| Chapter 12 Tara was cooking supper when Howie walked into the kitchen. Tara looked up at him, "Howie, you look nice," she said. "Thanks, me and Kira are going out," he said with a smile. Tara smiled back at him and returned her attention the pan on the stove. "Where's Nick at?" Howie asked. "He's in the office working on some stuff," Tara said. Howie started to head down the hall when he heard Tara cry out. Howie turned around in time to see Tara drop the pan on the floor. She was holding her head and she looked like she was in pain. "Tara, what's wrong?" Howie said as he ran up to her. "I dunno, God my head hurts," she said squinting her eyes shut. Howie lead her into the living room and got her settled on the couch. Then he ran down the hall to the office. "Nick! Something's wrong with Tara!" he yelled as he reached the door. Nick jumped up and followed him into the living room. Nick dropped to his knees next to the couch. "Honey, what's wrong?" he asked. Tara was holding her head and she had her eyes clenched shut. "My head hurts," she said softly. "When did this start?" Nick asked. "It's been hurting all day, but not like this," she said. "Tara, open your eyes and look at me," Nick said. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. He could see the pain in her eyes, but there was also a look of worry. "Tara, let's take you to a doctor, OK?" Nick said. "No, I don't need a doctor," she said. "Guys, do you want me to call someone?" Howie asked not knowing what to do. "No," Tara said, at the same time Nick said, "Yes." Tara sat up, and Nick sat down beside her. "Angel, please let me take you to a doctor," he pleaded. Tara turned her head and looked at him, "I don't need a doctor, this pain isn't mine." Nick and Howie looked at each other totally confused. "Tara, I don't understand," Nick said. "The pain I'm feeling isn't mine, it's Brian's," she said. Nick and Howie both looked at her in disbelief. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Brian, wake up. I want to talk to you," Leighanne said. Brian opened his eyes and looked up at her, "What time is it?" he asked. "It's about 6:30," she answered. Brian looked confused, "In the morning?" "No sweety, 6:30 PM. I just got home," she said looking at him with concern. "Oh, did you have a good day?" he asked. "It was OK. Brian, what time did you get home?" she asked. Brian thought for a moment, "I really don't remember, a few hours ago maybe." "Did you have another headache?" Leighanne asked. Brian didn't answer, but looked away instead. Leighanne reached over and pulled Brian's head around to look at her, "Answer me Brian." "Yeah, I got one on the way home," he said. Leighanne looked deep into his eyes, "Brian, tell me what's going on," she said sternly. Brian sat up a little in the bed, "Lee, there's nothing going on, I just had a headache, that's all." Leighanne's face changed from one of concern to one of anger. "Brian Thomas, don't you know by now that I can tell when you're lying to me," she said. "Lee, I'm not lying to you......" "Yes you are! And you have been for over a week now!" she spat. Brian sat all the way up and swung his feet down to the floor. He put his head in his hands, "What am I lying to you about?" he asked. Leighanne stood up and faced him, "You keep telling me that nothing is going on, but all the time you're having dreams, and secretly talking to Tara! Brian, I'm your wife, I want to know what the hell is happening!" she yelled. Brian was holding his head trying not to scream in pain. Every time Leighanne yelled, it echoed ten times louder in his head. "Lee, please don't yell," he asked softly. "Brian, I'm waiting for an answer," Leighanne said. Brian groaned, mostly from the pain in his head, but partly out of frustration. "Lee, do we have to do this now?" he asked. "Brian, it's now or never...I'm tired of this," she said. Brian looked up at her, or what he could see of her, his vision was blurry again. "Lee, I'll tell you what's going on, I promise, but I'm not feeling well right now," he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tara, what are you talking about?" Howie asked. Tara looked up at him, "Brian is the one that is hurting, I'm just feeling it with him," she said. "How long has this been going on?" Nick asked. "Nick, I've always been able to feel when he's hurt. It just never has been this strong before," she answered. Nick looked at her for a moment, "Do you think we need to go check on him?" "I hate to, but I've got this feeling that we should," Tara said. Howie looked at his watch, "I'll go call Kira and cancel our date." He started