“What’s going on with Nick?” Kevin asked as Brian returned and settled back into his seat.

“I’m not sure, he said he feels achey and it hurts to talk or swallow, I guess it’s the flu,” Brian surmised as he picked up a magazine.

“Oh that’s just great, wait until Bruce gets wind of this, he’ll skin Nick alive,” Kevin sighed.

“Well Bruce is going to have to realize that Nick is human and he can get sick, he’s not a robot like Bruce would like to believe. Good lord, we’ve been running since the first of the year, someone’s bound to get sick occasionally,” Brian defended.

“Yeah but it seems to me that little Nicky gets sick more often then the rest of us,” Kevin spat.

“So the kid’s prone to things,” Brian sighed as he tossed the magazine onto the coffee table. “Just stop worrying about it, we’ll have a few days before the show, I think you’re getting worked up over nothing.”

Kevin was about to keep going on about Nick and illnesses, but he could tell that he would be getting no where with Brian as he tilted his chair back and folded his arms across his chest. “Wake me when we land.”

Kevin shook his head as he grabbed a blanket off the couch and tossed it towards Brian. “Sure thing cuz.”

Swollen Issues - Chapter 4

“Hey, where are you going buddy? The pilot said we’re gonna be landing in a few minutes,” Howie asked as he watched Nick inch his way down the aisle in first class towards the restroom. When didn’t reply, Howie shrugged his shoulders and directed his attention back to the magazine he had been reading.

Pushing his clausterphobia aside, Nick stepped into the tiny bathroom compartment. The noise of the plane’s engines seemed intensified for some reason, playing havoc on the migraine headache that was beginning to flare up. “God, I look for shit,” Nick mumbled to himself as he looked in the mirror. He cupped a small amount of water from the faucet and splashed it on his face. “They have to stop scheduling overseas tours,” he decided outloud. A gentle knock on the door drew Nick’s attention away from looking at the dark circles that were forming under his eyes.

“Nick? Is everything okay?”

Nick closed his eyes hearing Leighanne’s voice on the other side of the door. She was so damned parental, her and Kevin would make the ultimate Mom and Dad. “I’m fine,” he sighed.

“You don’t look like you feel very well,” she pressed.

“Oh, it’s nothing, probably air sick again, I guess,” Nick was trying to believe that was all it was too. The schedule management had secured for them was going to be rough. Three weeks worth of things crammed into four days.

“Whoa, are you sure you’re okay sweetie?” Lee asked as she steadied a wobbly Nick when he exited the restroom.

Nick managed a slight nod. Leighanne took an arm and helped him back to his seat and offered to get some juice for Nick. He waved her off, thanking her.

“Brian,” she whispered as she eased back down into her seat. “I think you’re right, Nick must be coming down with the flu.”

Brian shook his head. “Poor guy, he really doesn’t need to be sick now.”

“Let’s hope it’s just a twenty-four hour bug or something like that,” Leighanne suggested.

“Yo Nicky, we’re here, get your ass up!” AJ whispered sharply into Nick’s ear as the plane was descending.

Moaning, Nick turned away from AJ’s voice, trying to find comfort in the peaceful dream he was having. Poking on his shoulder prevented him from doing so.

“God this is amazing,” Howie marveled as he looked out the window towards the airport terminal. “Look at all the fans out there!”

Nick opened an eye and gazed out towards the airport. Just as Howie described, there was a sea of dark hair and signs waving. Nick closed his eyes again. His throat was killing him, his eyes felt as if they were going to drop out of their sockets and he the migraine he was experiencing was more than likely touched off from the fever he had.

Grabbing their carryon gear, the men hurried through the airport terminal, thousands of young girls screaming and yelling, camera flashes giving off a strobe light effect. Inwardly, Nick was cursing himself for packing his sunglasses in another bag. The lights from the cameras were making his headache worse, he lost his balance a few times only to be corrected by Kevin who kept up with him through the airport.

“I just need to get to my room,” Nick coached himself.

“What was that Nick?” Kevin yelled, trying to be heard over the sea of screams.

“Nothing,” came Nick’s quiet reply.

Kevin merely shook his head and continued to smile and wave at the fans as they filed past them.

“Would you move over, you wart hog?” AJ stated as he shoved Nick in the ribs trying to claim some space in the back seat of the limo.

“AJ, leave Nick alone, he’s sick--” Brian defended.

“Oh not again,” AJ interrupted. “I swear, he gets sick as often as I change my shorts.”

Nick swallowed hard, he didn’t bother to comment to AJ’s remark, he lowered the bill to the ball cap over his eyes and leaned back in the seat.

“I think the jet lag is getting the best of us right now,” Leighanne pointed out in a hushed voice.

“Well, I don’t know if you guys are aware of this or not, but we have a welcoming party at the hotel with a meet and greet sponsored by the press,” Howie pointed out.

“Oh just let this end,” Nick sighed.

The ride from the airport to the hotel was short and soon, Nick felt poking again on his shoulder, this time it was Brian asking Nick to get up to go into the hotel.

“Meet and greet time, people!”

“Thank you Bruce, wouldn’t have figured that one out on our own,” AJ hissed at the PR manager. Bruce was oblivious to the sarcasim.

“Anytime my young friend.”

The screams of the young fans were deafening and all the men managed to paste “showtime” smiles on their faces. Each of them desired to leave the lobby and go to their rooms and catch up on some of the precious sleep they have lost. Each of them cursing their PR manager under their breaths for him scheduling this meet & greet, but to bail out before the party even started.

Leighanne kept watching Nick out the corner of her eye. She could see that his face was chalk white and his lips were reddish looking; his eyes glassy. She placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Honey, I’m going to save Nick and get him to rest in that chair over there.”

“Nick? I think you should just go up to your room and lay down and rest for a bit,” she suggested to Nick. She felt a little bit of anger towards Bruce for scheduling something so dumb as a meet & greet for only hours after their plane had touched ground.

“No, I’ll be fine,” Nick protested as his head bobbed.

“Osero, Nickolas, dochirahe?” a female asked as she thrust a microphone into Nick’s face.

“Um.... huh?” Nick mumbled, able to only pick out hello and Nickolas from the words spoken.

“Yukai, miru ittou! Yukai bin?”

Nick groaned inwardly. He thought that English was a second language spoken, why was this woman insistant on speaking Japanese to him? Thinking for a moment, he remembered a phrase that had been taught to the group before they came over to Japan to please the crowds. He decided maybe the woman would leave him alone if he spoke the phrase.

“Um... Tadaima no-pan!” he pasted a smile on his face for good measurement after the comment. Instead of a pleased look from the woman for speaking to her in her native language, Nick was immediately rewarded with her face turning a shade of crimson and then she inappropriately started a belly laugh. She quickly bowed and left him alone after that.

“Nick, I think I should help you up to your room, you don’t look very well, Leighanne commented as she approached the couch that Nick had decided to semi-sit, semi-lay back on.

“I think they’ll leave me alone for the time being. See that reporter that’s over with her friends pointing at me and laughing?”

Leighanne directed her eyes towards where Nick was pointing. “Yes?”

“I told her a phrase in Japanese that we had been learning to say and she seemed to be happy I said it ‘cause she burst out laughing and she bowed over and over.”

“Okay, so why would the phrase ‘we love you’ make her laugh?” Leighanne questioned.

“I dunno, but at least she left me alone,” Nick sighed.

“Okay, now I’m curious, how did you say the phrase?”

“Oh come on, my throat hurts, you don’t need me to talk anymore than I should,” Nick begged.

“Just tell me and I’ll leave you alone.”

“I said, ‘tadaima no-pan’, alright?”

Leighanne frowned for a moment and then she busted out laughing. “Nick, you do realize what you told her don’t you?”

“Wasn’t it I love you?”

Leighanne shook her head as she continued to giggle. “Lordy no! You said, ”here I am wearing no underwear”.

“Oh shit, seriously?”

“Seriously,” Leighanne smiled. She had a minor in Japanese language so there wasn’t a language barrier for her.

“Peachy,” Nick groaned.

“Come on, let me help you to your room before you tell someone you’re pregnant or something worse,” she chuckled as she placed a hand on his arm.

“Nothing could be worse than what I just said,” Nick whispered and then swallowed, his face twisted in pain.

“Ah, see, you are hurting, come on Nick, let’s get you a saltwater gargle before you hit the bed. Let’s go, do you have your room card yet?”

Nick nodded.

“Good, come on then, let’s go.”

Nick wasn’t reluctant in her offer he decided it was a good idea as he leaned on her as they walked through the lobby towards the elevators. This was the worst he had felt in his life and now that he had made an embarrassing statement, he wished he could just stay in his hotel room until the tour was done.

With a groan Nick shut off the alarm clock and pulled the pillow over his head. It felt like he´d just fallen asleep and he was dead tired. Jet lag kicking in. Rolling over to his side, he shut his eyes trying to block out the morning sun that was making an entrance in the sparcely decorated room.

Nick winced as a sharp telephone signal was heard in the room. It was one of the boys that was making sure that Nick was up and about. Nick assumed it was probably Howie since he was the one that was most awake in the morning. "God, please leave me alone!" he cried out into the reciever.

"Nick, are you getting up?" Howie questioned. Howie's soft voice sounded like shattered glass in Nick's aching head.

"I am now. Good night" Nick hung up, making no attempt to leave the warm bed.

'One..two..three..' Nick counted to himself before the phone rang again. It was Howie's own way of waking up Nick and he hated it!After a few rings the annoying sound stopped and a dazed Nick sat up, putting his bare feet to the floor. A shiver ran down his spine.

"Shit, it´s cold in here" he mumbled to himself, running a hand through his blonde hair. His limbs ached and when he swallowed it felt like an lump down his throat. To top it off his stomach felt terribly uneasy. This was a safe sign that a flu outbreak would be expected within hours.

Nick caught a short glimpse at the clock, noticing that he had roughly 40 minutes to catch a shower, get dressed and eat breakfast, before the press conference that Bruce has set up in the hotel's press room, down at the lobby.

After relieving himself, he brushed his teeth. This was an habit that Nick had and however lousy he felt he never skipped out this task. Looking at the mirror a pale face stared back at him.

"I look like complete shit!" he stated, while critically judging himself. His neck and chin looked swollen and puffy. "Great, this is what I need, more fat," he muttered while getting undressed.

Stepping into the shower, he let the hot water run over his body, savoring the few moments of peace and quiet. Press conferences was something that he´d never liked, and this was no exception. He did always get so restless at these meetings and never knew what to say. And when he said something he usually said something stupid, and got to hear about it forever.

AJ never stopped joking about that time when he has said that Norway was in Sweden. How the hell should he have know that? He´d been always touring and geography had never been high on his list.

Getting out of the shower, while toweling he studied his face again in the bathroom mirror. " I´m not only stupid, I´m fat too", he mumbled as he stroked his hand over his face.

Nick debated on shaving and decided that he didn´t have the energy to do that task. The pretty boy image would be shattered, but then who cared? He still would look like hell, shaved or not.

It was cold in the bathroom and his teeth were starting to chatter. Dragging his feet he went into the bedroom and rumage trough his suitcase to find something suitable to wear. After putting on a t-shirt and jeans he ran a comb trough his hair, trying to get some structure into it. Even his hair as well as the rest of the body was bailing out of him, and it lay flat on his head, looking dull like the rest of his appearance.

Fuck, he was already late. The guys, especially Kevin and Bruce would be so pissed at him and with that in mind, he put on his sneakers, grabbed his wallet, hotel card and exited the room in a hurry, running down the corridor to the elevator.

Japanese journalist as well as press people from around the world were gathered in the small press room, waiting for the boys to make their entrance. They were behind schedule and there was loud talking about where the guys could possibly be.

Nick’s name was mentioned and one of the journalists stated that the young singer had looked really out of it at the meet and greet yesterday. This started some speculation over his well being. In an adjoining room, Kevin, Brian and AJ, stood ready to take on the press conference. There was a look of annoyance on Kevin’s face since he disliked being late for anything.

"Where the hell are they?" Kevin muttered, looking towards the door, while tapping his foot impatiently. This was a bad habit that Kevin had everytime he was stressed out and this had him earn the nickname " Astaire" from Nick. Kevin hated that name as much as he hated running late on schedules.

"Chill out Kev," Brian said as he layed down the newspaper on a chair. "Howie went to get Nick, they should be here soon.”

AJ said nothing, adjusting his glasses. He was still pissed over the deal with the formal dinner and spent the time quietly sulking. Luckily, Bruce was no where in sight, and they all were thankful for that, otherwise there would have been even more cussing than what was going on from under Kevin’s breath.

Just as Kevin was about to open his mouth to utter yet another complaint about Nick’s immature behavior as well as tardiness, Howie entered the room, alone.

"Didn´t you get him?" Kevin asked when he notice that here was no Nick in sight.

"Yup, he’s coming soon," Howie said calmly. It wasn´t for nothing that he was the bands peace maker and could easily make even the most stressed out Kevin calm and tranquil.

"See, told ya," Brian said, laying an hand on hís cousin's shoulder. This was also an
effective gesture to calm down the oldest member.

It always worked and Kevin only muttered under his breath, "Wait until I get my hands on his ass!"

AJ was about to make an snide remark, but was stopped with a stern look from Brian, which had him immediately decide it wouldn’t be a good idea this time. The door opened once again, this time from the other side of the room and Bruce stuck in his head in. " Is he here yet?"

Kevin shook his head, " Nope!"


"Alright, we have to go. The press is starting to get impatient. Nick can join when he and if he decides to come down," Bruce sighed. The youngest member was starting to ditch meetings at a rate that had the PR manager deciding that he was gonna have a long and serious talk one of these days. Right now he had to get the show moving, with or without the blonde heart throb.

