*********************** Crossing Enemy Lines: Chapter Four ***********************


"Okay spill time Laina Marie.  We've all been pussy footing around this talk for awhile and if 
I'm the first one with enough guts to approach you about it then I'm one lucky bitch.  Which 
members of *NSYNC have you slept with?"  

Laina giggled at Brian and reached over to smack him.  He yelped and started to sob.  He didn't 
curse often but give him enough caffeine and sometimes things slipped out.  It was too 
hysterical because Brian just didn't cuss often.  

"Children, behave!"  

"Yes Kevin," they both sing songed before cracking up again.  Kevin snorted from the kitchen 
where he was making a salad for their dinner which consisted of take out Chinese food and, 
well, a salad.  

Brian was staying at Kevin's for a couple of days until Leighanne caught a flight back home 
from her current project which happened to be a small budget Broadway play.  Kevin was meeting 
Kristen in California a week or so later and it had been Brian's bright notion to invite Laina 
over with the idea that she would cook for them.

Laina hadn't been told of that particular fantasy until she had arrived and then had taken 
immense pleasure in breaking the news that she couldn't boil water, let alone cook an edible 
dinner.  It had been funny to find out that Kevin was more domestic than she was.  

So Chinese food had been grudgingly ordered while Kevin had decided that there had to be 
something homemade for their supper and thus the salad idea had been formed.  Laina and Brian 
were being lazy bums.  

Both of them were currently on their backs on the couch, their feet in the air and heads 
hanging upside down so their hair trailed on the carpet.  Cartoons were playing loudly on the 
TV.

"No seriously.  I asked AJ for the dirt and he totally didn't know and that's not cool Laina.  
I mean come on...  Its *NSYNC.  Its cruel to leave me in suspense."  

She sighed and pinched the older man who yelped again.  "This doesn't leave the room right?"  

Brian rolled over and sat up in an instant, surprise and eagerness warring for supremacy. 
"Mum's the word," he said in a conspiratorial whisper.  "I won't tell ANYONE."  Laina rolled 
her hazel eyes.

"Even a certain Fatherly cousin?"  

Brian shook his head vigorously.  "Nope, not even Daddy."  

There was a moment of suspenseful silence before Laina sat up and laughed at his expectant 
face.  "Oh calm down there's not a lot of dirt okay?  I actually haven't slept with any of 
them..."      

Brian's eyes bulged.  "You're shitting me."  She started to giggle helplessly and wiped 
away her tears.  

"No I'm not.  God you should see your face.  I know they're all fine Bri but its not like 
I'm some groupie slut."  

"Oh man, I didn't mean that but its just.  Okay, no sex but you have made out with them 
before, right?"  Laina blushed.  "Who?" he demanded.  "Laina..." he whined.  She threw her 
hands up in the air.  

"Okay, calm down hyper boy.  Name a guy you wanna know about."  

"Lance."  

Laina shrugged.  "Well duh.  Come on Bri.  We've been best friends for like five years, 
during which time both of us were going through hormones and puberty.  We've tried the whole 
more than friends, friends with benefits, all that crap.  We're good together and always will 
be but there's not enough of a romantic spark, at least not last time we tried it.  We're 
better off as buddies."

"But no sex."  

Laina groaned.  "I don't do casual sex Bri.  I'd have to be pretty damn sure about any 
relationship I'm in before going that far.  I'd never risk screwing things up with Lance 
just because we were casually dating for awhile and wondering 'what if'.  That'd cheapen 
everything we shared together.  We've talked it over before.  A lot."

"All right.  How about JC?"

"Never."  

His eyes bulged wider and she chuckled.  "You have to understand Bri.  I've grown up with Trace 
and Justin watching out for me my entire freaking life.  They don't have a whole lot of sway 
when it comes to me and Lance but I'm like totally off limits to the other guys.  Trust me, if 
they had their way I'd be chaperoned any time I'm alone with a guy in a room.  It doesn't 
matter if they're having one night stands and quickies in the corner of a venue, the minute 
a guy starts looking at me funny they go all medieval on me."

"That must suck," Brian said softly.  She shrugged again.

"Its damn annoying sometimes but I've gotten used to it and I know its just their way of 
showing how much they care."

"So no JC, Joey or Chris action?"  

Laina was silent.  

"Oh so no JC but, despite death threats, Joey?"  She shook her head.  "Chris?"  Laina blushed.  

"I...  I've had a crush on Chris for like ever Brian.  You have no idea.  Its one of those 
full blown totally obvious things.  It started when I was a kid and I've never really grown 
out of it.  I swear everyone in the world knows about it BUT Chris.  He's so oblivious 
sometimes.  Anyway it freaks my protectors out cause, like, eww, its Chris.  

"You remember that night AJ and I told you all about, when I got shitfaced awhile back?"  
Brian nodded, intent.  "Well Chris came over and was, is, still getting over Danni and stuff 
happened and we kissed.  It was like the first time ever and it was great and the pussy 
freaked on me when the pizza delivery man rang the damn doorbell.  He ran out and I haven't 
seen him since which sucks cause I know Chris and I know he's off tearing himself up about it.  
Anyway, long story, but that's part of why AJ was breaking down my door the next morning."  

"Did he end up paying for that by the way?"  Laina nodded with a grin. 

"Yup, though they couldn't find a matching door and I have no clue how to explain to Trace 
why we have a different front door.  I'm hoping he won't notice when he gets home."

"Doubtful.  So, what about the grand and fabulous Timberlake?"  

Laina blushed scarlet and started to get up when Brian grabbed her hand and dragged her back 
down.  "Oh no girlie.  Come one, tell Uncle Brian."  She groaned.  

"God Brian, you should be an FBI interrogator or something.  He was fourteen and I was 
thirteen and it was right before their first tour in Europe.  It was...  God it was JUSTIN.  
Talk about eww..."

Brian was in hysterics.  "That bad huh?" he asked between wheezes. 

"No, not really.  Even then he was good and all but I mean Brian, it was JUSTIN!  Little JuJu.  
Curly top, the Peroxide Wonder.  The man who styles himself as my older brother.  It was way 
past weird.  I mean it was like Twilight Zone Freaky Friday weird.  In both of our worlds it 
'never happened'."

"Dude, does your brother know about that?"  

She snorted.  "Yeah right.  Best friends or not Trace would still kick Justin's ass if he 
found out about it.  Men are so stupid sometimes."  

"Okay, I'm gonna ignore the men insult.  Speaking of Trace, when is your brother getting home?  
We all want to meet him.  You talk about him so much..."

"Oh... umm soon I think.  But I don't know if a meeting would be a good idea."  

Brian was looking at her like she was crazy as Kevin walked into the room, bearing a salad 
bowl and cartons of Chinese food.  "Why not?"  

"Its just.  I kinda haven't told him about us.  You guys.  Me."  

Kevin headed back to the kitchen for plates.  "What about us?" Brian demanded.  

Laina was suddenly very interested in her fingernails.  "I don't know.  I kinda never 
mentioned that I met you guys.  That I was friends with you all.  I mean its weird enough to 
be friends with *NSYNC but me getting adopted by the Backstreet Boys as well?  Shit like that, 
as wonderful as it is, doesn't just happen."  

Brian studied the younger woman before him as she fidgeted.  "Well first of all only Kevin 
and Kristen adopted you.  Leighanne is convinced you're trying to get into my pants."  Laina 
wrinkled her nose.  "Second, what are you going to do when your brother and "JuJu" come home?"  

Laina sighed and gave him a false, bright smile.  "Pray?"  

Kevin came back in with plates.  "Crap I forgot the napkins..."