Brian had gotten the wake up call bright and early, much to his dismay, at exactly 5:25 AM. It felt like he'd just gone to bed two minutes ago, well, he might as well had. Looking over at Nick he smiled. He really looked at peace and looked so innocent. He didn't have the heart to wake him up so he decided to just get cleaned up and get ready before he woke Nick. By 5:50 AM Brian was showered and all dressed up BUT he wasn't all that awake. Walking over to Nick he started to gently shake him. Nothing. He then tried pulling the pacifier out of his mouth. He frowned. Then got a hold of Nick's hands and pulled him to a sitting position only to have Nick flop back down. He sighed. "Nick... Nick... Nick... NICK... NICK... NICK!" Brian chanted.

Nick started to whimper and fuss as he tried to turn on his side and bury himself in the covers. He did NOT want to get up...it was way too early even for a little kid who liked to wake up semi early.

Brian sighed and then got an idea. He walked into the bathroom and wet the face cloth. Walking back over to Nick he gently squeezed the towel letting the water drops fall one by one on Nick's face. Hey, it worked on him, so it HAD to work on Nick.

Nick literally started to cry as he tried hitting Brian away. "Go way...Go way!"

Brian frowned. "But I gotta get you over to Justin's 'cause I'm leaving in a few minutes and I won't see you ALL day," he said pouting. "I just wanted to say good bye, get a hug maybe a kiss, and drop you off at Justin's."

"Me no go...you no go!" Nick said as he continued to cry.

Brian sat down at the edge of the bed and started to wipe Nick's tears away. "But I have to," he said. "I have a job to do, need to make money, and please the fans... " And then added, "Besides, I could get into really big trouble with Lou..." He shuddered.

"But me wanna be wit you!" Nick whimpered, he didn't really understand the concept of Brian having to work. Two year olds only thought in a selfish way. Everything was about him and only about him, and that wasn't really a bad thing it was just where he was in development.

"I wanna be with you, too," Brian said, his voice softening. "I promise as soon as we've finished our sound check, I'll come back... like at four or five."

Nick continued to pout, that didn't work at all for him. "Me wanna bit with you NOW!" he practically yelled.

"Nick," Brian said sighing as he brought his hands up to his face and rubbed at his tired eyes and throbbing forehead. "You ARE with me... now."

"But you go bye bye," Nick whispered, looking down at his lap that still had the covers on it.

"Yah..." Brian said. "But I'll be back before you know it!" He then got up and held his hands out for Nick to take. "C'mon, let's get you brushed up, showered, and dressed."

Nick whimpered, pouted and drug his feet the whole way into the bathroom. "Me no wana...me wana go night night."

"I know Nicky," Brian said as he started to take Nick's clothes off and then the diaper. "I wanna go night night too but I can't. Maybe when you get to Justin's you can sleep there, okay?"

"But me wana go wit you!" Nick exclaimed as he got into the shower once it was ready for him. He still didn't understand why he didn't get to go.

Brian took the shower head and started watering Nick down before grabbing the soap and shampoo to lather Nick's body and head. He really wanted Nick to come along but he was worried that the fans and people would fuss over him, going against everything they've pleaded the fans to not do. "But the fans might scare you a little..."

"Day no scare me," Nick assured Brian. As he tilted his head back so Brian could get the shampoo out of his eyes. He had began to really enjoy shower time.

Brian was a bit skeptical about that. "I'm gonna have to ask Kevin about this," he mumbled out as he finished getting Nick cleaned and then dried off. He wrapped a towel around Nick and escorted them into the bedroom. "You can lie down on the bed while I get your diaper and clothes for you," he said as he went about getting those things.

Nick yawned as he lied back on the bed, his right hand reaching down and he started to play with himself, not meaning anything bad by it.

Brian grabbed Nick's things and headed over to the bed and froze when he noticed what Nick was doing. His mind reeling a mile second as memories came back to him. This was so wrong. Wrong. Wrong. WRONG! Brian shut his eyes tight and willed himself to get rid of those memories. He dropped the clothes on top of Nick and quickly but gently pulled Nick's hand away from himself as he started to put on Nick's diaper and then the rash powder.

"Me bring my cars wit me?" Nick asked as he got his diaper on and then got dressed in baggy jeans and a T-shirt.

"To Justin's? Of course," Brian said and started to comb Nick's hair. He parted it down the middle and then added some gel to keep it in tact.

Nick shook his head like crazy. "Noo...wit you!" he said thinking they had finally decided that he could come with them.

Damn it. Brian was hoping Nick would have forgotten about that little tid bit. "Um, yah," he said. "But let me call Kevin and see if it's okay." Brian then picked up his cell and dialed his cousins number.

Kevin groaned as he walked over to the phone and picked it up after the second ring. "Hello?" He asked sounding like he could have done with a few more hours of sleep.

"Hey, it's me," Brian said. "Um, Nick's wanting to come with us and like, I don't think he's gonna let us go with out a good tantrum and fight... what are we gonna do?"

Kevin groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Lou is following us around today...he picked the worst day to want to come with us," he said, but also knowing they would have a really hard time getting Nick to not want to come. "We'll bring him...and Justin too just in case they need to escape."

Damn. Damn. Damn. "Ohhh what about his tutor?" Brian questioned. "I hate Lou, Kevin. I really hate him. I don't want him anywhere near Nick." Brian began to panic.

"Maybe he'll actually be civil if Nick is there," Kevin pointed out, praying he was right. "Oh, and umm I guess they will have to cancel for today then...with the tutor I mean."

Nick was busy packing his back pack, trying to make sure he filled it full with his stuff so that there wouldn't be any room for the diapers and wipes. He was still thinking that now that he wanted to try the potty training thing it would be perfectly smooth sailing from there, he didn't know that there would be many accidents before that would happen.

Brian sighed as he scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know anymore. Okay, we'll bring Nick along BUT no way is he gonna to be anywhere in the same room or breathing space as Lou, and even if he is we get him out of there, FAST! I'll see you in a few," he said and hung up. He turned around and looked at Nick who was stuffing his bag to the max. "Uhhh, whacha got in there?"

"Stuff," Nick replied, which was a true statement... there was stuff in the bag. Lots and LOTS of stuff.

"Like..?" Brian inquired as he peered into the bag but not being able to see anything. He looked on the floor and noticed diapers laying there. "We're gonna need these, just in case..." Brian said picking up the diapers and then stared at it for a moment trying to think of where he could put it.

Nick shook his head, giggling a little. "Dare no more room..sowwy day stay," he said a big smile on his face, totally proud that he had come up with this plan.

Brian chuckled. "So that's your plan huh?" He questioned as he got on to Nick's scheme. "Don't think so buddy." Brian then walked over to where his book bag was and emptied the content before placing the diapers, wipes, rash powder, bottles of milk, apple juice, and orange juice inside. "Now, we ready to go?" Then Brian thought of something. Yesterday AJ hadn't gotten up on time so he thought he might as well call and make sure they were ready. He opened his cell again and dialed AJ's number and laughed when he was met with a grouchy 'who the fuck is this?' greeting.

"Brian," Brian said. "You kiss your mother with that mouth? Are you up, yet, we gotta get going in like ten minutes..."

"Yeah we're up," AJ grumbled, looking over at Justin who he had just found fast asleep on his math book. "Well one of us is, Justin is doing math in his sleep," he giggled.

Brian chuckled at that. "Poor kid," Brian said. "We're gonna have to cancel his tutoring session today...since we're gonna need him to come along with us."

