Shoving himself back from the table, AJ threw the Sharpie marker down. "Glad this is finally over so we can do something on our own for the next twenty-four," he muttered.
Kevin raked a tired hand across his face.
"I swear my hand feels like it's cramping up," Brian complained as he grabbed his wrist.
Howie reached over and grabbed AJ's discarded marker and lined it up alongside the other pens. "How many fans do you think we signed stuff for today?"
"Too damn many," AJ mumbled. "I say we blow this joint and go up and see how Kaos is doing."
"Yeah he looked pretty crappy when we left the hospital this morning and I bet Lou probably tried to coax him into autographs by the bedside complete with a photo shoot," Brian added.
"Shouldn't we ask Johnny if it's okay to go?" Howie wondered outloud.
"Johnny can kiss my ass," AJ replied as he montioned for his bodyguard to follow him. "C'mon, I'm ready to catch a cab to the hospital."
"Jay, get the hell back here," Kevin called out. The tattooed rebel stalled in his footsteps. "You can wait for the rest of us, maybe we can swing this without having a fleet of bodyguards accompanying us."
Brian looked at his cousin with a puzzled expression. "Kev, do you really think that's a good idea? I mean, we just got done doing an autograph session, don't you think there's gonna be a crowd waiting outside of the buidling?"
"Littrell, quit being such a freakin baby!" AJ rasped. "Do you actually think one of those bad teenies will hurt you?"
Brian thought for a moment. "Well, no but you know.....you were going to bring your bodyguard with you, so I know you're thinking the same thing I am," he defended.
AJ placed an unlit cigarette in his mouth. "No, actually I was thinking I would have my bodyguard Stan along with me for company."
"I doubt that," Brian countered.
AJ stuffed his hands into his front pockets. "Whatever."
Kevin rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Will you two shut the hell up? I'm trying to think here and you two bickering like magpies doesn't help me!"
"Train, it's pretty basic, we get into a van and we go to the hospital, what the hell is there to think about?" AJ questioned.
"He needs to think about how to approach Johnny with what we're planning on doing," Howie replied.
"Okay, let me tell dickhead what we plan on doing," AJ snapped as he started walking toward the office door. He was stopped when Kevin grabbed the man's skinny arm.
"Let's just have detail get the van ready so we can just run."
One of the bodyguards broke into the conversation. "We've already done that Kevin."
"Then what the fuck are we waiting for? The more time we spend standing around here the more time it gives the crowds to grow," AJ hissed.
Without another word being spoken, the bodyguards drew their human shield around the four Backstreet Boys and ushered them out to the waiting van, safe from being touched by the crowd that had gathered.
"Are you going to be okay son?" the orderly asked as he prepared to move the wheel chair. He couldn't help but notice the hunched posture and the trembling white hands clutching to the emesis basin that laid in his lap.
"Carter's okay he just likes being a drama queen," Pearlman replied quickly.
"I overheard the nurses saying that he had surgery a day or two ago---"
"Well those women need better things to do with their lives than to sit around and gossip," Lou growled.
"I still find it hard to believe that they are letting him go home," the young orderly stated.
"Like I've said before, Carter is a fast healer, you don't know the boy so you'd be better off minding your own business and push him out of here, time is money son," Pearlman snapped.
"I don't feel so good," Nick mumbled.
"Once we get in the car, you'll be fine Carter, suck it up," the manager growled in a low voice.
"Would you like me to get your nurse?" the orderly questioned.
"I told you to get things moving, stop babying the kid," Pearlman wheezed as he made an attempt at grabbing the handles on the wheel chair.
The orderly stopped the chair and slipped in front to study the young man. Only after a few moment's observation the orderly sprung into action, reaching for the nurse call button.
"What do you think you're doing?" the manager snarled.
"Jesus man, he's getting ready to pass out!"the oderly shouted.
The manager didn't budge. "Lower your tone boy!"