Just as the boys were about to go out to the conference room, Nick came in panting like he had been running."I got lost! This hotel is so fucking big," he exclaimed.

Brian gave Nick a look as if he were to say ‘no shit....I don’t think so.’

Kevin was about to chew him out when Bruce stuck his face into the room again.

"Has he???… Oh good, Nick! Now get out there and let’s make some good business
impressions." He gestured towards the door and the men left the room single file,
plastering some smiles and getting mentally ready to get asked questions.

Nick stopped Brian, pulling on his arm as he desperately tried to stop him. "Bri..I have to go to the bathroom, can you…" he stopped asking once he caught the steely stare of Kevin’s green eyes upon him. Hanging his head, Nick sulked as he followed the group into the room.

Trying to fend off dry heaves was an art form that Nick was getting all too familiar with lately. No matter how hard he tried though, he still made that awful gagging noise that could and should pull other people in alongside me and throw up as well.

After trying to be sick for roughly five minutes, Nick's stomach finally quieted down. He slowly stood up and walked out to splash some cold water on his face. He was greeted with a plae, ghostly white face in the mirror looking back. His face and neck looked like they bleonged to someone other than Nick Carter, Backstreet Boy. Nick decided that he looked like pure hell.

"Carter, you in there?"

Nick closed his eyes, wishing that Bruce would just leave him the hell alone. He was sick and Bruce still didn't grasp it.

"Carter?"

God, he sure was persistent. "Yeah, I'll be out in a sec," Nick mumbled.

"Come on, you're holding us up! We have schedules that need to be kept!"

Geesh, did this guy EVER take a break from schedules?

"You look like shit," Bruce remarked when Nick walked out of the bathroom. Clamping a hand on his back, he coaxed, "we need to hurry to make up for lost time. The reporter is waiting for you."

"I keep telling you I'm not feeling good," Nick pleaded, hoping that Bruce would just cancel his appearance in the interview.

"No can do Carter, they expect you and they're getting you."

As Nick and Bruce entered the small television studio, Nick noticed that the rest of the group had already taken their assigned seats and had already been given the makeup treatment. A young Japanese man with a clipboard gestured towards the empty chair, indicating where Nick was to sit.

As soon as he took his seat, makeup was fussing with his hair as well as trying to put concealer ontop of the dark circles under his eyes and some powder to take the shine off his face. Nick couldn't help but hear two stage hands make comments about his appearance when they said that he looked like he could stand to go on a diet and something about how his face looked like he was on some type of street drug.

Starting to feel the effects of his temperature rising, Nick peeled off the leather jacket and laid it on the back of his chair. This set off a chain reaction with the audio tech scurrying up to the stage to place Nick's mike back onto his shirt and someone from makeup trying to fix his hair once again.

Normally, Nick would have felt bad about causing more work for people, but he found this somewhat amusing and couldn't help but snicker at the Japanese worker's antics. A low growl from Kevin who had been sitting next to Nick, put the seriousness of the interview back into perspective.

"And we're on in five....four....three..."

"Two..one, we have ignition!" Nick giggled.

Without time to reprimand Nick, Kevin could only direct a fatherly glare and a quick slap on Nick's thigh. Nick retaliated and punched Kevin back in the arm. Brian was silently praying that this was not being caught on camera.

"Good afternoon, Kia Yamagushi here there afternoon to provide our viewers with this exclusive interview with Brian, Nick, Howie, AJ and Kevin of The Backstreet Boys!"

Nick rolled his eyes as he listened to the female interviewer literally gush as she announced that she would be interviewing them.

"The Backstreet Boys will be in Japan for a whole week! They have a concert tonight! Brian, how do you feel about our beautiful Tokyo?"

"This is a lovely city and we feel very honored to be here. The people have been very gracious and extending towards each of us," Brian replied.

"AJ, you have been quite successful with your Johnny No Name tour, will Johnny be appearing at this concert tonight?"

"Johnny's an asshole," Nick announced in a serious, matter-of-fact voice.

There was an awkward silence for a moment and then the interviewer as well as AJ chose to ignore Nick's statement at first.

"No, no Johnny on this tour, the Johnny thing is a separate gig. What Nick was probably trying to say, Kia, is that Johnny has a raw personality."

"Howie," the interviewer plunged into the next question, hoping to avoid more uncomfortable comments from Nick, "you're having a fundraiser cruise for the Caroline Dorough Lupus Foundation when you return from Japan. How is that coming along?"

Kevin was literally on the edge of his seat waiting to see what would come out of Nick's deliousional mouth next. Fortunately, nothing was said other than giggling from where Nick sat.

"It's coming along very well Kia, the entire cruise has been booked solid since October and I'm looking forward to this fundraiser as well as a little bit of relaxation," Howie replied.

During the middle of a question for Kevin about his charity, Nick burped loudly and then leaned forward in his seat, holding his head in his hands. Kevin breezed through his answer, wishing that the nightmare of an interview would be over and done with.

"Nick, there has been some rumors circulating in the Japanese press about you since you have arrived in Tokyo. There were several mentions of drugs and alcohol abuse as well as pictures of you vomiting as well as, how can I say this politely? Um, without sounding mean, you look like you've been putting on quite a bit of weight. Do you have anything to say in defense of yourself"

"Other than AJ's farts smell really bad, nope, nothing to say to you," Nick replied. "Do you know he captures them in little jars and names them and has a collection of farts? I bet you didn't know that, did you?"

"Okay Carter, the interview was bad enough, but hell, the concert? Did you really think it was appropriate to moon the entire audience? What the hell were you thinking? And then you completely blanked out on the lyrics!"

Nick could only moan and slowly shrug his shoulders in reply. He didn't know why he did what he did, all he knew was that he had a horrible migraine headache and all he wanted to do was sleep. Escape.

"I told you I'm sick---"

"Sick in the head," Bruce interrupted. "You can just bet your ass that you will be getting some fines from upper management! The way you're letting yourself go mentally and physically does not deserve to go unpunished!"

Wiping his face with the white towel that was provided by the venue, Nick momentarily held it over his face, praying that when he removed it, he would be home in the states, sitting in his own bedroom, away from everyone, Bruce especially.

No such luck.

"Well Carter, we're going to head back to the hotel now and I suggest that you go directly to bed and by the looks of you, you need to take it easy on those midnight snacks you've obviously been sneaking. I've taken the liberty of blocking any calls from your room," Bruce warned.

Normally Nick would have protested in some way or made some type of dumbass comment about him still having his cell phone to make calls, but as badly as he felt, he let the moment slip by, simply waving his hand and leaning back on the couch.

"Come on buddy, let me help you up."

Nick opened his eyes to see Brian standing in front of him, a slight grin on his face, worry was still etched in it, but there was at least a small smile.

"You sure know how to make an ass of yourself." Kevin was referring to the disaster that had been made at today's tv show.

Nick muttered sleepy,"Not my fault that those two were like jerks, asking so many stupid questions."

"That hyper girl was really going. She was like the Energizer Bunny!" AJ grinned at the memory of the young host.

"Yeah and the other one was so...so anal," Brian laughed.

"Yeah like Kevin!" Nick chipped in.

That had Kevin going. "I am not! I am not anal!"

"Okay if you say so," AJ grinned.

The boys laughed.

"I still think that those two were dumbasses," Nick murmured, shifting in his seat. His balls felt really tender and as soon as he got the chance he was going to undress and wrap them in a cold towel. Like a burrito.

Nick smiled to himself, despite his misery. If the boys knew what he was refering to they would die from laughing.

"NICK!" Kevin growled in the car. Loud enough to tear some ear drums. He wasn´t in a mood to hear such nonsense. Nick had acted like a fool in front of those cameras and now he was going to pay for it sick or not.

Kevin had talked to Bruce, trying to get him to understand that Nick really wasn´t feeling well and there was a BIG mistake to continue on with the schedule. He even tried to get Nick out of tonights show. All he got back was a laugh and even if he had pulled rank it hadn´t helped. He was, after all, the star and Bruce was employed by him. Bruce only said that management wanted it this way and there was nothing he could do to change the planned schedule and what management wanted, they always got.

Kevin looked at Nick with concern. The boy seemed so out of it that he was almost delerious. His neck was as big as an elephant man's and he was really flushed. Not a good sign.

"I´m hungry!" Howie said out of nowhere. It was clear that he was more than willing to change the subject, feeling that an arguement could be brewing.

This was a topic that most of the boys agreed upon. They had been going all day, non stop since breakfast and had no time to get anything to eat before the autograph signing at the HMV store.

"I wanna have a burger. Mickey D sounds like a safe bet. Think they have it here? The rice shit makes me fart!" AJ could be so blunt with words.

"Ajee that was more than we wanna know!" Howie looked angry.

"Or wanna hear" Brian grinned. Then he turned to Nick, poking him gently on his arm. "Hey Frack, man, do you want something to eat?"

A grunt. Then a short shake of the head. "NO."

"Come on Nick, You need to eat something." Kevin stated the facts, down to earth guy that he was.

"Yeah, when was the last time you had something in your stomach?" Howie butted into the conversation.

"Besides booze and drugs!" AJ added.

"AJ!" Kevin gave his "brother" a hard look. No need in starting more rumors. The driver could hear the conversation.

"Nick, really man, you need something in your stomach so you have something to shit!" AJ grinned a cheesy grin.

"Thanks man. I feel so much better," Nick mumbled sourly. It was no need to remind him about his stomachs ups and downs. He felt like manure or shit, in either way his stomach was taking dance steps again. This time it was the Boogie Woggie. All he could do was pray that "Twist and Shout" wouldn´t be next!

"Nick, if you eat you might feel better."

Oh couldn´t the boys leave him alone. Nick groaned. As the conversation went on about to eat or not to eat Nick started to get more and more agrivated.

"Shut the fuck up!" He growled, surprising all the boys in the process. "That is my business whether I eat or not. In case you haven´t noticed I´m an adult!"

"Really?" AJ asked in a mock tone of surprise.

Ignoring his friends statement Nick continued. "Now let me sleep so that we can get this shit over with!"

With that he turned away from Brian, leaning his aching head against the cool window. Oh that felt so much better. The coolness felt great against his hot forehead. At the same time Nick tightened his jacket around him, wrapping his arms around his waist, trying to get some heat into his shivering body. Why was it so cold? And then so hot? His mushy brain had a hard time working and he didn´t put two and two together, he was really sick!

"Ouchy, ouchy. Touchy there Nickster."

"Knock it off AJ. Can´t you see that he isn´t feeling very well." Brian was coming to the rescue.

"I still think it would be good if you ate something." Kevin would make a fine parent someday. Never leaving anything unsaid. Always wanting the last word.

With a grunt Nick looked up from his position. Then he felt his temper rise, or was it the fever that was running through his veins? Anway he snapped, " Well I don´t!"

"Nick you might feel better," Howie pampered and if it was something Nick hated it was when the guys pampered him.

'Oh spare me your suggestions,' Nick thought to himself.

"Nick you..." Now Brian had started again and this tested Nicks temper. Hard.

"Are you deaf?" he shouted. "I don´t want anything, unless you want me to redecorate the upholstery in this car!" With that he closed his eyes, wanting to sink into oblivion. The sledge hammer was threatening to split his skull in half seemed to pound endlessly.

"Sorry," Brian mumbled, "Jeeze we're just concerned about you Nick."

I know...I know. Just let me sleep, Nick thought to himself, praying that the guys would shut up. His prayers were heard and the guys fell silent for the rest of the ride.

As they got to the music store fans were gathering around the Limo. They screamed and banged on the car. It was like a small repeat of when the boys had been on the World Around tour. In Brazil.

The fans had stormed the bus, making it impossible for the boys to get out. Being really jet lagged the boys had felt totally scared over the situation. Afraid that one of the fans could get hit or squished in the crowd. All of the boys had talked about this event for a long time after and they had been really shook up.

"Holy Shit!"

All the boys, including Nick looked outside and waved to the fans.

"I don´t wanna do this," Nick mumbled under his breath as he plastered a smile on his face. He didn´t know where he would gather up the energy to go out and meet the crowd, much less to sign tons of autographs.

"Come on, Nick you can do it," Brian, coaxed. He tried to give the blonde energy to go on.

With a sigh Nick exited the still veihlcle just to be met with screams that could break glass.

"NIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCKKKKKKKK IIIIIIII LOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE YYOOUOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" The girls were screaming trying to get a touch out of him. Ripping at his clothes, yanking at his arm, his legs, his...

Nick wanted to scream, get the fuck off me, yet he plastered on another of his gentle smiles and walked forcefully towards the crowd like he had done so many times before.

People were pushing trying to get a glimpse of their idols and hysteric girls screamed their name. Brian and Kevin stopped as always and signed some lucky girl's t-shirts. AJ delivered hugs and Howie wrote some autographs. Nick on the other hand just walked through, getting many disappointed fans in the process.

As he passed some girls he could hear one of the "fans" saying sourly to her friend that Nick wasn´t like he used to be. He was so snotty. The other girl had laughed. "Yeah stuck up and fat!" They had been talking english and it was clear to Nick that they wanted him to hear their conversation.

He wanted to flip them off, but being the professional that he was, he was he calmly walked past them. Trying to ignore what they had said. Probably N´Sync fans he mused. Yeah that was it.

Still the words had burned like cigarette marks into his heart.

"Nick can you give me a hug?"

"Can I thouch your hair!!!"

"Wanna marry me?"

"iiiiiiiiiiii"

There were no end to the questions and the screams that followed from the fans. All Nick wanted to do was scream even louder. That and fart!

