*The next afternoon, at Carly's*
"Hey everyone.." Carly said entering in the house followed by Howie. The couple had spent the night at Howie's house and decided to stop by Carly's for a while before to go back at the hospital.
"Hey sweetie!" Carly's mother said with a hug. "How are you two doing?"
"Not bad... we've already been happier though.." Carly replied with a little smile.
"He's still in a coma?"
"Unfortunately yes.." Howie sighed.
"That's so sad...I hope he'll be alright. Anna is unbearble since she knows about the accident!"
"I wish I haven't told her!" Carly replied, sitting beside Howie.
"Well..they are talking about it on the radio now... so she would have known" her mother told her.
"What???" Howie exclaimed. "How could they know?"
"Well...It's a rumour. They don't say that it's true but what I heard is that there's rumour going that Nick Carter from the BSB had a car accident and is still in the hospital. They didn't say he's in the coma or whatever..."
"Oh great..We'll have to make a press conference.." Howie sighed. Carly layed her head on his shoulder and took his hand.
"You two look awfully tired!" Carly's mother noticed.
"Yeah well we haven't sleep a lot since 2 days..." Carly replied.
"If you want to rest a little here this afternoon...you can. I'll be gone until 6 and...Leila isn't home...only Anna is here and she's pretty quiet these days.."
"I see... well maybe we'll stay a little but we have to go back at the hospital later." Carly said.
"Ok. I have to go now. If you have any news, call me." her mother said.
"Ok, bye mommie!" Carly replied.
"Bye Mrs."
"Bye you two!" she said before to walked out of the house.
"So, do you want to stay a little this afternoon?" Carly asked Howie.
"I don't know..it's all up to you sweetie!" he replied wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Well..I don't really feel like going to the hospital really early... I mean, we're all the time there..."
"I understand. We can go only after dinner what do you think?"
"Great." she nodded. "I love you!"
"I love you too!" he replied before to plant a kiss on her lips.
"Carly????????" Anna screamed from her room.
"What????" Carly screamed back.
"Do you have any news???????" Anna screamed again.
"No!!!!!!"
"Why don't you go see her to talk ?" Howie laughed.
"I don't want to move...I feel good in your arms.." she said smilling as he hold her tighter.
"Carly????????????" Anna screamed again.
"Anna! Come here if you want to talk!!!!" Carly yelled.
"Nothing has changed? He's still uncouscious?" Anna asked entering in the living room.
"Yes he is... I would have tell you if he would have waken up.."
"But there are no news? nothing nothing??? They don't know when he'll wakes up??"
"No!"
"How come?? They should know something!!" Anna argued.
"Anna, the doctors can't know when someone will wakes up from a coma... the only thing we can do is wait. I've already told you that!" Carly said a little harshly.
"I know you did! You're not oblige to scream at me!" Anna replied the same way.
"Well sorry but you asked me a zillions time if I had any news and I've answered you a zillions time that we don't! It's not hard to understand!" Carly shouted.
"Sorry to be so annoying!!!!" Anna yelled back as she walked back at her bedroom and slam the door.
"Damnit!" Carly sighed tears in her eyes. Howie hold her tight and rubbed her back .
"Don't worry sweetie.. everything will be fine." he whispered in her ear.
"I'm so tired. Can't she understand we're always at the hospital and always waiting and hoping for any changes!?!?!?"
"Listen baby, your little sister is young and she seems to like Nick a lot. She's probably as upset as we are... she just wants him to be fine..."
"I understand that! But she can understand we're all upset and tired too... " Carly replied.
"Yes I know... but you both should try to support each other beside to scream at each other..."
"But I don't see why she's so upset about it... I mean, she met him once... and she knows she'll never have him or...whatever she wants!" she sighed.
"I know it's hard to understand but...that's how the fans are reacting... and I can tell you that some of them react way worst than your sister! When Brian got his heart surgery, you can't imagine how many letters we received. And some of them said things really weird from girls who had never met any of us... It's weird but...there's nothing we can do about it.." Howie explained.
"I see... so I should go talk to her?" Carly asked.
