Well here it is, another chapter of my fantasy life. Thank you to all that have been loyal fans throughout this whole things. As long as I have readers, I have a story! Now, on with the show!
XXVII
The next morning they woke up, dropped Lance's mom off and went back home. They got in the door and were overtaken by their horniness. It was perfect, we had the whole house to ourselves and we had nowhere to be that night. We were enjoying our kiss when my cell phone rang.
"Ignore it!" Lance moaned.
"I.. I can't... It... it might be important!" I sadly said after parting and grabbing his phone.
I grabbed the phone and heard sobbing.
"Hello?" I said as Lance kept kissing my neck.
I waved him off and listened in closely. I heard my mom crying furiously.
"Mommy? Que Paso??"
Lance immediately stopped once he heard the concern in my voice.
"It's.... It's your brother!" she sobbed out.
"What? What?"
"He... he was.... was in an accident!"
"WHAT?!? What happened??"
"He was hit by a drunk driver!"
"Oh my god! How is he? Is he ok?"
"He's... he's in intensive care... He... he has two fractured ribs, a...a broken arm, and he has a concussion."
"Is he gonna be alright?"
"They.... they don't know!"
"What happened?" Lance asked.
"Ricky was in a car accident."
"Oh my god!"
"Mommy, what did they say?"
"I.... I don't know!"
"Where's dad?"
"He's.... he's right here."
"Let me talk to him!"
"H.. here."
"Hello?" My dad said taking the phone.
"What happened?"
"He was driving on the highway and a drunk driver hit him and he almost went over the divider but swerved to the shoulder and crashed into a pole. If it weren't or the airbags, he'd be dead."
"Was he wearing his seatbelt?"
"Yeah. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't!"
"Um... ok, I can call the record company and see if they can fly me out there tonight."
"No, no. You stay there. He'll... he'll be ok. He'll understand."
"You sure? I can be out there by the morning!"
"NO, stay there! You have to work! You just started. I don't want you to piss anyone off."
"Alright, alright! Call me on the cell if anything changes!"
"Alright, bye."
"Bye."
"What happened?" Lance asked.
"A drunk driver hit him and he crashed. He has 2 fractured ribs, a broken arm, and a concussion."
"Oh my god!"
"Yeah, and the best part is that my dad doesn't want me to come out there."
"Why?"
"Cause he `doesn't want me to piss anyone off', shit!"
"What you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna call management and see if they can book me a flight out there tonight. And I'll fly back in Sunday night."
"I'm coming with you!"
"No, you gotta leave Sunday!"
"I'll leave when you leave, I'll just take a flight out to London, they gave us Monday off so, don't worry about it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, the only hard part is gonna be convincing the guys not to go too."
"I know. Well, I'm gonna call management."
"Alright, let me speak to them when you're done."
"Ok."
I called management and they were nothing but cooperative. They sympathized and said they would have me on a 5 o'clock flight out there. I would be there around 8. Lance talked to them and they were a little sketchy about Lance going too, but they allowed it. They booked the flights as well as Lance's flight to London. Everything was set. All we had to do is pack. Lance called the guys and filled them in on the situation. They, as predicted, wanted to come along, but Lance made them promise not to. We both knew they meant well, but it was just better that they didn't. We didn't want a big scene at the hospital, so they agreed hesitantly. I went back to my house packed a few clothes in a duffel bag and drove back to Lance's. We drove to the airport and I locked my car up in a parking space. It was now around 4. We got our tickets and waited in the lounge. I called up Melissa and asked her to find out, what hospital Ricky was in and then to call me back. She did and he was at Einstein Hospital, which was not that far from my parent's house. I then called Jay and told him that Lance and I would be staying there. I told him that we would take the sofa bed, he insisted on giving me the bed, so I took it. I told him that I had to go cause they were boarding now. Before I hung up he said that he would pick us up at the airport. We didn't run into any mobs, cause they weren't expecting us. The whole flight there I spent worrying about my brother. I kept praying for him to be alright. Lance was trying his best to comfort me and assure me that he would be alright. The flight seemed like it took forever to get there. We got into Kennedy at 10 to 8. We were at the baggage claim and we ran into Jay and Melissa. They helped us with our bags and that's when we got hit up by some fans. More Lance than me, but ever since that broadcast on MTV they've been asking me too. After about 10 minutes of signing, we got out of there. Melissa drove us to the hospital, Jay had driven my car there for when we had to leave. He met Melissa at the hospital and that's when they left to the airport. We got to the hospital at 9. While in the elevator my phone rang. It was my dad, he was updating me on my brother's condition. I told him that I was coming there and he said,
"I told you no!"
