" That is it!," Brian Littrell fumed as he came inside the hotel room. Leighanne, pale and weak from her last bout with "the stomach flu" looked up from her bed, as her husband entered the room.
" What is it honey?" she said softly, as she saw that he was red in his face. From anger. Something most have upset him grately as Brian was a person that very rarely had outburst or got mad.
" That Carter woman is completly insane!" he hissed as he went over to the closet, pulling out the suitcase.
" What? What have happend?" she asked, when she saw Brian swung the suitcase open and start throwing clothes in there. " What are you doing honey?"
" Weīre going back home. I wonīt stay another day here in this lunatic house. And I donīt care that itīs christmas eve" Brian was so angry that he was shaking and he continue to empty drawers, throwing in clothes in the suitcase.
" What are you saying?" She shook her head, in an attempt to clear her mind. " Honey, calm down, tell me what is wrong. Did something happend when you went over with Aaron?" she continued, determinded to find out what was bothering so much that he was ready to fly back home. Taking his hand she stopped his actions and she said gently, " Brian, look at me, tell me what is upsetting you."
These words had Brian sighing. Deeply. Sitting down on the bed beside her, he started to tell what had went on in the Carter bedroom and as his story went along she frowned more and more. This was no good. " So as you can see honey, itīs better that we leave this place. I can not look that woman in her eyes anymore." He let out a deep breath.
After thinking for a while, Leighanne nodded. " Yes Bri, I think itīs better that we leave. Itīs clearly that we are not wanted here anymore." With that she stood up and started to fold the clothes that her husband so carelessly had throwned in the suitcase.
" Ok," Brian was silent before he spoke up again, " I will go and tell Nick that we are leaving. I feel bad for leaving him behind. Maybe I should ask if he wants to come with us?" Thinking of his younger brother had him feel sad and worried and if he could prevent any disaster he would do it. Nick meant alot to him and he had a hard time watching as Nick was slowly draining away. Not litterarly, but mentally. It hurt to watch someone that you loved die away infront of your eyes.
" Do you think that it should be such a good idea?" Leighanne said honestly, " Nick needs to sort things out with his family and if he keeps running away from all of his problems, itīs not going to help him at all. We all have our ghosts that we have to face."
Brian nodded. His wife was right. Making Nick leave his family was the last thing that he wanted to do. Even if he deep in his heart had a feeling that Nick had been on that journey for a long time now.
" Yes baby, I just go and tell him goodbye then, and that I call him tomorrow, ok?"
" Sounds fine to me. Give him my love too. I call the airport to book a flight back home" Leighanne felt relieved. She had never liked the Carters and hadnīt been too happy when her husband had said that they were suppose to spend christmas with them. But she also knew Brians concern for Nick and would never go between their friendship. No matter what the media said. At least not volountarily.
" Yes honey," Brian couldnīt help but smile. His wife was the best that have happend to him. Ever. With that he left the room.
Standing outside Nicks door he listened closely with his ear againts the door. There were no sounds coming from the room and at once Brian feared that something might have happend. He had lately an uneasy feeling when it came to Nick. Like he was afraid that something bad would happend. He would never forgive himself if Nick harmed himself.
" Nick," he called out, knocking one more time on the door. Still no sound.
" Nick, come on. I know you're in there. Nick open up!" He kept knocking, but the blonde was either too stubborn or too sick to open the door. Thinking of the latter he felt an sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Comforting himeself he debated that Frack was probably just being his own stubborn self and that there were nothing to worry about.
" Nick, I just want you to know that me and Leigh are leaving. We thought it would be best so, under the circumstances. Besides Leigh is feeling sick and she says that she donīt want to be an nuasance for your family."
Still no sound.
" I will call you buddy later tonight, Ok?"
Silence.
Brian sighed. Fine, if Nick wanted to be that way he could do nothing about it. Now he just wanted to get out from this hotel since he felt like he would suffercate if he was here longer than nessesary. Jane was using up all his air supply.
" Bye Nick. I love ya, Bud," he said as an last sentence, before walking away.
Something in his heart told him that he had done a wrong descision. But now it was no way he could change his plans. Too late. Walking over to the Carter bedroom he knocked at the door, expecting an angry Jane to rip his head off. Brian was not an person that was easy to annoy, but if there were one person that made him see red it was Jane Carter. Nicks mom.
During the years in the backstreet boys, Nick had told him stories that made his ear prick up. The blonde was clearly neglected from his family, mainly his mom. Brian had nothing against Bob, on the contrary, but he was a person that was not heard very often and Brian had an impression that he did whatever Jane told him to do. Always.
