Warnings and Disclaimers:
I don't know any of the members of NSYNC, BSB or any celebrity mentioned. I don't know anything about their sexual orientation or the orientation of any other celebrities in this story (even though I wish some of them were gay). This story is fiction and you shouldn't take it for anything else but that. This is only for entertainment value only folks. Hope you enjoy the show oh I mean reading.
"I could never love again the way that I loved you, I could never cry again like I did when I left you...I could never love again now that we're apart" Debbie Gibson
Foolish Beat
Chapter -- 49 by JT Poole
// Memphis, TN -- Baptist Medical Center/Emergency Room -- Sunday Evening //
"Excuse me miss." Sean says, walking up to the counter. "I'm looking for Lance Bass, can you tell me where he is?"
"You are?" The woman asks, typing something on the keyboard.
"I'm Sean Anderson, I'm his tour manager." Sean answers her as he notices Joey coming down the hall.
"The doctor is still working with Mr. Bass. If you would wait in the waiting area over there, I will let the doctor know you are here." The woman says, picking up the phone and speaking with someone.
"Baby what's going on?" Sean asks as Joey joins him and the others in the waiting room.
"He tried to kill himself Brandon. He doesn't want to live anymore. He overdosed on some drugs. He said that if he was dead he wouldn't have to deal with the hurt anymore." Joey says sitting down besides Sean and hugging him. "This is all your fault!"
"Joey calm down. Please don't start this here." Sean states, hugging Joey, trying to calm him down.
"I said I was sorry, how many times am I going to have to apologize?" JC asks, standing up and walking away from them.
"Did you see Lou?" Justin asks, walking over to where Sean and Joey sat.
"Lou? Lou who?" Joey asks, looking at Justin strangely.
"Lou Pearlman. Johnny says Lance was with Lou." Justin replies, fidgeting as Kevin walks over to him and holds him.
"I didn't see Lou. I found Scoop sitting on a bench in front of a bus
stop." Joey replies, laying his head on Sean's shoulder crying. "I thought he was dead. I couldn't get him to wake up...I tried...I tried to wake him up but he wouldn't say anything."
"Wonder where he could be? Johnny has proof that Lance was with Lou." Kevin says, rubbing Justin's shoulder. "Has someone called the police yet?"
"I called the police." An unknown man says, walking into the room with Johnny.
"Who the hell are you?" Brian asks, removing his hand from Chris' lap.
"I'm JT Poole. I will be your new tour manager." The man identified as JT Poole says.
"New Tour Manager!?!" Sean shouts. "What the hell is going on here Johnny? You are replacing me?"
"Actually I should be since I think you have too much to handle here, but I am not. JT here is going to help you." Johnny says, sitting down across the room.
"Help me? Please, this is your way of telling me I can't handle my job." Sean states, standing up and walking over to where Johnny sat.
"No I am not telling you that. This is your first time ever handling this sort of thing before. JT here has been the tour manager of multiple groups before." Johnny explains. "This isn't affecting your job. I am just trying to bring a little bit of order to this tour."
"And you think you can do that by bringing in someone to take over. Fine, I 'm outta here." Sean says walking out of the waiting room.
"Brandon! Brandon wait!" Joey shouts, running after Sean.
"Johnny this isn't going well. I knew you should have done this differently." JT says, walking out of the room.
"He has a point man. This looks like you are trying to push him out and bring someone else in." Chris states, standing up. "You have a funny way of doing things."
"I am not trying to push him out. I told him a few weeks back that he needed to get things under control or I would bring in someone to help him." Johnny says, opening his briefcase. "With all the stuff that has happened so far. He needs help with you guys and I just found out about your little visit to the hospital."
"So what we came to the hospital." Kevin says.
"You came to the hospital and you didn't hide things about you two." Johnny says, pulling out one of the scagrags. "Here."
"What's that?" Justin asks.
"You and Kevin here the other night holding hands." Johnny says. "How do you explain that one away."
"Simple. I was holding his hand for support." Justin says.
"Excuses excuses excuses." Johnny says. "This tour isn't even finished yet and four of you have already been exposed. I'm just waiting for the rest of you to be exposed."
"This does not expose us." Justin says, handing the paper to Kevin.
"When this hits the rest of the world, then you tell me what everyone thinks." Johnny says as JT, Joey and Sean come back into the waiting area. "Welcome back you three. Can we have a civilized conversation now?"
"Say whatever you want." Sean says sitting down next to Joey.
