, you always will,” Viper replied reaching once again to rest his hand on Nick’s shoulder. Viper noted with satisfaction that Nick didn’t flinch away this time. Nick’s gaze was on the floor as he felt tear prick his eyes in despair. His friends would not want anything to do with him now.

“NICK belongs to no one,” Brian suddenly snapped at Viper. Nick raised his eyes, his stare blank and shrugged Viper’s hand off his shoulder.

Nick continued to stare emotionlessly as Viper crossed to Brian angrily. Viper reached back and backhanded Brian sharply. Brian yelped in surprise as Kevin and A.J. lunged in their chains. Viper did not look either one in the eye. “You remember what happened last time Mr. McLean,” Viper snapped impatiently, “are you willing to chance that again?” A.J. paled considerably and fell silent turning his head away in shame. Kevin fixed him with a sympathetic, comforting glance.

Nick had stepped forward when Viper had assaulted Brian but Viper halted him with one dangerous look. Viper turned his attention back to Brian as he settled a hand on each side of the smaller male’s face. “As for your comment Mr. Littrell,” Viper sneered at Brian who was still wincing from the blow, “he was MINE but is now somewhat disobedient…all ruined because you all kept him away from my training and let him think for himself!”

Nick had been listening while studying A.J.’s now spacey stare and reminded himself to ask A.J. later about what Viper meant. Nick forced all of his strength into his voice turning back to Viper who was inches from Brian’s face, the blonde cowering back against the wall. “DON’T, do that again,” Nick growled clenching his fist as he saw the angry red handprint on Brian’s face.

Viper turned back to Nick before striding to the blonde boy’s side and backhanding him as well. Nick stumbled backwards and fell onto his back. He glared up at Viper. “We’ll see if we can’t just use your friends to ‘beat’ the respect back into you,” Viper declared sounding disappointed with Nick.

Nick wiped at his newly split lip. “Leave them alone. I’ll submit to you if you leave them alone,” he whispered.

Kevin, Howie, and Brian all made sounds of protest as A.J. stared at Nick in horror. Nick ignored them. “Now where’s the fun in that Nicky? You won’t be genuinely submitting to me. And also, these boys have wronged me and they shall pay dearly.”

“Because *I* decided to go with them? They had NO idea what they were doing…” Nick argued.

“Still would have done it…especially knowing now,” Kevin muttered angrily as Howie, Brian, and A.J. all nodded in agreement.”

Viper shot them all a nasty look before turning back to Nick. “You will learn respect Nick, I swear it.”

Viper then moved toward the exit. Nick glanced at his friends before standing shakily. “Release them from the manacles Viper,” Nick demanded, then seeing Brian’s sweaty strained face, added a “please.” To the end of it. Nick was loathe to beg anything of Viper, but Nick wanted Brian released so that he could lay back down.

Viper turned. “Very well Nick, but only if you address me properly,” Viper returned.

Nick swallowed the bile that rose in this throat as he addressed Viper the way he preferred. “Please…master,” Nick managed to choke the disgusting word, “please release my friends from the manacles.” Nick could feel the horrified gazes of his friends boring into his back. Nick’s gaze remained submissively on the ground.

Viper grinned. “That’s better Nicky,” Viper said pulling an electric box from his coat. He pressed a button on the top as all of the manacles released simultaneously. Kevin jumped out as soon as he was released and caught Brian across the chest before his younger cousin could fall to the ground. Kevin pulled him into his arms and crossed to a cot on the other side of their cell to lay down again as Viper left with the guards shooting a “You better rest Nicky, you’ll be busy. See you soon.” The door slammed loudly.

Nick glared after Viper before his body remembered all he had put it through. His legs began to quake and Nick began to sway as his adrenaline gave out. Finally, he collapsed onto his hands and knees panting.

“Nick!” Kevin exclaimed rushing to Nick’s side. Nick ground his teeth, pain obvious.

“I’m fine,” he managed. A.J. approached also.

“Like hell you’re fine Nick!” A.J. exclaimed angrily. Kevin helped Nick to his feet, and let Nick lean on him for support. Kevin got him to one of the cots and let him lay down slowly, listening to Nick’s soft gasps and whimpers of agony. Finally, Nick’s head hit the cot, and he draped his right arm over his midsection weakly, wincing.

The cot Nick w as on touched heads with Brian’s. Brian leaned up and touched the top of Nick’s head causing the blonde to look at Brian. As Kevin went to get some water to clean Nick up, Brian pale faced and trembling studied Nick carefully. “N…Nick are you okay?” he asked looking Nick over.

Nick groaned and forced a smile. “Sure Frick, I’ll be fine,” he said sounding exhausted. Then Nick frowned. “Are you alright? Viper hits pretty hard.”

“I’m just a little dizzy,” Brian replied ignoring the welt on his cheek and smiling back at Nick, “I’m fine.”

Kevin returned then, and bent over to get a good look at Nick’s injuries. He started at Nick’s face which had a large gash across his right eye. His right eye was also slightly swollen and had a purplish tint to it. His lip was cut open and had blood smeared to his chin which also had a nice sized bruise on it. Blood from the gash on his right eye had dripped down the side of Nick’s face. Nick’s arms that were exposed from his ripped t-shirt held many tiny bruises and cuts all the way up to his biceps before his arms disappeared into his t-shirt. Nick’s pants covered whatever happened to his legs, but small rips in the pant’s legs revealed large welts that were bleeding freely. Nicks’ groan brought Kevin back from his amazement.

“Ni…Nick,” Kevin choked, “I need to see your back…can I remove your shirt?”

“Sure,” Nick mumbled sleepily, “whatever,”

“Hey don’t sleep on me,” Kevin said sternly, “I don’t know if you may have a concussion or something. Did you hit your head?”

“No,” Nick lied remembering the chain hitting him on the side of his face. .

“Okay then let me look at your back and then you can sleep.” Kevin replied softly.

“Kay,” Nick said. Kevin lifted Nick’s shirt from Nick’s sleeping form. He carefully flipped Nick onto his stomach, and gasped at what he saw.

“Oh my God…” Howie mumbled. Nick’s back held one long welt across his back. Kevin carefully ripped the bottom of his own t-shirt off and soaked it in the water. Then, he rinsed out the wounds on Nick’s back, wincing when Nick would whimper in pain. Kevin flipped Nick over and choked in shock at the large bruise on Nick’s stomach.

“Jesus…” A.J. mumbled. Kevin carefully cleaned all of Nick’s cuts and then wrapped his ribs as best he could before he leaned over Nick.

“Nick…Nicky….Frack…wake up.” Kevin said trying to rouse Nick. Nick’s eyes fluttered and he opened his eyes.

“Kev?” he asked dazedly, before attempting to sit up.

“Lay down Nick!” Kevin ordered frantically trying to push him back down. Nick waved him off.

“I’m fine…just cuts and bruises, and maybe a couple of bruised ribs...” Nick voiced nonchalantly.

“JUST?!” A.J. replied incredulously.

Nick smiled and nodded. “I’ve had worse from Viper Aje,” he said calmly. A.J. shut up. “I’ll be fine by tomorrow’s missio - ouw hey Kev!” Nick said swatting away Kevin’s intruding hand that had touched his ribs.

“What did you say?” Kevin demanded wide eyed.

“I said I’d be fine by tomorrow’s mission,” Nick repeated patiently.

“I was hoping I heard wrong,” Kevin groaned. He didn’t know what a “mission” consisted of, but seeing the condition Nick had returned in, he concluded that that’s what a mission did.

“What do you mean ‘tomorrow’s mission’?” Brian asked angrily.

Nick sighed clearly, his patience running thin. “Whenever Viper feels like it, I have to do a mission. These missions can be physical or mental missions and can occur frequently or sporadically, depending on Viper’s mood,” Nick explained. “Each time I fight to protect another person…if I fail, then that person will be tortured…like today I fought for A.J.” Nick paused to look at A.J.’s who’s face paled upon hearing his name. “Don’t worry Jay, I always win,” Nick said with a wink attempting to lighten the mood. He failed.

The boys had mixed looks of fear, shock, and horror written into their features. Howie spoke. “What happens if you can’t compete?” he asked in a tiny voice.

“Then someone has to compete for me, or I forfeit and one of you will die,” Nick replied, and then looked at the faces of his friends. “DON’T get any ideas,” Nick scolded wincing and holding his ribs, “you have no idea what you’re up against.

“But Nick,” Brian began in a small voice.

“No,” Nick replied just as firmly.

“But Nick,” Kevin tried again.

“No Kev,” Nick said stubbornly shaking his head, “I will do this on my own.”

Kevin was about to argue when the door to their cell was opened.

TROUBLE CH. 7

The door to their cell was opened. And in walked Ace, accompanied by six guards. Nick’s eyes shot open and he leapt to his feet, wincing and holding his midsection gingerly. Nick stood protectively in front of his band mates who were standing around Brian as he was too weak to protect himself. Ace frowned at Nick and the others. “Step aside,” he ordered. No one moved. “Stand back,” Ace tried again, “we only want the Latino one.”

The others glanced at Howie, who paled in terror, and Kevin instinctively stepped in front of Howie slightly shielding him from view. Howie shot Kevin a grateful look. Nick, on the other hand, didn’t look back, only smirked at Ace and met his eye. “Yeah, right,” Nick snorted, “like THAT’S gonna happen.”

Ace growled. “You need a lesson in respect boy. Something I will be DAMN excited to get to teach you,” Ace snarled in Nick’s face. Nick pretended to yawn as if he was bored. Ace went red in the face. “Take him, that is your mission” he ordered to the rest of the guards in a quiet, dangerous voice, referring to Howie, then turned and left the cell.

Ace’s guards entered the room and approached Nick’s friends. Nick growled and jumped in between Ace’s guards and his friends. “Get. Back.” Nick ordered in a low growl, determined to protect them.

The guards flinched visibly, knowing that Nick was a legend but retorted, “Let’s see you make us.”

Nick stepped toward them, his trademark smirk on his face, and his fists clenched before he stopped himself. Nick hesitated, relaxing his fists in sudden realization. ‘I can’t show my friends this…it will scare them!’ Nick thought desperately.

Nick didn’t have time to think about it much more before two of the guards jumped at Nick. Nick’s eyes flashed and a small cocky smile donned his face again. He sidestepped all of the guards, before knocking the first’s legs out from underneath him. The guard fell to the ground with a loud grunt. Then Nick grabbed the second’s throat and kneed the guard in the stomach, before turning the guard around and striking the guards pressure point in his neck. The guard yelped and fell to the ground unmoving. Nick went back to the first guard and started to do the same.

The rest of the boys turned and watched in absolute shock before the remaining guards remembered why they were there and attacked the rest of the boys. A.J. was the first to return to his senses and jumped the first guard that was about to attack Brian. He tackled the guard to the ground and started beating his face repeatedly.

Howie also reluctantly started to fight the other guard but Howie mostly just blocked punches and kicks and delivered very few of his own. Kevin on the other hand was using his rage of their situation to his advantage, and was attacking his guard fiercely.

A.J. finally knocked the other guard out, then turned to Brian who smiled weakly at him showing him he was okay. A.J. nodded at him with a small smile before the left over guard came up behind A.J.

“AJE!” Brian cried, “Look out!” A.J. turned just in time for the guard to grab A.J. by the throat, and lift him off the ground. A.J. elicited a shocked gasp. Much to Brian’s horror, the guard slammed A.J. against the wall, holding him there firmly by his throat. The guard was much larger than A.J. and the guard had no problems holding him a few feet from the ground with one hand. “A.J.!!!” Brian cried out again moving to rise. He had no strength to do so and fell to the cot again crying out in dismay.

A.J. grabbed the guard’s wrist as he tried desperately to pry the larger man’s fingers from around his throat. A.J. kicked out and struggled in vain as his eyes bugged out of their sockets. He gagged and coughed as the guard cut off his air supply. When A.J. found he could not pry the larger man’s fingers from his throat, he groped at the air, trying to find some relief in striking the man. He was not successful in hitting the guard at all.

Meanwhile, at Brian’s terror filled yell, Howie had looked up and his eyes shot open with terror. “A.J.!” He yelled fearing for his friend who was quickly turning red in the face. Howie discontinued holding back on the man he was fighting and curled his hand into a fist. “I don’t have time for this…” he growled before grabbing the guard by his shirt and pulling back his fist. “Uh…Sorry…” Howie added as he brought his fist to connect with the guards face. The force of the blow knocked the guard out quickly before Howie ran towards the guard meaning to knock him over and off of A.J.

As Howie approached the guard turned and smiled sadistically. “Uh uh uhhhh,” the guard scolded and squeezed harder causing A.J. to gag and look pleadingly at Howie for help. “I’ll snap his neck if you move,” the guard threatened. A.J.’s mouth moved as if he were trying to speak, but no sound came out. As Howie watched helplessly, tears began to leak from the corners of A.J.’s eyes.

“Let go,” Howie pleaded, his heart pounding, “you’re killing him…”

“Well that’s the point,” the guard said with an evil laugh. “Surrender yourself and I will.” Howie felt his blood run cold.

“No…” A.J. forced himself to croak. Howie realized A.J. had little time left.

“FINE. Drop A.J. and I’m all yours,” Howie declared. The guard grinned and squeezed A.J. again.

“I lied. Killing him will be fun, and I don’t need you to surrender, I’ll just take you anyways.”

A.J. was relieved that Howie would not be giving himself up, but had little time to think about it in his current situation. Howie shook his head in dismay.

“LET GO!” he screamed. The guard ignored Howie.

Nick heard the commotion and looked up from where he had knocked another guard unconscious. He turned and saw A.J.’s predicament and gasped. Clenching his fists in anger, Nick, reached down and searched the unconscious guard for a weapon. Finally, he found a gun on one of them. Nick snorted. ‘Stupid guards,’ he thought disgustingly to himself. He hesitated not wanting to pick it up until he heard the guard’s reply to Howie’s plea. And Howie’s terror filled scream.

Nick picked up the gun and raised it in line to the guard. “DROP. HIM.” He roared holding the gun in trembling hands trained on the guard. All fighting ceased and everything in the cell went dead silent, each man in the cell waited to see what events would occur between Nick and the guard.

The guard turned slowly and looked at the gun trained on him, his eyes opened in surprise. He still held A.J. against the wall and A.J. looked at Nick weakly using most of his strength and air to croak out, “Ni…ck…”

Nick turned and looked at A.J. sending him a reassuring look that A.J. never saw as his eyes closed slowly. As Nick looked on in horror, A.J.’s hand began to slowly slip away from the guard’s hand around his throat as he lost energy and started to lose his battle with consciousness. His eyes snapped open and then drooped shut again. A.J. repeated this process in his stubborn attempt to stay awake…and alive. Nick watched in horror.

“NOW!” Nick screamed again frantically pulling off the safety of the gun after a moment’s silence, not able to take the silence in the room. The guard looked around and saw all of his guards either unconscious, or just waking from unconsciousness on the floor at the feet of the Boys. He knew he was outnumbered.

“Fine,” the guard said quietly, “let us leave, give me the gun, and I won’t kill him.”

“Get out,” Nick agreed without hesitation. The guard raised his arms in defeat, allowing A.J. to slide to the ground coughing and gagging. Nick followed his movements to the door as the guard roused his comrades and moved out. Nick tossed him the gun. “Next time don’t be so fucking stupid and carry a gun…if you want to survive here, you shouldn’t be so stupid,” Nick snapped. The guard glared angrily and left the cell slamming the door.

Howie was already at A.J.’s side when Nick turned back. Howie touched A.J.’s arm and laid the other across his back, as his best friend gasped lungful after lungfull of air into his deflated lungs coughing and trembling. “Breathe Alex…” Howie said gently, his voice cracking and his own body trembling.

A.J. smiled visibly, since Howie was the only one who could ever get away with calling A.J. “Alex”. “Breathe ‘Jay calm down, take slow breaths,” Howie soothed rubbing small circles on A.J.’s back in hopes of calming the young rebel.

A.J. lay on his stomach shaking visibly and taking deep breaths, coughing every couple of seconds. “I…I’m alright…” he assured his best friend finally who was pale in the face. Howie nodded and managed a small smile. A.J. slowly had his breathing returning to somewhat normal.

Kevin had gone over to check on his cousin who waved him off insisting he was fine, and they hadn’t even come near him. Kevin still felt Brian’s forehead. “Your fever is still high,” he commented. Brian ignored him and closed his eyes.

Nick walked over to another cot and sat down on it. ‘That was too close,’ he thought closing his eyes, ‘Way too close…I have got to keep them safe…’ Nick took a shaky breath and ran his trembling, slender fingers through his hair with a shaky hand.

“N…Nicky?” Nick heard A.J. croak from the floor.

Nick composed himself as best he could and took a deep breath. He forced a smile, and walked to A.J., crouching down. “Hmm?” he answered.

“Th…Thank you,” A.J. whispered still panting. His voice showed the fear he felt as he rubbed at the bruises that were forming around this throat. Nick smiled and touched his arm.

“Don’t mention it ‘Jay…you okay?” Nick asked concerned. Nick could already see the bruises forming on A.J.’s neck as A.J. rubbed the spot wincing in pain. Nick winced with A.J.

“Ya…I think so” A.J. said before attempting to stand shakily. Nick helped A.J. over to a cot and let him lay down.

“Lay down A.J. you’ll be fine just rest.” Nick said concerned. A.J. nodded.

“Thanks” he replied. Nick smiled and watched Howie sit next to him still pale and shaking. A.J. smiled at Howie.

“I’m fine ‘D honestly!” he assured his friend in a croaking voice. But A.J. could not stop trembling himself. Howie smiled and reached out grasping A.J.’s trembling hand, giving it a friendly squeeze. A.J. smiled and calmed before he recalled what Howie had done as he was dying against the wall. “And what the hell were you thinking giving yourself up?!”

“Hush A.J., it doesn’t matter now,” Kevin shot back from across the cell before fixing Howie with a “He’s right” look.

Nick watched the scene in pleasure. He was glad A.J. was safe, but he knew that this peace would only last for a short time.

“Nick,” Kevin’s voice interrupted Nick’s thoughts sounding troubled. Nick sighed knowing why Kevin wanted to talk to him. Cursing softly to himself, Nick forced a smile, and turned to face Kevin who was pale and wide eyed.

“Yes?” he answered nonchalantly and sheepishly all at once.

“Wher…Where uhm…well…” Kevin stuttered.

A.J. beat him to it. “Kev wants to know where you learned your ass kickin' skills Nick,” A.J. blurted out bluntly, his voice muffled because of the arm draped over his eyes to prevent his lack of oxygen induced headache from worsening from the terrible lighting of the cell.

“Ya…erm…where did you learn…that?” Kevin asked too shaken up to comment on A.J.’s choice of vocabulary.

Nick sighed. “You learned today that I was once Viper’s apprentice…but you only know half of the story…” Nick whispered in shame, “Now you need to know some more of it…”.

They were silent and Nick took that as a green light. Nick sighed. “The first night we met…” Nick trailed off and the rest of the boys nodded encouraging him to continue. “It was about that…” Nick said detached.

**FLASH**

Twelve year old Nick ran through the rain crying. The brick buildings next to the sidewalk passed by in a colorful blur as he ran as quickly as possible.

Nick’s hair stuck to his face from the rain that was dribbling from the sky onto his shivering body, and his oversized t-shirt hung loosely on his thin frame sticking to his back in some places. His usually immaculate jeans were now streaked with dirt, and blood showed through ah ole in his jeans from a wound on his right knee.

Nick ran faster down the sidewalk seemingly being chased by something. His black and white tennis shoes made a sloshing noise from all of the water that had seeped through them.

Nick stopped a moment later, his lungs about to burst, and hunched over with his hands on his knees. He panted from his exertion, as he turned his terror-filled blue eyes from the direction he came. He gasped when he looked behind him and saw what he was running from, Mickey aged fifteen.

Mickey smirked as he walked towards him. “Well, well, well Carter,” he drawled as he glared at Nick’s trembling form, “are you done running you little baby?”

Nick gulped and didn’t answer. Mickey glared down at Nick and picked the small boy up by his shirt. Mickey slammed Nick’s smaller frame against the nearest building’s wall and grinned maliciously when Nick gave a grunt of pain.

Nick opened his eyes and looked around desperately for any type of help. He saw none. He whimpered in fear and looked back at Mickey as he said, “Looks like I’ma have some fun tonight!” Mickey raised his fist preparing to send it crashing down on Nick’s face. Nick whimpered again and clenched his eyes tightly shut.

Just as Mickey’s hand was about to hit Nick in the face, a rough hand lashed out and grabbed Mickey’s wrist. Mickey made an unintelligent noise and looked up into a cold face of a man in his late twenties.

The man had dark hair and light eyes that glittered dangerously. His arms were very toned and his muscles large on his tall body. His overall presence was intimidating, yet very attractive, and his light, cold eyes glared at Mickey as he spoke. “Kid,” he growled, “stop picking on those smaller than you…it’s annoying.”

Mickey gulped and nodded, his eyes wide in terror. “Y…yes sir,” he choked out quickly, deeply embarrassed to be caught terrorizing Nick by an adult.

“Fine, now apologize and go home,” the voice ordered harshly.

“S…s…sorry Carter!” Mickey stammered before turning and running as fast as his long, lanky legs would carry him down the sidewalk.

Nick sighed in relief as he watched Mickey’s retreating back disappear around the corner down the street. Then he turned to the stranger who had helped him and smiled. “Thank you,” he said politely to the stranger.

The stranger gave a rugged grin and patted Nick on the head, ruffling his hair. “No sweat kid, but why you let him pick on you like that? You could kick his ass easily if you wanted to couldn’t you?” The stranger asked.

Nick looked puzzled. “I…I don’t know if I could I’ve never tried,” Nick replied honestly. The stranger laughed, the sound sending chills down Nick’s spine which he wrote off to the cold. The new man looked Nick straight in the eye.

“Well kid, it’s your lucky day, I’m willing to teach you if you want. Meet me at the docks tomorrow at 6pm. I’ll show you how to deal with bullies like that Mickey kid,” the newcomer grinned.

“Really? I’d like that!” Nick responded excitedly.

The stranger chuckled. “What’s your name kid? Or is it kid?”

Nick laughed with him. “No, my name is Nick,” he replied.

“People call me Viper, nice to meet ya,” Viper said extending his hand. Nick took it and shook it.


**FLASH**


“That day,” Nick continue din a steady voice, “I began to learn how to fend off an attacker…Viper was a kind and caring master at first…I do believe he was really rather fond of me…but then he began to teach me …” Nick stopped here not sure if he should continue as it might scare his band mates. He stared at the ground unable to look his friends in the eye.

“How to what Nick?” A.J. urged gently.

Nick sighed, swallowed slowly and closed his eyes. “How to be lethal,” he whispered.

“To be what?” Kevin asked in shock.

“L-Lethal,” Nick said louder this time but timidly still.


**FLASH AGAIN**


Weeks later, Nick stood in one of the storage buildings at the docks where he met Viper. Viper stationed himself in front of Nick who had himself in a fighting stance, his taped hands in front of his face listening to Viper’s instructions.

“RIGHT!” Viper barked. Nick turned to the right and punched the air. “LEFT!” Nick punched the left side of him. “BACK!” Viper barked again. Nick kicked backwards with force. “FORWARD!” and so on. This continued until Viper yelled “TIME!”

Nick stopped and put his hands on his knees panting in exertion. Viper smiled at his new apprentice. “Tired Nicky?” he joked. Nick grinned slyly.

“No not at all, Master” he lied still panting.

“Good,” Viper said with a nod, hiding his smile “cuz it’s time for our brisk jog!”

Nick groaned. “Now?”

“Now,” Viper ordered smiling knowingly and started at the door, young Nick hot on his heels.

Their training was everyday starting with fighting practice, then a three-mile run. Afterwards, they did other training including sit-ups, agility drills, push-ups, and then more fighting practice. Nick was to call Viper “Master” or “Sir” in respect as his elder and teacher.

This day, however, when they returned from their three-mile jog, there was a tall, intimidating man older than Viper there. Nick paid the new guy no mind and fetched himself a bottle of water. Viper and the man talked for a moment before the new man laughed loudly and turned to look at Nick.

Nick shrugged it off and set about to do his push-ups and agility drills. Just as he finished his push-ups, Viper came over to Nick and stooped down. “You see that man over there? His name is Ace…I want you to fight him,” Viper instructed.

Nick’s jaw dropped. “Me? Fight him? He’s huge…he’ll kill me!” Nick exclaimed.

“No Nicky you can handle him I guarantee it. You just have to concentrate.” Viper assured him.

“Alright I’ll try.” Nick agreed hesitantly.

“Good boy,” Viper murmured ruffling his hair fondly before turning to Ace, “alright Ace! Here ya go!”

Ace was huge. His arms were the size of three of Nick’s arms put together and his legs were larger. Ace wore no shirt and you could see how strong his stomach and chest were as his muscles twitched underneath his flesh. Ace made a fist, his knuckles popping loudly as he surveyed Nick. Nick winced and Ace glared down at Nick. The look sent violent chills down Nicks’ spine.

“FIGHT!” Viper suddenly yelled.

Ace sprung at Nick who dodged easily. Ace stumbled for a second before whirling around quickly and hurling his larger body at Nick. Nick readied himself, crouched down and knocked Ace’s feet out from under him.

Ace fell with a loud grunt, and Nick sprang towards him, his leg outstretched to kick his chest. Ace rolled out of the way as Nick landed and Ace lashed out, his foot connecting with Nick’s jaw.

Nick gave a startled cry as he staggered backwards, and Ace struck Nick across the face, causing Nick to fall onto his back. Nick jumped up quickly and then swung his own leg and connected it with Ace’s stomach. The air rushed quickly from Ace’s lungs like that of a deflating balloon.

Ace retaliated with a strong kick to the back of Nick’s head. Nick stiffened and crumpled to the ground with a soft grunt, seeing stars.

Ace stood and approached Nick panting, but grinning cockily. “He ain’t no different than the others Viper, I kicked his ass easily…he’s just a weak boy like the rest,” Ace said before laughing.

Viper didn’t join his laugh just stared at Nick intensely as something in Nick snapped on hearing those words. With a sudden cry of rage, Nick jumped up and kicked Ace in the face. Nick continued by swinging his elbow into Ace’s chest, causing Ace to gasp in pain only to be sent crashing to the ground as Nick’s strong kick to Ace’s stomach caused Ace to stumble backwards onto his back. Nick gave a final cry and leapt at Ace’s fallen form fist at the ready.

“Stop.” Viper’s order was quiet but Nick heard it nonetheless and landed softly next to Ace’s fallen body, his fist just inches from Ace’s face.

Viper grinned obviously pleased. “You were saying Ace?” He laughed as he patted Nick on the shoulder. “Good job Nick. You’ve made me proud,” Viper declared with a grin.

“Thank you master,” Nick responded beaming at the praise.

Ace growled and pulled his battered body off of the floor. Ace glared at Nick one last time before he left the storage area.

“Nicky you’ve passed an important part of my test. Now you must pass the second and then I can offer you a spot in my gang…you get all of the protection you will ever need, and it’s very hard to get into,” Viper said proudly.

“Really? Wow!” Nick exclaimed excitedly, not fully understanding Viper’s meaning for gang, “what do I have to do?”

“Well Nicky, you must complete what I’m about to tell you, and then you’re one of us. But I must warn you if you fail, there will be terrible consequences.”

Nick gulped. “Yes Viper,”

“Ahhh here’s the second task now!” Viper said excitedly looking towards the doorway. Nick turned around and saw Ace pulling a bound, gagged, and terrified form of a boy. A boy who Nick had known for a very long time. A cruel boy that had haunted Nick’s walks home with threats and chases…a boy who was nothing more than a bully.

“Mickey?” Nick asked Viper confusedly. Viper grinned and nodded.

“This is your second test,” Viper said approaching Nick with a metal baseball bat. Viper held out the bat to little Nick who took it into his trembling hands.

“What do you want me to do?” Nick asked innocently.

Viper laughed. “What do you think boy? Take the bat and…you know.”

Nick’s eyes widened and the color drained from his face in realization. “You mean…k…ki…kill him?” he croaked.

Viper nodded. “Yes Nicky, you deserve justice. Just think about all of the pain he’s caused you Nick, how mean he was…how he tormented your life…” Viper said counting the horrible things Mickey had done on his fingers.

Nick swallowed slowly looking from the bat in his trembling, clammy hands to Mickey lying on the floor, wide eyed and pale. ‘This is wrong…’ Nick thought reasonably. ‘But if you don’t do it,’ another voice pressed, ‘then you’ll have to pay the consequences.’ Nick nodded to himself and took a deep breath.

Nick released the breath and lifted the bat over his head bringing it down towards Mickey’s helpless body…


**FLASH**

At this point in Nick’s story Kevin let out a startled gasp and Nick heard the others’ breath catch in their throats in shock. A.J. looked at Nick with disbelieving, wide eyes. Nick didn’t’ notice since he was looking at the ground, and Howie was the only one who found his voice. “Oh Nick…di…did you …?” He stammered.

“No,” Nick interrupted gruffly.

“But…” A.J. started but Nick cut him off sharply.

“No.” Then softer and mournfully Nick said, “I couldn’t…”



**FLASH**


As the bat neared Mickey’s body and the boy let out a terrified whimper, Nick stopped himself and dropped the bat as if it had burned him. Mickey’s eyes were clenched shut in pure terror. Nick backed away from the bound body in horror. ‘WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!’ his mind screamed at him.

“Nick?” Viper inquired. “What are you doing? I ordered you to kill him!”

“Master…I-I-I…” Nick stammered fearfully, glancing back at Mickey’s body then back at Viper. Nick’s brow was sweaty in fear, and he looked paler than usual.

“Well? You what Nicky?” Viper demanded coldly, “Get on with it. I am your master and I ordered you to kill him. DO IT!”

“I...I can’t,” Nick murmured wincing at Viper’s angry tone. He had never disappointed his master before this and he felt terrible in doing so now.

“Why?” Viper asked narrowing his eyes.

“Because he’s helpless! He can’t protect himself it’s wrong!” Nick shouted, “I would fight him…but killing him like this is so wrong. I…can’t kill him master. I learned to defend myself not harm others.”

Viper growled and went red in the face. “FINE! I’ll do it myself!” Viper snapped before grabbing the baseball bat from the floor. He approached Mickey’s body and raised the bat.

“MASTER PLEASE! NO!” Nick yelled diving at Viper who knocked Nick away carelessly. Ace walked over to Nick chuckling and restrained the youngster.

Viper raised the bat again and brought it down on Mickey’s restrained body. Mickey’s eyes shot open and he screamed in pain, the scream muffled by the tape over his mouth. Nick watched in horror as Viper rained blow after blow onto Mickey’s helpless form.

After awhile, Mickey’s screams turned to groans, then to soft whimpers, and then to gasps…then Nick heard nothing. Viper stopped and Nick stared at Mickey’s unmoving body in fear.

“There it’s done Nick…you failed me which is such a disappointment as my apprentice...” Nick hung his head in shame at Viper’s words. “…but you passed the first part of my test…that’s never happened before…” Viper said pacing around the room. “I could just kill you,” Viper thought aloud as Nick paled, “but you passed the first…hmm…no…what about…yes that’s it!”

Nick looked Viper in the eye as Viper approached him. “Well Nicky, since you have failed the second part of my test but passed the first…and you disobeyed me, you will owe me a life sentence. You will meet here every day I summon you. You will have a test every night that will test your endurance, fighting skills, or wits.” Viper explained.

“And if I refuse?” Nick asked curiously.

“That’s the beauty Nicky!” Viper said excitedly. “Every challenge is in exchange for one of your family members’ lives…fail and I kill your family understand?”

Nick growled in frustration and looked coldly at Viper finally seeing the ruthless gang banger instead of the endearing master he thought Viper was. Nick refused to answer. Viper growled back and struck Nick across the face. “I SAID UNDERSTAND?!” Viper roared grabbing Nick by the collar of his shirt.

Nick took a shuddering breath, and looked the demon in the eye.


“Yes…Master”


**FINAL FLASH**


“…And that night we met, you helped me without me requesting help…you saved me and my family from him…but now he wants revenge…so the danger I guess was passed to you,” Nick finished. He waited for someone to say something…but no one would. “I…I’m sorry I put you in this danger…now do you see why I never had a lot of friends…I will understand if you don’t want to be-“ he looked up as he was rambling and saw that not one of his band mates had dry eyes. He stopped talking, mouth suddenly dry.

“Good God Nick…” A.J. whispered. “They killed Mickey right in front of you?” Nick nodded mutely swallowing slowly and closing his eyes as the memories swarmed in his mind.

He suddenly felt a warm arm go around his shoulders and turned to see Brian sitting shakily next to him, his body still trying to rid itself of the drug he had been injected with. Nick attempted a smile that never quite reached his eyes. Brian smiled the same one back. Brian closed his arms around Nick’s body offering him the security of an embrace.

Nick closed his eyes attempting to seal off the terrible memories. He felt another arm go around his shoulders and turned to see Howie sitting next to him. Nick’s breath caught in his throat and his bottom lip trembled. ‘Get a hold of yourself Carter!’ he berated himself, ‘don’t be such a baby.’

He felt two more arms go around him from in front of him and behind him in a tight secure embrace that Nick leaned into gratefully and knew that his last two band mates had also leaned in to give him their support. Nick couldn’t control his emotions as a sob escaped his throat. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, “I wish you’d never met me so ya’ll would be safe.”

“But then we wouldn’t be as happy and complete as we are now Nick we’re glad we met you,” Brian murmured softly into his ear, gently tightening his embrace.

“Ya and it wasn’t your fault Nick, you were just a kid, you didn’t know what Viper was really about. You couldn’t have done anything differently,” A.J. murmured.

“I’m still sorry you aren’t in this situation…it is my fault…and that I have kept it from you for so long,” Nick whispered through his tears.

“Well now we understand Nick,” Kevin said just as quietly, “and now everything will be okay and we’ll help you.”

