Chapter 37

Nobody moved for a few seconds due to the fact that what Dr. Thomas had just said was still sinking in.  Dr. Thomas looked around at all the faces staring blankly at him; he was almost afraid to say anything else.  He was going to finish telling everyone about Brian's condition when he got interrupted.      

Nick sprang off the couch and headed right over to Dr. Thomas with fire in his eyes.  "Don't sit here and feed me that bullshit.  Brian is going to make it whether you want tell us that or not.  He's pulled through more than you know."

Dr. Thomas remained calm.  Nick hasn't been the first person to react like this toward him.  "I assure you that we're doing all we can.  And I know that you don't like to hear that Brian isn't doing well, but I have to come tell you how he is doing whether it is good or bad."      

"It just better be good from now on."  Nick growled and walked away.         

"Nick!  You don't need to talk to Dr. Thomas like that," Kevin warned.       

"And who are you Kevin?  My mother?  What am I supposed to do with myself if it so happens that Brian doesn't make it?  Huh?  He's my best friend.  My brother.  I wouldn't be able to handle it.  And I don't need this guy here handing me information that Brian might not make it.  I need a definite answer along the lines of that Brian will make it." Nick shot back, his voice getting louder with each word.       

"We all want that Nick, but it's not gonna happen that way.  And you need to accept that," Kevin retorted.

"Nick, you need to understand that everyone here is just as upset and you do need to clam down.  Brian is Kevin's cousin, is also best friends with AJ and Howie, and boyfriend to Angela.  Kevin, you need to back off a little bit in the father figure area.  Nick is a big boy and can be responsible for his own actions.  We all need to be here for each other and not keep jumping down each other's throats," Krista scolded.       

"Didn't I say this once before?" Howie said, trying to lighten up the mood.  Everyone shot him a look and he knew that wasn't exactly the right thing to say.       

"Anyway," Krista continued.  "I'm sure Dr. Thomas wasn't finished telling us about Brian."  He shook his head to confirm her.  "And then after that, Nick, you and I and leaving so I can calm you down.  I'm counting on Kevin, AJ, and Howie to take care of Angela for me.  Cool?"  All the guys nodded.  Angela had her head buried in her hands and didn't give a response.       

"Anyway," Dr. Thomas continued.  "I'm looking for a decision from an immediate family member.  The last bullet that is still in Brian is very life-threatening.  As his surgery went on to remove the other two, we noticed that the last one is moving slowly toward his superior vena cava, which is one of the main veins that moves blood back toward the heart.  What this means is that if it keeps moving in the direction that it is, it will crush Brian's vein preventing any blood from getting to the heart along with internal bleeding.  It would be something beyond repair and would mean his death.  Brian is still very weak from the surgery and isn't ready to go back into the operating room.  But if we don't remove this bullet now, it will kill him.  So what I am looking for is a decision on whether to let him ride it out until he wakes up and take the chance of the bullet crushing the vein or taking him back to the OR room and chancing it there knowing that he's not strong enough and may not make it."       

Kevin sighed heavily and brushed the tears from his eyes.  "It's time that I called Aunt Jackie and Uncle Harold and told them anyway."     

"Please let me know as soon as we reach a decision," Dr. Thomas said before leaving.        

"I'll be right back," Kevin said and gave a nod toward Angela who was rubbing her stomach and whispering "Oh Brian" repeatedly.        

AJ sat down next to her and rubbed her back.  "Angela, are you gonna be OK?"      

She looked at him with painful eyes and said," I will be, but Brian may not.  And he needs to be here for the baby."       

"I know sweetie."  He swept her into a hug.      

Krista gently took Nick by the hand and stood up.  "We won't be long.  I'll make sure that Nick has his cell on if anything comes up."  They both left.      

Howie sat down on the other side of AJ and Angela.  "Do you want one of us to take you back to AJ's place to get some rest?"      

"No," Angela said quickly.  "I need to see Brian right now.  I can't wait any longer."  She jumped up and ran out the door with the ICU as her destination and Brian being the only thing on her mind.  Nothing was going to stop her from seeing him.  Nothing.

Meanwhile....

"We'll be on the next flight," Jackie Littrell said through tears.  This wasn't the first time that Brian has been in a life-threatening situation and it wasn't getting any easier on both Jackie and Harold.  "Please don't let anything happen to him Kevin," she almost pleaded.     

"I'm trying my hardest Aunt Jackie," Kevin promised.       

"Thank you for doing all that you can Kevin.  It means a lot," Harold said.  "Come on Jackie.  We need to pack and get going."    

"Have a safe flight."       

They exchanged good-byes and Kevin knew that his aunt and uncle must be going through hell.

At the same time...

As Nick and Krista walked through the door to Krista's house, Nick spun her around and gave her a very hungry kiss.  He caught her by surprise, but she returned it.       

"What was that for?" she asked after they broke apart.       

"Don't ever leave me," he said, almost like a child.       

"Nick, I promise I won't and Brian won't either.  He'll pull through just like you said.  Not just for you or Angela, but for all of us.  He knows how much we need him, how much his family needs him, how much the Backstreet Boys fans need him."      

Nick sighed.  "You're right.  But it still just eats away at me."  They laid down on her bed.  "I just get this feeling."       

"Sweetie I can understand that," she said, stroking his hair.  "But you have to keep going and you have to be strong for him.  Keep him in your thoughts and he'll know that you're there for him.  Brian loves his life and everyone in it.  You know that he'll be fighting as hard as he can to pull through for you guys more than himself."      

She looked over at her boyfriend and saw that he had fallen asleep.  She sighed in relief that he'll have his mind off of this for a couple of hours.  Krista curled up next to Nick and it wasn't long before she fell asleep as well.