Title: ~*~Choose Your Poison~*~
Author: D
Feedback: Dear God, yes! I'd love you forever.
Pairing: Brian/Nicky
Warning: In case you need to know, this is slash. that means that two guys are doing "the nasty" together. In this case, Brian and Nick.*grin* Two: Brian IS married in this, and he IS cheating on her (I have the tendency to make Bri a badass a lot, sorry) if you don't like this, I'm sorry, but it's part of my *conflict*
Disclaimer. Kay, it's a long one, so pay attn! I don't know anyone in this story or pretend to know them....okay, sometimes I pretend, but it's just fun. hehe. I don't know and have never met the Backstreet Boys, and I certainly don't know the Much Music people! (Nothing against them! moses, don't sue me!) 'Cause, frankly, those are the people I'm really afraid of. Hell, Rick could kick my ass, so George or Bradford could DEFINITELY kick my ass....and there may come a time when they hold my career in the palm of their hand. And Bradford, Dude, if for some insane reason you are reading this (or someone that is family) I really don't dislike you, I just picked someone at random! Don't hate me! so, ya. don't know ANYONE and Much Music is owned by CHUM Limited. It's all for fun, it's all fiction, nothing's real in this! I swear it all just came from my warped little mind. I am not making a profit off of this. Ahh, they'll probably sue me anyway.
(1)
Last day in this God forsaken place, Nick told himself, staring longingly at the front door of the sombre building. Las tday, last hour, last ten minutes he woujld ever spend in this building. He looked around at the people milling around the rehab facility he was standing in teh middle of. Some where in stages of withdrawl, some were finsihed, like him, hell, some where drunk or stoned. 'How did AJ ever survive this?' Nick wondered. 'Alcoholic or not!' He sighed, remembering AJ's time in rehab. Aj'd looked sick the first few weeks, just generally shakey and depressed the next couple, and just a whole lot better and at peace with himself at the end. 'You'd think they'd notice some sort of difference between us.' He shook his head at how blind his friends had become. 'They were probably congratulating themselves on catching their little Nicky early, before he turned into the next AJ.' He sighed, and stared back down at the lady at the desk filling out his paperwork.
After AJ's come from rehab, everyone became obssessed with everyone elses drinking habits, as if alcoholism ws contagious. That isn't to say that everyone just stopped drinking, but suddenly comeing hompe pissed more than once a week, which wsa nothing unusual pre-rehab, was suddenly a huge deal. The thing that made that made the guys zero in on him was the infamous arrest. Suddenly, Nick was a shit-disturber and was always drunk in their eyes. THey all thought that Nick was trying to take up the 'bad boy' spot in the grup that had been vacated by AJ. AJ, former bad boy extrodinaire, had become preachy about how in drinking all of the time, Nick wasn't really solving any of his problems, and pointing out how supportive the guys had become about his own problem. Nick just grinned and bared it. It would go away, he told himself, because he wasn't an alcoholic, and they had to realize that. He was just a twenty-two year old kid who was out drinking and having fun....like a twenty-two year old kid. He had problems, of course. More than some? Maybe. But everyone had problems, and he didn't drink to forget thos problems. He knew better. He didn't drink to get drunk, either. Unfortunately for him, though, the guys didn't realize. AJ told the guys of his suspicions. They began analysing his every move, and despite the fact that they saw he wasnt drunk twenty-four hours a day, they still belived AJ, and decided Nick wa an alcoholic, and there was nothing Nick could say to them to change their minds, and boy, did he try. By the time Nick had come up with a plan to prove he wasn't dependent upon alcohol, he could take it or leave it, it was too late. Kevin had told Nick he had to check himself into rehab, just like AJ had. His plan, to go a week without touching alcohol, had gone unheeded, and Nick was guilted, and basically forced into rehab. Of course, he was there 'voluntarily,' or so his paperwork said, which STILL wasn't finished. Damn, but that woman was taking a long time.
So, in rehab, Nick was positive that the doctors would realize he wasn't an alcoholic. After all, they were professionals. Professionals who, apparently, just saw him as another alkie with a mega case of denial. They spent two weeks trying to crack him, and he spent two weeks trying to convince them of the truth. They didn't realize Nick had nt the slightest of withdrawl symptoms and never mentioned alcohol, unless asked about his 'addiction.' Most likely they were in the same boat as his 'closet friends,' patting themselves on the back and saying, "Good thing we caught him before he was too far gone." Finally, Nick gave up and admitted he was an alcoholic, rolling his eyes as he said the words. He went to group therepy, and preivate sessions, pulling stories out of his ass to make the dorcorts feel like they were doing well. His friends visited him once, told him how good he was going, how good he looked, and he wanted to kick them in the heads for it. AJ stared at him, confused, for the first hour. A spark of realization came to his eyes, and suddenly, AJ couldn't make eye contact with his young friend anymore. At the end of the visit, when everyone had left Nick's room, AJ stayed behind.
"I'm sorry for accusing you of being an alcoholic," AJ apologized. "I realize I was wrong." Nick just grinned and hugged his friend. WHen it came to the whole 'apologising for your actions' thing, Nick was at a loss. He'd never been on a bender where he'd irrevocabley fucked up a friendship, stolen money to buy booze, gone on stage intozicated, or even gotten into a real drunken brawl with anyone he knew. So, once again, he pulled apologies out of the air, like 'Kev, I'm sorry I stole your bagel on that day you were really hungry.' He tried to keep a striaght face, which was hard, when AJ was there, laughing his ass off at the bull Nick was coming up with. Kevin tried to calm AJ, telling him how serious this was. AJ couldn't stop himself, knowing that it was all a sham.
"Umm," Nick continued, looking around at the group. "Aaron. I'm sorry that I took your training wheels off before you were ready when I was 12." Once again he tried to compose his features and failed miserably. "I was drunk. I didn't know thwat I was going." He and AJ burst into hysterical laugher, unable to hold back. Kevin frowned, but Aaron smirked. He probably realized the truth as well. Sometimes Nick's baby brother was just too smart for his own good. When he finally rolled around to AJ, though, Nick had a ligitmate apology to make. "AJ, I want to apologise for the way that I, now wait, for the way that we all treated you during your own stay in rehab." Kevin's frown deepened, but Nick was focused on AJ, who was who seemed genuinely accepting, and didn't notice it. "When everyone came to see me today, I saw how condescending everyone was, like you're an alcoholic, so we have to treat you like you're a sick child....well, everyone did except for you of course. And suddenly, I recognised that I'd treated you that way as wel. I want to say how sorry I am for that."
