' Aj .. It's Aaron .. call me when you get this message .. It's about Nick .. It .. It's Urgent ... '

 
Aj rolled over and reached for his phone, it was 3.30 in the morning, who would be calling him at this time ?

" Sorry baby, " he whispered, as Kayla opened her eyes, he leant over and kissed her forehead softly,

" I didn't mean to disturb you, "

" It's ok honey, is everything ok ? " she put her arm over him, as he dialled his voicemail,  

" You have one new message ...  Aj ... It's Aaron .. call me when you get this message .. it's about Nick it .. It's Urgent. "

" Jeez, what's he done now. Baby, i just gotta call Aaron something's up with Nick, " he kissed his girlfriend again before dialling Aaron's number,  

" Ok, " she replied sleepily, as she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes,  

" Dude .... It's Aj, what's he done this time ? " 

" Aj .. wh ... where are you ? " 

" I'm laying in bed with my girlfriend. Aaron it's 3.30 in the morning, I'm in the Uk , what's going on ? " 

" Aj, Nick ... Nick's been in an accident, I think it would be a good idea if you flew back and ... i think you should bring Jess with you too, "   

" An accident ...... " Aj immediately sat up forgetting Kayla was resting on his chest, 

" What's going on ? " she asked, as she suddenly awoke looking very confused,

" How bad .... Is is he ok ? " asked Aj as he put his phone onto loud speaker so Kayla could hear Aarons response too,

" It was a car accident ... he's in a bad way, " Aaron was getting choked up, it was clear from his voice,

" He was on his way to the airport, he'd booked a flight to the Uk, w ... when i spoke to him earlier he said he had messed up massively and he needed put them right, so we're guessing he was coming to see Jess. "   

" Shit, poor Nicky ... ok listen, we're gonna catch the next available flight back .. tell him i'm gonna bring him his girl ok, "

" I ... i can't ... he .. he's unconscious, " added a now clearly emotional Aaron,

" Unconscious ... fuck, " yelled Aj, 

" Just get here as soon as you can ok, " replied Aaron anxiously, 

" Ok dude .. keep us posted, " 

" Will do Aj, " the line went dead. 

The young couple jumped out of bed and looked at each other, both clearly shaken by the news they had just received,   

" Kays, we've got to tell Jessy, this is gonna break her. "
 
Jess and Kayla had lived together for years, they were the best of friends, more like sister's. They had met about 10 years back, at surprise surprise ... a Backstreet Boys concert, and had been friends ever since, they were always there for each other, and Kayla had been Jess' rock though all that had happened with Nick. It broke her heart as she knew how her best friend would react to the news, but, she also knew she had to be the one to tell her, she quickly put on her jeans and a top,  

" I'll go tell her Alex, you get on to the airport and sort out the flight's, " 

" Are you sure baby .. we can tell her together, " he placed his hands on his girlfriends hips, 

" No, i will do it .. she's my best friend, it has to come from me, now get on to the airport, we're wasting time, " she kissed him before walking out of the room.  

The walk downstairs to Jess' room seemed to take forever, even though it was just a staircase away, as she reached the door she took a deep breath and knocked. 

" Sweet's ... C .. can i come in ? I need to talk to you, "  Kayla slowly opened the door, just as Jess woke up and looked at the digital clock on her bedside table.

" Babes .. it's 3.50 in the morning , is everything ok ? "   

The look on her best friends face was a tell tale sign that everything was not ok, and she immediately sat up.   

" Kay ... what's going on ? " 

" Sweets .... It .. It's Nick, " 

" W ... what about Nick, " she asked nervously, as heart began to beat faster and faster, 

" He ... he's been in a car accident, " replied Kayla sadly. She watched as the colour in her best friends face suddenly began to drain,   

" Oh god no ... is ... is he ok ? " Tears began to form in her eyes, as a sudden feeling of sickness began to waft over her, 

" Sweets .. Aaron called Alex, Nick .. he .. he's in a bad way, Alex is arranging flights for us now, " Kayla put her hand on Jess', who was now sobbing uncontrollably and rocking back and fourth on her bed,   

" Kay, he might not want me there, he broke up with me remember, " 

" Sweet's .. he was on his way to the airport, he was gonna fly over to you to sort things out, he knew he'd messed up, " Kayla pulled her friend into a hug, as she completely broke down.  

