"Because You Love Me"
By: Kasey
(c) 2000
You know that episode of 'The Simpsons' where Maggie
hits Homer on the head with a hammer? That's what I
will do to you if you steal any piece of my work!

Chapter 5.

	Brian, AJ and Howie pounced on Kevin and Nick the
minute they got back to the hotel room.
	" So?" AJ asked anxiously as he watched Ella race off
to be alone. Kevin stared after her, then sighed
deeply.
	" We need to sit down and talk. I have to make some
changes to the next two weeks, and also after the tour
finishes," he said seriously and AJ stared at him,
confusion on his face.
	" What sort of changes? What’s wrong with Ella?" AJ
sounded as worried as the rest of the guys felt.
                " Let’s just sit down first okay? And
Brian, Howie? Keep the breakable stuff away from AJ,
After you guys hear what the psychologist said, AJ
might
feel the need to go a little crazy," Kevin said and
the other four immediately headed into one of the
bedrooms for some privacy, but where they could all
keep an eye on Ella.
	" So? What's this all about?" Brian asked as soon as
they were all seated," What did the psychologist say
was wrong with Ella?"
	" Brianna said that Ella shows signs of having been
abused," Kevin’s announcement was met with complete
and utter silence. Brian was the first to speak.
	" Abuse? What kind of abuse?"
	" Mental. Physical. Emotional."
	" Sexual?" AJs voice held barely restrained anger.
                 " No. Just those three. A lot of
physical. here are faded bruises on her arms, back and
chest."
	" Her mother or the step-father?" Howie asked softly.
	" The step-father. Apparently he was dark haired,
with features like mine, which explains why she’s so
afraid of me and not Nick," Kevin said.
	" But what about her mother? Didn’t she even try to
stop it?" AJ asked.
	" Not according to what Ella told Brianna. When she
asked her why not, Ella made reference to the
‘coloured water’ her mother constantly drank."
	" She was an alcoholic?"
	" Apparently."
                " What the hell was a woman like that
doing with a child? Ella should have been taken into
foster care sooner! Didn’t anyone give a damn about
her?"
AJ exploded, getting to his feet, his hands clenched
into fists, his entire body primed as though ready to
fight.
	" There was no family, no close friends. Brianna is
trying to get Ellas’ school records, to see if anyone
there noticed what was going on. But at this
stage, it looks as if no one noticed what Ellas
step-father was doing," Kevin said as Brian attempted
to calm AJ down.
	" So what are the changes that need to be made?"
Howie asked.
	" It’s a little unusual, but Brianna is coming on
tour with us for the next two weeks. She feels that
trying to find another psychologist for Ella would be
hard. And after the way Ella communicated with Brianna
today, it may not be a good idea to take someone else
away from Ella. She may withdraw even further into
herself, become completely anti-social."
	" So while you’re otherwise occupied with rehearsals
and interviews and stuff, she’ll be working with
Ella?"
	" Yes. She’s also going to take care of tutoring
Ella, just for the two weeks. Once the tour is
finished, she’s going to recommend a psychologist in
Florida. Along the way, maybe I’ll pick up some
pointers on how to raise a girl," Kevin said and Howie
smiled.
	" Oh, now this is something I gotta stick around to
see. Kevin Richardson, father of a teenage girl."
	" Howie."
	" Who dates boys!"
	" Howard!"
	" With big black panel vans at drive-ins!"
	" Howard Dorough," Kevin said and Howie grinned.
	" Just getting you ready for your future bro."
	" Like hell. She’s not dating until she’s at least
thirty. I’m not having some crazy, hormonal boy
sniffing around my baby girl. God forbid she ever
dates someone like...AJ!" Kevin faked a shudder and
grinned at AJ, who shot him a dirty look.
	" I’m not so bad when you get to know me," he pointed
out and Kevin laughed.
	" Point taken."
	" OK, so Brianna is touring with us. Have you told
management any of this yet?" Brian asked.
	" Um, no."
	" Oh boy. Management are going to have a cow! Can I
be there?" AJ asked, rubbing his hands gleefully.
	" What? You mean to say that management wont accept
that I have a daughter and that a psychologist is
coming on tour with us?"
	" This isn’t a fantasy world where management smiles
and accepts everything we say with no argument.
They’re gonna be even more pissed when they find out
that you didn’t tell them about Ella straight away,"
Brian pointed out and Kevin winced.
	" Oh boy. I forgot about that. Well, I guess I’d
better go and get this over with then."

*****