"What...why...what about Nick?" AJ asked, totally confused as he walked over and started placing kisses all over Justin's neck.

"Um, Nick's coming along with us," Brian explained. "He's wants to come with us, no room to argue, with the blonde."

AJ laughed and then laughed more when he got Justin moaning a little. "Okay, well we'll be down stairs in time," he said before hanging up the phone.

Brian looked at the phone for a few seconds before shaking his head and laughing. Looking over at Nick he said, "Let's get going over to Kevin's room, shall we?"

Justin was in a land where everything was constructed and made up with numbers. He was dreaming that he was riding in on the top loop of the number 8, almost like a Double Decker except it was for only two people, when he felt soft...cool.... but warm fleeting presses on his neck. That started to wake him up and before he knew it he shot up straight, eyes wide and looking around wondering where he was and what was going on. "Wha..."

AJ jumped back a little before busting up laughing. "Good morning sleeping beauty," he smirked.

Justin sighed as he scratched his head and looked down at his finished home work. "...time izzit?" he mumbled out and stretched in his seat, his bare chest expanding. He had taken his shirt off while doing his home work since it was a bit warm in the room.

AJ bit his lower lip as he looked at Justin's bare chest but then shook his head. He could not be having thoughts like this. "We have to leave in like five minutes."

"Oh okay," Justin said. "I'll get my things and head on over to my room." He got up and stretched again, his boxers and Nick's pants riding low... really low on his waist. "I'll see you... like at three again or something?" He questioned thinking that AJ woke him up just to say good bye and get him back to his own room before they left.

"Actually you'll see me all day," AJ laughed, "Nick threw a fit so you and him are coming with us."

Justin stopped stretching as he opened his eyes and looked over at AJ with a 'you've got to be kidding me' look before frowning and then pouting. "What about my tutoring and to think I actually did my home work..." He shook his head and the realized the amount of time they had. "Did you say five minutes? Because, I'm kinda icky since I haven't showered since yesterday morning... am I gonna have time to shower?"

"Umm...not really..." AJ said with an apologetic look on his face. "I would have woken you up sooner but I didn't know about the change of plans until like a minute ago."

Justin made a face and then pouted some more. "Ewww," he said. He really hated feeling unclean and dirty. He really liked his showers. He really wanted one right then. "Um, I should go and get dressed then."

"I'm sorry baby," AJ said again, feeling bad because he should have known sooner and woken Justin up. He didn't know what else to do because they only had like two minutes before they had to be downstairs and all they needed was to be late with Lou around. "Lou will be with us all day today...we have to make sure we're on time."

"Aww shit," Justin replied. "Don't worry about it. I'll be right back," he said as he quickly got out of AJ's room and into his own. He quickly ran into the bathroom, brushed his teeth, clogged the sink before dunking his head in the cold water, wet a wash cloth and wiped his body clean thinking that should somewhat make him feel less dirty. Walking out of the bathroom he quickly put on a new pair of boxers, sweat pants, and a plain white t-shirt. He grabbed his bandana and tied his unruly curls back before putting on his socks and sneakers. Put some deodorant, cologne, and chain on. Grabbed his laptop, cell, camera, wallet, and keycard and walked out of the room to AJ's. "Okay."

AJ was just coming out of his own and smiled at Justin. "You clean up nice," he giggled thinking Justin looked and smelled perfectly fine even without the shower. He then saw everybody else coming out of Kevin and Howie's room. "Hola peoples."

Nick ran right over to Justin and made a face. "Eww you tinky!" he said meaning Justin had put on a lot more cologne then normal...not that he actually smelled.

Justin pouted and turned his big blue puppy dog eyes over to AJ. "See..." He thought that Nick could smell his dirty un-showered self from all the way down the hall. "Not good."

Brian waved at them and he and Howie followed Kevin over to the elevator. "Good morning, people," he said and then chuckled when Justin and Howie groaned.

"You smell ike tinky stuff," Nick added, trying to explain what he thought smelled bad.

"I think he's trying to say you smell like a lot more cologne than normal," Kevin said with a laugh. "I actually think it smells really good what is it?"

"Oh," Justin said and stuck his tongue out at Nick. "Curve," he said and then wrinkled his forehead in thought. "I think. Either that or Clairborne Sport." He shrugged. It was too damn early in the morning for him to think about things like this.

Howie leaned into Justin and sniffed before sighing dreamily. "Hmm, it does smell really good. You mind if I sit next to you in the car?" He questioned. The scent was very soothing and relaxing.

Brian looked from Howie to Kevin and then at AJ. "Uh oh..."

Kevin pouted a little and sniffled himself. Normally Howie really liked how HE smelled. "Hey...shouldn't be you be sniffin' somebody else?" he asked actually sounding whiny which wasn't like Kevin.

Howie moved over to Nick and sniffed him in response to Kevin's question. "But he smells like baby powder, makes me wanna sing a lullaby or something," he said, sniffing the 'somebody else.'

Nick looked at Howie like he was insane since he didn't like how it smelled. "You weird, Owie."

AJ just started busting up laughing at the whole thing...that is until he realized something. "Hey now...Kev's right...keep your nose off my man!"

Howie stuck his tongue out at Nick for calling him weird. "What? I'm still sleepy and Justin smells good. Makes me wanna sleep..." He then chuckled as he grabbed Justin's arm and dragged the laughing teen off of the elevator when it opened on the first floor and towards their van.

"I think your boyfriend stole mine," AJ said to Kevin as they all walked out.

"Are we okay with this?" Kevin asked, giggling a little. "I mean they are kinda cute...might be fun to watch them play."

AJ's eyes went wide, "Okay Howie what in the world have you done to Kevin!" he exclaimed acting freaked out.

Nick looked totally confused at all the adult talk going on but giggled to see them acting funny. "Day funny," he said to Brian, giggling more.

Brian looked at the retreating backs of Howie and Justin wondering what just happened. Then he heard Kevin's statement to AJ and stared at the back of his head as they walked out the doors to the van. "Yah... funny..." He trailed off wondering just when he stepped in to the twilight zone.

Justin and Howie had gotten in the back seat of the van and were already snuggled together, almost asleep by the time the guys got to the van. Hey, they both were tired... they both were sleepy... so it made sense for them to sleep... together. NOT in THAT sense, but you know... just sleep. They didn't think or mean any harm by it.

Nick got into his car seat and automatically started making 'vroom' noises that were way too loud for six in the morning.

AJ groaned and covered his ears. "Nicky too loud buddy."

Kevin looked at Howie and Justin and sighed, he wanted Howie ’cause Howie was a good pillow. It was supposed to be him there instead of Justin.

Brian looked over at Kevin when he sighed. "Don't tell me you're jealous..." He chuckled as he too looked over at Justin and Howie snuggled together. They did look rather cute together... too cute. He then looked over at AJ with a raised eyebrow wondering why AJ wasn't glaring invisible daggers at Howie.

AJ was trying to not feel jealous even though it wasn't working really well... he was just better at hiding it than Kevin was.

Nick continued his 'vroom' noises but this time a lot quieter even in a whisper. He was hyper now that he was actually up.

That's how they were for the rest of the ride to where their first interview was being held. AJ and Kevin with hard faces, desperately trying not to reach back and pry the two men apart. Brian sitting there amused with how the day was starting off. Nick 'vrooming' quietly, happy and hyper. Justin and Howie, in the back seat, cuddled and sleeping.

"Where we?" Nick asked as they all got out of the van. He didn't recognize the radio station and was now really curious and close to bolting so he could see everything.