"Thank you, Nick. You can't know how much that means to me." Nick smiled, glad some good had come of this fiasco. He sootd, and announced that he was finished. He hugged his family and AJ, before going to the doctor and informing him that Brian, Howie, and Kevin were no longer welcome. AJ was free to visit whenever he felt like it. The doctor tried vehemently to make Nick reconsider, but he refused, not giving a reason. Inside he knew though. If they couldn't tell he was an alcoholic, depsite the fact that they'd gone through it with AJ, that was one thing. But to have to sit there while they were treating him like he was two, cooing over how good he looked and what a good boy he was being, that was a totally different load of crap that he didn't have to put up with. It was bad enough putting up with the doctors and this place. He'd just bide his time without his friends. He needed a rest from them anyway.
"You're free to go now," the receptionist chick said. Nick let out a loud breath.
"It's about time," he muttered, then grabbed what she was holding out to him, practically running for the door. AJ, the only one he'd seen or talked to for the last three weeks of his stay, had promised to pick him up. He was glad for that. He wanted to hold off seeing how angry the guys were for banning them from the clinic for as long as possible. These three weeks later, AJ was still laughing about Nick's actions. No sooner had Nick stepped foot out of the double glass doors into the wonderful sunlight of freedom, when something tall, red-headed, and definitely female had launched herself into his arms and planted her lips on his.
(2)
The young woman's mouth worked it's way over Nick's unresponsive one. Her legs were wrapped around Nick's midsection, and gravity dictated either Nick hold her up, or they both fall. When Nick failed to respond to her kisses, the woman pulled back and stared at him critically.
"You're not JD," she stated, almost glaring at him. He smiled guiltily as her legs unwrapped themselves from him, stabilizing her on the ground.
"But, honey, if I were straight, I'm sure I would wish I were him," Nick assured her. She looked at him, both puzzled and a little amazed.
"I'm awefully sor-" Suddenly, recognition set in. "Oh my God, Mr. Carter! I am so so so so sorry!" she exclaimed. "I thought you were my boyfriend! Everyone says he looks just like you, but I never believed until now! He's here visiting his brother, so when you came out the door, I thought...." Nick laughed at her panic to explaine and hushed her.
"It's okay. I believe yu," he assured her. "It's no big deal." The girl just stood there, not sure what to say.
"You're gay?" she questioned. He smiled and looked around conspiratorialy.
"If you're the media, no," he told her, leaning close. No one knew about it; it was his little secret. Well, he'd told AJ, but only because he was bored, and knew AJ could care less. But he wouldn't tell anyone else. If Brian ever found out, Brian would preach. And if he ever heard Brian say how sick and perverted he was, then Nick would die, because of secret number II. Nick was absolutely, head over heels in love with Brian, and had been for awhile. Fortunately, he was also the best of liars. He could bullshit his way out of anything. Hell, he'd convinced himself for a good many years that he was straight, and he still had everyone else convinced; he could go awhile before anyone realized his feelings for Brian.
"Good, then I'm not insulted." She looked past him and shouted "Jory!" A man that could potentially be Nick's twin, with some changes in hight and build, and a few other things, walked up.
"Hey, baby," the man,said, kissing her. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I'd take that long." He looked up at the man he was standing beside, and gave a startled jolt. "Shit!" The girl pursed her lips.
"You know, the resemblence is pretty good, but right beside each other, not so much." Nick nodded in agreement.
"If I ever go into acting, you're the first man I call to be my stunt double," Nick commented. The girl giggled.
"Where are my manners?" I'm Paula, and this is my boyfriend, JD, or Jory. Call him either one, he never cares." Nick shook each of their hands.
"Nick Carter, here," he greeted.
"Carter!" came a shout from behind Paula. Nick rolled his eyes.
"And the loud mouth in the glasses is my ride. AJ, this is Paula and Jory." AJ walked up and shook their hands.
"AJ McLean. Nick to meet you, but we gotta go. Ready?" he asked Nick. Nick nodded and smiled before saying his goodbyes. "Change of plans," AJ told him, once they were in the car. "There's some deal in Canada we gotta show up for, so we gotta head straight to the airport." Nick groaned. So much for 'recovery' time. Getting back into work right off the bat. And in Canada at that. AJ glanced over at Nick with a sympathetic expression. "Hey, a Backstreet Boy just got out of rehab. Time to make the rounds, man." Nick sighed.
"You got TRL. I get Much Music. What's with that?"
"Aw, poor Nicky. You obviously missed me crying for you on TRL."
"What?" Nick shrieked. AJ smiled, teasingly.
"Don't worry. I taped it."
(3)
"The ten-fifteen to Toronto had been delayed due to weather conditions," a female voice announced with no sympathy whatsoever. "We apologise for the inconvenience." Howie looked puzzled as he looked out the window at the clear sky above.
"What weather?" he wondered aloud. Nick cackled.
"Toronto, nimrod," Nick kidded, throwing an arm around Howie.
"NO!!" came a wail from nearby. Nick's eyes shot toward the location of the cry as Kevin tried to track down someone with enough nerve to fly them to Toronto in the snow. He spotted a red-head being comforted by his twin. Smiling, he punched AJ in the arm and ran toward the two without seeing if AJ would even follow.
"Paula!" Nick exclaimed. The woman's frown flipped into a grin when she saw him.
"Nick? Oh God! What are you doing here?"
"Being delayed," he told her with a laugh.
"No way! You're headed to T.O.? Us too!" Nick grinned knowingly at her.
"I heard." AJ showed up at his side.
"Hey, Paula," AJ greeted. She smiled shyly at him.
"Hi. JD, say hi," she ordered her man. He stuck out his hand, and AJ took it.
"I thought it was Jory," AJ commented.
"Jory Daniel Linton," JD specified.
"Alexander James McLean," AJ responded, smiling. They laughed, each rolling their eyes. "Parents, huh?" JD nodded.
"They're on our plane," Nick told AJ.
"Were," Paula said with a sigh. "Might as well find a place to stay the night, 'cause we sure as hell ain't gettin out today."
"It's only a delay because of a bit of weather," AJ insisted. JD's eyebrow rose.