His stomach was feeling bad now. Acting up all the time and he looked desperately for relief. Maybe he could let one go, clear the room. It was getting too crowded anyway. Like that time onstage in Germany. His stomach had been upset from some hot food and he had let one go in mid song. Brian had coughed, gagged and laughed so much that he forgot the line. Claiming that a green film had taken over the concert hall. Nick had never felt so humiliated. Then several years later Brian had told this to the press. The Rolling Stone Magazine.

That would not be nice. Beside that was not something heart throb Nick would do. That same Nick that everybody wanted to marry. However that was something that AJ would do! Besides the press had enough juicy stuff as it was so farting was out of the question. For now.

Moaning he rubbed his stomach getting Brian's attention. Brian raised his eyebrows as if to say "What´s up dude?"

"Have to hit the john!" Nick mouthed, hoping that no one other than Frick caught his message and hopefully not AJ.

"Bad?"

Nick nodded, afraid to move too much. Oh if he could just get out of the situation, take a break he would feel so much better. Break like the wind.

As if his upset stomach wasn´t enough, his balls was getting more and more tender as the minutes passed on. Had he finally caught some sexually transmitted disease?

Nick was very careful with using protection, but he knew that one could slip easily in one drunken state. Nick had tested for diseases relieved that he had come out negative. Life was to short to play with.

He shifted uncomfortably on the chair, trying to ease the discomfort in his bowels and testicles as best as he could without garnering attention. Brian smiled smugly, yet he felt safe. Brian would never reveal anything that could embarrass him. Not in front of the fans anyway. But then hadn´t he been the one that had thrown him out in just his boxers at that show in Europe? And told the magazine about him farting?

Nick frowned. Brian was not to be trusted either, he decided.

The fans were gathering around his table and he was writing so fast it seemed as if the pen was on fire. Gosh he had no idea that one could get so fed up with writing one's own name. He most have written it millions of times!!!!

Slurporup.. Nick´stomach was making loud complaints and this time even AJ caught the attention.

"You allright dude?" he asked. Nick nodded furiously.

AJ grinned.

Oh no, please don´t say anything. Nick mentally begged and as AJ was about to open his mouth Brian saved the situation. "Why don´t we all take five?" Getting a disappointed sound from the fans that were waiting in the line.

Bri, I could kiss you, Nick thought, seeing that relief was at stake. As soon as the boys stood up Nick headed towards the back of the store, Jaye in tow.

The restroom was in the back and Nick quickly swept in to a stall. Jaye waiting outside.

"Nick, dude are you okay?" It was AJ that had decided to grace the restroom with his prescence, obviously using the facilities. The urinal ones.

"Yeah.." Nick had a hard time keeping his voice lightly since his stomach had finally decided to change music selection into Hip Hop.

"Still got the poopies?"

"Nooooo!!!" Nick felt embarrassed. Okay, the room had thin walls, but there were no need to rub it in. AJ was being way too blunt since Nick felt shitty enough as it was.

AJ laughed loudly,"It sure sounds like it!"

Nick groaned. When would this humiliation stop? Probably when he was buried in a coffin, until then he would be the laughing topic of the group.

When he had done his "business" Nick took a close look at his balls, gasping. They were so sore and red and swollen. No wonder that he couldn´t wear any pants. Wetting some paper towels he cooled them down. Pigs in a blanket.

"Ahhhhh...uhhhmmm." It felt so nice that Nick closed his eyes, not caring how it sounded. He sank back on the closed toilet seat, devouring the situation in hand. AJ however was still outside. Lurking. Like a peeper and he heard Nick moan like he was getting it off.

"Hey dude, couldn´t you wait until you got home? Jacking off in public don´t get you any points!" AJ was laughing now. No he was more likely howling from laughter.

The hair on Nick's arms rose. Shit AJ was still there and he had heard him. Shit...shit...shit. Life was so unfair. How was he gonna explain this? And once again Nick was sure that he was going to be the talking object on this tour. AJ loved tattling on him and now he got another topic to share with the rest of the world. 'Did you know what Nickster did? He jerked off in a bathroom stall!' Way to go!

"Knock it off!" Nicks face flushed with embarrassment. Ok it was one thing sharing your farts, but the rest???

Nick was known in the band as a frequent farter and he liked to do it to gross out the others. Jerking off or toweling his balls was however something he preferred to do in private!

"Come on Hot Sauce, we have to get back!" With that AJ left the restroom, still laughing.

Nick sighed with relief. He carefully unwrapped "the hot dog" and then wet more towels. An idea struck him. Maybe he could leave it in his boxers, that way he would be cooled down all the time. Besides girls had pads, why couldn´t he have towels?

With relief in mind he made an coolage package and then put on his boxers. It felt good. Stomach calming down and one tylenol later he felt ready to conquer the world again and with that he walked back to the fans.

It could have been the fever since Nick wasn´t thinking straight. The second he sat down he realized his mistake. His gigantic mistake. The towels, wet, made an impact to his boxers and his sweatpants and then... it looked like he had wet himself!!!! Total humilation!!!

At that point Nick wanted to die!!!!!!! Japan was a country that he swore that he would never go back too. Never!!! It had too many bad memories and here was one just behind the corner.

Nick stiffened. In more ways than one. Fans were still coming, greeting him all the time. His mind on other things he still managed to put on a smile. But the hugs were out of questions since then he had to stand up and that.. He shudders as he thought about the consequenses. The jokes. The tabloids....

Nick Carter needs diapers!!!!

Nick not dry behind his ears. Here is the shocking evidence. Picture on the wet seat!

Nick into panty wetting!

More headlines for the press! Humiliation abound.

The autograph signing dragged along and much to Nick's relief it came to an end. But as they were about to leave came the next situation. How to get out of the store with a BIG wet mark on his butt?

Nicks mind went overdrive as he was trying to think of an escape route. If the boys knew how many brain cells he used they would say that his brain was fried. Which was close to the truth. Both from embarressment as well as fever.

Maybe he could say that he had sweated up a storm? That wouldn´t be too farfetched since coldsweat wasrunning down his back. Or that he had dropped his water bottle??

Paper towels had been an bad idea. Another one of Nick's brilliant ideas had gone sour.

Just as he was about to give up, handing himself over to humiliation and laughs when an idea crossed his mind. Looking over at the older band member he noticed that Kevin had his long brown coat on. The one that he prized as much as his wife. Or maybe even more.

What if Nick could borrow that one? Feeling relief at hand one more time he tried to come up with excuses to borrow that precious coat since Kevin was not known for someone that lent out things. Especially not to him.

Think Nick. Think.

He shudderd suddenly. From fear, but also from the chills that were more and more taking over his body. Both from fever as well as wetness.

Chills! That was it. Not even Kevin could say no to a dying man. With that in mind he called out in a whiney voice, "Kev?"

The oldest band member looked at the young blonde on the end of the table. He looked really pale and Kevin almost jerked at the sight. Was it the light or did Nick look even worse than before?

"Yes?"

"Can I borrow your coat?" Nick asked, coughing to make an effect. But he didn´t have to pretend the pain that came with that and he winced unvoluntary. It felt like he had swollowed tons of broken glass!

"You have your own jacket!" Kevin wasn´t about to give away his precious coat not to anyone or for anything.

The rest of the boys had stopped the conversation with the fans and they followed the conversation with interest. AJ wanting to take up a bet, the gambler that he was. Brian elbowed him in the side. That was not a proper act.

Fuck. That idea went down the drain too. Just as he was about to loose faith another chill wracked his body and he winced.

"Please Kevin. I´m so cooold!!" The whining did the trick.

A deep sigh. "Ok, but don´t mess it up!" Kevin handed it to Nick like he was giving away the English crown jewels.

Nick put it on quickly, hoping that no one noticed his predicament. Saved once again by Kevin Richardson! This was starting to be a habit.

Then the guys thanked the stores owner and left the store, Nick leaving his print on his seat. No one said anything although Nick could out the corner of his eye the owner frowning while looking at the seat.

He grinned all the way to the limo.

"You okay?" Brian asked, covering his mike.

Was he okay? He didn´t know. Every bone in his body hurt and it become harder to breathe every minute. Was he having a heart attack? Had he really done it this time? Nick's mind was working overdrive as he desperately tried to stand up straight.

But he wanted to hunch over. His nuts were aching so much and the nausea....

Nick groaned into his mike.

Brian gave Nick and reassuring pat on his shoulder. "It'll be over soon!"

The next minutes passed in slow motion. Nick could hear himself singing, but not registering the words that he said. The next time he came to his senses the show was over.

"Bye for now. We love you!"

The crowed cheered being close to extasy! With that Nick could feel Brian take his hand and he bowed. Like he had done so many times before. Even more screams followed.

Bad idea. The motion set his stomach into spinning. Again. He moaned, oh no not this too. Bile rose in his throat at a furious speed and he coughed hard to keep it down. He had to get off stage. Fast, before he passed out or threw up. Or both.

Yet he waited for the signal. Finally Kevin ran off followed by AJ, Howie and Brian. Nick was the last one to get off stage. He could feel his legs moving. In autopilot. Somehow he managed to plaster on a pale smile before running down the stairs.

'Get out off my way,' Nick blindly took the stairs in two steps. His stomach was calling his name, or more likely shouted since it had come down to Twist and Shout. Again. Putting his hand to his mouth he hoped to stall off the worst. This would be the third time in two hours. It was starting to becoming a habit. A bad one.

'Let me make it..please!!!'

"Elvis has left the building," AJ laughed as Nick ran past him in high speed, knocking the skinny man against the wall in the process.

"Hey, look were you´re going!" AJ snapped. His mood had changed drastically.

But Nick had no intention to stop due to more pressing matters. He stopped abruptly at the backstage toilet, threw the door open and fell down beside the commode. Closing his eyes, he let it go. Heaving like there was no tomorrow.

"Shit, Nick." AJ ran after his friend, noticing the distress he was in. The sounds that followed in the small bathroom had him wincing and he kicked the door shut, leaving the guy with some privacy.

"Is that Nick?" Kevin nodded towards the bathroom door, while toweling himself off. He had sweated up a storm.

"Yeah, he is hurling, poor bastard," He winced as the sound of someone being very sick was heard through the paper thin walls.

"Again?" Brian looked worried, walking over to the door, about to knock when AJ stopped him.

"Don´t," he shook his head. "Nick is feeling bad enough as it is."

"He left the stage twice" Howie had joined the conversation after drowning himself with a full water bottle.

Brian frowned. What drugs could Nick be using? He had called Leiganne upon his suspicion earlier this evening, but she had said that she didn´t think that he was using anything. She had told him to relax. Still Brian wasn´t too sure.

"I thought that he was gonna blow chunks. That would have been some stage effect. Gastropyronetic display!"

"Ajeee you are sick!" Howie looked disgusted, not too found of his band members descriptive way of telling stories.

AJ glared at Howie, making no comment.

"Nick has been acting strange all day." Brian had been sitting quiet, pondering over the situation. "One time he is really hyper and the other time he is really low."

"Yeah but that is Kaos," Kevin sighed.

"True. Still he has been making some pretty wierd comments."

"Yeah like he is delierious or something," AJ agreed to Howie.

The boys were debating Nicks strange behavior and decreasing health as Nick was inside wrestling with his innards.

"Please God, let me die." he moaned as dry heaves wracked his body. 'I will eat my lettuce if you let this stop' he pleaded to himself. Getting his head out of the commode he felt dizziness wash over him again. His stomach had decided to give him a break. However his balls had not. Cupping his hands around them he tried to sooth the blinding pain.

How could something so small hurt so much??? What was wrong with his testicles? They as his whole body felt so hot. Somehow he managed to stand up, leaning heavily against the small sink. In blindly he reached the door knob. He had to get some fresh air before he passed out.

His ears rang in that tale sensation that a fainting was to be expected, yet he managed to walk out of the door. The boys were debating something and he could hear his name being mentioned again. Yet he didn´t care. The charade was over. He couldn´t stand it anymore.

"I don´t feel so good." Nick could hear himself utter, in a weak voice. He staggered, trying to get something to hold on to, failing he could feel his legs give in and then everything went black.....

"Niiickk!" Brian shouted as he moved over to keep his friend from falling. Too late. Nick hit the floor with a thud.

"What the?" The rest of the boys hurried over to their young member. Nick looked like death. He was white as a sheet and his neck was so swollen that he reminded them of a bloated corpse.

"Shit what has he done to himself?" AJ blurted out in suprise. "How the hell did he managed to get so fat? Look at his neck!"

Brian glared at him. Not saying a word.

"Get me some paper towels. Wet ones." Kevin barked, giving out orders. Howie leapt to the bathroom.

Meanwhile Brian hunched down beside his friend, frowning. What was the matter with Frack? Had he taken an overdose or what???

Stroking his sweaty hair he got suddenly knew what was the problem. He was sick. Really sick. Breathing an sigh of relief he stated "He's burning up!"

Kevin, frowning felt on the blonde's forehead. "He has a high fever!"

Nick moaned, starting to come to his senes.

"Shouldn´t we call a doctor?"

Kevin thought for a while. He knew that management didn´t want any more headlines and getting even more attantion to Nick was not something that they needed. Besides he was just sick with the flu or something and getting medical attention could only add to the drug rumor. "Not for now," he decided.

Howie came out with a towel, putting it on Nick's forehead. Nick grunted as he felt the coolness on his burning skin.

"Wha..where am I?" he winced, grabbing his head in pain. He grimaced badly since it hurt like the worst hangover. Looking up he saw four pair of eyes staring down at him, concerned.

"You passed out," Brian said softly, " How are you feeling?"

"Like shit!" Nick tried to sit up, but was forced back gently by his friend. " Don´t."

