"But, if she was in the park alone and she went back to the house alone, don't you think she's happy there..?" the reporter questioned.
"No," he said forcefully, "They brainwashed her and probably threatened her..." he said.
"What? How could he say that?" Nick yelled at the TV.
"...She loves me and I'm sure she'd want to come home with me..." Mr. Walsh continued.
"Don't count on it." A.J. said.
"Mr. Walsh, earlier you were telling me about harassing phone calls, please share to the viewers what happened?"
"Well, I phoned the boys place wanting to speak to my daughter and they wouldn't let me talk to her. They swore at me and threatened me..." he said.
"Why he oughta...." Nick said.
"Mr. Walsh, if you're daughter is watching right now what do you want to say to her.." the reporter said.
"Karen, honey, if you're watching I want you to know that I love you and I'm going to get you back from those disturbed Backstreet Boys..."
"Well, you heard it from here. The Backstreet Boys aren't so perfect after all, kidnapping a girl who belongs with her family and..." The reporter finished.
Kevin grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. "That's it, there goes our reputation. I knrew this would happen." he said.
"I can't believe he would lie like that, right on TV.." Dawn said. "What a bastard?" she said disgusted.
Upstairs in Karen's room, Karen woke up to a soft kiss on her lips. "Brian.. you're still here.."
"Why wouldn't I be?" he smiled.
"Let's go downstairs, it's almost 11.. everyone should be awake by now..." she said getting up.
"Wait, not until I get a kiss." he said holding her down.
She grinned and leaned in for a kiss. "Let's go.."
As they headed downstairs they saw everyone sitting in the family room starring at the blank TV. Silence was everywhere. "Good morning." Brian said.
Everyone turned and looked at them with serious faces. "What happened?" Karen asked worried.
Nick walked up to her and gave her a hug. "You're stepfather was just on TV..."
"He was?" she said. "Why?"
"I don't know but the Backstreet Boys are ruined.." Nick said.
"Ruined why?" Brian asked.
"He told the whole nation that we kidnapped Karen and brainwashed her and that we were harassing him with phone calls not letting him talk to Karen. He lied on national television.." Nick said.
"He... he.. did.." Karen started to cry in Nick's arms. She turned to everyone. "I'm so sorry, I honestly didn't mean to ruin you're careers like this. I... I don't..." she turned and ran back upstairs.
"Her life was going so well too.." Brian trailed. He looked at Nick. Nick nodded and ran up the stairs.
"Theresa?" Dawn whispered. "Where did you go, I didn't see you this morning?"
"Not now, Dawn," Theresa said, not wanting to ruin anything. Her and Nick aren't an official couple yet and she didn't want to jinx it. Theresa looked over at the others who were quiet from the news. "Come on guys, we have to help her through this..."
Brian sat down more relaxed, Leigh Anne took notice of it and decided to ask him. She walked up to him and sat beside him. "Well, Mr. Littrell. You seem more calm than yesterday, mind if I ask you why?"
"We have to talk in private though.."
"Okay.." she said as she followed him to the kitchen. "Well, spill it you."
"You told Karen I liked her didn't you..." Brian started.
"I.. I told her not to tell..." Leigh Anne said worried that Brian was angry.
"Don't worry about it... I forced it out of her.."
"What? I don't get it.."
"Last night the weirdest thing happened... it was like all my dreams were coming true, I was in the backyard with Karen and when we walked in there was Nick kissing Theresa.."
"He was kissing Theresa?"
"But that's not the weird thing. Karen let it go, she went up to her room and I followed her. Nick came upstairs, I was going to leave the room and he told me to stay that I needed to hear what he had to say... and he broke up with her..."
"He broke up with her??"
"Yeah, he said that Karen and I deserved each other...."
"Brian, that's great, now you guys can be together??" Leigh Anne exclaimed.
"Yeah, last night, it felt great to have her in my arms, knowing I don't have to be worried about Nick... it felt so right.."
Leigh Anne gave Brian a hug, "I'm glad that you can be happy now... you guys really are cute together." she said.
