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~One Moment In Time~

CHAPTER ONE:

“Brian a package came for you today, it’s marked urgent. I put it on the dining room table.” Leighanne called to her husband, hearing him come in the house with Nick. She shook her head when she heard the persistent thumping of a basketball on the kitchen floor, over and over again. “Got it honey, thanks.” he yelled up the staircase. Nick was still bouncing the ball while rummaging through their refrigerator. “Nick stop dribbling the ball before Leighanne comes down here and gives us both a piece of her mind.” Brian scolded quietly. Nick stopped dribbling long enough to open a beer, then he began thumping the ball up and down again. Turning, he was faced with an incensed Leighanne who grabbed the ball. She walked to the back door and tossed it out. “Outside! My son is trying to sleep.” she said. “Sorry.” he grinned and followed Brian into the Living Room. Brian walked by the envelope on his way in. Picking it up he looked at it, no return address. Just as quickly as he had picked it up, he set it back down on the table. The game was coming on it could wait.

“I remember when she used to not care if we had a ball in the house.” Nick muttered as he flopped on Brian’s sofa. “When you have kids, Nick, you need to set a good example.” Brian grinned. “Well you’re doing fine, just don’t let them around their Uncle AJ.” Nick frowned. Brian knew that Nick was trying to open up the conversation to see how AJ was doing, but as far as he was concerned, if Nick wanted to know he could go to Florida and find out for himself. Brian absent-mindedly thought about it. AJ wasn’t doing well and he hadn’t heard from him since the guys' break started. That was over three weeks ago.

Brian and Leighanne had offered to help AJ, but his only response to the offer was slamming the door in their faces when they were in Malibu. The next day, AJ left for his house in Florida. They had called several times. He either wasn’t there or wouldn’t answer.

“Brian did you open that package yet?” they heard Leighanne ask from the kitchen. “No the game is on.” Brian replied as he rolled his eyes at Nick. “Priorities man.” he whispered. “Then I’m going to open it.” Leighanne called back. “She can’t stand it!” Nick snickered. “Nope, she’s nosey.” Brian grinned. “Watch this.” he whispered. “It’s marked personal, you better let me open it." “Well then open it!” Leighanne grinded out. “After the game.” Brian chuckled. Leighanne ventured into the dining room and retrieved the irritating envelope. She shook it. “Something is in here, but what?” she thought. She ran her hands around the object...it was a rectangle, thin too. “Ok, that’s it!” she muttered, as she ripped the end of the package open. “I said I would open it.” she heard from the doorway. Her face was tinged pink at being caught as the contents slid onto the table. “It’s some kind of tape.” she stated. Brian watched her, she was mesmerized by the sight of it. She picked up the envelope and held it over the table and a smaller envelope dropped out of it. “Hmmm..” Brian mumbled as he walked to the table. The envelope was clearly marked ‘Brian Littrel- Personal & Confidential.’ Grabbing the envelope, he strolled back into the living room to watch the game. He couldn’t fathom what the contents might be. Usually this crap was some psycho trying to blackmail one of them. Setting the envelope down, he began watching the game again with Nick.

Just then, Leighanne heard the Baylee crying. She snagged the tape off of the table and headed upstairs. 'Probably just another weirdo on tape again.' she thought outloud. She had never really gotten used to women sending videos of themselves naked to her husband, and to this day she couldn’t figure out what would make a person so desperate. After feeding Baylee, she settled him back in. Infants have a way of setting your routine; you don't set theirs. Baylee was already beginning to mimic his father’s personality. He was always smiling and doing things to make others smile. Satisfied that he would rest for a little while longer, Leighanne headed out of the nursery and to her own bedroom. She hadn’t noticed that she was still carrying the tape in her hand.

“Well, why not? Someone went through all the trouble to get this here so I might as well watch it.” she spoke out loud. She slid the tape in the VCR and then searched the entire room for the remote, eventually finding it hidden under Brian’s side of the bed. “Must be another game on tonight.” Crawling on the bed, she sat crossed legged in the center of it. She watched as the tape began to roll. She watched the entire tape not once, but twice. Confusion had set in rapidly and then panic, followed by anger. The woman on the tape was giving birth. The entire tape was filled with pictures of this woman and her child. It was a little boy. Leighanne literally watched the child grow up to the age of three. The last piece on the tape was a birthday party. The child never really talked on the tape, there was no sound. Whoever dubbed the tape didn't check the cord for the sound. Others around him did talk though, and he always looked at them or at the camera. “This is weird, who is this woman? Why did she send this to Brian?” Leighanne’s anger flared at the only possible reason in her mind that Brian received this tape. This woman had a baby....Brian’s baby.

Marching downstairs, she ran into the living room and threw the tape at Brian. “You better watch this right now, and when you’re done, I want an explanation.” With that, she turned on her heel and left in a huff. Nick lifted his head from the pillow. “You’re dead B-rok.” The final horn sounded on the game and they both missed the score. They stared at the screen waiting for the replay, but the station quickly cut to news. “Dammit Bri!” Nick grumbled, punching the couch. Brian was stunned at his wife’s outrage. This was not like her at all. She was extremely upset about whatever was on this tape. Nick shouting “who won?” brought him back to consciousness. He stuffed the tape in the VCR and hit play. The tape began and Nick immediately yelled “gross!” The camera quickly panned to the woman giving birth. “Holy shit, its Suzy!”