Brian grabbed Nick's hand to keep him from running across the street or wherever he was gonna run off to. "You stay with ME, no running, no nothing. You cause any trouble and I'mma send you back to the hotel with Justin, got that!?" Brian said in a stern voice. He really didn't want to be mean but at the same time he just wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with a hyper Nick, especially that early in the morning.

Once they were out of the van, Kevin moved between Howie and Justin and simply said "Mine,' before helping the tired Howie into the station.

Justin stood there frowning at Kevin. "Hey, HE'S the one that latched onto ME," he said in his own defense. "Not my fault."

Howie scrunched up his face and forced his eyes open to look up at Kevin but didn't say anything.

"Mine," AJ giggled a little as he wrapped an arm around Justin but made sure it just looked like they were two friends keeping each other because they were tired.

Nick bit his lower lip and nodded his head. "Otay...me do dat," he said softly as they walked into the almost silent place.

As they all got into the elevator and rode up to the floor the interview was on, Howie and Justin somehow ended up standing next to the other. Their sleepy minds found this rather funny and they unconsciously leaned into the other, half asleep.

Brian was humming a tune that no one could quiet decipher but whatever it was... it was helping him stay awake and not drop to the floor and curl up into a ball and fall asleep.

Kevin was really glaring at Howie and Justin now, he could be a really jealous guy when somebody was messing with his Howie. They had been a couple for almost three years.

Nick looked at Kevin a little scared by the look on Kevin's face. He scooted closer to Brian so he was pretty much clinging to him. "Scawwy," he whispered into Brian's shoulder.

AJ was just looking down at the floor trying to not think too much about how he was feeling jealous.

Brian put in arms around Nick and held him close. He then looked over at Kevin and sighed. "Would you cut that out, you're scaring Nick here," he said annoyed at how childish Kevin was acting.

Once the elevator dinged, Justin and Howie pulled apart, as they all got off and walked down the hall. Justin and Howie who were still sleepy walked right into Kevin's and AJ's backs with a ‘ooff’ before they fell to the ground, flat on their bums. Justin into Kevin's back and Howie into AJ's. They both looked up at Kevin's and AJ's narrowed eyes and growls, shocked. "What was that all about?" Howie questioned with a pout as he rubbed his sore butt.

Brian turned around and looked at the men on the floor before stepping aside to let them see the fat man standing down the hall, looking unimpressed. "Justin, wake up and hold onto Nick, will ya? Don't let him get any where near HIM," he said, his voice strained and low. "No matter what." He gently pushed Nick over to Justin.

Justin's eyes widened as he immediately stood up, fully awake and alert now, before nodding his head and holding onto Nick.

Nick saw Lou just in time before they were pushed in another direction. "Hey scary fat guy!" he called to Lou, not thinking anything about what he was saying.

Justin immediately clamped his hand over Nick's mouth 'shssing' the blonde. "Don't Nick."

Nick continued to mumble into Justin's hand as he was pulled down the hall away from Lou.

Justin found an empty room that looked like a conference room and entered it with his hand still over Nick's mouth. He closed the door before he removed his hand. "Sorry about that," he said leaning his back against the door. "You shouldn't really call him that, it's going to make him mad and that's really bad. The guys could get in trouble for that," Justin said.

Nick got a guilty look on his face and looked down at his feet. "Me sowwy," he mumbled, something he had been saying a lot the last few days. He kept feeling like he was always screwing up.

"It's okay," Justin said as he walked into the room and sat down at the table. "Sit down... and don't feel bad. His name is Lou, call him that from now on okay?" Justin grabbed Nick and sat him down at the table.

"Otay," Nick said as he sat down at the table, trying to figure out what he wanted to do. He really needed to ask for something besides coloring because he was beginning to get really sick of it.

Justin took in a deep breath because now his adrenaline was wearing off and he was getting sleepy again. He looked around the room and frowned. There was only this one big table and chairs surrounding it... "You wanna do anything?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders as he too looked around the room. "Me no know what ta do...dis oom gots no stuff."

"I know," Justin said and then got an idea in his head. "Hey you wanna ride the elevator to the top floor and check out the view?"

Nick smiled big and nodded his head. "Yeah me wants ta do dat!"

Justin smiled. "You want me to carry your bag?" He questioned noticing that it looked packed, really packed, and figured that it must be a bit heavy. He opened the door and walked them over to elevator after he made sure Lou wasn't in the halls.

"Yeah me pack it so no diapers fit," Nick giggled telling Justin his little scheme cuz he was his bestest buddy and bestest buddies tell each other things like that.

Justin laughed and held his hand up in the 'high five' motion and realized Nick probably didn't know what that meant. "Okay, everytime I say high five, you smack your hand with mine," Justin said. "It's like saying... good job or awesome or things like that."

Nick thought about that for a second before taking his own hand and smacking it against Justin's like he said, giggling like crazy. "Yeah so me no gots diapers," he said not knowing that Brian had them in his bag...the only problem was that was with Brian and not with them.

Justin froze. "Um, you ARE wearing one now though right?" He questioned because he really didn't know what to do if Nick wasn't wearing one and he went in his pants, literally. They stepped onto the elevator and Justin pressed the button to the top most floor which happened to be 96.

Nick nodded his head, "Yeah me am...no go doe," he said thinking Justin was asking him if he was wet or not.

"Oh okay," Justin sighed in relief. That he could deal with but he was going to ask Brian what he was going to do incase Nick does go in his diapers and needs to be changed. Why doesn't anyone warn him or tell him things like this? The elevator was starting to make his ears pop and he swallowed hard so it could un-pop.

"We go up!" Nick said as he turned around and looked out the window that looked outside. "Way up!" he said actually beginning to get a little freaked out. They would now notice that even 2 year old Nick was scared of heights.

"Yah, we're going all the way up to the top floor," Justin said and noticed the frightened look on his face. "It's okay, you don't need to be scared. You won't fall out, see..." Justin said as he leaned back against the thick glass that encased them.

"You weird," Nick said as he moved away from the window and over to the doors thinking Justin was strange for even wanting to lean against it.

Justin chuckled. "Everyone's weird to you this morning, aren't they? First Howie, then me?" He questioned as he walked over to where Nick was and hugged him just because.

Nick nodded his head, giggling. 'Weird' was his word of the week. He was happy when the elevator stopped all the way up and they got out. "Where we?" he asked looking around.

Justin looked around too nodded his head in approval at the clean looking and spacious top floor. They had walked right into a huge seating type area with sofas and plants and small coffee looking tables. There was only one other door and that was all the way at the back of the room and there were windows all over the walls.

"We in wivving oom?" Nick asked, thinking that it looked like they were in one big living room.

"Nope," Justin said walking to the back of the room where the sofas lined the windows. "It's a seating area for visitors and things like that, when they come for appointments."

"Ohhh," Nick said as he flopped down on one of the sofas and let out a content sigh. "Me still sweepy," he said with a yawn. He was still tired seeing it was just barely 7 AM.

Justin smiled and asked, "You wanna get some sleep then?" He looked around and noticed a TV just a few feet away from them. Walking over he grabbed the remote and got comfortable beside Nick. He let Nick rest his head on his lap and then draped his arm over Nick's shoulder, his hand gently rubbing Nick's stomach. His mom used to do that to him when he was a kid, and he liked it cause it made him sleep faster so he thought he would do that for Nick.

With Justin rubbing his stomach and with how tired he already was, Nick was out like a light in a matter of five minute, taking on his normal sleep position.

