After the long journey, the bus finally pulled into the next venue. By that time, the guys finished their meeting.

AJ stretched like a cat. "Well, that's over and done with. Let's have some fun."

Kevin looked at Brian. "Will he ever grow up?"

"You're asking me that?"

Julian was waiting for them when they came in. he frowned slightly. "You're late." He said flatly.

"Sorry, ran into a small problem." Howie apologized.

"Mike told me. What a nuisance," Julian said distastefully.

"I know. Tell me about it."

Mike poked his head in. "Howie, you're on the local radio station in…half an hour. Let's move it."

Howie groaned and went out again.

Julian got up. "Well, as long as we're not too behind," he said, leaving. "Oh, and don't forget we got that Fan Conference tomorrow morning. Five o'clock sharp."

"Five?!" Brian screeched. "Damnit, Jules, you trying to kill us or what?"

Julian smiled tightly at the joke. "Five o'clock," he said firmly before going out.

"That man's stamina just amazes me," AJ drawled sarcastically. "Is he on something or what?"

"It's his job," Kevin said unhelpfully. "Let him be."

Howie came back in. "Well, I'm off," he said briskly.

"See ya, D- have fun."

Howie rolled his eyes. "Like hell I will." He sighed and left.

"Hope he knows what he's doing," Kevin frowned.

"Relax. D can handle it. he's good at this radio thing." Nick chipped in.

"I know, but couldn't they just talk to him over the phone?"

AJ shrugged. "I guess they want him physically appearing."

"Next show's in Houston. They can see him there."

"They'll see all of us there."

"I know, but still."

Brian looked at his cousin. "Don't sweat it, Kev. You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." He leaned back on the couch. "Man, I'm tired."

Brian shot up. "Just the thing to wake you up," he said brightly, grabbing his basketball. "Care to join me?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Nick grinned.

"Come on, guys. Me 'n Nicky against you two. On?" Brian cajoled.

"That's not fair," AJ mock-complained. "You two suck."

"Oh yeah? How much?" Nick challenged.

"Nah. I'm not the betting type," AJ declined breezily.

"Chicken," Nick smirked, grabbing the ball from Brian and running out into the area where the portable hoop was located. The crews looked up from setting up the stage, amused.

Brian was pleased that Nick had his old vigor back again. He watched as his friend dodged past a still-listless Kevin and made a shot. Yep, that was the Nick he knew. God knows how long it'll last, he thought pensively, before he retreats into his old shell again.

"Yo, Bri! Wake up!" Nick's voice shook him away from his thoughts, and he joined in the game, brushing away his worry. Rachael was proficient. She'd solve the problem, if anyone will.

If she knew what the problem was.

The game was going nicely for about ten minutes when suddenly, the front gate opened and Mark strode in, sputtering. "I can't believe this!" he muttered.

"What's up, Mark?"

"There's this military guy that's demanding entrance- he didn't say what he wants." Mark reported. "He threatened me, man! Do you know this weirdo?"

Kevin frowned. "A military guy? No, I don't think so. Why-"

"Excuse me."

They whirled around at the sound of a deep, resonant voice. It belonged to a tall, solidly built man in his mid-thirties standing at the doorway. Nick's eyes widened as he saw the white uniform with the four yellow stripes on each shoulder- the uniform of a Navy SEAL Captain.

"Could you please tell me where I can find Rachael Harrison, please?" he asked calmly.

"Before anyone could speak, Rachael's voice rang across the arena. "Still intimidating people, Captain? I thought you gave that up in High School." Nick saw Rachael standing in the doorway, her brows arched sardonically. Her eyes, however, had a questioning look in them.

The big man turned to her. "Some habits are hard to change," he said pleasantly, his eyes boldly raking over her. "You haven't changed."

"You know this guy?" Brian asked, surprised.

"Yes." she strode across the court and stopped in front of the man. "Unfortunately."

"Be nice," he said mildly.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked.

"I was in town," the man said lightly. "Frank told me about your new…assignment." He peered over at the guys, who were watching with curious eyes. "Which one?"

"Be serious," Rachael scoffed. "When did you get promoted?"

"A month ago."

"Does Cassie know?"

"Yes." he flicked at glance at the group standing nearby, then looked at her. "Mind if I have a word with you? I can't stay long."

Rachael gazed up into the stranger's eyes, a frown knitting her brow. Finally, she nodded. "All right." turning, she walked over to Nick. "Will you excuse me for a second? I won't be long." She said.

Nick nodded, than watched as the tall, dark-haired man and Rachael walked away, towards the backstage. He started slightly when the man put an arm gently around and drew her closer in an affectionate hug.

AJ's voice broke into his shock. "Must be her boyfriend or something. C'mon- the game's still on!" he snatched the ball from him and resumed the game. Nick dragged his attention back to it, feeling slightly disturbed.

they talked in the hallway, facing each other. Rachael studied his features. He was slightly older, more bronzed. Lines began to engrave themselves around the corner of his eyes and firmly set mouth. And he looked tired as hell.

"You should be eating more," he said, observing her critically. "You look like a skeleton."

"Thanks," Rachael said dryly. "Nice to see you too."

