Brian twisted his hands. He was sitting in the waiting room while Nick was in for another round of radiation. The words that the doctor had said to them earlier on was etching itself into his brain, she had suggested him to be a patient advocate and this had Brian shaking. Nick, it seemed, was more bad off than he had admitted and Brian was glad that he had followed his little brother to the doctor.
With a sigh he stood up and walked to the coffee machine. Putting the coins into the slot, he pushed the button and hot coffee poured into a small paper mug. With a frown he picked up a cookie and then sat down in the sofa again. Time was dragging out and he glanced occasionally to the glass doors to where Nick was taken. Sipping on the coffee he closed his eyes, taking in the last days events. His whole life was rocked upside and down, but what scared him the most was that he was torn between his wife and friend. They both needed him, in different ways.
His thoughts were soon interupted by a girl sitting down on the sofa opposite him. ”Hey,” she said cheerfully and Brian smiled paley back. This girl was very attractive, even though she had no hair and was wearing a red bandana.
“You´re Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys, right?” the girl continued and he stiffened. What was this? A fan, that had recognized him! What was he suppose to do now? The fans and the media finding out this was the last thing that they needed right now.
He said nothing, just smiled and the girl continued, “I´m a friend of Nick's!”
“Aha!” During the years with the boys he knew that it was better to keep shut and not talk since words could stir up problems. All but Nick went by this rule. The young blonde was too much of an airhead to follow such instructions and this had lead to them into trouble more than one time in the BSB history.
“Are you waiting for him? Is he in radiation?” the girl continued.
Afraid to say too much Brian continued, “Are you here for a session?”
The girl nodded then she smiled, “Oh how rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself, I´m Julie.” She smiled widely as she stretched out her hand to Brian. He took her hand as he was desperately trying to place the name. Julie? Julie? Hadn´t Nick mentioned that name to him?
“Don´t worry. Your secret is safe with me and I have met Nick several times here at radiation!” she clarified once again, but Brian couldn´t relax yet. Fans had pulled his legs several times claiming to know one of them and now they rarely spoke to people. At least not about such serious matters as this would be.
Brian smiled and then small talked for a while. He didn´t bring up Nick and the girl didn´t push it any further. Glancing at the clock the minutes dragged on. It was over one hour since Nick went into the radiation room and he was starting to get worried. His fright didn´t disappear when he saw Dr. Andersen rush into the room where Nick was taken.
Julie seemed to sense his fear as she said, patting him with a comforting hand, “Don´t worry,I´m sure that Nick is alright.” Brian swallowed hard, then he nodded. Not saying anything more. But he had a bad feeling that something had happened and that it was not good news.
“Nick calm down, calm down,” the young nurse spoke softly to her patient while she stroked his sweaty hair and paged her caller to the doctor. Nick had been doing good and they were almost finsihed when she had noticed from her glass window the young man start to cold sweat and fidget on the hard bench. Instantly she had tried to contact him trough the speakers, but he had acted like he was in severe pain, trying to get the restraints off of his hands.
This had caused her to turn off the switch. Radiation was not to be interrupted if it wasn´t an emergency, but the tears rolling down her patients cheeks were telling her otherwise. Something was clearly wrong.
The moment she came into the room she noticed that he was panting, like he was having a hard time breathing. He was having an panic attack!
Rushing to his side she saw that he was sweating tons and he was writhing, trying to get away from the device. His hands were restrained by his side so that he wouldn´t interfere with the treatment and she could guess that he was very uncomfortable.
“Sh, shhh, “ she soothed as he was biting his lips together, moaning. “ What's wrong?”
“It hu..it hurts,“ he moaned as he was yanking at the restraints. Instantly she loosened on the ties and he rubbed his sore wrist, before placing his hands protectively on his stomach.
“Is it your stomach?” she asked as she tried to calm him down.
“Ye..yes..” he moaned again and then became deathly pale. With a swift hand she fetched a bowl just in time to see her patient roll to his side, making good use of it.