"Too late!" I said as I got out of the elevator, "I'm already here!"
"What? Where?"
"I just got out of the elevator."
"Stay there!"
He hung up the phone and met me at the elevator. He was shocked and greatful that we had all come.
"Did the others come?" He asked after giving us hugs.
"Nah, we didn't want to make a huge scene." I said.
"Alright, well, since you're here, I'll take you to him."
"Alright, come on."
We made our way down the hall and were stopped by a nurse who said,
"I'm sorry, only relatives and significant others are allowed."
"It's ok, they're with me." My dad said.
"I'm sorry, if they aren't relatives then they can't go in."
"It's ok, we'll stay here, Rob, you go, just update us on what's happening." Lance said.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yeah, go!"
"Alright, I'll be back in a little while."
"Ok."
We looked at each other giving that "I love you" look. I went with my dad and the nurse again said,
"Only."
"I'm his brother! Now let me go!" I said angrily.
"Oh, I'm sorry, go right ahead."
"Can you at least show them where the waiting room is?"
"Certainly."
"Thank you!"
My dad took me to my brother's room. He was hooked up to a few machines and my mother and his girlfriend were sitting by the bed. My mother saw me and she got up and said,
"Rob! What are you doing here?"
She gave me a hug and a kiss and I said,
"Dad told me to stay but I had to come! How is he?"
"Still no improvement."
"Is he in critical condition?"
"He has some internal bleeding, but they have it under control. They put a cast on his arm and the wrapped his chest up. They said he should be alright, if he gets through tonight with no problem then they'll take him out of intensive care and move him to a room."
"Did they get the guy that did this?"
"Yeah, he's in critical condition."
"Was there anybody else in the car?"
"No, he was on his way to pick me up from work." Michelle, Ricky's girlfriend, said.
"How are you? You holding up?"
"It's my fault!"
"What? Why? How?"
"I.. I made him pick me up, I.. Had told him that he never picks me up anymore and he was going to surprise me today." She said now crying.
"It's not your fault! You had no idea. It's the asshole who decided to drink and drive."
"I'm.. I'm so sorry!"
"Shhh. it's not your fault." My mother said giving her a hug.
"I'm gonna go fill in everybody." I said.
"Who's everybody?"
"Jay, Melissa and Lance."
"Where are the rest if the guys?"
"They're back in Orlando. We told them not to come, cause we didn't want to make a huge scene. It took some convincing but they finally agreed. They send their love and sympathy."
"Oh, ok. I'll come out with you."
"Ok."
We went out to the waiting room and my mother thanked them for coming. She told them everything and they again said they were sorry. There was nothing more we could do but wait. My mother told us to go home and her and Michelle were going to stay the night. After 10 minutes of debating, we left. It was late, around 12. I was too worried to sleep. I wanted to be alone or a little while so I went up to the roof. I sat on one of the railings and looked up at the sky. That was something I frequently did when I was stressed or worried. Around 1:30 I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders. Lance had brought up a blanket and asked if I was ok.
"Yeah, I just wanted to clear my head for awhile. He's gonna be ok! I know it."
"Yes he is. God is on his side."
"I don't know how people can be so irresponsible to let these sort of things happen!"