“And we ain’t mad at you for your past Nick. We know you now. And who you are now is good enough for us,” Howie whispered. All of the boys stayed in that embrace for a long time until Nick finally fell into an exhausted slumber.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 8
~*~*

The next afternoon, Nick was pacing around his cell muttering incoherently to himself. “He’s been gone too long, it’s not like him. Where is he…”

“Nick,” AJ groaned sounding irritated, “it’s a GOOD thing that they haven’t returned isn’t it? I for one am not looking forward to another encounter with them…” AJ trailed off rubbing his bruised neck subconsciously.

Nick looked to him sympathetically. “No Aje, it ain’t a good thing…cuz it means they’re planning something,” Nick answered nervously.

“Well we already know what they want,” Kevin replied looking at Howie with a fleeting nervous glance. Howie attempted to smile bravely. “now we just gotta figure a way to keep what they want away from them.”

Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair nervously. “Howie,” he said without emotion. Howie acknowledged Nick, who looked at Howie sincerely. “I promise Howie, that I will do my best to protect you, but you must understand that Viper has a way of getting what he wants…I may not be able to keep you from harm…but I will try to-“

Howie cut Nick off with a shake of his head and a smile. “You’re the younger one Nick I should be protecting you,” Howie said with a sigh, “but I do understand, and I don’t want you hurt…maybe I should just let them take me.”

Outcries of disapproval sounded from all of the boys in the cell and someone actually smacked the back of Howie’s head. “OW!” Howie exclaimed looking behind him to see Kevin, AJ, Nick, and even Brian had shot up.

“You idiot,” AJ scoffed.

“You really think we’d actually allow that?” Kevin also said sounding just as amused.

“But I don’t want you hurt…” Howie said softly.

“Would you try to save Nick?” Brian demanded sharply,

“Well…yes…any one of you I would try to save but…”

“No buts ‘D. I for one am too damn stubborn for my own good…or so I’ve been told,” A.J. remarked shooting a grin at Kevin who rolled his eyes, “No matter what you say, I’ll do what I want. That’s why I’m the “rebel” of the group!” Howie chuckled, but the smile faded rapidly as the lock to their cell was undone, and the door was opened.

Howie stood up slowly, the others, sans Brian, rising quickly to step in front of him. Howie gulped and looked to see who entered the cell.

Ace entered once again this time with ten other guards at his heels like loyal lap dogs. Howie’s breathing increased in rate, and A.J., being the closest to his best friend, reached his own hand out and squeezed Howie’s shoulder reassuringly. “Well, well, well. Looks like your friends wish to protect you, Mr. Dorough,” he said looking into Howie’s eyes.

“Damn right we do!” Kevin snapped. Ace laughed at Kevin.

“You’d think you learn after the first time your little friend there showed insolence…that I am to be obeyed…or do you want to be responsible for the pain or death of one of your friends?” he asked Kevin.

“I wouldn’t let you,” Kevin declared.

“You know so little of the situation you’re in. Nicky, I thought you would have taught them by now.” Ace remarked.

Nick shrugged with a smirk. “Slow learners,” he quipped. The boys grinned at the response and even Ace managed a laugh at the boys before waving the ten guards inside.

“This is your mission boys,” Ace remarked to the guards, “do not fail where others have before.”

The ten guards made their way to each boy. A.J. fought fiercely against three of them knowing they wanted his best friend. Kevin fought desperately against two of the guards. Since he was the eldest, he felt it was his job to protect his younger “brothers”. Howie, meanwhile fought hard against two since he knew his life hung in the balance. Nick took on three guards as well, frantically knowing he had to protect Howie. Ace however came up behind Nick, while he was distracted and hit him in the head with his fist. Nick crumpled to the ground with a quiet groan, his vision blacking out as his head was hit once again.

Punches were being thrown left and right. Ace watched indifferently from behind Nick as two of Nick’s guards left Nick’s pained body. They approached Brian with wicked grins. Brian looked up at the guards in fear and tried to protect himself as the guards began to attack him.

Brian being to weak to defend himself was overcome quickly by the guards with a cry. Brian’s cry was enough motivation for Nick’s eyes to snap open, and for Nick to jump up to rush to his friend’s aid. He attacked one of the guards furiously, his movement sluggish due to the injury to his head. The other guard was soon on the receiving end of Nick’s violence as well. Nick overwhelmed them as quickly as possible, then stooped down to Brian’s crumpled, panting form to check the damage.

“HOWIE!” Nick heard A.J. yell in horror. Nick spun around quickly and groaned inwardly.

‘Damnit…’ he groaned to himself.


Howie had turned, alarmed at Brian’s cry. He knew Brian could not protect himself. He watched as Nick dragged himself groggily off the ground and ran to his aid. Nick’s movements were sluggish, and Howie wondered why. Nick caught the first one off guard, and shoved him to the ground. Then he turned to the second guard, and punched him in the jaw, brought his knee swiftly up into his stomach. The guard gasped in pain and fell over. Nick approached the second guard who was clambering to his feet. Nick smiled wickedly and brought his leg around in a roundhouse kick to the guard’s jaw. He fell to the ground clutching his jaw gingerly.

Howie was distracted long enough for one of the guards to catch him in the jaw with a punch. Howie fell over, his world spinning as he felt rough hands grabbing onto his form. He groaned and closed his eyes. He heard his name being called distantly but found he could not force himself to respond. Vaguely, Howie heard a gun cock and low murmurs before someone yelled for everyone to get out.

Howie frantically brought himself back to awareness knowing that if he didn’t do something soon, then they would take him away, and quite possibly kill him. He felt himself being shoved to his knees, his arms at an upward angle as the guards pushed his shoulders down while holding the wrist up. Howie hissed in pain, his shoulders feeling as if they would dislocate form the brutal hold, before raising his head to look at Nick.

Nick was sitting next to Brian with a gun held by Ace in his face. Nick attempted an apologetic smile, but failed. Howie looked at the floor before looking back up at Nick with a forgiving smile. ‘It’s okay Nicky, it’s not your fault,’ he thought making sure he assured Nick of that with his stare. Howie also attempted to smile at Brian.

Howie then looked to Kevin and nodded reassuringly. Kevin had to look away since he felt so guilty. Howie finally met the gaze of his best friend. A.J. was pale and wide-eyed. Howie gave him a genuine smile that told A.J. that everything would be fine even though he himself didn’t believe it. A.J. looked crushed still.

Howie was aware of himself being lifted upwards as the guards started to be dragging Howie from the room. He thought that he might as well go down fighting and began to struggle wildly. He kicked and twisted frantically trying to get out of the strong grasp of the guards. The guards finally had enough, and one of them hit Howie once again, this time Howie’s head snapped backwards. He felt the world around him swimming and he cried out as he fought a losing battle against unconsciousness, the last thing he knew of was being dragged out of the room, and the last thing he saw was Nick in front of him looking horrified and young.

“Huh?’ Howie thought in confusion before he allowed the darkness to swallow his consciousness.

~*~*

Backtrack to a Few Minutes Ago:

“HOWIE!” A.J. had yelled out, seeing his friend catch the blow to his face. A.J. tried to run and help Howie but he was held back by two of the guards.

Nick glanced up from Brian and saw Howie’s situation. He also tried to run and help, but was stopped by a cry from Brian behind him. Nick spun around and saw one of the guards standing again, with his boot on Brian’s throat. Brian gagged and tried weakly to push the foot from his throat so he could breathe.

Nick glared at the guard coldly and ferociously before charging the guard and knocking him off Brian. The guard fell over onto his back, hitting his head on one of the boys’ cots, rendering him unconscious. Nick then stooped down to Brian’s panting, trembling form once again.

Nick moved to rise and assist the other boys but stopped when he heard a cock of a gun. He started, then turned his head up slowly, with Brian following his movements. Nick’s face was met with a gun. Nick gasped and then looked up at the owner. “Ace,” He growled out. Everyone stopped fighting upon hearing the gun cock and the boys paled.

Ace said nothing directly to Nick. “EVERYONE OUT!” he roared to his men. Nick looked past Ace at Howie who was trembling looking at Nick pleadingly. Nick shot his friend an apologetic look and Howie’s eyes cast to the floor.

‘Sorry ‘D,’ Nick thought shamefully to himself. Howie looked back up and gave Nick a trembling smile of forgiveness.

A few moments passed by before the guards began to drag Howie from the room, Howie kicking and twisting in terror, attempting to get away from his captors. The boys could do nothing as there was a gun being pointed at two of them. The guards grunted in exertion of trying to hold Howie, and one finally got tired of it and struck Howie, a crushing blow to his jaw. Howie’s head snapped backwards and he groaned. The guards dragged him from the room.

Ace backed out of the room slowly. “I’ll be back for your mission Nicky,” he said sweetly. Nick growled in frustration, as he got to his feet slowly. Ace laughed in victory one more time before closing the door to the cell. The cell re-opened quickly, and said, “Oh and Nick? There’s another surprise waiting for you afterwards…and your friend will be returned to you…but whether he’s dead or not…now that’s another story.” With that, Ace laughed and slammed the door.

“FUCK!” A.J. swore loudly hitting the floor with his fist, his forehead dropping to press against the cool concrete as well. Nick glared after Ace, and then leaned down to A.J., whispering words of comfort.

Kevin meanwhile approached Brian who had his face covered with his hands. “Brian?” Kevin asked frantically, dropping down next to his cousin, “you okay cuz?” Brian shook his head, his face still covered with his palms. “Are you hurt?” Kevin asked gently. Again Brian shook his head again. Kevin pulled Brian’s hands away from his face, to see Brian’s face scrunched up and tears leaking from his eyes.

“H…Howieee…” he cried.

Kevin grimaced. “I know Brian, but there’s nothing we can do right now. So get off the floor and lie down on the cot, it won’t do Howie any good if you make yourself more sick. In fact, it will make him furious.” Kevin murmured comfortingly. Brian felt awful still and obediently picked his weary body from the floor, and laid down on the cot closing his eyes.

Nick was still speaking to A.J. in soothing tones. “Aje, c’mon now. Don’t worry about Howie, he’ll be fine.” He reassured his friend.

“How the hell do you know?” A.J. snapped from his position on the floor, face down. Nick laughed.

“Trust me Jay, one: Howie is strong and will fight to survive and two: I lived with these people…I’ve thought like these people…” he dropped his voice to tell A.J. the next thing, “and I know that they wouldn’t want their ‘fun’ to end so quickly.”

A.J. looked to Nick sharply. “What are you saying?” he snapped.

“That they’ll beat him up…maybe drug him but then return him to us, and he should be fine.” Nick replied.

“Hope you’re right Nicky…hope that’s all they want…” A.J. whispered trembling violently.

“I hope so too A.J….for Howie’s sake.”


~*~*~*

The boys were silent for almost an hour before Kevin finally decided to take charge. “Why doesn’t everyone just lay down, and try to rest. You two especially Nick and Brian,” Kevin suggested in a very father like tone.

A.J. looked over at Kevin in annoyance. “You’re one to talk Kev, after what you’ve been through!” A.J. snapped. Kevin sighed in return.

“I know Aje, I’ll lay down,” Kevin placated.

Everyone got onto a cot and pretended to sleep. After about an hour of staring at the ceiling, Nick ventured out, “Anyone ACTUALLY sleeping?”

“No,” came the chorus of replies. Nick laughed in spite of the situation.

“Well in that case, Kev, A.J., why don’t you tell your story?” Nick suggested sitting up.

“S…story?” A.J. squeaked. Kevin sat up and went to sit on A.J.’s cot as Nick sat on Brian’s, which were right next to each other.

“Ya,” Brian agreed, “like how you got here…and what happened after we disappeared.

A.J.’s breath caught in his throat and he clenched his hands into fists. Kevin put his hand on his shoulder to calm A.J. Kevin turned to Nick and Brian with a sigh. “I would like to have Howie here…but considering…you know…” he trailed off.

“It’s a long story,” A.J. said quietly staring intently at his feet.

“Let’s hear it,” Nick encouraged dreadfully.

“Alright,” Kevin said reluctantly, “it all started after you guys didn’t return from your little road trip…”




~*~* Before Kevin, A.J., and Howie’s arrival*~*~



Kevin glanced at his watch for the tenth time in the last ten minutes. “They’re late,” he grumbled testily. Howie and A.J. glanced up from their game of cards, bored. The remaining three Backstreet Boys were waiting inside an office, in their manager’s building, waiting for Nick and Brian to return. Upon the boy’s return, they would get on their tour bus to set out for their first city on their tour.

“They’re always late,” Howie commented not seeming too concerned.

“You know how they are Kev,” A.J. replied casually, “they probably stopped to eat or something and decided they didn’t need to tell us.”

“They’re still late,” Kevin grumbled nervously.

The office they were currently sitting in was small and cramped. Kevin made it even smaller by the way he paced back and forth. When Brian and Nick hadn’t returned he had alerted management and told them to inform himself, A.J. and Howie if Brian or Nick called.

The office door opened and their manager strolled in nervously accompanied by an officer. Kevin felt his blood run cold. He stood quickly, and noticed Howie and A.J. had done the same, their card game forgotten.

“This is officer Randall,” their manager introduced looking rather pale and uptight.

“Hello gentlemen,” Randall greeted quietly with a nod of greeting.

The boys inclined their heads in greeting before Howie finally asked shakily, “What’s going on?”

“It’s about your missing friends,” Officer Randall replied cutting straight to the chase.

“You found them?” A.J. asked hopefully.

“We didn’t realize that the police had been called…” Kevin trailed off.

“No, but we did find their car.” Officer Randall answered A.J., deliberately ignoring Kevin.

“…What?” Kevin asked narrowing his eyes.

“We found their car, abandoned, on the side of a highway, with a flat tire…” Randall paused here shifting nervously from foot to foot.

“What are you keeping from us” A.J. asked suspiciously.

“Well,” Randall continued clearing his throat, “the car’s back windshield had been completely shattered…it was shot out.”

“WHAT?!” Kevin exclaimed. Howie paled and A.J. sat down hard, “Like by a gun?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Randall said gloomily, “This, and other evidence, suggests foul play…”

“No shit,” A.J. muttered cutting him off.

“SO,” Randall continued pointedly, “you will have to return to Mr. Richardson’s home until we clear this up.”

“What other kinds of evidence did you find?” Howie asked, fearing the answer.

Officer Randall sighed before listing, “Bullet holes in all the windows, the smashed rear end of the car we assume was caused by a larger vehicle, most likely a SUV or a van, tire tracks weaving off the road, one of their tires had been tampered with resulting in a flat…and…”

“And what?” Kevin asked wide-eyed.

“And…a syringe with traces of a drug that we cannot identify yet…used.” Randall explained monotonously, “we sent in the syringe for testing, and will determine if it is either Mr. Littrell or Mr. Carter’s blood on the tip. We will let you know when we know.”

The boys stared open-mouthed. “You will return to Mr. Richardson’s home now where I have stationed officers outside your home.”

“Th…Thank you officer,” Kevin replied politely shaking his hand before Officer Randall left the room. Howie and A.J. stayed rooted to their spots eyes dazed in deep thought. Kevin sighed before bringing them back from their reveries and pulled them from the room.


The boys’ manager sent them with four of their own largest security guards back to Kevin’s house to wait.


Once they arrived back at Kevin’s house, a good four-hour drive away, reality set in. They sat in complete silence until the phone rang. Kevin shakily picked it up. “Hello?…ye…yes…mmhmm…” there was a pause here, “Oh God,” he choked, “Th…thank you.” Kevin hung up the phone before collapsing to the floor.

“K…Kev?” A.J. asked dreadfully moving to crouch in front of Kevin. Kevin looked at A.J. with tears in his eyes.

“Th…the syringe that they found…had traces of a heavy sedative, dangerous to most humans, and…the blood on the tip was…Brian’s.”

A.J. choked while, Howie’s breathing hitched and he began to hyperventilate. A.J. turned towards Howie quickly rubbing his back soothingly, “D…calm down, it’s okay.” Kevin also approached Howie doing the same thing.

“Deep breaths Howie,” he encouraged softly. Howie’s breathing calmed finally.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

“Don’t sweat it Howie,” A.J. said with a forced grin. The room fell into silence.

After awhile Kevin suggested they attempt to get some rest, and herded Howie and A.J. upstairs. Howie shared a miserable glance with A.J. and A.J. smiled in understanding, following Howie into one of the rooms. Howie, nor A.J. wanted to be alone.

Kevin meanwhile went ot his own room and lay down. He tossed and turned attempting to sleep but instead found himself plagued with visions of his dead cousin and hurt youngest. Finally, Kevin gave up and walked downstairs. He went to the kitchen and began to make coffee to calm his nerves.

“Make that three,” a voice said behind him. Kevin started and whirle around to find both A.J. and Howie standing in the kitchen entryway. Both had red rimmed eyes.

Kevin smiled apologetically. “Did I wake you?’

A.J. snorted. “Do you think we can sleep?”

“Point taken,” Kevin returned putting three cups of coffee on the table. Silence once again reigned as the boys gave and received solace in the company of one another. Night turned to morning finding the boys all slumped in their chairs exhausted. The day passed in restlessness that the boys attempted to pass by napping once in awhile and watching T.V. though nothing held their attention.

The silence was only broken when Kevin’s aunt, Brian’s mother Jackie calling him to check on him on the second day. After assuring Jackie that he was fine, Kevin hung up the phone allowing her to return to her family. Kevin returned to his. The afternoon swiftly turned to night finding the boys back in the kitchen with coffee once again. Silence reigned again.

“I’m so worried,” Kevin finally said blankly putting his head into his hands. A.J. patted his shoulder.

“I know,” he replied softly, “we all are.”

“Why don’t we ju-“ Howie started to say before he was cut off as all the windows in the living room they were sitting in crashed in. Tall men came through the broken windows swiftly. The boys jumped from their various sitting places and clustered together. A.J. started to ready his fists to start fighting, but Kevin laid his hand on A.J.’s chest to prevent it.

“Who are they?” Howie whispered, wide eyed.

“Don’t know Howie,” A.J. replied trying to mask his voice but sounding just as fearful.

“Don’t panic,” Kevin muttered just as much to himself as to A.J. and Howie.

“Well, Well, Well,” A new voice drawled, “if it isn’t Howie,” he said looking straight at Howie coldly who cringed away, “A.J.” A.J. stared defiantly back, his eyes blazing, “Ooo…tough one!” the newcomer laughed, “and Kevin,” he finished looking straight at Kevin who looked away.

“What do you want?” Kevin demanded shakily.

The newcomer ignored Kevin’s question and instead busied himself by walking around the room looking at the various framed pictures all over the tables and walls. A lot of the pictures littered among them were ones of his family, but this person seemed to care little for those and looked at the ones of the boys. Finally the newcomer picked up a selected picture.

“Well, look at this boys, it’s little Nicky!” he snickered before tossing the picture around. The other men snickered. One of them looked at the picture then back to the newcomer.

“Hey Master,” he said with a laugh, “the other one’s in this picture too!”

“Yes he is,” Viper returned before turning back to the boys. “My name’s Viper, and these two,” he said snatching the picture and throwing it to A.J. who caught it, “should be familiar to you.”

A.J. looked down at the picture in his hands. It was a picture taken recently on one of their many retreats to relax after a hard days work. This time they were at Howie’s house, and in the picture Nick had ran and jumped on Brian just as Kevin snapped the picture. Both of the boys had huge grins on their faces. A.J. remembered what happened next as he looked at the picture. Nick was too heavy for Brian and Brian had stumbled and fell into the pool next to them in the picture.

The boys looked up at Viper. “Wh…whe…Wher…” Kevin was gasping but A.J. beat him to it.

“WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY!?” A.J. demanded angrily.

“They’re comfortable…for now,” Viper replied.

“W…where?” Howie asked quietly still in shock.

“I will not disclose that information at this time.” Viper replied casually.

“Are they hurt?” Kevin asked dreadfully.

“Nick really isn’t hurt at all…save for some bruises and bumps…Brian…that’s another story.” Viper
replied.

“Did…you…” Howie tried to stammer.

“No we didn’t beat him or anything…Nicky has made sure of that, he’s been protecting Brian with his own life.” Viper replied sounding almost sick.

Kevin sighed in relief, good Ol’ Nicky… “Then what’s wrong with him?” He asked.

“Well,” Viper said pretending to be thinking. “That drug we injected him with shouldn’t have any lasting side effects…but who knows?” he laughed here, “and with his weak heart and all one can’t be too care-“

A.J. cut him off here by launching himself at Viper. “NO!” he screamed beating Viper’s face in, “IF HE’S DEAD I SWEAR I’LL KILL YOU!” Two guards pulled A.J. off of Viper and dragged him away.

Viper stood and wiped blood away from the corner of his mouth. “Stupid boy,” he growled advancing on A.J. who was restrained by the guards.

“NO!” Howie cried in terror for his best friend, “He’s sorry! He’s sorry!” Kevin and Howie moved to help him but were immediately restrained.

To A.J.’s surprise, Viper passed him and approached the other two. A.J. watched curiously to see what was going on. Viper just looked the other two up and down before looking back at A.J. Viper turned back around and lashed out quick as a snake striking Kevin across the face.

Kevin gave a yelp of surprise and pain. Howie watched in shock and A.J. growled struggling to help Kevin. Viper didn’t stop there, however, and lashed out a strong punch to Kevin’s stomach. Then he whirled around and kicked Kevin in the face. More punches rained down on Kevin who started to visibly lose strength and consciousness. Slowly his eyes drooped as the guards held his now bleeding, bruised body up.

“STOP!” A.J. screamed in horror.

Viper paused. “This is your fault A.J…however, if I beat him to death here, then our fun will be shorter….” Viper declared pulling out a handgun. He pointed it at Kevin who looked at Viper through tired, blackening, swollen eyes. Kevin’s breath rate increased and he panted in terror his breathing coming out in rattled weak gasps. But his tired gaze remained defiant. He had to stay strong for A.J. and Howie.

Viper hooked handgun underneath Kevin’s chin and lifted Kevin’s head. The barrel of the gun touched against Kevin’s throat. Viper pressed firmly causing Kevin’s breathing to become strained. Viper laughed again before his smile faded and he swiftly swung the butt of the gun around hitting Kevin in the temple. Kevin gave a cry of surprise as his head was whipped violently to the side.

With a groan, Kevin’s eyes closed and he slumped over. “KEVIN!” Howie screamed in desperate concern. Howie tried to pull away to see if Kevin was okay, but the guards wouldn’t let him.

“K…Kev?!” A.J. asked. Kevin didn’t respond.

“Let that be a lesson to you,” Viper snarled in A.J.’s face, “and if that isn’t enough…” Viper said maliciously pulling a long, silver knife from his belt. A.J. gasped and struggled violently. “Then maybe this,” he said approaching Howie who tried again to get free with a wild, terrified look on his face, ”will be motivation enough.” Viper put the knife against Howie’s pale cheek. Howie stared wide-eyed at it, his breath catching in his throat. Viper trailed the knife down Howie’s face, down his neck, to his chest, before returning to his throat. Viper let it rest there. “Understand?” Viper growled holding the blade against Howie’s neck as Howie fought to keep from trembling.

A.J., now just as pale, saw the terror in his best friend’s eyes and nodded mutely, not being able to find his voice. “Good,” Viper said putting his knife back in its sheath. Howie nearly collapsed in relief.

“Take them out to the car,” Viper ordered his guards. A.J. spared a look to Howie who looked at him in fear. A.J. turned away and allowed the guards to drag him away.

The guards pushed the boys outside, dragging Kevin’s unconscious form between two of them. A.J. allowed the guards to push him along and Howie did the same searching the surrounding houses desperately for some curious neighbor who heard the noise.

Looking around, he saw all of the officers and security teams laying motionless on the ground. Howie swallowed back bile as he wondered if they were dead or not.

The boys were pushed to the back of a large, gray SUV. One of A.J.’s guards let him go to grab the door handle. ‘Don’t struggle Jay…’ Howie thought desperately. But A.J. stayed perfectly motionless and this also worried Howie.

When the door was opened, A.J. was ordered in first. A.J. obeyed immediately, and climbed in jumping to the right side. Howie got in next and turned to have Kevin handed to him. A.J. was staring off into space, Kevin was pushed through the doors. Howie grabbed Kevin and pulled his unconscious form towards him so that Kevin’s head was on his lap. The guards laughed outside at something Viper said, then the doors to the SUV were closed, leaving them in total darkness.

Howie felt the engine roar to life and felt the SUV pull away from Kevin’s house. Howie took a shaking breath before calling out to his other band mate. “A.J.?!” He received no response. “A.J.!” Howie hissed.

“Y…Ya I’m here ‘D.” A.J. murmured quietly.

“Are you alright Aje?” Howie asked desperately trying to find where A.J. was located in the vast back of the darkened SUV.

“…”

“A.J.?” Howie asked again more insistently than ever. Then he heard a sob. “A.J.?! What’s wrong are you hurt?”

“N…no…” A.J. answered in a whimper.

“What’s wrong Aje?”

“I’m sorry,” A.J. replied brokenly beginning to sob.

“For what?” Howie demanded.

“Kevin…the knife…” A.J. trailed off.

“Aje…c’mere it’s not your fault,” Howie insisted.

“Ok…” A.J. relented reluctantly, “just talk so I don’t trample you on accident.”

Howie laughed and began to hum the chorus of one of their songs. Just as he reached the endnote, he felt A.J.’s hand clasp over his own and squeeze gently. Howie used A.J.’s hand to pull him into a hug. “You okay?” Howie murmured against the top of A.J.’s head as A.J. trembled in his embrace.

“Ya…I guess so. What about you?”

“I’m alright.”

“Wh…where’s Kevin?”

“Here, in my lap.”

A.J. felt around, until he came into contact with Kevin’s chest. He shook Kevin desperately. “Kev. …KEV. KEV!” A.J. called trying to rouse the eldest. Kevin didn’t stir or make a sound. “C’mon Kev, I need to see you’re okay…please?” Again nothing. Realization hit Howie as he realized why A.J. was being so insistent.

“’Jay…” Howie said gently. “Kev won’t hate you for what happened back there. Chances are it would have happened anyways.”

“B…but…”

“No buts…if anything he’ll be proud of you for standing up to Viper.”

“I still think it’s my fault.”

“I know.”

Silence filled the back of the SUV as they rode along. A stirring caught A.J. and Howie’s attention as daylight broke the horizon. Kevin moaned in obvious pain and started moving around.

“He’s waking up ‘Jay see? He’s alright!” Howie said excitedly

Kevin groaned as he came back to consciousness. “Ohhh…” he moaned in pain, “what the hell happened to me?”

A.J. almost laughed in spite of everything. He still thought it a very strange thing to hear Kevin swear. Howie, meanwhile, did laugh out loud “Kev? You okay?” he asked. Kevin seemed to start before he replied,

“Ya…I think so…but God…my head…” Kevin groaned again covering his face with his palms

Then Kevin remembered what had happened. “A.J.!” he yelled frantically trying to sit up. “where is he? Is he hurt? HOWIE?!”

A.J. immediately leaned over Kevin. “I’m right here Kev,” he muttered. Kevin groped blindly around for A.J. for reassurance.

“Where?” he asked begging for reassurance. A.J. grabbed Kevin’s groping hand squeezing it reassuringly.

“Here,” he said softly, “safe and sound…”

Kevin pulled A.J. to him. “A.J. NONE of this is your fault understand me?” Kevin declared fiercely hugging A.J. to him.

“But…” A.J. began.

“NONE of it. This is Viper’s fault not yours,” Kevin reassured A.J. firmly, “and I’m not angry with you at all...although it wouldn’t hurt to exercise more caution you could have been hurt…or killed!”

“And instead you were,” A.J. whimpered guiltily.

“I’m proud you were the reason Viper beat me. He probably would have anyways.”

A.J. smiled at Kevin. “Thanks Kevin.” The other two smiled before the SUV stopped. Everyone was silent with apprehension.

“We’ve stopped,” Howie whispered, frightened.

“Gee, ya think?” A.J. snapped.

Howie’s next response was cut off as the back doors to the SUV were thrown open and the boys stared up into the faces of their adversaries who held the boys lives in their hands.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 9

The boys’ captors looked down upon their prisoners with evil glints to their eyes. Howie gulped, as A.J. instinctively drew Kevin closer to him, to protect him. Kevin just looked straight at the captors with weak defiance. “Have a nice ride?” One of them asked. The other captors howled with laughter, and A.J. growled deep in his throat.

“Cut it out Aje,” Kevin said worriedly from the floor, his eyes opening wide. He gripped A.J.’s arm sternly. He didn’t want A.J. to get hurt. A.J. obediently stopped, but turned his face away from the captors in anger.

“Ahh…Good Morning!”

“Viper,” Howie spat angrily.

“Yes it’s me, did you have a nice ride up here-OH! Mr. Richardson, you’re awake? How’s your head?” Viper inquired with a pleased grin.

“Just fine thank you,” Kevin replied with sticky sweet venom in his voice. Viper’s eyes narrowed. He nodded to one of the guards to his left. The guard grinned evilly and approached the SUV. The boys instinctively shrank away. Howie wasn’t fast enough, and the guard grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and roughly pulled him from the back of the SUV, throwing him to the ground, outside. Howie’s body made a thudding noise and he gave a cry of pain.

“Howie!” A.J. called. He glanced up and saw the guards moving towards Kevin. Instinct to protect his “brother” kicked in. He lashed out, with his food catching the guard in the jaw. The guard stumbled backwards clutching his jaw. The rest of the guards howled in laughter as two more approached the SUV. One grabbed A.J. before he could strike the guard again, and the second grabbed Kevin and pulled the older boy from A.J.’s grasp. Kevin was thrown out of the SUV the same way as Howie, but Kevin’s body only made the same thud. Kevin’s cry came out only as a dull gasping noise as his fatigue prevented any other noise. A.J. was thrown out the same way. He grunted, before shoving his tired body to a crawling position. A.J. immediately crawled over to Kevin and checked on him.

“Kev?” he whispered rolling him over.

“I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth, his eyes closed. Viper laughed loudly, bringing all the boys from their thoughts. A.J. shot him a deadly look.

“Well boys have a nice journey up to our facility…and take a good look around outside, because it’s the last time you’ll see the outside for a long. Long. Time.”

Viper walked away and got into a car, while the other guards who were left behind turned to the boys. “Stand up,” one of them ordered. Howie and A.J. obediently stood up, but Kevin found that he was too weak to do it on his own. Kevin struggled to his knees before collapsing.

A.J. shot a look at Howie before leaning down and dragging Kevin’s larger form to his feet. “C’mon Kev,” he said gently, holding Kevin’s weight on his body. Kevin looked at him gratefully.

“Thanks Aje,” he said softly.

Howie turned and looped Kevin’s other arm onto his own shoulder, taking the other half of the weight. Kevin sighed in relief as A.J. and Howie turned back towards the guards. The guard turned and walked away. Howie and A.J. followed with Kevin limping between them. They walked on and on for what seemed like forever. Finally, a building came into view, and the boys weren’t sure if they should sigh in relief or gulp in fear.

A.J. shifted Kevin’s weight nervously on his shoulder as Howie looked at the ground. They walked for another five minutes before they finally reached the building. As they reached the door to the building, Howie felt himself being pulled away from his friends. He cried out in outrage as he heard similar shocking cries from behind him.

“Please! Let me stay with Kevin! He can’t walk!” A.J. was pleading while he was being dragged away. Kevin watched as A.J. was dragged away. He felt himself teetering and caught himself on the wall next to him before he could fall.

A.J. struggled to stay with Kevin as Howie did the same. Howie shoved against his guard. “Please don’t split us up!” Howie pleaded. Howie’s guard had enough of his pleads and shoved him up against the wall closest to them. Howie felt the air being forced from his lungs as he grunted, and his head smacked brutally against the wall. Howie immediately felt blood oozing from above his eyes but ignored it for the moment dragging air back into his lungs.

A.J.’s guard did the same, hitting A.J.’s head on the wall. A.J. cried out before lowering his head to attempt to clear the stars in front of his eyes. “A.J.!” he heard Kevin yell in alarm. A.J. opened his eyes immediately knowing that Kevin thought he was knocked out. He felt something running down his chin and turned his attention to the floor to see blood dripping slowly from his face. Concentrating, he found his lip was throbbing. He licked his lip before hissing in pain.

A.J. heard Kevin begin to struggle feebly with his guard. A.J. smiled to himself before lifting his head, licking his lip again. He made brief eye contact with Kevin letting him know he was fine, before he turned his attention back to his guard.

A.J. opened his mouth to plead again, but the guard beat him to speaking. “Alright, it’s obvious, your eldest can’t walk on his own; therefore ONE of you may stay with him to assist.”

Howie turned to look at A.J. before giving him a small smile and a nod. A.J. smiled back. Then A.J. turned to look the guard in the eye. “I’ll stay,” A.J. whispered.

“Very well,” the guard said nodding to Howie’s guard who violently pulled Howie away from the wall. Howie put up little resistance as he was dragged off down the hall. He was taken not too far down the rows of doors before he came to a specialized one. The door was thrown open and Howie was tossed carelessly inside.

Howie cried out angrily as he hit the pavement, catching himself on his palms. He heard someone behind him before he recognized that someone’s voice. “Howie?”



Meanwhile, A.J.’s guard released him and nodded over to Kevin. “Go ahead,” he grunted. Kevin was leaning against the wall. He looked at A.J. weakly as A.J. approached wiping the blood away from his lip and chin.

“You alright?” Kevin asked quietly.

“Ya, I’ll live.” A.J. mumbled licking his split lip. “Shall we?” he joked before looping Kevin’s arm around his shoulders so the eldest could lean on him.

Kevin laughed at A.J.’s attempt at a joke “Thanks,” he murmured.

“I owe you Kev, it’s no problem…so let’s just take it real slow alright?” Kevin nodded at him as A.J. took a small step forward, positioning Kevin so that all of Kevin’s weight was on his shoulders. A.J. could feel the guards’ presences behind them and walked carefully towards wherever their destination might have been.

They approached a cell with it’s door open and A.J.’s steps faltered. Were they gonna be split up? He felt Kevin stiffen next to him and knew he was thinking the same thing. To their relief, the guards walked ahead of them to the open door and gestured inside. “Here ya go boys…the others are in there as well,” the guard pointed.

