Chapter Two-Hundred-Sixty
Sometime in the middle of the night when mostly everyone was asleep except for Nick, AJ, and Kevin they felt the tour bus come to a stop. Raising their eyebrows in curiosity, all three boys glanced out the window to see that they were in a Mc Donalds parking lot. The bus driver then walked into the room and they all looked at him.
“Bathroom break Jake?” Kevin asked curiously.
“No, Lou called me and asked me to stop. He was ahead of the bus but I think he is having car troubles.”
“Oh lovely,” AJ sighed and the three of them all got up from their places and followed Jake off the bus where they found Lou opening up the front hood of the car and taking a look – a rather frustrated look on his face.
“What’s the problem Lou?” Kevin asked patiently, but then looked around the car and his question was answered for him. It is leaking green stuff all over the place.
“I was driving down the road and all of the sudden it just started acting up. It was like it had a mind of it’s own. It started speeding up on me and I couldn’t get it to stop – I thought I was going to crash...or that it was going to blow up or something. When it finally stopped I pulled it into this parking lot and called you.” AJ snorted.
“Next thing he’s going to tell us is that he owns Herbie’s cousin or something.” Lou gave him a dark look and Kevin rolled his eyes and swiftly stepped in front of AJ.
“Get back on the bus J if you’re out here just to pick a fight. You aren’t helping the situation.”
“Did you call somebody to come look at it Lou?” Nick questioned, as he stood close to AJ’s side, as he usually does when Lou is around.
“Yes I did and they will be here in ten minutes.”
“Okay…well we’ll wait until they get here but we don’t have all night to wait on your car to get fixed. I think you need to make a decision. Either check into a motel, or get on the bus with us and come back for your car later when it’s fixed” Kevin explained. AJ groaned and bit his tongue in order to keep himself from making a comment and he turned around and walked away, raking his fingers through his hair in irritation. He was rather enjoying the Lou-free bus. He knows Lou’s answer already; he doesn’t even have to wait to hear it. He won’t miss the Kissmas Bash for his old car. Then he wouldn’t have anything to complain about and god forbid that, that should happen.
“I’ll get on the bus with you,” Lou replied, and AJ rolled his eyes and stalked off toward the bus and Kevin shook his head at his little brother’s childish behavior and then looked at Nick and Jake.
“Okay this would be a good time to get something to eat and some fresh air while we’re here,” he announced. They waited ten minutes for the car dealership people and when they came, they checked the car out, gave Lou their card with the address to their auto dealership on it, and then towed the car out of the parking lot. When they were gone they all got on the bus with Lou at their side.
“You can sleep in here on the couch. We’ve got the bunks and the kids are in the back with security,” Kevin explained as they came around to the front of the couch where AJ sat next to Ashley’s legs watching TV as she lay there in Nick’s boxer shorts and her tanktop sleeping. AJ noticed Lou eyeing her legs and he gave him a dark glare before pulling her blanket up on her and Lou darted his eyes away. AJ continued to stare him down for a few moments until he knew he felt ashamed enough for even thinking what he was thinking, before getting up and gathering her in his arms cradling her and he headed for the bunk room with her – Nick at his side.
“And just a friendly warning Lou…” Kevin began after sighing and he looked at his manager. “Keep away from Ashley or you will have two fifths of the Backstreet Boys to deal with and I won’t hold them back.” He held his gaze on Lou’s eyes to make sure he knows how serious he is, and then he turned and headed for the bunkroom. When he got in there, he found Nick on his side beside Ashley in his bunk as she still slept and AJ sitting up at their feet leaning up against the wall.
“Are you going to sleep at all tonight, J? You’re in the wrong bed,” he commented, as he crawled up into his own bunk.
“Someone has to stand guard.”
“He’s not going to do anything, Aje. He’s perverted, not stupid.”
“I would rather lose sleep then test your opinion.” Kevin continued to stare at AJ incredulously.
“I’ll take a nap during the day Kev, but I am not leaving their side. Nick will not sleep either if I’m not here. He usually crawls into bed with Brian when Lou is around, but seeing as how that spot is taken he needs me.”
“I’m counting on that nap during the day. You need to be awake for the Kissmas Bash.”
“You’re the one who gets pissy when he doesn’t get his beauty sleep. So, why don’t you go to sleep instead of lecturing me?” Kevin rolled his eyes and he lay down staring up at the ceiling. AJ looked at Nick who was lying beside Ashley with his arms wrapped around her waist, his chin rested against her shoulder as her back was to him, and he was half asleep. Bella lay in her crib, which was set up against the wall next to the bunks behind their heads. AJ crawled over and lay on the other side of Ashley and he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the door, daring Lou to try anything.