"Don't tell anyone just yet, okay?" Brian said. "Right now, we have to go figure out what we're going to do... with Mr. Walsh."
"I promise..." Leigh Anne smiled.
They headed back to the family room.
Upstairs, "Karen. Don't worry you didn't ruin our careers. Once this is all over they'll know that we were only trying to help you out. Your stepfather lied on TV to get people against us because he knows he can't have you. But we're not going to let him hurt you again. I mean it when I say I'm still going to be there for you through thick and thin..." Nick said.
"Nick, your management hates me, I could have cost you your jobs and my stepfather has the media on his side..."
"The media is the media, they don't know the truth... our jobs are to make sure people are happy and that's what we're doing, making you happy. Our management is just looking out for us, they don't hate you..." Nick explained.
"Yeah but.."
"No buts, please come downstairs the lawyer and Lou are going to be here soon." Nick said. He walked over and gave her a hug.
"Yeah..."
Ding! Dong! "Well, we should get down there, they're here right now..." Nick said.
Dawn picked up the ringing phone. "Hey Aaron, why aren't you over here?"
"What's going on? Yesterday Karen and Nick were fighting, then she spent the night, then they ran out in a rush and you're over there.... at Brian's house..." Aaron asked confused. "I saw what was on the news this morning and I figured...."
Dawn took the phone into the kitchen. "I'm sorry I didn't call you to let you know... everything has been so hectic. Theresa and I called yesterday to see if Karen wanted to go shopping, Kevin sounded down on the phone and we just rushed over here to see what was going on. Right now, it doesn't look good. Aaron please come over right now... she needs your support too."
"I'm on my way.."
In the family room, "Well, as you guys saw on the news this morning, Mr. Walsh has already gone to the media. Karen will you tell us your side of the story...?" the lawyer said.
Karen shared the story as everyone listened to it again. The lawyer taped her story, so he could review it. This time she didn't cry, she was so used to telling the story now that she couldn't cry anymore as much as it hurt her.
Lou Pearlman raised his eyebrows as he listened to her story intently, he looked at the boys who were watching Karen with loving eyes. 'The boys do care about this young girl, but this is going to ruin their character as Backstreet Boys... I hope we win this case.' He looked at the lawyer. "So do we have a case, Mr. Crane?"
"Well, Mr. Pearlman, this is serious matter, we have a case of rape and child abuse. But Mr. Walsh seems to be telling a different story to the viewers. Whereas his case is kidnapping. This is going to be a hard case, since he went to the media first... There is no sign of any evidence that can prove Mr. Walsh's actions, therefore, this case can be brought up but cannot be easily won."
Karen started to cry. Her hopes of staying away from her stepfather were slowly crumbling into pieces. Brian went over to comfort her, "What if I testify...?" he said.
"You testify? What can you do to pursuade the judge?" Mr. Crane asked.
"Well, when I first met her, her clothes were torn up, she had bruises everywhere, she couldn't be touched.... Maybe I can tell the judge what I saw and how she survived from this monster. We've changed her life and I don't want her to go back to being molested and abused and..." Brian explained. "Nick here can vouch for that, and same with everyone else."
"But, that won't convince the judge of anything.." the lawyer said. "But it's worth a shot... as long as you're telling the truth..."
Pearlman spoke up protecting Brian, "Brian here is the most honest guy of us all, he would never lie if it meant losing a friend."
"That is correct," Kevin said. "My cousin would never lie if a friend's life was put on the line and with this situation, that is what he'll do, he'll tell the truth anything anyone wants to know."
"Alright, Brian, I guess we could place you as a witness, but... I honestly don't know if it will convince..." Mr. Crane said.
"Brian? You don't have to do this..." Karen said. "I'll go back to my stepfather... it's only for a couple of months right..."
"No, he'll just rape you and hurt you all over again. All we've done to get your mind off of him will go to waste, and I'm not about to let you give in to his accusations and lies." Brian said.
