A/N: This will only be three chapters. I originally wrote it as a one-shot for my Ho Ho Ho-mance Series, but it became too lengthy. I also changed my mind about using it for one of the requests, because it is darker-themed and no one requested that specifically.

Disclaimer: I do Not Own Big Time Rush.

~Feathers From Heaven~

The New York sky was a dark dreary gray and heavy with snow clouds. The closer the black SUV crept toward the city center, the more the sidewalks bustled with activity. It was a sea of traffic, holiday shoppers, and tourists.

The excitement was already building deep in the pit of their stomach, building then waning whenever they became distracted. As they neared the amphitheater where they would perform that afternoon, the curiosities along the walkways were as much a part of the scenery as the brightly lit windows of the storefronts.

"Look!" James exclaimed, pointing to a large snowman walking down the sidewalk.

Kendall laughed. "Is that the dude from YouTube?"

"I don't know, but he just scared the crap out of that old lady!" Carlos said, laughing.

"Whoaaaa...what is that," Kendall said, his voice full of wonder, as he created a veil of steam on the tinted glass.

James wiped the surface briskly with his sleeve to clear the condensation. He stared at the sight with wide eyes that reflected a kaleidoscope of moving light, making them glow amber. A dark-haired man wearing all black, held a moving ball of light that seemed to defy gravity as it hovered overhead.

All four boys leaned in to watch the shimmering orb glide through his agile fingers, rising and falling as the crowd followed it with their eyes. It spun effortlessly, then rose high in the sky, momentarily suspended, before returning to the tips of his long fingers.

"Awesome!" Carlos cheered. Several spectators tossed currency and coins into the glass jar at the street performer's feet.

"How is he even doing that?!" Kendall asked in a high voice, his vivid green eyes round with appreciation for the act.

"Yeahhhhhh," James murmured, once again misting the window and obscuring their view.

"James!" Carlos scolded.

"Sorry!" James retorted.

Carlos wiped at the glass fervently, but the vehicle had moved forward with the flow of traffic, and the man with the magical ball of light was no longer visible.

Kendall noticed Logan's reflection in the tinted glass, dark eyes stark against pale skin, almost expressionless. He turned to study him quizzically, as he watched how still he sat with his hands folded in his lap. He wore a look he'd never seen before.

"Are you okay, Logan? You're so quiet tonight," Kendall said, thinking that he would never forget that look. Maybe he was still tired from the flight…

"I'm fine, Ken-dizzle," he said with a slight smile. The blare of a horn made Kendall jump, and he rolled his eyes. "I'll never get used to the traffic in New York City," he said with a frown.

Several cars began to honk in response to the first lone horn, and the driver turned around to look at his passengers. "Almost there, guys."

The familiar anxiety edged its way back into their stomachs once more, and they all drew in deep breaths. "Let's do this, guys," James said encouragingly, extending a hand for the others to clasp.

They all leaned in, but Logan didn't quite make it to the linking of hands. He tensed and a small gasp escaped his lips. He closed his eyes briefly, opening them to find that the others were watching him with bated breath. They wondered if they would be performing, after all.

"Are you all right, bro?" Kendall asked.

"Yeah, I guess I shouldn't have eaten that Thai food so fast," he said, wiping his damp forehead with his scarf.

They weren't convinced that he was fine, but they figured he wouldn't like them babying him over a stomach ache. He never did. "We should have gone Japanese," he added with a small laugh.

Carlos grinned. "You did eat more than all three of us put together, this time," he teased. Logan whacked at his arm.

"You don't feel like you're going to get sick though, do you?" James asked, remembering how lousy it felt to feel like vomiting on stage.

"I think I'll be all right," he said convincingly.

They breathed a sigh of relief. The show could technically go on without Logan, but it wouldn't be right. They'd had to do it a couple of times without Kendall when he was ill, and it wasn't something they ever wanted to experience again.

This would be the first time they would perform an entire full-length concert during the holidays. They had only done guest performances and opening acts during the season, until now. A full-length concert, without being part of summer tour, would be a new experience for them.

