Chapter 4

Nick dragged himself down the hall clinging to my side. "Kev?"

"Yeah?"

"I feel like shit."

"Don't swear."

"You let AJ cuss."

"That's beside the point."

"Why?"

I guided him into the room. I searched my brain for an answer to his question settling on a phrase my mother had said many times. "Because I said so."

Nick wrinkled his nose as he gazed around the room. "They gave me the kiddie room!"

We were surrounded by pink elephants and yellow duckies.....

I cringed. "This is wallpaper from hell...It's nauseating."

Nick held his stomach. "Don't say that."

"Oh, sorry." I patted the examining table. "Why don't you lay down? You can close your eyes and make the rejected circus animals disppear."

Nick hoisted himself up sliding back ruffling the thin paper lining the table. He shivered.

I laid the big coat over him like a blanket. "Maybe this'll help."

"Thanks," he mumbled.

I patted his back. "I'm sorry you're so sick."

"It's not your fault."

I sat down in a spare chair. "You've had a rough couple of days, huh?"

"Yeah. My dog died, I got sick and my family is sacrificing everything for me...And now they'll just have more medical bills to pay."

"They don't have to pay for this and things will get better."

"Will they? Will we ever get signed? Will Lou ever stop getting angry?"

"He's not angry at you."

Nick sighed. "Someone's always angry at me between you, Lou and AJ."

I could feel my jaw dropping. "When do I get mad at you?"

"All the time. At reharshals, at meetings, shows, interviews...Then, Lou gets mad at me for being sick and AJ normally finds some reason to pick on me. Howie and Brian are the only ones that don't yell at me."

I took a deep breath. "This group just means a lot to me. So, I get angry when you won't work."

Work? It seemed surreal to be using that word with a thirteen-year-old....I couldn't help pitying him. At least when my cousin got homesick he had me. Who did Nick have? A guy like me to bitch him out.

When I was his age I sang and danced for fun, not for an income. And I wasn't constantly taken away from my family, and I could attend school like all the kids...If I was sick my mom and dad would take care of me- not a band member. My tone softened with him. "I'll try to be more considerate, I promise."

He coughed roughly. "Thanks," Nick managed to spit out as he continued coughing.

I frowned concerned by the hacking coughs walking to his side. "Sit up, it'll ease the coughing."

The door open as I rubbed Nick's back. The doctor entered. A tall Italian man with features similar to my own. "My goodness was that you, kid?" he asked with a thick New York accent.

Nick nodded as the coughing sudsided.

The doctor whistled. "Mighty big cough for such a little guy." He extended his hand to me. "Hello, I'm Dr.Yentelli." He faced Nick. "Let's see if we can get that cough taken care of, kiddo."

I helped Nick sit up as the doctor walked toward him. "Let's take a look at you."

This guy seemed nice enough; a blessing after all Nick had been through with people like Lou. He pressed a tongue depressor against Nick's tongue. "Say 'ahhhh'."

"Ahhh," Nick sighed fighting the urge to gag.

I cringed. The uncomfortable damn things looked like used popiciles. Grrrreat.... being around a thirteen-year-old for so long has me thinking like one.

"Hmm..." the doctor hummed removing the object. "The throat is red but I don't see any signs of infection so strep is out of the question. However, I think he may have a bit of sinus drainage. "

I nodded.

Dr.Yentelli moved on to look into Nick's ears. "Have you had any earaches?"

"Nope, they've just felt a little clogged," Nick sniffled.

"I see." He pulled a small flashlight from his pocket. "Look up for me please."

Nick tilted his head back allowing the doctor to get a better look. I had to pity the man, I wouldn't look up Nick's nose even if you paid me.

He pulled the light away. "That's not a pretty sight, Mr.Carter."

Nick yawned struggling to stay awake. "Is it ever pretty to look at someone's boogers?"

I stifled a laugh. "Just let him do his job."

The doctor smiled. "I don't mind. It's nice to see someone with a sense of humor who doesn't want to kick or bite me."

Would now be a bad time to tell the guy Nick had tried to bite me?

Dr.Yentelli adjusted his stetchoscope lifting up Nick's shirt. "I want to take a listen to those lungs. Warning: this thing is always cold and it's impossible to warm up."

