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! :)

Web page: www.geocities.com/Paris/Sorbonne/5647

Note: I have to thank my friend, Donny for telling me about Fanfiction.net, the other site that this story located.  I'm Sorika there, if you'd like to leave a formal reveiw.

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?

~*~*~
Chapter 1 : The Meeting
~*~*~


I looked into the mirror, to examine the newest set of bruises. "I'm a dancer, and hey! injuries are just part of the job. Anyway, I fell out of a lift, and my partner, Jackson, had to catch me, but he caught me at a weird angle. So, now I have two, long bruises in the perfect shape of Jackson’s arm. Then, there are the other bruises. Don’t even ask about those. They just hurt, K?"
I said this to my roommate, Nancy. She's really sweet, and all, but she's SSSSOOOO nosy.
"Lizzie, I think that you should seriously tell Madame about Jackson. I KNOW where you get all those bruises. All of us do, Lizzie. We're not dumb..."
"Nanc, Jackson's my partner. I don't want another one, and I don’t want to turn Jackson in!"
Just then, Madame opened the door. "Lizabeth!! This package just arrived for you!"
" Thanks, Madame." I said, taking the box she offered. I looked at it. It was addressed to 'Elisabeth Miller' "Uh! I hate that! They called me Elisabeth! That isn't my name!"
Cursing life, yet again, for the damned name that my parents decided to give me at my birth, I opened the small box. Inside lay a book, which was thicker than War and Peace and Gone with the Wind put together. It was simply entitled "The Jameson Heritage."
Nancy looked at me. "Wasn't that your mother's maiden name?" She asked in a hushed voice.
"Yeah. I wonder where this came from. Let's flip through it and find out if I'm related to anyone worth knowing." We sat down on the couch to flip through it for a while. Nanc saw something that her gasp.
"Lizzie! You're related to..."
"Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys!?!?"
*************************************************************************************
Ok, so it's hard to believe. Just as hard to believe is that in the book, they had my name right! "But, they had the reason I was at the dance studio wrong. They said I had entered the school as a student, and it sounds like I was older than I was when my parents died. At that time, I was only 5, and the crash happened in front of the studio. Madame took me in, gave me a home, and has treated me like a daughter. It was only a coincidence that I liked dance when I came, and she let me dance with the other students. She never would have pushed me to do something I didn't want." I don't think I ever told that to Nancy before. I never told anyone, except Madame. I just...I just had to tell someone now that I know I DO have a family. "Nancy, you can't tell anyone. All I want them to know is that my parents are dead. I don't want anyone to know the rest. " Nancy just nodded at me, tears clouding her green eyes. I knew that was better than a promise.
"Girls! I'd like for you to come downstairs, please. I need you to try your new costumes on."
"Ok, Madame. We'll be right down." I looked at Nancy, and we started down the stairs. I live right above the studio, and Nancy's the apprentice to me, the principle dancer or prima ballerina of the school, so she moved in last year as my roommate.
Downstairs, Madame held out the costumes for the next performance. She insisted that we always try the costumes on, even after our measurements had been taken hundreds of times. I've gotten used to it. Some of the others always grumble about fittings and trying the costumes on. I think its necessary.
So, after I tried on my costume, I came out into the studio again, to tell Madame that the costume was fine. "Madame, It's...." I looked up. Then, I saw him. My cousin, Nick Carter was standing next to Madame, and I totally forgot what I was going to say. Luckily, Madame seems to know.
"Ok, Lizzie, since it fits, put it over in the closet. Then, I'd like you to show these gentlemen around, if you don't mind."
My mind screamed, Mind?!!? I'll gladly show them around. "Sure, Madame." I walked over and put the costume into the closet. "If you will follow me?"
Nick rushed to my side. The others lagged behind. When we left the studio, Nick started to talk.
"So... you're Lizzie? Is that short for Elizabeth?"
"No, it's short for Lizabeth. It isn't spelled with an E. My parents decided to give me a weird name. Just call me Lizzie, or Liz. Most people call me Lizzie, though. Would you like to come inside and have some coffee? It's cold outside, and there's really not much to see."
"Yeah." I looked back at Brian, who had said that. Oh shot! I hope Nancy cleaned up her mess. I lead the way to the stairs, and the guys followed me up the stairs. They sat down on the couch, while I went to make coffee. I could hear them murmuring, but didn't pay attention. When I walked into the room, coffee cups, sugar, and cream on a tray, they were looking through the book.

"Lizzie! You're related to Nick?"
"Yeah, according to that book I am. I can't really say I know of anyone from my family. I was orphaned at 5, and Madame adopted me, after the courts could find no family. I had no aunts or uncles, my grandparents were dead. I've lived here ever since."
There. It was on the table, now. They could think what they wanted to.
" You're an orphan? That's terrible! I couldn't imagine...” Brian looked at her, eyes glazing with tears. He had never really given much thought to the life that someone leads without their parents.
"I'm Ok, really. It hasn't been that bad. Madame is the greatest. She's given me everything I could ever want or need. She's the only mother I've ever known. My mother and Madame had been friends. She's taught me about my mother enough that I feel like understand her better. The only thing I know about my father is that his name was Charles Miller."
Just then, Madame's voice rang out. "Lizzie? Can the Boys come down now, the tryouts are about to begin."
I looked at the guys in front of me. "Tryouts?"
Nick looked at me. " We're trying to find some new dancers for the tour. We're here to see about taking on some dancers from this studio."
*************************************************************************************
I got into formation with the rest of the girls that were going to try out. I was determined to make them look like fools. I can't explain it; I just really want to go on the tour with the BSB. Maybe it's because I'm a fan, but I'd like to think it's because I'd have the biggest opportunity to get to know someone in the family. My family.
I can't get used to that. I have a family. And, from how much that pinch in my leg just hurt, I think I can safely say that I am awake. This feels like a dream. If it is, I never want to wake up.
Anyway, I'm off the subject. Brian, Howie, AJ, Nick and Kevin sat behind a table, Madame standing against the wall, next to the stereo. She started the music, and I started to dance. The others around me had disappeared. I was on my own, in the clouds. I knew of no other existence. Just the music, my dancing, and me.
Then a searing pain made me cash back to earth. My world spun out of the clouds, and my world and I hit the floor with a thud. Then, everything I knew became pain. My right hip was on fire. Then I felt two strong arms pick me up, and I felt as if I were floating. Finally, the wonderful oblivion came over me, and I felt the welcome blackness over take me.

 

~*~*~
Chapter 2: Her Decision
~*~*~

When I finally saw light again, I was sitting in the school's small health wing. Madame, Nick and Brian were looking at me. Madame seemed furious.
"Lizzie! Why didn't you tell me about Jackson? You should have told me ages ago!"
"I'm sorry, Mom." I resorted to desperate measures to get her to stop yelling at me. "Jackson's my partner. I didn't want to have to train a new one."
Madame's face had crumpled as soon as I called her Mom again. Brian butted in.
"I'm sorry, Madame, but Nick and the rest of us were talking, and we wanted know if you'd let Lizzie come with us on tour. She's a great dancer, and Nick thinks it would be great for her to get to know some of her family."
"That decision is not up to me. It's up to Lizzie. If she wants to go, it will be horrible to lose her, but she is an adult, and she can make that decision."
I looked at Brian and Nick. On one hand, I wanted to get away from here, and all the memories of Jackson, but on the other, Madame was the only mother I'd ever known. And, I had just started college. But I really wanted to know what it was like to be part of a real family. Finally, I decided.
"I want to go on the tour." It looked like Brian was happier than Nick, but Madame seemed heart-broken. I got up and went to the corner that she had retreated to. "I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise. And, I'll call as much as I can."
My mother, the only one I knew looked at me, tears streaming down her face. She looked so small. I hugged her, and though the bruises all over me screamed with pain, I didn't pull back when she gave me a hug back that could have broken bones. She realized what she was doing to my bruises, and quickly released me.
"Don't you let anyone else do this to you. You're better than this, and anyone that doesn't realize that isn't worth the dirt under your feet. Now, go upstairs and pack."
*************************************************************************************
I packed the few personal things I had to bring with me into my duffel. I had no normal clothes, because I had always been at the studio. I had one outfit of street clothes. Nick looked at me as I came down the stairs, my duffel on my shoulder, and a tattered shoebox that housed everything I knew about my parents under one arm.
"Do you need help with the rest of it?" He asked.
"No. This is all I have. And, Nick? Would it be possible to stop by the mall on the way? These are all the street clothes I have."
He looked at me, dumbfounded. "Yeah. You can get everything you want. I'll spend as much as you need."
"Thanks, Nick, but I..."
"Hey! What is family for? You need clothes, I've got more money than I know what to do with, let's compromise!"
The look on his face made me laugh. "Ok, Nick, let's go."
*************************************************************************************
AJ, Nick and I took the mall by storm. If I commented that I liked the outfit in the window, they'd walk in and insist that I try it on. Bone defiantly had more fashion sense in his pinkie than Nick and I put together. I lost count of the number of fans that came up, asking for their autograph. They were everywhere. The guys seemed startled when a small group of girls walked up, ignored them, and asked me for my autograph. Since they had already whipped out their pens, I just took Nick's and signed my name on the napkins they handed me.
As the girls walked away, one turned around. "When's you're next performance?"
I looked at her, tears already blurring my vision. "I'm not going to be in the next performance." They looked at me, shocked. "I'm going away for a while, because I have to go see my family. "
"Oh. Well, have a good time! And please come back as soon as possible!"
Nick took his pen back, and put it away. "I never knew I had fans." I looked up at him. "What a wonderful feeling! I mean, to know that someone appreciates your craft, no matter what it may be."
AJ looked at me, and smiled. "It's intoxicating. That feeling never quite goes away."
"Well, I think I've made a deep enough dent in your pockets, what do ya say we head back?" I'm not that much of a shopper, and I was tired.
AJ wouldn't have it. "What? Head back already? We haven't even covered half the mall!"
Nick smiled. "Bone's rules of shopping 1) Never go into a mall with no money. 2) Never go into a mall and not spend money, and 3) Never exit a mall without at least looking through the entire mall."
"Damned straight. Now let's go." AJ took off again, weighed down by all the shopping bags.
"AJ, please. I'm not used to walking all over a mall! I'm tired. Plus, my hip is starting to hurt again." As soon as I said this, Brian scooped me up, and caught up to Nick and AJ. "Brian! When did you get here?"
"In enough time to save you from getting even more tired, and to stop your hip from hurting." He said, matter-of-factly.
"B-Rok, you're gonna break a few hearts, carrying her around like that." Nick said, teasingly.
"Oh well, if it gets in the tabloids, I guess Leighanne will think I'm already over her. Which is fine with me."
But it wasn't I could see the hurt, and longing in his eyes.
*********************************Later, on the bus*************************************
"Ok, Lizzie you get the top or bottom spare, Nick, you get the on she doesn't take. Brian, You have top bunk, AJ, you get the bottom bunk of Bri. Howie, you get top bunk, and I'll have the bottom of you. Ok, no arguing." Kevin ordered, obviously, this was an ongoing debate. I started to climb into the top back bunk, but Nick stopped me.
"Lizzie, Madame said to take it easy on that hip. You should sleep on the bottom bunk for now, but only until your hip stops bothering you. Then, you can have top bunk."
I looked at Nick, about to say that my hip felt fine, but I just couldn't. He looked at me with so much concern that it blew me away. I had never seen that much concern focused on me before. I just looked away meekly, and said. " 'K. Nick, can I talk to you?"
" Sure, what about?"
I didn't know how to begin. "What's wrong with Brian? I mean, he doesn't seem to join in the conversation much, and then there's that thing he said in the mall." I said in a hushed voice.
"Shh!! Lizzie! Come back here, into the TV room, and we'll talk. " He pulled me into a room with him. Once inside, he started talking. "Now, you didn't hear this from me, but Frick and his girlfriend just spilt up. She told him that the relationship wasn't working, and that she felt they should spilt up. Having a relationship on the road is pretty hard to keep up, I mean, since you never get to see each other, the relationship can really suffer.
"Now, let's get back and go to bed. "
"Yeah. Nick, thanks for inviting me... I'm already having a great time."
*************************************************************************************
"Lizzie. Lizzie, come on, wake up and let's get inside to sleep on a real bed." I opened my eyes, and found Howie looking at me. "Come on, Lizabeth. We've already brought your stuff in."
I hadn't even realized I'd gone to sleep. I was still in my jeans. I started to stand up, but my hip stopped me. "Ouch! Howie, get Nick, please."
He ran off to get Nick. While he was gone, Brian came in. I was sitting on the side of the bed, doubled over in pain. My hip hurt so much, I went cross-eyed. Brian walked over to me.
"Lizzie, you need to see someone about your hip. You may have something seriously wrong with it. Come on, I'll drive you." He picked me up; it seemed so effortless. I realized that he was the same person that picked me up in the studio. When he turned to carry me out of the bus, Nick walked in.
"Lizzie, I'm taking you to the hospital about that hip." He said, while coming up the bus's steps.
"Brian's already taking me. You stay here and we'll call as soon as we can."
"Ok, Lizzie. I'll come with you, though. Is that ok?" He asked, walking outside to the car. I lay back in Brian's arms and attempted to get comfortable.
"I don't really care, Nick."

