"Where the hell is Kevin at?!" Nick whined, sitting at the edge of the stage. They were waiting for him to start the rehearsal.
"Since when is he late anyways?!" Aj asked, laying back, his head under his head.
"Well...he's with Vick..." Brian grinned.
"Shuddup rok! My virgin ears don't wanna hear that kind of stuff.." Howie joked.
"Virgin ears my ass!" Aj replied as they all laughed.
"Anyways...he sees her everyday....they can do that some other time.." Nick groaned.
"Since when are you willing to work??" Howie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well I do now 'cause I'm damn bored.."
"Aw too bad Lily isn't here to see that! She'd be happy you finally wanna work.." Brian giggled.
"It's weird." Amanda suddently said.
"What?"
"Not having Lylian bossing around.."
"And Ally bitching 'bout it.." Nick added and they all giggled.
"We'll have news soon.." Aj sighed, standing up and going sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"It's still weird.." she shrugged.
"Yeah you're right.."
An uncomfortable silence fell on the little group, all lost in their own thoughts. A suddent noise of someone running caught their attention at the back of the stage.
"GUYS!!!!" Kevin screamed, running up to them.
"What's up Kev?" Aj asked.
"I've got great news!" he smiled.
"Vickie's pregnant?!" Brian demanded, what made everyone giggled.
"What?!! No... " he replied with a confused look. "They found the girls!!!" he exclaimed. Everybody stared at him for a few seconds, not really believing what they had just heard.
"Shit!!! For real??? How are they doing???" Nick stood up fastly.
"They're alright??" Amanda asked.
"Yes! They're okay... they're in hospital because they got some bruises... I don't know the whole story but Marcus told me a little about it... anyways, they are alright for now, they'll get better soon...." he said,
"Who's hurt?" Brian asked.
"What?"
"Who's the one hurt... I know one is...who?!?" he demanded, looking straight into Kevin's eyes.
"How do you know that?" Kevin frowned.
"Dunno... but I know someone is hurt...and I wanna know who... they found them, they're alright except one of them.."
"What the hell? How d'you know?" Kevin asked again.
"Kev... who's hurt?! Will you tell us!" Nick shouted.
"Well they'll all be alright... except that... yeah well... Lylian was shot in the arm but that's all... " he said, really confused.
"WHAT???? What is this shit all about? How did she get shot????" Deryck exclaimed, suddently standing up.
"She'll be okay! They said there were no need to worry! She's a bit confused and in pain but... I mean she's alive.." Kevin stuttered, not really used to see Deryck's angry look.
"How come??? What did she do?? What happened?"
"Well Marcus told me that she found out where William was keeping them... he doesn't know how she did...but she did... anyways...so she went by herself while he was having lunch.. and while they were trying to escape, William arrived... he shot and touched her arm right before the cops bursted in and arrested him.... That's all I know for now.."
"Damn... " Aj said, scratching his head. "It sounds like a horror movie or something..."
"Fuck.." Deryck shook his head no.
"I'm sorry..but, she'll be okay.." Kevin said softly, looking at everyone who were staring back at him. "They are all safe now, and getting all the care they need..."
"When will they come back??" Amanda asked.
"When they'll feel a little better.." Kevin shrugged. "We can't ask them to come back yet I mean... they were rescued like ... four hours ago or something... maybe in a couple of days they'll be here.."
"Days.." Deryck moaned. "I wanna see her now... I need to be with her... "
"Sorry.." Kevin whispered. "I don't know what to tell you... we have a show tonight.."
"But after?? Can't a leave and join her there? I mean.. please?! If Vickie would be in that position I'm sure you'd go right away..." he replied, with pleading eyes.
"We'll talk about this later alright? Now we really gotta rehearsh 'cause we have two dancers missing and we really gotta adjust and stuff..." Kevin said.
"Alright." Deryck sighed, looking at the floor.
"Ok come on everyone, let's get this over with.." Kevin bossed, clapping in his hands.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Meanwhile ***
"Ow... hurts.." Lylian moaned, waking up really slowly.
"I'm so sorry Lily..." Gaby sighed. She had been sitting beside her for a long while now, waiting for ger friend to wake up. She wasn't feeling good... but she couldn't bear being far from her friend who had saved her and almost got killed. Ally was laying in the bed next to Lylian's, still deep asleep.
"Gaby?" Lylian whispered, opening her eyes.
"Yeah." she replied, trying to smile a little. "How ya doing?"
"Not very good... what about you?"
"Not very good either.." Gaby said.
"What happened?! My whole left side hurts so bad..."
"I'll explain you later... you need to rest.."
"I'm awake now...you can tell me.."
