Brian was pacing like a caged animal. None of them had slept well that night, and they'd all been awakened before the sun was up to speak with the police. No one had been able to go back to sleep, although Nick was gamely trying, burrowed under blankets and pillows to block out sound and light. AJ sat next to him, back against the wall, more confused than he'd admit and trying to piece it all together. They'd all gathered in Nick's room just because no one felt like being alone.
Howie's phone rang and they all jumped; Howie snatched it up. "Kevin?" he demanded.
"Are you the one who spoke to Kevin last night?" The voice was feminine, and Howie's heart just about dropped into his shoes.
"Yes," he said guardedly. A shadow fell over him and he glanced up to see Brian hovering over him. He waved him to a chair.
"Good. He's..."
"Is he okay?" He glanced up again, missing the annoyed sigh on the other end; Brian hadn't moved. "Would you sit down?" he demanded, covering the mouth piece of the phone. "You're driving me nuts!"
"Let me have the phone." Howie blinked at the tremor in his friend's voice, and handed it over.
"Can I talk to Kevin please?" Brian asked.
"He's asleep right now. Who is this?"
"Asleep," he breathed in relief, and sank down into the chair across from Howie. "Not dead."
"What?!?" AJ demanded. Nick emerged from under the blankets, he and Howie talking at once, trying to determine what he was talking about. Brian held the phone away from his head.
"Quiet!" he snarled, and all three backed off, quiet. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Who is this?"
"My name is Brian Littrell, Kevin's my cousin."
"Brian, hi. My name is Prue Halliwell. Kevin appeared on our doorstep last night. He said you knew something about what happened to him?"
"I didn't think he knew," Brian muttered.
"He mentioned you saying ‘not now' last night when he went blind."
Brian took a deep breath. "Oh. Yeah. That. Do you know what is going on?"
"A little more than you, and possibly how to stop it. But we need your help, all of Kevin's friends you can gather in about half an hour."
The sigh of relief was a little more obvious than he would have liked it. "There are only four of us...." He paused, thinking. "But getting out isn't going to be easy."
"No, I don't suppose so. But will it be possible?"
He covered the mouthpiece again. "Hey, Bone. How many bodyguards can we sneak out with?"
AJ lifted an eyebrow. "I don't...." He suddenly smiled. "One. I'll fix it." He slipped out the door.
"I think so," Brian said back into the phone. "But security is tight, and there are police here. Where are you?" He wrote down the address she recited over the phone, as well as the phone number and directions. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
"Kevin needs some more clothes, if you can manage that," she added suddenly.
"We can manage that," he said. "Thank you." He hung up and tossed the phone back to Howie, who caught it with narrowed eyes. Brian ignored the implied threat. "Nick, Kev needs something to change into, and we can't get into his room."
"I'll find something," Nick said, and began searching through his suitcase. Howie watched him, lips twisting wryly until Nick turned around, a neat - well, neat for Nick - pile of clothes in his arms. "What?"
"Don't forget a belt," Howie said evenly - and got one thrown at him.
Ten minutes later, AJ returned and they all slipped out, very quietly, to a waiting van. "Your mother's going to go ballistic," Nick whispered to AJ as they pulled out of the parking lot.
AJ nodded. "I know, but there was no help for it," he muttered. "Eric here owes me one."
"And this better count as paid," the burly black body guard responded from the drivers seat.
"Believe me, if this turns out well, we'll all owe you one," Brian said nervously, twisting the hat he was supposed to be wearing. Howie took it out of his hands and handed him the directions.
"I can't read those. You've got to work on your handwriting, Brian." He clapped the hat back on Brian's head.
Gratefully, Brian turned his attention to the directions, and they found their way there with a minimum of hassle. They walked up to the front door almost nervously, and Brian rang the bell. The door opened almost before his finger left the button.
"Welcome." She was a little older than he, maybe, with dark hair and a perky face. "Come on in; Kevin's asleep in the front room. Which of you is Brian?"
He waved one hand. "I am." The door closed behind them, Eric on the outside.
"Prue wants to talk to you." She pointed him in the direction he needed to go, and he paused, uncertain, then followed her directions. He didn't know these people, he thought as he stepped into a light and airy kitchen. Kevin could be in any condition. Two women sat at the small table, looking over a book. He cleared his throat, and they looked up. "Hi. I'm Brian." He sounded, he thought with disgust, like a hick. How did Kevin get rid of his accent?
"I'm Prue, this is my sister Phoebe. Please, sit down. We have to ask you some questions."
Brian sat down, not entirely sure what to expect. "Shoot."
Prue smiled nervously. "Um. How many children are in Kevin's family?"
Brian blinked. "He's the youngest of three."
"All boys?" Phoebe asked. He nodded, and she shot her sister a triumphant look.
Brian stared at them, surprised and worried. "What is going on?" he asked finally. "How do you know all this?"
Go on to Next Chapter | "Semi-Charmed Life"