 

~*~*~
Chapter 3: Confusion
~*~*~

"Nick, I need to talk to you." Brian woke me up. I looked over at Lizzie. She was still asleep.
"K, Bri, give me a sec." I unfolded from my position in the chair. We went out into the hall to talk without bugging Lizzie. "What the hell is your problem, Frick?" We had been in the hospital with Lizabeth for 3 weeks. I had put the tour on hold, and asked for Lizzie to be transferred to Florida. Now, we were all just waiting for the doctors to give her a clean bill of health after her hip's break, and the following infection.
Brian looked nervous "Nick, Do you think Lizzie likes me?" He blurted out.
"I don't know." I was totally unprepared for that question. I had thought that he and the other guys would want to go back to the tour, and tell me that Lizzie would be fine with my mom.
"I really like her, Nick. I can't explain it, but I feel closer to Lizzie than I ever did to Leighanne. I feel like I can understand her better, and she seems to reach out to me...."
"Brian, I wish I knew what to say. I think you're right. She does reach out to you, more than the rest, but I don't know anything about the way she feels." I was thrown back, and I was completing clueless of what to tell him.

"Mommy! Daddy! What happened? Where are you?" Lizzie started to scream in her sleep. Brian and I raced back into the room.
"Lizzie!! Lizzie! Wake up." Brian shook her awake when he reached her bedside. She awoke with a start, drenched in sweat. She looked confused when she saw Brian. Then....
"Brian! I was back in the car. I saw my parents..." She burst into tears and Brian held her as she unloaded what seemed like years of tears.
"Shh, Lizzie, it's alright now. You're OK. " He said, trying to calm her down. Mom came in then, and looked at me. I walked over to her.
"Lizzie just had a dream about her parents. Bri's trying to calm her down." Mom looked concerned.
"I'll take care of this, Nicky. You and Brian need to meet up with the others." With that, Mom walked over to Lizzie, who had calmed down slightly, and at least wasn't crying anymore.
****************************Lizzie's Point of View******************************
"Thanks a lot, Mrs. Carter." I got out of the car and made my way into the building. Nick's mom had wanted to take me home, but I had asked to go to the dance studio where the guys were practicing. If I can't dance for now, I WILL know the dance when my leg heals.
I walked into the dance studio in time to see Nick trip over his own feet and land face down on the hardwood floor.
"Smooth move, ex-lax." The girl that had jumped out of the way to avoid being crushed offered her hand to Nick. Instead of getting up, he pulled her down to him.
"Nick, Rachel, we don't have time for this." The woman from the front said sternly.
Nick slowly got up. "Lizzie!" He said, finally spotting me.
"Hey, Nick." I said, limping over to a chair to sit down.
"Alright, everyone, let's get back to work."

************************
"Lizzie! That's wonderful!" I smiled. I had just gotten the dance down, and this was only the second practice we had where I was allowed to dance. "I guess I know where the dancing talent went in the family." Fatima said under her breath. I struggled not to laugh.
"I heard that!" Nick said, starting to pout. I couldn't hold it any more. I burst into laughter, joined by Brian, whose face had turned red from the effort.
"Aww... Fatima, that's SOOOO mean!" Carmen said, defensive for Nick.
"Come on, Carmen, we're just joking." I said, her disappointment breaking into my mood of fun. Rachel, Brian ands AJ continued to roll on the floor laughing.
"Yeah, it is mean....but he still can't dance." Rachel said, now lying on her back. "Bahahahah!" She screeched as she burst into laugher again. AJ was laughing so hard that he started to cry. Carmen stormed out of the studio, past Fatima who was gripping the chair for support as she laughed, along with everyone else. Nick ran out to catch up with her. I rejoined everyone else on the floor.

After our laugher subsided, I felt two strong arms encircle my waist. I turned my face to see who it was, and found myself looking at Brian. He immediately released me.
"Sorry Lizzie! I...I...I shouldn't have done that... I'll see you tomorrow." He babbled as he got up and ran out the door, leaving me stunned. I wanted to run after him, I wanted him to come back. I wanted to tell him that being in his arms felt....... right. As if that's were I belong. Now that he had released me, I felt empty. Like the biggest part of me was missing. I wanted to back in his arms.
But, was it to soon? Does he like me? Or is this just rebound from....What's her name? Leighanne. I've only known the guy for.... less than a month.
Nick's head reappeared in the doorway, breaking me out of my reverie. "Come on, Lizzie, time to go."
"Coming." I said, my usual enthusiasm, just not there.
"Hey, Liz, call me, 'K?" Rachel called, a concerned look on her face.
"K. I said, grabbing my bag and heading out the door. My mind suddenly clicked.
Nick! He's Bri's best friend. He'd have to be able to help me out!!!

 

~*~*~
Chapter 4: The Birthday Girl
~*~*~

I pulled the suitcases out to the car. Today, we were leaving to go back to Seattle. The guys were finally going back to the tour. I thought it was really sweet that they had put the tour on hold for me, but I wanted to go on the tour. I wanted to dance in front of people again. I missed it.
"Nick! Can you help me with this?" He walked around the car and started to pile the suitcases into the car. "Oh! I almost forgot my purse." I ran back inside to get it. Nick's stuff was all in the car already. I grabbed it off the counter, and was almost out the door when the phone rang.
"Hello?" I picked it up, and silence greeted me. "Look, if you just want to prank call...."
"Lizzie, you think you've gotten away, but you haven't. I'm gonna get you, and there's nothing you can do about it. You belong to me, and you had better not go off and be a whore to one of those assholes." *Click*
It was Jackson. My heart froze. I dropped the phone, and sank to my knees, crying. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to have his fists pounding into my flesh; almost forgot what a broken bone felt like. Now, those horrible memories came flooding back.
Nick came back into the house. "Lizzie, come on, we have to.... What happened?!?"
"Nick, he called me. Jackson. He said, He... Oh Nick, I thought I got away from him. He says I'm his, and he...."
"Hush. He won't hurt you, not while you are with us.I won't let him." He murmured, pulling me towards himself. The phone rang again, and he grabbed it.
"Look, you asshole...." Nick said, eyes flaming with hate. "Oh, sorry Brian." He said after a moment. "Yeah, we're coming. Lizzie and I just need to talk for a sec, then we'll be there."
"Come on, Liz. Let's hit the road." He said, as we got up. "And don't worry, even if I have to hire 600 more bodyguards, just for you, I will. I promise, nothing will happen to you as long as you're with us."
I laughed, once again feeling safe around him. "Nick, 600 would be a bit overboard, but thanks. Race you to the car!" I took off. Not that I have to run very fast to beat Nick, (he always lets me win) but I couldn't wait to see Brian again.