Both guys sat in silence and watched the tape. “Why would Suzy send you this Bri?” Nick had sat up to watch the tape, totally enthralled by it. He had seen Suzy, Troy, and even the baby boy that looked somewhat familiar to him. As the tape came to an end, they both looked at each other and then back to the television. “Ah Rok, do you see what I see?” Nick asked. “Yeah, but that’s impossible.” Brian spoke as he grabbed the envelope he had left on the arm of the couch. Carefully he slid it open, afraid of what the contents might hold. He read it once and then twice. Nick came over to stand behind the chair and was surprised at the words that were written on the piece of paper.

Dear Brian,
If you get this, then I am gone. This tape is very important. I would like to make sure that all of you see it. She was hurt deeply. She says that mistakes are mistakes. She will be lost and lonely again without me. Troy has gone on to his own life. I’ve called on him to get this to you. Susan does not know that I have sent this to you. You know Suzy. If she did, I would be going straight to hell. Please watch it, just once. Humor the hell out of an old dead man. You are an intelligent, talented young man. I’m sure you will figure it out.
Regards,
Sam

“You have got to be joking! He’s playin’ us man.” Nick shook his head at the letter. “Well, let’s look at it again and figure it out.” Brian nodded at the letter. “What’s to figure out Brian, that’s your kid!” Leighanne spoke in voice full of anger and hurt from the doorway. “That is not my kid! I never slept with Suzy, none of us did!” Brian screamed loudly. Nick backed up, not used to Brian yelling. Grabbing the remote, Nick hit rewind and the three of them sat watching the tape together. “I don’t believe it, but it has to be.” Nick mumbled. “Has to be what Nick?” Leighanne asked as she cuddled with Brian in the chair. She had accepted his answer and all was well with her now. “That’s Bone's kid!” Nick answered in shock. “No way!” Brian gave him a get real face. Then he looked at the screen again. The little boy had aged on the tape...he was blowing out the three candles on his birthday cake. “Oh my lord.” Leighanne whispered as she got up to look closer at the television. “Yes it is Brian, all he would need is Alex's receding hair line and a goatee.” “Shit, you’re right.” Brian gasped as he looked at the picture on the wall and then back to the screen. “Brian, who is Suzy?” Leighanne’s curiosity was overtaking her common sense at this point she couldn't help but ask. “Suzy owns the ranch that we stayed at in Montana. Do you remember that from about five years ago? The year after we all got married?” “Yeah man, that was a real cool place. It was a real workin’ ranch.” Nick chirped, expanding on his memories. The sights and sounds of the ranch came flooding back to his memory. “Yes, Jive sent you there to do some writing for the new album. That is when Alex and Sarah started having problems.” Leighanne whispered.

Brian and Nick both watched her face fill with sadness. Leighanne had come to feel AJ's pain more than anyone. He was lonely and felt like an outcast. She felt much the same way in the BSB world. Since Sarah had divorced him, Leighanne had tried everything in her power to help him deal with it. He just refused too. He was depressed, separated himself from the others whenever possible, and became reclusive. AJ the party animal had now become AJ the unsociable. This last break that the boys were on was particularly hard on him, his divorce becoming final at the beginning of the break.

“Yeah, it was their trial separation. That was the last time I actually saw AJ happy.” Brian remarked. “This means AJ slept with Suzy. All that time he rode our asses about getting work done and he was the one being a player.” Nick mused out loud. “So what do we do?” Brian questioned as he looked blankly at Nick and Leighanne. “Brian, we need to get Howie and Kevin and go to Florida. Alex can’t see this tape by himself. He’s already at the end of his rope, you know that. I just want to make sure that he gets the support that he needs from you guys. Anything any of you have ever done he has backed you one hundred percent, and now it's your turn to do the same for him.” Leighanne took a breath from her little speech and was ready to continue on until Brian interrupted her. “Honey, of course we’re going to go to Florida, but I don’t know if he’ll even let us in the door.” he said as he got up and ran his hands through his hair. He hadn’t told her that he had actually gotten in touch with AJ over the last two days. He had told everyone that he couldn’t reach him. Three times he had called, morning, noon, and night, and each time he had spoke to him, AJ was drunker than a skunk.

“So we all go. The four us and Leighanne.” Nick shrugged. “Yeah, but how do we tell him?” Brian was totally flustered as he walked to the kitchen and back. Nick thought for a split second and then blurted his idea out. “You don’t. Let the tape do that. Listen, all AJ ever wanted was kids. Sarah kept saying no, not now, it's not the right time, etc. That is what caused all of their problems. Maybe this will make him happy again." “What about Baylee?” Brian’s exasperation was growing at what he knew would happen. He really didn’t want any part of upsetting AJ even more than he already had been. Leighanne jumped up and went to the telephone. Brian could over hear the conversation as well as Nick, and by the time she came back to them, they knew that the plans were set. The three of them would be leaving for Florida in the morning. Leighanne’s mother was going to watch Baylee while they were gone. Kevin and Howie were picking them up at the airport and they would stay at Kevin's. A meeting would take place to fill Howie and Kevin in, and the planning would start from there.

CHAPTER TWO:

The following evening everyone gathered at Kevin's place, neither he nor Howie knowing what was going to take place. “So what’s the sudden vacation for guys?” Kevin asked the group. After all, he did get a quick phone call just yesterday telling him to be at the airport to pick them up. They didn’t ask, they just told him to be there. Somberly, Nick turned towards Howie and Kevin, then said “AJ.” Kevin shook his head. “Oh man, don’t go there. I’ve been over there and it ain’t pretty.” Poor AJ just wasn’t ready to deal with anything. Kevin tried to go over and get him to sober up. After all, AJ was the ringleader in his own little intervention so many years ago. Since that time he had never drank another drop. His five-year celebration had just passed. AJ, on the other hand, wasn’t ready to dry out. If he did, then the he would have to deal with the pain and his depression. Brian knew what AJ's reaction had been when he and Leigh had intruded on him in Malibu.