With that he closed his eyes again. It felt good to lay down, even if it was like someone was tap dancing in his skull. The nausea had reduced again and he could almost focus on the surroundings although it was still a bit blurry.

"What happened?" Bruce had decided to make an entrance.

"Nick passed out!"

"Oh!" That would shut Bruce up for a while, but not for long. Obviously Bruce was still upset over Nick's recent behavoir and he was not going to let the boy off easily.

"He probably exhausted himself at the show."

"He is sick!!!" Brian was starting to loose his temper.

"Nothing that a few hours sleep won´t cure." Bruce said in a chipper mood. "Take him back to the hotel and..and I can cancel the meet and greet for tonight. For him!"

"Meet and greet? Are you out of your fucking mind?" this time AJ had something to say and he didn´t put it midly."You are running a schedule on us like we were some sort of fucking animals at a zoo!"

"Calm down," Howie was as always trying to smooth the situation, but AJ had too much off an temper to stop.

"Can´t you see that the boy is fucking dying and that he needs medical attention!" AJ had a habit of saying fucking after almost every word when he was upset.

"Take it easy Alexander," Bruce hissed, trying to look calm. He turned his attention towards Kevin "As I said get Nicky back and then you have work to do. Comprende?" He set his eyes in all of the boys.

There were silent in the room, except for AJ´s cussing. With that Bruce left the room.

Nick who was starting to be more aware of the situation sat up. "Hey I´m all better now."

"No you are not." Kevin said softly, "Bruce is right you are going back to the hotel."

"I´ll take him" Brian offered.

"No, you are needed here. I can take him." Kevin was acting like a father figure. Clearly Nick's faltering health had him all shook up.

"Don´t treat me like a baby. I can do this myself" Nick hissed. He was trying to stand up, when his legs gave out from under him again and he sank down on the floor into a slumped position.

"Nick you can hardly stand. I don´t think that you are in any position to be the judge of that." Kevin's voice was firm.

Groaning, Nick held his head in his hands. Oh why could he never win?

"It´s okay," Kevin stroked back the blondes hair, as he stuck his head, for the second time, into the brown paper bag that they had brought for throwing up into.

It reminded him of Nick in his younger years. Nick had always been prone to motion sickness and after a jerky drive in the Alpes they had been forced to stop every so often to let the boy out. Now days Nick was still motion sick, but he took care of it by his own. Which Kevin was grateful too.

Kevin hated sick people! It came from when his father had been sick from cancer and as soon as someone was sick Kevin wanted to leave the room. Still he forced himself to act. He couldn´t leave Nick since it was his little brother and he felt responsible for him.

Now he was starting to think that he should have listened to Brian. Brian was the one that usually helped out sick people. Sick and injured ones. Kevin on the other hand was the leader, coming up with strategies. Heck, even AJ was better than him in taking care of sickness. And now here he was, stuck in a Limo, taking care of a puking Nick. Life couldn´t get much worse.

Nick moaned. The fever running through his veins.

"I´m thirsty," he mumbled through parched lips.

"I know.. we get you some water as soon as we come to the hotel. Okay?"

The blonde nodded, closing his eyes.

Kevin took a good look at the boy. He was as pale as could be, except for the red roses on the cheeks. But it didn´t come from being healthy it came from running a high temperature.

Nick fidgeted in the seat. Kevin frowned, grabbing a new brown paper bag in hand. "Are you gonna be sick again?"

Nick shook his head. "No, my balls they..they," He stopped, moaning again.

Balls? Kevin stared at Nick. "What?" he asked, "What about your balls?" Where was Nick going with this conversation?

"They hurt," Nick cupped his hand around his groin. Moaning.

This had Kevin in for a suprise. "Your testicles?"

"Yeah, they are really swollen." Nick mumbled, dizzy with fever.

The boy is delusional. Kevin felt Nick's forehead. It was still as hot as ever.

"I try to cool them off," he started, then moaned again.

"Cool what off? The testicles?"

Nick groaned. Why was Kevin so slow at thoughts?

"Yeah with some paper towels at the .. at the music store!"

"Music store? You mean the autograph signing?"

"And I wet my pants!"

Kevin jerked. What did Nick say? That he wet his pants? Being the calm person that he is he asked "Did you pee or what?"

"Nooooo!!! I said that I wet them!" Nick groaned, not wanting to get into details. Why did Kevin have to be so stupid?

"Okayyyy.." Kevin didn´t know what to say. He better get a thermometer since Nick was clearly very ill.

"Ouch it hurts!" Nick mumbled, pushing his hands to his groin. Cold sweat running down his forehead.

Kevin was more and more starting to think that a doctor would not be such a bad idea after all. Bruce could say what ever he wanted. He would call the hotel physician as soon as they got back to the hotel.

There was no time for thinking since Nick was once again using the paper bag. Kevin sighed deeply.

As the limo stopped outside the hotel they were in for the next big suprise. Fans were stalking the hotel, as they had done since the boys arrived in Japan.

"Come on Nick," Kevin said as he more or less half carried the almost unconscious man out of the limo. Nick was in no state to co-operate since he was all delerious with fever.

As that wasn´t bad enough, the press had been waiting for them. Flashes errupted like an earthquake and Kevin groaned. This was the last thing they needed. More headlines! This was bad. It looked like Nick was drugged out of his sockets. Even the driver looked suspiciously at the blonde singer.

Management would be so pleased.

"Nick is sick!" Kevin stated, cursing that he hadn´t thought up an escape route, the strategy man that he was. But Nick's talk about his balls had set him into tantrum.

There were loud screams as the two men and security walked towards the entrance.

"Let us trough!" Security showed no mercy.

Nick was slumped in between Kevin and one body guard. Jaye was still at the Tokyo dome since Howie's body guard had been sick and forced to back out. Oh how Kevin wished that Jaye had been there.

The fans were clinging on the boys and the press were taking pictures, asking questions, all while the two men desperately tried to get inside.

Nick moaned, hanging with his head down. "Kev!," he murmured, lolling his head back and forth. Kevin had no time to answer as Nick bent down, hands on his knees and let go of what ever was left in his stomach. Mostly bile.

Fans screamed, press smiled and Kevin wanted to sink through earth.

Nick gagged, trying to stop his actions. Deep in his almost uncounsious mind he knew that this looked bad and he didn´t want to make another mess. Yet he was too sick to do something about the situation.

This as well as all the riot had Kevin for a fit.

"Get the hell out of here. Can´t you see that he is sick???" Kevin wavered with his arms towards the crowd and the body guard had him to calm down.

Fans were screaming even louder and Nick covered his ears. Wishing that he would pass out so that it would be over with. He could feel Kevins safe grip on his shoulders leading him in to the hotel.

Security men shouted to the people to back off.

"I can´t take much more of this," Nick murmured as he passed out. For the second time that day.

Nick moaned. Everything hurt. His head, his stomach and his groin. Opening his sore eyes he looked into the face of Kevin and an elderly men with kind eyes. Kevin smiled gently. That was something that Kevin rarely did. Smile.

"You passed out again," Kevin explained.

Nick nodded, wetting his dry lips. He could tell that he was back at his room, laying on his bed. Kevin sat beside him. Shivering he mumbled, "I´m sooo cold."

The elderly man nodded, picked up an blanket and lay it on him.

"This is doctor Yang. He is the hotel doctor and he is going to examine you."

Nick, too weak to say anything just nodded.

"Good day Mr Carter." The doctor said as he sat down beside Nick on a chair. "How are you feeling?"

Nick thought for a while. "Like shit" He moaned. Not caring about good manners.

Kevin rose his bushy eyebrows. Kevin always cared about good manners, even in situations like this.

"I see.. well can you tell me where it hurts?" The doctor gently felt on Nicks swollen neck.

"Everywhere."

Kevin was starting to loose his patience. "Nick the doctor wants to know where!"

Hey, I´m not stupid. I´m sick. Nick glared at his older brother.

"That is alright Mr Carter, I will do a short examination, to try and find out what is causing you this discomfort."

"Fine!" A sharp pain cut through his testicles and he moaned loudly, curling on his side, gripping his groin in the process.

" Do you have pain in your groin?" The doctor looked concerned and he saved no time into getting into the examination.

"Ye..Yes" Nicks eyes darted nervously to Kevin. He didn´t want his friend to know about his discomfort. The doctor, noticing his patient's distress said to Kevin "I think that Mr Carter wants to be left alone for a while. Meanwhile I suggest that you, Mr. Richardson leave this room and I call you when the examination is done. Okay?"

Kevin, a bit angry that he wasn´t allowed to stay, mumbled "That is alright. Nick wants me to stay, don´t you Nick?" A sharp "NO" from his little brother had him change his mind. Resistingly.

As soon as Kevin had left the room the doctor went down to business. He felt Nicks neck, then his stomach and last he wanted the young men to drop his pants. Nick felt a bit embarrassed, but did as the doctor had told him. relieved that none of the boys witnessed this. As soon as his pants were off he could hear the doctor draw in his breath.

"I see," he murmured and felt on Nick's testicles. Nick yelped. It hurt so much that he wanted to scream, yet he bit his lip.

The doctor felt the testicles and Nick was in agony. Then he was allowed to put his pants on again and Nick curled into a ball once more. The doctor took some notes as he asked questions.

"When did you experience this discomfort the first time?"

Nick told the doctor that he had started feeling sick an week ago and that it was steadily becoming worse.

" Have you experienced any nausea, vomiting, flatulence or diarrhea?"

" The whole works," Nick mumbled feeling a bit embarrassed discussing his bowels with a stranger. Even if it was a doctor.

"Loss of apetite?"

"Yeah, when you mention it." How could he have been so stupid, not picking up the signs earlier on? He who usually ate EVERYTHING.

" Have you been in contact with any children that have this sympthoms lately?"

Nick shook his head. Not that he could come up with. What was wrong with him? Nick didn´t look the mixture of concerned and amusement that glistered in the doctors eyes.

" Your neck, stomach and groin are really swollen Mr. Carter and there is no wonder that you have experienced such discomfort."

Nick waited for the death sentences to be revealed. He closed his eyes. Waiting for the worst. Was the doctor going to say that he had cancer or anthrax or evenworse syphillis?

" Mr Carter you have a nasty case of the..the MUMPS!"

Nick who was waiting for the doctor to say that he had to make his last will, was jumping from surprise. What did the good doctor say??? That he had the Mumps? "What?"

"Yes Mr Carter, you have a virus disease that effects the glands in your body on various places. However Mr Carter you have also developed orchitis, an inflammation in both of your testicles. This is a not so uncommon effect."

Nick was stunned. " Do I have the mumps in my balls?" he blurted out.

The doctor had a hard time not smiling at the frightend and disgusted look that his patient put up.

" Yes Mr Carter, if you care to put it that way."

"Nooooo!!" Nick groaned. As if he hadn´t humilated himself enough. Now everybody was going to know that he had the mumps. A fucking childrens disase. In his BALLS!!!!

The headlines, the jokes. Oh he wanted to die.

" That is not so bad Mr Carter," the doctor soothed him.

" Not bad? Pardon me doctor but you are NOT a Backstreet Boy!" Nick shouted, shocked. This time the doctor smiled.

" No Mr Carter, I am not and I can see that you are experiencing some severe discomfort."

" Not until AJ get a hold off this."

Oh the humiliation he would be in for. Nick wanted to cry. Then he tried to get into his senses. " Are there any medications for this?"

The doctor shook his head. " I´m afraid not, however you can take tylenol for the fever and I will prescribe to you a solution that might lessen the pain that you experience in your testicles. Unfortunatly the disease will have to run it´s course and you Mr. Carter should be feeling better within a week."

"A week???" Nick shouted, coughing in the process.

" Yes, as I said before this is a childrens disease and it has to run it´s course. The glands will gradually be less swollen, however you might be feeling some discomfort down there."

" This is not happening," Nick mumbled. Somehow Cancer or even Anthrax seemed better at the time.

The doctor patted his patient on his arm. " I leave my telephone number in case you are starting to get worse. I will also leave the prescription at the hotels front desk. "Mr. Carter you need lots of rest and I suggest that you cut back on your schedule."

Nick sighed. As if management would listen to that. Bruce would probably say that he had to leave out his pelvic thrust moves. He looked sullen for awhile and as the doctor was about to leave the room he finally took courage to speak up.

"Umm.. Doctor Yang?"

" Yes Mr Carter?"

" Uhh.. do you think that I might be fat? I mean my stomach is so swollen and everything is fitting me differently."

The doctor looked at the young singer. Shaking his head. " No Mr Carter, your glands in your stomach are really swollen. That can happend when you have the mumps and it is also why you are experiencing discomfort from the stomach."

" Thanks doctor." Nick smiled. Looking relieved.

" Your welcome Mr Carter. As I said before you can call me at any time." With that he left the room.

Nick, caught up in his own thoughts, was starting to think out an strategy how to tell the guys about the MUMPS!!!!

"What did the doctor say?" Kevin looked worried. His forehead creased in deep wrinkles.

"It´s..It´s.." Nick debated with his conscience if he was going to tell the truth and as he was to say about the mumps he could hear himself saying, "Strepthroat!" Strep? What? Nick could have banged himself in the head. Was he stupid? Where had that come from?

Kevin breathed a breath of relief. "Okay..good then it wasn´t that bad?"

Strep throat also known as singers infection was something that all the boys had experienced several times. Although never this bad as Nick had it.

"No, just some rest and then I will be all up and raring to go." Nick seemed chipper although he wanted to die, both from sickness and lying.

Kevin set his eyes into Nick, feeling a flash of doubt. "You're not lying to me are you?"

"Yes Kevin. It´s Anthrax!" Nick sounded annoyed, both at Kevin not believing him and also getting caught with a white lie.

