"Damn thing!" he cursed and tossed it to the end of the bed. The movement caused the pain to flare and he searched for the call button. Fresh tears sprang to his face, his fingers searched endlessly and he still couldn't find the button. He smacked his hand on the bed and tossed his head back.

"Shit!" he uttered. After resting briefly he tried again and still couldn't find it. "Can somebody help me?" he called out, weakly. He was surprised at the way his voice sounded. "You are pathetic, Carter." he chided himself. He called out once more and was rewarded with the sound of the door opening.

"What do you need, honey?"

"Kathy?" he asked.

"Yep, it's me." she answered him.

"Don't you ever go home? You were here earlier."

"This is a full day for me." she replied. "A few girls are off, and we need all the help we can get, so I'm pulling an all-nighter."

"I hope you took a break at least."

"Oh yes, lots of breaks!" she laughed. "Now what can I do for you?"

Nick explained the pains he was having and Kathy left to get his medication. When she returned she pulled up a chair to sit with him. "Now this one here." she said, pushing a pill into the palm of his hand, "Is just Tylenol, to help with your muscle aches." Nick popped it into his mouth and leaned back into the pillows. "The two of them should have you sleepy in no time. Do you mind some company until then? I'm on one of my many breaks!"

"How come you yelled instead of using the call button?" Kathy asked as she settled into the chair.

Nick blushed and tucked his head down. "I couldn't find it." he said softly.

"Ohmigosh! I didn't even think of that! It's up above, you probably never would have found it." She stood and pulled the cord away from it's moorings on the wall. She carefully draped it over the head of the bed and set the button itself on the side table. "There." Kathy took his hand and guided it to the button. "Can you feel it? It's right on the table."

Nick nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem."

"I feel stupid, I can't do anything now."

Kathy scoffed. "Sure you can. It's just difficult right now, because you are used to being able to see things. You will gradually get used to being sightless."

"I don't want to get used to it!" Nick spat out the words. "I hate this!"

"I know, hun. It's not an easy thing to deal with. You need to re-learn things almost. Not to mention the psychological aspects of it."

"I'll never get used to it." Nick said stubbornly.

Kathy looked at him sadly and shook her head. The poor guy. 20 years old, for Gods sake. It would take a lot of work for him. "When you go home you can get a nurse to come in and help you for awhile. That might help make it easier."

Nick smiled faintly. "Yeah, mom said they would get all the best people. I won't have to lift a finger, just lie there and order people around."

"That's not the best idea, Nick. You have to learn how to do things for yourself."

"Tell that to my mother." Suddenly Nicks face lit up and he turned to Kathy. "What about you?"

"What about me?" she asked him, confused.

"Why don't you come with me? Come home with me and help me out? You know all about my injuries and are qualified!"

"Oh Nick, I don't know..." she hesitated.

"Please? If I have to deal with this, I'd rather do it with someone who knows something about me. Not some old biddy of a stranger that my mom will hire."

Kathy laughed. "But I live here Nick. I'd have to move."

"Aren't you from the States?"

"Yes, but I've lived here for awhile, it's so gorgeous here." Kathy chewed on a fingernail. "I'd have to leave my job."

"You'd be paid well."

"It's not the money Nick."

He ducked his head again.

"Sorry." "I didn't mean that the way it sounded." she apologized. "It's just that...well, I will have to think about it. It's a big decision for a temporary position, you know?"

"I understand." Nick replied.

"And you will have to talk to your parents, they may have already arranged something for you."

"Well if they have they can always cancel it. It's my life, not theirs."

They sat quietly for a few minutes. "So, how long have you been a fan of the Backstreet Boys?" Nick asked.

"Oh, for awhile. I saw the video for "Everybody" and I thought it was really inventive and cool, and the song was great, so for about 2 years now, I guess."

"I helped come up with the idea for that video." Nick said proudly.

"Really? I never knew that!"

"Yeah!" Nick said, excitedly. "And I did some costume designs for the last tour and some of the videos, and I did some drawings for one video, and the comic book..." He stopped suddenly. He would never be able to do any of that again. It would be impossible. He felt the tears start again and put his hand to his face.

"I have the comic." Kathy said softly. "It's really well done."

"Thanks." Nick mumbled.

"I know it was your dream. At least you got to see the first one and see it realized."

Nick nodded his head slowly. "Yeah, I guess." He wiped his eyes. "So, I don't know anything about you?"

It was an open question. Kathy glanced at her watch. She had just been on her way home when she heard Nick call, she couldn't bear to tell him she wasn't really working. She was sure he would feel bad about it and insist that she leave and she didn't really want to. She was kind of enjoying talking to him and having him confide in her.

"What do you want to know?" she asked.

"Do you have a last name? An age?" Nick giggled at her.

"My last name is Westerfield."

"Westerfield?" Nick repeated. "Nice one."

"I'm 25 and I'm from Indiana originally."

"What made you move out here?"

"I needed a job. All the hospitals and doctors in my area were taking cuts left and right and there was nothing available. I have a friend that came here for vacation and met some doctors and she found out there were lots of jobs available. So here I am!"

"That's cool." Nick yawned and his eyes closed and opened quickly. "Do you like it here?"

"Well, I love it here. But the job is fast paced and long hours. It keeps me busy." She looked down at him. He was fighting to keep his eyes open. "I think your pills are kicking in and it's almost time for me to get back to work." She pulled his covers up to his shoulders. "I'll see you tomorrow, Nick." He didn't respond, he was already fast asleep.