Chapter 40

 

 "I wonder how things are going. I mean, it's been four hours and we haven't heard anything," AJ commented.
 

"Oh, I hope everything is alright," Jackie said with worry on her face.
 

"I'm sure that everything is just fine," Harold said. "No need to worry."
 

"I'll go to the nurses' station and see if they have any sort of updates if everyone wants," Howie volunteered. Everyone just gave nods as he got up and left.

 

"Can I help you?" the nurse behind the desk asked.

"Yeah. I was hoping you could give me some information on how Brian Littrell's surgery is going."

"Brian Littrell," she murmured. "He should have been out a couple hours ago. Let me see what I can go find."
 

Howie felt his face go white as she was saying this. "Thanks," he managed to choke out.
 

"Don't worry. I'm sure Dr. Thomas just hasn't given me the papers that say he's back in his room yet," she said with a reassuring smile and then left to investigate on what happened to Brian.
 

Howie walked back into the waiting room where everyone else was and all conversation stopped. "Howie! What's wrong?" Kevin asked.
 

"The nurse at the desk told me that she doesn't know where Brian is right now. He should have been out of surgery a couple hours ago. She left to go see what happened to him." Before Howie could say anything else, Jackie let out a loud sob.
 

"Something's wrong!" she cried. "I can feel it!"
 

Harold put his arms around his wife. "Honey, I'm sure that everything is fine."
 

"Yeah," Howie added. "She did say that it was possible that Dr. Thomas just didn't give her the papers saying that he was out of surgery."

Harry sighed loudly. "I think I'm gonna go for a walk."
 

"I think I'll join you," AJ said. Both men got up and left.
 

"Oh my poor Babyduck," Jackie mumbled. Harold just wrapped his arms around his wife tighter.
 

"So now what do we do?" Nick wondered out loud. He tried not to move too much because Krista was asleep in his lap.
 

"We wait patiently," Angela said calmly out of nowhere.

"I thought you were asleep," Nick said turning his attention toward her.
 

"You honestly think I can sleep when my fiancee is in there with his life on the line?" Nick just shrugged. "Like I said, we have to be patient. He will pull through and no one should be doubting him."
 

Jackie pulled away suddenly from Harold. "Angela, honey, you're right. I shouldn't be doubting my son at all. He will pull through for all of us."

 

Dr. Thomas then poked his head into the room. "Is it a bad time?"
 

"No!" Everyone said in unison.

"What about AJ and Harry?" Kevin asked.
 

"We're right here," Harry said.
 

"Dr. Thomas found us in the hallway and told us that he had news, so we followed him back," AJ added.

 Nick gently woke Krista up as everyone got situated and waited for Dr. Thomas to tell them the news.

"OK, I have news that is good, but bad. So I guess I'll just start at the beginning."  Jackie and Angela closed their eyes at the same time.  "Well, we lost Brian twice during the surgery; the bullet was farther down than we had anticipated and was grazing his heart. Luckily, no damage was done. The rest of the surgery went well. Right now he's in ICU in a coma. The only thing we aren't sure of yet is how much, if any, brain damage he has due to his heart stopping both of those times. We have to wait until he wakes up to take tests. And as much as I hate to say this, that's if he wakes up."
 

Everyone just sat there stunned, silenced by the words that had come out of Dr. Thomas's mouth. Brian have brain damage? He might not wake up again?

 It wasn't that long ago that everyone was talking to him and he said that he was going to make it. But at the same time Dr. Thomas did say that there was that chance that Brian may not live. It was slowly becoming a reality for all in the waiting room that their lives might never be the same again. 

 

When no one spoke, Dr. Thomas said, "I'm sorry to have brought all of you this news. You'll be able to go see him tomorrow, but for now, I suggest everyone goes to get some rest. If any of you have any questions, you know where you all can reach me." With that, he left.
 

"Well, what else can we do?" Krista asked, breaking the silence. "If we can't see him we might as well go home and try to take our minds off of it for a while."
 

"You're right," Kevin agreed. "It isn't going to do Brian or us, for that matter, any good to be sitting here when we can't do anything."  The rest of the group nodded at Krista and Kevin and slowly got up, reluctant to leave Brian here. Harold put his arm around Jackie as they left with Harry following so they could go back to their hotel.

 

"We'll call if we hear anything," Harold said over his shoulder and left.

The rest of the Backstreet Boys got up to leave. "Are you going to be alright Angela?" AJ asked.
 

"Yeah," she sighed.
 

"You can stay at one of our houses," Howie offered.
 

"No, I've got Krista," she replied. "But thanks anyway."
 

"Call if you need anything," Kevin said in a fatherly tone.
 

Angela smiled. "I will Kev. I promise."

 

 Nick leaned over to give Angela a hug. "Stay strong. He needs it," he whispered in her ear. Angela nodded in his shoulder as she felt a tear slip down her face. He pulled back and smiled at her knowing that as much as he wanted to break down because it was his best friend in there, he had to be stronger for Angela.

 

Nick then turned around to Krista and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll talk to you soon. Love you."
 

"Love you too," she mumbled. As Nick turned away, all the guys left. Krista watched her boyfriend leave and then turned to face her best friend. "You ready to go?"

Angela stared at her engagement ring and sighed heavily before getting up.