Paul stared at him for a minute, "Why don't you just cut to the chase and tell me exactly what your idea is."

Howie paused for a minute, gaining all the strength and courage he had. His eyes met Paul's and he spoke, "I'll give you the money you'd be paying us for the contracts...and I'll turn over my company to you."

"Well...that is a rather considerable offer Howard." Paul looked thoughtful for a few minutes as he sat in silence, "But I'm afraid it's no go...with you back with Lou and TransCon there will be a substantial influx of income...and then when eventually there's a Backstreet Reunion ...you just don't have the type of money I'm talking about D. But really it was a valiant offer on your part. I'm sure your friends would be touched by your willingness to sacrifice everything you have...they are still your friends?"

Struggling to keep his composure he nodded slowly, "They're my brothers..."

"Good to know the situation hasn't shaken the bond the group shares..." he trailed off. "Would you be willing to reconsider that contract now Howie? Perhaps you and AJ can help the others see the light...that signing them will only speed up the process of reuniting one day."

"I've had enough." Howie said quickly getting to his feet and walking quickly away from the table.

"Shame it's really only just begun D," Paul muttered taking another sip of his water and waving the waiter over, ready to order.

"I'll be right back." Kevin said getting to his feet quickly as he watched Howie practically run from the restaurant.

"Kevin..."

"Order me whatever your having, I'll be back in a minute." he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried from the room. Alec sighed watching him go, so much for their afternoon alone.

Howie struggled to put his jacket on as he headed for the door. On second thought, a good stiff drink might just be the thing he needed he thought, suddenly turning around and heading back across the hotel lobby to the bar.

Kevin caught up to Howie just as he headed for the bar, "Howie!!" he called.

He sighed deeply and turned around slowly, "Kev? What are you doing here?"

"Taking Alec to lunch. Are you okay? I couldn't help but notice the way you tore out of the restaurant..." he studied his friend critically, truth be told D looked awful.

"I'm great thanks for asking. About to go get myself a drink, now if you'll excuse me..." he started walking away.

"Howie wait!!" he walked closer to him, "We're brothers...if you need something you can tell me and I'll do anything I can to help."

A low chuckle escaped Howie, "Really? Well then what I really need you to do is to go away..."

Kevin sighed tiredly, "Look pushing everyone away does nothing, we all realize that now..."

"Does it really? I think it works well..." he nodded in agreement with himself, "In fact I think it's something we should do on a permanent basis."

He grabbed D's arm, "What's wrong with you Howie??? What happened to you?"

"Let go of me Kevin...nothing's happened to me and nothing will..." he shook his arm free, "now why don't you go back to Alec. I'm sure she's feeling neglected..."

"I'll take you back home," AJ said as they got into the elevator.

"J I drove myself here."

"So I'll tag along." he smiled, "I just want to look out for you okay?"

"How does Jenn put up with you?"

"She loves me."

"She must," Ty laughed at the look that crossed his face, "I'm kidding."

He pouted, "Just gotta make fun of me."

The doors opened as they reached the lobby. Soon as they stepped out they heard loud voices and AJ sighed, "Shit."

"We've got to walk right past them," Ty observed. "J you go back upstairs..."

"And let him think he intimidates me??? Ha!! No way in hell..." he shook his head, "Not gonna give him that satisfaction. Come on Ty," he took her arm and started walking.

Kevin stopped mid sentence with Howie as AJ and Ty came into view. "Guys?"

"Hi Kev, we're just heading out..." she said quickly.

"What happened to your face?" Kevin questioned, disbelief apparent on his face. "Don't tell me Lou had someone rough..."

"It wasn't Lou man," AJ answered, avoiding looking at his best friend.

"It's his own damn fault," Howie muttered loud enough for only Ty to hear.

"No it's yours Howard Dwaine Dorough, you're the one who did this to him..." Ty said, beginning to once again be outraged at her husband.

Kevin's mouth opened in shock, "You????? YOU did this to AJ??" he said, his voice beginning to rise as anger filled his eyes.

"Ass deserved it." Howie muttered, shooting a look at his former friend.

"Your best friend deserves that??"

"Deserves whatever he gets..." Howie stated, a smug smile appearing on his face, "Shame I didn't realize that sooner."

Having had enough of Howie's speeches, Kevin grabbed him by the collar, "What's it going to take to shake some reality into you D??"