Nick tried to smile as the doctor placed the cold metal against his chest. "Take in a deep breath for me.....Release.....Again....Release." He listened to the other side of his chest. "Breathe in....Release....One more....Release." He moved to Nick's back. "Deep breath for me....Let it out....And one last time, deep breath....Okay, let it out slowly." He frowned as he laid the stethoscope around his neck. "Does it hurt for you to breathe? Especially deep breaths?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah."

I faced the physician. "Is he okay?"

"Well, he'll be feeling pretty bad for the next few days. He has a sinus infection and a moderate case of brouchitis. Which I want to treat immediately to keep to from going to an accute case or even pnemonia. I'm prescribing a antibotic to clear up the infection, as well as a cough syrup with codine to help him sleep more comfortably. I want you to keep giving Tynelol or Advil regularly for his temperature and keep an eye on that as well."

"What should I do if it gets higher?"

"Try a cool bath, but if the coughing gets severe you might want to take him to the emergency room."

Nick paled. "I'm not that sick, I don't need to go to the hospital!"

Dr.Yentelli chuckled. "I don't think it'll be that bad, scout's honor. Now, why don't you go home and get some rest."

I watched Nick's expression fall as he said the word 'home'. The kid really missed his family and his dog...

"Um, we were planning on heading back to Florida this afternoon. Is Nick okay to travel? Will it be okay on his lungs?"

He nodded. "Well, I don't really recommend it for someone his size. Maybe you could regulate the travelling?"

"What about performing? He sings and dances in a travelling group."

"No performing for at least three days. He needs a chance to rest up."

I sighed. "Could I get that in a written document? About the performing and travelling restrictions?"

He stared at me strangely. I rubbed my forehead. "It's a long story."

"I'll write it for you. Does he need a school release?"

I shook my head. "No, he's tutored."

He handed me the sloppily written papers. "There's the release and his prescriptions. You can have them filled as you check out if that's more convient for you." The doctor patted Nick's knee. "I hope you start feeling better, sport."

I shook his hand. "Thank you, doctor."

"No problem. If he's not improving within three days or starts having any problems with the meds get a hold of the clinic or a local doctor where you're staying."

I nodded as the doctor departed. "Sure thing, thank you."

Nick slid off the examining table. "I'm ready to go."

"Likewise," I agreed.

He looked up at me. "Is Lou going to get mad at me?"

"No." I answered quickly- too quickly. "But don't worry about that, let's just get back."

Brian joined us at the checkout location. "Is he okay?"

I handed the cashier the prescriptions. "He has a moderate case of brouchitis and a sinus infection."

Brian helped Nick get into Howie's coat. "Tough break."

"He can't perform for three days at least," I explained as I paid. "And we need to regulate his travelling. He shouldn't be out for long periods of time."

"How are we going to work that out?"

I sighed. "I'm not sure, but I'll find a way. I'd suggest we call Nick's parents and do whatever they want. If they want Nick to stay in New York a few extra days or starting travelling I'll do either it's their call."

"Here you are, sir," the cashier said handing me the prescriptions.

"Thank you, Ma'am. Um, is there a phone I could borrow? I need to call a cab."

She nodded. "You can use our phone." She handed me the receiver preparing to dial the number.

I pulled the paper I had written the number on out of my pocket. "945-3858." I sighed listening to the annoying ringing in my ear. After this day I wanted to rest as much as Nick did.

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

"Nick...Nick...." Brian sang gently shaking him as the cab pulled up to the hotel door. "We're here."
I handed the cabbie the money stepping out into the cold air walking over to their side of vechile opening the door. Brian climbed out while Nick still lay groggily in back. I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Nick, I'm not going to carry you. You are thirteen-years-old and perfectly capable of walking."

He dragged himself out of cab holding his forehead. "I feel really sick."

The kid really did look like hell...I sighed bending down hoisting him onto my back. "Hang on."

Brian chuckled as he opened the hotel door. "I thought you 'weren't going to carry him'."

"He has a 101 fever and practically hacked up a lung, I guess it wouldn't kill me to carry the little rugrat."