" It's gonna be ok sweets, " she assured her, tears now falling freely from her eyes too, she looked towards the door just as Aj appeared, he took one look at the girl's and put his arm's round both of them, 

" Our flight's in an hour and a half, we'd better get moving. " he looked at Jess, 

" Nicky's a fighter Jessy, he's gonna be just fine, " she looked at him, tears still flowing from her eyes, 

" God i hope so .... i ... i couldn't bear it if .... "  

" DON'T ... " he said sternly,

" He's gonna be ok, we've GOT, to be positive," she nodded at him half heartedly.   

Kayla took a tissue from the box on the bedside table and handed it to Jess,  

" Be strong sweets ... ok, we'll leave you to pack, " she nodded at her best friend who smiled at her before walking out of the room hand in hand with Aj.

Jess was sat on the her bed still rocking back and fourth and still crying, she really didn't know where to begin, so much was going through her head, mostly visions of Nick laying helplessly in a hospital bed. She felt sick. She felt numb. What if he ......... she had to stop herself having these thoughts, she got up, opened her cupboard and grabbed a bag and began to throw some stuff into it, she pulled her tshirt over her head grabbed her bra from the side and put it on then opened her closet, she threw on a pair of jeans, a vest and a hoodie then reached under her bed for her ugg boots, as she pulled out her boots a picture of her and Nick appeared, she picked it up and ran her finger over his face, her heart burning for the man she still loved so very much,   

" Please Nick .. please pull through this, " she took a deep breath, kissed the photo and put it in her bag then wiped away a tear that had escaped from her eye and put her boots on. She quickly brushed her hair and gathered it up in to a messy bun and sprayed herself with some perfume, before opening the drawer in her bedside table picking up her passport and putting it in her bag, she picked up her mobile and her purse and walked out of her room closing the door behind her. At the same time Aj and Kayla were coming down the stairs,  

" How you holding up sweets ? " Kayla hugged her friend again, 

" I just wish i was there with him, I ... I need him to know that i care. " Aj placed a supportive hand on her shoulder, 

" You'll be with him before you know it, then you can tell him yourself, have you got your passport ? " she checked her bag, even though she knew she had just put it in there,  

" Yep, " she replied,  as Aj walked over to the window and looked out, 

" Cool, you ready .. the car's here, " 

" As ready as i'll ever be, " she replied, Kayla linked arms with her and led her towards the front door.  

With Kayla and Aj stood just outside, Jess paused for a second and glanced around their house, she sighed nervously as strong feeling that she wouldn't be seeing it again for a while hit her, she took a deep breath, grabbed the keys from the key tidy, shut the door and locked it before following her best friend and Aj nervously towards the waiting car.

The journey from the girls house to the airport wasn't a long one, however the awkward silence in the back of the car made it feel like it took forever.
They arrived at the airport and went straight to check - in, Aj did most of the talking, Jess kept herself to herself, while Kayla stood keeping a watchful eye over her best friend, with check - in complete they made their way to departures, just as Jess' phone rang.
 
" It's Aaron, " she looked over at Kayla, who looked back at her with her ' it's ok eyes ' with her heart beating so fast it felt like it was about to break right through her chest she took a deep breath, and clicked answer,

" H ... Hello, "
" Jessy ... " Aaron's voice sounded husky and broken, she covered her mouth with her hand, she was shaking uncontrollably, 
" A ... is he ok ? " Aj and Kayla watched anxiously for her reaction to his reply,
" He's ... he's still unconscious Jess, he hit his head pretty bad, i just wanted you to know that the doctors said he was asking for you when they were cutting him out the car, "
" Cutting him out the car, " she screamed,
" Oh my .... " she could hardly talk through the tears, people around the airport were beginning to stare, but she just couldn't help it, 

" Jessy .. listen to me, he's gonna need you girl, you're gonna need to be strong for him ok, "
" I know A, i just .. i can't stand the thought of him being hurt, i NEED to be there with him " she wiped her eyes again, 
" You'll be here before you know it, just try and stay strong ok, " 
" I will, A, please tell him that i love him so much i .. i know he might not hear you but .. i .. i really do, "
" I'll tell him Jess .. see you when you get here, " the line went dead.

