Madison was shaking so bad she almost couldn't stand, this couldn't be happening...not now. She heard Andrew stumble down the stairs, "Aunt Madi? I was wondering--Aunt Madi? What's wrong?? What happened??"
Madison shoved her fear and anxiety down into the pits of her stomach before answering Andrew. "No..nothing Andrew."
"But..you're pale..and shaking..."
She took a deep breath, "There was a plane crash..and I think Kevin and the others were on that plane.."
"Are they okay?"
"I don't know sweetie..I hope so..Kevin's mom is coming down though.."
"To stay with us?"
She nodded, "Yeah.."
"I can call daddy if you want?"
"No Andrew...don't call your father right now, I'll call him later..."
"I figured..maybe you'd wanna be alone.."
Madison hugged him close to her, "Last thing I need is to be alone Andrew..you stay with me, okay?"
He smiled a little, "okay.."
At about 9 that evening, Madison was holding Andrew's hand tightly as they waited for Anne to arrive from Lexington. Madison spotted her at about the same time Anne spotted them. Anne hugged her close, "You holdin' up okay?"
Madison nodded, "I think so..I haven't heard anything sooooo..."
"Me neither..Tim and Jerald said they'd keep an eye on things as long as I call soon.."
"Well..this is my nephew Andrew. 'Drew, this is Kevin's mom, Anne."
Anne smiled at the little boy, "Its nice to meet you Andrew."
"You too...can I call you Anne?"
"Sure you can."
"Okay!"
The two women smiled as Andrew talked a mile a minute as they walked out to Madison's car. She drove them to Kevin's house, since it was closer to things, but nothing could of expected them for what greeted them.
"What's all that??," Andrew asked pointing from the backseat.
"I don't know..," Madison asked as she pressed the button for the gates to open.
That was when the people outside swarmed around the car. Newspeople, photographers, fans, everyone seemed to surround the car. Madison slammed on the brakes, "Damnit, move out of my way!"
"What are they doing??," Andrew asked.
"Trying to get us to tell them anything..sit back Andrew.," Anne advised.
Mdison finally got through the gates and immediately shut them. The three got out of the car and unloaded Anne's stuff. The people were screaming questions and things at them and flashes were going off like nothing. Madison unlocked the door and they went inside, she immediately locked the door behind her. "Well, thats great.," Madison said with a sigh.
"You know they'd come sooner or later..," Anne said.
"I know..but...I just wish I knew something..anything.."
"I'll get Andrew to watch the tv.."
"I'm gonna run upstairs and check the messages..thanks Anne."
"No problem..with any luck, you can be callin' me 'mom'."
Madison smiled and walked upstairs and into Kevin's room where the answering machine was. She closed the door and flipped on the desk light. She pressed the 'play' button and sat on the bed to listen.
"Hey girl, its LeighAnne. I just heard what happened and I figure you'd better know whether they were or weren't on that plane. They were. I know, our worst fears comin' true. It was something important to Kevin so they all went. Umm..if you hear anything, give me a call at the house in LA tonight..I'll be home. Hang in there Madison..everything'll work out."
Madison smiled, all the guys were in on it! And of course, she was the last to find out ANYTHING.
The next message played, it was LeighAnne again.
"Hey, its me again. Its 'bout 5 o'clock here and I'm guessing you aren't home. Finally got ahold of Michael but he doesn't know anything more than I do. Umm..I was just calling...wondering, has the press gotten to you yet? I was getting some food and about 4 reporters came up to me asking me stuff. *sigh* I hatethis..this..waiting. Call me. Bye.
Madison erased the messages and flipped on the tv. Of course, the news was all over the plane crash.
"It has been confirmed that the five Backstreet Boys and their entourage were on board the flight. And at this time we know that two people have died from injuries sustained in the crash, although those names are not being made public. We have learned that the minor injuries are being taken to Orlando General. Back to you, Bob."
Just as Madison turned off the tv, Anne burst through the door, "Pick up your phone..now."
Madison picked it up, "Hello?"
"Madi? Its Brian.."
"Oh my God! Brian?? Are you okay? Is everybody okay???"
"Calm down girl. I'm fine..so is everybody but..umm..Kev."
"What?? What's wrong with him??"
"I..I can't tell you Madi..Umm..just come to Tampa General."
"Tampa?"
"They airlifted him. Umm.."
"I can't leave..the press is all outside and won't leave!"
"Give the phone to Aunt Anne.."
She did and started to cry. Anne walked into the huge bathroom, "Brian? What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know..Apparently, he took the brute of the force from the crash..umm..I don't really know anything more than that.."
"Is he going to be okay?"
"I think so...I hope so Aunt Anne.."
"How's everyone else?"
"Fine..a little bruised and cut up but Kev got the worst of it..*sigh* She needs to be here though."
"I know she does..we'll be there as soon as possible."
"Okay.."
"Take care of him till we get there.."
"I will..take care of her.."
Anne smiled, "I will..I do want a daughter-in-law."
Brian laughed, "You'll get her Aunt Anne."
Anne hung up the phone and walked back into the main part of the room to see Madison crying even harder. "He's dying, isn't he?? Being airlifted means its bad, he can't die Anne! He just..can't!"
"Oh honey...come here..," Anne said wrapping her arms around Madison protectively, "He's not dying..I'll kill him if he does. Being airlifted just means its serious...he won't die..he's going to marry you and you two will have like sixty children and grow old together.."
"I just don't want to lose him.."
"You and I both don't wanna lose him and we won't."
"I don't think I can see him..like that.."
"You can..I'm going to call Tim and Jerald and tell them to come on down. Then I'll get Andrew to get some stuff together and we'll go, okay?"
"Okay.."
"Clean up, grab him some clothes, and you too. Pull yourself together, what would he say if he saw you cryin' like this??"
"Probably something like, 'Awww honey, here's a hug, now let's go eat'."
Anne laughed, which got Madison to laugh and smile, "I could see him now."
"I'll get ready then come downstairs.."
"Okay."
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