A sharp pain in his neck forced Brian from his heavy sleep. He looked up and found himself laying on the couch in his apartment. He had no recollection of coming back to his apartment, only falling asleep with Jen in her car. Getting up slowly, he walked around the room, finding not a single person anywhere. He walked back to the couch, picked up the phone, and called Howie's cell phone number. Brian worried, not getting an answer from Howie's phone. Just as Brian took the headpiece away from his ear, he heard a little voice call out. Putting the phone back to his ear, he spoke up.
"Howie! What took you so long? Where's everybody at?" Brian asked. Nothing but shallow breathing was on the other side. His heart begun to beat faster, knowing that something was not right. "Howie...what's happened! Tell me!!" Brian repeated, this time very distraught. Howie quickly cleared his throat and began to speak. "Brian, Jen died last night." A cold chill flooded Brian's body as he heard the words come from Howie's mouth. Brian gripped the phone tighter so it wouldn't drop. "What!? She can't be! I was with her last night!" Howie tried his best to calm Brian down, but it was no use, he had gone completley postal in two seconds. "She had a heart attack. The police went to her house and found some pills she had taken before she went out last night. Because she was drinking, it totally messed her up. Do you want me to come over, Bri? Brian? Hello!?"
No reply. Only the sound of a dial tone....
"Is that all you can recall, Ms. Martin?" The police officer looked into DeAnne's eyes, finding nothing but a lifeless soul inside. Her head drooped and her blonde hair hung around her face. Her makeup had been smeared and she was extremely exhausted. AJ sat down beside her, wrapping a small blanket around her, holding her tightly against his body. "Hey cop. Can't you see what she's been through? I think you should let her get some rest." AJ snaps at the police officer.
The officer scowled at AJ and closed his small notepad. "If you remember anything else, call the station." The officer turned and walked out of the house. Deanne sighed softly and shook her head. "I knew she was up to something, taking so long to come out of the house last night." AJ rubbed her shoulders, trying to reassure her. "It's not your fault, baby. You didn't know what was going on. You weren't expected to know, unless Jen wanted you to know. There's not alot we can do now. Except make sure Brian doesn't know. He took a strong liking to her, ya know?" DeeAnne nodded, commenting that Jen loved him also. "I think she died in the perfect place...in Brian's arms." DeAnne smiled, remembering how she found Jen and Brian together in her car.
Brian had been dead asleep, warm and content. Jen was cold as ice and still as a rock. DeeAnne finally realized what was had happened and ran back for the rest of the guys. Nick lifted Jen out, and Kevin and Howie walked Brian back to the Expedition. The ambulance had their lights shining and the noise in the parking lot was crazy, but he never really knew what was going on around him. He slept through the entire thing, Just then, Howie slowly walked into the kitchen, holding his cell phone. AJ & DeeAnne looked up at Howie, sensing that something was up. "Brian just called. I told him what happened." AJ jumped out of his chair, eyes wide open and arms flailing. "You did what!? Howie, I said no one is to tell him what happened until everything was ok for him to know!" DeeAnne grabbed ahold of AJ's shirt, tugging softly on it. "AJ please. Don't yell at Howie. Brian was going to find out sooner or later. Best he knew now what happened." AJ looked at Deanne & Howie, then slumped back into his seat. "What're we gonna do now?" Deanne asked. The kitchen was silent, except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. "We need to go to his house. See if he's ok." AJ comments. DeeAnne nods her head in agreement and follows Howie into the living room to get his keys.
Getting into the Expedition, Howie dialed Brian's number, hoping for a reply. After a few silent minutes, Howie dropped his phone into his lap, not getting an answer. AJ noticed that Howie wasn't going towards Brian's apartment, but taking the two of them farther out into the country, away from the city "Howie, I know you're a little wigged out right now, but you missed the exit to Brian's place a long time ago." AJ says sarcastically. "I know AJ. He's not at home. I know where he is." says Howie. Turning off the street down a wooded country road. The Expedition bumped and heaved with the potholes and mud ditches, throwing it's passengers around in their seats. Howie slows down and turns onto a gravel driveway. DeeAnne looks out the window and sees a tire swing hanging on a low oak tree. AJ looked on both sides of the vehicle, trying to figure out where they were, but not making much progress.
"Umm Howie? Where the hell are we?" AJ asks hesitantly. The gravel road finally ends, pulling up next to a small cabin. The house was made entirely of wood, with a brick chimney and two rickety chairs creaking on the front porch. DeeAnne noticed that the front door was open and swinging in the cold breeze. "Hey guys. The front door's open. He's gotta be in there."