"When they do they get theirs in the end."
"What are you doing up so late? You gotta get some sleep! What time does your flight head out?"
"Six tomorrow night."
"Mine is at 7."
"I know."
"I should stay longer!"
"Then stay. They'll understand."
"No, I have to be there. Even though they'll understand it'll look bad."
"Well, if he gets worse, heaven forbid, then stay. If he's doing better, then go."
"That sounds good."
"I called the guys and filled them in on his progress. They again, send their sympathies and wish they could be here."
"I'll call them tomorrow and reassure them that everything's alright."
"Come on, get inside, you're gonna catch a cold!"
"Alright, I'm getting pretty tired anyway."
"Come on, let's go to sleep. Everything's gonna be ok in the morning."
We went back down to my apartment and saw Jay already sleeping. We quietly walked into my bedroom, stripped and got into bed. Although I was scared and worried, I felt reassured cause I was in Lance's arms. I got a call from my mother the next morning around 11. She said that he had woken up and was doing ok. When she told him that I had come up he asked for me. I got up, woke up Lance and we got dressed. I told Jay that he didn't have to come but he insisted. We put our bags in my car and got in. The three of us went to the hospital and there was a lot of media there. Apparently a staff member of the hospital leaked the Lance was there. We got into the lobby of the hospital and they spotted us. They all started throwing numerous questions at Lance all at once. While fighting our way through the crowd, we got to the elevators and Lance said,
"I am here escorting a friend to see his brother who was in a car accident yesterday, he was hit by a drunk driver. This is horrible tragedy but he is doing fine. I only hope that more people will think before they decide to drive drunk. Now if you will excuse me my friends and I have to attend to some personal business. Thank you and that is all I am going to say!"
We got in the elevator and fought off all of the reporters. Once the doors were closed, I said,
"Can you imagine how much worse it would've been if all of you had come?"
"I know! That's why I forced them to stay. I knew something like this might happen."
"Damn vultures!"
"Yup. It's only gonna get worse. Now that they know I'm here, fans are going to start to stop by. Oh god! I'm so sorry baby!"
"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. It's this stupid hospital for leaking that you are here!"
"Once they find out that you're who I'm here with, then they're gonna hound you too!"
"Yup. Thank you MTV!"
"You ok Jay? Any cuts or bruises?"
"No." Jay said laughing.
"Well we're here. I hope they'll let you in this time." I said.
"They might, it's daytime so.."
"Yeah, probably."
We walked out of the elevator and went to my brother's room. He was awake and there was my parents and his girlfriend sitting around him.
"Hey bro!" He said noticing me enter.
"Hey! How you feelin?" I said going over and hugging him.
"I've been better!"
"I can see."
"Hey guys! What are you doing here?"
"Lance came up with me and Jay insisted on coming."
"Thanks guys! You didn't have to be here! You too Rob!"
"You know I couldn't just stay down there and sit tight."
"How is it down there?"
"Phat! My house is off the hook! Don't worry, when you get better you can come down and visit. All of you!"
The nurse came in and had an upset look on her face.
"Excuse me, but could you please do something to get all of those reporters out of here? This is a hospital, not a press conference!" She said anger written all over her face.
"What's she talking about?" Ricky asked.
"Well thanks to someone, who, we're not sure, they now know that Lance and I, more Lance, are here. They think that something is wrong and now there's a whole lot of reporters outside and in the lobby!" I said.
"And there are the fans! I can see the signs." Lance said looking out the window.
"Well I think we should go down and make another statement."
"Look at that! Already talking like you're used to it!"
"Well, I learn from the best!"
"Well do something! Security is having a rough time keeping them outside of the lobby!" The nurse interrupted then stormed out of the room.
"Come on babe. Let's go."
"I'm coming. I'm sorry about this everybody!" Lance said apologizing to my mother, brother and his girlfriend.