to walk down the hall when Tara stopped him. "Howie, you go on. We can take care of this," she said. He looked at her with concern, "Are you sure? I can come if you need me to." Tara stood up, "No, you go ahead." Howie looked at Nick. "Go on, have fun. And I want details when you get back," Nick said with a smile. "OK, but call me if you need anything," Howie said on his way out. Nick looked down at Tara, "You ready to go?" "Yeah, and I have a feeling we need to hurry," she said as they walked out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Brian, you're not gonna use that as an excuse. You have been putting me off time and again when it comes to you and Tara, and I'm not leaving till you tell me what's going on," Leighanne said. Brian motioned for her to sit down, and took a deep breath. "I really don't know where to start," he said. "Start with the dream you had," Leighanne said. "OK, me and Tara where back in the field, and suddenly this storm came up. There was evil in it, I could feel it. Anyway, the storm separated us," Brian said. "OK, what happened when we went to Nick's the other night?" Leighanne asked. "Tara and I had the same dream. She was trying to figure out what it meant, and she was upset because she wasn't getting an answer. So, we prayed for a while, and Tracy showed up......" "Tracy, who's Tracy?" Leighanne asked. "You remember, the other angel that was with Kevin last year," Brian said. "OK, what'd she say?" Leighanne asked. "She said that she couldn't tell us what the dream meant, but she warned us to follow the feelings we were having.......She also said that I was being watched by..........." "By what Brian?" Leighanne asked sternly. Brian looked away from her, "By beings other than angels," he said. Leighanne sat there for a moment, then she burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" Brian asked. "What's so funny? I'll tell you, the fact that you thought I would believe that bunch of bull, that's what's so funny," Leighanne spat. "Lee, I'm telling you the truth," Brian pleaded. Leighanne stood up, "Brian, if you want to spend time with Tara, just tell me! Don't go making up all this stuff to spare my feelings!" she yelled. Brian grabbed his head again, "Lee, what are you talking about?" he asked. "I'm talking about you being with Tara! And don't tell me that nothing is going on, I see the way you two look at each other. So, how long have you two been doing this behind mine and Nick's back?!" Leighanne yelled. Brian looked up at her, a look of shock and horror on his face. "What?! Lee, nothing like that is going on," he said, "What's gotten into you? You've never talked like this before about what Tara and I share." "Well, maybe I'm just now waking up to the fact," Leighanne spat. Brian stood up and walked over to her, "Lee, I don't understand where all this is coming from." "God Brian, do you actually think I'm that stupid! That I would believe the load of crap you two are feeding us?!" Leighanne yelled. "Lee, you have it all wrong," Brian said. "No, I actually think I have it right this time," she said as she turned around to walk out the door. Brian reached out to stop her. Leighanne slapped his hand away, "Don't touch me!" she yelled and ran downstairs and out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Tara were in sight of Brian's drive when they saw Leighanne's car speed out of the drive and down the road. "Should we follow them?" Nick asked. "No, go on to the house," Tara said. When they reached the house, the front door was wide open. They got out of the car and ran inside. "Brian, are you in here?" Nick yelled. No answer. Tara motioned for Nick to follow her upstairs. They reached Brian's bedroom and walked in. Brian was sitting on the edge of the bed, trembling. He was holding his head, and had his eyes clinched shut. Tears were streaming down his face. "Brian, what's wrong?" Tara asked. He didn't answer her, he didn't even acknowledge that he heard her. Nick leaned over and put his hand on Brian's shoulder, "Bri, tell us what happened," he said. Brian looked up at him, "She.....thinks......" Nick and Tara looked at each other, "She thinks what Brian?" Nick asked. Just then the searing pain returned. Brian grabbed the back of his head and let out a small cry of pain. "Tara, call 911," Nick said. "No," Brian said, "I don't wanna........" Another stab of pain, this time Brian couldn't take it, he passed out. Nick caught him before he fell to the floor, "Shit Brian," he said as he pulled him up on the bed. Tara already had the phone, "Yes, I need an ambulance.........." Chapter 13 |