Kevin took a deep breath, gripping his sore midsection before hobbling inside with A.J. Once inside, he raised his head at a choked gasp and saw his youngest, his baby “brother”. All of his previous injuries were forgotten. He quickly took his arm from A.J.’s shoulders and hurried to his youngest “brother” embracing him with relief.


**Flash Back to Present**


“And, so…” Kevin finished.

“Voila, here we are,” A.J. said softly.

Nick and Brian stared in disbelief. “Wow,” they both said together. Kevin and A.J. nodded. Kevin looked pained as he remembered the past, and A.J. still looked guilty. Brian noticed it immediately.

“Hey Bone, don’t you even think that you were the reason Kevin got hurt,” Brian ordered.

“But…”

“But nothing Bone, it was Viper, not you…had you been silent, he still would have beat the crap out of one of you,” Nick replied.

“You think?” A.J. asked insecure.

“I know,” Nick replied. A.J. smiled.

“Okay then, I won’t think about it anymore,” he decided.

“Good,” Kevin said, rising to lay down on another cot, “now if you don’t mind, I think I will rest…” he hesitated before continuing, “wake me when Howie returns…and Nick?”

“Yes?”

“Get some sleep, I know you didn’t sleep when you were alone, so get some now.”

A.J. snickered as Nick shot Brian a deadly look. “What?” Brian asked innocently sending A.J. and Kevin into fresh snickers.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 10

Hours later, the boys were restless again. Nick was up pacing around the room, always making sure he was closest to the door to keep his friends protected. Kevin was pretending to sleep, but his face was tense, and Nick could tell immediately that he couldn’t possibly be relaxed enough to be asleep. Brian was actually sleeping, his mouth slightly agape as he lay on his back. A.J. was biting his nails nervously, and staring straight into space absently.


Nick noticed A.J.’s nail biting, and with a small smile, crossed to A.J. kneeling down. Gently, Nick took A.J.’s hands from his mouth and pushed them into A.J.’s lap. “C’mon Aje, you just broke that habit,” Nick chided softly.


“Ya well I just broke my habit of smoking and now I could really use a cigarette,” A.J. joked back.


Nick laughed and added, “I’ve never smoked in my life, but I’m thinking I could use one too…perhaps when this is all over I’ll start…!”

“You better not!” Kevin called from his cot, his eyes remaining closed.

Nick giggled to himself as the door opened. Abruptly, all the boys excluding Brian stood immediately. Ace walked inside by himself. Nick readied a fighting stance. “What do you want?” He growled at Ace.

“You Nick…for your second mission.”

“Where’s Howie?” Ace took this as an acceptance for the mission.

“That is for Nick alone to know…and he shall see,” Ace replied. Nick nodded once, a ghost of a smile gracing his lips. He turned to A.J. Kevin, and Brian.

“I’ll be back soon okay?” he whispered.

A.J., pale now, nodded and whispered, “Good luck.”

Then Nick turned, and walked out the door, Ace following. Nick was forced down the hallway outside the cell, toward a large steel door at the end of one of the halls. Nick stopped obediently as Ace stepped up to the door, opening it and turning towards Nick with a wicked grin on his face. “Go down this staircase, and Viper will be waiting for you.”


Nick brushed past Ace, and approached the staircase. Nick craned his neck to get a good look down the stairs. He shuddered, it was all so foreboding. The staircase was made out of perfect rectangular stones, and it wound out of sight several feet from him.

Nick thought little of that however, as Ace slammed the door shut, trapping Nick in the darkness. He gasped and then turned back around towards the stairs. Taking a deep breath, he followed them down.

The stairs looped around in circles as the walls got darker, damper, and narrower. Nick continued to walk as fear began to bubble up inside of him. He didn’t like the dark. The dark had scared him since he joined Viper’s gang.

Whenever Nick failed missions, he would beg them for consequences instead of them hurting his family. Viper would agree to let Nick spend countless nights alone in an enclosed room with no sound, save his breathing to comfort him. This horror was intensified, as Viper would shut off the lights, leaving Nick in complete, deafening silence, and enveloped in pitch-black consciousness. Some nights he would feel the need to pull out his hair. Some nights, he wondered if he’d make it through at all…

Nick shook himself from his thoughts on the past as he came to stand in front of Viper. Viper smiled almost pleasantly as Nick entered. “Hello Viper,” Nick sighed.
“
Hello Nick,” Viper responded politely though he was secretly annoyed that Nick still wasn’t addressing him properly, “Let’s get going shall we?”

“Wait…well there is one thing…” Nick trailed off uncomfortably.

“What?” Viper inquired.

“How do I know…I mean…have…?” Nick stammered not knowing exactly how to ask Viper for what he wanted.

“Ohhh, You want assurance?” Viper finished for Nick understanding, “assurance that Mr. Dorough is indeed still living?”

“Yes.” Nick whispered

Viper grinned and nodded “Alrigh’ Nicky boy! Follow me!” Nick gulped and followed Viper to the wall across the room. On it was a T.V. that showed various points of what Nick guessed was a maze. Viper typed a couple of buttons before it centered in the center of the maze. Nick gasped at what he saw.

“What have you done to him?” he choked. Howie was lying on his side, his face on one arm, while the other was wrapped around his midsection. Howie’s face was swollen with bruises and dried blood, and the rising and falling of his chest was barely noticeable.

Viper shrugged, “Not very much actually…now are you ready to be debriefed for your mission?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. You will start your mission through this door,” Viper pointed to a door that led into an area with walls slightly lower than the ceiling. “You will find your way to the center of this maze where your friend Howie is.”

“That’s it?” Nick asked incredulously.

Viper laughed almost sadistically. “No no no Nicky! There are countless dangers that you will need to fight off or dodge…but we will give you a hunting knife to take with you,” Viper laughed as he pulled out a knife from the front pocket of his black jacket and tossed it to Nick. Nick caught it and looked towards the door.

“Well…Good Luck!” Viper said sticky sweet before he turned and left Nick alone.

Nick looked towards the doors and sighed. ‘It’s now or never…’ he thought before reaching a trembling hand out towards the door handle. His other hand reached for the knife and held it in front of him. With speed unknown to himself before, Nick launched the door open, knife at the ready. Nothing happened. He relaxed a bit with a sigh, and continued forward.

Behind him, Nick could vaguely hear the door slam. He ignored it and continued down the maze’s path. A few steps later, Nick felt himself relax even more and sighed in relief, pulling the knife to his side. He continued on still cautiously, all of his senses perked. A snarling sound suddenly came from behind him. Cautiously, and slowly, Nick turned his head to glance behind him.

Glazed, yellow eyes glared back at him. Yellow tinted sharp fangs were bared at Nick as he looked this animal in the eye. “Good doggie, I won’t hurt you,” Nick murmured backing away slowly. The “doggie” advanced on Nick and it was then that Nick realized his mistake. This wasn’t a dog. It was a wolf. Nick did the first thing that came to his mind, he ran. The wolf ran after him.

Faster and faster Nick ran through the maze, his feet pounding against the hard ground. He could hear the wolf snapping at his heels and yelped. He ran faster still.

Up ahead, he saw a gap in the ground. He didn’t like the look of it and decided to jump it. Setting his jaw in determination, he sped up still and when he reached the edge of the gap, he leapt out as far as he could, the wolf following him. Nick could feel himself flying through the air, but knew he wouldn’t make it to the other side. In desperation, Nick threw out his arms, and attempted to catch the edge of the gap.

‘C’mon c’mon c’mon,’ Nick’s mind screamed. Success! Nick’s hands caught the edge of the gap. He could hear the wolf try to grab the side, but then no longer heard the clicking of the animal’s claws on the wall. There was silence, then a sudden yelp as the wolf fell. The wolf was silenced.

Nick set about pulling himself out of the gap. As soon as Nick was back on safe ground, he turned to look into the gap and gasped in shock. The gap was filled with sharp spikes that would have impaled Nick had he fallen into the gap. Impaled him, like it did the wolf. Nick looked away and stood up to continue.

After walking for a minute or two, Nick stopped suddenly. It was too quiet. Not a sound was in the maze. It made Nick nervous…very nervous. He continued on slowly, the silence deafening him. The deafening sound almost drove him insane. He stepped another cautious step…then another…. then another…. and an-

**WHOOSH**

Nick jumped back just in time as a sudden movement caught his gaze from the corner of his eye. He looked to his left where he saw the object go, and gasped. A spear was driven into the wall, spear first. Curious of where it could have come from, Nick removed his shirt and waved it out in front of him.

**WHOOSH**

Another three spears shot from the wall, and embedded itself on the opposite side, taking Nick’s shirt with him. Sighing, Nick trotted to his shirt, and put it back on, then ran back a few feet grumbling something under his breath about Viper’s sense of humor and Indiana Jones.

Nick turned back towards the walls that seemingly shot spears from them. Taking a deep breath, he took a running start and leapt to the middle of the spear walls. He ducked his head, and continued to deftly dodge the spears that sped by his hands, head, feet, sides, legs, and arms, panting in both fear and weary.

Nick had just about made it to the other side when he felt a spear, shot from the wall, graze his left side. Nick yelped in pain as he reached the other side where he promptly fell to his knees in shock. Painfully, he put more pressure on his side to stop the bleeding.

Gritting his teeth, he pulled himself to his feet and continued down the path. He came to a fork in the road. Nick contemplated which path to take while scratching his head. Shrugging, he pointed left, and used an old trick taught to him to decide his way.

“Einie Meeny Minie Moe,” Nick muttered pointing left to right. “Catch a tiger by the toe, if he hollers let him go, einie meeny minie moe…LEFT!” He smiled at his cleverness and walked down the left path.

Nick’s smile grew as he turned another corner, then faded rapidly as he realized, “DEAD END?! Stupid Einie Meeny Minie Moe!” He grumbled angrily before he walked back the way he came.

Nick walked down the right side this time before coming to a wide opening. Nick glanced around from left tot right, then up and down before deeming it safe and continuing onwards.

A quiet whimper of pain disrupted his venture. Looking up once again, Nick saw a limp body lying in the center of the opening. Upon further inspection, Nick realized that the limp body was the reason why he was there. Gulping shakily, Nick called out, “Howie?” Nick approached Howie’s crumpled body and stooped down. Howie was unconscious, yet his face showed visible pain. It was obvious why as there were cuts and bruises all over his body, his left eye was black and blue, and blood ran everywhere on his body.

“God ‘D what did they do to you?” Nick whispered. Nick reached out a tentative hand to gently inspect a bleeding cut on Howie’s face. Howie let out a yelp and his eyes snapped open. Howie tried to jump up and away from Nick, but Nick grabbed onto Howie to force him to keep still. Howie struggled in Nick’s grip before Nick could soothe his friend. Howie began to shake and whimper in terror.

“P-please…no more…don’t hurt me …” he whispered weakly.

Nick barely recognized his friend’s voice. It was so weak sounding, not at all like the Howie Nick knew. Swallowing the lump forming in his throat, Nick tightened his arms around Howie in comfort. “Easy ‘D, it’s just me,” he whispered soothingly in Howie’s ear, “relax now so you don’t make it worse.”

Howie immediately sagged in relief. “Nick,” he whispered through forming tears of pain and torment. He then relaxed fully.

“Relax ‘D, I’ve gotchya… and I’ll find a way to get us back to the others,’ Nick said gently.

“No argument *yawn* here,” Howie murmured before drifting off. Howie’s eyes dropped closed and his body went limp as Nick soothed him to a short nap.

Nick carefully laid Howie down and looked him over once again. A soft whimper escaped as his back hit the cement. Nick carefully pressed on Howie’s midsection to see f he could tell if he had broken ribs. As far as Nick could tell Howie did not have them broken. Howie’s arms were cut and bruised but a bump on Howie’s right arm bothered him.

Nick reached out and gently touched the bump on Howie’s arm. Howie’s eyes shot open and he elicited a pain filled yelp. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Nick immediately apologized quietly.

“Jeeze Nick,” Howie half growled half moaned.

“It broken?” Nick asked shortly.

“I think so,” Howie replied in a hiss.

“Your legs?” Nick inquired.

Howie moved his legs easily. “Uh uh, they’re just bruised,” Howie replied.

“Well since you can move your legs I can rule out a spinal injury,” Nick said in relief. “Can you stand ‘D?”

“Yeah, if you help me I think I can.”

Nick smiled in encouragement before he raised himself. He leaned down and offered Howie his left arm. Howie took it and allowed Nick to pull him to his feet. Howie moaned in pain as he stood. “You alright?” Nick asked.

“I…” Howie replied before his knees seemed to give out. Nick caught him quickly.

“Whoa D! What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know…my vision got cloudy and my knees gave out.”

“Did you hit your head?” Nick asked in sudden realization.

“If being punched repeatedly in the head counts, then yes. Otherwise, no, not to my knowledge,” Howie answered.

“Hmmm…well we’ll figure it out when we get back…c’mon I’ll support you,” Nick encouraged.

Nick pulled Howie back to a standing position. Nick supported most of Howie’s weight, and they began back through the maze.

“Ahh…I see you have found your friend,” Viper’s voice rang from somewhere within the maze, “well so you know, the spears are off…as well as the other dangers.”

“Thanks,” Nick snapped sarcastically. Viper’s voice didn’t reply. Nick walked with Howie back through the maze, taking it slowly. They passed the fork that stumped Nick, to the spear wall. Nick hesitated and waved his arm out in front of him cautiously.

“What are you doing?” Howie asked.

“Shh…you’ll see,” Nick replied. When nothing happened, Nick smiled and turned to Howie who was still confused. “Last time I did that, it went Temple of Doom Style…spears shot from the holes in the wall,” Nick explained.

“You weren’t hurt were you?” Howie asked in concern, his eyes wide.

Nick thought of the hole in his side before replying guiltily, “Nah…I’m fine.”

Howie left it at that and the pair approached the pit. “Don’t look,” Nick warned. But it was too late Howie already saw.

“What happened to the wolf?” Howie asked feeling sick that the wolf had obviously been chasing Nick.

“It met with misfortune…they didn’t get on too well,” Nick joked.

Finally, the two reached the beginning of the maze where they were met by Viper and Ace. Viper was grinning. “That’s my boy Nicky! You’re done for today. Ace take them back.”

Nick bit back an angry reply for Howie’s sake and allowed Ace to push them toward the staircase that Nick had descended down earlier. Nick and Howie walked up from the dark damp dungeon like downstairs and into the bright and sterile building with difficulty. Ace escorted them down the dimly lit hallway back to their cell where they stood and waited until Ace opened the door to it.

Ace opened the door and motioned them to go inside. Nick pulled Howie inside and listened to the door slam shut behind them.

Nick turned with Howie to the center of the room. “HOWIE!” Howie raised his eyes and was met in a tight hug. He yelped as pain shot through his arm. The figure let go and Howie smiled weakly as he recognized who it was.

“Aje…” he grinned. A.J.’s face was drawn tight, he had worry in his chocolate colored eyes, and had bags underneath his eyes. Howie studied him for a minute. “…you look like crap,” he commented seriously.

A.J. looked a bit taken aback before he grinned and retorted, “Ya well you ain’t gonna be winning no beauty pageants either.” He noticed Howie cradling his arm. But before he could ask, Brian and Kevin approached.

“You alright D?” Brian asked, his face showing similar worry. Howie nodded.

“I’m alive,” Howie replied.

“Are you hurt?” Kevin asked concerned for his younger brother.

“Nope. Not at all. I’m perfectly healthy,” Howie quipped, “Look at me Kev…what do you think?”

Kevin grinned. “Right, sorry,” he laughed, as Nick led Howie to one of the cots. There he gripped Howie’s right arm, the broken one. Howie hissed in pain but didn’t try and retract his arm. “Ya Howie it’s definitely broken.” Howie simply nodded through the pain. Nick hesitated before continuing, “I’m gonna have to se-“

“Just do it Nick,” Howie whispered bracing himself. Nick gave a curt nod.

“Kev, hold down his shoulders,” Nick ordered. Kevin did as asked. A.J. wordlessly stepped to Howie’s left side and took his free hand giving it a gentle squeeze. Howie smiled gratefully as Nick took his other arm in his hands.

Nick took a deep breath as Nick gripped Howie’s arm into his hands and carefully began to move the bones back into place. Howie screamed in pain and gripped A.J.’s hand tightly. He bucked against Kevin as Brian looked on almost sickened by the scene of Kevin holding Howie down.

A.J. rubbed the back of Howie’s hand as Howie screamed. Nick winced and shut his eyes for a moment. “I was trying to be gentle ‘D...but…”

**SNAP**

“AIIIIEEEGGGGHHHH!” Howie screamed out. White-hot pain seared through his arm to the point Howie blacked out. He could hear nothing…just feel the pain.
//Howie

Howie had never broken anything and this made him wish that he would pass out. His vision was dark, but he wasn’t passed out. The pain was too much.

/Howie

Wait…Someone was talking to Howie. But Howie felt disoriented, and confused. He couldn’t remember what had happened to him, only that he had been in a great amount of pain before.

“HOWIE!” A.J.’s voice boomed. Howie’s eyes shot open and he realized he was panting. Brian was now sitting by Howie’s head, wiping a cool cloth on his forehead to wipe away the sweat that had formed there. Kevin had let go and was looking down at Howie in concern, resting one of his hands on Howie’s thigh. A.J. was still rubbing the back Howie’s hand. Nick meanwhile was looking at Howie intently.

“Are you okay?” Nick asked.

“I…” Howie croaked. He swallowed and noticed then that the pain was only dull now. “I think so…it definitely feels better.”

“Good cuz you scared us pretty good when you passed out,” Kevin voiced in concern.

Howie looked confused. “I passed out?”

“Ya for like five minutes!” Brian answered.

“Oh,” Howie moaned. Nick left Howie’s vision for a minute, then came back into view holding one of the chairs. Nick quickly flipped the chair over and kicked two legs off it. Then Nick ripped one of the pillow cases to shreds.

“I’m gonna splint your arm Howie okay?” Nick asked.

“Yeah go ahead,” Howie replied tiredly.

Nick quickly put the chair legs around Howie’s arm. Then with Kevin holding them, he used the strips of the pillow case to make straps to hold the chair legs to Howie’s arm. Howie ground his teeth in pain. Nick used another pillow case to make a sling to keep pressure off of Howie’s arm.

When Nick finished, Howie smiled. “Thanks Nick, it feels much better now.”
“No worries ‘D,” Nick smiled before walking away. Kevin, Brian and A.J. sat next to Howie as Nick walked away. While his other friends were occupied by Howie, Nick lifted his shirt to inspect his wound from the spear that grazed his side. The blood had seemed to finish clotting, yet the wound was deeper than he had originally thought.

“Wow, that looks bad,” Brian said from across the room. Nick quickly put his shirt down and opened up his mouth to explain.

Before he said anything Howie replied, “It’s not so bad.” Nick breathed a sigh of relief as he realized they were talking to Howie, not him.

“It sure looks bad…did you hit your head Howie?” Kevin asked.

“Not to my knowledge,” Howie quoted from his earlier questioning with Nick. Nick watched with a smile as A.J., Kevin, and Brian looked at Howie in worry.

“What?” Howie asked a bit annoyed.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Brian asked softly.

Howie sighed. “I’m FINE all they did was rough me up a bit. It’s not a big deal.” Howie said.

“It’s a big deal to us ‘D…we thought they would kill you,” A.J. said piercing Howie with a concerned look.

Howie smiled. “But I’m alive and let’s leave it at that okay?” Howie said. A.J., Kevin and Brian all nodded.

“Good…now I think I want to sleep…” Howie said with a yawn.

“Gnight ‘D,” Brian murmured also laying down. Howie didn’t respond, as he was already asleep.

Trouble Chapter 11

~*~*

Howie’s eyelids moved rapidly as his eyes darted underneath them. He yawned, wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat up.

To his left, Howie heard steady breathing. He looked down to see the top of A.J.’s head resting on the top of his cot. His head lay against his outstretched arm, and a small trail of drool escaped from the corner of his mouth as he slept. No doubt, he’d been up all night, making sure Howie was okay.

Howie smiled fondly at his friend before continuing his glance around the room. Brian lay on another cot still tossing and turning, much to Howie’s displeasure, but then Howie noticed it wasn’t as violent as before.

Kevin lay on top of his own cot, his left arm draped gently over his midsection, seemingly sleeping peacefully. And Nick…wait where was Nick? Howie glanced around frantically before to his relief, his gaze fell onto the younger blonde.

Nick stood with his back leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and his head bowed onto his chest. One of Nick’s legs was bent, and his foot was pressed flat against the wall. Howie couldn’t tell if Nick was asleep or just relaxing himself.

Nick must have felt Howie’s gaze on him, because he looked up and glanced around the room, seemingly nervous, before catching Howie’s gaze. Gone was the nervous look, and was replaced by a look of relief. He grinned. “Good Morning!” he chirped quietly before continuing, “although we can’t be too sure it IS morning as there are no windows and there is no sense of time in here…but…hey! Howie Doin?”

Howie rolled his eyes at Nick’s attempt to lighten the situation. “Better Nicky….How are ya?” he asked climbing off the cot rather clumsily with his broken arm.

Nick was silent for a moment before replying, “Good!” then as an afterthought to himself, ‘If by good you mean in agonizing pain from this cut…’ He kept a calm smile on his face as this bitter thought ran through his head.


The lock on the cell door clicked then, and Nick pushed himself from the wall as the door opened, his wince going unnoticed by Howie who cowered back. Nick was on full alert and tensed as Ace walked in carrying a tray of food and water. “Nick?” Howie whispered terror filled.

“Wake everyone D.” Nick instructed without turning his gaze from the man before him.

Nick heard Howie back away from him, and listened to him rouse the others. “Kev…Kev…Wake up…Ace is back…”

“I’m up!” Kevin said immediately going to Brian. “Wake up Coz’ we got company.” Brian was then up and Howie quickly shook A.J. awake.

Nick just stared at Ace, his blue eyes searing an imaginary hole into Ace’s flesh.

“Oooo if looks could kill!” Ace laughed.

“What do you want?” Nick snapped impatiently.

“Just delivering the food Viper wanted to give ya’ll…” Ace answered.

“Uh…thanks,” Nick replied uneasily. Ace wanted something else…he had to be here for another reason. Nick could sense it.

Ace’s eyes narrowed and he smiled in sick pleasure. “How’s your side Nicky?” he spat.

Nick closed his eyes finally realizing why Ace was here. ‘Shit.’ He thought guiltily before replying, “Just fine thank you.” flashing a grin at Ace. Ace wanted to make the others mad at him.

“Glad to hear it…eat up!” Ace said before leaving.

Nick sighed and turned toward his friends not meeting the eye of any of them. “Well here ya go!” Nick said holding the tray out to Kevin who snatched it. Nick looked up with a sigh deciding to get it over with and looked into four pairs of angry eyes. Nick grinned sheepishly.

“Nick-“ Kevin growled angrily.

“Kev…I can explain,” Nick quickly cut him off.

“Let’s see it,” A.J. ordered looking at Nick’s sides.

“It’s nothing…honest!” Nick protested backing away from them.

“It must be something if Ace mentioned it,” Brian added sounding angry also. Nick glanced into the angry faces of his friends. Guilt spread through him, and being a male, he felt defensive.

“Look I’m not a kid, so just leave it alone and don’t worry about it.” Nick snapped.

“It’s not about being a kid or not now…please let us check it,” Howie said gently. Nick sighed and shook his head.

“Don’t concern yourself…I’ve had worse,” he murmured attempting to walk away. A.J. grabbed him.

“Nick I’m gonna knock some sense into you if you don’t quit acting all ‘rough and tough’ and start behavin’ like you should!” A.J. snapped shaking Nick’s shoulder roughly. Kevin quickly pulled him away from Nick and was about to say something before he heard Nick sigh.

Nick rolled his eyes at A.J. and lifted up his shirt. The cut was deep, and covered with dry blood. The area around it was swollen and red suggesting it might be infected. A chorus of gasps ran throughout his friends. “See?” Nick muttered looking at the ground, “Nothing.”

“What are you kidding?!” Brian exclaimed.

“Nick that’s really deep kiddo,” A.J. added more gently than before.

“Nick why didn’t you tell me when I asked if you were hurt?” Howie whispered in a hurt tone.

Nick rolled his eyes. “Cuz I knew you’d react this way,” Nick said before putting his shirt back down and walking away. He sat down on another cot, before easing himself back against the wall, closing his eyes. Truth be told, he felt rather dizzy from lack of sleep and blood loss.


“Here Nick.” Nick opened his eyes, and glanced up to see that Kevin was standing next to Nick holding a bowl full of what Nick guessed was soup like the day before, and a glass of water. Nick took the glass, then moved away muttering, “Thanks.” He needed the water to help replace the blood he had lost, but didn’t feel very hungry as his stomach was queasy.

“Nick you forgot your food,” Kevin pointed out.

“Give it to Brian,” Nick said quietly drinking the water.

“No, it’s yours,” Kevin said firmly.

“Kevin, in case you didn’t hear me, I’m gonna say it again…Give it to Brian.” He paused, “I ain’t hungry.”

Kevin frowned. “If you’re doing missions you’ll need double strength…eat something.”

Nick grinned, and the sight frightened Kevin. It wasn’t a happy filled smile, it was a forced, haunted smile that made Nick look twice his age. “I’ve gone much longer without food than a couple of days. Plus if I eat it now, I will throw it back up. Give. It. To. Brian.”

Nick then turned away and laid down on a cot, closing his eyes. He then felt someone at his side moments later. Biting back a frustrated sigh, he turned to see A.J. “Hi Aje, what’s up?” he asked sitting up and wincing.

“I’m gonna clean your wound Nick,” A.J. informed Nick. Nick was about to say no, but then saw the look in A.J.’s eye and knew that the rebel was genuinely worried for Nick. Nick sighed.

“Fine,” Nick agreed finally.

A.J. set about cleaning and wrapping Nick’s cut as best he could with the limited supplies. When A.J. finished Nick smiled at him. “Thanks A.J.” he said feeling slightly better.

A.J. smiled back. “No prob kiddo.”

“BRIAN!” Howie’s alarmed voice frightened everyone especially Nick as he turned to see Brian convulsing on his cot. Nick’s eyes widened and he dashed over to Brian’s cot.

“What happened?” he demanded of Howie who looked like he was in shock.

“I…I don’t know…we were talking one minute, then his eyes rolled back into his head and this happened…” Howie stammered.

A.J. put a comforting hand on Howie’s shoulder as Nick pulled Brian’s hands into his own allowing him to convulse. Kevin reached towards Brian. “DON’T touch him,” Nick ordered firmly, “Let it run its course. That’s all we can do without causing more harm.”

“BRIAN SNAP OUT OF IT!” Nick heard Kevin yell. Nick almost smiled. That wouldn’t do any good. Nick just held on until Brian stopped shaking.

Nick hesitantly let go of Brian’s hands and stood back, giving Brian air. Nick studied his own hands, noticing the cuts on his palms from Brian’s clenching nails. Brian lay still, and Nick turned around to see his friends all wide eyed, and pale. He smiled. “Come on he just needs rest now.”

“Will…he…be alright?” Howie asked.

“Yeah…it was just a small seizure.”

“Just?” Kevin muttered.

“Yeah, he’ll wake up eventually…’D you look rather pale…why don’t you lay down for awhile…” Nick suggested helping Howie to his feet and to a cot to lay down. A.J. followed and sat next to Howie talking quietly with him to calm the Latino down.


An hour passed before Brian stirred. He moaned quietly in his sleep and brought his hand to his forehead.

Kevin immediately jumped up. “Brian,” he murmured gently as he reached Brian’s side. Brian’s eyes opened.

“Unngh…what the hell happened to me?” he groaned sitting up slowly. Kevin assisted him.

“Howie bored you into having a seizure,” A.J. teased. Brian playfully glared at Howie.

“Well nice going Howie,” Brian teased. Howie laughed knowing his friends were kidding with him.

The conversation continued for another thirty minutes before Brian yawned. “Why am I so sleepy?” he demanded, “I’ve done nothing but sleep the entire time I’ve been here!”

“The obvious reasons aside…When you have a seizure,” Nick replied, “you tend to sleep for up to 23 hours after that.”

Four sets of eyes stared blankly back at him. “I’m not so sure I want to know how you found that out…” Kevin said rubbing his temples in stress.

“Isn’t 23 hours a little extreme?” A.J. asked.

“Shhh…Brian’s asleep!” Howie hissed. Nick glanced over to Brian and found Howie was right. Brian was out like a light. He stood up and stretched.

“I think we should all do the same,” he said exhaustedly. His friends glanced worriedly at Nick as he stumbled to his cot.

“Nick are you alright?” A.J. finally asked.

“Yeah…jusss’ tireed…” Nick slurred as he slumped down.

“Nick…” Kevin said slowly and gently.

“I think I need to liee down.” Nick said holding his forehead. He finally lay his head on his cot and closed his eyes.

“What’s wrong with him?” A.J. asked worriedly.

“I think he’s just overly exhausted and that cut can’t really help any.” Kevin replied.

Howie chuckled softly. “What?” A.J. asked Howie.

“I was just thinking--shut it A.J--,” Howie began then snapped as he saw A.J. open his mouth at the comment about thinking. A.J. shut his mouth and Howie continued. “The same guy who dressed Kevin up like an ice cream sundae is the one keeping us alive right now…” Howie replied.

“Were you laughing about the irony or the Sundae?” Kevin demanded feigning a hurt voice.

“Both are quite funny…but the sundae is better.” A.J. replied for Howie. Kevin shot him a dangerous look. “But it really is a big stretch…” A.J. continued.

“Yeah…to think the most ‘immature’ of us is actually the most mature and knowledgeable of the world…” Kevin said looking at Nick’s still form.

“Looking at him sleeping like that…you wouldn’t even know it…” Howie said.

“Yeah.” A.J. and Kevin agreed before walking to their own cots and laying down.

A.J. suddenly giggled again causing Howie to laugh as well. “A.J.!” Kevin snapped, “the sundae was not that funny!” Howie and A.J. laughed again.

On his cot, Nick’s lips curved into a smile. He wasn’t asleep and had heard everything. He felt a sudden surge of love for his brothers. They really did care about him…and really respected him as an adult. This gave him new courage to fight for them.

This in mind, he closed his eyes and drifted off for a small nap.


The next time the boys were awake, they all gathered around Brian’s cot. A.J. was reminding them of some embarrassing story about when they were first starting out. It was the story of how Brian was hitting on his now girlfriend Leighanne, and Nick approached the pair and embarrassed him.

“Re-Remember how Nick walked up to them and asked Leigh, “Come now, don’t you think you’re a bit too good for him. After all, you’re clearly talented, beautiful and charming. Brian? He’s young, immature and lieks to play video games. What could someone as sophisticated as you do with someone like Brian? C’mon Bri, it’s not like it’s going to happen. You’re kidding yourself! Let’s go, I’m bored!”

“HAHAHA! Yes! I remember….oh man Brian! The look on your face was CLASSIC!” Kevin laughed.

“I am just glad that Leighanne thought it was funny…and thought Nick was cute…otherwise I would have killed him,” Brian replied shooting an annoyed look at Nick.

“Yeah well…everyone thinks that I’m so darn cute…it must be true!” Nick said striking a pose. A chorus of boos ran throughout the cell and A.J. reached forward shoving Nick over. Nick laughed as A.J. piled on top of him. Howls of cheerful laughter filled the room as the boys laughed heartily.

The laughter stopped when A.J. hit Nick’s cut. He yelped in pain and grabbed his side. “Oh shit! I’m so sorry Nicky!” A.J. mumbled. Nick forced a smile.

“It’s alright A.J.” he said in a forced laugh.

The door unlocked to their cell revealing Ace. Nick was instantly on his feet. “What do YOU want?” he demanded angrily.

“I’m here for you freak,” Ace said in a sing-song voice glowering at A.J. A.J. immediately narrowed his eyes and readied himself for a fight. Kevin stood close to his side.

Howie and Brian backed away, not wanting to be involved in the fight. Ace just stared at the three in front of him as Nick took a step forward. “Let’s go Nicky.” He challenged the younger blonde.

Pride got the best of Nick as he charged at Ace. Ace, strategically went for the one vulnerable spot on Nick’s body, his cut. “AIEEGHH!” Nick cried out before falling to the floor clutching his now open wound. He gasped in pain and tried not to pass out, writhing in pain.

“Nicky!” Kevin cried out and ran to the fallen blonde. A.J. followed. As A.J. neared, Kevin jumped up, anger flashing in his brilliant green eyes.

“ACE!” he growled. Ace grinned maliciously in return.

‘Good…this is all going as planned…’ he thought to himself. As Kevin came closer, Ace pulled something from his pocket. Nick had by now realized what Ace wanted to do.

“KEV! LOOK OUT!” he croaked as Kevin jumped to tackle Ace. Kevin never saw it coming and gave a jolt as he dropped to the ground unconscious. Ace stood over Kevin’s now unconscious body still holding the taser. Nick tried to climb to his feet but found he couldn’t.

“KEV!” A.J. cried in alarm getting up. Nick grabbed him by his sleeve as he noticed a shinning blade next to his unconscious brother in Ace’s arms. Ace cradled Kevin’s body in his grasp, holding a hunting knife to Kevin’s throat.

“Well well well A.J. ain’t this scene familiar?” Ace mocked. A.J. paled before turning away in shame. Nick lay motionless as Ace began dragging Kevin from the room.

“I will return in a hour with your mission,” Ace informed Nick before turning and leaving.

“Shit…” Nick moaned rolling over. A.J. still stared straight ahead as Howie and Brian jumped down next to Nick.

“…His wound is open!” Howie informed everyone.

“Oh God…look at all that blood!” Brian added then noticed Nick’s eyes rolling around. He took the younger blonde’s hand. “it’s okay Nicky…stay with me okay?” Nick forced a nod.

“A.J.! snap out of it and help me!” Howie ordered. His voice seemed to be drawing farther and farther away.

“Sorry,” A.J. replied, “Okay get me some…”

Darkness.
~*~*

Trouble Chapter 12

When Kevin opened his eyes again, he found himself on the floor in a cell identical to the one he had been sharing with his band mates. For a moment, he thought the run in with Ace and the taser had all been a dream.

