Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 18:04:24 -0800 (PST) From: Billy Burrew Subject: Gifts of Love Chapters 10 The Gift of Love... A New Tale of the Magi By Billy Burrew Disclaimer: As usual, I would like to comment that this story is purely fictional and that it is no reflection on the sexual orientation of any of the members of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys or their estranged manager, Lou Pearlman. Please read this and enjoy it for what I intended it to be, an entertaining story. There is not a lot of sex, tho there are some adult situations. Please be forewarned. Remember, in the words of Peter Vincent, the Vampire Slayer in Fright Night, "Forewarned is Forearmed!" -Billy B Chapter 10: A Dark Secret Revealed A cough brought Patrick out of his thoughts. Patrick looked up into a pair of sparkling eyes and long blond hair. "Hi there!", the young man smiled and Patrick recognized him immediately, "Is Lance comin back here? I wanted to talk to him." "Yeah", Patrick grinned, "He just went off to get us a snack. I'm Patrick Morrow, by the way, and it's a pleasure to meet you!" "Nick, Nick Carter", the tall blond grinned, "The pleasure is all mine. So...How do you know Lance?" "He and the guys came to visit me at my sisters wedding a month ago.", Patrick smiled, "They invited me to come down here to show me Orlando. I have never been here before." "Wow!", Nick smiled, "Never been to Orlando? Where are you from?" "Chapel Hill, North Carolina", Patrick said, "Home of the Tarheels" "So. Are you just a friend of the guys?", Nick said, fishing for information. "You wanna know the truth?", Patrick said conspiratorially, leaning towards Nick. "I am gonna have Lance's love child." Nick pulled back in shock then began to laugh. Patrick grinned at the young man as he laughed. "Seriously, tho. I owe these guys my life everyday.", Patrick said soberly, "I'd be dead by now if it weren't for them." Nick's smile faded and he leaned towards Patrick. "They saved you?" "About 5 months ago, I was diagnosed with AIDS and given 3-4 months to live, the way my health was deteriorating.", Patrick said quietly. "My lover sent the guys a letter telling them about my health and how much of a fan I was and begging for them to call to give my spirits a boost so that I would live to see my sister's wedding. They did better than that. They called and talked with me, and invited me to their show in Ohio the day after the wedding and then asked if they could come to the wedding itself. I was gonna use their song for my dance with my sister, and they sang it live to me. Since that weekend, they have been the best friends I have ever had. I thank God for them every day." A single tear slipped down Nick's cheek as he looked at the young man in front of him. "And I just thought you were his new trick.", Nick said, shaking his head. "I feel like a dick now!" "No problem", Patrick smiled, "No one could have known....besides...my other favorite band is the Backstreet Boys." Nick grinned and his face brightened. "Really?!?" "Yep. I have both the Japanese and American versions of Millenium as well as all your other CD's. In fact...one of my fave songs is that one that you sing, "I Need You Tonight". Last week, I was comparing how much your voice had matured since Backstreet's Back. I was listening to "Get Yourself A Bad Boy" and I am amazed at the versatility in your voice." Nick blushed, "Really? Thanks. I didn't think anyone noticed anything like that." "I do", Patrick grinned, "Brian has come a long way too...he sounded good in the early stuff, but has really expanded his range and lost that touch of "whining-nasalness" he had in his voice on the earlier stuff. Probably from his voice just getting stronger from all that singing and recording." "Wow!", Nick said in amazement, "You really pick up on every little thing." "Yeah", Lance's voice laughed from behind Nick, "But he hasn't picked you up yet, huh?" "Lance!", Nick blushed as he turned around as the blond bass put down a tray of three caramel apples and three sodas in front of them. "I saw you two over here, so I thought I'd just get us all some.", Lance smiled. "Thanks Lance", Nick grinned as he grabbed an apple and took a bite. "So Patrick", Lance said with a grin, "What kinda stories has Nick been telling you while I was gone?" Patrick waited a second til Nick got another big bite out of his apple and Lance took a big sip of his soda, "Stories? Nick was just telling me what an insatiable bottom boy he is. Right Nick?" Nick's eyes widened as he began to choke on his apple. He quickly spit it out and continued to cough. Lance was not as fortunate as the large sip of sofa he had taken had come right out his nose as he laughed and coughed. Patrick grinned and slapped Nick on the back a few times before giving him his soda to drink. Nick stopped coughing for a second and looked at Patrick with a small smile. "Sorry Nick.", Patrick said, "The moment was there and I had to take it. Besides....Lance just shot a