" Oh god, i don't know if i can do this, " she cried as she sat down, putting her head in her hands, Aj sat down next to her and put his arm around her,
" Of course you can, you love him, and he needs you, "  
" I know, but he broke up with me, and i still don't know why, i haven't heard from him in four weeks, and now this, " Kayla knelt down in front of her,
" Sweet's .... look at me," she looked up, Kayla wiped a tear from her cheek,
" Sweets, I can't imagine how you are feeling right now, but i do know that you love Nick with all your heart, yes, i know he hurt you, and to be honest i hate him for what he did, but, i also think you two are meant to be together, now lets get on that plane and find out what the hell's been going on with him, deal ? " Jess leant forward and hugged her best friend,
" Thank you, where would i be without you, i love you babes, "
" Love you too sweets. " Aj looked up at the flight information screen,
" You two done with the mushy stuff, our flights boarding, " Kayla slapped him,
" Oi, stop being so insensitive, " he put his hands up in defence, 
" I'm just playing baby girl, i'm sorry. " Jess stood up and took a deep breath,
" Come on we've got a plane to catch."  

They began making their way over to the boarding gate, Kayla walked hand in hand with Aj, Jess trailed just behind them, they reached the gate and lined up,

" So what did Aaron say ? " asked Aj, as he took all the boarding passes from his pocket, and handed the girls theirs, 
" He said the doctors told him that Nick was asking for me when they were cutting him out the car, " she put her head down, 
" He's gonna be ok sweets, "
" I hope so Kay, i really do. "

They boarded the plane and found their seats, Jess took the window seat, Kayla in the middle, Aj at the end.
Aj and Kayla fell asleep not long after take off, Jess tried to sleep but the images of Nick flowing around in her head kept her wide awake, she decided to listen to her ipod, but every song reminded her of Nick.
She began thinking back to the day they met, it was before a Backstreet Boys concert at the O2 Arena, she and Kayla had got there early and were having a drink in a bar when Nick and Aj walked in, they got talking and clicked immediately, she smiled to herself as more amazing memories came flooding back, the first time they kissed, the way he asked, ' may i kiss you ' before he did.
The day Nick asked her to be his girlfriend, the way he said, ' he had it bad  '.  The first time he stayed round her house, he said he ' felt at home there '.
The time he surprised her and showed up on her doorstep just because he ' needed a cuddle ', he did love a cuddle.
The days when they would just lay in bed doing nothing but watch film's, or he would play computer games and she'd just watch, he was a bit of a geek at heart really, but her was her geek and she loved him for it.

" Sweet's ... you need to wake up, we're landing, " Jess opened her eyes, she couldn't even remember falling asleep,
" How long have i been asleep ? "
" A few hours, you needed it though, how you feeling ? " Jess smiled,
" I'm ok actually, i just want to get to him now, " Kayla smiled back,
" Won't be long sweets."

As the plane started its decent, Jess gripped the arms of her chair, her ears began to pop and the realisation began to hit home that she would soon be with her Nick again, but, more importantly would Nick still be with her !

As they walked through arrivals Jess began to feel nervous, she knew from what Aaron had told them that Nick was badly hurt, but just how badly hurt was he ?  
What if he never wakes up, or if he did wake up but didn't know who she was, who anyone was, she began to panic, her breathing started to get faster ... and faster .... and faster .... and .... 

" Jess .. Sweets, look at me, you have GOT to calm down, come on you can do this, " she had stopped still and was having a panic attack, Kayla stood in front of her, 

" Jess ... sweets, " her breathing gradually started to calm down,

" I ... i'm sorry, i just ... what if he wakes up and doesn't know who i am, who we all are, " a tear rolled down her cheek, Kayla pulled her into a hug,

" Think positively babes, you know better than most that Nick doesn't give up easily, " she smiled half heartedly,

" That's true, " they began walking again arm in arm, just as Aj's phone rang,

" It's Q, "  he answered the call,

" Yo, dude .. Yeah were just walking out of arrivals now .... oh really ... no one has yet ... how did they find out ...... ok .. yeah i see ya, " he put down the phone. 

" What was all that about ? " asked Kayla,

" Q said that there are media and fans here, it's been on the news about Nick, we're gonna have to make a run for it to the car, "

" Oh god how did they find out, they probably know more than us, " added Jess

" There's Q and Mike now, you girls ready ? " the three of them walked towards the body guards,

" Just keep your heads down ok, "

" Ok " replied Kayla. 
 
