| Chapter 18 Tara and Nick were busy getting one of the guest rooms ready for Brian to stay in. Brian and Howie were sitting downstairs in the living room. Howie kept looking over at Brian, but not knowing what to say to him. Brian looked at Howie and smiled, "D, you wanna ask me something?" "No, I just......I guess I'm still in shock," Howie stammered. Brian looked toward the floor and nodded his head. "Bri, we've known each other a long time, and I can't remember when we didn't know what to say to each other," Howie said. Brian looked back up at him, "Yeah, even in the worst situations we always had something to say. But I can't think of anything right now. I'm just.......numb I guess." Howie put his hand on Brian's shoulder, "The only thing I can say is that you're my brother and I love you, and I'll be here for you whenever you need me." Brian blinked away the tear that was threatening to fall, "Thanks," he said softly. Nick and Tara came downstairs. "K Bri, we got you all set up," Nick said. Brian looked at him, "Thanks for letting me stay here." "No problem, you stay as long as you like," Nick said with a smile. Kevin let himself in carrying a large duffel bag. "Hey guys," Kevin said as he entered the living room. "Bri, I got everything I thought you'd need, if I forgot something let me know and I'll go back and get it," Kevin said handing the bag to Nick. "I've got the dogs in the car so I'm gonna take off, I'll see you in the morning," Kevin said turning to leave. "Kev?" Brian said. Kevin turned around, "Yeah?" "Was there anyone at the house?" Brian asked. "No Bri, I'm sorry there wasn't," Kevin answered. Brian nodded his head, "Thanks." Kevin smiled at him, turned and left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne sat on Gary's couch completely in shock. She couldn't believe what Brian had told her. It had to be a lie, but she new in her heart it wasn't. She hadn't said much since they had left the hospital. Gary hadn't asked her what went on, but he was there to comfort her. Gary walked into the living room carrying a glass of water and another box of tissues. "Here you go Anne," he said setting them down on the coffee table in front of her. "Thanks," she said grabbing a tissue. Gary sat down next to her and put his arm around her, "Anne, you know I'm here whenever you feel like talking." Leighanne looked up at him, "I don't know where to start." "What did he tell you?" Gary asked. Leighanne looked down as the tears came back, "He said he has a brain tumor and he's not going to live another year." Gary looked at her in shock, "Is he sure?" Leighanne nodded her head, "I could see it in his eyes, he was sure." Gary looked at her for a moment, "What else happened?" Leighanne took a deep breath, "We got into another fight, and I slapped him." "What about?" Gary asked. Leighanne looked at him, "When I walked in the room, him and Tara were in there alone, and they were holding hands. I just couldn't take it anymore, so I pushed her back and slapped him." "What was their excuse?" Gary asked. "We didn't get to that. I yelled at Brian and started to slap him again and Tara caught my hand before I could hit him. She had this look in her eyes, it just sent chills down my spine," Leighanne said. "Like what, was she gonna hit you or something?" asked Gary. "I dunno, but Brian obviously knew what it meant, he looked at her and said don't. Then Nick came in and I got all over him about not seeing what was right in front of him," Leighanne said. "So, then what did Nick say?" Gary asked. "They have him so snowed it's pathetic. He said there was nothing to see," Leighanne answered. Gary sat there for a moment, "So let me get this straight. They are obviously having an affair, and he's dying. And you don't know whether to go back to him because he's sick, or stay away because you're still angry at him?" Leighanne nodded her head, "How is it you always know how I'm feeling inside?" she asked. Gary smiled at her, "Because I care about you, and I can see the pain and confusion in your eyes." Leighanne looked up at him, "I wish you could take it away," she said softly. Gary reached over and cupped Leighannes face in his hands, and stared deep into her eyes, "I can if you let me," he whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick carried Brian's bag upstairs and Brian was unpacking things when the door bell rang. Howie walked over and opened the door. Kira was standing there with her hands full of bags. "Kira? What are you doing here?" Howie asked surprised. She handed him some of the bags and walked in, "I just thought that you guys might be hungry, where's the kitchen?" Howie led her down the hall and into the kitchen. They set the bags on the counter and started unpacking them. "I didn't know what everyone would like so I ordered one of everything they had," Kira said. Howie laughed, "Kira, you didn't have to do this." She looked at him, "I know, but I figured that you guys being at the hospital all day that you probably didn't eat." Howie looked at her, "Well, you're right. I don't remember eating anything today as a matter of fact." Tara, Nick and Brian walked into the kitchen. "Hey guys, Kira brought supper," Howie said. "Oh Kira, you are a godsend," Tara said giving her a hug, "I was wondering what in the world I was gonna fix for us to eat." "Well, I'll just leave this here and be on my way," Kira said. "Oh no, stay and eat with us," Tara said. "Maybe another time, you guys look beat, and I've got an early morning," Kira said. "Thanks Kira," Nick said with a mouth full of food. Kira laughed, "No problem." Howie walked over to her, "I'll walk you out." Howie walked her outside and to her car. "Howie, I get the feeling that something bad is going on," Kira said, "Brian didn't look to well." Howie took a deep breath, "He's not. He got some really bad news, and to top it off Leighanne is mad at him." Kira looked deep into Howie's eyes, "Howie, I can tell by looking at you that it's worse than just bad news." Howie closed his eyes fighting against the tears, "He's dying," he said as he broke down. Kira pulled him close and held him, "Howie, I'm so sorry," she said. He cried on her shoulder for a minute. "Kira, I don't know what to do, I'm losing one of my best friends, my brother, and I can't do a damn thing to stop it," he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne looked at Gary for a moment. She was completely lost in his eyes. He leaned in and gently kissed her. She pulled back and stared at him. "Anne, let me take your pain away," he whispered. Leighanne looked down and then back into those eyes. She pulled him close and they began to kiss. As the kiss went on it became more and more passionate. Gary stopped and stood up, offering Leighanne his hand. She took it and Gary led her upstairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian, Nick, Tara and Howie were sitting at the table finishing up their supper. Tara had noticed that Brian hadn't eaten very much. Tara caught his eye, Brian, you didn't eat very much. Brian looked down, I'm not hungry. Do you wanna talk? Tara asked. He looked up at her, with sadness in his eyes, Not right now, I just wanna be alone for awhile. Tara nodded her head. Brian got up, walked over to the counter where his medicine was sitting, took it, and left the room. Nick looked over at Tara, "He's not doing well is he?" "No he's not, and he's holding it inside," she answered. "Maybe we should go talk to him," Howie said. "No, he wants to be alone right now. Maybe in the morning he'll feel like it," Tara said. Brian walked into his room and shut the door. He laid down on the bed and kicked his shoes off. He rolled over and stared out the window. God, why is this happening? I'm losing the one thing in the world that keeps me going, why is she so angry with me? Why does she believe something that just isn't true? God, why do these things keep happening to me? Haven't I been through enough? Now I have to fight another physical battle that I'm obviously not gonna win. God if there's a reason for this I'd like to know what it is! I'm so tired, I'm not sure if I can keep up this fight, and I'm not sure I want to. * Tracy looked at Gideon, they were with Brian in his room. "This isn't good, he's already starting to give up," Tracy said. "Yeah, but we can't interfere, not yet," Gideon answered. Tracy nodded her head, "Tara has her job cut out for her." Gideon nodded his head agreeing with her. They both stayed with Brian until he fell asleep.* Chapter 19 |