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Chapter Three-Hundred-Thirty-Two



Dakota came sliding out of the room in her over-sized t-shirt (which really belongs to Nick) and socks upon hearing Sarah’s scream.


“Sarah what is it? What’s happening??”


“Go get Marcus hurry up!”


“But Sarah I want to –“


“GO! NOW!” Sarah shouted through tears and she shoved Dakota toward the door not wanting her little sister to see the horror in the bedroom.


“Sarah…” Dakota sobbed, instantly becoming scared.


“GO GET MARCUS NOW! DADDY NEEDS HELP!” Sarah cried too. With that being said, Dakota whirled around and ran toward the front door. She reached out to open it when suddenly it flew open and she jumped out of the way just on time before it hit her. There stood a frantic Marcus.


“Kota?? Whats going on why is Bella crying?” He demanded to know when he saw her there.


“I don’ts know!” Dakota wailed. “Sarah says daddy needs help!” Just then Bella stopped crying. Marcus gently pushed Dakota in the direction of Laney and then made a mad dash toward the bedroom he knows belongs to Nick and Ashley. When he got in there he discovered Sarah sitting on the floor leaning against Bella’s crib with Bella in her arms and she is rocking her. Tear streaks are running down the six year old’s cheeks and she is trying real hard to look everywhere but at Nick.


“Oh shit…” Marcus muttered when the shock wore off and the scene before him finally sunk in. He rushed to Nick’s side, knelt down and checked him for a pulse.


“LANEY! CALL AN AMBULANCE!” He shouted toward the door.


“Is daddy gonna be okay?” Sarah asked in a small scared voice.


“Sweetheart I really need you to go see Laney okay? Take Bella.”


“You didn’t answer my question.”


“Sarah please just go see Laney.”


“NO. I want to know if my daddy is gonna be okay! I wanna know where my mommy is RIGHT now!” Sarah demanded in such a firm voice that Marcus has never heard her use before.


“Sweetheart he’s not going to be okay unless you let Marcus take care of him,” AJ told her gently as he had rushed in the room and heard her command. He gently gathered her into his arms and carried her out of the room meeting Denise half way. He handed her over.


“Get them out of here, she’s terrified.”


“NO!!!!!” Sarah shrieked, suddenly going into full on tantrum mode – something she’s never done before. She flipped herself around so she was leaning over Denise’s shoulder as she held Sarah in one arm and Bella in the other. She reached out toward the bedroom as she was being carried away. “I WANT MY DADDY! I WANT MY MOMMY!!! YOU CAN’T TAKE ME AWAY FROM THEM, YOU CANT, YOU CAN’T, YOU CAN’T!!!!!” she shrieked while thrashing around the best she could with Denise holding onto her and Bella once again began to cry from all of the stress and the yelling. By now everybody had heard the bad news and was piling into the room.


“Here Denise let me help you,” Brooke immediately insisted and she rushed over to the struggling Backstreet Mom. “Sarah sweetheart come here,” She told the screaming six year old and she gently gathered her into her arms, turned her around to face her and she held her close to her protectively and walked out of the room with her while Denise immediately got to work on calming Bella. Dakota on the other hand had attached herself to Brian the very moment she saw him enter the room. He had taken her out in the hall and stood with her. She tightened her arms around him and buried her face into his neck as she watched Brooke carry her usually strong sister into a private room. If Sarah is freaking out then it must be bad. What is going on with her mommy and daddy? Just then two paramedics rushed by with a stretcher and Brian gently pressed the back of Dakota’s head so that her face would be hidden.


“Kota honey close your eyes,” He whispered. It was all he could do to keep from crying in front of her.


“Why?” Dakota wanted to know.


“Just do it okay?” He asked her gently and he rubbed his hand over her back in attempt to keep her calm. “Trust your Uncle Brian.” He watched as Dakota did as he asked her to do. “Don’t open them until I tell you to. Okay?”


“Okay…” Dakota whispered.


“How about we sing a song?” he asked, realizing that she’s just going to hear the paramedics talking as they rush Nick by anyway.


“Now?”


“Yeah why not?”


“What would we sing?” Brian thought about that question for a moment, and then while walking down the hall with her toward the vending machine he began to sing to her.


“Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb…Mary had a little lamb and his fleece was white as snow…sing with me Kota” he told her. “But keep your eyes closed.”


“And everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went, everywhere that Mary went
the lamb was sure to go…” Dakota sang a long. Brian watched as the paramedics began to carry his best friend out of the room and head for the stairs and he began to sing in Dakota’s ear.


“It followed her to school one day school one day, school one day it followed her to school one day which was against the rules.”


“It made the children laugh and play, Laugh and play, laugh and play, It made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school” Dakota continued on, her eyes still shut tight. They went through the whole song like that, only finishing when the paramedics had Nick all the way down the stairs. AJ came out of the room, his eyes full of tears.


“I saw Kev go down with them…is he going?” Brian wanted to know.


“Of course,” AJ nodded. “I am too. Do you want to go too? Since…you know, he’s your best friend?”