“You got in the door?” he inquired. “Sure, I got a key.” Kevin replied. “Perfect.” Brian said, grinning. Howie had rapidly become perturbed. Not one single person had explained to him why there was a need for the sudden meeting, beyond ‘Kevin’. “Come on, what’s this all about?" he demanded. Leighanne reached into her purse and pulled out the videotape and letter. She handed it to Howie. “This.” she told him. “You flew all the way down here to watch movies!?” Howie exclaimed as he looked at the tape and envelope he now held. Brian was at a loss for words. He tapped the box, then said, “It’s a special movie. We’re all supposed to watch it.” Howie walked into the Kevin's living room with the group following close behind him. “Fine, let’s watch the stupid thing then.” he sighed. Placing the tape in the VCR, they all looked at the fifty-two inch screen. Nick winced as he whispered to Brian, “I don’t know if I can watch this again on a large screen.” Leighanne pursed her lips together and shot both of them a look. Nick dropped in the chair without another word, Brian following his lead.

Kevin and Howie watched the tape, making no comments as they did, although on occasion they would steal a glance at each other. The tape finished off with the birthday and Kevin hit pause. He looked at the small child on the screen with big piercing brown eyes and short brown hair. Slowly, he exhaled and spoke outloud the thoughts that were running through his mind. “Well, looks like Bone is a daddy.” Howie came to his senses rather quickly and went on the defense, asking “where did this come from and how do you know it’s legit?” Nick just looked at him as if he were an idiot, before explaining, “It came from Sam. It’s legit.” “Oh.” was the only response Howie could think of.

Five pairs of eyes locked onto the porcelain face on the television. He was so tiny, so small, but definitely a cute little thing. “He's cute. He must get it from his mom.” Kevin's voice grated through the room. The others laughed, sensing that he was dealing with this on another plane also. Kevin had wanted a relationship with Suzy, but it was AJ who stepped up and reminded him that there was to be no playing, that they were there to work. “Yep, he is gonna be a looker.” Nick agreed. “Well Gentlemen and lady, I suggest we take action. Our little brother is not going to like this one bit.” Kevin began. “Too bad I’m going to enjoy it so much!” “Kevin!” Leighanne scolded him, but Kevin just shook his head. “Leigh, he's the one who said we were there to work. He was workin’ all right.”

“Look you guys, AJ has always supported you when you needed it. He didn’t pull any tricks or play games. Besides, the album that you did there was your best seller ever. It beat Millennium four times over.” Leighanne reminded them huffily. She was getting incensed; they were being insensitive and boorish. AJ needed them for a change, instead of them needing him. Getting him to realize that he needed them would be alot more difficult though. Kevin was just upset because he had wanted Suzy for himself. Finding out that AJ beat him to the punch was like opening an old wound.

“She’s right.” Howie groaned. “I hate it when’s she right.” Kevin added. As he stared at the tv screen, he wondered if things could have been different. Now getting anywhere near Suzy would be impossible. The code among the guys was “I saw it first, don’t cross the line,” and Kevin was usually the enforcer of their so-called rules of ethics. Knowing AJ the way he did, Kevin knew that it would be detrimental to his health to go near Suzy now. He read the letter from Sam and then passed it to Howie. Knowing Suzy, AJ was the one who was going to be in trouble.

Brian smiled, knowing that Leighanne had gotten down to the important aspect of the issue, bringing AJ back to some resemblance of his former self. “Anybody wanna go for a ride?” Kevin asked. Everyone just looked at him, stunned. They needed a plan first. “You can’t just go over there. We need a plan or somethin’ first.” Nick protested. “Nick, if you stop and plan, one, AJ will be even drunker then he is now, and two, you lose the element of surprise.” Kevin pointed out as he lazily got out of the chair he was sitting in and headed for the front door. Like lambs being lead to slaughter, the rest of the group blindly followed.

Climbing into Kevin's truck, Nick immediately began firing off comments. “This isn’t smart. We don’t have any idea what we’re doing. The last time we did this, I ended up with a broken hand cuz of Kev.” Howie began to chuckle from the backseat. “Just think if that was Kevin and he did that to you, then what the hell is AJ going to do to you.” Nick whipped around in the front seat and glared at him. “Shut-up D!” he shouted. The rest of the ride was silent except for the snickering in the backseat over Nick’s hand.

They pulled into AJ's driveway and the house was dark. The backseat emptied, along with Nick, and Kevin had to laugh as they quietly shut the doors. “Sssh, he might hear us!” he giggled as he slammed his truck door shut. Leighanne was chuckling into her hand and the guys were frowning. “Boo!” Kevin shouted suddenly, and three of the four Backstreet Boys jumped, but Leighanne was too busy laughing. She was getting a charge out of the way the guys were carrying on. The resemblance between what was taking place and a bad ‘B’ movie was very strong. Nick was actually tip-toeing up the walk. All they need were the black clothes and some face paint, she thought to herself, and they would like little commandos.

Kevin walked up to the door and was going to ring the bell until his arm was almost torn out of it's socket. “What he hell are you doing?” Nick whispered in the dark. “Announcing our arrival.” he answered as he slid the key into the lock. Kevin marveled that to this day, Nick was twenty-six years old and AJ could still strike fear in the man. “Chicken shit!” he muttered as he stamped out a cigarette on the pavement. Walking in the house, Kevin flicked the light switch on. He again began laughing as he saw the other three guys beg for him to turn it off. “You’re nuts!” Nick hissed. “Nick, dude, you need to chill. The man is out cold in the studio by now.” Kevin said knowingly as he shook his head at the three of them. “How do you know?” Brian quipped. Enraging AJ after a three-week drinking binge just didn’t seem like a good idea after all. “Because I’ve been here every night and that is where he always ends up. He won’t sleep in his bed. He says he’s going to burn it...too many bad memories.” Kevin explained.