Q and Mike stood either side of the three of them and they began walking quickly towards the car, fans were screaming things at them, ' We love Nick '  ... ' Please let him be ok '  some were holding pictures of him and crying hysterically, some were trying desperately to take pictures of them, it was madness, Q and Mike bundled them into the car and shut the doors.  

" Wow, i wasn't expecting that, " said Aj,

" Tell me about it, " added Jess, as Q lent over towards her and gave her a hug,

" How you doing babe ? "

" I don't really know what i'm feeling to be honest, I just wanna be with him .. How the hell did the fans find out ? "

" We think someone from the hospital leaked it to the press, when they first took him in, before we all got there ... Some people are such arseholes, " Mike replied.

" Ho .. How is he ? " Jess asked reluctantly.

" There was no change when we left, i wish i could tell you something more positive, " Q replied sadly. Jess looked out of the window, trying her best to hold back the tears, Kayla patted her leg supportively,

" Brian and Leighanne are flying back later tonight, with Howie and Leigh, so we've got to come back for them, " added Mike,

" Oh, ok " Jess continued to look out the window, quickly wiping away a single tear that had fallen from her eye away before anyone saw she was crying.  

Brian and Howie had never really liked Jess, and she wasn't even sure why, all she did know is that they had never given her the time of day. At first they were like, ' she's a fan Nick ', then once he told them they were dating they just never seemed interested, simply told him to ' get on with it '. Brian's wife Leighanne had followed suit, but Howie's wife Leigh thought she was nice, and good for Nick, not that she would ever tell them that !

The rest of the journey they sat in silence, Jess continued to look out of the window, she was in her own little world, every now and then Kayla would pat her leg as if to say ' its ok '. About 30 minutes later they past a sign for the hospital, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath,

" Were almost there aren't we, "

" Yeah babes, we are, " replied Aj softly.

Before she knew it they were pulling into the entrance of the hospital, there were media vans and reporters everywhere, not to mention the crowds of fans, who were again clutching Nick pictures, holding banners and most of them crying hysterically,  

" My god, do they know something we don't, " Jess began to panic again,

" It's probably that they don't know what's going on that's making them hysterical, just try and stay calm sweet's, " Kayla smiled at her friend,

" Are you ready to do this, " asked Q, she took at deep breath and nodded at him,

" I .... I think so. "  

The car stopped, Q opened the door and got out, Mike got out next, followed by Aj, Kayla then Jess, the fans went even more crazy as they realised who was in the car.
Jess was shaking so much that Mike put his arm around her to steady her, they walked up the stairs to the main entrance of the hospital, there were constant cameras flashing, reporters shouting out questions, ' Can you tell us how Nick is ? ' ... ' Is it true he was drunk while driving ? '  Mike and Q continued to bundle them into the hospital, until one reporter shouted out ... 

' Can you confirm that Nick Carter died 30 minutes ago ? '   

There was a deadly silence, Jess stopped dead in her tracks, tears now flowing freely from her eyes, she covered her mouth with her hands,  

" Oh god, noooooo, " she choked, Mike steadied her again as she looked as though she was about to collapse, her best friend also ran to her aid, while Aj turned to the crowd,  

" We .. we honestly know as much as you do at the moment, " Aj too began to get choked up, Q put his hand on his shoulder,

" As soon as we know more, i promise we will tell you, thank you for your support at this really .. really hard time, " he turned around put his arms round both girls and continued walking towards the hospital.  

As the automatic doors opened the instant smell of disinfectant hit them, Q and Mike pointed which way to go, Jess was still crying, and shaking, she knew she needed to compose herself before she saw anyone else, Q pushed the button for the lift, they waited quietly and then stepped into it, the lift was full of mirrors, Jess took one look at herself and shook her head,  

" Urgh, look at the state of me, ", she wiped her eyes, pulled her hair out of ponytail and ran her fingers through it, just then the lift pinged and the doors opened.

" Ok lets do this, " she said as she stepped out of the lift, Q put his arm around her,

" That's the sprit, " he guided her down the corridor, Aj and Kayla followed behind hand in hand, Mike just behind them, Jess kept her head down most of the time, frightened by what she might see, 

" Ok, its just through these doors, " she looked up ' C C U ' 

" Critical Care Unit " she mumbled to herself, Q pulled open the door, she slowly walked through, her heart was pounding, so was her head, she felt sick, she felt numb, but nothing, none of the feelings she had felt so far compared to what she felt next.