Date: Sat, 05 Apr 2003 21:59:39 -0500
From: rye encoke <rye_encoke@hotmail.com>
Subject: Mark-and-Rye-4

This story is about male/male relationships and may contain
graphic descriptions of sexual acts between consenting adults.
If it is illegal for you to read this story due to your age
or residence please stop now.

This is a work of fiction.  It may use names of real locations,
places and/or people but only to make the story more accessible to
its readers.  The use of these names in no way implies or is meant
to imply anything about the sexuality, personality or behaviour of
the actual person named.  Please be clear here - THIS IS A WORK OF
FICTION.

This story is the sole property of its author and may not be
copied in whole or in part or posted on any website without
the express written consent of the author.  The author wishes
to acknowledge and thank the archivist for Nifty for allowing
this story to be published here.

Questions/commentary can be sent to "rye_encoke@hotmail.com"
Criticism, both good and bad are appreciated, rants and hate
mail are forwarded to the senders email provider and deleted.

Authors Notes: Okay a question here to anyone reading.  I need
a show of hands (well e-mails).  Who likes the words of songs
included in the story.  So say someone is serenaded, do you like
the words or just the name of the song.  And if you like the
words, do you want the names of the songs included at the
beginning of the chapter so you can get them loaded up.  I like
to actually play the songs when they appear in the story but
that's prolly just me.

This is a make or break chapter.  Things progress rapidly here
and you will either decide you love the story or hate it at this
point.  I hope you all love it.

- Breakfast At Rye's -

"So your name is Rye Encoke?" Bryan giggled.

"I know, I know,  but I say my name with the emphasis on the first
part so it's not too bad," Rye smiled as the guys laughed over his
name.

"Man I'd kill my parents if they did that to me," Bryan said
around a mouthful of bagel.

Everyone noticed Rye's eyes tighten and squeeze shut.   Jill
placed her hand on his arm.  He opened his eyes and smiled at her.
She went back to her bagel and jam, but kept an eye on Rye.

"Sorry man," Bryan offered but Rye waved it away with a smile.

"Old wound, hurts every now and then but it's over."  Changing the
subject before anything else could be said he continued,  "So you
guys should head back to the hotel and pick up some of your stuff
if you are gonna be staying with me.  Let security know where
you're gonna be, give them my phone number and stuff."

The others noticed the abrupt change in subject but went with it,
unsure of safe ground.  "You sure it's okay for us to stay here?"
Nicky asked.

"Sure." Rye answered as he got up to put his plate in the sink.
"Besides Mark and I have decided that before we go any further we
all have to get to know each other to be sure this is all real.
To do that you guys need to be here."

It all sounded so logical but Kian spoke up, "Well I agree we
should all get to know each other, but that doesn't mean we have
to move in and disrupt your life.  I mean we could hang out for
the day and go back to the hotel at night or something."

"That wouldn't work," Jill said.

"Why not?" Kian looked at her and his eyes softened and his smile
brightened.

"Cuz Rye and Mark want to spend the nights together too.  So we
are all forced to live together for the next 10 days."  Jill said
then added in a saucy voice.  "Unless the two of them discover
they hate each other today."

Mark brought his head up to glare angrily at Jill only to see she
had been teasing and he had been caught.  He blushed deeply and
got up with his empty plate.

"You are too damn cute when you blush Mark," Jill taunted, "You
realize it is now my mission in life to make you blush as often as
I can."

Mark blushed even deeper as Jill laughed throatily, nobody seemed
to notice that Kian's face blushed as well and he closed his eyes
as if to capture the moment in his mind.

"Right," Shane broke in trying to save Mark more embarrassment,
"What's on for the day?"

"How about a tour of the club," Mark answered, "I didn't really
get to see it last night."

"Yeah that would be cool," Bryan chimed in.

"Alright how about Jill takes you guys on the tour.  I have a quick
errand to run, shouldn't be more than an hour," Rye agreed.

Everyone headed to different sections of the house to get ready
for the day.  Jill laughed as all five of the guys trooped into
the laundry to get dressed.