The crowd before him weighed his response, and then everything dawned on them at once. He had been watching out for AJ all this time. “Let’s get this place cleaned up. If we’re going to sober him up, this place needs to look like it used to.” Kevin said as he grabbed the garbage can and started tossing empty liquor bottles and beer bottles in the trashcan. Satisfied that the cleaning crew could function on their own, he decided to go check on AJ.

CHAPTER THREE:

Walking to the back of the house, Kevin found AJ passed out on the floor of his studio, dressed in a thermal undershirt, a flannel shirt minus the sleeves, and a pair of sweats. He stood over him and looked at his friend sadly. “Awww Bone, man, this has gotta stop.” He left for a moment and then returned with a blanket. As he covered AJ up, he shook his head. “I’ve been there man, it don’t work.” Brian and Leighanne just stood back and watched Kevin. If anyone could help them with their mission, it would be him. He had already taken that road once and stayed on it for a long time. Just then, Kevin walked by them, interrupting their thoughts, and shut the door to the studio. “Let him sleep it off until tomorrow. We have to get this place cleaned up anyway.” he said softly. Leighanne surveyed the place...it was a pigsty. Although AJ was not known for being the neatest guy in the world, he still normally would not live like this. She went to the refrigerator to find that it had nothing but booze in it. Brian joined her and they hauled it all out, then grabbing Kevin's car keys she left, announcing that she was going to the grocery store.

“Man, this is bad.” Nick said, as he made what seemed like his hundredth trip out to the garbage. Glances were exchanged and the message was clear. At this rate, it would take an eternity to turn this place around. “Everybody take a room.” Howie suggested as he grabbed some cleaning supplies. “Fine, but stay out of the studio!” Kevin warned. Everyone in turn grabbing their cleaning supplies, they took off in search of a room to clean and Kevin snickered. "Now there’s a switch. We’re cleaning AJ's house instead of him cleaning one of ours." He had recalled the number of times that AJ would come over to his house. If he didn’t like the way something looked, he’d clean it or fix it. It had become running gag with them now, and Nick was the worst. If he knew that AJ was coming over, he wouldn’t even do the dishes. He used to giggle, saying that AJ was so much cheaper than a maid and he didn’t have to worry about the confidentiality clause.

Coming in through the door hours later, Leighanne was carrying four pizzas. Setting them down on the now clean table, she waited for the guys to appear. They always seemed to have a knack for showing up when hot food was around. Nick was the first to arrive in the kitchen. “I’m starved!” he announced, and the others weren't too far behind him. “Good. When you guys bring in the groceries, you can eat.” Leighanne told them. They all grumbled, but headed out the door anyway. Leighanne frowned at Howie’s remark of ‘you didn’t train her right Rok,' but she decided to just let it go. As they brought the bags in, she began putting stuff away. She had spent enough time with AJ and Sarah to know where things belonged. When all the groceries were put away and the house was cleaned, it was time to eat. The conversation quickly turned to the tape as they ate.

“What do you think he’s going to do?” Nick asked, directing the question to Brian. Brian was deep in thought...he wasn’t sure. Knowing AJ, he would get angry, then be wounded that it was kept from him, then come out fighting like a son of a bitch. The little boy was his though and AJ had always had the habit of claiming what was his. He was denied so much when the boys first got together. Before Sarah, Amanda had been a closet girlfriend for years. Lou wouldn’t stand for the public knowing about her. The boys had to look available. Once they were rid of Lou and the Wrights however, AJ was free again and as happy as he could be. Then the 'Black and Blue' tour started, and they took a pounding from everyone in all directions. Even MTV ridiculed them on one end and supported them on the other. That’s when the real problems started. AJ had too much time on his hands that summer. He was trying to promote various new charities, do some producing, and keep the guys out in the public eye all at the same time. It was because of this that he retreated to his new home in Florida...alone. He was always alone. He thought if he and Sarah got married, then maybe he wouldn’t be alone so much. Sarah worked in L.A, trying to make it as a singer. She was always working, so AJ spent most of his time in Orlando around his family, but soon the itch to have his own family started pounding stronger and stronger in his heart. He wanted kids running around everywhere, but Sarah was working and she wanted no part of that. Her career was taking off and the timing wasn't right she would tell him.

That fall, Jive sent the boys out to Montana to write some music. They wanted something different from the boys, not the tried and true, so sending them to someplace out of their element seemed like a good idea. Giving them unusual scenery, strange people, and Susan DeMonte. Brian was grinning when he thought of her. She was different, she liked his kind of music, she was fun, and she had a great sense of humor.

Suzy and AJ had more than one confrontation while the boys were there. The best one was when Suzy called their music 'bubble gum pop'.....all sugar coated and sweet. AJ flew off the handle at her over that and scoffed big time. Brian could still hear those words ringing through his head. “Oh yeah, like you know music? Be still my broken heart, my wife left me, she took my truck and my dog. Damn I miss my dog!” AJ laughed his ass off as Suzy slammed the screen door and headed down to the barn.