Once the vehicle was parked and security was on location, the boys were quickly escorted behind stage. They went straight to wardrobe and donned the chosen outfits. The stylists and wardrobe crew made sure everyone was set, and the stage crew made sure everything was tested.

It was a whirlwind of people, voices, and movement, before they finally entered the arena where the collective screaming made the amphitheater reverberate. The guys gave Logan a final look-over before they took their designated places, waving to the audience as they went.

When it came time for James and Logan to do their first timed trade-mark back-flip, Logan hesitated for just a second, before executing the perfect roll along with his counterpart. No one would have noticed the delay other than James, but it was enough to worry his friend. He found himself glancing over at Logan a bit too often, his uneasiness growing when he saw him wince a time or two.

When the concert drew to a close of thunderous applause, all the boys were exhausted as always, but Logan seemed worse for the wear than the others. Whereas the three were running on pure adrenaline, Logan was running on pure determination to remain upright.

His entire body was trembling, and his abdomen had begun to ache consistently midway through the concert. Perspiration dripped from his slender body, and his teeth began to chatter together violently. He clamped them together firmly, and folded his body in half when an agonizing pain in his side gripped him.

"Logan!" Kendall shouted over the roar. He took hold of his arm to steady him and waved to the crowd, steering him to exit the platform. There would be no encore presentation tonight.

"Is he all right?" Carlos asked breathlessly, running to catch the boys backstage, security lagging behind him.

James quickly followed, and his heart sank when he saw Logan in a different lighting. He looked paler and more ill under the fluorescence of the overhead lamps. "We need to get someone!" James exclaimed.

"No guys, please don't do this," Logan pleaded. "I don't want to be stuck in some emergency room or something. I ju-ust want to get to the hotel."

They caught the break in his voice, and looked at one another. "It's all right, Logan," Kendall said softly. "Let's just see how you are."

They walked him to a sofa in dimmer lighting, and watched him tentatively lower himself to sit. Within moments they were surrounded by the usual people. Noticing that Logan was off his game, there were a lot of questions thrown out at once.

Logan began to panic and pushed the probing hands away. "I'm fine!" he snapped.

"I'm sorry kid, you've gotta' be checked out if you're ill," someone said.

Finally agreeing to speak to a medic, Logan allowed them to lead him to the ambulance. "I'm not going to the hospital," he informed everyone.

The medic nodded and checked his pulse. The guys stood just outside the ambulance, pacing with worry. After thoroughly checking his heart and listening to his lungs, the medic prompted him to roll up his sleeve for a blood pressure monitor. Logan sighed, and repeated that he wasn't going to the hospital.

The medic did not even nod this time, but checked his temperature instead. "I really just want a shower," Logan said irritably, but realizing the guy was going to do his job regardless, decided to be more cooperative. "My temp will be high, because I'm sweating," Logan reasoned.

The medic chose to speak for the first time. "I'm taking that into consideration. Now, where's the pain?"

Logan debated whether he should say. The man stared at him intently while Logan glowered a bit. "My abdomen," he conceded, when the man didn't waver.

"How long?" he asked. The other medics moved about the tight space, signing papers and checking the monitors.

Logan shrugged. "Off and on all day, I guess."

The man lifted his shirt and pressed around the pin-pointed area. "I think you should go and have it checked out more thoroughly than I can here. Let them run some tests."

"No!" Logan said with a squeak."I just want a shower and a bed!"

"You can get those there," the man said.

Logan shook his head adamantly. "No!" he snapped, just wanting to be left alone.

Kendall leaned in when he realized Logan was actually arguing with the medic. "What's up, Logan?" he asked.

"K-Kindle," Logan said pleadingly.

"Is it even your call, whether you go or not?" the man asked Logan.

"Yes!" Logan lied, but then looked down quickly.

"Where's your manager? It's really his call," the medic said apologetically.

"On his way," said James, peering inside. He and Carlos had been listening from the open doorway.