Justin turned the TV on and put the volume on low. He flipped through the channels until he reached the Boomerang cartoon channel where there was a marathon of Scooby-Doo episodes and movies. He set the remote down and leaned back against the couch. A few minutes later he heard a door open and someone sigh. Looking to his right he noticed a young man, probably someone not that much older than he was, standing there in a suit and tie. Justin smiled a small smile as the other man looked at him and watched as he walked over to him.

The young man walked over to where Justin and Nick were and smiled. "What are you two doin' all the way up here?" he asked having recognized Nick but not Justin. "I'm Scott..." he held out his hand for Justin to shake and hoped to get a name from the blonde.

Justin wiped his hands on his sweat pants before reaching it out and shaking the out stretched hand. "Hi Scott... um, yah, we came up here 'cause there was nothing to do down there..." Justin chuckled.

Scott looked down at Nick and smiled, he had felt awful when he had heard what had happened to Nick. He was a huge Backstreet Boys fan so it had hit him hard. "He looks very content," he said taking in the pacifier in his mouth, hand on his crotch position. "And it's cool that you're up here I mean you're allowed to be anywhere probably."

"Uh, yah... he does," Justin said. "I didn't really know if we were allowed up here but I took the chance figuring if it wasn't okay they would just kick us back downstairs." Justin shrugged as he too looked down at Nick and smiled. "So, um, what are you doing here?" Justin nodded over to the door that Scott had walked out from.

"I'm an intern...hence the tacky suit," Scott laughed as he looked down at his own clothes. He then looked back at Justin. "I didn't get your name.."

"Oh... what kinda intern?" Justin questioned totally avoiding giving his name away.

"I work up here with the big hanchos of the station. I would rather be working down actually in the studios with the DJ's but I guess this is all I can do right now," Scott said making a face when he said big hanchos.

Justin laughed. "The Backstreet Boys are down there right now doing an interview," he said. "But it's gotta be cool working in a building like this, though.."

"Yeah but I normally don't get to see the famous people like you guys," Scott pointed out, looking down at Nick again who was wiggling around a little.

Justin looked down too and continued to rub Nick's stomach hoping that it would calm him down enough to go back to sleep. "Maybe I can get you to meet up with them. Their interview should be done in like," he looked over at the time, "okay, in a little over an hour, if you can wait that long or if your not busy or whatever."

Scott's eyes lit up and he smiled big. "That would be awesome man," he said, wondering if he would ever get a name out of the curly haired blonde. "You're not going to tell me your name are you?"

Justin blushed as he thought about it and then figured he's got nothing to lose so he might as well tell him. "It's Justin," he mumbled out.

"Nice to meet you Justin," Scott said, smiling even more. "So are you like the guy that watches him now or something?" he said pointing at Nick who still wasn't falling back to sleep as well as Justin probably would have liked.

"Um, kinda," Justin said. "Well, yes, but before everything," he paused as he waved his hand in the air to indicate what had happened with Nick. "happened, Nick and I were best friends so the guys thought it'd be best that I be the one to watch him while on tour... so yah, here I am... on tour with the Boys..."

"That has to be awesome...I mean probably more so if things were back to normal...but I'm sure it's still cool," Scott said and then stepped back just a little when Nick opened his eyes and looked up at both of them, still not saying anything.

Justin looked down at Nick's blue eyes and said, "I thought you said you were sleepy?" Then he looked up at Scott and offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, you should have a seat or something."

"You talk...me waked up," Nick said with a pout saying that them talking had woke him up. He then noticed the other guy and got a confused look on his face. "Who you?"

Scott wasn't really sure what to say to Nick...but did his best. "My name is Scott...what's yours?" he asked doing exactly what he had seen on TV of how to not show they knew who he was.

Justin remained silent as he let Nick and Scott talk to each other and he was more than happy that Scott hadn't freaked out and was acting like he was supposed to.

"Me Nick...hewwo Scott," Nick said with a smile, still kind of trying to figure out why this new guy was here, but he was being friendly anyway.

Scott smiled and then turned his attention back to Justin. "So...how long are you guys in the city for?"

"Um, till tonight," Justin replied. "We're leaving after the concert... but um, we're gonna have dinner after the concert and THEN leave. You coming to the concert?"

Scott nodded his head, laughing a little. "Yeah, I know, it's not really normal for a twenty year old guy to like the Backstreet Boys."

Just then Justin got a whiff of his own cologne and sighed. Maybe he did put a little too much and wondered if that's the reason why Scott was still standing. Maybe he stunk and Justin desperately wanted to sniff himself to make sure that he didn't. Then something Scott said hit him. "You're twenty?"

Scott nodded his head, "I know everybody says I look like I'm fifteen or something. I feel even younger in this suit for some reason," he laughed and then looked down at Nick who was kind of glaring at him.

Nick was beginning to not like this guy because he was taking up his Justin time... so he wanted him to go away.

Justin looked over at Nick when Scott looked over. "Hey what's the matter?" Justin questioned noticing an unpleasant look on the blonde's face. "You gotta go or something?" He whispered the last part.

Nick shook his head, he probably could have gone but he didn't want to... he wanted to keep an eye on this new dude...he could hold it. "No me no gots ta."

Justin nodded his head and looked back over to Scott. "Yeah, you do look a lot younger. I'm seventeen by the way," he chuckled. "AND a big Backstreet Boys fan, as well."

"Well, they are your friends... only makes sense." Scott laughed, having so much fun talking to Justin and he didn't want to get back to work in a few minutes knowing his break was almost over already.

"Well," Justin was going to tell that they weren't all really friends... not in the beginning anyways... just him and Nick were but decided that it was going to be a really long story and didn't feel like revisiting all that. "Yah." He noticed the sadness cross Scott's face and wondered why. "Why you looking sad?"

"Oh no reason... I'm fine," Scott said as he put a smile on his face. He didn't want to say he was wanting to spend more time with the blonde because he thought he was hot... ’cause the guy was more than likely straight.

"Hmm, okay," Justin said not believing it for a minute. Just then the elevator dinged and they all looked over to see just who stepped off of it. Justin gasped as his hand unconsciously grabbed Scott's hand causing Nick to frown and reach over saying, 'No, no, no. No hold hand,' and pry their hands apart.

Scott seemed confused, why did Justin grab his hand and then he turned to look at the elevator and groaned when he saw Lou. "Crap... I gotta go," he said knowing he was supposed to be back now. He then quickly slipped a business card to Justin before rushing off down the hall.

"Shit," Justin mumbled under his breath as he looked down at the card and noticed Scott's number written on the back of it. He quickly shoved that in his pocket and pulled Nick closer to him.

Lou smiled as he walked over to where Justin and Nick were seated. "Hello, boys," he said with a glint of something in his eyes that made Justin's skin crawl and blood to boil. "What are you doing up here?" He looked at Nick.

Nick swallowed hard, remembering he needed to be polite and use the mans name. "Hewwo Lou," he said with a famous 'Carter' smile.

"Why hello, Nickolas," Lou smiled. "Glad that you learned my name..." He had heard what Nick had called him earlier and that nearly had pissed him off.

Justin narrowed his eyes but remained silent as he prayed for some kind of divine intervention, like a lightening strike or an earth quake right under Lou.

Nick giggled a little and nodded his head, not really sure what he was supposed to say to the older man. He wasn't really even sure who this guy was.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Lou questioned as he moved to sit down next to Nick.

Justin immediately sat up straight and said, "Uh... um, you can... but uh, I gotta.. take Nick back... uh, down stairs. Yah, we gotta go back down stairs... 'cause, I promised him... that I would... take him to the candy store... in the uh... lobby." Justin was panicing.