“Hey Brian, whatcha thinkin’ about?” Nick asked, Brian's train of thought being broken once more. He started laughing, and sang the same words that AJ had handed Suzy that day, causing everyone to laugh uncontrollably. He even used that Kentucky drawl of his to make it sound genuine. “I forgot about that.” Kevin grinned. “I never thought those two would get close enough to kiss, let alone anything else.” “Remember the sugar bowl?” Howie asked with a laugh, followed by the guys giggling like fools. “Oh yeah, she got him that day!” Nick chimed in. “He didn’t know what the hell to do. If Sam wouldn't have been standing there, I think he would’ve taken a swing at her.” “What about the sugar bowl?” Leighanne asked Howie, but Kevin decided that he wanted to tell the story and jumped right in. He explained that one day they all had hit a brick wall creatively. Nothing was working out and they were arguing over melodies, lyrics, keys, everything. They couldn’t write a damn thing down or agree on anything. Suzy had come into the house and was getting a drink. Everyone was sitting at the long pine kitchen table with AJ sitting on the end. The table easily sat eight people down each side.

“Why are you in the kitchen?” Suzy questioned them, not hiding her displeasure. “I can’t breathe! Everywhere I turn I have pop stars in my face.” she complained. “We needed a change of scenery, we can’t write! Are we bothering you?” AJ was really pissed off at their inability to accomplish anything, not her, but that didn’t stop him from yelling at her. Suzy just tilted her head sideways and glared at the obnoxious man sitting at the end of the table. She stood there waiting for an apology, but not getting one. Instead, AJ wrinkled up his nose at her, frowned, and locked his brown eyes on her. His intent was clear...leave us alone. Realizing he didn’t really give a shit, neither did Suzy any more, so grabbing the sugar bowl off of the counter, she went to the table. Leaning on it, she gave the sugar bowl a shove and it slid down the table ever so slowly. It passed each man and their eyes locked on it. It finally came to rest itself right in front of AJ as it came to a slow halt. Glances were exchanged quickly, and the look of 'oh shit' was the prominent on their faces. She only said one line as she walked back out the door. “Maybe that will help." AJ let out a scream at that point and took off towards the door, but Sam came in the kitchen just in time and called him back. “AJ, I think you best leave Suzy alone right now or else you could get seriously hurt.” With that being said, Sam quickly went out the door to find Suzy with her brother Troy hot on his heels.

“I would’ve loved to have seen that.” Leighanne chuckled. “Nope, they didn’t mix at all. They were like oil and vinegar.” Howie added. “Nah, more like gasoline and match.” Nick snickered out. “Remember the little contest they had? I’ll never forget the sight of AJ on his back in that corral, tied up like a damn bull. Suzy loved every minute of it too. I really thought she was going to let that bull out to stomp on him, she was so mad at him." “That was cool. She just roped his ass and dropped him like a sack of flour.” Howie laughed. Leighanne looked puzzled. AJ had never told her about any of this stuff. In fact, not one of them ever mentioned any of it. “Why did they have a contest?” she asked. “We don’t know, they never told us. I always thought it had something to do with us staying for the full four weeks or calling it quits and leaving early.” Nick answered.

Kevin laughed and then took a quick look at his watch. It was getting late. “Let’s crash here in case he wakes up.” he suggested. All of them were in agreement and their intervention would start in the morning. “Get a good nights sleep. We're all gonna need it.”

CHAPTER FOUR:

AJ rolled on his side and banged his head into the leg of the piano bench. “Owww!” he yelped as he rubbed his head. Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling. Swiping his hand down his face he rubbed his goatee and stubbled cheeks. He was waiting for the pain to start, for his heart to swell and the tears to flood from his eyes once again. Feeling his chest constrict, he frowned as it started. “There you are.” he grumbled as he slowly pulled himself up from the floor. He took note of the blanket that was causing him to get tangled up with his own legs, and right away he knew where it had come from. “Damn, Kevin was here again. I gotta get that freakin’ key back...little fucker.” Finally, with his bladder calling him to be emptied, he took the short journey down the hall. Kicking the bathroom door open with his foot, he went to stand over the toilet. “You should really shut the door.” he heard from the other side as it closed. He jumped and almost turned around. “Son of a bitch!” He growled at what he had almost done.

Bellowing came from behind the bathroom door as, unbeknownst to AJ, all of his best friends quietly gathered in the hallway. “You little fucker! I almost pissed on myself. Get outta my house!” he yelled. Kevin whispered to the group, “Remember, when you here the flush, get ready.” He then turned his attention back to the bathroom and yelled back at AJ, “No can do Bone.” “Listen, you better be gone when I get out of here.... and leave the damn key!” AJ demanded. “Man, he ain’t done yet?” Nick whispered impatiently. Just then, they heard the flush. Howie, Nick, and Brian had already carefully jammed a chair under the doorknob. Now was the moment of truth. Howie and Brian sat in the chair while Nick and Kevin grabbed for the doorknob. Leighanne stood back just in case AJ did get through the door, because as they all knew already, that would not be pretty.

Drying his hands with a towel, AJ headed for the bathroom door. He tossed the towel on the vanity as he approached it. Clasping the doorknob, he automatically turned it, but it wouldn’t turn. He jimmied it back and forth and tried it again. Nothing. “Kevin, I’m not in the mood for your damn games. Open the fuckin’ door!” he demanded angrily. “Take a shower AJ.” Kevin hollered back simply. “I don’t wanna take a shower, I want a drink!” AJ snapped as he rattled the doorknob again. “No can do Bro... it’s dry out time.” Kevin chirped. “Fuck you Kevin! Open the door now or I’m coming through it and then I’m coming for you!” AJ hissed. Kevin sighed. “Don’t think so Bone." At that moment, the door began to jump up and down in it's frame. AJ was going crazy on the other side. He pounded furiously at the one object that was separating him from what he wanted the most, his body being void of alcohol and craving it terribly. As desperately as he was trying to get out, he was still fighting back all the emotions, the hurt, the rejection, and the pain that was buried so deep inside of him.