********************************************************************************
I climbed onto the bus, and headed to the back to set my purse in my bunk. The back end of Nick stuck out from my bunk.
"Oh no you don't, Nickolas Gene! Get out of my bunk, now, before I..." I started being tickled from behind. "No AJ! No fair!"
"AJ." Rachel's voice interrupted us.
"Rachel! Make him stop! Please!!!!!!" I cried out, laughing the whole time. "I just wanted the top bunk, and Nick's trying to take it. He promised I could have it when my leg got better!" I whined, as AJ released me. I was still smiling, as Rachel began to laugh. AJ walked over to her, and wrapped his arms easily around her waist.
"Nick, you did promise Lizzie that you'd only take the top bunk 'til her leg healed. It's better, now, keep your promise, and LET'S GO!" Kevin bellowed.
"Aww, Train, you're no fun." I said.
"Besides, I was just climbing up there to grab this, and now everyone's jumped on me for something I didn't even do." Nick held up a small wrapped gift and pouted for the inhumanity of it all.
"Nick, what is that?" I said, trying to see.
"Oh no you don't, Miss Birthday Girl. You don't get this until later tonight, I've got to fix part of it." He said, teasingly. "Now, I'll be right back, I have to go see Brian. He's still unloading his stuff." He tucked the present under his arm (damn him!) and left the bus.
"Happy B-day, Lizzie." Kevin said, handing me a small present.
"How did you even find out it was my birthday?!?" I hadn't told anyone, because I never make a big deal out of birthdays. I took the gift from Kevin's hand. "Oh, Kevin! It's beautiful!"
He had gotten me a charm bracelet, and my first charm was a pair of ballet slippers. I smiled. "Thanks, Kev. I love it."
Howie and AJ both gave me the next present. "We got together and got you this. Hope you like it." I blushed. My birthday had never really been such a big deal.
"Thanks, you guys!" The box's small size didn't prepare me for the heaviness of its contents. I pulled out three books. "The Dark Matter Trilogy!!! Oh my gosh, how did you know? I LOVE Philip Pullman!!!" I ran my hands over the covers. I had wanted this trilogy for a year, but could never find the first book, The Golden Compass.
"Nick said that you were always looking for these books, so we teamed up to find them. And let me tell you, I understand how you had so much trouble!" Howie said, his eyes wide. "We found those in a shop that was closing down (after looking in every other bookstore in the city of Tampa), under about five hundred other books. The owner said that he could never sell them, so we grabbed 'em."

Brian and Nick walked onto the bus. Brian dropped his duffle in his bunk and sat down at the table where I was.
"So, when do we leave for Seattle?"
"Umm...in three minutes. The driver just went to grab his suitcase and coffee." Kevin said, glaring at Brian. "B-Rok, can I talk to you?" Kevin got up, grabbed Brian by the arm and dragged him into the TV room.
The driver poked his head into the bus. "We'll have to fly to Seattle. The oil needs to be changed, and it hasn't been done in so long that the bus is unsafe."
********************************************************************************
When we got on the plane, I chose a seat at the back and began to read the books from Howie and AJ.

Carmen soon joined me at the back of the plane.
"Hey, Liz, What's that?" She asked, gesturing to the book. "Never mind. Did you know that Rach is so afraid of heights?"
I looked over to where Rachel and AJ were sitting. AJ had pulled down the shade, and sat trying to pry Rachel's hands from the armrests. Her eyes were huge with fright. "No, Car, I didn't. How much longer 'til we get there?"
"About thirty minutes, according to Nicky." As soon as she said his name, her eyes glazed over, and she was once again lost in her own world. I turned back to my book.

"Hey, Liz! Unless you want to stay on the plane while we do the concert, it's time to get off, so come on!" Nick yelled, once again pulling me away from my book.
"I'm coming." I grumbled. I hate being interrupted while I'm reading. Nick grabbed my stuff and followed me off the plane.
Brian walked up to me as I got off. "Lizzie, would you like to go out to dinner tonight?" He blurted out, and then blushed.
"Sure, Brian. That would be great." He is so cute when he blushes! But, he’s always cute, but that defiantly makes it better. Nick seemed to be very proud, but I can't figure out why.
"Oh, Lizzie, before forget..." He reached into his bag and pulled out the same present that I had seen on the bus. He handed it to me.
"Oh Nick." Inside was a small velvet box that held a locket.
"Look inside." He whispered into my ear.
I did, and saw my parents smiling back at me. I began to cry.
"Madame wanted to give it to you, but she could never find someone to fix it. She sent it to me, and I got it fixed."
As tears flowed freely from my eyes, I threw my arms around him. “Thank you, so much Nick. It’s the best present I’ve ever gotten." I smiled, as Nick fastened it around my neck

 

~*~*~
Chapter 5: Surprise!
~*~*~

There came a soft tap on the door. "Hey, Lizzie! What kinda of pizza do you what?" Brian called; as I struggled and pulled my jeans on to cover my bruises.

"Umm...cheese with extra cheese, please." I called. Ouch!!!" I called after accidentally kneading my knuckles against the biggest bruise on my thigh.

"Hey, Liz? Are you OK? "

"Yeah. I just....hit my hand on the bed. I'm fine." I prayed he'd buy the excuse. I still had never told any of the guys just how many bruises Jackson had given me, and I had been here for a month. I planned to never tell them, if that remained possible. I turned back to unpacking and cleaning up my room a bit.

Suddenly, the door swung open, with Carmen and Rachel barreling through.

"Hey, Liz... Oh my gosh!" Carmen said, her smile fading as she saw my arms, covered in bruises. I hurried to pull down my rolled up sleeves.

"It's nothing. Really; I’m Fine." I felt myself turning red. Not only from the embarrassment, but also because I hated Jackson for what he had done. The bruises were healing slowly, and I couldn't figure out why. I just wished they would go away. (NOW!)

"GIRLS!!! The pizza is here. What movie do you want to start with?" Kevin yelled through the door.

"THE PATRIOT!!! (Anime!)" Carmen (She had yelled anime, and BOY does that girls have lungs!), Rachel and I said in unison, ripping open the door, all of us eager to begin the movies.

"Two to one!" Rachel laughed, as we came out of the room.

"Hey, everyone! Movie and Pizza time will have to wait a few minutes. I need you guys to come and try on these costumes." Fatima came into the suite with a box full of stuff. Car, Rach, and I came out of my room to grab our costumes. Once we had these in hand, we once again headed to my room.

I realized even before completely in my room what Fatima had done. She placed me in skintight _short_ shorts paired with shirts that had no sleeves. Obviously, she was sick of always seeing me in this sort of thing.
"Umm... Fatima? Could I trade these outfits for something with.... say....Long sleeves and pants?" I asked, hopefully. The concert was tomorrow and there was no way that the bruises would all go away by then.

"Liz, I think you spend to much time in that sort of thing...."

"Fatima, I wear these clothes because of all the bruises I got before I came here. They're not all exactly gone yet." I said in a hushed voice. Brian, Nick, Carmen and Rachel were the only ones that knew, and I wanted to keep it that way. Please, just give me the clothes.

She started digging in the box. Thank you, God! She pulled out a pair of black pants and matching cobalt blue mock-turtleneck. "Here you go. Try those."

It didn't matter how much I hated turtlenecks, at that moment, I would have worn trash bags to hide the bruises from everyone at this point! I walked into my room and tried the clothes on. The pants were skin tight, but that was livable. I could still move around in them and do the dance I had to do, so, whatever floated Fatima's boat.

I put the clothes in the closet and walked out into our living area. I was apparently the first one finished, so I sank down into the couch. Fatima walked over and I made room for her to sit down.

"So, exactly how many of these bruises do you have? I don't mean to be noisy, but I'm curious." Fatima said, her eyes full of sympathy. (I was getting REALLY sick of that look).

AJ walked into the room, and I gave Fatima a look that told her I wasn't going to discuss that right now. "Hey girls! When are we going to start this damned movie?"

"As soon as everyone else comes back, Spoot!" I threw the nearest pillow at AJ (all in fun) that launched a pillow fight between the three of us, and Nick, Brian, Howie, Carmen, and Rachel joined in as they entered. But when Kevin came in.....

"Hey! What is going on here?" Kevin roared as soon as he came in. I (deliberately) threw the last pillow in the fight right into Train's face.

"Aww, Train! Spoil all my fun. I was just throwing things at that spooty-spootin'-spoot. Everyone else just kinda joined in as they came in. Now, can we get to the movies, PLEASE?" I sank back down to the couch and Brian sat down next to me (Yes!!!!). Carmen sat in Nick's lap in the armchair and AJ and Rachel cuddled in the cushions on the floor, leaving the other couch clear for Kevin, Fatima, and Howie. Howie pushed "The Patriot” into the VCR as everyone else settled into their places. I rested my head on Brian's shoulder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The movie ended and AJ maneuvered himself away from the sleeping Rachel and turned off the TV and VCR. Then, he turned around and checked to see who was awake. I motioned to my cousin in B-Rok's lap and he nodded his head.

"Oh My god, Nick...” He whispered, and pointed to Lizzie. At some point, her shirt had been slightly lifted to reveal a dark bruise on her waist. I slowly got up (without waking Carmen) and walked over to Lizzie and Brian. Brian woke up when I stepped on his foot (oops!) and we all looked at Lizzie's bruise. I pulled her shirt up just slightly more and saw that her stomach was covered in purple/blue splotches. Lizzie moved in Brian's arms, causing her shirt to come up further than I planned. I tried not to notice.

"I could kill that asshole!" Fury blazed in Brian's eyes as he thought of Jackson, but he kept his voice low. He picked Lizzie up slowly, then carried her into her room while AJ and I brought Rachel and Carmen into Lizzie's room for the night. AJ brought extra blankets for Car and Rach.

