CHAPTER FIVE

"So your sure we should leave?" Leighanne pressed, Friday night.

"Yes. I promise. You guys need sleep." Mags responded.

"Yea, but so do you." Brian objected. "I will stay with Ty, so you can go home and sleep for a while."

'But AJ's there.' Mags nearly answered. Brian and Leighanne had forced AJ to go home about 45 minutes ago. "I am fine." she assured them, hoping they would believe her, because she sure as hell didn't.

Leighanne studied her friend's face. "Okay fine. You have my cell phone number, right? And Brian's? Howie's? And-" she started.

"Nick and Kevin's? Yes. I have had them for the past 2 years. I love ya, but GO!" Mags demanded, faking a smile.

"Okay okay. Just call us if you need us!" Leighanne yelled, as Brian pulled her into the elevator.

"Finally." she muttered, as she walked into Tyler's room. He was desperately trying to get the bag of gummi worms AJ had left on the food tray. "C'mon Ty. We're going to get on our airplane." she picked him up out of the crib, and walked to the nurses' desk. She checked Tyler out. Just as she was about to get onto the elevator, she spun around and walked back to the nurses' desk.

"Can I help you?" asked a nurse.
"Uh....yea. Can I have a piece of paper and a pen, please?" Mags questioned, as she placed Tyler on the counter.

Wordlessly, the nurse handed her a pen and a piece of paper.

Leighanne, Leah and guys,

I'm really sorry Ty and I didn't get to say good-bye, A lot of things have changed - some for the worse and some for the better. We just had to get away. Please forgive me.

Leighanne, I know you well enough to know that, you will try to blame this on yourself, but we all know who is to blame for this. I would really appreciate it if you would all try not to reach me, because I need to re-cuperate, and promise I will contact you, the second I feel I can. Brian, good luck with that Christian album you wanna do, and with the marriage, when it happens (you too Leighanne). Howie and Leah have fun being your married selves. Nick, I hope everything with Mandy gets better. Kev you stay sweet! Tell Denise Tyler and I send out love. Finally AJ, baby, remember something; honey, what goes around comes around, and you'll get yours. Well, y'all peace out!!

Forever,
Mags.

Mags read what she wrote and smiled with satisfaction, as tears blurred her vision. She handed the letter to the nurse, and said "Please give this to either Leighanne Wallace, Brian Littrel, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie or Leah Dorough or AJ McLean, please? Thank you." She walked away Tyler on arm, without and answer.

*****

The next morning Leighanne and Leah walked out of Tyler's room, to meet Brian, Howie, AJ, Kevin, and Nick. "Did you find them?" Leah asked.

"Nope. You obviously didn't." Kevin replied.

"Did you check the nurses' desk?" Leighanne questioned. pushing her blonde hair out of her face. In response, Nick walked to the nurses' desk, and returned with a piece of paper, folded in half. Leighanne grabbed it and proceeded to read it aloud. "Leighanne, Leah and guys, I am really sorry...." Leighanne recited the rest, and once she was done, she leaned heavily against Brian as she glared at AJ.

"What?" he asked, fighting back tears. He had always sworn to himself that he would never be like his father, and abandoned his children. It looks like it would happen. "Give it 2 weeks." he was desperately trying to convince himself wasn't gone and she didn't take his son.