** Would like to send out a big THANK-YOU to PTXSLMJ for the idea for this chapter**

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This was Chris's last performance with the group.

Emotions were running high as the band bows after finishing their last song, 'Ring Of Fire'.

Tim felt as if his heart was breaking into a million pieces as he looks out across the audience, not a dry eye in the house.

His breaths quicken as if he was having a panic attack.

He turns and quickly leaves the stage, running pass Luke, Nate and Olena who were waiting off stage.

"Hey, Buddy. You alright?" Nate calls after him.

But Tim didn't answer. He had to get away, he just wanted to be alone. The pain of losing Chris was more that he wanted to admit.

Tim runs to the restroom, placing both hands on the sink, he stares at himself in the mirror. Tears streaming down his face. He bows his head and breaks down into heavy sobs.

"Where did Tim go?" Austin asks as Luke pops open a bottle of Champagne, celebrating the ending of a tour well done.

"He ran pass us and headed down the hallway." Nate answers. "He looked pretty upset."

"I'll go check on him." Rob says, but Chris stops him.

"No, maybe I should." Chris says as he sets down his glass of champagne.

Chris walks down the hall to the restroom and listens through the door. He can hear Tim's heavy sobs from inside.

He takes a heavy breath before quietly opening the door. It hurt him to see the emotional state the bass singer was in. Tim had always been the stronger one of the group.

He slowly walks up beside his friend and gently rubs him on the back.

"I'm so sorry, Tim." Chris says in a sad voice. "This is just something I got to do."

Not being able to form words, Tim could only manage to shake his head.

"You guys are gonna be just fine. You got Chance joining you. He's been practicing hard and is doing an awesome job." Chris adds when he didn't get a response from Tim.

"It's...It's not that, Chris." Tim says as he looks at the baritone with red, puffy eyes.

"Then what? Tell me what's wrong." Chris says as Tim tries to wipe the constant flow of tears. "I know you and I have been together a long time but not even Rob is taking me leaving this hard and we've been together longer.

"Rob's not in love with you!" Tim snaps in a broken voice.

Chris stares at the bass man as if he had just been slapped in the face.

"What?" He asks barely above a whisper.

"I've fallen in love with you, Chris." Tim sniffs as he brushes his hair back.

Chris shakes his head and turns his back to Tim.

"You can't do this, Tim." Chris says still shaking his head.

"Do what?! Express the love I have for you that I have kept hidden for years?" Tim says, raising his voice.

"EXACTLY!! Cause it CAN'T HAPPEN!!" Chris yells turning back to face Tim.

"Why can't it?" Tim asks in a soft voice as tears roll down his face.

"BECAUSE!! IT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN!!" Chris continues to shout.

Tim bows his head, covering his eyes with his hand as he let's go of a heavy sob.

Chris sighs and places his hands on Tim's shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Tim. But I've made my decision. It's something that I have to do."

Chris pulls Tim into a hug and whispers. "Goodbye, Tim."

Tim tries to hang on to the hug but Chris pushes him away and quickly heads for the door.

"Chris?" Tim calls out to him but the baritone only quickens his steps.

Tim runs to the door of the bathroom only to see Chris heading for the back door.

"CHRIS! WAIT!!" Tim shouts, causing the others to look around.

Chris walks out the back door, slamming it behind him.

"CHRIS! PLEASE!!" Tim sobs.

Suddenly someone pulls Tim into a tight hug.

Tim breaks down and sobs into the comforter's shoulder, grabbing onto his shirt.

"Don't do this to yourself, Tim." Adam says softly into the bass man's ear.

"I love him, Adam." Tim whispers as he clings desperately to the beatboxer.

"I know." Adam sighs as he rubs Tim on the back of the head. "Sad thing is, Tim. He loves you too."

Tim raises his head and stares into the beatboxer's blue eyes.

"He loves me?" Tim asks in an unbelieving tone. "Then why did he leave?"

Adam sighs as he looks at the back door that his brother had just walked out of.

"Because he couldn't face the truth."

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*~* CHRIM *~*