Finally there's another instalment of Question of Faith. The reason for this delay is that I got a massive amount of bad feedback. Not just "your story sucks" No, more emails in the line of " the best thing for you to do is to give up writing." Normally I won't let something like that touch me...but when several people emailed me with the similar message I decided to give up writing. BUT there are still some great people out there. People who emailed me almost daily (LS) Asking, begging for more. I decided to read the story again. And later on I decided to continue with the story. I want to thank Trace for never giving up on me, Toby for supporting me, Doug, Mal, Vic and all of you who have written me with positive words. And to those who gave me bad feedback: stick you! The usual disclaimer is also valid for this story. Enjoy A question of Faith....Finally you'll find the answers...Will Nick die?? Will Justin be ok and Will Kevin survive the next few months????
****** 'A massive crowd has gathered outside the small town courthouse for the most bizarre court case ever. Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson faced statutory rape charges. Richardson filed charges for assault himself. The alleged rape victim Nick Carter is currently fighting for his life in a London hospital. A crowd of fans and gay right fighters greeted Richardson. They all cheered as the oldest Backstreet Boy arrived at the courthouse a few hours ago. His very pregnant lawyer Lexie Chasez accompanied him. The crowd at the opposite side of the street booed as Richardson made his way into the courthouse. Gay haters claim Richardson should be sentenced to life. The district attorney stated that this court case will be example for all the famous people trying to get away with breaking the law. This is Kathy Matthews for NBC news live from Virginia.' Kevin swallowed hard. His palms were sweaty and he was ready to throw up. He had never been so nervous in his life before. Lexie placed a hand on his arm. 'You have survived the arrival. Things can only get better.' Kevin managed a weak smile. 'Did you call Brian?' Lexie nodded. 'No change. They operated again last night and he is still on life support.' Kevin sighed and buried his head in his hands. 'You need to be strong now Kevin. Nick needs you to be strong.' 'How can he ever need me?' Mumbled Kevin. Lexie wanted to answer him but the judge entered the room. 'All rise.' Lexie practically dragged Kevin to his feet. The judge sat down. 'You may be seated.' Kevin sat down in the hard and uncomfortable chair. 'I have one thing to say before this case starts.' The judge turned to the jury. 'I want all of you to be immune for the media attention. I want you to look at that man as if he was your next door neighbour.' The 12 members of the jury nodded. The judge turned to the district attorney. 'You may begin.' ********** Jane stared through the glass. The sounds of the hall didn't reach her ears. She was completely focussed on her son. They removed the live support machines. Still he seemed so small. Her eyes moved to the girl sitting beside his bed. Billie hadn't left Nick's side ever since he returned from the surgery. The hospital psychiatrist had explained that Nick needed the young girl with him. That Nick thought she was the only one that hadn't given up on him. He had told Jane that Billie could be the only thing keeping Nick from a severe depression. Billie only left his side when she had to perform but Jane heard she withdrew from the tour last night. Jane blinked a tear away. Nick had made it perfectly clear that he didn't want Jane, Brian and Julie around. Billie cried when she told Jane that Nick had asked her to tell them to stay away. Jane raised a hand to wipe the tear away. She heard Billie's gentle voice through the slightly opened door. She was reading the newspaper to Nick. Jane's eyes were glued to her son's face. The swelling had gone down slightly but still he couldn't open his eyes. Jane couldn't even tell if he was awake or not. Her eyes travelled over his body. The doctors had performed another surgery on his pelvic. Nick now had several pins and plates sticking out of his body. Jane repressed a sob. Her only son was completely helpless and she couldn't be at his side to support him. 'Don't torture yourself.' Jane spun around. Brian stood behind her. 'He is my son. I'm his mother.' Whispered Jane. Brian hugged her. 'At this moment you are the reason why Nick is in the hospital. Julie, Kevin, you and me. We are the reason why. I can understand why he doesn't want to see us.' Jane rested her head on his shoulder. 'I just want him to know him that I love him.' 'Give him time Jane. Just give him time.' Jane raised her head and looked over her shoulder. She sighed. 'If that is what he needs...' Brian nodded. 'And you need a coffee. Come on, my treat.' ********** 'Are you ready?' Justin looked up. He slowly nodded. 'Come on.' Justin slid his hand in the hand offered to him. He grabbed his suitcase in the other hand and walked out of the room. The door closed behind him with a soft thud. Justin looked at the man standing beside him. 