When Brian, Leighanne, and AJ came to the hospital after having gone and done a press conference with Howie, who was still graciously doing interviews, the next morning they discovered Dr. Bell moved both Nick and Kevin into a room together on a private floor. She figured that they’d want to be together because like the rest of the world, she did not know that they hadn’t been together for the past 6 months, even longer if you counted the time after Ann’s death.

            “Mr. Littrell, Mr. Carter and Mr. Richardson have been moved,” the nurse, who they had come to get to know over the past three days, said as they walked toward Nick’s room.

            “What? Where?” AJ asked surprised. Dr. Bell had not mentioned anything about moving Kevin or Nick.

            “We have a private floor designated for patients with security concerns such as your friends. Dr. Bell has arranged for them to share a room together up there. Let me bring you up. The nurse there will get you the necessary badges and keys for the elevator,” the nurse, whose name was Kelly, said bringing the three of them up to floor 15 of the hospital.

            Once there, Kelly introduced them to the head nurse, Nancy, and got them their security credentials and the keys to the elevator. While AJ and Leighanne took care of that, Brian talked with Billy, Nick’s security guard.

            “Hey there, little man.” Brian said, using Billy’s nickname.

            “Hey, B. How are you this morning?” Billy asked.

            “Okay. We’ve been up since like 5 doing press shit, but otherwise I’m cool. Have you talked with them at all?”

            “Nope. I said hello briefly when they were moved up, otherwise they’ve pretty much slept. I think Nick may be awake I heard the TV go on a couple of minutes ago,” Billy said.

            “Thanks, Billy. Tell AJ and Leigh I’m with them. Also, could you call Howie’s cell phone and tell him the deal with the move and security and all?” Brian asked.

            “Been there, done that. I talked to Tiny. Already taken care of. His stuff is waiting at the main desk as are Chris and Justin’s,” Billy said.

            “Thanks,” Brian said, moving to enter the room, not sure exactly what he would encounter. Much to his relief, nothing was broken and neither of them were dead. Nick was watching TV quietly on one side of the room while Kevin was listening to music and reading a magazine on the other.

            “Hola, amigos,” Brain said, happily coming in and flopping on the couch that was situated on the opposite wall from the two beds. Kevin didn’t say anything, just grunted a hello and kept reading. Nick turned the TV off and motioned for Brian to come closer.

            “I don’t want to share a room with him,” Nick said quietly.

            “I know. Do you want me to see if there’s another available?” Brian asked, even thought he knew Nick couldn’t move rooms. It would look strange considering to the outside world Nick and Kevin were completely, totally 100% in love.

            “I can’t do that. It would get out and now I really can’t deal with that,” Nick said on the verge of tears, whispering to Brian so Kevin couldn’t hear, even though he had earphones on.

            “Nick, maybe you should let them know. Maybe all this hiding isn’t such a good idea,” Brian asked quietly.

            “It sucks, you’re right, but I just can’t right now, Brian. My brain knows it’s pretty much over, but my heart is still hoping there’s chance,” Nick said in a defeated voice, not noticing that Kevin had taken off his headphones and was lying down, curled (as best he could with his leg), tears running down his face.

            Brian, realizing this was neither the time nor the place to be having this conversation, quickly changed the subject. “Has Dr. Bell been in to see you this morning?” Brian asked.

            “Yeah. She said we could go back to Orlando on Friday. She wants us here for two more days. Observation and stuff. But I can’t go home. I have to go to some rehab center for my leg and arm,” Nick said annoyed. He didn’t want to go to some rehab center. He didn’t even want to go back to Orlando because he knew once there he would not be going to the house he and Kevin owned.

            “Can you get me some real food? The stuff they serve here sucks?” Nick asked just as AJ and Leighanne walked in with their badges around their necks. AJ handed Brian his, who put it on as well.

            “Well looky here. Sleeping beauty is still sleeping,” AJ said, going over to Kevin’s bed to wake him up after saying a quick hello to Nick. “Time to get up, sleepy head. I had to get up at 5 today to talk all about your ugly ass. The least you could do is show me that pretty face of yours,” AJ cooed at Kevin, who rolled over and stared at AJ, none to pleased to be woken up.

            “Why are still here?” Kevin asked.

            “Because someone has to be around to make sure that your head doesn’t get stuck up your ass since it’s so far up there,” AJ shot back at him. He was none to pleased with how Kevin was acting and he for one was not going to take it any longer.

            “AJ,” Leighanne said in a warning voice. AJ looked over at Leighanne and Brian then back at Kevin before sighing and walking to Nick.