"Look man I am not here to take your job. I am here because I have experience with all this stuff and you will be working with me when the tour is over." JT says, sitting down on the other side of Sean.
"Working with you?" Sean asks. "Why would I be working with you?"
"JT is a CEO at Jive as well and he handles New Recruitment and sometimes Promotions." Johnny says.
"So I will be working in your department?" Sean asks.
"No you will be working with me. You are a CEO too aren't you?" JT asks.
"I thought I was." Sean replies looking over at Johnny.
"That's what you are being paid for." Johnny says, pulling a folder out of his briefcase. "We need to get down to business here. Too many things are happening and we are letting things get out of control."
"How so?" Sean asks. "I'm handling things the best I can within reason."
"You are, but too many things are happening that you don't have control of." JT says, turning to look at Sean.
"Such as?" Sean asks, glaring at Johnny.
"Well for instance the picture of these two that's going to appear in the `Star' in the morning." Johnny states, handing the paper to Sean.
"What the hell? When did this happen?" Sean asks.
"Last night when we were here." Justin answers, looking down at the floor.
"And you allowed someone to take a picture of you holding his hand? Oh yeah this is sweet!" Sean shouts as a tall white man enters the room.
"Excuse me, who's responsible for Mr. Bass?" The man asks.
"We all are." Sean answers the man.
"Well who's legally responsible for him?" The man asks.
"We all are." Sean replies, standing up this time. "Are you the doctor?"
"Yes, I'm Dr. Martin." The man states, shaking Sean's hand.
"Is he alright Doctor?" Sean asks.
"He's fine right now, just sleeping it off." Dr. Martin says.
"What happened to him?" Sean asks as JT, Johnny and Joey get closer to the man.
"We had to pump his stomach. It seems he overdosed on a lot of different chemicals." Dr. Martin says. "If this gentlemen didn't get him here when he did, he wouldn't be with us right now."
"Oh my God." JC says, walking into the room. "Can I see him please? I need to see him."
"Not right now. He needs to sleep this off. Once he's awake, I will put him on a regiment to flush his system of the excess chemicals." Dr. Martin explains as JC sits down.
"So Doctor will he be alright?" Sean asks.
"He should be after his system has been completely flushed of the different chemicals." Dr. Martin says. "Once that has occurred. I think someone needs to think about getting him admitted into a detoxification clinic."
"Detox? So he was a drug user?" Sean asks.
"If he wasn't a drug user then someone has been slipping different chemicals into him without his knowledge for a long period of time." Dr. Martin replies, looking at the chart in his hand. "Mr. Bass' had over fifteen (15) different chemicals within his body."
"Fifteen? How is that possible?" AJ asks.
"Most were similar stimulants, but some where mixed with other things and once that occurred the resulting reaction creates a new chemical." Dr. Martin explains.
"Oh God he must have been mixing stuff." AJ says, walking out of the room.
"Thank you Doctor. Is there a certain time that we can see him?" Johnny asks, writing information down on a notepad.
"I think he should be somewhat coherent tomorrow evening, possibly the afternoon depending on his metabolism." Dr. Martin states, signing something as a nurse walks over to him. "Contact me if his situation changes."
"Thank you doctor." Johnny says shaking the man's hand.
// 2 Hours Later -- Back at the Hotel -- Sean and Joey's Room //
"So you two are married and you two are about to get married?" JT asks, looking at Brian, Chris, Sean and Joey.
"Yeah. Do you have a problem with that?" Chris asks, giving JT a hateful look.
"Look guys I am not here to cause any problems or nothing like that. I am just trying to get to know you guys." JT says, walking over to the window. "I know the way Johnny brought me in wasn't kosher but it's not my fault. I was told that Sean needed help with you guys so I packed and went to the airport like Johnny asked me to. I am not trying to take over or anything. I am here to help out as Johnny sees fit."
"Could have fooled me." Sean states, getting up and walking to the other side of the room.
"Is this ever going to pass? I don't need this drama. I was called here to help put a stop to the drama." JT says, as there's a knock at the door.
"Yes?" Joey asks, looking at the young man in the doorway.
"I was told that JT was here. Is he?" The young man asks, looking around.
"Nick baby is that you?" JT calls out, turning around and walking over to the door.
"Baby." The man says, walking past Joey into JT's arm planting a kiss to his lips. "Sorry I missed the flight. That damn Carson and his damn antics."
"What the hell!" Joey shouts.
"Baby is he alright?" The man asks.