- Five Guys and A Laundry Room -

"Umm... don't you all feel a little silly all of us standing here
waiting for our clothes to warm up?" Bryan asked.

The others looked around and then burst out laughing at the sight
they presented.

"I just hate cold clothes," Kian said.

Everone giggled again, til finally Shane spoke up, "Mark I want
you to know that we all like Rye a lot, but understand we have to
do the investigations."

Mark's smile disappeared and he cast his eyes down but nodded.
Shane moved in to hold him in his arms and spoke quietly, although
loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Mark you have to realize you are too important to us to not do
this.  We said this last night, this is about you and Rye and us
as friends, Westlife has nothing to do with this, if it's right
for you and him and us then Westlife be damned."

"Promise?" Mark asked in a soft voice.

"I promise my boy, we just have to make sure it's safe."  Shane
stepped back.  "We just have to make sure he is not dangerous or
after your money."

"He's not, he loves me," Mark said softly but with determiantion
in his voice.

Shane nodded.  "I believe that too, with all my heart I do.
Nobody could see the way he looks at you and not believe that.
But what if it turns out he is deep in debt.  Wouldn't you
rather find that out now instead of later.  Now the problem can
be dealt with, later it could complicate things between the two
of you."

"I guess," Mark did not sound convinced.

"Should we do worse case?" Bryan asked.

"No," Shane said simply, "This is too important for that kind of
game."  He turned to Mark once again.  "Mark please try and
understand, I really hate doing this because I like Rye too."

Mark's head came up as Shane said these words.

"Yes I said I like him.  How could I not, look what he does for
you, to you.  How could I not like the man who makes you so happy.
But that doesn't erase the fact that we have only known him for a
day. A day Mark.  A day filled with so many emotions that we have
exhausted ourselves.  If we were normal people we could just ride
this out and let it all play out.  But we leave in ten days.  And
we have to know what is going to happen to you and him and us.
And we have to know about him."  Shane finished his speech and
waited.

Finally Mark spoke up, in a quiet trembling voice he said, "I know
you are right, but it feels so much like I am betraying him.  I
don't want to lose him when I just found him.  I love him so much
Shane."  He threw his arms around Shane again, and Shane shivered
involuntarily as Mark echoed the words Rye had said just last
night.  They had indeed found each other.

The guys all moved in to comfort Mark and each other.

Finally Kian spoke up, "I don't know Rye any better than any of
you, but I get the feeling that he understands what we have to do
and is going to let us do it.  I don't think you could ever lose
him Mark.  I have seen his eyes too and he loves you Mark.  I have
a feeling he is going to do most of our work for us, well him and
Jill.  Isn't she something."

Suddenly the laundry room door opened and Jill looked in.

"Wouldn't the press love this picture, Westlife standing around in
boxers holding on to each other in a laundry room.  Come on guys
Rye's already left and I have some stuff to show you, maybe it
will help you."

Jill closed the door and let the guys get dressed.  She thought
about what she was about to do and wondered if Rye would ever
forgive her.  She was wearing her frownie face again.  Finally she
shrugged and thought, "He will forgive me eventually, once he sees
it is all for the best."

- Memories Too Painful -

Rye drove in silence to a storage locker on the other side of the
city.  Not because he wanted to, music would have taken his mind
off of what he was about to face, but because Shane had managed
to wreck his stereo and he couldn't get it turned on.

Finally after about 10 minutes he pulled up to a storage facility
and keyed himself through the gate.  He drove to the locker he
owned and sat in the car just staring at the big number 27 on the
door.  Moving as if he was being controlled by someone else he
slowly got out and unlocked the door.  Opening the door and
turning on the light he looked around the room at his past.

His vision blurred and he reached out to steady himself as images
flooded his mind.

*FLASH*

"Mr. Adamson, this is the FBI, we have agents on their way to get
you, your family has been kidnapped and are being held hostage.
Please do not leave your room or open the door for anyone."

*FLASH*

"I'm sorry Mr. Adamson we are doing everything we can, but we
think it best if you contact your attorneys and arrange for the
money transfer."

*FLASH*

"It's a trap.  Lookout he's been shot.  Return fire, find the
hostages."

