*Two Weeks Later*

"Brian come on, we're gonna be late. You don't want a lecture from Kevin do you?" Shayla yelled up the steps.

"I'm coming," Brian said running down the steps. "God, I hate having to wear a tie. I can never get it right," he grumbled fumbling with it.

"Here let me fix it," Shayla said. She re-adjusted his tie and fixed it for him. "There, now you look presentable."

"Thanks sweetie, I knew there was some reason I kept ya around," he chuckled swatting her rear.

"Ha, ha, you're so funny," Shayla smirked.

"You look great," Brian said giving her the once over.

"Thanks, I still gotta change when we get to the hotel though. I couldn't wear my dress cuz it would be wrinkled. By the way you look very handsome," Shayla said kissing him.

"You sure you feel up to this? It still hasn't been that long since the accident. Do you feel ok?" Brian asked as he gathered their bags.

"I'm fine, I feel great so let's get going," she said pushing him out.

"Ok come on. Oh did you let the dogs out?"

"Yes, they've been out now come on," Shayla sighed.

"Sorry these things always make me nervous," Brian said loosening his tie.

"Don't be nervous, this one's in the bag. You guys have this one won for sure," Shayla assured him.

*At The Airport*

"Cutting it awfully close," Kevin said looking at his watch when Brian and Shayla showed up.

"We're here aren't we?" Brian told him.

"Come on they're ready to start boarding," Howie said.

Everyone boarded the plane heading for New York. They were going to an awards show and after party then staying overnight to do some final mixing on the new album the next day.

Shayla sat between Brian and AJ with Nick and Howie across the aisle from them. Kevin and Jen were behind them.

"Hey Shayla, I don't suppose you'd wanna give me....." Nick began.

"No I wouldn't," Shayla said knowing he wanted a valium to relax for the flight. Nick sulked and slumped down in his seat pouting. He wished Shayla would get over be so mad at him. He had no chance with McKenzie until she did.

The plane rumbled down the runway and took off. Brian laid back to take a nap. AJ and Shayla were reading a magazine together.

"So how are things with McKenzie? Is she doing any better?" AJ asked Shayla.

"No, not really," Shayla said stealing a look at Nick to make sure he wasn't listening. He was just sitting there white as a sheet with a look of terror on his face. Shayla actually felt sorry for him.

"She still misses him something awful. She's still in love with him but won't let herself even think about taking him back," Shayla said.

"And I'm guessing you're not encouraging her in any way to take him back," AJ said.

"Of course not," Shayla scoffed.

"Come on sweetheart, you know he loves her. He's really sorry for what he did. Can't ya give him a break this time and help him get her back?" asked AJ.

Shayla sighed and looked over at Nick. About that time they hit a big pocket of turbulence and it felt like they dropped about 20 feet. Brian bolted awake and sat his seat up. Shayla grabbed onto both AJ and Brian.

"Oh my God we're all going to die!!" Nick screamed when they hit the 2nd spot of turbulence and they dropped again.

"Nick we're not going to die. It's just a little turbulence," Howie said looking a little pale himself.

Nick looked over at AJ, Shayla and Brian wishing he could switch seats. It wasn't that he didn't like Howie or think he was a bad person but if he was going to die he felt it wouldn't hurt to be sitting next to the one person God actually liked and that was Brian. You know maybe sort of a two for one deal. Get into heaven and bring a friend for free type of thing.

AJ laughed at Nick's outburst until they hit more turbulence and Shayla's nails dug into his leg. Normally this would be something that caused him joy and pleasure, but this was causing pain.

"Relax honey, maybe you should take something," Brian said prying her nails out of his skin.

"It's not that long of a flight. I won't be able to wake up when we land if I take something," Shayla said as her voice shook.

"Try to relax, it'll be over soon," Brian said patting her leg.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Shayla groaned. She closed her eyes and laid her head on Brian's shoulder.

"Shayla!" AJ grimaced. "Let go of my leg please."

"Oh sorry," she said releasing her grip on him.

"Please don't let us die, please don't let us die, please don't let us die," Nick mumbled over and over after they hit yet more turbulence.

"Sir are you ok?" asked the flight attendant as she was rushing back to get into her seat. She'd been stuck in the aisle with the beverage cart when the turbulence hit. Nick shook his head no and grabbed a couple small bottles of vodka and promptly opened one and chugged it.

"Nick if you even puke on me, I'll kill ya myself," Howie said.

"Nick don't get drunk. We only have two hours after we land before we have to be at the awards," Kevin warned him.

"I'm gonna be sick," Shayla groaned.

"Put my head between your knees," AJ said smiling. Brian cracked up.

Shayla gave him a glare. "Don't you mean put your head between my knees?" she asked not getting it right either.

"That's what I said," AJ chuckled.

"Ugh! AJ not now. I'm not in the mood for your perverted jokes."

"You ok?" Kevin asked Jen who was starting to look a little pale herself and usually wasn't bothered by flying.

"Uh huh, this is just a little much," Jen said forcing a smile.

