The big guns

********* Meanwhile over in the states*********

Barry sat on the couch working on a song when the phone rang reaching over he lifted off the receiver. “hello?” He sat up “Mum hey no I am not busy is everything okay...” He put his pen down and moved to a more comfortable position.

“Oh Yes everything's fine here dear …..” Barbara stated “really …. Barry dear .. when you talked to Shanell last week did she say anything was bothering her?” she sat on the stool by the phone in the kitchen. “like something was going on in school or such..” her voice taking on a concerned tone.

“is something wrong with Shan mum.... she didn't say anything about anything last week but we didn't talk long as I was heading out to the studio. Did you ask Andy he usually knows if somethings wrong with Rosebud...” his own voice took on a worried tone. “why what's going on? She seemed fine on the phone though quiet..”

“that's just it Barry dear I don't know she's really quiet … and withdrawn she seemed happy when Andy came home a month ago but now she seems to just stay in her room and do her homework I am quiet worried about her …. is Andy there maybe he knows somethings wrong ...” She smiled at her husband who came in to get a cup of coffee.

“sure mum.....I think he's in the other room.. let me get him...” He put the receiver down and headed to the other room. Andy had been hanging out with him since his flat had to be renovated. It was fine with Barry he had no problem with him being there. “Andy..” he knocked on the door seeing him setting on the chair by the piano.

He lifted his blonde head “yeah?”

“mum's on the phone wants to talk to you …. seems somethings up with Shanell..” he didn’t' get much more out before his youngest brother was sprinting to the phone. He shook his head following at a more sedate pace. He had just got to the couch but Andy already had the phone.

“Mum hey its me Andy what's going on..” Andy sat on the back of the couch the phone to his ear.

“Oh dear its probably nothing but I was just wondering if your sister told you if she was worried about anything, if anything was bothering her...” Barbara could hear her son out of breath he must have ran to the phone. She shook her head.

Andy frowned “no Shan said she was really busy with tests and homework lately …. that she was thinking of trying out for the choir but wasn't sure … is she alright...” He frowned deeper. “is she there can I talk to her....” He looked over at his brother his brown eyes darkened in worry.

“She said she was tired and went to bed about ten minutes ago ...sweetheart but I can get her if you want....” Getting a yes, she then put the phone down and headed into her daughters room. She frowned seeing her sitting on the bed with a pillow resting against her chest had her face down cast not sleeping at all. “Sweetheart you're wanted on the phone....”

She looked up wiping her face to hide the tears, she swallowed “who?”

“your brother sweetheart Shan are you alright...” She sat on the bed.

“Yes I'm fine … which one ….” She got up and headed to the phone “hello...”

“Hey Starlight …. you okay...” Andy's warm voice was concerned.

Shanell froze this was definitely not good. “yes Andy I am alright how are you...” She sat on the chair her mom had followed her to the kitchen. “how's the record and the tour..” She forced her voice to sound cheerful. She rubbed her forehead with her hand. There was no way she was telling him what was going on no matter what name he used.

“its fine, but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about …. you haven't called me, I know its long distance but you know you can always call me .. mum thinks somethings wrong … are you okay? ." Andy tried to get her to tell him what was wrong. " You can tell me if your not, if somethings bothering you...” Andy could tell she was upset, he could feel it why was she telling him a lie. “Shan …. “

“No Andy I am fine …. really … just been busy with school.... we got midterms coming up and … well I want to get good grades.... and everything …. I just been busy studying hard so I am tired lately is all.... nothing else...” Shanell sighed “really I am okay...”

“you promise?” Andy knew she was lying but there wasn't anything he could do while he was here and she was all the way in Oz.

Shanell frowned deeply lying was one thing but breaking a promise to Andy was a whole other ball game. “Can I talk to Barry...”

Andy's eyebrows raised and he looked over at his brother “she wants to talk to you....” Now he was more than worried, to heck with the record something was seriously going on with their little sister. He handed the phone to Barry while he started to pace his hand gong through his blonde locks. What was going on.

Barry took the phone “Hey Rosebud, Andy said you wanted to talk to me you okay.... school and all that...” He looked over at Andy.

“Yeah I am fine Barry … I swear … just been tired you know he worries too much sometimes so does mum... just been studying too hard with school and all that...” She stated.

“okay....” Barry sighed “so what do you need to talk to me about?”

“nothing really …. just tell Andy not to worry okay I am fine …. just been busy with school... if it makes him happy I'll call more often ….” She stated. Though she didn't mean it she was not going to call them anymore than she did now.

“okay … can I talk to mum....” He looked at Andy who stopped pacing and watched him from under his bangs. He sighed when his mom got on the phone “mum... she still there...”

Barbara watched her daughter leave the room and head back to her bedroom. She sighed “no she just left Barry what is gong on … she's NEVER not wanted to talk to Andy …. I am worried about her...”

“somethings wrong … I can tell …. she wouldn’t promise she was fine...” Andy could be heard in the background.

“you can hear him … look mum... Andy and I will be on the next flight home I'll call Robin and Maurice we'll figure this out … we can't do it over the phone …. but we will be home soon promise....and we will get to the bottom of this. “

“alright love give Andy a hug for me …. we will see you soon...”

Andy watched as Barry hung up “what did she say....”

“Mum said she loves us and she'll see us soon … I am going to call Robin and Maurice pack a bag we are heading back home...” Barry started to dial the number for the twins.

Andy headed to his room and started putting things in a carry all bag while his mind was spinning with thoughts. What was going on why was Shanell avoiding talking to him. She never avoided talking to him about anything. It was odd and then she didn't promise she was okay that was the real reason he was worried. If she was fine she would have promised she was. So if she didn't want to break a promise to him then she would not make it. He sighed running his hand through his hair again before heading out to meet Barry to go grab Maurice and Robin they headed to the airport.