" What???" Janes voice sounded through the door and Brian could tell that she was not very happy. As she opened the door, her hair was all tousled and she looked like she had an nervous breakdown.
" What do YOU want?" she asked hostile, " Havenīt you done enough harm already?"
Brian bit his lip. There were no use in making this scene any worse than there is and he had to take a deep breath before continuing, " Mrs Carter, I just came to inform you that me and my wife have decided to leave the hotel today. Itīs better due to the situation that weīre in."
Jane, who had opened her mouth to say something, said with coldness in her voice, " Yes Mr Littrell. I think that itīs the best." She was about to say something more when they heard Aaron crying from his bed, desperately, " Mom!" and then there were harsh sounds from someone being violently sick.
Brian winced.
" I have to go to my baby, he needs me," she informed him sourly, " Good day to you." With that she shut the door into his face.
Brian was left standing there in the hallway, not knowing what to say or do and as he started to walk down the corridor. Feeling defeated, he heard a male voice call out for him. Turning around he saw Bob standing there in an bathrobe.
" Yes?"
" Brian, I just want you to know that me and Jane both appreciate that you helped Aaron." he said, mumbling.
Brian nodded. Not too convinced that the words that the elder man had uttered were true. At least not that part about Jane.
" Brian, I also want you to know that I feel sorry for this. I know that Jane can be a bit harsh sometimes, but she has a good heart." It was like Bob was defending his wife and Brian felt his stomach ache from witness this.
"I hope that you have no hard feelings." There were a bit of silence before Bob continued, " Do you?"
At that second Brian didnīt know what to answer. He was so angry that he was boiling inside. Yet it didnīt help to let the anger out and deep inside his heart he felt sorry for the family. Bob looked so small where he was standing and the sadness that he witnessed in the older man eyes made his own heart ache. " No Bob," he smiled back to the nervous man, " No hard feelings."
It was like something heavy was lifted from the elder mans shoulders and he smiled back, " Thank you!" He looked relieved as he opened the door to get inside again.
Brian felt good that he finally managed to make someone happy. Since he was failing badly with getting Nick contend. Thinking of Nick, Brian saw his chance. If he could not be there for Nick he could at least talk his father into being there for him. Being supportive. " Mr Carter."
Bob turned around, " Yes?"
" I want you to promise to look after Nick, there might be something wrong with him and I am seriously worried." Brian talked so fast that his words almost stuck in his throat.
The older man nodded with sadness in his eyes, " Yes Brian there is," He draw his breath as he continued, " And I will look," His words were interupted as Janes high pitched voice sounded through the corridor, " Bob, come here at once. The kid is throwing up all over the bed!"
Looking a bit embarressed, the man instantly said, " I have to go inside. Jane needs me." He gestured with his head towards the door and as another "BOB!!!" was heard, he instantly went inside, shutting the door with a bang.
Brian sighed.
Several hours later Brian and Leighanne was situated in the plane seat, wating for take off. They had managed to catch an flight to Kentucky and Brian could tell that his wife was very happy. But Brian was not happy at all. He still had an sinking feeling in his stomach when he thought about the Carters, especially Nick.
" What is it honey?" Leighanne asked, placing her hand on her husbands arm.
" Nothing," Brian didnīt want to talk about the morning since his wife had enough things to worry about. Batteling an uneasy stomach.
Leighanne was not that easily fooled and she said with concern in her voice, " Brian, I know that something is eating you. Does it have to do something with Nick?"
After denying that issue several times Brian finally gave in and he whispered, " Yes, I have an gut feeling that something bad will happend to Nick. And that I am doing nothing to stop it."
" Honey, Nick will be just fine. He just caught the nasty bug that is going around. Same as Aaron, and he will be up in action in no time. Donīt worry." She kissed him on his cheek.
Brian smiled paley. " Yes darling, Iīll guess that youīre right. I am just being too over concerned for him. As always. But you know he is my little brother."
" Yes, Brian I know." Leighanne said with an sigh, " But you know Nick is growing up. He is a man now and I promise you that Nick can take care of himself. He can handle this."
Brian nodded. " Yes honey. I will try to get a few hours eyes shut. You should do that too." With that he put an blanket on his wife and kissed her. Leaning back in the comfy leather seat he closed his eyes. Hoping that Nick was feeling as good as he did. He knew that it was far from the truth. Something was terrible wrong with his friend. Brian intended to find out what was the matter with Nick.
Before it was too late.