When we came back out, Fatima was gathering her things with help from Kevin and Howie. She waved good-bye to us. "See you guys tomorrow," she said as she closed the door behind them. AJ collapsed into a chair. "Now, I understand why she's always wearing that sort of thing, even when she's not cold, like....rehearsal."

"Yeah," was all I said in return. Before, at Madame's studio and the hospital, I had only seen the bruises on her arms. I hadn't really taken the time to think about just how much he had hurt her. I'm glad I took her out of that place.

I looked over at Brian, who was still fuming. I'm not to sure right now, but I'm beginning to catch a hint that Brian's feelings for Lizzie were NOT one-sided. But, she was the same way with AJ; like a good friend that she could joke around with. Soooo the question remains. Does Liz like Brian or AJ (no, she wouldn't do that to Rach) or does she just think of them as really good friends? WOMEN! They're soooooo confusing!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



I woke up on my room, disoriented. I sat up and looked around me. Rachel and Carmen were on the floor, asleep. Carmen was talking in her sleep (Nick,.....stuff I don't understand....) and Rachel had pulled all the blankets to her side of the room. I got up, carefully, avoiding stepping on my friends. I stretched, and glanced at the clock.

"1:00!!!!" I gave up on trying to keep from waking them up. It was 1:00 PM and the guys had let us sleep straight through the LAST dance rehearsal before the concert at 9:00. We were supposed to do a complete run-through at 11:00 am, catch a few more z's, and back at the arena by 1:30 for sound check! Rachel threw a well-aimed shoe at my head, and Carmen looked ready to kill me. Nick barreled through the door.

"What? What's wrong?" He asked, panicked. He was dressed in his boxers. That's it. FIN!

"What's wrong?!?!" Well, first off, it's 1:00! We were SUPPOSED to be at rehearsal with Fatima at nine!" then, I had to let my little sarcastic side out. "Secondly, you're in your boxers, sir, and I would appreciate it if you'd put something else on."

Nick blushed after I talked about his boxers (Carmen didn't seem to mind the fact at alll). But, he was still wide-eyed from the news about rehearsal. "Crap! We all missed it? Well, we better get to the arena for sound check, and we'll do our own run-through. Fatima's gonna have my head!"

Yeah, on silver patter. I could have told you that! "Ok, c-ya. Do you MIND getting out of my room so I can get dressed?" I love that look on Nick's face of panicked surprise. It's almost worth missing the rehearsals just to see that look. Carmen and Rachel left to go get dressed in their rooms.


Once again, I was the first one done changing. Knowing that everyone wouldn't be done for a while, I grabbed my wallet and headed for the vending machines for a bottle of water. I left my purse and duffel bag with the performance clothes in it on the couch. "Hey, Phil." I said, as I passed the bodyguard stationed outside the suite. "I'm just going around the corner to the vending machine, you don't need to get up. I'll be right back." I kept walking, leaving Phil to finish his book.

I turned to corner and walked to the vending station. I slid my dollar into the slot and pressed the button for water. Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind, my mouth covered as I was wheeled around the face something that made my stomach clench in fear. Jackson stared back at me, a twisted smile on his face.

"Hello. Lizzie. What have you been up to? Now, I know you didn't think you could get away from me this easily. I'm going to let go of your mouth, now, “ he reached into his coat and withdrew a pistol as he said this, "and if you scream, Lizzie darling, I'm going to have to shot you." I couldn't fight the terror that rose up and made itself into a knot in my throat. I nodded my head. "Now, that's what I like to see...obedient women that knoooww they're weak."

 

~*~*~
Chapter 6 : The Encounter
~*~*~

I started to tremble, as Jackson pressed the gun to my temple. He seemed more furious than I had ever seen him, and I soon learned why.
"You little bitch. You got me thrown out of the dance studio to come and
be a whore to these assholes. You've probably already become one of their little sex toys." My throat was dry from terror, as my world once again spun out of my control and into Jackson's harsh hands. I closed my eyes as I felt his hands on my body once again, attempting to undo my jeans. His futile attempts to arouse me only made me more terrified, and my knees began to rattle as I fought to remain standing. I tried not to imagine what he would do and desperately prayed for oblivion when....

"Liz? Come on, its time to go!" Nick's voice rang out across the hall. Phil and Brian turned the corner, and Phil switched from the big, loveable teddy-like man I knew to a furious, maniacal whirl-o-fist, directed at Jackson. I had never been more relieved to see Phil furious than I was right then.
"Get your god-damned hands off her, and run before I get a hold of you and smash you into a bloody pulp. " Phil's voice rang through the hallway as Jackson struggled to get away, panicked. Brian caught me before I smashed my head on the floor, my knees finally giving way. I watched through tear-glazed eyes as Jackson leapt out the window and got away on the fire escape. He had gotten away.... this time. As I buried my face into Brian's shoulder, and let the tears overtake me; I knew he'd be back, eventually. Next time, I might not be so lucky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why did I forget about that bulky idiot? I let myself forget I was paying to much attention to that scrawny brat, Lizabeth. I wanted her back, with me. No one in the world can stop me from having what's mine. Liz is mine, and she knows it. I'll make Liz pay for everything that she's done, getting me thrown out, and tonight. I was going to make her pay dearly for tonight.
"I'll get you, Liz. Don't you worry about that. I will get you back, and that damned pretty-boy ain't gonna stop me from havin' what's rightfully mine!" I yelled. She knew it, and she knows that brute won't stop me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I cuddled further down in Brian's lap. Carmen and Rachel sat next to him and the three of them had tried to calm me down, finally succeeding enough that I stopped crying, and now just wanted to remain here, in Brian's arms for the rest of my natural life. Brian smoothed my hair down and swept it away from my face.
We were on our way to the arena, and Fatima had indeed given the Boys quite a lecture over the cell phone. She was going to meet us at the back of the stage. When we arrived, Brian refused to release me from his arms and I didn't mind; as long as I was close to him, I knew I'd be safe. He didn't set me down until I was sitting in the front row for the sound check. He ran the sound checks with the others, then I came onstage for our emergency rehearsal.

The rehearsal went off without a hitch, to everyone's relief (especially Fatima). Immediately following the short rehearsal, we were all told to prepare for meet and greet. Phil glued himself to my side, and I continually saw Brian glance back to reassure himself that I was still here, and safe.
After meeting 5 people who were fans of mine, and noticed in the back of the line the entire cast of Madam's Studio. They all waved to me, as I rushed
over to them.
"Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?" I asked, excited. I never realized how much I'd missed these people, the only family I really knew until I saw them again.
"Going to the concert of course! We all got tickets to come and see the show. They were sent to the studio, free." Just then, the call for everyone to get ready for the show rang out. I said good-bye to everyone and went to the dressing rooms to get ready.
I noticed something on my duffel bag when I walked in the door. There was a red rose on top of it. I looked and saw a note attached. I picked up the note (hoping the rose was from Brian), opened it, and began to read.


"Lizzie,
Honestly, doll did you think I'd go away this fast? I won't stop 'til I have what's mine. That includes you. I'll see you again soon.

Love,
Jackson


I felt like I had been hit in the stomach with a tank. Jackson had been here!? I know he had to have been here within the last hour. The thought brought a sour taste to my mouth. Jackson had a way of making me feel totally helpless.
"Hey Lizzie! What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." Carmen shouted across the room. I stuffed the note into my duffel and hurried to get ready.
"Nothing, I just started thinking about earlier." I slipped into the blue turtle neck, then seized a brush and began the long process of brushing out my knee-length black hair. I usually kept it pulled up in a tight bun, so as soon as I let it down, to brush it, I heard a gasp from Carmen.
"Oh my gosh! Lizzie! Why don't you just leave your hair down?"
"Yeah, sure Carmen. I'd be stepping and sitting on it throughout the performance out there, but, I might leave it down later, though." I smiled.
I'd done that before, and it had NOT been fun. Carmen's eyes started to glitter. "I don't think that look, Car. What are you thinking of doing to me?"
"Be afraid, Liz. Be VERY afraid." Rachel called out. Carmen shot her The Look of Death.
"Just relax, and come sit right here," she motioned to the chair that she now stood in front of, "and let me do the work." Her shoulder-length blonde hair was already pulled up in a ponytail. She took the brush and began to work on my hair.

"Tada!" Carmen wheeled me around to face the mirror. "What do ya think of your odangos?"
She had pulled my long hair into two tight knots on either side of my head with long pigtails hanging free, and now looked so...Carmen.

I walked out and took my place on the trapdoor I would ride to the stage. Brian was standing behind me, probably still staring at the back of my head. (He had been surprised when I came out with odangos.) The trapdoor started to rise, and I was blinded for a moment as the sudden pyrotechnics as they went off. The music started, and Brian burst into song. I spun around and started the dance that Fatima had so carefully planned out. At just the right instant, Brian fake kicked and I back-flipped so that it looked as if he
had really kicked me. I turned to the audience, faking hurt. I stood frozen in that position when I saw Jackson. He was in the first row, directly in front of me. He smiled that dangerous I-told-you-so smile. AJ noticed Jackson; furious, he jumped down, and walked to where Jackson stood. When he reached the place that Jackson was, AJ grabbed his shirt and lifted him off the ground. I noticed that the music had stopped as Phil stormed out and
grabbed Jackson from AJ. Everyone on stage was seething with hatred for Jackson as Phil dragged him off the stage. AJ turned back to the audience.
"Sorry about that, everyone. He's not exactly someone that we'd want
around you or us. So whatdiya say we get on with this concert?" He started apologetic, but at the end, he began to pump the crowd back up.

The crowd eagerly responded and the hall once again filled with the sounds of the guys' voices as Larger Than Life started up. I jumped down and tried to shake off the huge case of nerves that seeing Jackson had stirred up.

 

~*~*~
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.

 

~*~*~
Chapter8: The Discovery
~*~*~

I opened my eyes, then immediately turned away from the blinding light that seared into my brain. Turning to the side, I saw Brian. He had fallen asleep, with both his hands clasped over one of mine. His face rested on top of our joined hands. I shivered, the open back hospital gown doing very little to stop the cold air. At this slight movement, Brian jerked awake.

