| Chapter 50 "Are you OK?" Diane asked. Nick nodded. He was holding his hands over his face as the helicopter slowly descended to the top of the hotel roof. He had been alright until he saw the building coming up at them, then he'd started to freak. He put his hands over his face and took deep breaths, trying to remember the little saying Dr. McKenna had told him to say when he got scared. Damn if he couldn't remember it! He felt a small bump and then the engines winding down. "We're here," Diane said, giving him a reassuring smile when he looked up at her. He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the headset off, climbing out. The helicopter had arrived early, even before anyone had really woke up. Nick was starving, and was looking forward to room service. "There is a buffet set up in the conference room," one of the producers for 20/20 said, meeting them on the roof. "Once you get done, you have about two hours before the group interview," she went on. Nick grinned at Diane, and she slapped his arm. "Oh no, you do your interview, then we can play," she said, getting the mother of all pouts in return. Brian laughed at the two, "At least you two are together after you got engaged. I asked Leigh, and had to leave the next day for three months." "Oh speaking of Leigh, I need to talk with her after we eat and I get cleaned up," Diane said, grinning mischievously. Brian looked at her, "Oh no, I don't like that look. What?" She laughed, "Nothing. Nothing at all." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was sitting in hair and make-up, trying not to fall asleep. They had eaten breakfast and then went back to their hotel rooms to shower and rest for a little while before meeting back down here. A.J. was flirting with his make-up artist, as usual. Howie and Kevin were talking about hiring new management. They thought it was about time to. And Brian was sitting next to Nick, watching Leigh and Diane talking. "There they go again," he said. "What?" Nick asked. "They keep looking over here and laughing," Brian said. Nick chuckled, and Brian looked at him, "You know what they're talking about don't you?" He nodded. "Well??" Brian asked. "What's the name of that stadium the Atlanta Braves play in?" Nick asked. Brian started to answer then his eyes went wide, "You didn't?!" Nick laughed, "Play ball!" Brian turned nine shades of red, "I swear I'm gonna get you back." Nick shook his head, "I've always wondered .... did you at least wait until after the game?" "Shut up, Nick," Brian said, stifling his own laughter. "What are you guys talking about?" Howie asked. "How exciting baseball can be," Nick answered. "Oh, I never found it that exciting," Howie commented. "Well, Bri gets a rise out of it, don'tcha Bri?" Nick teased. Brian put his head in his hands, "I will never tell you a single thing, ever again." Nick laughed, "Yeah, it's probably better that way." "OK guys, if you'll take your seats," another producer said. They all got up and went into the conference room. It had been turned into a small set, with a huge couch and a chair facing it. They all sat down on the couch, getting comfortable. Misha trotted over and lay down at Nick's feet as Barbara walked in. She talked with a couple of producers for a moment, then took her seat. "Morning," she said. "Morning," all the guys returned. "Everyone ready?" she asked. They all nodded, and the cameras started rolling. "What was it like going back?" she asked. All the guys looked at Kevin, silently naming him the spokesperson. "I think for me, it was somewhat of a closure," he said. "How so?" Barbara asked. "Well, the accident started a part of our lives that we never thought we'd have to face. And now, going back after Brian is back on his feet, and Nick is talking again .. It just seems like it's putting an end to that chapter of our lives," he explained. "Is that how you all feel?" she asked. Everyone nodded. "Nick and Brian. You two were the most injured. Has going back proved anything to you, or do you just put it all behind you and move on?" she asked. Nick and Brian glanced at each other, neither wanting to go first. Brian couldn't take Nick's pleading eyes anymore and turned to Barbara, "Um well, I think you have to put it behind you. At least for me. I can't go around saying well if the accident hadn't happened, things would be different, cause you just don't know. If the plane hadn't crashed, something else might have happened that would've been worse. I think things happen for a reason, and I know that some good has come out of all this. I just take what this has taught me, and try to be a better person for it. I learned a lot being in the wheel chair and having to fight to get back on my feet. I know that what I have can be taken in an instant, and I just try to live everyday to the fullest, because you never know about tomorrow." "Very true, Brian. And Nick, what about you?" Barbara asked. Nick cleared his throat, "Um I agree with Brian. I think ... no I know this happened for a reason. I can't say that ... I can put it all behind me ... but I know I've learned from it." "And why can't you put it behind you?" she asked. "I'm reminded of it everyday. When I take ... my medicine for my seizures. When I stumble over a word that I should know .... but I can't make it come out. I'll never forget what it was like ... to wake up in that tent and not be able to talk ... and not know why I couldn't. I can't just forget about it ... because it changed so much of my life. But ... I've learned to appreciate what the accident ... has done for me. It gave me a chance to know what true love is ... and for that I'll be eternally grateful." Barbara smiled at him, "Speaking of true love. I hear congratulations are in order?" Nick grinned, "Yeah." "What made you decide to ask her at the site?" she asked. Nick took a deep breath, "Well, I've wanted to ask her for a long time ... but I wanted it to be special. I knew that it had to be there .... because that's where it all started. It's where I fell in love with her .... and where she saved my life. It had to be there." Barbara smiled, "And I thought Howie was suppose to be the romantic one." All the guys laughed, and Nick blushed. "So what's next for the Backstreet Boys? When this happened you were about to start a world tour, are there any plans to continue that?" she asked. "We want to, but it will still be a while," A.J. answered. "Yeah, we've