Part 59: ************************************************************************** Brian watched as Nick made himself a sandwich. "You look worried bro." "I'm just thinking..." "Uh huh..." "The way I was going after Lou tonight...you don't think..." "He'd..." "Lou would do something to Lis do ya?" "Honestly I don't know man. I never thought he would be capable of everything he's done so far." "That's why I'm worried." Nick sat at the table, staring at his sandwich. "You want someone to tell you to go check on her don't you?" "Maybe..." "Then go." "Talk." Jenn said, taking some more chinese food from the carton and putting it on her plate. They were at E's watching old movies and eating take out. "About what?" Ty asked, reaching for more rice. "You knew something at the house..." Ty sighed, "I can't say anything. Sworn to secrecy." "Now your turning into the guys." Shan commented. "I just know what Howie's told me and it makes sense why Lou would make an appearance tonight. He wants to rub it in their faces..." "What?" E questioned... "This doesn't leave the room and no one can tell you I told all right?? Howie will be pissed if he finds out." "Promise." Alec assured her, "Spill." "AJ signed a contract with Lou, as of Monday morning he will be represented by Lou 'Scumbag' Pearlman." Jenn stared at Ty in disbelief. "The hell he is." "He is Jenn, apparently he signs the contract Friday morning." "He may think he is but he won't. I'll kill him with my bare hands before I let that happen." Hearing steady knocking on her door Lis crawled out of bed and turned on the lamp as she made her way to the door. Nothing could have prepared her for who was standing there. "What..." He looked at her, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Are you okay?? Lou hasn't come by?" Staring at him in disbelief she only shook her head, he looked awful but he was still her husband. "I'm okay...why would Lou come see me?" "I managed to really piss him off tonight. Can I come in?" "Yeah..." she moved back, allowing him inside. She heard AJ's voice in her head urging her to talk to him. Nick turned back to her, "You aren't eating huh?" "AJ told you?" He shook his head, "I know the signs...and your not sleeping..." "And your drinking..." "I was..." She walked over and sat down. "Apparently everyone thinks we should talk this out." "I think so too..." "I don't want to...I don't want to hear how you really feel..." she glanced up at him. "I can't hear you say you hate me," her shoulders started to shake and she bit her lip to keep from crying. Nick sat next to her, "I don't hate you baby, I never have...whatever Alannah said was a lie, I'm more convinced of that tonight then ever. Lou's a very sick man Lis." AJ heard the pounding on his hotelroom door and groaned, it was nearly one in the morning. Whoever it was had no respect for people trying to sleep. "Kevin, I shoulda figured." He barged inside, "What the hell is with you??? Signing a contract with Lou?? Are you nuts??? Damnit AJ what are you thinking!!!" "I'm thinking big brother Lou may have had our best interests in mind all along." he said, trying to play the part. For all he knew the people on either side of him were spies from Lou, now was not the time to reassure Kevin of his sanity and spill the truth. That would come later. "Your crazy if you think he had our best interests in mind. Damnit AJ do you forget the pain he's caused us so easily?" "Its a lucrative contract Kevin." "When did you become so money oriented." AJ shrugged, reaching for his smokes on the table. "Since I realized I could have a lot more rolling in then I do now. You know Kev, Backstreet was a good ride while it lasted but its time to move on...you four should realize that and sign on the dotted line. Hell maybe if we can still stand each other, a couple years down the road we'll have a nice little reunion tour. Wouldn't that be fun?" he said the last part sarcastically. Kevin shook his head, "I don't get you man..." He just shrugged, "Well then maybe you'd like to leave?" "Maybe I will. If you ever come to your senses you know where to find us." "Yeah the four of you will probably be holed up in that beach house for the next six months." Cautiously Ty opened the front door of the beachhouse and stepped inside, "No police tape, good sign so far." she said waving the other women in. "Where are they?" E asked, looking around. The house was pretty well dark as far as they could see. "Maybe they left with Lou?" Shan said, heading into the living room. It was empty except for the empty glasses on the tables. "Don't put that thought in my mind." Jenn said, sitting down. She watched as E head towards the kitchen. "E are you that hungry?" "No I'll be right back!" She called, turning the hall light on. Ty sat down, "I don't get it, they should be here." "Maybe they needed air." E walked back in, taking a seat on the couch.. "Well well well, who feels up to knowing what went on tonight?" "How would that work, we left." "We did but the trusty tape recorder stayed behind." E said, showing them all the little black piece of plastic. Howie and Brian walked down the beach, "AJ isn't that stupid is he?" Brian asked as he kicked at the sand. "The hair dye couldn't have affected his thinking that much." Howie shrugged, "Who knows with AJ anymore. He's always been his own person." "Yeah but to turn his back on us like that...its not like him." "Don't know what to say man." "Me either." they stopped as they neared the house. "Kevin will give him a nice little speech, no doubt about that." "True." "D your awfully quiet. Something going on?" Brian asked concerned. "What? Oh no nothing, I guess Lou showing up shook me up more then I thought." "He shook everyone up...at least some good might come out of this." "You mean Nick and Lis?" "Yeah. Hopefully she'll talk to him and vice versa. I didn't like that self destructive streak he was on." "None of us did." "Maybe that's what AJ's doing with Lou, trying to self destruct." Brian said thoughtfully. "Maybe, maybe not." D saw the kitchen light come on. "Looks like someone's home..." "Might as well head back then." The voices on the tape stopped and all the women sat there frozen. "That dirty rotten..." Ty started but stopped as she saw Brian and Howie standing in the doorway. "Where did you get that?" Howie asked, having heard the taped conversation. E smiled, "I left the tape recorder behind when I left. Hid it out in one of the potted plants back there." Brian grinned, "Good idea." "Thanks. I can't believe you guys stopped Nick from tearing him apart." "We were damn tempted." Howie said, walking over and taking a seat beside Ty. "Can we use that against him?" B asked, pulling a chair over and sitting down. "Should be able to, don't see why not." Jenn nodded, "So where's the other two?" "They went out just after Lou left, and no they didn't go after him." "Good. You guys don't need any more trouble for awhile."