Chapter 70:

 

Team Effort

AJ watched with concern as Kevin glumly sat down next to him, the tall singer rubbing his forehead tiredly. He gladly accepted the offered drink from their flight attendant, downing it in one gulp, then reached out to snag AJ's rum and coke.

"That bad, huh?" asked AJ sympathetically.

Kevin shrugged. "I suppose it could have been worse, but I'm not sure how," he admitted. "Kristin wasn't too happy with me when I told her I'm wasn't coming home, especially when I said I couldn't tell her why."

AJ sighed. He figured as much. All four had individually called their families to tell them they weren't coming home and each had received pretty much the same friction as Kevin.

"Well, tough shit," spat out Nick, who was now sitting next to Kevin. "She'll live. Brian might not."

Kevin glanced at him, pissed. "I know that! I'm just telling you what happened…" he began, then stopped, his irritation fading away as he observed Nick. As hard as AJ's startling news was to everyone, it seemed to hit Nick the hardest. Kevin could see the worried lines etched in his young face, the anxious and troubled look that had settled into his posture and eyes. If they were going to be of any help to Brian, Kevin knew that he and the rest of the guys would have to work together as a team.

"Nick, I'm sorry. This whole thing with Brian is just so…hard for me to handle. I feel like I'm in a bad dream, ya know?"

Nick sighed, rubbing his hands dejectedly through his hair. "Yeah, me too. God, Kevin, I just can't stop thinking about the all stuff I did to Brian!" Nick's voice started to tremble, recalling the unpleasant incidents. "All those horrible things I said to him… " his voice faded away, too emotional to continue.

Howie grabbed Nick's arm to get his attention. "Nick! We all did it. We all gave him grief. You're not the only one, remember? I have to live with what I did to Brian just as much as you, AJ, and Kevin do!"

Nick sighed, letting out a harsh breath of acceptance. "Yeah, but…"

"No buts!" argued Howie. "We've got to make the best of it and move on, try to forget it, because right now Brian needs our help, not our sympathy!"

AJ nodded at Howie and reached over to lay a reassuring hand on Nick's shoulder. "Nick. This is tearing me up inside too, more than you'll ever know. But I want to help Brian and we," he gestured to Howie and Kevin, " need your help or we're not gonna make it."

AJ saw the weary but calm acceptance in Nick's eyes. "You're right. Sorry, guys."

Kevin sighed and gave Nick a reassuring smile. Nick smiled tentatively back.

"Okay. What should we do first? Where should we go? Who do we talk to?"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down!" said AJ. He looked at Howie and Kevin, who were smiling slightly at Nick's eagerness. "Well?" AJ questioned his friends. "Any ideas?"

"I suppose we could start at Backstreet Management. Check up on Xavier's records. See what we can find," Howie offered.

Kevin nodded. "Good idea." He leaned back into his seat, frowning. "Management is in downtown Orlando, isn't it?"

Nick shrugged, looking at the others. "Beats me. I've never been there."

"Me neither," admitted Kevin. "But I guess it's as good a place to start as any." Kevin turned to AJ. "Looks like we all are gonna be bunking at your house, okay Bone?"

"Sure, no problem. Sorta like old times, huh?" All four thought back to when they had housed together.

"But without Brian," spoke Nick gloomily.

"Nick!" threatened Kevin, Howie, and AJ simultaneously, giving him a warning look.

"Yeah, yeah, okay," replied Nick defensively. "I'm sorry, but I just can't help thinking about Brian."

Howie, AJ, and Kevin nodded. It consumed their thought too, only they weren't as verbal as Nick.

Nick shifted agitatedly in his seat, unable to remain silent, his distress still eating away at him. "I mean, what is he doing now? Where is he? Is he okay?"

AJ heard the soft dings on the intercom indicating the pilot's warning that they were about to land. AJ motioned to the others to buckle in, filled with determination as he looked into his friend's troubled blue eyes.

"That's what we're gonna find out, Nick."

***

 

 

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