"NICK!"

"Read my lips, I have the S T R E P T H R O A T" Nick spelled the words, auditive. With that he mentioned that he wanted to be left alone and that Kevin could go back to the meet and greet.

Kevin hesitated for a moment then he said , "Will you be all right then?"

"Yeah sure, I´m feeling so much better now," he lied.

"Ok, call me on the cell if you need anything. OK? If you get worse or.."

" Knock it off Kevin," Nick said trying to steady his voice. "I´m not some baby and yes father I can take care of myself." With that he ushered Kevin out of the room. As soon as the door shut, Nick fell into tears. He had never felt this bad before. Everything ached, he felt like he would blow up any second and his balls would explode. This was misery. Hell. Mumps had to be his punishment for all the bad things he had done in life. Especially since he had it in the lower region.

Moaning he curled into a ball. Why hadn´t he told his friends what his problems were? Hadn´t they been the first to know everything during the past years? The guys had always stayed at his side. They had been there when he had been homesick. Brian had even laid down beside him, comforted him. Kevin had been there when he had experienced his first drinking binge. It had been on dark larger in Germany and Nick still shuddered from the memory. He NEVER touched dark larger again. The guys had been there for him when he had been experiencing his first real break up with a girlfriend, they had comforted him when he had his ups and downs, even through his worst eating binges. They had never left his side and he could turn to them at anything.

But something had changed. Both Brian and Kevin were married men and he didn´t want to put his own worries on them. AJ went into rehab and he had his own problems and Howie, Howie was a great guy but he wasn´t a person that Nick used to talk to. It might have sounded corny that he didn´t want say to the guys that he had the mumps, but it was way too embarrassing to say that he had a children's disease. He was sick of getting treated like the baby in the band even tough he stood 6'5 inches tall and weighed NOTHING like a baby.

Heck he decided he didn´t even look cute anymore. Nick sighed. Life really sucked.

With that in mind he finally drifted off. When he woke up hours later he felt even worse than before. The migraine was so bad that he just lay there moaning. His balls where on fire, and his stomach was once again trying out for an enchore. He shivered so bad that not even the bed spread and the blanket couldn't give him any heat. His teeth were chattering but he managed to get up and put on another sweatshirt.

His bladder ached and he stumbled to the bathroom, where he sank down, relieving himself. The floor was spinning like the worst turbulence in an airplane and he had to grip the seat from not following off. Motion sickness was washing over him and if his stomach hadn´t been empty since before he would have decorated yet another bathroom. Gagging and dry heaving he waited for the worst vertigo to leave. Once it was overwith, he carefully stood up and walked with small steps back to his bed.

Squinting at the clock on the bed table he saw that it was 1:35 am. The boys would probably be back and he debated whether or not he should get them. He felt so bad and it was a safe bet that his temperature was pretty high. Licking his sore lips he wanted something to drink, water or anything. But he didn´t have the energy to get something and instead lay there panting, trying to get the pain in his groin to subside.

After tossing and turning for an hour he felt ready to cry. Again. He couldn´t remember when he last time felt this bad. Maybe when he had pneumonia. Yeah that might come close. As minutes passed the shivers became to wracking chills and no matter how he tried he couldn´t get some heat into his aching body.

'Fucking Japs,' Nick thought in his delerious mind. 'Not only had they bombed Pearl Harbor they were going to freeze him out too."

His head ached and he had trouble thinking straight. Strange thoughts went through his mind and the tylenol that he had taken hours ago had done nothing to lessen his pain. 'I want my mom," Nick sobbed when he didn´t think that he could feel even worse than before. 'That or Frick.'

With that in mind he decided that he wanted his best friend. Brian was the one he could turn to, always and he knew how to deal with a situation like this. Brian would tell the Japs to turn on the heat again.

Nick sat up in bed, sweat pouring off him, still shivering and decided that he would go to his friend. The room swayed dangerously as he set his feet on the floor and he walked unsteadily towards the door. Opening the door he saw that he was all alone in the corridor. Now all he had to do was find Brian's room.

Nick had a hard time concentrating and the numbers on the door seemed so blurry. Did Brian stay at room number 532 or was it 523??? Nick rubbed his eyes. Where could it be?

If someone had walked down the corridor they would have seen a sore looking figure. Nick was clad in not only his boxers, but several layers of sweaters, hair sticking on end, ghostly pale as he was stalking the corridor, looking all delousional. If someone didn´t know that that the singer was sick, drugs would have been a safe bet.

"Brian," Nick moaned as he walked down the hall. His head was spinning and all he wanted to do was curl down in a ball and sleep. Yet he pushed himself. He had to find his brother.

Stopping at room 523 he knocked. After no reply, he knocked even harder. Nick swayed, feeling like he was about to faint again. This time from fever and has the door opened he struggled to stand still.

"Frack!" But that wasn´t frack. Instead Bruce stood there, catching the young singer as he fell forward.

"What the hell?" he gasped in suprise as the youngest member nearly fell all over him, crushing him in the process. "NICK???"

"Bri I.." Nick mumbled some words that sounded like jibberish. "What the fuck are you doing? Are you high?"

Now Bruce had caught hold of the situation and he looked at the young man that stood there looking like he had been smoking tons of pot!

" Bruce?" Nick looked at his PR manager in suprise. "What are you doing with Brian?" He put his hand to his mouth, "Oh NO are you two SCREWING?" Nick shouted so loud that the whole hotel was about to wake up.

" Shhh.. shut the fuck up." Bruce was in no mood to be disturbed, especially not by Nick, high, in the middle of the night.

" Does Leighanne know?" Nick's brain was mush. His fever playing tricks with him. " Know what?" Bruce was very irritated over the situation. He dragged the blonde in, not wanting the whole world to see Nick in this drugged up state. The press had enough as it was and Nick was already feeding them headlines by the hour.

" That you and Brian are fucking," Nick slurred.

" Have you been drinking?" Bruce set his eyes in Nick. The boys eyes were glazed and his complexion did lookanything but healthy. "Or are you doing coke?"

"Coke, yeah that one I could use," Nick swayed as he sank down on Bruce's bed. "I snorted it once, but an ice cube got stuck in my nose," he grinned.

Bruce watched as the "drunken" backstreet singer closed his eyes, mumbling something that was hard to figure out and fell asleep.

'That´s it!,' Bruce thought, as soon as we get home I´m calling the Drug Rehabilitation center.

Brian was still afraid that Nick was using something illegal since he wasn´t plain old frack anymore. The two friends had always had an outstanding relationship although Brian had to admit that it had changed recently. Since Brian married Leighanne they rarely got the chance to talk any more. They spend little time together and Nick had turned to Howie instead.

As he was becoming a family man, Nick was more and more becoming a party man. Brian remembered when they were younger and Nick wasn´t allowed to go out clubbing. Brian had often stayed at the hotel with him, playing Nintendo. During those late hours that they had shared hotel room Brian had really got under Nick's skin.

He was a complicated person that had lots of compassion for other people. Emotional was also something that was part of Frack. However these last years had taken it´s toll on his friend and Nick was more reserved than before. Since he broke up with Manda and Tiffany he hadn´t find any real love. Nick seemed often down and he knew that when he was feeling bad he had his eating binges. This had been very often recently and Nick had gained lots of weight. He knew that Nick felt bad about that and as much as he could he never mentioned this to his friend. The other boys could give snide remarks, Brian knew that it hurt Nick so much more than he would ever admit. And the drugs. He would never forgive himself if Nick went to drugs. Recently he had been using much more alcohol that he could handle and when Nick had been so sick at the dinner banquet the other night they had talk between his bouts of sickness. Nick had cried telling Brian that he was his best friend and that he was the only one that he could ever talk to.

But then Nick had snapped at him before the Tv show and Brian didn´t know where he had him anymore. He was so moody and his behavoir had been really out of order recently. Nick was walking down a road that Brian was doing his best to prevent him from choosing.

The more that he thought about his friend, the more worried he became. Brian groaned and shifted for what might seem the hundreth time that night.

"Honey, what is it? Are you all right?" Leighanne had woke up when Brian had once again rolled onto his side, She looked concerned at her husband.

"I´m worried, worried about Nick."

"Why?"

Leighanne was a great listener and she knew that Brian was often thinking about the other boys in the band. He was a person that helped other and she knew that Nick was often on his mind. They had talked about this through endless nights and she knew that Brian loved Nick as his brother. They were Frick and Frack. Inseperable. Brian told about what he had on his mind and she hugged her husband.

"Honey maybe you should go and see that he is alright if you are that worried."

"No, he is probably asleep." Brian shook his head, although his heart said that he should go.

"Brian, I know you. You can´t rest before you know that everything is all right with Nick. So go now" She hushed her husband up and Brian smiled.

God, he loved Leighanne with all of his heart. She was the best friend and wife that he could ever have.

He put on his pants and a T-shirt and a pair of shoes. Grabbing his hotel card he left the room, silently, not wanting to wake up any guests. It was three o'clock in the morning and it was rather quiet in the hall except for some music coming from AJ and Sarah's room.

AJ was a night owl. He slept on the day and was awake in the night. Brian smiled. AJ was AJ and he loved him for the guy that he was.

Knocking on Nick's door he waited for a response. Silence. Brian frowned. Nick was a heavy sleeper and maybe that was the reson why he didn´t open. That or if he was sick in the bathroom. Brian hoped that it wouldn´t be the latter. Brian knocked again. Still no response.

"Nick," he called out as loud as he could so that he wouldn´t disturb anyone. He felt on the door knob, suprised that the door was opened, he walked in. Nick wasn´t in his bed, but he could tell that he had been laying there since the sheets were all crumpled and the bed spread had fallen on the floor. His sweatpants also laid in a heap.

The light in the bathroom was on and Brian called out softly "Nick?" No answer.

He pushed the bathroom door open. No Nick, although the trashcan stood beside the toilet. Frack had been recently sick. Brian was now very worried. Where was his friend? Thoughts jumped up. Bad ones. What if Nick had gone out? Maybe he was in need of something? Of drugs! His mínd was racing as he ran out of the room towards Kevin's room. Kevin might have a clue where Nick was. He knocked at his cousin's door and didn´t have to wait long until a grouchy Kevin opened the door. If it was something Kevin hated, it was being woke up in the middle of the night.

When they had been on tour, going on the bus together in their younger days there had been an untold rule that Kevin was not to be woken up, unless the goal was to get him pissed.

"What?" Kevin growled as he opened the door. "Brian?" he changed his mood at once.

"It´s Nick. He isn´t in his room," Brian was panting since he had been running.

" What? Nick isn´t in his room?" Kevin looked like a question mark.

" No and I don´t know where he might be."

Kevin tied his hands in a fist, "I'll kill that little bastard if he went out clubbing with Howie," he hissed.

"Calm down Train." Brian snuck inside and sat down on a chair. Kevins room was as tidy as always. Even his sheets weren´t messed up and it looked like he hadn´t been sleeping at all. His suitcase was neatly placed on the dresser and the clothes that he was going to wear next day was laying on a chair. Structure and neatness was something that was trade marks for Kevin Richardson.

" We better call Sweet D and ask if he has seen Nick," Kevin was putting on his jeans and buttoned his shirt, as his mind went into strategy, trying hard to come up with a plan.

Brian looked at his cousin. If it was one thing Brian admire it was Kevin's way of figuring out situations. He watched as the oldest member picked up his phone and called Howie's cell. After a few rings Howie answered. There was music in the background. He was out clubbing at some Japanese club with some of the band members.

" Howie here," he answered in a slightly slurred voice.

"Howie is Nick there?"

" Kev?" Howie sounded suprised.

" Yup, I just wanna know if Nick is there with you."

" Kev hold on," Kevin could hear a girl giggle in the background and he shook his head, smiling. Howie was always surrounded by girls. Then Howie was back " Sorry, Kuani wanted to know something."

" Kuani? Wasn´t her name Soan or something?"

" New one." No need for further explanation, "No, man Nick isn´t here, by the way didn´t you say that he was sick?"

" Yes, but he isn´t in his room."

" Strange, maybe he met a fan or something." Howie laughed, then he said " Gotta go now." With that he hung up.

" I hope not! Bye" Kevin sighed deeply as he held the phone in his hand.

" What did he say?" Brian was anxious to hear what his cousin had to say.

" He wasn´t there. Oh where can he be?" The two boys sat silent for a while, thinking where a delerious twenty one year old guy could be in the middle of the night in Tokyo. As if they had come up with the idea at the same timethey shouted out " AJ!"

With that the two boys practically ran towards AJ and Sarah's room. That had to be it. Nick had more and more turned to AJ when he wanted to talk or when he felt lonley lately. Maybe it had something to do with AJ being a bit more mature after his drug program, or that he was sober enough to hear what Nick was talking about.

After several knocks AJ appeared in the door, sheet around his waist. It was clear that he hadn´t been sleeping and the room smelled like sex. Hot sex.

" What the fuck do you want?" AJ was ticked.

" Is Nick there?" Brian wasted no time in talking small words.

" No! get the fuck out," AJ tried to push the door shut, but Kevin stuck in his foot.

" Have you seen him?" he asked, while peering into the room. AJ sighed then he opened the door so the two men could come in. He dropped the sheet and walked naked over to the bed. Sarah laid in bed, covering her breasts with a sheet. Her hair was all tousled and it looked like there had been some pretty wild games going on.

Brian grinned, nudging at Kevin to look at what was laying on floor. There in a heap was a nurse outfit!

" This better be fucking good," AJ murmured while lighting a cigarette.

" Nick is nowhere to be seen." The boys told him about the lost backstreet boy and AJ sighed loudly.

"I´m so fucking tired of being that guys nanny."