'You can still go back. No one will know.' Justin shook his head. 'No, I can't go back anymore. It's too late for that.' JC smiled at him. 'Let's get you settled in my room.' Justin and JC carried Justin's luggage to the room across the hall. Justin quickly unpacked his luggage again and sat down on the bed. 'I am doing the right thing right?' JC glanced over his shoulder. 'Only you can judge that.' Justin pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. Ever since they left London Richie had been distant. Justin didn't blame him. But he did blame him for all the other things that had happened in the last weeks. First Richie hung up the phone when Justin came into their room. Justin had shrugged it off as incidental. But it happened more and more. Than Justin heard a conversation between Richie and Shane. Apparently they had taken off where they left off before Richie met Justin. Justin had enough when Richie forgot a date they had. When Justin returned to their room Richie and Shane quickly jumped apart. As soon as Richie had left for the stadium the next day Justin called JC and he helped Justin move into another room. Justin was so lost in thought that he didn't see Chris, Joey and Lance enter the room. JC touched his shoulder. 'Justin?' He jerked up. 'Oh... Sorry... I didn't know you...' JC placed a finger on his lips. 'They came here to talk to you.' 'To me?' Justin looked genuinely scared. 'It's ok.' JC sat next to him. 'Go on lads.' 'Listen Justin.' Started Joey. 'I know the last few months haven't been easy on you and that we are partly to blame. JC told us what happened in London.' Justin opened his mouth to say something. 'No, please let me finish. Instead of being behind you all the way we let you down in the worst way possible. We have been friends for several years now and I regret the way things went. I'm not asking you for forgiveness. I'm just hoping you are willing to rebuild a friendship.' Joey sighed with relief. He had said all he wanted to say. 'We want things back to the way they were.' Said Lance in a soft voice. Chris simply shrugged and nodded. Justin looked at JC. 'Do you think I can tell them?' He asked. JC nodded. 'Listen guys, there is something I have to ask.' ********* 'The D.A. calls Ann Richardson to the stand as a character witness.' Kevin watched his mother walk to the witness stand and take her vows. She gave him a small smile. The D.A. walked towards her. 'Can you tell me your relationship with Kevin Richardson?' 'He is my son.' Pride was clearly audible in Ann's voice. 'Did you know your son was gay?' 'Yes I did. Kevin was 13 when he told me he was gay.' 'How did you react to that?' The D.A. looked Ann straight in her eyes. 'He told me he wasn't normal like other boys. I asked what he meant and he told me. To me it made no difference. It doesn't matter if he loves a woman or a man as long as that person loves him back.' The D.A. was set back slightly by that answer. 'You are a very religious woman Mrs. Richardson. It says in the bible.' 'I know what the bible says. He is my son. My flesh and blood. A mother loves her son unconditionally.' Ann looked at Kevin. His eyes were filled with tears. 'Did you know about his relationship with the victim?' 'Nick came to visit us regularly. I grew very fond of the young man.' 'But did you know about the relationship?' Ann nodded. 'I saw it coming for weeks. I was not surprised at all when Kevin told me he and Nick finally go together.' 'Are you and Kevin very close, Mrs. Richardson?' Ann nodded again. 'Does he tell you everything?' 'Kevin tells me most things that go on in his life.' 'Did he ever tell you about his sexual relationship with Nickolas Carter?' Ann looked at Kevin. 'He called me after the first time they made love. He was over the moon and at that moment the happiest man alive.' The D.A. looked at his papers. 'I have no further questions your honour.' The judge looked at Lexie. 'Does the defence have any questions for this witness?' Lexie gathered a few papers. 'I do your honour.' Kevin helped Lexie to her feet. Slowly she made her way to the witness stand. 'Mrs. Richardson, do you think that your son is capable of raping someone?' Ann looked at Lexie and smiled. 'Kevin is capable of many things but rape is not one of them.' Lexie nodded. 'I have no further questions.' ********* The stadium was filled with screaming girls. Each one shouted the name of the guy they fancied. It was a deafening sound but Justin couldn't get enough of it. He had spent several night in the arena watching the show from the audience. Seeing so many banners for him lifted his spirits. He looked at the stage. JC was singing his heart out. Justin smiled. No one could tell JC was so nervous about becoming a father. He would run backstage in between songs to see if Lexie or Kevin had paged him. Justin slowly rose to his feet and headed backstage. 'You ok?' Asked Lance. Justin nodded. 'Go and knock 'em dead.' Said Justin. Lance smiled and ran onstage. 'Hello Dublin.' The crowd started screaming even louder. 'We are performing a new song tonight. You are the first people to hear. So let us know if you like it.' The music started and the guys started singing.
