Part 54: *************************************************************************** Lou smiled, "AJ whatever happened among you five has to do with you five." "True but it you did nudge us along." AJ stated. "Maybe a little." Lou admitted, "And I guess it all worked out for the best. So why don't we do some negotiations, I'll write them down and we'll get them written up by the end of the week and you can be signed. Do a nice press release on Monday..." "Whatever you think is best..." Howie shut the file cabinet, "Jenn we've gone through this place from top to bottom and haven't found anything." "Which means either he's hid something very well or it doesn't exist." "What's your heart telling you?" "That if its not here, it probably doesn't exist." she leaned her head against the front of AJ's desk which she was leaning against. "And I doubted him...oh god I told him I didn't believe him. How's that for acting like a great wife?" "Jenn your reaction was normal...trust me." She shook her head, "No...damnit I messed up. He was telling the truth and..." "I'm sure he'll understand..." "Why am I not so sure?" "Jenn don't worry about it. Once you explain everything to him he'll understand. Everyone's under an enormous amount of stress right now, no one's thinking clearly. Its understandable really." Cassie sat in the kitchen, flipping through her magazine as Shan came in. "Hi." Shan stopped. "Oh hi..." she grabbed a bottled water and leaned against the counter sizing Cassie up. "So your the first Mrs. Littrell." "Yeah and your the second." "I am." Shan opened the water and took a small sip before continuing. "So did you ever move on or do you two still reconnect every once in awhile? Didn't bother you at all he was remarried did it?" Cassie's eyes widened. "If you mean that the way I think you do Bri and I haven't reconnected as you say since we were married. We have seen each other occasionally though. Especially when Lou started with all this." "Oh I see, your more important than I am. I never knew about the Lou blackmail deal till all hell broke loose." "I only knew because I was involved." "Nice choice of words Cassie." Stopping in the doorway Brian could feel the tension in the room as he looked at his two wives. "Uh hi." "Brian!" Cassie said, her voice filled with relief. "I'm going out. See if I can find Lissy and see how she is." Shan said, grabbing another water. Brian moved out of the doorway so she could pass and shut the door behind her. "I take it that didn't go well?" "She's just making sure I know your hers. Can't exactly blame her there Rok." He laughed, "Normally Shan's a lot nicer." Cassie giggled. "I'll take your word for it. Can you talk now or do you need to be with Nick?" "Oh no Kev called E over...so I'm gonna be free for awhile." "Good. Cliff called you back I assume?" "He did...The divorce did happen, but someone did try to stop it. That's why some of the paperwork looked official because Lou did try and step in. Even Cliff said he was fooled with some of it." "So he's a hundred percent sure it went through?" "Totally. Even went and spoke to the judge who signed off on the case apparently. So your free and clear and my marriage to Shan is legal." "That's great!! But then why is she..." "Lou sent her pictures of the two of us in your hotel room. She doesn't believe hugging is the only thing that went on, however she did up until Nick's little situation blew up in our faces." Kevin smiled with relief as E walked in the house. "Why are you smiling like that?" she asked, tossing her raincoat on the chair in the hall. "I think your the only one who could get through to him." "What happened?" she asked worriedly. All Kevin had said on the phone was for her to come over as soon as possible. "He's drinking and drinking and drinking. Lis left him." E groaned, "Why now?" "Alannah said it happened...that's as much as I can understand." "Jeeze...is he upstairs?" "Should be." Nick sat on the bed in just his jeans watching as the door opened. He smiled seeing E walk in. "Eshey!!" he grinned. "You want something to drink?" "I'm okay thanks." she looked around at all the empty bottles. "Where'd you find all this?" "Bar in the basement. They forget its a full one. Be surprised how much you can pack in a backpack. I've been sneaking down there and back all day. No one's seen me yet." "Your gonna poison yourself Nick..." she sat down on the bed. "Alcohol poisoning is not a good thing." He shrugged. "E I just want to be like this for awhile okay?" "How long's awhile Nick?? Till your sick?? Till your so drunk your hangover lasts for days?" "As long as it takes for me to get through this." "It'll be harder to deal with it later." "No it won't!!" he tossed the now empty bottle to the floor. "Your just like Brian you don't understand a damn thing. Just go E, I don't need anyone anymore." "First of all your not getting rid of me as easily as you got rid of Brian and secondly I think you do need someone. Now why don't you tell me what happened?" He laid on his back, "Shit happened. You know what happened E, you know the story." "I mean lately. Why isn't Lis here? She run off when you started drinking?" His blue eyes squeezed shut, trying to block the memories of the fight that were there. No matter how much he drank they were still there. Her throwing the ring at him and leaving... "She left before..." he laughed, "She's the reason I started. Ya know its funny, I thought she was the one...and I think I'm seriously wrong..." "Little late to realize that don't you think?" "Nadda. Perfect time. Can start a whole new life now, no Backstreet, no wife, just me..." he grinned, "Maybe you?" "Your still married Nick..." The elevator doors opened and AJ walked out, still reeling over that meeting with Lou. He turned the corner and headed for his hotel room, anxious to try and get his mind off it for even a little while. Taking his room key out of his jacket he stopped as he saw Lis standing outside his door. "Lissy?" "Hi J. Did you change your mind on dinner?" "Not at all!" he smiled as he unlocked the door. "I just got a little caught up in traffic. Wasn't sure you were gonna wait around or not." "Wasn't sure I was going to come." she said honestly. AJ tossed his jacket off, quickly followed by his overshirt. "Well I'm glad you did, little company might do wonders for us both." "Hope so." "I'm just gonna go change real quick, make yourself comfy." Lis laughed as he walked into the bedroom and she sat down in the arm chair replaying her conversation with David in her mind. ~Flashback~ Lis ran out of the lobby, nearly avoiding crashing into a few people as she headed for the bank of elevators. David caught up to her just as the elevator doors almost closed. He put his hand between them to stop them from closing and slid inside. "Why'd you run?" "From what your saying you helped him set this up..." "Lis I never would. I love you you know that." "Funny same words Nick used to say. We all know how that turned out." "I still don't know about Nick Lis, but I don't lie to you. Never have and I'm not about to now." "Right." He moved in front of her so she couldn't avoid looking at him. "Did you lose all your faith in men now?" "Men make me sick." "No they don't." "Okay lying, cheating husbands make me ill. Better?" David sighed, her sarcasm coming out at full force. "Look I'm sorry if somehow I caused this." "I caused it," she said just as the doors opened and she moved by him, out of the elevator. "How?" "Somehow...you know she said he called me 'that bitch of a wife'. Something I did or didn't do made him think that way." David wrapped his arms around her, "If he thinks that way then you are better off without him. You don't need to waste your time on him." He looked down at her and slowly leaned in kissing her softly. ~End Flashback~ AJ stood in front of Lis who had a far off look on her face. "Lissy?" "Oh...hi J." she mumbled, slowly looking at him. "You ready?" He glanced down at his tshirt and jeans. "Looks that way. Come on, lets get out of here." he held out his hand and helped her up. "You okay?" he asked concerned as they left the room. "Maybe."