"That's what I think... Talk about that accident and how you feel...and how she feels... she'll be happy to have someone she can talk to.."
"You're right...again..." she giggled. "I'll go now... you can watch tv if you want..." she added before to put her lips on his.
"Good luck sweetie!"
"Thanks...I'll be back soon!" she stood up and walked to Anna's room. She knocked on the door but Anna didn't answer.
"Anna come on... open the door.." she said. Again, no answer. She knocked again.
"What do you want???" Anna asked, unhappy.
"I want to talk to you...open the door, please." Carly begged. After a moment of silence, Anna opened the door and Carly sat on the bed next to her sister. None of them talked during some minutes.
"So???" Anna asked waiting for her sister to speak.
"I just want to talk to you about ...Nick's accident.." Carly answered. She saw the face of her little sister changing. "You see, I know you really care for Nick but we all do and you can be sure I will give you news if anything change..."
"Yeah right... you wouldn't even tell me...I know you. You don't like that I like Nick... I know.." Anna replied.
"It's not that I don't like it... it's just that... I don't want you to have false ideas about him. He's a really nice guy and everything but... you know he'll never fall for you or anything like that.."
"I know that..." Anna said pouting.
"I guess I just want to protect you in a way... I don't want you to get hurt by having false ideas about him..." Carly said softly.
"Well thanks but I'm old enough to know that... I'm not having false ideas... "
"So why are you always asking us tons of questions about Nicky?" Carly asked.
"Don't call him Nicky...he doesn't like it.." Anna said what made Carly laughed.
"Ok sorry... why are you always asking questions about NICK?"
"Because... I don't know. I just want to know him... that's all..." Anna replied.
"Ok then... if you say so... " Carly paused. "I'm sorry I screamed at you... but you know we're all really tired and nervous...we don't know how this will end up.." she added still feeling tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry too..." Anna replied seeing how upset her sister was looking. "I shouldn't have asked you the same question four times... I guess I'm nervous too.."
"I know... you really care about him and if you keep on praying for him, he'll be fine. I'm sure about it..." Carly smiled at her sister who smiled back. "I'll tell him a little something from you tonight ok?"
"Ok!" Anna's face light up and she hugged her big sister. "When he'll get better, will you bring me to the hospital with you??"
"We'll see ok?" Carly giggled. "We'll see how he's doing when he'll wakes up and if he's doing great enough to receive visitors...then maybe you'll come with us..."
"Really????"
"Yeah...but I said..we'll see.."
"Yes yes... I know... I hope he'll remember me..." Anna thought out loud.
"He sure will... I think you traumatised him..." Carly laughed. "And you saved his life so... don't worry, he'll remember you!" she added as Anna laughed too. "Well, I should go see how my little Howie is doing... "
"Little Howie huh?" Anna teased.
"Yes!!" Carly laughed standing up. She left her sister and walked to the living room where she found Howie sleeping on the couch. She stared at him for a moment and smiled. She walked to him and layed beside him as he wrapped his arms around her.
"How did it go?" he asked all sleepy.
"Great! I love you so much!" she replied all smile and holding him tight.
"I love you too sweetheart!" he smiled back, his eyes still closed. Carly rest her head on his chest and fell asleep too.
*At Kevin's*
"At what time do you want to go to the hospital?" Stacey asked, walking in the kitchen where Kevin was sitting. "Kevin?" she asked again seeing that he wasn't answering. "Kev?"
"Huh?? What???" he said coming back to reality. "Sorry..."
"Are you alright?" Stacey asked concerned.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. I was just lost in my thoughts." he replied looking at his hands.
"You sure you're alright? If there's anything you want to talk about...you know you can tell me.. I'm here for you.." she said sitting next to him. He looked up and their eyes met.
"I was just thinking about Nick and all this stuff going on.." he finally told her.
"I know...we all do.." she sighed sadly.
"I'm so scared...I'm scared of what might happen. He can't leave us!" he exclaimed.