Lou put on an amused expression as he placed his hand on Nick's thigh. "Did you really want candy, Nicky?" He questioned sweetly, licking his lips because he thought Nick looked really good right then. Who the fuck cared if the kid was two in the head... his body wasn't and Lou liked pretty blonde, boys, innocent ones at that.

Something inside of Nick gave him the signal that this wasn't okay. He knew the lusty look in Lou's eyes. His father had given him that look a million times and it didn't make him feel good. "I umm... I do like... candy," he said trying to not totally freak out even though he wanted to start crying like crazy right now.

"See," Justin said as he put a protective hand over Nick, pulling him up with him. "We gotta go." Justin practically carried Nick and ran across the room over to the elevator which was still opened. Then the door shut and Justin let out a breath of relief. "I AM SO SORRY NICK!"

Nick wrapped his arms around himself and almost sunk back into the corner of the elevator. "Me want Brian... me want daddy," he whispered looking at Justin with scared eyes... a fear they hadn't seen in his eyes for almost a week now.

"Oh god," Justin said as he walked over to Nick and hugged him. "I promise to never let him get that close to you again, please forgive me, please!" Justin said over and over again and praying that this didn't do any damage to Nick.

"It otay..." Nick said as he hugged Justin tightly some for comfort but mostly to show it was okay he knew Justin wanted him to go away from Lou... he knew Justin tried. Once they were back downstairs Nick started looking all around to see if he could see Brian, he needed Brian. Sure, Justin was good at cuddling but he needed his father figure, his major protector, the one that had taken him in.

They were on the floor that the guys were doing the interview on and he knew that Nick really needed Brian right there and then. He quickly escorted them down the hall and quietly opened the door where he could here voices coming from. He peeked his head in and the first person who was facing him was the DJ who looked at him with a frown. The other guys turned around and looked at Justin with confusion which turned into worry. Justin sighed as he let Nick walk in before him and watched as he ran over to Brian. He mouthed out a 'sorry' as Brian shot him a worried look.

Brian quickly got up and escorted Nick and himself out of the room and into the hall way, along with Justin while the other guys went about their interview and filling in for Brian, making excuses like he just had to go to the bathroom.

"Nick, what's the matter?" Brian questioned as he and Nick sat down on the floor only to have Nick crawl on to his lap and cling onto him for dear life.

"Lou... scary... Justin try get way... didn't... scary," Nick said as he finally let himself break down in tears. He had learned with his father to never cry while things were happening because it was only worse. He only let himself cry after it was all done.

"What?" Brian all just screamed out. He looked up at Justin with fear in his eyes.

Justin took in a deep breath before he explained what had happened. "We were sitting all the way up there minding our own business when all of a sudden Lou comes in and like starts going after Nick. I tried to get him out of there as fast as I could but that man was making it hard..." Justin rambled out, he was close to tears. "I'm so sorry Brian, I really am. I tried. I swear I tried."

Brian sighed as he held out his other hand indicating for Justin to come over and when Justin did he hugged both Nick and Justin. "It's okay, I know just how that goes. It was the same way before all this happened." Brian knew just what Justin must have gone through because when Nick first joined the group, Lou had been eyeing Nick. The guys had done everything in their power to never let Nick be alone with Lou but sometimes it was a bit difficult to do.

After he had calmed down a little, Nick looked at Brian. "Lou ook at me ike... my daddy do," he said getting the scared look in his eyes again as he remembered what his father used to do all the time. Images that had been leaving his mind little by little were back full blown again.

Brian eyes widened as he cursed the fat man in his head. "We won't let him get near you ever again, okay? We won't," he said looking from Nick to Justin. "It's okay, Justin. You did good. Thanks."

Justin just nodded his head. "You think Nick's gonna be okay or do you think he reverted back and we have to start all over again?" This was Justin's main worry.

Brian sighed. "I don't know, I hope not but we'll just wait and see," he said looking back down at Nick.

Nick burried his face in Brian's shirt, just cuddling up to him because he was scared to let go. "No go...no go." he whispered.

Brian sighed as he looked at Justin with pleading eyes. "Where's Lou right now?" He questioned.

Just as Justin opened his mouth to answer the elevator dinged... and speak of the devil... out comes Lou. "Damn!" He exclaimed under his breath. "He's right behind us."

Brian craned and turned his head back and saw Lou approaching them with an unimpressed look on his face. "Go into the room, let's go into the room. He won't yell at us in there," he quickly said as he grabbed Nick and stood up and rushed into the room, closing the door behind them.

All the guys turned around and stared at the three men.

Nick just continued to cling to Brian, never wanting to let him go. He hadn't been so scared since he had come to live with Brian. Sure, he had freaked out because of remembering things, but now he could see the real life thing that was scaring him and knew he wasn't completely safe.

Brian sighed as he walked with Nick over to his seat and sat down, Nick on his lap. He looked at his brothers and mouthed out 'Lou' knowing they would understand and long and behold... they did when their curious expressions turned horrified. They resumed their interview.

Justin, not knowing what to do, opened the door and walked out of the room. He figured he's go back up to the top floor and watch TV.

Nick watched Justin walk to the door and then started to scream at the top of his lungs, crying hard. He needed Justin there too...he didn't feel safe without all of his protectors there.

Justin, Brian, Howie all nearly jumped through the ceiling at Nick's scream, including the DJ. "What the-" Justin said as he turned around and looked at Nick, scared.

Brian looked at Nick with wide eyes. "What's wrong, Nicky?"

"No go... No go!" Nick sobbed as he reached one of his hands out to Justin, but keeping the other one firmly around Brian.

Kevin looked at the DJ and gave him a pointed glance to go off the air because something really bad was going down. He knew it would get Lou upset but god damn-it this was Lou's fault in the first place.

The DJ did what Kevin asked and went off the line and then just sat there feeling like he should leave, but he wasn't supposed to leave people in the studio without him there.

Justin walked over to Nick and reached his left hand out to the blonde only to have it grasped in a death grip and pulled over to Nick's body. "Okay, okay," Justin said as he fell to his knees behind Brian's chair. "I won't go..."

Howie looked over at Kevin and then at AJ wondering what they should do. He really wanted to go out there and shoot Lou.

"What happened?" AJ asked, not really worried about the DJ because he was actually a friend of theirs.

Kevin wrapped an arm around Howie, for some reason just having the feeling he needed to protect everything he loved.

Brian and Justin looked at each other then at the DJ and then over at AJ. "He came to us while we were upstairs," Justin said. "He gave Nick these looks and I tried to get him out of there as fast as I could but I wasn't fast enough. Now Nick's freaked out." Justin tried to hold the tears in but still, a few managed to fall down his cheeks.

"Scawwy... Scawwy." Nick mumbled loud enough for everybody to hear even though it was muffled by Brian's shirt where his face would not leave.

Kevin felt sick to his stomach hearing the horror in Nick's voice. "Did he touch him at all?" he asked, afraid of the answer.

"Um," Justin said. "His thigh..."

Brian's put one arm around Justin, pulling him close, as he hugged both Nick and Justin, protectively. Sure, he's got issues with Justin but he knows Lou and knows his desire for blonde boys and Justin is a blonde boy. There was no way he was letting Lou get to either one of these two blondes, if he can help it. "Shhh," Brian said over Nick's head. "Let's not think about it anymore. Let's just try and forget it but know better next time."