When Kevin sat up, and the ringing in his head returned full force with an accompanying throb in his neck, he realized that it had been a reality. ‘NICK!’ his mind screamed.

He once again glanced around his cell, reminding himself sternly that he was alone. Pain shot through his neck as he turned it fully to the right.

He felt around his neck for any broken skin around the area he was zapped and much to his relief found nothing. He did however hiss in pain as the area was very sensitive and sent waves of pain down his spine.

Kevin sat up slowly and chills ran down his spine as he looked around the cell. Alone in a place like he was in was enough to make him feel more than uncomfortable. Slowly, Kevin got to his feet closing his eyes tightly when a dizzy sensation came over him. When he opened his eyes again, he walked to a lone cot in the middle of the room and sat down on the edge of it.

There was nothing to do right now but wait. ‘But wait for what? What if Nick was killed? He was bleeding rather horribly…No sense in dwelling on it, he’s a strong kid…stronger than anyone he had ever known…I need some rest…’ Kevin thought in a jumble.

Deciding to agree with his mind that he might as well rest, Kevin sat on the cot and leaned against the wall bringing his knees to his chest. He closed his eyes and waited for Ace to come back and tell him what they wanted with him.


~*~*

Voices were all around him. The voices seemed familiar, but somehow distorted. He felt rather groggy and dizzy at the same time. “…lost a lot…blood…” a voice was saying seemingly from far away.

“…be alright?” another concerned voice questioned.

“Yes.” The first voice responded. Who were they? Where was he?

“Unghhh…” Had that come from him?

“Think he’s…waking…up…” A different voice said. He slowly opened his eyes, and saw blurry shapes of faces. He closed his eyes again and then opened them to see three faces looking down at him. He jumped, quite startled.

“You know…in most cases…that’s considered rude…” Nick mumbled sitting up. He winced and grabbed onto his side. He heard a chuckle coming from Howie, as he and the other two backed off.

“Well in most cases, you passing out for approximately 5 hours is considered rude too,” Brian quipped. Nick stared at him, ‘5 HOURS?!’ he thought frantically as his head spun, but he laughed instead.

“Point taken,” he said and grunted as he hauled himself to his feet. He swayed slightly and then fell back onto the cot. He put his palm to his forehead and groaned from dizziness.

“Easy There Nicky!” Howie cried alarmed.

“I’m fine,” Nick insisted, with a wince “I’m just dizzy that’s all.”

“Take it easy,” A.J. ordered grumbling. Nick nodded and slowly attempted to climb to his feet. This time he didn’t sway. Nick’s senses slowly returned to him as he ambled clumsily around the cell.

Nick suddenly looked down and noticed his shirt was gone. He saw it laying on a chair and went to pick it up, still gripping his side. “Well…looks like I don’t have a shirt anymore…” He said looking at his now tattered, bloody shirt. He noticed that nobody replied.

“What’s wrong?” he asked turning to them.

“We’re worried about Kev…” Brian said quietly, then as an afterthought, “and you.”

“Well I’m fine Bri…I was just a bit dizzy at first but I think I’ll be alright in a couple of minutes, and…Ace hasn’t returned while I was out has he?” Nick asked while chewing on his lip.

“No not at all,” Howie replied. Nick chewed on his lip nervously.

“I thought Ace said in an hour…” Nick said to himself.

“Maybe he was waiting for you to wake up?” Howie suggested. Nick nodded in return as his eyes lit up in realization. It was quite possible that was the case.

“That’s impossible! How would he know when Nick woke up?” Brian asked curiously.

“Cameras.” Nick replied pointing to different spots in the room while looking at his feet in thought. Brian stared at Nick wide-eyed.

“You don’t miss anything do you?” Brian asked.

“Nope,” Nick said limping around to look at one of the cameras. Nick took a deep breath and tested his side. It didn’t seem to hurt as much. Deciding he was alright he then took the next step to save Kevin… He approached a camera, and then jumped up and down waving his arms. “Hello! I’m awake now!” Nick yelled continuing jumping up and down.

A.J. almost fell off the cot he was sitting on in shock, Howie’s jaw dropped to the floor and Brian just chuckled. “It’s amazing that he can go from big hero boy to…that…” Brian said.

“Yeah Nick how old are you? 5?” A.J. joked. Nick turned around and glared playfully.

“*I* want to go play with Viper to save Kevvy,” he replied with a laugh before continuing seriously, ”…it makes me nervous that he’s been gone so long…” The boys stared at Nick and nodded, dropping their heads. Nick turned back to the cameras jumping up and down and waving again.

Ten minutes later, the door opened and Ace walked in. “Hold your horses Nicky boy…you’re so anxious!”

Nick smirked as the rest of his friends tensed. “What can I say? I’m slow to mature,” Nick said rolling his eyes. Ace approached Nick and tossed him a radio. Nick caught it. “What’s this?” Nick asked.

“A radio…Mr. Richardson is on the other end of it…your mission is to find him…” Ace answered.

“Catch?” Nick inquired.

“He’s buried underground…but he’s still conscious,” Ace replied with an evil grin. Nick’s eyes flashed with anger as he heard A.J., Brian, and even Howie shouting curses at Ace.

“Kevin doesn’t like enclosed spaces. He’ll be out of his mind…” Brian whispered to Nick. Nick nodded.

“Yeah I know…that’s why they did it,” Nick replied through clenched teeth.

“Well,” Ace said looking expectantly at Nick, “Get a move on! He’s only got 3…no 2 ½ hours of oxygen left! Then it’s bye bye bye.” Ace laughed as A.J., Howie, and Brian’s mouths fell open.

Nick meanwhile shook his head in exasperation. “That’s Nsync you idiot!” he snapped.

“Same difference!” Ace defended looking flusted.

“Yeah only not.”

“Oh, shut up and move,” Ace snapped irritably. Nick snickered as Ace turned towards the door. Nick started to follow but then turned and saw the anxious faces of his friends. Nick looked at the radio in his hands.

“Ya’ll want to talk to him?” Nick asked. Three anxious faces nodded frantically as Nick raised the radio to his lips. “Kev?”


~*~*

Kevin was pulled from his rest as he heard a clunk come from the doorway. Kevin cautiously stood up and waited for whoever it was outside the door to come inside. His heart started beating wildly as the door opened slowly. Ace walked in with two other guards. Viper’s men weren’t taking anymore chances with the boys. They were clearly stronger than they looked. “Hello Mr. Richardson,” Ace greeted.

“Hello Ace,” Kevin responded.

“You are a big part of Nick’s mission today,” Ace told Kevin.

“Like Howie was?” Kevin breathed.

“No…not quite…I don’t need to beat you up to get to you…I’ll just use fear…” Ace nodded to the other two guards with him who immediately approached Kevin with metal chains.

“Wh…what’s this?” Kevin asked nervously backing up into the wall.

“Now Mr. Richardson it really would be in your best interest to not resist…it will be less painful that way…” Ace laughed.

Kevin took a deep breath and held out his hands much to the surprise of Ace. “I trust that no matter what you do with me that Nick will be able to save me.” Kevin said honestly. Ace laughed loud and hard.

“Well now…ain’t that special? Really, how touching,” Ace sneered. Kevin said nothing else. “Chain him,” Ace ordered as the chains were put on Kevin’s wrists.

“Let’s go!” Another guard said dragging Kevin from the cell.

The hallway Kevin was dragged through lead to two large doors that when opened let in sunlight. Kevin immediately yelped and brought his chained hands up to shield his eyes as he winced.

“Sunlight is nice Mr. Richardson isn’t it?” a voice to his right asked. Kevin whirled around to see Viper standing there.

“Oh yeah,” Kevin snapped sarcastically anger consuming him, “especially when you’re bruised, bleeding, chained, and dehydrating.”

Viper set his jaw and struck Kevin in the face. Viper stared Kevin straight in the eye. “Shut it and let’s go,” he growled. “Oh and pay attention to where you’re going Mr. Richardson…it might come in handy later.”


The group made their way to a tree which had a hole beneath it. Inside the hole was a large coffin. It’s white interior was matted with pads and had hooks on the sides, that Kevin figured was for the chains.

Kevin swallowed at the sight. A coffin defiantly wasn’t a good sign. “A…are you going to kill me?” he asked barely above a whisper as all color drained from his face.

“No Mr. Richardson…I’m just going to bury you alive.” Ace answered nonchalant.

Kevin managed to gasp out as he looked wide eyed back into the coffin. “Yo…You want me to lay in there?” he asked.

“Yep, and now’s the time…” Viper motioned to the guards.

“Please don’t do this…” Kevin whimpered backing away straight into the arms of the guards who grabbed Kevin and shoved him down into the coffin. Kevin tried to get back out of the coffin as the guards forced him down into it and attached his chains to the hooks on the side of the coffin. Kevin could still move his body, just couldn’t get out of the coffin.

‘This is NOT good…’ Kevin thought frantically, ‘what if I suffocate? What if Nick can’t find me? What if-‘

“Here,” Viper chirped dragging Kevin from his thoughts, as he tossed a radio at Kevin, “I hope you paid real good attention, it’ll come in handy now…You have probably three hours of oxygen left…we’ll just see if your faith in Nick is well placed. Viper laughed as the lid to the coffin slammed shut.

Kevin clenched his eyes shut. ‘No no no… this is NOT happening…’ he thought frantically running his hands over his face. Not one coherent word ran through his mind except, ‘I’ve never been so scared in my life…’ Kevin began to sob. A half an hour passed of him freaking out before,

“Kev?” Kevin jumped. Great now he was hearing things. “KEV! PICK. UP. YOUR. RADIO.”

‘Radio?’ Kevin thought to himself in confusion before he remembered the black electronic box he was clutching. Kevin picked up his radio and pressed the button. “N…Nick?” he whimpered.

“KEV!” The voice sounded relieved. “Thank God …The *guys* are here and want to know if you’re alright?” Nick purposely said ‘the guys are here’ to let Kevin know that he had to reassure the others. Kevin complied.

“Yeah…I’m okay.” Kevin lied. Kevin heard some soft talking on the other end then the slam of what he guessed was the cell door.

“Kev?” the voice sounded more concerned and nervous.

“Y…Yeah…?” Kevin answered shakily.

“Are you alright?”

“Uhm…”

“It’s just me here Kev,” Nick assured him.

“Then….no I don’t think so Nick…I’ve never been more scared in my life,” Kevin sobbed.

“Alright Kevvy….shhh…Just tell me where to go, and I’ll come get you out of there,” Nick soothed.

“I…I don’t remember…” Kevin stammered beginning to panic.

“KEV…c’mon man…I REALLY need you to stay calm and keep your head…I can’t find you without your help,” Nick ordered in a firm but gentle voice.

“O…okay Nick you’re right…okay.” Kevin said taking a deep breath.

“We’ve got less than two hours Kev…okay?”

“Uh huh.”

“Now I’m where you started…Where do I go?” Nick asked.

“Up the mountainside…halfway.” Kevin replied.

“Okay I’m on my way….after that?”

“Veer to the left,” Kevin continued. Nick continued to follow Kevin’s directions. He walked for a good while and checked his watch. Around an hour and a half had passed.

“Now what?” Nick asked.

“Walk…for…awhile…to trees…” Kevin said tiredly.

“Kev…you gotta stay awake bud…I can’t do this without you!”

“Kay…I’m awake.” Nick felt uneasy and waited only a minute before asking,

“Now?” Nick hadn’t made it to the trees yet, but he wanted the rest of the directions in case Kevin didn’t stay awake.

“Through trees into clearing…there…” he yawned here and mumbled something incoherent which Nick only heard “oak tree”. Nick frowned and continued on his way walking quickly.

“Okay Kev…I’m out of the trees,” Nick said coming to the clearing. “Now what was the next part?” There was silence. “Kev?” Nick tried again feeling his blood run cold. “KEV…” Nick said more insistently. “KEV!” He finally screamed into the radio. “KEV ANSWER ME DAMMIT!” There was no answer.

Nick looked frantically around. “Okay…Okay…he said that uhm…that there was a uhm…tree…yes…so uhm…where is it?” Nick frantically looked around until his eyes came to rest on “AN OAK TREE!” Nick exclaimed and took off towards the tree. He saw fresh dirt and his heart soared.

“Hang on Kev…” Nick said into the radio, “I’m almost there.”

Kev was barely clinging to life inside the coffin as Nick’s voice flooded inside. His eyes were closed and his breathing slowly began to still….

Trouble Chapter 13

Nick jumped down onto his knees as he reached the spot where Kevin lay buried. Cursing inwardly, Nick realized that Viper had given him nothing to dig with. ‘What am I gonna do now? It’s gonna take forever to get to Kevin…” Nick thought in frustration, his heart sinking. ‘You can’t give up,’ he scolded himself.

Determination setting in his eyes, Nick dug into the earth with his bare hands pausing only slightly as the stretching of his arms tore at his wound a bit.

Nick dug frantically, the reddish brown earth dirtying his hands and getting underneath his fingernails. He cared nothing for this as he pulled the dirt towards himself burying his legs in the process. He shoved the dirt out of his way, making a new pile, getting the red-brown substance all over his bare chest and legs.

Nick checked his watch. ‘Two hours, ten minutes.’ His watch read. Nick began to dig faster screaming, “Kev! Kev!” trying to rouse him. He got no response.

Finally, after a great while of digging, Nick finally hit something solid. Looking down, Nick saw something white gleam in the sunlight. His heart soared. He continued to dig until the entire lid was uncovered.

Abandoning his efforts of digging with his hands, Nick stood up checking his watch. ‘Two hours twenty minutes?!’ Nick thought in alarm before dropping down next to the coffin and attempting to pull open the lid.

The lid however refused to give. “C’mon!” Nick growled as he grunted in effort and pulled again. Finally with a great creak the lid gave way and Nick pushed it away to look down upon the body of his eldest brother. Nick grinned and jumped down into the coffin next to Kevin. “Kev…Kev…” Nick whispered barely touching Kevin. He reached out and touched his face. Kevin did not stir.
Nick abandoned his efforts to be gentle, and leaned down next to Kevin, pulling Kevin into an embrace and shaking him gently. There was no response…as Nick finally realized, Kevin wasn’t breathing.

Nick stopped breathing momentarily as this information was processed.

“NO! KEVIN!” Nick cried out in anguish pulling the chains off the hooks inside the coffin and pulling Kevin out onto the earth outside the coffin. He tilted Kevin’s face upward and poised his own right side of his face above Kevin’s mouth while watching for Kevin’s body to rise and fall. All was still.

“Kevin,” Nick growled, in anguish as he placed two fingers next to Kevin’s Adams apple to feel for a pulse. To his relief there was a weak pulse. Nick released the breath he had been holding and then remembered that Kevin wasn’t breathing.

Forcing himself not to panic, Nick titled Kevin’s face upwards opening Kevin’s airway. He pinched Kevin’s nose shut and opened Kevin’s mouth gently. Nick hesitated before locking his lips over Kevin’s, drawing a deep breath and blowing it into Kevin’s mouth, into the older man’s lungs. He watched Kevin’s chest rise and fall before breathing for Kevin once again. “Come on Kev,” Nick growled in frustration and concern as he blew air in again.

“BREATHE KEVIN!” Nick screamed the order. “Breathe-“ *breath*

“Dammit!” *breath*

“Please” *breath*

“Kevvy,” *breath*

“Don’t,” *breath*

“quit!” *breath*

Nick began to lose hope. Kevin wasn’t responding at all. “KEVIN!” Nick snapped breathing for him once again.

“I’ll,” *breath*

“have,” *breath*

“to run,” *breath*

“the group,” *breath*

“without,” *breath*

“you,” *breath*

“then.” *breath*

Nick’s threat seemed to work because as he went to breathe for Kevin again, the older one’s body jerked and he attempted to turn over onto his side and with Nick’s help he was able to turn to cough and gag.

Nick breathed a sigh of relief as he noticed that Kevin was trembling. “Kev?” He whispered pulling Kevin back onto his back. Kevin took a shuddering sigh of relief then began to sob uncontrollably turning towards Nick’s stomach, clutching to the top of his jeans.

Nick watched Kevin break down and he pulled Kevin into his arms. Kevin’s body continued to tremble as Nick hugged Kevin tightly rocking back and forth, attempting to offer support. Nick just allowed Kevin to sob for a few seconds as he gathered his own emotions. “N…Nick,” Kevin finally gasped out clinging tighter to the blonde.

“Shhh…” Nick Murmured his emotions getting away from him again. Nick allowed Kevin to hold onto him as he rocked back and forth. Forcing back the tears that had formed in his eyes, Nick’s thoughts flew through his head. Kevin had almost died…that was the closest any of them had come yet. Finally Nick took a shuddered, shaken breath. “You okay Kev?” Nick asked barely above a whisper.

“I…I am not really sure,” Kevin whispered in a small voice.

“You hurt?” Nick asked softly.

“Not anymore than I was already,” Kevin answered shakily.

“Good…can you stand?” Nick asked pulling away from Kevin and looking at Kevin closely.

“Su…Sure…” Kevin replied as he started to shift his weight to the rest of his body as Nick gripped his hands and pulled him upwards. Kevin wobbled for a moment as Nick steadied him before he shakily let go of Nick’s hands.

“I think I’m okay…” Kevin murmured then bit his lip. “Thanks Nick…” Kevin offered a weak smile.

Nick grinned. “Hey, now could I really let you die? I mean, who would take care of the business part of the group?” Nick joked. Kevin managed another weak smile.

“Certainly not you Nick…the group would fail for sure,” Kevin joked back.

“Hey!” Nick laughed pretending to be offended, then looked at Kevin. “Let’s go.”

Kevin nodded in agreement and he and Nick took off. As they walked along, Nick was pleased to see that some color had returned to Kevin’s pasty face, although his clothes were dirty, his hair disheveled, and his eyes were puffy. “You sure you’re okay?” Nick asked concerned for his oldest brother.

“I’m fine,” Kevin replied, his guard back up.

Nick breathed a sigh of relief. He never thought he’d be glad to have Kevin’s older brother mode back, but to Nick this meant that Kevin was going to be fine.

Finally after a half an hour, Nick and Kevin saw the forms of Ace and Viper come back into view. Nick put a stony expression back on his face, as they approached which did not go unnoticed by Kevin who also tried to don one without much success.

“Ahh…Welcome back Mr. Richardson! How was it?” Viper asked Kevin with a sinister smile. Kevin just stared coldly back at them.

“Not too bad…though not something that I’d care to repeat thank you,” Kevin replied very coolly.

“Yes…I would gather that…Ace take them back to their cell would you?” Viper said carelessly walking back inside the building.

“Yes sir,” Ace replied, “Alright you two let’s go.” Ace turned to lead the pair back inside. Nick and Kevin followed obediently a short distance away from Ace.

“Nick?” Kevin asked after a long silence.

“Yes?” Nick replied.

“Uh…about the whole stopping breathing situation…could-“ Nick cut him off.

“I won’t mention it…no sense in getting everyone riled up…besides I don’t want them to know I touched your lips,” Nick said making a disgusted face. Kevin laughed.

“Hey! Feel honored! Only Kristin is allowed to touch these bad boys” he joked referring to his long time girlfriend. They both laughed as they reached the door to their cell. As Ace opened the door, Nick could hear the scuffling of feet and grinned to himself. He and Kevin both walked back inside the cell, allowing Ace to shut the door behind them.

“KEV!” Kevin looked up into the anxious faces of his friends.

“I’m fine,” he assured them all sitting on the nearest cot. The boys turned to look at Nick who nodded at them, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Assured, the rest of the boys sat next to Kevin, Brian finally noticing Kevin’s swollen eyes. He shot a look at Nick who gave him a silencing stare.

Brian nodded back at Nick and instead gave Kevin a hug saying, “I’m glad you’re okay,” loudly before whispering, “You can tell me what happened to you when D and A.J. are occupied” Kevin stared at Brian before nodding once.

Kevin laid back on the cot and closed his eyes, giving everyone the hint that he wanted to rest. Nick jumped up and with Howie and A.J. walked to the other side of the cell starting a conversation. Brian however, stayed next to Kevin and sat next to him.

“Well?” Brian prompted expectantly. Kevin sighed.

“Well what?” Kevin tried to stall.

“You look like shit…what happened?” Brian asked. Kevin merely shook his head and took a deep shaky breath.

“Just drop it, I want to rest…I really don’t want to talk about it,” he added as he felt Brian’s icy stare on his forehead. Brian gave up and left Kevin alone to rest, and attempt to sleep instead of relive the horror that had occurred not even four hours ago.

~*~*~

TROUBLE CHAPTER 14

Kevin awoke the next morning/night feeling groggy. He sat up slowly and noted that everyone around him was asleep. Everyone including Nick who dozed quietly next to Howie and A.J. across the cell. Kevin was a bit relieved to see his youngest sleeping. He was beginning to worry the kid might get sick from sleep deprivation.

Kevin stood up, stretched, and groaned. He looked down to see the form of his cousin hunched against Kevin’s cot.

Kevin smiled fondly at his cousin’s concern before replacing the smile with a frown of his own worry. In his condition, Brian shouldn’t be sleeping uncomfortably. He should be laying down. “Brian,” Kevin whispered shaking his younger cousin, “Brian wake up.”

Brian groaned and sat straight up painfully, righting his hunched position, before yawning and opening his eyes. “Oh…hey Kev,” Brian croaked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with another yawn.

“Hey,” Kevin greeted, “why don’t you get on the cot and sleep for awhile huh?”

“Cuz I’m not tired,” Brian protested suppressing a yawn. Kevin was feeling impatient.

“NOW Brian,” Kevin ordered.

“Yeah yeah,” Brian muttered climbing on the cot and dozing off immediately.

Kevin smiled in triumph and walked to the other side of the cell. He began to get bored and looked up at the ceiling. ‘1…2…3…4…’ Kevin noticed the dots on the ceiling and began to count. ‘432…433…’

“9,746.”

Kevin looked up to see Nick rising from where he had fallen asleep stretching like a cat. “What?” Kevin asked.

“9,746, the number of dots on that part of the ceiling…”

Kevin laughed. “Well good morning anyways.”

“Morning? Can we be so sure?” Nick asked Kevin, cocking his eyebrow.

“No…but I just woke up, therefore it’s morning,” Kevin replied.

“I like your logic,” Nick said with a laugh then stood. He stretched then looked at Kevin seriously. “How ya feelin?”

“Better,” Kevin replied honestly with a slight nod of his head, “thanks again.”

“And again…don’t thank me…I did it so I wouldn’t have to run the group,” Nick joked.

“Wow…thanks.” Kevin muttered sarcastically. Nick laughed.

“Well if YOU ran the group, I do think I would quit,” A.J.’s voice interjected, “we’d NEVER get anything done.”

“Well A.J. I don’t think I’d want you in MY group anyways,” Nick joked back pretending to be offended.

“I don’t think you’d be a good manager…that’s all,” A.J. laughed.

“Well A.J. when I want your opinio-“Nick was cut off as a loud clang echoed throughout the cell as the cell door was thrown against the wall. Nick whirled around as did Kevin and A.J. Brian was startled awake, as was Howie who jumped nearly three feet.

“Goooood Morning!” Ace, who was standing in the doorway chirped.

“Not if one has to wake up to your ugly face,” Brian muttered pulling himself to stand with his other band mates.

Nick grinned, as Kevin and Howie snickered. A.J. on the other hand, didn’t try to suppress his laughter, and just started to roar with laughter. The others quickly gave in afterwards and followed suit, their laughter echoing loudly throughout the cell. Ace growled and turned to Brian.

“You’ll regret saying that…well maybe not YOU directly…” Ace sneered before turning to Nick. “Viper wants to speak with you…he says to tell you, he’s got a ‘wonderful surprise’ waiting for you…so you feel more at home.”

Nick felt his hair stand on end on his neck. Instead of making some snide remark, Nick swallowed nervously and nodded at Ace. “O…okay.” Nick turned and followed Ace outside the cell door as he felt something out of place. Ace led him down the halls towards Viper’s office. Once Ace reached the double oak door, he knocked twice.

“Bring him in Ace,” Vipers voice floated from the inside. Ace opened the door and ushered Nick inside. Viper nodded back to Ace. “That will be all Ace…prepare our surprise.” Viper ordered with a mischievous grin. Ace bowed obediently, a similar smirk appearing on his face, and left the room.

Nick stared at the top of Viper’s head as he leaned over his desk writing down some sort of information. Nick impatiently shifted from foot to foot waiting for Viper to say something. “Well?” Nick finally asked when his patience ran thin. Viper looked up.

“Well what?” Viper asked innocently.

“You wanted me to come see you…is there any reason why?” Nick asked impatiently.

“Yes…there is…” Viper said then grinned and went back to writing.

“Well?” Nick inquired still shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“You know Nicky, patience is a virtue,” Viper snapped. Nick glared at Viper.

“Well that’s not something I care about is it?” Nick snapped back. Viper frowned. He stood from his desk and walked to the double wooden doors.

“Such loss of discipline…honestly Nicky…but very well then. Come along,” Viper ordered then opened the doors and left the office. Nick frowned and left also. The two walked in silence until Viper broke the silence.

“Do you love your family Nicky?” Viper asked. Nick’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“Of course,” he answered immediately.

“And what about your home?”

“Yeah…”

“Do you miss them?”

“Yes, very much so.”

“Ah…I see…Well in that case…we thought you might miss your home, so we brought some of your home to you,” Viper said with a malicious grin. Nick felt his blood run cold. He had a bad feeling for his family.

“You…didn’t…” Nick stammered incredulously.

“I did…thought it might help you get comfortable here,” Viper grinned. Nick felt himself pale. “That’s right, behind this door is something to remind you of home.” Nick turned his nervous gaze to the door. “Well…aren’t you going to open it?”

Nick swallowed and reached a trembling hand out to the handle of the door. He twisted it carefully, bracing himself for what he was about to see…

~*~*~

TROUBLE CHAPTER 15

Nick swallowed and reached a trembling hand out to the handle of the door. He twisted it carefully, bracing himself for what he was about to see…

“Huh?” Nick found himself saying stupidly. Viper grinned in pleasure as Nick reached out and touched the objects that Viper was so pleased about in front of him.

Pictures of Aaron, Angel, BJ, Leslie, Nick, Jane, and Bob were littered about the room. Pictures of them on family outings, barbeques, and pictures of them through windows. The thing was, nobody in Nick’s family had taken these, and some of them were up to seven years old. Nick paled.

“Yes Nicky, we’ve been tracking you and your family from the day I met you…comforting thought isn’t it? To know that I can get this close,” Viper said picking up a picture of Aaron about ten feet away, “without them knowing I’m there?”

Nick gulped again, his eyes tracing Viper’s movements as he put the picture of Aaron back down. Nick looked all of the pictures over and then picked up a particularly alarming one. It was his entire family sans himself piled onto the couch in the living room. Aaron and Angel sat between their mother and father, while Leslie and B.J. sat on the floor between Jane and Bob’s legs. The entire family was huddled close together, looks of terror pasted on their pale, tight faces.

Nick swallowed slowly and looked down at the date on the bottom, and his breath hitched violently in his throat as he read the date was just days after he was captured.

Nick glanced over to the picture next to that one and he felt faint as he studied it’s contents. Aaron was away from the other family members, forced onto his knees. Aaron’s eyes were clenched shut in fear as a gun was visible in the foreground pressing firmly against his forehead. Tears leaked from his eyes as it was obvious that the boy was scared.

Nick swallowed down the sick he felt and turned to Viper, only to see him pointing to an open door. “Come Nicky, there’s more,” Viper said sweetly. The tone of voice made Nick sick as he took a shuddered breath and accompanied Viper into the next room followed the entire time by guards.

The familiar sounds of sparring floated to Nick as he entered. He looked to the center of the room to see a T.V. On the screen he could see Ace sparring with a smaller individual.

Upon closer inspection Nick discovered this smaller individual was a boy. The sparring session might as well have been a beating as the figure had no obvious training in fighting and couldn’t fight back. Each time the opponent fought Ace, he was tossed carelessly back to the ground where he was kicked in the ribs repeatedly. “Get up,” Ace ordered from the video.

The opponent groaned in pain before pulling himself painfully to his knees only to be pushed back onto his back. Nick stared at the video wincing as blow after blow rained onto the boy’s small body. “This is a familiar scene is it not? Does he seem familiar Nicky? So much like you hmm?” Viper questioned with a sly smile. Nick went to answer but as he opened his mouth, he finally studied the child further. His face was quite familiar to Nick, but he couldn’t quite place it.

Nick’s eyes shot open in horror and Viper was against the wall within the next second. “YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!” Nick howled. Guards grabbed Nicks’ arms and hauled him backwards. “WHERE IS HE?!” Nick screamed kicking into the air.

“Now then Nicky. Your temper is less than amiable for certain. What would your mother say?” Viper taunted approaching Nick until they were face to face. Nick growled.

“Take him back to the others,” Viper ordered to his guards.