"I'm sorry I think introductions are in order here." JT says, kissing The man again. "Nick this is some of the guys of N Sync and the Backstreet Boys. This is Justin, Chris and Joey."
"Hi there." The man says, shaking each of their hands.
"This is Kevin and that's Brian." JT says, pointing to the two men.
"Who is he?" Sean asks walking over to JT and the man.
"This is my boyfriend Nick...Nick Zano." JT says as Nick and Sean shakes hands.
"I'm Sean Anderson the guys' tour manager." Sean states.
"Baby I thought you were the tour manager." Nick says.
"I'm the Co-Tour Manager." JT says as all eyes are on Nick.
"I know you from somewhere." Justin says, standing back up to look at the man.
"You might have seen me on MTV." Nick states as everyone gasps.
"Why would you be on MTV?" Sean asks.
"Nick is one of MTV News' correspondents." JT says as Justin, Kevin and Brian stands up.
"He works for MTV News?" Kevin asks. "Don't you think him being here is a little bit risky?"
"Why is me being here risky?" Nick asks, looking at Kevin strangely.
"You are a fucking reporter!" Kevin shouts, walking towards the door. "You said you were here to stop drama and help out. I don't see that happening with him being here. He's one of the people that starts drama up."
"Kevin calm down." Justin says, walking over to Kevin at the door.
"Don't touch me Justin! He might be able to use that against us." Kevin says walking out of the door.
"This is great, really great." Sean says.
"Oh I get it now, he's gay. Cool." Nick says, looking at JT to confirm his guess. "Since I work for MTV he feels that I am going to do something to out him?"
"Yeah that's it baby." JT says.
"Why would I do something like that?" Nick asks. "I am not going to out him or anyone for that matter. I don't want anybody to out us."
"Could have fooled me the way you walked in here." Brian states, getting up.
"Well I thought JT would have told you by now that he was gay." Nick says. "He tells all of his groups that he works with so they know what to expect."
"Hmmm, I guess it slipped his mind." Chris says.
"It didn't slip my mind. I haven't been able to get a good word in edgewise since you all have been giving me the cold shoulder since I've been here like I have the plague or something." JT says.
"Well..." Chris starts then stops. "You do have a point. I'm sorry man."
"Yeah I'm sorry too." Brian says, walking over and shaking JT's hand.
"That's much better." JT says as Joey walks back into the room.
"What happened to Kevin and Justin?" Joey asks.
"He got upset and walked out." Sean says, shaking JT's hand. "Can you overlook our bad reactions?"
"I don't know. I am just a normal guy trying to do my job and everyone gives me the cold shoulder like I did something wrong." JT says, turning around smirking as he winks at Nick.
"Baby behave yourself and stop teasing them." Nick says.
"Well damn, go on and ruin my fun." JT says, turning back around. "You are forgiven."
"Good. Now I need to get the rest of these guys to come around." Sean says, grabbing Joey and pulling him over to JT and Nick.
"What is it Brandon?" Joey asks.
"You need to apologize for your actions." Sean says, poking Joey in the ribs. "Go on."
"He doesn't have to." JT says, turning around. "Is it alright with you if we have a meeting in the morning?"
"I think we need to have one." Sean says, shaking JT's hand again.
"Cool. You all have a good time. I will see you guys and the rest of your crew in the morning." JT says, waving as he and Nick walks out of the room.
"This is getting better by the minute." Joey says with sarcasm in his voice.
"Man let it go. He's trying to be nice and we are jumping all over him." Brian states, pulling Chris up as they kiss and head for the door.
"Well he can't just barge in here and start giving orders." Joey says, sitting down.
"He hasn't done anything Joe. Just let it go. You are giving him a label he doesn't need. Give him a chance. I am sure he will grow on you." Chris says, patting him on the back. "I'm going to check on Josh. Goodnight guys."
"Night." Sean states, sitting down next to Joey. "Why don't we go take a shower and head to bed ourselves. Are you up for that?"
"Yeah baby you know I am." Joey replies, standing up, pulling Sean to him and placing a kiss to his lips.
// Down in Lance and JC's Room (Sans Lance) //
"What do you want?!" JC screams, as there was another knock at the door.
"Come on Josh its me and Brian." Chris says, tapping on the door again.
"Go away. I don't want to see anyone right now." JC screams again.
"Come on C, it's me Chris. Let me come in." Chris says again.
"Go away Chris, I just need to be left alone." JC states, turning away from the door.