*FLASH*

"Don't move sir, you have been shot but you are in a hospital now
and you're safe.  Police are guarding you."

"My family?"

Pause

"I'm sorry sir, they're gone."

*FLASH*

AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

Rye came back to himself as he realized he was screaming.  He
shook his head and looked around.  Nobody was around, he doubted
anyone had heard.

He let go of the door and moved into the locker.  He knew what he
was looking for.  A scrapbook that Jill had made for him, during
and after the incident.  He kept it here because it was still too
painful to have at the loft.  Most things in this room were too
painful for him to keep at the loft.  He grabbed it from a box
and turned to leave when his eyes fell on a small stuffed animal.
His heart broke as he picked up the bear that used to belong to
his little brothers.  He sank to the floor and sobbed without
restraint.  After what seemed like a long time, although Rye had
no real idea how long he had been down on the floor, he got back
up and put the bear down.  He headed for the door and stopped.
Turning back he took the bear up again and brought it with him.
It seemed like a small step, but for Rye it was a huge leap.  He
looked one last time into the storage locker and locked it up.

He put the album and the bear gently on the seat beside him and
started the drive back to the club.  Back to his home.  Back to
the man he loved.

- The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth -

Jill wandered down to the club with the guys after they had
finally gotten dressed, something about warm clothes.  She keyed
into the club and locked up as the last guy came in.  She sighed
and said, "Okay lets all sit down in the back and I will get some
info for ya that may help put some of your fears to rest."

They all trudged back to the table where they were seated last
night, glasses still on the table and the wine bottle still open
in the bucket.  The night staff had either been unsure what to do
with the table or had been too tired to clean up last night and
left it here.  All the other tables were cleared so Jill assumed
it was that they had not been sure what to do with the table.

"Shite," Nicky said as he picked up the bottle.

"What's wrong Nicky, you so in need of a drink,"  Bryan laughed.

"Shut up.  You have no clue what this is."  Nicky held the bottle
up.  "This was an eight thousand dollar bottle of wine we left
here last night."

The guys laughed at Nicky then seeing he was serious turned to
Jill, who just nodded.

"Eight grand, are you insane bringing us a bottle worth three
grand?" Shane said.

"It was Rye who offered it," Jill explained nonplussed.

"How can he afford to do that.  He closes the restaurant to the
public, he brings in extra security, then he gives us a bottle of
wine worth eight grand."  Shane sits down at the table with a
thump then slides over as the rest of the boys join him.

Jill looks at them all and makes her decision. "Sit here for a
minute and I will be right back."  She takes off into the back but
is gone for only a minute or so before coming back with a laptop.

"Alright you guys, I know you have questions about Rye.  Some I
can answer, some I can't.  One of them I know is worrying you is
that he may be after your money."

Nobody said anything.  Nobody really believed it but it was still
a lingering doubt in the back of their minds.  It was once again
Shane who had to be the bad guy and he nodded his head yes.

"Well I can assure you he isn't.  Rye has more money than God."
She flipped the laptop open and keyed in a couple of passwords.

"Okay, this is all I can access but it shows the profits for the
club in the last 4 years."  Jill turned the laptop.  The men all
looked at the screen and the figures.  It didn't seem to make a
whole lot of sense to anyone but Shane who pointed at several
numbers and punched a couple of keys.

"Is this the annual profits?" he pointed to a number on the
screen.

Jill looked at it and nodded her head yes. "Those are the profits.
He donates it all to local children's charities."

"He does what?" Mark asked, not sure he understood Jill.

"He donates the profits from the club to local children's groups
and charities.  So you see he has all kinds of money.  He has
millions," Jill said simply.

Everyone around the table whistled in appreciation.

"I can tell you he is worth a considerable amount.  I just don't
have access to any of his personal financial records."  Jill said
as she looked at the guys who were suddenly looking behind her.

She turned with sudden fear in her eyes and found Rye looking at
her with a slightly confused but also amused look in his eyes.

"Rye, I'm sorry but I was just trying..."

