************************** Crossing Enemy Lines: Chapter Five **************************


Out of all of the guys she was friends with AJ was probably her favorite to go do stuff with.  
He was wild and crazy and could make her laugh.  He was also "safe".  He had Sarah and he was 
still going strong on sober and Laina knew that, even if he screwed up and screwed some groupie 
or silicon slut, he'd never make a pass on her.  

Well, not a serious one.  

So with Lance gone he was her companion of choice while she waited for college to start up 
again.  Chris was still missing in action while JC was nearly living in the studio or partying 
hard over a permanent split with Bobbi.  Joey was her newfound rock.  They hung out more often 
but what meant more to her was the fact that he was her total bitch partner.  Anytime she just 
needed to vent, he was her man.  Kevin and Brian, her other closest Backstreet buddies, were 
wrapped up with their wives and own lives.  Nick was, well NICK and Howie was...  Laina wasn't 
quite sure what Howie was to her yet.

So she and AJ hung out, which translated into shopping, a LOT of shopping.  

Which totally explained why they were both in Victoria's Secret, picking stuff out.  Well AJ 
was picking stuff out for Sarah, or so she assumed.  If he wasn't, she just didn't want to 
know.  Unfortunately, AJ wasn't known for minding his own business.  

"Oh come on Laina, you'd look great in this.  Its totally your color!"  

Laina stared at the teddy AJ shoved at her face and rolled her eyes.  "Oh yeah, I'm a peekaboo 
panel kind of girl.  Grow up Aje.  I'm just gonna get some flannel pajamas.  Go get something 
silky for your lovely lady.  She's upset enough she had that meeting and she couldn't tag 
along with us."

AJ pouted.  "Party pooper."  

Laina giggled.  "You're as much of a baby as Brian.  Now shoo.  I have to be home in a couple 
of hours.  Trace and the amazing JuJu are coming home tonight and we're having a BBQ to 
celebrate at our house."

AJ coughed.  "YOU'RE cooking?" he asked in amazement.  Laina smacked him hard and shook her 
head as he whined.  

"I'm brave, not suicidal.  Trace can grill a mean burger.  I'm in charge of picking out the 
potato chips.  Justin handles drinks and extra stuff."

"So its just the three of you?"  

Laina smiled happily as she held up a cotton tank top and frowned.  Definitely not her 
color...  She was still mad at Trace and Justin for being such pricks about abandoning her 
but she had missed them so much she didn't care right now, as long as they came home.  
"Yeah... tomorrow we'll do a group thing but tonight its just us three.  I've missed that."  

He smiled tenderly at the young woman.  "They're lucky to have someone like you to care about 
them that much.  And I'm assuming now that you're main amigos are home that you're going to 
ditch us Backstreet rejects?"  

She looked up and AJ didn't miss the look of hurt in her hazel eyes.  "Do, do you want me to 
forget about you guys?  Am I just a pity friend?"  Her voice wavered and broke and AJ reacted 
on instinct by reaching over and hugging her tightly, unmindful of the teddy and pajamas stuck 
between them.  

"Oh honey no.  I just, I talked with Brian and he mentioned how you didn't want us to meet 
Trace and stuff.  Shit, I just figured once they all came back you wouldn't want to be buddies 
with us.  I, we didn't want to put you in a tough spot sweetie.  I know from firsthand 
experience how protective those guys are of you.  

"Hell, I still think Joey would deck me just based on principle if I gave him the chance, and 
if he wasn't such a pansy ass."  

Laina giggled and brushed away the awkward tears.  "I... I don't know what I'm gonna tell Trace 
and Justin, hell, all of them, if anything, but you guys have been good friends for me for the 
last couple of months.  *NSYNC can just stick it, all right?  Cause you're my best shopping bud 
and I still have to see Howie's club and Kevin and Kristin adopted me, right?  And I think 
Brian secretly enjoys the fact that Leighanne hates me and, and SOMEONE has to be around to 
deflate Nick's ego a tiny bit before he floats away on the next breeze like a blonde Marry 
Poppins."

