Part 254
The conversation was winding down when Nick heard voices in the hall followed by a soft knock on the door.
"Julie?" he asked Sarah, raising an eyebrow.
"Probably," she said. "Now the rest of you know what to do, right?"
They all nodded and, except for Nick, moved away from the door so that they wouldn't be seen right away.
"You ready?" Nick asked Becca, and as she nodded her head another knock was heard, this one just a bit louder than the first. Nick ran his hands through his hair as he'd been instructed and slowly opened the door. He blocked everyone's view, but they could clearly hear the gasp that Julie made as she looked up in to Nick's clear blue eyes. "Julie?" he smiled.
She merely nodded, suddenly speechless.
Nick moved back, holding the door open for her as he smiled his trademark lopsided grin. "Come on in, Bec's anxious to see you."
Becca was propped up in her bed and just about as nervous as Julie was. It had never been easy for her to meet new people, which was why the Internet had been such a blessing for her. She had tons of acquaintances without the agony of face-to-face meetings. Until now.
"Becca?" she said on a whisper. "Oh my god, look at you, you look great!" She rushed to the bed where the two embraced like long lost friends. She sat gingerly back on the edge of the bed and the two women just looked at each other in silence before getting the giggles. "This is just SO …."
"Bizarre?" a husky voice behind her said as Alex spoke up.
The look on her face was priceless as she began to realize that there was a room full of people she'd not even noticed. She groaned inwardly as Becca's eyes crinkled with suppressed laughter. "Oh no," she mumbled.
"Oh yes," Becca laughed. "Turn around and say hello."
She did as she was told, turning to find Kevin, Alex, Brian and Howie standing in a row against the far wall. "Hi," she said, wiggling her fingers in a half-hearted wave and blushing.
Cheeziness ruled as they all spoke in unison, "Hi, we're the Backstreet Boys."
Sarah rolled her eyes and Becca lost the will to remain silent, laughing until her stitches began to hurt.
"Oh, ouch," she moaned, shifting her position on the bed.
"Baby, what?" Nick was there in an instant, taking her hand and frowning.
"Shouldn't … laugh … like that," she gasped. "Stitches…"
He helped her get comfortable as Julie watched, soaking it all in. After all the discussions on the list, all the fantasizing they'd done, all the speculation, she was actually getting to watch Nick Carter in action and he was just too adorably romantic for words. It was all she could do to control herself and not sigh.
As Nick helped Becca settle in, the others gathered around, making formal introductions and trying to put her at ease. No amount of coaxing on Alex's part would get her to confess whether or not she wrote fan fiction like Becca. She simply zipped her lips and said "no comment".
In what seemed no time at all, they had to get ready to leave for the venue for sound checks.
"We'll see you tonight, right?" Kevin asked.
"I guess so," she said, looking over at Sarah.
"Yep, Raoul and I will come back for you later. You sure you don't mind hanging here with Becca?"
"Are you kidding? Not at all! We have a lot of catching up to do."
"Will I see you all later?" Becca asked.
"Not sure, beautiful," Alex said. "We'll see how the time goes and how you're feeling. Mom said she'd come by tonight during the show so you're not alone."
"Alex, that's great, but you don't have to babysit me."
"Bec, we just want to help," Brian said. "We all love you and you scared the daylights out of us. Let us pamper you for a while."
"Bec, I'm stealing your husband," Sarah said, linking her arm through Nick's. "He promised to rest before the show and I'm gonna make sure he does."
"Thanks, sis, you're the best." She blew a kiss at Sarah as she tried unsuccessfully to drag Nick from the room.
"Sarah, let GO!" he fussed, finally pulling out of her grasp and heading straight for Becca. "You'll be all right?" he whispered brushing her hair out of her eyes and cupping her cheek in his hand.
"Yes, I'll be fine, Nick. I’m going to have a nice visit with Julie. Maybe we'll walk down to the nursery so I can show off your son," she grinned.
As Julie watched, still somewhat in awe, he leaned close and kissed Becca sweetly. This time she couldn't help the sigh that escaped. Fortunately for her, everyone tactfully ignored it and she was spared further embarrassment.
************
While waiting for the elevator, Kevin pulled Howie to the side and spoke in a hushed voice. "Is Sarah gonna be okay?"
Howie looked at his wife as she talked to Nick. Shaking his head, he said, "I have NO idea. I thought she was but then in Becca’s room…I thought she was going to lose it."
"Is it what happened…the plane and all?"
"I think that’s part of it but she hasn’t had much sleep and you know how she gets when she’s tired."
AJ had been listening and he spoke up now. "Maybe she shouldn’t sing tonight."
"Who shouldn’t sing?" asked Nick.
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Why do you have to speak up at the WORST
times?"
Howie spoke gently, "We were just thinking that maybe Sarah shouldn’t sing tonight but get some rest."
Sarah looked at Howie with a hurt look in her eyes. "Why?"
"Angel, you’ve been through a lot and you’re tired. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard."
"You’ve been through the same thing and you’re still performing."
"I’m not pregnant either. Angel, I’m just trying to look out for you."
"Before you two start arguing, Sarah, we’re all tired and we’ve all been under a lot of stress but your body is under more stress trying to provide for the babies. That’s NOT something I need to tell you," said Kevin. The elevator doors opened and the group stepped on as Kevin continued. "None of us are saying you CAN’T perform. We’re just saying maybe you shouldn’t…so you can rest."
Howie put his arms around Sarah as a tear slid down her cheek. "Kevin, I want to sing. If I don’t, then in some way, they’ve won. They’ve STOPPED me."
No one had to ask what Sarah meant. They all felt the same way. Just two hours a night to provide people with a little relief from the horror of reality.
Kevin wiped the tear away and spoke softly to her. "It’s okay, baby. We all understand and if you want to go on, fine. Just promise me that you’ll tell Howie when you’re tired. We don’t need to end up here for you."
"I promise," whispered Sarah as she hugged Howie’s arms tighter to her.
Brian spoke up. "The press is going to be waiting on us, Sarah."
"I’ll be okay, ‘Rok’. Thanks." Then looking over her shoulder at Howie, she whispered, "As long as I have you."
Howie smiled, "Always and forever," and placed a tender kiss on her lips.
AJ cackled, "Ahhhh…ain’t that sweet!"
Sarah pulled away, "BITE ME, ‘BONE’."
AJ grabbed her pulling her out of Howie’s arms and playfully bit her on the neck. Sarah tried to get away from him but he had a good hold on her.
"Stop it, Alex!"
The guys laughed at the two and when the elevator opened, AJ let her go.
Together, the group moved through the crowd waving and answering general questions about the tour. Their security was tight moving them quickly to the waiting van.