"Why don't you guys just get outa here, I'll figure out a way to explain what is going on without screwing you over," The DJ said sympathetically, not knowing that Lou was following the boys around all day.

"Yeah if only that would fucking work," AJ spat, glaring at the door where he knew Lou was waiting behind.

"He's following us around... ALL DAY," Howie said as he dropped his head on his hands that were folded on top of the table. "This day just keeps getting better and better..." Came his sarcastic muffled statement.

"What are we gonna do?" Brian questioned. "Lou's gonna expect us to go to the next interview... he's gonna be traveling in the same van, with us."

"We act normal...if he senses our fear he's only going to be worse," Kevin said with a sigh knowing that was true, but he didn't know how you explain that to a two year old.

"My tummy urts," Nick mumbled as he pulled back from Brian a very sad look on his face. He got himself so worried and worked up he was making himself feel sick.

"Is it 'cause you gotta go to the bathroom or are you hungry since you haven't eaten anything all morning?" Brian questioned. "Maybe if you drink some milk, it'll get better." And hopefully calm you down enough to go back to sleep, he thought to himself.

Nick nodded his head to the milk thing. He had been so scared that the bathroom thing had accidentally already been taken care of. "Otay...me want some," he whispered in a sad little voice.

Brian looked over at Justin. "My bag's under the table," he said. "There's milk in it." Then he thought of something. "Where's Nick's bag?"

Justin reached under the table blindly, since he couldn't quite move yet, Nick was still holding his arm, and grabbed the bag. He pulled it towards him and opened it with a bit of difficulty before finding the milk bottle and handing it over to Nick. "Shhhoot," Justin said realizing that Nick's bag was still upstairs but he was glad that when he had seen Lou, he wasn't carrying it. "It's upstairs."

"It's okay we can get it later," AJ assured them as he looked at Brian who was actually almost giving Nick his bottle since Nick wouldn’t let go of Brian enough to even take the bottle to drink it.

"Now what?" Howie asked as he looked at all of them and at the DJ. "Sorry we couldn't give you the interview you wanted."

Brian and Justin were busy comforting Nick and helping him with the bottle.

"It's okay," The DJ said with a smile as he got up and started to do some other things to give the guys time to themselves.

Nick finished off his bottle and wiggled around a little. "Me peed," he whispered a pout on his face since he knew he had, had an accident.

Brian nodded his head. He realized that... especially since Nick was sitting on his lap, it was hard not to notice. He looked around the room and realized that there wasn't enough room to change Nick and there was no way that Nick would want to be changed in front of everyone. The only possible choice left was to get Nick to a bathroom which, if Brian could remember correctly, was out in the hall. "Could someone check the halls and see if it's safe?" Brian questioned.

AJ nodded his head as he walked to the door and looked out. From what he could tell everything was clear. "It looks clear to me," he said back to Brian.

"Me no mean to," Nick whispered thinking Brian would be upset at him for going potty in his pants since he was telling Brian he was going to be a big boy.

"It's alright, Nicky," Brian said as he initiated to get up. "It happens."

"Otay," Nick whispered as he got up off Brian's lap knowing if they were going to clean him up he would have to walk with Brian to the bathroom.

"Um," Justin said looking at his hand that was still being held by Nick. He didn't know if he was supposed to follow them or not. "What about my hand?" He sniffled.

Nick let go of Justin's hand slowly, as if thinking if he wanted him to come too but ended up deciding he didn't. Once it was just him and Brian they made their way out of the studio and across the hall to the bathroom.

Brian looked under the stalls and smiled when there was no one. He walked into one of the stalls and started to pull out a whole bunch of tissue paper before laying it on the floor for Nick to lie down on.

Nick started to look at Brian like he was insane... that he was really going to lie on the bathroom floor but ended up doing it anyway. "Dis icky," he said actually giggling a little.

"Well, this is gonna have to do since we don't have any towels," Brian said as he started to pull off Nick's pants and dirty diaper. "Besides, this is better than actually lying on the floor." He looked in his bag and pulled out the wipes and started to clean Nick up. Everything was going smoothly until he was in the process of applying the rash powder. The door opened and someone stepped inside. Brian turned around ready to tell the person to excuse them and wait for a minute or two when he froze, the words getting caught in his throat as his eyes widened.

Lou raised an eyebrow and looked down at Brian who was kneeled between Nick's spread legs. "You're going to have sex with him on the bathroom floor in a public area, you little pervert!" He said, gritting his teeth. Just anybody could have walked in there and their careers would have been over.

Brian's mouth dropped open as he quickly tried to block Lou's vision of Nick by taking the new diaper from the bag and placing it over younger man. "Get out of here Lou, I need to finish CHANGING HIM," Brian said through gritted teeth and clenched fists.

Nick scrambled to sit up, actually pulling his jeans on without his diaper...seriously feeling like he was going to throw up. He didn't like this situation not at all and he was so scared he was literally shaking like a leaf.

Lou smirked. "Sure you are," he said. "So you wouldn't mind if I helped in changing him?"

Brian took in a deep breath as he started walking towards Lou. "If you ever dare touch him, I will kill you. If you even come near him, we're leaving you and we'll start all over again if we have to but we'll leave you!" Brian threatened. He knew he was taking a big jump by jeopardizing all of their careers in those few words but, damn it, this was more important that all that.

"You fucking can't leave me. I will make sure no one will ever bother to listen or pay you fools any attention," Lou sneered out. "You are NOTHING without me. I MADE you and I have the power to BREAK YOU!"

"Get out," Brian said. "GET OUT!" He screamed. "GET OUT OF HERE!" He pushed Lou towards the door and out into hall before closing the door and locking it. He then rushed over to Nick and pulled him close in a hug. "Nicky..."

Nick had been crouched in the corner of the stall, his knees to his chest as he sobbed and shook like somebody who had been badly abused... like he was. The scene he was just a part of was the splitting image of what used to happen to him on a daily basis... except back then there was nobody to save him like now. "Owie...Owie," he cried into Brian's arms, one of his hands resting on his bottom as if remembering vividly what would have happened if Brian hadn't been with him.

"No more owie's, Nick, no more," Brian said as he lifted Nick's head up and wiped the tears away. "No more. Look at me, come on, look," Brian said as he cupped Nick's face in his hands and had Nick focus on his eyes. "I WILL NEVER, understand? I WILL NEVER let him or anyone else hurt you. Okay?"

"Why he wanna hurt Nicky?" Nick asked softly, really wanting to know why the scary fat man wanted to hurt him. He didn't even know the man, why would he want to be mean?

"Because he's a bad, bad, bad man," Brian said. "He's a very bad man." He then grabbed Nick's arms and pulled him up to stand. "I locked the doors and everything, it's safe. Let's finish getting you dressed and go back over to the guys, we'll be even more safer there."

Nick bit his lower lip as Brian pulled down his pants and then started to put his diaper on him. He didn't look anywhere at Brian, tears coming to his eyes. Images were still too vivid in his mind as he wanted so badly to just throw a fit and tell Brian not to change him... but he knew Brian wouldn't hurt him... but it was still so scary.

When Brian was done putting Nick's diaper on and then pulling his pants back up he sighed and threw away the garbage before grabbing the bag. "Come on buddy, let's get out of the bathroom," he held his arm out for Nick to take and walked over to the door. He slowly opened the door and looked up and down the hall. When the coast was clear he quickly rushed into the studio and closed the door behind them, with a loud THUD! "OH MY GOD!"

Howie looked over at Brian and was immediately by his side. "What happened?"