AJ's small smile grew and warmed at her halting words and he kissed the top of her head before 
releasing her and stepping back.  He stared down in bemusement at the crumpled items in their 
respective hands.  "Ya know what?"  

Laina arched a brow in silent question.  "I think there's some kind of unwritten rule that if 
you cry on merchandise you have to buy it..."  He trailed off and looked conspiratorially at 
the saleswomen who were watching them both suspiciously.  

She giggled again.  "You just want me to buy that damn teddy."  

AJ's smile turned into a devilish smirk.  "Of course!  Now if you happen to buy the pajamas 
that's just an added bonus for you.  Now, let me go pick Sarah some nice underwear out and 
we'll go pay."

"Smooth Bone, real smooth..."  

"Oh shut up pip squeak.  Let's go..."  And Laina Marie let herself be dragged over to the 
underwear section.     

***********************************************************************************

Laina was messing around with AJ's radio stations in his car as he pulled up to her house.  
Otherwise she would have seen the car that was parked in front of her house and had AJ haul 
ass the opposite direction.  As it was...

"Laina...  What car is that in your driveway?" AJ asked as he parked in front of the front 
walkway.  "Oh shit..."  

Laina looked up and blanched white as her mind took in the presence of Trace's convertible 
and the two men who were striding out of the house and down the walk way.  She gaped as the 
passenger door was ripped open and two strong hands yanked her out of the car.  

She couldn't do anything else but stare as Trace embraced her and started to shake her.  
"Dammit Laina!  Where the hell were you?  I was worried out of my freaking mind.  And then you 
had your damn cell phone turned off.  What the hell have I told you a million times about that 
thing?  I bought it for you for a reason!"  He hugged her again and began cursing softly as he 
looked her over frantically.  "What if you had been lying dead somewhere in a ditch?  How would 
I have ever found you?  What if someone kidnapped you?  Are you TRYING to give me gray hair?"  
Trace trailed off and glanced over at the so far silent Justin.  

"Yo Curly, are you going to back me up here?  Justin?"  Trace followed Justin's blank stare 
into the car where it rested on one frozen AJ McLean.  

There was a full minute of dead silence before all hell broke loose.

Trace exploded.  "I AM NEVER LEAVING YOU HOME AGAIN LAINA MARIE.  GET INSIDE THIS INSTANT!"  He 
whirled on the tattooed Backstreet Boy and hissed in a deadly whisper.  "If I EVER catch you 
NEAR my baby sister again I will hunt you down myself.  UNDERSTOOD?!"

Alexander James McLean looked fury in the face for a long moment before calmly turning to 
Laina, completely ignoring Justin and the enraged Trace.  "Call me if you need anything Laina.  
I had a lovely time shopping."  He reached into the back and pulled out her bag and handed it 
to her.  

Laina took it with numb fingers but they both winced as Trace exploded again.  "VICTORIA'S 
SECRET?!"  

"Thank you Aje.  Please...  I'll talk to you later." 

"YOU WILL NOT!"  

"Trace..." Laina interjected softly.  

Justin grabbed her arm in a hold of steel and began to drag her towards the house, leaving 
Trace and AJ behind to fend for themselves.  His eyes, when Laina dared to try to meet them, 
were winter, ice, colder than she had ever imagined.  "Not another word," Justin warned 
quietly but with a subdued rage that frightened her.

He didn't even wait for Trace to join him before beginning his interrogation.  Justin shoved 
onto the couch and towered above her, forbidding, stern, a giant against her diminished height 
of five four, especially with her sitting.  

"So," he demanded, "How long have you been screwing AJ McLean?"  

Laina gaped at the man she had thought of her entire life as a brother in mute shock.  "I am 
NOT as you so crudely put it, "screwing" AJ McLean!  Jesus Justin, what kind of woman do you 
think I am?"  He ripped the Victoria Secret bag out of her hands and roughly pulled out the 
ridiculous teddy.

"Does this answer my question?!"  

