Part 49:
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The next few days passed slowly, everyone was pretty much in their own
worlds not having a lot to do with one another. Nick had kept himself busy
taking meetings with E and David, not telling anyone else what they were
about. Kevin and Alec kept to themselves, usually disappearing first thing
in the morning and coming back late at night, Howie and Ty had begun to
plan for the baby, trying to keep some sort of normalcy going while Brian
had decided to go and try and write some songs, heading down to the beach
and staying there most of the day. No one heard much from AJ, he'd called
Howie once or twice but that was it. Jenn had decided to go home for a
couple days to do something thinking. 


Lis walked around the back deck at her house, deciding to take a break
from every other Backstreet affiliate she headed home. It hadn't even been
an hour when she heard the patio door open and knew instinctively it was
her husband.

Nick stood in the patio doorway watching the breeze play with her hair as
she leaned on the railing. "What are you doing here?" 

"Decided to break out of jail...or the beachhouse." she glanced over her
shoulder at him. "Why are you here?"

"The boat..."

"Oh." she nodded and turned back to the water. "Well go ahead, no need to
keep me company."

"Why not??"

She brushed the hair out of her face, seeing him lean on the rail next to
her, "You don't want to."

"How do you know I don't want to?"

"Well you never told me where you've been the last few days, all I do is
sit around the beachhouse acting like your answering machine, relaying
messages between E, David and you." she shook her head, "If that's all I'm
good for I wish you'd tell me now..."

"Lissy."

"Hmmm?"

"You busy later?? I've got an appointment with that model in the
pictures."

"Oh so now you want to bond??"

He groaned, fiddling with his sunglasses. "Lis look I want you
there...David finally set up a meeting...please just come..."

"Why??"

"Because I want you there with me...is that reason enough?"


Brian walked over to where Shan was sitting outside, "Cassie's flight
lands in three hours."

She stared up at him startled, "That's today??"

"Yeah...did you want to come with me when I pick her up?"

"Why? I'd only intrude." 

"Shan don't do this."

"Don't do what? Act like this bothers me when it does??"

He groaned, running his fingers through his hair. "Shan listen to me,
she's only here so I can tell her the truth, the marriage is over, has
been for years and the divorce did indeed go through. I'm not planning on
doing anything else with her but saying that."

"So she needed to fly all the way here for you to tell her that?"

"Damnit I'm not gonna talk to you if your gonna be like this." He said,
leaving her and heading inside the house.


AJ sat alone in the booth at McDonald's, picking at his fries as he
watched the people come and go. Being cooped up in his hotel room had
finally got to him and he didn't want to impose on D to keep him company
although he knew all he had to do was ask and Howie would show. Seeing a
familiar jacket he snapped out of his thoughts and watched her head to the
counter, he could tell just by the way she moved she wasn't sleeping. He
sighed to himself, thankful his booth was at the back and afforded him a
clear view of her, but she wouldn't notice him unless she headed straight
in his direction.


Cassie walked alongside Brian out to the car, "So I read about your
adventures with Lou." she teased.

"Oh yeah...hard not to miss. I think that was the most media coverage I've
ever gotten." he unlocked the doors and they got in.

"Well its not everyday someone attacks Big Lou." she patted his arm, "And
I can understand why you did. How'd everyone take it?"

"The fellas weren't too thrilled, I don't think Shan quite believed me
when I told her."

"It is hard to picture, you flying across the desk."

"That's how it happened."

Cassie nodded, "Did you talk to Cliff?"

"Yeah...mind if we talk about that at home? Its why I brought you down
here."

"And here I was thinking it was to meet that lovely wife of yours."


They both sat in the car staring up at the apartment building, David had
arranged for them to meet Alannah at home, since she would be between gigs
that afternoon. Lis turned to Nick, "Are you sure you want me with you?"
she asked again, she couldn't shake this bad feeling and it was really
starting to make her worry.

"Yep." he turned to her, "We're in this together, that's what you've been
saying so you come with."

"All right."


Opening the door, Alannah smiled seeing Nick standing there. "Well Mr.
Carter your early!" she waved him in and stopped seeing Lis beside him.
"Hmmm now who would you be?"

"I'd be his..."

"Assistant." Nick finished, shooting Lis a look.

She stared at him in shock, "Yep that's me." she finished.

"Oh." Alannah looked her over, "What kind of assisting do you do?"

"What kind of modeling do you do?" Lis asked, looking her up and down. She
almost shuddered imagining this chick with Nick.

"Oh everything really." she led them into her living room and sat down on
the zebra print couch. "So what is it you wanted to see me about?"

"Those pictures of us..."

Alannah laughed, "Oh those!!"

"Yeah, well we need to know if you'd be willing to say their fake."
			
"But their not..." 

Nick put his hand on Lis' leg forcing her to stay put. He knew she was
ready to jump across the room and rip out Alannah's hair. "What do you
mean their not?" he asked calmly.

Lis fought to control her breathing as she glared at this woman. Nick had
too much of a hold on her leg to be able to move so she was forced to sit
there.

"Their real, it happened. You picked me up at the club and we headed back
to your hotel. You gave me a real sob story over what a bitch your wife
is..."

"That's it." Lis said, pushing Nick's hand off her. "I have an
appointment." she said quickly, practically running from the room.

Alannah watched her go, "What's with her?"

"Who knows?? But what do you mean it happened??"

"I mean Nick you and I slept together and Donnie took pictures."

"But it was a set up."

"Not exactly. Face facts it happened and I seem to remember you enjoying
it." she smiled at him.