"Dude, it's January," JD told him. "You've been to Toronto in January, right?" AJ looked a bit taken aback.
"Well, ya. It was cold, but it wasn't that bad."
"Okay. Have you been to Toronto during a snow storm?"
"Well..."
"Let me cut to the chase. PEARSONS is CLOSED!" JD practically shouted. "They won't open again until tomorrow....or at least until very late tonight."
"Pearsons...."
"Airport?" JD filled in with a laugh. AJ nodded, unable to hold back his own grin.
"So what were you doing going to Toronto?" Nick inquired, turning from AJ and his new friend to Paula.
"We live there," Paula told him. "We were just here visiting JJ, Jory's brother, who somehow scammed his way to Florida before deciding to check into rehab. We were gonna stay here until he is released, 'cause it's only another week or so, but we just got word that my brother's in the hospital, so we gotta get home. That's why I'm freakin out. I gotta get home to see my brother." Nick frowned. He wished there was something he could do to help her. Kevin walked up to them as if on cue. He was frowning. He'd been frowning when he'd first seen Nick, and Nick had a niggling suspicion that he'd been sporting the same frown from three weeks before.
"Okay, we have secured a plane that is willing to take us to Toronto, but we have to go now." Nick cringed from the sharpness of Kevin's tone. The little cogs in his brain started turning, and his cringe changed into a mischeivious grin, then a pathetic little pout.
"Kevin, can we take someone with us?" Nick begged. Kevin turned slowly to look at him, and the look in his eye scared the shit out of Nick, but he kept his face the same.
"Who?"
"P-Paula," Nick stammered, still looking pathetic. Paula's eyes lit up, and she jumped him.
"Really Nick?" she asked, looking into his eyes, hopefully. Nick looked back toward Kevin, who didn't look so positive. In her excitement, Paula leaned in and planted a kiss on Nick's lips. Nick was just about to comment on how 'friendly' Paula was when Kevin huffed.
"God, we're cartin' around another one of your girlfriends? Fine, I guess she has to come, doesn't she. God forbid you leave your girlfriend at home, right?" Nick contemplated telling the truth, but just smiled.
"You're coming with us!" he announced. Paula squeeled and ran over to JD, throwing her arms around him. Kevin looked puzzled.
"Who's that?" Kevin inquired, motioning toward JD. Nick had to think quick.
"Her brother," AJ interjected.
"Yeeah, her brother," Nick said, smiling widely. "The Amazing AJ speaks the truth." Kevin just scowled.
"You know, I really regret sending you to rehab," Kevin told him. "You came out more cracked than you went in."
"Well, that's what you get when you send a non-alcoholic to a rehab clinic," Nick said lightly, then walked back over to Paula. Kevin just shook his head.
"He's changed so much, AJ." AJ just shrugged.
"He hasn't really. He's just gone a little stir-crazy. It'll pass," AJ assured his friend. "I mean, he was in that place for a month with nothing to do. What would you do?"
"You didn't go stir-crazy," Kevin pointed out.
"Ya, but I also got something out of it." Kevin groaned.
"Don't tell me you believe the 'I'm not an alcoholic' bullshit too."
"Well...." AJ trailed off with a shrug.
"You're the one that told US he was an alcoholic!" Kevin exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "Now you're changing your mind?"
"I guess, ya."
"Well I don't buy it." Suddenly, his focus changed directions. "Is that where he picked up that girl?" AJ smiled.
"Technically, yes," AJ responded.
"Dammit. What kind of an idiot would pick up a girl in rehab??" It was AJ's turn to frown. "No offence."
"Ya, well, fuck you too, friend," AJ remarked, and followed Nick. Kevin sighed and walked back over to the people who viewed the world the same way for the moment, Howie and Brian.
(4)
Paula stared at the snow that was gradually becoming heavier outside of her window. She looked worriedly at Nick, then over at Jory, who was beside AJ, having a ball and not noticing the weather. She wondered where they were gonna land if not at Pearsons, then went back to staring out the window. Nick had explained to her their predicament. So far as the rest of the guys were concerned, she and Nick were together, and Jory was her brother. She chuckled over this. They looked nothing alike. She had red hair, Jory had blond. She had green eyes, Jory had blue. She was shorter, he was tall, though not quite as tall as Nick. Oh well, just because she looked like her real brother didn't mean that all brothers and sisters looked alike, right? She and Jory could have different fathers, after all. She looked up at Nick, who was just staring off into space. It looked like something he did often, in her opinion. He looked contemplative, though, and she didn't have the heart to disturb him, no matter how bored she was herself. Brian was reading a book in between short chats with his cousin, Kevin, and Howie was doing random things on his PalmPilot. She just went back to staring out the window with a sigh. She always thought that getting stuck on a plane with the Backstreet Boys would be way more fun than this. Apparently she was wrong. Apparently, they'd calmed down in their old age. Apparently.....
Nick started giggling to himself. The giggles turned into a low cackle.
"What's so funny?" Paula inquired.
"Promise not to tell?" Nick asked with a secretive grin. She nodded. "My protector is getting paranoid," he whisipered, then suddenly went blank again. Paula looked forward, just as Brian glanced back through the seats. When he saw Paula watching him, he went back to his book. Paula became confused. What the hell kind of game was this? "And now, he'll yell at Kevin," Nick commented, smiling again.
"He doesn't look right, is all I'm sayin'," came Brian's drawl. "You might have said something to upset him!"
"Glance back." Nick's face was once again granite. Brian was glancing back, just as Nick had predicted. Brian faced the front again. "Yell at Kevin."
"You must have said something! He's practically catawhatsit back there!"
"Catatonic," Kevin supplied dryly.
"Catacomatose, whatever!" Brian exclaimed.
"You're a sick man, Nick Carter," AJ said from the neighbouring aisle. Nick's shrug was barely noticable as he continued to stare forward for Brian's benefit. "NICK, QUIT FUCKING WITH BRIAN!" AJ shouted raspily. Nick's head whipped in AJ's direction.
"Hey, fuck you, McLean. I don't spoil your fun!" Nick screached back. Kevin groaned as Brian shot to his feet.
"What the hell!" Brian shouted. "I was worried about you, and it was all an act? Thanks a fucking lot, Nick!" Nick was now on his feet as well.