" Or maybe nurse," Brian burst out laughing. Kevin even grinned.

" What the hell do you mean by that?" AJ asked a bit irritated, then he followed the boys eyes and he grinned " Yeah man, that was wild, wasn´t it honey." He slapped his girlfriends bare ass. Grinning like a wild cat.

Sarah giggled, "Yeah stud, you were the best."

" I even let you lend it B´rok and maybe you Train if you wanna have some hot nights. Which I´m pretty sure that you married men will soon need." AJ laughed loud, then he took a puff off the cig.

" Where can he be then?" Brian sighed, remembering the reason why they were at AJ´s room 3:30 am. "We better talk to Bruce."

" Bruce, no he will have a fit" Brian shuddered at the words that would come from the PR managers mouth when he discovered that the blonde was missing.

" What else is there to do? Nick could be lost in Tokyo, running around sick and desorientated. How is that for a picture?"

AJ stood up, " Yeah man, go and talk to Brucey. Me and Sarah have some unfinished business to do, so go on," He pushed the two men towards the door.

" Okay..okay we can take a hint." Brian grinned, " But hey Bone watch it so that you don´t strain yourself."

" Nah man, I´m not some old fart." With that he shut the door. Kevin and Brian laughed quietly. AJ was some sort of character. Inside they could hear the game coming on again.

As they knocked on Bruce's door they tried to come up with some good lines to say.

Bruce opened, looking dishelved. He was wearing a bathrobe and it didn´t look like he had slept very well.

" Oh so you decided to come at last. The two dwarfs. Looking for sleeping beatuy?"

Brian and Kevin looked at each other. Had their manager gone insane? Nick finally done him in? Bruce opened up the door widely, letting the boys in with a deep sigh. "Look what the cat dragged in," he said gesturing towards his bed.

The two cousins gasped in suprise. There on the bed lay no other than their youngest bandmate, Nick. "Come in and see for yourself."

"The boy came in here, high as a kite, in the middle of the night talking some bullshit that you and me, Brian," Bruce looked at the men on the bed, "were fucking each other."

"What?" Brian shouted in suprise. What had Nick been thinking?

" It has to be some misunderstanding." Kevin came always up with a logical explanation to everything.

" No, I tell you that boy is in for some serious trouble. I think he is using coke'" Bruce sighed deeply.

Coke! The word hit Brian like a bullet.

" Yes, that or pot, whichever I think that he needs some serious help."

" What gives you the right to say this?" Brian fumed.

"Calm down, cuz. I´m sure that there are some reasons for Nick to be in Bruce's room in the middle of the night and it doesn´t have to be about drugs." Kevin was doing his best to calm down Brian who looked like he was on the verge of an nervous breakdown. Still he didn´t believe his own words.

Brian felt Nicks forehead. "Shit!" he called out getting the other men's attention.

" What?" The two men stared at Brian who said in an nervous tone " Nick is burning up."

Then there was action. Kevin felt the boys forehead just to state the same. " Bruce, the boy is sick," he said as calmly as he could. " Do you have an fever theromometer around?"

Bruce grunted then he walked to the bathroom, rumaged through his things and came out after a second, thermometer in hand.

As they waited for the thermometer to beep, there was silence in the room. Brian hoped, no prayed, that Nick's delerious state was because of that he was sick and not doing drugs. If it had been the latter he didn´t know how he would react to such news. The thermometer beeped and Nick moved around restlessly in bed, Brian snapped it as fast as he could and read the sign, his face turning pale.

"It´s 104.8!" he said slowly, reading the figures over again.

" Shit!" Kevin yelped. Even Bruce looked stunned and Brian could have swore that the manager's face softened a bit when he looked at the sick singer.

" No wonder that he is delerious," Brian said stroking Nicks hair once again.

" We have to get his fever down, this can be serious," Kevin was going into his Super Kevin mode again and his mind was working out strategies.

" Here," Bruce had been in the bathroom, wetting a towel and he handed it to Brian. The PR manager wasn´t without heart and he felt concerned when he heard the state that Nick was in. Still he didn´t believe that Nick was clean without using any illegal substance, but he had been in for quite a suprise when the boy had such a high fever. Nick moaned, but showed no signs of waking up.

" Did the doctor just say that he had the strep throat?" Brian questioned doubtly.

" Yes, I told you that didn´t I?" Kevin felt a bit annoyed that Brian questioned his story. He didn´t like it when people didn´t believe in him.

" I just think that he is way too sick for that," Brian mumbled while putting the towel on Nicks forehead.

" Sick or not, I'll help you guys get the boy over to his room since I wanna have a few hours eyes shut before the show is on again." Bruce had enough of acting like the helpful samarian for one night.

" We can´t move Nick!"

" Yes you can, watch me," Bruce started to drag Nick who groaned, not wanting to be moved.

" Okay, okay..let´s do this together." Kevin grabbed one arm under Nick and Bruce the other. They more or less dragged Nick into an upright position.

" This guy weighs a ton," Bruce growled as he did his best to hold the boy up.

Brian glared at the manager. There was never an occasion where Bruce lacked out talking about Nick's weight. Not even when he was so out of it that hecouldn´t stand up by his own.

Nick murmured something in his sleep and his head rolled, back and forth.

" Come on Nick," Kevin whispered in the sick mans ear.

Nick looked so out of it and sweat ran down his forehead and back. Then they more or less carried the boy down the hall to his room and put him into bed.

The next time Nick decided to wake up it was morning. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt heavy as lead. It was so hard to focus on anything and even if he lay down vertigo was so bad that he wanted to cry outloud. He must had said something as a hand was at his side, stroking his cheek, in an instant.

Too weak to do anything he just lay there listening to the soothing voice that kept saying that he would be just fine. He had difficulty in making out who it was, but the sweet smell told him that it had to be Brian. Brian had a smell that he could recognize miles away and it made him safe.

Once again he made an effort to open his eyes, but to no avail. They were glued and he felt himself sink back into oblivion again.

Brian sighed. He had been at Nick's side all morning, not even wanting to leave him to go to the bathroom. Kevin had left after they had dragged Nick back to his bed but Brian had refused to go. Nick needed him.

He couldn´t remember the time when he has seen Nick this bad. His friend picked up bugs very easily so there had been several occasions during the years. Yet Nick always had the energy to smile even when he was as sick as a dog. This time the fever was constantly high and Brian feared that there might be more than simply a virus.

The swollness around Nick's neck hadn´t lessened and the way he was trashing about Brian knew that he was in pain. His pale feature had been replaced by a red glow on his cheeks. Not the healthy red color that came with outdoors activities. No, the one that came with high fever.

Brian wet another washcloth, trying to cool down the fever, but Nick was as hot as ever. A short knock on the door caught his attention. With a sigh Brian opened up to see his wife standing there, concern glistering in her eyes.

" Hello Honey, how is he?" she asked quietly, as she was let in through the door.

Brian shook his head slowly. There was not much to say and Leighanne looked at the sleeping figure on bed, laying her hand on the sick boys forehead, frowning. "Has he woken up yet?"

" No."

"Brian, go and get some sleep. You need it. I can sit here and watch over Nick." Leighanne gave her husband a short squeeze in his hand, letting him know how much she loved him.

Once again Brian responded with a short shake on his head. " No, I better be here when he wakes up."

" Brian, I know, but you have to do an interview today and you really need the sleep."

Fortunatly for the boys they had a day off, or as off as it could be. That meant no concert until the next day. Still they had to make some public apperances as well as an interview with the press and a photo shoot. Leighanne watched her husband in the corner of her eye. He had dark bags under his eyes and had a tired appearance. A deep wrinkle on the forehead was plastered there all the time and the eyes showed so much concern.

Brian was the nicest person she had ever met. He had the rare combination of caring about others and understanding them as well as getting along with all people. Brian had also a fantastic sense of humor. He could be mature at one time, acting as a child the next. Maybe it was the unpredictable side in him that had him getting along so well with Nick. Leighanne knew that Nick needed Brian, but she also knew that Brian needed Nick to be a whole person.

Brian yawned. It was getting harder and harder to keep his eyes open and Leighanne had been right. He needed to sleep. He had never been a person that could be up all night and he had to have his beauty sleep or else he would be a grouch.

" Okey, Baby, you are right." He said giving his wife a quick hug. " I´m going to get a nap, but if Nick wakes up give me a call. Ok?" He stood up slowly and opened the door. Then he gave a short glance at Frack and then he left the room, leaving his wife to watchover his best friend.

"It´s okay honey," she said as she saw that Nick was drenched with sweat and that he had a hard time in his sleep. She stroke the bangs away from his forehead. It was wet like he had just taken a shower.

The heat radiated from him and she feared that his fever had rose. He was all delerious and kept muttering over and over again that Brian had to help him or he was going to freeze to death. This was no good. Nick's fever had to be lowered or he could be in a dangerous situation. She knew that he was prone to high fevers, but this was much too high for her liking. The sweat that poured out of him made him dehydrate and she hadn´t got any fluid into him. If this continued they had to go to a hospital.

She put another wet cloth on his forehead, but he restlessly tried to take it away. "It hurts," Nick tossed his head at the side. Leighanne started to be seriously scared for his health and she debated whether or not she was going to call her husband to get some help. But Brian had looked so very tired and he needed all the sleep he could get.

Picking up the thermometer she decided that she had to see if the temperature was lower or if it was just as high. Nick was so hot that he burned when she touched him. This had to be a bad strep throat, she concluded as she waited for the termometer to beep.

Five minutes later she looked at the thermometer. Getting even more concerned. It had gone up two points and his fever was 105 degrees. That was high and she had to get some tylenol into him so that it would lessen.

" Nick," she said softly, patting his arm to wake him up. The young men moaned, not wanting to wake up. The fever had him in it´s claws. "Come on, baby, you have to wake up."

Nick moaned even more until he opened his eyes. They were all glazed and unfocused and she wasn´t sure that he knew that she was beside him.

" Here is some water," she held up his head as she poured the water down his throat. He drank greedily as if he was totally parched.

"Take it easy, you'll just make yourself sick."

As she said that Nick coughed and then started to gag and before she could even grab the trash can he heaved all over himself and bed.

"I´m sorry," Nick mumbled as he looked at the mess that he had made. He was too out of it to care what had happend, still he knew that he had done something wrong.

"That´s ok honey, just rest." Leighanne laid his head back on the pillow, as she wiped his face with a wet napkin.

" Leigh?" Nick recognized the woman's voice.

" Yes honey, it´s me. Nick you are very sick"

" I want Brian." Nick´s voice was weak and he had trouble getting the words out.

" I know honey, but he is resting. Instead you are stuck with me," she smiled, but there was no smile back.

He looked all dazed and it was like he didn´t see or hear her. "Brian is having an affair," he finally managed to croak out.

The pulse in Leighanne's heart beat so fast that she thought that she would explode. Hot and then cold feelings washed over her. What did Nick say? That Brian, her Brian was having an affair? Part of her wanted to scream as the other part told her that she was dealing with a delerious boy with a 105 degree fever.

" Yes with Bruce," Nick mumbled.

The releif that Leighanne could feel when he said that made her wanna laugh out loud.

" Oh Baby," was all that she could say as she wet his forehead once again. Nick looked at her,very serious. Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Leighanne pulled off as best as she could the soiled bedding and then she called the maid to come up with some clean ones. She started to wonder where the maid was when there was a knock on the door.

"It's about time," she said as she opened the door, only to be met by AJ.

"Hi Leigh," he said as he went in to the room. When he caught a eye on the sorry soul that laid in the bed a " Holy shit" came out from his mouth. Nick looked bad. "Sorry," he said, putting his hand to his mouth regretting the bad used word. "How is he doing?"

"Not good, a fever of 105!"

" What? But isn´t that close to dying?" AJ could really chose his words to the right ocasion. Leighanne had to smile.

"Could be very serious if we don´t get his fever down."

AJ nodded, then he sat beside Nick on the bed, not caring that his friend had just hurled all over himself and the bed spread. Puke never bothered him.

" Hey man, you better get well so that I can kick your ass," he whispered to the blonde. "Kev and Bri came looking for you in the middle of the night and they messed up the best sex I had in a long time, so you better pull through."

Leighanne smiled. That was AJ.

Apparently the words had some effect as Nick moved in bed. "Bone," he called out a bit disoriented. He was starting to wake up.

" Yup dude, that is me." AJ patted his cheek, in a friendly gesture.

Nick moved again, this time with a look of distress upon his face.

" What man? What do you want?" AJ asked.

Nick looked around nervously in the room. As his eyes fell on Leighanne, then back to AJ again, he whispered "Help me!"

AJ was a man that didn´t flare up for nothing and even if he had a hot temper he could act calm in situations like this. " Ok man, just tell me what you need!"

Nick tried to open his lips to say out the word, but they were so dry and he couldn´t steady his voice long enough to tell him what he wanted.

"Okay let´s play 20 questions then," AJ sighed. " Let´s see..hrm.. do you want water?" Nick shook his head, still looking occasionally at Leiganne where she sat.

AJ frowned. " Not water okay, a tylenol then?" Another negative response. Then AJ got an idea and he followed Nick trace on Leighanne.

" Ok a woman?" he said with a hint of amusement in his voice, "Nope Nick that woman is taken!" AJ was great in getting people to smile in the most stressful situations and could add one more sucess to the list.

Leighanne laughed and Nick even smiled a small, but yet notifiable smile.

" Ok I get it, You have to piss?" The relief that was shone on Nicks face was indescribeable. He nooded so much that AJ was afraid that his head would fall off.

"Okay big boy, you get to go, but first let us help you." AJ gestured Leiganne for backup and the two helped Nick to sit in an upright position.

Nick closed his eyes since the world started to spin again.