Laina stood up as she started to get angry.  Justin narrowed frigid eyes.  "Sit back down," he 
hissed.  She glared in mute challenge before speaking.

"AJ is engaged to a woman I count as a friend Justin.  I would NEVER touch an unavailable man.  
EVER!  And to think that you and Trace...  UGH!  You BASTARDS!  You sick twisted hypocritical 
BASTARDS!"  And before he had a chance to respond, before Laina had a chance to think, her palm 
hit Justin Timberlake's cheek with a resounding slap.  

They stared at each other in mute surprise before Laina turned on her heel and darted through 
the house.  Justin stood frozen, immobile, for another instant, before following.  

She made it to her room seconds before him and slammed the door in his face.  He reached for 
the door knob and cursed vividly as she locked it an instant before he could fully act.  

"Laina Marie, open this damn door THIS instant!"  Justin pounded on it and began to curse as he 
kicked it in savage fury, bellowing all the while.  "LAINA!"

She dashed angry tears from her eyes as she dove for her phone and speed dialed Joey's.  
"Please be home..." she whispered frantically as Trace joined Justin in his efforts of beating 
her door down.  "Please... Come ON Joey..."  

"Yo, wassup Laina?"  

She wilted with relief at the cheery greeting.  Thank GOD for caller id.  "Joey..."  She burst 
into tears.  She heard him curse softly on the other line.  

"Laina baby girl, what is it?"  

She sniffled and tried to find her breath to speak.  "Oh Joey...  Justin and Trace...  And 
AJ...  I'm scared Joey.  I've NEVER seen them like this."  

"Okay honey, what's going on?  Trace and Justin are home, early right?"

Laina drew a ragged breath.  "Yes," she whispered.

"Okay, and AJ showed up?"

"No..." her voice grew smaller.  "He brought me home and... and..."

"Shit.  Is that Trace and Justin in the background?"

"DAMMIT LAINA, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"  

"Joey PLEASE...  I, Joey Justin..."  She burst into tears again.

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes.  I'm calling JC and Chris..."  Laina didn't even try to 
protest.  The more witnesses the better.  

"Hurry," she said softly in agreement and hung up.  

Laina cradled the portable to her chest and locked herself in her bathroom as an extra 
precaution.  The more locked doors between her and her irate brothers, the better.  Trace had 
a bad temper at best but Justin could be down right unpredictable at times.  

************************************************************************************

Joey walked slowly through the house that looked like a hurricane had ripped through it.  The 
front door was still open and furniture was turned over in a path of casual destruction from 
the living room upstairs.  JC and Chris were silent companions to his right and left.  

He could hear Justin and Trace as they climbed the stairs.  Could hear them cursing and 
pleading.  Could hear the anger in their voices.  

AJ.  Shit.

No wonder Laina had been frightened.  Joey stopped Chris and JC for a moment before they 
entered the hall way.  He looked at them both with fierce eyes.  "Swear to me that no matter 
what you two stick with me all right?  Justin and Trace freaked Laina out enough that she 
called me in tears.  There's shit going on that, that we're gonna need to talk about but no 
matter what promise me you two have my back."  

They frowned and glanced at each other.  Joey waited impatiently and sighed as JC and Chris 
both nodded reluctantly.  

"Okay, into the pit of hell..."

**************************************************************************************

Laina raised her head from her knees as she heard a familiar and much hoped for voice calling 
faintly from her bedroom door.  She looked at her watch and calculated silently.  

She LOVED Joey.

She unlocked her bathroom door and crept over to the still locked bedroom door.  "Joey?" she 
called out hesitantly.  

"Yeah baby girl.  Can you come out?"  

Laina stared at the door for a long second.  "What about Justin and Trace?" she asked.  

She could hear Joey sigh through the door.  "Don't worry baby girl.  JC and Chris are here."  

She snorted.  "That doesn't answer my question.  What about them?"  

"Laina..."

"Don't Laina me Joey.  Do you see that hand print on Justin's face?  I did that!"

"Jesus Laina..." She rested her forehead against the door frame, cursing it when more tears 
slipped down her reddened cheeks.  