"Well hell, you've been ignoring me up until now. How the hell was I to know you were bothering with me. God, I'm surprised you realized I was on the plane, let alone where I was sitting!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize we were allowed to talk to you know," Brian retorted scathingly. "I didn't know the ban had been lifted."
"Fuck you, Littrell."
"Have a drink!"
"I would, but SOMEBODY who claims to be my best friend and is supposed to know me better than ANYBODY thinks I'm a freaking alcoholic and I have to prove myself now!" Paula winced at the anger in Nick's features. She wanted a little excitement, true, but not like that. He flopped down into his chair, signalling the end of discussion. Brian knew from experience anything now would be unheard......almost anything. He flopped down into his own seat.
"Fuck you," Brian mumbled from his seat.
"You first," Nick mumbled back.
"You wish."
"Not if you were the last man on Earth, Bitch." A slow smile spread across Nic's lips, much to Paula's amazement. She watched as Brian leaned his head into the aisle, facing Nick with an identical grin on his face. All anger between the two had disappeared as if it had never been, and the two were best friends again. Paula could tell this was one hell of a strange relationship.
(5)
Nick stared at the VJ in front of him, with his goofy grin, and scruffy hair, simultaneously wishing for a knife to kill the man and wondering when the hell it was that he'd become so homicidal. When the man's head was turned, Nick sneared at him. 'Damn you, Bradford How, I hate you!' He'd tackle the man, if it weren't so questionable as to which one the fans would defend. "Yes, Bradford, it was quite a harrowing experience," Nick responded to the freak's question with the friendly, yet pitiful look that was expected of him. When Bradford and the camera turned away, Nick stuck his tongue out at him. 'I'm going to get you, my ..... not so pretty, and your little Temp, too. Muahahah!!' "Yes, the experience has made AJ and I so much closer. We know what each other's thinking and feeling now, so, in that way, we are able to support each other better than any one of the others possibly could." He smiled at his little dig at his band mates. The happiness was short lived as he turned his eyes back to Bradford. Bradford How, the devil incarnate. If he were served at McDonalds, he'd be the Freak of the Week. Unfortunately, the people at Much, and the people that watched Much didn't view him that way, and the man had been there awhile now, with no signs of leaving like many of his cohorts had over the past six months to a year. 'If I realized that Bradford was the future of Much Music, I'd be the hell out of here too!' Nick thought, attempting to bore a hole in the back of the man's head, using non-existent laser vision. "Yes, I loved all of the cards and flowers I received. There were so many that the clinic had to stop accepting them after one day because they had nowhere that they could put them all. The fans have been so unbelievably supportive of my situation. I'll never forget it." He pretended to be choked up. "I love you guys!" he squeeked. Many girls giggled. Why the hell did I have to talk to Bradford How? AAAAnyone but him would have been good...That namu...nima....NAM, woulda been good. Hell, Rick would have been best. Rick the Temp....sorry...Rick Campanelli... *Rick the not so Temp anymore.* He liked Rick. Bradford just gave Nick that feeling that AJ was talking about all of the time. Nick had this increadible urge to drink, just to get rid of this *Bradford* feeling he got when he was around the man. "Where's everyone going?" Nick asked, when he suddenly realized that he was alone on the mini set of bleachers they'd been set up on. Ahh, the memories of the mini bleachers....back in the day. Good times, good times.
"Commercial," AJ told him, waving a hand in front of his eyes. Nick nodded, slapping the hand from his face. "Bradford suggested we stretch."
"Ohh, Bradford suggested we stretch," Nick said in a mocking tone. "Ehh, stretch this, EH." He made a kicking motion at Bradford. AJ had to laugh, and Bradford turned around at the sound.
"Hey, Nick. You're really taking this well," Bradford commented, probably trying to be supportive, but instead just sounding condescending. It wasn't his fault. Nick sneered at him anyway.
"Ya, what the hell would you know?" AJ looked at him, shocked at his outright dislike of the VJ.
"Don't mind him. He's going through the cravings...you know?" Bradford nodded, looking like a wise-ass. "He and I missed our meeting last night." AJ turned to stare, wide-eyed at Nick, who just looked past him, sneering. Fortunately, Nick kept his mouth shut. The producer guy told them the commercial brake was over, and Bradford went back to his seat.
"Hi, welcome to Much Music. We're here interviewing the Backstreet Boys..." Nick quit listening, event though he noticed that Bradford's introduction seemed oddly structured now. He hadn't....scared Bradford, had he? This thought made him smile, and took him through the rest of the interview. When the thing was finally done, attention was thrown to George S. who did the news. Nick signed autograph after autograph, surruptitiously looking over at the man currently talking to the camera. His looks so contrasted his choir-boy protector that Nick found himself unavoidably attracted. He caught AJ looking at him, and he smirked. He leaned close to his friend.
"I'd do him." AJ just shook his head.
"He's not...."
"Nah, I doubt it. But if he was...." Brian hipchecked him, startling him.
"Keep it in your pants, Carter," Brian muttered, only loud enough for Nick and AJ to hear. Nick stared at him, scared half to death. How much had Brian heard? Did Brian know what they were talking about, specifically. "She's what, twelve?" Nick and AJ both turned to look past George, where Amanda Walsh was standing. Nick and AJ let out held breaths. "Besides, you have a girlfriend. Stick to the one you have, huh?"
"Eh?" Nick cracked, then cackled, pretending his heart hadn't just stopped. He went back to signing autographs, but was haulted again, when Brian asked him,
"Where's Paula?" AJ choked.
"A-Around."
"Where, specifically. I just realized that she just kinda disappeared and you didn't care." Nick gave his best friend a crooked grin.
"I know where she is. That's why I'm not worried."
"So, where is she?" The whole time, all three kept smiling faces, and were signing autographs.
"Just tell him, Nick!" AJ snapped. "She's visiting her brother in the hospital. God, who cares?" Brian frowned.
"Oh, okay." Nick looked over at Brian hoping he hadn't angered his friend. He shrugged. Even if he had, it wouldn't be the first time, and it sure as hell wouldn't be the last. He handed back another autograph, and someone ordered the fans out of the studio. Nick gave them an apologetic grin and waved at them as they left, most frowning.
"Bye," Nick called out in the most regretting tone he could muster.
"NICK WE LOVE YOU!!!" someone screeched in response.