Logan seemed panic-stricken. He looked at Kendall and James. The big brown, puppy dog eyes that looked back at them were begging for them to back him up on this one. He pulled out the big guns, a slight pout.

"Will you let us take care of you?" Kendall asked. Logan nodded like a five year-old promising to play nice with the other kids.

"Will you let us call someone, if you feel worse?" James asked. Logan nodded again.

"I still think he should go," the medic repeated for the boys, one last time.

Logan managed to convince everyone responsible for his safety and well-being, including Gustavo, Kelly and every other member of the crew, that he just had a bad case of indigestion. Since the medic admitted that he had no definitive signs of a serious condition, Logan got his wish.

"Get some sleep and let the guys take care of you," Gustavo ordered, before heading off to his own room. Logan nodded, relieved that he had gotten his way.

Back in the hotel room, he could feel the stares of his band-mates upon him. "Need anything, Loges?" Carlos asked for the third time.

"No, Carlitos," he said with a grin. "Not unless you plan on bathing me. I'm just going to take a nice hot shower."

"You're on your own there, buddy," Carlos teased back.

They were all grateful that there had been no meet and greets scheduled with the holiday event. They didn't think that Logan could have pulled it off. When they heard the shower running, they congregated for some private conversation time. It was something they always did when the target of the topic was not within ear-shot. Usually, the secretive meetings were held because one of them had acted up or been in a argument with another, but this time it was out of complete concern for one of their brothers.

"Do you think he's worse than he's letting on?" Carlos asked immediately.

"I do," said James. "I saw how hard it was for him to make those jumps and flips. I had to hold back, so the timing wouldn't be off."

"I thought so," said Kendall, obviously concerned.

"He hates being the patient," James reminded them, stating what they already knew.

"He probably doesn't want to miss the weekend out with us, either," said Kendall. "He hates being left out." They all nodded sadly.

"I'm worried, guys," Carlos said in a small voice. "What if he gets worse, and we sleep through it?"

"Good point," James said. He looked to Kendall for answers.

"We could take shifts watching over him. He wouldn't know. One of us could start, then wake the other for their shift," Kendall suggested.

"That's a good idea!" Carlos said.

James agreed. "Okay, so who goes first?" he asked.

"I will," said Kendall. "I'll wake you up when it's your turn, James."

"Then, I'll wake you for yours, Carlos," James said.

The boys all shook on the decision, and scurried to find something to do to look busy. When the door to the bathroom cracked open, Logan walked out slowly, dressed in flannel bottoms and a tee. He was shivering with his wet hair, but he forced a smile. They all just stared.

"Miss me?" he asked.

James stood. "Logan, come here," he said, leading him back toward the bathroom.

"James? I'm really tired..."

"Shhhh."

He pulled out the rolling seat from under the counter, and pressed him to sit. He took the hair-dryer from the wall mount and turned it on low. He began to run his fingers through the soft dark hair, lifting it gently to blow warm air through.

Logan closed his eyes and leaned into the warmth of the heated air, and the comforting hand that worked its magic. He felt tears of self-pity welling behind his eye-lids, but he refused to allow them to flow. He wasn't about to admit how much he was hurting now. Not when he was surrounded by people who loved him at Christmas-time. In a hospital, everything would be unfamiliar, stark, and cold. Only strangers would be there to comfort him while he slept.

James felt him lean into his hand, and he used the other one to softly hold his shoulder from time to time. His heart wrenched over Logan's complacency. Something was definitely wrong.

All dried and feeling much warmer, Logan allowed James to guide him to his bed. With only two doubles available, James led him to Kendall's chosen bed, knowing he was the one taking the first shift. He climbed in, and pulled the thick duvet up to his chin.

James leaned over and planted a brotherly kiss on top of his head. "Night, Logie."

"'Night," Logan murmured, his eyes drooping half-closed.

The boys watched his eyelids flutter, and his dark lashes lower, until they cast shadows against his cheeks. They listened for his breathing to even out, amazed at how quickly it did. Kendall nodded to the other two, and set the clock for morning wake-up. James and Carlos each took their showers while Kendall watched over his ailing friend.