Nick tightened his grip around my neck. "I'm not a rugrat."

"Okay, okay, you're not a rugrat," I gagged. "Now, stop choking me."

Nick lightened his grip as Brian opened the hotel door.

"Is he okay?" Howie asked immediately as he saw I was packing Nick on my back.

I set the blonde down on the bed. "He's okay. He has a moderate case of brouchitis and a sinus infection."

AJ stopped packing his suitcase to take a seat beside Nick. "Hey, how are you, kid?"

Nick pulled his arms out of Howie's coat returning it to the proper owner. "Sick. I feel sick." He looked up at me. "Do I have to travel back now? I want to rest, please."

"I'll try to have it arranged," I promised. "You better call your Mom now and let her know you saw the doctor and ask her what she would like you to do about travelling."

Howie spoke softly as Nick dialed the number. "Kevin, if you stay here with him what will you do for money and food? You're broke."

"I guess Mr.Pearlman will have to cover it."

AJ raised an eyebrow. "What if he refuses?"

"Then, he'll have to deal with Nick's parents. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to deal with Mrs.Carter when she's pissed."

AJ rolled his eyes. "What would Lou care he could just sit on her and crush her."

"AJ..." Howie warned. "Be nice."

"Why bother?" AJ breathed returning to packing his suitcase. "No one else is."

I glanced at Nick's prescriptions. "Hey, Howie, do we have any food here? Nick has to eat when he takes the antibotic."

He shook his head. "No, didn't you guys get food while you were out?"

"We were going to, but I really just wanted to get Nick back here."

Brian lifted his head. "There's a McDonalds just across the street. You want me to go pick something up?"

I nodded. "Yes, but I don't want you going alone."

"Kevin," Brian sighed, "I'm perfectly able to go on my own."

"Brian, I do not you walking out there alone."

"I'll go with him," Howie offered. "I need a little fresh air anyway."

"Yeah!" Brian smiled. "Howie can go with me and I can tell him about the turtle."

Howie raised an eyebrow staring at me in confusion. "The turtle?"

I sighed handing some of the spare money I had left over from Lou's greedy collection of fundage. "Could you grab me a Big Mac?"

Brian nodded. "Sure. What do you want, Nick?"

Nick placed his hand over the phone. "I don't want anything."

I sighed. "You have to eat, Nick. McDonalds has soup this time of year, do you want to try that?"

He nodded returning to his phone conversation.

Howie opened the door. "You need anything, AJ?"

"A quarter pounder sounds good."

"All right, see 'ya later," Brian said shutting the door behind them.

Nick held the phone out to me. "My Mom wants to talk to you."

Why did I have a bad feeling about this?

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

"They've been gone fifteen minutes. Isn't that long enough to go to McDonalds and back?" AJ asked as he flipped through the channels.

I sighed joining him. "In New York it'll take them fifteen minutes to get across the street. Howie and Brian aren't mean enough to fight against the traffic."

He glanced at me. "It doesn't take you or me that long."

I nodded. "Yeah, but you look like you could fit in here and I use to play football."

"Ooooh."

Nick snored loudly mumbling in his sleep. I didn't want him to fall asleep considering I'd only have to wake him in a few minutes to get him to take his medicine. But I had given up the fight of keeping him alert for the time being.

AJ groaned listening to Nick. "And I thought Howie was bad...."

"He can't help it, he's congested as hell. "

"I know."

I stared at his blank expression. "You okay, kid?"

"I'm fine. What would you care anyway?"

I raised my hands in defense. "Whoa, I was just asking."

"Sorry, it's just that you've never cared before."

I frowned. Was I really that uncaring? Or had I just been playing the part? I cleared my throat. "I care about you, I care about all of you. What's going on?"

He stood walking toward the bathroom. "Why would anything be wrong?"

"Oh, I dunno....You're avioding conversation and haven't tried to catch an episode of 'Baywatch' all day so obviously something is wrong."

"Ya' see? That's why I'm upset! I didn't get to watch Pamela Anderson run in slow motion!"

"As believable as the reason was, I don't believe you, Alex."

"It's AJ!" he snapped.

"No, it's Alex," I stated firmly. "Did something happen while I was gone?"