"Oookay," Nick said, more to himself than anyone else. AJ came and threw an arm around Nick. A camera flashed, and Nick knew that would show up on a website somewhere tomorrow, if not tonight. Speaking of tonight, he wondered how he could get to a bar without being seen, and where he wouldn't be recognized. Who could help him.... "George, my man!" Nick exclaimed delightedly once the VJ was off air. The man looked at him, utterly shocked. He shook his head, and looked again, as if positive it wasn't a Backstreet Boy talking to him.
"Hi," George said, hesitantly. Then he remembered himself, and smiled. It was his job to make nice with the music people, pop stars or not.
"How ya been, George?" He tossed an arm around George's shoulder, guiding him away from the rest, who were getting ready to go back to the hotel. "Let's have a little talk, shall we?"
(6)
Brian had spent a quiet evening in his motel room after the interview. He watched a rerun of the show, amazed by the fans. Canadian fans were definitely a breed onto themselves, that was for sure. Afterward, he watched a Pay-Per-View, and contemplated going to bed. Another part, one that had been listening intently for strange noises in the hallway, contemplated staying up until Nick returned from wherever he had disappeard to after the interview and beating some sense into him when he arrived. Even AJ hadn't known where Nick had gone, or at least had said he didn't know. A scratching at his door distracted him from his thoughts, so he got up to see what it was, despite the fact that he was only in his boxers. Hell, it was his room, and whoever was on the other side was disturbing him before bed! On the other side of the peephole was Nick, head bowed in concentration. Brian jerked the door open and Nick looked up in surprise, almost falling in with the door, a drunken smile plastered across his face.
"Hey, Bri. What you doin' in my room?" Nick inquired happily.
"Nick, this is my room. I can't believe you've been drinking!" Nick's smile faded instantaneously. "If it had've been Kevin that caught you instead of me, I'd be looking at a dead man!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm an alcoholic, ain't I."
"You need to get to your room, Nick," Brian said, pulling Nick's arm around his shoulder to steady him. Nick threw him off, turned, and began to fall. If not for his anger, Brian would have laughed at this. He caught his younger friend, and pulled him to his feet, throwing Nick's arm around his shoulder again. Nick followed willingly, this time, walking across the hall with Brian to his own room.
"You know, they have some really kick ass clubs here," Nick commented. "They have clubs here where they don't even know what the hell we look like!" Brian closed his eyes a moment, feeling oddly drained.
"Only you would go out into public an drink after announcing publicly that you just got out of rehab." Nick smiled, as if Brian had just complimented him. Brian pulled the key from his friend's hand and slid it through the lock. Nick twisted the handle.
"Team work," Nick said in a child-like voice, before pushing the door open. "Welcome to my humble abode," Nick announced, fanning his open palm around the room.
"It's the same as mine." Nick shrugged and stumbled over to is bed, flopping onto it. "Nick, tou can't be doing this again. Promise me you won't do this again!"
"Okay, I promise me you won't do this again." Nick cackled, doubling over. The inbalence of his knees being drawn to his chest caused him to roll to his side, still laughing at his own joke. Brian rolled his eyes.
"This isn't funny, Nickolas Gene!" Nick got up and smirked at his friend, completely balanced this time.
"Did you just call me Nickolas Gene?" Brian frowned as Nick came closer. "Oh, my little protector. What would I do without you here to try and protect me? Taking me to my room so Kevin doesn't see the newly rehabilitated Nick three sheets to the wind. Giving me warnings about drinking in public." Nick was now nose to nose with Brian. "Are you going to tuck me in, too?" he asked, his lips lightly brushing Brian's as he spoke, they were so close. "Maybe stay the night, protect me from the boogy man?" His hand snaked out and pulled Brian's head closer to close the distance betweent their mouths, pressing their lips together, hard.
"Nick," Brian gasped, initially trying to pull away. "Nick, what are you doing? You have to stop."
"I'm drunk," Nick whispered, pulling Brian toward the bed. Brian hit the bed, ad he fell backward, Nick on top of him. "I don't know what I'm doing." That said, he slid his hand down Brian's stomach, and under the elastic band of his boxers. Nick's long fingers found what they were looking for and encircled Brian's hardening shaft. Brian gasped, and Nick forced his tongue into Brian'smouth. Brian moaned at the images Nick's thrusting tongue provoked. He arched as Nick began to slowly stroke him up and down. Suddenly, all action stopped. Brian opened his eyes to find Nick completely limp. Stunned, he nudged Nick on the shoulder. Nick didn't move in the slightest. Sighing, he pulled his mouth away from Nick'swhcih remained hanging open, and extracted Nic's hand from his pants before shoving the younger man off of him. Nick groaned before turning onto his side and pulling himself into a tight ball.
"Night, Nick," Brian muttered, heading toward the door. When he got into his own room, he leaned against the hardwood door, wondering what had come over him to allow Nick to do those things to him.
'You were just letting Nick vent his frustrations,' he tried to rationalize, his brain taking over both the angel and devil roles of his conscience.
'Well, that's the best bullshit you've come up with in a while, Littrell.'
'Who cares why you did it? It was wrong. It won't happen again.'
'The who cares part is right, but it wasn't wrong. It was sooooo goooood! And dear God, I hope it happens again!' Brian shook his head, relieving himself of the voices that were taking over his mind. Nick was just drunk. That's all there was too it. When Nick was drunk, he'd screw anything thta was willing. And very obviously, Brian was all too willing. Brian bit his lip to shut out the thought, but it wouldn't let itself be stopped. Apparently, the devil had kicked the angel's ass. Too bad Nick wasn't drunk like that all the time. 'Hell, who said he couldn't be? Well, for a few nights at least.'
(7)
Nick groaned the instant he gained consciousness. Where the hell was he and how the hell had he gotten there? He vaguely remembered a bar, somewhere, named something with....people in it.....at least he was pretty sure. Either had mouth had shrunk or his tongue had gotten bigger, because something wasn't the right size. And his brain had been replaced with some sort of furry animal with claws that were digging into the back of his eyes. He sat up, only to be thrown back down when dizziness hit him with an uppercut. He lay as still as he could to let the dizziness pass before he attempted to rise again, as slow as he could this time. There was a sharp tap on the door. Nick winced, trying to get the fuzzy animal to retract it's claws, that only seemed to go in deeper every time it heard a noise. He slinked to the door and opened it as quiet as he could.