"Hey." He mumbled softly, his smile spreading over his face.

"Hi." I tried to shift to my side to look into his baby blue eyes, but a searing pain between my thighs stopped me. I suddenly remembered what happened and knew where I was. I burst into tears, and felt Brian withdraw his hands from mine. This only made me sob harder, until he picked me up again and sat me on his lap. I turned my face to his bare chest, wrapping my arms around his stable warmth. I still had his sweatshirt laid across my lap. I had refused to let the nurses put it in the bag with my other tattered clothes. He pulled me closer, as if to press me to his very heart.

When my tears finally subsided, I could hear Brian's voice. I couldn't make out the words of his soft mumbling, but the soothing tone told me everything I needed.

"You okay?" He inquired, raising his voice so I could now understand. Not trusting my voice, I nodded. I lazily dragged my finger down the surgery scar on his chest, causing him to squirm.

"Stop. I'm ticklish right there." He squirmed again as I dragged the finger back up. "Oh really?" I smiled, which soon turned to a pout when he pulled my hand away from his chest, interlacing his fingers in mine.

"Yeah, really." He brought our hands to his lips, and began to kiss my knuckles. I sighed, and lay back against his chest. Nick burst into the room, worry etched deeply in his features. Carmen pulled away from Nick's side, and rushed to the bed, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. I gasped for air as Rachel joined her, and the hug became almost unbearably tight. Realizing what they were doing to me, they let go and I fell back into Brian's lap.

"I'm fine, really! Aside from a few deep bruises which causes pain every time I move the lower half of my body, I am perfectly fine. I just want to go home."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 weeks later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stumbled out of the bathroom, into the studio clutching my stomach. For the last two weeks, I couldn't keep anything down in the mornings. Even the saltine crackers that Fatima had just made me eat were rejected. Nick walked over to me and laid his hand across my forehead. I closed my eyes, willing the nausea away. He hooked his arms behind my knees and around my shoulders, then lifted me off the ground and turned to take me out to the bus.

"Put me down, you asshole! Just pick anyone up, whether they want you to or not! I said, PUT ME DOWN!" I roared at him, as he continued to carry me too the bus. He opened the door and put me on the couch just inside. Rachel clamored on the bus as Nick began to leave.

"Nicky, lock the door and don't let anyone on here, 'k?" Rachel asked, cocking her head to the side and using her sickeningly sweet you're-the-best-person-in-the-world-to-me tone of voice.

" 'K." He said, obviously confused, but knowing better than to cross Rach. He closed the door and I heard a soft click as he locked it. Rachel watched out the window as he left then turned to me.

"Ok, missy. Get the hell in that bathroom _now_." Her voice turned dangerous as she said the last word. I got up, the sudden change in altitude sending me running into the bathroom. Rachel calmly walked in, set her purse on the counter, and sat next to it until I had finished. I looked at her, and she grabbed the wet washcloth next to the sink and handed it to me.

"Thanks." I grumbled. I rested my head against the side of the tub. "Ugh, I feel like shit."

"Uh-huh." Rachel said calmly. She ripped open a package and set it on the counter, then gathered her stuff and turned back to me. "There, I'm leaving you in here. Do that thing, _no_ questions...."

"Look, I'm not doing jack shit until you tell me what the hell is going through your pea sized little monkey brain, bitch." Rachel drew back and slapped me across the jaw. Stunned more than hurt, I sat back on the tub. "What was that for?" I asked, amazed. Rachel wasn't the sort of person that would resort to violence.

"What the hell do you think? Damn, Liz, you are one hell of a bitch when you're prego." I felt like she had just slapped me again.

"What?" I asked, my voice shaking. Rachel's face softened, and she smiled.

"Seriously, Liz, I'm amazed that no one else has said anything. You keep going back and forth between sweet and a total bitch. Personally, I prefer the sweet Liz. Now, please just do that test so we have the proof." I could only nod, as she turned to leave the room.

"Hey, Rachel, how the hell do you know all this?" I called before she had left.

She stuck her head back in the door as I called out to her. Then, Rachel's face fell out of the slight smile that she wore. She looked as if she were about to cry. "Liz, the week before you joined us, I had a miscarriage. I was pregnant thanks to AJ. That was the best and worst thing that's ever happened to me." She turned and looked in my eyes. A tear fell down her cheeks. "I never told AJ."

****************************************************************************************************************

AJ helped me spread the blanket out on the grass. Aside from the slight cold, it was a perfect day for a picnic in Central Park. I reached in my pocket to make sure that *it* was still there. AJ and I walked to the road as the carriage pulled to a stop in front of us and Lizzie and Rachel climbed down. We slipped behind them and silently placed blindfolds over their eyes. Then, we led them gently to the outspread blanket. I whipped Lizzie's blindfold off. She gasped.

"Oh Brian! This is great." I felt her arms wrap around me. I pulled her closer, sighed, and breathed deeply, taking in her sweet scent. When we parted, Rachel was already sitting on the blanket, AJ lying with his head cradled in her lap. I sat on the blanket, pulling Lizzie down beside me. She slipped easily into my lap and rested her head against my shoulder.

"Bri, I need to tell you something important...." She mumbled, before Rachel accidentally kicked her knee. "But it can wait for now."

We sat and ate the picnic, and then I got up and took Lizzie back into the nearby grove of trees. I set her down on a twisted iron bench. I dropped to my left knee and pulled small velvet box from my pocket. Her eyes became huge and I blurted out, "Lizzie, will you please marry me?" Not exactly the speech I had planned, but it was still better than nothing.

Lizzie looked at me, then burst into tears. She doubled over and hugged her knees, sobbing into her legs. Shocked, I sat on the bench next to her and put my arm around her shoulder. This was it; she didn't want to marry me. She leaned against me, her hand grabbing a huge chunk of my shirt and pulling me closer to her. I pulled her as close as I could, praying that she was changing her mind.

Through choked sobs, I heard my answer. "Yes...Oh, Brian.... I ...I ...I love you." She hiccuped. My heart nearly burst; I wanted to get up, to dance, to scream to the world that I had the most perfect person in the world, and she had just promised herself to me. Instead, I sat next to her and trying to will away the tears that fell against me.

Finally, she had calmed down and stopped crying. I began to get up to go back to the blanket (sure that AJ and Rachel were beginning to wonder if we were all right), but she pulled me down. "Brian, wait; before we go back, you have to know something." I wrapped my arms around her as tears sprang into her gray eyes. "Brian...I'm pregnant. And, it's Jackson's."

She buried her face in my shoulder, as soon as she said this and began to cry again. "Does he know?" I asked. She shook her head. I cupped my hand under her chin and slowly lifted it so I could look in her eyes. "Then it doesn't matter. This will be *our* baby. No one else has to know."

"But, Brian, you won't be the father..." I cut her off as her head once again sank down, avoiding my eyes.

"I will be the father in every way but one, and that is the one thing that doesn't matter to me." She braught those amazingly clear, blue- gray flecked eyes to look at me and wrapped her arms around me. We got up, she wrapped her arm around my waist and I placed mine around her shoulder with my face in her silky hair again, and we slowly made our way back to Rachel and AJ.



When we arrived back in the small clearing, Lizzie stopped short. I pulled my face away from the top of her head to see what the problem was.

Rachel was now lying in AJ's lap and they were in a highly advanced state of kissing. I softly cleared my throat, but it was enough to send AJ and Rachel five feet in the air with matching gasps. Rachel leapt to her feet, turning several shades of red (most of which I had never seen before) and AJ scrambled to recover their lost diginity (along with his shirt). Silence decended between all of us.

Lizzie finally broke the moment by erupting into a fit of laughter and falling to the ground, unable to stay standing. I looked down to find her slighty less red than Rachel from the effort that she had taken the keep from laughing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but the looks on your faces were just to funny!"



We all sat on the blanket, once again calm. AJ piped up.

"So, B-rok, did you finally ask her?"

"Yeah, did you," I asked. Rachel's head snapped up.

"What?" Her shocked voice made me smirk. AJ cowered before Rachel.

"Rachel, darling, love of my life, I'm sorry for being the perfectly stupid idiot that I am." The shameless groveling had begun. "Will you put up with my stupidity for the rest of my life and marry me?"

Rachel looked at me. "How long has he been planning to ask this?"

"It's been about two months since he bought the ring..." I said, the smirk only growing. "I worked up the nerve after only a week "

An evil look came into Rachel's eyes. "Gee, AJ. I really like you, but I don't know. I meet another guy yesterday and he's the sweetest." AJ bent further down to kiss her feet.

"Rachel, goddess of my destiny..." Rachel's burst of laughter interupted him.

"AJ, of course I will. Now get off the ground, you're embarassing all of us." AJ leapt off the ground and pulled Rachel to him. I sank my face into Lizzie's soft hair to keep from having to look at them.

 

~*~*~
Chapter9 : Abducted!
~*~*~

You hit me faster than a shark attack,

You saw my picture

On the Backstreet's Back, alright (alright)

And you were more than just a pretty face,

But how you fooled me, I'm still amazed, baby

But I should have known that I would be

Another victim of your sexuality

But now we're done and over with

I don't want you back

I stood in the wings of the stage, holding my son. I longed to be out there dancing, and I have ever since I got preganet and Fatima had stopped leting me dance. I miss it, but I can live without it for now. Fatima stood next to me, and when my bundle of blankets began to cry, she held out her arms.


"Here, I'll take him." she whispered. I carefully gave him to his "Auntie Fatima" and they walked off. I turned back to the concert.

Don't want you back,

'Cause you're no good for me

I know,

That's all I can say.

Don't want you back,

Forgive my honesty, but you gotta go

I, I don't want you back.







The song ended and the stage went dark. I quickly moved to the side as everyone but Nick and Carmen rushed off the stage. Brian came and stood beside me.