He cut her off.  "S'okay hon, they need to know some things."  He
reached out and hit a few buttons and opened up his personal
financial file.  He turned to the guys and said, "I know you guys
need to know this, so the information is there, but it will just
raise a few more questions."  He paused and a look of sadness
entered his eyes and his head dropped as if in resignation.
"Questions I can't answer yet, I'm not strong enough."

Jill reached out to take his hand and saw the scrapbook in his
hand. "Rye you didn't?"

Rye nodded his head, a single tear running down his face as he
set the book in front of Jill.

"I can't do it yet Jill, but they need to know, please do it for
me," and with that he turned and left.

- The Truth Will Set Him Free -

Jill was crying softly as she placed her hands on the scrapbook
she had created for her best friend so many years ago.  The pain
was still there though, still there for her who did not have to
experience it all.  True she was with Rye the whole time but it
had not been her family.

"Jill," Kian put his hand on hers, "Are you okay?"

She turned to look at the group, "You have no idea how much you
all must mean to him for him to do this.  How much he must want
for you to be in his life.  I can't believe he is doing this for
you."

Mark was suddenly afraid, "Is he going to be okay?"

Jill shook her head, "I don't think so, not right away, maybe
not for a long time."

"I should go to him," Mark made to get up.

"No," Jill said fiercely, "Not till you know. I am not going to
let him do this for nothing. "

She turned to the computer and flicked down to the bottom number
on the screen.  She turned the laptop so everyone could see it.
"That is the estimated net worth of Mr. Rye Encoke."

There was a pause.  Everyone blinked.  Another pause.  They all
sorta looked at each other then back at the screen as if to
confirm they all saw the same thing.  Another really long pause
while their minds tried to grasp this revelation.

"How?" Bryan finally asked.

Jill took a deep breath as if to steady herself and reached for
the scrapbook.  She knew Rye couldn't do this, but she wasn't sure
she could either.  At the same time she knew she had to, he wanted
these men to know and she was the only person who knew the whole
story.  This was just a small way for her to give back to Rye all
that he gave to her.  Pay back his love with her own.  She would
do it for him knowing that it could be the end of him if these
men did not accept him afterwards.  Looking at Mark, his eyes wide
with fear after seeing Rye so upset, she knew that even if the
others left Mark would remain and that would be enough.

She opened the book to the first page.  There was a picture taken
ten years earlier just before Rye left for university.  It showed
a much younger, but recognizable, Rye and five other people.  Jill
pointed them out. "His dad Edward, his mom Beth, younger sister
Julia, the twin boys Dale and Keith.  Rye's last name was Adamson,
but he changed it after..."

The guys just nodded wordlessly.  The shock at the amount of money
Rye had was forgotten as they looked at his life in front of them.
All of them were scared to speak, knowing that something horrible
was about to unfold in front of them but they were drawn by it all
the same.

Jill turned the page and showed pictures of the family growing up.
Always with Rye and his brothers, or Rye and his sister.  Then
came pictures of Rye at school.  Rye with friends outside a pub,
Rye in a small apartment with Jill.

Jill left the page open for some time.  Scared to turn to the next
page knowing what was there.  Closing her eyes tightly she turned
the page and heard Mark gasp.

She opened her eyes and stared down at the newspaper clipping.
She didn't need to see it to know what it said.

     Multi-Millionaire Edward Adamson and Family Slain

She flipped through the remaining few pages.  Clippings showing
various stages of the story and negotiations.  Clippings talking
about the horrendous murders.  Stories that guessed at the details
of the events but never even coming close to the true horror.
Finally Jill started.

"This," she indicated the album, "all started in Rye's second year
at university.  He was a double major in business and music.  We
met in his first year and I of course fell for him right away.
Luckily right away he told me he was gay.  I was devastated of
course, I mean he was beautiful, still is, but I quickly realized
that I didn't need to be his lover as long as I was his friend.
So we became best friends.  I teased him constantly about his
majors.  I mean business and music, how could anyone have such
disparate interests.  But he did.  He was absolutely brilliant in
business.  But his music put his business talent to shame.  People
throw the word genius around a lot but in Rye's case it's true.
He played classical guitar and composed," Jill spoke around a
lump in her throat, "and he used to sing.  You've heard his voice
when he talks, the way if flows through you and around you, the
way it enters your body and touches you somehow, you can't begin
to imagine what it does when he sings."

