CHAPTER EIGHT - WILL YOU HELP ME?

"Brian?"

Pulling off his glasses, AJ stuffed them into a pocket and shifted uneasily, watching with some trepidation as Brian stared straight ahead. "Brian?"

No answer.

AJ chewed on his lip and glanced at the door, wondering if he should call for help.

He scanned his friend's face and then waved a hand. "Um, Brian? Come on, talk to me, man."

No reaction.

"Ooookay, now you're scaring the hell out of me," AJ admitted frankly, taking a step backwards. "I'll be back. Don't move, okay? Don't move. I'm just gonna step out for a second. Be right back."

Brian snapped out of his stunned realization, giving his band mate a frown. "AJ, don't be an idiot. I'm fine," he answered irritably. "Get back here."

AJ cocked his head to one side, taking offense at Brian's sour behavior. "Oh, really." He gave Brian the once over. "You don't look fine. How come you didn't answer me? Still thinking about her?"

Brian glowered at AJ's scornful tone. "And why should I tell you?" He rubbed a sore spot near his IV line. "As if you care."

In two quick steps, AJ was by the side of Brian's bed, his hands clamped around the steel guardrail. "Try me," he growled in frustration. "Just tell me what the hell is going on with you!"

Brian sat up a little straighter in bed, his blue eyes glowing in indignation. "I've told you before! All right! Okay! There is this girl, her, every night at our concerts. Sitting, just sitting! You know! And…and she's doesn't do anything! Nothing! Just sits, watching. You can't see her, but I can. She's there. She's real!" Brian paused for a moment, trying to gauge AJ's reaction and then continued. "Her, her eyes, AJ, they change! When she sees me, they change! She always opens her mouth, and…." Brian struggled to explain. "Her mouth. It's dark. Black. When she smiles it covers her whole face! And when I touch her, it hurts! I can't let go. It hurts so bad and I can't let…" Brian trailed off, seeing the incredulity in AJ's eyes.

"You don't believe me," he stated flatly.

"Bri…"

"I'm telling you the truth and you think I'm lying."

"Brian, come on, nobody has seen her. Nobody. Think about it! No pictures, no witnesses, no nothing!"

"But…"

Frustrated, AJ shoved away from the railing, running a hand through his hair. "And even if she is real, so what? So what? What is she doing that's so wrong? Sitting? Watching a concert? Big deal. Why can't you just leave her alone? Why are you causing all these problems for us, worrying everyone to death?"

Stung, Brian narrowed his eyes. "If you were my friend, AJ, you'd believe me."

AJ's mouth tightened into a thin line. "If you were my friend, you'd stop this crazy shit right now."

"So that's what this is, huh? You think I'm doing this for the fun of it? Get out."

AJ yanked on the handle to the door. "Gladly. Call me when you decide to grow up and stop playing these little games."

"GET OUT!"

AJ heard the muffled sound of something heavy hitting the closed door and he stormed off, pissed. So much for concern. He couldn't believe that Brian was playing them for fools. He and the guys had stayed up the whole night, talking, debating, agonizing over Brian's bizarre behavior, wondering what they should do. Well, now he knew what to do.

Seeing the troubled looks on Kevin, Howie, and Nick's face as he entered the waiting room, AJ walked over to them, motioning with a flick of his hand that they were leaving.

"What?" asked Howie anxiously, trotting after him. "What did Brian want you for?"

"To make me look like an idiot." AJ stopped in the middle of the hospital corridor, pausing to allow a young intern to pass by. "Brian actually wants me...us to believe that he saw this girl. He's not giving up. I told him there was no one and yet he still is arguing about it!" AJ saw the defeated slump in his friends' shoulders and nodded grimly. "I don't know whether he is completely off his rocker, or that this is some big joke. Either way, I've had it!" AJ noticed Nick starting to object and he cut him off. "Nick! I don't know what Brian is doing but it's gotta stop. Now. He's jeopardizing our careers! " AJ rubbed his forehead tiredly, waiting for the objections to begin.

"I agree."

Surprised, AJ raised his head and found Kevin nodding in agreement. "AJ's right. Brian is only one fifth of this group. If he needs professional help, then let's get him some help." Kevin's voice lowered to a warning growl. "But if Brian is screwing with our heads then God help him. Cause her, or whatever she is, will seem like an angel next to me when I'm done with him."