“No,” Brian shook his head. “I’m doing what Nick asked me to do right now,” Brian replied giving AJ a look as he hugged Dakota close to him and kissed the top of her head.


“Okay,” AJ replied completely understanding. He was there when Nick had told Brian that if anything should ever happen to him or Ashley he is the first one he wants incharge of his kids and if anything should happen to Brian AJ is next in line. “Brookie has Sarah in our room and from the sounds of it I think she finally has her under control. Denise is in Nick’s room with Bella and she is on the phone with Detective Stabler, while Howie is on the phone with the NYPD. I have to go, Kevin is by himself” AJ explained. He gave Brian a brief hug, Dakota a kiss on the cheek and he turned and ran toward the stairs.


“Brian?” Dakota whispered after a few moments.


“Yeah baby?”


“Whats wrong with my daddy?”


“He has a big bump on the head honey…the doctors are going to take very good care of him though.”


“An’ Ashee is gone?” She asked softly as a single tear rolled down her cheek. “Sean gets her?” Instead of answering that question Brian gently placed his hand at the back of Dakota’s head and carefully laid it down on his shoulder. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and carried her into Brooke and AJ’s room. “Are they gonna find my Ashee?” Dakota whispered, taking Brian’s silence and tears as her answer to her last question.


“Detective Stabler and the NYPD are going to try very hard,” Brian replied, deciding that was a safe promise to make. Brian looked over at Sarah who was lying on her stomach on the floor watching The Little Mermaid. He looked at Brooke with a raised eyebrow.


“That’s where she was throwing her tantrum. When she calmed down I offered to help her get in bed but she insists on staying right there.”


“Is she okay?” Brian asked quietly and Brooke shrugged.


“She won’t talk to me. I just hope seeing what happened in the room doesn’t make her relapse into not talking again.” Dakota slid down from Brian’s arms suddenly and she went over and lay on top of her sister’s back lightly before popping her thumb in her mouth and watching The Little Mermaid with her. Sarah lay there quietly, not having a care in the world of her sister’s lounging choice.


“Do you mind watching them a little while longer? I’m gonna go move Bella’s crib and Dakota and Sarah’s blankets into my room. Nick asked me to be the one incharge of them in the event of an emergency.”


“Not at all,” Brooke replied while gently squeezing Brian’s shoulder. Brian turned and walked out of the room while rubbing at his eyes. He won’t allow himself to fall apart in front of the girls. Not even a little bit.


~*~*~*~*~*~



Meanwhile after driving for a good hour, Trevor pulled into a gas station.


“Are you crazy? Why are you stopping?” Sean wanted to know incredulously. “We need to get out of this state fast!”


“Yeah and we need gas to do that Sean, don’t we?” Sean looked over at the gas tank and grumbled as he realized that it was almost empty.


“Fine. Hurry up.” Trevor rolled his eyes and reached his hand into the back toward Max.


“Give me your card.” Max handed it over and Trevor got out of the car after pulling his hood up over his head and he started to fill up the car when Sean spoke up.


“Wait – Trev come here.”


“What?” Trevor wanted to know, leaning in the front seat to look at his lover.


“You can’t use that. What if it leaves a trail?”


“They don’t know Max.”


“But how can you be so sure?”


“Cause…he’s never been caught.”


“But what if Dakota remembered him and described him to that Detective?” Trevor grumbled as he realized his usually reckless lover could be right for once.


“Fine. We’ll steal it then,” Trevor whispered.


“Fine by me.”


“I have to use the restroom though,” Max finally pointed out.


“Then hurry up and go,” Sean ordered, trying real hard not to get annoyed with him and start an argument with him again. He just got Trevor to calm down after their last argument.


“I actually have to go too,” Trevor pointed out, giving Sean a ‘don’t kill me’ look. Sean sighed in exasperation.


“We can’t be here all night you know!”


“We won’t be. You get the gas and Max and I will run in and use the restroom.”


“Fine,” Sean grumbled while getting out and pulling his hood over his head.


“But handcuff her to the seat before you go anywhere,” he whispered, pointing to Max with narrowed eyes. Max turned and looked at Ashley as if he just remembered her. They had bound and gagged her, so except for when she woke up and realized where she was and freaked out, they haven’t heard a peep out of her. She’s just been sitting there, slouched down some so no one will see her and tears are rolling down her cheeks. Sean went around to take over with the gas while Trevor went into the gas station. Max handcuffed Ashley to the little handle above the window and then he got out of the car and followed Trevor’s lead. Soon after Sean finished filling up the tank he looked toward the gas station where Trevor and Max had disappeared to five minutes ago and hadn’t come back.


“Where the hell are they?” he scowled. “How long does it take to piss and go?” He waited a few more minutes, and when they didn’t come back he sighed.


“Well, I’m hungry” he announced bitterly. He looked in the car at Ashley who was sitting there looking at everything but him. He thought for a couple of moments, and then he went around to Max’s side and got in before shutting the door.