Nick looked at Kevin nervously. “If he comes through that door, I’m outta here.” he said. Kevin just looked at him, but said nothing. The incessant pounding and banging in the bathroom went on for over an hour. They could hear things being broken on the other side of the door, and objects were being hurled at the obstruction with incredible force. AJ was screaming and cussing the entire time. Then suddenly, it just stopped. “Kev, please?” he cried from the other side of the door. They could tell that he was very close to it. “Let me out. I want a drink. I can’t handle this." “No way man, and don’t go looking for the mouthwash either. It’s gone.” Kevin said firmly. “I know.” came the whimper from the other side. At that point, Brian got up from the chair. “I can’t do this to him anymore. Let him out.” he pleaded. “Sit your ass down Rok! We aren’t doing anything to him, he did this to himself. We’re trying to help him.” Kevin pointed out and glared at him as Brian sat back down. The quiet on the other side of the door was interrupted by a gut wrenching sob. AJ was laying on the bathroom floor with his face pressed to the tile. He wrapped his arms around himself in a cradling manner. Now more than anything, he wanted to be like the tile...cold and hard, but he couldn’t. The sobbing just began, rolling out of him in waves of torment. The pain welled from deep within. All those years he spent with her...five years gone, shot, down the tubes, and what did he have to show for it now? He loved her and he hated her. He never thought they would end up this way. All he wanted were some kids of his own. Was that so terrible?

AJ had kept hanging on, hoping and wishing. They had gone through six trial separations just trying to keep their marriage together, the first of which was just after their first anniversary. Sarah had called him to come home though. When the guys were in Montana working on the new album, she had called and said 'let’s try'. Without another thought, AJ left the next day....his marriage was always the most important thing to him. Not the music, the business, or anything else, just him and Sarah. As the years drifted by, he slowly came to see that she didn’t feel the same way.

Losing track of time, he checked his watch. He had now been locked in his own bathroom for the last five hours. “Kevin?” he called out softly. “Yeah Jay?” Kevin answered as he now sat on the chair by himself, taking a drag on a cigarette. Once AJ had settled down, the others went and waited elsewhere, but not far from where Kevin had staked his post. “It hurts Kev. Make it go away.” AJ said, almost begging as he sat up against the back of the door. “I know AJ, I know.” Kevin replied reassuringly, exhaling along with a stream of smoke. “I hate her!” AJ sighed as he crossed his arms across his chest. “No you don’t. You love her, and that’s why it hurts. You have to let her go now Jay....it’s time.” Kevin shook his head at Leighanne as she stood there. They both understood and knew that AJ was finally going to deal with the pain and let it go.

Hearing the shower turn on, Kevin looked at Leighanne once more and she left to let the boys know. Kevin just sat and listened to AJ crying and voicing his pain in the shower. Soon he heard the water turn off and AJ knocked on the door. “Can I come out now?” he asked. “No more drinkin’. You’re not a drunk!” Kevin answered. He stamped out his cigarette in the ashtray as he sat there. He heard AJ sigh. “Ok." "You can't hurt me either.” Kevin smiled. “I won’t.” AJ said. “Promise?” Kevin chuckled, enjoying the advantage he had a little, even though he knew he shouldn’t have. “Open the fucking door now or I will knock you right on your skinny little ass.” AJ growled, getting annoyed. Standing up, Kevin laughed. He removed the chair and opened the door. “Hey bro, where ya been?” he teased. AJ just stood there with a towel wrapped around his hips. “May I get dressed?” he asked sarcastically. “Sure.” Kevin said, smiling as he stepped aside and then followed behind AJ. “I can dress myself.” AJ grumbled as he entered the bedroom and dropped the towel. “The shock value of that wore off years ago Bone.” Kevin laughed. “That wasn’t the point." AJ countered. "I don’t think I have anything to wear. I don’t remember the last time I even did the wash.”

He cautiously looked around his room. Things were different in there. It was clean. All of his momentos and pictures of her were gone. The room had been completely rearranged. “Yeah you do.” Kevin told him as he closed the bedroom door, leaving AJ alone to get dressed. AJ went to the dresser and found nothing but clean clothes in it. Next he walked to his closet, finding that all of his clothes had been hung up in an orderly fashion like he normally did. Everything was lined up and squared off. The bedroom now smelled good too. It smelled clean and like his cologne. All the remnants of his marriage were gone. As he dressed he understood that he could get rid of everything but the memories.

A few moments later, he quietly left the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Something in the air smelled very good to him as it's scent filled up his house. He was finally hungry, and not for alcohol. As he made his way to the kitchen, he stood face to face with his four brothers and Leighanne. “Are you hungry Kevin?” she asked as she dropped her eyes to the floor. “Yes Leigh, very, and thank you.” he smiled. It was understood by all involved that the thank you was not just for the meal.