"Whoaa, hold on, we don´t want to add more damage to your face than there already is," AJ grinned.

Leighanne was stunned. AJ showed a side that she had never seen before. Brian had told her about it and she had seen hints of it, but this time he really amazed her. The way he handled Nick, the situation, everything. She had never seen anyone getting such a total grip on everything. And with humor included.

"Okay..better now?" AJ asked as Nick seemed to cope after awhile.

A short nod.

" Put down your feet on the floor and uh..here we go." AJ and Leighanne got a steady grip on Nick and tried to get him up straight. But he was too heavy and they had to get him back to bed. Nick moaned both from vertigo both also from the ache in his full bladder.

" Shit!" AJ cusssed. Things didn´t work out as he wanted it to. Then he got an idea. " Hold on," and with that he was out of the room, leaving a stunned Leighanne.

Nick groaned. He hoped that AJ would be soon back since he really needed to let go.

AJ was back, with a coke can and he said to Leighanne "I think that you should go back to Brian me and Nick can handle this, okay?"

Leighanne, seeing that AJ had a hold of the situation, nodded then gave Nick a small pat on the cheek, " Nick, you better be well soon, you hear?" With that she was gone.

" Okay dude, now it´s you and me. Male bonding," AJ grinned.

Nick was holding himself in the groin, both from the full bladder, but also from the pain he was still feeling in his testicles.

" And hey don´t get any hopes up since Sarah was the best lay in a looooong time," AJ grinned, making the situation less tense.

Nick was too weak to get his pants off and AJ helped only to gasp in suprise when he saw Nick's swollen goods.

" Hey Nicky Boy I knew that you were BIG, but that your balls were the size of melons I didn´t know!" he blurted out.

Nick felt his face go all red. AJ most have sensed that he said something inappropriate as he smoothed it over with " This, the girls will like. You are a real stud."

With that he gave Nick the can and after a few seconds there was a hiss and the sick man closed his eyes, in relief.

As soon as Nick was done AJ took the can and put it away in the trash, not saying anything that would embarress Nick even further. He helped Nick getting on the boxers again. Still no words about the secret that he had got a hold on. AJ knew that Nick wanted his privacy and if Nick didn´t wanna talk about something he was more silent than a mouse.

The door opened and the maid came in with new bedding. Without making a matter out of it AJ changed the bed spreads like he hadn´t done anything else in his life.

"Bone you make a great housewife or a nurse," Nick murmured from the chair that he was seated in, the first sign of conscienceness in a long time.

" If you say this to anyone I'll slap your ass so good that you can´t sit for a week!" AJ threatned, but with a hint of humor in his voice.

The chore wasn´t done with that and as soon as the bed sheets were changed he helped Nick to bed. He threatened the young man that if he puked up the water and the tylenol that he had just given him he would beat the shit out of him, litterally. So much for AJ being a nurse!

Nick felt a bit better. His head didn´t ache as much as it did before and his stomach was a bit calmer too. But his nuts still felt like they wanted to jump out from his skin. And he felt so thirsty. Looking at the pitcher he sighed deeply. It was juice and remembering yesterday's encounter with the liquid. It had burned like hell in his sore throat and he didn´t want even N´sync to experience such a feeling.

There weas a soda machine outside in the hall and Nick decided that he should go and grab a coke. Besides coke, stale coke was good for the stomach. That, his mother had taught him. With thirst in mind he sat up slowly, trying to avoid anymore vertigo.

The worst chills had past and he didn´t sweat so much any longer. Instead he felt incredibly hot. To Nick's favor the dizziness wasn´t that bad and he managed with just his shorts to go up to the door and out in the hall. Clad in just his boxers.

There wasn´t a person in the hall and Nick hoped that they would all be away on activities. The band and the crew had hired the entire floor so he didn´t have to be afraid to meet the fans or the press, so he thought.

Just as he was about to get the the soda from the machine he heard a loud scream. And then ten girls, fans, screamed his name " NIIIIIIICCCCCKKK!"

Nick could feel his legs wanted to give out, both from sickness and embarraessment. Here he was stuck, outside with a bunch of girls running towards him. He could feel how the panic flared up in him when he remembered that his big swollen 'beer gut' was hanging over his boxers in a not so sexy way. Grabbing the coke, he started to run towards his room with the fans screaming his name, running after him, taking pictures.

Everything spinned but he would be damned if he would stop. As he reached the door he turned the doorknob and pushed himself in panting like he had been in a race. His body was on fire and he knew that the escape hadn´t been good for his fever as he could feel it raising several degrees.

Sinking down onto the bed, coke in his hand he listened how the fans were outside screaming his name, wanting an autograph. It was many years of practice that had him pulling off a stunt like this. Nick had been stalked many times and running street races was something he had been accoustomed with a result of fame. The worst part were that the fans had seen him naked in this condition. He could almost experience the feeling of disgust that they had to be feeling when they saw his bloated body. Yuck. Even a corpse that been in water for long looked better. Nick schrunced his nose in disgust.

With that in mind he decided that he had to do something about his looks. Lettuce and water didn´t seem so bad at that point. What also had him worried was that the girls that seemed to be hard core fans could go out on the net and reveal how bad he looked, even with pics. And if the press got a hold of one of those pictures he would be in deep shit. From the management.

Nick took a large gulp of the coca cola and the coughed violently. Then he lay down, still panting and dizzy on the bed and closed his eyes, needing his rest.

He dozed on and off. Being in the middle of conscienceness and unconscienceness. Alternating between hot and cold. Salty and dry mouth. Chills and sweat. Everything that came with a high fever.

As if that hadn´t been bad the rash was back. It was an red itching rash that he had on and off for almost a year. Nick blamed it on stress. AJ on too little sex.

Looking at the digital figures on the clock he saw that it was 2:15 pm. The time seemed to drag on. 'Why didn´t the boys leave a message? When are they coming home?' Nick thought sulking.

He hated to be sick, especially when there were no one to take care of him. Nick had done his share on that part. Being sick. And there were nothing that sucked more. He had spent endless of days in hotel rooms with fever. Been sick in the bunk bed on the bus. Sick at concerts. At studio recordings. Litterally. The boys had been there. But it hadn´t been the same as having a mom.

Mom. Nick missed his family. Recently they weren´t on great speaking terms with each other and as soon as Nick got home from this tour he was going to sort it out with them. Feeling ignored when there was trouble at home.

Nick sighed. He was bored. Even if he was too sick to move he still felt restless. Being a guy that was always on the go it was hard laying there, doing nothing. His head and eyes hurt to much too watch tv, beside it was all in Japanese anyways.

Japanese, why didn´t they have it on another language, like English?

'Duh,' Nick thought a bit delerious, ' Because we are in Japan,' He smiled.

Looking at the floor he saw the almost unpacked X-box that the boys got yesterday. Nick being the worst video game freak hadn´t even unwrapped the box.

That unwrapped video game box if anything was enough for the warning clock to ring.

Nick had tried to deny it all, but she had interrupted him, continued on with her scolding. So he shut up after a while. His mother always wanted and got the last word. This was no different from all other times. As to put more salt in the wound she also brought up the subject that Nick hated the most... his weight!

"Mom listen..no,I said that I´m not doing any drugs. LISTEN..No..no girls..Mom.. I´m si...not feeling too.. yes I will.. I will try to eat less food..yes..no I don´t..MOM!"

The conversation went on. Jane talking and Nick studdering, trying to tell her that he wasn´t up to talking at all.

The headache was back in full force and he was also starting to feel sick to his stomach, not having eaten anything since those last candy bars yesterday. His somach rumbled and bile rose.

"Look mom.. I´ve´gott.. I´ve gotta go," he mumbled trying to force the nausea down. Feeling panic he moved closer to the trashcan, just in case he couldn´t control himself.

Jane was still screaming at him much too upset to even listen to what her son was trying to tell her. "Mom....listen, I can´t talk any longer," Nick blurted out feeling like he couldn´t hold on anymore. He started to gag and hung up abruptly so that his mother didn´t hear him getting sick. With that he leaned over the trash can, dry heaving since he had nothing but coke to bring up. It hurt so much that he wanted to cry out from pain. "Shit!" When was this torture going to stop?

As he spat in the trash can, having nothing more to bring up, he leaned back, weakly. The sickness as much as the telephone call with his mother had taken all his energy and he was trembling from sheer exhaustion.

'Is mumps suppose to be this bad?', his last thought was before slipping off to another restless sleep.

There were no other words to describe the feeling that Nick felt. He had been sleeping on and off the whole day and was fed up with feeling like shit.

Patience had never been his strong side and he had a hard time sitting still, not doing anything. He had always something on his mind and was occupied with doing something. Even if it was scribbling on a note or bouncing with his leg up and down.

Recently, however, there had been a feeling of exhaustion washed over him. He blamed it on being toured out and on his health that had been playing tricks with him.

First a cold and then the mumps.

Nick sighed. The clock on the bedtable read 5:35 pm and there were still no sign of the guys. Not even a telephone call. The phone had been so quiet during this trip that Nick had started to wonder if his friends had forgotten him.

Generally he was a person that lived with the mobile, but lately his friends had been rather invisible. Not that he had the energy to go out partying so much anyway due to the poor health that he had beenexperiencing the last week. Nick groaned. Life really sucked.

He had actually begged off some partys recently and the alleged drug rumor couldn´t be more off. Okay, he had never been a saint, never claiming to be the perfect boy either, but there was no truth in that he was using drugs. He only smoked some pot when he was feeling upset about something. It calmed his nerves. As if things hadn´t been bad enough his mother had called too. And she was so upset and angry that he thought that she would break his eardrums with the screaming. Hadn´t there been enough with testing on their relationship?

His mother had always tried to control him, and even if he was twenty one years old and considered an adult she still held him in a tight grip. Nick had never lived a real family life and he had missed his family so much during his touring, especially when he was younger. It was more than one night that he had cried himself to sleep, being homesick. Yet when he came home there had never been the warmth in his family. They had always been too busy with the younger children. Nick felt like an outsider. He was the big famous brother that his mother was proud of in front of others, but that wasn´t enough when he was alone with her. She had always an opinion on how he looked, what he did and what he said. It was never good enough for her.

Deep inside he knew that she cared for him. She just had a strange way in showing it to him. To the press and to the management he was always her loving son and she bragged about him. Offstage he was a pain in the butt that couldn´t do anything right.

When the family had moved to Los Angeles to be near the action, Nick had felt left out. He wanted to stay in Tampa where he had all his friends and he wanted to live near the ocean. Then he had bought a house in Los Angeles, just to be close to them. But he had never liked it there. It was way too lonely and whenever he came home during his breaks they had never any time ever for him. Nick was all alone.

His little brother Aaron was enjoying success and Nick cared so much about him. They had always been inseperable. What had Nick upset was that he noticed that his mother and father was trying to control Aaron's life as well. When he had went on tour with Aaron this summer he had taken up this with his family. They had gone mad at him, telling him to mind his own business and not to be jealous on his own brother for being so much more good looking, young and slim. She also told him that Aaron was everything that Nick could never be!

At first Nick had gone quiet, the words had hurt too much to deal with, then he had taken Aaron's side. The reason for Nick's action was that his mother and father and the manager didn´t see how worn out Aaron was. He had been so tired after an show, batteling a bug as well and he had been told to go to the meet and greet. Aaron had cried, wanting to beg it off since it was late and he was dead on his feet.

Nick´s temper had flared and he had told his parents how they used his little brother and then he had left in an cloud of emotions. That night Nick had drowned his sorrows in a bottle of Jack Daniels.

There had been lots of fights over the years. As soon as he went home there had been a fight and this was the main reason why Nick sold the house in LA. He hated the way she made him feel. He felt like a small child, starting to stutter. She controlled him as well as his assests. It wasn´t until he had turned legal age he was allowed to take care of his own money and this had Jane very upset. She claimed that alot of his fortune was beacuse of her and she wanted him to give her and the family the half of his money.

To tell the truth he had nothing against giving away half of his money, it had been the way that his mother had acted and Nick had responded with being obnoxious. He had told her that he was sick of being controlled. She had told him that he was a big failure and that he was never ever going to be anything but a BIG fake. Nick had left the house, being very upset. This had resulted that he hadn´t spoken to his family for 3 months and his lawyer had done all his talking.

They would have still been in a fight if not Aaron hadn´t called him. Saying that he longed for him and begging Nick to come back. All the time the Carter family had acted like there was nothing wrong. Nick had gone back, but deep in his heart he knew that his mom would never accept him for the person that he was. And he was right.

Not long after he started coming back to the family, Jane had started to complain about his weight and that he started to look like a bum. She was constantly picking at his eating habits and he started to eat even more to bug her out.

That was Nick, doing the other way around just to make a statement. Just like he had done the other day at the tv-show. And always he was the one that got caught in the middle and the one that took the hit.

Fuck. The more Nick thought about it, the more his life sucked.

After tossing and turning for awhile, trying to find a comfortable spot, he decided that he had to do something or else he would go crazy. Picking up his laptop, he went online.

He checked on some music pages before he typed the url to the backstreet sites. Sometimes he stalked the pages, checking out what the fans thought about them and reading reviews. Sometimes he also went to their own homepage and checked out the message board. Then there were times when he was on the chat too. This was a time like this.

Usually he never told them who he was. It was much more fun to read what the fans thought about the guys without him revealing his own identity. Besides when he told them who he was they rarely believed him anyway. This time however he was lurking for a while, checking out their topics. They were discussing him and Nick watched curiously.

The fans were ranting about his alleged drug abuse and he frowned when some of them actually thought that he was doing hard stuff like cocaine. They had discussed it for a while when they came on to another topic: His weight.