"You know why I slapped him Joey?"

Silence.

Laina continued, speaking loud enough that she could be heard.  "I slapped him because he 
accused me of screwing AJ.  AJ McLean.  My friend.  My ENGAGED friend.  He and Trace came 
home early and threw hissy fits because I wasn't waiting at home, anxious for their return. 
Because I was out shopping with a FRIEND!"

"Baby girl..."

"They have no right Joey.  No right at all.  I shouldn't have to deal with crap like this..."

"You're right honey.  But before we can work anything out you have to come out."

Lain clenched her jaw.  "No."

"Laina Marie... PLEASE baby girl."  

"I don't wanna work stuff out Joey.  I'm pissed off.  I want to stay pissed off.  I want to be 
able to sulk and throw a temper tantrum for once in my freaking life!  I may not be a pop star 
but I deserve that, don't I?!"

There was another huge sigh from the other side of the door.  "Fine.  What do you want to do 
right now?"  

Laina pounded her head against the wall softly, suppressing a moan.  "Give me ten minutes."  

She straightened and mechanically began to gather overnight clothing and toiletries.  She 
packed everything into a duffel bag and, with a bit of trepidation, unlocked her door.  Joey 
stood before her, filling the frame, deep concern on his face.  He reached out and traced the 
rings under her eyes.  She squeezed her hazel eyes shut as the action reminded her of yet 
another low point in her life.  

"You always get to see me at my worst, don't you?" she asked softly.  Joey just shrugged.  

"I'm gonna go stay a friend's house for a day or two.  I'll call when I want to deal with this 
mess.  Tell, tell them whatever.  I don't care, just keep them all away from me."

"Okay baby girl.  Whatever you want."  

The last almost brought the tears back but Laina suppressed them ruthlessly.  "You're a good 
friend Joey.  A good brother."  He smiled at her tremulously and reached forward to hug her 
tightly.  

"One of us has to be."  He glared darkly over his head at his band mates and Trace.  "Go on.  
Just keep in touch okay, so we won't worry?"  She nodded mutely and kissed his cheek as he 
released her.

Laina squared her shoulders and turned to leave without another glance at the others, the 
duffel bag slung over one shoulder.  Justin started to reach out to her as she passed but she 
ducked his hesitant hands.  

"Don't," she hissed.  She looked away from the sadness in his too blue eyes and avoided Trace's 
heartbroken face all together.  They had gone too freaking far this time.  

Her hands started to tremble as she unlocked the door of her car.  They trembled more as she 
turned on the ignition but she didn't look back as she put the car in reverse and pulled out 
into the street.  

Didn't pause to think as she let her body automatically drive the car over to Lance's deserted 
house.  Her fingers pressed the security codes without thought and she mechanically opened the 
garage and parked, out of sight of prying eyes, before letting herself into his deserted house 
with the key he kept hidden for emergencies.  

No one would think to look for her here.  Lance would have guessed where she'd head, might tell 
the boys if they called and asked him.  But they wouldn't.  He was the only one who knew her 
that well.  

But Lance was in Russia, far, far away.

Laina didn't let herself think about anything as she took a shower, changed, and crawled into 
the big king sized bed in Lance's bedroom.  But then, surrounded by his pillows and memories of 
movies and naps and a hundred heart felt conversations, surrounded by his scent and his 
presence, Laina broke down once more.  

She sobbed as clutched a pillow to her body and wished it was him.  Because Lance was so very 
good at helping her fix whatever problems she made for herself.  But he wasn't here to help 
this time and she wasn't sure she could do it on her own.  

And Laina was terrified of that thought.  Terrified that she had ruined her relationship with 
Trace and Justin.  Terrified that none of the Backstreet Boys would ever speak to her again.  
Terrified that her and Chris's friendship was beyond repair.  Terrified that she had put Joey 
in the middle of a very awkward situation.  

Terrified of the thought that, even if Lance was here, he might not be able to make things 
right and, if he couldn't, what kind of shot did she have?