Within a few moments, several nurses rushed into the room followed by Kevin, AJ, Howie and Brian. Kevin was the first person that sprung into action, scooping his young brother up into his arms and quickly placed him onto the bed.
A nurse clamped a blood pressure cuff on the young boy's arm, quickly acessing his vital signs, Kevin smoothing sweatty stray stands of blonde hair off his forehead with a gentle gesture. The rest of the group stood off to the side, taking in Nick's chalky, sweaty complexion.
The nurse waved a capsule of smelling salts underneath Nick's nose, causing the teen to cough a few times before his eyes fluttered open.
"How are you feeling?" the nurse asked softly.
Nick thought for a moment, at first he didn't remember where he was or what had happened. "Okay?"
"Hun, you're at Cromwell Hospital, I'm Gladys your day nurse...."
Nick rubbed a shaky hand across his face. "Cromwell? Day nurse? Why would I have a day nurse? Where the hell am I?"
"Sweetheart... you're in London, England, you had your appendix out a few days ago," Gladys explained.
After the woman supplied the information, Nick was finally able to piece together what had gone on up until now. He peered around the woman spotting Kevin's concerned face. 'Oh crap, Kevin's here,' Nick sighed. 'This can't be good.'
It wasn't until Nick was finally fully conscious did his bandbrothers notice that he was wearing blue jeans underneath the hospital gown.
"Nicky, how come you've got your pants on?" Kevin wondered outloud.
The normally unflappable Lou Pearlman shifted his weight from one leg to the other.
Howie looked at the obese manager. "How come he's wearing his jeans?"
"The doctor gave me permission to take Nick back to the hotel to care for him," Pearlman replied with a shrug of his shoulders.
Kevin jerked around to look at the manager. "He did what?!"
"I think it was more that this gentleman pressured the staff into letting Mr. Carter out of the hospital," Gladys hissed.
"Carter would be better off laying in the hotel room than in a dirty hospital," Pearlman quickly replied.
With that remark being said, the nurse tossed a dirty glare at the manger. "Cromwell is one of the top rated facilities in the country!"
"Are you fucking crazy Lou? Nick is in no shape to be sent home from the hospital!" AJ rasped. "Hell the doctor said we were lucky he got here when he did! Now you're thinking he's okay to leave? I can't believe you!"
"Does Mr. and Mrs. Carter know about this?" Brian asked.
"Better yet, did they give their permission?" Howie added.
Kevin shook his head as the other others pressed their manager for answers. "Guys! Calm down....."
Another nurse breezed into the hospital room. "Doctor will be up in a few minutes to check on Nickolas." This remark had Pearlman's face turn a deep shade of crimson.
AJ folded his arms across his chest, situating himself between the manager and the exit. "Good....I can't wait to hear what the doc has to say about this."
Pearlman glanced at his watch. "I think you boys will have to talk to him another day, you have a schedule to keep."
"We have the rest of the day off," Howie replied.
"We have a new schedule, didn't Wright give that to you?" the manager questioned.
"Unless you can show me proof of a schedule, I ain't moving one inch!" AJ hissed.
"Lou you can't be serious about this!" Brian cried. "Schedules can be broken...things can be postphoned."
The Latino stared at Pearlman. "Exactly what are you trying to hide?"
Pearlman snorted. "What are you talking about Dorough? I have nothing to hide! People are waiting for you while you're wasting time in here!"
During the argument between the manager and the other band members, Kevin had been focusing his attention on his ailing bandmate. Although Nick could hear the conversation, he felt too weak to add to the commotion. He wasn't too weak to notice or better yet, fear the expression on his older brother's face. At first Nick was thankful that the look wasn't directed at him - there had been too many of those looks where he was in deep trouble in the past. He knew where the anger would be directed and subconsiously braced himself for the outburst that would be coming.
Kevin whirled around. "What exactly are you trying to get out of Lou?"
