| Chapter 45 "John, if you don't mind, before you start with the questions, I need to explain a few things," Brian said. "Oh, well, OK, go right ahead," John said. Brian looked over at the cameras, "You are taping, cause I don't wanna have to say this twice." The camera-man nodded that they were, and Brian looked at Tara. She smiled at him, then he turned back to John. "Well to understand everything I've gotta start at the beginning," Brian started. "The beginning?" John asked. "Yeah, when we all met Tara, and the circumstances that were involved," Brian said. Brian took a deep breath, "You see there are some things that we have kept from the media, and from our fans. We really didn't know how to explain any of it, and it was so personal that we really didn't wanna have to. But for everyone to understand what's going on with us now, we need to." John looked from one to the other, they all seemed a bit nervous, more so than at any of the other interviews he'd done with them. "Go on Brian," John said. "Well it all started last year while we were on tour. I started getting death threats, and well, remember when we canceled the tour for a while?" Brian asked. "Yeah, I believe you got food poisoning?" John said. Brian laughed, "Well, no not really. The person sending the death threats poisoned my breakfast, I was in a coma for a week." John's mouth dropped to the floor. "Anyway, when I got out of the hospital, we all rented this lodge to stay in. And well, I got tired of being guarded all the time and drove off to be alone for a little while. I stopped at one of those scenic outlook places, just to think for a while. Well, the guy who was threatening me found me there and well......." Brian stopped for a minute. Kevin reached over and put his hand on Brian's shoulder letting him know it was OK. "Brian do you need to stop for a minute?" John asked, seeing he was having a hard time with what he wanted to say. "No, I'm OK. He shot me and I fell over the railing." Brian said. "You got shot?" John asked, shocked that none of this got out. "Yeah, in the shoulder. Lucky for me the guy couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Anyway, I ended up at the bottom of the ravine with no way to get back up to the highway. I had a bad concussion, and I hurt my ankle in the fall. It was storming so I found a cave to duck into, and that's where I met Tara," Brian said. "OK, Tara why were you in the cave?" John asked, trying to figure things out. "Well, I'd been hiking for a few days, kind of a little vacation, and when it started raining I ducked in the same cave. Brian was already there, but he'd passed out. I saw that he was bleeding, so I did the best I could to treat his wounds," Tara said. Brian squeezed her hand and smiled at her. "So that's how you two met," John said. "Yeah, and if it wasn't for Tara, I'd never made it out of the forest alive," Brian said. "How's that?" John asked. "Well, we decided to hike out, but my shoulder got infected and I couldn't stay awake long enough to say two words. Tara made a kinda sled like thing out of her backpack and stuff, and drug me out. I would've died before anyone found me," Brian said. "So is that what formed the bond that you two have?" John asked. Everyone looked at him surprised. "How'd you know about that?" Brian asked. "Well, we in the media tend to watch what's going on around us. You'd have to be blind not to see it," John said. Brian and Tara looked at each other. "Yeah, I guess you could say that's where it started," Brian said. "So, you said that Tara got you out, what happened then?" John asked. "Well to make a really long story short, the guy found me in the hospital and tried to kill me. Tara stopped him, and it took me a while to recover," Brian said. "So where is this guy now, who is he?" John asked. Kevin shifted nervously in his seat. "Well, he's locked up in a mental institution. I'm not gonna name him, because knowing his name accomplishes nothing. He's getting the help he needs, and he's not in a position to hurt anyone else," Brian said. "But why you Brian?" John asked. Brian thought for a moment, "I really don't know. He worked with us, so that's how he had such access to me, but I really don't know why he picked me over the other guys." "So Nick, while all this was going on, how did you and Tara hook up?" John asked. Nick looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Um, well....we met Tara at the hospital. She was really sweet and well she saved Bri's life, so we were glad to get to know her. I dunno, things just happened and we both just clicked ya know?" Nick said. Tara squeezed his hand and Nick looked at her, she could see the sadness and a little fear in his eyes, but he was trying his best not to let it show. "I see, and you two have been together ever since?" John asked. "Yeah, until just recently," Nick said. John looked confused, "So you two aren't a couple anymore?" "No we aren't, but we are still very good friends," Nick said. "So, what happened?" John asked, knowing that didn't sound professional, but he was curious now. "Um, well, that's were the rest of the story comes in," Brian said, taking the heat off Nick. "All right Brian, go ahead," John said. "Well, I started working on a solo album, and Lee and I had been having some problems lately, and I started getting these awful headaches. I um......" Brian stopped, he had no idea how to say what he was trying to say, and he knew he was rambling. "Brian, do you want me to say it?" Nick asked. Brian looked over at his friend, that was the last thing he wanted him to have to do. But before Brian could protest, Nick was already speaking. "You see, Brian was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He and Leighanne were on the rocks, so I asked him to come stay with me and Tara. Howie was already here visiting, so we called A.J. to come out too. The doctor wasn't very hopeful about Brian's prognosis, so we all wanted to spend as much time together as possible," Nick said. John was on the edge of his seat, he was completely shocked at what they were telling him. "There were rumors of a kidnapping? Is any of that true?" John asked. "Yes, it is," Brian said, "See, there were some people that didn't want me to make the album, so they burned the studio down, and one of them kidnapped me." "How did you escape?" John asked. "Well, umm," Brian started. "Tara found him," Nick said. Brian and Tara both looked at Nick. Nick leaned over and whispered in Tara's ear, "Let me do this." She looked at him for a moment, then nodded her head. "You see their bond is stronger than any of us ever realized," Nick started, "I