Title: Family Ties Author: Sorika e-mail: Webmaster@katlair.zzn.com Rating: PG13 (adult language, and scene in chapter 7) Archive: YES!!! Just tell me where, I'll give you a link back! :) Webpage: www.geocities.com/Paris/Sorbonne/5647 Note: I have to thank my friend, Donny for telling me about this site. Disclaimer: I am in no way connected with the BSB *whimpers* Oh! And to those of you that will flame me because of Brian and Leighanne, please don't. I'm happy for them and they're happy together. So, don't hate me for breaking them up! okies? Author's Note: Sorry for all the problems with the text, folks. I think I've fixed it now. And, another thing... I won't be able to post Chapter 8 for a while, due to a small house fire in which the original of this story was torched. I'm trying to get the person that read it help me recover the main story line. I'm working as fast as I can, and I am soooo sorry for the suspense that this may build. ~*~*~ Chapter 7:Terror ~*~*~ I pulled back the long sleeves of my leotard, then neatly caught the bottle of water Rachel threw at my head. I flipped the ponytail out of my face for the billionth time, then walked back to where Brian stood. He immediately grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. I surrendered to his embrace. In the last two months since I had meet him, he was proving to be more and more the sort of man I wouldn't mind being with; the total opposite of Jackson. "Do you want to come with us on TRL?" He whispered in my ear. I turned in his arms to look up at him. "I'd love to, but I have a small project that I thought I'd try to work on. Plus, wouldn't that look overly odd?" "A project like what?" He asked, interested. I smiled. "My parents used to live here. Their estate was left to me in the will, and Madame's kept up the maintenance on it, so I wanted to go visit; you know, see if I could find out anything about them." His arms stiffened, and I knew that he was going to tell me I shouldn't go. "Brian, calm down, Phil is coming with me. I'll be fffffiiiiiiiiinnnnneeeee." One thing I would change is how overprotective he and Nick had become. "Besides, Jackson's on probation with a court order to stay away from us." Still doubtful, but knowing that there was nothing that could change my mind, he nodded. Kevin waltzed in the room with his new girlfriend, Kristin. "Hey, y'all come over here. We're nominated for best group with MTV! The awards are in three weeks. I also agreed that we'd perform. Anyone got a problem with that?" When everyone shook their heads, he smiled. "Great! Well, TRL is in an hour, so we'd better get going." The guys began to leave. "Phil, we'd better go too. I'll see all of you again later, 'k?" I looked at the other dancers. I wanted to get out and start this. "I might not be back until later, but I'll call around dinner." I ran out of the temporary studio and hopped behind the wheel of the rental car Phil had gotten us. "Ready?" I asked him. He just smiled, buckled up and opened his book. "Phil, I can't get this thing open!" I turned the key in the solid oak door, and shoved my body against it, but it didn't budge. Phil turned the knob, made sure the door was unlocked and then threw himself against it. It took three tries, but it finally opened with a creak of protest. I walked in, to such an array of spender that I nearly fell over from sheer happiness. "Oh my gosh, Phil..." Then, the thought struck me of the stark contrast of what my life was, and what it could have been. Over the black marble fireplace hung a picture of a woman with shoulder length brown hair, holding a small girl in her lap. Behind them stood a tall, blonde man. Both the man and his wife were dressed in black suits that made the child in a long white dress stand out as the first thing to be noticed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The door creaked closed downstairs, and I didn't move to see who it was. I stood in the middle of a room that spoke volumes of the love that went into making it. The room was a shrine to their child; me. All of this was for me! My name, Lizabeth was written in huge letters across the top of the room. The word floated on the sky top of the wall in the shape of clouds. The wall to the right of the door was pained to as a huge gray castle, its welcoming drawbridge down. The back wall of the room was painted to look like a forest, and among the trees were unicorns, fairies, and centaurs. The left wall was painted with a field and a mountain range with a cave in plain sight. Creatures that looked like unicorns with wings ran in the field, angels perched on their backs, while a dragon gazed out them from his cave. A small gap on the wall spoke of the closet behind the painting. The wall with the door was a village. The room had been made to look like the fairyland every little girl loves. The bed was part of the wall, with a tree curtain that made it blend in with the wall that it was built into. A chair in the corner had the words "Princess Lizabeth" carved on its throne-like back. A table in the middle of the cream carpet had elves painted around the rim, a castle in the middle. The door behind me opened, and I turned to see who it was. Brian swept into the room and immediately wrapped his arms around me. "You said you'd call." He said, and I could tell he had worried about me again. "I was going to. I