He grinned, banishing the grim lines and making him look at least five years younger. "It has been a long time, huh?"

"Yep." She paused. "Eight months, actually."

"Christ, that long?" he muttered. "Damned occupation."

"Pressure?" Rachael asked gently.

He shrugged. "It goes with the territory. What can I say?" he said off-handedly.

Rachael understood. Being a Captain wasn't easy. She knew what it was like. She abruptively shook the trail of thought away. It would just bring bad memories.

"Are you going home?" she asked.

"Yeah. A couple of weeks off, then I'm off again."

"Off? Where?" she asked sharply.

He ran a hand through his dark hair. "Some trouble down in Cuba. They're sending me down there to supervise the troops. Then back to Washington for a conference."

"What a coincidence. My client's got a conference too." Rachael said dryly.

"Really? Well, at least it won't be about whether they're going to blow up another country," he returned jokingly.

Rachael's troubled eyes gazed at him. "How long?"

He shrugged. "Six months. Give or take."

"I'll miss you," she said softly.

A dark brow shot up. "Sentimentality, Rock? That's hardly in your character."

"You know what I mean." She said quietly.

He sobered immediately. He sighed. "Hell, yeah. I'm sorry I can't be around more-"

"It doesn't matter. I know." She said, looking away.

He lifted her chin up to meet his eyes. "Take care of yourself, you hear me?" he said softly.

Rachael nodded. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Nick and the others just chose that moment to enter the hallway. They stopped as they saw the intimate scene. (Gee, talk about bad timing…)

Both looked up. Rachael looked slightly embarrassed and broke away. The Navy guy looked slightly amused, then kissed her cheek lightly. Nodding a greeting to the guys, he left. Rachael looked after him sadly. It was as if their lives were just slipping away. Him, for his duties. And for her… what was she living for?

She turned around, her face betraying nothing. "I'm sorry, Mark. He does that sometimes. He didn't know he needed authorization." She apologized to the security guard, then wryly added, "He should know better than anyone else. I guess he's getting old."

"That's all right." Mark replied, looking puzzled.

"we're just going to the Catering," Nick said quickly.

Rachael nodded. "Okay." She said absently. She seemed preoccupied.

"Since when did you starting telling her where you're going?" AJ asked as soon as they were out of her earshot.

"Since now," Nick snapped irritably, then immediately regretted it. he was being angry for no reason.

"Whoa, don't bite me. I was just asking." AJ said quickly.

Brian was observing him curiously.

"What?" Nick demanded.

"Nothing," Brian said, but Nick could swear he smiled before he turned his face away. That irritated him even more.

The afternoon passed on with out any more drama. Howie returned from the interview, and they did sound check. Nick was in the bus, playing video games, when Brian stepped in. "Nick?"

"Yeah. Here."

Brian came into view. He sat down on the sofa, looking at him. Not taking his eyes off the brightly colored screen, Nick snapped, "Brian, will you stop looking at me as if I'm a Martian? What got into you today?"

"I'd ask you the same question," Brian said pointedly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Brian was silent for a while. "You snapped at Boner for no reason."

"So?"

"After that guy came, you missed three passes and five shots."

"Thanks for keeping count." He said absently.

"She is pretty good looking."

"Don't let LeighAnne hear that."

"I give up," Brian shook his head wearily, getting up.

Just then, Rachael stepped into the bus. "Am I interrupting you two?"

"Not at all. He's all yours," Brian said brightly. "I'm going to make a call. See you." He left.

"He's in a strange mood," Rachael noted.

Nick shrugged, killing another enemy. "God knows."

"Mike said Max Martin's here. He thought you should know."

Nick shrugged again. "He's staying for the show. I'll talk to him later."

They were silent for a while, the only sound in the bus was the tiny music coming from the TV.

"Do they know?" Rachael asked suddenly.

" Who know what?" Nick asked.

"The…media. Fans."

"Are you out of your mind?" Nick scoffed. "Of course they don't. do you know just what might happen if the word got around? World War three would break out."

"A slight exaggeration, perhaps."

"Nope. I'm serious." He turned to look at her. "Everything we do is posted all over the Internet, and everything that we don't do is plastered all over the magazines. Sometimes it's the other way around. That's why we don't reveal much about ourselves. We just go with the demand, live up to the expectations, and tiptoe around what we say." He shrugged. "It might seem easy, but actually it's not. If the word gets out, it would blow in our faces. Bad image, plus I'd lose what little…freedom I have."

"Don't they have suspicions?"

"Of course they do, but they can't prove anything based on guesses."

Rachael looked thoughtful. "Hmm. You're right." she looked at him. "Any calls yet?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Nick-"

"Honest. No. No calls."

"You're sure?"

"Oh, for Christ's sake, no! not since when you-" he stopped.

"I see." She looked out the window. "Is there…a regularity?"

"a what?"

"Is there a certain amount of time between calls?"

"Well, I-" he frowned. "I really don't know. Sometimes it's days before the next one. There is actually no pattern, if that's what you mean."

Rachael looked liked she wanted to ask more, but he picked up the control pad and resumed butchering a three-eyed monster.

A few moments later, she left.