Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 16:19:13 -0800 (PST) From: Billy Burrew <billy_burrew@yahoo.com> Subject: Gift of Love Chapter 5 The Gift of Love... A New Tale of the Magi By Billy Burrew Disclaimer: As usual, I would like to comment that this story is purely fictional and that it is no reflection on the sexual orientation of any of the members of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys or their estranged manager, Lou Pearlman. Please read this and enjoy it for what I intended it to be, an entertaining story. There is not a lot of sex, tho there are some adult situations. Please be forewarned. Remember, in the words of Peter Vincent, the Vampire Slayer in Fright Night, "Forewarned is Forearmed!" -Billy B I would like to thank everybody who emailed me about this story. I appreciate all the comments made. This story is also posted on my website (with a really cool logo I designed myself), the address is: www.geocities.com/billy_burrew I would also like to thanks StoryWrightr for editing this story and providing me with great GREAT feedback. Also props go out to JCDC23, dopie, and karen from the cybervenue chatroom, whose...uh...inspiration and comments have also been invaluable. -BB Chapter 5: The Concert...and Clubbing "Patrick", the voice said, "It's time to go." "Not yet", Patrick answered, "I'm not ready just yet. I need a little more time before I die." "What?", the voice said, panicked, "Patrick...please wake up!" Patrick's eyes snapped open and Mike was sitting on the bed looking into his eyes. Mike had begun to cry slightly and Patrick began to worry. "What?", Patrick said quietly. "Nothing. You said you weren't ready yet...that you needed more time before you die.", Mike said sadly. "I do need a little more time. I have a few things more I have to do.", Patrick said quietly as he got up off the bed. The seats for the concert were better than awesome. They were in the center of the 3rd row from the stage. During every song, JC, Justin, or Lance would wink or grin at their friends. The big surprise came when Justin began to work the crowd before their next song. "Hey Columbus! Are y'all havin a good time?", Justin said grinning. The roar from the sellout crowd was deafening. Justin grinned. "Our next song is a new one. On its release, we'll be singing it with Gloria Estefan. Tonight is the first time we will have sung it at a concert. We'd like to dedicate this song to our best friend Patrick. Patrick has been very ill the last few months, but somehow found the strength inside himself to make it to see our concert and hang around with us all weekend. We have all gotten real tight with him over the last couple of days....and we are all gonna be praying that you stay healthy and stick around to hang with us for a lot longer. So Patrick....This song is for you...it's called, "Music of My Heart". You'll never know what you've done for me What your faith in me has done for my soul You'll never know the gift you've given me I'll carry it with me Through the days ahead, I'll think of days before When you made me hope for something better And made me reach for something more You taught me to run, you taught me to fly Helped me to free the me inside Helped me hear the music of my heart Helped me hear the music of my heart You opened my eyes, you opened the door To something I've never known before And your love is the music of my heart You were the one always on my side Always standin' by, seeing me through, ooh You were the song that always made me sing I'm singing this for you Everywhere I go I'll think of where I've been And of the one who knew be better Than anyone ever will again You taught me to run, you taught me to fly Helped me to free the me inside Helped me hear the music of my heart Helped me hear the music of my heart You opened my eyes To something I've never known before And your love is the music of my heart What you taught me Only your love could ever teach me You got through when no one could reach me before 'Cause you always saw in me all the best that I could be It was you who set me free You taught me to run. you taught me to fly Helped me to free the me inside Helped me hear the music of my heart Helped me hear the music of my heart You taught me to run, you taught me to fly Helped me to free the me inside Helped me hear the music of my heart Helped me hear the music of my heart You opened my eyes, you opened the door To something I've never known before And your love is the music of my heart Is the music of my heart As the guys sang, Patrick broke down, covering his face with his hands and crying uncontrollably. Mike held the back of his head and pressed him close into his chest. As the guys finished the song, Patrick, still crying, stood up and clapped, giving the guys a big thumbs up. The guys waved and grinned at Patrick. As the concert finished up, Patrick and Mike went backstage, showing their passes and walking into the dressing room as the guys were finishing dressing. JC