The Treatment

© Sweet Kisses™

~*~

"So, I was thinking."

The two men slowly walked down the darkened street which was lit up by street lights, flooding a circle of yellow just underneath itself. The wind had a cool edge to it, the stars were twinkling brightly and the moon was shining its silver beam down onto the vast land. From where they were, they could see the black rustling waves of the ocean, still choppy from the storm earlier that day.

The trees were blowing in the chilly breeze, leaves occasionally falling off the branches to land flat down on the Earth's surface. The street was desolate except for a stray white cat they had encountered just minutes before. They both felt a pang of sympathy for the homeless animal. Both men looked over their shoulders periodically, for fear of hit-and-runs. Though that had never occurred to either one of them, they just had to be sure. The life of the rich and famous.

Money. Lots. Safety. None.

"Yeah?" Brian Littrell coaxed in a gentle teasing voice, giving his friend, Howard Dorough, a light shove. "What were you thinking? Hurt much?" he added with a chuckle. He looked over at his friend and smiled.

They had been friends forever. Brian was blonde, blue eyed and Howard, or "Howie", was dark haired and dark eyed. On the outside, they couldn't be more different. On the inside, they were both very much alike. They seemed to have an uncanny ability for knowing what the other was thinking. It didn't really shock them all that much, it was simply a sign of how deep their friendship ran. And it ran very, very deep.

"Ha ha," Howie replied sarcastically and kicked a stone with his foot. "I was thinking about everything. You know, life."

"Life?"

"Yeah. Like, what're you going to do after this all ends? You know, fame? What's going to happen to us all and all that."

"Oh," Brian said softly and began to walk slower. He thought about this for a few moments. He had given this a lot of thought in the past, but he failed to come up with a strong plan that would fill the void of being an ex-popstar. It scared him. It scared him a lot. He never wanted it to end, that was his secret. But he knew he had to realise that nothing lasts forever and that everything changed, no matter how good it can be. Just like them.

"You know what? I don't know."

Howie stopped walking and turned to Brian. "Really? You've never even thought about it?"

"Well, it's all right for you," Brian said. "You've got it all mapped out. You can go into acting or buy some property or find a cure for a disease. But me? I'm just a...just a - "

"Brian," Howie interrupted and took him by the shoulders, "you've got the best voice out of the lot of us. Everyone says so." He chuckled. "And don't be inferior of me! I'm just little ol' Howie. Do you know how tiring it can get being labelled "the sweet one" and "Sweet D?"

"Do you know how tiring it is being labelled 'the religious one' and 'Brian - holier than thou'?"

They both laughed and started to walk again. The wind began to pick up speed and they both quickened their pace. Brian wrapped his jacket around him tightly and shoved his hands into the pockets. "Does it scare you?"

"Yeah," Howie replied with a nod. "Scares the hell out of me. Just the thought of not being able to do what I love because people have moved on and music has changed and we're not popular. Yeah, it scares me!"

"Do you think we'll all remain friends? Do you think when we're old and grey and sitting out on the porch, all five of us will be there, saying to each other 'remember when we...'?" Brian continued with a wistful smile.

Howie laughed and slung his arm around Brian's shoulder. "Anyone ever tell you that you worry too much? Just live and let live."

"Isn't that live and let die?" Brian said.

"Ahh, yes," Howie said and took his arm away, "but since we're talking about living, what I mean is to live for the now and let everything live as its supposed to. Fate decides your path. Just go with the flow, buddy, and don't worry too much. You'll kill yourself trying to please everyone."

"But you said that it scared you, too."

Howie laughed. "You never miss a thing, do you? It scares me to an extent, but not where I'm worrying constantly about it. I'm just going to settle down with a nice wife and raise a beautiful, healthy family. That's all I want."

"Don't we all?" Brian said. "Yeah, I love kids."

"Who doesn't?"

Howie and Brian walked through the doors to their hotel. The doors were brass, the carpet a cool beige and the furniture a rich, dark mahogany. This particular place was one of style, sophistication and wealth. They stopped at the elevator. "Have you noticed that A.J's being acting funny lately?" Howie asked Brian as they waited for the elevator. "Something strange is going on with him."

Brian nodded. "Yeah, like he's not with it or something." He looked away. "It's as if he's in a trance or he's drugged or something. I'm scared for him."

Howie pondered this and the doors opened and they stepped in. "You know, he's been sleeping a lot, too. He's acting as though he's not the A.J we know. He's acting, like...I don't know. Different. Haven't seen him in a day or two, either. Weird."

"I tried talking to him last week," Brian said mournfully, "he just screamed obscenities at me and made a run for it."

"And he always looks anxious," Howie added.

"And pale," Brian concluded.

The doors opened and they stepped out and made their way down the hall to their room. "I don't know if there's anything we can do," Howie said in a sad voice as they halted at the door and he quickly unlocked it. Howie threw open the door and Brian switched on the light.

"Holy shit!" Howie yelled.

"Oh my God!" Brian yelled, covering his mouth in disbelief.

What stood in the living room was, indeed, Nick and Kevin. Nick and Kevin, bound to chairs with rope around their hands and feet. Nick and Kevin, gagged with identical black bandannas. Nick and Kevin, beaten to an inch of their life, complete with bruises and blood. Nick and Kevin. Unconscious.

"Oh God!" Howie cried and frantically tried to untie his friends. "Quick! Call an ambulance!"

Brian stood there, pale as ever, in the centre of the room. "I...I...I...um...!"

"Oh, for Christ's sake, Brian, hurry up and stop stuttering!" Howie yelled and pulled the rope from Nick's feet. "Get a hold of yourself and call for help! They're going to die, Brian! Die!"

"Oh shit," Brian said and rushed for the phone. After quickly arranging for an ambulance to arrive, Brian began to untie Kevin's feet. He looked up at Howie with tears in his eyes. "Who would do this?"

Howie untied Nick's wrists and caught him before Nick fell onto the floor and laid him down on the plush carpet and supported his head with a cushion from the couch. "I don't know," he said softly and his eyes widened at the sight of Nick's face all cut and bruised. His eyes suddenly caught a piece of paper lying next to Brian. "Brian, there's a note."

Brian raised his eyebrows and picked it up. As his read it, his face lost all colour and his eyes widened. "Howie," he whispered, "it's a ransom note."

"What?" Howie cried and snatched the note from Brian. His mouth fell open as he scanned the scribble:

- Treatment One -

Beat Friend

Other Friends React

Take Friend

Other Friends React

"What the hell..."? Howie asked, confused by the note. "That makes no sense."

"No?" Brian repeated with a ghostly face. "Think about it. Nick and Kevin are the beaten friends, and we're still here. So, the taken friend must be A.J." His eyes were huge. "Howie, they want us to react."

"Oh, God," Howie whispered and let the note drop to the floor.

~**~