“Where is he?!” Nick demanded. Viper made no reply and Nick was taken back to the cell where the others were waiting anxiously.

~~~~

Nick was pushed roughly into the cell, and the door was slammed shut behind him. Nick hit the door with both hands in frustration eliciting a frustrated grunt before resting his head on the cool surface, closing his eyes for a moment.

Nick’s eyes shot open in sudden rage, and he hit the door again, this time also continually kicking it and screaming. He continued attacking the door cursing wildly until a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

Nick turned to see Brian standing there looking concerned. “Nicky? What’s wrong?”

Nick turned away from Brian and the other looks of concern from the others. “Aaron,” he croaked out his voice breaking, “they’ve taken Aaron.”

~*~*~days before~*~*~

Aaron walked back into his room with a loud sigh. His brother had been missing for days, and there was no trace of him. The car he and Brian had been driving in was ravaged and there were bullet holes in the window. This suggested foul play, the detectives had explained.

Aaron rolled his eyes at the memory. “They think we’re complete morons I swear,” he muttered to himself. He stretched and yawned before sitting down on the edge of his bed in the room he and Nick used to share.

“AARON! CAN YOU COME DOWNSTAIRS PLEASE?!”

Aaron sighed. “YES MOM,” he yelled back before running a hand through his hair. He knew what his mother wanted to talk about, and he didn’t want to discuss it at this time. Taking a deep breath, and praying for patience, he got up, and walked out of his room.

Aaron walked down the hallway towards the steps then froze. The house was quiet…too quiet for all the Carter children sans Nick, and Jane and Bob to be inside. “Mom?” he called carefully.

“Here Aaron,” Aaron’s mom called. Aaron still walked timidly. Why was it so quiet? Normally even in rough times, there was crying to be heard, or yelling, or still laughter…

“Angel! You’re such a moron sometimes!” BJ yelled at her little sister suddenly, startling Aaron.

“BJ, I was just trying to help!” Angel screamed back.

“Well don’t try anymore!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh Angel…It’s okay. Let’s try again…”

Aaron breathed a sigh of relief before turning the corner into the kitchen to see Jane and Bob Carter sitting at the table. “Hi honey,” Jane greeted with a smile.

“’lo.” Aaron replied sitting down with them.

“How are you doing son?” Bob asked. Aaron merely stared at him. “Right…what was I thinking?…Do you want to talk about it?”

Aaron shook his head. “I will be fine. My concern is unnecessary as Nick is going to come home soon.”

“Well Aaron it’s a great possibility that Nick…we want you to be prepared just in case he doesn’t…come home,” Bob informed Aaron carefully, trying to hide his own emotions.

“He’s coming home,” Aaron insisted without a doubt.

“You don’t know that for sure Aaron.” Bob replied more gently.

“He’s coming home,” Aaron insisted even more firmly, trying to be patient.

“Aaron, I just want you to be prepared just in case it doe-“ Aaron snapped.

“HE’S COMING HOME AND DON’T YOU EVEN SAY DIFFERENTLY!” Aaron screamed.

“Aaron, we ju-“

Bob was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass. The noise startled him from his seat and he jumped up into the kitchen counter. The windows in the kitchen were suddenly broken and Aaron jumped back into his parents, as a large group of large men entered their household.

“MOM DAD!” Leslie screamed from the other room. Angel and BJ could be heard screaming as well. Seconds later the three of them were shoved into the kitchen by four of the large men. Jane and Bob grabbed their children and held them close.

“INTO THE LIVING ROOM!” One of the men who had entered into the kitchen yelled prodding Bob in the back with a gun. Bob grunted from the sudden prodding before complying. He ushered his family into the living room and allowed himself and his family to be shoved onto the couch.

“Smile,” one of the men ordered threateningly snapping a picture. The Carter family huddled onto the couch, every once in a while, a whimpering sound eliciting from one of the children’s throats. Minutes passed that felt like hours. A tall man entered finally and addressed the Carter family.

“Greetings Carter family! I am guessing that you know why I’m here…” the man greeted warmly.

“Who are you?” Bob Carter asked attempting to sound defiant.

“I’m VIPER…” he paused at the blank looks. “You honestly don’t know who I am?”

“No…” Bob answered.

“Hmmm…Well let’s just say I’m a friend of Nick’s.” Aaron swallowed in dread. This guy was evil, he could tell by the last statement…this guy knew where his brother was for sure. Aaron was even certain that this was because he had taken Nick himself.

“A…friend…You know where he is then?” Bob asked. Aaron could have slapped Bob right then.

Viper grinned with a laugh. “Something like that.”

“Well…then where is he?” Bob demanded.

“At my compound…you see…I took him.”

Bob paled. Viper walked around the room admiring the furnishings. “Jane you did a lovely job in decorating this place…no wonder Nick misses it so much…” Jane whimpered loudly and looked down. Bob growled.

“What do you want?” he demanded. Viper grinned at Bob.

“Something very important…something that I need for Nick…” Viper whipped around, and before anyone could say or do anything, had grabbed onto Aaron by the wrist, and pulled him from the couch, before tossing him onto the floor.

Aaron landed with a grunt then looked up at Viper in fear. “AARON!” his mother screamed. Aaron glanced at his mother before attempting a comforting smile. He failed and then looked back to Viper who had changed from warm and inviting to cold and threatening.

“Get on your knees.” Viper ordered. Aaron gulped before pulling himself up to his knees slowly. There, Viper grabbed Aaron roughly by his hair and pulled out his gun. Jane made a noise of terror and Bob jumped to his feet. Viper grinned as Aaron’s breathing increased and his eyes focused solely on the gun.

“Scared Aaron?” Viper whispered. Aaron swallowed thickly, eyes wide and nodded. “Nick always was too…when this happened to him…” Viper clicked the safety off the gun and pointed it at Aaron’s head. He pressed the point to Aaron’s forehead roughly, enjoying the sound of Aaron’s terrified intake and exhale of breath along with a whimper. “Yes…” Viper sneered. “You’re just like your brother..”

“N…now that’s enough Viper…leave Aaron alone.” Bob demanded shakily taking a step forward. Viper pressed the gun harder into Aaron’s forehead making the younger boy gasp in pain. Bob stopped in his tracks and swallowed.

“If you want your son to live, sit back down.” Viper ordered. Bob took a look at Aaron whose eyes were shut tightly in fear and pain, and sat back down. “That’s better…we’re almost done anyways.” Viper nodded to the man with the camera, and the guy stepped forward.

Viper leaned in and whispered into Aaron’s ear, “You’re weak…just like your brother was…but don’t worry I’m gonna make you strong by the time I’m done with you.”

Aaron made a startled noise and tears began to leak from his eyes. The click of a camera going off made Aaron jump and Viper laughed at him. Viper turned towards the rest of the carters as Aaron was grasped by two of the men with Viper. “Aaron will be accompanying me to see Nick…sorry but you may not ever see him again,” Viper informed the carter family in complete nonchalance. “Let’s go!” Viper ordered, as Aaron was dragged from the room.

“NO, AARON!!!!” Jane screamed, her voice drowning out everyone else’s in the family. Aaron struggled to get away, but to no avail.

Finally giving in to defeat Aaron slumped between the guards allowing himself to be dragged from the house. Aaron was pulled through the driveway to an awaiting black van, which upon having it’s captive in tow, took off into the night, disappearing without a trace.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 16

Aaron awoke to find he had slept through his whole journey. He awoke only when the back doors opened. A bunch of jeering guards stared back at him. “Awww is little junior tired?” one taunted.

“He looks just like his brother!” another laughed.

“Is he gonna cry?”

“Where’s your mommy now?”

Aaron shut his eyes tightly and gathered himself. ‘Show no emotion,’ he told himself sternly, ‘they feed off emotion.’

Ace stepped forward with Viper. “So, here we are Aaron. Now, normally we make the people walk to the compound…no matter their condition when they arrive…” Aaron shuddered as Viper continued, “but since you’re a child I think I’ll drive you up to the compound…” Aaron’s eyes narrowed in annoyance.

“I’m not a child,” he snapped angrily. ‘Way to keep your emotions in check A.C.,’ he scolded himself. The guards howled with laughter.

“Oh really?” Viper asked in an amused tone. Aaron merely gave him a challenging look. “Well no matter I’m still driving you up there.” Aaron rolled his eyes, and Ace growled stepping forward.

“Watch it *child*,” Ace snapped. The guards howled again with laughter. Aaron bit his tongue and instead turned his head from Ace. “Ah…nothing to say huh?” Ace mocked, walking forward and pulling Aaron from the car to the ground.

Aaron growled and stood. He lunged at Ace so suddenly that the larger man was almost caught off guard. “Haha, hey now…you need to chill out Aaron,” Ace laughed as he held Aaron’s arms to his sides. Ace quickly arranged Aaron so both of the boy’s wrists were in his one hand. Aaron struggled but could not break his hold. Ace backhanded him instead. Aaron fell to the ground with a cry. Ace kicked him in the ribs eliciting a cry from Aaron who rolled over. Ace again kicked Aaron. Aaron rolled over and held his midsection as he coughed and gasped for air.

Ace laughed again and nodded to two guards. Aaron was grabbed by the two guards and pushed into the car that would take him to the compound. Aaron sat calmly waiting for the journey to end. When the group arrived at the compound, Aaron was grabbed by Ace. Aaron glanced around anxiously before Ace pulled him inside the compound and down a hallway. Ace led Aaron to a cell similar to the one the other boys were in and shoved him inside. “Home sweet Home,” Ace joked. Aaron glanced around the dismal cell, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

“Charming,” Aaron commented sarcastically. Ace knocked him to the ground.

“You have quite the mouth on you boy…just like your brother…but you see, unlike your brother, you don’t have to die…you see…you have a choice,” Ace leered smiling at Aaron in a most sinister way.


~*~*Back to Present*~*~


There was a deep silence that filled the room after Nick spoke. Finally A.J. overcame his shock and asked stupidly, “Aaron…as in your little brother Aaron?”

Nick clenched his eyes shut then laughed bitterly. “No. Aaron Spelling. OF COURSE MY BROTHER!” Nick snapped

“Sorry,” A.J. replied kicking himself, “Stupid question.”

“Nick!” Kevin admonished sharply.

“I didn’t mean to yell at you Aje,” Nick mumbled with a sigh lacing his fingers behind his head.

“I know,” A.J. replied. He didn’t seem bothered by Nick’s comment in the least. This made Nick wonder for a brief moment if it had even registered.

“Nick are you sure?” Brian asked tentatively.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Nick, muttered bitterly, “I saw him fighting Ace on video.”

“Fighting Ace?” Kevin asked paling slightly.

“Well…I guess you wouldn’t really call it fighting would you…it was more of a ‘hey let’s beat up Aaron to irritate Nick’ thing,’ Nick replied punching the wall again.

“Nick don’t beat yourself up about it, there was nothing you could have done anyways,” Howie said from across the room. Nick spun around.

“But it’s my fault Howie!” Nick cried panting to prevent himself from breaking down completely.

“No Nick it’s not!” Kevin insisted firmly.

“If Aaron gets hurt or dies it’s my fault…I won’t be able to live with myself…how would I look at my family knowing I let Aaron down?”

Howie sighed and approached Nick, pulling him into a hug. Nick sighed in frustration but seemed to calm down.

“It’ll be okay Nicky,” Howie whispered to Nick.

“How do you know that?” Nick whispered back.

“I just do…I have faith.”

“I really hope you’re right D,” Nick replied then pulled away from Howie offering him a small smile.


~*~*Back to Aaron*~*~


There was a long silence followed Ace’s unfinished offer. “I beg your pardon?” Aaron asked Ace incredulously.

“You have a choice Aaron,” Ace repeated stooping down to Aaron’s eye level.

“What kind of choice?” Aaron asked as curiosity got the best of him.

“Well you can either stray from your old lifestyle, and start a brand new life with power, and authority with us, or, you can keep your old lifestyle with your brother and friends, and die…the choice is yours…but if you’re smart I know what you’ll do,” Ace told Aaron smiling at him, “Join us Aaron.”

Aaron sneered at Ace “Why would I join you? You the person who has done nothing but beat me up, and torment my brother and his friends? No Ace, the right decision is to stay with my family. I’ll never join you.”

Ace turned red in the face and stood stiffly. “I’ll give you some time to think about it…”

“I need no time,” Aaron replied coolly.

“Again, I’ll give you time to think it over,” Ace said threateningly.

“Whatever.”

Ace growled then slammed the cell door shut. Aaron sighed a shuddered breath and sat down on the only cot in the room. He ran a hand through his blonde hair and pulled his knees to his chest. He sat deep in thought for many minutes. He had thus far kept his emotions under control. Nick had taught him that.


~*~*Flashback*~*~

Aaron walked through the door to the Carter household. Aaron’s eyes were swollen red and he looked depressed. It was Nick who found him when he got home.

“Aaron what happened?” Nick demanded stooping down and grabbing his little brother by the shoulders.

“Nothin” Aaron replied sniffling.

“Bullshit, what happened?” Nick demanded again turning Aaron’s face gently so that he could look at Aaron’s eye. Aaron sighed.

“What’s it look like? I got beat up,” Aaron muttered wiping his nose with his sleeve.

‘Did you fight back?” Nick inquired looking closer at the eye.

“No.”

“Good.”

“I cried instead.”

“Oh Aaron!” Nick laughed.

“What?” Aaron asked looking tearfully at Nick. Nick sighed and put one of his hands back on Aaron’s shoulder.

“Wanna know a secret?”

“Sure.”

“If you don’t cry…if you don’t show any emotion when someone’s hurting you…they will stop sooner.”

“Why would they do that Nick?”

“Well…They wouldn’t find any fun in it anymore…isn’t that terrible?”

“So all I gotta do is wait until they’re done and I’m alone, then I can cry?”

“Of course!”

Aaron bit his lip. “Can I cry now?” Nick looked taken aback.

“Of course! You can cry around your friends!”

“But you’re my brother.”

Nick smiled. “That’s what makes us special Aaron. You’re my friend as well as my brother.”

“Ok…”

Nick smiled and looked at Aaron. “Do you need to cry?”

“No.”

“Ok then let’s get something for that eye.”

“Are you going to tell Mom?”

“Tell Mom what?” Nick asked slyly winking at his younger brother who beamed in return.

“Thanks Nick!”

~*~End~*~

Aaron looked around the cell. ‘Nobody’s here…’ Aaron then bowed his head and began to sniffle. His sniffles turned to full out sobs as he relived the horrific events of the night, and he cried so hard that eventually he exhausted himself and he fell asleep.



~*~*


Kevin had finally convinced Nick to sit down on one of the cots to relax. Nick couldn’t relax though. He kept on staring at the cell door, willing it to open.

“A watched pot never boils,” A.J. teased from right behind him. Nick jumped. He hadn’t heard A.J. sit down.

“This one might,” Nick insisted.

“Doubtful Nicky.”

“Is there a reason you’re sitting there? Or is it just to pester me?” Nick asked A.J.

A.J. laughed. “Well you annoy me 99% of the time so I thought I’d help pass the time…”

“Ah.” Nick replied still facing the door.

“Is it helping?” A.J. continued.

“What do you think?” Nick asked deadpan.

“No?” A.J. guessed.

“Bingo.”

“Meany.”

“Did you just call me ‘meany’?” Nick asked incredulously.

“Yes I did Meany.”

“….”


“What?”

“Wow.”

“Shut up.”

Nick laughed at A.J. then jumped up as the door opened. “NICKAY!” Ace yelled bounding into the room.

“What the hell do you want?” Nick demanded angrily gritting his teeth angrily at the memory of the man in front of him beating up his younger brother.

“C’mon Nickay! Viper wants to see you.”

“Fine,” Nick replied with a wave backwards to his friends. He left the room following Ace to see Viper. Yet he was nervous. Last time he had seen a picture with a gun to Aaron’s head. What if this time, Aaron was hurt? Or worse, dead?

“Is my brother okay?” Nick finally asked.

“Dunno…is he?” Ace replied with a grin.

Nick sighed knowing that wouldn’t get him anywhere. He would just have to wait, and see what happened. Ace finally led Nick to the same office where Viper stayed. Nick knocked and Viper called for him to enter.

Nick began to walk inside and noticed Ace wasn’t following. “Ladies first,” Nick sneered bowing to Ace.

“I’m not going in Nicky…and if that wasn’t so classic I would beat you to a pulp right now.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “Ace I believe you have something you should be doing,” Viper drawled in annoyance.

“Yes sir,” Ace said before walking out the door, as Nick walked inside and closed the door behind him.

“You wanted to see me?” Nick asked softly.

Viper looked mildly shocked. “Well you’re more behaved than usual…what’s gotten into you?”

“I think you know Viper,” Nick replied coolly gritting his teeth.

“Oh right…your brother…” Viper replied. He said no more on the subject.

“Well?” Nick demanded, “Where is he?”

“Well here Nicky,” Viper laughed, crossing to exit the office.

“After you,” Nick said in the same sticky sweet tone from earlier with Ace.

“Thank you Nicky,” Viper walked out of the room, as Nick went to follow. Two guards grabbed Nick by the upper arms.

Nick struggled and began to fight them off. Viper stopped but didn’t turn around. “It would be in your best interest to not struggle,” Viper said slowly as Nick stopped struggling, “your best interest as well as Aaron’s best interest.” Nick paled and stopped fighting completely.

“Wow master, this kid must really mean something to Carter if he stopped fighting.” One Guard laughed tightening his hold on nick’s upper arms. .

“Just you wait until he’s out of danger asshole,” Nick snapped at one of the guards.

“Nick that’s not nice…not saying it’s not true but I don’t remember your vocabulary being so colorful,” Viper admonished. Nick didn’t answer him.

Nick was led down the long hallways, the two guards grasping his upper arms roughly. As they neared the end of the hallway, Nick could hear voices talking heatedly.

Nick was shoved through the door to meet the sight of something so terrible he choked on his own breath.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 17

Nick took a deep breath, blinked his eyes closed for a moment then Nick looked into the room again. The same nauseating sight met his eyes. He took a sharp breath which alerted the guards holding him to hold on tighter.

Ace was roughing up Aaron just as Nick had seen in the video. If at all possible, seeing it up close was ten times worse than the video. As Ace knocked Aaron to the ground, Nick struggled more and opened his mouth to call out for his brother.

One of the guards realized his intention and hit Nick straight in the mouth to silence Nick’s cry. Nick grunted and closed his mouth feeling blood begin to seep into it. “Keep quiet,” the guard hissed, “or your brother will be worse for wear.” Nick nodded fearfully and kept his mouth shut.

Aaron lay still on the ground panting heavily. One of his arms was wrapped around his midsection as he painfully tried to pull air into his abused body. His eyes were clenched shut and he had no idea that Nick was standing right there. Maybe if he’d known, Aaron wouldn’t have been as scared or felt so alone.

Ace laughed cruelly again and bent down to Aaron, pulling the boys’ head up to his face by his blonde hair. “Come now Nick Jr., this is getting old and really is quire unnecessary. You can still change your mind. You still have a choice.”

‘Choice? What is he talking about?’ Nick thought furrowing his brow in confusion.

Aaron gritted his teeth in pain, lifted his head and sneered at Ace. “I’ve given you my answer Ace,”
Aaron replied coldly with a strange look of defiance, hopelessness, and pain.

“Reconsider,” Ace suggested dangerously as he pulled Aaron from the ground by his shirt. Aaron looked up into Ace’s face, snarled and spit in Ace’s face. Nick stifled a laugh and silently rejoiced. That was definitely his little brother. Ace roared in anger and slapped Aaron roughly. Aaron cried out in pain before falling to the ground and curling into a ball gasping for breath.

Ace kicked Aaron repeatedly, but stopped for a moment and asked again. “What’ll it be Aaron?”

“I would rather die than betray my brother and his friends,” Aaron managed to croak out.

“So be it,” Ace snarled and kicked him in the head. Aaron barely moaned in pain before he blacked out.

Ace continued to beat Aaron until a voice cried out, “ACE STOP!” Ace stopped mid kick and turned towards the voice. It was Nick.

“Nicky boy! I was just making a proposition to your brother here,” Ace commented nudging the young boy’s unconscious body with the toe of his boot.

“And he refused so leave him alone,” Nick snarled struggling against the guards who held tighter.

Ace pretended to think about it, “No!” Ace laughed and kicked Aaron in the ribs causing Aaron’s eyes to shoot open and for him to scream in pain. He rolled over onto his side as Ace advanced on him again. “Sorry about that Nick Jr. I forgot how tender cracked ribs can be!” Ace laughed.

Aaron moaned in pain as Ace pulled back his foot to kick him again. “Noooo,” he moaned weakly cringing.

Nick growled and let out a cry of rage. He struggled against the guards that held him furiously now, and they lost their grip. Nick knocked them to the ground. Nick looked up and saw that Ace had kicked Aaron again and that tears were streaming out of the young boy’s eyes.

As Ace went to kick him again, Nick took off running. He pounced from far back and knocked into Ace with his shoulder causing Ace to fall to the ground. Ace soared across the room and landed on his back with a dull thud. He got up to attack Nick but settled for mumbling threats under his breath as Viper shook his head with a large grin gracing his face.

Nick did not witness this exchange as he was too preoccupied with his little brother’s body lying on the floor barely breathing. At first Nick didn’t move, afraid to stoop down and touch his baby brother lest he break his fragile body with his touch. Aaron whimpered in pain, and Nick’s worry overcame his fear. He leaned down to his baby brother. Gently, Nick touched his brother’s blonde hair. Aaron flinched and whimpered again.

“Aaron?” Nick whispered. There was no response. No moan, not another whimper, no movement…just deafening silence. Nick gulped and took a shuddered breath before turning his brother onto his back. Nick gasped as he saw his brother’s battered body up close.

Aaron’s forehead had a long gash and cut on it while his right cheek was bruised black and swollen. A small cut started from his left brow and ended just past his cheek bone. His closed eyes looked tired with the dark bags underneath them.

Aaron’s shirt had been removed to reveal large dark bruises and cuts on his bare chest and arms. The darkest area was around his ribs. Nick swallowed down the bile he felt creeping up his throat, and reached out to gently touch the bruised area around his ribs. Aaron snapped open his eyes, yelped and moved away from Nick whimpering quietly. “No more…no more please,” Aaron begged softly. Nick winced and leaned over Aaron.

“Shhh shhh shhh,” Nick cooed petting Aarons head, “sorry A.C. I didn’t meant to hurt you I just wanted to check your ribs.”

Aaron made no reply, just gulped in air still breathing hard, and groped for Nick’s hand. Nick smiled softly and squeezed Aaron’s hand continuing to pet Aaron’s head. Aaron moaned then fell still. Nick sighed in relief as Aaron’s body relaxed, finally free from pain.

“There ya go Nicky! Something to remind you of home,” Viper laughed.

“You are going to pay for this you bastard! Just you wait…” Nick screamed. Viper frowned.

“Watch it Nicky, you may return to your cell now.”

Nick stood and glared at Viper as one of the guards moved to lift Aaron. Aaron sensed the different, uncomfortable presence, and flinched away whimpering in his unconscious state..

As the guard leaned towards Aaron, Nick shoved him away roughly. “I’LL carry him thank you,“ Nick growled glaring hard at the guard. The guard immediately backed off and Nick leaned over and gently picked up Aaron.

Aaron shifted in his sleep, snuggling closer to Nick’s comforting warmth. Nick smiled at his brother as Aaron breathed in a content sigh and lay still. Nick cradled Aaron carefully then followed the guard.

Nick walked down the hall studying Aaron’s battered form. ‘How could I have let Viper get Aaron involved?’ he thought berating himself. ‘Maybe I can make a deal with Viper for Aaron…I’ll willingly submit if it means Aaron can go…’

“Nick?” Unknown to Nick, Aaron’s swollen eyes had slid open slowly. Nick started and looked down at Aaron. He forced a smile for his younger brother.

“Hey little bro…how are you feeling?” Nick asked in concern forcing a stronger smile.

Aaron swallowed slowly, licking his dry bruised lips. Aaron mumbled something that distinctly sounded like “Crap”. Nick chuckled.

“Such language young man! What would Momma say?” Nick chided, then more seriously asked, “Do you think you have any life threatening conditions?” Nick asked.

Aaron shrugged. “Not…a doctor,” he answered. Nick rolled his eyes.

“You’re such a smart ass,” Nick said with a grin, “where on Earth do you get it?” Aaron managed a weak grin and half chuckle. The chuckle however caused him immense amounts of pain and turned into a choke as Aaron took a sharp breath. Nick winced. He readjusted Aaron so Aaron would be more comfortable. Aaron whimpered again.

‘Ace really did a number on him…’ Nick thought to himself and held his baby brother closer. “Close your eyes Aaron,” Nick crooned rocking him gently as they walked, “you’ll feel better if you do.”

Aaron felt like Nick was patronizing him. “I’m…okay.” He croaked.

Nick smiled. “Sleep,” he ordered.

“Yes Mother.” Aaron mumbled with his eyes closed.

“Brat.” Nick laughed

“…Learned…from…you…” Aaron then drifted off as Nick carried him in his arms.

Nick smiled fondly at his little brother then swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m sorry Aaron,” he whispered holding him closer. He didn’t expect an answer, and he didn’t get one. Nick walked the rest of the way to the cell he shared with his band mates always being mindful of Aaron’s battered body so as not to harm him. When the guard opened the door, Nick took a deep breath, then walked into the cell with his brother in his arms.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 18

As the boys waited for Nick to return, time seemed to pass like a snail. They mostly fidgeted, especially since Howie and Brian were on strictly enforced bed rest. All of the guys would add to some idle chatter from time to time, but no conversation lasted long at all.

Finally, after what seemed like several nervous years, the door clanged open, causing Kevin and A.J. to jump up in alarm, and the other two to start suddenly. Kevin and A.J. stood defensively in front of the cots as they watched Nick walk through the door with a small form. As A.J. and Kevin recognized Nick, they sagged noticeably, not taking note of the body Nick was carrying.

“Nick,” Kevin breathed in greeting, more for his own assurance than to greet him. Nick said not a word, nor did he acknowledge any of their presences. He merely walked past the boys, his head down guiltily, and approached one of the remaining cots. Nick gently laid the small form down on the cot.

“Dear God,” Brian murmured paling at the sight of Nick’s burden, “Aaron?” Nick finally nodded silently.

Aaron moaned in pain as Nick settled the small boy onto the cot. Nick hurriedly sat down on the cot next to Aaron and took his hand as it groped blindly for him. Nick murmured softly to soothe Aaron, and squeezed his hand as the boy fell back to sleep.

Kevin sighed to himself knowing what was running through Nick’s mind. “Nick,” he began.

“Save it Kevin,” Nick whispered in misery. Kevin fell silent and sighed again.

Brian approached Aaron’s cot and sat down heavily next to Nick, slowly stroking Aaron’s bangs back out of the boy’s battered face. Aaron stirred and opened his eyes. “Nick?” he croaked in fear, his widened eyes glazed slightly from pain. Nick squeezed the hand he still held.

“I’m not going anywhere Aaron I promise,” Nick reassured the boy. Aaron swallowed slowly and looked up to where Brian was sitting.

“Bri…an?” Aaron breathed

“Hey A.C….” Brian whispered, smiling lovingly at the blonde boy, still stroking his head. Aaron managed a weak smile and turned back to Nick.

“W…here’s…Kevin?” Aaron inquired weakly.

“Right here kiddo,” Kevin replied coming into the boy’s view smiling at him. Aaron smiled back.

“Aje?” Aaron asked again.

“Present!” A.J. joked then seriously asked, “Are you alright?”

Aaron grinned weakly with a slight shrug. “I’m not dead yet,” he replied weakly.

“Uhm…there will be no yet on the end of that sentence young man,” Nick berated Aaron gently. Aaron smiled, but the smile quickly faded as he hesitated in asking about the last of his friends.

“Ho…wie?” he asked, his heart beating a million miles per hour.

“I’m here Aaron,” Howie replied waving from his spot on his cot where he was watching the whole scene.

“See? We’re all here and accounted for Aaron, nothing for you to worry about,” Nick reassured his brother.

Aaron seemed to sag in relief, then swallowed slowly and closed his eyes, quickly snapping them open when he felt himself begin to doze off. Aaron nodded in agreement and his eyes closed again, only to have them snap back open.

Nick smiled at him to reassure him further. “Go to sleep Aaron, we’ll still be here when you wake up,” he said giving Aaron’s hand a tight squeeze. Aaron tried to fight sleep but finally allowed his body to succumb to unconsciousness.

Once Nick was sure Aaron was asleep, he dropped the boy’s hand and stood up. He walked to the far end of the cell, and faced the wall. There was an intense uncomfortable silence in the room as Nick began to shake in rage. The tension in the air caused even Kevin to shift uncomfortably. The silence was broken by a loud bang that echoed throughout the cell. “DAMMIT!” Nick growled, “This is all my fault…”

Brian sighed and hauled himself to a standing position again. He walked over toward where Nick was. Brian gently took the hand that Nick had just connected with the brick wall of the cell in his hands inspecting it carefully, before dragging Nick over to the sink to rinse his bleeding knuckles. Brian and Nick said nothing, but in that silence, in the simple random eye contacts and small smiles and doubtful expressions, Nick and Brian came to an understanding and it was when Brian had finished bandaging Nick’s knuckles with part of his own shirt that Nick smiled softly. “I’ll keep that in mind Brian…thanks.”

“Anytime Frack,” Brian replied with a smile before returning to his cot.

Kevin, A.J., and Howie all stared open mouthed as they watched the exchange. “But…he…” A.J. mumbled.

“Don’t try Alex, just quit while you’re behind,” Howie laughed. Kevin joined him.

Everyone became silent again as Aaron stirred. Nick was by his side again. Aaron’s eyes opened slowly and he seemed to glance around nervously. “Aaron,” Nick said gently. Aaron jumped then looked at Nick wide eyed. “It’s okay Aaron, everyone’s still here, and you’re safe now.” Aaron’s eyes were nto as wide and he sank further against the cot.

“Sorry,” he muttered sitting up slowly.

“Don’t be,” Nick replied helping his brother sit up slowly. Aaron winced before glancing around at the rest of the guys in the room. All of their eyes were trained on him in apprehension

“Uh…hi…” he greeted almost shyly. They all smiled at him.

“How are you feeling?” Kevin asked him gently.

“Better,” Aaron replied nodding slowly.

“You definitely look better than when you first came in here,” Kevin agreed. Aaron looked him up and down.

“Well you’re looking just gorgeous yourself…what happened to you guys anyways?” Aaron asked.

“Well…” A.J. trailed off. The boys told their tale leaving Aaron wide eyed in the end, and causing the boy’s jaw to drop throughout the story.

“Wow…” Aaron muttered.

“Yeah…I guess that about sums it up,” A.J. agreed with a laugh.

“What about you A.C.?” Howie asked. Aaron paled a bit.

“I don’t want to talk about it…” Aaron muttered uncomfortably.

“C’mon Aaron we’ll be right here with you the entire time and it will definitely help you to talk about it,” Nick urged.

Aaron sighed. “Fine,” he replied then took a deep breath, licked his bruised lips, and began his tale.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 19


Aaron told the boys his story up until we as the readers of this story know. Then he continued to after he was crying by himself…

Aaron awoke a while later to find his eyes red rimmed and swollen. He sat up from the cot he was lying on and stretched his achy muscles. He let out a sigh and realized to his disappointment that he was still alone. Shivering from the thought, Aaron pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He rested his forehead on his knees as he waited for something to happen.

After about a half an hour, Aaron heard the lock click on his door and jumped up in alarm. Aaron stood and backed against the wall as the door opened to reveal Ace. “Mornin’ Aaron,” he greeted the boy. Aaron remained silent and glared at him in return. Ace walked into the cell and motioned for Aaron to walk out the door. “Let’s go, you are being summoned by Viper,” Ace ordered.

Aaron hesitated then decided agreeing with these men was the best way to go. He slowly walked out of the door and looked around the hallway he had entered through. Ace walked out of the cell and in front of Aaron. “C’mon,” Ace ordered walking down the hallway. Aaron followed close behind.

The pair walked down the hallway until they came to another room with the door open. Viper stood in the room and greeted Aaron when he walked in. “Good afternoon Aaron, please sit down.”

Aaron paused in the doorway and looked coldly at Viper. Where did this guy get off by being all polite when he had kidnapped himself, his brother, and his brother’s friends? Viper, noticing Aaron’s hesitation, nodded to Ace who shoved Aaron down into the chair.

Aaron grunted and continued to stare icily at Viper who remained silent. “Well?” Aaron snapped. He didn’t like uncomfortable silences.

“Well what?” Viper asked with a wicked grin. He liked to watch the boy squirm in discomfort.

“What am I doing here?” Aaron demanded.

“I told you,” Viper replied, “to keep Nicky company.”

“Don’t call him that,” Aaron snapped.

“I’ll call Nick whatever I please Aaron,” Viper responded coolly, “he and I have a history.”

“Where’s my brother?” Aaron demanded icily gritting his teeth.

“Ace, let’s show Aaron Nick,” Viper suggested cruelly. Ace grinned and left the room only to return moments later with a T.V. and VCR. A Chair was placed in front of it and Ace forced Aaron up out of his chair and into the one in front of the T.V.

“Just sit here and watch the movie Aaron,” Ace ordered before hitting play and walking away to stand directly behind Aaron.

Aaron shifted uncomfortably in his seat and looked at the screen in confusion as the static left and the movie started. It showed a top view of a round, bright white arena lit with white lights. It stayed empty for a few moments before the blonde figure of Nick was shoved into view. For a moment, Nick just surveyed the arena before he looked directly at the camera.

Aaron watched as Nick had a heated conversation with Viper as he surveyed the three gang bangers that had walked into the bright white arena Nick was in. Nick barely had a chance to blink before the three gang members launched themselves at Nick, the first catching Nick in the side of the head with his weapon, a chain, the second hitting Nick in the ribs with his lead pipe, and the third hitting nick across the back with his switch.

Aaron gave a startled cry as he watched Nick get knocked to the ground and scream out in pain. The next second, Nick hauled himself up from the ground, and wiped blood from his face. Nick looked at the back of his hand, smeared in blood and took a shaky breath. Nick paused for a moment before taking a large breath and emitting a loud warlike cry. The next second, Nick launched himself at the gang members.

Aaron watched in shock as Nick threw punches left and right, spinning around and kicking one of the gang members, while dodging one of their attacks. Finally, only one of the gang members was left standing. The one left was the gang member with the lead pipe.

Nick and the gang member circled each other like cats for many tense moments as Aaron watched transfixed. The two tangled for a while before the gang member got the upper hand and tossed Nick onto his back. Nick lay there for a moment as the gang member raised the lead pipe and brought it down hard on Nick’s ribs.

Nick yelped and screamed, rolling onto his stomach, grasping his midsection painfully. As the gang member went to hit him again, Nick spun around and delivered a kick to the man’s jaw, knocking him back. Nick stood up grasping his midsection and gasping before he ran at the gang member and kicked him in the head, leaving the guard unconscious.

With the mission done, Nick collapsed on his hands and knees before he toppled over in exhaustion. The video ended here with static leaving Aaron wide eyed and trembling with his mouth hanging open. Ace turned off the video as Aaron swallowed and closed his eyes in prayer.

“How’d you like the show Aaron?” Viper asked.

“Is…is he-“Aaron stammered stupidly.