“Ashley asked me why you’ve been so helpful lately,” Nick commented softly after awhile when he thought Kevin was sleeping.
“Yeah? What’d you tell her?” AJ asked curiously.
“I just told her I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you just tell her the truth? She of all people would understand.” Nick shrugged.
“Because I’m supposed to be the brave one…and she’s scared of Lou enough as is without knowing that he’s molested a bunch of child celebrities.”
“I think it would help her open up to you even more if she knew you really understood and have been there.”
“I think it would just make me a hypocrite.”
“No…what would make you a hypocrite, is you telling her she needs to be open and honest with you, when you’re scared to admit your own past demons yourself.”
“I really don’t think she needs to know. Why make her even more terrified then she already is?”
“I don’t know. I just would prefer if you were honest with my sister – it upsets her when you aren’t.”
“Well, sometimes it’s necessary not to be when you want to protect the one you love more then anything.”
“True…”
“I just don’t know why we still put up with him…he threatened to ruin us when we were younger, but he can’t now. We’re all adults, he technically doesn’t control us anymore.”
“Well, I’m just waiting until he fucks up again,” AJ replied. “I would love to put him in jail for what he did to you, but it’s been over five years. He has to fuck up again so I have a reason to put him away for good.”
“And then Denise will take over,” Nick replied softly.
“Hopefully,” AJ replied. “I still have to run that by her of course.”
“She’ll do it, she’s very supportive.”
“Mhm. Then you won’t have to crawl into bed with Brian anymore like you’ve been doing since you were thirteen.”
“Oh I’m sure I’ll still find a way when Riley isn’t there,” Nick replied while grinning a little. “He’s my Frick after all.”
“Yes, well, you’re twenty years old now Nick, it’s no longer cute.”
“Sure it is,” Nick insisted, grinning widely. “That’s how Brian and I get all of our fans. They dig the whole Frick n’ Frack thing.” AJ rolled his eyes somewhat.
“You two are crazy together. If I didn’t know better, I would question your sexuality sometimes.”
“You’re just jealous.” AJ scoffed.
“I have no reason to be jealous.” Nick smirked.
“Oh that’s right I forgot…you already have Howie for your gay lover, you’ve got it covered.” AJ rolled his eyes.
“Why am I here in this bed with you Nick?”
“Because you love your sister and don’t want her to get molested by Lou.”
“And because I’m protecting your sorry ass. So lay off the gay comments, eh? Especially when I’m doing you a favor.”
“I’m sorry man, but you totally set yourself up for that one.” AJ rolled his eyes.
“Shut up and go to sleep Nick, before I go get in my own bed and leave you to fend for yourself.”
“You won’t do that. You love me too much,” Nick replied confidently.
“Go to sleep Nick,” AJ replied, not denying the fact that Nick had made. Nick smiled some, glad that AJ hadn’t denied it, and he hugged Ashley close to him, buried her face in her shoulder and was soon asleep. AJ continued to lie there staring at the door. He stared at the door until the crack of dawn, and then rolled over, slid his arms around both Nick and Ashley, and was asleep within minutes.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Hours later, Ashley opened her eyes and was surprised to see both Nick and AJ in bed with her. She lay there amused for a few moments, and then gently grabbed Nick’s wrist as his arms were still wrapped protectively around her and she looked at his watch to see that it was six in the morning. She lay there quietly for a long while wishing they would either wake up, or some how move so that she could go get herself a Dr Pepper because she is thirsty. After a long while she became impatient and gently pried herself from both of their arms being careful not to wake them up. When she was free of the two of them, she crawled out of bed and headed for the door, yawning and rubbing her eyes sleepily. When she reached the door, she opened it and walked into the other room and headed for the refrigerator, not once noticing the new addition to their bus lying on the couch half asleep, but he noticed her. When she got there, she opened it up and pulled out a cold can of Dr Pepper and she opened it up took a sip, and then got the carton of rocky road out that AJ had bought specifically for her. Not the best choice in breakfast she knows, but she’s really craving sweets at the moment. Closing the refrigerator, she got out a spoon and went over and sat in the booth, placing her feet up on the seat comfortably and she began to enjoy her ‘healthy’ breakfast. She sat there by herself for ten minutes, until suddenly Lou walked in and her eyes widened in surprise. Before she fell asleep last night, he wasn’t there. What did she miss? He went over to the refrigerator and opened it up and pulled out some milk.
“Nice breakfast,” he commented. “Very healthy.” Ashley didn’t reply, nor did she make eye contact with him. “Though, I suppose, a skinny little thing like you could eat just about anything,” he mused. He poured himself a bowl of cereal, and he leaned against the counter, just watching her.
“I bet the boys enjoy you walking around with no clothes on like that.” When she didn’t reply, he just chuckled.