"HI!" AJ burst out before bounding into his room. Nick's breath caught in his throat at the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him. "Hang over?" Nick nodded mechanically. "Ya, I never had that."
"That's probably because for one thing, you never slept, and for another, you were drunk again before you could get sober." AJ nodded.
"Ya, that would be it. Well, I'm here to clean you up before 'Big Brother' gets here and see you, well, like this."
"Why, is my regular protector out of order?" Nick mumbled.
"No, he's around the corner on look-out," AJ filled in, pulling the shirt Nick had slept in off of his body. He leaned in close to Nick as he did it. "Did something happen last night? He's acting kinda weird." Nick shrugged.
"I don't remember a damned thing about last night. ROK!" he shouted, then grimaced.
"What?" Brian asked from the door frame. His eyes trailed over Nick's naked chest, biting his lip.
"What happened last night?" He worried that he did something wrong when Brian wouldn't look in his eyes, but suddenly, Brian's eyes flicked up to his own, looking guilty.
"Nothin'," Brian lied easily. He'd practiced all morning telling Nick that nothing had happened the night before. He just hoped it sounded believable. Nick frowned, which made Brian frown, suddenly worried that Nick had just been testing him and really did remember.
"Okay. I was just wondering, 'cause AJ said that you were acting kinda weird. I was just worried I had done something wrong." Brian rose an eye brow at AJ, who casually looked away to not see.
"Nope, nothing out of the ordinary. Came in, went to the wrong room, stumbled about, attempted to rape me, passed out. Just your every day, run of the mill....."
"WHAT!?" AJ and Nick screeched in unison. This caused Brian to frown. He didn't like how AJ and Nick had begun to become one entity as of late. They looked at each other, and seemed to be communicating silently before Nick turned worried eyes back on him. Brian quickly replaced the frown with a wide grin. He paused for effect.
"I was kidding!" he insisted, then doubled over with laughter he no longer really felt. "You should see your faces! You look totally stunned!"
"Well, maybe that's because we are!" AJ practically shouted.
"Oh, come on, 'J. Nick's..... Nick's straight for pity sake!" 'Pity sake?' AJ mouthed to Nick, who smiled.
"That's right, AJ. I'm straight," he said with a secretive look. "What the hell were you thinking!" AJ smiled as well.
"I don't know. What the hell was I thinking?" Kevin chose that moment to walk in through Nick's open door.
"I'm glad to see we're all having a good time," Kevin intoned. "But, we gotta get a move on. That means Nick has to finish dressing....from the clothes he was wearing last night." His brows knitted together to accentuate his frowning mouth.
"Same jeans, that's it," Brian said quickly. Kevin shot his eyes toward AJ, who nodded in agreement. "He was just getting dressed when we walked in and interrupted him. He was just gonna go find a shirt....I'm assuming."
"Brian read my mind again," Nick laughed, a little panicked. He haltingly walked over to his suitcase, and began tossing around clothes aimlessly, attempting to appear to be looking intently. Finally, when he was almost out of close, the grabbed a random tee. "Ahh, there you are!" He unfolded the ugly orange tee, and sneered at it. After making such a fuss, he had to put it on, so he pulled it over his head, and straightened the hem around his hips. He sighed, then strode back up to them. "Ready," he said simply. He paused, then had to ask, a little guiltily, "What are we doing?"
"Tada! The Eaton Centre ladies and gentlemen!" AJ announced, looking like a kid in a candy shop. "Where our money is gold!" They were feeding AJ's original addiction...shopping. He waited for a response, and got none. Finally, he threw his hands up in the air. "Okay, scatter. Addicts in one direction, everyone else..... in another." He grabbed onto Nick's arm and tugged him toward the escalators. He looked behind them, repeatedly, making sure they weren't being followed. When they had reached the next floor, AJ whipped Nick around to face him. "You didn't!" AJ demanded. Nick wanted to pretend he didn't know what AJ was talking about, but couldn't even fake it. A tortured look over came his face.
"I-I don't know, AJ. I seriously can't remember a damned thing that happened last night. One second I was dancing with some punk chick, and that just slowly fades into me waking up with the worst hangover of my life! I could have come on to him." He pouted. If that was true, his little secret was no longer that secret. AJ stared into his eyes, and saw the intensity of his thoughts shown there.
"Oh, no," AJ breathed. He frowned. "You're in love with Brian!" he accused. Nick looked away. Again, he wanted to lie, and this time, he actually went for it.
"No way," he said, trying to cringe at the idea. AJ threw out his hands in exaspiration.
"Don't lie to me, Nick! You're in love with Brian, aren't you!" Nick bit his lip, and looked at AJ's angry face.
"You can't tell."
"Nick!" AJ shrieked, stomping his foot. "Nick what the hell. This isn't something you can hide!"
"I have so far!" Nick defended. "I-I don't know why last night was different." AJ saw that Nick was completely serious.
"H-how long?" AJ inquired, wondering for the first time, just how good at hiding Nick was. Nick had to smile.
"How long have we been together?" Again, AJ stomped the ground, this time in laughing disbelief.
"No WAY!" AJ exclaimed. "No fuckin' way." He had to smile. He knew that Nick was the master of all liars, but this was increadible.
"Well, technically, in the beginning it was just a crush, but as I got to know him...."
"Oh my fucking God," AJ laughed, shaking his head.
Brian stared at the two on the upper level, trying to decide how to feel. He couldn't really be jealous of AJ, could he? After all, both of them had girlfriends. Both of them were straight, weren't they? He sighed and walked away from the remainder of the group. Three steps later, he was smiling wickedly to himself. Well, Nick may be straight, but when he was drunk, he was as far from it as he could get. Brian liked that. Now the question was, did he want to get Nick drunk again immediately or..... Tonight was good. Maybe a quick little trip to the Beer Store before they headed back to the hotel. He bit his lip. Never in a million years would he have thought that he would be liquoring up little Nicky to get him into bed. The challenge excited him. If you could call it a challenge. It was slightly, okay, completely immoral to put alcohol in front of an alcoholic, and it definitely wasn't a challenge. And it was also exceptionally immoral to get someone drunk just to get them into bed. Oh well. He was sure he'd live with himself somehow, especially if Nick fell into his bed like he planned.
(8)
Nick stared at the bottle of beer Brian was holding out to him. He looked him in the eye, completely suspicious.