The more Nick read on, the more he felt bad. Several of the fans thought that he looked fat. Especially on the Japan tour. He couldn´t write them and tell them that he had the mumps. Way too embarrassing, besides they wouldn´t believe him. After lurking for awhile he decided to reaveal his own identity. He got the courage up when one of the fans told that she tought that Nick could go and fuck his dog because she evidentally thought he was way too ugly.

"That's not a nice way of talking about someone," Nick typed and immediately got a response that he basically should mind his own business.

As always there were fans not believing who he was. Several of fans ignored him and continued to discuss his weight as well as the size of his cock. This had Nick stressed out. Not only had his headache start to flare up, but watching their so called fans discussing his body parts in a very graphic way had him in for a fit.

" I don´t like it when you are discussing such private matters," he wrote angrily, still trying to be polite.

No action was taken and they continue the topic as well as bashing Nick out. Then it the end Nick got so mad that he wrote " Fuck off" and then he turned off the computer.

Everybody was against him. Angry he threw a pillow against the door. He hated the whole world. Wanted all to get off his case and stop treating him like some fucking sex object.

It sucked being Nick Carter!

He, Howie, Brian and Leighanne had been on sightseeing in Tokyo the whole day. There was lots of attractions to see and they had visited pagods and got to see a real Japanese wedding.

The sightseeing trip had taken much longer than they expected and Kevin felt bad for leaving Nick alone in the state that he was in. The others had gone to the amusement park, but Kevin had declined, instead going back to the hotel, claiming that he needed a nap. The real reason was that he had a bad feeling about Nick.

Brian had voluntered to go back, but Kevin thought that he and Leighanne needed some time alone and instead Kevin went back. To relieve his guilty coincidence, he told himself that AJ and Sarah would be at the hotel and that they had probably looked after Nick so that he didn´t have to be alone.

His thoughts were interrupted by the reception clerk in a navy blue suit handing him a small message. With a short thank you, Kevin eyed the message and a smile crept up on his tired features. It was from Kristen. He would call her as soon as he got back, missing her so much.

"Mr Richardson!" Kevin turned around as his name was called out to be met with Doctor Yang from the other night. He was walking towards him, waving with an envelope in his hand.

" Dr Yang," Kevin greeted the elderly doctor.

"It's good, Mr Richardson, that I got an hold of you. I was just going to put this in Mr. Carter's mail box, but now you can bring it up to him personally." He handed the envelope to a suprised Kevin. "It´s a prescription and you just have to take this down to a pharmacy," he explained.

Kevin nodded. " I was just going up to see him."

"Good. How is he doing?"

" He had a high fever last night, but was alseep when we left him. I have been out all day looking at your beautiful city."

Dr. Yang didn´t look too pleased. He frowned." Very well Mr. Richardson I would highly suggest that you don´t leave Mr. Carter alone since his fever still may rise a bit. Fortunatly there is rarely any severe complications with this diease. However it can be rather difficult as he is an adult and his inflamation can cause him lots of discomfort."

Kevin looked at Dr. Yang with suprise. What was he talking about? "Yes. I know. I have had it too and it was pretty bad." Kevin winced as he remembered the last time he was sick with a strep infection.

"Oh, Mr. Richardson, I take it that you had it when you were a child then, am I right?" Dr. Yang peered through his glasses.

"As a child?. No I had it this summer." Kevin frowned. "Strep throat can be pretty bad. Nick had it several times, but he has never been this sick before."

" Strep throat? Mr. Carter isn´t suffering from that disease." There was an hint of suprise in Dr. Yang's voice.

Kevin looked at him. "But.." he started, only to get interrupted.

" You must have been misinformed. Mr. Carter has a bad case of the mumps."

"MUMPS?"

"Yes Mr. Richardson. Didn´t Mr. Carter tell you that?" Dr. Yang set his eyes in the tall man.

Kevin covered for Nick. "Yes of course. I must be really tired."

Dr Yang didn´t look to convinced, yet he continued, "However in Mr. Carter's case I am really concerned over how the glands in his testicles has been infected. If his fever continue to rise and if he get´s any worse I want you to call me. This isn´t something to take easy upon."

Dr. Yang was a man that held hard on formal rules, however he had been very concerned over Mr. Carter and when he heard that the young singer hadn´t said anything to Mr Richardson he put the secrecy aside. The young man was pretty sick even if it was something as common as the mumps. He couldn´t shake that it was something with the picture that didn´t seem right. Kevin listened, then he nodded. Now every piece in the puzzle started to fall into place. So this was why Nick looked like a bloated chipmunk! And why he was talking about that his testicles hurting. Kevin felt bad. He had just thought that Nick was his whiny normal self.

"Mr. Richardson," Dr Yang was very formal. "If Mr. Carter's condition doesn´t improve in a week I want you to take Mr. Carter to the hospital when you come back to the states for a further check up."

Kevin agreed to do that and with that Dr. Yang said goodbye and left the reception, leaving a chocked up Kevin.

The mumps! Why hadn´t Nick told the truth? Didn´t he trust his friends that much to tell what was the matter with him? Or was he too embaressed? He stood pondering the situation when a well known voice called out his name. It was AJ and Sarah that came through the glass doors.

"Kevin!"AJ held his arms around Sarah waist. They like a honeymoon couple, definately in love. "Hey man," AJ called out and walked towards the elder band member. "Check out what a pair of cool jeans I found and the t-shirt." He held up the shopping bag towards Kevin.

Kevin was still distracted with his own thoughts. " Yeah man, that´s cool. Have you guys been over to check on Nick yet?"

AJ shook his head. "Nah we´ve been to this really cool place and Sarah found some hot shoes."

" So no one have been up to see Nick the whole day?" Kevin nearly yelled.

" Don´t know. Chill out man. It´s not like he's dying or anything." AJ looked puzzled.

"AJ, Nick´s got the mumps!" Now the cat was out of the bag.

"What???" AJ didn´t believe what he was hearing.

"Yeah. I met Dr. Yang and he told me that Nick got a bad case of the mumps and that he has an inflamation..eh..down there too." Kevins face turned red as he said the last words.

"In his BALLS?" AJ shouted the words out, the guests in the lobby turned their heads around. Interested. Fate was at their side as no press seemed to be around. The fans wasn´t allowed inside the hotel lobby either.

"Shhh," Kevin held up an finger. "You don´t have to tell the whole world. This is bad enough as it is." Kevin never liked drawing much attention to the band. Certainly not something like this. It was bad about the alleged drug rumors and adding that Nick had an inflamation in his testicles, even if it was something as simple as the mumps, was not good publicity. The press could easily turn it into that Nick had some sexually transmitted diease. And that was the last thing they needed.

"That might explain his high fever," Sarah butted in. " umps in adults can be.."

She was interrupted from Kevin sighing, " Yeah I know..it can be very serious."

AJ thought for a moment, then he grinned. "But how can Nick manage to catch a childrens disease? Wonder what Bruce and the rest of the crew says about this."

"Don´t," Kevin warned his friend. "Nick doesn´t know that we found out his secret..and he would be so pissed if he found out. We better not say anything."

Sarah agreed, but AJ sighed. Heavily. "Too bad, there could have been some fun jokes!"

"He feels bad as it is and don´t need us making fun of him too," Kevin said in a mature way. Even if he felt like chewing the sick boy out. Nick had a way of hiding things for the rest of the boys, especially when there could be something serious.

Maybe it came from when he was young and was sick on tour. Nick always wanted to act stronger then he was. In all situations.

"Ok, we better go up and see how the Chipmunk is doing then." AJ smiled, then he walked towards the elevators. Sarah followed him.

Kevin sighed. It would be hard playing this game. Especially since AJ had gotten wind of it.

Sulking, he rolled to his side. His head had started to ache again, even tough he had downed about four pills. He had even called room service for some crackers and some tea, thinking that some food into the system might make him feel better.

Wrong.

As soon as he had tasted the crackers he felt like puking again. Yet he had forced it down, remembering his mother's words when he was little. Food is the cure for everything. What a bunch of crap. Food was no cure for loneliness.

Nick's thoughts were taken away when he heard there was someone at the door. Finally.

Sulking, he turned the other direction so that he was facing the wall. He was going to make them feel really gulity for leaving him when he was feeling this bad.

There was a short knock on the door. A voice outside mumbled something about that he was probably asleep. It was Kevin. Not Brian. Nick felt an hint of disappointment. Had his best friend left him completly since Leighanne came into the picture?

The door opened and Kevin and AJ walked inside. Nick pretended that he didn´t seen them and closed his eyes.

" I think he is alseep," Kevin was whispering as he made his way over to Nick. Touching the blonde's forehead Nick had a hard time not jerking away. He didn´t want anyone caring for him.

"He is hot as ever," AJ nodded. "Think it's high?" he referred to Nick's temperature.

Nick wanted to shout, 'Why do you care?', yet he was quiet. Didn´t want to act like a baby. He had enough of those fits when he was younger.

"Let´s see" Kevin picked up the thermometer on the bedstand, putting it under Nick's arm. This had Nick's temper tested.

He jerked. "What are you doing?" Nick turned around, red in his face from both anger and fever he glared at them through glazed eyes. Everything felt so strangly fuzzy and he had a hard time keeping his eyes open.

"Oh Nicky, did I wake you?" Kevin sounded remorseful. "Why do you care? You left me!" Nick spat out. His temper was in full flare. He was going to let Kevin and AJ know that if you care for someone you just don´t dump them like they are garbage.

"Nick we.." AJ started, but Nick cut him off.

"How can you leave me when I am sick? Don´t you care about me at all?"

Kevin looked down in the floor. Nick was right.. They had really acted bad. No one had paid enough attention to their youngest band member, even if he was sick as a dog. They had thought that Nick could cope with it. He always did and no one had a second thought that he felt all alone.

"Am I too fat and ugly for you to care?" Nick was working up his temper. He was so mad that he was shaking. Tears were glistering in his eyes and he was in no mood for comforting.

"Nick, come on," AJ tried to get Nick to calm down with thouching his arm, yet it was no use.

"Get off me or I call security," Nick was acting all delerious. Kevin tried to reason with him, telling him that he was too sick to know what he was talking about.

"So now you are saying that I am insane too!!! Is that what you want? To put me in a mental ward? After all I am a drug addict," Nick sat up in bed and he spat out the words. Kevin and AJ backed away. "Wouldn´t it just be a great way to put Crazy Nick away? For good!!"

They had never seen Nick being so upset!

"LEAVE!!!" he shouted and thew his pillow against the door.

"Okay man, we are living. Calm down," AJ wanted out of this room. He wasn´t used with dealing with emotions like this. It was generally Brian or Howie's table.

Kevin on the other hand felt really bad. Nick was so sick, yet he didn´t want to let anyone near him. What had the doctor said? That he suspected that Nick might get even worse. That it wasn´t the culprit?

Nick was sweating up tons and his eyes had an wild fevered glaze that Kevin didn´t like one bit. AJ dragged him in his arm. " ome on, let´s leave," AJ gestured towards the door. Kevin nodded.

"Okay Nick, we are out of your hair. But if you need us just call."

"GET OUT!!!!!!" Nick was starting to stand so that he could push out his "brothers" through the door.

Kevin held up his hand then he said , "Okay" and off he went.

As soon as AJ and Kevin had left the room, Nick burst into tears, from exhaustion, sickness and loneliness. He didn´t really want them to go, didn´t they understand that? He had every right to be disappointed. And they had left him. Again..

He lay down, crawling into a ball. He cried so much that the pillow was all soaked from his tears, His fans should see him. What a misery. Everything was starting going down hill and years of bottled up feelings were starting to seep out.

He cried for a long time. Cried for his miserable life, for the guys not wantng him, for his faltering health as well for his downhill relationship with everybody.

Nick Carter was one miserable man.

"Oh Honey I am so exhausted," Leighanne sank down on the bed.

"Me too," Brian grinned and kissed his wife. "Love this was the best day we had in a long time," Leighanne giggled.

"I wanna have you." Brian ran up his hand under her blouse, touching the bra. Leighanne moaned.

They kissed passionatly when they were interrupted by the phone.

"Leave it," Brian mumbled in Leighanne's ear as she was reaching for the phone.

"Bri, it can be something important."

"Nothing is more important than you," Brian put the reciver off, not wanting to be disturbed. Leighanne started to interject but was silenced down by Brian giving her another kiss.

"I wanna make love to you," Brian mumbled, "you're my everything." He started to unbutton her blouse, still not taking away his hand from her soft breasts.

Then there was a knock on the door.

Brian felt irritated, didn´t who ever was out there understand that he was busy?

"Honey, you better open the door." Leighanne mumbled in his ear. Brian shook his head. "No you are more important than whoever is out there."

"Brian, it can be Nick."

"Then screw him, it is you I wanna have," Brian murmured, not thinking about what he really said. Leighanne smiled when she felt his hand travelling down her stomach.

Another loud knock.

"We're busy," Brian shouted back. He wanted Leighanne so much that he had trouble controlling himself. It ached in every part of his body and all he wanted to do was to make love to her, long into the hours.

"BRIAN!" Kevin called from the hallway.

Brian sighed, what did his cousin want now? He went off the bed, buttoning up his shirt a bit he opened the door. Kevin looked really upset.

"What is it?" Brian ran a hand through his hair.

"It´s Nick." Kevin was red in his face and he talked fast. Very unsual for being Kevin.

"Nick, what about him?" Brian knew instantly that something had happend.

"He is very sick!"

Brian frowned. Leighanne had come to join her husband. "What is it Honey?"

"Nick is sick," Kevin started to tell them what had happend earlier and Brians heart started to beat even faster. He had to get to his friend, fast.

Something was very wrong!