"And some people aren't helping," Kevin said kicking Shayla's seat.

"Don't do that," Shayla barked.

"Nick haven't ya had enough," Howie asked when Nick started chugging bottle number three.

"When I pass out, then I'll have had enough," Nick told him.

The turbulence finally stopped when they were about a half hour from landing, however Nick kept right on drinking. Now that he was already drunk nothing mattered anymore. He started thinking about McKenzie and how lonely he was without her.

Shayla and Jen had moved to the seats in front of Howie and Nick to talk and everytime Nick heard Shayla laugh or softly giggle he would want to scream and just drank more. She had the same laugh as McKenzie and he missed it. Brian on the other hand sat smiling as he watched his girlfriend talk secretly with Jen and he felt his emotions overwhelm him at the sound of her laugh or giggle. He loved that sound and loved watching her when she was that happy and he was just glad he was still able to do that after almost losing her in that accident.

When they finally landed, Nick could barely stand and walk. Kevin and one of their bodyguards helped walk him out to the waiting car while the others got the luggage.

"Unbelievable, there's no way he's gonna sober up in time for the awards," AJ said as they walked to the cars.

"Maybe he can sleep some of it off," Brian suggested. "Between the flight and he's still so depressed over McKenzie this was bound to happen sooner or letter."

"Let's just get him to the hotel and see what happens," Howie said.

Jen met them at the door. "Kev and I are gonna take Nick and Billy and Jim will come with us to help sneak him into the hotel and in case he passes out and has to be carried. You all take the van with Denny, Trevor and Johnny."

"Ok we'll see ya there," Brian said. He and Shayla were led out first and put in the van, then AJ and Howie and the bodyguards.

*At The Hotel*

"Holy shit, look at this crowd. How the hell do they always find out where we're staying?" AJ said looking out the window as they pulled up to the hotel.

Just as they pulled up to the hotel Denny, on of Shayla and Brian's guards phone rang.

"Yeah this is Denny," he said answering. He said a couple of uh huh's and yeahs and ok's before hanging up. "We got a problem guys."

"What?" Brian, AJ and Howie all asked at the same time reading the seriousness of Denny's expression.

"They tried to go to the back entrance of the hotel with Nick and it's just as packed. Nick has totally passed out and Billy and Jim need help with him because it's too crowded and he's too much for just Billy to handle while Jim helps Kevin and Jen. We're going around back to meet them and we're going to just form a barrell with ya'll in the middle," Denny said. Johnny and Trevor nodded in agreement with Denny.

"Great, just great," AJ said.

"This sucks," Howie said.

"Still think it's ok to go wherever ya want without security?" Brian asked Shayla giving her a look.

"This is insane," Shayla replied looking out the window as they circled the hotel and the line of fans went with it.

"There's gotta be other groups staying here. This can't possibly all be because of us," Howie said.

"Billy said Nsync is here too," Denny told them.

"Oh joy!" AJ said sarcastically.

"Shayla do not let go of us," Brian told her very seriously. This was her first experience of a truly serious intense security situation. "AJ and I will be on either side of you and Howie behind you. I mean it, do not let go of me and AJ."

"Ok," Shayla said a little shakily. Their van was now being pounded on from all sides as they came to a stop behind the hotel. She could see the same thing happening to Kevin, Jen and Nick's car in front of them.

"Howie keep your hands on her waist and AJ and I will take her arms," Brian said.

"You got it," Howie said familiar with the drill.

"Are ya ready?" Denny said hanging up his phone from talking to Billy. "We're taking you 4 in first then we're coming back for the other 3."

"Yeah we're ready," Brian said nervously. These situations always scared him a little and having to worry about Shayla too only made it worse.

The hotel security and some policemen cleared a path to the back door and when Billy and Johnny got to the van Denny opened the side door. Their 5 guards that were with them formed a circle and AJ and Brian stepped into it. Shayla stepped out with Howie on her tail. AJ and Brian linked Shayla's arms and the guards closed the circle tightly around them and they all ran for the door amidst the ear piercing screams. Once inside they were taken quickly to a waiting service elevator near the back door and a hotel manager and a few policemen took them straight to their floor. The guards went back for Kevin, Jen and Nick.

*In The Suite*

"Take him to the first bedroom," Brian said as they helped a very out of it Nick into the suite.

"Heeeyyy!" Nick said with a high pitched giggle as he saw Brian and Shayla as they practically carried him to his room.

"Oh my God, he's so drunk," Shayla said as he passed them.

"Somebody make some coffee for him," barked Kevin as he took his and Jen's bags to their room. He was totally pissed by this point with Nick.

"I'll do it," Jen volunteered. Shayla followed her to the kitchenette to help.

"Guys we only have an hour, there's no way he's gonna sober up in time," Howie said.

"You all get ready and I'll take care of him. Then when you're ready we'll switch so I can get ready and we'll just keep shoving coffee in him and hope for the best," Brian said heading for Nick's room.

"Here honey, take him some coffee, there's enough for one cup already," Shayla said handing it to Brian.

To Chapter 43
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