"No he can't. That's why he won't! There are too much people loving him and caring about it...and I'm sure he knows how sad everyone would be..." Stacey said with a cute smile. Kevin smiled back and took her hands. He was so happy to have her with him. He didn't know what he would have done without her during this rough time. She was looking so strong. A few tears started falling on his cheeks. He didn't know why they were falling right now but he felt better when Stacey hugged him tight. She hated to see him hurt like this but she knew it was hard to lose friends. She had lived it, not the same way but she knew it was painful whatever way it was. She knew Nick wasn't dead and it was great this way...but it was scary thinking he might not come back as he used to be.
"Ssshhh..don't worry. He'll be fine. I'm sure about it!" she whipered in Kevin's ear. She didn't know why she had this strong feeling inside of her, telling her that Nick would be alright. It was just not right for him to not be alright. He had to be ok. They spent a few minutes like this, Kevin crying in her arms as she hold him tight in her arms. She was 'happy' he was finally showing her his feelings about the accident. He haven't talked a lot about it and kept keeping his feelings for him. Stacey was happy he had opened up a little to her. When they broke apart, Kevin plunged his eyes into hers again. He stroke her cheek gently with his fingers as she smile at him with love. He approached his face and kissed her softly. She kissed him back and the kiss grew up with passion. His tongue entered in her mouth and played with hers. They both felt electricity all inside their bodies and made their way to the couch of the living room, getting off each others clothes. The kiss didn't stop and they ended up naked on the couch, Kevin on the top of Stacey, massaging her body with his hand, as he kissed her down the neck. After of moment of embrassing and caressing each other's body, he entered in her, at the sound of her soft moans. They both reached their climax and he layed beside her. Stacey kissed him again and smiled. She felt so good in his arms, she didn't want to go. He smiled back at her and they both fell asleep.
*Back at the hospital*
Brian was half asleep on a chair in the waiting room. Nick needed some rest so only Jane had stayed in the room with him. It was in the afternoon and the rain was falling hard outside the window. Some Chritsmas songs we're playing on the radio and the nurse were gettin the Christmas decoration fixed. That made him realize that this Christmas wouldn't be the happiest of his life... First it would be the first without Leighanne by his side for years... Second, nobody knew if Nick would be alright by then. His bestfriend wouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas like he did before.. he couldn't leave the town knowing this... he couldn't leave Nick alone for Chrtismas even if he had to be alone with him in this room talking to the ceilling, he would stay.
"Where are you going?!" Naomie asked half asleep on the couch when she noticed Brian walking out of the waiting room.
"Hey I didn't meant to wake you up! I'm just going to make a phone call!" Brian explained
"Oh Leighanne!" Naomie said with a liltte laugh.
"No! Mommie!" Brian replied walking in the hall way.
"Oh Mommie!! yeah!"
Brian sat on a chair in the hallway and dialed his parent's house number. After a few ring, his mother answered.
"Hello?!"
"Hey Mom it's me!" Brian smiled at the sound of his mother's voice.
"Hey sweetie!!! How have you been?"
"Hum..not bad." he replied with no emotion. "Well...something happened."
"What?? What's wrong??" his mother asked worried.
"Nick had a serious car accident a few days ago. He's in a coma." he paused. "We...we don't know if... he'll be okay when he'll wakes up.." he added with difficulty. It was always hard for him to talk about it. Just to imagine Nick different... it was too much.
"Oh Jesus!" his mother shouted. "What happened??"
"He got hit by a van on the driver side...."
"Oh God... how is Jane doing???"
"Actually...she looks alright. I'm sure it's hard for her but she doesn't show it really much..." Brian explained.
"Poor girl. I hope he'll be alright!"
"We all do. And...I was calling you because...I don't think I'll come back home for Christmas... I want to stay with him... I can't leave him like that..."
"You won't come for Christmas???" her mother asked deceived.
"I'm sorry.. I just can't leave his side. He needs me... "
"I know, it's your bestfriend, you can't live him. I just hope you don't feel guilty about it. You know it's not your fault right?"
"Huh? Yes I know mom." Brian replied.
"Well...you won't even come for a day?"
"I really don't know mom. It depend of how he will be when he'll wake up. If he's doing alright, I'll come for New Year okay?" Brian asked.