“Yes he’s alive,” Viper answered Aaron’s unfinished question. Aaron sagged with relief. Viper looked to Ace who nodded with a small grin. Then Viper stood up and walked to the door, beckoning Aaron to follow him.

“Come Aaron, it’s time,” Viper said excited.

“Time?” Aaron asked his eyes narrowing showing his confusion, “time for what?”

“Time,” Viper replied looking excited, “for YOUR first mission.”

~*~*

Aaron paused here as he heard Nick’s sharp cry. Aaron glanced around nervously before finally settling his gaze on his brother who clenched his fists in anger. Aaron could see him clenching his jaw and grinding his teeth, seething with anger.

Aaron shifted uncomfortably and looked around to the others, swallowing and looking down as their intent gaze made him nervous to tell the next part. “I…” Aaron gasped out swallowing and beginning to tremble. “I don’t know if I can finish this.”

“It’s okay Aaron,” Kevin soothed the boy in front of him. Aaron still hesitated looking back at Nick who nodded curtly at him, attempting to encourage him.

“Go on Aaron,” he urged firmly. Aaron took a deep breath and continued.

~*~*

“Mission?” Aaron inquired deeply confused. Viper nodded at the boy and strode towards the door indicating for Aaron to follow him. Aaron was curious and got up walking out the door behind him.

“A mission is a test of sorts. It tests either your physical or mental abilities,” Viper explained, “Nick used to do many missions for us.”

“Why would he do that?” Aaron snapped.

“Because if he didn’t we threatened to kill you and your family,” Viper answered.

Aaron gasped, startled and narrowed his eyes. This guy had manipulated Nick into helping him. Viper must have known that Nick’s family used to be the only thing that mattered to Nick. “You…as-,” Aaron growled out before Viper cut him off with a hard backhand.

“You must learn proper respect Aaron. You will address me only as master. That is your only warning. Am I clear?” Viper snapped.

Aaron nodded once and fell silent as they walked down the hallway. He was led to a door, which looked like his own. Viper smiled at Aaron and motioned to the inside of the room. “Look inside Aaron,” Viper encouraged.

Not sure he’d like what he’d see, Aaron peeked into the one-way window and gasped at what he saw. Inside was Nick and Nick’s band mates. Aaron turned to Viper. “What are we here for?” he inquired nervously.

“Well we had some trouble while attempting to gather the Latino one earlier an-“

“Howie.” Aaron growled interrupting Viper.

“I beg your pardon?” Viper asked

“He has a name, and it’s Howie,” Aaron seethed.

‘He really is like his brother,’ Viper thought recalling the conversation on the video. “Right…anyways, we had trouble earlier retrieving him. It seems that your friends fight back harder than was originally expected…so we brought more guards this time…and we will take Howie by force…even if we have to kill one of the others.”

Aaron’s eyes shot open and he gasped in shock before he lurched forward towards Viper. “NO!” Ace grabbed the youngster by the back of his shirt and tossed him to Viper who looped an arm around his neck keeping the boy still. Viper nodded to the guards with him and they opened the cell with Ace and walked inside.

“Watch this Aaron, it will be truly entertaining,” Viper laughed in his ear. Aaron struggled. Viper pushed him towards the door of the cell as punches were heard and struggling. Aaron watched from the crack in the doorway as the guards attacked Brian’s helpless form, as Nick helped him; and as Howie was distracted long enough to be caught with a hard punch to the jaw.

Howie fell and Aaron gasped as they pulled his arms straight up with his body on the ground. Aaron struggled with Viper and whimpered softly. A gun was cocked and Aaron’s attention was attracted to a corner. Aaron watched as the gun was trained on his brother and Brian. “No,” he whispered pulling against Viper’s hold again.

With a horrible ache in his chest, Aaron watched the emotions played on each of his friends’ faces before Howie was pulled up and dragged out of the cell. He watched as Howie struggled in fear and fought valiantly until the guards hit him in the face. Howie took one glance at Aaron before groaning and passing out in front of the blonde.

“HOWIE!” Aaron cried pulling out of Viper’s grasp as the cell’s door was shut. He stooped down next to Howie and rolled him over onto his back. Howie was breathing fine, just out cold, but Aaron was afraid to touch him, settling for glaring at Viper who was grinning.

“Now,” he said evilly, “the fun begins.”

~*~*

TROUBLE CHAPTER 20

Howie took one glance at Aaron before groaning and passing out in front of the blonde.

“HOWIE!” Aaron cried pulling out of Viper’s grasp as the cell’s door was shut. He stooped down next to Howie and rolled him over onto his back. Howie was breathing fine, just out cold, but Aaron was afraid to touch him, settling for glaring at Viper who was grinning.

“Now,” he said evilly, “the fun begins.”

~*~*


“That was you?!” Howie exclaimed, “I thought it was Nick…”

“No, just me,” Aaron said quietly, looking at his feet. The room was silent for a moment as Nick wouldn’t meet his gaze.

‘That bastard,’ Nick thought furiously to himself, ‘Aaron’s just a kid! When I’m through with Viper and Ace-“

“What happened next Aaron?” Brian asked bringing Nick out of his thoughts. Aaron took a deep, calming breath.

“Well, Viper wasn’t done tormenting me yet for the day…”

~*~*


“F…fun?” Aaron squeaked, “what kind of fun?” Viper motioned for Aaron to follow him down the hall. Aaron obeyed. He didn’t want Howie to get hurt because of him.

“Well Aaron, don’t you remember our discussion about missions earlier?” Viper asked.

“Yes.” Aaron answered carefully, adding a hasty “master” at the end of this statement when Viper looked at him in annoyance. Viper grinned in delight.

“Well your first mission will be a test of your mental abilities,” Viper told Aaron, “as a warm up.”

“How so?” Aaron inquired.

“They’re all riddles Aaron…we ask the riddles, you answer them. Simple as that,” Viper told the boy.

“What’s the catch?” Aaron asked suspiciously.

“Whatever do you mean?” Viper asked.

“Like my brother said, ‘that’s too easy’…I want to know what the catch is,” Aaron replied.

“Well…you have to get 4 out of 5 questions right, for your brother’s pal Howie to live… and every time you get an answer wrong, your buddy Howie gets beaten for ten minutes,” Viper answered with a grin, “is that more difficult for you?”

Aaron paled. “O…oh…”

“Let’s go,” Viper ordered laughing loudly.

Aaron was led down the hallway and shoved into another room at the end of the hallway. Inside was a simple table and single chair. In front of the table was a window that Aaron guessed was a one-way mirror. “Right here Aaron,” Viper instructed the boy as he forced him into the chair behind the small table.

“Now all we need is some motivation…” Viper said quietly to Aaron, “How’s this for motivation Aaron?”

Aaron’s attention was directed to the room across from the window where Aaron saw the guards dragging in a now conscious Howie. “HOWIE!” Aaron cried running to the window. “HOWIE!” he called again. Howie was thrown to the floor where he immediately jumped back up and faced the guards glaring angrily. The guards left the room and Howie looked around.

Howie looked straight at the window where Aaron was at one point and Aaron’s breath caught in his throat. Howie walked to the window curiously and looked straight into it. “HOWIE!” Aaron cried again banging on the window. Howie sighed and walked back to a corner of the room and sat down heavily against the wall.

“It’s no use Aaron, he can’t hear you,” Viper reminded Aaron. Aaron growled and turned on Viper gritting his teeth and eyeing him intensely.

“What are the riddles….master?” Aaron asked calmly. ‘Might as well get it over with.’

“That’s the spirit!” Viper cheered. “Sit back down Aaron and we will begin.”

Aaron sat down behind the table and sighed as Viper stood in front of him. “Ready Aaron?” he asked.

Aaron nodded silently. Viper smiled and read the first question. “Here’s a warm up question Aaron,” Viper told him, “If you were running in a race, and you passed the person in second place, what place would you be in now?”

Aaron smirked at Viper as he opened his mouth with the reply. “Well if you passed the second place person, then you were obviously in third, so therefore if you passed someone directly in front of you, you would be in second place also.”

“Good. Second question: A man buys a parrot from a shop. The shop keeper insists that the parrot will repeat any word it hears for it’s new owner. But the parrot never speaks, why Aaron?” Viper demanded.

Aaron thought for a moment before smiling. “He’s deaf,” Aaron replied, “He repeats words that he HEARS if he doesn’t hear them, then he wouldn’t repeat them would he?”

Viper smiled again. “Very good Aaron,” he praised, “next question…this one’s a bit harder are you ready?”

Aaron nodded. “What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?” Viper asked Aaron smiling to himself.

Aaron bit his lip and thought for a moment. ‘Black when it’s bought….red when it’s used…and gray when you throw it away…hmm…well red when it’s used suggests that maybe it has something to do with fire…fire…hmmm…black…gray….’ “Charcoal.” Aaron finally ventured.

“Three down and two to go…this one is really difficult…’I cannot be felt, seen, or touched…yet I can be found in everybody. My existence is always in debate, yet I have my own style of music…what am I?” Viper read.

Aaron thought frantically. ‘Let’s see, it isn’t tangible obviously, but it can be found inside everyone…that means it’s either an emotion, or…hmmm…the existence is in debate and it’s own style of music….’

“Well?” Viper asked impatiently. ‘He’ll never get this!’ Viper thought with glee.

“I’m thinking,” Aaron said. ‘Hmm…it’s not an emotion unless it’s love, and there’s nothing that suggests a music genre in that…hmm…what kinds of genres are there…blues? No…Jazz? No…Hip hop? No…hm…OH! THAT’S IT!’

“Did I stump you Aaron?” Viper taunted.

“No,” Aaron replied, “The answer is soul.”

“Wh…What?” Viper stuttered stunned.

“Soul. It’s a genre of music, and it’s something that’s inside that can’t be seen, touched, or felt. It’s something that is always in debate of existence,” Aaron answered.

“G…good job,” Viper muttered angrily. “Last question: In the NBA, how many men are on the basketball court for each team?”

Aaron thought for a moment. It all seemed so simple. Ten was the answer right? ‘Hmm…there’s got to be some trick…’ “Ten?” Aaron answered.

Viper grinned predatorily. “Wrong. The key words here are ‘for each team’. Each team has FIVE players on the court at a time. Ten all together, but only five.”

“No…” Aaron whispered paling considerably.

“But there is some good news. You did win the mission with four out of five right, therefore Howard lives…but you did get one wrong so his ten minutes start…now and you get to watch as we beat him,” Viper sneered at Aaron shoving the younger boy to the window.

On the other side of the window, guards entered the room. Howie looked up from his position in the corner and stood up. “What do you want?” Howie demanded. The guards approached him and two of them restrained him. One of them smiled cruelly and raised his fist, then brought it down on Howie’s face.

Howie let out a pain filled yelp as his head shot to the side from the blow. But it didn’t stop there. The guard continued to punch Howie in the face, head, neck, stomach, and chest until the other two guards dropped him. Howie fell to the ground and began to fight back.

Aaron’s eyes were wide as he backed away from the window. “Watch Aaron,” Viper ordered, “watch as he pays for your mistake.”

Howie was being repeatedly kicked and punched in his midsection as he rolled over onto his stomach with a loud grunt. Tears welled up in Aaron’s eyes as he watched. “S…stop,” Aaron choked.

Viper leaned down and spoke into the boy’s ear. “It’s all your fault Aaron, you caused his pain,” Viper whispered cruelly, “because of your stupidity, Howie is in pain.”

Aaron watched for a few more seconds before clenching his eyes shut. “P…please Viper,” he whimpered.

“OPEN YOUR EYES AARON!” Viper ordered loudly, “SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE!”

Aaron immediately opened his eyes and watched as Howie stopped fighting back and instead took to curling into a fetal position, yelping weakly every once in a while. He then watched as one guard smirked and bent down. “Are ya hurtin boy?” he sneered.

Howie glared at him defiantly. “I can handle it,” Howie snarled.

“Really?” the guard shot back grabbing Howie’s arm. “Can you handle this?” The guard yanked Howie’s arm in different directions eliciting a sharp crack. Howie screamed before rolling over and cradling his arm to his chest.

Aaron’s knees began to give out as tears rolled unchecked down his cheeks. The guards continued their assault after a few moments. Aaron swallowed and sobbed loudly. “P…please Viper…M-master…stop hurting him,” Aaron begged timidly.

“But he still has…” Viper replied lazily checking his watch, “four minutes.”

Aaron looked back at Howie and swallowed. ‘Howie won’t last that long!’ his mind screamed in alarm. Aaron took a shuddering breath before grabbing the bottom of Viper’s shirt pleadingly. “Please, Master, I’ll do anything if you just stop hurting him,” Aaron begged barely above a whisper.

Viper glanced at Aaron from the corner of his eye slyly. “Aaanything?” he questioned, “would you take his place then?”

~*~

Nick took a sharp breath here as did the rest of the boys excluding Howie who let out a cry. “Aaron you didn’t!” Howie exclaimed.

Aaron looked down. “I had to Howie…” Aaron whispered tears falling down his face, “they would have killed you…do you think you could have lasted another four minutes of all of those men beating you? I couldn’t possibly watch you knowing it was my fault…”

“That’s not the point Aaron,” Howie lectured Aaron, “the point is you put yourself in un-needed danger.”

“Howie…” A.J. said quietly shutting Howie up instantly, “this is not the time.” A.J. motioned to Aaron who was shaking and Howie nodded.

Aaron’s body shook with sobs as Nick placed one hand on top of Aaron’s head while resting his forehead against the younger blonde’s. “THAT situation was not your fault Aaron. You did very well…nobody’s angry…well not at you anyway, so none of that okay?”

Aaron nodded and continued his story.

~*~

Aaron paled even further, then swallowed, lowered his head in defeat, and nodded once. “Yes,” he whispered.

“Very well,” Viper replied pushing a button on the wall, “That’s enough,” he barked. The guards on the other side stopped obediently, then left the room.

“May I see him?” Aaron asked timidly, “Just to know he’s alright?”

“I don’t’ see the point,” Viper responded, “but fine, why not.”

Aaron cautiously walked to the door that led to the other room and opened it. Aaron walked through the door and quickly made his way over to Howie’s unconscious form. “H…Howie?” Aaron whispered kneeling down to Howie, “Are you okay?”

Howie remained unconscious as Aaron looked him over. He had multiple cuts and bruises up and down his arms, legs, face, and his shirt was torn everywhere revealing dried and fresh blood. But those weren’t the main problem. The biggest and most obvious problem was the bump on Howie’s arm where his bone was pressing against the flesh. Aaron sighed and decided it was probably for the best that Howie was asleep for now.

“Aaron,” Viper called firmly, “let’s go.”

Aaron swallowed and looked at Viper. “Coming, Master” he replied obediently choking on the last word. Though it disgusted him to no end, Aaron did not want to focus Viper’s anger back on Howie again and played along instead. Aaron turned back to Howie and brushing his hair away from his battered face, “feel better Howie….I’m sorry,” Aaron whispered before turning and leaving with Viper behind him.

Aaron followed Viper down the hallway and back to his cell. Aaron looked confused. “Back here Viper?” he inquired, “but I thought…”

“You thought wrong! Howie will still be beaten for another four minutes plus another two for you begging for him,” Viper snapped.

“No! Please! He won’t last that long!” Aaron cried in shock.

“But maybe I’ll beat you too since you are such a weak little boy,” Viper snarled.

Aaron’s brow twitched as he was overcome with rage. “Get lost,” Aaron growled. Instead of getting angry like usual, Viper laughed loudly and left Aaron alone in the cell to reflect on how horrible he had done. Aaron sobbed and soon fell asleep.

When Aaron awoke, his cell door was being opened and Viper walked in. He said nothing but opened the door wider as two guards came in. The first dove at Aaron and knocked the boy to the ground. Aaron yelped in shock as the guard kicked him in the stomach roughly.

The second guard walked to Aaron and picked up only to punch the boy across the face. Aaron fell to the ground in pain. He never fought back. ‘This is what I deserve,’ Aaron thought to himself as punches landed on him. Instead of fighting Aaron fought to go to a different place. He thought about his mom, dad, and sisters, and most of all about Nick and his friends.

A sharp kick to Aaron’s ribs took him from this happy place and he cried out loudly. Aaron rolled over onto his stomach and held onto his midsection breathing rapidly and moaning in pain. More kicks and punches landed on him until he finally blacked out.

Aaron came to a bit later to find the guards gone, but Viper was waiting. “You handled that very well Aaron…maybe you aren’t as weak as I thought originally,” Viper commended the boy.

Aaron slowly pulled himself to his knees. “Go to hell,” he spat.

Viper backhanded Aaron who fell on the floor. Aaron didn’t say anything but got back to his knees glaring defiantly at Viper. “Watch it Aaron, you don’t want another one of your friends to be hurt because of you do you?”

Aaron lowered his head. “No,” he replied softly.

“Good, now you will wait here in this cell until we come for you again. Rest up, you’ll need your strength as your next mission will be physical…here,” Viper said shoving a tray of food at Aaron, “eat up.”

Then Viper stood and left the cell slamming the door shut behind him. Aaron picked up the tray and sighed. He picked at the food for awhile before deciding that he wasn’t very hungry. Instead, Aaron laid down on his cot and slept.


~*~

TROUBLE CHAPTER 21

“Get Up.”

Aaron’s eyes twitched under his closed eyelids as he was still hazy from sleep. He moaned and his body moved slightly, but he did not wake. “I said get up,” The voice insisted.

Aaron opened his eyes slowly. “H…huh?” he asked in confusion. Ace’s face stared back at him as his eyes opened fully.

“Get up, you’ve had 10 hours to sleep,” Ace ordered backing away a bit.

Aaron groaned and sat up slowly. He glared at Ace. “Why should I get up?” he growled.

“Because, I said so, and if you don’t, I will-“

“’Hurt my brother and his friends’? Well me getting up and doing what you ask doesn’t help! You still hurt Howie though I did exactly as you asked. If I do what you say, someone gets hurt, if I don’t, someone gets hurt. So I say,” Aaron growled the next statement with an arrogant smirk, “’Fuck off’ I’m not doing what you say anymore.”

Aaron reeled back as the back of Ace’s hand connected hard with his already bruised face. Aaron righted himself and glared at Ace, but made no move to comply with Ace’s orders. Ace began to get impatient. “Once more,” he growled, “get up.”

“No,” Aaron answered defiantly.

“Fine then I’ll just take you myself!” Ace yelled and picked Aaron up and tossed the boy over his shoulder. Aaron struggled wildly as Ace continued to walk down a hallway. “Stop struggling boy!” Ace growled, “You’ll go one way or another; just make it easier on yourself!”

Aaron growled but stopped kicking. The two walked into a room occupied by Viper who smiled at Aaron as Ace carried him in. “Awww is junior cranky from his little nap?” Viper cooed.

Aaron just stared at him before growling back an answer and turning his head away from Viper. “Oooo feisty today!” Viper laughed, “Ace go prepare for Aaron’s mission. We will be along in a moment.”

Ace bowed and left. Aaron simply followed Viper around the room with his eyes, his mouth set in a firm line and a glare on his face. “It’s time for another mission,” Viper informed him.

“I figured that one out on my own,” Aaron snapped.

“Today’s mission is physical,” Viper continued pretending he hadn’t heard Aaron, “you will have to use strength and your mind to win this one though.” Viper motioned for Aaron to follow him out of the door. Aaron obeyed.

Viper lead him into a room that held a change of clothes for him. Aaron stared puzzled at the heap of clothes. “What are these for?” he asked.

“Change. Your clothes are all torn,” Viper replied.

“Er…thanks…” Aaron mumbled pulling his shirt over his head with a wince. He pulled the clean navy blue shirt over his head, and changed into the clean pants.

“Ready?” Viper asked.

Aaron rolled his eyes. Like he’d ever be truly ready for this. “I guess so,” Aaron replied.

Viper waved him through a door and Aaron followed. Inside the room was a larger room with what looked like practice mats. Aaron gulped and turned to Viper. “What do I need to do?” he asked.

“Well this is a mission where you fight for the survival of the eldest Backstreet Boy…Sorry he has a name, doesn’t he…Kevin is it?”

Aaron swallowed. Kevin was like a father/brother figure to him. He couldn’t let him get hurt. “Y-yes, Master,” Aaron responded, “what do I have to do?”

“That’s the better!” Viper cheered. Aaron stared icily at him as Viper continued. “It’s a fight for survival right? Now you just have to last a certain amount of time in the ring with-“

“Me.” Aaron turned to see Ace standing in the doorway. His shirt was off revealing large, bulging muscles, and scars on his body. Aaron gulped, wide eyed.

“How long?” Aaron gasped.

“Five minutes per round,” Viper answered.

“How many rounds?”

“Today? Only two…But you don’t have to compete you know. You could save yourself,” Viper hinted.

“If you’re suggesting what you were suggesting earlier then drop dead,” Aaron snarled adding a sarcastic “Master” to the end of his statement.

“We’ll see if we can’t change your mind Aaron,” Viper sneered and then shoved Aaron forward, “you may begin whenever you want Ace.”

Ace cracked his knuckles and launched himself at Aaron who sidestepped quickly with a yelp. Aaron swallowed and stared at Ace in terror. ‘I don’t know the first thing about fighting…I’ve always been taught that it’s wrong…what do I do?’

Aaron was caught off guard as Ace launched himself at him. Aaron yelped as Ace tackled him. Aaron growled and stood again as Ace backed off. As Aaron stood, Ace delivered a strong kick to his chest causing Aaron to fall onto his back. Aaron rolled over onto his stomach and attempted to stand. Ace lashed out and kicked him in the chest. Aaron yelped and rolled over onto his side. Ace kicked him in the back. “Get up,” Ace ordered as he did earlier.

‘De Ja vu,’ Aaron thought to himself forcing himself to his knees. He was pushed onto his back and Ace descended on him raining blow after blow onto his face and body. Finally he stopped and stood. “Get up,” Ace ordered again.

Aaron stared at Ace coldly before forcing himself to stand. He launched his smaller body at Ace who backhanded Aaron roughly across the face. Aaron fell to the ground, a large gash across his forehead bleeding down his forehead. ‘Ow…smooth Aaron,’ he thought to himself.

Ace didn’t wait for him to get up. He kicked him in the head and the legs. Aaron rolled over onto his other side away from Ace. Ace smirked and jumped over him. He swung his leg back and connected as hard as he could with Aaron’s midsection. There was a sharp crack and Aaron screamed before he blacked out completely.

When Aaron came to, he felt a horrible ache in his head. He groaned and rolled over, only to scream out in pain. ‘Damn,’ he thought to himself, ‘I forgot about my ribs.’

Aaron lay still for a moment as Ace walked in. “Ahhh you’re up. Time for another round…you passed out four minutes into it.” Aaron gulped and attempted to sit up, only to fall back onto his back with a cry. “Awww do your ribs hurt?”

“Shut up,” Aaron hissed finally forcing himself to his feet. Ace just laughed and waited until Aaron launched himself at him again. Ace knocked him down and began to rain blows all over his body. Aaron was in pure agony as he attempted to curl into a fetal position. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ace stopped. Aaron lay still on the ground panting heavily, his eyes shut tight in pain. .

Ace laughed cruelly again and bent down to Aaron. “Well well Nick Jr. You can still change your mind. You still have a choice.”

Aaron groaned in pain and rolled over. ‘God I can’t take much more of this,’ he thought. Ace’s comment rattled him and Aaron gritted his teeth in pain, lifted his head and sneered at Ace. “I’ve given you my answer Ace,” Aaron croaked with a strange look of defiance, hopelessness, and pain in his eyes. ‘I can’t betray my friends,’ he told himself firmly laying his head back down wearily.

“Reconsider,” Ace suggested dangerously as he pulled Aaron from the ground by his shirt. Aaron looked up into Ace’s face, snarled and spit in his face. Ace roared in anger and slapped Aaron roughly. Aaron cried out in pain before falling and curling into a ball gasping for breath.

Ace kicked Aaron repeatedly, but stopped for a moment and asked again. “What’ll it be Aaron?”

“I would rather die than betray my brother and my friends,” Aaron managed to croak out.

“So be it,” Ace snarled and kicked him in the head. Aaron barely moaned in pain before he blacked out.

‘Wake up!’ his mind ordered.

‘But I’m so tired,’ Aaron replied.

‘You can’t let your brother or his friends down. They are in danger! You can sleep later!’

‘You’re right I’ll ge-‘

“AAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!” Aaron eyes shot open and he screamed as he felt pain shoot through his ribs. ‘Fuck.’ He thought moaning in pain.

Ace’s laugh caused Aaron to cringe as he approached the smaller boy again. “Sorry about that Nick Jr. I forgot how tender broken ribs can be!” Ace laughed.

Aaron bit back a retort and moaned in pain as Ace brought back his foot to kick him again. There was nothing Aaron could do but tense up and take it. “Noooo,” he moaned weakly cringing. Aaron heard a cry from far away but ignored it when Ace’s foot connected with his side again. Aaron yelped and curled up in a ball. ‘Please, God, make it stop,’ he prayed suddenly. Tears were streaming out of his eyes in hopelessness.

Suddenly, the assault stopped. Aaron was relieved but whimpered as a wave of pain went through his senses. He felt someone brush the bangs from his forehead. ‘Wait…this touch is gentle…it feels very familiar too…who is it?’

“-ron?” a voice murmured quietly. Aaron knew he should respond but he was so tired and found he couldn’t. He felt himself being rolled onto his back and just let it happen. ‘This person doesn’t want to hurt me,’ he thought to himself. Aaron had just begun to relax when a sudden pain shot through his abused body.

“AH!” Aaron yelped as the person pressed down on his injured ribs. ‘Maybe I was wrong,’ he thought frantically attempting to move away from the person and whimpering. “No more…” he moaned, “please no more…please…” Aaron felt the person leaning over him


“Shhh shhh shhh,” the voice cooed petting Aarons head, “sorry A.C. I didn’t meant to hurt you I just wanted to check your ribs.”

‘NICK!’ his mind screamed in utter relief. ‘Everything is alright now. Nick won’t let anything bad happen to me.’ He thought. Aaron said nothing but reached out for his brother. ‘Is he real though?’ he asked himself. He felt his brother’s hand take his and squeeze, while Nick’s other hand pet his forehead soothingly. ‘Alright,’ his mind told him, ‘you can sleep now.’ Aaron groaned. ‘Thank you.’ He replied falling asleep. ‘WAIT! There’s one thing I should take care of first,’ Aaron insisted forcing himself awake.

Aaron was cradled in his brother’s arms and he looked up into Nick’s face. Nick looked like he was feeling guilty and was really worried at the same time. ‘Poor Nick, he probably feels totally responsible.’ Aaron thought. “Nick?” he whispered. Nick looked startled and then looked down at him forcing a smile.

“Hey little bro. how are you feeling?” he asked concernedly.

Aaron wasn’t up to talking in real long sentences but he still wanted to reassure his brother. Aaron swallowed slowly, licking his dry bruised lips and mumbled, “Crap”. Nick chuckled.

“Such language young man! What would Momma say?” Nick chided, then more seriously asked, “Do you think you have any life threatening conditions?”

Aaron shrugged. He didn’t’ want to answer these questions right now. All Aaron’s body craved at this moment was sleep, and though he was fatigued beyond belief, Aaron couldn’t resist being snippy “Not…a Doctor,” he answered. Nick rolled his eyes.

“You’re such a smart ass,” Nick said with a grin, “where on Earth do you get it?”. Aaron managed a weak grin and half chuckle. The chuckle however caused him immense amounts of pain and Aaron took a sharp breath whimpering loudly.

‘Ok, laughing is out…righto,’ he informed himself. He felt Nick wince. Nick readjusted Aaron so he would be more comfortable. Aaron whimpered again.

“Close your eyes Aaron,” Nick cooed rocking him gently as they walked, “you’ll feel better if you do.”

Aaron felt like Nick was patronizing him, and he frowned at Nick. “I’m…okay.” He croaked.

“Sleep.” Nick ordered.

“Yes Mother.” Aaron mumbled with his eyes closed. Had they been open he probably would have rolled them.

“Brat.” Nick laughed

“…Learned…from…you…” Aaron then drifted off as Nick carried him in his arms.


~*~*~

“The end,” Aaron finished with his head down. He lifted his head to see Nick and the others pale faced and frowning. Aaron licked his lips and swallowed.

For a moment, none of the boys could find their voices to speak. When the silence was finally broken, it was Howie who spoke. “Aaron,” Howie whispered getting the boy’s attention.

Aaron met Howie’s eyes with difficulty. “Yes?”

“One, that situation with you and me was not your fault okay? I believe Nick will back up the assumption that had you succeeded I still would have been beaten to a pulp, as it was for Nick’s mission anyways,” Howie spoke fiercely and paused here to wait for Nick’s affirming nod then continued, “and that my beating and your ‘mission’ were for the sole purpose of trying to break you, which in turn they hoped would break Nick.”

Nick gave another affirming nod, this time an angry one, and clenched his fists in anger, his eyes closing. “That bastard,” he growled furiously, “Aaron, you listen to me NOW.” Aaron looked at Nick with Wide eyes and nodded. “You NEVER will call Viper ‘Master’ or anything of the sort, understand? He does not own you, you are your own person,” Nick’s tone was so poisonous that Aaron flinched. Nick then softened his voice pressing his forehead to his little brother’s, “but thank you for subjecting yourself to that low in order to save Howie….I owe you bro.”

Aaron managed a weak smile. “He would have done the same for me,” Aaron murmured embarrassedly looking over to Howie who smiled at the boy before continuing his conversation moments before.

“Also Aaron, you need to know that they never came back to me again. You sacrificed yourself not in vain. I would be a lot worse off if you hadn’t,” Howie whispered around the lump in his throat.

Aaron’s jaw dropped. “You mean, they didn’t beat you for another-“

“No,” Howie cut Aaron off firmly.

“Thank God,” Aaron whispered beginning to cry in a moment of relief and terror. Silence reigned again as the boys didn’t know what to say until Nick leaned forward suddenly and wrapped his arms around Aaron. “I’m so sorry,” Nick choked, “you shouldn’t be involved bro.” Nick hugged Aaron tightly. He was hurting Aaron, but at that moment, Aaron was just glad to be surrounded by friends. Nick turned to the others, tears streaming down his face. “None of you should be involved,” he cried.

“Nick please don’t feel guilty this ain’t your fault,” Aaron begged trying not to cry anymore.

“He’s right Nick. Don’t’ do this again. You wouldn’t let me earlier,” A.J. commented.

Nick said nothing, just hugged Aaron to him rocking back and forth slowly until he felt Aaron go limp. He laid Aaron down and sat on the floor next to the cot. ‘I’ll be here for you Aaron, nobody’s gonna hurt you now.’ He thought stroking his brother’s hair from his face.

“Nick…” Kevin’s voice came from behind him, “remember what Aaron said was true.”

“I know, I’ll try,” Nick whispered resting his head on the cot. He fell asleep shortly after, and one by one, the boys all fell asleep huddled around Aaron’s bed. Aaron smiled in his sleep finally feeling safe for the first time in quite a few days.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 22

Aaron yawned as he awoke the next morning. He carefully wiped the sleep from his blue eyes and stretched, suppressing a loud yelp as he remembered his condition. ‘Good one Carter,’ he thought rolling his eyes. He turned over carefully and smiled. Sitting on the floor with his head resting on the cot he was laying on, was his brother, sleeping soundly. Aaron looked over to where one of the chairs in the room was sitting and laughed as he saw Kevin sitting in the chair, his head resting on his chest, and A.J. resting his head against Kevin’s knee. Howie’s head lay on A.J.’s shoulder.

Aaron’s eyebrows knitted together. ‘Where’s Brian?’ he asked himself. A groan caught his attention and he looked over to another cot to see Brian’s eyes clenched shut. Soft groans were escaping his mouth every few moments in his delirious, feverish, state.

Aaron frowned and carefully sat up. He walked over to Brian’s cot placing his hand on Brian’s forehead. Aaron frowned deeper as he felt the warmth radiating from his forehead. Aaron stood carefully, hissing only slightly as he straightened up. He looked around the cell for the sink and also looked around for something to wet. His gaze fell on a deposited sleeve on the floor. Aaron turned on the faucet, wet the sleeve with cold water, and walked back to Brian’s side. He gently laid the sleeve across Brian’s forehead. Aaron then turned to walk back to his cot, suddenly feeling very weary.

Just as Aaron began to lay down, the cell door opened almost silently. Aaron looked up as Ace walked into the cell. Ace made eye contact with Aaron who immediately began to shake with fear. Aaron reached over to wake up Nick, his gaze never leaving Ace. Before the blonde could even touch his brother, Ace shook his head with an evil grin and whipped out a gun. He pointed it at Nick’s sleeping form causing Aaron to freeze where he was.

“Aaron, just get up and come here,” Ace ordered quietly. Aaron trembled and stood quietly shooting a desperate look at his brother. His legs shook as they threatened to give out on their owner on the way to Ace.

Aaron was sweating from fear and shaking. It took him awhile before he was about four feet from Ace. Ace however grew impatient and grabbed Aaron’s arm roughly. Aaron let out a yelp of pain as Ace’s fingertips squeezed a rather large bruise on Aaron’s bicep.

Ace jumped and glared daggers at the boy before he hissed, “Quiet!” through his teeth raising his hand to Aaron’s face. Aaron brought his other arm up to shield his face as Ace threatened to hit him. As Ace brought his hand down a voice stopped him cold.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Ace turned with Aaron still in his grasp to see all of the boys awake; annoyed, dangerous looks donned their faces. Ace frowned and turned toward the exit quickly spinning Aaron with him. “I wouldn’t do that either,” Nick continued standing slowly. Aaron began to attempt to pry Ace’s hand off of his arm now struggling wildly. Ace momentarily looked alarmed as he realized that not bringing other guards with him was a bad idea. As soon as the look appeared on Ace’s face, it was gone; replaced with a confident one.

“Yeah?” Ace snorted, “and what are you gonna do about it?” Nick looked at Ace coldly but did not respond approaching slowly. Ace turned back towards the door, pulling Aaron with him quickly.

“NICK!” Aaron yelped desperately digging his heels into the floor while prying at the hand that held him. Nick was in front of Ace before the latter could respond.

“Let. Go.” Nick snarled. Ace looked alarmed again and pulled the gun to rest underneath Aaron’s chin. Nick’s eyes flashed but he said nothing.

“Viper wants the boy, so he has to come with me,” Ace informed Nick simply.

Nick stared down at the gun before smiling at Aaron in reassurance.

“Yeah? Well that’s MY little brother,” Nick snapped kicking the gun away from Aaron. Ace fell back in shock, releasing Aaron, and giving Nick the chance to pull the trembling boy behind him. “and he’s staying with me. Tell YOUR master that Aaron’s not doing missions anymore, and if he has a problem with that then he can deal with ME and leave Aaron alone.”

Aaron cowered behind Nick, his eyes wide in terror, and his breathing shallow and panicked. Ace growled. “I’ll be back,” Ace snarled before he left the cell shooting a death glare at Nick who returned the gesture. Once Ace was gone, Nick heaved a sigh before turning to check on his younger brother carefully.

Aaron stood staring wide eyed at the closed door as he trembled. When Nick touched Aaron’s shoulder, Aaron’s only response was to tense and breathe faster. ‘Dammit, he’s in shock,” Nick thought to himself biting his lip in concern. Nick finally touched the side of Aaron’s face gently making his younger brother make eye contact with him. Aaron looked at Nick gratefully and managed to force a smile. “You okay Aaron? Did he hurt you?” Nick asked gently in concern. Aaron shook his head, his face pale before his knees gave out and he collapsed to the ground, shaking like a rabbit cornered by a fox. Nick sighed and gathered Aaron into his arms, careful not to hurt the boy. Aaron leaned heavily into Nick, his breathing growing more and more shallow and panicked.

“Shhhh calm down Aaron, you’re alright now. I’ve gotchya…” Nick murmured attempting to calm the younger boy. Aaron finally calmed.

“T…thanks…” Aaron whispered.