"It's not your fault! It's them stupid reporters!" My brother said.
"We'll be right back!" I said pulling Lance out of the room with me.
We went to the elevator and got in. When the doors opened to the lobby we saw a team of security guards trying to push out all of the reporters. Once they caught sight of us they pushed more and knocked one of the guards down. We both simultaneously put our hands up as to tell them to stop. Once they got the message Lance said,
"If you would all kindly and quickly step outside, I will explain why I am here and clear up any and all confusion."
They all started throwing questions at us, and Lance said,
"Please! I will be glad to answer all of your questions! But please make your way outside! This is a hospital! I have been informed that by your blocking of the lobby you are disturbing the business of the hospital!"
They finally listened and made their way out of the lobby. Lance apologized to the guards and we stepped outside amongst the wolves. Once we got outside we were again attacked by a million questions all at once.
"Please, please! One at a time!" Lance said.
"What are you doing here?" one female reporter asked.
"I am accompanying my friend and label mate Rob here on a family emergency that he had."
"Rob, what is your relationship with Lance and the members of N Sync?" another reporter asked.
"They are all my friends and they are the ones who helped me get my record deal."
"When is your record due out?" another reporter asked.
"In May. But please, I will ask that you not ask any questions pertaining to business. I am here visiting my brother who was in an accident last night. He was hit by a drunk driver, while on the way to pick up his girlfriend. Although he suffered a broken arm and some fractured ribs, he is ok now and recovering nicely. So it is with all professionalism but more my care for my brother, that I ask you not to disrupt any of the actions of the hospital. They have requested that Lance and I ask you to please leave for the reason that you are making the staff and patients uncomfortable. This is not a press conference. If you would like to find out more as to who I am, why I am here, and what my relationship with my friends of N Sync are I will release a statement come tomorrow morning. You can contact my record company for a copy of that statement. To the fans who are here because of Lance or even myself, I only ask for your prayers and that you think twice before drinking and driving. My family, the guys of N Sync, as well as myself all thank you for your concern but we have to ask you also to leave and not to cause any disturbances of the hospital staff. Thank you all, but I must now get back to my brother." We both turned around and heard the questions fly again. We ignored them and went back to the elevator. Once in the elevator Lance said,
"I'm impressed! I couldn't have handled that better myself!"
"Thank you!"
"The record company's gonna be happy at the way you handled that too!"
"Well that's the furthest thing from my mind right now."
"Sorry."
"It's ok. I just wanna know that my brother is going to be alright so I can leave in peace."
As we stepped out of the elevator my cell phone started to ring. I picked it up and it was JC.
"What up Josh?" I said.
"Well we all just wanted to know how everything is before we left!" He said.
"Well, Ricky was hit by a drunk driver as you know but he's doin ok. He has a broken arm and a couple fractured ribs. He's awake and he's doing good."
"Thank god! We were all worried."
"Thanks."
"Well, we gotta get going now. Tell Ricky that we hope he feels better and we're all praying for him. Tell Lance that we'll meet him at the hotel in London. And you just try and keep from going crazy!"
"I'll try!"
"Aight, later!"
"Peace!"
"Who was it?" Lance asked as I hung up the phone.
"It was Josh. He just wanted to see how everything was before they left. He said that they'll meet you at the hotel in London."
"Ok. What time is it anyway?"
"It's a little after 2."
"Whoa!"
"I know!"
"Well, let's get back to Ricky."
"Yeah."
We went back to the room and saw the doctor in there.
"Hey! What's goin on?" I asked as we stepped inside.
"The doctor was just telling that they are gonna keep him one more night for observation and if everything goes well, he'll be able to go home tomorrow!" My mom said.
"Thank god!"
"How did it go outside?" Ricky asked.
"Good! You should've seen Rob out there! Like a real professional. It was like he's been doing this for years!" Lance said.
"Oh, so you're the reason for all that ruckus outside!" The doctor said.
"Yeah, sorry!"