"Oh well, that's better than nothing!" Jackie sighed. "So I guess Kevin won't come either?"
"I don't think so... I'll tell him to call his mother."
"Ok good." she paused. "I'm sure Nick will be alright. We'll pray for him. Give us news as soon as you can."
"I will. I love you mom."
"I love you too!"
"I'll call you during the week.
"Ok! Bye sweetie!" his mother said.
"Bye mommie!" he replied before to hang up and walked back in the waiting room.
*That evening*
"Hey guys. I think we should talk about something..." Howie told Brian, Aj and Kevin. They were in the hallways of the hospital, walking to a private waiting area near Nick's room. "We have to know what we will tell the medias... because they are talking about the accident on the radio..."
"Talking about what? How can they possibly know anything? The accident wasn't even in the news..." Kevin said sitting down on a chair as the other did the same.
"We never know how they get the information but... we have to say something!" Howie replied.
"He's right." Aj nodded. "If there are too much rumours going on... it'll be worst.."
"What can we possibly say?? It'll be worst if we say something!!" Brian argued. "Can you imagine? If we says that Nick is in a coma and we don't even know how he will be when he'll wakes up! Medias will jump on this! They'll always be around!"
"Yes that's true... but they'll be around too if we don't say something! They'll want to know if it's true or not... " Kevin said.
"Maybe we should just wait until Nick wakes up... and tell them what is really going then. Because we don't even know what is going on now...what can we tell them?" Howie replied.
"You know...I'm not sure if they'll really be around us all the time if we tell them that Nick had an accident, and that we're waiting for him to wake up and see how he'll be doing. I mean, I know they can be really annoying but if we tell them to leave us alone and wait like us...maybe they'll understand." Aj said.
"I'm not sure about that.. "
"But if we say that as soon as we have some news, we tell them and make another press conference... maybe they'll leave us alone...anyway, it will not change something if they are always around...it will get things worst! And we can tell them that!" Aj added.
"We're taking a big risk if we do this Aj..." Kevin said.
"What is their problem anyway?????" Brian exploded. "They don't need to know!!! We'll tell them when we'll be ready! They have nothing to do into this! They don't even know him!! They just wants some gossips to look interesting! They don't even care about how he is doing! He could be dead and they'd be happy to announce it!!!"
"Brian...please...calm down..." Aj said.
"But I'm right!!! Medias are bunch of fucking crazy people who are happy when we're sad!!!" he shouted unhappily.
"Brian... can't you understand that there are rumours really huge going on. The fans think Nick is dead and they are going crazy not knowing if it's true or not!! I heard it on the radio!" Howie replied. "We have to tell them he's still alive... the fans are as upset as you are!"
"How can they possibly be?? Most of them don't even know him!!!" Brian argued.
"Come on Bri, what are you saying? Aren't you the one who received thousand and thousand of letters and teddybears when you had your heart surgery? You're the one who told me we couldn't understand why the fans were feeling that way!" Howie reminded him. Brian looked at the floor and didn't answer. He knew Howie was right but he could not think about telling the news about Nick's condition.
"So are we doing it?" Aj asked after a moment of silence.
"Well... I think we should take a risk... but be really careful with what we're saying..." Kevin answered with a sigh. "We have to tell them something or they'll always come to us trying to know something. And if we still don't answer them, they'll make up things and there will be too much rumours going on..."
"That's what I think too.." Aj nodded.
"Oh I just realized... we have no choice to make a press conference! We have to cancel the tour or postpone it!! It suppose to start in what? 2 weeks? Nick will never be able to make it. Even if he's alright, he'll have months of recovery! We have no choice.."
"That's right! I've totally forgotten about the tour!" Aj exclaimed smacking his forehead.
"So, we have to tell about the tour... and we have no choice to talk about the accident..." Kevin said.
"Yes ok. But like you said Kev, we'll have to be careful with what we're saying..." Howie said. "A few informations...just that he had a car accident and is in a coma right now...nothing about how he may be when he'll wakes up ok?"
"Yes that's good...Brian you agree?" Aj asked.
"Um Um.." he whipered reluctantly. "But I don't want to be at the press conference.." he added after a moment of silence.