think because of it, Tara was able to find him. We got Brian out of the house he was being held in, while she fought with his kidnapper. We were standing outside, waiting on the police, when Tara came running around the side of the house, and tackled Brian, just as the kidnapper fired a shot. He was aiming at Brian, but he hit Tara instead. And that's when we all found out," Nick said. "Found out what?" John asked. "That's when we found out that they really love each other," Nick said. John looked visibly shaken, "What?" Nick laughed at his reaction, "Brian and Tara love each other, and have since they met." "So the entire time you guys have been together, they've been....?" John started. "NO!" all four said in unison. "John, this is really hard to explain," Leighanne said, "Sometimes I wonder if I even understand it. The just of it is, Brian and I have filed for divorce. We aren't angry at each other, and we're not fighting over anything. We realized a long time ago that what we had wasn't strong enough to last, we just didn't do anything about it until now." "And, Tara and I aren't together anymore. Like Leighanne said, we're not fighting, and we aren't angry at each other. It's just that what we had doesn't compare to what she and Bri have, and I can't stand in the way of my best friend and the girl I love's happiness," Nick said. "OK, wait a minute. You're telling me that Brian and Tara are a couple now, and it's just fine with the both of you?" John asked. Nick and Leighanne looked at each other, then turned back to John. "Yes, that's exactly what we're telling you," Leighanne said. "And neither of you is angry about this?" John asked. They both shook their heads, "No, in fact we're pretty happy for them," Nick said. John sat there for a moment, trying to process everything. "Is this some sort of joke?" he asked. Everyone looked at him. "John, everything we're telling you is true," Kevin said. "So what does this mean, as far as the group is concerned?" John asked. "We're still a group. What's happened has no affect on us as a group whatsoever," Howie said. All the guys agreed. John looked back to Brian, "Brian, what about your illness?" "Well, I've been treated with medicine, and as of right now I'm in remission," Brian answered. "So everything's OK?" John asked. Brian smiled, "Yeah, everything is great." "And all of you are OK with what's happened?" John asked. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we are damn happy with how things have turned out," A.J. said. All the guys agreed. "Well then, is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?" John asked. "Yeah," Brian said, "I know this is a lot to take in, but just know that we are all OK with it. Thanks for all the support that you guys give us." "And it's gonna take a hell of a lot more than what's happened to tear us apart," A.J. said. "All right, I guess we're done unless anyone has anything else to add," John said. "No, I think that's it," Brian said. John told the crew to start packing things up, then turned to the guys. "I don't know what to say, other than you guys are really brave to be putting this out there," John said. "Well, it's not like we have much of a choice," Brian said, "It's all gonna come out sooner or later, and why not just tell it now and get it over with." "Yeah, I admire you guys for that. I can't imagine having to tell my personal business to everyone," John said. "Well let's just hope you never have to," Nick said. "Well, this'll probably start airing tomorrow sometime. I'm sure I'll be up all night editing it," John said. "That's fine," Kevin said. John helped the crew get everything together then said his good-byes and left. "Kev, I need to run by your house and pick up the dogs on the way to the airport," Leighanne said. "You're leaving?" Brian asked. "Yeah, in about three hours, so I just have enough time to get there," Leighanne said. Brian looked at her for a long time, "Lee, I just wanna..." She put her hand on his arm, "Brian, you don't have to say anything. I'll call from time to time and let ya know how the dogs are." "Let me know how you are too," Brian said. Leighanne smiled, "I will." She hugged Brian, then said her good-byes to everyone else. Tara gave her a hug. "Take care of him OK," Leighanne said. "I will, you take care too," Tara said. Leighanne smiled, and followed Kevin out the door. "We're gonna take off too," Howie said, his arm around Kira. "Hang on Howie," Nick said, and pulled him into the kitchen. "What is it?" Howie asked. Nick pulled out a key from his pocket and handed it to him. "I wanted to give you this. I'm leaving tonight for that promotional trip, and I'd like it if you house sat for me," Nick said. Howie took the key, "Yeah, sure. How long are you gonna be gone?" "Um, I'm really not sure yet. I'll call and let you know," Nick said. "All right, um, is it OK to have guests?" Howie asked with a smile on his face. Nick laughed, "Yes Kira can come over, but stay out of my bedroom." Howie laughed, "No problem." They returned to the living room and Howie and Kira left. "Tara, can I talk to you for a minute?" Nick asked. "I'll meet you at the car," A.J. said heading for the door. Brian followed him. Nick waited until they were out the door, "I'm leaving tonight. I just wanted to let you know." She looked at him for a long time, searching his eyes. "Nick, are you gonna be OK?" she asked. "Yeah, eventually. I just gotta get away and sort some things out, that's all," he said. "I'm worried about you. I never wanted to hurt you," she said. "Tara, as long as you're happy, that's all I care about," Nick said. "You will call and let us know you're OK?" Tara asked. "Yeah, but don't get frantic if you don't hear from me for a while," Nick said. "All right," Tara said staring at him, "Nick, I don't know what to say." He smiled at her, but she could see the sadness in his eyes, "Then don't say anything." He bent down and hugged her, then headed for the door. Brian and A.J. stopped talking when he came outside. "Nick," Brian said. "Yeah?" Nick said, his hand on the car door. "Thanks for doing this. I know it was hard on you," Brian said. Nick smiled, "No problem, see ya later." He and A.J. got in the car and headed down the drive. Brian walked back in the house to find Tara sitting on the couch crying. "Honey, what's wrong?" he asked. She looked up at him, wiping the tears from her face, "I'm worried about him." Brian pulled her into a hug, "I know, I am too, but we gotta let him deal with this on his own." "But what if he can't?" Tara asked. "Then we pray for him, and trust that God will help him," Brian said. Chapter 46 |