Gaby sighed and then told her what had happened...how she had broken in by crashing into the big door... and then William with his gun... shooting once right beside her...and the other time right on her, before the cops ran behind him and pushed him against a wall, arresting him. They immediatly took care of the three girls, taking them to the hospital where they were now resting.
"They said Ally will be okay... she's just mostly traumatized... not that I can't blame her...damn... I'll have nightmares for the rest of my life.." Gaby said, shaking her head.
"Yeah... it's pretty unbelievable.."
"Yeah..."
"I wish Deryck would be here." Lylian sighed. He had been always there when she needed him...except for now, when she really really wanted him by her side, he couldn't be there.
"I'm sorry... it's all my fault.." Gaby repeated, shaking her head no.
"No... it's not only your fault. But anyways... this story is just so fucked up.."
"But you didn't have to come here by yourself...damn Lily can't you see that you could have been killed?!?!" Gaby asked, her eyes welling up with tears.
"I've already told you that William would have to kill me before he kills you...." Lylian said firmly. "Now, we'll make sure he's locked for good..."
"I hope so..." Gaby whispered. "But...thank you...thank you so much.." she cried softly.
"It's okay... " Lylian replied, taking her hand into hers. "We'll get through this won't we?!"
"Yeah.." Gaby smiled a little.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Later ***
Gaby had fallen asleep, her head laying at Lylian's side, who was also asleep. She had a bed but she just didn't want to leave her friend's side. It was now 3 am so the whole room was really silent. Ally had not waken up yet, she wasn't in a coma but she in a really deep sleep, but the doctor said it was normal because of all the events she had went through, all the physical stress, pain and emotions. Well, the three of them were exhausted, not hearing a thing, too plunged in their dreams.
A couple of hours later, Gaby woke up, rubbing her eyes. She sat up on her uncomfortable chair and let out a little shriek when she looked around the room.
"Oh my God!" she whispered, tears of joy suddently running down her cheek. Chairs had been brought up in the room, where , Nick, Amanda, Aj, Keri, Howie and Michelle were all sitting, eyes closed, sleeping peacefully. Deryck was on the other side of Lylian's bed, sleeping at Lylian's side. She didn't know what to say or do, she just stayed there, crying.
"Gaby?!" a voice called behind her. She turned around and saw Brian standing in the doorway. She stood up and almost ran up to him. He hugged her tight, smoothing her hair as she sobbed softly on his shoulder.
"I'm so happy to see you..." she said between two cries. "And I am so sorry!"
"It's okay... it's okay.." he smiled lightly. "We're here now.."
"What are you all doing here?!" she asked, releasing him from her grip.
"Well...we came to see you.. how you were doing... "
"That's very nice of you... thanks.." she replied, looking at the floor a bit ashame.
"Are you okay?!" he demanded, placing an hand on her shoulder. She shrugged and sighed.
"Not really... " she answered, looking in the room, at Lylian and Ally's bed.
"It'll be okay... come here.. " they sat on two chairs in the hallway and she layed on head on his shoulder.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Later ***
Lylian opened her eyes slowly, adjusting them to the light coming from the large windows of the hospital room. She blinked a few times and suddently realize there was a brown haired person lying beside her. She recognized this face right away and smiled widely. She touched his face lightly with her right hand, the free one since the other was in paralyzed by a plaster. Deryck immediatly woke up and looked up at her, smiling, but with a worry look.
"Hey.." he said.
"Hey... what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you.. damn... I was worried sick..."
"I'm okay.." she shrugged but made a face 'cause her elbow was hurting really bad. "Ouch.."
"Don't move your arm... you've been shot.."
"Damn...that's right." she groaned, remembering a little what Gaby had told her a few hours earlier. "I don't remember much how everything happened.."
"It's normal... it'll come to you later.."
"Yeah.." she sighed looking at her hands. She then looked up at him, straight in his eyes. "I'm really happy to see you... you don't know I much.." she smiled softly, almost crying. He smiled too and kissed her on the forehead.
"Yo... what time is it?!" a sleepy voice asked. Lylian almost jumped out of her bed and looked around the room.
"Nick?!" she almost shrieked.
"The one and only." he giggled, standing up slowly. "Damn those chairs are not comfortable.."
"What are you all doing here?!" she whispered, looking at the others who were all still sleeping.
"We all came down to see you... " Deryck answered.
"What about the tour???" she looked at him, shocked.
"Don't worry, we only cancelled like...2 concerts." Nick said walking up to her. "How are you feeling?" he asked after kissing her on the cheek.
"Better now.." she smiled, even though her arm was still hurting pretty bad. "Ally has not waken up yet?!"