"But, it's the best for all of us, you guys won't have you're reputations ruined and you guys won't have to stress over me about this. You guys are going on tour soon, I'll be here alone anyways... By then I'll be 19 and I'll leave my stepfather, and I'll be right here when you guys come back.." Karen forced herself to say.
The two were in a world of their own now, forgetting there was people around them, "Karen? NO! I'm not letting you go back to him, you belong here with us, with... with me.." Brian said holding her hands.
Everyone looked at Nick in surprise and then at Brian and Karen. Nick smiled.
"I'm going to do my best to convince the judge that your stepfather is not fit to be free.." Brian said. "I'm going to keep you here with ME and have you in my arms.... where you belong.."
Everyone continued to look at Nick who was still smiling. They were confused.
"Okay.. Brian, but promise me that you'll be okay with whatever consequences given... Whether it's me here with you guys or me....with my stepfather..." she gulped.
"I can't promise that..."
"Brian, PROMISE ME!!" Karen pushed.
"I promise.." he said sighing.
Karen reached over to give him a hug. "Thank you..." she whispered.
Leigh Anne and Theresa watched intently tears flowing from their eyes from hearing what Brian was doing, 'He's such a sweetie...' Leigh Anne thought to herself. 'I'm glad he has Karen now..'
'I knew they belonged together...' Nick grinned.
"Karen, we have to find more witnesses, do you have any other family or friends that can help you?" Mr. Crane asked.
"I do have family, but they live in Canada..." Karen said. "Friends? I had this one friend who all of a sudden stopped talking to me when school ended. She lives in Tampa."
"Why did she stop talking to you?" Lou asked.
"I don't know, she just told me that we couldn't be friends anymore...and left." Karen said.
"Can I please get the names of these people?" Mr. Crane asked. As he took a piece of paper and wrote down the names. "Well, that'll be all, I'll keep in touch and let you know what I got.."
"Thank you, Mr. Crane." Brian said.
Lou looked around, "All I can say right now is all of you stay right here, don't go anywhere because the media will hunt you down and harass you guys for answers, even you girls..." he said as he left.
"Great, now what are we going to do?" A.J. said. "We're going to be cooped in here for a while."
"Hopefully this court thing takes off quickly because we have to go on tour in 2 weeks.." Kevin sighed.
"Wait a minute guys, What's going on with Karen and Brian?" Howie asked.
Ding! Dong! 'Saved by the bell....' Brian thought as he got up to answer the door. "Oh hey Aaron...hi Jordan," he said surprised as he looked out the door and there was reporters and cameras camped outside their home. "Get in here." he said pulling Aaron in quickly. They walked into the family room. "Guys, close all the blinds and lock all the doors, we have a huge problem.." Brian said.
"Why?" Kevin asked. Brian pointed out the window and everyone looked out. "Oh man, now we really are trapped..." he sighed.
"I'm sorry," Karen whispered. She kept repeating it over and over again.
Brian walked over to her. "It's okay, we're here for you."
Nick sat down beside her and repeated. "..through thick and thin..through thick and thin..." He was trying to make her strong.
Howie looked at the three of them. "Okay, what's going on?" he asked again as everyone went around closing all window blinds and locking doors.
Brian looked at Nick and Nick said, "Karen and I broke up..."
"You broke up?" Kevin asked as he overheard what Nick just said. Everyone crowded around.
"Yes, it was a mutual decision..." Nick said looking at Karen. "I realized she belonged with Brian..." he takes her hand. "She belongs with him, but I'm still going to be there and stick up for her whenever she needs me..." he smiled. "I'm not going to be out of her face ever. She's a big part of my life but as friends.." he choked.
Karen wiped away his tears and gave him a hug. Then looked at everyone. "All along you liked Karen?" A.J. asked Brian nudging him a bit.
Brian nodded trying to make eye contact with the ground. Kevin stood there speechless and confused.
The doorbell rang, Howie went to answer the door, it was Mr. Walsh. He was doing this to show the media what he had told them earlier how the boys wouldn't let him see his daughter. He was out to get them. "Mr. Walsh?" Howie said out loud.
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