CHAPTER FIVE:

The meal was eaten with very little conversation exchanged among the group. As Leighanne proceeded to clean the table off, AJ watched and then smiled at Brian. “You’re lucky.” he said. “So are you Bone.” Kevin stated, breaking in on the exchange. “You just don’t know it yet.” Nick’s loud cough stopped Kevin from making any further comments on the subject. “So AJ, what do you want to do now?” AJ looked at all of them as they stared back at him. “You didn’t leave me much to do. My house is clean, my laundry is done....somebody even went shopping too. Are you guys for hire?” he chucked as looked around. “You've washed enough of my dishes.” Nick laughed. AJ shook his head back and forth at him. “That I did Nick, that I did.” “Let’s watch some movies.” Howie suggested, speaking in a much too happy tone. As Leighanne walked by him, she elbowed him in the back of the head. “Yes, why don’t we?” she whispered in an unhappy tone to him. “Sounds good. Unless of course you guys planned on leaving.” AJ replied, hoping that they would be, but he knew better than that. It would be a few days before any of them would let him out of their sight. “Sure we are AJ.” Kevin said sarcastically. “Trust me, running this little intervention for you is my complete pleasure.” AJ winced slightly, knowing why Kevin had spoke to him in that manner and tone. AJ had basically confronted Kevin five years earlier in Kentucky for the exact same thing. “I’m sorry Kev.” AJ apologized, now knowing how it felt to have the shoe on the other foot. Kevin grinned from ear to ear. “Don’t be. It was necessary, and so is this.”

AJ didn’t reply as he got up and walked to the den. He opened the cabinet and looked at all of the videos and DVDs that were inside. They had all seen them atleast once or twice before. “There’s nothing in here we haven’t watched yet. Who wants to take a ride with me?” Nick and Howie both offered to go. AJ looked toward Kevin, seeing if he wanted or felt that he needed to go with them as well. Kevin just sank down onto the couch. “Don’t pick nothing sappy. We’ve had enough sap for one night.” he told them. AJ pursed his lips together at the snide remark as he grabbed his keys. “Dildo.” he mumbled as he walked out the door. From inside, Brian, Leighanne, and Kevin listened to the engine start on AJ's truck, and they watched as he pulled out of the garage and headed down the road.

“I so can’t believe D!” Leighanne moaned loudly. “Could he get anymore obvious?” “Hey, AJ doesn’t know what’s going on, so don’t worry about it.” Brian said. The three of them made a little plan to pull a tape switch when AJ returned. Leighanne would be in charge of putting the tape in after Kevin switched them. Afterall, if AJ was going to go off on anyone, it wouldn't be Leighanne. Twenty minutes later, AJ, Nick, and Howie walked back into the house and Kevin quickly grabbed the tapes. “Whatcha’ got.?” he asked innocently as he flipped open the box and dropped the tape to the floor. When he bent down to get it, he secretly bumped it under the couch, and when the tape was retrieved, it wasn’t the same movie. “Damn Kev, be careful!” AJ warned him as Kevin tossed the tape to Brian and he in turn handed it to Leighanne. Leighanne put the tape into the VCR as she held tightly to the remote control. “Everyone get comfy.” she smiled. “Leigh, toss me the remote.” AJ said as he settled in the chair. Leighanne frowned at him. “Why? You don’t trust me with your little toy?” she teased as she pointed it at the large screen television and pushed play. AJ huffed slightly in response and replied, “It’s my damn house, that's why.” Nick chuckled slightly, knowing that AJ wouldn’t ruffle Leigh’s feathers over such a small thing. Any other time he probably would have, but not after what she had just done for him. He leaned over to Howie and whispered, “Damn. Large screen again.” Howie giggled at Nick as he watched his eyes roll around in his head. Brian, Kevin, and Leighanne all shot death glares at the two snickering fools.

The tape began to play and they all watched AJ as he watched the tape. A soft “Jesus” was heard coming from him as he watched the baby being born. Other than that though, not another word was uttered from him as he watched the entire tape play. He motioned Leighanne over to him and she handed him the remote. Without being told, she knew what he wanted to see. She saw the spark of recognition go off in his eyes when they showed the little boy blowing out the candles on the birthday cake. AJ sat for over an hour hitting rewind, play, and then stilling the shots on the tape. “This ain’t a rental.” he finally said as his left hand shoot out to his side. His fingers were grasping in the air at nothing as he got up and walked to stand in front of the T.V. Kevin was the first to speak as he stood behind AJ. “Leave her alone, we’re here to work.” “Shut the fuck up Kevin! You don’t understand. Hand me the phone.” AJ hissed.

Kevin wasn’t going to sit back down though. He wasn’t sure what had went down between AJ and Suzy, but he knew that AJ understood that the implications were playing out right in front of him on the television. “What for?” he questioned. “Just give me the damn phone and stop asking me questions. I have to make reservations.” AJ demanded as he turned and settled his eyes on Kevin. “No need to bro.” Kevin replied as he walked over to the desk on the other side of the room, then came back and handed AJ an envelope. AJ grasped the object and then opened it. The envelope contained a one way ticket to Billings, Montana. “I don’t even know if she's still there. I’m not sure what to do. Maybe she is, maybe she's not.” AJ said as he stared at the ticket. “Well, I guess we are all going to go and find out together.” Kevin grinned as he placed his hand on AJ's trembling arm. “You have two hours to get ready." AJ stuffed the envelope into Kevin's hand. “Not enough time.” he said excitedly as he bolted from the room.

The rest of guys and Leighanne just looked at Kevin. Brian was the first to speak. “How did you do that? You didn’t know if we could even pull this off, and what do you mean we’re all going?" Kevin lit a cigarette and headed towards the front door. “I would do anything for AJ if I thought it would help him. He saved me once, I owe him. And yes, we are all going. Except Leighanne, she has to stay and watch Baylee.” he said. “Thanks a whole hell of alot Kevin!” Leighanne yelled at him. “Relax Leigh, I have a feeling you’ll meet Suzy real soon." he told her. "I’m going to my house now to get everyone’s stuff. You guys stay with him and keep an eye on him.”