“No wonder Nick keeps you around. I don’t blame him…I would too.” Ashley rolled her eyes, and she got up, walked over to the freezer and she put her now closed carton of ice cream back and she closed it again and walked out of the kitchen with her Dr Pepper. She went straight back into the bunkroom after gathering up Abbie, Lily, and Lil’ Rok and she shut the door behind her. She eyed her empty spot between Nick and AJ for a few moments, and deciding she wasn’t safe so long as they’re both asleep, she went back into the back room where she knew security would be at and fully awake. When she got in there, she found Marcus sitting in the rocking chair rocking, and Q and Laney were all sitting near him and they were talking. The rest of security was sleeping. She set the puppies down then and all three men looked at her concerned, as they could see the stress in her eyes.
“Sweetheart what’s the matter?” Marcus asked worriedly. “What’s happened?”
“I just went to go get a Dr Pepper and I found Lou out there. What is he doing on our bus?”
“His car broke down…so he had to get a ride to NYC with us,” Q explained. “I’m sorry sweetie, you were sleeping or we would have warned you.”
“Can I stay in here with you?” she asked softly, and Marcus nodded.
“Of course…that’s what we’re here for,” he told her.
“You look like you could have slept a little longer,” Q added. “Why are you up so early? That’s not like you.”
“I got thirsty.”
“Come here honey,” Marcus replied, still worried. She doesn’t seem herself. She went over to him then and she crawled into his lap as he had offered it, and he shifted her so she was sitting sideways as she curled up into a ball and she rested her head against his shoulder.
“What’s happened? What has you all upset?”
“Nothing…I just don’t like him.”
“Did he do something to you?”
“No…”
“Say something to you?” Ashley shook her head, avoiding eye contact with him and he narrowed his eyes knowing she isn’t being truthful. He is slowly developing Nick’s sixth sense when it comes to her.
“What did he say to you honey, I want to know.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I Just want to feel safe.” Marcus sighed heavily, but gave in nonetheless, and he wrapped both his arms around her protectively as he rocked with her.
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” he told her softly. “Why don’t you close your eyes and go to sleep? You still have at least an hour or two before you should start being awake.” Laney got up then, and he went and got an extra blanket and he brought it back and placed it over her and she accepted it gratefully, before snuggling into Marcus comfortably, deciding he would make a very good human teddy bear.
“Who won the bet last night?” she asked softly after a long while.
“Harry,” Marcus sighed. “Within two hours, they were all asleep – just as he predicted. At exactly three o’ clock Ellie closed her eyes causing me to lose the bet.”
“I’m surprised she lasted that long,” Ashley replied, and she couldn’t help but smile a little in amusement.
“Not me. She’s strong and willful, and when she sets her mind on something, she doesn’t let up.” Marcus sat there quietly rocking her, and after awhile when she began to feel safe in his embrace, she closed her eyes and went right back to sleep as he hoped she would. He took her Dr Pepper from her hand and placed it on the coffee table.
“Lou is lucky I’m holding her, or I would go knock him straight back to yesterday,” he commented as he sat there watching her sleep peacefully. “Anyone wanna take her while I go do so?”
“At least wait until everyone is awake. If you go out there, the yelling will start and you’ll just wake people up.”
“I wish she would’ve told me what he said.”
“Me too, but just be thankful she came to us at all. If this happened a month ago she would go curl up in a corner somewhere and cry by herself.”
“Yeah…she’s definitely come along way. I also wouldn’t have been able to get her to sit in my lap like this a month ago.” Q nodded, and Marcus sat there quietly watching her, wondering just what it was that Lou said to cause her to act the way she was acting earlier.
~*~*~*~*~
Later on that day when they arrived in NYC, they went straight to their hotel and left their bags on it while they went inside to meet with Denise. When they walked in and didn’t find her in the lobby where they had agreed to meet, AJ raised his eyebrow and picked up his cell phone and he pressed the number one button and then send before placing it to his ear. It rang a couple of times, and then Denise answered it.
“Hey Alex, where you at?”
“In the lobby, where are you at?”
“I’m in the hotel restaurant in a big booth waiting for you all.” AJ rolled his eyes.
“Thanks for telling us.”
“It was a last minute decision.”
“We’ll be right there,” AJ replied and he hung up his phone and put it in his pocket and he looked at everybody else.
“In the hotel restaurant,” he explained, and they all headed in that direction. When they got there, they went inside only to be greeted by a man that takes you to your seats.
“Hi, we’re supposed to be meeting my mom here – McLean is her last name.”
“Ah yes, you can go on ahead back it’s just right that way” he replied, pointing in the direction and AJ led the group of people to his mom’s table. When she came into view, they suddenly discovered that she is not sitting alone.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
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