The fat man pulled a blue handkerchief out of his pants pocket, mopping the sweat from his face. "Don't sound so angry Richardson, there is nothing that I am trying to get out of. I think you need to take a look at Carter there...he's the one that's trying to get out of things, not me." He paused for a moment, throwing in a forced chuckle for emphasis. "If you'd take the time to look around, you'd realize that Carter here, was planning on walking out until I showed up. He was determined to leave without anyone's permission. He is always worried about the fans and he felt bad that he couldn't be there with you guys at the autograph session. That boy has show business in his blood."
Kevin narrowed his eyes at the man. "I seriously doubt what you're telling me is true. How about I ask Nick since he is right here in the room."
Pearlman looked past AJ and leaned over to look around Kevin, making sure he locked eyes with the ailing teen. "Tell them Nick."
Something about the look on the manager's face combined with the deep tone of his voice, set the hair on the back of Nick's neck to prickle up. "Um.....yeah?"
"Tell them that I grabbed you when you fell forward when you stood up," Lou gently demanded.
Nick thought for a moment as he scratched an itch on his forearm. 'Well that part was true, it wouldn't be a lie if I agreed to that,' he thought. "Yeah he did catch me. If he hadn't been there I would have fallen to the floor."
AJ instantly saw through the comment. "Bullshit Nicky! Tell us the truth!"
Nick looked at Lou Pearlman's beady pig eyes and then Kevin's emerald green eyes. "Um, it is the truth, Mr. Pearlman caught me."
Before AJ could continue with a question, Dr. Rosenbaum entered the room, Nick's hospital chart held firmly in his hands. "Nickolas, I hear you had a fainting spell."
Relief washed over Kevin Richardson as he watched the surgeon approach Nick's bedside. He quickly offered a hand to the doctor. Instead of refusing the handshake like he had earlier with Lou, Dr. Rosebaum accepted Kevin's handshake eagerly. "Mr. Richardson, good to see you."
Instead of staying back with AJ, Lou felt the urgency to approach the doctor in a friendly manner. "Dr. Rosenbaum," he cooed as he offered a hand to the man. Again, the doctor refused to shake the manger's hand and quickly directed his attention to his young patient.
"What were you doing when you fainted young man?" Dr. Rosenbaum asked as he studied Nick. "Better yet, why are you wearing your pants?"
Once again, Pearlman decided it was time for him to explain the situation. "Carter here thought he could get up and leave. Thank the lord that I happened to be in here when he started falling forward when he thought he could jump out of bed and leave this fine hospital."
The doctor looked at the manager incredilously. "Thats not what the nurses reported."
The manager's sweaty face turned red. "Oh?"
"Yes, they told me that you demanded Nick to be discharged to your custody."
Pearlman snorted. "Those women will say anything to get back at me. I think they don't like me for some reason. That is so far from the truth."
The doctor ignored the manager's lies as he lifted Nick's hospital gown. "I'm going to check your incision.....oh boy," he sighed, "it looks like you've ruptured some of the sutures open."
"See what you did Carter? Trying to run away from the hospital like that," Lou scolded softly.
"Nickolas could you please tell me what the truth was? Were you trying to leave the hospital on your own like this man is trying to tell me or is it because of someone forcing you to leave?"
The silence in the room was deafening as everyone waited to hear Nick's version of the story. Licking his lips, he looked up at the doctor, then Kevin's face before his gaze finally rested on Lou Pearlman. "I-I don't remember what happened. S-sorry."
Pearlman quietly exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
Dr. Rosenbaum patted his young patient on the leg. "We'll talk about this later. I'm having the nurse fetch some things and we'll get you patched up again. Back in a jiff."
"I'm going to call Wright and see what is going on with the revised schedule," Lou announced to no one as he made his way toward the door. Kevin Richardson quickly reached out and grabbed the manager by the arm.
"Don't think for a moment that this is over," he growled as he bore his gaze into the manager's eyes.
Pearlman jerked his arm away from the tall Kentuckian. "You don't scare me with your threats Richardson." With that, the manager left the hospital room.