With that, Kevin proceeded out the door. Once in his truck, he took a deep breath and sighed. “Thanks God, I needed your help on this one. I need to keep control of my emotions and keep this going. AJ sorely needs something good in his life right now, even if that means he gets what I wanted.” Turning the key on in the ignition, he backed out of the driveway. Leighanne quietly waited a while and then walked to AJ's bedroom and knocked on the door. She heard him yell come in, so she did. She looked at him and it was like he was reborn, but still torn at the same time. “Alex, I’m really sorry about being so sneaky about this. I hope you can forgive us.” she said softly. “You’re already forgiven Leigh. I'd much rather have my friends kick my ass than anyone else.” AJ replied, smiling as he packed his suitcase. “I’ll be honest. I’m very excited....elated actually, but I’m also pretty fuckin' pissed at Suzy. Well, I’m not pissed at her yet, but if that little boy is mine and she didn’t tell me, then I’m going to be really fuckin' pissed. If that is my kid and no one told me, then there will be hell to pay for it.”

AJ's rapid succession of words threw Leighanne for a second. “She must have had a reason for it or else she would have said something a long time ago. She could have made your life a living hell you know, but she didn’t.” she pointed out. AJ stopped in his tracks and looked at her. “True. Where did the tape come from?” Leighanne hesitated for a moment and then Brian appeared at the door. “It came from Sam, along with this note.” Brian answered, handing the note to AJ so that he could read it. When he was done, he looked a bit confused. “What do we need to figure out? Who the kid belongs too? I’m sorry Sam is gone, I liked the old guy. Suzy must have taken it awfully hard. Sounds like her brother split out of there too.”

AJ's mind went back in time to a day he had a conversation with Sam. AJ had come around the side of the barn to hear Troy and Sam talking about Suzy. He instantly froze and listened to Troy complain to Sam about Suzy going out at night to try and catch a wild mustang. The conversation then went on to talk about the boys being at the ranch and how uncomfortable Suzy was having them here. That morning Suzy had been extremely obnoxious to AJ at breakfast...she served him burnt food intentionally. Troy then reminded Sam that if the boys left then they were screwed because the management company wanted the boys out there for the entire four weeks or else they wouldn’t get the bonus offered to the them for the use of their property, and they needed that money to keep the ranch running. Sam laughed at Troy's little speech, and informed him that he was just upset that his big sister had a raging set of hormones again. He said that he would try and talk some sense into her when she came in from the pastures.

AJ covered his mouth to stop his laughter from popping out. He watched as Troy returned to the house, and then he heard Sam's voice speak directly to him. “Alex, stop hiding and eavesdropping on people’s conversations.” AJ came out from beside the barn, slightly embarrassed at being caught in this situation. Seeing that he was indeed ashamed, Sam just laughed at him. “No harm done Alex.” He was sitting on a stool, whittling away on a piece of wood with his pocketknife as he spoke. “I know what you just heard and I suggest that you keep it to yourself. Don’t go holding this over Suzy's head." “I won’t.” Kevin answered with a mischievous grin. “What did you mean by again?” he asked curiously. “Well now Alex, it’s really none of your business, but since I’m old and I have no one else to talk to, I’ll tell you. See, Suzy was once engaged to my son Frankie. They were high school sweethearts and had been together ever since she was sixteen years old. Suzy's parents died while she was in her senior of high school, so I became her and Troy's legal guardian. She didn’t want to lose her parent's ranch because of their deaths, so we up and moved here with her. We’ve all lived here together for seven years now.” “Where’s Frankie now?” AJ asked as he intently listened to the old man speak. “He died chasing down that same damn horse that Suzy's trying to catch. He went up there to get that horse for her to ride in the rodeo. The horse stomped him to death.” Sam explained sadly. AJ didn’t know what to say to the old man. “Jesus!” was all he could think of. “It’s been two years now Alex, and nothing that we say or do will bring him back, but Suzy had better leave that damn horse alone or it’s going to kill her too. That horse is as ornery as they come and he’s a killer too. Sometimes I think that’s what she wants though. It’s sad to see her like this. She’s only twenty-four years old, she’s just a baby.” Sam continued. AJ absently kicked the rocks at his feet. In the three days they had been there, Suzy had been nasty to all of them. Now he knew why. He also managed to garner the information that if they left the ranch before their four weeks were up, that Suzy would loose it all. Not being able to tell the guys was going to be difficult for AJ. They had already began talking about wanting to leave. Maybe there was a way that he could approach Suzy directly without her knowing that he had talked to Sam. If he could get her to talk to the guys a little nicer, maybe they wouldn’t want to leave. “Thanks Sam.” AJ muttered as he stuffed his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and headed for the house.

“Yo Bone, are you with us?” he heard Brian asking. AJ shook off the memory. “Yeah.” Brian stood there now, wanting to ask all kinds of questions and AJ could just tell by the look on Brian’s face that it had been eating at him. AJ had been so steadfast about everyone leaving Suzy alone that it became a serious issue with all of them. He zipped up the suitcase and pulled it off the bed. “We’ll talk when we get there Bri.” was all he said. “We sure will.” Brian muttered as he followed AJ down the hall to the foyer. AJ paced incessantly as he waited for Kevin to return, and no sooner than he pulled into the driveway, AJ walked out the door. He threw his suitcase in the back of the SUV and climbed in, ready to go. “A little anxious to get to the airport are we?” Kevin chuckled as he watched everyone follow AJ out the door and Leigh lock the house up with his key. “Shut up Kev.” AJ mumbled as he looked out the window. “Yes sir!” Kevin chuckled as they backed out of the drive once more and headed for the airport.

*~One Moment In Time~*

~One Moment In Time~