"Hey, you look familiar! Aren't you in that band the Backstreet Boys or something?"
"N Sync."
"Yeah, those are them!"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Oh! My daughter has a whole bunch of posters of you guys all over her walls!"
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. Could I get your autograph for her?"
"Sure."
He signed a piece of paper and the doctor thanked him. He then said,
"Hey, were you on MTV the other day? My daughter attacked me for the remote cause she heard something about N Sync and then I think they showed your face."
"Yeah. I'm coming out with an album in May and I'm going on tour with them."
"Well can I get your autograph too so my daughter doesn't kill me?"
"Sure!"
I signed the same piece o paper as Lance and then the doctor thanked me and walked out. My brother laughed at me and I said,
"What?"
"You should've seen your face! You were like `SURE!! WOW! Somebody wants my autograph!'" He said still laughing.
"At least somebody asked for my autograph! Not like it's ever gonna happen to you!"
"Shut up!"
"Listen, cripple boy... calm down before you hurt yourself even more!"
"Alright that's enough!" My mom said.
"Just like old times!" My dad said entering the room.
"Hey dad!" Ricky and I said.
"Man! I had a hell of a time getting in the damn building! There were all these news vans and a whole bunch of people outside blocking the way. Looked like they were heading away from the hospital."
"Blame it on those two over there!" Jay said.
"Huh?"
"Somebody leaked to the press that we were here so they thought something was wrong." Lance said.
"Oh. Well they're all leaving now."
"That's thanks to your son."
"What do you mean?"
"He handled them like a pro!"
"Oh really?"
"Yup!"
"That's my boy!"
"Alright, enough with the embarrassing!" I said.
"Oh, your uncle called and I told him what happened. He wanted to fly out here but I told him that you were ok and there was no need."
"How's he doing?" My mom asked.
"Good. Same old, same old. Has the doctor said anything?"
"Yeah, they're gonna keep me here one more night to see how I'm doing, if I'm ok, then I get to go home tomorrow." Ricky said.
"Great! How are you feeling?"
"Good, a little pain, but I'm ok."
"That's good. Hey, when are you two heading out?"
"Well, we gotta be at the airport by 5. My flight leaves at 7 and Lance's leaves at 6."
"Why two different times?" My mom asked.
"Cause, I'm going to London and he's going back to Orlando." Lance said.
"Oh. I've always wanted to go to Europe!"
"You will, don't worry, as soon as dad retires, you'll go everywhere! That's a promise!" I said.
"That's right!"
We all laughed and a nurse came in.
"How are we doing today?" She said coming inside the room.
"Good." We all said.
"Any pain?"
"A little, but not as much as yesterday." Ricky said.
"That's to be expected. Well, it's time for your painkiller. I'm gonna have to ask everybody to step out of the room for a minute. When I am done you can come back in."
We all stepped into the waiting room and I said,
"Me and Lance are gonna go get something to eat. Anybody want anything?"
"No." was the reply from everybody.
"Come on Jay, come with us."
"Ok."
We went over to the elevator and as soon as the door opened, out walked Melissa.
"Hey!" She said.
"Hey girl! We were just about to go get something to eat, come with us." I said giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"I was gonna go and see how your brother was doing."
"They're giving him some medication so they kicked everybody out for a little while. Come on, you'll see him when we get back."
"Ok, ok! Let's go."
We got into the elevator and went upstairs to the cafeteria.
"You know, this is the hospital I was born in." I said.
"Oh really?" Lance asked.
"Yup."
"Cool."
We got to the cafeteria and got some food all except for Melissa who had already eaten before she came.
"So, what's on schedule for you guys?" Melissa asked when they all sat down.
"Well, we're touring in Europe or a couple weeks, then we fly to LA to shoot an episode of Love Line and to start shooting our video or `I drive myself crazy' then it's back on tour."
(NOTE: How ironic that that song just came on as soon as I typed it. WHOA!!!)