"Okay fine C. When you are ready to talk, you know where to find me." Chris says, taking Brian's hand and walking down the hall.
"Lance I'm so sorry. I love you, I have always loved you. Why did I have to be a jerk and say those things to you. I'm just a stupid jerk is all. Mom always said that I don't know a good thing when I see it and here I have already threw the best thing away." JC says, crying into his pillow. "Please God bring him back to me."
// Justin and Kevin's Room //
--- Justin's POV ---
Lawd this has been a very long, tiring and drawn out day. I am so glad that we located Lance, I was beginning to think the worst, even though the condition we found him in is just as bad. The doctor explained to us that he had been using drugs for God knows how long and that he's going to need a while to get better, but he should bounce back from all of this. I had no idea that things were that bad for him.
"Baby what are you thinking about?" Kevin asks me sitting down next to me.
"I was just thinking about today is all." I tell him, laying my head on his shoulder as the stress of the day started to take its toll on me.
"Shhhh baby it's going to be alright." He says, as I cry in his arms.
"How could I not notice that something was wrong with him Kevin?" I ask, turning to face him. "I had no idea that he was using drugs. This is partly my fault. If I hadn't given him and Josh trouble all the time he wouldn't have been upset all the time."
"I don't think you are responsible for him using drugs baby." He tells me, rubbing my back as I continued to cry.
"I am too responsible Kevin. If I hadn't caused so many problems between him and Josh, he wouldn't have been upset so much." I say, getting up and walking out to the balcony.
"Baby Lance is a grown man. You didn't force him to take drugs. Lance made that decision on his own baby. You didn't make him do that. You can't blame yourself for his actions." He says, wrapping his arms around me from behind as he stands behind me.
"He might be grown but he's still a person and he still has feelings." I say, as Kevin turns me around to face him.
"Stop Justin, just stop it. I'm not going to let you blame yourself for this." He says, kissing me as he pulls me back into the suite. "We are going to go take a nice shower and then we will get something to eat."
"I don't want to eat, I just want to lay down and cry." I say as Kevin lifts my chin and kisses me again.
"I'm going to start our bath. When I come back we will get into the tub and have a relaxing bath then we will have dinner." He says, caressing my cheek and then walking into the bathroom.
// Nick and Tobey's Room //
"What's up baby?" Tobey asks, walking into the room. "Why is there extra security up here?"
"Hi baby." Nick says, walking over to Tobey and placing a kiss to his lips. "The extra security is for Lou Pearlman."
"Lou Pearlman? Isn't that you guys' old manager?" Tobey asks.
"Yes he was." Nick replies, holding his head down.
"Baby what's going on?" Tobey asks, lifting Nick's chin.
"Lance has been found and he was found with Lou." Nick says.
"Is he alright?" Tobey asks.
"No he's currently in the hospital. When he was found, he had overdosed on something." Nick replies as Tobey encloses him in his arms. "I'm scared for him."
"I know Nick, I know." Tobey says, rubbing Nick's back as he bursts into tears. "Baby what's wrong?"
"I...I can't talk about it." Nick says, still crying.
"What can't you talk about Nick?" Tobey asks, pulling away to see Nick's face. "Did something happen that you are not telling?"
"I can't talk about it baby, please don't make me." Nick says, pulling his hand from Tobey's.
"Baby what happened? You know you can talk to me about anything." Tobey states, walking over to where Nick was standing.
"No Tobey I can't, I won't talk about it." Nick says, walking into the bedroom closing the door.
"Nick baby please don't shut me out like this." Tobey says, tapping at the door.
"I want to be left alone Tobey. I'm sorry." Nick says through his tears.
"Baby please...I love you Nick, let me help you." Tobey states, starting to cry now.
"I love you too Tobey, I just...I just can't talk about that. Please don't make me talk about it!" Nick screams, kicking the door in the bathroom.
"Nick baby calm down." Tobey says as Nick continues to kick and scream in the bathroom. "Nick. Nick baby calm down."
"No! No! No!" Nick screams, still kicking something in the room as the Tobey hears the sound of breaking glass.
"Nick! Nick! What has happened in there?" Tobey calls out.
"No! No! No!" Nick screams, but the kicking stops.
"Come on Nick open the door. Come out please." Tobey pleads with the man.
"No I can't! I can't!" Nick screams as the kicking starts again.
"Oh fuck what's wrong with him? Nick tell me what's wrong." Tobey says, still tapping at the door as he hears what sounds like Nick falling to the floor and the screaming stops.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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