| Chapter 35 "Brian, we have to be very careful about how this looks," Kevin said. Brian looked at him confused, "Why do we...?" he whispered. Kevin looked at him, "Because it could hurt your reputation, and with your cd coming out you don't want that." Brian had so much he wanted to say, but his throat was killing him, he pointed to some paper and a pen. Kevin handed them to him and he wrote down his response and showed it to Kevin. "No Brian, the studio did burn down, but the producer managed to grab your master on his way out, it's already in production," Kevin said. Brian wanted to jump for joy, he just knew all his work had been destroyed. Leighanne walked back into the room and was surprised to see Brian awake. She walked over to him, "How are you feeling?" Brian couldn't look her in the eyes, he wrote OK on the paper and showed it to her. Kevin got up and stretched, "I'll leave you two alone for a few." And with that he gathered everyone else and they left the room. Leighanne sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at Brian. "Bri, I can't say I'm sorry enough. I didn't know you were there, and even if I had, I shouldn't have done what I did," she said. Brian looked down at the pad of paper in his hands then looked up at her, "I'm sorry," he whispered. Leighanne looked at him confused, "Bri, you didn't do anything to be sorry for. Nick explained everything, I'm the one that should be sorry." "What do you mean Nick..?" Brian asked. "Nick, overheard you and Tara the night that you two told each other how you felt, we both understand it, and we wont get in the way," Leighanne said. Brian looked at her for a long time, "What are we gonna do?" "You mean about us?" Leighanne asked. Brian nodded his head. Leighanne thought for a while, "Bri, I do still care about you, but I meant what I said, I can't be the wife that you deserve. You and Tara have a good future ahead, take it and run with it. I've already got my attorney drawing up the papers." Brian looked at her with sadness and love in his eyes, "Papers?" Leighanne nodded her head, "Divorce papers. I'll have everything drawn up according to the pre-nump and bring them by for you to look over before they're filed." "You're sure?" Brian whispered. Leighanne smiled at him, "Yes, I think this will be the best thing for both of us." Brian looked down, then over at Tara, "Thank you," he said. Leighanne took his hand and squeezed it, "You're welcome. I'm gonna go take care of some things, I'll be back." Brian nodded his head and watched her leave the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. walked over to Nick, "How are you holding up?" Nick didn't release his stare out the window, "OK." "Nicky, there's no way in hell you are OK," A.J. said. Nick looked over at him, "I'm fine." A.J. raised and eyebrow, "Yeah right, and I'm Fred Durst. I just don't see how you did that, and I'm still not sure I understand it." Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "A.J. listen, what I did I did for all of us. Those two were meant to be together, whether they want to believe it or not, and I sure as hell ain't gonna stand in their way." "But you two love each other, you can't just turn that off Nick," A.J. said. Nick turned his attention back to the window, A.J. was right. He loved Tara more now than ever. "You're right I can't, but I'm sure gonna try. I have to," Nick said. A.J. looked at him for a long time, then shook his head and walked away leaving Nick to his thoughts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian lay in the empty room watching Tara sleep. No one had come back in after Leighanne had left and he was glad. He wanted this time alone with Tara, even if she was still unconscious. Brian turned over on his side facing her. He studied every part of her face not wanting to forget a single thing. He reached over and gently touched her cheek, "Tara, honey you need to wake up soon," he whispered. He thought he saw her eyelids flutter, but maybe he was imagining it. Then he saw it again. "Tara," he whispered. Slowly her eyes opened and focused on him. Brian smiled at her, "I've been waiting on you." She smiled as much as she could with the ventilator on. Brian, I'm so tired, she thought. "I know you are, go back to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up," Brian whispered. Tara nodded her head and closed her eyes. "I love you," Brian whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later on that night everyone was in the room laughing and talking. Tara was still asleep, and Nick sat next to her being abnormally quiet. Brian was focused on the TV, but his head was hurting and that worried him. He was trying to hide it from the others, but Kevin saw something was wrong. "Bri, are you feeling OK?" he asked. Brian just looked at him, but didn't answer. "Brian, I've been watching you for the past hour, you heart rate is up and you have a weird look on your face, Now out with it," Kevin said. "My head hurts," Brian whispered. Kevin and Howie exchanged glances. "How long has it been hurting?" Howie asked. Brian shrugged his shoulders. "I'll go down and have the nurses call the doctor," A.J. said. "Guys, I'm fine," Brian said, but no one believed him. A.J. headed out the door, and Kevin and Howie were staring at him. God, why can't they just leave me alone, it's just a little headache, Brian thought. Yeah, but your little headaches don't stay little, Tara said. Brian looked over at her, she was staring at him. "How are you?" Brian asked. Nick looked down to see Tara staring at Brian. I think I'm better than you are right now, Tara thought, Bri, just let it out, it'll hurt worse if you try to hide it. "Brian, what is she saying?" Nick asked. Brian looked deep into Tara's eyes as a tear left his own. Tara turned her head and stared at Nick. "Bri?" Nick asked. "She says thank you, and she loves you very much," Brian said. Nick smiled at her and took her hand. Just then the severe pain that Brian had been dreading hit him. He grabbed the back of his head and closed his eyes, trying hard not to scream. Kevin sat on the edge of the bed and held Brian's hand, "The doc will be here in a minute." Brian opened his eyes and tried to focus on Kevin, but everything was a blur. "God this hurts," he said. Kevin looked back at Howie, "Go see what's keeping them." Howie nodded his head and left the room. Brian, look at me, Tara thought. Brian turned his head and looked at her. Kevin and Nick looked at each other, worried. Another wave of searing pain, and Brian let out a cry. Tara reached over and took Brian's hand, I'll help you, she thought. "No, you're too sick," Brian said trying to pull his hand from her grasp. "Brian, what is she doing?" Nick asked. "She want's to help with the pain," Brian said squinting his eyes as another wave hit him. "Tara NO, Brian's right, you're to sick to do this," Nick pleaded, "You'll only hurt yourself. The doc will be here in a minute." Tara ignored him and closed her eyes. Brian could feel the pain ease some. He looked from Tara to Nick, who still had Tara's other hand. Nick looked like he was gonna pass out. "Tara, stop." Brian said with all the sternness he could muster. She opened her eyes and looked at him, What? Brian started to laugh, "Look what you're doing to Nick." Tara looked over at Nick and realized he still had her hand in his, Oh shit, tell him I'm sorry! She let go of Nick's hand and he almost fell to the floor. Kevin walked over and helped him back to the chair. Even though Brian was still in pain, he couldn't help but laugh, "Nick, she said she was sorry." Just then the doctor came in the room, "What seems to be the problem?" Kevin got up and faced the doctor, "It's a long story, but maybe you better look at Nick first." Chapter 36 |