            “So, little man, ready to skip town yet?” AJ asked.

            “AJ, I’m almost a foot taller than you,” Nick replied his usual reponse to AJ’s calling him little man and he was smiling.

            “Ah yes, mon frare, but you are two years younger than me,” AJ said, patting Nick’s head before he could duck out of the way. “So I just want you all to know that I’m seriously considering moving to Chicago,” AJ said seriously, although out of the blue, as he flopped down on Brian, who was sitting on the couch.

            Pushing AJ off of him, Brain laughed at him and asked, “Why? You hate the cold weather.”

            “Have you seen that nurse Stacy?” AJ asked just as Howie walked in with Chris and Justin in tow.

            “Okay,  just so you all know, according to the public, Chris and I are quitting NSYNC and joining Backstreet,” Justin said, laughing as he grabbed a seat. “Waz up Nicky?” he asked.

            “Number one: don’t call me that. Number two: nothing much. And number three, most importantly: what makes you think we want your ugly asses in our group anyway?” Nick asked, laughing.

            “I’m offended by that comment. I’ll have you know I was voted to have the sexiest ass in last months Teen People.” Chris said, laughing as he lounged on Justin in the chair.

            “No, that was J.LO. You were voted ugliest ass,” Howie deadpanned. “By the way, what’s with psycho security. They wouldn’t let me up here without my badge, which I didn’t know I had until Tiny remembered to tell me,” Howie said, rolling his eyes.

            “Apparently there are a few fans and hospital employees who are trying to see my beautiful face,” Nick said, laughing with his signature grin.

            The good natured banter between friends went on for a while longer until Chris and Justin had to leave. They were expected in LA that night for a meeting and if they were late, JC was likely to have a coronary.

            Once it was just the Backstreet guys and said Backstreet wife, Leighanne, AJ decided to get Kevin, who had been silent the entire day, to talk.

            “So, pops, you ready to start PT tomorrow?’ AJ asked, sitting on the couch munching on the Chinese food Leighanne had gone to get for a late lunch.

            “I don’t start tomorrow. Just Nick,” Kevin said with a steely voice.

            “Good. Then we can work on some voice stuff that what’s his name called me about,” AJ said smiling. It was known among them that although Kevin loved singing more than anything, he hated voice lessons. They aggravated him.

            “His name is Sam, AJ,” Howie said, rolling his eyes at him. They had been working with the same voice coach for almost 5 years and AJ still called him what’s his name, probably just to piss him off at this point.

            “I knew that. Actually, he wants all of us to do some stuff for that song Nick wrote that we’ll be recording next month, but especially you and Nick. Nick can help you with it. I told him about it yesterday,” AJ said smiling.

            In all actuality, there was no need for voice lessons. Nick and Kevin needed no help for the recording session next month. The guys just decided that this was a good way to help Kevin pull “his head out of his ass” as AJ put it.

            “Whatever. Tim and Jerald and them are coming tomorrow,” Kevin said.

            “Really?” Nick asked, looking up surprised. Tim and Jerald and their families were as much Nick’s family as they were Kevin’s.

            “Yes. Weren’t you paying attention? Brian said so this morning,” Kevin said disdainfully, not showing any signs that he noticed Nick’s face fall, if he did.

            “I must have been playing PS2 with Chris and Justin,” Nick said quietly. During this exchange, it was all Leighanne could do to keep AJ from saying or doing anything to interrupt their conversation and make things worse, not that they could get any worse.

            “Yeah, Nick. Sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought you were listening. They’re going to head up here after all. They were originally going to just come to Florida but Tim and Jerald want to talk to Dr. Bell. They’re going to stay till Friday then come back to Florida with us. Help get everything settled,” Brian said quietly.

            “I’m 34 years old. I don’t need them helping me get settled in,” Kevin said annoyed. Ever since Ann’s death the previous year, Kevin had not only pulled away from Nick, but also his brothers, bristling at their attempts to help him in anyway.

            “I know that. I thought Nick may want some help. I went ahead and had his stuff moved to his boat. I thought he may enjoy Tim, Jerald and them helping him unpack,” Brian snapped back, which got not only Kevin’s attention but everyone else’s as well.

            The room was silent after that. Howie and AJ going off to call TRL and Brian deciding he and Nick were going to play some PS2 that Chris and Justin had brought with them that morning. Leighanne was off taking care of stuff in terms of their tour, making sure all the right people were contacted and everyone was agreed on what would happen from this point forward.