Howie was still puzzling over the things he'd been told. The doctor had told him that he'd been thrown from the bus, that it was natural to not remember everything leading up to a traumatic experience. He certainly didn't remember leaving his bunk. How could he have gone out a window without leaving his bunk? Of course the idea that he simply forgot getting up made a lot more sense than Brian's story.
The problem was that a little voice inside him told him that Brian was right. That Nick, his condition notwithstanding, had gotten him out of the bus. The things that implied made his head hurt even more. The guy they all looked at as their kid brother, the gangly klutz, complete space cadet... was some kind of superhero? He'd had enough happen to him today, accepting that idea would have to wait for tomorrow at least.
Seeking a diversion he turned his attention to Kevin, who was lying back against his pillows, his eyes closed. Howie wadded up a paper cup sitting on his tray and bounced it off his roommate's nose. Kevin's eyes flew open.
"What?" he growled.
"You want me to get a nurse, Kev? You know we're not supposed to sleep."
"I was just thinking."
"Yeah, well do it with your eyes open!"
Brian blinked at the empty space where A.J. and Mindi had been seconds before. "Is my life ever going to settle down and get normal, Lord?" The room remained silent. "No, huh? Well I guess I'd better start dealing with this new twist You've thrown at me."
He made his way out of the room and down the hall to the nurses' station.
"Hi Brian!" a young male RN greeted him. "Still not sleepy? I'd have thought you'd be completely out of it now. Howie just rang and asked for a radio to keep them up."
Brian shook his head. "Naw. I was wondering if I could go see Nick?"
The other man grew sober. "I dunno, man. It is visiting hours but it's the ICU. And his family haven't seen him yet."
"His family are scattered all over the world right now." Brian pointed out. "Leslie and Bob are flying in from Canada tonight, Aaron, Angel and Jane are coming from Germany, B.J.'s stuck in Florida worried sick. I'm his best friend."
"I know," the nurse went a little red. "You think I had to look your name up on the chart, B-rok?" Brian suppressed a groan. "Don't worry, I'm working now. I won't be asking for your autograph or anything... until my coffee break!"
Until that moment Brian had completely forgotten about the fans. He had talked to his parents, to Leighanne and to B.J. Carter... but for some reason he had stopped feeling like a Backstreet Boy for the first time since they'd hit the road. "I guess this is a dumb question.. but is it on the news?"
"You had to cancel tonight's show. Of course it's in the news. They've tripled security at the doors, and your bodyguards are on their way over and.."
"Reality rears its ugly head." Brian shook his head. "We've got so much else to deal with... I wish they could be happy lovin' us from afar."
"The fans have been pretty good so far," he was informed. "The media...When I got in for work today I'd been offered three bribes and had to shove a cameraman out of my way."
"Dammit. They're causing problems?"
"Uh huh."
"All right. Get me a phone. I'll handle it. Then will you let me see Nick?"
"Fifteen minutes tops."
"Deal."
The nurse handed Brian the phone.
Ten minutes later, after a long talk with the PR people at The Firm, Brian was being wheeled into the elevator. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Hospitals were his least favourite place on earth, and there was no doubt he wasn't going to like what he saw. "You all right?" the nurse whose name was Roger asked him.
"I'll live."
"That was a pretty good idea, that threat."
"That was no threat." Brian returned. "I just hope it works." He had talked to the hospital's security department, asking that they get the names and positions of any troublemakers, then called The Firm. They were now issuing a statement saying that the Backstreet Boys would hold a press conference when they were ready, but that any and all media outlets which continued to stake out the hospital would be barred access. Additionally, anyone publishing pictures taken outside the hospital wouldn't be given any access to the band for the next year.
"I'm sure it will." Roger wheeled Brian out into the ICU waiting room. "Sure you're ready for this?"
"Ready as I'm gonna be."
"All right. I'll get them to let you in. When you're done, just get any of the nurses to call up. I'll come get you."
"What? I can't wheel myself into an elevator?"
"You're a heart patient Brian, and you've been in an accident. In this hospital that means you've got 'made of glass' stamped on your forehead," Roger told him. "Besides, we can't have any stray fans abducting you, now can we?"
"Guess not." After waiting for the ICU nurses to buzz him in, Brian headed for Nick's bedside.