"What do you mean, you believe me?" Nick asked, not sure whether he should reach for the bottle that was being held out for him or not.
"What do you mean what do I mean?" Brian laughed lightly. He tilted the open bottle toward Nick once again. "I mean, when you say you're not an alcoholic, I believe you." Nick bit his lip. He didn't want to believe that his best friend was messing with him like this, but it was hard, considering all the shit he'd been put through by everyone.
"You're not testing me, to see if I'll resist, are you?" he asked, tensely. Brian's grin widened and he shook his head.
"I wouldn't do that to you!" Brian exclaimed. "Come on, Nicky. Just one drink, I swear." Nick finally gave in with a grin of his own and grabbed the bottle. He was glad to have Brian back on his side. "And what better to drink, than Canadian beer?" Nick laughed, then took a swig.
Two hours later, Nick was trashed enough that the inhibitions were gone, but not enough that he would pass out on Brian again. Brian shot his friend an evil little grin through lowered lids.
"What are you smiling at?" Nick squeeked.
"Nothing," Brian said, and continued to stare. He backed up and sat on the bed without breaking eye contact. Nick licked his lips, sensing an invitation in Brian's gaze. A cocky grin slipped across Nick's mouth as he strolled forward, looking at Brian up and down.
"What are you looking at?" Nick said in a low voice.
"You. With too many clothes on," Brian said openly, secure in the knowledge that Nick wouldn't remember the next morning. Nick's eyebrow rose as he neared Brian.
"Maybe you could help me with that?" Nick suggested, leaning forward. He slid his lips across Brian's. Brian leaned into the kiss, wrapping his hand around Nick's neck to pull him closer. Nick broke the kiss, a moment of sanity taking hold of his conscience.
"Wait, Brian. I didn't even know you were...Why didn't you tell..." He paused, trying to sort out his jumbled thoughts. "What about Leigh?" Brian's eyes boared into Nick's.
"Do you really care?" Brian asked softly. Nick just smiled again, and kissed Brian fiercely, pushing him back on the bed. He straddled Brian's hips, pulling first his own shirt off, then Brian's, kissing up his lover's chest as he pushed the shirt up. When it was over Brian's head, he tossed the garment to the floor, dragging his lips up to Brian's. Brian groaned under the sweet pressure of Nick's mouth, and he opened up to Nick's probing tongue. Their tongues entwined like two snakes mating, and Brian's hand floated down Nick's chest to his pants, unbuttoning the other man's pants in one deft movement. He unzipped the pants with the same swiftness, and forced his hands under the waistband. He pushed the pants down, squeezing Nick's ass as he moved past it. Nick smiled against Brian's lips and wiggled his hips in attempt to help with the taking off of his pants, making Brian hard, painfully so. He'd dreamed of this for so long. If he had known Nick would be so responsive to him when he was this drunk, little Nicky would have been a cronic drunk by the age of 15. Nick nipped Brian's neck, bringing Brian's mind back to what was happening. The pants were forgotten, somewhere around Nick's knees. Nick continued to nip down Brian's body, eliciting moans with each pinch on his skin. Finally, Nick reached the band of Brian's pants, and pulled the button open with his teeth, staring his lover in the eye the entire time. His hot breath washed over Brian's already heated skin, and Nick pulled Brian's pants down with one swift tug. His hands slid up and down Brian's thighs, driving Brian crazy. Finally, Nick took Brian's cock into his hands, then his mouth, making Brian arch off of the bed.
"Oh, fuck, Nicky," Brian groaned, loving the feel of Nick's hot mouth engulfing him. "I've been waiting for this for so long." Nick licked up Brian's chest, still caressing Brian's cock with his hand.
"How long?" Nick whispered, sucking on Brian's neck, and pressing his pelvis to Brian's.
"Too long."
"How long?" Nick insisted, giving his lover a gentle squeeze. Brian gasped.
"Sin-since you were 15, at least," Brian admitted. "God, Nick. I need you inside me. Please."
"You want that?" Nick asked in a low voice that Brian didn't recognize. He nodded. Nick pushed a finger into Brian's ass.
"Ah! Fuck!" Brian exclaimed when pain shot through him. "Oh damn, Nicky. Ya, I want that." Nick moved his finger around, touching Brian's prostate, and sending little slivers of pleasure throughout Brian's body to dull the pain a bit. "More," Brian insisted, moving against Nick's hand. Nick worked Brian's ass with one hand and his cock with the other, taking in every grunt and groan that Brian gave to him like it were a beautifully wrapped gift. Brian began to tense up as he neared his release, and suddenly, Nick stopped. Brian whimpered uncontrollably. "No, don't stop," he pleaded.
"Not yet," Nick purred, climbing up Brian's body once again. He coaxed Brian's hips off of the bed, and placed a pillow under them. "I'm gonna fuck you til you can't walk in the morning," Nick informed his love as he slid a condom over his own engorged member. "And if I see you walking in the morning, I'm gonna drag you back into this bed and fuck you again."
"Promise?" Brian asked, knowing that would never happen. He just liked to hear the words, and imagine them to be true. Nick didn't give him the pleasure, but instead took his mouth to muffle Brian's scream as he pushed into his hole. Brian bit down on Nick's lower lip, forcing Nick to feel a bit of the pain he was feeling. Brian was afraid of what Nick would do, but the younger man only pulled back with a wicked smile, and licked a trickle of blood from the wounded flesh.
"Sorry, baby. It had to be done," Nick whispered, placing soft kisses on Brian's teary face. He didn't move, allowing Brian to get over the initial bout of pain. "Just get used to me inside of you, and then tell me when you're ready." Brian waited, but the pain only abated slightly. Finally, he just nodded, cringing at the feeling. "I guess I should have known. This is your first time, isn't it," Nick said with a little giggle, initially ignoring Brian's go ahead. Brian nodded in answer to his question. "Good," Nick said, softly. He slowly pulled out of Brian, then hesitated before pushing gently back in. "Oh, damn, Bri. You're so tight." Brian bit down on his lip, trying not to cry out. Slowly, Nick increased his speed, crushing his lips against Brian's. Suddenly, Nick's cock brushed Brian's prostate, causing Brian to gasp at the sensations. "Like that, did ya?" Nick asked his partner.
"Ohhh, ya," Brian said, his eyes glazing over. "Mmm, do it again," he begged. "Do it until I come. I need to come, Nick."