guess I forgot about the time. Brian, look at this place!" I untangled myself from his arms to walk around the room. "Everything in here tells me that if my parents hadn't died, I'd be the most spoiled little rich girl ever. Everything in this room tell me how much I really am loved." I turned back to him. "Everything." He smiled. "Well, Princess Lizzie, will you show me around your castle?" I laughed. The house was huge, a mansion just outside Manhattan. When Madame said that it was impossible to miss, she was right. I took his hand and lead him though out the house. Every other room in the house wasn't nearly as elaborate as mine. The house had five floors, but only the first two had been decorated. The others were simply guestrooms that could be quickly prepared. When Brian and I returned to the first floor, we heard Phil arguing with someone. We hurried into the room to see the caretaker arguing with Phil. "I'm sorry, but unless you are the Miller's daughter, I must insist that you leave." "That's what I'm trying to tell you. She's here, upstairs, looking around HER house." "Excuse me, gentlemen, what seems to be the problem?" I asked, stepping away from the staircase. "I thought you died n the crash as well." He seemed amazed that I was standing in front of him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Well, everyone's here, settled down in a room." Brian said, coming back into my room. The caretaker had stayed to hear about my life. Then, we had invited everyone to stay at my house. They had arrived about an hour ago, and Brian and Kevin had been sorting out the rooms. "There's no room for me, except your parent's room, so I'm gonna go back to the arena and sleep on the bus.' "Don't be silly! You can sleep in here with me. I'll take the floor." What I didn't want to tell him was that I didn't think I could stand for him to be so far away. "No, you take the bed. I'll take the floor. But, before we start thinking about sleep, AJ wants all of us to go clubbing." As if on cue, thunder sounded through the house as everyone clamored down the stairs. "Ok, Brian, we're ready. Liz, you coming?" Rachel asked. I was still dressed in the denim shorts I had pulled on over my leotard I had put on after practice. "Yeah, just give me a minute to change." They all raced down the stairs, Nick and his long legs in the lead, as I tuned to my newly stocked closet. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I tugged on the skirt, but the black silk refused to go further than an inch below its mid-thigh stopping point. I usually don't wear something this short, but if I got the reaction I was hoping for out of Brian, the uncomfortable skirt would be well worth it. The quarter-length-sleeved sweater was also something I wouldn't normally wear, but Rachel had said it looked fantastic, and I could only hope she was right. I walked down the stairs to join everyone else. When Nick saw me, his face turned red, and I thought he'd tell me to go upstairs and change. Carmen spoke before he got the chance, though. "Oh my gosh...Lizzie, you look fantastic! Nick, baby, doesn't she look great?" Nick had never disagreed with Carmen; they were too much alike. It looked like this would be the one thing he'd argue with her about... "Yeah," he said sheepishly, as Carmen wrapped her arms around him and began to play with his hair. <Like he'd answer differently> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We pulled up in front of Club Psycho. I was the last to clamor out of the car, one hand firmly grasping my skirt. Brian appeared at my side as we were waved into the club. Once inside, he grabbed my hand and led me out to the dance floor where we dance 'til I was laughing so hard at Brian I began to think my sides were splitting open. The strobe lights overhead made it seem that everything was going in slow motion. Brian finally stopped embarrassing himself and we walked to the bar and ordered a few drinks. "I'll have a cherry coke, please," I said. "Plain coke, please," Brian requested. "I'll be right back, Bri. I have to go powder my nose." I left Brian to get my drink and turned down the hall that led to the bathrooms. The rest of the club was packed, yet no one was down this hall. I shoved the door out of the way and went to the mirror. I checked to make sure that my hair still looked ok. Suddenly, the familiar feeling of a strong arm once again wrapped around my waist returned. But this arm was commanding, not loving as Brian's always was. Sparks flew up my spine as the other hand covered my mouth and the husky sound of Jackson's voice rang in my ear. "I told you I'd be back." His face was buried in my hair as he whispered in my ear. Then, he breathes in deeply as if he were sampling a choice wine. He shoved me in a stall as he ripped my skirt to my hips. I gasped even as the huge hand squeezes my mouth and he orders, "Quiet. One word, and I'll kill you and then that asshole out there." I stopped struggling. <Think, Lizzie, think! What can you do?