Part 88

Kevin started to knock on Howie’s door but Howie came out before he could. "Ready for sound checks, D?"

"Yeah…let’s go."

As they headed down the hall to the elevator, Kevin asked, "Why isn’t Sarah going?"

Knowing Sarah wasn’t ready to tell the others, Howie said, "She’s sleeping. She wasn’t feeling well this morning and then we spent all morning walking. I told her to just stay put."

Getting on the elevator, Kevin asked, "I hope it’s nothing serious."

"Just the stress from AJ’s crap," shrugged Howie. He saw Kevin’s frown and added, "Don’t worry. She’s not making herself sick."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," grinned Howie. That one word meant more to him than Kevin realized at that moment.

******************

 

Sound checks were almost complete, and from there they were all headed back to the hotel. Nick was off somewhere with Kevin and Brian, and Howie had just finished. Becca was hanging around watching and was fascinated with the entire process. The intricacies of a show this size amazed her and she was absorbing it all like a kid in a toy store. AJ was up last and as he walked by Becca he slipped his arm around her, kissing her on the cheek.

Thinking nothing of it, she hugged him back. "Hey, J, what's up?" she asked innocently.

"Me," he answered suggestively.

Becca laughed. "Be serious."

"I am," he said, holding her tighter. "I don't know, just something about you lately ..."

"AJ, stop," she said, pulling away.

"Seriously Bec, I just look at you and I get hard. And you must be great in the sack to have held on to Nicky for this long."

"AJ stop, please." She was becoming frightened and not sure why. After all, AJ was always joking around, but lately he'd had an edge about him that made her extremely nervous.

What she didn't know was that Howie was standing off to the sides, watching.

"Come on, what do you say -- you and me? Later?"

"No!"

"Bec," he wheedled, "I've never done it with a pregnant woman. Must be some kinky positions you have to use-"

"Take a hike, AJ." Howie put his hand on AJ's shoulder and it was clear from his tone that he would not stand for an argument.

"No can do, got sound check to run." He smirked at Howie, clearly thinking he had the upper hand.

"You're finished, AJ. They'll have to adjust you on the opening number. Go sober up, we've got a show to do."

His eyes narrowed at Howie, but to Becca's relief, he did as he was told.

When he was out of earshot, Howie turned to Becca. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, holding her shoulders which had begun to shake.

"Yeah, thanks Howie." She took a deep breath to steady herself. "He's messed up, isn't he?"

"More than you know, Bec," he sighed. "Look, you need to tell Nick about this."

"No!"

"Yes, Becca. Trust me on this. AJ's ... well, there's a lot you don't know, but he's out of control. The only way we can help him is if we're all honest with each other." He could see that Becca wasn't with him on this. "I know, he's gonna be beyond pissed at AJ, but he has to know. Look, let's talk to Nick after the show tonight. I'll be there when you tell him and I can help keep him calm." Maybe, he thought to himself. There's no telling what Nick would do if he knew what AJ had done to Sarah, but he felt it was only a matter of time before it all hit the fan.

*************

As they made their way to their rooms, Becca asked, "D, is Sarah okay? I noticed she wasn’t with you at sound checks?"

Brian and Nick chorused their concern too and Howie said, "She’s not feeling well but it’s nothing serious."

"She’ll be at the show though, won’t she?" asked Nick.

Howie shook his head, "Not tonight."

"I’ll stay with her if she wants," offered Becca not wanting to be around AJ or take a chance of running into him alone again. Even with Denise and Ali around, Becca simply did not want to be around AJ without Sarah.

Nick looked at her, "But baby, what am I suppose to do without you in the audience?"

"Get over it, Nicky," jabbed Brian. "You’ve already lost some of your appeal with her after only a month of marriage."

Howie spoke up, "Drop it, Rok…Bec, I’m sure Sarah would appreciate it and I know I do."

Howie understood completely why Becca didn’t want to go to the show tonight and he was relieved that Sarah wouldn’t be alone and that Becca wouldn’t have to deal with AJ.

AJ had remained silent the whole time knowing the guys weren’t going to tolerate anything from him. He was beginning to realize that he was out of control but he didn’t know what to do to stop. He hurt every time he looked at Sarah and saw the way she looked at him, fear and hurt in her eyes. She barely spoke to him and was NEVER alone with him. The guys were short with him and never wanted to just hang out. But what hurt the most was Ali. She had joined him after Nashville and said she missed him but he knew either Kevin or Howie had called her. She was there for moral support but their relationship was definitely strained. More often than not, she spent the night with his mother leaving him alone. He had thought she understood.

Part 89        The Dance Index