"Well on summer break he took me back to meet the family.  That
was when he decided to come out to them.  It was terrifying him
but all for nothing.  Like you guys knew about Mark, his family
all knew about him.  The sister was 16 and the twins were 13.
They all knew and nobody cared.  That summer was incredible, it
passed in a flurry of fun and laughter, and we went back in the
fall to university feeling rejuvenated and alive."

Jill once again took a deep breath.

"Then just before Thanksgiving we were sitting in our apartment
and the phone rang.  He said hello and then there was this long
pause.  I paid no attention until he sobbed once.  I was beside
him in an instant but knew that something was seriously wrong.
Finally he hung up and just stood there.  I was so scared.  He
had tears falling down his face but he didn't move at all didn't
even blink.  I was screaming at him by then.  There was a knock
at the door but I ignored it and just kept screaming his name.
Finally someone busted the door in and suddenly there were armed
men all around us.  They identified themselves as FBI and started
to take Rye out.  Realizing finally what was happening he screamed
out my name and promptly passed out.  One of the FBI agents looked
at me and asked me to follow them.

"We were led to a van and were surrounded by a couple of dozen
agents.  They filled me in on what was happening as we drove.
Someone had kidnapped Rye's entire family and was holding them
for ransom, for 200 million dollars."

Jill stopped and caught her breath for awhile.  Nobody moved or
made a sound.  Mark's head was in his hands and he was crying.
Bryan was also crying openly and the other guys were on the verge.

"It took forever to get the money.  The kidnappers kept calling
and getting more and more upset.  But the banks were dragging
their feet, and I think the FBI were purposely slowing things
down so that they could capture the kidnappers.  Finally six days
later the money was ready.  Rye was supposed to deliver it alone,
but of course the FBI would have none of that.

"When they got to the drop, there was a van waiting and Rye
started to walk with the 2 suitcases of money.  As the door to the
van opened the snipers realized there were only three people in the
van and not his family as was supposed to be.  Some guy stepped
out and shot Rye.  Rye fell to the ground bleeding and the snipers
took out the three guys in the van.

"Rye was unconcious for a week.  It was pretty bad.  In that week
they finally found his family.  They had been dead for some time.
The FBI figured they had all died within the first two or three
days.  They didn't die easily and the kidnappers had filmed it
all.

"Apparently the kidnappers had tied them all up and then took
turns raping his sister while his brothers and parents watched.
Then they killed her in front of the family.  Then they started
on the twins.  They tortured and raped the twins for almost an
entire day before killing them.  When they were dead, they killed
his parents."

Shane let out a moan as he placed his head on his hands on the
table.  Bryan had his head back against the chair and had both his
arms across his face, everyone was crying freely by this time.

"When Rye finally woke up he already knew they were dead.  Nobody
had told him but he knew.  I could see it in his eyes.  His eyes
which had been so full of life that they would sparkle with an
inner light were now dead and lifeless.  My heart broke and for
the first time in my life I felt real fear.  I knew he was going
to try to kill himself.

"The first time was in the hospital.  He had managed to steal some
pills off of a tray.  Luckily most of them were pretty mild.  He
did manage to sedate himself for a few days but that was about it.

"When he woke up he was restrained and he freaked out and started
to scream.  I think he thought he was kidnapped.  I don't know,
maybe he was just upset because he was still alive.  His eyes
were so sad and filled with anguish and loss and despair.  They
sedated him again.  It went like that for a few weeks.  Finally
he was stable enough to remove the restraints.  He had months of
therapy and things seemed to be getting back to normal.  He had
moved back in with me and we were planning to go back to school.
We went out and danced at clubs.  He would get sad every now and
then but it would pass.  I thought everything was okay.