Justin was by Nick's side and holding him in a hug. "Oh my god," he said. "He's fricking shaking!"

And he really was shaking like crazy and holding his stomach, sure he was going to throw up he was so scared out of his mind.

Justin pulled back and looked at Nick and noticed how flush his face was and he knew that look. He knew that look from before when he and Nick were at Six Flags and had went on the human bunggy jumping ride and after the ride... Nick got the same look on his face. Nick was feeling sick to his stomach. "Get me a garbage can... FAST!"

Kevin was the closest to the trash can and grabbed it and almost threw it at Justin that was how fast he got it to him and it was just in time because a matter of seconds later Nick was heaving into the trash can, throwing up whatever he had eaten the night before and the milk he had just drank.

"Good god what just happened?" AJ asked, looking at Brian with scared eyes. He didn't like the way Nick was acting at all.

"Lou walked in while I was changing him... he accused me of sleeping with Nick on the bathroom floor and then offered to help me change him," Brian said as he held on to Nick, running his hand up and down Nick's back, comforting the younger boy. "I threatened that we'll leave him if he as so much as touches Nick and then I kicked him out."

Howie was wiping the sweat off of Nick's face and moving the strands of hair from Nick's eyes while Justin held the trash can up for Nick to puke his poor guts out.

Once Nick was done he literally collapsed to the floor looking like death warmed over. He brought his legs up to his chest and just lied there in a fetal position.

"Jesus Christ," AJ grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair feeling so lost of what to do.

"This is too much," Howie whispered out. "Could someone go wet some tissues or something... Nick's heating up."

Justin immediately opened the door and rushed into the bathroom not even looking down the hall to make sure if Lou was around. Big mistake. He grabbed a bunch of tissue paper and ran over to the sink, wetting it with cold water. He didn't even hear anyone enter the bathroom till he saw someone standing next to him. Turning his head to the side he nearly had a heart attack. Lou was RIGHT there watching him through narrowed yet lust filled eyes. "HELP!" Justin screamed at the top of his lungs. He was trapped between Lou, the sink, and the wall. "HELP!"

AJ had been looking out the door as if watching for Justin when he heard him screaming. "Oh fuck..." he exclaimed before running into the bathroom.

Lou shook his head as he looked at Justin. "Why the fuck are you screaming? I'm not gonna do anything to you," he spat out. "I just wanted to tell you to get Nick-" Lou was cut off by AJ's voice behind him.

AJ's blood boiled when he saw Lou cornering his boyfriend. "You fucking get away from him!" he yelled as he slowly walked towards Lou not wanting the old man to do something if he moved too fast.

Turning around slowly Lou sighed. "I'm not doing anything and you watch just who you're talking to... All I'm trying to do is talk to this young man." He was semi-lying, yes. He wanted to see just what kind of boy Justin was before he tried anything. But he also wanted to tell Justin to never come along with or bring Nick since it was ruining the Boys concentration.

"Okay then you won't mind if he leaves then..." AJ said as he walked up to Justin and took him by the arm. "Come on, " he whispered...really hoping to get Justin out of there without a major problem.

Lou grabbed Justin's arm to keep him from going anywhere. "One minute," he said. "Not so fast."

Justin gasped at the strength with which Lou was grasping his arm. He knew he was going to have bruises on both arms, one from Nick and now from Lou. He looked into Lou's eyes and knew just what he was thinking and was about to say before AJ came in. "I know what you wanna say and as much as I can help it, I promise to keep Nick from distracting them," he said, his tone flat. "Now let go of my arm, unless there's something you gotta say?"

Lou was a bit taken back by Justin's words that he slowly nodded his head and let go of his arm. "Very well then," he said started for the door of the bathroom.

AJ bore holes in the back of Lou's head with his glares. He would have kicked the mans ass if he didn't know for sure he would have charges pressed against him.

Justin stood there for a moment, getting his heart beat under control. The coldness of the wet tissues as well the 'dripping' noise of the water from the tissues reminded him of the reason he came in to the bathroom. "Come on, let's just get out of here."

AJ protectively wrapped an arm around Justin as they walked out of the bathroom and back across the hall. "Lou is a fucking asshole...and he should fucking die!" he yelled before pulling Justin even more to him.

Justin remained silent, he'd never ever felt that scared in his entire than at that moment and he couldn't help but imagine the agony that Nick must be going through. They walked into the studio and Justin immediately handed the wet tissues over to Howie.

Howie looked up at Justin and then AJ, worried about what just happened. He took the tissues and began to wipe Nick's face and neck.

"What happened?" Brian questioned and when Justin shook his head he said, "Okay, tell me later but right now we can't have Nick here. We need to get him back to the hotel or something."

Nick flopped onto the floor and started crying even harder. He was scared to death about what was happening and his tummy didn't feel good now either. This was just not a good day for the blonde two year old.

"What are we going to do about the interviews and Lou?" Kevin asked, not sure how they would get Nick back at the hotel and still be able to go on with their interviews and the things they needed to do that day.

Brian leaned into Nick, "Shhh, it's going to be okay. You wanna head on back to the hotel with Justin?" Brian cooed in his ear.

Howie looked over at Brian and bit his bottom lip. He really didn't want to have to ask this but he was terrified of Lou. "Is it safe to give a two year old Tylenol PM or something that induces s.l.e.e.p.?"

"You come too?" Nick whispered, looking up at Brian with big blue eyes.

AJ shrugged his shoulders and so did Kevin in response to what Howie asked. "I have no idea...I mean his body is an adults body...but I don't know if that stuff messes with the brain or not..."

Brian started biting his bottom lip not knowing what to do. He was torn with wanting to go with Nick and the fear of Lou's wrath. "I want to Nick, I really do. But if I don't I am, we all are, going to get in really BIG trouble with Lou," he explained. "Oh god, I don't want to let you go." He pulled Nick into his arms, and hugged him from the back.

"I think there's something for kids..." Howie trailed off.

"Maybe he'll just fall asleep on his own because of all the shit going on?" AJ suggested, not sure if he liked the idea of drugging Nick...even if it was probably for his own good.

Nick started crying again as he clung to Brian tightly, he didn't want to let him go either. Sure, he didn't like the sound of the guys getting in trouble with Lou...not at all...but he was still that selfish thinking two year old and knew that he needed his daddy.

Howie sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "We gotta find a way to get new management," he said and then looked up at Kevin. He knew Kevin had dabbed a bit in to law for a little while. "I don't think we can go much longer with Lou, not just Nick, but all of us."

Brian, too, looked up at Kevin. What Howie was saying was the second foremost thing on his mind. "We're bringing Nick along with us for the next radio interview as well as the photoshoot and the fricking sound check. He's coming and if that bastard has anything to say about that then..." Brian trailed off. As much as he wanted to say 'I quit' he just couldn't.

"I'll look into it," Kevin said meaning the lengths they would have to go about firing Lou and getting new management.

"Me go wit you?" Nick asked softly, still looking up at Brian, his blue eyes haunted.

"Yes, you're coming with us," Brian said and then looked up at the time. He groaned. "We need to get going, our time here is up."

Howie stood up and looked over at the DJ who was watching them with sadness and sympathy. "Hey man, we really are sorry for all this. Thanks for everything, though."

Just then there was a knock on the door and Scott poked his head into the room. "Umm excuse me but, I believe this belongs to that little guy right there," he said pointing at Nick and holding the backpack out.

Nick smiled a little when he saw Joe's head sticking out of the bag. He had missed his elephant. "Tank you," he said kindly as he took the bag and got Joe out quickly.