His eyes went cold, "Get your damn hands off me Kev," he said shoving the older man away.

Checking her watch Alec frowned, it had been almost twenty minutes since Kevin had taken off. Did he really think he could just walk off? She told the waiter she'd be right back and headed out of the restaurant, determined to have a few choice words with her husband. She was only ten feet away from the restaurant when she spotted the shoving match going on across the lobby and she hurried over.

"What's going on?"

AJ sighed, "Hi Alec...you're looking well..."

"You aren't." she said seeing the bruises on his face.

"True," he nodded in agreement, "They're fighting..." he said motioning to D and Kev.

"That's obvious. Why aren't you stopping it?"

"Because Howie deserves an ass kicking," Ty answered.

Alec watched the two men continue shoving each other, "Great just great." She went to move between the two but AJ took her arm.

"Just let them go..."

"And if one of them gets hurt??"

David followed E inside the hotel, "I'm starving." he said as they headed towards the restaurant.

"Me too." she stopped as she suddenly recognized the voices coming from across the lobby. "What now?"

He followed her gaze and shook his head, "Can't they keep out of trouble? Is that too much to ask?" he said as he made his way over.

David stepped between the two men, separating them with a strong shove. "What in the hell are you thinking???" he asked, looking back and forth between the two.

Kevin took a deep breath and wiped his mouth with his hand, checking for blood. "Ask him, he's the one who's out of control...he went after AJ last night...me now..."

Howie struggled out of David's grasp, "Just stay the hell away from me...all of you. I don't need a damn one of you!"

"Here's some info for you to process, we don't need you either." AJ yelled, "In fact Howie why don't you just go away..."

"I'd love to." he glared at his two former band mates. "I'll be quite happy to never have anything to do with you again."

Alec frowned at his words, "Come on Ty, lets get out of here for a few minutes."

"Good idea." she agreed. "I could use some air."

"Yeah Ty go ahead and leave." D said sarcastically.

"There was a time when you'd care you're upsetting her." AJ commented.

"J just leave him." Ty said, putting her hand on J's arm wanting to stop him from starting the fight again.

"He's your new protector?? Who would of thought you'd need protection from your own husband." Howie mused.

"Not me." she said softly, staring at what her husband had turned into. "Who are you?? I don't even recognize you anymore." with that she turned and walked away, Alec behind her.

David shook his head, "You were supposed to be friends, what happened?"

"We wizened up." Howie said, straightening his shirt, "Or least I did..."

"Is he drunk?" David questioned.

"Not yet, will be soon though." D answered, unfazed by everything. Even Ty's comments had failed to rattle him.

Kevin moved his jaw back and forth, "All I know is he was in the restaurant with Paul and then he ran out, I followed him and it turns into a brawl after I confronted him about AJ's face."

David turned and looked at him, "That has to hurt."

"It does. Thanks for the reminder."

"Sorry," he apologized and glanced at D who was still loitering nearby. "D we need to talk this out."

"I'm done talking, as far as I'm concerned the end of Backstreet should of happened a hell of a long time ago."

"Hello?" AJ said his voice showing his agitation.

"J? What's going on?" Jenn's voice asked through his cell phone.

He ran a frazzled hand through his hair and walked a few feet away from the group, "Oh well let me see, all hell broke loose again..."

"What now?"

"Howie went after Kevin...then he yelled at Ty...Alec took her to the ladies room to calm her down..." he sighed and started searching through his jacket pockets for his pack of smokes. Under the circumstances he figured it was justified.

"Oh shit...I can be there in a few hours if you need me."

"Where are you?"

"Some hotel a couple hours away. I left D's and just drove till I found a nice place to stop."

"Crazy thing to do." he said, leaning against a wall in the corner. "Maybe I should come out and meet you..."

"They may need you there."

"Howie need me? That's a good one...Kevin can do just fine on his own..."

"Just stay there I'll be home in a little while."

"All righty." he let out a deep sigh, "Be careful okay?"

"Course," she smiled into the phone, "Now relax. I know Howie's worrying you..."

"I couldn't care less..."

She stopped him, "Alexander James McLean don't pull that on me. Howie is your best friend...your brother...I just want you to behave. I don't want to come back and find the other side of your face beat up."

AJ chuckled, "Good point."

"Thank you. I'll see you this afternoon..."