"A week before school started I got a call at the pub where I was
working and was told that Rye was at hospital.  He had driven his
car into the river, apparently by accident.  I raced to the
hospital to find them releasing him.  He was okay, well at least
physically okay.  I knew what had happened but let on like I
didn't.  Until we got home.  Then I told him straight out, if he
was going to keep trying to kill himself then he had to leave and
our friendship was over.  I told him he was no better than those
kidnappers, trying to kill himself in front of me, how did he
think that would make me feel.  I finally got through to him and
he broke down.  We didn't go to school that year.  But I finally
had my Rye back.  He wasn't totally there yet and he had given up
his music.  The sparkle in his eyes wasn't back, but for the
most part things were back to normal."

Minutes passed by as the guys digested this information.  Finally
Shane, his voice raw and broken, pointed at the laptop.  "So this
is... "

Jill nodded, "The family fortune multiplied like a hundred times
because, like I said, Rye is brilliant."

"A hundred times?" Bryan asked as he looked at the laptop again.

Shane clued in and pointed at the number, "There's no decimal
point there my boy, those are all commas."

Bryan's eyes widened as the other guys looked again to confirm
the astronomical number.

What Shane did not point out was the small 'k' at the end of the
stream of numbers.  "No he certainly isn't after our money," he
thought to himself.

Mark spoke softly, "Do we know enough about him now?"

Shane nodded his head and said, "We didn't need to know this much
but I think he wanted us to know.  He's not taking the chance of
letting us make a decision without knowing it all.  I didn't know
anyone could be this strong.  I didn't know anyone's love could
be this strong."

"I think you are right Shane.  Rye has been keeping his past
locked in a storage shed and finally has a reason to open it up.
He loves you guys.  He is in love with Mark.  Rye was never able
to be anything less than 100% with people.  He has opened himself
up to you all.  Now it's up to you."  Jill turned as she got up
with the laptop to return it to her office.  "Don't fuck this up
guys."

- The Beginning Of A Beautiful Family -

Rye sat on one of the couches and stared out the window into the
park below.  In his hands he held the bear that had belonged to
his brothers.  His mind was numb as he stroked the bear.  He
wasn't thinking about anything.  Finally he heard the door key
open and footsteps cross the floor.  Suddenly the world mattered
again as Mark dropped down in front of him into his line of sight
and placed his hands on top of the bear Rye was holding.

That was all it took, the dam burst and he began to sob into Mark.
Instantly six people were surrounding him and holding him.  Rye
was so filled with emotion that he didnt know what to do and
suddenly he found he couldn't catch his breath.  He was crying
and he couldn't stop.  His breath wouldn't come.  He panicked and
grabbed the nearest person, which happened to be Nicky.  Nicky
realized something was wrong and pushed everyone back.  Rye didn't
sound right and his eyes had gotten very small and it was obvious
that he was terrified and having trouble breathing.

"RYE!" Mark screamed.

Jill stepped in and not too gently pushed Mark aside.  Moving into
Rye's line of sight she stared right into his eyes and said loudly
but calmly.  "Rye, pay attention.  Listen to my voice.

It was no good, panic had taken control.  Jill slapped his face
hard and tried again.  "Rye.  Listen to me.

Rye's eyes seemed to focus on Jill.  "You are safe.  Everything is
okay.  You just got a little worked up.  Now take a breath."

Rye took a shallow breath. "Good.  Now another.  Good."

Rye had taken a couple of shallow breaths and was completely
focused on Jill as she spoke.

"See you're okay.  Everyone is here for you.  Shane and Nicky and
Kian and Bryan and Mark."  She continued soothingly.

Rye's eyes flicked briefly to Mark but then right back to Jill.

"That's right, Mark is here.  He loves you.  We all do.  Breathe.
Everything is okay.  Take a breath.  Good.  Now try taking a deep
breath.  Good.  Now let it out all the way.  Good."

Rye slowly relaxed and after a few minutes started to breathe
normally.  "Thanks, sorry guys I panicked I guess.  I should be
okay now."  He then promptly passed out.

Jill reacted before anyone else and simply stated.  "It's alright
guys, panic attack, and the release of all those emotions, he just
passed out is all, this has happened before.  He will be fine
when he wakes up."

"Why don't we go pick up our stuff and get back here before he
wakes up," Nicky suggested.

"Sounds good," said Shane.