“Shhh, calm down,” she mumbled as her patient was retching violently. Even if she wasn´t more than 25 years old she had alot of experience with this kind of treatment and she winced when she saw in how much pain the young man was in.
The door opened and in came Dr. Andersen. “What happend?” she asked with a frown, rushing towards Nick's side. The young nurse took away the bowl and then helped him lay down again. The paleness in his face was deathly white, except for some small blush on his cheeks, indicating that he was having a fever. “You feel any better?” she mumbled as she stroked his hair back from his face. Nick nodded in silence as he closed his eyes again. Dr. Andersen had begin poking and proding at Nick and the nurse answered, “We were nearing the end of the radiation session when I noticed that Mr. Carter was in great pain, having a hard time breathing. Then I turned off the device and came in here just in time for him to start wretching.”
Dr. Andersen nodded, then she turned over to Nick, “Are you still in pain?”
“No, it´s better,” the young man mumbled as he stroked his hands through his tousled hair.
The young nurse watched as Dr. Andersen continued on with her examination then she heard the doctor saying, “Nick, you were suffering a panic attack due to the stress that you have experienced lately and nausea is a common symptom as well as shortness of breath. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but we'll stop the radiation treatment for today and then I want you to lay on the bed in one of the examinations room to rest for a while until you feel a bit better.” Dr. Andersen took out her stethoscope and then patted Nick's head, “Do you want me to bring your friend Mr. Littrell to you?”
Nick thought for a while and then he nodded a positive answer.
“Very well, Cathy will go and get Mr. Littrell then,” Dr Andersen motioned with her head to the young nurse and she stood up to leave the room, just to be caught by Nick's grip. “Thanks,” he whispered as he looked with his deep blue eyes at her.
“You´re welcome,” she smiled looking down at her patient. She had gotten to know Nick a bit better during these past weeks and he was one stubborn person that rarely asked for any help. Deep down inside her she felt a pang of sadness. His eyes betrayed her and she shuddered. They were pain filled and sad and didn´t have the glow that she knew that they were famous for. Instead they were clouded with tiredness and sickness.
Nick let go off her grip and she moved away towards the door, intent to find his friend. Nick needed someone by his side.
“Mr. Littrell?” a female voice called for him and he looked up from the conversation that he was having with the young girl named Julie. The door was opened to the radiation room and a young blonde nurse was standing there, calling out for him.
“Yes,?” he didn´t have to think twice before he knew that something was up and the facial expresion on the blonde nurse confirmed this.
“Mr. Carter would like you to stay with him for awhile. Come with me and I will show you to the examination room.”
“What? Has something happend?” Brian stood up instantly and walked over to the nurse, leaving Julie to watch his actions. The nurse instantly calmed him down. “No, nothing serious. Mr. Carter wasn´t feeling well after this last session and Dr. Andersen wanted him to rest for awhile.” She smiled briefly before saying, “There is no need to worry. He will be just fine.”
The words didn´t calm him down one bit. Instead panic was dwelling up inside him. In what way wasn´t Nick feeling good?” There were so many questions and he walked like a zombie after the nurse who chatted along with him. She stopped inside a room and the knocked on the door.
Dr. Andersen opened the door and Brian could see Nick laying on a bed, covered by a blue blanket. He didn´t look well at all and Brian rushed by his side. “Nick, Nick what happend?” he asked as he sat down heavily on the side of his bed.
Dr. Andersen took over. “Mr. Carter suffered from a small anxiety attack due to the stress he has been in. He was feeling nauseous but is much better now and he will rest until he feels better again.”
Brian nodded as he took his friends hand. Nick was a person that needed affection and he knew that holding his hand always calmed him down and made him relax. Nick looked up at him, “Bri?” he murmured as he wet his dry lips.
“Yes Frack, you´re all right?”
“Been better,” Nick mumbled as he held Brians grip tighter, “been worse.” Nick was being stubborn as ever, but the grip on his hand talked for itself.
Nick was not feeling good at all.