"Oh yeah, Josh was tellin me about that. Are you excited about Love Line?"
"Not really, I don't like that show. It's just a bunch of people calling up and telling things that should be kept within the privacy of their own home."
"It's helpful sometimes. There was this, radio show here a few years ago called Love Phones. It was way better! It was funny too! They would play sounds and sometimes play with the callers. But. then they canceled it! Which really pissed me off!" I said.
"Why does that sound familiar?"
"Maybe cause it was broadcasted nationally."
"Oh! Then I've probably heard of it then."
"Cool. I remember that show." Jay said.
"Duh! Remember we used to listen to it when I slept over your house."
"Oh yeah."
"So, how's Josh doing last time you saw him?" Melissa asked.
"What, you don't talk to him enough to know? We saw him last on Friday. He's good, missing you, but still good." I said.
"What about Justin?" Jay asked.
"Same thing." Lance said.
"I miss him!" Jay and Melissa said at the same time.
We all laughed and I looked at my watch. It was now 4.
"Whoa! It's 4 o'clock!" I said.
"What?" Lance said.
"Yup!"
"Well, we better get back downstairs so you can see Ricky one last time, cause we gotta get going!"
"Yeah, come on, let's go!"
We threw away our trays and went back to Ricky's room. Melissa said her greetings to everybody and then asked how he was doing.
"He was just given some painkillers and he's getting drowsy. He should be going to sleep in a couple of minutes." Michelle said.
"Oh. Well, let me get in there, cause I gotta get goin." I said.
"Already?"
"Yeah, gotta work tomorrow."
"Oh."
I stepped in closer to the bed and said,
"Well bro, looks like you're gonna be alright! You need anything, you call me! I'll give Michelle my number for you. Feel better and call me when you get out of here!"
"Ok." He said drowsily.
"Hey, feel better man! I'm gonna let the guys know that you're ok and tell them that you said hi." Lance said.
"Ok.. Bye everybody!!" He said falling to sleep.
We laughed slightly and then all stepped out of the room.
"Well, we gotta get goin now." Lance said.
"Yeah. Well, I'll see all of you in a few months. This time I mean it." I said.
"Thanks or coming!" My mom said
"You know I couldn't just stay home and drive myself crazy!"
"Thinking of you..." Lance sang.
Melissa, Jay and I laughed and everybody else looked at us weirdly.
"Never mind! Anyway, I'll call you guys once I get in. Are you gonna go home or stay here again?" I asked.
"I'm staying again." Michelle said.
"I think I'm gonna go home." My mom said, "My back is killing me!"
"We should be home by the time you get in." My dad said.
"Ok. Then I'll see you." I said giving them all a hug and kiss.
"Bye, I'm glad I came. I would've been worrying too." Lance said.
"We are too. Thank you!" My mom said hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
We exchanged farewells.
"What are you guys gonna do?" I asked Melissa and Jay.
"I'm gonna go home." Melissa said.
"I'm dropping y'all off then going home. I got homework to do." Jay said.
"Oh, ok. Well let's get goin then." I said.
We got out to the clear parking lot and Melissa got in her car after saying goodbye and we got in my car. Due to all of the traffic, we didn't get to the airport until 5:30. We pulled up to the unloading area and got our stuff out of the car. We said our goodbyes to Jay and hurried into the airport. We got all of the preflight stuff taken care of just in time or Lance to board his flight. After finding a place to be alone, we said goodbye to each other the right way by giving each other a long loving kiss. We both started getting teary eyed as he walked up to the gate and finally broke down when he boarded. I managed to compose myself enough to get over to my gate although I was crying the whole way there. I was thinking about Lance the whole time, I almost didn't hear them call my flight. I got on the plane and sat in my first class seat. As soon as we took off I fell asleep from crying so much.
TBC....
As usual, questions, comments, suggestions all welcome. Email me at Papito6187@aol.com.