“No problem,” Nick whispered back kissing his brother’s brow in relief. Nick stood with his brother in his arms, and placed the smaller boy on one of the cots, brushing the blonde hair back from Aaron’s pale, drawn face. Nick looked ready to stand, but at Aaron’s frantic glance, stopped and smiled reassuringly as he began to pet his brother’s head comfortingly.

Aaron crawled on the cot until his head was pillowed by Nick’s thighs. Aaron cuddled into Nick’s legs, eliciting a chuckle from Nick who recalled that Aaron used to do this during thunderstorms when he was little. As Aaron calmed himself, he closed his eyes and began dozing off to the comforting voices of his brother and his brother’s friends. Nick’s warmth provided extra security to go along with the soothing drone of the older boys’ voices.

“Is he okay?” Kevin asked Nick approaching the blonde. Nick nodded and turned towards Kevin with a forced smile.

“Yeah I don’t think Ace had the chance to really hurt him, I think he just unluckily grabbed a bruise,” Nick answered continuing to pet Aaron’s head.

Kevin chuckled. “Oh the irony.”

Nick managed a smile as Brian voiced what he was thinking. “That was close…”

Nick nodded at him. “Definitely too close.”

TROUBLE CHAPTER 23

Ace grumbled anxiously as he stalked down the hallway towards Viper’s office. ‘Viper is certainly not going to be happy that Aaron’s not with me,’ Ace thought with a deep frown. He heaved a great sigh as Viper’s large double doors loomed in front of him. Ace knocked twice.

“ENTER,” Viper’s voice boomed from inside.

Ace pushed open the door with a loud thud. Viper looked up from whatever he was working on sitting at his desk and grinned at his second in command. “Ah Ace! Glad to see that didn’t take long! So where is young Mr. Carter?”

Ace shifted nervously from foot to foot. “Well Master,…uhm…well…he’s not…” Ace stammered.

“Spit it out Ace! I haven’t got all day!” Viper snapped.

Ace nodded in apology then continued, “I couldn’t exactly…well that is to say…I…he isn’t exactly here at this moment in time.”

Viper’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Oh? Where is he then?” Viper demanded.

“Still with his brother Viper,” Ace answered, “I am sorry, I thought I could sneak Aaron out while his brother was sleeping…I was wrong.”

“What happened?” Viper asked frowning darkly.

“Well I entered the cell to find Aaron just about to lie down on the cot next to his brother. I motioned for him to stand and not wake his brother by training the gun on Nick. Aaron did as I asked and began to walk towards me…but he was either too weak or too scared to walk fast enough to my liking, so I grabbed him by the arm, and he cried out for his brother….his brother jumped in and even when I put the gun to Aaron’s head, Nick wouldn’t let me take him,” Ace explained.

“So then Nick is preoccupied by his brother.” Viper stated.

“Yes sir, very much so,” Ace answered.

“And the others…are they preoccupied with the young one’s safety as well?”
“Yes sir, almost as much as Nick is,” Ace replied.

“Well then we will have to use this knowledge to our advantage,” Viper smirked.

“Sir?”

“Just listen Ace.”

~*~*~

Aaron slept on as Kevin, A.J., Howie, Brian, and Nick talked quietly next to his cot. Their conversation had turned to what they thought they would do with themselves if they ever got out of the cell. The conversation irked Nick a bit as he began to fear that the boys were losing hope of ever getting out of there. Even Brian, who had more faith than anyone else he knew seemed to be giving up.

“…spend more time with my mom,” A.J. was saying smiling at the thought of his mother, “after all, she’s all I have left besides you guys, and she’s all I’ll ever need…until the next Mrs. McClean comes along anyways.” A.J. flashed a grin as he finished.

“If I get out of here, I will devote more time to my family, and devote more time and money to charities …and I will never take time for granted again that’s for sure,” Howie said after thinking a moment.

Kevin smiled. “I think I’ll devote more time to family, friends, and I’ll put in lots of funds for more after school programs to keep kids out of trouble…and off the streets,” Kevin said pointedly looking at Nick who rolled his eyes, “and…more time with Kristin of course…I believe that the time has come for me to ask her a certain popular question…”

Brian looked up suddenly from where he was resting. “You mean?” he gasped looking really excited suddenly.

Kevin grinned and his eyes sparkled. “Yep! I’m ready to ask Kristin to marry me. Howie’s right, time is not something I can just throw away anymore.”

“Kevin, if we get out of here, I’m gonna throw you the BEST bachelor party ever!” A.J. cheered.

“WHEN we get out of here,” Brian corrected firmly.

Nick smiled. ‘So Brian still has faith in me…’

“Of course! That’s what I meant naturally!” A.J. replied quickly.

Brian smiled. “I’m ready to settle into focusing on Leighanne …I want to spend more time with my family, and you guys too…but my biggest devotion will be to God.”

“ME TOO!” Kevin and Howie agreed at the same time.

“What about you Nick?” Brian asked.

Nick forced a smile before snorting and shaking his head. “Truthfully, I don’t know guys. Part of me wants to dedicate myself to the things you were discussing…you know charities, friends…family,” Nick replied smiling at his younger brother who shifted in his sleep, “but, another part of me wants to ‘fall off the face of the planet’…you know…disappear?”

Nick’s friends stared at him in dumbstruck horror. “Nick!” Kevin gasped finally.

“Why Nick?” Howie asked in horror.

“well if I did then none of you would be in danger because of me ever again…these people have been after me the entire time…you had nothing to do with it…if I disappeared, you would be left alone now…that’s why I want to disappear when we get out,” Nick’s explanation finished in a whisper and he stared hard at the floor refusing to meet the eyes of his friends.

“NICK I NEVER WANT TO HEAR THAT OUT OF YOU AGAIN!” Aaron’s voice suddenly screamed angrily. Nick jumped a foot in the air and turned to his brother. Before Nick could utter a sound to comfort Aaron, the latter had rose painfully and stood at Nick’s eye level while Nick was sitting down. “Now you listen and You listen Good!” Aaron yelled in Nick’s face, “Disappearing from our lives would solve NOTHING Nick. While we may be protected physically from Viper, Ace and the rest of them, we could NEVER be happy! Safe and sound without you, we would always be wondering if you were alive! If you were alone! If you were happy! I would rather die with you in my life, than be without you safe! What you’re suggesting is SELFISH NICK IT’S SELFISH!” Aaron finished his tirade then collapsed on the ground completely shaking with new sobs.

Nick’s eyes were wide as saucers as he dashed to the floor next to his brother. Nick bit his lip and tentatively touched Aaron’s shoulder to which the younger blonde jumped up into his brother’s arms. Nick closed his arms around Aaron hurriedly, and began to sway soothingly. “Don’t leave me Nick,” Aaron whispered, “please?”

“Don’t leave any of us,” Brian added softly, hiding his anger towards Nick for the moment.

“The kid’s right,” A.J. added angrily, “you disappearing would possibly protect us from Viper et. all-“

“And that’s a big if!” Howie interrupted.

“But there would always be an empty space where you are right now. We would never know if anything had happened to you or if you were alone. We would be constantly preoccupied. Leaving would only cause more pain Nick…” A.J. scolded.

“Especially if we knew you did it for us.” Kevin whispered.

Nick refrained from his response for a moment instead staring intently at his brother. “Aaron,” Nick said gently. Aaron managed to look up at him. Nick smiled. “I’m not going to leave you…never permanently…” Nick said looking up at everyone, “I was just thinking out loud ya’ll…I’m sorry I upset you.”

Aaron clung to Nick. “It’s fine…just don’t mention it again,” Aaron whispered.

Nick smiled again at his brother then looked up quickly as the lock to the door clicked and the door opened. Nick stood up with his brother who clung to Nick’s midsection in fear. Nick growled and used his arm to pull Aaron closer. “No matter what happens, protect Aaron!” Nick ordered. The rest of the boys nodded in determination and stood in front of Aaron, pulling the boy behind them.

The door swung open with a clang as the boys stood at the ready, their breathing momentarily halted. As they looked to the entrance of the cell, Ace ambled in followed by five other guards. Ace held a tray of hot, delicious looking food, as did the rest of the guards. Ace smiled at the rest of the group. Nick tensed as Ace walked closer to him and addressed the group. “Good morning Nicky! Kevvy! Howard! Mr. McClean! Brizey! And of course, litt-”

“Don’t. Talk. To. Him,” Kevin snarled at Ace. Ace grinned evilly.

“Brave talk coming from a man who was sobbing hysterically underground…and from a man who stopped breathing.” Ace taunted.

A sharp, resounding intake of breath was heard around the cell from all except Nick and Kevin. Kevin closed his eyes and cursed inwardly. “What do you want Ace?” Nick snapped, irritated that Ace told the rest of the boys about the earlier events that he had sworn not to tell anyone else.

“Just wanted to drop off the food that Viper wanted ya’ll to have,” Ace replied lazily.

“Fine. You did it. Now leave,” Nick snapped again.

“A bit cross are we?” Ace laughed, “but very well. I shall return soon…enjoy your meal.” Ace then gathered his guards who were all sneering at the boys and left the cell, slamming the heavy metal door with a loud thud.

As soon as the door shut, Brian, A.J., Howie, and Aaron launched a tirade on Kevin. “Did he say you stopped breathing cuz?” Brian demanded angrily.

Kevin smiled meekly. “Well, yes but-” Kevin stammered as Howie cut him off.
“Kev! Why didn’t you tell us? You were so angry at Ncik when he did the same thing!”

“Oh my God…you almost died,” Aaron whispered. A.J. took a different approach.

“I swear to God, when I get my hands on that no good, low down, good for nothing asshole I’m gonna-”

“Anyone hungry?” Nick asked nonchalantly, from across the room, coming to Kevin’s rescue.

“YES!” Kevin blurted quickly stepping forward quickly and shooting a grateful look at Nick, who smirked in return, “but are you sure it’s safe?”

“Did you not hear us? We want an explanation dammit!” A.J. snapped.

“A.J. watch your mouth,” Kevin replied automatically, clearly not really paying attention.

“I don’t know Kev…it might be laced with something to make us weaker or sleep so they can take Aaron easier,” Nick answered, hiding his smile as both he and Kevin blatantly ignored A.J.’s question.

“So what should we do? We do need nourishment…” Kevin thought out loud.

“One of us should test it,” A.J. said stepping forward, forgetting Kevin’s untold story for the time being, “I could do it.”

Nick frowned. “If Ace should come back after assuming that we had all eaten it…we would need you to fight Aje…” Nick replied shaking his head, “Howie’s arm is VERY broken,” Nick said motioning to Howie who was sitting on one of the cots, “Aaron’s been beaten almost senseless…” Nick said motioning to his brother, “and Brian’s already weakened by the drugs that were administered when we got here…so none of them can fight…I need you Aje. Otherwise it would only be me and Kevin who would be able to fight…and Kev’s still pretty beat up.”

“He’s right,” Howie replied softly, “I’ll do it…I’m the only one who can”

“What? Why you?” A.J. asked.

“Well you, Nick, and Kevin are out, for obvious reasons,” Howie began, “Aaron’s body might not be as tolerant to toxins…and our immune system is stronger than his anyways…”

“Good point,” Nick agreed.

“And Brian already has drugs in his system. If we mix two drugs, who knows what might happen…especially with his heart…and with my arm there’s nothing I can do to help otherwise, so that leaves me to do it,” Howie finished smiling at the rest of the boys. Nick smiled weakly at Howie.

“Are you sure you’re up to this D?” Nick asked.

“Positive,” Howie replied nodding once.

“Okay…here ya go,” Kevin replied giving Howie the tray. Howie shakily picked up the fork and shoveled some of what looked like mashed potatoes with meat in it onto the fork and put it in his mouth. Howie swallowed the food and put it down, drinking some water.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” A.J. asked. Howie smiled at his friend.

“I’m not going to shovel the entire bowl down while you guys can’t eat…it wouldn’t be fair. I’m going to see if this affects me, then I’ll eat the rest of it with all of you,” Howie replied.

“Well I think it’s perfectly fair myself,” Aaron mumbled. The rest of the boys nodded in agreement.

“I really hope the food isn’t poisoned,” Howie mumbled. The rest of the boys laughed. Howie smiled. “I meant I hope it isn’t because I’m really hungry,” Howie told the rest of the boys who nodded in agreement.

“And this time, Nick, you are eating your food,” Kevin scolded. Nick rolled his eyes and grunted an agreement.

After about a half an hour, Nick stood up and picked up another tray. He walked over to Aaron’s cot, and put it next to his brother before retrieving another one and giving it to Brian. “We can eat now,” Nick informed everyone, “it’s been long enough…but be sure to eat slowly. Your bodies haven’t had food in awhile…you’ll make yourselves sick if you eat too fast.”

All of the boys picked up their respected trays and sat down to eat. Everyone had eager looks in their eyes as they ate. After everyone was finished, A.J. helped Howie onto a cot to sleep, then proceeded to lay down on the one directly across from his friend. Kevin jumped up and thought about helping Brian up to a cot, but then decided against it as his cousin seemed to know what he was thinking and gave him a ‘do not disturb’ look. Kevin lay down on another cot and closed his eyes emitting a loud sigh.

Nick still sat on the cot he had placed his brother on and didn’t seem to be moving anytime soon. Aaron lay his head back on the cot and closed his eyes before snapping them back open quickly. Nick smiled at his brother before leaning down and whispering in Aaron’s ear, smoothing back his hair. Aaron nodded, yawned then closed his eyes, rolling against Nick’s side. Nick smiled at his brother before looking at his best friend sitting on the floor by Aaron’s cot. “You should sleep too ya know,” Nick whispered to Brian.

“I thought I’d keep you company,” Brian replied.

“But you need to sleep off the rest of that poison, before it damages you for good,” Nick insisted.

“Nah I’m fine,” Brian insisted. Nick frowned at him.

“How about you move the other cot over here so you can lay down and still ‘keep me company’?” Nick suggested. Brian smiled.

“Fine. If it will make you feel better then I will,” Brian replied.

Brian set about pulling the cot over next to Aaron’s cot, then lay down on it. Brian looked suspiciously at Nick. “Where are you sleeping?” Brian asked.

“I’m not letting Aaron out of my sight or touch…I’m sleeping on the cot next to him tonight,” Nick answered smiling at his sleeping brother fondly.
“Okay…promise me you’ll get some sleep.” Brian requested yawning.
Nick smiled. “I promise,” he replied.
The next few hours passed with Brian keeping Nick company before both Nick and Brian fell asleep, Nick on Aaron’s cot, and Brian on his own. Nick’s arm was draped over Aaron’s sleeping form, and Brian faced the brothers as both parties slept on.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 24

When Nick regained consciousness the next morning, he found his arm laying directly on the cot, with no body underneath it. His eyes flew open as he realized that his little brother was not next to him. Panicking, Nick jumped up. His quick, erratic movements awoke Brian who opened his eyes and looked at Nick. “Nick? What’s wrong buddy?” Brian asked sitting up.

Nick looked down at him, looking quite panicked. “Aaron’s gone!” Nick said loudly, “he was there next to me when I went to sleep, and when I woke up he was gone!”

“What?” Brian asked in alarm also standing up quickly. Kevin, A.J., and Howie had awoken to their conversation and jumped up too.

“Where could he be?” Kevin asked.

“Perhaps the food was drugged after all,” Howie lamented.

“Why didn’t we feel it sooner then?” Kevin asked.

“Guys we need to think of something to hel-,” A.J. started.

“I’m fine you guys, I’m right here!” Aaron’s voice called from across the cell. He had been laying on one of the cots across the room, and was now sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He had been sleeping until all of the outbursts from the boys.

Nick looked over and made eye contact with Aaron. Nick sat down heavily on his cot pale faced, and put his head in his hands to calm himself down. Aaron frowned at his brother before walking slowly across the cell to sit next to Nick. Aaron wrapped an arm around his brother’s back and lay his head on Nick’s shoulder. “I’m fine Nick, you just rolled on top of me last night while you were sleeping, and then wouldn’t move for awhile, so I got up when you moved and slept on my own,” Aaron explained with a laugh. The rest of the boys laughed too.

“That couldn’t have been very comfortable considering your condition,” Kevin laughed.

Nick managed a smile. “You calling me fat Kev?” Nick laughed before addressing Aaron, ”Why didn’t you wake me up bro?” he asked Aaron.

“Because I knew you needed sleep, I could tell you hadn’t slept in awhile so I wanted to make sure you got some peaceful rest while you could,” Aaron answered.

“Next time just wake me up,” Nick requested.

Aaron smiled. “Fine,” he answered. Nick smiled then ruffled Aaron’s hair.

A few hours passed with idle chatter, and Aaron attempting to tell stupid jokes while the rest of the boys forced laughs at them.


When the cell’s lock clicked open, Aaron jumped and stood next to Nick who pulled Aaron behind him protectively. The rest of the boys stood in front of Aaron to shield him as the door opened revealing Ace again. Behind Ace were twelve other guards. Nick cursed inwardly. There was no way that he could take all of these guards with only A.J. and Kevin to help him. Carefully, he turned to Howie to his left and whispered in the Latino’s ear. Howie nodded in understanding then turned, grabbed Aaron and walked to the other end of the cell. Howie pulled Aaron behind him.

Ace smiled at the group and walked forward. “I’m baaaack,” he said in a sing-song voice. Nick said nothing. “What? No witty response today?” Ace inquired cockily. Nick narrowed his eyes. Ace suddenly grew serious. “I’m here for him, hand him over,” Ace demanded.

“I’d rather die than give him to you,” Nick answered.

“Fine then Nicky, we’ll do it the hard way,” Ace replied then motioned to the guards behind him. The guards stepped forward, pulling out long metallic poles as they did so. Nick swallowed paling instantly. Four guards cornered Nick against a wall with the poles. Nick eyed them warily.

“Give him to me Nick, you know what those are,” Ace ordered. Nick winced. He did in fact know what the guards were wielding. They were cattle prods, and he knew from experience that it hurt like hell to be zapped by one of those. “If you hand him over right now, I won’t use these on the rest of your friends…however if you don’t, we’ll up the voltage higher than you’re used to, and see what they do to all of you.”

Nick growled at Ace and opened his mouth to reply to Ace, when Aaron’s soft voice said, “No, I don’t want that…I’ll go with you Ace.”

Nick turned his head around to see Aaron push past Howie who made a mad grab for Aaron. Aaron swatted Howie’s hand away and smiled bravely at him. “Aaron no!” Nick cried pushing off the wall until the pole were less than a half inch from his skin. Aaron smiled at Nick this time, then walked straight to Ace.

“Let’s go Ace,” Aaron managed to say, ignoring Nick. Ace looked shocked at Aaron, then smiled sinisterly.

‘How unexpected,’ Ace thought to himself. “Good boy Aaron,” Ace laughed aloud.

Aaron swallowed and lowered his head. He felt a presence next to him and looked up to see Brian “Aaron is stayin’ here,” Brian informed Ace pulling Aaron back behind him as he himself backed away shakily. Kevin stepped forward as well, saying nothing, but wearing a look that clearly stated that he agreed with Brian. A.J. then stepped forward next to Brian, and Howie next to Kevin. Nick grinned in relief and triumph from the wall at Ace, silently thanking God for Brian.

Ace sighed. “Very well then,” he replied clapping his hands. The twelve other guards stepped forward, the cattle prods humming to life, each long pole sparking with electricity. Aaron’s eyes opened wide as he eyed the cattle prods. The boys took a step backward away from the cattle prods, pulling Aaron with them.
Nick made eye contact with A.J. and Kevin from across the cell, who nodded at him in return. Wordlessly, the duo jumped in front of Aaron and Brian, meaning to attack the guards. Ace turned to the guards and mumbled something to them. The guards nodded, and adjusted their cattle prods to a lower voltage. Ace wanted his guards to stun the rest of them, and go for the one they came for. A.J., Kevin, and Nick all readied themselves as Nick caught Brian’s eye. “Frick, I’m really counting on you…whatever you do, protect Aaron! You too Howie!” Nick ordered.

“I promise Nick,” Brian replied pulling Aaron back over to Howie who had retreated out of the way to the back of the cell.

“Thank you Bri,” Nick whispered before he lunged at the four guards pinning him to the wall. The other eight armed guards laughed and brandished their cattle prods at Kevin, and A.J. Nick kicked two of the guards before they could zap him, and both lost their weapons. A.J. however was not as lucky, and as he knocked one guard over, another zapped him in the back with the prod. A.J. cried out in pain before he groaned and fell to the floor, barely able to move. His eyes closed a second later as he lost consciousness.

“JAY!” Kevin screamed as he knocked two of the guards down. Momentarily distracted, another guard was able to zap Kevin in the side. Kevin fell to the ground with barely a sound, he lay unmoving.

Nick ignored both and fought the remaining seven, knowing it was hopeless. As soon as he knocked another four down, he was zapped by another two cattle prods. Nick fell to the ground with a loud grunt and lay still. “Nooo…” he managed to moan out, “Aaron…” Then his eyes rolled back and he fell unconscious.

As all of the guards recovered, Howie and Brian moved in front of Aaron who was wide eyed. All twelve of the guards brandished the cattle prods. With an evil grin on all of their faces, they all turned up the voltage on the prods. Ace stepped through them and grinned. Brian growled and stepped in front of Howie and Aaron. “If you want to take Aaron, you’ll have to go through me first,” he growled.

“My dear Brizey! What makes you think we want him?” Ace laughed. Confusion filled Brian’s eyes before they rolled into the back of his head as all four of the cattle prods hit him with electricity.

“NO!” Aaron cried out lunging for Brian. Howie held him back, feeling sick before the other guards prodded him as well. Howie fell limp and collapsed against Aaron. Ace motioned for a guard to lift Brian up and then turned to Aaron.

“This could have all been avoided if you would have come with me the first time…now he will have to suffer for you,” Ace growled. Ace turned towards the guard that held Brian. “Take him to Viper’s office…we’ll deal with his punishment there.”

Aaron whimpered. “Please…”

“I’ll be back for you later, and you better come willingly this time…” Ace growled. He then turned on his heel and thundered out of the cell, taking Brian with him.

Aaron felt tears fill his eyes as he bent down to roll Howie over onto his back to keep him off of his broken arm, before he walked to each of the boys, checking pulses attempting to move them into comfortable positions. As he was checking A.J.’s pulse, A.J.’s eyes snapped open and he grabbed Aaron’s wrist in alarm. Aaron yelped in surprise as A.J. made eye contact with Aaron. A.J. sighed in relief, sitting up and pulling Aaron to his chest. “Thank God,” he whispered pulling away, “how did you escape the rest?”

Aaron’s tears began to spill over as he shook his head. “I didn’t…” he whispered.

“But..” A.J. began.

“Unngghhh,” Kevin moaned to the side. A.J. looked around then and noticed Kevin, Howie, and Nick all unconscious. A.J. crawled over to Kevin to check him out.

“Kev, you okay?” A.J. questioned.

Kevin sat up slowly. “Yeah I think so…” he moaned before his eyes shot open. “Where’s Aaron?’ he asked full of dread.

“He’s alright,” A.J. said motioning to Aaron, who was crawling in the direction of his brother, “but I don’t know where-,”

“KEV!” Aaron suddenly screamed in terror. Both A.J. and Kevin turned to look at the fallen blonde who was now awake, rolling around in pain. Blood seeped through his hands that he held at his wounded side, as he groaned loudly in pain. Kevin was next to Nick in a heartbeat, with A.J. at his heels.

“Shit,” Kevin muttered, “they must have prodded him in his wound...A.J. I need something to stop the blood.”

“On it,” A.J. said, pulling the remains of his shirt from his body. He quickly handed it to Kevin who pried Nick’s hands from his body and pressed the shirt firmly to the opened wound. Nick cried out in pain as his eyes shot open, his own hands frantically pulling at Kevin’s as he squirmed.

“Nick,” Kevin said calmly, “you gotta stop moving, your wound is open again and I have to stop the bleeding. If you move, you’ll make it worse.”

“A-Aaron,” Nick managed to gasp, “t-they took him di-didn’t they? N-n-noooo.”

Aaron heard the panic and despair in his brother’s voice and knelt down next to him taking one of his bloodied hands. “Shhh I’m right here,” Aaron soothed, “calm down before you damage yourself further.”

Nick’s eyes shot to Aaron, before his eyes closed and he relaxed with his breathing hitched from pain. “Thanks Aaron,” Kevin sighed in relief, maintaining pressure on Nick’s side. A.J. had made his way over to Howie who was laying motionless. Kevin looked around the cell as his eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Where’s Brian?” he asked.

Aaron whimpered and shut his eyes. “I’m sorry Kev,” he whispered, “they took him, and it’s all my fault.”

“What?” Kevin questioned, momentarily looking at Aaron in surprise, “how is it your fault?”

“If I had let him take me, Ace would never have hurt Brian in the first place,” Aaron explained. Aaron felt his hand grabbed by Nick’s bloody one.

“Hush Aaron. You tried to let him take you earlier, and it was Brian who wouldn’t let you remember?” he croaked opening his eyes to look at his brother. “It’ll be alright bro, I’ll help him.”

“You won’t be doing anything for a while,” Kevin muttered, “they tore your side open again.”

“I’ll live,” Nick replied laying still.

“Looks like the bleeding’s stopped for now,” Kevin informed Nick after a while with a sigh. Nick groaned and sat up. He looked over at his brother and smiled at him.

“Aaron, it’s okay,” he assured the miserable youth, “Brian would have killed you himself if you would have given yourself up.”

“But…if I would have gone with Ace…”

“Then you would be there and Brian would be in your shoes,” Nick finished, “don’t worry about it…we’ll get him back somehow.”

Aaron stood up slowly and walked over to the door of the cell. “But if it weren’t for me, he never would have been taken. He was taken because he was protecting me!” Aaron yelled hitting the door to the cell. A loud creak sounded and Aaron gasped. Aaron along with the other four boys stared open mouthed. They stared in utter disbelief because of what just happened. Because when Aaron had hit the door in frustration, the door to the cell had opened.

TROUBLE CHAPTER 25

A deafening silence fell over the cell as Aaron stared at the opened cell door in front of him. He blinked a couple times to make sure he was not dreaming and his mouth fell open in shock. Behind him, Aaron heard Nick, Kevin, and A.J. all gasp.

“Whoa…” Aaron heard A.J. mutter, “please, please, PLEASE tell me that actually did happen.”

“It definitely did,” Nick replied, his eyes wide, and mouth open.

“What should we do?” Kevin asked quietly.

“I don’t know,” Nick answered just as quietly.

“Whatever we do it has to be done fast,” A.J. responded.

“We can’t be rash about this A.J.,” Kevin scolded, “we don’t know that this isn’t a trap.

An argument broke out as Aaron stared at the open doorway. A thousand different thoughts zoomed through Aaron’s head in one split second. One thought was dominant over the rest. ‘BRIAN! GO!’ his mind screamed. Nick seemed to know what Aaron was thinking and shook his head beginning to stand up.

“Aaron, don’t,” Nick started firmly. But the warning fell on deaf ears as Aaron shot out the door in a flash. As he pushed out of the doorway, and brushed past a guard who was standing there, Kevin, A.J., and Nick blinked rapidly and their mouths hung open. The guard had not seen the door open to begin with and jumped in surprise as the young blonde ran past him.

“HEY!” the guard screamed at Aaron as the young blonde took off down the hall.

“AARON!” Nick screamed forcing himself to his feet and lunging at the door. The guard outside gasped and slammed the door shut, this time clicking the lock into place before Nick could push the door out. Nick hit the door hard, pushed off and stared at the closed door in shock before punching it hard. “DAMMIT!” he yelled spinning around and looking about the cell frantically.

“This is not good,” Kevin groaned.

“No shit this ain’t good! Aaron’s gonna get himself killed!” A.J. replied, his voice high pitched.

“A.J., hush,” Kevin muttered through clenched teeth staring pointedly at Nick whose eyes darted around the cell, a lost, helpless look in them.

“Sorry,” A.J. whispered before he sighed in frustration.

“He’s gonna die,” Nick whispered frantically running a hand through his hair. It was not clear whether he had heard A.J.’s comment or not, but he seemed to have the general idea. Kevin jumped into father mode again and walked forward putting a hand on Nick’s shoulder.

“Shh Nick, Aaron’s not gonna die. He’s too valuable to Viper,” Kevin reminded him.

“That’s not a comforting thought either Kev,” Nick snapped pulling away from Kevin. “He’s gonna die and so is Brian and its ALL MY FAULT!”

“Okay,” Howie’s groggy voice suddenly muttered confusedly. The three remaining boys’ heads whipped around to face Howie. “What did I miss?”


~*~*


Aaron turned left and right down hallway after hallway. He did not know where he was going at all, but trusted his instincts to lead him in the right direction. The only thing on the young blonde’s mind was that of his brother and his brothers friends’ safety. Most of all, Aaron was preoccupied in finding Nick’s best friend. Aaron knew he was Brian’s only hope to stay alive, and at that moment, Aaron didn’t care how he had to do it, but he was determined to save Brian from as much pain as possible. If that meant taking on Viper or Ace one on one, then so be it.

All of the doors looked the same to Aaron and he suddenly felt like he was going in circles. After running for what seemed to be an eternity, Aaron came to two new doors. The doors were large, heavy looking oak doors, and Aaron instantly recognized this as Viper’s office. He also knew that this is where he would find Brian. “HEY KID! STOP!” he heard from down the hallway. Aaron turned his head to see guards coming after him down the hallway, Ace in the lead.

Aaron snorted. ‘Yeah right,’ he thought. Aaron pushed his weight against the door.

Luck was on Aaron’s side as the doors creaked loudly and pushed open. Aaron quickly slipped inside and slammed the door shut behind him, locking the ead bolt in place. Looking around quickly, Aaron saw a long, heavy looking table sitting against the wall by the door. Aaron ran to the other side and leaned against the table willing it to move. The table squeaked as it slid across the floor against the door. Wildly, Aaron looked around and saw two easy chairs close to the doorway. Aaron ran to those as well and shoved them against the doorway, preventing the guards who had now caught up and were pushing against the doorway, from coming in so easily.

His energy now expended, Aaron leaned against the furniture against the door breathing hard, with his head in his hands. Aaron looked around the room. Aaron smiled in relief as his gaze fell on Brian. Brian had a new cut on his right brow, and a new bruise forming on his cheek, but otherwise he seemed to be okay. He was tied to a plain wooden chair in the center of the room in front of the desk, and seemed to be unconscious. Aaron ran over to Brian and knelt next to him. Gently, Aaron shook the older boy, and slapped his face to rouse him. Aaron sighed with relief as Brian’s eyes opened slowly. He took in Aaron’s face, and though he was still clearly groggy, his face lit up in a big grin suddenly. “AARON!?”

“Hey,” Aaron greeted stooping down to untie him. He worked at the ropes that bound Brian’s hands to the chair and smiled triumphantly as the ropes began to loosen. “Are you hurt?’ Aaron asked as the ropes fell away. Brian stood quickly, then fell back into the chair with a soft moan as he became light headed. “Brian! Are you alright?” Aaron asked in concern. Brian smiled at him reassuringly rubbing the feeling back into his wrists.

“I’ll live,” he replied standing slowly this time, “but Aaron how did you-?”

“Later Brian, we’ve got bigger problems...I don’t suppose you know where Viper went?” Aaron asked.

Brian nodded. “Yeah before I passed out again, he was yelling at me about something or another, then the phone rang and he took off, after a heated conversation” Brian answered.

“Phone?” Aaron asked as his heart skipped a beat.

Brian opened up his mouth to reply as the a loud bang came from the door. Aaron and Brian jumped as the door splintered from the dead bolt and the chairs and table moved slightly from the force being applied to the door.

‘Dammit,’ Aaron thought to himself. Brian wasted no time in running to the pile of furniture and pushing his weight against it. The table and chairs crept again as the door was hit repeatedly.

“Quick Aaron, do something!” Brian screamed at him. Aaron looked around him wildly before his eyes rested on the phone on the desk. A smile crept to his lips as he ran over to the phone and picked it up. He cheered silently as he heard the dial tone. Without even thinking first, Aaron dialed 911 and prayed that he would have the time to get help here before they were caught. After the first ring, a monotonous woman answered sounding a bit bored..

“911 what’s your emergency?” the lady droned.

“Hi! Uhm... My name is Aaron Carter…my brother, his friends and myself have all been kidnapped, and we need help and-,”

“What is your location?” the lady interrupted in the same irritating tone.

“I don’t know,” Aaron answered.

“Sir,” the lady said again with an irritated sigh, “please calm down and tell me where you are, are you sure nothing looks familiar?”

“Lady,” Aaron replied shortly, “I have NO idea where we are at. Doesn’t your equipment tell you where I call from when I dial?”

“Hold please,” the lady replied.

“You’re kidding right?” Aaron asked sounding quite irritated. He was answered only by silence.

Aaron blinked in shock. “YOU’VE GOT TO BE JOKING!” he yelled into the receiver.

“AARON!” Brian cried as the door pushed open another inch. Brian pushed back, but it was obvious he wasn’t going to be able to hold it very much longer.

“I’m on hold Brian!” Aaron called back.

“Well she better come back SOON,” Brian grunted as he shoved his weight into the door when it moved again.

Aaron winced. He wanted to go over and help Brian, but could do nothing as he waited on the phone. Finally, the woman came back on the line. “We’ve disclosed your location to the local police. They’re on the way, the ETA is five to ten minutes…but I want you to stay on the line with me okay?” The woman replied.

“Thanks,” Aaron said hastily into the phone. He had every intention of staying on the line but when Brian moved back another inch with a loud cry, Aaron knew he couldn’t stay on the line. “Gotta Go! Thanks!” Aaron said into the phone before hanging it up. He ran over to Brian and leaned against the furniture to try and help.

“What’s going on Aaron?” Brian asked with a loud grunt.

“The police are on the way, but we have to stall them for 5 minutes at least,” Aaron replied.

“Got it,” Brian replied with a nod then grunted as the door moved again. Aaron scrambled with Brian to keep the door shut as the older blonde smiled at him. “Thanks,” Brian said.

“For what?” Aaron asked before grunting and pushing against the door again.

“It was really brave of you to come back for me...not that I want you to do it ever again...” Brian said with a smile. Aaron returned the smile.

“Well I’m sorry, for earlier” Aaron said softly.

Brian knew what he was referring to and rolled his eyes. “DEFINITELY not your fault,” he replied honestly.

“But,” Aaron argued as he shoved against the door again, “if I had ju-.”

“Shut it,” Brian ordered gently.

“Bri...we can’t hold this forever,” Aaron said softly causing Brian to turn and look at him. Aaron’s eyes were full of fear.

“It’ll be alright Aaron,” Brian said gently, “I won’t let them kill you.” Temporarily preoccupied, the door was pushed open all the way sending Brian and Aaron backwards. They landed in a heap next to each other before they sat up and watched as the guards walked in. Brian swallowed slowly, as Aaron’s breath caught. Ace entered the room looking less than pleased, followed by Viper. Both of them walked straight to Aaron and Ace growled low in his throat.

Aaron looked up into the pair’s faces in terror, before he replaced the look with a defiant one. “Boy, do you have any idea how much you’ve irritated me just now?” Viper asked him, sounding more than just irritated. Aaron grinned back at him.

“Yeah I’m pretty sure I do,” Aaron replied with confidence. Ace growled and stooped down, picking up Aaron by the collar of his shirt.

“HEY!” Brian objected attempting to stand. A single look from Viper made him remain seated. Aaron’s defiant gaze remained until Ace roared in anger and tossed him onto a coffee table next to them. Aaron’s small body shattered the small table upon contact.

“AARON NO!” Brian cried jumping up.