Brian smiled as he saw Nick smile a bit. "Yeah, thanks. Who are you?" He questioned looking up at the young man.

Justin cleared his throat and spoke up. "Um, that's Scott, he's an intern here," he said smiling a small smile at Scott and cocked his head to the side when Scott looked like he wasn't ready to leave.

Scott gave Justin a huge smile, one that would probably melt a whole bunch of teen girls hearts and a select few boys. "Yup, I saw these two upstairs a little bit ago."

"Oh," Brian said raising an eye brow and looking between Scott and Justin. "That's... nice."

Justin snorted a little. "Gave me company till," he paused and frowned. "Till Lou showed up."

AJ gave this Scott dude a weird look. He didn't like the way he was looking at Justin... his Justin. "That's nice...but we're leaving now... let's go guys."

Kevin was already walking out the door with Howie knowing they really did need to get going. "He's right guys we really do need to get going."

Justin grabbed Brian's bag since Brian had his hands full with Nick and followed the guys out the door. He stopped shortly by Scott's side as everyone walked down the hall towards the elevator. "Sorry," he said. "I know I said I could get you an autograph or something but the last few minutes were... hell. Um, what time you get off work or this intern thing today?"

"Around four," Scott replied and smiled. "Plus don't worry about it you have my number maybe you can call me and we'll exchange addresses and you can send me one or something," he said actually liking this better because that meant he got to keep in contact with the curly haired blonde.

AJ turned to say something to Justin but realized he wasn't next to him anymore. Turning around he saw him talking to Scott and glared. "J come on we're going," he called, wanting his boyfriend away from that guy.

Justin looked over at AJ and nodded his head. "Yah, I gotta get going... but um, the guys have sound check at the arena around that time, I'll give you a call or something," he said as he started to walk towards the elevator. "You can like stay or something till the end of the concert, you're good company."

Scott smiled big, "Yeah, call me," he said before walking down the other way.

AJ continued to glare at Scott when Justin came and joined him. He was so damn jealous right now he thought he was going to explode.

"Sorry about that," Justin apologized and waited with the rest of them for the elevator to come. He looked over at AJ and frowned. "Age...?" He questioned as he noticed that he looked like he was going to kill someone. "I hate Lou too but if you keep squinting and frowning like that you're probably gonna go blind and get wrinkles." He thought that was the reason why AJ had that face on.

"Yeah...I know," AJ replied as he attempted to calm himself down even though he wanted to go kill this Scott guy for flirting with his boyfriend. He had never felt like this about anybody else before.

"Where go?" Nick asked, wondering where they were going now.

Brian sighed. "Another building, for another radio interview," Brian said.

Howie shook his head. "Uh, you got the interview part right but it's a TV interview not radio..." He said.

Nick pouted a little but nodded his head. He didn't want to go back to the hotel but these interview things got kinda annoying. "Otay...we all go...you too ight?" he asked still making sure that he wasn't going to be left without Brian.

"Of course," Brian said and kissed Nick on the temple. "This interview shouldn't be that long... maybe a half hour or something..."

Howie nodded his head. "Yah, around that time 'cause we have the photoshoot scheduled at 12:15..."

AJ kept looking at Justin out of the corner of his eye, his hand was wrapped around the other man down by his hips as if saying 'mine'.

They were in the elevator by this point and were silently riding it down to the main floor. He kept alternating between rubbing the sore part of his right hand and then the sore part on his left hand as he leaned back into AJ's arms with a sigh. This day felt like it was never going to end and he wanted to cry because it was only 9:45 in the morning.

Nick noticed what Justin was doing and saw the marks on Justin's arm and his eyes went wide. "Justin gots owie," he whispered worried for his friend.

Kevin looked over when Nick said that and noticed the dark marks on Justin's arms. "J...what happened?" He could tell the marks were finger prints already and they had only been there like twenty minutes at the most.

Justin shook his head and shrugged. He didn't think he should say anything in front of Nick. "Nothing..." he said in a soft voice as he looked down at the pink prints on his arms.

Brian frowned and then looked from Justin to AJ and then at Kevin with a worried look on his face. They really needed to leave Lou, this was getting out of control.

Howie gently reached over and ran his fingers on the soon to be black and blue bruises on Justin's arms. "We need to get ice packets or something..."

Nick nodded his head in agreement. "Peas," he said with a nod of his head.

AJ turned and looked at Nick weird. "Peas?"

"What about Peas, Nicky?" Kevin asked, also confused at what the boy was talking about.

"Justin...owie." Nick said, pointing at Justin's arm. His mom used to give him peas to put on bruises just like that. Not really to be nice, but to make sure they went away before anybody could see them.

Justin chuckled. "Yah, it's another thing you can put on bruises to make them go away faster. Like steak and stuff," he said.

Brian looked down at Nick. "How did you know that?" He questioned not sure if he really wanted to know the answer to that because he got a feeling he kinda already knew.

"Mommy do dat when me ook ike dat," Nick said once again pointing at Justin's arm. His daddy used to have to hold his arms above his head hard when he would be hurting him sexually.

Howie, Brian, and Justin all cringed and wrinkled their foreheads before shaking their heads and taking in deep breaths to calm themselves down. Today was not a good day for anything. Before long they were making their way out the back door towards their awaiting van and they all looked a bit anxious since they knew Lou would be riding with them. Once they got in the car they were pleasantly surprised when the van started to drive without Lou and their driver explained that Lou had other engagements and would join them for their sound check.

"Thank god," AJ mumbled when he heard this, he wasn't sure he was in the mood to see him again right now. Especially since he was still pissed over the whole Scott thing.

Nick rested his head against the window as he attempted to watch what was going on outside, but his little mind kept wandering and haunting him with images of earlier and soon he was crying again, but it was silent tears. The tears he would cry when with his parents and knew he would be punished more for crying,

Justin was seated right behind Nick, looking out the window, watching the scenery passing by. Then he caught Nick's reflection on the window and immediately leaned forwards and put his arms around Nick's shoulders so that he could wipe the tears away. Resting his chin on Nick's shoulder he asked, "What's bothering you Nick? Are you still remembering what your parents did to you?"

Brian had been seated next to Nick lost in his own thoughts but was brought out of them with Justin's movement and words. He twisted in his seat so that he was facing Nick as he threw his arm over Justin's shoulder while the other arm held Nick's hand. "You don't need to worry about your parents, anymore Nick. They're gone. They won't hurt you and as long as we're here, no one else will."

"Me know dat," Nick whispered, really meaning that. "But Lou...he look ike daddy in batoom," he said trying to explain how he knew Lou was going to hurt him...and he knew he probably still wanted to.

"We won't let him hurt you Nicky," Kevin said speaking up for the first time in the last few minutes. "I'm going to do all that I can to make sure none of us have to see his face again."

Howie held Kevin's hand tighter as he nodded his head at Kevin's words.

"We don't like him either and we're gonna try as hard as we can to get a new manager instead of him," Brian said.

"And when we do, we'll hire a hit-man," Justin added.

"I don't think we need to go THAT far," Kevin laughed smiling at Justin.

"Me wana hit him," Nick said thinking that’s what Justin had meant. He had an angry look on his face all of a sudden, thinking about hitting Lou.

Justin shrugged. "Yah well," he paused and laughed at Nick's statement. "A guy can dream, can't he?" Then he kissed Nick's cheek and ruffled his hair. "High-five," he said sticking his hand out in front of Nick hoping to at least get Nick's mind off of Lou.

Nick giggled a little as he slapped his hand with Justin's. "High five."