"Don't worry, baby," Nick hushed him. "You'll come soon." He thrust in, hitting Brian's prostate again and again. "Oh, Brian. So good." Brian began responding with incoherent words that only made sense to him. "Oh God, I'm coming," he shouted, thrusting even harder into Brian.
"Nick," Brian choked in a pleading voice. "Oh please, Nicky. I have to..."
"Brian. God, BRIAN!" Nick shouted as he came inside of Brian's tight hole. Seconds later, Brian felt himself tighten as Nick hit his prostate one last time, and he came all over the both of them with a low moan. He whimpered as Nick pulled out of him; he missed the fullness he felt when Nick was inside him. Nick chuckled softly, and rolled off of his best friend. "That was so good," Nick told him, nuzzling into Brian's neck. Brian smiled, feeling completely boneless. Nick's hand trailed up and down Brian's chest, then wrapped around his hip, pulling him close. After a moment, Brian looked over at Nick. He was fast asleep. Brian crawled out of bed.
(9)
Nick woke up with a smile on his face. He was headache free, and felt completely fine, except for not remembering what happened beyond his fifth beer. Suddenly, his smile turned downward. This feeling could only mean one thing. He'd slept with someone. It was an odd thing that his hangover magically disappeared after he had sex, but it happened, and usually he actually didn't mind. Today, he did. It meant that he'd ditched Brian after finally getting his friend back on his side, just go get laid. He knew he shouldn't have been drinking. He hopped up off of the bed and got dressed, wanting to see Brian as soon as possible, and apologise and promise it wouldn't happen again. He couldn't lose Brian's trust so soon after gaining it. He flung open the door to find a smiling, if not slightly surprised Brian on the other side with his arm raised, ready to knock.
"Hey, Nick," Brian said, walking into the room "How are you feeling?"
"Good, good," Nick responded. "About last night." Brian's face seemed to freeze.
"What about it?" Brian inquired lightly, although inside he was nearing a state of panic.
"I'm really sorry about what happened." Brian paled slightly. Not only he remembered the previous night, but he regretted it?
"You remember last night?" Brian inquired, frowning. Nick grinned slightly.
"Well, no. But whatever it was I did, I'm sorry for it. What I'm assuming happened, is that I got drunk and left you to go get laid." He looked nervously at his friend for confirmation.
"You can't remember what happened, but you know you had sex?" Brian asked, surprised. Nick groaned.
"So I did."
"No, no, you didn't!" Brian denied. Nick shook his head vehemently.
"I had to've. I sure as hell didn't stay with you. I'm not that sick." Brian choked. So now Nick thought having sex with him was sick? This conversation just kept getting better and better. "Well, I wouldn't! What kind of an asshole do you think I am to fuck a... a girl in front of you?" He mentally patted himself on the back for the quick save.
"Oh," Brian responded, suddenly embarrassed at himself. The irony struck him with a fist. He didn't want anyone to know that he was sleeping with Nick, but the thought that Nick might see them sleeping together as sick made him ill. Nick caught the look in his eye.
"Oh? What does 'oh' mean?" Brian couldn't make eye contact.
"It means oh," Brian told him, taking a step back. Nick stared at his friend, trying to understand what the hell was going on. Brian knew something, that was obvious. What it was, he couldn't figure out. Another obvious factor, was that it had to do with last night. He tried desperately to remember what happened last night, but as usual, nothing came to him.
"So?" He looked at Brian expectantly. Brian looked so uncomfortable, but Nick wouldn't let up.
"Well, some girl knocked on the door, and you, umm, just left with her," Brian improvised. 'Dear God, let him believe,' Brian begged. Nick just stared at him, his expression growing darker.
"You're lying to me," Nick stated after a moment. Brian looked at him, shock in his eyes.
"No," Brian denied, shaking his head.
"You are. Why are you lying to me?" Nick demanded.
"I'm not," Brian insisted again. "I swear, Nick. That's what happened."
"Its not! Dammit, why are you lying to me? Who are you trying to protect? Me? Yourself? Of course not. What do you have to protect yourself against in this? I'm sick of the way you're treating me, Brian. Quit trying to protect me all of the time! Just tell me the truth!"
"I am!" Brian shouted at him, almost believing the story himself now. "If you can't see that, then I don't have to stand here and listen to this!"
"Then don't!" Nick roared. "You can just get your ass out of my doorway if that's the way you feel!" Brian turned on his heel, and walked away from Nick's room. He couldn't even go back to his own room, because it was right across from Nick's. So he just walked away, nursing his anger at Nick. "And don't come back until you're ready to tell the fucking truth!" Nick added. Brian whipped around, giving the younger man the finger.
Brian stormed around the hotel floor for another ten minutes before deciding that Nick could kiss his ass. He was going back to his own room. It's not like Nick could really stop him. It was his room! Stupid Nick and his stupid distrust of him. How did Nick really know if Brian was lying any way? He claimed to not know anything. Was Nick testing him? Did he really know what had happened last night, and was just checking to see if he'd come clean? He sighed. No, Nick wasn't like that. He just couldn't believe that Nick would be so distrustful of him. Damn that boy. Damn him because despite the fact that they just fought about last night, and Nick had somehow seen right through his excuse, Brian wanted Nick again. He was almost sure he wanted Nick even more than he'd wanted him before he'd fucked him. Even the notion of remembering the night before made Brian suck in a breath. The way Nick had felt inside him, the little noises he'd made, the loud noises he'd made... Brian groaned and leaned against his door. Suddenly, he realized whee he was and quickly let himself into his room before someone caught him, hard a rock and fantasizing about his best friend in the middle of a hallway. As soon as the door was shut behind him, he sank into his bed. How the hell was he supposed to get little Nicky drunk after that fight? Nick didn't want to see his face, let alone be in the same room as him. Hell, let alone touch him, kiss him, taste.... He groaned again, feeling his hand travel down to his crotch of its own volition. Even his own body was betraying him for the blond. He managed to halt his hand in the midst of it's travels. No. He wouldn't allow that. That was cheating. It was either Nick, or nothing. And to get Nick, he had to come up with a plan, not fantasize about him. For almost half an hour, he tried out scenarios in his head, but none of them seemed all that plausible. Then, it came to him. It was so simple. Why hadn't he thought of it right off? Was it too simple? Would it work? It had to.