quart of soda outta his nose....you can't buy tickets for funny shit like that!" Nick threw his head back and laughed, "I'm sure glad I came over here. I like you. You're really awesome!" "Ain't he though?", a group of voices sang out from behind Patrick. "Well, well, well", Patrick said as he turned, "Good of y'all to catch up with us. I was beginning to worry!" Justin laughed and sat down beside Lance who scooted over to make a place for him. The two looked at each other for a second and smiled. Patrick saw this and grinned happily. "PATRICK...MAN.....you missed it! That ride was off the hook!", Joey grinned. "I saw it. I got queasy from looking at it from down here.", Patrick smiled wanly. "So, Nick....where's the rest of the "boys"?", Chris asked looking around for possible signs. "They're all sleeping probably. Lou called this morning and asked my mom to have me come sign something. I just came here after that was all done.", Nick said looking down at his shoes. "Nick", Patrick said, grabbing his arm, "Let's you and me go get the guys some drinks." "OK", Nick said with a smile, jumping up and walking with Patrick over to the refreshment stand. "That's nice of him...", JC smiled, looking over at Lance and Justin who were leaning on each other and looked pale as ghosts. "...Are you two OK? You look like you are gonna hurl!" Patrick grabbed Nick's arm and led him past the farthest concession stand, out of sight of the guys. "Patrick...whassup?", Nick said seriously. "Tell me. Lou...He didn't...not you too!", Patrick choked out as tears of rage filled his eyes. Nick stared down at his shoes and nodded his head. Patrick pulled his head up to face him eye to eye. "Please Nick", Patrick pleaded, "Don't let him get away with this...or he'll do the same to Aaron." "NO!", Nick shouted, "He'd better not touch my brother!" "What's to stop him from doing it to one more little boy, if three older ones won't speak out against him?", Patrick said sternly as he looked over to the approaching figures of Justin and Lance. Nick's eyes widened as he realized the meaning of Patrick's words. "Remember Nick, he's the monster. You didn't do anything wrong!", Patrick said before Lance and Justin came over and the three hugged together. Patrick slipped away and ordered enough drinks for everyone and some more snacks. As he sat down at the table and began to drink his soda, Justin, Lance and Nick appeared at his side. Nick grabbed Patrick and gave him a crushing hug. JC, Mike, Chris and Joey all stood by watching as Nick cried and hugged Patrick. "Guys. I think that Lance, Justin and Nick have something to tell you. It's serious, OK?", Patrick announced soberly. Ten minutes later, Mike, JC, Chris and Joey stood in shock after hearing of their secret. Joey was the first to speak, "He's dead. I am gonna break every bone in his fat body!" JC and Chris walked over to Justin, Lance and Nick, leaned over and hugged them each tightly. "Nick. Have you told Kevin and the guys yet?", Patrick said quietly. Nick shook his head. "I know it'll be hard, but please do. They need to know, in case he did it to any of them.", Patrick replied. "Did what?", a voice from behind Nick said loudly, causing Nick to spin around. Patrick looked up to see Brian and the rest of the Backstreet Boys walking up behind Nick. "Hmmm...the gang's all here!", Patrick said quietly. "Guys? What are you doing here?", Nick said nervously. "Your mom said you'd be here...we wanted to chill and have some fun today..so here we are!", AJ said with a smile. Brian and Patrick stared at each other, their eyes locked. "Nick? Are you gonna introduce us to your friends?", Brian asked without looking away from Patrick. "This is JC, Joey...", Nick laughed as Kevin smacked him. "We know them, you dink!", Kevin laughed. "Brian means the other two guys." "My name is Patrick Morrow, and this is Mike Roberts. Pleased to make your acquaintance.", Patrick said effortlessly. Brian stepped close to Patrick and shook his hand, "Pleasure is all mine." "You wish!", Nick muttered under his breath loud enough for both Brian and Patrick to hear. Patrick smiled and Brian blushed and gazed angrily down at Nick. "You guys have a minute? Nick has something very important to tell you.", Patrick announced. Nick looked up and shook his head. Patrick leaned over and put his arm around Nick's waist, hauling him up and whispering in his ear, "It'll be OK. I'm here for you. We all are!" Nick nodded and began to tell his story. Five minutes later all hell broke loose as JC and Mike fought to restrain Kevin and Brian from going to TransCon and tearing Lou's fat head off his shoulders. "That motherfucker! All the shit we did for him and he does this to Nick? That ain't right!", AJ said angrily as he pushed against Justin and Lance. "Guys", Patrick said loudly and all eyes looked to him. "This is not an isolated incident. He did the same to Lance and Justin, and who knows how many other young guys? The only way to stop him is to confront him. The sooner the better!"