"Where is he?" He asked, covering his mic and looking in the carrier for our son.

"He went for a walk with Fatima. Now hush, you mic is still on." I reached up and turned the mic off for him. "Secondly, go get ready. And bring Nick's next costume out here; he won't have much time." I turned back to the stage as Nick's voice rang out.

Open up your heart to me,

And say what's on your mind, oh yes

I know that we have been through so much pain

But I still need you in my life this time, and...

Carmen suddenly appeared as a spotlight fell on her. She was dressed in a floor length white dress. She danced as Nick continued, his eyes on her twirling form.

I need you tonight

I need you right now

I know deep within my heart

It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right

I really need you tonight

Nick began to walk down from the top of the platformed portion of the stage to the main area where Carmen was dancing. His eyes never left her.

I figured out what to say to you

But sometimes the words they, they come out so wrong, oh yes they do

And I know in time that you will understand

That what we have is so right this time, and....

I felt Brian's arm around my waist as he tucked his chin next to my neck. I leaned against him and listened to Nick as he continued to sing.

I need you tonight

I need you right now

I know deep within my heart

It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right

I really need you tonight

Nick reached the spot where Carmen was dancing. He reached out and hold her at arm's length. She stopped dancing as he held her arms and looked into his face.

All those endless times we tried to make it last forever more

And baby I know

I need you tonight

I know deep within my heart

It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right

'Cause I see heaven in your eyes.

As the song died away, Nick dropped to one knee before Carmen. "Koishii," typical, he would use the Japanese word to butter her up even more Carmen's eyes grew huge, a tear falling down her cheek while a huge smile spread over her face, "you are everything to me. I need you not only tonight, but for the rest of my life. My heaven exists only in your eyes." Nick pulled a box velvet box from his pocket. "Carmen Hunter, will you marry me?" The crowd cheered as Carmen threw herself into his arms, nodding vigorisly. They ran offstage and Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin began to walk out as Nick quickly changed into the white suit. He then joined the others as "The Perfect Fan" started playing and the boy's choir filed out onto the stage behind the guys.

It takes a lot to know what is love

It's not the big things but the little things

That can mean enough

A lot of friends to get me through

And there is never a day that passes by

I don't think of you

You were always there for me

Pushing me and guiding me

Always to succeed

A picture of Nick at five dressed in a pink dress that looked just slightly to tight and the intials BJ embroydered on the collar lit up the screen behind the stage. His mother, Jane, walked out onto the stage and sat on Nick's stool. Nick stood behind his mother, after a quick hug as the song continued.

You showed me

When I was young just how to grow

You showed me

Everything that I should know

You showed me

Just how to walk without your hands

'Cause Mom you always were

The perfect fan

I had heard that chorus so many times before, but now a thought struck me. I can never tell my mother that I love her or how much I appreciate what she's done for me. Fatima walked to me and handed my son back, asleep. I hugged him to me and breathed in that sweet baby smell. I smiled. I'm going to stick around and be here for him.

God has been so good

Blessing me with a family

Who did all they could

And I've had many years of grace

And it flatters me when I see the smile on your face

I wanna thank you for what you've done

In hopes I can give back to you

And be the perfect son

Jackie waked past me, pausing to kiss her grandson in my arms, and smooth back his hair. She then gave me a quick hug and walked out onto the stage as a picture of Brian playing in the mud with a diper on came on the screen. Brian rose from his stool and helped his mother sit, then gave her a kiss on the cheek.

You showed me

When I was young just how to grow

You showed me

Everything that I should know

You showed me

Just how to walk without your hands

'Cause Mom you always were

The perfect fan

Denise walked out, with a picture of AJ as Dopey on the screen. AJ just smiled as his mother pulled his backward hat back forward, nearly twisting his head off, and sat on his stool.

You showed me how to love (You showed me how to love)

You showed me how to care (You showed me how to care)

You showed me that you would always be there (always be there)

I wanna thank you for that time

And I'm proud to say you're mine

Howie, clad only in tighty-whities and singing into a hairbrush, appeared on the screen as Paula walked onto the stage. Howie turned red and tried to hide behind Kevin as his mother sat on his stool and yanked him back out from behind Kevin.

You showed me

When I was young just how to grow

You showed me

Everything that I should know

You showed me

Just how to walk without your hands

'Cause Mom you always were

The perfect fan

Ann walked out as a picture of Kevin came on the screen. He was sitting in the bathtub, bubbles on his face in the form of a beard. His mother slipped quietly onto his stool as the song continued.

'Cause Mom you always were

Mom you always were

Mom you always were,

You know you always were

'Cause Mom you always were.....

I tucked the blanket firmly around my sleeping son and began to walk onstage.

The perfect fan

I reached Brian just before the song ended and he smiled at our son, as his birth announcement flashed on the screen behind everyone.

I love you, Mom

Brian scooped the baby out of my arms and held him up towards the audience. I resisted the urge to pull the baby down so that he wasn't suspended, supported only by Brian's hands under his small head and neck and his bottom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like all of you to meet the newest additions to the Backstreet family. This is Thomas Jerald Littrell," Thomas was finally lowered back down and cradled in the crook of Brian's arm as he wrapped the other around my waist, "and this is his mother and my beautiful wife, Lizabeth Ayn Littrell." My face became hot at Brian's beautiful comment.

Rachel was now being pulled onstage by AJ, each with a single hand across her now bulging stomach. AJ cut in, "And last but not least, this is my wife, Rachel =Courtney= McLean, and our yet unnamed daughter." AJ beamed as Rachel blushed. Denise's eyes grew huge and she beamed along with AJ.

"Let's all give TJ, Lizzie, Rachel, and the baby a warm welcome!" Nick practically shouted into his mic. I reached over and slapped him upside the head as Thomas (or as Nick prefered to call him, TJ) began to wail. Brian quieted him down and turned to glare at his best friend. The crowd cheered, but it soon turned into a unifyed "Awwww!" as Thomas waved his hand at everyone, then reached his long fingers up and grabbed Brian's forefinger.

********************************************************************************

I pulled the newspaper through the bars; at least in prison they still let you read. Nothing interesting, as usual. Then, the headline on the entertainment section caught my eye

Backstreet's Newest Additions

I grabbed the fallen section off the floor. If Lizzie were still with those jackasses, she'd be on that stage with the rest of those slutty dancers. A paragraph in the article caught my eye.

At their concert on Friday, The Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell and AJ McLean announced their recent marriages to dancers Lizabeth Miller and Rachel Serio. Along with his marriage, Brian introduced his infant son, Thomas Jerald to the public. His parents have kept the three-week-old boy out of the spotlight. AJ has also announced his impending fatherhood.....

Marriage? I glanced at the picture of the baby. HE LOOKS LIKE I USED TO! Brian Jackass' baby my ass. That's MY son. Now I'm going to have to get both of them.

********************************************************************************

I shivered, then pulled my shawl around my bare arms. The floor-length, sleeveless, spaghetti strapped midnight blue dress looked amazing, but it was freezing cold. Brian took his jacket off and wrapped it around my shoulders as much as he could. I looked at him and smiled. He looked nervous, and the case of nerves visibly increased when the announcers for the next award walked on stage. I squeezed his hand as the announcers began.

"And now, the American Music award for best group nominees are: The Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, *N SYNC, and Soul Decision." Gillian Anderson said, smiling.

Brian squeezed my hand; stiff competition.

Keanu Reeves opened the envelope. "And the winner is...." He looked at the opened envelope, " *N SYNC!" <author's note: Yeah, right, people! This is a BACKSTREET BOYS fanfic! REWIND!>

Keanu Reeves opened the envelope. "And the winner is...." He looked at the opened envelope, " The Backstreet Boys!" <author’s note: MUCH better! :-D I love being the almighty author!>

We all got up. Brian wrapped his arms around me and planted a kiss on my forehead. Rachel, Kristin and I sat back down as Kevin, AJ, Brian, Nick and Howie walked to the stage. Howie took the award from Gillian, while Brian walked to the microphone to be the first to thank anyone.

"First of all, I have to thank God, because without him, nothing I have accomplished would have been possible. Thanks to my wonderful wife, simply for being who she is and for my beautiful son. And of course, our families for everything that they've done for us."

AJ cut in, "we have to thank the three F's: The Firm, the Fans, and of course, Fatima! Also, I have to thank Rachel, the love of my life, for being there for me when I need her."

AJ stepped aside and Nick took up the mic. "I have to thank my fiancé Carmen, our security teams, and everyone that we are forgetting to name...we're sorry we forgot, but thanks for all you do for us!"

They began to walk off the stage. I sat back, comfortable in the chair, and glanced at my watch. We had an hour left before the end of the awards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The limo came to a stop in front of a sea of people. They began to pound on the windows. I still had Brian's jacket wrapped around me, and as I climbed out of the car with Brian's arm around my shoulders the fans nearby began to grab at the jacket. Phil and the rest of the security team made them step futher back. Phil grabbed my elbow and lead Carmen, Rachel and I to the hotel door. We rushed inside and made our way back to the rooms.



Fatima looked up as I entered my room.


"Hey. He's asleep."

"Thanks, Fatima." I said as I took of my shawl and walked to the crib where Thomas was sleeping.

"No problem. He's a pleasure to take care of." She got up from the couch, her notebook that she had been working in fell out of her lap and walked to the crib. She leaned over and kissed Thomas before beginning to gather her things. "See you guys tomorrow." She walked out of the room, leaving the door cracked, the hall light casting a sliver of light on the wall

I picked Thomas up and brought him into the bedroom with me, laying him in the middle of the large bed. The shiver of light was cast on the wall in here as well. I pulled my jeans and one of Brian's T-shirts out of the drawers. I quickly changed, then turned, smiling as Brian's shadow fell on the wall, blocking the small-lighted column from veiw.