“Hello,” he told her, while grabbing at her chin and rubbing his finger over it sensually. “Miss me sweetheart?” Ashley looked away from him stubbornly and he smacked her cheek – not hard enough to make a mark, but enough to get her to pay attention. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.” She did as she was told and looked at him with so much hatred as more tears slipped from her watery eyes. “You better knock that attitude off you little bitch because you are in more trouble then it’s worth.” When she continued to glare at him he continued on. “Now, here is what we’re going to do. You are going to get dressed in these clothes,” he told her while holding up a pair of clothes she hasn’t seen in a very long time. Clothes that she used to wear when she lived with Sean. Clothes that he made her wear. A short red dress with spaghetti straps and black heels. “And then you are going to knock this attitude and crying shit off and you’re going to accompany me in the gas station.” He added. “You’re going to be a good little girl and do everything you are told, and you are not going to make a scene. You’re going to pretend you like me. And you know why?” he asked while grabbing her chin once more, but harder. “Because I have your precious boyfriend in the trunk. Misbehave one little bit and I will drive this car out to the middle of nowhere, leave him in it, and blow it up. Got it?” Ashley nodded tearfully, the fear evident in her eyes. He has Nick! He not only captured her, but Nick as well. That changes everything. Poor Dakota, Sarah, and Bella…god what are they going through right now? Sean un-handcuffed her then and he handed her the dress and heels and she obediently changed into them. When she finished he got out of the car and held the door open for her. She slid over and got out and he linked her arm with hers and reached up and wiped her tears away, before leading her into the gas station. As soon as they got in there he led her around the place casually as if they were a couple while he looked for snacks. As he was browsing the candy, Ashley looked around the place and spotted a teenage girl near by – a teenage girl who is not only about seventeen, but she is also a Backstreet Boys fan. She knows this, because she saw, and spoke to her at the party earlier that evening. She was a good fan – a fan that liked her. Hopefully enough to help her. Hopefully enough to do the fan thing and spread the word around that she was seen with Sean. And then once that happens, every single fan around the world will be keeping watch. And maybe if she some how gets the fan to realize that he has Nick too, that will motivate her even more to help her. But how does she do this without Sean seeing? She cant make one mistake in front of Sean. Nick’s life depends on it. She won’t let Sean murder the love of her life. Her soulmate. Suddenly Sean led her to the donuts. He stopped then and while he was getting one of those and a cup of coffee, she was standing slightly behind him. He isn’t watching her. She glanced over at the fellow fan and made eye contact hoping to god that the bond between fans will save her now. She may not have that same connection that she has with Nick with this fan, but she just has to get through to her. She has to.



~*~*~*~*~*~


“Is Nick okay, Doctor?” AJ asked the instant that the doctor came into the waiting room. He hates it that they aren’t in Ramsey with their Doctor J. Doctor Johnson wouldn’t have made them wait this long for information. But then Doctor Johnson also spoils them to no end. AJ supposes, this is how long everybody else who isn’t privileged enough to have such an amazing doctor has to wait. Why couldn’t Doctor Johnson just come on the trip with them? Then maybe they wouldn’t have to even make this hospital trip in the first place. He could’ve taken care of Nick himself. Or maybe he just needs to stop being so damn biased. Surely this doctor is just as capable of saving Nick’s life as Doctor Johnson is. He better be anyway.


“Are you two family?”


“We’re his brothers,” AJ answered in a somewhat snappy tone. Kevin reached over and gently placed a hand on his younger brother’s arm in reminder to keep his cool. The Doctor looked at Kevin as if he didn’t believe AJ.


“Yes sir, we’re his brothers. Can you please tell us what’s going on with him? We’ve been waiting a very long time,” he told him as politely as he could during his emotional state.


“Well, he’s going to live” The doctor reassured causing both men to let out a deep breath that they didn’t know they were holding. “He has a severe concussion right now though and has to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of days for close observation. He doesn’t have any memory of what happened.”


“You mean he has amnesia?” AJ asked worriedly.


“No, just about what happened to him. Why he was hit in the head – other then that, he is fine.”


“Is that common?” AJ wanted to know as Kevin wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a hug.


“Yes it’s very common in brain injuries like Nick’s. With bed rest for the next couple of days he should be fine.”


“Until he learns about what happened to his girlfriend…” Kevin muttered softly. “It probably would have been better for him to have amnesia – and not get it back until we get her back.” AJ looked down at the ground and shuffled his foot around.


“He’s already asking about her,” the doctor informed.


“Are we allowed to see him?”


“Only for a short while for tonight. If you can manage it please don’t tell him about his girlfriend just yet. I don’t know what that kind of shock would do to him.”


“That’s going to be the first thing he asks about when we walk in the room, Doctor. What do you expect us to do?” AJ asked irritably, still feeling somewhat biased about Doctor Johnson. Kevin gently rubbed his hand over AJ’s back.


“We’ll tell him that she stayed with the kids because they were really upset. We’ll tell him the truth tomorrow when we’re all together…hopefully he’ll be doing a little better too,” he told him and he looked at the doctor.


“I’ll lead you to his room” he told him gently and then began to guide the two boys’ back to their bandmate’s room.