"It's okay we'll take care of it..." Kevin told him, touching his shoulder.
Howie, Aj and Kevin called their manager and told him they would make a press conference about what happened. After a long conversation, they decided that the press conference would be take place on December 22nd, what was in a week. Since then, they would probably have more news about Nick and maybe he would even be awake. They came back in Nick's room and joined everyone.
"Hey baby!" Becky shouted when Aj entered in the room. "How did it go?"
"Good. We'll make a press conference next week. I hope he'll have waken up since then. We'd have more things to say..." he answered.
"Yeah I see. Well, I hope everything will be fine...let's hope he'll be awake.." she said. "And what about the tour? Is it postpone or cancelled?"
"We have to cancel it... we could do it without Nick but... we don't know what will happen and everything...so we'll cancel it..." Aj said.
"Yeah, that's the best thing to do I think.." Becky told him with a sorry look.
"Yeah!" Aj replied. "So what did you guys do during our little absence?"
"Nothing special..." Becky sighed.
"I'm sorry you have to live with this... " Aj said.
"Why are you sorry? It's not your fault..."
"I know but... I'm sure you would have like better vacations... because I know I would have like to spend more time with you..."
"Don't worry. It's okay. We're spending time together...maybe not the best of our life but..Anyway, Nick is my friend too! I can't imagine myself hanging out and having fun when I know he's here.." Becky replied.
"Yeah I understand how you feel. I love you!" Aj said with a smile.
"I love you too!" she smiled back and kissed him.
"Aj seems pretty in love..." Kevin said watching him and Becky together from the other side of the room.
"Yes...why are you saying this?" Stacey asked him with a smile.
"Well..I think it's the first time I see him so... happy!" Kevin explained. "I've seen him with all his other girlfriends and... it's different with Becky."
"How different?" Stacey asked. She didn't know Aj a lot and she didn't what Kevin meant.
"Aj is usually...kinda...player. He likes girls and is not afraid to show it. I mean, even when he had girlfriends, he was often seeing other girls at the same time. Or you know..one night stand when his girlfriend wasn't on tour with us..."
"Really???" Stacey exclaimed.
"Yes! Why do you look so surprised?" Kevin laughed.
"Well...I've seen him and Becky together since like...my first day with you so he didn't look like that. As you said, he seems deeply in love. I never thought about him as a player because I've never seen him with other girls since I'm on the tour..." Stacey replied.
"Oh yeah that's right. Well, he is like that...or I should say, was like that. He changed a lot since he's going out with her... he's more... adult!" Kevin said.
"That's great! You think she's the one for him?"
"Maybe...yes. They both are so similar. I know Becky liked to have fun and was a little player herself...and she seems to have changed too since she's with Aj. I guess they are made for each other.."
"That's wonderful!" Stacey exclaimed smiling and looking at the too lovers who were holding each other. "They look so cute together!"
"Not as much as you and me!" Kevin smiled looking at Stacey in the eyes.
"You think?" she smiled.
"Yes!" he said, his smile growing and giving her a small kiss.
"Hey cuz..." Brian said sitting next to them.
"Hi Brian..nice to see you too!" Stacey laughed.
"Sorry... hey Stace!" Brian said.
"What's up?" Kevin asked.
"Nothing much... waiting..."
"You should go back to your house for the night Bri... you need to rest!"
"I'm okay!!" he sighed.
"That's not really convincing!" Stacey replied.
"Well I'm okay! I swear! I don't want to leave him and I won't..." Brian said. "I've got this talk with everyone... and I won't change my mind. Anyway, there's always someone with me..."
"Oh yeah! Before I forget again to tell you, Leighanne called me this morning and told me that Tyke is going pretty well...but he miss you.." Stacey said.
"I miss him too... did she say anything else?"
"Um..no... only that the house and Tyke were alright.."
"Did she say when she'll come for a visit?" Brian asked secretly hoping she would come soon.
"Yeah! She say she'll pass by tomorrow...she don't know when exactly but she'll be here tomorrow!" Stacey smiled.
"Good!" Brian said with a smile lighting his face.
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