“YOU STAY!” Ace growled. Aaron groaned and rolled over onto his stomach.

Brian growled at Viper and turned his head. “Bastard,” he muttered before his head reeled back from the blow that Viper just hit him with. Brian fell to the ground on his back. Aaron crawled weakly over to Brian who grabbed the boy, checking him over. Ace advanced on the pair and was about to kick Aaron as loud noise began to echo throughout the office.

“Dammit!” Viper cursed as he looked around wildly.

“SIR!” A guard yelled coming into the office, “the police almost have us surrounded! We must get you out of here NOW!”

Ace looked alarmed as he reached down to pull Aaron up by the collar again. Aaron didn’t try to be brave this time. He trembled under Ace’s hardened gaze as he screamed, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”

Aaron swallowed and attempted a cocky grin. “Saved my brother and his friends,” he answered shakily.

“Not all of them...and definitely not you...Bring them with us,” Viper ordered, “we gotta go now.”

Ace growled and shoved Aaron at Viper who caught the young blonde restraining him. Ace then leaned down and gathered Brian up, twisting his arms behind his back in case he decided to fight back. “Let’s go,” Ace said as he and Viper exited the office with Aaron and Brian struggling the whole way.

~*~*

Nick, A.J., Kevin, and Howie all visibly started when the alarms began to echo throughout the cell. A.J. Kevin and Howie looked around wildly as Nick slowly rose to his feet. He looked around the cell as it all computed and a smile came to his face. He ran to the cell door and put all of his weight against it. Overwhelming relief washed over him as the door swung open. Nick cautiously peeked his head out of the cell seeing that the coast was clear. He turned back and grinned at his band mates. “Let’s go.”

TROUBLE CHAPTER 26

Nick led the others through the hallways, ducking back as guards and other workers swept by. A.J. had lifted Howie’s weak and tired body onto his shoulder to help his friend walk easier, and Kevin was walking in stride with Nick, checking every once in a while to make sure that Howie and A.J. were okay. They walked cautiously for a while before a noise from the ceiling clicked. Nervously, Nick looked up while they were walking. “Nicky,” the voice called.

Nick stopped dead in his tracks, his attention solely on the Speaker above him. “Viper,” he returned.

“Guess what Nicky! I have your brother and your other half!” Viper’s voice taunted as Nick paled. “Your little brother is quite clever Nicky,” Viper continued, “he managed to elude the guards, get to Brian, ensure Brian’s safety, and phone the police before myself or Ace could get to him...” It was obvious to Nick that Viper was only half talking to him and half lecturing Aaron himself. Focusing during the silence, Nick could hear Aaron’s rapid breathing through the loud speaker as Viper’s voice turned dangerous. “Aaron’s insolence will quite possibly cost Brian his life.”

“NO!” Aaron’s voice screamed as struggling sounds were heard.

“No, perhaps not...perhaps it will be you, Aaron who pays. Well in any case...if you want them back...come and get me Nick.” Aaron’s yelp after this statement from Viper was the last thing that was heard before the connection was cut.

“Shit,” Howie cursed softly.

“Yep,” A.J. agreed, his eyes wide.

Nick’s eyes had a panicked, angry look to them as he looked down the hall. Wordlessly, he set out in stride down the hall.

“Nick,” Kevin said taking a step with him, “we’ll go-.”

“No,” Nick replied, “you guys get out of here and to a hospital. I’ll be fine.”

“But Nick,” Howie began to argue.

“NO! GO ON! GET OUT OF HERE!” Nick yelled at his remaining band mates before taking off down the hallway, ignoring his friend’s pleas to return. Nick ran down the hallway zigzagging every which way. “Brian! Aaron!” Nick called over and over, pausing only to listen for any sound of a reply.

The sounds of footsteps coming towards him didn’t slow Nick a bit. He went full speed down the hall, desperately calling out for his best friend and his younger brother. “Freeze!” a gruff voice barked in front of him. Nick jumped back startled and looked up. There were five police officers standing in front of him, guns drawn. “GET ON THE GROUND!” they all yelled repeatedly.

“Whoa!” Nick protested holding up his hands in defeat. “I’m a good guy; I’m just trying to find my brother and my best friend!”

Another officer nudged the leader. “He’s telling the truth, my daughter is obsessed with them...they’re not really big yet but he is from the missing group.”

The leader nodded gruffly before putting his gun away. “Alright sir, just you leave the finding to us. We’ll get them. You need to go with some of my men outside where you’ll be safe,” he ordered.

Nick glared at the officer before shaking his head. “I ain’t leaving until I find my friend and brother.” Nick answered stubbornly. “my other friends are down the hall though. Get them to safety.”

The leader nodded to three men who took off down the hall after Nick’s three friends he left behind. “Sir that is not an option you must leave that to us,” The leader ordered.

“You don’t have ANY idea what you’re looking for,” Nick answered insistently, “you thought I was one of them!” ‘Which technically you were,’ he thought to himself.

“Let us be the judge of that,” The leader tried to reason.

‘This is taking to long!’ Nick thought frantically before glaring icily at the leader. “Get out of my way,” Nick ordered attempting to step around the team.

“I can’t do that sir,” The leader said stepping in front of Nick.

“Move.” The order was so low and so firm, that the swat team leader and his members faltered back. This is the opening that Nick was going for and without hesitation, Nick knocked them all to the ground, then shoved through them.

“SIR!” the leader called again. Nick didn’t even pause. He took off in his search for his brother and best friend again.

“Aaron! Brian!” he yelled again continuing to run. “Brian!” Again nothing. Nick began to lose hope gripping at his hair nervously.

“SIR!” The voice was behind him this time.

“Look,” Nick snapped turning around to face the team for a split second, “I don’t have time for you.” Nick then continued on his way. “AARON!”

“Sir if you don’t come with me I will have to sedate you,” the leader said. Nick chose to ignore him.

“BRIAN!”

“Sir you nee-“ the swat team leader was cut off as a scream was heard.

“NICK!” Aaron’s terrified voice cried out. Nick’s eyes widened and he took off letting whatever the swat team leader was going to say, fall onto deaf ears.

Nick came sliding to a stop. His eyes became wide as saucers before narrowing. Ace had hold of Brian restraining both of his hands behind him. His right arm was twisted painfully behind his back. He was eliciting soft grunts of pain, attempting to not cry out as Ace pulled on his arm.

Viper meanwhile had Aaron by his hair. The smaller boy was pushed up against one of the walls being brutally beaten, probably for calling out to Nick. “You stupid. *hit* STUPID *hit* Boy!” Viper was screaming at Aaron. Aaron looked terrified and attempted unsuccessfully to protect himself by shielding his face, crying out with every hit.

Nick’s eyes narrowed as he reached his breaking point. “Stop.” The calmness of his own voice shocked Nick and startled everyone else in the hallway.

Brian looked at Nick panting in fear and pain. “Nick,” He whispered. Aaron raised his fear and pain filled eyes to look his brother in the eye. Blood was oozing from the corner of his mouth.

“Nick!” he cried out in terror struggling against Viper who laughed at the small boy.

“Uh uh uhhh… be still little Carter.” Viper cooed pulling Aaron back to him, snaking an arm around his neck.

“Let them go Viper,” Nick ordered advancing towards Viper and Ace, “They didn’t belong here in the first place.”

“No…uh uh Nicky.” Viper laughed pulling a gun from his pocket. Nick stopped in his tracks as Viper pointed it at Aaron’s head.

Nick swallowed and suddenly felt cold. The incident with Ace earlier was much different than this. Ace could not kill one of them without permission from his master. But now, Viper was between a rock and a hard place, his game done. Now he wouldn’t hesitate to kill the boy. “Viper…Viper don’t…” Nick whimpered.

“Don’t what Nicky?” Viper asked innocently before growling, “This?” Viper forced the gun into Aaron’s temple roughly, then released the safety with a click. He pushed it even closer to Aaron’s temple.

Aaron clenched his eyes shut and whimpered. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he swallowed and trembled. Nick just swallowed as Brian gave a small cry. “S…Stop Viper…he…he’s just…a…a… kid…” Brian begged.

“Yes…I suppose you’re right…we don’t want little Aaron too scared,” Viper answered before pulling the gun from Aaron’s temple. Aaron almost sagged in relief.

Viper kept the arm snaked around Aaron’s neck as the other arm held the gun straight out towards Nick. “You on the other hand, I don’t care about,” Viper snarled before pulling the trigger.

A loud bang filled the hallway as Nick felt a searing pain in his right shoulder. The force of the bullet sent Nick falling backwards as blood seeped through his hand which was now clutching the bleeding wound. Nick gritted his teeth together in pain and fell to the ground closing his eyes.

“NICK NO!” Brian screamed struggling violently against Ace.

”Stop Moving,” Ace hissed pulling on Brian’s twisted arm. Brian gasped in pain but kept his eyes locked on Nick continuing to kick and struggle. Aaron just stared wide eyed as he thought his brother had just been killed. More tears welled up in his eyes. ‘No,’ his mind gasped.

Viper pulled Aaron away from the scene, and Ace followed dragging Brian around. “NICK!!! NICK!!!” Brian screamed trying to remain looking at Nick’s fallen body as he was pulled from the hallway.

Nick lay motionless on the ground. ‘Get up body!’ he screamed at himself.

‘No,’ his mind replied, ‘fuck you Nick, you spaent all your energy.’

‘Aaron…Brian…dammit let me up!’ he screamed back.

‘Rest…then go back…you know where they’re going,’

‘I know but I have a really bad feeling abo-‘


DARKNESS

*Beep Beep Beep Beep*

Nick groaned softly as the constant beeping of his alarm jolted him back to awareness. ‘Damn alarm clock,’ he thought testily to himself. He was tired and getting up was out of the question at the moment. He was sure that practice wasn’t for another few hours, but he knew that Kevin being Kevin would want him awake way before then. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Nick would still be late even if the alarm did wake him up.

*Beep Beep Beep Beep*

That beeping noise was irritating the crap out of him, and his shoulder throbbed dully hurt for some reason. When the beeping continued after a few moments, he sighed and turned over on his side to turn it off, only to let out a cry of pain and open his eyes.

He finally looked around and noticed he was alone in an all white room. Nick’s eyes narrowed in confusion. White Room? But Wasn’t he in a hotel somewhere? Carefully, he sat up and looked around. Plain white walls, a gray door, and green cabinets littered the room. The room smelled horribly sterile to Nick and his eyes narrowed in confusion.

‘A hospital?’ he wondered to himself as the characteristics of the room became familiar. Nick’s brow furrowed in confusion before the last few minutes he was conscious came flooding back to him. Ace pulling painfully on Brian’s twisted arms, Aaron shoved against the wall being repeatedly struck across the face, the gun pressed to Aaron’s head, the gun pointed at him as Viper pulled the trigger…then took off down the hallway…Nick’s eyes shot open with a gasp. ‘Dammit’ he cursed to himself shoving the blankets off his legs.

With barely a second passing by, Nick ripped the IV out of his hand only taking a sharp breath as it ripped through the skin. Knowing nurses would run into his room in hysterics if he pulled off the heart monitor, Nick left that on and looked around the room for some clothes. Seeing none at first he sighed and walked to the closet in the room. Nick opened the door and smiled in victory. Whatever nurse cleaned this room before he was in it, didn’t do a good job as there were left over clothes from the former occupants of the room.

Carefully, Nick pulled the clothes out of the closet and studied them for a moment. The black pants he was holding appeared to be on the larger side, and the t-shirt was a plain silver button up shirt. Smiling, Nick pulled on the pants wincing slightly as his shoulder throbbed in pain and his side stretched a bit. He pulled on the shirt next barely suppressing the scream of pain as both wounds tore a bit more, although the pain should have probably been more and would have without the medication he was on.

Nick left the shirt hanging open so he could pull the heart monitor cord through quickly. The pants were indeed too big, and the shirt hugged his shoulders a bit too tight, but Nick was just grateful that he had clothes to wear and that he didn’t have to go around town in a hospital gown.

Nick crossed to the other side of the room pulling the heart monitor with him. Nick smiled at his good luck as his room was on the first floor. Pulling open the window, Nick prepared to hop out and pull off the heart monitors. Suddenly, his family and friends came to his mind and he paused. He knew their reactions to his disappearance would not be a good one, and he decided that he should do something to fix that. Looking to his left, Nick noticed a prescription pad and a pen carelessly sitting on the bedside table.

Nick hastily scrawled a note on the pad before pulling the window open, pulling off the heart monitor and jumping down to the soft earth. Nick had disappeared into the darkness of the street before anyone even had a clue that he was gone.

Left on the bed in the room was a sloppy message meant to soothe the hysterics of a family and friends.

“Hey Ya’ll!
I’m sure it’s no secret where I ran off to...but just in case, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve gone after Brian and Aaron. I’m going back to where this all began ya’ll. Aaron will be home soon momma I promise. And Kev, A.J, and Howie, feel better. My other half will be back with you even if I have to die trying. I can’t promise I’ll make it home, but I will try.
Love You,
Nick”

xxxxxxxxxxx


Aaron gave a loud pain filled grunt as his small body connected with the floor again. As we he went to get up, Ace kicked him in the stomach sending him sprawling.

“STOP! PLEASE!” Brian cried from his position across the room. Brian was chained to a long pipe above his head with handcuffs. He struggled against the shackles that bound his wrists as Ace and Viper laughed at him.

Ace was having his fun “fighting” with Aaron. Although it might as well have been a beating as Aaron wasn’t even close to being the size of Ace, and he did not have the training that Nick did at his age.

Ace’s gaze was taunting as he laughed at Aaron. “C’mon kid take me down!” Ace taunted. Aaron’s pain filled eyes opened slowly, and Aaron pushed himself to his knees before he stood weakly, and looked at Brian who shook his head, eyes wide. ‘Don’t,’ Brian mouthed. Aaron’s eyes filled with determination, and after a brief smile of reassurance, he turned to Ace, and ran at him swinging. It was hopeless and Ace knocked Aaron back to the ground again laughing at his futile attempt.

Aaron landed with a loud thud and he groaned in pain yet again. “Get up,” Ace ordered. Aaron groaned weakly and then rolled over. He pulled himself to a standing position facing Ace. He thought about giving up or refusing to fight but then remembered that if he didn’t fight Ace, then Ace would take it out on Brian and wouldn’t unchain him. Aaron didn’t want Brian to be hurt especially when he could not protect himself, so he readied himself against Ace again.

Ace motioned for Aaron to approach. As Aaron ran at him again, Ace sidestepped away from Aaron, and kicked the boy in the chest as he ran by. Aaron flipped in midair and fell to the ground gasping for air as Ace walked by and kicked Aaron in the stomach. Aaron cried out and rolled over.

“Please…leave him alone…” Brian whispered, his throat feeling suddenly very small and dry. Brian pulled helplessly on the chains again, “He’s just a child!”

Ace listened to what Brian had said for the second time that day. “You know Bri Bri, you’re right. I won’t beat him…” Ace sneered. Brian rejoiced then paled as Ace pulled out his knife.

Ace rolled Aaron onto his back and put the knife to Aaron’s throat. Aaron sucked in a breath and clenched his eyes shut as Ace trailed the knife up Aaron’s cheek, to his forehead then down the other side. At first Aaron whimpered, but then he stopped and just stared defiantly at Ace. “Well this is no fun!” Ace muttered shoving Aaron away before standing up and leaving Aaron lying on the ground.

Ace approached Brian who was chained to the wall. His hands were chained above his head exposing his stomach and chest. “Maybe you’ll be more fun,” Ace sneered at Brian as he kicked the blonde in the stomach. Brian grunted in pain and then swallowed in terror as Ace began to beat him senseless. Aaron’s eyes shot open from his position on the ground and he scrambled to his feet.

“Brian!” Aaron cried out making a dash at Ace. Viper appeared from out of nowhere and grabbed him. Aaron was forced to watch as Ace beat Brian again and again. “Please, stop! Don’t hurt him! I’ll fight! I’ll fight!” Aaron screamed tears streaming down his face. Ace and Viper ignored the young boy’s pleas and Ace continued his assault.

Before long, Brian’s cries turned into pain filled groans, then to soft, almost inaudible grunts. Ace finally grew “satisfied” and stopped. Brian’s face was red with newly formed welts, and blood oozed from his nose, and his mouth. His body sagged against the chains from utter exhaustion, and his breathing was ragged and forced. Aaron swallowed before pulling against Viper again. “Brian?” Aaron croaked out in fear, wide eyed. Brian lifted his head, and forced a reassuring smile before he let his head fall back onto his chest and he closed his eyes for a minute. Aaron looked away with tears of shame and Viper laughed.

“This has been fun,” Viper said grinning. Aaron swallowed again slowly, his eyes shut.

“You asshole,” Aaron swore viciously, “my brother will come.” Aaron’s statement was stronger than he really felt.

“Yes…I do hope he will be able to...that is if you didn’t kill him.” Ace laughed evilly as Aaron grew angrier.

“He’s alive…and he’ll kill both of you for what you’ve just done to Brian,” Aaron said glancing away towards his fallen friend.

“Well I’ll be glad if he’s alive…then I can kill you in front of him…” Ace laughed again. Aaron clenched his fists.
“I hate you both,” he growled. Viper backhanded him.

“Hate is a strong word young Aaron, choose your words and allies carefully,” Viper snarled. Aaron glared defiantly and growled as Viper continued, “my offer that Ace offered you still stands boy.”
Ace walked to Brian and undid his shackles. Brian started to fall to the floor, but Ace caught him in midair and kneed him in the stomach one more before letting Brian fall to the floor gasping for air. Aaron watched the scene before turning back to Viper, glaring daggers. “I’d rather die,” Aaron whispered angrily.
Viper smiled a sadistic smile. “THAT can be arranged young Mr. Carter. Come Ace, we’re done here.” Ace nodded at Viper, kicked Brian in the ribs once more, then left Aaron and Brian alone.

Aaron rushed forward towards Brian and knelt next to the older blonde. He carefully surveyed the damage done to Brian before deciding that it was okay to shake him. “Brian…” he whimpered. Brian opened one eye and saw Aaron’s terrified face.

“Aaron,” he whispered before taking in Aaron’s appearance. The younger blonde looked absolutely terrified as well as beaten senseless. Brian sat up slowly against the wall ignoring the younger blonde’s cry of protest. Brian smiled reassuringly at Aaron and opened his arms to the smaller blonde. Aaron wasted no time jumping into the embrace. Brian closed his arms around Aaron and rocked him back and forth. “Aaron,” Brian said after a moment’s pause, “you’ve been really brave so far, but PLEASE don’t offer to take any beatings for me…I can’t bare it,” Brian choked.

Aaron clung to him. “I don’t’ want them to hurt you Bri,” he whispered fearfully.

“It hurts me twice as much knowing I can’t help you…please don’t do it okay?”

“No promises Bri Bri…” Aaron replied.

“Please?”

“No promises…but okay.”

“Good boy…close your eyes now…go to sleep you’ll need your strength.”

“Night.”

“Good night Aaron.” There was a moment of silence and Brian had just about dozed off when,

“Thank you,” Aaron’s small voice said from Brian’s embrace.

“For what?” Brian inquired drowsily.

“For not leaving me alone,” Aaron replied sleepily.

“I could never do that Aaron…you’re stuck with me.”

“Good…I’m glad Bri Bri…Night…” Aaron yawned.

“Goodnight Aaron,” Brian whispered. He waited until Aaron had dozed off before he bowed his head and began to pray quietly to himself while rocking Aaron in his embrace.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nick’s letter did very little to assuage the fears of Nick’s parents and friends who were both furious with the hospital for not noticing Nick’s disappearance sooner and worried sick that Nick thought it was possible that he may not make it home.

Though there was nothing the hospital could have done to prevent Nick from escaping, that did not stop both Jane Carter and Kevin from yelling at them. Bob, A.J., and Howie meanwhile sat quietly thinking about the note Nick left. Howie and Bob had polite discussion about their respective party’s (i.e. Jane and Kevin) reaction to Nick’s note. “It’s not like Nick just walked out of here,” Bob mumbled shaking his head slowly, “the doctors ran in as soon as the alarms went off. There was nothing they could have done! I mean he jumped out the window for Christ’s sake.”

Howie smiled wryly. “nick would have still found a way to get to Brian and Aaron…he proved how resourceful and determined he can be during our captivity…especially when it came to Aaron.”

Bob’s head snapped to study Howie and A.J. before also studying Kevin. All were bruised, plae, thinner, and completely haggard looking. Bob shook his head and felt the familiar feeling of parental protectiveness for all involved. Howie was even still hooked to an IV and was in a wheelchair.

‘These kids have been through so much,’ Bob thought to himself as he studied all of them. It was apparent in the way Howie would lose himself in his thoughts staring straight ahead. It was apparent in the way Kevin showed complete lack of restraint of his temper when he was usually so diplomatic. It was apparent in the way A.J. couldn’t sit still while chewing on his fingernails, a habit that Nick had told him that A.J. had broken earlier that year.

“Why don’t you guys go back to the rooms you were given and rest awhile,” Bob suggested sympathetically.

Howie started from his thoughts and smiled politely. “Thank you Mr. Carter, but I couldn’t sleep even if I wanted to,” Howie replied quietly.

“All the same, I think you should…try…” Bob seemed intrigued at the end of the sentence. Howie followed Bob’s gaze to A.J. who had suddenly stopped fidgeting. Studying his friend closer, Howie noticed a look of extreme enlightenment had crossed his features.

“’Jay?” Howie inquired in concern.

A.J. turned and smiled goofily at the pair. “I get it!” he exclaimed excitedly grabbing Howie’s arm tightly. “I GET IT!”

“Howie?” Bob asked in confusion.

Howie shook his head. “I don’t know…I think he’s lost it,” he murmured back incredulously.

A.J. looked from Howie to Bob and grinned. “I get it,” he repeated, “I know where Nick went!”

TROUBLE CHAPTER 28

It was barely after eleven when a figure emerged from the shadows of the docks. Even if the docks had been used recently, it was far too late in the night for anyone to be inhabiting them. The figure stopped and leaned against a wooden crate to catch his breath. He had run all the way down to the docks with little rest for his taxed body. As he bent over with his hands on his knees, his limp blonde hair fell into his glazed blue eyes.


The figure knew his body could not take much more of his pushing, but he put that aside as he set his mind of his goal. He steeled his mind and pulled himself upward, the moonlight illuminating his tired face. The moonlight revealed his identity to be that of Nick Carter. ‘Just a few more hours,’ he told himself as he began to trudge along again, limping noticeably as he held his side.


Finally, Nick came to the door of a certain warehouse and paused. He steeled himself, and schooled his features to appear neutral. He took a deep breath to ward off dizziness and pushed open the door.


Inside the warehouse, it was pitch black. Nick frowned as he considered he did not know where Ace and Viper had taken his friends after all. As despair threatened to overwhelm him, Nick leaned against the wall and sighed, closing his eyes…only to open them seconds later. His senses kicked into overdrive and he looked around warily into the darkness. Slowly, Nick took a few tentative steps forward into the black and paused again. Moments later, his senses alerted him to danger and he ducked quickly just as something flew over his head.


Nick kicked back and felt another presence to his left as soon as his foot connected. Nick twirled and struck that body too and only relaxed as he heard the body hit the floor. Satisfied, Nick allowed him a moment of victory and elation at the fact that he knew he was in the right place.


Carefully, Nick walked further into the darkness and towards a door that he knew would lead to the main training room. When he opened the door, he was met with slightly less black. He felt his senses kick into overdrive again and readied a fight. None came. He walked into the room slowly and noticed a spotlight on a figure in the shadows. Taking a closer look, Nick felt relief as his gaze fell onto the form of his brother. “Aaron!” he cried taking a step forward.


Aaron was on his knees, trembling and eyes wide. Black and blue bruises littered his body that could be seen without his shirt. The boy looked completely exhausted and had a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. His eyes were very wide as they seemed to relay a message of warning. “Aaron!” Nick repeated in relief, “Are you alright? Where’s Brian?”


Aaron bit his lips to keep them from trembling and merely kept his gaze leveled on his brother. Nick grew concerned. “Aaron? What’s wrong? Why won’t you answer me?” Again Aaron remained silent. Nick then went from concerned to alarmed. “Aaron! Answer me! Are you really hurt? Where’s Brian?” again a pause. “Answer me!” Nick yelled almost angrily.


The sound of a gun cocking reached Nick’s ears and he tensed as Aaron clenched his eyes shut and whimpered. “Aaron, answer your brother. Tell him that you’re alright,” Viper’s cool voice came from the shadows.


Aaron gritted his teeth. “I-I’m alright Nick,” Aaron managed to choke.


Nick felt extreme anger wash over him. “Viper, let them go. Now!” Nick snarled.


Viper laughed from the shadows and the lights suddenly clicked on. Nick clenched his eyes at the sudden intrusion and shielded his face. A few moments later he opened them and wished he could close his eyes once again to the sight in front of him. A loud gasp escaped his mouth. Viper stood behind Aaron, a handgun trained to the head of the younger Carter. This, Nick realized, was why Aaron refused to talk to him. To Aaron’s left, Brian lay sprawled on his stomach, seemingly unconscious. Nick could see his chest rise and fall with his shallow breaths, though Nick didn’t know how that was possible. Brian’s entire torso and abdomen was completely black and blue and there was a small pool of blood beneath him. His best friend was curled in on himself on his side, with his arm resting beneath him. Ace stood behind him with another gun trained on his weakened body. Ace’s gun was the one he heard cock.


Nick swallowed the bile that rose in his throat and turned away. “You’re sick, Viper” Nick whispered in anguish suddenly feeling lightheaded, “I always knew you were sick, but you’ve truly outdone yourself this time. I hope you’re proud of yourself.”


“My, my Nicky!” Viper gasped in astonishment, “Not only have your manners been terrible lately, but now I do believe your physical appearance has seen better days too.”


Nick ignored the comment and merely raised his eyes to stare hard at Viper. “I will not say this again Viper,” he growled back, “Let. Them. Go.”


“You’ve ruined my life Nicky,” Viper said in reply, “I cannot let that stand without punishment.” Viper cocked the gun he currently had trained on Aaron as he spoke. The younger blonde tensed but gave no other outward reply.


“So, punish me!” Nick cried in outrage pointing to his own chest with his hands, “but leave them alone!”


“I believe this is the best punishment I could give you Nicky,” Viper replied honestly, “and to think, this could have all been prevented had you just submitted to me in the beginning.”


“Submitting to you in the beginning was my first mistake. Then when I corrected that mistake, you came after not only me, but my friends as well! You preach so much about ‘honor’ and ‘loyalty’! But where is your honor Viper? Attacking innocents? Beating defenseless children? If that’s your idea of loyalty I have to say that your views are pretty damn skewed!” Nick roared.


Viper sneered at Nick for a moment before laughing uproariously and pressing his gun into the back of Aaron’s head. “That fire Nick!” he laughed, “THAT is what I saw in you from the beginning. If only I could go back to when I first acquired you, I would have been stricter and things would be different.”


“If we could go back in time, things would be different,” Nick agreed quietly staring his former mentor in the eye, “but I think we both know that it would not be different the way you think it would.”


Viper grinned. “Perhaps,” he replied. There was a tense silence as both Nick and Viper stared at each other before Viper shook himself and gripped his gun harder. “I know you want this whole ‘nightmare’ to be over Nick. And I can make that happen. All I have to do is kill your brother, Brian, and you and then it can be over.” Nick swallowed but didn’t react otherwise. Viper grinned sadistically. “I hope you have said all you need to each other. Because Aaron is going to die now.”


Nick gasped as Viper began to squeeze the trigger, his brother’s cry of panic forcing him to act. “Wait!” he cried before Viper could pull the trigger.


Viper looked back up. “What is it?” he snapped impatiently.


“You don’t want to shoot Aaron,” Nick insisted.


“I believe I just told you that I do,” Viper replied with a smirk.


“But that’s not characteristic of you Viper! You like to toy with your prey before you kill them,” Nick enticed. ‘Take the bait, take the bait,’ Nick pleaded in his mind.


Viper appeared to be considering it. Finally he nodded. “You’re right Nick. Just what are you proposing?”


“Give me missions Viper. Two final missions and let me compete for their lives,” Nick suggested.


“What mission would I give you that you haven’t already had?” Viper asked.


“That is up to you Viper. You’ve always called the shots in this case,” Nick responded.


“What are the terms?” Viper demanded curiously.


“If I win both missions you let Brian and Aaron go,” Nick replied.


“What about you?”


“Since it’s my blood you’re after, you can have me either way,” Nick choked. Aaron made a noise of protest earning him a hard rap on the head with the butt the gun.


“Quiet,” Viper snarled. “What about if I win?”


“Then you can carry on as you please,” Nick replied. Aaron made eye contact with his brother. The younger Carter’s eyes were wide in panic. Nick smiled and tried to look reassuring. ‘That won’t happen Aaron, don’t worry,’ he thought fiercely.


Viper was quiet as he mulled it over. “Very well Nicky. We shall do it your way. Only…instead of killing you, if I win you have to return to being my apprentice. No conditions this time. You’re mine forever with the knowledge that you let down your friends.”


“Deal,” Nick replied without a second thought.


“You wait here while I consult with Ace about the missions. Don’t try anything heroic either. There are guards on the catwalks above you training their weapons on Aaron and Brian. If you blink the wrong way, then they will kill them both,” Viper ordered as he walked away waving Ace with him.”


Nick did not respond as Viper and Ace walked away from the group. Nick looked back at Aaron and smiled at him. “Aaron, are you truly alright?” he asked quietly.


Aaron nodded slowly. “As well as I can be,” he responded before redirecting his gaze to Brian’s prone form, “but Brian’s not doing so hot. They beat him Nick. They beat him because I couldn’t protect him.” Tears began to fall from Aaron’s eyes as he struggled not to sob.


“Don’t say that Aaron. That’s what they want you to think. It’s part of the mind games that they play. Do not play their games. That was my mistake. Brian will be just fine. I’ll get you two out of here okay?” Nick soothed.


“But what about you Nick?” Aaron cried.


“I…don’t worry about that Aaron. All that matters is that you’re safe,” Nick responded. He paused before continuing, “I want you to promise me something okay?”


“What?”


“I want you to promise me that you’ll cooperate with whatever Ace or Viper tell you to do until you’re released okay? Don’t give them reason to hurt you.”


Aaron stared at Nick as if he had just grown two heads. “But-“


“No buts! Just do as I say,” Nick snapped. Aaron winced at Nick’s harsh tone and Nick immediately felt bad. “Please?”


“I…okay,” Aaron finally agreed.


Nick smiled before turning his attention to his best friend who was still laying as he’d first seen him on the ground. “Bri? Brian,” Nick called attempting to rouse his friend to coherency. Aaron leaned over and nudged Brian gently eliciting a groan from the other blonde. He moved sluggishly and his eyes barely cracked open. “BRIAN,” Nick tried again. Finally Brian looked up at the figure of Nick. Nick hissed in a harsh breath. Just seeing Brian’s body was bad enough, but his face was worse. Brian was incredibly pale and looked like he had been in a horrific traffic accident. “Jesus…” Nick murmured to himself before he smiled reassuringly.


Brian looked surprised to see Nick before a look of absolute relief crossed his features. “Nick,” he whispered in great relief, “You ARE alive.”


“How are you doing Bri?” Nick asked ignoring his statement.


“Peachy,” Brian replied sarcastically, “don’t I look it?”


Nick chuckled. “Hang in there Bri, this is almost over.”


“But at what cost?’ Aaron whispered back angrily turning his head from both of the boys.


Brian looked at Aaron in confusion. “What’s he talking about Nick?” Brian asked.


Nick just stared sadly at Brian before forcing a smile. “Don’t worry about that right now. You just think about what you’re going to do when you get home,” Nick replied softly.


“He’s giving himself back to Viper, AND he’s volunteered to compete in two missions for our lives,” Aaron informed angrily.


Brian looked horrified. “NICK NO!” he cried in protest, “Your body cannot possibly handle that!”


“It’s done. Deal with it,” Nick snapped. His tone softened when he saw the despaired look on both of their faces. “It will be alright,” he soothed once again, “it’ll all be alright.” There was a long pause as all of the boys attempted to curb their emotions. Finally uneasy with the silence Nick cleared his throat. “What happened to you Brian? You look terrible.”


Brian managed a wry smile. “Just a minor scuffle with Ace,” Brian replied.


“Minor?” Aaron snorted and Brian glared.


Nick smiled back. “How seriously do you think you two are hurt?”


“We will live,” Brian replied assuring Nick, “at most probably a concussion and few broken ribs.”


“Good. When you are set free, just continue down to the main road until you can flag someone down. Do not look back,” Nick ordered, “Promise me.” The pair in front of him gave him identical rebellious stares. “Please?” Nick begged staring Brian straight in the face, “Please think of Aaron! Get him safe!”


“Shut up Nick!” Aaron cried “We won’t leave you! Right Brian?”


But Brian was not looking at Aaron. His eyes were locked to Nick’s pleading ones. Nick was right, Aaron needed to get to safety. And in their current condition it was unlikely that he or Aaron would be of much help to him anyways. Sighing shakily and averting his eyes Brian nodded. “I promise,” he whispered.


“Brian!” Aaron cried disbelievingly.


“Thank you Brian. Hush Aaron. It will all be okay,” Nick assured again.


Viper and Ace decided to reappear then, both wearing sadistic smiles. Nick’s eyes met Viper’s and the pair on the ground also watched the approach. “Well Nicky we’ve decided on the final two missions. Are you ready?” Viper asked.


“I am,” Nick replied quietly.


“Very well. Wait here Nick while we prepare them…Aaron, you come with me, Brian you’re with Ace” Viper ordered approaching the younger blonde who looked hesitant to leave the safety of Nick and Brian.


“It’s okay Aaron. Just do what he says,” Nick whispered. Aaron made a whimpering sound as he painfully pulled himself to his feet. Viper grabbed his arm tightly and started to pull him away. Ace did the same to Brian. Nick felt his blood boil but bit his tongue when he felt the urge to growl. “I love you Aaron,” Nick whispered.


Aaron halted in his footsteps causing Viper to stumble much to his annoyance. “I love you too,” Aaron whispered back.


“Come along Aaron,” Viper muttered pulling hard on the young blonde. Aaron kept eye contact with his brother until he disappeared around the corner. Nick then turned his gaze to Brian who could barely keep his feet even with Ace’s arm around his neck for support. Nick forced a smile. “Brian, thank you for your promise. I’m holding you to it,” Nick said quietly.


Brian managed a weak smile back. “I’ll keep it,” he choked back.


“I’ll come for you Brian, I promise,” Nick replied fiercely.


Brian smiled wider. “I know,” he replied, “I’ll be waiting.”


“Hold tight Frick,” Nick whispered as Brian disappeared from the room.


“I’m holding Frack,” Brian whispered in reply.