Bye bye Bye Bye bye bye bye.. bye bye Bye Bye bye bye.. bye bye Oh oh .. oh JC stepped forward to sing the next verse as the others danced with the background dancers. I'm doin' this tonight You're, probably gonna start a fight I, know this can't be right Hey, baby come on I, loved you endlessly When, you weren't there for me So, now it's time to leave And make it alone JC looked over his shoulder at Chris, Joey and Lance. They all nodded. Than JC looked up at the ceiling. 'Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Nsync's fifth member, Justin Timberlake.' The screams from the crowd nearly drowned Justin's voice. Justin was lowered down on the stage and he took in the screams. I know that I can't take no more It ain't no lie I wanna see you out that door Baby bye bye bye (bye bye) bye bye Five and Westlife both looked up backstage after JC introduced Justin. Richie jumped to his feet and ran to the stage. Justin was really on stage dancing and singing with his former band mates. Richie started fuming. Why didn't Justin tell him about this? Don't wanna be a fool for you Just another player in your game for two You may hate me But it ain't no lie baby Bye bye bye (bye bye) bye bye Don't really wanna make it tough I just wanna tell u that I had enough Might sound crazy but it ain't no lie baby bye bye bye Justin stepped forward on the stage and started singing. It was like he had never left. He was doing what he loved most. Oh oh.. oh You, just hit me the truth Now, baby you're more than welcome to So, give me one good reason, Baby come on JC showed up beside him and wrapped an arm around him. Together they sang the next verse. I lived for you and me And now I've really come to see that life would be much better once you're gone As JC continued with the next verse Justin stepped back to Lance, Chris and Joey. They all pulled him in a massive hug. 'We missed you.' Whispered Joey. Justin looked at them with tears in his eyes. 'Not as much as I missed doing this with you guys.' I know that I can't take no more It ain't no lie I wanna see u out that door baby bye bye bye (bye bye) bye bye Don't wanna be a fool for you Just another player in your game for two You may hate me But it ain't no lie baby Bye bye bye (bye bye) bye bye Don't really wanna make it tough I just wanna tell you that I've had enough Might sound crazy But it ain't no lie baby Bye bye bye bye I'm givin' up I know for sure I don't wanna be the reason for your love no more Bye bye bye bye I'm checkin' out I'm signin' off I don't wanna be the loser And I've had enough Justin walked to the side of the stage. He saw Richie stand there. Justin turned to him and sang his next verse. I don't wanna be your fool In this game for two So I'm leavin' you behind Bye Bye Bye The five guys finished the song together. The crowd almost raised the roof of the stadium. I don't wanna make it tough (make it tough) But I've had enough And it ain't no lie (bye, bye Baby) Don't wanna be a fool for you Just another player in this game for two(I don't wanna be your fool) but it ain't no lie baby bye bye bye (bye bye) Don't really wanna make it tough I just wanna tell u that I had enough *but I had enough Might sound crazy but it ain't no lie bye bye bye (bye bye) 'So what do you think?' Asked Lance. Dublin answered by a deafening scream. Lance smiled. Chris jumped on Justin's back. 'I want you all to say a big welcome back to Justin.' The crowd continued screaming. Justin beamed. He was so happy right now. His life was finally getting back on track. ******* Kevin leaned back in his chair. Lexie was on the phone talking to JC. He closed his eyes for a second. He had survived the first week. He had listened so called experts for countless hours. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Lexie. She held the phone to her swollen stomach and Kevin could hear JC sing. 'How are things in Europe?' Kevin deliberately didn't ask about Nick specifically. 'Justin's back in the band. He shocked Dublin by joining the lads on stage. They sang a new song.' Lexie smiled. 'JC misses me. The other band is not so bad. They hang out with Five all the time. Justin and Richie broke up.' Kevin raised an eyebrow. 'The perfect couple?' Lexie snorted. 'Richie was no good for him. Justin deserves someone better. Kevin cleared his throat. 'What about London?' He softly whispered. Lexie felt sorry for him. He looked like a little boy lost. 'JC called AJ. Nick doesn't want to see anyone but Billie. He had another operation but that one succeeded. They finally found a cause for his set backs. He is hanging in there. Nick is not letting go.' Lexie rose to her feet and walked to Kevin. 'He knows that things will work out. You'll get back together. I know you will.' Kevin hugged Lexie. 'thank you.' Lexie returned to the phone and ended the call. 'Are you ready to go back?' Kevin nodded. Together they worked their way through the massive crowd of journalists and entered the courtroom. Kevin instantly noticed the TV set next to the witness stand. 'What are they up to?' Lexie shrugged. 'I have no idea. I didn't request a TV. So it must be the DA. The judge entered the room and the court was back in session. The female judge looked over her glasses at the DA. 'Are you ready for your next witness?' The DA nodded. The clerc turned on the TV. 'The DA calls Nickolas Gene Carter as her next witness.'
************** Oh I'm such a meanie.... I'm going on a long holiday now...I'll try to do some writing than...Can't guarantee anything... Please send your feedback (good or bad) to Nathanielstories@hotmail.com
Thanks. Nate