After all the boys had showered and changed, they turned off all lights except a nightlight. Kendall stayed alert and wrapped his arm around the smaller sleeping form. A half-hour later, Logan moaned softly in his sleep.

Kendall sat up abruptly, eying him in the semi-darkness. He felt his forehead, but it only felt clammy, not hot. He watched intently, but Logan was only breathing heavily now, and did not stir again. Kendall held him close, spooning him from behind, and planted a soft kiss on his shoulder.

Logan leaned into the warmth of the body that surrounded him. All that mattered to Kendall at that moment, was that Logan was safe and sound. When it came time for James to take his place, Kendall switched with reluctance, but he knew he had to get some sleep, or he would be of no use to him the next day.

"How is he?" whispered James.

"He woke up once, but he's okay," Kendall whispered back.

James climbed in behind Logan, and wrapped his arm around him. He rested his chin on top of his warm head, and breathed in the freshly washed scent of his hair, Thank god he was okay. The vigil wasn't hard for James. He wouldn't have been able to go back to sleep again, anyway.

Logan flung the covers off of his body about two hours into his shift, whimpering and speaking gibberish. James comforted him with his hands, stroking back his hair and leaning in to whisper soothing words.

"It's okay Logie-bear. Does your stomach hurt?" he asked.

Logan did not answer, but pushed himself back into his friend, wanting the soothing touch. James hummed Nothing Even Matters softly, and to his amazement Logan hummed along automatically without waking, the two voices blending as one.

James smiled from behind him in the dimly-lit room. Even in his sleep and while ill, Logan knew his part and his place. James couldn't help but squeeze him just a little tighter. He couldn't bear to think of Logan hurting...ever.

James woke Carlos carefully. He was a ticking time-bomb if you didn't proceed with caution. The last thing he wanted was for Carlos to respond with a war-whoop, or do a ninja roll from the high platform bed and wake Logan.

"Is it my turn?" Carlos asked sleepily.

"Yes," James whispered. He really needed more beauty sleep if they were going shopping in the morning.

Carlos slid into the spot where James had been, grateful for the warmth that he had left behind. "Don't fall back to sleep," James warned in a hushed whisper.

"I won't," Carlos promised.

He snuggled up against Logan's curled body easily, the size perfectly matching his. Logan opened his eyes briefly, and turned to see Carlos' profile in the small bit of light, but still exhausted, he placed a hand on his friend's arm and went back under. Relieved that Logan hadn't questioned the swap, he snuggled even closer, and lightly planted a kiss on his warm cheek.

There were no more surprises for the boys that night, and they woke when the alarm sounded. Carlos was already sitting propped up against his pillow with his I-phone. He had kept himself entertained by stalking the internet for comments written about them. He saw the questioning looks on the others faces when they woke.

"He's okay," he mouthed, instantly relieving their fear.

Kendall hurried to regain his spot, so Logan wouldn't know about the all-night vigil. Carlos thought about telling him that Logan had woke once, but changed his mind. Maybe he wouldn't even remember waking.

Logan never mentioned anything out of the ordinary about the night before, and they each showered and dressed as usual. "How are you doing, today?" Kendall asked, joining him at the mirror.

Logan shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

Kendall couldn't hide his relief. He gave him a big bear-hug from behind, rocking with him gently. That's great!," he said cheerfully.

"Wow, what did I do to deserve this?" Logan asked, giving him a crooked grin.

"You got better," Kendall said happily.

"Can we join you?" James asked. Carlos peeked his head around the corner, and smiled too.

"Sure!" Kendall said, dimpling up. He scooted over and let the other two slip next to Logan.

They each put an arm around his waist. "Do you know something, I don't know?" Logan asked with an amused frown.

Well, that is the first part of the three. I have never done a fic like this, so it will be a new experience for me!

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I will be posting a replacement request for Ho Ho Ho very soon.

Crumpet