"Hello, Lizabeth." My heart froze as Jackson picked up my small son. "Trying to pass my boy off as that son of a bitch's, are you. We'll have to see about that." I panicked as Thomas began to play with Jackson's finger. Jackson glanced up as I reached out to TJ. "Now, Lizzie, you wouldn't interfere with my bonding with my son, would you?" He reached behind me and grabbed my hair, wrenching it downwards. I fell to my knees from the pain. Jackson continued to pull, allowing TJ to fall from his crooked arm. I caught TJ carefully. This infuriated Jackson, who now dragged me to my feet and began to shove me out the door.

"Damnnit, get up bitch. We're leaving." I felt the blow hit my temple then all went black...

#########################################################################################

I know you hate me, don't you? I just left you hangin' for now. Jackson.....Don’t you just ADORE him?!?! *Curls into a ball as audience throws rotting tomatoes and eggs at her.* Well, fine then, you'll never get Chapter 10! *All stop* That’s better! It'll be here soon, I promise!

Oh! And the pictures described in this fanfiction do exist...I came across them in my surfing across the vast reaches of the Net. And, no, I cannot tell you where I saw them. Sorry!!! *mummers* wish I could, though...I thought they were damned funny.

#############################################################################################

 

~*~*~
Chapter10: Loving Arms
~*~*~

I leaned against the back of the elevator. I couldn't wait to get to the room and see Lizzie and Tom. The fans had kept us downstairs for an hour. The doors in front of me opened and I walked down the hall towards our room. As I turned to corner, the site of the door made my blood run cold. The same knife that had so long ago rested at Lizzie's throat was now shoved into the green door, a small piece of paper dangling from the wicked curves.

"LIZZIE!" I screamed, throwing myself into the room. Tom's crib was empty, stripped of everything. The small foldable playpen was gone, along with the diaper bag. My hand shook as I reached for the note. I read it three times...

I always get what is rightfully mine. I have taken my son and my bitch. Don't bother coming after us. I'll contact you with the information on where to pick up her body soon enough...after I have paid her back for the kindness of sending me to jail.

********************************************************************************

I opened my eyes and was greeted by a darkness that pierced into my very soul. I was cramped and when I tried to stretch, I was met with resistance from all sides. I could hear Thomas crying and began to press against the small confides of the space with renewed effort. Jackson WILL NOT hurt my baby.


After a few minutes, I was still trapped and Tom's cries were becoming louder. I heard a surprising voice come from the front of the car.

"Aww, come on, little man. We're almost to daddy's house. Then, we'll open up the trunk and that...woman...will feed you. Then, I'll lock her up in the closet so we can go get you some formula, so we don't have to deal with her anymore, 'k? Just a few more minutes, Tommy, my boy." Jackson cooed to Thomas. If I hadn't heard it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. The words that he said were as heartless as ever, but the tone he had said them in was completely different.

"Here we go, buddy." I felt the car turn to the right and come to a halt. The engine sounds died away and I heard a car door open. A soft click sounded and the barrier above me was stripped away, the beam of a streetlight unbearably bright. Jackson's rough hands jerked me upwards and set me on shaking feet. Thomas was cradled in his arm; he turned me around and shoved me towards a building, a gun pointed in my back. The car was parked right in front, so we only had to walk eight feet before we came to the front door of apartment 42. Jackson unlocked the door, the gun still pointing at me. He shoved me into a chair and gently handed Thomas to me.

"Feed him. I'm bringing the rest of the crap inside and if you try to run, I'll shot you in the goddamned head. Understand?" He growled at me. I simply nodded, pulling my shirt up and cradling Thomas as he stormed out the door to bring everything in. I felt a single tear start to fall and quickly brushed it away. I was going to have to remain calm if I was going to figure a way to get away from Jackson.

********************************************************************************

"When was she last seen?" Brian continued to pace back and forth across the carpet as the officers gathered the information they needed.

"About eleven forty-five. I left the door open a crack so Brian could get in. Liz had his jacket, and I left the door cracked because I thought Brian would be locked out since his key was now in her pocket." Fatima sat twisting her hands franticly. I sat down next to her.

"Fatima, it's not your fault. Damn this! I promised I'd keep her safe. I let her down... It's my fault, not yours." I sank my head to my palms and pressed the balls of my hands to my eyes. I was telling the truth throughout that. I let Lizzie down. She considered me the first part of her true family that she knew.
She told me that herself. I promised she'd be safe, yet now I let her down.

"Damn it!" AJ stood up and roared. "Nick, Brian, IT'S NOT YOUR DAMNED FAULT! Fuck, you two are the ones that asked her to leave that environment. Jackson is a damned asshole, but it's not your damned fault!"

The officers interrupted before AJ could continue. "Gentlemen, I think we've gathered all we can. We'll contact you if we find anything. If you think of anything else or you find something out, please contact us." They picked up everything and left.

"I just wish I could talk to her... God, I hope she's okay." Brian said, closing the door as the officers left.

********************************************************************************

The last three days had been a total blur. All I thought about was how to get away from Jackson and crawl into Brian's strong, loving arms. I was tied to the bedpost, the ropes biting my wrists. Jackson was taking a shower. I shivered, not only from the cold in the room, but also from the thought of what he had done to me again. How something that was supposed to be the ultimate sign of love had turned into such a cruel act that struck fear into my heart is beyond my grasp.

Jackson came out of the shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. He began to walk towards me; that careless walk that I recognized as heartless, indifferent to suffering, as long as he had his pleasure. I curled into as small of a ball as I could, praying for a miracle.

That miracle came in the form of Thomas crying; my own little savior. Jackson turned away from me. He carefully picked Thomas up, then ruthlessly shaked him. Thomas's crying became louder, more panicked, then died off abruptly. I screamed at Jackson, throwing myself at him, one of my wrists gave a sickening crack as the rope slid off my hand and, freed, I scrambled to Jackson. He turned and stared at me, then dropped Tom into my lap. He was limp, unbreathing and seemingly lifeless in my arms. The searing pain in my left wrist seemed to fade as I gave my lifeless son CPR. The sudden sound of a piercing wail made my heart leap for joy. I cradled him close to me as he slowly quieted down.

"Put him down, bitch. I have business to do with you, and I don't want that brat fucking things up."

"He's just a baby, Jackson! He doesn't know any other way to ask for his diaper changed, or food, or just to be cuddled. He's only five weeks old..." I put Tom in the playpen. He laid in it, seeming disoriented. I stood, facing Jackson. "You could have killed him, Jackson. Tommy could have died because of the brain damage you just gave him."

"Damn you, bitch!" Jackson launched himself at me. "He's my son too. I helped bring him into this world, I can be the one that takes him out." Jackson slapped me, the impact of the rings on his hand slicing the skin on my cheek open. "Now, he's going to be an expensive brat. I am going down to the damned store. I'll get him some damned formula. You get a choice." He sneered at me, bringing a hand up to "caress" me. "You can either be tied to the ceiling fan or locked in the closet. Now, whatever you choose, Tommy will be with you. Fan, he'll be spinning around with you by his throat, closet... he'll be locked in there with you, and you'll have no way to change a damned thing about the way you're squeezed in there."

There wasn't really a choice. "Closet." I squeaked. Jackson stood, and roughly dragged me to my feet. He stared at me, then turned and flung the T-shirt I had been wearing when this all began at me.

"Cover your revolting body." I tugged the shirt on, then he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to the closet. He threw me inside then brought Thomas to me. I slid to the floor as the door slammed shut, leaving me helpless and in the dark. I laid Thomas on the floor then felt above my head for something I could lay it on. My fingers felt the smooth, soft cotton of Thomas' diaper bag. I pulled it in to my lap. Sitting up, I began to rummage through it. I pulled out a blanket, a change of clothes, diapers, wipes, and finally, the jacket that Brian always insisted that we bring, in case one of us got cold. I stuffed the rest of the contents back into the bag and set it on the other side of me. I hugged the jacket to my chest; it smelt like Brian. Thomas was asleep, and as I laid down next to him, something in the pocket stuck me uncomfortably in the side. Quickly, I sat back up, digging into the pocket. I prayed it was what I thought. I almost cried from joy as my hand closed over Brian's cell phone. I quickly turned it on, and searched through the directory for Nick, Howie, AJ, or Kevin. I found AJ's cell phone number first. I pressed the button and waited as it began to ring.

"AJ." I let out the breath that I hadn't even realized I'd been holding as his voice rang in my ear.

"AJ! Please, can you get Brian?"

"Who is this? I'm sorry, miss, but..."

"AJ, it's me, Liz. Please, can you just get Brian?" I started to cry in relief.

********************************************************************************

I ran into Brian's room, the phone in my hands. I shoved it into Brian's hands. Brian's head jerked up, then he looked, dismayed, at his hand.

"AJ, I'd rather be alone right now."

"Just talk."

"Hello?" His face lit up, as he stood, and mouthed for me to call the police. "God, Lizzie, it's great to hear you again. Do you know where you are? Are you okay? Has Jackson hurt you or Tom?"

I ran to the bedroom and dialed the number the officers had left. No one answered, so I left a quick message and came back out to where Brian was. He hung up the cell phone and handed back to me.

"She doesn't know were she is, except that it's apartment number forty-two. She's fine, and Jackson is going to die when I find him." He ran a hand through his hair and sat back down on the couch. "I have a feeling that she's not telling me everything, but she did say that Jackson shook Tom, then threatened to kill him." Brian's face sank into his hands. "That asshole is going to die if I'm the one that finds him first."

********************************************************************************
5 weeks later
********************************************************************************

I stood up, Thomas' bottle fell out of my hands. I bent down and quickly scooped it up and gave it to him. The door to the apartment gave way as Jackson stumbled through, followed by another man who was clearly drunk.

"There she is. Now, granted, she ain't near good, but no whore really ever is, eh?" Jackson gestured toward me.

"If there be, I han't had the pleasure of havin' her in my bed."