> He unwrapped his arms from my waist, and grabs my wrist, pulling them far above my head. His other hand releases my mouth as he glares dangerously at me from hooded eyes. I remain silent, hoping that he'll just beat me senseless and leave Brian alone. I felt him put his hands on my thigh and begin a slow trail to the one place I had always feverishly prayed he would never touch me. Unable to remain subordinate anymore, I screamed, "BRIAN!" ************************************************************************ "Brian!" Kristin walked up to me. "Yeah?" I turned to see her shaking. "What's wrong, Kristin?" I asked, seeing a hint of panic in her eyes. "Where's Lizzie? I just heard someone scream your name out of the bathroom..." I was up and running before she could even finish. Kevin had been sitting next to me, and he leapt to his feet and was soon running beside me. We rushed down the hall and threw open the door to the ladies' room, praying that nothing was wrong and we'd get a tongue lashing for entering. Instead, I could see the back of Lizzie's blessed head, her slender arms struggling in the grasp of a massive hand, and heard her pained pleads of protest. "Jackson, please...stop! Jackson..." Her voice faltering; she was crying. I ripped open the unlocked door of the stall. He stood between her legs, now bruised from mid-thigh to her hip, where his other hand was gripping. His pants were dropped to the floor, and Lizzie struggled to stop his ministrations on her. He violently squeezed the flesh in his hand, which brought a cry of pain form Lizzie's lips, and more tears cascaded down her cream-colored cheeks. Then, he suddenly pulled Lizzie before him, an evilly twisted blade appeared at her smooth throat. He held her against himself, and pricked her throat. A small trickle of blood rolled down her throat. "Get the hell away from me, or I swear I'll take her head off." I took a step back, Kevin following suit next to me. Jackson shoved Lizzie forward. She stumbled on shaky legs, then righted herself, but not before the knife bit further into her flesh. She yelped from the pain. Jackson shoved her further before himself, then turned my Lizzie to face him. "Stupid bitch." She was now far enough away from the blade that Kevin leapt at Jackson. He shoved Lizzie to the side, then grabbed the knife hilt from Jackson's stunned hand. Kevin dragged Jackson to his feet, Jackson pulling his pants up as he stood. Kevin held a firm grip on his arm as he buttoned his slacks. Then, Jackson violently turned on him. Kevin quickly avoided the flying fists around his head and landed a single punch in Jackson's gut. Kevin pulled the now doubled over Jackson out the door, as I sat down on the floor and pulled a shaking Lizzie into my lap. Her ripped skirt fell off in tatters; the sweater was ripped down the front. I set her on the floor next to me while I pulled off my sweatshirt. I pulled it over her quivering shoulders, then picked her up off the floor and walked out of the bathroom. Lizzie sighed, put her arms around my shoulders and leaned against me. Outside, it was obvious that someone had called for the police. The club's security held Jackson cuffed against the wall, while an NYPD officer read his rights to him. Another officer walked over to me. "Is this the victim?" He asked, looking at Lizzie. She had her eyes closed. I nodded. "I'm sorry, sir, but we need to take pictures for the courts." He looked at Lizzie. "But, we can wait 'til she's at the hospital. The paramedics are waiting outside." I made my way to the front of the club, stopping only to tell Kevin, Howie and AJ that I was going with Lizzie to the hospital. Nick shoved his way to me before I walked out the door, frantic. Carmen was latched to his arm. "I'm coming with you." He ordered. My mind scrambled for a good reason. Carmen saved me. "Nicky, we can't all go in the ambulance, there's not enough room. We'll follow in the car with everyone else." I walked out the door, were I was immediately greeted by the paramedic. "Sir, please just place her here. We'll take care of this." Reluctantly, I began to lay Lizzie on the stretcher. Suddenly, her eyes flew open as she jerked awake, her arms clutching my neck, and began to sob. "No! Please, Brian..." She turned her pitiful, tear stained face to the paramedic. "Please, can I just sit here?" The paramedic's eyes immediately filled with sympathy and he nodded. I sat on the stretcher and held Lizzie to my chest while one of them checked her over. At the hospital, I eased Lizzie (who had once again fallen asleep) off my lap. The paramedics wheeled her into the emergency room. A doctor told me I had to wait in the waiting room, and that he would come and tell me her situation in a few minutes. I dragged myself to the waiting room and plopped in a chair. Kevin walked in. "They asked me all the questions, Bri. How is she?" I looked up at him. "I don't know... Train, we told her she'd be safe with us. She trusted us, and now look where we've gotten her." "Yeah, Brian look. She's in a hospital instead of a grave. For all we know, if she had stayed there, that's where she'd be, Bri. Maybe she wouldn't but it still could have turned out that way. Instead, she's here, and she knows WE would never do anything like this to her." He's right, as usual. "I still can't help but think this is partly our fault." The doctor walked out just then. I stood up. "Sir is your name Brian?" I could only nod, a lump forming again in my throat. "She's fine, aside from the bruising. The police are taking pictures for the courts, then she'd like to see you." "Ok." I walked to the room where Lizzie was and leaned against the doorframe. I was going in there as soon as the officers left.