"No!" the teen yelled.

"Don't yell you'll wake up Nick."

"Sorry."

"Seriously, what's wrong?" Why did I suddenly sound like a father trying to pry a conversation out of his son?

"It's Lou."

"Did he say something to you?"

"No, it's just well..... my dad was never around, 'ya know?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I knew you lived with your mother and grandparents."

He sighed with his raspy voice becoming a whisper. "Well, it's just that I was kinda' beginning to look at him almost as a father figure."

Why the kid would choose that greedy man was beyond me. It was slowly becoming apparent he was more concerned in our fiancial possibilites in his life than our happiness in the business.

AJ continued. "So, when I saw Lou treat Nick like that- it was like a slap in the face. And then I always feel guilty around you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, I mean you're dad he- um"

"Died," I whispered clenching my teeth.

"Y-yeah," he stuttered. "I mean, shouldn't I be grateful that I have a father who's alive?"

I shrugged. "Yes, I think you should be grateful that he's alive. But your father and my father were two different people."

He sat down beside me. "Do you think I did something wrong?"

"You? What could you have done?"

"Maybe if I never would've been born he wouldn't have left my mom and-"

"That's enough. I think your mom would be lost without you. You make her happy everyday and your grandparents, they all love you so much."

I nervously put my arm around him waiting to see if he'd pull away. "Men that leave their kids and don't write or call probably didn't treat their wives that great. But he helped bring you into the world and you make your mom happy. She loves you more than anything. And you've had your grandparents. Hell, you have three parents, kid. And yet you're still a pint-sized rebel."

"Nah, I'm not a rebel. I'm just a skinny guy that likes to dress this way to look cool."

Since when were neon green pants cool?

He faced me. "You're not that bad, Kev. You really do pay attention to all of us."

I nodded. "Yeah. I do from time to time."

"Then, why do you always want to be alone when the rest of us go out?"

I paused. "Um...I just like my space, that's all."

"So, you don't think we're annoying pains in your ass?"

I smiled. "Well, I don't think Howie is. As for the rest of you....."

"I'm insulted!"

"Don't flatter yourself," I laughed.

AJ looked around the room speaking softly as to double-check that no one would hear him. "Hey, Kev?"

"Yeah?"

"Um....If I ever needed to talk about something and needed advise, could I talk to you?" He lowered his voice. "Speaking man to man, of course."

"Of course," I replied in the same tone. "But don't you normally talk to Howie?"

"D's has a lot going on. He's finishing up getting his associate arts' degree in college and his family situation is sad."

"Family situation?"

"Yeah, didn't you know?"

"No, I didn't. What are you talking about?"

"Oh, his sister has lupus."

I could feel my skin paling and my stomach churning. "Pollyanna?"

"No, Caroline, but she's doing pretty well right now. One of her better stages."

I ran a shaky hand over my brow remembering my family situation when my father had been dianogsed with cancer. How could Howie be holding up so well? Hell, what was lupus anyway?

AJ tossed me a worried look. "You okay, Kev? You look kind of sick. Are you getting what Nick has?"

I shook my head breathing slowly. "No, I'm okay."

"WE' RE BAAAAAAAAAAAACK!" Brian sang suddenly as the door opened.

Howie stared at AJ and me setting the food down. "What happened? You two look weird."

AJ chuckled. "I always look weird."

Brian locked the door. "So does Kevin."

"I do not!" I argued.

He grinned as he went over to wake Nick. "Whatever, cuz." Brian gently rubbed Nick's back. "Get up, kiddo. Time to eat."

"I don't wanna'."

"If you eat you can take some medicine and help me pick out a name for my pet turtle!"

I stared at Howie in shock. "You actually agreed to let him have a turtle?!"

Howie nodded. "Brian said you liked the idea."

Brian smiled at me devilishly as Nick sat up yawning. "Hey, Kev, maybe I should ask Nick how he likes the name Donatello?"

Nick wrinkled his nose. "You want to name it after one of the Ninja Turtles?"

"BRIAN, DON'T EVEN SAY A WORD!" I yelled taking a huge bite of my cheeseburger to aviod cussing out my own flesh and blood.

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