"Nah... the nurse comes every hour to check on her... but they say she's okay... just traumatized ya know..."
"Yeah..." Lylian sighed. "Where's Gaby?!"
"Dunno..." Nick shrugged. "That's what I was going to ask you.."
"She's probably outside with Brian, Kev and the girls.." Deryck said as Nick nodded.
"I'll go check!" he said, smiled and left the room.
"I can't believe you are all here.." Lylian shook her head. The others started stirring and awoke slowly because of the suddent talking around the room.
"God damn I hate hospital chairs...!" Aj groaned, yawning.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** During This Time ***
"This is so weird.." Gaby exclaimed, listening to Brian.
"I know... really strange and damn scary!" he shuddered, talking about what he had felt in the bus. "Nick kept saying I was high.." he added with a laugh. They were still sitting in the hallway alone, and didn't stop talking.
"I hope you were not..."
"Of course not!! You're talking to Brian Littrell ya know.." he jocked. "But I must have looked like I had seen a ghost or something... I was scared for real.."
"Well... sorry...it's mostly our fault.." she sighed.
"It's not your fault if I have some freaky hallucinations.." he laughed.
"It's still kinda weird.."
"Yeah...maybe we have some kind of psychic connection or something.."
"We never know!" she giggled.
"Hey.." a soft voice said behind Gaby. Brian smiled and Gaby turned around.
"Hey" she smiled.
"Well I'll go see where Mary is... I haven't heard from her for a while... that's pretty strange.." he joked. Gaby laughed and waved a little goodbye as Nick sat on Brian's chair.
"So..."
"So.."
"You okay?!" Nick asked, not looking at her. She sighed and shrugged. Why was everybody asking this question? She had been locked in a room for she didn't even know how much hours, receiving hit after hits, learning that that's what her own father wanted, her bestfriend had been shot, another of her friend was incouscious... of course she wasn't okay!
"Yeah.."
"Good.."
"Yeah.."
"I'm happy that you are okay...and alive." he said after a little moment of silence, finally looking up at her.
"Thanks..that's sweet.."
Nick stared at her for a moment. She was playing with her pants, looking down. He suddently move over and hugged her tight. Without even knowing what was happening, Gaby hugged him too and started crying softly.
"What do I do to make you cry?!" Ncik asked in her ear.
"What?" she sobbed.
"Everytime I take you in my arm... you start crying." he said with a little laugh. "What did I do?!"
"It's not your fault... " she said, wipping away the tears. "I don't know why."
"It's okay... " he smiled, stroking her back. "I just hope I am not the one who makes you sad.."
"No you're not.." she sniffed.
"Well... I'm sorry anyways.." he sighed.
"What for?!" she asked, moving away from his embrace.
"I know I haven't been fair to you... " he replied, shaking his head. "I played with you feelings and I had no right to do it... especially after all you've been through..."
"It's okay... I mean... you were mixed up...I understand that... I was too..." she shrugged avoiding his glare.
"Still.. you came on tour because you wanted to forget you old life-style and I mean... I just played with your feelings when that was the last thing you needed.."
"Well... I'm not mad at you or anything... just... deceived.." she shrugged again. "I mean...for the first time in my life I thought someone really liked me... "
"But I like you... it's just... I dunno..." he sighed. "You're so... mysterious! And I like that.."
"I'm not mysterious!" she giggled. "I'm far from it.."
"I think you are! End of discussion!" he said, pointing a finger at her, smiling.
"Awright... I don't feel like arguying anyways.." she sighed, leaning back against the wall and let out a sigh. "I guess it's better this way.."
"What is better this way?!"
"Well that you choose to be with someone else..." she replied, looking straight in front of her.
"Why do you say that?!"
"I guess... I should take some time before to .. you know... be with someone ... I mean, I don't even know if I'll be able to be with someone again... after William... it's kinda hard to trust someone fully again... "
"I bet... " Nick nodded. "That bastard.."
"Yeah.." Gaby said, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. "I guess I'm just not ready to be with somebody anyways... I've had enough troubles.." she added with a little giggle. "Time to stay alone for a while... as scary as it may sounds.."
"You'll realize that it's not that bad... And I'm sure... 100% sure... that one day, you'll be with someone who truly loves you and who won't hurt you a bit... I swear... and if it doesn't happen, you'll have the right to kick my ass and yell at me that I am an idiot..." he said with a grin.
"That's too much.." she laughed. "But thanks.. thanks a lot. It's really nice of you." she smiled, looking at him.
"Awww... come here!" he said, pulling her for another hug. She wrapped her arm around him, hugging him back, this time, with no tear.