I stood in the middle of the room, frozen, a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. I fought against the fear that held my limbs in stone, but found I couldn't move. The man advanced towards me. I backed away until the bed stopped my backward movements. He pushed me firmly to the mattress, rose to overtake me, even as he stripped away the barriers between us. Every cell in me screamed against this vile act, yet I couldn't think clearly enough to stop. My eyes were drawn to Jackson, staring at me, as he raised a knife over my sleeping son. His face told me that if I tried to stop it, he'd murder Thomas.



Afterwards, I lay on the bed, curled into a ball as the man got up, handed Jackson a roll of bills and left. Jackson turned to me, triumph written across his face.

"You sure as hell suck in bed to me, but you, the whore of 5839 Stoner Street in Manhattan, can still draw in enough of a pretty penny to earn your keep. Now get in that damned closet. I have errands to run. This time, I'm taking the brat. I'll need him for one of them."

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I bolted up as my cell phone rang. Rachel reached over to the bedside table and handed me the phone. I smiled at her and placed a hand over her overdue stomach.

"Hello? Lizzie!" Rachel sat up beside me, her hand clutching my arm. Her eyes searched mine for what was happening.

"Yeah, hang on a minute. I'll get him." I pulled away from Rachel, threw the door aside and bolted down the hall towards Brian's room.

"Brian! Get up and open this door! Now, damn it!'

He flung the door open.

"What the hell is your problem?"

I shoved the phone in his face. I could hear the sounds of sobs through it, and then Lizzie's voice rang clearly through the connection.

"Brian! Please, come and get me, I know where I am now. Please...I love you. Please..." Brian grabbed the phone from my hands, and brought it to his ear. He began babbling, his voice soothing, trying to calm her. Rachel was at my side then, a pad of paper and a pen in her hands.

"Write down where she is and let's go get her you idiots." She hissed softly, her eyes still pleading for someone to tell her where Lizzie was.

"Where are you?" Brian stopped the senseless babbling and quickly took down what she said. "Ok, Liz, we're coming. I have to go, but I swear, we're coming." He hung up the phone then quickly began dialing another.

"Hello, Manhattan Police? There is a kidnapped woman at 5839 Stoner, Apartment 42. She just called me and I need you to send a unit over there as soon as possible. Thank you, officer." He handed the phone back to me, then ran back inside to get dressed.

 

~*~*~
Chapter11:The Rescue
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NEW Note: In case you haven’t noticed, a line made out of-* is a change in the person speaking and a line of- ~ is a later time, but the same person is speaking, okies? I just wanted to clear up any confusion.

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I stood in the shadows of the building. When the police had entered the apartment last night, everything had been cleared out. So now, I was taking this into my own hands. AJ had loaned me a lot of his clothes over the years. Since I always forgot to give them back, I have collected quite an array of AJ-ness. I also had Phil's gun tucked in my pocket; I pray I won't have to use it, but it helps with the image around here. If I do have to use it, I only hope that it stops Jackson long enough for us to get out.



Now, I'm standing in the middle of a dark alley waiting for the man that began my life bouncing back and forth into heaven and hell. I've been told by a few of these people that Jackson often meets "clients" here. He's been selling her as a prostitute. God! I want to kill him for it. Selling Liz out like a worthless piece of property. That's exactly why this is going to work. I'm going to find Jackson here, act like I'm interested in her "services," and stealing Lizzie and Thomas back. That's the plan at least. I just pray he doesn't recognize me. Otherwise, I'll be dead and so will Lizzie.



********************************************************************************************

That asshole thinks I'm more of an idiot than he is. First, he sends the cops to the dance studio, then to my old apartment where they come out empty handed, of course. Ha! That only proves that the bitch had a way to get out of the closet. No matter, she can't now. I moved us out of the other apartment to the new one. It's closer to her business district.



Lucy said that a guy was looking to buy her today. She told him to go to the meeting place. I'm on my way over there. Lucy said that he had quite a wad of money he was willing to spend for the bitch. There he is. Damn! She's right, he looks loaded. My price just jacked up about $30. First class bitch, she is.

********************************************************************************************

I followed Jackson up the stairs of the building I had been standing in front of. When we reached apartment 42, he stopped and pulled a key out of his pocket. After unlocking the door, he lead me into a small, dingy kitchen and motioned for me to sit down. I sat, as an evil grin spread across his face.



"Ok, mister, here's the deal. I don't ask your name, you don't ask mine. She's in that room down the hall. You spend as much time in there as you want, but keep in mind that she costs about $50 an hour. I'll stay out here in the TV room, you just pay me before you leave. Any questions?"



Million of questions ran through my mind, the first being How in the wolrd can you do this to my wife? I bit my tongue and shook my head. His grin broadened and he showed me to the room.







In the middle of a huge bed lay my little piece of heaven, tied to the bed posts. She was curled as far inward as she could manage, her angelic face hidden in the pillows. I stepped into the room as Jacksom closed the door and left. I made sure he was gone then walked to the window. The fire escape landing underneath looked rusty, but stable. I ran back to the bed and gently shook Lizzie. Her eyes fluttered open. I pressed a finger to her lips to keep her from saying anything and took off my hat. Relief washed over her features and I began to untie her. Once freed, she threw her arms around me and began to quietly sob. I held her until the tears subsided and then I walked over to the small crib. Thomas was sleeping quietly, seemingly unharmed.



********************************************************************************************

Something's not right. Normally, by now Lizzie would be screaming and yelling fo the John not to do this to her. I guess she's passed out. Oh well, he's not storming out here, I'll get my money.



Suddenly, a creak from the window caught my attention. What the hell was that? Damnit, something's not right here! That was the fire escape!



I leapt up and grabbed a knife out of the kitchen. I hurried down the hall and kicked the door to the room they were in.

********************************************************************************************



Lizzie's eyes grew huge as Jackson began to knock the door down. He burst though the door, a butcer knife in hand.



"You!" He looked at me, realizing who I was. He charged toward me, slashing the knife though the air. I spun away from it, trying to protect Tom, but it was to late. Blood began to poor from the gash in his side. I reached behind my back with my free hand and grabbed the gun that was still tucked in the waistband of my jeans. I quickly pointed it at Jackson and pulled the trigger, hoping that I would stop him. He fell to the floor, as I pressed a hand to Tom's cut, praying that God wouldn't let him die.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sat in the ER waiting room, waiting for news on Lizzie and Tom. I had called Kevin already and everyone was on the way. I had already talked to the police. They told me that I had killed Jackson, but since it had been in self defense, there would be no charges. I almost find myself wishing there were. A doctor walked into the room and called out.

"Mr. Littrell?"

I leapt to my feet. "Yes? How are they?" He lead me back into a room.

"My name is Dr. Johnston. Your wife is fine. Your son is up in surgery. They're going to try and stop the bleeding, then close the wound.."

"May I see Lizzie?"

"Of course."

He led me into another room, where Lizzie sat in the bed.

"Brian! Where's Tom?"

"They had to take him up to surgery." She bit her lip to keep from crying. I sat on the bed with her and wrapped my arms around her. She calmed down quickly.





"Mr. and Mrs. Littrell?" We looked up as Dr. Johnston walked through the door again, his face grim.

############################################################################################



Author's Note: I'm sorry, folks. I don't know if Brian would ever carry a gun, but for the sake of the story, he did. Don't hate me, that's just the way that it is, okies?

On a lighter note, I think you will all be happy to know that there is NO MORE JACKSON!!!!!!

But what about Thomas? And will Rachel EVER have that baby? Check back soon for Chapter 12.

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~*~*~

Chapter 12: Moving On

~*~*~





      I don't think that there was ever a doctor that enjoyed this particular part of his or her job.  I now get the great honor of telling a family that their 6-month-old baby is dead.  Joy.

      As I walked into the ER, Dr Johnston called me over.

      "The Littrells have been moved upstairs for overnight observation.  Room 502.”

      "How is the baby?"

      I couldn't even look at him.  In the eight years I've been a surgeon, I've lost my share of patients. But I have... had never lost a child on the table.  I had thought about my 18 month old son and what my life would be like without him, but had to shove it to the back of my mind.

      He stayed silent as I turned and went to the elevators again. 



      I knocked on the door to Room 502. The door was immediately flung open to reveal a grinning man in sunglasses.  His face fell as he looked at me.

      "Mr. and Mrs. Littrell?"  The woman on the bed and the man holding her hand looked up at me.  "I'm Dr. Denise Hammion.  We did everything we could, but I'm afraid..." 

      As many times as I had delivered this speech, nothing prepared me for the look of utter despair from Mrs. Littrell's gray-blue eyes, quickly hidden in her husband's chest as he tried to comfort her.  The knot in my throat grew as I looked at this couple.  The five other people in the room came forward and offered the little consolement they could.  I knew that I could be of no more help, so I quietly said goodbye and left.  I told the nurse at the station to page the chaplain, and left to go to the hospital worker's nursery.  I had a little boy that I absolutely had to hug.



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      I am standing in a place I have come to far to frequently in my short 23 year lifetime.  Only now, there is a tiny, fresh grave beside the one I have come to for so long.



Thomas Jerald Littrell

   March 15, 1998- September 13, 1998

"To the world, one life; to one life, a world."



      Brian's arm is wrapped around my shoulder, Carmen and Nick are across from me with tears streaming down their faces, and Rachel stands beside me, holding her twins, Denise Mary Anne, and Alexander Thomas.  As the others leave, I remain here, thinking of a poem I heard long ago.  As I bid my angel goodbye for the last time, I look at the sky and whisper the long-forgotten words.



Holes in the Floor of Heaven



There must be holes in the floor of heaven

How else could you come to me?

You came straight from the angels

And I am blessed because I knew thee.



Now may the angels bear you back

To enjoy forevermore

The happiness you have showered on me.







The End.



-Sorika  If you made it this far,, would it be to much to ask for an email?

There you have it ladies and gents, the finished story, “Family Ties.”   I hope you enjoyed it, and that you will read the soon to come prequel about Rachel. (by request, thanks to Jen, Jodie, Marie and Emily).  Buh-bye!