- Is It Worth It -

Kian and Mark stayed with Jill while the rest of the guys headed
back to the hotel.  Once in the car and on their way, Bryan
cleared his throat.

Shane looked at him and asked, "Whats on your mind my boy?"

"Well," he paused, "Is this all worth it?" he finally blurted.

"All what?" Shane asked.

"All this emotion and turmoil.  I mean my God we are supposed to
be on break and I feel more exhausted after the last 24 hours than
I did after the whole tour."

"That's a shitty thing to say," Nicky answered from the back seat.

"No, no its not," Shane replied, "I can see where Bry is coming
from.  This has been draining on us all.  But I can only give you
one answer Bryan."

Bryan looked over and nodded.

"When you said you would give everything up for Mark, did you
mean it?"

"Of course"

"Then why are you asking if it's worth it?  We are going through
this as much for Mark as for Rye.  Do you really think if we told
Mark to leave he would?  Could you be the one to tell Mark that we
are not going to be there for the man he loves?  Could you stand
in front of Rye and Mark and tell them they are too much trouble
and we are going to leave them and go back to the hotel?"

Bryan was crying, "No, that's not what I meant at all.  I just.."

"I know my boy," Shane said lovingly as he pulled Bryan's head
into his shoulder and hugged him, "but that's what we would be
doing.  Rye is one of us now.  He may not be Westlife but he is
as much our family as any of us are.  And you weren't alone in
thinking what you were.  It's normal to try and avoid hard times.
I thought about it too."

Bryan sat back up and looked at Shane to see if he was lying.
Shane merely nodded.

"I did, I thought let's cut our losses and leave.  Mark would get
over it eventually and we wouldn't have this whole emotional
scene to deal with.  But then I looked at Mark and knew I just
couldn't do it to him.  Then I surprised myself and looked at
Rye and knew I couldn't do it to him either.  I love Rye guys."

The two guys stared at Shane.  He loved Rye?

"I love all you guys.  I say it all the time to you.  I love you
Bryan you know that right?"

"Sure I do, I love you too."

"And you Nicky?"

"Of course, and I love you too."

"And I love Rye.  It's crazy I know.  But Kian told me the other
day something that Jill had told him.  Some people are just meant
to be together.  She was talking about Rye and Mark, but I think
it's more than that even.  I think that Rye is meant to be with
all of us.  Jill called it one of God's twisted little miracles
and I believe her.  When I was thinking about possibly just
leaving Rye behind, my heart hurt.  Not because of what it would
do to Mark but because I would be leaving Rye behind.  I don't
want to do that.  I don't think I could even if I tried."

There was a long pause as the two other men in the car took in
everything Shane had said.  Finally from the back Nicky said,
"Until you said it and made me think about it I never realized
but.....I feel the same.  I try to picture us back on tour or
going on with our life without Rye there and I can't.  That
can't be normal, to feel so strongly for someone after a day,
but it's there and I can't deny it."

Bryan nodded, unable to say anything so overcome with emotion.

Finally Shane spoke again.  "You know this really could be the end
of Westlife."  He didn't have to turn to see the looks directed at
him.  "They are going to be together and they are going to be
happy, there is no way I am going to stop that.  I don't think I
could stop it even if I wanted to and I don't want to.  We know
management isn't going to let anything interfere with Westlife so
it may be up to us to stop management.  You know what that would
mean."

A long silence. After several minutes Bryan spoke up

"It would be worth it, I would do it." When Shane looked at Bryan
there was a light in his eyes.  A fire within Bryan had been
awoken.  Bryan would do whatever it took to keep Mark and Rye
together, but also to keep Rye in their lives, and Shane was so
proud of him at that moment.

"Me too," said Nicky from the back, "but let's not go looking for
trouble.  It will find us fast enough I am sure.  For now let's
just enjoy our time together."

After about five minutes Bryan wondered allowed, "I wonder where
he was shot.  Ya think he would show me the scar?"  He turned to
see Shane and Nicky looking at him like he had just sprouted a
second head.  "What?  What?  I've just never known anyone who's
been shot before and I wondered what it looked like."

The other two guys burst into laughter as they continued to the
hotel.

...to be continued