looked up first and saw the two enter, walking over to Patrick and Mike and giving them both hugs, which were then followed by hugs from the rest of the guys. "Did you like your song?", JC asked Patrick. "Yeah", Patrick said softly, his voice cracking as the tears began to fall again from his face, "It was so beautiful...I loved it. Thank you so much!" JC and the guys watch as Mike sat Patrick down and held him as his emotions again overwhelmed him. Joey and Chris came over and grabbed hold of Patrick, picking him up and walking him over to the bathroom, getting him some tissues and a wet washcloth to wipe his face. "I'm sorry guys. I guess I wasn't as brave as y'all thought I was.", Patrick said through the tears. A single sniffle was the only response and Patrick turned around to see the guys faces all wet with tears. "That's a pile of horse shit....crying don't make you any less brave in my eyes.", Lance said finally, his country accent thick from his emotions. The other guys nodded and Lance walked over to Patrick, grabbing him into a group hug with Joey and Chris. "Family, remember", Lance whispered to Patrick. Patrick nodded and got up, wiping his face with the cloth and blowing his nose with the tissues. "Thank you all.", Patrick said, "I won't ever, EVER forget this." "So.", Patrick said quietly, "When do I have to say goodbye to ya'll?" "Tomorrow", JC said, "For a few weeks, then you and Mike are gonna come and visit us in Orlando after we finish this tour." Patrick looked at Mike and smiled. "So.....what are your plans for tonight?", Patrick smiled. "We were gonna drag you out to a club if you felt up to it.", Joey replied. "That's why I took that nap earlier, I kinda figured that's what we'd be doing tonight.", Patrick grinned. The club was packed when the limousine finally pulled up to the entrance. Mike, Patrick and the guys got out and quickly made for the door, while the newspaper paparazzi shot pictures of the group. Once inside the club, the guys fanned out and paired off as Joey and Chris hit the dance floor. Patrick wasn't feeling much in the mood for dancing so he got himself a drink and stood at the bar. About a half hour later, Justin came out of the crowd and walked over to him at the bar. "Hey!", Justin said, "You holding the bar down OK?" "Yep!", Patrick replied with a laugh. "JC and Mike are goin' wild out there. I didn't know Mike was such a good dancer.", Justin smiled. "Yeah", Patrick said, "We used to always go dancing......HEY!" A man came up behind Patrick , and slammed his hip into Patrick, pitching him forward into Justin, who was off balance and both boys fell to the ground. "Rude FUCKIN Yankee!", Patrick said with a snarl. "No shit!", Justin said angrily. The man turned around and looked at the two boys with a pissed off expression. "Candyass Pansies...If you could learn to hold your liquor you wouldn't have fallen." "Hold MY liquor? Please....I could out drink you anyday.", Patrick said disgustedly. "Oh yeah?", the man said with a sneer, "Wanna put yo' money where your mouth is?" "Sure....you're on", Patrick said with an unpleasant smile. "Patrick.....what the HELL are you doing?", Justin hissed. "Watch me", Patrick said. The bartender came over to the men and handed each 6 shot glasses of whiskey, and said that they would go shot for shot til someone either puked or passed out. The first 6 shots were a given. Both Patrick and the man downed them with no problems. By this time, JC and the rest of the guys had noticed the crowd around the bar and had come to investigate. Justin filled them in and Mike began to laugh hysterically. Justin shook his head in wonder at Mike's reaction. Mike just nodded and told the guys to put their money on Patrick. As Patrick down the 24th shot of whiskey, he realized that his opponent was beginning to sway. As he picked up his 24th shot, his eyes rolled back into his head and his body hit the dirt. Patrick shook his head and loudly said, "Hmmm...Mama's Boy!" The guys laughed at Patrick's jibe then Patrick turned around as a huge stack of 20 dollar bills was passed his way. "That guy never loses. I have never seen anyone who could drink like you can. You beat him and you look barely phased.", the bartender said, shaking his head in amazement. Patrick grabbed the money and gave the bartender $100 for the liquor and a tip, then turned around and walked over to a table and sat down. "How can you drink like that?", JC and Justin said in unison as they sat down beside him. Patrick pulled them in close and whispered to them, "My medication counters alcohol in my system....it's some kind of weird side effect. So, its almost impossible to get me drunk." JC and Justin looked at each other and then to Patrick then burst out laughing. "He got what he deserved...he was such a rude mo'fo'", Justin said, shaking his head. "Let's go home, guys.", Patrick grinned, "Before he wakes up and tries to go for a re-match." The guys nodded and headed for the door and the limo that waited outside.