just now started working on finding new management," Howie said. "What happened with management?" she asked. "Um let's just say that they didn't have our best interests in mind following the accident," Kevin said. "I see," she said, "So after you find new management, then what?" "Well it depends," Kevin said. "On what?" she asked. "On how Brian and Nick are doing," he answered. "I'm back on my feet, but I'm not quite up for dancing yet," Brian admitted. "And I can't sing yet," Nick said, looking down at his hands. Barbara looked at her notes for a moment then looked up at them, "I have to ask this. What if you all are ready and Nick still can't sing? What happens to the group then?" All the guys glanced at each other for a moment. "We aren't a group without the five of us," Kevin said, "If it comes to that, and I'm sure it won't, we'll have to sit down and discuss it. We won't do anything without all five of us agreeing on it." Nick stared down at his hands, half listening to Barbara and Kevin talking. He'd thought about that very question, and he didn't like the possible answers his mind stirred up. He did not want to the be cause of the end of the Backstreet Boys. Misha's whining caught his attention and he looked at her. She was pawing at his legs, moving from one to the other, looking up at him with an urgent look on her little face. "Shit," Nick mumbled, as he started to taste the familiar metallic taste on his tongue. Kevin was in mid sentence when Misha caught his attention. "We need to stop for a minute," he told Barbara, getting up. All the guys got off the couch and let Nick lay down. Diane had walked up and was talking quietly to him, as she slipped what looked like a mouth guard in his mouth. "What's going on?" Barbara asked. "Misha alerted. Nick's about to have a seizure," Brian explained. "Do we need to call someone?" she asked. He shook his head, "Naw, we got it." Barbara and the crew watched as Nick convulsed for a few minutes, then calmed down. Kevin had gotten a wash cloth from one of the hotel attendants and wet it, giving it to Diane. A.J. had grabbed a bottled water and took it to her as well. Diane wiped the sweat from Nick's forehead, tracing over his scar as he opened his eyes. "Hey, you alright?" she asked. He nodded, "Tired." "Well, just lay here for a minute," she said, continuing to wash his face and neck. Nick looked over, "They didn't ... tape this did they?" "I don't think so," she answered, "Even if they did, we can tell them not to use it." Nick smiled, "Baby, you don't tell ... the media what to use. They use whatever they want." Diane grinned at him, "I'm sure Barbara has more taste than to show this." "I do," Barbara said, walking over to them and looking down at Nick, "Are you alright?" He nodded, "Yeah, you get used .. to them after a while." "Well, you're welcome to bow out of the rest of the interview. I can explain why you aren't there for part of it on the show," she offered. Nick sat up grabbing the bottled water and taking a few drinks, "You don't mind?" "Of course not," she said. "Well, maybe for just a little bit. I'm ... still kinda fuzzy," he said. "You take as long as you need. Just come back when you feel like it," she said. Diane and Kevin walked with Nick to the make-up area, where he found a seat. Diane stayed with him, as Kevin returned to the set. They watched as the guys sat back down, and Barbara continued where she had left off. Nick finished his water as one of the make-up artists came over and touched him up. "I had a good streak going too," he said. Diane smiled at him, "What four days?" He nodded, "Yeah, thought I was gonna make five." She patted his arm, "Next time." "Yeah..," he said, sighing and standing up. "You going back?" she asked. "Uh huh, I can't let them think these ... things rule my life," he said. Diane stood up and kissed him, "You show em." Nick walked back to the set and sat down on the end of the couch. The guys all scooted over, making room, never missing a beat. "Are you feeling better?" Barbara asked. Nick nodded, "Much better." "How often do you have them?" she asked. He shrugged, "It depends. Sometimes ... I go days without having any. And then sometimes I have ... several in one day." "But aren't you on medication for it?" she asked. "I am, but it doesn't stop them. It only helps .. to control them," he answered. Barbara nodded, then went on with the rest of their interview. It was another hour before they were finished. After it was over, Barbara said goodbye to each of them, thanking them for taking the time to do the interview. All the guys went up to their rooms, packing for their flight home. Nick lay on the bed staring out the window. Diane sat down next to him with a magazine. "What's that?" he asked. "Leigh brought it. It's a bridal magazine," she said, "Did everyone know but me?" Nick laughed, "Yeah. They've all known for a long time." "Like how long?" she asked, grinning at him. "Since I got out of the hospital," he admitted, "I made Brian and Carter help me get the ring. That took a while, then I just needed the right place." She shook her head, "Carter I swear. You've waited six months to ask me?" He laughed, "I know, it's corny. But it had to be perfect. I'm only doing this once in my life ... I wanted it to be right." She leaned down and kissed his cheek, "It was so right. Have I told you how much I love you?" "Not in the last hour, no," he said, smiling. Diane leaned down and ran her hand through his hair, "I love you so much." Nick pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her, "So Mrs. soon to be Carter, how long before our flight leaves?" "Um bout an hour before we have to go," she said, looking at the clock. "A whole hour, whatever will we do?" he grinned. Diane looked over at the doors that lead out to the balcony, slowly a smile formed. "How bout we work on some of your fantasies?" she teased. Nick raised his eyebrows, "Which one?" "Balcony looks nice," she said, getting up and pulling on his hand. "Oh no, someone will see," he protested. She laughed, "Nick, it's dark. Besides, it wouldn't be a fantasy if it didn't involve some risk." He bit his bottom lip as he stood up and followed her to the doors. "But what if ....." he started. She silenced him, putting her finger over his lips, "Trust me." He nodded and took her hand as she opened the doors, "I trust you," he said as she pulled him out into the night, "I trust you." Chapter 51 |